Kamloops This Week April 5, 2023

Standing in the cool night air and wearing a high-vis orange coat, the lanky frame of Dennis is hard to miss. Dan Lal (right) steps from his vehicle to join Martin Tong outside the North Shore McDonald’s for a word of prayer for the man who is among the homeless population of Kamloops. DAVE EAGLES/KTW

C I T Y PAG E

Apr 5, 2023

CO U N C I L C A L E N DA R

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.

April 6, 2023

9:00 am - Select Committee, as

Appointed March 28, 2023

April 11, 2023

10:00 am - Committee of the Whole

April 11, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

April 14, 2023

10:00 am - Community to Community Forum

April 18, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

April 18, 2023 (Cancelled)

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

Notice to Motorists

Please use caution when driving in the vicinity and obey all traffic control personnel, signs, and devices in the following areas:

• For tune Drive

Oak Road to Overlanders Bridge

• Singh Street

Ord Road to Parkcrest Avenue

• Lorne Street

8th Avenue to 10th Avenue

• Westsyde Road Multi-Use Pathway

Westsyde Road to Alview Crescent

• 6th Avenue

Columbia Street at 6th Avenue

• 12th Street

Tranquille Road to Kenora Road

• St. Paul Street

1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

• Highland Road

South of the Valleyview Arena to Valleyview Drive

To stay up to date on road work projects, visit:

Kamloops.ca/Kammute

F I R E S M A R T YO U R

Did you k now that by applying a few simple FireSmar t principles, your home and proper ty have a greater chance of withstanding wildfire threats?

You can FireSmar t your home by :

• maintaining your landscape and choosing FireSmar t plants for your yard—the FireSmar t Guide to Landscaping can be found online

• enclosing decks with non- combustible materials to discourage the collection of debris and embers

• keeping firewood piles and other items stacked a least 10 m from your home, especially during wildfire season

• ensuring you have a clean, fire -resistant roof and that your eaves are clean

• enclosing soffits and vents to ensure that embers cannot enter them

• removing trees, bushes, and other combustible materials within the first 10 m surrounding your home ( junipers and cedars are par ticularly combustible)

• having a wildfire evacuation plan and mak ing sure ever yone in your household k nows what to do

To request a free FireSmar t assessment, ask questions, view FAQs, watch videos, and more, visit: LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/FireSmar t

Repor t an issue: 250-828-3461

For after-hours emergencies, press 1.

G O E L E C T R I C R E B AT E S

Are you considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV ) charger for your home? Or do you live in a building that may be planning upgrades to suppor t EV charging in park ing stalls?

Take advantage of new rebates from the Province and BC Hydro

Several rebate types include a top -up from the City of K amloops for eligible residents.

Learn more at: Kamloops.ca/GoElec tric

Suppor ting the transition to zero - emissions transpor tation suppor ts targets in the Community Climate Action Plan. Learn more at: Kamloops.ca/ClimateAc tion

T R E E CO U P O N S

The City of K amloops’ annual tree coupons will be available to the public in early April The coupons have a $20 or $50 value, depending on the price of the selected tree

Coupons will only be available at these par ticipating nurseries:

• Agri Supply

• Ar t Knapp Plantland

• Canadian Tire - Aberdeen

• Canadian Tire - Nor th Shore

• Countr y Garden Greenhouses & Nurser y

• Lyons Garden and Landscape Centre

• Purity Feed Co.

A total of 1,000 coupons will be available on a first- come, first-ser ved basis to residents within K amloops’ municipal boundaries, with a limit of one per household Residents will need to supply proof of address in the form of a driver ’s licence or a City of K amloops utility or proper ty tax statement

Coupons will only be available at the time of purchase of an eligible tree and cannot be picked up at one store and used at another store, nor can coupons be picked up for use at a later date

For more information on tree eligibility, visit: Kamloops.ca/TreeCoupon

I T ’S B E A R S M A R T S E A S O N

Spring is here, and that means bears are coming out of hibernation. As they emerge from their dens, they will be hungr y Unmanaged bear attractants around our homes can unintentionally attract bears to our neighbourhoods as they sniff out food sources

Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear Your actions can save a bear ’s life

Residents can help keep the community and local bear populations safe by doing the following:

• Keep pet food/containers inside

• Remove bird feeders between May and November

• Keep barbecues clean.

• Pick fruit from trees as soon as it ripens and consider removing any unwanted fruit trees

• Manage backyard composters properly. Did you k now? K amloops is one of only 10 BC communities that has achieved official “Bear Smar t ” status. Thank you for helping K amloops remain a Bear Smar t Community!

Learn more at: Kamloops.ca/BearSmar t

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

NURSES TO VOTE ON NEW CONTRACT

The association bargaining for nurses in B.C. has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government on a new contract.

The tentative deal was reached on March 31 between the Health Employers Association and the Nurses’ Bargaining Association, which represents approximately 51,500 registered,

TODAY’S FLYERS

psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in B.C. The tentative deal, which will be voted upon by nurses, was reached under the provincial government’s shared recovery mandate, which has in past deals included:

• Year 1: a flat wage increase of 25 cents per hour, which provides a greater percentage

increase for lower-tier rates, plus 3.24 per cent;

• Year 2: 5.5 per cent wage hike, plus a potential cost-of-living adjustment to a maximum of 6.75 percent;

• Year 3: Two per cent wage hike, plus a potential cost-of-living adjustment to a maximum of three per cent.

WEATHER FORECAST

April 5: Sunny 11/0 (hi/low)

April 6: Sun and clouds 14/8 (hi/low)

April 7: Cloudy 16/4 (hi/low)

April 8: Chance of showers 14/9 (hi/low)

April 9: Cloudy 15/7 (hi/low)

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Arson may spur neighbourhood watch

SEAN BRADY STAFF REPORTER sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com

A Kamloops man who helped police catch an alleged arsonist in Kenna Cartwright park said he wants to form a neighbourhood watch group to keep the park from burning and stop thefts and break-ins in his area.

At about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 31, Jim Knowles was headed out for coffee when he spotted a man walking in his neighbourhood.

“You could see he was a little nuts, a little out of it,” Knowles said.

After following the man to a nearby Kenna Cartwright parking lot, he watched the man walk off-trail, crouch down and light grass on fire.

“It sparked up immediately and he just started walking again,” Knowles said.

Knowles said he spoke with a trail user who had just come down to the parking lot — a man he said was a retired RCMP officer, who yelled at the arsonist and put out the fire.

Knowles called 9-1-1 as the man ventured farther into the park, lighting additional fires.

Kamloops Fire Rescue arrived shortly afterward and extinguished additional blazes, one of which produced a large plume

GLC300

of smoke, Knowles told KTW

After speaking with police and seeing the arrival of more firefighters, Knowles decided to leave the scene and head home, first checking another road in his neighbourhood, near the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre. It was near there that he again spotted the man and pointed him out to police, who made an arrest.

Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Crystal Evelyn told KTW that police were called to Kenna Cartwright Park on March 31 at about 9:20 a.m. for a report of an arsonist at work.

“A suspect was located nearby, arrested, lodged in cells until sober, then released with conditions and a court date,” Evelyn said.

The incident has Knowles spooked, particularly with warmer and drier weather on the way.

“When I really started thinking about it and talking to people about it ... that’s a fire in Kenna Cartwright. They could burn this whole hill. Something has got to be done,” he said.

During a dry summer, the situation could have been a lot worse, Knowles said, which is why he is hoping to organize neighbours and businesses to prevent more issues.

“We’re used to the stuff downtown. I hate to say it, but when it’s coming up to my neigh-

bourhood, something’s got to be done. I don’t know what,” he said.

In 2003, Knowles gathered 10,000 signatures to keep buoys in the South Thompson River. That petition went to Ottawa, presented by then-MP Betty Hinton, and the buoys were left in the water.

Knowles has started a Facebook group called Kamloops Vagrant Watch, pledging to monitor people on the street with the goal of protecting property and families. He said the group is not a vigilante entity and will keep constant contact with city community service officers, police and city hall.

“I’m pissed off. Now you’re in the residential area and lighting fires in Kenna Cartwright. That’s pretty bad,” Knowles said. “If that’s what it’s going to take for something to happen here ... I’m pissed now.”

Floating the idea of another petition, Knowles said he wouldn’t know where to present it.

“Does a petition with 10,000 names do anything? Who does it get presented to? I’m prepared to do it. But who do you present it to? A council who is fighting themselves?” he asked, noting ongoing street issues and infighting between Kamloops councillors and Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.

Dufferin resident Jim Knowles uses a drone to photograph the area in Kenna Cartwright Park that was deliberately set on fire by a man police later arrested for starting several blazes in the municipal park, at 800 hectares, the largest in B.C. DAVE EAGLES/KTW

A motion to ban drug use in Kamloops parks

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Kamloops council will debate banning drug use in public parks and city facilities in response to a provincial pilot project decriminalizing the possession of 2.5 grams of hard drugs in B.C.

Coun. Katie Neustaeter has introduced a notice of motion calling for an amendment to the municipality’s parks and public lands bylaw in response to decriminalization so that consumption of controlled substances at city facilities, in parks, on highways or in public spaces be prohibited, just as public consumption of alcohol and smoking are restricted.

The motion will be discussed at council’s next meeting, scheduled for April 18.

Neustaeter told KTW she is proposing the amendment because she feels the new policy from the province needs to be aligned with the city’s bylaw.

“Just like you can’t consume alcohol or smoke in those public spaces,” Neustaeter said.

Under the province’s pilot project, which is running from Jan. 31, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2026, police will not make an arrest nor seize the drugs of adults in British Columbia if they possess up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal use, including heroin, morphine, fentanyl, crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy).

The exemption, however, does not apply to possession at or on elementary and secondary school grounds and at licensed child-care facilities. Nor does the decriminalization of possession apply to those ages 17 and younger.

Neustaeter said the current implication is that any space not specified under the province’s pilot project would be permissible for decriminalized drug use.

She said another reason she has brought the amendment forward is because residents

have expressed to her concerns of increased substance use in public spaces and a desire to see it banned when it comes to implementing decriminalization.

“This just seems like a logical step to make sure everything we can do for the welfare of our community and achieving balance,” Neustaeter said.

Campbell River city council attempted to implement similar bylaws earlier this year in anticipation of the pilot project, banning public consumption of illegal drugs and imposing a $200 fine.

Those bylaws, however, led to a petition and court challenge claiming the bylaws were outside the city’s jurisdiction. Campbell River council rescinded the bylaws in late February.

The District of Sicamous has drawn up a similar bylaw, as well outlining public spaces where use of illicit drugs is prohibited.

Interior Health, meanwhile, has written the district, raising concerns that such a bylaw and fine reinforces drug use stigma

and is counter to the intent of decriminalization.

If Kamloops council agrees to amend the bylaw, Neustaeter said she expects it will be challenged, but argued that does not mean municipalities should not pass such bylaws as the concerns of their constituents must be heard.

“And if enough municipalities bring forward a bylaw like this … hopefully, the message will get through that there is some lacking structure for implementation,” she said.

As for whether the proposed motion would water down the province’s intent of decriminalization, Neustaeter said she does not see why it would as Kamloops has supervised drug-use sites.

She said while it is important not to stigmatize drug users, there needs to be protection for those with concerns, such as drug exposure to children in parks.

“We have to make sure we’re holding up all the pillars that will make harm reduction successful and that includes prevention

— and this is a piece of that,” Neustaeter said.

Neustaeter said she hopes there will be an opportunity to raise the issue of decriminalized drug use in public spaces at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in September, if there is an appetite from her colleagues.

The City of Kamloops’ bylaw 35-66 makes it unlawful, among other things, to consume or possess any alcohol or liquor in any city park or on public lands unless allowed under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act.

Violators are subject to a $100 fine for a first offence and $200 for each subsequent offence. The bylaw also prohibits smoking at or in a park or a publicly accessible portion of a city facility and states it is unlawful to do any activity interfering with or becoming a nuisance to the general public within any park or public lands.

How much can I draw from my por tfolio?

This is one of the most frequent questions we get from prospective retirees in our office. Choosing a suitable withdrawal or “burn rate“ from your por tfolio can be the single most impor tant factor affecting your nest egg The right withdrawal rate can ensure your money lasts at least as long as you do Lifespan, inflation and market returns are all beyond your control ; however, your asset allocation and withdrawals are within your control

As you approach retirement , it is critical that your por tfolio is adjusted for the income phase Prior to retirement the focus was on accumulation During the accumulation phase, poor returns early could be offset by greater returns at a later date, allowing the market to grow your retirement investments Once retired, most require a constant withdrawal rate from their por tfolio to fund their lifest yle

Typically, the 5-10 years on either end of your retirement date are known as the “retirement risk zone” , during which you are more sensitive to por tfolio shocks If a por tfolio experiences a sharp decline combined with withdrawals, it can permanently impair your wealth and retirement We feel the best solution for

the unpredictable nature of the stock market is :

1 Set aside a contingenc y

2 Build a diversified por tfolio

3. Limit withdrawals

Portfolio Manager

Senior Investment Advisor

Source : Manulife Investment Management

We often encourage investors to have one to three years' wor th of needs set aside in low-risk investments For example, if you require $20,000 a year from your por tfolio, there could be $60,000 set aside in bonds or Guaranteed Investment Cer tificates (GICs). In the event of a market downturn, the por tfolio can be left to recover and the contingenc y can be used to maintain one’s lifest yle

Traditionally, asset allocation meant what percentage you have in equities (stocks) and income (bonds). An old guideline suggested por tfolios should have one s age in bonds. For example : If you are 60 years old, then 60% should be in bonds versus if you are 40 years old, you could have 40% in bonds and the remainder in equities These were merely quick guides that were developed when interest rates were much higher and didn' t take into account any other personal circumstances

—with files from Black Press

Asset allocation can have an impact on the per formance of your por tfolio throughout your retirement. Too conser vative a por tfolio risks not keeping up with inflation and might not meet long term needs, while too aggressive a strategy can risk depleting capital at a time a retiree can least afford it William Bergen, a financial pioneer, calculated that investors can safely withdrawal 4% from a balanced por tfolio (60% stock + 40% bonds) in the first year and increase annually with inflation. Bergen's theor y, also called the Safemax , had proven this 4% withdrawal rate was sustainable over ever y 30-year period since 1926.

