Sun Peak Independent News, Volume 21, Issue 12 by Sun Peaks Independent News

December 15, 2023 - January 19, 2024

Vol. 21, Issue 12

free

Sun Peaks Resort LLP was abuzz on Dec. 11 after a recent snowfall. Photo by Liz McDonald.

16.

Tirza Lara wins in Whistler North American Cup.

Sun Peaks Resort LLP reveals it's Master Plan update.

08.

sunpeaksnews.com

Wishing Everyone A Safe & Happy Holiday Season! The holiday season is near and the ski season has begun. The Bear Country team is wishing everyone a safe and happy season filled with cheer, friends & family. Bring on the fresh powder and bluebird days!

reservations@bearcountry.ca

www.sunpeakscondos.ca

250-578-6969

IN THIS ISSUE 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 editor@sunpeaksnews.com 213 - 1130 Sun Peaks Rd. Sun Peaks, B.C.

THIS MONTH AT COUNCIL

SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS’ MOST READ STORIES OF 2023

A recap of recent Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality Council meetings.

Publisher brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

JULIANNA HORVAT Partnerships Manager julianna@sunpeaksnews.com

HOLLIE FERGUSON Community Editor editor@sunpeaksnews.com

LIZ MCDONALD Community Journalist liz@sunpeaksnews.com

SONIA GARCÍA Layout & Graphic Designer sonia@sunpeaksnews.com

MORATORIUM ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN LOOKOUT RIDGE LIFTED FOLLOWING MONTHS OF DEBATE

ARTZONE SUN PEAKS INVITES ALL MOVIE MAKERS FOR CONTEST AND FILM FESTIVAL

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality temporarily banned new short-term nightly rentals in the neighbourhood this summer.

The 4th annual Sun Peaks Film Festival Jan. 18 to 20 will feature work from local filmmakers.

SUN PEAKS MOUNTAIN RESORT MUNICIPALITY DATA BREACH PROMPTS APOLOGY The data breach did not meet the threshold required for action on behalf of the municipality.

08 BRANDI SCHIER

A look back at what struck a chord in the community this year.

RESORT UPDATES COMMUNITY ON MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN Residents and members of the business community gathered at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre to learn the latest updates from Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) regarding their official Master Development Plan.

09 SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD SPIN is among 4 finalists for the Best Daily News category of the Canadian Online Publishing Awards.

10 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A THOMPSON-NICOLA CONSERVATION OFFICER Conservation officers have a swath of duties, from enforcing laws to managing animal-human conflicts.

16 TIRZA LARA WINS IN WHISTLER NORTH AMERICAN CUP ‘You need to have a certain type of mentality to want to chuck yourself down an ice chute headfirst,’ says local skeleton racer.

17 EVENTS

18 CHECK OUT THIS MONTH'S PUZZLE Challenge your mind and check your answers for last edition's puzzle.

20 ONE WOMAN’S SOLO TRIP TO TUKTOYAKTUK Sun Peaks local Emma Hull encourages other women to chase their own adventures.

www.sunpeakscondos.ca reservations@bearcountry.ca

250-578-6969

David@bearcountry.ca

Full Rental Management

Bear Country is the largest fully licensed, professional rental and property management company in Sun Peaks Resort. Operating in Sun Peaks since 1995.

Vacation Rentals

Choose from The Nancy Greene Cahilty Lodge or studio, 1-bedroom up to 4-bedroom condos, townhomes and vacation homes

Bo w

Bear Country has a variety of properties available for your ideal winter vacation!

Striving for owners to attain the highest revenues possible and providing superior quality service. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week We manage the: General Maintenance Housekeeping Marketing Hot Tub Property Listings & Reservations **No Monthly Management Fee!**

u .s

Hot Tub Service & Sales

ea nd

Bear Country has a team of certified pool operators and trained repair technicians to ensure water chemistry and quality for you and your guests year round

a .c

Our team does the: Chemcial Balance Cleaning & Disinfection Repairs & Maintenance Selling & Installation of hot tubs Snow Removal from Lids We work with most brands and suppliers & have a longlasting relationship with BeachComber Hot Tubs We are affliated with Tod Mountain Home Leisure for hot tub sales

local news

THIS MONTH AT COUNCIL This Week At Council is a bi-weekly newsletter covering recent Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality Council meetings. Sign up for the newsletter at sunpeaksnews.com. By Liz McDonald

Staff Reports Bylaw response updates SPMRM responded to eight garbage incidents in October and issued warnings for each offence. Dean Schiavon, Sun Peaks Fire Rescue chief, said in two instances, garbage stored in garages and ski lockers caused property damage, but the bear didn't access trash. According to Mike Sanderson, conservation officer for the Fraser-Thompson, conservation officers had to destroy a bear that accessed garbage in Sun Peaks multiple times this fall.

Finance updates Cheryl Taylor-Gale, director of finance, updated council on the municipality's financial position going into budget development for next year. SPMRM is in a healthy place, with an expected budget surplus of $741,893 for 2023 because of an overall increase in revenue. Taylor-Gale included an overview of costs associated with the landslide this year, variances in operating expenses, staffing, municipal reserves, capital funds earmarked for various projects and an overview of long-term debt.

Utility updates Clint Burton, director of infrastructure for SPMRM, said a pump was temporarily installed at the municipal surface water reservoir to provide water for drinking and snowmaking purposes. The surface water reservoir has no pipeline for access, so the water is pumped. For wastewater treatment plant updates, Burton noted two trenches are back online after maintenance and a third, damaged in the landslide this spring, is almost back to running order. Tests are ongoing to determine the location of a fourth trench, which is needed for expanding the wastewater treatment plant to serve continual population and visitor growth. Four test pits were created past Burfield Drive and eight between Black Bear and En Guard Nordic trails.

NHL-sized ice rink boards donated to Little Sushwap Band Little Shuswap Band and Council wrote a letter to SPMRM thanking them for donating rink boards to help upgrade the band's existing rink in 2024. The band wants to recognize the donation through media releases, a plaque and invitations to ceremonies honouring the project.

Invasive plant management plan presentation Catherine Tarosoff spoke to council about the need for a municipally-funded local invasive plant plan over and above the Thompson-Nicola Regional District's (TNRD) existing program. The TNRD's program currently centers around homeowners and doesn't fund municipal land. Invasive plants destabilize streams, displace natural vegetation and could move into the alpine, ruining Sun Peaks Resort LLP's (SPR) alpine wildflowers, a draw for tourists and residents alike. The primary mode of transport for invasive plants is catching a ride on vehicles. Tarosoff's plan suggests a power washing station for construction vehicles that truck in unwanted plants and various approaches for removing invasive plants depending on their type. Mayor Raine directed staff to meet with Tarosoff to talk numbers ahead of SPMRM's 2024 budget.

