So what are the advantages to living in Kamloops opposed to lets say Kelowna or Merrit? Kamloops is strategically located at the intersection of Western Canada’s four major highways: the Coquihalla (Highway 5), TransCanada (Highway 1), Yellowhead (Highway 5), and Highway 97; is serviced by both national railways, is the meeting location of the South and North Thompson Rivers and home to the Kamloops Airport. The city has a growing population of almost 86,000 within the city, and 128,473 including the city and regional district. Kamloops is home to Canada’s most comprehensive university, Thompson Rivers University, is Canada’s Tournament Capital and has a lifestyle like no other with 82 parks, over 200 lakes within an hour’s drive, close access to two ski hills and 13 diverse golf courses.
A Vibrant Healthcare SystemArts, Culture and Heritage in great supply
Kamloops has a strong and robust arts, cultural and heritage scene where performers, artists and musicians have many opportunities to perform and provide entertainment all year round.
Live Theatre
There is no shortage of live theatre in Kamloops. Western Canada Theatre hosts their annual program of theatrical performances and has staged everything from Les Miserable to Shakespeare to The Sound of Music, suiting a variety of tastes.
Kamloops Players is a non-profit community amateur theatre group made up of people who share their interests and talents by producing and presenting plays to the community at The Stage House theatre.
Theatre goers enjoy summer productions by Project X Theatre Company. For the last several years, they have brought innovative, audacious theatre to Kamloops, hosted outdoors in lovely Prince Charles Park in Kamloops’ downtown core.
Live Music
Music seems to be everywhere in Kamloops, never in short supply. The Kamloops Symphony Society is a community resource providing live orchestral music performances, music education programs, and related music services for the citizens of the Kamloops Region.
A variety of night clubs and pubs play host to a variety of local and out of town musical acts, and each night from July 1 to August 31, the City of Kamloops hosts Music in the Park, free nightly musical entertainment at Riverside Park. Larger shows can typically be seen at the City of Kamloops’ Interior Savings Centre, a 6,400 seat venue.
Lots of Art
Art lovers have their choice of over 10 art galleries in the city including the Kamloops Art Gallery, the principal gallery for visual arts in the Southern Interior of B.C.
Museums and Walking Tours
Heritage is richly portrayed at the Kamloops Museum & Archives, the Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park and while on a self-guided Heritage Homes Walking Tour.
A Place for All Seasons
Kamloops offers a relaxed lifestyle in a spectacular, natural setting. The unique mix of desert plateaus, lush river valleys, pine forests, lakes and snowcapped mountains provide unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city is a thriving cosmopolitan centre, rich in arts and culture, shopping and lifestyle amenities. There are excellent schools and healthcare facilities, housing is affordable, and no traffic congestion.
The climate is also very appealing. Kamloops has four distinct seasons, and enjoys more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Summers are hot and dry, while winters offer the best of both worlds, with mild temperatures in low-lying areas and snow at higher elevations.
| Kamloops Climate Facts | |
|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 2075 hrs |
| Median high temp | 21.0˚C |
| Median minimum temp | -4.2˚C |
| Annual rainfall | 217.9mm |
