Construction ongoing at North Shore Access Hub (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

ACCESS HUB

North Shore access hub opening delayed to late January: BC Housing

Dec 31, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops approved a temporary use permit for the North Shore access hub on November 26. The permit for the access hub shelter at 142 Tranquille Road was approved by a 7-1 vote, with only Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson opposed.

At that time, city council reduced the length of the permit from three years to 20 months, allowing for more checks and balances to be in place to ensure impacts to the surrounding businesses and community could be mitigated.

“We are pursuing the temporary use permit so it can happen really quickly. If the permit is approved today we can start construction and people can be sheltered next month, by the end of December,” said BC Housing’s Director of Regional Development Tyler Baker on November 26, 2024.

With just mere hours left in 2024, that original goal from BC Housing will not be met. In an emailed statement to CFJC News, BC Housing confirmed it is now expecting to open the 44-bed shelter in late January.

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“To support this BC Housing is adding a 44-bed shelter to 142 Tranquille Rd. in Kamloops, which is expected to open in late January of 2025,” reads the emailed statement from BC Housing.

The ministry notes construction of the necessary updates within the space, including fire systems and security upgrades, is now scheduled to be completed in early January, ahead of the late January opening.

Email from BC Housing to CFJC News

Kamloops city council approved a 20-month permit for the site, which despite the delays, is still set to expire on July 26, 2026.

CFJC News will have more on this story on Thursday (Jan 2), speaking with the operator of the shelter, ASK Wellness, about the delays and next steps.