Short-term rental updates License fee increases Short-term rental license holders voiced concern that recent increases for short-term rental (STR) license fees for next year are too high. Six residents sent in letters detailing their arguments, which ranged from a lack of consultation or advanced notice and discrepancies in business license fee increases for other businesses, like hotels and restaurants. STR rates for 2023 were $95 plus $25 per bedroom. However in June, council set flat rates for 2024 to $275 for two bedrooms or less and $350 for units with more than three bedrooms. Then on Nov. 10, council adopted the Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 0203, which increased fees on STRs with two bedrooms or less to $350 and $750 for properties with three bedrooms or more. SPMRM increased the license fees to help fund an additional bylaw officer. Currently there is one bylaw officer working five days a week, and many calls come at night when an officer may not be on duty. Increasing staffing to cover nighttime response requires three staff at minimum, and with salary and training, the total comes to $344,610. The increased fees would add $142,084 revenue. SPMRM noted "if these properties [STRs] create a greater need for bylaw enforcement, then they should carry a proportionate amount of the costs." Another reason council chose to increase STR license fees more than other businesses is they

differ in property tax classification, with businesses paying 2.75 times higher in property taxes than residential owners. Despite this initial rationale and invoicing, SPMRM asks people to delay paying the fee until council decides on the final rates for next year by the Dec. 19 council meeting.

Short-term rental policy memo Mayor Raine provided a policy memo after community disagreement about STRs led to a recently reversed, temporary ban on new licenses in Lookout Ridge in August (see pg. 7). The policy memo overviewed the rise of AirBnb-type accommodations throughout Sun Peaks, alongside other communities, and the importance of them to the tourism dependent economy. He highlighted that regulations were developed alongside the growth of the industry, and the policy memo notes the changes this year will be reviewed by April 2025, when there is enough data to determine if the current rules, updated this summer, are working.

Bylaw updates Good Neighbour Bylaw developing A bylaw intended to promote civic responsibility and positive relationships between neighbours in Sun Peaks is being developed, modelled after a similar Kamloops bylaw. The bylaw will cover issues like noise, animal attractants and unsightly premises and empower the SPMRM to fine nuisance properties for the cost of service calls. Once implemented, Bylaw no. 010, which covers noise complaints, and 0043, for unsightly premises, will be repealed. Currently, bylaw officers cannot access properties under the Solid Waste and Wildlife Attractants Bylaw. A gap in the existing bylaw will be filled by including the authority to clean garbage and fine owners for associated staff time and removal costs.

Bylaw compliance and enforcement policy approved in principle To ensure bylaw response is well understood and transparent to the public, SPMRM approved a framework aimed at streamlining what actions bylaw officers take and why. The policy can guide officers to come to fair and consistent enforcement. Education is still highlighted above punitive measures, except for circumstances where enforcement is necessary, such as repeatedly leaving garbage outside and attracting bears.

news briefs

MORATORIUM ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN LOOKOUT RIDGE LIFTED FOLLOWING MONTHS OF DEBATE Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality temporarily banned new short-term nightly rentals in the neighbourhood this summer. By Liz McDonald

SUN PEAKS MOUNTAIN RESORT MUNICIPALITY DATA BREACH PROMPTS APOLOGY The data breach did not meet the threshold required for action on behalf of the municipality. By Liz McDonald

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) Council implemented the moratorium, or ban, on new short-term rentals (STRs) in Lookout Ridge after they received an informal petition from some community members in August. SPMRM also set up a select committee of property owners for and against STRs in the neighbourhood. After the committee met twice, council met to debate the committee's discussions and a community survey of property owners in Lookout Ridge. The committee did not come to a consensus on how to move forward. Some property owners favoured maintaining the neighbourhood’s residential status, while others were concerned the ban would be problematic for local tourism. Maureen Walker sat on the committee in favour of the ban. Walker, who purchased her lot in 2008 and appreciated the quiet of the neighbourhood, said there is little enforcement for noise and parking violations when visitors flock to Sun Peaks. Additionally, she argued that because the area is zoned for residential use, homes should not be eligible for temporary use permits (TUPs), which are issued to homes not zoned for tourist accommodation. TUPs are issued in three-year terms, which allows flexibility for approving or denying renewals if there are recurring issues, according to Nicky Johnson, director of corporate services for SPMRM. When a property has been rezoned for tourist accommodation, they can rent to vacationers indefinitely. Lookout Ridge has five properties rezoned for tourist accommodation, and two are awaiting approval for TUPs. Randy Hunter, one property owner who sat on the committee against the ban, purchased

his lot intending to apply for a TUP to rent his property on platforms like Airbnb. His application was put on hold as council deliberated how to move forward in regards to the STR ban. Hunter argued issues like noise and parking can be managed by vetting guests who book for the weekend and increasing enforcement of existing bylaws.

Majority favours vacation rentals In the end, a survey sent to property owners on Lookout Ridge Drive and Place determined the future of short-term rentals in the neighbourhood. Out of the 85 per cent of owners who responded to the survey, more than 62 per cent were opposed to the moratorium, and council decided they would be hard-pressed to enforce the ban when most property owners did not favour the policy. On Nov. 21 at a regular council meeting, council decided to maintain existing policy for STRs. Other recommendations include eliminating new TUPs in neighbourhoods once subdivisions specifically zoned for STRs are built, enacting a good neighbour bylaw to encourage better relationships and increasing bylaw enforcement by hiring a second bylaw officer. SPMRM will review the current policy by April 2025, which will provide two years of data to help determine whether the current rules and regulations for STRs are effective.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) recently breached the data privacy of short-term rental (STR) license holders when notifying over 300 individuals about an increase in business license pricing for STRs. SPMRM staff sent an email including the email addresses of all business license holders and failed to send them as a blind carbon copy, resulting in all addresses being visible to everyone who received the notice. While most email addresses were business or company emails and not considered private under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), some business owners on the list use their personal email addresses, which are not public information. Deanna Campbell, chief administrative officer for SPMRM explained the municipality follows privacy legislation for potential data breaches and this incident did not meet the threshold for which notifying individuals impacted is necessary. Section 36.3 of FIPPA notes that a public institution must “notify an affected individual if the privacy breach could reasonably be expected to result in significant harm to the individual.” While there was no reasonable expectation of significant harm to individuals because of the data breach, Campbell said an apology was issued after SPIN inquired about the breach on Nov. 20. “I’ve still reached out to all recipients, apologizing for the mistake and providing reassurance that no other information was disclosed and that their email addresses will not be disclosed again in any future communications,” she said. Additionally, SPMRM is creating a privacy management program (PMP) which would include “policies, procedures and tools” to guide the protection of privacy and provide the municipality with a process to address complaints. A PMP is mandated for public bodies such as SPMRM as of Feb. 1, 2023, through section 36.2 of FIPPA. The municipality aims to finalize its PMP by council before the new year.

local news

RESORT UPDATES COMMUNITY ON MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN By SPIN

Over 225 residents and members of the business community gathered at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre on Dec. 6 to learn the latest updates from Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) regarding their official Master Development Plan. According to the Master Development Agreement (MDA) with the provincial government, the plan must be regularly updated every five to seven years. The latest version’s review process was delayed due to the pandemic and was accepted in July of this year. The master plan consists of four phases; the resort estimates they are 80 per cent through phase two with next year’s addition of the new West Bowl chairlift and current accommodation developments planned within the next two years. Phase four completion would put Sun Peaks in the top five ski resorts for capacity in North America, using existing resort numbers. Land usage changes with the existing Controlled Recreational Boundaries are “generally flexible,” according to SPR general manager Darcy Alexander, as long as skier lift capacity and bed units stay within the original plan. The new use of Lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, technology allowed for additional details on terrain, helping to influence a range of decisions for this update.

