Guns and Hoses
Get ready for the fifth Guns and Hoses charity hockey game, which takes place at Ashcroft’s Drylands Arena on Saturday, Jan. 23 (doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the puck drops at 6 p.m.).
Teams of firefighters and law enforcement personnel will battle it out for bragging rights, so there will be plenty of exciting hockey action, as well as some on-ice antics and fun. The by-donation event will also feature a 30/70 draw, a puck toss contest, and raffle baskets to be won, with proceeds going to benefit the Ashcroft HUB, and South Cariboo Minor Hockey will be operating a concession. This is a great family-friendly event, so come down and cheer on all the players!
Family Literacy week
A wide variety of free events will be taking place in Ashcroft and Cache Creek as part of Family Literacy Week. Children and adults can pick up a colouring page from the Ashcroft HUB at any time and return it by Friday, Jan. 31; there are three prize packs for kids and three for adults to be won.
Events run from Monday, Jan. 27 to Friday, Jan. 31 and include chair yoga and family fitness at the HUB (Jan. 27), Youth Book Club (Ashcroft Library) and Lego night at the HUB (Jan. 28), an open house featuring crafts, games, puppet, play and more, place a Space Tomatoes session where you can plant tomatoes that have been to space (HUB, Jan. 29), a teddy bear picnic and story time at the HUB (Jan. 30), and family games and puzzles at the Cache Creek Community Hall and family movie night at the HUB (Jan. 31). For more information, visit the Ashcroft HUB Facebook page.
Babysitters’ course
The Ashcroft HUB is holding a one-day babysitters’ course from 9:30 to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27 (a non-instructional day in SD74). Participants must be at least 12 years old and able to read and write on their own, and the cost is $125 per person.
You can register at https://wkf.ms/4fMh2LY; for more information contact the HUB at (250) 453-9177 or email office@ashcrofthub.com.
KEG lecture series
As part of its 2025 Hybrid Lecture Series, the Kamloops Exploration Group will be holding an online (Zoom) lecture on Thursday, Jan. 30. All are invited to listen to Dr. John Clague talk about “Landslides Into Lakes and River Valleys in B.C.: An Unappreciated Hazard”.
The Chilcotin River landslide in July 2024 will be one of several such events discussed by Clague, who will review the dangers that they pose to communities located along rivers and some lakeshores in B.C.
The free lecture starts at 7 p.m., and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information, go to www.keg.bc.ca.
Seedy Saturday
The Cache Beautification Society’s 14th annual Seedy Saturday event is taking place on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cache Creek Community Hall. It’s a chance to chase away the winter blues and get ready for spring gardening season, with a seed exchange and seeds for sale, speakers, garden advice, information about pollinators, crafts and baking, vendors, a concession, door prizes and more. Admission is free, so get a head start on your garden and celebrate spring!
Nominate a deserving community member
The Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek is seeking nominations for its 2024 Citizens of the Year, and is looking for the names of people who went above and beyond in their communities.
Residents can be nominated in one of four categories: Ashcroft and Area (sponsored by Interior Savings); Cache Creek and Area (sponsored by Royal Bank); TNRD Area “I” Blue Sky Country (sponsored by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District); and Student/Youth from any area (sponsored by Rotary).
Nominations — which should include a summary of the nominee’s accomplishments/activities, as well as their contact information — can be submitted to Theresa Takacs at theresatakacs@hotmail.com; mailed nominations can also be sent to P.O. Box 11, Ashcroft, B.C. V0K 1A0. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1.
Winding Rivers AGM
The Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society is holding its Annual General meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Ashcroft HUB. Anyone who is interested in learning more about WRAPS, or joining, is welcome to attend.
Merritt craft market
Missing all the fun of Christmas craft fairs and markets? The Merritt Elks are holding a craft market on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1702 Coldwater Avenue, Merritt. There will be local crafters, raffles, and a concession; for more information contact Wendy at 4ucraftmarkets@gmail.com.
Clinton ice fishing derby
The Clinton and District Outdoor Sportsmen Association is once again hosting its annual Ice Fishing Derby, taking place from daylight until noon on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Beaverdam Lake. There is a $20 entry fee and cash prizes for the heaviest fish (weighing is at noon sharp), plus fun prizes for participants and free hot chocolate and smokies for all.
70 Mile ice fishing derby
Can’t get enough ice fishing? Then head over to Green Lake on Sunday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for an ice fishing derby hosted by Eddy’s Bar and Grill. The entry fee is $20 for adults (kids 12 and under fish for free), and there will be weigh-in stations at both North and South Green Lake, with prizes for the biggest fish in two categories (Rainbow and Kokanee), as well as two hidden weight prizes.
All fishing derby tickets will be entered in a door prize raffle at a buffet dinner to follow at Eddy’s (2424 N. Bonaparte Road, 70 Mile) starting at 5 p.m. Buffet tickets are $25 each, and the event will include prizes and raffles. Tickets for both events are available at Eddy’s Bar and Grill.
Ice races
Head to Green Lake on Feb. 15 and 16 for ice racing: you can bring something to race in, or sit by the fire and watch the action. The races are located at Access 2 on the south side of Green Lake, and all are welcome to watch the races and enjoy a by-donation barbecue.
Loon Lake Winterfest
The Winterfest roast beef dinner and dance returns to the Loon Lake Community Hall on Saturday, Feb. 15; doors open at 4:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 6 p.m. Tickets for this family-friendly event are now on sale (LLCRAS members $25; non-members $35; children 10 and under half-price), and there are only 100 tickets, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pre-payment is required, and you can order online at www.loonlakecommunity.ca or by phone at (604) 789-4091.
Clinton bonspiel
Book a spot now for a cash spiel coming up in Clinton from Feb. 21–23. Each team is guaranteed three games (six ends per game) at this fun event for mixed teams (each team must contain at least one member of the opposite sex). The cost is $240 per team; for more information, email curlclinton24@gmail.com.
Spring cleaning sale
Are you doing some spring cleaning, and have some stuff you want to get rid off? The Ashcroft HUB is holding an indoor yard sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tables are $10 each on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you want to book a table and sell some items, call the HUB at (250) 453-9177 or email office@ashcrofthub.com.
Bean supper fundraiser
A bean supper fundraiser to benefit the Savona Fire Rescue medical team is taking place on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Savona Community Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m., the sit-down dinner (baked beans, ham, buns, salad, desserts, and more) starts at 6 p.m., and the family-friendly event will also feature a 50/50 draw and raffle baskets.
The event is being hosted by the Savona Area Seniors’ Society and the Savona Community Association, and tickets are $10 per person; the cut-off date for ticket purchase is Feb. 15, and there will be no ticket sales at the door, so order your tickets now by calling Barb Gale at (250) 570-8579.
South Cariboo Sportsmen AGM
The South Cariboo Sportsmen Association is holding its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ashcroft HUB (711 Hill Street). All members, and anyone interested in learning about the association, are invited to attend, but only active members for 2025 are eligible to vote.
Kamloops Film Festival
Get ready for the 29th annual Kamloops Film Festival, taking place from March 6–15 at the Paramount Theatre in Kamloops. The festival will feature a captivating line-up of award-winning films from around the world in a variety of genres, including documentaries, comedies, dramas, and Canadian films. The event will also include the Kamloops Independent Short Shorts (KISS) Film Fest, a celebration of the short film format and local filmmakers.
For more information, including how to submit a film to KISS, go to www.thekfs.ca.