Kitimat Making Its Way Back
No one can say that Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan isn't a booster for her town. Even when it looked like the town would fold up and move away, she was front and center pumping up the community hoping that it would return to its former lustre when the community was buzzing all the time.
Somewhere along the line Terrace, seemed to grab some of the thunder from Kitimat , due in large measure by the weather and Kitimat suffering through the closing of their mill, and the downsizing by Alcan.
There is however new life being felt in the community .
The mayor is quick to point out that there is a shortage of housing. That is borne out by the fact that a cruise ship is heading their way with the ability to house upwards of 550 workers at Alcan's new smelter. While the existing camp has not resulted in the lights being shot out in Kitimat, Mayor Monaghan talks about a new look to the downtown. She says they now have nearly a full shopping center of business offices. Offices established in the hope of cashing in on the promise of LNG and of course Alcan. It hasn't been a " Boom" she says, "but we have a new Tim's, a couple of new ladies wear stores , a Mr Mikes and we are shooting to get a 24-7 medical clinic up and running."
Monaghan says the town is facing a housing crunch "We are running out of low cost housing".
All and all it suggests is a new feeling in Kitimat, one that, up until recently, didn't exist.
I'm Meisner and that's one man's opinion.
Comments
Nice to hear of a mayor who is positive and upbeat!
Not sure where Kitimat goes from here.
As I understand it, there are about 2500 construction jobs involved in the building of the new aluminum smelter. This project should be completed late this year. So where do the construction people go?? Some will work on the LNG projects, however these are just getting started.
In addition once the new smelter is completed it will produce the same or more aluminum, however it will require 400 less people to operate. So some layoffs in the future.
LNG seems to be their saving grace at this moment, but I agree they are not going into a boom situation.
Excellent work , a mayor that actually improves her city. Must have looked at everything scarey Sherri is doing to us a doing the exact opposite
I really doubt the mayor of any city can start or stop economic growth. The private sector for the most part is what make a town/city boom or bust. Operating a city on the principal of the govt, either local or provincial being the principal backer is a non-sustainable system.
I was in staying in the Alcan camp a year ago while working on a side project of theirs. The camp was just under 2/3rds capacity. The guys were working a six week on one week off rotation. You can’t attract or keep workers if you don’t respect their work/ life balance. Most guys were waiting for new project start-ups so they could switch companies.
They have now gone to a 20 days on 8 day off schedule. When the project is done the workers will do the same as.they always do. Move on to the next project. The crew I’m working with is almost half American.
“The crew I’m working with is almost half American.”
South or North Americans? ;-)
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