Kamloops This Week June 23, 2023

Summer is here!

Summer officially arrived in Kamloops this morning to mark the longest day of the year, with 16 hours and 29 seconds of daylight in the Tournament Capital.

At precisely 7:58 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, the summer solstice occurred, when the sun was at its highest point in the sky. The sun rose at 4:48 a.m. and will set at 9:17 p.m.

Days will gradually get shorter as we approach the first day of fall on Sept. 23.

While the astronomical seasons are based on Earth’s rotation around the sun and on the two solstices and equinoxes, meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles and the Gregorian calendar.

Meteorologists group the seasons into four three-month periods, with June, July and August being summer, September, October and November being fall, December, January and February being winter and March, April and May being spring.

CONTROVERSY AT CITY HALL

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson under investigation for alleged bullying, harassment

PAGE A5

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson files defamation lawsuit against Coun. Katie Neustaeter

PAGE A6

B.C.’s privacy watchdog agency alerted to alleged mishandling of confidential information by Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson

PAGE A7

Co-chair of BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus contradicts Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson’s report on group’s formation

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$50,998 +tax

Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has filed a defamation lawsuit against Coun. Katie Neustaeter, one of several issues

Kamloops council and the City of Kamloops are dealing with as the new council is only eight months into a four-year term.

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

C I T Y PAG E

June 21, 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 obser ve through the City YouTube channel.

June 27, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

June 27, 2023

7:00 pm - Public Hearing

July 11, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

July 18, 2023 (Cancelled)

1:30 pm - Civic Operations Committee

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

CO U N C I L M E E T I N G R E C A P

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

N OT I C E TO M OTO R I S T S

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

• Westsyde Road Multi-Use Pathway

Westsyde Road to Alview Crescent

• 6th Avenue

Columbia Street to Lansdowne Street

• Highland Road

South of the Valleyview Arena to Valleyview Drive

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

Kamloops.ca/Kammute

CO N S I D E R A C A R E E R W I T H U S

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

A N N U A L S E N I O R S ' P I C N I C

Local seniors are invited to join us for music and a picnic lunch at Riverside Park between Heritage House and the Riverside Band Shell.

This free event is a great oppor tunity to par ticipate in activities like gentle fitness exercises, chair Zumba, lawn games, and a photo booth.

Enjoy enter tainment from the K amloops Rube Band and DJ Jack Legebokow

Event Details

Friday, July 7 10:00 am–1:00 pm Riverside Park

While tables and chairs will be set up in the shade, par ticipants are encouraged to bring a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen. Free park ing is available in Riverside Park ’s west park ing lot near the tennis cour ts. We encourage all seniors to take public transit, carpool, or find alternative forms of transpor tation as park ing is limited.

Repor t an issue: 250-828-3461

For after-hours emergencies, press 1.

The event is free for residents who are 55+; however, registration is required To confirm your attendance, call 250-828-3500 or visit:

Kamloops.ca/Register

A Council-authorized curbside residential organic waste collection program is coming soon to all single - and multi-family households in K amloops that receive curbside car t collection. If you have a set of garbage and rec ycling car ts that are collected by City trucks, your household is included

July 5 to August 8

Car ts delivered by zone to all single - and multi-family households with curbside collection in the City of K amloops

LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Organics

Week of August 21

Week ly organics collection begins, garbage and rec ycling shift to biweek ly collection

Star ting Monday, June 26, City Hall will be open for in-person tax payments with extended hours from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, until July 4 (closed on weekends and July 3).

Check your proper ty tax notice for a full list of payment options and locations

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

IT’S NATIONAL

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

Wednesday, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

It is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

TODAY’S FLYERS

YIG*, Walmart*, The Brick*, Shoppers*, Sun Peaks Independent News*, Safeway*, Rexall*, Peavey Mart*, M&M Meats*, London Drugs*, Home Hardware*, Freshco* * Selected distribution

WEATHER FORECAST

June 21: Showers 21/9 (hi/low)

June 22: Sun/clouds 24/11 (hi/low)

June 23: Sunny 26/13 (hi/low)

June 24: Sunny 27/16 (hi/low)

June 25: Sun/clouds 30/17 (hi/low)

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The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.

Kamloops This Week is marking National Indigenous Peoples Day by publishing a special 18-page section that begins on page B1 of today’s edition.

MAYOR UNDER INVESTIGATION

The allegations involve workplace bullying and harassment of city staff

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has been under investigation for alleged workplace bullying and harassment of staff members for months.

The investigation, first reported by Radio NL, involves the City of Kamloops hiring Vancouver firm The Integrity Group to investigate complaints from four, non-political workplace staff members. Hamer-Jackson was informed of the investigation in late February and interviews with complainants were completed by the investigator, Terry Honcharuk, in early April. Hamer-Jackson allegedly refused to sit for an interview with Honcharuk.

The need for an external investigation was raised by human resources and Honcharuk’s report was given to council during an in-camera meeting held June 13, according to NL.

That was one day following HamerJackson filing a lawsuit against Coun. Katie Neustaeter. The lawsuit is unrelated to the harassment investigation. It is also unrelated to the mayor’s alleged privacy breach for mishandling personnel files that came to light earlier this month.

The nature of the allegations against Hamer-Jackson are unclear at this time.

The city’s chief administrative officer, David Trawin, told KTW the City of Kamloops could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation as the mayor is not considered city staff. Trawin directed queries to Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly, who confirmed the investigation.

“It has been reported that Mayor HamerJackson is under investigation concerning his negative or adverse treatment of staff. Like all employers, the City of Kamloops has a legal duty to provide a safe workplace for employees free of bullying and harassment,” O’Reilly told KTW. “When it receives complaints alleging an elected official is mistreating staff, the city is legally obligated to inquire into the matter.”

KAMLOOPS MAYOR REID HAMER-JACKSON

O’Reilly said the city retained a third party investigator, The Integrity Group, to look into the complaints against Hamer-Jackson in February, but could not disclose what type of employees — unionized or senior staff — lodged the complaints. He said there were multiple complainants, but could not specify the exact number.

O’Reilly said he also could not comment as to the nature of the allegations made against the mayor that are being investigated, nor could he explain what spurred the investigation.

“All we can say at this time is the municipal corporation has been forced to take extraordinary steps to protect certain members of staff from ongoing mistreatment and a hostile work environment at the hands of an elected official,” O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly said the city must do this in order to avoid potential legal claims that could involve “substantial” monetary liability for

which the Kamloops taxpayer would ultimately be on the hook.

“Rest assured, we are working diligently and consistently to protect the municipal corporation and each and every Kamloops taxpayer in the face of these very difficult circumstances created by an elected official,” O’Reilly said.

As for the current status of the investigation, if it is complete and what, if any, recommended actions may be forthcoming, O’Reilly said he could not comment. He said the city is legally prohibited from commenting on personnel matters in the absence of consent of the affected individuals.

He also said he does not know if the report will at some point be released publicly.

“But we do know that certain individuals continue to breach privacy and confidentiality laws and council would like nothing more than to provide the public with a complete and accurate description of events to counter and correct the misinformation that has been disseminated,” O’Reilly said. “However, doing so would require us to break the law and be harmful to city staff and, ultimately, you, the taxpayer, and we will not do that.”

Contacted by KTW regarding the bullying and harassment allegations, Hamer-Jackson said he could not comment on matters pertaining to closed, in-camera information.

“I’d be breaching confidentiality,” he said. “I can’t comment on anything that would be in closed [meetings]. If other people want to, that’s fine, but I can’t,” Hamer-Jackson said.

City council in February asked staff to draw up a code of conduct bylaw, which it passed this spring.

The bylaw comes with 14 listed sanctions for enforcing misconduct. It states that members of council will treat each other with respect and dignity and not discriminate against, bully, harass or defame any council member, staff member or volunteer.

Penalties for breaching the code of conduct include docking remuneration, restricting access to certain city facilities, public censure and issuing a letter of apology.

Mayor files lawsuit against councillor

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

An apology and a retraction could resolve a defamation lawsuit filed against a Kamloops city councillor by the mayor, according to his lawyer.

Kamloops Mayor Reid HamerJackson is suing Coun. Katie Neustaeter in B.C. Supreme Court, claiming her March 17 statement on behalf of all council has caused innuendo, inference and speculation among the public that is damaging his reputation.

Neustaeter’s statement, read during a press conference in council chambers, claimed Hamer-Jackson crossed personal and professional boundaries and belittled and disrespected councillors, but provided no details as to how he had done so. Councillors did not take questions from the media afterward and have been scant on details since.

The lawsuit claims the statement was false and defamatory, damaged, and was intent on damaging HamerJackson’s public image. It also stated various members of the public have

speculated Hamer-Jackson sexually assaulted and/or abused members of council, based on claims of crossing personal boundaries.

Hamer-Jackson’s lawyer, David McMillan, told KTW that while the statement was made on behalf of all eight councillors, only Neustaeter is being sued because, legally, she is the only one against whom a defamation case can be made as she read out the statement.

“The law makes a fine distinction that way. You actually have to make a defamatory statement, either in writing or orally, to be liable for it,” McMillan said.

McMillan said Hamer-Jackson opted to file a lawsuit because he felt he had no other alternative and had been on the receiving end of inflammatory comments in both closed and open council meetings. He also said Neustaeter’s comments went beyond politics and had a personal impact.

“You can only put up with so much for so long,” McMillan said. “We let it carry on for two months.”

He said there were other comments made to Hamer-Jackson that McMillan thought could be the

subject of the lawsuit, but they were made in closed council meetings and protected by qualified privilege.

“And as long as a discussion is a discussion over a policy issue, you have to take it,” McMillan said. “Politicians have to grow a thick skin, but when it goes to this extent where it hits at the personal integrity of a person and how he lives his life and interacts with other people on a personal level, that takes it out of the realm of politics.”

McMillan said that when a “young, attractive-looking” councillor claims personal boundaries were violated, people can infer sexual misconduct.

“When you make an inflammatory statement like that and hang it out there, people are going to draw inferences. And the way the law works, judges are just going to try to assess what a reasonable person would think,” McMillan said, noting the claims and resulting public speculation have impacted Hamer-Jackson, his wife and their three adult children.

“I’ve never seen him take a hit like this,” McMillan said of HamerJackson, whom he has known for 30

years. “Some of the people who have yelled at him in public places have already drawn their own conclusions.”

McMillan explained no dollar amount in damages had been specified and such a lawsuit is more about restoring reputation. He said damages in cases like these can reach seven figures, but can also be negligible, citing a similar case from Newfoundland between a councillor and mayor in which damages awarded were $40,000.

“We’ve got a mayor going into the latter three-and-a-half years of his term and how can he do that if all the people in front of him might think he’s a sexual predator or a bully?” McMillan asked.

Hamer-Jackson’s lawsuit claims Neustaeter made defamatory statements about him verbally in front of councillors and staff on Feb. 11, via email that included councillors on Feb. 13 and March 5, and then verbally again via the March 17 statement.

The notice of claim states Neustaeter accused Hamer-Jackson of having interactions with her father, former Kamloops MLA Kevin Krueger, with nefarious intent for

political gain and influence over her, to which Hamer-Jackson said he had only been responding to Krueger’s offers of support and advice and admissions of family troubles with Neustaeter.

Neustaeter said she will be retaining a lawyer and filing a response in B.C. Supreme Court to HamerJackson’s defamation lawsuit against her.

Neustaeter said she learned about the litigation from the media on the morning of June 15. She told KTW she was served by a processor later that afternoon at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District headquarters following a board meeting.

Neustaeter said board members were still present, but HamerJackson — who sits behind her at the meetings — had already left.

Asked if she will retain her own lawyer or use the city’s solicitor, Neustaeter told KTW she is still in the process of determining that, but will be making a decision in the coming days.

“I look forward to defending myself,” Neustaeter said.

Curbside O rganic Waste Collec tion

A Council-authorized curbside residential organic waste collec tion program is coming soon to all gle - and multi-family households in the City of loops that receive curbside collec tion.

July 5 to August 8

Car ts delivered by zone to all single - and multi-family households with curbside collec tion in the City of K amloops

Week of August 21

a of

The City ’s O fficial Community Plan (K AMPLAN) includes a goal of reducing waste to the landfill to 560 kg/person annually. Currently, that figure is 720 kg/person annually. The curbside residential organic waste collec tion program will help residents reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill and suppor t waste reduc tion goals.

Week ly organics collec tion begins, garbage and rec ycling shif t to biweek ly collec tion

Did mayor breach confidentiality?

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

B.C.’s privacy watchdog was alerted to alleged mishandling of confidential personnel documents by Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, who narrowly avoided an injunction from B.C.’s attorney general.

Council has adopted a new policy regarding the handling of confidential personnel records, dubbed GGL-30, in the wake of an apparent privacy breach involving the mayor’s possession of employee documents. Hamer-Jackson was the lone member of council who voted against the new beefed-up policy.

The mayor has said he took home just a single report, but Coun. Mike O’Reilly, the deputy mayor for June, said “multiple” documents were taken from city hall, noting Hamer-Jackson’s account to media outlets of what transpired is inaccurate and incomplete.

“Not only were the personal records stored improperly, without adequate

safeguards, they were also removed from city premises without authorization and contrary to the FOI act,” O’Reilly said.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC), which operates independently from government, has said it cannot confirm or deny the existence of any investigation into Kamloops’ mayor, but O’Reilly has confirmed the city’s privacy officer, Stephanie Nichols, reported an alleged breach by the mayor to the OIPC, as required by law.

According to O’Reilly, the breach was of section 32 of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, which details how public bodies are to use personal information in its custody.

“Personal records were removed from city property and that’s a breach,” O’Reilly said. “We go to extreme measures to ensure employee records and files are kept confidential.”

According to O’Reilly, Nichols was advised of Hamer-Jackson’s stated intent for the personal

records, which was deemed “for an unlawful purpose contrary to section 32 of the FOI Act”.

O’Reilly said that “because of the repeated refusals to return the records, the privacy officer was forced to seek assistance from the OIPC and from council.”

The OIPC oversees the information and privacy practices of public bodies and private organizations, enforcing two pieces of legislation — the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Spokesperson Michelle Mitchell told KTW the OIPC cannot say whether it is investigating Kamloops’ mayor because it is restricted by FIPPA from doing so.

“If we did confirm or deny whether we had an investigation or file before our office, that would be disclosing information about that file,” Mitchell said. “It’s a bit tricky and it’s unfortunate, but unfortunately we aren’t able to provide that confirmation

in this instance.”

O’Reilly said the records were returned shortly before a statutory deadline. If they had not been, however, the city’s next step was to ask B.C.’s attorney general to apply for an injunction in B.C. Supreme Court to order Hamer-Jackson return the records and ensure they had not been duplicated or disseminated.

Hamer-Jackson maintains, despite O’Reilly’s comments, that he took home just a single staff member’s performance review that was given to him by a third-party author. He previously confirmed to KTW he refused to return it when first requested, despite being asked by three individuals — the author, Nichols and the city’s human resources director, Colleen Quigley — because he wanted to review it. Hamer-Jackson told KTW he did not believe he was in the wrong to hold on to the document because he has a file of confidential records in his office passed down from previous mayors. He said some of those records dated back to 2012.

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OPINION

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

Phone: 250-374-7467 | Fax: 250-374-1033

email: editor@kamloopsthisweek.com

Recommendations

Every year, B.C.’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services meets with stakeholders as the government considers future budgets. And, every year, TRU offers its ideas for funding priorities that government should think about.

TRU had its time with the committee last week, during which we offered three recommendations. Among other things, I asked the committee to consider the impact new opportunities for trades training for international students could have on our labour market and economy. Like other provinces, B.C. is in desperate need of skilled tradespeople and opening trades training to more international students could help alleviates shortages significantly.

