Mayor Hamer-Jackson in front of what will become his new office (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

To the Basement

Kamloops’ mayoral office on the move

Oct 4, 2024 | 11:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — The mayor’s new digs, coming soon to a city hall near you. Kamloops council has announced that Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is being moved to the basement.

“What we decided to do is move the mayor’s office to a different location,” said Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly, speaking to CFJC Today Friday (Oct. 4). “We have put in multiple measures over the last six-to-12 months to keep our staff safe. Unfortunately those haven’t worked and we need to take this next measure to protect our staff.”

In recent months, the mayor had been sequestered into his old office, with access to the rest of City Hall restricted, but that step hasn’t gone far enough, according to O’Reilly, who pointed to several current Worksafe BC investigations.

“There are a total of four outstanding right now against the mayor from city staff. And again, we need to do what we can to keep our staff safe, and that’s why we made this decision,” said O’Reilly.

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“(Councillor Bill) Sarai has said it in council meetings, he said three, and I keep asking, ‘Who? When? Where? What?” responded Hamer-Jackson when asked about the investigations.

While the mayor hopes the city doesn’t spend a single cent renovating the former board room space, work is set to begin shortly, with no exact budget released.

“I have done a lot of work from home. I do a lot of work on my phone. I go out and talk to a lot of citizens, stuff like that. I hope they aren’t spending a lot of money on renovations, because they can just hold off right now, because I can work from my house, I can work from the lobby area,” added Hamer-Jackson.

It was also confirmed by O’Reilly that the news was leaked ahead of an official announcement, leading the mayor to again call for an investigation into city hall.

“I think it’s time that we really crunch down and find out who these leakers are because if they are elected officials, we took an oath of office, and if they are elected officials I think they should do the honourable thing and resign,” Hamer-Jackson told CFJC News.

Overall, O’Reilly reiterated how frustrating the term has been.

“There are people that aren’t feeling safe to come to work,” stated O’Reilly. “We have a legal obligation to provide that to all of our staff and that is why we have decided to move the mayor’s office to a different location.”