From A to W, a bite into past campaign themes is new again

A recent coupon book delivered to Prince Rupert residents
offers up a range of meal deals at A & W. Though it means
a road trip to Terrace for North Coast residents to take advantage.

The topic of Fast Food franchises and staffing shortages in the community gained a short mention on the 2022 Municipal election campaign this week, that through one of Mayoralty candidate Herb Pond's  stream of daily social media dispatches.

Earlier this week, Mr. Pond made note of how the housing issue may be impacting on the lack of success in bringing in some of the often longed for franchises such as A & W or KFC, sharing his observations through a video presentation to the topic that addresses population concerns and a call for more growth for the community.

"But Look at what's happened ever since, Terrace has continued to grow while Rupert is a little bit stagnated. I'm not blaming anybody, it's nobody's fault. But it is what we have to fix ...

That's why I'm so focused on housing we need to grow, population drives everything from health care to chid care to whether we can get the next A and W or KFC" -- Mayoralty candidate Herb Pond on his social media stream this week

As he noted in his presentation he was a former two term mayor of the community and the topic of Fast Food and commercial shopping themes at that time earlier this century, made for some significant focus for the City Council's that he led in the day.  

The most memorable aspect of our dreams and aspirations then, the proposed Shopping Village proposed for the BC Hydro site.

The project a somewhat controversial one for the Council of the day, which was split on whether to allow development outside of the downtown core, or to keep it confined to the Third and Second Avenue West corridors.

Like many other proposals through the last fifteen years whether for commercial space or residential housing development, the plans ended with the diagrams and mock ups of what it all would look like put away, in the case of the Shopping Village the end came in May of 2008.

The great adventure coming to an end with nary a shovel every hitting the ground. 

And while Mr. Pond is correct in his view of housing being one of the most dominant issues of the campaign, or should be at least, a dialogue that should include a look at how the current council has approached the topic.

The reasons as to whether we can attract a fast food franchise or any number of big box or large chain retailers may have a few other factors to consider towards our lack of success.

For much of the last eight years, the vision making of Prince Rupert for tomorrow has been one to consolidate Commercial prospects to a smaller footprint, with the current Council more inclined to see a boutique like commercial experience, much of it directed to the Cow Bay Area.

The prospects of larger Box Stores, or retail chains such as Canadian Tire seemingly not of much focus for Council or the Economic Development office.  

The current collection of Council members in the past having noted of the growth and impact of such forces as Amazon and other factors towards their views of how our commercial space should evolve.

The last decade has certainly seen a shift in the commercial options in the community, beyond the empty storefronts and empty lots of Third Avenue West, we once had two malls for retail experiences, with one the Pride of the North, now the Ocean Centre having long shifted its focus to office space for the most part.

The Rupert Square suffered somewhat of an exodus in the past, but recently has seen some new tenants arrive to build back their options, so there is hope for somewhat of a commercial rebound.

While Amazon has had a large impact on how retail will evolve and our times of COVID certainly would have reduced any talk of any commercial development over the last couple of years.  

The topic of commercial development and attraction of the additional options which the community has called for in the past never seemed to generate much attention at Council in recent years.

The only mention of attracting an A & W coming a few years back, when current Mayor Lee Brain outlined his concerns over the proposed location at the Rupert Square Mall back in April of 2019, his Rick Mercer like video putting the issue into the public eye.

And while the Mayor may have had some points to make on the proposed location of the day, that however would the last anyone would hear of A & W. 

If there were any further talks to bring the popular food chain to town, their success or failure was not relayed through the public council sessions.

Of note to Mr Pond's theme of housing and staffing impacts on such ventures, A & W has established a solid footprint across the Northwest, first from its Terrace and Smithers operations which have long been home for the Teen-burger and other food faves.

More recently A & W has expanded to include locations such as Kitimat, Houston, Burns Lake and Vanderhoof for their restaurants. 

All of them communities with less population and surely the same element of staffing pressures as found in Prince Rupert.

A look at that A & W map of today leaves only one major population centre to remain missing from their listings.

In past Municipal election campaigns, the call for more shopping opportunities and sense of growth for the commercial sector always made for some lively commentary, this time around it hasn't registered at all for most of those seeking our votes.

We imagine if the Council candidates were to take a sampling of the would-be voters towards what residents would like to see come to the community; the prospect of more shopping options such as those like a Canadian Tire, or fast food ventures, would still make for items near the top of the list.

And while housing is a key issue as is staff recruitment; so too is how the offices at City Hall are viewed by the business or home building industry is important too.  

And  particularly whether it is a welcoming experience, or one that puts too many roadblocks in front of any proposed developments, whether commercial or residential.

More notes from the campaign trail can be reviewed here.

A look at the city's commercial sector themes is available here.