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 Wharf Fire (Kitimat Wharf) which belongs to Alcan. The part that had the fire was a storage bldg. used when the boats docked with supplies for both Kitimat/Kemano. Also, part of the wharf was taken and both the wharf and storage bldg. where not replaced.1960s
Photo showing Wharf Fire (Kitimat Wharf) which belongs to Alcan. The part that had the fire was a storage bldg. used when the boats docked with supplies for both Kitimat/Kemano. Also, part of the wharf was taken and both the wharf and storage bldg. where not replaced.1960s
10 slides featuring image of Kitimat in 1980. Slides include images of the Safety Building, hospital, an aerial, Moore Creek waterfall, golf course, centennial park, Lakelse Lake, Alcan Office, and Kitimat River.
10 slides featuring image of Kitimat in 1980. Slides include images of the Safety Building, hospital, an aerial, Moore Creek waterfall, golf course, centennial park, Lakelse Lake, Alcan Office, and Kitimat River.
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.
