Still more to celebrate in Kamloops this month!
A Legacy of Generosity: The Butler Family’s $1 Million Gift: Thanks to Marisa Bertoli from the Royal Inland Hospital for sending this news: “In 1975, Joe and June Butler started Butler Auto & RV Centre in Kamloops with two cars and a dream. Over decades, their business became synonymous with integrity, transforming customers into friends and staff into family.
But their greatest legacy extends far beyond business success. When their son Glen faced serious cardiac complications, the exceptional care he received at Royal Inland Hospital inspired the family’s philanthropic journey. In 2017, they donated $200,000 to support cardiac care. After Joe’s peaceful passing in June 2025, June made an extraordinary decision. Rather than leaving a bequest, she chose to donate $1 million now — to witness its impact firsthand. “This community gave so much to us,” June shared. “The greatest joy you can get is giving.”
“This gift will be transformational,” says RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman, noting it will support essential equipment, technology, and medical professionals.
The Butlers always believed success should be shared. “Supporting the hospital reaches the greatest number of people because everyone, at some point, relies on it,” June explained.
In tribute, RIH Foundation is dedicating a significant hospital area to honor their family’s lasting legacy—a fitting testament to lives devoted to caring for others.”
Andrew Karpiak is New Board Chair of our Hospital Foundation: After six years involved with the RIH foundation, Congratulation and thank you Andrew for stepping into the role of Chair. Andrew’s connection to healthcare began in childhood. His father was a respected internist and cardiologist, and his mother dedicated her career to nursing. A successful local realtor, Andrew’s love for Kamloops will be a huge asset to the Foundation’s various activities.
Thousands of Pounds of Produce Rescued in 2025 Harvest Season: Ruby from the Kamloops Food Policy Council shares: “The Kamloops Food Policy Council’s Gleaning Abundance Program wrapped up its 2025 season with nearly 15,000 pounds of fresh produce harvested from local farms and backyards across Kamloops and the surrounding area and has been redistributed locally to support food security and reduce food waste.
This year’s harvest season ran from June through mid October, reaching 347 volunteer engagements through gleaning surplus fruits and vegetables from participating farms and community members’ backyard fruit trees. The program’s mission: reduce food waste, support community nutrition, and create sustainable food pathways for members of the Kamloops community. Gleaning also helps to create a “bear smart garden” by harvesting excess fruit before it becomes a bear attractant.
Community members are encouraged to either register their fruit trees or sign up as gleaning volunteers in order to be notified when next season starts up again. Contact Ruby Bruce at [email protected] (preferred) or at 250-318-7666 for more info.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Winners! The Businessperson of the Year could not have gone to a more wonderful person – Tina Peters! Huge congratulations as well to Teck Highland Valley Copper for being awarded Business of the Year and Far + Wide for being named Small Business of the Year.
Here is a full list of the winners: City of Kamloops Community Service Award – Teck Highland Valley Copper; Andre’s Electronic Experts/ TELUS Retailer of the Year – Far + Wide; Cutting Edge Consulting Service Provider 1 – 10 Staff Award – Abbott Wealth Management – Harbourfront Wealth Management; Dearborn Ford Service Provider 11+ Staff Award – Lyons Landscaping Ltd; Rocky Mountaineer Environmental Leadership Award – Teck Highland Valley Copper; New Gold Excellence in Trades Award – Teck Highland Valley Copper; Open Door Group Inclusive Leadership Award – Progressive Planet Solutions; British Columbia Lottery Corporation Innovation Award – Abbott Wealth Management – Harbourfront Wealth Management; Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Indigenous Business Excellence Award – AEW Limited Partnership; Trans Mountain Corporation Not-For-Profit of the Year – Kamloops Hospice Association; Community Futures Thompson Country Emerging Business of the Year – Fly Fitness Aerial Studio ; Community Futures Central Interior First Nation Employer of the Year – Lyons Landscaping Ltd; Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Brianna Shelton, Crooked Crown; Venture Kamloops Small Business of the Year – Far + Wide; Abbott Wealth Management – Harbourfront Wealth Management Business Person of the Year – Tina Peters, Peters and Company; FIT Financial Business of the Year – Teck Highland Valley Copper.
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.