PRPA Investing in Shames Mountain’s Future

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 20, 2025

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Shames Mountain can weather northwest BC winters with greater efficiency and reliability with the completion of its Climate Resiliency Project. The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund and Shames My Mountain Co-op partnered once again to adapt critical infrastructure and enable the popular outdoor recreational site to operate a safer and more consistent season. With this latest project, PRPA has now committed $521,000 to projects that enhance Shames Mountain for all users. 

The Climate Resiliency project will help Shames Mountain mitigate the impacts of warmer and wetter winters currently predicted by long-term climate forecasts for the region. Improvements include regrading the base of the hill to address lower snowpacks as well as upgrading the lower portion of the mountain to redirect overland waterflow to combat drainage issues. These enhancements are making it safer for skiers, snowboarders, and snow grooming equipment in wet conditions.  

“The Climate Resiliency project is essential to ensuring sustainable future operations at Shames Mountain and enables us to elongate our skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing season without depending on significant early snowfall,” said Christian Theberge, General Manager, My Mountain Co-op Shames Mountain. “We are tremendously grateful for the continued support of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund to enhance our infrastructure and make the mountain safer and more accessible for people from across northwest BC.” 

“Shames Mountain is one of the region’s most important winter outdoor recreational assets and these strategic investments will give current and future generations of residents the opportunity to enjoy all the activities it has to offer for more weeks in the year,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “We are proud to continue to work with Shames My Mountain Co-op to make northwest BC a better place to live and play.” 

PRPA’s Community Investment Fund committed $181,000 to the $431,000 Climate Resiliency Project. This is the fifth time since 2011 that PRPA and Shames My Mountain Co-op have successfully partnered to improve access and safety on the slopes, including: 

  • Facility Access and Parking Expansion Project – $160,000 
  • Beginner Lift Replacement Project – $80,000 
  • Snow Cat and Snow Machine Project – $50,000 
  • Grooming Equipment Project – $50,000 

QUICK FACTS: 

  • Shames Mountain can now operate with 40cm of snow at the base. Previously, a minimum 80cm of snow was required.
  • Around 30,000 people visit Shames Mountain annually. 
  • My Mountain Coop was formed in 2011 to purchase the assets of Shames Mountain and to operate the facility as a community service non-profit. 

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ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND

The Community Investment Fund is financed by a share of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s annual net income that has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of the North Coast. By investing these funds into community projects, led mostly by dedicated local volunteers, the Port Authority has been able to share its financial success with the communities that enable it. Since 2010, more than $18.9 million has been committed to the Fund, helping to bring more than 115 local and regional projects to life. Each of these projects has filled an important role in supporting recreation, health and wellness, arts and culture, youth, education, the environment, and other needs in the community. 

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:   
Olivia Mowatt  
Senior Communications Officer 
Prince Rupert Port Authority   
250-627-2588 
omowatt@rupertport.com

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 17, 2024

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund is giving another major boost to local healthcare fundraising efforts with a significant contribution to the Rampage Fights Cancer campaign. The initiative, led by the Rupert Rampage hockey team with strong support from community and local business, aims to enhance cancer care at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital. Their goal is to help provide North Coast residents with greater access to diagnostics and treatment closer to home. 

Last season, the campaign raised over $128,000 for the North Coast Health Improvement Society through donations from community members and local businesses. PRPA is stepping up, matching that sum to bring the total to over $256,000. These funds are going towards the purchase of a new laparoscopic tower that will improve access to surgical services in the community for those requiring treatment.  

“We share the commitment to strengthening local healthcare and equipping Prince Rupert Regional Hospital with top-of-the-line equipment, that can facilitate a broad range of surgical procedures and save patients and their families from travelling outside the community to receive care,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. 

“The outstanding generosity of our community and our title sponsor, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, has propelled the Rampage Fights Cancer campaign to new heights,” said Brett Stava, Prince Rupert Rampage President. “For over a decade, the Rampage and PRPA have worked closely together to make positive change in Prince Rupert, and we’re excited to continue that tradition.” 

For the 2024-25 season, these longtime partners are launching a new initiative: PRPA & Rampage Fight Cancer Together. Fans can show their support by purchasing new limited edition pink toques at the Rampage merchandise booth. 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards this season’s fundraising total and supporting healthcare on the North Coast.  

