Biographies

Mayor & Council

Council Strategic Mission
To provide thoughtful, consultative leadership for the betterment of our community.

Mayor Peter Milobar
Phone: 250 828 3495
Fax: 250 828 3314
Email: mayor@kamloops.ca

Peter Gordon Milobar, son of Dr. Tony and Maryann Milobar, was born in 1970 in Edmonton, Alberta; the youngest of five children. The family moved back to Kamloops in 1971.

Peter attended Stuart Wood Elementary, John Peterson Junior Secondary, and Kamloops Senior Secondary. During his school years he worked at the family hotel, the Place Inn.

Peter played and excelled at numerous sports throughout his youth. He played hockey at the junior level. He played for Nanaimo and Penticton while completing business courses.

Peter was married to Lianne in 1993. They started a family in 1994 and have three children. Peter returned to running the family hotel, which was then known as the Days Inn Hotel.

In 2002, Peter decided to give back to his community by running for city council. Since his election in 2002, Peter has worked with many organizations and committees. Peter has been involved with the Tournament Capital Committee, Arts Commission, Mayors Advisory for Persons with a Disability, Social Planning and Development Cost Charges Review Committee. He has proven to be a leader within those committees.

As one of the Kamloops representatives on the Thompson Nicola Regional District, Peter has been chair of the Civic Building Maintenance Committee as well as vice chair of the board for a year. Most recently, Peter was elected Chair of the regional district for a third year, making him the first Mayor of Kamloops to be elected chair of the board.

In addition to his political work, Peter continues to own and operate a pub and private liquor store in Kamloops.

With the support of his family and the strong support from the community, Peter sought the Mayor's chair in 2008. He had an overwhelming victory and claimed 74% of the vote.

Councillors

Councillor Nancy Bepple
City Phone: 250 828 3494
Email: nbepple@kamloops.ca

Nancy Bepple has worked at Thompson Rivers University since 2001 as Co-op Coordinator for students in the School of Advanced Technologies and Mathematics. In this role she works with hundreds of students and thousands of companies in BC, across Canada and around the world. Nancy has spent her entire career in the high tech and advanced manufacturing sector.

Prior to joining TRU. Nancy worked for five years as a project and product manager at Coe Newnes/McGehee (sawmill equipment manufacturer) in Salmon Arm. Before that, she was a system analyst and meteorologist for ten years at MacDonald Dettwiler (aerospace and aeronautical systems) in Richmond. Nancy has a Masters of Science in Atmospheric Science from University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computing Science from University of Victoria.

Nancy grew up in Kamloops and chose to return because of her deep roots in Kamloops: her family has been in Kamloops since 1934, when her grandparents and their children came to Brocklehurst to farm.

Nancy is involved in the community through her work on numerous boards including CIBC Run for the Cure, Kamloops Heritage Society. BIG Little Science Centre, and the Kamloops chapter of Canadian Information Processing Society.

Banjo is Nancy's number one pleasure. especially playing at the North Shore and Downtown Farmers' Markets, at extended care residences and the Barnhartvale Coffee House.

Councillor John G. De Cicco
City Phone: 250 374 6042
Email: jdecicco@kamloops.ca

John De Cicco has lived in Kamloops since 1962, owning and operating the Continental Barber Shop in downtown Kamloops. He has been married to his wife Darlene for 44 years, 39 years of which have been spent living on the north shore. They have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren.

John has been a City Councillor since 1999. He has been actively involved in the community with volunteer work. He is a Colombo Lodge Member and Past President and Director, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and was a Youth Soccer Coach and Director for Kamloops Youth Soccer Association for many years as well as being a Referee for Youth and Senior Soccer.

He is serving as a Director of TNRD, Chairman of the Community & Council Services Committee, on the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel, the Service Agreement Negotiating Committee, Coordinated Enforcement Task Force Committee, Fraser Basin Council, and other committees.

Councillor Jim Harker
Cell Phone: 250 318 8353
Email: jharker@kamloops.ca

Jim moved to Kamloops in 1955 and has enjoyed being a Kamloopsian. He was with B.C. telephone in the early 1970's and then joined the Kamloops Fire Department on March 15, 1976. Rising through the ranks he was a Firefighter, Inspector and finally held the the rank of Captain as the Life Safety Educator. During these years Jim has been involved with the Vintage Car Club, the Lions Club and Rotary.

Jim retired on October 13, 2005 and then signed his nomination papers to run for City Council on October 14, 2005. He is now in his second term as a city councillor having been re-elected in November of 2008.

Jim is married to Lorraine Cameron and they have four adult children. James, Corrinn, Bronwyn and Elizabeth.

Councillor Tina Lange
Home Phone: 250 372-0902
Email: tlange@kamloops.ca

Tina Lange moved to Kamloops at the age of two and claims to be a native Kamloopsian. She is one of five daughters, has three daughters of her own and 6 grandchildren.

Obtaining a diploma in Leisure and Recreation Management from University College of the Cariboo Tina started her professional life as a Program Director for the Kamloops Y.

From there Tina has gone on to varied careers, including managing a diet centre, newspaper advertising consultant, restaurateur, and hotelier.

In 2008 she turned over her restaurant, Hello Toast, to her daughter Amy and took on a new challenge as General Manager and part owner of the Plaza Heritage Hotel.

She has been on many boards and involved with community groups throughout her life. Becoming a downtown business owner led to an interest in municipal politics. Tina was elected to City Council in 2005.