Here is a summary of all the recommendations we made:

• Recommendation 1: We ask B.C. to consider a more strategic approach toward the funding of post-secondary skilled trades training. Kamloops and the broader B.C. region have seen significant economic growth over the years, generating an increased demand for skilled tradespeople. A robust investment in new trades training spaces will strengthen our local and provincial economies.

A key aspect of this should consider the provision of trades training opportunities for international students. The BC Labour Market Outlook 2021 Report projects onemillion new workers are needed in B.C. over the next 10 years. The report projects 43 per cent of the

new workers will come through immigration.

As well, as we align with the provincial strategic priority of transitioning to a green economy, we urge the government to create flexibility to allow institutions to create market-responsive programs, especially in “green” trades programs.

A solar panel technician program is an excellent example of green trades training. Another example might be a course for electric vehicle technicians, in which students learn how to service and repair electric vehicles. Courses in green building construction could teach students sustainable building practices that reduce environmental impact.

Lastly, despite increased costs of delivering trades training, including inflation and higher equipment and material costs, the per diem cost for training has not changed for more than 20 years. More funding for post-secondary skilled trades training, with an emphasis on international students and funding to

create green training opportunities, would not only boost Kamloops' and B.C.'s economic resilience, but also ensure the longevity of our skilled trades sector, preparing it for a sustainable future.

• Recommendation 2: Despite the province’s continuing investment in and commitment to graduate-level post-secondary education, B.C. lags other provinces in terms of per capita graduate degrees awarded. This deficit in our education system impacts our labour market's competitiveness and our capacity to fuel economic growth.

We urge the province to increase funding for post-doctoral fellowships and graduate student spaces at TRU and other institutions, as well as specific undergraduate spaces. This support is crucial in attracting top-tier students and researchers and for cultivating the high-level talent needed to boost this province’s competitiveness and productivity.

B.C. employers increasingly need to recruit highly skilled individuals from outside the province to meet their requirements. We need a more sustainable approach to talent development that focuses on producing local graduates with research-based knowledge and high-level skills. Graduate students, through their advanced learning and research, are the drivers of new knowledge and technologies.

To foster sustainable and inclusive prosperity, B.C. must produce more local graduates. This will require a strategic focus on advanced talent development and increased investment in graduate education, including at regional

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universities such as TRU.

In addition, there's a pressing need to acknowledge and utilize the skillsets of foreign-educated professionals. A significant number of immigrants to B.C. hold qualifications from their home countries. Unfortunately, these foreign credentials often go unrecognized.

We ask the government to invest more heavily in prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) programs, such as what is offered through TRU’s Open Learning division. These programs validate the knowledge and skills that individuals have gained through non-formal learning, including foreign education and work experience.

Implementing robust PLAR systems and foreign credential recognition processes can accelerate the integration of internationally trained professionals into the B.C. workforce, which will contribute to economic growth, diversification and competitiveness.

• Recommendation 3: TRU encourages the government to earmark more funding for research and innovation, as well as digital infrastructure, in the next budget. More specifically, we recommend additional funding in priority areas such as digital technology, climate adaptation and health innovation, as well as new funding for digital infrastructure in rural areas.

Investment in digital infrastructure is critical in our increasingly technology-driven society. It equips our students, faculty and the community with necessary tools to drive learning, research and innovation.

High-capacity connectivity for all regions is especially important to

the equitable development of B.C.’s economy. Providing access to highspeed internet across all regions of the province will benefit many people, including Indigenous communities, and foster inclusivity and equal access to opportunities for all.

New funding that recognizes and rewards innovation will help to create new or more effective programs to meet evolving labour market demands while providing students with skills needed to navigate everchanging professional landscapes. We see tremendous opportunity to be more innovative — especially in the realm of micro-credentials — but doing so will require support from the province, as costs related to the development of new programs and services continue to grow.

Lastly, TRU asks for more provincial investment so post-secondary institutes can develop research capacity in high-priority areas. For example, TRU’s newly established Wildfire Science Emergency Management Institute aims to protect B.C. residents from the risks caused by wildfires fuelled by climate change by developing cuttingedge knowledge about wildfire and finding new means to combat and mitigate the effects of wildfires on communities.

Provincial investment in these kinds of socially important research initiatives can also leverage additional funding from federal government and private sectors, creating a multiplier effect that accelerates the growth and impact of the efforts.

Dr. Brett Fairbairn is president and vice-chancellor at Thompson Rivers University. He can be reached by email at president@tru.ca.

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kamloopsthisweek

Letters to the editor can be sent via email to editor@kamloops thisweek.com and via Canada Post to 1365B Dalhousie Dr., Kamloops,

OPINION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor:

When the last civic election came around, like many, I wanted to see some change.

The TNRD scandal and the abuse of taxpayer money left me feeling that we needed to see a change at the table. I voted for Reid Hamer-Jackson with the hope he might be that change or a positive voice on council for the taxpayer who is footing the bills.

Instead, the very opposite has occurred.

Thus far, I am at a loss to understand how the mayor came to the conclusion that those of us who voted for him were looking for someone to engage in endless bickering with council.

Other than raising taxes, he has accomplished near nothing. And now he is suing a fellow councillor, claiming she has somehow damaged his reputation. I would suggest that any damage that has been done is of Hamer-Jackson’s own creation.

Do I regret my vote?

You bet I do. I respectfully suggest Hamer-Jackson end this ridiculous legal action and start to work as part of the team, as he was elected to do. In what are challenging times, we need our mayor and council on the same page and working to improve Kamloops.

I REGRET MY CIVIC VOTE BE PROUD, CUP HOSTS

Editor:

My wife and I doff our hats to organizers and volunteers of the 2023 Memorial Cup.

We had a great time in Kamloops and thoroughly enjoyed the intense competition.

It is hard to believe we just saw

Chuck Ferguson Kamloops

nine games in 10 days.

We met folks from across Canada and from Seattle and I speak for all when I say Kamloops was a super host. Be proud of yourselves, your team and your city.

Andrew Baker Burlington, Ont.

Editor:

I have lived in Kamloops for 34 years and, as a water lover, I have watched the river here every year since 1989.

This past winter, the river was at the lowest level I’ve ever seen and this spring it peaked and started to drop earlier than we’ve ever seen. Reading the June 14 article in KTW (“ High risk of provincewide drought this summer ”), I find myself concerned about too low river levels for fish and other life, including us humans, as we face the changes we are seeing in our natural world.

Water is the most essential

need for life to exist and therefore an extremely valuable resource.

It would appear that its availability, which we have perhaps come to take for granted, may be in question for all who rely on water to live.

I realize we now have water meters in our city, and that’s great, but I would like to appeal to my fellow citizens to be careful and mindful when they turn on the taps about how much water they let flow that just goes down the drain.

Planting gardens and xeriscaping are viable alternatives to lawns.

Xeriscaping is suitable to our semi-arid environment and growing gardens instead of lawns advances the goal of local food security.

The need to reduce our water use is not something to leave to future generations. It’s now and it’s us who need to change.

Let’s develop those water-saving habits and teach our children that water is life and a precious resource to be respected by not wasting a drop.

THINK BEFORE TURNING ON TAPS SEEKING CLARITY ON BIKE TRAFFIC LAWS

Editor:

I ride a bike in the city and am confused by the many different signs that deal with supposed bike safety.

For example, at one intersection, the sign says, “Cyclists stop and dismount. Bikes may use crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians.”

On the other side of the same

intersection, the sign says, “Bikes may use crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians.”

There are other places where the signs say, “Stop, dismount” and nothing more.

I am under the impression bikes are not to be ridden through crosswalks, yet at ICBC, I saw a video showing a bike rider come

to a crosswalk and stop. A car approached the crosswalk and stopped and the cyclist then rode across the road in the crosswalk.

It would be nice if someone would produce a paper with the rules of the road for cyclists.

Don Porter Kamloops

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

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

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

Margaret Huff Kamloops

LOCAL NEWS

Flair arrives in Kamloops

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Beverley and Monty Sharpe were packed light and waiting at Kamloops Airport for their plane to arrive.

The Shuswap couple was among the first travellers taking advantage of a new direct flight from the city as Flair Airlines began service to and from Edmonton on Sunday, June 18, with one incoming and one outgoing flight that morning.

“We’ll be repeat customers, for sure,” Beverly said, noting their trip to Edmonton on Sunday was to visit their grandchildren.

“Less expensive than driving,” Monty added.

Melissa Mathias and partner Rob were also waiting in the airport to get on that flight. The Kamloops couple decided to take advantage of the low-cost trip and visit

West Edmonton Mall.

“It’s about time,” Rob said of the direct flight, adding he thinks the flight will be well-used.

Kamloops Airport managing director Ed Ratuski said the two first flights between Kamloops and Edmonton on Sunday were each about half full.

Flair chief financial officer Garth Lund said while their plane was not at capacity, he believes that as awareness builds, flights will fill up.

Flair Airlines is an Edmonton-based discount airline that began operating in 2005. It brings the first direct Kamloops to Edmonton flights since 2021, when WestJet Airlines offered the service for a short time.

Nelson Phillips, Flair’s vice-president of marketing, told KTW the airline hopes to spread word about the flight and its benefits. He said it is now cheaper for

Edmontonians to get to Sun Peaks than a closer ski resort, Marmot Basin in Jasper. For Kamloopsians, he said, it makes more sense and is more affordable to travel to West Edmonton Mall rather than Metrotown in Burnaby.

“These are the interesting things that should become apparent to people,” Phillips said.

Edmonton is now the third destination travellers can fly to directly from Kamloops Airport, which also has WestJet flights to Calgary and Vancouver via Air Canada. Flair is flying to and from Edmonton on Sundays and Wednesdays, with one-way tickets ranging from $29 to $89. Bookings online are available up to Oct. 25. However, those fees do not include optional addons, such as choosing seats, checking bags, changing flights, priority boarding or airport check-in, all of which cost extra.

Phillips said while travellers are getting a discount price, they are not getting a discount service, noting the planes are fuel-efficient Boeing 737 Max-8s that seat 189 passengers, aircraft that are much larger than the 75-seat Q400 planes WestJet and Air Canada fly in and out of the airport.

Passengers from Edmonton were greeted on Sunday with balloons and cupcakes as they made their way to baggage claim.

Edmonton resident Mona Sarwon, who is in Kamloops this week for a wedding, said she was excited about the new flight.

‘’We were planning to

drive first, but then we decided to fly when we heard that a direct flight was going to Kamloops,” Sarwon said. She said she hopes people will use the flight, noting it will give her more time to spend with family in Kamloops she visits each summer.

Passengers disembark after the first Flair Airlines flight arrives in Kamloops on Sunday, June 18.

MICHAEL POTESTIO/KTW

LOCAL NEWS

BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus has made headway

CO-CHAIR’S COMMENTS ARE IN CONTRAST TO CLAIMS MADE BY KAMLOOPS MAYOR

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

It appears there was more to report on the restart of the B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus than Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson let on in a city council meeting last week.

On June 13, when Coun. Dale Bass presented a notice of motion to restart and reform the presumably defunct B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus as a council caucus, Hamer-Jackson revealed the mayor’s caucus had restarted and had met that very morning.

However, when pressed for details by Coun. Kelly Hall, Hamer-Jackson told council there was nothing to disclose.

“It just started, so there is nothing to update,” HamerJackson said. “There’s nothing in there that needs to be discussed about anything.”

However, there is information to update, according to Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto, the caucus co-chair, who told KTW on June 15 that the meeting schedule, eligible mayors, topics of discussion and chairs of the caucus have already been determined.

Alto said the caucus has expanded from 13 to 17 mayors to include cities in B.C. with populations of more than 80,000 people, adding she began organizing online meetings in March.

Alto said the caucus has had three online meetings since then — the latest one being earlier this week — and at that time the mayors had been discussing how they would work together.

“Through those three meetings, we’ve essentially selected the co-chairs, identified the priorities, figured out how we’re going to work together and set out how we want to start working in the

future,” Alto said.

She said the next meeting is scheduled to take place online in July.

She noted the caucus’ priorities are to address four issues: affordable housing, transit, mental health/substance use treatment and community safety/wellness.

Alto said the mayors will meet once a month, online, on the second Tuesday of each month.

When KTW asked Hamer-Jackson why he did not disclose those details with councillors when pressed for information, Hamer-Jackson said he took notes during the June 13 caucus meeting, but did not have time to put together a report, nor was he sure how much of what they had discussed in caucus he was allowed to disclose.

“I never had a chance to put anything together, but I’ll be posting all that in my mayor’s report,” HamerJackson said, adding he was under the impression Bass was intent on setting up a council caucus regardless of the mayor’ caucus status.

He also said he had only been present for two caucus meetings.

Bass, however, said at the June 13 council meeting that one of the reasons she put forward her motion

was because she was of the understanding mayors weren’t interested in restarting their urban caucus.

“He obviously wasn’t listening because I said I had been told that mayors weren’t interested,” Bass told KTW

Alto will co-chair the caucus with Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove for the next two years before reevaluating the positions.

Alto said she took it upon herself earlier this year to reach out to the returning four of 13 mayors from the previous caucus about restarting the group.

Her predecessor, Lisa Helps, who did not seek reelection in Victoria, and former Kelowna mayor Colin Basran, who lost the last election, were the previous chairs of the caucus.

The BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus is an informal, nonpartisan group of mayors from urban cities, including Kamloops.

It was created in 2021, during the pandemic, to act as a unified voice when discussing issues of concern with the provincial government.

Last term, the group spurred the provincial government to take action on holding prolific offenders more to account.

Thursday June 29th 6:45pm BRC Bull Riding

Friday June 30th 6:00pm Indigenous Wagon Train entr y with opening ceremonies and the 1st CPRA Pro Rodeo Performance

Saturday July 1st 1:45pm 2nd CPRA Pro Rodeo Performance

Sunday July 2nd 1:45pm 3rd CPRA Pro Rodeo Performance

Changes approved for North Shore schools

2024 WILL SEE BROCK BECOME HIGH SCHOOL, AMONG OTHER PLANS

SEAN BRADY STAFF REPORTER sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com

The Kamloops-Thompson board of education has elected to proceed with proposed catchment changes and grade reconfigurations on the North Shore in September 2024.

Under the changes, Brocklehurst middle school (currently Grade 7 to Grade 9) and NorKam senior secondary (currently Grade 10 to Grade 12) will both become Grade 8 to Grade 12 schools.

Brock was a high school until 2010, when configuration due to enrolment changes saw it become a middle school.

A number of elementary schools will also add classes up to Grade 7, including A.E. Perry, Arthur Hatton, Bert Edwards, Kay Bingham and Rayleigh. A reopened Parkcrest elementary will return as a Kindergarten to Grade 7 school and George Hilliard elementary will also open as a K-7 school.

“This is a very positive, exciting thing that the community has been waiting for almost four or five years now. So, I’m excited and happy to see this place open,” he said.

Along with the reconfigurations, catchment changes have also been made, with new lines drawn for Parkcrest, Kay

Bingham, George Hilliard and A.E. Perry.

All grade reconfigurations and catchment changes will take effect for the start of school year in September 2024.

In addition, the Twin Rivers Education Centre will see some changes, with the Bridges program on the move by September 2024.

The changes follow months of consultations done by school district staff. At the June19 board meeting, school district Supt. Rhonda Nixon highlighted that work.

She said there have been 28 consultations done and staff considered feedback from 28 consultation sessions, including 75 parents and 160 staff who attended the sessions in-person, 410 district staff who took part in information sessions through meetings and thousands who read information on the district’s website and watched consultation videos.

One driver of the changes has been the size of Brocklehurst middle school, which the district said is the ninth-largest in the province. Projections showed the school would peak at a size of 869 students in 2028, which is 16 per cent above capacity.

