Salmon Arm News
Luc Rempel - May 14, 2025 / 4:19 pm
| Story: 550475
Photo: Luc Rempel
Splatsin community members at blockade of Bruhn Bridge construction project on Monday
The mayor of Sicamous is crediting fast action from council for ensuring a speedy resolution to a two-day First Nations blockade of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge rebuild project.
At Wednesday's District of Sicamous committee of the whole meeting, Mayor Colleen Anderson said she and council have been extremely busy working to resolve the two-day blockade, erected on Monday by the Splatsin First Nation.
“I just want to thank our community for their patience and understanding in the last couple days and I do want them to know that when things like this come up, we are not sitting by watching it happen,” she said.
“We are literally in the trenches trying to figure out how to make it all come back together again.”
She went on to thank the rest of council for their quick decision to reach out to the provincial government for attention to the issue.
“I think that if we hadn't taken those steps, I'm not sure that it would have been resolved yet,” she said. “We were fortunate, because Victoria's in session right now, so we hit some key people that were in the room and I think that was a big help.”
Coun. Ian Baillie also spoke about the issue and said he heard lots from residents concerned about the blockade.
“Obviously, this week, people were quite concerned about the closure of the bridge,” he said.
“People were extremely concerned about that and concerned about the message that was sending in terms of how we would deal with those situations, because from my point of view, it was not a legal closure of the highway. ... I certainly hope that we're going to be able to have some further discussions with our partners about that and how that's impacted Sicamous.”
Ministry 'pleased' it's over
The Splatsin First Nation erected a blockade of the $260 million R.W. Bruhn Bridge replacement project at 10 a.m. on Monday.
They said the blockade was a response to “structural exclusion,” of the Splatsin Development Corporation by AECON and Emil Anderson, the contractors in charge of the project.
A Ministry of Transportation and Transit spokesperson said collaborative discussion between all parties helped resolve the blockade in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is pleased that, after two days of collaborative discussion, the parties have developed a mutually agreeable solution to address issues raised,” the ministry said in the statement.
“The ministry acknowledges and appreciates the patience and cooperation of Sicamous residents and the travelling public.”
The blockade was taken down by Splatsin at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Luc Rempel - May 14, 2025 / 1:56 pm
| Story: 550406
Photo: Gofundme/ Salmon Arm Secondary Girls Rugby
Coach John Laboyne with the Salmon Arm Secondary girls rubgy team
A fundraiser has been launched to help the Salmon Arm secondary girls' rugby team travel to this year’s provincial championships in Abbotsford.
An online fundraiser has been launched to raise money to help pay expenses associated with travelling to the tournament.
The post on GoFundMe said coach John Laboyne came out of retirement this year to work with the Salmon Arm secondary girls' rugby team. At the end of the season, they are the top ranked team in the Thompson-Okanagan region.
The money raised will help cover the costs associated with sending the team of 11 girls to Abbotsford at the end of the month.
The post said any money raised in excess of the costs listed will be reinvested into Salmon Arm girls' rugby programming.
Luc Rempel - May 14, 2025 / 4:00 am
| Story: 550279
Photo: Luc Rempel
Salmon Arm city council approved a $1 million contract for the construction of a turf sports field at Blackburn park
The new outdoor turf field at Blackburn Park is finally ready to get underway with Salmon Arm council approving a $1 million contract for Lessard Excavating to complete the project.
At the May 12 Salmon Arm city council meeting, Darin Gerow, manager of roads and parks, presented a report which recommended awarding a $1 million contract for the construction and installation of a synthetic sports field.
“I’m very excited today to be presenting this report,” Gerow said.
“Council approved the initial budget in 2024, which was then carried forward into 2025 to fund the construction and installation of a synthetic sports field at Blackburn Park.”
He said the city’s initial attempt to tender the project in phases was unsuccessful due to the high cost of the first phase, and instead the decision was made to issue a tender for the entire project.
