Kamloops Chronicle - April 2026 by The Kamloops Chronicle

CITY PAGE

Council Calendar

April 13, 2026

1:30 pm - Build Kamloops Select Committee

April 14, 2026

1:30 pm - Regular Meeting

7:00 pm - Public Hearing

April 21, 2026

1:30 pm - Regular Meeting

April 27, 2026

9:00 am - Governance and Service Excellence Select Committee

1:30 pm - Safety and Security Select Committee

April 28, 2026

10:00 am - Committee of the Whole

Council Meeting Recap

E-Scooter and E-Bike

Mythbusting Edition

Bird Canada’s e-scooters and e-bikes are Kamloops’ newest transportation option offering a convenient, affordable option that can reduce reliance on motor vehicles and provide an important link to transit and other modes of transportation. Here are some common myths to help set the scoot record straight:

In order to ride a Bird scooter, I need to use the helmet provided.

While a helmet is required, you are more than welcome to wear your own.

Taxpayer money is being used to fund this program.

The City is not providing financial support for the program. Bird Canada is responsible for all capital and operating costs, including purchasing, deploying, and maintaining its fleet of micromobility devices.

There is no way to report misuse of e-scooters or e-bikes. Improperly parked devices or riding concerns can be reported directly to Bird Canada 24/7. A member of Bird Canada’s local operations team will respond and, if necessary, dispatch staff to address the issue.

Let’s Talk Kamloops is our engagement website where you can share your voice and shape our city. We know you have ideas about our city, and we are committed to working more closely with you to improve engagement and better guide our planning and decision making.

LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca

Report an issue

Have a non-emergency issue you want to report to the City, such as a pothole or a broken street light?

• Call 250-828-3461

For after-hours emergencies, press 1.

• MyKamloops™ Mobile App

Download the mobile app to easily report an issue right from your smart phone.

• Visit KamloopsBC.CitySourced.ca

Create an account or log in with your existing account to use our online reporting tool.

P: 1-866-205-2442 | E: 311_kamloops@birdcanada.co

E-scooters can be left anywhere and will begin cluttering the streets.

Scooters and bikes must be parked responsibly in designated areas and in a way that keeps sidewalks clear and accessible.

Learn more by visiting Kamloops.ca/EScooters

Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

Join Mayor and Council to celebrate the volunteers who build, maintain, and grow healthy communities.

April 24, 2026 | 11:30 am–1:30 pm

Sandman Centre, 300 Lorne Street

Thank you for making a difference in Kamloops!

A special thanks to the Kamloops Brock Central Lions Club for giving their time to treat other volunteers with their awesome cooking at this event.

Learn more at Kamloops.ca

up-to-date news and events

Clean the Beach Community Event

Residents are invited to take part in the annual Clean the Beach event on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This family-friendly, community-driven event is an initiative to tidy our local riverbanks during low water. Volunteers will gather at Riverside Park to receive supplies and route maps before attending designated areas near Riverside and Overlander Parks. While registration is not required, it is encouraged for planning purposes.

It’s Bear Smart Season—Care About Bears

Hungry bears are emerging from hibernation. Unmanaged bear attractants around homes can unintentionally attract bears into neighbourhoods. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear. Your actions can save a bear’s life.

Help keep our community and the local bear population safe by following these Bear Smart tips:

• Properly manage solid waste. TIP: Store meat and strong-smelling food scraps in the freezer or in an airtight container and transfer them to your cart on collection day.

• Keep pet food/containers indoors.

• Keep barbecues clean.

• Remove bird feeders from May to November.

• Pick ripe fruit quickly, clean up fallen fruit, and remove unwanted fruit trees.

• Manage backyard composters properly.

Kamloops is a designated Bear Smart Community.

This means we work to address the root causes of human-bear conflict and help keep our community and the local bear population safe.

Learn more at Kamloops.ca/BearSmart

Please reuse, recirculate, and then recycle this paper.

Mayor fails in bid to halt major capital projects

Hamer-Jackson sought to pause arts centre and arena multiplex development for a year, or until a new council could provide direction

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

A motion from Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson to immediately halt the development of the Dufferin arena multiplex and Kamloops Centre for the Arts has failed.

The mayor’s motion called for a pause on development for one year, or until a new council provides further direction. The motion was roundly defeated by council.

back from “people of the community that care for the community,” and not “those small interest groups that have enough information to be just about dangerous.”

Coun. Nancy Bepple argued some of the premises of HamerJackson’s motion were “extremely vague” and “inaccurate.” The motion suggested Kamloops taxpayers and city finances may be affected for “decades.”

received in support of his motion or in opposition to the projects.

Coun. Mike O’Reilly suggested some of the support for the motion was due to misinformation being spread online.

Police ID 7-Eleven shooting victim

25 A23

Coun. Kelly Hall, who chairs the Build Kamloops select committee, came prepared with his estimation of how much delaying the projects could cost.

“I want to point out some of the damage a motion like this could bring to the community,” Hall said.

Swimmer in reach of record Kamloops’ Mia Wittal in contention for No. 1 time

The Effie is on the move New home sought for arts collective venue A

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Hall laid out a range of costs he anticipated the projects facing due to a one-year delay. He said taxpayers could be on the hook for an additional $38.8 million due to cancellation costs and inflation as the projects are on hold.

To make his point, Hall pointed to the delays caused by the alternative approval process lawsuit the city faced, and won, in 2025, saying that suit alone cost the city more than $7 million “because one individual thought in their own interest and put themselves before the community, which I think is wrong.”

Hall said he is confident in council’s decision to approve the projects and pointed to the years of work that led up to its approval. He said he was focused on the feed-

Bepple said tax increases from previous large capital projects were much larger on a per-capita basis. She said when council approved Riverside Coliseum in 1988, that resulted in an inflation-adjusted tax increase of $440 over five years for the average property owner.

When council approved the TCC Field House and McArthur Island upgrades in 2003, residents saw a $378 (inflation adjusted) increase over three years.

“[The arena multiplex and arts centre] will result, for the average property tax payer, $133 more in taxes over five years — compared to $378 for the TCC upgrades, or $440 for the coliseum — $133?

That’s a bargain,” Bepple said.

“It seems that the mayor is willing to throw out statement after statement without even taking the time to read our annual report. I just got all of these numbers by going to the very documents we are responsible to look at for guidance,” Bepple said.

Hamer-Jackson repeatedly defended his motion as being the will of the people — citing hundreds of emails he said he had

“There has been a lot of information spread through individuals, through online sources and shared multiple times, with factually incorrect information,” he said, pointing to one claim that performing arts centres are no longer being built — but O’Reilly said there are currently four, in British Columbia alone, that are currently looking to be built.

O’Reilly laid the blame for said misinformation at the feet of the mayor, telling him he “creates instability by providing misinformation, spreading it and only sharing 10 percent of the information.”

“I can suggest that if the messaging was, ‘We could delay it, but it would cost $40 million more’ — there might be some different conversations around this,” he said.

O’Reilly said the city has also missed out on “millions and millions” of sponsorship dollars from corporations looking to sponsor facilities.

Coun. Katie Neustaeter said the unpredictability of the mayor has also caused philanthropists to reconsider donating to major projects.

“To watch the process happen, for everything to be right, and for you to try to tank it again, is so discouraging for the community of Kamloops, which has spoken loud and clear about what we need and what we want,” Neustaeter said.

Kamloops RCMP continue to appeal to the public for information regarding a fatal shooting outside the downtown 7-Eleven early last month. Police were called to a report of a shooting in the 600-block of Seymour Street at about 4:30 a.m. on March 11. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. A police medic provided emergency care before the victim was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Emmanuel “Manny” Brooks. Police have released a photo of Brooks in hopes it will assist investigators.

The Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted and, as of now, no arrests have been made.

“We are asking anyone who may have been in the area at the time, or who has information that could assist investigators, to please contact police,” said Kevin McIntyre. “We are also interested in hearing from anyone with video surveillance or dashcam footage from the surrounding area during the early-morning hours.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP and reference file 2026-7304.

• Beautiful gardens

• Walking distance to North Shore shopping

• One block from McArthur Island

• Kamloops Seniors Community Centre & Moose Lodge on-site

Parents weigh in on SD73 budget consultation

Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Inviting public input on the upcoming SD73 budget is nothing more than the school district “going through the motions,” as far as the president of the District Parent Advisory Council is concerned.

“It’s very, very hard to do the kind of input and collaboration and consultation that we are used to as parents in this district,” Bonnie McBride told the Chronicle.

The 2026-2027 budget was effectively approved by trustees in late February and went out to the public for any amendments in March.

McBride said this isn’t enough time for parents and other stakeholders to weigh in, and for trustees to make changes, before the document needs final approval.

“As parents, we will not see

what is proposed to the board. We will not have the opportunity to provide feedback before the board is required to pass [the budget],” she said.

A final public session will be held Monday, April 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will provide a preview of the school district’s 20262027 budget and priorities before it goes to the board of education for initial approval on April 27.

The public will have until April 23 to provide feedback following the April 20 meeting.

The district launched its consultation process in early March, turning to DPAC, the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association, CUPE Local 3500, the Indigenous Education Council and the Kamloops-Thompson Principals and Vice-Principals

“As parents, we will not see what is proposed to the board. We will not have the opportunity to provide feedback before the board is required to pass [the budget].”

– Bonnie McBride, DPAC Chair

association for feedback ahead of broader public engagement. Early responses highlighted inclusive education and support for vulnerable learners, student counselling and mental health supports, additional funding for schools with complex needs and financial help for families experiencing hardship as areas for funding focus.

Parents have raised several concerns with the consultation process this year, with McBride and fellow DPAC members raising five key points with the school board at a public meeting in March. These concerns have been brought to trustees before in hope of being addressed in the current budget. McBride said they have not.

To paraphrase, these concerns include how budget cuts affect student supports, a loss of staff and increased pressure on classrooms, a lack of clarity and confidence in budget planning, students feeling impacted outside the classroom, and a growing inequality between schools and communities.

As an example, McBride said SD73 is relying on a new secondary school in Aberdeen to relieve pressures felt at Sa-Hali secondary, which is currently at 165 percent capacity. There’s only been one new school built in the district in 25 years.

She said Pacific Way has no playground space left, yet the district’s solution for overcrowding is to add more modular buildings to ease classroom pressures.

Teaching Your Kids About Money

Eric and I have two kids each who proudly are the centre of our worlds. As much as we want them to have nice things in life, we feel it is also important to teach them about money and healthy financial habits. Here are some tips to help talk to children about money:

1. Split money into three buckets: Spend, Save and Share. This help teach children to think about what they can do with money, that spending is not the only option, and the importance of saving and helping others.

2. Talk about how you make money and where it is spent. Given the prominence of credit and debit cards and other payment technology, kids rarely see money change hands. Letting kids know that money does not grow on trees but rather comes from hard work is important. Understanding your job pays for your house, food, car, gas, and internet can be things they may take for granted.

Heidi

“The kids at Pacific Way, if they want to do track and field, they have to go down to the Tournament Capital Centre,” McBride said. “They do not have outdoor space.”

Kamloops-Thompson School District officials maintain parents get the same opportunities to provide input as other stakeholders, and their concerns are equally as valid. School board chair Heather Grieve said the district has a mandate to make sure it is putting dollars where long-term sustainability is most achievable.

“There are a number of different considerations and priorities that people come to the table with, and we don’t believe that one voice is more valuable than another,” Grieve said.

