Saddle up, partner — March 4-11 is B.C. Cowboy Heritage Week in Kamloops.
Mark McMillan told City council Tuesday this year marks the 16th annual Cowboy Heritage Week.
It now fills more than 1,200 room nights at area hotels, and draws upon more than 100 volunteers.
The week includes “old-fashioned family fun” with 40 performers from all over North America.
There’s also a western-oriented trade show and art show and sale, he said.
This year, two people from Kamloops, one from Cache Creek and one from Fort St. John will be inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame, McMillan said.
And, of course, the late Mike Puhallo, cowboy poet of Kamloops, will be honoured.
Farmers market will have to renew annually
The Kamloops Farmers Market wrote mayor and council asking for seasonal use of 200-block St. Paul Street on Saturdays and 400-block Victoria Street on Wednesdays.
But added in the letter was a request to give a five-year commitment to the market, to give the farmers a sense of permanency rather than year-to-year uncertainty, wrote market society secretary Paula Rubinson.
City council, however, had concerns about a long-term commitment.
Coun. Tina Lange asked if staff could put the renewal to council automatically. But she hesitated to agree to five years, because things could change downtown in that time, such as the parking lot that’s used on Wednesdays being sold.
“I wouldn't want to be glued to that. I would say bring it forward automatically,” she said.
Coun. Nancy Bepple said the way it works now is fine.
Coun. Ken Christian noted Rubinson and her husband Mendel have been stalwarts of the farmers’ market for decades.
He said he’s heard the idea of a year-round market, or a permanent location bandied about for a while, which wouldn’t mesh with a five-year commitment, he said.
Council agreed with Lange’s suggestion of having staff renew automatically. Coun. Donovan Cavers was the only one opposed.
Beauty school gets new look
The Interior Academy of Hair Design and Esthetics is getting a makeover.
City council voted Tuesday to approve the development variance for the building, which includes alterations to the exterior and a residential space on the second floor.
Because the renovation costs more than $100,000, the owner qualifies for the City’s revitalization tax exemption.
