PG Designs, Prince George, BC (2026)

06/25/2026

On this day, June 24, 1977, Prince George welcomed one of the biggest stars of the 1950s.

The newspaper ad was simple: "Pat Boone Tonight. Prince George Coliseum. 8 p.m. Tickets $6 at the door."

Sometimes, that's all you needed.

By 1977, Pat Boone had already built a remarkable career. He had sold more than 45 million records worldwide, starred in a dozen Hollywood films, hosted television shows, and recorded classics like Love Letters in the Sand, April Love, Moody River, and Ain't That a Shame. For a time, only Elvis Presley sold more records than Boone, making him one of the defining voices of an entire generation.

While musical tastes changed through the 1960s and '70s, Boone continued performing, focusing increasingly on inspirational music and speaking. That tour brought him to the Prince George Coliseum, where an estimated 8,500 people gathered for a two-hour evening of Christian songs, stories, and readings.

Imagine that for a moment.

A performer whose face had been in magazines, whose songs played on radios across North America, and whose movies filled theatres... standing on a stage right here in Prince George.

For just six dollars, local families could spend an evening with one of the biggest entertainers of his era.

It's easy to forget how special nights like these were before streaming, YouTube, and social media. If you wanted to see someone like Pat Boone, you had to be there. And on June 24, 1977, thousands of Prince George residents were.

At PG Designs, we love uncovering these forgotten moments because they're part of what makes our city's story so rich. Every old ticket, newspaper clipping, and faded photograph reminds us that history isn't just something that happened somewhere else—it happened right here.

Were you at the Coliseum that night? Do you remember the concert... or even paying $6 at the door?

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06/24/2026

February 10, 1983.

Most people walking through Spruceland Shopping Centre that winter likely knew the man behind the counter at Spruceland News.

Dave Clark wasn't just selling newspapers, magazines, and lottery tickets. He was part of the neighbourhood. The kind of person who knew your name, remembered your favourite magazine, and always seemed ready for a quick chat.

Friends described him as hardworking. Former employees remembered his kindness. Customers knew him as someone who genuinely liked people.

Then, in the early hours of February 10, Prince George RCMP were called to the store. Dave Clark, 59, was found inside.

There was an irony to the tragedy. Years earlier, in 1977, Clark had made headlines after fighting off a would-be robber armed with a hammer. Refusing to back down, he defended himself and escaped serious injury. The newspaper photo from that incident shows him standing proudly inside his store, holding the hammer that helped save his life.

For many longtime Prince George residents, though, that's not how Dave Clark is remembered.

He's remembered as the familiar face behind the counter. The merchant who helped make Spruceland News more than just a store. A place where people stopped not only for the day's headlines, but for a friendly conversation.

Sometimes the stories that stay with a community aren't about the crime itself.

They're about the people who left an empty space behind.

Photo courtesy Prince George Citizen archives.

At PG Designs, we're proud to help preserve the stories of the people, businesses, and moments that shaped Northern BC. Every community has its storytellers. Sometimes they're holding a camera. Sometimes they're behind a counter. But their stories deserve to be remembered.

06/23/2026

If you grew up in Prince George in the 1980s or 1990s, there was one store in Pine Centre that could empty your allowance faster than a trip to the arcade.

San Francisco Gifts.

The moment you walked through the doors, you entered a world of lava lamps, black-light posters, magic tricks, joke gifts, novelty mugs, prank gadgets, and things your parents would immediately say "absolutely not" to.

It was the kind of store where you went in looking for a birthday card and came out carrying a fake lottery ticket, a rubber chicken, a glow-in-the-dark poster, and somehow a bag of candy.

For many teenagers, the adventure was in exploring deeper into the store. The further back you went, the more unusual the merchandise became. It was part treasure hunt, part rite of passage, and part test of whether you could keep a straight face while browsing.

What many people don't know is that San Francisco Gifts was actually a Canadian success story. Founded in Edmonton in 1981, it grew to more than 80 locations across the country and became a staple of shopping malls from coast to coast.

But every story has a final chapter.

In the early 2000s, the company found itself in legal trouble after investigators discovered products carrying counterfeit safety certification labels. The resulting investigations, charges, and fines damaged the company's reputation at a time when malls themselves were beginning to change. Before long, the stores that had once been packed with curious shoppers began disappearing.

Today, San Francisco Gifts is gone, but mention the name to anyone who spent time in Pine Centre during those years and watch the memories come flooding back.

Because sometimes the stores we remember most weren't where we bought things.

They were where we wandered.