“We’re trying to be thoughtful and take in all the information and make sustainable and purposeful decisions moving forward.”

3. Share money mistakes you have made. Kids love hearing parents are fallible. Within reason, share stories of mistakes you have made and how you learned the hard way. Examples could include overspending on your first credit card or regretting that you did not start saving sooner in life.

4. Set a financial goal. Show them how to plan and save up for something such as a new video game, expensive clothing they MUST have, or even their first car. What are they willing to do for it? How long will it take? It also teaches trade-offs and financial discipline – what we feel are two great attributes to long term financial success. Kids who have worked hard to earn their reward also feel empowered versus entitled.

5. Teach them how to negotiate. Overcharged on a bill? Have them listen as you problem solve and work to get your money back using positive conflict resolution skills. Ask them what they think is fair to be paid for chores. Why do they deserve more allowance? This also helps teach them the value of their time.

6. Discuss the impact of fees and interest. Show them where to review items such as bank fees, cell phone

bills, or how interest charges add up and take a bite out of hard-earned money. It is paramount to explain credit cards and the impact of paying upwards of 20% interest on the balance.

7. Get them involved. Grocery shopping can be a great experience to learn what things cost, how to look for sales and work within a budget.

8. Tell them no. Our kids are not shy asking repeaedly for things. While wanting to do nice things for our kids, we also want to avoid raising entitled children. Sometimes the best answer is no.

9. Pay for half. Growing up, our parents would sometimes compromise to pay for half a purchase. This meant we had to raise the other half and would look for the best deal as it saved us money.

By teaching kids about money, it can help them grow up to be financially savvy and confident. It could save parents money in the long run too!

Until next time: Invest Well. Live Well.

Written by Keith

Province expands cancer benefits for firefighters

Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

While preventing fatal illness remains the goal, the province has taken a step forward by easing access to workers’ compensation benefits for firefighters diagnosed with job-related cancers.

“The ultimate goal is to limit exposures and prevent the illness, but that could be a long way off,” said Rob Chalmers, a retired Kamloops Fire Rescue firefighter.

“I think we’ve come a long, long ways as far as protecting firefighters with good equipment and way better training.”

Chalmers’ comments came after the provincial government announced changes in early March to the Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation under the Workers Compensation Act, expanding the list of cancers presumed to be work-related for firefighters.

These changes came almost a month to the day that his brother-in-law, retired fire chief Neil Moroz, died from occupational cancer.

Having access to the benefits provided by Workers Compensation made all the difference for Moroz and his family during the last months of his life, when the cancer really took hold, said Chalmers.

“If they had to spend the last eight, eight and a half months fighting with WorkSafeBC, worrying about paying for access to equipment, treatment and travel, it really would have taken away from the time [Moroz] had with his family,” he said.

“He got to enjoy them and they got to enjoy him without being stressed out the whole time about getting the treatment, paying for the treatment and the equipment.”

Under the amendments, ovarian, cervical and penile cancers will be added to the existing list of cancers recog-

nized as occupational diseases linked to firefighting.

The province is also reducing the length of service required before firefighters qualify for presumptive coverage for several cancers already on the list, including testicular, colorectal and esophageal cancers.

If a firefighter develops one of the listed cancers after the required period of employment, it is presumed to be work-related. That means the firefighter can access workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove the illness was caused by their job.

Although not yet a perfect situation, Chalmers, who is a former member of the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association, believes these amendments are a step in the right direction.

“It’s good for all firefighters and their families,” he said. The changes met with the approval of the firefighters’ union president Gord Ditchburn. He’s thankful the list of occupational diseases was expanded, and includes female firefighters.

“Our female firefighters who are on the front lines must be recognized, and we stand with them in our advocacy for health, safety and support of all members,” he said in a press release.

Provincial officials say the changes also reflect the evolving makeup of the firefighting workforce. More women are entering the profession, including many serving as volunteers in Indigenous and rural communities, and the updated list now includes gender-specific cancers.

The province first recognized certain cancers as occupational diseases tied to firefighting in 2005. With the latest changes, 16 cancers will now be presumed to be associated with the profession.

Both career firefighters and roughly 10,000 volunteer firefighters in B.C. are eligible for workers’ compensation ben-

efits related to occupational diseases, including cancer.

Chalmers said 60 firefighters a year die from occupational cancer, with 84 B.C. firefighters dying from the same in the last 15 years.

Understand Your Bible

Apr 14 - What Does the Bible Say About Heaven and Hell?

Apr 28 - Can You Believe in Science and Still Trust the Bible?

May 12 - Does Baptism Really Change Anything?

Remembering Basil “Buzz” Morissette

Buzz Morissette, known formally as Basil Victor Morissette, lived a life grounded in service, culture, and an unwavering commitment to Indigenous people across British Columbia. Born in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, and a member of Beardy’s & Okemasis First Nation, he carried his identity with pride and purpose throughout his life.

At the heart of Buzz’s work was the Friendship Centre movement. He was a founding figure in building what would become a vital network of support for Indigenous people living in urban communities. At a time when many were facing disconnection and discrimination, Buzz helped create spaces where people could belong—places rooted in culture, respect, and community.

For more than 28 years, he remained actively involved in this work, including here in Kamloops. The impact of that effort continues today in organizations like the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, where people find not only services, but connection and identity.

As KAFS Executive Director Cal Albright has reflected in writing about Buzz, he was someone who

built more than programs—he built relationships. He carried the values of the Friendship Centre movement in how he lived: with humility, consistency, and a deep respect for people.

Buzz also played a foundational role in the Native Courtworker Program. As one of its early builders, he helped create a system that supports Indigenous people navigating the justice system— ensuring they were understood, represented, and not alone. He brought compassion and dignity into spaces that too often lacked both, standing beside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

His work extended into housing

and corrections, including as a founding member of the Kamloops Native Housing Society and through his work with BC Corrections. Over more than four decades, Buzz helped build systems that continue to support Indigenous people today.

In 1996, he was awarded the Order of British Columbia, recognizing his extraordinary contributions. But those who knew him understand that his true legacy lives in the people he supported, the trust he built, and the community he helped strengthen.

Buzz was known for being steady, honest, and real. He believed in showing up, in telling the truth, and in standing beside people when it mattered most. His life was a reflection of resilience, compassion, and responsibility.

Buzz Morissette didn’t just talk about community—he built it. And that work continues in every space and every life he helped shape. He will be remembered with deep respect and lasting gratitude.

Tranquille shelter subject of upcoming public meeting

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Council will be accepting public submissions on extending the temporary use permit (TUP) for the Pathways Shelter at 142 Tranquille Rd. at its April 21 meeting, following council’s approval to host the meeting in a larger space as it anticipates plenty of feedback.

The 44-bed shelter, which has been open since January 2025, has garnered opposition from nearby businesses, of which 86 percent oppose its continuation, according to a survey conducted by the North Shore Business Improvement Association.

Following the meeting in April, council will later consider extending the shelter’s permit for three years.

Mayor Reid HamerJackson is remaining steadfast that he is not in a con-

flict of interest over the permit application to extend the life of the shelter.

Hamer-Jackson is currently suing Joshua Knaak, a director of the company that owns the property upon which the shelter sits, over claims of defamation. The suit was launched in 2024.

Hamer-Jackson’s insistence that he is not in conflict is at odds with the findings of independent third-party investigator Reece Harding, who found the mayor “had a non-pecuniary conflict of interest as defined by both the code [of conduct] and the Community Charter.”

At council’s March 24 meeting, just before the item was addressed by council, the city’s corporate officer, Maria Mazzotta, sought clarification from the mayor about legal advice he claims to have received. “I want to confirm with

you one more time, as this presents risk to the corporation, over and above any risk to you, that the legal advice you have obtained applies to this particular matter,” she said.

The mayor said it does, but refused to prove he had sought and received a legal opinion on the matter.

Last year, council had directed the mayor to provide evidence he had a legal opinion, requesting to see even a summary of the opinion the mayor had received.

Mazzotta said HamerJackson has not done that. “And therefore you have not fulfilled the Community Charter requirement that you reflect the will of council on this matter,” Mazzotta said. “Not only that, we have reason to believe that

“...Should you participate in any proceedings related to this TUP, the corporation will experience a legal challenge, which is costly, as you know.”

– Maria Mazzotta, Corporate Officer, City of Kamloops

should you participate in any proceedings related to this TUP, the corporation will experience a legal challenge, which is costly, as you know.”

Couns. Mike O’Reilly and Katie Neustaeter both recused themselves over possible conflicts. O’Reilly said he had a business relationship with one of the proponents and Neustaeter said she had received information from someone other

than the proponent after March 10, which she felt put her in conflict.

Hamer-Jackson said he is not suing any companies related to Knaak, but Knaak himself, repeatedly arguing that point.

Coun. Nancy Bepple tried to convince Hamer-Jackson to recuse himself in the interest of moving forward with the agenda item.

Hamer-Jackson interrupted other councillors and the corporate officer repeatedly and was asked repeatedly to return to council’s agenda. In the end, the mayor did not recuse himself and voted against staff’s recommendation to hold the meeting. His was the only vote against.

The April 21 council meeting will be held in the Kia Lounge at Sandman Centre at 3 p.m.

“I would urge you to listen to the corporate officer and consider excusing yourself on this matter,” Bepple said. “In the end, you may not get what you want by sitting in this meeting. Say we make a decision and it goes in the direction you voted. If someone disagrees with that decision, … it can go to court and it can be overthrown.”

Boogie returns with a celebration of movement and community

Kamloops’ largest wellness event invites

Anna Montaner: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Thousands of participants dressed in red will once again take to the streets of Kamloops this spring as Boogie the Bridge returns, bringing together runners, walkers and families for a high-energy community celebration.

The event offers several distances so people of all ages and abilities can participate. Options include a one kilometre Mini Boogie for children ages nine and under, 5 and 10 kilometre walk or run routes, and a 21.1-kilometre half marathon. According to organizers, the goal is to make the event accessible rather than competitive.

For Jo Berry, co-ordinator for Boogie the Bridge and executive director of the Boogie the Bridge Society, the focus has always

been on creating a welcoming environment rather than a competitive race.

“It’s very inclusive. The energy is very kind. Everyone’s equally treated. There are big hugs at the finish line and there are 11 or 12 bands on the route,” Berry said. “It’s a very high-energy, inclusive, super fun event for absolutely anybody.”

The event began in the late 1990s as a grassroots community health initiative. Since then, it has grown into a major local gathering, attracting close to 3,000 participants each year and raising more than $1.2 million for local charities.

Berry says the mission behind the event has remained consistent since the beginning.

“It’s always been about mental health,” she said.

“Movement is change, not only physically, but mentally, spiritually and emotionally.”

participants of all abilities to walk, run and ‘boogie’ together this spring

Participants traditionally wear red during the event, representing love, energy and change, which organizers say reflects the spirit of the community gathering.

In addition to promoting wellness, Boogie the Bridge serves as a fundraiser. Each year, organizers select a charity partner that could benefit from increased awareness or support.

Run Club founder Jo Berry leads a pre-run prep talk at Volkswagen in Valleyview on Tuesday, then gives peace signs as her group hits the road.

This year’s charity of choice is the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association, which provides therapeutic horseback riding programs for people in the community.

“We always pick charities that perhaps need their profile to be heightened, more awareness, or they are struggling financially,” Berry said.

