Known as the “Tournament Capital of Canada” the community is very proud of its volunteer base, hosting National and International events year-round. Not only committed to sports, Kamloops brags the hottest summer temperatures in Canada with the most sunny days in the year.

For a different twist on a family vacation try renting a houseboat on Shuswap Lake. Riverside Park downtown hosts Music In The Park every day in July and August; a free concert is open to the public.

Two River Junction offers a Dinner Theatre and Musical Review highlighting the antics of Billy Miner. Families can enjoy a train ride on a beautifully restored steam locomotive and the annual Kamloops Pow Wow celebrates the heritage of the First Nation’s people. A casino, nine golf courses to choose from and wide range of outdoor activities for every sport enthusiast hold something for everyone.

Not to be missed the non-profit BC Wildlife Park, 50 hectares offering education and interaction with BC’s wildlife is open every day except Christmas.

With five destination resorts, museums and art galleries, specialty shops, theaters, parks, endless miles of walking and hiking trails, rivers, lakes and mountains there is no shortage of activities to occupy travelers.

For more information call Tourism Kamloops at 1-800-662-1994 or visit www.adventurekamloops.com.

The Park has 65 BC species all in the spacious natural exhibits of the 50 hectare Wildlife Park.

Visitors love the interpretive talks, animal encounters, meet the keeper opportunities, interactive displays and hands on opportunities. Enjoy a ride on the Wildlife Express, miniature train, the Zippity Zoo Zone Playground and Splash Park.

Visitors learn how the park is helping wildlife through Wildlife Rehabilitation, Captive Breeding of Endangered Species, and Education Programs.

Visit The Discovery Centre: a multi-sensory facility that includes an interactive Eco-Inquiry Gallery, or the park’s new Amphitheater.

There is a fee for camping and a permit must be purchased as well. For the convenience of over-night visitors payment can now be made in cash at the lagoon with a self-registration system.

Murtle Lake is accessed off of the Yellowhead Highway 5 at Blue River. Drive 27 km west on a winding, narrow, gravel road to the parking lot. From there, a 35 minute 2.5 km level trail leads to the canoe launch. The trail is canoe-cart accessible, and this is recommended. Paddle away and after 1.5 km you will reach the lake.

There is no motorized traffic on the lake, only the park operator’s boat will be there to enable him to patrol the lake and check up on campers regularly. Park operators are also the ones campers and canoeists can flag down should you have an emergency.

There are small wilderness campsites situated around the lake, they have fire pits and user-maintained pit toilets are also supplied and of course, bear caches. Never forget, you’re in bear country now.

A Murtle Lake canoe trip is a pure wilderness adventure, not suited for the timid.

Weather conditions in the region can get very stormy, very quickly. It is highly recommended you do not try to outrun, or out-paddle a storm. Experienced paddlers have learned to beach at the earliest opportunity and wait until the weather clears again, as it is sure to do.

For those who want to experience the pristine wilderness the novelty of a vacation spent canoeing on this particular paddle-only lake is a dream come true. The sights, the sounds… memories gathered here will be remembered for a lifetime.

Please contact BC Parks prior to making any plans, and do follow all precautionary measures to ensure a safe and happy trip.

Their website has recently moved and can be located online at: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/.

Your adventure begins at the historic CN Railway Station located just minutes away from downtown Kamloops. The restored 2141 “Spirit of Kamloops” will delight one and all with the sights and sounds of steam travel over a 10 km track.

You will cross the river on the steel swing bridge built in 1927. Keep on the lookout as you then pass a native cemetery dating back to the 1800’s. As well, you will go “full steam ahead” past the Kamloop’s historic St. Joseph’s Church.

Once the train begins its return trip brace yourself… you may be surprised to find just beyond the Red Bridge there’s no turning back. The ghost of Billy Miner and his gang are waiting for you as they re-enact his famous train robbery before returning you to the station.

No one is safe from this gang of thieves, taking risks old western style to rob the train and ride off into the horizon.;

They are everywhere; along highways, on logging roads, near camp sites, in the bush, yes, travelers can expect to meet a bruin almost anywhere.

Seeing a bear can be one of the most memorable experiences of a wilderness vacation, one to remember for a long time.

Along with the privilege to see these creatures comes the responsibility to respect them and their home. Bears and their natural habitat face risks from increasing human development and access.

Considering that there is only a relatively small amount of inaccessible wilderness left in British Columbia and a tremendously growing human interest to spend time in the back country, we must respect the fact it is home to bears.

When you are in bear country, be aware, and be alert. Look for signs of recent bear activity. These include droppings, signs of digging, and claw marks on trees. Many old rotted stumps, or downed trees, will be clawed apart with bark strewn around. This is how the bear digs out the termites and other insects that make their home in old trees.

Let the bears know you are there, make some noise, sing if you like, talk loudly or do anything else to make your presence known. Many people wear a bear bell to alert a bear that they are coming along the trail. Keep your children close by, and if taking photographs, use a long distance lens.

It is a good idea not to take your dog on hikes; they can be a cause for bear aggression.

Store your food so bears don’t smell it, they have a great sense of smell. Even a chocolate bar left in a tent can attract their attention.

Most of all use your common sense, keep your distance and do not antagonize a bear.

Before taking a wilderness vacation it is a good idea to read as much as possible about bears; it helps to appreciate them, and helps to avoid conflict.

