SECA Priorities

SECA is a registered non-profit corporation in British Columbia. Our mission statement is: “to use our best efforts, through communication, co-operation and leadership, to make our community a better place to live.” Our board of directors is made up of people who, like you, are proud to live in Shuswap Lake Estates. We are in no way affiliated with the developer. We represent the citizens of the community with all levels of government and the local developer. We strive to hear your concerns, make decisions on priorities, and work with decision-makers to ensure the needs and concerns of SLE residents are heard. We also offer opportunities for public safety-related programs, fellowship, participation in the beautification of our community, and addressing environmental issues.

While we encourage social and recreational activities, SECA is not a social or recreational organization. We do not sponsor, organize or promote social or recreational events in our community. There are many excellent social and recreational groups in our community. We urge you to contact the Shuswap Lake Estates offices to learn more about these groups and how to get involved.

Here’s a list of the current issues that we believe are problems or opportunities for Shuswap Lake Estates residents.

1. Liquid Waste.
The proposed Liquid Waste Management Plan concerns us for several reasons. Ed Fearns, our Director at Large who has a strong background in these types of systems, has agreed to monitor the ongoing process on behalf of SECA. We will be seeking opportunities to ask the relevant questions and influence the outcome so that it best meets the needs and expectations of SLE residents.

2. Community Plan.
The new Official Community Plan (OCP) has the potential to provide both benefits and disadvantages to SLE residents. SECA has obtained representation on the OCP Committee that is helping shape the final version of the new OCP.

3. Road Maintenance.
The condition of SLE roads is poor. Many streets appear to need wholesale reconstruction—for example, the oldest section of Golf Course Drive. Many other streets are in dire need of resurfacing. Meanwhile, in the winter months, snow removal is often ill-timed and of poor quality. SECA will be lobbying the CSRD, the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, and the maintenance contractor (currently Argo) to take our needs seriously.

4. Services & Amenities.
Recent questionable planning decisions by the CSRD planning staff/board of directors have galvanized SECA and our community—the recent library and medical centre applications are good examples. Despite being by far the largest centre of population in Area C, SLE and greater Blind Bay are slow to get the services and amenities we require. The result is that we have to travel the highway to Sorrento or Salmon Arm for the most basic of services, and sometimes have to move prematurely to better serviced communities. SECA will continue to press for the needs of our residents to be considered in the planning processes.

5. Parks and Recreation.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on parks and recreation in Area C. As SLE residents are major contributors to these funds via their tax assessments, SECA intends to be involved in determining how and where to develop further parks and rec facilities for the benefit of our residents, and how best to augment and operate facilities. SLE residents were heard during initial planning, but ongoing participation is important.

6. Emergency Services.
SLE residents enjoy high quality, responsive emergency services. For example, we have an excellent firehall in close proximity, and an excellent volunteer fire department. SECA takes our community’s safety issues seriously, and will continue to work with the RCMP, fire department and all emergency responders when appropriate to ensure services remain consistent and responsive. We will also do our part, liaising with the Citizens on Patrol and continuing to offer our boating safety courses leading to operator's certification (which, incidentally, is mandatory as of September 15, 2009).

7. Communication.
Communication is our most important priority. We will strive to communicate in a positive manner with the politicians and officials whose decisions have a direct bearing on our quality of life. We also seek to communicate and work with local business owners. And we look forward to collaborating with other community associations, particularly those representing our neighbours here in Blind Bay—the Cedar Heights Community Association and the Blind Bay Community Association. Above all, we want to ensure a constant stream of two-way communication with you, the residents of Shuswap Lake Estates. We’re counting on you to let us know what your priorities are.