Thursday, September 10, 2026

☕ Good Morning

Kamloops Digest is looking for its next owner. I’ll be travelling and won’t have enough time to keep giving the Digest the attention it needs. If you’re interested in taking it on, or know someone who might be, I’ve put the details here. You can also reply directly to this email.

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📰 News

Rayleigh residents are raising emergency-access and traffic concerns about a proposed rail staging yard. The 7Mile Rail project would add storage capacity near a neighbourhood whose only two road access points cross rail lines. Residents worry additional or longer trains could block both crossings at once. The project is still at an early stage, and city council postponed a decision on a requested letter of support until councillors can meet with stakeholders. (CBC News)

A long list of forestry stakeholders has signed an open letter to Premier David Eby demanding immediate action. The signatories include loggers, truckers, First Nations, unions and specialty groups. In Kamloops, the Kruger pulp mill employs hundreds of people directly and indirectly. The sector is also watching expanding U.S. tariffs, although the B.C. Pulp and Paper Coalition says most provincial pulp is sold outside the United States. (CFJC Today)

The school district will keep access to a $5-million line of credit as a buffer for expenses. Trustees renewed the short-term borrowing agreement after the district’s previous arrangement expired June 30. The authority allows temporary loans up to $5 million at any time, but does not mean the district has drawn that amount. Trustees described it as protection against timing gaps between payroll and ministry grants. (Castanet)

Katherine Gulley has entered the Kamloops-Thompson school trustee race. The clinical counsellor says her priorities include protecting classroom and mental-health supports, pressing the province for capital and operating funds, expanding trauma-informed decision-making and improving Indigenous graduation rates. Gulley previously led the provincial government’s Kamloops Child and Youth Mental Health clinic for more than eight years. (Castanet)

Jesse Ritcey is making a second run for Kamloops city council. Ritcey, who received just under 6,000 votes in 2022, is the program manager for the Kamloops Naturalist Club. He is also president of the Kamloops-Centre BC NDP electoral association. His campaign announcement highlights nature conservation, the Red Bridge rebuild and transit advocacy. There are now 17 official candidates for eight spots around the council table. (CFJC Today)

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🏛️ What Changed

Council has asked staff to identify existing outdoor facilities that could be shared with pickleball players. The review will look at tennis courts, lacrosse boxes and ball-hockey spaces, along with any improvements needed for shared use. Council also directed staff to work with the Kamloops Pickleball Club on possible sites and partnerships for a future indoor facility. The motion passed 8-1, with recommendations expected in a later report. (Castanet)

Culture Days will bring free arts and culture activities to Kamloops from September 18 to October 4. Participating organizations will offer a variety of free programs throughout the two-week event period. The City says the program is intended to connect residents with local artists, traditions and creative spaces. (City of Kamloops)

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📅 Events

The Kamloops Events directory has more than 400 current listings collected from local calendars. Here are five options from Thursday through Saturday.

Paint Night with Creative Aura takes place Thursday at Bright Eye Brewing. The ticketed evening pairs a guided painting project with a relaxed brewery setting. (Eventbrite)

Storytime and Craft meets Thursday at the North Kamloops Library. The program for ages three to five uses stories, songs, rhymes and a short craft to build early literacy skills. (TNRL)

The Kamloops Pub Star Karaoke Contest begins preliminary rounds Friday. The fifth annual competition listing has the venue, start time and qualification details. (Event listing)

LINUS plays the Blue Grotto Friday night. The downtown venue lists the show as a 19-plus live-music event. (Blue Grotto)

The Parkinson SuperWalk takes place Saturday. The annual fundraiser supports Parkinson Society British Columbia programs and services for people affected by Parkinson’s disease. (Event listing)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🌦️ Thursday brings a chance of showers with a high near 23°C. The latest AQHI reading was 2.77, in the low-risk range. Friday is expected to bring a mix of sun and cloud with a high near 21°C.

Highway 1 construction west of Copperhead Drive continues Thursday with lane closures in both directions. Work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A special event east of Kamloops may also cause delays of up to 15 minutes along parts of Shuswap Road and Kamloops-Shuswap Road from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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🎮 Daily Game

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