June 24, 2020

Editor: Re: John Hart’s letter of June 15 (‘Now is the time to create a municipal police force in Kamloops’): Hart suggested Kamloops have a municipal police force without “military -style . . .

June 24, 2020

Editor: I don’t have a car. I ride my bicycle or my motorized scooter, so being on two wheels instead of four makes a huge difference when the roads are in pretty bad shape. There are several. . .

June 23, 2020

Editor: I am wondering how minds at city hall work. Why on earth are they wasting taxpayers’ money on repairing/upgrading the McArthur Island ring road when there are so many other road in the . . .

June 23, 2020

How long will it be until protesters loop a chain around the Overlanders statue in front of Kamloops City Hall and pull it down during an anti-colonialism rally? Is the day near when we hear . . .

June 23, 2020

Editor: Many people believe that pulling off something successfully depends on the meeting of two critical things: timing and luck. In the case of the recently re-proposed performing-arts . . .

June 23, 2020

Editor: I want to share my favourite podcast program — Hidden Brain, which is free. It recently replayed a 2018 episode about the future of newspapers, which is a timely subject. The episode is. . .

June 21, 2020

Never bring a knife to a gunfight, the saying goes, but China does it differently. It brings clubs. Last week, China and India had the nastiest frontier incident since their border war of 1962. . . .

June 16, 2020

Death is a constant, a part of life, we are told. But during this COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing pubic health emergency surrounding the overdose crisis, death seems to be that much closer to . . .

June 16, 2020

Editor: With international concern about policing and a healthy turnout at a recent protest march in Kamloops, it would be appropriate for city council to discuss policing. The first topic . . .

June 16, 2020

Editor: It has been on the news that many states in the U.S. will be overhauling the judicial system due to the current protests regarding policy abuse. Good. Laws need to be enforced so that . . .

June 15, 2020

Editor: Our provincial government has taken an easy, straightforward program and made it a frustrating task that has people going to two different websites to attempt to defer 2020 property tax . . .

June 14, 2020

Editor: I just had to write to say how I greatly respect what Kamloops Coun. Mike O’Reilly wrote in his city council column of June 10 (‘View From City Hall: This white, privileged male vows to . . .

June 14, 2020

“‘Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s retreat from Tripoli should not be confused with Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Haftar was foolish to try to capture the Libyan capital — it even surprised his . . .

June 10, 2020

Editor: The city is set to receive $3.8 million in gas tax revenue. How about we all lobby our council members so they actually spend it on fixing our roads instead of something unrelated, such. . .

June 10, 2020

“Defund the police” has become a rapidly growing call by many following the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. The words used in that call to action are not exactly. . .

June 9, 2020

Hi, my name is Mike O’Reilly and I am a white, privileged male. Even writing that down gives me the chills. The tragic death of George Floyd has sent a tidal wave around the globe — and here in. . .

June 9, 2020

Editor: Conservative Senate leader Don Plett, Independent Senators Group leader Yuen Pau Woo and Canadian Senators Group leader Scott Tannas agreed to a $10,100 pay raise for the chairs of the . . .

June 9, 2020

Editor: Its been more than a week since we witnessed the moments of silence from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when asked a question about U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to use the military. . .

June 8, 2020

What do you do if you are in charge of dealing with the pandemic and the number of deaths is getting out of control? Simple. Stop publishing the number. Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has been. . .

June 8, 2020

Editor: I support Black Lives Matter. My issue is with the wording of this powerful movement. It does not reflect the fact that the all lives of peoples of colour matter. Almost all people of. . .

June 7, 2020

Editor: Thank you so much to the lovely lady who drove my husband and I home from Royal Inland Hospital on June 1. We had stood outside, waiting for a taxi for 45 minutes. A lady overheard us. . .

June 6, 2020

Prime Minster Justin Trudeau continues to get criticized for his delayed response to a question this past week from CBC’s Tom Parry regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to use the . . .

June 4, 2020

Human beings respond well to a crisis that is familiar, especially if it is also imminent. They don’t do nearly as well when the threat is unfamiliar and still apparently quite distant. Consider . . .

June 3, 2020

When I was about five or six years old, we used to only go to Chinese restaurants in Kamloops with my great-grandparents, who raised me, because they knew they would not be allowed in white-run . . .

