Volume 17 Issue 1 by Sun Peaks Independent News

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 01

JANUARY 25, 2019 — FEBRUARY 22, 2019

YOURS FREE TO TAKE HOME

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

A year without answers RCMP, friends, and family still searching for answers in disappearance of Ryan Shtuka JEAN STRONG

LAST YEAR, 20-YEAR-OLD RYAN SHTUKA GOT OFF WORK FROM THE LIFT DEPARTMENT AT SUN PEAKS RESORT AT 7 P.M ON FEB. 16 AND HEADED HOME TO GET READY FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS. AFTER SHOWERING AND GETTING DRESSED THEY GOT A RIDE INTO SUN PEAKS’ VILLAGE. After a drink at Masa’s Bar + Grill, the group went to Bottoms, a popular local bar, for a silent disco night. Each person received a pair of headphones and chose which DJ to tune in to, switching back and forth as they battled for the crowd’s attention. One of Ryan’s housemates, 31-yearold Chris Feeney, in B.C. on a working holiday visa from Australia, said the night went by in a flash. “It felt like two Backstreet Boys songs and the night was over,” he said. “None of us were ready to go home and we heard about a house party that may be going.” Tagging along with a group they left for the party on Burfield Dr. where they stayed until around 1:30 a.m. “Most of the people there were regulars (or) lifties that I knew,” he said. “It was really a pretty mellow gathering rather than a party.” Feeney, his girlfriend Kristen Lacko, and a friend were talking together and decided to head home, a short walk from the party on a road and trail they used often. That night nearly 20 centimetres of snow fell and temperatures plummeted. It was the last time Feeney, or anyone else, would see Ryan.

massive search effort, little more is known for certain than in the first hours of the investigation. One such tip came from

According to Feeney, the next day it wasn’t immediately apparent something was wrong, as he headed to work without realizing Ryan hadn’t come home. After being alerted Ryan hadn’t shown up for work, his friends

thought maybe he had gone home with a girl or crashed on a couch. It wasn’t until after Ryan completely missed his shift and didn’t show up at home that they posted on a local Facebook group asking if anyone had seen their friend. By 9 p.m. they decided to call the hospital which advised them to call police, who arrived around midnight. “By 1 a.m. we were all very scared,” he said. “(We) felt so helpless sitting in the house, none of us really slept that night knowing the next day was going to be a full search day with search and rescue, police, volunteers, helicopters and dogs.” Almost one year later the valley has been scoured by hundreds of volunteers from across the world, Ryan’s family and friends, professional

search and rescue groups, search dogs, cadaver dogs, Kamloops RCMP, the RCMP tactical team, a private investigator, psychics, a dive team, drones, helicopters and a plane. According to Cpl. Mike Mucha from the Kamloops Rural RCMP detachment, hundreds of hours have been spent on the search and investigation. After Ryan was reported missing two officers responded first, one of whom still works on the case. Mucha said more than 300 tips to RCMP and Crime Stoppers have been followed up. “I think we interviewed just about everybody in that community...We’ve taken that information from them and we’ve used it.” But despite those tips and the

Kamloops resident Jim Reid, who was staying at Sun Peaks the weekend Ryan disappeared. Reid, who was staying about a 20 minute walk from Burfield Drive, stated he woke in the early morning hours to a person yelling. “It very much sounded like ‘Get in the car. Get in the fucking car,’” said Reid, who reported in the incident to the police a few days later. RCMP followed up with him twice. Two other high profile tips, one involving a possible sighting on Fairways Drive around 2 a.m. and another involving an unknown man entering a home looking for party, also lead RCMP nowhere. Mucha said they have no information or theory on what

happened to Ryan. RCMP also have no information that indicates foul play and no persons of interest. He added nothing indicates Ryan was involved in criminal activity. “It’s perplexing,” he said. “There isn’t anything there to suggest foul play...We’re hoping somebody knows something (and) one day will come forward or something will come up.” Ryan’s mother, Heather Shtuka, hopes for the same. “The probability (that someone knows something) is high,” she said. “If someone knows something and they have the ability to say something they have to be afraid. Not to be ominous or mean, but they know any day the truth could come out. (At least) I don’t have to go through every day afraid anymore, my worst fears have already been realized, but they do and that’s a huge burden to bear. I hope that if someone knows something they come forward.” She last saw her son on Dec. 1, 2017, for a quick hug and kiss goodbye before he made the long drive from their home in Beaumont, Alta. to Sun Peaks. Ryan, she said, kept in regular contact, often texting her and calling his father, Scott Shtuka, to keep him company while he drove to work. “HetoldScott‘DadI’vebeenboarding 36 days straight,’” Heather said, adding he had just landed his first backflip. She believes Ryan was happy in Sun Peaks, and doesn’t regret encouraging him to go. “As someone who loves him I want to support him. Looking back now I

READ MORE ON NEXT PAGE

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

LOCAL NEWS SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS INC. 102-3270 Village Way Sun Peaks BC V0E 5N0

Phone | 250.578.0276 For comments, questions, concerns email: editor@sunpeaksnews.com Email your classifieds or ads to: sales@sunpeaksnews.com

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM @SUNPEAKSNEWS /SUNPEAKSNEWS SUNPEAKSNEWS @SUNPEAKSNEWS

#SUNPEAKSNEWS #MYSUNPEAKS

OUR TEAM

PUBLISHER

CONTINUED FROM COVER could’ve said don’t go, it’s a big step, it’s far away. Maybe I could’ve kept him from going but he could’ve passed away two weeks later in a car accident. Life happens regardless. “I will never in my entire life regret that.” Since Ryan went missing a strong community has formed around the family. In addition to hours spent volunteering more than $90,000 was raised on GoFundMe. That money and other donations have helped the family support two households while not working for months, paid for travel costs between Beaumont and Sun Peaks and other expenses such as billboards and a private investigator. “I feel like people have given so much, it feels like it’s too much,” said Heather, who remains on leave from her job. “At what point does it look like

or covering up his death, that he was involved in other missing persons cases and that he has lied to police. “I’ve definitely had some death threats, threats to turn me into the police, even people saying that they have a video of me doing something,” he said. “Of course it’s very hurtful...I think the family that have to read people’s judgements on Facebook have it the worst. His two younger sisters are the nicest girls and they are a loving family, they should not have to read stuff like that.” Mucha said slander would be a civil matter, not for the RCMP. Feeney added he spent as much time searching as he could, taking three days off to look immediately after, but as a seasonal worker money was tight. “Do I know for sure that none of them (Ryan’s friends) up there know what happened to Ryan? No. But Ryan

