PG Designs, Prince George, BC (2026)

08/10/2026

August 9, 2026 — On this day 81 years ago, construction of the present was completed.

Long before suitcases rolled across baggage carousels and travellers hurried toward departure gates, the hill southeast of Prince George sounded very different.

Although Prince George had been served by earlier airfields since 1920, City Council selected a new airport site in 1940. The main runway was completed the following year, while construction continued around it.

The airport became part of the Northwest Staging Route, a chain of inland airfields connecting Edmonton with Alaska. During the Second World War, it helped move military aircraft, personnel and supplies northward.

Pan American Airways used Prince George as a stop on its Seattle-to-Fairbanks route, and Canadian Pacific Air Lines began scheduled service to the city in 1942.

Aircraft passing through included P-39 Airacobras, P-63 Kingcobras, B-25 Mitchell bombers, C-47 transports, RCAF Hawker Hurricanes and Bristol Bolingbrokes. Some American aircraft continued through Alaska before being transferred to the Soviet Union under the Allied Lend-Lease program.

By August 9, 1945, the airport complex was complete.

It covered 2,034 acres and included three hard-surfaced runways arranged in a triangle, allowing pilots to take off and land in different directions depending on the wind.

The wartime complex included barracks, staff housing, a medical clinic, gymnasium, cafeteria, power plant, maintenance garage and radio facilities. Movies and USO performances helped entertain the personnel stationed far from home.

After the war, many of the military buildings disappeared. In 1946, the airport was transferred to the federal Department of Transport and began turning its attention toward civilian passenger service.

The terminal and control tower many longtime residents remember officially opened on October 20, 1973. The $2.7-million complex included eight check-in counters, a baggage carousel, restaurant, bar, car-rental counters and parking for 215 vehicles.

Today, Prince George Airport continues to connect Northern BC with the rest of Canada and beyond.
photo credit PG Airport

08/09/2026

I was born right here in Prince George.

But can you guess what year?

Instead of giving away my age, I thought I’d give you a few clues about what was happening around Prince George in the year I arrived. 😄

🏛 Prince George opened its new City Hall. It cost $725,000 to build — and it was only two storeys tall. The additional three storeys wouldn’t be added until 1975.

⛲ The Centennial Fountain was completed using an incredible 40,000 pieces of Venetian glass. Its design reflected Prince George itself — our rivers, clay banks, geology and early history.

🏫 Austin Road Elementary opened its doors on the Hart.

🎓 Prince George residents went to the polls and voted overwhelmingly in favour of establishing a regional college. About 72% voted yes, helping set the wheels in motion for what would become the College of New Caledonia.

🇨🇦 And here’s the clue that will probably give it away...

Canada was celebrating its 100th birthday.

So, based on the clues, what year did I become a citizen of Prince George?

And how many of these Prince George moments do you remember?

That’s one of the things I love about digging into our local history. It isn’t just dates in an old newspaper.

It’s the schools we attended. The buildings we walked past. The places our parents worked. The things that were brand new when we were kids but that we now think of as part of “old Prince George.”

And maybe that’s why storytelling has always made sense to me as a way to market a business.

People may forget an ad.

But give them a story that makes them say, “I remember that,” and suddenly they’re part of the story too.

That’s what we love doing at PG Designs — telling the stories of the town that made us, while helping today’s local businesses become part of tomorrow’s memories.

Have a Prince George story you think we should tell next? Send it our way.

Email: trish @ pg-designs.ca

08/08/2026

THROWBACK: ONE OF MY FIRST JOBS WAS AT BONANZA 🥩

Some old newspaper ads show you what Prince George used to look like.

This one takes me right back there.

Bonanza Steakhouse was one of my first jobs.

Long before PG Designs. Long before social media. Long before I knew I'd someday make a living telling the stories of Prince George businesses.

Back then, I was just a kid with a job.

Bonanza was at 2757 Spruce Street on Highway 97 South. And I absolutely love the directions in this grand-opening ad:

“South of Mr. P.G. Before the bridge.”

No Google Maps required. Find Mr. P.G. and keep going. 😂

Bonanza was part of a North American steakhouse chain that began in 1963 and was originally associated with Dan Blocker — Hoss Cartwright from the television series Bonanza.

