It’s been a busy couple of months on the job front for those that have earned their reward from public funding. In fact, if we could borrow a phrase from last spring’s successful conference on containerization, “Change”, is surely bringing some opportunity.
The summer job swap has seen a number of high profile Rupertites change employers and set in motion job openings in a number of locations.
First off was the word that Maynard Angus of the Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest was moving on to new ventures, having spent a number of years distributing federal monies to a number of ventures in the area. Angus will be moving over to the Port of Prince Rupert, taking on duties as Manager of Public Affairs for the Port.
The summer job swap has seen a number of high profile Rupertites change employers and set in motion job openings in a number of locations.
First off was the word that Maynard Angus of the Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest was moving on to new ventures, having spent a number of years distributing federal monies to a number of ventures in the area. Angus will be moving over to the Port of Prince Rupert, taking on duties as Manager of Public Affairs for the Port.
Having organized last years "Change Brings Opportunity" conference about the containerization of Fairview , it would seem that his work on that well received Prince Rupert economic forum, has resulted in a pretty good position for Mr. Angus at the Port Corporation. They no doubt are hoping that his skills will be put to use in getting the message out about the port, increasing better relations with the First Nations communities of the Northwest and keeping the Port high on the federal and provincial agendas.
Over at city hall despite what had been described as tight financial times over the last four years, changes have been made in civic employment as well, with the city conducting a bit of a hiring fair of its own . While there have been a few more bodies hired on at the city yard and in the parking control universe, the latest high profile position to appear on the scene is the Projects & Initiatives Coordinator at City Hall, a position which was recently created and added to the civic salary list.
Over at city hall despite what had been described as tight financial times over the last four years, changes have been made in civic employment as well, with the city conducting a bit of a hiring fair of its own . While there have been a few more bodies hired on at the city yard and in the parking control universe, the latest high profile position to appear on the scene is the Projects & Initiatives Coordinator at City Hall, a position which was recently created and added to the civic salary list.
Tannalee Hesse, fresh from her duties as interim administration officer over at the controversy plagued Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District, has found employment in the offices of the administration wing of city hall. Ms. Hesse once again joins her significant other, Mr. Gord Howie in the employ of the city of Prince Rupert, having previously worked for the city on an interim basis last year. Howie who returned to Prince Rupert in 2006 to take on the duties of Chief Administration Officer, replaced Victor Kumar in 2006 after what was described as an exhaustive search, at the time a controversial increase in salary for the position proved to be what sealed the hiring and became rather newsworthy locally.
The third prominent job announcement of the month was the news that Jim Rushton will be leaving his duties at the Prince Rupert Economic Development Corporation, moving on to the private sector.
The third prominent job announcement of the month was the news that Jim Rushton will be leaving his duties at the Prince Rupert Economic Development Corporation, moving on to the private sector.
Rushton it seems is set to join the staff of Maher Terminals, as the container operator begins to prepare for the arrival of their cranes and full operation on the Prince Rupert waterfront.
Rushton was hired on by PREDC a back in 2002, first as the seafood industry development coordinator, and then later on he was promoted to Manager of PREDC with hopes that he would attract industry to the city. It was during his time at PREDC that the pulp mill shut down its operations leading to a near economic collapse in the city, leaving the city to look for other options for its industrial base.
The Economic Development Corporation has seen a few nibbles come along as far as industrial development, with a wind farm in development, a Gaming Centre soon to open providing the city with a number of jobs, as well as the potential development of an LNG terminal on Ridley Island. But so far there really hasn’t been the job boom that we have been promised was on the horizon over the years, and nothing that really has come close to replacing the high playing jobs of the pulp mill and past heydays of the fishing industry.
The big change on the horizon really has had more to do with the Port Corporation rather than the the work at EDC, as the re-development of Fairview from a bulk port to a container port is seen as the best hope for local employment prospects.
The big change on the horizon really has had more to do with the Port Corporation rather than the the work at EDC, as the re-development of Fairview from a bulk port to a container port is seen as the best hope for local employment prospects.
With the federal and provincial governments, as well as the Port, CN and Maher Terminals taking the lead on that project, the real tangible development in towns seems to be taking place a little out of the orbit of the PREDC. There is the potential for jobs through phases one and two and beyond of the much anticipated development at Fairview. And as we have seen this month, its development certainly seems to have been helpful to the employment prospects for Mr. Rushton at least.
With his departure the mayor is now on another exhaustive hunt for a replacement for a key official. He expressed his thoughts on his quest for a “visionary” in Monday’s Daily News.
CITY SEEKS VISIONARY READY TO CASH IN ON PROSPECTS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, July 23, 2007
Pages one and three
The Prince Rupert/Port Edward Economic Development Commission (EDC) is on the hunt for a new economic development director.
Jim Rushton, the former manager of the EDC, has taken a position with Maher Terminals, said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
Earlier this month, the city posted for a new business development and special projects director to take over the position with the EDC.