Planning the event is a months-long process. A core team of about 20 organizers begins preparing each September, co-ordinating sponsors, volunteers and logistics leading up to the spring event.

Participants will once again gather near the Sandman Centre, where the start and finish area creates a lively atmosphere with live music and entertainment.

“It’s more than a run or a walk. It’s a party on the run,” Berry said.

New additions made last year added to that festival feeling, including food trucks alongside the music and gathering space, which will be included in this year’s edition as well.

For those unsure about signing up, Berry encourages people to simply come experience the event.

“If you’re really nervous, just come down and watch it this year,” she said. “Come cheer, come feel the energy. Just do it, you’ll never regret it.”

Registration for Boogie the bridge can be found here boogiethebridge.com/the-races.

Robert Koopmans

MEET OUR TEAM

Kamloops Local News Society Board of Directors:

Tom Dickinson, Chair, Lorry-Ann Austin, Kathleen Larose, Melissa Damini, Alison Bowman, Radhika Tabrez, Chris de Haan, Scott Montagliani, Riley Windeler, Stephen Treece, Peter Aylen

Editorial Contributors: Sean Brady, Jason Hewlett, Anna Montaner, Juli Harland, Marty Hastings, June Corcoran, Marg Archibald, Amy Tucker, Valerie Boyda, Mel Rothenburger, Dave Ralph

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OPINION

An open letter to Peter Milobar

Hello Pete. Consider this unsolicited — but I hope you’ll find it useful.

I’ve been watching your leadership campaign for the BC Conservative Party with genuine interest, and I want to share a few honest thoughts.

First, I’m proud of you. Our families go back a long way. Our fathers built their medical careers as friends in Kamloops starting in the 1970s and we sat side-byside on city council. The idea that a Kamloops kid could become premier of this province is something worth being proud of.

When you left the mayor’s office, CFJC’s James Peters described you this way: if your provincial career mirrors your civic one, you’ll be remembered as capable, knowledgeable,

not flashy but steady. Pete, lean into that. Steady and honest is exactly what British Columbia needs right now — and I hope you won’t sacrifice that reputation by pandering or oversimplifying complex issues to win a news cycle. Which brings me to my concerns.

In a recent campaign video, you described the NDP’s decriminalization pilot as David Eby’s “reckless act” and pledged to “restore order and take back control of our streets.”

I understand the political appeal of that language, but it’s worth remembering that the decriminalization project had support from police leadership and public health experts, was always framed as a pilot in response to a genuine crisis — and it ended early.

ARJUN SINGH Stronger Bonds

info@kamloopschronicle.com (250) 377-1797

Framing urban policy in apocalyptic terms risks something real: making people afraid of the very cities we want them to love and invest in.

You led a government at the local level. You know none of this is easy when you are one of the decision makers.

Will ‘No incumbents

What if every current member of Kamloops City council was turfed in this year’s civic election?

It would be unprecedented. But it’s a prospect being promoted on social media these days under the slogan, “No incumbents 2026!”

While the attempt to turn dissatisfaction with the council into some sort of movement is new, the disaffection itself isn’t. Every time there’s another controversy at City Hall, a large percentage of social media posts express a common opinion that comes down to: “They’ve all gotta go.”

Fact is, though, incumbents have a built-in historical advantage over newcomers. Most changes come from the fact that every election, one or more incumbents choose not to run again. Those who do run are in a strong position to keep winning.

Since 2011, incumbents here have averaged a re-election rate of almost 81 per cent, higher than the provincial average. Even when

three incumbents ran for mayor in 2022 and were given the gate, all three who ran again for councillor were re-elected.

If we go back further in history, the trend has been the same. In 2008 I wrote a column headlined, ‘History shows Kamloops voters don’t like big changes.’ As an example, in 1990 there was much speculation that incumbent councillors were going to take a beating. But on election day, voters put six of seven incumbents back

You and I both know this isn’t new territory. In the spring of 2017, we both supported mobile supervised consumption sites in Kamloops. That, too, was called a pilot project.

I went back and watched your comments at that council meeting and I was reminded of what made you so effective as a mayor. You talked about weighing the pros and cons carefully. You acknowledged community concerns with respect. And then you said, on balance, you could support the sites — given the severity of the crisis, the mobile nature of the program, and the conditions council had asked of Interior Health.

That is good governance. Thoughtful, balanced and honest about complexity. I hope, if you’re given the humbling opportunity

to serve as premier, you’ll depend on your strong local government foundation.

One more thing. A former elected colleague of ours reached out to me recently — unprompted — after hearing your comments to Rebel News that there are only two genders. He asked me, if we still had any rapport, to pass along a simple request: more empathy for the trans community.

I’ve thought about how to raise this. I respect that you hold a sincere belief. What I’d ask is that you also hold space for the safety and dignity of all British Columbians — whatever their gender or gender identity. The culture wars make for good fundraising emails and bad governance. Tread carefully there, Pete. Or better yet, don’t tread at all.

Good luck, my friend.

2026’ become a thing?

in office. In 1993, the same thing. And, again in 1996 and 2002.

(There was an exception in 1999, when only three incumbent councillors were returned to the council table. Three others didn’t run again, resulting in six of nine council members being newbies.)

“Seldom have Kamloops voters grown so tired of their council that they have opted for wholesale change,” I wrote.

“It’s hard for an incumbent to be defeated — they have to really work at it, because almost every election, almost every incumbent who runs is re-elected.”

There’s a tendency, I suggested, to chop the weakest link and stick with the rest.

One of the reasons for this is likely name recognition. Voters who don’t know much about newcomers may take the easy route and mark their X’s beside the names they know best.

Another reason might be a simple fear of change: if we put too

many rookies into the lineup, who don’t know the ropes, will City Hall go all to hell?

There’s no evidence that newcomers perform more poorly than veterans, but we’ve never had a situation where 100 per cent of those around the council table are untested.

The other side of the coin this year is the question of whether being a familiar name is still an advantage, or actually a drawback. No member of the current council has avoided negative press.

It’s safe to say no City council has been as controversial as this one. But when it comes time to go into the voting booth, will electors opt for wholesale change and embrace “No incumbents 2026” or stay with the status quo?

Mel Rothenburger is a former Kamloops mayor, former Kamloops school board chair, and a retired daily newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca website.

Todd Sullivan Editor

Tom Dickinson Chair Arjun Singh Exec. Director

Kamloops Local News Society

MEL ROTHENBURGER Armchair Mayor

Free Dragon Boat ‘give it a try’ sessions on offer

Those looking to try something new can head to the Pioneer Park boat launch on April 28 or May 2. No experience is necessary and the sessions are free. More details online at kamloopsinteriordragons.ca.

An Apology

In the March 2026 edition of the Kamloops Chronicle we published a letter titled Alt-right publication spotted in Kamloops This letter, about the newspaper Druthers, described the publication as an “alt-right MAGA newspaper … which contains racist filth ”

We chose to publish this letter because of a core belief that we should keep our editorial and letters pages open to voices across the political and ideological spectrum, however controversial they may be We did not, however, properly consider the potential ramifications of the characterizations made in that letter

For us, in addition to the potential ramifications, this is also about something else We regret publishing extreme language that can create more unproductive conflict and outrage in society We definitely need less of that We have heard from dozens of people about how much they appreciate reading Druthers We have had respectful exchanges with their publisher Whether it be the Kamloops Chronicle or Druthers or through social media or Fred across the fence, we encourage everyone to verify the information they are getting

We wholeheartedly apologize to Druthers and will endeavour to do better in the future, while continuing to honour our commitment to open dialogue on our opinion pages

The Kamloops Chronicle

Aberdeen

Aberdeen Mall Tiny Library

Aberdeen Mall

Chartwell Ridgepointe Retirement Residence 1789 Primrose Ct

Chopped Leaf Aberdeen 1180 Columbia St W G115

Fresh Street Market

Aberdeen Mall

Gold Leaf Pastries 14-1415 Hillside Dr

Kamloops Seniors Village 1220 Hugh Allan Dr

On the Rocks 1265 Rogers Way

Pharmasave Aberdeen 68 - 1395 Hillside Dri

Pizza Now 1415 Hillside Dr #2

Runners Sole 1395 Hillside Dr #74

Straight 8 barbers Aberdeen 1390 Hillside Dr #5

Tim Hortons 1285 Rogers Way

Twin Rivers Market Unit A1420, 1420 Hugh Allan Dr

Barnhartvale

HappyValley Foods 6221 Barnhartvale Rd

Brocklehurst

Riverbend Pharmasave 760 Mayfair St #3,

Flutter Buys Thrift Store 1800 Tranquille Rd #14

Parkcrest Neighbourhood Store 2091 Parkcrest Ave

RiverBend & Mayfair Manor 760 Mayfair St

Downtown

7-Eleven 615 Seymour St & 6th

Amplified Cafe 465 Victoria St

Amplifon Clinic Kamloops 300 Columbia St # 104

Andres Tire World 341 Victoria St W

Artisan Market 705 Victoria St

Big Little Science Center 458 Seymour St

Bikley Law 186 Victoria St #301

Boomers Auto 375 Victoria St W

Brownstone Restaurant 118 Victoria St

Cafe Motivo 229 Victoria St

Canada’s Best Value Inn 1390 columbuia St

Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighborhood Pub 357 Victoria St

Centerpoint Printing 500 Victoria

Central Station Pub 126 4 Ave

Columbia Street Pharmacy 112-300 Columbia St

Continental Barber Shop 319 Victoria St

Cordo Restaurant 540 Victoria Street

Daana Paani - The Indian Grocery Store 414 Seymour St

Denny’s - Downtown 570 Columbia St

Dollarama 450 Lansdowne St

Dorian Greek House 430 Victoria St

Downtown Kamloops BIA 246 2nd Ave

Downtown Library 465 Vicroria Street

Embers 650 Victoria St

Fade Away Barber SHop 156 Victoria St

Frankly Coffee And Bistro 437 Lansdowne St

Stone & Wood Public House 577 Victoria Street

He Brew’s Ahava Coffee Inc 210 Victoria St

Hearing Life 321 Nicola St #208

Hello Toast 428 Victoria St

Jacob’s Noodle & Cutlet 260 4th Ave

Kamloops Art Gallery 465, Victoria Street

Kamloops Brain Injury Association 408 Victoria St

Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA 400 Battle Street

Kamloops United Thrift 421 St Paul St

Kekuli Cafe 300 Columbia St #101

Kipp-Mallery Pharmacy 3rd Avenue & Victoria Street

Kirstens Hideout Café 1390 Columbia St

London Drugs 450 Lansdowne St #216

Mauryas Restaurant 165 Victoria St

Mittz Kitchen 227 Victoria St, Kamloops

Nandis Restaurant 340 Victoria Street Nutters Everyday

Naturals 440 Seymour Street

Paramount Theatre 503 Victoria Street

Pavillion

Best Western Plus 660 Columbia Str

Canada Games Aquatic Centre 910 McGill Rd

Columbia Diner 555 Columbia Str

Connect Hearing 1315 Summit Dr

Earls 1210 Summit Dr

EZ Vape 1210 Summit Dr #915

Fox and Hounds Pub Sahali Mall, 945 W Columbia St #20

FraserCart Indian Store 795 McGill Rd #103

FreshCo Columbia & Summit

Golds gym 906 Laval Cresc

Kamloops Hearing Aid Centre 414 Arrowstone Dr

Kipp-Mallery Pharmacy (Landmark) Summit & McGill

Marjorie Willoughby Hospice 72 Whitesheild Cres S

Mercedes Benz Kamloops 695 Laval Cres

Mr Lube Summit 1200 Summit Dr

Nature’s Fare Markets - Kamloops 500 Notre Dame Dr #100

Pure Pharmacy #10 - 1380 Summit Dr

Ramada 555 W Columbia St

Save-On-Foods Summit Dr 1210 Summit Dr #100

Stock Pot Cafe 7 - 970 Laval

Superstore 910 Columbia St W

Tim Hortons 910 Columbia St W

Tournament Capital Centre 910 McGill Rd

Toyota 1355 Cariboo Pl

Vista Inn 628 Columbia St W

Waypoint Convenience 910 Columbia St West

Wheaton Buick GM 685 Notre Dame Dr

More locations added frequently. Check KamloopsChronicle.com for the complete list.

