Prince Rupert RCMP issue Wolf Warning

An increase in contact between residents of Prince Rupert and wolves in the area has led to the RCMP issuing a public warning on Tuesday afternoon.

The Prince Rupert RCMP took to its twitter feed and website on Tuesday to issue a Wolf Warning to the public, a step deemed necessary after receiving 14 related calls for service regarding Wolf sightings in the last month.

"Currently we have met with conservation officers and are developing a strategy to deal with these issues... Although wolves may seem intimidating in most circumstances they are more afraid of you, however there are some simple precautions that community members can take to deter wolves from urban areas. -- Constable Matt Ericson, spokesman for the Prince Rupert RCMP Detachment

The RCMP did not specify if the wolf sightings were limited to one section, or if the reports of wolf activity were spread across the city. The RCMP and Conservation Office are currently discussing the best approach to take to deal with the situation.

To go with the general warning to the public, the RCMP also provided some options for local residents when it comes to engagement with wolves in the community among those recommendations.

Remove all potential food sources from outdoor areas (such as garbage)

Thoroughly clean areas where game may have been quartered

Supervise young children when out playing or walking

Do no leave small pets unattended in outdoor areas

Should the public encounter a wolf the RCMP also recommend the following actions:

Do not run

Stay Calm

Back away slowly while facing the animal

Leave the wolf a way to escape

Pick up small children without bending down

Raise your voice and speak firmly

If the wolf approaches or acts aggressively, wave your arms and make yourself look as large a possible

Shout, make noise and throw any available objects.

In the unlikely event that the wolf attacks, you should fight back. Remain standing and use rocks, sticks, tools and your hands to keep off the animal,  as well you those facing a wolf attack should  keep the animal away from your neck and head area.

If anyone in the community should see wolves in the urban are of the city, or observe them being aggressive they are to contact the RCMP immediately at 250-624-0700 or Contact the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

More information on how to deal with interactions with wildlife can be found from the BC Conservation Service website.

You can review the full Warning from the RCMP website, for updates on the situation follow that page or through the Prince Rupert detachment twitter feed.

For more items related to RCMP and Emergency Response situations see our archive page here.

Alaska Governor maintains Prince Rupert Terminal renovation will go ahead ... at some time.

While the January bid process for repairs to the infrastructure of the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal in Prince Rupert is now dead, the project itself should come back to life at some point.

That at least according to some news reports out of Juneau, which suggest that Alaska Governor Dave Walker is hopeful that that the different levels of government will eventually come to an agreement on the Buy America controversy that brought the renovation plans to halt last week.

The Juneau Empire featured an item that outlined how the State of Alaska believes that the current state of the terminal would allow for up to five years of operation, though they are looking into the details of the lease agreement to see if there are any obligations or timeline required to have those renovations in place.

The article goes on to explain that the State plans to re-engage with Canadian officials at some point in the next year, allowing for the current break to serve as a cooling off period it would seem.

Ketchikan's Public Radio station KRBD also had some background on the current state of the ferry renovation project, with the Governor highlighting the Prince Rupert Terminal as important to what the state does as part of its Alaska Marine Highway System.

The tone of commentary regarding the Ferry terminal renovation is a little more subdued from that of last week.

Last Thursday we outlined on the blog, how the Juneau Empire in an editorial piece had called for the Ferry service to end its port call in Prince Rupert.

The comments coming out of the Governor's office of last week would seem to suggest that patience and discussion will be the path chosen and not the approach as recommended by the newspaper's editorial page writers.

You can review the full timeline of events regarding the controversy through our archive pages from 2105 and 2014 found here.

Planning underway for annual Guns and Hoses Game

Photo of past Guns and Hoses participants
courtesy of Prince Rupert Firefighters Facebook page

The Prince Rupert Rampage season may have come to an end, but there is still one more high profile hockey game to come on the Prince Rupert Sports calendar.

Planning for the annual on ice battle between the Fire Department and the local detachment of the RCMP is underway, with the schedule calling for the teams to take to the ice of the Jin Ciccone Civic  Centre at 7:30 PM  on Saturday, February 7th this year.

As in years past, the Charity Hockey Game identifies a local group or organization to reap the benefit of the night of hockey.

This year the local program "Everybody Gets to Play" which is run through the Civic Centre has been selected by the participating teams.

That project provides a way for children from economically disadvantaged families to have access to local recreation experiences.

More details on the Guns and Hoses match up will be outlined as we get closer to the February 7th puck drop.

