North Coast Review
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Blog Watching: Week ending October 1, 2023
Friday, September 29, 2023
Robert Nelson the choice for Chief Councillor for Metlakatla First Nation voters
The 2023 Metlakatla First Nation Council vote concluded at 8 PM tonight, and once the paper ballots from Metlakatla, Prince Rupert, along with the Electronic and Mail in versions were counted, voters had selected Robert Nelson as their next Chief.
The victor is now set to take office from the long standing and now retiring Chief Harold Leighton who had held the position of leadership for over 36 years.
Mr. Nelson came out of the balloting atop a list of five other contenders which included Randall Cobb who had come close to taking the position in 2019; as well the Chief Councillor election included nominees Braden Etzertza, Darcy Nelson, and Reid Skelton Morven.
The New Chief Councillor will be joined on the Council by six members:
Alvin Leask, Erika Leighton and Sharon Morven were elected as On-Reserve Councillors.
Alrita Leask, Miranada Leighton and Charlene McLean will serve as the elected Off-Resrve Councillors.
Of the six, only Ms. Leask, Mr. Leask and Ms. Leighton are incumbents from the Council elected in 2019.
No vote count totals were released as of yet, as part of the information provided by the First Nations election organizers.
In their statement on the Election results, Metlakatla officials note that the new office holders will assume their duties within fourteen days of today's poll, once they have singed their Oath of Office.
Metlakatla residents and voters are using the social media posting of the results, to relay their congratulations to those who found success and their thanks for those who stood for office.
You can access further notes from Metlakatla from their Social Media Stream here.
A look back at some of our past 2023 Election notes, as well as other items of interest from Metlakatla can be explored from our archive page.
Prince Rupert Rampage drop the puck on new season Saturday, as Hazelton Wolverines come to town
![]() |
Ready for the return of the Roar, the CHIL's Prince Rupert Rampage launch there 2023-24 season tomorrow night at 7 against Hazleton Wolverines |
Lax Kw'laaams Band sets date for official 'Ground Breaking' for 11th Avenue East apartment building
![]() |
An image of what the Lax Kw'alaams apartment building on 11th Avenue in Prince Rupert will look like upon its completion. Ground breaking for the project takes place Oct 12 |
It's been delayed a bit longer than had been hoped, but next month, Lax Kw'alaams will make for a big moment for additional housing in Prince Rupert.
The Band Council and Lax Kw'alaams WAAP Housing Society setting October 12th as the date for the Official Ground Breaking for their much anticipated 70 unit apartment project in the city.
The official invitation went out this morning from the Lax Kw'alaams WAAP Housing Society, with the event to take place at the 11th Avenue site from Noon to 2PM on the 12th.
The importance of the event is noted in the invitation notice which highlights that Everyone is welcome to attend this event. Lax Kw’alaams members are encouraged to wear their regalia to this event.
The location which was provided by the City of Prince Rupert, has been a very active site in recent weeks as land preparation began towards development of the project.
The October 12th ceremony will mark the next milestone for the Band Council and its housing plan for members who live in Prince Rupert.
As we noted yesterday, the Lax Kw'alaams led housing project is one of the few initiatives in recent years to actually get to a putting a shovel in the ground situation.
Once complete and opened, it will help to reduce some of the housing pressures in the community which has been in the midst of a housing crisis for a number of years.
Follow the Lax Kw'alaams Social Media page for updates on the way to the Ground breaking ceremony.
More notes on housing in Prince Rupert and the Northwest can be reviewed from our archive pages below:
Smithers officials celebrate expansion of Air Canada service to community
Polling Underway at two locations for Metlakatla First Nation Council positions, with voting to close at 8PM
It's been just about two months of campaign time for the candidates that made for the final list of those contesting the Metlakatlta First Nation Election and today they will see if their message resonated with the membership to propel them to the posts they are seeking.
Of those seeking election today, five contestants are looking to replace departing Chief Councillor Harold Leighton.
Five have put their name forward for On Reserve council positions, while nine others are seeking office for the In Territory Council positions.
Voting in the General Election began at 9 AM this morning at two locations.
Ballots are available at the Metlakatla Administration Office in the community, or at the Coastal Training Centre at Dunsmuir and Sixth Avenue West in Prince Rupert.
Voting remains open until 8 PM this evening.
There were also provisions in place earlier for electronic and mail in balloting.
Follow the Metlakatla First Nation Social Media stream for updates later tonight as to how the vote count turned out.
Past notes on Metlakatla themes can be reviewed through our archive page.
Safeway/Sobey's workers find progress at negotiating table with tentative deal reached with Local 1518
The prospect of a strike at Canada Safeway locations in British Columbia has been reduced heading into October.
That as the membership awaits further word towards a tentative deal between their union the UFCW and Sobeys, the parent company for the Safeway employees in the province.
An information release from UFCW local 1518 charts the latest progress in the negotiations, which had seen the membership deliver a strong strike mandate a few weeks ago.
The negotiations began on September 20th with the announcement of the tentative deal coming on September 28th.
The union leadership noting of the work ahead before taking it to the membership.
With over 75 pages of agreed items, there is a lot of work to do in preparation for a vote. In the leadup to the vote, the Bargaining Committee will connect with the Sobeys Advisory Committee and Shop Stewards and carefully review the agreement with Union Reps.The general grocery workers union also notes that they continue to stand aligned with UFCW 247 which has yet to start its negotiations with Safeway/Sobeys, that local represents Meat, Deli and Seafood employees.
UFCW 1518 is also committed to standing in solidarity with workers in the Safeway deli, meat and seafood departments, members of UFCW 247, who will return to the bargaining table shortly.
UFCW 1518 has worked closely with UFCW 247 throughout bargaining, including taking strike votes within the same time frames. Now that an agreement has been reached, UFCW 1518 will continue to support 247 in their fight for a fair deal.