(CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

St. Andrew's

City of Kamloops to assume St. Andrew’s operations in the new year

Dec 30, 2021 | 2:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops will take over the St. Andrew’s on the Square operation on Saturday (Jan. 1).

In a news release Thursday (Dec. 30) afternoon, the city announced it will honour all bookings that had been made through the Kamloops Heritage Society (KHS) but will not make new bookings available until mid-February.

The city says KHS decided to decline the operational contract for St. Andrew’s in November 2021. The city and KHS had previously disagreed on who should assume operations in 2019.

“The KHS regrets that due to the continuing restrictions from the pandemic, operating St. Andrew’s is not financially doable for us.” KHS President Sheila Parks states. “We will continue to work with the City to ensure that events at St. Andrew’s continue to be a vital part of many Kamloops families’ histories and memories.”

Barb Berger, Kamloops’ recreation, social development, and cultural manager, says the city will work to preserve St. Andrew’s history.

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St. Andrew’s was built in 1887 and is considered a highly valued community heritage resource. The city says KHS was instrumental in saving the church and leading its restoration in 1995 and has operated the building since then. The building has been a community staple and is a popular site for weddings, funerals, yoga, small cultural events, and more. The city created Gaglardi Square adjacent to St. Andrew’s in 1999, which further enhanced the site and the facility’s use.

The city says information on booking St. Andrew’s will be available online once it is ready.