Lawyer in jail, facing charge of offering indignity to dead body – Kamloops News

The Ukrainian national anthem sounded out over Kamloops’ Riverside Park Sunday afternoon as more than 100 people gathered with flags in hand.

Sunday’s event was just one of several rallies that have been held in Kamloops over the past few weeks to show support for Ukraine and to call for an end to the war.

Andrii Lobanov, rally organizer, addressed the gathered group, saying since the war started, his daily routine consists of checking in on relatives to make sure they are safe.

“It is making sure that the city that I was raised in, that was born in, a city where I went to school and a city with my friends, where I first fell in love, where I drove my first car — does this city still exist,” Lobanov said.

He said while his city is still far enough away from Russian bombs and rockets, many of his friends aren’t so lucky.

“Their cities are being shelled and destroyed daily as we speak. As we gather, as we go for coffee, as we go to school, as we go to [the] bar, which is still a normal thing to do. But during the same time the city is being destroyed.”

The rally began at 3 p.m. at the rotary bandshell. Several people gave speeches, including some Thompson Rivers University faculty and current or former students.

Anastasia Muzyka, a TRU volleyball player, said she has caught herself feeling guilty she isn’t there in Ukraine, fighting with her people and for her country.

“What I can do is to spread the word. Bring attention to the people, talk more about Ukraine and try and do something. Please, please listen. And I’m asking you to keep your attention on Ukraine,” she said.

“I beg all of you to keep Ukraine in mind. Ukrainian kids don’t deserve to be born in bomb shelters, Ukrainian elders don’t deserve to see war again. Ukrainians don’t deserve this. Nobody deserve this.”

Speakers encouraged attendees to contact government representatives and keep pushing for more sanctions against Russia and aid for Ukraine.

Yulia Voloshenko, a former TRU business student, said Ukrainians will fight “for every brick, for every piece of land, for every life lost.”

“Together, we can bring the victory even faster, even quicker. So please, please act. Please call your MPs. Please sign the petitions,” Voloshenko said.

“Please use all your social media platforms to spread the word to the world because they do deserve to know. They deserve to know that we will stand until we succeed.”

Donations of tactical supplies — such as binoculars, flashlights and tactical radios — and first aid items were being collected by rally organizers to send to the Ukrainian army.

Lobanov encouraged those who are able to donate to organizations helping Ukrainians to do so, but if a donation isn’t possible, to spread the word.

“If you can spread the word, put some pressure on the politicians so they can do their job even better,” Lobanov said.

“If you think supporting Ukraine is right, they will be continuing to do that.”

Photo: Kristen Holliday

A mixed bag of weather is predicted for the first week of spring break, but mid-week could see temperatures climb well above seasonal averages, according to Environment Canada.

Meteorologist Dave Wray said Monday will start with “spotty showers” which are expected to pick up by the afternoon.

“Nothing really heavy, but a little bit wetter Monday afternoon into Monday night, and then the good news is, in behind, we’ve got a little bit of a clearing trend and also warming as well,” Wray said.

“Tuesday and Wednesday, we’re looking at daytime highs getting up to 16 or 17 degrees, which is quite nice. That’s about four to five degrees above normal for this time of year.”

A mix of sun and cloud is expected for Tuesday, with temperatures dipping from a 16 C daytime high to 6 C over Tuesday night, according to Environment Canada.

Wednesday is predicted to hit a high of 17 C, with a 60 per cent chance of showers throughout the day.

According to Environment Canada, Wednesday night is predicted to see a low of -1 C along with a chance of showers.

Wray said the end of the week is expected to be mainly sunny, with continuing mild temperatures.

“Temperatures won’t be as warm. Still decent, I’d say between 12 and 14 degrees from Thursday on through to the weekend,” Wray said.

An early look at the weekend shows a 15 C high is expected for Saturday.

Photo: Bluegreen Architecture

A multi-family residential development is proposed for a property at Ninth Avenue and Nicola Street downtown.

A multi-family residential development planned for a downtown neighbourhood will proceed to public hearing after council voted to move the proposal to the next step.

At a Tuesday meeting, council heard a developer is hoping to construct a four-storey, 15-unit building on the northeast corner of Nicola Street and Ninth Avenue, where a duplex currently sits.

