Photograph of Alcan smelter. Area still in progress, buildings still being built. Smoke coming from past site on the left and at the back. Douglas Channel and Kitimat River estuary in the 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 Alcan smelter. Area still in progress, buildings still being built. Smoke coming from past site on the left and at the back. Douglas Channel and Kitimat River estuary in the background.
Slide showing construction of Alcan potlines. Kitimat River estuary, and Mount Elizabeth visible background. Image is a double exposure, so another image of the Alcan buildings is visible through it.
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 construction of Alcan potlines. Kitimat River estuary, and Mount Elizabeth visible background. Image is a double exposure, so another image of the Alcan buildings is visible through it.
Slide showing cleared out area with Alcan potlines visible in the distance. Road is visible, and a green truck is driving to the right in the foreground.
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 cleared out area with Alcan potlines visible in the distance. Road is visible, and a green truck is driving to the right in the foreground.
Slide showing the Alcan dock construction. Two people walking on the rail line on it, other people are around. Boat to the left just before the dock goes out. Smeltersite pier visible in distance.
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 Alcan dock construction. Two people walking on the rail line on it, other people are around. Boat to the left just before the dock goes out. Smeltersite pier visible in distance.
Photograph of aerial view of the smelter area looking north. Note rectifier buildings mainly closed in and roofing nearing completion. Potline footings are beginning to extend east of the centre passageway. Service building group is closed in and nearing completion at upper left centre. Some snow on ground.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial view of the smelter area looking north. Note rectifier buildings mainly closed in and roofing nearing completion. Potline footings are beginning to extend east of the centre passageway. Service building group is closed in and nearing completion at upper left centre. Some snow on ground.