SPIN Volume 16 Issue 4

Budget grows

Resort breaks

ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY Page 2

ALL TIME SKIER RECORD Page 6

SPRING

Weather Forecast APRIL 20 — 25 Sunny, nice

APRIL 26 — 30 Showers, cool

MAY 1 — 8

Showers, then sunny, warm

MAY 9 — 18

Scattered showers, turning cool

MAY 19 — 22 Sunny, cool

Volume 16 Issue > 4 APRIL 20 — MAY 17

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YOURS FREE TO TAKE HOME

New Lift

announced for East Village

The mountain where the new lift will be constructed. | PHOTO SPIN

JEAN STRONG SUN PEAKS RESORT LLP (SPR) has announced millions of dollars in upgrades to the resort which will be completed or underway this summer.

One major addition will be a $4 million lift in the East Village running from near the base of the Morrisey chairlift to above

the internationally named ski runs acessible off the East Village Ski Way. The new four passenger, fixed grip lift is expected to improve access to the main village core and to existing terrain. Its scheduled completion is December 2018.

It will be complemented by a run that accesses Rambler and the village and a few short runs connecting to the existing runs.

Passengers will load the lift

where the Umbrella Cafe currently sits, passing over the road on its way up.

“I’ve personally always loved resorts that have lifts over the road as you’re driving in,” said SPR chief marketing officer Aidan Kelly.

“The new lift is something we are really pleased to add to the mix for next winter and it will greatly enhance our industry-leading ski-in, ski-out

design,” said Darcy Alexander, SPR vice president and general manager.

Kelly said he understands why some have criticized the lift for not adding enough new terrain, but added the lift will improve the overall flow of the resort and access for anyone staying in the East Village.

“They’re really, really nice runs,” he said, adding the lift will allow people to lap the runs

instead of using them solely as transport to Mt. Morrisey.

He said the increased capacity will also reduce pressure on other lifts and allow families from the East Village to ski a few runs without having to drive or go far.

In the years after the still unnamed lift is built, Kelly said SPR will likely add more continued on next page

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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LOCAL NEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER

services and in the long term it’s possible to move the lift to another area of the mountain and replace it with high speed quad.

Work will begin on the lift line, underground aspects, concrete and power this summer with an expected opening the week before Christmas 2018.

OUR TEAM

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

JEAN STRONG

brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

Jen Schier

jen@sunpeaksnews.com

REPORTER Jean Strong jean@sunpeaksnews.com

REPORTER NikkiFredikson nikki@sunpeaksnews.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

tain will also experience upgrading. Two new snow cats will be purchased for various capital improvements and new real estate initiatives are being planned.

Through the year more than $60 million will be spent on various projects including real estate development at Village Walk and Echo Land-

ing and the construction of the Sun Peaks Sports Centre by Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality.

“2018 will definitely be a big year at Sun Peaks. We are tremendously excited about what these projects will mean for the experience at our world-class resort,” said Alexander.

Community growth increases municipal budget

Brandi Schier

GRAPHIC ARTIST

The existing Sundance chair will also benefit from a 30 per cent increase in capacity with the addition of new carriers.

The resort’s Sun Peaks Grand Hotel and Conference Centre will see a major overhaul with a $7 million renovation to 221 rooms.

Other areas of the moun-

AFTER A STRONG 2017 Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) is working with a bigger budget than ever before. In 2018 the total expected revenue is over almost $9.5 million and expenses totalling just over $6.5 million. In 2017 the revenue was about $1.5 million less.

Last year SPMRM approved 34 building permits which amounted to $21 million in construction value. They also completed a number of their own projects including finishing the Sun Peaks Health Centre, adding solar panels to the Sports Centre, purchasing a new fire pumper truck, starting the sewage treatment plant expansion and be-

ginning the Sun Peaks Housing Authority and Development Cost Charges bylaw.

Last year also saw large increases in residential and commercial property’s assessed value at an average of an 18 per cent. Townhomes and condos saw the biggest increase with an average of 25 per cent.

The 2018 budget reveals even more growth in the community. SPMRM predicted 15 per cent growth in 2018 and 10 per cent in 2019.

The increases will impact property taxes with municipal taxes expected to rise two per cent depending on the assessed value of the property home.

The regional district taxes are increasing eight per cent and hospital nine per cent. As of the budget meeting the school tax increase

was unknown.

Increases are expected in multiple budget items. Insurance costs increased by $4,000 due to the ice rink and health centre and legal costs doubled to $60,000 from changes to short-term rentals and the housing authority. Planning costs increased by $10,000 to work with zoning consultants and a traffic engineer to improve roads, and new equipment purchased for the fire hall.

Another larger cost is the addition of a full time bylaw officer for an additional $56,750 for seven-day a week coverage that will focus on enforcing noise bylaws and nightly rentals.

The Health Centre and the purchase of Sun Peaks Utilities made significant changes to the budget and five year plan.

While the family prac-

tice is yet to be profitable, or even break even, losses are mainly covered by fundraising from the Sun Peaks Health Association. SPMRM expected the centre to cover all of its estimated $634,187 in costs in 2020.

SPMRM chief administrative officer Rob Bremner said despite the costs he thinks the service to the community is worth it.

Purchasing the water and sewer utilities also impacted the budget, adding additional staff and increased costs but also increased revenue.

Administration, service supplies and materials, contracting and vehicles for utilities cost just over $3.2 million.

The gas utility is still owned by Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) with a user agreement for the municipality to

other year by the provincial government.

This year Sun Peaks will receive $306,171 to be used to increase visitation with events or infrastructure.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) Mayor Al Raine said he was glad the program was extended another year.

He commended Tourism Minister Lisa Beare for advocating for Sun Peaks and the 13 other communities which receive RMI funding.

But he added the uncertainty of the program renewal annually means they don’t budget with it or rely on it for any major projects.

He added having no

commitment for next year or upcoming years is disappointing.

“We aren’t dependent on it but if RMI was canceled that would be a big blow,” he said.

Raine and leaders from the other communities have worked in recent years to show the program’s importance to both the Liber-

run it for costs and an administration fee.

A similar agreement is in place for the municipal owned sports centre to be operated by SPR with all losses or profits to be shared.

SPMRM holds $272,948 in long-term debt which was inherited when they incorporated.

The debt is for two long term loans, one for a fire truck and one for firehall additions. Loans related to the utilities take over and capital work will be received in 2018 and see payments begin in 2019.

They also hold just over $500,000 in reserves with few statutory reserves, meaning they are able to be used as needed rather than restricted to specific uses.

The budget must be adopted by May 15, 2018.

Charmaine Galbraith

CONTRIBUTORS Allen Best Emily Perrins Each issue reaches thousands of readers and one copy is available FREE to residents and visitors. Anyone taking papers in bulk will be prosecuted.

The opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, owners or writers. This publication may not be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the publisher.

ON THE COVER

>> RMI funding extended through 2019 The Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding that was set to end at the end of March has been extended for an-

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Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

al and NDP provincial governments.

“We need to work with the government to convince them this is a good program and makes sense.”

Since 2011 SPMRM has received $2,428,554 often used for the summer concert series.

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LOCAL NEWS Private medical responders care for Snowbombers JEAN STRONG LARGE EVENTS,LIKE C O O R S L I G H T SNOWBOMBING CANADA, can take a toll on the host community. Extra people and sound from stages late at night can be accepted for a few days.

But when it comes to potentially life threatening situations, it’s important the event doesn’t have a negative impact on residents or attendies.

That’s where Odyssey Medical comes in. Having provided medical coverage for events of all sizes across Canada and the United States, they were well prepared to work at Snowbombing Canada in early April.

Medical director Adam Lund, who is also an emergency room doctor in the Vancouver area, said their Snowbombing team consisted of around 25 members who mostly worked from 7 p.m. to the early morning hours.

“Snowbombing was a really cool event. It’s unique being embedded in the community...It went very much as we wanted,” he said.

Lund added patient numbers were “on the lighter side” and were often different injuries than are common at summer festivals or events. He said with the active nature of Snowbombing they saw more musculoskeletal injuries and less dehydration, sunburn or foot injuries than a summer event.

With Fentanyl increasingly appearing in recreational drugs, Lund said they had a plan in place in case of an opiod overdose however it wasn’t utilized.

According to Lund the opioid crisis hasn’t been a major issue on the festival scene.

While the team responded to other calls related to alcohol consumption or drug use they are unable to test or confirm specific substances.

Overall Lund said festivals are a fun way to train and get experience.

“It’s a lot of fun to be a part of...It’s very welcoming, you get lots of thanks, lots of high-fives and fist bumps. It’s overwhelmingly positive.

Lund said their services are important for event attendees and to ensure the rest of the community is cared for.

“We have a moral obligation to not degrade community service,” Lund said. “If they (resi-

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“We want to prevent unnecessary transfers and facilitate necessary transfers,”

dents) call 911 they should be able to get the same level of service they can every other day of the year.”

For Odyssey workers and volunteers (a broad mix of responders including ER physicians and nurses, nurse practitioners, emergency medical responders, primary care paramedics, and many Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society members) balancing means providing care to keep patients out of local hospitals and ambulances but knowing when to transfer care.

“We want to prevent unnecessary transfers and facilitate necessary transfers,” said Lund.

“911 is not the event’s emergency response plan.”

A lot goes into reaching that goal, starting with a planning process that can begin as early as a few years prior to an event, but in most cases begins one year to three months pre-event.

Lund and his team must analyze readily available resources in a community and understand how they will complement and add to them.

“It’s like solving a puzzle. What are the existing resources?” he said. “What additional resources do we need so we don’t over tax your medical system and so we don’t over tax ambulances?

It’s fantastic at Sun Peaks, with the gorgeous Health Centre.”

Lund commended the ski patrol team for their organization and warm welcome and thanked members of the family practice for being available in the evenings if needed.

“A real shout out to the Ski Patrol team...and the production company should be commended for being willing to invest in more than a simple first aid team.”

Members of Sun Peaks Ski Patrol and Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society, providing medical coverage at the Forest Stage. From left to right: Chris Mark, Benden Wanner, Sam Riggs, Sean Robinson and Shaun Pettit. | PHOTO SPIN

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

LOCAL NEWS Smoker heats up Bottom’s menu

PUBLIC WORKS LABOURER REQUIRED

This is a full time permanent position with competitive wages and benefits.

The position will be responsible for assisting with duties associated with but not limited to; the maintenance of the community sports field, assisting with the signage program, valley trail maintenance, winter/summer road maintenance support, drainage issues and village beautification program. The applicant must be in good physical shape as the position can be labour intensive.

Please forward resume to: Nicky Braithwaite, Finance Officer admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca Deadline: May 4, 2018 We would like to thank all those interested but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

RFP NOTICE Sun Peaks Volunteer Firefighter Department Society is requesting proposals for benefit charity participation in the 2018 Firefighters Charity Gala Please include a one page synopsis of the charity including a description, goals and a contact number.

Bottom’s Bar & Grill’s new smoker is impressing those who taste the food slow cooked inside. | PHOTO SUPLIED

JEAN STRONG AN 1800 POUND HUNK who loves meat and smoking has taken up residence on the patio at Bottom’s Bar & Grill.

And people are happy about it.

The competition grade Yoder Durango smoker was installed with some help and heavy lifting from Powder Ventures and was fired up for the first time in February.

Since then it has delighted the taste buds of those lucky enough to taste the team’s creations.

Manager Nathan Cross said it has given the kitchen the opportunity to be more creative in

a high volume environment.

“I think that we had reached our pretty full potential for food,” he said. “We were interested in how to progress. We have such a talented kitchen but an obligation to cater to the masses...it’s nice to add something more creative.”

Their weekly Sunday batches of mouth watering pork shoulder, brisket and beef chucks have proven popular.

They’ve also added tasty home smoked bacon to their caesars and hosted a southern hospitality event featuring three whiskeys, beers and meats to taste.

“It’s lots of work to maintain but it’s lots of fun to play with

different woods and stuff.”

While the tantalizing fare probably won’t make its way to the permanent menu due to time and batch size constraints, visitors to the restaurant can look forward to more experimentation.

Cross said they’d like to try whole chickens and pigs this summer and have specials that feature highlights of the homemade comfort foods.

“It’s visually appealing, it smells good, it’s just a good old fashion wood smoker,” he said. “It’s nice to add this to our image of being kind of a dive bar that will surprise you with our food.”

Submit to pozzas@live.com

by May 20, 2018

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, May 15, 2018 6:30 p.m.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipal Council gives notice that it will hold a Public meeting at Nancy Greene’s Lodge and Suites at 3220 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC, to review the proposed Development Cost Charges Bylaw.

Questions, comments and feedback can be forwarded to Nicky Braithwaite at admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Sun Peaks Family Practice is requesting proposals from licensed Physiotherapists and Registered Massage Therapists to provide services within our new facility.

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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COMMUNITY COLUMNIST VIEWS Lifting expectations BRANDI SCHIER PUBLISHER’S NOTE brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

“UNDERWHELMING” WAS PERHAPS MY FAVOURITE RESPONSE posted in regards to SPR’s announcement of a new lift.

Or maybe it was “the lift to nowhere,” or “new candidate for least used lift”?

Jokes aside, I was a bit disappointed with the overly negative response by many regarding Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s (SPR) announcement

of a new fixed grip lift servicing the East Village.

