Kamloops This Week January 4, 2023

Assessments may not reflect market values

and 19 per cent for condos/ townhomes in Kamloops).

The BC Assessment Authority has updated its 2023 property assessments on its website, with notices now in the mail. The assessments can be viewed by searching addresses at bcassessment.ca.

In Kamloops, the average increase in assessed value of single-value homes is 11 per cent (typical assessed value rose to $689,000 in mid-2022 from $619,000 in mid-2021). The average increase in assessed value of condos/ townhomes is 19 per cent (typical assessed value rose to $408,000 in mid-2022 from $344,000 in mid-2021).

In Sun Peaks, the average single-family increase is a whopping 44 per cent (from $1.15 million to $1.6 million), while condos/townhomes have seen an average value hike of 11 per cent (from $685,000 to $758,000).

“It is important to understand that increases in property assessments do not automatically translate into a corresponding increase in property taxes,” said BC Assessment’s Okanagan area deputy assessor Tracy Shymko, noting a property tax hike is only likely for those property owners whose land value has increased beyond the average in its class (11 per cent for single-family homes

However, BC Assessment has warned that the assessed value of homes could be higher than current market values, due to the fact the assessed value for 2023 is based on market values of July 1, 2022.

And much has changed between July 1, 2022, and today, including rising interest rates for mortgages and a drop in sales activity.

In a span of nine months — from March to December — the Bank of Canada’s policy rate has jumped to 4.25 per cent from 0.25 per cent.

Meanwhile, demand for homes has fallen, resulting in lower sales prices, fewer sales and listings remaining on the market for longer periods of time.

Statistics from the Association of Interior Realtors show a decline in average sales price between July (when the current assessments were based) and the end of the year.

In Kamloops in July, the average sales price of a singlefamily home was $750,830. The average sales price of a townhouse was $584,218. The average sales price of a condo/apartment was $373,483.

The latest statistics, for November, show the average sales price of a single-family

home was $717,017. The average sales price of a townhouse was $479,258. The average sales price of a condo/apartment was $366,211.

In addition, the number of days homes were on the market increased between July and November, while the number of sales decreased.

Last year, BC Assessment reported an average 27 per cent spike in assessed value for single-family homes in Kamloops — about quadruple that of 2021 and 2020. Townhouses and condos/ apartments rose in value by an average of 21 per cent.

This year, a survey of a half-dozen properties that had sky-high spikes in values last year shows the increases this year are far more moderate.

For example, 1490 Westerdale Dr. — which has been the highest-valued property in Kamloops for the past several years — has a current assessed value increase of about nine per cent and is now pegged at $3 million.

Last year, that property rose in value by 27 per cent.

BC Assessment said real estate sales determine a property’s value.

Those wishing to appeal their assessments can do so until Jan. 31. Information on the appeals process is online at bcassessment.ca.

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Five years ago, KTW first introduced readers to Ferris Backmeyer, who was diagnosed with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome — a rare disorder involving kidney failure — just days following her birth. Ferris’ parents spent months with her at BC Children’s Hospital, where she underwent dialysis treatment. Ferris will turn six years old at the end of January and is in need of a kidney transplant, which is scheduled to take place in Toronto in April.

C I T Y PAG E

Jan 4, 2023

Stay Connec ted @CityofKamloops Kamloops.ca

Council Calendar

The public, media, delegations, and staff are encouraged to par ticipate in meetings vir tually through Zoom or to observe through the City YouTube channel

Januar y 17, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council

Januar y 31, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council

Januar y 31, 2023

7:00 pm - Public Hearing

The complete 2023 Council Calendars is available online at: Kamloops.ca/CouncilPor tal

Council Meeting Recap

Sign up for the Council Highlights e -newsletter at: Kamloops.ca/Subscribe

Yard Waste Site Closures

The Bunker Road and Barnhar tvale Yard Waste Sites are now closed for the season. Cinnamon Ridge remains open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily

Indoor Walking Track

The Sandman Centre concourse is available for walk ing Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm until April 2023.

Due to K amloops Blazers home games and concer t schedules, some designated walk ing dates may not be available

Consider a Career with us

Join our team of over 700 employees who work in a variety of fulfilling and challenging careers Visit: Kamloops.ca/Jobs

Did you k now? Rec ycled trees save land space and produce compost material that can be used in parks and gardens To date, K amloops has rec ycled almost 150,000 trees!

Ensure your tree is free of any wires, tinsel, decorations, and plastic prior to rec ycling Drop off your tree by Januar y 15 at the following locations:

• Alber t McGowan Park, 2025 Summit Drive

• Brocklehurst Park, 2470 Fleetwood Avenue

• Dallas Fire Station No. 6, 5300 Dallas Drive

G E T O U T S I D E T H I S W I N T E R !

The City invites residents to explore and tr y new experiences to stay healthy and active this winter by tak ing advantage of the City ’s spectacular outdoor recreation oppor tunities:

• 1 k m cross- countr y sk iing loop at West Highlands Park (pictured)

• hik ing, bik ing, and snow loops for walk ing and snowshoeing for all sk ill levels at the City ’s four nature parks—Dallas/ Barnhar tvale, Kenna Car twright, Valleyview, and Peterson Creek (park and trail users are reminded to stay on marked trails to protect the sensitive grasslands and ecosystems that our parks reside in)

• two disc-golf courses—Rosehill Park and McAr thur Island Park

• McAr thur Island Park mini-golf course, which will remain open as long as it remains clear of snow

• paved recreational walk ing paths with snow maintenance along the Rivers Trail, West Highlands Park, Xget' tem' Trail, and McAr thur Island Park

• public sk ating—pre -registration is required at: Kamloops.ca/Skate

• activities in the 2023 Winter Activity Guide: Kamloops.ca/Ac tivityGuide

To discover more, visit:

C all for Booths

9th A N N UA L FA M I LY D AY F E S T I VA L

C A L L F O R B O O T H S

FA M I LY DAY F E S T I VA L

On Family Day, the City of K amloops will transform the Tournament Capital Centre into a festival for families of all ages The 9th Annual Family Day Festival is a free event that will take place on Monday, Februar y 20, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Let's Talk K amloops is our engagement website where you can share your voice and shape our city Please subscribe to the project of interest to receive updates Sign up and speak up at: LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca

Repor t an issue: 250-828-3461

For after-hours emergencies, press 1.

• Juniper Park, Qu’Appelle Boulevard

• Len Haughton Park, Lister Road, Heffley Creek

• McAr thur Island, East of the Spor t & Event Centre

• Rae -Mor Park, Arab Run Road

• Westsyde Park, Frank lin Road

• Yacht Club, 1140 River Street

• Yard Waste Depots (open for tree drop off only): Cinnamon Ridge, Bunker Road, and Barnhar tvale Kamloops.ca/ChristmasTreeRecycling

Community organizations and businesses are invited to apply for a booth at the event, which aims to bring a wide range of family-focused festivities to one place. Booths must be creative, interactive, fun, and engaging for the public To be considered, your booth must meet these criteria. The application deadline for a booth is Thursday, Januar y 26.

Only successful applicants will be notified.

Submit your application at: Kamloops.ca/FamilyDayBooths

City Hall: 7 Victoria Street West, K amloops, BC, V2C 1A2 | 250-828-3311

R E C Y C L E Y O U R C H R I S T M A S T R E E

WEATHER FORECAST

Jan. 4: Sun/clouds -3/-7 (hi/low)

Jan, 5: Sun/clouds -4/-5 (hi/low)

Jan. 6: Cloudy 4/-1 (hi/low)

Jan. 7: Cloudy 3/-2 (hi/low)

Jan. 8: Cloudy 3/-2 (hi/low)

ONLINE

www.kamloopsthisweek.com

OH, BABY! OF NAMES AND FIRST ARRIVALS A10

THANK YOU, DONORS: $60,000!

The annual KTW Christmas Cheer Fund is coming to an end, with about $60,000 expected to be donated to this worthy cause by our loyal readers by the end of this week. The latest tally below is as of Dec. 28, with donations accepted to the end of this week and tabulated by our partners at the BC Interior Community Foundation. We are confident the final amount donated will reach or crest the $60,000 mark, which is a remarkable achievement by our readers in the face of inflation, concerns about the economy and myriad other fundraising initiatives ongoing in Kamloops. Money donated this year will be shared by the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association, BC SPCA, Kamloops Brain Injury Association, Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism and Y Women’s Emergency Shelter. We thank each and every donor and the official final tally will be published in KTW and online at kamloopsthisweek.com later this month. We will connect again in November, when we identify another group of local non-profits to help.

• BC Old-Time Fiddlers Kamloops branch: $100

• IG Wealth Management: $1,402

• Donald & Kathleen Gienow: $50

• Nel Sarrasin, in memory of Gordon Sarrasin: $100

• Susan & Ron Durant: $100

• John & Val Kemp: $100

• Greg Harris: $50

• Simone Werstiuk, in memory of brother Carmen Werstiuk: $50

• Kim & Andrew Cooper: $150

• IG Wealth Management/Chris Nagle: $500

• Cal & Pat Moulton: $100

• Richard & Terry Taylor: $100

• Nolan Pastoor Real Estate Corporation: $1,500

• Sharlene & Darren McIlwain: $158

• Rick Bennett: $50

• Bea Smith: $50

• Amanda Fenrich, in memory of husband Adam: $100

• Jacques Lamb: $50

•

IG Wealth Management: $200

• Linda Rollins: $100

• Rick & Judy Collinge: $100

• Anonymous: $40

• Evelyn Meyer: $100

• Anna Evenrude: $50

• Geri McNally: $500

• Rachel Long: $100

• Louella Garner: $100, in memory of Louise Watt

• Michelle & Uncle Paul Goyer: $120

• Ken & Gladys Klepachek: $100

• Moneca Jantzen: $50

• Debra McNichol: $50

• Herbert & Phyllis Kimmel: $100

• Carolynne Miller: $100

• Beth Dye: $50

• Jay Leslie: $100

• Alan & Judy Grimes: $100

• Susan Rolston: $51.95

• Darko & Allison Filipic: $155.85

facebook.com/ kamloopsthisweek youtube.com/user/ KamloopsThisWeek/videos

• Margaret Sandulak: $100

• Sarb & Kam Chattu: $100

• Anonymous, in memory of Rose Goar: $50

twitter.com/ KamThisWeek

• Anonymous: $50

• Ed & Dianne Barker: $250

• Anonymous: $50

• Abacus Gardening & Landscaping: $1,000

• Dianne Jackson: $50

• Spencer & Janet Bryson: $200

• Vic & Sally Mowbray: $150

• Jo-Mary & Bob Hunter: $200

Instagram: @kamloopsthisweek

Switchboard 250-374-7467 Classifieds 250-371-4949 Classifieds Fax 250-374-1033 Circulation 250-374-0462 classifieds@kamloopsthisweek

• Barbara Eagle: $40

• Jerry & Wendy Patrick: $100

• Wendy Dickson, in memory of Peter Basson & John Healy: $50

• Anonymous, in memory of Dave & Sandy: $100

• Barbara Caswell: $75

• Lorna McMillan & Robin Johnson: $75

• Sharon Moore, in memory of Tom Moore: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Silvia Olson: $100

• Lynne Totten: $100

• Linda Jackson, in memory of George E. Wilmot: $100

• Doris Finlay: $20

• Ian & Margaret Stewart: $100

• Amy Regan: $100

• Teresa & Colman Byrne: $200

• Harriett Chave: $100

• Anonymous: $1,000

• Brenda Fennell: $500

• Mary Dobrovolny: $25

• Shirley Holmes: $50

• Don Whyte & Gail Cameron: $200

• Sharon Cooley: $50, in memory of Ruth Cooley

• Gerry Saunders: $200, in memory of Peter Baron

• Heather & Bingley: $50

• Anonymous: $200

• Marie & Norio Sakaki: $100

• Lois Hollstedt: $250

• Maggie Campbell: $100, in memory of Don

• Mel & Wilda Bronken: $100

• Patricia Hanson: $100

• Shirley Ross: $100

• Sally & Bill Jennejohn: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Chris Nagle: $100

• Nora Berkhout: $500

• Frances Higginson: $25

• Anonymous: $100

• Twyla-Lea Jensen: $25

• Anonymous: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Debbie Fransen: $100, celebrating new grandson Fletcher, love Harm and Deb

• Tiernan Buchan: $100

• Irene Buckle: $200, in memory of Edyn & Mykel Rothenburger

• David Whitson: $100

• Anonymous: $250

• June & Ken Hartley: $100

• N&C Jackson Inc.: $250

• Surander Singh: $150

• Anonymous: $100, in memory of Peter Howard & Harold Bedard

• Anonymous: $50

• Jerry Neigel: $300

• Ken & Marylyne House: $100

• A&G Morrissette: $200

• Christine Gregory: $25

• Christine Gross: $200

• Marie Mudry: $100

• Terry & Nancy Stephenson: $100

• Rina Damini: $50

• Tish & Eric Schweizer: $103.90

• Marg & Terry Bangen: $20

• Rob & Joyce Buchanan: $100

• Kathy Kendall: $200

• Sue Turner: $200

• Sue & Darren Arndt: $200

• White Wolf Wellness Counselling & Consulting/Sharon Todd: $50

• Marv & Marilyn Peterson: $100

• Anne Wade: $25

• Bea Prehara: $50

• Donna Geefs: $100

• Jean Tash: $50

• Colleen M. Stainton: $200

• Marion Kaban: $100

• Sharon Langland: $100, in memory of Sharon Frampton

• Anonymous: $100, in memory of our parents, Tom & Gloria Stout, and Muriel & Norman Cooper

• Eileen Jones: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• The Hausers: $100

• The Posse: $200

• Sheila Pierson: $100

THANK YOU, CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND DONORS!

