Green Light Green Light Brucejack Mine Brucejack Mine receives approval receives approval Thrive North Thrive North Partnership backing Partnership backing future entrepreneurs future entrepreneurs Rock Talk Rock Talk Smithers mining Smithers mining meet heads up high meet heads up high LNG Firsthand LNG Firsthand Port Edward’s close look Port Edward’s close look at Malaysian operation at Malaysian operation MAY 2015 • VOL. 2, ISSUE 2 Northwest B.C. projects back in the spotlight N h B C j b k i h l i h Connecting industry and culture One company’s work to protect Northwest B.C.’s culturally and environmentally sensitive areas
Transcript
Green LightGreen LightBrucejack Mine Brucejack Mine receives approvalreceives approval
For more information on community scoring, please visit www.princerupertlng.ca/communityconsultation.
Working closely with First Nations and local communities, BG Canada is considering an LNG project on Ridley Island. For more information, visit www.princerupertlng.ca, or come by our local office at 610 2nd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC. You can also call us at 250-624-4914.
Irene Mills Rosa Miller Herb Pond
The Prince Rupert business community has told us the effect on local infrastructure is what’s most important to them.
You aboutasked LNG
- Herb Pond
Community Relations Manager,BG Canada
Having served as Mayor of Prince Rupert, I know first-hand the impact of local taxes on infrastructure. In October 2014, I visited BG Group’s LNG facility in Queensland, Australia, which, at the time, was in the final stages of construction. It sits in-between two other large LNG facilities which makes the area quite unique. What I saw was enlightening to say the least.
In addition to significantly enriching the local council’s finances, the three LNG companies made some direct investments that have had a big impact on the community. The airport received millions of dollars in upgrades allowing it to seamlessly handle the increased traffic, and the hospital also got millions for upgrades, to name a few.
As for small business, there was no shortage of evidence that they were benefitting. Local hotels and restaurants were thriving and residential and commercial landlords were fully booked. Interestingly, while there had been growth in retail, it was in new build— modern retailers couldn’t find viability in the existing small footprint storefronts. Instead, it was LNG, engineering, and training companies that found ways to make those spaces work.
In terms of housing, only time will tell as to whether or not there was overbuilding. What is certain is that the housing stock had been modernized through in-filling and the development of sub-divisions of new single family homes, as well as some attractive downtown apartments.
There’s no question that with LNG would come a huge increase in activity to Prince Rupert. While there would undoubtedly be more traffic and flights etc., the positive effects are noteworthy. For those that recall, it would be roughly like adding back the employment impact of the pulp mill, but
with even greater industrial taxes and far more local investment. It’s certainly worth considering.
It was like I had been to the future, and I liked what I saw.”
“
If ever anyone doubts the role the mining industry has played and does play in the Northwest, they need only look to this month’s issue of N2K to see mining is not only still a vital part of the region’s economy but is currently
undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Th ere were a lot of milestones for those in the mining industry to celebrate
during the past month and even more when you look at 2015 as a whole. Th is month Chris Gareau outlines plans for the Brucejack gold mine north of
Stewart, which in April received its environmental approval from the provincial government. Th e mine, which would create 500 permanent positions and require up to 900 construction workers over the course of two years, is closer to becoming a reality than many may imagine - Pretivm is planning to have construction complete in 2017.
And while one mine moves closure to construction, another Northwest mine also had cause for celebration last month. Imperial Metals not only exported the fi rst shipload of product from its Red Chris mine on April 11, but also signed a comprehensive agreement with the Tahltan Nation that provides economic benefi ts to the Nation and allows those closest to the mine to be directly involved in the environmental monitoring of the operation.
Meanwhile Alloycorp Mining further cemented its footprint in the region with the opening of an offi ce in Terrace. As Rod Link reports, the offi ce, which will allow the public to easily access information and updates on the Kitsault molybdenum mine, is the fi rst opened by a mining company in the community in several decades.
But with increased activity from mining and energy projects, industry has fi rmly set its sight on ensuring any impact to the environment is minimal and the culture of the many people who call this area home is respected. In that vein, Rebecca Watson outlines the work of Ecofor to ensure environmental standards are being met in the construction of pipeline projects while Jackie Lieuwen examines pipeline safety through the words of TransCanada.
April was also a busy month in boardrooms around the world. Shaun Th omas looks at two multi-billion dollar deals that could see both the BG Group, proponents of an LNG export facility on Ridley Island, and Fairview container terminal changing ownership in the months ahead.
As you can see, April was a busy month here in the Northwest. It’s that kind of activity we here at N2K feel the province and the country need to know.
LNG FIRSTHANDPort Edward leaders visit Malaysia 26
ALSO INSIDE: BG Group sale - 27Pipeline safety - 28Cold and clean - 30Swamp Point - 32RTA wharf plan - 33Genomics talk - 34Fairview sale - 36Career section - 38
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7
Connecting industry and culture
By Rebecca Watson
Ecofor links development with history and the environment
There are a handful of proposed LNG pipelines in Northern BC, all at different stages of development.
The three closest to fruition -the Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP), Coastal Gas Link pipeline(CGLP) and Prince Rupert Transmission Line (PRTL) - are all proposed to be constructed within a fairly narrow area of each other, which Ecofor president Kevin Wilson says just makes sense when trying to lower the environmental footprint.
“Although these [investors] haven’t made final investment decisions, pre-construction activities such as logging and road clearance have started on some sections of the line. We’re out there as inspectors ... identifying sensitive areas to make sure they are protected during the construction,” said Wilson,
whose company is recognized as a leader in natural and cultural consulting.
Part of the approval process for industry projects is to meet environmental regulations along with the requirements of the Provincial Heritage Act. Ecofor helps industry meet these requirements through field level surveys to ensure sites are identified and protected prior to construction.
See Page 8
“With these projects, there is long-term stability.”
- Kevin Wilson
8
They look for rare plants, conduct breeding bird surveys, wildlife habitat surveys, archaeological digs and fishery studies, to name but a few.
“We have contracts with some of these LNG projects and right now one of them is doing archaeological impact assessments. We’re looking for areas where historically First Nations may have camped, fished or travelled, which tend to be by water. In those areas we’ll do shovel testing and look for evidence like arrow heads, scrapers (tool to scraping hides) cache pits (store food) and burial sites,” Wilson said.
The Fort St. James-based company employees roughly 80 consultants throughout offices in Terrace, Prince George, Whitehorse, Fort St. John and Calgary, which gives the it a strategic opportunity because the firm has people based all along the proposed LNG lines, Wilson said.
Patrick Bussiere, environmental inspector with Ecofor, assesses activities on worksites such as clearing trees, stream crossings and building access roads to make sure they are in compliance with the Oil Gas Commission commitments, permits and regulations.
“I have spent two seasons working on the
PTP project and we’re out there taking pictures, documenting what’s happening on the environmental side and providing advice to help protect the environment ... we also advise on things like erosion and settlement control and make sure [companies] are meeting their commitments around species at risk, water quality and a number of others,” he said.
Senior biologist Mark Pokorski organizes the pre-construction route walks for the PTP project.