I get it. We were expecting something else, and when it didn’t come through it’s natural to be disappointed. With 15 years since a new lift, there is a pent up expectation in regards to development and SPR’s decision definitely missed the mark for some.

But if you haven’t picked up on it yet, SPR is playing the long game. And while it wasn’t the news many people were hoping for, it’s still good news at the end of the day.

It shows SPR and its owner Nippon Cable are still on track to make major investments and working toward the master plan laid out decades ago.

Not many other ski areas in Western Canada have benefited as we have from steady ownership and dedication to a plan.

Yes, a new Crystal is definitely needed. And it would be amazing to be able to lap the steeper terrain on West Mo on a pow day. But with the way things are going, I don’t think we will have to wait much longer for some of these other plans to come to fruition.

The elusive 400,000 skier mark was hit for the first time ever this year, which had been a goal for the resort since before the 2008 downslide, signifying more investment on the horizon.

While the decision has been

criticized for prioritizing real estate development and sales over skier experience, it’s a stepping stone to help alleviate one of the major issues we have right now which is a shortage of beds, not a shortage of terrain.

Anyone who relies on this resort community for economic well being, whether they are a land developer or a lift operator, will benefit from this investment as it will help grow the community and the local economy overall.

And the terrain isn’t terrible, however it’s currently underutilized. I’ve had some great runs over there on the way to the base of Morrisey and it will be fun to explore the

area more. Future plans show the lift being replaced by a detachable quad, servicing higher runs yet to be cut.

At the end of the day, it’s a private business decision.

Like any company, they have to balance customer (pass holder) satisfaction with their long-term goals.

We have to have patience and a bit of faith that those making the decisions are not making them lightly and have the long-term health of the resort and the community as their priority.

I’ll be there to ride the new lift when it opens in December with a smile on my face and I hope to see you there too.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR • groceries • produce

WHILE IT IS VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE GROWTH OF SUN PEAKS, I am hoping the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality creates policy around preservation of trees and buffer zones. My husband and I live at Settler’s Crossing

and we watched with sadness as the bulldozer took down the few remaining trees between the new development at Echo Landing and our condo complex.

I am wondering when plans are approved if an attempt is made to preserve

>> Skier visits hit all time high On the second last weekend of winter operations Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) reached a milestone of 400,000 skier visits this season.

“Sunday was a super

trees and natural landscapes where possible or does profit take precedence?

From my viewpoint it looks like this new development is cramming in as many units as possible. Unfortunately, even on the perimeters not one tree is left standing.

historic day,” said Aidan Kelly, chief marketing officer for SPR. “It’s nice, every year we just keep raising the bar a little bit. Four hundred thousand was talked about for many years...it validates a lot of the work.”

Kelly said they were unsure if they would reach it after weather impacted December

As we move ahead and create a place that we live, work and play, as long-time residents we are hoping Mayor and Council create and implement policies that preserve some natural landscapes and not approve development permits that clear cuts

skier visits but January, February and March were “the best we’ve ever had.”

The 400,000th skier was scanned at 11:43 a.m. on April 8.

Last year the resort nearly reached the milestone, ending the year at 390,000.

The 2015-16 season saw 360,000.

an entire site (causing erosion and potential water issues) and disregard protected areas. Let’s work together and ensure we safeguard the natural resources in our community.

Laura Kalina Sun Peaks, B.C.

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Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

LOCAL NEWS Family continues to search as snow melts

An excavator moves a snowbank across from the Village Day Lodge.

A bus of volunteers travelled from Alberta to help search for a weekend. | PHOTO SPIN

| PHOTO SPIN

JEAN STRONG ON SUN PEAKS’ CLOSING WEEKEND, APRIL 14 AND 15, more than 30 people searched for missing Sun Peaks resident Ryan Shtuka, who has been missing for eight weeks.

The weekend prior Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) completed a small search and Kamloops RCMP searched with a canine unit.

On March 28 RCMP used a helicopter with trained spotters to search from the air.

None of the searches have provided new information or clues.

Shtuka has been missing since around 1:30 a.m.

Feb. 17 when he is believed to have left a house party on Burfield Dr. In early April his family announced they were re-examining a tip from early in the investigation which prompted them to update the potential timeline and search location.

The potential sighting was on Fairways Dr. near Eagle Court and the they been searching the area since April 5 with probes, shovels and an excavator.

On April 19 Search and Res-

cue BC will travel from Victoria with cadaver dogs to search through the weekend. They will be supplemented by a group expected to number around 50 volunteers travelling from Alberta for the weekend.

More large searches are in the process of being organized.

If the search continues further into the spring, KSAR has agreed to return around May 12 depending on weather and conditions. Kamloops RCMP have told the family they will use the helicopter to search when possible and may return with canine units.

Shtuka’s mother, Heather Shtuka, said seeing the season end is bittersweet as he would’ve returned home on April 18.

To volunteer or for more information go to www.ryanshtuka.com.

Shtuka was last seen wearing dark grey jeans, a grey and white shirt, a blue coat and a burgundy ball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kamloops Rural RCMP at 250-3141800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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LOCAL NEWS Sun Peaks not immune to hazmat risk

Participants train in the simulated decontamination zone. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

EMILY PERRINS DOING MY BEST not to stumble in oversized rubber boots, I walked to the edge of the emergency “hot zone” and gave the all clear for the entry team to approach the chemical spill. I could see the toxic contents of an overturned barrel spilling into a nearby creek, with a vapour cloud forming above it.

The team was mandated to assess the situation up close, identify the unknown chemical and confine the spill, as well as relay critical information to incident command and the information support team backing up the operation. All while dressed in chemical resistant suits and self-contained breathing apparatuses—not the easiest outfits

>> Document seeks to guide short-term rental

For the first time anyone looking to rent out their home nightly will have a guiding document to help them through the certification process, which was adopted after three readings at a munipal council

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for communication.

Already, nearby businesses and schools had been ordered to keep people inside. Environmental authorities had been alerted, road blocks were in place and a decontamination zone made ready.

It was simply a simulation, but it highlighted the complexities that arise in emergencies involving hazardous materials (hazmat), that is, any substances that can cause harm to people, animals or the environment.

The mock up was part of a hazmat course that myself and other Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) responders completed over four days in March. The training is mandatory for firefighters to become fully certified in North America and it

meeting on March 20.

In the last year Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) has made significant changes to policies related to nightly rentals including switching from a rezoning method to issuing three year temporary use permits.

Due to the amount of changes SPMRM staff created the document for potential applicants or the public to use when moving through the process.

The document goes into

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

holds relevance for the Sun Peaks community.

Dave Rivett is a retired fire department chief from the Lower Mainland and has been a hazmat instructor for over twenty years. He understands it’s not only large urban areas that experience hazmat incidents.

