At The Wren, we believe in community-driven and community-funded journalism to ensure our reporting reflects the diversity and needs of the people who live here. This model keeps us accountable to the community over any other stakeholder.
But what does community-driven journalism mean?
For The Wren, it simply means that we listen to what Kamloopsians want to know more about. We constantly interact with our readers to come up with ideas for stories and articles.
In 2024, we had many reader questions and concerns that directly informed our reporting. Here are a few stories that grew out of those questions.
What questions do you have for 2025? Fill out this short survey to let us know what you want to see investigated.
Fact check: What is a 15 minute city and why are some Kamloopsians concerned?
For many Kamloopsians living outside of the downtown or North Shore cores, day-to-day life likely requires getting into a vehicle and facing some traffic congestion.
So you may be surprised to learn that a small group of vocal residents are concerned about an urban planning concept called “15 minute cities” that seeks to support residents in accessing essential services health care and groceries within walkable neighbourhood hubs.
Social media posts have circulated misinformation and even conspiracy theories about the concept, leading some residents to question its purpose and intent.
The Wren reached out to local organizations, the City of Kamloops and residents to explain the concept of 15 minute cities and how it applies to Kamloops.
Fact-checking claims about recovery: Involuntary treatment
Could involuntary addictions treatment help solve the toxic drug crisis? The Wren contributor Sunny Stranks investigated this often-asked reader question.
Under B.C. law, every adult capable of understanding applicable information has the right to give or refuse consent to health care for any reason, even if the refusal will result in death.
For this reason, people with substance use disorders can’t generally be forced into recovery programs against their will. However a rising number of individuals are already being treated for addictions involuntarily under the Mental Health Act. The Wren interviewed experts on the complexities of this health response.
Kamloops City Council defunded the Community Climate Action Plan. What does this mean for Kamloopsians?
Kamloopsians consume about 11 per cent more greenhouse gases than the average British Columbian, largely driven by factors like the reliance on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, natural gas heating and landfill waste.
To tackle the issue, the city adopted an award-winning Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP), setting clear goals for the future.
“While we try to reduce emissions to reduce the severity of climate change, we also need to actively adapt for it, because it’s here,” City of Kamloops’s climate and sustainability manager Glen Cheetham told The Wren.
However in late 2024, Kamloops city council reduced the plan’s funding, putting into question how those goals could be achieved on time.
The Wren took a deep dive into the plan to learn more about how it impacts Kamloopsians.
Landing on Fulton Field: Why is the Kamloops airport where it is?
A reader reached out to The Wren asking why the Kamloops airport was placed where it is.
Reporter Lyssa Martin got to work and went to the archives to find out more information. Her research revealed the intertwined story of a working class mayor and a war hero.
‘Every little bit helps’: How Kamloops entrepreneurs are responding to social disorder and crime
In late 2023, The Wren received a message from reader Shane Lange, who suggested we look into a photo shared on the social media platform Reddit, which sparked a wider conversation about local responses to theft.
The photo showed a poster mounted in a local liquor store featuring images pulled from security camera footage of two suspects, side by side, with the words “stay out of my store F**CKTARD THIEVES.”
The “violent rhetoric” showed a lack of sympathy and respect for marginalised people, Shane wrote. Could we look into it?
One of our principles at The Wren is to focus on solutions and reporting that brings people together rather than stoking more division.
We dug into the statistics on crime, heard from local businesses about the impacts of social disorder and talked to many organizations involved in responses.
The liquor store poster captures some of the frustrations we heard on this issue. Many local business owners are struggling in the downtown and North Shore. The Wren reported on what is being done to address these concerns and what is proving effective.
Advocates call for better cardiac care in Kamloops ahead of elections
During the 2024 B.C. election, readers surveyed by The Wren identified health care as their top issue of concern, with some specifically identifying barriers to accessing cardiac healthcare in Kamloops.
Al Patel has been a businessman in Kamloops since 1989, and started the ICCHA wish fund to help address the issue. Patel estimates that about one thousand people in Kamloops with cardiac-related conditions have to travel, in some cases by ambulance, to either Vancouver or Kelowna each year to access diagnostics and treatment that could be given in Kamloops.
The Wren reached out to residents to learn more about how barriers to accessing health care can cause worsening health conditions and financial strain.
Why is the Red Bridge fire so devastating for Kamloops? History has the answers
In September 2024 the historic Red Bridge burned down sending a wave of shock and grief through the community.
Many locals gathered at the Red Bridge information kiosk at the south end of the span to share memories, including tales of white-knuckle drives and clenched cheeks from particularly dodgy trips over the narrow span.
But this local icon was more than just a test of skill — and right of passage — for new drivers and new Kamloopians alike. It has held a longstanding role as connector between the city and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.
The Wren’s Lyssa Martin spent days researching the bridge and its predecessors in the Kamloops Museum and Archives and shared the story.
The Wren is a community driven local news outlet. Your questions and ideas help guide what we dig into. Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you
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