Sun Peaks Independent News - Volume 20 Issue 10

Ongoing construction in the East Village looking down the valley. Photo La boreale Photography.

New set of murals brighten up Heffley Creek Hall.

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. For comments, questions and concerns contact us at: brandi@sunpeaksnews.com Visit us: sunpeaksnews.com 250 578 0276 editor@sunpeaksnews.com 213 - 1130 Sun Peaks Rd. Sun Peaks, B.C.

BRANDI SCHIER

Publisher & Managing Editor brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

TEGWYN HUGHES

Community Editor tegwyn@sunpeaksnews.com

KAYLA EMPEY

Community Journalist kayla@sunpeaksnews.com

SONIA GARCÍA

Layout & Graphic Designer sonia@sunpeaksnews.com

RESIDENTS CHOOSE SUN PEAKS’ NEW COUNCIL

Councillors, mayor say working together as a team will be key

By Kayla Empey

Three new councillors have been elected to Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality’s (SPMRM) council alongside an incumbent councillor and acclaimed mayor.

At the end of voting day on Oct. 15, the municipality announced Julie Kimmel was elected with 66 per cent of the votes, Len Hrycan with 54 per cent and Kelly Dye with 50 per cent.

The only incumbent councillor on the ballot, Rob O’Toole, was elected with 83 per cent of votes. Al Raine, who has been the mayor of SPMRM since its inception in 2010, ran unopposed and was acclaimed.

This marks Sun Peaks’ first ever fully elected council, as a representative for Sun Peaks Resort LLP was not reappointed by the province. With 346 ballots cast, there was an estimated 38 per cent voter turnout. Raine said he thinks voters chose wisely and that this will be a good council moving forward.

“Now we have to sit down and put our priorities in place,” Raine said. “It's important that the Sun Peaks economy runs strong for at least 10 months of the year. And then the other focus will be the community services — What

can we do to make life for employees and residents work better?”

O’Toole, who has sat on council since 2018 and is the owner of Vertical Cafe, said he’s also excited about working with this new group of councillors moving forward.

“I think the most important [priority] to me is probably seeing projects like affordable housing come online, so that we can hold on to and continue to grow our pool of young talented adults in our community,” O’Toole said.

Kimmel is also a long-time resident of Sun Peaks who is involved in five local non-profits and owned Vertical Cafe before O’Toole. She said councillors will need to work as a team.

“We've had a chance during campaigning to listen to the community, to understand what the community would like,” Kimmel said. “Now we have the opportunity to move forward together as a team to make these things happen.”

Meanwhile, Hrycan is a resident of Sun Peaks in the winter season and currently sits on the Sun Peaks Housing Authority and Sun Peaks Board of Variance. Having retired from

a 35-year career in municipal government with the City of Kamloops, he echoed the idea that collaboration is vital.

“I'm particularly excited about continuing some of the great work that council has done, and looking forward to sinking my teeth into some of the challenging issues of short term rentals, affordable housing and the school,” Hrycan said.

Dye is also a long-time resident who is involved in the community in a number of ways, including being the owner of Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom and Capones Italian Kitchen.

“[I’m] just really excited about the next four years and helping Sun Peaks continue in its growth,” Dye said. “I think there's going to be a lot of change and a lot of exciting things happening.”

The first public meeting to inaugurate the new councillors will be held on Nov. 1.

Lee Morris won Electoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks) in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District with 442 votes. There was an estimated 16 per cent voter turnout in the district.

From left to right: Len Hrycan, Rob O'Toole, Julie Kimmel, Al Raine and Kelly Dye. Photo SPIN.

MUNICIPALITY ENDORSES EMPLOYEE HOUSING PROPOSAL

By Kayla Empey

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) council has endorsed an employee housing project to create non-market ownership and rental options in the community.

