Season Over for North Pacific Cannery Historical Site, as Port Edward Historical Society announces Closure for 2020

Closed for the Season. North Pacific Cannery Historical will not
open for business in 2020

As the COVID-19 health crisis continues to evolve across the nation, one of the most popular of tourism assets on the North Coast has reached a decision on the fate of their operations for 2020.

At the March 26th Board meeting for the Port Edward Historical Society, the Board announced that that it will not open the business operations for the North Pacific Cannery Historical site for 2020.

In their letter announcing the closure for the season ahead, the Society noted how it would be irresponsible to encourage visitation to the Port Edward and Prince Rupert area during the current COVID-19 Pandemic declaration.

The site will remain closed to not just out of town visitors, but to local residents as well, with the Society now looking towards focusing on facility improvements and to implement a much needed fundraising strategy towards moving forward with ongoing operations, maintenance and preservation of the 100 year plus site in Port Edward.

You can review the advisory below:

In previous years, the facility has attracted more than 10,000 visitors each year to the site, many from out of town, though North Pacific has also become a popular venue for many local residents to attend for tours or social functions.

Learn more about North Pacific from their Facebook Page and website.

For more notes related to the tourism sector on the North Coast see our archive page here.

British Columbia records six deaths in 24 hours of COVID, Provincial total now 31

Today's update by Health Minister Adrian Dix and the Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry came with a heavy toll from their review of the impact of COVID-19 on British Columbians.

That as Dr. Henry made note of the sad advisory of six residents of the province having passed away over the last twenty four hours, bringing the BC total of those who have passed away from the virus to 31.

“In the last 24 hours, we are saddened to report six deaths in the Vancouver Coastal, Fraser and Island health regions. There have been 31 COVID-19 related deaths in British Columbia. The majority have been residents of long-term care. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones."

Of the many items that the pair review on a daily basis, it is the accounts of those that have passed away that does weigh the heaviest on Mr. Dix and Dr. Henry, as they often remind everyone, these are not statistics but real people taken from the province from a virus that we have to do our part to control.

"I would like to join Doctor Henry in expressing condolences to the families of the six additional people who have died, as a result of COVID-19 in British Columbia. 

We know what kind of day this for the families and we wanted to express our condolences to their family to their care givers to their friends and their communities. 

As you know, thirty one people have passed away in British Columbia from COVID-19;  24 in Vancouver Coastal Health and 5 in Fraser Health and 2 now in Island Health. 

And in every single case, we know what that means, what it means  to us, but especially what it means to their families and their communities.

And so we wanted to express that thought on this very sad day for them to say that every single person ... we sometimes stand up hear and talk up here in terms of statistics and the implications of it ... but we know what it means for every single person, and certainly to  us every single person counts   -- British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix

From today's review, Dr. Henry made note of 55 new cases over the last 24 hours, making for a total of 1,121 cases in the province.

“Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 525 are in the Vancouver Coastal health region, 386 are in the Fraser Health region, 72 are in the Island Health region, 121 are in the Interior Health region and 17 are in the Northern Health region."

There has also been a new community outbreak in the Interior, with one inmate at a correctional centre diagnosed with COVID-19.

“A new community outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected with an inmate in a correctional centre in the Interior Health region. BC Corrections has implemented response protocols and the inmate has been isolated.

The Provincial Health Services Authority, which is responsible for health care in B.C.’s correctional centres, is working with the Interior public health team to investigate and undertake contact tracing."

There was also some positive news to share today, with 641 British Columbians having recovered and no longer in need of isolation.

Of the current case count, 149 individuals have been hospitalized, with 68 of those requiring intensive care, the remaining number are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Dr. Henry observed as to the string of religious events set to arrive in the next week and how there will remain a need for British Columbians to be vigilant and take the proper precautions and follow the Provincial orders.

“In the coming weeks there will be a number of major religious celebrations on the calendar. Just as we have seen around the world, we call on our faith leaders to postpone all in-person gatherings and use the many tools we have available to connect and celebrate with followers in other ways. 

We must stand united and working together, we must follow the orders and precautions we have in place, and we must do all we can protect our province.”


You can  review the latest notes from today's Briefing here.

