Search continues off Port Hardy for elderly man missing in small rowboat

Twin search assets dispatched out of 19 Wing Comox  by the Joint Rescue  Coordination Centre are back in the skies off of Northern Vancouver Island, searching for a man in his seventies who left Prince Rupert on a journey by rowboat to Port Hardy.

A Cormorant helicopter and Buffalo Rescue airplane are working a search area some 225 kilometres north of Port Hardy.

The rowboat and its lone occupant were last heard from on July 11th, near Aristazabal Island.

Since that time he has not checked in with his family and is now considered to be missing,  the search for the missing boater began on Saturday.

In addition to the air search, two coast guard vessels are searching the scene looking for indications of what may have happened to the man.

To assist those conducting the search, Joint Rescue Centre officials are calling on those travelling by boat in the area to contact them if they have crossed the path of the traveller since July 11th.

Anyone with information regarding his travels is asked to contact the RCMP at 250-627-0700 or Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at 1-800-567-5111

Some news items on the search can be found below:

CBC-- Solo rower missing north of Vancouver Island
CKNW-- Search continues for elderly boater north of Vancouver Island
Times Colonist-- Man, 70, in rowboat missing between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert

Update: On Wednesday, July 23rd the search for the missing boater was called off and the file handed over to the Prince Rupert RCMP as a missing person's file.

Blog Watching, Week Ending July 20, 2014

As part of a weekly feature on the blog, every Sunday we offer up this weeks recap of the top five items viewed over the course of the last seven days.

Included in the countdown, we will provide links to the articles in question, offering up with one click of the mouse, those items of the week that you may have missed.

This week,  the grounding of a coal ship in the approaches to Prince Rupert Harbour found the most viewers, followed by the latest developments related to Watson Island with a proposal for an LNG Terminal at the Industrial site.

Also of interest to our readers this week, the focus of the Beedie School of Business on Prince Rupert, City Council's ongoing interest in developments when it comes to the proposed LNG project for Lelu Island.

Details of the arrests of four Prince Rupert residents as part of a street level drug investigation in the Northwest rounded out the top five of the week.

Kicking off the top five items, of our week that was, the details of the grounding incident of the Amakusa Island

Bulk carrier re-floated after running aground in Prince Rupert Harbour --   Background on the grounding of the coal ship in the outer reach of Prince Rupert Harbour and the investigation that followed the incident (posted July 15, 2014)

That item was followed by:

City of Prince Rupert targets Watson Island for LNG development --  The City released a short announcement, outlining the latest developments when it comes to the Watson Island Industrial site (posted July 16, 2014 )

Beedie School of Business turns focus to Northwestern British Columbia -- With the Northwest looking towards economic expansion in the years to come, the Beedie School of Business outlined the scope of an Executive MBA program they hope to host in Prince Rupert. (posted July 15, 2014)

Is Prince Rupert Council Overstepping its Lelu Island Observations  --   A look back at some of the recent attention that Prince Rupert Council has provided to a project that is actually being developed in the District of Port Edward  (posted July 14, 2014)

Prince Rupert residents face charges after RCMP drug investigation -- Details of a three month investigation into street level drug activities in a number of Northwest Communities  (posted July 14, 2014)

You can find our Blog watching featured posted every Sunday morning by 9AM, a handy way to catch up to the week that was, at a leisurely weekend pace.

The Permanent link to the feature can be found here or above our Blog Archive section, found on the right hand side of the title page.

For those looking for updates to items as they are posted to the blog, don't forget about our email alert access.

A daily review of the latest items on the blog can be delivered to your email in box, simply by entering your email address into the information bar, items posted to the blog will be delivered to your e-mail account each day.

You can find the link to that feature on the upper, right hand side of the blog.

Imperial Oil sets July 24th for Public Presentation on Tuck Inlet LNG proposal

Mark Thursday, July 24th on your calendars and electronic devices, that's the date that Imperial Oil and Exxon-Mobil has chosen to outline the scope of their proposed LNG Terminal development for the east side of Tuck Inlet, providing for the first public overview of the project for Prince Rupert residents

As we outlined on the blog last week, City Council already received a thumb nail sketch of the project, when Imperial Oil officials provided a short overview to Council at last week's regular council session.

During their presentation to Council, officials from the energy group highlighted their plan to provide for the Community Information Session, offering up the prospect of more technical information for community residents who may have questions regarding the project.

That public information session should also be of interest to Mayor Mussallem and the six Council Members.  Council will soon launch their review of the zoning issue and then vote on the zoning provisions for the  parcel of land in Lot 444 that has been proposed for the development.

