On the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month...
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
We take time each Remembrance Day to commemorate the sacrifice of those young Canadians sent to war over the generations, giving their lives in sacrifice for their nation.
The last few years has seen an increased awareness of this most special Day, mainly due to our ongoing commitment in the war in Afghanistan, as we pause today to think of the ancient battles and the many lives lost, we also say a prayer for those of whom we have sent into danger once again at the request of their nation.
May they return to their families soon, safe, sound and to a nation thankful for their service.
Regardless of what one thinks of our current commitment, the right or wrong of the mission, the trust or distrust of the intentions of the government of the day. We owe a debt of gratitude to those that serve our nation.
Ours is a tradition steeped in International involvement over these generations. From the early days of the Boer War, through World War One, World War Two, The Korean Conflict and the many UN missions since and leading up to the latest headlines of Afghanistan today, Canada has answered the call. Below we found some links to some of the key moments of Canada's military history some tragic, some to be heralded as remarkable, all never to be forgotten.
Take some time to review them and then take some time to think of those that stood ready to join the battle; far too many never came home...
The Boer War--From Colony to Country
The Boer War--1899-1902
The Boer War--Canadians who served
The Boer War--The South African War
The Boer War--Canada's First War a fading history
The First World War--From Colony to Country
The First World War--Canada and the First World War 1914-1918
The First World War--Canada and the Road to Vimy
The First World War--Ypres 1915
The First World War--Ordeal by Fire
The First World War--Canadians bore brunt of fighting at Ypres
The First World War--The making of In Flanders Field
The First World War--In Flanders Field
The First World War--Passchendaele
The First World War--The 90th Anniversary of Passchendaele
The First World War--Canada and the War at Sea
The First World War--Canada and the Air War
The First World War--Canada takes to the skies
The First World War--Valour at Sea
The First World War--The Halifax Explosion
The Second World War--From Colony to Country
The Second World War--Ortona
The Second World War--The Belgian coast--Dieppe, Dunkirk
The Second World War--Canada at War
The Second World War--The siege of Hong Kong
The Second World War--Heroes made in Hong Kong
The Second World War--The crucible
The Second World War--D-Day
The Second World War--Juno Beach
The Second World War--Normandy 1944
The Second World War--Valour at Sea
The Second World War--The Battle of the Atlantic
The Second World War--The RCAF fights around the world
The Second World War--A History in the Air
The Second World War--VE Day
The Second World War--Victory
The Korean War--Canadians in Korea Valour remembered
The Korean War--Off to Korea
The Korean War--Canadian Forces in Korea
The Korean War--Forgotten Heroes
UN/International Missions--Cyrprus
UN/International Missions--Suez
UN/International Missions--Yugoslavia
UN/International Missions--Medak Pocket: A story that had to be told
UN/International Missions--Rwanda: Witness to Evil
UN/International Missions--Past missions
UN/International Missions--Peacekeeping
Afghanistan--A dangerous mission
Afghanistan--Canadian Forces Operations in Afghanistan
Afghanistan--Wrong mission for Canada
Afghanistan--Trying to make a difference
Afghanistan--Afghanistan lends new focus to rituals
Afghanistan--Symbol of loss has been sullied
Afghanistan--One of the lucky ones
Afghanistan--War a backdrop to remembrance
Afghanistan--The Mission: Halfway To Nowhere?
Afghanistan--On tour with the Taliban
Afghanistan--Afghanada
Afghanistan--Survival amid chaos
Remembrance Day--A Tradition of Duty from Vimy to Khandahar
Remembrance Day--Lets Keep Politics Separate
Remembrance Day--The stories of war are still being written in the blood of Canadians
Remembrance Day--A Call to Remember
The Fallen Canadians of Afghanistan
The Books of Remembrance
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Podunkian Music Club
Bryan Adams-Remembrance Day
Our weekly selection for the Music club this week, is a video made to the music of Bryan Adams Remembrance Day.
The song appeared on his 1987 recording Into the Fire.
It's a poignant tribute of remembrance to those who gave their lives in the service of their nation. Making the ultimate sacrifice for us to live in freedom.
Lest we forget
Remembrance Day
Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance 1987
For our King and our country and the promise of glory
We came from Kingston and Brighton to fight on the front line
Just lads from the farms and boys from the cities
Not meant to be soldiers we lay in the trenches
We'd face the fighting with a smile - or so we said
If only we had known what danger lay ahead
The sky turned to grey as we went into battle
On the fields of Europe young men were fallin'
I'll be back for you someday - it won't be long
If I can just hold on 'til this bloody war is over
The guns will be silent
On Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting
On Remembrance Day
By September of '18 Cambrai had fallen
Soon the war would be over and we'd be returnin'
Don't forget me while I'm gone far away
Well it won't be long 'til I'm back there in your arms again
One day soon - I don't know when
You know we'll all be free and the bells of peace will ring again
The time will come for you and me
We'll be goin' home when this bloody war is ended
The guns will be silent
On Remembrance Day
We'll all say a prayer
On Remembrance Day
On Remembrance Day - say a little prayer
On Remembrance Day
Well the guns will be silent
There'll be no more fighting
Oh we'll lay down our weapons
On Remembrance Day
Artist-Bryan Adams
Recording-Into the Fire
Our weekly selection for the Music club this week, is a video made to the music of Bryan Adams Remembrance Day.
The song appeared on his 1987 recording Into the Fire.
It's a poignant tribute of remembrance to those who gave their lives in the service of their nation. Making the ultimate sacrifice for us to live in freedom.
Lest we forget
Remembrance Day
Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance 1987
For our King and our country and the promise of glory
We came from Kingston and Brighton to fight on the front line
Just lads from the farms and boys from the cities
Not meant to be soldiers we lay in the trenches
We'd face the fighting with a smile - or so we said
If only we had known what danger lay ahead
The sky turned to grey as we went into battle
On the fields of Europe young men were fallin'
I'll be back for you someday - it won't be long
If I can just hold on 'til this bloody war is over
The guns will be silent
On Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting
On Remembrance Day
By September of '18 Cambrai had fallen
Soon the war would be over and we'd be returnin'
Don't forget me while I'm gone far away
Well it won't be long 'til I'm back there in your arms again
One day soon - I don't know when
You know we'll all be free and the bells of peace will ring again
The time will come for you and me
We'll be goin' home when this bloody war is ended
The guns will be silent
On Remembrance Day
We'll all say a prayer
On Remembrance Day
On Remembrance Day - say a little prayer
On Remembrance Day
Well the guns will be silent
There'll be no more fighting
Oh we'll lay down our weapons
On Remembrance Day
Artist-Bryan Adams
Recording-Into the Fire
Prince Rupert Historica--November 11
As we pause to remember this November 11th, we think of those that left for war in years past.
This photo from the Prince Rupert Archives features Canadian troops heading off to World War One. Taken as a troop ship prepared to leave Prince Rupert Harbour in 1915.
You can view the wide selection of photos from the early days of Prince Rupert from this archives web page link.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Divine Intervention?
The Winnipeg Free Press has the picture of the playoffs, a smiling Dalai Lama holding some Blue Bomber gear that he has just autographed.
Would be Bomber owner David Asper, was invited to a dinner in Ottawa in honour of the Dalai Lama and accompanied him on the flight to Ottawa, using his charms and sharpie pen to get perhaps the most famous autograph to ever end up on a piece of Blue Bomber equipment.
Victory to the Blue Bombers, is the inscription that the Dalai Lama scribbled onto the helmet in Tibetan, a sentiment that no doubt more than a few Manitoban's may find common ground with.
Where this leaves the Alouettes in the great booster club debate remains to be seen, perhaps a quickly placed call to the Vatican might provide some comfort for the team as they prepare for Sunday's eastern semi final, though it's doubtful that working on a Sunday will gain them much favour with His Holiness.
The above post first appeared on my Twelve men on the field blog, my look at the happenings in the Canadian Football League.
We'll be right back after this short commercial message November 9
Your bank has only your best interests at heart.
Keeping your accounts current, can save you a lot of trouble.
Keeping your accounts current, can save you a lot of trouble.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Turning the page on technology at the library
They can breathe a little easier at the Prince Rupert Library these days, the fears of a massive computer crash leaving the Library system in shambles have finally been addressed.
The Prince Rupert Library is now a test library for the Evergreen Integrated Library System (known as ILS) which should make it much easier for library patrons to gain access to the libraries resources.
The Daily News had the details in Thursday’s paper on the workings of the new system and how the Library is going to benefit from it.
Libraries all getting on same page
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Pages one and two
After years of running on life-support, the Prince Rupert Public Library is finally getting a new computer system that may also one-day link every library in British Columbia.
The Prince Rupert Library is now a test library for the Evergreen Integrated Library System (known as ILS) which should make it much easier for library patrons to gain access to the libraries resources.
The Daily News had the details in Thursday’s paper on the workings of the new system and how the Library is going to benefit from it.
