22. On screen and in spirit: Indigenous voices lead the 4th Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (coyote stories) Indigenous film festival
12. Beyond the shoulder season: how Sun Peaks finds opportunity in the in-between Mountain Motion by Melissa Charpentier displayed at ArtZone's ArtHub during the CREATE! Festival.
Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
NEWTO MARKET
MARKET
20 McGillivary Creek Listing Agent: Damon Newport
2388 Heffley Lake Rd Listing Agents: Quinn Rischmueller PREC* & Chris Town
12 Switchback Creek Listing Agent: Matt Town & Chris Town
IN THIS ISSUE
06
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BRANDI SCHIER
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Partnerships Specialist justin@sunpeaksnews.com
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Community Editor editor@sunpeaksnews.com
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Community Journalist aibiike@sunpeaksnews.com MACARENA
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COUNCIL RECAP
Sign up for the biweekly council newsletter at sunpeaksnews.com.
07
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Municipality is seeking a family practice physician to operate the Sun Peaks Health Centre
Re/Max Alpine Resort Realty celebrates 30 years
08
RETRO WEEKEND BRINGS A ‘BIT OF MAGIC’ TO SUN PEAKS
With thousands in attendance, a standout lineup and visitors from near and far, Retro Weekend remains one of Sun Peaks’ most beloved annual events.
09
SUN PEAKS PEDAL FEST ROLLS INTO ITS 11TH YEAR
The 11th annual Peaks Pedal Fest returned this Labour Day weekend.
10
SUN PEAKS HEALTH CENTRE FACES A NEW CHAPTER, BUILT ON DECADES OF COMMUNITY VISION
What began as one pediatrician’s vision to bring yearround care to a growing resort community evolved into the Sun Peaks Health Centre, a lasting legacy of grassroots dedication.
12
BEYOND THE SHOULDER SEASON: HOW SUN PEAKS FINDS OPPORTUNITY IN THE IN-BETWEEN
As the bustle of summer fades and before ski season begins, Sun Peaks enters a quieter period that tests businesses, reshapes community life and offers a pause in the village rhythm.
14
THIRD ANNUAL CREATE! FESTIVAL BRINGS ART AND CREATIVITY TO SUN PEAKS
From children selling handmade crafts to seasoned authors sharing their work, the festival highlights the diverse artistic spirit of Sun Peaks.
16
DISCOVER ART ACROSS SUN PEAKS Did you know about all of these art spots?
18
‘CREATING A COMMUNITY AROUND ARTS’: ARTZONE’S PROGRESS 10 YEARS IN Sun Peaks’ organization for all things creative has spent over a decade building a home for arts and culture in Sun Peaks.
19
SUN PEAKS KIDS EXPLORE ART AND ADVENTURE AT ARTZONE’S SUMMER CAMPS
ArtZone’s summer camps offered a fun, creative and educational experience with activities from painting and yoga to fire safety lessons.
20
GRASSROOTS GALLERIES FILL THE GAP IN KAMLOOPS’ ART SCENE
A vibrant local arts scene is ‘well worth the investment,’ local artists say.
22
ON SCREEN AND IN SPIRIT: INDIGENOUS VOICES LEAD THE 4TH STSEPTÉKWLES RE SK’ELÉP (COYOTE STORIES) INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL
Taking place Sept. 26 to 28, the festival offers an ‘additional learning opportunity’ leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
24
MIXED SECWÉPEMC AND SETTLER ARTIST TANIA WILLARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 SOBEY ART AWARD
‘I'm just really grateful to the land, my family and my community,’ Tania Willard says of the recognition.
25
HOW SECWÉPEMC SONGWRITER
JEREMY KNEESHAW GIVES BACK
Through his Kamloops-based recording business, the mutli-instrumentalist and producer amplifies the power of music through performance, production and cultural preservation.
26
‘IT’S TIME TO BRING IT FORWARD’: ED JENSEN ON THE ART AND SPIRITUALITY OF SECWÉPEMC HUNTING
For Secwépemc hunter, artist and TV personality, Tk̓emlúps Traditions is more than a business – it’s a living archive of Secwépemc knowledge.
28
PUZZLES
Can you tackle this month’s crossword? Plus, a new Sudoku and the answers to last month’s puzzles.
30
EVENTS
Check out local and regional events happening soon.
COUNCIL RECAP
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality recently focused on the health centre, federal policy and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Sign up for the biweekly council newsletter at sunpeaksnews.com.
By Aibiike Alymova
2025/2026 Arena Operations update
Seasonal operations will now be overseen by the public works supervisor, with support from returning seasonal staff to maintain continuity. The plan includes rehiring two operators from last year and recruiting additional frontline arena staff. Following community feedback, the arena guidelines will also be updated and posted on the municipal website to ensure accessibility for the public.
Sun Peaks Health Centre update
A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued to find a new operator for the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre. The process was informed by a working group made up of community members with diverse expertise, who provided recommendations to shape the RFP. Although not a formal committee of council and not subject to procedural guidelines, for transparency, staff will look into sharing the group’s final report publicly once the RFP process is complete.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The municipality will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, Sept. 30 by closing offices, lowering municipal flags to half-mast and sharing educational resources and activities on its website. While Sun Peaks does not currently host its own ceremony, any future events must be held in partnership with the three bands whose traditional lands the community is situated on. The municipality emphasized its commitment to reconciliation and ongoing relationship-building with the Adams Lake, Little Shuswap Lake and Neskonlith bands.
Sun Peaks Health Association Board representation
Mayor Rob O'Toole will be attending the Association at Sundance Strata meetings on behalf of the Sun Peaks Health Association, as a representative.
Resumption of Wildfire Resiliency Collaborative meetings
In 2023, Sun Peaks Fire Rescue established the Wildfire Resiliency Collaborative as part of the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program. This non-statutory group, which resumed meetings following the hiring of a FireSmart coordinator, brings together representatives from Sun Peaks Fire Rescue, local homeowners and strata, business owners, Sun Peaks Rotary, Sun Peaks Resort LLP, Forsite, BC Wildfire Service and the TNRD FireSmart Program. Its primary purpose is to support the implementation of the seven FireSmart disciplines across the community. The group provides a forum for sharing best practices, increasing community engagement, guiding the Sun Peaks FireSmart program, communicating with the BC FireSmart Committee and offering coordinated feedback. In 2023, it met twice to discuss program development and the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. In July 2025, the group met again to review fuel management and wildfire mitigation projects, community engagement, updates to the UBCM Community Resiliency Investment program, FireSmart recognition for The Cabins, village landscaping improvements and the expansion of the TNRD FireSmart team.
A follow-up meeting is tentatively planned for late October.
Sun Peaks Housing Authority - borrowing memo
Council approved an increase in the Sun Peaks Housing Authority’s (SPHA) borrowing power to $45,000,000. Currently, SPHA’s articles of incorporation limit borrowing to $900,000 unless a higher amount is approved by council. This increase is necessary to support a partnership between SPMRM, SPHA and BC Builds, a program delivered by BC Housing, to accelerate the development of new housing for middle-income working residents. Meranti Developments Ltd. has been selected to construct a 110-unit rental project at 1180 Sun Peaks Rd., which will be owned and operated by SPHA. The project is fully construction-financed, with a takeout mortgage planned upon completion. To proceed
toward final project approval from BC Housing, SPHA requires the increased borrowing authority, as reflected in the estimated project costs.
Ministry of Health letter to council
The Ministry of Health has launched a U.S.-focused media campaign to recruit physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to live and work in British Columbia. In a letter to council Minister of Health Josie Osborne emphasized the crucial role of local governments and community organizations in supporting recruitment and retention efforts, noting that communities actively engaged in these initiatives have seen tangible results.
The campaign includes outreach through BC Health Careers, webinars and coordination with HealthMatch BC and provincial and regional health authorities to guide candidates through licensure and connect them with local opportunities. Local governments are encouraged to showcase their communities, highlight supports and services and create welcoming experiences for recruits and their families.
Resources such as the Community Playbook and Toolkit provide practical guidance for supporting recruitment. Communities already engaged are encouraged to continue their work, while those not yet involved are urged to connect with their Health Authority talent acquisition teams. A Ministry/UBCM workshop on healthcare recruitment is scheduled at the UBCM Convention in September.
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality council.
Photo SPIN
MUNICIPALITY IS SEEKING A FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN TO OPERATE SUN PEAKS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
The request for proposals to operate the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre was shared Aug. 29, and deadlines for applications is Sept. 30.
By Aibiike Alymova
In a public press release Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality has announced it is seeking a family physician to lease and operate the Sun Peaks Health Centre independently.
The clinic, which is “partially equipped” according to the release, became available in July after the municipality cut ties with medical services provider Supporting Team Excellence with Patients Society.
The request seeks a family practice physician or nurse practitioner to provide urgent care services five days a week, with the expectation to expand to include additional practitioners. Emergency department experience is preferred but not mandatory, and experience in obstetrics and anesthesia not required.
The scope of services also requests applicants offer walk-in and urgent care service during daytime hours seven days a week, prioritizing permanent residents of Sun Peaks.
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the full request for proposals, outlining lease terms, expectations and submission details.
To give prospective physicians a better sense of the opportunity, the municipality is offering a virtual tour of the facility, seasonal lifestyle videos and site visits upon request. The submission deadline is Sept. 30.
RE/MAX ALPINE RESORT REALTY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
With the support of local sponsors, Re/Max Alpine Resort Realty celebrated three decades, sharing ice cream, door prizes and memories with the community.