Still more to celebrate in Kamloops this month!

Huge Congratulations!

Nutritionist Amanda McKeen is celebrating one year in business this April with Inspired Eats with Amanda. She offers freezer meal workshops, nutrition workshops, and health coaching in and around Kamloops. Amanda can be reached at 250-320-3641 or amanda@inspiredeats.ca.

Donate to or Apply for the The Out of the Ashes (OOTA) bursary! The bursary was initiated in 2007 as a prevention initiative by Leann Kopytko, a youth counsellor with Day One Society and her late husband Ron Kopytko who shared her passion for helping youth. The vision of the OOTA bursary is to provide educational support to those with a minimum of one year recovery time from problematic substance use, who are either living in/from Kamloops or are going to school in Kamloops. For more information go online to dayonesociety.ca/outoftheashes.

Good News

Kudos to long time Kamloops resident and community advocate Diane Czyzewski who has volunteered her time and efforts to causes like banning pesticide use, multiple chemical sensitivities, and low income seniors. Agree or disagree, Diane has always been open to conversation. She has been known to send greeting cards to city councillors, and once if memory serves, roses.

Regan Hayes and the team at Simply Computing donated a MacBook Pro and some tech gear so Dominique at shewandersearth.com can stay connected and post videos of the journey.

For almost 30 years, Jo Berry and her RunClub team have been helping people, of any age, ability and pace, get outside and get active -- increasing not only physical health but emotional, mental and spiritual health as well. RunClub Coach Arjun Singh (also the Chronicle’s exec director)

reports this spring group of participants is one of the most amazing groups in his years in the club! Shout out to all the RunClub coaches - Laurel, Howie, Rick, Kevin, Tom, Paula, Tania, Sheridan, Annie, Mandy, Clint, Terry, Adrienne, Carlo, and Gaudenza!

And you can register for the CFJC-TV Boogie at boogiethebridge.com. And read profiles of three participants in this year’s training on Castanet at castanetkamloops.net

If you are 50-plus and want to try Dragon Boating Festival, the Kamloops Interior Dragon team welcomes you to come try it out. More info is at kamloopsinteriordragons.ca. There are also two other local teams: the Spirit Warriors, our breast cancer survivor team and the Kamloops Dragon Boat Club (KDBC) which has members of all-ages.

Transition Kamloops and Kamloops Seniors for Climate Action will host an

interactive evening on April 29 to discuss climate change. The evening will explore what’s happening with the climate in Kamloops, how to talk about it and why it matters. Guest experts will give a presentation, which will be followed by breakout sessions with audience members. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul St.

Kamloops is an amazing community with a long-standing culture of kindness and looking out for one another. We need to talk about this more, give it more attention, and keep strengthening our collective goodness. We, at the Kamloops Chronicle, feel it’s so important to share good news regularly and that’s what this space is about. We encourage you to submit your good news by calling 250 851-9630, emailing us at info@ kamloopschronicle.com or sending us mail to PO Box 814, Station Main, Kamloops BC, V2C 5M8.

HISTORY

BC Penitentiary exhibit on at Old Courthouse

The work of corrections officer Anthony Martin, also the BC Pen’s historian, is on display in Kamloops

Ken Favrholdt: Columnist news@kamloopschronicle.com

Visitors to the Old Courthouse in Kamloops are greeted to an important exhibit of artifacts and archives on the history of the BC Penitentiary with a diorama of the building, before they are guided to the lower floor. The exhibit represents a collaboration of Connective (formerly the John Howard Society), the City of Kamloops, and the Kamloops Museum and Archives.

Brought together by professors Peter and Jennifer Murphy of Thompson Rivers University and federal corrections officer Anthony Martin, the exhibit is a permanent collection of the history of the penitentiary that includes a great variety of objects, including a recreation of the warden’s office, based on that of long-serving Warden William Meighen from 1935 to 1946, which incorporates items made by prisoners. As well, on exhibit there is a great assemblage of artwork and crafts by prisoners, photographs of the penitentiary, a timeline of the institution’s history, written material and also a website which includes a video interview with Anthony Martin and copy of his memoir, Life at the BC Penitentiary (with copies for sale at the Arts Council office). One very unique item on display is a prisoner-made tattoo gun in a hollowed-out library book.

The BC Penitentiary was a notorious institution over its 102 years of operation, especially in its later years. Corporal punishment in its early decades involved flogging, working on a chain gang, restrictive diets and solitary confinement. There were only two hangings for murder, one by a Joseph Smith in

1913 for killing a guard.

The Sons of Freedom sect of Doukhobors, a pacifist group opposed to many Canadian laws, were frequently arrested for their protests involving acts of nudity and arson. A separate prison was created for them in the 1930s on Piers Island in the Strait of Georgia which helped alleviate the growing overcrowding at the Pen.

By the 1950s there was a maximum of over 760 prisoners. Many were transferred to other institutions so that by the mid-1960s, the inmate population had been reduced to 500. But in the final years there were a series of disturbances and hostage takings that marred the penitentiary.

There were riots in 1934,

1963, 1973, a hostage-taking in 1975 involving Mary Steinhauser, a Correctional Service of Canada employee, and, the following year, the largest incident of all when inmates destroyed most of the cellblocks. Four years later in 1980, the BC Pen was decommissioned.

Anthony Martin was a CSC corrections officer (19581980) who was acknowledged as the historian of the BC Penitentiary. He became the internal auditor of the “close-out” team of the BC Pen. When he retired in 1993 the collection of artifacts and archives was transferred to his home in Abbotsford. TRU English professor Peter Murphy, when he taught in the SFU prison education pro-

gram, met Martin and suggested the Old Courthouse in Kamloops could become a permanent home for the collec-

tion. Murphy became part of a steering committee with the late historian Peter Grauer, well-known for his definitive

Schedule A

To: Wayne David Bates

(2006) book on Bill Miner, Interred With Their Bones: Bill Miner in Canada 19031907. Train robber Miner is an Inescapable part of the exhibit from the story of his capture after a botched robbery near Kamloops in 1906, to his trial (in the previous courthouse to this one), and incarceration in the BC Penitentiary in New Westminster from which he escaped in 1907. The exhibit as a whole is intended to “stimulate community dialogue around a whole series of important issues relating to prisons and social justice policies.” Coming this September, an event is planned to include a showing of the 1982 film The Grey Fox about Bill Miner, and two lectures, one highlighting the collection, another on the theme of social justice. The Anthony Martin BC Penitentiary Collection exhibit is open to the public daily from Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Take Notice: A Statement of Claim for Divorce and Division of Matrimonial Property has been filed against you by Deanna Marie Bates in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, Judicial Centre of Calgary Alberta, under Court File Number 4801-208378

Action Required: You must file a Statement of Defence or Demand for Notice at the Court office located at 601 5 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5P7 within 45 days of the publication of this notice.

If you do not file a response, the Court may grant the divorce and deal with matters of property and support in your absence.

You may obtain a copy of the Statement of Claim for Divorce and Division of Matrimonial Property from Melissa Abusow c/o BDL Family Law LLP 2030, 635 – 8 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 3M3, 403-212-6084, abusow@bdlfamilylaw.com.

Dated: April 3, 2026

The trial of Bill Miner in the courthouse. Miner is seen in the box facing the prosecution.

Kamloops Museum and Archives

Rallying for trans rights

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

A rally in support of transgender rights was held in front of the Kamloops Law Courts in late March, following the attempted introduction of a number of bills in the B.C. legislature that could have reverted progress made on trans rights in the province.

Three controversial bills by independent Kelowna MLA Tara Armstrong, including two targeting trans rights and one seeking to repeal the B.C. Human Rights Code, have failed at first reading, but received votes in favour by local MLAs Peter Milobar and Ward Stamer.

Both MLAs later clarified that their votes in favour of first reading were only proce-

dural, telling other media it is common and traditional for all MLAs to do so.

Despite that, the introduction of the bills garnered a local rally in response, with about 60 people in attendance.

Among them was Kamloops Sexual Assault Counseling Centre (KSACC) co-ordinator Fern Apeiron.

“We need to ensure the right to self-determination and self-autonomy is always accessible to every person, including trans people,” Apeiron said. Apeiron, a queer trans person themself, moved to Kamloops from rural Alberta.

“I’m lucky to exist in a place like Kamloops that lets me be authentic. I can be myself at my job, I can use my pronouns. I changed my name legally and it wasn’t difficult,” they said.

Apeiron helped organize the rally and was on hand with information about resources offered by KSACC, as well as some advice for those looking to make a difference, encouraging people to contact their local MLAs to make their voices heard.

“We’re not really giving kids surgeries, like the media

is saying. We’re giving them the right to ask to be called the name they want to be called, to use their own pronouns, to dress in a way that makes them feel comfortable,” Apeiron said.

Kamloops Coun. Nancy Bepple attended the rally and said she has a lot of admiration for the rally organizers

and wants Kamloops to be an inclusive space.

In 2023, Bepple brought forward a motion for Kamloops to become part of UNESCO’s Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, which council adopted.

“There is so much diversity here and we need to recognize that and honour that and make

sure everyone feels included,” she told the Chronicle.

Apeiron wants to see more politicians attend these kinds of rallies, worried support for progressive policies is waning.

“It’s scary to see those rights slowly be walked back. I came here for a more progressive, safer existence and I want it to stay that way,” they said.

A rally for transgender rights drew about 60 people outside the Kamloops Law Courts on March 25.

Sean Brady

Fundraiser sounds ‘red alert’ over cardiac care

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

The upcoming ICCHAWish red carpet fundraising gala will be held in protest of the closure of the eponymous cardiac care unit at Royal Inland Hospital.

ICCHA-Wish co-founder Al Patel said he’s sounding the alarm over cardiac care at the Kamloops hospital due to the prolonged closure of the ward.

“Despite years of community fundraising, donations and advocacy, critical cardiac services remain incomplete at our tertiary hospital serving Kamloops and the surrounding areas,” Patel wrote in a recent news release.

The unit was opened in 2018 but closed in 2020 as staff shortages emerged and health care facilities struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six years later, the unit remains closed. Patel, fed up with delays, said the system has failed, “big time.”

ICCHA-Wish was founded with the heart in mind, but prior its funding and the opening of the ICCHA-Wish Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) at RIH in 2018, it also funded a host of other items, including X-ray machines, neo-na-

tal equipment, ultrasound machines, monitors and more.