“Something as simple as gasoline or diesel spills have a fair frequency of occurrence.

They can happen in small communities and large communities. You can have propane and natural gas leaks, they’re part of the hazmat scope and they certainly happen,” Rivett said.

Most structural fires these days also involve some kind of hazmat risk, due to the high proportion of plastics and petroleum-based objects found

detail on density of short-term rentals, business licenses, violations and license or permit suspensions, on-site managers and short-term rentals in strata properties.

“We inherited a history of problems,” said Rob Bremner, SPMRM chief administrative officer. “We’ll look at the document one year from now and see what the issues are.”

The document, Policy 15, is available at sunpeaksmunicipality.ca.

inside homes and workplaces, which off-gas toxic fumes when burned.

Understandably then, “it’s extremely important for safety and for public protection for firefighters to have a good working knowledge of hazardous materials,” according to Rivett.

With Sun Peaks’ rural location, this training is especially important.

Captain Joss Advocaat is the training officer with SPFR. “Some hazmat emergencies within Sun Peaks may come from our propane storage facility on Industrial Way, the ice rink refrigeration system, a spill from a fuel truck on Sun Peaks Road, and potentially a large spill from industry,” he said.

“It is important for SPFR to be able to recognize and poten-

tially action a hazmat situation in our remote community. Our main priority is keeping our residents and guests safe.”

Rest assured, the risk of a large-scale emergency remains low in our community, but while the potential is there, SPFR responders will continue to train in how to respond.

The local Emergency Operations Centre would also likely be initiated and it is currently looking for additional volunteers.

“It’s a good option for people that would like to help out the community but may not necessarily want to become a firefighter,” said Advocaat.

Anyone interested can direct questions to chief@sunpeaksfirerescue.com.

GET OUT THERE Balancing outdoor adventure and parenthood NIKKI FREDRIKSON FOR FIRST-TIME MOM Andrea Heath, she knew she wanted to maintain her active outdoors lifestyle following the birth of her son, Caden.

After recovering from his birth she looked to connect with other parents who were raising their children to embrace the outdoors but didn’t find what she was looking for.

She then created The Wild And Tiny Yka: Parents + Babes on Adventures which is a community for parents and caregivers to connect and pursue outdoor adventures with a supportive group of like-minded individuals and their children.

“I grew up spending a lot of time in the outdoors camping with my family, travelling and living in different countries.

These experiences really defined for me the value of exposing your children to different environments, people and experiences at a very young age.

Once I became a mother it was my goal to create similar experiences for my son.”

She began hosting hikes for parents and caregivers to bring their children to get outdoors, socialize and find a sense of community. Heath hosts hikes once a week at popular trails around Kamloops with the attendance growing organically through social media and word of mouth.

“Kind of like the whole field of dreams, ‘if you build it they will come,’ that’s pretty much happened,” said Heath.

With the Kamloops Wild And Tiny community coming up on its first year anniversary, Heath said she was inspired because she knew there was a lot of people looking for something similar but no one to bring it together.

So far her largest hike group was 22 adults and the smallest was a group of four, but for Heath, even if only one other parent joined her hikes she’d be happy.

“So many times at the end of a hike I’ve had parents say ‘Wow that was so good, I really struggled to get out of the house,’ or ‘My baby was grumpy this morning so I didn’t think I was

going to come and now we just feel better,’” said Heath.

Over the past year the she has expanded into other recreational activities, like rock climbing, and has plans to include Sun Peaks in their summer hikes.

“I see a lot of potential to build a strong, outdoor community. There are many people who are really keen but some people don’t feel comfortable tackling activities by themselves. So in a group, it just encourages them to step out of their comfort zone a little bit,” she said Balancing parenthood and outdoor recreation can be challenging but within the group Heath said she hoped to encourage other women.

“I specifically want to encourage women, because I think mothers in our society have so much pressure to be all these things to everybody and often they get left behind, who they are becomes less important. I didn’t want that for myself and I knew I had to work extra hard to keep the core of who I was

Andrea Heath and son Caden together on a hike. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

alive. By connecting with each other we are able to support and encourage each other to be better parents and people.”

The groups head out on a new adventure each week with

the day and time dependent on weather conditions. To learn more and connect visit Heath’s Facebook page Wild And Tiny- YKA: Parents + Babes on Adventures.

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LOCAL NEWS Fire recruits blaze through training EMILY PERRINS FIVE NEW VOLUNTEERS with Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) are well on their way to becoming the community’s newest emergency responders.

The local recruits were selected from a pool of applicants at the start of the year and began training with the fire department in early February.

The in-house training follows an updated curriculum set by the Justice Institute of British Columbia. It’s helping streamline firefighter training and is keeping SPFR’s training officer, Captain Joss Advocaat, busy.

He said he envisions the new recruits will be able to respond to emergencies by late August.

“It’s fantastic how much we have learned already,” said new recruit Alex Prins.

Fellow recruit Shaun Pettit agreed.

“I’ve been so impressed with the program so far. It has been extremely organised and well run with clear and achievable goals set out each session,” he said.

Already the group has covered the use of personal pro-

tective equipment and breathing apparatus, concepts of fire safety, as well as medical responding, which forms a large component of SPFR’s mandate in Sun Peaks.

“We have learned lots about what our roles are and where we fall in the network of first responders and emergency care providers,” said recruit Campbell Bryk.

For Brendan Wanner, a highlight has been the practical component: “As recruits we have been able to get hands on with some great equipment.”

This practical element is set to increase with warmer weather facilitating more outdoor training. The recruits are yet to cover working with hoses, ladders and small hand tools, fire behaviour theory, vehicle extrication and more, according to Advocaat.

Recruit training doesn’t finish with these “basics of emergency response” though, he added.

“Once (the recruits) graduate from the exterior firefighter program, they are enrolled in the interior program where they learn skills specific to fighting interior structure fires.”

After that, there is the plethora of course material available

Sun Peaks Fire Rescue’s five new recruits from left to right Alex Prins, Shaun Pettit, Patrick Nasilowski, Brendan Wanner, Campbell Bryk. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

to fully qualified firefighters.

“You never stop learning in the fire service,” said Advocaat.

The recruits all now call Sun Peaks home, but originally hail from as far afield as England, Toronto and Victoria.

They bring to the department a varied range of skills and work histories. Prins is currently a bellman at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, Pat Nasilowski is a pipefitter and Wan-

Youth sports sponsors challenge bill JEAN STRONG A BILL CANADIAN SENATOR and Sun Peaks’ local Nancy Greene Raine has been working on since 2014 may see some changes as it goes through the process to become law due to pressure regarding companies that sponsor youth sports programs.

Bill S-228 seeks to ban the marketing of unhealthy food to children younger than 13.

