About Us

About the Shuswap Economic Development Society

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About Us: Building a Stronger Shuswap Together

The Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS) is the regional economic development organization serving the unincorporated communities of Electoral Areas C, D, F, and G within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. We work collaboratively with local governments, First Nations, businesses, community organizations, investors, and residents to build a strong, diverse, and resilient regional economy

Our vision is simple:

To promote a year-round local economy that supports vibrant communities and a healthy environment.

What We Do

SEDS helps the Shuswap economy grow by:

Supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs

Attracting investment, jobs, and new businesses

Strengthening tourism, agriculture, housing, and workforce opportunities

Advocating for infrastructure and services

Building regional partnerships

Our Investment Attraction Strategy – Summary

Strategy is where value proposition and values is aligned with opportunity. Our strategy is big picture, longer term.

Investment Attraction Strategy Summary graphic

Our Key Initiatives

Gigabit Broadband – the Shuswap Region Broadband Co-op – founded by SEDS, Skw’lax Group Ltd., and the Village of Chase – aims to build an open-access fibre optic network to serve approximately 2,000 underserved households in rural Shuswap.

Marketing – the Shuswap Economic Development Society is producing a comprehensive set of marketing material to nurture investment attraction.

Hot Button Issues – three Shuswap Economic Development Society Task Forces are actively working on implementing the Investment Attraction Strategy: 1) Healthcare Services; 2) Agriculture; 3) Infrastructure.

Read our Economic Development Strategy

Read our Investment Attraction Strategy

Read our Our Advocacy Agenda

Board

Sue McCraeBoard President

With 45 years as a consultant, accountant, and CFO, Sue excels in guiding businesses through growth and change. Passionate about rural health, infrastructure, and housing, she complements her professional expertise with extensive Board service and volunteerism.

Josef BergerSecretary & Treasurer

With a focus on developing a stable economic in the Shuswap Lake region, Josef aims to guide decisions that support economic growth, including affordable housing, infrastructure, and education. He brings experience as a former Director at the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce. Josef is co-owners Newscapes Landscaping in North Shuswap.

Rhys LaugBoard Director

With nearly 30 years in tourism, Rhys is a senior manager at Quaaout Lodge & Talking Stick Resort, playing a key role in recovery efforts after the 2022 fire at the lodge and the 2023 Bush Creek Wildfire. An outdoor enthusiast, he also supports regional arts and destination development initiatives.

Syd LoeppkyBoard Director

Syd, a Professional Land Surveyor and former business owner, brings extensive expertise in land surveying, urban planning, and development. A dedicated community contributor, he has served on numerous boards and committee while cherishing his role as a husband, father, and grandfather.

Ronan RedelVice-President

Ronan is a Creative Director and Marketer specializing in photography, graphic design, and interactive media. His work has been featured both locally and international, with a focus on creating authentic, engaging stories. Ronan loves the Shuswap for its locally-grown food, warm lakes and rivers, and an endless network of gravel bike riding. Ronan is Principal, Ronan Redel Design.

Indigenous Relationships

The Shuswap is named after the Shuswap Indigenous Peoples – the Secwepemc – a Salish Nation made up of 17 Indigenous groups or bands, with unceded, ancestral lands, spread across south-central British Columbia. Our goal is to establish strong, respectful and reconciliatory relationships, and to identify collaborative opportunities with indigenous partners.

Three Indigenous groups have Reserve lands in our collective service area: