The Nicola River , originally French Rivière de Nicholas or Rivière de Nicolas, adapted to Nicolas River, Nicola's River in English, is one of the major tributaries of the Thompson River in the Canadian province of British Columbia, entering the latter at the town of Spences Bridge. It is named for Nicola (Hwistesmexteqen) the most famous chief of the joint community of Nlaka'pamux and Okanagan bands, founded by his father and today known as the Nicolas, (originally Nicola's people), as well is its basin, which is known as the Nicola Country. It drains most of the northern Thompson Plateau, beginning near the very eastern edge of the plateau only northwest of Kelowna, and flows from there more or less westward to feed Douglas and Nicola Lakes, with about of the river's length between those two lakes. Nicola Lake at long is the largest in the basin; the Nicola River enters at 3/4 way of its length up from its outlet, downstream from which is Nicola Valley centre and Coquihalla Highway town of Merritt. From there the river flows northwest to the Thompson, and is followed on that route by British Columbia Highway 8 and a spur line of the Canadian Pacific Railway.