From

•Kathie & Brian Andriashyk: $100, in memory of Verna Wasylnka

• The Sallis Family: $360

• Anonymous: $150

• Vic & Dorene Radmacher: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Tivola Howe: $100, in memory of Marjorie Duck Lehrle

• Cathy Wilcox: $100

• Wayne Murphy: $50

• Don & Debbie Erickson: $100

• Sandra Blakely: $50, in memory of Harvey

• Aileen Murphy: $50

• Cathy McIntosh: $100, in memory of George & Nolan

• Anonymous: $100

• Diana Kopec: $100, in memory of Norman Kopec

• Gordon Gillespie: $100

• Nancy Stewart: $500

• Leanne Knowles: $100

• Kelsey Boudreau: $100

• Andrea Ciccone: $48

• Anonymous: $100

• Vic & Bev Poleschuk: $100

• Kathleen Ayotte: $100

• Pat & Dave McDonald: $100

• Noreen Dorais: $200

• Kathy Michell: $100

• Glennis Davidson-White: $50

• Anonymous: $100

• Yamilka Zienowicz: $25

• Pat Davies: $200, in memory of husband Bill Davies and grandson T.J. Finnen

• Anonymous: $100

• Dale & Noeline Kerr: $100

•Timm & Ruth Kitchur: $100

• Precious Pets Grooming Salon: $100

• Anonymous: $500

• Roy Simmonds: $50

• Anonymous: $100

• Peter & Jo Ann Hall: $500

• Antonio Kirwin: $25

• Family Law: $100, in honour of Sheriff Mark

• Teresa & Kevin Wallace: $500

• David Page: $1,000

• Judy Edwards: $25

• Theresa Mueller: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Anonymous: $25

• Sharon & Alan Dodd: $100

• Tina Lange-Henzler: $50

• Evan & Wendy Lichlyter: $100

• Cathy Newman: $50

• Tanya Giles: $25

• Gary & Carol Bacon: $100

• Anonymous: $50

• Anonymous: $100

• The Hanes Family: $200, in memory of Brett & Bob

• Diana Christianson: 2,000, in memory of Ingmar & Eileen Christianson

• St. John Vianney Bridge Club: $350

• Anonymous: $1,000

• Marg Holley: $50

• Cassie Koroll: $100

• Bev Turner: $40

• Linda Dunkley: $200, in memory of Douglas

• Linda L. Inglis: $100

• Arthur & Myrna Bepple: $100

• Gwen Watson & Gordon Harris: $400

• Luella Doyon, in memory of Mike & Lou: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Wayne Houston: $25, in memory of Devon Blackmore

• Anonymous: $100

• Anonymous: $20

• Davina Neve: $50

• Anonymous: $100

• Rosemary Anderson: $100

• Anonymous: $500

• Marilyn K. Bartlett: $300, in memory of Magnus Wydenes & Kris Bush

• Ruth Konrad: $100, in memory of Al & Joan Crofts

• Maureen Hove: $100

• Preceptor Delta Beta Sigma Phi: $100

• Mavis Paravantes: $200, in memory of Ted

• Barbara & Ronald Oyler: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Verita Van Diemen: $500

• D. & G. Swannell: $100

• Anonymous: $100

• Bill & Pat Van Zandt: $100

• Ross & Sheri McLean: $200

• Alan & Frances Vyse: $200

• Helen Ferguson: $50, in memory of mum & brothers

• Anonymous: $50

• Anonymous: $50

• Anonymous: $100

• Kevin & Janice MacDonald: $100

• Rick & Maureen Nakashimada: $100

• Susan Peachey: $50

• Eileen & Rick Sevigny: $105

• Lorraine Nelson: $100

• Amy Elliott: $100, in honour of Sheila’s Family Daycare

• Free Radicals Hockey Club: $8,657

• Rick Musgrove: $100

• Anonymous: $50

• Anonymous: $150, in memory of Jeff and Martin

• Anonymous: $150, in honour of Helen Kupp

• Anonymous: $100, in memory of Ed & Bobbie Barry

• River City Nissan: $200

• Sue Porter: $100, in memory of Peter Barron

• Julie & Bill Turley: $100

• Anonymous: $100, in memory of Mike & Quay Jules

• Al & Heather Gaunce: $300, in memory of Katherine Lisa Gaunce

• Hugh MacInnes: $500

• Sandra Dever: $50, in memory of mom Pat Swaine and brother Chris

• Darleen Polegi: $50

• Shirley Stans: $100

• Lynda Desrocher: $50

• Santa Casey: $250

TOTAL: $46,785

Kidney transplant set for April

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Lindsey Backmeyer feels all the eggs are in one basket as the family awaits a life-changing kidney transplant for daughter Ferris.

Ferris, who will turn six years old at the end of January, has been in need of a new kidney all her life, having been diagnosed with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome — a rare disorder involving kidney failure — just days after her birth in 2018.

KTW first introduced readers to Ferris just months after her birth, when which her parents spent months with their daughter at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she underwent dialysis treatment.

Today, Lindsey said, Ferris is a “sassy” Kindergarten student at Lloyd George elementary.

Following a failed transplant last year, Lindsey and husband Pat are set to travel across the country this spring, to SickKids Hospital in Toronto, where Ferris is again set to receive a new kidney, this time from a living donor.

If all goes well, Lindsey envisions her daughter being able to live a more normal childhood as a

new kidney would alleviate Ferris of her health issues.

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

“All of her issues right now revolve around the fact she’s in kidney failure,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey Backmeyer feels all the eggs are in one basket as the family awaits a life-changing kidney transplant for daughter Ferris.

Ferris spends 14 hours each day on dialysis. Lindsey said her daughter has had complications from it, ending up in hospital multiple times.

Lindsey also noted how crucial a transplant is for her daughter.

“You can’t live forever on dialysis and she’s already lived five out of her six years [on dialysis], so statistically, she won’t live a long life,” Lindsey said.

Ferris, who will turn six years old at the end of January, has been in need of a new kidney all her life, having been diagnosed with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome — a rare disorder involving kidney failure — just days after her birth in 2018.

KTW first introduced readers to Ferris just months after her birth, when which her parents spent months with their daughter at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she underwent dialysis treatment.

Lindsey said Ferris has been ill since she had a failed transplant in the spring of 2021 and is on 19 medications. She has also had to endure 10 trips to BC Children’s Hospital from her Kamloops home since last June.

That transplant, which involved a deceased donor, failed immediately due to Ferris’ small size and complexity of matching the anatomy, Lindsey said. Ferris has to incorporate an adult-sized kidney into her soon-to-be sixyear-old body.

new kidney would alleviate Ferris of her health issues.

month for the procedure, but it was pushed back to April, Lindsey said, noting SickKids does only one transplant a month.

“All of her issues right now revolve around the fact she’s in kidney failure,” Lindsey said.

Ferris spends 14 hours each day on dialysis. Lindsey said her daughter has had complications from it, ending up in hospital multiple times.

“We’re really excited and nervous,” Lindsey said, adding they will need to arrive in Toronto a few weeks ahead of the surgery, cognizant that there remains the possibility the transplant could be called off.

Lindsey also noted how crucial a transplant is for her daughter.

“You can’t live forever on dialysis and she’s already lived five out of her six years [on dialysis], so statistically, she won’t live a long life,” Lindsey said.

feeling it was too high risk, Lindsey told KTW

Today, Lindsey said, Ferris is a “sassy” Kindergarten student at Lloyd George elementary.

She said doctors at SickKids Hospital, however, were willing. The family had a transplant assessment with the hospital last September and learned in November the surgery would proceed. It is scheduled for April.

Following a failed transplant last year, Lindsey and husband Pat are set to travel across the country this spring, to SickKids Hospital in Toronto, where Ferris is again set to receive a new kidney, this time from a living donor.

Following the attempted transplant in 2021, surgeons at BC Children’s Hospital were hesitant to attempt another procedure,

If all goes well, Lindsey envisions her daughter being able to live a more normal childhood as a

Lindsey said Ferris has been ill since she had a failed transplant in the spring of 2021 and is on 19 medications. She has also had to endure 10 trips to BC Children’s Hospital from her Kamloops home since last June.

Lindsey said the transplant will be life changing regardless of the outcome, as it will either be successful and Ferris will have an easier life or it will fail and she might not get another shot at another procedure given that, statistically, there are not many potential matches for her.

The Backmeyers, clockwise from rear left: Pat, Ferris, Lindsey, Tavia and Ksenia.

feeling it was too high risk, Lindsey told KTW

Meanwhile, Lindsey said Ferris loves attending school, which recently held a fundraiser for her. She said Ferris is only able to attend classes for a few hours in the afternoons.

That transplant, which involved a deceased donor, failed immediately due to Ferris’ small size and complexity of matching the anatomy, Lindsey said. Ferris has to incorporate an adult-sized kidney into her soon-to-be sixyear-old body.

The living donor is an anonymous B.C. resident who was identified as a match for Ferris in November of 2021, but it has taken more than 18 months to get to this point.

Initially, the Backmeyers were set to travel to Toronto this

Lindsey said Ferris has become aware of her health issues, but remains determined not to let that slow her down.

She said doctors at SickKids Hospital, however, were willing. The family had a transplant assessment with the hospital last September and learned in November the surgery would proceed. It is scheduled for April.

month for the procedure, but it was pushed back to April, Lindsey said, noting SickKids does only one transplant a month.

“We’re really excited and nervous,” Lindsey said, adding they will need to arrive in Toronto a few weeks ahead of the surgery, cognizant that there remains the possibility the transplant could be called off.

Lindsey said the transplant will be life changing regardless of the outcome, as it will either be successful and Ferris will have an easier life or it will fail and she might not get another shot at another procedure given that, statistically, there are not many potential matches for her.

Meanwhile, Lindsey said Ferris loves attending school, which recently held a fundraiser for her. She said Ferris is only able to attend classes for a few hours in the afternoons.

Following the attempted transplant in 2021, surgeons at BC Children’s Hospital were hesitant to attempt another procedure,

“She’s pretty resilient, for sure,” Lindsey said, adding her daughter also enjoys camping, swimming and going on adventures — even on days when she’s not feeling well.

The living donor is an anonymous B.C. resident who was identified as a match for Ferris in November of 2021, but it has taken more than 18 months to get to this point.

Initially, the Backmeyers were set to travel to Toronto this

Lindsey said Ferris has become aware of her health issues, but remains determined not to let that slow her down.

“She’s pretty resilient, for sure,” Lindsey said, adding her daughter also enjoys camping, swimming and going on adventures — even on days when she’s not feeling well.

Separating from your spouse and trying to avoid court?

An alternative may be a Separation Agreement, which can settle issues while avoiding the costs, stress and delays often associated with court, giving you more control over how your separation unfolds

This comprehensive contract deals with almost every detail of a separation, including guardianship/custody, parental responsibilities, parenting time, child/spousal support, and property division While a Separation Agreement is not a court order, it is often more detailed, addressing even the most discreet issues It is also legally binding, so it may be filed with and enforced through the court system if needed. We

The Backmeyers, clockwise from rear left: Pat, Ferris, Lindsey, Tavia and Ksenia.

It has again fallen upon my shoulders to prepare you, dear reader, for what to expect in Kamloops as 2023 makes its grand entrance.

***

The year begins with city council enjoying a break until the first meeting on Jan. 17. At that meeting, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson announces he is recusing himself for 2023.

The new mayor, however, states he will be a full participant in all council meetings via watching them online. He further requests a link to any Spanish-language broadcasts and asks that any pressing business be tabled until “manyana.”

***

In mid-January, the Thompson Region of Family Practice, the group tasked with recruiting and retaining doctors, takes advantage of a little-known loophole in the Canada Health Act and offers prospective

doctors an ownership stake in the new patient-care tower at Royal Inland Hospital.

While Kamloops sees an influx of family doctors, an immediate backlog in various surgeries is created when many of the new doctors convert operating rooms into AirBNBs.

***

Kamloops This Week is a politically independent newspaper, published Wednesdays at 1365-B Dalhousie Dr., Kamloops, B.C., V2C 5P6

Phone: 250-374-7467 | Fax: 250-374-1033 email: editor@kamloopsthisweek.com

Behold! The crystal ball sees all in 2023 OPINION

The city once again finds itself embroiled in controversy in February due to another booking snafu.

Late last year, the city came under fire when it booked Memorial Arena for the Scotties curling tournament entertainment zone in February at the expense of minor hockey games. The city eventually backtracked and apologized.

The municipality then inadvertently booked ice times on McArthur Island for Memorial Cup teams in May, at the expense of the extremely popular annual Kamloops Gun and Antique Show. The city eventually backtracked and apologized.

In February, the city strikes again, accidentally evicting occupants of three homeless shelters after reserving shelter beds for fans of visiting teams at the Memorial Cup.

The city once again backtracks and apologizes.

***

In December, amid a record snowfall, the city finally finds a solution in the neverending quest to rid driveways of windrows, those pesky little Walls of China of ice-packed snow left behind by snowplows.

As part of the enhanced fitness test given to city community safety officers, a windrow hurdle component is added to the aerobic events.

Within days, the windrows are reduced to piles of slush — and the injured CSOs who employed the Fosbury Flop are left to try to book an AirBNB at Royal Inland Hospital.

***

The BC Federation of Labour continues in its quest to convince the provincial government to add more worker sick days to legislation.

In 2022, after the BC NDP government gave everyone five paid sick days, the BC Fed called for 15 paid sick days.

In May, the labour organization

ups the ante, demanding Premier David Eby add paid sick days for hangovers, snooze alarm addiction and Netflix and chill sessions.

***

September is the one-year anniversary of the BC NDP’s report on prolific offenders — in which the B.C. First Nations Judicial Council called on police and the province to stop using the term “prolific offenders,” arguing the term “not only perpetuates harm and stigma but also fails to address that these individuals lack security and safety.”

On the anniversary, the Judicial Council demands that the Criminal Code of Canada be renamed, arguing that labelling those convicted of crimes as “criminals” really hurts their feelings.

editor@kamloopsthisweek.com

Twitter: @ChrisJFoulds

In SD73, a dual focus on learning, well-being

At this time last year, I wrote a column about a delayed start back to school after the winter break due to COVID-19.

Things have progressed since then. While globally we are experiencing the ongoing challenges of flu, respiratory illnesses and COVID-19, in School District 73, we are continuing to incorporate lessons learned throughout the pandemic by adhering to daily healthy habits of checking for symptoms, not coming to school or work when sick and practising good hand and respiratory hygiene.

As a district, we support wearing masks as a choice within an accepting culture in our schools and workplaces.

While navigating the challenges over the past few years has not been easy, we have continued to grow as a learning community of students, parents, staff and civic partners.

In the spring of 2022, we shared our 2022-2027 district strategic plan. Together, more than 2,000 participants articulated our district mission, which is to support learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive.

The strength of that mission is evident

and we will continue our efforts to bring this to fruition as we continue into 2023.

In September, as classes begun, each school community posted its initial draft of this year’s school learning plan, based on the 2022-2027 district strategic plan, with a learning goal and a well-being goal. To read school learning plans, visit the district website at sd73.bc.ca. These plans are fluid and will grow and change as living documents.

Learning goals are focused on developing students’ literacy and numeracy skills and their competencies, such as how to communicate in multi–modes (print, visual, digital, dance and drama), collaborate, think critically and creatively and empathize.