Nixon said in consulting staff, parents and administrators at the school, all feedback pointed to the school being too large.

LOCAL NEWS

City: 200 homeless ready for housing

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

There are approximately 200 homeless ready to move into housing units in Kamloops.

That is the number of homeless people in shelters who have been vetted, and assessed as suitable and waiting for supportive housing to become available within the city, according to Carmin Mazzotta, the city’s social, housing and community development manager.

“We don’t have beds. It is a housing supply issue. We need more supportive housing for those folks,” Mazzotta told council during a committee of the whole meeting earlier this month.

He said some of those people may have a desire to move into drug treatment programs and subsequent recovery housing instead and the city is trying to “make those links” with BC Housing.

Mazzotta said he is also advocating for more supportive housing with BC Housing and hopes to soon present council with potential options to increase that supply.

Meanwhile, the city is trying to make The Gathering Place — a day space for the homeless outside 48 Victoria St. W now in its third season of operation — more attractive to potential users.

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson said he has observed as many as 27 people loitering on the grassy

area and picnic tables across the street from the space outside city hall and the BCLC building, while few people utilize the day space. He also suggested to Mazzotta that the Community Services Officers step up enforcement in the area of moving people along who are drinking alcohol.

Mazzotta said outreach workers can encourage people to move to the day space, but sometimes people may prefer sitting out on that lawn. He said he felt the best course of action was to make The Gathering Place more attractive.

“That’s really where we’ve been trying to step in and work with the [social] agencies to get folks to come into that space more frequently,” he said.

Mazzotta said they are looking to enhance the space by adding water misters to keep people cool and more substantive meals, such as breakfast and lunch, as opposed to just a light snack.

He said they are also trying to coordinate efforts between community service officers and social agency outreach workers to encourage people to utilize the space. He said there have also been conversations about allowing supervised drug use within the site.

Mazzotta said initial discussions with Interior Health revealed it is comfortable helping with set-up and training, noting more discussions with social agencies about providing the service need to occur.

Bylaws officers visiting homeless camps more often

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

There was a massive increase in the number of calls to homeless encampments around Kamloops in the first quarter of 2023.

In January, February and March, the city’s community service officers received 1,267 calls for homeless encampments, up from 318 in the first quarter of 2022 and 231 in the first quarter of 2021, according to city statistics.

During a recent presentation of

a first-quarter report, Coun. Nancy Bepple asked why there were some five times more encampment files than last year.

Acting community services manager and emergency preparedness manager Will Beatty said the difference was due to a change in classification of some statistics. For example, a stat labelled “vulnerable peopleinteractions” from previous years is now clumped in with encampment files.

“If you take the interactions and camps and add them togeth-

er, in previous years you’d be looking at a comparable camp-style stat in 2023,” Beatty said.

Regardless, encampment files are still up.

There were 492 interaction files in 2022 and, when combined with encampment files that quarter, a total of 810 files — still 400 less than the encampment files this year.

“Yes we’re dealing with more instances of these vulnerable-style calls and, through our outreach services, we’re trying to be part of the solution and part of that com-

munity of care model,” Beatty said. “A lot of these can be proactive approaches, meaning getting into these camps and interacting with the vulnerable population.”

Meanwhile, panhandling calls were down, totalling 53 this past quarter versus 76 in 2022 and 24 in 2021 during the same period.

The first-quarter collection of shopping carts is also down, to 53 in 2023 from 87 in 2022 and 128 in 2021. Officers also received a first-quarter record 3,423 calls for service in January, February and March of this year.

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Report says ‘deniers’ with shovels went to Tk’emlúps site

Trespassers with shovels attended the site of suspected graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, according to a report from the

special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked burial sites.

On June 16, the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor released an interim report

identifying common concerns residential school survivors, Indigenous families and communities have faced as they look to identify and recover missing children from potential unmarked burial sites at residential

school sites. In May 2021 Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announced it had found signs of 200 probable graves through groundpenetrating radar.

Since then, many other First Nations have conducted

searches revealing similar results.

The report from special interlocutor

Kimberly Murray warned of increasing violence from those who deny the existence of graves at the sites. Her report recommends urgent

consideration be given to legal mechanisms to address denialism, including the implementation of both civil and criminal sanctions.

A section in the report details “denialism” Tk’emlúps has dealt with since its announcement. The section summarizes challenges and lessons Tk’emlúps Chief Rosanne Casimir expressed during the third National Gathering on Unmarked Burials, which was held in Vancouver in January.

According to the report, Casimir said deniers of the suspected graves entered the Tk’emlúps site without permission. She said some people arrived in the middle of the night with shovels, say-

ing they wanted to “see for themselves” if children were, in fact, buried there. The interim report does not provide any more details, such as when this occurred, if it occurred on more than one occasion, if anyone was caught digging or what came of such interactions.

Casimir said Tk’emlúps was also attacked by deniers online and feels the toxicity of denialism online needs more attention.

Casimir said that while some media outlets were respectful, there were “predatory and exploitive” media requests the band had to filter. The report said the band was said to have dealt with “many uninvited visitors, including media and

deniers who did not always respect the site.” Some breached cultural protocols, taking pictures and video of the site without consent, the report said.

In the days following the band’s announcement, Transport Canada issued a notice banning all air traffic, including drones, from flying lower than 500 feet above the Kamloops Indian Residential School area on the Tk’emlups reserve.

To confirm their survey’s work, Tk’emlúps has said excavation of the site near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School will take place in the future.

The full interim report can be read online at tinyurl. com/56wvyj5r.

Campfires allowed

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Effective noon on Friday, June 16, category 1 campfires will once again be permitted in the fire zone as a result of favourable, rainy weather over the last week and cooler conditions forecast in the coming days, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Provincial officials, meanwhile, have warned of an ominous fire season this summer with hot and dry conditions expected in the Kamloops region.

Category 2 and Category 3

open fires remain prohibited until noon on Oct. 13, 2023 or until the orders are rescinded.

In addition to open fires being prohibited, fireworks, sky lanterns, exploding targets, air curtain burners and burn barrels/cages remain restricted.

These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise in an enactment.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 and administrative penalties up to $100,000.

Mounties collar prolific offenders

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Kamloops RCMP said half of the prolific offenders identified in the city are in police custody.

During a recent Kamloops council committee of the whole meeting, Supt. Jeff Pelley said police have their eye on 16 prolific offenders.

Eight of them have been arrested and charged, in part due to an auto theft sting that nabbed who Pelley said are “six of the most active vehicle thieves, four of which were designated prolific offenders.”

“We focus on 16 prolific offenders,” Pelley said. “That does not mean that we stop or move ahead.

We look at other offenders that are on the rise and continue with enforcement strategies.”

He said the detachment’s crime reduction unit is also fully staffed since being restarted last September and will expand by one member. The unit did not operate during the pandemic due to other operational needs. Currently, one corporal and four constables staff the unit and the new constable position is being advertised internally, with a selection pending.

The mandate of the unit is to be proactive on offender management and further enhance accountability of repeat offend-

ers through the judiciary process, according to the Kamloops RCMP.

Meanwhile, the detachment’s serious crimes unit is operating at full capacity, according to Pelley.

The unit began investigating Kamloops’ first homicide of the year in March after missing person Jo-Anne Donovan was found deceased near her Westsyde home. Her death was confirmed to have been a murder.

In addition to that file, the serious crimes unit is investigating two homicides that occurred in 2022, those being the slaying of local drug dealer Lawrence Pooli, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Ord Road in Brocklehurst last August, and the death of Thompson Rivers University instructor Mohd Abdullah, whose body was found inside a rental van in the 1600-block of Monterey Place in Dufferin.

Murder charges have since been approved against Abdullah’s lawyer,

Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo. No one has been charged yet for the murder of Pooli.

According to the Kamloops RCMP’s firstquarter report for 2023, those two murder investigations alone have kept the serious crimes unit busy, in addition to being tasked with four other murder investigations that remain unsolved to date — the October 2021 death of Adam Hibbert, the suspicious disappearance of Shannon White in November 2021 and the murders of Rex Gill and Cody Mathieu in January 2019.

“Overall, the serious crimes unit is working at maximum capacity, with the above noted cases all having viable avenues that can be worked on,” the quarterly report states.

In May, a woman died after being shot at a home on Valhalla Drive in Brocklehurst. According to RCMP, that investigation remains ongoing and no one has yet been charged.

KAMLOOPS RCMP SUPT. JEFF PELLEY

Former Interior Health top doc gets 5.5 years for child sex abuse

Albert de Villiers, a former top doctor who led regional health authorities in Alberta and B.C., has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for sex abuse of a child.

De Villiers was sentenced on June 13 in a Grande Prairie, Alta., courtroom, one day after Justice Shaina Leonard heard the victim impact statements and received submissions from both prosecutor Amy Pickrell and defence counsel Amy Lind.

Leonard noted in her statement that the sexual assault proceedings had been stayed and the sentence she was imposing was related to the sexual interference charge.

The boy de Villiers was convicted of abusing was between seven and nine years old when the incidents occurred. According to victim impact statements heard in court on June 12, the child has since suffered from physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

The incidents occurred between 2018 and 2020, while De Villiers was the lead medical health officer for Alberta’s Northern Zone,

prior to his move to Kelowna to take on the role of chief medical health officer with Interior Health.

While defence counsel had sought a maximum term of four years and the Crown had sought a sentence of eight years, in reviewing case law, Leonard determined that a sentence between the two would be most appropriate for a variety of factors.

According to Leonard, some mitigating factors in the case were the remorse felt by de Villiers, as apparent by a voicemail left on the father’s phone as noted during the trial, and the nearly 30 letters of support provided to the court by defence counsel.

Leonard did state that de Villiers’ conduct prior to this conviction coming to light was “beyond reproach” according to his friends and family, some of whom were still children themselves.

However, she added, “character traits in public have little to do with offences which take place in secret,” noting the letters were less of a mitigating factor when put in the context of the crime.

Another mitigating factor in the case, according to Leonard, was that based on case law, mid-singledigit sentences for this type

of crime are normal and that this case did not reach the threshold for a longer sentence.

Finally, Leonard factored in “collateral consequences.”

Due to his high-profile position, Leonard said the de Villiers case has garnered significant media attention nationwide, leaving him with “unwanted notoriety” and his family highly stigmatized.

Leonard also noted that de Villiers’ “loss of career is a significant collateral consequence,” as with the conviction, while he is still employable, he will never again be able to use his skill as a physician or earn the remuneration to which he was accustomed.

Aggravating factors in Leonard giving de Villiers a five-and-a-half-year sentence over the defence’s requested four years include the seriousness of the offence against the victim, the age of the victim, the absence of a guilty plea and collateral harm to the parents of the child.

De Villiers still faces three other charges related to voyeurism, making explicit material available to a child and invitation to sexual touching in unrelated incidents .

He faces trial on those matters beginning Aug. 22.

BLACK PRESS

Swim club’s ex-coach files suit over firing

VETERAN COACH SEEKS DAMAGES, ALLEGING WRONGFUL DISMISSAL

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

The former head coach of the Kamloops Aquatics Club (KAC) is suing his previous employer, alleging the creation of a “toxic” workplace in an effort to push him out of his job for baseless claims of misconduct.

Brad Dalke, who worked as head coach for the club for more than 20 years, is suing the KAC and members of its board and/or executive for an unspecified amount in damages for wrongful dismissal and breach of contract. The notice of claim lists the Kamloops Aquatics Club, Ashleigh Canaday, Lisa Lopez, Jordan Friar, Brad Angove, Johnny Crichton and Raimey Olthuis as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon on June 6.

According to Dalke, the

defendants engaged in “a pattern of conspiracy and misconduct calculated to undermine the employment relationship” and caused him personal and professional harm.

Dalke said he was the subject of “unsubstantiated allegations of improper conduct” and the defendants, through an investigation, would have known the allegations were false. However, the suit states, with full knowledge of that, the defendants failed to properly assess said allegations and protect Dalke “from the malicious intent of the complainants.” The complainants are said to be club swimmers and/or their parents.

“The termination of the plaintiff based upon their allegations was improper and malicious,” the notice of claim states, noting Dalke was earning a salary of more than $105,000 a year at the time of his firing.

The defendants are accused of having “created a hostile and

intolerable work environment” to force Dalke’s resignation and he was then terminated without cause and without notice.

The document states the executive of the club was addressing the head coaching situation as early as Oct. 10, 2022, and, on behalf of the board of directors, began to construct Dalke’s “demise” through various meetings and activities. According to the lawsuit, those included planning to pressure Dalke into leaving, offering him options to change jobs, consulting a lawyer on a dismissal plan, conversations with possible replacement coaches and drafting a letter of termination prior to striking a strategic planning committee.

The notice of claim states the board and executive failed to properly advise Dalke of the issues with him and did not provide concrete evidence of the issues.

“The members of the execu-

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tive and the board have exhibited a calculated disregard for the employment relationship in an attempt to create some contrived form of cause for dismissal and/or create a toxic work environment,” the notice states.

The document states Dalke had a longstanding and successful tenure with the club, having been rewarded for exemplary service and receiving year-end bonuses as recently as 2021 and 2022.

“The plaintiff received positive performance reviews and was regarded as a conscientious and loyal employee who would go above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly in the best interest of the club,” the notice of claim slates.

The Kamloops Aquatics Club has yet to respond to the notice of claim.

None of the claims in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

LOCAL NEWS

Swim club’s ex-coach files suit over firing

VETERAN COACH SEEKS DAMAGES, ALLEGING WRONGFUL DISMISSAL

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

The former head coach of the Kamloops Aquatics Club (KAC) is suing his previous employer, alleging the creation of a “toxic” workplace in an effort to push him out of his job for baseless claims of misconduct.

Brad Dalke, who worked as head coach for the club for more than 20 years, is suing the KAC and members of its board and/or executive for an unspecified amount in damages for wrongful dismissal and breach of contract. The notice of claim lists the Kamloops Aquatics Club, Ashleigh Canaday, Lisa Lopez, Jordan Friar, Brad Angove, Johnny Crichton and Raimey Olthuis as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon on June 6.

According to Dalke, the

Swim club’s ex-coach files suit over

VETERAN COACH SEEKS DAMAGES, ALLEGING WRONGFUL

defendants engaged in “a pattern of conspiracy and misconduct calculated to undermine the employment relationship” and caused him personal and professional harm.

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

intolerable work environment” to force Dalke’s resignation and he was then terminated without cause and without notice.

The former head coach of the Kamloops Aquatics Club (KAC) is suing his previous employer, alleging the creation of a “toxic” workplace in an effort to push him out of his job for baseless claims of misconduct.

Dalke said he was the subject of “unsubstantiated allegations of improper conduct” and the defendants, through an investigation, would have known the allegations were false. However, the suit states, with full knowledge of that, the defendants failed to properly assess said allegations and protect Dalke “from the malicious intent of the complainants.” The complainants are said to be club swimmers and/or their parents.

“The termination of the plaintiff based upon their allegations was improper and malicious,” the notice of claim states, noting Dalke was earning a salary of more than $105,000 a year at the time of his firing.

The defendants are accused of having “created a hostile and

Brad Dalke, who worked as head coach for the club for more than 20 years, is suing the KAC and members of its board and/or executive for an unspecified amount in damages for wrongful dismissal and breach of contract. The notice of claim lists the Kamloops Aquatics Club, Ashleigh Canaday, Lisa Lopez, Jordan Friar, Brad Angove, Johnny Crichton and Raimey Olthuis as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon on June 6.

The document states the executive of the club was addressing the head coaching situation as early as Oct. 10, 2022, and, on behalf of the board of directors, began to construct Dalke’s “demise” through various meetings and activities. According to the lawsuit, those included planning to pressure Dalke into leaving, offering him options to change jobs, consulting a lawyer on a dismissal plan, conversations with possible replacement coaches and drafting a letter of termination prior to striking a strategic planning committee.

