Kamloops

History and Etymology

The area now known as Kamloops has been a gathering place for millennia, a fact reflected in its name derived from the Secwépemc word Tk'əmlúps, meaning 'meeting of the waters'. The devastating 1862 smallpox epidemic had a catastrophic impact on local First Nations, with estimates suggesting about two-thirds of the Secwepemc population perished. The city's modern growth was catalysed by the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, leading to its incorporation as a city in 1893 with about 500 residents. Kamloops expanded significantly through amalgamations, notably with the Town of North Kamloops in 1967 and several surrounding districts in 1973. A tragic chapter in the city's history gained global attention in May 2021 when ground-penetrating radar indicated 215 probable graves at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. In September 2024, the historic Red Bridge was destroyed in a fire suspected to be arson.

The journals of the fur post's Chief Traders document daily business and a series of inter-Indian wars and personalities for the early 19th century. After the forts were founded, Chief Kwa'lila moved his Secwépemc village closer to the trading post to control access and gain prestige. His successor, Chief Nicola, led an alliance of Syilx and Nlaka'pamux peoples and was recognized for aiding European settlers during the 1858 Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. The 1908 Tuberculosis Pandemic led to the opening of the King Edward Memorial Sanatorium west of the city, which later became the provincially run Tranquille Sanatorium before closing in 1958.

The Tranquille Institution reopened in 1959 to treat people with mental problems, although it later closed in 1983. In June 1862, indigenous people went to Fort Kamloops seeking smallpox vaccine. William Manson, chief clerk at the fort, vaccinated numerous persons, but fatalities were extremely high. In late September he reported 'smallpox still raging amongst the Indians'. An eyewitness account from a Victoria newspaper reported bodies strewing the ground in all directions at Kamloops.

Geography and Climate

Kamloops is located in the Thompson Valley within the Montane Cordillera Ecozone, characterized by rolling hills, gullies, and arid landscapes. The city centre lies at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, with suburbs extending along the river valleys and surrounding hillsides. The area is part of the Thompson Country and is surrounded by smaller communities such as Chase, Savona, and Pinantan. The city's semi-arid climate is a product of its position in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains, resulting in hot, dry summers and relatively mild winters.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Kamloops was 47.3 degrees Celsius on 29 June 2021, which was the highest recorded in any Canadian city of over 10,000 people. Kamloops gets short winter cold snaps where temperatures can drop to around or below minus 30 degrees Celsius. The average number of days where the maximum temperature goes above 30 degrees Celsius is 36. Occasional summer thunderstorms can create dry lightning conditions, sometimes igniting forest fires which the area is prone to. The dry climate supports distinctive native plants such as ponderosa pine, big sagebrush, and prickly pear cactus.

Kamloops has the third mildest winter of any non coastal city in Canada, after Penticton and Kelowna. The coldest months are December and January, when the mean temperatures are minus 2.0 and minus 2.7 degrees Celsius respectively. Between November and January the area experiences abundant cloud cover due to Pacific coastal low pressure systems, reducing sunshine despite very sunny summers. The average number of days where the minimum temperature drops below minus 10 degrees Celsius per year is 19. The average number of days where the maximum temperature goes above 35 degrees Celsius is 8 days. Daytime humidity often drops below 20 percent during dry periods, which allows for substantial nighttime cooling, and growing seasons are long.

Kamloops lies in the rain shadow leeward of the Coast Mountains and is biogeographically connected to similar semi desert areas in the Okanagan region and the intermontane western United States. These areas have many distinctive native plants and animals in common, such as rattlesnakes, black widow spiders, and Lewis's woodpecker. Kamloops Indian Band areas begin just to the northeast of the downtown core but are not within the city limits. As a result, it is necessary to leave Kamloops' city limits and pass through the band lands before re entering the city limits to access the northernmost communities of Rayleigh and Heffley Creek.

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, Kamloops had a population of 97,902, which grew to an estimated 109,633 by 2025. The wider Kamloops census agglomeration was home to 127,198 people in 2025. The city's population density is approximately 328.6 people per square kilometre. Ethnically, the most common ancestries reported are English, Scottish, Irish, German, and Canadian. In terms of religious affiliation, a majority (60.5%) of residents reported no religious affiliation, while Christianity was the largest reported faith at 33.6%.