FP Canada regularly publishes financial planning assumptions and guidelines As of April 202 2 , they project that traditional 60% stock /40% bond por tfolio is forecast to return 4.0% before fees. We believe this will adjust up given the increase in interest rates we experienced last year

The bottom line is despite many methodologies, we feel retirees should build a retirement plan customized to their specific circumstance and needs Over the last 20 years, we have built a customized Retirement Roadmap process that helps illustrate how much cash flow retirees will likely have after-tax . In addition, we may determine that you only require a 3% return to help meet your goals and thus recommend a por tfolio with t ypically less risk After all, if you can meet your goals why take more risk ?

Until nex t time, Invest Well. Live Well.

Written by Eric

Setting up your new corporation correctly from the outset minimizes future hassle and administrative cost Cutting corners now may lead to severe consequences later on for your corporation, and sometimes for you personally

-Read more at fultonco com/articles/

If you have questions, we’re here to help Contact 250.372.5542 or law@fultonco.com

Rug tied to murder

POLICE HAVE LINKED BLOODY FABRIC FOUND IN BARRIERE TO HOMICIDE OF PETER DANIEL CASIMIR

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

A distinctive bloodied blue Ikea area rug that was recently turned into the Barriere RCMP detachment and linked to a violent criminal act is now part of an investigation into the murder of Kamloops-area resident Peter Daniel Casimir.

According to Staff Sgt. Jason Smart of the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, police believe “the murder of Mr. Casimir was targeted and that no danger to the public exists.”

Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying

anybody who has had dealings with Casimir this year, in particular in March.

Police said Casimir is known to have also used the alias of Jake Maserski.

Investigators continue to seek any additional information the public may have with respect to knowledge of the Ikea area rug and its origin.

Casimir had been in provincial court in Prince George and Burns Lake over the years on charges including assault, break and enter and breach of release conditions.

Police did not say whether his criminal history has been linked to the murder, only that he was the intended target.

Asked by KTW if police had recovered Casimir’s body and, if so, where it was located and the manner in which Casimir was killed, RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said he could not provide those details at this time.

Clark added he was not at liberty to say where in the Kamloops area Casimir resided, where he was known to frequent or whether the homicide is believed to be associated with the drug trade.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Southeast District Major Crime Unit Tip Line at 1-877-987-8477.

—with files from the Vancouver Sun

CASEY HELGASON

At left is homicide victim Peter Daniel Casimir. Above is a stock image of a five-foot-by-eight -foot Ikea Ferle area rug, similar to a bloodied, blue version turned in recently to the Barriere RCMP detachment.

RCMP PHOTOS

OPINION

It’s true — it really does take a village

The joyful jingle echoed in the maternity ward at Royal Inland Hospital, bounced off the walls of the new Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower and reverberated in the car during the drive home with our daysold son.

We left medical appointments, fears and tears behind and headed toward baby cuddles, firsts and a warm welcome from family and friends.

A couple of years ago, I wrote about sad souls that roam Nicola Street, discussing the difficult walk away from RIH after my husband and I learned of unexpected pregnancy loss. Recently, I learned happy hearts also head home from the hospital.

Our son was born just before Christmas, capping off a long and difficult road in trying to have a baby. Reality did not sink in until we were discharged. It was about -30 C outside, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way we danced out through the new hospital entrance. Relief and happiness were overwhelming.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. What they don’t tell you is that it can also take a village to have one. The supports we received over the past few years with recurrent pregnancy losses are too numerous to list here. However, it is safe to say we would not have our son if not for exceptional care.

In writing this column during maternity leave, I want to thank health-care workers, who we saw bolster patient care amidst challenges in the medical system.

Kudos also to those behind the new RIH maternity ward, which puts patients first with delivery room showers and bathtubs, privacy and beds for partners.

I used a tub — which resembled something out of a fancy hotel suite — during labour at a time of depletion and the water relaxed and reset both body and mind. Some in the birthing community are calling them game-changers. I have heard stories of past RIH births, with fathers sent home and moms and babies piled into rooms.

New single-occupancy rooms with fold-out beds keep families together and are more conducive to recovering from childbirth and practising new skills, like breastfeeding. Chimes that ring throughout the new tower each time a baby is born are a nice touch and added the perfect accompaniment to my happy heart soundtrack.

The new facility is something to be proud of and should be promoted to attract health-care workers to our community.

That said, I worry about prena-

tal care, with news the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics Group clinic and Sage Hills Community Midwives are no longer accepting patients. People in Kamloops and outlying areas with a positive pregnancy test will find themselves scrambling, with symptoms of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia, potentially going overlooked and undiagnosed.

Expectant families are being directed to a family doctor, an obstetrician, a midwife, the Urgent Primary Care Centre or the RIH emergency room. A significant portion — about 40 per cent, or 40,000 people — of the Kamloops population does not have a family doctor and, of those who do, many no longer do prenatal care.

General practitioners often referred patients to the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics Group.

KTW

Special Projects Manager:

Ray Jolicoeur

EDITORIAL

Editor & Associate Publisher:

Christopher Foulds

Newsroom staff:

Dave Eagles

Marty Hastings

Jessica Wallace

Sean Brady

Michael Potestio

Breanne Massey

CIRCULATION

Manager:

Serena Platzer

ADVERTISING

Manager:

Liz Spivey

Linda Skelly

Jodi Lawrence

Paul De Luca

Rylan Willoughby

Jack Bell

DIGITAL SALES:

Manager:

Chris Wilson

DIGITAL DESIGNERS

Jackson Vander Wal

Jessica Wallace, husband Jeremy Bosch and bambino Joseph leave Royal Inland Hospital after Joe’s birth in December 2022.

There are fires to put out everywhere in the health-care system and fingers point left and right at every turn. But what seems clear is that health care should be preventive, not reactive, and it should start from day one, with maternity care.

At the end of the day, the biggest impact is on patients (babies and families). They need a village. I don’t have to look further than the little man in my arms to see that and this happy heart is forever grateful.

Obstetricians are typically for high-risk pregnancies. Midwives were hard to get before the decision by Thompson Region Family Obstetrics and Sage Hills to stop accepting patients. The Urgent Primary Care Centre is swamped, due to the lack of primary care and drop-in clinic closures. That leaves the ER. Imagine a pregnant woman waiting in the ER for an ultrasound.  Thompson Region Family Obstetrics doctors made the difficult decision to shutter the clinic this summer because they are shortstaffed and burnt-out from being on call for 24-hour shifts. Incentives are needed to recruit community doctors or locums (physicians who temporarily fill vacancies) and paying them for time they are on call is one possible solution. Funding for additional supports, like doula care, could also help families when resources are thin.

• Thank you to our village: Kamloops OBGYN Dr. Mark Treissman and office administrator Jo-Dell Stanley, BC Women’s Hospital Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic staff and OBGYNs Dr. Mohamed Bedaiwy and Dr. Caroline Lee, Kelowna Regional Fertility Centre (now Olive Fertility Centre) Dr. Kim Daniel, family doctor Franky Mah and Michelle Mah, Birth Matters Doula Care and Prenatal Classes owner and doula Kayla Wolfe, Wild Roots Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Clinic owner and acupuncturist Dr. Andrea Hansen, massage therapist Shelley Fletcher, Canadian Mental Health Association Bounce Back program coach Deborah Delves-Vonau, C&C Resources counsellor Andrea Campbell, RIH maternity nurses Alexa, Monica, Kim, Melissa, Nadine and Jessica, numerous other healthcare workers (lab techs, ultrasound techs, ER staff and more), as well as family, friends and readers.

Jessica Wallace is a KTW reporter on maternity leave until January 2024. To comment on this column, email editor@kamloopsthisweek.com.

PRODUCTION Manager: Lee Malbeuf

Production staff: Fernanda Fisher

Dayana Rescigno

Moneca Jantzen

Kaitlin Vander Wal

FRONT OFFICE

Front office staff:

Lorraine Dickinson

Angela Wilson

Marilyn Emery

Rosalynn Bartella

“We’re going home! We’re going home!”

OPINION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED QUERIES

Editor:

What did you do the day after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its final warning to avoid total climate catastrophe as temperatures rise globally to 1.5 C and, possibly, 2 C above normal in the next seven years?

BYE, BYE TO BIG BOX STORE BAD SERVICE

Editor:

Once again, another big box store — Bed Bath and Beyond — is leaving our community.

As consumers, we know that when a store closes, all sales are final. I took advantage of the first phase of the closing, which had a 10 per cent discount, by purchasing a duvet.

On the same day, I opened the zippered clear bag housing the duvet to find it was ripped. I took it back solely for the purpose of exchanging it for another package, not for a refund.

I lost the debate. Store staff instead directed me to head office in Toronto, which in turn sent me to the company that made the duvet, which in turn gave me a phone number to call in India, the home country of the manufacturer.

Wow, I am my very own customer service. I ended up sewing the flaw myself. Could this possibly be part of why the Bed Bath and Beyond chain is closing?

Lois Ward Kamloops

How did you react when United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “Only swift and drastic action can avert irrevocable damage to the world”?

Did you throw up your arms and say there are just too many of us on the planet anyway? Did you think there was nothing one person could do, not even a few of you? Did you think it’s all just another conspiracy theory or that the fossil fuel industries and governments have got our backs?

Did you blame China, India and Russia for not doing enough? Did you blame Saudi Arabia for not turning off the taps? Did you think it was all too much for us to worry about? Did you get up and do exactly the same thing you did the day before?

Or did you get busy and write a letter to the government, demanding action? Decide to join a climate action group? Turn off your motor while

you sat idling? Walk or bike instead of driving? Look into a hybrid or electric vehicle? Organize a carpool or finally decide to check out transit?

Did you finally realize, since you could afford it, that it was time to change to alternative energy sources, like a heat pump and solar panels? Did you decide you can enjoy our part of the world without having to fly to get there?

Did you take a good hard look at the kids you are responsible for and who haven’t yet started their lives?

Did you think about all the good things you’ve had in your lifetime and think it was time to give back?

Did you pledge to live slower, simpler and with gratitude? Did you take a walk in nature, perhaps sit by a river and listen to the water as it flowed past you, carrying geese, ducks and other waterfowl? And did you take a deep breath?

Did you realize it really is about you and that only you can really make a difference.

Each one of us doing something is really the only option for us now. We need to dig in, get mad and get it done. Now is the time — right here, right now — to prove what you’re made of.

Angie Mclaren Chase

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

Aligning SD73 budget with priorities

THE YEAR-LONG PROCESS INCLUDES MUCH WORK TO DEVELOP CLEAR PLANS

As taxpayers, we want to know we are getting value for our dollar.

As parents, we want to know our children are getting a good education. As a community, we want to know students graduating from our schools are well educated, socially responsible citizens with good critical thinking skills who are equipped to thrive in an ever-changing job market.

The trustees for School District 73 (KamloopsThompson) have been entrusted with an annual operating budget of more than $207 million.

So, how do we ensure the needs of our taxpayers, parents, students and community are met?

It starts with our strategic plan.

In 2021, the board of education engaged with more than 2,000 people to develop a five-

year strategic plan.

The process took in excess of eight months and, during that time, working groups consisting of staff, parents, students and members of the community and First Nations worked diligently to frame our mission, vision and values.

The plan lays out the priorities, goals and desired outcomes we want to achieve

over the next five years.

But how does that link with a fiscally prudent and forwardthinking budget? It’s all in the reporting. Lots of reporting.

The board receives regular reports on student achievement.

We have reports on Aboriginal education, career development, early learning and childcare, equity, inclusion and diversity and international education. We also receive reports on facilities and our district learning plan.

Each report links back to the priorities, goals and objectives of the strategic plan. Each report details our successes, our challenges and the proposed strategies for improvement.

In addition, each report tracks whether we have seen improvement so we can assess if our strategies are working.

The staff and school leaders for each school develop a school learning plan that again links back to the district strategic plan.

School plans identify areas of success and areas for improvement and lay out strategies for improved student learning.

These strategies can consist of additional professional development, increased focus on specific areas of learning (such as phonics or number sense) or new resources, such as additional staff time or a set of Chrome books.

Each year, trustees and senior staff meet with schools to hear their school learning plan goals in order to understand school needs.

All of these reports feed into our budget. They identify areas where increased investment and resources are needed.

They track our progress to ensure prior investments work to improve student outcomes and they ensure we are meeting the priorities as set out in our strategic plan.

Our budget process doesn’t

just happen over the period of a month or two. It’s a year-long process that includes clear plans and priorities, assessment of progress, identification of areas for improvement, strategic investment for improved student outcomes and monitoring to ensure that strategies work.

As a result, our budget reflects goals as identified by our community and challenges noted by our staff and school leaders — and shifts resources to enable strategies and plans to meet those challenges. It is money well spent.

Kathleen Karpuk is a School District 73 board of education trustee. Her email address is kkarpuk@sd73.bc.ca.

SD73 columns appear monthly in KTW and online at kamloopsthisweek.com. To comment on this column, email editor@ kamloopsthisweek.com.

KATHLEEN

Shelter in former bus depot may be on move

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

The future of a homeless shelter in Southgate, the operator of which said has been at capacity since day one, is in the hands of the City of Kamloops and BC Housing.

Merit Place, located within the former Greyhound bus depot at Notre Dame Drive and Laval Crescent, was expected to close last month, but is still operating until at least June, KTW has learned.

Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson hinted that plans are in the works to ensure those living in the shelter will not end up on the street once the lease is up.

“I think there’s things in the works that have happened in closed [meetings] right now that I can’t discuss,” Hamer-Jackson said. “But let’s put it this way — I don’t think we’re going to be kicking, however many people are in there, out on the streets.”

Merit Place was established in February 2022 through an agreement between the municipality and the province, which

leased the building. At the time, it was announced the provincial government, through BC Housing, was providing approximately $1.9 million in annual operating funding, plus one-time startup costs of $100,000.

The Kamloops chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) was announced as the operator of the shelter, which was to be open until March 2023.

CMHA executive director Alfred Achoba told KTW on Monday (April 3) that while the initial announcement stated the shelter would be open until March 2023, the lease does not expire until sometime in June.

