Josh Cowen, a Fire and Life Safety Educator with Kamloops Fire and Rescue, shows Westsyde homeowner Paul Patterson the dangers associated with cedar hedges. Even healthy cedars have dead debris inside, which poses significant risk in the event of wildfires. Embers can turn cedars into flaming torches in seconds.
The question looms large in the face of another potentially difficult wildfire season
Robert Koopmans: Submitted
As spring moves toward summer, Kamloops residents are once again faced by a question that now looms over the interior of B.C. year after year — what will the wildfire season bring?
And more importantly, will we be ready if devastating fire strikes in the way it has in so many B.C. towns and cities in recent years?
Mike Flannigan, a wildfire scientist at Thompson Rivers University, said as in any year, what happens with wildfires will depend on two factors.
“No one knows the future. It will depend on day-to-day weather and on ignitions, whether from lightning or people. Those will really determine what the season looks like,” he said.
In the interior, conditions underlying this summer’s wildfire season forecast are concerning but there
have been years when things looked worse, Flannigan said.
The Thompson region is well below normal for snowpack and valley bottoms were largely snow-free through the winter. Water levels in reservoirs and rivers are lower than usual. The long-range forecast suggests a warmer than usual summer.
CITY PAGE
Council Calendar
June 2, 2026
10:00 am - Committee of the Whole
June 9, 2026
1:30 pm - Regular Meeting
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June 23, 2026
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Start learning at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/LetsLearn
Upcoming Events
June 11–July 19, 2026
Viewing Parties for FIFA World Cup 2026™
June 12, 2026
Pride Open House
Community Celebrations for FIFA World Cup 2026™
June 24, 2026
Community Celebrations for FIFA World Cup 2026™
July 1, 2026
Canada Day at Riverside Park
July 1–August 31, 2026
City of Kamloops Music in the Park Kamloops.ca/Events
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• Call 250-828-3461
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Take the Pledge to Help Keep Kamloops Safe for Bears and People.
Kamloops is proud to be a Bear Smart Community. By taking the Bear Smart Champion pledge, you’re committing to help reduce human-bear conflict and keep both people and bears safe.
• Take the pledge between April 1 and November 30 (Bear Smart season).
• Show your commitment to maintaining a safe, bear-friendly community.
• Participants will receive a Bear Smart Champion sticker and be entered in a draw to win a Yeti cooler.
CAREABOUTBEARS
To learn more, visit Kamloops.ca/BearSmart
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Council 101
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Civics 101
Learn how budgeting, services, law, long-term plans, and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act rules shape decisions.
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Understanding the City’s approach to community safety.
Housing and Homelessness
Insights into current issues to help residents understand the challenges and efforts underway.
Property Tax and Home Owner Grant Deadline Approaching!
The property tax and Home Owner Grant deadline is Thursday, July 2. A 10% penalty will be applied to all outstanding balances on July 3, 2026. Avoid penalties and pay using any of these options:
• Through your financial institution’s online banking platform or at Kamloops.ca/Payment
• In person at City Hall or the Tournament Capital Centre.
• Putting a cheque in a drop box at the Tournament Capital Centre, Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre, the North Shore Community Policing Office, or City Hall.
To claim your Home Owner Grant visit: Gov.BC.ca/HomeOwnerGrant or call 1-888-355-2700.
For more information, visit Kamloops.ca/PropertyTaxes
St. Andrew’s on the Square
It’s open! The City is pleased to welcome the community back to St. Andrew’s on the Square following extensive restoration work. The newly restored interior combines historic character with modern upgrades, offering a gorgeous and charming space for your next event.
Learn more about the restoration, the facility, and how you can book the space at Kamloops.ca/StAndrews.
Japanese Beetle
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) have been detected in Kamloops. This beetle poses a risk to lawns, parks, green spaces, and agriculture.
Learn more, including what you can do to help prevent the spread, at Kamloops.ca/JapaneseBeetle.
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Celebrating four-and-a-half decades of culture
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Head coach Riley Jepson steers team towards success
Kamloops city council discusses housing support for women, data centers, and community initiatives
tion of a new apartment building for women and children who have experienced domestic violence.
Kamloops City Council voted 8–1 to support a coordinated policy framework for AI and data centres.
During the debate, Councillor Hall questioned what benefits largescale data centres would provide to residents.
“What do we benefit as a community?” Hall asked, arguing that municipalities should receive meaningful economic and community benefits from future developments.
“As a community, we have to get a bit more savvy so we get more than just a data centre,” he added.
Let’s Talk Kamloops Website Aims to Address Misinformation
The City of Kamloops drew attention to their website called Let’s Talk Kamloops that is designed to provide residents with accurate information on topics that frequently confuse within the community.
The website explains issues such as development cost charges, local government processes, and public safety and security concerns.
From exploring regulations for AI and data centres to supporting women survivors of domestic violence, the Kamloops City Council addressed a wide range of issues during its May 26 meeting.
Council also reviewed the new Let’s Learn Kamloops webpage, designed to address misinformation and improve communication with residents, as well as a partnership with Kamloops Pride to host a future Pride event.
New Bylaw Supports Housing Project for Women and Children Affected by Domestic Violence
Kamloops City Council unanimously approved the construc-
The project, located at 871 and 873 Westminster Avenue, will consist of a 30-unit rental building, including 15 three-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, and 5 one-bedroom units.
The building will be owned by the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation and operated by the Elizabeth Fry Society.
According to the non-profit organization, residents will receive longterm support services while working toward securing independent housing. Council’s committee voted unanimously in favour of the project.
Council Supports Development of AI and Data Centre Policy Framework
Councillors Nancy Bepple and Dale Bass brought forward the motion, which calls on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to advocate for a national framework addressing the impacts of data centres.
“There is a lack of national standards, intergovernmental coordination mechanisms, or municipal tools related to the impact of data centres,” Bepple said during the discussion. “Therefore, be it resolved that Council request the Federation of Canadian Municipalities advocate to the Federal Government for the development of a coordinated policy framework respecting data centres.”
The proposed framework would examine issues such as zoning, taxation, and infrastructure impacts associated with data centre development.
ONE & TWO BEDROOM UNITS
City officials said the platform is intended to improve transparency and help residents better understand how municipal decisions are made.
The website also allows members of the public to submit suggestions and feedback, allowing residents to contribute to future discussions and city initiatives.
City Partners with Kamloops Pride for Community Event
The City of Kamloops and Kamloops Pride are partnering to host a Pride Open House on June 12 at the Sandman Centre.
The event is intended to promote inclusion, celebrate diversity, and provide an opportunity for community members to connect in a welcoming environment.
Santiago Rojas: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
Investigation continues in suspicious school portable fire in Sahali
Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
More than a month after a suspicious fire destroyed a school portable on Arrowstone Drive, Kamloops RCMP say the investigation remains active as School District 73 continues working through insurance and replacement plans.
The April 22 blaze at Sa-Hali secondary, which broke out at approximately 2 a.m., completely destroyed a portable classroom used for physical education classes. Kamloops Fire Rescue was able to contain the fire before it spread to nearby school buildings.
In the weeks since the incident, stu-
dents and staff have adjusted with minimal disruption.
Kamloops-Thompson School District spokesperson Chelsea Isenor said classes that had been using the portable were quickly moved into other available spaces within the school, allowing programming to continue while longer-term plans are developed.
The damaged structure has not yet been replaced. Current efforts are focused on working with insurance adjusters to coordinate demolition and removal of the fire-damaged portable before replacement discussions move ahead, said Isenor.
Meanwhile, Kamloops RCMP’s General Investigation Support Team,
alongside Kamloops Fire Rescue investigators, continues to examine the cause and origin of the fire.
Police have previously described the blaze as suspicious and are still encouraging residents in the surrounding neighbourhood to check security or surveillance footage from the early morning hours before the fire.
“As we actively investigate, we will continue to work closely with School District 73 and KFR to learn more about this incident,” said Cpl. Dana Napier, spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP Detachment.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-8283000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
RCMP continue to investigate trio of homicides
Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
Kamloops RCMP say a fatal early-morning shoot-
Where friendships flourish
ing on Columbia Street remains under active investigation, marking the city’s third homicide case of 2026 as police continue probing what they believe was a targeted attack.
Mounties were called to the 200-block of Columbia Street between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Tuesday May 5 following reports of gunfire. In a release, police confirmed one person died and that evidence gathered so far suggests the homicide was not random.
“Evidence currently available to investigators is indicative of a targeted incident,” RCMP stated.
Although Mounties confirmed raids at homes on
McQueen Drive and Surrey Avenue about a week after the killing were connected to the homicide, few additional details have been released as officers piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area during the early morning hours, or who may have surveillance or dashcam footage, to contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.
The death follows two other homicide investigations in Kamloops this year.
In January, police launched a homicide probe after Muhammad “Ash” Zafar was found dead inside a West End resi-
dence on Dalgleish Drive. Investigators said that case appeared isolated, with no broader public safety risk identified at the time, but later recanted that statement.
Then in March, Emmanuel “Manny” Brooks died after a targeted downtown shooting near Seymour Street, another case that raised concerns about crime in the city’s core.
With three homicide investigations underway in just over four months, Kamloops has seen a troubling start to the year, as police continue efforts to address targeted incidents across the community.
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Conditions ripe for intense wildfire season
Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
June rainfall could determine whether British Columbia avoids another severe wildfire season, according to a provincial fire information officer who says drought conditions remain a growing concern across the Kamloops Fire Centre.
Emelie Peacock told the Chronicle the overall severity of the 2026 wildfire season will largely depend on how much sustained rain arrives through June, noting long-range precipitation forecasts remain unreliable beyond about a week.
“Essentially, we’re really looking at June and hoping that June will bring us that consistent rain over time,” Peacock said.
She pointed out the last 20 years have trended toward warmer-than-normal summers and longer, more intense fire seasons, with the 2026 wildfire season predicted to be no different.
“Over the last decade, seven of our 10 biggest fire seasons have happened,” Peacock said.
“Temperature increasing and hectares burned increasing, it’s a steady upward trend of both of those.”
The B.C. Wildfire Service released its seasonal outlook earlier this spring and, while it examines the province as a whole, it also includes significant detail for the Kamloops Fire Centre.
According to the report, moderate drought conditions continue to be a concern across much of the region following a notably dry summer in 2025. Peacock said elevated droughtcode values, which measure deep moisture levels in forest fuels such as dense organic material and large logs, remain a concern heading into spring. High drought-code values are associated with more intense fires.
The South Thompson region is specifically identified as one of several areas expected to carry elevated drought conditions into the 2026 season, even if normal spring precipitation
arrives, the report stated.
Peacock said warm and dry conditions at the start of the year, along with a very hot and dry start to May, have contributed to these drought conditions. There have been periods of cooler weather and rain, with more on the way for early June, but those patterns have not been sustained for long periods.
Another major concern for the Interior is snowpack. Higher-than-normal winter freezing levels resulted in record-low snow accumulation at valley bottoms throughout parts of the Thompson region and Okanagan. Peacock said those conditions increase the likelihood of early-season grass fires as warm, dry weather develops.
“That’s another factor that we’re looking at going into the season ahead,” she said.
“It’s been very anomalously dry, especially in those areas where, unless you’re hiking up into the alpine, the places where most folks live have certainly been snow-free pretty much all winter long.”
