answer some of my questions about the Kamloops Pulp Mill's request for

an air permit amendment and extension. If you would like to provide

feedback to Domtar on their request, their formal 60 day public

consultation period ends on next Monday, August 11th. I would imagine

folks could still contact Rick Adams at the Ministry of Environment after this.  

01:00 -  Can you briefly describe why Domtar is seeking this amendment to the Kamloops Mill air permit?

03:33 - Can you explain the proposed new stack configuration for the mill?

06:01 -  On the valley stacks, is there any way that you could avoid them?

07:27 - As this is the second extension

request on the mill's air permit, can you give any confidence that

Domtar will not seek further extensions?

09:58 - It's a pretty

bad economic environment for pulp producers and some would say pulp

producing is a secondary area of business for Domtar, what is Domtar's

vision and outlook for the Mill?

13:05 - Is there a committment

from the senior management of Domtar, those who the Kamloops Mill

management report to, that this air quality work will be done by 2016?

15:05

- Concerns have been raised by West End Kamloops residents that their

air quality may actually be worse if your proposal is granted, is this

true?

19:27 - In my opinion the public engagement from Domtar on

this air amendment has been well done, can you talk to the importance

placed on consulting and engaging the community on this issue?

I found this wideranging convesation so interesting. All about the activities of the North Shore Business Improvement Association with its innovative leader, Peter Mutrie....


00:53 - what is the North Shore BIA
02:22  - mens clothing store wanted
02:37 -  other types of businesses wanting to
                attract - entertainment, restaurants, artistic businesses
03:13 - international flavour
03:50 - North Shore BIA events - banner festival, outdoor art gallery, art walk, makeovers
06:48 - North Shore ambience, artistic centre
07:40 - business makeovers, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CEPTED)
11:35 - other aspects of the North Shore Business Opportunity
13:20  - catering to global investment
14:35  - most diverse neighbourhood in Kamloops
15:46 -  Kamloopsians taking charge of their own destiny, entrepreneurialism, tournament capital program
17:41  - the business case for tackling social issues, the root causes
21:06 - NSBIA social enterprise projects, relationship building
24:43 - the Power of Partnerships
26:17 - business is an exciting world, not working in silos
27:15 - NSBIA web site and email
   

I was honoured that Kathleen Scherf, TRU's new President, took the time to have this conversation with me about our amazing university. We talk about Kathleen's background, the nature of a TRU education, and also about her experiences managing a large, diverse, rapidly changing institution.

Here is a roadmap for the audio:

   01:08: how did you get interested in teaching and academia 
   02:46: How did you become a Frankenstein scholar 
   07:55: How did you get  into university administration
   10:05: Tribute to Roger Barnsley
   11:14 - Changing the Culture of TRU
   11:58 - How did you find about TRU President Opening and fall
              in love with TRU
   13:34 - breaking the mold of a University President a bit
   14:28 - the mom car, the parking ticket on the first day  
   16:43 - has been kind of unusual been a challenge, being who
              you are and trying to being a role model
   19:05 - what makes a TRU education special - your vision?
   21:23 - small classes and large classes
   23:13 - value of President teaching first year students
   25:54 - how do liberal arts students become financially
              independent?
  27:45 - a  comprehensive university preparing students well
  28:34 - Law School update
  33:54 - House of Learning update, other capital projects - Old
             Main repairs
  36:17 -  Managing a large, diverse, rapidly changing institution:
              collegial governance, transparent leadership,
              team concept

00:42  - moved to Kamloops 2.5 years ago, born&raised in Meford Ont

02:19 - getting hired by Betty Hinton, the pAssport crunch opportunity

04:15 - Kevin's pre Kamloops history of community involvement

04:42 - what it was like working for an MP

06:03 - the Michael Crawford domain name incident

10:18 -  running for city council, municipal politics so much more practical, great experience

16:25 - the Ins and outs of a successful council campaign

17:47 -  young people voting, getting involved. How do we get more of that?

21:04 -  Barack Obama

22:48 -  Kevin one of newest members on city social planning council, business community / social advocates integration

28:10    -  takeways from a younger person who is involved in his community.

This short podcast needs a little bit of context. Denis Walsh is a great friend of mine. I served on Kamloops City Council from late 2005 to late 2008. Denis was elected in late 2008. I ran again and fell two places out of being re-elected.


Issues discussed:
- Clean Air Day 2009
- Steep Learning Curve
- Trip to Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention in Whistler BC

My good Jason Wassing talks about his daughter's philanthropy and about the Kamloops technology industry scene in 2009.

Delivered at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce AGM.

Show Notes

00:46  - What is the Arts Council, who do you represent and support, how are you different than other local arts organizations?
03:20  - How do people contact you?
04:24  - Free use of exhibition space for members
05:59  - Helping people sell arts. Art in the Park July 1st
07:42  - How did you personally get involved? The relationship between arts administrators and artists
08:54  - How the Arts Council is run and funded. How many members?
11:02  - Why is the Arts important in Kamloops?
14:02  - BC Arts and Culture Week April 19th-26th. Art Walk between Aoril 23rd and May 18th

14:56  - kick off to Art Walk: Body Beautiful Live Tattoo show. All Welcome, 7pm to 9pm, April 23rd, 319 Victoria Street

16:31  - lantern making workshops in partnership with Kamloops Central BIA, Aprl 23 - 25

18:05  - Free Childrens Festival at Riverside Park, Sept 12th, 11am to 4pm\

Ken McClelland's website: http://www.keninkamloops.com/

0:48 - surprised by the rapid change in real estate market?
2:04 - real estate market getting back to normal
2:36 - houses between 250k and 45  0k
3:17 - good market for first time buyers
3:51- good market for buying "up", going to a more expensive housing category
4:32     - strategies in this market for when you need to sell relatively quickly
6:12   - realtors leaving the business and the issue of full time and part time realtors
7:27 - investment properties in this market: "buying and holding" not "quick in and out"