Kamloops This Week August 30, 2023

SKWLAX CHIEF RECOUNTS ESCAPE FROM FLAMES

JAMES TOMMA: ‘THE FIRE PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO BE DENIED’

When the Bush Creek East wildfire crossed Shuswap Lake and Little Shuswap Lake, Skwlax te Secwepemculecw stood in its way as the land bridge between north and south.

It was there where three brothers, and the band, took a stand against the blaze. But there was no stopping it.

Skwlax Kúkpi7 (Chief) James Tomma and two of his brothers, Rocky and Ronnie, spoke about their experience in fighting, then fleeing, the fire.

“My brother put it so eloquently at the time, that ‘the fire people wanted to dance.’ They weren’t going to be denied that day. We could hear them dancing,” James said. “And then the wind people joined in and they took what they needed.”

At last count, 31 homes were lost at Skwlax te Secwepemculecw, formerly referred to as the Little Shuswap Lake Band.

Rocky and James each lost their homes that day — Aug. 18. Ronnie did not.

“I got a home to go back to. I don’t consider myself lucky at all when my band hasn’t got a home to go to,” Ronnie said. “I don’t wanna go back home, be too alone, without my people there.”

At about noon on Aug. 18, James was put on alert after a visit from a BC Wildfire Service worker. He immediately sent band office staff home and began wetting down areas around his home, laying out hoses to protect structures. Not long after, that alert changed to an order. James and his brothers took up the fight at other houses, but were ultimately pushed out by the inferno.

“I got my wife out. Things were falling all around us. She got out with our kitty. We saved our kitty, Smudge,” James said.

The escape was so close the trio couldn’t even get to their vehicles in time. They retreated and took refuge under the Squilax Bridge, but were then trapped there.

James said two Adams Lake band mem-

bers, “two brave boys,” took to the water and told the chief by phone they were coming to get him. That rescue, which James said he cautioned against, was a success. But from the boat, all he can remember is seeing his community go up in flames.

“People are just coming to terms with what was lost,” James said.

While many houses were lost, James said there is still much left standing, including community living buildings, townhouses, the band’s wellness centre and connected residential units, most of Veterans Lane and the cemetery. And while structure losses were immense, no lives were lost.

“You know, yeah, we lost houses, but the important thing ... That house doesn’t become

a home unless family is in there. And everybody from the community got out safely,” James said.

Rocky said he has felt an outpouring of support since the fire came through.

“Not only we as a community are hurting, everyone is hurting with us. I’ve had friends calling me, asking how I am, am I OK?” Rocky said. “They’re feeling with me ‘cause that house meant a lot, not only to us as a family, but to them, also. My mom welcomed anybody and everybody to that home.”

The band must now turn to healing, James said, pointing to laughter as the best medicine Tkelt Kukpi7 (the creator) can provide.

“Hearing my elders laughing and joking, knowing that they don’t have anything to go back to, but they can still sit down with each other and visit and share grief together, but also heal,” James said.

Rebuilding costs are expected to be in the tens of millions, James said, noting he hopes to get band members back into their homes before the snow flies.

The Kúkpi7 also took a moment to thank firefighters for their efforts.

“There’s no failure. There is none. The fire people were not going to be denied.”

SEAN BRADY STAFF REPORTER

Skwlax Kúkpi7 (Chief) James Tomma speaks with media. Damage from the fire included these charred vehicles.

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C I T Y PAG E

August 30, 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

September 12, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

September 25, 2023

2:00 pm - Build K amloops Council Select Committee

September 26, 2023

1:30 pm - Regular Council Meeting

September 26, 2023

7:00 pm - Public Hearing

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

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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:

• 6th Avenue

Columbia Street to Lansdowne Street

• Tranquille Gateway

Improvements Project Tranquille Road from south of K amloops BC SPCA to Crestline Street

• Ord Road Water Main Connection Project

Singh Street to 8th Street

• Notre Dame and Laval

Sanitar y Sewer Improvements

Intersection at Notre Dame Drive and Laval Crescent

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

E PA R K

Tomorrow, August 31, is the final show of Canada’s longest-running free music festival! We are thrilled that you have joined us for the 29th season of Music in the Park

The final per formance is by Shattered Blue, playing classic rock at the Rotar y Bandshell in Riverside Park 7:00–8:30 pm. Please bring a non-perishable food donation in suppor t of the K amloops Food Bank Food trucks will be on site star ting at 6:00 pm.

A huge thank you to BCLC and Henr y Small for their continued suppor t and sponsorship of this community event We look for ward to a lively lineup of talent in 2024.

Repor t an issue: 250-828-3461

For after-hours emergencies, press 1.

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Sign up and speak up at: LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca

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I

R G A N I C WA S T E C O L L E C T I O N I S H E R E

Curbside organic waste collection star ted the week of August 21 for single - and multifamily households in K amloops that receive curbside car t collection. Learn more about the organics program at Kamloops.ca/Organics

Residents are reminded that solid waste collec tion schedules have changed. Organics are collected week ly, and garbage and rec ycling are now collected ever y other week on an alternating basis.

Sign up for collection day reminders on the free K amloops Waste Wise app

Updated solid waste collection schedules are available at: Kamloops.ca/Collec tionSchedules

K E E P U P T H E G O O D W O R K

The City of K amloops would like to applaud the action of our residents and local businesses in coming together to reduce water consumption since tightened restrictions were implemented on August 14.

Based on week ly usage repor ts, we are seeing great strides in lowering usage to our 25% city-wide reduction target Currently, restrictions include no outdoor watering or irrigation except when using a hand-held, spring loaded nozzle; no pressure washing for aesthetic purpose; and no washing vehicles/boats unless at a commercial car wash.

Keeping these restrictions in place and adhering to hand watering only using a spring-loaded nozzle will help maintain low water use throughout the city

For tips, frequently asked questions, and updated information about current restrictions and water usage levels, visit Kamloops.ca/Drought

C L

I M AT E F R I E N D LY H O M E P R O G R A M

The Climate Friendly Home Program helps households plan and prioritize ways to reduce energy costs and carbon pollution, prepare for extreme weather, and suppor t biodiversity The program is a collaborative effor t between the Youth Climate Corps, BC Hydro, and the City of K amloops

The free program consists of a home energy tour where the resident and the Youth Climate Corps team work together to identify oppor tunities to reduce heat loss, increase efficienc y, improve home comfor t, and take advantage of current rebates The tour extends outside to assess how landscaping is providing protection from climate risks, such as wildfire and suppor ting a healthy urban ecosystem.

All par ticipants will receive helpful home energy supplies to get star ted

For more information and to register, visit Kamloops.ca/ClimateFriendly

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Another response to mayor’s lawsuit

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Kamloops Coun. Katie Neustaeter has filed a response to Kamloops Mayor Reid HamerJackson’s bid to have a B.C. Supreme Court justice strike sections of her legal reply to his lawsuit against her.

The hearing that was set for Aug. 21 has since been adjourned to a yet-to-be-determined date in September, to allow the defence more time to prepare for the court proceeding, according to Hamer-Jackson’s lawyer, David McMillan.

Hamer-Jackson’s application calls for numerous sections of Neustaeter’s reply to be struck, arguing they are irrelevant, prejudicial and vexatious. Neustaeter’s Aug. 10 response to the application, however, states the paragraphs are directly responsive to the notice of civil claim, contain examples of specific boundary violations by the mayor and provide context related to her defence of justification and fair comment.

“The plaintiff has set down this application without any attempt to address the concerns identified prior to proceeding to chambers,” Neustaeter’s response reads. “The plaintiff’s bald assertions that the notice of civil claim offends the Supreme Court Civil Rules is without foundation. This application is entirely unnecessary.”

The mayor’s lawsuit, filed on June 12, argues Neustaeter defamed him on March 17, when she read out a statement on behalf of all council, claiming he had violated personal and professional boundaries, which the mayor contested was baseless and caused innuendo on the part of the public, damaging his reputation. The lawsuit also claims Neustaeter defamed Hamer-Jackson in a meeting and via email with other councillors and staff in February. In her reply, Neustaeter argues she did not defame the mayor and that her statements were justified based on substance, fact and fair comment.

Among the portions Hamer-Jackson wants struck is section 30, which details numerous “general boundary violations and disruptive behaviour” of the mayor, claiming he yelled at, belittled and disrespected councillors and city

staff and engaged in name-calling. The section said the mayor attended operational meetings at which he was not required, communicated confidential information with people who are not city councillors or staff, publicly criticized councillors in local media, failed to attend public events despite committing to do so and repeatedly emailed city staff between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., despite being asked not to do so unless the matter was urgent.

While Hamer-Jackson denies the allegations and describes them as irrelevant to any issue raised in this legal action, Neustaeter’s response said they are important to her defence.

“With respect to paragraph 30 of the response to civil claim, this is a key paragraph of the response to civil claim as it particularizes the behaviour of the plaintiff which underpins the defence of justification pertaining to the March 17, 2023 statement, as well as the context underpinning the fair comment defence in relation to the allegedly defamatory statements published to other City Councillors,” Neustaeter’s response reads.

The mayor also refutes, and calls to strike, a section of Neustaeter’s reply claiming he shared personal information about her father — former Kamloops MLA Kevin Krueger — with council and involved Krueger in city business. Neustaeter’s reply claims Hamer-Jackson also sought her dad’s help in getting Neustaeter

to support firing a city staff member.

In response to the mayor’s call for those sections to be struck, Neustaeter’s reply said that while Hamer-Jackson refutes those sections, he has failed to set out an alternate version of the facts, and that Neustaeter has “substantively set out her version of events relating to the plaintiff’s repeated contact with her father” in those sections, challenging the plaintiffs pleaded facts.

Neustaeter’s response also said the mayor failed to set out an alternate version of the facts in his denial of sections nine and 10 in her response regarding “boundary violations” with councillors. The mayor said those were false, disingenuous attempts by Neustaeter to concoct ‘boundary violations’ where none existed, but did not include them in his application to the BC Supreme Court to have sections struck.

In a case such as this involving numerous paragraphs and complexities, McMillan told KTW, it is likely a judge would take time to weigh the arguments and decide what, if anything, should be struck. He said a judge could make a decision on the spot or take weeks to render a decision.

“Typically, applications to deal with deficiencies in pleadings are dealt with fairly promptly, simply because the action can’t proceed on until the proceedings are properly closed,” McMillan said.

Kamloops Coun. Katie Neustaeter (left) and Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.

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Protester arrested at Drag Storytime

A protester was arrested at a Drag Storytime event at the North Kamloops Library this past weekend.

The event was part of Pride Week in Kamloops.

Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Crystal Evelyn said officers were called to the library at 693 Tranquille Rd. at about 10 a.m. on Saturday,

Aug. 26, for a report of anti-Pride protestors who were holding signs and yelling insults at those entering the event.

“While police were on scene, a protestor entered the Storytime room and began filming the event, which was intended and attended by children under 18 years old,” Evelyn said.

“The protestor was asked to leave and refused to do so, resulting in an arrest for

trespassing and mischief. The suspect was later released pending the investigation’s conclusion.”

Evelyn said police are also investigating a report of an assault involving a person with a sign.

Anyone who witnessed the fracas or has information related to the incidents is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2023-30850.

Man hospitalized in downtown hit and run

Kamloops Mounties are seeking information from the public after a man was seriously injured when struck by somebody driving a stolen car in downtown Kamloops.

The hit-and-run occurred on Friday, Aug. 25, at about 2:35 p.m. in the area of

Lansdowne Street and Sixth Avenue.

There, a pedestrian had been struck by a dark-coloured Chevy Cruz car. The driver sped away and the victim was taken to hospital and is expected to survive.

CPl. Crystal Evelyn said the car was found a short time later, with a smashed windshield, abandoned in Riverside Park. Police determined it had been reported

stolen on Aug. 23 from the 100-block of Yew Street in North Kamloops.

Police are looking to speak with anyone who may have knowledge related to the crash, vehicle theft or the suspects who abandoned it in Riverside Park

Anyone with information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2023-30738.

Officer injured during traffic stop; suspect escapes

An early-morning traffic stop led to a female driver fleeing and a police officer being injured.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, at about 3:30 a.m., a Kamloops Mountie stopped a black Chrysler 300 near Copperhead and Versatile drives in Pineview Valley as the vehicle had no insurance.

“The officer was attempting to handcuff her when she allegedly resisted and re-entered her vehicle,” Kamloops RCMP

Cpl. Crystal Evelyn told KTW .

“A struggle occurred as he continued to attempt to handcuff her inside the vehicle, at which point she sped away, causing him minor injury in the process. She is still at large.”

Anyone who saw the incident unfold or who has information related to the investigation is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2023-30973.

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

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LOCAL NEWS

Pandemic led to change in plans

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

A long-planned office building for the 300-block of Tranquille Road in North Kamloops will no longer be built as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arpa Investments, the Kamloops construction company behind numerous new buildings on the North Shore, had plans to construct an apartment building, hotel and office buildings on a large piece of land along Tranquille between Clapperton Road and Wood Street — 320 and 348 Tranquille Rd.

Those plans, however, have since been changed to just the hotel and apartment building. The six-storey apartment building is set to rise at the corner of Clapperton and Tranquille (the south side of the property) with two floors consisting of about 17,00 square feet of office space as a remnant of the original concept — an eight-storey office building with approximately 55,000 square feet of office space.

Arpa co-partner Joshua Knaak told KTW the office building was scrapped due to material costs and the fact there is less demand for office space following the pan-

demic than there was before it.

Knaak said there were a number of interested parties, including the provincial government, that had expressed interest in moving into the original, pre-pandemicplanned building. Some, however, ended up realizing they no longer needed the added space as having staff working from home became a common working model during the pandemic.

Knaak said lumber prices also tripled on what was planned to be a mass-timber construction.

“It was just a different time and different needs,” Knaak said. “That one was just a casualty of COVID.”

Right now, Knaak said, there is more need for housing than there

is for six stories of office space and he feels the apartment building will have a “good mix” of residential and commercial space.

City council approved a development permit for the mixed-use building in April, but construction has yet to begin.

Currently on the property sits a lone building at Tranquille and Wood (the north side of the land) that was recently vacated by the Kamloops Innovation Centre. The non-profit that helps start-up businesses with mentorship and office space is relocating to Thompson Rivers University.

Knaak said the numerous businesses that call the building home — about 15 companies mostly

In 2018, the banner on the Kamloops Innovation Centre building in North Kamloops heralded pending renovations. The plan now is to have a hotel rise where the building now sits at the corner of Tranquille Road and Wood Street.

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

involved in the tech industry — will remain in the building under leases with Arpa.

Once the apartment building is erected at the corner of Clapperton and Tranquille, the old Kamloops Innovation Centre building will be demolished and a hotel will rise in its place.

The businesses now in the Kamloops Innovation Centre building will then be moved into the new apartment building, which will have about 17,000 square feet of office space on the first and second floors. Knaak said the businesses in the Kamloops Innovation Centre building take up about 6,000 square feet of office space.

“Our vision was always to create a new space as an incubator,” Knaak said.

Arpa is asking businesses looking for commercial space to contact the company by email at Joshua@arpainvestments.ca.

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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

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Don’t blame international students

Almost a year ago, in this editorial space, I wrote about our city’s housing crisis and how it impacted students. Last October, I described the steps Thompson Rivers University was taking to ensure all students have safe and affordable places to live amidst a dearth of affordable rental units.

It’s unfortunate that one year later, we’re still talking about shortages of good rental housing. If anything, the problem is worse and more people than ever, including in political circles, are scrambling to find solutions.

As is often the case when societies confront widespread social ills, those from outside our borders are blamed.

Over the decades, immigrants to Canada have been held responsible for everything from economic downturns to increases in crime. Today, immigrants, temporary foreign workers and international students are being viewed as rising culprits behind housing shortages.

Canadian media outlets recently reported that some in the federal government are suggesting it might be time to stem the flow of temporary international visitors to Canada, including students, to temper the demand on housing.

Such sentiments can be misleading, detracting from the real issues. It’s crucial to base decisions on evidence rather than misconceptions. It’s essential to analyze the current situation in the light of this historical context and ensure narratives are not driven by unfounded biases.

