File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Stop insulting Kamloops and be thankful for a great city

Jul 19, 2023 | 5:00 AM

WHEN TOURISM KAMLOOPS reported that visitor numbers are rebounding but are still slightly lower than they were, a certain segment of Kamloopsians wasn’t impressed.

Why would anyone want to come here? is a question many ask. “It isn’t the city I grew up in. The street people and criminals have taken over. I’m going to move to Alberta as soon as I can.”

Well, certainly Kamloops has its share of problems. I, for one, have spoken on the side of tough love rather than permissive laissez-faire.

But let’s not be so down on the Tournament Capital. Many critics talk about the city as though it was to blame all on its own. It’s as if the city has allowed itself to deteriorate.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

Hold on. The city is the people — all people who live here. We can blame politicians, for sure, for the frustrating inadequacy of the response to the problem. But it’s hardly time to write the place off as irredeemable and undeserving of our presence.

For starters, Kamloops is not alone in struggling with this. Certainly, Alberta is having the same problem. Cities all over the world are fighting it, too. Every one of them is trying to find the answers to rampant drug addictions and crime.

Try looking at the travel advisories and you’ll find a lot of countries we’re advised to stay clear of because they’re unsafe for a variety of reasons — crime is definitely one of them.

Kamloops is a beautiful place. It is a better place than it was when you grew up in it. Think about all the amenities that have been built since you, its critics, were born.

It is a clean, safe community. Not as clean and safe as it could be, but it continues to improve and to grow in so many ways. And the people are great.

Acknowledge the problems, sure, but remember that we’re lucky to call this our home.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

—

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