Welcome to Your Kamloops!

Conversation with Dave Reid, Reid Business Consulting

2010-03-07T22:24:50-08:00

Arrghh - somehow the audio for the podcast I recorded with Dave was corrupted!!

Apologies Dave!

I'm a huge believer in the power of entrepreneurship and am often in awe of the many great entrepreneurial success stories in Kamloops. Dave has a front row seat helping businesses in Kamloops grow. Dave is also one of the nicest people around town.

Let me see if I can put down some of the highlights of our conversation:

Reid Business Consulting offers business planning, accounting, and bookkeeping services.
Business planning services help mentor business owners so they also learn business planning skills
Biggest mistake people make is being to generous in the financials. In a business plan, the writing should be creative and forward looking, while the financials should be stated conservatively.
Economic Development agencies might want to target value added businesses that bring higher paying jobs.
Taxes are often a big issue, especially for small businesses.

Why has BC Government Stopped Worrying Out About Public Opinion on Gaming?

2010-03-05T11:10:59-08:00

Given the financial contribution and social impact of local gaming facilities, Sean Holman's recent post is an important read.

Kamloops' Own Olympics

2010-03-05T09:06:28-08:00

All week, I've seen people walking wearing bright track suits around the upper end of Columbia Street. They look a little bit seasoned but still very healthy. They have brought lots of business to local hotels, restaurants, and hopefully to local retailers generally. I hope they've had a chance to explore our beautiful downtown and our eclectic North Shore downtown on Tranquille Rd. I'm a pretty bummed I didn't make it out to any of the World Masters Championship events but I'm proud we could host all these excellent people. I hope they have had a great time!

Communiting Better on the Different Sustainability Initiatives in Kamloops...

2010-03-04T23:00:13-08:00

I wasn't quite sure what to make of the invitation I received to attend a workshop to discuss setting up a local sustainability communications network. I have huge respect for many of the people who helped organized it, so I definitely wanted to attend. The workshop happened this evening at TRU and the basic decision, it seemed to me, was to create welcoming, open, positive, and consistent communications between people in Kamloops who are broadly interested in sustainability. There was some discussion of whether this would act as the umbrella group of umbrella groups and how action would come from the communications. I think, however, the broad consensus reflected a desire to see this network primarily exist as a communications tool that would strive for inclusivity.

I'm reminded of Changing the Face of Poverty, a monthly gathering of organizations and people interested in social issues. Except with more communication between meetings.

Tonight's workshop concluded with seven people volunteering to help set up the communication systems which would include not only exploring the technology but also group mission and guidelines.

If anybody would like more info, feel free to get in touch!

Kim Sigurdson Clarifies Comments on Racism....

2010-03-02T10:26:15-08:00

I think Mr Sigurdson did the right thing and appreciate his clarification of his comments about racism in his letter to the Environmental Appeal Board.

This statement was sent to the Kamloops Daily News:

In our submission to the Environmental Appeal Board, we commented on some of the difficult times we and our employees have experienced with respect to what many would characterize as personal and race based slurs against us and our families.
As an example, an excerpt of this type of hateful mail was recently published in your paper and I think you would agree that it could be difficult and frightening to be the recipient of such messages.
The writer attempted to portray himself as a concerned citizen, an environmentalist as opposed to the more obvious racist label. In that regard, our comments to the EAB were directed at him and the minority of others who walk down this dark road that relies on fear instead of dialogue.
With that as background, I did want to take this opportunity to clear the air with regards to my comments in the letter to the Environmental Appeal Board. At no time was it meant to include all those who have opposed our proposed gasification facility.
Thoughtful, informed and reasoned debate and opposition form the basis of our democratic process and my comments were directed only at those few who chose fear and hate as their solution to this issue.
Kim Sigurdson
President
Abiriginal Cogeneration Corp.

The Great Sahali Sign Debate...

2010-03-01T19:58:25-08:00

Had an opportunity to watch the "game tape" of the Feb 16th council meeting. An interesting issue came up at the meeting. In my opinion, it showcases important and different opinions among Council members.

Owners of a new commercial building on Summit Drive, right beside Firehall #1, have applied to erect a free standing side. In order to get the sign they want, they have asked city hall if they could dip just over the property line and erect the sign on firehall land. The city planning department has agreed to this, providing that the building owners agree to landscape and maintain the area around the sign. The owners did not include such a sign in their initial plans.

The below video clocks in at about 5min and 15 seconds and showcases the responses of two Councillors - Denis Walsh and John O'Fee, as well as the views of Mayor Peter Milobar. As I was listening to the Mayor's comments in particular, I started to think a bit differently than he does about potential precedent. Peter said that if people driving by the sign don't realize it sits on city property, than he doesn't think precedent setting will be much of an issue. I would think that the precedent issue arises more if potential developers learn about this case. I also wonder if city staff will feel they have more of a green light to look at and recommend similar sign proposals. However, maybe a precedent is a good thing to set here.

Council voted to send the proposal for public comment by a vote of 7 - 2.

Another Interesting Post on Tourism in Kamloops...

2010-02-27T14:09:06-08:00

After reading my post below extolling our community as a tourism destination, a reader who wishes to remain anonymous reminded me of a great post on this issue by my friend Peter Cameron-Inglis. Added bonus is the informative comment from Howard Grieve from Tourism Kamloops on the same post.

Kim Sigurdson's Accusations of Racism - The Implications for Public Education

2010-02-27T13:43:54-08:00

If you haven't heard about ACC President Kim Sigurdson's latest comments, here is some background from the Kamloops Daily News.

"OUCH"

What else can you say?

This really is going to make for a very difficult public meeting on March 11th. I wonder what the Chamber folks are thinking now? Mel Rothenburger in his criticism today of Mr. Sigurdson's comments also says

On the other hand, this should ensure a lively public forum on March 11 when Sigurdson will speak at the TRU Grand Hall,

I am personally just really unsure whether the lively nature of the forum should be a measure of its success. Isn't this supposed to be public education? The public ugliness and emotion of this thing has now very unfortunately been brought to a whole new level. And unless Mr. Sigurdson's walks back from his accusations, as the proponent, I feel the meeting will likely have such little credibility in the public eye. Mr. Sigurdson seems to totally denigrate any of the arguments against the ACC creosote tie gasifier.

Very disappointing indeed.

Tourism in Kamloops? - You Betcha!

2010-02-24T10:49:07-08:00

Vacationing in Kamloops may not be the first thing comes to mind when out-of-towners start to plan holidays. We are, however, becoming very well known and very well regarded for being a friendly town with a lot of comparably affordable activities and amenities.

I just spent some time on the Tourism Kamloops web site - always amazes me the amount of info there. And, if you are interested in the very best cowboy entertainment in Canada, check out their page on the Kamloops' famous Cowboy Festival, coming in March.

Podcast: A Conversation with Dale Bass, Kamloops This Week

2010-02-18T22:58:10-08:00

I sound pretty goofy in my intro to this podcast. Dale, by contrast, sounds ever her intelligent and engaging self.

An audio map:

01:21 - Creosote Tie Gasification Proposal

04:35 - Kudos to School District Public Engagement

07:27 - Journalist and/versus Community Member

09:00 - Kudos for Mayor Peter Milobar

09:14 - General Impressions at Start of 2010 Vancouver Olympics