Slide showing the Bank of Montreal building at smeltersite. Bunkhouse visible behind, and in front is a large, uprooted tree. Powerlines are up the hill behind, and below is the main road.
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 the Bank of Montreal building at smeltersite. Bunkhouse visible behind, and in front is a large, uprooted tree. Powerlines are up the hill behind, and below is the main road.
Inside 'Smeltersite' Kitimat. 10:00 a.m. every Friday! These guys worked 60-50 for Alcan & the Construction Co. (Kitimat Constructors, probably.) Most of them were D.P.'s (Displaced Persons - inappropriate language for these days) from Italy & Portugal. Kitimat at this time had virtually no women (1%). Alcan & RCMP approved and supervised 8-10 huge poker tents (15-20 tables each) at this time (mid 1956). The railway from terrace came through - no road out until 1958. Only way in to Kitimat was Union Steamship or sea plane.
Inside 'Smeltersite' Kitimat. 10:00 a.m. every Friday! These guys worked 60-50 for Alcan & the Construction Co. (Kitimat Constructors, probably.) Most of them were D.P.'s (Displaced Persons - inappropriate language for these days) from Italy & Portugal. Kitimat at this time had virtually no women (1%). Alcan & RCMP approved and supervised 8-10 huge poker tents (15-20 tables each) at this time (mid 1956). The railway from terrace came through - no road out until 1958. Only way in to Kitimat was Union Steamship or sea plane.
Photograph of one storey building with overhang supported by posts. 'Bank of Montreal' sign on left side of the building. This building was located in Service Centre, to the right of the old liquor store.
Photograph of one storey building with overhang supported by posts. 'Bank of Montreal' sign on left side of the building. This building was located in Service Centre, to the right of the old liquor store.
