27 year old male in custody after motorized mayhem left one hurt and much damage at Rupert Square mall

Calls were quick to 911 as  Shoppers on a busy Saturday afternoon called in to call for assistance as an incident unfolded at the Rupert Square Mall parking lot.

As the calls came in, members from the Prince Rupert detachment were dispatched to attend to reports of an erratic driver on the lower parking lot, with the accounts to police outlining the nature of the mayhem in the lot.

"Prince Rupert RCMP received a report of a man driving into vehicles and carts around the parking lot of the Prince Rupert Square Mall. 

Members attended rapidly and located the 27 year-old man behind the wheel of his vehicle. Members initiated a traffic stop and eventually arrested the man for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. 

The man was taken into custody and further investigation revealed the man was suspected to have operated his vehicle under the influence of drugs.  

As a result of the activity, multiple vehicles were hit and one female sustained minor injuries and attended the hospital." -- Statement from Constable Gabriel Gravel, Media Relations, Prince Rupert RCMP

Things are calm now, but Saturday afternoon the
Lower Parking Lot at Rupert Square saw a large police
presence in response to a call of an erratic driver

With the incident now at an end,  the Prince Rupert RCMP will be forwarding charges to the BC Prosecution Service. 

Included among the list of allegations now to be considered:  dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failure or refusal to comply with demand, assault with a weapon, mischief over $5000 and failure to remain at scene of an accident.

The case file for the incident can be reviewed here.

The Social Media feed Prince Rupert community Bulletin Board has been compiling some video which features the post incident scene, with members of the local detachment wrapping up their investigation into the afternoon's events.

More notes on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest is available here.

Prince Rupert motorists gain a break at the pumps this week as price tumbles to $1.52 to $1.49 per litre

Best value per litre of gas in Prince Rupert this week 
was found at the Industrial Park PetroCan Canada station

After a lengthy period of a price point of 1.57.9 per litre of gas in the downtown core, this week  brought some welcome relief for motorists with a significant drop in the cost of gasoline, which currently is going for 1.52.9 at the three stations close to the main commercial area

For those willing to make the short drive to the Industrial park, the price at the PetroCan on Kaien Road is even more appealing, currently posted at at 1.49.9  making for a drop of eight cents for the city from the last time we did the tour of local stations on November 15.

If weekend travel is on your agenda, the results are varied across the Northwest towards Prince George.

Further down the highway, the GasBuddy website has the checklist of gas prices for those with extended driving on the horizon.

Terrace is set at 1.56.9 per litre for the four  of ten stations reporting, though two have dropped their prices to 1.49.9 per litre

Kitimat is reporting a range between 1.55.9 and 1.49.9 for its three stations

Smithers has a price point per litre at 1.54.9 reported by two of their four stations listed

Burns Lake  ranges from 1.45.9 to 150.0  for two of six stations listed

The 37 stations listed for Prince George have a price point ranging from 1.34.9 to 1.45.7 depending where you are in Northern British Columbia's largest city.

Gas analysts continue to suggest that we may want to buckle up for the next little while as the price is anticipated to fluctuate over the near term. So enjoy the bargain hunting of the moment.

More notes on past gas prices can be explored from our Highway 16 archive and Commercial Sector archive.

Full Weekend of Seawolves Hockey ahead at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre

A chance to check up on Prince Rupert Minor Hockey comes this weekend, with a range of games scheduled against competitors from Smithers, Kitimat and Vanderhoof as teams make their way to the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.

The weekend starts early with an under 15 match up between the Prince Rupert squad and Kitimat at 8AM, with Sunday's schedule coming to an end with a 12:30 puck drop between the Under 18 Seawolves and Smithers.

The full schedule for close to thirty hours of fast paced hockey  to cheer on can be viewed below:

Prince Rupert Minor Hockey is also noting the rebirth for their website, which has come back on line providing a range of options for hockey players, coaches and parents to make use of as the season moves forward. 

League officials made note of the efforts of Tina Mack to rebuild the portal and get it back into game shape.

Check out the latest themes for the website here.

Follow more notes on Prince Rupert Minor Hockey from their Social Media stream.

We also have items of interest on minor hockey across the Northwest from our archive page.

Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen takes concerns over RCMP enforcement on Wet'suwet'en territory to RCMP Commissioner

Nathan Cullen, the NDP MLA for Stikine has posted the details of a letter today, that he has addressed to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. 

With the MLA and resident of the Bulkley Valley expressing his concerns over the recent measures taken as part the enforcement activity by members of the RCMP, near the Coastal GasLink pipeline camp in Wet'suwet'en territory, near Houston.

In the correspondence posted to his Social Media stream,  Mr. Cullen recounts his thoughts on a recent video he has viewed related to the enforcement action and relays the concerns he says have also been brought to his office from constituents in recent days.

The main text of his letter to Commissioner Lucki acknowledges the responsibilities and authority provided to the RCMP under the Police Act; as well as to request that the Commissioner personally review the actions referenced in his letter.

He concludes his three paragraphs of concerns asking for the Commissioner to  consider "what actions might be constituted as necessary during enforcement actions addressing civil disobedience .

Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen's letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki
(click to enlarge)

The Stikine MLA's correspondence of today follows some fallout in his constituency with hereditary  leaders of the Wet'suwet'en recently issuing an eviction notice for the MLA from his offices in New Hazelton.

Earlier this week, Mr. Cullen had noted that he had plans to speak to those leaders; but as of yet he has not indicated if there has been any resolution to the eviction call, nor the results of his conversation with the Indigenous leadership.

The NDP MLA is not the first public official to raise concerns over the recent enforcement activities in the Wet'suwet'en Territory.

