A weekend of exhibits opens up at 3 pm on Friday, providing local and out of town businesses and services to showcase their products and opportunities and local residents to learn more about what’s available in the community.
The “Year of Opportunity Trade Show” is a co-production of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce and the Northern View weekly newspaper taking place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre from April 27 to 29.
The exhibit space is sold out with a diverse group of participants ranging from the ever present car dealers to Bounce a lot, the portable kids’ playground (which if inflated, is probably destined to be the most popular exhibit we suspect).
Trade shows have been hit and miss affairs over the years in the city, some years they are great successes, other years have the exhibitors left to talk to themselves as the population takes a pass. In more recent years gone by, the state of the economy deteriorated so far that the Trade show didn’t even take place.
The Daily News provided details on Tuesday, of the planned exhibits for the weekend, though they danced around mentioning one of the co-sponsors, The Northern View too much, which of course is a competitor in the increasingly crowded Prince Rupert printed media world.
Click on this link for a map of the configuration of the exhibits in the arena and other information from the Trade Show download.
SEE WHAT IS IN STORE AT ANNUAL CHAMBER TRADE SHOW
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pages one and three
The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with a local business to host the 2007 Prince Rupert Trade Show.
Called the Year of Opportunity Trade Show, the event takes place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena between April 27 and April 29.
On Friday, it starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 9 p. m., on Saturday from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. and Sunday, from 10 a. m. until 2 p. m.
Wendy Prystay, president of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has historically been involved with the trade show and they hope to continue that involvement on an annual basis.
“It’s an opportunity for our businesses to showcase themselves and perhaps attract new customers,” said Prystay.
“Given that the chamber of commerce is the voice of business, we are looking forward to mix and mingle with the public and talk about business that provides services in Prince Rupert.”
Prystay noted that generally people make a lot of assumptions of what kind of services may be available in town.
“There’s no better way to find out what actually is available than to have a chance to meet with a whole bunch of businesses at once, ask some questions and perhaps find out things you didn’t know, see products your weren’t aware of or didn’t know were available,” she said.
The event is being hosted by the Northern View in conjunction with the chamber of commerce.
Currently, there are only three booths left for the show.
On Saturday, there will also be a meet and greet session with the participants of the trade show.
Because this is a chamber-sponsored event, chamber members are being invited to attend this event as well.
The meet and greet takes place Sat., April 28 at the Underground at Prince Rupert Coast Hotel at 7 p. m. and there will be a buffet dinner provided.
Tickets are $30 dollars and can be purchased from the chamber.
Some of the businesses that will have booths at the trade show include Port City Ford, Sherman GM, Sight & Sound, Rupert Rides, Prince Rupert District Chamber of Commerce/Rising Stars program, the Ministry of Forests, Northwest Community College, Twilight Spas, the Skeena Native Development Society, the Queen Charlotte Islands Chamber of Commerce, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, Van Houtte, bob on the Rocks, Investors Group, Speedee Printers, Rainbow Chrysler, Creative Systems, Prince Rupert Port Edward Economic Development, Tourism Prince Rupert, All West Glass, Anna’s Couture, Occasions to Remember, Hawkair, Rough Acres Camp, Finex, Silvertip, Coast Prince Rupert Hotel, The Northern View, CFNR, North Coast Professional Driving School, Northern Stitches, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, Port Edward, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Northwest Science & Innovation, CMO Data, CityWest, SPCA, Bounce-A-Lot, Bandstra, Paintball Exhibit and Digital Printing.
However, the list is not necessarily complete and other businesses may be added to the list of participant as the week progresses.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Port says their overtures were ignored
The Port of Prince Rupert has provided their side of the story on the simmering dispute between the Port Authority and the Metlakatla and Lax Kw' alaams bands over the container port.
The issued popped up again on the radar yesterday, when Reuters quoted the two bands as saying; that they will not allow the container port to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Contacted by Reuters to answer to charges yesterday from Gary Reece about the Port ignoring their claims, Don Krusel said that the Port made a C$7.65 million "offer of accommodation" to the Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams bands in February 2006, which was never responded to.
Instead, the issue went to the courts, with the Port stating that they are still awaiting a decision over whether or not the bands were provided with proper consultation.
Judging by the events of the last few days, it would appear that the interpretations of the same event seem to be coming from different directions. With the residents of the northwest to be found somewhere in the middle.
Port says native critics ignored overture
Reuters
Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:01 PM EDT
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - The Prince Rupert Port Authority said on Thursday that two small native Indian groups threatening to block expansion plans at the port on the Pacific coast have ignored offers to address their concerns.
Port officials said they made a C$7.65 million "offer of accommodation" to the Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams bands in February 2006, but they never responded and instead filed lawsuits alleging their concerns were being ignored.
The city of Prince Rupert, near the southern tip of Alaska's panhandle, expects to complete work this fall on the first phase of a new container facility that will handle increasing trade between North America and Asia.
The Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams say the port is in their historic territories, and warned on Wednesday they would stop the facility from going into operation until their concerns are addressed.
The port is "making every effort possible to engage First Nations bands" to reduce the impact of the expansion on their traditional uses of the land, said Don Krusel, the port authority's president.
The courts have ruled that governments and private companies have a duty to consult with Indians over development on the natives' historic territories, although the native groups do not have an automatic veto power.
The issue is especially complicated on the Pacific coast because of a lack of modern day land treaties in the area and disagreements between aboriginal bands over the historic boundaries of their territories.
Other Indian bands not involved in this dispute also make territorial claims to the Prince Rupert area.
The port authority said it is still awaiting a court ruling on the Metlakatla's and Lax Kw'alaams' claim that they were not adequately consulted in this case, although the bands say that legal issue has already been settled.
The issued popped up again on the radar yesterday, when Reuters quoted the two bands as saying; that they will not allow the container port to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Contacted by Reuters to answer to charges yesterday from Gary Reece about the Port ignoring their claims, Don Krusel said that the Port made a C$7.65 million "offer of accommodation" to the Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams bands in February 2006, which was never responded to.
Instead, the issue went to the courts, with the Port stating that they are still awaiting a decision over whether or not the bands were provided with proper consultation.
Judging by the events of the last few days, it would appear that the interpretations of the same event seem to be coming from different directions. With the residents of the northwest to be found somewhere in the middle.
Port says native critics ignored overture
Reuters
Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:01 PM EDT
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - The Prince Rupert Port Authority said on Thursday that two small native Indian groups threatening to block expansion plans at the port on the Pacific coast have ignored offers to address their concerns.
Port officials said they made a C$7.65 million "offer of accommodation" to the Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams bands in February 2006, but they never responded and instead filed lawsuits alleging their concerns were being ignored.
The city of Prince Rupert, near the southern tip of Alaska's panhandle, expects to complete work this fall on the first phase of a new container facility that will handle increasing trade between North America and Asia.
The Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams say the port is in their historic territories, and warned on Wednesday they would stop the facility from going into operation until their concerns are addressed.
The port is "making every effort possible to engage First Nations bands" to reduce the impact of the expansion on their traditional uses of the land, said Don Krusel, the port authority's president.
The courts have ruled that governments and private companies have a duty to consult with Indians over development on the natives' historic territories, although the native groups do not have an automatic veto power.
The issue is especially complicated on the Pacific coast because of a lack of modern day land treaties in the area and disagreements between aboriginal bands over the historic boundaries of their territories.
Other Indian bands not involved in this dispute also make territorial claims to the Prince Rupert area.
The port authority said it is still awaiting a court ruling on the Metlakatla's and Lax Kw'alaams' claim that they were not adequately consulted in this case, although the bands say that legal issue has already been settled.
At the opposite end of the country, an opposite direction for taxes
While Podunkians contemplate the latest increase in property taxes from their civic government, they may cast a covetous eye across the land to Newfoundland and Labrador.
That province announced the largest personal income tax cut in Newfoundland history today, with savings ranging from 567 -911 dollars depending on income and family situation.
Spurred on by oil royalties and most likely motivated by an upcoming provincial election, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will be putting money in their pockets this summer, about the same time as Prince Rupert residents dig a little deeper into theirs.
It's amazing what a looming election can do for ones financial perspective, not to mention a taxpayers personal bank account.
That province announced the largest personal income tax cut in Newfoundland history today, with savings ranging from 567 -911 dollars depending on income and family situation.
Spurred on by oil royalties and most likely motivated by an upcoming provincial election, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will be putting money in their pockets this summer, about the same time as Prince Rupert residents dig a little deeper into theirs.
It's amazing what a looming election can do for ones financial perspective, not to mention a taxpayers personal bank account.
Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla sound a warning about Fairview port
Unfinished issues are popping up on the radar of the Fairview Container Port waterfront project, issues that may bring things to a standstill before they even get the first container ship underway.
A story moving across the Reuters wire on Wednesday evening, says that the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla bands have stated; that they will not allow the container port to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Gary Reece, chief councilor for Lax Kw'alaams expresses frustration at the lack of communication and progress since the issue first came to the courts in 2006. The story doesn’t specify how the two bands might approach the issue of stopping the terminal from operating, nor what kind of timetable the two bands are operating under.
No port officials or government representatives from any level were available to Reuters for a reply, though one imagines that they will be scrambling to find a position shortly as the completion date gets closer and closer.
The story will certainly serve as the topic of conversation around town for the next little while, until the issues and the repercussions of any planned events become a little clearer.
PACIFIC PORT PLAN FACES NATIVE OBJECTIONS
Wed. April 25, 2007 5:53 EDT
Reuters
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Native Indians said on Wednesday they will not allow a container port on Canada's Pacific coast to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Two aboriginal bands said the federal government has failed to adequately consult them about the facility being built in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the first phase of which is expected to start handling traffic late his year.
The Lax Kw'alaams and Matlakatla Indian bands said the government has ignored a 2006 Federal Court ruling that it had used a flawed process to address native claims that the project is in their historic territories.
"We thought we'd be back at the table. Nothing is really happening, so we're getting frustrated," said Garry Reece, chief councilor of the Lax Kw'alaams.
A port official was not immediately available for comment.
The government and Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO: Quote) announced in 2004 they wanted to use Prince Rupert to handle increasing trade with Asia. The port is a day's sailing closer to Asia than are ports on the U.S. Pacific coast.
Canada's courts have ruled that governments and private companies have a duty to consult with Indians over development on the natives' historic territories, although the native groups do not have an automatic veto power.
A story moving across the Reuters wire on Wednesday evening, says that the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla bands have stated; that they will not allow the container port to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Gary Reece, chief councilor for Lax Kw'alaams expresses frustration at the lack of communication and progress since the issue first came to the courts in 2006. The story doesn’t specify how the two bands might approach the issue of stopping the terminal from operating, nor what kind of timetable the two bands are operating under.
No port officials or government representatives from any level were available to Reuters for a reply, though one imagines that they will be scrambling to find a position shortly as the completion date gets closer and closer.
The story will certainly serve as the topic of conversation around town for the next little while, until the issues and the repercussions of any planned events become a little clearer.
PACIFIC PORT PLAN FACES NATIVE OBJECTIONS
Wed. April 25, 2007 5:53 EDT
Reuters
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Native Indians said on Wednesday they will not allow a container port on Canada's Pacific coast to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.
Two aboriginal bands said the federal government has failed to adequately consult them about the facility being built in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the first phase of which is expected to start handling traffic late his year.