Greene Raine is a passionate advocate for healthy living and believes current marketing regulations in Canada are not strict enough and should be changed to benefit children and society as a whole.

Previous changes to the proposed legislation in the Senate raised the age to 17 but the House of Commons Health

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Committee is proposing lowering it back to 13.

The change is supported by Greene Raine and she said it may be better as there is already a ruling from the Supreme Court that supports the age.

A second proposed change would make an exemption for the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages in youth sports.

Greene Raine said this change is due to MPs being lobbied by children’s sport organizations who require sponsorship for their teams.

She said she understands needing money for sports organizations and teams but “kids can go out and play games on fields wearing red shirts and white shirts. They don’t need fancy uniforms.”

She added additional restrictions would be possible to al-

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

low for such sponsorships from companies like Tim Horton’s with less detriment to children.

“There is a difference between charitable support and commercial marketing, sponsorship with strings attached.

“I have no problem with fast food and pop, etc. donating to support kid’s activities, but not to have ‘in your face’ promotion of their products,” she said. “Hopefully an amendment could be accepted that would allow thanking supporters through mentions in thank you ads, letterhead, etc...if they really want to ’support’ kids sport, they should not need the kids to have large logos on their team jerseys, coupon give-a-ways and banners at the kids sports playing fields.”

The bill will be discussed at three Health Committee meetings on April 18, 23 and 25.

ner and Pettit are ski patrollers with Sun Peaks Resort. Bryk is owner and operator of Elevated Fishing Adventures.

They all share an interest in being more actively involved in the community, while acquiring new valuable skills though their training and membership with SPFR. “I’m hoping to better understand fire and the way to control it, especially wildfires, and get

some valuable first aid experience,” said Nasilowski.

Anyone interested in joining the fire department is encouraged to visit the station during Tuesday night practices to observe the training, Advocaat said. The next recruitment is expected to be posted early 2019.

For more information visit the SPFR website at www.sunpeaksfirerescue.com.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Interact Club looks to buy AED machines NIKKI FREDRIKSON A GROUP OF STUDENTS from Sun Peaks Secondary Academy looking to partake in leadership and community projects have established an Interact Club of Sun Peaks in conjunction with the local Rotary Club.

“The Interact Club at Sun

Peaks is pretty much a branch off the Rotary Club up here at Sun Peaks. Our group is about 10 kids big and we just do volunteer work in the village,” said club president Paul Fedor.

The youth program will work alongside with the established Rotary Club to send two students to Adventures in Health Care in Prince George, B.C., a program aimed at getting youth

involved in health care.

Similar to the Rotary Club, the members will hold various fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for their chosen cause which is bringing Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) machines to the village.

“It’s pretty attainable and we have doctor Shane Barclay who is one of the head doctors at the new medical centre and

he’s quite interested in that project. Having his assistance with that is quite good also,” Fedor said.

The group is looking to raise $1,500 for two to four AED machines and has already raised $284.50 since Dec. 12, 2017.

As a student-led program, the club meets two Tuesdays a month during lunchtime at the high school. Any youth looking

to get involved can visit the Interact Club of Sun Peaks page on Facebook.

To keep up with upcoming fundraisers Fedor asked the community to keep an eye out on Sun Peaks Survivors Facebook group.

EVENT > listings FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY TO SATURDAY

SNOWMOBILE HILL CLIMB

FREE DUMP DAY

20TH ANNUAL TRASH BASH

KAMLOOPS WINE FESTIVAL

APRIL 20 TO 22

Watch amateur and pro riders race up the mountain and over jumps. Spectators welcome. info@wchahillclimb.ca

APRIL 29

One free load per household at the Heffley Creek EcoDepot. Save money dumping things like appliances, tires on rims mattresses and demoltion waste. www.tnrd.ca

SATURDAY

APRIL 28

SUNDAY

The third annual Green Living Expo highlights speakers, exercise classes, cooking lessons, a sustainable fashion show, food trucks and more than 50 booths. Learn about healthy yards, pests and pollinators and sustainable energy systems.

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH

GREEN LIVING EXPO

www.kamloops.ca

MAY 13

Celebrate your mum by treating her to a delicious brunch put on by Sotheby’s International Realty and the Rotary Club of Sun Peaks at the Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taphouse. Local author and speaker Tracy Munson will speak alongside Sherry Chamberlain and Stan Fike. info@rotaryclubofsunpeaks.org

MAY 23

MAY 5 TO 12

Help the community clean up after a busy winter.

Meet at Masa’s patio at 4 p.m. to make a team and pick up garbage bags before heading out to find litter.

After the clean up Sun Peaks Firefighters will treat you to hamburgers and hotdogs, to contribure bring an appetizer, salad or desert.

Welcome spring with a week of wine tasting events.

Presented by the Kamlops Art Gallery and the Coast Hotel Kamloops. www.kag.ca.

250 578 5386

THURSDAY

APRIL 19

THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE

Test your skills at a live stage show of The Price is Right at the Sandman Centre in downtown Kamloops. Tons of prizes to be won. sandmancentre.boxofficeticketsales.com

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Showing emotion through art LIZ DERKSEN FEATURED IN LOCAL SHOW JEAN STRONG AFTER ANOTHER BUSY WINTER hosting paint parties at her home, local artist Liz Derksen is looking forward to seeing her artwork displayed at a Kamloops show.

The Thompson Nicola Shuswap Chapter (TNSC) of the Federation of Canadian Artists is hosting a show from April 20 to 29 at the Old Courthouse in Kamloops. The focus of this year’s show is “Emotion Expressed,” which will highlight pieces that capture or express emotion.

Two of Derksen’s paintings accepted to the show both fit the theme in different ways.

“Alpine Colours” captures last summer’s alpine

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blossoms, especially the tiger lilies.

“I was so excited we had so many tiger lilies,” Derksen said. “I think it shows my joy.”

The other, “Feeding the White Wolf,” is based on the Cherokee story about having two wolves inside each person.

A black wolf filled with fear, anger and envy, and a white wolf filled with peace, love, hope and courage.

Derksen said she painted it because she needed to feed her white wolf.

While her work has been displayed in the show in past years, she said she is always happy to be included.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how excited and grateful I am. It’s a pat on the back.”

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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IN PHOTOS

RIGHT Guests and

LEFT Getting steezy

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for the last terrain park event of the year, Party in Park on April 1.

locals enjoyed Easter on the slopes on April 1.

ABOVE AND RIGHT 4,000 partiers took in Coors Light Snowbombing

Canada from April 5 to 9.

- PHOTOS SPIN

LEFT AND BELOW Retro never

grows old for the last weekend of the season. Tod Mountain Days went from April 14 to 15.