The report also highlighted unusually warm winter conditions across B.C., including parts of the Interior. Several communities experienced one of the warmest winters on record dating back to the late 1800s, with January and February both warmer and drier than normal.
Elsewhere in the province, multi-year drought conditions continue to be a concern in northeastern B.C., while western portions of the Cariboo Fire Centre, including the Chilcotin, also remain under moderate drought conditions heading into the season, the report revealed.
Forecasters say larger climate patterns may also shape the summer ahead. The Pacific is currently transitioning away from La Niña conditions, with seasonal models suggesting a possible shift toward El Niño by mid-summer. While El Niño often increases the likelihood of warmer weather, the wildfire service noted the relationship between El Niño and wildfire activity in Western Canada remains unclear.
Preparation can mitigate forest fire impacts
“I think our problems are going to be in the typical mid-July through August
window. And if this El Niño kicks in, it could produce a warm fall, so fire season could go well into
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September. Maybe not as severe a year as 2021 or 2023, but the potential’s there.
“And things could get a lot worse — a hotter and drier pattern than what we’re projecting would make for a horrendous year, and that’s not off the table. But the starting point isn’t as bad as some other years,” Flannigan said.
Flannigan said he sees increasing interest from many people and organizations about seasonal wildfire forecasts, thanks to the extensive fires B.C. has experienced in recent years. More area has burned in B.C. from 2017 to 2025 than from 1950 to 2016. The top six fire years have all been since 2017.
“There’s been more fire, and more impactful fire. Jasper, Lytton, Fort McMurray, Slave Lake, West Kelowna. There’s been a lot of fire in BC since 2017. That was a record-breaking year, then 2018 broke that record, then 2021 — the heat event, 49.6 degrees in Lytton, and the town essentially burned down.
“Fire is definitely on people’s radar,” he said.
Flannigan hopes increased awareness translates to action, noting that preparation is one way to mitigate impacts related to forest fire. From FireSmarting properties to actively planning and preparing for evacuation ahead of time, there is much citizens can do to protect themselves, their families and their properties.
The answers to questions about how prepared a community actually might be in the face of crisis are both simple and complicated at the same time, and often
depend on how disaster arrives. There are two kinds of threat that emergency planners must account for, and they demand very different things from both government and the public.
The first kind gives warning and time, Flannigan noted, such as a wildfire burning in distant terrain and moving slowly toward a community, or a river rising over days toward potential flooding. Planners can coordinate, first responders can prepare, and residents can get ready to act.
Flannigan said the second kind of threat arrives without notice, such as a lightning strike on a hot evening sparking an intense wildfire close to homes, or when an already burning fire displays unexpected behaviour in the face of high winds. What happens next requires the best of emergency planning and preparation and a keen awareness on the part of all about what needs to happen. It is in these kinds of situations that events have the greatest potential to cause devastating harm.
On July 1, 2021, an evening lightning strike near homes in Juniper Ridge sparked an instant wildfire. It had been hot and dry, with a record “heat dome” pushing temperatures to 48C. Flames quickly spread beyond the strike zone and black smoke rose ominously.
City fire crews were fast on scene, and an evacuation order was issued for part of the neighbourhood nearest the flames because there was an immediate risk to a
number of homes.
Juniper Ridge residents, however, seeing both flames and smoke and hearing from neighbours and or on social media posts from friends and family that they needed to get out clogged the only route out of the neighbourhood.
Many were stuck in vehicles for more than two hours in a slow-moving chain while others in 4x4 trucks pushed through locked gates on an unpaved pipeline road exit the area. It was chaotic and frenzied, leaving the neighbourhood alarmed and calling for change.
Had that fire spread more aggressively or if city fire crews had not been able to contain the flames quickly, that long line of vehicles trying to escape could have proved a deadly trap.
Flannigan pointed to other countries that also suffer intense fires, including Australia and the U.S., noting wildfires in California and in Hawaii in recent years have turned deadly, causing significant loss of life.
“The question is really — are we good, or have we been fortunate? I think it’s a combination of both. I want to give credit to Kamloops Fire and Rescue. They are well trained to deal with brush fires and urban interface fires, and that helps a great deal.
“But have we been dodging bullets, and is one coming for us? Possibly. We are in a high-risk location, and (devastating fire) is a possibility we’d better be prepared for.”
Much work underway as city prepares for wildfires in 2026
Robert Koopmans: Submitted
Kamloops officials are using lessons both from the past and from other places to improve the city’s ability to respond quickly and effectively in the face of crisis.
A report to city council in May outlined the efforts underway in Kamloops to prepare for natural disasters and events of all kinds, from extreme temperatures to drought, floods, and fires.
In a memorandum, Emergency Services Manager Ty Helgason wrote the city is well aware of Kamloops’s position inside one of B.C.’s highest wildfire-risk geo-climatic zones, and is actively working to strengthen its readiness on multiple fronts ahead of the 2026 season.
The report notes that Kamloops benefits from having a BC Wildfire Service zone office within the city — an advantage most Interior communities do not have — providing ready access to ground and air resources and enabling ongoing joint training with Kamloops Fire Rescue.
The department also maintains a specialized structure protection trailer equipped with sprinkler systems designed to increase localized humidity around buildings and reduce the chance of ember ignition during a wildfire event.
On evacuation planning, officials are developing a city-wide framework that divides Kamloops into specific zones, each with its own operational playbook covering notification, movement of vulnerable residents, transit coordination, and links to regional partners.
The work gives priority to neighbourhoods with higher risk and limited access — the kinds of areas where confusion proved costly on the evening of the Juniper fire. The project is still in development.
Since 2021, the city has also paved three emergency access routes into Juniper Ridge, adding options that did not exist when residents jammed the single road out. Last year, it invited Juniper Ridge residents to take self-guided, escorted tours of those routes while conditions were calm — a deliberate effort to make the exit familiar before it becomes urgent.
The FireSmart program has grown steadily, Helgason noted. More than 265 home assessments were completed in 2025, driven in part by new financial incentives. The Community Fuel Reduction program provided rebates to residents
“Kamloops benefits from having a BC Wildfire Service zone office within the city — an advantage most Interior communities do not have — providing ready access to ground and air resources and enabling ongoing joint training with Kamloops Fire Rescue.”
who removed high-risk vegetation near their homes.
A new Home Improvement Rebate program offering up to $1,000 for fire-resistant roofing, siding, and venting launched this past March. The city, working with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the BC Wildfire Service, completed an eight-acre prescribed burn in the Rose Hill area last year — fuel reduction work at the urban edge of one of the city’s higher-risk neighbourhoods.
As well, the city’s emergency notification system, Voyent Alert, sent more than 42,000 notifications to Kamloops residents in 2025. Registered users totalled 29,379 at year’s end, a 3.1 percent increase over 2024, though representing roughly 30 percent of the city’s total population.
The memo also notes the city completed an after-action review in early March of its host community operations from September 2025, when Kamloops took in residents displaced by fires elsewhere in the Interior. The final report is still in development, but its stated purpose — identifying strengths, gaps, and where service delivery can improve — reflects a practice the city has committed to after each major activation.
On the coordination side, emergency preparedness staff re-engaged the Social Response Task Force in spring 2026, a body facilitated by United Way BC that works to clarify roles between the social sector and Emergency Support Services during a crisis.
“The City continues to apply best practices learned from other jurisdictions that have experienced large-scale disasters and complex recoveries,” Helgason noted in the memo.
Emergency prep resources for Kamloops and area residents
GET INTO THE ALERT SYSTEM
Voyent Alert is the City of Kamloops and TNRD’s primary emergency notification system, delivering alerts by app, text message, voice call, or email. No smartphone is requ ired. Registration is free. Find the app on your devices App Store or Google Play.
City of Kamloops: kamloops.ca/public-safety/emergency-management/emergency-preparedness/emergency-alerts-orders
Thompson-Nicola Regional District : tnrd.ca/services/emergency-services/emergency-preparedness/emergency-alerts
Register by phone: call the city at 250-828-3472
MONITOR CONDITIONS
BC Wildfire Service publishes current fire locations, danger ratings, evacuation orders and alerts, smoke forecasts, and burn prohibitions. Danger ratings are updated daily at approximately 2 p.m.
Website and interactive map: wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca
Free app: search “BC Wildfire Service” in the App Store or Google Play
TRU Fire Weather Outlook — Wildfire scientist Mike Flannigan publishes a five-to-10-day national fire weather outlook every Tuesday throughout the season tru.ca/wildfire
REGISTER FOR EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES BEFORE YOU NEED THEM
BC Emergency Support Services (ESS) provides food, lodging, clothing, and other assistance to evacuees. Pre-registration allows the province to verify your identity and deliver financial support by Interac e-transfer without requiring a visit to a reception centre. Registration can take up to two weeks.
Register: ess.gov.bc.ca
BC Evacuee Helpline (in an emergency): 1-800-387-4258
BC Services Card app: download and verify your identity in advance; this is required to access e-transfer supports if you are evacuated
PREPARE YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY
FireSmart — Free home assessments are available from Kamloops Fire and Rescue. Rebate programs cover vegetation removal and fire-resistant home improvements. Book an assessment:
City of Kamloops: kamloops.ca/public-safety/emergency-management/ wildfire-interface-fires/firesmart or call 250-828-3472
Essential items: identification documents, medications with prescription copies, phone charger, cash, three days of food and water, pet supplies if needed.
Toni Vuteva LAWYER
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: Anna Montaner, Juli Harland, Jason Hewlett, Marty Hastings, Mel Rothenburger, Radhika Tabrez, Amy Tucker, Valerie Boyda, Robert Koopmans
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Kamloops, BC V2C 5M8
OPINION
How we can end homelessness in Kamloops
Ok, I hate to begin this column with a disclaimer. But you need to know this before you read further.
Here it is: No community will ever end homelessness forever.
Still, the title of this column remains appropriate. It is easy to get stuck in the problem here — homelessness often seems to breed helplessness. But there are proven strategies to achieve what experts call “functional zero” homelessness — homelessness that is a brief, rare, and a one-time occurrence.
I feel fortunate to have worked on several initiatives over the past 20 years to help Kamloops achieve “functional zero”. This work has definitely had its ups and downs. In 2017, for example, I served on a city council that was able
to help facilitate the relatively quick construction of 100s of social housing units through modular construction — a big win. One of these buildings, on West Victoria St, quickly became a lightning rod for concerns about crime and social disorder — a big challenge.
Economic times got harder, the toxic drug crisis became more severe, and community concerns ramped up in a big way. There seems to be more people living rough on the streets than ever.
An incredibly powerful and useful experience for me in seeking solutions has been meeting people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have been experienced homelessness in the past. In the past two years, I’ve gotten a lot of advice and insight from my
info@kamloopschronicle.com (250) 377-1797
friend Murray Love. I got his permission to use his name and share some of his thoughts here.
Murray was living in a tent when we first met, and he has been a vocal advocate for solutions to homelessness. He thankfully now has housing and continues to advocate.
How are you liking those
How do you like parking in downtown Kamloops these days? You’ve probably noticed you’re paying more than you used to.
As of June 1, and as part of a long-term plan, both on-street rates and fines have increased substantially. The rate for the first two hours is now $1.50 per hour, which doubles to $3 for the third (and maximum) hour. That’s up from $1.25 and $2.50.
