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Dana Reynolds
Dana Reynolds is originally from Saskatchewan, but previous to Kamloops lived in Toronto for five years. She is well educated, obtaining her Masters of Arts from York University and Certificate of Broadcast Journalism from Seneca College. Dana has a passion for travel, having worked and studied in three foreign countries. She is a political junkie, especially as pertains the Middle East as she wrote her thesis on Muslim immigration into Europe. Dana is very excited to be in Kamloops and embark on a career in journalism with Info News.
Animal welfare advocate named SPCA volunteer of the year
KAMLOOPS – For more than twenty years, Michelle Virdee has volunteered at the Kamloops B.C. SPCA branch. She has witnessed her share of tragedies and triumphs, all in the name of animal welfare. This week she was acknowledged as B.C. SPCA’s Volunteer of the Year for her dedication not only to the society but to...
Arts groups make a case for the performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – Those against the proposed performing arts centre say the price is too high but members of Kamloops’ arts community say this space is sorely needed and this is the price of a vibrant community. Kamloops Arts Council Excutive Director Kathy Sinclair, Western Canada Theatre General Manager Lori Marchand and Kim Enns, artistic director...
Council prepares for likely performing arts centre referendum
KAMLOOPS – The results of the performing arts centre open house have been collated and based on discussion at City Hall Tuesday it looks like a referendum will, most likely, happen by late fall. While the topic of the centre produced a lively question and answer session in council chambers Tuesday, May 5, the big...
City agrees to New Afton’s request to increase air discharge rate
KAMLOOPS - There were many opinions to be heard this week as city council tackled New Gold’s New Afton Mine request to be allowed to increase its air discharge to reflect the mine’s new operational status. City staff advised council to agree to New Afton’s request, which the Ministry of Environment asked for city input on....
City council to decide what’s next for performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – The people have spoken, the comments have been sorted and now city council members will review them and decide what the next steps should be on the proposed performing arts centre. The city received public feedback regarding the proposed performing arts centre at an open house April 18. City staff have continued to...
New Gold looks to expand; asks to increase air discharge rate
KAMLOOPS – The New Afton Mine just west of Kamloops wants its air quality restrictions to reflect it is now operational, and allow for growth. The mine has moved from construction to operational phase, and now wants to be allowed to increase the maximum air discharge rate from the underground workings of the mine. The...
Fraser Institute report offers ‘no value’ for Kamloops students
KAMLOOPS – The Fraser Institute has released its report on the top primary and secondary schools in the province, and according to Karl deBrujin, superintendent of the Kamloops-Thompson School District, it is a predictable list of no added value to him or schools in his district. Kamloops’ top elementary school was once again a private...
Budget cuts not best for students: Kamloops teachers’ association
KAMLOOPS – The Kamloops teachers' union is frustrated with the proposed cuts that would see 17 teachers and three educational assistants lose their jobs heading into the next school year, but if others join them in their frustration they did not officially bring up their concerns with the school district. In a letter submitted to...
Kamloops federal NDP candidate speaks about anti-terror bill
KAMLOOPS – Kamloops federal NDP candidate, lawyer Bill Sundhu, told the audience at the Ayesha Mosque the proposed anti-terrorism legislation, Bill C-51, will allow the federal government to usurp the charter of rights and freedoms in the name of anti-terror actions. Sundhu was invited by the Islamic Association of Kamloops to speak to the congregation...
Human rights activist to speak at TRU
KAMLOOPS – Human rights activist Dr. Monia Mazigh will be speaking about Muslim womanat Thompson River University later this month. Mazigh was thrust into the spotlight when she was forced to fight for the release of her husband Maher Arar from a Syrian prison. Arar was detained by the United States when returning back to...
City happy with food truck amendments
KAMLOOPS – Food trucks are definitely returning for the season, and to more locations, after amendments were approved by council this week. Food trucks were already on the scene, in small numbers and only on private property or at special events, when a pilot project was started by the City of Kamloops last year. The...
Kamloops superintendent salary remains ‘status quo’
KAMLOOPS – As school districts across the province deal with budget shortfalls some boards are also offering up raises to administration. The Kamloops-Thompson School District has faced cuts of nearly $3 million and is looking at laying off as many as 17 teachers and three educational assistants this year. Many other districts are facing similar...
