Len Marchand

Len was a scientist, politician (b 16 Nov 1933, Vernon). A graduate of UBC (1959) and the University of Idaho (1964), he was an agricultural research scientist at the Kamloops Research Station from 1960 to 1965. He worked as special assistant to 2 federal cabinet ministers in Ottawa, then was elected Liberal MP for Kamloops-Cariboo in 1968-the first Aboriginal elected to Parliament since Louis Riel. In 1976 he became the first Aboriginal to serve in the federal cabinet when he was named minister of state for small business by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. After his defeat in the 1979 election, Marchand became administrator for the Nicola Valley Indian Administration in Merritt. He was named to the Senate in 1984, the same year he became honorary chief of the Okanagan Nation, and served until retiring in 1997. In 1999 he was named to the Order of Canada. (from B.C. Encyclopedia)

Rafe Mair

Rafe was a lawyer, politician, broadcaster (b 31 Dec 1931, Vancouver). After graduating from UBC law school he was called to the bar in 1961 and practised law in Vancouver and Kamloops from 1961 to 1975. He entered politics as a Kamloops alderman in 1973 and in 1975 won election to the provincial legislature as a Social Credit Party member for that city. He held 3 posts in Premier Bill Bennett's Cabinet. During much of this period he also handled the constitutional portfolio for the province. In 1981 he retired from politics to become host of his own radio talk show on CJOR in Vancouver. In 1984 he switched to CKNW, where he emerged as one of the liveliest, most outspoken broadcasters in Canada. His show became the highest rated single-market talk show in the country, and he was credited with influencing opinion on major public issues. (from B.C. Encyclopedia)

Tom is a Kickboxing Champion and instructor at Chinese Gung Fu and Kickboxing School

Samuel Black

Samual was a fur trader (b 3 May 1780, Pitsligo, Scotland; d 8 Feb 1841, Kamloops). He came to Canada in 1802 and served for many years with the North West Co. at at trading posts in the Athabasca District.  Stopping at nothing to defeat his HBC competitors, he was a notorious ruffian and bully. When the HBC absorbed the NWC in 1821, Black was refused a job in the reorganized company because of his history. But in 1823 he was taken on as officer in charge at Fort St John on the upper Peace River. He moved posts regularly until 1830, when he was stationed at Thompson's River Post (Kamloops). In 1837 he became chief factor in charge of all the posts in the district. Black was never much of a diplomat, and his relations with the Aboriginal people were poor. It was not unexpected when a dispute with a Secwepemc (Shuswap) chief ended in Black's murder. (from B.C. Encyclopedia)

The Overlanders

The Overlanders were gold seekers from Ontario who trekked across the western Interior to the Cariboo between 1858 and 1862. Most of them were young men of limited means who hoped to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. The largest group made the crossing in 1862. Members gathered at the Red River Settlement in Manitoba, and the first group of about 150 people, led by Thomas McMicking, set out early in June. Two smaller groups followed. The main party's only woman, Catherine Schubert, traveled with her husband and three young children; their fourth child was born after they arrived in BC. They journeyed by Red River cart and packhorse, crossing the plains to Fort Edmonton. Another group went overland south toward Kamloops, two were drowned along the way and the rest almost starved. A few Overlanders found gold in the Cariboo; many remained in BC and went on to have successful careers. (from B.C. Encyclopedia)

Mel Rothenburger

Mel was born in 1944 and raised in the Okanagan Valley, Mel Rothenburger is a descendant of Hudson's Bay Company Factor Donald McLean of Fort Kamloops. Rothenburger most notably became editor of the Kamloops Daily News. Having known former Kamloops mayor and evangelist Phil Gaglardi since Gaglardi was a controversial Social Credit cabinet minister in 1970, Rothenburger wrote a biography of the ex-Highways Minister, Friend o' Mine (Orca Books, 1991). Rothenburger's earlier books were 'We've Killed Johnny Ussher! The Story of The Wild McLean Boys and Alex Hare (Mitchell Press, 1973)' and The Chilcotin War. The father of the 'Wild McLeans'--Allan, Charlie and Allan; some of the most notorious outlaws in B.C. history--was the HBC Factor Donald McLean. He is currently Mayor of Kamloops, serving his last term. (From website)