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KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THURSDAY
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 | Volume 28 No. 115
ARTS CENTRE YES SIDE ADDS SUPPORT ANDREA KLASSEN STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
decision in June 2014 granted the Tsilhqot’in First Nation title to more than 1,750 square kilometres of land in an area west of Williams Lake. However, private property was specifically excluded from the landmark court case and the Supreme Court of Canada did not address the issue. KGHM Ajax learned of the court action by way of a press release issued by the two bands.
As a Nov. 7 referendum draws nearer, more groups are lining up to back the proposed performing-arts centre. The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce is the latest to get behind the $91-million arts centre and underground parkade, with its board announcing support for the project on Tuesday. Chamber president Steve Earl said the city’s new business case, which predicts the arts centre will generate $11 million a year for the Kamloops economy, helped secure The City of Kamloops has cash to offer both sides of the performingsupport. arts centre debate, but so far there “We were satisfied with what they’ve come are no takers. The city has $35,000 set aside from up with,” he said. “Those numbers seem last year’s budget surplus for realistic with the guide- informational campaigns in the lead-up to the Nov. 7 referendum. lines of what a centre TURN TO PAGE A7 FOR would be.” Earl said the Chamber MORE ON THIS STORY also likes the city’s plan to run the centre through an independent society and believes the tax impact on business will be “manageable.” Other groups already lending their support to the arts centre include Tourism Kamloops, Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, Kamloops Arts Council, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Western Canada Theatre, the city’s arts commission, Kamloops Sport Council and the Kamloops Film Society.
See KGHM, A6
See FORMAL, A7
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RIVERDOG DANCE
Three-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever Bruna is always at home in the sandy waters of the North Thompson River. The playful pooch enjoys searching the shallow water for an submerged stick or pouncing upon a tossed pebble or two from owner Genny Alterio. The pair makes a trip to the river near Centennial Park in Westsyde every second day for exercise and camaraderie.
Bands file title claim to KGHM Ajax land CHRISTOPHER FOULDS
KTW EDITOR
editor@kamloopsthisweek.com
In filing a title claim in B.C. Supreme Court to lands owned by KGHM Ajax, the Tk’emlups and Skeetchestn Indian bands have started what may become a precedent-setting court case. The bands this week filed for title to Jacko Lake and the adjacent area south of Aberdeen in the latest move to officially
object to plans by KGHM Ajax to develop the area for its proposed copper and gold mine. The two bands, who are known by the name Stk’emlupsemc of the Secwepemc Nation (SSN), made a Declaration of Title on June 21 at Jacko Lake, which they call Pípsell. The filing of the claim moves SSN to the pre-declaration stage identified in the Tsilhqot’in decision for Title and Rights. The historic Supreme Court of Canada
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Photo: Steve Riffel