Glynn Brothen
(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)
April 10, 2015 - 11:28 AM
Anytime you talk about your city and what you like most about it, you're bound to compare it to other communities. One thing Kamloops has above most cities in the province's interior is its progressive friendship between the local band and municipal staff.
Both groups meet up once a year for lunch to talk about their communities or changes they'd like to see moving forward. But what matters most is they're meeting, they're talking and because of it they know each other on a deeper level.
As Chief Shane Gottfriedson said at last week's meeting "we always leave the room friends."
It's unfortunate groups in other communities can't say the same. Some may say the once-a-year meetup is just for appearances. Yes, there could be more of them. Despite people's opinons, the meeting itself speaks volumes about the strength of two communities looking forward. It's a feather in our city's cap to say our Tournament Capital is bolstered by healthy relationships.
It's the way to move forward and Kamloops is leading the pack.
It's not all wine and roses. There can be agreements or there can be conflict, but one thing that's constant is open discussion which can lead to long-term planning and a mutually beneficial relationship.
Not to mention we could all learn more about this place we call home through a different culture. The meetings remind us it takes teamwork to build something sustainable. While Kamloops is already pretty great, it's this friendship that keeps us that way.
Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc chief and council present Coun. Pat Wallace with a blanket to commemorate her.
(GLYNN BROTHEN / iNFOnews.ca)
To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015