Kamloops Centre for the Arts Referendum

Kamloops, BC – The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing confirmed Wednesday, March 18, 2020, that the referendum (assent vote) for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts (KCA) has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister made the decision after consulting with public health officials and local governments, and has signed a ministerial order postponing by-elections and referendums in four specific BC communities.

The Chief Election Officer for the KCA Referendum had been working closely with the Ministry to determine available options for the referendum. The ability to change the process and timelines of a referendum once the process has been initiated lies with the Minister, not with the local government.

“Although the cancellation of the referendum is a disappointment, it is in the best interest of public health. We respect the efforts made by the Chief Election Officer and the decision made by the Ministry, we fully support that decision.” said Mayor Ken Christian. “We will have a new path forward in the coming months and this project will hopefully act as a key piece of the recovery in our City and our region.”

A new referendum date will be determined once a designated medical health officer advises the City under the Public Health Act that the Covid-19 pandemic no longer poses a threat to public health.

Any mail ballots received for the April 4, 2020, assent vote will remain unopened and will be destroyed by the Chief Election Officer as per the ministerial order. These ballots will not be included or counted in the rescheduled assent vote.

Once a new date has been set for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Referendum, there will be a new call for election officials. Any applications received to date for an election official will not be processed. Those wishing to participate will need to reapply when the applications become available.

Up-to-date information on KCA Referendum will be posted on this project page: LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/KCA

March 17, 2020 – The City acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and the upcoming referendum for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts (KCA). With the recent provincial and federal announcements regarding COVID-19, the Chief Election Officer for the KCA Referendum has been in conversations with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to determine available options for the referendum.

The ability to change the process and timelines of a referendum once the process has been initiated lies with the Minister, not with the local government. The Chief Election Officer has been working closely with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and will take direction from the Minister on how to proceed.

The City of Kamloops cares about the public’s health and wellbeing, election official volunteers, as well as the health and safety of our employees and are actively working with our Emergency Program Manager and Health and Safety Department.

Up-to-date information about the KCA Referendum will be provided on this project page, LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/KCA, as it becomes available from the Ministry.

The City is reaching out to the community asking for residents to submit their questions related to the Kamloops Centre for the Arts (KCA) project and the referendum process.

We have been collecting these questions through various methods: online, through in-person conversations, and at public meetings. As answers become available, we will be updating the Q&A section on the Let’s Talk website. To highlight some of the questions and answers in the Q&A, we will be issuing a regular “Question of the Week” feature via social media and on the City’s Let’s Talk website.

We encourage you to share the information with those who are interested in learning more about the KCA project and the referendum process.

Question of the Week - March 9

Q: Where do I go to vote on April 4th?

A: You can vote at any of the 16 voting locations on Saturday, April 4. Two pieces of ID are required to vote.

General Voting Locations:

• Aberdeen Elementary, 2191 Van Horne Drive
• Arthur Hatton Elementary, 315 Chestnut Avenue
• Arthur Stevenson Elementary, 2890 Bank Road
• Beattie Elementary, 492 McGill Road
• Dallas Elementary, 296 Harper Road
• Dufferin Elementary, 1880 Hillside Drive
• Heritage House, 100 Lorne Street
• Lloyd George Elementary, 830 Pine Street
• NorKam Secondary, 730 12th Street
• Parkcrest Elementary at George Hilliard, 985 Holt Street
• Rayleigh Elementary, 306 Puett Ranch Road
• R.L. Clemitson Elementary, 5990 Todd Road
• Sahali Mall, 945 Columbia Street West (Voting hours are 9:30 am to 6:30 pm for this location)
• South Sahali Elementary, 1585 Summit Drive
• Valleyview Secondary, 1950 Valleyview Drive
• Westmount Elementary, 745 Walkem Road
  
  

Question of the Week - March 2

Q: What happens if the Kamloops Centre for the Arts $22 million fundraising is not met or if the project goes over budget?

