Local residents attending the Safe Streets Prince George rally on Oct. 16 at CN Centre can make their voices heard by voting with their phones in an online poll during the event.
Rally organizers, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Prince George, are urging residents to come together on Thursday night, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., to give all levels of government direct feedback on the action they’d like to see to combat the growing problems with crime and disorder on local streets.
“The questions will encourage audience members to make their own tough choices about what are the most urgent actions we need from the local, provincial, and federal government and how to pay for it,” Neil Godbout, executive director of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, said in a media release. “The responses will be shared on the screen in real time to allow audience members to see what their fellow residents are thinking and to help elected officials set priorities.”
An onstage panel will discuss the same questions to offer insights on the complex issues before the audience will be asked to vote. The panel, moderated by Godbout, will feature:
– Dr. Barbara Kane, the medical lead in the Mental Health Program at the Northern Health Authority. Dr. Kane’s advocacy efforts contributed to the provincial government’s announcement last month to create an involuntary care facility in Prince George.
– Eoin Foley, president of Downtown Prince George, owner/operator of Nancy O’s, Betulla Burning and The Dudley, and active member of the provincial Save Our Streets Coalition
– Cindi Pohl, past president and current director of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, the owner of a small business, and an experience leader in the waste management and recycling industry.
“We acknowledge that this panel does not include all the voices that must be part of the solution — including First Nations, government, law enforcement, the legal community, social services, and advocates for the unhoused,” said Chrisie Berry, Executive Director of Downtown Prince George.
“Our goal in moving quickly to organize this event was to draw urgent attention to the public safety crisis downtown and to call for collective action. As these discussions continue, we know it’s critical to bring these perspectives forward to work together toward real and lasting change.”Downtown Prince George has created a page on its website (https://downtownpg.com/voices-for- change-safe-street-rally/) to answer questions about the rally, provide background information on the problem, highlight recommended action items for government, and to share the contact information of elected officials so residents can engage with their politicians directly.
The Voices For Change Safe Streets Prince George rally is a free event, set for Oct. 16th at CN Centre,
starting at 7 p.m.