June 3, 2020

The word “unprecedented” has been thrown around a lot lately, but all aspects of the word describe this past school year perfectly. This has been a year of chaos and constant challenge and it . . .

June 2, 2020

Twenty years ago, the movie Pay It Forward came out. It may not have completely changed the world, but the phrase has certainly stuck with us, as has the concept of repaying kindness not to the . . .

June 2, 2020

Editor: As a Canadian, I tend to not comment on U.S. politics. I am aware of our need for addressing our issues here, north of the border. Yet, recent events evoke a longing to join my voice . . .

June 2, 2020

Editor: Our community is facing a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone and local governments haven’t been spared. Municipal governments are an important economic driver in our . . .

June 2, 2020

Editor: With all the tragic events happening in our city and around the world, I think a positive story is in order. I was at Canadian Tire recently with a flat tire to deal with. I had to . . .

June 2, 2020

The protests against the deaths of black citizens at the hands of American police officers is a call to action that has not remained within the 48 contiguous states. The May 25 murder of George . . .

June 2, 2020

Editor: Thanks for the overview by KTW of the situation on the crime and nuisance West Victoria Street business owners are experiencing. It must be terribly frustrating, to say the least, . . .

June 1, 2020

It’s been a bad week in the United States: six nights of protests, huge anger, rioting and looting in more than cities and hundreds arrested or injured – but only six dead over the police murder of. . .

May 31, 2020

Editor: My wife and I, both 75, have diligently made travel cancellation insurance payments to Johns Inc. and Medco Insurance for the past 15 years. Global Excel is their division that handles . . .

May 29, 2020

Strange. Unprecedented. Uncertain. Whichever label we choose to describe these times, the subtext is the same — a need for stability. That’s where charitable organizations in Kamloops and . . .

May 27, 2020

“We are the meat on the chopping board,” said Martin Lee, founder of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party. “They have set a precedent for Beijing to legislate on Hong Kong’s behalf.” Or, as former . . .

May 27, 2020

Editor: Since Gils Penalosa — founder of 8 80 Cities, a non-profit group that enhances mobility and public space — visited Kamloops some years ago, I have always referred to making positive . . .

May 26, 2020

Editor: I am so touched by the little Snowbirds sitting sadly at the airport, wearing red masks. They inspired many in Canada during their Operation Inspiration tour in recent weeks. Those . . .

May 26, 2020

Editor: I have had the honour to draw upon Caremongers a couple of times and encourage others to do likewise. Here’s the missing piece. The group has many volunteers and they really do want to . . .

May 26, 2020

They are called Covidiots. It is the name given to those among us who ignore advice and edicts from health experts or, worse, deny the COVID-19 pandemic is anything to worry about or, even worse,. . .

May 26, 2020

Editor: Why has gas been priced at over $1 per litre in the last three weeks in Kamloops when it has been as low as 80 cents in the Lower Mainland during the same time period? The Lower . . .

May 24, 2020

When Premier John Horgan was sworn in as B.C.'s 36th premier in the spring of 2017, he could have chosen to keep the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction around, at least for old time's sake. He would . . .

May 22, 2020

I’ve never really believed the story climate crusaders tell to explain why so many people don’t get the message. You know, the one where if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will hop . . .

May 22, 2020

Editor: The entire staff at Royal Inland Hospital deserve applause for the outstanding treatment my wife, Faye, received on May 21. They were extremely professional and very courteous. Great . . .

May 20, 2020

The First World War sped up the emancipation of women and the Second World War led to the creation of welfare states in all the industrialized countries. What great change will the coronavirus . . .

May 19, 2020

Having been raised in Abbotsford, home of the world famous Abbotsford International Airshow, the summers of my youth were spent with the Snowbirds. The Canadian Forces aerial team was always a . . .

May 19, 2020

Kamloops resident Giancarlo Briglio wants the powers that be to rename Airport Road, the street off Tranquille Road that leads into Kamloops Airport. In an online petition that has gone from a . . .

May 19, 2020

Editor: I read the May 13 KTW article by Jessica Wallace — 'City cites pandemic for rise of problems on West Vic' — which describes the increased crime and drug traffic that has taken hold since. . .

May 19, 2020

Editor: In an effort to defeat the novel coronavirus, Canadians have been asked to keep their distance from one another and stay at home if possible. My wife is from the Philippines, her home . . .