By SPIN
Re/Max Alpine Resort Realty held an ice cream social on Saturday, Aug. 23 to celebrate three decades in Sun Peaks.
“I bet you we had close to 400 people through the office,” Broker owner Lark Frolek-Dale said during the celebrations.
With door prizes, sundaes and community support the agency reflected on the milestone.
“We’re so grateful for this community,” Re/Max Alpine Resort Realty wrote on Instagram. “Here’s to the next 30 years of making memories.”
Managing broker Jeremy Reid (L-R), associate broker Jill Kalinocka, broker owner Lark Frolek-Dale and office administrator Lizz Luzny celebrate 30 years.
Photo courtesy of Re/Max Alpine Resort Realty
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality is seeking a health centre operator.
Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
RETRO WEEKEND BRINGS A ‘BIT OF MAGIC’ TO SUN PEAKS’
With thousands in attendance, a standout lineup and visitors from near and far, Retro Weekend remains one of Sun Peaks’ most beloved annual events.
By Aibiike Alymova
This year’s Retro Weekend at Sun Peaks Resort was one to remember, drawing crowds for evening concerts, and filling the village with lively energy and classic hits.
The nighttime concerts consistently drew between 2,000 and 2,500 attendees, according to Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) estimates.
“There was plenty of space for everybody all the time, and we always have room to grow,” senior event manager for TSP Theresa St. Louis said, noting the venue’s capacity to welcome even more guests in future years.
From an operations standpoint, the weekend was a success, she added. The lineup featured a mix of returning performers and fresh faces, capped off by Saturday night headliner Disposable Heroes, which brought a new twist to the retro vibe.
“It really was a bit of magic this weekend,” St. Louis said. “We had curated a fantastic lineup and everything just aligned.”
Attendees feedback
For longtime attendees Frank and Bea Grande of Kamloops, the weekend was another chance to enjoy live music in the mountains.
“We come up here so often to catch some music. It’s a great event they put on,” Bea said.
The couple usually stays overnight in the village, but this year their visit was a bit more spontaneous.
“We didn’t even plan to come then some friends said they were going and we thought, why not? We’ll come up for the day. We weren’t even supposed to stay, but I’m a Metallica fan, so we hung around to see the closing band. It usually gets a little rowdy and we like that too,” Frank said.
Not everyone in attendance came strictly for the concerts. Visitors Connor Shaw, Christina DiCarlo and EV Polman traveled from Vancouver Island for a
mountain biking trip and stumbled upon Retro Weekend by chance.
“The event’s just a really happy bonus,” DiCarlo said. “We’ve seen a bunch of cute dogs and the vibe here is so nice and laid back.”
The group noted how welcoming the village felt compared to other resort towns.
“Everyone that works in the village has been so nice,” Polman said. “I needed help with my bike and they let me use the bike stand and everything I needed, no charge. “
“You wouldn’t necessarily get that elsewhere,” Shaw agreed, adding that the variety of trails and the relaxed atmosphere made their trip especially memorable.
The atmosphere
Both organizers and festivalgoers agreed that one thing that set this year apart was the atmosphere. Guests praised the lineup and the strong sense of community, with many telling organizers they’ve been returning for years.
“The amount of people that stopped us in the festival grounds just to say how they’ve been coming for multiple years, how they loved the lineup or that they can’t wait till next year, it was really welcoming,” St. Louis said.
The weather added both charm and challenge to the event. With unseasonably hot conditions, the open festival grounds tested attendees’ stamina. Still, the crowds embraced the heat, pushing through and enjoying every show. A new addition this year, a video wall, helped enhance the experience without a hitch.
Looking back, St. Louis summed up Retro Weekend 2025 in three simple words: “So much fun.”
With strong turnout, glowing reviews and fans ranging from Kamloops regulars to first-time visitors from Vancouver Island, Retro Weekend once again proved why it remains a highlight of the Sun Peaks calendar.
2025 Retro Weekend in Sun Peaks. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
SUN PEAKS PEDAL FEST ROLLS INTO ITS 11TH YEAR
The 11th annual Peaks Pedal Fest returned this Labour Day weekend.
By Aibiike Alymova
This Labour Day weekend, Peaks Pedal Fest marked its 11th year with a mix of community spirit, family-friendly activities and plenty of adrenaline on two wheels.
Launched in 2015, the festival was originally designed to celebrate both the bike park and the expanding network of community trails, Christina Antoniak, director of communications for Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) said.
“The vision was always to grow it, make it bigger and better and create even more of a culture of mountain biking in Sun Peaks and that’s exactly what’s happened.”
Since that first year, the resort has rolled out a multi-phased investment plan, expanding downhill mountain biking infrastructure with new trails, adding the Sundance chairlift and extending the operating season through September.
Meanwhile, the grassroots Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association (SPRTA) has continued building and maintaining a growing network of community trails, supported by volunteers and local riders.
This year’s festival didn't feature brand-new events but continued to build on recent additions.
One highlight was the Junior Down Hill Championship, introduced last summer as a way to give young riders ages eight to 16 a taste of competitive downhill racing before stepping onto the provincial stage. The event sold out in its first year with 50 participants and organizers expect more than 100 youth riders this time around.
“It’s helping to create a foundation for future mountain bike racers,” Antoniak said.
Another popular addition was Mullets for Movement, which debuted during the resort’s 25th Bike Park anniversary. Local hairstylist Heidi MacGowan once again offered mullet haircuts by donation, with proceeds benefiting SPRTA and the
Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation.
The weekend also featured the return of the Toyota Pacific Downhill Thrill, a free shuttle service that ferried riders and bikes up Mount Morrissey for descents on the community trail network — no pedaling required. Classic festival staples like the Grass Dual Slalom and Foot Down Derby rounded out the schedule, offering lighthearted competition and entertainment for riders and spectators alike.
The festival is about more than just racing, Antoniak said.
“Most of the events where there’s a registration fee, the money goes back into local nonprofit
associations,” she shared. “That’s a really cool piece of the weekend, where so much of it gets put right back into the community.”
With its mix of competitive events, community fundraising and family-friendly fun, Peaks Pedal Fest has become both a capstone to Sun Peaks’ summer season, and a celebration of the mountain biking culture that continues to grow in the village.
“The long weekend is the perfect time,” Antoniak added. “It’s often that last little family getaway before school starts and there’s no better way to spend it than on a bike.”
Pedal Fest brings mountain biking culture to life in Sun Peaks from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3. Photo via Sun Peaks Resort/Facebook
SUN PEAKS HEALTH CENTRE FACES A NEW CHAPTER, BUILT ON DECADES OF COMMUNITY VISION
What began as one pediatrician’s vision to bring year-round care to a growing resort community evolved into the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre, a lasting legacy of grassroots dedication, collaboration and community expectation.
By Aibiike Alymova
When Sun Peaks was just beginning to grow into the thriving community it is today, visitors and residents alike could find medical support during ski season through the resort, but once the lifts closed, so did healthcare.
Resident John Gossage was a retired pediatrician who always helped with medical situations in small municipalities.
“He would get calls from time to time,” his daughter Anne Terwiel recalled.
While he was happy to help, he was a pediatrician, not an emergency physician or a cardiologist, Terwiel said. He was also retired, but “he really saw the need for a proper health clinic that could serve multiple purposes.”
From that realization, the Sun Peaks Health Association was born. Formed in the 1990s, the association gathered a dedicated group of residents, medical professionals and resort representatives.
“He put together a really good, focused, dedicated committee with a number of different skills and representation from the communities that would be served,” Terwiel said. “Because it was such a strong organization, it was able to continue after he was gone.”
The association’s vision was broader than emergency response. It included family medicine, dentistry, counseling and preventative health.
“He was particularly concerned about the young people who were away from home for the first time,” Terwiel said. “He thought about nutritional issues, sexual health, drug and alcohol use and how to take a preventative, positive outlook, rather than just treating problems once they arise.”
Long-serving members such as ER nurse Marg Kosolofski, eye doctor Mario Pozza and the late John Hatchett, who chaired the board for over a decade, carried the vision forward. Their dedication ensured the project endured leadership changes and evolving community needs.
“He actually drew up an initial vision statement for getting a health centre…
it’s not quite to the level that he wanted, but it certainly provides the services to the community,” Pozza previously explained to SPIN in 2024.
Though Gossage passed away in 1999, his work left a lasting legacy.
Over two decades, the association raised funds for the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre while operating a small temporary clinic. As previously reported by SPIN, $800,000 was raised, and the association donated $600,000 to the
Sun Peaks Health Association members tour the new facility under construction. SPIN file photo
construction of the clinic, which began in the fall of 2016. This donation was matched by the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) using money it received as part of a start-up grant in 2010.
Throughout 2017, the community brought in around $405,000 through private donations, provincial government and Thompson-Nicola Regional District. In December of 2017, the municipality received a $100,000 donation from Gail and Ron “Shorty” Stiles, putting the equipment fund over $500,000.
The search for a full time doctor brought forth Dr. Shane Barclay, who relocated from Salt Spring Island.
On Dec. 11, 2017 Sun Peaks’ first full-time family medical practice opened its doors. The need for the clinic was immediately clear, with 450 patient sign-ups during the first week of operation.
Barclay continued working at the clinic, alongside Dr. Signy Frank and staff, until June 28, 2024 when he retired, passing the baton to Dr. Catherine Nowierski.
