UPDATED Trail now open
A combined effort between Powell River RCMP, BC Conservation Officer Service and volunteers has now ended to clear Inland Lake trail of spikes.
Powell River RCMP informed the Peak that more than 10 nails/spikes had been located and removed. These spikes were hazardous to anyone using the trail and readily punctured shoes and causing injury.
The trail was reopened to the public at 2 pm Friday, May 8. Anyone finding further hazardous items is asked to please contact the RCMP at 604.485.6255 or call CrimeStoppers 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS).
Trail closure
Inland Lake trail was temporarily closed to public use Thursday, May 7, after a number of metal spikes were found.
The spikes, pounded into the trail with a few inches left sticking up, pose a threat to trail users, police said. Police are working with forestry and park officials to locate and remove any other spikes in the trail.
Anyone who may have information about this crime is asked to come forward or contact CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS (8477).
Mill curtailment
A current seven-day curtailment is an opportunity for a “win-win-win,” according to Fred Chinn, mill manager for Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division.
He sent a memo to employees on April 30 stating the mill would be on a seven-day curtailment from Wednesday, May 6, through to Wednesday, May 13. The memo also informed employees that the period allows for adjustment of customer orders and to manage inventory. It will “remove 7,000 tonnes of super calendered paper from the market.”
“The temporary curtailment has been scheduled to coincide with the power boiler annual refit,” said Chinn in an interview with the Peak. He explained that when the power boiler, which is fed by waste wood, is shut down, the backup boiler is used. The backup boiler is fed by natural gas, which is expensive to use for the whole two-week annual shutdown. “So our costs can be quite high generating steam because we are not using wood waste.” With the planned shutdown, he saw the opportunity to conduct “critical maintenance” on the two paper machines. “This is a beautiful opportunity because the machines cool down and we can plan and execute work that typically takes days to do,” he explained.
The curtailment does not affect maintenance workers or steam plant workers as the boiler was due to be shut down these two weeks anyway, said Chinn. Those who are affected by the curtailment have been given three options: take vacation time; take unpaid leave; or apply to be hired back as “hatch watch, hole watch, fire watch” workers, he added.
“Typically the spring in pulp and paper sales is the lightest season,” Chinn explained. “We are in that historical lull. What mills typically do is they build inventory. Inventory builds up in warehouses.” July, August, September are a busy season for orders, but until then excess inventory equates to capital tied up in warehouses, he added.
Eldon Haggarty, president of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 1, represents 119 employees at the mill. He commented on the effect of the curtailment. “It has affected all of my members,” he said. “There are a few receiving some work that they have signed up for but the majority have taken leave of absence or earned time off now for the week.”
As much notice as possible was given to workers, according to Haggarty. Whereas planned curtailments have a 30-day notice, notice of curtailments due to market conditions is given as far ahead of time as possible.
“It was very short notice,” he said. “[Management] received notice that morning, informed me as union president early that afternoon before the notice went out...and told everybody later that afternoon. They tried to keep the place running...It is a very challenging market right now.”
Trail now open
A combined effort between Powell River RCMP, BC Conservation Officer Service and volunteers has now ended to clear Inland Lake trail of spikes.
Trail closure
Inland Lake trail was temporarily closed to public use Thursday, May 7, after a number of metal spikes were found.
The spikes, pounded into the trail with a few inches left sticking up, pose a threat to trail users, police said. Police are working with forestry and park officials to locate and remove any other spikes in the trail.
Anyone who may have information about this crime is asked to come forward or contact CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS (8477).
