Latest news with #JuliusBloomfield
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
1 Cyclist killed, 2 injured in car crash during Okanagan Granfondo
A cyclist has died and two others are seriously injured following a collision near Penticton, B.C. during the Okanagan Granfondo cycling event, say police. Penticton RCMP say the crash happened Sunday on White Lake Road near St. Andrew's Drive — a route that's part of the popular mass cycling event, which draws thousands of riders to the city each year. Police say the incident involved a motor vehicle and multiple cyclists. One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The road was closed as investigators analyzed the crash, and a traffic detour was put in place. In a statement, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said the city is grieving with those affected. "We are devastated by the news of this tragedy and our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected," he said. "On behalf of Council and our entire community, we extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and every individual who has been impacted." "In times like these, words often fall short. It's a time to come together with compassion and kindness – and to show support for those in need." The City of Penticton had issued a traffic advisory ahead of Sunday's event, warning drivers to expect delays throughout the region and to watch for cyclists along highway routes. In a statement Sunday afternoon, organizers of the Okanagan Granfondo said they were "heartbroken" by the fatal incident. "Our prayers are with all those impacted today," the statement read. "We are fully cooperating with the authorities at this time."
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
1 cyclist dead, 2 injured in crash involving vehicle during Okanagan Granfondo
A cyclist has died and two others are seriously injured following a collision near Penticton, B.C. during the Okanagan Granfondo cycling event, say police. Penticton RCMP say the crash happened Sunday on White Lake Road near St. Andrew's Drive — a route that's part of the popular mass cycling event, which draws thousands of riders to the city each year. Police say the incident involved a motor vehicle and multiple cyclists. One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The road was closed as investigators analyzed the crash, and a traffic detour was put in place. In a statement, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said the city is grieving with those affected. "We are devastated by the news of this tragedy and our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected," he said. "On behalf of Council and our entire community, we extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and every individual who has been impacted." "In times like these, words often fall short. It's a time to come together with compassion and kindness – and to show support for those in need." The City of Penticton had issued a traffic advisory ahead of Sunday's event, warning drivers to expect delays throughout the region and to watch for cyclists along highway routes. In a statement Sunday afternoon, organizers of the Okanagan Granfondo said they were "heartbroken" by the fatal incident.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
1 Cyclist killed, 2 injured in car crash during Okanagan Granfondo
Social Sharing A cyclist has died and two others are seriously injured following a collision during the Okanagan Granfondo cycling event near Penticton, B.C. say police. Penticton RCMP say the crash happened Sunday on White Lake Road near St. Andrew's Drive — a route that's part of the popular mass cycling event, which draws thousands of riders to the city each year. Police say the incident involved a motor vehicle and multiple cyclists. One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The road was closed as investigators analyzed the crash, and a traffic detour was put in place. In a statement, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said the city is grieving with those affected. "We are devastated by the news of this tragedy and our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected," he said. "On behalf of Council and our entire community, we extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and every individual who has been impacted." "In times like these, words often fall short. It's a time to come together with compassion and kindness – and to show support for those in need." The City of Penticton had issued a traffic advisory ahead of Sunday's event, warning drivers to expect delays throughout the region and to watch for cyclists along highway routes.
Hamilton Spectator
27-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Penticton's Sunshine List continues to grow
If you want to get people talking, the annual public Statement of Financial Information (SoFI) always gets the job done — and it's no different in the City of Penticton. At the end of each fiscal year, municipalities across the province are required to provide a SoFI, which was presented at Tuesday's regular meeting of Council in Penticton. The list details remuneration and expenses for all elected officials and reveals all public employees making over $75,000. The threshold for disclosure is different in each province. For example, in Ontario, the names and positions of public servants earning over $100,000 are made public. Kari Stoppler, manager of finance, presented the SoFI list during a brief presentation to Council. 'As part of the SoFI, the Financial Information Act requires the City to prepare a schedule of each employee earning more than $75,000 per year, the total expenses paid to those employees, as well as a consolidated total of all remuneration paid to all other employees,' she said. 