While miners and settlers looked for gold in the surrounding areas, the beaches of Salmon Arm lay virtually untouched.

"[8] Trudeau infamously gave the protesters the finger; his gesture was caught on a single television camera and immediately used by some as, "a vivid symbol for those who thought the Liberal prime minister arrogant and hostile to Western Canada.

Only a month after the incident T-shirts, which depicted a caricature of Trudeau leaning out of a train with his middle finger raised, were being produced and sold to the citizens of Salmon Arm.

[8] In 1998, an area of 13,500 acres (34 km2 or just over 5000 hectares) immediately southwest of Salmon Arm was burnt to the extent of deforestation by a wildfire started by lightning.

The media reported "20 homes and 15 barns"[10] were destroyed during the firestorm in the Silver Creek area to the south of Salmon Arm, which also produced Canada's largest civil evacuation up to that date when the "5,000-hectare forest fire that forced the removal of 7,000 residents of Salmon Arm was being blown toward the town.

[14] According to the 2021 census, religious groups in Salmon Arm included:[15] The largest employer in the Salmon Arm area is the forest industry and related businesses; however, due to economic conditions, the former Federated Co-Op sawmill has been out of operation since Dec. 21, 2007,[20] although the co-located plywood production facility has generally remained operational.

Most tourists arrive during the summer season, either stopping en route to other holiday destinations or to visit Shuswap Lake, often via rental houseboats and which has recreation residential communities and campgrounds all around its shores.

[24][25] David Lethbridge is a retired Professor of Psychology and the author of Norman Bethune in Spain: Commitment, Crisis and Conspiracy.

[26][27] Mike Worobey is winner of the Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy for 2009 from Simon Fraser University and is known for research on COVID-19 pandemic beginnings.

During every third weekend of August, the annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues festival draws large crowds of festival-goers with an international roster of performers.

From its grassroots beginnings, Roots & Blues has grown into the largest and most musically diverse festival in the British Columbian interior.

Salmon Arm is home to a branch of Okanagan Regional Library (ORL), which is currently located in Piccadilly Mall.

The building was originally a post office, and later housed the Salmon Arm branch of Okanagan Regional Library for many years.

The proximity of the Shuswap Lake has also resulted in a growing interest in rowing and paddling sports,[41] particularly dragon boat racing.

Salmon Arm has a bus network that serves neighbourhoods and shopping destinations using commuter minibuses on hourly schedules.

[42] In 1998, an area of 13,500 acres (about 55 km2 or 5500 hectares) immediately southwest of Salmon Arm was burnt to the extent of deforestation by a wildfire started by lightning.

The fire came down from the Fly Hills in the west and embers carried by the wind jumped the valley and ignited Mount Ida.

The media reported "20 homes and 15 barns"[10] were destroyed during the firestorm in the Silver Creek area to the south of Salmon Arm, which also produced Canada's largest civil evacuation up to that date when the "5,000-hectare forest fire that forced the removal of 7,000 residents of Salmon Arm was being blown toward the town.