Tuesday, September 1, 2026

☕ Good Morning

A quick follow-up on Kamloops Digest. I shared Monday that I’ll be travelling and am looking for the right new owner to keep the Digest going. There will be a proper handover, and nothing is changing right away.

If you might be interested, or know someone who would be a good fit, just reply to this email.

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📰 News

SD73 has hired James Messenger as its new assistant superintendent of education. Messenger has more than 21 years of experience in public education, including work as a teacher, principal, director of instruction and executive leader. He begins the new role in September. (Castanet · CFJC Today)

A feature film shot in Cache Creek, Ashcroft, and Spences Bridge is returning to the region for special screenings. Lunar Sway, written and directed by Canadian filmmaker Nick Butler, is coming back to the Thompson-Nicola after an international festival run. (TNRD)

TRU says incarcerated Open Learning students will continue receiving printed course materials when they need them. Print delivery will no longer be a registration option for 26 courses, but the university says students can request accommodation and correctional-centre staff can print materials. A family member of an incarcerated student worries that requiring individual requests will create another barrier for people without internet access. (Castanet)

Ray Dhaliwal has confirmed he will launch a campaign for mayor Friday. The former Kamloops councillor, a local locksmith and business owner, served on council for about a year after winning a 2017 by-election. He becomes the fourth announced competitor in the October mayoral race. (CFJC Today)

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🏛️ What Changed

About 214 properties near the Pear Lake wildfire have received the all-clear. The change covers properties around Big Bar and Little Big Bar lakes, the Meadow Lake Road area and Highway 97 north of Clinton to south of 70 Mile House. Rain has kept fire behaviour low, but crews are still securing the perimeter and extinguishing hot spots. (Castanet)

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🚨 Safety

Kamloops recorded 17 unregulated drug deaths in the first half of 2026. That puts the city on pace for its lowest annual toll since 2019 and below the 58 deaths recorded in 2025. The BC Coroners Service data still represents nearly three deaths per month, and front-line workers caution that the unregulated drug supply remains dangerous. (Castanet)

ASK Wellness says the effects of the toxic-drug crisis extend well beyond what is visible on the street. The organization says the longer-term response needs to connect prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Provincial data shows 81 per cent of unregulated drug deaths this year occurred indoors, with more than half in private homes. (CFJC Today)

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📅 Events

The Kamloops Events directory has more than 400 listings from local calendars. Here are five options for Tuesday through Thursday.

Yoga in Prince Charles Park begins Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. The all-levels outdoor class runs for about an hour, with a $1 drop-in fee. (Event listing)

Brutal Youth and The Anti-Queens play the Blue Grotto Tuesday night. The live show is for ages 19 and older; check the venue listing for doors and ticket details. (Blue Grotto)

The Wednesday Kamloops Farmers’ Market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Vendors set up on the 400 block of Victoria Street outside the TNRD Library. (Kamloops Farmers’ Market)

The Kamloops Chamber holds its September social Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. This month’s gathering is at the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. (Kamloops Chamber)

Writers Circle meets Thursday at the Kamloops Library. The adult program gives local writers a place to share work, create and meet other writers. (TNRL)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🌦️ Tuesday brings a chance of showers and a high near 28°C. The latest AQHI reading was 2.4, in the low-risk range. Wednesday is also expected to bring a chance of showers, with a high near 25°C.

A right-lane closure is active between Salish Road and Eighth Street for road maintenance Tuesday. Highway 5A maintenance also continues between Kamloops and Merritt, with single-lane alternating traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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🎮 Daily Game

Sumplete: cross out numbers until every row and column reaches its target.