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AUGUST 7, 2019 | Volume 32 No. 63
TODAY’S WEATHER
WEDNESDAY
KTW B.C. DAY QUIZ ANSWERS AND WINNERS PAGE A18
CANDIDATE STEPS DOWN
POWERFUL POWWOW
Gina Myhill-Jones will not carry NDP flag in federal election
The annual event in photos, captured by KTW’s Allen Douglas
Sunny and hot High 35 C Low 17 C
NEWS/A16
NEWS/A3
Cash crunch leads to major changes at Y KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
RAILWAY WOES
From delays to noise to dust, complaints about the busy railroads that pass through Kamloops continue to grow JESSICA WALLACE
STAFF REPORTER
jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
K
amloops has been called a hub city — a transportation gateway between the Lower Mainland and the rest of the country. It boasts bustling highways, two rivers and CP Rail and CN Rail, complete with a multi-block railyard situated right in the middle of the downtown core.
Though undoubtedly part of the city’s fabric, municipal politicians say residents are increasingly paying the price of economic growth across the country, with more goods travelling through Kamloops. “Yes to prosperity,” Coun. Bill Sarai said. “But it’s also impacting our community. We want Canada to prosper, but we shouldn’t be penalized for it.” Residents and elected officials have taken note of more frequent
and longer trains in the past year, leading to increased wait times at rail crossings in Brocklehurst, Rayleigh, Valleyview, Dallas, downtown and Mission Flats. Wait times vary, but based on accounts given to this newspaper, most reported wait times of concern centre around the 20-minute mark. Some people have reported significantly longer wait times. See FEDERAL, A13
Financial challenges have led the Kamloops YMCA-YWCA to make some significant changes to its operation as of September. Y CEO Colin Reid notes the organization will be making changes designed to save $450,000 annually. Those decisions will include a revamping of the John Tod Y in North Kamloops and reduced hours at both the North Kamloops and downtown Y locations. There will also be a reduction of staff at the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter and fewer staff and services for children in the organization’s PEACE program, which exists for kids who have witnessed abuse. The 2018-2019 fiscal year (running from September 2018 through August 2019) will the second consecutive year in which expenditures exceed revenues at the Y. “These pressures have been created by a combination of factors, including increased
matter now in order to prevent the situation from worsening and to reduce the risk and vulnerability to the organization,” Reid said. “Our goal is to correct this matter, to be stable and healthy and serving the greater Kamloops community for years to come.” The Y will be pursuing a 10 per cent reduction on the total operating budget, planning for activities to increase revenue and reorganizing operations. See FINANCIAL, A4
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operating costs across the association, a reduction or flattening of revenue streams, reduced positive cash flow, changes in government policy, increased complexity of new technology and complex compliance and risk requirements,” Reid said. With increased competition from private fitness centres — includng Planet Fitness — the Y has seen membership drop to 5,000 from 6,000. “Our association has decided to act on this
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DAVE EAGLES/KTW The downtown Kamloops YMCA-YWCA will see reduced staff and fewer hours of operation as the organization tries to balance the books.
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