One such decision was the decrease of three eventual villages, down to two. Lidar showed additional challenges on the planned area of the third village, which was set to be located on the McGillivray Bench, past the existing East Village. Instead, the area will be used to build out an additional recreational area, including approximately 50 kilometers of Nordic and biking trails. The lower elevation past the East Village area will expand with higher density housing. This area also features a connecting access Transvalley Connector chairlift (an access lift, not a ski chairlift), and an extended road which will meet the existing McGillivray Forest Service road, shortening access to the recreation area. Future plans also include four base areas, including a day base for skiers coming from the east, using the highly anticipated new road from Chase, B.C. This road has yet to be approved by multiple stakeholders at the regional and provincial levels and has no set timeline. The updated plans also now include over 600 units of staff housing in the East Village. SPR plans to work with Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality to plan these units for employees of both resort and village businesses over the years. The new East Village School and recreation area is also

included. Also new is a planned commercial site in the west end of the village, including a new access road at the end of the existing Burfield Dr. In regards to mountain infrastructure, phase four would eventually include 22 lifts. Lidar technology led to several tweaks to plans in the top alpine area, including the locations of the five planned alpine lifts. While no new commitments on chairlift developments were announced, Alexander said an update to the aging Sunburst chairlift is likely to take priority over the West Morrisey chairlift. The new plans also included a possible significant expansion in snowmaking capabilities, adding capacity to the bottom of the four main chairlifts. Alexander acknowledged there are still significant challenges related to available water, and hinted at plans to create additional retention ponds and recycling village water. The new master plan is available for download on SPR’s website. Due to time constraints prior to print, SPIN will follow up on a more detailed story in the new year. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news updates.

SPR general manager Darcy Alexander presented the updated Resort Master Plan to interested residents and business owners this December. Photo by SPIN

SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD SPIN is among 4 finalists for the Best Daily News category of the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. By Hollie Ferguson

Sun Peaks Independent News has been nominated for a Canadian Online Publishing Award (COPA), bringing Discourse Community Publishing’s nomination total to 11 for 2023. The Jan. 26 story Family coming to Sun Peaks for fifth anniversary of Ryan Shtuka’s disappearance by community reporter Liz McDonald is among three others nominated for Best Daily News coverage. For this story, SPIN spoke with the mother of Ryan Shtuka, who went missing Feb.17, 2018. Heather Shtuka, who published a 2022 book recounting her son’s disappearance from Sun Peaks, said the community was a “saving grace.” While the search for Ryan continues, Heather shared the connection the support of Sun Peaks has created while her family navigates the unthinkable. “Out of that came this connection to Sun Peaks and … the Kamloops community that really did save us, that gave us strength to carry on when we didn’t think we could,” she said. “We’ve come to grow [to] love the community for everything that it offers.” SPIN’s ongoing coverage dedicated to aiding in the search for Ryan is reflective of our commitment to the community and all who pass through. “It's an honour to be a finalist alongside colleagues at The Wren, IndigiNews and The Discourse,” McDonald wrote in SPIN’s weekly newsletter. "While awards aren't the reason we do this work, national recognition helps ensure we know our work is resonating in our community." For more information on the COPA awards and to view DCP’s other nominations visit canadianonlinepublishingawards.com/2023/winners. If anyone has information about Ryan Shtuka, they are asked to contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Discourse Community Publishing CEO Brandi Schier (left) and Sun Peaks Independent News reporter Liz McDonald. Photo by Zuzy Rocka

local news

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A THOMPSON-NICOLA CONSERVATION OFFICER By Liz McDonald

Thompson-Nicola conservation officer Mike Sanderson is responsible for enforcing over 20 laws across federal and provincial jurisdictions. Photo submitted by Mike Sanderson

When driving along one of the many highways in British Columbia, you may have come across a sign that reads: Report All Poachers and Polluters, or RAPP. The sign lists a phone number citizens can call to report people who are illegally hunting or dumping garbage. The reports go to the Conservation Officer Service (COS) for action from conservation officers like Mike Sanderson, a sergeant in the ThompsonNicola zone. But what exactly do conservation officers do, and how did the position become what it is today?

COS from 1905 to today The precursor to COS was formed in May 1905. Originally the office of the Provincial Game and Forest Warden, the mandate was to protect game, or animals hunted for sport. Today, conservation officers are responsible for enforcing 20 laws across federal and provincial governments. It began with a fairly laidback origin story where the first game wardens were all volunteers who did not conduct regular patrols. In fact, several were “never heard from again,” after receiving their

badges. In comparison, today’s conservation officers are responsible for enforcing 20 laws across federal and provincial governments. There are two districts Sanderson’s detachment covers – one in Kamloops and a second in Merritt. Merritt’s district goes down towards Princeton and Manning Park. Around Logan Lake, the district shifts to the Kamloops detachment, ranging from Ashcroft and Cashe Creek to Barriere and the Shuswap. “A lot of people, they're kind of surprised by the area to cover in the mandate that we have in terms of enforcement, and even just public safety with respect to human-wildlife conflict,” Sanderson said, explaining there are five officers responsible for the two zones. This often results in a reactive versus proactive approach to patrolling a province popular for recreational activities.

Daily duties of conservation officers While much of a conservation officer’s duties relate to human-animal conflicts, Sanderson explained the job goes well beyond these issues.

“People think we're here to deal with the bears, but there’s quite a diverse and broad mandate within our job,” Sanderson said. Among his many duties, Sanderson is responsible for enforcing hunting and fishing laws, the Off-Road Vehicle Act and the Environmental Management Act. He also works closely with the environmental protection division of the provincial government to investigate permit violations. COS was even called into the northern Shuswap this wildfire season for evacuation and security, as well as to the Embleton wildfire in 2021. Alongside the day-to-day activities of his job, there’s also training on equipment and case law, as COS is a branch of law enforcement. There are firearms qualifications and defence training to maintain, as well as staying up-to-date on predator knowledge and working with Indigenous communities. “[Indigenous communities] often work with their eyes and ears on the land base through different Guardian programs or just in general on their own,” Sanderson said. Guardian programs help fill the gap in patrolling vast expanses of land while ensuring Indigenous stewards, who intimately know the land, maintain their sovereignty.