BRETT FAIRBAIRN View From TRU

The fact is, the causes of Canada’s housing crisis are complex and wideranging and have been years in the making.

While the influx of international students and immigrants is highlighted as a concern, myriad other factors are responsible. These include bureaucratic red tape, antidevelopment sentiment and past policy decisions, such as rolling back federal tax incentives for rental construction.

A report to Canada’s Parliament in May 2002 highlights some of these very things and shows how long we have known a crisis has been looming. To single out immigration or international students as a significant cause today is oversimplification.

So, what is the answer?

As I said last year, housing is a community issue that will require input and effort from many people and different levels of government. Only by working together will we be able to solve these complex problems.

As well, we must recognize the immense value people from other countries — including short-term

visitors such as students — bring to our communities.

The international diversity at TRU is one of our institution’s greatest strengths. Approximately 4,000 international students from more than 100 countries study here. The mixing of ethnicity and ideas in such an environment contributes more to global understanding and cultural awareness than almost any other educational measure imaginable.

The impacts for Canadians are just as meaningful. The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada states: “Preparing Canadians for the 21st century requires new knowledge, new skills, new approaches and new attitudes, none of which will be as complete or pertinent without an international dimension to our education.”

Just as important, international students have significant positive impact on our local economy.

They spend money in local businesses and work in jobs that employers otherwise have a tough

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time filling. Canada’s politicians know immigration is the pathway to long-term economic sustainability as our population ages and our national birth rate declines.

Many international students will go on to seek jobs and citizenship in Canada once they have graduated. They are likely to be part of our future workforce, an essential brick in the foundation that will ensure Canada is able to properly provide services and care for all, including our aging population.

Ironically, one of the solutions to the housing crisis is increasing the rate of home construction.

However, the construction industry faces a severe labour shortage. Immigrants and students can play a vital role in addressing this shortage by helping to build the very homes the country needs.

TRU recently called on the provincial government to fund more trades training opportunities for international students.

The university is aware of the

housing needs of our international and domestic students. Our team at TRU World works hard to ensure everyone finds a place to stay.

We are on the cusp of opening a new 148-bed student housing complex and, in cooperation with local and provincial governments, we are actively seeking long-term solutions, including new on-campus housing developments.

However, there is more to do and answers might not be easy or quick to find. Despite that, there is nothing to be gained — in fact, there is much to be lost — if we continue to see students from other countries as a cause and start to limit or reduce the number of students we welcome here to “fix” the problem.

Instead, let’s look at our dynamic, vibrant and ambitious international students as partners in finding solutions. Let’s open our minds, embrace an inclusive future and welcome this valuable international cohort, knowing they will help us find the right path forward.

Focusing attention or effort on measures that exclude and oppress will ultimately fail.

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

The View From TRU column appears monthly in KTW and online at kamloopsthisweek.com.

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Piper Kevin MacDonald plays the bagpipes during the Flag Ceremony at a past International Days celebration at Thompson Rivers University. DAVE EAGLES/KTW

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FLAMES RAZED OUR ‘HAPPY PLACE’

Editor:

It always happens to someone else until it happens to you.

The devastation of the B.C. wildfires hit home on Aug. 18, when our family cabin in the Shuswap went up in flames.

Through photos sent to us from a neighbour’s door camera, we anxiously watched as the flames came down the hill and approached the group of cabins. It was heartwrenching, but we held a glimmer of hope that, somehow, our cabin would be spared. That wish was shattered the next day and replaced with despair when photos taken from the lake showed that nothing was left beyond the foundation.

The anguish we — and everyone else in the area who lost a cabin, permanent home or business — felt was immense. Our cabin was more than a physical structure surrounded by beautiful nature. It was a happy place, a sanctuary, a place where we hoped future memories would be made that matched the wonderful past memories.

Losing the 90-year-old cabin, which had been in our family for 46 years, is equivalent to losing a family member. We are going through the same grieving process, with the

same intensity. We are currently in that terrible phase of grappling to accept the fact the cabin and the surroundings cease to exist.

It is gone. It will never be again. This is a hard pill to swallow.

The heartbreak is made even worse because what happened to us happened to so many people. Of the eight cabins in our area, only one is left standing. This means our group of close-knit neighbours could change, depending on whether people decide to rebuild.

There are so many questions. Will we all sell together to a large developer who will build ugly

TALK BACK Q&A:

WE ASKED:

What are your thoughts on how the government handled this year’s wildfires?

WHILE WILDFIRES RAGE, MP’S VOTE IS ‘ENRAGING’

Editor: Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo (Conservative) MP

Frank Caputo is hardly the first politician to be accused of hypocrisy.

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multi-level condos that will change the iconic small cabin look in the Shuswap? Will some of us rebuild, while others sell, thereby changing the group dynamic as strangers buy the land? Will we all rebuild and patiently wait over the decades for the surrounding nature to grow back to the beauty that it once was?

Most of us will be gone by the time that happens, but there is at least hope that the younger generations and their children will once again experience the magic of the place.

Jane Chacko Kamloops

kamloopsthisweek.com

Firefighters have done their best 49% (461 votes)

Residents must be allowed to help 25% (231 votes)

Firefighters need to attack sooner 18% (171 votes)

Communication has been lacking 8% (79 votes)

However, after seeing our MP tweet his condolences to Canadians impacted by climate change-induced fires literally two months after he voted against a bill acknowledging urgent action is needed federally to address climate change, the hypocrisy hit different for me this time. I find it astonishing and enraging.

While I’m sure Caputo is well-meaning, and I recognize he might have been made to vote that way by the party whip, he is not excused. Voting “nay” was a betrayal to everything he holds dear (presuming the things he holds dear are people).

I can’t help but feel that when the world is literally the most on fire it has ever been, any party that does not prioritize addressing climate change is the wrong party to be in.

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Even though some of his constituents may not know that, I fear they will know all too soon, along with the fact Caputo has been, and continues to be, sorely complacent in their delusions of safety.

Does Caputo know what would be more efficient than opening his doors to people who can now only be described as climate change refugees? Using his political position to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I am glad Caputo has opened his homes to those who have lost everything. But I feel compelled to point out that politicians like Caputo and votes like the one he cast June 12 are the reason these people need somewhere to go. These fires are climate change-related, so considering the direct, active role Caputo continues to play in what amounts to denying the realities of climate change, letting climate change refugees stay with him seems like the least he can do.

Mackenzie Erlank Kamloops

A view of the sunrise from the cabin of Jane Chacko’s family. The cabin was destroyed by wildfire on Aug. 18.

JANE CHACKO PHOTO

PRIDE PARADE, PRIDE FESTIVAL ON DISPLAY

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Participants celebrate with colour and enthusiasm along the parade route; a pair of parade-goers profess their passionfor butterflies; the parade follows Victoria Street; attendees take advantage of free Pride flags being handed out at the Pride Festival in Riverside Park; families find the perfect spot for viewing the parade pass by; a young girl examines free colourful beaded necklaces at the festival; City of Kamloops staff and councillors participated in this year’s event, with the city officially sponsoring the 2023 Pride Parade.

$2,000

ALLEN DOUGLAS PHOTOS/KTW

Thank You

Ariya Johal Baines would like to thank the wonderful staff (and friends) at KIDS AND CO for over a year of curiosity, learning, and surprises. We will miss you and cannot thank you enough for supporting our family and little (“big”) girl as she moves from Preschool to Kindergarten

With gratitude, Kam Johal & Jayson Baines

Urb and Enid Rolin

August 28, 1953

To the couple who has stood the test of time, your 70th wedding anniversary is a celebration of a remarkable journey filled with love and devotion You are an inspiration to us all Love, Your family

Happ y 98th Birthday Al Lev y

Love from all your family and friends.

LOCAL NEWS

Researcher seeks wildfire experiences

SEAN BRADY STAFF REPORTER sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com

A University of Victoria researcher with roots in Kamloops is looking for participants for the final round of a study looking at wildfire experiences of Interior residents.

Ashley Berard is four years into her work on a PhD from the University of Victoria and about a year into interviewing Interior residents about their experiences with wildfires. She is originally from Kamloops and also attended Thompson Rivers University.

Berard said she is looking to speak with anyone in the Interior who has experienced an impact from wildfires.

“That can be anything from dealing with smoky summer seasons and feeling that impact on you, to shorter- or longer-term evacuations or evacuation alerts. And then, of course, any loss of property or anything like that as well,” she said.

Although Berard won’t publish her findings until 2024, she said she will be sharing reports and speaking with policymakers about what she has found.

Among those Berard has interviewed are Juniper Ridge residents who had to evacu-

ate in 2021, those affected by the 2021 Monte Lake wildfire, those who survived the burning of Lytton in the same year and Kelowna residents who endured the devastating 2003 wildfire season in the Okanagan city.

She said many are experiencing mental-health impacts from wildfire stress, regardless of how long ago the fires occurred.

“Whether it’s 20 years since the fire experience or two years, the impact is still pretty strong,” Berard told KTW

She said some of those she has spoken with who were affected by the 2021 fire season are experiencing post-traumatic-stress-like symptoms due to smoky skies or sirens, which she said can be triggering.

“Even the fires that seemed small or the evacuations that seemed small ... when you talk to people, the experience of having to leave your home and see that fire coming and see the smoke, it’s still almost just as traumatizing,” she said.

Berard has also found social media to be a common “lifeline” for those going through stressful evacuations.

Websites like Facebook have helped in the past with securing transportation to evacuate livestock and pets, confirming family members

are safe and providing a feed of constant updates about the situation.

When asked about Facebook parent company Meta’s decision to remove all Canadian news links and shares from their website, related to the federal government’s Bill C-18, Berard said she is concerned.

“These Facebook groups are amazing because people are just taking any news article they find and putting all that information right there. So, to lose that, that’s scary,” she said.

Berard said going into the study, she expected to hear about how the media can sometimes present stories without due sensitivity, but said in recent years, people have generally found the media to be “pretty sensitive.”

She said there are still instances where evacuees may learn of their town or property being destroyed through media using images of burnedout buildings, which may be traumatizing.

“If people are away from their community and they haven’t seen it themselves, it’s not a fun way to find out,” she said.

Those interested in participating in the study can send an email to Berard at aberard@ uvic.ca.

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Asteroid City

B.C., Kamloops on grim record pace

B.C. CHIEF

CORONER LISA LAPOINTE ON OVERDOSE DEATHS: ‘DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE URGENT EXPANSION OF A SAFER DRUG SUPPLY, VERY FEW HAVE ACCESS TO A STABLE, LOWER-RISK ALTERNATIVE’

B.C. lost nearly 200 residents to toxic, unregulated drugs in July, continuing a public health emergency first declared in 2016.

The latest report from the BC Coroners Service shows 198 deaths suspected to be caused by unregulated toxic drugs.

To date, the deaths of 1,455 people have been attributed to toxic drugs. That is the highest figure the BC Coroners Service has ever reported for the first seven months of the year, putting the province on track for its deadliest year yet.

In 2022, a total of 2,358 people in B.C. died of an overdose, which is the most deaths ever recorded in a single year.

In Kamloops, 13 people died in the month of July, bringing to 56 the number of overdose deaths

in the city this year, which leaves Kamloops on pace for its worstever year. In 2022, the city lost a record 92 people to toxic drugs.

The latest statistics were released on Aug. 29, two days before International Overdose Awareness Day.

Fentanyl (or its analogues) was detected in 88.4 per cent of expedited toxicology reports done by the coroners service for July, while 77.4 per cent indicated stimulant use, 47.1 per cent showed benzodiazepine use and 19.4 per cent showed other opioid use.

In 2013, the coroners service detected fentanyl in just 15 per cent of unregulated drug deaths.

Since 2017, that figure has been 80 per cent or higher each year.

“I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating,” B.C. chief coroner Lisa

Lapointe in a statement released by the provincial government.

“The unregulated illicit market is highly unpredictable and continues to put thousands of lives at risk each month. Despite recommendations for the urgent expansion of a safer drug supply, very few have access to a stable, lower-risk alternative.”

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in B.C. for those ages 10 to 59, surpassing homicide, suicide, accidental and natural disease deaths combined.

In 2023, 69 per cent of the deaths recorded were between the ages of 30 and 59 and 77 per cent were male.

Since April 2016, when B.C. declared a public health emergency, there have been 12,739 lives lost to toxic drugs.

“The critical risks and losses of life resulting from this public

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health emergency deserve an urgent response. We must not accept the continued loss of six lives each and every day,” Lapointe said.

FROM THE REPORT:

• The 198 overdose deaths represent a five per cent decrease from the number of deaths in July 2022 (208), and a four per cent increase over the number of deaths in June 2023 (191).

• The number of overdose deaths in July 2023 equates to about 6.4 deaths per day.

• In 2023, 69 per cent of those dying were ages 30 to 59 and 77 per cent were male.

• By health authority, the highest number of overdose deaths are in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities (423 and 397 deaths, respectively), making up 56 per cent of all such deaths.

Kamloops This Week is looking for energetic individuals to join our team of Contract Drivers

This is a part-time, 1 night per week contract delivering newspapers to carriers, businesses and apartments. Applicants must have a suitable vehicle (van or covered pickup) with all necessary insurance and a valid BC driver’s licence Pay is based on a combination of hours worked, papers delivered and kilometres driven. Most routes range between 2-3.5 hours per run on regular deliveries, with extra pay during busy holiday periods!

Please submit your resume description of your vehicle IN PERSON to:

Circulation Manager

Kamloops This Week 1365 Dalhousie Drive Kamloops BC V2C 5P6 or call us at 250-374-0462

Kamloops Society for Alcohol and Drug Services has changed its name to Day One Society

“You are encouraged, built up, loved, and you become an inspiration to others,” said Audrey “People start to realize that their addiction was a disease and they don’t have to ever go back there again They feel that they have a right to breathe and feel a part of something, which they haven’t felt for a long time ”

Day One Society helps those struggling with addiction on their journey to wellness and recovery

“You become a part of a recovery culture… and you start to believe that you are a valuable human being again.”

Audrey Haller Detox Unit Clerk, Day One Society

Arsonist pleads guilty to lesser mischief charge

MICHAEL POTESTIOSTAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

A Kamloops man charged with setting four dumpsters on fire in downtown Kamloops this past spring has pleaded guilty to a single count of mischief.

Police arrested William Aaron Lamb, 22,

on May 17. He was charged by Crown with four counts of arson that occurred two days earlier.

In Kamloops provincial court on Aug. 24, Lamb entered a guilty plea to one count of mischief in lieu of the arson charges, which are expected to be stayed by Crown.

He also entered a guilty plea to a new

count of possessing a stolen vehicle on April 14 in Kamloops and for breaching conditions of his release on the arson charges on Aug. 4.

A date for Lamb’s sentencing will be fixed in court on Oct. 12. He remains in custody.

According to police, Mounties responded to a dumpster fire in an alley behind the

Presents: 2nd Annual

Tumbleweeds Pub: Sept. 8

The Office Pub & Grill: Sept. 9

Pogue Mahone: Sept. 15

Central Station Pub: Sept. 16

Bright E ye Brewing: Sept. 22

The Office Pub & Grill: Sept. 23

400-block of Lansdowne Street on May 15 at about 10:45 p.m. An hour later, more dumpsters were set on fire in alleys behind nearby Victoria Street, one of which came close to spreading to the Frick and Frack restaurant at Victoria Street and Sixth Avenue.

Lamb was one of two men police arrested in connection with a series of arsons in Kamloops this past spring.

The other individual, Owen Lee Coty, 26, was sentenced in July to 120 days in jail after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of mischief in connection with a pair of April 30 fires on the North Shore.

There were upwards of 20 suspicious fires in the city in May and April.

According to court records, on July 20, Lamb was also handed a suspended sentence and given one year of probation after being charged with theft under $5,000 back stemming from incidents on Nov. 19, 2022 and Feb. 18 of this year and with possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose in connection with an incident on on Jan. 8 of this year.

Arrest made in July 31 shooting

An arrest has been made in connection with the July 31 shooting of a woman at a homeless encampment along the North Thompson River in North Kamloops.

Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Crystal Evelyn said a man was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 17, after police executed search warrants at two locations on the North Shore.

He was taken into custody, then released by police on a series of conditions and a court date. Police have recommended charges, which are now before Crown counsel for approval.

The 40-year-old woman was shot at the encampment near Schubert Drive and Richmond Avenue and was last reported to be in hospital in serious condition.

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

December deadline for Noble Creek dilemma

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

December is the latest the City of Kamloops could continue to explore maintaining municipal operation of the Noble Creek Irrigation System (NCIS) before having to move ahead with dismantling it ahead of the 2024 growing season.

On Aug. 15, NCIS customers from north Westsyde spent hours addressing council at its regular meeting, asking for one more year of service to give them time to coordinate their next steps.

At an in-camera May 30 meeting, council decided to decommission the irrigation system by the end of September, due to erosion issues near the intake. At that lengthy Aug. 15 meeting, council directed staff to prepare a report on whether the system can be operated to the end of 2024.

Council, however, also opted to continue its plan to decommission the system and staff has begun the transfer process of the city’s water licence to a water users group or the NCIS’ 41 users. Staff is also contacting the Ministry of Forests to explain the situation and impacts of

decommissioning.

City utility services manager Greg Wightman told KTW the city’s decommissioning effort remains paused and will not resume until staff have finished exploring its current direction from council. He said his goal is to have a report back to council by the end of September, but noted the latest the city could continue exploring the 2024 option would be December.

To keep the NCIS operational for another year, the city needs to know whether temporary, emergency riprap placed around the system’s intake this past spring to protect it from eroding flood waters can remain in place.

B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston told reporters during an Aug. 17 press conference that the riprap can remain in place.

“The province has committed to place the riprap in the way that’s been discussed with the City of Kamloops, so I think that issue is resolved,” Ralston said.

But Wightman told KTW the city has been given no indication from the province the riprap can remain and he is waiting for clarification from ministry staff on Ralston’s comments.

“The comments by the minister caught us all by surprise a little bit,” Wightman

said. “That’s the first we’ve heard of that.”

Wightman said the forests ministry and Ministry of Emergency Management have so far been working with city staff to determine what hurdles need to be cleared in order to leave the temporary riprap in place, but have not confirmed yet it will be allowed to stay.

Wightman said that approval process involves having the engineer who oversaw the installation of the riprap sign off on it staying, showing that it is not impacting other properties along the river. Wightman said he does not know how long that will take, but added the process is underway and he will report back to council once he has that information.

“One of the biggest challenges we have with this particular location is that anything we do on that point is quite likely to create a negative impact to neighbouring properties, so we’re just working through that and if there are any possible solutions to that challenge,” Wightman said.

Meanwhile, part of the city’s new effort with NCIS users includes a to-be-determined site visit to the NCIS pump house and striking a working group between NCIS customers and the city.

That is to ensure collaboration on the NCIS issue and that residents are getting

information from the city staff and province.

“We’re working on formalizing that, but we have a couple of people to contact from that group right now that we’re able to involve in meetings,” Wightman said.

Ongoing erosion around the water system’s intake led to council voting to decommission the system that draws water from the North Thompson River, reversing a decision to upgrade it to be operational until 2028.

The NCIS serves 41 Westsyde properties and users have formed a new group, the Noble Creek Irrigation Society, in response to the decommissioning decision.

Society members have told KTW the city had not left them with enough time before the next irrigation season to navigate the permitting and construction process to transition off the NCIS, noting temporary irrigation permits would not adequately cover the number of crops that need watering at some operations.

Among properties impacted are Privato Winery and Thistle Farm.

The society wants a year to look into either taking on the NCIS themselves or establishing their own communal or individual water intake systems.

Be bear aware as summer turns to fall

MORE SIGHTINGS DUE TO WILDFIRE, DROUGHT

program, which is data used by WildSafeBC and others to prioritize education and outreach.

Due to extreme drought, heat and wildfires this year, communities around the province are experiencing an increase in sightings and conflicts with black bears.

Kamloops WildSafeBC

coordinator Olivia Lemke said many neighbourhoods in Kamloops regularly see bears looking for water or a food source.

Juniper Ridge, Barnhartvale, Dallas, Campbell Creek and Westsyde are communities commonly seeing the visiting bruins.

Lemke said it is important to report sightings and conflicts with bears to the Conservation Officer Service (1-877-9527277) in a proactive manner before a bear becomes food-conditioned.

The reports help inform the Wildlife Alert Reporting

Lemke said Kamloops has experienced a higher call rate this spring.

Bears that have spent the season dodging wildfires and smoke are now being drawn into communities by the smell of fruit along with other sources of food.

Lemke said it is natural to feel concern for bears, noting some people may be motivated to leave water for them and not pick fruit off their trees. However, she noted, allowing bears to find shelter and food sources near people does them a disservice and eventually leads to dangerous situations, often resulting in bears being destroyed when their behaviour is deemed a risk to the public.

“It’s important to make sure people don’t have any attractants on their prop-

erty, including fruit trees,” Lemke said. “A lot of people don’t associate fruit trees in their backyard as being an unnatural food source for bears.”

Lemke reminds residents to pick up fruit from the ground and to also pick fruit that is ripe on the tree.

“If people are seeing bears in urban areas, it’s really important that they try to scare them away off their property,” she said.

“If bears feel like they’re not threatened by people while on their property — whether that be with pots and pans or just yelling at them — they are going to keep coming back.”

Lemke said reporting any kind of bear sighting to conservation officers is important because that is how the bear population is monitored in Kamloops.

“They’re not necessarily going to respond to any calls if it’s just a sighting of a bear, but if we’re waiting

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until the bear is doing dangerous behaviour, such as being in a tree eating fruit and it’s not being scared off someone’s property, that could be prevented by us knowing where that bear is and doing some preventative [education] work in that area,” she said.

Lemke some people mistakenly believe that calling to report a bear sighting equates to a situation where

conservation officers end up shooting the bear.

“If you’re reporting proactively the sightings and scaring it off your property, then that’s not the situation,” she said, noting if people regularly report bear sightings. it provides a better chance for the animal’s survival.

“The conservation officers don’t want to come out and kill the bear. It just happens that they get the call

when it’s already too late,” Lemke said.

To report sightings or conflicts, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

For more information on reducing human-wildlife conflict, visit wildsafebc. com, follow WildSafeBC Kamloops on Facebook or contact WildSafeBC by phone at 778-257-7036 or by email at kamloops@ wildsafebc.com.

Nature parks reopen after fires

The City of Kamloops has reopened all nature parks and nature trails after they were closed twice this summer due to the risk from ongoing wildfires.

Smoking is always prohibited in all city parks and walking trails. Kamloops Fire Rescue reminds residents to use extreme caution with smoking materials in all areas of the city and to only use designated con-

tainers to dispose of cigarettes, matches, and other smoking-related materials. For more information on how to prevent a wildfire and what to do if you spot one, visit Kamloops.ca/ WildfirePrevention.

Eighteen-month-old Mayson Bisson enjoys the sights, sounds and smells of dairy cattle eating hay during a visit with his family to Blackwell Dairy Farm’s farmers’ market.

ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Paddling in a Manitoba marsh, bird’s the word

Ihave always believed there is no better way to see wild birds than from a canoe or kayak — especially those species that live in wetlands.

That point certainly rings true if you are visiting the Oak Hammock Marsh and Harry J. Enns Wetlands Discovery Centre, outside Winnipeg.

Originally part of a marsh called St. Andrew’s Bog, which covered roughly 47,000 hectares, the end of the 19th century saw the wetland area reduced to 60 hectares, most of it drained for agriculture.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) became interested in restoring part of the wetland habitat as early as the 1930s, but it was not until 1973 that the area was designated as Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area. In creating a wetland area of roughly 3,600 hectares, DUC and Manitoba Conservation joined forces to build 22 kilometres of earth dykes to help restore the area.

Twenty years later, the interpretive centre opened, a year after construction of the building that also houses the DUC national headquarters was completed.

There is plenty to do there, both inside and out, so it is easy to spend an entire day enjoying the facility.

My paddling partner and I set out early in the morning to escape the early July heat and give ourselves the best opportu-

nity to see some of the 300-or-so different species of birds that have been recorded there. We were not disappointed. Just minutes into our journey, we spotted an American coot swimming through the marsh with babies. Coots are not ducks, but you often see them hanging around the same locations as ducks. Like many bird species, the youngsters look much different than the adults.

For the next two hours, we paddled through a couple of different wetland cells in the marshes, spotting blackbirds perched in the reeds. We also had to be sure not to focus too much on just the surface of the marsh waters; we needed to look up occasionally, as overhead, Franklin’s gulls and

black and Forster terns glided lazily above the marsh grasses that swayed gently in the prairie breezes. In contrast to those large, slower-moving birds, shiny blue tree swallows also darted quickly around, chasing insects and nabbing insects.

There are two species of blackbirds in the marsh: the more familiar red-winged blackbird and the lesser known yellowheaded blackbird. Spotting my very first yellow-headed blackbird was a real highlight for me.

But the day’s biggest birdwatching highlight came as we paddled quietly toward a small island covered with American white pelicans. We wanted to get as close as we could in order to take some good photos, but at the

same time, not disturb the birds.

I guess what they consider “too close” and what we consider “too close” are just a little bit different. When we got to a spot that the pelicans obviously considered “too close” for their comfort, it was almost as if someone had pressed a launch button — they took off en masse, a white cloud of flapping feathers rising up into the sky. I did manage to get a few images before they were out of range.

Back on land, I was able to snap some photos of the tree swallows we’d seen out in the canoe, sitting on the ground or perched almost impertinently atop some of the area’s interpretive signs.

Birds weren’t the only wildlife

around: a Richardson’s ground squirrel, referred to as a gopher or prairie dog by many, popped its head up at one point to see what all the fuss was about. While we didn’t see any, the marsh is also home to three other squirrel species, three species of rabbits, two species of shrews, and beavers.

In addition to its wonderful bird-watching opportunities outside in the marshes, the area offers something else for visitors: an incredibly entertaining and informative interpretive centre.

With all of its hands-on, youthfriendly exhibits, a family could easily spend an entire day inside, saving the outdoor experiences for another day.

The centre also runs voyageur canoe events for groups. In the fall, you can sign up for some bird-banding experiences to give you a real hands-on experience.

If pedalling is more your forte than paddling, there are also trails there that allow bicycle exploration. The centre will rent bikes to you at an hourly rate.

The marsh includes 30 kilometres of trails, ranging from wooden boardwalks and gravel paths to earth and grass trails.

The centre is not only a great spot for birding and environmental education; it acts as the hub for all Ducks Unlimited Canada operations, with its head offices located there, and if you’re interested in learning more about that non-profit organization, it’s the perfect place to do so.

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

JOHN GEARY SPECIAL TO KTW travelwriterstales.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: An expansive view of the wetlands from outside of the Oak Mammock Marsh at the Harry J. Enns Wetlands Discovery Centre near Winnipeg, Manitoba; paddling by canoe offers numerous waterfowl sightings: a yellow-headed blackbird, an American coot feeding one of her babies; an American white pelican winging its way overhead.

JOHN GEARY PHOTOS

Sept. 4 Labour Day Picnic in McDonald Park

As communities across the country will mark Labour Day by celebrating workers and their contributions, Canada’s unions are highlighting the important role unions play in making life better for everyone.

Unions have a long track record of winning for all workers.

Thanks to unions, workers benefit from measures like occupational health and safety laws, new investments in health care, commitments for ten-dollar-aday childcare programs in all provinces and pension protections for workers whose employer goes bankrupt.

“These are just a few concrete examples of things we’ve won for workers, whether they’re unionized or not,” Kamloops and District Labour Council president Lois Rugg said.

“Unions are an undeniable force for positive change and the benefits of union representation cannot be overstated. We believe all workers, in all sectors, across Canada deserve good union jobs with decent pay and benefit.”

Today, about one-third of Canada’s workforce is represented by a union and the gains they have made have improved the lives of every worker in this country.

Canada’s unions are focused on improving the lives of everyone, with ambitious priorities to address the major issues facing workers and their families.

One of the most pressing issues facing us today is climate change. Canada’s unions are demanding that decision-makers meet this challenge with bold, worker-centred solutions.

The shift to a low-carbon economy must protect and support families and communities and

ensure no worker is left behind by providing good, unionized jobs that offer good wages, benefits and ongoing training opportunities.

Following the recent announcement of the federal government’s Sustainable Jobs Act, Canada’s unions will work with governments to ensure workers are at the heart of this country’s climate policy. Another key priority is making life more affordable for everyone. It’s unacceptable that wealthy corporations and the rich elite

Happy Labour Day!

continue to line their pockets with record-high profits on the backs of workers.

Governments must urgently address the real causes of the ongoing affordability crisis by holding the wealthiest and most profitable corporations accountable and forcing them to pay their fair share.

It’s no secret that Canada’s care systems are crumbling. Care workers are exhausted from years of sounding the alarm and the pandemic pushed our struggling care systems to the brink of collapse.

Care work is essential and Canada’s unions will continue fighting for immediate solutions to support publicly funded, publicly delivered care.

“These priorities show why it’s so important for workers to join a union,” Rugg said. “We will continue to fight to make it easier to organize into a union, to ensure that every worker has the rights

and respect that come with a union card. When unions — and workers — come together, we can lift everyone up.”

The Kamloops and District Labour Council is inviting all to its annual Kamloops And District Labour Council Labour Day Picnic, which will be held on Monday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in McDonald Park in North Kamloops.

The picnic will feature music by the Margit Sky Project, free family activities, including Face Painting by Denise, fun zone activities, a barbecue by donation, displays and prizes.

In addition, members of the junior B hockey Kamloops Storm and representatives from labour and community organizations will be at the picnic.

Labour day is ver y significant

acknowledge the efforts of the workers who provide us with their daily ser vice.

— Kamloops and District Labour Council

Tracing the history of how Labour Day came to be

The first Monday in September has been an official holiday in Canada since 1894 and in the United States since 1892.

But the origin of Labour Day came 20 years before that, when unions started holding parades and rallies in Toronto and Ottawa to celebrate the successful 1872 Toronto printers’ strike — the original “fight for fairness” that won major changes including the decriminalization of unions in Canada.

Today, Labour Day marks the unofficial end to summer and the start of a new school year for children in Canada and the United States.

It is a day of rest and, for unions and labour activists, a day to celebrate the accomplishments of the labour movement and the benefits of having a union at work.

But, as is the case with most holidays, the origins of Labour Day come from the struggles of working people and the demand for fairness.

In this case, it was the movement to

establish a nine-hour work day (the standard was a 12-hour work day and a sixday work week) and a strike by printers in Toronto in the spring of 1872 to get it.

Sensing a political opportunity to win support among Canada’s growing industrial working class (just months ahead of a federal election), then-prime minister John A. Macdonald passed the Trade Union Act, which legalized and protected union activity in Canada.

The strike ended shortly afterward.

Unions — now legal — began to demand fair wages, working hours and safer workplaces.

The political class recognized that working people, as voters, were interested in issues that impacted their lives.

On July 23, 1894, the government of Canada under the leadership of thenprime minister John Thompson passed a law making Labour Day official.

Today, hundreds of communities across Canada and the United States hold picnics, parades, concerts and marches to mark the day.

Shop local this Labour Day long weekend

For every dollar spent at a small business, 66 cents on average stays local, according to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Conversely, only 11 cents of every dollar spent stays in the community when consumers shop at a large multinational business.

An Angus Reid Group public opinion poll conducted on behalf of CFIB reveals that Canadians greatly overestimate how much of each dollar they spend at multinational companies is reinvested locally, while underestimating small businesses’ contributions.

When asked to guess how much money stays local when shopping at a

large retailer with a physical location, such as Walmart, on average Canadians said 37 cents. Respondents also thought that 38 cents on average stays in the community when buying from a small business.

“Small businesses support communities in ways that retail giants simply don’t,” CFIB policy analyst Emily Boston said.

