The City of Kamloops has been recognized with a 2026 5-Star Safety Cultures Award from Canadian Occupational Safety, becoming the only municipality in Canada to receive the distinction this year. The recognition highlights organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to creating safe, healthy workplaces where employees feel supported and empowered to prioritize safety in their day-to-day work.

Unlike many industry awards, the 5-Star Safety Cultures designation is earned through a rigorous two-stage evaluation process. Organizations must first submit a comprehensive application outlining safety initiatives and achievements. Successful applicants then participate in an employee survey, with recognition reserved for organizations that achieve a minimum participation threshold and an overall employee satisfaction rating of at least 80% across key workplace safety measures.

For the City of Kamloops, the award reflects the efforts of more than 900 employees who deliver essential services to residents while fostering a workplace culture built on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the experiences and perspectives of our employees," said Byron McCorkell, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kamloops. "A strong safety culture is not created through policies alone—it is built every day by employees, supervisors, and leaders who look out for one another, identify risks, and make safety a shared responsibility, whether maintaining roads and utilities, responding to emergencies, operating recreation facilities, or supporting residents behind the scenes.”

The City has continued to strengthen its safety culture through employee engagement, ongoing training, proactive hazard identification, and a shared commitment to learning and improvement. These efforts help ensure employees have the tools, resources, and support they need to perform their work safely and effectively.

As a regional service centre and a key partner in emergency response throughout British Columbia's Interior, the City recognizes that a strong safety culture not only benefits employees, but also contributes to reliable service delivery and organizational resilience.

"At the end of the day, success isn't measured by awards. It’s measured by ensuring our employees go home safely to their families," added McCorkell. "This recognition affirms the importance of that commitment and encourages us to keep building on the strong foundation our employees have established."

The award comes as Canadian Occupational Safety celebrates its 60th year of recognizing leadership and innovation in workplace health and safety across the country.

About Canadian Occupational Safety
Canadian Occupational Safety is Canada's leading occupational health and safety publication. Since 1963, Canadian Occupational Safety has provided industry-leading news, editorial content, events, and resources for safety professionals across a wide range of sectors. The annual 5-Star Safety Cultures Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate outstanding workplace safety performance and employee confidence in their safety culture.