Connecting with conservation officers While officers’ numerous responsibilities may mean they can’t respond to every call, contacting COS is important to prevent worst-case outcomes for animals. So, too, is keeping in contact with local associations, like Sun Peaks Bear Aware. “By not calling in a sighting or all the way through to a conflict, the conservation officers don’t have any opportunities to intervene early,” retired large carnivore specialist Tony Hamilton told SPIN during an interview for a story on black bears in Sun Peaks. This fall, COS responded to a bear who was habituated to humans in the village, and the officers had to “destroy” – or kill the bear. But by alerting conservation officers to human-bear interaction on first sight, animal behaviour can be altered. “The worst part of our job is having to kill healthy wildlife,” Sanderson said of the bear who accessed garbage in Sun Peaks and was subsequently killed. “It's not their fault – they’re doing what they are biologically programmed to do – find the easiest food source and put weight on to den for the winter.” For example, this year’s berry crop was lower than usual, according to Olivier Jumeau, whose research focuses on black bear scat in Sun Peaks. He only found two samples this summer with berry consumption, possibly increasing the number of human-bear interactions as the animals seek nutrition elsewhere. “People can’t be naive in assessing how rapidly a bear can get into garbage,” Sun Peaks Bear Aware representative, Karen Lara said. “It will frequently return to that spot because once it’s accessible, it’s highlighted in their brains as an optimal food source.” There are a handful of ways to reduce animal interaction with humans, limiting the amount of calls conservation officers need to respond to in their large regions. Namely, securing garbage properly, especially during mating and pre-hibernation seasons from April to November, when bears are looking to bulk up. When all steps are taken to prevent animal habituation, conservation officers can focus more energy on the aspects of the job that allow them to thrive alongside wildlife. “Most of us get in this job because we love that environment,” Sanderson said. “We love wildlife, and we want to make sure that it's protected for everyone's benefit and for future generations as well.”

Sanderson patrolling on a boat during wildfire season. Photo submitted by Mike Sanderson

Become a member sunpeaksnews.com/ membership

local news

SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS’ MOST READ STORIES OF 2023 A look back at what struck a chord in the community this year.

The graduating class of 2023 includes James Escott, Mattias Grunling, Brock Hawes, Grace Kilba, Aiden Kramer, Noah Lara, Charlie Roberts, Nicole Shaw and Cole Shieven.

By SPIN

place a shot in the middle for any brave souls who could grab the freebie and still keep a limb. “They’d look at it and go, ‘well, I can get a free shot, but I might lose my hand. But still, it’s a free shot,’ and they’d go for it,” Tessier said with a smile. “It was a big risk, and people would do it successfully. Everyone would cheer, and nobody knew that it was welded open. So we play that trick on pretty much everybody.” The final trip for guests came on Aug. 14, and the night included live music by Andrew Christopher, a long-time performer who graced the halls of the Bistro over its 12 years in operation. The evening Tessier said, was “monumental, with a lot of love.”

As Sun Peaks Independent News says goodbye to 2023, we reviewed the most read stories of the year. These five stories are emblematic of how Sun Peaks celebrates, grieves and grows into itself year after year. These stories have been edited for length.

Sun Peaks Secondary Academy celebrates largest graduating class to date This year, Sun Peaks Secondary Academy saw its largest graduating class of 9 students – all leaving with honours. The Sun Peaks school has long been a collective effort, so it was a significant moment to send off the largest graduating class so far. Friends, family and community members gathered under cloudy skies to celebrate the success of Sun Peaks Secondary Academy graduates June 20. This year’s cohort was the largest to date, with nine students officially moving on to the next stage of their lives – all with honours. After attending a private ceremony, soon-to-be graduates rode down the Sunburst Express chairlift before walking through the village, where attendees greeted them with cheers. The public portion of the ceremony was led by Laurel Seafoot, vice president of Sun Peaks Secondary Academy. “Our students have been lucky enough to learn in this beautiful setting,” she said. “They have been leaders, employees, students, community members, adventurers and risk-takers.”

Seven of the nine students graduating from Sun Peaks Secondary Academy. Photo by Liz McDonald

Bon Voyage to the Voyageur Bistro After 12 years, Voyageur Bistro served its last meals in August. It was a bittersweet moment for patrons of the beloved Voyageur Bistro, who celebrated 12 years of the local restaurant when it closed its doors in August. If the walls of Voyageur Bistro could talk, they would tell tales harkening back to Canada’s colonial fur trade and countless odysseys from residents, visitors, staff and the owner, Kevin Tessier. After over a successful decade owning the Voyageur Bistro, Tessier closed the doors of his French-Canadian, fur-trader-themed restaurant Aug. 15. The Bistro’s journey was long and winding, borne out of Tessier’s experience as a canoe tour-guide, restaurant industry professional and his education in adventure studies at Thompson Rivers University. Inside Voyageur Bistro, pieces of history collected by Tessier and guests lined the walls. Moose antlers, a mock Stanley Cup, a chainsaw collection, a birch wood canoe from 1937 and a bear trap all offer stories on the history of the Bistro and voyageurs. Tessier recalled how the bear trap was frequently used in a seemingly high-stakes game. The trap sat open on the bar, appearing ready to clamp shut should it be triggered. Tessier would

Kevin Tessier sits on a memorial bench for his former head chef, Annie Campbell, located outside Voyageur Bistro. Photo by Liz McDonald

Sun Peaks Resort applies to develop a new subdivision The development could see 16 singlefamily homes available for purchase two years from now. Development and growth are always popular topics with readers, so it’s no surprise this story regarding Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR)’s application to develop parcel 27 for residential housing and tourist accommodations is on this year’s list. The proposed housing development will include 16 homes, and the overall process will take more than two years, according to Darcy Alexander, SPR’s chief executive officer. The land will be divided into lots for the proposed development named Alder Estates.

According to Alexander, the land also underwent an archeological assessment in conjunction with First Nations bands as part of the development process. “Members of the bands come up when we do the groundwork and they use maps to identify what might be potential areas [with Indigenous history],” Alexander told SPIN. After the archeological assessment is complete, it is sent to the province and bands. While the development will increase the housing supply in Sun Peaks, SPMRM’s analysis of the proposal presented to council indicated the wastewater system may not have adequate capacity for increased water use, when combined with the housing developments at Switchback Creek on parcel 36. To respond to concerns over wastewater capacity, SPMRM placed a no-occupancy covenant on phases three and four at Switchback Creek until municipal engineers can determine the system’s capacity.

and SPMRM is holding preliminary discussions for a public-private operation model with Alpine Fitness, which is located adjacent to the pool.

Sun Peaks community pool slated for 2024 reopening

Sun Peaks community pool has been closed since 2019 for upgrades. Photo by Liz McDonald

The facility has been closed since 2019, as the space receives upgrades. An ongoing hot topic for several years is the fate of the community’s only public swimming pool so readers were happy to learn that after five years, Sun Peaks community pool was getting a facelift. The pool underwent renovations for a host of necessary upgrades. Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) is replaced the boiler system, increased solar heating integration, replaced the water treatment system, repainting and resurfacing the pool, splash pad and deck, rebuilding the fence and upgrading the bathrooms. The pool has been closed since 2019, when work began at Sun Peaks Centre and was subsequently closed because of COVID-19 and the upgrades. Funding for the renovations comes from the Resort Municipality Initiative, a provincial program that finances resort communities for tourist attractions. The total funding received was $340,000 for three years. SPMRM budgeted $300,000 for the pool, and the rest of the grant is going towards upgrades at the Sun Peaks Centre, the skating rink and a paved trail near the Orient chairlift. The municipality has never operated the pool, which Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) originally owned

Long-time Sun Peaks local and business owner Ian McLaren passes away

on Tod Mountain. He competed in all 39 Over the Hill Downhill ski races at SilverStar Resort, winning multiple times with his teams. As a business owner, he was devoted to skiing, owning Consigner Sports in Kamloops, which would eventually become McSporties and open in Sun Peaks. SPIN sat down with Matthias Schmid, current owner of McSporties and long-time friend of McLaren, to learn about the legacy McLaren has left behind. Schmid recalled first meeting McLaren through McLaren’s consignment sports store growing up in Kamloops. The two fostered a deeper relationship when Schmid started working at McSporties from 1996 to 2002. When Schmid went off to school, the two stayed in touch over the years. “He was like an adopted uncle to me,” Schmid said. McLaren’s decision to open McSporties in the ‘90s was a risk, according to Schmid, with the business relying on seasonal winter tourism. “Opening up a seasonal business at a resort that’s fairly new in the sense that it’s just been bought and it’s developing – it all worked out, but you got to pay a lot of respect to how big a risk it was.” Schmid remembers McLaren as “a positive person” everyone wanted to be around. “He had a whole life that was dedicated to trying to have a good time,” Schmid said. “The reason there’s a lot of people that care is because he was fun to be around and he was a positive person. You never knew what he was going to get up to.”