The Lax Kw'alaams and Matlakatla Indian bands said the government has ignored a 2006 Federal Court ruling that it had used a flawed process to address native claims that the project is in their historic territories.
"We thought we'd be back at the table. Nothing is really happening, so we're getting frustrated," said Garry Reece, chief councilor of the Lax Kw'alaams.
A port official was not immediately available for comment.
The government and Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO: Quote) announced in 2004 they wanted to use Prince Rupert to handle increasing trade with Asia. The port is a day's sailing closer to Asia than are ports on the U.S. Pacific coast.
Canada's courts have ruled that governments and private companies have a duty to consult with Indians over development on the natives' historic territories, although the native groups do not have an automatic veto power.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
City council once again goes to their favourite ATM, the civic taxpayer
You can’t help but think of the television commercial, “hands in your pockets.” or maybe the Rick Mercer interpretation of it as appropriate right about now!
It’s civic budget time once again and our elected officials have decided that it’s the duty of the taxpayers of Prince Rupert to pony up another 4% on the tax bill this year, to help bring in an additional 360,000 dollars more, that the city says that it needs for all of its expenses.
The preliminary budget was presented to council on Monday night and a public session was scheduled for Wednesday night for public feedback, though one wonders if only two days is enough notice for such an important process. For the most part few would have known about the city’s intentions, until reading the paper on Wednesday night.
At Monday’s meeting, city staff advised that they and council had gone over the budget line by line, looking for ways to save money and increase revenues. What those possibilities might have been however haven’t been made public, which is a shame as taxpayers would no doubt enjoy a bit of background on those important decisions, that may or may not have been made before seeking to hit up the cash machine one more time.
Information such as whether cutbacks to services were considered and what they may have been, seem to be limited to those that sat around the preliminary budget table. If there were any discussions about revenue generation ideas, possible layoffs, service cuts or reductions, or even more drastic changes to municipal government, the public wasn’t involved in that process it seems.
With Prince Rupert already one of the most highly taxed municipalities in the province, an additional four percent isn’t going to be a popular thing to be bringing to the table. Even, if the need for infrastructure repairs such as roads, sewers and such is about as obvious as it’s ever been in the city.
While infrastructure has been allowed to decline over the years due to financial troubles, the sense of business as usual seemed to carry on over at City Hall. What sometimes frustrates the local residents is that it just seems that sometimes, the decisions being made are straying from what the average taxpayer may wish to see from its civic government.
Despite some high profile spending issues over the last few years, the city it seems continues to spend as though the supply of funding is limitless.
There was the hiring of consultants for official plans and studies which while no doubt important, may have been a luxury for a city in a financial struggle.
There was the 23 million dollar purchase in 2005, of the Monarch cable operation across the Northwest by CityWest, it is a purchase that still resonates in the city. CityWest which while separated from city operations, is we would imagine, still somehow part of the city structure in some capacity.
The money for the cablevision purchase had to come from somewhere, as does the money for the upgrades and services in communities further down Highway 16. Considering the proliferation of satellite dishes in the area, there are more than a few residents that wonder if the city should really be in the cable TV industry at all.
Has that purchase and other changes at CityWest, resulted in the past practice of a dividend being returned to the city been reduced or changed? Has spending at CityWest, resulted in the city requiring more money from taxpayers? If so, perhaps a form of consultation with the taxpayers, explaining the impact of the changes, might have been proper before those changes were implemented.
From the seemingly never ending Skeena Cel boondoggle, which has put the city behind the eight ball from the get go, through the unexpected (though surely one would hope anticipated) airport operations and ferry bill due to Hawkair’s bankruptcy proceedings, to the latest funding requirements over at Regional District including a possible severance payout, it would seem that the taxpayers are going to be providing the funding for decisions that didn’t quite work out as planned.
They are all issues which might have contributed to the current need for more taxpayer monies, and certainly would provide for a lively public debate before we make yet another increased payment when our tax bills come due in July.
The Wednesday Daily News had full details in a front page story on the taxation plans of the city, the last line of which is the most telling; “other than the port properties, the city has little industry”
With little to show in the way of industrial development, the onus for taxation continues to fall on the tax base of the property owner.
They are a segment of the city, which surely must be finding it harder and harder to reach into their pockets, without a bit of transparency as to where the money is destined.
CITY SPENDING MORE TO BE READY FOR GROWTH: POND
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Page One
The city will be asking the taxpayers for $360,000 more this year, compared to last year. That represents a three to four per cent increase in cash generated through taxes compared to 2006.
On Monday night, city staff presented the preliminary budget for council and tonight at 7 p.m., there will be a public meeting at city hall for members of the public to review and comment upon the financial document.
Jim Bruce, the city’s acting chief financial officer, said city staff and council have gone through the budget line by line, looking for ways to save money and increase revenues.
“At this point, the general revenue from taxpayers is just over $11 million and we will need approximately $360,000 more to accommodate all of the expenses that we have in front of us,” said Bruce.
“The other major portion of this budget is the capital infrastructure plans. As council knows, we have not put a lot of money into capital infrastructure over the last several years ... and we have seen our infrastructure deteriorating.”
Infrastructure includes things like roads, sewer, the water system and sidewalks.
Overall, Bruce described it as “a fairly conservative budget”, that included a some cutbacks to the amount of money being transferred to reserves (money set aside for future improvements) in order to invest in capital projects now.
The city began rebuilding its reserve funds last year, which were spent when the city anticipated getting taxes from Skeena Cellulose that it never ended up receiving.
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond described it as “a rebuilding budget.”
“For those of us who have sat around this table, we went through extreme cuts to be able to survive to this point when we see our economy beginning to recover,” he said. “You need to figure out when is the strategic time to make that investment in yourself that prepares for growth and allows you to capitalize on growth. In my opinion, the time is now to begin rebuilding our infrastructure.”
However, Bruce noted that the city is somewhat limited in where it is able to get that extra money.
For example, there are caps on the taxes charged to port properties set by the province and other than the port properties, the city has little industry.
It’s civic budget time once again and our elected officials have decided that it’s the duty of the taxpayers of Prince Rupert to pony up another 4% on the tax bill this year, to help bring in an additional 360,000 dollars more, that the city says that it needs for all of its expenses.
The preliminary budget was presented to council on Monday night and a public session was scheduled for Wednesday night for public feedback, though one wonders if only two days is enough notice for such an important process. For the most part few would have known about the city’s intentions, until reading the paper on Wednesday night.
At Monday’s meeting, city staff advised that they and council had gone over the budget line by line, looking for ways to save money and increase revenues. What those possibilities might have been however haven’t been made public, which is a shame as taxpayers would no doubt enjoy a bit of background on those important decisions, that may or may not have been made before seeking to hit up the cash machine one more time.
Information such as whether cutbacks to services were considered and what they may have been, seem to be limited to those that sat around the preliminary budget table. If there were any discussions about revenue generation ideas, possible layoffs, service cuts or reductions, or even more drastic changes to municipal government, the public wasn’t involved in that process it seems.
With Prince Rupert already one of the most highly taxed municipalities in the province, an additional four percent isn’t going to be a popular thing to be bringing to the table. Even, if the need for infrastructure repairs such as roads, sewers and such is about as obvious as it’s ever been in the city.
While infrastructure has been allowed to decline over the years due to financial troubles, the sense of business as usual seemed to carry on over at City Hall. What sometimes frustrates the local residents is that it just seems that sometimes, the decisions being made are straying from what the average taxpayer may wish to see from its civic government.
Despite some high profile spending issues over the last few years, the city it seems continues to spend as though the supply of funding is limitless.
There was the hiring of consultants for official plans and studies which while no doubt important, may have been a luxury for a city in a financial struggle.
There was the 23 million dollar purchase in 2005, of the Monarch cable operation across the Northwest by CityWest, it is a purchase that still resonates in the city. CityWest which while separated from city operations, is we would imagine, still somehow part of the city structure in some capacity.
The money for the cablevision purchase had to come from somewhere, as does the money for the upgrades and services in communities further down Highway 16. Considering the proliferation of satellite dishes in the area, there are more than a few residents that wonder if the city should really be in the cable TV industry at all.
Has that purchase and other changes at CityWest, resulted in the past practice of a dividend being returned to the city been reduced or changed? Has spending at CityWest, resulted in the city requiring more money from taxpayers? If so, perhaps a form of consultation with the taxpayers, explaining the impact of the changes, might have been proper before those changes were implemented.
From the seemingly never ending Skeena Cel boondoggle, which has put the city behind the eight ball from the get go, through the unexpected (though surely one would hope anticipated) airport operations and ferry bill due to Hawkair’s bankruptcy proceedings, to the latest funding requirements over at Regional District including a possible severance payout, it would seem that the taxpayers are going to be providing the funding for decisions that didn’t quite work out as planned.
They are all issues which might have contributed to the current need for more taxpayer monies, and certainly would provide for a lively public debate before we make yet another increased payment when our tax bills come due in July.
The Wednesday Daily News had full details in a front page story on the taxation plans of the city, the last line of which is the most telling; “other than the port properties, the city has little industry”
With little to show in the way of industrial development, the onus for taxation continues to fall on the tax base of the property owner.
They are a segment of the city, which surely must be finding it harder and harder to reach into their pockets, without a bit of transparency as to where the money is destined.
CITY SPENDING MORE TO BE READY FOR GROWTH: POND
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Page One
The city will be asking the taxpayers for $360,000 more this year, compared to last year. That represents a three to four per cent increase in cash generated through taxes compared to 2006.
On Monday night, city staff presented the preliminary budget for council and tonight at 7 p.m., there will be a public meeting at city hall for members of the public to review and comment upon the financial document.
Jim Bruce, the city’s acting chief financial officer, said city staff and council have gone through the budget line by line, looking for ways to save money and increase revenues.
“At this point, the general revenue from taxpayers is just over $11 million and we will need approximately $360,000 more to accommodate all of the expenses that we have in front of us,” said Bruce.
“The other major portion of this budget is the capital infrastructure plans. As council knows, we have not put a lot of money into capital infrastructure over the last several years ... and we have seen our infrastructure deteriorating.”
Infrastructure includes things like roads, sewer, the water system and sidewalks.
Overall, Bruce described it as “a fairly conservative budget”, that included a some cutbacks to the amount of money being transferred to reserves (money set aside for future improvements) in order to invest in capital projects now.
The city began rebuilding its reserve funds last year, which were spent when the city anticipated getting taxes from Skeena Cellulose that it never ended up receiving.
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond described it as “a rebuilding budget.”
“For those of us who have sat around this table, we went through extreme cuts to be able to survive to this point when we see our economy beginning to recover,” he said. “You need to figure out when is the strategic time to make that investment in yourself that prepares for growth and allows you to capitalize on growth. In my opinion, the time is now to begin rebuilding our infrastructure.”
However, Bruce noted that the city is somewhat limited in where it is able to get that extra money.
For example, there are caps on the taxes charged to port properties set by the province and other than the port properties, the city has little industry.
They’ll love it, if the plan comes together
This one is definitely a bit strange, even by television standards, but a British Television producer is hoping to reunite the surviving cast members of the A Team, with their former leader George Peppard, who portrayed Colonel Hannibal Smith.
Peppard died in 1994 from complications from pneumonia, and if all goes according to plan, he will get caught up with his old buddies Mr. T, Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz who all starred with Peppard on the hit television show of the eighties.