In July, council was given an affordable housing plan that identified Parcel 74, the area behind the community mailboxes near Burfield Dr., as land for new non-market development. Since then, the municipality has received more details on construction and was presented with a proposal during a council meeting on Oct. 4.

“[This project] is our best chance of bringing stock into the market quickly,” said Shane Bourke, SPMRM’s chief administrative officer, in the meeting. “If work proceeds over the winter, there is

interest in breaking ground in the spring just to see some progress on this project quickly.”

The land is owned by Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR), which offered to contribute the parcel at a nominal cost on the basis that 40 per cent of the non-market housing would be available for rent or purchase by resort employees. The other 60 per cent of units would be reserved for staff who work a minimum of 30 hours a week for an employer located in the municipality in good standing with Tourism Sun Peaks.

The apartment rentals would be financed, built and managed by A&T Project Development Inc. The developer supports a covenant to ensure the units will be available for employees.

The proposal includes apartments for rent or ownership purchase, as well as townhomes for ownership purchase.

The apartments for rent would include 68 units — seven studios at 420 square feet, 41 one-bedroom units at 602 square feet and 20 two-bedroom units at 840 square feet. The building would be six stories with surface parking.

For the rental units, the municipality would waive 70 per cent of development cost charges, which are fees collected on new developments to pay for infrastructure such as sewer, water or roads. SPMRM would also provide a 10-year property tax exemption on the building.

The apartments for ownership purchase would include 26 units in a four storey building with surface parking. The townhome units

The development would be built on the land behind the community mailboxes. Photo SPIN.

Project proposes 109 units for rent and purchase, looks to break ground by spring

for ownership purchase would include 15 units — three buildings with five three-bedroom units with garages.

A&T Project Development would assist with financing and pre-sales of all ownership purchase units, but future sales would be facilitated by the Sun Peaks Housing Authority and the municipality. Development cost charge waivers and tax exemptions would not be considered for these buildings.

The project will return for council’s input many times as it progresses, but the proposal required endorsement because resources will be needed as the developer moves into the feasibility stage over the fall and winter.

“We have a long way to go to understand fundamental viability on the project,” said Gary Reed, vice president development of A&T, at the meeting. “I’m sure everyone's curious as to what the rental level’s going to be. Obviously we’re trying to keep that as low as possible, but construction costs are going to dictate a large part of where we land on this project.”

All costs for the municipality are expected to be within the existing budgets, so council endorsed the concept and directed staff to draft a final agreement between SPMRM, Sun Peaks Housing Authority, Sun Peaks Resort LLP and A&T Project Development.

A screenshot of the proposed site plan.

COUNCIL APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO SHORT TERM RENTAL POLICY

Municipality allows renewal of temporary use permits with requirement of long-term tenant

By Kayla Empey

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) has approved amendments to the short term rental policy, in principle.

These conversations have been ongoing for months through workshops and a public meeting. After reviewing community input and making final amendments, the new short term rental (STR) policy was approved in principle during a council meeting on Oct. 4.

The municipality permits short term nightly rentals if a property is zoned for tourist accommodation (R1-A or RS-1A) or if the owners have a temporary use permit (TUP).

There are currently 45 short term rental properties on residential streets — 35 properties zoned R1-A or RS-1A and 10 properties with a TUP. However, 11 of those properties currently do not have a business licence, meaning they are not actively renting short-term.

The push to adapt the policy came from the fact that some TUPs were expiring, but could only be renewed once. Council determined the best option is to allow TUPs to be renewed again through a new application with additional conditions.

An important point is that the updated Official Community Plan (OCP), which is in the final stages of being adopted, suggests zoning future subdivisions closer to the village as tourist accommodation and other subdivisions further out as strictly residential use. Once several short-term rental subdivisions are developed, the municipality will no longer allow new TUPs in existing subdivisions.

For now, the amended STR policy will increase the limit of TUPs per residential street or subdivision from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.

