City Council to discuss funding CN Centre’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

Prince George City Council will discuss the 30th anniversary celebration for the CN Centre at Monday’s Meeting.

The item first came to Council back in May, where Council voted to have Administration return a report with a plan for the event.

“The community will be invited to participate in a FREE event that will be a fun, accessible, safe and highly enjoyable opportunity for our residents to come together and celebrate what many consider to be a “jewel in our crown”, with the CN Centre providing sporting, music, cultural, convention, trade shows, and many other events to literally millions of visitors over its 30 year history,” a staff report to Council states.

The event is planned for September 28th, 2025, the exact 30th anniversary of when Mayor John Backhouse opened the Prince George Multiplex in 1995.

The staff report also states that administration is proposing to incorporate two other celebrations into the event; the City’s annual International Students Welcome and Volunteer Appreciation event.

According to the report, the CN Centre will be transformed to an event that honours the “Multiplex” theme.

The plan is to have a stage inside the CN Centre with live music, public skating, food and beverage, and more.

At Monday’s meeting, City Council will vote on approving $15,000 from the Council Contingency Fund to put on the event.

Council Contingency Fund was set at $50,000 for 2025. City Council approved $1,100 from the fund at its last meeting for sweeping the new paved trails at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, but has not been touched otherwise.

Administration also proposed combining the budgets from the Volunteer Appreciation Event and International Students Welcome ($20,000) to put towards the event.

Also on the agenda for Monday’s meeting is a number of annual reports, as well as the next step for the 2030 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games bid.

The full agenda for Monday’s meeting can be found here.