Kamloops Celebrates Groundbreaking for Centre for the Arts

group holding gold shovels with excavator in background
Women in black jacket speaking
crowd standing and in chairs in an outdoor setting listening to a speech
dirt pile with gold shovels lined up next to it
white 3d model of the art centre
crowd sitting in chairs
men and women holding gold shovels
man and woman holding gold shovels
smiling crowd in winter jackets

Kamloops marked a historic milestone on November 26, 2025, with the official groundbreaking of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts, a project decades in the making. The event drew more than 100 attendees, including representatives from the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society, the Build Kamloops Working Group, local user groups, and key partners such as Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, and the Kamloops Art Gallery.

The Kamloops Centre for the Arts has been in the preliminary planning and strategy stage for many years, allowing the various internal and external teams to develop and refine a comprehensive scope. Much of this work has been done by Ron and Rae Fawcett, local philanthropists who took on the task of defining the project’s needs through extensive consultation with local arts organizations, potential users, and City staff. This conceptual work has established the framework needed to advance the project through detailed design.

The Kamloops Centre for the Arts will feature two state-of-the-art theatres, gallery space, and community areas designed to be inclusive and accessible. With two underground parking levels and modern amenities, the venue will host concerts, theatre and dance productions, graduations, and major cultural events. Beyond its cultural impact, the Kamloops Centre for the Arts is expected to boost tourism, support local businesses, and create new economic opportunities.

Council reaffirmed confidence in a funding strategy that requires no additional tax increases, combining approved borrowing, reserves, and community fundraising. During the event, it was announced that an anonymous donor had gifted $1,000,000 towards the project. The donation, in addition to $10,000 received from the Sandy and Ellen McCurrach Family Fund earlier this year, marks a solid kickoff to fundraising efforts. Anyone interested in supporting fundraising efforts can email BuildKamloopsWithUs@Kamloops.ca to be kept informed. 

Explore project floor plans, FAQs, and photos from the groundbreaking event at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/KCA.