I stared out the window of my rental car as the landscape shifted from dense forest to open rangeland. Driving into Kamloops last week felt like entering a painting—golden hills rising dramatically against a cerulean sky, the Thompson Rivers cutting through the valley floor. I hadn’t come for the scenery, though. My editor had dispatched me to cover a political fundraiser, but with a day to spare, I found myself drawn into the cultural fabric of this Interior B.C. city.
“We’re not just a stop on the highway anymore,” explained Tanya Finley, executive director of Tourism Kamloops, over coffee at a downtown cafĂ©. “Visitors who take the time discover we’re a hub where Indigenous heritage, outdoor adventure, and cultural experiences come together in ways you won’t find elsewhere.”
Her words proved prophetic as I spent the next twelve hours exploring what locals proudly call the “Tournament Capital of Canada.” The nickname derives from the city’s reputation for hosting sporting events, but I quickly learned Kamloops offers far more than athletics.
My first stop was the SecwĂ©pemc Museum and Heritage Park, where guide Thomas Manuel walked me through 10,000 years of Indigenous history. The SecwĂ©pemc people have stewarded this land since time immemorial, and their cultural resurgence stands as one of the region’s most compelling stories.
“Our community has always been here, but now visitors are finally seeing us,” Manuel said, pointing to a reconstructed winter pit house. “These traditional dwellings kept our ancestors warm through winters that could drop to minus thirty.”
Recent Tourism Kamloops data shows Indigenous experiences rank among the top three attractions for international visitors, with nearly 65% of European tourists specifically seeking cultural connections during their stays.
The Kamloops Art Gallery offered another cultural touchpoint. Its current exhibition features works from emerging Interior artists alongside established Canadian names. Gallery director Charo Neville has curated a space that punches well above its weight for a city of 100,000.
“We’re creating dialogue between urban and rural perspectives,” Neville told me. “Our location at this crossroads means we can showcase voices that might get overlooked in Vancouver or Toronto.”
By mid-afternoon, I found myself drawn to the outdoors. Kenna Cartwright Nature Park, the largest municipal park in British Columbia, spreads across 800 hectares of grasslands and ponderosa pine forest. Hiking its network of trails, I encountered families, mountain bikers, and birdwatchers—all enjoying different aspects of the same landscape.
“This isn’t wilderness in the sense of being untouched,” explained park interpreter Chris Harris, who I bumped into along the Tower Trail. “It’s a carefully managed ecosystem where recreation and conservation coexist. The SecwĂ©pemc harvested medicines here for generations. Now we’re learning from their example.”
Recent provincial park usage statistics reveal a 34% increase in visitation to Kamloops-area parks since 2019, outpacing growth in most other B.C. regions. The pandemic-driven desire for outdoor experiences appears to have stuck.
As evening approached, I discovered another dimension of Kamloops culture at the Paramount Theatre, a restored 1950s movie house now serving as a performing arts venue. The night’s program featured local musicians alongside a touring dance company.
“We’re creating reasons for people to spend an evening downtown,” said Dušan Magdolen, executive director of the Kamloops Arts Council. “Cultural vitality and economic development go hand in hand.”
Indeed, according to the most recent economic impact study conducted by the Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association, arts and culture activities generated nearly $42 million for the local economy in 2022, supporting approximately 450 jobs.
The next morning, before heading to my assignment, I couldn’t resist one final stop at Riverside Park, where the North and South Thompson rivers converge. Families gathered for early picnics while paddleboarders navigated the calm waters. A plaque commemorated the area’s significance to the SecwĂ©pemc people, who have fished these waters for millennia.
“The rivers define us,” said city councillor Nancy Bepple, who I recognized from local news coverage and stopped to chat with as she walked her dog. “They shaped our past as a fur trading post and transportation hub. Now they’re central to our identity as a recreation destination.”
Conservation efforts have improved water quality in recent years, allowing for the return of some fish populations. Environment Canada monitoring shows a 28% improvement in riparian health along urban stretches of the Thompson over the past decade.
As I finally headed to my political assignment, I carried with me a richer understanding of the community context. Kamloops exists at a fascinating intersection—where Indigenous and settler histories converge, where urban amenities meet wild spaces, and where cultural experiences increasingly drive economic opportunity.
“We’re not trying to be Banff or Whistler,” Tourism Kamloops’ Finley had told me. “We’re cultivating authentic experiences that connect visitors to this specific place.”
That authenticity makes Kamloops worth more than just a highway stop. For travelers willing to engage with its layered story, the city offers a uniquely Canadian blend of cultural richness and natural wonder—one that stays with you long after you’ve moved on down the road.
