N Bepple
BEPPLE: The struggle of women’s hockey in Kamloops
It is ironic that while the women’s world championships for ice hockey are coming to…
BEPPLE: The need for a safer Westsyde Road
On Monday, a young woman from Kamloops was killed in a head-on collision with another vehicle on Westsyde Road. What a difficult time it must be for the family. It leaves a huge hole in their hearts. It will take a long time for the family to heal. If her death was the only one,...
BEPPLE: Hoping Kamloops councillors can come together in 2016
The new year is upon us and with it are hopes for better times ahead. No more so than at Kamloops City Hall. At times in the past year, the first of their four-year term, it has been a bit rocky. Certainly the debates over pesticide use and removal of the old Daily News building...
BEPPLE: A Christmas thanks to those who work through the holiday
As Christmas comes and goes, we will all think about the gifts we received and those we gave. And while most of us celebrate the holidays with loved ones, there are those who are working, often unnoticed. Their work on Christmas Day is a gift to all of us. If you need to buy gas,...
BEPPLE: The cost of urban sprawl in B.C.
The provincial government wants to untap the economic potential of the Sunshine Coast by building a fixed crossing to it. Transportation Minister Todd Stone is seeking input from the public on possible routes from the Lower Mainland to Sechelt, Gibsons and the other parts of the Sunshine Coast. I would agree that building a fixed...
BEPPLE: New refugees will help Kamloops thrive
My father’s family comes from Romania where they had been farmers. Between 1914 and 1929, my grandfather was conscripted and fought in two wars. First in First World War, and then a subsequent war. He was a prisoner of war in one of them. In the First World War alone, almost 10 per cent of...
BEPPLE: Kamloops city council took the easy way out
Moving a bus stop should not be such a difficult thing. But in Kamloops it can be. On Tuesday, Kamloops City Council spent over two hours debating whether to move a bus stop. In the end, council said no. They decided to keep the stop where it was. This is actually the second time the...
BEPPLE: Kamloops council playing as a team in request for federal panel review of Ajax Mine
Politics is definitely not hockey, but Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar went back to his roots this week and executed some brilliant stickhandling. Way back in 1989 and ’90, Milobar played a season of junior hockey in the B.C. Hockey League playing for the Penticton Knights and Nanaimo Clippers. While he’s now more of a curler,...
BEPPLE: The safety of Kamloops, bomb threats and all
In Kamloops, we are amazingly blessed with the peace we have. Not just peace, but the confidence that all things considered, we have the means to deal with any issues that may arise. I was at the Tournament Capital Centre on Thursday when the bomb threat at the centre was reported. The first sign that...
BEPPLE: Engineering school would make Kamloops an economic powerhouse
Two weeks ago, Venture Kamloops released a labour market study which stated Kamloops and region was facing a large labour shortage. By 2025, there is expected to be about 35,000 new jobs in the region, primarily replacing retiring workers. More than half will require some form of post-secondary education. One of the key areas where...
BEPPLE: A ‘no’ vote is a ‘yes’ to a dead downtown
It’s hit or miss whether the performing arts centre referendum will pass. The Yes side has come out strong, with all sorts of social media, lawn signs and forums. Meanwhile the No side has mainly focused on leafleting the city and some media time from former city councillor Nelly Dever.
BEPPLE: How Cavers just made his job harder
I can't remember when I have received an email with from a coworker, let alone a superior containing swear words. No matter how tense these things get, there are other ways to say things. Respectful workplaces are important everywhere, including in politics. In August Coun. Donovan Cavers was sending multiple emails to City of Kamloops...
BEPPLE: Boundary reform needed in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo
Congratulations go out to all the candidates of the last election. Win or lose, political candidates represented their parties and gave people the opportunity to choose the direction they wanted things to go. Best wishes to Conservative Cathy McLeod. The hard work has just begun. As a country, the choice was resoundingly the Liberal Party....
BEPPLE: The legacy of Jann Bailey
The passing of Jann Bailey has been met with sadness and remembrance, here in Kamloops, across Canada and around the world. Since 1987, she was the stalwart leader of the Kamloops Art Gallery. She will be missed. Some would say her lasting legacy is the Kamloops Art Gallery at Fifth and Victoria. The beautiful space...
BEPPLE: Take care of what’s important — go vote
We’re heading into the last stretch of a very long federal election. The end is in sight and everyone is ready breath a collective sigh of relief. For myself, I’d had enough of the election a few weeks back. I’d heard enough. I’d had enough. So I went and voted at the Elections Canada office...