“We lost our key staff person, so we took a look at what the commission is doing now and what we need for staffing,” said Pond. “Four years ago, we were doing much more traditional economic development, kind of sending out signals to anybody, entertaining everybody we could, really doing lots of cold calls trying to get something going.
Today, we’ve got a pretty extensive “to-do” list of projects we need to deal with in order to ensure Prince Rupert takes full advantage of becoming the next great port city.”
The director will be responsible for helping work on the region’s target list of improvements necessary to ensure local communities benefit from the development of the Fairview Container Terminal as well as building alliances with other communities along the northwestern corridor.
Pond said the two communities made a presentation to high-ranking deputy ministers that captured the 10 key issues that need to be addressed several months ago.
The list includes projects pursuing the airport’s development, improving technology services and dealing with social issues such as housing.
“That’s the list this new position will be attacking,” he said.
The issues are all challenges that the city faces as the Fairview Container Terminal develops.
In response, the province is also expected to hire an Asian Pacific Gateway coordinator to work with the various ministries that will need to be involved in the Northwest trade corridor development.
The new director will also need to liaise with the Port of Prince Rupert and the province.
“That’s why we have refocused the job to be a business development person who will really tackle a pretty extensive “to-do” list, “ Pond said.
“We are working with the airport society in terms of airport development and increasing revenue opportunities in the airport as being a high priority.”
The posting for the new director closed July 13.
In addition, another individual closely associated with the economic development on the North Coast is moving to a new position.
Maynard Angus, manager of operations with Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, will be leaving the organization at the end of August to pursue new opportunities with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Angus has been with Community Futures since it opened its doors on the North Coast in 1999. In that time, the organization has helped leverage more than $10 million for community projects including the container port, Northland Cruise Terminal, the dock and wharf rebuild in Kitkatla and the cultural centre in Hartley Bay.
In the fall of 2006, Angus was recognized as one of the top aboriginal economic developers in the country by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO).
In addition, during his time leading Community Futures, the organization has twice been awarded the Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation.
It was first awarded to the organization for its Resource Action and Information Network in 2005 and then for the successful delivery of their Change Brings Opportunity Conference in March 2007.
The Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation is given annually to one of the 34 Community Futures offices in British Columbia by the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
With his departure the mayor is now on another exhaustive hunt for a replacement for a key official. He expressed his thoughts on his quest for a “visionary” in Monday’s Daily News.
CITY SEEKS VISIONARY READY TO CASH IN ON PROSPECTS
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, July 23, 2007
Pages one and three
The Prince Rupert/Port Edward Economic Development Commission (EDC) is on the hunt for a new economic development director.
Jim Rushton, the former manager of the EDC, has taken a position with Maher Terminals, said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
Earlier this month, the city posted for a new business development and special projects director to take over the position with the EDC.
“We lost our key staff person, so we took a look at what the commission is doing now and what we need for staffing,” said Pond. “Four years ago, we were doing much more traditional economic development, kind of sending out signals to anybody, entertaining everybody we could, really doing lots of cold calls trying to get something going.
Today, we’ve got a pretty extensive “to-do” list of projects we need to deal with in order to ensure Prince Rupert takes full advantage of becoming the next great port city.”
The director will be responsible for helping work on the region’s target list of improvements necessary to ensure local communities benefit from the development of the Fairview Container Terminal as well as building alliances with other communities along the northwestern corridor.
Pond said the two communities made a presentation to high-ranking deputy ministers that captured the 10 key issues that need to be addressed several months ago.
The list includes projects pursuing the airport’s development, improving technology services and dealing with social issues such as housing.
“That’s the list this new position will be attacking,” he said.
The issues are all challenges that the city faces as the Fairview Container Terminal develops.
In response, the province is also expected to hire an Asian Pacific Gateway coordinator to work with the various ministries that will need to be involved in the Northwest trade corridor development.
The new director will also need to liaise with the Port of Prince Rupert and the province.
“That’s why we have refocused the job to be a business development person who will really tackle a pretty extensive “to-do” list, “ Pond said.
“We are working with the airport society in terms of airport development and increasing revenue opportunities in the airport as being a high priority.”
The posting for the new director closed July 13.
In addition, another individual closely associated with the economic development on the North Coast is moving to a new position.
Maynard Angus, manager of operations with Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, will be leaving the organization at the end of August to pursue new opportunities with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Angus has been with Community Futures since it opened its doors on the North Coast in 1999. In that time, the organization has helped leverage more than $10 million for community projects including the container port, Northland Cruise Terminal, the dock and wharf rebuild in Kitkatla and the cultural centre in Hartley Bay.
In the fall of 2006, Angus was recognized as one of the top aboriginal economic developers in the country by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO).
In addition, during his time leading Community Futures, the organization has twice been awarded the Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation.
It was first awarded to the organization for its Resource Action and Information Network in 2005 and then for the successful delivery of their Change Brings Opportunity Conference in March 2007.
The Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation is given annually to one of the 34 Community Futures offices in British Columbia by the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
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