Councillor John H. O'Fee
City Phone: 250 828 3494
Email: jofee@kamloops.ca

A Kamloops native, John O'Fee attended Norkam, Thompson Rivers University and the University of BC where he completed degrees in Commerce and Law. A practicing lawyer in Kamloops for over twenty years, John has also served three terms as a school trustee including three years as school board chair. He also served as regional hospital board Chair from 2005-2008.

In his role of city councillor John currently serves as president of the Kamloops Airport Society, a Director of Venture Kamloops, a TNRD director, member of the city audit committee, chair of the TNRD audit committee and chair of the local court of revision.

Councillor O'Fee is currently serving as chair and has also served over ten years as a director of the Thompson Rivers University Foundation which is dedicated to raising scholarship and bursary money for deserving students.

John and his wife Daniela have two children Colin and Lucas.

Councillor Marg Spina
Cell Phone: 250 372 0440
Email: mspina@kamloops.ca

Marg Spina was born in Vancouver, B.C, and has lived in many different communities and airbases across Canada while growing up. Marg was the first female debt counsellor in B.C. and was promoted to BC Regional Consumer Affairs Manager, and moved to Kamloops in 1976.

She met and married Ross Spina, and has three children, and one grandchild, all in Kamloops. Her youngest, Vincent, is autistic, with a severe developmental disability. During Marg's years at home with her children, she served as a director on Kamloops community boards, volunteered at the Y, and advocated for autistic children.

Marg is a founding member of the BC Council on autism and served on the Ministry of Social Services Autism parent advisory group, and the Kamloops Community Health Council by government appointment. Marg developed and ran the Giant Steps West autism therapy centre for 5 years as a volunteer, which continues today as the Chris Rose Centre. She was awarded the Governor General 125 Award for Community Service in 1992 for her work.

Marg owns and operates Spina Consulting Services. Thinking outside of the box is her trademark. Her years of employment cover many areas, from the Broadcast Centre, CFJC TV, to on reserve First Nation's health training and community development. She writes consumer finance articles for the Financial Pipeline, and provides community credit and debt workshops for disadvantaged people. In 2007 she was appointed to the College of Licensed Professional Nurses as a public representative by the government.

Notable projects in Kamloops include the IIFS Little Hands of Friendship Daycare, Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for a Friend , Campaign Counsel for the 2nd floor and Emergency renovations, RIH, Co-chair of fundraising for the Special Olympic Winter Games 2003, North Rotary President 1999-2000, Can Ital Ladies, Kamloops Food Bank/Action Centre, Kamloops YMCA-YWCA, BC Community Health Associates, Spearheading and running KFB Kamloops Food Share, Kiwanis Elder Mentor Program - assisting other communities with food recovery and food sharing projects, and setting up food share depots throughout the Thompson Nicola region in Clearwater, Chase, and Savona.

Marg was awarded the B.C. Community Achiever Award in 2006 for her work with the Kamloops Food Bank. Other awards -YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction 1999, Giant Steps Parents Award, Paul Harris Rotary Award, City of Kamloops Volunteer of the Year 1991, Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award, April 2006. Marg's special interest is in helping people with "different abilities" (disabilities) find meaningful, paid work, or vibrant volunteer opportunities to serve others in community. Connecting people in Kamloops with each other has huge benefits to all neighbourhoods towards community sustainability in all areas. Let's roll up our sleeves and work together to make Kamloops a top city in Canada , a legacy for our children and grandchildren.

Councillor Patricia A. Wallace
City Phone: 250 828 3494
Home Phone: 250 828-1960
Email: pwallace@kamloops.ca

Patricia Wallace was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, moving to Kamloops in 1974. She is a businesswoman, free enterpriser as well as a strong and active supporter of her community and region. Pat is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

Pat's varied career background is matched only by here extensive community involvement. Some of her service includes the Royal Inland Hospital Board, United Way President and Campaign Chair, Coordinator of the Kamloops Blood Donor Clinic, Director of the Kamloops Exhibition Association, Media Director of the first BC Festival of the Arts, Director of the SPCA, Miss Kamloops Pageant Judge, Campaign Chair of the Kamloops Canadian Cancer Society, Director of the Air Show Society, and Director of the Kamloops Aids Society.

Her community activism led her into local politics where she is presently serving her 27th year as both a Kamloops City Councilor and a Director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Board. Pat was first elected to the Union of BC Municipalities in 1995 as a Director-at-Large, a position she held until being elected Third Vice President in 1999. During her years on the UBCM Board she served on many committees. She completed her last term on this Board in September as Past President. Her political career has also extended to the regional association OMMA (Okanagan Mainline Municipal Association) as a Director for several years. She has served as a Director on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for the past four years. On a national level she serves as Vice-Chair of the Green Municipal Funds Council.

Councillor Denis Walsh
City Phone: 250 828 3494
Email: dwalsh@kamloops.ca

Denis has lived in Kamloops since 1980 and has raised his family here. He is an active small local business person and is still involved in MovieMart Downtown and Crossroads Inn.

Denis has served as a director on the boards of the original North Shore Business Association and more recently, the Kamloops Film Society, Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, and Kamloops Society for Community Living. He was an co-organizer of the Kamloops Speaker Series and Community Representative for Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association Human Rights Committee. Denis was awarded a Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA Peacemaker Award in 2006.

His main areas of concern are economic stability, quality of life, improving community input and environmental stewardship. Denis believes benefit comes from working together with people of all points of view. He is currently serving on the Community and Council Services Committee, Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel, and Sustainable Kamloops Committee.

Logo Contact
Kirsty Morris
Executive Assistant
7 Victoria Street West
Kamloops, BC V2C 1A2
ph (250) 828 3494
fax (250) 828 3314
email kmorris@kamloops.ca

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