Local Public Eatery (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

FALL CLASSIC

Blue Jays fever packing bars in Kamloops as ‘Canada’s Team’ makes historic run at World Series glory

Oct 30, 2025 | 5:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from immortality as they lead the best of seven World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers three games to two, with the final two games of the series to be played north of the border.

For a generation of Blue Jays fans this run to the World Series is the first of their lives while others are being reminded of the back-to-back championships of 1992 and 1993. Regardless of age, it appears fans are coming together across Canada to cheer on the Jays.

“It’s been a good mix, definitely more excitable the people who were around to watch 92, 93, but a lot of young people also just getting involved in the excitement, that are admittedly again not avid baseball fans but just really getting swept up in the excitement of Canada’s team,” said Nathan Cross, General Manager at Local Public Eatery in Kamloops.

“For the Blue Jays, we got people who weren’t even baseball fans that are now donning jerseys and coming in and cheering on with everybody else, it’s fantastic,” added Al Deacon, the owner of the Fox’N Hounds.

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Even with three provinces in-between, Canada’s team has many in people in Kamloops, including those freshly onto the bandwagon, fully captivated.

“The [Addison] Barger grand slam was one of the best sports moments we’ve had in here since we opened for sure,” added Cross of Barger’s big moment in game one of the World Series.

“It’s been really noisy in here, it’s been fun, we have a really big bell we ring for sports events like that and it was ringing a lot that night.”

“Crowds have been fantastic. 5 o’clock it’s a vulnerable start as people are just getting of work so we tend to fill up a little during the second or the third inning,” added Deacon.

For local bars and restaurants like Local Public Eatery and Fox’N Hounds, the Jays playoff run has meant packed tables, busy kitchens, and wide open taps.

“You know we got hockey, we got the NFL and the CFL, basketball and we got major league baseball,” began Deacon. “The Blue Jays it certainly helps industry [as] hospitality has taken a beating in the last little while. So this helps everybody get back on their feet and we are all welcoming the crowds with open arms.”

“It’s been surprising how many people are completely enthralled with the game whether it’s a Wednesday night or Friday night, it’s really exciting,” added Cross.

And while Halloween is a night commonly reserved for partying, if results go as hopes, this year it may just serve as the precursor to a celebration across Canada that has been 32 years in the making.