60th Edition
March 2021
South Shuswap Chamber Awarded Grant By Barbra Fairclough interest survey and 55% percent of As part of B.C.’s $10-billion respondents were in support of a hub. COVID-19 response, the South Karen Brown, Executive Director Shuswap of Chamber is pleased to of the Chamber says diverse needs announce it was awarded $82,000, one were expressed through the survey of 38 BC rural project grants totalling but there was a common theme of a $20 million dollars. want for connectivity, both digital Lynn Ewart, President of the South and face to face. The project is in the Shuswap Chamber of Commerce very beginning stage so establishing responded a location “We were and details very pleased of the to hear project that our will be application determined to the as the Province project of BC was unfolds. successful. When As we asked what continue is next to recover for the from the Chamber, Photo supplied by South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce challenges Ms. Ewart presented by the pandemic, these grant shared “We’ve just come off our yearmonies will assist with economic end and are close to onboarding our development and tourism-based new Board of Directors. We are eager initiatives to support our community. to get to work as a Chamber to bring We are looking closely at establishing some of these initiatives forward. It’s a community work hub and expanding going to be a great start to the year for our visitor servicing capabilities.” both our Chamber and the communities Prior to applying for this grant of the South Shuswap.” the Chamber conducted a work hub
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The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
Wildsafe BC Community Program Coming to South Shuswap By Barbra Fairclough The BC Conservation Foundation has received support from the CSRD with a Grant in Aid for $13,295 to support a WildSafeBC Community Program in the South Shuswap. During last summer and fall in parts of the South Shuswap, and notably in Sunnybrae, human-bear conflicts caused a high degree of concern for the safety of residents when Sunnybrae neighbourhoods were overwhelmed by human-habituated and food-conditioned bears. Neighbourhood Emergency Plan Coordinators (NEP) in Sunnybrae were in regular contact between Ashby Point and Bastion and central Sunnybrae area to ensure residents had ‘live’ information on bear movement to prevent residents from walking into the path of a bear. Landscape features are close enough that for residents walking in the area, there are no sight lines to give a bear clear passage. In support of NEPs, Shuswap Emergency Program provided signage that was posted in the NEP neighbourhoods which helped increase local safety. The Sunnybrae Community Association posted information on their FB page as well. It was apparent, through enquiry that WildSafeBC is well equipped to respond to these types of human-bear interactions and Barbra Fairclough, NEP coordinator in Sunnybrae reached out to Wildsafe BC in search of resources to assist with safety and community resiliency. WildSafeBC will hire and train a WildSafeBC Community Coordinator to work in area communities in conjunction with residents and community groups. The coordinator will work between May to November to find solutions in reducing human wildlife conflicts and to increase community knowledge about local wildlife and
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Black bear carrying garbage
human wildlife conflict issues. Some activities can include door- to-door outreach, presentations to school- aged children, bear spray workshops and garbage bin tagging. WildSafeBC is the provincial leader in preventing conflict with wildlife through collaboration, education, and community solutions. The Bear Aware program has been delivered to communities throughout BC since its launch in 1998. Since then, it has grown substantially and delivers the program to over 150 communities in British Columbia. The Program is unique in that it hires and trains local coordinators across the province to deliver the program. Province wide, over 25,000 calls come into the Conservation Officer Service yearly to report wildlife such as bears, cougars, deer and more. These conflicts often arise because of human activities or behaviors that lead to negative interactions with wildlife. This can include leaving attractants such as unmanaged fruit trees and unsecured garbage. Last year in Area C there was a record-high of 78 black bear reports to the Conservation Officer Service. There are many attractants but garbage is a number one attractant with fruit trees also of priority concern. Stay tuned for more information as the program gets established. www.wildsafebc.com
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The Director’s Scoop News of Note from the CSRD
Paul Demenok Director, Electoral Area C (South Shuswap) Cell: 250-517-0810 Current Developments at the CSRD and Locally Here’s some updates on current developments at the CSRD and locally: 2021 Local Government Taxes- The second draft of the 2021 budget was reviewed at the Committee of the Whole meeting held on February 24th. I’m very pleased to report that the total area CSRD taxes for Area C declined by $4.94 for 2021 in this draft. It’s now projected that $14,710,043 will be collected in Area C, with $5,427,111 of this actually going to the CSRD. Non-CSRD taxes to be collected include: $5,988,303 in Provincial School taxes, $1,543,247 as Provincial Rural taxes, $324,207 in Police taxes, $425,316 for the Okanagan Regional Library, and $1,006,371 for the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Hospital District. The final budget review will take place in March. South Shuswap Rides- The use of this new service has exceeded expectations in the first several months, with bookings occurring for up to 80 % of available days in February. Riders have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the Rides service, and we’ve had several trips to Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna. For more information, please check out our website at www. southshuswaprides.ca, or to arrange a ride, please call 250-
March 2021
463-4341 at least 24 hours in advance. Shuswap Economic Development Society- Several Board meetings have now been held, and this group is moving forward with budget development and recruitment of an Executive Director. The Service Agreement with the CSRD has been signed and initial funding can now occur. Thank you to all those who applied for the ED position, the recruiting committee now has the task of conducting interviews and developing a short list from the many applications received. Funding for Parks- At the February Board meeting, $105,000 was approved from the Community Works Fund for replacement of the fencing and resurfacing of the sport court at Sorrento-Blind Bay park. Another $300,000 was approved from the Community Works Fund for the development of the new community park in Eagle Bay. A grant application has also been filed for $155,000 for the development of a trail around Loftus Lake. Geohazard Risk Prioritization Study- This study was received at the February Board meeting. Its goal is to support decisions to prevent or reduce injury or loss of life, environmental damage, and economic loss due to geohazard events. It was recognized that this is the first in many studies that may be required to achieve these goals given the broad and at times, somewhat remote areas to be reviewed. Newsome Creek- At time of writing, we have not yet received any news in regards to the two grant applications made by the CSRD to fund mitigative works at Newsome Creek. Our fingers are crossed! Incorporation Study- The last meeting was held on February 11th, which included a review of service sheets on area roads, administration and police services. A significant proportion of roads in the incorporation study area were classified as being in very poor or poor quality and it was pointed out that the Province’s own standards would require that these roads be repaired or resurfaced within the next 5 years. We are moving to conclude the service reviews within the next meeting or two, and will then move into a public consultation phase. I would again strongly encourage everyone to get involved and to learn about the pros and cons of incorporation firsthand. As pointed out in my letter to the editor in this edition of the Scoop, there are some very significant differences between regional districts and municipalities in BC.
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Incorporation Study Boundary Analysis By Barbra Fairclough Boundaries for the Electoral Area C Incorporation study area were determined during the South Shuswap Governance Study. A boundary for each restructure scenario was developed based on consideration of ten factors, including: future community development plans and land use categories, as outlined in the Electoral Area C Official Community Plan,• existing settlement patterns and land use regulations,• population and population density,• local government services and service area boundaries,• potential future infrastructure developments,• local road networks,• property assessment classes,• property assessment values,• Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and farm property inventories, as well as community input (from the South Shuswap Governance Study). The factors, taken together, were used to draft potential boundaries. The potential boundaries were then assessed using a range of criteria associated with the different factors. A recommended boundary for each restructure scenario was produced from the assessments. As a final step, the boundary analysis presented a high-level overview of service finance, governance, and property tax implications associated with each recommended boundary. The results of the boundary analysis were presented to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board of Directors for review. Based on its review, the Board recommended the Sorrento-Blind Bay scenario, with its associated boundary, for further study through a Sorrento-Blind Bay Incorporation Study. The Board also recommended that, in the event incorporation were not chosen, Electoral Area C be divided into two electoral areas using the boundary recommended for the Two Electoral Areas scenario. The Ministry accepted these recommendations. The Incorporation Committee has acknowledged letters from residents with regards to proposed boundaries. The decision on boundaries is the responsibility of the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The current boundaries being considered were the preferred options outlined in the Boundary Analysis Study (2018) conducted by Neilson Strategies and endorsed by the CSRD as the basis for the incorporation study. In a January 28th, 2021 letter to the Study Committee Chair and the Sorrento Blind Bay Municipal Incorporation Study from Kailey Laidlaw, Senior Planning Analyst, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, she outlines the boundary selection considerations and Ms. Laidlaw, in response to local resident’s boundary enquiries to ministry indicate that the “the optimal time to make changes to the proposed boundary, if warranted, is before the public engagements phase, so that the engagement materials and scenario reflect the most likely boundary of the proposed
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@shuswapscoop #shuswapscoop municipality.” She goes on to state that “While further adjustments may be possible to address matters rising out of public engagement, the proposed boundary should be finalized by the time the Minister considers ordering an incorporation vote.” Refer to the CSRD Website for answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Incorporation meetings will be available to residents via phone or zoom when in person gathering is restricted. Check the events calendar at www.csrd.bc.ca/ news-notices/events-calendar for scheduled meetings.
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Made in the Shade for In Home Comfort
Recognizing Local Business Supporters of South Shuswap Scoop By Barbra Fairclough Bruce and Cheryl Steinson offer the best window covering products and installation services in the industry. Proud owners of Made in the Shade Blinds, they bring the showroom to you. Cheryl has worked for other companies in the industry and has training in both interior decorating and design. It made sense for Cheryl and Bruce to start their own business. With Cheryl doing in home consultations and Bruce doing installations, this tandem duo has service covered from top to bottom. Living in Lee Creek they operate in a service area which includes the Shuswap, Kamloops, Williams Lake and Central Interior BC Regions. With backing of the corporate business for the franchisee and the economies of scale a larger franchise network gives, Bruce and Cheryl can offer great value with the best products backed up by great warranties. Working with Graber blinds Cheryl says, “We look forward to helping our customers put their windows on the best dressed list.”
By offering free shop at home service, you have the luxury of selecting a window covering that suits your personal décor, style, and budget. Motorized lift options can eliminate the standard cord and offer a streamlined look and peace of mind. This is a safe solution for children and pets. Next generation options with voice control and whisper quiet convenient motorized solutions for every space and Graber App can make for a connected, sophisticated option in every room. Home and room control options and hard to reach window options can all be part of the solution. All window coverings are available in a wide selection of fabrics and materials. Cheryl will help in selecting the best style of window covering to suit your personal needs. From appropriate light or privacy needs to the most suitable blind or shade for your space. They offer something for every lifestyle, environment, and budget. Shutters are crafted to resist warping and cracking and are finished to give your space a refined look. Cheryl says when a new client calls, she will assess over the phone and gain a Bruce and Cheryl Steinson basic understanding of what the client is looking for. An appointment is made, and Cheryl will meet the client at their home with samples. She has a selection of products for any situation. Measurements are taken and a quote is drawn up. When the client confirms they would like to book an installation (continued on pg 7)
Finally my winter fat is gone. Now I have spring rolls!
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
it is booked roughly two weeks ahead. The spring and summer Cheryl confirms are the busiest, so it is best to book early. Installations book further ahead when it is busier. So, avoid the wait and call now. Covid protocols are in place and respected at all times. Phone or text at 250 319 0496, FB message or email at cheryl@madeintheshadebcint.com.
Adopt a Hwy Twice Postponed By Barbra Fairclough Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Adopt a Highway program will remain postponed until further notice. BC Ministry of Transportation Adopt-a Hwy folks confirm they are working behind the scenes for a re-launch taking into consideration direction from our Provincial Health Officer. The Sunnybrae Community Litter Pick Up first began in 2016 and every year between end of March and mid April there has been a robust turn out of residents chipping in to clean up eight kilometres of the Sunnybrae Canoe-Point Road between Herald Park and the HWY 1. A few people have been asking about whether it will be on this year. This will be the second year that clean up projects have been cancelled in the Adopt a Hwy program. Throughout the year,
many Sunnybrae residents regularly take it upon themselves to put a plastic bag in their pocket when they are out for their walk so that litter found along the way can be picked up. The Tappen Co-op, Sunnybrae Bible Camp, Millar College, Sunnybrae Community Association, and the Sunnybrae Seniors Society have all been welcome and cherished supporters of the litter pickup in Sunnybrae. Their support and engagement and our resident volunteers make it a fun event. We usually have the barbeque on and with so many volunteers the whole pick up lasts only an hour or two. This year would be a perfect time to get out of the house and get together with neighbours but for now we will steady plans for next year and look forward to when we can do this spring clean up again. Thanks for picking up!
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Chamber News
South Shuswap Chamber Awarded $82,000 from Province of BC By Karen Brown The South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce was successful in its grant application to the Province of BC under the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program. The grant application promoted the establishment of a Community Work Hub & Business Centre in the South Shuswap after first conducting a survey with the businesses of the area to establish need. A portion of the grant was also given to expand visitor services options within the region. It would seem that both the Tourism Committee and the Economic Development Committee of the Chamber will be rolling their sleeves up to see these initiatives through over the next year or two. The Chamber Welcomes New Members in February The South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce continued to see growth to its membership last month. New to the Chamber this month are Shuswap Bookkeeping, Justin Wetherill CPA, COR Consulting Service, Shuswap Gym of Rock, Gibbons Motor Toys and Shuswap Coffee Company. New Board of Directors Installed at February 25 AGM The South Shuswap Chamber Virtual AGM was well attended on February 25. Executive Director Karen Brown shared the Chamber’s Summary of Accomplishments for 2020. Afterward, MLA Greg Kyllo gave a provincial update and held a Q&A session with the members.