The city received four bids, and staff recommended council move forward with Lessard Excavating’s bid of $817,990.78. The remaining money from the $1 million budget will be used for contingencies.
“Some elements were designated as optional to allow the premium probable costs to remain within the budget,” Gerow said.
He noted any surplus money left in the contract after the main work is completed will be used on the optional works.
These include different fencing heights, electrical conduits for the future addition of lighting, lighting bases and the lighting itself.
Salmon Arm Youth Soccer Association has also agreed to raise $300,000 to help fund lighting installation once the contract has been awarded.
Coun. Sylvia Lindgren noted she has been opposed to the project in the past.
“As council probably remembers, I'm not a gigantic fan of this project,” she explained.
“I have environmental impact concerns about an artificial turf outside. Concerns have been brought to me about the kind of extreme heat that we have now melting or making the material really soft and sticking to people's cleats.”
She said she's still not convinced the project should be high priority.
"However, I recognize that I'm in the minority with those opinions, and I'm happy to support the award," she said.
Mayor Alan Harrison thanked staff and the Salmon Arm Youth Soccer Association for their partnership on the project.
“It seems to me that recreational facilities, inside and out, no one taxpaying group can go it alone anymore, you have to have partnerships," Harrison said.
“I think future projects will also require partnerships, whether it's other levels of government, private-public partnerships or partnerships with nonprofits like Salmon Arm Youth Soccer. Really appreciate their commitment. ...And it's great to see it moving forward.”
Council voted unanimously to award the contract to Lessard Excavating.
Work on the project is expected to begin this month, with an estimated completion of September 2025.
Luc Rempel - May 13, 2025 / 7:00 pm
| Story: 550281
Photo: Luc Rempel
Shuswap Trail Alliance says they need more members to reach quorum for next week's Annual General Meeting
The Shuswap Trail Alliance has put out an urgent call for members to register for its annual general meeting on May 20.
In its newsletter, the Shuswap Trail Alliance has said with one week to go until the annual general meeting, it still does not have enough members registered to attend to meet the quorum requirements in their bylaws.
In order to reach quorum, the group needs 20 voting members in good standing to attend the meeting.
To be a voting member, you must be a member for a minimum of 30 days prior to the AGM. Non-members are welcome to attend the meeting, but they will not be permitted to vote.
The meeting is planned as a hybrid meeting allowing for Zoom or in-person attendance with the meeting scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Nexus at First Community on Okanagan Avenue in Salmon Arm.
To register for the meeting or to learn more, read the alliance's social media post.
Luc Rempel - May 13, 2025 / 6:43 pm
| Story: 550135
Photo: Luc Rempel
Splatsin community members man the blockade on Highway 1 in Sicamous
UPDATE: 6:43 p.m.
The Trans-Canada Highway has been reopened through Sicamous following the Splatsin First Nation's two-day blockade of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge job site.
DriveBC announced the highway had been cleared as of 6 p.m. Tuesday. A Splatsin spokesperson confirmed the blockades were being taken down.
The First Nation had set up dump trucks on Monday to prevent work from continuing on the bridge replacement project. Highway traffic was also halted outside of expected daily construction closures.
Splatsin said the blockade was a response to systemic exclusion and broken project agreements from contractors Aecon and Emil Anderson, who are in charge of the project.
The blockade was to remain in place until a new written agreement was signed guaranteeing Splatsin Development Corporation the participation in the project that was promised in original agreements.
Splatsin is expected to release a statement about the protest and its outcome on Wednesday.
ORIGINAL: 10:29 a.m.
A First Nation's blockade of a Trans-Canada Highway construction site is continuing into its second day, with dump trucks set up to block workers and equipment from the $224-million project to replace the R.W. Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous.
At around 10 a.m. on Monday, the Splatsin First Nation parked four dump trucks across the Trans-Canada Highway at either end of the construction project to prevent work from continuing.
They said the blockade is a response to “systemic exclusion,” and broken project agreements from the contractors, Aecon and Emil Anderson, who are in charge of the project.