- PHOTOS SPIN

ABOVE The Sun Peaks Antiques celebrated their annual The Last Dinner on April 5. Nick Maika honouring Audrey Saigeon.

- PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

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MOUNTAIN NEWS Mountain Town News ALLEN BEST ALLEN.BEST@COMCAST.NET MOUNTAINTOWNNEWS.NET

Warnings abound of megafires in forests soon and in the future BANFF, Alberta.

Across the Rocky Mountains, from Santa Fe, N.M., to Banff, Alta., firefighters are bracing for what could, in some areas, be a brutal season.

In New Mexico, which is coming off an extremely dry winter, firefighters from the National Guard and U.S. Forest Service on April 14 and 15 were simulating the air components of a wildfire fight. The exercise was intended to ensure that, in real situations during coming months, the helicopters and planes don’t end up colliding.

The Santa Fe New Mexican described the firefighting effort that uses helicopters and fixed-wing air tankers as being an “orchestrated, if sometimes, chaotic, aerial ballet.”

Colorado’s driest spots are in the state’s southwest corner.

There, rivers around Durango and Telluride last week were running at 36 per cent of average for this time of year. Klaus Wolter, a climate scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science in Boulder, told the Associated Press that the warm temperatures at lower mountain elevations have been causing snow to melt earlier than usual, and that could worsen the danger.

Wolter, however, said further spring snows might dampen the fire risk.

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” he told AP. “It’s just not a good setup.”

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In 2012 and 2013, Colorado had three massive wildfires, each exacting fatalities, in the foothills along the Front Range population corridor. In the aftermath, Colorado spent nearly $20 million to buy two fire-spotting planes and contract helicopters and singleengine tankers.

In Utah, a forum devoted to wildfires was on the community calendar in Park City the week of April 15.

The session was titled “The Era of Megafires: Is Summit County Next?” The session was put together by Glenn Wright, an elected councilor in Summit County, which includes Park City. It was, he said, prompted by questions about whether wildfires that occurred last year in the coastal ranges of California could occur in Utah, too.

In Alberta, the author of a book called “Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future,” told an audience in Banff that people will have to die before wildfire policies change.

“We have a lot of false expectations about how we can deal with wildfire,” said Edward Struzik. Experts think the number of wildfires will double in coming decades or even triple, he said.

“Big fires can’t be stopped,” said Struzik. “In the firefighting world, that’s pretty much unanimous. Once it gets to a certain size … there’s little you can do.

You can drop retardants on it, you can hit it with an army of firefighters, but the best thing you can do in most cases is slow the fire or change its direction. But you cannot stop it.”

Struzik said that 60 per cent of all cities, towns, and settlements across Canada are vulnerable to wildfire. Most vulnerable are

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

First Nations communities.

“Right now they represent just four per cent of the population, but 40 per cent of evacuations that take place in Canada. There’s something really wrong with that picture,” said Struzik.

Struzik said fire resiliency programs are needed that parallel efforts to improve energy efficiency of homes. He also called for more fire breaks around communities, FireSmart work, and controlled burns.

Struzik’s comments parallel those of Arthur DeJong, who heads sustainability efforts for Whistler Blackcomb. Two years ago, he told a Whistler visitor that the single most important thing Whistler can do in the sustainability realm is to prevent its houses from going up in flames.

In the Canadian Rockies, a major question is what role Parks Canada has in mitigating fire risk in the national parks it administers. Struzik said elected officials must be pressured to give the parks agency “the resources and the social license to do what they have to do.”

In Jasper, foresters shared their concerns that the town within Jasper National Park could go up in smoke. The Jasper Fitzhugh reported that the primary target of the 1,464word letter that contained the warning was Parks Canada.

The foresters, from Prince George, B.C., charge that the fire last summer at Waterton Lakes National Park provided evidence that Parks Canada is “unlikely to be able to address any mega-fire situation” in a way that provides for public safety.

Jasper is at the early stages of a mountain pine beetle epidemic.

Heli-ski run named to honor pioneering guide WHISTLER, B.C. Early April was a brutal time for avalanches. In Canada, Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed plans to name a heli-ski run after long-time ski guide Lisa Korthals, who died in a backcountry avalanche.

At a memorial service covered by Pique Newsmagazine, Korthals was remembered as being at the front edge of a generation of women guides since around 2000. Before, women guides had to fight to be accepted as “one of the boys,” Bob Sayer, president of the Canadian Ski Guide Association, said.

“This new generation came along and said, ‘We don’t have to be boys. Hell, no! The boys have to keep up with us,’” Sayer said.

In Alberta, a woman narrowly escaped dying in an avalanche at Sentinel Pass, near Lake Louise. She had been dragged 200 metres down the face of the mountain and buried under four metres of snow.

Tim Banfield, the lead skier who had triggered the avalanche, also was the lead rescuer. The victim was buried so deep that probe poles couldn’t reach her body. They were guessing where to dig. They got lucky, and so did she. She had been buried for 15 minutes but survived.

“The survival rate at two metres is four per cent, and we were looking at four metres,” Banfield told the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

In rescuing her, he was basically inverted in the shoulder-wide hole as he was digging and then trying to get her out of her skis, working

in a handstand-like position while achieving this. The avalanche victim did not want to be identified.

In Colorado, two people died in avalanches in the last big storm sequence. The first, a skier in a backcountry area adjacent to Aspen Highlands called Maroon Bowl. He and a companion had detected a weak layer underneath as they traversed a slope toward a stand of trees, then they felt something shift, according to a report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

“We’re going for a ride,” the second skier said, before the avalanche on the 38 degree slope let loose. He was swept into a tree and killed.

In the second case, a backcountry snowmobiler near Breckenridge was killed by an avalanche on a slope of 38 to 42 degrees.

Vail skier, 91, goes heli-skiing and may get Guinness record VAIL, Colo.

Stan Friedberg, who is 91, this winter went on a heli-skiing trip in the Canadian Caribbo’s and Monashee’s with his son and three granddaughters. For this holiday he may yet be bestowed with the distinction of being the oldest heli-skier ever.

The Vail Daily says the record certified by Guinness Book of World Records currently is 88 years.

The son, Steve Friedberg, told the Daily that his father works out every day and, when in the Pittsburgh area where the family business is located, he can often be found running the stairs at a high school football stadium.

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>> SPORTS Montana Molyneux to step down as SPAC program director “WANTING TO IGNITE A PASSION FOR THE SPORT, SHE HAS DEDICATED HER TIME TO DEVELOPING WELL-ROUNDED ATHLETES AND COACHES”

Montana Molyneux will step down as SPAC program director in May. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

NIKKI FREDRIKSON “IT’S BIGGER THAN JUST SKI RACING. It’s about kids being involved in sport, in physical activity and then also just being good people,” said Sun Peaks Alpine Club program director Montana Molyneux, who plans to move on from the program at the end of this season.

