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 view of Douglas Channel or Gardner Canal from the inside of a boat. View is looking out the window, and water and mountains are visible.
Photo depicts Sam Hanna directing a crane operator in hoisting a crucible filled with molten aluminum on a potline.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. -- Famed Canadian documentary photographer Malak Karsh was hired in the 1950s by Alcan to take photographs of Arvida and Kitimat. Many were published in Alcan literature and textbooks on Canada. A colourized version of this photograph appears in "The Story of British Columbia", The Story of Canada Series, 1966. Alcan Collection
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.
