At least someone is trying to bring in some tourism. You’ve only disposed your ignorance with your comments.
Really??? Who has ignorant comments?? Its the truth. You talk about moving back but obviously haven’t kept up with what has gone on in town.
[quote=“Gracies Mom”]
Really??? Who has ignorant comments?? Its the truth. You talk about moving back but obviously haven’t kept up with what has gone on in town.[/quote]
Yeah this person has not been keeping up with things, the impact of cruise ships was so minimal, that honestly I could care less if we never saw another one at the dock.
There are other things happening. Home prices are on the raise right along with down town property values so hang in there businesses. Most businesses never saw much change because of cruise ships anyway…
Most certainly have kept up with things and do return regularly for short periods.
[quote=“MeepMeepZoom”]Everyone should be happy any business stayed in this town during the economic horror period that followed the mill shutdown.
Our time will come again, and when it does, I am sure the downtown core will complete maintenance on the businesses. Until then, you’re asking people to take food out of their children’s mouths, out of their pocket to please your eyes.
People who stayed in Rupert, especially the hard hit economic core, the businesses, should not be punished twice for staying here. File a complaint? Rather pathetic and sad if you ask me.[/quote]
This is ridiculous!
How incredibly placating!
If a local business CANNOT afford 150 bucks A YEAR to clean their building, then they have NO BUSINESS doing business…telling me that this is taking food from their children’s mouths is just RIDICULOUS…and not even remotely believable!
Most of this work can be done with some damn soap and water…I am not asking them to do a 50,000 renovation.
Just CLEAN your building!
Why is it my responsibility to clean the buildings of LAZY business/property owners?
If I had a business downtown…I would keep it clean. It is not MY responsibility to physically clean these buildings…but as a tax payer I certainly have the right to complain and certainly have the right to file a complaint with the city to ENFORCE these businesses to at least do SOMETHING.
The shoddy look of downtown is one of the things keeping investment out…that affects our taxes as residents…we ALL should be encouraging the downtown business community to wash their buildings, not just placate them and give them MORE excuses when in reality there is no excuse for pure laziness or being able to afford 150 bucks a year to get your building clean.
No one can convince me that the businesses downtown cannot afford $150 bucks a year.
Where are you accessing info regardng Rupert? The outdated tourism website? We have 5 maybe 6 cruise ships docking here this season beginning in May through Sept. and I would guess the only businesses to benefit are those in Cow Bay. The town is a mess, the waterfront around Kwintza station is torn up as they are replacing all the tracks and we lost access to the road along the beach towards Graham permanently due to the beautiful ?? pellet silos. Downtown, though I love the murals, painted by an out of town artist, I believe, is a crap shoot, emphasis on crap. There doesn’t seem to be the pride in the city that there used to be and that is sad. Buildings are left to decay, they are dirty and very empty. The Mall, well, we have a small WalMart but people are past the honeymoon stage over that. We lost our only shoe store there and no plans for any new business in that spot. We have a Council that only seems to care about the Port and that is fine but they have to realize, with employees attractng high wages, they have nothing to spend it on here which would possibly explain the increase in air travel last year as those that can afford it head down south to have “fun” and those that can’t, as air fares are high, head to Terrace as they offer more (shopping etc.). Oh, and we might be losing Air Canada Jazz also. They say it is going to progress here in the next 5 years but in what areas? We need shopping and things to do, not everyone is involved in fishing and sports. Oh and there isn’t any public access to the nice beach areas at Ridley either, we lost those a long time ago and they were great. Soooo, don’t know what else to tell ya! There are lots of houses for sale and lots up businesses also! Lots to choose from there !!
