Ridley Terminals set to host Community Day

Ridley Terminals, which celebrates 30 years of operations in Prince Rupert this year, is holding a party this week and the entire community is invited.

As they have in the past, Ridley Terminals is picking up the tab and taking over the Civic Centre, with an afternoon of activities planned from Noon until 4 this Friday in Prince Rupert.

Those that take part can take go for a swim, or play some basketball, floor hockey or badminton.

As well, there will be Open opportunities for the Auditorium and Gymnasium, Family Movies in the Cinema and free hot dogs and juice available for the celebration.

For those living in Metlakata, transportation will be provided by the Metlakatla Ferry to bring families from that community across the harbour for the Civic Centre celebrations.

Ridley Terminals is also sponsoring a Community Day in Lax Kw'alaams with a number of activities planned for the Recreation Centre in that community.

The Lax Kw'alaams events run from 6:15-8:15 on Friday evening.

BC's life in the fast lane plans very much a southern thing

The speed limits are going up on selected highways in British Columbia, with 120 kilometres per hour the new standard of speed for travellers announced by the Provincial government.

But, unless Northwest residents travels take them onto the Coquihalla Highway or to stretches of highways North of Vancouver and from Parksville to Campbell River, you won't be able to put a full pedal to the metal.

Other highways south of Kamloops also have had slight changes made to existing speed limits, normally in the range of a ten kilometre per hour increase.

In addition to the increase of speed, the Government will be placing signage on those highways with more than two lanes, advising of the need to keep to the right unless passing.

None of the highways that feature the speed changes can be found in Northern or Northwestern British Columbia. With the government having heard the message of the 52 per cent that responded to a
survey, which advised the government that they would prefer no change to the current limits on Northern roads.

You can read the full consultation report here.

The announcement of the change to speed limits was made on Wednesday, with Transportation Todd Stone making the case for the ten kilometre per hour increase. You can listen to his announcement and background on the changes below:




Residents of the Northwest however may see some changes in the signage of the highways across the region, particularly when it comes to warnings of wildlife on the roads and the need for proper tires for seasonal change.

More on the changes to the highways of the province can be found on this fact sheet from the Province.

Prince Rupert's SPCA office claims top spot in Telus Charity vote!

The Canada Day Picnic in the Park was the backdrop to the announcement of the results of the Telus community charity campaign, which saw local residents help the telecommunications company decide how to allocated their charitable donation to the North Coast.

We outlined the nature of the Telus campaign back in early June and since that time over 3,000 residents of the North Coast took part in the process, which came to an end on June 20th.

As they tabulated the results, Telus officials were quite impressed with the level of engagement of the community to their efforts, fielding questions not only at the local Andre's location which is home to Telus in Prince Rupert, but at the variety of community events that Telus has participated in over the last month.

When the counting was complete, the Prince Rupert office of the BCSPCA had received the highest total of the vote, which will bring that group a 10,000 dollar donation from Telus.

Telus presents BCSPCA with 10,000 dollar donation
(photo courtesy of Telus/Talon Gillis)

The two other participating charities in the vote, the North Coast Transition Society and the Salvation Army Food Bank will also receive cash donations of 2,500 dollars each.

Telus launched its local office in Prince Rupert in May, with one of its primary focus of the community in each location that it services is to give back to the community.

The three local charities saluted on Canada Day mark the first of what many in the community no doubt hope will be a long and beneficial relationship between the company and the North Coast.

Prince Rupert RCMP seek three suspects in Belmont Break and Enter

The Prince Rupert RCMP is seeking the assistance of the public, as they look to obtain further information in the case file of an early morning break and enter at a downtown commercial establishment on Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 6 AM, the local detachment received a call from a passerby advising of three suspects engaged in a break and enter at the The Belmont Liquor Store on Third Avenue West.

Upon investigation, RCMP members discovered a significant amount of damage to the store, with the suspects having left the establishment before RCMP attendance.












