Thompson-Nicola Regional District

04/09/2026

Here are (many) opportunities to maintain our parks in the Region of BC's Best! The TNRD is inviting quotes for five separate maintenance service contracts, which each start on May 15, 2026 and end on April 30, 2031:

- Blue River Community Park and Cemetery
- Don Forsyth Beach House (Blue River)
- Little Hell's Gate Regional Park (north of Avola)
- Avola Schoolhouse, Cemetery, and Diamond Drive Park
- Electoral Area "A" Parks (Blackpool, Birch Island, Vavenby (x2), and sign south of Little Fort)

For more information, and to view each Request for Quotation on BC Bid, click here: https://www.tnrd.ca/stay-connected/tenders-rfps/

04/09/2026

Notice of Intent: Temporary Use Permit 83 (Blue River) and Temporary Use Permit 85 (Upper Nicola)

The TNRD gives notice that it intends to issue TUP 83 and TUP 85 pending approval from the Board during the regular meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 1:30 pm.

TUP 83 would continue to allow accommodations in two modular trailers for seasonal highway maintenance staff at 5897 Murtle Lake Road in Blue River. TUP 85 would allow a laydown yard and storage building on an existing gravel-based yard for up to three years, at 3802 Ranchland Road just east of Merritt.

For more information and to make a submission, click on the links below:
- TUP 83: https://www.tnrd.ca/notice-of-intent-temporary-use-permit-83-blue-river/
- TUP 85: https://www.tnrd.ca/notice-of-intent-temporary-use-permit-85-upper-nicola/

04/08/2026

REMINDER: Upcoming FireSmart free chipping day coming to Avola, Birch Island, and Vavenby on April 20!

Rural TNRD communities should contact the TNRD FireSmart program to schedule a free chipping day in their community.

More information can be found in the post below.

The TNRD FireSmart program will be offering a free chipping day event on Monday, April 20, 2026 for Avola, Birch Island, and Vavenby! This is an opportunity for residents to remove deadfall, branches, and similar materials from their properties to reduce the risk of fire, and have it hauled away free of charge.

As a reminder - rural TNRD communities interested in organizing a free chipping day event this spring should contact TNRD FireSmart staff to get started!

For more information, click here: https://www.tnrd.ca/tnrd-firesmart-free-chipping-day-coming-to-avola-birch-island-vavenby/

04/02/2026

A project to install irrigation and new fencing at the Vavenby Community Park will begin the week of April 7, 2026!

The project will be carried out in three phases. The first phase beginning next week will include the ball field and areas adjacent to the community hall and main entrance.

To ensure public safety, please respect fencing and signage in areas where work is taking place. After irrigation is installed, park users are also asked to stay off areas with newly-seeded grass as much as possible. Please note that the playground, rink, picnic shelter, and community hall will remain open for use during this project.

Thank you for your patience as we work to complete this project and improve the park experience for all users!

04/02/2026

Residents in the area of Keekwillie Park are advised that crews and equipment will be set up at the east end of the park from April 7 to 10, 2026, to conduct well pump testing at a potential groundwater well site. While this work takes place, there will be a road closure in place for a short section of Duncan Road, near Wittner Road. Access to driveways will not be impacted for any properties.

This work will be noticeable to local residents; however, there will be no impacts to water service for any residents in the area while work takes place. This pump testing follows groundwater exploration drilling that occurred in March, seeking a feasible groundwater source for the Del Oro Community Water System. Test drilling found what appears to be a productive water source, but further testing is required to verify quality and quantity of water.

Costs of this groundwater exploration project are being fully grant funded through the Canada Community Building Fund, with no additional costs to water system customers.

04/02/2026

Please be advised that TNRD administrative offices will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6 to observe Good Friday and Easter Monday.

TNRD solid waste sites will be open with regular hours during the long weekend.

Happy Easter!

04/01/2026

UPDATE: April 3, 2026, 3:30 pm

We would like to provide some important clarity regarding the water leak repair work at the Pritchard Community Water System.

Permanent repairs are not yet completed; as stated in our update yesterday (April 2), emergency repairs have been completed, meaning water is no longer leaking onto the road and ditches, and all homes once again have water for domestic use. Yesterday, staff were in direct contact with residents currently connected through a temporary/ shared connection until permanent repairs are completed.

There is still much more work to be done before these repairs are fully completed, including re-excavating and adding a permanent service connection on the south side of Gerella Road.

If any affected residents have further questions or concerns, please contact the TNRD General Manager of Operations at 250-377-7197.

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UPDATE: April 2, 2026 - 4:30 pm - Water Service Restored for all Customers of Pritchard Community Water System

Emergency repair work is now completed following a water main break on the Pritchard Community Water System, and water service has been restored to all impacted customers.

If you remain without water, please contact TNRD Utility Services immediately at the after-hours phone line: 250-318-7515.

Thank you for your patience while repair work has taken place.

03/31/2026

Summer hours start tomorrow (April 1, 2026) at several TNRD solid waste sites:

♻️ 70 Mile, Heffley Creek, Logan Lake, and Louis Creek Eco-Depots
♻️ Loon Lake, Paul Lake, and Sun Peaks Transfer Stations

All other sites operate with year-round hours. As a reminder, Eco-Depots and Transfer Stations are open with regular hours on all statutory holidays when applicable, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.

To view hours of operation, accepted materials and costs, and payment options for all TNRD solid waste sites, visit: https://www.tnrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/depot-services-waste-drop-off/

03/30/2026

🌊📚 Lifelong literacy and lakeside living:

Help the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library serve our patrons in the position of Branch Head at the Savona Library, an exciting career opportunity in a beautiful community!

👉 Learn more and apply: https://tnrd.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/492

We're hiring! We are seeking a permanent, part-time Branch Head for the Savona Library. Apply today - https://ow.ly/g6NR50YAP4t

03/27/2026

If you are a resident, employee, or visitor to Sun Peaks - the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library wants to hear from you about the future of a public library in the community!

A short survey is open until April 19, 2026 to provide feedback on when you would visit the library, what services and technologies you are interested in having, and what accessibility requirements should be considered.

To take this survey, click here: https://tnrl.libwizard.com/f/sunpeakslibrary

03/26/2026

The Thompson Regional Hospital District Board has approved the 2026 budget. The TRHD contributes a portion of overall costs for capital projects and equipment purchases at healthcare facilities within the Thompson-Nicola region.

In 2026, the Hospital District budget has a tax requisition of $18.98 million, which is a 5% increase from 2025. Due to new growth, a home within TRHD boundaries valued at $650,000 will pay approximately $202.61 in Hospital District taxes in 2026, which is a decrease of approximately 2.7% from last year. This helps fund projects such as the Kamloops Cancer Centre and Phil & Jennie Gaglardi patient care tower.

More information: https://www.tnrd.ca/hospital-district-board-approves-2026-budget/

03/26/2026

The Board has approved the 2026 TNRD Budget and Capital Plan, which sets tax rates for the upcoming year for properties in Electoral Areas and Member Municipalities.

To help you understand how the 2026 TNRD budget affects you, and what services you receive from the TNRD, we've provided detailed information to explain the tax requisition, operating costs, capital projects, and what's different from 2025.

For more information, read today's News Release: https://www.tnrd.ca/board-approves-2026-tnrd-budget-and-capital-plan/