The new building is proposed to house a combination of rentals and units for sale. The developer plans to construct 12 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.

Marvin Kwiatkowski, the city’s development, engineering and sustainability director, told council the city’s downtown plan encourages density on corner lots.

“There’s been quite a few projects in recent years,” he said.

“If we, say, head over to Eighth [Avenue], there’s numerous projects there ranging from eight units to I think 34 units. So there’s about four or five projects within 200 meters, that we’ve seen increased density.”

Kwiatkowski said there is a transit stop, commercial businesses and a park located nearby.

The developers are proposing to add 10 small car parking spaces, six regular-sized parking spaces, and one van-accessible space to the property.

According to the city, the lot will need to be rezoned and receive a site-specific change increasing the maximum density permitted on the property. A public hearing will be scheduled to discuss the proposed changes.

A report prepared for council said the developer had conducted door-to-door consultations with neighbouring properties. Of the 23 residents surveyed, 12 supported the proposal, eight were neutral and three were against the development.

“Concerns expressed related to parking, traffic and scale and compatibility of the development in regards to existing neighbourhood character,” the report said.

Coun. Arjun Singh and Coun. Mike O’Reilly declared conflicts of interest. Singh said his family owns rental properties, and O’Reilly said he lives near the property in question.

Council voted unanimously in favour of staff’s recommendation to move the necessary bylaw amendment a public hearing.

Photo: Kristen Holliday

A multi-family residential development is proposed for a property at Ninth Avenue and Nicola Street.

Photo: Contributed

(L to R): Friendly Composting?s Claire McLoughlin and Katie Forsyth, and Afrofusion?s Zainab Oladipo.

A pair of Kamloops businesses have been named finalists for Small Business BC Awards.

Friendly Composting is one of the five finalists for the business impact award, while Afrofusion is in the running for the people’s choice award. Claire McLoughlin owns Friendly Composting, which is a compost collection and local food delivery service that collects residential and commercial food scraps to turn into nutrient rich soil. Zainab Oladipo owns Afrofusion, which is a Black-owned business that provides tasty African and western cuisine to the people of Kamloops and beyond.

“From the number of votes received, it’s clear that B.C. residents appreciate how much small businesses have been through these past two years, and once again they’ve come forward to show their support and appreciation,” Small Business BC CEO Tom Conway said in a press release.

“For entrepreneurs like Claire McLoughlin and Zainab Oladipo, knowing they’re valued and appreciated by their community is everything. These awards are a chance to say thank you to the businesses we love.”

The business impact award category prizes include $8,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place and $1,500 for third. The winner of the people’s choice award will receive $1,500.

More than 630 nominations were received from 88 communities for the two awards, the winners of which will be announced during a virtual awards presentation on April 28.

Free tickets for the show are available here.

Photo: Castanet Staff

The RCMP says the Kamloops police dog unit responded to a break and enter at a Sahali restaurant but no suspect was located.

On Monday around 1:45 a.m., mounties and police dogs attended a restaurant on the 1100-block of Columbia Street West, where a lock had been pried to gain access to and steal money from a till, police said.

The police dog attempted to track the suspect, according to police, but no one was found.

Anyone with information on this incident can contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Photo: RCMP

Have you seen this white rental van? Kamloops RCMP have released an image of the van as part of their investigation into a suspicious death, asking for anyone with information on the van’s movements last week to come forward.

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m.

Police have released a photo of a white rental van as part of an investigation into last week’s suspicious death, asking anyone who witnessed the van’s movements last week to come forward.

According to Kamloops RCMP, officers were called to the 1600-block of Monterey Place at 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 where they found a body inside a vehicle.

Police said the death is being treated as suspicious, and they’ve released an image of the van in hopes that witnesses will come forward.

“We are asking the public for assistance in helping us establish the vehicle’s movements during this past week,” said Todd Wiebe, staff sergeant of the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit.

“Please have a look at the van and its license plate. If you think you saw it or if you have dash cam or surveillance footage capturing it, please contact police as soon as possible.

The vehicle is described as a white 2020 GMC rental van, with a BC license plate reading PJ 9131.

Police said they are looking for information on the van’s travel in Kamloops and surrounding rural communities, including Barriere, Clearwater, Valemount, Savona, Cache Creek and other places along those travel corridors.

