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🎻 The Story of the Kamloops Fiddlers
If you listen closely on a quiet evening in Kamloops — especially near an old community hall or a seniors’ centre where memories linger — you might still hear it: the bright snap of a bow on strings, the lift of a reel, the soft sway of a waltz. That sound has been part of Kamloops for generations, carried by the people who call themselves the Kamloops Fiddlers.
Their story begins long before the group had a name.
🌾 Before the Fiddlers Were “The Fiddlers”
In the early days of Kamloops — back when the town was still a fur trading post and later a bustling rail hub — music was one of the few luxuries people could make for themselves. Families gathered in kitchens warmed by wood stoves. Ranchers rode miles through the valley to meet at schoolhouses for dances. Railway workers finished long shifts and found comfort in familiar tunes.
Someone always had a fiddle. Someone always knew a tune. And someone always wanted to dance.
These early gatherings planted the seeds of what would become a musical tradition in the Thompson Valley.
🎶 The Birth of a Group
By the 1950s, Kamloops had grown into a lively community, and old‑time music was woven into its social fabric. Musicians began meeting more regularly — not just for dances, but simply to play. They shared tunes, taught each other, and welcomed anyone who wanted to join in.
There was no formal membership, no constitution, no grand announcement.
Just fiddles, guitars, pianos, and people who loved to play.
Over time, these musicians became known as the Kamloops Fiddlers, in 1982 they join a growing network of fiddle clubs across British Columbia called the British Columbia Fiddlers Association.
💃 The Dance Hall Years
The 1970s and 1980s were golden years for the group. If there was a fall fair, a rodeo, a parade, or a community celebration, chances were good the Kamloops Fiddlers were there.
They played for dances where the floorboards shook under the feet of families who had been dancing to the same tunes for decades. They played at seniors’ centres, where residents lit up at the first notes of Red Wing or St. Anne’s Reel. They played at festivals, jamborees, and gatherings across the Interior.
Their music wasn’t just entertainment — it was connection. It was memory. It was home.
🎻 Passing the Bow to the Next Generation
As the years went on, the Fiddlers didn’t just perform — they taught. Young musicians learned how to hold a bow, how to keep time, how to play by ear, and how to feel the music rather than simply read it.
Workshops, jam nights, and informal lessons kept the tradition alive. The group became a bridge between generations, carrying old‑time Canadian and Métis fiddle music forward into a new century.
🏞️ A Tradition That Lives On
Today, Kamloops is known as Canada’s Tournament Capital, a city of world‑class sports facilities and a thriving regional economy. But beneath the modern bustle, the old traditions still hum.
The Kamloops Fiddlers continue to play at community events, farmers’ markets, seniors’ homes, and regional fiddle gatherings. Their music remains a familiar thread in the city’s cultural tapestry — a reminder that Kamloops is not only built on industry and sport, but also on stories, songs, and shared moments.
They are more than a music group.
They are keepers of memory.
They are carriers of joy.
They are part of what makes Kamloops feel like Kamloops.
And as long as someone picks up a fiddle and starts a tune, their story continues.
Membership
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Approximately 120 members (includes 16 active musicians)
- Membership Application
Regular Meetings
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Normally held four times a year at Heritage House, 100 Lorne Street, Riverside Park. Members will be advised of dates.
Practice Sessions
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Practices are now taking place in the Lower Lounge of Heritage House every Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Please contact Florence at 250-376-2330 for further info. Everyone playing an instrument is welcome (fiddles, guitars, mandolins, etc.) No charge to join the session.
Contact:
Florence Tellier phone # 250-376-2330 Contact by email
Special Events
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Current Board of Directors 2026
President – Jackie Davis 250-319-3680
Vice-President – Dan Allen
Secretary-Treasurer – Angela Coehlo, kamloopsoldtimefiddlers@gmail.com
Directors – Anita Gammel, Gary Gammel, Rick Meridew, Naomi Martin, John Heim & Francy Baroux
Appointed
Membership – Jackie Davis email kamloopsoldtimefiddlers@gmail.com
Sunshine – Betty Tasko – 250-372-2809
Music Directors – Dan Allen Request for Playout
Newsletter – Florence Tellier