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Art and music and dance, oh my! There's more to Prince George than meets the eye. Scratch the surface, and you'll find the city teeming with venues ready to bring you top-shelf arts and culture. Local Realtor Dean Birks highlights, in no particular order, ten locations to see all of arts & culture this city has to offer.

1. Books & Company, and the Artspace, 1685 3rd Avenue

We include these two together because the beloved 3rd Avenue bookstore is a one-two punch of two amazing arts venues in one building. Below, the bookstore and its ensuite Cafe Voltaire play host to regular author meet and greets, spoken word events, and open mic nights with local hosts. Upstairs, the ArtSpace holds regular punk shows, theatre nights, and even a recent art exhibit curated by local tattoo artists. http://www.booksandcompany.ca/

2. Prince George Public Library, 888 Canada Games Way

Not only can you retrieve books and CDs about multiple forms of art here, the library also holds free art events such as acting workshops, meet and greets for poets and writers, and sessions for those wanting to learn more about art forms such as animation or comic books. http://www.pgpl.ca/events

3. Theatre NorthWest, 556 North Nechako Road #36

Theatre Northwest is in its 25th season of providing quality theatre and musical theatre entertainment to the people of our fair city. This year features 6 total productions and 4 main stage productions. From classic plays such as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to more contemporary fair like the 2oo4 Governor General Award-winning Canadian production, Girl In The Goldfish Bowl. http://theatrenorthwest.com/shows/

4. The Prince George Playhouse, 2883 Recreation Place

Beloved annual events include performances by "Judy Russell Presents," a local musical troupe, as well as Cinema CNC's annual indie film festival, and features from Coldsnap, PG's winter music festival. Check their website for other offerings like local artist showcases and the occasional operatic performance. http://pgplayhouse.ca/events/

5. The CN Centre

Big name artists, Comedians, and productions have graced the CN Centre over the years, including but not limited to: Elton John, Marilyn Manson, Shania Twain, Russell Peters, Jerry Seinfeld, Cirque De Soleil. Prince George's Northern Fancon is also a yearly top-class Northern BC event. http://cncentre.ca/Pages/Welcome.aspx

6. University of Northern BC, 3333 University Way

The university regularly plays host to photograph workshops, student theatre performances, events from in-house radio station CFUR, and anthropological talks on First Nations art. Make sure to check out the Rotunda Art Gallery while you're there! www.unbc.ca/events

7. Two Rivers Gallery, 725 Canada Games Way

Northern BC's only world-class art gallery features 4 high-concept shows in their main galleries each year, as well as a monthly rotating artist feature. Check their website for other recurring participatory art events for the whole family. Attendance is free for the public on Thursdays. http://www.tworiversgallery.ca/ 

8. Omineca Arts Centre 369 Victoria Street

This up and comer features sponsored artists from Emily Carr University, as well as local artists, musicians, films, Karaoke nights, and comedians. https://www.ominecaartscentre.com/

9. Vanier Hall, 2901 Griffiths Avenue

This diverse hall regularly hosts the Prince George Symphony, ballet performances, and comedy performances. https://www.ticketmaster.ca/Vanier-Hall-tickets-Prince-George/venue/139490 

10. The Prince George Legion #43, 1335 7th Avenue

The local legion has exploded as an underground music venue in the past few years, hosting local favourites like Canadian Waste, Crones, and Children of the Wave. Visiting bands include stars such as BA Johnston, Kitty & the Rooster, Carolyn Mark, and CR Avery. https://www.facebook.com/MadLoonEntertainment/

We hope that this list helps you find your cultural niche in our wonderful city. Dean Birks  PREC* has been a national award-winning realtor in the Prince George area for over 25 years and is dedicated to the happiness and satisfaction of his clients and our community. For more information about his Realty practice, please visit his website at https://deanbirks.com/.

Here is link for full details - Click Here

PRINCE GEORGE — In the next few days, owners of more than 247,500 properties throughout Northern BC can expect to receive their 2019 assessment notices, which reflect market value as of July 1, 2018.

"The majority of residential home owners within the region can expect a moderate increase compared to last year's assessment," says Deputy Assessor Jarret Krantz. "There are some exceptions to this such as Kitimat where owner’s will see increases of 20 per cent or greater. Also, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality where there have been decreases in the range of 20 per cent or more.”

The summaries below provides estimates of average 2018 versus 2019 assessed values of properties throughout the region. The average is represented by the median, or mid point, value which removes the influence of outliers.

These examples demonstrate market trends for single-family residential properties by geographic area:

Here is link to full details http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1126248439379&ca=ae292b26-c26f-4ef7-b1ca-81ade4ad65a6

The BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) reported the average house sale price (single detached) for October 2018 was $328,678 with 83 units sold in Prince George. For October 2017, the average house sale price was $322,118 with 87 units sold. The average house sale price has increased 2.0% when compared to the same month last year.