Since its inception, the Community Investment Fund has committed more than $1 million to 15 healthcare projects in Prince Rupert including:

  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Maternity Ward Renovation – $125,000
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Visiting Specialist Optimization – $108,000
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Enhanced Laparoscopic Tower – $128,050
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Bed Replacement Project – $150,000 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Cancer Care Unit upgrade – $100,000 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Diagnostic Ultrasound Machine upgrade – $72,500 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital X-Ray Machine Replacement – $69,750 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Orthopedic Surgical Equipment – $60,500 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Laparoscopic Surgical Tower – $60,000 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital In-patient Bathtub upgrade – $45,500 
  • Prince Rupert Regional Hospital Palliative Care upgrades – $36,500 
  • Prince Rupert Hospital Cancer Screening Scope Guide – $35,260 
  • Acropolis Manor Wall Wrap Project – $18,130
  • Acropolis Manor Door Wrap Project – $15,000

     

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 29, 2024

KITSUMKALUM, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) and the Kitsumkalum First Nation are pleased to announce that they have entered into a Relationship Agreement that will govern how the two organizations work together for years to come.

The agreement was formally ratified last year, through a community-hosted signing ceremony on Kitsumkalum Laxyuup (territory). The agreement is founded on the shared principles of mutual understanding and openness, respect, trust, commitment, building the economy, and stewarding the environment.

The ceremony was attended by Kitsumkalum elected leadership, Simoogits and Sigidmhana’nax (hereditary leadership), and the Community at large. “It was important that we started this new relationship off in a way that honoured our traditional customs – the signing was witnessed by our People and solidified by a feast” said Don Roberts, Chief of Kitsumkalum. “It was also important that the PRPA representatives, which included the Board of Directors and members of the executive team, were there to participate in, and witness, this important custom – this is how true understanding, trust, and mutual respect is built.”

For Kitsumkalum, the agreement marks an important step in advancing reconciliation and recognition of Kitsumkalum’s historic and continued presence on the coast: “The Port operates on lands and waters within Tsimshian Territory,” said Chief Roberts, “and this agreement will build on Kitsumkalum’s role in the economy of the Port and provide for collaborative strategic planning and management of the lands and resources in a way that recognizes and respects our respective rights, values, and interests.”

“This agreement symbolizes a significant milestone for PRPA and the partnership that we continue to build with Kitsumkalum,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “Our purpose at PRPA is to build a better Canada – and by extension, better communities – by growing trade. We work with Indigenous communities to ensure our joint values are reflected in a shared vision for the future.”

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FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:

Nicole Wallace                                                         
Director of Environment, Lands and Referrals          
Kitsumkalum First Nation                                    
nwallace@kitsumkalum.com        

Olivia Mowatt   
Senior Communications Officer   
Prince Rupert Port Authority 
omowatt@rupertport.com                    

                                              

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today that 23.5 million tonnes of cargo moved through the Port of Prince Rupert in 2023, five percent less than volumes in 2022.   

This marks a third consecutive year of volume decline and reflects challenges of shifting global shipping routes, soft demand for imports, and competition with other North American trade gateways for discretionary cargo. However, despite the decline in volumes, significant milestones were reached in 2023 that support the evolution of the trade gateway to become more competitive, resilient, and sustainable in the near and long-term.   

“The Port of Prince Rupert is at a critical juncture, and we are focused on actively expanding the services, capacity, and capabilities required to strengthen our competitive advantage that trade partners and industry have come to rely on and grow our gateway,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “The 2023 results underscore the importance of the projects already underway to develop large-scale transloading infrastructure and build new energy export facilities. These developments will open a new chapter in intermodal trade at the Port and anchor Canada’s role in global energy security for decades to come.”   

DP World Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal saw a 32 percent decrease in volumes in 2023. This significant drop is due to a broader decline in North American intermodal imports and strong competition on Transpacific trade routes. Terminal performance was also impacted by labour action that halted operations for 13 days in Q3.    

Demand for western Canadian energy products was strong in 2023, with AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal shipping nearly 2 million tonnes, a 13 percent increase over 2022. Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal entered its third year of operations, handling close to 494,000 tonnes, an eight percent decrease year-over-year. Drax’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal shipped 1.3 million tonnes to markets in Europe and Asia.   