“Local businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. They create employment opportunities, buy goods and services from other small businesses and donate to charitable causes. This is why governments at all levels need to focus on policies that support local businesses, from reducing payroll costs, extending the repayment deadline for the Canada Emergency

Business Account loan and cutting red tape.”

Launched by the CFIB in 2020, Small Business Every Day encourages Canadians to support the independent businesses that make their communities unique by keeping their loonies local. It is sponsored by Scotiabank, Interac Corp. and Chase Payment Solutions.

“Every time Canadians choose to shop at a small business, they ensure the viability of their communities. This is why, at CFIB, we encourage all Canadians to celebrate Small Business Every Day and take part in our annual Big Thank You Contest this October,” said Taylor Matchett, a senior research analyst with the CFIB.

“Shopping at a small

business enables it to give back, whether it’s by hiring apprentices, sponsoring local hockey teams or donating to food banks. Two-thirds of your dollar helps keep our economy thriving and your community vibrant.”

Business owners can download the

CFIB’s new digital toolkit, including a printable poster and customizable social images, to promote local shopping online at cfib-fcei.ca/celebrate-small-business.

For more information on how to support small businesses, go online to smallbusinesseveryday.ca.

PROUD TO

THIS COMMUNITY EVENT FOR OVER 21 YEARS.

Well done, Chris, on 17 years of supporting the Walk in the Park event as Ra Director! We admir your dedication ‘walking the talk’ supporting vibran communitie

The heritage around us Dig It: During droughts, offerings are made and the past becomes exposed

As Kamloops experiences low river levels in the North and South Thompson river basins, there are efforts to reduce water use and adapt to drought conditions.

The City of Kamloops has announced it is at drought level 5, which led to the implementation of water restrictions and enforcement aimed at reducing city-wide water use by 25 per cent. Residents are asked to conserve water by only using hand-held, spring-loaded nozzles for outdoor watering and irrigation.

Even with water conservation efforts, the reservoir systems that are utilized worldwide for the storage of water — and, in some cases, for hydro-electric power generation — continue to be impacted by drought and many are recording extremely low levels. Low water levels in reservoirs are exposing archaeology sites that have been submerged, some for thousands of years.

There are several projects in British Columbia that are recording archaeology sites in areas where low water levels are exposing sites that have previously been submerged.

Having worked on several of these projects, I wondered about archaeology sites worldwide that were being exposed due to low water levels and how people in the past may have responded to drought and changes in the environment.

A scan of the news and academic journals revealed interesting results. A church built in Spain in 1062 was submerged under water in the 1960s when a dam was constructed nearby.

In March of this year, the church was been exposed as a result of drought and extremely low water levels. The water levels in the Sau reservoir are currently at 10 per cent capacity, making the church visible once again.

$242 $30,995

In Germany, the discovery of items tells a different story, a story of a wishing well during a time of drought.

Archaeologists working in advance of a construction project found items at the bottom of the well, including 26 robe pins, needles, a bracelet, an animal tooth wrapped in bronze wire, amber beads, a wooden ladle and more than 70 clay vessels dating to 3,500 years ago.

The well containing this deposit was 16.5

feet deep, several feet deeper than others in the area, suggesting it was dug deeper to reach groundwater that had dropped significantly due to drought. During that time, dwindling water resources due to a long drought resulted in a poor food harvest.

The artifacts are thought to be a ritual deposit, an offering to the gods, in an attempt to end the drought.

The deposit has been called a wishing well, where people offered objects, wishing

for an end to the drought.

As we go through this period of drought, you may want to observe the changes in the landscape — or make an offering.

Nadine Gray is an archaeologist working in the Nechako and Fraser watersheds. Interested in more? Go online to republicofarchaeology.ca. Dig It is KTW’s regularly published column on the history beneath our feet in the Kamloops region.

Church of the village of San Roman de Sau sits next to the Sau reservoir. The church was partially submerged in the 1960s and re-emerged in March 2023 as the Sau reservoir level lowered due to extreme drought.

NADINE GRAY SPECIAL TO KTW

“

Ind igenous sc ience camp retur n s to campus

T he long r u n n i ng TRU Ind i genous Su m mer Sc ience Ca mp i s bac k a �er a pa ndem ic -r elated h iatus si nce 2 019.

Ind i genous yout h f r om a s fa r away a s Quesnel a nd Spences Br idge wer e welcomed to ca mpus i n ea rly Aug ust a nd i m mer sed i n t he c u ltur e of un iver sit y l i fe

T hey stayed i n dor m s , toured bu i ld i ngs , pa r t ic ipated i n work shops , solved myster ies a nd made connec t ions that w i l l undoubted ly g u ide them to f uture oppor tun it ies

“ We ta ke students through a jour ney e xplor i ng d i fferent sc iences a s a g roup T hey ma ke f r iends a nd fi nd out the un iversity e xper ience i s a posit ive one, ” says Ver n ie Clement , a ssoc iate d i rec tor of the Office of Ind igenous Educat ion “Educat ion i s i mpor ta nt for a l l Ind igenous students It be�ers thei r l ives – it be�ers thei r fa m i l ies l ives If they a re i nspi red to go on to study a nd fol low thei r drea m s – that’s what i s most i mpor ta nt to me ”

TRU FOUNDATION 50/50

Nov. 30

T icke t s $10 at tru ca /worldr affle

BC Gaming Eve nt Lic e nc e #140191

“Providing Indigenous youth with the oppor tunit y to learn more about science -based career s create s pathways for our youth to decide what t ype of f uture they want to be a par t of ”

New G old i nvest i ng i n oppor tun it ies for Ind igenous youth

T h i s yea r ’ s ca mp wa s f unded i n pa r t t h r oug h New G old ’ s Com mun it y Invest ment P r og ra m .

It cont r ibuted $ 2 , 5 0 0 a nd fac i l itated a spea k i n g en ga gement by T RU a lum Ty ne Rober t s , a n env i r on menta l sc ient i st at New G old New A �on M i ne Rober t s spoke to t he g r oup about c hoosi n g sc ience a s a ca r eer pat h so she cou ld spend her days work i n g out side a s wel l a s her posit ion at New

A �on M i ne , wh ic h i nvolves t rac k i n g a nd r educ i n g t he m i ne ’ s env i r on menta l i mpac t s , pla n n i n g for r ec la mat ion a nd en sur i n g t he compa ny ’ s susta i nabi l it y effor t s go wel l beyond nat iona l sta nda rd s

New G old com mun it y r elat ion s coord i nator

Renata Mr ema says t he compa ny i s e xc ited to pa r t ner w it h T RU i n suppor t of Ind i genous yout h

New G old va lues t he oppor tun it y to be a pa r t of t he T RU Ind i genous

Sum mer Sc ience

Ca mp Invest i n g i n i n it iat ives t hat foc us on Ind i genous yout h a l i g n s st r on g ly w it h our va lues of people a nd com mun it ies , i nteg r it y a nd tea mwork , ” says

Mr ema “ P r ov id i n g Ind i genous yout h w it h t he oppor tun it y to lea r n mor e about sc ienceba sed ca r eer s c r eates pat hways for our yout h to dec ide what t y pe of f utur e t hey wa nt to be a pa r t of ”

O ver t he cour se of t he five - day ca mp, coord i nator Em ma McM i l la n pla n ned a ra n ge of ac t iv it ies to en ga ge , i n spi r e , teac h a nd enter ta i n t he student s T hey lea r ned about suppor t s a nd ser v ices offer ed to Ind i genous student s , solved a murder myster y a s pa r t of a G eneskool work shop, tour ed va r ious bu i ld i n gs on ca mpus , v i sited t he Sec wépemc Museum , went s w i m m i n g , took a yoga c la s s , saw a mov ie at t he t heat r e a nd muc h mor e.

TRU FOUNDATION AGM

Sept 2 1 | 4 : 30 p m

Panor ama Room ( Thir d floor, International B uilding )

Calling all WolfPack Women’s alumni!

September 8 -9, TRU Alumni is hos ting an unfor gett able reunion that’s jam - packed with exciting ac tivities for you and your families

On Saturday, Sept 9, we are hos ting an event exclusi vely for WolfPack Women’s alumni at the Local Public Eater y. This social event is an oppor tunit y to connec t , reminisce and create new memories w ith your WolfPack teammates .

Scan the QR code to RSVP

Kama l Grewa l Chaudhr y

“ Embr acing t he concept of ‘ pay ing it f or war d , ’ I am mot i vated to make a meaning f ul di ff erence by donat ing to t he uni ver sit y B y doing so, I hop e to ensure t hat f uture gener at ions of s tudent s can exp er ience t he same t r ans f or mat i ve p ower of educat ion t hat shap ed my ow n li f e T here is an inde scr ibable sense of f ul fillment t hat come s f rom g i v ing back , and I am f ull y committed to b eing par t of t his cycle of supp or t t hat prop els ot her s towar ds succe s s . ”

Thank you for your generous philanthropy!

Camp par t icipant s (left to right) Sk y Bill y, Pip e r Minnabarrie t and Alex Thomas inve st ig ate a miniature crime sc e ne as par t of a Ge ne s ko ol works hop

Take a Walk in the Park this Labour Day weekend

The annual Walk in the Park trail run and ultra-marathon returns for its 30th iteration this Labour Day weekend.

The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3, in Kenna Cartwright Park, the 800-hectare municipal park that is the province’s largest.

The 2023 Walk in the Park will also be the final one organized by Chris Larouche, who is also a participant. Walk in the Park was established in 1992 and, but for a pandemic pause, has been held every year, becoming the secondlongest trail-running event in B.C.

The majority of routes in Kenna consist of rolling double and single-track trails. The routes wind through sagebrush desert and Ponderosa pine/Douglas fir forest.

There are a few short steep sections on the course requiring some care and attention to footing.

The forecast for race day, which is subject to revision by Environment Canada, calls for cloudy skies and a 30 per cent chance of showers amid a high of 22 C — in other words, perfect running weather.

The 50-kilometres race will start at 7 a.m., with the 25-kilometre event beginning at 10 a.m. and the 14-kilometre run setting off at 11 a.m. Those attending should go to the Hillside Drive entrance to the park, just west of Copperhead Drive. Registration is online at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?eid=272.

TRU soccer teams kick off new season

1-1 record.

The TRU WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer teams kicked off the 2023 Canada West campaign this past weekend on the Lower Mainland.

TRU earned a split in women’s action, knocking off the Mount Royal Cougars of Calgary 3-1 on Friday in Langley before falling 6-1 to the Victoria Vikes on Saturday in Vancouver.

Ainsley Grether, Emily Clark and Bridget Baird notched goals for the Pack (1-1) on Friday in support of goalkeeper Aneesa O’Brien. Mount Royal is 0-1-1 on the campaign.

Caylah Lemon scored the only goal for TRU in the lopsided defeat to Victoria, which finished opening weekend with a

TRU was scheduled to play both games at home, but the matches were rescheduled due to poor air quality, travel restrictions and safety concerns in the Interior, with wildfires burning in the region.

The WolfPack women joined Canada West in 2014 and had never won the opening game of a season until the victory over Mount Royal on Friday.

TRU will square off against the UBC Okanagan Heat (1-0-1) on Saturday, Sept. 2, in Kelowna.

On the men’s side, the defending U Sports champion WolfPack opened the campaign with a pair of 1-0 losses, unable to register a goal against the Trinity Western Spartans (2-0) on Friday in Langley or Fraser Valley Cascades (1-1) on Saturday in Abbotsford.

TRU is scheduled to host two matches

this weekend — versus the Victoria Vikes (0-0) on Friday and UBC Thunderbirds (1-0) on Saturday, both 7 p.m. starts at Hillside Stadium.

The tilt on Saturday is a rematch of the 2022 U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship final, in which TRU prevailed 2-1 over UBC in a penalty shootout at Hillside Stadium.

SEASON PREVIEWS

Go onine to kamloopsthisweek.com and click on the Sports tab to read in-depth previews of the seasons ahead for the soccer WolfPack teams.

On the women’s side of the pitch, the WolfPack are ranked ninth among the Canada West’s 16 teams in the pre-season coaches’ poll.

On the men’s side, the WolfPack are ranked fourth in the 13-team Canada West conference.

Bridget Baird (left) and Emily Clark were among goal scorers for the TRU WolfPack in weekend Canada West soccer action. ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW

MARTY HASTINGS STAFF REPORTER sports@kamloopsthisweek.com

You are invited to Kamloops BMX Club’s 40th anniversary event

The Kamloops BMX Club will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 9, at its track in Brocklehurst, at 1550 Ord Rd., next to the BC Transit yard.

The anniversary celebration is open to all and will include competition and a tribute to the late BMX legend Steve Stanyer.

For four decades, the Kamloops BMX Club has united riders and volunteers in the pursuit of excitement,competition and community. The anniversary celebration will consist of a packed day of fun for all ages, including BMX games, a bouncy castle, raffles, prizes, racing and cake.

At 5 p.m., the club will remember Stanyer, a respected rider and volunteer who passed away in 2008 after battling mela -

noma cancer.

Stanyer’s legacy lives on through the Stanyer Memorial Fund and the Steve Stanyer Memorial Trophy, established to

honour his selflessness.

All proceeds from the event will be contributed to the fund, which supports families in need and crisis situations.

The club will also acknowledge outstanding contributors to the BMX community.

The anniversary event will begin at 3 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., with BMX games from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a race at 6:30 p.m.

“Our 40th anniversary celebration is a time to reflect on our journey and honour those who have made it possible,” Kamloops BMX Club president Devon de Vries said.

“Join us as we celebrate community, sport and the exciting future of the club”

For more information on the club, go online to kamloopsbmx.ca or send an email to info@kamloopsbmx.ca.

secure summer!

The Kamloops BMX Club’s track is located at 1550 Ord Rd. in Brocklehurst, next to the BC Transit yard.

KAMLOOPS BMX CLUB PHOTO

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

Riders enjoy the Ord Road track, which was relocated from McArthur Island in 2015.

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

CROSSFIT CHAMPS IN TOURNEY CAPITAL

The Tournament Capital Classic crossfit competition was held at the Tournament Capital Centre this past Saturday, with dozens of athletes taking part in a variety of events. A prize purse of $3,500 was split between winners of categories. The event, organized by Tournament Capital Strength and Conditioning owner Kent Aitchison, is one of the larger events in Western Canada. To see more photos, go online to kamloopsthisweek.com and click on the Sports tab.

ALLEN DOUGLAS PHOTOS/KTW

FRANCA MURA CA NOTARY PUBLIC

T: 778-696-4LAW E: info@muracanotary.ca 301-619 Victoria Street muracanotary.ca

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING School District No. 73 Business Company

The School District No 73 Business Company will conduct its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 1:00pm, at the School Board Office, 1383 9th Avenue, Kamloops, BC, and via ZOOM.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO ATTEND.

Please R S V P to Dawn Forsey, Executive Assistant, by September 15, 2023

For more information call Dawn Forsey at: 250-374-0679

School District No. 73 Business Company 1383 – 9th Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3X7

Tel: 250-374-0679 Fax: 250-372-1183

CHAMPS

Piva Financial Services Football Club defeated Excel Industries 1-0  in overtime on Aug. 26 to win the Kamloops Soccer League’s Open Division title. Richard Midgley scored the winning goal and Dario Piva was named title tilt MVP. Playoffs for other divisions will take place in late September and early October.

Kamloops Broncos’ road woes continue

The Kamloops Broncos dropped their fourth straight game on the weekend to fall to 0-4 on the 2023 BC Football Conference season.

The Langley Rams defeated the Broncos 36-3 on Aug. 26 at McLeod Stadium in the Fraser Valley city.

Reise Huber kicked a 23-yard

field goal for Kamloops’ only points.

Quarterback Clark Snider (18-for-36 for 263 yards) actually outduelled his Langley counterpart, Trey Jones (15for-27 for 200 yards), with Jones tossing two touchdown passes and Snider being intercepted once.

On the ground Cameron Grezgorczyk ran for 35 yards, while in the air, Colton Meikle had 108 receiv-

ing yards, followed by Brock Dufort, with 78 receiving yards.

Due to work at Hillside Stadium, Kamloops is playing its first five games on the road, with the fifth and final away contest being this Saturday (Sept. 2) in Chilliwack. That will be followed by five consecutive home games, beginning with a Sept. 16 match against the Okanagan Sun.