'This includes a provision for elected officials to show that similar information — their remuneration and any expenses dispersed.' The SoFI includes wages, vacation pay, and taxable benefits, such as employer-paid health benefits. There's also a list revealing any vendor or supplier the City did business with on contracts worth over $25,000 during the year, as well as consolidated totals paid to all other suppliers. The $75,000 and $25,000 thresholds haven't changed since 2002, she said. There were 224 City of Penticton employees who made over $75,000 in 2024, up by 37 from 2023 and 64 from 2022. Of the 37, 11 were in management and 26 were unionized front-line workers. A total of 435 City employees earn under $75,000. Total payroll for those earning over $75,000 was $24.66 million, an increase of $5.23 million or 27 percent. Payroll for those earning less was $11.24 million, up by nearly $580,000 but a 4.9 percent decrease proportionally. The total payroll for 2024 was $35.9 million, a 14.9 percent increase. Total remuneration includes base pay, overtime, retroactive pay, standby pay, and taxable benefits. For elected officials, base pay was $28,524.44. Mayor Julius Bloomfield's salary was $86,150, with expenses of just under $16,000. Among councillors, Ryan Graham claimed the most expenses ($14,547), for a total remuneration package of $43,071. Campbell Watt claimed just over $10,000 in expenses, Helena Konanz just over $9,000, Isaac Gilbert just over $7,300, Amelia Boultbee (who resigned before becoming MLA for Penticton-Summerland) just over $2,400, and James Miller — presently on mandatory leave — just over $1,100. Gilbert defended Council's expenses. 'I just want to make a comment obviously this report made the news this week,' he said. 'It's kind of like why Council has these expenses to the conferences that we go to and everything. 'I just want to highlight here that I really appreciate this has kind of been tied in with the annual report and how we advocate on behalf of the City of Penticton...' Without attending national and provincial conferences, Penticton wouldn't have secured funding for its temporary winter shelter, he said. 'To get those programs here, to help make this place safer, to get people housing ... this is about relationship-building,' he said. 'At the end of the day, the media likes to sensationalize what we spend.' Gilbert said the current Council works hard to advocate at these conferences. 'I would say this team that we have here at the table, shows up and it advocates on the City's behalf,' he said. 'This is why we have the programs that we do...' Bloomfield echoed those sentiments. 'I've found there is no greater success than sitting in front of a Minister and telling them what we're dealing with in Penticton...' 'Penticton is less than one percent of the population of the Province, but we get a lot more than one percent of the attention from Victoria...' Stoppler noted the $75,000 threshold hasn't changed in nearly 25 years, unlike in other provinces. 'There have been discussions about amending the prescribed amounts and what should be included to reflect inflationary changes, but there's been no movement...' she said. When first implemented more than 20 years ago, inflation was estimated at two percent annually, which would've raised the salary threshold to $116,000. 'If we had that kind of inflationary adjustment... we would have about 73 staff members [on the list],' she said. The increase in employees on the SoFI list is partly due to a new collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, she said. 'Municipalities are legislatively required to do SoFI,' she said. 'This is great information that is very detailed... but it really doesn't highlight the benefits or quality of life that we get out of the spend...' Labour remains a significant cost. Penticton compares competitively with Vernon, West Kelowna, and Kelowna — and is much lower than Lake Country, she said. 'According to the 2024 financial statements, labour represented about 33 percent of the City's municipal costs,' she said. City employees who made more than $150,000 last year were: Anthony Haddad, City Manager, $274,773 Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure, $220,809 Angela Campbell, Director of Finance and Administration, $191,200 Ryan Bazley, Fire Captain, $189,677 Brent Ryll, Fire Captain, $189,347 Michael Wade, Fire Captain, $188,326 Wesley Swaren, Fire Captain, $187,855 Michael Sutherland, Firefighter, $187,407 Jared Holmes, Fire Captain, $186,119 Erik Jorgensen, Fire Captain, $184,439 Chad Taylor, Fire Captain, $183,053 Andrew Bird, Training Officer, $179,934 Rod Kenney, Firefighter, $179,739 Jayson Johnson, Firefighter, $178,805 Michael Larsson, Fire Chief, $176,993 Blake Laven, Director of Development Services, $176,959 Steve Garrett, Fire Captain, $173,415 Jonathan Chu, City Engineer, $172,502 Kelsey Johnson, Director of Community Services, $171,833 Draydan Power, Manager of Energy and Environment, $168,194 Ryan Hvidston, Firefighter, $166,346 Robert Trousdell, Deputy Fire Chief, $164,553 Anthony Policicchio, Facilities Manager, $162,270 Robert Trupp, Assistant Chief - Training, $161,612 Trevor Dermody, Firefighter, $157,096 Alex Gerk, Firefighter, $153,397 Elias Vikner, Firefighter, $153,250 Curtis Gibbons, Firefighter, $152,748 Cody Erdmann, Firefighter, $151,526 Glen Fordyce, Fire Inspector II, $151,064 Miyoko McKeown, Firefighter, $150,738 Jarrett Achsen, Firefighter, $150,560 Error! 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Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Residents speak out about homeless encampment at town hall organized by MLA