A: Funding would need to come from other levels of government, grants, donors, or other City sources, such as reserves. Before construction proceeds, if the money objective has not been met, project scope, timing, and/or finishings may be reviewed. The project may not proceed unless other sources of funding are secured. The referendum has set the maximum amount the City can borrow for the project at $45 million.

Question of the Week - February 28

Q: Why did Council choose to hold a referendum?

Question of the Week - February 19

Question of the Week - February 7

Question of the Week - January 31

Q: I will be out of town on April 4. How else can I vote?

A: Residents unable to vote on April 4 are encouraged to vote during one of two advanced polling dates at Heritage House, Wednesday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 1. Individuals who expect to be absent from the City during the general and advance voting dates, or those who have a physical disability, illness, or injury that prevents them from voting at another voting opportunity, can submit an application to vote by mail online (Kamloops.ca/Referendum) or through City Hall.

Question of the Week - January 24

Q: Are residents of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Sun Rivers, and outlying areas of Kamloops able to vote?

A: We acknowledge that residents in the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and within the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) membership may wish to exercise their right to vote in the City’s upcoming referendum. Members of TteS and residents who live within the TNRD boundaries are unfortunately not eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum, this includes areas such as Sun Rivers, Rivershore, Tobiano, and Sun Peaks. However, residents who reside in these areas may vote if they own real estate in Kamloops, registered in their name for at least thirty days prior to the day of voting. These requirements are dictated by the Local Government Act and Elections BC. As a municipality, the City is bound to follow the requirements when conducting an election or a referendum.

Question of the Week - January 17

Q: Have other locations been considered for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts?

A: We recognize that some residents would like to see a venue of this nature in other areas of town; however, the location for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts is final. The downtown property is owned by the City and is ready for development.

In order to allow access for all residents and provide the greatest economic opportunity from this investment, a major community venue such as the Kamloops Centre for the Arts must be built in the downtown core.

When the City created the current surface parking lot, it was developed with the intention of future development. With the addition of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts, Kamloops would have the Kamloops Symphony, Western Canada Theatre, the Kamloops Film Society, the Kamloops Art Gallery, and the Kamloops Museum & Archives all within three blocks of each other, which would create a cultural destination in our downtown core for both residents and tourists to enjoy.

Question of the Week - January 10

Q: What is the total cost for this project, and how will it be funded?

A: The Class D estimate indicates the facility will cost approximately $70 million, of which the City is proposing to borrow up to $45 million for its contribution.

This balance of the project will be funded through grants from other levels of governments, donations and sponsorships from organizations and individuals, and a substantial financial gift from Ron Fawcett.

To highlight facts and information about the Kamloops Centre for the Arts (KCA), we will be issuing a regular “Did You Know” feature through the City social media channels and on the City’s Let’s Talk website.

We encourage you to share the information with those who are interested in learning more about the KCA project and the referendum process.

Did You Know - March 9

The capital cost for building the Kamloops Centre for the Arts does not project any tax increase for any taxpayer, residential or business. The financial plan will keep the City’s debt payments at approximately $6 million, which reflects the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) program loans being paid off and the borrowing for the KCA replacing the TCC debt in 2024. View the Project Annual Debt (Mortgage) Servicing graph.

Did You Know - March 2

Many of the civic/community uses that are projected for this facility will benefit from a 1,200 seat theatre, such as high school graduations, university convocations, speaker series, and special celebrations. Year-end dance shows, traveling broadway productions, and music tours are also projected.

Did You Know - February 26

Did You Know - February 5

Did You Know - January 29

Once constructed, the Kamloops Centre for the Arts would help Kamloops’ Tournament Capital program build on its success and attract large sporting events by providing a competitive venue to host the award ceremonies, celebrations, and volunteer events that have become an expected component of a host City.

Did You Know - January 22

The proposed design for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts allows for all three theatre spaces to be used at the same time with complete sound separation and to be serviced by a 9,000 sq.ft. lobby.

