An excavator works on the site of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts, April, 2026. (Image Credit: CFJC Today/File photo)
By Aaron Schulze / James Peters
Kamloops Building Sector

Cancer centre permit pushes Kamloops building sector into uncharted territory

Sep 10, 2026 | 1:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — With four months left in the 2026 calendar, one major project has launched the Kamloops building sector into record territory. 

New numbers released by the City of Kamloops Building Inspection Division show just over $221 million in activity was recorded in August 2026 alone. 

The substantial month was carried by one institutional building permit worth just over $182 million – taken out for construction of the cancer care centre going up next to Royal Inland Hospital.

Another significant single permit was issued for one multi-family project worth $28 million. 

Year-to-date, nearly $428.1 million in activity has been recorded over 668 permits in Kamloops. That surpasses the building sector’s previous year-end record of $415 million in 2022. The Kamloops building sector had its third-busiest year on record in 2025 with builders taking out just under $350 million. 

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In an email to CFJC Today, City of Kamloops Chief Building Official Marc Vere noted removing the cancer centre permit puts Kamloops behind the pace set in 2025 by about $35 million.

The 2026 total also includes a $120 million permit for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts project currently under construction.

“By the numbers… yes, [the total] is approaching a record,” said Vere, “but I would not go as far to say that it is reflective of the current state of the construction industry in the City of Kamloops.”

“It’s hard to account for these one large time projects.”

On the residential side of the construction business, permits for 100 new housing units were issued in August 2026.

However, it’s down from 192 during the same month in 2025.

Year-to-date, permits for 511 residential units have been issued in Kamloops, down from 573 as of August 2025.

The full building permit report for August 2026 can be viewed here.

by Aaron Schulze / James Peters

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