“That shelter has been operating at maximum capacity since February [2022], when it opened, and there’s a need to keep going,” Achoba said, adding that message has been relayed to the municipality and BC Housing.

He said he is aware the two governments have been communicating with each other and looking for an alternative site ahead of the lease expiration.

Achoba said he is not sure whether the lease at

the existing shelter may be extended in lieu of a new place being secured.

“I am confident they know what the needs are and it’s a shelter that has met a variety of needs in Kamloops, so I’m confident they will be able to find something before then [June],” he said.

Achoba said he hopes that if the shelter is going to move, a more permanent site is secured.

If Merit Place stays at the former Greyhound station, he said he hopes BC Housing looks into building something more permanent while they remain at the location in the interim.

Those accessing Merit Place have access to daily warm meals, hygiene facilities, referral to health programming if needed and staff who are available around the clock.

Since the shelter opened in the former bus depot, some area business owners have noted an increase in property crime, while there have been concerns about shelter users crossing streets in an unsafe manner and hanging out in the nearby Hillside cemetery.

Users of the Merit Place shelter previously used Memorial Arena.

FEEDING THE HUNGER OF ‘STREET FRIENDS’

“He said, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes.’”

The backseat of Dan Lal’s Tesla is full of gloves, sweaters, tuques and jackets of all sizes.

In the rear hatch, boxes of fruit, bottled drinks and a large thermos of hot chocolate jostle for space next to a large thermal tote full of hot pizza — supplies destined for Lal’s “street friends.”

Twice a week, a team of volunteers heads out onto the streets to help meet the needs of the city’s homeless. It began four years ago, before the pandemic arrived, with a group of church friends wishing to help the poor and homeless — the street-entrenched.

Most volunteers were members of The Lighthouse Christian Fellowship church, located downtown at 702 Columbia St.

More than a dozen volunteers head out twice a week. They fill up backpacks with drinks, fresh fruit and different kinds of food, including chilli, soup and burgers made by one of the ladies from the church.

It’s become known as The Lighthouse Project. Recently, local businesses have stepped up, regularly donating to help the efforts: fresh apples and bananas from NuLeaf Market, vitamin water drinks and Powerade from Coca-Cola and more than 10 pizzas each week from Pizza Now.

Lal said when local businesses see the struggles of “our street friends” and step up, they share in the success. After gathering together and pooling the food, volunteers divide it up before heading to downtown and North Shore streets.

“We’re doing it because we love people,” Lal said. “People are hungry and cold, people are thirsty.”

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Rob had been on the streets for some time. Sheltered in an old government building downtown, across

from Denny’s restaurant, Lal said he first passed by him as he was draped in a tarp to stay warm.

Offering Rob a banana and a granola bar, Lal told him he was welcome to meet up the following morning at The Lighthouse church, two blocks down the road.

The next Sunday morning, Pastor

Brandon Linse arrived at the church to find Rob sitting on front step, having arrived an hour early, with the hope of making a connection.

“He really wanted to be there,” Lal said. “We could tell he wanted to get off the street.”

A group of volunteers stayed overnight with Rob at the church

ABOVE: After handing out hot food and drinks, Dan Lal (left) and Martin Tong pray with a man experiencing homelessness in Kamloops.

LEFT: Dan Lal of The Lighthouse Project on why they do what they do: “We’re doing it because we love people. People are hungry and cold, people are thirsty.”

As the effects of his withdrawal worsened, Rob was taken to the emergency room at Royal Inland Hospital to receive pain medication.

Lal said there was a team of five volunteers with Rob over the next two days and nights, in and out of the hospital and hotel room, caring for him during his detox.

“They [ER nurses] knew that he was serious [about quitting],” Lal said. “We told the emergency nurses, ‘Hey, we want to get him into detox. We’ve got a bed waiting for him at a treatment centre in the Okanagan. He just needs to get there.’”

At the end of a challenging weekend, Lal said, “one of the female volunteers was able to be with me and we literally walked him across the street from the emergency to the Phoenix Centre.”

Rob remained at the Day One Society, formerly the Phoenix Centre, for the next week and was released into the care of a volunteer with The Lighthouse Project to then make the drive to the Adult & Teen Challenge Okanagan men’s centre in Lake Country near Kelowna, where he began a one-year treatment program.

For Lal and other volunteers who worked closely with Rob during his detox experience, the outcome was beyond their expectations.

for several nights to help him as he began the painful process of withdrawal from addiction.

When space inside the church was needed by others, Lal checked Rob into a nearby hotel, where he continued his detox under the supervision of Lal and other volunteers.

“He committed to us,” Lal said.

“We’re over the moon,” Lal said. “This is one in a thousand, from our current experience. It seems like it was the perfect scenario. From the time I encountered him in that abandoned building, to the time we got him to the treatment centre in Kelowna, that was three weeks to the day. As heart-wrenching and difficult the last week was — in and out of the hospital, in and out of the hotel — getting there in three weeks, it seemed too good to be true. It’s given us hope as volunteers that, of course, what we’re doing is making a difference.”

DAVE EAGLES STAFF REPORTER dave_eagles@kamloopsthisweek.com

DAVE EAGLES PHOTOS/KTW

See ‘IT’S TRAUMA’, A13

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

‘IT’S TRAUMA AND THEY’RE TRAPPED’

“But then, also, to encourage people on the street because this person was well-known [in Kamloops]. One lady said to me, ‘Hey, if he can do it, I can do it,’” Lal said.

Two weeks passed before Lal was permitted to make contact with Rob over the telephone.

Lal asked how he was fitting in at the Okanagan recovery centre.

“I was ecstatic to hear that he was able to get into mechanics,” Lal said, noting Rob has been able to work on the staff’s cars and has done a diagnostic scan and replaced tires on a ministry van.

“I knew that would really inspire him, because being on the street and not being able to do that, maybe not having the health and the tools — now he has that,” Lal said. “Every one of our street friends has a story. People would do well to take a couple of minutes to share a ‘hello,’ a smile and a moment to hear that story.”

TOXIC PAST BECOMES A LIGHT

Martin Tong said being on the street on this night is “a calling.”

Tong is among the dozen or so men gathered for prayer in a fluorescent lit room on Tranquille Road.

Night has fallen and they are

about to head out, carrying backpacks of food and drinks, seeking out the street-entrenched.

As a recovering addict and having lived on the streets himself, Tong said he now feels a calling to help others.

“It’s a war zone,” Tong said. “Even being clean, you still carry a stigma with you because you’re marked as an addict and it’s tough to get out of that if you don’t have the support of the church. You can know Jesus, but you need to be surrounded by people that know Jesus.”

Tong also spent time at Adult & Teen Challenge Okanagan.

The addiction recovery program is upfront about its faith-based healing and teaching approach.

Originally established in the 1950s, when a young pastor began reaching out to youth in the ghettos of New York City, the program was then called Teen Challenge, an addiction recovery program aimed at teens.

Over the years, the ministry spread across the world, also helping adults with addiction.

On this night, Tong is joined by Cameron Christen, a fellow graduate of the recovery program.

Having each experienced hard life on the street, addiction and, eventually, recovery, the men refer to one another as “brothers.”

Christen is more than willing to share his life story with others.

Christen said he has seen it all, enduring addiction and violence through 31 years of being homeless on the streets. He said he felt drawn to join volunteers of The Lighthouse Project to reach out to those experiencing homelessness and addiction.

“Through my whole addiction and life, I was a soldier for Satan,” Christen said. “You name it, any bad thing, I was involved in it. So now, when I turned my heart over to God, God didn’t stop chasing me. All these events, being shot at, most of the things happening, He kept me alive. It was a reason. I could see it.”

Christen said his experience of going to Adult & Teen Challenge changed his life. He said it opened his eyes and he was able to find himself — and find God.

“This is where we are. God didn’t go and help the rich. God went and helped the poor in the Bible and that’s what we’re supposed to be doing, to help the ones that are broken,” Christen said. “People walk by them, they don’t care — but they are someone’s daughter, someone’s son, and they’re broken. It’s trauma and they’re trapped.”

Christen said he believes God is working through him and because he has been there, he has been able

to have many good conversations with people.

“I understand what they are going through because I was there. It wasn’t long ago I had a needle in my arm myself. But here I am, clean and sober. I got kids, I got a vehicle, I got my children. My life has changed and it’s only by the grace of God.

“My toxic past has become a light,” Christen said, seeing his experience as a “gift.”

“I can have a conversation with someone and I understand where they’re coming from — and they get that,” he said.

WALKING THE TALK

On this night, Lal and Tong put their words into action.

Parking the car in an alley, the men get out and immediately strike up a conversation with a man.

“How are you doing?”

“Is there anything you need? Pizza, fruit, a hot drink?”

Most of those on the streets on this night stand with a shopping cart of possessions, in laneways, outside a McDonald’s restaurant and near a Dollar store.

After receiving a hot bite to eat and drink, their exchange turns to questions related to shelter, warm clothing and personal safety.

The question most asked: “What

do you want to do with your life in the days ahead?”

It elicits answers, with many on the street speaking of personal issues they are experiencing.

Lal and Tong take the time to explain their volunteer connection with The Lighthouse Project, offering a chance to make a further connection for help at the site in the 400block of Tranquille Road.

“It’s right across from The Loop,” they explain. Everyone on the street knows where The Loop drop-in centre is located.

Before moving on to find others, one last question remains.

“Can I pray for you?”

The response is always the same.

“Yes.” “Sure.”

“What do you want Jesus to do for you tonight?”

Answers vary from person to person, but each reply is personal and straightforward.

“To have a better place to stay.”

“To have a money debt repaid.”

“For a way out of my addiction.”

ROAD TRIP FOR PART 2

Pick up next week’s edition (April 12) of Kamloops This Week as KTW visits Rob in the Adult & Teen Challenge Okanagan men’s centre in Lake Country. We also interview staff to learn more about the program.

A cheese and wine pairing event featuring David Beaudoin, Canadian Cheese Ambassador for a Comedic, Interactive, Foodie Adventure!

Some volunteers with The Lighthouse Project know exactly the struggles those on the street are experiencing

Martin Tong (left) and Cameron Christen are graduates of Adult & Teen Challenge Okanagan men’s recovery program. Both live in Kamloops and are active in reaching out to help people experiencing addiction and homelessness find a way out.

Memorial Cup platform is rising at Sandman

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

A pre-designed elevated platform, 150 feet long and 20 feet wide, is now under construction in Sandman Centre after some last-minute teamwork by Kamloops council and the Memorial Cup host committee.

The platform is being built on the east side of the downtown arena and will be used during the 2023 Memorial Cup tournament, which runs from May 26 to June 4.

The elevated platform will be home to private suite spaces for Canadian Hockey League officials, sponsors and broadcast and media partners. It will also create individual team executive spaces, as well as space for the TSN broadcast centre.

The $200,000 platform cost is being split evenly between the municipality and the host committee. The city is using gambling funds from the province to cover its share of the cost, while the committee has a contingency fund to tap into.

“We had hoped we wouldn’t have

to use extra funds, but we strongly believe in the plan we’ve put forward,” host committee chair, Yves Lacasse told KTW

Lacasse said the platform is something the committee felt was important to the event.

He said TSN did not make a request for a broadcast centre, but rather the committee came up with the idea to have a spot for the broadcasters overlooking the rink as they conduct between-period and pre-

WIN AN AMA ZING

and post-game analysis, as seen with similar broadcasts like the World Junior Hockey Championships.

“It’s just making the event look really cool, very professional,” Lacasse said.

Work has already begun on the steel structure, with scaffolding having been erected on the east end concourse ahead of the Kamloops Blazers’ first two playoff games this past weekend.

The structure has a clearing for

fans to walk under and still access their seats.

Lacasse said the city is making arrangements to build the platform on the committee’s behalf.

Byron McCorkell, the city’s community and protective services director, told KTW via email the project includes rental of the actual unit and installation, along with upgrades in the arena that include carpentry, electrical and furnishing. The space is expected to be able to hold 200 seats.

The $200,000 price tag includes rental of the structure, its construction and finishes. There is also a contingency of about 20 per cent of the project cost.

McCorkell said the platform is being installed under the city’s master services contract, noting the

work has been sub-contracted to a company based in Salmon Arm. He said the reason the contract was not sourced in Kamloops was due to nobody locally having that type of system for crowd assembly and/ or the amount of materials on site to get it done.

Lacasse said planning for the space and the suites has been ongoing since last September, noting it is not a last-minute project.

The city and committee had hoped to build the platform space within the budgeted $940,000 the city had set aside to spend on upgrades for the Memorial Cup, but those dollars ran dry.

Lacasse said the committee — a group of volunteers dealing with logistics, media, business operations and security in partnership with the host Kamloops Blazers and the CHL — collects funds via fundraising and tournament sponsorship. Lacasse said the $100,000 platform cost for the committee will put a “dent” in its contingency fund, but noted that is why the fund was created — for unforeseen costs that arise.

Y Dream Home tickets on sale

Ticket sales are now open for the 2023 Y Dream Home lottery, with a home valued at $1.3 million up for grabs, as well as a host of other prizes and a 50/50 draw that, last year, was worth more than $1 million.

Prizes include travel packages, such as a Sun Peaks winter getaway worth $4,165, outdoor adventure prizes, like a 2023 Polaris side-by-side, and lifestyle packages, including a custom-built pergola and hot tub.

For a complete list of prizes and to purchase tickets, go online to kamloopsylotto.ca.

Y Dream Home spokesperson Bryce Herman said since sales began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, they have continued “smooth and steady.”

The home is a 2,400-square-foot house with a view in Juniper Ridge West, located at 2197 Coldwater Dr.

Inside are three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gym and

a two-car garage.

An open house is planned from April 8 to June 18, with showings on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two early bird prize draws will also be held. The first will have a cut-off of May 1, with the draw on May 11 for a Jayco Jay Flight single-axle travel trailer. The second, for a $6,000 travel voucher with Marlin Travel, has a cut-off of June 1 and a draw held on June 12.

Last year’s draw, which Herman said came “very close” to selling out, also saw a 50/50 prize of more than $1 million, with the winner taking home half of those funds.

Funds go toward the Kamloops Y, which provides physical and mental-health programs for all ages.

