Meet Johnathan Clarkson, Tourism Kamloops' New Director of Business Development
Johnathan Clarkson has been visiting Kamloops for six summers. He just stopped visiting.
He and his husband made the move from Grande Prairie in January, a decision that had been quietly building since a few early trips to Scotch Creek and the Shuswap. "Those visits were where the conversation about moving first started for us," he says. After half a dozen summers of coming back, it wasn't really a hard sell anymore.
What caught him off guard was how fast it clicked. "Within minutes you can be on a trail, at the lake, enjoying local restaurants, or checking out community events." For someone arriving from Grande Prairie, that kind of access lands differently than you'd expect.
Johnathan comes to Tourism Kamloops with nearly two decades in recreation and tourism, most of it in the ski industry. His most recent chapter involved rebuilding momentum at Nitehawk after what he describes plainly as a literal landslide. "Those moments reminded me how resilient and supportive the ski community truly is." That experience shaped how he thinks about destinations: you can't control the weather, but you can control the experience. Everything else follows from there.
Ask him about his best powder day and he'll take you to Powder King in Northern BC. Waist-deep champagne powder. Snow flying over his shoulders. "I still remember taking a deep breath before dropping into each run so you didn't get a mouthful of snow, and feeling that weightless, flying sensation without ever leaving the ground." He's still chasing it. As far as company on a pow day goes, he knows the rule.
These days his sights are set on learning the region as a local. Trail running and skiing are already in the mix. Mountain biking is the goal. "Living in Kamloops makes it hard not to want to dive into that world," he says. He's got the respect for the skill. He just needs someone patient to lead the way.
Ask Johnathan to plan you the perfect Kamloops weekend and he doesn't hesitate. Day one starts with breakfast at Amsterdam, curry ketchup mandatory, then coffee at Frankly before wandering the Farmers' Market. He's drawn to the vendor conversations as much as the goods, though he'll admit a soft spot for local pottery and honey. From there, outside. Kenna Cartwright, Valleyview Nature Park, Battle Bluff, the Bike Ranch depending on the season, or a visit to BC Wildlife Park to meet Clover. Evenings belong to the downtown food scene: Peter's Pasta, Krub Krua, Jacob's Noodle and Cutlet, Rebos, followed by a walk through Riverside Park.
Day two opens at Hello Toast, then time at the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Museum to understand the deeper story of the region before heading to Sweláps Market for fresh bannock and jerky. A casual nine holes at Mt. Paul Golf in the afternoon, Harper Mountain if it's winter. North Shore for dinner and a beer at Bright Eye Brewing. The weekend ends the only way it should, at Ice Cream Social.
He's already been road-testing this itinerary on the friends and family who've started making the trip to see what he's been talking about. Six months in, and the list of converts is growing.
Johnathan joins Tourism Kamloops as Director of Business Development. If you'd like to connect, reach him at .