Did You Know - January 15

Did You Know - January 8

In 2019, over 1000 students graduated from School District 73. Graduation ceremonies were held in churches, school gymnasiums, sporting arenas, and a conference centre to accommodate the size of the graduating classes. The Kamloops Centre for the Arts will provide students with a venue appropriate in size and decorum.

General Voting Day for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Referendum is Saturday, April 4, 2020. Advanced Voting Days are Wednesday, March 25, and Wednesday, April 1. We recognize that getting to a voting location is difficult for residents in assisted living/care homes, and we are pleased to announce that Special Voting Opportunities will be held at a number of assisted living/care homes in Kamloops. These Special Voting Opportunities are only open to electors who are residents, patients, visitors, volunteers, or employees on duty, and are not available for general voting.

Information on voter eligibility, voting locations, acceptable ID, and more can be found at Kamloops.ca/Referendum.

For further inquiries related to special voting opportunities please contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-828-3405 or dcampbell@kamloops.ca.

General Voting Day for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Referendum is Saturday, April 4, 2020. Advanced Voting Days are Wednesday, March 25, and Wednesday, April 1. We acknowledge that not all residents will be in town on the scheduled voting days, and we are pleased to announce that applications to vote by mail are now available. Download an application now.

Mail ballot voting is available to those who have a physical disability, illness, or injury that prevents them from voting at another voting opportunity. Mail ballot voting is also available for people who expect to be absent from the city on Advance and General Voting Days.

An application to vote by mail can also be obtained by contacting the Legislative Services Division in person; by mail at 7 Victoria Street West, Kamloops, BC, V2C 1A2; or by phone at 250-828-3483.

To ensure your vote will be counted, your mail ballot, along with all required documentation, must be received by the Chief Election Officer at 7 Victoria Street West, Kamloops, BC, V2C 1A2, no later than 8:00 pm on April 4, 2020.

Information on voter eligibility, voting locations, acceptable ID, and more can be found at Kamloops.ca/Referendum.

For further inquiries related to voting by mail please contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-828-3405 or dcampbell@kamloops.ca.

Applications are now closed.

Are you curious about what takes place behind the scenes of a referendum? Get involved to find out!

An Election Official’s job duties include legibly registering voters, recording and confirming their identification, and issuing ballots. If you are selected to work, you will be required to:

• work on Saturday, April 4, 2020, from 7:00 am to approximately 9:00 pm; and/or
• work on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and Wednesday, April 1, 2020, from 7:00 am to approximately 9:00 pm; and
• remain on site throughout the entire day.
  
  

As a contract employee for the day, a $255 stipend will be mailed after April 4, 2020.

On April 4, 2020, electors will vote to decide if they are in favour of the City of Kamloops borrowing up to $45 million to construct a Kamloops Centre for the Arts (KCA). In recognition of the strong desire from the public to learn more about the referendum and the project proposed by the KCA Society, City staff have been working diligently to gather questions from the public through online question submissions, emails, and face-to-face conversations.

The City invites residents to learn more about the proposed KCA project by visiting LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/KCA. Residents can join an online community conversation, ask a question, and stay up-to-date on project news and upcoming information sessions.

“Our team has been working hard on listening to the questions coming from the public. Our goal is to provide factual information to help residents make an informed decision and to feel empowered when they vote on April 4,” said Byron McCorkell, the City’s Community and Protective Services Director. “Currently, there are over 70 answered questions on the Let’s Talk website that are related to the project, its financing and operating costs, and the referendum, such as voting requirements and eligibility.”

On November 5, 2019, City Council unanimously voted to support the development of the KCA in partnership with the KCA Society and directed staff to initiate a referendum to measure the electors' support for the borrowing.

At the November 19, 2019, Regular Council Meeting, Council set the date for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts referendum as April 4, 2020 and authorized the referendum question “Are you in favour of the City of Kamloops borrowing up to $45 million to construct a Kamloops Centre for the Arts?"