Kamloops This Week Feburary 1, 2019

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kamloopsthisweek.com kamloopsthisweek kamthisweek

FEBRUARY 1, 2019 | Volume 32 No. 10

FRIDAY

LOCAL NEWS KAMLOOPS THE BALLOTS: TABULATING HOW DEC. 4: Set provisional tax rate increase of 3.4 per cent.

YES YES

DALE BASS

KEN CHRISTIAN

YES

DIETER DUDY

YES

SADIE HUNTER

YES

MIKE O’REILLY

YES

BILL SARAI

YES

KATHY SINCLAIR

YES

ARJUN SINGH

DENIS WALSH

LAKE MAY SEEK NOMINATION The former Kamloops mayor (above with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) is considering a bid to be the Liberal candidate A3

GUILTY PLEA Former chief Felix Arnouse is sentenced for assault A6

YES

NOTABLE ISSUES DURING COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE VOTED ON

DEC. 18: Add Riverside Park refrigerated outdoor ice rink to grant application.

JAN. 8: Include the performing-arts centre for discussion during strategic planning.

JAN. 15: Downtown parking rates returned to 2018 levels.

THIS TERM

to JAN. 29: McArthur Island golf course become multi-use park, with 18-hole disc golf course and nature space.

NO YES YES YES YES NO YES YES NO

ABSENT

YES NO

YES

YES NO

NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES ABSENT NO NO

YES YES

Page A24 is your guide to myriad events in the city and region

NO

BALLOT TALLY We tabulate how Kamloops council has voted on issues A7

WEEKEND WEATHER:

Snow and cold is coming High 5 C Low -14 C

Outbreak at RIH impacts surgeries NOROVIRUS HAS ALSO LED TO OUTBREAK DECLARATIONS AT HILLSIDE, BERWICK ON THE PARK AND PINE GROVE CARE HOME CHRISTOPHER FOULDS EDITOR editor@kamloopsthisweek.com

A gastrointestinal outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital has led to surgery postponements and a halt to admitting patients to four units in the building. As of Thursday afternoon, Interior Health said the outbreak has affected more than 30 patients and 24 staff members in the hospital and at the adjacent Hillside Psychiatric Centre. In accordance with an outbreak response management plan, Interior Health said the hospital is not admitting patients to 4North, 5South, 5North and 7North — the medical units experiencing the outbreak. Patients on those wards who are waiting for admission to long-term care or assisted living facilities will not be transferred until the outbreak is over. IH communications consultant Susan Duncan said the four units house adult patients with various medical ailments, but are not postsurgery units. Hillside continues to admit patients, Duncan said, noting new

arrivals are being taken to an unaffected pod in the centre. On Wednesday, 13 surgeries set for Thursday at RIH were postponed. On Thursday, another seven surgeries scheduled for Friday were added to the list of procedures scrubbed. Duncan said the decision was made as a precaution, noting the postponed surgeries encompass a mix of in-patient and day surgeries. She said the surgeries will be rescheduled according to priority. In addition, outbreaks have been declared at two seniors’ homes: Berwick on the Park in Sahali and Pine Grove Care Centre in North Kamloops. Duncan said the first reported symptom of the gastrointestinal outbreak was recorded on Jan. 25, noting an outbreak is declared when two or more patients are affected by the virus. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Duncan said several specimens sent to the BC Centre for Disease Control have tested positive for the norovirus. See PUBLIC, A2

Healthier Car, Heavier Wallet

DAVE EAGLES/KTW City of Kamloops community and protective services director Byron McCorkell speaks to media during a tour of the TCC.

Peering into TCC’s future JESSICA WALLACE

STAFF REPORTER

jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com

The city wants to gauge public feedback on long-term ideas for the Tournament Capital Centre. City staff hosted media at the McGill Road facility on Thursday to provide an update on upcoming renovations and pave the way for other potential improvements to the facility that could be made

in the coming years. City community and protective services director Byron McCorkell said the facility was first planned for 600 annual memberships by high-performance and competitive athletes. It now sees between 1,600 to 2,000 daily visitors, most of whom — about 70 per cent — are average-Joe athletes who use the track and pool. The facility has grown, due

in part to growth of Thompson Rivers university, and McCorkell said 1,000 more bedrooms expected in the area as a result of development will only make the facility busier. “Let’s talk about it now,” McCorkell said, noting he wants to engage residents and user groups in the conversation about growing the facility. See WE HAVE, A2

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