N2K - August 2016

AUG 2016 • VOL. 3, ISSUE 5

GOLD MINE TO HIRE Gold mine project will go on a hiring spree this fall and into the New Year as it gets closer to opening in 2017

Cruise industry Port of Prince Rupert looks to have more tour options

Dragon bones Balsam timber sawmill finds strong market in China

Mineral potential Burns Lake airport to be a base for magnetic survey

Safety first Highway 16 road and rail level crossing set to vanish

LNG Canada: A New Path Forward to F.I.D. On Monday, July 11th, LNG Canada announced that the Joint Venture participants behind the project would be delaying their final investment decision beyond December 2016. While a new date for an investment decision was not known, LNG Canada stressed that the project was being delayed, rather than being cancelled.

The LNG Canada project remains a promising opportunity, but in the context of unprecedented global industry challenges and uncertainty, the timing to move forward at the end of 2016 just wasn’t feasible.

Andy Calitz, CEO of LNG Canada, credited the support the project received from the local community and First Nations as instrumental to the success it has achieved gaining critical regulatory approvals. “I can’t say enough about how valuable this support has been and how important it continues to be as we look at a range of options to move the project forward towards a positive FID in the future,” he said.

There’s little question the delay is disappointing news for both the community and the LNG Canada team. But the Project couldn’t be in a better place to take a pause: the project has received key regulatory approvals

from provincial and federal authorities, has earned broad stakeholder and First Nations support, and has completed important site preparation activities. The Project fundamentals also remain strong. The Project is close to low-cost and abundant gas supply, has access to Asian markets, and has an advantaged site location with First Nations support.

“

“ The fundamentals of the LNG Canada project remain strong, with the Joint Venture participants and the LNG Canada team reviewing every option to deliver a successful project in the future.”

Going forward, LNG Canada will continue to need the support the community has demonstrated in the past.

The relationship between the Project and the Kitimat community and Haisla First Nations is a valued one that LNG Canada intends to nourish in the months ahead.

The community will see LNG Canada employees in the community, talking to residents about ways LNG Canada, during this period of delay, can continue to bring value and participate in community life.

LNG Canada plans to share its new plans

and timelines, and the kind of activities the community can expect to see, and when they will occur, through a community event in the fall, as well as providing regular updates throughout the year.

In the meantime, LNG Canada is continuing to complete key site preparation activities, and work to ensure it receives all outstanding permits., and maintain the value already invested in the project.

LNG Canada has also started to work with its Joint Venture participants, partners, VWDNHKROGHUV DQG )LUVW 1DWLRQV WR GH¿ QH D revised path forward to FID. Hearing that the Kitimat community intends to actively continue to support the project provides the LNG Canada team and its Joint Venture participants with the energy they need to deliver the project at sometime in the future. And hearing that the Kitimat community and the Haisla Nation are working closely together to support the project has been very welcome news indeed.

“There’s no doubt that there’s going to be a little bit of hurt for a while,” says Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth. But we still fully believe that Kitimat is by far the absolute best location anywhere on the West Coast [for] a major LNG export facility. We are DEVROXWHO\ FRQ¿ GHQW WKDW LW ZLOO FRPH ´ This space is a collaborative promotional venture by LNG Canada and N2K

Working Together to Understand the Environment Sharing emissions science, gathering feedback, and building trust.

When Rio Tinto designed the modernized smelter, the interests of our employees, community and the environment was a top priority, so we chose the best possible options and technology available. In making these choices, we have been able to reduce our overall environmental footprint by close to 50 per cent.

While it is true that our sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions will increase as a result of increased production at the modernized smelter, Rio Tinto has initiated a comprehensive Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program to monitor SO2 emissions from the new smelter. The EEM program is an integral part of Rio Tinto’s operations going forward, and we want to make sure that information about this program is readily available and can be trusted.

One of the ways we are working to build understanding and trust, is direct engagement with interested stakeholders and providing access to information, experts and government agencies. With this in mind, we recently hosted a two-day workshop and smelter tour to share information about air quality and gather feedback on the EEM Program.

Participating government organizations included the BC Ministry of Environment, the District of Kitimat, Northern Health Authority, the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District, and the Regional District Hospital Board. Front and centre were members of the Kitimat Public Advisory Committee (KPAC) who actively participated to understand the science behind emissions monitoring and more importantly, to make sure their questions were answered.

We are thankful for the active participation of the KPAC and other organizations in this workshop, as we were able to respond to important questions and gather valuable feedback from participants about the EEM program. Here is a summary of the CHRBTRRHNM ÿPTDRSHNMRÿ@MCÿfeedback EQNLÿSGDÿ VNQJRGNOÿthat we will consider as we move forward: Ms. Anna Henolson, from Trinity Consulting in Seattle Washington provides information on the status of air quality in Kitimat and the air quality monitoring network.

