The Salmon Arm Observer is looking to hear more from our community members and is interested in finding out what they love about Salmon Arm and the Shuswap.
We are profiling different residents for our community section, by asking them to answer a list of questions about Salmon Arm and the Shuswap and why they think it is so great.
This week we are profiling Barry Delaney.
The Delaney family moved to Salmon Arm two years ago from Abbotsford so Barry could take up the position as SASCU’s CEO. He brought along five of their seven children and quickly filled up the schools, he jokes.
Delaney has spent more than 30 years in banking and have lived in places like Chicago, Montreal and Toronto.
He adds, “For one brief year after university, I worked for the Lego toy company in Denmark in their marketing department. This is the only professional achievement of which my children are proud.”
Find out what Delaney thinks about his new community.
When someone says ‘the Shuswap’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Quality of life. One can enjoy a professional challenge at work and enjoy a short commute with all of the outdoor recreation opportunities offered here. We are a family that enjoys camping, hiking, snow shoeing, skiing and swimming. What a great place.
If you could change or improve one thing about your community what would it be?
I would like to change the myth that people only move here to retire. That is no longer true. For the past three years we have seen the student enrolments growing in both the schools and at our local college. At SASCU, we are seeing lots of young families starting a life here and they are adding a vibrancy which I love. The new normal is that Salmon Arm is attracting young families at its fastest pace ever.
What’s your favourite local company?
I have three and they are first, the Shuswap Community Theatre. I know they are not a company but they add such a great flavor to our community along with our vibrant art gallery. Second, my favourite store is called “On Alex,” a terrific place with lots of local gift ideas and interesting Canadian items and third, SASCU (of course). We are the Shuswap’s very own financial institution that has been here for 71 years and has a great story.
What are the top three places you would recommend that tourists visit when they are in Salmon Arm?
I always enjoy taking visitors to the Shuswap Pie Company as it is truly a unique Salmon Arm experience. We also like to take guests on a hike to Siphon Falls and walk the Gayle Creek Loop. There is rope there that the older kids can use to climb higher. And of course Canoe Beach where we can go for an hour or two and enjoy weather.
What do you see for the community in 20 years?
As the Chair of the Brand Leadership Project for Salmon Arm, I have been interested to learn about our amazing high-tech companies doing everything from robotics to software development. Who knew?
We are so lucky as a community to have a great college campus, a quality hospital, a good airport, and more technology firms per capita than any other community in B.C. In 20 years I would love for Salmon Arm to be known as a technology centre and a great place to raise a family.
We are looking to profile as many community members as possible. If you would like to be profiled or if you would like to nominate someone please click on this link and fill out the questionnaire.