Kitimat & Terrace
Community Organizations Supported in 2023
Kitimat & Terrace
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Association des Francophones et Francophiles du Nord-Ouest
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Dollars for Doers
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Gitselasu Stewardship Society
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Great Bear Initiative
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Haisla Nation
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Junior Achievement of British Columbia (JABC)
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Kitamaat Valley Education Society
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Kitimat Chamber of Commerce
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Kitimat Community Foundation
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Kitimat Food Bank
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Kitimat General Hospital Foundation
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Kitimat Minor Hockey
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Kitimat Museum
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Kitimat Scholarship Association
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Kitimat Valley Housing Society
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‘Ksan Society
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movember
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SD 82
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Tamitik Status of Women
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Terrace Chamber of Commerce
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Terrace Church Food Bank
Kitselas Canyon Partnership
For more than 6000 years, the Gitselasu people of the Ts’msyen Nation have been stewards of the Kitselas Canyon. Nestled along the banks of the Skeena River, Kitselas Canyon is designated a National Historic Site of Canada
In partnership with Kitselas First Nation and the Gitselasu Stewardship Society, BC Works supported the creation of a Kitselas Canyon Management and Maintenance Strategy (MMS).
The initiative is driven by a shared goal: to honour the rich history and culture of the Kitselas people while identifying opportunities to enhance tourism, recreational infrastructure, museum operations, and job creation.
BC Works’ Devrie Sanghera and Lianne Olson wearing Kitselus cedar hats and honoured regalia
Highlights of the MMS include:
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Improving essential infrastructure like the cultural center’s longhouses, as well as updating trails, signage, maps, and brochures to enrich the experience.
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Expanding educational initiatives through partnerships and curriculum enhancements, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Ts'msyen heritage.
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Continuing support for ongoing archaeological assessments within the canyon, ensuring its historical significance remains preserved and respected.
The Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site is open to visitors on a seasonal basis.
Learn more about the rich history and culture of the Ts'msyen people.
Canoe Carver and Tour Guide Darren
Robotics Journey with Rio Tinto in Kitimat and Terrace
As part of our commitment to quality education, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Rio Tinto has contributed over $200,000 since 2018 to support the establishment and training of robust and growing robotics program in Kitimat and Terrace. This was possible through the great work with Zone 1 whose partnership with Rio Tinto delivered the training and materials to set a foundation for elementary schools and trigger the interest of robotics in students at an early age. Additionally, over the past couple of years, First Robotics has contributed to the growth and development of the same challenging skills for high school students.
Since 2018, more than 400 students from grades 3 to 12 have participated in robotics learning and competitions. The energy and excitement generated by the students' success inspire others to join or continue with their designs. They not only compete and support each other at local competitions, but more than five teams have also qualified for and attended Provincial and/or National competitions over the years. Additionally, it was with great excitement that two students from Kitimat qualified for the Dean’s List and were invited to attend the Worlds Competition. This experience provided students the opportunity to engage with robotics at a higher level and highlighted the career possibilities within the robotics and STEM fields. Students had the chance to meet and network with peers, companies, and academic institutions from around the world, allowing them to discuss and expand their knowledge on shared academic interests.
Learn more about the Zone01, their educational robotic programs and competitions.
Learn more about the FIRST teams in their pursuit of learning both technical and leadership skills in STEM, building robots and competing in the local community and beyond.
16 Days of Activism
Together with the Elizabeth Fry Society in Burns Lake and the ‘Ksan Society in Terrace, BC Works took action to help put an end to gender-based violence. Our aim is to foster safer homes, communities, and workplaces for all. During the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from November 25th (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10th (World Human Rights Day), we joined efforts to raise awareness and push for change.
BC Works’ $25,000 contribution to the Elizabeth Fry Society in Burns Lake supported the following initiatives in 2023:
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Transition Housing
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Early Years and Family Support Programs
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Women’s Outreach and Anti-violence
And for the third consecutive year, BC Works also made a $25,000 community investment to the ‘Ksan Society in Terrace in support of programming advancing
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Anti-violence
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Food security and sustainability
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Affordable housing and emergency shelters
BC Works’ partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society and ‘Ksan Society is part of Rio Tinto’s commitment to support community-based organizations throughout Canada that provide essential services to people affected by domestic and family violence.
Learn more about the important work of the ‘Ksan Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society and the tangible differences they are making in addressing gender-based violence within our operational footprint.
Learn more about the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
Haisla Nation, BC Works, and the Eco Fish Partnership & Oolichan Protocol
We can’t help but get caught up in the excitement that comes with the oolichan run every year. The arrival of this shiny fish, rich in oils used to make grease by the Haisla Nation, not only signals the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring, but also the hope of energy renewed and new life!
Oolichan fish, and the grease rendered from them, make up a significant part of Haisla culture and history, being used not only for food, but also as gifts at potlatches and feasts, trading with other Nations and for its wealth of nutritional and medicinal uses.
Local predators, such as gulls, harbour seals, sea lions and eagles also benefit from the oolichan run.
The oolichan is protected as an endangered species by the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO). For 37 years, BC Works in partnership with the Haisla Nation has been monitoring and collecting data on the oolichan and, as such, has the largest data sets of oolichan recording on the Pacific North Coast.
Every year since 2000, BC Works runs a stable flow management program during the oolichan Run to ensure as little disturbance to its natural habitat as possible In the Spring, the flow of the river is heavily influenced by snowmelt and rainfall. However, maintenance at the Kemano Powerhouse can also affect it. Therefore, we voluntarily minimize maintenance from March to mid-April under what is known as the oolichan Protocol.
Why does the EcoFish team collect eDNA samples?
The main purpose is to track presence and abundance of the fish in the river. oolichan and other fish shed cells with their genetic material into the water that can be identified using specific known DNA markers for that species. oolichan eDNA techniques can be used to sample multiple rivers for their presence and abundance across time, only requiring a water sample taken at each river and time. Collection of eDNA in the Kemano River started in 2018.