One location to follow to learn more about the upcoming match will be through the Prince Rupert Firefighters Facebook page

Pacific Future Energy keeps proposed oil refinery plans in the news

The dramatic drop in oil prices in recent months hasn't apparently reduced the enthusiasm for Pacific Future Energy and their plans for an oil terminal development for the North Coast.

In recent days, the company has been featured in the media on two occasions, the first an editorial piece for the Vancouver Sun composed by Ovide Mercredi, an advisor with Pacific Future Energy and former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Mr. Mecredi addressed the theme of the need for First Nations to become more involved in industrial projects that are proposed across the nation. Towards that process, Mr. Mercredi offered up some of the current approaches of Pacific Future Energy as they seek to engage First Nations in their proposed oil terminal project.

Among some of his key points from the editorial, the terminal project would supply Northern Coastal First Nations with cleaner diesel from a nearby refinery, reducing the dangers of the current process of barging the fuel from Vancouver.

He also stressed the technical aspects of the Pacific Future Energy proposal, which calls for near zero carbon emissions to be found from the refinery itself.

Mr. Mercredi also hailed the approach that Pacific Future Energy is taking with its project, outlining how he believes it could become a model for all resource projects in the future.

Mr. Mercredi's op-ed piece in the Sun was delivered at around the same time that an appearance from CEO Samer Salameh  provided more background on the company plans.

The Pacific Future Energy CEO outlined for Business News Network the progress of the proposed terminal development and some of the key factors related to its potential development.

He outlines that the current drop in oil prices is not of a major concern to his company proposal. Stating that refineries such as the Pacific Future Energy proposal make their margins on the difference between crude oil and refined oil, which he believes would provide a desired profit margin for his company.

He observed that consultation with First Nations is a key point of their planning, however he did not expand very much on the nature of any negotiations that may currently underway.

He wraps up his review on the topic of transportation, reviewing how the bitumen would be delivered to the terminal for processing. Suggesting that if a pipeline project that feeds into his proposed terminal does not prove workable, then the oil by train process of transportation would be used to bring bitumen to the coast.

You can review the full interview here.

Yesterday, Mr. Salameh provided a background piece for the Financial Post, a sit down session which followed his appearance at the Empire Club in Toronto.

Pacific Future Energy CEO
Samer Salameh at Empire Club
in Toronto on Monday

He tells the Post, that Pacific Future Energy has narrowed their Terminal development choices to two locations on the BC coast, though he did not identify those locations in his review. He also outlined that the timeline for the company has it finking for an environmental assessment by the end of this year.

In the past, the Prince Rupert area has been mentioned frequently as possible destination for the company and its oil terminal project.

In a bid to cut the cost of construction of the refinery project, Pacific Future would seek out modules from Asia and ship them to the province.

Mr. Salameh  also observed that he believes that the Pacific Future Energy project meets the British Columbia Government's five conditions, a to do list that was originally put in place for the Northern Gateway pipeline.

While Pacific Future Energy continues on with its planning phase, there still appears to be a fair amount of resistance to their proposal to be found along the coast.

Still to be seen is whether the blue print for the project, which includes Mr. Mercredi's observations on First Nations engagement, can swing some of that current opposition in the province over the months ahead.

Background on the Pacific Future Energy Refinery and Terminal can be found from their website here.

For more information on the proposed development can be round on our project archive page here.

Prince Rupert Emergency Responders commemorate Alberta Constable David Wynn

A mid-day procession through the downtown area on Monday allowed members of the Prince Rupert detachment, along with a number of other emergency responders to commemorate the life of slain RCMP Constable David Wynn.

Constable Wynn was murdered in the Alberta community of St. Albert last week, responding to a call in that Alberta city, another constable was injured in that incident.

For the Prince Rupert march, the Mounties were joined by members of the Prince Rupert Fire Service, BC Ambulance and other law enforcement officers in the region, as they marched from the Prince Rupert detachment offices through the streets of the downtown area through the noon hour period.

The City of Prince Rupert posted two photos of the procession to their website on Monday afternoon.

Photo from City of Prince Rupert employee,
posted to City's website on Monday

The CBC's George Baker also posted a photo of the procession, as well as this review of the day's events for Daybreak North.

The weekly newspaper also featured a photo of the procession, posted to their website yesterday.

