Kamloops residents will have the chance to say goodbye to Kamloops This Week this Wednesday as part of a large rally at the Overlanders Bridge.

Tara Holmes – who worked at the paper for five years – is part of the effort to organize this rally at 7:30 a.m. on October 25 – the day the final edition of the paper hits people’s doorsteps.

“The organizers are a group of people that want to remain anonymous but there is a big group of people that want to really say farewell and thank you to Kamloops This Week,” Holmes said on NL Newsday.

“So we hope those who are going to be missing the paper and sad about this, can at least come forward and say ‘we really appreciate everything that they’ve done.'”

The closure of the award winning newspaper, which was founded in 1988, will leave Kamloops without a newspaper for the first time since 1884.

“I don’t think people realize the sense of loss that this really means for our community,” Holmes added. “If we don’t even care about this, that’s even more sad.”

“You know the weird thing about this is I’ve been inviting a lot of people to come on Wednesday morning and you know what I actually thought of doing, I said ‘oh, I better let the paper know to come for a photo op’ then I realized, ‘wait, a minute, there is going to be no more paper. This is just a big thank you.'”

KTW Editor Chris Foulds told Radio NL that talks had been going on behind the scenes for the past two months trying to find ways to save the paper.

He says one option that was explored was switching operations to a type of non-profit model, though in the end he noted that those details – including possible concessions from the paper’s union – could not be resolved before a looming deadline.

“It is really hard to explain right now how awful this is,” City Councillor Dale Bass – who retired after an 18-year career at KTW in 2018 – told Radio NL last week. “Its a horrific day for the staff there…and I’m totally dreading the last paper.”

Speaking in the BC Legislature, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter MiIobar said losing the last printed newspaper in the City its a “problematic day” for the community.

“It’s a bittersweet day for sure,” Milobar said. “The community will lose a main conduit for information, for digging into issues that matter, especially at the local level.”

My statement today on the unfortunate demise of Kamloops This Week. The #Kamloops loss of print media is a real blow for those important local stories and issues. Best wishes to all of those who have had their work impacted by this closure. @KamThisWeek @toddstonebc pic.twitter.com/1eKpf3sSoH

— Peter Milobar (@PeterMilobar) October 19, 2023

The final edition of Kamloops This Week is expected to be filled with memories and thoughts from staff as well as from readers and advertisers.

“On Wednesday morning, start making your way over to the Overlanders Bridge, maybe about 7:15,” Holmes said.

“Bring a sign and come on out and join us. We want to cover that bridge with signs saying ‘Thank You Kamloops This Week!’ Thank you and farewell.”