Mayor Hamer-Jackson, new Kamloops council officially sworn in
Nov 2, 2022 | 8:52 AM
James Peters
KAMLOOPS — Kamloops’ new city council was officially sworn in Tuesday (Nov. 1) night during its inaugural meeting at the Thompson Rivers University Grand Hall.
New Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, along with three incumbent councillors (Dale Bass, Mike O’Reilly and Bill Sarai) and five new councillors (Nancy Bepple, Kelly Hall, Stephen Karpuk, Margot Middleton and Katie Neustaeter) will govern the City of Kamloops for the next four years.
“If you told me I’d be standing here today, a year ago, I would have told you, ‘You’re all crazy,’” Hamer-Jackson said during his first speech as mayor of Kamloops. “I ran on a safe and secure community, and accountability. When [those doctors] come through our community, it’s going to be a place that they want to bring their families and live.”
During his first speech, Hamer-Jackson thanked the former mayor and council, and the city’s partnership with Tk’emlups te Secwempmc. He said one of the factors that encouraged him to become mayor was his relationship with members of Kamloops’ street population who live near his business, and how they wanted to seek treatment prior to them passing away.
Speaking to CFJC Today after taking the Oath to Office, Hamer-Jackson says he doesn’t intend to stop his 4:00 a.m. walkabouts along Victoria Street West.
“When you see people who are struggling with mental health and addiction, and they want help… a guy walked up to me, and he had a chainsaw chain in his hand. He was hiding in the back of my truck from people who just got stabbed from across the street. They’re all people,” Hamer-Jackson says.
When asked about his vision for the next four years, Hamer-Jackson says he wants to help Kamloops residents get to where they want to be. During his speech, he mentioned how he wanted various task force teams with specific focuses, including mental health and addiction, attainable housing, transportation, grants and recreation.
Kamloops’ new council has their first regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
With files from Adam Donnelly/CFJC Today
