Port Edward ready for its Spring Tune up this weekend with volunteer project and civic clean up at mid-month

The District of Port Edward is noting of a volunteer project in the community this weekend that will work towards cleaning up the community, an are known for it's clean, neat and Green approach to community maintenance.

The Community Clean Up Day is set for Saturday, May 6th from 10:30  to 12:30 PM, with volunteers to meet up at the Community Centre to pick up supplies and take to their assigned routes.

The District has also announced the dates for its Three Day Spring Clean up Blitz which runs from May 15-17. A period where the District will be picking up a range of items for removal in the community.

More notes on themes from the District can be reviewed through their Social media stream.

Past items of interest from Port Edward can be explored from our archive page.

Prince Rupert RCMP seek assistance in locating 27 year old male wanted on warrants

Prince Rupert RCMP have made use of their WANTED WEDNESDAY project to seek the help of the public in locating a 27 year old male related to three unendorsed warrants.

Wanted is Nayulk Mackenzie Marshall, who is sought for warrants on the following:

Take vessel without consent; 

Mischief: loss of enjoyment of property; and 

Mischief: damage to property under $5000

The subject of the Mounties search this week is described as follows:

Caucasian male; 5'10" (178 cm); 

172 lb (78 kg); 

Brown hair; and Blue/grey eyes

He is 27 years of age

Should you have any information about Nayulk's whereabouts, please contact the Prince Rupert RCMP at 250-624-2136. 

If you wish to remain anonymous, they remind you to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). 

More notes on the RCMP file can be reviewed here.

A wider overview of the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest can be explored here.

COVID, rising costs pointed at towards delay of construction for Lax Kw'alaams led 11th Avenue East housing complex

The progress for the Lax Kw'alaams WAAP Society Housing Apartment
building in Prince Rupert was part of a recent update for 
Lax Kw'alaams members 
(Image From Lax Kw'alaams website)

The status of the much anticipated 11th Avenue East apartment construction is still that of moving forward, though there have been delays, some of which were noted this week through the Lax Kw'alaams Band Council's Report to membership.

As we outlined earlier this morning, Mayor Garry Reece and the Band Council membership provided an extensive review of themes related to their work and plans for the Lax Kw'alaams community and of much interest should be the update on the plans for the 70 unit apartment project on 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert.

In his briefing for the community Harvey Russell Junior made note of of some of the challenges that the project has faced since it was approved by Prince Rupert City Council in the fall of 2021.

Mr. Russell's update noting of the impact of COVID, rising costs and financing themes as part of the overview as well as to note that Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance is the project manager for the development in Prince Rupert.

"WAAP Society recently issued its building permit for the 70 unit homes in Prince Rupert, were still looking forward to shovels in on this project. 

CTNCA which has partnered up with Lax Kw'alaams in the past is the project manager set to build the 70 units in Prince Rupert, which is just off of 11th Avenue directly across from Edward Avenue.

The Project was delayed due to the rising costs, as we know COVID had a huge impact on our economy. And the Bank of Canada raising their interest rates going up you know so the cost kept going up because of the funding delays that happened. "

At the end of 2022 it was anticipated that it would take 18-24 months for the apartment complex to be constructed and ready for occupancy. No revised timeline was noted from the presentation.

Some background on the Prince Rupert plans and the WAAP Society were included as part of the full report to the Lax Kw'alaams Membership which you can review here (see pages 6-9)

click on above to enlarge

Those travelling along 11th Avenue East of late have probably noticed that there does seem to be some preliminary work underway, with land clearing taking place, with the community benefiting from some free fire wood as part of the work underway in the wooded area off of Edwards and 11th East.

While Mr. Russell was enthusiastic about the future for the development, he did not provide for a definitive date towards the theme of shovels in the ground for the project, that perhaps to come a little further down the calendar.

More notes related to the 11th Avenue East project can be reviewed from our Prince Rupert 2030 Vision Tracker archive page here.

A wider overview of Prince Rupert Housing themes is available here.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice shares in salute towards work of Public Accounts Committee

British Columbian's don't hear a lot when it comes to the work of the range of Legislature committees that make for much of the work of MLA's outside of their Legislature and Constituency duties. 

But on Tuesday the work of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts was up for some applause as Chair Peter Milobar asked for the adoption of their first report.

Mr. Milobar noting on Tuesday morning of some of the work that took place as part of the Committee's efforts.

The committee also reviewed the Auditor General's report on the financial audit work for the fiscal year 2021-2022 and approved the financial statement audit coverage plan for auditing the provincial summary financial statements over the next three years.

To further promote this ongoing accountability and improvement of public sector administration, the committee also followed up with 15 audited organizations to seek additional information regarding their progress in implementing the audit report recommendations. 

On behalf of the committee members, I would like to thank the Auditor General, Michael Pickup, and his staff for the important work that they do, as well as the comptroller general, Carl Fischer, and the many more senior public servants who appeared before the committee. 