“We walk through the pipeline route and look for important environmental features, things like bear and wolf dens, eagle nests, rare plants, wetlands, anything the client has commitments to protect,” he said.
See Page 9
“We’re looking for areas where historically First Nations may
have camped, fi shed or travelled.”
- Kevin Wilson
Ecofor is also currently working on a mountain goat study for the PTP project focused on identifying the distribution and habitat use of mountain goats in the western section of the proposed route. Helicopter aerial surveys are used to take inventory of goats in their winter range. Moving into summer, Ecofor places game cameras in the goats’ habitat and then goes in once per month to see where the goats are going and when they are travelling, Wilson said.
“If we find areas with high winter goat use, there may be a limit on winter construction in that area. It will help them identify the seasonal constraints for construction,” he said.
Ecofor crews use geomorphology to help identify areas of unstable terrain along major river crossings and steep banks.
“For areas like that there are special engineering requirements, so we’ll go in and try to identify those areas of instability by mapping out terrain, looking for
features like trees blown down or cracks in the ground and assessing the soil type and drainage,” Wilson said.
Hydrology surveys show stream water flow and depth to help gauge what the cycle will be in a system and the impact it will have on the road or crossing of water nearby.
“It really affects the type of crossing you can develop around it,” Wilson said.
Some other clients Ecofor has worked with include Mt. Milligan, Site C , Black Water, local forestry and the Ministry of Transportation, but for now Wilson said the big project still remains the proposed LNG pipelines.
“All we have is natural resources in the north so we need some of these projects to go forward to sustain an economy for people here,” he said.
“They will create up to 10 years of work for companies like ours which is crucial in the north ... with these projects there’s long-term stability.”
10
By Chris Gareau
Northwest gold mine receives provincial approval
A provincial environment assessment certifi cate issued last month moves the US$747 million Brucejack gold mine 65 kilometres north of
Stewart closer to fruition.Pretivm president and CEO Robert Quartermain hopes
to obtain the necessary federal environmental approval and permits and start construction this summer.
He said his Vancouver-based company would need 800-900 employees for construction. Th e mine itself would have 500 employees working over its minimum 16-year operating life. Construction is expected to be completed in 2017.
Pretivm also has a Smithers offi ce.“We’ll continue to work out of Smithers in support of the
project as we get up into operation and we’ll certainly be hiring more people for that offi ce as we go forward,” said Quartermain.
Th e CEO said the company’s policy is to hire as many people from Northwest B.C. as possible to work at extracting the 2,700 tonnes of ore per day. He pointed to his past experience running mining company Silver Standard Resources in South America as an example of the local hiring practices he aims to achieve.
“We built one mine in Argentina and over 90 per cent of
the employees were individuals who lived within a couple hundred kilometre catchment radius,” said Quartermain.
“So here I expect we will be employing people from Smithers, Terrace, New Hazelton, up through Gitanyow, Stewart and Dease Lake.”
Th e project will not have a tailings pond, but instead deposit tailings paste from a plant on the surface into Brucejack Lake.
“Because it’s underground, about half the material we actually mine will go back in to the underground facilities themselves as paste backfi ll, said Quartermain.
See Page 11
“I expect we will be employing people from Smithers,
Terrace, New Hazelton, up through Gitanyow, Stewart
and Dease Lake.”
- Robert Quartermain
BrucejackGreen light for
PRETIVM IS ADVANCING ITS HIGH-GRADE GOLD BRUCEJACK PROJECT IN NORTHERN BC.
“Th e other material will go into Brucejack Lake, and this is a lake which has no fi sh in it. Th e closest fi sh to us are 20 kilometres downstream ... we have a very small environmental footprint, less than 10 hectares because of the high grade nature of the project,” added Quartermain.
Th e mine is within the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine and on traditional Nisga’a territory. Th e provincial approval comes with 15 conditions that include communicating with aboriginal groups and regional communities about economic and training opportunities and mitigations for avoiding adverse social impacts.
“Th e Skii km Lax Ha have asserted rights of interest in traplines along our access road. Th e Nisga’a have rights, this is within their sealand area; and then the Tahltan are largely to the north of us but also have some asserted rights at the start of our access road,” said Quartermain, who added jobs and training will be off ered to members of the local First Nations.
Th e 30-member Skii km Lax Ha largely live in the Hazeltons.
Quartermain came out of retirement to purchase Brucejack from Silver Standard in 2010, raising $283 million in Canada’s third-largest initial public off ering according to Pretivm’s CEO and fi rst shareholder.
“B.C. is known as a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Th ere are many mines operating in this province, and many mines are continuing to be permitted. In a global basis, it oft en takes a long time to be permitted an operation. In the case of Pretivm, we only discovered high grade
gold in 2011 and here we are now and we’re already through the environmental process and getting ready to start construction once we receive the permits,” said Quartermain, adding the company has spent approximately $300 million up to this point, mostly in northern B.C.
12
A Houston business combined chainsaw safety and giving back to the community in a unique pilot project that took place late last month.
In March, Layne and Chrisann Boucher, owners of Getumdone Contracting Ltd., launched a course in the Houston industrial area to teach people in Hazelton, Houston, Moricetown and Smithers how to properly and safely use chainsaws.
“We thought we could give [the wood] away to community members that were in need, such as aboriginal or non-aboriginal elders that just didn’t have the ability to get out and get their own fi rewood or were fi nancially not able to purchase fi rewood,” said Chrisann, noting that she was in contact with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to identify those in need of the wood.
“Or to single family people who had disabilities, who couldn’t work, people who had lost their jobs, basically anyone who needed it.”
Aft er three days of chopping and delivering several cords of dry pine, each of the 12 participants received their chainsaw safety certifi cate and Boucher thought the program would wrap up.
But then they found out they would be getting more wood than they originally asked for.
“We found out we could be getting four logging truck loads, which is about 70 cords of wood,” said Chrisann.
“Th en it got us thinking, we could use this as a fundraising opportunity for people who could aff ord to buy the wood.”
Th ey put the call out to the community that members
could request amounts of fi rewood, but instead of paying them for it, they would make a donation to a local charity such as the Houston Hospice Society.
Th ey have cut and sold roughly 30 cords of wood and delivered to roughly 100 households in the Bulkley Valley.
Chrisann said they have seen positive responses from elders so far.
“It’s been really supportive, lots of times there’s ‘Come in for tea.’ One elder gave us some bannock. It’s been great, there’s no strings attached and in this day and age, there aren’t too many programs like that,” she said.
“We’re just really happy to do it.”In its fi rst year, the program was funded by Coastal
GasLink, while CanFor donated the wood and Groot Bros Contracting Ltd. did the logging and trucking at discount cost.
But Chrisann is hopeful they will be able to receive funding to continue the program next year as well.
“What started as a small training course turned into something pretty amazing,” she said.
“What started as a small training course turned into something pretty amazing.”
- Chrisann Boucher
By Kendra Wong
Industry training course provides for the less fortunate
The preliminary construction plan of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project has identifi ed a potential pioneer camp location approximately 10 kilometres
south of Burns Lake.A pioneer camp is a smaller, more mobile camp that is
used for early construction activities. Its primary purpose will be to house workers during the right-of-way clearing stage.