Libraries all getting on same page
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Pages one and two
After years of running on life-support, the Prince Rupert Public Library is finally getting a new computer system that may also one-day link every library in British Columbia.
Rupert's library will be one of the test libraries for the Evergreen integrated library system (ILS) - a modern system that will make it easier for patrons to access materials, and for librarians to catalogue and circulate those materials.
"It's a relief to finally have a new library system after years of wondering if our computers would work on any given day," said Denise St. Arnaud, chief librarian at the Prince Rupert library.
"But the best thing about the new software is that it's free."
Most libraries buy the software for their integrated library systems from one of seven major commercial vendors. Over the past few years, these vendors have merged with one another, resulting in fewer product choices. This has reduced competitiveness, so libraries are left with no choice but to pay more in licensing fees.
The Evergreen ILS, however, is an example of “open source” computer software.
Instead of a library buying the computer code from a vendor, and then paying annual licensing fees, the library just downloads the code from the internet and modifies that code to suit its needs.
Although there will be associated costs for hardware and regular maintenance, one of the biggest expenses – the initial licensing fee – is gone.
If this pilot project is successful in Rupert and in the three other pilot libraries, Evergreen will be used at every library in B. C. that wants it.
In other words, each library’s records will be linked with every other library in the province.
A similar system is in place in the State of Georgia, but the system planned for B. C. would cover the largest geographic area in the world.
The seven member libraries of the North Coast Library Federation, which includes other libraries in the Northwest, are near the top of the waiting list to join Evergreen.
“It’s really exciting to not only be part of this big project, but also be the first one out of the block,” said Patti Barnes, chief librarian with the Northwest Community College library and a member of the ILS advisory committee. “It also shows the importance of libraries working together, which is part of the mission of the North Coast Library Federation.”
Patrons will notice a big change in the look and feels of the catalogue.
Instead of one-colour graphics, the catalogue will resemble something more like an internet web page.
Patrons will also be able to place holds on books from their home computer and, as more libraries come online in the future, they’ll be able to request books from outside their community.
St. Arnaud said staff are willing and able to help library patrons while they try out their new system.
“This could be an emerging trend in libraries all over the world,” said St. Arnaud.
“It’s quite exciting that this little library in Prince Rupert can play such a big role.”
As a report gathers dust, the Opposition calls for action on aquaculture
Governments of all stripes are famous for commissioning studies, reports and royal commissions and then promptly forgetting all about them. Usually this happens when the report that is issued after all that hard work, tends to not reflect the thoughts of the government of the day on the project under consideration.
Six months ago, the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture released a final report into the thorny issues facing the aquaculture industry, providing some 55 recommendations, the most contentious of which called for a ban on salmon farms on the North Coast.
Since that final draft was handed off, there’s been little in the way of action or acknowledgment that any of the recommendations will be acted upon by the government of the day.
The NDP, tired of what they call the Liberal’s stalling on the issue have issued a call for the government to get moving on the file.
They no doubt would like the Liberals to take the report off that dusty shelf somewhere in the backrooms of the Legislature and introduce some of the key measures of which they have long been advocating for.
The NDP’s concerns over the lack of movement on this file were presented in Thursday’s Daily News, as the front page story of the day.
NDP DEMANDS AQUACULTURE ACTION, QUESTION LONG DELAY
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Pages one and three
Six months after the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture released its final report, the New Democrats say they are still waiting for the Government of British Columbia to act on its recommendations.
On Monday, Skeena MLA and NDP Fisheries Critic Robin Austin stated that the B.C. Liberals have stalled long enough on addressing the committee's 55 recommendations, the most pressing of which called for a ban on salmon farming on the North Coast.
"Coastal communities and First Nations have made it clear to the Legislative Committee that change was needed to build a more sustainable and innovative aquaculture industry in B.C.," said Austin.
"Agriculture Minister Pat Bell has had the report long enough. It's time to see some action."
In addition to recommending an end to fish farms in the North, two other key steps outlined in the report were an aggressive and achievable transition to ocean-based closed-containment systems to protect wild stocks, and an expanded shellfish aquaculture sector to help First Nations and coastal communities drive new economic development.
“We have waited long enough to move forward protecting our wild stocks, we need a ban on fish farms on the North Coast immediately,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons yesterday.
“This government and the federal government must put resources into our wild salmon industry to protect it, not allow the destruction of migratory routes, spawning grounds and vital watersheds.:
The latest NDP criticism coincided with a week of demonstrations by the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform, which continued to protest the retail industry’s support of open net-cage salmon farming.
On Tuesday morning at 10 a. m., CAAR deployed a giant floating banner in San Francisco Bay that claimed stores were “Selling Extinction.”
Shauna MacKinnon of the Living Oceans Society, a CAAR member group, said stores “cling to the profits from a very marginal portion of overall sales rather than using buying power to pressure farmed salmon suppliers to clean up their industry.”
CAAR has been campaigning to have grocery chains change their purchasing policies. Living Oceans Society representative Catherine Stewart has been talking with store officials on the issue.
“During the spring out migration we took (store officials) to a fish farm, they went to a research station and saw the work being done on seal lice infesting juvenile salmon, and met with First Nations,” said Stewart.
“So they are fully briefed on what the issues and concerns are, at this point they are just unwilling to change their purchasing policy until the entire retail sector changes theirs. They’re not willing to go out and be a leader unfortunately.”
Stewart said Living Oceans Society is also waiting for government to respond to the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture report.
After receiving the committee report in May, the government said the response could be expected in roughly two months, but nearly six have now elapsed with no response.
Austin and Coons both believe if key recommendations put forward in the report are followed, they would place British Columbia at the forefront of environmental protection and industry innovation, and give the province a chance to become a global leader in the developing a more sustainable product.
“Minister Bell and B. C. Liberals need to get on board,” said Austin.
“It’s time to act in the interests of wild salmon and make the industry more sustainable. Anything less will be a let down for B. C.’s coastal communities and environment.
Rotary Auction to benefit Rushbrook trail
This year when you place a bid on an item at the three day Rotary Auction you'll be doing your bit to try and rejuvenate a long declining walking trail on the east side of the city.
The Rushbrook trail has "officially" been closed for a number of years now due to unsafe conditions on the cliffs that line the walkway from the Canadian Fish plant at Fairview to the Canadian Fish plant at Seal Cove.
It was one of the more impressive walkways in its day as locals and tourists alike would wander along the shore of the harbour to enjoy the views offered and local vegetation and wildlife that wandered or flew in close proximity.
While people still use the trail, at their own risk, it has fallen into serious dis-repair over the years, a situation that the combined Rotary clubs hope to change with an ambitious plan for redevelopment.
They already have committed 79,000 dollars towards the redevelopment project and are busy accessing other forms of financing to get the plans underway.
The community's chance to help out the Rotarian's with their local initiatives comes up next week as the Rotary Auction takes to channel 10 on November 19, 20 and 21.
The Daily News previewed some of the redevelopment plans for the Rushbrook trail in Wednesday's paper.
Rotary bids to get the Rushbrook Trail back on track
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pages one and three
After years of being closed due to safety concerns, with any luck the Rushbrook Trail will be officially re-opened to the public some time in 2008, thanks in large part to the upcoming Rotary auction.
The news comes from the Prince Rupert Rotary Club on behalf of the City of Prince Rupert, which has secured the funds in their project budget necessary to complete existing engineering plans for the trail.
The plans have been designed to improve the Rushbrook Trail so as to secure the safety of its users from the dangers of rock slides, a common and serious hazard for the area.
"The Rushbrook Trail project is a considered a large project for us and attracts a pretty good hunk of our local Rotary money," said Craig Dusel, a Prince Rupert Rotarian involved in the Rushbrook project.
"The improvements will essentially shift the trail away from where a slide could hurt someone."
The Rotary will be putting up $79,000 toward the improvement of the trail, and has also secured $75,000 from the Coast Sustainability Trust, $150,000 from the Olympic/Paralympic Live Sites fund, $25,000 from the City of Prince Rupert, and another $27,000 from Western Economic Diversification through the local Community Futures Development Corporation.
The current total of $356,000 now available for the Rushbrook Trail project is something the Rotary is pleased to announce, because it has been a project in progress for some time now.
The engineering plan, comprised of several assessments and plans, statistically models the new trail a distance far enough away from the cliff to ensure the safety of the public.
"If we could achieve that separation to those recommendations, we would have a professionally engineered trail that would allow the city in good conscience to re-open it, knowing the risk to human safety is very much reduced," said Dusel.
"It's taken a while for us to get to this point where we are fully designed, and we believe the cost of the project will fall within our budget, or just shy of it."
There are three ways the improvements will happen in order to meet the engineering safety model. Where there is enough room, the trail will be moved further out toward the water, between two and five metres from its present alignment.
In cases where there isn't enough land to move the trail the required distance, a mass wall of large concrete lock-blocks will be erected to capture a potential slide, leaving people on the other side safe.