The goals of the workshop and tour were developed based on our regulatory commitments, as well as feedback we’ve received from the KPAC and the broader community over the years 3hey included: • Share scientific information about local emissions and air quality trends, especially SO2.

• Explain British Columbia’s regulatory framework for managing air quality, with a focus on current monitoring and reporting in the Terrace-Kitimat Valley.

• Collaboratively identify science-based priorities for refining the Kitimat Air Quality Monitoring system design, including expanding access to monitoring data for health authorities and stakeholders.

“The workshop was a great opportunity to meet and question the technical experts and regulators at the same session. We have regular KPAC meetings where we often discuss SO2 , but this was a great opportunity to learn about the monitoring and discuss the issue in depth and define our expectations of the ongoing efforts to measure and monitor SO2 impacts.”

– Ken Maitland, KPAC Member

• Discussions about how SO2 emissions areÿ generatedÿat the smelter and why there isÿ an increaseÿHMÿ2.

• (nformation about air emissionsÿmonitoring, where air monitoring stationsÿare located & why, and why emissionsÿlevels vary at different monitoring stations.

• Discussion on how air quality is managed in BC and current legislations governing how air quality is monitored.

• Suggestions were provided about whereÿ participants believe monitoring stationsÿ could ADÿQDKNB@SDC ÿ@RÿVDKKÿVhere someÿ believe there are emissions ‘hotspots’.

• Feedback regarding communicationsÿandÿ information sharing from Rio Tintoÿandÿ suggestions for future engagements.

Engagements like these will continue and we are always looking for feedback from the community about how they would like to participate in the EEM program. There are opportunities to attend workshops, participate in field studies, and meet with our team. We encourage you to email us at KitimatUpdates@riontinto.com to register to receive updates from us about the EEM program, including weekly reports, or to provide us with any feedback you may have.

We also encourage you to reach out to your KPAC members (See box below), who will make sure your voice is heard by Rio Tinto.

The current KPAC committee (2016/2017) is of the following individuals and organizations:

KPAC member, LucX McRae, reviews critical areas that she feels are important to monitor for emission impacts.

All the particpants had a chance to identify areas that they feel are key to measure.

• • • • • • •

City of Terrace, Michael Prevost District of Kitimat, Tim Gleig Douglas Channel Watch Society, Lucy McRae Former Kitimat Mayor, Joanne Monaghan Haisla Nation, Candice Wilson Kitimat First United Church, Ken Maitland Kitimat Health Advocacy Group (KHAG), Rob Goffinet • Kitimat Rod and Gun Association, David Sivyer

• Kitimat Valley Naturalists, Peter Ponter • Kitimat Chamber of Commerce, Trish Parsons • Kitselas Nation, Sam Coggins • Kitsumkalum Nation, Rina Gemeinhardt • KUTE, Ken Maitland • Lakelse Lake Society, Terry Brown • Steelhead Society, Brian Kean • UNIFOR 2301, Mike Schmidtÿ@MCÿ#@QQHMÿ 2S@LODQÿ

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Todd Hamilton Prince Rupert Ed Evans, Sales Kevin Campbell, Reporter Shannon Lough, Reporter Terrace Rod Link, Editor Ben Bengtson, Reporter Bert Husband, Sales Erin Bowker, Sales Kitimat Devyn Ens, Reporter Louisa Genzale, Sales Smithers Chris Gareau, Editor Catherine Matheson, Reporter Grant Harris, Sales Nick Briere, Sales Houston Mary-Anne Ruiter, Sales Burns Lake Laura Blackwell, Sales Flavio Nienow, Editor Fort St. James/ Vanderhoof Pam Berger, Sales Vivian Chui, Reporter Barbara Latkowski, Reporter Haida Gwaii Quinn Bender, Sales Andrew Hudson, Reporter N2K CONTACT INFO:

Vanderhoof Fort St. James Burns Lake Houston Smithers Terrace Kitimat Prince Rupert Haida Gwaii

• • • • • • • • •

250-567-9258 250-567-9258 250-692-7526 250-845-2890 250-847-3266 250-638-7283 250-632-6144 250-624-8088 250-559-4680

N2K is a Black Press publication mailed or delivered by carrier to more than 30,000 homes and businesses throughout Northwest B.C. Our Head Office is located at: 737 Fraser Street, Prince Rupert, B.C., V8J 1R1 250-624-8088 Fax: 250-624-8085

B

eing a part of the action.