As we noted last week, NDP Skeena-Bulkley MP Taylor Bachrach raised his own concerns in the House of Commons, addressing his comments to Marco Mendicino, the Federal Minister of Public Safety, who has oversight on the federal police force.

So far there has been no indication made public from Federal or provincial government officials, as to what, if any kind of review has taken place or is planned towards the events of mid November.

More notes on both the Stikine MLA and Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP can be reviewed below:

MLA Nathan Cullen

MP Taylor Bachrach

Prince Rupert RCMP ready to ramp up their holiday traffic enforcement plans

It's the season of bright lights, but two colours you may not want to see in your rearview mirror are the blue and red ones indicating a soon to arrive conference with a member of the constabulary from the Prince Rupert RCMP or BC Highway Patrol.

It is the season for enhanced traffic enforcement measures as local Mounties and those who patrol the highway to Terrace and beyond keep a watchful eye on our driving and make for the annual Christmas Counterattack campaign.

Already motorists may have seen the increased attention on the local roads as the Terrace based Highway unit makes its presence known, along with the usual enforcement efforts of the members from the detachment on Sixth West.

That as the Counter Attack program got underway on Wednesday, with the month long program gaining some additional focus tomorrow which is National Driving enforcement Day.

With the British Columbia Highway patrol noting of the increased presence you will see this weekend.

BC Highway Patrol units and RCMP detachments across the province will be implementing their respective enforcement plans on various dates throughout the month and motorists can expect to see a heightened police presence targeting impaired drivers during December and beyond.

In their information statement this week launching the program, the BC RCMP noted of the annual toll that impaired driving takes on families across the province.

Poor decisions can have tragic consequences for you and others. Please make alternate arrangements if you plan to consume anything that impairs your ability to drive. By finding alternative ways home such as public transit, taxi or a designated driver, you can ensure that you, and others sharing the road with you, get to their destination safely. If you do drive, please make it a habit to drive sober every time you get behind the wheel to help make our highways safer together. -- Chief Superintendent Holly Turton, the Officer in Charge of BC Highway Patrol.

In addition to the Counterattack program, local members of the Prince Rupert detachment will be watching for distracted drivers, those with a lead foot or inclined towards less than cautious driving practices.

Over the course of this month, we will find numerous  police road-checks taking place around the region, so if inclined to celebrate, ensure that alternative means of transportation are available.

ICBC has joined in on the safety messaging of the season, with some helpful advice to review here.

More notes on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest can be explored here.

Channel your Secret (or not So Secret) Santa and lend a hand to the North Coast Transition Society

As we get further into the holiday season, those services in the community that provide assistance to those in the most need on the North Coast become a little more spread thin in what they can do ... so as you're considering your plans for the weeks ahead, perhaps spare a thought and maybe some help for the work of the North Coast Transition Society.

The organization which operates a number of housing and support options in the Prince Rupert area including the homeless shelter, has been receiving inquiries as to how residents of the region might be able to help. 

And towards that, they have provided a list of items that would be greatly appreciated by those who make use of their facilities and services in the community.

In a Social media message from Wednesday, the NCTS outlined their hopes of being able to continue the tradition of providing a stocking for every woman, man and child living at their housing facilities.

Their goal for 2021 is to of fill 120 stockings this holiday period, with the distribution list ranging from the Transition House, to supportive housing and the city's homeless shelter.

Some of the suggestions include:

Large - XL gift bags (easier to stuff than stockings)
Shampoo/conditioner
Tooth brushes/paste
Tampons/pads
Hair brushes/accessories
Slippers Socks
Underwear
 Chocolates/treats
 Snack foods
 Gift cards for groceries/coffee/restaurants
 Movie / pool tickets
Journals Markers/colouring pencils
Money to NCTS to buy items for stockings 

The opportunity to spread some kindness over the holidays seems tailor made for office groups, social groups, sports teams and classrooms across the city.

The Society recently had a welcome bit of support from the Prince Rupert Lions Club which dropped off 10,000 dollars in winter clothing for the use of those in need.

Drop off location for those looking to lend a hand is Blue Heron Program offices at 1402 Park Avenue (middle archway in the driveway - blue door). 

They are accepting your generosity Monday to Friday from 10am to 4:30pm  

Should you wish to reach out to them for more information give the NCTS a call at 250-627-8959 extension 31

To follow along with their efforts on Park Avenue and around the city follow the NCTS Facebook page.

More notes on Community themes can be found from our Community Notes archive page.

All Native Basketball Tournament Organizers announce Hall of Famers for 2022 induction

With interest and excitement for the rebound year for the All Native Basketball Tournament building in Prince Rupert and beyond, the organizers of ANBT 2022  have released the selections for the Hall of Fame Ceremony during Tournament week in February.

In a post to the ANBT Facebook the newest inductees  for 2022 were introduced:

With the All Native Tournament Committee announcing George Robinson player from New Aiyansh, Malcolm Sampson Coach from Port Simpson/Lax Kw'alaams, Thomas McKay as a builder, and the Kaien Island Ladies team as first Winner in the Ladies Division.

The Hall of Fame ceremony is among one of the many events during Tournament week that provides opportunity to salute the participants and champions of past years, and as some discussion on the ANBT Facebook page shows, spark no shortage of debate on the years of the Tournament's past.

The ANBT returns to the Russell Gamble Gymnasium and Civic Centre complex on February 13th, a welcome revival of the annual event which had been sidelined in 2021 owing to COVID.

In October it was announced that the qualifying tournament process for the Big show would not take place for the 2022 event, with teams indicating their interest in participation since October.

With the much anticipated return for the tournament comes an opening ceremony that will feature the Haida Nation in the spotlight for the always memorable opening event.

More notes on the planning for ANBT 2022 can be found from the Tournament Facebook page.

More background on the event is available from our archive page.