Counterattack program underway across Northwest BC

The annual Counterattack program had its launch over the weekend, some recent instances of the roadside checks around Prince Rupert having been chronicled on some the social media feeds in the region over the last few days.

That as members of the Prince Rupert detachment of the RCMP join detachments across the province in the month long campaign.

The program which looks to keep impaired drivers off the roads is a partnership between the RCMP and ICBC and was officially launched at the end of November, with this past weekend making for the first of the ongoing roadside check stops province wide. 

Mike Farnworth, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General in BC highlighted the dangers of impaired driving and the warning that the Roadside program brings to the season.

"Driving impaired after drinking alcohol is dangerous and a crime. Unfortunately, there are still those willing to take a chance with their own lives, the lives of their passengers and the lives of other road users. If you have consumed alcohol – stay off our roads. If you instead choose to put yourself and others at risk, consider yourself warned: the police are out there with stepped-up enforcement."

The Prince Rupert RCMP noted the start of the program through their Social Media page.

More on the Road check program and further information from ICBC can be found here.

The details towards enforcement of the impaired laws can be examined here.

Further notes on the work of Emergency Responders across the Northwest can be explored here.

CityWest's Twelve Days of Christmas underway

CityWest has set the pace for seasonal gift giving this year with the return of the Twelve Days of Christmas, the popular reward for customers marks its ninth season of treats for subscribers.

The Prince Rupert based communication company lunched their 2022 gift giving season through their website and social media feeds last week.

Today marks Day Three of the Twelve Days and One year of Free Internet Service will be awarded later  in the day.

Over the course of the Gift Giving period that started on November 30th, CityWest will make a draw and award a gift over the course of each business day, with something special soon to be on the way to a lucky CityWest subscriber somewhere in the Northwest.

There's no form to fill out for the Twelve Days of Christmas, as all CityWest customers are automatically entered in the daily draws.

Learn more about the Twelve Days of Christmas here.

For updates on the Christmas celebration, who is taking home the swag and other notes on CityWest see their Facebook page and Instagram feed.

A look at growing number of CityWest storefront locations can be explored here, along with contact information for those living in the vicinity of those offices.

For more notes of interest on Communications in the Northwest see our archive page here. 

Gitxaala Nation and Seaspan to introduce Ship Escort and Docking Service in Prince Rupert

The Cow Bay Dock will be the destination tomorrow for a sneak peek
at a new Ship escort vessel set to serve the Prince Rupert area

The Gitxaala Nation and their partners at Seaspan Marine will be showing off some Marine assets tomorrow at the Cow Bay dock tomorrow afternoon, with the vessel Kestrel to be alongside for an open house and tour.

The ship assist service which will go into operation on January 1st, will be crewed 24 Hours a day, 365 days a year, available to offer ship docking and ship escort in local waters and to the range of terminal facilities found on the Prince Rupert waterfront.

In an information release from Friday, the two partners noted of the unique opportunity that the new service is brining to the region.

Gitxaala Nation has unlimited knowledge of the rugged west coast having lived, fished and navigated these waters for millenniums. 

For over 130 years, Seaspan has been an integral part of British Columbia's waterways by providing ship assist and escort service between Alaska and Mexico. 

Both partners offer vast experience and knowledge as mariners navigating these waters, making Seapson a more dependalbe optio for marine services in coast British Columbia. 

Gitxaala Nation Chief Counillor Linda Innes observed how the new venture celebrates the Nation's ties to the water. 

 "The Gitxaala, also known as People of the Saltwater, are one of the most ancient societies on the coast and we continue to celebrate our history, practice our traditions cherish our lands, waters and resources. 

This new relationship with Seaspan will ensure our people can use our knowledge and experience in our traditional territory while developing long-term jobs and economic opportunities right here at home."

The partnership with Seaspan which has Canadian operations out of North Vancouver is just the latest of enterprise's that the Gitxaala Nation have taken on through the Gitxaala Enterprises Corporation.

Tomorrows sneak preview and Open House takes place from Noon to 3:30 at the Cow Bay Dock at the Atlin Terminal.

Learn more about the Service set to launch in January here.

It's not the first time that Seaspan has partnered with an Indigenous Nation, in 2019, the North Vancouver company and the Haisla announced their plans to work together towards a tug service, that to serve the LNG Canada project in Kitimat.

Community Enhancement Grants plans for 2023 part of tonight's Council Agenda

The annual listing of Community Enhancement Grants comes with tonight's final public session for Prince Rupert City Council, with the City's Chief Financial Officer outlining the process towards the final accounts for 2023.

Of note from CFO Corinne Bomben's report, which you can review below, is that two organizations the Prince Rupert Library and the SPCA have yet to finalize their funding requests for 2023.

As well Ms. Bomben's report notes of the challenges to the city from a mother areas that could impact towards the program.

The report noting that there is:  minimal new taxation from new builds expected, along with potential federal grant in lieu losses and annual major industrial taxation reductions. This combined with anticipated cost increases due to inflation results in an expected tax increase larger than that adopted in the 2022 budget. Capital projects continue to be financed through as many other sources of revenues as possible to mitigate fee and tax increases for ongoing infrastructure renewal.

Towards this years Community Enhancement Grand Process, a tax increase is estimated at 1 percent to bring in the 200,000 dollars required for 2023.

