The Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA), the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS), and the Salmar Community Association are pleased to announce a new and innovative community non-profit partnership.
Sharing an office downtown, STA and LASS have joined together to rent the space from the Salmar Community Association, owners and operators of the Salmar Grand Cinemas and historic Salmar Classic Theatre in Salmon Arm who put 100 per cent of the funds they receive back into the community through upgrades, donations, and scholarships.
The Shuswap Trail Alliance was born out of communities working together. In 2005 regional leadership came together to address the growing call to improve how we design and move in our communities.
Since 2006, partners have worked through the Shuswap Trail Alliance on more than 120 greenway trail projects throughout the region. There are over 820 kilometres of trails in the 2014 Trail Guide.
“This is yet another example of the very best of what makes our communities and region resilient and vibrant – people working together,” says Phil McIntyre-Paul, executive director of the Shuswap Trail Alliance. The Salmar Classic space creates a satellite resource room to complement the STA’s field project space.
The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society, established in 2009, promotes literacy within the communities and schools of the North Okanagan-Shuswap region through awareness, collaboration, and education in order to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and the community.
Previously the staff worked remotely and all the files and materials were stored in the literacy outreach coordinator’s home and garage, as well as a storage container.
“LASS is very excited to be part of this innovative shared office concept involving three local, non-profit organizations,” says Jennifer Findlay, literacy outreach co-ordinator for the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society. “The office partnership between LASS, Shuswap Trail Alliance, and Salmar Community Association demonstrates an extremely creative initiative, which benefits all three organizations and our community as a whole.”