In three instances, where there isn't room for either of those options, bridges will be built from point to point over the water, providing the physical safety distance from the slope.
The slope assessment was done by the firm Trow Associates Inc., the bridges were designed locally by Coast Isle Engineering, and the coordinating drawings incorporating the recommendations were done by David Nairne and Associates.
"We want to have a substantial part of it done by March 31, and I know that seems pretty tight in the schedule," said Dusel. "But with just a few technical hurdles to leap, we think we can be tendering the project before Christmas and constructing after Christmas."
The Prince Rupert Rotary Club Auction will be held on Nov. 19, 20, and 21, and is the single largest fundraising event of the year put on by the Rotary.
All money raised by the Rotary's numerous efforts is pooled into a project budget, which is then distributed back into the community through approved projects. The Prince Rupert Rotary Club does have one specific internal fundraising dinner that benefits Rotary International, but none of the money raised by the auction or any other initiatives is allocated outside of Prince Rupert.
The Rushbrook trail has "officially" been closed for a number of years now due to unsafe conditions on the cliffs that line the walkway from the Canadian Fish plant at Fairview to the Canadian Fish plant at Seal Cove.
It was one of the more impressive walkways in its day as locals and tourists alike would wander along the shore of the harbour to enjoy the views offered and local vegetation and wildlife that wandered or flew in close proximity.
While people still use the trail, at their own risk, it has fallen into serious dis-repair over the years, a situation that the combined Rotary clubs hope to change with an ambitious plan for redevelopment.
They already have committed 79,000 dollars towards the redevelopment project and are busy accessing other forms of financing to get the plans underway.
The community's chance to help out the Rotarian's with their local initiatives comes up next week as the Rotary Auction takes to channel 10 on November 19, 20 and 21.
The Daily News previewed some of the redevelopment plans for the Rushbrook trail in Wednesday's paper.
Rotary bids to get the Rushbrook Trail back on track
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pages one and three
After years of being closed due to safety concerns, with any luck the Rushbrook Trail will be officially re-opened to the public some time in 2008, thanks in large part to the upcoming Rotary auction.
The news comes from the Prince Rupert Rotary Club on behalf of the City of Prince Rupert, which has secured the funds in their project budget necessary to complete existing engineering plans for the trail.
The plans have been designed to improve the Rushbrook Trail so as to secure the safety of its users from the dangers of rock slides, a common and serious hazard for the area.
"The Rushbrook Trail project is a considered a large project for us and attracts a pretty good hunk of our local Rotary money," said Craig Dusel, a Prince Rupert Rotarian involved in the Rushbrook project.
"The improvements will essentially shift the trail away from where a slide could hurt someone."
The Rotary will be putting up $79,000 toward the improvement of the trail, and has also secured $75,000 from the Coast Sustainability Trust, $150,000 from the Olympic/Paralympic Live Sites fund, $25,000 from the City of Prince Rupert, and another $27,000 from Western Economic Diversification through the local Community Futures Development Corporation.
The current total of $356,000 now available for the Rushbrook Trail project is something the Rotary is pleased to announce, because it has been a project in progress for some time now.
The engineering plan, comprised of several assessments and plans, statistically models the new trail a distance far enough away from the cliff to ensure the safety of the public.
"If we could achieve that separation to those recommendations, we would have a professionally engineered trail that would allow the city in good conscience to re-open it, knowing the risk to human safety is very much reduced," said Dusel.
"It's taken a while for us to get to this point where we are fully designed, and we believe the cost of the project will fall within our budget, or just shy of it."
There are three ways the improvements will happen in order to meet the engineering safety model. Where there is enough room, the trail will be moved further out toward the water, between two and five metres from its present alignment.
In cases where there isn't enough land to move the trail the required distance, a mass wall of large concrete lock-blocks will be erected to capture a potential slide, leaving people on the other side safe.
In three instances, where there isn't room for either of those options, bridges will be built from point to point over the water, providing the physical safety distance from the slope.
The slope assessment was done by the firm Trow Associates Inc., the bridges were designed locally by Coast Isle Engineering, and the coordinating drawings incorporating the recommendations were done by David Nairne and Associates.
"We want to have a substantial part of it done by March 31, and I know that seems pretty tight in the schedule," said Dusel. "But with just a few technical hurdles to leap, we think we can be tendering the project before Christmas and constructing after Christmas."
The Prince Rupert Rotary Club Auction will be held on Nov. 19, 20, and 21, and is the single largest fundraising event of the year put on by the Rotary.
All money raised by the Rotary's numerous efforts is pooled into a project budget, which is then distributed back into the community through approved projects. The Prince Rupert Rotary Club does have one specific internal fundraising dinner that benefits Rotary International, but none of the money raised by the auction or any other initiatives is allocated outside of Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert Historica--November 9
Roads have always been a talking point in Prince Rupert, from today's ongoing rehabilitation of an aging infrastructure, to the lengthy closures of streets around the city, everyone has an opinion on the roads.
In this photo from the Prince Rupert photo archives we take a look at a wooden road that connected Sixth Avenue East to McBride Street back in 1912.
You can view the wide selection of photos from the early days of Prince Rupert from this archives web page link.
Gas prices on the rise, just in time for long weekend
There was a four cent gap between the different stations in Prince Rupert at noon hour of Friday.
Petro Can had upped the price of a litre of gas to 1.08 by 8:30 am today, a quick check of the remainder of the city's stations shows that they are asking the most for a litre of gas, heading into the Remembrance Day long weekend.
Elsewhere in town, Chevron is charging 1.07 a litre, Husky and Race Track gas are pegged at 1.06 and the 7-11 Esso was still holding the price at 1.04 by the noon hour.
A situation that could change by the end of the day, as the large tanker that fills up the gas reservoirs at the stations around town was seen making its shark like circles in town earlier this morning.
.
Update: Esso decided to jump to the top of the pricing list by 3pm, having posted a price of 1.08 on their board at 7-11.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Just Do It! (before someone else does)
Perhaps it’s those magic childhood memories of pulling on the shoulder pads, shin pads and skates before heading out for a 5 am skate at the local rink.
Or maybe it’s just the realization that Canadian parents are still willing to take out a second mortgage to put their kids on the ice.
But for whatever the reason two of the highest profile players to ever play in the NHL have put together separate bids to purchase the assets of Nike/Bauer, the skate and equipment maker that recently announced that they wanted out of the hockey business.
Nike paid 395 million dollars for the assets of Bauer and Cooper twelve years ago, a move that shocked Canadians who suddenly found that their hockey heritage in the world of equipment was now American owned.
Having suffered more than a few losses in the department over the years, Nike wrote off a large portion of its investment back in 2002, after the desired profits from in line skates and hockey apparel failed to materialize.
The asking price for the hockey unit is said to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of 250 million dollars a far cry from those heady days of 1995 when Nike sought to conquer the hockey world.
Having a either of the hockey greats as the face of your investment group could do wonders for marketability of the brand, and it would be even better for the corporate image if you have both of them on board. There is some talk that the two may join together in one super bid to wrestle control of the equipment maker, using their high profiles in the US and Canada as a way to rebuild the brand.
Both Lemieux and Gretzky are well known in the world of investment in the USA, they have made the contacts, they are familiar faces and they offer up that intangible that every investor loves credibility for a product.
At 145 million less than the original Nike purchase price, it’s like shopping at a discount store for hockey goods for the two hockey icons. It could be one of the few investments that they could make, for which they could add a good degree of product knowledge without having to listen to a dozen or so marketing types.
All that remains to be seen is whether they both arrive at the check out stand at the same time, or if like many Canadians on a weekend jaunt to a Canadian Tire, they get sidetracked in different departments.
When that happens and the time for the shopping comes to an end, usually someone is disappointed that they have to leave before they find the bargain they were looking for.
.
For Canadian hockey fans and consumers it might be best if the two go shopping together with one list, and few diversions to sidetrack them along the way.
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For Canadian hockey fans and consumers it might be best if the two go shopping together with one list, and few diversions to sidetrack them along the way.
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North Pacific Fishing Village to benefit from 20,000 dollar cash injection
As part of the provinces BC150 Years pride in our communities program, the Port Edward heritage site and museum will be able to expand some of the exhibits to one of the main tourist attractions on the North Coast.
BC released details of the provincial program and Port Edward explained what the plan for the Cannery Museum is going to feature. Andrew Minnigan who is the new manager of the site, is set to expand the on site exhibits to show more of the cannery workers and those that lived in the village.
He explained his plans in an article in Tuesday’s Daily News.
Cannery wants to put face on past
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
BC released details of the provincial program and Port Edward explained what the plan for the Cannery Museum is going to feature. Andrew Minnigan who is the new manager of the site, is set to expand the on site exhibits to show more of the cannery workers and those that lived in the village.
He explained his plans in an article in Tuesday’s Daily News.
