Still more to celebrate in Kamloops this month!
Happy 60+ Years of Marriage Jim and Pamela Hambrook: In April, we received notice of the wonderful occasion of Jim and Pamela Hambrook’s 60th wedding anniversary. We are sorry it took us time to acknowledge this amazing milestone. Both Jim and Pamela were born in Kamloops. They were married at St Georges Anglican Church on Royal Avenue and their wedding reception was held at the Plaza Hotel’s Blue Room.
For third year in row, Roland and Anne Neave fund trail crew in Wells Gray Park: Wells Gray visitors greatly benefited from the Neave’s philanthropy through their donation to BC Parks to hire this enhanced crew. From May to August, Ethan Grasmeyer and Aidan Laver have done a fantastic job clearing hundreds of kilometers of trails, fixing bridges and drainage problems, building stairs, and installing new signage. The Park’s trails have not been looking this good for many years. Prior to 2023, Wells Gray got student rangers for only a week, shared with other parks. Roland and Anne are the owners of Wells Gray Tours, a recurring advertiser in these pages as well.
Kamloops Airport Launches YKA Drop Zone to Benefit Local Organizations Through Recycling: Kamloops Airport (YKA) is proud to announce the launch of its new community-driven initiative, the YKA Drop Zone, a refundable recycling program that empowers local charitable organizations, youth sports teams, and non-profits through the simple act of recycling. The program offers approved organizations the opportunity to collect returnable containers from the airport and keep 100% of the refund proceeds to support their initiatives. It’s a win-win for the community and the environment. Non-profits, school teams, and other local organizations are encouraged to apply by emailing [email protected]. Pick-up times are assigned based on availability and alignment with YKA’s program goals.
Thank you Henry Small for Music in the Park: There are a lot of people who make Music in the Park, a free concert series every evening in July and August at Riverside park, happen. Nobody has done more since the beginning, since 1994, than Henry Small. Henry still works incredibly hard, and overcomes many challenges, to help make these concerts happen every summer. It is hard to fathom the amount of organization to get 60+ individual concerts off the ground. Henry has many accolades — Canada’s walk of fame inductee, CIFM radio personality, a celebrated and accomplished musical career — and he continues to show his love and commitment to community through Music in the Park.
Local volunteer Jimmy Johal celebrates the “Moose Lodge 1552: A Century of Heart (1925-2025)”. Jimmy writes, “Moose Lodge 1552, located at 730 Cottonwood Ave., celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 13, 2025. Established in 1925, the lodge has raised $305,536 for local charities from 2009 to 2025, supporting members, schools, veterans, seniors, Royal Inland Hospital, the Kamloops Hospice, the Kamloops SPCA, the Kamloops Food Bank, and many others. The lodge credits its dedicated members, staff Chrissy, Trudy, Vicki, Sandra, and Moe, and Board of Officers Dave Moonen, Harvey Boorse, Jack Buchanan, Sean Fowler, Kathy Calverley, Mike Hammer, Linda Coutts, Al Jerome, and Lori Brown for reaching this rare milestone. Moose Lodge 1552’s century of service invites you to join! Volunteer or engage at 730 Cottonwood Ave., and check out their Facebook Moose Lodge 1552 Page. Be part of this rare, impactful legacy!
The local Scouts Canada groups are inviting participants and volunteers: Find our more by contacting Group Commissioners Glenn Johnson at [email protected] or 236-888-8863 and/or Loren Phillip at [email protected].
Kamloops is an amazing community with a long-standing culture of kindness and looking out for one another. We need to talk about this more, give it more attention, and keep strengthening our collective goodness. We, at the Kamloops Chronicle, feel it’s so important to share good news regularly and that’s what this space is about. We encourage you to submit your good news by calling 250 851-9630, emailing us at [email protected] or sending us mail to PO Box 814, Station Main, Kamloops BC, V2C 5M8.