The Executive Director of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association says CAP team members picked up 2,200 needles both in downtown and on the North Shore this year.

Carl DeSantis says its too soon to say if the number of needles being picked up are increasing, decreasing, or staying roughly the same year over year.

“We do a partnership throughout the summer with the North Shore Business Improvement Association and CAP, that’s one of their, call it dirty jobs that they take care of for us,” she said. “You, myself, I wouldn’t want to do that. They do that regularly, and their clearly making an impact when they pick up that many.”

DeSantis notes there are a number of agencies in Kamloops also trying to keep the streets of Kamloops free of needles.

“During the summer there was an initiative on the North Shore, the peer ambassador network, they do the same thing. Interior Health, they’ll do this. Ask Wellness they’ll pick up needles, citizens pick up needles,” he noted.

And he says CAP team members pick up needles all year round, but they usually tend to find more of them in the summer months.

“It’s more seasonal that not, believe it or not. They tend to find them in the warmer weather, maybe because the snow is not covering them, I’m not sure,” DeSantis added. “But they certainly are doing their best to keep the streets safe and clean for us.”