“All of this money will stay right here in Kamloops, supporting Y services and programs,” Herman said. “A lot of it is geared toward senior and youth programming, but also bridging into a lot of work in mental health and community outreach.”

The house was built through the support of a host of sponsors and the labour of students from the TRU School of Trades and Technology and the Central Interior chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

Work on the $200,000 platform at Sandman Centre has already begun, with scaffolding having been erected on the east end concourse ahead of the Kamloops Blazers’ first two playoff games this past weekend.

MICHAEL POTESTIO/KTW

SEAN BRADY STAFF REPORTER sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com

A kitchen with a view in the 2023 Y Dream Home. Go online to kamloops thisweek.com to see more photos.

NATALIE DOLL MAN PHOTO

Kamloops boundaries to change?

ly in the Kamloops-South Thompson Riding, including Cherry Creek, Tobiano and Savona, would be part of the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding.

Just months after a report showed the city’s federal electoral boundaries will be radically altered, another report shows Kamloops’ provincial electoral borders will likely also change.

The BC Electoral Boundaries Commission has published its final report, with recommendations to the Legislative Assembly for changing British Columbia’s provincial electoral districts.

The Commission’s recommendations include a proposal to create six additional electoral districts in areas of rapid population growth, bringing the total number of provincial ridings to 93 from the current 87.

The new ridings would include four in the Lower Mainland, one on Vancouver Island (in the Langford area) and one in the Kelowna area.

In the Kamloops area, the two ridings would see boundary changes and one name change. The Kamloops-North Thompson monicker would remain, but the KamloopsSouth Thompson riding would be renamed Kamloops Centre.

The new Kamloops Centre riding would consist of Kamloops’ urban core and the surrounding neighbourhoods of Aberdeen,

Thompson Rivers University, North Kamloops and Brocklehurst. The riding’s southern, eastern and western boundaries would follow the municipal borders of the City of Kamloops. Its northern boundary would follow the CN Railway

The new Kamloops-North Thompson riding would include the suburban and rural areas around Kamloops, such as Batchelor Heights in the north end of Kamloops and Sahali in the south. It would also include the North Thompson communities of Barriere and Clearwater, along with the communities of Pritchard and Chase to the east of Kamloops. The riding’s southern and western boundaries would follow Thompson-Nicola Regional District Electoral Areas J and L. To the north, the riding would be bounded by Wells Grey Provincial Park. Its eastern boundary would follow the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Areas to the west of the city that are current-

“Our proposal to increase the number of electoral districts reflects our growing province,” Justice Nitya Iyer, chair of the Commission, said in a release. “We do not recommend reducing the number of ridings in more sparsely populated areas of the province because doing so would undermine effective representation.”

The Commission recommends adjustments to the boundaries of 72 electoral districts and changes to 41 electoral district names based on the geographic, demographic and communication and transportation considerations set out in Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.

With the province’s 2021 population at fivemillion people, the average population per riding, based on 93 ridings, is 53,722.

The population of Kamloops Centre is 60,681, while there are 60,586 people in the Kamloops-North Thompson riding.

The Commission held 63 public meetings in 44 communities and received more than 2,000 submissions.

It is now the responsibility of the Legislative Assembly to decide whether to accept all, some or none of the Commission’s recommendations.

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Go online to kamloopsthisweek.com to view maps of the current and proposed provincial ridings

COUNCIL FACES THE HEAT

Kamloops Coun. Stephen Karpuk douses a fire with the help of a Kamloops firefighter. Karpuk and four other councillors took part in a learning exercise with Kamloops Fire Rescue on March 29 at the Kamloops Fire Rescue Training Centre, learning firefighting skills that included using a hose in a simulated fire scene, rescuing a dummy from a dark, smokefilled room, navigating a smoke-filled building and extracting people from a motor-vehicle accidents. To see more photos from the event, go online to kamloops thisweek.com and click on the Community tab.

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

It’s never too late to learn something new

that we’re open to everyone 18 and over,” Ratsoy said. “I have a 90-year-old who’s as keen a learner as a woman in her fifties who is there.”

organize, which keeps class fees low and accessible to everyone.

skills needed to ensure an enjoyable bike riding season;

The Kamloops Adult Learners Society (KALS) is presenting its spring daytime program with a wide array of courses for adults of all ages.

Ginny Ratsoy, a coordinator and teacher of KALS courses, said adults interested in culture, science, the environment or locally guided tours will find something of interest. Courses are non-credit, low-cost instruction taught by local experts and designed to be stimulating, social and fun.

This is the first time a spring session has been offered, with courses beginning on April 10 and onward.

Ratsoy said the society is trying to encourage a more diverse cross-section of participants.

“In terms of age, it’s not very well known

There are more than 300 members who pay $15 non-refundable annual (July 1 to June 30) membership fee required to enable access to register for all courses.

Registration for courses is available in person at the KALS office, 101-1550 Island Parkway on McArthur Island. More information can be found by calling 250-376-1525, emailing info@ kals.ca or going online to kals.ca. The society has a financial waiver program for people in need. Applications are confidential.

The Kamloops Adult Learners Society was established in 2005 by Ratsoy’s then-colleague at Thompson Rivers University, Ann Gagnon, who had a vision of expanding educational opportunities for adults in their retirement years.

Volunteers run all classes and plan and

Instructors are from a wide variety of walks of life, including university-level faculty, retired TRU faculty and many community experts within their fields.

Here is a sampling of the 2023 spring courses:

• Literacy for All: instructor Fiona Clare explains the aim of Literacy in Kamloops and how to get involved in supporting literacy for all ages in the community;

• Wildlife in the City: Using trail cameras to monitor urban wildlife, instructor Sheri Watson shows what can be learned about urban wildlife;

• Cybersecurity: instructor Thelma Muronzi teaches how to protect yourself with easy-tofollow senior-specific tips and tricks;

• Beginner Bike Maintenance: instructor Dave McInnes helps riders navigate the basic

We need you’re help to raise 1 Million for cardiac care at RIH & empowering local nursing students. For every thousand dollars contributed, you will be entitled to 2 DINNER TICKETS TO THE RED CARPET GALA AT COLOMBO LODGE on Friday, April 28. Donate today! Tickets are limited. Tax recipient provided.

• Why Archaeology Matters: Digging for Truth and Reconciliation: instructor Joanne Hammond takes you on a myth-busting mission to challenge some not-quite-right historical narratives and stereotypes from Canadian history, using Indigenous archaeology beneath our feet;

• A Bee Walk: instructor Elaine Sedgman leads a leisurely stroll in early June for a guided bee walk;

• Birding in Kamloops: instructor Tom Dickinson hosts an introductory indoor session, followed by a field trip to view local bird populations, as well as migratory species;

• Let’s Cook en Francais: Annette Dominik turns up the heat in the kitchen, offering four cooking sessions. Students learn basic recipes and converse en Francais with little or no prior knowledge of the language.

DAVE EAGLES STAFF REPORTER dave_eagles@kamloopsthisweek.com

French film festival en route to the Paramount

A French film festival is planned for Paramount Theatre next week.

The inaugural CinéLoops is being put together by the Kamloops Film Society and l’Association Francophone de Kamloops (AFK).

Six French films will be screened from Thursday, April 13, to Saturday, April 15, at the theatre, downtown at Victoria Street and Fifth Avenue.

Kamloops Film Society executive director Dusan Magdolen said the festival will build on the organization’s success in holding its inaugural Indigenous film festival last fall.

Movies will be presented with English subtitles.

Films include Tu te Souviendras de Moi (You Will Remember Me), Katak le Brave Beluga, Asterix et Obelix: L’Empire du Milieu, Felix et le Trésor Morgäa (Felix and the Hidden Treasure), Une Belle Course (Driving Madeleine) and Close

Tickets are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for children/

Community BRIEFS

students. Festival passes are also available. Find them online at thekfs.ca.

VOLUNTEER FAIR IS BACK

The second annual Volunteer Fair is returning to recruit Good Samaritans in Greater Kamloops.

There will be 25 participants from a wide variety of organizations at this year’s event, which will be held on Saturday, April 15, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Aberdeen Mall.

Volunteer Kamloops spokesperson Anita Jacobsen said the volunteer fair is being held to help individuals visit one designated place to find out more about each organization that is searching for a helping hand and to find out more about what opportunities will be available for volunteers.

This year’s event is being hosted by Volunteer Kamloops,

the United Way and Karen Knight Consulting.

Those interested in asking questions in advance can send an email to Jacobsen at info@volunteerkamloops.org.

CALLING INDIGENOUS STUDENTS

All Nations Trust Company is encouraging Indigenous students to apply for 2023 bursaries, which are aimed at students who have demonstrated determination and perseverance toward their education.

Available are the $2,500 Ruth Williams Bursary, the $500 School District 73-Grade 12 Student Bursary and a bursary sponsored by All Nations Trust Company and the Bank of Montreal.

To apply before the June 1 deadline, go online to www.antco. ca/community/scholarshipsbursaries.

ZELLERS IS NOW OPEN

The Zellers store-within-a-store opened on Tuesday, April 4, in the Hudson’s Bay store in Aberdeen

Mall, with the mobile Zellers Diner on Wheels set to make a stop in Kamloops soon.

The Bay is opening pared-down Zellers outlets in 25 of its stores across Canada, with openings taking place in Alberta and Ontario in recent weeks.

Kamloops is one of four B.C. locations. Others include Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Guildford Town Centre in Surrey and Sevenoaks Shopping Centre in Abbotsford.

Each store-within-a-store takes up 8,000 to 10,000 square feet. Merchandise for sale includes home decor, toys, apparel and baby and pet items.

The Zellers Diner on Wheels, a mobile food truck, will be visiting each location, including Kamloops, soon, with a schedule to be released. Based on a poll of Canadians on what classic Zellers Diner fare it should feature, the roving diner will be selling the Big Z Burger, Hot Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Fingers and Fries and Gravy.

BOOK, MUSIC SALE RETURNS

The semi-annual Barb’s Used Book and Music Sale will mark its 25th anniversary when it returns on Saturday, April 15.

The semi-annual fundraiser for the Kamloops Symphony features used books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and sheet music, with most items available for $2.

This year, the sale will run from April 15 to May 6, open Wednesdays to Fridays from noon to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

The sale will take place in space next to the Big Little Science Centre, in the former Value Village store downtown at Seymour Street and Fifth Avenue.

Those looking to donate items can do so from Monday, April 10, to Wednesday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the front door of 444 Seymour St.

For more information on accepted items, go online to kamloopssymphony.com/barbs-bookmusic-sale.htm.

Focus on intimate partner violence

FORUM AT TRU HAD PRACTITIONERS URGED TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO TRAUMA BY REMOVING TRIGGERS FOR CLIENTS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED

BREANNE MASSEY STAFF REPORTER breanne@kamloopsthisweek.com

Stalking via technology, such as air tags, and risks of cyberviolence are on the rise, a forum on intimate partner violence heard this week at Thompson Rivers University.

About 20 people from non-profit organizations and social agencies that provide services to victims of intimate partner violence met to learn how to apply trauma-informed practice in the family justice system.

The March 29 forum was presented and facilitated by Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society senior lawyer Odette Dempsey-Caputo, who cited Statistics Canada data when speaking of the rise in stalking via technology.

While many forms of abuse — emotional, sexual, financial and physical — remain difficult and expensive to prove, DempseyCaputo said, she urged practitioners to recognize and respond to trauma by remov-

ing triggers for clients once they have been identified, to promote safe spaces for conversations.

“Forty-four per cent of women over 15 report IPV,” she said. “Seventy-nine per cent of IPV victims are women … Women are 3.5 times more likely to experience it.”

Dempsey-Caputo said some of the biggest barriers for women facing IPV can include the risks of obtaining a protection order in a rural community, where access to cell service, access to the internet and reliable transportation can be challenging, while police response time can be slower.

In fact, Dempsey-Caputo said, the threat of retaliation or physical harm is sometimes increased with a protection order in a rural community. Ultimately, though, she said each individual must make a decision about what’s right for their situation.

She encouraged service providers to make use of the free Thompson Rivers University Community Legal and Elizabeth Fry Legal

clinics to support their clients.

Dempsey-Caputo said the challenges of addressing IPV can also spill over into health care as many victims will not disclose the nature of what brought them to the hospital.

“It can be really difficult for health-care workers to provide care for IPV because women may not be outright about what happened,” she said. “But if your client is experiencing IPV, they’re going to have posttraumatic stress disorder.”

Dempsey-Caputo said it is critical for outreach workers and health-care staff to be aware of the risks of vicarious trauma as it can lead to burnout or resignations, along with a series of health and wellness challenges for those caring for victims.

Those interested in hosting a workshop about intimate partner violence and how to provide training to help with free public legal education can contact the Elizabeth Fry Legal Clinic by email at legalclinic@kamloopsefry.com.

Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society senior lawyer Odette Dempsey-Caputo speaks at the March 29 forum at Thompson Rivers University. BREANNE MASSEY/KTW

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EYE ON COMMUNITY

CHARITY CALENDAR

Share It Forward with Save-On

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.

UPCOMING

Boogie the Bridge is Kamloops’ largest celebration of movement. The 26th annual CFJC TV Boogie the Bridge is happening on Sunday, April 23.

Take part in a run, walk or stroll along one of three distances. This year, the run is once again starting in Riverside Park. From the park, the route heads across Overlanders Bridge to the North Shore and follows Rivers Trail along the North Thompson River.

Over the years, Boogie the Bridge has inspired hundreds of people to make a difference in their lives, the lives of their families and the lives of their community members, through movement and community involvement. It also raises money for charity.

The annual event is full of fun, with bands, inspirational chalking and plenty of cheering and encouragement along the route.

To participate (run or walk) in the 1K Kids’ Mini-Boogie, 5K, 10K or 21.1K halfmarathon distances, email registration@ boogiethebridge.com.

Boogie the Bridge is also looking for volunteers. To sign up, email registration@ boogiethebridge.com. More information is online at boogiethebridge.com.

