Columbia Precinct, June 2024 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Housing Proposal

20-unit complex care facility planned for Kamloops’ Columbia Precinct

Mar 24, 2025 | 2:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — The province has unveiled more details about one of the housing developments slated for the Columbia Precinct lands in downtown Kamloops.

In a news release distributed Monday (March 24), Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the proposed three-storey, 20-unit complex care facility would be built at 1100 Glenfair Drive.

The 20 new units would offer homes for people experiencing “complex mental-health and substance-use challenges” and would include health services provided by Interior Health.

“Teams of professionals will work with residents to provide the supports needed to maintain stable housing and improve their quality of life,” notes the release. An operator for the development has not yet been selected.

In its own news release, the City of Kamloops says it supports the proposed project.

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“We are grateful to the [p]rovince for recognizing (the) need for purpose-built complex care housing in Kamloops and for their ongoing commitment to funding and supporting these essential services,” said Councillor Margot Middleton, the deputy mayor for March. “This project builds on years of advocacy and partnership, and we are eager to see the [p]rovince take the next steps to bring purpose-built complex care housing to our community.”

The city notes the site, a portion of the 5.5-hectare Columbia Precinct on the north side of Columbia Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, was selected “due to its proximity to essential health services, including Royal Inland Hospital, a psychiatric facility, mental health and substance use services, detox facilities, substance use counselling, and a planned sobering and assessment centre.”

The province notes it is still planning to replace nine aging housing units with 340 new units of affordable seniors housing. One of the nine units will be demolished before the complex care facility is built, with construction slated to begin in 2026.

BC Housing also notes a separate year-round seniors shelter is still being planned for nearby 1055 Glenfair Drive. The complex care facility announced Monday would be separate.