Trigon Pacific Terminals also saw a strong year, moving 8.8 million tonnes of dry bulk product through its terminal, including 5.4 million tonnes of metallurgical coal. Shipments of that product saw a 51 percent jump over 2022.   

A stronger harvest year contributed to Prince Rupert Grain shipping nearly 3.6 million tonnes of western Canadian agricultural products, an 11 percent rise year-over-year.    

Cruise traffic almost doubled over 2022 volumes, with 81,327 cruise passengers transiting through Prince Rupert in 2023. It was also the first year that cruise terminal operations, scheduling, passenger services, and shore excursions were managed by Global Ports Holding (GPH) – the world’s largest independent cruise port operator. 

In 2023, the Port of Prince Rupert moved forward on multiple strategic projects and partnerships that are essential to strengthening and diversifying the trade gateway. These projects will ensure the Port of Prince Rupert can continue to anchor competitive and resilient trade, while taking a leading role in developing sustainable global supply chains:   

  • Construction was started on the $750-million Ridley Island Export Logistics Project, an innovative large-scale facility that will provide rail-to-container transloading of multiple export products. RayMont Logistics will develop and operate the site’s transload facilities that will provide a total capacity of 400 thousand TEUs annually and will commence operations in Q3 2026. 
  • The Ridley Energy Export Facility, a joint venture between AltaGas and Vopak, executed a long-term lease on a 190-acre site administered by the Prince Rupert Port Authority.  The proposed terminal will develop infrastructure that can provide over 7 million tonnes of capacity for a variety of liquid bulk cargoes, including lower-carbon energy sources such as propane, butane, and methanol.  Early works began on the bulk liquid storage and export facility in Q4 2023, with a Final Investment Decision anticipated in Q2 2024.     
  • GPH continues to work with PRPA, local businesses, and cruise lines to grow passenger volumes over the next several years, while working to ensure the infrastructure and amenities are in place to support a significant increase in cruise visitors.    

Click here to see PRPA’s December 2023 traffic summary. 

December 6, 2023

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) signed the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Multi-Port Multi-Jurisdiction Green Shipping Corridors (MOU) to establish international green shipping corridors from Canada’s west coast to Asia and the Middle East.

Signed today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the MOU will support the establishment of a West Coast Green Shipping Corridor. It will connect Edmonton to Prince Rupert to ports in Asia and the Middle East, and build on PRPA’s ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping through the Port of Prince Rupert.

“Together with our port industry, Indigenous, and local community partners, we are committed to realizing a shared vision of a thriving and sustainable trade gateway that ensures a vibrant future for western Canada and we are taking concrete action to address climate change and reduce the impacts of port activity,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “Today’s MOU reinforces Prince Rupert’s continued leadership role in helping Canada’s marine transportation sector reduce its environmental impact and adapt to global climate priorities.”

Together with industry and government partners, the Port of Prince Rupert will continue to support an accelerated transition to developing zero-emission solutions for port operations. This includes expanding electrification capabilities like shore power, increasing the availability of alternative fuels and refuelling infrastructure, and proactively integrating other elements of sustainability such as waste management, marine mammal protection and addressing barriers to port sustainability.

“Electrification initiatives like expansion of shore power capabilities are critical components to reaching net-zero by 2050,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “We are one of only two ports in Canada currently providing shore power to container vessels at berth and will continue to expand our capacity to meet our customers’ efforts to reduce their overall carbon footprint.”

“Our government is committed to reducing marine emissions while creating new opportunities for Canadian innovators in clean tech and clean fuel. Today’s announcement will help fight climate change and showcases the Port of Prince Rupert’s leadership in reducing the environmental impacts of the marine transportation sector on the West Coast,” said the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport.”

With a direct connection to British Columbia and Alberta energy production centres, the Port of Prince Rupert is well positioned to support the transportation of Canadian energy and renewable energy commodities that will support the global energy transition. To advance efforts in this transition, PRPA is working with project partners to advance new energy infrastructure to meet growing international demand, such as the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF). Projects like REEF will enhance the availability of sustainable marine bunkering and support global decarbonization efforts on high-emitting energy sources.

