Good News Story-Business Recovery-The Social District

As part of the wildfire recovery efforts, the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce is launching a good news story series which will be published in the Media, the Chamber's website and social media platforms.

The third installment features Chamber member The Social District. The North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce represents 125 businesses in the region. To learn more about local members, visit northshuswapbc.com

The Social District

Sponsored by North Shuswap Chamber

Written by Louise Wallace Richmond-Mediability Corporate Communications

Photography by Janis Smith

 The Social District

Angela Lagore, her brother and their spouses’ entrepreneurial journey may have begun in 2018 when they leased and revived the Scotch Creek Hub followed by purchasing the neighbouring Shuswap Family Fun Centre in 2022, but their family connection dates much further back to the original 1895 family homestead

While the recent years have brought significant challenges, weeks of smoke-filled skies and a global pandemic, the devastation of the 2023 fire was unprecedented. “It’s like everything changed at the drop of a hat, and we responded the only way we knew how, to support our community.” Despite members of their  team losing their own homes, which continues to take an emotional toll, they worked tirelessly for weeks to recover as much food as possible from their operation, preparing daily meals for 20 to 40 people over two entire weeks. 

Once the community returned and was able to fully grasp the extent of the damage, the need for assistance only grew. Once again, the true community shined through. Efforts were quickly undertaken to help relocate other businesses to their own site, and help replace some businesses that weren’t going to reopen. This created a further conversation about repurposing the once single Shuswap Family Fun Centre building to a multi-purpose one now branded “The Social District”. Aptly named to reflect its vision of a “new way to be together”, 15 local entrepreneurs have already become part of this entrepreneurial hub. “We want it to be used year-round as a community space, for events, parties, workshops and dining. From tragedy came opportunity.“

When speaking to her love of this place, Lagore points out that her family still gathers every Sunday night for dinner at her Mom’s. Seems that tradition, and the spirit of bringing everyone to the table is alive and thriving in Scotch Creek.