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Published 5:00 am Tuesday, May 12, 2026<\/p>\n
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A Salmon Arm winery has a second application before the city for a planned events venue to help keep revenue flowing.<\/p>\n
Jamie Smith wears several hats at Marionette Winery including operations manager, winemaker and part-time house musician at the winery\u2019s lounge and patio where various culinary and\/or live music events are held.<\/p>\n
While these functions help support the winery, Smith aims to host larger events such as weddings, and has renovated structures on the property for this purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re using two old barns that were there \u2013 we\u2019re repurposing them,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThey were my equipment shed and a storage barn and I just took all my equipment out of the barn and emptied out the storage barn and dry walled it and put electric in it and made it into an events area.\u201d<\/p>\n
In November 2025, City of Salmon Arm council received a Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) referral for an application by Marionette for Special Event Area liquor <\/a>licence<\/a>. Council had no objection to the application and residents within an 800-metre radius of Marionette now have until May 30, 2026, to submit comments to the LCRB.<\/p>\n On March 24, Marionette received a visit from an Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) enforcement officer. Smith said the visit was prompted by a public complaint about him allegedly building a permanent structure. He said that wasn\u2019t the case \u2013 that the barns being repurposed were existing structures. However, during the officer\u2019s visit, Smith was informed he had to submit a non-farm use application to the ALC for the proposed events spaces.<\/p>\n Smith points out in his ALC application that the proposed non-farm use areas are \u201clocated exclusively on land that is unsuitable for agricultural purposes or vineyard cultivation.\u201d These areas consist of an approximately 3,700-square-foot picnic area that \u201coccupies the septic field area of the main building, which cannot be used for farming;\u201d a 1,700 sq ft patio, situated on the \u201csite of a derelict building that was removed due to its unusable condition,\u201d and: the special events area (1,400 sq ft indoors and 1,400 sq ft outdoors), which \u201creuses derelict buildings and surrounding areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith says in the application that these areas are essential to the winery\u2019s economic viability of our winery, as approximately 90 per cent of its revenue \u201ccomes from on-site experiences such as tourism, private events, and unique wine-related activities rather than retail sales through liquor stores or restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy position with the winery is it doesn\u2019t work anymore just having a tasting room,\u201d Smith told the Observer. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t work selling through retail because\u2026 We can\u2019t compete with $8 bottles from Australia. So we have to have more revenue coming off of our properties.\u201d<\/p>\n Though he supports the ALC, Smith admitted to being frustrated by the complaint and the need for a second application.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy two parts of the same government can\u2019t be on the same page\u2026 whatever the ALC wanted us to do it should be part of one application,\u201d said Smith. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s ALC application has been referred to the City of Salmon Arm, utility providers, and is on the agenda for the May 13 meeting of the city\u2019s Agricultural Advisory Committee.<\/p>\n