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Everything Shuswap finally off to press

Proceeds from book sales will be donated to School District #83 for their outdoor learning program.
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Jim Cooperman photo Kathi Cooperman enjoys the spectacular view from the top of the Blind Bay Bluffs. This photo by Jim Cooperman appears in the beginning of the book.

Everything Shuswap, the first comprehensive book about our glorious Shuswap region, is finally off to be printed and will be available soon.

The process to create this book began 12 years ago in 2005 when I began writing these columns, which were re-written and combined with other material for the manuscript.

Developing the manuscript into the final book was a monumental effort that involved: reviews by local and provincial experts; the collection of many images and historic maps; the preparation of unique maps, graphs and tables; the excellent design and layout by Shuswap Press; extensive fundraising, and seemingly endless proofreading.

The 242-page book opens with a foreword by author Alan Haig-Brown and includes five chapters beginning with a watershed tour with maps of each sub-drainage, followed by geology, ecology, the Secwepemc people, and a history of settlement.

There are more than 350 photographs and illustrations by more than 24 photographers and illustrators.

Additionally, there are 36 maps, many of which were produced especially for this publication. A GIS technician created statistics that describe how the Shuswap land base is distributed according to elevation, land classification and ecological zones.

The two history chapters may indeed be the most popular, as many residents are fascinated by the more than 9,000 years of Secwepemc settlement, the fur trade and gold rush eras, and the early days of the first European settlers. After extensive research, many photos from these early days are in the book. Thankfully, all but one of the local museums generously donated images for the book and some of these are being published for the first time.

Sternwheeler steamships were key to the Shuswap’s early development, and along with photos there is a table listing all of them, along with some interesting details.

The entire project would not have been possible without the generous contributions from 174 sponsors, including six local governments, four Secwepemc bands, 10 organizations and 35 businesses.

I am gifting the book and the proceeds from sales to School District #83 for their outdoor learning program. There is the potential for book sales to raise many thousands of dollars, which will go towards the costs of nature-based field trips for students of all ages.

In addition to raising money for outdoor learning, the book will be used for high school geography classes and will serve as a resource for all the schools.

Most of the digital materials used for research will be provided to the schools and made available to students for more in-depth studies. As well, an educational guide for the book will be prepared with study questions and suggestions for projects and research.

The goal is for Everything Shuswap to become the authoritative resource book for local residents who want to learn more about the amazing region they live in, and a book that visitors will want to bring home to share with their friends and families.

Hopefully, the book will also become popular elsewhere, including Vancouver and Calgary, and thus will help to attract more visitors and new residents. Most importantly, by providing detailed information the book will encourage greater appreciation and respect for the magnificent Shuswap.

Two more volumes of Everything Shuswap are planned in order to cover all aspects of this region.

In volume two, there will be chapters on communities, the economy, sports and recreation, plus arts and culture.

Over the next year, local photographers will be encouraged to capture images for these topics, and students may assist with the research.

By the time the third volume is completed with chapters on parks, governance, organizations, threats and the future, nearly every aspect of the Shuswap will be covered.

These books will serve as a “base case,” so that many decades from now, people will be able to evaluate how this region changed.

Watch for news about the upcoming Everything Shuswap book launch that will feature music by local singer-songwriters, images from the book, short talks, refreshments and a reading from the book.

Learn more at everythingshuswap.ca.