Business Facade Improvement Program

Façade Improvements Complete at Six Local Businesses

By Jo Boxwell

The North Shuswap Business Façade Improvement Program was launched in 2024. The initiative was led by the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce with funding provided by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) and the Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS). Businesses applied for funding to cover up to 50% of costs for façade improvement projects up to $10,000. The program was an expansion of a pilot façade improvement program in Scotch Creek.

Projects

Six local businesses benefited from façade improvement funds, with all projects now complete. The participating businesses were the Anglemont Inn, Be Teased, Celista Estate Winery, Quaaout Lodge & Talking Rock Golf Course, the Scotch Creek Bottle Depot and the Shuswap Social District.

Todd and Deb at the Anglemont Inn explained that the accommodation’s 1970s entrance features needed an update to improve the experience for visitors. Logs were sandblasted and refinished, and the front door and deck door were replaced with double doors, “with the wider entrance being more functional for guests with luggage” Todd said. New electronic locks add convenience for guests requiring late check ins.

Jake Ootes at Celista Estate Winery also said façade program improvements benefitted guests; “The new entrance design significantly elevates the welcoming feel of our winery, creating a more inviting experience for our visitors.” Upgrades at the winery included new signage, flag poles and a wrought iron gate.

At Be Teased, old wooden fencing was removed and replaced with vinyl fencing and gates that add more appeal to the outdoor venue for locals and visitors. Angela Lagore at the Shuswap Social District said façade project funds helped her business replace roadside signage. “This benefited us by improving our roadside visibility, helped to increase our foot traffic and allowed us to showcase all the businesses located inside The District,” she explained.

For two businesses, façade improvement funds aided recovery from damages incurred during the 2023 Bush Creek East Wildfire. The Scotch Creek Bottle Depot was lost to the fire, and the new owner wanted to ensure both security and a tidy look for the property. Chain link fencing with privacy slats deters theft and hides bottle containers from view from the main road. 

Rhys Laug at Quaaout Lodge at Talking Rock Resort explained that the wildfire severely damaged the business’s billboard at Squilax-Anglemont Road and Little Shuswap Road, and destroyed the night-time lighting for the prominent sign. He said, “The business façade improvement program enabled us to hire a local electrical contractor to install new energy-efficient LED lighting for this billboard after it was restored.” 

Impact

Debbie Seymour, Executive Director of the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce, said, “The feedback from this program has been positive and it is really good to see the improvements and sense of pride for these businesses, in many cases spurring further façade improvements.” According to the Chamber, the program leveraged funding totalling $54,446 while the business participants’ new investments amounted to $100,641.

Several business owners who participated in the program pointed out that these investments are good news for the local economy. Jake at Celista Estate Winery said that at the winery, “The project engaged a local backhoe operator, welder, and hardware suppliers, showcasing a ripple effect of economic benefits within the community.”

While some business owners noted that these projects were already on their to-do lists, these investments helped them prioritize façade improvements that benefit visitors and residents. Angela Lagore at the Shuswap Social District said, “We appreciate the funding assistance to help ease the costs on a large project,” while Rhys at Quaaout Lodge commented that the funding allowed them to “accomplish this work to a high standard well ahead of what might have been feasible otherwise given the impact of the wildfire on our business and community.”

The program is a reminder of the value of small businesses to the local economy, and participating businesses say the façade improvements have made a difference. Todd at the Anglemont Inn said many returning guests are “appreciative of the changes,” and at Quaaout Lodge, Rhys commented, “Getting those lights back on was a beacon of hope for the community as we all have been working through recovery from the wildfire.”