Podunk Below the Masthead Thursday, August 6 2009

100 years of hammers and nails, a change of direction for BC Hydro's Clean Power Call and Udderfest begins its run in Prince Rupert, some of the highlights of the Thursday edition of the Daily News.

LOCAL CARPENTERS' UNION CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL-- Local 1735 celebrates 100 years of construction activity on the North coast and that 100 years of history was profiled in a front page, headline story in the Thursday paper (see story below)

The BC Utilities Commission throws some cold water on the run of river and other local initiatives designed to merge into BC Hydro's Clean Power Call. The BCUC announced that private run of river hydro and wind projects in the Northwest are not in the public interest and suggested that BC Hydro return to the drawing board to develop new Clean Power initiatives.
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The most visible presences of the Clean Power options on the North Coast, NaiKun Wind Energy and Katabatic Power were not expecting the BCUC decision to have a long term impact on their developments, though with both developments suffering some growing pains and financial concerns, it will be worth watching to see if the BCUC declaration provides for further changes in business plans.

The annual arts festival of the summer Udderfest began its run on Wednesday, 13 shows were on the showbill, with performances planned through til Sunday at the Tom Rooney Playhouse, Lester Centre for the Arts and the Moose Hall.

There was not much in the way of local fare in the Sports section on Thursday, with only Steve Maguire's weekly look at the UFC scene flying the local flag.

Total pages in the Thursday edition (12)

Front page, headline story:

LOCAL CARPENTERS’ UNION CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Page one

It's been 100 years and a lot of nails.

According to Chair Local 1735 Centennial Committee Chair, Ken Lippett, one hundred years of constructing buildings in Prince Rupert is not enough. He hopes for a hundred more.

"The membership of Local 1735 has made their living building and repairing Prince Rupert and Northwestern B.C.'s buildings and infrastructure," said Lippett.

All a person would have to do is look around at the houses, stores, banks, municipal buildings and industrial buildings."

Among those buildings was the Union Hall, the original home of all union activity until 1967. It was then demolished to make way for the present building - the Fishermen's Union Hall.

But the history of the original was one of loyalty and sacrifice.

According to Lippett, shortly after the City of Prince Rupert was formed, the members of Local 1735 pledged themselves to donate a day's pay or a day's labour to build a union hall.

The union celebrated its centennial on Monday, which marked a proud day in the history of the union at predates Prince Rupert’s incorporation.

Prince Rupert's connection with union carpenters goes back [0 May 17, 1906 when the little steamer "Constance" entered Lima Harbour, which was renamed Prince Rupert Harbour on Feb. 8, 1908.

In the landing party of three were two union carpenters, Mr. Edgecombe and Mr. Leggatt. Their first job was to clear a site for tents and build a tool shed. The construction of a wharf was started and a piledriver was brought in from Port Essington.

So began the connection with the carpenters union and the future City of Prince Rupert. The clearing of land and construction of Prince Rupert was underway and Local 1735 was officially born on Aug. 3, 1909. D. Kiser was elected President and Dan McLean was elected Financial Secretary.

"From the fish processing plants, pulp mill, grain terminal, coal and container ports and the Lester Centre of the Arts, to something as mundane as the concrete curbs of the city sidewalks, all have been built, repaired and maintained by members of Carpenters Local 1735," said Lippett.

Carpenters Local 1735 members also repair and maintain the fishing vessels, tugs, barges and government boats that are vital to Prince Rupert and the North Coast's economy.