‘First step’: RCMP to hold open house during Kamloops Pride Week, won’t partake in Pride events in uniform

Aug 17, 2022 | 6:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP are holding an event during Kamloops Pride Week to show support for the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Aug. 16), the Kamloops RCMP North Shore Community Policing Office says it’s hosting an open house in its parking lot at 915 Seventh St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23. RCMP say the open house was planned in consultation with Kamloops Pride to determine how they could best support and build trust with the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community.

“When we heard Pride Week would be back up with in-person celebrations, we wanted to be part of that and show our support for 2SLGBTQPIA+,” Cpl. Dana Napier says. “We worked together with Ashton O’Brien of the Kamloops Pride Society to see how we could be involved.”

Residents are invited to stop by, ask questions, provide feedback, participate in games and activities, and get to know some of the local officers.

Ashton O’Brien, Kamloops Pride president, says the group is happy to see the RCMP take steps reach out with the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community in Kamloops, along with putting in effort to build trust with the community.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Creating good-paying jobs for British Columbians

1h ago

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: What we cannot see

Apr 20, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 20, 2026

Apr 20, 2026

“We hope this community outreach continues and helps to build bridges between police and the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community in Kamloops,” O’Brien says.

The RCMP open house is not an official Kamloops Pride Week event, with Kamloops Pride saying it only had a consultative role.

In a social media post, the Kamloops Pride Board says the RCMP will not participate in Kamloops Pride festivities while in uniform.

“The post was shared on our Facebook in error, and for that we apologize. Although it was not our intent, we understand the negative impact it has had on many of you, and we are truly sorry for that impact,” Kamloops Pride states. “While we are happy to see the RCMP trying to do outreach with the community, we understand that there is still a lot of work to be done, and the intent was to acknowledge this as a first step.”

Kamloops Pride Week runs from Monday, Aug. 22 to Sunday, Aug. 28.

by Aaron Schulze

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

‘First step’: RCMP to hold open house during Kamloops Pride Week, won’t partake in Pride events in uniform

Our Community