At PG Designs, we know the best stories aren't always about products. They're about the memories people attach to them. That's what great marketing does too—it gives people something worth remembering.

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06/22/2026

There was a time in Prince George when a trip to the grocery store wasn't a chore.

It was an event.

You'd pull up to Sunnyside Grocery on a cool autumn afternoon in 1957. The Shell sign out front would catch your eye before you even shut off the engine. Inside, the smell of fresh produce mixed with coffee and the faint scent of new paint from the store's recent renovation.

The shopping list might have said milk, bread, and potatoes.

But that wasn't really why people came.

Mrs. Sharpe knew who had a new baby. She knew whose son had just made the hockey team. She knew who was heading out hunting that weekend and who needed a little extra help getting through a tough season.

The grocery store wasn't just where people bought food.

It was where people belonged.

Someone would be comparing fishing stories near the counter. Two neighbours would be discussing the weather beside the produce display. A youngster would be carefully spending a few coins while trying not to spend them all in one place.

And somehow, everyone seemed to know everyone.

The grand reopening advertisement promised bargains. Coffee for 95 cents. Peanut butter for 39 cents. Ice cream for 49 cents.

But what people really got was something you couldn't put a price tag on.

Connection.

That's the thing about old neighbourhood stores. They weren't measured by square footage or quarterly profits. They were measured by handshakes, conversations, and how many people felt welcome when they walked through the door.

The building may be gone. The prices are certainly gone.

But the lesson remains.

The businesses we remember aren't always the biggest ones.

They're the ones that made us feel like neighbours.

At PG Designs, we believe every local business has a story worth telling. Because when people connect with your story, they don't just become customers.

They become part of your community.

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06/21/2026

Eighty years ago today, on June 20, 1946, a group of young Prince George students put on their best clothes, gathered for a photograph, and became part of local history.

The newspaper called them the first graduating class of Prince George Junior-Senior High School.

There they stood — Jack Beech, Walter Pettis, Don Moffat, Jim Hegan, Allan Galinis, Jack Abrahamson, Bennie Hutchison, Bill Morris, Wilfred Spaner, Bud Bunton, George Hamilton, Benny Lloyd, Betty Renshaw, Betty Armstrong, Laurie Olsen, Eileen Ward, Olga Gorbat, Joan Corless, Moria McKenzie, Barbara Austin, Muriel Smith, Daisy Chimolowski, and Elsie Siler.

On that June evening in 1946, the war was finally over, Prince George was growing, and these young graduates were stepping into a future nobody could yet imagine.

Some would raise families here. Some would build businesses. Some would help shape the community through decades of change. At the time, though, they were probably thinking about the same things graduates think about today — friends, summer, jobs, and what came next.

That's what makes old newspaper photos so fascinating. What seems like an ordinary moment becomes something much bigger with the passing of time.

Today, eighty years later, this photograph isn't just a graduation picture. It's a snapshot of the generation that helped build modern Prince George.

Do you recognize any of these names? Did your parents, grandparents, or relatives graduate with this class? We'd love to hear their stories.

At PG Designs, we believe every community is built on stories worth remembering. Whether it's a business celebrating its roots or a family preserving its history, those connections are what make Prince George feel like home.

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06/20/2026

On November 4, 1946, Wally West unlocked the door to a modest photography studio in downtown Prince George — and unknowingly opened a portal to the past.
Wally had an eye not just for people, but for place. Long before Instagram filters and drone shots, he was out there — camera slung over his shoulder — capturing the landmarks that would come to define our town. The wooden bones of the original Simon Fraser Bridge. The first snow on Connaught Hill. The neon glow of old cafés lining Third Avenue.
He didn’t just photograph buildings — he framed the soul of Prince George, one click at a time.
Today, his studio still stands. Same location. Same quiet presence. And while Wally himself is gone, his spirit lives on in every preserved frame — in every downtown storefront he immortalized, every dirt road he watched pave over, and every structure that once stood proud before it was replaced by something newer, shinier… but not always more meaningful.
At PG Designs, we believe history matters — especially here, where the past and present often shake hands on the same block. That’s why we help local businesses honour their roots while stepping confidently into the digital spotlight. Because your brand? It has a story. And we’d love to help you tell it — like Wally did, but with WiFi.
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💬 Have you seen one of Wally’s landmark shots lately? Maybe an old photo of a place you walk past every day? Share it below — let’s keep these stories breathing.
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06/19/2026

If you walked down the corner of 3rd Avenue and George Street in Prince George in 1925, you'd have found a brand-new sign hanging above a familiar building.

It read: McDonald Hotel.