Patel said the organization has raised $2.6 million for the hospital and related causes over nearly two decades, primarily through the gala. When it is held later this month, he said a table will be waiting with an open invitation to Premier David Eby, Minister of Health Josie Osborne and leaders from Interior Health, Cardiac Services BC and Royal Inland Hospital.

“I want everybody to see that we have invited them and there’s a table waiting for them. Otherwise, it will sit with empty chairs,” Patel told the Chronicle.

Reached by the Chronicle, RIH lead Gerry Desilets acknowledged the closure of the unit and pledged to continue working closely with Patel and other stakeholders.

“It was very unfortunate that we had to close it at the time, but it was a very challenging staffing time, in the middle of COVID, with a lot of pressure on everybody,” Desilets said.

Desilets said plans are underway to reopen the unit, but could not give any sort of timeline to do so. He pointed to staff retention issues

and a long runway to train or recruit the specialized nurses required to operate the unit.

Currently, patients requiring procedures like stents or cardiac surgery must travel to Kelowna, but Desilets said that, otherwise, the majority of cardiac care can be done in Kamloops, just not in the CCU. Instead, patients are receiving care in the ICU or ER in the interim.

Desilets also said the CCU space is being used, but not for cardiac care.

“It might not be for exactly that patient population they were hoping for, but it’s still providing care for the community and giving people a beautiful, excellent place to receive care,” he said.

Desilets said at the end of the day, everyone wants to see cardiac care expanded in Kamloops, but that it has to be done in a sustainable way. He said metrics like patient numbers and demand based on population are key factors to determine when services should expand.

“I know they are advocating because they want care closer to home, because we all do,” he said.

The gala will be held on April 24. For more information, head to the ICCHA/Wish website at iwishfund.com.

Third-party operator sought for school child care

Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Before- and after-school care programs at four SD73 elementary schools will continue even if a third-party operator isn’t found by the time an ongoing request for proposal (RFP) process concludes.

“That messaging needs to be really clear,” said Heather Grieve, chair of the KamloopsThompson School Board. Parents reliant on beforeand after-school care at A.E. Perry, Parkcrest, Marion Schilling and Arthur Hatton expressed concern about these spaces when the KamloopsThompson School District announced an RFP was underway for a third-party operator to take over the programs at these schools.

The RFP is intended to identify a community organization or licensed child-care provider that can operate the programs and supply qualified early childhood educators. Of primary concern to parents is what happens if an agency isn’t found to take over the programs when the RFP concludes in the fall, said Grieve.

In early March, trustees and

school district staff opted to extend the RFP until fall of 2027 to allow more time to not only find agencies able to take over child care at these schools, but to also be “more thoughtful” when working with school staff and parents who rely on before and after school care, she said.

When SD73 took child care on as a pilot program, one of the things considered was

impact on staff and the district’s budget. However, even with that in mind, there’s never been a discussion about discontinuing child care at these schools, said district superintendent Mike St. John.

“It was all a matter of how the service was going to be provided and who was going to do it,” he said.

Grieve said every effort will be made to make this process as transparent as possible for parents at these schools.

As the pilot went along, it became clear there was a burden on staff and administrators to run the programs given that they run outside of the allotted school day, which is mandated by the Ministry of Education. St. John said a move to a third-party operator would ease that pressure and even provide the opportunity for more students to receive care.

Licensed non-profit and community organizations like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and other independent child care providers currently run before- and after-school care at 12 of the district’s 35 elementary schools. Before- and after-school care programs are designed to provide supervised care for students outside regular classroom hours, helping families bridge the gap between the school day and work schedules.

He said having all 16 schools that offer beforeand after-school care run by third-party organizations will streamline the service and align it with other school districts in the province.

Demand for the programs has grown in recent years as the province pushes to expand access to school-based child care.

School districts across B.C. often partner with outside organizations to run childcare programs in school facilities, rather than operating them directly.

Campus/community station CFBX turns 25

Anna Montaner: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Campus and community

station CFBX Radio is celebrating 25 years on the air, marking a milestone for a broadcaster built largely by volunteers and dedicated to local voices.

Based at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, the station officially signed on as an FM broadcaster on April 2, 2001, after a year of closed-circuit broadcasting. Over the years it has grown from a fivewatt developmental licence to a 350-watt station that now reaches most of the city.

According to programming co-ordinator Steve Marlow, the increase in broadcasting power was an important step in the station’s development.

“The power increase was instrumental to protect our licence,” Marlow said. “A developmental licence is kind of like training wheels on a bicycle. It allows you to get the necessary experience and knowledge in order to run a radio station. Once you’re past that five watts, you’re basically considered a full radio station.”

With the jump to 350 watts, the station’s reach expanded significantly.

“That protects us, to a certain extent, and it allows us to reach about 90 percent of the city,” Marlow said.

Marlow, who has more than

two decades of experience in radio programming, works on content management and program development at the station. His work focuses on supporting diverse programming and strengthening connections between the station and the community.

While the signal has grown, the station’s structure has stayed rooted in community involvement. Today, about 90 volunteers help run and broadcast programming at CFBX, and more than 400 people have volunteered with the station since 2001.

Station manager Christopher Weddell said the volunteer base is central to the station’s identity and programming.

“Because we’re an alternative station, the kind of broadcasting content that we send out is radically different than corporate radio,” Weddell said.

“We are trying to make ourselves available to underrepresented sectors of the community so they can use radio as a tool for getting their word out.”

That approach allows the station to share stories and perspectives that are often missing from mainstream media.

“We’re really interested in meeting groups whose stories you don’t hear on mainstream radio; Indigenous groups, queer groups and others outside the norm,” Weddell said.

Marlow said the station’s programming model also

sets it apart from commercial broadcasters.

“If you’re listening to an actual radio station, you have a person curating that playlist for you,” he said. “It’s not curated by an algorithm or a computer. It’s an actual person.”

Running a volunteer-driven station also comes with challenges. Volunteers juggle their shows alongside jobs, school and family responsibilities, and many arrive with little or no broadcasting experience.

“A lot of people walk in the door here not having ever sat in front of a console or spun a record,” Weddell said. “There’s training that happens over three or four weeks. Before you know it, they’re moving around the studio as if they were a veteran.”

To mark the 25th anniversary, the station is planning several initiatives and events throughout the year.

One of the projects currently underway is a radio series called Stories of House 8, which will collect memories from past and present volunteers. House 8 has been home to the station since 1998.

CFBX will also host its annual record fair on June 6 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more details to be announced.

Another initiative return ing this summer is the Sound Waves Summer Camp, a twoweek program for high school students that introduces them

to radio broadcasting and interviewing.

Last year, 12 students participated. “Many of them said they didn’t know what to expect,” Weddell said. “By the end of the two weeks they had a real sense of the power of radio. Two of them now have

programs on CFBX.”

The station will also hold its annual volunteer drive from April 10 to April 24, inviting community members and students to get involved both on and off the air.

For Weddell, reaching the 25-year mark is significant

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simply because the station continues to thrive in a changing media landscape.

“We’ve survived the so-called slow death of radio,” he said. “The fact that we’re still here and still making vibrant radio that speaks to people is inspiring.”

COLUMBIA STREET BREAKFAST

Choice of bacon, sausage or back bacon 2 eggs, hash-browns, toast.

DESSERTS BREAKFAST

BURGERS SANDWICHES SPECIAL EVENTS

lettuce, tomato

SMASH BURGER

Potato bun, American cheese, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, special sauce.

*Sub Beyond Meat patty (V)

HABANERO HOT CHICKEN

Crispy chicken breast dipped in red hot spices, brioche bun, habanero ranch sauce, coleslaw and pickles. Side of milk.

HOME-RUN

Footlong all beef frank, bacon bits, pickled jalapeno, cheese sauce, flammin’ hot Cheetos.

THE ULTIMATE GRILLED CHEESE (V)

Texas toast griddled in garlic butter, cheddar, mozzarella and American cheeses, Tomato soup Add bacon

SALADS

BACKYARD CAESAR SALAD

Bacon & roasted garlic dressing, sourdough croutons, parmesan cheese

SOUTHWEST CHOP SALAD (VG) (GF)

Iceberg lettuce, avocado, corn, peppers, black beans, tomato, cilantro lime vinaigrette, green onion, crispy tortilla.

We provide special event bookings for up to 100 people!

Free rental of the entire floor. Buffet options available for simpler, faster dining.

DRINKS

apples, vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel kettle corn.

BANANA CRUNCH FRENCH TOAST (V)

Four pieces of Texas toast Cornflake crusted Texas toast, fresh bananas. Topped with powdered sugar.

STACKS ON STACKS

Fluffy buttermilk flapjacks, whipped cream, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry sauce.

ONION BAHJI (V)

Crispy onion pakora, spicy tomato jam DOUBLE DOUBLE 2 smash patties, potato bun, American cheese, onion, pickle,

FREE Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows by Nestle with Breakfast

Concern over autism funding

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Parents and service providers alike are sounding the alarm over changes to autism funding in B.C., which could mean some children will lose their existing funding by 2027.

The new funding model, first announced by the province in February, delivers payments directly to families for a wider range of disabilities, meaning thousands of more families will be eligible for funding.

“We love that. It’s amazing and needed. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of kiddos with autism,” said Nicole Grocock, behaviour analyst at Social Butterflies Kamloops.

Grocock works with children with autism below the age of six. She said the early intervention model is crucial, with the progress made in early ages playing a big part in later successes in school, at home and in the community.

“They learn faster, they develop skills faster, when their brains are still developing. That early intervention is key,” Grocock said.

Currently, children under age 6 can access $22,000 per year in funding, and over age 6 can access $6,000 per year.

Under the new system, children will be eligible for fund-

ing of $6,500 or $17,000, based on their individual needs.

But some may not qualify for any funding at all. A new income-tested $6,000 tax credit will also be available starting in July 2027 for those currently eligible for the federal disability tax credit.

The province says the funding model corrects inequities in disability services and supports in B.C.

“This investment is about significantly expanding both financial supports and services for children and youth with a range of disabilities, through a new approach that is fair and that provides the greatest support to the most vulnerable,” said Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development.

While Grocock called the expansion “wonderful,” her concern lies for those who stand to lose their funding and will be taken out of programs they have been funded for for years.

“Kids that may not be as severely impacted on the outside, who look like they’re doing great, those kids will unfortunately be losing their funding,” she said.

She’s also concerned about service providers like Social Butterflies Kamloops.

“We’re still a business and this is going to affect how

many clients we’re seeing,” she said, noting she has heard concerns from other service providers, too.

Earlier in March, Grocock organized a rally outside Kamloops City Hall, which included about 30 parents and children from Interior cities. It coincided with rallies held in Vancouver and Victoria.

Grocock said the announce-

ment was a surprise to many parents and is working to make sure everyone is aware of the coming changes. She said anyone with concerns should write to their MLA and consider signing a petition being circulated online.

“Just to get your voices heard so the government can see that we want to have a discussion about this,” she said.

Nicole Grocock

The only one in the room who was not somewhere else

Last week, I walked into a meeting and left my laptop and phone behind. Intentionally. It felt almost transgressive.

I sat down with a notebook, a pen and a quiet decision to actually be there.

The speaker began. As I settled into genuine listening, I began to notice the room. The person to my left was answering emails. The one across the table was scrolling through her phone. Someone at the far end was absorbed in a spreadsheet, brow furrowed, entirely elsewhere. The speaker, skilled, prepared, generous with her material, moved through her

presentation while the room conducted its own quiet, parallel life.