KSL PHOTO

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

One family’s fight to protect their property, farm, home from Bush Creek East wildfire

THREE GENERATIONS OF THE ALLGAIER FAMILY HAVE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE TO SAVE MORE THAN FAMILY MEMORIES, REMAINING IN THE FIRE ZONE TO BATTLE THE PERSISTENT BLAZE

Ninety-two-year-old Gene

Allgaier watched his sons and grandchildren work to save the family farm/ home in the LoakinBear Creek Road area near Adams Lake as the Bush Creek East wildfire raged on.

His own recent attempt to deliver much-needed supplies to aid in their efforts was nearly quashed. If not for a neighbour with a licence to remain on site, Allgaier’s generator and food supplies may not have gotten through.

“I argued and argued and argued, but they didn’t let me through because my life was on the line,” Allgaier said. “It’s just absolutely nuts.”

He was forced to turn back, only metres from seeing his sons and their families, who continued to battle the blaze around their home.

Allgaier said with the help of a neighbour and family, the house has been saved, but they are now isolated and running low on gas and food, while remaining to battle spot fires on their 160-acre property.

He believes an Aug. 17 controlled burn sent flames in the opposite direction, toward properties of his family and others.

Allgaier said his son, Roy, recently called to say neighbours got together to extinguish the flames.

“He [Roy] hadn’t slept,” Gene said. “He hardly can talk. He’s full of smoke.”

Allgaier said the fire was within 10 feet of his garage. He said six members of a Brazilian wildfire crew arrived on Aug. 27 to soak everything down around his house, putting out a few spot fires.

Allgaier believes his home was saved most likely due to a sprinkler system he built 15 years ago that has water pumped from a nearby creek and into a pond he built in the backyard for possible fire suppression.

Looking at photos in a family album, Allgaier proudly points out his custombuilt home, still standing, though the surrounding treed acreage did not fare as well, with charred trees on the landscape.

Speaking to KTW by phone, Allgaier’s son, Roy said, “We’re stressed and a little fragile, hanging in there.”

Working long days alongside Roy is his brother, Ralph, with members of his family.

“Let’s face it, they’re [fire crews] so limited if the fire is 450 square kilometres [in size],” Ralph said. “We’re out in one of the rural areas. So there was a crew that came two days ago, but we’d already been fighting the fire by ourselves for four days. We’d see the odd observational plane and chopper, but no bombers or active choppering.

The local resources that we have — we’re all ranchers and cattlemen — we have pumps, we got equipment, we got backhoes, but because we’re not trained, ‘blah, blah, blah’ — we can’t fight it. We really are prevented from actively fighting the fire, even if we absorb all of the liabilities ourselves on our own property.”

Ralph said local firefighting support is

not wanted by the authorities.

“They want to force us out of here and just fight it on their own and, then, rebuild it all later and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.

Ralph said that response is what they get from the decision-makers at various government agencies.

“It’s not the guys on the ground, it’s the administrative guys further up,” he said. “That’s the decision that’s being made and it’s happening all over. This mistake keeps getting repeated again and again — five successive fire seasons where it’s gotten worse and worse and it’s still not utilizing any resources from the community.”

With no gas or other supplies making it through, their resources are limited as they

TOP: Gene Allgaier, a 92-year-old Kamloops man, holds a photograph of his beloved family home, threatened by wildfire. Allgaier has been watching his sons and grandson work to save the family farm/home in the Loakin-Bear Creek Road area near Adams Lake.

BELOW LEFT: Ralph Allgaier sprays water on the fire that rapidly spread across their property; a smoky sky hangs above fire ravaged fields; efforts to save the family house and several outbuildings, including the wooden gateway at the entrance proved successful.

continue putting out spot fires.

Being on the end of the power grid, they cook their meals using a gas generator before heading out to take shifts patrolling property for spot fires.

Watching his sons stand and fight to save their family home, patriarch Gene said, “I’ve seen tough times, I went through tough times that formed my character. I don’t give up easy.”

Neither, he said, do his sons.

“They are criminalized because they stayed back. They’re the heroes. They’re not running right away. They try everything. Of course, if they see it’s hopeless, of course they would leave. But they’re putting everything on the line to save it. It’s worth saving.”

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

ROY ALLGAIER PHOTOS

APPLEGATHGROUP.COM

OP E N H O U S E : S AT U R DAY , S E P T 2 ND • 1 – 3 P M

910

IDA LANE | $729,900 Westsyde | MLS®173745

Marie and I are very thankful for everything Denise has done for us in making the sale of our home less stressful than this situation can be. Our regular Realtor had retired and we were trying to find someone who we felt comfortable with and would work for us in finding a buyer who would appreciate our home and would look after it like we did. Well,we found that person in Denise right from the first meeting,after a recommendation from a friend of ours, who was also moving. Denise was very thorough and always available to answer any questions we had. She really did take a lot of the stress away from an overwhelming situation, and we now think of her as a friend. Thanks again for everything Denise! All the best to you.

–

Dean & Marie

Barbara Rohrmoser in attendance

Chris Town 250-318-4106

Phil Dabner PREC* 250-318-0100

2104-1405 Springhill Dr: Newer 2 bed, 2 bath south facing condo Beautiful complex located close to all amenities. $595,000

Phil Dabner PREC*

622 Arbutus Dr: Central location in South Kamloops, enjoy the sunsets from the west. Beautifully updated and featuring 4 Bed + 1 Bed suite. $839,900

Phil Dabner PREC* 250-318-0100

1002 Saddleback Cr t: This custom-designed home features views of the city, valley, and river from the neighbourhood of Bachelor Heights. $1,150,000

895 Linthorpe: Quick possession possible. Level entry basement complete with a kitchen uptairs and downstairs. $678,800

4365 Westsyde Rd: Th This 4 bedroom rancher makes for the per fect family home. Separate entry to the inlaw suite. $639,900

44-145 Nicola St: This charming end unit two bedroom, 1.5 bathroom townhouse is located walking distance to the hear t of downtown.

304-568 Lorne St: Welcome to the Marquess of Lorne, this modern 2-bed, 2-bathroom apar tment in downtown Kamloops, was built just 2 years ago $699,900

Town

127 Clarke St: Non-conforming four-plex nestled within a quiet cul-de-sac, conveniently positioned amidst downtown, the thriving west-end, and TRU. $860,000 Matt Town

155 Cavesson Wayr: Discover luxury in this modern 4-bed, 3-bath home in Tobiano Enjoy lake views, an in-ground pool, and an open living space $1,480,000

• North facing 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment in Station Plaza

• -1 dog or 1 cat allowed with strata approval

• Quick possession possible

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

• Close to schools, shopping, and transportation

• Quick possession possible

• Beautifully maintained 2+2 bedroom bareland strata in Crestview Heights

• Rancher style including main floor laundry and double garage

• 55+ complex

• Great family home with 3+1 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms

• Rancher style with main floor laundry and full basement

• Central Aberdeen location walking distance to Pacific Way Elementary

• Beautifully maintained 2+3 bedroom 3 bathroom detached townhouse in West Pine Villas

• Over 3000 square feet of living space with full basement

• Lots of parking including double garage

• Beautifully maintained 3+1 bedroom 2 bathroom home in the West End

• Many updates throughout including kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, and more

• Custom built 3+2 bedroom 3 bathroom home in Westsyde

• Great cul-de-sac location walking distance to schools and shopping

• Lots of parking including RV parking 183

• Immaculately maintained 3+1 bedroom 4 bathroom home in great Sahali neighbourhood

• Quiet cul-de-sac location

• Full basement with separate entry

• Walking distance to downtown core

• Beautiful custom built home with 2+2 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms

• Waterfront home on approximately half an acre lot overlooking Kamloops Lake

• Lots of parking

• Great family home with 4+1 bedroom 4 bathroom home in quiet Sun Rivers location

• Over 4800 square feet of living space with many updates done throughout

• Lots of parking including triple garage

TROPHY COURT $999,900 • MLS®173771

6951 SAVONA ACCESS ROAD $1,690,000 • MLS®173756

1862 IRONWOOD DRIVE $1,665,000 • MLS®173954

225 ST PAUL STREET W $835,000 • MLS®174512

3175 WAWN COURT $995,000 • MLS®174544

Sahali Savona Sun R ivers

Sou th Kamloops Westsyde

2299 GARYMEDE DRIVE $749,900 • MLS®174532

2-1575 SPRINGHILL DRIVE $749,900 • MLS®174517

840 SICAMORE DRIVE $599,900 • MLS®174403

106- 490 LORNE STREET $475,000 • MLS®174524

61-650 HARRINGTON ROAD $799,900 • MLS®174062

Aberdeen Sahali

Westsyde Sou th Kamloops

Westsyde

Distress sale of 2400 different books on hockey Both juvenile and adult categor ies some fiction, most non-fiction Published bet ween 1919 - 2012 Comes with bibliographies $7,500 250-374-2211

WE will pay you to exercise!

Deliver Kamloops This Week

Only 1 issue a week! Call 250-374-0462 for a route near you!

Exec desk dar k finish $200 Teak cor ner cabinet $100, Custom oak cabinet $200 250-851-7687

It's

WE will pay you to exercise!

Deliver Kamloops This Week

Only 1 issue a week!

Call 250-374-0462 for a route near you!

Dallas 1bdr m, house pr ivileges Prefer female $600 250-573-3970

2008 Chevy Trailblazer 4wd Exec cond $7,000 250-374-3827

0564

Greeting cards made in England each cellophane wrapped 90,000 for $6 000/obo 250-376-6607

Boat rack, auto boat loader 12ft Naden alum boat $2 000/obo Will sell separate 778-470-2007

4 tires from Smar t Car backs mounted $100 250-573-5676

U-Haul Storage Center Kamloops claims a Landlords Contrac tual Lien against the following persons goods in storage at 720 Halston Ave Kamloops, BC Tel: 250-3760962. Auc tion is subjec t to cancellation at anytime without notice.

Yew St, Kamloops British Columbia

Casa Azul is looking for a cook to prepare meals and follow establishment recipes.

Cuisine Specialties: Mexican

Cody Nesbitt 1087 Fraser St Kamloops British Columbia

0166 Tommy Musiel 1194 Kamwood Pl Kamloops British Columbia

3161 Jake Palmer 1143 Cour tenay Cres Kamloops British Columbia

1194 Malcolm Timms 13914 Dome Creek Rd Dome Creek British Columbia

3178 Chrissandra Stevenson 22 800 Southhill St Kamloops British Columbia

3048 Jamie Mcnabb 1530 River St 213 Kamloops British Columbia

1189 Jordan Reid 552 Lister Rd Kamloops British Columbia

2231 Brett Castonguay 1284 14th St Kamloops British Columbia

3026 Danica Loiselle 4067 Old Yellowhead Highway Kamloops British Columbia

3018 Scott Casano 2030 22nd St NE Salmon Arm British Columbia

3174 Robyn Dick 6014 JD Manuel Dr Kamloops British Columbia

3073 Tara ward 1127 Laroque St Kamloops British Columbia

A sale will take place online at www.ibid4storage.com starting at 10AM on Thursday 14th till 10AM Saturday 16th 2023. Winners will be contacted by email at the end of the auction. Room contents are personal/household goods unless noted otherwise. Bids will be for the entire contents of each locker unit.

NOTICE OF SALE

250-372-5033

Duties

• Prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods using a grill, oven, or fryer

• Prepare dishes for customers with food allergies or intolerances

• Plan menus, determine size of food portions, estimate food requirements and costs, and monitor and order supplies

• Inspect kitchens and food service areas

• Train staff in preparation, cooking and handling of food

• Order supplies and equipment

• Supervise kitchen staff and helpers

• Maintain inventory and records of food, supplies and equipment

• Clean kitchen and work areas

• Organize and manage buffets and banquets

• Manage kitchen operations

Work conditions and physical capabilities

• Attention to detail

• Fast-paced environment

• Repetitive tasks

• Standing for extended periods

• Work under pressure

Health benefits

• Dental plan

• Disability benefits

• Health care plan

• Vision care benefits

Languages: English

Education:

• Secondary (high) school graduation certificate

• Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program for cooks or completion of college

• FoodSafe

Experience: 2 to 3 years, 1 vacancy

Those legally entitled to work in Canada are welcome to apply

Salary: $21 50/hour Full time, 40 hours/week

START DATE: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Employment conditions: Morning, Day, Evening, Weekend, Night, Flexible hours

Employment groups: Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, Visible minorities, Persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, Newcomers to Canada, Apprentices

2010 Crossroads Cruiser 26RKX 5th Wheel 27ft $25,000 604-856-8530

Notice is hereby given to Mcbratney Colin please be advised that your 2015 KIA SORENTO VIN 5XYKTCA63FG605511 located at 1350 Kootenay Way, Kamloops, BC will be sold to cover debt of $2400 on Sept 6th, 2023, at 9:00 am Kamloops Auto

NOTICE OF SALE

Notice is hereby given to LEES MELANIE please be advised that your 2015 Dodge Jour ney VIN 3C4PDCAB9F T591655 located at 1350 Kootenay Way Kamloops, BC will be sold to cover debt of $2400 on Sept 6th, 2023, at 9:00 am Kamloops Auto Recycling Ltd

NOTICE OF SALE

Notice is hereby given to MCCUNE JO ANNE, please be advised that your 2008 Chev Equinox VIN 2CNDL13FX86295136 located at 1350 Kootenay Way Kamloops, BC will be sold to cover debt of $1400 on Sept 6th, 2023, at 9:00 am Kamloops Auto Recycling Ltd

1998 24ft GM Motorhome

177,000kms $18,500 00

1998/99 VW Rialta 22ft dash-cabin air 140,000mi $29,500 778-220-7383

Employment Oppor tunity

Maintenance Technician – Permanent Par t Time

Q’wemtsin Health Society (QHS) is an assembly of health care professionals who believe in providing quality, client-centred care to our Secwépemc communities through the provision of holistic health services Located at the hear t of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc our clinic acts as a one-stop health shop for community members Over the last 22 years, becoming a pivotal agent in suppor ting health and wellness for the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Skeetchestn Indian Band and Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band

Purpose:

To conduct routine building and grounds inspections for two health clinics: completing minor repairs and general maintenance, coordinating contracted work through outside service providers, and maintaining proper documentation and repor ting

Responsibilities:

• Conduct routine safety and maintenance inspections of buildings and grounds

• Conduct routine building and grounds maintenance

• Complete small repairs around building and proper ty

• Coordinate contracted services for maintenance and repairs

• Oversee the maintenance and repairs of company fleet

• Par ticipate as a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Team

• Assemble furniture and safely mount wall fixtures

• Keep building and grounds tidy and organized

• Ensuring safe access to the building in winter by clearing snow and spreading salt on walkways and parking area(s); this must be completed prior to regular office hours and as needed throughout the day

Qualifications & Skills:

• Mechanically inclined; exhibits knowledge of tools, common appliances, and repairs

• Manual dexterity and problem-solving skills

• Punctual, reliable, and dependable

• Knowledge of and ability to comply with health and safety regulations

• Personable and friendly with staff and clients

• Ability to maintain confidentiality

• Knowledge of Secwépemc culture is an asset, acknowledges cultural differences and suppor ts diversity

Additional Requirements:

• Possess valid Class 5 British Columbia driver’s license and submit current drivers abstract

• Complete and clear the Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods of time; ability to bend, kneel, stoop, and lift or move heavy equipment

Please forward your cover letter and resume along with three employment references to:

Q’wemtsín Health Society

Attn: Bobbi Sasakamoose

130 Chilcotin Road

Kamloops, BC V2H 1G3

E-mail: bobbi@qwemtsin org

The deadline for this posting is: September 4, 2023

We thank you all for your submissions, only qualified candidates will be contacted

CUNDARI SEIBEL LLP

Lawyers

We have 2 employment opportuni2es

Li5ga5on Legal Assistant

Experience with personal injury law strongly recommended but not required

Experienced Conveyancer

Experience with E-Conveyance an asset

AT TN: OFFICE MANAGER mcundari@cundarilaw com

S chool District No. 74 (Gold Trail)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIT Y C ARPENTER

This is an ongoing full-time position at $35 46/hour The Carpenter, under the super vision of the Direc tor of Operations and the general direc tion of the Operations Foreman, provides car pentr y ser vices related to the construc tion, alteration and maintenance of buildings, fix tures and equipment.