Enforcement now runs from 8 a.m. (instead of 9 a.m.) to 6 p.m. Fines for parking too long have soared all the way to $80 (or $40 if paid within 24 hours) from the previous $40 and $10. Whether or not we agree with these changes, there’s some logic at work.
Supposedly, parking rates and fines are an incentive to keep people from parking in one space for too long. Force them via their wallets to move along, and a spot opens up for someone else.
Regardless of that philosophy, these increases will not endear
MEL
ROTHENBURGER
Armchair Mayor
City Hall to taxpayers who felt they were already paying enough. But let’s consider the bright side — the new parking rates would have gone into effect more than a dozen years ago if City council had had its way.
That was around the time those awful kiosks replaced the old meters.
So why the delay? It’s been more than simple procrastination; it’s been fear around the council table of the political consequences.
I called Murray for his advice on this column. He shared that there isn’t one solution and services need to be tailored to different groups, or even different individuals, and he shared that we need more daytime centres for people currently unhoused.
Murray’s wisdom and experience match much of the reporting on successful strategies to achieve functional zero homelessness. First, we need more skilled outreach and support workers who can build trust with people experiencing homelessness. Second, we need to have a diverse range of robust services to support people - counselling, housing, mental health, substance use. When someone is ready to get help, we can’t offer only a wait list. Third, we need to remain
committed to supporting people over what is often a long journey, and support people in being committed to living their best lives.
Hugely important, we need to really ramp up efforts to mitigate potential negative impacts of any service for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness on neighboring homes and businesses. This would increase community support for such services drastically in my view.
The negative impacts cause a lot of concern, anger and fear in the community. This is completely understandable. We can, however, be part of the solutions. Just because I pay my taxes, it doesn’t give me a pass from being part of the solution. We need to own this difficult work together.
parking rates now?
At various times, the new rates have been favored but then kicked down the road for another day to let some future council deal with them. Meanwhile, the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association has flip flopped as the mood suits.
All the while, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on various iterations of parking-needs studies. Finally, after the past year spent working up the gumption to jack up the rates, the current council took the plunge at administration’s behest.
Coun. Mike O’Reilly, including back when he was heading up the KCBIA, once argued against raising the parking rates, saying lower rates would help attract more shoppers downtown. Big increases, he said, “didn’t make sense.” Indeed, he convinced council a few years ago to hold the line on rates.
Coun. Nancy Bepple has always held a different view — making it
more expensive to park downtown will encourage people to cycle, walk or take the bus, she believes. I’m not aware of any empirical evidence for either argument but it’s true that various studies have shown increasing rates and fines does encourage drivers not to overstay.
It’s all about cost-benefit analysis on the part of vehicle owners. Is it cheaper to “plug the meter” or to hope they don’t get caught often enough to make fines unbearable. Although on-street and offstreet parking charges and fines bring in some big money, City administration says costs are exceeding revenue. Maybe the new kiosks, a new app and the knowledge that these higher rates could have come a lot sooner, will keep people shopping downtown.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and former school board chair, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website.
Todd Sullivan Editor
Tom Dickinson Chair Arjun Singh Exec. Director
Kamloops Local News Society
ARJUN SINGH Stronger Bonds
Council lunches should support multiple caterers
Dear Editor:
First of all, I enjoy reading the Chronicle! Always some interesting articles and comments.
Re: Free meals for City Council, I’m not necessarily opposed, but I do think the catering should be spread around to help varied Kamloops restaurants and caterers. It shouldn’t just support friends of the council.
Next, Re: Anne Neave’s recipe, two of the main ingredients (the cheeses) come from cows! The whole point of her article was to shift to meatless, chicken, or fish dishes. Cheese defeats that purpose.
Joan Rathbone Kamloops
Opinions can also be shared over potluck lunches
Dear Editor:
I had to email you regarding your recent article on justifying council meals paid by taxpayers.
A few points:
The cost of meals is not just for council members — it also includes meals for senior management.
At one time the public was able to see the cost on the yearly SOFI Reports. Now it is a budget line item of approx $22,000 (according to director of finance in the 2024 budget). The only way to determine the expenditure is through an FOI.
Council members yearly salary is $52,000 plus expenses, plus TNRD salary of $18,000 plus expenses, plus stipends for TRDH board meetings.
Senior management salaries range from $195,000 to $300,000, plus expenses.
I understand your comnent on team building, growth of demands, however, with the salaries these staff / councillors earn, why can’t they pay / bring (potluck) meals. Any organization I have worked for in my career organized pot luck meals. Maybe at Christmas there was a staff party.
Differences of opinion can be shared over a meal / drinks, but that doesn’t have to be at the cost of taxpayers.
Councillors are elected to represent us and discuss issues with their colleagues. Again why is this at the expense of taxpayers, when we already pay their more than efficient salaries.
You asked, if we eliminate the free lunch, what replaces it?
Well, replace it with bringing your own lunch / organize pot lucks for team building. Donate the $22,000+ to the food bank, as the food bank assists 14,000 Kamloopsians (which could include city staff members that earn less than $75,000 and dont have their lunches paid for by the city).
Food for thought.
Stop Dismantling Canada’s Environmental and Climate Laws
Dear Editor:
I am appalled that the Carney government continues to dismantle federal environmental and climate legislation. Bills C-5 and C-15, which have already become law, give federal ministers the power to exempt some “nation-building” projects from environmental laws. It is worrisome that most Canadians don’t seem to fully understand the ramifications of these legislative changes.
Even worse, on May 8 the federal government quietly released a discussion paper regarding further deregulation of our environmental laws. The deadline for public feedback is June 7! Some of the proposed changes are: pre-approval of pipelines and other energy projects before environmental reviews, further weakening of protection for water bodies and fish habitat, and most egregious, allowing species at risk, such as the southern resident killer whales, to go extinct in order to ensure projects proceed. The Carney government intends to pass legislation related to this discussion paper before Parliament’s summer recess at the end of June.
One can only surmise that the federal government is attempting to rush through these changes to our environmental and climate protections before the public has a chance to respond. This is extremely undemocratic. It is also an afront to Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
Is our federal government using the crisis of Canada’s relationship with the US and general global instability as an excuse to advance the interests of greedy fossil fuel companies?
The current rollback of environmental and climate protections is a betrayal of public trust. Governments are responsible to look after the public interest. People need clean air, clean water and a safe climate for human health.
Ironically, the war in Iran seems to be accelerating the global transition away from oil and gas. Many countries are rapidly expanding solar and wind power in order to become less dependent on unreliable fossil fuels. The Carney government’s choice to further expand oil and gas production will leave us with stranded assets in the near future, with Canadian taxpayers holding the bill.
Steven Guilbeault’s recent resignation as MP should be a wake-up call for Canadians. Please write or phone your MP or the Prime Minister and tell them to stop dismantling Canada’s environmental and climate laws.
Aberdeen
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Okanagan apples, vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel kettle corn.
BANANA CRUNCH FRENCH TOAST (V)
pieces of Texas toast Cornflake crusted Texas toast, fresh bananas. Topped with powdered sugar.
ONION BAHJI (V)
Crispy onion pakora, spicy tomato jam
FREE Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows by Nestle with Breakfast
Still more to celebrate in Kamloops this month!
Thank you! - The Davis Wealth Management Team worked with Kamloops Daybreak Rotary to help raise $21,500 for our local YMCA. Funds raised through Daybreak Rotary’s Crabfest Dinner.
These funds will primarily be used to help both youth and family programs in Kamloops!
Huge Congratulations Brenda! - The Centre for Seniors Information (CSI Kamloops) is proud to announce the retirement of Brenda Prevost, founder and dedicated advocate for seniors in our community. Brenda has been an integral part of CSI Kamloops since its inception. Her vision, compassion, and commitment to supporting seniors have shaped the organization into the trusted community resource it is today.. Her retirement marks the end of an era at CSI Kamloops, but her legacy will live on in the programs, partnerships, and strong foundation she helped build.
Dr. Kim retires and highlights brain health experts!TRU Professor Emerita Dr. Kim Calder Stegemann (also known as the “Brain Lady”) retires after a renowned career helping people with their brain health. As she retires, she graciously showcases other local brain health experts in many different fields and disciplines. In a series of online videos she showcases Dr. Brock at Crux Chiropractic, Dr. Tamsyn at Summit Eyecare, Registered Clinical Counsellor Mijane Parker at Stable Roots Counselling and Neuropathy, Stephanie Schaub (Osteopathy) at Wild Roots Clinic, Registered Clinical Counsellor Tennille Phipps at Living Bridges Therapy Collective, and Dr. Florriann Fehr, co founder of the TRU Brain Health Coalition. Thank you so much Dr Kim for your incredible work and these pointers to others who now walk in your big footsteps.
Way to go and Good Luck Ellie!! - Ellie de Haan won her age category (16 and under 18) at the recent BC Highland
Good News
Dance Championships held in Coquitlam. She will represent BC at the Canadian championships to be held in Moncton, NB in July!
In support of Canadian Nurses! - Speaking of Coquitlam, the Chronicle’s printer Web Express is there, and we consider them part of the extended Kamloops family. Carl Turnbull, our Sales Rep, is joining his brother Andrew and Nephew Judah on a portion of a cross Canada bike ride to raise funds and awareness to support mental health for nurses. The ride honours Andrew and Carl’s mother, Debby, a registered nurse whose life changed dramatically after a workplace injury ended her nursing career and led to decades of mental health challenges. Donations can be made to the Canadian Nurses Foundation.
RED BRIDGE RAVEN Mural painted behind Vic Coffee shop downtown - “The RED BRIDGE RAVEN mural is very meaningful to me as a lifelong Kamloops resident,” says Kamloops artist Vaughn Warren. Warren painted the mural with renowned mural artist Archer, who is on a BC wide mural painting tour. “It was an opportunity to create something that helps me grieve for the Red Bridge, while also looking forward and recognizing that positive change is coming to Kamloops.”
Warren also shared his appreciation for Kelson Group’s role in making the project possible. “We’re so apprecia-
tive of Kelson Group for the opportunity,” said Warren. “Organizations that have the funding to support the arts are so crucial.”
For more about Archer: www.archermuralartist. com. For more about Vaughn Warren: www.vaughnwarren. com
Kamloops is an amazing community with a long-standing culture of kindness and looking out
Renowned muralist Archer surveys the finished RED BRIDGE RAVEN mural, painted in collaboration with Vaughn Warren for Kelson Group in downtown Kamloops, May 2026
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.
Brenda Prevost
Communications a key issue for emergency planning
Robert Koopmans: Submitted
If there is a burning ember that bears potential to torch even the best of operational plans, it’s this — what happens if people who are in harm’s way don’t hear about a threat and don’t know what to do?
That question has been raised in Kamloops following a recent crisis that left many people wondering about how the City communicates emergencies to citizens.
In May, a water main break in Rose Hill cut the water supply to more than 19,000 homes in east Kamloops. The city sent an alert to affected residents through Voyent notifying of the need to restrict water usage to allow for repairs.
Many people said they did not get the alert until the second day of the incident. By then water, had become critically low, forcing a shutdown of the system.
Kristen Rodrigue, the city’s Communications and Strategic Partnerships Director, said the city is looking into what happened and why some did not receive the alert.
“When I’m working large emergencies and disasters, I always have a thought in my head that nobody should be left behind.”