Number of overdose deaths in city reach 38

defendants engaged in “a pattern of conspiracy and misconduct calculated to undermine the employment relationship” and caused him personal and professional harm.

tive and the board have exhibited a calculated disregard for the employment relationship in an attempt to create some contrived form of cause for dismissal and/or create a toxic work environment,” the notice states.

In May, the province recorded the lowest monthly total of overdose deaths this year, but the number remains high.

Dalke said he was the subject of “unsubstantiated allegations of improper conduct” and the defendants, through an investigation, would have known the allegations were false. However, the suit states, with full knowledge of that, the defendants failed to properly assess said allegations and protect Dalke “from the malicious intent of the complainants.” The complainants are said to be club swimmers and/or their parents.

The notice of claim states the board and executive failed to properly advise Dalke of the issues with him and did not provide concrete evidence of the issues.

According to Dalke, the

intolerable work environment” to force Dalke’s resignation and he was then terminated without cause and without notice.

with 204 deaths in March, 193 deaths in February and 227 deaths in January.

deaths in the city.

The document states Dalke had a longstanding and successful tenure with the club, having been rewarded for exemplary service and receiving year-end bonuses as recently as 2021 and 2022.

In May, the BC Coroners Service said, 176 suspected overdose deaths in the province, which is equivalent to 5.7 deaths per day.

In April, there were 218 deaths,

“The termination of the plaintiff based upon their allegations was improper and malicious,” the notice of claim states, noting Dalke was earning a salary of more than $105,000 a year at the time of his firing.

“The plaintiff received positive performance reviews and was regarded as a conscientious and loyal employee who would go above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly in the best interest of the club,” the notice of claim slates.

“The members of the execu-

Through May, there have been

In 2022, there were a record number of overdose deaths in Kamloops: 92.

1,018 such deaths in B.C. In 2022, a record number of people in the province died from overdoses: 2,358.

In Kamloops, there were seven suspected overdose deaths in May, bringing to 38 the number of such

The document states the executive of the club was addressing the head coaching situation as early as Oct. 10, 2022, and, on behalf of the board of directors, began to construct Dalke’s “demise” through various meetings and activities. According to the lawsuit, those included planning to pressure Dalke into leaving, offering him options to change jobs, consulting a lawyer on a dismissal plan, conversations with possible replacement coaches and drafting a letter of termination prior to striking a strategic planning committee.

The 30 to 59 age range continues to account for most deaths, at 70 per cent, with 77 per cent of those victims being males. Fentanyl continues to be the primary drug associated with the deaths.

tive and ited a calculated the employment in an attempt contrived dismissal work environment,” states. The document had a longstanding ful tenure been rewarded service and bonuses 2022.

The Kamloops Aquatics Club has yet to respond to the notice of claim.

Expanded Car 40 program seeing success

The defendants are accused of having “created a hostile and

None of the claims in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

The notice of claim states the board and executive failed to properly advise Dalke of the issues with him and did not provide concrete evidence of the issues.

“The members of the execu-

The Integrated Crisis Response Team that pairs nurses with Mounties in Kamloops to respond to mental health-related calls has been successful since moving to an expanded schedule, but police are looking to “evolve” it further, according to Kamloops’ top cop.

Formerly named Car 40, the response team involves a specially trained police officer and a nurse responding to mentalhealth calls involving assessment and intervention, assistance with admission to hospital and connection to other health services and supports.

The team responds to people experiencing a mental-health

or substance-abuse crisis where intervention of a mental-health clinician is needed and there is no risk of violence.

“The tive performance was regarded and loyal go above sure things the best notice of The Kamloops has yet to of claim. None lawsuit have court.

“That’s been a success,” RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley told Kamloops council at a recent committee of the whole meeting.

Asked by Coun. Dale Bass if the new operating times were still most effective, Pelley said the program is “constantly being reassessed” based on call volume and need.

He said there is some need for the program to operate in the evenings, adding police intend to look into “how that can be evolved with resources and strategies” and be inclusive of areas outside the city centre while maintaining support for officers.

Photo:

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Interior flooding: climate change or more?

RANDY NELSON CONSIDERS THE IMPACTS FROM LOGGING AND HOW WE MANAGE NATURAL RESOURCES

ing they were buying a piece of paradise along a beautiful stream or lake.

Climate change is often touted as the reason for recent flooding in the Interior.

Climate change is real; however, it is used far too often as a convenient excuse because its effects are difficult to quantify, buckets of money can be directed to yearslong studies that simply keep the public satisfied and it clears the problem from desks until another time.

Over-logging of Interior watersheds is a huge factor magnifying much of the recent flooding throughout the province. The atmospheric river of November 2021 wiped out roads and bridges throughout the Interior, but very few mention the extreme amount of logging in Interior watersheds over the past 30 to 40 years.

Google Earth imagery provides a very graphic example comparing the Logan Lake and the Coldwater River areas from 1984 to 2016.

Politicians and government managers increased harvest rates, resulting in denuded watersheds that can’t hold back heavy rain or snow back as they should. A mature forest acts like a sponge to hold rain and snow, then release it slowly over time. Snow melts much faster in logged-off areas than in mature tree stands. The results are extreme runoff patterns much like we see more frequently in Interior streams like Cache Creek.

I empathize with the property owners in Cache Creek. I expect people living along the creek are like most waterfront owners who purchased the property think-

Who is to blame for their plight now? There are a whole host of people sharing the blame.

It may be buyer beware, but land titles and realtors should be compelled to notify potential buyers if the property falls within a flood plain. If you live in High River, Alta., what was your first clue? If you live along a creek and within the flood plain, there is a very good chance you will one day be flooded.

Streams are constantly changing course. Bedload movement (the natural progression of gravel, rocks and silt moving downstream) is always happening. In years of higher water, the bedload movement is greater. As the stream bed builds up, the water will flow over its banks and often start a new channel. I have witnessed dozens of landowners who tried in vain to redirect streams, only to worsen the problem or move it downstream.

This same process is happening on larger rivers such as the Thompson and the Fraser. The community of Delta is literally a river delta. Some day it will get wet. Parts of Richmond are below high tide levels. A high tide, a good wind and some high runoff will meet in Richmond some day.

Parts of Abbotsford are below the river level. That land, once teeming with fish and wildlife, was diked and drained. Flooding will happen again. Mother Nature doesn’t like being told what to do.

Cache Creek overflowed its banks recently and caused tremendous damage to homes and businesses. The creek will be dredged as a temporary solution.

I expect they’ll try building dikes and direct the flow back into the channel. Again, all of this is not a long-term solution given the exposed watershed and natural bedload movement. One seldom successfully trains a river.

The snowpack was average this past spring and there was very little rain that added to the problem. Snowpack levels were below average measurements. There was above-average heat, but what will happen to some of these streams when a high snowpack combines with heat and/or rain? Localized flooding will likely be worse.

Government information websites quickly point to the effect of wildfires on the terrain as being the cause of recent flooding. The BC Transportation website rightfully boasts about how quickly workers were able to rebuild highways and bridges after the atmospheric river of November 2021.

The website states: “We are building back permanent infrastructure that will be equipped to better withstand the impacts of climate change and future extreme weather events.”

There is no reference to logging having an impact, not to mention the railroads, pipeline corridors, power lines, roads, ditches, culverts, bridges and other man-made actions disrupting natural flows.

The beetle-killed Interior forests were harvested over a very short time span. It created a temporary logging boom. Again, many “experts” would claim dead forests are a fire hazard and must be logged.

See NO EASY SOLUTIONS, A21

Satellite imagery provided by Google Earth shows land differences in the Coldwater area between 2018 (top) and 1986 (bottom).

The Simpcw badger study and how you can help

burrows and ground squirrel or marmot colonies.

American badgers, known as Sqítxleqs in Secwepemctsín, are an endangered species inhabiting the southernmost portion of Simpcw Territory. Badgers are members of the weasel family and thrive in areas along the North Thompson River Valley and surrounding valley bottoms where diggable soils and plentiful prey species can be found.

Badger burrows provide homes for other wildlife, including burrowing owls, coyotes and snakes. The land (or Tmicw) in the territory contains a diverse landscape of rich valley floodplains, aeolian and glacial till soils underlying grassland, farmland and open forests, perfect for ground squirrels and marmots — a badger’s preferred snack.

The success of the Simpcw Badger Study is contingent upon the involvement of field researchers and the invaluable information provided by community members through their sightings of badgers,

By combining these observations with rigorous field work, understanding of badger populations and contributions to the development of effective conservation strategies can be enhanced.

The collaboration between researchers, community members and the Simpcw Natural Resources Department (Simpcw NRD) will have a positive influence on the long-term conservation of American badgers in Simpcw territory.

The team of ecologists and technicians, directed by Simpcw NRD, is trying to understand the distribution and population status of this endangered species within Simpcw territory. The Simpcw Badger Study has been established with two goals in mind:

• to mitigate the impact of road mortality on the badger population and to identify and clear road culverts of any debris;

• to obtain badger DNA samples from their hair to map populations and movements.

Last year, the Cit y of Kamloops used its por tion of provincial gambling revenue for hosting Cascades Casino and Chances Kamloops to help improve communit y facilities like the Hillside Stadium running track

Collisions with vehicles are the primary cause for badger declines in Simpcwúlecw and across B.C.

The presence of roadways fragments their habitat and escalates the risk of accidents. In 2022, six badgers were found dead along Highway 5 and Agate Bay Road. Factors such as persecution, habitat loss and climate change also contribute to their dwindling numbers.

Field work and data collection for the DNA sample collection rely heavily on recent sightings from the public of badgers and their burrows, making public sightings integral components of the study. These sightings aid in narrowing down potential sample locations and prioritizing field efforts.

The study’s team conducts regular site visits to investigate reported burrows and assess signs of recent badger activity. During these visits, they set up hair-snag traps and deploy wildlife cameras near the burrows to gather data on badger presence and behaviour. Additionally, detailed habitat assessments are recorded to gain

valuable insights into the ecological requirements of badgers in the study area.

By sharing observations, the public can contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies and help protect the long-term survival of badgers in the

North Thompson. Badger sightings can be reported online at badgers.bc.ca/reporta-badger.

Ceryne Staples is ecosystems biologist with Estsék’ Environmental.

A photo showing badger territory taken by Estsék’ Environmental biologist Ceryne Staples.

No easy solutions for resources

Many other experts have proven that standing dead trees (snags) are less of a fire hazard than green forests.

Why? Because it’s the green needles and their oil content that are the fire hazard.

The John Muir Project Report states, “Put simply, dead trees, naturally created … are essential to the ecological health of our forests.”

The report refers to keeping some snag forests as the scientifically supported direction for policymakers and land and wildlife managers.

Dead trees in the forest should not be feared; they should be revered and celebrated. Certainly, logging them makes sense in some cases, but not when a watershed has already been overlogged.

Foresters may point out that only 0.3 per cent of mature forests are logged each year. That may be true when

looking at the overall area of the province, but many watersheds with the best wood and easiest access are over-logged — and many of those fall within the Fraser River watershed.

We do need logging jobs, but the recently reduced rates of cut will mean far less work in the forestry sector for years to come. Once the profit levels drop off, the big companies abandon the workers and mills they created and move on.

Communities like Cache Creek are left to deal with the aftermath — and taxpayers will pay the bill.

There are no easy solutions. Humans have a long track record of over-exploiting our resources, then moving on to the next. Climate change is not the only problem we have created. We must change the way we manage our renewable resources.

One such different approach is being tried in Clearwater. A community

forest is being managed and logged by Clearwater residents.

They are employed and will keep their employment by properly managing the forest. Profits are used for community projects and infrastructure.

The community benefits most by not over-logging. It’s a different approach and needs to be considered in other areas.

I was contacted by a retired forestry professor after he read my first book, Poachers, Polluters and Politics . I expected him to challenge me on the story I told about charging the Ministry of Forests in the 1980s for trying to cover up logging that had destroyed fish habitat. He surprised me by saying, “Randy, I’ve read your book. I probably trained some of those foresters who made those decisions.”

He went on to explain, in his view, the forestry curriculum is heavily influenced by promoting logging practices

that benefit larger companies.

I was somewhat surprised.

He felt guilty for being part of the problem. His words offered an interesting explanation for some of the challenges we face.

There are many conscientious forestry workers and most in the field understand what is right. Bad decisions are often made by people in higher positions influenced by politics.

We need more long-term thinking in all renewable and non-renewable resources. And we must consider all influencing factors when laying the blame for flooding.

Randy Nelson is a retired fisheries officer who has received multiple awards, including the international Pogue-Elms Award and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. He is the author of two books: Poachers, Polluters and Politics and The Wildest Hunt. He lives in Kamloops.

LOCAL NEWS

North Shore street gets a fresh coat of colour

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

North Shore motorists and pedestrians will notice a new and colourful set of crosswalks are now gracing the asphalt of Yew Street outside the Yew Street Food Hall.

On June 14, the temporary decorative murals were painted on the crosswalks around Yew Street as part of a partnership between the City of Kamloops, Tourism Kamloops and the Kamloops Art Party.

Traffic detours were in place for bus and other vehicular traffic as more than 15 volunteers could be found bringing the mural to life in just a few hours.

In a social media post, Tourism Kamloops stated the mural crosswalk is the result a survey of North Shore residents on how to enhance the neighbourhood that attracted more than 100 respondents.

“While this is a three month

trial of the bold graphical crosswalks, we hope to make this a permanent feature,” a Facebook post from Tourism Kamloops stated.

Tourism Kamloops hopes these crosswalks will enhance the streetscape and encourage exploration and connection within the area.

Monica Dickinson, CEO of Tourism Kamloops, said the public was involved in selecting the colours and designs of the mural crosswalks, resulting in a feature that represents the spirit of the North Shore.

“We believe they will add vibrancy to the area and inspire people to discover the many attractions our city offers,”  she said in a release.

This initiative marks the beginning of a series of Tourism Kamloops projects aimed at creating memorable experiences for both locals and visitors.

This North Shore landmark is already a high-traffic area that is

quickly becoming a culinary and artistic hub. By animating spaces like Yew Street, Dickinson said Tourism Kamloops hopes to create engaging and exciting activations that drive both residents and visitors to spend time in the area.

“Great creativity and initiative by the team at Tourism Kamloops to identify this area and to design something that brings colour, vibrancy and community to Yew Street,” Joshua Knaak of ARPA Investments, which built the food

hall, said in the release.

North Shore Business Improvement Association executive director Jeremy Heighton said the crosswalk is symbolic of the positive future the organization are working toward for the North Shore.

Kamloops This Week has over 300 local youth, adults & seniors that are dedicated to ensure you stay informed, and we couldn’t do it without them.

Painters work on the Yew Street crosswalks as part of a partnership between the City of Kamloops, Tourism Kamloops and the Kamloops Art Party.

Lisa’s Ladies look to heavens for golden goal

FRESH IS BEST CO-FOUNDER LISA GRAHAM-MCGAFFIN REMEMBERED AS SELFLESS, CARING, KIND

Leah Robb looked to the heavens and asked a golden soul for a golden goal.

Lisa’s Ladies were competing last month in the Vernon Gibson Classic Masters Soccer Tournament championship final and penalties loomed. The club was desperately pushing for the winner with about three minutes remaining in extra time.

“I tell ya, I looked up at that sky, telling her we needed some help out there,” Robb said. “We just couldn’t get past their goalie.”

In a perfect world, there would be no Lisa’s Ladies, no soccer team formed in honour of late teammate and friend Lisa Graham-McGaffin.