This is an evolution as, in the past, academics was about improving language and math skills without asking students to show what they know by applying it to real world problems or by presenting information in multiple ways to help everyone enjoy and understand the information.

I am honoured to be a member of the SD73 board of education, where I have the privilege of witnessing educational opportunities that inspire students to apply their learning and to share it with each other in meaningful and relevant way.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OPINION

SPEED LIMIT SYSTEM FLAWED

I am curious to know who sits in an office monitoring the Coquihalla Highway and the variable speed signs.

FORMER MP SAYS WE MUST SAVE HORSES

Editor:

It is time to stop torturing our horses.

Over the past nine years, more than 41,000 horse have been shipped by air to Japan from Western Canada for slaughter. Three or four horses are held in a small wooden crate, with no food or water for up to 28 hours (it used to be 36 hours).

This is surely cruel and unusual punishment.

Horses are animals of prey and their first instinct for survival and safety is to escape by running away as far and as fast as possible.

Can you imagine how frightened and terrified a horse would be while confined in a tight crate in the body of a noisy plane?

In 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to ban this practice. The U.S. has banned horse slaughtering.

Call your MP and urge action be taken to stop this torturing of our horses.

In the past 13 months, I’ve driven the highway twice during what I would call terrible conditions — on Boxing Day last month and on the day of the atmospheric river in November 2021.

On Boxing Day, news outlets and Drive BC stated the highway was not in good condition, with freezing rain, snow and pooling of water.

Like 80 per cent of other drivers, I took it slow, travelling between 80 and 100 km/h. Still, others felt it was the Coquihalla raceway as they sped past at speeds of 120 km/h or faster. That is fine in dry summer conditions, but not right now.

Here’s the problem. The road in the morning had one lane reasonably clear, but due to the high temperatures, there was major pooling of water and slush topped off by the rain.

quickly changed lanes, cutting off vehicles they were trying to pass.

Is it worth it, in these conditions, trying to arrive at a destination 10 minutes early at the risk of going in a ditch or causing someone else to go in a ditch?

There were 10 to 15 major pools of water covering one and, sometimes, two lanes, where the water grabs your steering wheel.

I’m not a driving instructor, but I have to believe hitting a pool of water like that isn’t very safe at 120 km/h.

Editor’s note: Nelson Riis served as MP for Kamloops from 1980 to 2000.

Many drivers were impatient and decided to jump in the passing lane, only to find there was six inches of slush they couldn’t see until too late, so they slammed on their brakes or

Here’s the kicker — during this trip, the majority of the variable speed signs recommended a speed of 120 km/hr.

Back to November 2021, when we had the atmospheric river, my

daughter and I were coming home from a trip to Mexico, trying to beat the heavier rain.

Driving up toward the snow shed, the signage read 120 km/h and I just shook my head, as the rain was coming down like cats and dogs. We all know what happened next, but all the way to Merritt, the signs read 120 km/h.

Whoever manages the department that controls the variable speed signs is incompetent, in my opinion.

It would be nice to know how they arrive at their analysis of the highway and the speed because, in my experience, it sure isn’t reflective of the conditions.

Tony Gilbert Kamloops

Kamloops This Week is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour.

If you have concerns about editorial content, please email  editor@kamloopsthisweek.com or call 250-374-7467

If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at  mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163

Nelson Riis Ottawa

Editor:

Valley delivers B.C.’s first baby of 2023

IN KAMLOOPS, THE YEAR’S FIRST BAMBINO ARRIVED AT ABOUT DINNERTIME

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

British Columbia’s first baby of 2023 was born at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre at two minutes past midnight on Sunday, Jan.1.

Gabriella Louise Camayan weighed in at five pounds, 10 ounces and is the daughter of parents Arben Camayan and Thea Villaneuva.

In Kamloops, the first baby of the year waited quite some time to arrive, with Konner Jean Bouvier arriving in Royal Inland Hospital at around

dinnertime, at 6:37 p.m., on Jan. 1.

Parents of the nine pound, two-ounce boy are Sarah Shields and Kaleb Bouvier.

In the Interior Health region, the first baby arrived at 1:10 a.m. in East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook.

The baby boy, weighing eight pounds, seven ounces, has Brandi Burleigh and partner Logan as parents.

B.C.’s first baby of the new year is Gabriella Louise Camayan, born at Abbotsford Regional Hospital at 12:02 a.m. on Jan. 1. Proud parents are Arben Camayan and Thea Villaneu. FRASER HEALTH PHOTO

With baby names, Olivia’s popularity perseveres

at the top of the list, followed by Emma, Sofia, Charlotte and Ava.

Olivia remains a dynasty in terms of most popular girl names for babies in B.C., while Noah has taken the lead among baby boy names as the year comes to a close.

The Ministry of Health has released its annual baby name data, based on names that have been given to at least five babies born in the province in 2022.

Among baby boys, Noah leads the pack, followed by Liam, Theodore, Jack and Lucas. Among baby girls, Olivia is

Overall, Noah is at the top, followed by Olivia, Oliver, Liam, Theodore, Jack, Emma, Lucas, Leo and Sofia, according to the Vital Statistics Agency’s preliminary figures for 2022.

In 2021, the top names for baby boys born in B.C. were Liam, Noah, Jack, Theodore, Benjamin, Oliver, Owen, Leo, Ethan and Logan. Top names for baby girls born in B.C. last year were Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Ava, Isla, Amelia, Sophia, Chloe, Mia and Mila.

Olivia has been the most popular name given to baby girls every year since 2016, while Liam has sat at the top of the list in the past two years.

One-hundred years ago, in 1922, the top baby boy names in B.C. were John, William, Robert, James, George, Charles, Arthur, Gordon, Thomas and Donald. The top baby girl names were Mary, Margaret, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Jean, Irene, Helen, Alice, Kathleen and Phyllis.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 8, 2022, 37,801 babies were born in B.C. In all of 2021, 44,073 babies were born in B.C.

Students learning and sharing

From A8

Examples of students applying their learning and sharing it with each other in meaningful and relevant ways include secondary students creating picture books to teach facts about water to elementary students, and primary students writing their own songs to perform during a school celebration.

Regardless of the exact nature of the activities, one common theme is that they draw on

students’ interests and grow students’ competencies, while also developing their literacy and numeracy skills.

Every school has also articulated a well-being goal that is aimed at students feeling welcome, cared for and connected and having a sense of belonging while at school or participating in school or district-supported events.

In one school, students, staff and parents contributed responses to the question: What

does it mean to belong in our school?

Their responses resulted in the common themes of being comfortable to share and feeling connected to one or more friends. They then co-determined how to increase sharing comfortably in safe spaces in their school community.

This kind of in-depth look at well-being through community engagement drives change and is inspiring.

As we continue to experience

living examples of our district mission, I am excited to see what transpires in 2023, with a dual focus on learning and wellbeing with approximately 16,000 students in the school district.

Heather Grieve is chair of the School District 73 board of education. Grieve can be contacted by email at hgrieve@ sd73.bc.ca. SD73 columns appear monthly during the school year in KTW and online at kamloopsthisweek.com.

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

A Gift to Impact Change

Local businessman, community builder, and generous hospital supporter, Guy Mercier has announced a generous gift to the hospital foundation, benefitting the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at RIH. The beautiful department is in the new Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower

Guy Mercier has been a supporter of the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation for over 20 years He’s a well-known philanthropist in Kamloops who has supported many organizations such as Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops Woman’s Shelter, B C Wildlife Park, SPCA, Prostate Cancer, and many local sporting organizations.

This specific gift is close to Guy’s heart commemorating his mother, Rita C. Mercier It is due to her strength, perseverance and tireless dedication to her family and sur viving six children that their family remains strong to this day

Guy’s parents suffered the loss of 4 children all before the age of 4 and Guy felt that naming the new NICU after her, was a beautiful way to honour her memor y and her strength. Access to the same type of neonatal ser vices was not available in their small town of Mont Saint-Pierre, Quebec, at the time

The new NICU is a beautiful environment that is more attuned to the special emotional and psychosocial needs of families and preemies. The expanded and enhanced unit includes 8 single bassinette rooms and 4 stabilization bays. The space also gives parents the opportunity to be bedside with the option of staying overnight with their baby in the private rooms.

The old space did not allow for privacy nor the option to stay with your baby On the same floor, is the labour and deliver y department, keeping mothers receiving postnatal care, close to their babies at all times

Guy founded Acres Enterprises Ltd in 1980 with a passion for building communities through industrial, civil, and general contracting/ building ser vices. Throughout his 35 plus years in the construction industr y, Guy focused on projects

laying the groundwork for natural and thriving communities, encouraged economic development, and made a significant impact on the betterment of his city and other communities. In 2012, Guy made the decision to sell the company which he built and focus on other passions; real estate development and philanthropy These new ventures would allow Guy to plan and build prosperous neighbourhoods and communities while also donating to causes close to his heart.

Mr Mercier has expressed gratitude for access to the health care available in Kamloops and is pleased to support its expansion now, and in the future. He currently resides in Kamloops and looks for ward to spending time with his children and granddaughter Guy also hopes to inspire his children in the ways of giving back through this donation.

Heidi Coleman, CEO-RIH Foundation, commented on the donation, “I met Guy when I first began at the Foundation. His acute attention to the healthcare needs in Kamloops was apparent immediately. Since then, we have worked with him in a multitude of ways. Guy supported the development of the Cancer Clinic at RIH He also helped renovate the emergency department’s trauma room by purchasing two state-of-the-art overhead articulating booms which allowed the medical staff to have easier access to the patient and the lifesaving equipment. Guy even offered his commercial space to us for use at our 2018 Royal Affair event. This newest gift has changed the way families and their newborns receive care in our Hospital We are ver y grateful for his ongoing support.”

Guy Mercier with granddaughter Briar, son Justin and daughter Aimée holding a photo of her grandmother Rita C. Mercier.

Pictured

“Listening to my mother tell the stories of the loss of their ne w born daughter and three sons prov ided a perspective of what many parents go through w ith a sick baby or toddler. This was one way for my family to impact change.” -Guy Mercier

Guy Mercier Donates $1 million to RIH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Thank you to

JESSICA WALLACE STAFF REPORTER jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP and former Veterans Affairs shadow minister Frank Caputo said he is happy to see the federal government step in to help prevent a condo development from landing on Juno Beach in France.

Earlier this year, Caputo, a Conservative Opposition MP, added his voice to those calling for a condominium development on the beach in Juno beach to be stopped, as it would be built on the historic site of Canada’s D-Day landing during the Second World War.

The French property developer, Foncim, planned a 70-unit development, dubbed Domaine des Dunes, on the beach east of the privately operated Juno Beach Centre, which has been there for nearly 20 years.

However, a multi-party settlement agreement has ended those plans.

According to Veterans Affairs Canada, the Canadian and French governments worked to have the site

sold to the town of Courseulles-surMer, with both federal governments making contributions. Instead of being developed, the land will be combined with two other parcels of adjacent land to form one site, with a 99-year lease to be negotiated.

“This investment secures the longterm protection of Juno Beach and the use of the site for commemorative purposes, and supports the Juno Beach Centre’s work in honouring the achievements and sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom and democracy,” Veterans Affairs said in a press release.

Caputo told KTW he is not sure how much money the Canadian government contributed to settling the dispute, but was happy to see it come to fruition.

The Juno Beach Centre said the settlement agreement will result in the leasing of the property to the Association Centre Juno Beach through a new lease that includes the existing lands leased to the Juno Beach Centre by the town.

The agreement includes multiple parties: the developer, the Canadian

government, the town of Courseulles, the French government, the Région Normandie, the Départment du Calvados and the Intercommunalité Cœur de Nacre.

Additionally, the portion of Juno Park between the museum and the sea, including the bunkers through which Canadian guides lead tours, will also come under the 99-year lease, ensuring the Juno Beach Centre remains in control of its road.

The Juno Beach Centre declared last March its existence was threatened by the development, noting a

legal battle was draining its financial reserves.

The Juno Beach Centre maintained that the developer’s planned use of the road would lead to construction trucks damaging the route and impact the museum commercially by making day-to-day operations difficult.

Veterans Affairs said the issue “captured the hearts and minds of concerned citizens in Canada and France who have written tens of thousands of letters and emails calling for the site’s protection.”

An aerial view of the Juno Beach Centre from 2014. The building behind the parking lot on the left no longer exists and was proposed to be the site of the condo development.

The group Save Juno Beach petitioned the federal government to step in and called for people to write to their members of Parliament, describing the proposed development as an insult to soldiers who fought to liberate the country from Nazi Germany.

Caputo called on the government to step in and did national media interviews on the issue. He told KTW he received a thank you letter from the Juno Beach Centre for his contributions.

“The Juno Beach Centre has become a place of remembrance and emotion for Veterans, their families, Canadians and French citizens. This iconic site must be preserved and respected, as it commemorates the Canadians who served their country and helped liberate France,” the release from Veterans Affairs Canada reads.

JUNO BEACH CENTRE PHOTO

Police seek help in finding Jakob Gibbon

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Kamloops Mounties are seeking the public’s help in finding Jakob Gibbon.

The 22-year-old was last seen by his family on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at his home on Schubert Drive in North Kamloops. He drives a white 2012 Dodge Avenger, with licence plate JM9 O4E.

There has been no activity in his bank account since the night of Dec.

28 and his cellphone last pinged a tower at 377 Tranquille Rd. in North Kamloops at 11 a.m. on Dec. 29.

It is believed Gibbon was wearing grey runners, blue jeans, a black Under Armor hoodie and a blue tuque. Police say it is out of character for Gibbon to remain out of contact with family, who are concerned for his well-being.

Anybody with information regarding Gibbon’s whereabouts is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Missing women still being sought

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Kamloops Mounties are asking for the public’s help in finding two women whose missing persons files are unrelated.

Alyssa Sleypen, 36, was last seen leaving her Kamloops residence on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Sleypen is white, has blond hair, is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 in height and weighs

between 120 and 130 pounds.

Sleypen has ties to the Lower Mainland and may have travelled there.

Meanwhile, police continue to seek help in finding Kelsey Lazic.

The 28-year-old woman’s last contact was on Nov. 20 in Valleyview. She was reported missing on Dec. 5.

Police said Lazic is also

known to frequent the Kelowna area, noting she is wanted on a warrant and may be avoiding arrest.

Lazic is white, stands 5-foot8, weighs 170 pounds and has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Anybody with information on the whereabouts of Sleypen or Lazic is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Jakob Gibbons drives a white 2012 Dodge Avenger, which looks like this vehicle.

