Me, Peter Oswell, and the North Shore Plan...

Over the past year, I have been to many meeting with my friend Peter Oswell to work on a new community plan for the North Shore Kamloops. I like Peter a lot  - and we tend to agree on almost nothing. Yes, it is pretty rare to find Peter and I agreeing on a topic or an issue.

Ultimately, this is a good thing. And it is pretty indicative of how the North Shore plan community advisory committee works. We currently have a lot of people involved with North Shore Business Improvement Association on the committee. And although I am and have been a business person for a long time,  I think its important to state opinions from other North Shore interests. I try to do that when I can. Others do to. We have had some pretty animated discussions. What ultimately generally comes out of our discussions around the table is a pretty balanced view of where the North Shore is now, and where it could go.

Peter and I went for a drink after a committee meeting we had last Thursday evening. We continued a respectful, great conversation. Sometimes I find it hard to bite my tongue and just listen to what he has to say. But, I find listening to him almost always a rewarding thing.

I am beginning to think, through the many hours of meetings I have been to and the many hours of reading I have done, that the main issue on the North Shore is really one of perception. Statistics show the North Shore is really no more crime ridden than any other area of Kamloops, it is beautifully flat and enjoys some of the best weather. There are great deals to be had in real estate.

What we might want to focus on is changing people's perceptions. No street beautfication, no great condo or townhouse project will be able to do that alone. What we perhaps should do is showcase this part of town to the people we want to recognize its great value.

You can read a draft of the North Shore plan here.

More North Shore planning documents.

Comments

[Bonnie]

Hi Arjun,

How do you get on this planning council? This has been bothering me for some time... The plan seems very 'business interests' heavy. I have tried before to form a North Shore Community Group and I'm very interested in getting a community group going. Maybe by working with the NSBIA??? I'd love to chat with someone about this... can you suggest who I should talk to?

[Arjun Singh]

Hello Bonnie,

Thanks for your comment!

I would love to help you get a north shore community group going. Like I said in the post, we do I believe have a balance of interests around the north shore plan table. A couple of our non business members have been away the past few months. But, I think the work is still pretty well rounded.

You can talk to Clint Anderson at the city of Kamloops - 828 3311 - about starting a community group. I would also be happy to talk with you about it. It is always good to talk to the NSBIA. You can also talk to the folks behind the McDonald Park community association.

[Bonnie]

Thanks Arjun! Have a great week!