As the original owner of McSporties, Ian McLaren lived a life ‘dedicated to trying to have a good time.’ The community was devastated to learn Sun Peaks had lost a long-standing business owner and avid skier, Ian McLaren. McLaren passed away Sept. 24, 2023, after a long and storied history as a ski racer, proud Scotsman, business owner, devoted husband and father. He was the original owner of McSporties, Sun Peaks’ first independent retail store, until his diagnosis of dementia and aphasia in 2016. McLaren was born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland, Dec. 7, 1950. His family immigrated to Vancouver in 1951 when McLaren was six months old and the family moved to Kamloops in 1956, fostering McLaren’s passion for sports. A talented ski racer, he began racing at the Kamloops Ski Hill when he was eight and was one of the first people to ride the Burfield Chairlift in 1961

Ian McLaren (right) stands beside Marc Girardelli (left) at Panorama Mountain Resort. Girardelli is an alpine ski racer who won five World Cup championships. Photo submitted by Matthias Schmid

arts

ARTZONE SUN PEAKS INVITES ALL MOVIE MAKERS FOR CONTEST AND FILM FESTIVAL The 4th annual Sun Peaks Film Festival Jan. 18 to 20 will feature work from local filmmakers. By Hollie Ferguson

ArtZone Sun Peaks is offering an opportunity for local filmmakers to see their work on screen in January. The ArtZone Film-makers Contest is welcoming submissions until Jan. 4, 2024. Additionally, the winner of the contest will receive $500 from the organization, as well as a prize sponsored by McSporties and HEAD Ski Company, Inc. “It started out three years ago with a fellow who brought his photography with a trip he had to Zambia, where he worked with orphaned elephants for Thursday locals night, and it was really, really well received,” ArtZone Sun Peaks’ president Marj Knive told SPIN of the film contest’s background.

To continue giving local photographers the opportunity to share their pieces, Knive said ArtZone decided to create the contest. However, when they opened up the contest last year, only one filmmaker submitted their work, according to Knive. “But I think what that did is show the rest of the people that were watching that anyone with an interest in filmmaking is perfectly acceptable to put a film in the film contest,” she said, explaining this time around she has received much interest from local creators hoping to throw their hat in the ring. “I’m really hoping we have a nice assortment this year.”

Additionally, ArtZone’s website notes some helpful hints: Start early, script your story to keep track of the project, use visual aids and collaborate with others. To submit a film to the contest, fill out the form provided on artzonesunpeaks.com by Jan. 4, 2024, including a summary, the names of all contributors, supporters and funding sources. Submissions are free.

Contest submission parameters

Contest winners and runners-up will see their films screened during Locals Night Thursday, Jan. 18 from 7 until 9:30 p.m. at the Great Hall at Sun Peaks Centre. “We will take the first part of Thursday night’s show and show all the entries that we have, depending on the length of each film,” Knive said. “They don’t have to be long and drawn out, the important thing is that they tell a story.” During the second half of Locals Night, there will be a screening of Unified, A HEAD Freeskiing Team Movie. From Jan. 19 to 20, there will be screenings of films from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour, featuring snippets

Filmmakers interested in submitting their movies should review the full submission parameters on ArtZone’s website, but there are some things to keep in mind. Each film should be between two and 15 minutes long, and focused on a story local to Sun Peaks. While complicated film tech isn’t necessary for submission, the format of each film should be horizontal, at minimum 1080 pixels and easy to watch.

4th Annual Sun Peaks Film Festival

From left, Kelly Brown, winner of last year's filmmakers contest with film participants Linda Strachan, Liz Wilkinson and Dave Steinburger. Photo submitted by ArtZone Sun Peaks

of international and Canadian mountain life. The films cover an array of life in the mountains, not just sports, Knive explained. Out of the many films shown at VIMFF, ArtZone curates their picks to fill two nights of mountainfilled fun. “It usually works out to seven or eight films per night,” Knive said. “They are films taken in the mountains of mountain communities and mountain living. They aren’t ski films, they’re films about people who live in the mountains and the lifestyle of those people all over the world.” Rather than just ski films, which Knive said many in Sun Peaks have seen plenty of, these films show mountain life from Nepal to Kyrgyzstan all the way back to Canada. “It is a huge variety of places that not all of us have been, so it shows some different cultures and different lifestyles and certainly different sports – everything from climbing to slacklining to mountain biking, and skiing of course – it's all different sports that are represented.” A party will close the weekend with dancing, food, fun and film talk. “We’ve had one most years after the film festival,” Knive said. “It's just a really nice way to wrap up the weekend and discuss the films.” More details on where the party will take place and how to purchase tickets will be updated on ArtZone’s website. ArtZone received a grant from the British Columbia Fairs, Festivals, and Events to help host this festival.

Festival-goers mill around the vendors at last year's ArtZone Film Festival. Photo submitted by ArtZone Sun Peaks

sports

TIRZA LARA WINS IN WHISTLER NORTH AMERICAN CUP By Liz McDonald

Tirza Lara on her sled while suited up in Team Canada colours. Photo by Jason Coleman Photography

Team Canada skeleton racer Tirza Lara soared into first place during the North American Cup (NAC) at Whistler Sliding Centre from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.

Lara finished with a combined time of one minute and 49.97 seconds for her two runs, strong results for the first race of her season. Now she’s in Park City, Utah for her second NAC of the season. A former dancer, Lara said skeleton racing has a healthier approach to athleticism. “I like that the emphasis is more on what your body can do, as opposed to what your body looks like,” she said. By 16, she took a risk and moved to Whitler to pursue her sport while finishing high school, and that mentality to take calculated risks translates well to her sport. “You need to have a certain type of mentality to want to chuck yourself down an ice chute headfirst,” she said. This year, Lara spent her summer training at Alpine Fitness, focusing on speed and weight training, and some time in Calgary working at an ice house practicing pushing her sled. “The entire outside world shuts off around me and it's just me and my sled on the ice,” Lara explained as she describes her sport as a form of flow state. “It feels meditative, and it's an intimate moment.” Settling into these moments and facing her fears during competitions comes down to her daily

routine, the music she listens to and grounding exercises. If she could change one thing about the world, it would be how people relate to fear. “We fear what we don't understand, and I think that comes into the sport too when you come to a track that you're not familiar with,” Lara said. Her music choice at the beginning of her training season was electronic to hype her up, but she’s recently shifted towards calming spa music. She practices grounding by focusing on the present moment, whether it’s a ritual morning coffee, drinking in each sip, or time spent walking to Cheakamus River in Whistler to appreciate a waterfall. She’s also prioritizing socializing with her teammates to combat the isolation of a hectic training schedule. Inspired by her mother Karen Lara, who is a practicing psychologist, she’s completing her bachelor's degree in human sciences online part-time, with a goal of obtaining a master's in neuroscience and specializing in head trauma. “I'd love to be able to contribute to skeleton in that sense and try and make the sport a little bit safer,” she explained.