New Board - missing from photo Ron World and Craig Russenholt
Both MP Mel Arnold and Area C Director Paul Demenok gave quick updates as well. The Board of Directors would like to thank all three gentlemen representing all levels of government for their attendance and continued support of the South Shuswap Chamber. The Chamber’s new Board of Directors are: Corryn Grayston - COR Consulting Service, Robyn Cyr Brabyn Business Solutions, Jody Shakespeare – Tapped Events / Tapped Business Solutions, Marcie Mutch – Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort, Craig Russenholt – FINZ Resort, Larry Stephenson - Carlin Hall Community Association, Michelle Mackay – Mackay Marketing, Mark Lane – Dreamcycle Museum, Monica Seys – Shuswap Marina, Ron World – Blind Bay Village Grocer, Lynn Ewart – Sothebys Realty, Ashlee Kingsbury – Shuswap Lake Estates. Installed at the first Board meeting as the Chamber’s Executive: Lynn
Ewart - President, Jody Shakespeare - Vice President and Corryn Grayston Treasurer. The Board of Directors would like to thank May Calow, James Inglis, Denise Menzies, Robert Shakespeare and Tim Van Den Heuvel for their service as Directors this past year. All Call for Committee Members This year is looking to be a busy one for the South Shuswap Chamber. To that end, there are a number of committees that could certainly use the help by its members. If you are interested in joining one of the following committees, please send an email to Executive Director Karen Brown at manager@ southshuswapchamber.com • Advocacy • Economic Development • Education & Workshops • Membership & Benefits • Networking & Events • Tourism & Visitor Services
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March 2021
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Highlights from the February CSRD Board Meeting CSRD Board in Brief Letter of Support for TELUS Application to the Universal Broadband Fund - The Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board endorsed a letter sent to TELUS supporting its application to the Universal Broadband Fund to expand and improve wireless service at sites in the CSRD region. Telus has applied for funding to upgrade existing facilities and develop two new facilities at Gardom Lake and in Salmon Arm on Shaw Rd. The facilities to be upgraded in the Shuswap include Salmon Arm - Mt Tappen/Fly Hills Snowmobile Trail, Chase - Loakin-Bear Creek Road, Sicamous Queest-Wilson Forest Service Road, Scotch Creek, Aline Hill - 900 Forest service Rd and Eagle Bay. This required no financial contribution from the CSRD. Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail Trail - The Board endorsed recommendations from the committee to update the development plan reflecting Splatsin te Secwépemc statements, setting a 349.8 m design flood elevation level and approving two separate grant applications for funds to go towards building a test section of the trail. EMBC Financial Guidelines – The Board approved sending a letter to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General outlining the CSRD’s concerns with the Financial Assistance for Emergency Response Costs Guide for BC First Nations and Local Authorities document released by Emergency Management BC. Copies of
the letter will also be sent to local MLAs, as well as the Union of BC Municipalities. Grant-in-Aids - The Board approved allocations to organizations in Electoral Areas C for: • $13,295 WildsafeBC (Wildsafe Community Coordinator) • $23,205 Cedar Heights Community Association (erosion work) • $2,000 White Lake Community Hall Society (operating funds) • $1,990 Carlin Community Hall Association (operating funds) • $2,000 Sunnybrae Community Association (operating funds) • $1,995 Sorrento Drop-in Society (operating funds) • $1,950 White Lake Residents Association (operating funds) • $1,850 South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce Permit No. 701-109 (Weinberger) - The subject property is (accounting fees) at 3959 Eagle Bay Road in Eagle Bay. Currently there are • $1,950 Blind Bay Citizens two dwellings on the property and this proposal includes on Patrol (operating funds) reconstructing the single-family dwelling (cabin) and Kicker - Business Card • $1,742 Notch Hill convertingColor the second dwelling (carriage house) an Display Ad - 77.91/month +totax Town Hall Association accessory building. The owners have applied for a 0.7m height (operating funds) variance to the carriage house. The Board approved the DVP, Scoop - Business Card • $2,000 Eagle Bay subject to Color the issuance of a Hazardous Lands (Steep Display Ad - 71.52/month + taxSlopes), Community Association Lakes 100 m, and Riparian Areas Regulation Development (sea can purchase) Permit. Electoral Area C Parks Development Variance Permit No. 701-107 (Sanvido) Community Works Funds The waterfront property is located at 4855 Parker Road, Eagle - The Board approved Bay. A retaining wall, constructed in 2018, requires variances $300,000 plus applicable to the rear parcel line, interior parcel, and exterior side parcel taxes from the Electoral Area line setbacks. The Board approved the DVP. C Community Works Fund Lakes Zoning Amendment (Kahane) Bylaw No. 900-31C allocation for the construction - The owners of the property at Crescent Bay, would like to of a new community park add a special regulation to the FP - Foreshore Park Zone. This located in Eagle Bay. In would permit a dock and buoy, applicable to Gazelle Road addition, the Board approved only, to allow for boat access to the upland, water-accessspending up to $105,000 only property. The Board gave first reading to the application for asphalt resurfacing of and directed staff to refer the bylaw to applicable agencies the multi-purpose play and First Nations. The Board also agreed to waive the public court and chain link fencing hearing for the proposed bylaw amendment. replacement at Sorrento Blind The next Regular CSRD Board Meeting will be Thursday, Information: For office usetoonly Bay Park. Display Ad Billing March 18, 2021 at 9:30 AM. Information on how register is Development Variance available on the Events tab of the CSRD website. RENEWAL (same rate)
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Shuswap Watershed Council launches second year of water quality grants
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SWC Release The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) is inviting applications to its Water Quality Grant Program, for the second year running. “One of the SWC’s primary objectives is to protect and maintain the water quality in Shuswap and Mara Lakes,” explains Erin Vieira, program manager for the SWC. “In particular, we’re focussed on reducing nutrient inputs to rivers and lakes.” Excessive amounts of nutrients, especially phosphorus, are known to contribute to algal blooms, which reduce the quality of water for drinking and recreation, and can become toxic for people, pets, and livestock. “The goal of the grant program is to help farmers and landowners keep nutrients on the land and in the soil, being used by crops and vegetation - not washing off into nearby creeks and rivers through rain, snowmelt, or flooding,” Vieira says. Up to $85,000 is available in 2021. Farmers, agribusinesses, landowners and others are invited to apply for funding to go toward projects or land management practices that reduce, divert, or capture nutrients. “After the positive
outcomes achieved with the 2020 program, we’re very pleased to offer our grant program for a second year,” says Paul Demenok, Chair of the SWC. “We look forward to creating new partnerships in the Shuswap to protect our water quality while simultaneously helping farms and other land holdings reduce their phosphorus footprint.” The call for applications comes on the heels of a short demonstration video from the SWC, describing nutrient management projects on four Salmon Valley farms in 2020 with grant funding from the Council. The video can be viewed on the SWC’s YouTube channel. “The grant program is one of the ways the SWC is taking action on our research findings,” Vieira adds, referring to a threeyear research project that the SWC did with UBCOkanagan. Research results showed that the greatest proportion of nutrients in the lakes originate from the settled valley bottoms of the Shuswap River and Salmon River, where there are farms and homes. More information about the grant program and how to apply is available at www.shuswapwater.ca. The application period closes on April 30th.
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March 2021
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Extended Closure Scheduled Kicking Horse Phase Four
By Barbra Fairclough The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has announced a month long closure of Highway 1 as the work on phase four of Kicking Horse Canyon construction project begins. The Kicking Horse Canyon Project, just east of Golden, BC, was launched in 2003. Three phases of work have transformed 21 kilometres of narrow, winding two-lane highway into a modern four-lane, 100 km/h standard. In November 2020, Kicking Horse Canyon Constructors was awarded a designbuild contract to complete the remaining, and most difficult, 4.8 kilometre section. Completion is expected in winter 202324. This phase four part of the remaining two lane canyon section of the Trans Canada highway is severely constrained. As a result, the final phase of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project to improve safety, widen and realign the highway will inevitably require traffic disruptions and at times full highway closure. Beginning in early March 2021, single-lane alternating traffic will be common with delays of 20 to 30 minutes. By the middle of March, there may be closures of up to two hours on weekdays during the late morning, early afternoon, and early evening. Beginning in mid-March there may be overnight closures of up to nine hours between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. (scheduled times of the potential two-hour and overnight closures will be posted a week beforehand on Drive BC). During any overnight closures, Trans-Canada Highway traffic will be diverted to the alternative route of highways 93 and 95 through Radium Hot Springs. The timing for the first full closure will be from 12 noon Monday April 12th, 2021 to 12 noon Friday May 14th. This closure will accommodate geotechnical investigations, clearing, heavy excavation, piling and hauling that cannot be performed safely in the presence of traffic or during shorter interruptions. Trans Canada Highway traffic will be routed via Highway 93 and 95 which will add up to 1.5 hours travel time. This tourist and commercial transportation corridor during peak travel months has as many as 10,000 vehicles per day travel with as much as 30% of traffic consisting of commercial vehicles. The construction zone will be opened to local commuter traffic with a pass system with an escorted pilot vehicle, during one half-hour period in the morning and one half hour period in the afternoon. Similar escorts will be provided for school buses. Emergency vehicles in response mode will be provided escorted passage on short notice. Details of the pass system
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will be outlined on the project website by mid-March. The closure is part of a traffic-management strategy developed in consultation with the communities and key stakeholders. Other than during the full closure, as much work as possible will be done at night or other off-peak periods. Work on this project will occur 24/7. Permitted times for 20-30 minute closures, closures under two hours, night closures, and times for extended multi day closures can be found at www.kickinghoursecanyon.ca/ construction/traffic-management/ Extended multi day closures will be confined to the lowest traffic shoulder seasons. During the last two weeks of May and the last two weeks of September the extended closures will be allowed only on weekdays. The ministry has created a website for information regarding all aspects of the Kicking Horse Project. www. kickinghorsecanyon.ca If you are travelling into the Shuswap from points east of the project on Hwy1, consult Drive BC for current conditions.
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CSRD Receives $250,000 Grant To Continue Firesmart Program CSRD Media Release Building on the success of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s (CSRD) FireSmart initiative, the regional district has been awarded a grant of $250,000 to expand the program for the coming year. This FireSmart Community Funding Grant is $100,000 more than
was received from the Province’s Community Resiliency Investment Program last year. FireSmart community funding and supports are administered to local governments and First Nations through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Projects will continue to focus on reducing the risk and impacts
of wildfire to communities throughout the CSRD. The CSRD’s program has promoted FireSmart principles to individuals and community groups throughout the region using trained FireSmart representatives. Activities have included conducting hazard assessments of homes and properties, offering advice on ways homeowners can reduce fire risks, and educating development industry professionals on implementing FireSmart standards to reduce flammability. As part of this ongoing program, homeowners who complete eligible FireSmart improvements on their own properties may qualify for up to a $500 rebate. Information and an online assessment request form is available on the FireSmart page of the CSRD’s website. “The community’s response to our FireSmart Program has been very positive. We’ve been able to complete more than 200 individual home and property assessments to help people reduce the risk of their homes being damaged or destroyed in a wildfire,” says Len Youden, the CSRD’s FireSmart Coordinator. “We are thrilled to receive this grant which will allow us to expand our efforts, ultimately making our communities more resilient to wildfire,” he adds. In addition to the home assessment program, the additional funding will include major investments in developing Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans for Electoral Areas A (Rural Golden) and F (north Shuswap). The completion of Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans for the remaining CSRD Electoral Areas will take place on a phased basis as funding becomes available. The creation of these plans will involve community input from Community FireSmart and Resiliency Committees. The CSRD is looking for citizens in Electoral Areas A and F to participate. If you are interested, please email firesmart@csrd.bc.ca.
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March 2021
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Eagle Bay Fire Department By Nigel Collett
Did I miss winter? I have been talking to myself recently which is never a good sign, but I have been asking myself does it matter to me that Eagle Bay Volunteer Fire Department gets very few emergency callouts? After all it was a big decision for me to volunteer 16 months ago, it was way outside my comfort zone at the time. I’ve certainly benefited from a lot of training and support and monthly I take part in duty crew with COVID protocols in place to ensure the trucks will be ready to go when called upon. I know my way around the trucks and where all the gear (and they understandably carry a lot) is stowed. And each week, I sign onto Zoom to listen in on the latest training session from Fire Services. It would be better to have in-person practices on a Tuesday evening but COVID of course prevents that for now. Long story short, volunteers are fully invested. The pager I carry that will ping loudly when the Surrey dispatch centres calls out the Fire Department has remained suspiciously silent recently! Is it because Eagle Bay is rural and remote with no major roads, intersections or crosswalks or are our residents simply already fully Firesmart and/or just very lucky people? Is there a point in having a Volunteer Fire Department? I read in the North Shuswap Kicker the Chase RCMP report recently of a house fire outside the fire protection service area where there was sadly loss of life. Now I’m not saying having a fire truck turn up would have made for a different outcome but it is a form of insurance. We wonder why we pay for it until we really need it and, in most cases, we have no idea when that is going to be, if ever. There were many callouts last winter after heavy snow brought down power lines in Eagle Bay. A fellow volunteer firefighter and friend of mine had 26 callouts in one day this winter on Vancouver Island (I think that might be what we get in a year). Bottom line is you never know what could be coming at you. To be honest I will be more than happy if I never have to call emergency services from my home, but I will never be able to guarantee that, no matter how good my fire prevention habits are. I’m not willing to make that gamble on behalf of my family. So I am happy to sit at home next to a silent pager that hasn’t gone off in weeks because I know the potential is always there and I sleep well at night knowing that a band of trained volunteers will leap to my aid as soon as the call is made. Have a great month everyone. Eagle Bay Fire Department welcomes anyone who would like more information – please contact Alan Rendell 250-517-0429. He will be happy to answer any questions. Practice is on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for 2 hours, all equipment and training is provided. You can keep up to date on lots of fire related and fire department news on our ‘Eagle Bay Fire Department’ Facebook page. We also share on Instagram. You will also find links to more information about current burning regulations and the CSRD’s FireSmart initiatives.