ALYSSA SLEYPEN KELSEY LAZIC

New laws have come into effect in 2023

of workplace injury and death seen in certain professions.

The new year arrives with a number of sweeping changes — federally and provincially Here are some of the changes that came into effect as of Jan. 1:

TWO-YEAR FEDERAL BAN ON NON-CANADIANS BUYING PROPERTY HERE

Passed on June 23, 2022, the prohibition on the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians Act is now in effect across Canada.

Intended to help address both the shortage and cost of homes, the act bans non-Canadian people and businesses from directly or indirectly purchasing homes in Canada for two years.

The prohibition includes any kind of residential property, as well as vacant land zoned for residential or mixed use. It also includes an exemption for international students and work permit holders, so long as they meet a number of standards, including properly filing

income tax forms and not buying more than one property.

NEW AGE RESTRICTIONS AIM TO PROTECT B.C. YOUTH FROM MOST DANGEROUS JOBS

B.C. youth are no longer allowed to be employed in certain professions. The new rules require anyone working as a logger or in smelters, oil drilling and anywhere with exposure to harmful materials to be at

least 18 years old. Those working in construction, fish processing and some animal processing work must be at least 16.

The changes don’t apply to youth taking part in industry training programs overseen by SkilledTradesBC. They also won’t impact workers who reach the minimum age by April 1.

The B.C. government says the restrictions reflect the higher rates

TEMPORARY CAP ON FOODDELIVERY FEES BECOMES PERMANENT

A first in Canada, B.C. has set a permanent cap on how much fooddelivery companies can charge restaurants.

The province first introduced temporary measures in December 2020, as companies took advantage of the surge in pandemic-induced take-away food and started charging restaurants as much as 30 per cent of the food order to use their delivery services.

The new cap limits delivery companies to charging restaurants up to 20 per cent of the dollar value of food orders. It also prohibits companies from downloading costs onto their drivers.

MINIMUM WAGE HIKE FOR FARM WORKERS WHO HAND-HARVEST CROPS

B.C. has bumped the minimum wage for workers who hand-harvest

food up by 2.8 per cent.

The hike applies to 15 agricultural crops, each with their own piece rate, including peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.

B.C. says the increase is based off the province’s average inflation rate in 2021. The last increase was in 2019, which bumped rates up 11.5 per cent.

TFSA LIMIT INCREASES — THE FIRST SINCE 2019

The annual contribution limit to tax-free savings accounts has been increased to $6,500, up $500 from previous years. This marks the first increase since 2019.

ELECTRONIC MILEAGE LOGGING FOR TRUCKS, BUSES

Any trucks and buses travelling interprovincially are required to have electronic devices that log hours driven, replacing paper log books.

KAMLOOPS

Fraudulent calls escalate

BREANNE MASSEY STAFF REPORTER breanne@kamloopsthisweek.com

More than 30 reports of fraudulent phone calls have made their way to the Kamloops RCMP and Tk’emlups Rural RCMP Detachments in recent days.

Several residents have lost thousands of dollars in phone calls, in which the caller indicates they are serving as either legal counsel or are friends of the victim’s family members. The fraudsters claim they need money to pay for legal fees connected to an accident for which they

Correction

are at fault.

Additionally, there have been several occasions in which the victims believed their loved ones were in danger.

On two occasions, a female suspect arrived to pick up money from the homes of individuals. She has been described as being possibly Asian, petite and standing 5-foot-2. She was a passenger in a white SUV or car.

Police suspect there is more than one scammer involved in the incidents. Police urge the public to exercise caution and use critical

In the Dec. 28 edition of Kamloops This Week, a story entitled “Driver who fled fatal crash scene granted parole” incorrectly identified when Reid McKnight would be eligible for parole, describing it as being upon the completion of two-thirds of his sentence.

That is, in fact, when an offender is eligible for statutory release.

The story also incorrectly stated that

thinking skills as “scammers are very believable, but lawyers or any other professional agency will never request to meet to pick up cash in a parking lot, a restaurant, a park or at their residence,” Cpl. Melanie Murdy said in a release.

Concerned citizens may utilize the lawyer directory maintained by the Law Society of British Columbia to confirm if, in fact, a lawyer is active in the province to confirm if their loved ones have been taken into custody.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250828-3000.

McKnight is currently on day parole until December 2023. He is, in fact, on full parole.

On Nov. 7, 2022, McKnight was granted day parole — for which he was eligible on June 3, 2022 — until his full parole eligibility date of Dec. 3, 2022, which was also approved.

An offender is eligible for day parole six months into their sentence or six months from full parole eligibility (whichever is greater). Full parole eligibility is available when someone serves one-third of their sentence,

or seven years, whichever is less.

If parole has not already been granted, offenders serving determinate sentences must be released, by law, at two-thirds of their sentence unless they have been referred for detention.

In December 2021, McKnight was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with a hit-and-run collision that killed three university students.

On Nov. 3, 2019, at about 1:30 a.m., McKnight drove his Ford Ranger pickup

truck at a speed of more than 100 km/h through a stop sign on Battle Street and crashed into the students’ southbound Dodge Charger that was travelling up First Avenue.

Killed in the early-morning crash were Daniel Okocha, 22, Feyisola Adebowale, 28, and Oluwatosin Adeojo, 31. A fourth passenger survived the collision, but was seriously injured. McKnight fled the scene of the crash and was arrested the next day at his house, but wasn’t charged for a year.

A female suspect was identified on two occasions picking up money from a residence. The female is possibly Asian, petite and stands 5-foot-2. She was a passenger in a white SUV or car.

RCMP PHOTO

Star snowboarder now a stay-at-home dad

BREANNE MASSEY STAFF REPORTER breanne@kamloopsthisweek.com

Canadian snowboarder Chris Dufficy has always followed his passion to great lengths, beginning as one of the original Forum 8 team members as a young adult.

The now-43-year-old Kamloops athlete, named one of Canada’s most influential riders by Snowboard Canada Magazine, has devoted 15 years to professional snowboarding and has made several cameos in extreme sports films, putting British Columbian riders on the map for extreme sports.

Today, Dufficy has chosen to devote his time to the ultimate juggling act — as a stay-at-home dad to daughter, Nash, 5, and son, Jack, 7.

The decision to become a stay-at-home parent was fuelled by his desire to spend time with his wife and kids. But it became a reality only after his time as an auxiliary firefighter came to an end following a seizure two-and-a-half years ago caused by epilepsy.

He is also trying to learn the ropes of becoming a helicopter mechanic from a friend at Summit Helicopters.

“I’m basically the coffee boy, you could say, right now,” Dufficy said with a chuckle. “It’s

perfect because I’m working with one of my best friends and I’m able to work around my kid’s drop-off and pick-up times for their school schedules while my wife works as a dental hygienist ”

“There’s basically two seasons of my life,” he said. “I was a professional snowboarder and, now, I’m basically a professional dad ”

According to Dufficy, Jack is “sweet and sensitive,” but Nash “came out singing death metal ” He said he relishes one-on-one time with each of them.

“It’s the little things that we do that make me feel way more connected to our kids,” he said. “We talk openly about everything and we don’t keep any secrets. We deal with life one day at a time ”

Dufficy credits daughter Nash with being his most influential teacher.

“I think every dad needs to have a daughter,” he said. “It’s been the craziest experience, but an eye-opener to how much pressure is put on girls from such a young age — pressure that they put on themselves, pressure that society puts on them to look a certain way and pressure to act a certain way. It’s definitely one of those things that are, like, wow. You just have a new purpose. I have my daughter and I look out for her, and I look out for all of her friends. It’s probably the best thing ”

While the experience of parenting has made

Where Are They NOW?

Dufficy conscientious about the hardships his own parents went through raising him — as a teen who made it professionally in the snowboarding world, with a laundry list of serious injuries — he has nothing but gratitude for his mom.

“It made me realize how much respect I have for mothers out there,” Dufficy said.

“All the things that you never really realized, like how much they did for you and I think and look at single moms and single moms with two kids or more doing it by themselves. It’s so crazy.

My hat’s off to them. [Parenting is] probably like one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

Dufficy said the responsibilities of his experience as a father have been remarkable and eyeopening, noting their days as a family are busy.

“You name it, we do it,” he said. “We come up with ideas and make it relevant to their age. Riding bikes, skateboarding. It’s everything because it’s 100 per cent of the time. You don’t have a moment to rest. One moment, you’re playing superheroes ,and the next moment, my daughter is doing my makeup.”

Kamloops snowboarder Chris Dufficy and his children, Jack and Nash, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. BREANNE MASSEY/KTW

Where Are They NOW?

Former MP still keeps tabs on federal politics

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Despite getting out of politics by choice — an option not every public servant gets — Cathy McLeod still misses parts of being a member of Parliament.

The former Conservative Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo MP, who served the riding through four terms and 13 years between 2008 and 2021, said she is enjoying the flexibility of retired life.

McLeod said she has been enjoying spending more time with her husband, Gord, and has been hesitant to jump into new projects.

“We like to fish, we enjoy golfing, we like travelling,” McLeod said.

The former health-care professional said that field is still a passion of hers and she has been starting to look

into ways she may be able to utilize her expertise.

“I think, if anything, my focus of the future might be to see what I can contribute,” McLeod said, adding she is exploring a few options.

Looking back on her time in office, McLeod said she misses her colleagues, partaking in myriad community events and making contributions in her role as shadow minister for Indigenous Affairs.

“But I certainly don’t regret my decision that it was time for me to move on,” McLeod said.

Speaking of federal politics, McLeod said she still keep tabs on what is happening in Ottawa.

“I don’t think you can ever not pay attention. It becomes part of your blood,” McLeod said, noting she hasn’t been involved in that sphere during

her retirement.

Speaking on some of the current political topics, McLeod said she feels the federal Liberals have “made an absolute mess of their gun legislation, ” which she can imagine is frustrating for hunters and farmers in this riding.

She said she is also concerned with the challenges people are experiencing with the rising cost of living and the national debt.

McLeod also described the proposed changes to the federal riding boundaries in the Kamloops area — which would split the city east and west — as “crazy.”

“It doesn’t make sense where the changes are,” McLeod said, adding she hopes public feedback will persuade the powersthat-be to make changes that would make sense for Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo.

Cathy McLeod served as Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo MP through four terms and 13 years, between 2008 and 2021.

DAVE EAGLES/ KTW FILE PHOTO

Sheepdogs will take stage in Kamloops on Jan. 18

TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST TO THE ROCK SHOW AT NIGHT SHIFT ON FIFTH

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

The Sheepdogs will return to Kamloops on Wednesday, Jan. 18, for a show at Night Shift on Fifth — and tickets are going fast.

The band is touring following the June release of its seventh album, Outta Sight.

Evan Currie, the band’s lead singer, said the band took negative energy from the pandemic and turned it around.

“A no-bullshit approach, a workmanlike ability to put our heads down and play resulted in a real feeling and vibe on the record that I think is special,” Currie said.

“It’s something that just might have saved us and the feeling on the album is us taking that negative pandemic energy and expressing it, transferring it, through non-bummer straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll.”

The Saskatoon five-piece

rock band was formed in 2004 and has released seven albums since 2007.

The band was the first unsigned group to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and has picked up four Juno Awards along the way.

Doors at Nightshift on Fifth, downtown at Lansdowne Street and Fifth Street, will open at 8 p.m. Tickets to the age 19-plus show are $40 plus fees, available online at ticketweb.ca.

The Sheepdogs were the first unsigned group to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and have picked up four Juno Awards along the way.

Ed will take your Christmas tree away for a donation to Kamloops Hospice

for a donation to the Kamloops Hospice Association.

collecting trees on Jan. 7, Jan. 8, Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.

• Brocklehurst Park at 2470 Fleetwood Ave.;

For those with real Christmas trees and no way of getting them to various city collection spots, Ed Lapierre is once again set to pick them up in exchange

The owner of Lapper Security is now in his second decade of collecting trees for a good cause — he chose the hospice association because it provided outstanding care to his brother, who passed away from prostate cancer in the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home in Sahali.

Those wishing to help the cause can call or text Lapierre at 250-50-851-1131 or email securityguy@telus.net.

A minimum donation of $10 is requested. Cash and cheque donations can be attached to the tree. If donating by cheque, make the cheque payable to the Kamloops Hospice Association. Donations can also be made by money transfer to securityguy@telus.net.

Lapierre said he will be out and about

People should call, text or email him with the collection date preferred and their name, address and contact number — and remember to clear the tree of all decorations.

The City of Kamloops is also helping cart away Christmas trees, with 12 drop-off locations available through Jan. 15.

Residents can drop off their real Christmas trees at any of the sites listed below.

To date, Kamloops has recycled about 150,000 trees, which are chipped and added to the Cinnamon Ridge compost facility:

• Albert McGowan Park in Sahali, at 2025 Summit Dr.;

• Barnhartvale yard waste depot at the end of Eliza Road;

• Cinnamon Ridge compost facility on Tranquille Road, 4.5 kilometres west of Kamloops Airport;

• Dallas Fire Hall (No. 6) at 5300 Dallas Dr.;

• Juniper Park at Qu’Appelle Boulevard and Highland Road;

• Len Haughton Park on Lister Road in Heffley Creek;

• McArthur Island in North Kamloops, east of McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre;

• McGill Road yard waste depot in McGilll commercial area, on Bunker Road;

• Rae-Mor Park on Arab Run Road in Rayleigh;

• Westside Park on Franklin Road;

• Kamloops Yacht Club at 1140 River St. east of downtown.

MOBILE BREAST CANCER SCREENING COMING TO KAMLOOPS

BC Cancer’s mobile breast cancer-screening vehicle will be in Kamloops for four days in January.

The vehicle will be at the Best Western Plus Kamloops in Sahali, at 660 Columbia St. W., from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21.

To book a screening mammogram, call 1-800-663-9203. A doctor’s referral is not required.

According to BC Cancer, approximately one in eight women will eventually develop breast cancer. It is the most common type of cancer found in women in B.C., with about 3,500 women receiving a breast cancer

diagnosis each year. Regular screening mammograms can find breast cancer early, often before it has spread.

About 10 per cent of all screening mammograms performed in B.C. are done on the mobile units.

Three mobile screening vehicles visit more than 170 rural and remote communities across B.C. each year, including more than 40 Indigenous communities.

The vehicles provide stateof-the-art digital screening mammograms, are wheelchairaccessible and feature a spacious waiting area and comfortable private examination room.

BC Cancer’s breast screening program offers no-cost screening mammograms to eligible women in the province.