Relationship between municipality and the health centre
On April 1, 2023, the municipality and the association partnered with the nonprofit Supporting Team Excellence with Patients Society (STEPS) to manage physicians, staff and business operations.
The health association continued management of the health centre for nearly 20 years from its inception, raising funds and building momentum before operations and assets were passed on to the municipality in September 2024.
On July 14, 2025, council voted to end STEPS’ lease of the health centre effective Oct. 22, following weeks of conversation where council discussed operational challenges facing the clinic, such as reduced hours leading to long wait times, lack of locums and limited access to urgent care. The municipality retained ownership of the building and most medical equipment.
“[The municipality’s] role was always to help build the clinic and then find the right partner to run it,” Sun Peaks Mayor Rob O’Toole said in an interview with SPIN in July.
“We’re still committed to that approach. We’re not the operators, but we are the landlords and the community stewards of this facility,” he added. “We appreciated STEPS stepping in when they did and helping us bridge a critical gap, but after a year and a half, it became clear that their service model was not meeting the long-term healthcare needs of this community.”
Following this transition, council arranged a working group to develop recommendations for running the clinic moving forward, “whether that’s with another nonprofit, private operator or potentially a hybrid model,” O’Toole said. These recommendations were used to create a request for proposals (RFP) for interested parties to submit their plans for operating the clinic.
On Aug. 29, the municipality shared the RFP, seeking a family physician to lease and operate the centre independently.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts of the working group that was quickly
formed and worked very hard in a very short amount of time to assist in providing information and recommendations that really helped inform the RFP,” municipal chief administrative officer Deanna Campbell said during the Sept. 2 council meeting.
Once the RFP closes on Sept. 30, council will look into releasing the report to the public.
The future of health care in Sun Peaks
Today, the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre is an integral part of the resort community. It houses physicians and integrates closely with ski patrol, while other health professionals including massage therapists and acupuncturists serve the village independently.
Though the future of how the centre will operate is unclear, Sun Peaks' passion for a community-driven health centre remains strong.
Throughout the transition away from STEPS, community members have voiced their concerns, attending council meetings, writing into SPIN and connecting via social media. Community support for an integrated and crossdiscipline health centre is ever-present, a testament to the health association’s reason for being. What began with one doctor’s concern for his neighbours grew into a cornerstone of the community — a health centre built by and for Sun Peaks.
Anne Terwiel and former mayor Al Raine speak at the opening of the Sun Peaks Health Centre in 2017. SPIN file photo
John Hatchett (left) and Al Raine (middle) accept $266,000 from former health minister Terry Lake (right). Photo submitted by Jamie Shinkewski
BEYOND THE SHOULDER SEASON: HOW SUN PEAKS FINDS OPPORTUNITY IN THE IN-BETWEEN
As the bustle of summer fades and before ski season begins, Sun Peaks enters a quieter period that tests businesses, reshapes community life and offers a pause in the village rhythm.
By Aibiike Alymova
When the last mountain bikers roll down the trails in early fall and before the first skiers arrive in December, Sun Peaks enters what locals call the "shoulder season." But for many in Sun Peaks, the in-between months aren't just downtime— they’re opportunities.
Matthias Schmid, owner of McSporties, said the term shoulder season doesn’t always capture the value of spring and fall.
“It’s not a dead season; it’s just different,” Schmid said. “We do see fewer visitors, yes, but we also see families, locals and travelers who prefer a quieter village. Our role is to support businesses and highlight activities that still draw
people in, whether that’s golf in the fall or hiking in the spring.”
For business owners, the slower pace is both a challenge and a chance to reset. Gemma Harris, who runs Alpine Images Photography Inc., shared that while traffic drops, she sees it as an important period for catching up.
“We get a chance to deep clean, reorganize and prepare for the next rush,” Harris said. “It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. We’ve learned to budget and plan with those dips in mind.”
Rob O’Toole, mayor of Sun Peaks and owner of Vertical Café & Bistro, takes it a step further—he doesn’t even use the phrase shoulder season.
“When my kids were young, we had a swear jar at home. If you said a bad word, you paid 25 cents. A few years ago, we decided that in our business, shoulder season was a swear word. It carried too many negatives.”
Instead, O’Toole reframed those times as opportunities for renewal and transition.
“Businesses are refreshing, painting, maintaining. There are positives to that.”
For O’Toole, that mindset shift even shows up in small things, like how he sets hours.
“We used to call them shoulder season hours. Now, they’re just our spring and fall hours,” he explained. ”We open at 7:30 year-round, but close an hour earlier in those seasons. It’s smart business, but it’s also about language — you speak things into existence. If you call it slow, it’ll feel slow.”
His cafe is one of the few spots in the village that doesn’t close when the tourists thin out, providing both stability for staff and a gathering space for locals.
One of those staff members is Sophie Meek, who has worked at Vertical for two years and is now a supervisor. She first arrived in November 2023, just as the winter season kicked off.
“The atmosphere in Sun Peaks was amazing,” she said. “It’s such a great place to ski, socialize and be part of the community.”
But when April came and the lifts shut down, the change was immediate.
“The hardest part is that not as many establishments are open, so it can be tougher to socialize and meet people,” Meek said. “Work hours also drop, so you’re trying to save money while still wanting to get out. Most of us take advantage of the trails, basketball courts or the few places that stay open.”
For Meek, Vertical Café’s decision to remain open makes all the difference.
“We have consistent work and income, which is huge for staff and for locals,” Meek said. “Sun Peaks is still beautiful in fall and spring — you really get to see the seasons change. It’s also a good time to travel when you want to.”
For Sun Peaks, the in-between months are unlikely to disappear. Tourism Sun Peaks laid out a desire to make the village a year-round destination, and continues to build on that strategy offering festivals, concerts and free events during the resort’s off season.
Whether those months are viewed as a lull or a fresh season depends on who you ask, and how the community continues to shape its story around them.
Sophie Meek one of Vertical Café's employees. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
Alpine Images Photography Inc. gets ready for winter season.
Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
One of equipment rental businesses in Sun Peaks — McSporties. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
THIRD ANNUAL CREATE! FESTIVAL BRINGS ART AND CREATIVITY TO SUN PEAKS
From children selling handmade crafts to seasoned authors sharing their work, the festival highlights the diverse artistic spirit of Sun Peaks.
By Aibiike Alymova
Sun Peaks once again came alive with colour, music and artistic expression during the third annual CREATE! Festival, a celebration that brings together local talent, community members and visitors in the village.
Among those showcasing their work this year was Marcy Beauchamp, a Kamloops-based author who also spends part of her time in Sun Peaks. Beauchamp is the writer of multiple books, like Louie’s New Doo! and C’mon everyone let’s Boogie, featured during the event. For her, the festival was an exciting opportunity to share her writing with new audiences.
“This is really the first time that I’ve tried to promote my books, so it was good,” Beauchamp said. “There were lots of other vendors and creative people around, which was kind of nice. It was great to meet people and just get my books a little out there.”
Beauchamp has been part of CREATE! since 2022 and said the festival has grown each year.
“ArtZone does an incredible job. Marj [Knive] puts her heart and soul into organizing this festival,” she said. “Every year it’s been a bit different and now with the new ArtHub, it’s amazing too.”
The festival is more than a showcase of talent — it’s also an opportunity to inspire others. Beauchamp noted the variety of art on display, from professional creators to children with their own tables.
“It showcases the talent that’s around Sun Peaks, because there is a lot,” she said. “There were some really interesting techniques on display. I loved seeing kids involved, too, selling their own work.”
Fellow participant AF Morrissey echoed those sentiments pointing to the setting itself as a source of creativity.
“We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I think there’s so much inspiration around us,” Morrissey said. “The CREATE! Festival is a way to share that inspiration with others and keep it flowing through the community.”
Marj Knive, president of ArtZone and organizer
of the CREATE! Festival, reflected on both the successes and the challenges of this year’s event.
While the event itself was a success, it faced unexpected competition from Tourism Sun Peaks’ (TSP) new Alpenglow Festival, which was scheduled
ArtZone ArtHub decorated with digital art by Lorel Sternig. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
One of the interactive displays in Sun Peaks Centre Stage. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
for the same weekend, Knive said.
“TSP early on wanted to take over the CREATE! Festival, but we weren’t aligned with how that would look,” Knive explained. “They determined that they would have the Alpenglow Festival the same weekend as ours, which turned out to be more in competition with our festival than we had hoped.”
According to Knive, the overlap created economic challenges for ArtZone’s model, which prioritizes paying artists and recognizing the value of their work. With free workshops offered through Alpenglow, CREATE! had to cancel some of its own.
“Our mandate is that we pay our artists and that art is valuable,” she said. “The value of art was negated by things being offered for free. What ended up happening was that TSP competed with us, rather than supported our project.”
Naomi Kerchinsky, the executive director of TSP, acknowledged ArtZone’s concerns, but stressed that Alpenglow was never intended to compete with the CREATE! Festival.
“Tourism Sun Peaks values the contribution ArtZone makes to our community,” Kerchinsky said. “Alpenglow's intent was to attract outside visitors and to celebrate art. We wanted to complement the vibrant arts community we have here in Sun Peaks, not compete.”
Kerchinsky emphasized that TSP is committed to refining its approach and ensuring that future festivals support visitors and local artists.
“Our next steps will be to address this discontent ArtZone has expressed and find a way to celebrate arts for our local community, as well as to attract outside visitors in our future preparation,” Kerchinsky said. “The festivals that we are building here are not one-offs, they're perennials. We're planning to grow stronger and stronger each season”
Looking ahead, Knive hopes for greater collaboration between community organizations.