Splatsin Kupki7 Mike Christian said the blockade will remain in place until the contractors and the provincial government sign a new written agreement guaranteeing the Splatsin Development Corporation the participation in the project they were promised in the original agreements.
Local traffic to properties accessed within the construction area and emergency vehicles are being allowed through the blockade.
All other traffic is detouring around the construction. Travellers are advised to use the alternate route of Highway 97A and Highway 97B between Salmon Arm and Sicamous.
The highway is closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for bridge work, but the blockade makes the closure 24 hours.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit said Monday it is working closely with all parties involved to reach a speedy resolution.
Castanet has reached out to Aecon and Emil Anderson for comment but has yet to hear back.
Luc Rempel - May 13, 2025 / 9:42 am
| Story: 550129
Photo: Village of Chase
Chase is hosting a free public works event at the water treatment plant May 22
Chase residents are invited to the water treatment plant to learn more about public works operations as part of National Public Works Week.
Members of the public are invited to a special event at the Water Treatment Plant, 629 Mill Rd., on Thursday, May 22, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Attendees will get a tour of the water treatment facility to learn more about the delivery of essential services and view critical equipment.
Learn more about garbage and recycling collection, water treatment, FireSmart Initiatives and more at this interesting and informative event.
Free hot dogs and beverages will be served for lunch.
Luc Rempel - May 13, 2025 / 4:00 am
| Story: 550012
Photo: Luc Rempel
Salmon Arm city council decided to defer a decision on a new parade route for the Salmon Arm Fair Parade
City council found a proposed route change for the Salmon Arm Fair Parade was too big of a decision to be made without further consideration.
A request from the Shuswap Agricultural Association to have the city approve the new route will have to wait as council opted to defer the decision.
At its May 12 meeting, council received a letter from Brittny Syme, Salmon Arm Fair Parade coordinator, requesting approval of a route change for the annual parade.
In her letter, Syme said the change of route is being requested in order to avoid crossing the Trans-Canada Highway, “ensuring volunteer, participant and spectator safety from start to finish.”
The new route would see the parade begin on 10 Avenue SW in front of the Westgate Market, then move east to the intersection of 10 Avenue and Shuswap Street before turning left onto Shuswap Street.
The parade will continue in that direction until it reaches Fifth Avenue SW and turn left onto Fifth Ave before finishing with another left turn onto Third Street SW.
Coun. Sylvia Lindgren wondered whether Downtown Salmon Arm had been consulted about the proposed route changes.
“I don't know what the impact is of having a big crowd of people come downtown on a Saturday morning,” she said.
“That probably deposits a whole lot of people spending bits of money here, there and everywhere, and if we draw them all the way to a different route, that might mean those same people don't end up downtown buying breakfast or shopping or getting their groceries.”
Mayor Alan Harrison said he would bring up the parade route at the next Downtown Salmon Arm meeting in order to get their input on the matter.
Coun. Kevin Flynn proposed referring the matter to city staff which would allow the engineering department to make the decision themselves as to whether they want to sign off on the new route.
However, Coun. Tim Lavery said he wanted the matter to come back to council.
“I would like to hear back from Downtown Salmon Arm,” he said. “I want to support the Salmon Arm Fair Parade and the new team that they have there but… I think this is a big thing in terms of tradition in Salmon Arm.”
Salmon Arm council agreed to defer a decision on the new parade route until engineering staff could come back with their analysis of the new route, and in order to hear back from Downtown Salmon Arm about the possible economic impact.
Council is expected to discuss the parade route changes at the next Salmon Arm council meeting on May 26.
Luc Rempel - May 12, 2025 / 7:00 pm
| Story: 550010
Photo: Shuswap Watershed Council
2023 water quality grant recipient Shuswap Organics who used grant funding to introduce new regenerative agricultural practices
The Shuswap Watershed Council announced it has awarded more than $35,000 to local farms and landowners for this year's water quality grant program.