“Th e pioneer camp would be a smaller scale operation, with capacity for up to 200 people,” explained TransCanada spokesperson Jaime Croft .
Th e property sits along the proposed pipeline route, approximately one kilometre east of Highway 35, with access via Seven Mile Road.
Th e work camp will off er catering and housekeeping services including daily facility and room cleaning and access to washers and dryers.
“Our camps will refl ect current construction workforce standards, including separate quarters for men and women, games rooms and exercise facilities,” explained Croft .
Coastal GasLink will also establish clear guidelines for behaviour that will be enforced by camp management and construction employers. Th is code of conduct will apply to employees in camp and out of camp.
“Th ese guidelines are for the benefi t of everyone on the project and in nearby communities,” said Croft .
Coastal GasLink expects to begin construction of the proposed pipeline in 2016, lasting three to four years. However, the pioneer camp in Burns Lake should be in operation for only a few months. Further use of the facility will depend on the needs of the prime construction contractors.
Potential sites for larger camps have been identifi ed northeast of Fraser Lake and south of Houston.
Work camp:
By Flavio Nienow
14
By Martina Perry
ThriveNorth partnership hands out more than $35,000
Thanks to a partnership between industry and a non-profi t organization, promising entrepreneurs are that much closer to making their business
dreams a reality. Futurpreneur Canada and BG Canada announced the
launch of a collaborative business challenge in November 2014, with the partners committing to empower and enhance entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in the Northwest region of British Columbia.
By establishing a fi ve-year partnership, and with a $5 million commitment from BG Canada, Th riveNorth is assisting entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 in Northern B.C. to start or grow their dream businesses by providing them with access to vital resources, fi nancing opportunities and mentorship.
“Futurpreneur Canada and BG Canada believe that we need a mix of thriving local businesses and larger development projects to build stronger, more resilient local economies,” said Julia Deans, CEO of Futurpreneur Canada.
“We believe that creating new opportunities for younger
generations and stimulating local business are key pieces in helping Northwestern B.C. grow,” said Simon Nish, BG Canada’s vice-president of sustainability.
Th riveNorth celebrated its fi rst milestone at the end of March, with the completion of its fi rst-ever Business Challenge. Overall, more than $35,000 was handed out to budding business-owners at a ceremony in Prince Rupert on March 28.
See Page 15
“Creating new opportunities for younger generations and
stimulating local business are key pieces in helping
Northwest B.C. grow.”
- Simon Nish
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Th e inaugural Th riveNorth Business Challenge was an opportunity for young people to kick-start a new venture or social enterprise, or expand on an existing business. All together, there were more than 50 applications for the 2015 Business Challenge, with just 12 being selected as fi nalists.
Over a two-day period, the 12 fi nalists were able to strengthen their skills, attend specialized training sessions and receive personalized coaching to help them perfect their pitch.
Finalists then presented their business ideas to a panel of experts, with fi rst-place winners in three categories earning themselves $10,000, and runner-ups receiving $2,500 each.
“Tonight’s a really great reminder of how corporate Canada can come together with not-for-profi ts like ours to create something really special,” Deans said at the ceremony.
Th e big winner in the New Business Idea category was Ria Smith of Hazelton, who is a hospitality industry
veteran that also has a background in both food and cleaning services. With her $10,000 prize, Smith plans to launch a mobile food company. Smithers entrepreneur and jewellery-enthusiast Elanor Stewart was named the runner-up of the category, receiving $2,500 to create an artisan-based small business to contribute to her community’s economy.
See Page 16
“The fi nalists didn’t see remoteness or distance as
a barrier.”
- Simon Nish
16
Prince Rupert’s Amy Dopson was awarded the top prize in the Business Growth Opportunity section, with the $10,000 helping her and her partners grow PAC 10 Tutoring, a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned business venture. Jeff ery Minhinnick of Terrace received the second-place prize of $2,500 to expand on the barbershop business, Ye Olde Chop Bloc, that he co-owns by adding a mobile service.
Th e winner of the New Social Enterprise category was Nathan Hoff art from Terrace, who will use his $10,000 to launch a speech language pathology clinic in Northern B.C. that will be more easily accessible for residents in the region. Th e second-place prize was given to Harvey James Russel of Prince Rupert, who plans on using the $2,500 to create a marine-based company serving as a research platform and consultant for environmental issues.
Th e winners of the Th riveNorth High School Challenge were also announced at the ceremony. Jessica Mowatt, Zoe Morrison and Teara Green from Hazelton Secondary School were recognized for their unique idea of utilizing fi shing nets in a new line of clothing.
Th riveNorth entrepreneurs even gained the attention of both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Christy Clark, who sent messages to the participants wishing them luck and applauding their eff orts.
“I would like to commend the competitors for having the courage to pursue their dreams of starting or growing a business,” wrote Prime Minister Harper.
“Small businesses are the cornerstone of our province’s economy. Th ey provide our cities with jobs and services,
and play a critical role in developing community spirit,” Clark wrote.
“I think it is wonderful to see so many entrepreneurs ready to put their ideas to the test and make a diff erence in our province.”
While they may live in a less populated area of the province, Nish of BG Canada was pleased to see the entrepreneurs involved in the Business Challenge aren’t letting their location hold them back.
“What was really striking is that all the fi nalists didn’t see remoteness and distance as a barrier,” he said at the ceremony in March.
“You’d think that one of the areas that would be a potential disadvantage here would be remoteness, but that wasn’t the case with any of the fi nalists we saw.”
Nish said the pool of talented young entrepreneurs in the north is not only full, but is diverse in their backgrounds and concepts.
“Tonight is a really great reminder of how corporate
Canada can come together with not-for-profi ts ... to create
Imperial Metals’ Red Chris copper and gold mine had a lot of reason to celebrate last month with the loading of the fi rst export ship from the port
of Stewart and the signing of an agreement with the Tahltan First Nation.
Th e agreement with the Tahltan outlines plans to have Tahltan members account for up to 40 per cent
of the workforce while also being directly involved in the environmental monitoring of the mine, which is located near Iskut, B.C.
Before the agreement was announced in late April, the brand new carrier M/V Edward Oldendorff left Stewart with the fi rst load of concentrate from the mine on April 11.
18
By Martina Perry
Canada North Resources Expo bigger and better in 2015
A two-day event being hosted in Prince George later this month will focus on the huge industrial projects on the horizon in northern B.C. and the equipment
needed to get these big jobs done. Canada North Resources Expo (CNRE) 2015 is being
organized by Master Promotion Ltd., which hosts similar events across the country. Th e event will consist of both indoor and outdoor exhibits centred on forestry, heavy construction and project infrastructure, showcasing all of the equipment that’s required by these fi elds.
With more than 8,000 visitors attending the inaugural CNRE in 2013, Mark Cusack, Master Promotions Ltd. national show manager, said the 2015 event will build on its success.
Cusack said 300 companies will be represented at the show taking place at the CN Centre later this month.
“We’re signifi cantly larger this year; we’re about 30 per cent larger just outside alone,” said Cusack.
