Image Credit: Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today

By Victor Kaisar

Build Kamloops

Discussions around potential TNRD contributions to Build Kamloops projects set to resume

Jul 19, 2025 | 2:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — A proposal to have some residents in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) contribute towards Build Kamloops projects appears to be picking up steam once again.

TNRD Area “L” Director, Doug Haughton, says he envisions a referendum to gauge if people in Electoral Areas “J” (Copper Desert Country), “L” (Grasslands), and “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) – which surround the City of Kamloops – would be in favour of helping cover costs of projects like the arts centre downtown and the arena multiplex in Dufferin.

“Now that we’re going down the road of possibly adding a community library to the new City of Kamloops arena complex, maybe its time that neighbouring electoral areas revisit the idea of possibly helping in whichever way we can so that we feel we’re part of it,” Haughton said during Thursday’s (July 17) TNRD Board meeting, adding it would show the city that it has “good neighbours.”

A public assent process will not be required for the library project as it will be located in the arena multiplex, and the city already has the necessary public approval to move that project along.

Both Haughton and TNRD Area “P” Director Lee Morris have previously said they support the idea of a financial contribution to Build Kamloops, with some conditions.

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“The Build Kamloops committee approached us earlier on and now that we seem like we’re going to be working hard together on a joint library, I think maybe its time that we met again and talked about how we can participate to make it work better for all of us,” Haughton added.

Build Kamloops Chair Kelly Hall responded to Haughton and said that city staff will be reaching out to the TNRD to move those discussions along.

“I can assure you I’ve had conversations with staff already [to bring our] good neighbours into the fold so that they understand the level of development that is going on and some of the challenges as well as opportunities that are going to come forward through the Build Kamloops initiative,” Hall said.

“We’ve made it abundantly clear that our good neighbours need to be at the table as well.”

At this time, there is no indication as to when – of it – the matter will be put to TNRD residents or if they will even be asked to contribute towards Build Kamloops projects. If it goes forward and is rejected, the City of Kamloops does not have the ability to impose the financial hit on the TNRD.

The idea to have TNRD residents pay for these Build Kamloops projects was initially floated by Kamloops Councillor Dale Bass in January last year.

“The reality here is whatever we build, people from outside Kamloops will come to it,” Bass said at the time. “Seems to me they should participate in the creation of it in some way, because they will benefit from it.”

This week, Kamloops councillors voted to officially approve the borrowing bylaws for the two projects totaling up to $275 million. According to the city, up to $140 million will go towards the performing arts centre downtown with the other $135 million earmarked for the arena multiplex in Dufferin as well as future Build Kamloops initiatives.

That vote came a few months after a judge ruled that the Alternative Approval Process used by the city to gain the necessary public approval for the borrowing would stand, and a proposed appeal of that ruling was scrapped.

According to the latest estimates, construction on the performing arts centre is scheduled to begin this year, with work on the arena multiplex expected to get underway next year.

The City has so far announced one donation toward Build Kamloops, and it has said that the projects will be paid for via long-term debt as well as various government grants along with corporate and private donations which could reduce the amount that is borrowed.

Editors note: This story was updated with information to clarify details around the possible referendum and the inclusion of the library in the arena multiplex.