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SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 114
Low-income rates steady CAM FORTEMS STAFF REPORTER cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
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Advance voting continues Thursday, Sept. 21 and Wednesday, Sept. 27, for those who cannot cast a ballot on general voting day (Saturday, Sept. 30). Advance voting is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Heritage House, which is at 100 Lorne St. in Riverside Park.
Mayoral hopefuls talk taxes and housing ANDREA KLASSEN STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Five of Kamloops’ mayoral candidates squared off Monday night at the Sagebrush Theatre in a wide-ranging debate on the city’s future. The event was organized by KTW,
TODAY’S WEATHER Cooler, showers High 14 C Low 7 C
CBC Kamloops and CFJC-TV. Ken Christian, Micheal McKenzie, Stuart Holland, Glenn Hilke and Bill McQuarrie laid out visions on taxes, the tech sector and more for a crowd of about 225. (Todd Mcleod was absent due to work commitments.) Kamloops This Week rounded up some
of the night’s more notable questions and answers: Q: What is your plan for taxes? Christian promised to keep taxes as low as possible and control staffing increases at city hall. See MAYORAL CHALLENGERS, A7
The percentage of the city’s population that is classified as low income is largely unchanged from a decade ago, according to a recent Statistics Canada release of 2016 census data. The report, released this month, found 12.8 per cent of Kamloops households were considered low income in 2016. That classification is reserved for households where the income is less than half the national median income of about $70,000 That compares with 13 per cent in the 2006 census. Nationally, 14.2 per cent of households were considered low income in 2016. The median income for Kamloops households increased by almost 16 per cent over the decade, roughly by the rate of inflation, to $73,336. In 2005, it was $63,499. Bernadette Siracky, executive director of the Kamloops Food Bank, said the facility receives visits from between 6,500 and 7,000 people a year. “We estimate nine or 10 per cent of the population in the city is accessing our services.” The society also services a number of agencies for lunches and other meals, including the Boys & Girls Club of Kamloops and some city schools. According to statistics from the society, demand by families and individuals is largely unchanged since 2011, but does fluctuate from year to year. “I’d say we reflect what’s going on in the economy,” she said. “When we see a recession like in 2008, our numbers spike.”
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
WORLD OF SCIENCE
We conclude Blazers season preview series
From Vancouver to Kamloops for a big Saturday show
A22
A19 Book your Thanksgiving Getaway now. Only 2.5 hours from Kamloops
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