For full details visit w w w.sd74.bc.ca/Employment/ Apply in wr iting, with details of previous related exper ience, qualifications and abilities to:

Shari Featherstone

Direc tor of Human Resources

S chool Distric t No. 74 (G old Trail) PO B ox 250, Ashcrof t, BC V0K 1A0 Email: hr@sd74.bc.ca

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Celebration ofLife

Allan George Fraser

A Ser vice of Remembrance will be held S aturday, September 9th, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Schoening’s Funeral Home

Joseph Raymond (Ray) Lestage

June 26, 1930 - August 20, 2023

It is with much sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father Ray on August 20, 2023 at the age of 93 years. Dad passed away at Ridgeview Lodge where he has resided for the past one and a half years. Dad was born in Peesane, Saskatchewan on the family farm. He was one of 12 children.

Dad moved west to BC when he was a young lad of 16 years and started his career in logging. Dad met mom here and they were married in 1952. Dad was a family man and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Dad’s company “Lestage Logging” sponsored many of his grandchildren’s soccer teams in Kamloops. He would always come to as many games as he could and cheer on the grandchildren. Dad also enjoyed gardening.

Dad was married to mom for 67 years. Sadly she passed in 2019. Dad was also predeceased by daughter Donna Meeley (2020) and son-in-law Dave Rabidoux (2021).

Richard Hook

It is with deep sadness that the family of Richard Hook announce his peaceful passing at the age of 79 on the afternoon of July 11, 2023. Rick was an avid horseman and prominent member of the BC Cutting Horse Association, inducted into the BCCHA Hall of Fame in 2001.

His greatest passion was training cutting horses and their riders. Rick was always willing to offer advice, help out and mentor those around him. He will be remembered by many

If his passion was horses, his greatest joy was his family In his retirement he loved to play cards, golf and pickleball; even more he enjoyed being in the background with a Louis L'Amour book in his hands, chuckling, and shaking his head at the antics of his family

Q. What do you do if Murray says “No service by request?”

A. Invite some friends and family over for a pot luck and set a place for Murray. Maybe put his picture and urn where he used to sit and serve up a plate of his favourite snacks. Tell some stories about him. Is that a “service”?

Dad is survived by his children Linda Rabidoux, Wayne (Shelley) Lestage and Rhonda (Murray) Leonew He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Dad is also survived by his siblings Phyllis, Rita, and Ed. Also numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and family members. There will be a Graveside service at Hillside Cemetery at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 1, 2023.

The family would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff, nurses and Dr Howie at Ridgeview Lodge, all of whom took wonderful care of our dad.

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

Ann Eileen Haas (née Smith)

Mom was born in Kamloops on May 26, 1932 and passed away in Victoria on August 14, 2023.

She is predeceased by her father, mother, sisters Ada and Corinne and brother Kermit. Mom is survived by her sisters Merrill and Niki and her brother Read as well as her children Tracy (Ron), Geoff and Tony, grandchildren Jonathan, Todd, Brett, Melissa, Alysha and Emily and great-grandchildren Makayla, Kayden and Madeline along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom spent her working career as a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital before finishing up at Queenswood attending to the nuns there. Mom was always active. She was a golfer and attended exercise classes for many years along with being an avid bridge player She also spent time volunteering with the Thrifty Foods Sendial program.

Her last few years were spent as a resident at Mount St. Mary A very special thank you to the staff and Dr Peter Neweduk who took excellent care of Mom while she was there.

There will be no service by request. A Celebration of Life will be held at Glen Oak Estates in the Clubhouse at 4125 Interurban Road on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 1:00

Rest in peace Mom.

Rick is survived by his loving wife and best friend Betty Manuel, who was his champion right up to the end, his children Darcie, Darla, Dana, Jinni, Jason, and brother Harley along with eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Rick was surrounded by love, giggles and silliness right up to his quiet passing in his own home. He will be greatly missed and loved always.

A celebration of life will be held at the Oasis Church, 1205 Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC at 12 noon, September 8, 2023.

"We bow to him and hold up our lamps to light his way"

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of BC.

Condolences can be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Adam Peter Hagel

December 21, 1933 - August 17, 2023

Following a lengthy battle with COPD, Adam, Peter Hagel of Kamloops, BC, passed away on the 17th day of August, 2023 at the age of 89.

Dad was born in Allan, Saskatchewan, and made his way to BC where he met the love of his life, Sylvia in 1956. Dad dedicated his life to fire fighting and his five children; Cathy (Tony), Donna (Ken), Laura (Peter), Andy, Trish, and numerous grand and great-grandchildren. Family and religion were very important to Dad, throughout his journey on this earth, which was evident to us all each and every day

Dad had a passion for gardening, golf, fishing, curling, baking, playing cards and we were lucky enough to enjoy all of these experiences with him.

Thank you Dad for all the love and support you have always so unselfishly shown us.

A Memorial Mass will take place on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 11:00 AM OLPH Church with Father Rajesh Madtha, OCD, to honour the life of our loving father

Rest well, dad

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

Fond memories linger every day, Remembrance keeps them near.

Loss

Each loss is very different, The pain is so severe. Will I ever stop missing This one I loved so dear?

Good times we had together, The moments that we shared We didn’t have to tell each other How much we really cared.

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

Now my life is all confused

Since you went away. You took a part of me

And for help I daily pray.

But when God sent you to me

He never said that you were mine, That I could keep you always –Only borrowed for a time.

Now, He’s called you home, I’m sad and I shed tears.

Yet I’m glad He loaned you to me And we had these many years.

Leslie Joseph André Gagnon

February 1, 1953 - August 10, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a great man Leslie Joseph André Gagnon. Les passed away on August 10, 2023 while camping with the love of his life surrounded by nature.

EachLes was born February 1st, 1953 in Claresholm, Alberta and grew up exploring and fishing in Ontario. He moved to Kamloops with his family in 1967 and remained there as a mentor to many raising his incredible family and working a 45-year career at Knowles Exhaust.

He is survived by his loving wife Lydia, his mother Arlene, his children Stacey and André, his grandchildren Emily, Carson, Riley and Avery His siblings Ron, Mark, Carol, Peter His special sons Mike and Steven, and many aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, extended family members and family like friends.

Les’ life passions were hunting, fishing, camping and watching hockey He loved to cook and read history Les was a very creative man who could build anything out of nothing. Les was also a generous man who would do anything for anyone and had a unique ability to find the time for and the good in everyone.

A celebration of life will be held in honour of Les on Saturday, September 16th, 2023, at 1:00pm Location: Pinegrove campground, 421 Walterdale Rd. McLure, BC, Casual attirecamo encouraged.

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

250-554-2577

GIVE LAVISHLY LIVE ABUNDANTLY

By Helen Steiner Rice

June McClure

We are sad to announce that June Carol McClure (née Norbeck), a charismatic, respected and loved educator, singer and pianist, passed away suddenly on August 14, 2023 at the age of 92, after returning from a delightful trip to Boston to visit her granddaughter, Evelyn and family

June was an adored mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, as well as a remarkable friend. She is survived by her children, Tim McClure (Sue), Brian McClure (Shelley), her granddaughter Evelyn (Craig), their son James, grandson Rory (Kir) and granddaughter Alyxandra (Daniel). She is predeceased by her parents Carl and Sadie Norbeck, as well as her siblings.

June was born on June 10, 1931 in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. She lived in New Jersey, as well as Oregon, before moving to British Columbia, Canada where she resided in Endako, Vanderhoof, Bridge Lake, and Kamloops.

June graduated from Sugar Grove Farmington High School before earning a Bachelor of Science from Edinboro University As an avid learner, June went back to school and completed a Diploma in Public History from Simon Fraser University For over 35 years June taught various grades and subjects, with her last seven years being in administration, as a principal. In all her educational roles, after making a difference in the lives of students, music was at the heart of what she did, including weaving it into classroom activities, producing musicals, and leading choirs. June was an active member in the Provincial Intermediate Teacher ’s Association as well as local teacher ’s groups and held multiple executive positions. She enthusiastically participated in provincial Ministry of Education committees and mentored aspiring educators–– always encouraging a standard of excellence.

Outside of her career, June was adventuresome and enjoyed travelling. She liked creating and strategizing. She created, co-led, and participated in singing groups, leading multiple choirs to the provincials, and winning awards. She volunteered at the art gallery, and was a member of the 100 Mile Arts Council, where she established archives for 30 plus years. June loved to garden and influenced the landscaping of all her families’ homes. She took immense pleasure in reading, writing, and championing the success of others.

June was a kind and good person, her infectious smile and laugh will be deeply missed. She unconditionally supported her family and made space for them to be as unique and special as she was. The families’ sadness is cloaked in the knowledge that she was unconditionally loved.

Fly Me

He understands every mode of force

He knows what’s true of the elements

He is subtle but genuine at lift off and landing

He is an airplane ride blowing through the clouds

He is an airplane window that reveals a whole dimension

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

by Kathy Ruth Manongdo

Written on Father’s Day 2010

Am I your passenger? Am I your wingman? Am I your baggage?

Fly Me

He understands every mode of force

He is an airplane grounded in the sky mighty with fuel

He is an airplane engine efficient, sustaining and swift

He is a wing of a plane that stabilizes my lift

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

He has a trap door that releases the body of pain

He has a water tank to keep the peace

Here is a safe place to crash

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

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

Fly Me

by Kathy Ruth Manongdo

Written on Father’s Day 2010

Am I your passenger?

by Kathy

He knows what’s true of the elements

He is subtle but genuine at lift off and landing

He is an airplane ride blowing through the clouds

He is an airplane window that reveals a whole dimension

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

He is an airplane grounded in the sky mighty with fuel

He is an airplane engine efficient, sustaining and swift

He is a wing of a plane that stabilizes my lift

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

He has a trap door that releases the body of pain

Am I your wingman? Am I your baggage?

Am I your well oiled engine?

Am I your wing?

Am I your lift in the air?

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

I am all that you shape me to be You have a windshield view exposing the picture beyond Only you fit the pilot’s seat

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

You know every part and how to fix it

You are navigating by the spirit

Am I your Am I your you to I am

have exposing Only you heart You know

belong

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

He has a water tank to keep the peace

Here is a safe place to crash

You belong to a solid tender heart and so accepted as firm to soar You’re worth the shiniest mint coins and bills in circulation and so loved

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

Don Berger

May 7, 1932 - August 18, 2023

"If one truly loves nature one finds beauty everywhere..." - Vincent Van Gogh

Don Berger has passed at age 91, concluding an artistic career spanning more than seven decades. Born in 1932 to a family of musicians and artists in Chicago, Illinois, Don trained at the Art Institute of Chicago. Drawn to the wilderness beauty of Canada, he moved his family to British Columbia in 1968, and painted landscapes of the rugged Chilcoltin and Cariboo.

Through a wide-ranging career Don inspired many with his big heart, passion for life, and devotion to family and friends. From 1983 he resided in Kelowna, BC with his second partner Ethel. Blossoming from their love of gardens, he initiated his “Openings” series of large-scale, oil-on-canvas florals, with over 130 paintings now residing in private collections across North America. He wrote,

“The lavish palette, the interplay of light and shadow and the endless parade of colour in the garden have made this work immensely rewarding for me. But the biggest reward has been the response from viewers who have entered the gallery and found a garden there.”

Don is survived by Ethel, his devoted partner of 40 years, her children Mike (grandchildren Jude and Chase), Christine (Keith); Don’s first wife Sherry, son Stewart, daughters Carole (Iain) and Holly (Anthony and granddaughter Siena); nephews Bill, Rich Jr (daughters Kelley, Claire) and Paul; nieces Karen (Dan, daughter Mollie) and Debbie. He is predeceased by his father Elmer, mother Martha, brother Rich and sister Carole.

Artworks can be viewed on his website https://donbergerart.com. A celebration of life is being planned for late September, 2023, date/location TBA. Please RSVP to dons.celebration.2023@gmail.com for details.

In lieu of flowers and if you wish, please consider a donation to The Land Conservancy of BC conservancy.bc.ca or ArtStarts in Schools artstarts.com

Springfield Funeral Home: springfieldfuneralhome.com

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightening they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

by Dylan Thomas

Dora (Dot) Ida Poirier

Dora (Dot) Ida Poirier, age 92 of Kamloops, BC, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2023 at Ridgeview Lodge, surrounded by her loving family

Dot was born on January 6, 1931 in Webster, Alberta. She graduated from Grande Prairie High School prior to taking a job at Royal Bank in Sexsmith.

Dot married Art Poirier on October 19, 1950 in Sexsmith, Alberta. They were married for over 50 years until Art passed away in 2001. In the early years of their marriage they raised 3 children who in turn gave them 8 grandchildren.

Early in their marriage Dot stayed at home raising the children and helping Art manage the truck company they formed. In 1959 they moved to Kamloops where Dot returned to work for Royal Bank. In 1969 Dot and Art purchased a cattle ranch near Hixon/Quesnel, BC and Dot continued working in banking in Quesnel. In 1978 they sold the ranch and returned to Kamloops. Dot continued banking but this time worked for Bank of BC where she retired from in February 1992.

Dot was very active in sports, such as softball, golf (where she was fortunate to have made two hole-in-ones), skiing and horseshoes where she won a gold medal in the BC Senior Summer Games. She loved to play cards (bridge, pinochle, etc.) and excelled at dice and tile games.

Perhaps Dot’s favourite endeavour was square dancing. She and Art formed the Happy Square Dance Club in Kamloops and spent many hours hosting events at their hobby farm dance hall.

Dot took an active role in The Legion Ladies Auxiliary and was President for many years. She could be found near the front of the Remembrance Day parade every November and selling poppies at various locations around town.

Dot is predeceased by her loving husband Art as well as 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Remaining family to cherish Dot’s memory are daughter Yvonne Maughan (Bill), sons Bill Poirier (Lea), and Doug Poirier (Sharon). Grandchildren – Tiffany, Tanya, Tara, Jason, Chantelle, Jeremy, Todd and Danielle. Great-grandchildren – Jordan, Carson, Travis, Delany, Olivia, Ronan, Scarlette, Harley, Ridley and Avery

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

Michael Dale Sanborn

August 21, 2023 Michael Dale Sanborn left us at the age of 69 after a long battle with COPD. He will be forever deeply missed by his Wife and Best Friend of 29 years, Cathy Mike leaves behind his daughters Riki-Lynn (Ed) Boettcher, Kaylee (Tyler) Van Nice, grandchildren Jaxson, Brooklyn and Kassidy

Mike was born in Penticton and always called the interior of BC home. He spent his working years in the asphalt paving industry, eventually retiring with Dawson Construction at the end of the paving season in 2017. He often joked about his work as a "paid holiday around the province".

His passion for hockey was evident, he picked up the goalie pads in Pee-Wee and continued to play through to the Old Timers League. A die-hard fan of the Vancouver Canucks he was always cheering them on for the elusive Stanley Cup. Mike enjoyed golf and was known to take his clubs "to work" in the summer months.

Nothing meant more to Mike than his family He was always so proud of the beautiful women his daughters grew to be and having the opportunity to walk them down the aisle and see them become parents themselves made his heart full. He had the ability to always see the glass as half full even in trying times. Your smile, your laugh and the safety of being inside your arms will live with us always.

A celebration of life will take place this Fall with a date to be announced.

Edward “Brian” Foley 1945 - 2023

Brian left us in the early morning hours of July 26, 2023, as the result of a massive heart attack, his family by his side. He suffered from COPD, and had been on oxygen for over six years. Brian’s health had further deteriorated in the past few months, taking away his ability to drive, to ride his quad, and to mow his lawn, the last outside activities of a very active, hard working life. He spent hours on the front porch, watching the hummingbirds and swallows, and overseeing whatever farm activities were within his view His telephone was his lifeline. Many will miss his frequent phone calls. May he rest easy He would not have taken well to the other probabilities of old agedementia, walkers, wheelchairs, and especially, seniors’ homes. When he could no longer climb the stairs at night, he slept on the chesterfield and watched TV Poppy became his constant companion. How he loved that cat!

