Skeena - Bulkley Valley MP presents petition calling for union representation on Port Authority Boards across Canada

Port workers in Prince Rupert and across Canada want to be included
as part of the Board of Directors for Canada's Port Authorities 

Port workers want to be part of the Board, that's the theme to a call for action for those who work on the waterfronts across Canada as members of the union movement look for more input on decision making.

The call for representation of labour on the Boards of Port Authority's across the nation has been delivred to the House of Commons, with Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach  bringing a petition to the Chamber on Thursday.

"The petitioners note the essential nature of port workers roles in the operation of Canada's supply chain, they note the impact of decision making at Canada's ports on their lives and most importantly they note the essential experience and knowledge that they bring to  the operation of Canada's ports"

The petitioners are calling on the government to amend the Canada Marine Act, to ensure that port workers are represented on the Board of Directors of Canada's Port Authority's.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority currently lists five members of its Board of Directors. A wide range of accomplishments among them, but none as the petition would note are related to port worker experience.

The Statement of Qualifications for the Directorships can be explored here.

The current Board and officials with the Port of Prince Rupert will be hosting their Annual Public Meeting in Prince Rupert on June 15th at the Crest Hotel.

As for the initiative introduced by the Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP. the details towards the Petition can be reviewed here.

The presentation of the petition in the House of Commons can be viewed below:

More notes on Labour in the Northwest can be explored here.

A wider overview of Mr. Bachrach's work at the House of Commons can be reviewed here.

'The Urbarginal' takes Rudy Kelly's journey and remembrances to the national stage

Journalist, actor, novelist and now a podcaster, the journey for Rudy Kelly continues forward and the spotlight now turns to the national stage with the debut of a project over a year in the making.

The Urbariginal has debuted as part of CBC Radio's Podcast project, the six episode series one that was taken on by Mr. Kelly through the Daybreak North Studios, with Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk along for the creative process.

The line up of episodes for the six part CBC Listen podcast
'The Urbariginal'
(click to enlarge)

Long in the local spotlight for the range of his talents and sense of community,  we noted of his latest project back in June of 2022, when the genesis of the larger podcast project was delivered through a month long event at the Prince Rupert Library.

Mr. Kelly and Ms. de Ryk provided a short overview of the project with a piece this past week on Daybreak North, recounting the day that the CBC Radio morning show host pitched the podcast idea over a cup of coffee and how the project evolved from that point forward.

Their conversation provides a look at what themes and how the scope of the conversations with elders and others in communities along the North Coast shaped the narrative for their work. 

As well as how the road towards the finish line for the work provided for a reflection of his life with his father and how the local region became part of the journey.

You can eavesdrop on their conversation here. 

Another glimpse of the project is available here.

It takes skill, knowledge and patience to compile the material required for a project of this scope, one that shares a message with an audience.  

But it also requires a fair bit of courage to lay out your own travels as the main narrative. 

The six episode podcast offers a unique view of North Coast life that many of us likely only have scattered memories to call on, or anecdotal knowledge of.

Asked by Ms. de Ryk as to who the podcast is designed for, the answer provides a snapshot of the focus for the project and some of the personal remembrances that it will deliver.

"I think its for, its kind of for all Indigenous people, but certainly for other Urbariginal's like me, Who have been raised in a mostly urban setting but don't know much about their culture. And as everyone knows, even outsiders that aren't Indigenous, there's quite a divide on and off reserve.

They look at you as you know being a sell out right? Me working in, within you know White organization like the city and saying. ah you're just a token, I actually got called that. 

Most people congratulated me for that job, being a first Director in the City of Prince Rupert.  

But also I got a lot of yeah you're just a token, they needed a brown face because such was the times" --Rudy Kelly on the Urbariginal

It's an impressive list of accomplishments to date and As Ms. de Ryk notes as she wraps up the interview this week:  Storyteller is also something to now add to add to his resume.

You can Tavel along with Kelly and de Ryk from this link to the Urbariginal spot on the CBC Listen portal 

The Urbarignal is also available on other podcasting platforms, so check your listings to see if yours is among them.

A look at more media themes from the Northwest is available through our archive page. 