Cannery wants to put face on past
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Pages one and three
Ever since Andrew Minnigan arrived at his new post as manager of the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward, he has been wanting to give the cannery a more personal feel.
Ever since Andrew Minnigan arrived at his new post as manager of the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward, he has been wanting to give the cannery a more personal feel.
Well now, as of Oct. 30, he will at least have $20,000 to work with to make that wish a reality, as the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts announced that 39 museums all over B.C. will receive funding through the BC150 Years Pride in Our Communities local museums program.
In the grant, Port Edward has been promised $10,000 while the district pays the other 50 per cent, also $10,000. The money will be put towards the "Life on the Line" evolutionary look at fishing in Port Edward through the decades.
"The story needs to be told and preserved," said Chief Administrative Officer Ron Bedard. "It's great that they gave us this ... it's awesome."
Since Minnigan took over as manager this past June, he has been wanting to expand the current displays.
“Right now, it’s just the mechanics of the fishing line,” he said. “But there’s nothing about the workers.”
We need to really upgrade out exhibit and add that human element,” said Minnigan.
Minnigan had initially thought of completely replacing the current exhibit, but said that endeavour would be rather difficult, and likely costly. Instead, he is simply adding to it and enhancing the overall experience for tourists.
“The space we were envisioning is already packed,” he said. “But with the funding, it’s more feasible to upgrade the existing exhibit at North Pacific.
“It’ll be an exhibit within an exhibit.”
Stan Hagen, minister for Tourism Sport and the Arts, said the funding available to the 39 museums across B. C. will help various local heritage organizations tell their respective community’s unique stories.
“The focus of BC150 Years is to celebrate, at the community level, the many people, places, events and achievements that have made British Columbia the great province it is today,” he said.
The BC150Years initiative is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of B. C.’s history when it was founded as a Crown Colony in 1858. In all, the funding allocated to the 39 museums to help communities tell their historic stories is worth more than 1.6 million, according to Hagen.
Other Northern B. C. communities that were awarded the grants include Prince George (the Railway and Forestry Museum and The Exploration Place) and Tumbler Ridge (The Tumbler Ridge Museum)
Port Ed looks to the future with excitement
The town may be down in numbers today, but they’re making plans for a much more progressive tomorrow in Port Edward.
Earlier this week the district hosted an open house to allow the town’s residents to take a look at the new Official Community Plan.
With a quick nod to the present and the past with an examination of the Pulp Mill site and some thoughts on what may happen there, the session was all forward thinking. The question for everyone was where Port Ed is going to go in the future?
From housing developments, to light industrial zoning, commercial and even the possibility of an airport development on Lelu Island, the consultants L & M Engineering Ltd expanded on their thoughts and left the community to ponder what they want their town to look like over the next 25 years or so.
The Daily news provided details of some of the points in Wednesday’s paper.
Port Ed’s plan full of optimism
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pages one and three
It's now official - Port Edward is excited about the future.
The district held an open house on Monday evening at the community hall and the session enabled residents to have a look at the proposed new Official Community Plan.
Directors from L & M Engineering Ltd, who have come up with the report regarding Port Edward's future, were on hand to answer questions, and explain some of the finer points of the report.
"I'm very pleased with the turn-out," said Mayor Dave MacDonald.
"I hope people take the time to fill out the (questionnaires) ... we're very interested in what people have to say."
Heather Oland, director of planning for L & M - a company based out of Prince George - was the main spokesperson for the evening, explaining that the report is simply in its initial stages, and that Port Edward residents will still get a chance to offer input and say whether or not they like what L & M is proposing.
"The important thing is that this is your plan, your community," she said.
"We'll analyze your comments, and make a spreadsheet, and then we'll have more interviews with CN, First Nations, the district, the port ... and go from there.
"It's important for this to be your vision."
Port Edward has not redone its community plan since 1993, but considering the expected development and growth on the North Coast due largely to the expansion of the container port, the district felt it was time to come up with a new strategy to deal with the potential population and business increase.
Oland said that in preparing the report, they could tell what advantages Port Edward might have over the city of Prince Rupert, even though the commute between the two communities is more than 10 minutes.
"For people who are (moving) to the area, a 10-minute drive doesn't bother them," she said.
She also pointed out that while Prince Rupert doesn't have a lot of room, and can only build "up" (apartments, condominiums, etc), Port Edward still has the room for housing development, such as King City phase 2, and Kloiya Bay (see map and accompanying side-bar below).
King City is currently zoned for a trailer park, but L & M is recommending that Port Edward change it to a residential area.
The topic of the unused pulp mill on Watson Island was also discussed, as a Port Edward resident asked what might happen in the near future with the site. Watson Island is located next to area No. 2 (Connoxy Industrial Area) and No. 4 (Commercial activity) and is zoned for light industrial activity, but is not marked on L & M's map.
"That's the conversation your community has to have," said Oland. "The chances of that reopening are slim.
"It was a devastating loss, but although it came at a cost, it also had a benefit. Once it closed, things have changed ... you're still here, the community's still growing."
According to the L & M report, it is predicted that the population in Port Edward could increase to as many as 1,200 people by 2031 based on a three per cent growth rate. The largest population Port Edward has experienced was back in 1976, also at 1,200, but it has been in decline ever since the pulp mill shut down in the 1990s.
Currently, Port Edward's population is fewer than 600.
The report is also predicted a dramatic population increase in Prince Rupert during the next five years, and then a relative constant growth rate until 2031.
It concludes that if Port Edward does experience that three per cent rate of growth, that "over a 25-year period will require 25 hectares of land for conventional single-family dwellings and a density of 11 to 12 units per hectare. In order to account for natural ownership constraints and unpredictable short-term growth, a minimum of 60 hectares of developable land should be identified in the Port Edward townsite to accommodate future residential growth."
MacDonald is happy with what L & M has come up with so far.
"It's quite exciting to see what the potential is in Port Edward, without hurting our neighbour (Prince Rupert)," said MacDonald.
- Highlights of Port Edward's new plan
Some recommended developments pointed out by L & M Engineering LTD at Monday's public open house in the district of Port Edward ...
. 1 - Kloiya Bay
Set aside for potential rural, residential development; i.e. people who want larger properties like for horses, boat storage, etc.
. 2 - Conoxy Industrial Area
Already zoned as light industrial, including Watson Island area, site of the now defunct pulp mill. Could be expanded to house more industry in the area as the economy and population grows.
. 3, 4 and 5 - Commercial and industrial opportunities, including Wolf Creek (site of the now-closed hatchery), the current location for the water treatment plant, and alongside the highway that joins Port Edward with Highway 16.
. 6 - King City
Located at the southwestern edge of Port Edward, the potential for redevelopment - i.e., single- or double-family homes, depending on zoning - should occur as the area grows. Currently, the area is zoned for a mobile home park, but it is recommended that the district alter that zoning.
. 7 - Lelu Island
Across Inverness Passage, facing Port Edward, is an island that has potential for both commercial and light industrial use. It is noted that the other areas would be developed first, but Lelu Island could be used for light industrial in conjunction with the Prince Rupert Port Authority, or potentially even as the site for an airport.
. 8 - Inverness Passage
The road connecting Port Ed to the North Pacific Fishing Village museum does not include any businesses, but it is recommended that as the region grows, commercial tourism-based activity could be developed along that road, such as small motels or bed-and-breakfasts, and recreational activity-related business such as fishing charters.
. 9 - Future commercial activity
Located right in the centre of Port Edward, above where Skeena Drive currently sits, there could be the development of small local businesses to serve the district's residents, like a coffee shop, laundromat or video store. Its central location is also within walking distance for the majority of Port Ed's residents
Earlier this week the district hosted an open house to allow the town’s residents to take a look at the new Official Community Plan.
With a quick nod to the present and the past with an examination of the Pulp Mill site and some thoughts on what may happen there, the session was all forward thinking. The question for everyone was where Port Ed is going to go in the future?
From housing developments, to light industrial zoning, commercial and even the possibility of an airport development on Lelu Island, the consultants L & M Engineering Ltd expanded on their thoughts and left the community to ponder what they want their town to look like over the next 25 years or so.
The Daily news provided details of some of the points in Wednesday’s paper.
Port Ed’s plan full of optimism
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pages one and three
It's now official - Port Edward is excited about the future.
The district held an open house on Monday evening at the community hall and the session enabled residents to have a look at the proposed new Official Community Plan.
Directors from L & M Engineering Ltd, who have come up with the report regarding Port Edward's future, were on hand to answer questions, and explain some of the finer points of the report.
"I'm very pleased with the turn-out," said Mayor Dave MacDonald.
"I hope people take the time to fill out the (questionnaires) ... we're very interested in what people have to say."
Heather Oland, director of planning for L & M - a company based out of Prince George - was the main spokesperson for the evening, explaining that the report is simply in its initial stages, and that Port Edward residents will still get a chance to offer input and say whether or not they like what L & M is proposing.