That seems to be the theme as the summer months roll by here in northwest B.C. From a First Nations coalition looking to purchase equity in various major projects, to Lax Kw’alaams Band members upgrading skills so they can be a part of prospective industry opportunities on the horizon, people everywhere are making sure that they’ve staked their claim as part of gamechanging opportunities in B.C. Pretium Resources is ramping up its hiring at the Brucejack gold mine in anticipation of a 2017 opening. Five hundred full-time openings are expected to be filled at the site; sustainable, high-paying jobs for everyone looking to get into logistics, safety or even cooking.

Another group making sure they don’t get left behind is Kentron Construction. As N2K’s Devyn Ens reports, the company has found new life in a not-so-certain economic state. Its ability to stay busy, even when its major clients aren’t involved in major projects is a testament to Kentron’s commitment to meeting its customers needs, big or small.

Then there’s the cruise industry.

As Shannon Lough in Prince Rupert reports, Prince Rupert Terminals Inc. (PRTI) is on the lookout for companies that can provide excursions to passengers coming off 21 cruise ships docked at the North Coast city next summer. It’s an opportunity many aren’t looking to miss as they try to claim a piece of the pie with a burgeoning cruise ship industry exploring more of the country’s northern areas.

Going from marine-based excursions to stories of flight, two very important pieces of news hit the airports at Burns Lake and Prince Rupert this summer. The Baker Airport in Burns Lake was chosen as the perfect site to host an aerial mineral survey comprising 24,000 sq. kilometres of land. The Prince Rupert Airport will receive $300,000 from the provincial government for green structural initiatives — because it’s not just about getting a piece of the pie, it’s making sure that there will be pie still available for the north’s children and grandchildren.

At N2K, we’re proud to be able to bring you stories like these, because as we all know, there’s nothing like an opportunity seized or an advantage taken.

Be a part of the change that this region is seeing and look around your own community for how you can get involved. It’s easier than ever.

Kevin Campbell N2K Reporter publisher@thenorthernview.com

Out-of-area subscriptions now available e-mail: circulation@thenorthernview.com View our e-version for free at: www.thenorthernview.com/eeditions

Volume 3 • Issue 5

EQUITY PURCHASE First Nations coalition to buy equity in major projects in the northwest 7

HIRING SPREE Gold mine project on track 11

TOURS NEEDED Small time tours; big time exposure 12

DIVERSIFYING KEY DRAGON BONES Fort St. James’ KDL Group dedicated to personal Innovation sparks new wood products mill in growth, growth of its customers 8 Moricetown 9

TRADES UPGRADED Lax Kw’alaams upgrade skills 15

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FIRST NATIONS

COALITION TO BUY

INTO

MAJOR PROJECTS

By Shannon Lough

F

rom Haida Gwaii to Fort Nelson, representatives from 30 First Nations met in Prince Rupert early July to participate in the First Nations Major Projects Coalition.

The coalition group aims to buy a stake in a major project but it’s also about helping First Nations develop the capacity to deal with the situation should that project end up on their territory.

Chief Councillor Joe Bevan, from Kitselas First Nation, is on the steering committee and was a part of the June 29-30 meetings. “In a nutshell, we are interested in purchasing or buying equity into any major project that may come along. We’re getting all the tools in place to prepare the group for potential purchase,” Bevan said.

Whether that major project is a liquefied natural gas terminal, a pipeline or a foresting operation the coalition has developed a toolbox for other interested groups to use, such as a memorandum of understanding, a way of financing and environmental standards that can be used as a template or guideline.

“If you have your own, by all means use your own. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you’re a small nation with 100 people and you don’t have the capacity,” Bevan said.

The coalition began in 2014, after a failed attempt to raise enough capital between 16 First Nations to buy equity into the Pacific Trails Pipeline. The First Nations Financial Management Board, a federally legislated organization, supported the coalition to get it moving and to become a financially stable organization.

The goal, Bevan said, is to eventually help with financial independence.

“Our people have a lot of needs but they aren’t being met by government so we thought this is one way of doing it. We identified the gaps in our nation (Kitselas) and we said this is how we’re going to fill it. Cultural, language, programs and services, infrastructure needs and then finally investment.”

If and when a major project does come along, the coalition will look at how many First Nations are impacted and facilitate a discussion with those communities and the proponent to see whether they’d be interested in seeing an investment from a First Nations group.

“We have to get ourselves involved in the Canadian economy to some degree,” Bevan said.

Not all First Nations communities support industrial development and the coalition respects their views but it is available for those who want to invest in potential opportunities.

To raise enough capital for investment the coalition is looking to acquire a federal loan guarantee to back them up.

