Following are a collection of reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of December 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. 

Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjones@infonews.ca.

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BC government revokes the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act

So only 1,925 people died instead of 2,100 using illegal drugs and safe supply. We should celebrate. We should get all the drugs off the street and out of the schools. — Colin Miller, via iNFOnews.ca

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This article was a bit hard to follow, but is open drug use permitted again with the caveat that police can confiscate over 2.5 grams and warn them or direct them to services? Where do the rights of the rest of us come into the law? This is disappointing. I agree with safe injection and inhalation sites and home use but in parks, on the street is hurtful to society and hurts the dignity and profile of drug users. — Ramona Faust, via iNFOnews.ca

BC teacher suspended for not letting Grade 8 student use the bathroom

This is disgusting in this day and age. — Ann Louie, via iNFOnews.ca 

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The teacher should be identified. — Rosemarie Rogers, via iNFOnews.ca 

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Students have rights. — Bryan Williams, via iNFOnews.ca 

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The teacher's name should have been issued to go with five-day suspension. Maybe a little embarrassment for that person would have a little more impact. — Lois Van Nest, via iNFOnews.ca

Vernon lawyer ordered to pay back $70K after 'sloppy' work

Wonder what other unsuspecting clients received the same sloppy, unprofessional greedy services. “Caveat Emptor!” — Ian Steele, via iNFOnews.ca 

BC movers damage furniture and scratch floor, but still sue 

This company damaged my floors in a brand new home and offered us $150 for about $800 damage. I will never use them again and I do not recommend them. — James Challenger, via iNFOnews.ca

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About time they paid fairly for damage they did. — Colin Booth, via iNFOnews.ca 

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That company is terrible and should not be given a business licence in B.C. Just look at all court cases, it’s a waste of our tax dollars allowing this type of company. The owner lied and ripped me off as well. — TonyTracey Prosick, via iNFOnews.ca 

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At this point anyone who uses this company is really the one at fault. — Doug Newton, via iNFOnews.ca

More than $287,000 spent so far on Kamloops council conduct investigations

I think it’s time that the city charging back the legal fees is wasted on everyone who files a complaint, which fails to find a violation of the code of conduct bylaws. Taxpayers are sick of paying for the petty infighting of the spoiled brats we unfortunately elected to council. — Dianne Jackson, via iNFOnews.ca 

Iconic mall Santa photos come at a hefty cost in Kamloops, Okanagan

Really? Do you think everything else costs the same as it did in the 1980s and 1990s? It costs a lot to put that type of setup together, to hire and pay the people, the cost of the photography paper and equipment is not cheap. And what’s wrong with someone being paid for their professionalism? Does it cost the same to buy groceries, fix your car, watch TV, get school photos and buy medicine, etc. How much are your cigarettes, booze, cell phone or Starbucks? If it’s too much for you, I’m sorry, but that’s reality. There is a lot of things that I would like too, but if I can’t afford them, I don’t get them. I think $25 to $30 to start is more than reasonable. — Rick Proctor, via iNFOnews.ca 

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Sahali Mall has an amazing Santaland Village, and it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. The village layout they have of the North Pole is absolutely beautiful and so creative. Their Santa is a lot of fun and great with kids, and so affordable! An entire family can get multiple photos for just $25 with multiple poses, and the kiddos even get a surprise from Santa himself. I’ve seen so many kiddos come out of there with huge smiles on their faces and no lineups. It’s definitely a plus. — Boni Braem, via iNFOnews.ca

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OMG, I agree with this. I was appalled at the cost of one sheet with two 5x7 photos and a five minute conversation with Santa before being shuffled along out. Terrible. The meaning of this has been truly lost. — Katina Marie Gervasi, via iNFOnews.ca 

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Christmas is all about greed now. Not everyone, but I believe especially big companies, it’s only profit. I agree profit is important but the original message of Christmas is long gone. — Glen Dondaneau, via iNFOnews.ca 

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I just read your article about the prohibitive cost for families to have their children visit Santa. I’m an elderly, amateur photographer, sick at the moment, but I have many memories of taking my children to see Santa, photos for the family, albums, most importantly memories of my children, so excited and happy. We have a very active photographers club here in Kamloops, lots of talent and equipment. I don’t know what the deal is at Aberdeen, so I can’t criticize, just thinking that with all the resources we have here in this town, we should be able to do this for our families, and we should. We have great outdoor sites here in our city, plenty of resources, but we do need some group or agency to organize it. It doesn’t have to be in competition with Aberdeen. Just a thought about Kamloops being a little kinder to our families at Christmas. — Robin Dunn, via email 

Kelowna removes Keep Christ in Christmas sign from downtown nativity display

Your last article (some wingnuts want to take Christ out of Christmas) wound me so tight I was constipated for two days, (at my age, that ain't good) and my suggestion to the persons dilemma was another option. It got me to wonder when have we, as a society, become so self-indulgent, (I believe the term used today is "entitled") that no seems to object? Or, could it be that new people have moved to a new area, and really haven't witnessed the local atmosphere during the holiday season, or, because of my age, I am just too damn opinionated. Don't matter, I'm the one who will enjoy this holiday season, oh, and b.t.w. ... MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone, hope yours is a festive one! — Trent Biggar, via email

Trump takes another shot on Truth Social at Canada becoming 51st state

I’m not too surprised that some Canadians want to join the us. After all we have a small amount of truckers who think we have no freedom. When what we have is a lack of political representation.
Many OECD countries have far better democracies than ours but the US is not one of them. The only advantage they have over us is an elected senate but how they are elected leaves a lot of room for improvement. They also have some checks and balances on their president (for now). Since the PET years we’ve seen more and more power in the PMO to the point that local representatives are just highly paid seat warmers for the PMO. So what we have is not great but there’s far worse out there and sometimes to close for comfort. — Anthony Plourde, via email

iN RESPONSE to Dec. 20 newsletter editorial regarding newsletter editorial subscriptions 

I love reading your newsletter. Have a Merry Christmas. — Janice Douglas, via email

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I find your articles are fair and non judgmental and I read and watch almost nothing but news or documentaries. Every now and then I’ll watch a fictitious movie but if there’s one based on true life I’ll watch that. So what I’m trying to say is I really appreciate you reporting on local news. But skip the international stuff unless it applies to us because the big guys have already covered that.

Keep up the great work.

Anthony Plourde, via email

Letter to the editor 

At this time of year, there's no shortage of Christmas movies and TV shows. There are retellings of the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, It's A Wonderful Life, Elf, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, several versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, made-for-TV holiday romances, and many more.

Joshua Gibbs is the director of The Classical Teaching Institute at The Ambrose School (Meridian, Idaho). In his review of the 2006 dystopian action thriller Children of Men, he describes it as "the greatest Christmas movie of all time".

Children of Men stars Clive Owen and Julianne Moore, with a screenplay based on P. D. James' 1992 novel The Children of Men. The film is set in 2027 when two decades of human infertility have left society on the brink of collapse. Asylum seekers seek sanctuary in the United Kingdom, where they are subjected to detention and deportation by the government.

Reviewer Gibbs says Children of Men is "timeless" in a truly theological sense of the word.

His full review, Children of Men: Rachel Weeping In The 21st Century, is found online.

David Buckna, via email 

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