I would also like to thank the Clerk's office for all of their support throughout, and Hansard as well, of course. 

I'd also like to express my appreciation to all the committee members, including the Deputy Chair and member for North Coast for their hard work and collaboration.

As noted by the Chair,  North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice serves as Deputy Chair to the Committee and she also offered up a few words from their work of the last number of weeks.

As a new member of the Public Accounts Committee, having joined at the beginning of this year, I'm impressed by the work that we have accomplished. 

During my short time as Deputy Chair, the committee considered reports related to mental health and substance use services for Indigenous people in B.C. correctional centres, the monitoring of COVID-19 vaccination coverage, as well as the Auditor General's financial audit work. 

I look forward to continuing the work of the committee in promoting public sector oversight and accountability in the province in this next fiscal year. 

I would like to echo the Chair's appreciation to the Office of the Auditor General, the office of the comptroller general and numerous senior public servants who took time to appear before the committee. 

I would also like to extend a thank-you to the staff from the Parliamentary Committees Office, Hansard and those who helped in the committee work.

You can review the talking points on Committee membership from the Legislature Video starting at the 11:00 AM mark.

When it comes to Committee Membership, Ms. Rice may either be the keenest volunteer in Victoria or the MLA most likely to be tapped on the shoulder for membership.

In addition to her work on the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the North Coast MLA is listed as a member of three other Committees.

Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs

Select Standing Committee on Education

Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills 

That work is in addition to her role as Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health a post she was appointed to in January of this year.

More notes from the BC Legislature can be explored here.

Lax Kw'alaams Band takes Community Meeting/Update to online format

Mayor Garry Reece has delivered an update on range of
topics of note for members of Lax Kw'alaams
(image from Lax Kw'alaams video presentation)

The annual review of the state of Lax Kw'alaams has shifted to an online format this month, with the Band Council noting of unforeseen circumstances, including a number of recent passings to members of the Lax Kw'alaams Community towards the shift from the in person presentation. 

 
The Lax Kw’alaams Council has opted to share their council presentations via video recording. These presentations were originally intended to be delivered in an in-person community meeting format, however the meeting was rescheduled several times due to unforeseen circumstances. 

The meeting was postponed out of respect, due to recent deaths in the Lax Kw’alaams membership. The Lax Kw’alaams Council and staff extend their sincere condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones in the previous months.

The Opening Remarks for the presentation come from Mayor Garry Reece who provided an update on some of the work of the Band Council along with updates on how relations are going with their neighbours as far away as the Nass Valley and as close as the Prince Rupert Port Authority. 

Towards their relations with the Nisga'a Nation the Mayor outlined the community's ongoing concerns over the Nisga'a Led KSI Lisims LNG Project 

"We are adamantly opposed to this project due to its impact on Lax Kw'alaams Rights and title on its marine territory"

The Mayor followed up by noting that the Band is intending to use the Environmental Process as part of their way of ensuring that their rights and interests are not impacted.

Mr. Reece also has comments to share related to the proposed land transfer in Nasoga Gulf, which he described as Lax Kw'alaams aboriginal title land, recounting the ongoing work of the Nisga'a Nation to move that quest forward. The Mayor noting of the steps taken by Lax Kw'alaams since that point.

"Instead of negotiating, Nisga'a has appealed the injunction to the BC Court of Appeal. Lax Kw'alaams will continue to use strong legal and defensive strategies to protect Nasoga Gulf from this proposed land transfer"

Mayor Reece also noted of the plans for a Bulk Fuels terminal on Ridley Island and the Band's involvement in the environmental review and ongoing discussions with Vopak towards their interests.

He also spoke to the theme of plans by the Prince Rupert Port Authority towards the development for an Export Logistics Platform on land at Ridley Island, noting how the Band has a differing opinion towards how the Port is proceeding with that project.

"What they have told us is that it's part of the Fairview Agreement that was in place and negotiated a few years back; and we're telling them that is not the case. It has nothing to do with that on Ridley, it's totally separate ... 

Lax Kw'alaams has been in negotiations with the Port, but to dat the Port Authority has taken an inadequate approach to our relationship and the duty to of accommodations.

Lax Kw'alaams leadership voted to authorize legal action if necessary, we are still in negotiations  with the Port and will be having another meeting with them shortly to see if we can get that resolved"

The Mayor also explores themes of Constitutional Development as well as some areas of note in relations between the Province and the Band Council, mostly related to some land issues that are still to be addressed. As well he offered up a look at some upcoming themes ahead with the Federal Government.

Other members of the Band Council used the video presentation format to update members on their portfolios, among some of the many included on the list was Housing, Education, Economic Development, Health, Constitutional themes, Infrastructure  and Resources.

Much of their presentations were culled from the annual report for 2021-22.

Harvey Russell Junior provided the extensive overview of housing themes, with provided for some 23 minutes of background on the work that is ongoing.