– TIM CONRAD Owner of Butterfly Effect Communications
“I can’t speak to this most recent water main break at this point, as we have not yet completed our debrief. The concerns have been noted and will be evaluated,” she said.
However, Rodrigue said the city would not rely on Voyent as its primary response tool in the case of a fast-moving crisis, such as a wildfire moving fast into a neighbourhood.
“In a situation where there is a sudden, life-threatening situation where there is no time to issue prior warnings, a tactical evacuation would be executed, with emergency authorities moving door-to-door through an area to notify residents,” she said.
The city would also rely on online tools, social media and the mainstream media to assist in notification as well as other on-the-ground measures, including mobile loudspeakers, and roadside advisory boards.
Tim Conrad, a crisis communications professional and owner of Butterfly Effect Communications, has worked major emergencies and disasters across British Columbia and northern Alberta since 2003.
Conrad said the challenge most municipalities face in crisis communications is the gap between believing a system is ready and having actually tested it under real conditions. He added the right approach to notification is rooted in a simple principle.
“When I’m working large emergencies and disasters, I always have a thought in my head that nobody should be left behind. I’m always trying to think of that one person out there who doesn’t have all the things we’re using for communications.
“We need to pull out every tool in our toolbox to ensure that no person is left behind when it comes to emergen-
cies. It’s never good enough to assume that you’ve reached everyone,” he said.
Conrad said reaching people has grown harder, even as the communications tools available have multiplied.
“I’ve been at this since 2003, and I find it harder to reach people now to get messages out than it used to be. I also find it more difficult to inform people and get them to understand the situation in front of them.
“Our media is more divided,” he said, adding that even social media such as Facebook and Twitter, as extensive and pervasive as they are, often fail to deliver accurate and timely information to people.
“There is many levels of confusion within our [society’s] communications matrix.”
Rodrigue acknowledged the same from the city’s side.
“This is a continuous challenge as the media landscape becomes more fragmented and traditional media outlets disappear,” she said, adding that the City intends to explore different communications strategies more deeply as part of an upcoming debrief.
Conrad said that while organiza-
tions and governments carry a genuine responsibility to improve, the starting point for preparation and emergency preparedness ultimately belongs to individuals. People need to take responsibility for their own situation and make sure they are aware of all that might be required of them in an emergency, including where and how they will get information.
“People really don’t understand and prepare themselves for the risks they face when it comes to potential emergencies. We need to take a closer look at that,” Conrad said. “It’s our job as individuals to be prepared for what may be thrown at us, to have at least a basic set of things in place in our lives to ensure that we can react in those moments and jump into response mode quickly.”
He added that taking proactive steps will also help alleviate stress and anxiety, such as what some people might feel as the wildfire season looms.
“Turn anxiety into action. I’ve come to realize, having had (fire) strike so close to home so many summers, that I had better just be prepared for what I’m going to call the likelihood that I’ll be asked to leave my home.”
hopes advocacy will prevent future deficit
Jason Hewlett: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
Trustees and SD73 officials hope persistent advocacy will influence the province to reconsider school funding in hope of staving off future budget deficits.
“We will continue to look at provincial advocacy and continuing the conversation with our MLAs, our provincial partners… around how funding is allocated right now,” board chair Heather Grieve said at a recent media call with reporters.
The meeting came the day after trustees approved the $255.96 million budget for the 2026–2027 school year. The amount is a decrease of about
About 94 percent of SD73’s operating revenue comes from student enrollment and the district is experiencing a gradual flattening or decline, with a drop of about 206 students causing a loss of $1.37 million in revenue.
Grieve pointed out the problem is not strictly a Kamloops-Thompson School District one, with only two of the province’s 60 public school districts showing an enrollment increase. As a result, she believes something needs to change. Even flexibility within districts to use money in different area would help, she said.
“That has been a point
Trustees would like to see an increase in per-student funding or adjustments in international and online student funding, she said.
As is the district worked with what it had in order to meet key the key wants and needs the public and partner groups identified during a lengthy consultation process. Superintendent Mike St. John said inclusion, mental health, and literacy were chief among them, and the budget reflects that.
Additional staff — including hiring more school counsellors — were hired in order to meet those needs, he said. This was done by looking at the data and taking steps to address any
through early years supports, and items added into the budget this year to see the impact they have,” said St. John.
He likened the next school year as a “pressure test” to see what works and what doesn’t.
Secretary treasurer Kim Morris said the budget will be amended in time, as spring staffing takes place, positions are filled, and student enrolment is calculated in September.
“Budget is an ongoing cycle. We know it’s not one and done,” she said.
“We’ll finish off our staffing, we’ll watch for enrolment and we’ll watch our student results and we’ll make adjustments from there as we head towards our February amendment.”
In B.C. school districts are legally required to update financial plans in February based on autumn enrollment date, confirmed funding grants, and exact staff-
The toxic drug crisis in B.C. Part One: How we got here
Ten Years. 18,000 Dead. A System Built to Fail.
As a newcomer to Kamloops, I thought this crisis stemmed from bad choices. Four years later, the evidence changed my mind.
Somewhere in Kamloops right now, in a motel room, a vehicle parked in a back alley, or a basement stairwell, someone is using drugs alone. If something goes wrong, no one will find them in time.
That invisibility is not an accident. It is the outcome of a system built, piece by piece, to push them into invisibility.
On 14 April 2016, British Columbia declared a public health emergency in response to toxic drug deaths. Ten years later, more than 18,000 people in this province have died. In January of this year alone, 150 more
lives were lost, nearly five people every day. Interior B.C. holds only about 17 per cent of the province’s population, yet our region has accounted for roughly a quarter of all deaths. In the ThompsonCariboo-Shuswap, our home region, the death rate reached about 60 per 100,000 people in 2021.
Those numbers have not meaningfully improved. What has improved, it seems, is our ability to look away. It did not start with fentanyl
Most of us grew up with a tidy story about drugs: people tried them, liked them,
and then could not stop. It is easy to believe, but it is also wrong.
The crisis unfolded in waves. In the 1990s and 2000s, Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, knew its painkiller carried a high risk of addiction. The company marketed it anyway, in what researchers would later describe as an unprecedented promotional campaign in the history of opioid medicine. In 2001 alone, Purdue spent around $200 million marketing OxyContin, many times more than competitors spent on comparable medications. Sales representatives were coached to tell doctors that the addiction risk was less than one per cent. That figure did not come from clinical trials. It came from a five-sentence letter in a medical journal, taken wildly out of context.
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Patients trusted their doctors. Doctors trusted the information they were given. Neither group knew they were being misled.
When OxyContin was reformulated around 2010 to make it harder to misuse, people who had become dependent on it did not simply stop needing an opioid. Many switched to heroin, which was cheaper and widely available. By 2015, heroin-related deaths had surpassed prescription opioid deaths.
Each wave was not a coincidence. It was a consequence.
The paradox we rarely discuss
Here is a piece of conventional wisdom worth examining: if we crack down harder on drugs, we will have fewer problems. It feels like common sense, but the evidence tells a different story.
The harder we crack down on the drug supply, the more dangerous it becomes. Drug policy researchers have recognised this pattern for decades. They call it the “Iron Law of Prohibition.” When police target bulky drugs like heroin, suppliers adapt. They shift to substances that are smaller, easier to hide, and far more potent. Fentanyl largely replaced heroin because a lethal dose fits in an envelope. You cannot say the same about heroin.
With each enforcement wave, the supply has shifted towards higher potency and smaller size. Each dose has become more unpredictable and more likely to kill,
while the number of people who need a drug has not gone down. We did not get a cleaner street. We got a more dangerous drug.
Four reasons this crisis will not fix itself
Over the past six months, I set out to understand this crisis as part of the Map the Systems competition at Thompson Rivers University and the University of Oxford. I wanted to know why, despite a decade of headlines and task forces, the figures in Interior B.C. still look the way they do.
I did not find a pile of separate problems. I found one system, built from four self-reinforcing cycles that feed into one another. All four run simultaneously. Together, they explain why nothing seems to change.
Cycle 1: Enforcement makes drugs more deadly. Crack down on supply, and suppliers make drugs smaller and stronger to make them easier to hide. Smaller and stronger means a misjudged dose can kill. More deaths create public pressure for tougher policing, which pushes suppliers to increase potency again. Nothing in this cycle reduces harm. Everything in it turns the dial up.
Cycle 2: Clearing encampments pushes people indoors, alone. When we see tents in parks or people using in public, many of us feel angry or afraid. We phone the city. Encampments are cleared. Drug use does not stop. It moves into vehicles, stairwells, motel rooms, and private basements. Out of sight. Hidden use means no one is there to call 911. The crisis quietly reappears somewhere darker, and we repeat the same moves. In Kamloops, the 100-metre exclusion zone around parks and playgrounds does not stop drug use. It simply moves it where we cannot see it, and where dying alone is far more likely.
Cycle 3: Losing housing means losing your life. We tell ourselves that “those peo-
ple” are homeless because of drugs. The truth on the ground is messier. One job loss, one rent hike, or one conflict with a landlord can push any of us into a shelter, a motel, or a friend’s crowded couch. These unstable, stressful environments make drug use more dangerous, rushed, hidden, and solitary. In Interior B.C., many shelters close from April through September. As the weather warms and tourists arrive in Kamloops, people who had a bed through the winter are suddenly outside again, with nowhere safe to go.
Cycle 4: A crisis that hits Indigenous communities hardest. This is the cycle many of us are most uncomfortable naming, especially in a city with Kamloops’s history. But the numbers are unambiguous. In B.C., First Nations people are dying from toxic drugs at 5.4 times the rate of the rest of the population.
For First Nations women, the rate is 9.8 times higher. These differences are not explained by individual choices or culture. They are governance outcomes. Provincial and federal governments control budgets, laws, and most data, while Indigenous governments are asked to implement decisions made without them. Where Indigenous communities lead the design of services, trust rises and outcomes improve. Yet those efforts remain small, underfunded pilots, not the foundation we build on.
Four cycles. All running at once. All making things worse.
Radhika M. Tabrez is a Master of Arts candidate in Human Rights and Social Justice at Thompson Rivers University. She was a Finalist and Audience Choice Award winner at the 2026 Map the Systems competition. This is the first of two parts. Part 2, what we got wrong and what could actually work, appears in our next edition.
Highland Games brings culture and fun to Kamloops once again
Juli Harland: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
This year marks the 16th annual Highland Games here in Kamloops. Set to return to Albert McGowan Park on June 27, the day will be fueled with food, culture, competition, entertainment, and of course a whole lot of fun — Scottish style.
Put on by the Kamloops Highland Games Society, the event features many fan favorite events such as Highland Dancers and the heavy athletic competitions.
“We see a range from those who are just starting out, to those who hold provincial, national, even world championship titles in their respective competitions. The award-winning Kamloops Pipe Band will be performing and competing, the heavy events is run by the first ever female heavy events athlete in BC — Tanya Little — who’s whole family also compete. Many of the dancers are provincial and national champions as well,” said KHGS board member, Victoria Allen.
Beyond the competitions, the event offers entertainment for all ages throughout the day. Families
Photo by Olsen Imaging
can enjoy the kids’ zone, while special guests Superfly Canine Agility Club will showcase exciting dog agility trials.
Visitors can also catch live sword fighting demonstrations from spe-
cial guest Lynx Historical Martial Arts.