The three appear on Most Haunted a television show that examines the paranormal and it appears wants to work as a kind of reunion show for the dearly departed.
It airs in Canada on the W Network, which very well may be marking the first time that this much potential testosterone has been aired in one show ever!
Mr. T and his former 'A-Team' cohorts will try to communicate with George Peppard - who has been dead since 1994
Greg David
TV GUIDE
April 25, 2007
In the world of TV, nothing is too out there.
That's why I barely blinked when I found out that British paranormal show Most Haunted has gotten the remaining cast of The A-Team together so they can attempt to communicate with their dead co-star, George Peppard.
Dirk Benedict, Mr. T and Dwight Schultz, who appeared with Peppard in the '80s series, reunited in Los Angeles for a special episode of Most Haunted, which travels the world visiting frightful places in an attempt to gain solid evidence about the existence of ghosts. Most Haunted airs on the W Network in Canada.
Peppard died of pneumonia in 1994 at the age of 66.
"It took a lot of doing to get these three together - now we have to do the really hard part," Most Haunted host Yvette Fielding says, presumably with a straight face.
Peppard played Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith, the cigar-chomping leader of a ragtag group of former military vets who take down criminals who are "above the law."
If this works, expect the remaining cast of Gilligan's Island to reunite and attempt to contact Alan Hale Jr. and Jim Backus.
Naming of container shipping line expected soon
Shipping industry members are anxiously awaiting a decision from CN Rail as to which shipping line will be calling on the Fairview Container Terminal upon its completion later this year.
It’s a decision that many had expected to have been announced by now, but CN apparently is playing its cards close to the vest as it seeks out the best deal for its users and the “unique opportunity” that the Rupert port presents.
The Daily News featured the background of the negotiations thus far and how they may impact on the railway and the container port.
CN RAIL SAYS SHIPPING LINE IS TO BE KNOWN SOON
As work on first phase of container port nears end, deal is likely imminent
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pages one and three
CN Rail expects to announce in the very near future who will be using the new Fairview Container Terminal to ship products.
“We are on schedule to open the facility in the fourth quarter, maybe slightly earlier. Customer interest continues to be extremely strong and we are hopeful we will have an announcement there in the near future,” said Claude Mongeau, executive vice-president and chief financial officer for CN Rail.
People in the shipping industry had anticipated an announcement of an agreement with a shipping line back in December or early January.
Given that the facility is expected to open in October of this year, analysts questioned whether CN would soften its rates if it did not soon see an agreement.
“We are sitting with a unique project at a unique doorway into North America for these containers, and therefore, as I have said in the past, I think that unique opportunity should be priced appropriately,” responded Mongeau, speaking during yesterday’s first-quarter results conference call.
“I think that is recognized by the steamship community and their customers and we will be having some announcements in the near future on that.”
Construction of the new facility is actually ahead of schedule, noted company officials.
The Fairview Container Terminal is a joint venture between CN Rail, Maher Terminals and the Port of Prince Rupert. Maher Terminals will operate the $170 million facility that will be able to move 500,000 (TEUs) average-sized containers from ship to rail each year.
While the investment industry has been waiting for the announcement of a shipping agreement, both Maher Terminals and CN Rail have had a busy first quarter.
In March, Maher Terminals announced it is being purchased by RREEF Infrastructure, a division of Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management division.
And since January, CN’s shipments have been slowed by bad weather and the company has been suffering ongoing labour action.
Just prior to the conference call, the federal government announced the appointment of a mediator to solve the rail line’s dispute.
In February, the harbour in Prince Rupert was full of grain tankers waiting to load after bad weather and the labour action slowed grain shipments.
Speaking from New Brunswick, Hunter Harrison, CN Rail’s president and CEO, said it has been the most challenging quarter in his 40 year experience.
“I’ve got a big smile on my face, there’s no mud slides, no avalanches, no rain, no high winds, no labour strikes, no lockouts, life is goods,” said Harrison.
“It’s as good a performance as I have ever seen, given what we have had to deal with.”
CN’s first-quarter profits were $324 million, 10 per cent below its year ago earnings, because severe winter weather, hampered operations in a “challenging” period.
“Our results for the quarter were affected by unusually difficult winter weather in Western Canada during January and February, a work stoppage by conductors and yard-service employees across Canada in February and then avalanches and landslides in Western Canada that blocked out the main line to and from Vancouver in March,” said Harrison.
The major rail carrier said its earnings amounted to 63 cents per share diluted, compared with net earnings of $362 million or 62 cents per share in the same quarter of fiscal 2006.
A strike by conductors and yard service employees cost the company $35 million in profit, or about seven cents per diluted share, said CN Rail which reported its results after the close of financial markets.
Revenues for the three months that ended March 31 were essentially unchanged at $1.9 billion.
Locked out employees began returning to work last Thursday after the federal government passed back-to-work legislation, ending CN’s lockout as well as the workers’ strike action.
The railway left its second-quarter dividend unchanged at 21 cents per share. Its shares closed down 45 cents at $55.85 in Monday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
It’s a decision that many had expected to have been announced by now, but CN apparently is playing its cards close to the vest as it seeks out the best deal for its users and the “unique opportunity” that the Rupert port presents.
The Daily News featured the background of the negotiations thus far and how they may impact on the railway and the container port.
CN RAIL SAYS SHIPPING LINE IS TO BE KNOWN SOON
As work on first phase of container port nears end, deal is likely imminent
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pages one and three
CN Rail expects to announce in the very near future who will be using the new Fairview Container Terminal to ship products.
“We are on schedule to open the facility in the fourth quarter, maybe slightly earlier. Customer interest continues to be extremely strong and we are hopeful we will have an announcement there in the near future,” said Claude Mongeau, executive vice-president and chief financial officer for CN Rail.
People in the shipping industry had anticipated an announcement of an agreement with a shipping line back in December or early January.
Given that the facility is expected to open in October of this year, analysts questioned whether CN would soften its rates if it did not soon see an agreement.
“We are sitting with a unique project at a unique doorway into North America for these containers, and therefore, as I have said in the past, I think that unique opportunity should be priced appropriately,” responded Mongeau, speaking during yesterday’s first-quarter results conference call.
“I think that is recognized by the steamship community and their customers and we will be having some announcements in the near future on that.”
Construction of the new facility is actually ahead of schedule, noted company officials.
The Fairview Container Terminal is a joint venture between CN Rail, Maher Terminals and the Port of Prince Rupert. Maher Terminals will operate the $170 million facility that will be able to move 500,000 (TEUs) average-sized containers from ship to rail each year.
While the investment industry has been waiting for the announcement of a shipping agreement, both Maher Terminals and CN Rail have had a busy first quarter.
In March, Maher Terminals announced it is being purchased by RREEF Infrastructure, a division of Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management division.
And since January, CN’s shipments have been slowed by bad weather and the company has been suffering ongoing labour action.
Just prior to the conference call, the federal government announced the appointment of a mediator to solve the rail line’s dispute.
In February, the harbour in Prince Rupert was full of grain tankers waiting to load after bad weather and the labour action slowed grain shipments.
Speaking from New Brunswick, Hunter Harrison, CN Rail’s president and CEO, said it has been the most challenging quarter in his 40 year experience.
“I’ve got a big smile on my face, there’s no mud slides, no avalanches, no rain, no high winds, no labour strikes, no lockouts, life is goods,” said Harrison.
“It’s as good a performance as I have ever seen, given what we have had to deal with.”
CN’s first-quarter profits were $324 million, 10 per cent below its year ago earnings, because severe winter weather, hampered operations in a “challenging” period.
“Our results for the quarter were affected by unusually difficult winter weather in Western Canada during January and February, a work stoppage by conductors and yard-service employees across Canada in February and then avalanches and landslides in Western Canada that blocked out the main line to and from Vancouver in March,” said Harrison.
The major rail carrier said its earnings amounted to 63 cents per share diluted, compared with net earnings of $362 million or 62 cents per share in the same quarter of fiscal 2006.
A strike by conductors and yard service employees cost the company $35 million in profit, or about seven cents per diluted share, said CN Rail which reported its results after the close of financial markets.
Revenues for the three months that ended March 31 were essentially unchanged at $1.9 billion.
Locked out employees began returning to work last Thursday after the federal government passed back-to-work legislation, ending CN’s lockout as well as the workers’ strike action.
The railway left its second-quarter dividend unchanged at 21 cents per share. Its shares closed down 45 cents at $55.85 in Monday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Labour woes work in Rupert’s favour
Two separate sets of labour difficulties are making the Port of Prince Rupert a desired location to send product these days.
The recent CN strike and a retaliatory lock out of Vancouver based rail workers, is combining with a potential strike at CP Rail to drive more business towards athe northwest and the Port of Prince Rupert.
Add in the fact that the CN dispute has resulted in a perceived congestion problem at the Port of Vancouver (one the Port there is struggling to explain as non existent) and suddenly the Port of Prince Rupert is a destination for shippers looking to move their product as expeditiously as possible.
The Vancouver Sun had an interesting look at how the Northwest corridor is finally starting to get the message across that it’s a reliable, quick and hassle free way to get product to consumers.
Rupert stands to gain from labour strife
Railway work stoppages mean northern port starting to see more work
Fiona Anderson
Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Port of Prince Rupert may be the ultimate beneficiaries of work stoppages like the recent CN Rail strike-turned-lockout and a threatened strike of maintenance workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.
The recent CN strike and a retaliatory lock out of Vancouver based rail workers, is combining with a potential strike at CP Rail to drive more business towards athe northwest and the Port of Prince Rupert.
Add in the fact that the CN dispute has resulted in a perceived congestion problem at the Port of Vancouver (one the Port there is struggling to explain as non existent) and suddenly the Port of Prince Rupert is a destination for shippers looking to move their product as expeditiously as possible.
The Vancouver Sun had an interesting look at how the Northwest corridor is finally starting to get the message across that it’s a reliable, quick and hassle free way to get product to consumers.
Rupert stands to gain from labour strife
Railway work stoppages mean northern port starting to see more work
Fiona Anderson
Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Port of Prince Rupert may be the ultimate beneficiaries of work stoppages like the recent CN Rail strike-turned-lockout and a threatened strike of maintenance workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.
Legislation ordered CN Rail conductors and yard workers back on the job on Thursday. But Prince Rupert was "happily" unaffected by the job action which lasted just over a week, said Greg Slocombe, president and chief operating officer of Ridley Terminals Inc. in Prince Rupert.
The United Transportation Union initiated what were to be rotating strikes on April 10 after almost 80 per cent of their members who voted rejected a tentative agreement with the Canadian National Railway Co. CN then retaliated by locking out the employees who had gone on strike.
"Fortunately for us [the UTU] started its rotating strikes where there would be highest impact and that's Vancouver," Slocombe said. "So they locked them out down there. But we've not seen any job action up here at all so therefore there's not been lockouts."
And as CP doesn't have a rail line to Prince Rupert, a threatened strike by the 3,000 maintenance-of-way employees represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will also have no negative effect.
And in fact, both work stoppages could actually benefit the northern port.
"In a back-handed way, because they've had some challenges in Vancouver, not necessarily just strike-related but congestion related [as well], that's actually playing into our hands," Slocombe said. "It's starting to throw more business our way."
Ridley, which is a bulk coal terminal, expects its shipments to at least double this year, partly due to increased production in northeastern British Columbia, and partly due to congestion in Vancouver-area ports.