Individuals working in an array of industries will be partaking in CNRE 2015, with the event being a must-
attend for industry representatives from forestry, heavy equipment, biomass and mining, independent power producers, resource industry professionals, transportation, suppliers and service providers, along with training and employment services.
Cusack said there will be just under four acres of equipment showcased in the outdoor “Demo Zone”. Located outside of the CN Centre, the Demo Zone features working machinery and big equipment.
“You’re talking forestry machines, excavators, dozers, paving equipment, trailers, trucks, you name it. It runs a full gamut and it’s big gear,” said Cusack.
See Page 19
“It runs a full gamut and it is big gear.”
- Mark Cusack
Industrial Showcase
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Visitors will get a chance to dig, drill, lift , carry, chip, break, bore, push and cut with the equipment, as if they’re on an actual work site.
“Th e equipment will actually be running ... anytime there’s noise like that outside, it draws a crowd. Th at is a fun part of the show,” said Cusack.
“In a lot of cases, the visitors can get right on the machines and give it a try.”
Th en, inside of the arena, those in attendance will get to learn about all of the systems that support industries that will be displayed through a variety of booths.
Additionally, the B.C. Forest Safety Council will host the fi rst-ever Northern B.C. Safety Conference on the Friday of the 2015 CNRE, off ering information and tools to help address safety challenges on the job.
“Th e theme this year is ‘Driving Safety Home’. It’s all about safe work practices. Th ey’ll have some very good speakers at the one day conference,” said Cusack.
Other pavilions within the show will be the Health, Wellness and Safety Zone, also sponsored by the B.C. Forest Safety Council, as well as a career fair.
Th e 2015 Canada North Resources Expo will also draw stars of the Discovery Channel’s hit reality show “Swamp Loggers”, with Bobby and Lori Goodson scheduled to attend the event thanks to Inland Group, Tigercat and Goodson’s All Terrain Logging.
“Th ey’ll be in their booth giving autographs,” Cusack explained.
Th e 2015 Canada North Resources Expo will take place at the CN Centre in Prince George on May 29 and 30.
20 21
ConstructingConstructing
A new apprenticeship program being offered through Kitimat Valley Institute (KVI) will set a new benchmark for labourers in Kitimat’s LNG
industry.For the first time in British Columbia workers are being
trained under the Construction Craft Worker (CCW) trade, a Red Seal certification.
The CCW trade puts people to work installing utility piping, placing concrete, selective demolition or a whole range of other works.
“It was a demand from industry,” said ITA apprenticeship advisor Crystal Bouchard.
“We don’t just do this stuff because we want to.”CCW has a Level One and a Level Two comoponent,
with the first level having concluded at KVI last month.
Planning is underway to bring Level Two as well.“Going forward we know the proponents of the LNG
projects, particularly the big construction contractors, they say they want it,” said Bouchard.
The 14-person class at KVI was filled with members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union (LiUNA) who had been gaining experience at the Kitimat Modernization Project site.
LiUNA service representative organizer Roger Bennett said looking at the CCW apprenticeship program from an employers’ perspective, he’d be afraid not to have an ‘army’ of them for projects.
It’s a program he said will be watched closely.The program was nearly moved to Terrace, but the
organizers pushed to deliver it right in Kitimat, which made sense given the majority of the eligible workforce would be there too.
“The more that we can offer those training opportunities ... the better qualified and more successful these projects will be locally,” said Bouchard.
For training workers in Kitimat in CCW, it’s the right time.“It’s a perfect opportunity while they’re here, coming off
the project, where they have their homes established ... it’s very timely to transition and prepare for the jobs coming up in the region,” she added.
ITA contracted this program to Northwest Community College to deliver, where they teamed up with Kitimat Valley Institute. KVI provides the venue and the class is taught with an NWCC professor.
ITA worked with the STEP program — Skilled Trades Employment Program — to develop the training as well.
Bennet said that many of the workers in the class have seen fi rst hand what is really needed on a worksite, which gives them valuable perspective in this course.
“Th is [program] is the tip of the iceberg ... and it’s great.”
Construction Craft Worker program in Kitimat a provincial fi rstBy Cameron Orr
“This program is the tip of the iceberg.”
- Roger Bennett
22
Geologists and other mining stakeholders, many in ski pants, ascended on Hudson Bay Mountain to talk rocks.
Dubbed Ski Day and Core Shack, it was the last event of a three-day mining industry get-together in Smithers.
Approximately 90 people from mining-related organizations from across B.C. attended the 26th annual Rock Talk put on by the volunteer Smithers Exploration Group (SEG).
Rock Talk started with an education day focusing on safety, followed the next day by technical talks and a reception at the Smithers Curling Centre. It was capped off with the mix of rocks and skis.
SEG president and UTM Exploration Services operations manager Rob Maurer said about half of the 90 attendees were from outside the region.
In 2014, there were 137 mining projects in B.C. that spent $338.4 million.
“Smithers definitely punches above its weight class,” said Maurer.
The province is divided into six mining regions, with the Northwest under the name Skeena. The Northwest region accounted for 54 of those projects, with investments of $161 million.
“A wonderful thing about the exploration industry is you have to go out there and spend money looking around. So there are jobs created and economic opportunity going out and looking for something with complete understanding that you might get out there and find nothing. You might spend a couple million dollars and find something, it’s just not enough to really keep looking for it now,” said Maurer.
“How many industries operate successfully by going out, spending a ton of money, hiring a bunch of people, and then leaving and cleaning up their little mess and going away? There’s going to be hundreds of those happening for every time you get a mine. I think that’s
great. I think a lot of people in the Northwest embrace that.”
Mining representatives also apparently embrace skiing, as evidenced by the number taking to the hill.
That part of the event was sponsored by Bureau Veritas (BV) Minerals, formerly Acme Labs, which has had a Smithers branch since 2008.
“Each individual brings up their own rocks,” said BV Minerals lab supervisor Dan Graves.
“Any company that has rocks wants to show them off. That’s kind of their baby.”
See Page 23
RockRock
By Chris Gareau
Geologists take to the mountain to talk exploration
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Dolly Varden mapping consultant Chris Sebert was showing his “babies” off on Hudson Bay Mountain during his fi rst visit to Smithers. He had a collection of minerals from the Kitsault Valley that included what he called indicator rocks.
“Th is is what we fi nd close to the mineralization, especially the veining. It’s called potassic alteration,” explained Sebert as he held a sample stained bright yellow.
“It’s an associated alteration with the mineralization. So when you go and you prospect and map, you look for this type of thing happening and you say ‘aha, I’m coming close to something’.”
Telkwa’s Hans Smit is one of those prospectors who embraces the search. He was on the mountain with a table of core samples he hauled in from a site about 30 kilometres southwest of Prince George. Building on the work of long-time prospector Rupert Seel, Smit has been working on the project for about approximately years.
Smit insisted the potential for successful mining operations in the Prince George area was high, but the search for gold would be more diffi cult in some ways. He explained that what had tested in the past is not necessarily what is actually in the ground due to the lack of exposed rock in the area.
“It’s quite inexpensive [in other areas] because you just walk and smack apart rocks. In that whole Prince George area there is very low rock outcrop. What you have there is glacial till,” said Smit.
