The City of Kamloops is pleased to welcome the community back to St. Andrew’s on the Square following extensive restoration work.
Built in 1887, St. Andrew’s is the oldest public building in Kamloops and a cherished gathering place. After sustaining significant fire, smoke, and water damage in May 2024, the building underwent a $1.1 million restoration to return it to its pre-fire condition while enhancing accessibility, functionality, and heritage features.
“St. Andrew’s on the Square is a little jewel box cared for in the heart of the city,” said Julia Cyr, the City’s Museum Supervisor. “A blend of historic heritage, functionality, and community-driven, intentional design, buildings like St. Andrew’s reflect the spirit of collaboration as a warm and welcoming space for all.”
Working with heritage groups and design partners, the project aligns historic character with modern upgrades. Highlights include restored heritage elements, improved accessibility and inclusivity, updated technology for events and live-streaming, enhanced security, and thoughtfully designed spaces for gatherings of all kinds.
The City’s Capital Projects team worked closely with Reimagine Architects to develop a comprehensive restoration plan that has improved St. Andrew’s on the Square’s accessibility and functionality by incorporating modernized technology that aligns with other City venues; building security, including exterior cameras; and enhanced heritage characteristics inspired by the design of St. Andrew’s on the Square.
The venue features a bright, welcoming interior with the original historic pews, stained-glass pieces by local artist Sheila Dunn, archival photographs from the Kamloops Museum and Archives, and heritage-inspired finishes throughout. Period lighting, trim, baseboards, moulding, paint, and hardware honour and reflect the building’s heritage characteristics. New additions include a gender-neutral washroom and a quiet family space.
The wedding photographs that once lined the venue’s walls were unfortunately lost due to water damage, but they have inspired a new, modern way to honour these memories. The facility will now feature a digital photo display showcasing cherished wedding moments from both past and future celebrations. Community members are invited to contribute their photos by emailing standrewsweddingphotos@kamloops.ca. While not all submissions can be guaranteed for display, each contributes to the ongoing story of this special place. Please ensure you have full rights to any photos submitted for public sharing.
To honour the rich heritage of St. Andrew’s on the Square, the Kamloops Museum and Archives will offer free public tours on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with sign-up available at the Farmers’ Market. Tours will depart from the Museum booth at the Farmer’s Market at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, and from the Museum’s front desk at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Further, the facility is once again available for event bookings, including family gatherings, cultural events, weddings, ceremonies, meetings, performances, celebrations of life, and more. To book St. Andrew’s on the Square, email facilities@kamloops.ca or call 250-828-3319. Bookings are available starting Monday, June 1, 2026.
“Like a phoenix, St Andrew’s has risen twice,” said Andrew Yarmie, member of the City’s Heritage Engagement Group. “Due to vacancies and neglect, the church nearly succumbed to demolition in the 1990s and then to a fire in 2024. First through the efforts of the Kamloops Heritage Society, and next the City of Kamloops, the facility has been restored to a high standard and remains a cornerstone of our heritage and community.”
For more information, please visit Kamloops.ca/StAndrews.