Tirza Lara started off her season with a first-place finish in Whistler. Photo by Jason Coleman Photography

events

EVENTS

DEC. 15, 2023 TO JAN. 4, 2024 Weekly Daily public skating at Sun Peaks Arena. Register online.

MONDAYS

Quiz Nights at Morrisey’s Public House, 7 p.m.

Dec. 15

The first Stoke Series competition of the year is back for the 2023 to 2024 ski season. Proceeds go to the Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation. The event costs $10 and the competition goes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 17

Dec. 23 to 24

Join former Olympian Nancy Greene and sing carols in the village between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Village Day Lodge at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 24

Kamloops Alliance Church has two Christmas Eve services at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAYS

Join the man in red at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre Ballroom for a pancake breakfast and a professional photo with Santa. The first seating is 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and the second seating is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost for children 4 to 11 is $15, $20 for youth 12 to 18 and $40 for those 19 and up.

Karaoke at Bottoms, 9:30 p.m.

From 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m the Grand Hotel Reading Room hosts Santa for family photos (including pets). Cost is $25.

January

FRIDAYS

Dec. 20

Jan. 6 to 7

TUESDAYS

By donation Karma Yoga at Sun Peaks Yoga, 7 p.m. Locals Night at Bottoms Bar + Grill, 9 p.m. Open mic night at Morrisey’s Public House, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

AA meetings at Sun Peaks Secondary Academy at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAYS

Live music at at Morrisey’s Public House 8 p.m.

SUNDAYS

Sunday Funday at Morrisey’s Public House, DJ starts at 8 p.m.

December Dec. 15 to Jan. 7

BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops sparkles and shines over the holidays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for Christmas Day. Visit bcwildlife.org to discover the magic.

Break out your Santa costume or Mrs Claus outfit and ski or ride Sun Peaks Resort (SPR) LLP for festive fun. Register at Sunburst Lodge at 10 a.m. The first 100 festive seekers down Five Mile get a free alpine lift ticket.

Dec. 21 & 22

Toboggan with Santa for free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 21 at parking lot five in the East Village. Ski with Santa before he gets back to work from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 22 on Five Mile. Free with a valid lift ticket. Meet at Sunburst chairlift at 10:30 a.m. and head down the mountain with the man in red by 11 a.m.

Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve in Sun Peaks features dinner parties, fireworks, snowshoeing and skiing. Visit sunpeaksresort.com to learn more.

Nordic Skiers looking to expand their skills can register for a ski camp, running in the morning and afternoons. Register online by visiting sunpeaksresort.com.

Jan. 12 to 13

Head to Sagebrush Theatre in Kamloops to enjoy a multi-sensory concert called Hypnotic Journey with guest artist Julie Thériault. Visit kamloopssymphony.com to learn more.

Jan. 16 to 18

Air Nation Sun Peaks hosts freestyle snowboard athletes from across North America for slopestyle competitions. Visit canadasnowboards.ca to learn more.

puzzles

SALAD DAYS

by Barbara Olson © ClassiCanadian Crosswords

2024 PUBLICATION DATES Book By

Theme

Ad Submission Jan. 11

Jan. 4

Feb. 8 March 7

April 7 May 30

The Home Issue

April 11 May 9

The Bike Issue

June 6 July 4 Aug. 1

Aug. 29

Oct. 6

Arts Annual

Sept. 5 Oct. 10

The Winter Issue

Nov. 7 Dec. 8

Invest in your local and regional market. Learn more: sunpeaksnews.com/ advertise-with-us

Puzzle With a Punch solution

ACROSS 1 Word on a Halloween bag 4 Horse handlers 11 Helen Reddy's "___ Woman" 14 Letter carrier: Abbr. 15 In utter confusion 16 B.C. classical music grp. 17 Aberdeen affirmative 18 Lazy layabout with a remote 20 Craggy peaks 22 Whence T.V.'s Mork 23 French door sections 24 Roman ruler after Julius

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

___ path to one's door Heart hit "Crazy ___" Needing to be weeded, say Line of work: Abbr. "He ___, he scores!" Shakespeare, astrologically Closes a deadbolt Biblical suffix with "go" and "do" 9 Something to patch over 10 Susses (out) 11 She gave "The Donald" his nickname 12 Flower whose name means "star"

28 Like May through August, letterwise 29 Certain cell phones 30 "Fingers crossed!" 32 ___ Paulo, Brazil 33 Cat caller's stare 37 Things that require very little effort to get 41 Hawaiian region, or its coffee 42 Sundown, to a sonneteer 43 Related on Mom's side 44 Course average 45 Fast finisher? 47 Outdoor bar at Oktoberfest

53 "Our Father who __ heaven..." 54 It's in the range?: Abbr. 55 He might leave a big footprint on Everest 56 Mexican seed that "leaps" 60 Singer Hill or Mangan 61 King forerunner? 62 Ensure all needs are met 63 Big T-shirt size: Abbr. 64 Stag invitees 65 Less populated 66 "You rang?"

13 Stock replies? 19 Classroom helpers, for short 21 Antibiotic drug 25 "Don't worry, I didn't ___thing" 26 Kiltie's kinfolk 27 Visibly awestruck 30 Kind or sort 31 ___-ha (commotion) 32 I.D. on a T-4 slip 33 Curmudgeonly 34 In a protective, cautious way 35 Feeling no pain, so to speak 36 When "les élèves" are "en vacances" 38 Close to 39 Spice Girl Ginger's real name 40 Greek cheese

44 Becomes hysterical 45 Comes onto the scene 46 Related on Dad's side 47 Burnt, in French cuisine 48 Hindu soul 49 Limo rider, often 50 Abduction alert colour 51 Building floor: Fr. 52 Numbers to dress to, with "the"? 53 In ___ (up the creek) 57 Daycare down time 58 Ontario's cap. city region 59 Neither's other

business arts listings

SERVICES

Please contact us with any questions or for any extra information about our packages and services. 250-851-1905 www.alpineimages.ca info@alpineimages.ca

778-220-2142 hartleyco.ca

Reach your local market. Advertising options to suit any budget. Connect with our readers sunpeaksnews.com/advertise-with-us

community

ONE WOMAN’S SOLO TRIP TO TUKTOYAKTUK

Emma and her dog at the Arctic Circle. Photo submitted by Emma Hull

A screenshot of the stops Hull made along her way from Burton, B.C. to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Photo submitted by Emma Hull

Sun Peaks local Emma Hull encourages other women to chase their own adventures. By Liz McDonald

Emma Hull and her dog on a paddleboard during their trip to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Photo submitted by Emma Hull

If you've resolved to do more solo exploring in 2024, local Emma Hull has some advice to share after a road trip to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Hull and her canine companion Johnny Cash embarked on their trip this summer after dreaming of visiting, prompted by the opening of the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) in 2017. The completion

of the ITH created a 138 kilometre road, allowing access between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk year-round. Previously, visitors or residents could only access Tuktoyaktuk by plane in warm months or ice roads in the winter. “At various times I had started planning but never really put anything together,” Hull told SPIN. “This spring, I asked myself, ‘What am I waiting for?’”

