Region Overview

The Shuswap is a place for putting down roots and reaching out, where people come to get established or to visit again and again. It’s already an in-demand tourist destination in summer and is gaining a great winter reputation, too. Striking lake country and inviting backcountry appeal to folks looking to relax and those looking for adventure.

A diverse agricultural industry – with farms both big and small – grows a varied assortment of crops, from grains, produce, and plants, with dairies and ranches complimenting the mix. Shuswap vineyards, wineries, and breweries are gaining attention for their unique, award-winning, homegrown flavours, evolving a healthy agri-tourism industry.

The Shuswap’s trades sector is strong, serving established residents and industries while contributing to new growth. Business services are concentrated in Salmon Arm and Sicamous, and there’s good access to the nearby Okanagan communities of Vernon and Kelowna and Thompson Country’s city of Kamloops. A growing sector of consultancy businesses within the Shuswap region serves local and more distant clients.

The Shuswap is renowned for its vibrant and diverse cultural scene. The arts are a large part of the region’s identity. Artists of all kinds work, exhibit, and perform, and take refuge and inspiration in remote places and urban centres. You’ll find them in home-based studios and galleries, coffee houses and community halls throughout the region.