"The important thing is that this is your plan, your community," she said.
"We'll analyze your comments, and make a spreadsheet, and then we'll have more interviews with CN, First Nations, the district, the port ... and go from there.
"It's important for this to be your vision."
Port Edward has not redone its community plan since 1993, but considering the expected development and growth on the North Coast due largely to the expansion of the container port, the district felt it was time to come up with a new strategy to deal with the potential population and business increase.
Oland said that in preparing the report, they could tell what advantages Port Edward might have over the city of Prince Rupert, even though the commute between the two communities is more than 10 minutes.
"For people who are (moving) to the area, a 10-minute drive doesn't bother them," she said.
She also pointed out that while Prince Rupert doesn't have a lot of room, and can only build "up" (apartments, condominiums, etc), Port Edward still has the room for housing development, such as King City phase 2, and Kloiya Bay (see map and accompanying side-bar below).
King City is currently zoned for a trailer park, but L & M is recommending that Port Edward change it to a residential area.
The topic of the unused pulp mill on Watson Island was also discussed, as a Port Edward resident asked what might happen in the near future with the site. Watson Island is located next to area No. 2 (Connoxy Industrial Area) and No. 4 (Commercial activity) and is zoned for light industrial activity, but is not marked on L & M's map.
"That's the conversation your community has to have," said Oland. "The chances of that reopening are slim.
"It was a devastating loss, but although it came at a cost, it also had a benefit. Once it closed, things have changed ... you're still here, the community's still growing."
According to the L & M report, it is predicted that the population in Port Edward could increase to as many as 1,200 people by 2031 based on a three per cent growth rate. The largest population Port Edward has experienced was back in 1976, also at 1,200, but it has been in decline ever since the pulp mill shut down in the 1990s.
Currently, Port Edward's population is fewer than 600.
The report is also predicted a dramatic population increase in Prince Rupert during the next five years, and then a relative constant growth rate until 2031.
It concludes that if Port Edward does experience that three per cent rate of growth, that "over a 25-year period will require 25 hectares of land for conventional single-family dwellings and a density of 11 to 12 units per hectare. In order to account for natural ownership constraints and unpredictable short-term growth, a minimum of 60 hectares of developable land should be identified in the Port Edward townsite to accommodate future residential growth."
MacDonald is happy with what L & M has come up with so far.
"It's quite exciting to see what the potential is in Port Edward, without hurting our neighbour (Prince Rupert)," said MacDonald.
- Highlights of Port Edward's new plan
Some recommended developments pointed out by L & M Engineering LTD at Monday's public open house in the district of Port Edward ...
. 1 - Kloiya Bay
Set aside for potential rural, residential development; i.e. people who want larger properties like for horses, boat storage, etc.
. 2 - Conoxy Industrial Area
Already zoned as light industrial, including Watson Island area, site of the now defunct pulp mill. Could be expanded to house more industry in the area as the economy and population grows.
. 3, 4 and 5 - Commercial and industrial opportunities, including Wolf Creek (site of the now-closed hatchery), the current location for the water treatment plant, and alongside the highway that joins Port Edward with Highway 16.
. 6 - King City
Located at the southwestern edge of Port Edward, the potential for redevelopment - i.e., single- or double-family homes, depending on zoning - should occur as the area grows. Currently, the area is zoned for a mobile home park, but it is recommended that the district alter that zoning.
. 7 - Lelu Island
Across Inverness Passage, facing Port Edward, is an island that has potential for both commercial and light industrial use. It is noted that the other areas would be developed first, but Lelu Island could be used for light industrial in conjunction with the Prince Rupert Port Authority, or potentially even as the site for an airport.
. 8 - Inverness Passage
The road connecting Port Ed to the North Pacific Fishing Village museum does not include any businesses, but it is recommended that as the region grows, commercial tourism-based activity could be developed along that road, such as small motels or bed-and-breakfasts, and recreational activity-related business such as fishing charters.
. 9 - Future commercial activity
Located right in the centre of Port Edward, above where Skeena Drive currently sits, there could be the development of small local businesses to serve the district's residents, like a coffee shop, laundromat or video store. Its central location is also within walking distance for the majority of Port Ed's residents
“Fuel cells will change our world”.
Hmmm, well maybe one day. But right now, it seems that change won’t come as fast as we thought.
Ballard Power Systems apparently weary of the challenge to create a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle, has sold its technology to two of the big three auto makers.
Daimler and Ford have joined forces to create a new company, which will provide Ballard with a return on their development of $95-million to $105-million.
Ballard will transfer some 113 employees from its Vancouver operation to the new co-operative venture of the two automakers, Ballard will continue to provide fuel cell technology but only on a profit based basis, ie: they won’t be investing in the company any more after a one time injection of 60 million dollars, rather they will be just another supplier.
The fact that two giant automakers have managed to grab control of what was supposed to be one of those life changing pieces of technology has a few of the more conspiracy minded types smelling a foul fish.
They remind us to be mindful of past urban legends, which had the Big auto companies gobbling up prototypical electric car models and engines that provided amazing gas mileage, in order to keep the status quo on place.
They were the new technologies that never saw the light of day, remaining to this day the talking points for those that find evil in the hearts of the worlds gasoline driven automakers and oil companies.
Whether Ballard’s fuel cell technology becomes just another chapter in that historical list of suspicion remains to be seen.
For Ballard and other fuel cell companies the last few years have been hard years as stock shares and profit margins declined rapidly. Once a darling of the new energy sectors, Ballard stock shares have recently been trading at 4.99 a share, back in 2000 it was a very different story as Ballard shares were the hot stock of the era, going for 200 dollars a share or more.
It’s been a seven year decline since then, as the problems in providing a commercially viable product took the stock lower and investors decided that an environmentally friendly power system might be a few years off just yet.
Back in 2004 Ballard was making a commitment to stay ahead of the auto companies in developing an exciting new technology; “Refocused on its core technology, Ballard intends to concentrate on staying ahead of auto companies, including Toyota, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Fiat, that have launched fuel-cell programs. "Everything we do," he says, "is focused on maintaining that lead."
As it seems to have turned out, instead of staying ahead of them, Ballard has been swallowed up by two of them. A move which leaves the technology still much more in the world of science fiction, rather than in Industrial revolution.
So, even while the cost of oil heads for 100 dollars a barrel today, and everyone claims that a greener world is where we need to be. The future of clean energy sources still seems the thing of the Jetsons, while we are barely out of the days of the Flintstones.
Container Port operations exceeding expectations
With the second container ship to call on Prince Rupert already unloading its cargo, the stakeholders in the Fairview Container Port are quite satisfied with the state of the operation thus far.
James Foote, vice-president of sales and marketing for CN Rail shared his impressions with an American Transportation forum in New York recently, outlining the successful launch of the new service that will bring Asian goods into North America and North American goods to the Far east through the Port of Prince Rupert.
The Daily News featured his thoughts and an overview of the port's operation thus far as the front page story in Wednesday's paper.
EARLY DAYS, BUT PORT ALREADY DELIVERING ON ITS POTENTIAL
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Pages one and three
With the first load of goods through Fairview Terminal already on the ground in Chicago and the second ship at Fairview Terminal in the process of unloading, CN Rail officials say the new trade corridor is operating effectively.
"The trains and product are already on the ground in Chicago without any issue," said James Foote, vice-president of sales and marketing for CN Rail.
"The service performed even better than we expected."
Foote was speaking to analysts at the Citigroup Transportation Conference in New York.
He said the system is working well even without CN having made any of its planned further investments to improve the fluidity of the rail networks in sidings or the Memphis Terminal.
The second vessel to stop at Fairview Terminal, the Hanjin London, arrived at the new container port at 11 a.m. yesterday.
Vessels are moving COSCO goods to the terminal to be offloaded once each week.
"We are very pleased to be aligned with COSCO as a partner to get this business up and running," said Foote.
The first ship to dock at Fairview Terminal, the COSCO Antwerp, arrived last Tuesday evening.
A 9,000-foot-long train carried 360 containers to Chicago after they were taken off the Antwerp.
The containers that are picked up by CN are filled with a variety of merchandise for large eastern retailers, and they originated in the Chinese ports of Hong Kong, Yantian, Qingdao, Dalian and Xiamen as well as Yokohama, Japan.
As well as dropping off containers, the Antwerp picked up 600 containers brought into Prince Rupert by CN Rail, many of them full of paper products from eastern North America.
The route is part of the CKYH Alliance's Pacific Northwest Butterfly South Loop service, of which COSCO is one of four participating shipping lines.
In all, a string of nine vessels, each with a capacity of 2,700 containers, will combine to provide weekly service to Prince Rupert.
Meanwhile, the province and federal government yesterday signed a federal provincial agreement under the Building Canada Plan to further strength road and port infrastructure.
