Author: Jason Hewlett

A new elementary school is opening its doors in Kamloops for the first time in more than 20 years, adding to the excitement as students prepare to return to class. The 2026–27 school year kicks off Tuesday morning when elementary and secondary students alike return to class at 10:30 a.m. Of the estimated 15,695 students…

Although the return to school can be an exciting time for students, it does come with a certain level of anxiety for children and their parents alike. Fortunately, the Kamloops YMCA BC has a number of programs that can help mitigate any tension families might feel after the school bell rings on Sept. 8. Jenna…

The B.C. RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit is continuing to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a 25-year-old Kamloops man whose body was found inside a burning vehicle last summer. Police responded to a vehicle fire on Tranquille-Criss Creek Road at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 23, 2025. Inside the black 2019…

Shorter days and morning dew are helping dampen wildfire activity, but the risk of forest fires remains heading into September as hot, dry conditions could persist. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Sarah Budd, an information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service. Of chief concern are underlying drought conditions, particularly in the central…

With the next school trustee election just over three months away, School District 73’s superintendent says anyone seeking a seat on the board should be prepared to put aside personal agendas and focus on making decisions that serve students across the district. The comments came as the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education adopted its updated trustee…

The Kamloops-Thompson School District is forecasting a year-end operating surplus of more than $9.3 million, nearly eight times higher than originally budgeted, driven by increased student enrolment, additional provincial funding and stronger-than-expected investment and international education revenues. A financial update presented to the board projects a $9.314-million operating surplus, up from the $6.065-million forecast at…

Wildfire season in British Columbia could stretch toward Halloween this year, with campfire bans and other fire prohibitions likely remaining in place until late October as increasingly long fire seasons become the norm, a B.C. Wildfire Service official says. With hot, dry weather forecast well into August, residents can expect campfire bans and other fire…

Kamloops RCMP continue to investigate a stabbing that left one person injured in downtown Kamloops last month. The incident occurred during the early morning hours of June 14 in the 300-block of Victoria Street. Police said the victim was taken to hospital for treatment. RCMP have described the stabbing as an isolated incident and say…

Kamloops RCMP are asking for the public’s help identifying two people believed to be involved in a graffiti incident that damaged a mural in the downtown core. Police said officers received a report on June 14 that graffiti had been spray painted on a mural on the exterior of a building in the 200-block of…

The assault of a senior at the Lansdowne Bus Exchange has reignited debate about safety in downtown Kamloops, with residents expressing growing unease even as RCMP maintain there is no rise in unprovoked attacks. “While I can certainly understand public concern, I can assure you that we are not seeing a rise in unprovoked attacks…