The most active civic department these days when it comes to hiring, would seem to be that of the Operations Department.
A civic office which has been very busy of late in putting up career opportunity notices, with two more jobs of note waiting for resumes to arrive at the Human Resource office.
The first is that of a Refuse Collector, the position coming as the City expands on its collection process to include recycling as part of the daily refuse pick up.
The deadline for applications is March 11th.
The second position is that of an Equipment Operator, with tasks covering a wide range of the city's fleet of heavy equipment.
The deadline for applications is March 15th.
Resumes, cover letters and any documentation related to the positions can be forwarded to the City at the following address:
Human Resources – Operations Department 424 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 1L7 Email: hrop@princerupert.ca
The full Posting sheets for both positions can be explored here.
The Hays Creek Bridge is just one of five bridges in Prince Rupert set for an inspection and potential repairs ahead (photo from BC Bid package)
The City of Prince Rupert has launched a call for Quotations towards some infrastructure work ahead for the community, with five of the City owned bridges in the community up for inspection and repair if required.
The structures of note for the Bid process are located as follows:
On 6th Avenue East at Hays Creek, Second Avenue West at Moresby,
George Hills Way at Cameron Cove and
two (2) at the Civic Centre on McBride Street.
Of these 5 bridges, three of them are large scale wooden trestle bridges over 80 feet high and spanning approximately 400 feet long.
The remaining bridge is concrete and steel spanning approximately 25 feet.
The three large wooden trestle bridges are located at 6th Avenue East, 2nd Avenue East and George Hills Way and are part of the City's road network.
The fourth and fifth bridge is access for the Civic Centre and bus route.
The Overview of the work makes note of nine elements that will make for focus for the project.
click to enlarge
The Deadline for interested proponents to submit their Quotations is 2 PM on March 17th. Guneet Uppal, Engineering Services Manager is steering the quotation process forward for the City.
The timeline of work for the successful applicant is as follows:
Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen provided his snapshot of the 2022 budget as part of the Legislature session on Thursday
A good portion of the debate in the latter part of this week in the Legislature has been turned over to a review of Tuesday's budget, as MLA's from all parties offer up their review of the Finance Minister's blue print for the year and years ahead.
Thursday afternoon Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen had opportunity to share some of his thoughts on the financial planning and as a member of the NDP government, not surprisingly he found much to praise from the work of Finance Minister Selina Robinson and among some of his talking points included a nod towards some elements of note on Northern Issues.
Towards health care, Mr. Cullen took note of spending across the Northwest, with a focus on new or improved facilities for some communities, including the major hospital project for Terrace.
I'm so proud when I think of my friend from Nechako Lakes or my friend from Terrace, who represent opposition ridings as they're currently constructed, at the significant investment in the Terrace hospital — hundreds of millions of dollars.
Of the hospital in Fort St. James and Nechako Lakes getting, for the first time, out of portables for their health care centre, and to be able to properly serve that community. One of the oldest communities that we have in this province is finally getting those investments, not for some sort of political advantage, as some voters always suspect, but because that's what was needed.
We need that hospital in Terrace. That's where my wife and I had our kids. I can remember when we wheeling her in to get to the delivery room, the gurney didn't fit in the elevator because the elevator was so old that it had be pushed up. You can imagine — my wife was delivering twins — the idea of raising up a gurney in the midst of that particular moment wasn't pleasant.
It's just been noted. You can see the paint peeling off the wall.
I'm so proud that we've broken ground and have cleared the space and are starting the good work that the people of Terrace and the northwest so richly deserve.
Along with his checklist was a short note of his hopes of one day sharing word about a new health care facility for the Smithers area as well.
When we say infrastructure, sometimes it can sound a bit cold and unimportant. Well, when you're able to plug into the rest of the world and this important technology, it's not just simply infrastructure. It's a cause for celebration.
In that infrastructure list, of course, is the hospitals and the roads and the schools and the affordable transit that we're bringing in.
I'm slipping a note to the Ministers of Health and Finance. That a hospital in Smithers…. A new one would be a great idea. I think ours is looking a little rough around the edges as well.
The Stikine MLA also shared his excitement at the expansion of High Speed Internet across the province and in particular the North West and coastal regions, making note of the partnership with Prince Rupert based CityWest as part of that communication blue print.
High-speed Internet. I represent a rural riding. This has been something we've been driving for a long time. Having decent Internet access, as we all know, has moved from a nice to have to a need to have in order to not just try to have those economic opportunities — the businesses that need high speed — but our health care system, accessing government services, just general living. It's moved up there.
I can remember a poll recently done ranking all of the essential services — heat, water, phone, Internet.
The poll had been done over ten years. You could see having reliable high speed had been creeping up somewhere near home heating for some people. You do sort of question some of the priorities that people have, but we know it's essential. Well we're up to almost 280 more communities, just through this budget, rural and remote mostly, many of them First Nations, that are going to be accessing high-speed Internet for the first time.
