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 "Opening of the Royal Bank of Canada, 1st Bank in Service Centre". Office in Kitimat Builders Supply; 1st business to open in Service Centre. L/R Jack Hilts, Manager; Reeve Will Sparks; E.D. Don Forward, Manager of Kitimat Builders; George Malby, Alcan Resident Engineer; ??; J.T. Madill, Alcan Power Engineer; Norm Bradshaw, Bank Accountant; Larry Ecroyd, Northern Sentinel.
#2: Northern Sentinel: Box #2: Heritage Files - Royal Bank
Scope and Content
Photo showing "Opening of the Royal Bank of Canada, 1st Bank in Service Centre". Office in Kitimat Builders Supply; 1st business to open in Service Centre. L/R Jack Hilts, Manager; Reeve Will Sparks; E.D. Don Forward, Manager of Kitimat Builders; George Malby, Alcan Resident Engineer; ??; J.T. Madill, Alcan Power Engineer; Norm Bradshaw, Bank Accountant; Larry Ecroyd, Northern Sentinel.
Photo showing Kitimat's 1st Fashion Show, sponsored by the United Church Women's Association, presented by Hazel Hoppel of the Mary Lynne Dress Shoppe, Terrace.B.C. Flower girls - Diane Gooding, Diane Carlson.
Photo showing Kitimat's 1st Fashion Show, sponsored by the United Church Women's Association, presented by Hazel Hoppel of the Mary Lynne Dress Shoppe, Terrace.B.C. Flower girls - Diane Gooding, Diane Carlson.
Photo showing Fashion Show at Recreation Hall Smeltersite. L/R Youla Fulton, Terry Coghlin, Molly Hilton, Liesel Pansegrau, Fashion's from Iona Burnett's Dress Shop.
Photo showing Fashion Show at Recreation Hall Smeltersite. L/R Youla Fulton, Terry Coghlin, Molly Hilton, Liesel Pansegrau, Fashion's from Iona Burnett's Dress Shop.
Photo showing Fashion Comes to Kitimat. L/R Mrs. Peg Stevens (MC); Ms. Kay Starr (Kitamaat Village); (ten models took part). Display from Iona Burnett's Dress Shoppe, held at the Recreational Hall - Smeltersite.
Photo showing Fashion Comes to Kitimat. L/R Mrs. Peg Stevens (MC); Ms. Kay Starr (Kitamaat Village); (ten models took part). Display from Iona Burnett's Dress Shoppe, held at the Recreational Hall - Smeltersite.
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,