PG Designs

If you grew up in Prince George in the 1980s or 1990s, there was one store in Pine Centre that could empty your allowance faster than a trip to the arcade.

San Francisco Gifts.

The moment you walked through the doors, you entered a world of lava lamps, black-light posters, magic tricks, joke gifts, novelty mugs, prank gadgets, and things your parents would immediately say "absolutely not" to.

It was the kind of store where you went in looking for a birthday card and came out carrying a fake lottery ticket, a rubber chicken, a glow-in-the-dark poster, and somehow a bag of candy.

For many teenagers, the adventure was in exploring deeper into the store. The further back you went, the more unusual the merchandise became. It was part treasure hunt, part rite of passage, and part test of whether you could keep a straight face while browsing.

What many people don't know is that San Francisco Gifts was actually a Canadian success story. Founded in Edmonton in 1981, it grew to more than 80 locations across the country and became a staple of shopping malls from coast to coast.

But every story has a final chapter.

In the early 2000s, the company found itself in legal trouble after investigators discovered products carrying counterfeit safety certification labels. The resulting investigations, charges, and fines damaged the company's reputation at a time when malls themselves were beginning to change. Before long, the stores that had once been packed with curious shoppers began disappearing.

Today, San Francisco Gifts is gone, but mention the name to anyone who spent time in Pine Centre during those years and watch the memories come flooding back.

Because sometimes the stores we remember most weren't where we bought things.

They were where we wandered.

At PG Designs, we know the best stories aren't always about products. They're about the memories people attach to them. That's what great marketing does too—it gives people something worth remembering.





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If you walked down the corner of 3rd Avenue and George Street in Prince George in 1925, you'd have found a brand-new sign hanging above a familiar building.

It read: McDonald Hotel.

What had once been the Club Café was beginning a new chapter under owner Dave McDonald. The name on the sign had changed, but the purpose remained the same: a warm place to gather, share a meal, and catch up on the latest news from around town.

Back then, hotels weren't just places to sleep. They were where deals were made, hockey scores were debated, jobs were found, and lifelong friendships began. The McDonald Hotel quickly became one of those places.

For decades, it stood as a fixture in downtown Prince George. Loggers fresh from camp, railway workers, travelling salesmen, families, and visitors all passed through its doors. Every table held a story. Every room welcomed another chapter in the life of a growing northern city.

The cars parked outside changed over the years. The storefronts nearby came and went. The city grew and evolved around it.

But the heart of the place remained the same: people gathering together.

That's something we still believe in today.

At PG Designs, we're passionate about helping local businesses tell the stories that make them unique. Because behind every storefront, every company, and every community landmark is a story worth remembering.

What's your story?

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A crowded pool. A hot June afternoon. Hundreds of children enjoying the start of summer.

Then, in a matter of moments, Prince George changed forever.

On June 6, 1970, seven-year-old Barry Bilyk drowned at the Watrous Street outdoor pool. More than 350 swimmers were at the facility that afternoon. When Barry was reported missing, swimmers, lifeguards, and staff searched the pool. Nearly an hour later, he was found at the bottom of the deep end.

The tragedy stunned the city.

Just days later, a coroner's jury examined what had happened and recommended several changes, including more lifeguards, lower pool capacity, greater supervision of non-swimmers, and clearer separation between swimming areas.

For many families, the Watrous Street pool remained an important part of summer. But the aging facility was facing another challenge. New health standards required costly upgrades, and city officials concluded that renovating the pool would cost nearly as much as building a replacement.

The pool eventually closed, and the future of the site remained uncertain. Nearly a decade later, city council was still debating what should become of the former pool property.

Today, the Watrous Street pool is gone, but the story remains a reminder of a tragedy that touched Prince George and the community's efforts to learn from it.

Do you remember the Watrous Street pool or hearing about this event?





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Thirty-five years ago today, Prince George families were introduced to something that felt pretty special.

A place built for rainy days.

A place built for birthdays.

A place built for family fun.

On June 16, 1991, the Spruceland Family Fun Centre was celebrating the final day of its grand opening weekend. Located behind Spruceland Shopping Centre, the 20,000-square-foot facility promised what every kid wanted and every parent hoped for: a place where the whole family could have fun together.

Inside were arcade games, air hockey, pool tables, carnival games, kiddie rides, an 18-hole mini golf course, and what the newspaper described as North America's only bowling game of its kind.

There were driving games inspired by the Indianapolis 500. Prize counters filled with stuffed toys and treasures. Friendly family competitions. And countless quarters disappearing one game at a time.

The owners told the Citizen they wanted to create a place where families could spend time together rather than sitting at home looking for something to do.

And judging by the memories people still share today, they accomplished exactly that.

Funny how we rarely remember the prizes we won.

But we remember the excitement of walking through the doors.

We remember the sounds.

We remember the people we were with.

And sometimes, that's what made a place special.

Who remembers the Spruceland Family Fun Centre?

What game did you head for first?





The best businesses become part of a community's memories. That's the kind of story we love helping local businesses tell.

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