Resourceful Rupert

The gas line ups and arguments in the grocery stores of a week ago seem long forgotten now.

In the glow of another Seafest weekend, the Mayor put aside his open letter to the community of last Wednesday, June 6 and found nothing but fond remembrances of his town and its coping skills from the local effects of the Skeena River flooding.

He shared his thoughts in his weekly column in the Northern View.

Rupert resourceful and resilient when facing challenges
By Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond
Jun 13 2007

Man I love this town! Where else could you close the highway, undermine the railway, sever the fiber-optic cable, rupture the gas line, ration fuel supplies, interrupt fresh grocery supply and still throw a world-class party. This past Seafest weekend was fantastic!

Now to be sure, we did miss our neighbours from up the highway. The
crowds were a little thinner and the parade just a little shorter.

But the line-ups for shish kabobs still circled the block and on the waterfront there were still more customers than burgers.

I watched Sunday’s waterfront events in the gorgeous sunshine with my cell phone glued to my ear for yet further out of town media interviews. Repeatedly they tried to get me to describe the state of panic, or hardship, or woe. I wouldn’t, and in fact I couldn’t. “Why not?” they enquired, “How can you be so optimistic?”

It’s simple, I said, it’s the spirit of Prince Rupert.

Now I’m not blind to the very real hardship that was and in some cases still is taking place. Fuel shortages and supply problems have impacted a variety of businesses. For example, after last year’s ferry problems, our tourism sector really didn’t need another challenge. We have been impacted and we will make sure that senior governments understand the magnitude of this silent economic disaster.

But the reality is that as northcoasters, just like the people who have traveled this coast for thousands of years before us, we’ve become pretty resourceful and extremely resilient.
What most people don’t know, and for the most part don’t need to know, is how hard people were working in the background to make sure that we could party.

I don’t know how much sleep Fire Chief Ron Miller has had in the last week, but I know that he has worked around the clock to coordinate efforts, arrange barges, confirm food shipments and secure fuel.

B.C. Ferries management and staff jumped in right away, clearing space for our food supplies and even preparing for the possibility of additional ferry runs.

The highway crews along with those at CityWest, CN and Pacific Northern Gas have all been working overtime to get us up and running as soon as possible. The hospital, Northern Health, B.C. Ambulance Service, Prince Rupert Fire Rescue and the RCMP all ensured that our protection levels never wavered.

Even the Coast Guard cutter Sir Wilfred Laurier offered up 100,000 litres of diesel in a process that took nearly ten hours on Saturday.

Robert Stromdahl and his crew at PetroCanada deserve special mention for a very determined and selfless effort.

In short, as a Mayor it’s been pretty easy to stay upbeat when you are supported by so many hard working individuals and surrounded by so many encouraging citizens. Way to go Prince Rupert!