KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
LOCAL NEWS
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OCTOBER 17, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 124
TODAY’S WEATHER Cloudy, showers High 14 C Low 3 C
SEEKING TAYLOR
NOT QUITE SURGING
Missing woman is alleged victim in court case
But Kamloops Storm did pick up its second win of the season
A3
A21 HUMANE SOCIETY TARGETS TOURING CIRCUS
Despite protest, the show will go on ANDREA KLASSEN STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
RAPSCALLION RODENT
GORDON GORE PHOTO
While out for a romp in Westsyde, this little chipmunk decided to feast on food left out for birds. Chipmunks are rodents that are actually the smallest members of the squirrel family. They can be found throughout North America and are known for their love of nuts, impressive reproductive talents, for legendary penchant for hoarding and releasing 55 albums since 1959 under frontmunk Alvin.
Kamloops’ mayor believes those protesting a circus performance coming to the city this week may not realize the performance won’t include exotic animals. Ken Christian, who was sworn in to office Monday night after winning the Sept. 30 byelection, said he has received more than 100 emails urging him to cancel the Garden Bros. Circus, which is set to perform at city-owned Sandman Centre this Thursday. He said the emails appear to be part of a petition drive by the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS), which has sent similar messages to mayors in other B.C. communities hosting the circus, including Chilliwack and Vernon. In a release, the society alleges the circus has a record of treating its animals poorly on its U.S. tours. It cited a June report from the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which claimed two circus elephants had been improperly cared for and were “suffering physically, in a state of psychological deterioration and compromised welfare attributable to their standard of care and living conditions.” PETA also published allegations of a former circus employee that
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elephants were electrically shocked and wounded by bullhooks. The Kamloops performance will not include elephants — only dogs and horses — as the VHS acknowledges, but spokesman Peter Fricker said mayors in B.C. should nevertheless shut down Garden Bros. Circus performances. “Clearly, this is a circus that should ring alarm bells with the venues where it is scheduled to appear,” Fricker said in the release. But Christian said the form emails he has received as part of the VHS’s petition focus on the elephant question. He questioned if senders of the emails are aware of the acts to be on display at Sandman Centre. “I think they may be misinformed,” Christian said, noting the City of Kamloops prohibits performances using exotic animals. As to whether to pull the plug on the circus, Christian said he has no plans to do so. “It would not be my position to interfere with a rental of the Sandman Centre that meets the requirements of the City of Kamloops for said rental,” he said. “Their concerns would be with the operator of the circus and not the renter of the space.” See CIRCUS, A12
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