File photo. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)
By Aaron Schulze
Build Kamloops

City staff looking to hire campaign manager to lead Build Kamloops fundraising efforts

Jul 22, 2026 | 8:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is looking into hiring a chief fundraiser tasked with meeting its $40 million goal for the Build Kamloops campaign. 

Speaking at Kamloops council’s Build Kamloops Select Committee meeting Tuesday (July 21), Corporate Services Director David Hallinan says a campaign manager is needed to maximize Build Kamloops’ fundraising efforts, adding most of the work thus far has been performed off the side of many city staff members’ desks 

Hallinan says the campaign manager’s salary would be drawn from the $2.5 million that has already been raised. Responding to a question by Councillor Bill Sarai, Hallinan says a chief fundraiser in a full-time manner would ideally earn less than one per cent of the $40 million goal. 

“Right now, we’re looking at this person creating what that requirement is going to look like and what the capacity and needs are going to be,” Hallinan says. 

Hallinan says the campaign manager will round up both corporate and individual donors. 

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“We have members within the regional district who will likely utilize this, who may not be a part of the city’s taxation base,” Hallinan says. “However… they may choose to donate money through this avenue as part of their contribution to this program because they see the value in the arts centre and the arena. 

“Of the monies we’ve received thus far, we did receive a $1 million donation from an individual. It was an anonymous donation… but this person believed in the projects that much that they wanted to leave something for them to go forward and do that.” 

Councillors did express a preference that the campaign manager position be contracted, rather than placed within the ranks of city staff. While a memo to council notes that city staff are creating a detailed job description, the position would need to be approved by Kamloops council at a future regular meeting. 

Last month, the City of Kamloops announced it has partnered with the BC Interior Community Foundation for an initiative in which donors can donate funds directly to Build Kamloops costs and receive charitable tax receipts. 

The Build Kamloops project is notably being funded partially from borrowing. Kamloops authorized city staff to borrow up to $140 million to construct a performing arts centre downtown and up to $135 million to build a four-sheet arena multiplex in Dufferin. The city received support from the Kamloops electorate via the alternative approval process, in which less than 10 per cent of registered voters formally responded with their opposition to Build Kamloops. 

Build Kamloops is also being funded through donations, fundraising and sponsorships, as well as the city’s reserves, operating budgets and non-competitive grant programs. The city has said there are ongoing efforts to apply for provincial and federal grants. 

The city says an independent evaluation estimated nearly $40 million in fundraising potential ahead of Build Kamloops’ launch. 

by Aaron Schulze

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