(image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2023

Respite from wildfire smoke helping fuel Shuswap tourism

Aug 2, 2023 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — With fires burning across B.C. and dense smoke descending upon Kamloops, it’s hard to believe that just an hour down the road, even the idea of wildfires is nothing more than a passing thought.

“Things are going well; it’s kind of a normal summer. We do have smoke, but not like you guys have in Kamloops. We can still see across the lake, so that makes a huge difference. There are a lot of people out here on holidays and it’s that time of year,” said Brooke Kynoch, owner of the Scotch Creek Market.

The region is filled with visitors from across B.C. as well as Alberta and beyond. With the calendar flipping to August and the midway point of the summer behind us, it’s been a bounceback year for tourism.

“(We’ve been fine) other than a bit of haze over the hills and over the lake,” said Celista Estates Winery Owner Jake Ootes. “We have found that we have been very fortunate. We haven’t had a lot of dense smoke. The crowds seem to be coming and, at this time of year, it’s really important for us because we only get two months of really saleable time.”

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“Smoke really hasn’t touched us too much. We have had a couple semi-okay days when it’s been a little hazy, but it just seems to blow away every other day. Water’s been warm, weather’s been killer. It’s been awesome,” added Spencer Shyiak from Captain’s Village Marina.

With local businesses reporting business as usual, the beaches and campsites along the lake are full of visitors looking to escape the smoke.

“In the past, there have been years that have been a lot scarier than this year,” said Sandra Cantin, camping out at Scotch Creek. “It’s closer to Kamloops than it is here right now. We have friends in Osoyoos and some of their photos were really scary the other day when they are hitched and ready to go. I wouldn’t be at Lac Le Jeune right now for sure. I hear they opened it up, but nope, that is just a little to close.”

The closest wildfire to the Shuswap region is the Lower East Adams Lake blaze, burning more than 2,500 hectares. But, with smoke moving north, the Shuswap has been enjoying nothing but blue skies for most of the summer.

“We get a lot of people. We seem to be a big draw and we have the beauty of this lake, that is a significant attraction — and the climate. Those two things are terrific for tourists, terrific for us as a place we live,” added Ootes.