The grant program provides funding for farms, landowners and stewardship groups undertaking projects that will protect water quality in the Shuswap watershed with an emphasis on mitigating the risk of excess phosphorus in the water system.
“We are targeting phosphorus with our grant program,” said Erin Vieira, program manager for the SWC.
“Phosphorus is an important factor of water quality and soil health. It’s needed for agriculture, but when excessive amounts of it flow from the landscape into water it can trigger an algal bloom in the lake.
“Our goal with the grant program is to help farms and other land stewards keep nutrients on the land and in the soil, not running off or leaching into nearby watercourses."
Rhona Martin, SWC chair, said with the Shuswap’s rich agricultural heritage it’s important to support farms.
“Agriculture is a significant part of the economy here and contributes greatly to local food security,” she said. “We want to support farms as they adopt new and improved practices that protect our water quality.”
One of 2025’s grant recipients is Trinity Dairy in Enderby. This dairy farm is located along the Shuswap River, and plans to use grant funds to upgrade technology and nutrient management practices.
The SWC said these upgrades will allow for greater efficiency when applying nutrients to their croplands and reduce the risk of excessive nutrients leaching into the Shuswap River.
The other 2025 grant recipients include Westwold View Farms, Owendale Farms in Lumby, The Invasive Species Council of B.C., and a hobby farm in Scotch Creek.
This year the SWC awarded a total of $36,646 in grant funding.
“We are proud to support these innovative projects on farms to improve agricultural practices, build soil health, reduce the risk of nutrient run-off into the watershed and protect water quality,” Viera said. “It is inspiring to see our grant recipients working to protect the environment now and for the future.”
Since the water quality grant program began in 2020, the SWC has awarded 23 grants worth a total of $267,774.
The intake for the next round of water quality grants will open in November.
Luc Rempel - May 12, 2025 / 3:16 pm
| Story: 549928
Photo: Luc Rempel
Splatsin community members and Splatsin Development Corporation dump trucks blockade on the R.W. Bruhn Bridge construction project
UPDATE: 3:16 p.m.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit says it is working closely with Splatsin to resolve the First Nations' blockade of the Trans-Canada Highway in Sicamous.
Splatsin has parked dump trucks at both ends of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge replacement project. The blockade has been in place since 10 a.m. on Monday.
Splatsin Kupki7 Mike Christian said the blockade is a result of unfair treatment of the Splatsin Development Corporation by Aecon and Emil Anderson Group, the contractors in charge of bridge construction.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the ministry said it is aware of Splatsin’s blockade and is working with all parties to resolve the issue.
“On the Highway 1 Bruhn Bridge project, we recognize the deep cultural roots that Splatsin has to the area,” the statement said.
“We are working closely with all parties to address the concerns being raised and to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.”
The ministry encouraged motorists to check DriveBC for updates on the status of Highway 1.
UPDATE: 12:51 p.m.
Splatsin Kukpi7 Mike Christian says he's hopeful the Splatsin blockade of the R.W. Bruhn Bridge construction project can be resolved before the Trans-Canada Highway would normally re-open at 3 p.m. Monday.
The dump truck blockade at the R.W. Bruhn Bridge replacement project has been in place since 10 a.m., halting work at the construction site. It could also potentially block highway traffic if it continues into the late afternoon.
“I'm hoping, we're hoping that this won't go beyond three o'clock,” Christian told Castanet News.
This time would mark the end of the daily construction closure on Highway 1 associated with the bridge replacement project.
Splatsin launched a blockade of the construction project Monday morning over what it says is unfair treatment of the Splatsin Development Corporation from construction partners Aecon and Emil Anderson Group.
The First Nation said despite a public commitment to Indigenous partnership, the two companies have repeatedly sidelined their workers in order to cut costs.
Christian told Castanet that Graham Go, CEO of the Splatsin Development Corporation, has a meeting with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit on Monday that could end the blockade.
“He would like to see something in writing before we leave here,” Christian said.
The blockade is allowing emergency vehicles to pass through, as well as locals who need to access properties within the construction zone.