GREEN SHIRT DAY URGES ORGAN DONATION

Organ recipients and supporters met at the Kamloops Art Party in North Kamloops to raise awareness of Green Shirt Day, which is on Friday, March 7. Included in the gathering were a double lung recipient, a kidney recipient whose sister was his living donor and relatives of two heart transplant recipients, one of whom received her heart as a four-year-old and is now 21. Green Shirt Day is a day to commemorate those lost in the April 6, 2018, Humboldt Broncos bus crash and to stress the importance of being an organ donor. On April 7, 2018, defenceman Logan Boulet succumbed to his injuries and his parents honoured his decision to donate his organs. As a result, six lives were saved. Green Shirt Day seeks to continue Boulet’s legacy by increasing the number of Canadians who register as donors. The Green Shirt Day site at https:// greenshirtday.ca/wp-content/uploads/green-shirt-day-2023-media-toolkit.pdf has an ambassador tool kit for media and school programs, along with information on being a donor and a link to register. On April 7, people are encouraged to light entranceways with a green light bulb, owear a green shirt and post photo on social media using the #greenshirtday, #loganbouleteffect and #bctransplant hashtags.

In the photo, from left: Ralph DeCicco, Nick DeCicco, Dora DeCicco, Jane Farnsworth, Isla Schmidt, Nick Schmidt, Cindy Wenaus, Gord Schmidt, Ron Wenaus and Cheryl Schmidt.

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR KAMLOOPS COMMUNITY

SUBMITTED PHOTO

H E I S R I S E N Eas ter Worship 2023

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Good Friday Prayer Walk, The Way of the Cross

Everyone is invited to a Good Friday (April 7) prayer walk led by members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

On Friday morning at 10 a.m., the Way of the Cross will begin across the street from Kamloops Immigration Services and proceed down Tranquille Road stopping outside 12

different agencies.

At each stop, the Bible will be read, speaking about Jesus’ journey from the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion on Golgotha.

Prayers will be offered regarding various social justice concerns such as homelessness, addictions and unemployment.

Special prayers will be offered for Ukraine

in front of Holy Trinity Church at Don Street and Tranquille Road.

The Way of the Cross will take about an hour and a half and cover a little over one kilometre.

It will conclude with refreshments of soup and a bun at St. Vincent de Paul’s at 168 Briar Avenue.

For more details, contact Theresa Lidster at 250-314-6779.

ABOVE: The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul member Don Cameron will be among those taking part in this year’s Way of the Cross walk on Good Friday. Participants carry the large wooden cross as they prayer in front of Kamloops Food Bank.

Kamloops Calvary Fellowship

Sunday Mornings 10:00

Valleyview C entennial Park C ommunity Hall 2288 Park Drive

Pastor Phil Ward All Are Welcome!

C ontact info: kamloopscalvar yfellowship @gmail.com

City of Kamloops

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

Programs are cancelled if the minimum numbers are not met

Adult Dance Programs

Did you know we have several new dance programs? Bhrangra/ Bollywood African Dance Ecstatic Dance, Hula Hoop Dance Spring programs are 8 to 10 week starting April 13 and run until June 17 For more information go to Kamloops ca/Register

Watercolour Beyond the Basic 8/$150

Are you ready to take your watercolours to the next level? This class is designed for students with some previous beginner watercolour experience who want to advance their skills We will dabble in colour mixing and composition with a goal to create clean, luminous watercolour landscapes and florals Supplies are extra Parkview Activity Centre

Fri April 14 - June 2 10:00 AM -12:00 PM

Improve your Photography

5/$130

Enter a whole new world of photography by becoming more creative with your camera and moving beyond the manufacturer’s settings In this five-part series, you will learn composition such as background is purposely blurred and the subject is sharp, where motion is accentuated or frozen and to capture images when flash is impractical or not allowed South Kamloops Secondary

Tues April 18 - May 16 6:30 PM -8:30 PM

7th

Kamloops.ca

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD FOUND ON A35

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

SUBMITTED PHOTO

DAVE EAGLES/KTW FILE

‘Wild’ life playgrounds of Miami, feast for senses

It is just before midnight on South Beach, the energized pulse along Ocean Drive is starting to palpitate.

This artery that bisects Miami’s famed art deco district is the happening place to be, especially after the sun goes and the neon glows. We meld with the masses that flock to the gridlocked thoroughfare where our adrenaline soars with the ongoing Latin beat.

Enticing aromas waft from bustling sidewalk cafes offering everything from Cuban cuisine to Floribbean fare. Backed by confetti-coloured treasures and fronting the palm-studded beach, this setting is a feast for our senses.

Although we love having this taste of urban wild life at our fingertips, by staying at The South Beach Hotel a few blocks away, we can easily escape the inevitable crowds.

The 1939 art deco treasure, designed by renowned architect, Henry Hohauser, has been renovated with a Latin feel. Its sleek lines and contemporary interiors pay homage to the era while pampering perks provide us with modern day pleasantries.

During our stay in Miami, our travels also take us to Biscayne National Park where we discover an entire flip side to the meaning of “wild” life.

The vast emerald Atlantic shimmers before us and while our

vessel plies effortlessly through the water, I remain riveted to its bow rail. From the ringside seat, I look forward to a different taste of entertainment. It’s not the same kind of parade we experienced on Ocean Drive but one that’s performed daily and naturally, thanks to gifts from Mother Nature.

“The park is over 80,000 acres in size,” our tour guide explains, “and 95 per cent of it is underwater.” The remaining five percent, we discover, is made up of the 44 keys that span 18 nautical miles.

We troll past a number of

evergreen mounds, enshrouded in a maze of mangroves and tropical hardwood hammocks. Rich with nourishment, these islets are a haven for waterfowl and sea life. Long-beaked pelicans, delicate white ibis, double-breasted cormorants, blue herons and snowy egrets are just a few feathered friends we see.

This glass bottom boat tour also provides us with a taste of the park’s underwater world without getting our feet wet and, while hovering over the surface, we can see the swaying sea grass that shimmers at the base of this tropical lagoon.

The explosive growth of algae and plankton are gastronomic delights for sponges and sea urchins and, as well as starfish and spiny lobster, it is a popular spot for the gentle blubbery manatees. Weighing up to three 1,360 kilograms, these beloved Floridian natives look more like whiskered whimsical sea cows, and because of their slow-poke maneuverability we are careful while making our way to the outer reefs.

When the wave action cooperates, there is a fanfare of productivity framed in the window of our hull, including porous

sponges, ancient shipwrecks and dazzling coral gardens. For those who like to take a dip, the snorkelling and diving promises an up-close and personal encounter with these iridescent inhabitants.

“There are around 250 different fish species,” our guide reveals, “as well as a number of types of coral.” Elkhorn, staghorn and brain coral are most common and parrotfish, tiggerfish, angelfish, blue tang, porkfish and trunkfish are just a few that bejewel the reefs.

Although incidences are rare, there are others that pose a threat to humans. Portuguese man-ofwar with its long tentacles, the razor-tooth barracuda and the infamous bull shark are predators that underwater visitors shy away from.

Although there has always been the risk of hurricanes and tropical storms, the keys have hosted a cross section of travellers over the years.

“From pirates to presidents,” we’re told, “the keys have seen them all.”

Embraced in beauty and boasting so many natural wonders, it’s easy to understand why.

As we skim back over the bay, we reflect on its tranquility and splendor. The remote setting is polar opposite to South Beach’s racy allure, yet both in their own right, are wonderful “wild” life playgrounds of Miami.

Travel Writers’ Tales is an independent newspaper column syndicate. For more, go online to travelwriterstales.com.

Photo: St Lawrence River Cruise

JANE CASSIE SPECIAL TO KTW travelwriterstales.com

LEFT: The tour of the ocean from the view of a glass bottom boat provides a unique way to view the underwater world without getting wet. Sea sponges, algae, plankton and of course, the infamous bull shark provide lots to see.

JANE CASSIE PHOTOS

Spring Projects Made Easy

Here’s how to prepare soil for spring planting

Spring is a season of rejuvenation — and perhaps nowhere is that rebirth more noticeable than in the yard.

Each spring, grass begins to grow again as inviting landscapes beckon people outdoors.

Extra sunlight and rising temperatures make spring a great time to plant flowers, grasses and trees. To ensure successful planting, homeowners must take steps to prepare the soil.

Healthy soil can provide the ideal conditions for roots to take hold, helping plants establish themselves before potentially harsh summer conditions arrive.

Preparing soil might seem like an extensive job, but a simple approach may be all that is necessary to create conditions that promote

plant growth this spring.

• Clean up the previous months’ mess. Fallen leaves, rocks, grass clippings and other debris can contribute to compacted soil that makes it hard for plants to establish strong, healthy root systems. Clear away any debris prior to planting before taking the next step in your soil preparation routine.

• Loosen the soil. Once debris has been cleared away, loosen the soil. Depending on the size of the area where you’ll be planting, you may need to invest in tools like a shovel, spade, spading fork and/or a lawn edger. If you’re planting in a small area, such as a deck planter box that still has soil from last year’s planting inside it, you can either clean the box and replace the soil entirely or dig around with a handheld trowel, cultivator and/or weeder. It’s important to loosen all of

the soil around where you will ultimately plant prior to planting to ensure water can reach the roots and help them establish themselves once planting is completed.

• Test and, if necessary, amend the soil. A simple pH test can help determine the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. This is an important step as soil that is too acidic or alkaline can decrease the availability of nutrients the plants will need to thrive. A pH test can be purchased at little cost at a local home improvement store. These tests will reveal soil pH and can also can shed light on the texture of the soil and other components. Once the test is conducted, experts at a Kamloops gardening centre can recommend amendments to improve the nutritional quality of the soil so new plants can thrive.

Curbside Organic Waste Collec tion

Coming to a Curb Near You…

I T ’S BE AR S M AR T S E A S O

Do you compost at home? Over one -third of the par ticipating households on the organics pilot program routes were home composters, and over 70% consistently indicated suppor t for the program. Most said they like to use it for yard waste, and many said they use it for food scraps that shouldn’t go in the home compost, such as meats, bones, oils, cooked foods, and foodsoiled paper waste.

Spring is here and that means bears are coming out of hibernation. As they emerge from their dens, they will be hungr y Unmanaged bear attractants around our homes can unintentionally attract bears to our neighbourhoods as they sniff out food sources Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear Your actions can save a bear ’s life

Under the Solid Waste and Rec yclables Bylaw No. 40-67:

y Residents must ensure that solid waste car ts are stored securely and made inaccessible to wildlife

y Car ts must not be placed at the curb earlier than 4:00 am on collection day between April 1 and November 30

y No proper ty owner or occupier shall accumulate, store, or collect any wildlife attractants unless stored in an enclosed structure or closed container.

y Infractions may result in a $100 fine

Additional actions to help keep our community and local bear populations safe include:

y Keep pet food/containers inside

y Remove bird feeders between May and November and clean up any spilled bird seed

y Keep barbecues clean.

y Pick fruit from trees as soon as it ripens and consider removing any unwanted fruit trees If you need help har vesting your trees, check out K amloops Food Polic y ’s Gleaning Abundance Program at KamloopsFoodPolic yCouncil.com

y Manage backyard composters properly and avoid composting meats and greases Kamloops.ca/BearSmar

Did you know? K amloops is one of only 10 BC communities that has achieved official “Bear Smar t ” status

Sweep seemed likely after weekend dominance SPORTS

Game 3 of the firstround WHL playoff series between the Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants was played on Tuesday (April 4) after KTW’s press deadline.

I’m on the Coast covering the series, so you can find the game story online at kamloopsthisweek. com.

Kamloops thoroughly throttled Vancouver and held serve at home last weekend, blanking the Giants 8-0 on Friday and backing the victory up with a 6-1 triumph on Saturday, outshooting the Langley-based visitors 108-41 over both contests.

“We’re all pretty determined in that room that we don’t want to be the team that loses out in the first round, with hosting the Memorial Cup,” Blazers’ captain Logan Stankoven told KTW after Game 1.

“We kind of wanted to make a statement here tonight and we’ve got to do the same thing tomorrow night.”

The likelihood of this series

reaching a fifth game on Mark Recchi Way on Saturday is slim, a statement that may not have aged well if the Giants prevailed last night, but most signs pointed to a sweep after the weekend.

Much talk prior to the series centred around Vancouver’s vanquishing of the Everett Silvertips in Round 1 last year, the No. 8 seed shocking the WHL with an upset over the No. 1 seed that

finished 47 points ahead of the Giants in regular season standings.

When I listened to Giants’ owner Ron Toigo speaking last week to Don Taylor and Rick Dhaliwal on Chek-TV’s offering Donnie and Dhali, I came away with the sense he knew a repeat of the 2022 magic might just be a bridge too far.

Let me be clear — I’m not saying the Giants had conceded the series before it started and I’m not suggesting they were not motivated and without hope of snaring a split that would have changed the complexion of the best-of-seven affair.

Vancouver head coach Michael Dyck knows how to motivate and pull the best out of his teams.

But this time around, as Dyck noted in an interview with KTW before the series, things are different.

“It was a different team last year,” Dyck said. “We’ve got some guys back from that team, but for the most part, we’re looking at this series differently. It’s a different opponent. We’ve got a different

team. We’re just focused on the guys we’ve got and how we can make them better.”

There was no element of surprise, no sneaking up on Kamloops after what transpired in Round 1 last year.

Unlike the Silvertips, the Blazers (knock on wood if you’re a Kamloops fan) were healthy, with the exception of Fraser Minten, who was suffering from some sort of ailment and missed games 1 and 2, and Ryan Michael.

Also among pre-series storylines was Vancouver’s physicality and the ability of overage Vegas Golden Knights’ prospect Jesper Vikman to stand on his head in net and steal a game.

Kamloops has more than held its own in the toughness department and managed to stay disciplined for most of the first two games, while Vancouver’s indiscipline was costly both nights.

Meanwhile, Vikman was shelled and pulled in Game 1, replaced by capable 19-year-old Brett Mirwald, who has played well in relief, with a .919 save percentage after two games, but not

well enough to spur the underdogs to victory.

Ryan Hofer is in a menacing mood, finishing checks to draw the ire of Giants. Stankoven wants to leave a mark in his last postseason run with his hometown club. Olen Zellweger has lived up to billing, hockey eye candy on glorious display.

Up and down the lineup (I’ve liked Dylan Sydor’s game — lots of pop), the Blazers have, for the most part, answered the bell, though import Jakub Demek seemed a touch out of sorts, most notably in Game 2.

