KAMLOOPS — It’s been a year of growth and new challenges for the city of Kamloops.
Mayor Ken Christian sat down with James Peters for Balance of Power this week to discuss the year that was.
2019 was a year of big plans and big projects for the city.
“We’re closing in on another record building permit year, somewhere in and around $270 million,” Christian said, “That’s over last year, and that was a record and 2017 was a record, so things are really on fire in Kamloops right now.”
Royal Inland Hospital’s Patient Care Tower is one project that has influenced the building numbers for the year.
It’s a project that Christian believes will benefit the city, both in future growth and doctor recruitment and retention.
“This Royal Inland Hospital project is just going to be an impetus in terms of our efforts to attract some additional services to Kamloops, in particular radiation-oncology, and attracting specialists into our community,” he said. “Having that kind of a facility, which will be a state-of-the-art hospital in Kamloops, that not only will serve Kamloops, but serve the region, I think is important.”
Image Credit: CFJC TodayBut, with growth comes an added strain on the infrastructure of Kamloops. The city began work on some of its oldest infrastructure this year, in a major reconstruction of West Victoria Street.
“That was a $13 million project and hats off to Darren Crundwell and the team at Extreme Excavating because they really managed this project differently in terms of the consultation with the businesses and the publicity in and around the project and the updates they were providing,” Christian said. “We caught a break, we got a good construction year, we got a little bit ahead of that.”
This was the first full year for the newly elected council. While this translated to a steep learning curve, councillors were able to map out a strategic plan for their entire term.
Image Credit: CFJC TodayThe new council also took great strides in building upon the relationship with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc.
“We are in constant communication with them and it’s positive communication,” Christian said. “We have developed an archaeological agreement to respect artifacts that we find from time to time during major construction, and protocols in terms of how we handle that and a liason between our museum and the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Museum over there.”
For Christian, the changing of the calendar year spells new opportunities.
New tourism initiatives are set to take shape, construction will begin on Tranquille Road, and a referendum will be held on a performing arts centre.
“That project, if it’s approved by the public, and I hope it is, that will be transformational in terms of Downtown Kamloops, and that, I think, will lead itself to a lot of other development in downtown,” Christian said.
Looking into 2020, Christian is optimistic about the city’s ability to weather any future challenges.
You can watch the full interview with Mayor Ken Christian on Balance of Power tonight (Dec. 19) at 7:00.
