Kamloops youth homelessness prevention advocate Katherine McParland passes away

Katharine McParland, executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, died this week.

A Way Home Kamloops confirmed McParland's Dec. 4 passing and will hold a press conference tomorrow. Her cause of death is unknown.

McParland was the well-loved founder and manager of the organization and a movement to end youth homelessness, an issue close to her heart as she was once a homeless youth.

She was appointed to the Federal government's Advisory Committee on Homelessness. Provincially, she co-chaired the BC Network to End Youth Homelessness and helped to lead the development of recommendations for a provincial plan.

It was work she brought a wealth of experience to. In an interview with iNFOnews, McParland said she grew up a permanent ward of the government, and went through “multitudes” of foster homes before graduating out of care.

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