Christian said Splatsin and other First Nations bands have tried to talk to the provincial government about Indigenous participation in construction projects when they met with provincial cabinet ministers in January.
“We actually brought this issue up to the province at the First Nations leadership gathering in Vancouver,” he said, adding they called for an audit of "what's going on with the numbers that we feel aren't accurate.”
He said the contractors on this job site and other Trans-Canada Highway construction projects are “gaming the system.”
“They're utilizing whatever methods to minimize our participation in this project too,” he added.
Splatsin said it is prepared to keep the blockade in place until they receive a new written agreement from the province, Aecon and Emil Anderson.
Castanet has reached out to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and the two construction companies for comment.
ORIGINAL: 11:11 a.m.
Splatsin First Nation has set up a dump truck blockade to shut down construction and traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway through Sicamous, protesting what they say are unfair working conditions on the R.W. Bruhn Bridge replacement project.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, Splatsin had parked four dump trucks at either end of the bridge work site, aiming to halt work on the project and travel along the Trans-Canada Highway outside of daily construction closures.
A statement released from Splatsin Monday morning cited concerns over unfair treatment of the Splatsin Development Corporation and Indigenous workers by Aecon and Emil Anderson, the partnership of construction companies in charge of the bridge replacement project.
“We are deeply disappointed and angered by how our people and our development corporation have been treated,” said Kupki7 Mike Christian. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a few broken promises — it’s a deliberate pattern of gaming the system.”
The band said despite a public commitment to Indigenous partnership through work with the Splatsin Development Corporation, Aecon and Emil Anderson has repeatedly sidelined their workers in order to cut costs.
“This was presented as a two-year opportunity. Instead, they’ve given us just three months of meaningful work,” said Grahame Go, CEO of Splatsin Development Corporation.
“We entered this agreement in good faith. What we’ve experienced instead is corporate opportunism — exploiting our partnership for their benefit and then sidelining us to cut costs.
"This isn’t reconciliation; it's exploitation."
Christian said this type of behaviour "sets reconciliation back."
"We will not allow it to continue unchecked," he added.
The Splatsin statement acknowledged the blockade could cause short-term inconvenience for commuters and holiday travellers, but the alternate route along Highway 97A and Highway 97B will remain unaffected.
The First Nation said the blockade will remain in place until a renewed and signed commitment is received from both Aecon and Emil Anderson and the province.
The Neskonlith Indian Band has issued a statement of support for the shutdown.
“We share their deep frustration with the persistent issues surrounding contracts awarded to specific contractors, as well as the ongoing circumvention of established regulations through the B.C. Infrastructure Benefits process,” said Neskonlith Kupki7 Irvin Wai.
“These issues have compromised our communities’ rights to fair and equitable opportunities to participate in projects within our own territory.
“We are not asking for special treatment — only for fair and transparent access to opportunities that impact our land and our people."
Castanet News has a reporter headed to the blockade, and queries are in to the two construction companies. This story will be updated as more information is available.
Photo: Contributed
A heavy police presence around the Best Western in Sicamous back on Feb. 24, 2024 saw investigators probe a homicide.
Mounties have revealed the identity of a man found murdered more than a year ago at a the Best Western in Sicamous.
The RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit said Matthew Monteith, 38, was the victim of a targeted shooting back on Feb. 24, 2024 and police are now reaching out to the public, seeking more information.
Southeast District officers executed a search warrant at a home connected to the homicide investigation in the Auburn Bay area of Calgary this past week, on May 8.
“We’re asking for anyone with information related to the circumstances of Matthew Monteith’s death to contact the Southeast District Major Crime Unit,” staff Sgt. Jason Smart said in the release.
“Any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, may be of great interest to the investigation and help to determine what led to his death.”
Monteith was found dead in the parking lot of the Sicamous Best Western hotel. Police arrived on scene just before 5 p.m.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Southeast District Major Crime Unit Information Line at 1-877-987-8477.
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