A CEREMONY at noon today will officially name the main road into the City of Terrace’s Skeena Industrial Development Park as Jack Talstra Way.
Located south of the Northwest Regional Airport, the industrial park of more than 2,000 acres was first conceived by the former Terrace mayor approximately 15 years ago.
He then embarked on a long campaign for the city to acquire the provincial Crown land through an option to purchase portions only after the city had sold it to companies wishing to develop there.
The city has now established a partnership with the Kitselas First Nation that will see revenue sharing based on taxation from industries setting up at the location.
A major leap forward took place this year with the sale to a Chinese economic development zone of approximately half of the park’s land mass.
Talstra holds the distinction of being the city’s longest serving mayor.
His local political career began when he was elected as an alderman from 1976 to 1981.
He was then elected mayor in 1985, serving until 2008, a total of 23 years and 29 years altogether in civic politics when his aldermanic stint is counted.
Talstra has received many awards and recognitions for his achievements over the years including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Order of Terrace in 2009.
Immediately after the street dedication, a fire hydrant bearing Talstra’s likeness located in front of city hall will be unveiled. The hydrant was painted by current city councillor Lynne Christiansen.