Press Here for full report.

Downtown vacancy rates continue downward trend

The total value of building permits issued in Prince George in 2018 has already reached an all-time high of $169.26 Million, easily surpassing the previous high mark of $147.88 Million set in 2007. The value includes a record amount of private sector investment, which at $135.17 Million, represents nearly 80 percent of the total and passes the previous record of $121.6 Million set in 2016. Residential building permit values have also set a new record at $100.31 Million.

“The value of building permits is a key measure of economic progress,” says Lyn Hall, Mayor of Prince George. “This number suggests a great increase in construction activity and related employment, as well as other direct and indirect economic benefits.”

The top 10 projects for 2018 are as follows:

1. New construction of Kelly Road Secondary School: $28,322,950
2. Parkade next to City Hall: $12,927,973
3. Apartment building in College Heights (Building B): $6,700,000
4. Apartment building in College Heights (Building A): $5,855,000
5. Renovation at UHNBC: $5,200,000
6. Federated Co-Operatives Ltd. New Bulk Plant (BCR Industrial Park): $3,500,000
7. Addition to Show Lounge at Treasure Cove Casino: $3,000,000
8. New multi-family development (3rd Ave): $2,600,000
9. New multi-family development (Vanier Drive): $1,600,000
10. (Tie) Alterations to temporary community living space for AWAC in downtown Prince George (Association Advocating for Women and Children): $1,500,000
    Interior alterations and patio canopy addition to Browns Socialhouse at Pine Centre $1,500,000

427 building permits have been issued so far this year.

Link to full story http://bit.ly/2qO25mo

Strong steady growth appears to be the trend for the City of Prince George.

Link to full details of Economic Development eNewsletter http://bit.ly/2ERTmd0

With respect to our neighbor to the south which promotes itself as the Tournament Capital of Canada, Kamloops has nothing on Prince George when it comes to sports.
Prince George has been crazy about sports from its earliest days. There used to be a wooden ski jumping ramp off Connaught Hill and jumpers would land (hopefully on two feet!) roughly where the library and the civic center are today. Prince George has produced Winter Olympians in speed skating, snowboard cross, biathlon and virtually every form of skiing there is. This past summer, Prince George welcomed home Brett Connolly with the Stanley Cup he won with the Washington Capitals. He’s the third former Prince George Cougar to win the Cup and the second former resident (Turner Stevenson was the first) to bring the Stanley Cup to Prince George. Also, this year Jess Pettis finished 1st in Canada for Motocross Pro 250 class and was picked to represent Canada in the International Motocross even held this year in the USA on Oct 6 - 7 2018 where he finished 9th overall.
But that’s just the elite athletes who have gone on to the national and international stage. Most towns in Canada, from Prince George to the smallest village in Saskatchewan, can boast about their guy or gal who made the big leagues. What Prince George really excels at is participation. Along with the many competitive athletes, from high school and city league teams in various sports, it seems nearly everyone plays one or more sports regularly, from golf in the summer to skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. They don’t do it to win games (well, sometimes they do it to win bets!) but because it’s fun, it’s healthy, it’s smarter than binge watching Netflix and it builds community and memories with friends and family.
When people from outside of Prince George look to relocate here for work, they obviously look at things like housing affordability and good schools for their kids but the most common question I get is about what we have for sports and recreation. Where are the ski hills and cross-country trails? Where are the indoor and outdoor rinks for hockey and figure skating? Where are the golf courses, hiking trails, workout facilities, public gymnasiums, curling rinks, baseball diamonds, badminton or pickleball and soccer and football fields? Where can one go to take up new sports, like archery or long & short gun range? (PG has one of the longest gun ranges in Canada). Does Prince George have a track for me to race my lovingly restored muscle car or race amateur or professional motocross? What does Prince George have for wheelchair athletes and Special Olympians?
My answer is always the same. We have it all and more.
We have some of the top recreational and competitive sports facilities in the country, from the Charles Jago Northern Sports Centre, to CN Centre and the Kin Arenas to the facilities at Otway. But don’t take my word for it – we beat Kelowna and Kamloops to land the 2015 Canada Winter Games for more than one reason.
We cheer for our teams, of course, from packing Rolling Mix Concrete Arena last spring for the incredible playoff run by the Prince George Spruce Kings to the deafening screams in high school gyms during volleyball and basketball season, but when we’re not rooting for the UNBC Timberwolves or the Rated PG Rollergirls, we’re out there doing it, rain or shine, all four seasons.
For new residents looking to settle in and make friends or for longtime citizens wanting to expand their social circle, the fastest way to do it is to take up a sports, join a club or league and get active.
See you out there!

Here is link to City of PG - Things to do page.