He’s turning 60 and you can celebrate with him, from home

To celebrate you can share your selfies with him on social media, tagging him on Instagram @therealMrPG and using the hashtag #MrPG60 on other social media platforms to be entered to win a special Mr.PG prize pack. You are also able to download the Mr. PG colouring page created by Erin Stagg—the Community Arts Council’s artist-in-residence—and share a picture of you colouring on social media.

Residents are also able to celebrate by using a Mr.PG Facebook frame on a Facebook photo or by using a Mr.PG background on a Zoom call, purchasing a limited-edition Mr.PG plush-toy dressed with a locally made and hand knitted scarf from The Exploration Place by emailing the museum at info@theexplorationplace.com, or purchasing an order from one of the Prince George Farmers Market Association food vendors and you may receive a pint of spruce tip ice cream from the Frozen Paddle to mark Mr. PG’s birthday.

The History:

The idea for a mascot for the city was brought on by Harold Moffat, and the very first Mr.PG was created by Hans Roine, to represent what was then a thriving local forest industry.

On May 8, 1960 Mr. PG was debuted at the Simon Fraser Inn to welcome delegates to a Rotary International conference.

The Mr.PG parade float travelled across the province. (Photo Courtesy, City of Prince George)

Mr. PG was such a hit that it prompted Bill Jones, the City’s Public Works Superintendent at the time, to come up with an idea to feature Mr.PG as a parade float.

A 38-foot-tall Mr.PG appeared at the annual Elks Day Parade in 1961, and continued to appear in parades across the province, including the Grey Cup parade in Vancouver.

“We had a lot of weird experiences when we took Mr. PG to out-of-town parades (Kelowna, Vancouver, etc). Since I wanted him to hold a live spruce tree – roots and all – you can imagine the fun and games we went through to find and dig up a 10-foot evergreen tree in Vancouver, for example.”—Bill Jones

Mr.PG has come a long way since then, with his very own plush toy, appearing on post cards, pins and even socks.

You can find him watching over the city with a smile on his face, at the intersection of Hwy.16 and 97.

by Veronica Beltran

He’s turning 60 and you can celebrate with him, from home

The History:

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