There are ships right now laying submarine cable down our coast, going from Haida Gwaii to Prince Rupert, down the central coast, the north coast, connecting all of these communities that for so long were asking for this program to be brought in. We've partnered with CityWest and some other really good B.C. successful businesses to lay this cable, that is happening right now.
I can't tell you — I've visited and know many of these communities very well — how much this is going to help their ability to think differently about their future, about being able to connect themselves and connect with their young people to the services that are out there, that many other British Columbians simply enjoy, and the opportunities in terms of business, ecotourism and all of the rest. This is a significant investment from us.
His Budget review also explored areas where he sees progress when it comes to engagement with Indigenous leaders when it comes to resource development, putting an accent on the work in mining of late.
For years, I've been attending mining conferences. When I say years, almost 20 years. I can remember…. Sometimes you get politicians. You give a little lunch time introductory remark. I kept it simple and generally and gracefully, thankfully to all, fairly short.
I'd say: "Look, in order to get support from somebody like me and the party that I represent, you have to take care of three things: people, the planet, and you must have relationship and agreements with First Nations people."
Twenty years ago, this was seen as…. I was a bit of a skunk at the party. It was not welcome. It was off-putting. It was uncertain. It wasn't something that a lot of mining executives were thrilled with. Flash forward 15, 18 years, I attended a mining conference not that long ago. It's not me making that speech any more. It's those mining executives. They're not making the speech. They're showing you the results.
Here are the agreements that we have with local communities in terms of jobs and training and bringing young people into the industry. Here's our environmental stewardship plan which exceeds the B.C. standards, which had been gutted by previous governments, but are now being elevated a bit.
Some across the way call that red tape. I call that smart — to not leave a poison mess behind that costs you hundreds of millions of dollars for future taxpayers to pick up the bill. And here's our agreement with the First Nations people in whose territory we're working.
What was remarkable to me at a recent mining conference was that this was not being said by a progressive politician. It was being said by the mining companies. What was also remarkable was how little resistance or surprise there was in the room of these other mining outfits. That of course, this was the way to do business. There is more to go. There is more to go.
Many more themes were checked off on his list for Thursday, the work on housing, mental health challenges, wildfire and flood responses along with climate change efforts from the government to name a few.
A shot at the Provincial Championship is on the line this weekend as four teams take to the court in Terrace for the Senior Boy's Zones Competition, the final step in the basketball season before the big show in Langley of March.
For Prince Rupert basketball fans the rooting interest will be with the Charles Hays Rainmakers who tip off in the icebreaker to the Zones tournament at Noon when they take on Hazelton.
Two hours later it will be Smithers and host Caledonia into the mix setting the stage for how the tournament will shape up through to Sunday if required.
Later tonight, the losers of the two early games will meet at 6PM, while the two winning sides of the afternoon action will showcase their skills at 8PM.
The action picks up again on Saturday, with the winner of the 8PM game awaiting their challenger for what could be the Championship match at 6:30 PM.
Though if necessary a Sunday game could be required.
It has been a challenging year for high school basketball programs across the northwest, with few opportunities to build on their skills through competition owing to the COVID measures in place.
This weekends' tournament making for one of the few experiences where more than two teams can be in the same venue for competition.
We'll update the Rainmaker's travels as the scores are made available,
Two milestones for some youth in Prince Rupert are about to arrive at just about the same time, the first the end of the 2021-22 Minor Hockey season and for those marking their final year of High School, Graduation and what comes next for their lives.
Towards that future, Prince Rupert Minor Hockey is reminding those grads in the minor hockey system of a scholarship opportunity available from PRMHA, which has a $500 scholarship for a graduating player who meets the criteria for the financial award.
Up, up and away, the price of gas has jumped ten cents for Prince Rupert motorists
Those travelling by local gas stations this morning were perhaps doing a double take at the price boards, as the cost of filling up your tank in Prince Rupert jumped by ten cents, with the new price point head into this weekend now marked at 1.62.9
Whether it's the Industrial Park or the downtown core, the price remains the same with the increase found at whichever gas station is your preferred destination.
All of the gas stations in Prince Rupert have seen a ten cent spike in gas this week
Prince Rupert's price increase, which was listed at 1.52.9 earlier this week, is a bit of playing catch up to increases in many other locations across British Columbia from last week.
And if you think that you can ride out the weekend in hopes of a price drop next week, observers of the Canadian retail gas market are suggesting we may be in for a run of increases, with the current invasion of Ukraine by Russia just one factor in a roiling market for oil and gas at the moment.
School District 52 Trustees handled a range of themes for their February meeting, with much of the focus on Indigenous Education in Prince Rupert along with themes related to the adoption of the Amended Budget.
The February 15th session opened with an extensive overview of the Indigenous Education Growth Plan led by Roberta Edzerza and Lori Burger, they took the trustees and audience through a thirty five minute overview of the state of Indigenous education in the District.
