We spent a very hot afternoon walking around downtown Salmon Arm, British Columbia on July 12th, 2024. I didn’t get a chance to photograph it properly on a previous visit and there was on particular item on my photographic bucket list: The Almar Classic Theatre.
The truth is that am not and have never been a fan of movie theatres. I hated them in the past, I hate them now, and I plan to keep hating them in the future because I am nothing if not consistent. And annoying. That being said, I’d be willing to catch a midnight showing of Rocky Horror at The Almar because it is freakin’ adorable. I also bet you can really bank a piece of toast off those curved walls, too.
The Innovation Centre from the Salmon Arm Savings & Credit Union (SASCU) was not on my bucket list, but it’s one of those buildings that is crack cocaine for photographers. Colours and character. I probably would have spent half a day photographing it if not for the horrible heat.
Oh, that last butterfly is at sidewalk level and it is intended for people to stand in front of so they have butterfly wings to make images that can be posted to Insta and other hashtag friendly social media. Smart marketing there.
Being in British Columbia, it is no surprise that Salmon Arm’s dowtown is filled with beautiful, well-cared for flowers. It is amazing to see a municipality actually caring properly for the expensive planters they have put out for the public enjoy. Perhaps Salmon Arm can send a delegation to Strathmore that can explain the concept of properly watering plants to my own town’s gormless horticultural crew.
The downtown is quirky and eclectic. I didn’t get to photograph a fraction of what I wanted to as we were all wilting in the 35C heat, but there was lots more. Pie shops. Coffee shops. Book shops. Gaming shops. Touristy shops. Noodle joints. It’s one of those places that does an outstanding job of reminding you of how drab your own life is where you live that is not in Salmon Arm. It did this for me at least.
I think the final insult while downtown was walking into a locally run supermarket called Askew’s. It felt like a Sobey’s here in Alberta, but even more upscale. Here are the kickers: Better selection (especially produce), better quality, and better prices than in Alberta. I am aware that B.C. has a cost of living crisis and I certainly saw it when I filled my vehicle, but not in the grocery store. I want to live there and not where I am. Serious discussions with The Missus may ensue.
I used two different cameras for the images in this post… My Bonzart Ziegel toy camera and my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. If the faux frame on the image says Ziegel somewhere, it came from the Bonzart. If it is a plain black frame, that one came from the Samsung. If the image you’re looking at doesn’t have a frame at all then you’re reading the wrong post.
