Salmon Arm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salmon Arm
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| City of Salmon Arm | |
Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake
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 Salmon Arm
Location in British Columbia
Salmon Arm
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Shuswap Country |
| Regional District | Columbia-Shuswap |
| Established | 1905 |
| Area | |
| • City | 155.28 km2 (59.95 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 165.57 km2 (63.93 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 415 m (1,362 ft) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • City | 17,706 |
| • Density | 114.0/km2 (295/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 12,875 |
| • Metro | 17,904 |
| • Metro density | 108.1/km2 (280/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Standard (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight (PDT)) |
| Forward sortation area |
V1E
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| Area code(s) | 250, 778, 236, 672 |
| Highways | Trans-Canada Highway Hwy 1 |
Salmon Arm is a city located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. In 2016, its population was 17,706 people. Salmon Arm became a municipal district on May 15, 2005.
This city is a popular spot for tourists in the summer. Many people visit its beautiful beaches and enjoy camping. You can also rent houseboats to explore Shuswap Lake. Salmon Arm is famous for having the longest wooden freshwater wharf in North America.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Salmon Arm gets its name from its location on Shuswap Lake. This lake has four main "arms" or sections. One of these is called Salmon Arm. It was named this because many salmon used to swim up the creeks that flow into this part of the lake. The city of Salmon Arm is built right along this arm of the lake.
A Look Back in Time
Early Days and Growth
The history of Salmon Arm began to be recorded after the Canadian Pacific Railway was built in September 1885. At first, miners and settlers were looking for gold nearby. However, the beaches of Salmon Arm remained mostly untouched.
By the late 1890s, the town started to grow. It gained new buildings like two general stores, a school, and a hotel. The number of people living there also grew to over 200 citizens.
By 1904, Salmon Arm became known for its excellent fruit crops. Local business people grew fruit to sell to larger towns nearby.
In May 1905, the citizens asked for a formal local government, and it was started. Later, in 1912, Salmon Arm officially became a city.
Royal Visit and a Famous Incident
In 1951, Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip visited Salmon Arm. They were on a royal tour of Canada.
On August 8, 1982, the Prime Minister at the time, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, passed through Salmon Arm. He was met by protestors who were unhappy about the economy. This event became quite famous.
The 1998 Wildfire
In 1998, a large wildfire started by lightning burned about 13,500 acres (55 square kilometers) southwest of Salmon Arm. The fire came from the Fly Hills in the west. Wind carried burning embers across the valley, starting new fires on Mount Ida. Flames moved quickly down both sides of the valley, putting many homes at risk.
People had to leave their homes in an emergency evacuation. Amazingly, just as the fire reached the valley floor, the wind suddenly changed direction. This pushed the fire back on itself, helping to put it out. The fire came so close that trees in many backyards were singed. Paint on barns even peeled off from the heat.
News reports said that 20 homes and 15 barns were destroyed in the Silver Creek area, south of Salmon Arm. This fire also caused Canada's largest civilian evacuation up to that time. About 7,000 residents of Salmon Arm had to leave their homes.
Where is Salmon Arm?
Salmon Arm is located on the shores of Shuswap Lake. The Salmon River flows into the Salmon Arm part of the lake here. To the south of the city is Mount Ida. To the west are the Fly Hills. Across Shuswap Lake, you can see Bastion Mountain.
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Sorrento | Shuswap Lake | Canoe | |
| Chase |  |
Sicamous | ||
 Salmon Arm  |
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| Falkland | Enderby, Armstrong and Vernon |
Grindrod |
Weather in Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm has a climate that feels like a mix of warm summers and cold winters. In January, the average temperature is about -2.6 degrees Celsius. In July, it warms up to about 20.6 degrees Celsius. This climate is influenced by its closeness to the Pacific Ocean.
| Climate data for Salmon Arm; 1991-2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14 (57) |
19 (66) |
28.5 (83.3) |
34 (93) |
42.9 (109.2) |
39.9 (103.8) |
39 (102) |
34 (93) |
25.5 (77.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
9 (48) |
42.9 (109.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) |
3.3 (37.9) |
9.3 (48.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
21.1 (70.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
21.4 (70.5) |
12.8 (55.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
0.9 (33.6) |
14.2 (57.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
3.9 (39.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
19.7 (67.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
7.7 (45.9) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
8.6 (47.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.6 (21.9) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
2.3 (36.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
7.5 (45.5) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
3.0 (37.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −31.5 (−24.7) |
−27 (−17) |
−19 (−2) |
−7 (19) |
−3 (27) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−6 (21) |
−18 (0) |
−32 (−26) |
−33.5 (−28.3) |
−33.5 (−28.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 78.1 (3.07) |
37.3 (1.47) |
39.4 (1.55) |
40.5 (1.59) |
53.4 (2.10) |
64.3 (2.53) |
43.0 (1.69) |
35.2 (1.39) |
40.8 (1.61) |
61.1 (2.41) |
83.1 (3.27) |
77.5 (3.05) |
653.7 (25.73) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 10.0 (0.39) |
14.5 (0.57) |
28.5 (1.12) |
39.3 (1.55) |
56.9 (2.24) |
66.2 (2.61) |
44.5 (1.75) |
36.5 (1.44) |
41.6 (1.64) |
60.4 (2.38) |
56.2 (2.21) |
11.9 (0.47) |
466.5 (18.37) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 68.6 (27.0) |
22.1 (8.7) |
11.6 (4.6) |
0.8 (0.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.1) |
28.0 (11.0) |
71.3 (28.1) |
202.7 (79.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 13.2 | 7.5 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 13.4 | 15.6 | 13.8 | 134.1 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 1.9 | 3.3 | 8.4 | 10.4 | 11.7 | 12.7 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 13.1 | 11.2 | 2.6 | 100.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 11.3 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 0.26 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.14 | 5.1 | 12.1 | 36.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00 LST) | 82.2 | 73.2 | 59.8 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 52.9 | 45.7 | 45.6 | 54.3 | 67.5 | 78.3 | 82.1 | 61.6 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Salmon Arm?
