Category 3 fires prohibited
Effective at noon on Friday, May 16, Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. This open fire prohibition will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 17, or until the orders are rescinded. Anyone conducting Category 3 open fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction must extinguish those fires by the noon May 16 deadline.
This prohibition applies to all areas in the Fire Centre that are outside municipal boundaries. It does not affect Category 1 fires (campfires) or Category 2 fires (open fires).
Community lunch
Cook’s Ferry Indian Band is hosting a community lunch on Friday, May 16 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Cook’s Ferry gym, and all are invited. There will be turkey soup for lunch, and there is no cost, but attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Off-road vehicle fun run
Get ready for the Off-road Vehicle Fun Run at Loon Lake on Saturday, May 17! It starts at 11 a.m., with registration at 10 a.m. for those who didn’t pre-register at https://loonlakecommunity.ca/, and the cost is $25 for each driver, with the fee including fun challenges, a barbecue lunch, a drink, and prize eligibility.
Passengers can get all the same perks for just $15 each; for those who want to watch the fun, the cost is $10 per person, which includes barbecue lunch.
It’s a fun day of challenges, games, food, and navigational and driving skills, so be part of the action, whether you’re taking part or cheering from the sidelines.
Lytton show and shine
Can’t wait for Graffiti Days in Cache Creek in September? Whet your appetite for classic cars during Canyon Cruise 2025 and the Lytton Show and shine, taking place at the Pines Motel on Highway 1 at Lytton on Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include a barbecue, music, swag bags, and raffle prizes, and there is no registration fee.
For more information, contact Jan at (778) 254-0135, email canyoncruisebc@gmail.com, or visit the website at canyoncruise.ca.
Royal Purple bingo
Head to the Cache Creek Community Hall on Sunday, April 18 for bingo hosted by Ashcroft-Cache Creek Royal Purple. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., bingo starts at 6 p.m., and there will be a toonie ball jackpot, as well as a concession selling drinks, hot dogs, chips, and chocolate bars.
Clinton junior sports program
The Clinton Minor Sports Association has started a junior sports program for kids aged 3 to 7, every Monday night from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per family, and each session consists of a 30-minute introduction to sports, followed by 30 minutes of play time. For more information, visit the Everything Clinton Kids Facebook page.
Citizen of the Year awards
The Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek will be honouring its 2024 Citizens of the Year at an evening social featuring sweet and savoury refreshments on Thursday, May 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ashcroft HUB. All are invited, and tickets for the event are $25 per person; they can be purchased at the HUB, or online at ashcrofhub.square.site.
The honorees for 2024 are Mark Greenberg and Giri Fournier (TNRD Area “I”); Donna Middleton (Cache Creek); Rick Coulsen (Ashcroft); and Austyn Harkness (Youth). Come out and celebrate these extraordinary people, who go above and beyond for our communities, and support Rotary, which funds youth projects throughout the area.
New Horizons in Spences Bridge
The Spences Bridge Community Club has been successful in obtaining grant funding from the New Horizons for Seniors program, and has workshops and classes lined up for this spring, with more coming in fall and winter.
Ukulele classes start on Friday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m. and run for four weeks, and there will be rock hounding, polishing, and jewellery making on May 29 and June 5. A one-day local ethnobotany field trip with Dr. Verna Miller will be held in late May, and there will be weekly soup days and monthly dinners. For more information, call or text Mavourneen at (250) 457-1505.
Career and education fair
WorkBC is hosting a Career and Education Fair at the Ashcroft HUB from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 23. The free event allows jobseekers of all ages to connect with employers and learn about free employment services, training programs, and other community services; there will also be door prizes.
Would you like to be an exhibitor and connect with potential employees? Call (250) 453-2499 or email centre-ashcroft@workbc.ca for information.
Board game afternoon
The Ashcroft Literacy Program and the Village of Cache Creek are hosting their final board game event of the spring at the Cache Creek Community Hall (basement meeting room) on Friday, May 23 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This fun, free family event will feature games, snacks, refreshments, and door prizes, and all are welcome (children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult).
Ballet recital
MK Ballet will be holding its spring showcase on Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. at the Ashcroft HUB (doors open at 12:30 p.m.). Come out and support our local dancers as they display their skills and all they have learned this season. Admission is $5 per person (children two and under are free).
