CSRD puts Shuswap Tourism, Film Commission on hold after funding partners withdraw

SALMON ARM B.C. — The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) has put both Shuswap Tourism and the Columbia Shuswap Film Commission on hold, because of a change in funding.

In a news release Friday (Jan. 31), the CSRD says the decision comes as the funding partners for both those organizations “decided to pause their services effective immediately as they consider new options for the future.”

“Last year, the City of Salmon Arm announced they would be pulling out of the Shuswap Tourism Service effective January 2025,” the CSRD statement said. “As the largest funding partner in the service, this had a significant impact on Shuswap Tourism’s annual budget.”

“After much consideration, a majority of participants in the services voted in favour of re-evaluating the service following the withdrawal of a key funding partner.”

The CSRD said Shuswap Tourism aims to attract visitors to the region by supporting tourism businesses with marketing and promotional services. In addition to Salmon Arm, it was also funded by the District of Sicamous and Electoral Areas C, D, E, F and G.

The CSRD also says participants in the Columbia Shuswap Film Commission, which includes the City of Revelstoke, City of Salmon Arm, District of Sicamous and CSRD Electoral Areas B, C, D, E, F and G, have voted to consider other options for the service.

It says the Film Commission promotes film and television production activity in the Shuswap to the domestic and international film production industry, in collaboration with Creative BC.

“Members of the Shuswap Economic Development/Tourism Participants Review Committee will be meeting in the coming months to review options and consider new ways to deliver services,” the CSRD statement added.