(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

NOMADS KAMLOOPS

Kamloops NOMADS call for government officials to open new day space

Jan 19, 2026 | 5:02 PM

KAMLOOPS – On December 19, NOMADS (Networking Outreach Meals Advocacy Development Supports) held a pop-up outside City Hall. The group did not have a permit and the group’s organizer, Glenn Hilke, was arrested.

Exactly one month later, Hilke told CFJC the ordeal has brought more attention to the group’s goal to raise awareness about the lack of a drop-in day space.

“You can’t have a hospital without an emergency room. You can’t have wraparound services without the starting point, and the starting point is the day space drop-in centre,” Hilke said. “We want to let the public know we’re on their side. Elected officials, provincial and city, they need to step up and make a decision.”

Mike Haertel has been volunteering with the group for the past few months and believes a year-round day space is necessary in Kamloops.

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“When the Mustard Seed closed the day room, we knew as a community it would have a big effect on [the street population],” said Haertel. “Obviously, with the prices of food, with the economy and the affordability crisis, I think it’s fundamental that people, especially those who are below the poverty line, have a fighting chance to be able to have availability for food.”

The volunteer group tries to bring those in need over to where they’re set up. They also drive around town trying to get food and clothing to as many people as they can. 

“If you look at other cities around and if you look at what Kelowna offers, they have three day spaces and they serve 700 people,” said Danica Fletcher, another volunteer with NOMADS. “Well, we have 700 people quite often who are on the street between Saturday and Sunday who we’re serving, and there’s no place for them to go.”

The CMHA extreme cold weather shelters are currently open, but Hilke believes if a day space like The Loop were open in Kamloops, it would free up some space in these shelters.

“Drop-In centres are places where people can gather, be held, taken care of, and then transported to these emergency spaces. That’s the sensible thing to do, because when you’re just out looking for people, it could be too late,” added Hilke.

The day after his arrest, Hilke told CFJC that while some city staff and councillors have spoken about the need for a drop-in day space, there appears to be little desire to act on those statements.

“The evidence is there in terms of the the need for a day space. City managers, CSOs, RCMP, Fire, they’re all saying this,” he said on Dec. 20, 2025. “Why isn’t it happening is the question that needs to be addressed by our elected officials.”

Hilke’s arrest also didn’t halt operations at NOMADS for more than an afternoon, and they plan to continue volunteering until they believe the need is properly addressed.