Last Monday's Council session offered a fair amount of back and forth on the topic of the Lot 444 zoning issues, despite the fact that three of the council members were absent from the night's proceedings, you can review the Lot 444 discussion here.

The upcoming public session will also provide the opportunity for local residents and Imperial Oil/Exxon-Mobil explore more of the proposed plans.  As well local residents can offer up some feedback and guidance to the companies, with suggestions as to how the community wishes to be engaged as the project moves forward.

The Community Information Session will take place from 5 to 8 PM at the North Coast Convention Centre on 1st Avenue West, which is part of the Chances Gaming Centre complex.

Residents who may wish to learn more about the Information Session can contact Imperial Oil toll free at 1-855-338-9931

We have more information of interest regarding the Tuck Inlet LNG project available on our LNG Archive page.

North Pacific Cannery Historical Site launches a YouTube channel to share Cannery life stories

The experiences of the North Pacific Cannery Historic site are expanding to the Internet, with the launch of a  collection of short video presentations for the Historic Site's You Tube channel.

The short moments in time offer up a collection of stories of the past, featuring the recollections of those who once worked at the Port Edward cannery during the days when it was an active part of the North Coast Fishing industry.

The video vignettes first started to show up last week  on the You Tube page for the Historic Site.

The first two snapshots of Cannery life, featured Ian Shopland and Ron Kadowaki, providing a look at the topic of growing up at the Port Eeward site.

Two more submissions were uploaded in recent days, as Victor Mowatt  delivered a short review of  his work experiences at North Pacific, as well as a brief look at some of the traditions and culture of the Gitxsan First Nation.

The videos help to provide for a fascinating multi media experience for both residents of the region and those that are visiting the North Coast.

The presentations offer up the opportunity learn more about the importance of the Cannery to life to the region and bring to life some of the background to the many exhibits that visitors explore when they make the trip to the site.

For those from afar that may be thinking of a trip to the North Coast in the future, the video channel will also provide a bit of a preview of what  they may find when they arrive at North Pacific.

For locals, the stories offer up very entertaining lessons on a part of our history that helped to shape the region over the last 100 years.

A link to the video work in progress from the North Pacific You Tube channel can be found here.

Nathan Cullen's summer projects

Summer vacation as we all know is dedicated to a fair bit of relaxation, combined with a bit of work around the home front.

The political version of tending to the work around the home riding for the NDP's Nathan Cullen, would seem to include a pair of high profile issues.

While Mr. Cullen takes advantage of the Bulkley Valley sunshine during the summer break from his duties on Parliament Hill, his office is making sure that some his themes continue to stay among our thoughts during the summer season.

And if our recent household mailers are any indication, the Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley is set to rally his constituents to save a pair of high profile organizations.

The first mailer sought the help of constituents in the goal of preserving Canada Post services across the nation, that project was outlined in the late spring, with a short item delivered door to door through the Mail.

The second in the NDP's summer awareness campaign arrived with last weeks mail, as we learned more of Mr. Cullen's wishes to see the the Conservative Government provide better opportunities for financial security for the CBC.

More background on the Postal Service mission can be found on the MP's website, which offers up a few talking points to the theme.

Along with the information review, the link also features a petition for those Canadians that share the NDP's views on the importance of Canada Post to our daily lives.

The NDP campaign to "Stand up for the CBC" appears to still be somewhat in the early stages of development. With the household mailer following up on Mr. Cullen's comments of April on the theme of how the CBC cuts impact on rural communities.

Much like the Post Office campaign, the NDP website provides a link to a petition to seek out multi year financing for the public broadcaster.

Our archive of past items on Mr. Cullen's work in Ottawa can be found here.

Amakusa Island grounding provides Enbridge opponents with a visual aid

Photo of Amakusa Island courtesy of 
Transportation Safety Board of Canada Twitter feed

As word of the grounding of the Amakusa Island began to spread beyond Prince Rupert by

Wednesday, those who have long offered up their concerns on the theme of oil shipments along the North Coast found much to review from the incident in Prince Rupert harbour.

For those opposed to the Northern Gateway proposal, the focus of the grounding of the coal ship has shifted,  offering a visual aid for the what if scenarios.

The picture of the listing Amakusa Island providing opponents with an opportunity to once again warn of their concerns over the prospect of bitumen or refined oil shipments from any proposed terminals on the North Coast to World markets.

The theme of environmental  concern was the subject of items from a number of media outlets yesterday, with the Vancouver Sun leading the way with a focus article featuring comments from a range of opponents to the Enbridge proposal.

CFNR provided a short piece on the incident as well, highlighting the concerns of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation which used the Monday incident as a cautionary note.

