A historic Salmon Arm landmark is set for a new chapter.
In a June 8 announcement, city council said it had approved the sale of the heritage building at 31 Hudson Ave. NE to the Shuswap Community Foundation for $1.
The Shuswap Community Foundation plans to restore and revitalize the landmark.
“The agreement includes provisions that protect the community’s long-term interests, including a first right of refusal that allows the City to reacquire the property should it ever be sold in the future, helping ensure the site remains a valued community asset,” the announcement said. “Additional provisions support the long-term preservation of the building and site.”
The building, constructed in 1928, will be restored and revitalized as the foundation’s permanent home while preserving its historic character and expanding community gathering space. The bricks were sourced locally from Enderby and cannot be replaced, according to the foundation.
The foundation plans to launch a capital campaign to raise $1.45 million for the project, which will include accessibility upgrades, outdoor improvements and community-focused amenities.
Mayor Alan Harrison said community input was vital.
“We held a community open house and we listened to the community,” he said. “They said they want to try to retain this heritage, try to retain the public look of this place.”
He added that the revitalization will include public amenities such as a bike rack, a garden and possibly picnic tables.
Monica Sigurdson, executive director of the Shuswap Community Foundation, said she has a deep appreciation for heritage because she once owned a house that was nearly a century old. She described her initial reaction to the heritage building when the idea of acquiring the space first emerged.
“So I looked at it (the heritage building on Hudson Avenue NE), and I was like ‘eh, a little rough’,” she said light-heartedly. “The community has expressed interest in this building and community is one of our 10 pillars.”
Sigurdson said the appeal was the opportunity to save an important building that the community cared about while creating a space the foundation could grow into.
John White, board chair of the Shuswap Community Foundation, said he is proud to introduce the next chapter for 31 Hudson Ave. NE and the foundation.
“This capital campaign is about much more than acquiring property,” he said. “It is a strategic investment in the future of Salmon Arm and the broader Shuswap region.”
White added that he is confident the $1.45-million fundraising goal will be achieved.
“Thank you for sharing in our vision, for your generosity and for your unwavering dedication to the place we call home,” he said.
The foundation will move forward with fundraising, planning and restoration efforts to bring new life to the historic landmark.
The city said that when the project is complete, the revitalized building will stand as a “symbol of community investment, heritage preservation and local philanthropy” in the heart of downtown Salmon Arm.
Harrison said the project was the result of collaboration rather than the work of any one individual.
“Teamwork is what it’s about and my job is to facilitate that collaboration.”
Sigurdson said the project marks a major milestone for the growing community of Salmon Arm while supporting long-time residents.
“We can do growth while loving what’s made this community of Salmon Arm to begin with,” she said. “It’s a meeting of the past and the future.”
Sigurdson said progress is already underway, including meetings with potential contractors and financiers.
The Shuswap Community Foundation is expected to occupy the heritage building by July 1, 2027.
