Kamloops vs. Prince George: Mayoral Moustache Edition

Nov 7, 2016 | 1:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s that time of year again when men’s faces start sprouting foliage. It’s part of the well-documented “Movember” or “Grovember” movement, which is meant to draw attention to men’s health. This year, the Peter Milobar has challenged one of his fellow BC mayors to help raise funds for the worthy cause.

While the Prince George Cougars might have taken the first game in their season series versus the Kamloops the Blazers Saturday night, there’s another competition between the two cities currently under way

“It was Jeff Connors that came to council and he’s been working on a lot of men’s health issues over the years,” Mayor Peter Milobar explained, adding “ [He] asked me if I wanted to challenge the Mayor of Prince George to a ‘Grow-Off’.”

Yes, it’s a Growvember challenge! Mayor versus Mayor, with a little more than pride on the line.

“The loser will have to wear the other [local WHL] team’s jersey,” Milobar Told CFJC Today. “Hopefully, Mayor Hall will be in a Blazers jersey.”

Lyn Hall, Mayor of Prince George, believes otherwise.

“I”m looking forward to Mayor Milobar wearing a Cougars jersey,” Hall told CKPG News, last week.

The real winner in all of this will be Men’s Health, and the awareness surrounding that issue… down there.

“Men tend not to take care of themselves, or be as diligent about checking, as women,” says Jennifer Harbaruk, Canadian Cancer Society community giving co-ordinator for Kamloops. “So part of our campaign… is to get men to really pay attention to their ‘equipment’”.

The real question now is who will be the King of the Cookieduster? The Sultan of the Soupstrainer? Who will grow the most Legendary Lip Toupee?

“There was a time when, I guess, it was the moustache,” says Mayor Hall, when asked about determining a winner. “This time it’s around our ability to raise dollars, that’s the important piece here, and I don’t want to lose sight of that.”

Mayor Milobar says while he’d rather not don the Black, White and Red of the Cougars (or is Blue, Red and White?), he’s happy to help raise funds and awareness for better health for men in both cities.

“Hopefully, [Kamloops will] be the victorious city… all in all, the two cities will raise awareness and funds for a great cause.”