The fine details of investing are still being developed, which is another one of the reasons the group met in Prince Rupert last week. Bevan said they’re still determining the mechanism for how to get returns back to their community members and how they’ll divide up the funds.

“I don’t think we’ve had these opportunities in front of us before. Right now we’re talking about a government in B.C. that wants to reconcile with First Nations and wants them to get involved and some of us want to get involved. Not everyone, but some, and those who are here are interested,” he said.

-N2K-

7

DIVERSIFICATION IS KEY FOR FOREST RESOURCE COMPANY

By Barbara Latkowski

W

ith over 40 years of experience, the KDL Group continues with one main vision to be recognized as the premier provider of complete forest resource services.

KDL continues to build and diversify their company with key business areas including harvesting, road building and maintenance, log hauling and forest management.

KDL’s general manager, Anthony Boyd says it’s all about being able to provide services to a diverse central interior customer group.

“In the beginning, we were dealing with harvesting and hauling but with geographic growth, we have diversified in the services we provide,” Boyd said.

The KDL Group began operation in 1975 by David Hoy in Fort St. James, British Columbia.

Through vision, leadership and dedication, the business grew from a small trucking operation into an integrated resource development and forest management provider.

From the very start, KDL has remained family owned and operated and the Hoy Family continues to guide and grow the company.

With a strong commitment of service and value to customers, clients and partners, KDL remains dedicated not only in its own personal growth, but also in the growth of its customers.

“We maintain the highest standards in helping our customers be stronger, enhancing their business and helping them become better,” Boyd said.

With a corporate office in Fort St. James, KDL has divisions in Mackenzie and Courtenay, B.C. The company certainly has diversified with over 1.7 million cubic meters of timber logged and delivered annually.

With more than 150 employees, the company has extensive experience in both large-scale and small-scale operations including: conventional and ground based harvesting and cable harvesting.

8

As a full service “stump-to-dump” logging contractor, KDL’S customers include industry, government, First Nations and private forest owners.

Along with log hauling, bridge installation, equipment repair and service, log sorting, rail loading and remote camp operation, the company also continues to provide road building and maintenance.

KDL Group’s Corporate Division currently builds over 100 km of road annually with a dedicated group of supervisors, operators and equipment capable of constructing all classes of industrial road.

The company’s coastal division also has substantial road construction capacity including drilling and blasting expertise with current projects of about 40 km annually.

KDL Group has a complete woodlands department and forestry staff and the company currently manages 1.2 million cubic meters under a range of tenures and comprehensive forest management contracts.

It’s comprehensive forest management services include tenure administration, harvest and development planning, GIS and information management, Silviculture and rehabilitation, financing and forestry business management.

“While industrial forestry forms our core business, we will continue to build and diversify our business,” Boyd said.

For the forestry company, it’s also about helping and supporting local communities through various events or fundraisers.

“Our philosophy has always been about supporting local youth,” Boyd said.

“We are always seeking up-comers to join our team and we will continue to be actively involved in the communities in which we operate.”

-N2K-

INNOVATION

SPARKS NEW

WOOD PRODUCTS

MILL IN MORICETOWN

By Catherine Matheson

“We send (timber) packages, and they break them down into all sorts of things [called] dragon bones.”

- Andy Thompson

S

tanding dead dry balsam trees might not sound appealing as a potential overseas product, but it turns out they make great ‘dragon bones’ in China.

Seaton Forest Products is about a month into operations with a new sawmill west of Moricetown to ship squared balsam timber to market in China.

“We send (timber) packages, and they break them down into all sorts of things primarily used in construction for what they call dragon bones,” said Andy Thompson, coowner of the new mill.

“What that is, basically, is wooden strips, one-inch by two-inches. They have all these highrise apartment buildings in China made from concrete, and they line them with this ‘dragon bone’ so they can put drywall on it.”

The new sawmill sent its first truckload to China via Prince Rupert in June, and is averaging three or four trucks a day. The mill employs 12 people from Moricetown, Hazelton and Smithers, cutting logs considered small- to medium-sized in diameter. Construction is continuing

with the installation of a new head rig designed to tackle oversized logs. When the head rig is in place and the mill is fully operational, Thompson expects to be employing up to 20 people, and shipping five to six truckloads a day, or 60,000 board feet.

It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved, including Thompson.

“Balsam is plentiful in the high elevations, making up to 20 per cent of some of these stands, and logging companies are obliged to log them along with the wood they are there to log,” he said. “For ( West Fraser’s Pacific Inland Resources) to try to put this through their mills, it would fall apart and cause more problems than it is worth.

