PETERS – Pineview announcement is great; Kamloops needs more
(Image: CFJC Today)
THE PROVINCIAL NDP GOVERNMENT missed an opportunity to score some major political points in Kamloops this week when it inexplicably announced approval for a new school in Pineview Valley via a late-afternoon news release.
The education minister could have held a big pep rally at McGowan Park Elementary, where most of the children who live in Pineview are attending.
She could have pointed out the sum total of schools built in Kamloops during 16 years of B.C. Liberal reign. That would be zero.
But instead, the minister was with all other MLAs in Victoria, sitting through a confounding legislative session where there is apparently nothing of substance worth debating.
In fact, by the time the Pineview elementary school is expected to open in 2026, it will have been more than a quarter-century between new schools in Kamloops.
James Peters is the radio anchor at CFJC, coming to Kamloops in 2006. He anchors the afternoon news on B-100 and 98.3 CIFM, and contributes weekly editorials to the CFJC Evening News. He tweets regularly @Jamloops.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Dear James.
A pep rally really. When we are trying to stop the spread of Covid, Flu, Norwok and that dreadful cold that has attacked people this winter.
The minister saved us tax $$ by staying in Victoria.
You mentioned schools that were closed and reopened. You forgot ones sold that would come in handy right now – MacPark and George Slater. Also George Hilliard reopened as a school when Parkcrest sadly burned. Parkcrest will be a new school when completed.
Our one downtown school Lloyd George is French Immersion – children come from all over the city.
Children in downtown who do not go to French Immersion go to Beattie Elementary. It may make more sense to have Ralph Bell when it reopened be French Immersion and have Lloyd George be the downtown school.
Some schools have been repurposed like Pineridge, Happyvale and John Tod.
Do some historic research on enrolment – families move into a neighborhood- have kids- kids – schools needed – kids grow up – schools not needed – but families stay in their neighborhood.
Perhaps it is time to look at alternatives to building more schools.
Year round schooling, shifts, 7 day school week for use of schools.
Just some thoughts for SD 73 Trustees to ponder.
Besides the “got to find something to jab them just because” this is another example of pointless nonsense from CFJC-TV news room. Tell us something worthwhile and tell it objectively with journalistic integrity or “stay off the airways”…all this noise is irritating.