“Our government is proud to partner with the Port of Prince Rupert, through our Integrated Marketplace initiative to reduce emissions and create economic opportunities through local innovation that will help create the greenest port in Canada,” said the Honourable Rob Fleming, British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Throughout the Prince Rupert Gateway, port partners are working to decarbonize the whole value chain and ensure that from production source to end use, efforts are made to reduce environmental footprints. For example, PRPA partner Dow announced final investment of their Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero project that will produce low-to-zero carbon ethylene and polyethylene derivatives for global customers.

“Edmonton is perfectly situated to be a key hub for the Port of Prince Rupert and out to global markets. This connection will further Alberta’s ability to provide the responsible energy solutions the world needs so we can support energy security and improved global standards of living,” said the Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta.

QUICK FACTS:

  • With the deepest natural harbour in North America, the continent’s first purpose-built ship-to-rail container terminal, and the shortest and fastest trade route on the transpacific, the Port of Prince Rupert continues to lead the way in supply chain innovation for customers.
  • Launched a decade ago, PRPA’s Green Wave program incentivizes shippers to implement emission reduction measures and sustainable practices to improve their environmental performance.
  • PRPA’s recent $7.6 million investment in Fairview Shore Power, accomplished with the assistance of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Challenge Fund, enables compatible container vessels to switch from their main generators to clean electricity while berthed at the terminal. This option prevents approximately 75 tonnes of GHG emissions per vessel, in addition to other air emissions related to vessel exhaust.
  • In 2024, PRPA is actively moving forward programs and pilots with our partners that will facilitate expanded use of electricity, hydrogen, and renewable diesel as low-carbon energy replacements within the Port.
  • PRPA is focused on developing innovative and efficient infrastructure, such as the Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor, that has environmental benefits to support the port’s mandate. The Connector Corridor, a private dedicated port road connecting DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal to Ridley Island, has shortened the distance container trucks travel within the port ecosystem from 21km to 5.3km, resulting in an estimated 60% reduction in GHG intensity from port truck emissions.
  • Committed to sharing the benefits of the growing gateway, PRPA works with First Nations and Indigenous businesses to develop Indigenous employment and economic opportunities. In the Port of Prince Rupert’s workforce, 39% percent of workers are Indigenous, directly reflecting the demographics of residents living in Prince Rupert.

December 5, 2023

Following permit authorization granted by the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA), the Ridley Energy Export Facility (REEF) project is beginning early works this week on Ridley Island.

Under the Port Authorities Operations Regulations established under the Canada Marine Act, PRPA has granted an approval for the REEF project to proceed with vegetation removal as a first phase of the development. The approval grants permission to commence clearing, grubbing, timber salvaging and wood waste disposal for the project area subject to the implementation of environmental mitigation measures which were defined during the environmental review process. The work will take place within the 190-acre site leased to the REEF partnership by PRPA.

The REEF project, formerly known as the Vopak Pacific Canada project, is a joint venture partnership between AltaGas and Royal Vopak to construct and operate a large-scale liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bulk liquids terminal and marine berthing and loading facility on Ridley Island at the Port of Prince Rupert. The project received key determinations and permits from the Government of Canada in 2022. In 2023, the joint venture executed a long-term lease on a site administered by the Prince Rupert Port Authority. Vopak and AltaGas have indicated they are continuing to make strong advancements across critical workstreams required to reach a positive Final Investment Decision, which is expected in the first half of 2024. The project will provide much needed tidewater access to global markets for Canadian energy and liquid bulk exports.

For more information about the REEF project, visit https://www.reefproject.ca/.

Prince Rupert Port Authority Funds Multiple New Awards for Coast Mountain College Students

October 26, 2023

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is committed to developing a diverse and skilled workforce in northern British Columbia. One of the ways the organization is working towards this is through new financial awards to Coast Mountain College students pursuing their education and training in fields that are key to the sustainability and future growth of the Prince Rupert Gateway and region.

Starting this fall, PRPA is partnering with CMTN Foundation to create the Prince Rupert Port Authority Academic Excellence Awards. These two annual $1,500 awards are open to Coast Mountain College students enrolled in any year of Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Engineering, or Business. Additionally, PRPA funds the Supporting Trade Apprenticeships Award, which is open to students in any trade, in any year.