“That’s because as (balsam wood) stands there dead, the wind blows the trees and they crack, and they get what they call ‘checks,’ but we can make a timber out of it and it will stay together.”

Continued on Page 10

9

Andy Thompson and Kirsteen Laing in front of the new Seaton Forest Products mill near Moricetown, which began operations last month.

Thompson said balsam trees are usually burned or “pushed over the bank” and left unused. By finding a market for this wood, and buying it from PIR-West Fraser at a “fair price,” he said, “we take it from them and help to lower their logging costs.”

This is Thompson’s third mill. He has lived in Moricetown since 1982 but has run mills in Burns Lake and Fort St. James. Some of the equipment in the new mill was salvaged from the Fort St. James mill, which burned down in 2013. He said this current opportunity evolved over the past few years.

“I started out selling this wood through brokers to Alberta, and the brokers suggested there was a market in China,” said Thompson.

Seaton chips what’s left over when the timbers are milled, and ships it to Burns Lake to be made into industrial pellets.

It’s hard to say what the dollar value of the mill will be as it begins operations, said Thompson, but there is a definite value being added to the economy already, beginning with jobs.

“I started out selling this wood through brokers to Alberta, and the brokers suggested there was a market in China.”

- Andy Thompson “There’s also loggers and millwrights and welders, and steel supply and industrial supplies,” he said.

“We are also open for local sales. People who need timbers for mining or even timber framers, should come out and take a look at some of our better quality timbers,” he said.

-N2K-

SMALL TOURS can help build BIG CRUISE INTEREST

Prince Rupert Terminals Inc. looks for prospective tour vendors for the 2017 cruise season

By Shannon Lough

B

usinesses and entrepreneurs on the North Coast have until mid-August to pitch their proposal to be included in the cruise industry for next

season.

Prince Rupert Terminals Inc. (PRTI), the company that manages cruise operations, provided an information session to interested parties to help guide them through the process of joining the shore excursion program.

PRTI’s role is to represent the interest of all cruise operators and to be the one point of contact for cruise lines, which includes marketing shore excursions.

This year, there are seven tour companies that provide 10 tours, such as the grizzly bear tour, the Butze rainforest nature walk and touring Quotoon Falls via seaplane.

The collective capacity for these tours is only 500-600, which is why PRTI is targeting smaller luxury cruise lines with less passengers.

Through market research, cruise lines have stated that “The best part of Prince Rupert is actually outside of Prince Rupert.”

The port-of-call is a shore excursion destination, and what PRTI is looking for is to match the product to the

12

line. “We want to be able to grow this to deliver options for cruise lines but also to potentially attract the likes of Holland America, which is a premium to just verging on luxury, but they are just about 2,000 passengers so we still have a ways to go,” said the trade development associate for the Port of Prince Rupert, Jeff Stromdahl, when he presented on July 28 at the Prince Rupert Interpretive Centre.

The 2016 season will see 12 ships with more than 7,200 passengers and seven cruise ships participating in the shore excursion program.

Expedition cruise lines that offer their own tours are less likely to participate in the program and next year there are fewer of these types of lines, which is one reason why the 2017 season already has 21 ships confirmed to take part in the program out of the 25 cruise ships scheduled.

“It’s a significant jump,” Stromdahl said.

The game plan to attract more high-end luxury cruise lines is to increase the quality of the tour product.

Previously, some tours have used taxis to transport tourists to and from their excursion and Stromdahl said this is an unfortunate first and last impression.

“We want to be able to grow this to deliver options for cruise lines ... We still have a ways to go.”

- Jeff Stromdahl The cruise lines are also looking for a tour product that matches the brand experience.

“Each cruise line is differentiating themselves from their competitors, some are all about the culinary experience and we do not have a culinary offering in Prince Rupert. There’s a little bit of a hint,” Stromdahl said.

Another product PRTI is looking for is the marquee tour experience that can take a lot of passengers in one day, however, Stromdahl said this takes some time to develop.

All-inclusive cruise lines are looking for tours with price points under US$80 to offer the product for “free” to its passengers. PRTI suggests that vendors aim for pricing their tours between a range of US$36 to US$240.

The requirements to become a vendor for the 2017 season is to submit a proposal, adhere to the strict insurance requirements, provide marketing collateral to be presented to the line along with the proposal, agree to the terms in the shore excursion contract and provide banking information.

These requirements are based on what the cruise lines require. If selected as a vendor for next year, PRTI collects funds from the ship, deducts a 5 per cent commission fee and deposits the rest of the money into the vendor’s account.

The due date to apply to be a shore excursion vendor next season is August 12.

