Author: Sean Brady
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Cancer centre finally on its way
The ground has been broken, at least ceremonially, for Kamloops’ long-promised cancer centre, which is set to be completed by 2028. Provincial government officials were in Kamloops in late July to break ground on the project, including Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma and Minister of Health Josie Osborne. The centre will be five storeys in…
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Big dollar projects take a step forward
The City of Kamloops has laid out its timeline for the construction of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts. Vendors have now been chosen for the new downtown facility, which is expected to cost more than $150 million, with the city approved to borrow up to $140 million. The KCA will include an 1,100-seat theatre,…
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Wildfire film premieres in Kamloops
A retired forester is calling for a more proactive approach to wildfires in the province, with a shift from fighting them to preventing them. His film B.C. is Burning premiered July 22 at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. While the 45-minute film does paint a comprehensive picture of the challenges faced by wildfires, its main…
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‘Inquisitive’ mayor’s forensic audit motion defeated
A motion introduced earlier in June by Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson saw no real support at the June 24 regular council meeting, resulting in public conflict between mayor and council and another call for his resignation. At the June 10 council meeting, Hamer-Jackson put forward a notice of motion for a “third-party forensic audit of all…
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July city council briefs
Council opts for AAP to borrow for new RCMP building Council will use the alternative approval process to seek citizen approval to borrow nearly $200 million for a number of projects, including a new RCMP headquarters. The process means that rather than holding a referendum, electors can voice their opposition to the city, and if…
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Sarai offers apology for conduct as city publishes complaints
Coun. Bill Sarai has apologized to Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, to council, and to the public following an investigation that found he breached council’s code of conduct policy. According to the City of Kamloops, Sarai breached the code of conduct by recording a conversation between himself and the mayor without the mayor’s knowledge and later denied…
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Council deals with disruptions, engagement
Public input suspended again Following council’s pause on public inquiries and changes to the process, early use of the new system came in the form of a prank against council at its May 27 meeting. After an obviously fake name ended up on the speaker’s list, Coun. Margot Middleton called to remove that portion from…
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Petition to disqualify councillor dismissed, petitioners to pay costs
A petition to disqualify Kamloops Coun. Mike O’Reilly from office over allegations of conflicting interests has been dismissed by a Supreme Court of British Columbia judge. The 10 petitioners, led by former Coun. Denis Walsh, alleged that O’Reilly was in a conflict of interest related to his involvement in council’s approval of the $140-million arena…
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Parents lined up with signs, calling for increased funding for Kamloops’ schools, at the DPAC rally held in downtown Kamloops in May. Sean Brady photoParents call for urgent education funding
Parents are calling on the provincial government for more funding for education following a series of budget cuts, which advocates say is only the beginning. Members of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) for the Kamloops-Thompson school district made the trek to Victoria on May 26 to join other district PACs at the Legislature, calling…
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LifeLabs workers back at work with new agreement
The LifeLabs strike has ended after 10 weeks, with the union accepting the recommendations of a government-appointed mediator in May. About 1,200 LifeLabs workers across B.C. took part in rotating strikes, including picketing at a different location in Kamloops each day. Workers sought improved staffing and working conditions and wages on par with those doing…