“The Prince Rupert Port Authority Academic Excellence Awards and Supporting Trade Apprenticeships Award recognize and support local students excelling in their fields and demonstrate PRPA’s continuing commitment to strengthening the innovative trade gateway that anchors northern BC’s economy and the communities that enable it,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Preference will be given to Indigenous students, those with financial need, and those pursuing a career that will support port-related industry and a demonstrated desire to practice their chosen profession in communities in northern BC. The awards are intended to reward academic excellence and a minimum GPA of 3.0 or trades equivalent is required. 

The CMTN Foundation works to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed with the belief that students that study in the north will stay in the north. “These new awards will both make a significant impact in the lives of the students that receive them,” says Yvonne Koerner, CMTN Foundation Executive Director. “Students are experiencing increasing financial pressures, from rent, to groceries, to childcare. We are very appreciative of PRPA’s commitment to being part of relieving financial barriers for our students.”

Applications are available on the CMTN website here: https://coastmountaincollege.ca/awards-bursaries-scholarships/award-or-bursary-details/prince-rupert-port-authority-awards.

October 24, 2023

The dream of being able to play basketball outside on a brand new, state-of-the-art sports court in Metlakatla has come true. Thanks to a partnership between the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund (CIF) and the Metlakatla First Nation, a new multi-use recreational amenity is now open and available for everyone to enjoy.

Public participation in sports and recreation, particularly for youth, plays a significant role in improving both physical and mental health, as well as social connections within the community, and the addition of the outdoor sports court will offer immediate benefits. This includes the ability to improve and increase the development of Metlakatla’s junior basketball program leading up to future Junior All-Native Basketball Tournaments, and of course, the All Native Basketball Tournament (ANBT) that is held every February in Prince Rupert. The new sports court officially opened on October 20, 2023, with a community celebration event.

“Hopefully it’ll change their lives one shot at a time. Another successful project in the community for a happy and healthy future,” said Troy Leighton, Recreation Director, Metlakatla First Nation.

The sports court will be open 24/7 and will support basketball, floor hockey, soccer, volleyball, pickleball, and other sports. Metlakatla is a remote community and prior to the new facility, access to the existing indoor facilities has been limited due to high demand. Now, everyone can practice and play their preferred sport when it’s convenient. In addition, the sports court is in proximity to the Elders Centre as well as the HeadStart program, so it will also serve as a place for community gatherings.

“The PRPA is proud to once again collaborate with the community of Metlakatla. Our investment in the new outdoor sports court will help enhance quality of life in the community,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Initial preparation of the site began in 2021. The project was managed entirely by Metlakatla First Nation to take environmental and archeological considerations associated with its construction into account. Throughout the project, progress was evaluated by the Nation to ensure that the project was being conducted in a culturally sensitive manner, with the possibility of also including cultural aspects.

PRPA contributed $132,858 to the project, with the remainder being covered by the Metlakatla governing council. PRPA has previously partnered on CIF projects in the community of Metlakatla such as the reopening of the Metlakatla Wilderness Trail, Community Greenhouse, and the Sports & Recreation Field project totalling more than $390,000.

October 19, 2023

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is commencing construction on the Ridley Island Export Logistics Project (RIELP), an innovative large-scale logistics project that will provide expanded capacity and capabilities for rail-to-container transloading of multiple export products at the Port of Prince Rupert. The investment promises to deliver critical trade infrastructure that will improve supply chain resiliency, strategic market access and enhanced competitiveness for Canadian exports. 

The project will consist of a 108-acre greenfield development on Ridley Island that will commence operation in Q3 2026. Ray-Mont Logistics will develop and operate facilities that provide transloading service capacity for 400,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) for agricultural, forestry, and plastic resin products. Ray-Mont currently operates a successful multi-product transload facility on a temporary Ridley Island location that has proven the export transload concept in Prince Rupert.

The project will also include an expansion of the existing Ridley Island Road Rail Utility Corridor that will facilitate unit trains 10,000 feet in length with direct access to the site from the CN network. The transload facilities will be connected to Fairview Container Terminal by direct private road access, the 5-kilometer Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor, ensuring all product movements will be within PRPA jurisdiction and fully avoid public infrastructure. The full electrification of transload facilities, optimization of rail, and the minimal truck drayage cumulatively represent a significant step forward in decarbonizing Canada’s export supply chains.