Calls for amending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and imposing long jail terms on drug dealers were among several proposed solutions from residents at a packed community forum on homelessness in Penticton Thursday evening. Between 150 and 200 people gathered at the Penticton Seniors' Drop-in Centre for the town hall, which was organized by Penticton-Summerland MLA and former city councillor Amelia Boultbee. Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield also attended. After opening remarks from the two officials, the meeting shifted to a town hall format, allowing residents to share concerns and ask questions directly. The focus of the event was the growing homeless encampment located along the Penticton Channel Parkway near Fairview Road, where as many as 70 individuals are now believed to be living in tents. The site lacks basic sanitation, including running water or washrooms, and lies close to environmentally sensitive areas such as Ellis Creek and Skaha Lake, heightening public health and ecological concerns. A wide range of opinions were voiced during the forum, reflecting the deep divide and frustration among residents about how the issue has been handled. One of the first speakers estimated that about half of those living in the encampment are physically able to work but choose not to. 'There shouldn't be any enabling for these people to sit around and get free stuff,' he said. 'If there was a test that said, 'You're able to work, buddy,' you'd get a year and a half to find a job or be cut off. Food is free, medical is free, shelter is free. There's no logic – just come and go as you please.' He also criticized the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, introduced in 1982 under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, blaming it for what he sees as a culture of entitlement and lack of accountability. 'I call it the Charter of Wrongs and Foibles,' he said. 'What this has done is given people the right and the freedom—mainly by lefty lawyers—to do whatever the hell they want.' He acknowledged that changing the Charter would be a monumental task requiring approval from seven provinces and at least 51% of the voting population, but insisted it's necessary. 'Unless that happens, someone's going to fight a Charter challenge and we'll be stuck here forever.' Boultbee responded by acknowledging the frustration in the room, but emphasized that most people living in these conditions aren't simply freeloaders. 'The data doesn't support that a large number of unhoused people just don't want to work,' she said. 'Most are dealing with mental health issues, trauma, or complex personal challenges. I understand the anger, but we also have to look at the facts.' A senior man took a broader view, blaming capitalism and systemic greed for the social breakdown that has led to widespread homelessness. He called on the federal government to take responsibility and help municipalities shoulder the cost of addressing the crisis. 'We keep shoving these people all over the place. We want to shut down this encampment, but there's nowhere else for them to go,' he said. 'Too many bureaucracies are involved, and they're not working together.' He added that some individuals may never re-integrate into society and acknowledged the need for ongoing support systems. However, he was adamant that drug dealers must be held accountable. 'More than 50,000 Canadians have died of overdoses in the past eight years. There has been a complete failure in our judicial system. We're babying the criminals who are killing these people.' Another resident described how crime has affected his personal life. Living in a well-kept neighborhood in the south end of Penticton, he recounted how his daughter's $3,000 electric bike was stolen from their backyard shed at 6 a.m. one morning. 'We caught the guy on camera—he was nicely dressed, didn't look like a drug addict or a thief,' he said. Relying on a hunch, he drove to the homeless encampment and spotted the stolen bike within minutes. After calling police, the bike was returned the same day. 'That's a happy ending to an ugly story,' he said. 'But these incidents are happening across our city. It's affecting all of us.' He added that earlier in the year, two windows of his truck were smashed and several items stolen in broad daylight. The repair process took three months and cost him significantly, even after insurance. Boultbee acknowledged a shift in provincial policy under Premier David Eby's NDP government. 'We're starting to see less emphasis on free drugs for addicts and more support for involuntary care for those who are severely unwell. That's encouraging. These individuals are not okay. They need help.' A business owner spoke next, sharing her frustration with how nearby businesses have been affected by the encampment. 'It's not illegal to be homeless, but a lot of what's happening there is illegal,' she said, noting a rise in vandalism and theft that has forced many businesses to invest heavily in security measures. Boultbee agreed, saying that small businesses are bearing the brunt of the crisis. 'It's beyond frustrating. Our private business owners, entrepreneurs, everyday folks—they're the ones experiencing loss. The word 'inconvenience' doesn't begin to cover it.' Another speaker referenced well-known local volunteer Allan Garland, a senior who has spent the past decade picking up trash and removing invasive weeds along the Channel. Garland was allegedly assaulted by homeless campers during one of his regular cleanups. 'He's a dedicated citizen who deserves a medal, not to be attacked and beaten up by thugs,' the speaker said. Bloomfield responded that funding has historically favored larger centres, where governments believe they get 'more bang for their buck.' But he said the tide is turning. 'The province now realizes this is not just a big city problem—it's everywhere.' He also shared that the Okanagan Correctional Centre has been operating at less than 30% capacity due to staffing shortages. Bloomfield said he had recently asked whether a portion of the jail could be used for addiction rehab, only to learn that no such feasibility study has ever been done. 'But I can tell you that conversation is finally happening,' he said. 'Two years ago, the provincial government wasn't interested. Now they're actively exploring all options, including mandatory rehabilitation. That's a big shift.' As the evening wrapped up, residents were united by a shared sense of urgency—even if they didn't agree on the solutions. One common sentiment: the status quo is no longer acceptable. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