Always be prepared After doing some research, she decided to drive and tent camp along the way, gathering new skills before hitting the road. She learned the Dempster Highway in the Yukon was brutal on tires so Hull learned how to change them, a skill she used twice along the way. She took a WildSafeBC course to prepare for bear interactions, planned her route with a printed map and set up emergency communications through inReach. She also had to decide exactly what she wanted to do along the way. “I wanted to drive the Top of the World Highway, which crosses between Yukon and Alaska, and that border crossing closes at first snow,” she explained. She knew her trip needed to happen early enough in the year to avoid the closure, but late enough to avoid spring flooding.

Emma Hull poses for a picture while changing a tire during her long-distance roadtrip from Burton, B.C. to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Photo submitted by Emma Hull

“Of course, that put me in the middle of wildfire season,” she said. This year’s wildfires were the worst on record for Canada, and Hull experienced them firsthand. While driving on Highway 16 to Highway 37 through B.C. and up to the Yukon, Hull knew that road closures could be imminent. At one point, traffic on the route went to single-lane alternating due to wildfires, and Hull had to drive 1200 kilometres in one day to get past the danger zone. Another time, she left Dawson City to discover the Dempster Highway was closed about 400 km into her route, so she camped out for 24 hours to kill time before the highway reopened. “When it opened… you were driving through fire on both sides of the road,” she explained. “It really brought home climate change.”

Plan your adventure for you When chasing your own adventure, Hull said to plan for what you truly want to experience. For her, taking a risk by going it alone was part of proving to herself after her divorce that she was quite capable of being alone. “I left my marriage three years ago and wanted to prove to myself that… I'm a powerful, strong, independent woman,” Hull explained with a bright smile while holding a warm beverage. And even though she has a small SUV, bringing a paddleboard was well-worth the space. She also kept an audio diary each day because she knew she would be too tired to write, each evening

asking herself two questions: What was the highlight of her day and what lesson did she learn? “That really helped me to have gratitude each day,” she said. Once she arrived in Tuktoyaktuk, Hull set her tent up as close to the Arctic Ocean as possible and settled in to watch the sun never set. “It was amazing, at 10 o’clock at night it was still full daylight,” Hull said, describing the midnight sun in August. Full of pride for her adventure, Hull’s voice cracked when she described how the trip was also bittersweet. Her mother passed away in May after helping her plan the trip, and she couldn’t call her and let her know she reached her destination. “The whole trip, I just talked to her as if she was there,” she said, wiping a tear away.

2388 Heffley Lake Road: Lake Front, custom timber frame, vaulted ceiling, wood beams, wrap around deck, hot tub, heated double garage. $3,250,000 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

2536 Mountain View Drive: REMARKABLE custom true timber frame estate w/ extravagent finishes, unrivaled privacy, tranquility & views! $3,199,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

2418 Fairways Drive: 5 bed , 5 bath, custom built, level entry home, radiant heat, 2 car garage, 2 bed, 1 bath legal suite w/ laundry. $2,289,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

2214 Sunburst Drive : Exceptional ski in/out accessible chalet, 3 beds up + 3 family rooms & legal 2 bed daylight basement suite. $1,899,999 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

10-2715 Fairways Drive : captivating mountain views, spacious living, granite countertops, heated tile flooring, floor to ceiling fireplace, hot tub. $1,395,000 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

30 Stones Throw: Ski in/out access, upper level, 2 bed, 2 bath w/ $30k in booked rentals for winter season, transferable to Buyer. $839,900 + GST Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

69 Crystal Forest: Fully furnished, updated hardwood flooring, ski in/out, private hot tub, spacious storage locker, heated tile floors, heated parking garage $811,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

35 Settlers Crossing: Ground floor 2 bed, 2 bath, ski in/out, short term rentals, hot tub, heated parking, ample storage, ski locker. GST paid. $769,000 Damon Newport 250-572-6907

301 Kookaburra Lodge: 2 bed, 2 bath. Breathtaking views, fully furnished, elevator acces, steam shower, ski in/out access, hot tub, heated secure underground parking. $749,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

13 Powder Heights: 2 bed, 2 bath, modern kitchen, as fireplace, Heated tile floors, ground floor patio area with hot tub, unfurnished. GST paid. $719,999 Damon Newport 250-

6 Settlers Crossing: Ground floor 1 bed + den, 1 bath, ski in/out, hot tub, no rental restrictions, heated parking, ample storage, ski locker. $669,000 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

2568 Mountain View Drive: Gently sloping, cleared residential lot ready to build on, stunning custom plans and completed geotech survey. $589,900 Edward Clarke 778-257-0585

Follow your dream, home. QU INN RISCHMU ELLER PREC* +1 778-257-4494 quinn.rischmueller@evrealestate.com

DA M O N N E W P O R T +1 250-572-6907 damon.newport@evrealestate.com

M AT T T O W N +1 250-319-3458 matt.town@evrealestate.com

E DWA R D C L A R K E +1 778-257-0585 edward.clarke@evrealestate.com

N I C O L A G R AY +1 250-804-7925 nicola.gray@evrealestate.com

CHRIS TOWN +1 250-318-4106 chris.town@evrealestate.com

Engel & Volkers Sun Peaks, located at #113 - 3190 Creekside Way, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. ©2023 Engel & Völkers. * Personal Real Estate Corporation

ET R A M TO

A - 1130 Sun Peaks Rd: 646 sqft commercial space with 12’ ceilings, plus bonus 450 sqft of LCP covered outdoor patio space. $399,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

B - 1130 Sun Peaks Rd: Newly constructed, ski in/out, 422 sqft commercial space with 12’ ceilings and breathtaking mountain and valley views. $269,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

1312 A - 3250 Village Way: Quarter ownership of the largest unit in The Residences. 2 bed, 2 bath. Unbeatable location. Hot tub and 24-hour concierge. $155,000 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

1205 C - 3250 Village Way: 2 bed, 2 bath, quarter ownership unit. Convenient 1st floor location provides quick ski in/ski out access. $148,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

1209 B - 3250 Village Way: Luxurious 2 bed, 2 bath, quarter ownership unit. Exceptional ski in/ski out access. Hot tub, 24-hour concierge, fitness center. $144,900 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

1317 D - 3250 Village Way: 1 bed, 1 bath, quarter ownership unit with gorgeous south facing views down the vibrant Village stroll. $94,500 Quinn Rischmueller PREC* 778-257-4494

R A

Switchback Creek

Discover Switchback Creek - Sun Peaks‘ newest luxury alpine homes, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and vibrant village life. Enjoy stunning mountain views, upscale designer finishes with premium upgrade options and flexible floor plans in both 6-plex and 4-plex configurations. Large 2 and 3 bedroom floor plans within the 6-plex option and 3 bedroom floor plans in the 4 plex option. Tailored for year-round mountain living, these residences feature spacious outdoor areas with hot tub hookup and gas BBQ connection, all set within a beautifully landscaped community with ample parking. Step outside to access over 30 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails, world-class mountain biking, hiking trails, and more. Switchback Creek also borders the 14th hole of the golf course. Short-term rentals are allowed, and the developer‘s disclosure statement is in effect. Price is GST applicable. Elevate your mountain lifestyle at Switchback Creek. Visit switchbacksunpeaks.com for more information.