Constable Wynn's life was remembered in full regimental service in St. Albert, Alberta on Monday afternoon.  Some background on Monday's emotional service can be found below:

Global Edmonton -- Thousands pay respect to St. Albert RCMP Const. David Wynn at regimental funeral (video)
CTV Edmonton -- Fallen Mountie described as joyful and witty brother, husband, father
Edmonton Journal -- Sombre goodbye to RCMP Constable Wynn
Edmonton Sun-- Police, emergency responders, public gather in St. Albert for memorial of RCMP Const. David Wynn
Edmonton Sun-- Thousands gather to say their farewells to St. Albert RCMP Const. Wynn
CBC -- Constable David Wynn honoured by thousands at funeral

City Council Session, Monday, January 26, 2015

Our archive of items from the session can be found below.

Regular Session of Council for January 26, 2015

Home page and archive of sessions can be found here.

Live Broadcast of session can be found here

North Coast Review - Preview of Regular Session for January 26, 2015 

Agenda for the Regular Session of City Council for January 26, 2015  

Info to Council ( January 14 )

Notice of Special Closed Meeting of Council for January 26, 2015

Mayor Lee Brain-- Present
Councillor Barry Cunningham-- Present
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Blair Mirau-- Present
Councillor Wade Niesh-- Present
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present (participated by internet telephone)

Minutes of Regular Session of Council January 26  

Video Recording of January 26, 2015  

North Coast Review City Council Timeline January 26, 2015  

North Coast Review Items on the January 26, 2015 Session of Council

Council waives Arena Rental fee for Guns and Hoses Charity Game
Procedural concerns make for lengthy discussion at Monday's council session
Council moves Transit Fare increases forward, but with some changes to the BC Transit recommendations
Northern Health provides City Council with an outline of its Healthy Communities Program
Council gets preview of Northern Growth Conference planned for March

Media items from other sources for the January 26, 2015 Council session can be found in our Discussion Points from City Council feature

City Council Preview, Monday, January 26, 2015

Prince Rupert City Council returns to council chambers this evening, marking their second meeting for January with a fairly busy agenda of presentations, requests and City business ahead of it.

Following the usual adoption of past minutes and agendas, council will hear presentations on a pair of topics.

Council will hear from John Farrell who will outline what the upcoming Northwest Growth Conference is all about, while Sheila Gordon-Payne from Northern Health will provide some background on the Healthy Communities Integration Committee.

Council members will also receive Reports from the City Planner, Corporate Administrator and Building Inspector, featuring review of a range of topics.

A pair of requests one for a letter of support, the other for financial support, will also be considered by Council before they tackle a pair of Bylaw issues on the night.

Following the night's work, Council will then hold a Special Closed session of Council, while not specific in nature, the City advises that the Closed session will involve the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, an item which Council by using Section 90 of the Community Charter, believes could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.

You can review the notice of Special Meeting Closed to the Public here.

While the delivery of the Agenda was a bit late this week, not posted to the City's website until 11 AM,  the full review of the evening ahead can be found from the Agenda Package for January 26.

Below we'll highlight the different elements of this evenings work, for further background on each item, the page number from the Agenda is listed in red.

The session starts off with the regular adoption of agendas and minutes.

Petitions and Delegations come up next featuring  the two Presentations from Mr. Farrell and Ms. Gordon-Payne

Any Unfinished Business is then up next on the Agenda.

Followed Reports and Recommendations , which provides for a number of topics on the evening.

Report from the City Planner -  Re Development Variation Permit for a property on Immanuel Street  (see Page 14 of the Agenda)

Report from the Corporate Administrator- Re:  City of Prince Rupert SQCRD Voting rights. (see page 22 of the Agenda)

Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Re: Rescheduling of Regular Meeting of council (page 24 of the Agenda)

Report from the Building Inspector -- Re: Fire Damaged Dwelling on 7th Avenue West (see page 27 of the Agenda)

Following those appointments Council then moves on to other business from the Agenda including:

Requests and Correspondences for Action, which will focus on requests for letters of support from the The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce (see page 30 of the Agenda) and from the RCMP/Prince Rupert Fire Rescue requesting Financials support for the annual Guns and Hoses Hockey Game  (see page 32 of the Agenda)

Any resolutions from previous Closed Meetings of Council will then be provided.

Bylaws mark the next item of the Agenda on the night., with a focus on a recommendation for a road closure for a portion of McCutcheon Avenue (see page 33 of the Agenda)

Council will also consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer regarding Fees and Charges Amendments (see page 38 of the Agenda)

The evening then wraps up with and Additional Items from Council members, Reports, Questions and inquiries from Members of Council.

The Live broadcast of the City Council session can be found here, a video archive of past sessions is available here.

Our Archive of the January 26th session can be found here.

While our archive of all sessions of 2015  for the newly installed council  is available here.