Additionally, renting with a TUP will require all new applications to have a long-term

tenant living on the property as an on-site representative. The idea is that the tenant will be able to address issues such as noise and parking, but they do not have to be the property manager.

This requirement does not apply to R-1A and RS-1A zoned properties. However, all STR properties still require a 24-hour on-mountain contact, who can be the owner, tenant or a property management company. Long-term tenants do not have to always be available as long as there is an on-mountain contact for visitors to call.

Staff recommended testing this policy for two years, while also increasing enforcement of noise by prohibiting outdoor hot tub use after 10 p.m. and changing the night time noise period to 10 p.m. throughout the municipality except in the village core.

The original STR policy said council could approve additional rentals over the street limit if they were considered to be a “cluster.” Council will not be continuing with this rule, however may give priority to applications for properties within a cluster.

Initially the municipality was also considering forcing TUP properties to be available for rent at least 60 per cent of the year, but removed this requirement because it would be difficult and time consuming to enforce.

Moving forward, council will consider moratoriums of STRs in specific areas. There is currently a moratorium on nightly rentals for Burfield Dr. to allow for employee rental options, but council could consider removing the moratorium once more non-market housing is built in the community.

The municipality has also received numerous letters from residents on Lookout Ridge Dr. who would like a moratorium put in place for the street, which currently has 20 per cent of properties available for STRs. Council said they will continue to review.

With the amended policy approved, SPMRM will now have to adapt other existing bylaws to reflect the changes.

File Photo.

REVENUE SHARING CONVERSATION DELAYED BY PROVINCE

By Kayla Empey

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) has been working to advance discussions surrounding resort revenue sharing with neighbouring First Nations bands, but communication with the province has prolonged the process.

Around two years ago, SPMRM Mayor Al Raine contanced the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation to propose sharing local tax revenues with Adams Lake Indian Band, Little Shuswap Lake Band and Neskonlith Band.

“I feel very strongly that we need to get a formal understanding between ourselves and the three local bands about the future and the development in Sun Peaks,” Raine said. “We need to work on an understanding of how we go forward. It’s not a total solution but … I do feel that part of the answer is revenue sharing.”

The province has worked with other communities to set up revenue sharing, including ski areas such as Whistler. Raine said the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation was on board after an initial meeting a couple years ago and said administration would work to refine the proposal into a product that could be presented.

After five months Raine said he hadn’t heard back, so he reached out to the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation again.

“I found out [most] of the people that were in on the first meeting were no longer working in the ministry,” Raine said. “They [went] over the proposal again, and then I went back about six months later and they said, ‘we don't think this is in our ministry’s mandate.’”

To move forward, SPMRM had a meeting with all relevant ministries — Municipal Affairs, Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Finance and Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

Raine presented the fundamental ideas of his proposal again and said most people at the meeting seemed supportive. However, the Ministry of Finance had concerns about setting precedents for other communities and how it could impact companies in Sun Peaks doing business in other locations, Raine said.

“I don't understand how they can be committed to reconciliation and revenue sharing and come up with such lame duck excuses

of why it wouldn't work,” he said. “They just recently raised the revenue sharing on forest land with neighbouring bands, they've done it in other ski resorts in this province.”

Raine said he hoped the province would tell him how to adapt the proposal into a concept that could be moved forward, but did not hear back for several months.

However, at the 2022 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in mid-September, Raine finally spoke again with the minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation who told him the current proposal was unlikely to get support from the finance ministry.

“But he said, ‘The good news is we are working on some ideas and we're going to bring them forward shortly,’” Raine explained. “So we’re going in the right direction.”

Before the UBCM convention, SPIN reached out to the involved ministries for comment. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport responded with a statement on how the province has been working with Pespesellkwe te

Sun Peaks is in Skwelkwek’welt, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Peoples.

Mayor hopes process will move forward after meetings at recent municipal convention

Secwepemc to “undertake a number of different initiatives related to the Sun Peaks area.”

