is a city in the interior of the
Canadian province of
British Columbia that has a population of 16,466 as reported in the
BC Stats (2004). It is on the shores of
Shuswap Lake , where the
Salmon River empties into the Salmon Arm reach of the Lake. It is a tourist destination for the summer, with many beaches, as well as camping facilities and house boat rentals. It is the seat of the
Columbia-Shuswap Regional District . Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau famously made an obscene gesture to protesters here while on a train trip through the West. Salmon Arm became a city on
May 15 2005 its 100th birthday of incorporation.
The largest employers in the Salmon Arm area are related to the forest industry.
Tourism is also important to Salmon Arm, bringing many tourists from
Vancouver and
Calgary .
Salmon Arm has a campus of
Okanagan College that offers many programs in a wide range of fields.
The annual
Shuswap International Writers' Festival and Roots and Blues Festival are held here.