Jeff Burghardt, president of Prince Rupert Grain Ltd., which handles wheat, durum, barley and canola, said his company didn't notice any increase in shipments due specifically to the CN dispute. But Burghardt is finding more and more customers want to do business out of Prince Rupert.
"I think there has been a gradual recognition that the northwest corridor [through] Prince Rupert can deliver superior service and people are certainly recognizing the value of more reliable delivery times," Burghardt said. "And that's helping us."
Total grain shipments from the West Coast is expected to be 16 to 17 million tonnes this year, up from a five-year average of 13 million tonnes.
"A lot of that incremental business is finding its way exclusively to Prince Rupert," Burghardt said.
Denis Horgan, vice-president and general manager of Westshore Terminals, which handles coal in the Lower Mainland, said that since January the terminal has lost two or three ships to Ridley in Prince Rupert.
A number of factors contributed, including the CN lockout and bad weather. But CN has been promoting Ridley "as a less-congested option," Horgan said. The congestion is on the railroad, not at the terminal, which last year moved 19 million tonnes of coal but has capacity for 24 million tonnes increasing to 29 million tonnes, Horgan said.
"There's no congestion here. We've lots of capacity. But certainly for whatever reason CN would seem to prefer the Ridley gateway over the Vancouver gateway for coal because of congestion or perceived congestion in the Vancouver rail corridor," he said.
"We're not congested or over capacity," he added. "We'd certainly like to be, but we're not."
Scott Galloway, director of trade development at the Vancouver Port Authority agreed that capacity was not the issue.
The port only looks at numbers annually, so Galloway couldn't say if there have been any shifts away from Vancouver to Prince Rupert so far this year. But last year, the port set a record for tonnage, he said.
"And I would still argue that there is a lot of capacity left on the bulk side and the container side," Galloway said.
So long for now and may the good news be yours!
Perhaps Les Nessman may yet get back on the air, though he may have to modify his old, cold warrior way of thinking to get this gig.
The new managers (who are actually allies of the government) of the largest Independent (perhaps not so much anymore!) Russian radio network, have ordered that at least fifty percent of the news delivered by the Russian media source now be of the “good” variety.
In a throw back to the old days of the Cold War; the USA is now the enemy, opposition leaders can’t be mentioned by name on air and probably suggesting that the government doesn’t know what it’s doing wouldn’t be a welcomed contribution as well.
It’s the ever popular “Happy news format” Russian Style!
50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio
ANDREW E. KRAMER
NEW YORK TIMES
The Russian government is expanding its control over media companies and demanding more upbeat news.
MOSCOW, April 21 — At their first meeting with journalists since taking over Russia’s largest independent radio news network, the managers had startling news of their own: from now on, they said, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.”
In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy, journalists employed by the network, Russian News Service, say they were told by the new managers, who are allies of the Kremlin.
How would they know what constituted positive news?
“When we talk of death, violence or poverty, for example, this is not positive,” said one editor at the station who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. “If the stock market is up, that is positive. The weather can also be positive.”
In a darkening media landscape, radio news had been a rare bright spot. Now, the implementation of the “50 percent positive” rule at the Russian News Service leaves an increasingly small number of news outlets that are not managed by the Kremlin, directly or through the state national gas company, Gazprom, a major owner of media assets.
The three national television networks are already state controlled, though small-circulation newspapers generally remain independent.
This month alone, a bank loyal to President Vladimir V. Putin tightened its control of an independent television station, Parliament passed a measure banning “extremism” in politics and prosecutors have gone after individuals who post critical comments on Web chat rooms.
Parliament is also considering extending state control to Internet sites that report news, reflecting the growing importance of Web news as the country becomes more affluent and growing numbers of middle-class Russians acquire computers.
On Tuesday, the police raided the Educated Media Foundation, a nongovernmental group sponsored by United States and European donors that helps foster an independent news media. The police carried away documents and computers that were used as servers for the Web sites of similar groups. That brought down a Web site run by the Glasnost Defense Foundation, a media rights group, which published bulletins on violations of press freedoms.
“Russia is dropping off the list of countries that respect press freedoms,” said Boris Timoshenko, a spokesman for the foundation. “We have propaganda, not information.”
With this new campaign, seemingly aimed at tying up the loose ends before a parliamentary election in the fall that is being carefully stage-managed by the Kremlin, censorship rules in Russia have reached their most restrictive since the breakup of the Soviet Union, media watchdog groups say.
“This is not the U.S.S.R., when every print or broadcasting outlet was preliminarily censored,” Masha Lipman, a researcher at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said in a telephone interview.
Instead, the tactic has been to impose state ownership on media companies and replace editors with those who are supporters of Mr. Putin — or offer a generally more upbeat report on developments in Russia these days.
The new censorship rules are often passed in vaguely worded measures and decrees that are ostensibly intended to protect the public.
Late last year, for example, the prosecutor general and the interior minister appeared before Parliament to ask deputies to draft legislation banning the distribution on the Web of “extremist” content — a catch phrase, critics say, for information about opponents of Mr. Putin.
On Friday, the Federal Security Service, a successor agency to the K.G.B., questioned Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion and opposition politician, for four hours regarding an interview he had given on the Echo of Moscow radio station. Prosecutors have accused Mr. Kasparov of expressing extremist views.
Parliament on Wednesday passed a law allowing for prison sentences of as long as three years for “vandalism” motivated by politics or ideology. Once again, vandalism is interpreted broadly, human rights groups say, including acts of civil disobedience. In a test case, Moscow prosecutors are pursuing a criminal case against a political advocate accused of posting critical remarks about a member of Parliament on a Web site, the newspaper Kommersant reported Friday.
State television news, meanwhile, typically offers only bland fare of official meetings. Last weekend, the state channels mostly ignored the violent dispersal of opposition protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Rossiya TV, for example, led its newscast last Saturday with Mr. Putin attending a martial arts competition, with the Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme as his guest. On the streets of the capital that day, 54 people were beaten badly enough by the police that they sought medical care, Human Rights Watch said.
Rossiya and Channel One are owned by the state, while NTV was taken from a Kremlin critic in 2001 and now belongs to Gazprom. Last week, a St. Petersburg bank with ties to Mr. Putin increased its ownership stake in REN-TV, a channel that sometimes broadcasts critical reports, raising questions about that outlet’s continued independence.
The Russian News Service is owned by businesses loyal to the Kremlin, including Lukoil, though its exact ownership structure is not public. The owners had not meddled in editorial matters before, said Mikhail G. Baklanov, the former news editor, in a telephone interview.
The service provides news updates for a network of music-formatted radio stations, called Russian Radio, with seven million listeners, according to TNS Gallup, a ratings company.
Two weeks ago, the shareholders asked for the resignation of Mr. Baklanov. They appointed two new managers, Aleksandr Y. Shkolnik, director of children’s programming on state-owned Channel One, and Svevolod V. Neroznak, an announcer on Channel One. Both retained their positions at state television.
Mr. Shkolnik articulated the rule that 50 percent of the news must be positive, regardless of what cataclysm might befall Russia on any given day, according to the editor who was present at the April 10 meeting.
When in doubt about the positive or negative quality of a development, the editor said, “we should ask the new leadership.”
“We are having trouble with the positive part, believe me,” the editor said.
Mr. Shkolnik did not respond to a request for an interview. In an interview with Kommersant, he denied an on-air ban of opposition figures. He said Mr. Kasparov might be interviewed, but only if he agreed to refrain from extremist statements.
The editor at the news service said that the change had been explained as an effort to attract a larger, younger audience, but that many editorial employees had interpreted it as a tightening of political control ahead of the elections.
The station’s news report on Thursday noted the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Moscow metro. It closed with an upbeat item on how Russian trains are introducing a six-person sleeping compartment, instead of the usual four.
Already, listeners are grumbling about the “positive news” policy.
“I want fresh morning broadcasts and not to fall asleep,” one listener, who signed a posting on the station’s Web site as Sergei from Vladivostok, complained. “Maybe you’ve tortured RNS’s audience enough? There are just a few of us left. Down with the boring nonintellectual broadcasts!”
The change leaves Echo of Moscow, an irreverent and edgy news station that often provides a forum for opposition voices, as the only independent radio news outlet in Russia with a national reach.
And what does Aleksei Venediktov, the editor in chief of Echo of Moscow, think of the latest news from Russia?
“For Echo of Moscow, this is positive news,” Mr. Venediktov said. “We are a monopoly now. From the point of view of the country, it is negative news.”
We'll be right back after this short commercial message, April 24
Finding a parking spot doesn't necessarily mean taking your time.
Getting a good grip is a good start.
Getting a good grip is a good start.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Railway police to keep eye on local crossings and yards
CN Police will be out in force across Canada and the USA this week in a safety blitz designed to emphasize the risks involved in travel near rail lines. Part of Rail Safety Week, the railway’s police officers will be watching local crossing areas to ensure that residents understand the dangers that can come when trains, cars and people mix.
This issue is a particularly controversial one in Prince Rupert, as the largest stretch of waterfront land borders along a large CN Rail siding close to the downtown area. From Seafest activities to people looking for a stretch of road to walk or run, the rail lines and people seem to intersect more here, than in most Canadian cities.
With a waterfront park in the east and the main walkway to Moresby Park traveling along the CN lines to the west, the need to cross the railway occurs at a couple of locations. In the past it has led to a number of bad feelings between the CN Police and local residents, each of whom interpret right of travel in different ways.
The Daily News presented CN’s briefing on what the safety blitz means for Prince Rupert with a story in Monday’s paper.
‘DON’T LET SHORTCUT CUT YOUR LIFE SHORT’ SAYS CN
By Leanne Ritchie
This issue is a particularly controversial one in Prince Rupert, as the largest stretch of waterfront land borders along a large CN Rail siding close to the downtown area. From Seafest activities to people looking for a stretch of road to walk or run, the rail lines and people seem to intersect more here, than in most Canadian cities.
With a waterfront park in the east and the main walkway to Moresby Park traveling along the CN lines to the west, the need to cross the railway occurs at a couple of locations. In the past it has led to a number of bad feelings between the CN Police and local residents, each of whom interpret right of travel in different ways.
The Daily News presented CN’s briefing on what the safety blitz means for Prince Rupert with a story in Monday’s paper.
‘DON’T LET SHORTCUT CUT YOUR LIFE SHORT’ SAYS CN
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pages one and three
Given that CN expects to see four added trains moving to and from Prince Rupert when the Fairview Container Terminal opens in October, the rail company is hoping people will understand the importance of rail safety.
“There will be an increase in traffic once the port opens and it’s important, very important for people to be cognizant of rail crossings,” said Kelli Svendsen, CN Rail spokesperson.
CN will be emphasizing the deadly risks of trespassing on railway property across Canada and the United States for the next seven days, Rail Safety Week.
CN Police officers will be out in force this week, conducting their annual safety blitz operations at highway crossings in about 100 locations across Canada and the US, alerting motorists to the importance of safety at crossings and to the dire consequences of trespassing on railway property.
Svendsen noted that while crossing related fatalities have dropped, the number of deaths and serious injuries for people trespassing on rail property remains high.
“Trespassing on railway tracks and in rail yards is dangerous and illegal and CN Police officers strictly enforce regulations by issuing tickets to trespassers.
“However, railway properties are extremely large and spread out and it is very difficult to stop trespassing. Enforcement is not enough – education can help reduce fatalities,” said CN police Chief Serge Meloche. “This is why we are increasing our efforts to inform people of the very serious risks they take when trespassing.”
Trespassing includes walking, playing or running on or beside railway tracks, driving a bike, a car, an ATV, a snowmobile or any other vehicle on or beside railway tracks; taking a shortcut across railway tracks or railway property or entering railway yards at any time.
Some incidents of concern involving rail trespassing in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, as noted in letters to the editor by Dave Walker, include young people climbing on or under parked rail cars down by the Prince Rupert waterfront, while trains are coming to or from the Via Rail station and a person who approached the tracks at the North Pacific Cannery while a train was moving through the area.
In both instances tragedy was narrowly averted, but they are vivid reminders not to trespass on railway property and rail cars.
Recent statistics reveal that trespassing incidents claimed 58 lives in Canada in 2006, remaining at a constant yearly average during the past decade, while fatalities due to crossing collisions were down to 28, reflecting a steady improvement during the same period.
Statistics also show that in 2006, 93 per cent of trespassing incidents resulted in death or serious injuries (63 per cent fatalities and 30 per cent serious injuries.)
Every year, CN does outreach in different communities across North America. In the Northwest, this year’s event will take place in Terrace on Kenny Street and Highway 16 on Thursday from 10 a. m. until noon.
“Our message is quite clear: Don’t put yourself at risk by trespassing on railway property. In other words, don’t let a shortcut cut your life short. Acting responsibly and safely is the right thing to do and it is everyone’s responsibility, said Meloche.
Given that CN expects to see four added trains moving to and from Prince Rupert when the Fairview Container Terminal opens in October, the rail company is hoping people will understand the importance of rail safety.
“There will be an increase in traffic once the port opens and it’s important, very important for people to be cognizant of rail crossings,” said Kelli Svendsen, CN Rail spokesperson.
CN will be emphasizing the deadly risks of trespassing on railway property across Canada and the United States for the next seven days, Rail Safety Week.
CN Police officers will be out in force this week, conducting their annual safety blitz operations at highway crossings in about 100 locations across Canada and the US, alerting motorists to the importance of safety at crossings and to the dire consequences of trespassing on railway property.
Svendsen noted that while crossing related fatalities have dropped, the number of deaths and serious injuries for people trespassing on rail property remains high.
“Trespassing on railway tracks and in rail yards is dangerous and illegal and CN Police officers strictly enforce regulations by issuing tickets to trespassers.
“However, railway properties are extremely large and spread out and it is very difficult to stop trespassing. Enforcement is not enough – education can help reduce fatalities,” said CN police Chief Serge Meloche. “This is why we are increasing our efforts to inform people of the very serious risks they take when trespassing.”
Trespassing includes walking, playing or running on or beside railway tracks, driving a bike, a car, an ATV, a snowmobile or any other vehicle on or beside railway tracks; taking a shortcut across railway tracks or railway property or entering railway yards at any time.
Some incidents of concern involving rail trespassing in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, as noted in letters to the editor by Dave Walker, include young people climbing on or under parked rail cars down by the Prince Rupert waterfront, while trains are coming to or from the Via Rail station and a person who approached the tracks at the North Pacific Cannery while a train was moving through the area.
In both instances tragedy was narrowly averted, but they are vivid reminders not to trespass on railway property and rail cars.
Recent statistics reveal that trespassing incidents claimed 58 lives in Canada in 2006, remaining at a constant yearly average during the past decade, while fatalities due to crossing collisions were down to 28, reflecting a steady improvement during the same period.
Statistics also show that in 2006, 93 per cent of trespassing incidents resulted in death or serious injuries (63 per cent fatalities and 30 per cent serious injuries.)
Every year, CN does outreach in different communities across North America. In the Northwest, this year’s event will take place in Terrace on Kenny Street and Highway 16 on Thursday from 10 a. m. until noon.
“Our message is quite clear: Don’t put yourself at risk by trespassing on railway property. In other words, don’t let a shortcut cut your life short. Acting responsibly and safely is the right thing to do and it is everyone’s responsibility, said Meloche.
Canuck fever breaks out across the Province
Cautious fans that they are, Vancouver Canuck fans had to make sure that the Stars were dead, before they could begin to move the bandwagons down the road.
They began to believe when Trevor Linden deflected that Mattias Ohlund shot for the go ahead goal in the third, they heaved a sigh of relief when Roberto Luongo stared down Stu Barnes and denied him a goal, and then they truly began to believe God was on their side when Mike Modano rattled a shot off the cross bar. They officially took the parking brake off the bandwagon with one minute to go in the game, when two empty net goals sealed the victory.
With the traditional handshakes signaling the start of the parade, across the province they streamed out into the streets to celebrate some long forgotten territory in BC, the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Vancouver police kept a wary eye on Robson street revelers mindful of a similar exhibition a few years ago, which got far too out of hand and stained that city for years.
Richmond RCMP, apparently not used to crowds, called in reinforcements from other lower mainland detachments when a crowd on the Richmond Delta border grew from 400 to 700 strong. (We wonder how the officials in Richmond might fare during your average salmon season or all native basketball tournament both of which attract numbers larger than that, with much less in the way of local resources!)
Reports from all corners of the province have local residents honking their horns and waving their flags in celebration of the home province squad advancing in this years playoffs.
Here in Podunk the traditional caravan of the believers were finally secure in their hopes that they could hit the streets. Released from their personal shackles and now able to do the 2nd Avenue circle tour and wave their signs in rapture in front of Tim Horton’s.
It was a wise corporate buyer at Shoppers Drug Mart that stocked up on those Canuck flags and windsocks currently on sale (or maybe sold out by now). The bandwagon is officially underway now and anything with a Canuck logo is soon to be as good as gold, wanna make a buck this week, list your Canuck stuff on eBay or htmf, you’ll find a buyer.
The next step for the believers will be the corner gathering of young children with their honk for the Canucks signs, you can begin to watch for them to grow in larger numbers on Wednesday night on street corners city wide.
To get a true understanding of the relief of a near disaster turned to victory, here’s Ed Willes article from today’s Vancouver Province. It’s a wonderful walk down the lane of disappointments past and a fine primer as to why the fever has struck again across the province.
Podunkians will be intrigued with his shout out to Rupertites, steeped as it is in the oldest of Prince Rupert stereotypes…
We may be wet and soggy, but you can bet that there will be many waving those flags no matter what the conditions are!
Fans finally have Luongo to float their hopes
Trade with Florida was aimed at exorcising demons of Cloutier et al
Ed Willes
The Province
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Vancouver Canucks fans, who are preconditioned to expect disaster the way the citizens of Prince Rupert are preconditioned to expect rain, refused to believe it could happen this way because so many catastrophes are burned into their memory banks.
They began to believe when Trevor Linden deflected that Mattias Ohlund shot for the go ahead goal in the third, they heaved a sigh of relief when Roberto Luongo stared down Stu Barnes and denied him a goal, and then they truly began to believe God was on their side when Mike Modano rattled a shot off the cross bar. They officially took the parking brake off the bandwagon with one minute to go in the game, when two empty net goals sealed the victory.
With the traditional handshakes signaling the start of the parade, across the province they streamed out into the streets to celebrate some long forgotten territory in BC, the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Vancouver police kept a wary eye on Robson street revelers mindful of a similar exhibition a few years ago, which got far too out of hand and stained that city for years.
Richmond RCMP, apparently not used to crowds, called in reinforcements from other lower mainland detachments when a crowd on the Richmond Delta border grew from 400 to 700 strong. (We wonder how the officials in Richmond might fare during your average salmon season or all native basketball tournament both of which attract numbers larger than that, with much less in the way of local resources!)
Reports from all corners of the province have local residents honking their horns and waving their flags in celebration of the home province squad advancing in this years playoffs.
Here in Podunk the traditional caravan of the believers were finally secure in their hopes that they could hit the streets. Released from their personal shackles and now able to do the 2nd Avenue circle tour and wave their signs in rapture in front of Tim Horton’s.
It was a wise corporate buyer at Shoppers Drug Mart that stocked up on those Canuck flags and windsocks currently on sale (or maybe sold out by now). The bandwagon is officially underway now and anything with a Canuck logo is soon to be as good as gold, wanna make a buck this week, list your Canuck stuff on eBay or htmf, you’ll find a buyer.
The next step for the believers will be the corner gathering of young children with their honk for the Canucks signs, you can begin to watch for them to grow in larger numbers on Wednesday night on street corners city wide.
To get a true understanding of the relief of a near disaster turned to victory, here’s Ed Willes article from today’s Vancouver Province. It’s a wonderful walk down the lane of disappointments past and a fine primer as to why the fever has struck again across the province.
Podunkians will be intrigued with his shout out to Rupertites, steeped as it is in the oldest of Prince Rupert stereotypes…
We may be wet and soggy, but you can bet that there will be many waving those flags no matter what the conditions are!
Fans finally have Luongo to float their hopes
Trade with Florida was aimed at exorcising demons of Cloutier et al
Ed Willes
The Province
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Vancouver Canucks fans, who are preconditioned to expect disaster the way the citizens of Prince Rupert are preconditioned to expect rain, refused to believe it could happen this way because so many catastrophes are burned into their memory banks.
Why, just three years ago, they watched their team cough up a 2-1 lead to the Calgary Flames. And the year before that, they watched in horror as their team blew a 3-1 lead to the Minnesota Wild. And the year before that, they watched their heroes piddle away a 2-0 series lead to the Detroit Red Wings.
Did we mention on all three occasions the Canucks were eliminated on home ice?
So given recent history, to say nothing of a larger pattern of futility which has cursed this franchise since its inception, it's no wonder the faithful approach occasions such as Monday night the way a man approaches a proctology exam.
Right now, the image of Dan Cloutier or Johan Hedberg or Alex Auld fishing the puck out of the net is just a little more powerful than the image of Roberto Luongo at work. But give them some time. They might get used to this new guy.
On Monday night, the man who's changed so many things around this city changed the run of black luck the Canucks have endured since 1994, beating Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars 4-1 in a series that didn't provide much in the way of high art, but did produce one of the most mesmerizing goaltending duels in recent playoff history.
OK, this win had as much to do with the Sedin twins, a Canucks power play that picked an opportune time to climb out of the deep freeze and a Dallas Stars lineup depleted by the loss of diabolical defenceman Sergei Zubov. But the Canucks have been in this position so many times before and always found a way to break their fans' hearts.
This time it wasn't going to happen. More to the point, Luongo wasn't going to let it happen. He made that his mission statement when he arrived here from Florida via a trade of incomprehensible good fortune for the Canucks. On Monday night, he made good on his promise. He also had considerable help from his teammates.
With the 172nd straight GM Place sellout whipped into a frenzy, the Canucks came out in the opening 20 and played tighter than the skin on Joan Rivers' face. They handled the puck like it was radioactive. There was no purpose or confidence in the game.
The Stars, admittedly, weren't much better, but when rookie Joel Lundqvist scored -- he of the three regular season markers -- beat Luongo with a laser, an eerie sense of foreboding descended upon the throng.
And then it happened. Early in the second, whatever fog the Canucks were in dissipated and they started to carry the play.
The precise turning point came during a 48-second 5-on-3 in which they didn't score, but pelted Turco with five shots and engaged the crowd. From that point to the final horn, the ice tilted towards the Dallas goalie with Henrik Sedin, on a seeing-eye pass from his brother Daniel, finally beating Turco after he'd blanked the Canucks for almost eight periods.