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

RYAN SHTUKA AS A CHILD

Brandi Schier

brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

GRAPHIC ARTIST Frankie Knight

frankie@sunpeaksnews.com

EDITOR

SCOTT AND HEATHER SHTUKA SEARCH AT SUN PEAKS

Jean Strong

jean@sunpeaksnews.com

REPORTER Nikki Fredikson

nikki@sunpeaksnews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Ron Betts Emily Perrins Mel Rothenburger 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.

we’re asking for too much?” There has been criticism online alleging the family spends the money on leisure travel and other costs unrelated to the search. Heather said she continues to receives online messages saying she hindered the investigation by focusing the search solely on Sun Peaks and blaming her for her son’s disappearance, but she has chosen to draw strength from the positive posts instead. She added she and her family receive a lot of support and wished she could provide the same protection for Ryan’s friends. “They get the insensitive remarks but they have to hear it with no filter.” One person Heather said she wishes had “more of a buffer” is Feeney. Feeney travelled to Banff for a preplannedtripwithafriendfromAustralia two weeks after Ryan’s disappearance which resulted in online criticism. Some posts and messages implied he was involved with harming Ryan

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

really really looked up to Chris Feeney... if he and Kirsten didn’t go out he would stay in,” said Heather. “I’ve always believed Chris and Kirsten were true friends.” Feeney remembered talking to Ryan about music, rugby and Australia as they quickly became friends. They lived together for two months before Ryan dissapeared. “It took Ryan a few days to open up,” he said. “It didn’t take long for him to start teasing my Australian accent by saying ‘heaps I reckon’ all the time.” Looking back, he said, there isn’t anything he would do differently. “People often say ‘why did you leave without Ryan’ and of course we all regret that. We are all adults and can make our own decisions. I’m pretty confident that if Ryan wanted to leave with us at the same time as us he would’ve told us to wait a second for him.” Now back in Australia, Feeney described the last year as strange. “The rest of the winter was hard for

A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN 2018

everyone in Sun Peaks knowing that something had happened to one of us...Our house was never the same.” He added without an answer it has been hard to move on. “I have absolutely no idea (what happened to him). All I know is that I don’t believe he would’ve gone anywhere with people he didn’t know, I don’t believe he would’ve wandered off into the woods or was drunk enough to wander off without knowing where he was. And I know for a fact he was young, fit and experienced in cold weather.” One year later, as Feeney and Ryan’s other friends struggle to understand what happened that night, RCMP are still moving ahead with the case and follow up all tips that come in. The Major Crimes Unit and the Kelowna General Investigation Unit are now reviewing the file. Mucha said it’s frustrating as investigators feel for the family and want to give them closure. He added new technology could help in the future.

Volunteer searchers will begin grid mapping and resume searching this spring as they extended the search area downthemountaintowardKamloops. While the snow remains, Heather, Scott, their daughters and family and friends will be in Sun Peaks in February to mark the one year anniversary of Ryan’s disappearance. Plans are being finalized for a fundraising dinner, candlelight vigil and other events to remember Ryan. The plan, Heather said, is to create fewer sad memories and more happy reflections of her son, showing the story of his life from a young boy whose grandmother bought him snowboarding lessons, to a teenager getting his license and taking day trips to ski areas, to the young man who arrived in Sun Peaks, boarded for a month straight and landed his first backflip. “I want Ryan to be more than whatever happened to him on February 17,” she said.

LIVE ELEVATED

OPEN DAILY 9 TO 6 IN THE VILLAGE STROLL AT SUN PEAKS 250.578.7773 SUNPEAKSCOLLECTION.COM

$3,299,000 4129 Sundance Drive, Sun Peaks, BC BEDS: 6 BATHS: 5 5,055 SQ. FT.

Prime, ski-in/out, slopeside chalet with separate carriage house suite, in Canada’s 2nd largest ski area with exceptional access to main chairlifts. A true chef’s kitchen, theatre, games rooms & more.

$1,100,000 gst applicable 2434 Fairways Drive, Sun Peaks, BC

$759,000 2504 Eagle Court, Sun Peaks, BC

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 4.5 3,484 SQ. FT.

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3 2,761 SQ. FT.

Top floor privacy with gourmet kitchen & master suite. Guest private quarters. Outstanding 180 degrees views from all 3 levels. Fully furnished & desirable 2 bedroom revenue suite. Double garage.

Incredible mountain views from the main living area, master suite & sundeck. Only a 10 min walk from the ski-through village. A bright, living area is perfect for entertaining.2 bedroom revenue suite. I N T RO DUCI N G

$719,999 gst applicable 1370 Burfield Drive, Sun Peaks, BC

$474,900 14 The Peaks, Sun Peaks, BC

$419,000 gst applicable 18 Snow Creek Village, Sun Peaks, BC

BEDS: 7 BATHS: 5 3,398 SQ. FT.

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,104 SQ. FT.

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 2 590 SQ. FT.

NEW half duplex with convenient level entry & 4 full storeys of luxury living. Practical mud/laundry room, with custom cabinets, bench & plenty of room for gear. Dramatic open living area.

A huge private garage/workshop with this 3 level townhome just five minutes walk from main chairlifts and village core. Fully furnished. Includes 6 appliances, kitchenware, decor, bedding & more.

Best ski-in/out location! Ultra convenient location & ski directly to your back door. Full kitchen, heated garage parking & plenty of storage. Fully Furnished. Park your car & ski, bike or walk everywhere.

N EW CON STRUCTION

QUART E R OWN E RS HI P

$399,900 gst applicable 207 ELEVATION, Sun Peaks, BC

$299,900 2424 Fairways Drive, Sun Peaks, BC

$109,900 gst applicable 1411 D The Residences, Sun Peaks, BC

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 645 SQ. FT.

0.19 ACRES

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,014 SQ. FT.

Set alongside new chairlift with true ski-in/out. Meas. & sizes are approximate. Please refer to Disclosure Statement for specific offering details. E.&O.E, rendering is an artistic representation.

Prime residential building site with panoramic views. Easy walking distance to shops, restaurants & more. Perfectly suited for level entry home with walkout basement & legal 2 bedroom revenue suite.

QUARTER OWNERSHIP. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury suite, fully furnished, with gourmet kitchen and in-suite laundry in the heart of ‘Canada’s Alpine Village’ providing you true ski-in/out access.

