Growing Population: Growing Market
The Shuswap is seeing steady population growth, driven by lifestyle migration, remote work, and entrepreneurs choosing communities that support both business and quality of life. For enterprise, this growth means expanding local markets, a strengthening labour pool, and rising demand for goods, services, and housing. New residents bring skills, capital, and professional networks that deepen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Growth in the Columbia Shuswap is intentional and balanced — offering momentum without the pressures of major urban centres. With 1-2 hr access to all points of the north and central Okanagan, a Shuswap location offers products and services access to the rapidly growing Okanagan. Kelowna additionally offers international airport access.
| Area | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | 2025 | 15-Year Growth (2011-2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Shuswap Regional District Areas C, D, F, G | 14,077 | 14,419 | 16,519 | Not available | 17.3 % (10-year) |
| Broader Columbia Shuswap (Areas A through G) | 51,216 | 53,321 | 59,196 | 62,795 | 22.6% |
| City of Salmon Arm | 17,464 | 17,706 | 19,432 | 20,613 | 18% |
| Central Okanagan (Regional District) – Kelowna & Area | 183,668 | 203,725 | 232,159 | 254,635 | 38.6% |
| North Okanagan (Regional District) – Vernon & Area | 82,449 | 87,565 | 94,885 | 100,142 | 21.4% |
| BC | 4,400,057 | 4,648,055 | 5,00,879 | 5,698,430 | 29.5% |
| Canada | 33,476,688 | 35,151,728 | 36,991,981 | 41,580,000 | 24.2% |
Columbia Shuswap Regional District – Golden, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Unincorporated Areas
Central Okanagan – Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, West Kelowna, Unincorporated Areas
North Okanagan – Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Spallumcheen, Vernon, Unincorporated Areas
Src: BC Government
Additional Highway Population
12,752 vehicles travel daily on Trans Canada Highway 1 in the Sorrento area in peak summer. As Canada’s primary national highway, Highway 1 offers significant ability to capture and draw customers from traffic flow. Src: BC Government, August traffic – 12,752 two-way flow measured at Anglemont (2022 – last data year available. Current winter data not available).
Additional Recreational Property Owner Population
31% of dwellings are recreational property in Columbia Shuswap Regional District Areas C, D, F, G (Src: Census Canada, 2021. BC 7.3%, Salmon Arm 4.8%, Kelowna 7.3%, Revelstoke 10.3%). While this can be challenging for commercial services business models with a very high peak season and a low off-season: 1) recreational property owner presence adds roughly 5,500 people to the permanent area population of 16,500; 2) the ratio of recreational property ownership declined a proportional 6% between 2011 and 2011 – meaning more people are choosing to live in the Shuswap full time. This corresponds with population that increased 17.3% between 2011 and 2021 while the number of dwellings increased only 10.4%.