A screening mammogram consists of four images (two of each breast) that look for hidden cancer in women who are healthy, have no symptoms and have never had breast cancer. Mammograms can usually find lumps two to three years before a woman or her primary-care provider can feel them.

“Mammograms save lives by detecting breast cancers early, often before they have spread and when more treatment options are available,” said Dr. Colin Mar, medical director for

the breast screening program.

“More women in B.C. are being diagnosed with breast cancer, but fewer are dying from the disease. This is in large part due to early detection and treatment.”

It is recommended that women between the ages of 40 and 74, who have or have had a mother, daughter or sister with breast cancer, receive a mammogram every year.

Women ages 40 to 74 without a family history of breast cancer should schedule a mammogram every two years.

For more information, visit www.ScreeningBC.ca/ breast.

KAMLOOPS

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

[share with us]

If you have a photo of a charity donation, a grand-opening picture or other uplifting images, email them to editor@kamloopsthisweek.com, with “eye on community” in the subject line.

CHARITY CALENDAR

CHEER IS STILL HERE

This is the last week the 2022 KTW Christmas Cheer Fund is accepting donations. Kamloops This Week readers can still help us help five local non-profit groups.

Money raised in the Cheer Fund will be distributed equally to the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter, Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association, Kamloops Brain Injury Association, Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism and the Kamloops branch of the BC SPCA.

The KTW Christmas Cheer Fund can be found on the front page of the BCICF website. The exact website address is https:// www.bcicf.ca/kamloops-this-week-christmas-cheer-fund/.

Donations can also be made by clicking on the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund logo on Kamloops This Week’s website, at kamloopsthisweek.com.

Donors can also visit KTW’s office at 1365B Dalhousie Dr. weekdays from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. until this Friday, Jan 6.

100 WOMEN WHO CARE, HELP PEOPLE IN MOTION: Members of 100 Women Who Care - Kamloops recently made a donation to People in Motion. Co-founders Maryanne Bower (left) and Bobbie Harrison (right) presented executive director Deb Delyzer with a cheque for $8,400. Since 2014, the philanthropic women’s group has raised over $285,000 for local charities in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

Nature’s

12,000 pounds of food to six food

in B.C.,

In addition,

Fare itself donated $60,000 to the six food

with $10,000

NATURALLY, A DONATION TO KAMLOOPS FOOD BANK:

Fare Markets customers donated

banks

including in Kamloops.

Nature’s

banks,

going to Kamloops. In the photo, from left: Nature’s Fare’s Gary Innis and Leyla Johnson present a cheque to Kamloops Food Bank executive director Bernadette Siracky and director Kelley Bossert.

Top 10 sports stories of 2022

MARTY HASTINGS STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com

We’ll call 2022 the Year of the Wolf for two reasons.

No. 1: The TRU WolfPack take No. 1 on my list for bringing the first U Sports title, in men’s soccer, to Kamloops.

No. 2: Wolves are resilient and adaptable, fitting characteristics considering this bounce-back year, during which sports across the world began to regain traditional form after the COVID19 pandemic made its mark on history.

I was about halfway through writing my top 10 stories for 2021 when I flipped my GMC Jimmy a few days after Christmas that year, an accident that occurred near Lillooet while on my way home from the holiday break.

The column did not

materialize after that, so a year was missed, but you can find the three previous top-10 lists online at kamloopsthisweek.com.

This 2022 edition was penned after my 13th year at the helm of KTW sports.

1. MAGIC MEN

Here is TRU WolfPack men’s soccer head coach John Antulov speaking to KTW in August of 2022, a quote that fuelled a pre-season article and proved clairvoyant.

“I think we have some guys that can make the magic happen by themselves,” Antulov said, addressing concerns about a club that struggled to score in 2021.

“Magical” describes the Pack’s run to gold at the U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship, at which TRU, No. 5 seed of the tournament — dispatched in Round 1 of the Canada West post-season — won in

penalties in the quarter-final, semifinal and final rounds to create a moment that rivals the best in the history of Tournament Capital sports.

The WolfPack, who jettisoned No. 4 McMaster of Hamilton and No. 1 Cape Breton to reach the title tilt, got an extra time goal from Alesandro Comita of Kamloops to reach penalties and vanquish No. 3 UBC 2-1, with River City substitute Jonathan Rinaldi tallying in the shootout to keep the WolfPack alive. Alesandro’s brother, Domenico, buried the winner from the spot after goalkeeping heroics from the Macarena Man himself, TRU keeper Jackson Gardner.

Fans rushed the field at sold out Hillside

Stadium to celebrate the school’s first U Sports title.

(A hat tip to the 2022 TRU women’s soccer team, which reached the Canada West Final Four for the first time in program history.)

2. WHUNDAS WIN

Rushing the pitch with fans after the WolfPack win in November and tracking down players amid the mob, speaking to them while they experienced uncontrolled emotion, is a career highlight.

Those moments are

rare, but I was lucky enough to experience two of them in 2022, the first coming in March at Langley Events Centre, where the underdog, No. 4-seed Westsyde Whundas claimed the school’s first provincial senior boys high school basketball crown.

The Whundas overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit in the final against the No. 2 Lambrick Park Lions of Victoria and the ground shook when Grade 12 guard Caleb Ezedebego drained a three-point shot to take a 71-68 lead with 26.6 seconds on the clock.

Westsyde held on to win 73-71 to make school history and spark scenes the players, coaches and their families will never forget.

3. BEST OF BLAZERS

Logan Stankoven of Kamloops led his hometown Blazers to Game 7 of the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference final, was named Canadian Hockey League player of the year for the 2021-2022 campaign and won gold in the rescheduled World Junior Hockey Championship, which took place in August in Edmonton.

Blazers’ netminder Dylan Garand, who has since moved on to the New York Rangers’ organization, was named the 2021-2022 CHL goalie of the year and was between the pipes for Canada when it earned a 3-2 overtime victory over Finland in the gold medal game at the world juniors.

Stankoven set up the OT winner against the Finns.

Kamloops claimed its third-consecutive B.C. Division title under head coach Shaun Clouston and earned the right to host the 2023 Memorial Cup.

More on that in No. 10.

4. TURNING PAGE

I’ll tell you what got old in a hurry — writing about what might happen, what will not happen and what will happen differently than normal if something is going to actually happen.

Moving forward, the word “restrictions” should be restricted from the English language.

Alesandro Comita (right) flies toward the crowd in November at Hillside Stadium after scoring in extra-time of the U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship gold-medal game. TRU slipped past UBC 2-1 in penalty kicks to win the Canadian title and secure first place on our top 10 list.

ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW

Expansion NorthPaws wow

With the obvious caveat that the plight of a depressed, detached, disenchanted scribe pales in comparison to what others suffered amid the pandemic, I’ll say 2021 was the worst year of my professional and personal life and I’ll say one more thing: Thank God it’s over.

Thank goodness for strides made in 2022 and the return of Boogie the Bridge (and events of its ilk), more traditional sports schedules (see Canada West, WHL, B.C. Football Conference, etc.) and all of the much-needed social interaction, joy and exercise athletics bring to Kamloops.

5. CURLING CLASS

Team Hafeli of the Kamloops Curling Club and River City rock thrower Jared Kolomaya reached national championship events in 2022.

The Hafeli rink — 16-year-old twin sisters Holly (skip) and Natalie (lead), along with 17-yearold third Jorja Kopytko and 19-year-old Hannah O’Neil and 16-year-old Eryn Czirfusz, who split second duties — topped Team Richards of Vancouver Island/Lower Mainland 9-3 in the gold-medal game at the women’s under-21 B.C. Curling Championship in March in Comox. The ladies fell short of the playoffs at nationals in Stratford, Ont.

Hafeli also won the U18 girls’ provincial title on New Year’s Eve.

Kolomaya was the only Kamloopsian left standing in January at the B.C. Curling Championships, perched atop the podium at the Kamloops Curling Club and locked in to compete for the first time at the Tim Hortons Brier.

Kolomaya played second at provincials for Team Richard, which included skip Brent Pierce of New Westminster, third Jeff Richard of Kelowna and lead Nicholas

Meister of Langley.

Richard needed 11 ends to best Paul Cseke of Victoria 11-8 in the championship game.

Kolomaya and Team B.C. fell one victory shy of reaching the playoffs at the Brier in March in Lethbridge.

6.

NORTHPAWS A HIT

KTW broke news of the Kamloops NorthPaws’ inclusion to the West Coast League baseball ranks in July of 2020, a few months into the pandemic that wiped out their planned expansion season in 2021 and kept the team off the field until this past June.

The inauspicious start to a new era in Kamloops sports continued when the NorthPaws’ opening-day festivities were rained out, the home- and seasonopener against their expansion cousins, the Edmonton Riverhawks, zapped by a severe lightning storm.

When they finally played ball, the Paws gave the people their money’s worth — and more.

Kamloops was 19-7 at Norbrock Stadium (with a whopping nine victories in walk-off fashion) and became the fourth expansion team in WCL history to qualify for the post-season.

7. DODD WINS SILVER

Anyone who picks up our newspaper or checks us out online (or on our videocast Kamloops Last Week) has been able to track Gavin Dodd’s world-class

career for nearly a decade.

The 19-year-old Kamloops Gymnastics and Trampoline Centre athlete’s latest accomplishment is winning silver in double-mini at the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in November in Bulgaria.

Dodd is the first Canadian male to win a medal in double-mini at senior worlds since 2007.

A Type 1 diabetic, Dodd first hit the podium at a world championship event in 2015, when he won gold in double-mini at the 24th International Gymnastics Federation Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition in Odense, Denmark. His resume has since been padded with podium finishes at provincial, national and world championships.

Earlier in 2022, Dodd won gold and set a national difficulty record in doublemini at the Trampoline Gymnastics Canadian Championships in Calgary.

8. POOL PROWESS

Sienna Angove of the Kamloops Classic Swimming club enjoyed a breakout year, with a slew of podium finishes at the Canadian Junior Swimming Championships in Montreal, the Canada Summer Games in St. Catharines, Ont., and Western Canadian Swimming Championships in Edmonton.

Sean Heppner deals for the Kamloops NorthPaws in June at Norbrock Stadium.

ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW From A21

Sienna Angove of the Kamloops Classics finds herself at No. 8 on the KTW top-10 sports stories list for 2022.

MARTY HASTINGS/KTW

Bedard, Canada to play U.S.

Canada and the U.S. will square off in semifinal action at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Wednesday in Halifax.

Game time is 3:30 p.m.

Connor Bedard’s jawdropping goal in overtime lifted the Canadians to a 4-3 victory over Slovakia on Monday in the quarter-final round, with Thomas Milic making 24 saves to pick up the win between the pipes.

The 17-year-old Regina Pats’ sensation Bedard deked deftly through a

pair of defenders and left Slovakian netminder Adam Gajan in a heap before sliding home the OT winner.

Bedard also scored in regulation, along with Zack Ostapchuk and Dylan Guenther.

Kamloops Blazers’ forward Logan Stankoven registered an assist on Bedard’s first goal, which opened the scoring at 6:07 of the first period.

Libor Nemec (2) and Robert Baco scored for Slovakia in support of

Gajan, who made 53 saves in an outstanding losing effort.

Bedard’s first goal established three Canadian world juniors records: most points (32, surpassing Eric Lindros), most career goals (15, passing Jordan Eberle) and most points in one tournament (19, eclipsing Dale McCourt and Brayden Schenn).

Caedan Bankier of the Blazers logged six minutes and 59 seconds of ice time on 11 shifts.

Connor Bedard (left) escapes Daylan Kuefler in WHL action in November at Sandman Centre.

ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW

City of Kamloops

AC T I V I T Y P RO G R A

Line Dancing

Come and find out how easy line

$125

dancing is Learn routines that have short step sequences and easy-to-follow travel steps No previous dance experience or partner required Join in the fun for all ages and dance to all types of music

West Highland Community Hall

Tues Jan 10 - Mar 14

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Let's Move Dance Studio

Thur Jan 12 - Mar 16 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Adult Para Hockey

Ages 14+ $100

Olympic Ice at McArthur Island

Sat Jan 7 - Mar 11 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Pilates for Kids

Ages 6-8 $60

Kids friendly class with a dynamic form of strengthening body muscles posture balance, flexibility and coordination through Pilates exercises Learning about body awareness supports body & mental health while interacting with others Working out with Pilates benefits kids with skills to treasure TCC

Thur Jan 12 - Feb 16 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM

Warrior Yoga $81 50

Warrior Yoga uses a new approach to a traditional yoga practice This revolutionary practice includes yoga and weight training with a steel mace that will help you tone muscles, increase your flexibility, improve your balance, reduce stress, and energize your spirit! This program is suitable for beginners and athletes who want to reap the benefits of a traditional yoga practice while using unconventional training to transform and improve their overall health and wellbeing

TCC

Wed Jan 11 - Mar 15

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Youth Sledge Hockey

Ages 8-12 $60

Come out and try something new!! Meet new friends and learn a new skill! All equipment necessary is provided

Olympic Ice at McArthur Island

Sun Jan 8 - Feb 11

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Hafeli wins gold

Team Hafeli of the Kamloops Curling Club doubled Team Duncan 6-3 in the gold-medal game at the under-18 girls’ B.C. Curling Championship on Saturday, Dec. 31, in Richmond.

Hafeli, which includes skip Holly

Hafeli, third Jorja Kopytko, second Eryn Czirfusz, lead Natalie Hafeli and coach Monica Makar, will compete in the national U18 championship in February in Timmins, Ont.

The Hafeli rink, which posted a 4-0 record at provin-

cials, won the A Event and advanced directly to the championship game.

Team Duncan featured curlers from Comox, Duncan, Vancouver and Port Moody.

Hafeli won the U21 women’s provincial curling title in March.

MAKING THE SQUAD

Eight athletes from the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club have cracked the 34-person Canoe Kayak BC provincial team for the 2022-2023 season.

Corben Hickey, Damian Hickey, Douglas Hunter, Harris Hunter, Liam Grover, Mischa Grover, Quintin Neuls and Sebastian Solomonson are the KCKC paddlers who will represent the province.

Athletes were selected based on results from the 2022 season.

“I feel very excited and thank-

ful that I am getting the opportunity to work more with all our athletes across the province and to help them succeed on their paddling journey,” Stan Marek, technical director for Canoe Kayak BC, said in a press release. “It was a really amazing experience, seeing our athletes racing at the Canadian nationals this year, and I aim to do my best to help every individual to become better, faster and stronger.”

The Canoe Kayak BC Performance Program supports athletes who have

potential to make junior, under-23, senior development and national teams.

Team members and coaches receive sport-science resources, access to training camps and support for regattas, trials and championships.