“It’s got the right big scale geology to have big scale deposits. Th e challenge is to fi nd them.”
Smit said it would take time, pointing out that the recently approved KSM gold and copper mine north of Stewart has been worked on since the 1970s.
“Th at’s the fun of it: you get a little bit of evidence and you do some more work,” said Smit.
24
By Rod Link
Alloycorp opens offi ce in Terrace for Kitsault project
A young mining company hopes it’s a case of third time’s the charm with its plan to spend upwards of $1 billion to build a molybdenum mine at Kitsault
on the North Coast.Th e location has been the site of two previous and failed
attempts, the most recent being in the late 1970s which featured the construction of a town for 1,200 people before prices soft ened in 1982, resulting in the mine shutting down and the community being quickly abandoned.
Th is time, Alloycorp Mining, through subsidiary Avanti Kitsault, is convinced of success to mine molybdenum, which is used to strengthen steel.
“We’re looking at this as a mine of the future. It’s not just talk. It’s actually happening,” Alloycorp president Gordon Bogden told a gathering of business leaders and others held in Terrace on April 9.
Forecast at a mine life of 14 years, and possibly longer depending upon proving up additional ore, the operation is to employ 300 people and have a signifi cant economic impact on the Nass Valley, south of Kitsault, and in Terrace.
Its Terrace offi ce is believed to be the fi rst one to be
opened by a mining company in the city in at least several decades.
Th e mine will be among the lowest cost producers of molybdenum in the world, Bogden said.
“High grade, low cost, that’s what makes this project signifi cant,” he said.
Th at’s crucial as market prices for molybdenum have generally been soft ening, resulting in the closure earlier this year of another molybdendum mine owned by Th ompson Creek Metals near Endako.
Bogden said Alloycorp has another advantage – the presence of silver in its ore body.
Separate agreements to sell that metal will add to the economic viability of the project, he added.
See Page 25
“We’re looking at this as a mine of the future. ”
- Gordon Bogden
Preparing forPreparing for
And currently underway is a redesign of how the mined ore will be processed, something that will improve the recovery of – and revenues from – both molybdenum and silver, Bogden continued.
Improving molybdenum and silver recovery will, however, cost more. Th at, along with continuing engineering design work, will push the construction budget up 20 to 30 per cent from a fi rst estimated $818 million.
But Bogden said it’s important to remember that the original construction cost was laid out when only 10 per cent of the design work had been completed.
“Now we have 53 per cent of that work done. We can now put hard data to the project. We’ve increased the confi dence in construction, we’ve done a lot to de-risk the project,” he said.
Alloycorp was expecting as much as (US) $612 million from six international lenders it had lined up last fall but to date just two have committed themselves to (US) $225 million.
One of the six has now dropped out. Th e company continues to work with the remaining three and new potential lenders are reviewing project details.
Bogden acknowledged that the company had hoped to have more of its fi nancing lined up by now.
“But that has nothing to do with the project,” said Bogden of the one lender who dropped out.
“It’s no secret that with the drop in oil prices international banks are reviewing decisions and have deferred on them.”
Additionally, the company has lined up other fi nancing and its debt and equity commitments now total (US) $435 million.
Part of that sum has been used to build a road to the mine site, rebuild a provincial government bridge so that heavy equipment can be moved in and construction of a 150-bed camp.
Financing commitments have also been strengthened by Alloycorp lining up off -take agreements with a company in South Korea and one in Germany to take 70 per cent of the
mine’s production.A key factor in Alloycorp’s planning has been an
agreement signed with the Nisga’a Lisims Government in 2014 providing employment, business and other benefi ts as well as a net smelter royalty of up to two per cent.
“We are pleased so far with the progress of relations with Avanti in the implementation of the benefi ts agreement,” said Gary Patsey, the manager of the Nisga’a Employment Skills and Training agency.
“So far, we have been able to work with Avanti to identify possible employment or contract opportunities and provide referrals to our Nisga’a citizens with Avanti. We look forward to more in the future as the project continues its development.”
Although Kitsault is not within core Nisga’a lands, it is within an area the Nisga’a have rights and interests as set out in the 2000 Nisga’a Final Agreement. When the province gave its environmental approval for the mine in 2013, the Nisga’a objected, saying the province failed to conduct a rigorous assessment of the potential for environmental harm.
A series of negotiations followed with the province and the Nisga’a agreeing in 2014 on a method to resolve their diff erences. Th e deal between Alloycorp and the Nisga’a soon followed as did federal environmental approval for the project.
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26
By Shaun Th omas / Kevin Campbell
Port Edward leaders impressed by Malaysian LNG terminal
While the prospect of a liquefi ed natural gas export terminal is on the lips and minds of many on the North Coast, only a handful of people have ever
actually seen what such a facility entails. Some elected offi cials, including Mayor Dave MacDonald
and some council members in Port Edward and Prince Rupert have visited such a site at the invite of either the BG Group or Petronas, but newly-elected offi cials and some who now oversee the operations of the municipalities missed that opportunity.
But Petronas, the Malaysia state-owned parent company of Pacifi c NorthWest LNG, wanted to ensure as many decision-makers as possible knew what may lay ahead for their community. With that in mind, the company invited new Port Edward chief administrative offi cer Bob Payette, newly elected councillor Grant Moore and fi re chief Sean Pettitt to tour one of the company’s Asian terminals.
And those who went said they were impressed by what
they saw. “Th e professionalism and the safety aspects are top-
notch. Th e fi rst thing you see when you get there is they have a giant billboard of their safety record. It was 2,000-some days since their last accident and we’re talking thousands of employees,” said Moore.
Moore also said he wasn’t expecting to see just how minimal the impact of large ships was in shallow waters.
“We got to go to the harbour tour; they brought us into the shallow water to see what kind of wake it kicks up and it’s hardly any,” he said.
“The professionalism and the safety aspects are top-notch. ”
- Grant Moore
Prince Rupert Truck & TrailerPrince Rupert Truck & Trailer101 Kaien Road Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 3P6101 Kaien Road Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 3P6
The BG Group, proponents of an LNG export facility on Ridley Island, has been sold to Royal Dutch Shell.
The two companies announced a deal on April 8 that will see Shell, which is spearheading the LNG Canada project in Kitimat, pay approximately $70 billion to purchase the BG Group
“BG’s deep water positions and strengths in exploration, liquefaction and LNG shipping and marketing will combine well with Shell’s scale, development expertise and financial strength. The consolidated business will be strongly placed to develop the growth projects in BG’s portfolio. The transaction will take time to complete, during which my team and I will remain committed to BG and our shareholders, and to safely delivering our 2015 business plan,” said BG CEO Helge Lund in a statement.
“This is an important transaction for Shell, accelerating the delivery of our strategy for shareholders. The result will be a more competitive, stronger company for both sets of shareholders in
today’s volatile oil price world ... we believe that the combination is in the interests of both our companies and their shareholders,” said Shell chair Jorma Ollila in a statement following the announcement, with Shell CEO Ben van Beurden noting “LNG is a very important component of this”.
