The things that remind you where you come from

65

January 29, 2015 – I didn’t think I’d be seeing Mr. P.G. again, or at least not for a long time. I thought it would be longer than three years anyway.

Mr. P.G. is the official mascot of the city I was born and raised in, Prince George. Prince George is a city built on forestry, so he makes sense. He stands at attention at the intersections of highways 16 and 97. He used to be made out of logs, but those rotted in the 1980’s, and when the city installed Mr. P.G. 2.0, he was made out of metal and fibreglass. He also used to be on the opposite corner, I’m not entirely sure why he wandered across the road. There also used to be another version downtown, at the Credit Union, I particularly liked that one because he had a telephone in his belly. The plaque in front of Mr. P.G. 2.0 says that downtown Mr. P.G. is in Fort George Park somewhere. I’d like to see him again 🙂

I left this city in 1987 and I knew I’d never move back, but I didn’t mind coming home to see family and friends. It’s always interesting to see your hometown through different eyes after time away. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, every time I come here it seems to be in the winter.

Home again, for another funeral.

I haven’t been back since we sold Mom’s house. I haven’t wanted to come back. And when we got less than 2 minutes down the road in our rental car it slammed into me that there was no Mom waiting for me. And like an idiot, not a tissue anywhere. Blinked it back.

You just never know when a wave is going to roll over you, but I really should have known coming here would cause one to come crashing down.

116 Photos in 2016 – 24. Statue

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The idea for Mr. PG originated with Harold Moffat in the late 1950’s, who believed Prince George needed a mascot to promote the forest industry and represent the City.  He approached Hans Roine, a local Rotarian and sawmill owner with the idea and the first Mr. PG was created in 1960.  It was a one and a half metre tall wooden man that stood outside the former Simon Fraser Hotel downtown on Quebec Street.  

Due to his popularity, the City of Prince George built an 11.6 metre tall Mr. PG on a parade float for the May Day parade.  In 1961 he won first place in the Kelowna Regatta and second prize in the Pacific National Exhibition parade.  Mr. PG attained national recognition when he appeared in the 1963 Grey Cup Parade in Vancouver. 

Over the years Mr. PG has found himself in many places.  He was located downtown at 1stAvenue and George Street and later moved to the intersection of Highways 97 and 16.  He has been celebrated in song and even appeared on a stamp in 2009 as part of Canada Post’s Roadside Attraction series.  Mr. PG has his own Facebook page with over 5,000 likes! – http://theexplorationplace.com/100/Mr-PG