PHASES 1 & 2 SOLD OUT

PHASE 3

N OW S E L L I N G

S K I - I N / S K I - O U T CO N DO S BESIDE THE NEW ORIENT CHAIRLIFT E XC E P T I O N A L V I E W S R E G I S T E R TO DAY F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

ELEVATIONSUNPEAKS.COM Elevation at Sun Peaks is a development of A&T Project Developments Inc. The developer reserves the right to modify or change plans, specifications, features and prices without notice. Materials may be substituted with equivalent or better at the developer’s sole discretion. All dimensions and sizes are approximate and are based on architectural measurements. This is not an offering for sale and such offer can only be made by Disclosure Statement E.&O.E.

SHOWCASE YOUR PROPERTY TO THE WORLD Our agents offer exemplary service and marketing for homes in every neighbourhood at: sothe bys real t y.co m sot h ebys real t y.ca wal l st re etj ourna l .com new yo r kt i mes.co m j u wai .co m f t .co m n i kkei. jp j am ese d i ti on.com l uxur yestate.co m man s i o n g l o bal .co m A p p l eT V plus dozens of exclusive websites and publications.

COMING SOON 2 & 3 bedroom condo, townhouse & commercial development

PEAKSWEST.CA The developer reserves the right to modify or change plans, specifications, features and prices without notice. Materials may be substituted with equivalent or better at the developer’s sole discretion. All dimensions and sizes are approximate and are based on architectural measurements. This is not an offering for sale and such offer can only be made by Disclosure Statement E.&O.E.

RECENTLY SOLD

COMING SOON boutique condo and commercial development BURFIELDWEST.COM This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act. E. & O. E.

2416 Fairways Drive, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $929,900

16 Forest Trails, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $379,000

6 Trails Edge, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $724,900

7 Forest Trails, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $524,900

56 Trail’s Edge, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $599,000

422 Cahilty Hotel & Suites �� List Price: $159,900

12 Forest Trails, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $599,900

PEAKS WEST - PHASES 1 & 2 �� SOLD OUT

24 Stone’s Throw, Sun Peaks �� List Price: $489,000

SUNPEAKSCOLLECTION.COM | SHUSWAPCOLLECTION.COM Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

LOCAL NEWS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Trail association board announced Group looks to the future of trails in the community JEAN STRONG

SUN PEAKS RECREATIONAL TRAIL ASSOCIATION (SPRTA) HAS A NEW BOARD LEADING THE ORGANIZATION INTO ITS FOURTH YEAR. Jase Petersen, Mike Sleziak, Sam Loxton, Brad Harrison, Erik Wyatt, Jim Alix, Sydney Johnsen, Ryan Witzaney and Carmen Ruiz form the expanded board. “We’re super excited to have our new board in place, which is an important piece of what we hope will be a big year ahead for SPRTA,” said SPRTA president Jase Petersen. “All of the board members have tons of relevant experience and plenty of passion

for mountain biking, so it’s a really strong team.” Ruiz said she was interested in SPRTA because she feels they have the best intentions for the future of mountain biking in Sun Peaks. “It was started by a passionate group of people who love the sport and just want to share their love by improving our existing network of trails,” she said. After joining she applied to become a board member and became director of membership. “I decided to join the board because I’m an avid cross country biker but I find myself riding the same two or three trails because our trails, though really fun, are lacking.” Ruiz hopes to engage the community, build new trails and inspire those who haven’t tried the

sport to give it a shot. “Speaking long term,” she said. “I’d love to see more trails of all levels of difficulty. A few scenic loops wouldn’t hurt either.” The main goals for the group this year include working with Sun Peaks Resort LLP to secure liability insurance and the ability to work within the Controlled Recreation Area, creating a formal membership structure and planning trails to build this summer. At an initial meeting on Jan. 4 the group also discussed finding grants to help fund construction of new trails and other mountain bike related infrastructure. “Working with the resort to get the proper permissions in place to start working on trails is our main priority over the next few

BOARD MEMBERS L TO R: SAM LOXTON, MIKE SLEZIAK, ERIK WYATT, CARMEN RUIZ, JASE PETERSEN, RYAN WITZANEY, SYDNEY JOHNSEN. NOT PICTURED ARE BOARD MEMBERS BRAD HARRISON AND JIM ALIX. Photo Supplied

months,” Petersen said. “We’re aiming to have everything ready for trail building season in spring, so we can get started on our trails master plan as soon as possible. Once the work starts we’ll be able to

involve the community more with things like trail building days and memberships, which we’re really looking forward to.”

New CPR device to revolutionize emergency response EMILY PERRINS WHEN THE SUN PEAKS MOUNTAIN RESCUE SOCIETY (SPMRS) WAS CREATED IN 2017, FOUNDER CHRIS MARK WAS INSPIRED BY THE GOAL OF PURCHASING A LARGE BUT IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY. Just over a year later the group has met that goal and Sun Peaks is now on the cutting edge of pre-hospital emergency medical care thanks to the purchase a device, known as a LifelineARM.Theportableautomated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machine provides continuous highquality chest compressions to people in cardiac arrest. Ultimately, SPMRS donated $2,000 toward the ARM and Sotheby’s Realty Canada, Sun Peaks provided another $2,000. However, it was $12,000 generously donated by Vancouver couple Leona Kolla and Al Schultz that made the acquisition of the device truly possible. Those who suffer cardiac arrest outside of hospital in B.C. have a 14 per cent survival rate. The hope is quick deployment of an automated CPR device will increase patient survival.

“Giving CPR to anyone beyond two minutes is really a difficult activity to do well, with the quality that’s needed to save somebody, and this device just doesn’t get tired,” explained Chris Metcalfe, CEO of MediQuest Technologies, a distributor of the ARM. The ARM also minimizes interruptions to CPR delivery, especially during prolonged extrication, or transport in a moving vehicle or toboggan, when chest compressions cannot be effectively or safely performed manually. Such advantages are particularly helpful in Sun Peaks, with its terrain and distance from the nearest hospital. On Jan. 4, Metcalfe travelled to Sun Peaks to deliver the ARM and instructed a group of the community’s first responders on how to use it. “Everyone was extremely pleased with the ease of the use of this machine and the benefits were immediately obvious,” Mark said of the training. The ARM is now housed in the Health Centre building available to both ski patrol and Sun Peaks Fire Rescue for cardiac arrest emergencies on-mountain and in the village.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

“It’s not a common occurrence,” reassured Aidan Kelly, chief marketing officer for Sun Peaks Resort LLP, on the incidence of cardiac arrests in the community. “But with thousands of guests here on any given day, it’s a numbers game that things will happen. “Being prepared is key, and us having one of the top patrol programs in the industry definitely helps when unfortunate incidents occur.” Metcalfe noted very few ski resorts have access to an automated CPR machine. Similardeviceshavebeenusedby emergency services in Europe since 2013, and increasingly in Australia, the UK and USA, but Metcalfe added “at this point in time, (the technology) is relatively new to Canada...There’s been minimal adoption in B.C., except in air ambulance operations.” “We are extremely lucky to have this device at our disposal, as many cities do not have access to this advanced technology,” Mark said. The ARM is a significant addition to the rapidly-expanding cache of healthcare resources available in Sun Peaks. If needed, the ARM will help deliver the best possible outcomes for patients in the remote community.

LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS TRAIN WITH THE NEW DEVICE. Photo SPMRS

LOCAL NEWS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Celebrating 25 years of helping injured skiers JEAN STRONG

FROM BRUISES TO CARDIAC ARREST AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, EVEN THE MOST CAREFUL SKIER ISN’T IMMUNE TO INJURY. SKI PATROLLERS HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE BUT AT SUN PEAKS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP HAS ELEVATED PATIENT CARE. Twenty five years ago after a serious accident on the mountain, then emergency nurse Marg Kosolofski came to an agreement with the resort to create and manage another team of volunteers to add to patrol services. The Emergency Medical Response Team (EMRT) was formed. Kosolofski, Maureen Kelly and Tony Plant worked together, travelling to other resorts with similar programs to learn what they

did and didn’t want in their program. One rule they set at the start and have stuck to is that all volunteers will be emergency room physicians, nurses or respiratory therapists. Kosolofski said it was important to have members with the most relevant experience possible. Over the years, Kosolofski said, they were able to improve patient care, create standing orders, work closely with Royal Inland Hospital (RIH), offer pain relief, add advanced protocols and training for patrollers and, most importantly, turn bad visits into positive experiences. “Comfort is important,” Kosolofski said. “We want them to be well taken care off from undressing and getting their ski boots off and keeping them warm... no patient needed to have

Jess and Andy Photography

discomfort anymore.” The program has expanded from 11 members to 57. Dr. Keith Hutchison has been involved from the start, volunteering to be on call while he skis at Sun Peaks on his days off. “It provides a good service to the community and visitors,” he said. “It’s developed into a very solid program with a bunch of very dedicated emergency physicians and nurses.” Hutchison said he likes having the opportunity to make a difference and lessen pain. He’s been on countless calls, from sedating patients to reducing dislocated shoulders or hips. Reflecting on her time in the program, Kosolofski fondly remembered relieving pain and saving lives. She added she was also proud of guidelines and manuals she assisted the resort in creating.

Current program coordinator Jillian McKinnon said it also helps emergency room workers destress in the mountains. “A lot of us ski together and respond to calls together. It’s an excellent way for us to bond, have fun and collaborate in a different setting.” On top of helping the volunteers, McKinnon added it’s invaluable to the resort. “Most guests at resorts are seen at patrol then transferred to hospital,” she said. “At Sun Peaks we are able to assess, treat, and act as a liaison between patrol and RIH. If our doctors are not on the hill we will still receive orders, we just call our doctors at the hospital and they’re happy to help. We can give reports to our RN’s so everyone is on the same page. It’s a pretty invaluable and unique

program.” An event will be held in March to celebrate the program’s anniversary.

CONNECT WITH US

@sunpeaksnews

SUNPEAKSWEDDINGS .COM VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

LOCAL NEWS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Mantles’ resident wine expert Ed Clarke pursues wine sommelier title NIKKI FREDRIKSON LIKE MANY RESIDENTS OF SUN PEAKS, ED CLARKE GOT HIS START IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING ON THE MOUNTAIN AS A SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR, EVENTUALLY COACHING THE FIRST NATIONS SNOWBOARD TEAM. HE THEN TOOK ON WORKING AT THE SUN PEAKS GRAND AND CONFERENCE CENTRE. SIX YEARS LATER HE’S WORKED HIS WAY UP TO LEAD SERVER AT MANTLES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE WHERE HE IS NOW WORKING TOWARDS BEING SUN PEAKS’ FIRST SNOWBOARD COACH AND WINE PRO. The hotel approached him with the opportunity to pursue further wine education after noticing his passion and commitment to the industry. Jumping at the opportunity, Clarke enrolled in the Wine and Spirits Education Trust level two course in Kelowna, B.C. where he passed with distinction. “The first course was three full days so it wasn’t super intensive but it was a lot of wine drinking in one day, I think we tried 18 wines every day…it was confusing for the palette a little bit,” he said. Rob O’Toole, outlet manager at the Sun Peaks Grand, was the one who approached him with the opportunity. He said Clark seemed like a good fit and with a passion for the product and was happy to invest personal time to study and travel for his course. “He was pretty excited, constantly sending me photos sitting at his dining room table studying,” said O’Toole. Learning mostly geography in the level two course, Clarke said he was really interested in topography. He explained that a narrow road between two vineyards can be the difference between a high quality of wine and a lesser quality. “I’m still starting out and learning, I’m sure after a while I’ll become a little bit more snobby about it but at this stage, I don’t think I have a right to, so I’ll just enjoy it all and take it all on board,” said Clarke. His training allowed him to take on more responsibility including pairing the Chef’s Table meals, working with

ED CLARKE IS THE LEAD SERVER AT MANTLES IN THE SUN PEAKS GRAND HOTEL. Photo SPIN

wine merchants and soon creating the new wine menu. “At the Sun Peaks Grand we have Chef’s Tables which goes on in the banquets kitchen so there’s this beautiful table and they do private functions five course plated meals. What my role is to do is to correctly pair the wines to each different course. I’ve done two already.” According to O’Toole, the investment the Sun Peaks Grand and Mantles made in Clarke’s training was a winwin, teaching Clarke valuable skills and increasing their customer service. “In the bigger scheme of things, it’s about staff retention too. You can go into lots of restaurants and serve and make good money, but is

the property investing in you and giving you an opportunity to grow your skill set? For me, that was a big part of it,” said O’Toole. Planning to attend the level three course in July, Clarke will join Sun Peaks residents Tarrah MacPherson and Daniel Liddy as a level three certified wine expert. At this stage, Clarke said he is unsure if he will go all the way and complete the diploma which would earn him the title of Sun Peaks’ only wine sommelier.