The spokesperson said they’ve been involved in discussions of revenue sharing, but the Ministry of Finance has jurisdiction over taxation.

The Ministry of Finance did not provide comment — A spokesperson said she saw SPIN had already received a response from the tourism ministry.

Little Shuswap Lake Band has also been leading conversation with the province, but did not respond to SPIN for comment.

Moving forward, Raine said he hopes setting up revenue sharing can be a way to foster more discussions with the surrounding bands.

“Once you start talking about revenue sharing, then you can talk more about [future] land use and how First Nations input comes into place with Sun Peaks,” Raine said. “But it doesn't make sense unless there's some benefit and some mutual understanding taking place.”

Document outlines new population goals, plans for land use

By Kayla Empey

UNDERSTANDING CHANGES TO THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

12,

As Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality’s (SPMRM) revised Official Community Plan (OCP) nears adoption, SPIN spoke with the consultant who led the project to learn what the document’s biggest changes are.

Over the past several months, Selkirk Planning & Design and TRUE Consulting have completed community engagement through surveys, an open house, one-on-one meetings and an online workshop. Using the feedback, they produced two OCP drafts for feedback. On Oct. 12, the final draft was brought to a public hearing, which is one of the last steps required before council can officially adopt it.

Gerry Melenka, the project lead, said the OCP is a high level document that guides land use decisions and community planning in a general sense. SPMRM’s initial OCP was formed in 2014 and has not been updated since.

“We're not really redrafting the OCP — we've been cognisant that we're referring to it as a refresh,” Melenka said. “We're just looking at the various numbers and pieces of information in there and updating them … In terms of mapping and road layout [as well as] future land uses, there's significant changes that needed to be reflected.”

Melenka said one of the biggest changes is population projections. The previous OCP estimated Sun Peaks would have a population of 1,500 by 2031, which the community has almost met already.

In the refreshed plan, consultants estimated a population of around 2,143 by 2035, which is a lower growth rate than the community has seen over the past census period.

“We aren't suggesting that rate is going to continue; I think it's pretty aggressive,” Melenka said. “The OCP will be reviewed in years to come in Sun Peaks the way every other OCP is in the province, so they'll revisit the numbers and say, ‘OK, are we still on track?’”

Melenka said there were also changes to reflect School District 73 taking over Sun Peaks Elementary, as well as updates to the health care centre now that there is a permanent facility.

Additionally, the updated OCP suggests zoning future subdivisions closer to the village as tourist accommodation and other subdivisions further out as strictly residential.

Otherwise, the OCP’s vision and guiding principles didn’t change much, although some of the language in it was updated. Melenka said they tried to make the document more clear and easier to read, in particular the land use section.

“We included employee housing in there in the land use category, which wasn't there in the previous OCP,” he said. “The updated [Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR)] Master Plan sort of calls out employee housing and recognizes the need for it … We also felt it important to identify the parcels of land throughout the Sun Peaks area that are slated for employee housing.”

Melenka said Sun Peaks is unique because in most communities the OCP is the highest

level document, but SPMRM must reflect and follow SPR’s Master Plan due to an agreement between the resort and the province governing developments on Crown land.

SPR is waiting for further information from the province and municipality before it can finalize its updated master plan, so leadership declined an interview with SPIN. They said the document should be finalized within the next few weeks.

Melenka said in regards to what impacts the OCP, the most substantial change in the Master Plan is future development in the East Village.

“They've moved it down a bit more into the valley and condensed it,” he said. “Their domestic plan is using somewhat less land and proposing more dense housing in terms of townhouses, hotels, what have you. In that respect, there is less footprint impact on the communities and surrounding areas.”

Melenka added that mapping in the OCP allocates space in the East Village for “general institutional uses,” which is where the Master Plan designates land for the new school, daycare and an additional fire hall.

Overall, Melenka said throughout the OCP process he was happy to see the level of engagement that came from the community.

