YOUR DOWNTOWN KAMLOOPS TEAM
About Us
Whether you are looking for fantastic shopping, a great place to eat, fun activities to partake in or places to stroll, Downtown Kamloops has something for everyone. We are proud of our community and invite you to experience the vibrant arts and cultural scene, exciting and diverse business district, beautiful tree-lined streets and restored heritage buildings.
WHAT’S THE BIA ALL ABOUT? The Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association provides value to our members through advocacy, beautification, promotion, development and preservation of Downtown Kamloops. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant and livable Downtown that is the focal point of Kamloops. The amount of work that goes into maintaining a livable and workable Downtown core is immense and we couldn’t do it without the cooperation and help of all the businesses who call Downtown Kamloops home! Our area encompasses the west side of Tenth Avenue, the north side of Columbia St., the east side of First Avenue and the Thompson River.
OUR MISSION
The Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association provides value to our members through advocacy, beautification, promotion, development and preservation of Downtown Kamloops.
OUR VISION
A vibrant and livable Downtown that is the focal point of Kamloops.
OUR CORE VALUES
Collaborative
Creative
Genuine
Dedicated
Sustainable
OUR TEAM
Howie Reimer
Executive Director
Howie Reimer has joined the KCBIA as its Executive Director. During the Canada Summer Games In 1993, he moved his young family to Kamloops from Vancouver for a broadcasting opportunity, with the intent of moving on in short order to advance his career. Kamloops had other ideas.
“The community and lifestyle are just perfect for raising a family, and as the charm of the city took hold, so did our roots,” says Reimer.
Most recently Howie was Program Director and Morning Show News Talk Host at Radio NL – Stingray. With relationships forged across business, levels and government, other non-profits and institutions, Howie feels the Executive Director role is a good fit.
“I’m honoured to be representing downtown Kamloops,” Reimer adds.
“I believe it is the heartbeat of our city. With robust investment and development, particularly over the past two-plus years, I see only growth and excitement for not only downtown, but all of Kamloops.”
Howie and his wife Rose Dunsmore have five adult children, of which four live in Kamloops, as well as two dogs and a cat.
Samantha Desouza
Marketing & Events Coordinator
Samantha Desouza is a Marketing graduate from Thompson Rivers University. She loves the Kamloops outdoors and spends all her free time either hiking or enjoying the local food scene.
Christine Beaton
Administration and Member Service
Christine graduated from TRU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and is applying her fine arts education to the Administrator & Membership Services position at KCBIA. Her artistic and mechanical interests keep her busy taking apart (mostly) non-working items and saving the interesting bits for future projects. It’s a big box.