It was family dining with a western flavour: steak, chicken, seafood, baked potatoes and, of course, the salad bar.

For the Prince George grand opening, a 16-ounce porterhouse steak was $10.99. There was even a draw for a new mountain bike from Ace Cycle.

But when I look at this ad, I don't really see the $10.99 steak.

I see one of my first jobs.

That's the funny thing about being young. You don't realize you're making memories while you're making them.

You just go to work.

Then decades pass, an old newspaper clipping appears, and suddenly you're back there.

That's why I love telling the stories of local businesses.

A restaurant doesn't just serve meals.

It gives someone their first job.

It's where families have dinner, birthdays are celebrated, friendships begin and memories quietly pile up.

Eventually the sign comes down and the building changes.

But somebody will always say:

“I remember that place.”

I get to say something even better about Bonanza.

“I worked there.”

And maybe that's part of why I do what I do today.

Businesses create stories.

PG Designs helps make sure they're remembered.

Do you remember Bonanza? What was your first job in Prince George?

Email: trish @ pg-designs.ca

08/07/2026

Throwback Thursday: Remember the Spruceland Family Fun Centre? 🎳⛳🎠

Before kids carried an entire arcade around in their pockets, Prince George had a place where you could actually disappear for an afternoon of games.

The Spruceland Family Fun Centre was tucked behind the Spruceland Shopping Centre at 694 Ahbau Street, and this old article describes a whopping 20,000 square feet of family entertainment.

And they packed a LOT into those 20,000 square feet.

There was an 18-hole miniature golf course where you could “pit your skill and cunning” against the course — and, presumably, accuse your brother of cheating when he somehow got a hole-in-one.

There was miniature bowling, which was apparently quite unusual. According to the article, there was only one other miniature bowling operation in North America at the time, located in New Jersey.

There were driving games, and those were especially popular. The writer describes the sounds and expressions coming from the “drivers” as enough to amuse the staff.

In other words, Prince George road rage existed before anyone even left the building. 😂

There was foosball for the older kids, an air hockey table where you could test your hand-eye co-ordination, and plenty of other games where you could challenge somebody — or simply play for a few minutes before wandering off to try something else.

For the little ones, there was even a carousel complete with horses, elephants and other animals for gentle rides.

Then there were the redemption games.

Play the games, test your skill, win coupons and take those coupons over to the Redemption Games area to trade them for prizes.

Anyone who grew up with places like this knows the mathematics involved.

Spend half the afternoon earning enough tickets to proudly walk away with a tiny plastic treasure worth approximately 17 cents.

And it was GLORIOUS. 😂

There was also a snack bar, birthday parties and enough different activities that an entire family could go together without everyone having to enjoy the same thing.

That was actually the idea behind the place.

Operators Barry Yip and Mike Menager believed families were looking for more things they could do together. Instead of entertainment being something you simply watched, the Spruceland Family Fun Centre was built around participating.

Bowling.

Mini golf.

Foosball.

Air hockey.

Driving games.

Carousel rides.

Redemption games.

Prizes.

Snacks.

And 20,000 square feet in which to wear your parents completely out.

There’s a little marketing lesson hiding in this old Prince George memory too.

Barry Yip and Mike Menager noticed how families were changing the way they spent their free time and built something around what their community wanted.

Technology changes. Entertainment changes. Marketing changes.

Knowing your community doesn’t.

That’s one of the reasons we love looking back at old Prince George businesses at PG Designs. They weren’t simply places to spend money. They became part of people's childhoods, family stories and memories of growing up here.

So here's the real Throwback Thursday test:

Who remembers actually going to the Spruceland Family Fun Centre — and which game did you head for first?

If your Prince George business has a story worth remembering, or you're busy creating the next place people will remember years from now, we'd love to help tell it.

Email: trish @ pg-designs.ca

08/06/2026

Long before satellites watched the skies, there was Baldy Hughes.

Perched high above the forests southwest of Prince George, this mountaintop became one of Canada's first lines of defence during the Cold War.

