North Shuswap - the Community
The community of North Shuswap is located on the north shore of the Shuswap Lake approximately one hour east of Kamloops. Residents call it the 'Sunny Side of the Lake' as most properties face south for maximum sunlight. The community is comprised of 6 hamlets known as Lee Creek; Scotch Creek; Celista; Magna Bay; Anglemont and St. Ives. The road through the North Shuswap leaves the Trans Canada Highway at Squilax, is paved and well maintained with many scenic kilometres following the shoreline. Once you cross the bridge over the Adams River, you are officially on the North Shuswap and soon in Lee Creek. The paved road ends 55 km to the east at St. Ives. From St. Ives east you travel the Seymour Arm Road. The road is gravel of 1 & 1/2 lanes, in moderate condition and mainly used by loggers and residents of Seymour. The average travel time from St. Ives to the village of Seymour is 60 to 70 minutes.
Government
The community of the North Shuswap is located in Area F of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). The CSRD office is located in Salmon Arm. The CSRD Representative for Area F is Denis Delisle; our MLA is Liberal - George Abbott and our MP is New Conservative - Colin Mayes.
Zoning
The community of the Celista currently has no zoning. Anglemont brought in zoning through Bylaw 650 in 1998, Magna Bay brought in zoning through Bylaw 800 in 2003 and Scotch Creek & Lee Creek got their zoning through Bylaw 825 late in 2005. All areas in the North Shuswap require building permits and building inspections as of June 2001. Some subdivisions may have building scheme registered on title.
First Nations
We are proud and fortunate to have the Little Shuswap Band as our neighbours to the west. They have been good stewards of their resources, involved in our community with a healthy respect for their heritage combined with progressive social and business programs.
Utilities
99.99% of the 4500 separate properties in the North Shuswap are serviced by good public roads, electricity and telephone. Telus Mobility; Bell Mobility and Rogers Mobility are adequate while some other service is minimal. Internet service is available through dial-up or if you are fortunate to have a line of site to a wireless tower, wireless internet connection is available. Scotch Creek has cablevision while all the other areas rely on satellite dish reception. Most properties use septic tank & field for sewage disposal. There are a few small sewer systems in a few neighbourhoods.
Water systems are everything you can think of. Some of the most common are bored-well; shallow well; lake intake; private water system and co-op water systems. The North Shuswap is not serviced by natural gas however, propane can be delivered to those with gas appliances.
Shopping
Most day-to-day items are available at the local shops. If you should need to go to 'town' most North Shuswap residents use Kamloops as their major shopping destination. The North Shuswap social and economic connection is to Kamloops and not Salmon Arm as is usually assumed. Travel time to Salmon Arm is only 5 minutes shorter than that of Kamloops. Selection of stores and services is several times greater in Kamloops than offered in Salmon Arm. On the North Shuswap, Scotch Creek is the village with the most services to offer such as Drugstore; doctors office; Realtors; fuel sales; hardware; groceries and restaurants.
Statistics
The following statistics have been compiled through the research of Al Christopherson in order to help residents of the North Shuswap know their community. For the purpose of this study the North Shuswap will be Adams River Bridge to St. Ives.
