Single level dorms are linking up like Lego blocks in Port Edward.
Work camps are now visible from the road when driving into the district. LandSea Camp Services has been contracted to build the camps for the upcoming construction on the AltaGas propane terminal project on Ridley Island.
The project is estimated have 200 to 250 positions for workers at the height of the construction period.
President of LandSea Camps Mike Coyne presented an update on Feb. 28 to Port Edward council.
“We are well into the construction process. It’s going well with no major hiccups,” he said.
Coyne anticipates the camps will be ready by mid-April with approximately 50 people, and doubling occupancy by August.
A berm partially blocks what looks like rows of school portables. Coyne told council that aesthetics and green space will be included to soften the appearance of the work camps. The facility will also be fenced in with a front security gate.
“Security is top of mind for them [AltaGas] as it is for us. It will be a dry camp and the level of security, policies and guidelines will create a fairly structured environment and calm. That’s not to say we wont’ have a bad apple. But it should be nice and calm,” Coyne said.
Councillor James Brown asked if his company plans to hire locally. Securiguard has been contracted for security services, which has a joint venture agreement with Coast Tsimshian Enterprises to train and employ members of the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla communities.
LandSea Camp Services will hire one employee for every 12 workers staying at the camp — and they plan to hold a job fair to give residents the opportunity to apply.
“People here will have standard shifts and won’t have to stay overnight. It will give us the opportunity to hire more people and even part-time,” Coyne said.
“It’s good to go to work happy every morning to know that something is going on in Port Edward,” said councillor Grant Moore, who has been hired by LandSea. Moore is already satisfied with the ratio of workers hired from the community.
The volunteer fire department in Port Edward has also been in touch with LandSea Camp, and they will do a walk-through of the facilities in the near future to ensure they’re aware of the services and the layout.
Construction of the propane terminal is expected to take between 21 and 24 months, and LandSea Camps said they will try to stick around if another project comes online, and if they are able to pick up another contract.