The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, the string of statements that came quickly at the end of the week can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints

City of Prince Rupert asks that community offer up some support for local organizations; warns of on line scammers seeking to take advantage of community fears

The City of Prince Rupert has called on residents of the community to help out with some of our local groups and organizations in need during the course of this COVID-19 situation, listing a few that probably can use some help on a year round basis.

In a post to the City's Facebook page today, the city highlights how local service organizations are being impacted in a negative way by the state of affairs related to the pandemic.

Among the groups that the City has made note of are the Salvation Army, Kaien Anti Poverty Society, Prince Rupert SPCA and Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter, though the City notes that their list is not exhaustive and may see some updates as time moves on.

You can find out how you can contribute to those organizations here.

The City has also called attention to the potential for some of the less civic minded to take advantage of community fears related to the COVID-19 pandemic, by using the Internet and other measures to raise the level of alarm and to scam residents of the province.

The background to the ongoing quest to scam us out of our money can be found from the notes from the BC RCMP  and Federal Serious and Organized crime units .

The notes from the RCMP  provide for a list of some pretty despicable attempts to build on the current fears of Canadians during these challenging time.

Charles Hays Secondary provides update for Students on continuity of Education plan

With in class learning now suspended, the School Districts of British Columbia are working towards a continuity of education plan, that will take on a very different look that what was the norm just a few weeks ago.

For secondary students in the Prince Rupert area, Charles Hays Secondary School has been relaying their latest instructions this week through the School website and Social Media.

In a newsletter to students and their parents and guardians released today, Charles Hays administrators outline that learning plans for the remainder of the Third trimester will be available next week, with a range of online platforms to be used to deliver lessons.

When it comes to Final Grade assessments, those final grades will be based on work completed before the Spring Break and the assessment of participation in the learning opportunities that will be taking place over the months to come.

There is also notes of interest for those students set to Graduate from Charles Hays, with the School District continuing to monitor advisories from the Province and the Ministry of Education.

The fate of the much anticipate Annual Graduation Ceremony is one that continues to be assessed by School and District administrators.

You can learn more about the path ahead for students here.

Students are advised to ensure that their contact information, including email addresses are up to date and to monitor the CHSS website daily for more updates.

More notes on education in the Northwest can be reviewed here.

Province of British Columbia outlines how Public Health Orders are to be enforced

The Province of British Columbia has provided for some additional guidance towards compliance and enforcement on Public Health Orders related to Physical Distancing, noting that any action only takes place through Public Health officers in communities across the province.

As was outlined last week when Solicitor General Mike Farnworth suspended Local State of Emergency declarations to make for a coordinated Provincial response, the B. C. government has called on communities across the province to make their bylaw office personnel available for use towards the new measures, as well as to re-task a range of provincial inspectors among which the list includes:

Liquor and cannabis control and licencing inspectors,
Gambling enforcement and investigations officers
Community Safety Personnel

In an information sheet that has been released towards the Health orders, the Province notes:

On March 25, 2020 the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General made the Bylaw Enforcement Officer (COVID-19) Order, and on March 31, 2020 made the Provincial Compliance Officer (COVID-19) Order), both pursuant to the Emergency Program Act (Appendix 1). 

These Orders enable C&EOs to provide assistance for compliance and enforcement of public health through monitoring and providing warnings, information and advice. 

The province has adopted and implemented a graduated compliance and enforcement approach that generally starts with providing information, education and advice as the first step, with escalating measured enforcement only as required. 

Role of Compliance and Enforcement Officers 

In assisting with the compliance and enforcement of public health orders, C&EOs are to be guided by policy direction from the Provincial Health Officer. 

C&EOs officers are not authorized to detain an individual as a result of a contravention or suspected contravention of a public health order. 

C&EOs are also not authorised to exercise any authority to issue a fine or penalty. 

Nothing in the Minister’s Orders or this guide limit any powers or duties of a C&EOs.

NOTE: Police officers and C&EOs are not empowered to enforce (i.e. ticket or detain) with respect to public health orders. Their role is to provide assistance only when called upon by a health officer pursuant to section 90 of the Public Health Act (see Appendix 1)

It was also noted that the conditions towards enforcement and introduction of new orders and updates towards existing regulations could change at any time.