“It’s too small of a community for there to be competition,” she said. “We really need to work together on these things and unfortunately, that didn’t happen this time.”
Still, she emphasized the positive highlights of CREATE!, including Indigenous performances and family-friendly activities.
“The Sage Hills Singers’ powwow dancing and drumming was the highlight of the festival,” she said. “They educated the audience with such humor and heart — from tiny kids to longtime locals, everyone was awestruck. Seeing families out
with their children and dogs, dancing and enjoying what we had to offer — that’s what CREATE! is all about.”
Knive also pointed to the village walk storyboard displays and the Beyond Brass Band with Lindy Hop dancers as major hits of the weekend.
With live performances, interactive workshops and dozens of booths highlighting visual art, writing and craft, the CREATE! Festival continues to build momentum as a cornerstone of the Sun Peaks cultural calendar.
For locals and visitors alike, it offers a chance to celebrate creativity in all its forms and to be reminded of the inspiration that comes from the mountains.
“We’ve had so many people say what a great time they had,” Knive said. “It thrills me to see families enjoying the arts together, that’s what we’re here for.”
Marcy Beauchamp (left) and AF Morrissey (right) with their books on display. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
DISCOVER ART ACROSS SUN PEAKS
Did you know about all of these art spots?
By Aibiike Alymova
Sun Peaks is not only a destination for outdoor adventure, it’s also home to a vibrant arts community, brought to life by ArtZone Sun Peaks. Through rotating exhibitions, ArtZone makes art accessible to residents and visitors, transforming everyday spaces into lively galleries.
At the Tourism Sun Peaks Office, visitors can explore a rotating selection of visual art, from contemporary paintings to intricate photography, offering a welcoming introduction to the local arts scene. Some of the creators that you can see there include Insun Kang, Dennis Staginnus and Bruce Mitchell among others. The office can be accessed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Guest Services at the Sun Peaks Activity Centre hosts work that reflects the beauty and energy of the surrounding mountains, including landscapes, abstract pieces and mixed media displays. Janet Scruggs’ fibre art can be found
there. Guest Services is open to art enthusiasts daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, both in its upper and lower levels, features a dynamic array of group exhibitions. These shows highlight the work of multiple artists, including Twyla Jensen, Melissa Charpentier and Christine Kashuba, with various mediums including painting, sculptors and photographs, allowing guests to experience a variety of styles under one roof. Visitors can discover the delicate brushwork of traditional artists alongside bold, modern interpretations of local life. You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to see the art!
Century 21 Diamante Sun Peaks and the Vertical Café provide intimate gallery settings, showcasing individual artists. Some more of Kashuba’s work can be found in Century 21 and Cathy Tetarenko’s art is at Vertical Café in themed exhibitions.
Vertical Café, open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., also recently hosted photographers and painters whose works capture both the ruggedness of the landscape and the charm of village life. Guests can enjoy these pieces while sipping coffee or meeting the artists during special openings. Everyone is welcome at Dinamate 21 from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plus visitors can try a typewriter there with exclusive postcards done by the president of ArtZone, Marj Knive.
Visitors can encounter photography, painting and mixed media in locations they already frequent, from hotels and cafés to community centres. The result is a cultural landscape where art and daily life intersect, reflecting the talent and diversity of the local arts community and enriching the Sun Peaks experience for everyone.
Bruce Mitchell’s Snow Day, acrylic on snowboard in Tourism Sun Peaks’ office. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
Last Run by Dennis Staginnus (left) and Catch of the Day by Insun Kang displayed in Tourism Sun Peaks’ office. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
Fiber art piece — From Far and Wide by Janet Scruggs. Photo by Aibiike Alymova/Sun Peaks Independent News
‘CREATING A COMMUNITY AROUND ARTS’: ARTZONE’S PROGRESS 10 YEARS IN
Sun Peaks’ organization for all things creative has spent over a decade building a home for arts and culture in Sun Peaks.
By Aibiike Alymova
When people think of Sun Peaks, skiing, biking and mountain trails often come to mind. But for over a decade, another kind of energy has been growing in the heart of the village—the creative spark fostered by ArtZone.
Founded in 2012 by Connie McKnight, ArtZone began as a small idea with a big vision: to create a place for arts and culture to flourish in a resort town known primarily for outdoor adventure.
“From the very beginning, the idea was about creating a place for art to belong in Sun Peaks,” said ArtZone president Marj Knive. “We’ve used the walls of various businesses, made space wherever we could and kept growing.”
The early years were about proving that art had
an audience in Sun Peaks. Local artists showcased their work wherever there was wall space. Cafes, shops and restaurants became temporary galleries.
The response was encouraging and by 2019, ArtZone was established as a community fixture. That year marked a turning point when the
“ From the very beginning, the idea was about creating a place for art to belong in Sun Peaks.”
organization expanded its reach to performing arts by welcoming Missoula Children’s Theatre.
“It was a huge step for us,” Knive explained. “The theatre gave families and kids a chance to engage with the arts in a whole new way.”
Film soon followed. Partnering with the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, ArtZone brought curated screenings into the village, tapping into both the local love for adventure and the
universal appeal of great storytelling.
These film nights not only added variety to Sun Peaks’ event calendar but also connected the community to international voices and ideas.
This year, ArtZone celebrated one of its biggest milestones yet: The ArtHub.
“Having a physical home gives the organization stability and a gathering place for workshops, exhibitions and community collaboration,” Knive said. ”It represents a shift from being nomadic, borrowing walls and spaces, to finally planting permanent roots.”
ArtZone’s story is also one of connections beyond the mountains. Knive sees this as essential to the organization’s growth.
“Every year we see more people, more excitement, more ideas,” she said. “That’s what makes this work so special. We’re not just putting on events. We’re creating a community around art in Sun Peaks.”
From modest beginnings to film festivals, theatre productions and the promise of a permanent hub, ArtZone’s journey reflects both the challenges and resilience of the arts in a small community.
A decade in, the organization continues to carve out space for creativity, ensuring that art is just as much a part of the Sun Peaks experience as its slopes and trails.
ArtZone’s booth during Sun Peaks Market Day. Photo via ArtZone Sun Peaks/Facebook
SUN PEAKS KIDS EXPLORE ART AND ADVENTURE AT ARTZONE’S SUMMER CAMPS
ArtZone’s summer camps offered kids a fun, creative and educational experience with activities from painting and yoga to fire safety lessons.
By Aibiike Alymova
This summer, ArtZone’s series of nine weekly summer camps offered children in the Sun Peaks community a chance to explore their creativity, learn new skills and have fun in a safe and engaging environment.
While the first week of August saw a session canceled due to low registration, ArtZone president Marj Knive emphasized that having only one cancellation over the course of nine weeks was a success for a program in its first year.
“At the end of the day, offering it every week is fine,” Knive said. “If we cancel once because of low participation, that’s okay too."
The camps included a variety of activities, from painting and yoga to dance and special sessions featuring community guests. One memorable highlight involved fire prevention officers teaching the children about fire safety.
“The kids were having so much fun, and I’m not sure who was enjoying it more—the fire people or the kids,” Knive said.
The lessons resonated with campers, who excitedly shared what they learned with their families.
With the help of local businesses, ArtZone prioritized accessibility, offering sponsorships for children whose families might not be able to afford the camps.
“If families can’t afford to send their kids, we want them to still be able to come,” she said.
The camps not only fostered creativity in children but also strengthened ArtZone’s connection to the community. With the use of the ArtHub for storage and the resort lending umbrella tents for outdoor activities, ArtZone was able to accommodate both sunny and rainy days, ensuring a smooth experience for participants.
Looking ahead, Knive hopes to expand ArtZone’s programming beyond summer, offering camps during school breaks such as Easter, Christmas, spring break and professional development days.
“There’s a group of kids who are too big for daycare but too young to be left alone. We want to be there for them and art is a perfect way to provide that support,” Knive said.
Reflecting on lessons learned from the first summer, Knive highlighted improvements in administrative structure and program delivery, which will help future camps run more efficiently. Overall, she said the summer camps were a resounding success, providing hundreds of children with an enriching, fun and memorable experience in the heart of Sun Peaks.
Kids enjoy a jewelry making station with ArtZone. Photo via ArtZone Sun Peaks/Facebook
GRASSROOTS GALLERIES
FILL THE GAP IN KAMLOOPS’ ART SCENE
A vibrant local arts scene is ‘well worth the investment,’ local artists say.
By Macarena Mantilla
Kamloops is brimming with creative talent, but for many local artists, finding a place to show work is hard.
With gallery space scarce and costs high, a wave of grassroots venues and collectives are stepping in, proving that when the art can’t find a home, artists will build one themselves.
For local artist Leslie Carty, co-owner of the Living Arts Studio, the lack of spaces and funding for local artists are among the reasons most creators maintain full-time jobs, rather than diving into their passion full time.
Carty and Living Arts’ co-owner Shelaigh Garson are a few of the folks stepping up to help bridge the gap between artists creating and showing their work in Kamloops.
“I think the art is out there, there's just not enough venues,” Garson said.
In addition to Living Arts’ studio, other locals and organizations are working to create a place for artists to thrive.
The Living Arts Studio
The Living Arts Studio has been open for around eight years, Garson said.
