As you leave the Shuswap driving west down the last hillside you are rewarded with an amazing view of two communities nestled between the shores of Little Shuswap Lake where the South Thompson River begins in a valley framed by hills and mountains. On the north side is the bustling community of Sexqéltqin, where Secwepemc people have lived since “time immemorial.” To the south is the charming Village of Chase that in summer appears as a green oasis next to shimmering blue water, where its long, red pier juts out into Little Shuswap Lake.
Incorporated in 1969, Chase has a rich settlement history dating back to when the valley was first homesteaded by Whitfield Chase in 1865 and when in the early 1900s it became a lumber company boom town. Today, it is a commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural region, a retirement community, a bedroom community for Kamloops, a community tied to the forest industry and a cultural, recreational and education hub for the local region.
When the latest highway project is completed, access to Chase will be vastly improved and should help to boost the community’s spirit and economy. In the past decade, the village has seen significant growth, as new residents have moved there to take advantage of its affordable housing costs, laidback lifestyle, ample greenspace, and amenities.
One way to gauge the success of a community is by looking at its volunteer organizations to learn how residents cooperate and achieve shared goals. In Chase there are many active non-profit societies that support community recreation, seniors, history, culture and the environment, as well as provide services to those in need. Perhaps the busiest group is the Recreation Society that manages both the arena and the popular nine-hole golf course that is in the centre of the community.
On many weekends in the winter, the Art Holding Memorial Arena‘s parking lot is filled with cars because of the youth hockey teams competing in tournaments and for Shuswap Skating Club events. These programs are so popular they attract youth from neighbouring communities, including Dallas and Blind Bay. When Chase Heat, the town’s junior hockey league team plays, the stands are filled with local fans.
Music fills the air during the summer in the village, thanks to the Chase Festival Society, which sponsors the weekly Music on the Lake series at the bandshell in the waterfront park, as well as Canada Day festivities, the annual Cornstock Festival, and a Pride Celebration. This June they will be teaming up with the Recreation Society to host a concert at the arena.
One of the key recreational features for the community is the network of trails called The Scatchard Mountain Switchbacks on the hillside south of the highway, where a road was built to the Chase Creek and Turtle valleys by the Adams River Lumber Company. A major upgrade to these trails is in the works thanks to funding from the provincial and federal governments and the efforts of the Shuswap Trail Alliance. Access to these trails will be vastly improved when the highway project is completed, as there will be a parking lot located next to the access road to the village for traffic from the west. When completed, there will be more than five hours worth of hiking on the trails.
There is a true commitment to sustainability and climate action in Chase, given that the village council supports reducing is carbon footprint through various initiatives including programs that support energy efficiency, tree planting and an active transportation plan that focuses on walking, cycling and the use of golf carts. The Chase Environmental Action Society is also actively working to raise awareness and promote green initiatives.
With its recently improved water treatment plant and its well-designed and efficient sewage treatment plant, Chase is well poised for future growth. Although the village footprint is confined by geography, there is land ready to be developed west of Chase Creek. Already, the Whitfield Landing development is filling up with manufactured homes and there are 28 acres or more that will provide room for additional housing. Additionally, there are plans for a 37-unit affordable rental building for seniors adjacent to the arena and a housing co-op will soon be moving into its first building close to the downtown core. Eventually, the village’s population could double in size to over 5,000 residents, all who will appreciate the friendly community spirit and year-round recreational and cultural opportunities.
POSTSCRIPT
This map shows the land designations within the Village of Chase. The grey and brown areas are open for development. Note the many parks and the golf course in the centre of the community.
