PNG proposes upgrade for Salvus to Galloway gas pipeline to Northwest

Pacific Northern Gas has outlined its proposal for an infrastructure upgrade project for its Western Transmission gas pipeline which serves the North Coast with work to take place on the stretch from Salvus to Port Edward.

The proposed work is outlined on the PNG Website, with the gas company outlining the route of the pipeline on the existing corridor.

The Salvus to Galloway segment of the Western Transmission gas line runs through a remote mountainous region of Highway 16 West and south of Work Channel, starting at Salvus approximately 50km southwest of Terrace, up to Galloway Rapids approximately 9km southeast of Prince Rupert. All work is expected to take place within PNG’s existing pipeline corridor, referred to as a right-of-way, and nearby permitted temporary workspace.

The work is required as some of the pipeline sections are nearing the end of their useful operational period.

The consultation process starts later this month with the construction process proposed for 2021-2023, as part of the consultation process, a number of virtual engagement sessions are planned.

The two sessions in August will take place August 19th and 26th, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, you will need a computer and phone to participate in the community engagement process.

Access to the virtual consultation can be found from the PNG website

As part of their notes on the project, PNG notes that consultation is planned throughout all phases of the project.

The application for the $80-million project is expected to be filed this fall, with a BCUC decision in spring 2021. Following approval, construction would begin in the summer of 2021 and continue in phases each summer completing in fall 2023. PNG is consulting with Indigenous communities and engaging with the public in advance of the BCUC application submission and would continue engagement throughout all project phases.

If approved, it's anticipated that the cost of the project will be 80 million dollars, one million dollars for every kilometre of the pipeline route to be repaired or replaced.

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

Popular Men's Jubilee tourney cancelled for 2020

It's one of the most anticipated weekends on the Northwest golfing calendar, but this year, the Prince Rupert Golf Club's Men's Jubilee will not take place, the popular event scrapped owing to COVID.

The advisory for golfers was relayed last week by the Prince Rupert Golf Course, noting through their social media page that the changing guidelines from the BC Government and the recent uptick in COVID in Northern BC were the determining factors.

The mid august event which was set for August 14-16 attracts some of the top recreational golfers in Prince Rupert and from across the Northwest and is one of the main features of the golf season in the city.

For those golfers who had already pre paid for the August event, refunds are available from the Pro Shop.

For more notes on news from the Prince Rupert Golf Club see their Facebook page.

Further items of interest on golfing in the Northwest can be explored from our Archive page.

RCMP seek wanted Terrace man in Northwest

The Terrace detachment of the RCMP is asking the public for help in locating a Terrace resident wanted on an unendorsed warrant for breach of release orders.

Mounties in the Northwest are looking for Mitchell Scodane, the 25 year old First Nations male is five foot ten inches in height, weighs 166 pound and has black hair and brown eyes.

It is believed he may be in the New Hazelton area.

Should you have information on his whereabouts, you are asked to contact your local detachment of the RCMP or through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.terracecrimestoppers.ca

More background from the Terrace RCMP can be reviewed here.

For more notes on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest see our archive page here.

No Tsunami Danger for BC following another significant Alaska Quake

Another Strong earthquake has been recorded in NW Alaska

Emergency Info  British Columbia has issued an all clear following another large Alaska Earthquake had generated a Tsunami warning this morning.

The 5.2 magnitude quake struck at 9:18 AM BC Time 104 kilometres Southwest of Sand Point in Northwest Alaska, near the same location as a number of significant earthquakes in late July.

While strong, it was not at the same force as the July 21st quake which registered 7.8, that quake resulted in a tsunami warning for BC that lasted until just after midnight.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre was quick to post the No Tsunami warning to their feed shortly after the quake had been measured.

More notes on past seismic activity in British Columbian and Alaska can be reviewed here. 

Drive In Downpour Downer

The Jim Ciccone Civic Centre remained empty Tuesday night
as the nasty weather meant not Drive In Movie experience

The pandemic didn't win, but in the end, a more familiar nemesis, the weather proved to be too much for some good intentions on the North Coast.

The plans by CityWest and the City of Prince Rupert to host a Drive In Movie experience found one element that over ruled their Tuesday evening plans ... the Weather.

The highly anticipated event was scuppered last night as high winds meant that those of the 50 car full of would be movie goers who had qualified by draw and arrived at the Civic Centre last evening were sent home, the event cancelled owing to the untimely burst of nasty weather for the North Coast.