Convocation Time comes to Coast Mountain College Prince Rupert on Tuesday

Prince Rupert's Lester Centre is the host venue for the 2023 Coast
Mountain College Convocation for North Coast students on June 6

One of life's passages comes next week for some of the student body of the Prince Rupert Campus of Coast Mountain College.

A potential of over 70 students will participate in the Tuesday Convocation for the Prince Rupert campus, the event set for a 1 PM start at the Lester Centre of the Arts.

The conclusion of their studies from a range of programs with Coast Mountain College will make for a day of celebration; not only for the students, but their families, some of whom may be coming from as far abroad as India, Africa and the Philippines,. 

They will join families and friends from students from across the nation, province, Northwest and Prince Rupert  to bring a chapter of academic life to a close.

The event is also one that will attract both College officials from the main Terrace campus, but local and regional dignitaries.

Those taking in the Convocation on Tuesday will receive diplomas, associate degrees, certificates and other honours.

Participants in the event are reminded to arrive at 11:30AM at the Lester Centre for their gowns with photos to follow at Noon.  The Convocation ceremony will start at 1PM.

You can follow the Coast Mountain College social media stream for updates towards Prince Rupert Convocation Day and the larger event planned for Terrace.

The Main Campus Convocation takes place on Monday, June 12 at the REM Theatre in Terrace.

Smithers students will have their Convocation on June 16.

More notes on Coast Mountain College can be explored through our archive page here.

MP Taylor Bachrach, NDP disappointed at Federal report on National Bus Transportation planning

A Report for the Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities has come up significantly short for Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrarch, who has shared more than a few thoughts on his concerns towards the document.

The Report called: Improving Bus Connectivity in Canada was launched in part at the urging of the Northwest Member of Parliament, who had taken the issues of poor transportation options for his constituents to the House of Commons.

Over four days of hearings, the committee heard from witnesses including academics, municipalities, bus service operators, and advocacy groups. 

Many of the participants provided their accounts of the challenges of linking Canadians following the end of Greyhound national service in recent years.

In a statement from Tuesday, Bachrach notes that despite strong
testimony describing how Canada’s inter-regional bus service is failing to serve Canadians and the importance of federal leadership, the recommendations from the majority of MPs on the committee fell far short of what is needed to connect Canadians. 

 "There is an alarming disconnect between the experts' strong call for action and the lacklustre recommendations in the report. Where Greyhound once provided a coast-to-coast bus service, we now see a fragmented patchwork, with serious consequences for low-income Canadians, Indigenous people, seniors and marginalized populations." 

The Committee Report, which you can review here, delivered Seven Recommendations.

Those seven elements however, do not meet the larger ambitions for the NDP, which attached their own dissenting report to the document, found as part of the last five pages of the Committee document noted above.

The main call for the NDP, that of the creation of a Public, Nationwide Bus network.

Towards that goal, Bachrach is calling on federal Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra to demonstrate leadership in re-establishing nation-wide bus service. 

"While the Minister abdicates responsibility and points fingers at the provinces, Canadians are faced with fewer affordable inter-regional transport options than ever before. I had hoped the committee's report would reflect the urgency of the situation, but unfortunately it seems the other parties are content with half-measures.

As we heard during this study, safe, reliable bus service is essential to Canadians, especially those in marginalized communities,. It helps people access jobs, education, and health services, not to mention providing the ability to escape domestic violence and avoid unsafe modes of transportation, like hitchhiking. 

Bus service is not a luxury, it’s a public necessity and a step forward in reconciliation. Canadians can’t afford to have the federal government drag its feet on this issue.” 

The Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP also made note of  the BC government's recent renewal of funding for regional and community to community bus service in northwest BC.  

As we outlined earlier this week,  the announcement from the BC Government has allocated another 5 million dollars towards the BC North Bus and community shuttle programs along the Highway 16 corridor and throughout Northern BC.

 "Thanks to the provincial government's investments in public bus service, our region is better served than most other parts of rural Canada. However, service is still not at the levels Greyhound once provided, and connections to other regions of the country are virtually non-existent. There is a lot of work to do, and the federal government has a central role to play." 

You can review more on the local themes of transportation along the Highway 16 Corridor from our archive page here.

More items of interest from the House of Commons can be explored here.