Matt Town 250-319-3458 ; Chris Town 250-318-4106

QU INN RISCHMU ELLER PREC* +1 778-257-4494 quinn.rischmueller@evrealestate.com

DA M O N N E W P O R T +1 250-572-6907 damon.newport@evrealestate.com

M AT T T O W N +1 250-319-3458 matt.town@evrealestate.com

E DWA R D C L A R K E +1 778-257-0585 edward.clarke@evrealestate.com

N I C O L A G R AY +1 250-804-7925 nicola.gray@evrealestate.com

CHRIS TOWN +1 250-318-4106 chris.town@evrealestate.com

LOCATED AT SUN PEAKS SINCE 1995

ALPINE RESORT REALTY

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

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

NEW LISTING

#32 MCGILLIVRAY CREEK

#317/319 NANCY GREENE’S CAHILTY LODGE

2556 GOLDEN HORN ROAD

This sought after ski-in/out location boasts 2 bedrooms + large family room and 2.5 baths. Enjoy the setting, nestled in the woods along McGillivray Creek, and next to the 17th tee box of the Golf Course. Features rich wood cabinetry, updated countertops, custom built-ins for storage, quality finishing, heated tile floors (kitch. & baths), main floor laundry, cozy gas fireplace, large south facing sundeck. The master bedroom has ensuite & private sundeck with beautiful mountain views. Walkout basement with fam. room & custom murphy bed, access to the covered patio and hot tub. Private garage has plenty of storage with workspace, waxing/tuning bench, additional surface parking available and EV car ready. Largely furnished; GST n/a.

Situated in the very heart of four-season Sun Peaks Resort, this third-floor lock-off at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Hotel & Suites offers fantastic views of the main mountain, ski in/out, unlimited owner use, plus the ultimate flexibility of capturing revenues while in house! Recently renovated, this bright, cozy condo has a fresh modern feel, with new countertops, sinks and faucets in kitchen & bathrooms, mattresses, attractive furnishings, beautiful laminate flooring, paint, artwork, with an efficiency kitchen which accommodates nicely for longer stays. Hotel amenities include ski storage, family restaurant, secure underground parking and laundry facilities. Professional and friendly in-house management team in place with Bear Country.

This is an excellent opportunity to own a piece of heaven on the tranquil shores on Heffley Lake. Find solitude in this lakefront 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage with detached garage and workshop with additional studio space and bathroom. The main floor features an open kitchen, dining room and living room with vaulted ceiling, wood burning rock fireplace and sliding doors that open up to your sundeck overlooking the lake. The lower-level feature two additional bedrooms, bright family room and laundry space opening up to the side yard and outside shower. This year-round home is situated on .39 acres with exceptional waterfront & your own private dock that can easily be transformed into a flatboat.

4119 SUNDANCE DRIVE

#1210C THE RESIDENCES

#46 SETTLER’S CROSSING

This landscaped slope side mountain home offers the ultimate ski-in, ski-out convenience as one of the best locations on the mountain. Superior design and finishing with quality construction, with extensive use of stone, granite, hardwood and tile. This spectacular home radiates warmth and intimacy with the most incredible setting and presents and exceptional opportunity to own one of the very best in resort living. Soaring windows, radiant in floor heat, HRV, games room, inviting hot tub, oversized double car garage and beautiful sundeck directly off the kitchen which fronts right onto the ski run. Self-contained two bedroom legal suite that can be rented or used for guests. GST n/a.

QUARTER OWNERSHIP Deluxe 1 bedroom apartment in prime village central location. Enjoy fine finishing and lavish comfort in this great ski-in/ski-out location. Also enjoy all the amenities of the Grand hotel including ski and bike valet, hot tubs, swimming pool, fitness centre, room service, shops and more. Arrive to a fully equipped kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, in suite laundry, gracious bedroom with king bed and well appointed bath with soaker tub. Use your time or have the Grand administer care free rental. All ownership expenses are include in your monthly strata fee. Offered fully furnished. GST is applicable.

Welcome home to Settler's Crossing! This well appointed mountain condominium has a tasteful and timeless decor with a sunny après ski deck and private hot tub. Bright, south facing, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with easy ski-in, ski-out access. Features open kitchen, dining area and living room with upgraded hardwood flooring, S/S appliances, in suite laundry, heated tile floors and cozy gas fireplace. Located just steps from the 18 hole Graham Cooke designed golf course, Nordic skiing, and bike trails. This condo is beautifully decorated and is offered fully furnished.

$879,000

$3,399,000

$354,900

$88,000

$1,599,000

$779,000

NEW LISTING

#1312B THE RESIDENCES

#121/123 NANCY GREENE’S CAHILTY LODGE

#329 SUNDANCE LODGE

Experience Sun Peaks' only fractional ownership offering! Located in the heart of the Village, this fully furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom upscale apartment offers true ski-in, ski-out convenience with secure underground parking, together with full use of the hotel pool, gym, sauna, room service, and more. Relax after a fun filled day on the slopes in the spacious living room around the fireplace or on the outdoor deck. Shops and dining are just steps away. Featuring a full kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ensuite bathroom with soaker tub and separate shower, in suite laundry, & central A/C.

Situated in the very heart of Sun Peaks Resort, Nancy Greene's Cahilty Lodge is an attractive family get-away and great lifestyle investment. This cozy studio lock-off has been entirely renovated, top to bottom, featuring a unique new kitchen design, new flooring and furnishings, picture windows, high airy ceilings, slope side location with fantastic mountain views. This floor plan offers the perfect amount of separation, with room to sleep 8 comfortably, and is set up nicely for extended stays. Relax and leave all the details to the professional and friendly in house management team. Excellent ski-in / ski-out access!

Beautiful third floor 2 bedroom condo in prime location. The Sundance Lodge is a full ownership condo-hotel with the ultimate ski-in, ski-out slope side setting. Custom finished pine furniture and cabinetry compliment this west facing apartment. This fully furnished retreat features spacious full kitchen, relaxing lounge area, cozy corner fireplace and covered sundeck facing the ski hill with amazing views and sunsets. Owners have a generous 180 days per year personal use and the comfort of knowing that all is looked after in their absence. This is a great lifestyle investment. GST applicable.

$158,900

$359,900

$249,000

SUNPEAKSREALTY.COM