70 Mile hoedown
The 70 Mile Community Club is hosting a Hoedown on Saturday, May 24, so grab your boots and hats and head to the 70 Mile Community Hall (2585 N. Bonaparte Road) for a night of barn-style and line dancing under the instruction of Jess Thomas.
The event runs from 4:30 to 11 p.m. and includes a roast beef dinner. Tickets are $30 in advance ($35 at the door), and there will be a cash bar. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call April at (604) 852-7622 or Kelly at (604) 703-6498.
Bonaparte flea market
There will be a flea market at Bonaparte First Nation (quonset building) on the last Sunday of each month, and the next one is coming up on Sunday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors are welcome to book a spot; the cost is $10 per table, with proceeds going to benefit Bonaparte First Nation Elders. For more information, or to book a table, email s.pierro686@gmail.com or text (250) 457-1686.
Cache Creek drag races
Drag racing returns to the Campbell Hill drag strip near Cache Creek on Saturday and Sunday, June 7–8, with racing each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.(tech and registration for participants takes place on June 6). Entry is $10 for adults; children under 13 are free, and there will be food available on-site. Can’t make this event? You’ll have another chance on the weekend of Sept. 12, when the drag races return in conjunction with this year’s Graffiti Days event.
Organizers are looking for a local non-profit group to host (and benefit from) a 50/50 draw at the event. Any group that is interested, or would like more information, can email bcdragit@gmail.com.
Walhaschindig
The seventh annual Walhaschindig returns to the Soldiers Memorial Hall in Walhachin on Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is fun for the whole family, with live music, food, a beer garden, 50/50 draws, vendors, and more. Admission is by donation, and you have an opportunity to look at the many fascinating exhibits about the history of Walhachin in the historic hall.
Local musicians and entertainers who would like to take part, as well as any vendors who would like to set up an outdoor table, can email friends@walhachin.net for more information.
Strawberry Tea
The Ashcroft-Cache Creek Seniors will be holding their annual Strawberry Tea on Saturday, June 7 starting at noon at the Seniors’ Centre (601 Bancroft Street), and all are invited. Admission is $5 per person, and in addition to a delicious strawberry shortcake tea there will be a table stocked with homemade baked goods, a raffle, and more.
Spences Bridge celebration
Head to the Bridge on Sunday, June 8 for a celebration of 160 years of the community! The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at historic Clemes Hall on Highway 8, and will feature arts and craft vendors, tea leaf reading, face painting, and a dramatic reading about the extraordinary Jessie Smith (aka Widow Smith of Spences Bridge), whose apples were a favourite of King Edward VII.
There will also be live music all day, from Jim Ryan, Sandra Hall, the Spences Bridge Ukulele Strummers, Flat Busted, and Jenny and the Gents. There will be a barbecue and salads (by donation), but admission to the event is free.
Art at the library
Throughout the month of May, there is a display of artwork by students at Desert Sands Community School at the Ashcroft Library, so come down to the library and see some of the wonderful art that has been created by our students. And if you missed this year’s Ashcroft Art Club show and sale, there will be a chance to see some artwork by club members at the library starting in the second week of June. Go to www.tnrl.ca for dates and times when the branch is open, and check out some of the other events going on.
Calling all gardeners
Looking to get information about invasive plant management in our region, including identification tips to help you spot invasives, alerts about emerging invasive plant threats, strategies to protect native ecosystems, expert insights, and news about local events and training opportunities, and more?
Then sign up for the Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee’s free e-newsletter “Taking Root,” and join a growing community of local conservationists. To receive “Taking Root,” go to https://bit.ly/3FBBGSI, where you can also find more information about invasive plants in the Thompson-Nicola region, or visit the Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee Facebook page.
School’s Out at the HUB
Looking for something for kids to do after school from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday? Register them for the free School’s Out program at the Ashcroft HUB, which is for children aged 5 through 12 and features crafts, science, physical activities, and more.
Go to https://wkf.ms/487QNx5 to sign your kid(s) up for at least two days of the program. For more information, contact the HUB at (250) 453-9177 or email office@ashcrofthub.com.
Grief support library
Did you know that the Ashcroft and District Hospice Society has a free library of grief support resources for people of all ages? In addition to pamphlets and books, the society also has contact information for organizations that can provide even more resources and support.
The society’s office, at 509 Railway Avenue in Ashcroft, is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For assistance outside office hours, call (778) 207-7575.