Eagle Bay Firefighter recruit Tracy LeMeiux putting out a dumpster fire. Photo credit: Training Officer Michelle Beaudry. (training Pre-Covid)
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Canada Deserves Plan for the Future
With pic from archive
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By Mel Arnold North Okanagan-Shuswap MP The House of Commons recently debated the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement introduced last November and I had the honour of participating in that debate to represent the voices of the people of the North Okanagan-Shuswap. Members of Parliament were debating the 2020 economic statement in February because the government did not table a budget in 2020. A year ago, the government was supposed to introduce Budget 2020, but that was delayed by the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Trudeau government has repeatedly made excuses to avoid presenting a fiscal plan for Canada’s future. They needed an inch last March, but they have since taken a mile. Over 700 days have passed since the federal government last introduced a federal budget. When this critical point is raised in the House, government members are quick to dismiss it and issue reassurances that all is well when, in fact, all is not well. All is not well when our federal government fails to define fiscal objectives and strategies for achieving them. Canada’s system of democracy relies heavily on budget votes in the House because these votes are matters of confidence. If the government loses a budget vote, the government collapses. This is how representatives elected by the people of Canada are meant to hold the government to account. This is the system of checks and balances that is supposed to keep government balanced and accountable; this is
how Parliament is meant to function. The prevailing crisis we continue to face as a nation only adds to the necessity of a comprehensive and realistic plan for managing the finances of Canada. Canada’s federal deficit for the 20202021 fiscal year is expected to exceed $350 billion and this is projected to drive our national debt-to-GDP ratio to over 50%. During these difficult times, more Canadians than ever before are looking to the federal government for leadership, for a plan. I believe that if the federal government possessed these, the government would have presented them, but they have not. Yes, there is a need for the government to undertake exceptional spending in response to the exceptional circumstances Canadians are facing. However, such spending should be connected to a coherent plan to ensure strategies and objectives are coordinated, complimentary and cohesive. Canada needs a bridge to the future, a bridge to security and yes, building this bridge requires government expenditures. However, if there is no plan, no blueprints with which to build that bridge, how can any of us have confidence that the enormous debt being incurred on our behalf is going to deliver the outcome that we all need? Canadians deserve a plan for the future which is why my Conservative colleagues and I continue to demand that the government be transparent, accountable and timely with measures that will allow us to overcome the pandemic and begin the national recovery we need.
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
Sorrento Centre - Tiny Shoots of Hope By Michael Shapcott As the late winter lingers over the Shuswap, the Sorrento Centre Farm is already looking forward to an abundant harvest in the fall of 2021. On our farm, the bountiful harvest begins with tiny little shoots of hope even before spring arrives. The cold snap in February was the perfect opportunity for us to start indoor seeding for our eight-acre natural farm, which is located just 2km down the TransCanada Highway from the Sorrento Centre’s main campus just off Passchendaele Road. We started seed tapes – a clever little process in which seeds are wrapped in toilet paper and then, when the sun warms the soil a bit more, the tapes are planted with the seeds perfectly spaced. We also started seed trays with lots of varieties, including peppers. And the winner is: The first sprouts from our seed trays are butterfly weed, which will be planted on our farm to attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The butterfly weed will attract useful insects which will, in turn, help spur the growth of many plants. We are in year two of a conversion to permaculture on our farm. That means shifting from mechanized processes and the use of pesticides and herbicides to natural methods to nourish the soil and support the growth of productive plants, as well as managing the weeds, vermin and insects in natural ways. Last year we added haskap to our berry plot, but we don’t expect to see fruit for another year or two. Patience is not simply a virtue, but a practical requirement in farming. Our fall harvest last year was rich with garlic, squash and many other nutritious and delicious vegetables. Some of the produce made its way to our kitchen, and some was sold through farm gate sales. A good deal was distributed through local groups to people in our community who cannot afford to buy fresh produce in the shops. Our Farmer Gwen Dell’Anno expects that it could take up to five years to complete the conversion of our farm to permaculture, with its beautiful and abundant rows of exquisite vegetables and fruit. And so, we plant the seedlings in the late winter – carefully managing what we can (including soil, nutrients and water) and hoping for the best in what we cannot control (such as sunshine). We plant with a sense of hope – looking forward to a harvest that we will share with our neighbours. We plant with a sense of joy and gratitude at the beautiful natural world around us that can sustain and feed us. We plant with a sense of purpose as we consider our role as the good stewards of our small farm, and the opportunity we have to learn and share our learnings with students at our nearby elementary school and others. Michael Shapcott is Executive Director of Sorrento Centre and the Sorrento Centre Farm. You can find out more at www.sorrentocentre.ca
Butterfly grass sprouting in seed trays. Photo by Gwen Dell’Anno.
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The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
Changes Incorporated into Chase Four-Laning Project By Jo Anne Malpass Bridge. A project update to Chase and area residents dated The report says thanks to ongoing community input, January 2021, says thanks to community input, several several changes were incorporated into the projects. For the changes were incorporated into the design of the Chase Chase West phase, these include: Four-Laning Project, Chase Creek Road to Chase West and • Moved planned Shuswap Avenue intersection closer Chase West to Chase Creek Bridge. to Chase •Transform existing highway into low volume Maike Schimpf, Senior Project Manager and Lindsey frontage road and active transportation route LeBlanc, Assistant Project Manager, Ministry of • Added highway pedestrian underpass to connect Chase Transportation and to the Neskonlith Infrastructure updated the Community Business Village of Chase at its Feb. Access 23 council meeting. • Designed safe The update report says the highway access/egress two phases are separate but for commercial trucks have coordinated schedules. • Designed Protected T Chase Creek Road to intersections to reduce Chase West (Chase West) property impacts is currently in construction; • Mitigated potentially this project will be negative impacts to completed in Fall 2022. It ALR Construction includes widening 3.3 km Impacts of highway to four lanes • Specified night time on the western end of the blasting to minimize Village of Chase including traffic and business access management, obstructions median and roadside barrier • Restricted highway and active transportation closures during peak Chase East phase involves the four-laning of Highway 1 through the Village of Chase. commuting times. improvements. Photo shared from Ministry of Transportation Chase West to Chase Changes to Chase Creek Bridge (Chase East) is East include: currently in the final stages of design. Tender is targeted in • Provided full-movement interchange at Brooke Drive spring 2021 which would allow construction to commence • Increased traffic and pedestrian improvements along in summer 2021. Completion is anticipated in summer Brooke Drive to Shuswap Avenue 2023. This project includes widening 1.6 km of highway • Added pedestrian connectivity from Brooke Drive to to four lanes through the Village of Chase including new Foothills Road and trail network grade-separated access, median and roadside barrier, active • Added pedestrian connectivity across Chase Creek to trail transportation and municipal infrastructure improvements. network Total budget for the project is $260.3 million, Provincial • Added sidewalk width on east side of Brooke Drive Contribution $248.2 million, Federal Contribution $12.1 •Developed Brooke Drive to enhance connection to local million. Approximately 4.9km of Trans-Canada Highway businesses 1 upgrade from two lanes to four. Western limit is • Designed safe and efficient highway access/egress for Neskonlith Band IR#2 and eastern limit is Chase Creek commercial trucks
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
• Retained interchange location at Brooke Drive to minimize property and business impacts • Developed emergency vehicle access gate at the intersection of Coburn Street and Highway 1 •Maintained direct highway access for RCMP. The new Brooke Drive interchange includes sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists to cross underneath the highway to access the Scatchard Trails. A new pedestrian path will be added to the Chase Creek Bridge to connect pedestrians from the Chase Creek Falls trail to the Scatchard Trails. A path between Chase Creek Bridge and Foothills Road will complete the connection. There will be three access points to the Village of Chase as per the existing condition. The access points include the following: Shuswap Avenue West (near the Petro-Canada/A&W). This access will be moved roughly 0.5 km to the west and will become a full-movement (both east and westbound acceleration and deceleration lanes) protected-T intersection. Brooke Drive Interchange. This grade separated interchange (including an underpass and roundabout) will become the primary entrance to the Village. Shuswap Avenue East (Jade Mountain). This intersection will remain in the current condition as requested by the Village of Chase. More information, including virtual fly over and drive through, is available at bchwy1.ca
Do you own waterfront property on Shuswap or surrounding lakes? Stay informed with SWOA Shuswap waterfront owners are faced with new and changing regulations from all levels of government. • We successfully lobbied local and provincial governments to allow for larger docks. • We advocate for waterfront owners rights and keep our members informed of their responsibilities • We continue to monitor the activities on the Shuswap Watershed Council and stress responsible use of taxpayers dollars • We actively support local and provincial efforts to prevent the introduction of Zebra and Quagga mussels to BC. • Our board members have over 300 years of experience on the Shuswap, and are familiar with issues like the new changes to the Federal Fisheries Act • We continue to keep our members updated on the status of buoys and their removal A two year membership of $50 will help you to stay current on issues, give you access to expert advice and to the SWOA website with information on lake regulations associated with living and building on the lake. Shuswap Waterfront Owners Association go to SWOA.ca and click JOIN SWOA For more information email info@swoa.ca
Brooke Drive Underpass Design Shared from Ministry of Transportation
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Horgan’s Skewed Relief Funding Formula Harming Rural Communities By Greg Kyllo, MLA Shuswap While many British Columbians continue to anxiously wait for much of the relief promised by John Horgan and the NDP government, many regional districts expressed their dismay when they learned their electoral districts will receive far less of the $425 million in joint federal-provincial COVID relief funding compared to neighbouring municipalities of similar sizes.
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Thanks to the NDP’s skewed formula for distributing relief funding, some municipalities are receiving funding several times greater than neighbouring regional districts with similar populations. In some cases, regional districts are receiving only one tenth of the funding of municipalities with similar populations. John Horgan appears to be once again discriminating against rural B.C. and withholding vital funding from rural communities that desperately need it. Many fear this is yet another action from a government that has a history of ignoring rural B.C., as this is the same administration that suspended the Rural Dividend fund indefinitely back in 2019. This was a vital program designed to build capacity and promote economic diversification for First Nations and small communities. John Horgan’s government has no difficulty taking on historic deficits to meet its political objectives but appears to be choosing to discriminate against rural B.C. communities at a time when they need provincial support more than ever. As your MLA, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the BC Liberal caucus to advocate for our rural communities, hold John Horgan to account so he will stop pitting our rural and urban communities against each other, and offer the same level of support to all British Columbians— regardless of where in our province they choose to call home.
www.shuswapscoop.ca CSRD introduces car seat recycling program CSRD Media Release Parenting comes with plenty of questions. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is removing one question from that list − what should I do with my car seat once my child has outgrown it? Effective March 1, 2021, the CSRD is introducing a new car-seat recycling program. All Cindy child car seats, Billing Information: For office use only including infant and booster # of for a seats, CHANGES DURATION Feb can be recycled months NEW AD fee of $5 per seat. (NBR) Locations for car-seat COMPANY NAME & ADDRESS CHANGES DISCOUNTS recycling include the (new rate) % 10, 13, 16, 20 Golden, Revelstoke, B - BONUS (10%) Sicamous and Salmon Arm NP - NON-PROFIT (30%)
GR $
Discount
Landfills and the Falkland, Skimikin and Scotch Creek Transfer Stations. These are the same locations that accept mattresses for a $15 recycling fee. Previously, CSRD residents had few options for dealing with unused child car seats, often resulting in them ending up in local landfills. This new program is more environmentally responsible, ensuring car seat components are properly recycled rather than thrown away.
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
Small Grants NOW Available from Shuswap Community Foundation Media Release Applications are now open for Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants, for projects that help build a sense of community. Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants is based on a simple but powerful idea – that everyone is a valuable member of the community and that we all have something to share. Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) provides grants of up to $350 for local residents to strengthen their community by bringing people together, sharing skills and knowledge, celebrating diversity, and increasing people’s sense of belonging. Projects must stay within guidelines for physical distancing. And yes, a grant means you don’t need to pay back this funding — no matter the outcome. Through partnerships with The Vancouver Foundation and Downtown Salmon Arm, Shuswap Community Foundation is able to provide funding to local residents with ideas to bring people together. Projects can include anything from potlucks, art workshops and block parties to neighbourhood beautification and habitat restorations, anything in compliance with the Provincial Health Regulations. True to the grassroots
spirit of the program, each Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grant will be awarded by Shuswap residents themselves. Local volunteers will review the ideas submitted and decide which ones to fund. Applications for Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants are open throughout the year. Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants are one way that the Community Foundation amplifies the power of community by supporting the strength, resiliency and creativity of residents. “When people feel a sense of connection and belonging to their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live.” adds Roger Parenteau, Manager at the Shuswap Community Foundation. Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants help connect and engage residents in their community regions through co-funding partnerships with Vancouver Foundation and Shuswap Community Foundation. For more information on the Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants program, and to apply online, visit www. shuswapfoundation. ca or email admin@ shuswapfoundation.ca.
Why should you never lend money to a leprechaun? They always come up a little short! What do you call a fake Irish stone? A shamrock!
