Prince Rupert Library to offer two programs through Spring for children under 5

The Prince Rupert Library is putting the finishing touches to the launch of two new programs this spring designed for children under the age of five, both of them at no cost to parents or caregivers.

Tales for Twos is a lively participation program for two year olds and their parents or caregivers, providing a mix of stories, songs, rhymes and activities to keep the younger set engaged.

The second program is Story Hour, designed for those three to five, the hour long program finds Library staff exploring a different theme each week, making use of stories, songs, action rhymes and colouring activities.

Both programs start on March 24th and continue on until May 7th at the Library located at Sixth West and McBride.

While the program has no fees, the Library does ask that those interested in either of the two programs pre-register by either dropping in at the Prince Rupert Library or contacting them at 250-627-1345.

CityWest shares plans for Internet improvements in the Smithers area

Improved Internet opportunities for the Bulkley Valley was the topic, as  a Smithers Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd welcomed CityWest CEO Don Holkestad to their gathering on Thursday.

During the course of his luncheon address, Holkestad  outlined the CityWest plan ahead and explained how the introduction of fibre optic technology will create a much faster and reliable Internet experience for the company's customers in the Smithers area.

An enhancement that he stressed would be very beneficial not only to home users, but to businesses in the community as well.

The expansion to bring faster access to Internet services, could make for a valuable selling point for Economic development in the Bulkley Valley community.

The introduction of  the Fibre to home technology to Smithers is something that CityWest has been working on over the last year, first making mention of the prospect one year ago, when the CityWest CEO wrote this letter to Smithers Business owners.

CityWest hopes to have the fibre optic cables in place and the service up and running by the end of this year. In addition to the well received technology announcement, CityWest also outlined their plans to move into new offices in Smithers on April 7th.

It's the latest move in expanding the footprint of the Prince Rupert based communication company in the Northwest.

A program that CityWest, which is owned by the City of Prince Rupert, launched a number of years ago, taking their brand and offering communication and entertainment services to many other communities of the region.

CFTK TV 7 covered the CityWest speech to the Smithers Chamber, you can review their report below.



For more items related to developments with CityWest see our archive page here.

Metlakatla, Alaska First Nation makes plans for "return" canoe journey to British Columbia

Canoes will take to the water once again in a celebration of shared heritage as First Nations residents of Metlakatla, Alaska move forward with their plans to retrace a trek of two years ago, one which saw a canoe journey take place from Metlakatla, BC to the Alaska community.

As we reviewed on the blog back in August of 2013, the Gathering Strength Canoe Journey was a highly anticipated event that was well received in both communities, you can review some of that journey from the Facebook page that was created for it.

This years project which is being organized around Founder's Day in Metlakatla, Alaska will see the canoes transported to Ketchikan by ferry before the travelling party takes to the water at Saxman,.

From there the group will travel to Annette Island in time for the festivities surrounding the celebration that heralds the founding of the community on August 7th, 1887.

Those participating in that first stage of what will become the larger trip to British Columbia, will be joined on that day by Dayna McKay, the acclaimed Tsimshian long distance swimmer, who will have been making her way to Alaska by that time.

She plans to take to the water just over the US/Canada border and swim from Canada to Annette Island, a swim that she anticipates will take between three and possibly six days depending on tides.

Following the Alaska event of the 7th, the canoes will then launch phase two of the adventure, returning to the water, this time destined for Metlakatla, BC.

A journey that organizers believe will take two weeks to complete, which would bring them to the North Coast sometime in the third week of August.

The Tsimshian paddlers will also be joined by those from Tlingit communities and from the Haida in Southeast Alaska.  As well, there are plans for paddlers from seven villages in British Columbia to take part in the summer time journey.

You can follow their plans from the Liwaayda website and Facebook page.

You can learn more about the plan for August from this item from KRBD Radio in Ketchikan

Shovels hit the ground for Phase Two expansion

They aren't wasting much time in moving the Phase Two project for Fairview Terminal ahead, as a number of local officials descended on the Container Terminal on Thursday for the ceremonial first digs into the dirt.

Groundbreaking ceremony at Fairview Terminal on Thursday,
photo from the Prince Rupert Port Authority

The project was announced on March 10th, as Port CEO and President Don Krusel outlined the much anticipated project would create space for another four cranes to be located on land that the Port acquired at the old Co-op fish plant site.

Maher Terminals will invest an estimated 200 million dollars in the expansion, which when completed in 2017, will bring the capacity of Fairview Terminal to over 1.3 TEU's annually.

Once the new addition is in operation, Fairview Terminal will feature a seamless 765 metre wharf stretching across the Prince Rupert waterfront, capable of receiving two container ships at the same time, as we'll as the expansion to the east will create increased holding space for containers.