Looking for a business or service in Sun Peaks?

WESTSYDE YDE VICE SERVICE Auto Repairs Diesel Repairs Air Conditioning Repairs Gov. Certified Inspection Facility

Check out our online business directory at: local.sunpeaksnews.com

BILL & MIKE LINDSAY Ph: 250-579-5532 Fax: 250-579-5852 3475 Westsyde Rd., Kamloops, BC V2B 8C5

• groceries • produce

• Meat & Produce • Baked Goods • Oso Negro Coffee • Pharmacy/Personal Items

@sunpeaksnews

WE’RE OPEN DAILY For all your grocery needs, see you at the Bluebird Market

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

9 a.m. to 7p.m. Everyday Located on the ground floor of the Residences at Sun Peaks Grand

250.578.2414

COMMUNITY

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

COLUMNIST VIEWS

Creation of cabinet post for rural development a great step MEL ROTHENBURGER TNRD REPORT director.mrothenburger@tnrd.ca Mel Rothenburger is the TNRD Director for Electoral Area P, including Whitecroft and Heffley Creek. He was the mayor of Kamloops from 1999-2005 and a former newspaper editor.

IT WASN’T GREETED WITH A LOT FANFARE BUT THE APPOINTMENT OF A RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER TO THE FEDERAL CABINET IS A BIG DEAL. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan to the new portfolio as part of a minor cabinet shuffle. I like what she said about her appointment and what she expects her job to be: “The rural reality is very different than the urban reality.” For too long, federal and provincial programs have been based on assumptions that all communities are

more or less the same, and that there’s one Canadian lifestyle. In fact, rural life is entirely different than urban life, and Jordan’s appointment finally recognizes that. Here are a couple of examples that I’ve talked and written about them for a long time. Clean drinking water is taken for granted in cities. In the city people talk to each other about the weather. In the country, the major topic of conversation is water supply, as in “How’s your water?” Most country dwellers rely on their own sources, either from lakes and rivers or from wells. Others are fortunate to be served by community water systems. Either way, water quality is a big issue. Community water systems need filtration to clean up the water, and

COLUMNIST VIEWS RON BETTS RESIDENT SKI WRITER ron@sunpeaksnews.com

A native of Cape Breton Island, Ron Betts has called Sun Peaks his home mountain since 2008. Ron splits his winter between guiding heliskiers in the central Monashees and working with the Sun Peaks Ski School. He is a frequent contributor to Ski Canada Magazine.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, SKI RACERS CAN BE SEEN, IN ALL OF THEIR SPANDEXWEARING GLORY, RACING THROUGH COURSES OF RED AND BLUE GATES. HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED FOR A MINUTE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT TAKES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? To run a successful ski race, such as Sun Peaks’ recreational Friday Race Series for example, it takes a team of dedicated, trained volunteers to make this family-friendly event happen week after week. These course workers are on

the mountain at first light getting things set up, gates need to be put in the snow, fencing needs to go up, signs and banners hung to keep sponsors happy and loose snow needs to be removed for safety. Other volunteers are busy with registration and organizing all of the offsnow logistics that make for a successful event. But the one job that always seems to get elevated to mythical status is the timer. It’s their job to ensure that the race runs smoothly, that each racer’s time gets recorded accurately and that the integrity of the race is without reproach. Timing systems have evolved from hand timed races with stopwatches to electronic timing that requires a physical wire connection between the top and bottom of the

even a small filtration plant can cost millions. Small communities can’t afford that. A new federalprovincial grants program offers up to 100 per cent funding for water systems in small communities, and the TNRD’s first application under that program is for filtration for the Pritchard community water system. Hopefully Jordan will be able to extend such grant programs. Another obvious one is Internet and cellphone service, something residents in the Heffley Lake-Whitecroft area know all about. Jordan herself acknowledged the extent of the problem, saying she intends to put a lot of energy into it. Rural fire protection is another one. Many fire departments are hampered by lack of funding and are

in dire need of it to get training and equipment. They do remarkable work and have avoided many millions of dollars worth of property damage through their fast action in responding to wildfires. One of Jordan’s responsibilities will be infrastructure funding, which is arguably even more important to rural communities than urban areas. Another part of the answer is to expand the eligibility criteria for gas tax funding, and Jordan may be the one who can get that done with an eye specifically on rural needs. Since economic development is the focus of her portfolio, Jordan will need to look at fundamentals, such as the drain of rural residents into cities and the challenge of keeping young people on

our farms. That can’t be done without ensuring access to basic services like transportation and health care. As rural residents age, we inevitably start thinking about the day we’ll have to move to town in order to maintain the basics of everyday living. The more that can be done to attract doctors into rural Canada and provide them with the resources they need, the more viable rural living will be. That, in turn, addresses economic well-being. Rural residents don’t demand a lot from the system but they deserve reliable basics. Rural life is worth protecting, and the creation of a cabinet portfolio dedicated to rural Canada is a great step in recognition of that.

Racing into the future course. Sun Peaks has just become one of the first ski areas to embrace the latest technology, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip timing. While this tech has been around for a while, it has most often been used in situations where there are large numbers of participants starting in a short period of time, like cross country skiing races or running events. Using the system to time ski racing is less common but there are myriad advantages. So, how does it work? Well, with full disclosure that I’m not Bill Nye the Science Guy, here’s my best layperson’s explanation: RFID systems require the racer to wear a chip somewhere on their person (in our case it’s a Velcro strap attached to the leg). That chip passes a timing

loop at the start of the race. The loop is connected to a device called an activator that gatherings GPS information such as the exact time of day, location, etc. That information is stored on the racer’s chip and when they pass through a second loop at the bottom the time between those two events is recorded. The information is then sent to a reader that can calculate the time from the start to the finish. All of this happens through the wonder of science, or completely by witchcraft and wizardry, I still haven’t decided which. The end result is a race that is both easier to set up and a more user-friendly way for organizers and participants to see the race results. Racers can log into a website to see their times immediately. The data can also be tweaked to show the top finishers in

each category, fastest runs, or any other metrics that organizers wish. Sun Peaks’ director of skiing, Nancy Greene Raine, was on hand to see the debut of the new system at the Jan. 18 Friday Race Series. She offered words of encouragement to younger racers and showed great enthusiasm for a product that puts Sun Peaks at the head of the pack in terms of event timing. “This technology is going to allow Sun Peaks to remain at the forefront of ski racing and event hosting. Sun Peaks is a world-class resort that is proud to support a fantastic Canadian made product. It’s just one more way for us to continue to give both locals and guests the experience they deserve,” she said.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

