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iN NUMBERS: Impacts of controversial Kamloops mayor spread beyond city

iN NUMBERS: Impacts of controversial Kamloops mayor spread beyond city | iNFOnews.ca
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson at his swearing in ceremony, Nov. 1, 2022. LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca

Feuds at Kamloops city council centred around Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson have dominated news coverage since his 2022 election, and they don’t seem to be slowing.

While he has challenged staff and city councillors at city hall for a few years, the ripple effect from the controversial mayor isn’t restricted to just Kamloops.

In May, we broke down the numbers showing Reid Hamer-Jackson’s impact on the city of Kamloops. But his battles with council have involved people, ministries and agencies far beyond the Tournament Capital.

Here are some numbers from this term to consider:

  • 5: Ongoing civil court cases involving Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson since the 2022 election.
  • 2: Defamation lawsuits launched by the mayor, one against a city councillor and the other a local businessman.
  • 3: Successive lawyers who have represented the mayor.
  • 2: Lawyers who once represented the mayor and later took him to court over unpaid legal fees.
  • 5: Complaints to RCMP from the mayor over city-related disputes.  
  • 0: Criminal charges to arise from those complaints.
  • 2: Non-profits that have threatened defamation lawsuits against the mayor.
  • 26: Privacy investigations at city hall by the BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, most involving the mayor.
  • 24: Substantiated workplace misconduct allegations against Hamer-Jackson, with several going to WorkSafeBC for separate investigations.
  • 2: Provincially-appointed advisors who were screened to assist with council dysfunction.
  • 4: Individual provincial ministers who have dealt with the mayor and council disputes.
  • 1: Provincial ministry to launch court action against the mayor.
  • 1: Upcoming BC legislative change meant to reign in city officials, prompted by strife in Kamloops.
  • 15: Months until the next election.
  • 0: Election promises Hamer-Jackson has managed to fulfill.

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Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.

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