ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL – ‘No’ effort falls short, PAC, iceplex get green light

To the sound of cheers and passing trains, the announcement was made today (Sept. 23, 2024) on the front steps of City Hall — the City will build a new performing arts centre and four-sheet iceplex.

‘No’ side response forms didn’t reach the 10-per cent threshold of electors for either project, meaning the City can go ahead with borrowing $140 million for the PAC and $125 million for the sports facility. The iceplex borrowing bylaw also includes $10 million for development and design of other projects.

Under the AAP or alternative approval process, those opposed to either project had to return ‘No’ response forms to the City by the end of day last Friday. Those who didn’t return forms were assumed to vote ‘Yes.’ In order to force a referendum, 10 per cent of eligible voters or 8,713 of them, would have had to choose ‘No.’

The bylaw for the PAC attracted 6,363 ‘No’ votes, of which 561 were rejected for a valid total of 5,802, equivalent to 6.66 per cent of the threshold.

For the arena multiplex, 366 response forms were rejected out of 4,391 received, leaving 4,025 valid or 4.62 per cent.

“Over the last 45 days we have seen democracy at work,” Build Kamloops committee chair Mike O’Reilly told the crowd of about 150 people. “This AAP was democracy in action.”

He said the council had consciously chosen not to actively participate in the assent process. “We committed collectively to not chiming in and being part of the process.”

Construction on the Seymour Street PAC will begin in 2025 and on the sports facility in 2026, he said, and public fundraising will begin.

The AAP had created controversy apart from whether electors wanted the facilities. Some believed it was undemocratic and that the projects should have been put to referenda in which voters would mark ballots ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Several small groups organized the collection of response forms.

While the iceplex is a new project, the PAC has been on the City’s books since 2003 when it was included in a cultural plan. It was defeated in a 2015 referendum, and a later referendum was shelved due to COVID.

“This is such a positive step forward for Kamloops and now we can come together as a community and raise the funds to support these exciting projects,” said Brenda Aynsley, chair of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society.

Henry Pejril, president of the Kamloops Sports Council, was also excited about the outcome. “Now that we have certainty in our direction, we can get our Build Kamloops capital campaign up and firing on all cylinders.”