KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
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AUGUST 11, 2015 | Volume 28 No. 96
TODAY’S WEATHER
Sunny and hot High 36 C Low 17 C
BETTING ON AUG.19 OPENING
BACK FROM THE BRINK Kits seen as key to battling overdoses, including recent rash of fentanyl incidents
Take a tour of $40-million casino
A7
A3
Local spending limits among highest in Canada
COMING SOON?
One man’s drive to bring the outdoor theatre experience back to Kamloops
CAM FORTEMS STAFF REPORTER cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
KTW FILE PHOTO The screen still stands at the old drive-in theatre off the Halston Connector, but there hasn’t been a movie shown in a long time. Kamloops businessman Landon Muzio wants to recapture the magic of such an experience by spurring interest in, and funding for, a drive-in theatre somewhere in the Tournament Capital. JESSICA WALLACE
STAFF REPORTER
jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
L
2015
andon Muzio believes he’s not alone in his thinking when driving down the Halston Connector. “I guarantee you everyone is like, ‘Hey, why isn’t the drive-in theatre working anymore?” he told KTW of the derelict facility that once screened movies to a field full of people in vehicles. It’s why the 36-year-old clothing store owner is hoping community support and funding can bring movies back to the outdoor screen that still stands watch over an empty field — or lead to a new drive-in theatre in Kamloops. Shortly after starting an online campaign to raise funds,
restore and, eventually, reopen the old drive-in, Muzio was the subject of some skepticism online, with some questioning the motive. Following an interview with KTW on his plans, Muzio posted on the online funding site, which had raised $10 as of yesterday. “It has come to my attention that this property is owned and the drive-in itself is bankrupt,” Muzio said. “This does not mean this gofundme was a scam. It was an idea I had to get a drive in back to Kamloops. I apologize to anyone who donated and I will gladly refund the money if you can contact me. “However, I am still very interested in having the city of Kamloops have a drive-in theatre once again and if we can find suitable land and enough
people interested in moving forward with this, then you can contact me on Facebook. “It wasn’t my intention to upset or misdirect anyone. I just have a passionate and driven soul to do positive. Maybe we can come together to build a new drive-in location. Donating doesn’t even have to be in the form of money. Land, building supplies and volunteering our time to make this a reality is possible.” Muzio will keep the online funding site — gofundme.com/ kamloopsdrive-in — active for a week to determine how much interest his idea generates. “Kamloops is such a great place for a drive-in theatre,” Muzio told KTW, noting the dry climate.
The extended 11-week federal election campaign allows candidates in Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo to each spend $266,000 — the secondhighest limit in B.C. and one of the largest in Canada. But, candidates for the four parties said they are unlikely to come close to the maximum allowed under law. “Now with the extended campaign, it will go up,” NDP candidate Bill Sundhu said of election spending before the Oct. 19 voting date. Former NDP candidate Michael Crawford spent $69,000 in the 2011 campaign and $74,000 in 2008 — campaigns that were half the length of this year’s run-up. The biggest spender in the past two elections was incumbent Conservative MP Cathy McLeod, who spent $95,000 in 2011 and $82,000 in 2008. None of the four local campaigns would provide a proposed budget, calling it a part of their strategy. The larger spending cap in KamloopsThompson-Cariboo comes from a formula based on eligible voters, but increases the amount based on geographical size. That allows candidates in large, rural ridings to spend more to account for increased costs. McLeod opened her office on Aug. 1 under a three-month lease. She said the lease was planned regardless of the timing of the election call. Opposition parties are critical of the longer election period, saying it will drive up costs for taxpayers, who pay much of the cost through tax rebates and write-offs.
See A NOD, A6
See CANDIDATES, A12
ELECTION2015 #elxn42 #kamloops
Candidates set up campaign HQ Three of the four Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo candidates have office leases and are in the midst of setting up their campaign headquarters. Incumbent Conservative MP Cathy McLeod is at 285 Seymour St. downtown, while NDP candidate Bill Sundhu is across the river, at 538 Tranquille Rd. in North Kamloops. Liberal candidate Steve Powrie has an office in the Centennial Building downtown, next to St. Andrews on the Square at Seymour Street and Second Avenue. Green candidate Matt Greenwood said he will find office space at some point, but it’s too early in the campaign.
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