It is a privilege to visit the wilderness, to be a visitor in the home of bears; let’s show our appreciation by being respectful and considerate guests.

The Ministry of Forests has made changes over the past few seasons in the management of these sites; to avoid unpleasant surprises campers are advised to find reliable information regarding the site of their choice.

All Forest Service recreation sites remain Crown land. They have not been privatized. The Ministry works with partners to manage some locations.

These partners include First Nations, forest companies, local governments and contractors. In cases where a partnership agreement hasn’t been established, the facility is maintained by its users.

The Ministry of Forests monitors user maintained sites and provides a basic level of service such as toilets, replacing damaged structures and removing hazardous trees. Users are asked to keep the sites clean and respect the environment, leaving the sites in good order for the next visitors.

Some recreation sites are managed by operators who will collect a fee.

There are some decommissioned sites, which means that tables, toilets and fire pits have been removed. Provided that there are no public safety, or environmental concerns, the sites are still available to the public.

A pet owner’s worst nightmare is losing his beloved companion.

Prior to embarking on your family vacation, there are a few precautionary measures you can take to make it easier to find your friend again. An ID tag on your pet’s collar or harness helps a lot. A tattoo or microchip is also a good aid to recover your buddy.

Although there is an SPCA branch located in Kamloops, there is no SPCA branch in the North Thompson Valley and no animal shelter.

In the event of a lost pet, call the local RCMP office, they often get reports of found animals. It may also help to register your missing buddy with the Kamloops Branch of the SPCA, their phone number is: 250-376-7722. This helps in case another traveler picks your companion up and drops it off at that shelter.

Keep in mind that most campgrounds have an ‘on leash’ regulation, and of course, when your pet makes a poop – you scoop.

A friendly reminder; don’t forget animals get thirsty too. Be sure to offer your pet a drink of water often and never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle.

Above all, have fun with your furry companion while on vacation.;

Make a quick overall check before leaving; there may be a few stray items scattered around that have been overlooked.

Out on a hiking trail, you are on your own. Whatever you bring in, you have to take out again. Littering a beautiful countryside with garbage is not only unsightly, it also has a harmful impact on the environment.

When choosing items to take along in your back pack, be sure to choose those that have minimal packaging. For instance, a canteen of water is a much better choice than several cans of pop.

Keep it clean and nature will thank you for it!

In the summer of 2003 the forest fire hazard indicator showed “extreme” for the North Thompson area. Day time temperatures had registered above 30 degrees Celsius for many weeks and had climbed to 40 degrees in some areas. It was recorded as the longest hot and dry spell in fifty years.

On July 30th, 2003, a carelessly dropped cigarette butt started the McLure/Barriere Wildfire. Within minutes it was out of control, quickly encompassed the valley and was battled until well into September.

Approximately 72 residences were lost to the fire; equipment, vehicles, gardens, barns and livestock became victims of the inferno. Nine businesses were lost and the Tolko mill, Barriere’s largest employer was also claimed by the blaze.

Forty-five fire departments with just under 500 firefighters and 49 pieces of equipment joined in the fight. Twelve helicopters as well as fixed-wing air tankers took part.

Since then residents and business owners have been working together to rebuild their lives, and their determination is evident by the many new homes that have been built; the fences that have been put up again, the gardens that have come back to life, and most of all by the strong show of resolve to work together toward a common goal.

The fire-scarred hillsides are a gripping reminder of the 2003 wildfires. But they signify more than catastrophe, or destruction; they show nature’s ability for rebirth. The rebirth of a healthy, vibrant landscape.

Animals have returned to their old habitat, new growth has appeared for them to feed on, and wildflowers have shown up everywhere.

Many of the burnt areas have been cleaned up by salvage logging, and arial seeding has produced green growth across burned areas.

Nature, as always, is healing itself.

The Simpcw spoke the Secwepemc language, a Salishan language, shared among many of the First Nations in the Fraser and Thompson River drainage.

Traditionally, the Simpcw traveled throughout the spring, summer and fall, gathering food and materials which sustained them through the winter. During the winter months they assembled at village sites, in the valleys close to rivers, occupying semi-underground houses.

Archaeological studies have identified winter home sites and underground food cache sites at a variety of locations in the region including Finn Creek, Vavenby, Birch Island, Chu Chua, Barriere River, Louis Creek and Tete Jeune.

The Simpcw were noted for their hunting ability. In the summer months much of their time was spent in hunting camps in the mountains above the North Thompson and Upper Fraser Rivers.

Both river systems provided salmon, which were caught in weirs and nets and by spear. Both meat and fish were smoked or dried then stored for consumption.

Numerous plant foods were also collected and preserved for winter use. There was active trading, and sometimes warfare with the Sekani and Cree people.

Today most of the five hundred Simpcw people live on the North Thompson Indian Reserve at Chu Chua just north of Barriere.

Many Simpcw Band members are employed in the forest industry as mill workers and loggers. The band also owns a small sawmill.

The Simpcw Band administration, governed by the Band council, oversees the social, educational, and economic development of the membership.

With other Secwepemc communities, the Simpcw are taking steps to have their aboriginal right to their traditional territory recognized by provincial and federal governments.

Simpcw people value their positive relationships with non-Native people in the North Thompson and Robson Valley’s.

They also recognize that their key strength lies in maintaining links to their traditional heritage. The Simpcw are working diligently to secure a place for their children, and their children’s children in contemporary society that they can embrace with pride.