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KAMLOOPS - The relationships the City of Kamloops has with its neighbouring jurisdictions plays an important role to the community.

We asked candidates this question: Is the City of Kamloops doing enough to cooperate with its neighbours, particularly the Tk’emlups Indian Band?

We received 18 responses from both mayoral and councillor candidates and more than half say the city is currently doing a sufficient job in working with its neighbouring communities. The rest say things could be better between the two municipalities and one candidate says the two can do a much better job overall. 

Ten candidates who say yes:

Dale Bass.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dale Bass

Dale Bass: Expansion of transit to TIB land is a sign of the positive relationship between the city and the band. Regular meetings are held between the two. That also indicates a positive relationship.

Denis Walsh: Yes, we are doing well creating and maintaining good relationships with our neighbours and major institutions. City Council and administration have developed an excellent relationship based on inclusion, openness, and respect.

Mike O'Reilly: Yes. The City of Kamloops and the Tk’emlups Indian Band have taken huge steps over the past decade in developing and fostering their relationship. 

Caroline King: I see the city and the Tk'emlups Indian Band as good neighbors and have always thought the city has worked hard to make that a priority.

Alison Klie: I have always seen Kamloops as a part of Tk’emlups and Tk’emlups as a part of Kamloops and the other way around as well. Both are being made stronger by partnering together and helping each other. I look forward to seeing what new and exciting opportunities will come from continuing to work side by side.

Arjun Singh:  I believe we are working in good faith and have an excellent relationship with Tk’emlups and with our other regional neighbours.

Stephen Karpuk: We can always do more to improve our relationship, but I think it is pretty good.

Bill Sarai: Yes I believe so. With transit reaching the KIB neighborhood is a step in the right direction.

Kathy Sinclair: The City has strong relationships with TteS and all jurisdictions within the TNRD. From what I can see, our relationship with TteS has improved significantly over the past few years.

Ken Christian (for mayor): We have active fire protection and sanitary sewer service agreements and are working toward improvements at the Tournament Capital Ranch.  We have assigned a staff manager to work directly with Band administration and we continue to hold regular Community to Community Forums.  I am proud of our relationship with the Kamloops Indian Band.

Seven candidates who say they want to see improvement...

Jennifer D. Adams

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Jennifer D. Adams: I think more can be done to cooperate and collaborate with all our neighbours, but in particular I think as a city we can do more to promote and assist the Tk’emlups in business development.

Jimmy Johal: The housing developments at Sun Rivers have also helped ease the effects of our own housing shortages. That’s why it’s important that both communities continue to work together and grow together, in this mutually beneficial relationship.

Corally Delwo: It is ridiculous that it took 10 years to finally get Transit service to Sun Rivers and the Mount Paul areas. That being said I think efforts need to continue and we need to become a cohesive community.

Sadie Hunter: I’d like to see more conversations about how to build community together, recognizing we are all residents here and have a shared interest in the success of our residents and our community.

Nicholas Adams: We can do more, we need to ensure that we solicit, receive and consider input from those around Kamloops when making decisions in our community.  Together we are stronger.

Dennis Giesbrecht: I would like to see more joint projects, transit is a start but we share recreation and business goals that we could be more effective with together. 

William James Turnbull (for mayor): Always room for improvement. I find it's best to ask the source in question what they would like done first, before barging ahead.

One candidate who says no:

Gerald Kenyon Watson: No.  In particular, the City has a shortage of lands zoned for Heavy Industrial Usage, co-ordinated; the two governments can better attract new business and foster economic growth.

Full responses below:

Jennifer D. Adams: I think more can be done to cooperate and collaborate with all our neighbours, but in particular I think as a city we can do more to promote and assist the Tk’emlups in business development. The bus service to the area is a great step forward, now we need to find ways to support the nations with job training, social supports training and job creation and commercial land usage on reserve.

Denis Walsh: Yes, we are doing well creating and maintaining good relationships with our neighbours and major institutions. City Council and administration have developed an excellent relationship based on inclusion, openness, and respect.

