Please check some of the tips Welcome to Kamloops course participants found useful after taking Welcome to Kamloops annual offering of the course.

Tip 1: Acknowledge Traditional Territory: CAUT Guide.

One can use the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) guide that includes recommended territorial acknowledgement for institutions where CAUT members work, organized by province:

Here is the guide for acknowledgement of territory at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops Campus:

We [I] would like to begin by acknowledging that the land is located in the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc territory that is situated in the southern interior of British Columbia within the unceded traditional lands of the Secwepemc Nation.

Tip 2: Kamloops tap water is drinkable.

The Kamloops Centre for Water Quality (KCWQ), commissioned in 2005, uses innovative membrane filtration technology to provide high quality drinking water to residents and visitors.

Tip 3:  Check Welcome to BC website: www.welcomebc.ca  

Immigration plays an important role in building a strong British Columbia. If you are a new resident of British Columbia, WelcomeBC.ca can help you take your first steps: getting settled; finding employment; joining your community; and contributing to the social and economic prosperity of B.C. WelcomeBC can help you find the information, tools and resources you need. It also provides links to useful resources for community leaders and service providers as they help new members of their communities.

In addition to the WelcomeBC.ca website, a number of features and tools provide up-to-date information:

Cost of Living Calculator – Estimate the cost of living in different parts of B.C.

WelcomeBC YouTube – Watch videos about living and working in B.C.

Newcomers’ Guide – Download a guide and watch videos about getting settled in B.C.

WelcomeBC: In your Language – Get downloads and videos about B.C. in 14 languages.

Tip 4: Check BC211 website www.bc211.ca

bc211 specializes in providing information and referral regarding community, government and social services in many communities in BC. Our help line services include 211, the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS), the Problem Gambling Help Line, VictimLink BC, and the Youth Against Violence Line. BC 211 supports just access to information on government, private or community services.

Tip 5: AsKamloops Facebook Group

Live in Kamloops and have a question? Ask on AsKamloops Facebook group! Local answers to local questions.

Tip 6: Visit www.kamloops.ca and create your Asset Map

When you visit Kamloops Apps and Maps page through the www.kamloops.ca website you can click on the map or app to launch that service. Downloadable PDF maps of individual parks can be found here or on the specific park page

Tip 7: Volunteer to Connect

Visit the Kamloops Community Volunteer Services Society, operating as Volunteer Kamloops which is committed to the concept that volunteerism improves the quality of life in the community and , therefore, supports and strengthens volunteerism through promotion, recruitment, education, orientation, and referral services for volunteers and organizations in Kamloops community and surrounding areas.

Tip 8: TRU World KIS!

Kamloops Immigrant Services (KIS) is an agency devoted to welcoming immigrants and newcomers to Kamloops and the surrounding areas. http://immigrantservices.ca/ .TRU World is the international education, training, and development division at Thompson Rivers University. http://www.tru.ca/truworld/ TRU World KIS workers can connect you to many organizations in the city.

Tip 9: Review BC Senior’s Guide

Whether you are a senior or not the guide might provide you with many relevant community resources for all ages with specific focus on seniors. The eleventh edition of the BC Seniors’ Guide provides essential information for 55+ residents of BC. For information about government programs and services, visit www.SeniorsBC.ca

If you have any other tips for successful living in Kamloops please share your suggestions with me via e-mail at okondrashov@tru.ca

Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov

Updated April 2019