Lisa suffered from heavy menstrual flow for about six years, often low on iron and blood, with several procedures failing to remedy the problem.

“She was back at the hospital for a blood infusion, for the third time over several months, and they made an appointment, gave her a couple weeks notice that she was going to get in for this hysterectomy,” said Colin McGaffin, Lisa’s husband.

“She must have been extremely weak going into that and, yeah, had a couple strokes during surgery and never woke up. It’s too bad that she struggled for so long and was pretty weak going into that surgery, but no, I don’t think there was any wrongdoing.”

Lisa was transferred to Kelowna General Hospital after

the unsuccessful operation took place in Kamloops. She died on Dec. 20, 2021. She was 53.

“Yeah, I don’t know if I can even begin to put that into words,” Colin said, his voice breaking while he searched for words to describe the shock he felt that day. “I still can’t tell a story.”

Colin and Lisa grew up in Kamloops and knew vaguely of each other in high school, but both had left the city and were visiting the Tournament Capital during the summer when they had a chance meeting on the dance floor of Uncle Charlie’s, a popular bar back in the day.

“We were dancing for a

couple songs before we actually got to last names and we were both quite amused that we both knew each other, but didn’t put it together that it was Colin McGaffin and Lisa Graham,” Colin said with a laugh. “She was just not afraid of anything, except heights and speed. It was inspiring, for sure. It was very attractive to begin with, just knowing you could go do anything together. I loved Lisa so much and I miss her every day.”

They became an item in 1996 and were married in 2008. Their two children, Kade and Maizy, were robbed of a mother whose impact on friends and family

was abundantly evident during a celebration of life ceremony held last month at Thompson Rivers University.

“She was … I will get through this … to me, she was the most selfless, caring, kind human I’ve ever known in my entire life,” said Robb, a close friend to Lisa for 16 years. “She was a total giver. She listened without judgment. Without any hesitation, she would be there for you. I am so honoured and lucky to have been a friend and teammate of hers.”

Robb was driving her son to Vernon for a hockey tournament on the day of Lisa’s death. They were in Falkland when she

received the text. Her son read it aloud. They pulled over so he could take the wheel.

“She was still with us at that point,” Robb said. “She was an organ donor, so Lisa was giving to her very last breath. After speaking at the celebration of life, I do think it totally helped, just to have that little bit of closure. Does it ease the pain? No. It’s such a huge loss to so many people in our community.”

How did Colin handle the celebration of life?

“I don’t know if I handled it,” he said. “As the moment grew longer at TRU in the Grand Hall, it certainly got easier, but yeah, it was pretty emotional. It was nice to see that everybody could get the full picture or some people, maybe. Like, even my daughter, I’m sure she learned a lot about her mother that she didn’t really know.

“She was so confident all the time and never said anything bad about anyone — ever.”

Lisa and Colin started Fresh is Best Salsa Company in 1999, getting it off the ground by selling portions of the homemade recipe at the Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market.

MARTY HASTINGS STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com

Lisa’s Ladies formed to honour late teammate and friend Lisa Graham-McGaffin. The soccer squad entered a tournament last month in Vernon and reached extra-time of the title tilt, during which a spine-tingling finish took place.

LISA GRAHAM-MCGAFFIN

Rink was shelter from pain for late trainer Friedel

Pete gave the major junior national championship rings to his wife, Lorelee, and his children, James and Emma.

Longtime ice maker Yoshida passes away

For longtime hockey trainer Pete Friedel, the rink was refuge from painful ailments.

“It was awesome for him to be able to go to that shelter and get away from whatever it was — his leg being taken away from him, his kidney disease … go down the list,” said James Friedel, Pete’s son.

“When somebody is on the path of cancer that he was on, you kind of understand what the end is going to look like, but you never really prepare yourself for that.”

Pete died on Saturday, June 17. He was 63.

“Today, with word getting out, I always knew how remarkable of a human he was, but my phone has been buzzing off the hook literally since people found out,” James said.

“That’s just been the best thing, seeing that everyone kind of felt the same way about him. It’s something you always hope for. I mean, you assume, but it’s just kind of awesome to see how much the community

really cared for him. You don’t see that very often.”

Pete worked most recently for the junior B Kamloops Storm for six seasons and previously plied his craft with the major junior Kamloops Blazers as an assistant trainer for more than three decades.

He was part of Memorial Cupwinning teams in 1992, 1994 and 1995.

“Rest in peace, Pete,” the Blazers tweeted on Monday. “Thank you for your selfless service to the Blazer organization.”

The Storm also praised Pete on Twitter: “Peter has been a key contributor to our program’s positive growth. Peter was not only an elite-level trainer, he was a great friend to us all.”

James said he practically grew up on Mark Recchi Way alongside his father.

“All our great memories are from hanging out in the Blazers’ dressing room,” James said. “Growing up as a kid with your old man doing that was pretty awesome. It’s hard, obviously. We were so close growing up.”

In recent years, Pete was often seen in his wheelchair in the bowels of Memorial Arena and McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, tending to players and taking care of equipment.

“He’s been in pain for the better part of a decade,” James said. “I always tell people, when he was at the rink, he didn’t feel anything, you know.”

MARTY HASTINGS STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com

Longtime Kamloops Curling Club head ice maker Wayne Yoshida has passed away.

“He was such a great guy,” KCC general manager Rob Nordin said on Tuesday. “He was always great to my kids. Whenever they were in a spiel, he would always tell them, ‘OK, on that sheet, you’ve got to watch for this and you’ve got to watch for that.’ He was always great to my girls and all the juniors, for that matter.”

Yoshida was born in 1932 in Nanaimo. His family was interned in Greenwood during the Second World War. Yoshida later made Kamloops home.

He worked in the automotive industry and was head ice maker at KCC for about 20 years. His obituary notes highlights include Kamloops hosting the 1998 World Curling Championships and 1996 Labatt Brier.

Nordin looks back fondly on calls he received from inquisitive Yoshida.

“He would phone during World Curling Tour events or the Brier and would always be asking questions — ‘What’s this no-tick thing? How do you like this guy? Matt Dunstone lives in Kamloops? Did I hear that right?’

“He wandered around, loved everybody, talked to everybody and made you smile.”

Yoshida died recently after a brief illness at Royal Inland Hospital.

W ith ever y play, you’re making BC even bet ter.

Last year, the Cit y of Kamloops used its por tion of provincial gambling revenue for hosting Cascades Casino and Chances Kamloops to help improve communit y facilities like the Hillside Stadium running track

MARTY HASTINGS STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com

PETE FRIEDEL

A23

The salsa, tortilla chips, taco shells, guacamole, sauces and dips are now popular across the country.

“Her and Colin owning Fresh is Best and starting from scratch with it and building it to what it is today is a huge feat, and such great business people in our community,” Robb said, noting Lisa was also a talented artist and musician. “Fresh is Best had sponsored our team the entire time I played on it.”

Fresh is Best sponsored Lisa’s Ladies, the team fielding some players who had not laced up cleats in a decade.

“I had 16 ladies within 36 hours,” Robb said. “Everybody wanted to play.” They played and did so wearing shirts that featured a picture of Lisa.

“You’re looking at your teammate and they have a shirt with Lisa’s picture and she’s smiling her beautiful smile on it,” Robb said. “You have to live your life because you just don’t know. That’s what Lisa did — to the fullest.”

There were no expectations for success, but pressure ramped up when the final arrived and Lisa’s Ladies squared off in a

rematch against a team from Alberta, a club that left its mark in round-robin action.

“Oh, my lord,” Robb said. “They were a little bit rough, so we were a little bit bruised and battered walking into the final. We were all there with the same goal at that point. We just wanted to go play for Lisa. I’ve never been so nervous in my entire life playing a soccer game.”

The match was deadlocked.

Lisa’s Ladies just couldn’t get one past that goalie — until a cross came in from the heavens, landing on the foot of striker Renaye Jordan, a gift from a golden soul.

“All I remember is seeing it hit the back of the net and our entire team was screaming like kids,” Robb said. “I’m not kidding you.

“We were yelling and hollering and crying and hugging and it was the most

amazing thing.”

The Kamloops team hoisted the championship trophy and received the tournament’s sportsmanship award.

“It was so perfect,” Robb said. “That was the essence of Lisa. That was pretty amazing and it was a huge honour.”

Colin is persevering and said his kids are missing their mother, but doing well.

“I will always cherish the full life we had together,” he said. “I know I need to go forward and yeah, in some aspects, I’m pretty good, but yeah, in some, not so good.”

Support from friends and family helps, and so did Lisa’s Ladies, who may have had a little help from above.

“Lisa would have absolutely loved that, so if Lisa was able to be there in energy and spirit, she definitely was,” Colin said.

“It’s a beautiful thing.”

“We were yelling and hollering and crying and hugging and it was the most amazing thing’

From

Rodeo rewards for Freemantle

Macey Freemantle of Kamloops earned podium finishes, hardware and scholarship money at the B.C. High School Rodeo Association Provincial Finals earlier this month in Quesnel.

Freemantle, a Grade 10 student at Valleyview secondary, qualified for provincials in seven events, placing second in pole bending and cutting, fourth in cow horse and sixth in team roping.

NORTHPAWS AIM TO REBOUND

The Port Angeles Lefties swept the Kamloops NorthPaws in West Coast League baseball action on the weekend on Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium.

Port Angeles (5-10) won 2-1, 11-1 and 14-5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

“We didn’t pitch

particularly well,” Kamloops head coach Keith Francis said in a NorthPaws’ press release. “Our starters let us down. They are much better than they showed. Coming out of the bullpen, we weren’t throwing strikes. We just didn’t get it done.”

The NorthPaws — who dropped to 4-11 and last in North Division

standings — are playing this week against the Wenatchee Apple Sox (11-4) at Norbrock Stadium.

Game 1 was played on Tuesday after KTW’s press deadline.

Games 2 and 3 will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, with game time slated for 6:35 p.m. both nights.

She claimed the all-around cowgirl saddle, the Frankie Kerr Memorial Buckle for outstanding service to the BCHSRA and $650 in scholarship money — $150 for handling student vice-president duties for the south region of BCHSRA and $500 for nabbing all-around cowgirl.

Freemantle won reserve all-around cowgirl for the south region of BCHSRA and claimed the buckle for finishing atop south region cutting standings.

She has qualified in four events for the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals, which will take place in Brandon in August, and the National High School Rodeo Finals, which will run in July in Gillette, Wyoming.

Freemantle will not compete in Brandon, but plans to participate in Gillette.

Paddlers fare well down south

Ten Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club athletes competed in the annual Ted Houk Memorial Regatta earlier this month in Seattle and combined to finish third overall at the event, which featured 230 athletes from 16 clubs.

The KCKC under-16 team of Mischa Gover, Corben Hickey, Damian Hickey, Douglas Hunter, Harris Hunter, Nate Neuls and Leilani Vanderydt placed first in the Juvenile Division.

Masters athlete John Grover claimed first place in the

Masters B Division. Each of the team’s U14 athletes reached finals in all of their events.

Josh Reid and Tate Solomonson also had strong performances for the KCKC.

Later this month, Liam Grover, Mischa Grover and Harris Hunter will participate in the sprint national team trials in Montreal.

The club offers weekly summer camps. Find more information online at kamloopscanoeandkayakclub.ca or email info@ kamloopscanoeandkayakclub. ca.

Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club paddlers celebrate after a successful regatta earlier this month in Seattle. The team placed third at the event.

Legacy of Latter-day Saints

This July, dozens of youth from throughout the B.C. Interior will gather in Kamloops to voluntarily give up their cellphones, dress like pioneers and drag handcarts for 25 kilometres across the hills, creeks and grasslands of a local ranch.

Why? To grow closer to Jesus Christ, to commemorate the sacrifices of their faith’s pioneers and to better appreciate the faith that once propelled thousands of Latter-day Saints to seek a safe home to practise their religion.

We call this event Trek in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since 1997, Trek has occurred on a ranch in Kamloops every four to five years. Its intentional infrequency means most youth will only experience it once in their life. However, the lessons they learn about the need for individual and collective faith stick with them forever and help them navigate the challenges of living out their faith in our modern world.

The original mass migrations of Latterday Saints in wagons and handcarts, which our Kamloops event commemorates, began in 1846 in Nauvoo, Ill., and ended in 1869, when the railroad arrived in Utah.

I want to share a few of the traditional experiences that occur during the Kamloops Trek to give a glimpse into Latter-day Saint pioneer history and lessons our youth learn about the power of unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

When youth arrive at Trek, they are assigned to a “family.” Adult couples are assigned to be the ma and pa of each family and the siblings of a family work, eat and live together while they pull their clothes, food and supplies on their family’s handcart for four days.

Throughout the four-day, 25-kilometre journey, the youth will encounter many obstacles and experiences planned and executed by an incredibly organized and unseen support team.

Here are a few:

• Women’s Pull: During the traditional Women’s Pull, young men are asked to step away from their family’s handcart and watch while young women bravely pull alone, often on a steep incline. This symbolic act honours the hardships endured by many women during the early trek, when they journeyed without their husbands or sons. It evokes emotions, reminding participants of sacrifices made due to military service, economic constraints, illness, injury or missionary work. The Women’s Pull fosters collective empathy and respect, amplifying the strength, resilience, determination and faith of women who carried their families forward, bearing the weight of their hopes and dreams.

• Creek Crossings: The handcart route is designed so that participants encounter multiple creek crossings on their journey. As families navigate these challenges, the past comes alive. In the warmth of summer, with water flowing gently, participants recall the

treacherous river crossings of the early pioneers. Kamloops’ creeks serve as poignant reminders of harrowing winter passages, where young men carried others across icy waters, some losing their lives for their bravery. The contrast between past life-or-death perils and present inconvenient challenges deepens the emotional impact as participants reflect on sacrifices made. Creek crossings embody sacrifice, bravery and compassion, connecting participants to the profound legacy of the early Latter-day Saints.

• The First Night: The first night of Trek holds significance as participants gather under the starry sky, without tents or modern comforts. Vulnerability fills the air, yet a circle of wagons and heartfelt prayers provide a sense of safety. With an unseen support team guarding the campsite, reassurance abounds. Participants find solace in community and unwavering reliance on Jesus Christ, mirroring the early pioneers’ deep faith. It commemorates the vulnerability and faith of early Latter-day Saints, who found strength, guidance and safety in their journey by the same means — prayers and faith.

• Orphan Families: Orphan families create a powerful impact as some older, responsible youth find themselves placed in a family without adult leaders. This surprise twist deepens their sense of responsibility and

reliance on help from the wagon train community. Reflecting on the challenges faced by early pioneers, especially orphaned children who lost parents along their way, participants appreciate the strength born from interdependence and community bonds. They learn to humbly seek assistance and embrace collective support, embodying the spirit of Trek.

Latter-day Saints worldwide find inspiration in the miracles and faith of early pioneers. Similarly, during our Trek in Kamloops, our youth in the B.C. Interior honour and express gratitude for the gifts bestowed upon our faith community long ago. This experience deepens our connection to Jesus Christ as we remember those gifts.

Lastly, as we contemplate the conditions that once forced the Latter-day Saints to leave their homes and trek across this continent, our resolve strengthens to nurture a welcoming community that upholds religious freedom and fosters spiritual growth for individuals of all faiths.

Andrew Lamb is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kamloops. KTW welcomes submissions to its Faith page. Columns should be about 700 words in length and can be emailed to editor@kamloopsthisweek.com. Please include a very short bio and a photo.