Details on the company’s plans in the Northwest were not immediately available as the agreement needed to be ratified by shareholders.
28
Safety FirstBy Jackie Lieuwen
More than 25 Houston residents attended the Coastal GasLink Open House on April 13 where proponent TransCanada outlined some of the
steps the company is taking to address the concerns people may have about the liquefi ed natural gas pipeline connecting the Northeast to Kitimat.
Jaimie Harding, community relations lead for Coastal GasLink, says the pipeline is very safe.
“If there is an incident, it is a gas and it will evaporate into the air,” she said.
Project director Greg Cano agreed. “What we are going to have in our pipeline is the same
stuff that goes into homes, furnaces and stoves across the country,” he said.
He says the only diff erence is natural gas in homes is required to have an odourant so it can be detected. In the pipelines, it will not have that odourant.
Cano says there are 100 people working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline project and their focus is safety.
“Th e key in everything we do is safety. Th at is the
number one priority,” he said.
Monitoring from above and insideCoastal GasLink will keep 10 metres above the pipeline
clear aft er it is in the ground and will do aerial surveys three or four times per year, said Cano.
Aerial surveys will have very sensitive technology to detect gases and potential leaks.
It will also look for issues such as washouts or landslides that could impact the pipeline, Cano said.
See Page 29
“The key in everything we do is safety. That is the number one priority.”
- Greg Cano
PRINCE RUPERT’S OWN AIRLINEPROUDLY SERVING THE NORTH
He said a more detailed inspection will be done every three or four years by Smart PIGs.
A Smart PIG is an instrument that goes inside the pipeline and inspects the full length from the inside.
It will detect the very smallest incident long before it might cause a problem, Cano said.
Minimizing impactCoastal GasLink wants to minimize environmental
impact by running close to other pipelines. Cano noted the company followed the route of the
Pacifi c Trails pipeline quite closely, but deviated where they had to.
“We tried as much as possible to follow pipelines that were proposed to go before us,” Cano said.
“Th at was one of the fi rst things in our route selection.” Cano says Coastal GasLink wants to protect salmon and
streams, and will choose how to cross streams based on environmental studies.
Th ey will choose out of three options for each stream crossing:
1. Open cut, where they excavate a ditch across a waterway during a time when it is fully frozen or seasonally dry.
2. Isolated open cut, which would see water redirected while they put in a ditch and pipeline.
3. Horizontal drilling, where they install the pipeline under the stream without making a ditch through the stream bed.
A promise of consistencyCoastal GasLink has no intention of converting their
natural gas pipeline to oil, said Cano. Th ey have signed contracts with First Nations along the pipeline route promising their pipeline will not change over to carry oil, Cano said.
Direct oversightCano said members of the public will have direct
contact to Coastal GasLink staff . While the prime contractors are on the fi eld
constructing the pipeline, Cano says several hundred TransCanada employees will be working with them.
“We don’t just give the contractors a cheque and tell them to call us when it’s ready,” Cano said.
“We monitor them every step of the way. When anyone local has an issue, they won’t have to deal with the prime contractor. Th ey will be dealing directly with TransCanada people.”
“We don’t just give the contractors a cheque and tell them to call us when it’s done.”
Marko Furmanek was tired of getting soaked from the backwash of high pressure water-based steam cleaners and from being exposed to chemicals
while cleaning engines and other industrial equipment of grime, grease and grit.
“No matter what you did and how you dressed, you’d just get wet and dirty,” he said.
Fellow mechanic and long-time friend Gary Louie felt the same.
“I got double pneumonia from inhaling the steam,” he said of inhaling chemical-laden steam during a stint at a now-closed gold mine up north.
“I know all those chemicals that are used,” added Furmanek.
“And it’s not healthy.”Th e two, along with another old friend and welder, Dean
Morris, began looking for a better way.Th e search took them to dry ice, compressed CO
2 (carbon
dioxide), which is used in those billowing clouds that add atmosphere to spooky graveyard scenes in movies.
Dry ice is made by pressuring and refrigerating CO2
until it liquefi es. When the pressure is reduced, some liquid carbon dioxide vaporizes, causing a rapid lowering of temperature of the remaining liquid.
See Page 31
“There is no water, that’s the key. ”
- Marko Furmanek
As a result, the extreme cold causes the liquid to solidify into a snow-like consistency that can be compressed into small pellets or, depending upon the need, into spaghetti-like strands or into larger blocks.
When shot out under pressure through the kind of wand you might use at a car wash, the dry ice quickly and efficiently rids surfaces of accumulated grime, grease and grit.
After researching the potential uses for dry ice and the business case for starting a commercial cleaning operation, the three founded Northwest Blizzard Blasting nearly a year ago and have been actively promoting the service for the past four months.
The only other similar cleaning business within the interior the trio found was in Williams Lake, convincing them there was an untapped market from Prince George west to the coast.
Early on they realized that while they could bring in dry ice from an Edmonton manufacturer, they’d lose 20 per cent of the shipment each day it was on the road.
That brought on the decision to make their own, leading to installing a tall cylinder holding 50 tons of liquid CO
2 next to their building on Highway 16 just
west of Terrace.It meant an increase in costs, said Furmanek, but is
overall more efficient.The trio has discovered that because the concept is
new to the region, they’ve spent large amounts of time explaining what they can do.
“There’s no water. That’s the key,” said Furmanek of dry ice that quickly evaporates in the atmosphere.
Material that’s cleaned off is frozen and dried to a powder before dropping to the ground, making for an easier clean up.
“A job might take four hours and then there’s clean up,” said Louie.
“With us there’s that four hours and you’re done.”Morris added that the process even makes for an
efficient way of cleaning barnacles and other objects from the hulls of boats.
The list of uses includes removing mould found during building renovations and, after a fire in a Terrace townhouse complex, the trio was called in to clean off soot and other material before reconstruction started.
The company is also completely mobile thanks to a large trailer that can hold the heavily-insulated chests containing dry ice and the cleaning equipment.
A generator in the trailer also makes them completely self-sufficient.
Aside from industrial cleaning, dry ice can be used to clean large kitchens in work camps.
Packaged in blocks – which Northwest Blizzard Blasting sells – and placed in insulated containers, dry ice can keep food either frozen or refrigerated and keep
liquids cool.The company’s customer list includes Golder and
Associates, the environmental services company that has used dry ice to keep samples frozen for the trip south for assessment.
Furmanek, Louie and Morris have had the assistance of financier 16/37 Community Futures in setting up the company.
And they’ve also had the benefit of an understanding landlord and companies that have provided services at no charge.
“They know what we’re trying to do, establish a business,” said Furmanek.
Highbank Resources’ developers of an aggregate production facility north of Prince Rupert, marked a milestone in April with the commissioning of the
aggregate plant Swamp Point North (SPN) site. “Within a year of receiving our mine operating permit,
we have seen the SPN –Portland Canal Quarry Project obtain funding, procure and transport to the site all
necessary equipment, establish a year round camp, log and clear the site, expand a road haulage network, construct a multi- million dollar marine load-out system, build a water recirculation pond for the aggregate washing plant, and commission all equipment for a fully functioning oceanside sand and gravel operation,” said company director Jim Place.
