Feature Stories
Homophobia in Kamloops? Some say it's as bad as ever
A few years ago, anti-gay comments by a city councillor sparked national media attention and raised questions about whether diversity was welcome in Kamloops. Has anything changed?
Learning to understand the veil
Westerners are sometimes confused about why many Muslim women cover their hair and sometimes their face. In fact, there's a long and rich tradition that governs clothing choice among Muslims.
Petition activists say process flawed, even when it works
A city plan to build a parkade in a popular Kamloops park was overturned when twelve angry citizens organized a petition against it. Despite that success, activists say the municipal “alternative approval process” is deeply flawed.
Food
Successful public garden experiment expected to grow
Every week, retiree Lorraine Harries leaves her home, buys a coffee, picks a few veggies from a nearby garden and heads for home. But she won't be arrested for trespass. She's just doing her part to nurture Kamloops' first public garden.
Local food economy flourishes in Kamloops
The local food movement was originally inspired by environmental and health concerns. As it turns out, it’s also good for local business.
Craft brewery brings unique flavour to Kamloops dining
Until last year, if you were a fan of the brewpub scene and a Kamloops resident, you were out of luck. But not any more, thanks to David Beardsell, beer master of Kamloops' most unique eatery and drinkery.
The new fast food: It's actually good for you
A growing number of Kamloops restaurants are specializing in healthy menu options. What’s surprising is that their raw, gluten-free and vegan meals also offer wait times that compete with traditional fast food.
Need to lose weight? Don't fall for fads, experts warn
Thinking about a diet? With calorie counters and diet plans to be found on hundreds of websites and smartphone applications, there's no shortage of information. Good information, however, can be harder to find.
Health
Yoga gaining popularity for physical and mental fitness
If Nash Cajee hadn’t stumbled into yoga nearly a decade ago – while flipping through a yoga book written in Croatian – her life would not be what it is today.
Yoga: It’s a guy thing
They may not look good in Lululemon, but a growing number of men are turning to yoga for exercise and fitness. With male celebrities like comedian Joe Rogan and NBA star Steve Nash praising its benefits, yoga is not just ladies for anymore.
Enter Sandman: Most need more time in never-never land
Busy people (read: all of us) tend to make extra time by cheating on sleep. But experts say we’re only cheating ourselves when we don’t get a full night’s rest.
Recreation
Magic: The Gathering takes gamers by storm
Magic is in the air Friday nights at All A-Board Games, but you won’t find any magicians in the shop.
Three adventurers complete trip of a lifetime
In the summer of 2011, three TRU students set out on the trip of a lifetime. Their journey by kayak led them up the rugged British Columbian coast to the untamed shores of Alaska.
Sharing the land with [expletive deleted] marmots
They're cute and fluffy and they never stop digging. Like it or not, in this neck of the grasslands, people have to learn to co-exist with their marmot neighbours.
Film society celebrates 40 years of uncommon films
For alternative-film lovers, the Kamloops Film society has been keeping it reel for four decades.
Business
For the self-employed, bringing it all back home brings rewards
Shannon-Lee Gillis is an entrepreneur who runs an esthetics business out of her home. She's part of a growing trend toward home-based businesses in Canada and says she wouldn't have it any other way.
Brand loyalties have a hold on fitness fashionistas
On a sunny day, Yoshnika Shah likes to indulge in river floating. But she must ensure she’s dressed properly, and only certain brands will do.
Shah is not alone. Sportswear is one of the fastest growing segments of the clothing market.
Hockey
Billet families help young hockey players keep on skating
Boys who play for local junior hockey teams need a place to live. It’s a good thing people like the Samuelsons of Salmon Arm are willing to open their homes.
Hockey arena stanchions a focus of safety conerns
After a spate of concussions in the NHL, parents of children playing hockey in Kamloops arenas have concerns of their own about the safety of local arenas.
Players consider options after WHL
Six a.m. practices and the thrill of scoring goals fill the day-to-day lives of the young men who play for the Western Hockey League. For most, the dream to play in the NHL has driven them to succeed, but only a select few will ever get there.
Environment
Preparing for post-peak oil: Breaking our crude addiction
Are we ready for a world in which oil production has passed its peak? Factor in exponential population growth, global warming, and a looming worldwide recession, and prepare for some serious withdrawal.
Retired biologist still fighting to protect burrowing owls
For retired zoologist Dave Low, retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. He’s still in the fields hard at work on a program he started almost 30 years ago to conserve the burrowing owl. His career spanned adventures from saving wildlife in Mexico to safely landing a plane after the pilot blacked out.
Public Safety
Who you gonna call? Try Kamloops Search and Rescue
Looking for a missing person takes tenacity and careful thinking. Using older equipment and knowledge of remote areas, the skilled volunteers from Kamloops Search and Rescue offer 24-hour support to families looking for a missing member.
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