R. J. Haney Heritage Park ~ Volunteers

~ Settlement or community? ~

That question was asked bluntly as Salmon Arm bay settlers gathered in 1904, reading accounts of Enderby's struggle to establish itself as a municipality. With no community newspaper, Enderby's Edenograph was the source to consult. The newspaper documented the formation of a Salmon Arm committee chaired by James Evans.¹ The committee's work peaked in 1905 with a petition presented that February.² Three months later on May 15th, the municipality of Salmon Arm was proclaimed and a charter provided for the election of a reeve, four councilors, and a returning officer for the first election.

Nominations were held one week later on May 22nd. An election was called May 29th. Before Election Day, W.J. Kew withdrew his nomination, and Salmon Arm's first council was elected by acclamation.

What was on the minds of our councilors at the first meeting? Two by-laws, one to levy a tax on non-taxpaying residents and a second ordering noxious weeds to be cut annually on or before July 1st. A third concern? Bridges and roads. A fourth? Repairs to bridges and roads.

In 1905, ten square miles defined the municipality. Development was disorganized. Agnes McGuire, a woman ahead of her time, saw an opportunity. Encouraged by requests to subdivide her acreage, she wrote to council and proposed the development of what is the city core today.

The following February, two by-laws were presented to council. One secured employment for ten men and the construction of a box plant in exchange for tax exemption on machines owned by the Brayden and Johnson Sawmill. The second, exempted "the townsite from taxation provided Mrs. McGuire deed(ed) a lot suitable for municipal buildings." ³ Arguments were heated, but both by-laws passed. A four-ward system developed, with councilors reporting back to their neighbours. Salmon Arm emerged from farmland and, with councilÕs foresight developed an economic base and secondary industry.

The community grew, but not without strife. As early as 1906, a group from the South Ward attended a council meeting and officially requested to withdraw from the community. Its petition was tabled. A month later, according to historian Ernie Doe, a similar petition was presented by both the South and North Wards. However, the petition was flawed and did not correctly describe the ward's limits. At the next council meeting, a reworked petition was presented. Council refused to receive it and the issue laid to rest until 1910.

¹ Edenograph, Nov. 23/04 p. 1, c. 6
² Kamloops' Inland Sentinel, Feb. 10/05.
³ Doe, Ernie, The Centennial History of Salmon Arm. Salmon Arm: Salmon Arm Observer, 1971, p. 24