A police cruiser outside NorKam Secondary School in Kamloops. (Image Credit: Michael Reeve/CFJC Today)
School Lockdown

UPDATE: Lockdown lifted at NorKam Secondary after police swarm school due to weapons report

Nov 6, 2025 | 2:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE 4:00 p.m.): A lockdown at NorKam Secondary School that was put in place on Thursday (Nov. 6) afternoon due to a weapons report has been lifted, though details remain limited at this time.

Kamloops RCMP say they received a report of a person with a gun in a school just before 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. It prompted the lockdown at NorKam Secondary and a ‘hold and secure’ at nearby Kamloops Christian School.

The Chris Rose Therapy Centre For Autism, which is also adjacent to NorKam Secondary, was also put on a ‘hold and secure’ Thursday.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the nearby schools were kept on a hold and secure until police could gather more information related to the call,” Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dana Napier said in a statement just before 4:00 p.m.

In that statement, Napier said the nearby schools were released from the ‘hold and secure’ around 3:20 p.m., and that NorKam was then put on a ‘hold and secure’ for a while longer until students dispersed.

It’s still unclear what the exact nature of the threat was. A CFJC reporter at the scene said students began to leave NorKam around 3:50 p.m. this afternoon.

“The latest updates on the lockdown were provided in the RCMP Media Release sent just before 4:00 p.m.,” SD73 Director of Communications Chelsea Isenor said in an emailed statement.

“The school principal has sent communication to NorKam parents letting them know that additional counselling supports will be available for any students wishing to speak with a counsellor.”

In that letter, NorKam principal Rachael Sdoutz said the lockdown was initiated “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The RCMP conducted a thorough search of the school, after which the lockdown ended and students were released,” Sdoutz wrote.

“As this kind of event can be upsetting for students, additional counselling supports will be available [Friday] for any students wishing to speak with a counsellor.”

Police have not said if any arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Napier did say that the investigation remains active, and asked people with information to call the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2025-37145.

“We are working with our School District 73 partners throughout this incident,” Napier said. “The Kamloops RCMP would like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience.”

This is the second police incident of the day near NorKam Secondary. Two students were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after they were struck by a vehicle on Kenora Street around 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.