As we outlined on the blog on Tuesday, the incident took place in the late evening hours of Monday, the vessel was re-floated at high tide in the early hours of Tuesday, after which  it then proceeded to anchorage.

Port officials continue to monitor the situation at the anchorage position.

A full marine inspection of the vessel will determine the extent of the damage and what repairs will be required to the vessel before the Amakusa Island is to set sail agin.

Officials from the Transportation Safety Board have arrived in Prince Rupert and continue on with their investigating the incident. They have posted a number of photos to their twitter feed highlighting the current status of the vessel and offering a view of the extent of the list that the Amakusa Island is suffering from.

Monday evening's incident calls to mind a similar situation from November of 2012 when the Hanjin Geneva became grounded upon approach to Prince Rupert Harbour in somewhat the same location as the Amakusa Island grounding.

Though in that incident there did not appear to be any visible damage to the container vessel, which also was re-floated at the high tide.

Prince Rupert Mayoralty candidates using different approaches to deliver their messages

November is still a fair way off in the distance, with hopefully many more sunny days to still to play out before we hit Labour Day and our thoughts turn to issues other than what to put on the BBQ tonight.

However, as we outlined on the blog back in May, with 2014 a Municipal Election year, it would seem that the race for the Mayor's office is already underway,

The incumbent, Mayor Jack Mussallem  has in recent weeks provided for a bit of advertisement in the weekly newspaper.

Offering up short missives to remind the population of his experience, the many facets of his personal work ethic and oh yes, did we mention experience?

The latest ad for Mayor Mussallem arrived in last evenings weekly recap of events from the Northern View. A page thirteen, corner advertisement that comes complete with a new set of focus points and featuring a picture of Mr. Mussallem in his best Mayoralty finery.

The tone of which again seems to suggest that there may be a bit of worry in the Mussallem camp, when it comes to the arrival of Lee Brain, a relative newcomer on the local political scene.

While not mentioning Mr. Brain by name in his ads, considering that he is the only other declared candidate in the upcoming fall race, the tone of Mr. Mussallem's ad buys is clearly working to highlight the Mayor's time in office, compared to Mr. Brain's relative inexperience on the municipal scene.

Over the course of his initial ad campaign thus far, the Mayor has made frequent mention as to how the job of Mayor is not one that is for Beginners.

An indication of what may be the theme of the Mayor's campaign right through until November.

Mayor Mussallem's May ad

Mayor Mussallem's July ad

And while the Mayor embraces the concept of the corner page ad, he is also finding that more and more of his talking points from City Hall seem to be making it into the local news media more often of late.

Items which in many cases, offer him the chance to set a theme without much in the way of intruding questions.

Something that is probably quite helpful towards the current focus of his early campaigning.

From the ee Brain for Mayor
Facebook page

The challenger for his part has been biding his time with a social media approach, making use of a facebook page Lee Brain for Mayor,  to keep his profile high around the community.

It so far has provided for a forum mainly for those that support his causes and for for those that wish to offer up their enthusiasm for his prospective campaign.

To date, the contributions from the candidate himself are rather thin on actual information.

With few topics of note as to what he might have to offer the local community and how he would steer the Corporation of the City of Prince Rupert.

In one of his recent facebook postings, the challenger  offers up his thanks to those that have offered their support or ideas to this point, he goes on to make note of the summer season, with the promise of a more comprehensive review of his message to come in the fall.

The two approaches offer up a glimpse as to how both candidates seemingly approach the process of delivering their message to the public, with the Mayor content to make use of the old style media strategy of newspaper advertising and occasional news clip appearance on CFTK TV.

Mr. Brain on the other hand, is more engaged with those more comfortable with electronic and social media.  Particularly among those who make frequent use of such forums as facebook pages or twitter, where the #PrinceRupert theme provides more and more interesting items for consideration.

As we move closer to the full out campaign post Labour Day, it will be worth watching to see how each campaign evolves when it comes to their information process.

Of course by that time, the two candidates currently seeking the office may find that there's a bit more competition in the weekly papers ad buy rotation, as well as from the work of Facebook likes and twitter retweets.

Rumblings persist that other candidates are weighing their decision whether to enter the race in the fall.

Some of the names that have been rumoured as ruminating on their political future offer up the prospect  of past experience on local council and a high profile within the community.

As we head towards Labour Day, the pool of prospective Mayoralty candidates may grow significantly.  Something which may provide for another shift in focus on the issues and offer up more options as to who may be best suited to hold the reins of Civic Government after November 15th.

For more related to these early days of the Fall 2014 election campaign, you can review our archive of items here.