33
Rio Tinto Alcan continues the lead up to fi ling with the Environmental Assessment Offi ce (EAO) for their planned expansion of Terminal A.
RTA last year entered an agreement with LNG Canada for their use of Terminal B, the former Eurocan wharf.
In anticipation of LNG Canada taking over that piece of land, RTA will have to expand their own wharf to meet capacity.
Th e company held an open house, together with the EAO, and this latest event is held in anticipation of the company’s fi ling.
“In a few weeks we’ll put in our application and it will be the formal [environmental assessment] process from there,” said Kevin Dobbin, manager of communities, external relations and media.
Perhaps among the most important factors of this project to the community is how it impacts water access, namely to Hospital Beach.
Dobbin said there’s no long-term plan for the beach closure, although construction may eventually result in a temporary closure.
But at completion, the plan states the community will still be able to use the facility.
“We don’t plan on closing the beach at all, long-term. But
during construction it might be,” he said.He said the company has worked closely with the Haisla
and the community in putting together their expansion plan, which includes a barge ramp and dredging in the water.
Dobbin said they’ll have to dredge three or four metres to accommodate their ships.
General Manager of BC Operations for RTA Gaby Poirier said right now they use their Terminal B for shipping out their metal but once Terminal A is extended their one terminal will serve the import of the raw material and metal export.
Th e company will move entirely to the new terminal as soon as its completed.
Filing for an environmental assessment certifi cate will trigger a 180-day review phase where the public can make comments.
“We don’t plan on closing the “We don’t plan on closing the beach at all, long-term.”beach at all, long-term.”
- Kevin Dobbin
RTA pledges to keep Hospital Beach open to allRTA pledges to keep Hospital Beach open to allBy Cameron Orr
Expanding the
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Serving you through:
Grasping genomicsGrasping genomics
By Chris Gareau
Microbes are not usually at the top of most people’s cleaning supply lists, but it is microbes that Dr. Sue Baldwin believes can
help make the environments around mines pristine.“Basically all the technologies we’re looking at are
involved with treatment of mine-infl uenced water. Th ose that are based on the biological process, they don’t always work properly; and it’s kind of a disaster when they don’t work properly ... that’s why we’re really doing this, because it gives us access to information we weren’t really able to get at before,” said the University of British Columbia professor from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
See Page 35
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Baldwin was at Northwest Community College in Smithers earlier this year explain her work with Genome British Columbia. Th e non-profi t organization works on research projects in human health, forestry, fi sheries and aquaculture, energy and mining and agri-food.
Genome BC’s major funding partners include the provincial and federal governments. It also receives funds from other public and private sources, including Imperial Metals, which has Genome BC testing ways to stop pollutants from spreading into the ecosystem at its mine sites using metal-eating micro-organisms. Genome BC has also just started research on tailings ponds.
Th e organization’s sector development manager Aniko Takacs-Cox also attended last month’s mining event Rock Talk.
“[Genome BC] is moving more in that end, where we’re really trying to solve problems for industry,” said Takacs-Cox.
Imperial Metals vice president Steve Robertson said the company has not started using the bio-technology yet in its operations, but has conducted research projects with Genome BC.
“We are doing a research project where we have an ABR, or anorobic biological reactor. Th e research that we’re doing there is we take organic matter, which in this case is a combination of cow manure and straw, and we put a layer of that on the bottom of a pond,” explained Robertson.
“It doesn’t have a lot of water fl owing through it and
we keep it quiet and it’s non-oxygenated. Th at creates what they call a reducing environment ... and in this non-oxygenated environment these bacteria thrive. Th ose particular bacteria take sulphate out of the water and turn it into a form that is no longer dissolved. In doing so it actually takes some of the metals as well and it polishes the water. It takes the water from being in a pretty clean state to being in an ultra clean state.”
Robertson said the company has been using this research for long-term closure plans. He added that its Mount Polley operation has been studying the bacteria for approximately 10 years.
“Aft er the mine is not in operation anymore, we would like to have a series of these wetlands in place.”
Imperial Metals newest mine in northwest B.C., Red Chris, is expected to be at full operation by this summer according to Robertson.
“It polishes the water. It takes the water from
being in a pretty clean state to being in an ultra clean state. ”
- Dr. Sue Baldwin
36
FairviewFairview Sale?Sale?
By Shaun Th omas
A company owned by the government of Dubai is set to purchase Fairview Terminal from Deutsche Bank for $580 million.
DP World Ltd. announced Th ursday its intention to purchase the Prince Rupert operations, with the transaction expected to be complete in the second half of this year.
DP World CEO Mohammed Sharaf said Fairview Terminal has a number of attributes that made the prospect of purchasing the facility attractive to the company.
“Fairview Container Terminal off ers the fastest access for vessels travelling between Asia and North America. Th e terminal also off ers the highest productivity rates on the West Coast and an effi cient rail link to the hinterland,” said Sharaf, noting further growth at the terminal is top of mind for the company with plans to conduct a feasibility study to grow the terminal to 2.45 million TEUs.
“Th e long-term concession and the ability to build beyond the current Phase 2 of expansion presents a fantastic opportunity for DP World.”
Th e company said some of the benefi ts to the province and the region include access to DP World’s “state-of-the-art supply chain securities and safety practices” and “world-class productivity enhancing best practices in container terminal development and operation”.
“We are delighted to extend our global footprint with
a second terminal in Canada. Th e value proposition is compelling and the addition of capacity to our portfolio will contribute to DP World’s continued growth and the delivery of shareholder value,” added DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
Prince Rupert Port Authority manager of corporate communications Michael Gurney said the deal to sell Fairview Terminal can only be seen as positive.
“DP World is one of the world’s top three container terminal operators, and its move to acquire Fairview Container Terminal represents a positive step in the evolution of Prince Rupert’s port operations,” he said.
“While the sale has still to be approved by Investment Canada, we can say that DP World’s commitment to Fairview expansion — and its reputation for excellence in operations — would sustain the terminal’s growing impact on economic activity regionally and on a broader scale.”
Th e agreement is subject to Canadian regulatory approvals.
“DP World is one of the world’s top three container
terminal operators.”
- Michael Gurney
2020VISIONONE-ON-ONE
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Complete job details can be viewed at: http://www.westernforest.com/building-value/our-people-employment/careers/
Western Forest Products Inc. is a margin focused integrated company safely producing lumber from coastal forests. If you believe that you have the skills and qualifications that we are looking for, please reply in confidence:
Human Resource Department Facsimile: 1.866.840.9611 Email: [email protected]
As only short listed candidates will be contacted, WFP thanks you in advance for your interest in our Company. Please visit us at www.westernforest.com
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For full details and to apply visit: http://www.brookfieldjohnsoncontrols.com Requisition # 150865 for Prince George
FULL-TIME COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT MECHANIC LEVEL 2 OR HIGHER
We are a growing, progressive and well respected carrier operating a full repair and maintenance facility at our head office in Coquitlam.REQUIREMENTS: Must be physically fit, communicates well in English, full certification.WE OFFER: Attractive compensation package which includes group benefits.
