Standing nearly 27 feet tall at the corner of highways 16 and 97, Mr. PG is fast approaching 60 years on the job.
His story began when former Prince George mayor and Northern Hardware owner Harold Moffat, came up with the idea in the ’50s.
Mr. PG served as a symbol of the importance of the forestry industry to the northern capital, similar to characters like Paul Bunyon or Johnny Canuck.
The lumberjack made his debut at the Rotary International Conference in downtown Prince George in 1960.
The Exploration Place is teaming up with the city to plan a 3-day birthday bash, starting May 8th, in honor of the famous citizen.
“We are very excited to be a part of Mr. PG’s 60th birthday, he’s definitely a beloved community icon,” said Alyssa Leier, Curator at the Exploration Place.
“One of the first things we are going to do is refurbish the junior Mr. PG phonebooth located in our explorer’s urban garden […] we also want to put out history and facts in advance of his birthday so the public gets a better idea of his history.”
The event will also feature food trucks, photo ops, and scavenger hunts, as well as an exhibit at the local museum, that has been up since July.
Though there have been several incarnations, the myth behind the mascot has not changed.
Now made of fiberglass instead of wood and quite a bit taller than the original two-and-a-half meter statue, he has inspired everything from plush toys, t-shirts, and postcards to Halloween costumes and memes.
“Mr. PG is an iconic figure to Prince George, he has always managed to stir emotions, and he has withstood numerous debates questioning whether he is even relevant any more!”
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