Author: Jason Hewlett

Having spent 15 years in the world of school-district finances, Kim Morris sees few new challenges ahead as she steps into the role of SD73 secretary treasurer on March 2. Which isn’t to say there won’t be hurdles she and her team will have to overcome. Inflation, capital expenditures, and child care for parents are…

House fires are becoming less common in Kamloops, but a pre-Christmas blaze on Argyle Avenue served as a reminder that fire remains an ever-present risk, even in well-established neighbourhoods. “I think, in the grand scheme of things, fires should be trending downwards because of the education and the knowledge people are possessing,” said Josh Cowen,…

Kamloops firefighters and RCMP responded to a series of blazes across the city and surrounding area in January, with several incidents under investigation and others determined to be accidental. Investigators were called into action on Jan. 7 after multiple vehicles were set on fire in the 200 block of Victoria Street West. Firefighters arrived to…

When Kim Morris takes over the books at School District 73 this spring, her first priority will be to listen and to learn from those who know the district best. “The main thing to do when you get there is make sure you’re listening and learning from what’s already going on before we start to…

The incoming superintendent for SD73 wants to create schools where students are excited enough to run to classes in the morning.And, if Mike St. John has his way, he wants staff and teachers to approach each school day with that same level of excitement. “We want to create a school where kids run to school…

The $1.98-million sale of SD73 parkland to the City will take some of the pressure off the district’s lean 2025-2026 budget. The one-acre property at the intersection of Parkcrest Avenue and Schreiner Street, long known to residents as Parkcrest Park, was purchased from the Kamloops-Thompson School District in late November, with the cost covered through…

Keeping parents and the public better informed during a school lockdown will be SD73’s top priority should such an unfortunate event occur again. “If we can’t say much we will say something,” Interim superintendent Mike McKay told media during a recent press conference. McKay said district staff conducted a thorough review with RCMP and Kamloops…

The discovery of asbestos in Westmount elementary means students displaced by an act of arson won’t return to their school until the new year. “We’re definitely not going back before Christmas,” said Jelena Hansen, chair of the school’s Parent Advisory Council. “Worst case scenario we don’t get back in this year. Best case scenario, for…