Ask an Expert 2023

CONSUMER QUESTIONS

ANSWERED BY THE EXPERTS

What Makes a Great Dance School?

There are lots of extracurriculars these days for children. Dance is a great way to stay active and increase endurance, co-ordination, strength, flexibility, agility, confidence and expression. Life skills that will follow your young dancer into adulthood. Because all parents want the best for their children, here are some things to consider when choosing the dance studio that will best fit your

and your child’s – needs.

• First call or email the studio and ask questions about what programs they have for the age group you are looking into

• What are the fees? Are there fees in addition to the price of enrolment?

• How much are costumes and are there any other fees that come up throughout the season?

• What is the philosophy of the dance studio?

• Is it to teach children how to enjoy dance and build many life skills? Is it to offer a safe, fun and nurturing environment ? How do they feel about the competition side of dance ? What avenues are there for your child whether they choose to compete or not compete? Does the studio recognize there is a path for recreational dancers as well?

Teachers

Your child’s dance instructors should be positive, professional and have dance experience They should have a rapport with their students that promotes not only technical growth, but confidence and nurtures your dancer

Ask what the teacher’s name will be Talk to your dancer at home about their teacher and get them excited about meeting them. Feel free to ask about the teacher and how their journey in dance began.

Classes

Decide in what type of class you would like to enrol your child Classes can include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, pointe, musical theater, acro , lyrical and contemporary Also, for younger dancers, studios will offer specialized programs for them, which is a great way to introduce them to dance Trust the studio in guiding and deciding what level and program best suits your child. Some dance disciplines require more of a commitment than others therefore, always ask how to achieve certain classes if your child has an idea in mind, so that it’s clear how to achieve this.

Facility

Your child’s dance studio should be equipped with:

• Mirrors to promote learning technique

• Sprung floors to prevent injuries

• Ballet barres

• Age appropriate music, movements and themes

Discipline

Remember that dance is a discipline This starts with respect for the studio, teacher and to yourself It is important to come weekly to class to stay committed and to always come in proper attire listed by your studio Dance studios teach more than just dance The relationships and respect among many other things that are taught will last a lifetime

ASK THE EXPERT City of Kamloops solid waste

Kamloops

You can use the free Waste Wise Kamloops app to conveniently look up where to recycle hundreds of items. The app also has a sorting game to help test your skills with some of the common items we see in the waste stream.

Kamloops.ca/WasteWise

WHY IS IT THAT SO MANY “RECYCLABLE” ITEMS CAN’T GO IN THE CITY RECYCLING CARTS?

Recycling is complicated. In a perfect world, products and packaging would be designed with the end of life in mind and recycling would be easy. But there are many different products made of many different materials, and having one place be able to accept all the different products is difficult. Some of the bottle depots take a lot of different items, and these would be the closest to a “one-stop shop” for recycling.

In BC, recycling is regulated through the Recycling Regulation using an approach called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where producers are responsible for making sure their products are recycled. This is good because producers and consumers are responsible for the cost of recycling rather than taxpayers and local governments.

There are over 25 EPR programs in BC, which is why some depots take batteries; others take paint; and others will take tires, used oil, or beverage containers. These depots are privately operated, and the City doesn’t have control over what they accept because it is up to the business to decide what programs they want to operate.

The City is a partner with Recycle BC. Recycle BC is responsible for collecting, sorting, and selling recycled commodities to end markets, which is why reducing contamination is such a priority—they have to be able to sell the stuff once they collect it. Learn more at RecycleBC.ca

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ITEMS THAT PEOPLE PUT IN THEIR RECYCLING CARTS THAT THEY SHOULDN’T?

• Books - these are only accepted at City recycle depots as they aren’t part of the Recycle BC program.

• Bagged or Nested Material - placing recyclables inside a bag or box means none of the items are recycled. Put items loose in recycling.

• Textiles - includes clothing, bags, linens, shoes, and blankets. Donate these items to a thrift store or textile donation bin.

• Plastic Products - includes toys, water bottles, and plastic household goods. If they are in good condition, donate them. Otherwise, toss them in the garbage.

