Reputed to be the capital city of Northern BC, Prince George is a vibrant city situated amidst mountains, hills and valleys. In fact, Prince George is located square in the middle of the province at the junction of Highways 16 and 97, and driving nine or so hours in any direction from the city will lead visitors to a major municipality, including Edmonton to the east, Calgary to the southeast, Kelowna to the south, Vancouver to the southwest and Prince Rupert to the west. Like many Canadian cities, Prince George got its start as a trading post and began booming with the arrival of the railway. Today the main industry is lumber, a fact that is honoured by the city's mascot, Mr. PG, a friendly faux-wood statue that greets visitors arriving to the city. A myriad of recreational and outdoor opportunities are available in the vast wilderness that surrounds this city; favourite activities among the locals include snowmobiling in the winter and freshwater boating in the summer.