Sun Rivers has seen 20 per cent growth in the last five years (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

2021 CENSUS

Sun Rivers helping major population growth on Tk’emlups reserve

Mar 11, 2022 | 1:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc reserve was home to a little more than 3,000 people in 2016.

Five years later, the population is now nearly 4,000 after the latest census numbers came out in February, amounting to a 29 per cent increase.

“That means there’s going to be a growing demand for housing, it’s going to be an increase as well for business and economic opportunities on our reserve,” said Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir.

“It’s also going be a larger taxbase.” Tk’emlups heavily relies on the tax dollars from properties on reserve that include Sun Rivers and the newest development, Sienna Ridge that has 85 units complete.

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“It is one of our No. 1 sources of revenue and it definitely goes towards infrastructure, it goes towards a lot of our programs and services, and also helps to build capacity,” said Casimir.

Sun Rivers, as one example, grew by 20 per cent in the last five years with more units being built like ones at Rio Vista. It’s estimated there are now upwards of 2,500 people living in Sun Rivers.

“The majority are locals, but we are seeing an increasing number coming from the coast, from Alberta, from other parts of B.C. That is an increasing trend,” said Rick Siemens from the Sun Rivers Development Corporation.

Sun Rivers can grow even more. There is still building to happen up and around Mt. Paul with single-family homes and townhouses. There’s also development happening soon at the village centre.

“To build out, we’re probably looking at another 350 or so homes, which are single-family and townhouses, and on top of that we have 300 or more residential units to be built into our village centre. Some of that construction will be getting underway as early as this spring,” noted Siemens.

There are also 25 more units planned for the Sienna Ridge development on East Shuswap Road. Kukpi7 Casimir is planning for more housing developments further north along the Yellowhead Highway.

“I know the band, we’re looking at [more housing]. Our first priority is our membership and meet the demands and the need for housing, so we’e been addressing those needs,” she said. “We’ll also be looking at more real estate opportunities and looking at areas out towards Seven Mile and those areas.”