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Finally the Vaccine is Arriving in the Shuswap Sorrento and Area Health
By Marilyn Clark COVID-19 vaccines are scheduled to be available for Group 2 individuals which includes residents 80+ and indigenous individuals 65+ in the last half of March. In an announcement on March 1, it was announced that 400,000 are expected to be vaccinated in this Phase.2. From March 1 – 15, high risk individuals will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Age based vaccinations will begin for those who are 90+ on March 15. They will be able to call in to an Interior Health call-in system, 1-877-7407747 between 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., PST, seven days a week to book a vaccination time beginning March 15. Those who are age 85+ will be able to call in to make an appointment from March 15 for vaccinations beginning on March 22. Individuals 80+ will be able to make an appointment by calling in from March 22 for vaccination starting March 29. Indigenous individuals can call in anytime starting March 8. Individuals will need to provide the following information when they call in to register: first and late name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number (found on the back of your BC Services Care or Driver’s License)
and contact information for yourself or your support person. On the day of your appointment, you will be asked to arrive a few minutes ahead of your scheduled time and be required to wait in an observation area for approximately 15 minutes. It has been determined that second doses will be provided four months following the first dose as that has been found to be the time frame that works. Apparently the first dose takes three weeks to fully protect persons following their vaccination. All of this makes it appear there is light at the end of the tunnel . . . finally! Locum Physician, Dr. Terry Clare, will be in our Health Centre on Mondays and Tuesdays from March 8 to the beginning of July. He is our ever so popular locum physician from the last two summers. You can make an appointment with Dr. Clare by calling the Health Centre at 250 675-2167. While NP Theresa Walters is off having her baby, Lyndsay Lazzarotto is replacing her during her maternity leave. Lyndsay is just one more extraordinary nurse practitioner who has applied her skills in our health centre. I should note that most appointments these days are conducted by telephone. On some occasions,
PAUL JACKSON 1-888-268-3388 paul@nextlevel.ca www.nextlevelbc.ca Paul Jackson is a year round resident of the North Shuswap. With 28 years as a Professional Financial Planner, Paul is well suited to help his clients with all of their Financial Planning needs. He uses a Model Portfolio approach to investment management and would love to discuss his process and track record with you!
Proven track record with Model Portfolio investing Fee Based Advisor with a very reasonable fee structure Independent (not tied to one institution) Strong tax knowledge Licensed in both BC and Alberta
the providers will make arrangements to have a person come in to the Centre based on the issues the patient presents. COVID protocols are in place at all times at the Health Centre. Registered Acupuncturist, Melanie McLeod, continues her practice in the Centre on Wednesdays and Fridays. New Patient appointments can be made by calling 250 8335899. Her existing patients can make appointments online at https://lakesidehealth.janeapp.com/ locations/lakeside-health/book#/staff_ member/25. Melanie is getting rave reviews for her practice and knowledge. Shuswap Soles Footcare, Vanna King, continues to provide foot care at the Centre. You can book an appointment with her by calling (250) 574-9969. AGM Wednesday, May 5, 4:30 pm. Our Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 5 at 4:30 pm. It will be held virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform. If you would like to attend, please call Barry Stokes to register at 250 833-6408. We have a couple of retiring directors so if you have an interest in ensuring that primary care is maintained in the South Shuswap and have an interest in becoming a director, please call Barry to explore the role.. Dinner Out? We are planning a drive-thru dinner in early May. Figure everybody is looking for a safe night out and a break from cooking! Stay tuned for details
~Every day may not be good, But there is something good in every day~
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
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Copper Island Health and Wellness By Sandra Reutlinger When we think of Spring, we can’t help but think of budding new life, hues of green and growing things. We also might tend to reflect upon the fact that we have now been living in this very different COVID consumed world for over a year now. The day I am writing this, the sun is shining bright and the slow is melting slowly. I think about many a March gone by and so I prepare for the slush, soft grey days of drizzle and the drab brown grime of gravel laden roads and faded road lines. So maybe this day of Scoop savouring, you are happy in the sun or heavy laden with the blahs that March can sometimes bring. Might I suggest we make a decision? A mind shift? An attitude adjustment? Let’s determine to focus our minds on all of the positive that surrounds us. Let’s not get mired in the past, but rather move into a future that holds promise and better days to come. I don’t want this to come across as trite platitudes. On the contrary, it is a more of a reminder of what surrounds us and how our perspective determines outcomes. We live in one of THE most beautiful places on the planet. We live in communities that are filled with caring people and kind souls. The Shuswap is unique in more than its landscape and beauty. This area has its own laid-back style of accepting people for who they are and how they roll in ways that are unheard of in urban areas, while at the same time upholding a common understanding of wanting to make both our place here and the rest of the world a better place to live. This past year proved that our neighbourhoods would pull together and take care of each other and that people genuinely want to help others and make a positive impact. So, if you are losing your grip, barely hanging on to hope or finding yourself more frustrated than fine, raise your head, look around and find the good. Reach out and make a call and talk to someone. Rather than turtle, find the courage to humbly ask for help. You’ll find a lot of us have been there too and we’d be happy to help. We need
to stay connected and look out for and after each other! On that note, we are excited to introduce some new services to our community that are all about helping others out. Copper Island Care helps seniors and families by providing nonmedical senior care and home support services. They also offer Death Doula services as well. You can check them out at www.copperislandcare.ca The other service new to the neighbourhood is Habitat for Humanity that works toward attainable housing for moderate to low-income families. They also have special programs for seniors, people with disabilities, and single-parent families. They see the need for barrier free housing and senior housing designed specifically for tenants/ owners to age in place. Habitat for Humanity works with Social Service providers, non-profits, CMHC, and all levels of government to develop attainable housing. We are well aware of the shortage of affordable housing in this area and welcome their support of our communities. Future dreams finally coming to fruition for our area of health and wellness includes this exciting news: The Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre was approved for the Rural Locum Program which means - we have a full time Doctor at the Centre now! Doctor available: Monday - Friday March 8 - April 23 Mobile Lab: runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-12. Foot Care: runs on Wednesdays. Income tax preparation is free for low-income seniors. Call to arrange a time to drop off. Dental Hygiene Clinic on March 19, April 16. It’s a good idea to check online for any updates to hours. We are on Facebook and Instagram and the Calendar is on the website: www. sshss.ca under the “Centre” tab. Call us at 250-675-3661 for inquiries. We are anticipating grant money that will allow an expansion of the facility and services. We are currently receiving expressions of interest as
we will need part time staff to come on board. Positions are for a Medical Office Assistant and an Office Assistant. As the Centre grows, additional hours and positions will be offered. If you are interested in working at our Medical Facility, please send a covering letter expressing your interest along with your current resume and contact information to SSHSS, #10 – 2417 Golf Course Dr., Blind Bay, V0E 1H2 or email sshealthss@gmail.com. You are invited to join us in creating a comprehensive medical facility here in the South Shuswap to bring health care closer to home. We invite you to volunteer and become a member.
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Community Futures
A Perspective Exercise in Three’s
Wills & Estates Conveyancing * Family Law Chase office is open Thursdays by appointment only #4 - 834 Shuswap Ave
250-679-3180 www.cfselaw.ca info@cfs elaw.ca
By Rob Marshall We all go through periods where the glass is half empty. We can’t see the good and positive for all the bad and negative. It feels like the scales have tipped and the glass is almost full of bad stuff, which is squeezing every drop of good out onto the floor. Here are a few simple exercises that will allow you to right the ship, shift your perspective in a more positive direction and get a better handle on reality. 1. First thing in the morning DO NOT reach for your phone to check your social media and news feeds. Avoid bringing yourself up to date with all the horrors going on in the world. And ignore all those inane Facebook memes, for a few hours at least. Do not let outside influences direct your perspective for the day from the minute you wake up, or your psyche may already be screwed. 2. Over your first coffee, or tea of the day list three things that are positive about your business. 3. Reflect on why you started your business, what your vision was at that time, and what it is now. Write at least three things down. It doesn’t have to be formal, the back of the cereal box will do! 4. Note down three things that your company does that makes life better for your employees, your customers, or your community. 5. List three things that you are most grateful for right now. At least one of them should relate to your business. 6. List three things that are currently stressing you out and note down a positive action that you can take to minimize that stress. Consider things like delegating responsibility, taking action immediately rather than
procrastinating, re-evaluating the importance of the stressor, seeking advice, or whatever else will change your current perspective. 7. Make a list of no more than three people in your business or social network who may be having a tough time and reach out to them. Listen to their challenges and offer help, guidance, coaching, mentorship, or whatever else you can do to ease their burden. There are always people worse off than us. This will put your own challenges into perspective. 8. Call three people you trust and ask them if you can get their perspective on the challenges you currently face in your business. Try to call people who you know are positive people; don’t call “negative nellies” that’s not the perspective you need. 9. Post three sentences on any social media site you frequent, or write a blog post, about your experiences carrying out the perspective exercise. Share the positive! 10. Pat yourself on the back three times for turning your mood around and getting a better perspective on your business and your life. Often our perspective is out of line with reality and we need an external source to jolt us back into the real world. The thing with problems is they always appear far larger than they really are; once dealt with we often look at them (in the rear-view mirror) with a new perspective and realize they were never as insurmountable, or problematic, as we first thought. Rob Marshall is the Executive Director of Community Futures Shuswap. For more small business tips and resources, visit beyourfuture.ca
the first bloom of spring always make my heart sing
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
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First Responders
Effects of Springing Forward By Sandra Reutlinger We “spring forward” by an hour on March 14 and depending on when you read this, you’re either just about to experience it, or you’ve managed to live through it. It’s darker in the early morning hours but we gain the evening light. Problem is, our bodies and brains doth protest much! Yes, there is just one hour of lost sleep but there is more that goes on. Disrupted sleep cycles affect us more than we might realize. For example, when we drive while sleep deprived, it’s similar to driving drunk in that it changes our coordination, judgement and reaction time, not to mention our irritable mood can produce road rage easier than normal. Every cell in our bodies keeps track of the time, and changes in daily patterns can trigger stress in our brains and cause disorientation, memory loss and hormone changes. Maybe you find you’re more irritable than usual. Think about not just the time change, but the past year and the amount of unusual stress our bodies have been under. Constantly changing rules and ways of living,
worry and fear, isolation etc. all create many kinds of stressors in our day to day living. The South Shuswap First Responders are fully trained volunteers who come to assist at medical emergencies once 911 has been called. Ideally, we would like to not get dispatched out at all as that would mean people are healthy, not getting injured and our services aren’t needed. We try to reduce your stresses by being fully trained and competent with our medical skills. Having the Responders show up can be calming in the midst of an emergency because you realize you aren’t alone. There is even someone to turn off lights and lock the door after the ambulance takes you in if need be. We can’t reduce the stress of taking our shoes off in the house, but we have all the personal protective equipment to keep everyone as safe as possible. Having a reflective address sign reduces the stress of thinking that emergency people won’t be able to find your house. We do what we can to help reduce the stress that comes with medical emergencies.
I was going to tell you a joke about an egg but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. We all know stress leads to physical and mental ailments. Now that it’s spring, getting outside and getting physical exercise by walking outdoors is so beneficial. Make it even better by inviting someone along for the walk so you can build connections and encourage a friend to get active as well. Prioritizing sleep is essential and your whole body and mind will thank you for it. Reduce your social media consumption and just stop doom scrolling. Focus on the positive and uplifting. Find someone who could use some encouragement and offer a helping hand. When we shift our focus from ourselves and the things we can’t change to those areas where we can make a difference and affect change, it will release the feel good endorphins and reduce stress. Give yourself loads of grace and don’t try to do it all or fix everything. Give others loads of grace too. Little changes to our daily lives can make a difference. Just like that one little hour of the time change...imagine making small, positive changes to your lifestyle, diet, mental health and the difference that will make in your life and also for those around you. Stay healthy! PS: We know there are those who are considering taking the First Responder Training and that’s super exciting! Please call: 250-833-5060 and have a chat with us.
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March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
What’s Cookin’ in Chase You Ask? By Margaret McCormick Perhaps you haven’t asked but we did because to be honest, we were having a hard time finding a list of eateries for the Gateway to the Shuswap so, we decided to do our own investigating. Full disclosure – we aren’t food critics, we are food lovers. Like many of us who live in the Heart of the Shuswap (and you can decide for yourself where that is), we often drive by Chase but we rarely stop. How often do you take the exit to downtown and how often do you stop in for a piece of pie, a meal or mug of tea? Perhaps you will consider it when you learn what we learned - that there is some really good grub only a few moments away from Highway 1. Coming from the coast we are big sushi fans and we were delighted to learn that Chase is home to U-Thi Sushi and Grill. Of course, we had to try their “Shuswap Roll” which is a deep fried Dynamite Roll with Spicy Salmon on top. Dynamite Rolls are a big favourite of mine and this one was amazing. U-Thi also serves a Korean menu including bibimbap and just because, they also offer poutine, Pad Thai and Butter Chicken! All the international flavours right here folks. We are also big pie fans and of course the Shuswap Pie Company is our most well-known (and delicious) but did you know that Chase has not one, not two but three places right on Shuswap Avenue where you can get great baked treats? A few months back after hiking the Upper Flume Trail we stopped in at Inside Out Coffee and got a delicious slice of blueberry crumble pie. I swear it was a quarter size! Wandering the street, we also came across Craig’s Bakery which based on the number of customers inside (proper social distancing rules applied), is not a local secret. They serve pie by the slice and whole pies too along with a wide variety of lunch specials and bakery takeaways. We also took a peek into Natty Confectionary
and Bakeshop. As the name implies, Natty’s offers a selection of baked goods and a few English favourites including Scotch Eggs and Bakewell Slice. Perfect with a steaming mug of Earl Grey or one of their custom lattes. We hear they also make a mighty fine Benny and a Full English breakfast. If you are looking for a different slice of pie, Pete’s Pizza makes all their items 100% fresh and in-house. They also serve Greek dishes, pasta and ribs and have recently added cauliflower crust to their selection as a great gluten free option. When we commented on their Facebook page that we loved their tag line Peter Stratikopoulos aka “Pete” shared with us “we started this restaurant when we were just kids back in 2008. Since that time, we have gotten married, moved locations, had two beautiful daughters and grown our business. Our customers have truly watched us grow in so many ways and are like family to us!” You can’t talk about food in Chase without a stop at the Safety Mart. I have to admit, before I discovered it was a grocery store and deli, I thought it was, you know, a place that sold safety equipment. Oops. If you haven’t been, you’re in for a treat to check out the décor alone. Now the folks in Chase are pretty proud of their hockey team the Chase Heat (so sad this season was cancelled). Safety Mart is like a sports hall of fame complete with an arena that even includes a penalty box. Fans should stop in just to check it out and while you are there, pick up bbq fixings from Tappen Valley Meats and you’ll also find two favourite local coffee makers Shuswap Coffee Company and Frog Friendly where else but in the coffee aisle. Fantastic customer service too. The next time you are hankering for some sushi or some pie you might just find yourself in Chase! You can find Taste of the Shuswap on Instagram @TasteoftheShuswap and on our website www. TasteoftheShuswap.ca. Please follow along with us!