Construction of Baldy Hughes Air Station began in the early 1950s on land once homesteaded by pioneer Owen "Baldy" Hughes. By the time construction was complete in 1952, a remarkable community had emerged from the wilderness.

On April 1, 1953, the 918th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron officially became operational. From that day forward, radar operators worked around the clock, scanning the skies for unidentified aircraft as part of the Pinetree Line—North America's first radar shield against the threat of Soviet bombers. (Canadian Military Communications Museum)

But Baldy Hughes was much more than radar domes.

At its peak, it was home to hundreds of American airmen and their families. The station included barracks, family housing, a headquarters building, a mess hall, recreation facilities, a school, a trailer park, motor pools, and its own radio station. Many of those families became regular visitors to Prince George, shopping downtown, attending local events, and becoming part of the community. (Canadian Military Communications Museum)

One of the most remarkable stories happened before the station even opened.

Construction crews had already begun building the base when local landowner John Coreless discovered they were working on property he still owned. Construction stopped while ownership was sorted out, and after negotiations he reportedly sold the land—walking away about $4,500 richer. It's one of those wonderful pieces of Prince George history that almost disappeared with time.

Today, little remains of the once-bustling military community, but for more than 35 years Baldy Hughes quietly stood watch over the skies of Western Canada.

Sometimes the biggest stories are hidden just beyond the city limits.

Photo credit: Canadian Air Defence Museum – Baldy Hughes (1959), courtesy of James "Pat" Patterson.

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08/05/2026

John McInnis.

Born in Prince Edward Island, McInnis came west to British Columbia in 1897 during the Kootenay mining boom. Trained as a carpenter, he quickly earned a reputation as a skilled builder, but his ambitions reached far beyond construction.

In 1907, while living in Grand Forks, he was elected to the BC Legislature. During his first term he introduced legislation calling for an eight-hour workday—an idea considered radical at the time. Although defeated, it reflected his lifelong belief that working people deserved fair treatment.

In 1910, John and his family arrived in South Fort George, where he established himself as a builder and contractor.

In 1921, his company won the contract to build a $20,000 addition to the Prince George Hospital, helping expand health care for the growing community.

During the 1930s, McInnis became active in the newly formed Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), attending the founding conference that led to the Regina Manifesto. He later represented the Fort George riding as MLA from 1945 to 1949.

As MLA, he fought for better roads, improved government services for Northern British Columbia, tourism, and new industries that would create permanent jobs.

During the Second World War, he chaired the Local Ration Board, overseeing the distribution of butter, sugar, tea, coffee, and other rationed goods.

One of his proudest moments came in September 1947 when he officially opened Prince George's new Provincial Library building on Third Avenue.

His contributions were widely recognized. In 1965, he became Prince George's first "Good Citizen of the Year." The John McInnis Junior Forest Warden Camp was later named in his honour, followed by John McInnis Junior Secondary School when it opened in 1972.

John McInnis passed away on March 23, 1972

08/04/2026

Did you know Prince George was once home to a jeweller who had survived imprisonment in Siberia, worked in Panama, and spent more than 40 years repairing watches?

In August 1946, William "Bill" Mozel opened a radio and watch repair shop in Giscome, bringing with him more than four decades of experience as a watchmaker.

About a year later, he moved to Prince George and opened his own jewellery store. By 1948, his advertisements placed the business in the "London Hotel Building," next to the Wayside Café. He specialized in watch repairs, jewellery, radios, and even kept replacement watch mainsprings on hand while customers waited.

But Bill's story stretched far beyond Prince George.

In a feature published by the Prince George Citizen, Mozel explained that he had been born in what was then Austria, later caught up in the shifting borders of Europe. During the First World War, he was sent to Siberia by the Russians, eventually escaping after the Russian Revolution. He later worked in Panama, owned a successful jewellery business, spent the Second World War working in the shipyards, and even overcame a devastating injury after nearly losing his right thumb—thanks to pioneering surgery that restored almost full use of his hand.

Sadly, eye trouble and the cold northern winters eventually forced Bill to leave Prince George. He hoped to open another jewellery store somewhere in the Okanagan.

We're still researching what happened next.

Do you remember Bill Mozel or his jewellery store? Or do you have photos or memories of the London Hotel Building or the Wayside Café? We'd love to hear your stories and continue piecing together this fascinating chapter of Prince George's history.

