Tourism Kamloops has launched a new initiative to try to bolster inner-city tourism activity.

Illuminate Kamloops will see a number of public buildings will be lit-up over the course of the fall to try to generate foot traffic in different parts of Kamloops.

Tourism Kamloops CEO Monica Dickinson says their first project – the old courthouse at Seymour and 1st – allows people to control the light display through voice-activated prompts.

“As an example, if you say ‘show me the Blazers,’ the lights will turn blue and orange,” said Dickinson. “Or ‘show me pride,’ it has pride colors on it.”

The old courthouse building is the first of five different projects as part of Illuminate Kamloops.

“We are launching another activation at the Old Man Cemetery and Arboretum, or the tree museum, which is a great park experience just off of Sixth Ave,” said Dickinson.

The illumination project is being funded through a grant Tourism Kamloops was able to secure through the provincial government.

“Investments in tourism infrastructure projects like Illuminate Kamloops are good for visitors, good for communities and good for the economy,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport said in a release announcing the launch. “The tourism investments we’ve made in regions throughout the province are creating a more vibrant British Columbia for everyone and the Illuminate Kamloops project is an incredible example of how spaces like this create welcoming, engaging, and fun experiences for residents and tourists.”

Illuminate Kamloops is the second phase of a three-phase plan Tourism Kamloops is working on to try to create more tourism activity during the non-peak times in the fall and winter months, which has already included the creation of a tourism drop-in location downtown – the The Loops Explorer Station at 358 Victoria Street.

Dickinson says phase three is still on the drawing board.

“It’s top secret of course,” joked Dickinson while appearing on NL Mornings.

“It will fall in-line with more with this illumination activation. We’re not quite ready to announce it. Still working along side our city team to bring that to life. So stay tuned.”