ArmchairMayor.ca is a forum about Kamloops and the world. It has more than one million views.
Mel Rothenburger is the former Editor of The Daily News in Kamloops, B.C. (retiring in 2012), and past mayor of Kamloops (1999-2005). At ArmchairMayor.ca he is the publisher, editor, news editor, city editor, reporter, webmaster, and just about anything else you can think of. He is grateful for the contributions of several local columnists.
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Wow, this really hits close to home for me! My 27 year old brother drowned almost 5 years ago in the Thompson river. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket, although there were 2 of them in the boat. Owen tried to rescue his chihuahua after hitting a sandbar while out with a friend, in the dark. I don’t know if he was a strong enuf swimmer to be able to swim to shore, but a life jacket sure would have helped him float until rescue. Please wear lifejackets, all the time!! Let my pain and suffering be a lesson to you, to prevent you from having to go thru the same pain of losing a loved one. No one is invincible!! Let’s get rid of the ‘stigma’ there seems to be associated with wearing life jackets. It’s ridiculous!!!! Anything that helps you stay afloat when you fall out of a boat is WAY TOTALLY COOL!!!! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise; ignore them if you must. If they have an ‘issue’ with it, then it’s their ISSUE, not yours. Most of all, think of all the people who love you, don’t worry about what you look like. It’s what’s inside that counts.
Miss you so much Owen and Roxy!!
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