An email to city council offered opportunity to address criticisms around Salmon Arm having nothing going on for Canada Day.
"Nothing going on" was what the writer said they found when they chose to stay home in Salmon Arm this July 1, instead of vacationing as they have done since moving to town in 2021.
Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond responded, both to the writer and at the July 8 city council meeting, where she shared her appreciation for people who take the time to write and share their concerns. Regarding the writer's concerns around Canada Day, she said that wasn't the first time she'd heard that feedback, before highlighting what has and will be happening in the city.
Speaking to Canada Day, Richmond credited the organizers of the former Canada Day Children's Festival, a "very well organized" event first held at Fletcher Park and then the fairgrounds.
"Those organizers, their children are no longer children, so they did a great job the whole time they were there and I certainly appreciate that," said Wallace Richmond. "We did have a pretty extensive Canada Day celebration in 2005, because I co-chaired that whole Centennial committee, and again in 2017 for Canada 150 which I also chaired. We tried again in 2018 but it rained; 2019, we had great fireworks at Canoe Beach, and 2020 and 2021 were Covid and then smoke and fireworks restrictions."
From a regional perspective, with neighbouring communities hosting Canada Day festivities, Wallace Richmond noted "there are only so many police officers, firefighters, rescue boats on the lake," making it difficult to "provide the public safety that people rely on when they go to public events." Furthermore, she supports those neighbouring communities having "their big day," stressing Salmon Arm has lots of big days including the upcoming ROOTSandBLUES festival and the B.C. 55+ Games.
"To suggest that Salmon Arm doesn't care about Canada Day is misinformed, and last year we hosted the RCMP Musical Ride, not once but twice, so let's put things into perspective…," said Wallace Richmond. "Cities run services. We are not event planners. We support groups who want to plan events. With that I will personally thank all the volunteers for working hard on ROOTSandBLUES which is coming up in three weeks, and the senior plus games that's coming up in September. I want you to know your city values you and we appreciate you very much."
Other councillors echoed Wallace Richmond, with Coun. Sylvia Lindgren adding the community sees hundreds of volunteers each summer to put on ROOTSandBLUES and the Salmon Arm Fair.
This Canada Day, Salmon Arm Recreation hosted its first annual ball hockey tournament at Rogers Rink.