City of Kamloops

Invasive Plant Walk $15

When is a plant considered a weed? When is a weed considered invasive? What impact do these invasive have on local ecosystems? Join an invasive species educator to help answer some of these questions This program is run in partnership with the Kamloops Naturalist Club Peterson Creek

Sat June 24 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Painting, Singing, Acting, Dancing This camp program is a great opportunity for children who are interested in trying out new areas of the arts or that already loves multiple disciplines

Kamloops Performance Company

Sat July 17 - July 20

Ages 4 - 6 4/$100 9:30 am to 11:30 am

Ages 7 - 10 4/$140 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Playdate at the Museum

Age 5 and under $5 Kick off the summer with the KMA! Meet new friends and introduce your little one to the Kamloops Museum in this fun filled morning that will include a mini-tour of our exhibitions, stories, songs, and crafts

Kamloops Museum and Archives

Wed July 5 9:45 am to 10:30 am

XploreSportz Summer Camps

Ages, 4-6, 6-10 and 7-12

Visit PacificSport Interior BC website pacificsportinteriorbc com/ to learn more about the camps that are being offer this summer

July 2023 – August 2023 $195/week

* Reduce rate for second child $175/week

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD FOUND ON A33

ANDREW LAMB SPECIAL TO KTW

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MLS#173286

Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Want to escape to a more peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle? Funny Duck’s Family Farm has the perfect opportunity for you!

A beautiful house in the country, still close to the city of Kamloops, is offered for sale, presenting you with a chance to embark on a new adventure. This isn’t just ‘any old’ house – it boasts 6+ bedrooms, 4 baths, open and airy living space with 10ft ceilings, a huge basement and a massive, covered deck with majestic views for miles.

This is also a hobby farm, where you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and live off the land. Unique in the area, it has a petting zoo area, play equipment and picnic area, a pumpkin patch and sunflower maze in season. It is already a destination for birthday parties, school and daycare trips and special events year round.

A rustic camping area, listed on hipcamp, offers another income stream and the store on site allows you to easily monetise your hard work!

Many potential opportunities exists to expand into new income streams; backing onto crown land, this 20+ acre property offers space for ATVing, hiking and hunting or simply enjoy the private garden areas, above ground pool and relax looking out at the majestic hills and river.

TERESA BETTS | 250-258-0206

REALTOR®

SEEKING PROPERTY MANAGER

JOB SUMMARY:

As a property manager, the main responsibility is to ensure that a property or properties are running smoothly and efficiently Some of the Key Duties include:

• Managing lease agreements and tenant relations.

• Ensuring rental properties are maintained in good condition.

• Overseeing property repairs and maintenance

• Performing regular property inspections

• Collecting rental payments and performing accounting tasks

• Working with vendors and contractors to coordinate repairs and maintenance. Developing and implementing marketing in social media to attract new tenants

• Budgeting and financial planning for property or properties.

• Complying with all laws and regulations such as the residential Services Act of BC

• Resolving disputes and conflicts in a timely manner and court appearances as necessary.

• Contract with tenants by negotiating leases and collecting and refunding security deposits to facilitate smooth move-in and out processes.

PROPERTY MANAGER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be Licensed or successful in obtaining certification from UBC To meet requirements must have a grade 12 and take the online courses and write exam with a passing grade of 70% Relevant work experience

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

• Able to work both evenings and weekends on standby

• Manage budgets and analyze financial reports and make informed decisions

• Ability to use computer programs.

Compensation: $25 to $30 per hour

Health insurance includes dental, prescriptions and preventive care.

If you are looking for a company, you can grow with that offers team support and a great work/life balance apply today to:

Royal Lepage Merritt Real Estate Services Ltd

3499 Voght Street Merritt V1K-1C6

Attention to: Claudette Edenoste

E mail claudetteedenoste@royallepage.ca

Applications accepted until July 14, 2023

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

8. Wishy-washy R S V.P

9. Plant holder?

10. Funeral ceremony

11. Go across

12. Soldier on horseback

13. Word before card or fund

14. Sloan School of Management sch.

15. Team

16. Major Southwest hub, for short

18. In store

19. Like some New Orleans cooking

20. Sloppy

25. Letter in the classical spelling of “Athena”

27. “Here’s something that’ll help”

29. Some battery ends

31. Amorphous creatures

32. Dreaded musician of the 1960s-’70s

33. Brisk

34. Luxurious affair

35. Symbols of failure

36. 1974 Eurovision winner that went on to international stardom

37. “Wahoo!”

38. Immature stage of a salamander

39. Letters of credit?

41. Drops on the ground?

42. “Not on ____!”

44. Where Wagner was born and Bach died

46. Scatterbrained

58. Invoice directive 59. Like most medicaljournal articles 60. High hairstyle

Club 62. Egypt’s “king of the gods” 63. Excellent conductors

N Y C. neighborhood near NoLIta

Put in jeopardy

Muscle cars of the ’60s

Lyrical, as poetry

Facetious response to a verbal jab

“E T

DOWN

1.

47. Man’s name that sounds like two consecutive letters of the alphabet

48. At any time

49. Oktoberfest vessels

51. Some unfair hiring managers

52. “Go ahead,” in Shakespeare

6.

7. Be a snitch

56. Openly controversial opinions

57. Knock out

WEEKLY COMICS

WEEKLY HOROSCOPES

Aries, sometimes you do not have to take action to fix problems Cer tain issues will work themselves out on their own Don’t feel the need to rush in and find a quick solution

Right now the spotlight is on you and your talents, Taurus You have a large group of admirers who are looking to see what you can produce next

You will recover quickly from disagreements with others, Gemini These situations may give you a new perspective and compel you to change a few things for the better

Confide in a friend about something that is troubling you, Cancer Talking about the issue could star t you down a path toward a solution Thank others for lending an ear

Leo, on the outside ever ything may seem to be going along fine with a friend But things may be different on the inside Treat others tenderly to avoid piling on

Vacation vibes are high this week, Virgo You are daydreaming about potential destinations Narrow down your prospects and zero in on your favourite features

You may want to know what another person is thinking but don’t want to come off too pushy, Libra If you phrase the question the right way, it won’t seem like an interrogation

Your physical and emotional health may be a focal point this week, Scorpio Book some time for reflection, rest and relaxation Solitude can help you clear your mind

Sagittarius, you are staying on top of your responsibilities and have good energy moving through this week However, by the time the weekend arrives you may be running on empty

JUNE 21, 2023 -JUNE 27, 2023

Tr y having some fun outside of your comfor t zone, Capricorn It is good to tr y new things from time to time and push the boundaries you have set up for yourself

Aquarius, this week you may find yourself meeting new people and fitting into groups you had not imagined Network as much as possible while having fun along the way

Pisces, finances may have been on your mind and you are eager to pay off some debt It could take a while, but you will be successful

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

EARN EXTRA $$$ KTW requires door to door substitute carriers for all areas in the cit y Vehicle is an asset Call 250-374-0462

NORTH

June

5pm Tables, chairs, pyro baking dishes, pots & pans, books, CD s, DVD's, Blurays, records, old br icks garden tools honda rototiller 100's of sunglasses, 100's of vintage greeting cards cellophane wrapped, tshir ts, plants, trees, lamps, large glass wine jugs

NORTH SHORE

Pancake Breakfast 8amnoon 423 Tranquille Road Saturday, June 24th

All proceeds to go Odd Fellows & Rebekahs

PINEVIEW VALLEY Sat, June 24th 9am-2pm

39 Olive Way Lots of new and gently used clothes, hshld items boys toys minecraft books +more

CANADA DAY

Kamloops

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 ca

2012

Comes with bibliographies $7 500 250-374-2211

Do you have an item for sale under $750?

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

Tractor for Sale - Ford 9N, front end loader, backblade and weight attachment Wheel chains $3500 00 Call 250-672-9712 778-220-4443, 250-819-9712 Open to Offers

Gardener 30 years exper ience Garden clean-ups and pr uning 250-312-3986

Peter Smiths Renovations Free Estimates: Kitchens, Basements, Renos, Sidewalks, Garages, Fencing, So Much MoreNot Limited (250) 2626337

"purebred stock" must be registrable in compliance with the Canadian Pedigree Act.

2006 Yamaha Star Exec cond $5500/obo 250851-1115

778-470-2007

4

Starcraft 17ft skiboat with evinr ude 110hp V-4 motor $6800 250-374-9677

WAREHOUSE LIEN ACT

By the vir tue of the Warehouse Lien Act Older trailer possibly a boat trailer, no VIN, found abandoned on rural proper t y in Lac La Hache in 2021 Proper t y was purchased in 2021, previous owner unaware of trailer Trailer will be taken into possession on July 1 2023

Contact: Erika Fischer 1948 Cardinal Drive, Kamloops, BC V2C 4H4 780-817-6464

WE will pay you to exercise! Deliver Kamloops This Week Only 1 issue a week! Call 250-374-0462 for a route near you!

Kamloops This Week has an immediate opening for a

Temporary Full-Time Circulation Clerk

Starting wage: $17 per hour

four hours per day, five days a week

As a first point of contact for the Circulation Department you will:

• Respond to inquiries or issues arising from the public, drivers, and newspaper carriers in person, by email or over the phone

• Resolve customer complaints and escalate issues to management as required.

• Assist in the recruitment, hiring and management of carrier routes.

• Perform data entry into the circulation data systems.

• Assist with the setup and removal of newspaper boxes throughout the city

• Help keep the warehouse organized and tidy

To be successful in this role, you possess:

• Administrative skills including: word processing, data entry, email, photo copier

• Great communication skills

• Professional telephone manner

• Attention to detail

Additional qualifications that would be a definite asset:

• Vehicle with a valid driver’s license

• Experience using a pallet jack.

Education and

• Grade 12 and 6 months in an office environment

Posting will remain open until filled.

Please apply in confidence to:

Lorraine Dickinson

Team Lead lorraine@kamloopsthisweek.com

COTTONWOOD MANOR

(144-unit seniors apartment building on North Shore) needs a FULL-TIME

MAINTENANCE PERSON

Duties include doing routine checks and preventive maintenance on all building and mechanical equipment; janitorial work such as mopping and waxing floors and cleaning washrooms; looking after plumbing problems such as leaking taps, unclogging and replacing toilets; putting out City of Kamloops bins for garbage and recycling pickup; keeping building and grounds clean and tidy; small electrical repairs and suite renovations; changing filters on HVAC units; drywall repairs, snow removal and miscellaneous other duties A criminal record check is required

Please send resume to #307 – 730 Cottonwood Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2B 8M6 or email to info@cottonwoodmanor.ca

Diversability Intern We're Hiring!

Are you passionate about accessibility?

Do you want to help the library reduce barriers and improve services?

The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library has an exciting opportunity for a Diversability Intern who will help us shine a spotlight on seniors and persons with diversabilities.

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of Young Canada Works (YCW) program

This is a temporary, full-time, 35 hour/week position, however a part-time schedule can be negotiated. Evenings and weekends may be required.

The position runs until March 31, 2024. Pay is $25.42 per hour plus 14% in lieu of benefits.

Application deadline is June 26. Complete details of the position and required qualifications are available online at: tnrl.ca/jobs

MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT POSITION

Position Title: Maintenance Assistant

Position Location: Royal Inland Hospital – Kamloops, BC

Position Summary:

This position is designed to deliver reactive and preventative maintenance to equipment and buildings in order to provide a safe and functional environment

Note:

This is a 24/7 Facility For that reason, shifts are on rotation and consist of daytime, evening, and graveyard hours.

You as a Maintenance Assistant:

• May be required to perform a variety of tasks, including but not limited to small equipment repairs, plumbing repairs, preventative maintenance assignments and fire life safety inspections.

• Performs non-technical tasks, such as delivering, receiving, painting, property inspections, and waste removal

• Moves furniture and equipment as assigned Responds to emergency helicopter landings.

• Responds to Code Red emergencies while working with on site power engineers to verify the nature of the emergency and assist where required

• Complies with the work order system by interpreting work orders, performing work requests and completing work orders, as per instruction

• Complies with relevant company policies and procedures and adheres to company standards

Is this role right for you?

• This role is a 4 on 4 off 12 hour rotating shift schedule and consists of daytime, evening, and graveyard hours.

• Candidate must be physically able to perform basic maintenance tasks, which includes the ability to climb ladders, load or unload materials, parts, or products onto or from pallets or trucks.

• Required to possess a valid driver ’s license

• Must be a team player and committed to working in a safe environment

• Building maintenance construction and or technician experience is considered an asset

EllisDon is proud to provide this unique career opportunity within a progressive environment with continuous learning and opportunity for growth, as well as a competitive compensation package

We are an equal opportunity employer We welcome people of any age, culture, subculture, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, race, size, mental or physical status, veteran status, religion, language, political opinion working-style preference, family status, education, and socio-economic status. The EllisDon core values of Integrity and Mutual Respect welcomes everyone at work and in the community and our value of Mutual Accountability, means that we all have a role to play As an EllisDon employee, this will ultimately be your commitment to Inclusive Diversity Accommodation for Applicants with disabilities will be made during the recruitment process when requested

Please apply online at ellisdon com/careers or email your resume to rfulton@ellisdon com

WEBBER L AW

Expanding Lawfirm requires: Additional Lawyer for Solicitor Law Practice

1 to 3 years experience preferred. Excellent Salary & Benefits for qualified applicants.

Send Resume to: Roger Webber Webber Law

#209 – 1211 Summit Drive Kamloops, BC V2C 5R9 roger@webberlaw.ca tel: (250) 851-0100

DRIVERS NEEDED

Class 1, 2 or 4 unrestricted licence required. Seasonal winter work - par t time or full time - you decide how much you want to work You are providing passenger transpor tation between K amloops Airpor t and Sun Peaks Resor t and between Sun Peaks resor t and other regional ski hills plus Kelowna and Vancouver airpor ts Comfor t driving with a small cargo trailer (5x8) is ideal but not essential You will lift and stack luggage, some of which may exceed 25 kg Hourly rate is $25, increasing 1 Nov23 to $25.50

Contact TasteFull E xcursions Inc (Gordon) at 7 78.586 0586 or gordon@tastefullexcursions ca

Dr Dunbar Dr -57 p

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

&

476 – Tanta us Crt T nn swood

Crt 2018-2095 Tremerton Dr -50 p

Rte 485 – 690 Robson Dr 2020+2084 Robson P -45 p

Rte 487 – 201-475+485-495 Hol yburn Dr Panorama Crt -75 p MT DUFFERIN/

PINEVIEW VALLEY

Rte 561 – Ash Wynd Fir Pl

1700-1798 Lodgepole Dr –58 p

Rte 580 – 1300-1466 Pacific Way Pra rie Rose Dr Rockcress Dr -83 p

Rte 581 – Canne Dr Cascade St 1500-1539 Hil side Dr, Me ors Pl -44 p

Rte 582 – 1540-1670 H ls de Dr 1500-1625 Mt Dufferin Ave Windward Pl -38 p

Rte 584 – 1752-1855

H llside Dr -26 p

Rte 586 – Mt Dufferin Cres, Park Way Plateau P -26 p

Rte 587 – Sunsh ne Crt & Pl -51 p

Rte 588 – Davies Pl 1680-

1751 H ls de Dr Hi s de Pl Monterey P Scott Pl -46 p

Rte 589 – 1200-1385 Copperhead Dr -48 p

Rte 590 – 1397 Copperhead Dr Saskatoon Pl -36 p

ABERDEEN

Rte 501 – 655-899 Flem ng Dr F eming Pl -49 p

Rte 503 – Flem ng C rc Hampsh re Dr & P Hector Dr -51 p

Rte 504 – 2146-2294 Sifton Ave, Sifton Lane -48 p

Rte 505 – 2005-2141 S fton Ave -51 p

Rte 508 – 700-810 Hugh

Al an Dr -49 p

Rte 509 – 459-551 Laurier Dr Shaughnessy H l -46 p

Rte 510 – 372-586 Aberdeen

Dr 402-455 Laurier Dr -36 p

Rte 511 – Drummond Crt -50 p

Rte 512 – A ns e Pl Balfour Crt

Braemar Dr MacIntyre Pl -69 p

• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.

• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.

• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300

Rte 513 – Braemar Way 556-696 Laur er Dr 22142296 Van Horne Dr -36 p

Rte 516 – Garymede Crt 2204-2263

Rte 543 – 1250 Aberdeen Dr K nross Pl Linfield Dr -102 p Rte 544 – 2070-2130 Van Horne Dr Holyrood Circ & Pl -23 p VALLEYVIEW Rte 602 – App e Lane Kno lwood Cres Parkh l Dr 1783 Va eyview Dr -54 p

Rte 603 – Comazzetto Rd Strom Rd 1625-1764 Va eyview Dr -42 p

Rte 606 – Orchard Dr Russet Wynd, 1815-1899 Va eyview Dr -39 p

Rte 607 – Card nal Dr 1909-

2003 Valleyv ew Dr -33 p

Rte 608 – Cur ew Pl & Rd 1925-

1980 Glenwood Dr -70 p

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

Rte 615 – River Rd Sunset Crt,

2415-2487 Sunset Dr –43 p

Rte 617 – 2401-2515 Va leyv ew

Dr Va eyview Pl -51 p

Rte 618 – Big N cke Pl Chapman

P Marsh Rd Paul Rd Peter Rd

2440-2605 Thompson Dr -58 p

Rte 620 – MacAdam Rd

McKay Pl Pyper Way 25162580 Valleyv ew Dr -63 p

Rte 621 – Duck Rd Ske y Rd, 96 Tanager Dr 2606-2876 Thompson Dr -46 p

JUNIPER

Rte 655 – 1685 F nlay Ave

2202-2385 Skeena Dr 2416-2458

Skeena Dr (Even Side -34 p

Rte 664 – Kicking Horse Dr & Way -30 p

Rte 669 – Emera d Dr -55 p

Rte 670 – Ga ore Cres Crt & P – 94 p

Rte 671 – 1830-1997 Qu Appe e B vd Myra P -68 p

BARNHARTVALE

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

Rte 706 – 1078-1298 Lamar Dr Mo-L n Pl -29 p

Rte 718 – Bela r Dr -22 p

Rte 721 – 5530-5697 C earview Dr Coo ridge Pl W dwood Dr -38 p

DALLAS

Rte 750 – 5101-5299 Dallas Dr Odd Side), Mary P Nina P , Rache Pl -31 p

Rte 751 – 5310 Barnhartva e Rd Bogetti P 5300-5599

Da as Dr 5485-5497 ETC Hwy Viking Dr Wade Pl -64 p

Rte 752 – Coster P 5600-5998

Da as Dr Harper P & Rd -69 p

Rte 755 – 6159-6596 Dallas Dr McAu ey Pl Me rose Pl Yarrow P -71 p

Rte 759 – Bever y

Celebration of his Life

Derek John Galbraith

September 23, 1988 – June 24, 2008

A Very Special Young Man

If

By Helen Steiner Rice

Vienna Tessari

February 22, 1936 - June 17, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we must share the passing of our amazing mother Mom was the centre of our universe, the love of our lives, and has now become our angel forever We are eternally grateful for all of the memories that our beautiful brave caring mother has taught us. Love you forever our Calabrisella Mia…

Vienna Tessari passed away on June 17, 2023 aged 87 years. She is survived by her children Maria (Bosko), Tony (Wendy), and Manuella; five grandchildren Aleeza (Erik), Dino (Hanna), Joseph, Marco, Sophia; and many nieces and nephews in Canada and Italy; brothers Frank (Patricia) Carnovale and Vito (Lina) Carnovale; and sister Victoria Giampa. She was predeceased by her husband Dino Tessari; sisters Angelina Scerbo and Nerina Calendino; as well as her mother and father Maria and Stefano Carnovale.

A prayer service will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 6:30 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Kamloops, followed by Mass on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery All are welcome to join the family at Colombo Lodge at 1:00 pm for food and beverages and Celebration of Life.

Memories and Condolences may be left at: www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Mark Anthony (Tony) Swanson

We are broken hearted to announce the sudden passing of Tony, on June 13, 2023 from complications following surgery

Tony is survived by his wife Rhonda, daughter Chelsea and son Chase. His beloved grandchildren Adreil and Amaia. Siblings Don, Ian (Colleen), Caulleen (Preben), brother-in-law Doug and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his sister Cecilia, father and mother Don and Doris, mother and father-in-law Louise and Jack.

Tony was born in Kingston, Ontario on November 30, 1952. Because his father was in the military Tony and his family lived in many places in Canada until settling in Kamloops in 1970. Upon graduation Tony went to work for the Ministry of Highways when they privatized he went on to work for Interior Roads, WhiteLine and finally Argo Road Maintenance until his retirement in 2013. In 1994 he met the love of his life, Rhonda and they married in 1995. Chelsea came along in 1997 and Chase in 1999. Tony and Rhonda began to dream of moving to Mexico after spending many family vacations there. In 2013 they made that dream come true by moving to Los Ayala, Mexico. Tony really was living his dream there at home and on the golf course!

Tony’s ashes were spread in a private ceremony

Ask DRAKE

Drake Smith, MSW Funeral Director

Every Wednesday in KTW!

Q. Should I scatter the ashes on a windy day?

A. No. Please call/download Drake’s Guide to scattering. It tells you all about the law, as well as the wind.

Drake Cremation & Funeral Services

210 Lansdowne • 425 Tranquille Rd. 250-377-8225 • DrakeCremation.com

AFFORDABLE & NO BLACK SUITS

See you later, Frog.

PS- In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ICU at the Royal Inland Hospital or the BC Cancer Society

Jon Andrew DeMarcos

DeMarcos, Jon Andrew, 66 years old, passed away at Vancouver General Hospital on June 10, 2023. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Jon is survived by his wife of 48 years, Maureen (née: Kidd), children Mathew (Jennifer), Jasmine (Andrew) and Nathan (Melynda), and grandchildren, Sheldon, Mila, Anna, Harrison and Audrey

Jon worked in the pulp and paper industry as a power engineer in Prince George, Peace River, Cranbrook and Kamloops. In retirement he and Maureen moved to Oliver and wintered in Yuma, Arizona. He enjoyed walking his dogs, motorcycling and soaking up the sun.

Gone far too soon, he will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by family and friends.

A celebration of life service will take place on June 25, from 3:00-6:00 pm at Frog City Cafe in Kaleden, BC.

Donations to Canadian Blood Services in Jon’s name are welcomed.

Gail Maurene Slack

We lost an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend with the passing of Gail Maurene Slack on June 8, 2023. Gail was a beautiful combination of gregarious humour, unapologetic authenticity, fierce loyalty, stubborn impatience, medical miraculous-ness, lucky superstition, and a generosity of love that fills our hearts still and will not fade.

Gail was born on September 28, 1944, in Toronto, and moved west to Kamloops where she met her soulmate, Gunnar She gave birth to two sons and a daughter but had an open home and a hand in raising more than just her own children. She liked to spend her time helping others, telling jokes to complete strangers, and winning at the casino.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Slack Residence, 2472 Thompson Dr at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

In Loving Memory of Dennis Culic

March 9, 1947 - June 15, 2023

Dennis passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 15, 2023 with Carola by his side. He is survived by his brothers Rod (Grace), Leonard (Pat), his nieces Denise, Jaclyn, his nephews Nicholas, Sam and their families, his sister Rhonda and his partner Carola. We are heartbroken at Dennis' passing.

Thank you to emergency services and the Royal Inland Hospital staff for your expertise and care of Dennis. Dennis received outstanding care. Thank you to all of you for your compassion at this most difficult time.

Dennis will be remembered for his soft-spoken ways, his kindness and patience. He will be missed so very much.

No service by request.

Benjamin Lawrence Atkinson

June 15, 1983 - June 8, 2023

It is with great sadness that on June 8th, 2023, our beloved son, brother, father, nephew and cousin, Benjamin has passed away

There will be no formal service but a gathering of family and friends will be held at Kamloops Funeral Home on June 23rd at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. All are welcome.

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

As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...

William (Bill) David Martin

May 21, 1940 - April 9, 2023

In the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, April 9th, 2023, Bill Martin peacefully passed away at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home.

Born at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, Bill was the eldest son of John and Daphne Martin. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, daughters, Michaela (Brian) and Anna (Andy), granddaughter, Parker, brother Paul (Shirley) sister-in-law, Aviva, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Bob and grandson, JJ Rio.

Growing up in the then undeveloped hills of upper Columbia Street, he roamed the sagebrush, bunchgrass, and ponderosa pines of Power ’s Addition, land his grandfather owned and later donated much of to the City of Kamloops. John and Daphne built their home and welcomed many family and friends there over the years. Bill grew up in this warm, loving, and supportive environment.

Graduating from Kam High in 1958, Bill travelled an extensive route overland from Kamloops to Brazil and back. A pioneer in the travelling world with many interesting stories, his slide show of his travels was legendary among his family and friends. Travelling remained a love of his throughout his life; he was interested in culture, land and especially, food.

After completing a BA at UBC, he attended a Folk School in Denmark, where he learned to speak Danish and was inspired to start a career in Early Childhood Education. Bill met Marilyn at UBC. They had a long distance relationship for 4 years while they completed education in different ends of the country, before Marilyn joined Bill to travel in Europe. They were married on a very snowy Christmas Eve in 1968 at St. Francis in the woods near Nelson, BC.

Following completion of a master ’s degree in Early Childhood Education (UBC) and interested in the ‘family grouping’ of one-room school houses, Bill taught in two such schools in the Cariboo. He then returned to Kamloops and developed the Early Childhood Education Program at Cariboo College, now TRU.

He was known as the ‘Gentle Giant’ in the field of Early Childhood Education.

Bill had an active life in Kamloops for over 40 years, teaching, raising his family, being a wonderful friend to many, and an engaged community member

Bill grew up hunting ducks and fishing trout with his dad and kept the tradition alive by taking his own family to the ‘nightflight’ out in the Nicola Valley and lakes around Kamloops. He and Marilyn loved to swim, cross-country ski, cycle, hike, and camp, instilling in their daughters a love of nature.

Marilyn and Bill were married for 55 years. Theirs was a true love story - an almost unattainable partnership that left others in awe of their beautiful union.

A kind, fun, and ever-supportive dad to his girls, he was also well-loved by many nieces and nephews. In his circle of family and friends he was known for his kind and quiet presence, often actively listening, and then asking deep and thoughtful questions. If you listened carefully, there were many subtleties, nuances, and life lessons in Bill’s very dry sense of humour Inherently and eternally optimistic, curious and romantic, Bill will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

As a friend of the family recently said, “the world doesn’t have enough Bill Martins’”. The family is very grateful for the medical care and guidance Bill and family received from his care team, Dr Susan Vlahos, Dr Pwint, Dr McDonald, Palliative Care nurse, Gretchen Zirnhelt, and the staff at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Bill at TRU in The Mountain Room on Sunday, July 9th, 2023 at 2:00 pm.

Memorial donations may be made to: The Children's Therapy & Family Resource Centre. etransfer@kamloopschildrenstherapy.org or cheque (memo: In memory of Bill Martin) www.kamloopschildrenstherapy.org

Kamloops Hospice Association. www.kamloopshospice.com

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. friends.ca

Elmer Edward (Ed) Buder

April 4, 1925 in Pembroke, ON - June 11, 2023 in Kamloops, BC

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear father Elmer “Ed” Buder of Spences Bridge, BC, at age 98.

Ed left home in Ontario at age 14 via freight train. Around Amaranth, Manitoba he was hungry and needed a job. He found one at a fishing site on Lake Manitoba.

The following year he jumped another freight train, hunkered down in a boxcar until near Lethbridge, Alberta. Word got around that this kid was looking for a job, and so began Ed's love for horses as the Bar U Ranch hired him.

A year and a bit later the west was calling again. By this time he had his own saddle horse and a pack horse Off he went through the Crowsnest Pass. A few stories were told of this trip!! He landed a job at the Guichon Ranch near Merritt.

Spring of 1942 Ed took a Greyhound Bus to Williams Lake. He soon found work on the Gang Ranch. Spring of 1943, Ed enlisted in the army hoping he'd see parts of the world. Unfortunately for Ed, the war ended and he did not get overseas. Married life began with mining jobs at Blairmore and Canmore, Alberta.

However, ranching was in his blood and in 1951 the family moved to Upper Hat Creek, BC where Ed worked on the Meason Ranch. This ranch sold in 1953 and Ed moved over to the Mile 15 Ranch near Lillooet, BC working for Colonel Spencer Then a 'big' job came up - the Seton Dam. The family moved to Moha, BC.

By June of 1955 the family moved back to Upper Hat Creek where Ed worked for Allan Cameron on the A4 Ranch. However, the children needed schooling so Ed bought his own acreage near Spences Bridge, BC in 1958. Over the years, Ed tried a bit of everything but in the end, and for 38 years, he made a living as a truck driver Later in life, Ed had his own truck and hauled a lot of hay and livestock. At age 79, (2004); he sold his truck (Cash On Delivery), and reluctantly retired to his beloved property just outside Spences Bridge on Hwy 8. He enjoyed his latter years with his adult children coming and going constantly He had a few horses, a couple dogs, two trips to Ontario to visit relatives and the freedom to come and go as he pleased.

When Ed could no longer drive, his daughter and son-in-law from Vernon took him in. Two weeks later the Atmospheric River hit the Nicola Valley and his property was hit extremely hard. Ed lost everything. He never returned.

Ed believed for many, many years that white bread, sugar and salt were the body's enemies. He took handfuls of vitamins. He believed he'd live to be 100 but always stated "Nobody gets out of this world alive!" His humour was just under that thick skin and his favourite joke was, 'What did the monkey say when he got his tail caught in the lawnmower?" "It Won't Be Long Now!"

Ed is survived by his sister Eileen Andrews of Pembroke, Ontario as well as numerous nieces and nephews. His daughters: Edith Rubner (Keith Bridges); Kathy Hoch, Holly Westlund (Stewart); and son Stanley Buder (April). 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Old School/Community Center in Spences Bridge, BC (not Clemes Hall) on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Bring your stories.

From Roy, quote:

“Uncle finally got his horse and saddle and headed home”

Arrangements entrusted to Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324

Condolences may be expressed to the family at cypressfuneral.ca

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes on

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes on

Kathleen Emily Beauchamp

November 15, 1937 - June 10, 2023

It is with a great sense of loss that the Beauchamp family announces the passing of our Mother, Kathleen Emily Beauchamp on June 10, 2023 surrounded by the love of her family

Mom was born on November 15, 1937 on “The Farm” in Dapp, AB to Andrew and Dorothy Montgomery and was raised with her seven siblings.

Mom earned her Teaching Certificate from the University of Alberta and then taught elementary school in Dapp and Clyde, AB.

At a chicken dinner in Clyde, she met Armand Beauchamp and they were married on July 15, 1961.

