COMMUNITY – City picked to host 2026 55+ British Columbia Games

Kamloops has been picked to host the 2026 55+ BC Games. Today’s announcement (Nov. 7, 2022) comes on the heels of hosting the 2022 55+ Canada Games, which were held here in August.

The 55+ BC Games are held annually in different host communities. Each community, under its own registered volunteer board of directors, enlists hundreds of volunteers to help plan and stage the Games in partnership with the BC Seniors Games Society.

Hosting the Games represents about $3 million in economic impact to the host community and surrounding area, according to a City news release.

The Games will take place in August 2026 at various venues throughout the city. Previous Games have hosted 22 activities and sports, including soccer, tennis, hockey, dragon boating, lawn and carpet bowling, archery, softball, cycling, and track and field.

“We are very fortunate to have award-winning facilities and the mix of venues to accommodate the variety of sport and competition that this event brings,” said Sean Smith, the City’s business operations and events supervisor.

“We look forward to hosting this event in a few years’ time.”

Duncan Olthuis, the Kamloops Sports Council’s executive director, said the event will bring participants from around the province.

This will be Kamloops’ third time hosting the 55+ BC Games, the previous ones being in 1996 and 2013.