Dylan Ernst was rock solid in limited action, making a breakaway stop late in the third period to preserve the shutout in Game 1 and surrendering only a powerplay goal in Game 2. A good start for the 18-year-old backstop was important for his confidence.

A Game 3 victory on home ice, with the Giants riding the wave of last-gasp energy in front of a home crowd, was not an impossibility.

But I expect the Blazers will be looking to finish the job on Thursday in Game 4 at LEC.

NorthPaws’ Anderson era ends before start

The Kamloops NorthPaws have filled a suddenly vacant manager position by elevating assistant skipper Keith Francis.

Francis will lead the West Coast League baseball team in 2023, becoming the club’s third manager, succeeding Brian Anderson, who in turn replaced Cole Armstrong.

Armstrong coached the NorthPaws in their inaugural season in 2022, but departed for a position with the Webber Academy Wildcats Baseball program in Calgary.

While Anderson was hired to replace Armstrong, Anderson jumped at the opportunity to coach with NCAA Division I Northwestern University in Illinois, leaving the NorthPaws seeking a bench boss just two months before the season begins.

Enter Francis, who was set to be Anderson’s assistant for the 2023 campaign. Francis and Anderson had been working with the Pima Community College Aztecs in Arizona and

both had committed to coming to Kamloops for this year’s WCL season. Francis was Anderson’s coach in high school.

“I am looking forward to the coming season,” Francis said in a NorthPaws’ release. “My teams

are aggressive and play the right way. I never play the other team. If you play the game and play the right way, usually good things come your way. It’s my intent for the NorthPaws to play that way, too.”

Francis is currently the assistant coach with Pima and a number of the players on Aztecs roster had been recruited by Anderson to play this summer for the NorthPaws.

“It will make the job easier,” Francis said, noting player familiarity. “I will continue to implement a lot of things that we have here. I know those players’ strong points and weak points. We have a couple of pitchers coming up, which will be very important.”

Francis said the NorthPaws will play an aggressive game.

“We will steal a lot of bases, do a lot of hit and runs,” he said. “That is West Coast baseball. That is the way we will play.”

Francis said he is looking forward to coaching players from the West Coast he

normally doesn’t see.

‘I can’t wait to get there and see the fan base and meet them,” he said. “As a player, having fans behind you makes it fun to come to the ballpark.”

Francis hopes to be in Kamloops at the end of May or early June.

His arrival depends on how deep his Pima team goes in the National College World Series. The Aztecs are currently ranked in the top 20 in the U.S. and have won 14 games in a row.

The newest NorthPaws’ skipper’s resume includes coaching Albert Pujols at Maple Woods Community College (1997-1998), securing a third-place finish in the 1998 Junior College World Series at Grand Junction, Col., and helping Canyon del Oro High School to the 5A State Championship in 2002.

In addition, he was an assistant coach at the University of Arizona from 2007 to 2010, where the club made regionals in three of the four years and made it to the Super Regionals in

2008, when the team lost to the University of Miami.

A LOOK BACK — AND AHEAD

The North Paws went 26-27 in their inaugural West Coast League season of 2022, finishing third in the North Division and qualifying for the playoffs, where the team was ousted in the first round by the Wenatchee AppleSox.

Kamloops will open its 2023 season on June 2 in Victoria against the Harbour Cats.

The NorthPaws’ home opener at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium will be June 6 against the Portland Pickles.

The West Coast League features a 56-game schedule from June 2 to Aug. 6, followed by playoffs.

Ticket information, along with the complete schedule, is available on the NorthPaws’ website.

The West Coast League is the West’s top summer collegiate baseball league, with 17 teams in B.C., Alberta, Washington and Oregon.

Kamloops NorthPaws’ manager Keith Francis said fans can look forward to his club playing aggressive baseball.

Classics find podium at national swimming trials

Sienna Angove and Parker Cameron represented the Kamloops Classics at the Canadian Swimming Trials, which ran from March 28 to April 2 in Toronto.

The event featured more than 500 athletes from about 100 clubs and was a qualifier for the World Junior Swimming Championships, Pan American Games and World Aquatic Championships.

In the junior division, Angove, 16, won gold in

the 50-metre freestyle and 400m individual medley, silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle. She placed fourth in the 100m freestyle and 12th in the 800m.

Angove set six Classics records, establishing new marks in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events and in the 200m and 400m individual medley events.

Angove placed ninth in the open women’s 200m IM.

Cameron, 17, won bronze and set a new club record in the 200m backstroke. He also placed 10th in the 100m backstroke, 32nd in the 200m fly and 34th in the 400m IM.

Summer McIntosh, 16, of Toronto set world records at the event in the women’s 400m individual medley and 400m freestyle.

The national team for the world junior swimming championships will be announced on Thursday, April 6.

Sienna Angove set six Kamloops Classics’ club records at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Toronto. MARTY HASTINGS/KTW

Karl Mey of Kamloops claimed five medals for Canada at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, which wrapped up on April 1 in Torun, Poland.

Mey, 86, competing in the male 85- to 89-year-old division, won gold in the 200-metre dash, with a time of 38.6 seconds.

He finished the 800m in 4:15.14 and the 1,500m in 9:11.14,

Mey puts on a show at worlds in Poland

snaring silver in both events.

Mey clocked in at 11.53 seconds in the 60m and jumped 6.17 metres in triple jump to bag bronze in those events.

The Kamloops Track and Field Club athlete’s success follows an amazing performance last July in Finland at the World Masters Athletics Outdoor Championships, at which Mey won five medals.

Karl Mey with hardware on display on the weekend in Toruń, Poland.

MARY-BETH HARRISON

Human resources manager at New Gold 10K

This week, the only thing running in my house was my nose, be it due to allergies from an overly motivated spring plant or to a cold — I’m not sure.

In any event, many people might think my sinuses doing interval training would be the worst part of my week, but for me, it’s the fact I now have to do the dreaded solo runs to keep up with Boogie training.

Accountability is a large reason why RunClub works for me. I have tried to convince many people to come and join the famous cult running group, often to only be asked, “Why would I pay to run on public roads?”

I get it. Clearly, RunClub is a group of 100-plus people who like to light their money on fire. Or they realize it’s a small price to pay to gain instant accountability partners, cheerleaders and an inspiring community of running friends.

Yes, I know the line — challenge yourself to be better than you were yesterday — but honestly, I need a little more than that. I need someone to call me out for missing a session; the old friend who has the superhuman ability to talk while they run to distract me; the stories of all the marathons people have signed up for to motivate me; and the tips on how to dress for running in five-degree weather.

I need RunClub to run and, with their help, I’m happily finding my stride.

NATHANIEL MARTIN Millwright at Teck Highland Valley Copper 21K

I got home from a dreary day at work and got outside and ran 15 kilometres. I couldn’t be happier that the workouts and training have been working.

How can I tell? Well, when you run nonstop to the top of Pacific Way from the McDonald’s restaurant below on Hugh Allan Drive, that is when you see those results. Someone up in Aberdeen had the most mouth-watering barbecue on the go and that aroma kept me going as I thought about backyard summer gettogethers to come.

Keep going and keep your chin up for those hills. Choose happy today, even if today sucked and yesterday was worse, because the smells of tomorrow’s barbecues are just too tempting not to see.

The motivation you need for that extra step or that extra kilometre just might be in the next happy thought you have and hold. So, smile when you climb those stairs. Laugh when you find your limit. Then sip some water with electrolytes and start again to put one foot in front of the other.

Make these last few weeks of training count. Train your muscles, train your body to drink water and eat good foods.  Remember, if your body is feeling physical pain, stop, rest and recover. Reassess your approach, footwear and nutrition.

On Boogie Day on April 23, you will be having so much fun and laughs with family and friends that you will not even have time to dwell on the long path you took getting there!

And I’ll see you there, too, happily cheering you along the way. You and your beautiful mind just need to get there, first.

RUNCLUB PLAYWORK, WEEK 5

ACACIA PANGILINAN Executive director at Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce

I’ve really enjoyed running and trying to push my limits; however, I encountered an unexpected obstacle this past week — blisters.

I wish I could say it was from the running training or something cool, but it was from new shoes. I purchased a nice new pair of work shoes that I was just so darn excited to wear and, halfway through the first day of wearing them, my poor ankles were done.

At first, I was disheartened, as I thought this setback would mean missing out on my goal. However, I quickly realized this was a common issue many people face and there are ways to overcome it. As always, the group from RunClub was supportive of time to let my blisters heal.

I started by taking a break from running for a few days. Once the blisters healed, I resumed my training with a renewed focus on prevention. I invested in proper running shoes that fit my feet well and used moisture-wicking socks to keep my feet dry. I also applied blister-prevention products before my runs and brought along extra supplies in case of emergency.

The experience taught me an important lesson — setbacks are not failures. It’s OK to encounter obstacles on the path to achieving our goals. What matters is how we handle them. By taking the time to recover and prevent further injuries, I was able to come back stronger than ever.

So, if you’re an aspiring runner who has faced setbacks, don’t give up. Use setbacks as opportunities to learn, grow and become a better version of yourself. With perseverance and the right mindset, anything is possible.

Go for it.  Don’t sit on the coach and wait. Go out and make the change. Smile more, be excited, do new things. Surround yourself with positive people.

Go to bed early. Wake up early. Express your gratitude. Do things that challenge you. Jump out of your comfort zone. Be brave. Register for Boogie. Go for it. You will never regret it.

We are going into week 5 of Boogie training. There are many fine folks who have never been to Boogie, people who have never been to an event like this, people who have never run.

What have they done? They went for it. They jumped, leaped and flew out of their comfort zones. They decided in early March to make a change and now they are having the time of their lives. I see the excitement in their eyes. This lights me up. I know, for certain, Boogie will change their lives.

Boogie is about living a healthy and vibrant life. Boogie breeds community and will make you realize a lot about your fellow humans.

1) Walk 2 minutes, run 6.5 minutes.

COOL DOWN 10 minutes walking, cool down and stretching.

TIPS We all need to get outside more. Many people are vitamin D-deficient, affecting important things like bone health and immune systems.

minutes. Repeat 8 times.

Total 48 minutes.

2) Walk 3.5 minutes, run for

2.5 minutes. Repeat 6 times.

Total 36 minutes.

3) Walk 3.5 minutes, run

2.5 minutes. Repeat 7 times.

Total 42 minutes.

10 minutes walking, cool down and stretching.

The best complement to your run is yoga. Yoga packs serious perks for runners, including flexibility, easing aches and pains and recovery.

Repeat 6 times.

Total 51 minutes.

2) Walk 2 minutes, run 6.5 minutes. Repeat 5 times.

Total 42.5 minutes.

3) Walk 2 minutes, run 6.5 minutes.

Repeat six times.

Total 51 minutes.

10 minutes walking, cool down and stretching.

You’re doing fantastic. The long run is your anchor. By increasing your long, steady distance safely, you are increasing your endurance, fitness and distance.

1) Walk 2 minutes, run 8 minutes. Repeat 7 times.

Total 70 minutes.

2) Walk 2 minutes, run 8 minutes. Repeat 5 times.

Total 50 minutes (with hills).

3) Walk 2 minutes, run 8 minutes. Repeat 6 times.

Total 60 minutes.

10 minutes walking, cool down and stretching.

Remember to hydrate before, during and after your runs. Hydrating is energy-giving and reduces inflammation, injury and fatigue.

1) 17-kilometre run.

2) Walk 2 minutes, run 8 minutes. Repeat 6 times.

Total 60 minutes.

2) Walk 2 minutes, run 8 minutes. Repeat 7 times with some hills.

Total 70 minutes.

10 minutes walking cool down and stretching.

Half-marathon training is lifechanging. Start visualizing and plan out pacing for Boogie. By putting a plan in your mind, the Boogie half-marathon is already a picture of success.

You will realize that movement is a gift to everyone who embraces it and that everyone has a pace that is unique to them. Some run fast, some take it easy, some  power walk, some do a bit of everything. No matter what pace, age or size, everyone is accepted at Boogie.

So, just go for it. Sign up. Right now, as you are reading this. Come and experience Boogie for the first time and live a big, juicy life.

Life is for the living and when you cross that finish line and feel the energy, you will be different. We all are, each and every year.

We are there to encourage you and celebrate your success. There will be high fives at the finish line. There will also be joy and, maybe, even tears.

For the time and effort expended, there are few things you will do in your life that will give back to you so generously.

See you there on April 23!