Stromdahl said he will work with people to make the tour sellable but he will also be frank with his feedback.

-N2K-

13

YPR RECEIVES $300K INJECTION

By Kevin Campbell

T

he Prince Rupert Airport is going green.

A $300,000 funding announcement from the Province of B.C. came on Thursday, outlining improvements that are proposed for the regional airport, which just completed a renovation of its own this past spring.

Upgrades to the roof and insulation systems on the building are scheduled to take place in order to comply with environmental regulations of B.C. An energy efficient system linked to YPR’s airport and water harvesting and treatment system is planned to be installed for a more sustainable building.

The Prince Rupert Airport Authority is also providing $200,000 for the $500,000 total cost of the project.

The funding from the province comes from the B.C. Air Access Program, a Ministry of Transportation initiative to help airports across the province improve features such as lighting and navigational systems, terminal expansions or upgrades and runway improvements, often splitting the cost with the public airports.

“This funding from the B.C. Air Access Program will allow us to make crucial environmental upgrades to our airport. Prince Rupert is the region’s northern gateway and the airport is taking

on increased importance due to the growth of industry at the Port as well as potential LNG development,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain.

“We appreciate this provincial support to enhance our airport facilities and ultimately increase economic development opportunities in the region.”

Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure also spoke of the importance of Prince Rupert’s airport on July 21.

“When we rolled out our B.C. on the Move 10-year transportation plan last year, we made it a priority to provide funding support for smaller and regional airports. The Prince Rupert airport needs some environmental upgrades to its maintenance building and this funding will help the airport authority make these important improvements,” he said.

Judy Fraser, president of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority added “On behalf of the airport authority and management, we are pleased the minister, through the B.C. Air Access Program, recognized our rain water harvesting project and granted us financial assistance to complete this valuable environmental project.”

-N2K-

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MAGNETIZED AT BAKER AIRPORT

Burns Lake airbase the perfect place for mineral potential survey

By Flavio Nienow

G

eoscience B.C. has chosen Burns Lake’s Baker Airport as the base for its largest airborne magnetic survey to date.

The survey will produce new data used to identify hidden mineral potential and guide land-use decisions in the region.

“When we finalized the contract and boundary for the survey, Burns Lake was perfectly centred and an obvious choice for the survey base,” said Bruce Madu, Geoscience B.C.’s vice president of minerals and mining.

The survey started last month and is expected to take approximately two to three months. The length of the survey will depend on weather and aircraft availability.

According to Madu, approximately 40-45 per cent of the project budget will go directly into the region’s economy. This would include fuel purchases, maintenance of the aircraft and the crews of 10 or more that will be staying in town and eating at local restaurants.

The survey will cover a 24,000 square kilometre grid that extends north to Pathway Lake and south to Ootsa Lake, and east-west from Fort Fraser to Smithers - an area equivalent to 75 per cent the size of Vancouver Island. The project will occur over the traditional territories of the Carrier Sekani and Wet’suwet’en First Nations. Madu said Geoscience B.C. has been engaging with First Nations communities since last February.

A total of three aircrafts will be used to conduct this aerial survey. The aircrafts are equipped with a sensitive

“When we finalized the contract and boundary for the survey, Burns Lake was perfectly centred and an obvious choice for the survey base.”

- Bruce Madu magnetometer that detects and records local disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field, which are caused by magnetic minerals in the upper regions of the earth’s crust.

These magnetic signatures are then represented plotted on multi-hued maps for explorers to analyze and focus their onthe-ground exploration activities.

Continued on Page 18

17

“Our decision ... is paying huge dividends to all British Columbians.”

- Bill Bennett “What I like about the work done in our backyard by Geoscience B.C. is that these detailed results are available to everyone,” said Smithers Exploration Group president Rob Maurer. “Usually only the largest companies have access to this kind of data. But in B.C., the innovative work conducted by Geoscience B.C. puts tools in the hands of any individual who wants to go out and prospect for minerals.”

Geoscience B.C. is an independent, non-profit organization that generates earth science information. Last month, the organization received $5 million in funding from the B.C. government.

“Our decision to form Geoscience B.C. more than a decade ago is paying huge dividends to all British Columbians in the form of new mining projects and hundreds of new jobs,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review.

Sander Geophysics Limited was the contractor chosen by Geoscience B.C. to conduct the survey.

Results from the survey will be publicly available in 2017 at www.geosciencebc.com/s/datareleases.asp -N2K-

This 24,000 sq. kilometre grid outlines the area that Geoscience B.C. will survey for hidden mineral potential and guide land-use decisions in the region.

s

edo@kitimat.ca www.kitimat.ca

By Kevin Campbell

A

longtime safety hazard on Highway 16 is on the road to being eliminated.

