Tank the cat (Image Credit: Facebook)

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Tank the cat, and other stories of Kamloops’ generosity

Dec 14, 2019 | 8:21 AM

IS IT ANY SURPRISE that Kamloops is the most generous city in Canada?

According to GoFundMe, Tournament Capital residents gave more per capita through the fundraising platform this past year than any other city in the country with populations of more than 50,000.

That’s impressive, especially since the top five were all in B.C., others being Victoria, Nanaimo, Chilliwack and Kelowna. Prince George was right up there, too, in seventh place.

Worldwide, Canada is in fourth spot, behind Ireland, the U.S., and Australia, ahead of the U.K. and several other European nations.

Kamloops is an amazing place when it comes to people helping each other. We’ve all known this for a long time, but we should pat ourselves on the back now and then.

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When The Daily News was still in operation (it seems so long ago now), we were always amazed how, whenever we published a story about someone who had suffered a loss or needed help, people would start coming to the front counter to drop off donations, or send money in the mail.

Obviously, that spirit of giving has not waned. One of the most outstanding examples is our response to the wildfires of a couple of years ago, when the town received thousands of evacuees and made sure they were all sheltered, clothed and fed, many of them for weeks.

With them came their dogs, cats, horses, pigs, chickens and ducks.

During the holiday season, there are dozens of charities collecting cash and gifts to provide for those who might otherwise have a pretty depressing Christmas, not to mention all the fundraising that goes on for organizations the rest of the year.

Name any major community project and people come through with support, ranging from a few dollars raised by kids in their classrooms to millions from corporations.

As revealed in a CFJC Today story, despite the generosity shown through GoFundMe, local charities like the United Way, A Way Home Kamloops and the Kamloops YM-YWCA sometimes struggle to meet their goals.

But those are big organizations with big asks and ongoing needs. The difference between them and most GoFundMe campaigns is that the latter are mainly grassroots efforts for un-anticipated one-time events that have befallen individuals.

The story mentioned the 2.9 per cent GoFundMe admin fee but I would think that compares very favourably to the admin costs of most charities.

Yes, the public does get tapped out this time of year but throughout the year, when things get tough, Kamloops gets going.

Nobody will ever forget the night of the Parkcrest elementary fire. The ashes hadn’t even cooled yet before offers of help started coming in.

Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised on GoFundMe for teachers who had lost all their teaching materials in the fire.

There are many outstanding examples. Sometimes it’s to pay funeral expenses, sometimes to pay medical costs like cancer treatments and surgery, or to replace something that’s been stolen. Sometimes for causes, like climate change action. For some reason, things to do with hockey are very popular.

Here at home, the Baby Charles Memorial Fund has raised $1,860 to defray expenses.

More than $11,000 was raised to cover the cost of a funeral for Feyi Adebowale, one of the international students who tragically died in that terrible crash on First Avenue on Oct. 3.

A GoFundMe fundraiser is underway for a memorial bench for Lucy Phua, the TRU employee killed in a crosswalk Nov. 15 near the university. It’s raised $2,630, and there will soon be a bench with her name on it in Kenna Cartright Park, her favourite hiking spot.

Often, the amount raised exceeds the target. A fund to help in rehab for Evan Mutrie, who was struck by a virus that paralyzed him from the neck down in 2014, raised more than $32,000, far exceeding the $25,000 goal.

A fund to support Mitch Philpott, who broke his back mountain biking at Sun Peaks two summers ago, brought in $45,000, $5,000 more than the goal.

Some campaigns are less heart-wrenching but touch the heart nonetheless. Take the case of Tank, nicknamed the Loops cat.

Tank is 10 years old and has a serious weight problem. More importantly, she grew painful mattes and was badly in need of a shave by a vet.

Tayler Marchment is not Tank’s owner but she took on her case (there’s more background to the story on the GoFundMe page and on a Facebook video).

What to do? GoFundMe, of course. She put out a plea for $1,000 to stake Tank to her grooming sessions and get her started on special food.

That was Oct. 17. On Nov. 25, thanks to $480 in donations, Tank made a trip to the vet’s for a shave. Unfortunately, she’s been diagnosed with diabetes, so Marchment is still encouraging donations for food and a food dispenser that will control Tank’s intake.

Tank, meanwhile, is looking much healthier and happier.

The list goes on. Twenty-two thousand dollars to help Tory Jones, paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident. Eleven thousand for Tara Bouvette, injured when a moose collided with her vehicle.

According to GoFundMe, in Canada, Tuesday is the most popular day to start a fundraiser; Thursday is the most popular day to donate. More than $9 billion in total has been donated through its campaigns.

As GoFundMe’s “A Year in Giving” report says, “We can all be heroes.” Kamloops is full of heroes.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, former school board chair, former editor of The Kamloops Daily News, and a current director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He was awarded the Jack Webster Foundation’s lifetime achievement award in 2011 and was a 2019 Commentator of the Year finalist in the Websters. His editorials are published Monday through Thursdays, and Saturdays on CFJC Today, CFJC Midday and CFJC Evening News. Contact him at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.