CityWest shared the news through their Social media feed shortly before the scheduled showtime planned for 9:30 on Tuesday evening.

As we noted in late July, the Drive In movie plan, had offered up a bit of community bonding in a socially distant atmosphere was planning to showcase the movie ONWARD.

While there are no promises, CityWest hopes to revisit the Drive In plans, though as they note on Social Media, perhaps not in what has been a rather cursed year of 2020. 

Judging by the comments left so far to the cancellation notice on the CityWest Facebook book page, that would be a well received initiative, should they follow up on it!

For more notes on CityWest see our archive page here.

Further items of interest on Community events can be explored here.

146 cases of COVID reported over BC Day weekend, Haida Gwaii cases now total 24

The mid way point of Summer and the day following a three day summer long weekend provided a look at the ongoing climb for reports of COVID-19, which while not the alarming numbers found in the USA, does indicate a need for British Columbians to pay heed to the ongoing measures in place and the dangers that could come from slipping out of our measured routines and current new normals.

Towards the weekend review, Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix reviewed the results over the last 72 hours.

“Today, we are providing case updates for four 24-hour reporting periods. 

In the first reporting period from July 31 to Aug. 1, we had 43 new cases. From Aug. 1 to Aug. 2, we had 29 new cases. From Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, we had 46 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we had 28 new cases. 

This represents 146 new cases, including four epi-linked cases since we reported on Friday, for a total of 3,787 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 319 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,273 people who tested positive have recovered. 

Currently, eight individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, four of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. 

As for the breakdown by Health Authority the snap shot for BC following the BC Day weekend is as follows:

1,119 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region 1,989 in the Fraser Health region, 146 in the Island Health region, 377 in the Interior Health region, 91 in the Northern Health region (up from the last report of Friday) that includes additional cases reported from the Haida Gwaii outbreak of late July, which is now listed as 24.

65 cases of people are also listed from those who reside outside of Canada. 

They also noted some positive trends as well over the three day weekend, with no new passings recorded.

 

 “Gratefully, we report that there have been no new deaths. We continue to offer our condolences to the families and friends of the 195 people who have passed away from COVID-19 and to everyone who has lost loved ones during this pandemic. 

 Dr. Henry and Minister Dix also looked ahead to the period coming out of the BC Day weekend just passed and the need to be cautious and aware as we await the findings from that period. 

 “It is always a concern when COVID-19 spreads unchecked and the source of the transmission is unknown. Coming together for summer weekend activities is when many people can be inadvertently exposed to the virus. 

The immediate days following a long weekend are when people can also unknowingly spread the virus to others. That is why the next two weeks will be important for all us. 

Coming out of the B.C. Day long weekend, we all need to pay attention to how we are feeling and contact 811 should any symptoms develop. 

We also all need to pay attention to where the exposure events have been so if need be, we can immediately limit our time with others and take precautions to protect our families, friends and colleagues. 

The alerts are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s website and health authority websites. They provide details on where the potential exposure occurred and what actions you need to take – whether you need to immediately self-isolate or simply monitor for symptoms."

For the full statement from Monday  see the report 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

Haida Gwaii COVID cases remain at home, in self-isolation: Northern Health

Terrace's Mills Memorial Hospital is the designated Regional 
Centre for any COVID-19 cases requiring critical care

Social Media speculation has served once again to accelerate much in the way of unfounded comment on the theme of COVID-19, with Northern Health making use of their Prince Rupert area Facebook page to try to reduce some of the reginoal anxiety recently posted towards the outbreak of COVID-19.

In response to some commentary on the use of Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace as a hub hospital for COVID, Northern Health has observed that in the case of the outbreak on Haida Gwaii, so far none of those that have come in contact with the virus have required any hospitalization at the regional hub.

Mills Memorial was announced as one of the three Northern Health primary sites back in March, with the hospital prepared if needed to care for those who were the most critically ill of COVID-19 cases, up until the community outbreak on Haida Gwaii, the Northwest for the most part had seemingly been spared of many cases of the virus.

With British Columbia coming out of a three day weekend, today's update by Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will provide for three days of notes on the state of COVID in British Columbia.

That report is expected to be released shortly after 3 PM.

For more notes on COVID-19 in the province to date see our archive page here.

Further items of interest related to Northern Health can be explored here.