Kamloops Critic

06/06/2026

Many voters hear that replacing incumbents is risky because experience matters. But should voters prioritize experience—or the results Council has delivered?

Read more:

https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/experienced-councillors-or-better-results/

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Do experienced councillors deliver better results, or should voters focus on accountability and performance?

06/04/2026

Who owns The Confluence?

The answer should be simple.

City records, Council reports, housing agreements, media coverage, and recent comments by a sitting councillor all suggest BC Housing owns the 80-unit affordable housing development at 346 Campbell Avenue.

But land transfer documents tell a different story.

A review of public records reveals years of conflicting information about the ownership of one of Kamloops' most significant affordable housing projects.

This article follows the documentary trail and asks a straightforward question: Why don't the records agree?

Read the full investigation here: https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/who-owns-confluence-kamloops/

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City records said BC Housing would own Confluence. Land transfer documents show ASK Wellness acquired the property. Why do the records differ?

05/31/2026

📅 When does a public City Council meeting start?

Apparently, nobody knows.

Kamloops' June 2 Committee of the Whole meeting was originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Months later, Council voted to schedule a closed meeting at the same time and move the public meeting to begin "immediately following" the closed session.

That means residents, presenters, and anyone hoping to attend are left guessing when the meeting will actually begin.

This isn't the first time Committee of the Whole meetings have been moved. Looking through Council records, I found a pattern of public meetings being rescheduled after closed meetings are added to the calendar.

The bigger question is simple:

Why does Council keep moving Committee of the Whole meetings?

And why are public meetings repeatedly being expected to accommodate closed meetings rather than the other way around?

I dug through the agendas, minutes, and meeting schedules to find out.

Read the full article here:

👉 https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/why-does-council-keep-moving-committee-of-the-whole-meetings/

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Kamloops Council has repeatedly changed Committee of the Whole meeting schedules. The latest change leaves residents wondering when the June 2 meeting will begin.

05/24/2026

After years of criticizing Kamloops City Council through Kamloops Critic, I am reconsidering whether remaining outside the system is enough — or whether participation is necessary to create meaningful change.

https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/after-a-year-of-criticizing-council-should-i-run-for-it/

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After a year of criticizing Council decisions through Kamloops Critic, I am reconsidering whether remaining outside the system is enough — or whether participating directly in local government could make a meaningful difference.

05/23/2026

Checked out Lakeside Heffley Hideaway this week.

Visit their site at https://www.lakesideheffleyhideaway.com/

Had the place mostly to ourselves. Nice lake views. Crazy bird sounds start around 8 pm.

The bistro was a bonus. Juicy burger and seasoned fries and gravy. Next time, I’ll try out some of the Mexican menu items, like tacos and fajitas.

Friendly people. Reasonably priced. We’ll visit again.

What’s your favourite place to camp at?

Enjoy a serene retreat at Lakeside Heffley Hideaways. Relax in cozy cabins & RV sites with stunning lake views. Book your getaway today!

05/18/2026

So… are those affected by the water crisis going to get a credit on their utility bills?

05/11/2026

He didn’t defeat anyone.

He was the only nominee.

Kamloops Councillor Bill Sarai is now President of SILGA—less than a year after a code of conduct breach involving a secret recording and admitted dishonesty.

So how does that happen?

We broke down the full sequence—from investigation to sanctions to promotion.

Read it here: https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/bill-sarai-silga-president-kamloops/

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Bill Sarai becomes SILGA President in an uncontested bid despite a recent code of conduct breach. Questions remain about accountability.

05/09/2026

Kamloops allows electronic signatures for AAP forms.

Other municipalities still require handwritten signatures. Some don’t accept electronic submissions at all.

The Province leaves it up to local governments. The result is a patchwork of rules across BC.

Here’s how Kamloops approached it—and how it compares.

🔗 Read more: https://kamloopscritic.ca/.../kamloops-electronic-aap.../

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Kamloops allows electronic signatures for AAP response forms, while other BC municipalities still require handwritten signatures or paper submissions.

05/03/2026

So glad we discovered this place on the way to Cinnamon Ridge today. Such nice people, wonderful selection and reasonable prices.

If your flower beds aren’t full yet, and you love shopping local, check them out. Keep them in mind for Mother’s Day too. Who doesn’t love a beautiful hanging basket?

The wait is finally over — we’re OPEN 🌿✨

After a windy start and a few delays, we’re so excited to welcome you to your new favourite local garden centre. Come check out the brand new greenhouse — it’s full and ready!

We’ve got bedding plants, veggie starts, berries, perennials, herbs, and beautiful hanging baskets waiting for you.

Come take a stroll, get inspired, and kick off the season with us 🌸

04/25/2026

As Kamloops approaches the 2026 civic election, a question is starting to come up more often:

Should voters re-elect the current City Council?

There’s a lot of frustration right now—but frustration alone doesn’t change outcomes.

This article breaks down what’s actually driving concerns, how municipal voting really works, and why turnout and voting choices matter more than most people think.

If you’re planning to vote in 2026, it’s worth understanding how the system works before making a decision.

Read more: https://kamloopscritic.ca/post/2026/kamloops-city-council-2026-incumbents/

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Should Kamloops voters re-elect current councillors in 2026? A clear look at turnout, incumbents, and how municipal voting actually works.