And, of course, no celebration would be complete without the food, including — for the first time ever at the Kamloops Highland Games —
haggis burgers, along with regular barbecue fare lovingly made by the Lions Club. Local icons Iron Road Brewing will be operating the beer garden for the adults in the crowd. Throughout the year the
Kamloops Highland Games Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the customs, traditions, and history of the Scottish Highlands.
“We are all volunteers, doing this in what little spare time we have, for the love of the event. All of us have at least one connection to the games, whether we’re dancers or dance parents, play in the pipe band, or compete in the heavies,” said Allen.
The KHGA pride themselves on maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment where individuals of all backgrounds can come together to embrace the traditions of Scotland. So come on out and enjoy the fun in June! Spectators are encouraged to bring their own camping or lawn chairs to the park, to settle in for the day.
Gates open at 7:30 a.m. with tickets available at the gate. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for youth ages 6–17 and seniors 65+, while children under five attend for free.
For more information, updates, sponsorship inquiries, or event questions, follow the Kamloops Highland Games on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit www.kamloopshighlandgames.org, or email khgsinfo@gmail.com.
Kamloops Pride Week bringing more celebration than ever
Juli Harland: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
Kamloops is getting ready to celebrate Pride Week, and this year’s lineup is bigger, bolder, and more community-driven than ever. From youth events and sports to performances, lectures, brunches, and the always fabulous Pride Parade and Festival, Pride Week continues to keep the community colourful all week long.
For the Kamloops Pride organizers, that growth means more than just a great week’s worth of community events.
“For me, the significance of Pride Week in Kamloops is visibility,” says Kamloops Pride Society President Alyssa Christianson. “It’s really in your face, really in public.
“The parade and the festival are really important because they force people to see there are different minorities here celebrating and having queer joy,” Christianson continued. “It can make it a little safer for people who might be afraid, in the closet, questioning, or wondering if they’re going to have a place in Kamloops.”
This year’s lineup is a solid testament to just how much Pride in Kamloops has expanded. As well as the always-popular Pride Parade and Festival, there is an
And with the way it’s growing, that dream is closer to a reality.
“I think the increase in events and different types of spaces is giving everyone somewhere to land or belong,” Zimmer added.
And belonging is what it’s ultimately all about.
Events like the Parade and Festival are designed to feel approachable and casual for anyone to stumble across. And for something a little more intentional, this year’s trivia night even includes a “make-a-friend table” for a low-stress way to connect with others.
ever-growing list of events for all ages, such as trivia, dances, and the official after-party. There are also events geared toward youth, education, wellness, and community-building.
A mini lecture series for ages 16 and up will tackle topics like dating safety and sexual health, while youth bowling events continue to provide a welcoming social space for teens ages 12 to 18. Organizers say those youth-focused events have seen strong interest, especially as more young people look for safe and affirming places to connect.
There are also newer additions to the week-long festivities that branch out into other areas of the community.
Sports-related events, including beach volleyball and rock climbing, have become increasingly popular. There are craft nights, workshops, book clubs, and Indigenousfocused gatherings like the “All Our Relations Pride Gathering” with Tk̓emlúps.
One not-to-miss event this year is the Pride Brunch at the Canadian Brewhouse rooftop patio featuring the Season Six Canada’s Drag Race star PM! Organizers Christianson and Kamloops Pride treasurer Kirm Zimmer say one of the biggest surprises over the last few years has been how many local businesses and groups have started creating their own Pride events to take place over the weeklong celebrations.
Of course, organizing a week of large-scale public events takes a village to organize. Between permits, logistics, venue changes, staging, and parade costs, Pride Week is a labour of love and dedication from Kamloops Pride staff, volunteers, and of course couldn’t happen without sponsorship support. This year’s rainbow sponsors include TD, Tourism Kamloops, and GK Sound. For anyone wondering how to help out this year, organizers say the best way is also the simplest: show up.
“If you want to see more events, attend them,” Zimmer said.
“And register for the events! Even the free ones!” Christianson added. Kamloops Pride Week runs June 8 to 14, with registration and ticket information available through the Kamloops Pride Association website. See you at the Parade!
Honouring the pause that summer brings (or, how I finally admitted I was tired)
There is something about the end of May that feels unfinished. School is out. Summer is here, technically. The streets are quieter in the mornings and louder in the afternoons. The work is still there, lingering in emails, in deadlines, in the quiet fatigue held in the body. And yet, the light has changed. The evenings stretch longer, and something within me begins to soften. I am learning to recognize this space, not as an in-between to rush through, but as a pause that asks to be honoured.
I wish I could say I arrived at this realization in a calm and enlightened way. In reality, it looked more like me opening the same email three times, forgetting why I opened it, making another coffee, and wondering if I was becoming less capable as a human being. It turns out, I was simply tired.
There is a quiet honesty in fatigue that I have spent years ignoring. Somewhere along the way, I learned that exhaustion was a sign to push harder. Be more disciplined. Stay focused. Finish the task. Rest, I believed, was something that came later, after everything was done. The problem is that nothing is ever done. And the rest never comes. What I am beginning to understand, slowly and somewhat reluctantly, is that fatigue is not a personal failure. It is information. The body is not resisting. It is communicating. Without rest, even simple things begin to feel heavier than they should. Rest is not the opposite of productivity. It is part of it. Stepping away is not
falling behind. It is how we find our way forward.
This time of year holds that tension. The world feels like it is opening. More light, more movement, more expectation to be outside and engaged. And yet, internally, there can be a different truth. A quiet heaviness. A need to slow down. A sense that we are still catching up to everything we have carried into June. Maybe this is not the blooming season. Perhaps this is the
becoming season. And becoming requires participation. It looks like small choices. Closing the laptop before answering one more email. Stepping outside for ten minutes and letting the light land on your face. Saying, “this is enough for today,” and meaning it. It is learning to find space inside the pause. Not waiting for it to end but inhabiting it long enough to hear what it is offering.
Hope, for me, is starting to look less like a big transformation and more like a quiet return. A return to myself. To my body. To a pace that feels human again. There is a kind of courage in that. The courage to stop performing. The courage to leave something unfinished. The courage to believe that you do not have to earn your rest. I am not fully there yet. Some days I still push too far. But something is shifting. I notice it
Did you get mail?
If you received a copy of the Kamloops Chronicle in the mail this month, you are part of a small awareness campaign. We have not altered our distribution model and copies remain available throughout the community at regular drop sites as listed in the paper and on our website. kamloopschronicle.com
in the way I pause more easily. In the way I am beginning, finally, to listen.
The pause is not empty. It is where we begin again.
Amy Tucker proudly calls herself an “accidental athlete.” As a senior swimmer and long-distance open-water enthusiast, she has represented Team Canada on the Age-Group Triathlon Team for the past three years. Amy is passionate about encouraging others to embrace fitness and wellness at any stage of life, proving it’s never too late to chase new challenges.
Drought tolerant ornamental grass: Tough grass, no fuss
Ornamental grasses are popular in our area for a reason. Grass maintenance is minimal. They are versatile and come in many heights, shapes and colours.
Some are evergreen, replacing the need for small conifers; some are tall enough to replace many shrubs; some are short enough to be used as groundcover.
Ornamental grasses provide food and homes for a wide variety of birds, insects
and smaller wildlife. Pest and disease resistance is a bonus. They also provide summer and winter interest. Some grasses bloom and many grasses have fall colour. Before you go to the nursery to purchase your grass, consider the following. Ornamental grasses come in varieties suited for full sun to full shade and for dry to moist soil.
It is important to choose the right plant for the right place.
Assess your planting area and determine whether you need a variety for full sun or full / part shade and for dry or moist soil. What size of grass can you accommodate? What colour do you want? Do you want a short mounding plant or a tall upright plant? Evergreen or deciduous? Warm-season or cool-season?
Warm-season grasses are best planted in the spring while cool-season grasses are best planted in the fall. Cool-season
grass can also be planted in the spring.
After you purchase your grass, you will need to plant, mulch and maintain it.
Below are some popular deciduous and evergreen ornamental grasses.
Deciduous Warm-Season
Grasses
Big Bluestem
Fountain
Indian
Little Bluestem
Switch
Northern Sea Oats
Deciduous Cool-Season
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We like to say that we are like your personal Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reviewing aspects of your wealth, providing personalized advice specific to helping you achieve what truly matters to you. There have been several compelling studies showing that working with a trusted financial advisor can help build wealth faster.
A 2020 CIRANO report showed investors receiving advice accumulate 131% or 2.3 times more wealth after 15 years than non-advised investors.
Another study by Russell Investments in 2024 showed that advisors may add up to 3.52% of value in portfolio returns over time. These returns were net of both fees and taxes. The Vanguard study mentions the range of around 3% because not all advisors offer all of these services. A breakout of where we believe advisors can help improve results.
Prepare the planting hole by digging a hole deep enough and wide enough to plant the grass level with the soil surface. Before planting check the roots to ensure they are not circling around. If so, gently tease them apart. Plant, water in well and apply a 5-8 cm layer of mulch ensuring that the mulch is 8-10 cm away from the plant.
Water regularly during the first year to ensure your grass establishes a good root system. Once established, most grass requires little to no water. Fertilizer is generally not required for grass planted in the ground. Grass planted in containers will require continuous annual regular watering especially during hot spells as well as annual feeding during the active growing period.
Mulch each spring to keep down weeds and to retain soil moisture.
The Value of Advice
Note: The actual amount of value added may vary significantly depending on client circumstances and time horizon. This includes risk tolerance, financial goals, portfolio composition and tax bracket, amongst other factors.
1. Portfolio Construction: Includes suitable asset allocation: mix of stocks, bonds and alternatives. For example, we employ seven layers of diversification (Asset class, geography, currency, style, size, sectors and alternatives). This should also entail using cost-effective solutions and placing each investment in the most tax efficient account (RSP, TFSA, etc.).
2. Behavioral Coaching: One of the biggest risks to investing is doing the wrong thing at the wrong time: selling when markets are down or chasing performance. Advisors should help through challenging times by acting like an emotional circuit breaker to avoid hindering your wealth.
3. Wealth Management: Includes regular portfolio rebalancing (trimming at highs and adding near lows).
Dividing every three to five years may be required. Warmseason and cool-season grass can both be divided in early spring although cool-season grass can also be divided in the fall. This will give you new plants for other areas of your garden or to share with friends.
Deciduous grass is cut back in the spring before new growth appears and evergreen grass only needs to be combed out in the spring. Combing can be done with your hands to remove the dead foliage. Wear gloves as some grass is sharp.
Grasses
Feather Reed
Moor
Tufted Hair
Blue Sedge
Evergreen Grasses
Blue Oat
Fescue
For a more complete list, check out Creating a Kamloops Xeriscape (24-page PDF) online or okanaganxeriscapeassociation.org for detailed information on individual grasses.
Our local nurseries have a great selection too.
Creating a draw down or cash flow strategy. To help keep clients on track, advisors should be revisiting client’s objectives before major life events such as: having a child, marriage, divorce, retirement, disability, illness, or death.
The study concluded the most important skill an advisor can bring is behavioral coaching. This coincides with several studies that have shown that the average investor underperforms due to emotional behavior working against them. Data from a CFA Institute research paper showed that over a roughly 20-year period a portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds has returned close to 8% annually, whereas the average investor earned significantly less, around 3.0% per year.