Kamloops has a significant historical Chinese Canadian community. In the late 19th century, Chinese immigrants, many working on the Canadian Pacific Railway, established a community on Victoria Street, and at one point comprised about a third of the local population. The Kamloops Chinese Cemetery, founded in the 1880s, is the only one in British Columbia dedicated to Chinese pioneers. Peter Wing, elected mayor in 1966, was the first ethnic Chinese mayor in North America.

According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Kamloops included Sikh at 2.1 percent, Hindu at 1.1 percent, Muslim at 0.9 percent, Buddhist at 0.5 percent, and Indigenous spirituality at 0.2 percent. The most common ethnicities as per the 2021 census are French at 9.8 percent, Ukrainian at 7.1 percent, Italian at 5.6 percent, Dutch at 4.9 percent, and Norwegian at 4.3 percent. Kamloops historically had a Chinatown on Victoria Street. There were two fires in 1892 and 1893, and a 1911 to 1914 demolition that dismantled the Chinatown. Economic changes resulted in many Chinese seeking work elsewhere.

By 1890 the Chinese community in Kamloops had up to 400 people, which John Stewart of the Kamloops Museum and Archives said was an amazingly large population for the rural area. In 2013 the provincial government announced it would begin a consultation process to discuss wording of a formal apology to Chinese in British Columbia for past wrongs. Joe Leong, president of the Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association, said he believed Kamloops would be an appropriate site for a museum to honour Chinese history in the province. In 1976, the Kamloops Indian Band split from the City of Kamloops.

Economy and Major Employers

Kamloops has a diversified economy anchored by healthcare, education, tourism, transportation, and natural resource extraction. The Royal Inland Hospital is the city's largest single employer, serving as a major tertiary care centre for the Southern Interior with 239 acute beds. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is also headquartered in the city.

Four major highways join in Kamloops, making it a transportation hub. There are over 50 trucking and transport companies located in Kamloops. Heavy industries in the Kamloops area include primary resource processing such as Domtar Kamloops Pulp Mill, Tolko Heffley Creek Plywood and Veneer, and New Gold Inc's New Afton Mine. Kamloops welcomed 1.8 million visitors in 2017. The total estimated tourism economic impact was 449 million dollars in 2017.

Tourism's direct visitor expenditure was estimated at $270 million in 2017, a 19 percent increase from 2015. The industry supports business income, wage earnings, and funds conservation and education initiatives through responsible tourism management. Accommodation occupancy rates were 61.5 percent in 2017, with over 50 choices from major hotels to bed and breakfasts. The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed through downtown in 1886, and the Canadian National Railway arrived in 1912, with both lines still running through the city today.

The Royal Inland Hospital expansion in 2016 added 20 more beds to its acute care capacity. Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning is the biggest distance education provider in British Columbia. Major resource processing sites also include the Highland Valley Copper Mine in nearby Logan Lake. The city's destination marketing budget of $1.8 million returned $449 million in economic benefit in 2017, demonstrating a strong return on investment for tourism promotion.

Culture, Sports, and Events

The city is promoted as the Tournament Capital of Canada. It hosts more than 100 sporting tournaments each year at facilities such as the Tournament Capital Centre, Sandman Centre, and Tournament Capital Ranch. Kamloops has become a mountain biking destination. It is home to Canada's largest municipal bike park, the 26 hectare Kamloops Bike Ranch, and the city is often described as the birthplace of freeride mountain biking.

The Kamloops Film Festival has run since 1997, celebrating international films at the Paramount Theatre for ten days each March. The Brewloops festival is a non-profit event celebrating beer, food, and bikes with block parties. The Interior Wellness Festival, running since 2008, promotes healthy living with workshops. The city's cultural life has grown in recent years to celebrate local talent in culinary arts, sports, live entertainment, and fine art.

