EDITORIAL – Stop insulting Kamloops and be thankful for a great city
Jamming in the park.
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
WHEN TOURISM KAMLOOPS reported that visitor numbers are rebounding but are still slightly lower than they were, a certain segment of Kamloopsians wasn’t impressed.
Why would anyone want to come here? is a question many ask. “It isn’t the city I grew up in. The street people and criminals have taken over. I’m going to move to Alberta as soon as I can.”
Well, certainly Kamloops has its share of problems. I, for one, have spoken on the side of tough love rather than permissive laissez-faire.
But let’s not be so down on the Tournament Capital. Many critics talk about the city as though it was to blame all on its own. It’s as if the city has allowed itself to deteriorate.
Hold on. The city is the people — all people who live here. We can blame politicians, for sure, for the frustrating inadequacy of the response to the problem. But it’s hardly time to write the place off as irredeemable and undeserving of our presence.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Thank you Mel. I just had visitors from Alberta with two little fellows. We spent time at the skate park at McArthur Island and at the new Riverside spray park – they loved it.
Lots of folks on a Sunday. All grassy areas needed so please do not build any more structures there. Our park – that has never been passive – see the early photo of the baseball field there – needs all the green space it can get as our population increases. Please take the rentals to Pioneer Park – would that not be a safer location.
I have other visitors coming from Alberta – they will spend time in the park, at Music in the Park and dining out at restaurants here and visit family and friend. They enjoy spending time here.
Even in the smoke we found indoor activities for small lungs. Hotel pool and trampolining.
Kamloops great place to visit great place to live. Move to Alberta – didn’t they get snow in July.
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