The Riverside Park Rotary Bandshell (Image credit: CFJC Today).
ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: How do you keep track of all the rules?

Jul 6, 2025 | 6:00 AM

OK, I ADMIT IT. I like rules. They put order in my life.

I’ve done my share of bending, or even breaking them from time to time, but the rules don’t let me get too far astray. The City has done a good job of letting us know about the rules in Kamloops.

But sometimes, it’s just too much. In this stretch of roadwork, go this way. If you’re on this other stretch, go here. Trying to remember everything is hard, but those kinds of rules at least make sense; they protect us and keep us safe.

On the other hand, some rules make no sense at all. Take the new community plan, which we’re being asked to provide input on.

I don’t like these kinds of plans. I know they are just guidelines, but they often are meaningless. Some developer comes along and convinces the city that a new condo project is a more valuable use than parkland. So the plan goes out the window.

Suppose you’re moving to Kamloops and want to find a good neighbourhood to live in. You buy your house and sometime later some developer puts in a proposal with a plan to turn that whole area into apartments. The rules you thought you were living by have all changed.

Here’s another case of too many rules. The City, in its wisdom, has decided to allow drinking in an area of Riverside Park in front of the bandstand. Whether or not you like the thought, which I don’t, so many rules cover the use of the land, you will never know what set of rules you’re following at any given time.

Open the City’s web page, look up this new proposal, and you’ll see what I mean. They have made a rule to cover every possible use of that section of the park. Rules for general use, exceptions for specific occurrences, Canada Day has rules, sponsored events operate with different orders. It’s a litany of rubbish. No one will remember what’s what. Then some poor enforcement officer has to risk physical confrontation and tell some half-drunk person they are breaking tonight’s rule.

“But I was here last night, and I was doing the same thing, and it seemed alright.”

“But that was last night’s rule, and tomorrow night, we have a special sponsored event, and you won’t even be able to come in without a ticket”

So the frustrated man goes home, and maybe he doesn’t come back.

You see, plans and guidelines are great if you can make sense of them. And rules are great if they’re simple and easy to follow.

One thing I did take notice of was the fact the pickleball courts are just over the berm from the drinking area. A good marketing slogan would be to suggest you can go play pickleball, then walk over the berm to really get pickled. Simple, effective, and not too hard to follow. Too bad the rest of the rules aren’t as concise.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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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 Pattison Media.