A troubling case of illegal waste disposal has drawn attention to the Bonaparte Gold Mine, a dormant site located roughly 30 to 50 kilometres north of Kamloops, B.C. According to provincial enforcement documents, inspectors with B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Parks discovered that WestKam Gold Corp., a Vancouver‑based mining company, had been burying large volumes of garbage on the property in 2025 Business in Vancouver CFJC Today Kamloops Castanet.net.
The debris wasn’t minor. Inspectors reported seeing heavy machinery actively covering refuse across a roughly 470‑square‑metre area. Items included everything from a hot water tank and rubber mats to computer chips, insulation, metal siding, oil containers, and even parts of travel trailers CFJC Today Kamloops Castanet.net. The waste was found during multiple inspections in July and August, suggesting the dumping was not accidental but part of an ongoing practice.
In a written determination, Jennifer Mayberry, director under the Environmental Management Act, described the violations as “major” and “highly deliberate,” noting that the company appeared to be avoiding proper disposal fees Business in Vancouver. WestKam’s CEO, Peter Laipnieks, had previously indicated the company had ceased operations at the mine in 2018, but provincial records showed the mining permit was still active CFJC Today Kamloops.
The province ultimately issued a $222,099 administrative penalty, one of the more significant fines levied against a small B.C. mining operator in recent years Business in Vancouver CFJC Today Kamloops Castanet.net. Environmental advocates say the case highlights ongoing concerns about oversight at smaller, inactive mine sites across the Interior.