Since 2013, Molyneux has been involved with the Racers as a U14 coach, head coach and eventually moved into the role of program director three years ago.

She worked over the years to increase athlete involvement, to continue competition at the FIS level and to develop the club’s culture. She will officially step back from the program in May to pursue a new opportunity with Fernie Alpine

Ski Team.

“I’m leaving on a very positive note,” she said. “The club’s been insanely supportive of me over the last four years. As I’ve been leaving it’s only been even more positive and I think it’ll be an exciting next few years.I think we have a club that’s stable enough and confident enough and structured enough that it’ll run regardless of the next person that comes in.”

Molyneux will take on a coaching role in Fernie working with the U16 team, taking a step back from the administrative side of things and getting back to grassroots coaching.

“Sun Peaks will always have the support from me. I’m excited for them to go into a new chapter, but I’ve also told them I will be available to make sure everything runs well,” said Molyneux.

When she first joined the Sun Peaks Racers her goals included having more kids move on to competition, wanting the Nancy Greene program athletes to move onto U12, U14, U16 and eventually to

FIS competitions.

“There’s two things, really.

The other one was just creating a culture of competitive ski racers while also keeping the club inclusive was a big one.

Making sure we were offering programs for as many people as we could possibly could... and just build the club culture from within, that we’re a hard working, fun club that, like I said, wants to work hard but also just loves to ski,” she said.

Wanting to ignite a passion for the sport, she has dedicated her time to developing well-rounded athletes and coaches.

“I think it takes everyone to build a club that’s passionate and successful. It all comes down to understanding what we’re doing and why,” said Molyneux. “It all comes back to having kids love skiing and like ski racing and be passionate to be outside doing physical activity.”

Despite heading to another club in B.C. she said she will

be supporting her Sun Peaks athletes and wants to see the club be successful.

“The longer you coach the more you realize it’s not just about the racing. You’ve actually made pretty unique connections with the athletes because you’ve been there, you coach long enough you see kids move through the system pretty well. I think it’s really exciting to just see any kids you ever work with grow into stronger people and stronger racers,” she said.

Molyneux will work closely with the Sun Peaks Alpine Club and BC Alpine to ensure whoever comes in as program director is trained and ready for next season.

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>> SPORTS

Tavin and Jeremy Krutop focusing before a race this winter. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

New sport doesn’t slow success of young athlete TAVIN KRUTOP WINS TITLES IN ARENACROSS, SNOWBIKING JEAN STRONG AFTER AN OUTSTANDING MOTOCROSS SEASON IN 2017, Tavin Krutop decided to take it indoors and compete in the Canadian Arenacross Championships despite having never competed in the sport.

Tavin took second overall in the seven and eight-year-old 50 cc category and the 50 cc open and won fifth overall in the 65 cc seven to nine-yearold category after fighting hard for wins, facing tough competition and overcoming a few big crashes.

“He was down for a while,” said Jeremy Krutop, his father, of one wipeout. “He finished the race, saw the medic, got taped up and finished the day. He’s

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super motivated.”

Tavin kept up intense training in addition to skiing and his education, working with coaches to improve all aspects of his riding and using his cycle trainer every morning before school for cardio work.

During his season Tavin also had the chance to meet and get advice from professional riders like Cody Matechuk, Brock Hoyer, Scott Saura and Justin McCabe.

On top of his arenacross season Tavin tackled the Snow Bike Nationals. His sponsors, RTR Performance, offered Jeremy a snow bike and Tavin quickly took on the challenge.

“It’s pretty easy,” said Tavin.

“It’s pretty sweet.”

To add to the fun, Jeremy also took part in the races on

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

the bike, making them the only father-son duo racing.

After three snow bike races, including some on his dad’s bike, Tavin won second overall at the Snow Bike Nationals in Revelstoke, B.C. and was invited to the course for a victory lap carrying the Canadian flag alongside pro riders.

Tavin said it was a cool experience. Now he and his parents are training for another season of motocross in B.C. and are considering traveling to the United States for a few more.

“We’ll race as many outdoor races as we can,” Jeremy said.

“We definitely can’t wait.”

To keep up with Tavin’s races and training follow him on Instagram at @tavinkrutop737.

>> SPORTS SPAC success continues through end of season

Sun Peaks Alpine Club athletes from U12 to U16 competed in their final zone race of the season.

NIKKI FREDRIKSON SUN PEAKS ALPINE CLUB (SPAC) SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN heading into their final three competitions of the season. Their hard work paid off finishing the season with multiple top 10 finishes.

Over Easter weekend the U16 competitors traveled to Apex Mountain Resort to compete in the TECK U16 Open

>> First bike event of the season nearing Move over winter, it’s time to get the bikes out. At least it is in Kamloops with nearby offroad trails drying up quickly.

To launch the season, Kamloops Bike Ranch and the Kamloops Performance Cycling Center are hosting a weekend of racing events for all rider types.

Competition. Brynn Applegath finished top 10 both Saturday and Sunday placing sixth in giant slalom and eighth in slalom. Fellow SPAC member Noa Hooton finished 10th in the slalom competition while Rio Shatzko placed 13th both days of competition.

The following weekend, April 7 to 8, the club traveled to Revelstoke, B.C. to compete in the TECK OK Zone finals. The weekend was extra special for U14 competitor Talyn Lorimer

The River Beaver Classic will be held at the Bike Ranch on April 21 to 22 with four main events “and one heck of a party,” according to Cheryl Beattie, event organizer and owner of the Bicycle Café in Kamloops.

The weekend kicks off with the first BC Enduro Series event of the 2018 calendar—a beginner-friendly “Funduro”— followed by open riding through the afternoon with demos from Specialized, Giant and Kona.

A dual slalom event is planned for the evening, with a beer

| PHOTO SUPPLIED

as she was awarded the title of overall zone champion for the U14 females.

In the U12 division, Cameron Currie had a successful weekend taking first place in both the giant slalom and slalom competitions. The U14 men’s division saw SPAC members make the podium both days of competition with Joshua Jerstad finishing first in giant slalom with a combined time of 1:44:96 and Clayton Dent placing second in slalom followed by teammate

Benjamin Jacoby in third.

Brynn Applegath’s combined time of 1:48:72 earned her top spot in the giant slalom competition, she again found the top of the podium in the slalom competition with a combined time of 1:22.20. Teammate Noa Hooton took fourth place in slalom with a combined time of 1:24:91.

The zone finals would be the final competition of the season for all but seven of the Racers.

Micah Schwirtlich, Cameron

Smith, Euan Currie, Joshua Jerstad, Jaelynn Todd, Chloe Hurst and Rachel Blakeney traveled to Whistler, B.C. to compete in the Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup. The competition attracted competitors from across the world with athletes competing from as far as Chile, France and Switzerland.

