Public safety rally (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH RALLY

‘Our personal safety isn’t being looked out for’; Kamloops residents rally for public safety

Apr 27, 2023 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — More than 60 Kamloops residents joined together out front of City Hall Thursday (April 27) to say, ‘Enough is enough’ and demand action on public safety concerns.

Rebecca Baechle, a local business owner, came down to the event because she’s seeing first hand the state of crime in Kamloops.

“There needs to be responsibility and there needs to be consequences. I think that is really what the public is looking for — a more balanced equation because what we are feeling is that we are really on the short end of the stick here and it’s not a balanced equation and our personal safety isn’t being looked out for,” said Baechle.

At one point in the rally, tensions hit a boiling point with anger being directed towards Glenn Hilke, who runs The Loop on the North Shore. In that moment Baechle came forward to redirect the conversation.

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“We really wanted this to be about public safety and that to be the issue, and be a place where all the citizens here could have their voices heard,” said Baechle. “Being able to be somebody in the middle and take that mic away from him for a second to remind everybody what we where there for and that wasn’t to fight with each other but put the pressure on city hall and the government to give us more resources.”

Todd Mason sold his downtown business due to the increase of crime he was dealing with it. He’s looking for action from all levels of government and the justice system.

“That means that the majority of people are coming back out again the day after and committing the same crimes. We need to do something about that, it’s time,” said Mason.

While fingers were on occasion being pointed toward the homeless population for all of the challenges in the city, a number of advocates were there speaking to the needs of those suffering with mental health and addictions.

“They are mentally ill, they cannot get help and to me that’s the big issue. And it’s everywhere in the province — there isn’t enough adequate help for these people. And they aren’t all criminals. Some of them are nice people,” said Penny Douglas, who lost her son to the overdose crisis.

Attendees agreed that more work will be needed to ensure everybody is working together for the common good, but were happy to see Kamloops residents engaged and speaking out for change.

“It’s way better to have people out here looking at people in the eyes,” said Baechle. “I think as far as we are concerned this was civil and it much better than being on social media and bashing each other back and forth. I think anytime to get out in public and talk to one another it is always a step in the right direction.”