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Shuswap Trail Alliance Deep Winter Lockdown Online Silent Auction STA Release You have secured funds for the trails we love for another WOW!! Thank you all so much for your incredible year! Stay tuned for some new and improved trails in the support! Back in the fall we were pondering the East Shuswap this season and the unveiling ceremony possibility of a 2021 fundraiser, and we weren’t for the Secwepemc Landmarks project. sure we would be able to pull of anything at all. We encourage you to visit our sponsors stores and You have absolutely blown us away and the results use their services – without them this would not have exceeded our expectations by far. Thanks to your been possible. generous support we raised $56,944! Although the auction itself is The winner of the $3,350, closed, it’s not too late to make 50/50 is Robin Johnston! a donation on the Trellis site, if We couldn’t have made this you missed the opportunity and of happen without each of you, course you can continue to support and of course our team of trails in the Shuswap by becoming extraordinary volunteers: Sylvia a member or volunteering. You McMahan and Dine Little can find more information on worked tirelessly to get the membership, volunteering and trail auction set up, along with the maps at www.shuswaptrails.com. help of Joan Mitchell who ran Please continue to update us with around picking up items for us. Trail Reports and the conditions The 50/50 team worked around of the local trails. This helps us the clock to fill out the tickets identify work needed and to track by hand, as per the gaming trail issues. rules. Huge thank you to Barb trailreport@shuswaptrails.com McKinnon, Cindy Sholinder, Enjoy local trails and be Sharon Fabro and Lori Roy for courteous to other users. The Shuswap Highlands, Photo from Shuswap Trail Alliance painstakingly filling in tickets. by Adrian Bostock
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The South Shuswap Scoop
SASCU Celebrates 75 years in the Shuswap
Directors Approve Athletic Court Improvements CSRD Release Tennis, pickle ball, and basketball enthusiasts will be getting an upgraded place to play at the Sorrento-Blind Bay Community Park. Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) Directors approved the expenditure of up to $105,000 to resurface the asphalt of the multi-use playing court and replace chain-link fencing at their regular Board meeting held Thursday, February 18. The court surface is currently in a poor state of repair, making it nearly unusable for sports activities. Plans are to resurface the entire court area with new asphalt, paint new lines for tennis, pickle ball and basketball, and to install sleeves for various sports net and hoops. The original chain-link fencing may need to be replaced and is included in the budget, if necessary. The Sorrento-Blind Bay Community Park, located at 2670 Davidson Road in Sorrento, is one of the most popular parks within the CSRD. The 12.3acre site also includes a soccer field, baseball diamonds, water spray park and playground. The funding for the project is coming from the Electoral Area C Community Works Fund, which will reduce the impacts to taxation and capital reserves. With the Board’s approval, CSRD staff will move forward with the project, with completion planned for later this year.
SASCU Release 2021 marks SASCU’s 75th anniversary and 75 years of being the Shuswap’s Credit Union. This year, they will be celebrating with member giveaways and a legacy project. “First and foremost, we’d like to thank our members for choosing SASCU to be their trusted Credit Union,” said Barry Delaney, CEO of SASCU Financial Group. “SASCU’s humble start began in 1946, with a small group of orchard farmers deciding they wanted to create a financial institution that benefited the community and its members. That is when they created ‘Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union’ which later rebranded to ‘SASCU’ in 2012. Their vision flourished to what it is today – a Credit Union with three lines of business, 150 staff and over $900 million in assets. The values that drove our founding members continue to fuel SASCU today: community, member ownership, and financial education.” Having started with just 33 members, SASCU has come a long way since then by serving over 19,000 members in the Shuswap and donating over two million dollars back to our communities to date. In 1994 SASCU expanded their
financial services to include SASCU Wealth – a division of SASCU for investments and long-term planning. 10 years later, in 2008 they further expanded and began offering insurance coverage. These divisions of SASCU contributed to the success it’s become today. “The Shuswap is on the map as a place to be. We want to enhance the great work being done and see SASCU’s 75th anniversary as a fantastic opportunity to engage with our creative class to come up with a project with a big impact – one that reflects the spirit and vibrancy of SASCU and this region for years to come,” added SASCU Director, Joan Ragsdale. “To mark this incredible milestone and to give back to our community, we will be creating a legacy project – something to say thank you to our community. Our Board of Directors and Community Relations Committee are in the works of orchestrating this project and look forward to involving community members to be part of this historic endeavour,” continued Delaney. To learn more about SASCU’s history and their contributions to the Shuswap, visit https://www.sascu.com/about.
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March 2021
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Citizens Patrols Growing By Carolyn French The rebirth of Blind Bay Citizens Patrol was initiated by an informational meeting with the community in November 2019. As of March 2020, we are registered as a non-profit incorporation under the BC Societies Act. We have 18 volunteer members including 3 Board Executives. Operations were to start in May, but we were stopped in our tracks by COVID – 19. In the meantime, we have outfitted our members with uniforms and safety vests, attended speed watch training provided by Salmon Arm Citizens Patrol, and attended an initial training provided by Salmon Arm RCMP Cpl. Jaimie Leverrier on October 05/2020. At first, we were only authorized to conduct foot patrols as a meet and greet with local businesses. These were conducted on October 8, 2020 starting with a photo at Blind Bay Village Grocer of our members along with James, Doug, and a few
employees. We then headed up to the Mall and introduced ourselves to the merchants. We started a few vehicle patrols in January 2021. As of February 01, 2021, we are 250-955-0660 for Appointments authorized by the Salmon Arm RCMP Detachment • Lab - Blood Collection, ECGs: Wed & Fri - 8am to 12noon to conduct patrols by Lab Services by Appointment volunteers not in each • Foot Care Nurse other’s bubble group • Public Health/Baby Wellness under strict COVID – 19 protocols. This will Dr. Domino Bucarelli enable us to conduct more patrols each week. We will cover Shuswap Lake Estates, Cedar Heights, and Eagle Bay during our patrols. Tickets are available at: ww.NSHealthCentre@rafflenexus.com The Purpose of our patrols is: 1. Our volunteers of Salmon Arm RCMP SCOOP MARCH provide an extra set of 3.75’x 1.5 columns =$95.81 plus eyes, ears, and wheels on less 30% non profit the ground. 2. Help prevent crime by being visible. 3. Enhance the community’s sense of • Renovations, New Construction & Repairs • Continuous 5”, 6” & Fascia Gutter security and well being. • Custom Gutter Systems for Snow Load For further information: our • Heat Trace Installation email is: info.bbcp@shaw.ca and phone is 403-796-7221
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The South Shuswap Scoop
The Little Engines That Could Part I
By Jerre Paquette Norm Kinsella of Blind Bay was born in Quebec under the sign of Aquarius. They say the signature characteristic of an Aquarius man is that he accepts and embraces different ways of expressing individuality, and that’s certainly true of Norm. Add an Irish genealogy and we can appreciate how Norm came to exhibit his decades-long commitment and the perseverance required to painstakingly build his own model railway system, bit by bit, over some 70 years of
American Flyer K5 Pacific
effort and learning, hauling it from province to province and from cities to townships, setting it up, tearing it down, and re-establishing it in every one of his homes. All that through two degrees, a government position in Immigration, an equally creative spouse (Kathy the Fibre Artist), and kids. Just a gander at his workbench will tell you he’s determined, committed, AND organized. Indeed, there’s been no stopping him since he was about 4 years old. It was then his Aunt Marg and Uncle Don gave him his first railway gift, a coalburning railway engine, no less than the famous coal burning American Flyer K5 Pacific. That engine, which he still owns and operates, got him started building and running train systems. His aunt and uncle
Norm Kinsella & partial train set & Mt.Ida
would surely be pleased that over seven decades later, he hasn’t slowed down a bit. That influential, beautiful model engine weighed 5 whole lbs., 1/10th of his own weight at that time--and it had both horn sounds and smoke billowing out of its short stack. It apparently left a deep impression on his very psyche. Family influence didn’t stop there. His Grandfather worked as a machinist helping to maintain and build the Canadian National Railway for some 50 years: It seems Norm was destined to have tracks, trains, switches, grain elevators, and railway townships coursing through his blood.
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
It’s surprising, then, that Norm never worked for a railroad-indeed, he switched tracks to earn for himself a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Linguistics at the University of Calgary. That turned into a career in Immigration Settlement focusing on Policy Agreement--no coal dust under his fingernails! Of course, our early Canadian immigrants have a long and essential relationship with the Canadian railroad system, so maybe there’s a connection there, after all. It certainly seems that way when you join him in his train station in the lower part of his home and experience his enthusiasm and pleasure focused on the endless miniatures of whole townships chockablock full of cars, trucks, grain elevators, small businesses, shop owners (including his Dad waving at him), and a myriad of box cars, train engines, the necessary
water towers and coal mines to keep them running, and the winding tracks and the working crews to maintain them all. And for Norm’s guests, like lucky me, there’s the historical nostalgia (like the 57 Chevy!) that transfixes you and makes you part of the narrative journey his creation unpacks as you watch his variety of engines haul their cargoes back and forth from Edmonton to Calgary to Salmon Arm through the shadow of Mt. Ida (one of his hand-painted backdrops) through Notch Hill and beyond--he leaves that to your imagination. There’s so much more to share about Norm and his emblematic love of train systems. And we can’t leave out the anecdote of Kipper his cat who, for me, punctuates Norm’s passion for the railway. We’ll save that for Part II, next issue of SCOOP.
Above: Norm’s work bench Below: Norm’s father waving from the bench
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Awe-Inspiring Moments in the Shuswap
W H AT K I N D O F J E W E L R Y D O E S THE EASTER BUNNY WEAR? 14 CARROT GOLD Paid Advertising Feature
Monthly Dental Hygiene Clinics Stay healthy! The Smile Mission Oral Health Outreach Society is offering monthly dental hygiene days out of the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre in Blind Bay (just off Highway 1 near the library) every third Friday of the month, so the next ones are March 19, April 16, etc. Currently we are not serving the North Shuswap Health Centre due to local COVID 19 precautions. We use full PPE with
gowns, surgical caps, face shields and chair covers for every client, and a droplet catching air filter. You will be asked to fill out a Covid-19 form and have your forehead temperature taken. To schedule an appointment, please call the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre at 250-675-3661. For treatment questions, please call the Smile Mission Oral Health Outreach Society at 250-833-9923. Live another day!
By Sarah Tokarek, Shuswap Adventure Girl Nestled in the southern half of British Columbia’s interior lies the beautiful, natural and extraordinary region known as the Shuswap. From boating, paddling, swimming and beaching, to hiking, climbing and summiting, to exploring a boundless range of different terrains and landscapes, the Shuswap has an endless list of must-dos for all four seasons! Lakes, rivers, trails, cliffs, mountains, beaches, waterfalls, rain forests, woodlands, alpine meadows, forest roads, landforms, provincial, national & regional parks, the captivating Shuswap and surrounding area has it all. The locals are warm, open, and genuinely connected to the fulfilling environment in which they live. We are SO lucky to live a life of great pleasure and endless adventure opportunities here. In my blog on shuswapadventuregirl.ca, you can see all my 11 aweinspiring moments. This excerpt is about two of them. Heaven | A Walk in the Clouds This was the time we walked on clouds! The morning in Blind Bay was foggy, socked in, grey and crisp but we were soaring above the clouds! The sunshine was gloriously beaming down on us! The thick white fluffy clouds below us looked like an ocean of cotton! The sky was brilliantly crystal blue and the smiles could not have been wiped from our faces! We had climbed into heaven on earth and it was a dazzling display to see! We watched the clouds slowly dissipate before our eyes to reveal the gorgeous turquoise blue waters of White Lake below. The waters were so pristine and clear that day that the secret sunken islands beamed showily beneath the surface. Once we got back down, and after talking with a few other friends I realized that we were up in the sunshine walking on clouds while everyone else was still in the grey
Left to right: Sarah Carson, Sarah Tokarek and Jennifer Hagan. Photo Credit: courtesy of Jennifer Hagan
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
fog of a day! Lucky us! That week, every morning the sun peaked out from above the thick clouds in the same way and I knew it was going to be another magical day in the mountains. Take the Hint: If you are up early and you see a low set, heavy cloud along midmountain and the sun shining to the peaks. Go to the peak! Some of my favorite trails for capturing this are the White Lake Lookout Trail, Sunnybrae Bluffs, Tappen Bluffs, or anywhere high on the North Shore, such as the Scotch Creek Lookout Trail! Get above those clouds and find that slice of heaven! Take Me to Church | Notch Hills Littlest Love Who doesn’t love a good story? Take a scenic drive along the countryside in historic Notch Hill. The rustic farms, charming old homes, and notable landmarks tell a beautiful story of a once-bustling little railway town. The adorable and dear Notch Hill Holy Cross Catholic Church sits simple and certain in the farmer’s field. Built in 1922 and with no formal access other than by train track, the charming landmark songfully resonates with the core roots and heartbeat of the community. The bell tower is a symbol of the past times, and the sunshine casts an ethereal shadow across the distinguished land where the church humbly sits. Appreciate the historic architecture, step back in time and see a different side of the story in the South Shuswap! Take the Hint: If it’s a sunny morning or a crisp sunset, make your commute a little longer and take the Notch Hill Route. At the Notch Hill Community Park, you can walk the grounds and enjoy the sites of the original hall, which is one of the oldest in the Shuswap, as well as the Notch Hill School and Church. Kids love to watch the train coming through the fields from the hand-crafted viewing platform.
