Image credit: CFJC Today/Kent Simmonds

By Marty Hastings

LOOP CLOSED

The Loop drop-in centre on Kamloops North Shore permanently closed

Aug 3, 2024 | 11:00 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Loop drop-in centre was permanently closed on Saturday (Aug. 3) morning, according to Ray Dhaliwal, owner of Ray’s Lock and Key and Brown’s Repair.

Dhaliwal said he was contacted by a bailiff on Friday (Aug. 2) and given 24 hours’ notice to be at the The Loop on Saturday, noting he arrived at 7 a.m.

RCMP and City of Kamloops community services officers were there to keep peace while Dhaliwal and an assistant tended to locks and secured the building, Dhaliwal said.

There were no confrontations and there was no one in the building when he arrived, Dhaliwal said.

Kamloops RCMP Sgt. Kurt Veller told CFJC Today one RCMP member was there to keep peace.

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The facility has been a day space for the homeless, offering meals and storage for belongings, but the building at 405 Tranquille Rd. was purchased earlier this year by Kamloops realtor Brendan Shaw.

The Loop remained open after eviction day, which was scheduled for July 31.

Hilke said he told Shaw on Monday or Tuesday of this past week that July 31 does not work, as he is looking for answers on alternative storage space for food and items such as seating and kitchen equipment.

Shaw said all communication from that point forward will go through Shaw’s public-relations firm, according to Hilke.

Hilke said he texted Shaw on Wednesday to say movers are scheduled to be at the Loop on Saturday, but there was no response and when movers showed up on Saturday, they were not allowed access to the building.

“As of today, because Mustard Seed is already closed and Ask Wellness does their one sandwich a day, Monday to Friday, there is literally no food available for people in the city that need access to food, whether they’re homeless, whether they have no money left for food after pay their rent,” Hilke said. “That’s the situation Brendan has decided he wants to participate in. It’s terrible what’s taking place.”

Shaw issued a statemen on Saturday: “On the morning of Aug. 3, 2024, possession of 405 Tranquille Rd. was made with a bailiff securing the site. Unfortunately, the mutually agreed upon July 31, 2024, timeline to vacate was not honoured by the tenant. Regarding a year-round shelter with services, I look forward to further announcements from the Access Hub Leadership Committee.”

Hilke said plans are in place to provide food and water for those in need this weekend and noted a mobile system was established two days ago.

Dhaliwal said he was there on Saturday to perform a service for a client, the bailiff, and there was no cost to the city to secure the building, except for payment of CSOs in attendance.

“It is well overdue,” Dhaliwal said. “I knew when they moved from Royal Avenue, the same operator, I had warned the BIA [North Shore Business Improvement Association] what was coming over there. The same thing had happened on Royal Avenue and destroyed business in the area and made it uncomfortable for people to live. It happened at The Loop.”

Hilke said there are opportunities arising for an alternate location for The Loop.

“We can speak about that at another time, but right now, the priority, the crisis, is that there is no food available in town for people,” Hilke said.