The ‘Mile 28 Daumont Level Crossing’ is being tackled starting this year after it was announced that the federal and provincial government would be splitting the $37 million bill to split the road and rail crossing on Highway 16.

Prince Rupert residents got their first in-depth look at what will be involved in the construction phase, which is a lot more than just implementing a short bridge.

“We have somewhere in the neighbourhood of 300,000 cubic metres of material – mostly all rock – to move, and some of it will be used in the embankments within the project, and then others will be hauled to an adjacent pit nearby where it will be stockpiled for future use for erosion protection or for gravel material for other highways projects,” said Bill Rose, project manager for B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Ministry staff showed a virtual simulation video of flyover animation, and immediately the changes are evident.

A road travelling up and over the railway is shown, along with blasted rock into the mountainous terrain to carve out a path for traffic. Two full kilometres of new road, with a connecting bridge to get back to the existing road are shown.

The project benefits include a 120m long bridge over the rail tracks, the realignment of 1.9km of Highway 16 to maintain the 100km/h speeds currently in place in that area (instead of reducing speed to 40km/h), a wider highway road, with improved lanes and shoulders and rock bolting to minimize rock fall hazards.

“The CN railway was the first line along the Skeena and so they have precedence over us in many things, and so we’re kind

“Staying out of the Skeena River, which of course is critical salmon habitat, led us going overtop through the rock.”

- Bill Rose of at their discretion because most of our existing roadway is within their right of way and [the Ministry is] under permit from them and so there’s just no room in that tightened, constrained area to get the increased width, provide safe shoulders and room for cyclists if you stay down on the low side, without going into the river,” said Rose.

“We did think for a little while about switching the railway to the outside and trying to do it along the toe of the rock there, but those rock cuts are very difficult to achieve because you’re taking a sliver off. It was a better choice to go further into the rock so you’ve got a distance of the blasting and the railing down below ... Staying out of the Skeena River, which is of course critical salmon habitat, led us to going up overtop through the rock.”

The Ministry engaged in talks with CN about the construction of the project, but in terms of footing the bill, it was never really an option for the company.

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Continued on Page 20

“As they are senior to us along the corridor, they have no obligation to pay for that and they don’t really get a lot of benefit back from the project either ... so they don’t really have an investment priority. When we initiate an elimination of level crossing pretty much across the province, the Ministry picks up the tab,” he said.

Environmental considerations were taken into account during preliminary work, as well as future planning. This included recognizing goat and moose wintering areas.

Mitigation measures are planned to not interrupt [mountain] goat wintering and kidding seasons and vegetation replanting is planned for some areas known to be frequented by moose.

Rare and mature forests will be protected while birds’ nests are to be unaffected through seasonal limits on site clearing and grubbing.

On the marine side, the project has no impact on the Skeena River, a culvert addition will increase access for rearing and refuge habitat for juvenile fish in the spring and “two areas that have historically acted as population sinks (juvenile fish can get in, but end up dying because they can’t get out) will be removed during construction.”

The mountainous terrain mostly involves bedrock slopes and a complex variety of soils and the highway redesign does not require any reconstruction of the CN railway track. It’s the last level rail crossing from Prince Rupert to the Alberta border to

“The problem has long been identified by the local community as the highest priority ... to get fixed.”

- Bill Rose be eliminated.

Despite years of calls from the community about getting the crossing eliminated coming, it was a mixture of those concerns, a history of accidents and a period of growth in the northwest that made the project possible, said Rose.

“The timing probably has something to do with the amount of investment going on in the northwest right now. All of the stuff going on has probably been helpful in getting the federal government to come to the table with some dollars and the problem has long been identified by the local community as the highest priority along this corridor to get fixed.”

The manager added that tender for the project is scheduled for November, with construction slated to start in spring 2017 and lasting until fall of 2018 or summer of 2019.

-N2K-

20

DESPITE DOWNTURN,

KENTRON HOLDS STEADY Kentron Construction keeps busy even when times are tough

By Devyn Ens

W

hile some companies are struggling to find enough work to keep themselves busy during the economic downturn, Kentron Construction has found themselves operating back at a normal pace after a busy few years working on the Rio Tinto Kitimat Modernization project.

“The amount of work available is sort of back to (what was) normal five, six, seven, eight years ago,” Mirko Rutar, area manager for Kentron said. “The last four years were anything but normal.”

“Any time any of the three big industries do big expansions, we go from normal to extremely busy, so now we’re in-between.”

“But we’ve seen cycles like that before, especially in Kitimat,” he added.

