KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THURSDAY
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DECEMBER 29, 2016 | Volume 29 No. 157
WEATHER Mostly cloudy High 0 C Low -2 C
SUN PEAKS SNOW REPORT Mid-mountain: 108 cm Alpine: 134 cm Snow phone: 250-578-7232
IN THE CANADIAN CREASE From the Kamloops Blazers to a shutout with Team Canada, Connor Ingram is turning heads in the hockey world
A24
the stories that shaped
2016
Compiled by KTW reporter Andrea Klassen and photographer Dave Eagles
‘I AM TOUCHED BY THE MANY GOOD WISHES, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FROM SO MANY’
Spina takes leave to fight cancer DALE BASS
STAFF REPORTER
City opens arms to wildfire victims Kamloops residents and businesses reached out to evacuees of the Fort McMurray wildfire in May, opening their homes to fleeing residents, donating funds through BC Liquor Stores, Kamloops Ford Lincoln and the Canadian Red Cross. Kamloops is all too familiar with the lasting affects a wildfire can have on a community. Considered a hub for fly-in, fly-out workers who commute to Northern Alberta, a long list of Kamloops’ giving spirit was evident regardless of age — as evidenced by a Kamloops Youth Soccer Association’s U13 girls’ house team, the Wildfire, raising $3,300 during the annual Mike Bartram Memorial Youth Soccer Tournament. Many Kamloops residents dug into their pockets to donate money or to open up their homes to their Albertan friends and relatives with a connection to the River City. With only one road through Fort McMurray, Highway 63, the fire in the community cut off those who fled to the north, making for harrowing recounts from residents narrowly escaping walls of flames. CONTINUED ON A6
dale@kamloopsthisweek.com
With two city council members prepping for next year’s provincial election, a third has announced she is taking an extended leave of absence. On Christmas Eve, Marg Spina posted a message on her Facebook page, explaining she is about “to start my battle with breast cancer” and will be stepping away from her civic duties. Spina wrote she won’t post many details as she begins treatment. “But you can be sure I will put up the fight of my life,” she added. When contacted by KTW on Tuesday, Spina said she didn’t want to talk about her health. She said she is “humbled and deeply honoured and touched by the many good wishes, thoughts and prayers
from so many. I know I will treasure and reflect on each thought of support as I move forward in the coming days and months ahead.” Fellow Coun. Arjun Singh said he expects Spina’s tenacity will result in her being back at the council table before her six-month leave ends. As for the potential of having only six of the nine council members completely focused on running the City of Kamloops, Singh said “we always make things work,” a sentiment echoed by fellow councillors Dieter Dudy and Ken Christian. Christian said city council owes it “to the citizens of Kamloops, and especially to Marg, to make it work.” Dudy said all three voices will be missed, but “having all three away may only be for about six weeks or shorter, depending on
Kamloops Coun. Marg Spina, who has served three terms since first being elected in 2008, will take a six-month leave of absence after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Marg’s recovery.” Dudy doesn’t believe council “will be crippled as a result. “The remaining voices also all have distinct and thoughtful contributions,” he said. “I also think that when we encounter issues where we feel that we would like further input that we can call upon any one of the three for comment. “I’m certain that the six remaining also have a good enough understanding of our fellow
councillors that we will give good thought to what their feelings on matters would be on given issues. I would like to believe that each and every one of us in concert with staff have the strength to see things through and not all be reliant on superstars. “We’ll be fine. We were elected to give our best. Now we have to step that up some. Singh noted Mayor Peter Milobar and Coun. Donovan Cavers, both
candidates in the May 9 provincial election, will only step away from council business for the period of the campaign, which officially begins on April 11. Each would have to make a decision if they are elected to the legislature and that could also impact the size of city council. Milobar is the B.C. Liberal candidate in Kamloops-North Thompson and Cavers is the B.C. Green candidate in Kamloops-South Thompson. Singh said council has dealt with lengthy absences of councillors in the past, notably those of Nancy Bepple, who took a leave of absence at the beginning of 2014 before resigning in March, and earlier this year when injuries from a fall prevented Pat Wallace from being at city hall for more than a month.
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