It will provide the province with $2.2 billion over seven years to invest in roads, bridges, tunnels, ports, public transit and more, including the Pacific Gateway initiative, which is key to ensuring that B.C. and Canada benefit from burgeoning economic activity in the Asia-Pacific region.
British Columbia is the first province to sign on to the new national infrastructure plan, which provides more funding than any previous federal infrastructure initiative, over a longer period of time, to restore and upgrade Canada's transportation assets.
"British Columbia will now be assured predictable funding to restore and upgrade infrastructure systems," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"Building Canada is about investing in our country's future. It's about a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and more prosperous communities."
The Government of Canada is investing $33 billion nationally in infrastructure projects.
Premier Gordon Campbell said the funds will help grow the British Columbia economy.
"These funds will be used on a cost-sharing basis to support provincial infrastructure priorities, including transportation; tourism; public transit; green energy; and waste and water systems."
In addition to funding for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, this could mean an opportunity for Prince Rupert to get funding to implement secondary sewer treatment. Currently, the city disposes its untreated waste in the ocean.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tanker moratorium high on the agenda of discussion session
They probably have wrapped up the presentations for the night, as representatives of West Coast Environmental Law held an information session Wednesday over the topic of opposing oil tanker traffic along the North Coast.
The discussion session was scheduled for 7 pm tonight at Fishermen’s Hall and featured a number of scheduled participants with some background in oil and gas industrialization in their communities.
The Daily News had provided a preview of the plans for the night in Tuesday’s paper.
Existence of tanker moratorium subject of session
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Page one
The discussion session was scheduled for 7 pm tonight at Fishermen’s Hall and featured a number of scheduled participants with some background in oil and gas industrialization in their communities.
The Daily News had provided a preview of the plans for the night in Tuesday’s paper.
Existence of tanker moratorium subject of session
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Page one
An organization opposing oil tanker traffic in Hecate Strait will be making its case in Prince Rupert on Wednesday evening.
Representatives from West Coast Environmental Law will be speaking at Fishermen's Hall at 7 p.m., providing an overview and leading a discussion of the North Coast oil tanker traffic moratorium, the laws and regulations in B.C. that govern it and the public's rights under the law.
Joining representatives from West Coast Environmental Law will be Rosemary Ahtuangaruak and Mae Masuleak from the Inuit community of Nuiqsut on Alaska's North Slope. They will share their experiences with oil and gas industrialization in their community.
The presentation is part of a tour that will take the speakers from Haida Gwaii to Kitimat, Terrace and Hartley Bay.
For the past several years, the federal government has been arguing there is no oil tanker traffic moratorium in the Hecate Strait, despite the government’s own review panel recommending a moratorium be kept in place.
Government has argued there is no written moratorium, but only a voluntary tanker exclusion zone that prevents U. S. oil tankers coming south from Alaska from traveling through the Hecate Strait.
The exclusion zone- which covers the entire B. C. coast – was adopted voluntarily by the Canadian and U. S. Coast Guards as well as the American Institute of Merchant Shipping in 1988 with the idea of keeping laden tankers west of the boundary in order to protect the marine environment and shoreline of B. C. should a tanker become disabled in transit. (On average there is one tanker entering the Juan de Fuca Strait every day, and conversely an empty tanker leaving the straits for Alaska.)
However, West Coast Environmental Law, among other organizations and politicians, has argued that the moratorium does exist, and cite a 2003 Natural Resources Canada statement as confirmation of the moratorium: “In 1972, the Government of Canada imposed a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic through Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound due to concerns over the potential environmental impacts. The moratorium was subsequently extended to include oil and gas activities.”
They say that the federal government allowed a company to violate the 34-year old moratorium in the summer of 2006 when a tanker full of condensate was transported to the Methanex terminal in Kitimat.
48,000 fans, 72 minutes for Mr. Becks and not one goal for the audience!
The fourth largest crowd in B. C. Soccer History to watch a soccer match, settled in Wednesday for the ninety minute friendly between the MLS's LA Galaxy and the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps. The crowd which lured fans from all over the province including fans from Prince Rupert, seemed more of a rock star style crowd rather than a sports crowd there anxious to watch a display of soccer.
But of course the real reason they were there wasn’t to watch a game but to watch a guy named Beckham, the name brand for soccer in North America.
The game, which was rescheduled from earlier in the year when the main attraction was injured, provided occasional flashes of stellar play followed by what was described by some as long moments of tedium as the two sides settled for a nil – nil draw.
The arrival of Beckham has captivated the Vancouver media for the last couple of days, with endless coverage of his training prior to the match, his press conference and his thoughts on the state of the game in North America.
It’s quite the road show you have to admit; from the time the plane touched down at Vancouver International Airport everyone seemed to want a moment of Beckham’s time. He would sign endless autographs, (while his fellow Galaxy members would wander by unmolested) answer numerous questions and flash that always photogenic Beckham smile.
BC Place with its crowd of 48,172 rumoured soccer fans; but more likely celebrity spotters, cheered on the new ambassador for his 72 minutes of play, and when he left the pitch, for the most part the crowd left the stadium at that point, apparently unconcerned about who won or lost the game.
There’s precious little scoring in a soccer match to begin with, but a game with no scoring and a number of players known only to their immediate families might make for a nice box office, but one wonders if it improves the long term future for soccer in Vancouver.
The Whitecaps, tonight’s version of the Washington Generals, play in the tier two league USL, which at the moment is suffering some serious troubles, as major teams in Seattle and Portland plan their exit for the more telegenic Major League Soccer.
The ultimate plan in Vancouver surely must be to join them as part of the Big Scene soccer picture in North America, bringing a strong soccer market to the growing loop. A stadium is still an issue in Vancouver as that city’s municipal council and the federal Ports Canada bureaucracy drags its feet and throws down the road blocks to a massive development on the Vancouver waterfront for a soccer only stadium just on the fringes of the downtown area.
The proof that the audience is there for the city now, though we suspect 48,000 wouldn’t turn out for a regular season MLS match up say of Real Salt Lake and Vancouver, but if ever there was a market that the MLS would want to collect its fifteen million dollar franchise fee from it would be Vancouver, with its strong history of soccer success. If the league thinks that the Toronto FC franchise has been a success, just wait until they decide to set up shop on the West Coast of Canada.
As for the celebrity gawkers at BC Place, had they been looking for a game with some offence they should have headed across town to the old Pacific Coliseum, where the Vancouver Giants and Prince George Cougars played a WHL game at the same time as Beckham was jogging around B C Place.
There was significantly more scoring on the ice, as the two teams combined for 11 goals before the final horn, all of which were provided at a significantly lower cost to the sports viewing public.
The reviews are trickling in about Wednesday’s Beckham exhibition. We provide some of them below as well as these thoughtful if slightly snarky comments from the legendary Pele, about the new North American Super Nova of soccer.
But for the believers, the fan club starts below.
Vancouver Sun-Beckham takes a bow
Vancouver Sun-Beckham does his job
Vancouver Sun-Becks touches down in B. C.
But of course the real reason they were there wasn’t to watch a game but to watch a guy named Beckham, the name brand for soccer in North America.
The game, which was rescheduled from earlier in the year when the main attraction was injured, provided occasional flashes of stellar play followed by what was described by some as long moments of tedium as the two sides settled for a nil – nil draw.
The arrival of Beckham has captivated the Vancouver media for the last couple of days, with endless coverage of his training prior to the match, his press conference and his thoughts on the state of the game in North America.
It’s quite the road show you have to admit; from the time the plane touched down at Vancouver International Airport everyone seemed to want a moment of Beckham’s time. He would sign endless autographs, (while his fellow Galaxy members would wander by unmolested) answer numerous questions and flash that always photogenic Beckham smile.
BC Place with its crowd of 48,172 rumoured soccer fans; but more likely celebrity spotters, cheered on the new ambassador for his 72 minutes of play, and when he left the pitch, for the most part the crowd left the stadium at that point, apparently unconcerned about who won or lost the game.
There’s precious little scoring in a soccer match to begin with, but a game with no scoring and a number of players known only to their immediate families might make for a nice box office, but one wonders if it improves the long term future for soccer in Vancouver.
The Whitecaps, tonight’s version of the Washington Generals, play in the tier two league USL, which at the moment is suffering some serious troubles, as major teams in Seattle and Portland plan their exit for the more telegenic Major League Soccer.
The ultimate plan in Vancouver surely must be to join them as part of the Big Scene soccer picture in North America, bringing a strong soccer market to the growing loop. A stadium is still an issue in Vancouver as that city’s municipal council and the federal Ports Canada bureaucracy drags its feet and throws down the road blocks to a massive development on the Vancouver waterfront for a soccer only stadium just on the fringes of the downtown area.
The proof that the audience is there for the city now, though we suspect 48,000 wouldn’t turn out for a regular season MLS match up say of Real Salt Lake and Vancouver, but if ever there was a market that the MLS would want to collect its fifteen million dollar franchise fee from it would be Vancouver, with its strong history of soccer success. If the league thinks that the Toronto FC franchise has been a success, just wait until they decide to set up shop on the West Coast of Canada.
