The BC Wildlife Park is celebrating six decades of wildlife conservation, education, and community support while looking ahead to a new chapter with a reimagined splash park funded in part through local Rotary clubs.
The park officially opened on Aug. 16, 1966, and has grown into one of British Columbia’s best-known wildlife facilities. The first animal donated to the park was Tramp the ocelot. Other early residents included moose Demetrius and Gerda, Tiko the blonde gibbon, and Kampurr the cougar.
Over the years, the park has reached several significant milestones. In 1987, it earned national accreditation through the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 2004, it received a CAZA Award of Excellence for its captive breeding program for burrowing owls. In 2012, Clover arrived at the park, becoming the only Kermode bear living in human care.
The park marked its 60th anniversary during its annual BC Bear Day celebrations on Aug. 3, with visitors taking part in a day of family activities, educational programming, and commemorative events. The celebration included the unveiling of a new park mascot, a 60th anniversary ceremony, and a cake-cutting to recognize the milestone.
While the anniversary celebrated the park’s history, it also highlighted one of its most significant capital projects in years.
Three Kamloops Rotary clubs have committed a combined $150,000 toward the construction of a new splash park. The Rotary Club of Kamloops Aurora Centennial donated $25,000, the Rotary Club of Kamloops West contributed $50,000, and the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak provided $75,000.
The funding has been earmarked specifically for the splash park, which is being built as part of broader improvements to the park’s children’s play area.
The new splash park has been redesigned with interactive, nature-inspired features, areas intended for visitors of different ages and accessibility as a key consideration.
The project also includes upgraded washroom facilities. The splash park is expected to open in August, while the adjacent playground is scheduled for completion in 2027. The splash park is part of a larger fundraising effort supported by community donors.
According to the BC Wildlife Park, the approved Phase 1 budget for the project is $1.394 million, with the total estimated cost expected to reach nearly $1.8 million once the final phase is funded and completed. The overall project is targeted for completion in the spring or summer of 2027.
Rotary is also supporting the park through a 50/50 lottery with a total prize pool of $40,000, with half awarded to the winner and the remaining proceeds benefiting the BC Wildlife Park. The draw is scheduled for Aug. 31.
Another fundraising initiative, the Kamloops Rotary and BC Wildlife Park Legacy Brick Program, allows families, individuals and businesses to purchase commemorative engraved bricks in support of the new children’s playground, creating a lasting legacy while helping fund the project.
As the BC Wildlife Park reflects on 60 years of caring for British Columbia’s wildlife, the anniversary also showed the continued investment from local organizations working to ensure the park remains a destination for future generations.