I have been told I have crazy ideas, out of the box ideas, that I am different, strange, unique and special. I embrace all of those compliments. The Sidney opera house, or the Lions Gate bridge or the new Webb space telescope came to be without thinking different. Here are a few of my, “crazy ideas”
Vision
Consider the Overlanders's bridge. Commissioned in 1958 and completed in 1961. In 1961, Canada Census indicates that approximately 6300 people lived in Brock, North Kamloops, Tranquille, Westmount and the Westsyde Rate payers Assoc. combined. Think about it. They built a 4-lane bridge for just over 6K people!! I can only imagine what the criticism would have been for that project back then. I admire their Vision of what they felt might be needed in 50 years and more so that they then foolowed through and built it. We need to look ahead and do the same here.
“Great Leaders Create More Leaders
Good leaders have vision and inspire others to help them turn vision into reality. Great leaders create more leaders, not followers. Great leaders have vision, share vision, and inspire others to create their own.”
― Roy T. Bennet
“Great Leaders Create More Leaders
Good leaders have vision and inspire others to help them turn vision into reality. Great leaders create more leaders, not followers. Great leaders have vision, share vision, and inspire others to create their own.”
― Roy T. Bennet
6th and Columbia Street Market Centre
I imagine a transformation of the buildings on the corner of 6th and Columbia to something like a Granville Island style market centre. Future permanent home of our Farmers Market. Artisan shops, food vendors, community space for groups to gather and a tourist attraction that would include a 3d map of BC, like the Challenger Map once housed at the PNE. This could be a great economic community hub and is walkable and perfectly situated to link parts of our city.
PAC and Convention Center
I believe it is time to look at buiding a Preforming Art Centre and or a multipurpose Centre, but not Downtown. At TRU. Remove the rock bluffs in the background of this TRU photo and use the material for the Rivers Trail (see below).
We get a footprint for a great location. Co-manage the building with TRU. Design the PAC as a teaching facility that can increase TRU's curriculum in Theatre Arts & Trades. Building in film, recording, production facilities that we can train people for the industry with. The film industry has huge growth opportunities and needs the skilled workers for the Industry. Why not train the workers here and generate economy at the same time? It make a better business model for costs and benefits to our economy.
TRU has the infrastructiure for transit, parking and the best view for such a building. The parking lots are there already and largely empty in the evenings which is perfect for the PAC needs. This location would be my choice for such a facility.
We get a footprint for a great location. Co-manage the building with TRU. Design the PAC as a teaching facility that can increase TRU's curriculum in Theatre Arts & Trades. Building in film, recording, production facilities that we can train people for the industry with. The film industry has huge growth opportunities and needs the skilled workers for the Industry. Why not train the workers here and generate economy at the same time? It make a better business model for costs and benefits to our economy.
TRU has the infrastructiure for transit, parking and the best view for such a building. The parking lots are there already and largely empty in the evenings which is perfect for the PAC needs. This location would be my choice for such a facility.
River’s Trail System
I hope to see us linking all of our communities in the valley and hills, this multipurpose trail would serve as a great climate friendly transportation corridor for all Kamloopsians and our visitors a like. Allow zoning such that bordering properties could have some business development. I imagine a small café, or a bakery along the way with limited seating farm to fork restaurants, bike rental vendors, artisan shops, micro breweries or distilleries. This could be such a great benefit to building a healthy vibrant community and an economic asset for us all.
Fire and Flood
I believe we need to actively start to deal with our fire and flood risks. With the past few years serving as a warning to interface fires that can and will eventually happen here, it is time to act.
We can do many things to reduce the fire risks. Active branch pruning to 4 m, thinning of the stand and yes, burning. We need to reduce the fuel loads on the ground. Burning in the spring and fall can be done safely and needs to be done to protect our community plus restore the health of the ecosystems that surround Kamloops.
Let's involve community and neighbourhood associations, service clubs, outside agencies like BC Min. of Forests, Fire Protection Branch, and our talented city workers to deal with this risk. We can do this and we need to.
The diking system in Kamloops is incomplete and I believe we need to actively pursue finishing it to protect the citizens of Kamloops and the businesses that drive our economy.
There are federal grants available for disaster mitigation and we need to go after them to keep our city safe and our taxes down.
We can do many things to reduce the fire risks. Active branch pruning to 4 m, thinning of the stand and yes, burning. We need to reduce the fuel loads on the ground. Burning in the spring and fall can be done safely and needs to be done to protect our community plus restore the health of the ecosystems that surround Kamloops.
Let's involve community and neighbourhood associations, service clubs, outside agencies like BC Min. of Forests, Fire Protection Branch, and our talented city workers to deal with this risk. We can do this and we need to.
The diking system in Kamloops is incomplete and I believe we need to actively pursue finishing it to protect the citizens of Kamloops and the businesses that drive our economy.
There are federal grants available for disaster mitigation and we need to go after them to keep our city safe and our taxes down.
Thompson River Covered Bridge
The Ranch
I think it is time that we look at getting potable water out to the Rayleigh Ranch. With all that the place has to offer we really need to get the drinking water on site.
Better yet, Why don't we develop the Raylegh Ranch with an RV park to generate some income and improve the opportunities for Ball tournaments out there? This could and should substantially increase our revenue from the site and that's not a bad thing.
Or go way out side the box and put a bandshell and Exhibition grounds, like the old KXA had. We could have musical events, 4H events, heck if we built the buildings in the right way we could use them as sound stages and rent them out to the movie industry. The movie industry is dying for spaces just like this idea. So any possibilities that could generate city revenue from.
But it needs drinking water first. Time to get on with making that happen. Please get out and vote October 20th. Bring a friend, phone a neighbour, but get the vote out.
And I have many more! I ask if you like my thinking then support me with your vote on or before October 15th. Better yet, please tell others so that we can make Kamloops a safer, healthier, prosperous and exciting city to live in!