Notch Hill Holy Cross Catholic Church Photo Credit Sarah Tokarek
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Carlin Hall Community Association
Virtual coffee performers Walter Quinlan with Dan Flukinger and Diane Jewell
By Jane Stephenson Greetings to all South Shuswapians (and beyond) from the Carlin Hall Community Association Board of Directors. We hope all our friends/ neighbours in the area continue to remain safe and healthy. A regular winter pastime that everyone has been missing would be the monthly coffeehouses! The Board decided to try a new format. On March 6, the first ever virtual coffeehouse took place. Who’d have thought! Thank you to the following musicians for their willingness to give this a go: *Walter Quinlan, out of Kamloops, along with Dan Flukinger, and Diane Jewell. *CODA from Salmon Arm, consisting of Fred Green, Shan Saatchi, and Jake Jacobson. *Keith Scott, blues guitarist, sending us some great tunes and whole lotta warmth all the way from the Windy City, Chicago! Keith was a big hit with music fans during his recent Roots and Blues appearance. As of SCOOP submission deadline, the coffeehouse had not yet taken place. There has been somewhat of a learning curve to put this virtual event together. If all goes well, there may be another one in April. Let’s be optimistic but a little crossing of the fingers would be ok, too. Remember that you can check for details at carlinhall.net Until next time, take good care of yourselves and one another.
Hello Spring!
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New Date Set for Eagle Bay Community Association AGM By Cathy Wolf on behalf of the EBCA There was good discussion at the February Zoom Board meeting regarding the date of our next Annual General Meeting (AGM). We have traditionally held it by the end of March each year but then, last year, due to COVID, we moved it to an outdoor venue and changed the date to July 11. A grant from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) supported the purchase of an outdoor sound system. We asked folks to bring their own chairs and sit on the spots marked “X” to ensure social distancing. We had a good turn-out and even though we had to forgo our traditional pot-luck dinner, the meeting went well and it didn’t rain. This year, for our 2021 AGM we are going to keep the summer date. The Board will also be making a motion that we hold all our AGM’s in July so that we can expand the number of residents who would be in the area and interested in attending. For this year, we know that we will be in the middle of a construction site if we hold the meeting outside. Construction is planned to be underway by July for the Eagle Bay Park. However, the Board thought that bringing folks together to see the progress would allow for more discussion regarding next steps. What could we plan and what might be possible starting this fall? How could we connect with new members? How do we serve current members? Seeing the grounds transformed and understanding how the design of the Park will enhance both outdoor and indoor activities will help us to focus on Board initiatives and projects. The date for our next AGM has again been set for July 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm. We hope we will be meeting outdoors, have opportunities to provide brief tours and updates regarding the space, and engage residents in conversation going forward. Of course we will also be attending to the regular business of the Association. There will be another motion presented at the meeting for members to consider. The Board will be recommending that the position of Past President be added as a member of the Board executive. The role of the past president would be to ensure continuity during governance transitions and organizational change, to help ensure the appropriate
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succession of directors and to support the president in his or her role. The position would only apply to immediate past presidents and may be left vacant if circumstances are such that no immediate past president is able to hold the position. With so many new opportunities opening up for the Board, this position would be a great asset to all directors. In consideration of these changing dates and times for our AGM, the Board also agreed that 2021 memberships in the Eagle Bay Community Association would be revamped to align with the calendar year. New 2021 memberships would be in effect starting January 1, 2021 until December 31, 2021. Current memberships state that the membership year is March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. For this year then, members will be asked to purchase new memberships at a cost of $20.00/family and $10.00/single that will be valid until December 31, 2021. Current members may pay online at Eaglebaycommunity@gmail.com. We are asking new community members to complete forms available at the Mercantile Store or at Community Association events. With demolition now slated for May, the Board is also making a number of grant applications for new outdoor picnic tables and 2 new barbecues. We want to be ready for when the community can start to use the space and enjoy the benefits of the Park. I think we are all ready to see that underway. Watch for updates.
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Cedar Heights Community Association Where neighbours become friends.
By Shaunne Letourneau While the Centre remains quiet, the Association is active! Zoom is our new best friend. Building on the success of the Valentine’s Day Bingo trivia, a St Patrick’s Day Zoom Bingo Trivia will be held Wednesday, March 17 from 6:30 – 9 pm. This event, featuring music of the 50’s - 80’s and Irish music, is open to the public. How does it work? All players sign in via Zoom. Snippets of music are played. Identify the song title and see if you have it on your card. A straight line and black out are played in each of the two sessions. There are CASH prizes for the winners. Gather in your social bubble and join us for entertainment, laughs and prizes. Fees are $10/person for Cedar Heights Community Association members and $15/person for non-members. If you’d like to play, email info@cedarheightscommunity. com with your name and names of people who will be playing at your site. Payment can be made by e-transfer to chcapay@gmail.com or dropped off at the Centre. Once payment is received, you will be emailed the link for Zoom sign in and 2 Bingo cards for each player (one card for each session).
Our newest online activity launched March 1st. It’s an AUCTION! There are currently over 60 items available for bidding. The online auction will be ongoing with new items added weekly and bidding closing on items at different intervals. Donation of items is welcome from both individuals and businesses. This is an important fundraiser for the Association as traditional avenues of raising funds needed to continue operations have been limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Check out all the information about bidding and donating at www. cedarheightscommunity.ca Click on “online auction fundraiser”. While spring hasn’t quite arrived, our outdoor programs are being organized. Of course all programs will follow current BC government COVID-19 protocols. Check our website for more details on registration and opening dates for Golf, Pickleball and Bocce at www. cedarheightscommunity.ca With vaccines on the way, we can all look forward to soon being able to socialize and enjoy the company of our neighbours and friends. Stay safe.
250-955-2236
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March 2021
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Successful launch . . . with more to come! By SD83 Communications Over 850 youth from School District 83 as well as other parts of B.C., Alberta, Washington, and Idaho joined together virtually for a morning of inspiration and empowerment during Shuswap Youth Launch on February 25. The event was created by a committee of local youth to inspire and empower their peers throughout the Shuswap to think outside the box, encourage inclusive thinking, promote mental well-being, build healthy relationships and follow their dreams. It featured inspirational talks from former NHL’er Corey Hirsch, Canadian poet/TED Talk/ We Day veteran Wali Shah, author/activist/empowerment coach Ashley Bendiksen, and successful Salmon Arm entrepreneur Missy MacKintosh, founder of MisMacK Clean Cosmetics. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. Like many others the youth launch team had to pivot their delivery method to accommodate current health guidelines. By changing to online delivery, the team was able to triple the impact of the event and extend the reach to include interested youth and adults across BC, Alberta, Washington and Idaho. The virtual 3.5 hour event included the powerhouse lineup of guest speakers along with interactive polls and a fun dance break – all offered at no charge to participants. The speakers and topics were selected by the team to address current social issues for youth aged 13 – 18, but the invite was opened to anyone interested in joining in. The event was funded through an RBC Future Launch grant of $15,000 – part of a 10-year $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth prepare for the jobs
of tomorrow. The local team is comprised of youth aged 15 – 22, and partnered with the Salmon Arm Rotary Club as team mentors, and School District 83 as their charitable organization to assist with receiving and dispersing grant funds. “This grant provided us an amazing learning opportunity. We were able to plan, execute and deliver our event on our own terms – with only a little bit of help from the adults.” said Mikayla Wilkinson, chair of the team. The team will be surveying those who took part for feedback and ideas as they have already have plans to move forward and do another Youth Launch next year. They’ve also caught the attention of RBC Future Launch Community Challenge program as they were identified as one of the top projects in Canada and invited to submit a grant application for $100,000.
250-253-8104 ajrahsun1@gmail.com
Your Shuswap Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Cooling Dealer UP TO $3000. IN REBATES The Shuswap Launch Team of Claire Waite, Abbi Paetsch, Mikayla Wilkinson, Brynn Gowan, Caillie Hay-Vicars are thrilled with the successful “launch”. Original team members also included Maggie Beckner and Dayton Massey, who were unable to continue when the event was delayed due to the pandemic. SD83 photo
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Province Unfair to Electoral Area Residents with COVID Funding Please note that the opinions expressed in this letter are my own, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board or its staff. On February 23rd, I sent the letter below to Premier John Horgan, Ministers Robinson, Conroy, and Osbourne, and MLA Russell to express my outrage regarding the very unfair formula used to distribute the COVID Safe Restart funds. This formula was applied across the province and resulted in huge inequities in the amounts of funding received by municipalities as compared to electoral areas. These inequities were discussed at length at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Electoral Area Directors Forum, and it was clear that electoral area directors across the province are angry and dismayed at the deliberate funding discrimination exhibited by the Province. While the CSRD received a total
of $645,000 of COVID Safe Restart funding which includes all 6 electoral areas as well as the 4 municipalities, Golden received $1,263,000, Sicamous received $927,000, Revelstoke received $2,105,000 and Salmon Arm received $3,598,000. On a per-resident basis, these amounts provide for up to 30 times the funding for an individual resident in a municipality as compared to an electoral area despite the fact that recovery costs related to COVID are largely the same in both. Why is that? How is this fair? In addition to this huge inequity in funding, the amount received by the CSRD is to be used throughout the CSRD, which includes its 4 member municipalities, but the member municipalities are not compelled to utilize their funding in the regional district. While I do commend the Province for getting these funds out quickly, and while I think these funds are needed by all local
governments, the distribution of these funds is very unfair and discriminatory. This is not the only example of discriminatory funding between municipalities and electoral areas in BC, but it is certainly one of the most egregious. If you are as outraged as I am by this development, please take the time to make your views known to our provincial government. Here’s my letter: OPEN LETTER TO: Honourable John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance Honourable Josie Osbourne, Minister of Municipal Affairs MLA Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development
The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021
From the office of Director Paul Demenok, Electoral Area C RE: COVID RESTART FUNDING FORMULA UNFAIR TO RURAL B.C.
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The Columbia Shuswap Regional District received $645,000. The table below shows the funds received by the CSRD in comparison to its constituent municipalities: Local Government COVID Restart Grant Golden $1,263,000 Revelstoke $2,105,000 Salmon Arm $3,598,000 Sicamous $927,000 CSRD-All $645,000 CSRD-Electoral Areas
Dear Leaders, This letter is in support of correspondence you have received from Grace McGregor and a number of other electoral area directors across the province of British Columbia in regards to the unfair funding formula used to allocate the COVID Safe Restart Funds. These funds do address important local government needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, so thank you for making them available and distributing them so quickly. I think that was a good move, and speaks to the urgent need for this funding. My concerns and questions are the same as you are hearing from other electoral area directors across the province; please explain to me, so that I can explain to my rural constituents why we are receiving significantly less funding on a per capita basis than our neighbouring municipalities. It’s obvious that our municipal counterparts received a much greater allocation of these relief funds on a per capita basis. To be clear, I am not being critical of the need for these funding amounts to municipalities, nor am I trying to create any divisiveness between municipalities and electoral areas in competition for funding, but please note that recovery and ongoing costs directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic are the same in the regional districts and electoral areas as in the municipalities. Please note as well that the funding received by the CSRD is for all residents of this regional district, including those that live in municipalities because they participate in joint services. The difference is that the municipal partners do not have to use of any their funds to help us with any losses on joint services we share. This again is unfair, and doesn’t
www.shuswapscoop.ca
Population (2016 census) 3,708 7,547 17,706 2,429 51,366 19,976
Amount per Capita $340.61 $278.92 $203.21 $381.64 $12.56 $32.29
address the overall objective of working together to defeat this crisis. At your news conference in September 2020, Premier Horgan, you stated, “The pandemic continues to challenge us in unprecedented ways, but fundamental priorities remain the same. We need to protect people’s health, we need to help the economy open safely and we need to support communities.” If we truly are in this together, I would ask that you revisit the COVID Safe Restart funding formula to look for a more equitable and fair way to support all residents in all areas across this great province. Thank you for your kind consideration of this request. Sincerely, Paul Demenok CSRD Area C Director cc: Greg Kyllo, MLA Shuswap Gary MacIsaac, UBCM
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deb’s Style Loft - The Essential White Shirt/Blouse By Deb Armour Winter may not be over just yet but with the promise of warmer days right around the corner, one year into the pandemic we are all looking to give our wardrobe the sunny vibe it has been waiting for. When we talk about wardrobe essentials, one of my favorites is the classic white shirt. Aside from a flattering pair of jeans and a classic white tee, there is perhaps no closet staple more essential than a crisp white button-down shirt. This blank canvas is an excellent addition to any outfit and looks great with everything. Whether fitted, loose and flowy, crisp cotton, linen or silk, classic white
shirts are a tried-and-true way to create a casually chic outfit. They dress up and down to go with everything from bathing suits to taffeta maxi skirts, your favorite jeans, and everything in between. It’s the ultimate chameleon in your wardrobe. Here’s a few ways to wear it; oversized, long and loose over your favorite skinny jeans or leggings, the boyfriend shirt is a staple in any gal’s wardrobe. Perfect for those days when you want to look young, breezy, and carefree. This much-underrated garment is great in a cinch and can be worn in a variety of ways. Tie your white button-down at your waist, over a sleeveless dress. This also helps to give you some waist definition in a straight dress. Wear your white shirt tucked half into jeans, pants, or skirt for a smooth look. Or go for the half-tuck depending on how full the shirt is. Try it as a bathing suit coverup to the beach or pool. (the longer the shirt, the better for this). Tie your white shirt at your waist, open or buttoned over a tee. White shirts look great worn under a pullover sweater either tucked or untucked. Try a long white shirt or shirtdress buttoned and belted over slim pants. White shirts also do double duty worn open as an outer layer over other tops. Try your white shirt under a long or short vest or sleeveless dress. The always-in wardrobe essential will save you from every fashion dilemma out there, which is why you can never have too many of them.