A 1% to 1.2 % tax increase is estimated to bring in approximately $200,000 in 2023. If Council were to award all the requests of the repeat and new applicants, the tax increase required to finance community enhancement grants would amount to approximately 0.80%. Adding in the funding by agreement/special conditions organizations, the tax increase rises by 0.40% for a total of 1.2%

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The requested schedule of funding for the Grant requests is outlined below:

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Council members will have opportunity to discuss whether they accept the recommendations, as well as to how they wish to move forward with the annual program following the review of the report at tonight's Council Session.

The full report can be reviewed through the Council Agenda package starting on page 12 .

More notes on today's City Council Session can be reviewed from our Council Preview.

North Coast Transition Society/Coast Mountain College to host Vigil tomorrow for National Day of Remembrance

 

The Multi purpose room at Coast Mountain College in Prince Rupert is
the host facility for Tuesday's vigil to remember the murdered women of Montreal's
Ecole Polytechnique Institute on December 6 1989

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of the murders of 14 female students at Ecole Polytechnique de  Montreal and as has been the remembrances of the past, the North Coast Transition Society will be holding a vigil at Coast Mountain College in the city to remember the women from Montreal and to take a stand against all gender based violence.

Tuesday's remembrance and vigil takes place from Noon to 1 PM in the Multi-Purpose room of the Prince Rupert Campus of the college. 

This years commemoration in the city comes only a few weeks past the tragic day at the Ocean Centre Mall which claimed the life of Patty Forman.  

That horrific incident will also  be on the minds of many of those taking part in the Prince Rupert vigil.

The Federal Government has an information page (which you can review here) that provides some background to the annual remembrance and calls for a moment of silence at 11AM.

Tuesday's Remembrance of remembers the victims of violence of December 6th.

Coast Mountain College has more on Tuesday's vigil here.

For any updates on the plans for Tuesday follow the North Coast Transition Society Facebook page.

More notes on Community Events can be followed from our archive page.

Rotary Club Christmas Tree sale underway, range of sizes available while they last!

 

The Tennis Courts of Sixth Avenue West host a good supply
of Christmas trees for 2022 for Sale by Prince Rupert Rotarians

Sales were brisk and so were the temperatures on Saturday afternoon as the Prince Rupert Rotary Club launched its 2022 Christmas Tree Sale.

The Prince Rupert tradition has once again set up shop in the Tennis Courts of Sixth Avenue East at McBride. 

The early birds of Saturday had the first pick of the 2022 crop with quite a few Rupertites stopping by to check out the selection.

Members of PRMHA helping unload the 2022 bounty of 
Christmas Trees for Prince Rupert Rotary 
(photo from PR Rotary FB)

The trees which were transported from the Terrace area by Bandsrtra  Transportation are lined up inside the tennis courts in a range of sizes. 

The supply for 2022 unloaded by some helpful elves from Prince Rupert Minor Hockey.

As we noted last week, the Sale continues through until December 18th or the supply runs out.

Times for the Sale can be reviewed from the sign that marks the entrance to the Rotary Forest on Sixth Avenue East.

The Prince Rupert Rotary Club Christmas Tree Sale Hours

The money Rotarians raise from their Annual Tree Sale is put towards some of their many local community initiatives.

Updates on the tree sale as it moves towards conclusion on December 18th can be found from the Prince Rupert Rotary Social Media Stream.

Community Note themes can be explored through our archive page.

Liam McChesney: The 'Swiss Army Knife for Illinois State' leads Redbirds to victory over Belmont in Sunday NCAA Hoops play

Prince Rupert's Liam McChesney heard some strong praise from his coach on Sunday after the former CHSS Rainmaker had a big day on the court for Illinois State in Sunday NCAA Action.

In a strong performance, that was a career high in the NCCA for the Redbird starter, McChesney was part of a huge push in the second half as the Illinois side bested a highly rated Belmont by a score of 87 to 77. 

The Rupert Rainmaker alumnus making for one of his most impressive appearances since arriving at Illinois State, the big forward topped the team scoring on the day with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

In post game Comments, head coach Ryan Pedon referenced the Prince Rupert baller as the "Swiss Army knife" for the Redbirds, noting of his progress as part of the Redbird program.

"People don't realize the advantage he provides for us with his length and his versatility. 

He can do a lot of things well and I think he's growing into a bigger role this year than he's played at the collegiate level.

And I'm going to ask him to do ... more, because I think that he's capable of that.

And it will take some time for him to grow into that. 

But Liam McChesney can become a special player and he impacted the game tonight in a lot of different ways and I'm really proud of him"

You can review the praise for the play of McChesney on Sunday here.

From his success on the court the Rupertite was also part of the post game Q and A portion of the day, McChesney sharing the podium with teammates Luke Kasubke and Seneca Knight.

For his part he noted of the work of his teammates to put him in the position to find success on the court, while his teammates observed how his play on the day attracted the attention of the Belmont side, which opened up the court for the rest of players on the court.

The post game commentary can be checked out here.

The Redbirds have only started the long road ahead in NCAA basketball which culminates in the March Madness celebration of the sport.

So far, the Rupert forward has been a frequent starter for the team, with Sunday's results an indication of growing confidence with his role on the Redbirds roster.

You can review the notes from the game here, along with  Boxscore from the scoring explosion.

More notes on Prince Rupert athletes at University sports can be explored here.