[quote=“codybear933”]
Where are you accessing info regardng Rupert? The outdated tourism website? We have 5 maybe 6 cruise ships docking here this season beginning in May through Sept. and I would guess the only businesses to benefit are those in Cow Bay. The town is a mess, the waterfront around Kwintza station is torn up as they are replacing all the tracks and we lost access to the road along the beach towards Graham permanently due to the beautiful ?? pellet silos. Downtown, though I love the murals, painted by an out of town artist, I believe, is a crap shoot, emphasis on crap. There doesn’t seem to be the pride in the city that there used to be and that is sad. Buildings are left to decay, they are dirty and very empty. The Mall, well, we have a small WalMart but people are past the honeymoon stage over that. We lost our only shoe store there and no plans for any new business in that spot. We have a Council that only seems to care about the Port and that is fine but they have to realize, with employees attractng high wages, they have nothing to spend it on here which would possibly explain the increase in air travel last year as those that can afford it head down south to have “fun” and those that can’t, as air fares are high, head to Terrace as they offer more (shopping etc.). Oh, and we might be losing Air Canada Jazz also. They say it is going to progress here in the next 5 years but in what areas? We need shopping and things to do, not everyone is involved in fishing and sports. Oh and there isn’t any public access to the nice beach areas at Ridley either, we lost those a long time ago and they were great. Soooo, don’t know what else to tell ya! There are lots of houses for sale and lots up businesses also! Lots to choose from there !![/quote]
This is not true. The base manager in PR said this was 100% rumour and that Air Canada is not going anywhere.
As for the rest of your post - I mostly agree, especially in regard to the lack of pride from business owners in the downtown core. While I applaud the businesses that have kept their buildings respectable and the recent paint jobs/renovations and murals look wonderful (Moby Dick, Pacific Inn, Crest Hotel, Rupert Hotel, Inn on the Harbour, Besner Block ect)…however there are a number of high profile businesses (as well as many other small ones) that are truly DRAGGING the entire downtown core down by the ugly state of their buildings (I am talking about you Cooks Jewellers, City Furniture, Overwaitea Foods, CIBC, Javadotcup, Raffles, Highliner, Totem Lodge ect)
I agree on the shopping and on the travel to Vancouver. I know many people who have moved back in the last 5 years because of the small jobs boom (and yes there is a small jobs boom…), but have all complained about lack of anywhere to shop and spend their money. Many travel to Terrace and most travel to Vancouver for weekends out of here every 2 months.
As for entertainment, that is what you make of it. There is plenty to do outdoors, there is a ski hill 100km away, an ocean at our doorstep, entertainment downtown (the pubs/clubs and casino are nice to have) and a great selection of independent restaurants.
But we are VERY much lacking in shopping and that is really frustrating for many.
And as for council…this current crop (save for 1 or 2) are do-nothing councilors that have yet to prove why they should even be in control of this city.
[quote=“bthedog”]
And as for council…this current crop (save for 1 or 2) are do-nothing councilors that have yet to prove why they should even be in control of this city.[/quote]
If you are unhappy you can vote for someone else. You can also run for office yourself and show them how to lead.
I certainly will be voting for someone else next time…as for the old “don’t like it then run yourself” argument, that is such a tired, lazy and meaningless excuse.
So unless you run for government, we are not allowed to criticize or question our elected officials? GMAB!
[quote=“BTravenn”]
[quote=“bthedog”] …it has become a MASSIVE embarrassment for this city…and its time for council to do something about it.
…
The city really needs to enact a bylaw to FINE these businesses for not keeping their buildings at the very least CLEAN.
These fines should then be used to beautify the downtown core.[/quote]
There is a bylaw. It is called Property Maintenance Bylaw 3297, 2010, and it provides for fines of up to $2000 per day. < princerupert.ca/images/edito … BL3297.pdf >.
After you have read it and become properly informed, file complaints with City Hall. Let us know how things turn out …[/quote]
I complained about Farwest Bus Depot in January. It is owned by a multi million dollar British firm. They lease that building as I understand it and look at what a pile of crap they allow it to look like. Since my complaint nothing has happened but if more call city hall they say they will act…whatever that means. But no fines yet !?
It’s not just downtown that is an eyesore – have you walked through some of the neighborhoods lately? Honestly, this place looks like a slum. Broken down boats, cars, tires, building materials and crap in general – and not just piled on their properties, but into greenspace and often parkland. Just dumped, not even an attempt to stack neatly pending removal. It is abysmal yet does the City do anything about these eyesores?
We live in some of the most beautiful and amazing country in this Province and yet how is it treated? Like a garbage dump. The entire town looks like a slum and no wonder people can’t wait to leave town, even for a day. Shopping and service provision issues aside, It gets depressing to look at day in, day out.
And don’t get me started on those people who dump their trash out on the highway … it can’t be a fuel cost issue because they drive right past the dump. And why do they think people want to see their crap on the side of the highway or in remote picnic spots, etc. It is beyond comprehension but perhaps lack of daylight and sunshine affects the brains of these morons, because what else could it be? Can people honestly be that … way? It is very sad.