Driven to fill the gap in venues for creating and showcasing art in Kamloops, Garson and Carty put their 40 years of experience toward opening a space for workshops including weaving, fiber arts, airbrushing and more.
From the beginning, the focus was on building a community, Garson explained.
“It's not a huge space, but we've connected with other artists that have larger spaces that they don't have open as galleries, and so we have supported quite a few local artists,” Garson said.
While the gallery is open to the public, it is by invitation only due to the building's location in a residential neighbourhood.
During events, they try to focus on artists who aren't showing elsewhere or have
work out commercially.
They have hosted events where up to 20 local artists can sell their items. At one event, a local artist showcased 50 paintings, and sold them all.
“I think that there's a lot of hugely talented people here,” Garson said. “I think it's just they don't know where to go or show or it's out of reach financially.”
With hoops to jump through, committees to join and lists to get on, Carty explained most artists simply don’t know where to go.
As an artist himself, Carty wanted to create this space to help other artists in the community.
“We thought we'd really like to showcase new and up-and-coming artists and have a space for them, to have a venue that's not going to cost them an arm and a leg.”
In some cases galleries ask between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the price the piece sells according to Carty.
“That means you need to really price your work almost out of range to make any money, and then, therefore you don't sell any pieces.”
Carty and Garson are committed to promoting art in Kamloops, they host workshops and shows all by themselves. To support and know more about their programming visit their Facebook page The Living Arts Studio.
Old Federal Studios
Old Federal Studios started in October 2023, when the Kamloops Makerspace moved into a different space in the Northshore. Five artists currently reside in the space, which operates as a workspace and gallery. The space has tin pan ceilings and antique wooden banisters which give it the heritage feel.
Vaughn Warren, one of the founders, has been a lifelong Kamloopsian and a
A weaving basket workshop at The Living Arts Studio. Photo courtesy of The Living Arts Studio
Artist Isabelle Faulkner (L-R) with patron Tanis Kinney at the art auction and sale hosted by the Kamloops Artist Vortex. Photo by Roxi Hermsen
professional freelance artist for more than 35 years.
Warren has worked with the Kamloops Art Gallery for five years as an exhibition designer and preparator, handling and maintaining art work.
Besides agreeing there is a lack of space for artists to show in Kamloops, Warren pointed to the gap that exists between enjoying art and buying art.
“Some communities are very supportive of artists in terms of buying their art. Others are supportive more just in terms of showing up for their opening and eating their cheese and wine and not buying art,” Warren said.
Having worked on a variety of arts-related boards and organizations, including the Kamloops Arts Council, Kamloops Museum Association, Graffiti Task Force, Kamloops Arts Commission, Kamloops Makerspace and ART International, he knows the power of collaboration.
“In my work in the arts over the years, I've always felt that artists operate best in groups or salons or collectives,” Warren said. “I feel that the safety is in numbers, and they can really amplify each other's work, resources and opportunities.”
Reflecting that belief, this space offers a place to gather and create, and some artists live in the building while others who use the space create or show.
When Warren started thinking about what the studio would bring, he wanted to keep an open mind about programming.
“I felt that what I wanted to do was provide a platform for creative people to live, to work, to show their work,” Warren said. “I would kind of sit back a little bit and see what comes to us, because I didn't want to dictate what style of art would be displayed or what genre.”
In addition to the gallery, there is a store where artists can put their work up for sale, a small area where folks can do graphic design, a sculpture studio and shared wood shop.
“I want to see the artist develop what they're developing, and to provide a platform for that,” Warren said.
Warren shared that he is excited to see where Old Federal Studios ends up and is excited to become a hub for creation.
“What I'm excited about is developing Old Federal Studios as one of those pins in the map where it's a place where people meet, they develop art, display art and buy art.”
Kamloops Artist Vortex
Roxi Hermsen started the Kamloops Artist Vortex with the idea to create spaces where local artists could sell their artwork.
“When I moved to Kamloops, I just found that there wasn't a lot happening for the artists,” Hermsen said. “There were places you could show, but not really sales oriented.”
The goal was to promote artists as well as support local businesses and important causes.
One of the organization’s recent events was an art auction with funds donated to the Big Little Science Centre.
During these events folks can go meet the artists, creating the circular effect of creating and supporting community.
“We're supporting the artists, supporting communities, supporting local businesses. Win, win, win is the concept,” Hermsen said.
The auctions have been hosted previously at the Old Federal Studios space showcasing art by Isabelle Faulkner, Debbie Lund, Tilly Perry and Hermsen herself.
“All of our auction pieces are brand new, so they haven't been up someplace or dug out from storage. They're all created for the event,” Hermsen said.
More events will be organized over the fall featuring a silent and live auction.
For more information on the upcoming events visit the Kamloops Artist Vortex Facebook page.
The Vortex is also looking for more artists so they can participate in more events and Hermsen said she would love to work with more folks in the community.
Other ways to support local artists
The audience is a key part of bolstering art, according to Clement Yeh, artist and a professor at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in the visual arts and communication department. While Kamloops may have a lack of art spaces, community involvement is also needed, and the participation of residents in exhibitions is vital.
"There have been suggestions of a database where all arts communities and events, public and private, are searchable within one digital platform," he said. “It would make a huge difference since many people complain they don’t know where to hear about local events.”
Yeh has acknowledged that although there is programming in Kamloops for the arts it still is a hard place to showcase your art.
“There's a whole bunch of different types of reasons why the arts struggle here, in terms of walkability, affordability, people with expertise and the kind of leadership that would be required to bring different people from different communities,” Yeh said.
Collaboration among organizations is also key in ensuring a blooming art community, he said. In comparison to larger cities, which often have multiple arts communities for a variety of folks and interests, Kamloops requires a cohesive arts infrastructure that works together, Yeh explained.
“I'll say this as neutrally as I can so as not to step on any toes. I find that there is too much division within the local art scene, including people that refuse to work with others, or organizations that have built walls that limit access to one demographic or another, and subsequently people don’t feel those organizations reflect their needs,” he said. “This needs to change in order for us to grow."
In some cases it can be harder for artists who do not have an academic involvement to access spaces like KAG Yeh said, recalling that in art school you learn how to create your own exhibition when you aren’t tied to an institution.
“For example, talking to an empty commercial space and convincing them to let you install work in it and do your own marketing and promotion. But if you're young and you haven't been shown the steps, then it would never occur to you to do that as an option.”
For artists who are just starting, Yeh advised approaching local coffee shops or cafes. Some examples include the Art We Are and Kamloops Artisan Bazaar & Soup Desire Cafe which feature local art.
Organizations like the Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) are also doing the best they can according to Yeh.
“The KAC does as much as they can within the limits of their funding and staff. They have a lot of knowledge at their disposal. The KAC has talked about running workshops, and they have in the past, but sometimes you put a lot of work into promoting the workshops and the right people don't hear about it, or they don't commit to it.”
To build a community that makes art, Warren emphasized the importance of supporting the arts.
“I think that any healthy community needs to have all levels of arts and it's well worth the investment,” Warren said. “It's been well shown that the visual arts generate huge amounts of economic activity in all sizes of communities and healthy children. All ages of people benefit directly from a vibrant arts scene.”
Attendees at the SOCIALLOCAL art exhibition at Old Federal Studios this year. Photo courtesy of Old Federal Studios
An art auction at Old Federal Studios with attendees looking at the art. Photo courtesy of Kamloops Artist Vortex
ON SCREEN AND IN SPIRIT: INDIGENOUS VOICES LEAD THE 4TH STSEPTÉKWLES RE SK’ELÉP (COYOTE STORIES) INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL
Taking place Sept. 26 to 28, the festival will offer an ‘additional learning opportunity’ leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
By Macarena Mantilla
The Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (Coyote Stories) Indigenous Film Festival returns to the Paramount Theatre Sept. 26 to 28, inviting the community to gather, spark conversation and celebrate Indigenous filmmakers and stories.
In collaboration with the Kamloops Film Society (KFS) and Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc, the fourth edition of the festival will feature Canadian and international films.
This is the second year that the festival is taking place around Truth and Reconciliation day, Sept. 30, with hopes to provide an “additional learning opportunity to the Kamloops community,” festival committee member Shay Paul told SPIN. With the shift to the last week in September,
the festival committee hopes to spark the art of conversation to aid in the process of reconciliation through celebrating Indigenous filmmakers.
“I think a festival that celebrates Indigenous creatives and Indigenous storytelling is a really good way to really focus on both of those points,” Paul said. “It is not just heavy historic documentaries or digging into some of those hard truths… it is one thing to have the truth but you also need to have the reconciliation.”
Creating a festival that represents the community
For festival producer Ana Monteiro, creating a committee that reflects the audience was key to elevating this year’s event.
The all-Indigenous committee, composed of Jason Mike Blair, Laura Michel, Shay Paul, Bobbi Sasakamoose and Joshua Gottfriedsen, made all decisions regarding the festival Monteiro shares.
“We want to make sure the festival itself is representing the community,” she adds. “We also try to make this year as engaging and as interesting as we can, and that ends up entitling a lot of small details.”
For Paul, who is also representing the Indigenous Resurgence Project – a grassroots, Indigenous-led arts organization to build connection, visibility and support for Indigenous artists – those small details include showcasing local talent.
“I take a great interest in seeing Indigenous voices being portrayed and represented on the screen, and making sure that our local filmmakers or people from the region and the province are being represented on the big screen,” Paul said.
Collaborating with Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc
Colette Abbott is the executive director of the KFS and has helped with organizing the festival.
