Prince Rupert BC

The city known as the Halibut Capital of the World has been inhabited by the First Nation people for over 10,000 years who populated several villages along the coast during the fishing/hunting seasons.  The city was founded by Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway who sunk with the Titanic in 1912, survived by his wife and daughter who were lucky enough to get on a lifeboat.  His visions of grandeur for the city died with him but the city evolved into a mainstay of fishing and boatbuilding industries.  Salmon canneries also sprung up everywhere including the North Pacific Cannery which is now a National Historic Site, and a very educational tour with insights of the day in the life of some 1200 cannery workers.  There were several classes of workers at the canneries, with a hierarchy of English, Japanese, First Nation and Chinese workers segregated and paid accordingly with the worst jobs paying the least.  We also enjoyed a hike to Butze Rapids through old-growth forests, coastal wetlands and forest bogs to the rapids, a natural feature due to the tide around Kaien island causing Fern Passage to reverse on each tide.  We finished our exploration of Prince Rupert with a walk around town browsing the shops downtown and historic Cow Bay, waterfront filled with boats, a cruise ship, seaplane base and painted murals everywhere.  We will board the ferry tomorrow for our next destination, Ketchikan AK.