Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

VALENTINE'S & FAMILY DAYS 2021

Feel the love in Kamloops this long weekend

Feb 12, 2021 | 4:50 PM

KAMLOOPS — Love could be in the air this weekend across the city, as Sunday is Valentine’s Day. You’d think Tara Holmes, who tries to make romantic matches professionally, would be on board with a day dedicated to romance.

“It’s going to sound crazy coming from a matchmaker, but I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day at all,” Holmes says.

Holmes, who runs Holmes is Where the Heart Is Matchmaking, says there’s too much pressure surrounding Valentine’s Day. If you’re in a relationship expectations could be too high. If you’re single…

“There’s all this messaging around the pressure not to be single on Valentine’s Day,” she says. “There’s so much pressure on it. One day — it’s not that big of a deal, to promote love. There’s love 364 other days of the year.”

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However, for those who have managed to find (or keep) a partner through the pandemic…

If Valentine’s Day goes well this year, is there a possibility those couples could be celebrating Family Day next year?

Holmes laughs. “There’s certainly that — during the quarantine period, there’s the possibility of a lot of babies being born.”

Family Day 2021 falls on Sunday, February 15. Usually, the City of Kamloops would be hosting a big celebration at the Tournament Capital Centre.

“You try and do a door count, but with kids running back and forth with the excitement, you never get an accurate number,” City Events Coordinator Dewi Evans says. “We estimate around 10,000 [person mark].”

While there’s no event planned for this year, the City is hoping to throw another big bash next Family Day.

“Next year, 2022, fingers crossed we’ll have a bigger and better event because everyone is itching a ready to go.”

One place that will be open for Family Day is the BC Wildlife Park. GM Glenn Grant hopes to safely welcome lots of families to the park this weekend to help offset the impacts the pandemic has had at the park.

“It costs an awful lot to take care of our animals — $10,000 a month just to feed them — not to mention this time of year with heat and shelter,” Grant says. “The animals that come through our rehabilitation centre, that’s all funded through gate admissions. We truly appreciate, the animals truly appreciate the visits.”