The non-profit collaborated with Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc to brainstorm the lineup and make recommendations.
“It's a space for [Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc] to bring up any films that they're really excited about, or connect us with specific speakers or artists that they know of, that they think would be a good fit for the festival,” Abbott said.
Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc has provided its vision to the festival and has helped the society promote it. Over the past two years the festival has had a representative from the Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc or the Chief do an opening prayer and welcome everyone.
“They also help us connect to different local initiatives in various departments, depending on what's going on in each festival,” Abbott said.
Last year after a meeting with the Chief and council of Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc KFS decided to change the dates to the last week of September,
Last year’s Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (Coyote Stories) Indigenous Film Festival. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
taking into account Truth and Reconciliation Day.
“We didn't want to have the festival on September 30 because we wanted to hold that day,” Abbott explained. “But I think it's really lovely to have it in the lead up to National Truth and Reconciliation day, because it gives the local community a space to learn, to engage, to participate.”
“We're trying to celebrate Indigenous filmmakers and artists and stories and perspectives.”
Every year KFS tries to show and honour the past through the films that are chosen along with their programming.
“We want to also highlight and celebrate the resilience and the talent and the artistry of Indigenous voices,” Abbott said.
In previous years the feedback KFS has received has been positive especially from non-Indigenous attendees who have found a great opportunity to learn about Indigenous perspectives, Abbott recalled.
“I think film is a very powerful medium for telling stories when you're talking about the past, especially with the Indian Residential School System and the experience of Indigenous peoples in Canada,” Abbott said. “I think film is actually a really powerful way of really getting those stories across, because the audience members can see the images, they can experience a visceral kind of feeling.”
Creating a shortlist
If local films are harder to find, the committee seeks out regional films, then Canada-wide and international films. They also make sure there is a variety of genres to offer a movie for everyone.
This year there are a few genres like drama, sci-fi, documentary, thriller or horror.
The festival is set to have seven feature films including Sweet Summer Pow Wow, NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film, So Surreal: Behind The Masks, Seeds, Les Filles Du Roi, The Lost Tiger, and Saints and Warriors
Following the showing of Sweet Summer Pow Wow director Daryl Dennis and actor Tyler Peters will hold a discussion.
On Saturday, Sept. 27 So Surreal: Behind The Masks and NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film will take over
the big screen After showing NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film there will be a panel discussing Indigenous female filmmakers.
"In the post-film discussion, the director of NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film Jules Koostachin, and the director of the preceding short-film Good Daze, Jonelle Belcourt, share what it's like to be an Indigenous woman in the film industry. Their experiences offer unique insights and a fresh perspective," Monteiro said.
In the film Koostachin interviews other Indigenous women filmmakers and they discuss how the Indigenous community is represented in the film making industry.
“It's hard for a woman to work in the filmmaking industry, and as an Indigenous woman, it is even harder,” Monteiro said. “That's sort of like the whole topic of the film, and we thought that it would be a really interesting and fascinating discussion.”
So Surreal: Behind The Masks will also have a discussion panel, for which KFS and Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc collaborated to bring experts from the Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park to talk about cultural reclamation, Abbott said. The documentary focuses on lost artifacts and how they find their way back to Indigenous communities.
On Sunday, Sept. 28 the film The Lost Tiger will be showcased which is an Australian animation film.
“It is also the first written and directed Australian film by an Indigenous woman. We're going to make it a relaxing family screening,” Monteiro said.
The closing film for the festival will be Saints and Warriors, a documentary that has been shared throughout Canada.
“I love to see festivals happening in Kamloops and I am so thankful, appreciative and proud of our [festival] committee at the caliber we are continuing to work at,” Paul said.
What to expect?
The festival will also feature short films from other Indigenous communities around the world, to be announced. The films will be playing in a loop so folks can enter and leave the screening freely.
“I sort of pushed the idea for us to have a bigger showcasing of short films, since most filmmakers start there,” Monteiro said.
The festival can be a platform for those filmmakers who want to showcase their work.
“We're also giving them a voice and a channel,” Monteiro adds.
The short film section will have juried awards and they opened submissions from across Canada.
“We received quite a few submissions. We are going to be jurying that and myself and the Indigenous Resurgence Project will be sponsoring an award specifically looking at narrative sovereignty in film,” Paul said.
This will be the first time the festival has done an open call for submissions and will do awards.
This year will also feature an Indigenous artisan market in collaboration with the TNRD civic building and the Kamloops downtown library.
“This is our ongoing effort to support local Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses by giving them a place and a platform to be involved in community events,” Paul said.
The film society was awarded some grants that have allowed them to have that programming and support
“It is very integral that we are supporting Indigenous artists and creatives every step of the way of the festival. Having an Indigenous artisan market tied into this festival is another way that we can showcase these local creatives,” Paul said
“This year I'm really excited about some of our filmmaker guests. I think every year the festival grows, and the profile of the festival gets bigger,” Abbott shares.
Last year the IFF showcased Sugarcane, an Oscar nominee and the committee is committed to bringing high production films to Kamloops, Paul adds.
“That was a very powerful, very heavy film. So we definitely show documentaries that kind of talk about our past. This is definitely something that is very important for the Indigenous Festival Committee,” Abbott said.
The committee is focused on showcasing visual and narrative sovereignty, which is allowing the director, writer or the creative behind the project their own autonomy and voice to shine in the production, Paul explained. The directors are exploring themes that might not be mainstream or familiar to many people but it is exercising their creative voice to the fullest.
“I want to see the IFF on the same scale as other film festivals.”
Paul has taken inspiration from the ImagiNative Film Festival in Toronto which is an international Indigenous film festival. There is a lot of programming across Canada that showcases Indigenous voices in their film festivals.
“People can expect a very diverse program this year, we tried to come up with a programming that would suit most audiences,” Monteiro said. “The idea is also to include everyone from the community in this event.”
A still from the film Les Filles Du Roi. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
A still from NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
A still from the film The Lost Tiger. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
A still from the film Saints and Warriors. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
A still from the film So Surreal: Behind The Masks. Photo courtesy of the Kamloops Film Society
MIXED SECWÉPEMC AND SETTLER ARTIST TANIA WILLARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 SOBEY ART AWARD
‘I'm just really grateful to the land, my family and my community,’
Tania Willard said of the recognition.
By Macarena Mantilla
Tania Willard, mixed Secwépemc and settler artist, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Sobey Art award. Her work centres art “as an act of Indigenous resurgence,” focusing on culture, land and family.
Born in Kamloops (Tkʼemlúps), Willard currently lives in Niskonlith, where she is an artist, curator and teacher at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in the visual art program.
“I try to speak to a lot of contemporary kinds of issues, both in a social way, but my focus has been a lot land-based,” Willard told SPIN. “In the last little while I lived surrounded by the forest in Secwépemc territories. As a Secwépemc and settler background person, I take time to value and learn from my community and family and the land here, and that's been really important to my work.”
Some of her projects include the BUSH Gallery which is a collaboration with Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill, who is Métis, and Peter Morin who is Tāłtān.This project focused on Indigenous territory, experiences and rights. The gallery explored ways art has been regulated by centring Indigenous life, traditions, knowledge and cultures.
While the thread of community, connection, land and language exist throughout her work, Willard became more inspired with motherhood.
“Having children really kind of pushed me to consider art practice and curating very differently, because I was very aware of the limitations of a Western art frame, or Western art model,” she explained. “So that was really important for me to explore what Secwépemc models there were for art.”
Previously engaging in work that tended to be city-based and focused, building a family closer to nature helped Willard envision a “wider scope” for her art practice, along with a lack of options for Indigenous art.
“Canada never built infrastructure for Indigenous peoples to have or show or participate in Canadian culture writ large, in terms of galleries and museums,” she said.
In thinking about that dynamic and its continuing impact, Willard shifted her mindset.
“I just started to make art on the land and think through that and think less about white walled gallery spaces, although I continue to work in them and always have, but I wanted to expand ideas and notions.”
While innovative in this work, Willard also acknowledged those who came before her.
“There's such a rich tradition of artists and different kinds of alternative spaces of showing work or talking about art or engaging in art and communities.”
Willard has also focused on projects which support language revitalization in Secwépemc communities, working as the treasurer for one of the local language organizations. In that role, she does art practice to create language curriculum, as well as revitalize traditional artistic methods and materials.
Willard's work has been showcased at the Kamloops Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Forge Project, the Anchorage Museum and others.
2025 Sobey Art Awards
Willard’s work along with the other shortlisted artists for the 2025 Sobey Art Awards will be shown at an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada this fall, with the winner being named Nov. 8.
As this will be her first time showing at the national gallery, Willard is eager to present an example of the art that flourishes in her community.
“We as Secwépemc people, our art histories aren’t recognized, and as interior Salish people, we've long been in the shadow of an ethnographic frame that positioned us as not having sophisticated arts,” Willard said. “I'm interested in countering that narrative and showing all of the contemporary, rich artwork that is in our communities.”
“I am just one person, and we get so much inspiration from our land,” Willard added. “I'm just really grateful to the land, my family and my community who helped me be inspired to make the work I do to get this kind of recognition.”
Tania Willard. Photo by Billie Jean Gabriel
HOW SECWÉPEMC SONGWRITER
JEREMY
KNEESHAW GIVES BACK
Through his Kamloops-based recording business Jeremy Kneeshaw Music, the mutliinstrumentalist and producer amplifies the power of music through performance, production and cultural preservation.
