EKBIA Christmas Mixer
- News and Updates
On December 11, we hosted our first ever Christmas mixer at Tumbleweeds Pub. They are already known for decorating based on the season, and they absolutely nailed it for Christmas…
Looking Back: Our First Year at the East Kamloops BIA
When the East Kamloops Business Improvement Association officially began operations in 2025, there were two primary goals; set up our operations, and get out and meet our members.
The East Kamloops BIA represents approximately 220 businesses in Valleyview, Dallas an Campbell Creek across a 24-kilometre corridor—making it one of the longest BIAs in Canada. About 70% of those businesses are located in Valleyview, many of which have been operating for over 20 years.
What we learned in our first year, is that this is a well-established business community with deep roots. At the same time, it’s evolving. Roughly half of local businesses rely on foot traffic, while the other half are more industrial or business-to-business. That diversity shapes everything we do—from how we think about safety and cleanliness to how we approach marketing and advocacy.
Before diving into programs we made a deliberate choice to start by listening. We launched a benchmarking survey and achieved a 23% response rate—strong for a brand-new organization. We also connected directly with more than 300 businesses visits to businesses, and of course monthly meetings with our Board of Directors, 8 representatives of local business and commercial property owners.
As our inaugural Board of Directors guiding the organization, leaning into training, govenrnance and policy was essential to start off on the right track. The Board underwent several sessions of governance training with a local consultant and created policies that would support the execution of successful governance as a result. Similarly, two staff were onboarded – the Executive Director, and Marketing and Administration Coordinator. Handbooks, policies and protocols were developed to ensure a smooth and effective transition, and lay the ground work for a successful work environment.
What We Heard
What we heard from businesses was clear. Support is needed in;
Those priorities are now directly shaping our strategy and investments.
What We Built in Year One
Behind the scenes, a lot had to come together to get the BIA up and running.
In our first seven months of operations, we:
Getting the foundation right now sets us up to deliver meaningful impact moving forward.
A Clear Path Forward
In early 2026 our Board finalized the BIA’s first Strategic Plan, setting a vision for a connected, prosperous East Kamloops with thriving businesses and inviting public spaces.
Our work will focus on four core priorities:
These priorities reflect what we’ve heard from businesses and align closely with broader city-building goals. At the same time, we’ll continue to focus on strong governance, meaningful engagement, and building trust with our members.
A Growing Role in a Growing City
East Kamloops is expected to absorb 26% of Kamloops’ growth over the next 20 years. With continued development across Valleyview, Dallas, and Campbell Creek, this corridor is becoming increasingly important to the city’s future.
Our role is simple, but critical: to ensure local businesses are supported, represented, and positioned to succeed as that growth happens.
East Kamloops BIA operates on the traditional and unceded territories of the Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc) and Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux)
