Halloween rally planned to save Stuart Wood School from ‘frightful’ end

Councillors Dale Bass, Nancy Bepple, Stephen Karpuk and Katie Neustaeter were opposed.

Middleton told CFJC Today she tabled the motion following concerns around demolishing the current RCMP detachment on Battle Street, adding it would be “problematic” to have the RCMP work next to construction zone for several years.

“I think the community has spoken to us that that is not really a great option,” Middleton said. “Anytime when you’re looking for locations and opportunities, they can arise and disappear quickly, so I didn’t want to just leave it sitting.”

But Andrew Yarmie, who sits on the city’s Heritage Engagement Group, told CFJC Today they were “shocked” by that motion, adding that demolishing Stuart Wood School “is just beyond comprehension.”

“It’s still a major heritage site within Kamloops as important as St. Andrews Church and the Old Courthouse,” Yarmie said. “There’s lot of heritage buildings being lost to new development and what we want to do is stop it here.”

Like Yarmie, rally organizers lamented the current state of the Stuart Wood building, which was built in 1907 and used as a school until 2016. It has sat vacant ever since, save for the gym, which has been used as a temporary shelter for the past several years.

“It is being left to fall into disrepair due to a lack of adequate maintenance,” the statement from rally organizers said.

“There is little heritage left in Kamloops and the school building is iconic. The school yard is used by hundreds of children from nearby daycares every day. The building shelters dozens of people day and night, and thousands of meals are provided to those in need throughout year.”

While Middleton suggested it might be possible to repurpose the property and save the facade, rally organizers want the incoming city council to commit to preserving the existing school building and to start taking action to restore it so it is fully usable.

The next Kamloops council is scheduled to decide how to fund the new RCMP project early next year.

The city’s top cop said police are monitoring this latest development, adding they’re optimistic that it won’t cause further delays as the the current Battle Street detachment is bursting at the seams.

“There was a formal plan for this [Battle Street] site specifically, and all options are being considered, and I have no information that it is going to currently delay the process,” Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley told CFJC Today.

“We have specific criteria for what sites would be suitable and we’re going to continue to work with the municipality with respect to that and make sure we have the best site possible for our operations.”

At Saturday’s rally, organizers say there will be speakers and activities, as well as Halloween candy for the kids. They’re also optimistic that this is the first of many such rallies aimed at saving the downtown Kamloops icon.

“Join in and show your support to keep heritage in the heart of the city,” the statement from organizers added.

by Victor Kaisar

Halloween rally planned to save Stuart Wood School from ‘frightful’ end

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