Tuesday, August 4, 2026

📰 News

Skeetchestn linguist Dr. Marianne Ignace has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia. Ignace, whose Secwepemc name is Gulkiihlgad, is one of 12 people joining the province’s highest order this year. The Simon Fraser University distinguished professor and Royal Society of Canada fellow has spent her career advancing Indigenous-language revitalization through research and education. (CFJC Today)

Kamloops athlete Gage Androlick returned from Spain with a world championship silver medal. The 19-year-old South Kam graduate played for Canada’s mixed under-20 team at the World Junior Ultimate Championships. Canada reached the final before falling to the United States, and Androlick said the friendships formed with his teammates were the experience’s biggest reward. (Castanet)

A recovery company is planning to remove about 13 abandoned vehicles from the Lac du Bois grasslands this fall. Revy-Stuck Offroad Rescue and Recovery is seeking the necessary permissions and volunteers for the Slot Canyon Trails cleanup. Owner Mathieu Jubinville estimates the vehicles are 600 to 700 feet from the road and says scattered debris will also need to be removed. (Castanet)

Direct WestJet flights at Kamloops Airport remained operational after the airline and its flight attendants reached a tentative agreement. WestJet Encore service to and from Fulton Field was not affected by the labour action, though passengers with onward connections are still advised to check their flight status as the broader network returns to normal. (Castanet)

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🏛️ What Changed

The TNRD downgraded an Ainslie Creek evacuation order west of Spius Creek to an alert. The change includes properties along Petit Creek Road and Prospect Creek Forest Service Road, where residents must still be ready to leave. More than 700 other TNRD properties remain on alert as crews strengthen guards around the 48,417-hectare Brunswick Complex during a period of low fire behaviour. (Castanet)

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🚨 Safety

A planned ignition on the Pear Lake fire’s north flank was completed successfully Monday. Crews used favourable northwest winds to bring the fire to prepared roads and heavy-equipment lines near 70 Mile, creating a cleaner edge for suppression before southerly winds return. The fire remained mapped at about 115,437 hectares, with crews continuing structure protection in Chasm, Clinton and other affected communities. (Castanet)

A house in Tappen was destroyed Sunday night, but firefighters stopped the flames from spreading into the surrounding forest. Four local fire departments responded to the Vella Road property after nearby trees caught fire, and the BC Wildfire Service was alerted. The blaze was contained to the single property, and the homeowner was offered emergency-support assistance. (CFJC Today)

The Felker fire south of Williams Lake is now being held, and all related evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted. The lightning-caused fire reached more than 4,200 hectares after it was discovered July 23. Crews had observed minimal growth for several days before changing its status Monday. (CFJC Today)

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📅 Events

Browse the Kamloops Events directory for more August listings. Tuesday’s AQHI was in the low-risk range, though smoke remains in the forecast.

Buck Wild plays Music in the Park at 7 p.m. The free country-rock show is at the Riverside Park Rotary Bandshell. (City of Kamloops)

Ocean Explorers runs at Kamloops Library for children ages six to 12. Participants guide a robot mouse through a pirate ship to unlock a treasure chest. (TNRL)

Flashback Factory invites teens to explore memory through games and creative activities. The program, inspired by the One Book One Seed title The Space Between Here and Now, takes place at North Kamloops Library for ages 13 to 17. (TNRL)

A two-day voice-acting intensive for teens begins Tuesday. The Vancouver Film School program introduces performance from script to microphone and runs through Wednesday. (KamloopsBCNow Events)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🌫️ Smoke is forecast Tuesday with a high near 31°C. The latest AQHI reading was 2.28, in the low-risk range. Sunshine and hotter temperatures follow, with highs near 35°C expected Wednesday and Thursday.

Highway 5 maintenance north of Kamloops resumes Tuesday. Single-lane alternating traffic is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. between River Heights Drive and Lyons Road through Friday. Expect traffic control and crews along the 4.9-kilometre work zone. (DriveBC)

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🎮 Daily Game

Metazooa: work out the mystery animal from its taxonomic clues.