The list of existing orders and the enforcement actions can be reviewed below:

(click on above to enlarge)

The full overview of the measures can be explored here.

The Office of the Provincial Health Officer has much more to review here.

Further notes related to the work of the Provincial government can be found here.

A further review towards the ongoing response provincially and federally can be examined here.

Royal Canadian Navy, other Armed Forces partners ready for COVID-19 response for coastal communities if required

The Royal Canadian Navy's Esquimalt based HMCS Regina is one of two
ships on stand by for any COVID-19 response that may be required by
coastal communities in British Columbia

The motto for the Royal Canadian Navy is ReadyAyeReady, and that is their standing order during this uncertain period during the response to the COVID-19 response.

Earlier this week National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and the Chief of Defence Staff General Johnathan Vance hosted a media briefing to outline some of the steps of preparation the the Canadian military have put in place should the call to aid civil power ever comes in.

For British Columbia, among the planning underway has been the designation of two ships, HMCS Regina and HMCS Brandon, which have been tasked as response ships, ready to sail upon notification to any community that may require assistance.

As part of the designation of the ships company towards the response, both have been put into isolation to avoid any potential spread of the COVID-19 virus to their vessels.

Any call for assistance will be evaluated according to need.

British Columbia will also have access to a range of air assets and land forces if required.

On Monday, the Department of Defence also outlined that its Reserve Forces and those of the largely Indigenous member Canadian Rangers have now been brought into full time service.

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You can review the Wednesday update for Royal Canadian Navy personnel here.

More notes on the ongoing response provincially and federally can be reviewed here.

Port of Prince Rupert seeks input on Export Logistics Platform plans for Ridley Island

More big plans are on the horizon
for the footprint of the Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert has opened the window towards comment on the planning now underway for a logistics platform to be located on Ridley Island.

The expansive plans would see the facility placed towards the southern side of the island, with the majority of the Export Logistics project to be focused on the area closest to the ocean access side of Ridley.

In their information release from Wednesday, the Port outlines some of the elements and scope of the project and now it will serve global trade out of the Prince Rupert Gateway.

"The Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform (RIELP) is a port infrastructure project that will enable and support the development of innovative, large scale, export transloading facilities designed to increase efficiencies in export supply chains maximize value to Canadian exporters, and support the growth of the intermodal business in the Port of Prince Rupert. 

The Prince Rupert Port Authority is the project proponent and would build the proposed land, rail, road and utility infrastructure required to support future transloading operations located on the platform. 

Located on the southern end of Ridley Island, the RIELP is designed to host integrated large-scale bulk transload facilities, integrated large-scale breakbulk facilities and an integrated off-dock container yard. Collectively, the platform is designed to support at least 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of export transload capacity annually, with the potential to increase capacity to 700,00 (TEUs) for bulk and breakbulk commodities in the future."

The anticipated capital cost of the project is expected to be 250 million dollars, with a two year construction timeline towards completion, while it is under construction, the project would employ an estimated workforce of 250 workers.

In their project overview, the port anticipates the facility would be operational by the fourth quarter of 2022.

The Exports Platform will be entirely on Federal land and under the administrative authority of the PRPA.

Among some of the products that would pass through the Logistics Platform are plastic pellets, cereal grains, speciality agriculture crops, lumber, pulp and mineral concentrates to containers for export.

The shape of what the project will include for infrastructure looks as follows:

New rail and two grade-separated rail crossings
Upgraded access road and new automated truck gate
New intermodal container yard
New Bulk Transload facility
New Break Bulk facility
New ancillary facilities: administration building, stormwater management, etc
Extension of existing ancillary facilities: water distribution line, etc
New onsite equipment such as reach stackers and other industrial machinery

The Port further outlined how the Logistics platform will expand the capacities for the many partners that make for Terminal services in the community

"The integrated off-dock facility will provide empty container storage for the port’s container terminal operations, enhancing terminal efficiency and capacities. The platform and future operating services located on it will be fully integrated via transportation and technological integration with the container terminal operations."

You can review the introduction to the project here, while the wider overview of the project can be explored here.

Those who may have comments to make, can address them by e-mail to the Port at projects@rupertport.com

For more notes of interest on Port developments see our archive page here.