March 2021
Sunnybrae Seniors are Marching Ahead! By Wendy Badley Cookie power!! It is able to create smiles, open doors, and hearts. Last month’s SCOOP update told how Valentine cookies were being distributed to new Sunnybrae Senior Members and a “Thanks” to returning Members. I personally enjoyed delivering cookies from Notch Hill to the end of Sunnybrae Road, meeting folks who support the Hall and its activities. I appreciated hearing all their stories and connecting with our great community. Our membership now totals 48; 89% of last year’s. It is not too late to join. We especially would love new members 49 to 64 years of age. The cost is only $15. Etransfers accepted to Sunnybrae.srs@gmail.com. Remember that good work and fun can be had at the Hall no matter your age; we are open to the community! Raffle ticket sales continue until March 31. First prize is an original oil painting by Terry Goodrick of Blind Bay. Second and third prizes include handmade quilted placemats along with a gift basket of spring bulbs and a basket of Easter chocolate. Something for everyone’s taste! $10 for 3 tickets or $5 for one. The winners will be notified at time of draw on March 31 and we will announce the winner on the Sunnybrae Seniors Hall FB group and in our monthly news update. Call Maddie Welch at 250 803-8890 or message Sunnybrae Seniors Hall Facebook Group. Speaking of Terry Goodrick; plans are in the works to hold an Art show in July to show case Terry’s talent. Coinciding with the Art show, the Hall will be having a summer BBQ the Saturday of the July long weekend. Stay tuned for this event in future monthly updates in the SCOOP and on our Facebook group page. “LET’S GROW TOGETHER” is the name of an exciting new venture for the Seniors Society. The Boards’ vision, spearheaded by President Alice Hidber, is to construct a community garden beside the Hall. This garden will be accessible and open to all ages and abilities. The plan includes 8 garden beds, chain link fencing, sunshade, garden shed, compost area, and a gazebo to offer sun relief and relaxation. We are currently gathering quotes in support of grant funding applications. Though this is a multi year project, you can participate now by purchasing Raffle tickets, as all sales go towards funding the Garden. Have you noticed that the Sunnybrae Seniors Hall does not have a website? Alice Hidber has noticed and is doing something about that. With a website, members could pay their membership fees, check out programs, find out when the next potluck dinner is, sign up for classes. Information about how to rent the Hall could also be obtained there, and so much more. It would be a great way for people to connect. Inquiries about getting a website going have just started but keep watching for further updates. If you have questions about any of these activities or would like to volunteer your time to some projects, then email sunnybrae.srs@gmail or message us on our Facebook page.
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Unplug and Play Celebrated Throughout the North Okanagan-Shuswap LASS Release The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS) celebrated a week of reduced (or eliminated) screen time during our 10th annual Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week from January 25 to the 30, 2021. While the Covid-19 pandemic prevented us from holding in-person events, we still wanted to encourage families to spend a week engaged in screen-free activities, so we assembled take home bags
that included games, crafts and a book. We are happy to share that over 450 bags were distributed in Salmon Arm, Blind Bay, Enderby, Armstrong, Sicamous, Silver Creek and Malakwa. Thank you to all the communities, individuals and organizations (particularly Okanagan Regional Library branches for being the pick-up locations for bags), who helped make Unplug and Play a success in this unusual year!
North & South Shuswap Community Resources hosted a Get Cooking Challenge and encouraged participating families to send in photos of the meals they created with the provided ingredients. LASS photo.
What`s the SCOOP in your neck of the woods? Let us know! shuswaps coop@gmail.com
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Honouring Larrie
By Judi Kembel about becoming a Lion, please contact the We were very saddened to hear of the passing of long Sorrento Lions Club Secretary Lion Leona time Lion Larrie Grant. He was well respected and turned at our email address: sorrentolionsclub@yahoo.ca. We out to every event when he was able. His wife, Maureen, would love to hear from you! Check out our website at was a tireless volunteer who always asked “What can I http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/sorrentobc/ . do?”. Our sincere condolences to her and the family. We look forward to the time when we can resume all of Due to the current Covid restrictions, all of our planned our community activities. activities are still on hold including our annual Easter Stay safe, stay calm and be kind. Egg Hunt. We thank you for your support. We continue to assist ~Larrie Grant~ residents by delivering groceries A Fellow Lion and Good Friend from the Lighthouse Market all while maintaining physical distance Larrie Grant was born on July 23, 1936. and will to do so as long as we are needed. Feel free to contact them at Larrie joined our club on May 1, 2003, so lighthouseorder@gmail.com. 18 years of service as a Sorrento Lion. Since all of our fund raising projects have either been cancelled Larrie was a very active Club member: or suspended, once again, we would Chair for Canada Day Committee from appreciate any ideas our community May 4, 2003 almost to the very end: may have so that we may still be Membership Chair from 2006-2007 and active while maintaining social Club President for 2007-2008. The four distancing. You can send your ideas to bursaries we offer to graduating Grade 12 sorrentolionsclub@yahoo.ca . students were really important to Larrie and We were pleased to be able to we believe he actually started the original ones. donate $1,150 to the Sorrento Elementary School for their food We will always remember how Larrie volunteered to program and $330 to Laury Spohr, collect the cash at our events and he was proud to be Learning Resource Teacher working given “Larrie’s chair” so he could do it in comfort. at JL Jackson in Salmon Arm for a Reader Pen for high school kids. This He sponsored Lion Brian in April 2006 and special pen works with students who Lion Judi in June 2001. Many of us remember have dyslexia, English as a Second Language and a vision student. We are the first President’s Barbecue when Larrie was able to make these donations from our President. The barbecue was at Maureen and Gaming grant account and recognize Larrie’s home and barbecued salmon was on the BC Gaming and thank them for their menu - lots of it that Larrie had caught himself. support. Last month, we told you about our Larrie also served on the Sorrento Fire Zone Chair Debbie Bostock club sponsoring a puppy through Suppression Committee and our own Beach presenting 15 year certificate the BC and Alberta Guide Dogs Committee until the CSRD took over the beaches. to Larrie. organization and we received a photo He always volunteered when he of our puppy, Scooby. We will be sent was able and always had a smile updates on his progress over the next on his face. We will miss a two years and keep you informed. great colleague and friend. Maureen If you are interested in helping our thoughts and your community, please consider Sorrento Lions Club prayers are yours joining our club. If you are over 19 years of age (male or female) and would like more information
Our club sponsored puppy, Scooby
Larrie At a President’s Barbecue at Kembel’s
Larrie always participated and had the smile even when he was not feeling that great.
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Shuswap Overland Adventures Fintry Falls
By Jason Lutterman “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it” - W. Churchill. As we all stood huddled at the trailhead ready for another adventure there wasn’t much for wind but the rise part, we had plenty of. 400 stairs lay ahead of us leading to the falls, while a historic farm stood at our backs. We had just walked through the incredible Fintry Estate built between 1909 and 1939. A remarkable octagon shaped barn stood beside an open hay barn; after peering through the old glass I could see it was an old dairy parlour. Wrought iron rails circled the interior and made up the stalls. It looked like the only thing missing inside was the prize herd of Ayrshire cows that once lived here. There are multiple impressive buildings on the old Dun-Waters farm.
We knew these were here but that’s not what brought us to this old estate. The stunning Fintry Falls that bends and cascades its way through the canyon above us is why we came. A short hike in length, just over a 1km loop dubbed the stairway to heaven, will take you through many viewpoints that look out over the twotiered waterfall. Only two weeks before, the falls had been completely frozen and being climbed by local ice climbers. Today they were nearly melted and flowing freely over the rocks and pools below. The trail is very well built with large, wide steps making up most of the trail and stopping just before the top of the falls. From there a narrow dirt path leads to some more remote viewpoints, another takes you back down a different route leading to the old manor. An impressive stone building that really reflects the wealth of Mr. Dun-Waters at the time the farm was in use. Strong contrast to the old worn-out suspension bridges that hang in the canyon above. A great hike for the whole family
with lots of parking, which was a good thing seeing as there was 5 Jeeps and a Land Cruiser taking up our share of it. Satisfied with our time on the trail we headed the 16km to the Bear Creek FSR and 4x4’d our way into the deep snow for a bonfire. Quickly we set up and made lunch among the pine trees and like at many of our adventures end, we were laughing and pointing at Ron’s Jeep stuck again…. We’ll see you on the trail.
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Hello White Lake Book Lovers opposite the mailboxes. Joanne says “The ‘vintage’ icebox is a bit rough, but it’s what’s inside that counts anyway. Thanks to Tina Kelly for offering up her super cute phone box, unfortunately a bit too wee for some oversized books. Complete with sanitizer it is stocked with books from enthusiastic book lovers in White Lake. Joanne will make regular weekly visits to maintain it and if you think it needs attention message her on the White Lake Group, BC on FB. Happy reading!
