(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

PATHWAYS SHELTER TALK

Kamloops council sets details for public meeting on Pathways shelter

Mar 24, 2026 | 5:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was another contentious regular council meeting Tuesday (March 24). The conflict arose over a change in a regular meeting to allow more public input on the Pathways shelter. 

The shelter has been under scrutiny in recent weeks over a potential extension of its lease. A public meeting discussing the potential renewal has now been set for April 21.

The property that houses the shelter is owned by ARPA Investments. A director of the company is Joshua Knaak. Knaak is currently being sued by the mayor for defamation.

“I’m suing Joshua Knaak personally because he accused me of, basically, criminal acts that I had nothing to do with,” said Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson Tuesday. Testimony on the matter has yet to be heard in court.

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Pathways is an issue an independent investigator hired by the city has found the mayor to be in a conflict of interest over, thanks to the lawsuit. Councillors are allowed to declare themselves in conflict, something the mayor has refused to do, saying he had two lawyers tell him he is not in conflict. 

Despite council requests, the mayor has not provided any evidence of the lawyer’s opinion.

“Council has accepted the findings of that investigation report, directed you to furnish them with evidence of this legal advice. You do not necessarily have to give the opinion in its entirety, but a summary thereof, or at least a statement from a lawyer that they provided you with such advice,” said Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta Tuesday. 

As for the matter of Pathways, the mayor argued that there is no need for the meeting due to a recent survey from the NSBIA that showed 86 per cent of businesses located near the facility saying they do not want the shelter to continue there.

“The majority in that area, the tax base have already said they didn’t want it. So I guess if we do that, I guess we should do that in every case that we have,” said Hamer-Jackson.  

Councillor Nancy Bepple noted the mayor may want to step out as if the vote swings his way, there’s a chance a member of the public could challenge the decision in court.

“While you may want to participate in this matter, you may actually be harming the very outcome that you’re hoping for. Because if, in the end, the matter goes in the way that you vote, it can be challenged and thrown out,” said Bepple. 

The mayor voted against the rest of the seated council members, with the final tally being six for and one against the April 21 meeting. The meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Sandman Centre’s Kia Lounge, with an option for Zoom participation, as well.