“Everybody's had an interest in providing input one way or another,” he said. “It's been a very good experience to have that many people involved.”

On Oct.

the final draft was brought to a public hearing. Photo by Kyle James.

Two counts of vandalism haven’t stopped artist Jeff Jones from making his mark

By Tegwyn Hughes

NEW SET OF MURALS BRIGHTEN UP HEFFLEY CREEK HALL

A collection of murals is nearly finished at the Heffley Creek Community Hall — despite repeated vandalism setbacks.

Since September, artist Jeff Jones has been spray-painting murals onto the centre’s interior and exterior walls. The largest mural of the bunch stretches across the outside of the building and depicts Heffley Creek’s history, from First Nations settlements to lumber mills to the modern day.

Jones was commissioned by the Heffley Creek Community Recreation Association after the non-profit received grant money from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. The organization’s secretary and treasurer, Deb McDougall, said beautifying the neighbourhood was the perfect way to spend the money.

“Since 1972 [the hall] has been that putrid green colour,” she said.

“I remember the first day [Jones] was here and put down the blue backdrop for the sky and the green of the grass,” she recalled. “Everyone was so excited.”

McDougall said Jones has been working on the artwork nonstop since arriving in the area last month. He sleeps in a travel trailer next to the hall and works nearly every day and night, she explained.

Jones, a multidisciplinary artist, has been painting murals for the past five years. Originally from Ontario, he travels around Canada with his 200-pound Rottweiler, Timmy, and finds jobs through Facebook Marketplace.

Of all the regions he’s worked in, Jones said Heffley Creek has been the most welcoming.

“Heffley Creek is off the wall,” he said. “I had two Thanksgiving dinners in this town and I didn’t know [the hosts] at all. They welcomed me into their homes.”

Residents have also brought the artist groceries and stopped to chat or take photos of his work.

The community’s support went above and beyond, Jones said, after the mural was vandalized twice with graffiti so close to being completed. To fix the damage,

Jones had to repaint large portions of the wall, extend his stay by a week and cancel other jobs he’d lined up.

Residents of Heffley Creek responded to the vandalism by setting up lights and watching Jones’ art overnight so he could sleep without worrying about it being damaged, he said.

“[The community] gave me the energy to go on,” he said. “If it wasn't for the town behind me, encouraging me, I might have bailed on [the project].”

With the project almost complete, Jones plans to spend some time in Calgary and Red Deer before returning to Ontario to visit his father. But he said he’d love to come back to the area and added he’d like to contribute some art to Sun Peaks next.

McDougall said the murals have helped brighten up Heffley Creek and make the community centre more welcoming.

“When you come around that corner [on Old Highway 5] and see it, you just have to say ‘wow!’”

Photos provided.

Organizer hopes to bring more dirt biking to mountain through event

By Kayla Empey

‘AROUND THE PEAKS’ BIKE RIDE HELD IN HONOUR OF LOCAL

Residents are looking to introduce dirt biking to Sun Peaks through an annual event, which this year was hosted in memory of a beloved local who passed away last year.

The “Around the Peaks” ride began 17 years ago with a few dirt bike lovers who came to Sun Peaks to ride on trails in the area. Max Kirton, who started the ride alongside Al Perrett, said it has since become an event that draws in around 60 bikers.

However, the event was put on hold after Perrett passed away in 2021. It returned this season as a tribute to him.

“Al Perrett was a very, very close friend of mine and I rode with him for 55 years,” Kirton said. “Al was a contender at Baja and he participated in that race for six or seven years. He was probably one of the top cross country racers in Canada … He was [also] very passionate about dirt bike riding.”

The event was held as a fundraiser, with all entry fees going towards Sun Peaks Education Society. Kirton said participants hope to hold the event annually moving forward.

“I know Sun Peaks is putting a lot of energy into mountain biking now, but there's a big industry for dirt biking as well, if it's done right,” Kirton said. “We don't ride in the village and we're not riding noisy bikes. We're very concerned about the environment.”

