"Opportunities are continuing to strengthen and grow through the Port City of Prince Rupert/' stated Mayor Jack Mussallem. The coal export facility continues to work towards its 35 acre expansion, which will increase its volume by 40%. Chair Person Bud Smith of Ridley Terminals Inc. has advised a second rail car dumper will be installed by year end, with the total expansion being completed by 2013 and the terminal hiring another 50 employees.

Last week the maiden voyage of the 8,500 T.E.U. container ship, "Cosco Prince Rupert" was celebrated in Prince Rupert. This is the first time Cosco has named a vessel for a community of less than half a million people, and is reflective of Cosco's opportunities through the Prince Rupert Port Authority, in conjunction with Maher Terminals of Canada Corp. and Canadian National Railway. During that same week the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen's Union Local 505 were actively seeking 30 to 40 more people to start work at various port activities.

This week the City of Prince Rupert was the host community of the 2011 National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference Series. The Conference was hosted by the Metlakatla First Nation and Lax Kw'alaams First Nation from within this Tsimshian Territory.

At the Conference two agreements were signed by the two First Nations. One with Canadian National Railway, creating a container stuffing facility for lumber products, employing twelve people, and one with Island Tug and Barge, another marine related business establishing in Prince Rupert.

Activity at the Fairview Container Port will again increase from two ships per week, to four ships per week, in the month of May. This is the most efficient Container Port on the West Coast of North America, and the increased activity will allow for an increase in shipment of back haul products to Asia. Currently lumber, aluminum ingots and logs are being shipped in containers in increasing amounts. With this increase in opportunities, if s interesting to note that at Prince Rupert Airport there has been an 11.8% increase in airline passengers during the first three months of 2011.

The Province of British Columbia has also advised the City of Prince Rupert of an estimated increase in population during 2010. "The Provincial Government has estimated the City of Prince Rupert grew by approximately 995 people," stated Mayor Jack Mussallem.