Their focus examined the Indigenous Education Partnership agreement and a review of the success of the Sm'algyax program at SD52. Of interest were the results from the Foundation Skills Assessment, with the snapshots providing a look at how Indigenous students were faring at the main themes of the Assessments, along with a note towards the encouragement for continued Indigenous participation in the FSA program.
Also part of the half hour overview was a look at the Grade Transitions towards graduation for Indigenous Students, which has seen a decline for Indigenous students during the period of COVID.
Sandy Pond outlined some observations towards that theme
"I think the pandemic, 2019-2020 was pretty tough when we went to virtual and we had a lot of students trying to learn from home and we know that didn't work very well for a lot of students. And so we've got some idiosyncrasies in our data ... We need to unpack the story a bit more, I don't have all the answers, I have some suspicions ... I think we're still working on story"
Ms. Edzerza followed up with her own view of the current situation when it comes to the Grade Transitions results.
"Overall the data does not look good for Indigenous Students yet, we still have a lot of work to do. And it's just something that everybody needs to have their eyes on and be responsible for and start thinking about or wondering about what's going on right. And how we can continue good work and how some changes need to be made and really focus on those priorities.
Yes the pandemic happened, but it happened to all students right, and so the decline shows with Indigenous students so we just have to have a more focused strategic look at that I think "
Among some of the well received elements of the Indigenous Education streams the use of a wellness worker and the mentorship program, which were both praised by the trustees.
The Draft document which will be in its finished state shortly also identified some of the Future Directions for Indigenous Education in the District.
The remainder of the Board of Education meeting for February explored a range of themes among them a review of the latest enrolment numbers for the District which have increased by 8 to 1,848, though Board officials still noted some concerns over the decline in local enrolment since 2021.
A short COVID report provided a snapshot of how the School District is responding to the coronavirus, with No Forced School Closures required to date, the process of installing HEPA filters in school and board facilities continues as well.
The used of Testing kits have also become part of the District's program, with self test kits distributed to staff with more to come, as well Officials noted of the anticipated delivery of test kits this month from the Ministry of Education for the use of students.
The District is continuing on with work on their Strategic Plan, which will soon be shared with stakeholders, the Board of Education is also moving forward with their In Service Planning, which answers their work towards Truth and Reconciliation.
Towards that employees of the School District will be attending sessions where the participants will learn about Ts'msyen land and culture themes, a process that will continue through the year until all of those employed by the School District have taken part in the engagement process.
Andrew Samoil, the Superintendent of Schools also made note of a pair of new courses taking place at Charles Hays Secondary, Physical Geography and a Specialized Science Course based on Fisheries.
The latter is a partnership with Ts'msyen Stewardship and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Trustees adopted the Amended Budget for 2021-2022, with Secretary/Treasurer Cam McIntyre noting that the budget has seen a slight increase to 32.8 million dollars up from 31.6 million, the final numbers making use of the prior year surplus.
"You can see significant changes in the Special Purpose Funds, We've received increased funding in those three funds in particular, Class Size and Composition, Mental Health and Safe Return to School and that's what resulted in the overall change in the budget"
Mr. McIntyre also observed that the decline in school revenues is part of the decline in enrolment for the District, noting that he did not want to speculate on what the enrolment moving forward into 2022-23 might be.
"It's always a bit of a hazard and a guess and it's been much more difficult in the wake of a pandemic world, So of course in 2021 our student numbers dropped quite dramatically, we we're somewhat hopeful that was going to pick back up at the start of this year and that didn't happen. So we're not going to make that assumption for next year, we're going to be very prudent in our estimate for next year"
Further into the meeting, a topic from earlier in the year returned for discussion, as trustees reviewed the themes related to a proposed dedicated seat on the Board for Indigenous representation.
The topic could soon be part of discussions with the BC School Trustees Association and the Board indicated that they should have representation at the AGM session to make know the support for the motion that the SD52 Board has noted.
The Trustees also spoke to the Internal Control Review process that they introduced last year, the audit program with Trustee Beil speaking to the topic
"We all realize Kate, that it's very costly to go under, to explore things that we've brought to the table in our concerns about getting our Internal controls under a handle per se, I guess you could say.
As a new Board we've learned a lot, we've discovered a lot and there's a lot we didn't understand.
So moving forward with a new auditor, I think it's more than appropriate, that even though it's probably a considerable amount and we didn't want to spend it. I think it's important that we make a procedure, put a procedure in place so that any Board moving forward understands the finances.
And if it's 25,000 dollars now, it's 200,000 dollar later we've saved for them. So I think it's only appropriate that we spend this money now, put the proper procedures in place, including policy manuals, what have you, to ensure that going forward all future boards will have a better handle on finances"
The Board then approved their plans for Internal Control Review
The Agenda package and documentation related to the meeting can be reviewed here.
The Full Board Session is available for your review through the SD52 Video Archive.
