Expected Court Appearance and Anticipated Guilty Plea

An accused driver is scheduled to appear at the Kelowna Law Courts at 9 a.m. on Oct. 13 for trial in connection with the death of 15-year-old Tristan Seeger. Crown prosecutors informed Tristan’s mother, Paule Seeger, that the accused, Brandon Michael Kazakoff, intends to enter a guilty plea on the first day of proceedings. Kazakoff was arrested and charged on Sept. 6, 2024, with dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop or remain at the scene, and assault with a weapon regarding Tristan’s homicide. Kazakoff was released on bail three days after his arrest.

Reflecting on the news of the expected plea, Seeger shared her mixed emotions ahead of entering the courtroom. “It took me a day or two to really process,” Seeger said. “Part of me was, leading up to this, thinking I really want him to plead out so we don’t have to go through this. But part of me also wanted him to sit there and listen to everything. Sit there with Tristan’s mom in the room and hear it.”

Remembering Tristan Through Community Support

The upcoming court proceedings fall near the anniversary of the incident. Tristan was hit by a vehicle near Ben Lee Park in Kelowna on Oct. 21, 2023, and died in the hospital the following day. The driver involved fled the scene. Seeger explained that medical blood donations gave her family crucial time to say goodbye while Tristan was hospitalized. To honor his memory, she organizes an annual blood and plasma donation drive, securing appointment slots for Tristan’s Team on Oct. 22 and 23 at Kelowna’s Plasma Donor Centre.

“Making sense of Tristan’s death does not mean a long prison sentence,” Seeger commented. “It’s doing things like donating plasma.” Seeger added that her focus remains on positive outcomes from her loss. “Help another person, that’s the stuff that should come out of this,” she stated. When asked about her message to the public, Seeger encouraged community unity: “In times like this when we can focus on the bad… be different, be kind, be gentle,” she said. “Choose the right thing and don’t let hate win.”

Controversy and Media Shifts Reshaping Local Vote

Voter engagement in Kamloops could approach the 40 per cent mark in the upcoming civic election, according to former mayor Terry Lake. Following four years of friction at city hall, Lake believes the heightened public attention may motivate more residents to participate than in recent municipal races.

Initial turnout figures for 2022 sat at 29 per cent, later updated to 30 per cent by CivicInfo BC. That matched the 30 per cent participation recorded in 2018, while 2014 saw nearly 35 per cent of voters head to the polls. Participation stood significantly higher during Lake’s election win in 2005, when 44.5 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots—a contrast to the 30-something range seen over the next five municipal cycles.

Lake noted encouraging signs during advance voting on Oct. 7 at Heritage House. “That bodes well for the likelihood of having a higher overall turnout this time around,” he said, adding that turnout in the 40 per cent neighborhood would not surprise him given the recent atmosphere surrounding city hall.

Media Landscape and Provincial Comparisons

Reflecting on broader trends, Lake pointed to changes in local news coverage as a potential factor in declining voter participation over time. Before 2010, the city was served by two newspapers alongside television and radio outlets. Today, many residents rely on curated social media feeds for local news, which Lake suggested can lead to reduced engagement.

Civic turnout in Kamloops mirrors broader B.C. municipal averages, remaining far below participation rates in provincial and federal elections. The 2024 provincial election drew between 57 and 61 per cent of the local electorate, while roughly 70 per cent voted in the 2025 federal election.

Terry Kading, a political science professor at Thompson Rivers University, attributed lower municipal turnouts partly to accessibility. Because local council holds regular public meetings and remains visible in the community, residents may feel less pressure to vote compared to federal or provincial elections, where government feels more distant. Kading also observed that online voting dramatically boosted turnout in Ontario municipalities, though Lake noted there is no single solution for driving civic participation.

Online Memorial Launched Following Trans-Canada Highway Collision

An online fundraising campaign has been established to assist a grieving Kamloops family after a two-vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Chase claimed two lives. The crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, involving a Honda Civic and a Mercedes SUV.

First responders reported that 47-year-old Denise Sellars and her 11-year-old son, Kayden, were traveling in the Honda and died in the crash. The driver of the Mercedes sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital for medical care.

Community Honors Victims

Organized by Trinity B to assist the surviving family members in the coming months, the GoFundMe campaign set a goal of $11,000 and had collected nearly $7,500 shortly after publication. Sellars and her son leave behind her partner Luther, along with her older children, Tristan and Malia.

“Denise was a bright, beautiful light, with an infectious laugh and smile,” organizer Trinity B wrote. “She inspired us to lighten up and be the best version of ourselves. She was a spiritual warrior, a knowledge holder and a language warrior, too.” The organizer added that Sellars’ classmates selected her as valedictorian, noting, “We knew you were the bravest of us all.” Her loss has had a profound impact across her community and Secwepemcúl̓ecw.

Trinity also shared memories of 11-year-old Kayden, describing him as a boy with a large heart who was “the [first] to go without if he wants to share with [you],” and noted that “Those who knew him remember a sweetheart who always made sure to say, ‘Good morning.’”

Police Investigation Ongoing

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fatal incident. BC RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano offered condolences in a statement, noting, “The loss of life in any incident is tragic, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those affected during this incredibly difficult time.”

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the event or captured video footage along that stretch of highway between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 to contact the Chase RCMP at 250-679-3221, citing file 2026-2282.