What had once been the Club Café was beginning a new chapter under owner Dave McDonald. The name on the sign had changed, but the purpose remained the same: a warm place to gather, share a meal, and catch up on the latest news from around town.

Back then, hotels weren't just places to sleep. They were where deals were made, hockey scores were debated, jobs were found, and lifelong friendships began. The McDonald Hotel quickly became one of those places.

For decades, it stood as a fixture in downtown Prince George. Loggers fresh from camp, railway workers, travelling salesmen, families, and visitors all passed through its doors. Every table held a story. Every room welcomed another chapter in the life of a growing northern city.

The cars parked outside changed over the years. The storefronts nearby came and went. The city grew and evolved around it.

But the heart of the place remained the same: people gathering together.

That's something we still believe in today.

At PG Designs, we're passionate about helping local businesses tell the stories that make them unique. Because behind every storefront, every company, and every community landmark is a story worth remembering.

What's your story?

📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

06/18/2026

A crowded pool. A hot June afternoon. Hundreds of children enjoying the start of summer.

Then, in a matter of moments, Prince George changed forever.

On June 6, 1970, seven-year-old Barry Bilyk drowned at the Watrous Street outdoor pool. More than 350 swimmers were at the facility that afternoon. When Barry was reported missing, swimmers, lifeguards, and staff searched the pool. Nearly an hour later, he was found at the bottom of the deep end.

The tragedy stunned the city.

Just days later, a coroner's jury examined what had happened and recommended several changes, including more lifeguards, lower pool capacity, greater supervision of non-swimmers, and clearer separation between swimming areas.

For many families, the Watrous Street pool remained an important part of summer. But the aging facility was facing another challenge. New health standards required costly upgrades, and city officials concluded that renovating the pool would cost nearly as much as building a replacement.

The pool eventually closed, and the future of the site remained uncertain. Nearly a decade later, city council was still debating what should become of the former pool property.

Today, the Watrous Street pool is gone, but the story remains a reminder of a tragedy that touched Prince George and the community's efforts to learn from it.

Do you remember the Watrous Street pool or hearing about this event?

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06/16/2026

Thirty-five years ago today, Prince George families were introduced to something that felt pretty special.

A place built for rainy days.

A place built for birthdays.

A place built for family fun.

On June 16, 1991, the Spruceland Family Fun Centre was celebrating the final day of its grand opening weekend. Located behind Spruceland Shopping Centre, the 20,000-square-foot facility promised what every kid wanted and every parent hoped for: a place where the whole family could have fun together.

Inside were arcade games, air hockey, pool tables, carnival games, kiddie rides, an 18-hole mini golf course, and what the newspaper described as North America's only bowling game of its kind.

There were driving games inspired by the Indianapolis 500. Prize counters filled with stuffed toys and treasures. Friendly family competitions. And countless quarters disappearing one game at a time.

The owners told the Citizen they wanted to create a place where families could spend time together rather than sitting at home looking for something to do.

And judging by the memories people still share today, they accomplished exactly that.

Funny how we rarely remember the prizes we won.

But we remember the excitement of walking through the doors.

We remember the sounds.

We remember the people we were with.

And sometimes, that's what made a place special.

Who remembers the Spruceland Family Fun Centre?

What game did you head for first?

The best businesses become part of a community's memories. That's the kind of story we love helping local businesses tell.

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

06/16/2026

61 years ago today!! 🌴

On June 15, 1965, The Outrigger welcomed its first guests at 1200 Sixth Avenue.

For many Prince George residents, this wasn't just somewhere to eat. It was where anniversaries were celebrated, birthdays were marked, business deals were made, and out-of-town visitors were taken when you wanted to show off something special.

Long before themed restaurants became common, The Outrigger brought a taste of the South Pacific to Northern BC. Its distinctive Polynesian-inspired architecture made it one of the most recognizable buildings in town, and stepping through the doors felt like entering a different world.

The newspaper ads called it "Jack Lee's Polynesian Heaven." For generations of Prince George families, it became exactly that.

What makes a restaurant memorable isn't the building or even the menu. It's the memories. The first dates. The family dinners. The celebrations. The people gathered around the table.

Sixty-one years later, mention The Outrigger and watch what happens. Someone remembers the décor. Someone remembers the food. Someone remembers a special night. And suddenly an entire room is sharing stories.

That's when you know a business became something more than a business.

Do you remember The Outrigger? What was your favourite memory?

At PG Designs, we believe every great local business leaves a story behind. We're proud to help tell those stories and preserve the memories that make Prince George home.

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