Mom’s teaching career was put on hold as they raised 5 children while living in Westlock, AB and in 1964 they moved to Kamloops, BC, and added another 4 children to their family

Mom was never happier than in the presence of her family, she was always up for participating in any endeavour with her kids or grandkids, even if it meant taking to the field when their slow pitch team the Killer B’s was short players; playing beer pong with her granddaughter ’s friends at her birthday party or walking after midnight on a footpath through the woods to what they hoped was their hotel in Holland, with her daughter-in-law after seeing her son participate in the 100 mile walk. She was fearless, but never reckless. She was always open to learning new things, and she actively pursued activities that challenged her mind and body She was kind and thoughtful in her dealings with friends, family and even strangers and always willing to lend a hand. She worked tirelessly to make gatherings special and fun and would often bring everything but the kitchen sink to family gatherings - no effort on her part was too great. After raising and orchestrating such a large family, it is no surprise that she was used to doing things and having things done her way and often to our chagrin, she was usually right. She was our family steering wheel: a teacher, a disciplinarian, a cheerleader, a coach, a sounding board. She never complained and always believed that others carried heavier loads. Mom always provided wise and thoughtful advice, and was always prepared to listen, encourage and support however needed. She loved learning about all her grandchildren, partners and friends, and always made a point to ask about each of them, remembering the details from past conversations. She was perfectly imperfect and we were so fortunate to call her our mother, grandmother and great grandmother

She leaves to mourn her 9 children: Rick (Chris) of Coquitlam, Ian (Julianne) of Penticton, Dan (Laureen) of Calgary, Debbi, Len (Marcy), Laurie (Bob) all of Kamloops, Dale (Kim) of Victoria, Kelly (Lynda) of Vancouver and Jamie (Deena) of Coquitlam.

Her 19 grandchildren: Jill (Kris) Elliott of Squamish, Leah (Darryl) Jackson of Port Moody, Haley (Pete) McDougall of Vancouver, Michelle (Darren) Mayne of Fort Saskatchewan, Monique (Tiago) Monteiro and Luc (Aimee) Beauchamp all of Princeton, Jenelle (Calvin) Ottoson of Cochrane, Katee (Josh) Pearson of Calgary, Liane (Nick) Beauchamp of Kamloops, Rachel Beauchamp of Coquitlam, Devin (Chloe) Beauchamp, Chloe Beauchamp-Brisson of Victoria, Megan Monkman and Ryann Monkman both of Victoria, Brady (Ann) Beauchamp of Grand Prairie, Jenna (Michael) Beauchamp of Castlegar, Abby (Leanne) Beauchamp of Prince George, Evan Buday of Castlegar and Kelly (Shannon) Buday of North Bay, ON.

Her 14 great grandchildren: Liv, Beau, Grace, Cole, Dylan, Phoebe, Crosby, Marcelo, Tiago Jr, Anna, Quinn, Levi, Matthew and Skylar

Also left to mourn her loss are her siblings: Joyce Shinkaruk and Shirley (Art) Henke of St Albert, AB, Phyllis Montgomery of Edmonton, AB and David (Denise) Montgomery of Parksville and numerous nieces & nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Armand Beauchamp and her parents: Andrew and Dorothy Montgomery of Dapp, AB. Her siblings: Virginia and Jack Montgomery of Dapp, AB, Joanna Goldnick of Westlock, AB.

Mom learnt and appreciated the strengths and values of being part of a community

May

when she was raised in the farming community of Dapp/Westlock. Leaving their home, family and friends to move to a different province with her husband and growing family, was not an easy decision but Kathleen quickly established a new community for herself and her family in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. She and Dad were involved with the expansion of the OLPH elementary school, in which they enrolled their younger children. She was a long standing member of the Catholic Women’s League with 63 years of service and she made many long lasting friendships. She would pack up the younger kids and bring them to the church to play, while she polished the brass and cleaned the church with the other ladies.

Mom returned to teaching at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School once all her kids were in school themselves, teaching initially and then as vice-principal/teacher for a total of 14 years. After that, she took some computer courses and was very proud to work with the Kamloops Hospice Association in the office for approximately 7 years, and was there during their drive to establish The Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home in Kamloops. She then had the opportunity to work with the OLPH Parish as the Youth Religious Education Program Co-ordinator on a part time basis and also in the OLPH Church office. She particularly enjoyed getting to know the different Priests assigned to the Parish, and the new parishioners accessing either the church or the school, and of course maintaining contact with long standing parishioners. This ultimately became the job she officially retired from when she was 80 years old.

Mom’s commitment to community continued beyond her paid working life: with OLPH Parish, she continued volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister and Co-ordinator, Finance Assistant Counting Co-ordinator and volunteering with other parishioners for special church events. Mom had volunteered for a number of years with the North Shore Community Policing and she also volunteered for many of the major sporting events held here in Kamloops, as we are the Tournament Capital of Canada. She was also very active with her local strata, volunteering to lend a hand whenever and wherever needed. She considered the members of her strata friends not just neighbours. She served for more than 20 years on the Strata Council as treasurer and really valued her role in the community

Mom always took her commitments very seriously, if she said she would take on a responsibility, she always followed through. Even if it was not convenient for her or if her position required her to be the bearer of an unpopular decision. She did so with grace and compassion and she upheld a high standard of confidentiality in her many roles.

Unfortunately, Mom got to know the RIH very well over the years. She had many visits to the ER, and was grateful for the care she received from the physicians and nurses there, as well as the RACE Clinic cardiologists and nurses who guided her while living with her heart condition. She always commented on how kind and good to her they were. She enjoyed interacting with the cleaners, the lab, and the activity team as well as other patients in her room, and would often share her dry sense of humour to gain a smile and brighten each's day

The family would like to thank the staff of St Paul’s Hospital, and 5 South at RIH for their compassionate care during the last couple months as they supported not only her, but the large family at her bedside. Last but not least, Dr Kraig Montalbetti for his exemplary care over the years, always taking time to listen and identify her priorities and care.

Prayers will be recited on Friday, June 23 at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 635 Tranquille Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 24 at the church with Father Peter Hoan Nguyen.

Reception will follow in the Parish Centre. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Saturday Mass will be webcast from 11:30 AM , you can view the ceremony live or on replay at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/75771.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service. 250-374-1454.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

the Sunshine of Comfort Dispel the Clouds of despair

Fond memories linger every day, Remembrance keeps them near.

Patricia (Pat) Wood

Patricia (Pat) Wood passed peacefully at Ridgeview Lodge in Kamloops on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The admirable care she received during her six-year residence, and particularly by the staff at the Orchard unit, was a blessing. Pat was predeceased by her father Ivan Fredericks, mother Barbara Fredericks, sister Joan Danby, brother-in-law John Danby, and husband William (Bill) Wood. Pat was as a devoted and wellloved daughter, sister, wife, stepmother, Oma, and friend. Married to Bill in 1988, she was embraced by the entire family Her easy-going nature and joyful laughter graced all our lives.

Born in 1937 and raised in Wynberg, Cape, South Africa, she emigrated along with the family in the early 1960s. She and her sister lived with her mother ’s family in England before the two companionable siblings eventually immigrated to Canada. They arrived together in Kamloops in 1967. Along with other family members, Pat became a Canadian citizen in 1975. She completed a pre-requisite certificate in shorthand and secured a permanent position as a civil servant in 1970 at the Kamloops Office of the Department of Highways. She worked diligently for the BC Government as a secretary for over 25 years.

Music filled her life through the professional careers and amateur pursuits of all her family members. As a retiree, she assisted on tours with her sister ’s senior ladies Rainbow Choir Pat was an active volunteer throughout her life, and she lent her energies to various vibrant Kamloops organizations: the Multicultural Society, the Caledonian Society, the Concert Caleigh Party, the Kiwanis Music Festival, and the BC New Democratic Party. It is important to say that she enjoyed being a member of the congregations of both St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

Pat’s stepdaughters Susan and Janine Wood are hosting an informal celebration of life “Patricia E. Wood Memorial Luncheon” at the Sandman Signature Kamloops Hotel in the Savona Room on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 12noon. Please consider yourself welcome if you knew Pat and wish to share a moment to honour her life and memory

A formal interment ceremony will take place earlier in the morning at 10:00am alongside the Fredericks’ family plot at the City of Kamloops Hillside Cemetery

William Francis Barry Tripp

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our legendary father William Francis Barry Tripp. Born the only child of Frank and Catherine (Kitty) Tripp. Barry was born on December 15, 1946 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He fought his battle right to the end, passing the way he wanted with loved ones by his side listening to Bob Seger

He leaves behind his son Travis, daughter Stacey Flood and his "favourite son-in-law" Floody, grandchildren Jordan and Alex Tripp, Justine and Hudson Flood.

In his early 20s he relocated his family from Southern Ontario to Central BC. Talented in many fields from mining to Human Resources, to marketing and promoting. He was an avid sports fan, playing hockey himself in Alberta and Ontario. He had the gift of the gab which lead him to have an uncountable number of friends all over the world. The last 13 years he headed south settling in Quartzite, Arizona. He would spend the winter months with his partner and love Rose Casarez. Together they enjoyed dancing, BBQing, bar hopping on the Colorado River and hanging with the Quartzite Gang. When he arrived back he would be the "Camp Host" at Legacy Park in Ashcroft, BC. At the park he would work under and become friends with some special people. He will be remembered by so many people for playing the keyboard on the ironing board and playing the guitar on a broom stick. Many said they felt they've known him for years. He will never be forgotten. He leaves behind a legacy, people will be talking about him for years to come. Thank you to his best friend and caregiver in

the end

Tommy Parker and

family

As per Barry's request there will be no funeral, the family will be holding a celebration of life at another time. Donations may be made to charity of choice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Harpreet Kaur Ghuman 1956 - 2023

Harpreet was born on May 5, 1956 in Singapore, and then settled in Jandi, Hoshiarpur at a young age. She was the fourth youngest out of her eight siblings. In 1974, she was married to her beloved husband, Boota Singh Ghuman, with whom she started a family They settled in Soosa, Hoshiarpur and welcomed their 2 sons, Bhupinder Singh Ghuman, and a few years later Pavandeep Singh Ghuman.

In 2001, she came to Kamloops, British Columbia to reside with her family She was then later joined by her late brothersin-law family, including her sister-in-law, her two nephews, and their families. Harpreet lived with her two sons, two daughters-in-law, one granddaughter, and two grandsons happily

She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, going for long walks, cooking for her family, and also having tea time with her husband. She was her family's foundation, time table, and head lady of the house. She left behind everyone near and dear to her heart. She will be missed dearly, never forgotten, and will be in our hearts forever

Her celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Kamloops Funeral Home.

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

250-554-2577

Alice Kathleen Scott

Alice Scott (née Leavitt) of Kamloops, BC passed away at Royal Inland Hospital on May 17, 2023, with her family by her side.

Alice was born in Kamloops on June 9, 1947, to Harry and Kitty Leavitt. She was raised in Sullivan Valley on the family ranch. Alice married Ronald Scott on September 24, 1966, and together they set out to make their mark on the world.

Alice was a long time 4-H Member, being a part of the Lower North Thompson Club for many years in her youth. Later in life she volunteered with the BC Agricultural Expo.

Alice was predeceased by her parents Harry and Kitty Leavitt and her brother Brian Leavitt. She is survived by her husband Ron Scott, daughter Michelle (Barry) Peters, son Keith (Jill) Scott, grandchildren Landon, Grayson, Cyenna and Kellen (Lucy), brother Robert (Donna) Leavitt, along with many nieces, nephews and extended family

Condolences can be left with Drake Cremation & Funeral Services.

A celebration of life will be held at the Heffley Creek Hall on Saturday, July 29th from Noon to 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Ian Scoular

Ian Grant Scoular passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, on May 22, 2023. He was born in Kamloops, December 29, 1952.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 26th at 1:00 pm at Westsyde Fellowship Church, 2833 Westsyde Road, together with SeventhDay Adventist Church.

Wayne Tsutomu Yoshida

May 11, 1932 - June 11, 2023

After a long life well-lived, Wayne passed away peacefully after a brief illness at Royal Inland Hospital with his wife Bonnie, daughter Debbie and granddaughter Emily by his side. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Bonnie, daughter Debbie (Greg) and his granddaughters Emily & Maya.

Wayne is also survived by his brother Mike (Hisako), brothersin-law George (Bernice), Satoshi, Stan, sisters-in-law Shirley (Dave), Donna (Tosh), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his mother and father, Hisae & Iwataro, and by his sister Tokuko (Akira) and brothers Satoru (Missy), and Massey Nephews and niece Vernon, Lance, Rhys and Naomi.

Born in Nanaimo, Dad, was just a young boy when his family was interned to Greenwood, BC during the war. He later made Kamloops his home.

Wayne worked in the automotive industry for many years as a partsman and later became the head Ice maker at the Kamloops Curling Club where he worked for 20 years until his retirement. One of his biggest highlights is when Kamloops hosted the 1998 World Curling Championships and the 1996 Labatt Brier

Dad was a talented craftsman having built some of his own custom fly-fishing rods and even a couple of boats. He was a true fly fisherman and never missed a chance to poke fun at his trolling buddies. Some of dad's favourite places to be were out on the ocean fishing, or fly fishing at one of his favourite lakes. He also enjoyed curling, golfing and took great pride in maintaining the greenest healthiest lawn in the neighbourhood. He will be remembered for his 34 plus years of dedication to spearheading and organizing the Annual KJCA Fishing Derby He especially loved seeing the kids catch a fish and be able to pick out a great derby prize.

PAPA

Thank you for always encouraging Maya and I to do our best in school. You were the Fun grandpa that always knew how to make us laugh. You taught Maya and I how to fish and we always looked forward to the annual Japanese Fishing Derby We always knew how proud you were of both of us and will miss you more than you will ever know

Friends and Family are invited to reminisce, laugh and remember with us on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 1:00 - 3:00 PM at The Japanese Cultural Centre, 160 Vernon Ave, Kamloops, BC.

In lieu of flowers or Koden, donations can be made to the KJCA or Royal Inland Hospital if desired.

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

250-554-2577

Joyce Irene Ferguson

September 30, 1928 - March 23, 2023

Joyce Irene Ferguson (née Slinn) of Kamloops passed away peacefully in her sleep March 23, 2023 at 94 years of age.

Joyce is survived by her four sons Roy (Agnes), Bob (Nina), David (Helen) and Doug (Denyse). Joyce was predeceased by her parents Ivy and George Slinn, her husband Don and her brother Don Slinn. Don and Joyce were married for over 72 years. Joyce is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who all miss her dearly

Joyce was born in North Vancouver and grew up in the Lynn Valley area. She met Don there and after they were married, they moved to Clinton and started their family They moved to Brocklehurst in 1963. Eventually, Don and Joyce built a home in Westsyde and lived there for a number of years.

Joyce had a love for gardening, baking and sewing. Between flower gardens, with her favourite flower being the Iris, and her large, bountiful, vegetable gardens she was always very busy She loved to cook fresh vegetables with her dinners and kept her yard and gardens to perfection. Joyce could sew any kind of clothing or toys and most family members have one of Joyce's Father Christmases in their possession. In the midst of all of this, she found time and the perseverance to raise four boisterous boys, all of whom developed into fine men.

Joyce was a great baker and was most famous for her apple pies. Many days her kitchen counter was covered with fresh pies and freshly baked bread. During the family’s years at Cherry Creek Ranch, Joyce had an abundant supply of apples from the ranch's large apple orchard.

Don and Joyce along with Roy and his wife Agnes bought and operated the Cherry Creek Ranch for a number of years but Joyce maintained a very close connection to her Westsyde friends and continued those relationships when the ranch was sold and the family returned to Kamloops to the Brocklehurst area. She was active in the Church of Cleopas and was a member of “The Birthday Club” along with many of her good friends. She always looked forward to their get-togethers and spoke fondly of her fellow members.

In their later retirement, Joyce and Don downsized and moved into the Shores where they lived for several years. When Don passed away Joyce continued on at the Shores for some time.

Joyce eventually moved to her final residence at the Overlander Extended Care Hospital where she made many new friends whose company she thoroughly enjoyed.

Joyce lived to a good age and we would like to thank all that provided assistance to her in The Shores and Overlander and for making her life as happy as they could.

The family will be holding a celebration of life for Joyce at Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Dr. Kamloops, BC June 24, 2023 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers the family would suggest donations to the Heart and Stroke Fund.

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

250-554-2577