After a few minutes, it felt as if she were speaking directly to me. Not because I am anything special, but simply because I was the one looking up.

We like to believe we can do two things at once. The truth is less flattering. What we call multitasking is really rapid switching between tasks, and every switch carries a cost. We lose depth. We lose nuance. We lose the thread of what another person is actually trying to say. We are not doing two things well. We are doing two things

AMY TUCKER

Welcoming Wellness

poorly, in turns, while persuading ourselves otherwise.

I took a few notes. When questions came, I answered

“What we call multitasking is really rapid switching between tasks, and every switch carries a cost.”

with something that felt considered rather than automatic. There was nothing heroic about it. I was simply present. And that is what stayed with me long after the meeting ended, not satisfaction, but unease.

Because presence was the default setting of human interaction. Now it feels almost like a deliberate act, something requiring effort and intention. Something we have quietly, collectively given away, not through carelessness exactly, but through slow habit.

Try It Days May 2 & 3

Through the gradual normalization of half-attended life.

The speaker finished. A few people looked up. The room cleared.

I found myself wondering what that hour had cost her, and what it costs anyone who stands in front of a room and speaks while the screens glow on.

Attention is not simply a courtesy. It is a form of recognition. It says: you are real to me, and what you are saying matters.

In workplaces, families, and

OBITUARY

Vivian

With love and sorrow, we honour the passing of our mother, Vivian Russell, in Kamloops, BC on January 24, 2026, at the age of 81.

Vivian is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Bonnie Drysdale and husband Rob, her daughter, Roberta Russell, sister-in-law Mary Smith, family John and Rhonda Bowman, life-time friend Iris Wilson, and of course, Lillie Dawn, amongst other dear friends and family. Vivian is pre-deceased by her parents, Arthur and Violet Smith, her brother Thomas Smith, and her husband of 58 years, Robert Russell.

Born March 11, 1944 in Vancouver, BC, Vivian spent her childhood in the Fraser

communities that claim to value people, it is worth asking honestly what we lose when no one is truly listening. Because here is the thing we rarely say out loud: it is lonely to speak when no one is listening. Lonely to lead a meeting, share an idea, or tell a story in a room full of people who are somewhere else.

We have become remarkably good at being physically present and emotionally absent — technically together and functionally alone.

Validation does not require applause or grand gestures. It requires attention.

One person looked up. One person saying, with their presence alone: I see you. I am here. What you are saying matters.

We are hungry for that. Every one of us. And yet, more often than not, we reach for our phones instead.

Elizabeth Thea Russell 1944 - 2026

Valley before moving to Kamloops. She attended both KSS and NKSS, where she met her husband to be, Robert. After graduation she married, started a family, and bought their forever home, which she lived in for almost 60 years.

Vivian was a busy wife and mother. While raising her family, she worked for BC Tel and took night classes, valuing education. Family time was enjoyed in the outdoors- camping, fishing, and snowmobiling, or just in the garden at home.

Liking being productive, in retirement Vivian returned to work for Dr. Dextraze. It was a job she took pride in, making lasting friendships. Also in retirement, Vivian enjoyed to travel. She treasured her memories of trips spent exploring England, Scotland and Mexico with family.

Vivian had a lifetime love of dogs, particularly Labradors. They were loved as essential members of the family, as her grandbabies. She prided herself on remembering all their names, not an easy task since there were many!

Vivian was curious, engaged and creative. She started her day with a coffee, a puzzle

and a book, while listening to the news on the radio, preferably on the patio, or at our place at the lake. A veracious reader, she enjoyed exploring different times, cultures and places through books, and liked passing the good ones on to friends. She loved doing her crafts and artwork, refusing all unsolicited advice! She loved to take photos and document the beauty around her, especially flowers, her dogs and any wildlife she was lucky enough to see. She loved music and dancing, decorating and holidays, especially Christmas.

She was compassionate, enthusiastic and above all, kind. She made easy friends and is deeply missed by many. We share a special thank you to friends Anita McKay and Gabrielle Bray for their unwavering support. We would also like to recognize the nursing team of RIH 6 South for such exemplary care.

There is no formal service per her request. If so inclined, a donation in her honour can be made to Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Spring soil prep: The key to a thriving garden

Master Gardeners are part of a network of not-for-profit associations throughout North America. Members share a common interest – a passion for gardening and a willingness to share (at no cost) environmentally responsible gardening knowledge within their communities. Operating under the umbrella of the British Columbia Master Gardeners, the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners chapter was established in 2010 and its members have volunteered 10,000 plus hours throughout the Thompson-Shuswap region.

As the snow melts and temperatures rise, gardeners eagerly anticipate the growing season. One of the most crucial steps to ensure a productive garden is proper soil preparation. Healthy soil sets the foundation for strong plants, increased yields and reduced maintenance throughout the season.

Many beneficial insects, such as solitary bees, butterflies and ladybugs, rely on plant debris and leaf litter for winter shelter. One of the first steps to spring soil prep is to remove any remaining debris from the previous season. If done too early it can disturb these pollinators and natural pest controllers before they have emerged. A good rule of thumb is to wait until daytime temperatures

consistently reach 10 C (50 F) for at least a week before heavy cleanup, ensuring most overwintering insects have safely emerged. In colder regions, this may mean delaying full garden preparation until mid to late spring. To support both soil health and biodiversity, clear garden beds in stages — starting with areas you'll plant first while leaving some sections undisturbed a bit longer. This gradual approach supports a thriving insect population while allowing you to prepare the soil effectively for the growing season.

Before planting, it’s important to understand the composition of your soil. A simple soil test can reveal pH levels and nutrient deficiencies. Testing kits are available at gar-

den centers, or you can send a sample to a local agricultural extension office for detailed analysis. Your test results will guide you in choosing the right amendments to enhance soil health.

CORRINE

Organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, will enrich the soil by adding nutrients, improving drainage and enhancing moisture retention. Spread a two to three inch layer over your garden beds or gently incorporate it into the topsoil to support beneficial soil organisms. When planning which amendments to add, keep in mind that it is easier to increase soil pH than to lower it. Introduce pH increasing amendments slowly to prevent negative effects on nutrient availability, soil structure and beneficial microbes. If you’re starting your garden from scratch and need to improve the soil, we recommend mixing in

compost down to a depth of eight inches. For established gardens, use a no-dig approach by leaving the compost on the surface. This minimizes weed seed exposure and preserves the soil structure. Let the worms do the work of incorporating it for you!

You can loosen the soil gently with a garden fork or broadfork to improve air circulation and root growth while minimizing disturbance of the seed bank.

It is important to understand how the seed bank, living in the top one to two inches of soil, can negatively impact your garden. This is why we recommend no-dig gardening when and where possible. The seed bank contains dormant seeds that will germinate under the right conditions. Excessive disturbance can trigger these often unwanted seeds to grow, disrupting desirable plants. To pre-

vent this, avoid over-digging, which can unearth and activate dormant seeds. Instead, gently aerate the soil to promote healthy growth without upsetting its natural balance.

In a climate like Kamloops, applying mulch early in the season helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Choose organic options like shredded leaves, straw, or fire-safe mulches, keeping the mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot and pests.

By taking these steps in early spring, you’ll create an optimal growing environment for your plants. Healthy soil means healthier plants, fewer issues with pests and disease, and a more enjoyable gardening experience.

Happy planting!

Corrine G is an avid gardener who feels like an imposter, but loves to learn and doesn’t mind failing forward every season. She has a yard where for years she ignored the impact of disturbing the seed bank and created some monster weed problems.

Borrowing from the army: Super-size your walking

Walking wins hands down. It beats other exercise because its economical, easy, safe, you can do it anywhere and can visit with friends while you are at it. No training required and not much equipment, maybe a shoe upgrade and body lights for the dark days. You can start at your front door. You control the time, the place and the pace. Chances are you already walk for pleasure, for errands and for exercise.

MARG ARCHIBALD

Aging fitfully is about dreaming up realistic ways to look after our senior selves, to empower ourselves into well-being, because the science is right: giving more time to moving our bodies measurably improves our health.

Today, let’s talk about doing that by super-sizing your walking, not because I’m an expert but because I’m not. I’m 79 years old and my battle is to save my bones from melting away before I do. I’m coping with

the same stuff you are: sore joints, challenging knees and a limited budget, but one year into a concerted effort to focus on my fitness, I guarantee it pays off. On the menu today: rucking. (It does invite off-colour, comments, doesn’t it?)

Supposedly derived from rucksack, rucking amounts to walking while carrying weight. Not two grocery bags stretching your arms, more like those children off to school with giant, loaded backpacks. They are rucking.

I discovered it by accident. Going up a steep, eight-block hill, with a backpack of books for curbside library delivery, I noticed my legs were working noticeably harder than my usual hill-walking. Thought bubble: “I could beef up my exercise every day just by loading things in my backpack.” I boasted of my discovery to a friend who replied, “Yes. That’s called

“Women soldiers ruck with 35 pounds on their backs, hiking for hours. Okay. Clearly an idea whose time has come.”

rucking.”

What!? Just a minute. I invented this.

Turns out it is already a thing and the U.S. army has been doing it for years. Women soldiers ruck with 35 pounds on their backs, hiking for hours. Okay. Clearly an idea whose time has come.

I tried several backpacks, various amounts of weight, tried it under and over my winter coat, and eventually realized that a purpose-built, weighted vest was needed for comfort and staying in place, not slapping my backside and slipping off my shoulders. Friends found me a 12-pound rucking vest in Walmart. That’s better. (See it at youtube.com/ agingfitfully.)

I gather from my daughter, fit and

knowledgeable, that there are more expensive, well-balanced vests you can order on-line, some that let you add and subtract weights. The guideline is starting with 10% of your body weight. It’s fine to start with less. Just start.

If you do it alone, you can pick your own route, follow your druthers, plug into an audio book or music and away you go. I love walking to music, which undoubtedly looks odd as I stretch my gait to match a slow song, soldier along to a march or mimic a waltz. Recovering from something? Rucking is easy to get into if you are coming from an injury, surgery or a long sedentary stretch. Walk to the corner and back. Walk around the block. Get your cane or

your walker and off you go. Slow and steady to start because falling is not an option. I see pedestrians with poles marching smartly past my house. Those exercise your arms and shoulders too. Try pavement or a nature trail, your choice. Walking and rucking let you build up your mobility, get some fresh air and on a good day, some sunshine. This year’s hometown bonus so far: no icy sidewalks. You already know the walking part. Keep walking. Add hills. When you want more, Super-Size. Add your rucking vest for more cardio, more strength building, more fitness, and all you are doing is walking. Well, rucking. Next time, let’s talk about fitness and blood sugar, pre-diabetes, and diabetes where exercises and diet are critical to self-management.

Margaret Archibald is a 79-year-old Kamloops retiree, who is neither medically nor fitness trained. She is not qualified to diagnose nor recommend health or fitness. She is simply learning how to reach for her own fitness, bound and determined to keep on loving aging.

GIESBRECHT The Garden Bench

Cat café opens doors and hearts in Kamloops

Juli Harland: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Julie Ondang has built what many might consider a dream retirement with the grand opening of the Catloops Cat Café

As the owner and operator of Catloops Cat Café, Ondang has created a space where roughly 15 cats roam freely at any given time, greeting visitors, playing and more often than not, curling up for a nap beside a new friend. For the cats, it’s more than just a cool space with amazing toys and climbable walls. It’s a stepping stone to socialization and, more importantly, a permanent home.

