The Kamloops North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA) and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) are looking at partnering up to try and find solutions to issues facing members like open drug use and petty crime.

Executive Director Jeremy Heighton says the discussions are in the very early stages, but he is hoping to move things forward as soon as possible. The goal, he notes, is to have an academically appropriate case study document to take to various levels of government.

“Based on the feedback I’ve had from some folks at TRU, they are quite excited by the opportunity,” he said. “So now we just have to work on what’s the funding look like? Where do we get that funding? What are our outcomes? Those kinds of things. We are looking for opportunities. We are looking for solutions. We’re looking to do things in a different manner.”

Heighton adds the study will look to find the current gaps in the system locally, regionally, provincially and federally.

“Because we know that what we are doing isn’t achieving the results we want as a community, and so we are trying to be innovative and we are trying to find new ways to do things in support of all members of our community, including our homeless, our addicted population, and in fact our business owners and taxpayers across the city.”

Speaking after a community meeting on Thursday night, Heighton says the NSBIA will continue to work with officials in the hopes of finding solutions that work for everyone.