Following the ride, bikers went to Voyageur Bistro for dinner. Kirton added this year was the first time women participated in the ride and that it was great to see them take part.

“There's some good riders out there,” he said. “We're introducing dirt bike riding to Sun Peaks — That's what we're trying to get across.”

Riders gather at the event. Photo by Quinn Rischmueller.

Photo by Quinn Rischmueller.

Across

Jumble Love

by Barbara Olson © ClassiCanadian Crosswords

Canned meat that once came with a key

Jay once seen at night

Palindromic pooch in "Beetle Bailey"

"How adorable!"

39 "Godfather" Corleone 40 Saskatchewan home to the Snowbirds 43 Anagram of 48-Across 45 Praiseworthy

Sign after Cancer 48 Anagram of 67-Across 51 With ___ in sight (forever) 53 Car buyer's option, with "own" 55 Grocery store giant 59 Vessels that carry blood from the heart 61 Subway slice 62 "___ creature was stirring, ..." 63 Left-leaning voting grp. 64 Set up, as an undercover cop 65 Play ___ (perform, band-style) 66 Buyer's 5% levy 67 Anagram of 1-Across 32 Choice for a flier not keen on the view 34 Soap with "round-the-clock" protection 35 Room add-on? 36 Like a two-star hotel, say 38 Dwelling, slangily 41 Reliever, as of pain or anxiety 42 Protruding 43 "Magic words" 44 The child, to the French 46 Peep with sheep, and others 48 First line of attack 49 Bubbly chocolate bars 50 Frothy coffee drink 52 Aptly-named city at the mouth of the Fraser River 54 Certain Brit. lexicons 56 Cause of a wobble on an LP 57 ___ Clooney, human rights lawyer 58 19-Down alternative 60 Harbour city: Abbr.

Deer Xing - solution

The circled answers are a hint to this puzzle's theme.

Young downhill racer wins top points in junior expert division, prepares for World Cup

By Kayla Empey

LOCAL BIKER WINS OVERALL PROVINCIAL SERIES

A local mountain biker is the overall winner of the 2022 B.C. Cup Downhill Series after competing in the final race this past weekend.

The series was a collection of events across the province where racers accumulated points. Brock Hawes participated in the junior expert men division and found himself leading in points from the beginning of the summer.

After competing in the final B.C. Cup event at Coast Gravity Park in Sechelt, B.C.in September, he confirmed his place as the overall winner this season.

“[The junior expert men division] is a pretty fast category with a lot of talent in it,” Hawes said. “The season’s been amazing … It’s been unbelievable what can happen with a good team. I owe it all to my manager [and] coach from Graviti Driven.”

The 17-year-old said he had never heard of downhill mountain biking before his family moved to Sun Peaks in 2018, but as soon as he tried it he fell in love.

Hawes entered his first race in 2019. Although he didn’t do well right away, he saw massive improvement the next year.

“In 2020 I went to try and do another race, which was in SilverStar, and I ended up coming second,” Hawes said. “I was really stoked on that, so I fell in love with racing right there and continued doing the B.C. Cups for two years … I keep progressing.”

Hawes’ focus has been learning to take less risks for more clean runs. Although he saw more improvement and success this year, he said he still made some mistakes throughout the season, including a few crashes during races.

Around mid-season, right before the Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championship at Kicking Horse Resort, Hawes was riding a steep track on his day off when he crashed.

“It was just a silly crash and I just smashed a rock with my armpit,” Hawes said. “I rode down the rest of the trail — I crashed at 17 minutes in and I rode until the full 26 minutes. Then I took my jersey off and was ungearing, and a buddy of mine said I was bleeding.”

Hawes realized his armpit was cut open and would require stitches, which meant he would be unable to compete at nationals in Kicking Horse.