Population Growth Over Time
Salmon Arm has grown steadily over the years. In 1921, there were 967 people. By 2021, the population had grown to 19,432. This shows how the city has become a popular place to live.
Diverse Communities
Salmon Arm is home to people from many different backgrounds. The largest group is of European heritage. There is also a growing community of Indigenous residents. Other groups include people from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. This mix of cultures makes Salmon Arm a diverse place.
Beliefs and Religions
In 2021, most people in Salmon Arm (about 55.2%) did not report a specific religion. About 41.8% of residents identified as Christian. Smaller groups followed Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
How Salmon Arm Makes Money
The biggest industry in Salmon Arm is the forest industry. This includes businesses that work with wood. The city also benefits from the Canadian Pacific Railway line that runs through it.
Tourism is very important for Salmon Arm, especially in the summer. Many visitors come from Vancouver, Calgary, and Asia. They stop on their way to other places or come to enjoy Shuswap Lake. Renting houseboats is a popular activity. Salmon Arm has many hotels, campsites, and houseboat rentals to welcome these visitors.
Learning and Education
Schools in Salmon Arm
Public schools in Salmon Arm are part of School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap. Within the city, there are five elementary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 7). There is also one middle school (Grades 6 to 8) and a secondary school with two campuses. Salmon Arm offers special programs like early and late French immersion. There is also a private Christian school called Kings Christian School.
College Opportunities
Salmon Arm is home to one of the four campuses of Okanagan College. This college offers many different academic and job-training programs for students.
Fun and Culture
Festivals and Entertainment
Salmon Arm is busiest during the summer months when many tourists visit. Every third weekend in August, the city hosts the annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues festival. This festival brings in large crowds and features performers from all over the world. It's the biggest music festival of its kind in the British Columbia interior.
The city also has a movie theater complex called Salmar Grand. There's also the Salmar Classic, which shows movies and hosts live stage performances. Both are run by a non-profit community group. The Shuswap Theatre also puts on plays and live shows.
Museums and Art
The RJ Haney Heritage Park & Museum is Salmon Arm's main museum. It celebrates the history of the area. During the summer, the museum often has a dinner theatre program. These plays are based on local history.
The Salmon Arm Art Gallery is the city's public art gallery. It's located in a historic building that used to be a post office.
Sports and Recreation
Many people, both locals and tourists, enjoy the beaches at Sunnybrae and Canoe on Shuswap Lake during the summer.
The community has many places for sports and fun. There are fields for soccer, rugby, and football. You can also find fields for baseball and softball. There's a curling rink, bowling lanes, and several golf courses. Water sports like rowing and dragon boat racing are also popular on Shuswap Lake.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks hockey team plays in the BCHL. Their home is Roger’s Rink. This facility also has the city's recreation center with a pool, courts, and a gym. The curling rink and the Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College are nearby.
Some famous athletes from Salmon Arm include former NHL player Dave Scatchard, swimmer Rick Say, and curler Sandra Jenkins.
Getting Around Salmon Arm
Roads and Highways
Salmon Arm is located on the Trans-Canada Highway. This highway is a major route that connects Vancouver and Calgary. The city is also at the start of Highway 97B, which leads to Vernon and Kelowna. Because of its location, many hotels and restaurants have opened here.
Trains and Planes
The Canadian Pacific Railway also runs through Salmon Arm. However, there is no regular passenger train service. Sometimes, the Rocky Mountaineer tourist trains pass through.
The Salmon Arm Airport mainly serves small planes.
Local Bus Service
Salmon Arm has a bus network that helps people get around. Commuter minibuses run hourly to different neighborhoods and shopping areas. There is also a special handyDart service for people with disabilities.
Sister City
Salmon Arm has a sister city in Japan called Inashiki, Ibaraki. There is a special pavilion near McGuire Lake in Salmon Arm that celebrates this friendship.
Notable People
- Gail Anderson-Dargatz – author
- Calvin Ayre – entrepreneur
- Dan Bremnes – Christian musician
- Brian Drummond – voice actor
- Cody Franson – NHL player
- E.V. Gordon – medieval philologist, born in Salmon Arm
- Curtis Lazar – NHL player
- Justin Maas - visual artist & author
- Jesse Mast – country music singer-songwriter
- Rick Say – Olympic swimmer
- Dave Scatchard – former NHL player
- Greg Sczebel – Juno Award-winning singer/songwriter
- Bev Smith – basketball player and coach
- Richard Underhill – jazz saxophonist
- Natalie Wilkie – Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing
- Michael Worobey - evolutionary biologist
- Adam Berls – News Anchor
