I remember the first time I set eyes on him, coming into the city from the airport on my inaugural visit to Prince George. Standing tall, smiling – who was this intriguing being!? In that moment Prince George’s mascot, a statue made of metal standing over eight metres tall welcoming visitors to the city, smiled at me and captured my heart.
I had been learning about Prince George’s culture and history from my home in Ontario as I considered making the move here - but nothing could have prepared me for the beauty, ruggedness, and charm of this community that would soon welcome me as one of its own. At the time, I was working remotely and had the flexibility to relocate. I had also met someone special—now my husband—a Prince George man through and through. So, in the midst of a global pandemic, I made the leap: from Meaford, Ontario to Prince George, BC. Just a bit of a switch!
I was amazed to now be living in a place where I could see the Fraser River every day - something I would never have dreamed of as an Ontario girl studying Canadian geography in the late 80’s learning about this mystical far-away land consisting of mountains, rivers, and riches beyond my imagination.
Prince George is "BC's Northern Capital", and it is also an hour away from the geographical centre of the province. Nick-named “PG” for short, it has about 80,000 people, a Costco, Home Depot, Sephora, all the essentials. The two main highways in the north, 16 & 97, intersect here - where you can find Mr. PG - and in any one of the four directions you go on those two roads you will find abundant lakes, wildlife, history, camping spots, gold-mining opportunities, and even an ancient temperate forest with the giant cedars such as those on Vancouver Island. We adventure a lot here, as recreation is a mainstay of life in British Columbia, definitely more so than in ambitious concrete Ontario.
I will admit I have always been especially fond of Toronto’s CN Tower, a symbol of Canadian innovation, engineering excellence, and national pride. But since seeing Mr. PG and learning more about him and Prince George itself, I feel a special affinity with this symbol that represents this unique city’s roots in forestry, community spirit, and northern hospitality.
Prince George’s mascot started out in 1960 as a wooden statue in front of a popular downtown hotel, and in subsequent years he travelled to Kelowna and Vancouver, fulfilling his mission to promote the forest industry in BC’s north. Much of this region’s livelihood and recreation revolves around the forest, and Mr. PG is a great representative of where this community comes from, and where it is today. In 2020 Mr. PG turned 60 years old sporting a giant custom-knit scarf gifted by a local group, and he continues to make headlines, such as being the winner of the Great Canadian Landmark Contest in 2024.
Since moving here, I felt compelled to take on a professional role in the local business community, trading my remote position for a daily commute past the Fraser River and Mr. PG. As I continue to learn and love this community, I find every opportunity to weave Mr. PG into both my work and life. One time, I managed to get him up on the big screen at a provincial conference I organized, and more recently, I was lucky enough to be part of the team that welcomed the “character suit” version of our city’s mascot at a business event. I’m thrilled to report that I even got a photo with Mr. PG – and HE gave me a pair of socks adorned with his adorable self!
I take all of out out-of-town visitors to get a photo with Mr. PG - even my dog, who moved to Prince George a couple of years after I did. Conveniently my daughters have also since relocated here, and even more conveniently they chose an apartment directly behind our beloved mascot so that I can see him every time I visit them. From my first glimpse of him to now seeing him almost daily, Mr. PG has become more than just a roadside statue - he’s a familiar face, a symbol of home, and a reminder of the warm and welcoming spirit that defines Prince George. Moving here changed my life in many wonderful ways, and through it all, Mr. PG has been a constant - standing tall, smiling wide, and reminding me that sometimes, the most unexpected places become the ones that feel the most like home.
