The Kamloops Residential School that we see across the South Thompson River today was in operation from 1923 to 1977. The original school, built in 1890, burned down shortly before. Between 1890 and 1977, hundreds of Indigenous children passed through these doors. Our guide will take us through the chapel, dining room, kitchen, boys’ dormitory, and gymnasium, sharing the history of what took place at this school. Please be aware that this walking tour does include climbing up and down very narrow stairwells. As parking is limited, please arrange carpooling with other participants. We will meet at the monument in front of the Kamloops Residential School 15 minutes before our scheduled tour at 1:30PM. Please note that this tour will include difficult subject matter.

Although Russia, for the most part, is perceived negatively these days, its two main cities have much to interest travellers. In the summer of 2019, before the most recent invasion of Ukraine, Bruce and his family travelled to St. Petersburg and Moscow with a Russian friend and guide. You might be surprised by what you can learn about these two cities.

The world of cyber security is confusing, particularly with the increasing development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thelma will walk us through the critical cyber risks everyone should watch out for. Staying vigilant and informed is everyone’s best defense in this new age of digital deception.

In Riverside Park, there is a monument about Fort Kamloops, designated a historic site in 1924, in memory of the fur traders of the Pacific Fur Company, the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company, who all established trading posts in the vicinity. Ken’s presentation will provide an intimate look at the ten men honoured on the plaque and how they figured in the history of the fur trade from 1811 to 1860. Ken’s extensive research reveals that the ten men are described through colourful and pejorative language by fellow fur traders and managers as well as through the “Character Book of George Simpson” (1832). Simpson was the Hudson’s Bay Company Governor-in-chief of Rupert’s Land. The plaque itself is subject to critique by whom it leaves out and its colonial, settler language in reference to the fur traders as “pioneers”, and for “securing the country for Great Britain.”

This will be an opportunity to visit the renowned McAbee fossil beds and heritage site. We will stop twice on the way to McAbee—the Kamloops Lake overlook and the provincial park in Savona. The overlook gives us a good view of the geology and fragments of crust transported by tectonic plates during the last ice age. At Savona we will be within a Pleistocene delta and it is a chance to imagine the forces that would have been unleashed when the ice jams at Spences Bridge and Savona burst, and there was a horrendous flood of lake water into what is now the Fraser. From there we will continue on to the McAbee fossil beds. Our walk up the hill takes us through the margin of this Eocene lake. Above our head you will see hoodoos carved through the flows that entered the lake and filled it until there was no more lake. After passing through some uneven ground we come to a trail where the careful observer can find pieces of shale with fossils. The McAbee is a protected site. There is ABSOLUTELY NO collecting or digging into the outcrop. If we find a fantastic fossil lying on the ground we will report it to the Heritage Park managers. We can have a picnic at the McAbee, though there is NO shade. Or continue on to Cache Creek.
Please bring adequate food and drink, wear sturdy walking shoes, and dress for the weather.

The presentation Andrew will give is based on his study leave in India during January and February of this year. He explored nine different religions in India. He wanted to experience the rituals, converse with the people, try the food and meditate to the music. Andrew will include a touch of humour in his presentation, and along with the photos he took, he will share some interesting stories and insights with you. Andrew’s goal is to leave you with the hope that humans can find unity in the face of incredible diversity. Religion can be misused, but it can also be a force for peace and reconciliation.

The first Come to the Concert class of the semester will be a piano-lover’s delight that presents not one but both of the piano concertos of Frédéric Chopin. Of the few works that Chopin wrote for piano with orchestra, these two are the best known and most frequently heard—but seldom in the same programme. What a treat! As much, if not more of a treat is that the soloist is local piano virtuoso Jaeden Izik-Dzurko from Salmon Arm, who this year won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition. [In addition, he will be giving two solo recitals on September 24 and 25.] This class will also examine the concert’s other composition namely Three Autumn Scenes by the BC composer and teacher Christine Donkin.

Kamloops is fortunate to have natural areas all around us, sometimes literally right outside our back doors. Recently, the BC Parks Foundation acquired a piece of property on the edge of Juniper Ridge and Rose Hill neighbourhoods. The area is readily accessible and easy to visit to see some of the distinctive features of local grassland ecosystems. In this class, the importance of BC’s grasslands, as well as some of the threats they face, will be discussed. A short easy hike on the property will give participants a chance to experience this piece of nature. Meet in the parking lot of Rose Hill Park, on Rose Hill Road, at 9:45. From there we will drive to the entrance of the new park, a short distance away. Dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear.

The course will cover the ins and outs of printing on a 3D printer, where to find already made 3D files to print, and introduce how to design your own 3D items to print. You will be able to print a small item on the day of the class.

This presentation will provide an overview of WCT over 50 years. Find out how we started. Learn about big players, grand performances, accolades, our education program, and our Indigenous productions. You will even learn about where we are headed. As a follow up to this class, we suggest enrolling in Ginny Ratsoy’s class, Great Canadian Plays You May Have Seen, which begins Tuesday, October 14.

In the spirit of community, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Western Canada Theatre by studying some past Canadian productions of the company. Expect a brief introduction to Canadian theatre history, along with in-depth looks at several short — and exciting — plays: Ernestine Shuswap gets her Trout, Women of the Fur Trade, Unity (1918), Serving Elizabeth. The instructor will provide you with details on how to purchase the plays closer to the start date of the course. As an ideal prelude to this course we suggest in enrolling in Terri Runnalls class, “Western Canada Theatre is 50: A Short, Exciting History”.

Braden Hallett wrote and illustrated not one, not two, but THREE middle grade books about living with clinical anxiety while dealing with an invasion of brain-eating hamsters. They have been published. They have won awards. They have sent him on book tours. And the publisher has asked Braden to keep writing for them. Braden is understandably confused about all this, but he is very happy to share how it happened. Braden will share his method for writing and illustrating, and of getting a book series published from start to finish. He will also give a quick primer on the conventions and requirements of publishing books for children.