“The adrenaline dump just hit me. It really sucks because if I were to podium at nationals I would have got an invitation to go to Worlds,” Hawes said. “The universe had different thoughts.”

Moving forward, Hawes said he is looking for sponsorships to help him with training and to find more success at the World Cup. He also intends to take a bike mechanics course in spring 2023 and will begin to hold fundraisers next year to help him keep going after his goals.

To check out photos or videos of Hawes, visit his Instagram at @brock_hawes

Hawes maintains focus while riding. Photo by Jenny Hawes.

Brock Hawes at the top of the podium at a B.C. Cup event. Photo by Clint Trahan.

Photo by Clint Trahan.

GALA AND FALL BALL RETURN

Tickets for both events sold out in under 72 hours

By Kayla Empey

Two highly anticipated annual events are back this November to raise money for local nonprofit organizations.

The Sun Peaks Gala and the Fall Ball are both returning with food, drinks, entertainment and fundraising.

The gala, presented by the Sun Peaks Volunteer Fire Department Society and sponsored by Vike Real Estate Group, is a formal event that honours local firefighters. This year, it will raise money for the volunteer fire department and Sun Peaks Freestyle Club.

Event organizer Janice Hoppenreys said the evening will begin around 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception sponsored by REMAX Alpine Resort Realty.

“We couldn't have the cocktail reception last year because we weren't able to mingle,” she said. “This year, everyone will be able to get their complimentary glass of sparkling wine and be able to mingle and really catch up with everyone.”

The reception will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m., with entertainment throughout the evening from Kinshira Performance Group and The Kris Ruston Jazz Trio. The gala will also include a live auction, which will only be in person despite being streamed online in previous years.

“We do [also] have our silent auction, which will be available for anyone to bid on whether

they're at the event or not,” Hoppenreys said.

The gala will take place at the Grand Hotel & Conference Centre on Nov. 12, a week prior to Sun Peaks Resort LLP opening day.

Meanwhile the Fall Ball, an annual fundraiser for Bluebird Day Fund (BDF), is returning for its 15th year after a two-year pandemic hiatus. BDF president Alec Chaplin said he’s excited to have community members gather for the red-carpet-style event again this year.

“This is probably one of our biggest fundraiser events that we do, so we've been trying to get by with some of the current funds we've had and some additional donations,” Chaplin said. “It’s really awesome to see a big show of support from the community.”

The Bluebird Day Fund helps economically or socially disadvantaged youth pursue sports through year-round training camps, winter day camps, event registration, financial reimbursement and promotional videos.

The theme of the ball is “a night at the races,” inspired by the Kentucky Derby. The night will feature catered food by Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom, live music by 10-piece funk band The New Groovement, raffle prizes and auctions. All proceeds will go to BDF.

“The night is basically for everyone to get together and have a good time,” Chaplin said.

“[We’re] really trying to bring awareness to our organization and also just do a bunch of fundraising to help support the programs.”

Chaplin has volunteered with BDF for a few years, but was elected as president this year.

“It’s something that I was really passionate about taking on,” he said. “I’m hoping to try to encourage getting some new faces to participate in some of our programs.”

Prior to becoming president, Chaplin was the co-director of BDF’s sports mentorship program, an initiative that gives youth an opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard at no cost in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Kamloops.

Chaplin said the program is looking for volunteers for this upcoming winter. The ideal volunteer is someone who has a season pass and is willing to spend some time mentoring youth every other Sunday. The program begins on Jan. 8, 2023, and continues for six sessions.

Chaplin said BDF is also still looking for item donations for the silent auction. Those who want to participate but missed the opportunity to buy a ticket to the event can enter a 50/50 draw open to all community members, with a chance of winning up to $10,000.

Anyone interested in volunteering, donating or buying a 50/50 ticket can email bluebird.day.fund.2022@gmail.com for more information.

The gala at limited capacity in 2021. Photo SPIN.

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