Late Wednesday afternoon, the Prince Rupert detachment released a still photograph taken from the surveillance system inside the store.
(see left)

They are asking that residents of the community review the photo and contact the detachment should they be able to provide assistance on the case file.

You can contact the RCMP at 250-627-0700 or through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

More information on the Wednesday morning incident can be found from the Prince Rupert RCMP website.

We have other items on case files of Emergency responders on the North Coast on our archive page.

Emergency Service Files -- July 2014

Our archive of items from the files of law enforcement and other emergency responders in Northwestern British Columbia.

From the North Coast Review

July 24-- Prince Rupert Crime Stats improving. while Terrace spikes upwards
July 23-- Prince Rupert RCMP arrest man on Child pornography charges
July 23-- Search called off for missing boater
July 21-- Three from North Coast convicted of Fisheries Violations
July 21-- Search continues off Port Hardy for elderly man missing in small rowboat
July 15-- Dramatic rescue of floatplane passengers near Bella Bella recounted
July 14-- Prince Rupert residents face charges after RCMP drug investigation
July 7-- RCMP make arrest in Belmont Liquor Store B & E
July 2-- Prince Rupert RCMP seek three suspects in Belmont Break and Enter 

Media Items from Across the Northwest

Prince Rupert/Port Edward/Haida Gwaii/North Coast

July 21-- Search Underway Off Central Coast for Missing Boater
July 21-- Ambulance wait time on Haida Gwaii described as "ridiculous, unacceptable"
July 18-- Fishermen Sentenced for Illegal Salmon Sales
July 18-- Four Prince Rupert men arrested as part of regional drug bust
July 14-- Northwest Drug campaign successful
July 12-- Float plane crash injures 4 on B. C.'s Central Coast

July 11-- Coast Guard rescues four float plane passengers after crash near Bella Bella
July 7-- RCMP Join Local Youth in North Coast Canoeing Adventure
July 4-- Police seek suspect in Belmont break and enter

July 2-- Break and Enter at the Belmont Liquor Store in Prince Rupert

Terrace/Kitimat and elsewhere

July 31-- Motorists escape injury in three-vehicle pileup
July 31-- Three Vehicle collision near Williams Creek
July 31-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 30-- Thieves caught on camera
July 30-- Police seek two thieves on surveillance photos
July 30-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 29-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 28-- Terrace back in crime top ten
July 28-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 25-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 25-- Cops endorse "good" crime
July 24-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 24-- More drug bust charges expected
July 23-- Coroners office names man who died in crash near Terrace
July 23-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 23-- New Hazelton Mounties Taser Armed Suspect
July 22-- Kitimat RCMP investigate stabbing
July 22-- Cops lose pay over steroids
July 22-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 21-- Crash sends Two to Hospital in Terrace
July 21-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 18-- Highway Crash Kills Smithers man
July 18-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 18-- RCMP warn of Charity Scam
July 18-- Smithers man killed on highway east of Terrace
July 17-- Kitimat Wildfire Contained After 4 Hour Battle
July 17-- Wildfire at Kitimat Battled from Air and Ground
July 17-- Wildfire Blazing in Kitimat Area
July 17-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 17-- RCMP, CO's Advise People to be "Bear Aware" After Grizzly Shot in Kitimat
July 17-- Beware of "Charity Scam"
July 16-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 16-- Local firefighters team up to battle forest fire just south of Terrace
July 15-- Terrace RCMP Service Report
July 15-- Man Killed by Train identified
July 15-- Reward offered for northwestern  B.C. Arson
July 15-- Kitimat Home Destroyed by Fire
July 15-- Terrace resident victim of scam
July 14-- Terrace RCMP Service Report J
July 14-- Coroner investigates Death of Terrace man on CN Tracks
July 14-- Photo of Telkwa Break-In Suspect Released
July 14-- Man killed on CN tracks near Terrace
July 14-- Police Drug investigation results in arrest of Kitimat-area woman among others
July 11-- Northwest Fire Risk High to Extreme, Take Precautions
July 10-- Logging truck ignites on highway
July 10-- Fire danger rising in northwest
July 9-- Highway reopened
July 9-- Traffic flowing again on Highway 16 in Terrace
July 8-- Terrace man Reported Missing
July 8-- Keep an eye out for missing man
July 8-- Man sentenced to 140 days in jail
July 4-- Don't Drink and Boat