Old-folk Trevor Linden then scored a goal for the aged, tipping in Mattias Ohlund's power-play point shot seven minutes into the third period and from there the Canucks turned to the shutdown game, which keyed their regular-season success.
It helped that the Stars, who were clearly whipped and a step behind over the final 40 minutes, were forced to take a series of penalties over the final frame.
It also helped that Mike Modano's fluttering one-timer went off the crossbar with four minutes left. But Luongo also provided the defining save of the game when he robbed Stu Barnes from the kill zone midway through the third and even threw in saves off Trevor Daley and Stephane Robidas in the final two minutes for good measure before empty-net goals by Taylor Pyatt and Bryan Smolinski inflated the final score.
The heartbreak hotel was closed for this night. For once, Canucks fans unconditional level for this team was returned.
© The Vancouver Province 2007
First Nations financial planners make plans to gather in Rupert
Tricorp is making its plans to host the annual general meeting of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association in June.
It's an ambitious project, providing for a gathering of some 150 economic developers from First Nations groups from across Canada. One which Tricorp claimed after a presentation that brought the gathering westward over competition from Edmonton.
Scheduled for the Crest hotel from June 26 to 28, Tricorp is expecting the conference to provide great exposure for the local agency and Prince Rupert at large.
The background on the planned meetings was the main article of the front page for Monday’s Daily News.
REGION’S PROFILE ATTRACTING FINANCIAL GURUS TO TOWN
Canada’s premiere aboriginal financial experts are set to converge on city
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pages one and three
Tricorp will be hosting 150 experts in aboriginal economic development from the four corners of Canada during the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA) annual general meeting this June.
Peter Lantin, Tricorp’s chief operating officer, said they put forward their interest in hosting the event at the NACCA annual general meeting last year. Given the economic growth expected to happen in Prince Rupert, NACCA members agreed.
“There’s a lot of things that are going on in Prince Rupert that when you go to these type of meetings people talk about. You always hear about the port project. Every time we get out of Prince Rupert and talk to our network, it’s the first thing people talk about,” said Lantin.
“I think it’s great exposure for Tricorp and Prince Rupert.”
The meeting will take place in Prince Rupert from June 26 to 28, mostly at the Crest Hotel, with all the general managers and chairs of aboriginal financial institutions across the country invited to attend.
NACCA is the national organization representing aboriginal financial institutions across Canada, with some 53 member agencies including Tricorp. The organization is dedicated to promoting economic growth across Canada through the Aboriginal communities it serves.
Tricorp operates a revolving business loan fund and provides support services for aboriginals in the Northwest. It’s four shareholder members include the Tsimshian, Haida, Nisga’a and Gitksan Wet’suwet’en.
When Tricorp put forward its bid to host the event, Edmonton’s aboriginal financial institution also put forward a bid. “You get your opportunity to address the group and literally it’s a vote. They gave us a 10-minute window to promote ourselves and we beat out Edmonton,” said Lantin.
“For us, it wasn’t a hard sell. Edmonton has the casino, West Edmonton Mall and all the amenities that cities have. What we have is all about the Northwest – fishing, seafood and culture. It wasn’t even close.”
Speakers attending the event are still being arranged. However, they usually include the funders of NACCA – Indian and Northern affairs – among other dignitaries.
Lantin said they are still in the process of organizing the vent details. However, they hope to hold a cultural night that reflects the shareholders of Tricorp – the Tsimshian, Haida, Nisga’a and Gitksan Wet’suwet’en. They would like to get a dance group from each to perform for that night.
“We are kind of just working out the details right now,” he said.
Tricorp provides loans to 38 communities in the Northwest and has contributed more than $25 million to the region during the last 15 years.
Among the success stories locally are Shear Pleasure, Mudpuddles, Rainforest Books, Friendship House, Adanac Construction, Dog House, Race Trac Gas, Talin Construction, Haida Fishing, Silverback Fishing Adventures and H20 Adventures.
It's an ambitious project, providing for a gathering of some 150 economic developers from First Nations groups from across Canada. One which Tricorp claimed after a presentation that brought the gathering westward over competition from Edmonton.
Scheduled for the Crest hotel from June 26 to 28, Tricorp is expecting the conference to provide great exposure for the local agency and Prince Rupert at large.
The background on the planned meetings was the main article of the front page for Monday’s Daily News.
REGION’S PROFILE ATTRACTING FINANCIAL GURUS TO TOWN
Canada’s premiere aboriginal financial experts are set to converge on city
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pages one and three
Tricorp will be hosting 150 experts in aboriginal economic development from the four corners of Canada during the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA) annual general meeting this June.
Peter Lantin, Tricorp’s chief operating officer, said they put forward their interest in hosting the event at the NACCA annual general meeting last year. Given the economic growth expected to happen in Prince Rupert, NACCA members agreed.
“There’s a lot of things that are going on in Prince Rupert that when you go to these type of meetings people talk about. You always hear about the port project. Every time we get out of Prince Rupert and talk to our network, it’s the first thing people talk about,” said Lantin.
“I think it’s great exposure for Tricorp and Prince Rupert.”
The meeting will take place in Prince Rupert from June 26 to 28, mostly at the Crest Hotel, with all the general managers and chairs of aboriginal financial institutions across the country invited to attend.
NACCA is the national organization representing aboriginal financial institutions across Canada, with some 53 member agencies including Tricorp. The organization is dedicated to promoting economic growth across Canada through the Aboriginal communities it serves.
Tricorp operates a revolving business loan fund and provides support services for aboriginals in the Northwest. It’s four shareholder members include the Tsimshian, Haida, Nisga’a and Gitksan Wet’suwet’en.
When Tricorp put forward its bid to host the event, Edmonton’s aboriginal financial institution also put forward a bid. “You get your opportunity to address the group and literally it’s a vote. They gave us a 10-minute window to promote ourselves and we beat out Edmonton,” said Lantin.
“For us, it wasn’t a hard sell. Edmonton has the casino, West Edmonton Mall and all the amenities that cities have. What we have is all about the Northwest – fishing, seafood and culture. It wasn’t even close.”
Speakers attending the event are still being arranged. However, they usually include the funders of NACCA – Indian and Northern affairs – among other dignitaries.
Lantin said they are still in the process of organizing the vent details. However, they hope to hold a cultural night that reflects the shareholders of Tricorp – the Tsimshian, Haida, Nisga’a and Gitksan Wet’suwet’en. They would like to get a dance group from each to perform for that night.
“We are kind of just working out the details right now,” he said.
Tricorp provides loans to 38 communities in the Northwest and has contributed more than $25 million to the region during the last 15 years.
Among the success stories locally are Shear Pleasure, Mudpuddles, Rainforest Books, Friendship House, Adanac Construction, Dog House, Race Trac Gas, Talin Construction, Haida Fishing, Silverback Fishing Adventures and H20 Adventures.
Fairview Port becoming an economic engine, for Prince George
While much is made of the impact of the container port on Prince Rupert’s speculative residential real estate market, 8 hours east it seems is where some of the real and tangible action is taking place.
Industrial lands around the Prince George airport are being snapped up, flipped and sold again at a record clip as developers there realize that Prince George may become a major shipment point fed by the Prince Rupert port.
CN has already announced plans for an inland container port for the city and the Prince George Airport Authority is making its plans to capitalize on those daily container trains roaring out of Rupert for points east.
The Airport has already announced plans to spend 33 million dollars in order to increase the length of its runway from 7400 feet to 11,400 feet which will allow it to receive the largest of cargo and passenger aircraft.
With that expansion, industrial park development and the jobs that go with it are now on the front burner in Prince George, which has 318.5 acres ready to be developed around the airport which is expected to bring in some 60 million dollars in private investment development. All part of the city’s plan to become the freight movement hub for northern BC.
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business has an in depth look at how regional airports around the province are starting to re-invent themselves to take advantage of opportunities that are arriving now or on the horizon.
The portion of that report dealing with the plans of Prince George is provided below:
"Meanwhile, the Prince George Airport Authority is spending $33-million to extend its main runway to 11,400 feet, from 7,400, to accommodate large passenger and cargo jets.
Prince George, which has 318.5 acres available for development, anticipates attracting up to $60-million in private investment with the runway expansion, scheduled to be completed in 2009.
Most of the available land within five kilometres of the airport has changed hands in the past year, added airport authority chairman Jim Blake, a sign of the interest that the airport authority's plans are stimulating in commercial development circles.
Mr. Blake said Canadian National Railway Co.'s plans for a $20-million transload facility in Prince George with an 84,000-square-foot warehouse and 10 acres of outside storage also bodes well for development opportunities at and around the airport. While CN's facility will focus on natural resources exports, he said it could help the Prince George airport achieve its goal of becoming an air freight hub for imported goods, too.
"Goods can be shipped through Rupert and then come to Prince George and then be dispersed by air to various locations so that the major retailers aren't holding on to inventory," he explained. "That's looking a little further down the road, but it's certainly a very distinct possibility."
Prince George has surely found a potential niche for itself with the containerization of the Fairview port, with those trains loading their containers on site and leaving on the main line, the normal business of a container port is about to see a major shift.
Normally, container ports feature a huge holding area in the port city that they service creating a number of direct jobs and secondary jobs in that location, that may not necessarily be the case here. While we will benefit from the direct jobs at Fairview itself, those secondary jobs that the ports in Vancouver, Delta and Halifax on the east coast generate won’t necessarily be found here.
With the trains loading up on almost a just in time delivery schedule, many of those jobs of storing, moving, stuffing and redirecting the containers will be found somewhere else, whether it be Edmonton, Chicago or Memphis. At least credit Prince George for acting fast and taking the steps to try and make sure that they are one of those locations, if even on in a smaller scale.
They have seen the transportation changes coming and are actively courting those developers that will take advantage of the port in Prince Rupert, providing jobs and opportunities for Prince George.
Hopefully, Prince Rupert residents will soon hear some plans about potential industrial development here. An indication from local officials, as to how we may be able to share in the expected win fall of jobs that seem to be on the horizon in other locations.
Industrial lands around the Prince George airport are being snapped up, flipped and sold again at a record clip as developers there realize that Prince George may become a major shipment point fed by the Prince Rupert port.
CN has already announced plans for an inland container port for the city and the Prince George Airport Authority is making its plans to capitalize on those daily container trains roaring out of Rupert for points east.
The Airport has already announced plans to spend 33 million dollars in order to increase the length of its runway from 7400 feet to 11,400 feet which will allow it to receive the largest of cargo and passenger aircraft.
With that expansion, industrial park development and the jobs that go with it are now on the front burner in Prince George, which has 318.5 acres ready to be developed around the airport which is expected to bring in some 60 million dollars in private investment development. All part of the city’s plan to become the freight movement hub for northern BC.
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business has an in depth look at how regional airports around the province are starting to re-invent themselves to take advantage of opportunities that are arriving now or on the horizon.
The portion of that report dealing with the plans of Prince George is provided below:
"Meanwhile, the Prince George Airport Authority is spending $33-million to extend its main runway to 11,400 feet, from 7,400, to accommodate large passenger and cargo jets.
Prince George, which has 318.5 acres available for development, anticipates attracting up to $60-million in private investment with the runway expansion, scheduled to be completed in 2009.
