Kamloops

One cause of pedestrian-vehicle incidents in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – It’s a fairly simple driving tip – watch out for pedestrians. Yet ICBC and the Kamloops RCMP were at the transit exchange Tuesday morning to hand out safety reflectors, board transit buses and tell pedestrians to look, listen and be seen by motorists. Cpl. Cheryl Bush, spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP, said pedestrian...

A Kamloops runner plans to make history by completing this goal

KAMLOOPS - Edward ‘Fast Eddy’ Dostaler had little experience with long-distance running before he announced plans to be the first person to pound the pavement across Canada before turning around and running back. The 26-year-old carpenter from Kamloops decided his solo run will start in Victoria March 1, 2015. “Overall it’s going to be over...

Why wildland firefighters keep coming back

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It can feel like warfare; heading into a fire, in the middle of nowhere for days on end at the mercy of Mother Nature. Yet something about being on the battle lines draws in wildland firefighters season after season. For Jarvis Manuel, a 14-year veteran with B.C. Wildfire, it’s the people. For Thomas...

Universities taking pro-active approach to Ebola despite low transmission risk

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The risk of Ebola in the interior of British Columbia is a low one, but that hasn’t stopped the international departments at Thompson Rivers University and the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus from taking direction or developing a plan for international student travel. “The key part of what we’re doing is really...

Voters want candidates to be clear over Ajax

KAMLOOPS - The votes are in and of the 200 people who responded to a Kamloops Voters Society survey, 72 per cent want city council candidates to take a clear stance on the proposed Ajax Mine. The Society has released the results of the online poll conducted earlier this month and on many questions there...

IN PHOTOS AND VIDEO: How to prepare for a zombie walk

KAMLOOPS - With Halloween less than a week away zombies once again took to downtown Kamloops in search of brains, and fun. Bonnie McLean has organized the Zombie Walk for nine years now and every year it gets bigger and better. This year close to 100 people took part, each with a unique look and...

Get your skis shined up

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two of the three big ski hills in the region are starting to see snow accumulate and that means one thing, ski season is just around the corner. The first runs are set to open Nov. 22 at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, though preseason race training will start as soon as there...

Cold weather shelter for Kamloops homeless up in air

KAMLOOPS - Homeless people in Kamloops will still have a place to go for a hot meal and a place to sleep on Wednesdays thanks to the Out of the Cold program, but it is unclear at this point if the shelter will be approved as an extreme weather shelter again this year. Extreme weather...

Kamloops drivers can’t leave the phone alone

KAMLOOPS – Stiffer penalties for distracted driving are in effect; drivers caught using a hand-held device will face three license penalty points and a $167 fine. Kamloops RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller says despite efforts from the RCMP in partnership with ICBC and Community Safety, the message Leave the Phone Alone isn't getting through. Mueller told...

Kamloops Imam denounces attacks in Ottawa

KAMLOOPS – Imam Mazhar Mahmood was on his way to the Adam’s Lake salmon run on Wednesday when he heard of the shooting in Ottawa. “I was literally in tears,” he said. Upon his return to the mosque, the tears continued once local Muslims finished their prayers.  Mahmood, who manages the Kamloops Islamic Association, said...

Multi-family developments on rise in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - Requests to build more than 90 housing units were before council this week as developers look to move forward on projects around the city. Projects for the industrial area of McGill Road, on Tranquille Road in Brocklehurst, downtown Battle Street and Qu’Appelle Boulevard in Juniper Ridge were all up for discussion Tuesday. Council...

Budget meeting turnouts low

KAMLOOPS - Only about 40 people attended the two early budget meetings this week, quite a bit lower than last year. This year the city added an additional option to interact with staff during the meetings, online conferencing program TeamSpeak, but even with that and Twitter, Tammy Robertson says participation was still lower this year....

Gaglardi sentencing to take place this December

KAMLOOPS - Dallas Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi and his company Northland Properties Corporation will be back in Kamloops Provincial Court this December for sentencing. Earlier this year, Judge Stephen Harrison found Gaglardi guilty of harmfully altering a fish habitat. The alterations were part of various renovations and landscaping projects on the Gaglardi family’s lakeside vacation...

TRU President offers his community words of support, counselling following attacks

KAMLOOPS – Thompson Rivers University made sure students, staff and faculty had a place to express grief and shock following Canada's two separate terrorist attacks that took place this week. University President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shaver spoke to his university community Thursday morning. “I offer heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the deplorable acts...

Information session to run same time as Ajax comment period

KAMLOOPS - City council fought for a public information session that would help people understand the environmental assessment process, as it applies to the proposed Ajax Mine, but this week it was announced we would have to wait a bit longer for that meeting. With the Environmental Assessment Office approving a new public comment period...

Get ready for the snow

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There have been small amounts of snow on mountain passes already this fall, but it hasn’t lasted long or accumulated enough for many people to really take note. Thursday morning Highway 97C saw warnings of slushy and slippery sections near the Pennask Summit and Environment Canada issued a special weather statement warning of...

Rock scaling projects underway in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - About 450 cubic meters of rock is being scaled off of two spots in the city following some large rock slides in 2013. Public Works Director Jen Fretz says the city had a spot along Hugh Allan Drive and On Victoria Avenue West at the south end of the Overlanders Bridge analyzed following...

Penguins fans sing Canadian anthem

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - National Hockey League fans showed their love and support for Canada Wednesday night at a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The team flooded the arena with red light, images of the Canada flag and maple leafs while the words to the anthem were posted on the large screens so...

Local army reservists directed to not wear uniform outside of work hours

KAMLOOPS – The Rocky Mountain Rangers, B.C’s interior infantry reserve unit, are under increased security and were directed Wednesday afternoon to not wear uniforms outside of work hours as events continue to unfold in the nation’s capital. Wednesday morning, a gunman opened fire at the War Memorial in Ottawa, killing one soldier before shots were fired...

Students across province prepare to vote

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Students across the province will get a chance to take part in the democratic process this November, from meeting candidates and hosting forums to reading about election issues and casting votes. In Kamloops Westsyde Secondary School students will once again be participating in Student Vote, a program aimed at getting young people involved...

Rescued bears named after contest on social media

REVELSTOKE – The two rescued grizzly cubs are now safe and sound at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society – their sanctuary in Smithers. The rescue with its unforeseen challenges garnered media attention after the society’s manager, Angelika Langren posted a call for help on the society’s Facebook page. Langren posted another call on the Facebook...

School enrolment on upswing in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - For the first time in recent memory the Kamloops-Thompson School District may actually see a net positive count in student enrolment. Supt. Karl de Bruijn says while they are still verifying the final numbers it appears elementary schools saw an increase of more than 260 students while secondary schools saw a decline of...

Budget meetings start now in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - Last year the city decided to begin hosting budget meetings earlier than normal to help engage residents and separate the core budget from the additional requests. This year they are beginning even earlier — this week, in fact. City service levels will be up for discussion at two different sessions on Wednesday, Oct....