Community Futures Thompson Country

Community Futures Thompson Country Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed | We provide loans, business advice & support.

Do you know a young entrepreneur with a passion for learning? Open to youth in Kindergarten through Grade 8, Lemonade Da...
06/23/2026

Do you know a young entrepreneur with a passion for learning? Open to youth in Kindergarten through Grade 8, Lemonade Day Kamloops gives kids the opportunity to start, own, and operate their very own business while building confidence, creativity, and real-world skills.

From creating a business plan to serving customers on Lemonade Day Kamloops, participants gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and financial literacy—all while having fun!

The journey culminates on Friday, August 21, when young entrepreneurs will set up their stands across Kamloops and showcase the businesses they’ve worked so hard to build.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, community supporter, we invite you to be part of this inspiring program and help celebrate the creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of our local youth.

🍋 Register your minipreneur today and join the fun!

https://local.lemonadeday.org/kamloops

With heartfelt thanks to our incredible 2026 Lemonade Day Kamloops sponsors: Metro Reload Ltd Castanet Kamloops Hosenbocus & Co. Tumbleweed Toys Taste Kitchen Inc. Kamloops McDonald's Kamloops, Wild Flour, and Standard Office Space.

From mill shutdown to building a thriving local food hub.🥪After the local mill closed in 2019, this entrepreneur faced a...
06/16/2026

From mill shutdown to building a thriving local food hub.🥪

After the local mill closed in 2019, this entrepreneur faced a long commute and a career that didn’t quite fit, but with a strong pull toward self-employment, they took a leap and never looked back.

Together with his wife, Kevin saw a gap in Clearwater: access to high-quality, unique food.

What started as an idea quickly turned into a growing business—bringing together the best of local produce, meats, specialty items, and ready-to-go meals, all under one roof!

Today, they’ve expanded BRICKFRONT Food Shop faster than expected, created local jobs, and built something even more meaningful—a space the community genuinely loves.

“Having that support and direction made it possible to turn an idea into reality.”

Thinking about starting your own business? This story is proof that big risks can lead to even bigger rewards.

👉 Read the full story | https://communityfutures.net/success-story/brickfront-food-shop/

Kamloops entrepreneurs, thinking about starting a business but not sure where to begin?That’s exactly what we’re here fo...
06/12/2026

Kamloops entrepreneurs, thinking about starting a business but not sure where to begin?

That’s exactly what we’re here for.

Our Self-Employment Program (Business Boot Camp) walks you through everything you need to build or strengthen your business plan—and take the next step with confidence.

Reach out today, and let’s get you started | [email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://outlook.office365.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

What an incredible 14 weeks! We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of the Junior Achievement of British Co...
06/11/2026

What an incredible 14 weeks! We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of the Junior Achievement of British Columbia Youth Business Program!

Over the past 14 weeks, six dedicated students launched their business, Marigold Originals, creating and selling unique handmade bleach art t-shirts. Through their hard work and creativity, they not only developed a successful product but also gave back to the community, donating 10% of their proceeds to the Kamloops Arts Council A special thank you to Sofia from the Kamloops Art Council for joining us at our wrap-up pizza party to accept the donation and celebrate the students’ achievements.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Junior Achievement British Columbia and Tam Dinh for their guidance and support in joining our celebration.

Throughout the program, students gained valuable experience in:

📚 Starting and operating a business.
📚 Understanding business structures.
📚 Accountability and teamwork.
📚 Navigating tough decisions and difficult conversations.
📚 Marketing and sales.
📚 Selling their products at the Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market

A huge thank you as well to Nature's Path Organic for generously providing snacks for our celebration and throughout the program! | Congratulations to all of our young entrepreneurs!🤗🌱

Our Self-Employment Program Manager and our JA British Columbia Youth Entrepreneur Program president presented to the Ci...
06/05/2026

Our Self-Employment Program Manager and our JA British Columbia Youth Entrepreneur Program president presented to the City of Kamloops - Municipal Government Junior Council—sharing the impact of the JA BC program and spotlighting this year’s Junior Achievement youth business.

Meet Marigold Originals, a youth-led business transforming clothing and fabric into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Using bleach, fabric paint, and custom designs, each piece is handcrafted—no two are ever the same. Even better? 10% of profits support Kamloops Arts Council!

They had an incredible first market on May 23rd and are back for round two this Saturday, June 6th, at the Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market!

Come out, show your support, and shop the next generation of local entrepreneurs.⚡

Lemonade Day Kamloops registration is officially OPEN!This exciting, hands-on program is open to youth in Kindergarten t...
06/04/2026

Lemonade Day Kamloops registration is officially OPEN!

This exciting, hands-on program is open to youth in Kindergarten through Grade 8, giving them the chance to start, own, and operate their own business!

A few important things to know.👇

🍋Returning learners do NOT need to re-register. All accounts in the My Lemonade Day app reset—so kids can log back in with their existing credentials and start fresh on their next entrepreneurial adventure.

🍋The heart of Lemonade Day Kamloops is working through the curriculum in the app—an interactive experience that teaches kids everything they need to know to launch their business.

Inside the app, they’ll work through:

🍋 4 modules + 21 lessons
🍊 Animated “Lemmy Explains” videos
🍋‍🟩 Interactive tasks + slideshows
🍋 Planning & budgeting tools
🍊 A built-in cash register
🍋‍🟩 Completion awards & more!

