Elmer’s Diary Entry Dated July 30, 2012

Prince Rupert Campground, 1106 hours

I never expected to come back! There was no reason to as the expected two years stint from May 1963 to April 30, 1965 was a planned work commitment to Columbia Cellulose Co. Ltd (the pulp mill owner at that time), to achieve my Professional Engineering status after graduation in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan .

Still it was my first real job in my career and no question; it set a lasting imprint in my life.

As we drove up to the gates, Marilyn, Rick, Lori and I, to witness the slowly deteriorating equipment and buildings that represented the Kraft Mill that was situate on the hill beside the decaying Sulfite Mill that was my original jobsite. The Kraft Mill was my responsibility for the start of site preparation with blasting, etc.

What greeted us took my breath away. The inmates of the guard shack were two intimidating men who my opening joke of “reporting for work after a long absence” as sort of an affront, really.

The question of “why are the lights shining on all the buildings” was returned with “a security reason” and followed by “we don’t allow anyone to walk around up there”.

Then I asked “does anyone come around?” The response “sometimes guys like you!”

The entire parking lot was stacked with lumber pallets marked Fraser Mills Lumber, which obviously was on its way to overseas markets or perhaps the Lower Mainland, by barge.

The gate was still there and in the distance, the former Administration Building in sad shape. I noted the second floor Engineering Office where Chief Engineer George McLeod and Assistant Engineer __?__ Martenussen had adjacent offices.

I was able to get a glimpse of the former Sulfite Mill Machine Room that was likely used for other purposes after the Sulfite Mill shut down. I still recall the agitated telecom was having with Gene DeLucca at Head Office in Vancouver “you are crazy to build a Sulfate Mill beside an operating Sulfite Mill……..one will “eat” the other in a year’s time”. Those words rang like clarion screeches in my ears.

I am not sure whether I know all the reasons for the demise of both Pulp Mills but it appears that perhaps senior management may have influenced some significant injury to that process.

I noted that the former settling pond that once “bubbled” with caustic chemicals and drained on the outgoing tides was standing empty. I just wonder what the chemical analysis would show now.

No, the security guards were somewhat less than good Public Relations Officers and so Rick and I walked away but not before Rick took a photo of me embracing the sign posting “No Admittance” along with other discouraging statements.

1240 hours

I am now in “Breakers Pub” looking at the harbor where Sid Corbett used to park his yacht in the Yacht Club. Many happy times were spent in that boat with Ron Ross, Robert Miller, and Jim Holloway and of course, Sidney Corbett our “fearless captain”.

I just visited the Port of Prince Rupert and noted their interesting data:

• 2,700 permanent jobs in the harbor which involve shipping coking coal, all kinds of grains and other exports to the Asian Markets. I was not aware that Prince Rupert is closer to the Asian markets by 1,000 miles than Vancouver
• #150 million in wages

So losing 600 jobs in the Pulp Mill operations has not daunted the continuing growth and existence of Prince Rupert.

Elmer Verigin

Spring Summer Fall Winter notebook by Kim, Lora, Abby and Macy October 08, 2013