Brocklehurst? Barnhartvale? Westsyde with a “y”? Have you ever wondered where Kamloops’ neighbourhoods come from?
Earlier this year, when The Wren was just getting started, we asked the community what stories you all wanted to hear. Your suggestions, as interesting and diverse as you, have become our road map.
Many of you are deeply curious about the past. You want to know how we got here and why things are the way they are. One question submitted to The Wren when we first launched has stuck with us: “How did Kamloops’ neighbourhoods get their names?”
On the surface, it seemed like a simple question, but as I dug deeper I realized there’s more to it than meets the eye.
The city as we now know it was incorporated in 1893 and most of Kamloops’ neighbourhoods began as their own communities before being amalgamated into the City of Kamloops. Each has its own cast of characters, many with names still attached to the streets, buildings and organizations around us.
Each story provides a unique window into the past and into the making of this place we call Kamloops (Tk’emlúps).
With your help, The Wren would like to uncover some of those stories. Take the survey below to tell us what you’d like to know about the history of Kamloops’ neighbourhoods — and if you have any juicy histories you’d like to share, too. Please send any photos you want to share to [email protected] .