The company built an $8 million concrete plant and asphalt plant in the last four years, to help with the added workload of the modernization project.

“For us that’s a big investment,” said Rutar.

“It’s still here and we’re waiting for LNG (liquefied natural gas) to show up.”

In addition to some smaller contracts in the area, on top of

“Any time any of the three big industries do big expansions, we go from normal to extremely busy, so now we’re in-between.”

- Mirko Rutar their contract with LNG Canada, the company also donated some equipment and man hours to the Kitimat airstrip in May. Continued on Page 22

21

“From a technical standpoint, we’re leading the pack because [what] we’ve done for the (modernization project).”

- Mirko Rutar “We thought it would be a good way to get things on the right track,” said Rutar, who also mentioned that they are hoping to turn that into a larger project in the future.

“We helped build the original airstrip there, 20 some years ago, so we have a bit of history with that air strip, so we’re helping them with securing enough funding to repave it.”

Kentron is also an industry leader in Northwest BC when it comes to quality control.

“We have a full lab here, to test all of our concrete, it’s the only lab of its type in Northwest BC,” said Rutar.

“From a technical standpoint, we’re leading the pack because of some of the stuff we’ve done for the (modernization project,)” said operations and project manager Terrance Byrd.

The company remains optimistic in the amount of work that will coming from future developments, and in the meantime, is satisfied with what they’re doing right now.

-N2K

22

School District #54 (Bulkley Valley) is accepting applications for the position of:

JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER/GASFITTER Candidates must meet the following qualifications: • Completion of Grade 12 (Dogwood Certificate) • Valid BC Trade Certification as a Plumber/Gasfitter • Four years of related experience • Experience working with Boiler Systems, HVA systems and DDC’s • Thorough and current knowledge of the standard, practices, regulations, method, tools and equipment of the trade • Demonstrated ability to use initiative to determine, • judge and select appropriate course of action • Provides the basic tools common to this trade • Valid BC Driver’s Licence - Class 5 Drivers Licence with an exemplary driving record as demonstrated by a current drivers’ abstract • WHMIS Certificate and familiarity with WCB safety procedures • Physical capability to perform the job duties including working in inclement weather conditions • Three work related references are required, please include them with your resume CLOSING DATE: Open until position is filled STARTING DATE: As soon as possible Please send cover letter, resume and references in confidence to: Ms. Bobbie Kingsmill, Human Resources Administrator School District #54 (Bulkley Valley) Box 758, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 Phone 250-877-6831 Fax: 250-877-6835 Email: bobbie.kingsmill@sd54.bc.ca ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED.

• Certified Industrial Electricians • Certified Millwrights • Certified Filers Sawmill experience is an asset, but not necessary.

Competitive Wages & Benefits Package!

Email resumes: Shannon.Lopushinsky@Skeenasawmills.com or fax to 250-635-4335

SAWMILL PLANER MANAGER BIG RIVER, SASKATCHEWAN In the heart of cottage country, surrounded by world-class fishing and trophy-level hunting, lies Big River, SK – home to Carrier Forest Products’ sawmill complex. With an annual production rate of 250 million FBM and counting, working for Saskatchewan’s largest sawmill comes replete with opportunity. Carrier’s corporate culture is one built on hard work, ingenuity and collaboration, with a system based on honour and respect.

Interested candidates are urged to visit www.carrierlumber.ca for more information, or submit their resume to: resumes@carrierforestproducts.ca or fax 250-563-9371

Gitxsan Health Society EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY IN HAZELTON EXECUTIVE HEALTH DIRECTOR Application deadline: August 15, 2016 Gitxsan Health Society has an immediate employment opportunity in the position of Executive Health Director. The Executive Health Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the coordination, implementation, overall management, administration, and operation of the Gitxsan Health Society (GHS) in the delivery of community-based health programs and services to the Gitxsan communities of Gitanmaax, GlenVowell and Kispiox, according to the Gitxsan Health Plan and Five Year Strategic Plan. The salary for the position of Executive Health Director shall be determined based on qualifications, education and experience.

For a copy of the Formal Job Description that lists the required qualifications, education, experience, and skil s please phone 250-842-5165 or email jjsampare@gitxsanhealth.com.

Knowledge of Gitxsan language & social systems, and community health issues a definite asset.

Must provide a clear CRC and a minimum of three recent references required. Only those potential candidates selected for an interview wil be contacted.

To apply please send a covering letter by mail, fax, or email,together with a full resume and three (3) references to: Gitxsan Health Society Board of Directors,Box 223, Hazelton BC, V0J 1Y0 Confidential fax # 250-842-2186 Email address: ehd@gitxsan.net

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