Brian was born in Kamloops 78 years ago. His mother, Dorothy Elsie (Blackwell) Foley, was born to Agnes and Milton Blackwell, in the farmhouse, in what is now Barnhartvale. Brian’s father, Percy Clinton Foley, was born in Yorkshire, England, and came with his parents to Victoria, BC, as an infant, and to Brigade Lake at the age of 10. The Brigade Lake property included the site, where, in 1879, the McLeans killed John Ussher Brian lived there till age 11, with his parents, brother Harry and sister Agnes, when the family moved to Mamette Lake.

Brian was born into a world of trucks and tractors, cattle, horses of the saddle, work, and wild varieties, pastures, haylands and meadows. When Brian was 16, he lived by himself, over winter, feeding cows at Beaton Meadows.

Brian’s education began in the one room schools at Long Lake and Mamette Lake, and continued by correspondence. He spent one year at Kam High, as a dorm kid. Later, he entered a mechanics’ course in Kelowna. Besides ranching, he worked at diamond drilling and logging.

In 1967 he married Linda Ferguson. The world was good. Children Brenda and Clint were the light of their lives. Then tragedy struck, and the children were lost in a house fire. Brian Jr arrived just four months later, followed by Debra and Becki. Sometimes tragic events are too much to bear, wounds cut too deep, and the marriage eventually broke down.

In the fall of 1983, Brian came to fix fences on Louise De Marni’s Campbell Range ranch, and stayed for almost 40 years. His 11 year old son, Brian Jr joined him in the spring of 1984. Brian had returned to a rural life of pastures, hay meadows, trucks, tractors, cattle and horses. He became a 4-H Dad, helping tame years of steer and heifer projects, and hauling them around the area to various events and fairs. He became part of the purebred side of the operation. Until 2000, when the cows were crossbred, he spent many happy years participating at Bull Sales and Hereford meetings, and delivering bulls around the country Three memorable trips were made to Montana to purchase breeding stock.

Brian loved the Range and his neighbours, lending a hand when he could. The 1912 ranch house became his love too, and he was part of all the improvements over the past 40 years.

Brian was pre-deceased by his children, Brenda, Clint, and Debra, and brother-inlaw Roy He is survived by his brother Harry (Mary) and sister, Agnes. Partner, Louise, children Brian Jr (Michelle) and Becki (Mike); step-children, Stephen (Akiko), Paul (Michelle), Jeanette (Cliff), and Sue (Ken); grandchildren, Maria, Michael, Tiah, Alexis, Becca (Trey), Alex, and Danika. Step-grandchildren, Meggan (Peter), Hailee, and Logan, great-granddaughter Micah, many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Lately Brian would joke with people who asked him how he was. He’d say, “I haven’t read my name in the obituary section yet.” Well, Brian…

Brian’s cremated remains will be interred at the ranch, in September, at a private family gathering. A Celebration of Life will be held Thanksgiving weekend, when the crops are in, and the cows are home, Saturday, October 7, 2023, 11:00 AM at the Barnhartvale Hall.

In loving memory of Edward Ernest Yawney

Edward Ernest Yawney, born on March 26, 1932, on a farm east of Edmonton, peacefully passed away on August 10, 2023 His remarkable journey through life was characterized by a passion for the cowboy spirit, a deep appreciation for music and the fine ar ts, and his resolute dedication to education

In 1943, the Yawney family relocated to Vernon, B C , where Ed bought his first horse, a beauty with four white socks and a blaze face which he named Chico. It was also in Vernon that he embarked upon a journey into the world of music, mastering various instruments and, at the age of 15, joining a musical group that played dances at the Lavington Community Hall where his proficiency as a fiddler shone Following high school, Ed journeyed to Vancouver to attain a Teacher ’s Cer tificate and during the summers, worked as a ranch hand on the Gang Ranch, swimming instructor and lifeguard at the Vernon Cadet camp, and on the CPR passenger train ser vice between Vancouver and Winnipeg, where he mastered the ar t of fast food preparation while tending to the coal-fired stoves in the galley Ed’s teaching career commenced in Burnaby, where his charismatic personality, ar tistic talent, and communication skills propelled him to the position of vice principal and caught the eye of a colleague, Diane Car ter Their union blessed them with three amazing children, Lorne, Suzanne, and Clinton A principalship in Kamloops allowed the family to relocate to a small acreage where he could indulge in his love for horses, cattle auction sales, and the great outdoors

The oppor tunity to ser ve as principal in Quesnel beckoned, allowing Ed to live in a place reminiscent of his cherished upbringing on the prairies. From a picturesque ranch, Ed

seamlessly merged his frontier lifestyle with his role as a teacher and administrator at Red Bluff and Voyageur Elementar y Schools

Ed and his family had many wonder ful adventures exploring the 1,200-acre ranch. After a distinguished career, Ed embarked on a retirement path that took him to a range of locations and experiences before settling into a care home in Vernon Ed’s final act and par ting gesture was to sing a couple of his favourite countr y and western songs His legacy is woven into the cherished memories of and an enduring impact on all for tunate enough to have crossed paths with him

Rest in peace, Ed

Your legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew you

The Little Unicorn

by Peggy Kociscin, Albuquerque, New Mexico

There lived a little unicorn (From when the earth was new), His coat so white it glistened, His eyes a sparkling blue.

In innocence and beauty, He danced through woods and streams. The animals danced with him, His heart aglow with dreams. He laughed and played with rainbows, So happy all day through, He loved to kiss the flowers

As their petals shone with dew.

He wandered through the meadows

In the moon’s soft, silver light. He loved to gaze at all the stars

That lightened up the night.

He listened to the music

Of the birds that graced the trees. He frolicked with the butterflies And raced the gentle breeze.

But, as he grew and learned of life, The sparkle in his eye Grew misty as he realized Just what it means to cry.

He learned that there are shadows In spite of shining sun.

The more he grew, he found that life Was never always fun.

For now he’d learn of feelings

That come from deep within;

No longer in the “dream world”

Where (for so long) he’d been.

His gentle heart desired

But to know the pleasure of

To give and to receive

The very precious gift of love.

To love meant to be happy,

And yet it also brought him pain;

For those he loved could hurt him

Again.. and yet again.

His mother held him lovingly

And tried to ease his fears

About the sadness life could bring...

The lonely, bitter tears.

She said, “Life is like a mountain, (And surely this is true)

That we must climb as best we can.

There’s no ‘around or ‘through.’”

The unicorn tried tirelessly, And gave the climb his best;

But he felt it was not good enough, He felt he’d failed the test.

He could not understand it

When he felt himself rejected –

When all his gentle being asked Was but to be accepted.

All this was just too much for him, He knew not what to do.

That he was special as himself, Somehow, he never knew. His spirit crushed, he felt defeated, And lonely tears would start. Not understanding how to love, It simply broke his heart.

But now he’s in a loving place

Where all his pain has ceased, Where all accepted him and his love, Where all he knows is peace.

A loving Being tells him, “You’re delightful as you are.”

His spirit free, his brilliance now Outshines the brightest star!

Comic Strippers in Kamloops on Sept. 9

The Comic Strippers will soon return to Kamloops, with a saucy improv performance planned for Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Sagebrush Theatre.

The group has been performing the show for 11 years and has toured across Canada and internationally. The fictitious male stripper troupe includes characters — all of whom happened to be named Chip — played by Roman Danylo, Chris Casillan, Pearce Visser and Ken Lawson.

Lawson, a former Kamloops resident who grew up in Logan Lake, said he has a newfound enthusiasm for bringing the show to the stage, following the lengthy absence of live audiences due to the pandemic.

“We love physical audiences. They’re way better than illusionary audiences,” Lawson told KTW with a laugh. “It’s not surprising, but we really do feel that crowds are even more enthusiastic and appreciative, which has been very fulfilling and actually quite emotional at times.”

Everything the Comic Strippers do on stage is improvised and inspired by audience suggestions, including singing and “ridiculous dances that we have no right to be doing,” Lawson said.

Physiques of the performers range from shabby to svelte, but confidence is sky-high across the board. Lawson said the show is “super inclusive.”

“Just look at us. We’re built like regular people. Anyone can achieve this. This is your body.

Let’s just have fun, be kind and create some joy together,” he said.

Like his fellow performers, Lawson is also a TV and film actor. One of his most recent highlights is a guest star appearance on the CBS sitcom So Help Me Todd, where he got a chance to test the improv abilities of Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden.

At the end of Lawson’s first scene with the actress, he took a chance and it paid off.

“It was like four days of me going, ‘Oh my god, I’m making Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden laugh,’ and the director was loving it,” he said, praising Harden as a skilled improviser.

Before Lawson hit the silver screen, he performed in Kamloops, taking the stage with a number of bands and rocking out with local musicians like Henry Small, Kris Ruston and Sean Luciw.

One local claim to fame is when one of his bands, Cozy Gelpod, opened a show in Kamloops for Nickelback, which was an independent band at time and hadn’t yet broken through to its international fame.

“We were really angry at them because they wouldn’t lend us their drums. Why wouldn’t they lend us their drums? Jesus,” Lawson said, laughing.

Lawson recalled receiving positive feedback from the club owner at the time, who said his

Free admission for evacuees

• Due to the wildfires affecting the region, the Kamloops Art Gallery is offering fire evacuees free admission.

Recognizing the stress and uncertainty faced by those displaced by the wildfires, the Kamloops Art Gallery aims to provide a safe space where individuals and families can find comfort, inspiration and a brief escape from the current circumstances.

The gallery offers a welcoming environment with comfortable seating, reading materials and beautiful artworks that offer a small reprieve from ongoing challenges.

band had outplayed the soon-tobe sensation.

“Six months later, they were the biggest band in the world,” Lawson said.

Lawson said he is looking forward to his return to Kamloops and plans to give it his all on the Sagebrush stage.

“I think I’m laughing more than ever during the show. I know my job is to have a good time. That’s the coolest part of this gig. When I’m having a blast, the audience is, too,” he said.

Tickets to the 19-plus show are available through the Kamloops Live box office, online at kamloopslive.ca or by phone at 250-374-5483.

Showtime for the Sept. 9 event is 8 p.m.

Wildfire evacuees can identify themselves to gallery admissions staff for free entry. The gallery is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• The Kamloops Museum and Archives is the latest entity to offer free admission to people evacuated due to wildfires.

The museum and archives, downtown at Seymour Street and Second Avenue, has children’s activities, comfortable seating, reading materials and local history exhibitions.

Wildfire evacuees can identify themselves to staff for free entry until Sept. 30.

To find information on current exhibitions and related programs, visit KamloopsMuseum.ca.

The Kamloops Museum and Archives is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Former Kamloops resident Ken Lawson (far right) is among the “Chips” starring in the Comic Strippers improv troupe. The show will be at the Sagebrush Theatre on Sept. 9

Drive-in seeks new home in Kamloops area

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

The Twin Rivers Drive-In has gone dark for the season following challenges with the inflatable screen employed at the Rayleigh location.

The drive-in, which is run by the Kamloops Film Society (KFS), is seeking a new location for next year.

KFS executive director Dusan Magdolen said the year has been a difficult one, with the windy North Thompson Valley ultimately proving too much for the drive-in’s inflatable screen.

“We have not given up yet because we’ve seen how excited

people are for the drive-in experience,” he said. “We will give it one more try, but we will need someone with land to step forward to help.”

Magdolen said lingering smoke and other technical issues have also caused problems for the drive-in operation, which started on McArthur Island before relocating twice, first to a Shuswap Road address and then to a field just beyond the Tournament Capital Ranch in Rayleigh.

The KFS is now seeking a more permanent locale — somewhere that is willing to make a three-year, or longer,

commitment to host the drivein theatre.

Magdolen said the group is in need of three to four acres of land that is flat or sloped to one side, which can be used in July, August and September each year. The site should also have vehicle access from at least one point and be within 30 minutes of Kamloops.

Magdolen said the society can offer a small lease payment or sponsorship credit, if desired.

Anyone with a lead on a suitable property for the drive-in can contact Magdolen by emailing dusan@thekfs.ca.

Local film organization planning courses beginning Sept. 24

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

A new short film course is coming to Kamloops in September.

The YKA Short Film Lab is a six-week course being run by local

non-profit society YKA Film.

The program, which will begin on Sept. 24, is open to anyone over the age of 16 and of any experience level and will consist of six workshops. Topics covered will include

scripts, casting, training, filming, editing and marketing. Each day of the program will be four hours long, except for one full day of shooting.

“The program will provide participants with the skills, creative

insight and opportunity to make their own short films and increase awareness of the local art sector and its artists,” YKA Film founder Cjay Boisclair said.

The program is $249 and includes program materials, craft

services (food) and catering on shoot day, as well as YKA Filmbranded goodies.

For more information and to register, email info@ykafilm.com or go online to facebook.com/ ykafilm.

The Twin Rivers Drive-In was near the Tournament Capital Ranch in Rayleigh, but strong winds and other factors have led to relocation plans.

DANIELATKAMLOOPSKIA/INSTAGRAM

Kamloops author’s book has a maze of intrigue

‘THE WICKEDEST OF THINGS’ IS RUSSEL BARRIE’S FIRST NOVEL

DAVE EAGLES STAFF REPORTER dave_eagles@kamloopsthisweek.com

A Kamloops man has written his first novel, The Wickedest of Things — a fiction thriller he describes as a story for anyone who likes a good adventure and is willing to stay with it to the end.

Russel Barrie is no stranger to the written word, having selfpublished several short stories, which are available on his website and at local bookstores.

Barrie said his latest work is his favourite kind of fiction.

“When a group of well-crafted characters are locked in a room, posed with a threat and then forced to work together, it creates a good story,” he said.

Barrie said the story is loosely based on modern-day tech companies’ recent trend to engage their employees in real-life challenges to encourage team-building and cooperation.

In The Wickedest of Things ,

Barrie introduces central character Reid Sheraton — a man in search of a challenge who designs games to keep his haunted mind busy to avoid the past. But when his company is purchased by the Horizon Corporation, the mysterious Esin has other plans.

At Horizon, the greatest event is its Labyrinth, a vast maze of puzzles and trials meant to test employees and push them beyond their limits.

There are those who want to win, and so take risks when they have the chance, getting swept up in Horizon and a world of dazzling technology and corporate intrigue.

However, as the Labyrinth approaches, sinister happenings are in motion at Horizon. One man’s ruthless maneuvering corrupts the technology with a betrayal so deep that nothing will be the same.

“It’s a harrowing escape from a maze by people stalked by a killer,” Barrie said. “It’s like a race to the finish.”

Since being published in March, Barrie said the book has found its way into local shops and is available online at amazon. com.

The book is available at Legends Used Books in Aberdeen, The Book Place downtown and Haus of Misfit on Tranquille Road.

Go online to russelbarrie.com for more information.

HOW TO ENSURE YOU STAY

CONNECTED TO local news Bill C-18

Google and Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) have vowed to block Canadian news links and content from their platforms in response to the federal government’s Online News Act (Bill C-18), which requires the companies to pay Canadian media outlets for posting or linking to their news content

Both Google and Meta have been experimenting with blocking access to Canadian news on their respective sites, as some users in Kamloops and across Canada may have experienced. Meta has indicated it will shortly block all Canadians from seeing news.

This serves as an ideal time to remind readers of KTW to follow us on X (formerly twitter) @KamThisWeek and to sign up for our FREE NEWSLETTER, emailed to subscribers every weekday morning. It includes local news you need to know, links to other great reads and an assortment of interesting facts. Scan the QR code to sign up now or visit kamloopsthisweek.com/account/mailinglist.

RUSSEL BARRIE

City of Kamloops

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

Recreational Dance Programs

Variety of classes offered starting September 12 Parent and Tot, Children, Youth Adult classes such as, Acro Dance, Tiny Treasures, Happy Feet, Musical Theatre, Hip, Ballet, Tap, Line Dance, Belly Dance and so much more!

