PG Designs

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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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.

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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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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