The Racers will now prepare for their spring training camp at the end of April.

garden to finish off the day.

Sunday is for more experienced riders with open downhill and Legacy Games Junior downhill races.

All proceeds from the annual event go towards the Bike Ranch to help maintain and develop Kamloops’ premier dirt riding venue.

Go to bicyclecafekamloops. com/group-rides-events/ for more information and to register.

Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17

sunpeaksnews.com

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Serving Sun Peaks and area since 1995

ALPINE RESORT REALTY

OPEN DAILY - LOCATED IN THE KOOKABURRA LODGE T: 250 578 8222 TF: 1 800 663 2838 E: info@sunpeaksrealty.com

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

SOLD

SOLD

4108 SUNDANCE DRIVE | 1,479,000

5 FAIRWAYS COTTAGE | $639,000

105 FIRESIDE LODGE | $259,000

The architect got it right from street appeal to interior design. Prestigious Sundance Estates 4 bedroom home plus 2 bedroom suite with separate entrance, main floor with an open design, large great room, floor to ceiling rock fireplace, custom kitchen and dining room, all complimented by great window packages and French doors to patios side and back. Spec levels and finishing details are exemplary. Upper floor is master bedroom with 6 piece ensuite, walk-in closet and office/den. The property is fully landscaped with private back yard and oversized garage. Offered largely furnished, GST paid.

Charming 2 storey cedar cottage with newly built four vehicle carport is nestled adjacent to green space and McGillivray Creek. Features 4 beds, 3 baths, private backyard, upgraded lighting package, new flooring, heated tile areas, and an exclusive top floor master suite with ensuite and walk-in closet.

Downstairs area is complete with family room and beautiful rock faced corner fireplace and plenty of additional storage space. GST paid.

Lovely one bed condo conveniently located on the ground floor with prime skiin, ski-out access through the inner village with restaurants and shopping right at your doorstep. This cozy corner condo offers everything you need with 10 ft ceiling, full kitchen overlooking the dining and living area, river rock fireplace, private owner’s closet and large covered sundeck. Features shared laundry, inviting lobby with lounge area and fireplace, elevator, secure underground parking, outdoor hot tub and spacious storage room for skis and bikes. GST paid.

SOLD

NEW LISTING

39 MCGILLIVRAY CREEK | $759,000

5404 LOOKOUT RIDGE PLACE | $899,000

7149 CAHILTY ROAD | $155,000

Desirable ski-in, ski-out townhome, boasting 3 bedrooms plus large family room and 3 bathrooms. Located at the east end of complex and adjacent to the Mt. Morrisey lift. Convenient access to the valley trail, skating rink, nordic skiing and village center. Nestled in the woods next to McGillivray Creek and adjacent to the back nine of the Sun Peaks Golf Course. Soaring windows, heated tile areas, oversized decks & patios, granite countertops and furnishings. GST paid.

New contemporary home with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, located in sunny Lookout Ridge. Unique and spacious, featuring 3 levels with a garage plus outside parking and 3 private balconies offering stunning mountain and valley views.

Easy ski-in access via “The Rambler” and “East Village Ski Way”, and to ski-out it is a short walk to the trails that lead to the Mt. Morrissey lift. The new zoning allows for short term nightly rentals. There are already bookings in place for this season providing an excellent source of rental income. GST applies.

Fabulous sunny & level building lot in the family friendly community of Whitecroft. Minimal site prep., backing onto forested area, features year round Louis Creek out your backyard. Community water system with fire hydrants, high speed internet, cable, hydro and telephone are installed to the property line. The McGillivray Creek waterfall is a short 5 minute walk and there are numerous trails for hiking and biking in the area.

SOLD 364 CAHILTY HOTEL & SUITES | $119,900 Location, location, location! Bright and fabulous third floor loft apartment with full kitchen and extra south facing windows providing views of Mt. Morissey, Tod Mountain and the Sun Peaks Village. Great slope side location, offered fully furnished, and comfortably sleeps 4. This property has unlimited owner use and a professional in house management team in place.

NEW LISTING

6421 UPPER LOUIS CREEK ROAD

| $629,000

Country home part of the original Whitecroft Ranch est. in the 1940’s. Two long-standing barns, rustic garage, and a couple of original small log buildings on the property. Main farm home features 6 beds and two baths, plus office area and grand entrance. Second dwelling on the acreage is a 2 bed. cabin. All 20 acres is useable land with plenty of forage and mature tees, partially fenced, abundant crystal clear water from a mountain side spring with water licence in place. Showings by appointment only.

23 MCGILLIVRAY CREEK | $729,900 Warm & inviting 3 bed plus den, 3 bath townhome located only a few steps to the Mt. Morrisey Chairlift overlooking the 17th fairway & little lake on the back nine of the Golf Course. Attractive end unit with creek setting & south facing sundeck where you can relax and unwind with family & friends. Large kitchen with heated tile floors opens up to a spacious dining area & cozy living room with natural river rock fireplace with timber mantle, and vaulted ceiling. Master bed located on the top floor with ensuite & private covered deck with beautiful mountain views. GST paid.

SOLD 215 / 217 COAST SUNDANCE LODGE | $54,000 Two deluxe studio suites with connecting door are separate strata lots being offered for sale together with efficiency kitchens, cozy corner fireplace, fully furnished and sleeps 8 comfortably with two bathrooms. Great ski-in, ski-out location in the heart of Sun Peaks Resort! Outdoor hot tub as well as exercise room for your enjoyment and secure underground parking provided. Owner’s personal use is a generous 180 days anytime during the year with rental management agreement in place with Coast Hotels. GST applies.

221 HEARTHSTONE LODGE | $59,000 Unique and spacious deluxe studio loft with vaulted ceiling centrally located in the heart of Sun Peaks Village. Fantastic ski-in, ski-out location with bright open living room, efficiency kitchen and dining area. This condo sleeps 7 comfortably with a queen Murphy bed, sofa bed and tri bunk bed. South facing towards Mt. Morrisey and includes all furnishings. Secure underground parking, exercise center, outdoor hot tubs and easy access to restaurants and shops. In-house management team in place to look after everything when you’re not there.

26 SNOW CREEK VILLAGE | $539,900 Popular slopeside development - true ski-in, ski-out access adjacent to the Village and lifts. Fully furnished, warm and inviting 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome is on three levels and offers heated tile floors, a bright open kitchen, dining and living area with cozy fireplace and private patio with hot tub backing onto forest. Sunny deck with BBQ and beautiful mountain views of Mt. Morrisey. Extra storage and private two car tandem garage, add’l surface parking available. GST is applicable.

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Vol 16 Issue 4 April 20 — May 17