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iN NUMBERS: Cooling off in a lake or river can be deadly in Okanagan, Kamloops

iN NUMBERS: Cooling off in a lake or river can be deadly in Okanagan, Kamloops | iNFOnews.ca
FILE PHOTO / STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca

Whether you’re a tourist or a local, a day on the water is one of the best ways to beat the heat in a Thompson-Okanagan region summer, but lakes and rivers can be dangerous, too.

Officials have warned people in Kamloops and the Okanagan this year to be mindful of the risks in the wake of several drowning deaths across the region this summer.

Here are some numbers to help remind you to stay safe in the water:

  • 17: Thompson-Okanagan drownings in 2025 confirmed by the BC Coroners Service.
  • 3: Drownings in the Kamloops area since July, with two confirmed deaths and one presumed drowning.
  • 2: Okanagan Lake drowning deaths within the same May 31 week.
  • 2: Water safety warnings in the Okanagan and Kamloops issued by local authorities.
  • 1: Canadian and BC tourists rank going to the beach as their number one reason to visit the Thompson-Okanagan, according to Destination BC.
  • 40,000: Boats launched into Okanagan Lake from Kelowna annually.
  • 25: Boats launched per hour at Cook Road, Kelowna’s most popular boat launch location.
  • 7: People injured in a collision between two boats near Kelowna this week.
  • 1: Paddleboarders injured in a Kalamalka Lake boating hit-and-run.
  • 2: Stranded paddleboarders rescued from the river in Kamloops this month.
  • 33: Accidental drownings in the Interior Health region in 2024, the most for any health region in BC.
  • 28: Okanagan Lake drownings from 2014 to 2024, more than any other lake in BC.
  • 11: Drownings in the Thompson River from 2014 to 2024.
  • 53: Fraser River drownings from 2014 to 2024 the deadliest body of freshwater in BC.
Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.

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