Slide showing cleared smeltersite area, construction, and camp near the Kitimat River estuary. In the distance smoke is visible, likely from townsite clearing burning.
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 cleared smeltersite area, construction, and camp near the Kitimat River estuary. In the distance smoke is visible, likely from townsite clearing burning.
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 an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Edge of plane visible on the right.
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 an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Area on the right is forested.
Photograph of an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Edge of plane visible on the left. Beyond the estuary the Alcan smelter site is visible. Smoke is coming off the smelter operations. Snowy mountains in background.
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 an aerial of the Kitimat River estuary. Edge of plane visible on the left. Beyond the estuary the Alcan smelter site is visible. Smoke is coming off the smelter operations. Snowy mountains in background.
Slide showing the graving dock where the Alcan wharf caissons were constructed. It is filled with water. Boats and structures are visible on the edge. This area was used for the Kitimat Yacht Club. Behind, the Kitimat River estuary is visible, and beyond that the mountains (Mount Elizabeth obscured by cloud).
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 the graving dock where the Alcan wharf caissons were constructed. It is filled with water. Boats and structures are visible on the edge. This area was used for the Kitimat Yacht Club. Behind, the Kitimat River estuary is visible, and beyond that the mountains (Mount Elizabeth obscured by cloud).
Photograph of the Kitimat Yacht Club. There are many boats docked and in the surrounding water. Mountain in background, with smoke coming up from the middle lower area. Cloudy sky.
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 the Kitimat Yacht Club. There are many boats docked and in the surrounding water. Mountain in background, with smoke coming up from the middle lower area. Cloudy sky.
Photograph of an aerial of the Kitimat River Estuary. Estuary is on the left side in the middle of the picture. Further back smoke can be seen coming from the Alcan Smelter. Snowy mountain in background.
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 an aerial of the Kitimat River Estuary. Estuary is on the left side in the middle of the picture. Further back smoke can be seen coming from the Alcan Smelter. Snowy mountain in 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.
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.