Falling for each other in the mountains JEAN STRONG

BRIAN AND KATHY BECK ARE PROUD TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF A SUN PEAKS COUPLE THAT HAS STUCK TOGETHER. BRIAN WORKS AS A BARTENDER AT MANTLES RESTAURANT AND KATHY IN THE SUNDANCE LIQUOR STORE; EACH HAVE REGULAR CUSTOMERS WHO LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR SMILING FAMILIAR FACES THAT MAKE EVERYONE FEEL AT HOME. But their story started slowly. Brian moved from Kamloops in June 1999 to work at Bottoms Bar & Grill. While in Sun Peaks he met and worked with Kathy’s mother, fondly referred to by family and friends as Mama Jo, and they became close friends. “I would always hang out with Mama Jo, I’d be over for

dinner,” Brian said. In 2002 Kathy relocated from Vancouver Island to Sun Peaks to

live with her mum. The couple fell in love and began a life together. “Our relationship is fun because when I first got here I started working at Bottoms for a few years,” Brian said. “Her mum moved up and started working here and she became like my mum away from home. Then a couple years later she (Kathy) moved up and I kind of already had an in...I met my best friend’s daughter and we ended up getting married and having kids.” “He’s my best friend,” Kathy said. “He was always there...it just happened.” “Couples can meet in Sun Peaks and stay together,” Brian said. They quickly began their family and now have two sons, 16-year-old Cayden and 11-year-old Foxx. Six years after they got together they were planning a wedding when Mama Jo was diagnosed with cancer. The hospital told the

couple if they wanted her to see them wed they needed to act quickly.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

“We planned the wedding in eight days,” said Kathy. “For her birthday down on Louis Creek Road in the church.” The next year they had the wedding that was originally planned at Bottoms with one of their favourite bands, Redfish. “It was excellent. We did it again. We tell people ‘I guess we love each other, we got married twice,’” said Brian. With both kids in school and Kathy working full time again, the duo carefully plan their time together and enjoy their mountain life. Brian, known by guests and locals alike as B-Man, said he’s enjoyed the last six years in Mantles with guests who come for weeks at a time every year. Some have become like family, sharing dinner together and attending the couple’s second wedding. “People spend tens of thousands of dollars to come here; they’re already in a good mood. It’s easy to keep them in a good mood. It’s excellent,” he said. He’s also seen and appreciates the other side of the resort thanks to a total of eight years bartending Bottoms. “That was a fun job...I really enjoyed working there. The difference between working at Bottoms and the Grand is Bottoms is like a locals’ place so you’re hanging out with your friends all day long and another thing I liked was their mentality. Their work ethic was nobody goes down with the ship. We all walk out at the end of the day,” he said. “But working for the Grand is no locals really, it’s basically staff and

“It’s not just about the skiing,” said Brian. “It’s the peace and quiet the

tourists...we wouldn’t have a hill if we didn’t have tourists.” While they’ve worked at different businesses in the village they’ve watched it grow around them. Some of their favourite memories are the first Retro Rock Weekend, Brian beating his dad at golf for the first time ever and spending years with Mama Jo. “I think it’s nice being here as long as I have, walking into a room and peoples faces lighting up,” Brian said. “And you don’t know what you’ve done to deserve that.” Whether driving to work or on days off, both have appreciation for their surroundings. “You can see the stars clear as day,” Kathy said. “It’s beautiful up here. I just don’t think I could do it...living in town.”

moonlit nights, when the moon is full we can see to the end of our yard and beyond.” For them being a local doesn’t come from just living in the area. It’s about making bonds with people in the community and those who visit from around the world and appreciating where they live. “I guess I’m a local…” Brian said. “There’s a balance. I’m a local, I care about my community. I pick up garbage and when people are breaking things I talk to them and say ‘hey, you shouldn’t do that, that’s going to cost somebody.’ But on the other hand there’s also the ones that consider themselves local but don’t really have that sense of community and appreciation for this beautiful place were living in.” “I’m here for the people,” Kathy said. “It’s just a happy place, our little paradise.”

GET OUT THERE

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Taking the first steps to riding park Elleboard Ride Days Camp returns for third year NIKKI FREDRIKSON

THE TERRAIN PARK IS A PLACE OF PROGRESSION AND A REFUGE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO PUSH THEIR SKILLS AND RIDE WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS. IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST INTIMIDATING SPOTS TO STEP INTO ON THE MOUNTAIN, NESTLED JUST UNDER THE SUNDANCE CHAIRLIFT FOR ANYONE HEADING UP TO SEE WHAT SKILLS YOU’RE WORKING ON. Recognizing the intimidating nature of terrain parks for female snowboarders, Snowboard Canada and Sun Peaks Resort LLP have partnered to bring back the Sun Peaks Elleboard Ride Days Camp for the third year on Sunday, March 3. “Park is intimidating if you just look at it from outside,” said Maria Morgan, Elleboard Ride Days coach. “All we want to do is go out and have fun. If we can

get girls stoked on riding park even if it’s the smallest thing then great we did our job, you got a fun day out of it.” The camp focuses on having fun and progressing, whether you’re looking to learn new skills or improve ones you already have. Designed for female snowboarders of all skill levels, the hope is by the end of the day participants are more confident and enjoyed their time. “It’s just a day to hang out with girls and ride park. That doesn’t happen much, especially this year there are fewer girls than I’ve ever seen in the park,” said Morgan. Having been a participant in the camp for the past two years she said it’s a great day to come and get support and feel empowered by other women. “You can get more competitive when you’re riding with females versus when you ride with guys. A lot of the time people tend to be ‘oh I just can’t do it (because) it’s a different physique,’ versus when you ride with girls you get

PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2018 ELLEBOARD RIDE DAYS CAMP. Photo Sun Peaks Resort LLP

really competitive so if someone does something you got to step it up and do it as well.” The camp runs 8 a.m. to 3:30

TAKE YOUR TURNS TO NEW HEIGHTS

p.m. and is open to female snowboarders of all ages and ability levels. “Come hang out with us

because we actually really want to see girls out there riding,” said Morgan.

Sun Peaks Sports School

Choose from 1-day off-piste programs for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders.

