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 a ship on the Douglas Channel. Ship is black and white with two red and black smokestacks.
Photograph of a Kitimat police officer, Constable McDonald, standing on a police patrol vessel at the wharf. The stern of the ship is marked "R.C.M.P. M.L. 15."
Photograph of a Kitimat police officer, Constable McDonald, standing on a police patrol vessel at the wharf. The stern of the ship is marked "R.C.M.P. M.L. 15."
Photo showing all that remains of the tug boat, Hi Gear, which was beached afire three miles down Douglas Channel. The 40 foot boat was bound for Kildala, she was owned and operated by Captain William Cogswell with total loss estimated at about $30,000.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing all that remains of the tug boat, Hi Gear, which was beached afire three miles down Douglas Channel. The 40 foot boat was bound for Kildala, she was owned and operated by Captain William Cogswell with total loss estimated at about $30,000.
Photo showing a Northland Navigation Ship, Island Prince, moored at Northland Dock in Kitimat, British Columbia. Three unidentified persons and two children standing on right.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing a Northland Navigation Ship, Island Prince, moored at Northland Dock in Kitimat, British Columbia. Three unidentified persons and two children standing on right.
Photo showing Lions Club Charter Night that had eighty members , their wives, and guests attending. Posing for picture picture were Mr. George Wong representing Vancouver Chinatown Lions, Mr. Lance Crowe from Oak Harbour California, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mizugushi of Kitimat.
Northern Sentinel Sox # 3-(A) Historical (I) Service Club (a) Lions Club
Scope and Content
Photo showing Lions Club Charter Night that had eighty members , their wives, and guests attending. Posing for picture picture were Mr. George Wong representing Vancouver Chinatown Lions, Mr. Lance Crowe from Oak Harbour California, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mizugushi of Kitimat.
Photo showing the Pacific Prince, a ship formally known as the YMS-119 built by the United States Navy in 1943 and used as a coastal minesweeper. It was bought by Northland Navigation in 1947 and converted to a coastal freighter in 1952 by owner, Captain H.J.C. Terry. The ship was the smallest and also most economic vessel to operate, able to carry 200 tons of cargo.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing the Pacific Prince, a ship formally known as the YMS-119 built by the United States Navy in 1943 and used as a coastal minesweeper. It was bought by Northland Navigation in 1947 and converted to a coastal freighter in 1952 by owner, Captain H.J.C. Terry. The ship was the smallest and also most economic vessel to operate, able to carry 200 tons of cargo.
Photo showing the Union Steamships passenger vessel, Chilcotin, sailing from Kitimat for the last time after the company discontinued its coastal service. Captain Ray Perry (insert) was master of the ship on its last run.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing the Union Steamships passenger vessel, Chilcotin, sailing from Kitimat for the last time after the company discontinued its coastal service. Captain Ray Perry (insert) was master of the ship on its last run.
Photo showing a cabin cruiser built by three Kitimat brothers who are standing in front of the boat. In center, from left to right: Heinz Meuser, Alwin Meuser, Erich Meuser.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing a cabin cruiser built by three Kitimat brothers who are standing in front of the boat. In center, from left to right: Heinz Meuser, Alwin Meuser, Erich Meuser.
Photo showing two Kitimat men, Hans Peterson and Frank Behrens building a boat beside their home. Both men were fishermen and sailors before coming to Canada from Hamburg, Germany. The plans were for a 45 foot boat. The ten foot beam was laid in the upstairs of the house and moved out into the yard during spring.
Northern Sentinel - (A)Historical
(1)Transportation
(a)Ships and Boats
Scope and Content
Photo showing two Kitimat men, Hans Peterson and Frank Behrens building a boat beside their home. Both men were fishermen and sailors before coming to Canada from Hamburg, Germany. The plans were for a 45 foot boat. The ten foot beam was laid in the upstairs of the house and moved out into the yard during spring.