As for the celebrity gawkers at BC Place, had they been looking for a game with some offence they should have headed across town to the old Pacific Coliseum, where the Vancouver Giants and Prince George Cougars played a WHL game at the same time as Beckham was jogging around B C Place.
There was significantly more scoring on the ice, as the two teams combined for 11 goals before the final horn, all of which were provided at a significantly lower cost to the sports viewing public.
The reviews are trickling in about Wednesday’s Beckham exhibition. We provide some of them below as well as these thoughtful if slightly snarky comments from the legendary Pele, about the new North American Super Nova of soccer.
But for the believers, the fan club starts below.
Vancouver Sun-Beckham takes a bow
Vancouver Sun-Beckham does his job
Vancouver Sun-Becks touches down in B. C.
Vancouver Sun-Beckham has been money well spent by Galaxy
Associated Press- Beckham makes little impact as Galaxy, Vancouver play 0-0 draw
Vancouver Province-Down-to-earth Beckham draws comparisons to Gretzky
Associated Press- Beckham makes little impact as Galaxy, Vancouver play 0-0 draw
Vancouver Province-Down-to-earth Beckham draws comparisons to Gretzky
Vancouver Province-He may conquer a continent but will footy?
.
Picture above from Vancouver Sun photo gallery.
Kemess North mine no longer part of Northgate Mineral’s future
The controversial northern BC mining project at Kemess North, which had did not get a recommendation to go ahead from a provincial federal panel, will be taken off the Northgate Mineral’s planning pages.
Citing the negative reaction and uncertainty over the projects development Northgate has decided to take the 200 million dollar project off of its active file.
It was not an unexpected step, considering the backlash to the planned project in recent months.
The Daily News featured the details of the project’s status as the front page story in Tuesday’s paper.
MINE FIRM PUTS PLANS FOR BIG NORTHERN PROJECT ON SHELF
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Pages one and three
Northgate Minerals has taken its plans for the $200-million Kemess North mine in northern B.C. off its books, and will no longer treat the project as part of its future plans, said the company's CEO.
Citing the negative reaction and uncertainty over the projects development Northgate has decided to take the 200 million dollar project off of its active file.
It was not an unexpected step, considering the backlash to the planned project in recent months.
The Daily News featured the details of the project’s status as the front page story in Tuesday’s paper.
MINE FIRM PUTS PLANS FOR BIG NORTHERN PROJECT ON SHELF
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Pages one and three
Northgate Minerals has taken its plans for the $200-million Kemess North mine in northern B.C. off its books, and will no longer treat the project as part of its future plans, said the company's CEO.
"Given the negative recommendation of the (federal, provincial environmental review) panel and tremendous uncertainty created, Northgate can no longer treat the Kemess North project as a core part of our business plan," said Ken Stowe, Northgate CEO.
In September, a joint federal, provincial environmental review panel said the company had met all the requirements of the federal and provincial governments to proceed with the mine.
However, it would not recommend proceeding with the mine because the impacts on aboriginal people - the unlikeliness of their communities embracing the project and benefits, and the loss of spiritual values of Duncan lake, which would be used to dispose of tailings - were a "significant drawback."
“The economic and social benefits provided by the project, on balance, are outweighed by the risks of significant adverse environmental, social and cultural effects, some of which may not emerge until many years after mining operations cease,” said the panel.
The project included constructing a second open pit mine just north of the existing Kemess South mine, 425 kilometres northwest of Prince George. It was meant to increased the life of the operation of the Kemess mine another decade, continuing 350 existing jobs.
“Northgate strongly disagrees with the panel’s decision and believes the project is engineered to world-class standards and could provide a tremendous economic benefit to British Columbia,” said Stowe.
He specifically noted the panel said it was satisfied with the mitigation measures planned by the company, both environmental and social, and that the science and engineering of the panel were of high order.
“This is a bar set so high that virtually all resource projects and operating mines, including those operating or under consideration in B. C. would find impossible to clear,” Stowe said.
“It is always difficult for a project proponent or supporter to deal with opposition based on spiritual or religious beliefs. These beliefs are inherently subjective and deeply personal. It is up to government to balance these beliefs against the economic and other benefits of development to determine what is in the best public interest.”
The company posted a loss of more than US$11.9 million for the third quarter after it booked a $32.3 million no-cash write-down of the carrying value of the Kemess North project.
The company has also stopped engineering, exploration and other work on the site and will look elsewhere for expansion.
Northgate’s principal assets are the Kemess South mine in North-central British Columbia and the Young-Davidson property in northern Ontario.
1.06 and counting
With the exception of the 7-11 Esso which was still posting 1.04 at 4:30 this afternoon, the price of gas has increased in Prince Rupert.
The remaining Prince Rupert stations downtown followed Petro Cans two day lead in with gas retailing at 1.06 per litre.
With oil about to reach 100 dollars a barrel and a long weekend on the way, we'll probably be paying that 1.06 for a little while into the future and perhaps seeing the prices rise even further.
If it's any consolation, for the first time in a long time, our gas prices were actually lower than some posted in Prince George, where Opinion 250 reports gas selling at 1.07.
Local gas providers are asked to please disregard the above line, lest they get any ideas....
2.3 million dollars dedicated to hospital safety
The Province of British Columbia is investing an additional 2.3 million dollars into developing a province wide learning system, that after a successful pilot testing program at the B. C. Women’s Hospital and at Vancouver General Hospital.
Designed as a reporting and learning tool, the program is the latest in a number of initiatives that the province has put in place as they continue their quest to improve patient safety. The programs were set up through the B. C. Patient Safety Task Force, which has been exploring ways to improve the interaction between patient and the medical system in the province.
The latest developments were examined in the Monday edition of the Daily News.
Province targeting hospital safety
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, November 5, 2007
Pages one and five
An additional $2.3 million is being invested by government into developing a province-wide safety learning system, says Health Minister George Abbott.
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, November 5, 2007
Pages one and five
An additional $2.3 million is being invested by government into developing a province-wide safety learning system, says Health Minister George Abbott.
After the success of pilot-testing for the web-base reporting and learning system in the Neonatal Care Unit at B.C. Women's Hospital and in the Vascular and General Surgery Unit at Vancouver General Hospital, the province has decided to fund the start-up of the safety system across the entire province.
"We are committed to continuously looking for ways to improve patient safety throughout British Columbia," said Abbott.
"We need to learn from adverse events if we are to reduce risk-related incidents in hospitals and health facility settings."
The $2.3 million will allow the B. C. Patient Safety Task Force to begin the initial implementation of the patient safety learning system, which assists health professionals, health care workers and facility staff in reporting incidents.
The reporting and learning tool will be the first of its kind in Canada, and the pilot tests were evaluated by the Ministry of Health and the B. C. Patient Safety Task Force.
According to the government and Task Force evaluations, as a result of using the patient safety system, adverse events are more easily captured by more health professionals and support staff, and with greater accuracy.
Between May and July 2007, the system showed an increase in patient safety reports at
the B. C. Women’s Hospital.
The other pilot site, at Vancouver General Hospital’s Vascular and General Surgery Unit, also showed an increase in events recorded by health professionals and support staff between June and August.
“By providing health professionals with a system to identify concerns or incidents, we can ensure that patients have the safest environment where they receive care,” said Doug Cochrane, chair of the B. C. Patient Safety Task Force.
During Canadian Patient Safety Week in October, the government of British Columbia encouraged patients to take responsibility for their health by being actively involved through discussions with their doctor and health professionals. The theme of “Patient Safety: Be Involved. Ask. Talk. Listen” was promoted across the country by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and saw hundreds of health-care organizations and health professionals getting involved in addressing the role of good communication in health care.
Since 2001, British Columbia has introduced a number of new patient safety measures and strengthened existing safety measures, which included expanding the PharmaNet system as well as the creation of a Ministry of Health division dedicated to patient safety. In January 2005, the government announced $10 million in funding that would continue to make B. C. the safest place to be a patient, $6million of which went to support the Patient Safety Task Force, the Provincial Infection Control Network and the first academic Chair in Patient Safety at the University of British Columbia.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Like a wind at their backs local Wind farm projects are moving forward
The twin developments of wind power on the North Coast are moving forward with the announcement that Katabatic power has selected an engineer for the Banks Island project and that the Mount Hays project has received a licence of occupation from the province for its development for the south side of Mount Hays.
The latest developments were featured on Monday as the front page story in the Daily News.
WIND FARM PROJECTS BREEZE FORWARD, ENGINEER SELECTED
Katabatic Power is working with CH2M HILL to develop two local wind farms
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, November 05, 2007
Pages one and three
Two wind farms being proposed by Katabatic Power - on Banks Island and Mount Hays - are moving forward.
