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| Chief Sammy Robinson's home in Kitimaat Village. |
I don’t think anyone was
more surprised than us that Kitimat turned out to be a destination. To start, we hate tying up. We spend six months trapped in a marina
during the winter and the last thing we want to do in the summer is spend the
night in one. And none of us were too excited
that the only grocery store is 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the marina,
especially when we were looking at a CA$25 taxi ride . . . each way. But we were low on fresh provisions and it
was our best option. So, we went.
And
we’re really glad that we did.
The marina, MK Bay Marina,
is located on the east side of Kitimat Arm (Navionics places it on the west) and is open year round. Guest moorage is located on the seaward side of D dock
(the outermost finger), but boats under 45’ can tie up on the inside near the
office building if space is available. It’s
a good idea to call ahead on VHF channel 68 for a berth assignment and check
for availability – it can get surprisingly busy during the height of the
summer.
The
facilities themselves are first-rate. The
dock is starting to show its age in places but is concrete and (for the most
part) sits level. Moorage is a little on
the high side at CA$1.25 a foot, but water and power are available (30 and 50
amp) at no additional charge. The marina
has a security gate (there’s a refundable CA$20 deposit for the key) and a
large garbage bin is located at the end of the gangway (no sorting!) with a
smaller bin for recyclables. The laundromat
is located at the end of the marina office building and reasonably priced at
CA$2 per load. The showers, opposite the
office, are among the best we’ve seen but are on the expensive side at CA$3 for
5 minutes (you can add a loonie while the water’s running to extend your
time). There was internet access
available in the office, but no Wi-Fi. We
did, however, have a weak cellular signal through Bell Canada
A fuel dock
is located at the southern end of the marina near the office building and sells
diesel and petrol at a much lower rate than Shearwater or Klemtu – it was
CA$1.28 when we were there compared to a hefty CA$1.70. A small store inside the marina building
sells a good selection of marine and fishing supplies (no groceries). And a café sells coffee, drinks, sandwiches
and baked goods.
When it comes to Kitimat, cruising
guides for the area fall short on details but you can find all the information
you need in the office . . . including a bus schedule into town. Service runs regularly Monday through Friday
and the fare is only CA$2 per person, a much cheaper option than calling a taxi. You can also find maps and visitor guides
with lists of local businesses and attractions.
The marina staff is incredibly friendly and will help you with any
questions you may have, so don’t hesitate to ask. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll find
someone who does.
The bus stops along the
main road opposite the marina parking lot and takes 15 to 20 minutes to drive
to Kitimat. Local residents are very
friendly as well (even carrying our groceries aboard) and help pass the time
with good conversation. We didn’t try it
ourselves but the chances of hitching a ride with someone leaving the marina
seemed like a good option as well. But
if you prefer to bike (or even walk) the road is only one lane each way with no
shoulder.
The town itself only has a population of around 10,000 people but
offers all of the amenities of a larger city – a hospital, library, airport, visitors centre,
post office, mall, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, restaurants, parks, hotels,
churches, and museums. There are two
grocery stores – SuperValu and Overwaitea.
But SuperValu is starting to show its age while Overwaitea is a modern,
clean grocery story with an excellent selection and, in our opinion, the better
option of the two.
The region has a long
history starting with the Haisla Nation who has occupied the land for hundreds
of years. European explorers arrived in
the 1800s but it wasn’t until 1950 that a western town was built around what
was called the Kitimat Project – a dam, two 12-mile long tunnels through the
coastal mountain range, a powerhouse that’s 1400 feet inside a mountain (all
located in Kemano Bay, Gardner Canal), an aluminum smelter and a town. The company, Alcan, continues to operate and
is the main employer for the city. You
can learn more about the history of the area and the building of the Alcan
facilities at the KitimatMuseum & Archives, which is
located in the city centre.
If you stop
at MK Bay Marina, visiting with Chief Sammy
Robinson, master carver, in nearby Kitimaat Village British Columbia
We only spent
24 hours in Kitimat and used it primarily as a working stop, but there’s
clearly more to it than that and we wouldn’t hesitate to make a return
trip. If you happen to find yourself
there one day as well, whether for work or pleasure, one thing’s for sure –
you’ll be glad you did.
Things to Do:
- Farmers Market – Sundays
- Heritage Walkway – interpretive signs lead the way through the history of Kitimat. There are four but the easiest to find from the bus stop is across from the SuperValu.
- Hirsch Creek Golf & Winter Club – 18 hole golf course and a bar & grill.
- Kitimat Museum & Archives – community history, First Nation displays, flora and fauna displays, wildlife displays and gift shop.
- Sam Lindsay Aquatic Centre – 25 metre lap pool, sauna, hot tub, water slide, kid’s pool, changing rooms, racquetball court and weight room.
Transportation:
- Car Rental – Budget, Hertz and National (all out of the airport)
- Coastal Taxi – (250) 632-7250
- Kitimat Transit System (250) 632-4444
- Valley Taxi – (250) 639-6464
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