Chamber Update 2024-2025

Adam Oruclar – President - North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce

2024/2025 Update

Hello friends, colleagues, business and community members within the North Shuswap.

2024 has been an exciting year for the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce.  We made some significant progress in the community on multiple fronts.  Some of these highlights include the following….

• Meetings with the BC Chamber providing input and advocacy on behalf of our local businesses. • Maintenance of Visitor Kiosks • Shuswap Trail Working Group meetings • Collaborative work with the North Shuswap Pathway Team, CSRD, SEDS, Shuswap Tourism and regional Chambers. •Advocacy for developing a back country management plan • Promotion of year round tourism • Worked with many non-Profit Focus Groups • Collaboration with Shuswap Economic Development on Economic Recovery, including Task Force Sub Committees for Communication, Business & Professional, Industry & Supply, Tourism and Environment • Worked collaboratively with SEDS, Community Futures and Shuswap Community Foundation to review applicants and distribute the Business Recovery Funds of $50,000 to those businesses impacted by the wildfire. • Helped Organize the Christmas Parade & Hot Dog BBQ • Winter Festival & Fireworks held on Family Day Long Weekend • Obtained CSRD Grant in Aid Application of $24,600 for Community Improvements and Events • Held 2^nd  Stronger Together Celebration to recognize outstanding achievements by local business • Collaborated with Shuswap Economic Recovery Task Force to host the Business Recovery Conference at the Quaaout Lodge. Speakers and exhibitors included Myles Bruhn-Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Infrastructure, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Marketing, Finance and Tourism delegates • Repaired the Welcome to the North Shuswap sign. • Roadside Maintenance projects included clean up along Squilax-Anglemont in Scotch Creek during peak visitor times. • Showcased Business Recovery Series for six local businesses that faced significant impact from the wildfire. Hired Louise Wallace Richmond from Mediability to work with these business owners to write their stories, and Janis Smith helped with photos • Successful recipient of a collaborative grant application with Shuswap Economic Development Society for the North Shuswap Business Façade Improvement Program, with total funds granted of $22,634. Six approved projects with a total of $74,372 • Hosted Shuswap Tourism to familiarize them with local tourism operators in the North Shuswap. • Distributed a record amount of the updated 2024-2025 Business Directory, with a significant increase in additional advertisements being placed. • Summer Festival Canada Day at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park which included NS Health Centre Pancake Fundraiser, Face Painting, Balloons, Rock Painting, & Music. • North Shuswap Fine Art Event at Celista Estate Winery with 18 local artists • Met with MP Mel Arnold • Letters of Support for BC Active Transportation Grant Application from CSRD for the North Shuswap Pathway Project.• Hosted 1st Annual Stronger Together Golf Tournament Fundraising event for the North Shuswap Chamber. (Funds raised will be directed back to community projects that will benefit both the local community members and business) . All 18 holes were sponsored, including a GMC truck for the Hole in One prize! We also had WestJet travel, private helicopter tours, and other fantastic prizes including 25 Silent Auction items that were donated! (Mark your calendar as we have booked Sat Sept 13th, 2025 for the 2nd Annual Stronger Together Golf Tournament !!) 

As we head into 2025, I would like to share some exciting news regarding the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce board of Directors.

On the 28^th of October, we held our annual general meeting (AGM) at the Social District in Scotch Creek.  It was great to see many interested people show up to get an update on some of the accomplishments mentioned above, as well as get an update from Shuswap Tourism and the Shuswap Economic Development Society. 

Further, as several positions have now come end of term, we have elected several new Board Members for the Chamber.

I would however like to take an opportunity to thank Rob Pawluk, Josef Berger, Michelle Cyr, Sharon Toews and Amanda Chypiska whom have served the North Shuswap Chamber Board of Directors for many years.  Their contributions have been invaluable to the community and their efforts are recognized and appreciated.  Thank you for all of your time and effort with the Board.

I would also like to thank Debbie Seymour, our executive director, for all of the hard work and many hours that Debbie has devoted to the Chamber.  Debbie is instrumental in all of the success that the Chamber has had, and the value that has been received from our business members and community.

The newly elected 2025 Board of Directors for the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce are as follows:

Adam Oruclar - President

I have accepted to stay on for a 2^nd term.

Danny Payment – Vice President

Danny grew up spending summers in the North Shuswap and assisted in relocating Queensboro Marine, now named Interior Marine Construction, to Scotch Creek in 2018. Danny is now the CEO of IMC and is responsible for project management, product design, and supply chain management. Prior to beginning his career at IMC, Danny worked as a Project Coordinator for Ledcor Construction Ltd. His leadership is marked by a deep commitment to fostering the economic growth of local businesses. With a keen eye for innovation and sustainable development, Danny is constantly seeking opportunities to elevate our community.

Angela Cudmore - Treasurer

We welcome Angela to her 2^nd  term with the Chamber. Angela and her husband Kris and are the owners of Anglemont Marina. Similar to many, Angela and Kris owned a home in the Shuswap and where they spent their vacation time and decided to move permanently to the area. Although the marina is a new business for Angela, she brings a wealth of experience to the board with her while owning a business previously in Alberta.

