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Year in Review: A look back at Observer headlines from October 2024

October

With the start the new year, the Salmon Arm Observer is taking this time to share some of the stories that made headlines throughout 2024.

October

The B.C. government’s response in the aftermath of repeated natural disasters was of particular concern to Sicamous council at the recent Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention. District of Sicamous representatives attended the Sept. 16-20 convention to rally for regional causes, particularly community resiliency. “The big take away for me at UBCM, and I cannot speak for all of council on this, was the slow recovery process for communities that have been devastated by fire or flood,” Mayor Colleen Anderson said in a statement. “You would think it would be a fast process to get British Columbians back in their homes and moving forward, contributing and rebuilding communities.” 

Two unrelated proposed buildings could bring close to 100 new residential units to Salmon Arm. At its Monday meeting, the city’s development and planning services committee voted unanimously in support of applications for the two developments to proceed to council. The first application was for a development permit, with requested variances, to construct a four-storey apartment building with 19 units on a vacant lot at 231 7th Street SE. To accommodate the second proposed development, a six-storey rental apartment building on adjacent properties at 821 and 861 28th Street NE (located east of Rogers Rink), the committee received two connected applications, one for a zoning bylaw amendment and the other for a development variance permit. 

Best-selling author and professional wildlife and nature photographer John E. Marriott reached another pinnacle in his career. A passion for wildlife conservation and a keen eye have earned Marriott the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the most hotly contested Animal Portraits category in the prestigious Natural History Museum’s 60th year of competition. Marriott’s “On Watch,” an engaging image of a trio of lynx huddled together sheltering from the cold during a windy winter day in the Yukon, was selected out of nearly 60,000 entries from 117 different countries. “This is the Oscars of wildlife photography and the best analogy I can give is someone from Salmon Arm winning an Olympic medal,” said the elated photographer, who was in London, England, to receive his award at a black-tie event on Oct. 8.

A vast quantity of chemicals believed to be destined for illicit drug production and a stolen Bobcat skid-steer were seized by police from a rural Enderby property last month. The RCMP Pacific Region Federal Policing Program Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team executed a search warrant Sept. 11 at the property, where police seized the Bobcat – reported stolen from Kelowna in 2021 – and 30,000 kilograms of chemicals that investigators believe were going to be used in the production of illicit synthetic drugs, the RCMP said.

David Williams was determined to win the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding, worried that if he didn’t a lot of people would be let down. “So many people come up to you and actually say, ‘I’m praying for you’, or ‘I’m really depending on you’, so you really, really don’t want to let people down. People are actually depending on you to bring about positive change in their lives and I take that to heart,” said Williams, gathered on election night (Oct. 19) with spouse Denise Fisher and supporters at the Salmon Arm Legion. When the polls closed across the province, it wasn’t long before ballot counts put Williams in a healthy lead over his fellow candidates. This pattern continued until Elections BC results showed Williams having the race well in hand with more than 52 per cent of the vote.

A proposed comprehensive development zone, to accommodate up to 354 residential and assisted living dwelling units east of the Hilltop Inn, is proceeding to council. An application for the rezoning of three Salmon Arm properties – 1930 9th Ave. NE, 1470 TCH NE and 1671 2nd Ave. NE – was received at the Monday, Oct. 21, city development and planning services committee meeting. The applicant, Providential Developments Inc., wants to rezone the properties as a comprehensive development zone (CD-22), to support a medium-density development project. A conceptual drawing of the site shows 12 multiple-family residential buildings including one independent living building with apartments.

Members of new non-profit society representing sports and leisure groups were met with criticism during a presentation to Salmon Arm council. On the agenda for the Oct. 15 council meeting was a visit from Shuswap Sport and Leisure Society (SSLS) directors Courtney Jelinek and Jim McEwan. The duo used the opportunity to formally announce the formation of the non-profit, volunteer-run organization. Jelinek said one of the society’s goals is to create a hub providing a “one-stop information resource for our local sports and leisure community.”  Explaining the ‘why now’ behind the group’s formation, McEwan referenced the now closed indoor sports complex and “issues and deficiencies” at the SASCU Recreation Centre. “These facilities we’re proposing to rebuild, or to build, are essential components of our healthy community, they will promote physical fitness, they’re used by every age demographic,” said McEwan, who asked that the mayor and council provide a referendum “so the public has a chance to either say ‘yes, we do agree with this plan’, or ‘no, we don’t.’” “If you are truly trying to be a knowledge hub and educate, perhaps it should have a basic understanding of the fact that we can’t borrow money without voter assent, which means a referendum, and going to referendum without Class C plans at the time of a federal election is absolutely crazy…,” said Coun. Kevin Flynn. 

Salmon Arm council will be considering a water and sewer fee increase for the next two years, as well as phased frontage tax increases for future costs of replacing related infrastructure. At the Oct. 21 development and planning services committee meeting, staff delved into service delivery management plans, specifically for water and sewer, detailing the condition and value of existing assets, and risks to the sustainable delivery of service, which “will increase over time based on underfunding of the desired service levels.” After staff’s presentation, the committee voted in support of three motions. One was in support of water and sewer fee increases for 2025 and 2026 equal to three per cent, with a fee for service bylaw amendment be brought forward for council’s consideration.

Salmon Arm council will be considering a water and sewer fee increase for the next two years, as well as phased frontage tax increases for future costs of replacing related infrastructure. At the Oct. 21 development and planning services committee meeting, staff delved into service delivery management plans, specifically for water and sewer, detailing the condition and value of existing assets, and risks to the sustainable delivery of service, which “will increase over time based on underfunding of the desired service levels.” After staff’s presentation, the committee voted in support of three motions. One was in support of water and sewer fee increases for 2025 and 2026 equal to three per cent, with a fee for service bylaw amendment be brought forward for council’s consideration.

It’s anticipated a preliminary design of the proposed West Bay Connector Trail will be available for public input early next year. Earlier this month, the City of Salmon Arm released a package of information on the preliminary design work being done for the city and First Nations partners, the Adams Lake and Neskonlith bands, by ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. The trail is proposed to extend from the west end of the concrete boardwalk behind the Prestige Harbourfront Resort, through Neskonlith and Adams band land to the northern edge of the Adams Lake Community, ending near Pierre’s Point Road at 50 Ave. NW.

Though honoured to have represented the Shuswap for the last 11 years, MLA Greg Kyllo was happy to step back from politics and spend more time with family…for now. “I’m quite happy to be out of it…I don’t have any desire to bet back into politics at all, for the short term,” Kyllo said. “It’s been great, I have zero regrets about seeking the nomination… but for right now, I’m just happy to spend time with (wife) Georgina and the kids.” Kyllo was also happy with the timing of his political retirement, having made the announcement last October, well before the recent upheaval in regard to the provincial election when leader Kevin Falcon made the “unprecedented” decision to withdraw the party.

 



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