Blind Bay Centennial Celebrations

Blind Bay, BC, originally called Trapper’s Landing, is the community nestled into a beautiful corner of the Shuswap Lake east of Kamloops with a view to enjoy year round.  Blind Bay celebrated their Centennial this year and hosted a special day to bring everyone together to enjoy the occasion.

Heart of Blind Bay, BC

The celebrations hosted by the Blind Bay Hall Association were held right at the hall with an outdoor platform for the musicians to perform on, there were car awards given that were made available by donations from local businesses and a silent auction to be viewed and bid on.  A day full of celebrating events.

Days of old delivery truck

The Blind Bay hall is the location of the very first school built here and opened 100 years ago.  Many visited in the available seating, taking in the events and enjoying some great hamburgers and hot dogs donated by the Blind Bay Village Grocer and prepared by volunteers.

Don Hart entertains

Opening ceremonies began at 10am and the celebration kept everything hopping for hours.  The talented performers could be heard from afar with everyone enjoying the music and little ones dancing to their hearts content.

1936 Ford Tudor Touring Sedan

There was a car show that had some very special models on display, many of which are from Blind Bay, but visitor cars were made welcome, too. 

1949 Studebaker truck and 1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk

The Blind Bay Rd was closed for vehicular traffic at this location and used as a display location for the many cars.  The road was busy with locals and visitors walking and enjoying the shine and polish of these collectors.

Show and Shine at Blind Bay, BC

The lake made a great backdrop for the cars and the weather was perfect for such an event.  With the overnight showers having cooled the hot temperature down a bit and a nice breeze blowing across the venue, the weather cooperated perfectly.

Aaron Halliday is "Almost Alan"

The musical star attraction of the day was Aaron Halliday, who does Alan Jackson music right down to his appearance.  Almost Alan does a great job and drew a good crowd to enjoy his show.

Blind Bay Centennial Celebrations

There were zillions of volunteer hours put into organizing and working the celebrations which did not go unnoticed by the visitors and locals who came to enjoy their day.  Great job done by Dave and his crew.

Blind Bay Hall Association, Cedar Heights Community Association,  Notch Hill Town Hall and Shuswap Estates Community Association all participated with different venues and attractions.   The community that began 100 years ago still has the community spirit that would make the pioneers proud.

Happy Blind Bay Centennial celebration!

Blind Bay ~ Shuswap Lake, BC ~ Canada

When we talk of Shuswap Lake, we usually think summer fun but there are three other great seasons and many sights to enjoy.  We were there on the first snowfall of the season and it was absolutely beautiful.  The bay was shrouded with clouds that gave us a very ominous quiet morning.  A perfect winter morning to enjoy through the lens of my camera.

Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake, BC in winter

Some say there is 1000 km (600 mi.) of shoreline on this lake that is shaped like an “H” and located on the Trans Canada Highway #1.  There are several communities scattered around the lake, including Sorrento and Salmon Arm and some of the lake even has cabins that are only accessible by boat.

A lone boat on Shuswap Lake, BC in winter

Winter activities include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and great ice fishing. There are several dining spots scattered around the lake to visit, shops and galleries with arts and crafts created by some of the many artisans and skilled artists that live in the Shuswap area.

The marina and park wait for summer to return

Blind Bay is in the South Shuswap, which is known as the heart of the Shuswap. Blind Bay is a quiet community in winter compared to all the summer traffic that comes this way. The Bayside Marina is closed for the season and the park sits waiting for summer to return.

Red berries frozen on the bush

The Shuswap has a rich history and much can be seen in the local museums and archives.  There is the 15th Annual Heritage Week happening Feb. 21-26, 2011 held at the Piccadilly Mall in Salmon Arm, BC with the theme celebrating parks and protected areas.

 

Scene of serenity at Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake

The Shuswap area was once mainly a summer retreat that had many cabins where families would spend their holidays at and enjoy the lake for boating and water activities.  There were always some year round residents but I believe that has grown to be the majority and most homes are now lived in year round.

The Shuswap country, located one hour east of Kamloops, has so much to see any season of the year. To learn more about this area, click here.