(Image Credit: Walton Family/Contributed)

By Aaron Schulze

Bill Walton

Former Kamloops councillor Bill Walton passes away at 86

Mar 3, 2026 | 11:43 AM

KAMLOOPS — A former longtime Kamloops city councillor has passed away. 

William “Bill” Walton died peacefully at his home in Black Creek on Feb. 10, 2026, according to an obituary provided to CFJC Today. His family says he moved to Vancouver Island to pursue his love of sailing and be closer to his sailboat. 

Walton was first elected to Kamloops council in 1988. He would serve three terms between that year and 1999, where he was unsuccessful in a re-election bid. He also served on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors and the local hospital board during that time.

Walton’s family say they moved to Kamloops from England in 1974 where Bill would help establish a Fine Arts department at Cariboo College, now known as Thompson Rivers University. 

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From there, Walton oversaw the transition to portables on campus, added a computer lab for animation and illustration and incorporated theatre into his department. He was chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department when he retired in 2005. 

Walton was 86 years old.