By Rebecca Owens
For songwriter Jeremy Kneeshaw’s first performance at this year’s Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, he assembled a retro-styled blues trio that ignited the dance floor.
“It was totally surreal to be there, on the other side of the curtain,” he told SPIN. “Ever since I was like a little kid, that was always my dream.”
Through his company Jeremy Kneeshaw Music Ltd., the Kamloops (Tk'emlúps)based musician moves fluidly between solo performances, full band ensembles and behind-the-scenes production. Uniting his diverse skillset is a singular purpose to “make the right ears happy,” he said, whether by filling the dance floor or preserving songs too often silenced by history.
A proud member of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Kneeshaw’s story is deeply rooted in both artistry and community. His lifelong journey in music started from childhood as a piano prodigy, but he also plays over a dozen instruments.
“I've always been drawn to music,” Kneeshaw said. “I see music as a language of sorts, and we don't all necessarily speak it or communicate it, but we can all understand it. That's kind of a beautiful thing to be able to share with people.”
At just 19, he self-produced and released his debut album, a feat that earned him the Akedamia Music Award for Jazz/Funk/Fusion in 2016 and an invitation to perform at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles.
He records his own music and offers recording services and support for community-based projects through his company and Cutting Station Studios.
As a way to support other Indigenous artists, he offers free recording sessions to traditionalist drum groups and Indigenous storytellers — a service Kneeshaw said is rooted in both personal connection and cultural responsibility.
“I am Secwépemc,” he said. “My mother is Secwépemc, and she’s related to many of the people who live here on the reserve at Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.”
His decision to offer free recording time was shaped by the confirmation of Le Estcwicwéy̓ (‘The Missing’ in Secwepemctsín), referring to the evidence of unmarked graves found at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, a confirmation of decades of survivor testimonials and third-party evidence of abuse that occurred less than a kilometre from where he grew up.
The confirmation of Le Estcwicwéy̓ has changed the way he thought about the past and the reality of people's stories, he said.
“I walked by it every day going to school. It really impacted me...I have to try to be a voice for those who were ignored or denied or brushed aside for so long.”
By using his skills and equipment to record Elders and Knowledge Keepers, often in their own homes, Kneeshaw aims to remove financial and logistical barriers to cultural documentation, such as preserving language, song and oral history.
“I want to use what time and skill and ability I have to be a voice for those who were ignored or denied,” he said. “If offering it for free means that a financial hurdle isn’t in the way, then I want it to be as available as it can be.”
For Kneeshaw, preserving traditional music is not about perfect vocal pitch, it’s about participation and shared experience. The songs are written and designed to be sung as a group. His goal is to help others feel the same connection to music
that he has felt throughout his life.
“If I can help others feel the way I felt with music, I want to,” he said. “That’s why I do what I do.”
‘I believe in purpose’
While he initially supported his passion for music through carpentry, he left that career in 2015 to pursue music full-time.
His years of experience performing as a multi-intrumentalist led to the formation of Jeremy Kneeshaw Music, a project focused on matching the right music to the right environment.
“I believe in purpose and I do believe that this is mine.”
For Kneeshaw, recording music is more than capturing sound. It’s a way of revisiting moments in time.
“How it makes you feel listening to those things or that part of your life, that’s kind of how I hear my recordings,” he said.
His musical style has undergone significant evolution, especially in recent years. He’s been exploring early blues influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and the three Kings, B.B., Freddie, and Albert.
This deep dive into blues history has expanded his musical vocabulary and perspective, which he sees as essential for artistic growth.
“I think the most important thing as an artist is to be open-minded to allow all those things to impact your way of looking at music, even if it’s your own,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kneeshaw and his live band are preparing to enter the studio to record an album that reflects their summer performances at events like Kamloops’ Music in the Park, Music for the People and the Roots and Blues Festival.
The project will feature live versions of previously released songs, along with new material, split into two albums: one showcasing his guitar work, the other focused on keys.
“My heart is really in playing with the band and capturing that live magic,” he said. “That’s what I want to focus my creative direction on.”
He also plans to release similar recordings from his solo set and his work with Velvet Groove, offering fans a range of options to experience the evolving sound of Jeremy Kneeshaw Music.
When asked what advice he would offer to emerging artists trying to build a career while staying true to their values, Kneeshaw didn’t hesitate.
“Find people who are genuine in supporting you for your art.
For further information, visit www.jeremykneeshaw.com
Jeremy Kneeshaw of Jeremy Kneeshaw Music. Photo by Jeremy Kneeshaw Music
‘IT’S TIME TO BRING IT FORWARD’: ED JENSEN ON THE ART AND SPIRITUALITY OF SECWÉPEMC HUNTING
For Secwépemc hunter, artist and TV personality, Tk emlúps Traditions is more than a business – it’s a living archive of Secwépemc knowledge.
By Rebecca Owens
On a warm summer afternoon, Ed Jensen sits in his workshop, tools at his side, facing a large wood carving depicting a Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc creation story.
To the untrained eye, it looks like a beautiful picture of a coyote, bear, wolf, elk, eagle and other animals facing two people in the foreground. But the accomplished Secwépemc hunter, artist and teacher explained he’s carving history and culture into the cedar slab.
For Jensen, artistry isn’t just skill. It is a way of remembering, honouring and surviving. As the founder of Tk̓emlúps Traditions, where folks can purchase handmade works of art and learn how to craft traditional tools like knives and rattles, Jensen has carved out a life rooted in ancestral teachings, land-based practices and a deep respect for the natural world.
Now his teachings are reaching people far beyond his workshop. As an Indigenous hunting guide featured on the latest season of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's (APTN) award-winning docuseries Yukon Harvest, which premiered on Sept. 4, Jensen helps Indigenous folks of all ages hunt and reconnect to cultural traditions.
‘We don’t waste anything’
Raised on the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc reserve, Jensen was chosen by family to carry the role of hunter, a responsibility that shaped his earliest experiences and continues to guide his work today.
“It was just something that was in my DNA, in my blood,” he told SPIN.
His journey into art began as a form of escape. As a child in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Jensen found solace in building boats from chokecherry trees and baling twine.
That early connection to craft evolved into a lifelong practice of transforming natural materials — bone, hide, wood and stone — into tools, jewelry and ceremonial pieces.
“I started to use parts of animals because that was the way I was taught,” he said. “We don’t waste anything.”
Watching his uncles create small crafts sparked a passion that would eventually become a livelihood.
Flint-knapped knives, drums, rattles, copper etchings and fish weirs are made with materials sourced through respectful hunting, fishing and gathering. His approach is guided by the Tk̓emlúps origin story depicted in the commissioned carving — a story passed down through generations.
In the story, the animals saw their vulnerability and offered themselves — their flesh, feathers, bones and teachings — so that people could survive. In return, they asked to be honoured in song, ceremony and stewardship.
“That story has always stayed with me,” Jensen said. “When I see people tossing away deer legs or hides, I think, ‘I can make something with that.’”
“We’re sharing breath with the trees, with the rocks, with the ones who sat here before us,” he continued. “Even a stone I work with has been handled by other hands. It has seen centuries. That’s powerful.”
Workshops are a cornerstone of Jensen’s practice. He teaches flint knapping, knife building, rattle making and fish trap construction — skills that connect participants to land-based traditions and cultural teachings.
“I’ve had Elders in my classes and I’ve had kids as young as 12,” he said. “It’s about dexterity, yes, but it’s also about mindset.”
Jensen’s daughter and nephew are now apprenticing under him, continuing the legacy.
His daughter, Tessa Jensen, recently completed her first painted drum, a
commissioned piece for the Royal Bank of Canada that tells the story of the Sqlu7uwi (the beaver), a symbol of trade, land and cultural connection.
“She captured it beautifully,” Jensen said. “It’s a piece of art, and it tells a story.”
While many purchase Jensen’s hunting tools as works of art, they are functional.
Local hunter Justin Erixon has purchased three knives from Ed and uses them all.
“After getting the first knife, I told him I was going to test it out and haven’t looked back since," he said.One knife alone has skinned roughly 50 deer and is “just as awesome” as the first time he used it, Erixon said.
A show of culture and a vision for the future
Over the last few years, Jensen has brought his cultural mentorship to a national audience through APTN’s Yukon Harvest
The documentary series follows Indigenous hunting guides across Turtle Island. Jensen’s role on the show began in Season two which aired in 2023. He returns as a guide and cultural mentor in Season three.
“It’s not a hunting show, it’s a culture show,” he said. “It’s about our place in the natural world.”
His involvement in the show came unexpectedly. He stepped in to carry out the vision of the late Don Harris, a respected Métis-Cree hunting guide who had dreamed of reconnecting youth with the land.
From guiding an 11-year-old through his first hunt to navigating grizzly encounters and bee nests in remote valleys, Jensen’s experiences are full of cultural meaning.
“We start in ceremony,” he said. “We pray for calmness, for a clean mind and heart. That’s how we protect ourselves and the animals.”
Jensen has also been selected as an artist-in-residence with the University of Canterbury in Aotearoa, New Zealand where he will continue to bring Interior Plateau, specifically Secwépemc, art styles to the world stage. He will be collaborating with master carver Fayne Robinson on jade pieces.
“I want to create originals and show the world who we are,” Jensen said. “We have a very specific art style, and it’s in the archaeological record. It’s time to bring it forward.”