Overview of expansion plan for Fairview Terminal,
new area to be constructed is in green

Thursday's photo opportunity signalled the start of the year and a half project , the more intensive shovelling and construction will be handled by Fraser River Pile and Dredge working with BEL Contracting.

For more background on Fairview Terminals see our archive page here, items related to overall port development can be found here.

RTI to host Free Swim Satuday at Earl Mah Aquatic Centre

Ridley Terminals is looking to make the end of Spring Break a memorable experience, as one of Prince Rupert's largest employers prepares to call out Everyone in the pool!

From 2 until 4 Saturday, RTI is sponsoring a Free Swimming Session at he Earl Mah Aquatic Centre, providing the opportunity for Prince Rupert's youth to take advantage of all that the local pool has to offer.

Saturday's event, is just the latest of community events that the company has sponsored, the majority of them making use of the wide use of the recreation options available from the city's recreation complex.

The Free swim is the first of two such opportunities to be provided so far this year, the next one comes up on June 6th, when RTI will once again sponsor an afternoon poolside.

RTI is not the only community minded organization in the community to open the swim lanes for all, yesterday Remax Coast Mountains Realty sponsored a free swim afternoon at the Earl Mah aquatic, the latest in recreation opportunities that they have offered to the community this year.

**Correction*** We originally noted the Free Swim as taking place Friday, when it is scheduled for Saturday, our item above has been changed to reflect that fact, our apologies for the error in dates.

Drive BC adds third highway camera to Prince Rupert to Terrace stretch of Highway 16

Travellers between Terrace and Prince Rupert have one more resource available now whenever they go to check highway conditions along the Skeena portion of Highway 16.

On Thursday, Drive BC debuted a third highway camera between the two communities, with the introduction of a video link to the Kwinitsa area of the highway.

Kwinitsa highway camera is now operational
along Highway 16

The Kwinitsa monitoring station joins one at the Port Edward turnoff and a camera at Kasiks, all offering wider coverage for the highway.  Allowing for motorists to see road conditions related to the  unpredictable Northwest weather, particularly as Pacific storm fronts come ashore.

A sample of some of the nature of those changing road conditions can be found on our archive page.

Travellers can access Drive BC information from their website and the  DriveBC NW twitter feed.

Pacific Future Energy makes Prince Rupert's ocean access a selling point for its refinery proposal

The British Columbia proponents of an oil refinery for the North Coast continue to work on their plan to make this area the centre of their focus for development, using Prince Rupert's unobstructed access to the Pacific Ocean as one of their main selling points to potential overseas clients.

Representatives of Pacific Future Energy recently took their message to Asia, where they outlined their proposal for a refinery and shipment terminal project for the North Coast. A major industrial venture which would see Alberta bitumen refined here and then shipped to Asian markets.

Senior Advisor Stockwell Day who led the group, also outlined the advantage that company officials believe Prince Rupert has over Kitimat when it comes to any form of oil terminal project.

During their Asian presentation, the company highlighted the difference in approach that it is taking when it comes to the concerns of British Columbians, suggesting that the Enbridge Northern Gateway proposal approached their engagement from an Alberta perspective.

Though it would seem that Pacific Future Energy's observations of a BC focus, might be one for a bit of discussion on the North Coast.  As so far, the project hasn't moved much beyond the talking points phase, with little public engagement by Pacific Future Energy with anyone on the North Coast regarding their proposed refinery and terminal project.

One other aspect of their plan that may add to any potential conversation ahead, is the prospect that the company may make use of rail to transport bitumen from Alberta to its proposed terminal. 

It is a subject that in recent months has proven to be fairly controversial for small communities on rail lines across Canada, particularly after the derailment of the Lac Megantic disaster of 2013.

Still, an energy consultant for the company suggests that once a West coast refinery is added to the full overview, the prospect of shipping oil either by pipeline, or by rail will find some public support.  

As for the idea of launching an ambitious oil refinery project in a time of low oil prices, the consultant suggests that even in the current atmosphere the project would still make economic sense.

Brent Jang of the Globe and Mail, a long time observer and correspondent on the theme of energy projects in the province, has provided two instructive background pieces on the direction that Pacific Future Energy is looking to take for their proposal.  

You can review his work here and here

There hasn't been much in the way of an update provided to the Pacific Future Energy website in recent months, and what has been posted only speaks to general information, with little in the way of direct information for the North Coast as of yet.

The Pacific Future Energy concept is one of two proposed major oil related projects for the region.

The other from Eagle Spirit Energy would see the construction of a shipment terminal near Prince Rupert, with the actual upgrading of the bitumen to take place somewhere in Northeastern British Columbia, or Northwestern Alberta.

For more items related to Pacific Future Energy's plans see our archive page here.