Rehabilitation project unveiled at historic Old Men’s Provincial Cemetery in Kamloops

A beautification and identification project involving the final resting place in Kamloops for more than 1,000, mostly men, dating back to the late 1800s has been unveiled by the city.

The Old Men’s Provincial Cemetery on 6 Avenue in Kamloops has been the focus of the project which started in 2020 when ground penetrating radar was used to figure out where the remains were buried, according to a City of Kamloops media release issued today, Sept. 22.

The men buried there came from all over the world to Kamloops to make a living as fur trappers, loggers, miners, ranchers, railway workers, bridge and road workers, the city said.

Decorative cairns with the names of the individuals buried there have been erected. Historical records and information from local historians was used to find the names, birthplaces and occupations of the men.

The project includes an arboretum featuring 40 new trees with unique characteristics, many of which represent the countries the buried individuals originate from, the cit said. A new perimeter walking path along with informational signage was installed as well as a labyrinth and an art feature.

"A grant-funded collaboration with Tourism Kamloops will see year-round uplighting added to the arboretum as a way to showcase the beauty of the trees, increase visibility, and improve safety in the area," the release said.

As well, the Sagebrush Neighbourhood Association donated money to help build a new gateway entrance.

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