James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing opening to the Kitimat Yacht Club basin. Sailboats and the Alcan dock in the distance.
Showing steel framework of Kitimat's first curling club building being erected just East of the Kitimat River Bridge, Rod and Gun Association clubhouse is in the background.
Showing steel framework of Kitimat's first curling club building being erected just East of the Kitimat River Bridge, Rod and Gun Association clubhouse is in the background.
Photograph showing Kitimat Works Manager, A.C. Turney and Aluminum Company's Superintendent of the Kitimat Electrical Department, G.S. Kinnear with Sir Vincent Ferranti at a reception at the Rod and Gun Club,
Photograph showing Kitimat Works Manager, A.C. Turney and Aluminum Company's Superintendent of the Kitimat Electrical Department, G.S. Kinnear with Sir Vincent Ferranti at a reception at the Rod and Gun Club,
Souvenir of the Organization Meeting of the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce in Kitimat B.C. Contains signatures of founding members and businesses. Cover features a photo by Gordon Lee of Alcan's First Stage Smelter development.
Souvenir of the Organization Meeting of the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce in Kitimat B.C. Contains signatures of founding members and businesses. Cover features a photo by Gordon Lee of Alcan's First Stage Smelter development.
Photo showing Kitimat's 1st Service Club - Kinsmen presented with Charter. L/R B/R Fred Heathcote, Louis Roberts, Stan Fryer, Rod MacDougall, David Allen, Lionel Baly. L/R F/R Oliver Tingle, Wally Melville, Jack Cummer, Deputy Governor Ken McConnell, Williams Timms, Alftred Blashill. Deputy Governor Harry Sheardown.
Photo showing Kitimat's 1st Service Club - Kinsmen presented with Charter. L/R B/R Fred Heathcote, Louis Roberts, Stan Fryer, Rod MacDougall, David Allen, Lionel Baly. L/R F/R Oliver Tingle, Wally Melville, Jack Cummer, Deputy Governor Ken McConnell, Williams Timms, Alftred Blashill. Deputy Governor Harry Sheardown.
Photo showing Turtle Club, Thomas J. Edwards (centre); Roy Bakke, Sagimat Safety Director (left); T.H. Shields, President of Pacific Stell Erectors Ltd (right)
Photo showing Turtle Club, Thomas J. Edwards (centre); Roy Bakke, Sagimat Safety Director (left); T.H. Shields, President of Pacific Stell Erectors Ltd (right)
Photo showing Premier Bennett visits Kitimat. L/R R.E. Montador, Thomas H. Christie, Reeve Wilbur Hallman, Premier W.A.C. Bennett, Percy E. Radley, Waldo Skillings, R.S. Lawrence
Photo showing Premier Bennett visits Kitimat. L/R R.E. Montador, Thomas H. Christie, Reeve Wilbur Hallman, Premier W.A.C. Bennett, Percy E. Radley, Waldo Skillings, R.S. Lawrence