Photo credit: Prince George Citizen (1946–1949 editions).

08/03/2026

Construction began in 1962, during a time when Prince George was booming. New neighbourhoods were appearing almost overnight as young families moved to the city to work in forestry, the railways, and local industries. School District 57 needed classrooms fast, but Superintendent David Todd had a different idea.

Instead of simply building another standard school, he wanted one that reflected the latest thinking about how children learn.

The result was Quinson Elementary.

Unlike most schools of the day, Quinson wasn't built with ordinary rectangular classrooms lined along long hallways. Instead, architect T.A. Morrow designed unique five-sided, pentagonal classrooms. The unusual shape allowed desks to be arranged in different ways, encouraged small-group learning, improved interaction between teachers and students, and supported a more flexible style of teaching. More than sixty years later, the design still feels surprisingly modern.

Even the gymnasium broke tradition.

Rather than the typical rectangular layout, Quinson featured a large hexagonal gym complete with a stage, generous spectator space, storage rooms, and food service areas. It wasn't just built for physical education—it was designed to become a gathering place for the entire community.

When the City of Prince George added Quinson Elementary to its Heritage Register in 2018, it wasn't simply because the building had become old. It was recognized because it represents a rare moment in our city's history when educators believed that architecture itself could help children learn better.

Did you attend Quinson Elementary? We'd love to hear your memories, favourite teachers, or photos from your school days.

Photo: Quinson Elementary School

08/02/2026

There was a time in Prince George when the coolest thing on the block wasn’t a car — it was a banana seat bike.

Long, cushy, and just rebellious enough, that seat was your ticket to adventure. Pair it with high-rise handlebars and a deck of cards in the spokes, and suddenly you weren’t just riding — you were flying. And if you were really lucky, that dream machine came from Koops Bikes, the place where every kid’s summer started.

You’d take off after breakfast, pedalling hard toward the corner store with a pocketful of change and a plan to stretch it into as much sugar as humanly possible. Then it was off to cruise the block, race your friends, or loop endlessly around the cul-de-sac like it was your own private track.

And that skinny little tree in the yard? Just a city planting back then — barely five feet tall. Today, it towers over the house, a quiet witness to every wobble, every wipeout, and every triumphant coast home.

We may have outgrown the banana seat, but not the feeling it gave us — pure Prince George freedom on two wheels.

08/01/2026

Every great tradition has a beginning... and for the Prince George Auto Racing Association (PGARA), it all started with a conversation over coffee.

During the winter of 1952, eight to ten local automobile enthusiasts gathered in the machine shop of McKenzie, White & Dunsmuir Ltd. at 511 George Street. They all shared a passion for fast cars, but they also recognized a growing problem—drivers were testing their vehicles on public roads.

Their solution was to create the Prince George Auto Racing Association, giving drivers a safe, organized place to race while taking "competition driving" off local highways.

From the very beginning, every race car was required to have roll-over bars and seat belts, something that was remarkably progressive in the early 1950s. The founders also adopted strict membership rules. Members who accumulated three traffic convictions or repeatedly broke the law could have their membership revoked. They wanted racers to be competitors on the track, not on city streets.

The club established three divisions:

🏁 Stock Cars

🏁 Modified Stock

🏁 Custom

The association also had ambitions beyond oval racing. Plans called for stock car races, modified stock competitions, custom car events, and even acceleration trials as soon as a suitable drag strip could be secured.

Dan McMaster was elected as PGARA's first president, with Art Babcock serving as vice-president and Alf Kelbel as secretary-treasurer. Weekly meetings were held every Wednesday evening in the back of McKenzie, White & Dunsmuir Ltd., where new members could join for annual dues of $10.

By the summer of 1953, volunteers had built PGARA's first dirt oval on airport property near where Costco stands today. Then, on Sunday, September 6, 1953, more than 2,000 spectators turned out to watch Prince George's first organized stock car races. Sponsored by the Loyal Order of Moose, admission was just 25 cents, and the proceeds helped fund a permanent racing facility.

Photo credit: PGARA, the Citizen and Exploration place

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