Abigail Donaldson and Jonas Decker of the KCKC were on the provincial squad during the 20212022 season.

Meanwhile, Miyana Fenrich and Leilani Vanderydt of the KCKC have been named to the Next Gen Provincial Development Team.

Champions on pitch

Among highlights are snaring a pair of silver medals (400-metre freestyle and 400m individual medley) and one bronze medal (1,500m freestyle) at junior nationals and winning four medals at Canada Summer Games — three silver medals in relay events and a bronze in the 400m individual medley.

Angove set a number of club records and was one of two female swimmers selected by Swim BC to participate in the Pan-provincial Open Water Camp in the spring in Mallorca, Spain.

9. YOUTH EXCELLENCE

Four local youth soccer teams finished atop the provincial podium in the summer of 2022.

The under-14 Soccer Quest girls won their organization’s first provincial banner, bagging gold at the B.C. Soccer Youth Provincial B Cup in July in Burnaby.

Meanwhile, the BMO Kamloops Youth Soccer Association Blaze placed first in the U13 division at the same tournament.

Two KYSA clubs — the U15 and U17 Blaze — won gold at the Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Provincial Cup, the B.C. championship tournament held in July in the River City.

10. TOURNEY CAP STRIKES

We punch above our weight. City staff, the Blazers, local busi-

nesspeople, the curling community, volunteers, Kamloops Sports Council and organizers of all sorts deserve credit for landing two more major national events: the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and 2023 Memorial Cup, both of which were wrangled in 2022.

Kamloops also pulled off the Canada 55-plus Games in August, a knockout blast that had an estimated economic impact of about $3.5 million in the city and brought about 5,000 people to town.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

• Kelly Olynyk joins Utah Jazz and has number retired at Gonzaga;

• Kamloops Venom win Thompson-Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League title and claim provincial silver;

• 17-year-old Sydney Fraser named MVP of B.C. Senior Women’s Box Lacrosse League final, wins gold with New Westminster;

• Linnea Brickwood named player of the match in gold-medal win at Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball national championship;

• Kamloops Broncos take steps forward;

• Paralympic gold medallist shot putter Greg Stewart retires;

• WolfPack women’s basketball coach Goran Nogic is out at TRU and legal action ensues;

• Rivers FC soccer teams take to the pitch for inaugural season in semi-pro League1 BC.

From A22

Sydney Fraser was named MVP of the women’s provincial championship lacrosse tournament gold-medal game in August in Coquitlam.

Holly Hafeli (from left), Jorja Kopytko, Eryn Czirfusz, Natalie Hafeli and coach Monica Makar won a B.C. title on Saturday in Richmond.

IN THE DEN

Blazers add goalie

The Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday acquired 18-year-old goaltender Matthew Kieper from the Regina Pats in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 prospects draft.

Kieper, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 192 pounds, is from Winnipeg and was selected by the Pats in the third round of the 2019 prospects draft.

He has a record of 23-22-1-1, along with a 3.88 goals-against average and

.873 save percentage.

Kamloops has three goaltenders on its roster — Kieper, starter Dylan Ernst, who turned 18 in February, and 18-yearold import backup Michael Schnattinger.

The Blazers (21-7-3-2) will play host to the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday, a 7 p.m. start at Sandman Centre.

Longtime trainer and equipment manager Greg (Spike) Wallace will be honoured as a Blazers’ legend in a ceremony prior to puck-drop.

Matthew Kieper was on Tuesday traded to Kamloops from Regina.

KEITH HERSHMILLER PHOTO

Brooklyn Olfert of the TRU WolfPack brings the hammer down with a kill shot against the Saskatchewan Huskies in women’s Canada West volleyball action in November at the Tournament Capital Centre. TRU (5-7) will play host to the Regina Cougars (0-12) this weekend at the TCC, with game times set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday. The WolfPack are tied for 10th in league standings. The top eight teams will advance to quarter-final series after the conclusion of the regular season.

ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW

Saint Elizabeth: Charity and love in the face of hate

They say confession is good for the soul.

I confess that I have been binge-watching

The Crown series on Netflix. It follows the lives of the British Royal Family during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

As a history buff, I find it fascinating and often pause episodes to get background information on various elements of the story.

One character I was only dimly aware of previously was Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenburg. She is referenced quite a few times in the flashbacks of Prince Philip’s younger years.

Later, she is shown in her Greek Orthodox nun’s habit during her final two years of life at Buckingham Palace.

In one episode, she is shown trying to pawn a large sapphire and diamond broach. The jewelry store owner believes her to be a fake nun and part of a gang of thieves. He contacts the police, who inform him she is a real nun, a real princess and mother-in-law of the Queen of England.

She is the rightful owner of the jewels. There is no evidence this incident actually occurred, but she did own quite a number of jewels, some of which ended up in Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring.

Princess Alice was deaf and so communicated via lip-reading. She was also diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent more than two years in an asylum in Switzerland. Following her recovery, she did much charity work with the Red Cross in Athens during

the Second World War, founding soup kitchens, creating homes for orphans and establishing nursing programs.

She also saved a Jewish family from the Nazis and was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations medal by the Israeli Holocaust organization.

In 1949, Princess Alice founded a nursing order of nuns, the Christian Sisterhood of Mary and Martha. She probably did pawn her jewelry because when she died at Buckingham Palace in 1969, she had no possessions left, having given everything away.

Princess Alice modelled her religious order after the one founded by her aunt, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna Romanova of Russia. Elizabeth was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and elder sister of the last Tsarina of Russia.

She was considered one of the most beautiful women of her day and was courted by many. But she married Sergei Romanov, brother of the Russian Tsar Alexander III and, so, converted to the Orthodox faith.

Elizabeth’s husband, Grand Duke Sergei, was murdered by socialist revolutionary Ivan Kolyayev in 1905. She visited her husband’s murderer in prison and told him she forgave him. Pleading with authorities for his clemency, she urged him to repent. He did not and was hanged for his crime.

On her husband’s tombstone, she had this message engraved: “Father, release them, for they know not what they do.”

She truly believed the words of the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

In 1909, Elizabeth sold off her huge collection of jewels, including her wedding band, and opened the Convent of Saints Martha and Mary. The convent had a pharmacy, an orphanage and hospital. She and her nuns worked tirelessly for the poor and destitute of Moscow.

In 1918, after the Bolsheviks took over Russia, Vladimir Lenin ordered Elizabeth’s arrest. She, along with five other royals, a nun from her order and the private secretary to Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich,

were taken to an abandoned iron mine in the village of Siniachikha, beaten, then thrown down a 61-foot mine shaft.

They survived the fall, so two grenades were tossed in after them. But a witness heard them singing an Orthodox hymn, so burning brush was tossed into the shaft. Despite all these efforts, evidence showed they died of their injuries from the fall, along with starvation.

Elizabeth was canonized by the Orthodox Church as Holy Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna in 1981. She is among 10 statues of 20th century martyrs above the west door of Westminster Abbey in London. Her remains lie in the Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem.

Saint Elizabeth, Prince Philip’s great-aunt and King Charles III’s great-great aunt, remains a beautiful example of Christian charity and love in the face of hate.

KTW welcomes submissions to its Faith page. Columns should be no longer than 700 words in length. Email submissions to editor@kamloopsthisweek.com.

CHRIS KEMPLING You Gotta Have FAITH

HOROSCOPES

ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20

Sometimes you have to hold some things in to safeguard others from sticky situations It can be tricky keeping secrets, but this week it is for the best

TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, there are a lot of people in your corner right now who are willing to pitch in when you need help If you encounter an obstacle, just ask for assistance

Gemini, change your schedule or your scener y, especially if you feel like you are

CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22

If a person comes to you needing a friend in the next few days, resist the urge to offer advice Simply listen and provide companionship This is all the person needs at the moment

LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23

Prioritize getting your finances in order, Leo Make this one New Year ’s resolution that you maintain; other wise, you may have financial troubles in the months to come

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, there is a lot of momentum around you, but for some reason you cannot find your footing Sooner than later you’ll find your path and will be moving along

SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22

Take charge of your priorities, Scorpio It can be easy to get swept away in other people’s drama Make a list of all the things you want to accomplish and star t working

CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan20

Family time is a hot commodity for you right now, Capricorn Even after the holidays, you have a few other events on the calendar that will bring relatives together

AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18

It can be difficult to let things go and trust other people However, the free time that you’ll get will enable you to tackle other items on your to-do list, Aquarius

ZITS by Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman

SHOE by Gary Brookins & Susie Macnelly

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne

PARDON MY PLANET by Vic Lee

ARCTIC CIRCLE by Alex Hallatt

BABY

MARCIA STEWART

JACK BELL

RUNUNTIL RENTED

GARAGESALE

This is a part-time, 1 night per week contract delivering newspapers to

businesses and apartments. Applicants must have a suitable vehicle (van or covered pickup) with all necessary insurance and a valid BC driver’s licence Pay is based on a combination of hours worked, papers delivered and kilometres driven but each route usually averages out to between $79 per delivery for about 3.5 hours worth of work per regular delivery, with extra pay during busy holiday periods!

P A P E R R O U T E S A V A I L A B L E

DOWNTOWN

Rte 306 – 261 6th Ave 614-911

Seymour St 600-696 St Pau St 753-761 V ctoria St -26 p

Rte 308 – 355 9th Ave 703-977 St Paul St –35 p Rte 310 – 651-695 2nd Ave 660-690 3rd Ave 110-292 Columbia St(Even S de) 106-321 Nico a St -43 p Rte 311 – 423-676 1st Ave 400-533 2nd Ave 107-237 Batt e St 135-173 St Paul St -27 p Rte 313 – 430-566 4th Ave 520-577 5th Ave 435-559 Batt e St 506 Columbia St 406-576 N cola St 418-478 St Paul St -34 p

Rte 317 – 535-649 7th Ave 702-794 Columbia St(Even S de) 702-799 N cola St -40 p

Rte 318 – 463 6th Ave, 446490 7th Ave 409-585 8th Ave 604-794 Batt e St -17 p

Rte 319 – 545 6th Ave 604690 Columbia St(Even Side) 604-692 Nico a St -12 p

Rte 322 – 694 11th Ave 575-694 13th Ave 1003-1091 Battle St 1004-1286 Columbia St(Even Side) 1004-1314 Nico a St -56 p

Rte 323 – 755-783 6th Ave, 763-884 7th Ave 744-764 8th Ave, 603-783 Columbia St(Odd S de) 605-793 Dom nion St -52 p

Rte 324 – 606-795 P ne St -33 p Rte 325 – 764-825 9th Ave 805-979 Columbia St(Odd S de) 804-987

Dom nion St 805-986 Pine St -64 p

Rte 326 – 850 11th Ave 10031083 Co umb a St Odd S de) 1003-1195 Dom n on St -33 p

Rte 327 – 1103-1459 Co umb a St Odd S de) 1203-1296 Domin on St -38 p

Rte 328 – 935 13th Ave C over eaf Cres Dom n on Cres Park Cres P ne Cres -62 p

Rte 329 – 880-1101 6th Ave 925-1045 7th Ave 878-1020 8th Ave 605-795 P easant St -39 p

Rte 330 – 1062-1125 7th Ave 1066-1140 8th Ave 601-783 Douglas St -37 p Rte 331 – 984-987 9th Ave 1125 10th Ave, 901-981 Doug as St 902-999 Munro St -33 p Rte 335 – 1175-1460 6th Ave, 1165-1185 7th Ave Cowan St 550-792 Munro St -56 p

Rte 339 – 1265-1401 9th Ave 916-1095 Fraser St -26 p

Rte 340 – McMurdo Dr -23 p Rte 370 – N cola Wagon Rd 35-377 W Seymour St -36 p

Rte 371 – Connaught Rd 451-475 Lee Rd W St Paul St -73 p

Rte 380 – Arbutus St Chaparra Pl Powers Rd Sequoia Pl -69 p

Rte 381 – 20-128 Centre Ave Hemlock St 605-800 Lombard St -42 p Rte 382 – 114-150 Fern e Pl Fernie Rd 860-895 Lombard St -23 p

Rte 389 – B uff Pl 390 Centre Ave 242-416 W Columbia St Duffer n Terr Garden Terr Grandview Terr -51 p

LOWER SAHALI/SAHALI

Rte 400 – 383 W Co umb a St -21 p

Rte 401 – 250-395 405-425 Pemberton Terr –81 p Rte 403 – 405-482 Greenstone Dr Tod Cres -28 p Rte 405 – Anvil Cres 98-279

Bestw ck Dr Bestwick Crt E Bestwick Crt W Morr sey Pl -51 p

Rte 410 – 56-203 Arrowstone Dr, Silverthrone Cres -47 p Rte 449 – Azure P –43 p

Rte 451 – Odin Crt Wh teshie d Cres Wh teshie d Pl -39 p Rte 452 – 1430-1469 Spr nghill Dr -64 p

Rte 453 – 1575-1580

Spr ngh l Dr -73 p

Rte 454 – Crosby Rd Humphrey

Rd Spr ngfie d P 1600-1799

Spr ngh l Dr -34 p Rte 459 – Monarch Crt & P –38 p Rte 463 – 1750 & 17871898 McKin ey Crt 545-659 Monarch Dr -73 p Rte 467 – 1605+1625 Summ t Dr –28 p Rte 471 – 100-293 Monmouth Dr -37 p Rte 474 – Coppertree Crt, Trophy Crt -21 p Rte 475 – Castle Towers Dr Sedgewick Crt & Dr -47 p

Rte 476 – Tanta us Crt T nn swood Crt 2018-2095 Tremerton Dr -50 p Rte 485 – 690 Robson Dr 2020+2084 Robson P -45 p Rte 487 – 201-475+485-495 Hol yburn Dr Panorama Crt -75 p

MT DUFFERIN/ PINEVIEW VALLEY

Rte 561 – Ash Wynd Fir Pl 1700-1798 Lodgepole Dr –58 p Rte 580 – 1300-1466 Pacific Way Pra rie Rose Dr Rockcress Dr -83 p Rte 581 – Canne Dr Cascade St 1500-1539 Hil side Dr, Me ors Pl -44 p Rte 582 – 1540-1670 H ls de Dr 1500-1625 Mt Dufferin Ave Windward Pl -38 p Rte 584 – 1752-1855 H llside Dr -26 p Rte 586 – Mt Dufferin Cres Park Way Plateau P -26 p Rte 587 – Sunsh ne Crt & Pl -51 p Rte 588 – Davies Pl 16801751 H ls de Dr Hi s de Pl Monterey P Scott Pl -46 p Rte 589 – 1200-1385 Copperhead Dr -48 p Rte 590 – 1397 Copperhead Dr Saskatoon Pl -36 p ABERDEEN

