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Kids! Turn to page A24 and see if you can add to our tale. There is also a riddle to solve and jokes to enjoy — with prizes up for grabs.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 31
PLANNING A RETURN?
A FAMILY’S DEEP GRIEF TODAY’S WEATHER Cloudy High 19 C Low 8 C
The Dalkes open up about the loss of son Brady
School district is looking at backto-class scenarios
SPORTS/A31
NEWS/A6
Pandemic leads to more cancelled summer events KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
Scratch more summer staples from the Kamloops calendar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Canada Day festival in July and Ribfest in August — both held downtown in Riverside Park — have been cancelled. “B.C. health officials have indicated that physical-distancing measures put in place to limit the spread of COVID19 will remain in place throughout the summer,” Mayor Ken Christian said in announcing the cancellation of the Canada Day celebration. “ These decisions are never easy, but we know this is in the best interest of our residents.” The city works with the Kamloops Multicultural Society and the Kamloops Arts Council to organize the annual event, which draws more than 30,000 people to the downtown park. “While this is disappointing, we cannot lose focus of the bigger picture and the health of our residents,” Christian. “We look forward to celebrating together in 2021.” In announcing that the Finning Canada-sponsored Ribfest event will not proceed this summer, the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak cited public safety and health and directive from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie
Henry against mass gatherings. Ribfest draws thousands of people to the downtown park each summer for the multi-day event. However, while the meaty celebration itself will not proceed, Rotary will go ahead with its Ribfest Raffle, an online endeavour with a goal of raising more than $30,000 for local charities and organizations in Kamloops. Ticket sales will begin in May, online at kamloopsribfest.com. To date, Ribfest has raised more than $650,000 for local charities and organizations in the Kamloops area, with the economic impact of the 2019 event estimated at more than $1.7 million. Meanwhile, the fate of another popular summer event in Kamloops — Music in the Park — remains to be determined. A decision on whether to cancel Music in the Park has not been made, according to organizer Henry Small. However, the city has included in its budget savings money from the event, should the pandemic continue through September. Music in the Park is an annual concert series that sees nightly performances on the Rotary Bandshell stage, seven days per week in July and August, and weekly performances in McDonald Park in North Kamloops.
DAVE EAGLES/KTW FILE
A COVID CRISIS ON THE RANCH TIM PETRUK
STAFF REPORTER
tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
T
he head of the group representing B.C. cattle producers said the COVID-19 pandemic could put many ranchers out of business if drastic steps aren’t taken soon.
BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon told KTW the ongoing crisis has thrown a wrench in the first links of the supply chain for cattle producers, noting the potential fix will come at a significant cost. His association has asked the federal government for money to help ranchers cover the expected increase in cost.
Two of Canada’s three main beef-processing plants — Cargill Foods in High River, Alta., and JBS Canada in Brooks, Alta., where most B.C. cattle is processed — have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus disease, which has created a backlog of animals that is increasing by thousands each day. CONTINUED ON A22
Electric vehicle charging station
50%OVER PRE SOL -LE D/ ASE D Bike parking & shower/ change room
10 years reduced property taxes
Underground parking for purchase or lease
THEHIVEKAMLOOPS.COM