On top of potential increased return, according to FP Canada, investors working with advisors feel twice as prepared for retirement as those without. These investors also reported higher levels of emotional, financial, and overall contentment.
Financial concepts are complex and continually changing along with stock markets and demographics needs. Some key areas not covered in any of the research were the benefits of pension selection, charitable giving, income splitting and estate planning strategies. Savings in these areas could magnify the results but are likely harder to quantify.
The study concluded that when advice is delivered thoughtfully and advisors charge a reasonable fee, the benefits can meaningfully outweigh the costs.
Until next time… Invest Well. Live Well.
Local music cornerstone passes the torch
or over 50 years, Lee’s Music has been more than just a store to musicians all over Kamloops and beyond. It’s been a place of learning, of discovery, and of righteous guitar riffs. It’s been a place where musicians found their love of music, or at the very least, enriched it.
And now, the local hub of all things musical is entering a new chapter.
TAF Ventures owners Bailey Finley and Nicholas Adams have officially taken over ownership of Lee’s Music Store and School, continuing the legacy built by the Miltmore family over more than 50 years ago here in Kamloops.
“It’s such a huge honor for us that they trust us to carry it on and continue it as Kamloops’ local, family-run music store,” said Finley.
While ownership is changing hands, much of the heart of the business remains familiar. Mike Miltmore and his team will continue operating the Lee’s Music AV and Riversong Guitars divisions, ensuring continuity for longtime customers while also supporting the store’s next evolution.
For Finley and Adams, the connection to Lee’s Music is deeply personal. Finley used to take music lessons in her younger years at Lee’s.
“So, it’s very much like full circle for me,” Finley explained. “Very emotional in that way to be carrying that on. We’ve got some more plans for
the future too, that involve building on that community feeling.”
And while the pair are quick to admit they are still learning the ins and outs of the music retail world, they’ve got plenty of support from the same folk who built the community cornerstone in the first place.
“I feel like I’m drinking from a fire
hose,” laughed Adams. “There’s just there’s so much to know and we’re really fortunate that Mike and all are staying on and they’re extremely knowledgeable and we still have the support of the Miltimores. So, every time they’re in here, they’re showing us something.”
It is important to note that
Miltimore and his father Lee, who founded the business, will continue to own and operate the AV division of Lee’s Music, as well as Riversong Guitars. They can still be found at the Tranquille location.
“Owning a music store is all about community,” added Finley.
The new owners hope to expand
workshops, group lessons, and repair services while creating more opportunities for musicians to connect.
They are currently developing the back area of the store into a small community workshop and performance space that could host intimate concerts, lessons, and collaborative events.
“We’re planning to turn the back space into a community workshop area and a spot for really small concerts…just a cool place for people to come hang out and play guitar for an afternoon,” Adams said.
The pair also hope to utilize some of their long-time Makerspace knowledge and expand instrument repair services locally, reducing the need for musicians to send instruments out of town for maintenance. Future workshop ideas include DIY synthesizer builds, guitar pedal workshops, and beginner-friendly instrument building sessions.
And the Kamloops music scene is here for it.
“There’s a huge appetite for music in Kamloops,” said Finley. “The open mic scene is amazing here, and there are so many people who come out and support each other.”
“We want people to be able to find their people here in the music scene.”
As Lee’s Music moves into this next phase, the message from both the original and the budding teams is clear: Lee’s Music has been, and always will be about local music, local people, and the community that helped build it in the first place.
Photo by Patti Phillips
From left, Lee Miltimore, Rose Miltimore, Bailey Finley, Nicholas Adams, Mike Miltimore.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kamloopa Powwow marks 45 years of culture, connection, and celebration
Anna Montaner: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
The 45th annual Kamloopa Powwow will return to Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc from June 26–28, bringing together hundreds of dancers, drummers, vendors and spectators for three days of celebration, culture and community.
Hosted by the Kamloopa Powwow Society at the Kamloopa Powwow Arbour, the event is expected to welcome close to 500 dancers and drummers from across Canada and the United States. Visitors can expect traditional song and dance, colourful regalia, artisan vendors and food throughout the weekend.
For Kamloopa Powwow president Loreena Seymour, reaching the 45-year milestone represents decades of commitment from community members and organizers who helped build the event into what it is today.
“Reaching the 45th annual Kamloopa Powwow is more than just another year on the calendar,” Seymour said. “It represents our resilience, our continuity, culture, and generations of people working together to keep the spirit of the powwow alive.”
The event has become a signature event for Kamloops, a place where families reconnect and younger generations learn from elders while celebrating culture openly and proudly.
“Many people have grown up attending Kamloopa their entire lives and are now bringing their own children and grandchildren into the arbor,” Seymour said. “That’s the
kind of legacy this 45th annual is having for people.”
Planning for the powwow is a year-round effort involving partnerships with sponsors, community members and leadership.
The last two years, organizers have focused on building a framework that can guide future committees.
“We have to create trusting rela-
tionships with our community, with our chief and council,” Seymour said. “Being open and transparent helps set a foundation so the next generation of powwow committee members will know exactly what to do when it comes time for them to step into leadership.”
The Kamloopa Powwow has seen significant growth in recent years after organizers worked to strength-
en connections within the powwow circuit and attract respected performers and head staff.
Before the current committee took over, Seymour said the powwow “had reached a plateau.” Through expanded networking and community support, the committee has worked to elevate the event’s profile.
Director Colin Stonechild said organizers want to continue build-
ing Kamloopa Powwow’s reputation as one of the premier powwows in the country.
“Our mission is to be great hosts,” Stonechild said. “We want to highlight Kamloopa Powwow as one of the greatest powwows in Canada, a real destination place for people to come and share their song and dance and enjoy the great Interior of British Columbia.”
Seymour added that the event has long attracted families and participants travelling from Eastern Canada and the United States.
“Kamloops is already a destination place to visit, and it has become a destination powwow to be at,” she said.
The committee has focused its efforts in making this event a place where everyone is welcome to attend and experience the celebration.
“I think it’s important for us to be welcoming and inviting to everyone,” Seymour said. “It’s important to celebrate the resilience of Secwépemc people through song and dance.”
The powwow also provides an opportunity to support local vendors and artisans.
“We have 75 vendors, local crafters and food vendors,” Stonechild said. “It’s a great time for people to come out, support and enjoy diverse food and culture.”
The Kamloopa Powwow runs June 26–28, 2026, at the Kamloopa Powwow Arbour, 345 Powwow Trail. The event is drug- and alcohol-free, with parking available on-site and tickets sold at the gate.
Photo by Olsen Imaging
Lynx Armizare combines history, fitness, and inclusion
Juli Harland: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
You may have wandered through Riverside Park and seen people swinging swords at each other, or maybe you’re a fantasy film buff with a secret desire to swashbuckle, or you’ve binge-watched Vikings and are dying to slap on your battle gear and fight your way to Valhalla.
If you’ve ever watched a fantasy movie and thought, “I wonder what it would be like to learn how to actually use a sword,” you’re not alone. At locally owned and operated Lynx Armizare, that curiosity is quite often what brings people through the door.
Founded in 2017, Lynx Armizare teaches Historical European Martial Arts, commonly known as HEMA. The practice mixes fitness, martial arts, history, and a healthy dose of nerd culture into one surprisingly welcoming community. Owner and head instructor Jedd MacMillan has spent nearly a decade helping people discover the joy as well as the fitness that swordfighting has to offer
“There’s no barrier to entry either into the club or into the community,” says MacMillan. “We want people to be involved in a martial art in whichever way they find compelling.”
For some members, that means training for competitions both locally and beyond. Others enjoy studying historical texts (like MacMillan). Some want to learn about medieval combat techniques, and of course, some just want to get active in a unique way.
MacMillan describes HEMA as a grassroots movement dedicated to recreating the martial arts of historical Europe by studying surviving manuscripts and training manuals. “HEMA is about reconnecting dead martial arts with a living tradition,” he explained.
While the swords may be rooted in history, the club’s approach is built on modern ideals. Inclusivity is a huge focus within the classes. In a world where fitness classes can feel intimidating for some, the Lynx
Armizare crew prides itself on building a safe space for all.
“We focus on building a space that is not just for relatively athletic, straight, young white guys,” says MacMillan. Though they are welcome, too.
That commitment to inclusion has helped Lynx Armizare attract a remarkably diverse group of participants. Recent programs, including a swordfighting and martial arts series designed for women and gender minorities led by local, long-time swordfighter Cicyetkwu, which sold out almost immediately. Quickly followed by another popular offering of medieval dagger fighting. And of course, the ever-popular long sword classes. The popular response has been a sign for MacMillan and crew that there are many people out there who are interested in martial arts who just haven’t seen themselves reflected in traditional training spaces.
The fitness benefits are real, too. Swordfighting develops balance, coordination, endurance, strength, and quick decision-making. Many students arrive from other sports, while others are discovering physical activity for the first time in years.
And for those worried they need to be athletes or history experts before showing up, MacMillan says there are no big prerequisites.
“A lot of people just like holding a sword and feeling a little bit like they’re in fantasy, and that is its own reason.”
Whether you’re looking for a workout, a new skill, a connection to history, or simply a cool community, Lynx Armizare is here to prove that there is still plenty of room for historic adventure right here in modern-day Kamloops.
For more information about classes, workshops, and upcoming programs, visit Lynx Armizare online at swordfightingkamloops.com or on Facebook.
ATTENTION: KALS MEMBERS NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM
Photo by Kazia Poore
Jeff MacMillan and Rose Middleton show off some sparring.
NIGHTLIFE
June 5 @ 9 pm to 2 am at the Commodore: Medusa Macs Big BDay Bash! Clear your calendar and come help Kamloops’ own dreadlocked sound selecta, Medusa Mac, celebrate her birthday. Join Lokiii (9-11), Medusa Mac (11-12), and Midas the Fuzzy Cat (12-2) for an epic night of bumpin’ tunes, fun visuals, good vibes, and $6 cans of PBR all night.
June 18 @ 8 pm at the Blue Grotto: Cabaret Du Queere. From bold burlesque to jaw-dropping drag, Pole Performances, and Heels. This is your invitation to step into a world where love is loud, identities shine, and everyone belongs. Check Facebook for tickets.
MUSIC
June 13 @ 3 to 11 pm at The Stir, Electric Love Music Festival presents: Wormhole Block Party featuring Average Citizens Vancouver-based coupled duo Average Citizens are known for their wobbly basslines, bouncy beats, and energetic performances. Their music has topped charts on labels like 3000 Bass, InStereo, and Jungle Cakes, with a #1 UKG Release on Beatport under YosH and most recently a #10 in Bass House under WyldCard, an impressive feat as independent artists! Check Electric Love website for details.
June 20 @ 7:30 PM at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church: CMK presents a special Father’s Day concert, Carnevale. Come out for an evening of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music from the time of the famous Venetian Carnival, including period instruments and costumes. Musicians are Cuyler Page, recorders; Annette Dominik, violin and viola; Curtis Howell, harpsichord and organ; Cvetozar Vutev, violin; and Anika Howell, soprano. Tickets are available online and at the door.
June 26 @ 7 pm at the Sagebrush Theatre: The Women of Rock Las Vegas Show! Straight from the bright lights of Las Vegas, The Women of Rock Show features stunning portrayals of Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt and Heart, brought to life by dynamic performances backed by a full live band and immersive multimedia production. This is an all ages show. Tickets on Kamloops Live.