Rte 501 – 655-899 Flem ng Dr F eming Pl -49 p Rte 503 – Flem ng C rc Hampsh re Dr & P Hector Dr -51 p Rte 504 – 2146-2294 Sifton Ave Sifton Lane -48 p Rte 505 – 2005-2141 S fton Ave -51 p Rte 508 – 700-810 Hugh Al an Dr -49 p Rte 509 – 459-551 Laurier Dr Shaughnessy H l -46 p Rte 510 – 372-586 Aberdeen Dr 402-455 Laurier Dr -36 p Rte 511 – Drummond Crt -50 p Rte 512 – A ns e Pl Balfour Crt Braemar Dr MacIntyre Pl -69 p Rte 513 – Braemar Way 556-696 Laur er Dr 22142296 Van Horne Dr -36 p Rte 516 – Garymede Crt 2204-2263 Garymede Dr G lmour Pl -38 p Rte 517 – 2267-2299 Garymede Dr Greenock Crt & P 32 p Rte 518 – 2100-2198 Garymede Dr G asgow P Greystone Cres –58 p Rte 519 – Regent Cres & Pl -52 p Rte 522 – 604-747 Dunrob n Dr Dunrob n Pl -65 p Rte 526 – 2015-2069 Van Horne Dr -69 p Rte 527 – Hunter P Hunt e gh Cres -25 p Rte 528 – 1115-1180 Howe Rd 1115-1185 Hugh Al en Dr -47 p Rte 530 – Benta l Dr Edinburgh Blvd & Crt Ta bot P 26882689 Wi owbrae Dr -61 p Rte 532 – Harrison Pl & Way, 1181-1290 Howe Rd -38 p Rte 537 – 1221 Hugh Al an Dr -26 p Rte 538 – Talbot Dr, Wi owbrae Crt & P 2592-2672 Wi owbrae Dr -51 p

Rte 542 – Coa Hi Pl Crosshil Dr Dunbar Dr -57 p Rte 543 – 1250 Aberdeen Dr K nross Pl Linfield Dr -102 p Rte 544 – 2070-2130 Van Horne Dr Holyrood Circ & Pl -23 p

VALLEYVIEW

Rte 602 – App e Lane Kno lwood Cres Parkh l Dr 1783 Va eyview Dr -54 p Rte 603 – Comazzetto Rd, Strom Rd, 1625-1764 Va eyview Dr -42 p Rte 606 – Orchard Dr Russet Wynd, 1815-1899 Va eyview Dr -39 p Rte 607 – Card nal Dr 19092003 Valleyv ew Dr -33 p Rte 608 – Cur ew Pl & Rd 19251980 Glenwood Dr -70 p

Rte 614 – 2504-2667 Sunset Dr 2459-2669 E Trans Canada Hwy -49 p

Rte 615 – River Rd Sunset Crt 2415-2487 Sunset Dr –43 p

Rte 617 – 2401-2515 Va leyv ew Dr Va eyview Pl -51 p Rte 618 – Big N cke Pl Chapman P Marsh Rd Paul Rd Peter Rd 2440-2605 Thompson Dr -58 p Rte 620 – MacAdam Rd McKay Pl Pyper Way 25162580 Valleyv ew Dr -63 p Rte 621 – Duck Rd Ske y Rd 96 Tanager Dr 2606-2876 Thompson Dr -46 p

JUNIPER

Rte 655 – 1685 F nlay Ave 2202-2385 Skeena Dr 2416-2458 Skeena Dr (Even Side -34 p

Rte 664 – Kicking Horse Dr & Way -30 p Rte 669 – Emera d Dr -55 p Rte 670 – Ga ore Cres Crt & P – 94 p Rte 671 – 1830-1997 Qu Appe e B vd Myra P -68 p

BARNHARTVALE

Rte 701 – Freda Ave, K ahan e Dr Morris Pl Shelly Dr 901935 Todd Rd -87 p

Rte 706 – 1078-1298 Lamar Dr Mo-L n Pl -29 p Rte 718 – Bela r Dr -22 p Rte 721 – 5530-5697 C earview Dr Coo ridge Pl W dwood Dr -38 p

DALLAS

Rte 750 – 5101-5299 Dallas Dr Odd Side) Mary P Nina P Rache Pl -31 p Rte 751 – 5310 Barnhartva e Rd Bogetti P 5300-5599

Da as Dr 5485-5497 ETC Hwy Viking Dr Wade Pl -64 p Rte 752 – Coster P 5600-5998

Da as Dr Harper P & Rd -69 p Rte 755 – 6159-6596 Dallas Dr McAu ey Pl Me rose Pl Yarrow P -71 p Rte 759 – Bever y P 6724-7250

Furrer Rd McIver P Pat Rd –42 p Rte 760 – Beaver Cres Chukar Dr -62 p

NORTH SHORE/BATCHELOR

Rte 102 – 1071 10th St 1084-1086 12th St 813-1166

Lethbr dge Ave –42 p Rte 103 – 1167-1201 8th St 1179-1229 10th St 1182-1185 11th St 1188-1294 12th St 823-1166 Sudbury Ave –69 p Rte 107 – 1177 8th St 1109-1139 10th St 1110-1140 11th St 1138 12th St 809-1175 Pembroke Ave -84 p Rte 108 – 1010 11th St 831-1017 12th St 821-1161 Selkirk Ave -68 p

Rte 137 – 106-229 231-330

Clapperton Rd 203-266 268-285

Le gh Rd 172-180 Wi son St -23 p

Rte 140 – 217-222 Beach Ave Fa rview Ave, Larch Ave 237-247 Schubert Dr -68 p

Rte 170 – A view Cres 16801770 Westsyde Rd -50 p Rte 173 – 1655 Batchelor Dr Le ghton Pl 1708-1729 North River Dr Pennask Terr -36 p Rte 175 – Norfo k Crt Norview Pl 821-991 Norv ew Rd -36 p Rte 180 – 807-1104 Qua l Dr Qua ls Roost Crt & Dr -79 p Rte 185 – Bearcroft Crt 10031099 Norv ew Rd – 44 p

WESTSYDE/ WESTMOUNT

Rte 207 – 820-895 Anderson Terr 1920-1990 Westsyde Rd (Even Side -24 p

Rte 221 – 3013-3072 Bank Rd Bermer Pl 710-790 Bissette Rd 3007-3045 Westsyde Rd (Odd Side -60 p

Rte 234 – Orcrest Dr, Sage Dr -35 p Rte 235 – 3440-3808

Westsyde Rd -71 p

Rte 247 – E der Rd Grant Rd 30203082 Westsyde Rd (Even Side) -53 p

Rte 249 – 3085-3132 Bank Rd 600-655 B ssette Rd Cooper Pl Hayward Pl Norbury Rd – 57 p

Rte 253 – Irv ng P 2401-2477

Parkview Dr Rhonmore Cres 2380+2416 Westsyde Rd -45 p Rte 254 – E ston Dr, 2410 Oak H ls Blvd -23 p

Rte 255 – 2478-2681 Parkview Dr – 28 p

Rte 261 – 2214-2297 Grass ands B vd Woodrush Crt & Dr -57 p

BROCKLEHURST

Rte 1 – Argy e Ave Ayr P 10631199 Crestl ne St 1008-1080 Moray St Perth Pl -93 p Rte 2 – 2605-2795 Joyce Ave -52 p Rte 4 – 727-795 Crest ne St 2412-2680 Tranqu le Rd -40 p Rte 6 – 2450-2599 Br arwood Ave 2592 Crestline St 24312585 Edgemount Ave Pau sen Pl 2406-2598 Rosewood Ave 1101-1199 Schre ner St –79 p Rte 20 – Barbara Ave Pa a Mesa Pl Strauss St Townsend P 2105-2288 Tranqu le Rd -49 p Rte 24 – Da e Pl, Lisa Pl, 806999 Windbreak St –50 p Rte 30 – 1810-1897 F eetwood Ave 995-1085 South St -30 p Rte 31 – Desmond P 1008-1028 Desmond St Ing ewood Dr Newton St Oxford St -54 p Rte 33 – 2115-2280 F eetwood Ave Ponderosa Ave 10021090 W ndbreak St -71 p Rte 41 – A exis Ave, 520-796 S ngh St S ater Ave -59 p Rte 42 – 1718-1755 Brunner Ave De nor Cres 608-790 Ho t St -46 p

Rte 49 – Centenn a Dr 1005-1080 Ho t St 16611699 Parkcrest Ave –31 p Rte 59 – Ollek St 1454 Tranqu le Rd –60 p Rte 61 – Popp St Stratford P 1371-1413 Tranqu le Rd Water oo Pl Woodstock Pl -38 p Rte 64 – Va ha la Dr -93 p

RAYLEIGH

Rte 832 – Bolean Dr & Pl Ch lco Ave Kath een P -57 p Rte 833 – Cameron Rd Dav e Rd -44 p

Rte 835 - Mattoch-McKeague Rd Sab ston Crt & Rd -28 p Rte 836 – 136-199 Cah ty Cres Hyas Pl 4551-4648 Spurraway Rd -35 p Rte 838 – 4556-4797 Cammeray Dr Strawberry Lane -62 p Rte 840 – Brigade Rd 4404-4493

Cammeray Dr Montego Rd 309-474 Puett Ranch Rd -49 p

Rte 841 - Furiak Rd Michae Way, 100-287 Puett Ranch Rd -43 p

In Loving Memory of Myrna Lorraine Thomson

June 7, 1949 – September 24, 2021

Although more than a year has gone by, our hear tbreak will always remain.

Our mother Myrna Thomson passed quietly in her sleep on September 24, 2021. She was predeceased by our father Ross Thomson who passed away on November 5, 2018.

She is sur vived by daughters Car yn and Alicia, her sisters Lynda and Gail, as well as her sister-in-laws Leigh and Donna.

Always remembered and forever loved by your family

Obituaries Obituaries

In Loving Memory of James Frith

July 8, 1947 - December 24, 2022

I am sad to inform the passing of a very kind considerate man.

Jim was born in Manning, Alberta. He got his certification for Heavy Duty Parts man, which was his career till he retired.

He enjoyed his hunting trips with his friend Roy Jim moved to Whitehorse to work for a short period of time with his friend Ernie. In the 70s he moved to Kamloops. In 1978 he married Johanna, wife of 44 years. Jim loved to go boating and camping with his wife and his black labs - Kluane, Kayla and Babe. Jim spent many years with the Kamloops Power and Sail squadron teaching boating safety and many years with the Kamloops Yacht club.

Survived by this wife Johanna, step-daughter Dodie Lampman (Fred), sister Shirley Denison, nephews, nieces and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law

He is predeceased by his parents Jack and Margaret Frith and a younger sister Rita Frith.

Thank you to the doctors and nurses in Emergency and 7 North at RIH for their care and compassion.

No service by request. Donations can be made to any charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service 250-374-1454 Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Fly Me

He understands every mode of force

He knows what’s true of the elements

He is subtle but genuine at lift off and landing

by Kathy Ruth Manongdo Written on Father’s Day 2010

Am I your passenger?

Am I your wingman?

Am I your baggage?

Am I your well oiled engine?

Am I your wing?

H. Wayne Boles

1939 - 2022

It is with great sadness and many memories, that I announce the passing of H. Wayne Boles.

Wayne was born in 1939 in Entwistle, Alberta to Verna May Boles and Harold Boles.

He joined the Canadian Armed Forces at a young age and became an apprentice, he went on to serve 24 years and retired as a MWO. He later became a sports fishing guide and spent 25 years working at this job he loved. Wayne made many lifelong friends at King Pacific Lodge, his employer said, “if we were half as good as Wayne, we would be twice the man we are” he was respected by many Wayne retired to Mexico in 2010 where he enjoyed the ocean and warm days.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his sons Chris (Anne Marie), Troy and Michael, brothers Delbert and Terry, sister Linda (Ed), granddaughters Nicola, Ayla, and Jade.

No service will be held at the request of Wayne. His ashes will be spread over the ocean this summer where he was the happiest.

May he Rest in Peace, such a great man

Condolences can be sent to Carolyn at 1242 Nicola St. Kamloops, BC V2C 2S5.

Condolences may be sent to the family at DrakeCremation.com

Larry Earl March

October 24, 1952 - December 17, 2022

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Larry March. Larry (70) passed away on December 17, 2022, in Kamloops, BC and was born in Loon Lake, SK on October 24, 1952.

Am I your lift in the air?

A. Cremated remains

bone fragments. A little person from

might have great bone mass and more ashes; a larger person from NorKam might have small bones and less ashes. The ashes usually weight anywhere from about 4 to 8 pounds.

Love’s

He is an airplane ride blowing through the clouds

He is an airplane window that reveals a whole dimension

He is a propeller to delve farther deep into the universe like fractals

He is an airplane grounded in the sky mighty with fuel

He is an airplane engine efficient, sustaining and swift

He is a wing of a plane that stabilizes my lift

He has an open storage to keep the baggage balanced on flight

He has a trap door that releases the body of pain

He has a water tank to keep the peace

Here is a safe place to crash

A ride in the sky at night reveals a bright shiny movement

You, my plane, are visible to the naked eye in each spectrum

Am I your propeller that thrusts you to a new dimension?

I am all that you shape me to be You have a windshield view exposing the picture beyond

Only you fit the pilot’s seat

As your hands and feet heart and eyes are trained to work the plane

You know every part and how to fix it

You are navigating by the spirit

You belong to a solid tender heart and so accepted as firm to soar

You’re worth the shiniest mint coins and bills in circulation and so loved

Your competence as an airplane secures my place

For more experiences with you Will you invite me onboard?

Psalms 91:4 says, “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under his wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler”

He is survived by his loving wife, Judi, and children, Penny (Jay) Dance, Mande Stanton, Tammy Taylor, Dawn (Gord) Fryer and Gary March and grandchildren, Misty, Jessi (Andrew), Nathan (Sandy), James, Kyra (Jake), Camren, Shyla (Cavan), Michael, Keenan, Korreena, Cyperuz and Freedom, granddaughter-in-law Kaylee, great-grandchildren Pheonix, Nicholas, Juliana, Malea, Bonnie, Alesana, Madalynne and Elliot, his brother Joe (Annette) March, three brothers-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents Joseph (!983) and Ellen (2005) March and in-laws Don (2008) and Elsie (2017) MacNeill, and grandsons Carlo and Erick Fryer (2021).

