Podunk Below the Masthead (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)

Taking a tour of Prince Rupert, a local medical stay program is axed and the SPCA receives some funding from the city, a few of the items from a busy Tuesday edition of the Masthead.

Daily News, front page, headline story
A WALKING TOUR OF PRINCE RUPERT CELEBRATES RUPERT'S ARCHITECTURE-- The front page story for Tuesday takes a look at a project of the Heritage Advisory Committee which has created a book on the city's architectural history to serve as a walking tour of the city's rich history. The Port of Prince Rupert donated  the money to cover the cost of printing the book .The proceeds from it will be donated towards the upkeep of  Pilsbury House.

MLA Gary Coons has concerns over the Provincial Government's ongoing commitment towards the Highway of Tears program, which recently saw provincial funding for the coordinator's position eliminated. The position was created as a result of the Highway of Tears symposium in 2005, with the coordinator's position run through the Carrier Sekani Family Service branch.

And Tuesday's paper takes a look at the family history and current happenings of Polly Rudderham, who recently has started her own business in town, specializing in design and renovations.

The Sports section for Tuesday reviews the CIHL decision to award the 2011 Coy Cup to Williams Lake, Prince Rupert had put in a bid for the annual competition but CIHL executive chose instead to award it to Williams Lake which won the trophy in 2009. Prince Rupert will have to bide its time for its next opportunity to bid on the tournament, the CIHL won't have hosting duties again until 2013, other items from the CIHL included divisional realignment and scheduling items.

(Daily News Archives for Tuesday, May 25, 2010)  

A walking tour celebrates Prince Rupert's architecture
Funding cuts to HOT questioned
A homegrown business for Polly Rudderham
Federal MP expenses under the microscope
RCMP discourages use of phone video in teen fighting

The Northern View
A warm reception Homecoming 2010 a resounding success -- The first reviews of Homecoming 2010 come from the weekly paper the Northern View which outlines much of the festival atmosphere in the city over the weekend (see article here)

The Northern View
Cruise development officer discusses industry’s future -- The Port of Prince Rupert provides its look at the state of the cruise industry in the city and what the future may hold it (see article here)

The Northern View
MP discusses the future of treaties in B.C. --Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen weighs in on the topic of treaty negotiations across British Columbia (see article here)

The Northern View
Suzuki to speak at anti-oil rally -- Those that are opposed to the Enbridge pipeline and tanker project for Kitimat will hold a rally on May 29th in Kitimaat Village, featuring a number of guest speakers including famed environmentalist David Suzuki (see article here)

The Northern View
House fire in Lax Kw’alaams accidental-- Details of a fire at Lax Kw'alaams ruled accidental in nature (see article here)

The Northern View
Relay for Life is taking shape -- Details on the finishing touches being put in place for Prince Rupert's Relay for Life taking place at the PRSS track on June 19 starting at 10 a.m. and running until 10 p.m. (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Northern Health Discontinues Program -- Those coming to Prince Rupert for medical reasons won't have a popular program to rely on any more when it comes to accommodations in town. As of May 31st Northern Health will discontinue its Medical Stay Unit Program in Prince Rupert. Northern Health plans to save 40,000 dollars and redirect it towards other local medical concerns (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
SPCA Approved for funding -- The City of Prince Rupert has committed 23,000 dollars a year towards the SPCA's operating costs over the next two years, the local SPCA had asked for 70,000 dollars towards it's annual costs of 200,000 dollars, but in the city's current economic climate that request wasn't viewed as feasible (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Heavy-Hitters to Speak at Anti-Enbridge Feast in Kitamaat Village -- Dr David Suzuki and Council of the Haida Nation President Guujaaw are among those making presentations this weekend at Kitimaat Village as those seeking to oppose the Enbridge pipeline and tanker plans hold an information session. (see article here)

CBC News Norther BC, Daybreak North
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. 

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

Daily News, front page, headline story

A walking tour of Prince Rupert celebrates Rupert’s architecture
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
Staff Writer
Prince Rupert Daily News
Friday, May 28, 2010

Prince Rupert boasts a number of heritage homes and buildings, so when architect Alora Griffin moved to town, she wondered why there wasn’t a book celebrating that fact.

In the fall of 2006, Griffin met with Rhoda Witherly, Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee, and proposed two Centennial Projects – ‘Painting Prince Rupert Beautiful’ and a book of walking tours.

Griffin was invited to a committee meeting and received an excited response.

“We had two Paint Prince Rupert Beautiful summers, with the second one focused on commercial buildings,” recalled Griffin, adding that it did rain during most of the second summer of the program.

The book began to unfold when Wayne Janzen, a longtime member of the committee, began spending hours walking around town to determine which buildings to include.

“I went to the Archives. We did walks and took pictures. I took scraps of paper and organized them into walks,” he said.

He researched the buildings, drawing heavily on a Heritage Inventory prepared for the City in 1983 by Harold D. Kalman, PhD.

“Kalman was one of my professors in university,” Griffin said. “The book was a source of basic facts that we needed to flesh out.”

Griffin took photographs, often waiting for just the right light. Through her studies of the homes and buildings, she identified a dozen styles, from Edwardian Venacular to Art Deco Craftsman and Spanish Colonial.

Most of the buildings selected for the booklet were built before 1940 and have retained their character.

 “If they were stripped down and modernized, they were generally not included, unless they had significant historic value because of who used to live there or what the building was used for,” explained Griffin.

There are a few exceptions, such as Totem Theatre, because Griffin said she would love to see it restored.

 “I hope people will want to protect and restore their valuable heritage,” she added.

 Once the 140 photographs and Janzen’s research notes were amassed, committee member Janice Angus began compiling them into a mockup.

 “I found out she was a computer person and asked if she’d help,” Griffin commented.

Angus said she enjoyed learning about the history of the buildings and homes, including her own.

Griffin said the walks include residential areas and downtown.

“We have picked streets that had a significant number of heritage buildings and we hope the book will encourage tourists to explore the city.” 

After several months of final edits by Griffin, the book was ready for printing.

 Advantage Print Design has produced the books for the committee and the Prince Rupert Port Authority donated money to cover the printing costs.

All proceeds from the sales of the book will go toward the upkeep of Pillsbury House, including a new roof.

The books will be for sale in local stores later this week.