Most of the available land within five kilometres of the airport has changed hands in the past year, added airport authority chairman Jim Blake, a sign of the interest that the airport authority's plans are stimulating in commercial development circles.
Mr. Blake said Canadian National Railway Co.'s plans for a $20-million transload facility in Prince George with an 84,000-square-foot warehouse and 10 acres of outside storage also bodes well for development opportunities at and around the airport. While CN's facility will focus on natural resources exports, he said it could help the Prince George airport achieve its goal of becoming an air freight hub for imported goods, too.
"Goods can be shipped through Rupert and then come to Prince George and then be dispersed by air to various locations so that the major retailers aren't holding on to inventory," he explained. "That's looking a little further down the road, but it's certainly a very distinct possibility."
Prince George has surely found a potential niche for itself with the containerization of the Fairview port, with those trains loading their containers on site and leaving on the main line, the normal business of a container port is about to see a major shift.
Normally, container ports feature a huge holding area in the port city that they service creating a number of direct jobs and secondary jobs in that location, that may not necessarily be the case here. While we will benefit from the direct jobs at Fairview itself, those secondary jobs that the ports in Vancouver, Delta and Halifax on the east coast generate won’t necessarily be found here.
With the trains loading up on almost a just in time delivery schedule, many of those jobs of storing, moving, stuffing and redirecting the containers will be found somewhere else, whether it be Edmonton, Chicago or Memphis. At least credit Prince George for acting fast and taking the steps to try and make sure that they are one of those locations, if even on in a smaller scale.
They have seen the transportation changes coming and are actively courting those developers that will take advantage of the port in Prince Rupert, providing jobs and opportunities for Prince George.
Hopefully, Prince Rupert residents will soon hear some plans about potential industrial development here. An indication from local officials, as to how we may be able to share in the expected win fall of jobs that seem to be on the horizon in other locations.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Rolling along with the Northern Adventure
It's been a bit of a rough debut for the latest vessel in the BC Ferry fleet, the Northern Adventure which is sailing our waters on a regular schedule now, has had a few operational problems highlighted in the media lately.
Most of which seem to be more prevalent on the Rupert to Queen Charlotte run rather than the southbound journey which ends at Port Hardy.
The latest reports come from the Queen Charlotte Islands Observer, which recounts some of the rolling action on the seas that has made a few of the passengers a little uncomfortable.
It makes for a situation that is giving Islanders cause to suggest that once the new line of Ferries arrive on the north coast, the Northern Adventure should become a dedicated vessel for the Port hardy run, leaving the Charlottes to a new ferry which it is no doubt their hope will handle the open waters a little more comfortably.
New ferry making passengers queasy
The Queen Charlotte Islands Observer
April 23, 2007
A couple of islanders who travelled on the Northern Adventure this past weekend say the ship has a particular rolling motion which seems to cause more queasiness and nausea than the Queen of Prince Rupert.
Masset mayor Barry Pages said he returned on the weather-delayed run Monday morning (April 16) and found that the new ship rolled a lot from side-to-side. He also said the cabins were comfortable and the trip was a bit faster than before.
Port Clements councillor Urs Thomas agreed, saying that the Northern Adventure doesn’t seem to handle the waves in Hecate Strait as well as the QPR. He also described a side-to-side wallowing motion rather than the up-and-down forward motion passengers are used to.
The Northern Adventure is supposed to be dedicated to the Rupert-Skidegate route starting in 2009, when a brand-new vessel comes on board to serve the Inside Passage route (the Northern Expedition).
But Mr. Thomas said it might make more sense, given the Northern Adventure’s handling of Hecate Strait, to put that ship on the Inside Passage run and put the new ship on our route.
Most of which seem to be more prevalent on the Rupert to Queen Charlotte run rather than the southbound journey which ends at Port Hardy.
The latest reports come from the Queen Charlotte Islands Observer, which recounts some of the rolling action on the seas that has made a few of the passengers a little uncomfortable.
It makes for a situation that is giving Islanders cause to suggest that once the new line of Ferries arrive on the north coast, the Northern Adventure should become a dedicated vessel for the Port hardy run, leaving the Charlottes to a new ferry which it is no doubt their hope will handle the open waters a little more comfortably.
New ferry making passengers queasy
The Queen Charlotte Islands Observer
April 23, 2007
A couple of islanders who travelled on the Northern Adventure this past weekend say the ship has a particular rolling motion which seems to cause more queasiness and nausea than the Queen of Prince Rupert.
Masset mayor Barry Pages said he returned on the weather-delayed run Monday morning (April 16) and found that the new ship rolled a lot from side-to-side. He also said the cabins were comfortable and the trip was a bit faster than before.
Port Clements councillor Urs Thomas agreed, saying that the Northern Adventure doesn’t seem to handle the waves in Hecate Strait as well as the QPR. He also described a side-to-side wallowing motion rather than the up-and-down forward motion passengers are used to.
The Northern Adventure is supposed to be dedicated to the Rupert-Skidegate route starting in 2009, when a brand-new vessel comes on board to serve the Inside Passage route (the Northern Expedition).
But Mr. Thomas said it might make more sense, given the Northern Adventure’s handling of Hecate Strait, to put that ship on the Inside Passage run and put the new ship on our route.
Fuel removal deemed far too risky
It's not the result that the residents of Hartley Bay wanted to hear, the fuel from the sunken Queen of the North has been deemed to be too unstable to risk removal, leaving what many suggest may be a ticking environmental time bomb on the bottom of the passageway near Gil Island.
Of concern to the people of Hartley Bay is the impact that the fuel could have on their traditional fisheries in that area, there is some dispute as to how much of the potential 220,000 litres of fuel on board the Queen of the North could still be in the tanks and how much escaped as the vessel sank to the bottom of Wright Sound.
No decision has been made yet, the review process is now underway at BC Ferries who will study the findings of a coast guard report into the fuel situation before coming up with a final decision and statement on the issue.
Still to be heard is also the next move from Hartley Bay, who suggest that legal action may be the next required stage to solve a problem they say is of great concern to their community.
The Victoria Times Colonist had a story on the situation posted to their website today:
'Far too risky' to remove fuel from ferry
Coast guard advises leaving wreck alone, B.C. Ferries reveals; another report says not much diesel remains
Cindy E. Harnett and Terri Theodore
Times Colonist; The Canadian Press
Monday, April 23, 2007
B.C. Ferries is reviewing a report that says it's too dangerous to extract the diesel fuel from the sunken Queen of the North.
"The coast guard report is fairly clear in that it's probably far too risky to attempt any major salvage operation or an attempt to extricate the contents of the fuel; that's clear," B.C. Ferries spokesman Mark Stefanson said in a phone interview yesterday, offering the first hint about the contents of the Canadian Coast Guard report sent to B.C. Ferries last week.
"No decisions have been made yet," Stefanson said. "We're reviewing the options for next steps ... for what may or may not occur."
The coast guard recommendations have been hotly anticipated, since the ferry company is expected to use them to make a decision regarding the ferry that sank on March 22, 2006, in Wright Sound after running aground on Gil Island as it travelled from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. The coast guard used documents compiled by B.C. Ferries, which outlined several options the ferry company was considering, to come to its conclusions.
It's unclear how much fuel might remain trapped 400 metres underwater, although the ferry's tanks could carry about 220,000 litres of diesel.
According to a consultant's report obtained by The Canadian Press under the Freedom of Information Act, it's likely most of the fuel on board spilled as the hull was torn on the rocks of Gil Island before the ferry sank.
"First responders comment that the entire surface of Wright Sound was covered with sheen and that all debris [e.g., life jackets] was soaked in diesel fuel," the report states. The total area of visible fuel sheen on the water after the spill was in the range of 340 square kilometres, three times the size of the City of Vancouver.
In the year since the sinking, trace amounts of diesel have been seen rising to the surface.
The report, called Queen of the North Environmental Monitoring Review, was prepared last November for B.C. Ferries by Coastal & Ocean Resources Inc., a consulting service in geological and environmental sciences.
Aboriginal leaders worry B.C. Ferries might use the consultant's report as support for leaving the remaining fuel on the sunken vessel. If so, the company could face a lawsuit from the First Nations near the site of the sinking.
"We've inquired about legal action," said Hartley Bay chief councillor Bob Hill, who doesn't agree with the review's conclusions.
"When you go through all the figures ... I really think that there's at least 50 per cent of the fuel left, that's very conservative, more likely between 120,000 and 150,000 litres are still there."
Hill said Ferries CEO David Hahn has already made promises he hasn't kept. "He said publicly in Hartley Bay that he would remove every litre of fuel off that vessel by the late fall of 2006," Hill fumed.
Coast guard spokesman Dan Bate said B.C. Ferries is aware one possibility is that much of the fuel may have spilled when the ferry hit ground.
"You ask the million-dollar question, right: Why go down, why do that kind of stuff if there's nothing else there?"
Stefanson says B.C. Ferries plans to review the coast guard recommendations in detail before making a final decision. "I don't want to comment further until we've done that."
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
Of concern to the people of Hartley Bay is the impact that the fuel could have on their traditional fisheries in that area, there is some dispute as to how much of the potential 220,000 litres of fuel on board the Queen of the North could still be in the tanks and how much escaped as the vessel sank to the bottom of Wright Sound.
No decision has been made yet, the review process is now underway at BC Ferries who will study the findings of a coast guard report into the fuel situation before coming up with a final decision and statement on the issue.
Still to be heard is also the next move from Hartley Bay, who suggest that legal action may be the next required stage to solve a problem they say is of great concern to their community.
The Victoria Times Colonist had a story on the situation posted to their website today:
'Far too risky' to remove fuel from ferry
Coast guard advises leaving wreck alone, B.C. Ferries reveals; another report says not much diesel remains
Cindy E. Harnett and Terri Theodore
Times Colonist; The Canadian Press
Monday, April 23, 2007
B.C. Ferries is reviewing a report that says it's too dangerous to extract the diesel fuel from the sunken Queen of the North.
"The coast guard report is fairly clear in that it's probably far too risky to attempt any major salvage operation or an attempt to extricate the contents of the fuel; that's clear," B.C. Ferries spokesman Mark Stefanson said in a phone interview yesterday, offering the first hint about the contents of the Canadian Coast Guard report sent to B.C. Ferries last week.
"No decisions have been made yet," Stefanson said. "We're reviewing the options for next steps ... for what may or may not occur."
The coast guard recommendations have been hotly anticipated, since the ferry company is expected to use them to make a decision regarding the ferry that sank on March 22, 2006, in Wright Sound after running aground on Gil Island as it travelled from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. The coast guard used documents compiled by B.C. Ferries, which outlined several options the ferry company was considering, to come to its conclusions.
It's unclear how much fuel might remain trapped 400 metres underwater, although the ferry's tanks could carry about 220,000 litres of diesel.
According to a consultant's report obtained by The Canadian Press under the Freedom of Information Act, it's likely most of the fuel on board spilled as the hull was torn on the rocks of Gil Island before the ferry sank.
"First responders comment that the entire surface of Wright Sound was covered with sheen and that all debris [e.g., life jackets] was soaked in diesel fuel," the report states. The total area of visible fuel sheen on the water after the spill was in the range of 340 square kilometres, three times the size of the City of Vancouver.
In the year since the sinking, trace amounts of diesel have been seen rising to the surface.
The report, called Queen of the North Environmental Monitoring Review, was prepared last November for B.C. Ferries by Coastal & Ocean Resources Inc., a consulting service in geological and environmental sciences.