Beyond the Groomers A focus on skill improvement in steeps, glades, moguls and powder. Taught by our top professional instructors. Available daily.

Introduction to Backcountry On-mountain camp focused on safety and awareness of mountain hazards; terrain assessment, tree wells, overnight survival, and more. Voted Best New Ski School Program in 2015, Ski Canada Magazine. Available Monday-Friday.

Guided Gil’s Backcountry Tour A private tour of Sun Peaks’ legendary backcountry terrain with a professional guide and instructor, you’ll learn the safest routes and best stashes while improving your technique. Available Monday-Friday.

Other Sports School Programs Park Posse Private Freestyle Freestyle Camp: Sundays Ladies Clinics: Mon-Sat Learn to Ski/Snowboard Masters Gate Training: Sundays

Fresh Tracks Private Lesson Cruise the Blues Performance Group Private Ski/Snowboard Lessons Sun Kids & Sun Tots Programs

Check online for details and pricing at SunPeaksResort.com/Winter-Programs or speak with a member of our Sports School team at 250.578.5505. VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

Own Every Run Own Every Sunset Now Selling, starting at $389,900 The first multi-family development at Sun Peaks to pair the beauty of high alpine views with easy access to all resort facilities.

One, Two and Three Bedroom Ski-In And Ski-Out Condos Set alongside the new Orient Chairlift Exceptional Views Own at ELEVATION and own access to every run from your door – skis on the entire time. No hiking or roads to cross to ski Morrisey, Sundance, Sunburst or Burfield. Own at ELEVATION and own a perfect view of the sun dancing between the mountains and descending down the valley – day after sun filled day.

This mountain community is unique and will offer true ski-in ski-out from your front door – giving you access to everything and all three mountains – skis on the entire time.

Imagine your après-ski in the covered hot tubs or an evening glass of wine by the fire pits – soaking in the unobstructed view of Mt. Morrisey as the sun sets down the valley.

250-578-7773 | elevationsunpeaks.com Offered Exclusively by Liz Forster, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Sun Peaks. sunpeaks@sothebysrealty.ca Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is Independently Owned and Operated.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

Elevation at Sun Peaks is a development of A&T Project Developments Inc. The developer reserves the right to modify or change plans, specifications, features and prices without notice. Materials may be substituted with equivalent or better at the developer’s sole discretion. All dimensions and sizes are approximate and are based on architectural measurements. This is not an offering for sale and such offer can only be made by Disclosure Statement E.&O.E.

EVENTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Three mountain events to watch NIKKI FREDRIKSON THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ARE FILLED WITH ANNUAL ONMOUNTAIN EVENTS AT THE RESORT, BUT WHAT MAKES EACH EVENT A GREAT TIME FOR COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS ALIKE? WHERE IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR VIEWING THE ACTION? EVENTS MANAGER FOR SUN PEAKS RESORT LLP (SPR), CARA KARPLUK GAVE SPIN HER TIPS ON CHECKING OUT THREE UPCOMING EVENTS. On Feb. 2 SPR will host the 23rd annual Telus Nancy Greene Alpine Classic held on Sun Catcher; this event is the only ski and snowboard cross race of the season. “We actually built the course for (it), and it’ll be

FRIDAY JANUARY 25 FRIDAY RACE SERIES

All ages and abilities are welcome at this rereational, fun for all event. Boarders and skiers can register 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the Village Day Lodge. 250 578 5474

SATURDAY JANUARY 26 SPHL & SPMRS NHL ALL STAR FUNDRASIER

The Sun Peaks Hockey League and Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society fundraiser returns for the second year. Watch the NHL All Star Game and support the charities with a raffle and 50/50. Telus will donate $2 for every food item sold.

MONDAY JANUARY 28 QUIZZY RASCAL TRIVIA NIGHT

Head to Masa’s Bar + Grill with a team of six people of any age, $2 per person. Cash prizes to be won, begins at 8 p.m. 250 571 7480

FRIDAY & SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1 & 2 TELUS NANCY GREENE ALPINE CLASSIC

open up to the public just before that event happens and then afterward for the rest of the season. So it is pretty special that way that we build the course for this event,” she explained. For viewing, Karpluk recommended skiing down to the top of the course and watching the competitors drop in. The following weekend, on Feb. 10, Oronge Boardshop will bring fun to the mountain with Party in the Park. This Slopestyle competition is open to competitors of all ages and is a fun atmosphere for both competitors and spectators. Organizer of the event Koach Thiessen stated it’s a good one for families to come

and boarder cross course. All ability levels are welcome, four members per team. The weekend is a fundraiser for the Sun Peaks Community School, Royal Inland Hospital and Sun Peaks Junior Ski Racing. melanie.smith@telus.net

MONDAYS FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, 25 QUIZZY RASCAL TRIVIA NIGHT

Head to Masa’s Bar + Grill with a team of six people of any age, $2 per person. Cash prizes to be won, begins at 8 p.m. 250 571 7480

FRIDAYS FEBRUARY 8, 15, 22 FRIDAY RACE SERIES

All ages and abilities are welcome at this rereational, fun for all event. Boarders and skiers can register 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the Village Day Lodge. 250 578 5474

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9 ROTARY SKI POKER RUN

Support the Sun Peaks Rotary Club and Sun Peaks Skate Park while you ski around the mountain collecting cards. $20 gets you a map and a hand of cards. Pick up your map between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

watch with awesome tunes, high fives and shredding. He added the event showcases grassroots young shredders with “mad passion.” “They all express themselves with their own style and stoke for the sport of shredding boards or skis in the mountains, ripping jumps and park features,” he said. For spectating, Thiessen recommended anywhere course side to get a close look at the skills the athletes showcase, while Karpluk suggests a more unique vantage point. “For spectating definitely taking the lift up Sundance and lapping over it you’re going to get a good view because it’s in the blue

park. It’s right down that lift line and right in the middle of that lift,” said Karpluk. Easily the most unique of the three events, the Bluebird Day Fund Banked Slalom will return March 9 to 10 and is sure to be one you don’t want to miss. “If you go anywhere elsewhere in B.C. or probably Western Canada I don’t know if there’s any other Banked Slalom that is both skiing and a snowboarding event,” said Karpluk. “They don’t usually put them together, for safety concerns, but banked slaloms are normally way more competitive. This is more of a friendly event where skiers and snowboarders are competing

EVENT LISTINGS

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9 LIVE MIVE MUSIC AT POWDER HOUNDS