RCMP said they are waiting on the results of an autopsy to confirm the victim’s identity and cause of death.

The BC Coroner’s Service is also conducting an investigation into the death.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP.

ORIGINAL: 4 a.m.

Photo: Sydney Chisholm

Police remain on scene of Dufferin home after a dead body was found in a parked vehicle

Police remained on scene Saturday outside a home in the Dufferin area where a body was discovered inside a vehicle on Thursday night — a find described as a “shock” by neighbours.

Multiple police cars sit outside a home located at 1649 Monterrey Place, off Hillside Drive in Dufferin.

According to Mounties, officers were called to the 1600-block of Monterey Place, off Hillside Drive in Dufferin, at about 10 p.m. on Thursday.

A dead person was found inside a vehicle parked in the area. Police said the death is being treated as suspicious.

Residents on the street described the area as a quiet little cul de sac where you could leave your doors unlocked.

Brenda Marshall, a resident on Monterey Place, said she couldn’t believe it when she heard a body was found on her street.

“This is a total shock,” Marshall said. “So it just kind of opens your eyes to what’s happening out there.”

Marshall said she and her family had lived in their home for over 20 years and crime had never been an issue in the neighbourhood.

“I mean, you could trust this neighbourhood,” she said. “You know, my neighbours, they don’t lock up their garage because we’ve never had a problem and [we] felt safe.”

The BC Coroners Service is conducting its own investigation into the death and could be seen at the home on Saturday afternoon.

RCMP said they are waiting on the results of the autopsy to confirm the victim’s identity and that more information would be released to help further the investigation as it becomes available.

Anyone with information can call police at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Photo: RCMP

Do you recognize this man? If so, police want to hear from you.

UPDATE: March 20, 10:30 a.m.

Kamloops RCMP Const. Crystal Evelyn said a man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl at a transit stop has been identified.

“The Kamloops RCMP requested the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in an assault investigation. Please be advised, the suspect has been identified, helping to further the ongoing investigation,” Evelyn said in a statement on Sunday morning.

Police thanked the public for their assistance.

ORIGINAL: March 18, 2:05 p.m.

Police are looking for information about a man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl waiting to board a city bus.

Mounties said they are releasing a photo of the suspect in the hopes someone will recognize him so investigators can talk to him.

Kamloops RCMP Const. Crystal Evelyn said the incident took place at about 2:30 p.m. on March 5, when a girl was waiting for a bus on Sixth Avenue.

“The suspect allegedly assaulted the youth, boarded the bus and sat next to her, then exited alone on Tranquille Road near Leigh Road,” Evelyn said, noting the assault might have appeared to be a hug.

“Please take a close look at the image. If you are the suspect or recognize him, please contact police. It’s important we identify and speak with the person pictured in the footage to help further our investigation.”

The suspect is described as a man in his 40s with grey, balding hair. He had scarred and broken knuckles and was wearing a short-sleeve button-up shirt.

Anyone with information can call police at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Photo: Castanet Staff

A car on fire crashed through a fence and into a property near The Verse early Sunday morning, but Kamloops Fire Rescue says no driver could be found.

KFR Platoon Captain Darryl Cooper said firefighters received a call at about 3:30 a.m. reporting a motor vehicle fire near Versatile Drive.

“When we arrived, we found that the RCMP were on scene, and a fully involved vehicle had crashed through a fence and ended up in the Peterbilt compound,” Cooper said.

Cooper said RCMP thought someone might still be in the vehicle, so firefighters knocked down the fire and checked to see if there was anyone still inside, but no one was found.

“[We] used a thermal imaging camera to search the surrounding area and could not find a patient or a driver. RCMP walked the area to search too, and no patient found,” Cooper said.

Castanet Kamloops has reached out to the RCMP for more information.

Photo: Sydney Chisholm

Rally for Ukraine, Kamloops, February 26, 2022

The local Ukrainian community is inviting residents to take part in a rally on Sunday in support of Ukraine.

The Stand with Ukraine Rally will take place at the Riverside Bandshell on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Andrii Lobanov, an organizer of the event, said he is expecting a large turn out.

Participants are encouraged to bring Canadian and Ukrainian flags to show support for the local Ukrainian community.

Organizers will be collecting donations of tactical and medical supplies at the event.

Tactical supplies needed include first aid kits, flash lights and binoculars.