By Barbra Fairclough Joanne Dyck gives a shout out for Allan Cook president at White Lake Hall Association for offering a great spot for the new book exchange. When Allan responded to online suggestions and discussion about the book exchange and spoke with the executive of the White Lake Hall, he posted online that the hall has a place for it. Joanne Dyck volunteered for the first run at upkeep and maintenance. On February 27, she posted on FB “Hello book lovers... Our Book Exchange is now open! You can find it on the lower level of the Community Hall, just
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Recycling Depots Sorrento Recycling Depot 1164 Passchendaele Rd (parking lot of Fire Hall #1)
Wed, Thu & Fri Noon to 4pm Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm Stat Holidays Closed
Tappen Co-op Recycling Depot Wed, Thu & Fri Noon to 4pm 4828 Trans Canada Hwy Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm Stat Holidays Closed
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Clubs & Organizations
Arts Council for the South Shuswap Karen Brown 250-515-3276 Blind Bay Bridge Club Vicki 250-675-2141, vicki00@telus.net Blind Bay Community Society 250-675-3919, blindbayhall@gmail.com Blind Bay painters Betty Schriver 250-675-2249, bschrive@telus.net Blind Bay Garden Club Susan 250-835-2351 or Donald 778-490-5008 Carlin Country Market Angela Inskip 250-833-2094, carlinpac@hotmail.com Carlin Elementary Middle School PAC Angela Inskip 250-833-2094, Carlinpac@hotmail.com Chase Fish & Game Club Helen 250-679-8019 Copper Island Seniors Resource Services (CISRS) (beside Spinnaker Cafe) 250-6753661, cisrcbb@gmail.com CRIMESTOPPERS 1-800-222-8477 CSRD Area C Director Paul Demenok 250-517-0810, pdemenok@csrd.bc.ca FIRE DEPARTMENTS Eagle Bay 4445 Eagle Bay Rd., Chief Alan Rendell,
250-517-0429, EagleBayVFD@csrd.bc.ca Sorrento Hall #1 1164 Passchendale Road, Chief Gary Hoult 250-675-3555, ShuswapVFD@csrd.bc.ca Sorrento Hall #2 2505 Greer Rd., Chief Gary Hoult 250-675-4441, ShuswapVFD@csrd.bc.ca Tappen/Sunnybrae 3732 Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Rd., Chief Ryan Gray 250-835-8696 TappenSunnybraeVFD@ csrd.bc.ca White Lake 3607 Parri Rd., Chief Bryan Griffin 250-835-4500, WhiteLakeVFD@csrd.bc.ca Fire Services CoordinatorA Sean Coubrough 250-833-5955 scoubrough@csrd.bc.ca FIRST RESPONDERS Debbie Edwards, thebackacher@telus. net GT Dragon Boat Society Susan Eisenberger 250-803-6864, www.gtdragonboatsociety.ca HEALTH SERVICES South Shuswap Health Services Society Sue McCrae 250-675-3661, http://sshss.ca Sorrento Health Centre
250-675-2167 Sorrento Health Centre Society Marilyn Clark 250-675-2449 Lions Club sorrentolionsclub@yahoo.ca / Web: Sorrento Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse North/ South Shuswap Comm. Resource nsscr@live.ca, Leigh 250-515-4682 Notch Hill Cemetery Society Louise 250-253-5776 ROAD MAINTENANCE Acciona Infrastructure Maintenance Inc - 1-866 222-4204, Vernon Moti 250-503-3664, aimroads@acciona.ca Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) South Shuswap Leigh Schaffer 250-675-4818, lschaffer@orl.bc.ca Shuswap Better at Home Central Intake 250-253-2749, sbahintake@outlook.com Shuswap Community Foundation 250832-5428, www.shuswapfoundation.ca Shuswap Hospice Society 250-832-7099, 250-675-2568 (Sorrento) Shuswap Lake Aero Modelers 1-866-293-3851, info@slams.ca / www.slams.ca Shuswap Theatre Society https://shuswaptheatre.com
South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce Karen Brown 250-515-0002, manager@southshuswapchamber.com Shuswap Volunteer Search & Rescue Luke Gubbles 250-803-1095, shuswapvsar.org Shuswap Tennis sletennisclub@gmail.com Shuswap Waterfront Owners Association (SWOA) info@SWOA.ca / www.SWOA.ca Sorrento & Area Community Association (SACA) Brenda Puetz 250-675-2599, saca@sorrento-shuswap.ca Sorrento Food Bank Tina Hysop 250-253-3663, sorrentofoodbank.ca Sorrento Minor Ball Geoff 250-804-6923, sorrentominorball@gmail.com South Shuswap Canada Day Committee Tammy Packer 250-463-2495 Victim Services Guy Ramsay 250-679-8638 White Lake Community Hall Society 3617 Parri Road, 778-231-8810, whitelakehall@cablelan.net White Lake Residents Assoc. - (WLRA) info@wlra.ca / www.wlra.ca White Lake New Horizons Seniors Club - Tim Hoy 250-835-2141
Community Hall Information Please check with your local community hall for more information about future events
Blind Bay Memorial Hall 2510 Blind Bay Rd. 250-675-3139 blindbayhall@gmail.com Facebook: Blind Bay Memorial Hall & Reedman Gallery. Website: blindbaymemorialhall.ca Carlin Hall 4051 Myers Rd. Tappen. www.carlinhall.net To book call Marcha Adams 250-835-8577. Cedar Heights Community Association 2316 Lakeview Drive, Blind Bay 250-675-2012 www.cedarheightscommunity.ca Copper Island Health & Wellness Centre 2417 Golf Course Dr. Blind Bay Market 250-675-3661
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Eagle Bay Community Hall 4326 Eagle Bay Rd. www.eaglebayhall.ca Hall rentals: 250-675-3136 Library (ORL) South Shuswap Branch Blind Bay Market. 250-675-4818 www.orl.bc.ca/branches/south-shuswap Notch Hill Town Hall 1639 Notch Hill Rd. Pres. Anna-Marie Eckhart 250 835-8455. Check us out on Facebook Shuswap Lake Estates Community Centre email: sle@shuswaplakeestates.com Web: www.shuswaplakeestates.com 250-675-2523, Many more events on webpage Sorrento Drop in Society 1148 Passchendaele Rd. 250-675-5358
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Sorrento Lions Club Sorrento Memorial Hall, 1150 Passchendaele Rd. sorrentolionsclub@yahoo.ca Sunnybrae Community Hall 3595 Sunnybrae Canoe Point Rd. Hall Rentals - Vicki Green - 250- 835-2199, Facebook.com/SunnybraeCommunityAssociation sunnybraecommunityassociation.com Sunnybrae Seniors Hall 3585 Sunnybrae Canoe Pt. Rd., Maddie Welch 250-803-8890 White Lake Community Hall 3617 Parri Road 250-803-4616 whitelakehall@cablelan.net
Report Water Issues For non-emergency water related issues, connection questions or for emergencies occurring between 9am and 4 pm, Mon t o Fri, call: Operations Management T: 250.833.5950 TF: 1.888.248.2773 Water Emergency After Hours: TF: 1.877.996.3344
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Community Events Calendar
SOUTH SHUSWAP Sunnybrae Senior’s Garden Fundraiser See prized details in article on page 39. Tickets aval. until March 31. FMI Maddie Welch 250 803 8890 or message Sunnybrae Seniors Hall Facebook Group. Copper Island Health Centre -Walk-In Clinic now open Tues. Fri. and Sat. 9am to 12pm. Mobile Lab Tues. & Thurs. 9am to 1pm. Located at Blind Bay Marketplace beside Spinnakers Café Sorrento & Area Health Centre - Dr. Terry Clare will be avail. on Mon & Tues. starting Mar. 8. call 250-675-2167 to book an appt. with the Dr. or Nurse practitioner. Acupuncturist, Elanie McLeod, seeing patients on Wed and Fri by appointment. 250-833-5899. See ad on page 4 for more info. South Shuswap Library - Open for “Browse and Borrow” service. Computers are available. Please sanitize your hands and wear a mask. Curbside Pick-up Back for those who need it! Order online https://www.orl.bc.ca and pick-up in the branch. Mystery Bag Challenge! Design a solution for each problem presented using recycled materials from home and your creativity. March 18 from 2:30 to 3:15pm. Online registration is required. Please include your email. http://orl.evanced.info/signup/Calendar Rust Valley Restorers - Tune in for Season 3 on the History channel. Thurs. 6 & 9 pm. FMI Rust Bros Restorations Facebook pg. Back Road Truckers - Thursdays 7 & 10pm on History.ca. White Lake’s Dave Schwandt joins Big Donny Kleinfelder on this new series, premiered March 4. The Smile Mission Dental Clinic - Dental hygiene days offered at Copper Island Health Centre in Blind Bay. March 19 & April 16.. Call for an appointment 250-833-9923. Read advertorial on page 30 for more info. AA Meetings - Blind Bay: Sat 10am at Our Lady of the Lake Church. Sorrento-Online Zoom Meeting, Mon 8pm FMI 1-855-339-9631 Income tax preparation - free for low-income seniors. Call Copper Island Wellness at (250) 675-3661 to arrange a time to drop off. Sorrento Health Centre AGM - scheduled for May 5 at 4:30 pm, virtually using Microsoft Teams platform. Call Barry Stokes to register or have interest in becoming a director at 250 675-2167. NORTH SHUSWAP/CHASE Mud Mountain Haulers – new show on Discovery featuring Shuswap loggers Craig and Brent LeBeau and team. Mondays at 7pm. First
episode was Jan. 25. Catch up at discovery.ca Doctors in the Clinic - Call NS Health Centre at 250-955-0660 or check nshealthcentre.ca for doctor dates, clinic services and availability of doctors to accept phone visits. See ad on page 4. Chase Library Fun Dragons - Stop by the Chase Library around Spring Break to receive your Fun Dragons in a Bag, crafts in an easy to go bag, good for all ages. 614 Shuswap Ave. 250.679.3331 (while supplies last) Chase Curling Club AGM - March 15, 2021, 3pm. Virtual ZOOM meeting. https://bit.ly/3sEFyX7 Meeting ID: 387 467 9759 Passcode: chase. Electronic 50/50 Draw NS Health Centre 10,000 tickets. Starts March 1. Draw July 1, 12:30 pm. Tickets at: www.NSHealthCentre@ rafflenexus.com Introduction to Indigenous Tourism Worksop - April 27 - 30 at Quaaout Lodge. Presentations, networking discussions, handson-workshops, Participants will be able to develop their own story to market themeselves and their business, building confidence moving forward with a path to plan, launch, and grow their idea within the Tourism sector. Meals and refreshments included. Open to all Secwepemc Community members. Learn more at www. tsutsweye.ca 9 Hole Golf Event NS Health Centre - June 26 at SLE Golf Course. 3rd Annual, Prizes, Silent Auction. Limit of 72 entries. Sign up on Canadahelps at: bit.ly/3qFu6Ku FMI, contact Kim at nshcevents@gmail.com SALMON ARM & AREA CMHA Hudson Thrift Shoppe needs help - Low on clothing, housewares, and small appliance donations. Helps fund programs and helps people re-enter the work force after mental wellness breaks. For more information, please contact the Thrift Shoppe at 250-8328477 ext. 107. Piqw exhibition at Salmon Arm Art Gallery - open 11am to 4pm until March 27. Open exhibition for Shuswap artists creating artwork in all media that measures 6” or less. FMI www. salmonarmartscentre.ca Al-Anon - Wed 8pm at Senior Resource Centre and Thu 12noon at First United Church. 1-855-339-9631 Narcotics Anonymous - Mon 7pm at Crossroads Church. 1-866-778-4772 CoDa - Sun 7:30pm United Church Cedar Room. 1-855-339-9631
ONLINE / WEBINARS etc. On-line Auction - Cedar Heights Community. Launched March 1. Ongoing, new items added weekly. FMI www.cedarheightscommunity.ca Shuswap Women Who Wine Community Giving Event – March 12, Login to Facebook - and join the Women Who Wine at 6:30 pm. The three organizations presenting for a chance to win funding are Shuswap Volunteer Search and Rescue, U Grow Girl and Shuswap BC SPCA. FMI email info@womenwhowine.ca St Patrick’s Day Zoom Bingo Trivia - March 17, 6:30 – 9 pm. Featuring music of the 50’s 80’s and Irish music, is open to the public. To register or FMI, info@cedarheightscommunity. com BC SPCA Spring Lottery - 31 cash prizes totalling $125,000, plus a bonus 50/50 pot up to $500,000. Sales deadline May 18. For tickets and more information, visit lottery.spca.bc.ca or call 855.205.5998. Alzheimer Society of B.C. - free webinar. Considering the transition to long-term care March 17, 2 p.m. Building caregiver resiliency: Staying healthy March 24, 2 p.m. Register at alzbc.org/webinars. Tax Workshops - Sole Proprietors and Partnerships March 17, 9:30-noon: Incorporations March 18, 9:30am - noon. RSVP to tcarlson@ futureshuswap.com by noon, March 15. Community Futures sponsored Canada Revenue Agency workshops. Agriculture Producers & Artisan Business Support Program - six week program developed to help women-led seasonal agriculture producers and artisans understand and develop the strategies required to grow sustainable businesses. program begins Wednesday, March 17 from 9 - 11 FMI https://tsutsweye.ca/ bre-program/ CSRD Board Meeting - Thursday, March 18, 9:30 am. Pre-register at www.csrd.bc.ca. Agenda available approximately one week in advance of the meeting. The Kamloops Symphony Spring Series - three digital concerts. Sounds in Sand (available to view March 13 to April 11), Charlie Parker w/ Strings (April 9 to May 8), and Voilà Viola (April 23 to May 22). Tickets at Kamloops Live! Box Office at 250-374-5483 or www. kamloopslive.ca. Tsuts’weye Business Recovery & Expansion Program - Calling all female Entrepreneurs. Grow and improve your business. New Intake starting April 2021. Apply tsutsweye.ca/bre-program. See ad on page 40 for more info.
DISCLAIMER – The information in this publication is carefully gathered & compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. The South Shuswap Scoop cannot, and does not, guarantee the correctness of all information furnished them, nor the complete absence of errors or omissions: therefore, no responsibility for same can be nor is assumed. Press releases and reports from community organizations and businesses are encouraged but may be edited to fit available space. We reserve the right to refuse any ad or item that conflicts with the intent of this paper. Articles, advertisements and design in this publication may not be reproduced in any way without prior permission of the author. ERRORS AND OMISSIONS: Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the error will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.
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$7 up to 25 words, 20¢ ea. additional word. $2 for box-around. Single column Classified Display Ads: $12.00 for the first inch, then $2.25 per 1/4 inch thereafter. Email ads to shuswapscoop@gmail.com or 250-463-2611. Email money transfers for payment or mail cheque to 7320 Estate Place, Anglemont, B.C. V0E 1M8.
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F/T & P/T shifts available Retail or cashier experience preferred Must be 19 yrs or older Friendly, personable Wage negotiable based on experience Shifts start June 2021 Email resume to katie@anglemontmarina.com
Shuswap Lake Park
WANTED Wanted - to buy old wood windows, doors, ladders, crocks, suitcases, furniture, tools, trunks, tubs, signs, antlers, pumps, taxidermy, advertising, barrels, scales, farm & cowboy items. 250-577-3357, Pritchard WANTED: Cottage or suite to rent, in the CELISTA area. Please call: 604-771-0729 WANTED: to buy acreage, hobby farm or etc. in the CELISTA area. Please call: 604-771-0729
ൿඈඋ Aൽൺආඌ Lൺൾ Pൺඋ ♦ The host would stay on-site at the park from mid-June until Labour Day. ♦ Duties would include mostly evening park patrols and light cleaning duties ♦ Adams Lake Park is a rustic campground with no power or running water. ♦ The host must have their own self-contained RV. To apply please send Cover Letter and Resume to
cassiedalgleish@hotmail.com
is accepting applications for for Shower Building Cleaner: • June till September • Approx. 4 hours/day • Cleaning supplies provided Please send resumes to
c a s s ie d a l g l e i s h @ h o t m a i l . c o m
North Shuswap area: Scotch Creek, Celista, Anglemont, St. Ive’s
S h u sw a p
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250-955-1011 Call/Text 778-558-1007
Scooters, walkers, wheelchairs, bathroom safety, stair-lifts, hospital beds. Free Screening for obstructive sleep apnea, treatment and follow-up. CPAP masks, parts, and accessories. Respiratory therapy equipment and home oxygen. Located in Salmon Arm 250-832-2431 and Vernon 250-542-2425 www.lakesidemedical.ca
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We are looking for a
Cൺආඉඋඈඎඇൽ ඁඈඌඍ
Shuswap Lake Provincial Park is accepting applications for for the following positions: (must have drivers license) • Day/Night Park Patrol • Janitorial • Gate office • Grounds Keeper • Store / T-shirt painting • Kayak/Paddle Board Rentals Please send resumes to
c a s s ie d a l g l e i s h @ h o t m a i l . c o m
$ 25 per ho ur + tips + bo nus Come and Join our Clean Team Lakefront resort in N. Shuswap Saturdays only • Training provided All Covid safety protocols in place We Make Cleaning FUN! Call Patti 250-955-2525 stivesresortonshuswap@gmail.com • •
Senior Helper for a 91 year-old gentleman. Limited mobility, incontinence and dementia. To assist his daughter with his daily needs. Free lakeside cabin accommodation could be an option. Call Kathy at 250-955-6266 or 604-522-1010
ADVERTISE HERE! classifieds.thescoop@gmail.com
March 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
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The South Shuswap Scoop
March 2021