COMEDY
June 13 @ 7 pm at the Paramount Theatre: Ivan Decker’s Million Dollar Comedy Tour! Ivan is an award-winning stand-up comedy powerhouse, recognized as one of the best in the country. You’ve seen him everywhere: CONAN, Netflix, Just For Laughs, The Debaters, and across CBC, CTV, and TBS. In 2018, he made history as the first Canadian in over three decades to win a JUNO Award for Comedy Album of the Year, followed by a second nomination in 2024. Catch him live while he’s in your city. The jokes are tight. The timing is perfect. And yes, you’ll probably quote it later.
DANCE
June 12 @ 7 to 11 pm @ St Paul’s Cathedral, presented by Lindy in the Loops Swing Dance: June Night Jazz! From 7:00 to 8:00 PM beginner Lindy Hop lessons to get everyone acquainted with one another and on the dance floor. No dance experience necessary. 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Beyond Brass Band with DJ’d breaks from DJ Andre.
June 14 @ 7 pm at St Paul’s Cathedral: The Kamloops Social Club presents live band: Kelly Bellanger. Door prizes, a fifty/ fifty draw, and dancing to a great combination of Country and Pop tunes. Admission $15 at the door.
ART
June 6 @ 4 to 8 pm at Delta Hotels by Mariott Kamloops, Kamloops Artist Vortex presents: “It’s a Question of Art” Live Art Auction, Art Sale and Game Show. Complimentary Mocktail, Appies, Prizes, Door Prizes, Special Draw. Meet the Artists in person. Emcee Ryan from Kamloops, Auctioneer Clyde Camille. Artists Roxi Hermsen, Isabelle Faulkner, Jennii Mavety, Rebecca Shepherd, Braja Levine, Sarah Hope and Tilly Perry. Supporting Kamloops Ruff Start Rescue. All art has been created especially for this event, your are first to view and first to purchase. Doors open at 3:30 and sales start right away.
LITERATURE
June 13 @ 11 am to 2 pm at Indigo: Lynne Stonier-Newman’s Booksigning. Signing her non-fiction early BC history books: Peter O’Reilly 1858-1905 about the colonials who decreed and imposed British Columbia’s Indian Reserve lands; Policing A Pioneer Province - BC Provincial Police 1858-1950; BCPP Superintendent Hussey in The Lawman 1891-1911, and her psychological mystery, Latin Legacy aka Lynne Nicol. The murder in Thompson City in 2008 is strangely similar to one that happened in La Paz, South Baja, Mexico in 1939.
COMMUNITY
June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 @ 1 to 3 pm @ Heritage House at Riverside Park: Introductory Taoist Tai Chi, introductory sessions.
June 6 @ 2:00 PM at Dutch Lake Community Centre, Presented by Curtis Bjork: Refuge from the firestorm: Wells Gray Park’s sources of re-greening. We will explore biodiversity and wildlands in Wells Gray Park. Specifically, how waterfall spray zones, Whitewater canyons and other constantly cool and wet environments can save hundreds of species during and after intense fires.
June 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 10 am to 12 pm @ Heritage House at 915 Southill St., Garden Gate. Practice Taoist Tai Chi, introductory Sessions.
June 13 @ 11:30 am at THe Candian Brewhouse, Kamloops Pride Presents: Pride Drag Brunch. Featuring the delightfully talented PM, finalist from the latest season of Canada’s Drag Race. Come celebrate loud and proud with PM and your local king and queens. $5 Meet and Greet with professional photographer to follow. Performers:PM, Canada’s Drag Race Season 6 Finalist, Miss Mousse, Autumn Horizon, Wanda Lust, and Gene Debender
June 14 @ 11 am to 12 pm orner of 2nd Ave and Seymour Street, turning onto Victoria Street and heading East, concluding at 5th Avenue: Kamloops Pride Parade. All Ages, Family Friendly, Allies Welcome. Come together with Kamloops Pride, our 2SLGBTQPIA+ community, organizations, and allies as we march proudly through the heart of downtown Kamloops! June 14 @ 12 to 4 pm at Rierside Park: Kamloops Pride Festival. Enjoy live performances from local talents at the stage, indulge in mouthwatering offerings from a diverse lineup of food trucks, and explore the creativity of local artists and artisans. This year’s festival is hosted by Canada’s Drag Race season six finalist, PM! June 20 @ 11 am to 2 pm at Kamloops Heritage Railway at Pioneer Park: On Track with Dad. Whether you’re a history buff, train lover or simply looking for a heartwarming way to spend time together. On Track With Dad is the perfect recipe for connection and community. Tickets are available on the Kamloops Heritage Railway Facebook page.
June 20 @ 1 to 4:30 pm at Upper Clearwater Farmer’s Institute Hall, Life From the Ashes Presenter: Trevor Goward. Meet at Upper Clearwater Farmer’s Institute Hall and carpool to various locations in the Clearwater Valley; and hike to to see the burned snags from the 1926 fire and other landmarks.
Continued on A26
Northpaws improve under Jepson’s guidance
ELIJAH OLAYBAL IS bringing undeniable enthusiasm into his ball club, the Kamloops NorthPaws’ rookie outfielder happy to demonstrate potential home-run celebrations upon request.
“I might blank out and just start screaming, just throwing everything,” he said while waving his arms wildly. “You guys will see that in person, for sure.”
Olaybal will have ample opportunity to impress the hometown crowd in June, with the NorthPaws — who in May began their fifth season of West Coast League baseball play — scheduled to play 10 games at Norbrock Stadium.
“We’re pretty young this year,” NorthPaws’ head coach Riley Jepson said. “Throughout the year, we’ll have six to 10 guys that played here last year. Everyone else is pretty new, a lot of Canadians. I’d say we’re about 70 percent Canadians, guys who play [post-secondary baseball] down south, obviously. We’re going to be pretty young, but I think we’ll be pretty good this year.”
The wood-bat summer league is populated by top collegiate players from Canada and the U.S., most of whom have professional baseball aspirations.
“I want to get as many reps against the best players I can possibly play against and perform in front of the right people,” Olaybal said. “I’m
just hoping I’m able to prove myself against these guys to climb the ranks.”
The NorthPaws have not qualified for the WCL post-season since their expansion campaign in 2022. Jepson took the helm last year and the team improved under his watch, posting 25 wins — 10 more than it did in 2024.
“The big thing is to keep building every year,” Jepson said. “The goal is always playoffs. Last year, we were pretty
close for most of the year. Our depth pitching started to fade at the end of the year, with the more guys you lose. We’re hoping to bring guys in halfway through to restock our pitching.”
Jepson — the first multiyear bench boss in club history —had a busy off-season recruiting players such as Olaybal, who plays during the school season for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
The NorthPaws also expe-
rienced significant coaching turnover after the 2025 campaign. Nolan Austin, a player for Kamloops in each of its first four seasons, has moved into an assistant coaching position to help bolster the staff.
“I wasn’t really ready to leave the game,” Austin said. “I kind of wanted to stay a part of it and when Jep came to me with the opportunity, it was one that I couldn’t pass up. It’s in my hometown, I get to build a résumé and I get to
coach and watch some really good baseball and just learn from Jepson.’”
The NorthPaws finished last in league attendance in 2025, averaging about 450 fans per game, but co-owner Norm Daley was encouraged by stretches of well-attended games.
“At the end of the year, we were getting upwards of 700, 750, 850 at various games,” said Daley, whose club was averaging 376 fans per game as of July 10 last year. “That’s
what I’m looking at.”
Marc Ashford, the club’s marketing and operations co-ordinator, said the recent success of the Toronto Blue Jays may lead to increased enthusiasm for baseball in the country.
“I know that’s been the case with the Kamloops Minor Baseball Association,” Ashford said. “So, we’re hoping that boost will kind of drive our season and we have some people come out and show their support to local sports.”
Among the marquee dates on the NorthPaws’ calendar is Saturday, June 13, which is Bark in the Park night at Norbrock. Fans are invited to bring their dogs when Kamloops hosts the Walla Walla Sweets.
“It’ll be presented by Petland,” Ashford said. “They’ll have a chance to win some nice treat packages, some gift cards, some giveaways, all that sort of stuff, and it’s just a nice night to get out with your whole family, including the dogs.”
MARTY HASTINGS
The Tattle of Hastings
Photo by Kamloops Northpaws
TrueTech Trials debuts as a hit in Kamloops
New family-friendly event draws crowds and sets the stage for the return of the Chuwels Challenge
Anna Montaner: Reporter news@kamloopschronicle.com
The Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association (GKMA) is celebrating the success of its first-ever TrueTech Trials event, a new addition to the local dirt biking scene that emphasized accessibility, community, and fun over competition.
Led by first-year president James Becker, the club has been working to bring fresh
energy into the organization, particularly by engaging a younger audience.
“I really wanted to help take the club in a new direction, and start getting the word out,” Becker said. “We have a lot of volunteers that put in a lot of hours, but I wanted to try to really target a younger audience and it seems to be working.”
That vision came to life with TrueTech Trials, an event designed to be more social and spectator-friend-
OBITUARY
ly than traditional races. Unlike cross-country competitions where riders disappear onto long trails, the trials format kept all the action within a compact area.
“With this TrueTech Trials event, it was great because there were small sections within an 800-metre area of the staging lot,” Becker said. “People could walk to the sections that they were most interested in.”
The format proved especially appealing to families. Parents and children could move together between sections, with younger riders even taking part in scaleddown challenges.
“The kids could do the little sections, the parents could stand and watch,” Becker said. “Everyone cheered on the kids instead of just to the start line, it definitely encouraged fam-
Stephen Patrick Bianchin
February 5, 1961 — March 12, 2026
Stephen Patrick Bianchin, born on February 6, 1961, in Kamloops, Canada, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, at the age of 65.
He was the beloved son of John and Caroline Bianchin, and a cherished brother to Regina (Gregory), Michael (Pamela), Raymond (Akemi), and Angela. He was also a proud uncle to Jessica (Scott), Grace, and Noah, and a devoted father to his daughter Isabella, who was the center of his world.
Stephen’s early years in Valleyview were filled with adventure and freedom. He loved climbing and exploring the hills where he grew up, always drawn to the outdoors and the simple joy of discovery. He had a lifelong love of sports, both playing and watching, especially soccer, football, and basketball. Just as meaningful were the friendships he formed along the way, connections that enriched his school years and endured throughout his life.
That same sense of curiosity and desire to explore the world beyond what he knew would ultimately shape the course of his life.
A passionate and talented restaurateur, Stephen
pursued his entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, leading him across the world to Asia. There, he built a life filled with culture, connection, and cuisine, first establishing a restaurant called FACE in the late 1990s in Jakarta, Indonesia and later expanding his vision to Bangkok, Thailand. In 2001, Stephen and Elya became parents to Isabella, a role he embraced with deep love and pride. She was his heart. He spoke of her often, celebrating her accomplishments, including her college graduation and her recent engagement to Dom, of whom he thought very highly. His love for her was constant and unwavering.
ilies to hang around and encouraged kids to kind of just have fun instead of all that pressure for a race.”
Importantly, the event removed some of the pressure associated with competitive racing. With no series points on the line, riders of all skill levels were free to participate at their own pace.