• Scrap Metal - includes cookie sheets, pots, pans, and metal household items. If they are in good condition, donate them. Otherwise take them to a scrap metal yard.

To learn more about what goes in your recycling cart, visit Kamloops.ca/ResidentialRecycling.

Marcia Dick, Solid Waste Reduction Coordinator

CURBSIDE ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTION

Curbside residential organic waste collection is coming in summer 2023 for all single- and multi-family households in the City of Kamloops that receive curbside cart collection. All households that have a set of garbage and recycling carts that are collected by City trucks are included and will receive a curbside organics cart (green lid) and a kitchen bin.

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.

HOW DOES ORGANICS COLLECTION BENEFIT THE CITY AND RESIDENTS?

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 is estimated to 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

What’s in the average garbage cart? 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 curbside residential organic waste collection program will help residents divert their organic waste–primarily food waste and food-soiled paper waste–from the landfill.

learn more about what goes in your organics cart, visit Kamloops.ca/Organics.

Unlocking your KEY questions

Do you make vehicle keys and remotes?

Yes, we do manufacture most vehicle keys and remotes at unbeatable prices.

Can you secure my car if my keys are stolen?

If your keys are stolen, we can rekey your vehicle locks and also delete and reprogram key memory to resecure your vehicle

Will you program a car key or remote bought online?

We can attempt to program a customer provided key or remote but there is no guarantee

What do I do if I lose all the keys for my car?

If you lose all the keys for your vehicle, we offer onsite programming or towing to our shop for replacement

Can you unlock vehicles?

Yes, we provide onsite unlock services for vehicles. Additionally, if you are locked out of your vehicle, we offer emergency unlock services.

Do you cut house keys?

Yes, we can cut all common house keys.

Do you cut trailer keys?

Absolutely, we have a wide range of trailer keys in stock, and we can also provide replacement locks.

Can you cut High Security Keys?

Yes, with proper authorization, we are able to cut Dimple, Platinum, Medeco, and MX restricted keys.

Can you make ATV, boat, and motorcycle keys?

Certainly, we can copy or create most ATV, boat, and motorcycle keys, even if you have lost them. Just bring in the ignition, and we can assist you

Can I get my house changed to a new key?

Yes, we can rekey most door locks to a new key

Can you install window security?

Yes, we offer custom window bar fabrication and installation, as well as roll shutter installation.

What safes do you carry?

We carry Brawns Safes; including fire resistant, deposit, floor, wall and many others.

What to do for dogs in cars

What should I do if I see a dog locked in a hot car?

If you see a dog locked in a hot car, it's crucial to take action immediately First, try to locate the owner of the vehicle Check to see if the car is on and the AC is running

What if I can't find the owner of the car with the dog inside?

If you cannot locate the owner within a reasonable timeframe, or if the dog appears to be in distress, you should call the Ray’s Brown’s Locksmith immediately They have the expertise and the legal authority to handle these situations and can take appropriate action to rescue the dog

Just ask Tessa

How quickly can the temperature inside a parked car rise to dangerous levels for a dog?

The temperature inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even on a moderately warm day Within minutes, the interior temperature can increase to well over 38 degrees Celsius, putting the dog's life at risk

What should I do while waiting for help to arrive?

While waiting for help to arrive, you can try to provide some temporary relief to the dog Look for shaded areas nearby or try to shield the car from direct sunlight. If possible, offer the dog water through a crack in the window Stay with the dog until the authorities or animal control arrive

Just ask Ray y with more questions

What can you engrave?

We provide engraving services for locks, keys, key chains, pet tags, and much more Many people come to us for personalized engraved gifts.

Is it true you now offer copy and sign making services?

Yes, indeed! We now offer a variety of services, including making vinyl signs, metal signs, posters, and menus

If you see an animal or child in a hot vehicle to call Ray's Brown’s Locksmith at 250-372-3656 before calling police

Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre owner s R yan (far right) and Rick Kur zac (second f rom right) gather with TRU students, staff and facult y to celebrate the busine ss ’ s donation toward a Mercede s Sprinter van for the program