The cover of the City of Prince Rupert's 2023 Annual Report features a picture of the new Wheelhouse Brewery lit up at night.
For many years, that building sat unused, in disrepair.
The massive renovation was completed in 2023 and now the building is a vibrant and happening addition to the waterfront. The photo is a good choice for the cover of the report because it is symbolic of the renewal taking place in Prince Rupert.
The annual report itself, while lauding the city's 2023 accomplishments, particularly securing $200 million for the water system crisis, is very forward-looking. Prince Rupert is on the precipice of a renaissance and the current city council and city staff is very focussed on doing the things required to get us over the precipice, so credit where credit is due.
Let us not forget, though, that progress does not happen in a vacuum. While the current council gets to bask in a bit of glory right now, a ton of groundwork well before the 2022 election went into making the improvements we are starting to see happen.
Kudos also to other levels of government for recognizing the need in Prince Rupert and stepping up with funding to help make it happen.
It's not just governments, though, that make a city what it is.
We also have to acknowledge all the other contributors, the businesses that continue to provide services and employment and pour donations into the many amenities we have, the First Nations who are creating economic growth and housing at a rapid rate, the community organizations and their hundreds of volunteers who tirelessly work to make the city more livable, and the individual citizens who pay their taxes and offer their insights into how to move forward.
Finally, while the city is starting to build a little bit of momentum, we are still a long way from the vision of what Prince Rupert can be if we all do our part.