Ed Jensen in the Yukon Harvest show. Photo courtesy of Rogue River Films Production
TICKETS: Individual - $149 Table of Ten - $1,440 plus applicable taxes Sparkling Wine Reception Raffles / Silent Auction
SEPT. 12 - OCT. 12, 2025
SEPT. 12
On Sept. 12, Sun Peaks welcomes the oneman powerhouse Ari Neufeld, bringing his unique "Full Contact Folk" to the Village Stage from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. With guitar, piano, banjo and an amplified stompbox, plus beads, nuts and bells strapped to his body—Ari effortlessly blends folk, pop, new country, rhythmic soul and rock with a generous dose of humor and energy. The show is free to attend, with no seating provided—so bring your own lawn chair and settle in for a spirited evening. You can also enjoy the performance from the patios of Morrisey’s Public House, Powder Hounds or 5Forty Café & Cantina.
SEPT. 12-14
Sun Peaks is set to go to the dogs with the return of Paws in the Peaks, happening Sept. 12-14. The festival celebrates all things canine with a lively Vendor Village full of treats, toys and accessories, plus dog-friendly patios where pups can relax alongside their humans. Saturday’s highlight is the Engel & Völkers Pup Parade, where dogs show off costumes, tricks and wagging tails for a chance at fun prizes. Visitors can also meet sled dogs at the Doggy Corral, learn about service animals at the PADS Puppy Rest Stop and enjoy evening entertainment with a free family movie night at Centre Stage, featuring DC League of Super Pets and Hotel for Dogs. Whether you’re a dog owner or just a dog lover, this weekend promises a fun mix of
community spirit, furry friends and plenty of tail-wagging energy.
SEPT. 13
Sun Peaks Resort is hosting a Family Movie Night on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sun Peaks Centre Stage as part of the Paws in the Peaks festival. The event features a double feature with DC League of Super Pets screening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by Hotel for Dogs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The movie night is free to attend, with a concession available by donation and all proceeds go to support the BC SPCA Kamloops.
SEPT. 17
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, Sun Peaks Resort invites guests to a unique culinary experience at Mantles Restaurant & Lounge with the Harvest Table Dinner: Gin Flights. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., indulge in a three-course meal thoughtfully paired with gin selections that enhance the botanical flavors of each dish. The evening begins with a grilled octopus appetizer complemented by charred lemon, oregano and chili-lime emulsion. The main course features pan-seared Arctic char accompanied by gin-infused fennel, lemon butter and microgreens. For dessert, enjoy a gin-soaked lemon lavender crème brûlée, flambéed tableside. This event is priced at $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. To reserve your seat, please visit the official event page. For more information, contact 250-578-6000.
SEPT. 19
On Friday, Sept. 19, Sun Peaks Resort invites guests to Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom for the seventh Annual Ribs & Reds Dinner Event. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy an evening of tender ribs paired with a curated selection of red wines. Guests are encouraged to dress in red, adding to the festive and elegant atmosphere. The evening’s wine pairings will be presented by Nostalgia Wines Inc., with insight from Lynn Sorensen and Sean Caterer of Winemates & More. Each pour is selected to complement the bold flavors of the meal, creating a balanced and memorable dining experience. This event is priced at $99 per person, plus tax and an 18 per cent gratuity. Reservations are required and attendees must be 19 years or older. To book your seat, email cahiltycreek1@gmail.com.
SEPT. 19
Sun Peaks Resort invites guests to the Village Stage in Sun Peaks Village for a special evening of live music with LooPS, B.C.’s top acoustic-pop duo. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., enjoy a performance blending originals and inventive covers in a captivating acoustic piano-based style enhanced by live looping that builds the energy of a full band on stage.
SEPT. 26
On Friday, Sept. 26, Sun Peaks Resort invites riders of all ages and abilities to gather at Progression Park’s pump track for Session Three of the Summer Stoke Series. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., pedal into a high-energy, headto-head pump track race that showcases
Don’t miss out on the Summer Stoke Series at the Sun Peaks Progression Park on Sept. 26. Photo via Sun Peaks Resort/Facebook
12 to 14. Sun Peaks Resort/Facebook
local bike culture and community spirit. Helmets are mandatory. Check-in and plate pick-up takes place slope-side at the base from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a riders’ meeting at 4:45 p.m. at the base of Progression Park. The race kicks off at 5 p.m., with prizing to follow at the conclusion of the session. The entry is a $10 donation and no lift ticket is required to participate—although you can purchase one in advance if you plan on riding more trails This race is more than just competition: winners in each division will receive a unique token of appreciation, and all participants are eligible for swag-toss prizes—with a chance to ride away with the ultimate grand prize at the series finale. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation and the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association.
OCT. 3 - OCT. 5
On Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5, Sun Peaks Resort invites women to reconnect at the beautiful alpine village for the Your Goddess Era Retreat, led by transformational life coach and bestselling author Emma Hull. This intimate retreat—capped at just 12 participants—offers a sacred weekend of gentle yoga, guided coaching, reflective visioning and soulful connection—all designed to help women reset, realign and step boldly into their next chapter. Set against the inspiring mountain backdrop of Sun Peaks, the weekend blends thoughtful movement, mindfulness and creative reflection with a sense of supportive structure and spaciousness. Herbal teas, nourishing snacks and a thoughtfully crafted workbook accompany the journey, guiding participants toward clarity, self-trust, and radiant confidence. Women navigating burn-out, reinvention or simply longing to feel like themselves again are invited to embrace this chance to slow down and reset. Through sacred sisterhood and intentional retreat flow, attendees leave feeling grounded, illuminated and ready to rise into their Goddess Era.
OCT. 11-12
On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, Sun Peaks Resort invites guests to the Sun Peaks Centre for a fun-filled Movie Night weekend. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy free indoor activities—yard-style games in the Great Hall and a double feature screening of Beetlejuice (1988 on Saturday, 2024 version on Sunday), in the Conference Room. Concessions are available by donation. This event is complimentary and guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs.
12 hour planned outage in the North Thompson Valley
Please note there is a planned power outage scheduled for Sunday, September 14 from 7am to 7pm that will affect BC Hydro customers living in the North Thompson Valley. This outage is necessary to perform critical work on the transmission line that serves the North Thompson corridor to maintain its safe and reliable operation.
Communities affected by this 12 hour outage include Louis Creek, Barriere, Clearwater, Blue River, Avola, Little Fort and Barriere. Customers in Heffley Creek and Sun Peaks will see two half hour outages only.
Notifications have been sent to all impacted customers and a second set of notifications will be sent at the end of August. Customers should ensure their contact information is up to date with BC Hydro.
For more information please go to bchydro.com/safety-outages.
BC Hydro knows any outage is an inconvenience and we want to thank our customers for their patience and support as we work to deliver safe, reliable power to the North Thompson Valley.
Enjoy a weekend in Sun Peaks with your four-legged friends during the Paws in the Peaks from Sept.
Embrace your feminine energy during the Your Goddess Era Retreat on Oct. 3 to 5.
Photo via Sun Peaks Resort/Facebook
SERVING SUN PEAKS & AREA SINCE
1995
1980 Paul Lake Road, Kamloops, BC
$1,187,000 GST N/A
3 Bed | 2 Bath, 2400 sq.ft., Zoned AF-1
Waterfront home at Paul Lake w/ stunning views, vaulted ceilings, sunny deck, tandem garage, & year-round recreation close to Harper Mountain & Kamloops.
NEW LISTING
7360 Cahilty Crescent, Whitecroft, BC
$1,070,000 GST N/A
3 Bed | 3 Bath, 2789 sq.ft., 1.12 Acres, Zoned CR-1 Log home w/ floor-to-ceiling windows, wraparound sundeck, hardwood floors & gas fireplace. Steps to trails & waterfall, minutes to Heffley Lake & Sun Peaks Resort.
Alder Estates
Lots starting at $549,000 +GST
Discover the perfect blend of mountain living and outdoor adventures at Alder Estates! Adjacent to Sun Peaks Golf Course, these 16 lots offer prime skiing and biking access. With gentle topography, southern/westerly exposure, underground utilities, and stunning mountain views, this unique subdivision is zoned for short-term rentals. Ideal for investors or dream-home builders, don't miss out on this exceptional mountain retreat! Visit alder-estates.ca for more information.
1332 Burfield Drive, Sun Peaks, BC
$925,000 GST N/A
3 Bed | 3 Bath, 1680 sq.ft., Zoned R-1
Half duplex backing onto McGillivray Creek w/ extensive upgrades & landscaping. Site-specific amendment for office-based business.
4 The Peaks, Sun Peaks, BC
779,000 GST N/A
2+ Bed | 3 Bath, 1585 sq.ft., Zoned RM-2 South-facing townhome on the golf course w/ mountain & ski run views. Open layout, sunny decks, flexible lowerlevel sleeping area, & private garage w/ ski tuning bench.
7398 Yellowhead Hwy S, Darfield, BC
$1,095,000 GST N/A
3 Bed | 1 Bath, 2000 sq.ft., 180 Acres, Zoned RL-1 Historic 3rd-gen farm w/ riverfront, hay fields, pasture & woodland. Barn w/ 8 stalls, workshop, RV parking & gravity-fed water license. Move-in ready!
Sundance Lodge, Sun Peaks, BC
312 - $129,000 +GST | 314 - $149,000 +GST
Condo-Hotel w/ 180 days owner use, Zoned CC-1
Ski-in, ski-out adjoining studio apartments w/ desirable village location. Hot tub, exercise room, laundry, underground parking, & in-house management team.