Prince Rupert Recreation Department opens application period for Summer Camp Program

It's almost Summer Camp season with Prince Rupert Recreation

With the countdown towards the end of school now on, parents are making their summer plans to keep the young ones occupied and there to help is the City of Prince Rupert which has announced their plans for the Summer Camp season this summer.

As we've noted earlier this spring, the City had been busy setting up the camp crew for 2023, with a number of job postings for the season ahead.

Towards the 2023 program, this year the City is offering camps each week for youth ages 6-8 and 9-12.

With programs starting the first week of July and running through to September 1st

Of note, there is no camp in place for this summer for those in the pre-school age range.

The application period for the two levels for camps that are offered  opened today and you can call (250) 624-6707 for more information.

The City's Rec Department also reminds youth and their parents or guardians of the Youth Lounge open twice a week at the Civic Centre.

As well as their Fun Friday program.

For more notes of interest on Recreation in the community see the Prince Rupert Recreation Social Media page.

More on Civic themes can be reviewed through our archive page here.

25 million dollar add on towards funding for Coast Clean up in 2023

Image from BC Government

The Province of British Columbia has doubled its investment towards a coastal clean up, adding another 25 million dollars to their funding towards the 4,600 kilometres of shoreline that is the focus for the work.

George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy announced the funding earlier this week noting of the success of the past for the program.

“I am honoured to stand with First Nations and partner organizations who are taking a leadership role in cleaning up marine debris and plastic pollution. The Clean Coast, Clean Waters projects have and continue to help protect and restore the health of our marine ecosystems. All British Columbians deserve access to a healthy environment. As part of our government’s broader CleanBC Plastics Action Plan to reduce plastic waste and pollution, these projects are protecting our coastlines for the benefit of our communities now and for the future.”

The additional $25 million in one-time funding will more than double the B.C. government’s investment in the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund, for a total of approximately $50 million. 

The Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative will receive $4 million, bringing its total funding to $7.5 million since 2020. 

The remaining $21 million will be awarded to successful funding applicants through a merit-based assessment process, administered by PwC Canada. 

Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, highlighted some of the work of the past that has been part of the program.

“The Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative has removed over 1,500 tonnes of marine debris to date, including 118 derelict vessels. Preventing and cleaning up marine pollution is essential to a healthy and productive coast, and is one aspect of our vision for B.C.’s future as we develop a Coastal Marine Strategy in partnership with First Nations.”

The funding will be distributed in two rounds, one this spring and another planned for early 2024. 

The first application period has ended. Successful recipients will be notified in June to allow projects to begin this summer. 

Projects from the first round must be completed, have their data collected and final reports submitted by Feb. 29, 2024.

A good portion of the clean up will take place in the constituency of North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who shared notes on the funding initiative on Wednesday as well as to highlight the current opening for those with an interest in the program.

More on the program can be reviewed here.

The full announcement from the BC government is available here.

A wider overview of themes from the Legislature can e reviewed from our archive page.

CFNR "J School" to hold sessions this summer

 An opportunity for Indigenous youth to learn about the vocation of Journalism and News Presentation comes this summer as Terrace based radio station CFNR hosts a Training course.

The program which partners with Tricorp provides for a range of topics through the six week program which runs between July 24 and September 1st.

Among some of the themes that will make for the curriculum this summer:

The basics of Journalism & News
Successful of news stories, by learning writing and presentation 
Various types of storytelling  
Behind the scenes 

The program prospectus notes that students will receive training that will enable them to gain skills for many endeavours in today’s world. 

 The craft and skills learned will allow them to use for their own communities and their communications needs, and be a stepping stone for them in urban areas. 

Students will receive a certificate upon successful completion of this course.

Elements that will go towards that certificate include:

Introduction to Journalism
Writing 

Legal, libel and copywriting 

Presentation 

Website and Social Media 

Video ENG (Electronic News Gathering) 

Participants will also gain some Practicum experience.

To requirements to qualify for the program are listed below:

Be of aboriginal ancestry
Be 18 years of age or older
Have or be able to acquire a valid driver’s license
Demonstrate a professional attitude, be punctual, and commit to the program
Be proactive in their training

This summer's program makes for the third partnership for CFNR, with support this summer from Tricorp.

To learn more about the project and to apply for the summer session see this link.

More notes on the North Coast Media scene can be explored here.