Prince Rupert city council passed eight more remedial orders at its April 22 meeting as the city continues its goal to clean up derelict buildings in the downtown area and beyond.
Three properties on Third Avenue and one on Second Avenue were given notice by the city, while four properties outside the downtown core were also hit with remedial orders.
Coun. Barry Cunningham praised staff, saying there had been plenty of positive feedback from the community regarding previous remedial orders.
NEW MONUMENT
Mariners Park could eventually see a new monument honouring Japanese-Canadians and their history in the region, with council passing a proposal from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Project (JCLS) for the city to apply for a $400,000 grant through the JCLS.
JCLS CEO Susanne Tabata spoke of Prince Rupert’s historical ties with Japanese-Canadians, particularly through the fishing industry.
The monument would include a Japanese-style gazebo, seating and interpretive signage, according to a report from the city.
City manager Rob Buchan said the timing of the request was perfect, as the city is already taking steps to renew the park. The site of the monument would conflict with the Memorial Wall for those Lost at Sea, which currently stands in the park, but Buchan said the city already has plans to relocate wall.
According to Tabata, Prince Rupert would be one of 29 heritage monuments in B.C. communities the JCLS hopes to build, with a particular emphasis on honouring the victims of Second World War internment camps.
Mayor Herb Pond spoke of his time at the North Pacific Cannery, where he said he learned of the tragic stories of Japanese-Canadians in Prince Rupert sent to internment camps.
The application for the grant is due on May 15 and must include an approved location.
Due to some hesitation from council over the memorial wall, an amendment was added to include a backup location for the JCLS site.
UNION HALL
EXEMPTION
The city passed a 10-year tax exemption for the ILWU Local 505 building – which is currently under construction – under the city’s recently-implemented downtown revitalization agreement.
RESOLUTION SUPPORT
Council passed a motion to support a resolution from the city of Port Alberni to engage more with the needs of seniors in rural B.C., calling for the provincial government to create a ministry to deal with the inequities that rural seniors face.
“The way seniors are treated in rural communities of northern B.C. is disgusting,” said Cunningham, who pointed to housing and income challenges many seniors in the region face.
BRIDGE CONTRACT
AWARDED
A contract to fix the Sixth Avenue Bridge – which has been closed since Dec. 15, 2023 – was awarded to Surespan Construction Ltd.
Coun. Wade Niesh raised concerns that the other bids were not disclosed to council as they usually are, though director of corporate and legislative services Rosamaria Miller said Surespan was the lowest bidder. She also said director of operations Richard Pucci would be able to address the concerns at the next meeting, as he was absent.
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