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 showing view of Kitimat River Bridge looking west, east pier in foreground showing whalers in place with sheet piling driven to grade, in center: pier, and on right: two bearing piles driven to required bearing. On left, sixty foot pile in place for splicing, temporary bridge crew completing placing rock in pier.
Photo showing view of Kitimat River Bridge looking west, east pier in foreground showing whalers in place with sheet piling driven to grade, in center: pier, and on right: two bearing piles driven to required bearing. On left, sixty foot pile in place for splicing, temporary bridge crew completing placing rock in pier.
Photo depicts an aerial view of Kitimat. Seen is land cleared for Neighbourhood "D" and the Whitesail Neighbourhood under construction, right foreground. The Alcan smelter and channel are in the background.
Photo depicts an aerial view of Kitimat. Seen is land cleared for Neighbourhood "D" and the Whitesail Neighbourhood under construction, right foreground. The Alcan smelter and channel are in the background.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. -- On the official "Town Plan for Kitimat, B.C." by Stein and Mayer & Whittlesey, Neighbourhood "D", the cleared area in the photo, was to have three elementary schools, and one junior and one senior high school. This neighbourhood was never constructed and was returned to bush.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat river estuary showing Kitimat River, Kitimat Harbor, Minette Bay, and the Alcan company smelter site taken from the southwest looking northeast towards the Kitimat City Centre.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat river estuary showing Kitimat River, Kitimat Harbor, Minette Bay, and the Alcan company smelter site taken from the southwest looking northeast towards the Kitimat City Centre.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat Region. Includes the Kitimat estuary, the Alcan smelter site and in the distance, the Kitimat City Centre. Taken from the southwest.
Aerial photo of the Kitimat Region. Includes the Kitimat estuary, the Alcan smelter site and in the distance, the Kitimat City Centre. Taken from the southwest.