RIELP will provide new and innovative capacities for Canadian exporters to Asia Pacific markets. The project’s large scale, unit train capabilities, access to available empty containers, and proximity and integration into container terminal operations make it a unique model that promises the ability to deliver significant new service offerings to exporters that will greatly improve the quality, cost and reliability of container supply chains.

The project’s development is fully aligned with PRPA’s land use plan and intermodal development strategy. In addition to its commercial advantages, RIELP will result in stronger volumes for loaded export containers moving through the Port of Prince Rupert and a more sustainable balance in its intermodal import and export trade. The development of increased logistics capacity is seen by PRPA as a strategic prerequisite to supporting the stability of existing and future container volumes through Prince Rupert, and the trade, employment and economic opportunities they support.

Local Indigenous partners will be active participants in the development and operation of RIELP. The primary contract for Ridley Island site development has been awarded to an Indigenous joint venture arrangement that includes Metlakatla First Nation, Lax Kw’alaams Band, Gitxaała Nation and IDL Projects Inc. Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams are also majority owners of Gat Leedm Logistics, which will be a primary service provider of truck drayage services.

Total capital investment in RIELP will be approximately $750 million, and is being provided by PRPA, Ray-Mont Logistics, CN, the Government of Canada, and the Government of BC. Canada’s National Transportation Corridor Fund is providing $64.8 million and the Province’s Stronger BC program is providing $25 million toward the project.

PROJECT FACTS:

Estimated capital investment:             $750 million

Construction start:                               October 2023                         

Projected construction workforce:      200 jobs (at peak)

Projected operations start:                  Q3 2026

Annual transload capacity:                 400,000 TEUs

Project development size:                  108 acres

New rail capacity:                                20 kilometres of track

Truck trips at full capacity:                  1,200 daily return trips

PARTNER QUOTES:

“The development of this innovative project and its introduction of large-scale export logistics capabilities at the Port will fundamentally improve competitiveness for Canadian exporters, and marks the opening of a new chapter of Prince Rupert intermodal growth. It also demonstrates the strong alignment of our corporate, government and community partners with PRPA’s strategic vision for growing Canadian trade,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.

“Ray-Mont is committed to developing and expanding our successful export transload business in Prince Rupert and believes that RIELP represents an ideal platform to significantly increase the scale, efficiency and level of service to our existing and future customers. RIELP will be unique in North America in terms of its ability to simultaneously handle multiple unit trains of varying commodities and significantly decarbonize the logistics chain,” said Charles Raymond, President & CEO, Ray-Mont Logistics.

“The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening our transportation supply chains. This means better capacity, resilience and competitiveness for Canadian businesses, and will help to make life more affordable for Canadians,” said Hon. Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport, Government of Canada.

“This investment by the PRPA to future-ready the port is great news for the workers, businesses and communities across the province that depend on strong trade and the reliable movement of goods,” said BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Rob Fleming. “With global market dynamics continuing to create challenges for supply chains, forward-thinking projects like this one are helping to make BC’s transportation and logistics network more efficient and more resilient.”

“CN is pleased to be a part of this project. It builds on the growth potential we see in the Port of Prince Rupert and opens up another export supply chain for our North American network,” said Doug MacDonald, Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer, CN.

“The addition of a dedicated export logistics platform should greatly increase the ability of Canadian exporters to compete globally, while adding yet another piece to the puzzle in PRPA’s vision of a truly world-class port. The Gitxaała Nation welcomes this and is proud to be part of it,” said Gitxaała Nation Chief Councillor Linda Innes.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) commends the ILWU and the BCMEA for reaching a tentative agreement that provides the opportunity for short-term operational recovery and a return to long-term stability at Canadian transpacific gateways, as well as Federal Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for their leadership through the mediation process.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority and our supply chain partners, and local ILWU members in particular, have collectively built a global reputation for speed and reliability and together we are now completely focused on operational recovery and quickly re-establishing fluidity and productivity to build back that well-earned competitive position in the shipping industry. We are ready to restore the advantage that Team Prince Rupert has demonstrated in the past.

PRPA continues to advance its plans to further expand terminal, logistics and infrastructure capacity and capabilities to meet the future needs of transpacific trade and Canada’s trade ambitions.