David Leard – Director

David Leards path in culinary arts started in the early 90’s where he developed his skills as a cook at Boathouse Restaurant, leading to receiving his red seal accreditation. Along with being the Kitchen manger this paved his way for employment with Canuel Caterers as Executive Chef, where he was brought on board to assist on building the foundation of the business. After 16 years he was ready to explore another adventure and moved to the Shuswap with his wife.In 2014 David started at Quaaout Lodge as our banquet Chef and continued to build his skills under three great Chefs, each of whom taught him a lot about the business. Under Executive Chef Chris Whittaker, David took on the role of Executive Sous Chef, while continuing to manage the banquet operations. The skills and leadership have allowed him to make the jump to Intern Executive Chef upon Chef Chris leaving.

Leith Bentz – Director

Leith has joined the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce for his 2nd term as Director. With over 20 years of restaurant operations and management experience, Leith brings a robust skillset of hospitality, culture building, meeting facilitation, profit engineering, customer service, leader development, and event/project management. Falling in love with the North Shuswap, Leith and his Wife, Anna, moved their family to Anglemont permanently in 2021. Along with the move, they brought their business, Blueprint Beauty Co. and expanded by offering Laser Tattoo Removal to Shuswap and opened Kava Coffee in the Social District. In both his personal and professional life, Leith values family, honesty, diversity and integrity. With these beliefs, he hopes to build valuable relationships and passionately advocate for the community of North Shuswap.

Katrina Hobart – Director

Katrina Hobart and her husband are the new owners of what was formerly Anglemont Estates and is now North Shuswap Golf Club!  They are now Shuswap locals and have always had a very large place in their hearts for the North Shore.

Dale Fulton – Director

Dale Fulton proudly joins the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce as a Director, bringing a wealth of expertise and a dedicated vision for fostering growth, innovation, and resilience within the local business ecosystem. With a distinguished background in project management, Dale offers a strategic and collaborative approach to driving forward initiatives that support the economic vitality, sustainable development, and community enrichment of the North Shuswap region.

Keisha Martel – Director

Keisha kickstarted her professional journey by graduating from Blanche Macdonald Centre for Hair Design, but later shifted her focus to logistics and office administration. This transition was marked by her rapid advancement from Delivery Driver to Branch Manager within just two years at White & Peters, an autobody supplier. Dedicating the next 6.5 years to her role as Executive Assistant, then Controller at Triwest Mechanical Ltd After making the move to Scotch Creek in February 2023 with her husband and daughter, Keisha joined Interior Marine Construction Ltd as an Executive Assistant. Since then, Keisha has been engaged in various community programs. She is currently the President of the North Shuswap Minor Baseball Association, is an active member of the North Shuswap Elementary PAC

Sheridan Acton – Director

Born and raised in a longstanding North Shuswap business family, Sheridan Acton (née Spooner) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to her home town. Sheridan studied business at TRU and now works with her husband Mark at Captain’s Village Marina, where their sons will be the fourth generation at his family’s Scotch Creek establishment.

Ben Pawluk – Director

Ben joined Celista Cabinetry to fulfill a lifelong dream of helping to run and manage a woodworking shop, and grow a business in the North Shuswap. Currently working as the production manager for Celista Cabinetry, Ben brings over 20 years of experience to his role. Initially starting as young boy in his fathers’ shop, Ben then went on to apprentice at a shop in Edmonton. After completing his journeyman and Red Seal Cabinet Making certification at N.A.I.T., he then ventured into the software side of woodworking. Spending over 10 years training and helping to automate businesses across Canada

Please join me in welcoming all of our new Board members!

Our main Objectives will be:

• To determine and meet member’s needs.
• To maintain a good relationship with other organizations for the common good of the North Shuswap.
• To create a greater public understanding and awareness of the Chamber of Commerce role in the community.
• To develop programs and events in conjunction with members aimed at creating a high level of economic awareness and activity.
• To create and maintain an entrepreneurial spirit at all community, education and political levels.
• To monitor legislation at all levels of government and prepare timely response to legislative proposals and to recommend improvements to existing legislation.
• To heighten credibility and leadership in the community.

As we move into 2025, we will re-structure the sub-committees that report to the Board. 

These new subcommittees will be focused on:

• Government Advocacy
• Commerce
• Community
• Fundraising

There will also be new sub-committee reporting governance added to our process.  This will ensure that we continue to move our objectives forward in the best way possible.

We have had many people express interest in participating with the Chamber.  This is very encouraging as we are looking to expand the participation levels to represent a broader demographic within the community.  This additional help is especially needed with our new sub-committees.  If you have an interest in getting involved, please reach out to us!!  We would love to hear from you.   Please email executivedirector@northshuswapbc.com to express your interest.

I look forward to working with the new Board and sub-committees.  2025 is going to be the best year ever for the Chamber and our community!