Jimmy Johal: I think the relationship between the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlups Indian Band is good, but there’s always room for improvement in any relationship.  The same can be said about working with all of our neighbours, but because the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlups are so geographically close to each other, it’s even more important we work together.  Both our economies are dependent and linked, and much of our infrastructure is shared.  Transit expansion into Tk’emlups is a recent example of what can happen by working together.  The housing developments at Sun Rivers have also helped ease the effects of our own housing shortages. That’s why it’s important that both communities continue to work together and grow together, in this mutually beneficial relationship.

Corally Delwo:  I think that efforts have definitely improved as we have seen productive things finally happen for the reserve. However it is ridiculous that it took 10 years to finally get Transit service to Sun Rivers and the Mount Paul areas. That being said I think efforts need to continue and we need to become a cohesive community. The first nations and their culture is a huge and important part of our history and the community. I believe open, honest and strong communication will help us work together to build two strong cooperating communities within Kamloops.

Sadie Hunter: I believe it’s important to continue to work towards community and build capacity and relationships. I’d like to see more conversations about how to build community together, recognizing we are all residents here and have a shared interest in the success of our residents and our community.

Nicholas Adams: Kamloops is an important hub for the communities in the surrounding area.  From retail to employment to recreation Kamloops has long provided opportunity for those around us.  The long-awaited bus route through Tk'umlups land will go a long way in furthering the relationship between our communities.  Of course, we can do more, we need to ensure that we solicit, receive and consider input from those around Kamloops when making decisions in our community.  Together we are stronger.

Mike O'Reilly: Yes. The City of Kamloops and the Tk’emlups Indian Band have taken huge steps over the past decade in developing and fostering their relationship. 

Caroline King: I see the city and the Tk'emlups Indian Band as good neighbors and have always thought the city has worked hard to make that a priority.

Dennis Giesbrecht: Cooperating with all our neighbours must be maximized.  I would like to see more joint projects, transit is a start but we share recreation and business goals that we could be more effective with together. 

Dale Bass: Expansion of transit to TIB land is a sign of the positive relationship between the city and the band. Regular meetings are held between the two. That also indicates a positive relationship.

Gerald Kenyon Watson: No. In particular the City has a shortage of lands zoned for Heavy Industrial Usage, co-ordinated; the two governments can better attract new business and foster economic growth.

William James Tunrbull: Always room for improvement. I find it's best to ask the source in question what they would like done first, before barging ahead.

Alison Klie: I am very excited about the new transit line and I believe it will help to connect and unite Kamloops and Tk’emlups. I am also happy with the proposal to turn Stuart Wood into a cultural centre, I believe it would be a wonderful opportunity for many to learn more about the history and culture of the Secwepemc people. I have always seen Kamloops as a part of Tk’emlups and Tk’emlups as a part of Kamloops and the other way around as well. Both are being made stronger by partnering together and helping each other. I look forward to seeing what new and exciting opportunities will come from continuing to work side by side.

Arjun Singh: I believe we are working in good faith and have an excellent relationship with Tk’emlups and with our other regional neighbours.

Stephen Karpuk: We can always do more to improve our relationship, but I think it is pretty good.

Bill Sarai:  Yes I believe so.  With transit reaching the KIB neighborhood is a step in the right direction.  I think more can be achieved with partnering up with the Band Council and utilizing the vast amount of usable residential and commercial land.  There will always be room for improving relationships between 2 neighbors. 

Kathy Sinclair: The City has strong relationships with TteS and all jurisdictions within the TNRD. From what I can see, our relationship with TteS has improved significantly over the past few years. Mayor and Council were invited by Kukpi7 Seymour and Council to walk in the Grand Entry at the Kamloops Pow Wow this past August. This was an extraordinary moment considering our country’s colonial past; it was a great honour to be asked and I think it’s a clear marker of the positive relationship we have built together. I see the pending collaboration between TteS and the City for the former Stuart Wood School as a visible embodiment of that relationship. The new transit service to and from the reserve is another excellent example of cooperation and collaboration. This is a practical addition that will benefit both parties.

Ken Christian: We have been working on a number of initiatives with TtS.  We recently extended transit onto the reserve and have worked to renovate Tyee Park.  We have active fire protection  and sanitary sewer service agreements and are working toward improvements at the Tournament Capital Ranch.  We have assigned a staff manager to work directly with Band administration and we continue to hold regular Community to Community Forums.  I am proud of our relationship with the Kamloops Indian Band.

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