Published 19 hours ago • loading... • Updated 19 hours ago

Prince Rupert's Watson Island transformation earns high praise at local government conference

Prince Rupert transformed Watson Island from a failed industrial site into a vital economic hub, highlighted at the 2025 NCLGA conference in May.
This change occurred after years of economic decline following the financial collapse of the Skeena Cellulose pulp mill in 1997 and its subsequent sale by 2002, which led to the loss of 600 jobs.
When no bids were received at the 2008 tax sale, ownership of the site defaulted to the City of Prince Rupert in 2009, along with major environmental concerns including a large volume of industrial chemical waste and two unmonitored landfills.
After recycling more than 40,000 tons of scrap at a 95 percent efficiency, and with a $300 million investment secured by 2017, the city developed a liquefied propane export terminal within the trade and logistics area on Watson Island.
The city's efforts, funded by LNG-related revenue and led by renewed leadership, relieved taxpayers and attracted new industries focused on hydrogen, offering a model for other resource-dependent communities.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?