Our old Pear Tree (75 years plus) in a small Vancouver garden is about to bloom. We don't worry about getting fruit but prune suckers for shape/light only. Best to prune before or after it blooms? Thanks...
In this climate, you can prune most fruit trees any time. For sucker control, summer pruning is best; but it wouldn't hurt to prune off lasts year's suckers now and then repeat for the new ones that will invariably develop. I just cut out suckers whenever I notice them.