Last week, Katabatic Power and the Deutsche Bank AG announced they have selected an engineer for the proposed wind farm on Banks Island, just south of Prince Rupert.
CH2M HILL has been chosen to work on the joint venture that is expected to generate 700 megawatts of wind energy on the North Coast.
"We are very pleased to have CH2M HILL working with us to ensure the Banks Island project is a success," said Anthony Duggleby, president and CEO of Katabatic.
"With a worldwide reputation for excellence in energy project development, planning and design, CH2M HILL is an ideal partner as we prepare to bring our project forward as part of BC Hydro's next Call for Power."
The Banks Island North Wind Energy Project is proposed for the north end of Banks Island. Pending First National consultation and environmental approval, the companies hope to install 234 three-megawatt turbines, an access road and 146 kilometres of transmission lines that will feed into the existing British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) energy grid located near Kitimat.
“Our team is looking forward to working with Katabatic on this ground-breaking renewable energy facility.” said Todd Barthoff, director Sustainable Energy for CH2M HILL.
The Banks Island project is the second wind farm project being undertaken by Katabatic. It is also proposing a smaller wind turbine project on the south side of Mount Hays, within the city of Prince Rupert itself.
Two weeks ago, the Mount Hays Wind Farm project received a licence of occupation from the province for 364.4 hectares of land on the top and south side of Mount Hays.
The company has a 25-year electricity power purchase agreement with B. C. Hydro for the Mount Hays project and hopes to have the province’s first land-based wind farm in operation by the winter of 2008.
The Mount Hays Wind Farm will generate electricity from 17 wind turbines, each capable of producing 1.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity for a project total of 25.5 MW. Once in operation, the Wind Farm will produce enough electricity for 10,000 homes from a renewable, clean energy source.
“The Province of British Columbia and BC Hydro have recognized that wind energy is an important part of a renewable and sustainable energy future, and we are very excited to be playing a leadership role in generating new sources of power for British Columbians,” said Duggleby.
Prince Rupert Historica--November 6
From the Prince Rupert Photo archives we discovered this snapshot of the past, a sample of some of the housing of the early 1900's and what appears to be an example that the deer have always been part of the city's landscaping.
This showcases some of the early housing of the early days of Prince Rupert, just barely carved out of the muskeg.
You can view the wide selection of photos from the early days of Prince Rupert from this archives web page link.
From the Prince Rupert Archives November/December
We've been doing a little Internet sleuthing over the last few days, looking for sites about Prince Rupert's past history and some of the people that built the city through the years.
Must admit that it's been pretty thin pickings thus far, but we have come across a pretty impressive collection of pictures from the Prince Rupert Archives, so we figured we would highlight a few over the next little while. (You can view their entire on line offering from this link)
There's no particular schedule or direction we're heading with this, just another sliver of Prince Rupert, this one from a look in the past.
We'll archive the selections for November here, and keep a running list of them on the right hand side of the blog.
If you have any suggestions for other sources of local info that you know about on the net, drop us a line at our email address below, always looking for ideas for the blog.
December 2-Herring fishing in Prince Rupert Harbour
November 27-The Savoy Hotel 1910
November 23-Iroquois Pool and Billiards 1908
November 22-Mount Oldfield Slide 1957
November 20- Empress Hotel and McIntyre Block 1911
November 18-Dodge Cove Quarantine Hospital circa 1911
November 15-Prince Rupert housing circa 1909
November 13-Charles Hays and some men
November 11-The troops leave Prince Rupert for War
November 8-Wooden road connecting Sixth Ave East and McBride St.
November 6-Tent houses and the always prevalent deer
Must admit that it's been pretty thin pickings thus far, but we have come across a pretty impressive collection of pictures from the Prince Rupert Archives, so we figured we would highlight a few over the next little while. (You can view their entire on line offering from this link)
There's no particular schedule or direction we're heading with this, just another sliver of Prince Rupert, this one from a look in the past.
We'll archive the selections for November here, and keep a running list of them on the right hand side of the blog.
If you have any suggestions for other sources of local info that you know about on the net, drop us a line at our email address below, always looking for ideas for the blog.
December 2-Herring fishing in Prince Rupert Harbour
November 27-The Savoy Hotel 1910
November 23-Iroquois Pool and Billiards 1908
November 22-Mount Oldfield Slide 1957
November 20- Empress Hotel and McIntyre Block 1911
November 18-Dodge Cove Quarantine Hospital circa 1911
November 15-Prince Rupert housing circa 1909
November 13-Charles Hays and some men
November 11-The troops leave Prince Rupert for War
November 8-Wooden road connecting Sixth Ave East and McBride St.
November 6-Tent houses and the always prevalent deer
Monday, November 05, 2007
Keep your "rugrats" away from the Rugrats!
Your children may not be keen on your intervention, but if you wish to reduce the possibility of attention problems later on past their toddler years you had best be careful what you let them watch.
A study from the University of Washington is steering parents away from such shows as Power Rangers, Rugrats and even an couple of old time favourites, such as Scooby Doo and The Flintstones, as all apparently don’t set a very good example for the youngest of ones.
The survey was released today and it compiled a study of early TV-watching and any potential future attention problems. The research involved children younger than 3, so TV is mostly a no-no anyway, according to the experts who strongly urge parents to keep the television off in the very early years. But if TV is allowed, it should be of the educational variety.
Every hour per day that kids under 3 watched violent child-oriented entertainment their risk doubled for attention problems five years later.
The survey suggested that parents instead guide the young ones to the subtler themes of Sesame Street, Barney and Arthur. All shows that the researchers felt did not include themes of violence that could stay with the young viewers well into their pre teen years.
It’s a move that will surely find a welcome endorsement by the National Association of Librarians, who probably approve of Arthur’s love of books, something that the parents may want to try instead of clicking on the Power Rangers today, and then having to deal with the aftermath a few tomorrows down the calendar.
The Googles of November 2007
Our listings of the Google Alert items that come across our mail server on a daily basis. Archived here for your viewing enjoyment.
November 30--Prince Rupert's promise is finally realized
November 28--Campbell to talk technology during 10-day Asian excursion
November 24--CN's Intermodal Distribution Centre Official Opening
November 24--Intermodal terminal and distribution centre officially opens
November 24--Warning signs sought on Highway 16
November 23--Will B.C. port be boon to Southeast?
November 23--Coal miner considers slurry pipeline for B.C.
November 21--Salmon farms hike parasite risk for wild fish: study
November 20--Aiming to be the gateway to the Pacific Century
November 17--Prince Rupert to curb cats and dogs
November 14--BC Developers Racing in the Wind
November 13--Offet to step down as IPG president within four-and-a-half months
November 13--Edmonton to host Asia-Pacific Shipping Forum November 13 to 15
November 8--Government of Canada and province of B.C. support highway upgrading
November 7--Train traffic increases
November 6--First work, then party at 100-year-old Pricewaterhouse
November 5--Rolling-Stock Knockdown
November 2--New Intermodal Hubs Add to Marketability for Inland Ports
November 2--First CN Rail container train to pass through Prince George early Friday morning
November 1--Port of Prince Rupert officially welcomes first container vessel
November 1--Container impact ‘so big’, says mayor
November 1--Prince Rupert port’s new terminal receives first container vessel
November 30--Prince Rupert's promise is finally realized
November 28--Campbell to talk technology during 10-day Asian excursion
November 24--CN's Intermodal Distribution Centre Official Opening
November 24--Intermodal terminal and distribution centre officially opens
November 24--Warning signs sought on Highway 16
November 23--Will B.C. port be boon to Southeast?
November 23--Coal miner considers slurry pipeline for B.C.
November 21--Salmon farms hike parasite risk for wild fish: study
November 20--Aiming to be the gateway to the Pacific Century
November 17--Prince Rupert to curb cats and dogs
November 14--BC Developers Racing in the Wind
November 13--Offet to step down as IPG president within four-and-a-half months
November 13--Edmonton to host Asia-Pacific Shipping Forum November 13 to 15
November 8--Government of Canada and province of B.C. support highway upgrading
November 7--Train traffic increases
November 6--First work, then party at 100-year-old Pricewaterhouse
November 5--Rolling-Stock Knockdown
November 2--New Intermodal Hubs Add to Marketability for Inland Ports
November 2--First CN Rail container train to pass through Prince George early Friday morning
November 1--Port of Prince Rupert officially welcomes first container vessel
November 1--Container impact ‘so big’, says mayor
November 1--Prince Rupert port’s new terminal receives first container vessel
Gas prices inch upwards again
Monday morning brought an increase in the price of gas for those filling up their cars on the east side of town. Petro Can on Hays Cove became the first in town to push the price of gas back up above 1.04 posting a price of 1.06 for the Monday morning commute.
The rest of the city's stations have been holding the line at 1.04 thus far, with the downtown core stations and Race Trak in the Industrial Park resisting the call of the upwardly mobile tote boards so far.
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