That’s the kind of week it was
Armchair Mayor column for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010
It was definitely that kind of a week. . . .
WRITE FIRST, THINK LATER: Would it kill Kim Sigurdson to have someone else read his letters before he sends them out, so he can get a second opinion on their contents?
His letter to the Environmental Appeal Board, in which he made this statement — “It has become a media circus with people who purport to be environmentalists when in reality they are either totally indifferent or racist” — may have done more public relations damage to his project than all the rallies and letters to the editor that Save Kamloops could ever muster.
We know Sigurdson has received racist emails (as I’ve mentioned previously in this column), but a letter to the Environmental Appeal Board is not the place to complain about it. If you are going to bring it up, make sure you distinguish between those who have legitimate concerns and those few who should be ashamed of themselves for bringing race into the debate.
On the other hand, this should ensure a lively public forum on March 11 when Sigurdson will speak at the TRU Grand Hall, as if it wasn’t going to be lively anyway.
WHO KNEW CURLERS ARE HOT: While the rest of you have been ooing and awing over hockey, figure skating and skiing for the past two weeks, I’ve been glued to the obscure secondary sports channels that have faithfully televised curling.
It’s a good thing we have two television sets in our house because otherwise there could have been a battle for the remote. As a one-time competitive curler in my younger days, I’ve always enjoyed watching the sport some people shrug off as glorified housekeeping.
Despite the fact it lost something when the old corn brooms were turned in for those push-push things — which make curlers look entirely goofy when they’re in motion — curling remains Canada’s second-most popular sport.
But, up to now, it’s never been sexy. Along came John Morris and Cheryl Bernard. Morris, who plays third for Kevin Martin’s Canadian reps, was recently named by Entertainment Tonight as one of Canada’s most eligible bachelors. “Yum,” is how one female fan describes him on Twitter.
Every time Canadian women’s skip Cheryl Bernard hit the ice during these Olympics, the TV commentators felt it important to mention what great shape she’s in. “She works out every day. She’s incredibly fit,” they say, especially for a woman of 43. In other words, she’s hot.
As it turns out, Bernard is one of the all-time most popular Google searches for people desperately hoping they’ll find a photo of her in a swimsuit. And the blogs are on fire with admirers. “She’s smoking hot,” is a typical comment.
Curling is not what it used to be.
ONE LESS SCHOOL WOULDN’T HAVE HURT:
There were a lot of disappointed people, and a lot of relieved ones, this week when the school board revealed its plans to close a handful of schools to deal with its financial and enrolment issues.
Unfortunately, Stuart Wood wasn’t one of them. Not that I don’t think Stu Wood isn’t a great building, quite the opposite. It’s been a good school, a big part of our city’s history, and an architectural gem, but I have an ulterior motive.
Which is, of course, that Stuart Wood, which is owned by the City of Kamloops, would make a fantastic City Hall. The inside of the existing building could be properly restore and re-purposed, and matching annexes with appropriate architecture built on either end.
The front of the property could be landscaped into a wonderful entrance. Sometimes I despair that this City will ever build itself a seat of local government that we can all be proud of.
WHAT’S IN A NAME, ANYWAY? For the record, and especially for the gentleman who accused me of “dirty tricks,” I’m currently in negotiations with those who want to own the name Thompson Institute of Environmental Studies more than I do.
As you may know from last week’s column, I acquired the name while researching whether or not TIES is a registered society, which it isn’t.
TRU political science prof Derek Cook delivered an envelope earlier this week with a money order in payment for the name-reservation fee, but it was mistakenly for $60 (almost double the fee) so I’m now trying to return it via Ruth Madsen, so we can start over.
I’m sure it will all work out, but none of the groups opposing ACC — TIES, Save Kamloops, and Kamloops Health Coalition — is a registered society. Does no one get around to making these groups official anymore?
LOOK UP, WAY UP: On Tuesday, financial analyst Lanny Pendrill was in town saying it’s unlikely gasoline prices will go up any time soon.
By the time our story was published Tuesday, local prices had gone up seven cents a litre. Overnight increases of that magnitude seem to be all too common these days.
The reasons for such a wide range of gas prices from one nearby community to another continue to be a mystery to us consumers.
mrothenburger@kamloopsnews.ca
ArmchairMayor.ca 
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