"As you all know we have a huge housing shortage, but Previous council and current council are working very hard to try to bring housing into the community."

Mr. Russell observing that also of March 2023 an additional  24 units of housing had been added to the community. He also outlined some significant changes towards how the WAAP Housing Society has been organized.

An update on the Prince Rupert Apartment building plans for 11th Avenue East was provided, the notes from the Annual report at year end of 2022 providing a thumbnail guide as to what's ahead and pricing structure for the units upon completion.

"WAAP Society recently issued its building permit for the 70 unit homes in Prince Rupert, were still looking forward to shovels in on this project. 

CTNCA which has partnered up with Lax Kw'alaams in the past is the project manager set to build the 70 units in Prince Rupert, which is just off of 11th Avenue directly across from Edward Avenue.

The Project was delayed due to the rising costs, as we know COVID had a huge impact on our economy. And the Bank of Canada raising their interest rates going up you know so the cost kept going up because of the funding delays that happened. "

At the end of 2022 it was anticipated that it would take 18-24 months for the apartment complex to be constructed and ready for occupancy. No revised timeline was noted from the presentation.

click to enlarge

A snapshot of the housing plans for Lax Kw'alaams community were also updated for the membership. 

click to enlarge

When it comes to Economic Development, Andy Tait outlined some of the recent moves by the Band Council and some of their recent purchases in Prince Rupert and elsewhere in the region.

Included on the list the purchase of the ICBC building on Chamberlain Avenue as well as discussions towards BC Hydro land across from Rainbow Chrysler and the purchase of a new tug and barge service for the community.

Mr. Tait also outlined some of the new partnerships that Lax Kw'alaams has taken on around the North Coast.

When it comes to Infrastructure  Ted White Senior provided for the update. Offering up a look at some of the recent initiatives from the Fibre optic connection through their partnership with CityWest. Notes on updates to Lax Kw'alaams Facilities and their work on Wastewater Treatment plant work and road repairs,  as well as their plans for Waterfront Development in the community.

The update also noted of work ahead on the new Cemetery and Daycare projects.

You can review all of the Presentations from the Report from this link.

The Report to Membership for the year 2021-22 is available here.

More notes related to Lax Kw'alaams can be explored through our archive page here.

It's showtime for Prince Rupert, as 2023 Cruise season gets underway

Opening Day for Prince Rupert's Cruise season as the
Carnival vessel Miracle ties up at the Prince Rupert Cruise Terminal

A new year to show off the region is underway, with the arrival of the Carnival Cruise Lines Miracle this morning at the Prince Rupert Cruise Terminal, the vessel coming along side between 7 and 7:30 signalling the start of the 2023 season.

The Miracle will make a total of ten port visits this year, part of a fifty three vessel call for the Cruise Terminal this year, the first of operations for the new Terminal operator Global Ports Holdings.

The vessel arrived in Prince Rupert following a stop over on Monday in Ketchikan, Alaska.

One day in Ketchikan, the next in Prince Rupert!
The Miracle has been causing Alaskan waters
prior to today's visit to the North Coast

Global Ports Holdings took over the facility, as part of a ten year operation agreement with the Prince Rupert Port Authority signed in November of 2022.

The Global terminal operator observing of the potential for over 250,000 visitors per season to Prince Rupert once they have put their operations plans into full motion. 

The shorter term forecast is a little less that the quarter million mark, with over 80,000 visitors expected this season, which is double that of 2022.

Today's visit could send 2,100 visitors off to explore Prince Rupert and area during the course of the eight hour port visit, the Miracle casts off its lines at 3:30 this afternoon.

Two of their partners on the Prince Rupert Experience the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Tourism Prince Rupert have both made note of the season opener  in recents days.

Global Ports Holdings has posted a behind the scenes look at some of the preparations for opening day which you can review here.

You can follow their notes on the season ahead through their Social Media stream here.

The Full Cruise Schedule for 2023 can be explored here.

More on the 2023 season can be found through our archive page.

A Line Painting kind of a day

Yellowhead Line Marking are in town laying down some
roadway markings on a sunny Prince Rupert afternoon

Motorists making their way around town today are either dodging construction sites or line painting sessions with a lot happening around the streets of Prince Rupert.

On the East Side, BC Hydro is installing new poles along  Hays Cove Avenue just past Sixth Avenue East, with flag people on hand to control traffic through the area.

Down the hill along Drydock Road, Yellowhead line painting is at work with crews laying down the pavement markings this afternoon underway from the Canadian Fish Plant and all Along George Hills Way through to the Cow Bay Area.

Last week the City noted of the ongoing work around the city, as the line painting crews were taking advantage of the sunny weather and warmer temperatures of the last little while.

In addition to the BC Hydro and Line painting work, City of Prince Rupert crews are addressing a range of challenges in a number of areas of town.

More notes on Civic Operations can bereviewed here.