July 3-- New forest fire air tankers in service

Ketchikan/Southeast Alaska

July 29-- Plea agreement reached in June standoff incident
July 29-- Jewelry stolen from S. Tongass vehicle
July 24-- Headlights on, all the time
July 21-- Troopers charge Kentucky man with possession
July 18-- Seiner engine room floods, USCG responds
July 3-- Two men rescued from barge compartment

July 1-- Rotary Beach access project damaged

Archive of past monthly reviews

Northern Health's Mascot search goes to the ballot box

When it comes down to a selection for a Northern Health mascot, the choice it appears will come down to a Blue Bear or an Adventurous Caribou.

Noble offerings that suggest some common wildlife themes from across this part of the province.

As we outlined on the blog back in May, Northern Health recently put out the call for submissions for the mascot which will represent the goals of Northern Health to youth across across Northern British Columbia.

The contest was designed to create a mascot for the Health Authority of Northern BC, a mascot which was to project a focus on healthy eating habits, active living, injury reduction, tobacco reduction and many other of Northern Health's goals for inter-action with the community.

With a month or so to create the applicants, a panel from Northern Health went through all of the submissions narrowing the list down to the two finalists.

Rex -- A Blue Bear, described as "the ruler of our well-being, (medical, psychological and spiritual)

The Bear is up against an adventurous Caribou called Spirit -- among Spirit's strengths are an enjoyment of exercise, eating well and making the right choices for himself and his body.

Beyond the normal range of duties of a corporate mascot, the one selected by the popular vote will represent Northern Health at the 2015 Prince George Canada Winter Games.

The successful creator of the mascot that is chosen will also be a part of those games, receiving a spot in the Canada Winter Games torch relay.

The balloting continues until July 18th,  You can learn more about the initiative here, and find more background on the mascot competition and cast your ballot here.

For more on items about Northern Health see our archive page.

Spectra Energy CEO sees even more LNG proposals in the future

At last count, Prince Rupert has been tagged for the prospect of at least six potential LNG projects currently in varying stages of review or development, some clearly a lot further  into their development phase than others.

Of the current batch, the Petronas led PacificNorthwest LNG Lelu Island project is the one that appears to be the closest to making a final investment decision at the moment.

Nest on the high profile list for the North Coast is the Prince Rupert LNG proposal from the BG group, which is considering their own terminal project for Ridley Island.

According to the President and CEO of Spectra Energy, which is the pipeline developer for the Ridley Island terminal project, any BG decision on investment is still at least two and maybe three years away.

Mr. Greg Ebel from Spectra Energy, offered up more on that project, as well as his view of the current status of the LNG industry in BC with a review for the Financial Post last week.   All part of an article that explores the theme of the LNG industry in BC and suggests that the rush to stake out ground in the province may not be over just yet.

Of note to local LNG observers, he outlines the arrangement currently in place with BG to deliver Natural Gas to Ridley Island through the proposed West Coast Connector Gas Transmission pipeline.

But along with that update also outlines that Spectra is keeping its options open, perhaps to provide a delivery system through the same corridor for any  other another LNG plant that may be considered for the region.

The remainder of his review of the LNG picture in Canada offers a bit of a window into the ever changing nature of the industry, which rewards those companies that have laid the groundwork for that development.

He also provides an overview as to how the US is quickly catching up to Canada when it comes to development of resources and providing for a distribution system to get it to market.

You can review the full article here.

There is more on the LNG development plans for the North Coast available on our archive page.