November 12, 2012 – Meet Mr. PG. He greets travellers as they arrive in Prince George via highway 97 or Highway 16. I was confused when I drove by and saw him though, because he has hopped across the highway to the other side.
The first Mr. PG was made of wood, but he eventually started to break down and was replaced, just a few years before I left home, with this guy – made of metal and fibreglass. There used to be a second Mr. PG downtown at the Chamber of Commerce building that had a phone inside it. I don’t know when that one disappeared exactly. Surprisingly, this Mr. P.G. was one of five roadside attractions featured on the first of the Canadian Roadside Attractions Series issued by Canada Post stamps in 2009.
I always used to think he was silly, but there is something heartwarming about seeing the familiar when you come home again after a long absence. Even if the circumstances around coming home are unhappy.