Chronicle connecting community
Dear Editor:
What a delight to have a community newspaper in our collective hands!
In the September 28th, 2024, edition of the Globe and Mail, Kamloops was used as an example of “the creeping desert eroding local news.”
The Kamloops Chronicle is off to a fine start on making that desert bloom with its focus on everything from brieflys on events to, for example, extended articles that provide historical context on important buildings and local organizations. Here’s hoping it will one day attract the attention of the Globe and Mail in a follow-up article on the revival of local print newspapers.
More important than national recognition, of course, is community appreciation. Fellow readers, if the Kamloops Chronicle makes you feel connected to community in a distinct way (as it does me) please consider a monthly donation. Think of it as an act of an engaged citizen.
Ginny Ratsoy
Kamloops
Will the Chronicle suffer from bias?
Dear Editor:
Todd Sullivan, Editor for The Kamloops Chronicle, specifically told me he censors people with certain views then dedicates an entire page of the second issue to promising the public he would never act on his bias.
I assume Kamloops’ only Newspaper is woke. Anti Trump, Pro Trans, Free Palestine, Fund Ukraine, COVID Alarmist and Vaccinated, BLM, DEI, LGBTQ2+, Open Borders, FUD Crypto, Hollywood Obsessed, Dudes In Women’s Sports/Washrooms, Universal Basic Income, Capital Gains Tax, Gender Ideology in Elementary School, Don’t Say Retard, Fat is Beautiful, Pro Abortion.
Did I miss any of your biases?
Brett Jolliffe
Kamloops
EDITOR’S NOTE: It should be noted that at no time have I told Brett, or anyone else, that I universally censor anyone. Instead, what he’s referring to is my decision to decline to do a livestream with him (on a YouTube program unrelated to the Chronicle) because of some of the Facebook posts that he has shared or made.
I made the decision based on how I want to run that platform, which again, is a separate platform from the Kamloops Chronicle.
I stand by everything I said in my editorial in the previous issue.
—T.S.
Concerns About Valleyview Development
Dear Editor:
I am writing to express concern about the planned development in Valleyview by A&T Developments. The company has purchased and scheduled for demolition three homes in this beautiful, quiet neighborhood to make way for a 120-unit, six-story building. While the need for more housing is acknowledged, the scale and impact of this project raise significant issues for the community.
This large structure will dramatically change the character of the neighborhood, overshadowing nearby homes and impacting residents’ privacy. For a community made up primarily of single-family homes, the proposed development feels disproportionate.
Moreover, a petition with 362 signatures from concerned residents seems to have been overlooked during the council’s deliberations. This has left many feeling unheard. While city council has cited provincial pressure to increase housing as a key driver of their decision, questions remain about whether sufficient consideration has been given to community concerns.
There is also concern regarding the development’s proximity to the local high school. Increased traffic and parking congestion could pose safety risks to students and staff, particularly as the surrounding streets are not equipped with adequate sidewalks or infrastructure to handle the influx of vehicles.
Valleyview is a cherished community, and while growth is necessary, it should be done in a way that respects the neighborhood’s character and the voices of its residents.
I urge the council and A&T Developments to work collaboratively with the community to find a solution that balances housing needs with preserving Valleyview’s unique qualities and ensuring the safety of its residents.
Craig Jefferson
Kamloops BC