May 18, 2020

Editor: I live in Barnhartvale and enjoy the rural lifestyle as it is so close to nature. I regularly hike near Scuito Flats and I am infuriated when I see people not heeding “no trespassing” . . .

May 18, 2020

Editor: I was in Northills Centre last week when a lady approached me and gave me a free mask to wear. Her name is Tracy and she and a friend were handing out masks to those who wish to wear . . .

May 15, 2020

You don’t feel like reading about the plague today? Good. I don’t feel like writing about it again, either. So here’s some reasons to hope, none of which are even remotely related to the . . .

May 14, 2020

Israel’s new two-headed government, with Binyamin Netanyahu as prime minister, was supposed to be sworn in this past Wednesday. But the inauguration was suddenly postponed by one day to . . .

May 13, 2020

Editor: This letter is for the doctors, medical staff and first responders who helped us. Our recent drive between Logan Lake and Merritt ended in a mishap at 2 p.m. My wife was released from. . .

May 13, 2020

People in Kamloops and throughout B.C. have done an outstanding job in flattening the COVID-19 curve and we deserve to celebrate coming together as one community. During these last few months, it. . .

May 12, 2020

The majestic brick beauty downtown remains an empty vessel, with next month marking four years since Stuart Wood elementary was closed by School District 73 in a decision mired in controversy. . . .

May 12, 2020

Editor: Excellent reporting by Jessica Wallace and excellent column by Christopher Foulds on the TNRD/departing CAO fiasco. It is absolutely right to assert that when taxpayer money is involved. . .

May 12, 2020

Editor: Hey, Kamloops residents, we’ve got your back during this pandemic. If you are self-isolating and need help, you can access a network of care within your own neighbourhood. . . .

May 11, 2020

It’s hard being born Canadian if your ambition is to be a real-life version of movie tough guy Jean-Claude Van Damme (Blood Sport, Death Warrant, Universal Soldier, Last Action Hero). The same goes. . .

May 10, 2020

Editor: In Robert Koopmans’ recent The Outdoor Narrative column (‘More to be lost than gained if provincial parks, rec sites stay closed,’ May 6), he called for provincial parks to be reopened to. . .

May 10, 2020

It was completely predictable that U.S. President Donald Trump would try to blame China for the fact tens of millions of Americans are unemployed and more than 80,000 Americans have already died of. . .

May 7, 2020

Editor: My son, Easton Merkosky, has made a secret ninja thank you letter from home. He wanted to thank the staff at the Phoenix Centre, where I have worked as a registered nurse since 2009.. . .

May 6, 2020

Arthur Miller once wrote that a newspaper is a nation talking to itself. In the case of Kamloops This Week, a newspaper is also a community helping itself. Over the past five weeks, we have had. . .

May 5, 2020

Editor: Can anyone tell me why gas prices in Kamloops are at $1.06 per litre when Chilliwack prices are at 79 cents per litre and Hope’s prices are at 83 cents per litre? In this time, when . . .

May 5, 2020

Editor: What is up with the gas stations in this city? How is it that we are paying more for gas than what drivers are paying in Vancouver? We are paying 30 cents a litre more than what . . .

May 5, 2020

Editor: What is up with the gas stations in this city? How is it that we are paying more for gas than what drivers are paying in Vancouver? We are paying 30 cents a litre more than what . . .

May 5, 2020

Editor: As we approach a flattening of the COVID-19 curve, discussion has turned to how to re-open industry and the economic sector and resume our social lives. In Canada, caution comes from . . .

May 5, 2020

On Wednesday afternoon, Premier John Horgan is expected to hold a press conference and announce what has been announced in some other provinces in recent days — the plan to gradually re-open B.C.’s. . .

May 5, 2020

Editor: I listened to some of the Trumpeting of the U.S. president recently, followed by his most senior advisor, assuring the American people of speedy delivery by truck of the necessary . . .

May 4, 2020

School District 73 is learning new approaches to teaching as we rise to meet the challenges of supporting our students’ education and their families during the pandemic. From car parades to . . .

May 3, 2020

For the global oil industry, it has been a double whammy. First, a foolish price war between two of the world’s three biggest producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, drove the price per barrel down . . .

April 29, 2020

April 29, 2020

Editor: I get a kick out of reading the Faith page. I think the April 22 column by Andrew Lamb was a bit disingenuous when he stated, “Before choosing to become a Christian, every one of us . . .