“All of the cats here are rescue kittens from feral colonies,” Ondang explained. “This gives them a chance to be seen, to be socialized and to find families.”

The café works closely with Sammy’s Forgotten Felines Cat Rescue, an organization Ondang has directed since 2019. In many ways, the café is a nat-

ural extension of that work. A solution to a long-standing challenge. Getting rescue cats to forever homes.

“Sammy’s needed a place for the cats to be seen,” she said.

The idea for the café began to form the same year the rescue was founded. But turning that vision into reality wasn’t simple. Plans were set in motion in 2019, only to be stalled by the pandemic. The project was put on hold for years before Ondang and her team revived it in late 2024. And now, after a handful of hiccups, here in early 2026, Catloops Cat Café finally opened its doors.

And of course, it very quickly became a community favourite.

Visitors book their time in 50-minute blocks, with up to 12 to 15 people enjoying the space at once. Upon arrival, guests are given a toy to interact with the cats, or they can simply relax and let the animals come to them. It’s really about being in their space.

The café prioritizes the well-being of its feline residents. If the cats become overwhelmed, they can retreat to a designated quiet area away from visitors. Though accord-

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ing to Ondang, the kittens have quickly warmed up to having visitors in their space.

While most of the cats are available for adoption, two have taken on permanent roles.

accelerate their development!

Boon, a natural greeter, welcomes guests as they arrive, while Swirl helps teach new kittens how to interact and adjust to the environment. Beyond adoptions, the café has become a lively hub for events. From Thompson Rivers University study nights to Dungeons & Dragons sessions, yoga classes, wine tastings, colouring nights and more, there’s always something happening. Ondang’s son, Dan, has played a key role in organizing these community gatherings. Support from local veterinarians has also been instrumental in getting the café up and running.

“It’s been amazing,” Ondang said. “The community has really shown up for us.”

For Ondang, the work is deeply rewarding.

“Let’s face it, it’s a good job,” she said with a smile. “What a fabulous way to retire.” And while we sat and chatted with kittens curled up beside us and others playing at our feet, it is hard to argue with that sentiment.

Ondang’s mission goes beyond the café walls. She hopes the space also raises awareness about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

“Support your rescues, they all need help,” she said. “And spay and neuter your pets.”

At Catloops Cat Café, you can support your local rescues. All while sipping coffee and hanging out with more than a dozen furry friends. For further details and bookings, visit catloops.ca.

KAMLOOPS - NANAIMO - GABRIOLA ISLAND

Julie Harland

Effie Arts Collective getting ready to leave its current home

Juli Harland: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

This is not the end of The Effie Arts Collective, but it is the end of this space, at least this version of it. With a moveout date in early May, April is shaping up to be a full and final run in the room that started it all.

The Effie itself came together through a mix of timing, instinct and community support. Effie owners Aaron Shufletoski, Kayly Erno and the late Drew McLean had previously been involved in a comedy show in the space and saw its potential. When McLean brought up the idea of The Effie to Shufletoski and Erno during the pandemic, the decision came quickly.

“We thought about it for 30 seconds,” Shufletoski said. “It’s a yes.”

From the beginning, the intention was to create a space for performers, particularly local artists. But the foundation of the project was just as important as the vision. The building itself is part of a housing co-op development, and the theatre component was always part of that plan.

“I think it’s important that we acknowledge that the only reason we were in the space to start with is Propolis, the housing cooperative that’s going up,” said Erno. “They wanted a theater in that space, and they were looking for someone to run a theater out of that space… they’ve given us awesome rent and they’ve been great landlords, and

they’re the reason we were able to make it happen.”

That support allowed The Effie to operate in ways that aren’t always possible for small venues. It was never designed to be profit-driven. Instead, it has always been a shared effort.

“No one was going to get rich out of this,” laughed Shufletoski. “The landlords are taking a hit, we take a hit, the artists take a hit, everybody… nobody can be greedy. And we all just were like, you know what, we’re in this to make the space happen, not to show shareholders giant profits.”

Over time, that approach has shaped the experience audiences have come to expect.

“I think what’s been cool is nobody has come to a bad show at the Effie,” Shufletoski continued. “They may not be the show that people expected, but we’ve just been continually amazed by people’s talents and their energy, their skill. I think the shows at the Effie have been honest shows as well. When there’s such an intimate little space — you’re there, and the fourth wall has really been removed.”

What began as a venue focused on local performers has also expanded well beyond Kamloops. Touring artists, including international acts, have increasingly included The Effie in their routes, adding to the diversity of performances while maintaining its local initiative.

“We’ve got performers from

Australia calling us up looking to book with us,” said Shufletoski.

Now, as the current space reaches its planned end, April will serve as a final showcase of what the venue has become.

Programming is packed throughout the month of April. The highlight will be a Hydra-style variety show on April 24 and 25, featuring a wide range of performers presenting short sets across multiple disciplines. The festival will include a mix of music, comedy, burlesque, drag, improv and experimental work. The event is designed as both a celebration of the venue and a preview of a future full Hydra festival in the fall, once the Effie gets settled into their new space, wherever that may be.

While this chapter is closing, The Effie itself is not.

“Nothing is 100 percent written in stone, but we have a space that we are actively working towards that would be really good for the North Shore,” Erno teased. And though the location may be changing, “The vision is still the same.”

The future brings change, growth and, of course, more amazing talent. In the immediate future, however, support remains straightforward.

“Come to shows,” Erno said.

As the final performances approach in the current space, the focus is on filling the room and celebrating all of the wonderful connections and sense of community that The Effie Arts Collective has been built.

Jackpot!isthestoryofayoungmanwhowins twomilliondollarsinaregionallotteryalong withhisco-workers.Everyoneisexciteduntilit isdiscoveredthathelostthewinningticket... WrittenbylocalauthorWayneHowardMonson, thisstoryissetinKamloopsandputsour communityinthelimelight. E-BookisavailableonlinefromAmazonBooks foronly$2.99USD*.JustscantheQRcode. *ActualpaymentisinequivalentCAD.

NIGHTLIFE

April 11 @ 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Nightshift on 5th: Over 30s Daytime Clubbing. An afternoon dance event featuring 80s and 90s club anthems, with a mix of early 2000s hits. The event is geared toward a 30+ crowd, with guests aged 25+ welcome. Last entry is at 6:00 pm, with ID required. A daytime alternative to traditional nightlife with a focus on nostalgia and familiar tracks.

MUSIC

April 17 @ 7:30 pm at The Effie Arts Collective: Garret T. Willie “Bill’s Café Tour.”

A live performance blending blues, rock, and roots influences with a strong focus on storytelling. Known for expressive vocals and guitar-driven arrangements, Garret T. Willie delivers a focused, intimate set in a small venue setting that emphasizes connection and live musicianship.

April 19 @ 7:00 pm at The Effie Arts Collective: Shaun Kirk Live. Australian blues and soul artist Shaun Kirk brings a high-energy performance built on intricate guitar work and dynamic stage presence. The set combines original material with rhythm-driven arrangements, offering a

polished live show that balances technical skill with audience engagement.

April 23 @ 12:00 pm at TRU Clocktower Alumni Theatre: Live at TRU Chamber Music Concert – “Mostly Baroque.”

A free one-hour concert presented by a volunteer committee featuring violin, viola, and classical guitar. The program highlights Baroque-era works performed by local musicians, including former KSO concertmaster Cvetozar Vutev. The midday format offers an accessible live music experience in an intimate campus setting.

April 25 @ 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church: Jazz Sweets. Presented by Chamber Musicians of Kamloops, composer and jazz pianist Karel Roessingh performs suites of well-known pieces and original compositions. The program connects selections through shared themes such as title, meter, key, or sentiment. Tickets are available online and at the door.

THEATRE

April 24 @ 7:30 pm at Paramount Theatre: Bound (1996) – Queer Film Series.

Part of a new Queer Film Series, this screening marks the 30th anniversary of the Wachowskis’ neo-noir thriller. Starring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon, the film follows an ex-con and a mobster’s girlfriend as they attempt to steal Mafia money. A stylish, character-driven feature presented in a theatre setting.

April 26 @ 6:00 pm at Sagebrush Theatre: Breaking Ground – 50 Years of Western Canada Theatre. A 70s-themed fundraising celebration featuring signature cocktails, food, live music, and a silent auction in the Sagebrush Lobby. The evening continues with a onenight-only concert showcasing highlights from past WCT productions, performed by local and returning artists. Tickets are $125, with a portion eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

COMEDY

April 16 @ 8:00 pm at The Effie Arts Collective: Open Mic Comedy. Hosted by Kamloops Comedy Society, this recurring event provides a platform for local comedians to test new material. The format includes short sets and a mix of emerging and experienced performers, with a focus on experimentation and audience interaction.

April 13 @ 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at The Stock Pot Café: Monthly Improv Comedy Jam. A casual, drop-in improv session featuring group games and audience participation. No experience is required, and participation is optional, with a focus on a relaxed and supportive environment. Entry is by donation. The format is informal, encouraging attendees to join in or observe while enjoying a light, community-driven comedy event.

DANCE

April 15 @ 7:00 pm at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre: Live Band Lindy. A social dance event featuring

swing-style partner dancing and live music. Open to all experience levels, the evening includes opportunities to learn, practice, and enjoy dancing in a structured but welcoming environment.

April 19 @ 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at St. Paul’s Cathedral: Kamloops Social Club Dance featuring The Journeymen. A live music dance event featuring a mix of country and rock and roll. Open to all, with a focus on social dancing in a welcoming, community setting. Admission is $15 at the door, with door prizes included.

ART

April 19 @ 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Kamloops Art Gallery: Pleasure Viewing –An Embodied Approach to Viewing Art. A guided movement-based workshop inviting participants to engage with artwork through embodied practice. Led by dancer and facilitator Vanessa A. Woulfe, the session explores connection between physical sensation and visual experience within Rajni Perera’s exhibition Futures. Open to ages 16 and up, with pay-what-you-can registration available.

LITERATURE

April 11 @ 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Chapters: Book Signing with George M. Johnson and Dawn Burn. Award-winning author George M. Johnson and illustrator Dawn Burn will sign copies of their new picture book, Pinky’s Moving Story, inspired by the

relocation of a Nicola Street house in Kamloops. Additional community-based titles will also be available.

April 23 @ 1:00 pm at North Kamloops Library: Book Club. A recurring daytime book club hosted by the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library. The session includes guided discussion of a selected title, encouraging shared interpretation and conversation in an accessible group setting.

COMMUNITY

April 5 @ 10:00 am at McArthur Island and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Riverside Park: Easter Drive and Vintage Car Show. Hosted by the Kamloops Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada, vehicles stage at McArthur Island before departing mid-morning. Cars arrive at Riverside Park for public viewing, with coffee and cookies available by donation.

April 18 @ 10:00 am at Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism: Chris Rose Walk for Autism. The 15th annual walk begins with registration at 10:00 am, followed by a warm-up and a community walk to McArthur Island and back. The event supports programs and services for children, youth, and adults through the Centre. Food will be available for purchase, with proceeds donated back. Registration is by donation, with a minimum contribution for a T-shirt.

