Kitimat was the place to be in North America in the 1950s. The massive Alcan project in the northwest British Columbia was completed in just five years - dam, tunnel, powerhouse, Kemano, transmission line, smelter, and Kitimat. Browse through Kitimat history with these project images - a BC digital collection. The project was one of the most photographed and filmed construction jobs in BC history.
Kitimat was the place to be in North America in the 1950s. The massive Alcan project in the northwest British Columbia was completed in just five years - dam, tunnel, powerhouse, Kemano, transmission line, smelter, and Kitimat. Browse through Kitimat history with these project images - a BC digital collection. The project was one of the most photographed and filmed construction jobs in BC history.
Photograph of aerial overview of the Alcan project in the 1950s. View is from very high up. Douglas Channel, the Kitimat River Estuary, Smeltersite, and early beginnings of townsite are visible. Snow mountain ranges in background.
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.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial overview of the Alcan project in the 1950s. View is from very high up. Douglas Channel, the Kitimat River Estuary, Smeltersite, and early beginnings of townsite are visible. Snow mountain ranges in background.
Photograph of inside of lounge of the Alcan Guest House No.1 on Albatross Avenue. Visible inside the lounge is a stone fireplace, chairs, tables, and a lamp. In the back on the right there are stairs leading up.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of inside of lounge of the Alcan Guest House No.1 on Albatross Avenue. Visible inside the lounge is a stone fireplace, chairs, tables, and a lamp. In the back on the right there are stairs leading up.
Photograph of entrance hall in guest house no. 1. On right there is a table and chair. Table has a phone and book on it. A curtain covers a doorway near it. Behind, there is a staircase going up on the right, and a stone wall in the centre that is part of the fireplace for the room at the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of entrance hall in guest house no. 1. On right there is a table and chair. Table has a phone and book on it. A curtain covers a doorway near it. Behind, there is a staircase going up on the right, and a stone wall in the centre that is part of the fireplace for the room at the left.
Photograph of showing the framing almost completed in Guest House No.2. Two men are visible working on it. Apartments visible behind, and townsite camp is to the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of showing the framing almost completed in Guest House No.2. Two men are visible working on it. Apartments visible behind, and townsite camp is to the left.
Photograph of sittingroom of upstairs suite in Guest House No. 1. Room contains a couch, chairs, tables, a lamp, and a brick fireplace. Door exiting the room is on the left.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of sittingroom of upstairs suite in Guest House No. 1. Room contains a couch, chairs, tables, a lamp, and a brick fireplace. Door exiting the room is on the left.
Photograph of #1 Guest House showing amdeck roofing in place. Two men are working on the roof, and two men are working on another structure on the left. Building material is laid on the ground around.
Donated by Jackie Worboys. Given to the Jackie Mufford Worboys family by Wally Melville.
Scope and Content
Photograph of #1 Guest House showing amdeck roofing in place. Two men are working on the roof, and two men are working on another structure on the left. Building material is laid on the ground around.