So, how happy are we?

We’re all just one big happy family pleased as punch to be living in the Tournament Capital of Canada, according to the just-released 2009 Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

And that’s a good thing. But then, we’ve been happy campers for quite awhile now. In fact, not much changes in the two to three years between surveys, going back to when they were started.

How close to the truth is this survey? First off, I’ve heard it said the sample is too small to get a good reading.

In fact, though, 400 is an awfully big survey in opinion-poll terms. The science of surveys indicates that, in a city of our population, a larger survey would not yield much different results.

The margin of error in the survey was plus or minus 4.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20, which is another way of saying it’s pretty darn accurate.

It’s not the last word, though. It provides only the most general direction for City Hall. Plus, it gives our civic politicians and staff some bragging material — if people say they’re happy, those who run the city must be doing something right.

Mayor Peter Milobar seems to like this year’s results, as did Terry Lake in 2006. A handy point for mayors and councilors come budget time is that — according to the survey — more people would rather see taxes go up than services go down.

Which is good, since we haven’t seen a tax cut in more than a decade.

Overall satisfaction always ranks in the high 90s, but the story is in the detail. For example, this year, 34 per cent said they felt less safe than they did five years ago. That’s about average for such surveys in the province, but it’s interesting that, back in 2003, the number was considerably higher, at 47 per cent.

This is a good trend, despite the off-stated concerns about needing more police.

There’s lots of stuff in this year’s survey about spending priorities, what people like most about living here, about what issues are top of mind, and so on.

Which raises the question, is the $18,000 bill for the survey worth it? I think it is. Politicians are supposed to ask people what they want, and the survey is one way of doing it.

It’s not the only way, though. While the satisfaction poll gives some direction, the City takes many other surveys during the year on specific issues, such as neighbourhood plans, transit, pesticides and planning measures.

I don’t see the survey posted on the City’s website yet, but try logging on in a few days and give it a glance.

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Thompson-Nicola Film Commissioner Vicci Weller recently saw the movie 2012, filmed in part locally, and pronounces it worth the price of admission.

“I saw 2012 last night and was thrilled to see what was ‘envisioned’ when I scouted for this film versus the reality in the film,” she comments in a memo to TNRD staff. “Keep in mind that the script was ‘top secret’ and I was only given verbal descriptions as to what they were looking for.”

Lac du Bois stood in for Yellowstone Park in the film, a campsite near McLean Lake was used for a scene with Woody Harrelson, and John Cusack drives an RV along Haywood-Farmer Road. Perry Ranch, Red Lake Road, and the Ashcroft hills were among other locales.

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Wayne McRann of Developing World Connections, the local do-good agency that does work in countries around the world, spends a lot of time away from home.

Lately, he was back in Tangalle, the small Sri Lankan town that Kamloops signed an aid agreement with in the wake of the tsunami.

While there, he attended a meeting of the local committee working with Kamloops on rebuilding the town, including housing, economic and infrastructure issues.

To get an idea of what Tangalle is facing, the education department there has the use of just one toilet described by McRann as “disgusting.”

A group from DWC and the Kamloops-Tangalle Friendship Committee will be over there in January to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the signing of the protocol, and it’s expected they’ll go to work building a new four-toilet facility.

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AROUND TOWN: Kamloops’ best-known barber, Coun. John DeCicco, celebrated his 65^th birthday Monday with wife Darlene and a group of friends at their home. . . . Phil Gaglardi is in the Christmas spirit. A wreath has been placed on the outstretched arm of his statue at Gaglardi Square. . . . I see City council’s expense numbers have been released, with Coun. Marg Spina topping the list. It’s an annual tradition now for mayor and council to justify their expenditures by pointing out they’re lower than what they budgeted. Hmmm — I suppose all they’d have to do to make them lower still would be to increase the expense budget. . . . WinterLights judges arrived in town this week for a busy round of events, including yesterday’s very nice luncheon at St. Andrews. City staff received special praise from Kamloops Downtown BIA manager Gay Pooler for all their work. Coun. Pat Wallace took top prize in council’s wreath-decorating contest.