dale@kamloopsthisweek.com
Basketball and volleyball are the most popular sports for students in the Kamloops-Thompson school district — and others are growing in popularity. The annual school district athletic-council report, which was presented to the board of education on Monday, Oct. 21, notes overall participation in sports has increased, there are more coaches, football is in trouble and a committee needs to be struck to look at a parent or spectator
code of conduct for games. The increase of 425 students in sports is gratifying, given the district has seen enrolment numbers decreasing, the report notes. Sports that are attracting more students this year include volleyball (529; 442 in 2011-2012); basketball (538; 532 in 2011-2012); rugby (265; 134 in 2011-2012), girls’ soccer (261; 229 in 2011-2012); badminton (95; 39 in 2011-2012); track and field (85; 24 in 2011-2012); curling (46; 36 in 2011-2012); golf (30; zero in 2011-2012); tennis (22; 15 in 2011-2012); swimming (16; 13 in 2011-2012); field hockey (20; 18
in 2011-2012) and mountain biking (8; zero in 2011-2012). Sports seeing a decrease in participating include senior boys’ soccer (176; 185 in 2011-2012); football (136; 169 in 2011-2012); crosscountry (13; 28 in 2011-2012) and wrestling (34; 62 in 2011-2012). The report notes there were 43 more coaches volunteering time in the 2012-2013 school year, including 28 teachers and 15 people from the community. The increase brings the total of teacher coaches to 133, up from 105 in 2011-2012, and 157 from the community, up from 142 in the previous school year.
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different tiers heading out to different games, which means more buses and referees. With 2,324 students from grades 8 to 12 involved in school sports in some way — many of them in more than one sport — having the additional coaches is one of the reasons some sports grew, Lamoureux said. The council has been making the annual reports to the district for 20 years, he said. Each time, a highlight is noting how many people with no link to a school, but a shared love of sports, step up to be coaches.
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5 YEARS O G2 FC IN O AT
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 84 www.kamloopsthisweek.com X 30 cents at Newsstands
1988
TY PRIDE
Thomas McNutt (in the red helmet) heads down and under the Red Bridge during its annual inspection on the weekend. The old span was subject to a more rigorous once-over this year, which led to detours for those wishing to use the narrow, wooden structure to cross the South Thompson River. The bridge has been deemed to be in good working order. To see more photos from the high-flying inspectors, go online to kamloopsthisweek. com and click on the “News” tab. Allen Douglas/KTW
Among areas of concern, the report notes, are the continued high and increasing cost for rural referees, a fourth tier being added to the provincial boys’ basketball scheduling, which divides West Zone schools even further, and the behaviour of parents with coaches. The additional basketball tier is a potential issue because it could see school teams required to travel farther with new team distribution, said Sean Lamoureux, chairman of the council. Lamoureux added the fourth level also creates the potential for boys’ and girls’ teams of the same sport in
WRESTLING - 28
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THIS WEEK
FOOTBALL - 33
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OLD RED GETS GREEN LIGHT
BADMINTON + 56
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By Dale Bass STAFF REPORTER
RUGBY + 131
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Sport of the high school times: Rugby rising, football falling
2013
Ottawa to keep eye on White Buffalo By Dale Bass STAFF REPORTER dale@kamloopsthisweek.com
The federal government will be watching what unfolds after a provincial audit raised concerns about the finances of the White Buffalo Aboriginal and Metis Society. Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod said the federal government has a $200,000 service contract with the agency through the Status of Women Canada (SWC). The contract runs for 24 months and the agency is about half-way through it, she said. The project is working with young women to help them overcome challenges and take steps toward economic prosperity. McLeod said the government is aware of the audit prompted by concerns sent to the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development about the operations of the agency. “We will be keeping an eye on it,” McLeod said. She added SWC has stringent guidelines and reporting requirements with its contracts and is confident the service being paid for is being provided.
McLeod noted the audit dealt more with administration and organization than with service provision. White Buffalo is one of two agencies audited for the provincial government. The report by independent accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP notes the company was retained because the ministry “has concerns regarding White Buffalo’s financial reporting, its capacity to effectively manage its allotted funding and its contracting practices.” The other audit looked at the Metis Commission of Children and Families of B.C. Both agencies were headed at the time by Deb Canada as an executive director. She retains that position with the commission, but her status with White Buffalo became contractor one month ago. Both boards have disputed the findings of the audits. Each audit recommended the provincial government continue working with the agencies for this fiscal year, but that each implement a zero-based budget system, develop a system of independent evaluation of staff remuneration and that each be reviewed by the ministry every three months.
Four Course Wine Makers Dinner Share a glass with Matt Dumayne of Penticton’s Winery, sampling Fall Releases. Be the first to try the new Syrah-Malbec blend!
Sunday, October 27, 2013 - Call 250-851-9939 to reserve your seat!
Corner of Victoria Street & 1st Ave. 250 851 9939