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.
Photo depicts First Burns Night in Anderson Creek Mess Hall at Smeltersite. One man plays the bagpipes while another follows with the haggis held high.
Photo depicts First Burns Night in Anderson Creek Mess Hall at Smeltersite. One man plays the bagpipes while another follows with the haggis held high.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. Ken & Joyce MacKinnon Collection
Photo depicts four officials who had just returned to Vanderhoof after the official naming ceremony of the Kenney Dam. From left is the Honourable E. T. Kenney for whom the dam was named after; Mr. William Alan Whyte, General Freight Agent, Western Division for Canadian National Railways and Steamships in Vancouver, B.C.; Mr. McNeely Dubose, Vice President of the Aluminum Company of Canada in Montreal, P.Q.; The Honourable Clarence Wallace, Lieutenant Governor of the province of British Columbia located in Victoria.
Photo depicts four officials who had just returned to Vanderhoof after the official naming ceremony of the Kenney Dam. From left is the Honourable E. T. Kenney for whom the dam was named after; Mr. William Alan Whyte, General Freight Agent, Western Division for Canadian National Railways and Steamships in Vancouver, B.C.; Mr. McNeely Dubose, Vice President of the Aluminum Company of Canada in Montreal, P.Q.; The Honourable Clarence Wallace, Lieutenant Governor of the province of British Columbia located in Victoria.
Notes
This photo was in all the newspapers. -- Photo was taken the day after returning to Vanderhoof. -- The photo was taken on the back of CNR private car #82. Ron Whyte Collection
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,
Photo depicts the Last Spike Ceremony for the Canadian National Railway Terrace to Kitimat line. From left is Duncan K. Kerr, Vice President of Associated Boards of Trade of B.C.; S.F. Dingle, Vice President of C.N.R, seen here driving in the aluminum spike.; Major J.L. Charles, Chief Engineer, C.N.R. Western Region; and Percy E. Radley, Alcan Project Manager.
Photo depicts the Last Spike Ceremony for the Canadian National Railway Terrace to Kitimat line. From left is Duncan K. Kerr, Vice President of Associated Boards of Trade of B.C.; S.F. Dingle, Vice President of C.N.R, seen here driving in the aluminum spike.; Major J.L. Charles, Chief Engineer, C.N.R. Western Region; and Percy E. Radley, Alcan Project Manager.
Micheal Kinnear Citizenship 1956 plaque. Front is metal, with a wooden backing. Shield shaped. Organizational Objects
Physical Condition
fair
Material
wood, metal
Condition Remarks
metal front is scratched and tarnished
Height
17cm
Width
12.7cm
Date Range
1956
Accession Number
2000.33.597
Biographical Notes
From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
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.
