Author: Sean Brady
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Council deals with disruptions, engagement
Public input suspended again Following council’s pause on public inquiries and changes to the process, early use of the new system came in the form of a prank against council at its May 27 meeting. After an obviously fake name ended up on the speaker’s list, Coun. Margot Middleton called to remove that portion from…
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Petition to disqualify councillor dismissed, petitioners to pay costs
A petition to disqualify Kamloops Coun. Mike O’Reilly from office over allegations of conflicting interests has been dismissed by a Supreme Court of British Columbia judge. The 10 petitioners, led by former Coun. Denis Walsh, alleged that O’Reilly was in a conflict of interest related to his involvement in council’s approval of the $140-million arena…
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Parents lined up with signs, calling for increased funding for Kamloops’ schools, at the DPAC rally held in downtown Kamloops in May. Sean Brady photoParents call for urgent education funding
Parents are calling on the provincial government for more funding for education following a series of budget cuts, which advocates say is only the beginning. Members of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) for the Kamloops-Thompson school district made the trek to Victoria on May 26 to join other district PACs at the Legislature, calling…
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LifeLabs workers back at work with new agreement
The LifeLabs strike has ended after 10 weeks, with the union accepting the recommendations of a government-appointed mediator in May. About 1,200 LifeLabs workers across B.C. took part in rotating strikes, including picketing at a different location in Kamloops each day. Workers sought improved staffing and working conditions and wages on par with those doing…
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Crime stats presented to council show decline in property crime
Police say property crime is down by 11 percent compared to the same time last year, according to statistics presented to a council committee. Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley presented first quarter statistics for 2025 to council’s safety and security committee on May 22. The stats show an overall decrease in property crime, including a…
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WCT names Kelli Fox as new artistic director
Along with marking its 50th year and unveiling its new season, Western Canada Theatre has also named its new artistic director. Kelli Fox will join the company as a co-leader alongside Executive Director Matt Eger. Fox, who has 35 years of experience as an actor and director in Canada, has spent much of her career…
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Historic new season unveiled by Western Canada Theatre
Western Canada Theatre has unveiled its 2025–2026 season, with a lineup of seven productions put on between October and April. Executive Director Matt Eger said the new season sets up a time of “literal and metaphorical change” at the theatre company, which is now in its 50th year. “We’re reinvigorating what has always made us…
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No shelters or transitional housing on the river
A motion put forward by Coun. Mike O’Reilly to limit new shelters or transitional housing builds on riverfront properties has been adopted by council in a 6-3 decision. “Fundamentally, I don’t think that riverfront property is the highest and best use of land when it’s riverfront. I also don’t think we have any guard rails…
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Two Conservative MPs heading back to Ottawa
The momentum of the Liberals at the national level was not enough to carry a Liberal candidate over the finish line in either Kamloops riding, with both incumbent Conservative Party candidates re-elected in the 45th general election. Frank Caputo and Mel Arnold will be heading back to Ottawa, commanding more than 50 percent of the…
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‘Amazing Race to Inclusion’ to be held in late May
Teams of four will be racing across downtown Kamloops on May 30 as part of An Amazing Race to Inclusion, a five-year-old event that has brought awareness to those with diverse abilities. The event consists of multiple challenges, simulating experiences like vision loss, neurodiversity and sensory issues, or physical challenges, like operating a wheelchair on…