There will be no formal service at this time.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com 250-554-2577

Michael Moroz

January 15, 1981 - December 20, 2022

- Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal –

It is with sad and heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of Michael Moroz, beloved son, brother and uncle.

Michael is survived by his parents, Ed and Avril, sister Cara (Adam), his brother Chris (Tiffany) , (Grammie) Margaret Demarzo, niece Emma and nephews Bodhi and Theodore and numerous Aunts, Uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his Aunt Dixie and Uncle Richard.

Michael was well known for his charismatic personality that could charm almost anyone into anything. He had a unique voice just made for radio and dreamed his path in life one day would take him there. No matter what life threw his way, he was known for being generous to a fault and had a very big heart.

More than anything, Michael loved his family so deeply that he always felt the need to say "I love you" every time he spoke to them, especially to his Mom. He never liked to leave that unsaid, which is something that will be sadly missed.

A special thank you to all those who have reached out with kind words and memories. It is clear that he made a lasting impact on many people throughout his life. The family will host a memorial on a date to be announced.

Thank you to the ICU staff at RIH for their care of Michael.

Arrangements by Drake Cremation. Condolences to DrakeCremation.com

Bill James Sneed

June 17, 1932 - December 28, 2022

Bill Sneed of Kamloops, BC, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 90 years of age.

He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth “Bette” Sneed and two sons, Anthony “Tony” and Nathan Sneed. As one of ten children, Bill was born to James and Bernice Sneed in Pawnee, Oklahoma on June 17, 1932. In 1957, he came to Kamloops, BC to pipeline where he met and married Bette. Shortly after, they moved to the USA and were blessed with two beautiful boys. Through his work in the pipeline industry, he travelled to many countries and across North America, making many friends along the way They eventually ended up back in Kamloops, where he continued to be known for his dedication to family, hard work, love of gardening and the outdoors.

Refreshments will be held at 11:30 am in the Kamloops Funeral Home Reception Hall on Saturday, January 28, 2023, followed by a Graveside Service at Hillside Cemetery at 1:00 pm.

A special thank you from the family to the Brocklehurst Gemstone staff and Dr Howie.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com 250-554-2577

Brenda Olive Watson

February 25, 1930 - December 13, 2022

With sadness we announce the passing of our mother at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice.

She will be missed by partner Arnie Rein, son Alan (Jackie), daughters Sheila, Julie (Ernie), granddaughters Leah, Trina, Kiarra, grandson Matthew, four great-grandchildren.

Thanks to hospice house for their care, support and kindness.

Dororthy "Wilma" Baird (née Turner) 1933 - 2022

Wilma passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 89 years of age. Wilma was born in Kamloops on November 29, 1933 and grew up in Walhachin. Her schooling was in Ashcroft, BC as well as correspondence for Grades 11 and 12. She took her normal school “teachers” training at the Coast. Mom married Ralph in Kamloops, BC on October 3, 1953, living in North Bend and then returning to Kamloops. Mom’s first teaching post was in Deep Creek, BC in a one room school, near Armstrong, BC. Wilma enjoyed many pastimes and volunteered for many years. She was very involved with the Cottonwood Manor Seniors Housing for years. With failing health, she moved to Gemstone Care Facility and enjoyed multiple activities, especially the Mother Goose program. Wilma was a proud Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother She was a cherished friend, especially her Ladies Lunch Group and a loving sister to her four siblings. Mom had a calm way of setting everyone at ease and her smile lit up the room.

Special thanks to Dr Mavis Hollman for her many years of care and friendship. If friends so desire, memorial donations in Wilma’s name would be appreciated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Alzheimer ’s Society

Wilma is survived by son Keith (Roxanne) Baird of Kamloops, daughters Laurel (Colleen) Baird of Kamloops and Karen Baird of Kamloops; brother Joseph Turner of Kamloops and sister Margaret Weissbord of Kamloops; brother in-law Cornelius Jaenen; grandchildren Dominique Baird of Kamloops, Nathan Baird of Edmonton, Justin Baird of Kamloops and Karley Baird of Kamloops; great-grandchildren Kai and Brie St. Jean of Kamloops; and multiple nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Ralph Alexander Baird (2000), parents May and William Turner, brother Art Turner and sister Ina Jaenen.

The Funeral Service will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, January 6, 2023 in Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive. Following the Service, Wilma will be laid to rest in the Mausoleum at Hillside Cemetery

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com 250-554-2577

By Helen Steiner Rice

The more you give, The more you get, The more you laugh, The less you fret, The more you do unselfishly, The more you live abundantly, The more of everything you share, The more you’ll always have to spare, The more you love, The more you’ll find, That life is good, And friends are kind, For only what we give away, Enriches us from day to day.

Patrick Brian Wilmot

March 17, 1930 - December 16, 2022

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our father, Patrick, who has been reunited with mom and infant daughter, Donna. Patrick was born on March 17, 1930, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

At the tender young age of 15, he left the family farm in Saskatchewan to come to B.C. He was hired on with The Pas Lumber Company, near Pinantan Lake. In 1948, he changed careers, becoming a fireman on the steam engines with CNR. Later, he became a locomotive engineer (Hog Head) and retired in 1991, after 43 years.

In 1951, dad met the love of his life, Joey They were married in 1953 and blessed with 7 children, losing an infant daughter in 1955.

He was an avid outdoorsman. Hunting and fishing being his greatest passion. Dad was an amazingly strong and sometimes stubborn man (LOL). At 88 years of age, he made his last hunting trip and was still able to tag and drag his own deer out.

Dad also had a hobby farm which he enjoyed immensely Tending to his horses which he used for hunting. He was proud to have been a life member of the Kamloops Fish and Game Club.

Mom and dad loved to travel; Reno was their favourite destination.

Dad was a long-time season ticket holder from Kamloops Oilers Hockey Team to the Kamloops Blazers. His last Blazer game was December 2, 2022.

Dad was predeceased by his beautiful loving wife Joey, of 60 years, infant daughter Donna, his parents and older siblings, his mother-in-law and father-in-law George and Ethel Taylor, daughter-in-law Kathy and infant great-granddaughter Ruby Gabrielle.

Dad leaves behind, his children, Brian (Sue), Dale (Marianne), Gary (Judy), Marvin (Veronica), Diane (Jim), Darlene (Allen), 28 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren, who all held a special place in his heart; his brother, Jim (Adele) and sister Enid.

Rest In Peace, Dad. We love you and will miss you dearly

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com 250-554-2577

Yvonne Mary Douglas (née Johnston)

It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful passing of a one of a kind wife, mother, sister and friend. Yvonne Douglas “got her wings” on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 surrounded by family She was dearly loved by so many and will be missed.

Yvonne leaves behind her devoted husband of 54 years, her “rock” Gary, daughters Michelle (David Kincade) and Brandy (Travis Libby), her precious grandchildren Claire, Olivia, Miles, Emma, Owen and Isabella, wonderful sisters Penny (Lorne McCaskill), Linda (Don McClure) and Sue (Wade Carpenter), cherished in-laws, Ron (Shirley Douglas), Linda (Cliff Jackson) and Karen (Jim Shea), and numerous beloved nephews, nieces. Yvonne was predeceased by her sister Betsy and brother-in-law Wayne (Hystad).

Yvonne was born on February 23, 1947 in Vancouver She spent her childhood in Clearwater, BC. It was here that she met her husband Gary in 1959 in Grade 7. They were married on March 9, 1968 and had their two daughters (Michelle and Brandy) in 1970 and 1973. The family enjoyed a rich life together moving several times in support of Gary’s career Yvonne embraced the moves to Prince George, Winnipeg, Kamloops, Edmonton, Calgary and then back to Kamloops in 2002 to be closer to family and their first grandchild, Claire.

While living in Calgary, Yvonne enrolled at SAIT and became a travel agent. She loved adventure and had found her passion. Yvonne continued to work in travel for the next 30 years creating a long standing, ever growing group called “Friends of Friends”. Yvonne’s specialty was cruises. Gary and Yvonne travelled extensively to many places around the world. One of her favourite trips was an African Safari.

Yvonne had a kind and loving heart. She never forgot a face or a story and was genuinely interested and cared about everyone she met, their lives and their families. As she once said, and we never let her forget, she “had thousands of friends”. She deeply loved and cared for each and every one. Yvonne will be remembered as a fun, loving, caring person who impacted so many lives and imprinted on so many hearts.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her incredible “medical team” Dr Loland, Dr Dickenson and Cheri Clark of the Wheatgrass Clinic for their excellent medical care, to her son-in-law, Dr Kincade, for being “on speed dial” during her health journey To the staff at Marjorie Willoughby Hospice, thank you. It is an incredible facility

In lieu of flowers, remembrance donations to Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice would be appreciated. More information in regards to donations can be found online.

A celebration of life will be held at 12:00 pm February 25, 2023 at the Coast Hotel, 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC. We welcome you to join us in celebrating a life well lived.

Richard Marcroft Latta Blair

We regret to announce the death of Richard Blair on December 21, 2022.

Richard was born to David and Vivienne Blair in Glasgow, Scotland, joining his only sibling Michael, on March 7, 1945. The family immigrated to Canada by ship in 1952. His first memory of Canada was the taste of fresh strawberries in Ottawa – a taste he never tired of. The family settled in Vancouver where Richard attended Magee High School, where he played rugby (his knees never forgave him), became a Queen's Scout, took up skydiving (over 100 jumps!) and followed his big brother into the journalism field as a copy boy This evolved into his first career as a journalist at the Vancouver Sun.

He entered UBC in 1963 where he spent the majority of his time at The Ubyssey newspaper, rising to the rank of City Editor by the time he met Fearon in August 1965. He had barely scraped through his final year of a BA, thanks to working too many hours at that paper, when he and Fearon tied the knot. But for some reason he was admitted to law school - on the day after their wedding.

In spite of continuing to work two nights a week as a journalist he completed his law degree and articled with Clarke Wilson in Vancouver The day after being admitted to the bar, they left to see the world, which they did in 19 months of travel, making many memories and friends along the way They then settled in Kamloops, where Richard worked with Meikle Shupe Blair, then with Mair Jenson Blair, while managing to make time for hiking, skiing, cycling, canoeing, mountaineering, travelling, driving expensive, interesting and at times unpractical vehicles, as well as some back room involvement in provincial and federal politics. He also served on the Overlander Extended Care Hospital board as member and chair, and was involved in the establishment of the Kamloops Foundation, now known as the BC Interior Community Foundation.

In 1989 he joined the BC Randonner Club, a long distance non-competitive cycling club which led him to cycle around 6000 km per year for many years, including a number of 1200 km rides through the Rockies. In 1985 he and Fearon did another year long grand tour around the world, focusing on South America for the first 6 months, then cycling thousands of km in Europe, and stopping in various other countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific enroute home.

In 1992 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of BC, where he worked until retirement in 2013. He then became the first 'judge in residence', a voluntary position, at the TRU law school for 3 years.

Richard succumbed to dementia and spent the last 3 years of his life in the care of the wonderful staff at the Kamloops Seniors Village. He leaves behind his wife Fearon, brother Michael and his family, cousins and their families in Scotland, his inlaws and their extended families across Canada, many long time friends which is a reflection of his many interests and pursuits, and Itsy, the last of a long line of dogs. He was a good man who loved his family, served his community, enjoyed his chosen work, and lived his life to the fullest. He will be missed by many

A celebration of Richard's life will be held in the spring.

Muriel Elizabeth Maude Cluett

1918 - 2022

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our very much loved mother Muriel Elizabeth Maude Cluett. She passed after a long and fulfilling life in Aldergrove and Kamloops.

Muriel was predeceased by her husband Ernest Ronald Cluett, brother George Davis and sister Eva Louise McKie.

Muriel is leaving behind her three children, Ethel Ruth Kerpan, Reginald Albert Cluett, Margaret Joan VanSkiver, and nine grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren., nine great greatgrandchildren to carry on her legacy of kindness and enthusiasm for living life. We will all miss her

Muriel's celebration of life will be held in Kamloops on July 8, 2023 starting at 11:00 am at Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul Street, Kamloops, BC.

Please add the date to your calendar. The family looks forward to seeing you.

Brian Mitchell

August 2, 1945 - December 7,

2022

In Loving Memory of Brian Mitchell

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Brian Mitchell on December 7, 2022 at the age of 77.

Brian is survived by his brother-in-law Leo MacDonald of Saskatchewan and his many nieces and nephews.

Brian was predeceased by his parents George and Thelma Mitchell and 2 sisters Bev Kidner and Faaye MacDonald.

Brian was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on August 2, 1945. When Brian was young, he came out west with his parents finally settling in Kamloops where Brian lived the remainder of his life.

Brian worked a few jobs throughout his life and spent the last 19 years of his retirement keeping himself busy working at Supersave Gas where he enjoyed socializing with the customers, some of whom became his friends.

Brian enjoyed many hobbies including camping, fishing, hunting, quadding and golfing to name a few He will always be remembered for his kindness, his sense of humour and his quick wit.

Brian will be loved and never forgotten by the people whose lives he touched.

Memorial donations can be made in Brian’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. No funeral at Brian’s request.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com 250-554-2577

Faye June (née Pavoll) Weiss

June 2, 1949 - December 13, 2022

Predeceased by her parents, Helen and Pete; brothers Wayne and Lance; sister-in-law Susan Pavoll, all of Revelstoke, BC. She is survived by her loving husband John, daughters Nicole and Chelsea and brother Lorne (Lynn) of Burnaby, BC as well as nephews Ben, Tyler, Shaun and niece Sheila.

Faye was raised in Revelstoke and always thought of it as the loveliest place in BC. She settled in Kamloops in 1971, and in 1976 married her husband John. Together, they started a family with Nicole’s arrival in 1981 and Chelsea’s in 1983. Faye juggled her job as a bookkeeper at Artistic Signs, the Horse Barn and Rivers Workwear along with the challenges of being a wife and mother

Faye was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi where she made many lasting friendships with her sisters in Sorority Faye’s escape from her very full daily schedule was her enjoyment of gardening which was a true passion. Travel was a bonus where she enjoyed parts of Europe and many, many tourist destinations.

In January 2017, Faye was diagnosed with cancer which ended her work career; but, she still maintained an active social life. On her good days she still went lunching with friends, camping with her RV group, playing crib, and socializing with her Probus club members; all the while still enjoying her gardens.

Our heartfelt thank you to the nurses, doctors, and staff at the RIH Cancer Clinic and the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home for the exceptional care she received throughout this long and arduous journey and the many good family friends whose support was truly treasured.

Faye’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Dr., Kamloops, BC – Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm with reception to follow