Register for Fall Programs, online Kamloops.ca/PerfectMind or in-person or phone 250-828-3500

Soundscapes: The Vibration of Sound 3/$60

Everything in our universe is information and energy vibrating at specific frequencies Awaken to the reality of healing and happiness in the body with music and the vibration of sound You will be guided through a deeply relaxing experience featuring magical gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks, oracle cards and other mystical surprises

Let’s Move Studio

Sun Sept 10, Oct 8, and Nov 5 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm

My First Museum 10/$80

Introduce your little one to the museum through hands on exploration and artifact handling, stories, songs, and a caregiverassisted craft Each session offers flexibility for young children to engage in the museum world through a variety of sensory and play experiences

Kamloops Museum and Archives

Wed Sept 20 - Nov 22 10:00 am to 10:45 am

Fri Sept 22 - Nov 24 10:00 am to 10:45 am

Taco and Salsa 1/$53

Learn how to utilize end-of-summer bounties to make delicious fresh salsas and pair it with fresh corn tortillas and both meat and vegetarian taco fillings

Mount Paul Community Food Centre

Wed Sept 13 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Kamloops.ca

LOCAL NEWS

Donation for robotics

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

NorKam senior secondary’s robotics program has been given a boost by mining company New Gold Inc.

The school has received $8,060 to support its robotics program. Those funds will go toward the purchase of a comprehensive set of VEX robotics kits, which have been designed for a classroom setting.

The cutting-edge kits will be usable by 18 to 22 students per session. Students do not require robotics experience to

start learning.

Funding was sought by technology teacher Dewald van der Merwe through New Gold’s community investment program.

“This funding will significantly enhance our students’ learning experiences and open up exciting opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” van der Merwe said.

The school district said students will be challenged to create robots reminiscent of

those used in Amazon distribution centres, retrieving items and delivering them to precise locations. Students can delve into problem-solving, conceptualizing solutions, planning,

prototyping and testing.

By combining coding and construction, students can learn how to blend skills and creativity in the construction of their robots.

Tk’emlúps artist a Pow Wow Pitch semifinalist

KAMLOOPS THISWEEK

A Tk’emlúps entrepreneur has been named a semi-finalist for Pow Wow Pitch, a business accelerator working to enhance Indigenous businesses.

Ashley Michel is owner of and artist behind 4 Generations Creations. Through her business, Michel creates designs

intended to educate people about Indigenous issues and resiliency.

“My designs unapologetically Indigenize and decolonize spaces as we walk this path towards meaningful reconciliation,” reads Michel’s website at 4generationscreations.ca.

Selling online, Michel offers apparel, accessories like

keychains, tote bags and toques and various craft and decorative supplies for regalia or other works.

Pow Wow Pitch is a community of Indigenous entrepreneurs intent on providing a safe, collaborative, supportive and empowering platform for reconciliation through entrepreneurship, according to the

organization’s website.

The pitch component is a competitive process held annually, with more than 2,400 pitches made this year alone. Winners will receive cash prizes between $500 and $25,000.

Michel will learn on Sept. 7 if she progresses to the finals. For more information on the program, visit powwowpitch.org.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD FOUND ON B7

SD73 staff pose with a $8,060 cheque from New Gold.

RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS

The American Crown Circus’ Circus Osorio thrilled adults and kids alike over the weekend and into Monday with a series of shows under the big top at Aberdeen Mall. Acrobats amazed and clowns had audience members chuckling, while wildfire evacuees were treated to free admission. More photos can be seen online at kamloopsthisweek. com, under the Community tab.

2 0 24/25

CHAR IT Y OF CHOICE!

The Application deadline is September 17, 2023 at 5pm. If shor t listed , you will be contac ted by Oc tober 1 , to present no more than 20 minutes on Oc tober 12 , 202 3 , be t ween 6:15pm-7:15pm.

Each year, thank s to the generous suppor t o f the communit y and its par tners , Boogie is able to donate a signif icant amount o f the registration fees to local K amloops charities . Chosen ever y t wo years , Boogie donates funds raised each year to one or t wo charities o f choice and the Boogie the Bridge Cultural Fund (begun in 2005).

To date , Boogie has been able to donate over 1 million dollars to our local K amloops communit y!

Eligible Charities who suppor t Youth and/or Families of the K amloops area can visit our website : boogiethebridge.com

The Copper Island Swim committee would like to thank our sponsors, Runner Sole, Progressive Step, Brooks, Kamloops This Week, Gillespie Lawyers; as well as the community of Scotch Creek and Provincial Park

We anticipated a fabulous day of swimming, competition, community, and sport on the beautiful shores and water of Shuswap Lake on September 9, just two weeks from now In light of the sweeping movement of wildfires into the Scotch Creek community and the devastation community members have experienced, it is evident that the swim must be postponed until next year.

Open water swimmers are athletes finely-tuned to the nuance of water and the spirit of nature, and there is no way a swim celebration of this sort can take place when so many of the surrounding community are in distress

The committee would like to extend their heartfelt care towards Scotch Creek and would like to contribute profit and/or donations from next year’s swim to the Scotch Creek community More thought and communication will come forth from our swimming collective as to the best way we can help care for a place we all appreciate so much

Kind thoughts and care,

The Copper Island Committee

ALLEN DOUGLAS PHOTOS/KTW

WEEKLY COMICS

WEEKLY HOROSCOPES

Aries, you may want to move your relationship in a different direction, but your par tner is resistant This could be a conflict, or something that opens up a dialogue

Taurus, you might feel like doing all you can to make a problem go away, and think that acting immediately is the way to go But ponder a few options beforehand

Gemini, a professional oppor tunity that seems to have many positive financial outcomes actually could have a down side to it It ’s best if you do your research before acting

You may think that others do not understand you, Cancer But that may be a good thing You can focus on explaining your position and maybe make a few friends along the way

Leo, you tend to be attracted to things that tempt fate or may even be considered forbidden When others want you to walk the straight and narrow for a bit, it could be tough

Virgo, an oppor tunity to get away presents itself Enjoy this muchneeded respite and don’t he afraid to go the extra mile to ensure the trip is as memorable as possible

You may want to do it all, Libra, but sometimes you have to let others know you have limits When you don’t, it is easy to get taken advantage of or run yourself ragged

Scorpio, are you ready for an adventure? Identify some new hobbies and then learn all you can about getting out there and doing those types of activities with frequency

A loved one may want to be more coz y with you this week, but you’re content to have ample space and do your own thing, Sagittarius Let your views be heard on this situation

-

Capricorn, you may want to tell a loved one what they want to hear right now to make a difficult situation go away However, that only postpones the inevitable tough talk

You have been feeling like it is time to break away from your regular routine, Aquarius It could be because there has been added stress on your shoulders A vacation may be needed

There are some limits to doing all of the work on your own, Pisces First off, you may lack the time and the exper tise Bring on helpers this week if anyone is available

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

ACROSS

1. Drinks named after a city in Yemen

7. Remove, as a cap

11. Bloody Mary ingredient

18. Deluge

19. Collection of threads, of a sort

21. Person pursuing passion, not pay

22. Cookbook for rotelle lovers?

25. Play lists?

26. Creature thought to inspire mermaid legends

27. Olive oil for a macaroni salad?

29. Chills 30. Lose it 33. Clothing style with retro and preppy influences 34. Camel relative

Gate listing, for short

Bit of high jinks 38. ‘‘You think?’’ 40. Fairy-tale antagonist 41. Best-selling personal finance guru 43. Electrify 45. Advice for saucing a lasagna?

50. Region of ancient Palestine

51. Down

52. Competition for boxers

53. Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee, for 67-Across

55. Running fettuccine dough through the pasta machine?

61. Concealed field, for short

62. Cacao bit 65. Pigeon’s sound

Rubber-stamps

67. Where Ross taught paleontology on ‘‘Friends,’’ for short

68. Self-serve spots at pasta bars?

73. Star clusters?

76. Butch Cassidy, famously

77. Astronaut Jemison

79. Baked, so to speak

80. Kitchen disaster with rotini?

86. Hits on the head, informally

87. Topic of a traveler’s inquiry

88. Keepsakes for some of the world’s greatest dads?

89. Appropriate rhyme for ‘‘stash’’ 92. Hummus brand

‘‘Ugh!’’

Big news for a co. 97. Singer Bareilles

Storage story 99. Sets of mathematical points 100. With 108-Across, aftermath of a farfalle dinner? 105. Canvas carry-on 107. Asanas in a sauna, say

108. See 100-Across 111. Question from a poker dealer

7. Texas metroplex, to locals

8. Expression of amazement

9. Let go

10. Truck stop purchase

11. audience

12. ‘‘La Bohème’’ subject

13. The ‘‘x’’ in x2

14. Roti flour

15. Takes care of something

16. Things that snake oil salesmen sell

17. Surgery spots, for short

20. Cardinals’ org.

23. Early 2000s virtual animal companion

24. Lushes

28. ‘‘All Quiet on the Western Front’’ setting, for short

31. Tom callin’s?

32. Unpaid debt

35. Cardinals’ org.

37. Ham-and-cheese sandwich

38. Washed out, maybe

39. Word with fire or red

40. Forcibly pull

41. Education acronym

42. Dynasty name in Italian history

43. Song words after ‘‘God Bless’’ or ‘‘Party in’’

44. Bulk

45. Narrow ravine

46. Bring out

47. ‘‘Barry’’ airer

48. Rubik who created the Rubik’s Cube

49. Ill

59. Bedtime brand

Blast of wind

‘‘____ do’

Meadow sounds

Some large cuts

Browse social media without commenting or posting

Low digit

Like AAA, among all bond ratings

‘‘Whole Red’’

2.

50. Pokes 54. Photo-sharing social media accounts, for short

56. ‘‘That su-u-ucks!’’

5.

6. Style of alternative rock with psychedelic influences

57. Snappy quip 58. Motivational content, in modern slang

Here’s what to do in Merritt

Labour Day Weekend!!!

NICOL A VALLEY PRO RODEO

THE REAL WEST

Bring your lil cowpokes and enjoy the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo a high quality, action-packed family event that honours the ranching and rodeo heritage of the Nicola Valley

And get your boot-scoot on, at the adultsonly dance on Saturday night

SEE INSIDE INSERT FOR:

• What Goes in the Organics Cart

• Tips for Managing Odours

• Example of the New Collection Format

• Steps to Make Your Own Bin Liner

Community-wide implementation is the third phase of this project. City staff conducted research and public consultation in 2020–2021, followed by a year-long pilot program in five select neighbourhoods from fall 2021 to fall 2022, and in fall 2022, Council authorized a community-wide rollout for 2023.

CURBSIDE ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTION IS HERE!

A curbside residential organics program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 2,000 passenger vehicles per year from local roads.

Phase 1

2020-2021 Public Consultation

Phase 2

2021-2022 Pilot Program

Phase 3

2023 Community Rollout

Kamloops.ca/Organics

ACCEPTED IN ORGANICS

All Food, Raw and Cooked

plate scrapings, cooked food

fruits, vegetables (including pits)

meat, bones

fish, seafood, shellfish, shells

No

ORGANICS COLLECTION

Food scraps are collected indoors in a small kitchen bin or pail. When the kitchen bin is full, empty the bin into the organics curbside cart.

bread, grains, rice, pasta, cereal

pastries, cakes, muffins

Food-Soiled Paper

greasy pizza boxes

Yard Waste

food-soiled paper, paper plates, napkins

9 grass clippings, leaves, cones, needles, berries

9 plants, tree fruits, flowers

9 small branches, twigs, prunings cut to 30 cm long/2 cm diameter

9 potting soil, untreated mulch

9 hay, straw, coconut planter liners

cheese, sour cream, dairy products

condiments, sauces, gravy, jams

eggs, egg shells

cooking oils, fats, greases (soak in paper towel or allow to solidify first)

• Any paper-based liner (e.g. newsprint, paper bags, takeout boxes, cereal/cracker boxes, parchment paper, or paper liners from home and garden centres, drug stores, or grocery stores) may be used in the kitchen bin to make it easier to empty and clean.

• Layering food scraps with used napkins or paper towels will help absorb odour-causing moisture and liquids.

• Residents are encouraged to put the organics cart out every collection day, no matter the amount of material.

• Material may stick or freeze in your cart, preventing it from being fully emptied. Layering food scraps with dry material will help prevent this, as will placing dry cardboard along the bottom and edges of the cart, and wrapping food scraps in newsprint or paperbased liners.

coffee grounds, filters, tea bags

Other

newspaper holding food scraps

9 bedding from small animal cages

9 pet fur, hair, feathers

9 pet food, treats

9 wood shavings

9 popsicle sticks, chopsticks, toothpicks, skewers

NOT ACCEPTED IN ORGANICS

food-soiled paper packaging (e.g. paper take-out containers without wax or plastic lining)

• Large paper yard waste bags may be used to line the curbside cart.

Tips for Managing Odours and Insects

When food scraps break down, they release odours that insects and wildlife are attracted to. This natural breakdown happens whether food scraps are in the garbage or organics cart.

• Wrap meat scraps and bones in paper towel or newspaper to help prevent maggots.

• Layer food scraps in the cart with dry material, such as leaves or dry grass clippings/plant matter, which will help absorb smelly liquids and reduce odour.

• Consider freezing meat scraps and bones until collection day. This will greatly help prevent houseflies from laying their eggs which grow into maggots (the larval stage of housefly development).

cutlery clothing, textiles, fabric diapers and hygiene products painted or treated wood animal waste

2 biodegradable or compostable plastic bags/plastics

2 food or beverage packaging

2 Styrofoam cups or containers

2 straws, twist ties, elastic bands

2 rocks, dirt

• Sprinkle the bin and cart with baking soda, white vinegar, garden lime (odour neutralizer), or diatomaceous earth (natural absorbent). Garden lime and diatomaceous earth can be purchased at garden centres.

Find more tips at Kamloops.ca/Organics.

plastic bags, including compostable or biodegradable plastic bags.

WHY ORGANICS?

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Organic waste buried in a landfill generates methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) 26 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. By contrast, composting organic waste with controlled exposure to air, moisture, and heat produces carbon dioxide, a much less harmful GHG.

An organics program will reduce the community’s GHG emissions by approximately 9,500 tonnes per year—the equivalent to removing about 2,000 passenger vehicles per year from local roads.

Help Residents Divert Waste From The Landfill

From time to time, we study what’s in garbage carts. Data from these garbage audits show that 42% of residential garbage that ends up at our landfill can be composted. The organics program will help residents divert their organic waste from the landfill.

GHGs form a blanket in the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet.

Emissions reduction and waste reduction goals support:

• City Council Strategic Plan

• Community Climate Action Plan

• Official Community Plan (KAMPLAN)

METHANE (CH4)

26x stronger than C02

Without exposure to oxygen, organic waste buried underground generates methane gas.

Organic waste that decomposes above ground creates healthy soil and generates carbon dioxide.

COLLECTION SCHEDULES HAVE CHANGED

Garbage and recycling are now collected every other week on an alternating basis. Organics is collected weekly from March 1 to November 30, and every other week (on garbage days) from December 1 to February 28/29.

On collection day, only two carts should be set out (not three)—organics and garbage OR organics and recycling, depending on your zone.

Find your zone schedule at Kamloops.ca/CollectionSchedules.

CARBON DIOXIDE (C02)

CARBON DIOXIDE (C02)

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN KITCHEN BIN LINER FROM NEWSPRINT

O set or trim 3–4 sheets of paper to create a square.

Fold point B to point A.

You now have a triangle shape.

Bring point C of the triangle to point AB.

Now bring point B over to meet point AC.

You now have a pentagon shape.

Scan the QR code to watch and learn how to make your own kitchen bin liner from newsprint.

Split apart the top ap (point A) and fold down both sides.

You now have a paper pouch!

Spread apart sides of paper pouch and place into your organics bin.

Kamloops Kamloops.ca/Organics

Download the Waste Wise Kamloops app to sign up for collection day reminders and to look up what goes where.

Kamloops.ca/WasteWise

To report an issue with your carts, call Civic Operations at 250-828-3461.