The River Beaver Classic mountain biking festival hosts four events over one weekend in April, with all money raised going to local trail maintenance. The Salute to the Sockeye Festival celebrates the return of sockeye salmon to the Adams River from late September through mid-October. The Kamloops Comedy Fest features Canadian comedians for a weekend each October. Hot Nite in the City shows street rods, customs, muscle cars, and electric vehicles every August downtown.

Governance and City Life

The City of Kamloops is governed by an elected mayor and eight councillors, who serve four-year terms. The 2026 municipal election saw Mike O'Reilly elected as mayor, defeating incumbent Reid Hamer-Jackson and other contenders. City Hall is located at 7 Victoria Street West. The city provides standard municipal services and publishes an annual calendar for residents, which in 2026 included waste collection schedules and featured local photography.

Kamloops is home to Thompson Rivers University. Kamloops North station is the first stop on VIA Rail's eastbound transcontinental service, The Canadian, while the Rocky Mountaineer and the Kamloops Heritage Railway both use Kamloops station. Kamloops Indian Band areas begin just to the northeast of the downtown core but are not within the city limits. To access the northernmost communities of Rayleigh and Heffley Creek, it is necessary to leave Kamloops' city limits and pass through the band lands before re entering the city limits.

The city's 2026 calendar was available for pickup on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and included a solid waste supplement and a new recycling guide. The city found cost savings by printing supplemental collection information in-house rather than as a calendar insert. Council meetings, including regular sessions and Committee of the Whole meetings, are held throughout the year, with a public hearing scheduled for October 6, 2026. The city is ideally located in the heart of British Columbia and represents the broader Kamloops and District region.

Questions about Kamloops

What does the name Kamloops mean?

Kamloops is an anglicized version of the Secwépemc (Shuswap) word Tk'əmlúps, which translates to 'meeting of the waters'. This name refers to the city's location at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. The Shuswap language is still spoken in the area by members of the Tk'emlúps Indian Band. An alternate folk etymology sometimes links the name to the French 'Camp des loups' or 'Camp of Wolves', stemming from stories involving early fur traders and wolves.

Why is Kamloops called the Tournament Capital of Canada?

Kamloops has branded itself as the Tournament Capital of Canada due to its extensive facilities and active hosting of sporting events. The city hosts more than 100 tournaments each year at venues like the Tournament Capital Centre, Sandman Centre, and Tournament Capital Ranch. This focus on sports tourism is a significant part of the local economy and community identity. The city's central location and quality infrastructure make it an attractive destination for regional and national competitions.

What is the population of Kamloops?

As of 2025, the population of the City of Kamloops was 109,633, making it the twelfth largest municipality in British Columbia. The wider Kamloops census agglomeration, which includes surrounding communities, had a 2025 population of 127,198. According to the last official census in 2021, the city proper had a population of 97,902. The city has experienced steady growth, with an 8.4 percent increase between the 2016 and 2021 censuses.

What is the climate like in Kamloops?

Kamloops has a semi arid climate, classified as BSk under the Köppen system, due to its rain shadow location. It gets short winter cold snaps where temperatures can drop to around or below minus 30 degrees Celsius. The average number of days where the maximum temperature goes above 30 degrees Celsius is 36 per year. The city holds the record for the highest temperature recorded in a Canadian city of over 10,000 people, at 47.3 degrees Celsius on 29 June 2021.

What are the major industries in Kamloops?

Kamloops has a diversified economy with major sectors including healthcare, education, tourism, transportation, and natural resources. The Royal Inland Hospital is the city's largest employer. Thompson Rivers University is a major educational and economic institution. The city's junction of highways and railways makes it a significant transportation and logistics hub. Tourism is also vital, with millions of visitors annually, and resource industries like forestry and mining operate in the surrounding region.

What happened at the Kamloops Indian Residential School?

In May 2021, an investigation using ground-penetrating radar revealed 215 probable graves at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. This school was part of the Canadian Indian residential school system and was operated by a Catholic order. The announcement drew global attention to the legacy of the residential school system in Canada. As of February 2026, no bodies have been recovered from the site, and the discovery prompted national mourning and calls for further investigation and reconciliation.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.