Below is the first in a series of good news stories being shared by the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce to highlight the resiliency of the local business community as it works collaboratively in recovery from the Bush Creek East wildfire.
The August 2023 blaze destroyed 176 North Shuswap structures, including several commercial operations. This series will share first-person accounts of some of those businesses across many sectors, from construction and professional services to tourism and retail.
“The community spirit and cohesiveness that helped the North Shuswap through the fire’s devastation is the same spirit that will ensure our better-than-ever recovery”, says executive director Debbie Seymour. “Our members’ stories are a tribute to that spirit and the North Shuswap Chamber is honoured to help share them to a wider audience.”
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Celista Cabinetry
For Ben Pawluk of Celista Cabinetry, there’s still no better place than the North Shuswap to build community, build a business and strive for excellence, despite losing their relatively new cabinetry shop in the fire that left them with nothing more than a wrench.
Thanks to the community’s kindness, support and resilience, just a mere ten days later, after the evacuation order was lifted, they were back to work in a new temporary shop working with clients to get jobs back on track, planning the re-build and finding a way forward.
The Pawluk family has deep connections to the North Shuswap having spent many summers as a family in Scotch Creek. Ben’s dad Rob Pawluk owned a large scale millwork shop in Edmonton where Ben learned the craft from a young age. When retirement loomed for Rob, the North Shuswap was a natural fit. Starting with a few projects in the shop to help friends, they soon took on larger projects and Celista Cabinetry was born providing expert craftsmanship for high-end commercial tenant improvements such as offices and restaurants in the region.
In his 25 year plus career, Ben has had the opportunity to work in many different communities.
“The North Shuswap is where I want to be,” said Ben. “It’s a great place for young families to thrive. I’ve seen our resilience and I know we can build it to be better than ever.”
To learn more about Celista Cabinetry and their talented team visit celistacabinetry.ca.
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The North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce represents 120 businesses in the region. To learn more about local members, visit northshuswapbc.com/news/