Aboriginal leaders worry B.C. Ferries might use the consultant's report as support for leaving the remaining fuel on the sunken vessel. If so, the company could face a lawsuit from the First Nations near the site of the sinking.
"We've inquired about legal action," said Hartley Bay chief councillor Bob Hill, who doesn't agree with the review's conclusions.
"When you go through all the figures ... I really think that there's at least 50 per cent of the fuel left, that's very conservative, more likely between 120,000 and 150,000 litres are still there."
Hill said Ferries CEO David Hahn has already made promises he hasn't kept. "He said publicly in Hartley Bay that he would remove every litre of fuel off that vessel by the late fall of 2006," Hill fumed.
Coast guard spokesman Dan Bate said B.C. Ferries is aware one possibility is that much of the fuel may have spilled when the ferry hit ground.
"You ask the million-dollar question, right: Why go down, why do that kind of stuff if there's nothing else there?"
Stefanson says B.C. Ferries plans to review the coast guard recommendations in detail before making a final decision. "I don't want to comment further until we've done that."
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
A square for you and a square for me, could it lead to dysentery?
Sheryl Crow loses a few votes for the Environmental cause and perhaps a few handshakes to come, with her thoughts on our bathroom etiquette and the supplies we may wish to use!
Sheryl Crow takes a swipe at toilet paper use
Last Updated: Monday, April 23, 2007 | 4:26 PM ET
CBC News
In an effort to help save the environment, U.S. singer Sheryl Crow is calling on everyone to limit the amount of toilet paper used "in any one sitting" to one square.
Crow made the suggestion in her blog chronicling her recent tour of the United States on a biodiesel-powered bus to raise awareness about climate change.
She and environmental activist Laurie David toured 11 university campuses to persuade students to act to help safeguard the world's environment.
"I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming. Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating," she writes.
"One of my favorites is in the area of conserving trees, which we heavily rely on for oxygen.
"I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting.… We can make it work with only one square per restroom visit."
Crow acknowledges there could be occasions when the one-square limit might not suffice, such as "on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required."
She writes that when she presented the idea to her younger brother, he went a step further, suggesting that people could "just wash the one square out."
Crow's other green ideas include a clothing line she has designed with a detachable "dining sleeve" that can be used as a napkin, thereby saving on the use of paper napkins.
She also suggests a reality show in which participants compete to live the greenest life.
Rupert high on "The Admiral’s" to do list!
The Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, Rear Admiral Roger Girouard is winding down his military career and looking back at some of his accomplishments and some of the unfinished business he will leave behind when he takes his farewell salute in July.
Of interest to Prince Rupert, will be the Rear Admiral’s impressions of the city and its place in the military structure of the Pacific Command.
Girouard gave his thoughts on the city and what he would like to see as a military presence here in an article with the Lookout, the newspaper for CFB Esquimalt.
Already in place for the waters of the north coast will be increased maritime patrols in our waters, expected to grow in numbers as the container port comes on line and expands. The military are also looking at some longer term planning, which includes a larger role for the Ranger force and possibly the eventual creation of the a base which has been mentioned frequently of late.
The Rear Admiral provides a number of quotes that seem to indicate a larger role for the military on the North Coast.
“It’s an area that has us gazing,” he says. “Whether it’s illegal immigration or attempts to tamper with containers in shipping, it’s a place we have to be seen with some regularity, along with the Coast Guard and RCMP", “I see Rupert as a place that needs a permanent military footprint.”,
Words that will no doubt have visions of military dollars dancing in the locals heads in the years to come..
Admiral set to hang up his hats
Melissa Atkinson
Managing Editor
The Lookout
April 23, 2007
As the clock ticks down on RAdm Roger Girouard’s final military posting as Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, his thoughts are on wrapping up loose ends before his successor, RAdm Tyrone Pile, takes up residence in D100.
On July 26 the Admiral will hand over both hats during the official change of command ceremony at Duntze Head, and then retire from the military.
Directly in his sight at the moment is the potential need for military members to help the mainland should flooding take place on B.C. rivers and mountains during the spring thaw. Snow pack levels in some areas are as much as 160 per cent above normal, but the potential for flooding is entirely dependent on the weather.
He’s ramped up a team that is capable of deploying in a matter of days, and has equipment in place should the military be called upon to help. This would be the first real test of his Joint Task Force responsibility, which was put in place last year to focus on domestic security and disaster operations as part of the CF Transformation and Modernization Project.
When his piece of the project stood up on the West Coast, RAdm Girouard says he made a conscious decision to ensure the general population of Maritime Forces Pacific was not affected by the new structure.
“I had a determination to keep it at the upper level,” he says. “I recognized full and well people had change fatigue, they didn’t want to hear about another change agenda, so I was sensitive to that.”
The only place he couldn’t protect was his headquarters staff, which he credits with most of the work creating JTFP and establishing links to outside agencies, and contingency plans should an domestic operation emerge.
“We have put tons of work into tabletop plans and intellectual work,” says the Admiral.
Part of that work includes Prince Rupert, a growing shipping hub located at the mouth of the Skeena River, on B.C.’s north coast.
“It’s a fascinating place. I remember going out there when I was driving a sweeper. It wasn’t quite a ghost town,” he says. “Like Newfoundland, the biggest export was 20 year olds going down the road to find jobs.”
Now, the city is taking advantage of growing Indo-Pacific markets and the need for another North American port. By 2012, the Admiral says, Prince Rupert will have the same container capacity as the Port of Los Angeles has today; however, with this growth comes security issues.
“It’s an area that has us gazing,” he says. “Whether it’s illegal immigration or attempts to tamper with containers in shipping, it’s a place we have to be seen with some regularity, along with the Coast Guard and RCMP.”
He’s already grown that presence 25 per cent over the last year with increased coastal surveillance patrols by warships.
“I see Rupert as a place that needs a permanent military footprint,” he says. While he won’t see that come to full fruition during his tenure, he has made some movement toward it by investing money in training the Canadian Rangers, an underutilized force he says, and generating talks about creating a reserve unit.
“I’m looking at the security needs of this region, the gaps we have, and what we can do to fill those gaps.’
Also on the Admrial’s “to do” list is laying the groundwork for the 2010 Olympics, to be held in Vancouver. Since becoming the Commander Joint Task Force Games a few weeks ago, it’s his job to formalize relationships with key players such as the Solicitor General and RCMP, handpick the operation’s staff, and develop the way ahead.
“We’re building a home for staff this summer, and setting the groundwork of my expectations of the plan, which I want rolling when Admiral Pile shows up,” says RAdm Girouard. “He can tweak and steer as he will, as he should, as he must, but it won’t be something he’ll have to haul up.”
Once July 23 has come and gone, RAdm Girouard will take time to plan his future, which he hints may include teaching. He’s already trialled his lecture abilities at Camosun College a few weeks ago, where he spoke on Leadership 101 to both a business and foreign affairs class.
“I’ve thought about this transition for a while. Teaching is a chance to give back in a different way,” he says.
Of interest to Prince Rupert, will be the Rear Admiral’s impressions of the city and its place in the military structure of the Pacific Command.
Girouard gave his thoughts on the city and what he would like to see as a military presence here in an article with the Lookout, the newspaper for CFB Esquimalt.
Already in place for the waters of the north coast will be increased maritime patrols in our waters, expected to grow in numbers as the container port comes on line and expands. The military are also looking at some longer term planning, which includes a larger role for the Ranger force and possibly the eventual creation of the a base which has been mentioned frequently of late.
The Rear Admiral provides a number of quotes that seem to indicate a larger role for the military on the North Coast.
“It’s an area that has us gazing,” he says. “Whether it’s illegal immigration or attempts to tamper with containers in shipping, it’s a place we have to be seen with some regularity, along with the Coast Guard and RCMP", “I see Rupert as a place that needs a permanent military footprint.”,
Words that will no doubt have visions of military dollars dancing in the locals heads in the years to come..
Admiral set to hang up his hats
Melissa Atkinson
Managing Editor
The Lookout
April 23, 2007
As the clock ticks down on RAdm Roger Girouard’s final military posting as Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, his thoughts are on wrapping up loose ends before his successor, RAdm Tyrone Pile, takes up residence in D100.
On July 26 the Admiral will hand over both hats during the official change of command ceremony at Duntze Head, and then retire from the military.
Directly in his sight at the moment is the potential need for military members to help the mainland should flooding take place on B.C. rivers and mountains during the spring thaw. Snow pack levels in some areas are as much as 160 per cent above normal, but the potential for flooding is entirely dependent on the weather.
He’s ramped up a team that is capable of deploying in a matter of days, and has equipment in place should the military be called upon to help. This would be the first real test of his Joint Task Force responsibility, which was put in place last year to focus on domestic security and disaster operations as part of the CF Transformation and Modernization Project.
When his piece of the project stood up on the West Coast, RAdm Girouard says he made a conscious decision to ensure the general population of Maritime Forces Pacific was not affected by the new structure.
“I had a determination to keep it at the upper level,” he says. “I recognized full and well people had change fatigue, they didn’t want to hear about another change agenda, so I was sensitive to that.”
The only place he couldn’t protect was his headquarters staff, which he credits with most of the work creating JTFP and establishing links to outside agencies, and contingency plans should an domestic operation emerge.
“We have put tons of work into tabletop plans and intellectual work,” says the Admiral.
Part of that work includes Prince Rupert, a growing shipping hub located at the mouth of the Skeena River, on B.C.’s north coast.
“It’s a fascinating place. I remember going out there when I was driving a sweeper. It wasn’t quite a ghost town,” he says. “Like Newfoundland, the biggest export was 20 year olds going down the road to find jobs.”
Now, the city is taking advantage of growing Indo-Pacific markets and the need for another North American port. By 2012, the Admiral says, Prince Rupert will have the same container capacity as the Port of Los Angeles has today; however, with this growth comes security issues.
“It’s an area that has us gazing,” he says. “Whether it’s illegal immigration or attempts to tamper with containers in shipping, it’s a place we have to be seen with some regularity, along with the Coast Guard and RCMP.”
He’s already grown that presence 25 per cent over the last year with increased coastal surveillance patrols by warships.
“I see Rupert as a place that needs a permanent military footprint,” he says. While he won’t see that come to full fruition during his tenure, he has made some movement toward it by investing money in training the Canadian Rangers, an underutilized force he says, and generating talks about creating a reserve unit.
“I’m looking at the security needs of this region, the gaps we have, and what we can do to fill those gaps.’
Also on the Admrial’s “to do” list is laying the groundwork for the 2010 Olympics, to be held in Vancouver. Since becoming the Commander Joint Task Force Games a few weeks ago, it’s his job to formalize relationships with key players such as the Solicitor General and RCMP, handpick the operation’s staff, and develop the way ahead.
“We’re building a home for staff this summer, and setting the groundwork of my expectations of the plan, which I want rolling when Admiral Pile shows up,” says RAdm Girouard. “He can tweak and steer as he will, as he should, as he must, but it won’t be something he’ll have to haul up.”
Once July 23 has come and gone, RAdm Girouard will take time to plan his future, which he hints may include teaching. He’s already trialled his lecture abilities at Camosun College a few weeks ago, where he spoke on Leadership 101 to both a business and foreign affairs class.
“I’ve thought about this transition for a while. Teaching is a chance to give back in a different way,” he says.
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