• Great starter or downsizer in this 2 bedroom 1 bathroom manufactured home

• Bareland strata with low strata fee of $110/month

• Great location close to both Kamloops and Sun Peaks

• Well maintained manufactured home with 2 bedroom 1 bathroom and built in 20`04

• Nice flat and fenced yard

• Pad fee of $600/month

• Centrally located apartment in The Manor House with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom

• 55+ building with no pets allowed

• Quick possession possible

• Immaculately kept 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in Pioneer Landing

• Many updates throughout including kitchen, bathroom, flooring

• 1 dog /cat allowed with strata permission

• Nicely updated 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse in Wedgewoods

• Centrally located close to all amenities including Thompson Rivers University

• 2 pets allowed with strata permission

• Spacious 4 bathroom 3 bathroom half-duplex in walking distance to amenities

• Fully finished daylight basement

• Quick possession possible

• Rancher style 3 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse in West Pine Villas

• Just over 1700 square feet of living space on one level with double garage

• Backing on to The Dunes golf course

• Well cared for 1+2 bedroom 2 bathroom bareland strata in Glencairn Hill

• Lots of updated throughout

• Bareland strata fee of $160/month

• Beautifully updated and maintained 2+1 bedroom 3 bathroom home

• Fully finished walk-out basement with separate entry

• Many updates through including furnace, hot water tank , flooring, and more

• Great family home and area with 3+2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms

• Daylight walk-out basement

• Nicely maintained and flat yard with patio and sundeck

• Custom built 5 bedroom 4 bathroom home in the heart of downtown Kamloops

• Fully finished basement with separate entry

• Fenced yard with large covered deck

• Fabulous location in this 3+1 bedroom 3 bathroom home in Sahali

• Rancher style with main floor laundry

• Partially finished basement with separate entry

211-550 LORNE

WEEKLY COMICS

WEEKLY HOROSCOPES

A message from a romantic par tner or business associate could come this week, Aries Keep a watchful eye on your email inbox or the regular mail

Keep an eye on the front door, Cancer A deliver y may be coming your way in the next few days It ’s not something you ordered, but could be a gift

APRIL 5, 2023 - APRIL 11, 2023

Speaking with someone else on a fascinating subject triggers your curious side, Libra You may want to take a class or pursue this subject in another way

Capricorn, this week you have an oppor tunity to impress others and get them talking, likely changing their opinions of you Make ever y effor t to win others over

Taurus, this week you can expect to have an interesting conversation with someone about a topic you’re fond of discussing It could spark a new friendship

You likely will have a lot of physical and mental energy this week, Gemini Figure out a project you can stand behind and put that energy to good use

Leo, you could use a diversion this week When a friend seeks your company, this can be the per fect way to direct your mind somewhere else

Your emotions might get the better of you this week, Scorpio Tr y to focus attention onto something that doesn’t trigger negative feelings

Distraction could be the key

It ’s impor tant to keep in touch with friends even if they have moved away, Aquarius Phone calls, texts and video chats can bridge the gap created by physical distance

Virgo, financial paper work could take up some of your time in the days to come It ’s a necessar y evil to keep things on track Seek help from someone else if you get frustrated

Stimulating social occasions are what you need right now, Sagittarius Such get-togethers will introduce you to new people and new ideas that can inspire

Pisces, tally up your investments because they could be worth more than you think, especially if you are invested in real estate

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 BLUES by Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott

Hosted

Marty Hastings &Chris Foulds

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Texas terminus of I-35

7. Place for a plug

14. Sport coached by Ted Lasso

20. Relative of a June bug

21. Animal farm facility 22. Shining intensely 23. Zone out?

25. Milton who designed the ‘‘I [heart] NY’’ logo 26. Off 27. A handful

Channel for watching N C.A.A. games 30. Aid for a novice guitarist 33. Fool, from the Yiddish 34. Beginner’s edition? 37. Home of Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 39. German article

Certain vaccine target 41. Big mouths

Fairy look-alike

God who lent his name to a weekday 45. Bruce Wayne in the Batman comics, e.g. 47. Seat at the dining table?

50. Meds often come in them, for short

51. Identifying statement

54. Real name that becomes a fake one by changing its first letter

55. Tranquil state of mind 56. Character at the center of ‘‘Dunkirk’’? 57. Without holding back

66. Family member

71. Brazilian currency

72. Price of ignorance, so to speak 78. Like much baby food

79.

BY ROBERT RYAN

4 The Tour (2023 Taylor Swift concert series that broke Ticketmaster)

5 ‘‘Pride and Prejudice’’ surname

6 Becomes unduly prominent

7 Forty winks

8 When said three times, mantra for some accused

9 Completed collection 10 Conspicuous kissing, e g , for short

11 Like some casts

12 Orange and peach, for example

13 Word has it!

14 Droop

15 One giving creepy looks

16 Yearbook signers

17 World’s largest inland body of water

18 Thus far, poetically

19 You might see them now and again

24 Fortune 500 company whose logo is a

CROSSWORD ANSWERS FOUND ON A21

1

only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

ANSWER: STFDRA

28 Vintage sugar shakers - $400/obo Tel pioneer collector plates $150/obo 250-523-9495

Duncan Phyfe table, extra leaf, buffet, hutch and 4 chairs Exec cond $600 778-2577155

IBridge.

Beginner Bridge

Star

Moder n solid oak diningroom table with 6 chairs Great shape $695 250-851-1193

L Lessons

For more information go to Kamloops

Duplicate Bridge website or email shardodd1@gmail com

2017 Yamaha FX6R-4 Full brothers exhaust 5500kms

HOLIDAY

Kamloops This Week will be closed on Fr iday, Apr il 7th, 2023 for the Good Fr iday Statutor y Holiday

Advertisements should be read on the first publication day We are not responsible for errors appearing beyond the first insertion

It is agreed by any

Display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event that errors occur in the publishing of any advertising shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only and there will be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such

Brand new Daymak H D Electr ic Scooter $2,000 250-315-2334 POWER OF ONE Magnificent creation by John Banovich 43"hx50"W Brown wooden frame $500 fir m 250-578-7776

BUYING & SELLING: Vintage & mid-centur y metal, teak, wood fur niture; or iginal signed paintings pr ints; antique paper items, local histor y ephemera; BC potter y ceramics 4th Mer idian Ar t & Vintage, 104 1475 Fair view, Penticton Leanne@4thmer idian

Blk with Red & Blk inter ior Fully loaded Exec condition $21,500 00 250-579-9477

Do you have an item for sale under $750?

Did you know that you can place your item in our classifieds for one week for FREE?

Call our Classified Depar tment for details! 250-371-4949

DoddsAUCTION AUC TION

STARTS CLOSING - 9:00 AM

SATURDAY, APRIL 22ND

ONLINE TIMED AUCTION

ACTING ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE FAMILY, DODDS WILL AUCTION THE VEHICLES, TOOLS, FURNISHINGS & COLLECTABLES OF EDWARD KLUSS, LONGTIME CAR ENTHUSIAST

Partial List Includes: 1961 Ford Starline, 1967 Ford Galaxie 500, 1971 Ford Ranchero, 1952 Mercury Monterey, Ford Bronco II Ford Thunderbird 2 - Ford Crown Victorias Large Lot of Motors & Parts, Tools, Huge

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

7:00 PM Wednesday April 19, 2023

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipal Council gives notice that it w ll ho d a virtual Pub ic Hearing via Zoom and livestreamed on the mun cipa Facebook page to consider proposed amendments to cond tions on existing Temporary Use Permits. The Loca G o v e r n m e n t A c t requires that neighbourhood notif cation of the proposed amendments to temporary use permit condit ons be ssued

What Amendments Are Being Proposed?

Counci has g ven two read ngs to Business Licensing and Regu ation Bylaw No 0203 2023 that includes amendments to maximum occupancies in all short-term nightly rental properties, whether rezoned or holding a Temporary Use Permit (TUP), from two people per bedroom to:

• Single and Duplex Dwellings

o Main Dwell ng or Main Dwelling and Suite – 2 people/bedroom + 4 to a maximum of 16 people;

o Su te Only – 3 people/bedroom

• Condo/Townhouse Properties

o 2 People per bedroom + 2

In addit on to the Business License requ rements, current short-term n ghtly rental temporary use permits for single and duplex dwel ings also include conditions l mit ng occupancy and the number of parking stalls. Council is proposing to also remove maximum parking requirements The new bylaw will require amendments to these conditions.

What Temporary Use Properties May Be Impacted?

Burfield Drive

• 1328 Burfield Dr – Strata Lot B, District Lot 5957 KDYD

All persons who bel eve that the r nterest in property may be affected by the proposed changes to temporary use permits shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the Public Hearing Additiona ly they may make wr tten submissions on the matter of this Bylaw (via any of the below options) which must be received at our office prior to 4:00 p m on the 14th day of April 2023 The entire content of all submissions wil be made public and form a part of the public record on this matter

How do I get more information?

A copy of the proposed changes and all supporting information can be inspected from 8:30 a m to 4:00 p m Monday - Friday at our office unti 4:00 p m the day of the Hearing; or please contact us via any of the be ow options. Please contact Nicky Jonsson to receive Zoom access.

No representat ons w ll be received by Counci after the Pub ic Hearing has been concluded Nicky Jonsson Director of Corporate Services

Phone: 250-578-2020 Email: admin@sunpeaksmun cipa ity ca Website: www sunpeaksmunicipality ca

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held on TUESDAY, April 18, 2023 at 6:30 p m in the COUNCIL CHAMBERS, #1 Opal Drive, Logan Lake, in order to afford all persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the following amendment to Zoning Bylaw 675, an opportunity to be heard or to present written submissions respecting matters contained in this amendment

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 905, 2023

The intent of this bylaw is to rezone the property legally described as Lot 32, DL 2217, Kamloops Division Yale District, Plan KAP32012 and located at 254 Calcite Drive, Logan Lake, BC from Single Family Residential (R1) zone to Two Family Residential (R2) zone as shown in bold on the map below:

KTW is looking for warehouse space for distribution

We need approximately 1,500 sq ft of flat, dry space one night a week to receive a 45’ trailer, offload skid cages of newspapers and transfer loads to our local drivers in smaller delivery vehicles. We typically receive between 16 and 18 skids We have an onsite supervisor who co-ordinates the unloading and loading.

Typically the work happens between midnight Tuesday and 10:00 am Wednesday but it can go longer if we have bad weather, highway closures or heavier papers.

We are open to renting or subletting space in a suitable location or subcontracting the receiving operation to a logistics operator

CAUTION

While we tr y to ensure all adver tisements appearing in Kamloops This Week are placed by reputable businesses with legitimate offers, we do caution our readers to under take due diligence when answering any adver tisement, par ticularly when the adver tiser is asking for monies up front

Put the power of 8.3 Million

•

•

•

A copy of the above bylaw and relevant background documents are available for inspection between the hours of 8:30 a m to 4:00 p m , Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from April 3, 2023 to April 18, 2023 inclusive, at the District Office, #1 Opal Drive, Logan Lake, BC

For further information concerning this matter you may contact the Chief Administrative Office at 523-6225 or via email at warchambault@loganlake ca

Dated at Logan Lake, BC this 30th day of March, 2023

Wade Archambault Chief Administrative Officer

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality

NOTICE OF PUBLIC PRESENTATION

Friday April 21, 2023 at 6 PM

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipal Council gives notice that it will hold a Public Presentation at the Sun Peaks Centre located at 3200 Village Way, Sun Peaks to present the 2023-2027 5 Year Financial Plan The presentation will also be live streamed on our Facebook page. The full p r e s e n t a t i o n w i l l b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e f o l l o w i n g t h e presentation on the municipal website

Questions, comments and feedback can be forwarded to Cheryl Taylor-Gale at dof@sunpeaksmunicipality ca

We store a forklift and a skid of stacked pallets on the site.

For more information contact Ray Jolicoeur at: 250-371-1333

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

INTERESTED? CALL 250-374-0462

Each Loss

Each loss is very different, The pain is so severe. Will I ever stop missing This one I loved so dear? Good times we had together, The moments that we shared We didn’t have to tell each other How much we really cared.

I never dreamed you’d go away, Never thought of sorrow. So sure you’d always be here Took for granted each tomorrow.

Now my life is all confused Since you went away. You took a part of me And for help I daily pray. But when God sent you to me He never said that you were mine, That I could keep you always –Only borrowed for a time.

Now, He’s called you home, I’m sad and I shed tears. Yet I’m glad He loaned you to me And we had these many years.

In Loving Memory of Earle William (Bill) Becker

June 5, 1934 - March 21, 2023

The Bill Becker family would like to announce the passing of Earle William Edward Becker (Bill) passed away on March 21, 2023.

He left behind to mourn his wife of 57 years, Joyce Becker, and sons Ian (wife Teina), Bill (wife Elisa), and Mike (wife Kim); grandchildren Tori, Kaden, Brynne, Alex, and Nick.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Marlene Gizikoff 1939 - 2023

Marlene Gizikoff (née Vezina) passed away on March 18, 2023, surrounded by family She was a beloved mother to Blair Gizikoff (Katherine, Nolan (Jill) and Danya (Zach)), Randy Gizikoff (Pam, Kayla (Nathan, Liam) and Kole) and Lisa Gizikoff (Lena, Jade and Reed), sister to Judy, Lilian, Leonard, Freddy and Odi.

Marlene dedicated her life to her family, and her love for them knew no bounds. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, and cherished every moment she spent with them.

She had a love for travel. She loved to explore new places with family and friends, meet new people, and had many wonderful adventures throughout her life.

Her loving spirit will continue to inspire all who knew her

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her Her memory will live on in the hearts of those she touched throughout her life.

May she rest in peace.

Condolences may be expressed to the family by emailing kamloops@cypressfuneral.ca

Mary Kluth (née Cosentino)

It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Mary Cosentino Kluth on March 23, 2023.

Born April 10, 1946 in Amato Catanzaro, Italy to Frank and Emma Cosentino. Immigrated to Kamloops, BC in October 1951 with her mother and sisters to join dad who had immigrated one year earlier

She graduated from North Kamloops Secondary School. She lived and worked in Kamloops until moving to Vancouver in her later years.

Predeceased by her mother and father Emma and Frank. As well as her husband of 15 years Heinz Kluth.

She leaves to mourn her son, Lance (Kim) Floritto, daughter Rhonda Floritto, grandchildren: Talia, Arista and Vincent, sister Angela (Richard Hovey and Raffelina Johnson as well as several nieces and nephews. Mary will be greatly missed as a sister, cousin, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be announced to take place at a later date.

Celebration of Life for Norma Watts

Please join us to celebrate the life of Norma at 1:30 pm on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Summit Drive Baptist Church, 1975 Summit Drive, Kamloops, BC.

Albert Clarence Elie Van Elslander

March 23, 1940 - March 29, 2023

Albert passed on peacefully in his sleep March 29, 2023. He leaves behind the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Josie and their four beautiful daughters Suzanne Van Elslander, Joanne Smith (Gary), Anita Consalvo (Mario), and Karen Coutlee (Shane). He also leaves twelve grandchildren Jeff (Sarah), James (Lisa), JR, Chris (Brittany), Catherine (Luke), Noah, Abbie, Taryn, Rio, Taya, Paige and Miya, alongside seven great-grandchildren Emery, Sullivan, Suzie, Samuel, Brody, Blair, and Blake. Albert is predeceased by his brother Ronnie.

Albert was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba and moved to Kamloops, BC in 1945. He was of the first graduating class of NorKam Secondary School before commencing into St. Ann’s Business School. Following the completion of his education, Albert went on to work for many years in Kamloops as a Real Estate Agent. Albert was a very active member of the OLPH parish, and was also a respected member of the OLPH school board. Albert’s faith and family were of utmost importance to him. Some of his fondest memories include tropical family vacations to Hawaii, annual fishing trips with lifelong friends, and in his later years spending time with his grandchildren and supporting their endeavours.