We are a growing, progressive and well respected carrier specializing in the transportation of perishable and dry freight, since 1957. We are currently looking for an individual to support our Founding Values for future success at our Coquitlam Terminal. We are currently looking for a FT Company Town & Highway Driver. Requires a Class 1 license with 6 -12 months of previous driving experience required. Consistent hours and start times.
We offer competitive wages with group benefits and a group RRSP plan. Fax Resume & abstract to (1)604-472-2136 or email to: [email protected]
Millwright (Industrial Mechanic)The ideal candidate should have a high degree of troubleshooting experience and possess the ability to resolve hydraulic system faults. Experience in fabrication would be a definite asset. You will be able to demonstrate a superior technical background and have the desire to work in industrial maintenance. Ideally the successful candidate will bring 10 years of experience performing general Millwright duties, with a proven safety and health record. You must hold a valid drivers license and an Interprovincial Red Seal Millwright ticket. Shift work will be required.
Currently the position is paid $41.51/hr, in addition, PRG offers a comprehensive hourly employee benefit program.
A pre-employment medical is required. Interested individuals who want to join a great team are invited to submit their resumes in confidence to us by May 15, 2015:
Human Resources Department Prince Rupert Grain Ltd.
1300 Ridley Island Road, Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 3Y1 or Fax: (250) 627-8541
Applicants need only apply once. Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer.
Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. operates a world-class, high-speed grain export terminal situated in Prince Rupert on the scenic north coast of British
Columbia. The Maintenance department is currently seeking qualified applicants for the following position.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE ENGINEER Looking for a Building Maintenance Engineer to maintain, install, upgrade, monitor and repair building mechanical systems and services and respond to client concerns in assigned buildings. The successful candidate will be a Journeyman Refrigeration Mechanic and hold a Gasfitter B Ticket. We would also consider other trade skills such as plumber, sheet metal worker, electrician, pipefitter/steamfitter.
JOB DUTIES AND TASKS:Maintains and repairs building mechanical systems.Installs, repairs and modifies heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment such as filters, fans, thermostats, controls, pumps, boilers, furnaces, compressorsRepairs and maintains refrigeration equipment such as chillers, condenser motors and fansRepairs, monitors and maintains Client Comfort Systems including adjusting and updating computer programs and data and replacing, calibrating and adjusting system panels and input and output devicesSelects and monitors contractors, ensuring completion of work to a standard and authorizing payment within commitment authorityCoordinates the repair or planned maintenance of HVAC equipmentReviews specification and plans for new installations and makes recommendationsPerforms minor building maintenance as required and coordinates the repair of equipment such as plumbing, kitchen appliances, fire sprinklers, gas or electric heaters and irrigation systems
Maintains client satisfaction in assigned building responds to client concerns regarding room temperatures, ventilation, fans, dusty vents test indoor air quality; modify temperature and fresh air levels; maintain humidity levels addresses client safety concerns on issues involving air quality and informs clients of actions taken.
Excellent wages, paid vacation & benefit package for the right person. If you are a career minded person looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity then please apply.
For full details and to apply visit: http://www.brookfieldjohnsoncontrols.com
Requisition #150917 for Haida Gwaii. Requisition # 150921 for Terrace.
This space is a collaborative promotional venture by LNG Canada and N2K Editor Cameron Orr
Sherrie Little and Ken Maitland,members of the Community Advisory Committee
Q: Why are you part of the Community Advisory Group?
Little: There are actually two reasons. One, as a resident of Kitimat I am interested and concerned about developments happening in the area and, two, as a KVI [Kitimat Valley Institute] employee, I wanted to ensure that we were at the table and aware of upcoming events to ensure that we were prepared and able to offer assistance as needed.
Maitland: I wanted to ensure we had the best possible project here, and that means you have to have informed people and knowledgeable people to receive the information, question what they’re doing, and with my history I felt I was one of the people in town who could do that. (Ken is a retired senior environmental technologist with 37 years of experience.)
Q: How has being on the Community Advisory Group helped you further understand the project?
Little: LNG Canada has been very open with the information about the work being done, how it will impact the environment and community, and what adjustments they are making to ensure that there is a limited impact. They shared a presentation about what LNG is and are providing a wealth of education to the group.
Q: What topics about the project interest you the most?
Maitland: I get a better sense of the magnitude of the project and what the project actually will be. There’s a lot more to it than just cooling natural gas and putting it in to ships. There’s a whole series of things that happen along the way, each one developing their own issues. It’s trying to identify what those potential issues are, how they’ll be handled, what the impacts will be for local community and the wider community.
Q: Recently you were on a site tour – what did you learn from the tour?
Little: I learned that they are maintaining some of the existing infrastructure from Methanex (and employing former employees) and that some of this will be removed. Also, that the camp will have self-contained units, and be very high quality to attract the workforce required. There will be some dredging required at the new loading dock but that there will be minimal impact on the existing water life. The size of the project footprint is much larger than I had originally thought from the drawings and models.
Maitland: The size of the project, the footprint that they’re actually going to have. When you think about the old Methanex site you thought that was a reasonably big site, but that’s just a small portion of what the project will have. It’s much bigger than most people really think about.
Q: When people in the community fi nd out that you are on the Community Advisory Group what are the top two questions/comments about the project?
Maitland: ‘Is it going ahead’ is right now the question I get most. Is this actually going to happen? That’s very important to an awful lot of people. The other is ‘how is it going to impact me? Am I going to be bothered by the noise of this operation, of the construction? Will there be emissions coming off of this thing that’s going to bother me?’ ... What I tell them right now is they’re still in the engineering phase. You’re not going to fi nd a contractor to build a house until the architect gives you a set of plans and the contractor gives you an estimate as to what it’s going to cost to build it.
Q: What would you like to tell the community about your learnings from being on the Community Advisory Group?
Little: I have found the LNG Canada representatives forthright with the information that they can discuss and eager to answer any questions that are brought up. They are transparent in their inability to commit to the FID possibility and in their support of local talent and local suppliers. If you have any questions, talk to someone on the Community Advisory Group or contact LNG Canada directly. If they don’t have the answer, they will research it.
Maitland: What I’ve learnt is LNG Canada and the partners that are actually putting this package together...I am very impressed on how detailed they are, how open they are, and how careful they are not to promise things, but to investigate, to listen, and try to accommodate as they can. That whole sense that ‘we’re here, we want to be part of the community.’ So they’re working really hard.
Community Advisory CommitteeLNG Canada connects itself in to the community of Kitimat in many ways, and one of its direct lines to its residents, businesses and networks is through the Community Advisory Group.
The group — chosen from a group of applicants — was formed to help ensure that the community’s interests are represented and considered as project planning continues.
We spoke with two of its members — Sherrie Little and Ken Maitland — to discuss what it’s like on the board and how it has informed them on the project:
Trade is building stronger communities.The Port of Prince Rupert is growing opportunities and prosperity by connecting the communities of northern BC.
Last year, port activity was directly responsible for the equivalent of 3,060 permanent full-time jobs. Watch and
share our video tribute to the workers and families of BC’s gateway industry: youtube.com/rupertport.