PLEASE NOTE: Events are listed for the upcoming calendar month and beyond, but due to limited space, priority is given to events occurring closest to the publishing date of the current issue. Event listings are free of charge and can be sent by email to events@kamloopschronicle.com

Please ensure your event is submitted by the 20th of the previous month

SPORTS

National record in reach for star swimmer Wittal

Marty

Hastings: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Mia Wittal is among the most promising athletes in Kamloops, pool pedigree and wunderkind status undeniable after results in January and February.

“She has so much potential,” Kamloops Classic Swimming head coach Shane Downey said. “I feel like we’re just starting to scratch the surface.”

Wittal, 12, set a provincial long course record in the 11and 12-year-old girls’ division in January in Kelowna, posting a time of 28.67 seconds in the 50-metre butterfly.

The national record is held by generational talent and three-time Olympic champion Summer McIntosh — and Wittal is within fingertips of catching her.

McIntosh (28.64 seconds) holds the Canadian 50m fly record in the division, with a .03-second lead on second-place Wittal.

The Kamloops swimmer has until May 12 — the date on which she graduates from the age group — to catch McIntosh and is aiming to track her down at a meet in April in Kamloops.

“I think it would show me that I can make it to the

MARTY HASTINGS

The Tattle of Hastings

Olympics,” Wittal said of setting the national record.

“That’s my dream, so beating Summer McIntosh’s time could be a dream come true.”

Updating the Classics’ wall of records at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre is becoming tedious work.

Wittal set eight club marks and won nine medals – six gold, two silver and one bronze – at the Provincial Winter Swimming Championships in March in Victoria.

“I think it was the determination and dedication to the sport,” Wittal said when asked what pushed her to the medal haul. “I did not have any really good [preliminary] swims in the morning, but at night I wanted to win and I came out really happy.”

Wittal won gold in the 50m and 100m butterfly, gold in the

200m backstroke, gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle, gold in the 200m individual medley, silver in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m freestyle.

She trains about 11 times per week — nine practices in the pool and two dry-land sessions — and boasts natural gifts to augment work ethic.

“She’s got a fantastic swimmer’s build,” Downey said.

“She’s taller for her age (about 5-foot-7) and, hopefully, there’s a little bit more to come (her father is 6-foot-7). That really helps with her overall wingspan, getting that good, long and strong catch.”

Wittal, Molly Brookes, Ryder Crichton (who set one club record in his age group), Maci Dixon, Quinn Meredith (who posted PBs in each of his three events), Sawyer Nabozniak, Elise Percy, Tenley Post and Dylan Steele of the Classics were among the nearly 700 swimmers in action at provincials.

They combined to tally 20 finals swims and 34 personal-best times.

“Our club did great,” Wittal said. “I think the future can be more people medalling, more people making finals, hopefully doubling the amount of people we had at provincials.”

Together We Tell Our Story

YOUR SUPPORT KEEPS LOCAL NEWS ALIVE

The Kamloops Chronicle represents a collaborative effort on behalf of our community in sustaining local journalism. Your support will help us continue to tell our community’s stories, whether it’s an occasional or regular donation. So many readers have expressed how happy they are to have a local newspaper again. Let’s keep the pages rolling off the press. Please scan the QR code; send donation cheques made out to the “Kamloops Local News Society” and send to: PO Box 814, Main Post Office, Kamloops, BC V2C 5M8 or visit: kamloopschronicle.com

OBITUARY

Debbie Ann Woodd

November 15, 1960 - February 28, 2026

volunteered with the ski rescue patrol team over several seasons.

She made her living as a hair stylist and shortly after buying her little bungalow home, opened and operated her own shop on the upper level for close to 15 years.

IN LOVING MEMORY

Aaron Manson

September 13, 1994 - April 26, 2021

She was the youngest of our mother’s 9 children. She was our little sister.

Over the past 16 years she battled leukemia (a life changing disease) with its many side effects. She was a warrior never giving in, but her struggles came to an end when she passed away in her sleep on Feb 28, 2026. This was the end she had hoped for.

At the age of 10 she moved with the family to Kamloops where she lived, worked, and played for the rest of her days.

In school she was active in field sports (what else could she do with those long legs?). She enjoyed camping, hiking, and biking, but downhill skiing was her recreation of choice. She was exceptionally good at it and

She took mega pride in her home along with the backyard garden which she built and planted with her own hands. It became a sanctuary for relaxing and recharging where one could sit in the summer amongst the lush green of ferns and hosta with the fragrance of lilies in the air. She is survived by her son Curtis Parsons and 7 remaining siblings with a multitude of family including great great nieces & nephews spread throughout BC, Alberta & Ontario.

Our sister suffered more than most, and we are glad she is finally at peace. Rest now Debbie your battle is done; relax in your garden amongst the flowers and sunshine.

“A sister is both your mirror and your opposite, losing her feels like you lose a piece of yourself.”

To honour her wishes, her ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony and there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Aaron Manson is deeply loved and profoundly missed by his family— his parents, Bart and Troylana, and his older brother, Levi—as well as his grandmothers, and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is also remembered by the many friends and community members whose lives he touched.

Aaron was 26 when his life ended due to the toxic drug supply. He was in his third year of a BBA at Thompson Rivers University, studying Human Resources. Thoughtful, curious, and incredibly determined, Aaron had a natural ability to connect with people. His warmth, humour, and sincerity drew others in, leaving a lasting impression on those around him.

As a family, we carry Aaron with us in everyday moments—in stories that surface unexpectedly and in the quiet ways memories return. After his passing, we travelled to Europe together, honouring him in places he had dreamed of seeing. Along the way, we learned that grief and love can exist side by side, even in the smallest steps forward.

April 26th of this year, 2026,

marks five years since Aaron’s death. Time has moved forward, but the loss remains a constant presence; so too does the love that surround our memories of him. That love continues to shape how we gather, how we speak, and how we advocate.

Through Aaron Manson’s “Be Brave” Memorial Award At TRU and ongoing community work, we honour his life by supporting conversations around mental health, substance use, and the realities families face today.

Grief does not move in straight lines. It settles, shifts, and returns. Aaron’s Aunty Dana captured this experience beautifully:

Grief Is Like Glitter

Grief is like glitter— quiet, persistent. You sweep it away, yet it finds new places to rest. It appears when you least expect it, in pauses, in memories that rise without warning.

This is the turning we all learn to live with.

Let it settle.

And when it catches the light again, hold the moment gently— remember what was beautiful. That steady thrum you feel inside is not the ache alone, but love still finding its way home.

Aaron’s life mattered. His story matters. In remembering him, we are reminded of the importance of connection, compassion, and caring for one another—openly and without judgment.

Local News, Local Impact

Your Support Keeps The Kamloops Chronicle Going!

Debbie Ann Woodd was born Nov 15, 1960, in New Westminster, BC to Elizabeth and Alfred Woodd.

April 18 @ 5:30 pm at Colombo Lodge: Spring Fling Dinner and Dance. A fundraiser sponsored by Excel Industries featuring cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Dinner begins at 7:00 pm, with ticket proceeds supporting local initiatives. Cocktail attire is encouraged, with wine included per table.

April 25 @ 2:00 pm at Kamloops Library: Helping Your Loved Ones Drink Less. An afternoon of discussion and support featuring author Maureen Palmer and a panel including Dr. Rachel Cook and Dr. Silvina Mema. The event includes audience Q&A and free alcohol-free mocktails as part of Alcohol Awareness Month.

April 25 @ 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at 422 Tranquille Road: Community Splash Event. Hosted by Propolis Housing Cooperative, this drop-in community art event invites participants to paint, share memories, and mark the final days of the building before redevelopment. All ages are welcome to contribute to the space and learn about the co-operative housing project planned for the site. Bring your own brush and drop in anytime.

BUSINESS

April 14 @ 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Open Door Group: NSBIA April Mixer. An afternoon networking event hosted by the North Shore Business Improvement Association, bringing together local business owners and community members. The event features catering from Spice India Cuisine, opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, and door prizes donated by NSBIA members. RSVP is requested in advance.

April 19 @ 4:00 pm at Paramount Theatre: Film Industry Networking Event

An evening for filmmakers and creatives featuring guest speakers Doryan Mash of Actsafe Safety Association, Kamloops Film Society producer Ana Monteiro, and programming manager Sam Theriault. Topics include on-set safety, festival production, and navigating film festivals. The event includes discussion and opportunities to connect with others in the local film community.

SPORTS

April 26 @ 8:00 am at Kamloops Bike Ranch: Dirty Feet Trail Races. A spring trail running event offering 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km distances through Kamloops grasslands. The course features single-track trails, rolling terrain, and rocky sections, with views of the Thompson River valley and surrounding sagebrush landscape. The event is open to a range of experience levels, from recreational runners to more competitive participants.

April 28 @ 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm, and May 2 @ 8:00 am and 9:30 am at Riverside Park: Dragon Boat “Give It a Try” Sessions. Hosted by the Kamloops Interior Dragons team, these free sessions invite adults aged 50 and older to experience dragon boating. All equipment is provided, with multiple session times available.

May 9 @ 10:00 am and 1:00 pm at McArthur Island Lawn Bowling Green: Try Lawn Bowling – Free. A dropin introduction to lawn bowling, a low-impact sport similar to bocce or curling. Open to all experience levels, with a focus on accessibility, fresh air, and social play.

Kamloops Chronicle - April 2026

CITY PAGE

Council Calendar

Council Meeting Recap

E-Scooter and E-Bike

Mythbusting Edition

Report an issue

Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

Clean the Beach Community Event

It’s Bear Smart Season—Care About Bears

Mayor fails in bid to halt major capital projects

Sean Brady: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com

Police ID 7-Eleven shooting victim

25 A23

HOW TO REACH US

Parents weigh in on SD73 budget consultation

Teaching Your Kids About Money

Province expands cancer benefits for firefighters

Understand Your Bible

Remembering Basil “Buzz” Morissette

Tranquille shelter subject of upcoming public meeting

Boogie returns with a celebration of movement and community

participants of all abilities to walk, run and ‘boogie’ together this spring

MEET OUR TEAM

US

OPINION

An open letter to Peter Milobar

Will ‘No incumbents

An Apology

Good News

HISTORY

BC Penitentiary exhibit on at Old Courthouse

Schedule A

Rallying for trans rights

Fundraiser sounds ‘red alert’ over cardiac care

Third-party operator sought for school child care

Campus/community station CFBX turns 25

DESSERTS BREAKFAST

BURGERS SANDWICHES SPECIAL EVENTS

SALADS

DRINKS

Concern over autism funding

The only one in the room who was not somewhere else

AMY TUCKER

Welcoming Wellness

Try It Days May 2 & 3

OBITUARY

Elizabeth Thea Russell 1944 - 2026

Spring soil prep: The key to a thriving garden

Borrowing from the army: Super-size your walking

Cat café opens doors and hearts in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS’ BEST MARTIAL ARTS!

Teaching Black Belt Excellence Since 1997.

Effie Arts Collective getting ready to leave its current home

NIGHTLIFE

MUSIC

THEATRE

COMEDY

DANCE

ART

LITERATURE

COMMUNITY

SPORTS

National record in reach for star swimmer Wittal

MARTY HASTINGS

Together We Tell Our Story

YOUR SUPPORT KEEPS LOCAL NEWS ALIVE

Debbie Ann Woodd

IN LOVING MEMORY

Aaron Manson

Local News, Local Impact

BUSINESS

SPORTS

SYSTEM COSTS