From big ideas to lemonade stands—this is where confidence, creativity, and real-world skills come to life.

👉 Register or reactivate your learning account in the app and let your youth’s entrepreneurial journey begin! https://local.lemonadeday.org/kamloops

Registration for the second annual Lemonade Day Kamloops opens this Wednesday, June 3rd!Lemonade Day Kamloops is a free,...
06/01/2026

Registration for the second annual Lemonade Day Kamloops opens this Wednesday, June 3rd!

Lemonade Day Kamloops is a free, fun, hands-on program that teaches youth how to start, own, and operate their very own business—a lemonade stand! But it’s about so much more than lemonade. It’s about building confidence, creativity, and real-world skills that last a lifetime.

After an incredible inaugural year, we’re so proud to bring this program back to our community on August 21st, 2026!

What made our first year so special wasn’t just the numbers—it was the creativity, pride, and passion we saw in every young entrepreneur. From branding and pricing to customer service and storytelling, these kids showed up in truly inspiring ways.

🍋 80 youth registered
🍋 27 stands across Kamloops
🍋 Our top young entrepreneur earned $824.10
🍋 Donations made to 7 local charities/nonprofits

We also know that by age nine, many children have already formed their understanding of money—yet most financial literacy programs come much later. Lemonade Day Kamloops helps bridge that gap in a way that’s engaging, practical, and (most importantly) fun.

Each participant gains access to the Lemonade Day curriculum through the My Lemonade Day app—learning how to set goals, budget, serve customers, repay investors, and give back. At the end of the day, they keep what they earn and are encouraged to spend some, save some, and share some.

This is more than a lemonade stand, it’s a first step into entrepreneurship, confidence, and possibility | Registration opens June 3rd https://local.lemonadeday.org/kamloops

Thank you to our 2026 event sponsors | Metro Reload Ltd Hosenbocus & Co. Castanet Kamloops Tumbleweed Toys Taste Kitchen Inc. Kamloops Wild Flour Kamloops McDonald’s & Standard Office Space

CBC Radio was in the building yesterday as our JA British Columbia youth group worked through production on their clothi...
05/20/2026

CBC Radio was in the building yesterday as our JA British Columbia youth group worked through production on their clothing line.🪡

After weeks of building, refining, and bringing their ideas to life through our Youth Business Program, these young entrepreneurs are officially market-ready!

Meet Marigold Originals. This youth-led business transforms clothing and fabric into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Using bleach, fabric paints, and custom designs, talented local artists handcraft each piece—no two are ever the same. And it gets even better, 10% of all profits will be donated to the Kamloops Arts Council

Find them at the Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market this weekend on Saturday, May 23rd!


CBC Kamloops Downtown Kamloops

We are back and are grateful to have attended the 2026 BC Economic Summit in beautiful Penticton, BC, this week, hosted ...
05/15/2026

We are back and are grateful to have attended the 2026 BC Economic Summit in beautiful Penticton, BC, this week, hosted by the British Columbia Economic Development Association - BCEDA. This year's theme, Shaping Tomorrow: Igniting Ideas, Inspiring Action, Driving Change, was evident in every session, conversation, and connection made during the event.

A standout moment on Day 1 was Kendal Netmaker's keynote, Keep Moving Forward, which received a standing ovation, and for good reason. His message was both simple and powerful: an act of kindness can change the world. His broader reflections on entrepreneurship were equally impactful—encouraging us to actively support and promote entrepreneurship, to surround ourselves with other successful entrepreneurs, and to seek out mentors who have walked the path we are striving toward. A reminder to honour their time, learn intentionally, and stay open to sharing knowledge and experience.

We also had the opportunity to attend the panel Connecting Communities to Opportunity: Driving Local Prosperity Through Collaboration, hosted by members of our Community Futures British Columbia network. A key takeaway was the critical role collaboration with community partners plays in attracting investment, businesses, and people to our regions, ultimately strengthening local economic resilience.

In addition to the learning sessions, the Summit offered opportunities to connect and celebrate the sector. Highlights included a memorable 1920s Murder Mystery evening and the BC Economic Development Awards. It was an honor to witness the recognition of outstanding programs, partnerships, and initiatives from across British Columbia for their contributions to economic reconciliation, resilience, marketing, and community impact.

Our own work through The BIG Pitch was proud to be nominated in the Community Project category over 25,000 population, which recognizes initiatives that deliver meaningful economic benefits to a community or region. With so many creative, collaborative, and impactful nominees from communities of all sizes, it was inspiring to be among such strong company.

A valuable reminder that economic development is built through relationships, shared learning, and a collective commitment to strengthening our communities. We look forward to next year!

Become a SWEET SPOT for young entrepreneurs this Lemonade Day!Want to support local youth in business while bringing ext...
05/08/2026

Become a SWEET SPOT for young entrepreneurs this Lemonade Day!

Want to support local youth in business while bringing extra community spirit to your location? Become an official Sweet Spot for the second annual Lemonade Day Kamloops!

Sweet Spots are welcoming locations throughout where young entrepreneurs can set up their lemonade stands and showcase their creativity, confidence, and business skills to the community. We’re excited already to have some amazing confirmed Sweet Spot locations on board, and there’s still room for more!

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible event sponsors and community partners for helping make this experience possible.

🍋 Interested in becoming a Sweet Spot location? Send us a DM today to get involved and help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs!

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330 Seymour Street
Kamloops, BC
V2C2G2

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Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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