“It wasn’t as competitive,” Becker noted. “There was easier sections, there was harder sections. The sections that some of the little kids loved weren’t necessarily the hardest, but it got them really excited because they were succeeding.”
The event drew 67 participants plus friends and family in its inaugural year, and organizers see significant potential for growth. Becker acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges was simply helping people understand what trials riding is.
His work was more than a career; it was about people, laughter, and creating places where others felt at home. This reflected who he was at his core. Even as he faced life’s challenges, including his later years in care, he remained remarkably positive. He never lost his sense of humor, his kindness, or his ability to connect with others. He could still make people laugh even in difficult moments, and his warmth left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Stephen will be remembered for his generous heart, his easy laughter, and the way he made people feel welcomed, valued, and at ease. He lived a life full of movement, connection, and passion, and leaves behind memories that will be deeply cherished by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. All friends and family are invited.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to the physicians, nurses, and staff at Purdy Pavilion (UBC Hospital) and at Little Mountain Place in Vancouver for their compassionate and excellent care.
A donation in memory of Stephen may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.
“I’d like to make it even more spectator friendly,” Becker said. “I’d like to see people, not even part of the dirt bike community, come out and experience the chaos.”
Logistics will also be a focus moving forward, including improving registration and scoring systems, and potentially securing a larger venue to accommodate more spectators, vendors, and sponsors.
With momentum building from the success of TrueTech Trials, GKMA is now preparing for its yearly event, the Chuwels Challenge Cross Country Dirtbike Race, taking place June 6–7 as part of the Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association series.
The race is widely regarded as one of the most demanding on the circuit, thanks to the rugged terrain of the Chuwels area.
“It’s considered one of the harder races of the year for the PNWMA series,” Becker said. “Chuwels can be anything from dusty to muddy, so you might get everything in between all in the same day.”
Each year, the event draws more than 400 riders, along with families and spectators, creating a busy weekend that extends beyond the race course.
Becker noted that the influx of visitors provides a boost to local businesses, from restaurants to motorcycle shops, and the involvement of the community is noticed year by year.
As GKMA balances high-intensity competition with more inclusive events like TrueTech Trials, the organization is carving out a broader role in Kamloops’ outdoor recreation scene, one that brings together riders, families, and everything in between.
Logan Stankoven may soon parade down Victoria Street holding the Stanley Cup.
“It’s what you dream of as a kid — to hoist that Cup some day — and to have your name on that Cup,” said Stankoven, the 5-foot-8 Carolina Hurricanes’ forward from Kamloops. “It’s great to have that in the back of your mind, just as a motivator. But, at the same time, you’ve got to take it one game at a time and you can’t get too far ahead of yourself.”
Stankoven spoke to the Chronicle on May 31, two days before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, a bestof-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“They play heavy,” Stankoven said. “Even just watching that Colorado series, they played physical. They do a good job of blocking shots and their defencemen are pretty big. They like to box you out at the front of the net. We’re going to have to really battle and bear down.”
Young fans across Kamloops are drawing inspiration for what is possible while their hero bulldozes into a new stratosphere of hockey fame.
The flourishing dynamo registered nine goals and 12 points in 13 games in the first three rounds of the post-season and wired home the Eastern Conference Final series winner against the Montreal Canadiens.
“People are going out of their way to wish me luck or congratulate me and it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Stankoven said. “I definitely feel it. I’ve been able to see all the support and messages from people back home. I love it.”
Stankoven, 23, had more post-season experience (47 games) than 82 per cent of all players in NHL history as of May 31 and has reached the conference-final round in each of his three seasons in the league.
“I’ve been very, very blessed and grateful to be on three unbelievable teams so far that have made pretty good runs in the playoffs,” he said.
“You can learn so much from being able to play in the big moments.”
Stankoven and his linemates Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake were Carolina’s top three scorers after three rounds, combining for a whopping 43 points.
former Kamloops Blazers’ captain — third in NHL post-season goal scoring after the conference finals — has been pushing into Conn Smythe conversations while playing on an entry-level contract, with his eight-year, U.S. $48-million deal scheduled to kick in next season.
“It’s something I don’t take for granted and you never know when you’re going to make it back to this situation,” said Stankoven, the first Kamloopsian to play in the league championship series since Riley Nash in 2022.
Vegas posted a 12-4 record to
reach the final, with series wins over the Utah Mammoth, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche.
“Offensively, [Jack] Eichel and [Mitch] Marner are two of the best players in the world,” Stankoven said. “We’re going to have to stay above them and not let them have a lot of time and space because they’re difference-makers when they’re out there.”
The Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1 and Round 2, respectively, before dispatching the Habs in five games.
Carolina is the first team to reach
the Cup Final in 13 games or fewer since 1986-1987, when the NHL adopted the best-of-seven format in each of the first four rounds of the playoffs.
Stankoven needs four more victories to become the first Stanley Cup champion from Kamloops since 2011, when Mark Recchi accomplished the feat with the Boston Bruins.
“You just want to leave it all out there,” Stankoven said. “You do it for the fans here and your teammates and the coaches and everyone watching and supporting me back home in Kamloops.”
The
Photo by Carolina Hurricanes
OBITUARY
Janet Marie Alden
June 26, 1947 — April 2, 2026
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Janet Marie Alden (née Bellamy), who passed away at Royal Trinity Hospice on April 2nd surrounded by her loving husband, Guy Brooks Alden, and children, Ross Alden and Jude Alden-Amos
Janet was raised in Endako, B.C. where she met her future husband through a chance blind date. After a whirlwind romance they fell deeply in love and were married just three months after meeting. For nearly 60 years, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure.
A woman of many talents, Janet loved to sing and dance, crochet, and try her hand at handicrafts. She was also a talented softball
pitcher, a children’s bowling coach, and an avid bowler who loved her bowling community at Falcon Lanes dearly. Above all, Janet was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend whose kindness, love and eternal optimism touched everyone who knew her.
Janet was predeceased by her identical twin sister Mary Lorraine Bellamy, who passed away in infancy, as well as by her beloved siblings Catherine Myers, Margaret Hilton and Warren Bellamy We take great comfort in imagining their joyful reunion. Janet will be lovingly remembered by her siblings Vivian Joss, Marilyn Biggar, Yvonne Bellamy, Deanna McLellan, and Patricia Teshima; Uncle Jack Bellamy; Della Louise Lyons, her bestie and “reincarnated twin”; and Carmella Batke, who brought great comfort to Janet’s family during her final days in hospice. In keeping with Janet’s final wishes, there will be no celebration of life. She had already celebrated life fully –embracing every opportunity, every challenge, and every moment with grace and gratitude – and for her, that was enough.
OBITUARY
Heather Brady (née Wilson)
Beloved mother, grandmother and friend Heather Brady (née Wilson) passed away on May 11, 2026, in Kamloops, B.C., after a short illness in hospital. She was 76.
Heather was born in Vancouver, B.C., and raised in the Sunningdale neighbourhood in Trail, where she had fond memories of riding her motorcycle. After high school, she moved to Kamloops and attended the Royal Inland Hospital School of Nursing and became an R.N. in 1970. Kamloops was also where she met her former spouse, Brian, who she married in 1972. After the birth of her two daughters, Heather and her family moved to Castlegar, B.C. There, she continued work as a nurse, added a son to her family and worked in home support until her retirement. She remained in Castlegar until 2022, when she moved back to Kamloops.
She is survived by her three children, Christine (Brian), Jill (Ryan) and Sean, and six grandchildren, Jack, Calla, Lucas, Angus, Mahala and Maren, all of whom she loved
to the moon and back. She is predeceased by her mother and father, Isabel and Gerald, and her sister, Lynn.
She leaves behind many dear friends, siblings, nieces and nephews and a legacy of care and kindness. Heather passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by love, overlooking the Alumnae Tower at Royal Inland Hospital where she lived and studied many years ago.
Heather loved her pets, creating art, traveling to visit her family, renovating and refinishing, and dreaming of her favourite Saab 900 Turbo. Her kindness, love and attention has left an indelible mark on us all. TTFN.
EVENTS ROUND-UP
OBITUARY
Angela Dawn Pater
On Sunday May 10th, Angela Dawn Pater chose to access MAID after a “graceful” (not her words) fight against the beast called cancer. In those final hours, she was surrounded by those who will continue to deeply mourn her loss and cherish every moment spent by her side. Instead of ‘losing the fight’ to cancer, Angela instead chose to view it as making a final stand against the disease which altered the final years of her
Continued from A22
June 21 @ 10 am to 4 pm at 345 Powwow Trail: National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. Come on out to the TteS Arbour for a full day of live performances, drumming, dancing, incredible food trucks, a vibrant vendor market, and activities for all ages. It’s all about coming together to celebrate culture, community, and connection. This is a free, family-friendly event and everyone is welcome, so bring your friends, your family, and your good energy!
June 27 @ 8 am to 4:30 pm at Albert McGowan Park - Lower Field: Kamloops HIghland Games 2026! The Games promises a full day of Scottish culture, athletic competition, entertainment, food, and family fun. Highlights include: Highland dancing, Pipe band performances, Heavy events athletics, Dog agility trials, Swordsmanship demonstrations, Vendors, Kids Zone with crafts and games, Honey mead, ice cream, twisted potatoes, haggis burgers, and more. Beer gardens hosted by Iron Road brewery. Spectators are advised to bring their own camping chairs, as metal bleachers will not be set up due to the summer heat.Tickets at the gate.
BUSINESS
June 23 @ 4 to 6 pm at Brendan Shaw Real Estate: NSBIA June Business Mixer. Hosted by the amazing team at Brendan Shaw Real Estate, The team will be firing up the grill with burgers, hot dogs, and veggie options. Come out for an evening of fantastic networking with local businesses, great speakers, and awesome door prizes. Non members can attend up to two mixers as a guest to find out the benefits of joining.
SPORTS
June 18 9:30 am to 11 pm at Bighorn Golf and Country Club, Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce Presents: Fifth Annual Kamloops Chamber Golf Tournament. Spend the day connecting with Kamloops’ business community while enjoying a round of golf on one of the region’s premier courses. This signature Chamber event combines networking, friendly competition, great food, prizes, and plenty of opportunities to build new connections throughout the day.
life, her autonomous choice for peace and rest.
Family, friends and the community as a whole will seem a little less bright for a while, as Angela brought a luster to life that all who knew her recognized. A dabbling artist, recreational hiker and avid reader, Angela had as many hobbies as friends and was unafraid to look silly or take a challenge head on. It is for all of these reasons she will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by many.
A celebration of life will be held on July 4th at Thompson Rivers University in the Mountainview conference room; donations will be collected for the Kamloops Hospice which welcomed and cared for Angela in her final days. We encourage you to share stories, memories and reflections at this event if able to attend.
OBITUARY
Brent Bertolotti
Brent Bertolotti passed away in April 2026.
Brent will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He leaves behind daughters
Chantel and Jenelle and their mother leanne; his siblings Dallas, Peter (Brenda), Bernice and Della; his nephew and nieces Beverly, Deserae and Dalin.
Brent was born into a farming/feedlot life in Kamloops. Over the years, Brent enjoyed snowmobiling, dirt biking, camping and working on his vehicles. On June 12, 2026, Brent will be laid next to his father and grandfather at 11:00 am at the Pleasant Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome.