We would like to express our gratitude to Bedford Manor and Overlander Evergreen Unit where Albert lived his last two years. In lieu of flowers, any donations to the Alzheimer's Society are greatly appreciated; https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en

We will always love and miss you

A Memorial Mass was held on Tuesday, April, 4th at 1pm In the OLPH Catholic Church, with Monsignor Jerry Desmond Celebrant.

Condolences may be sent to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

250-554-2577

Beverley Mae Wohlford

March 16, 1939 - March 29, 2023

It is with great sadness to say goodbye to a fantastic mom, mother-in-law and grandmother

Beverley Mae (Banks) Wohlford was born March 16, 1939 and deceased March 29, 2023

Bev was born in Duncan, BC, see attended school at Crofton House School in Vancouver, BC, met her husband Clay in Edmonton, AB. She travelled with dad while he worked on many industrial sites, they settled in Kamloops, BC and she was bookkeeper and volunteered over 25 years at The Navy League of Canada. She passed away peacefully with her three sons at her side.

Pre-deceased by her husband George Clayton Wohlford

Survived by her brother George Banks along with step-daughter Cindy, step-son Cal (Leanne) and her sons Wade (Barb), Todd (Deanna) and Jim (Crystal), plus many grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

There will be no service, if you would like to make a donation in mom’s memory please donate to Alzheimer ’s Society

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

May the Sunshine of Comfort

Tyler Jay Thompson

February 1, 1977 - February 28, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tyler Jay Thompson, beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend. Tyler passed away on February 28, 2023 in Kamloops at the age of 46.

Tyler will be lovingly remembered by his partner Rosina Masi, parents Kathy and Rick Thompson, brother Chad (Amber) Thompson, nephew Ethan Jay Cowell and brother-in-law

Damian (Luana) Cowell and family He is also missed by Aunt Camielle (Roger) Trottier, Aunt Debbie Little, many cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his sister Brandy Cowell, grandparents, Aunt Carolyn Lampi and cousin Travis Lampi.

Tyler will be missed by his fur baby Louie. The two of them were inseparable and the best of friends. They enjoyed snuggles on the couch and walks every day

Tyler was born February 1, 1977 in Merritt, BC. He grew up in the BC Interior before moving to Kamloops. In 1997, he began his mining career at Highland Valley Copper (HVC) as a laborer, which inspired him to become a Red Seal Heavy Duty Mechanic. He spent 15 years at HVC and finished his time there as a Mine Maintenance Shift Supervisor In 2012, Tyler went over to New Gold where he held various positions including Maintenance Supervisor, Mechanical Maintenance Superintendent and Maintenance Project Specialist.

Tyler spent many years as a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) south Central Branch and he loved being a part of this community. He held the Chair position for 8 years.

One of Tyler ’s greatest passions was bikes, from dirt bikes to street bikes, he enjoyed building, working and riding them as well as watching and attending Super Cross. He also enjoyed reading, travelling, lake and ocean fishing, water sports, paintball, working out at the gym and creating/collecting art.

Tyler touched the lives of many in a very generous, kind and thoughtful way

Ty, we will love and miss you forever.

A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, April 22nd at 1pm at the West Highland Community Hall in Kamloops.

In Loving Memory of Elaine Frances Warren

December 31, 1941 - March 26, 2023

Elaine passed away peacefully after a lengthy battle with cancer

She grew up in Louis Creek where she met and married Stanley Bradford. While living in Vancouver, Blue River and Barriere they had two children, daughter Mona Bradford (Cranbrook) and son Darcy (Jana) Bradford (Kamloops).

Elaine later married Don Warren and became stepmom to Dennis and Jim Warren She was a grandmother to Logan Blohm (Ashley), Brett, Chris, Justin (Yalena) and Ben (Aly) Bradford. She was a great-grandmother (Nana) to 7 children she adored.

Elaine leaves behind her last surviving sister Donna Clough and many nieces and nephews that she always enjoyed visiting.

Elaine worked hard all her life, spending many years at Fadear Creek Sawmill. She set a record for the number of stacked and wrapped lumber that was never broken. She cooked in many hunting and work crew camps, and she was well known for her ability in the kitchen. She always had a kind heart, managing and caring for seniors at Abbeyfield house in Golden. She enjoyed spending time with her family Many days were spent watching her grandchildren play baseball and hockey She always was quick to volunteer at various sporting events with dear friends, Keith and Bonnie Groff.

The Family would like to thank Dr Rob Thomasse for his care of Elaine over the years. Home support and the caring staff at Hospice was also greatly appreciated.

A Family and friends gathering to remember Elaine will be held in the Summer She will be remembered with love and dearly missed.

Condolences may be sent to the family at Drake Cremation.com

Estelle Marie Kirby

We are saddened by our mother ’s passing on March 25, 2023 at the age of 99 years at the Kamloops Seniors Village. Born May 13, 1923 in Edmonton, Alberta, the first child of Alfred Millward and Helen Millward. Estelle is survived by her three children Christopher Kirby (Libby) of Ottawa, Ontario, Jennifer Schweitzer (Jim) of Kamloops, BC and Philip Kirby (Susan) of Surrey, BC, nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Estelle Joined the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II serving as a WREN and stationed in Ottawa, while her family hosted a family evacuated from Britain during the hostilities. They remained friends long after the war was over On April 6, 1946 at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Kamloops, BC she married ex Airman Peter Kirby upon his return from Europe after the war A devoted Christian she maintained a connection with St. Paul’s Anglican and was still with the alter guild fifty years later Her children also sang in the church choir though I am sure the priest Dean Jolly was relieved when Phil and cousin Russell’s voices finally changed. She was also a member and past president for the Royal Inland Hospital

“Afternoon Auxiliary”

Peter Kirby brought the Volkswagen auto line to the people of Kamloops in 1955. With his partner Frank Torrigiani and many members of the two families they ran Sky Chief Service till Peters’ retirement in the late seventies.

Estelle was a firm believer that Kamloops was an outdoor paradise. An avid skier, Estelle and Peter were early enthusiast as Todd Mountain established its place in Canada’s skiing industry Lazy summers were spent at the family cabin on Shuswap Lake.

Estelle and Peter loved to travel the world before slowing down in retirement spending many happy winters golfing and exploring the southwest deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.

Peter passed away in 2010 but Estelle carried on in her new role as matriarch of the family Volunteering for the Alter Guild, Elections Canada, travelling, golfing, welcoming the newborn, mourning the passing of friends and family, and all the while keeping a loving eye on the well-being of those around her She would not sit still. Her quiet force of nature.

The Family would like to thank the “Birch Grove second floor staff" of Kamloops Seniors Village for their special care and attention of Estelle while in their care and especially for her last few months.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 @ 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 360 Nicola St, Kamloops, BC.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation in Estelle’s memory

Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service

Theodore (Ted) Joseph Chayeski

June 21, 1941 - March 24, 2023

It is with great sadness that the family of Ted Chayeski announce his sudden passing on March 24, 2023 at the age of 81.

Ted was born in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan and raised in Victoria, BC. It was through the love of working with service dogs that led him to a life of public service. Starting in the Kootneys, where he served on a K-9 unit for the city of Nelson police force, to completing his career with over 20 years working at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, Ted was a dedicated and respected officer

Ted will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of over 30 years, Karen; step-daughters Kimberly (Patrick), Leah (Sean); grandchildren Chloe, Gavin, and Katherine; and numerous other family members and friends.

Ted was pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph and Cecile; and brother Harvey

At Ted’s request, no service will be held. Memorial donations may be made in Ted’s name to the BC SPCA, 2816 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC, V2B 0H9.

Herbert Sadorski 1938 - 2023

It is with deep sadness that the Sadorski family announces the passing of Herbert Sadorski of Kamloops at the age of 84. Herb is survived by his wife of 63 years Lee, his son Shane, daughter-in-law Catharine, and his siblings Roy, Adolph, Joe, and Andy He is predeceased by his son David, daughter Sheryl, father and mother Joseph and Ida, and siblings Sadie, Vic, Emil, and Linda.

Herb was born on a farm near Roblin, Manitoba, and spent his early youth there before moving with his family to the Okanagan Valley After marrying Lee in 1960, the young couple settled in Kamloops in 1962 to raise their family, first in the Cherry Creek area and later in Brocklehurst.

Herb spent most of his life proudly earning a living for his family through physical labour, both skilled and unskilled. He was at various points in his life a young fruitpicker in the Okanagan, a faller and truck driver in the forest industry, a small-scale farmer, a sawmill worker at Savona, an active union member with the International Woodworkers of America, culminating in a long career as a skilled tradesman in residential construction. No matter the work, Herb always took great care in the job he did and had great pride in his life as a blue-collar worker

An avid hunter and fisher, Herb treasured his time in the bush and excelled as an outdoorsman. For him, camping was never just camping, it was a reconnection with the wilderness he loved. And just as importantly, he loved sharing the stories he brought back from these trips. A magnificent conversationalist, he would always talk up a storm, whether it was hanging around with his pals in a beer parlour in his younger days or just chatting with his neigbours over the fence. Even a simple trip to the mall invariably involved Herb running into an old pal, resulting in a chat of at least twenty minutes, usually ending with him explaining how the latest right-wing government was screwing over the working man. He was in conversation just as he was in the bush — a straight-shooter

Heartbreakingly, in the last year of his life a combination of Parkinson's-related dementia and a series of strokes would rob him of his beautiful gift of conversation. During this very difficult time, Herb and our family were aided by a throng of caring health-care professionals and allied workers. Our family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our dedicated and long-standing nurse practitioner Jacki Giggs, the wonderful paramedics and ambulance personnel who so quickly responded to our call for help on Christmas day, the compassionate ER crew at RIH, the amazing people of the GT8 stroke unit and the 6 North recovery ward, the transition liaisons and social workers, and the lovely people at Gemstone Care Centre who so delicately cared for Herb and our family as he gradually left us. Words cannot begin to express how deeply grateful we are to you all.

Our family would also like to thank all of our friends and neighbours on Crestline Street and Ryan Place who looked out for us over the years. Your generosity is truly overwhelming.

A modest man to the end, Herb specifically requested no funeral or similar event be held on his passing. Instead, our family asks that he be remembered through donations made to an organization of your choice conducting research into Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, cancer research, to the RIH Foundation, or to wilderness conservation.

And be sure to raise a glass in his memory from time to time while Herb waits patiently for you to join him in that big beer parlour in the sky

Love’s greatest gift is remembrance.

William Whiteman

Blair Woodruff

September 1965 – August 2022

Kent Woodruff

May 1941 – January 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected death of Blair at his home.

He was predeceased by his grandparents on both sides of the family, aunt Karen and uncle Terry. His father Kent died in January of this year

He is survived by his three sons, Mackenzie, Zachary and Ashton who miss him terribly Also surviving is his partner Shannon, his mother Lynne, brothers Glenn (Karen) and Jeremy (Karen), cousins Craig (Helen), Leslie (Seamus), niece Annie, nephews Dan, Bradey and Colby

After graduating from Cariboo College, Blair had a variety of cooking posts: Fish and Co, Hastings House and Queen Charlotte Lodge where he combined chef duties with being an occasional fishing guide He came back to Kamloops and Cariboo College to teach Culinary Arts before working in the movie industry. He opened “Whats Cooking” restaurant on Victoria Street. Later he was a chef at the Wells Hotel His last job was working at Costco something he truly enjoyed

Fly fishing was his passion, fresh and salt water An African walking safari with his dad and brothers was an exciting adventure. He produced many fantastic meals for his family

No time to say goodbye We will miss the many interesting discussions of life, food and politics

Kent’s family announces his death at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice

He was predeceased by his parents, sister Karen (Ted Metzing), brother-in-law Terry and his son Blair

He is loving remembered by his wife Lynne, sons Glenn (Karen) and Jeremy, (Karen) grandchildren Annie, Daniel, Mack, Zachary, Bradey, Ashton and Colby

Kent spent his early life in Sudbury, before school took him first to Ottawa University for Commerce and then to London’s Western University for law.

Kent and Lynne married in 1964 By this time Kent had finished school, Blair, Glenn and Jeremy completed the family

Kent’s passion for the outdoors, drew him west to BC He arrived in Kamloops in 1973 with his family where he remained for the rest of his life

He was involved with the Kamloops Fly Fishers, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Sheep Foundation and was part of a proud group who organized the first World Fly Fishers Championship held in the Kamloops area.

When the boys were young there were many fun trips to Hawaii and Mexico, hiking the Napali Coast and touring the Interior of Mexico. Later Kent and Lynne explored the world, meeting countless interesting people, enjoying amazing food and taking breathtaking hikes.

He was an insatiable reader with a keen interest in stories of the wilds of BC as well as its pioneering characters Kent knew almost every mountain in the province and could name them from photos

At age fifty Kent went back to school to become a chartered arbitrator and mediator He was actively working until his death. He served as landlord tenancy arbitrator, a mediator for crop adjustments and countless commercial disputes A true character of this community and will be deeply missed

We invite all friends and acquaintances of Blair and/or Kent to our home on April 15th for an afternoon visit.

We look forward to seeing you.

1441 Mt. Dufferin Drive, Kamloops from 1:00-4:00pm

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our husband, father and grandfather William Whiteman.

He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, his daughter (son-in-law), son and his 4 granddaughters. We appreciate the support from family, friends and the CN family

At his request there will be no formal service.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in BC.

Ivan Robinson

Ivan Robinson, 71 years old, passed away quietly at his residence on January 6, 2023. He is survived by his brothers, nephews and nieces.

Ivan lived much of his early life in Surrey and the latter part in Kamloops where he worked in the Highland Valley Mine for more than 20 years.

A gathering will be held at the White Spot Restaurant at 675 Tranquille Road, Kamloops on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm for anyone who wishes to attend.

Drake Smith, MSW Funeral Director

Ever y Wednesday in K T W!

Q. Mom pre-paid but the f uneral home wants more. W hy?

A W hen Mom bought the polic y years ago they probably didn’t explain all the det ails Did you ever look at the fine pr int on a f uneral pre -payment contract? You need a power f ul magnif ying gla ss and a Philadelphia law yer. My advice to most of you: don’t prepay. Plea se call and we’ll explain.

Drake Cremation & Funeral Services

210 Lansdowne • 425 Tranquille Rd 250-37 7-8225 • Drake Cremation.com

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