Frizzell says experience, regional partnerships key as he seeks Prince George’s top job

While acknowledging challenges facing the forestry sector, Frizzell pointed to major developments that he believes will drive growth in the region, including construction of the new acute care tower at University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, the ongoing development of a mental health and addictions facility, and several mining projects across northern B.C.

“There’s going to be change, and we’re going to need steady leadership,” he said. “We’re going to need leadership that will activate all eight of the councillor candidates.”

Frizzell said one of his priorities as mayor would be fostering a collaborative council environment where elected officials work together toward shared goals.

“We’ve seen times where there’s been dysfunction, where we spent more time in council with teams going against teams instead of working for the good of the city,” he said. “What I do is build teams that deliver results.”

Economic diversification was another key theme of Frizzell’s campaign message. With the loss of major industrial tax revenue from Northwood expected to impact the city’s finances, he said attracting new businesses and industries will be critical to maintaining affordability for residents.

“It is absolutely critical that not only do we go out and attract those industries and commercial ventures, but that we attract the ones that fit Prince George,” Frizzell said.

He noted that Prince George is already seeing significant private-sector interest, citing new grocery store developments and the construction of a FedEx facility in the Boundary Road industrial area as examples of continued investment in the community.

However, Frizzell said economic growth alone is not enough. He believes the city must use upcoming opportunities strategically to strengthen community amenities, pay down infrastructure obligations and support population growth through smart development.

“We need to capitalize on this moment,” he said. “It’s going to be growth, and it’s going to be time to invest in the things that we really, really value.”

That includes further investment in arts, culture and sports while encouraging infill development to make better use of existing infrastructure and reduce the need for costly expansions.

Frizzell also emphasized the mayor’s role as an ambassador for the city and advocate to senior levels of government. Drawing on his experience with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, he said building strong relationships with provincial and federal leaders will be a major focus if elected.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Frizzell said his work at the national level helped municipalities secure federal support through the Safe Restart Fund, which provided Prince George with funding to address local needs during the crisis.

Looking ahead, he said he would focus on building strong working relationships with other municipalities, provincial leaders and the federal government from the outset of his term.

“From day one, it’s identifying who the big leaders are going to be among the urban municipalities and then activating our team,” Frizzell said.

He also highlighted Prince George’s memorandum of understanding involving municipal, regional, provincial, federal and Indigenous governments, calling it a unique model that allows different levels of government to work together on shared priorities.

“What that says is that we’re going to work together on issues of priority to our residents,” he said.

As election day approaches, Frizzell is making the case that his nearly two decades of municipal experience, combined with his background in advocacy and relationship-building, make him the right choice to guide Prince George through a period of growth and transformation.

General voting day for the 2026 municipal election is scheduled for Saturday, October 17.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Frizzell says experience, regional partnerships key as he seeks Prince George’s top job

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