The Aluminum City Telethon (ACT) was created in 1980 to stem the threat of closure by the Child Development Centre. Since then, the Society has continued to raise funds for charitable organizations within the District of Kitimat - essential services to the community. The Child Development Centre, Kitimat General Hospital, Tamitik Status of Woman, Kitimat Home Support Services and many other organizations have all received necessary funding from ACT.
Held at Mount Elizabeth Theatre, the people of Kitimat - all volunteers - provide the entertainment, cover the phone lines, organize the acts, build the scenery and make donations to the largest fundraising event in Kitimat's history. Industry and business donate funds, equipment, supplies, and services for the smooth running of the event. For many years, Skeena Broadcasters provided equipment and personnel to film the event and emcee Doug Smith hosted the event.
ACT 1989 marked a decade of community involvement in the fundraising variety show and a record amount raised of $67,000. ACT president Gerry Deiter said the outpouring of community support showed Kitimat definitely cared. In nine telethons since 1980, Kitimat residents pledged close to half-a-million dollars.
On October 20, 2002, the 23rd ACT raised $54,250 of which $32,750 was contributed to the following community organizations: The Child Development Centre, Kitimat Hospice Society, B.C. Special Olympics, Northern Health Authority, Kitimat Victim's Services and Tamitik Status of Women.
Custodial History
997.6 is a collection of 9 scrapbooks with photographs compiled by Dorothy Cheyne over a number of years and donated on August 27, 1997. 2011.2 is a box comprised of: 13 VHS Tapes, 14 packages negative strips, 291 colour photographs, 24 b&w photographs, 65 colour slides, 15 ACT buttons, 3 other buttons, 1 Participant Ribbon, 12 Kitimat Cares magnets, 6 ACT signs, 1 Kitimat Cares Banner, 2 ACT Tent Cards, and 2 Friends brochure, brought in on January 18, 2011 by Margaret Warcup. 2017.18 is historical material compliled by Mount Elizabeth Theatre and donated on March 5, 2017 by Chiara Guizzo. June 2021 Anne Berrisford brought in posters for ACT 1980 and 1988, as well as an ACT 1997 button, ACT 1980 thank you cards, folder of financial documents, and an ACT pledge of $1000 bag from Overwaitea Foods. All four donors were on the Aluminum City Telethon Committee for a number of years.
Fonds consists of 27 slides showing the construction of Alcan Wharf (Caisson Dock Construction) and Kitimat Bridge, 25 slides showing the contruction of Alcan Plant Area, 48 photographs of early construction, 38 slides of early construction. Includes a ruler, ashtray, pie plate and stationery folder.
Art Coghlin was Paymaster for Kitimat Constructors in 1951. He left the company to open Coghlins Hardware in 1954.
Custodial History
Terry Voitchovsky
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 27 slides showing the construction of Alcan Wharf (Caisson Dock Construction) and Kitimat Bridge, 25 slides showing the contruction of Alcan Plant Area, 48 photographs of early construction, 38 slides of early construction. Includes a ruler, ashtray, pie plate and stationery folder.
Beta Sigma Phi is a non-acedemic sorority. Beta, Sigma, and Phi come from the first letters of the Greek words for life, learning, and friendship. Social and mostly community based, the Kitimat group compiled many scrapbooks showcasing events and other activities among their members from 1971-1990.
Custodial History
Donated by Ruth Brady.
Scope and Content
Seven Scrapbooks from the Beta Sigma Phi showing their activities and events.
Scrapbook 1 - Beta Sigma Phi yearbook 1971-1972. Black cover.
Scrapbook 2 - 1978-1982. White cover.
Scrapbook 3 - 1971-1977. White cover with Beta Sigma Phi coat of arms with text "Vita Scientia Amicitia" drawn in gold, black, and green.
Scrapbook 4 - 1989-1990. Light blue cover with painting printed in centre.
Scrapbook 5 - Green cover with rose image on second page with text "Beta Nu 1975~76" bellow.
Scrapbook 6 - 1987-1988. Beige cover with small, square image of a sunset and trees.
Scrapbook 7 - 1982-1984. Cream cover with gold border.
Loose items - Photo of seven ladies. Founder's Day 1977 handmade card with painted rainbow. 1987-1988 Build Bridges of Friendship gold stickers.
