On January 22, 2026, the Thompson–Nicola Conservation Collaborative (TNCC) convened the North Thompson–North Okanagan Corridors Workshop at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. The workshop brought together First Nations, governments, researchers, and stewardship practitioners to build a shared understanding of ecological connectivity and to refine early corridor concepts using both technical analysis and place-based knowledge.

What the workshop focused on

The session was designed as a shared learning and sense-making step—not a decision-making forum. It combined short presentations with facilitated, map-based working time to help participants confirm, correct, and refine preliminary corridor mapping, identify barriers and pinch points, and note key information gaps that need follow-up.

What we produced

Workshop discussions resulted in 22 corridor concepts being identified or refined for further consideration. From these, thirteen “emerging priority corridors” were highlighted as focus areas for the next phase of work, recognizing that this is an early stage and that continued guidance from First Nations and other partners will be essential to confirm what is appropriate to carry forward.

Across the region, participants emphasized the importance of valley bottoms, river corridors, and riparian systems as core movement pathways—especially where topography and water naturally “funnel” movement. Common constraints were also identified, including major transportation corridors (highways and rail), valley-bottom development pressure, and hydrological pinch points such as lake narrows.

What comes next

Pending funding, follow-up is anticipated to include continued engagement with First Nations and other partners, targeted ground-truthing where feasible, refinement of corridor concepts and barrier data, and identifying realistic pathways for mitigation, stewardship, and planning in places where collaborative action is most viable.