National Day of Action draws small crowd at MLA’s office
KAMLOOPS – Environmental protesters were in Kamloops to speak out against the re-opening of the Mount Polley mine this afternoon. Protesters stood in front of Health Minister Terry Lake’s North Shore office as part of National Day of Action, which is aimed at putting a stop to the re-opening of the mine that had a...
Cavers’ motion to change environmental assessment timelines for Ajax Mine defeated
KAMLOOPS – There is no appetite around the council table to ask the province to change the deadlines surrounding the environmental assessment process for the proposed Ajax Mine. Coun. Donovan Cavers wanted his fellow council members to ask the province to delay the 75-day public comment period after KGHM submitted its environmental application to give...
Residents continue to ask questions surrounding Westsyde Pool closure
CITY SAYS CLOSURE NECESSARY FOR REPAIRS KAMLOOPS - While some Westsyde residents are crying foul over the impending Westsyde Pool closure a city manager says it is simply time to make the necessary repairs and upgrade the facility. Westsyde resident Amanda Cosgrove started a petition asking the city not only to re-think the Westsyde Pool...
City floats idea of more traffic cameras as bridge set to go down to two lanes
KAMLOOPS – The traffic cameras monitoring congestion during the construction on Overlanders Bridge have been so popular the city is considering adding more. Construction began on the bridge earlier this month and the city ensured the webcams were up and running before construction started to help monitor traffic. Public Works Director Jen Fretz says so...
Westsyde resident unhappy over pool closure, starts petition
KAMLOOPS – Westsyde Pool is set to shut down for more than a year as the city addresses a failing roof and not everyone is happy about the decision. “I am very upset about it and frustrated," Amanda Cosburn, a nurse and Westsyde resident, says. This week she started a petition in an effort to lobby the...
What to expect if the performing arts centre goes to referendum
KAMLOOPS – The preliminary proposal for a performing arts centre in Kamloops has definitely got people talking and while where to build and what to include have, for the most part, been answered at the most basic level, what hasn’t is whether the public supports the $90-million project and the accompanying price tag. Mayor Peter...
Kamloops SPCA prepares for FurBall, City Challenge
KAMLOOPS – May will once again be a busy month for the local B.C. SPCA as it pushes forward with its largest fundraiser of the year — the month-long City Challenge, which will include the second annual FurBall and several other events. The City Challenge will once again pit Kamloops against Prince George, this year...
KGHM promises information site with ‘plain language summaries’
KAMLOOPS – The company behind the proposed Ajax Mine is once again assuring council, and city residents, of its commitment to transparency with a promise to make easy to read summaries readily available to the public. In a letter to council KGHM Ajax Mine External Affairs Manager Yves Lacasse says there will be ‘plain language...
By the numbers: Mayor explains extra performing arts centre costs
KAMLOOPS – The mayor wants Kamloops residents to know the preliminary business case for the proposed performing arts centre is, just that, preliminary. The numbers have not been finalized, nor will they be until the centre moves into the next phase of construction. What the numbers represent now, is feasibility, Peter Milobar says. And in terms...
Deer causes two separate crashes on Trans-Canada
KAMLOOPS – A deer crossing the TransCanada Highway at the east end of Kamloops this morning caused a pair of crashes. RCMP say shortly after 9 a.m., April 23, a deer ran into traffic east of the Kokanee Way exit and was hit by a westbound vehicle. The driver wasn't hurt and was able to...
Colin James returning to Sun Peaks summer concert lineup
KAMLOOPS – Expect a blast from the past to light up the stage this summer, Sun Peaks has just announced its summer concert series and it includes some big names. The voice of Foreigner, Lou Gramm, kicks off the summer the first weekend of July. Foreigner has sold over 80 million albums world-wide, and Gramm...
School board will continue to have challenging budgets for the foreseeable future
KAMLOOPS – It looks like it’s going to be a lean school year. The Kamloops-Thompson School District was charged with trimming roughly $3 million from their operating budget at the expense of 20 full-time teacher and teacher assistant positions and yet to be determined administration costs. Last year the district saw a modest increase in...