Photographs taken by Glyn Jenkins, who worked for Alcan Aluminum Smelter Ltd. in 1952. He returned to Vancouver to continue his education and continued to work in the Steel Fabrication industry until he retired in 1985. He married Charlene Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins died in 2005.
Custodial History
Charlene Jenkins
Scope and Content
Photographs of construction, scenery, housing, and fishing at the Smeltersite, 1952.
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
The First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, was constructed in 1957 at the 1800-foot level of Clague Mountain to provide refuge for hikers and to make skiing on the mountain possible in the winter. A four-man team including Harley Robertson, with John Layman as foreman, was chiefly responsible for its construction.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of logbooks of the First Cabin, also known as “Harley’s Cabin”, on Clague Mountain recording the names and comments of the hikers who had used the cabin.
4 folders
1-1 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook I, 1957-1958 (include some 1961 notations)
1-2 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook II, 1958-1961
1-3 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III, 1961-1962
1-4 Clague Mountain First Cabin Logbook III (photocopy)
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Donated in 1970.
Collection of photos from the opening of the Kitimat Library, negtives of the firehall, a slide of the municipal office, meeting of first council of Kitimat photos and letter, and a "Casey" letter.
Collection of photos from the opening of the Kitimat Library, negtives of the firehall, a slide of the municipal office, meeting of first council of Kitimat photos and letter, and a "Casey" letter.
Boxes contain file folders. Each file folder holds photographs taped together to produce a panoramic view on the subject described in the folder. Some of these photographs are attached to paper, some are attached to other folders, whole or part. Some contain documents. Some have descriptive documents stapled to the folder. Some have photographs stapled to the outside of the folder.
Two boxes of file folders containing text and photographs.
9 envelopes containing 335+ photographs
1 envelope containing negatives and contact sheets
Extent
.5
History / Biographical
Files compiled by Diane Hewlett, District of Kitimat Economic Development Officer 1999-2009 to promote Kitimat as a movie and television location and to attract business or industry.
Custodial History
Compiled by Diane Hewlett, given to the Museum by Beth Vines, Records Manager for the District of Kitimat.
Scope and Content
Boxes contain file folders. Each file folder holds photographs taped together to produce a panoramic view on the subject described in the folder. Some of these photographs are attached to paper, some are attached to other folders, whole or part. Some contain documents. Some have descriptive documents stapled to the folder. Some have photographs stapled to the outside of the folder.
131 b&w negatives-Kitimat early days stored in a C.P. Erwin envelope.
13 Colour negatives-Kitimat early days stored in a Munshaw envelope
67 b&w photographs
131 b&w negatives-Kitimat early days stored in a C.P. Erwin envelope.
13 Colour negatives-Kitimat early days stored in a Munshaw envelope
67 b&w photographs
Elizabeth Anderson Varley, author of 'Kitimat My Valley' was born and raised in the Kitimat Valley. The book is a memoire of her life and the life of her family members, during the tenure as missionairies and ranchers in the area.
Custodial History
Obtained directly from Elizabeth Varley
Scope and Content
Textual records consisting of typewritten and handwritten notes pertaining to the creation of the book Kitimat My Valley.
62 photographs of the Anderson family, other early settlers and missionaries, and Haisla people, 1878-1947.
67 photograph prints : b&w ;
1 photograph print : sepia ; 12.5 x 9
History / Biographical
After coming to Canada as a Polish soldier under British command, Feliks Rewers (who was an avid photographer) was assigned to work at Kitimat in 1950. He worked three years and in his free time took many pictures.
Custodial History
Wanda Rewers
Scope and Content
Collection of 68 photographs taken during the construction of the town of Kitimat, the aluminum smelter, and other areas from 1950-1953.
Notes
Open table tennis championship trophy included in collection. Title based on contents of fonds.
Fonds consists of over 200 photograph slides and photograph negatives from 1952 & 1953. Images are of Caisson dock construction, wharf and smeltersite construction.
Approximately 200 photograph slides and photographs
History / Biographical
Fred DeLory was an engineer on the Aluminum Company of Canada Ltd. smeltersite construction project f rom 1952 to 1953. He worked in an office that was located uphill from where the first pot lines were located. He went on to become a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of over 200 photograph slides and photograph negatives from 1952 & 1953. Images are of Caisson dock construction, wharf and smeltersite construction.
