Where Inclusivity
Meets Healthcare
Thompson Rivers Family Optometry strives to provide a welcoming environment for everyone.
Our clinic is a safe space for all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as anyone who is part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We can also accommodate individuals with sensory sensitivities or medical anxiety through kind, patient, and respectful care.
Eye care is an integral part of your overall healthcare. We believe that eye care should be accessible to all, whether you need specific accommodations or affordable options. If you have any concerns or questions, our team is here to answer them.
Visit us for your next eye exam. Request your appointment today.
Our
Mission
Our mission is to deliver high-quality, comprehensive eye care while fostering a culture of trust, inclusivity, and respect.
Meet
Dr. Robert Allaway
Pronouns: he/him
Dr. Robert Allaway is the optometrist and owner of Thompson Rivers Family Optometry. He is an easy-going, laid-back individual who’s eager to help and educate his patients. Dr. Allaway achieved his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Victoria and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 1990 and 1996, respectively.
Dr. Allaway is fulfilled by problem-solving and helping people. He has a particular interest in geriatric and urgent eye care.
Beyond his work in Kamloops, Dr. Allaway’s career has taken him around the world on volunteer eye projects. He has been to Malawi 4 times, as well as Bolivia, Peru, Cambodia, Tanzania, and the Philippines.
More recently, Dr. Allaway’s commitment to providing accessible eye care to all has focused on remote Indigenous communities here in Canada. He has worked with McLeod Lake Band, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn Band, the Wet’suwet’en, and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation to make eye care more accessible to community members.
When he’s not at the clinic or travelling for work, Dr. Allaway enjoys all types of cycling, skiing, fly fishing, camping, backpacking, travelling, and woodworking.
Insurance & Payment Information
We accept all major insurance providers. Please check the list below; If you don’t see your insurance provider, give us a call. We may still be able to accept your benefits.
For payments beyond insurance coverage, we accept all major credit cards and debit cards, excluding AMEX. We also accept cash payments and can complete card transactions through smartphone and smartwatch tap.
If you have any questions about payments or require assistance, contact our team. We can share additional information about flexible payment options.
Pacific Blue Cross
First Nations Health Authority
Ministry of Human Resources
Medavie Blue Cross
Canadian Armed Forces
Belair Direct
Beneva
BPA
Canada Life
Canada Life PSCHP
Chamber of Commerce (Johnston Group)
CINUP (Johnston Group)
ClaimSecure
Coughlin & Associates Ltd.
Cowan (Express Scripts Canada)
Desjardins Insurance
Equitable
First Canadian (Johnston Group)
GMS Carrier 49 (Express Scripts Canada)
GMS Carrier 50 (Express Scripts Canada)
GPM Group Benefits
GroupHEALTH
GroupSource
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Veterans Affairs Canada
Telus
AGA Financial Group Inc
Alberta Blue Cross
Industrial Alliance
Johnston Group
Manion
Manulife Financial
Maximum Benefit (Johnston Group)
MDM Insurance Services
People Corporation
RWAM
Simply Benefits
TELUS AdjudiCare
Union Benefits
UV Insurance
Sun Life
Advantage Maximum
GreenShield Insurance
SSQ Insurance
MEDIC Construction
Empire Life
NexgenRX
Cooperators
Global Benefits
Our Outreach
Program
Giving back is an important tenet of our clinic. Our team has been involved in volunteer outreach trips to provide eye care services both internationally and within Canada.
Dr. Allaway has participated in volunteer trips to Malawi, Bolivia, Peru, Cambodia, Tanzania, and the Philippines. In recent years, the team has shifted their focus to making eye care more accessible to remote Indigenous communities in Northern Canada, where the nearest optometry clinic may be over a day’s drive away.
We provide comprehensive eye exams to community members and glasses for those who need them.
If you’d like to support our work, we accept donations of old eyeglasses for the Rotary Club. Give your old pair of glasses a new life and help provide eyewear to people in need.
For bands who are interested in organizing a clinic for their community, please contact us. We’re happy to discuss how we can assist your community.
Finding
Our Clinic
We’re located in the Northills Shopping Centre off Tranquille Road. Find our office between the CIBC and the Interior Health clinic on the north side of the mall. For your convenience, our entrance is directly accessible from the parking lot—no mall entry required.
Visit
Our Location
Our eye clinic is conveniently located at the Northills Shopping Centre.
Where to Park?
The mall offers spacious parking and accessible parking spaces.
Hours of Operation
*Closed between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM every day for lunch
Our Google
Reviews
Our Featured
Eyewear Brands
Land
Acknowledgement
Thompson Rivers Family Optometry gratefully acknowledges the unceded and traditional lands of the Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, and more specifically, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory, within the ancestral lands of the Secwepemcúĺecw on which we live, work, and play. We know that without continued learning and action, acknowledgement is meaningless. We’re committed to continued growth and education so that we can better respect, learn from, and advocate for all Indigenous Peoples.
About Us
Services
Specialty Eye Exams
Patient Education Hub
Coming Soon!
Thompson Rivers Family Optometry
- 250-376-1985
- 250-376-1309
- office@trfo.ca