Alex Thorne and Doug Andrews return to Sun Peaks for a night of live music at Powder Hounds. Covers and originals are bound to be crowd pleasers. 250 578 0014

SATURDAY SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10 PARTY IN THE PARK

A chance to show off your coolest tricks or watch talented local athletes. The slopestyle event takes place in the intermediate zone in the Rockstar Terrain Park. 250 578 5474

FRIDAY MARCH 1 FRIDAY RACE SERIES

together.” As a Bluebird Day Fund event, the event is a local favourite with people returning year after year to compete and watch the action along the Hully Gully. “Anywhere along the 5 Mile before it really cuts into the Hully Gully is probably the best way to see it because they build up some banked corners at the beginning of it. So you can see a lot of the portion of the course right from the 5 Mile,” said Karpluk. All three events are designed to be fun, lighthearted competitions making them great events to take in with the family.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY MARCH 1 TO 3 PEAK PRIDE

Sun Peaks’ biggest ever pride event comes to the vilage. From brunch to the club and everything in between. All are welcome.

PLANNING A COMMUNITY EVENT?

dustyn@rebelliousunicorns.com

SUNDAY MARCH 3 ELLEBOARD RIDE DAYS CAMP

Meet other female shredders at this day camp created to empower girls and help them improve their skills in the terrain park. 250 578 5388

ADD IT TO OUR EVENT LISTINGS AT SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM

All ages and abilities are welcome at this rereational, fun for all event. Boarders and skiers can register 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the Village Day Lodge. 250 578 5474

The 23rd annual event returns on the skier

Experience Winter at Sun Peaks Spa Couples Treatments

Group Bookings

Individual Appointments

Call 250 578 0068 or Book Online at sunpeaksspa.com

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

ARTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Lone Wolf secures Kamloops artist after 20 years JEAN STRONG

FOR YEARS LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER GEORGE TERWIEL HAS HAD HIS EYES ON THE ARTWORK OF RENOWNED KAMLOOPS ARTIST DAVID LANGEVIN. IT WAS THE LANDSCAPES THAT DREW HIS ATTENTION THE MOST. MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND TREES COMBINE IN REALISTIC BUT SOMEHOW WHIMSICAL PAINTINGS. In December Terwiel finally got the chance to hang Langevin’s work in Lone Wolf Gallery for the first time. “I’m just thrilled to pieces to have his work, even if it’s smaller,” Terwiel said. He added he especially loved Langevin’s tree portraits which remind him of trees he sees while spending time outdoors. When the opportunity came to purchase the store Terwiel jumped in head first. He had moved to Sun Peaks five years earlier with his family, wife Anne and children Elli and Justin, as a ski instructor. “I plunged in,” he said. “The business was already established but it was nothing like this. But the shelving was there.” In March 1998 Terwiel opened the doors to his gallery, selling artwork and souvenirs. With no formal business education Terwiel learned what he could from community courses, family and friends. A few years later he saw another opportunity to open a second location in the village.

“I commited everything again. I built that store from scratch, drywall and everything. I worked my tail off to get it done and got it set up and there was two rolling stores. And it was going well, we we’re starting to turn a little bit of a profit and the economy crashed.” In 2008 Terwiel took a job out of Sun Peaks to support the shops while Justin stayed to manage them. But despite the extra work the second location closed six months later. “Since then everything I learned in that store I’ve utilized here,” he said. Ten years later the business has recovered and this season is looking better than the last. Through the ups and downs of the shop Terwiel has earned his place in the community, and the community has supported him and his family. Elli competed in the 2014 Olympics with the help of local fundraising to send both her and her family to Sochi. Terwiel fondly remembered banners strung high across the village and the excitement throughout town. He still skis 135 days a year himself, teaching lessons and instructor courses when he’s not spending the summer mountain biking. His passion for the outdoors is reflected in the artwork he chooses for the shop. Langevin shares that passion. He spends hours hiking and taking hundreds of photos to be used as reference for his paintings Painting full time for more than 25 years, he moved from Montreal, Que., to Kamloops with a dream of living in the mountains and painting his surroundings. After taking a photo it can be more than a year before he chooses to paint a certain landscape.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

“More often than not I work on several paintings at a time and that works for me,” he said. “And because I paint in oils and acrylics I kind of flip between the two.” Some of the pieces are finished with a high shine resin, something Langevin said he rarely does but likes the look of. Some of those glossy paintings are available in Lone Wolf and other similar resort galleries. “I like the idea (of Sun Peaks) because it’s a really great destination and resort type of place so it’s a good fit for my art,” Langevin said. “And because it’s got its own little economy that’s sort of seperate from the rest of the world really, it’s not the same market as the Kamloops market because it has a whole category of people that go there, and lots of tourism and foreign currency. “Sun Peaks is a really cool spot and the village has become a really unique destination.”

TERWIEL HAS DREAMT OF SHOWCASING LANGEVIN’S WORK FOR YEARS. Photo SPIN

ARTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Pride in the mountains JEAN STRONG

DRAG QUEENS, BRUNCH, COCKTAILS AND SKIING WILL COLLIDE FROM MARCH 1 TO 3 DURING THE FIRST PEAK PRIDE FESTIVAL AT SUN PEAKS. The event, going into its third year at Big White, was created by Dustyn Baulkham, executive producer of Rebellious Unicorns. “It started with comments from the LGBT community (about a lack of pride events),” Baulkham said. “If you don’t overtly say you’re an ally everyone assumes you’re not.” With experience creating other events as Rebellious Unicorns and time spent with the Kelowna Pride Society, he has grown it to an annual weekend in Big White hosting more than 200 guests. “I’ve always loved events and bringing like minded people together...we spoke with past attendees and they wanted to go to Sun Peaks.” The weekend marks the first significant pride festivities in the community. Baulkham said he would like to grow the festival

to many other mountains in the future. On Friday night attendees will take part in what’s known as “Philanthropic Friday,” a cocktail mixer at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel and comedy night at Morrissey’s Public House. Both events are by donation to Kamloops Pride. Kamloops Pride’s president Sam Numsen said they are grateful to be the recipient. “Kamloops Pride is supportive of any event that encourages LGBTQ2S+ people to be their authentic selves—especially those that involve skis, slopes and Sun Peaks,” Numsen said. “It is thanks to donations and initiatives like this that allow us to do our work on behalf of LGBTQ2S+ folks in Kamloops. Marginalized people often struggle to find spaces to live truthfully, without fear of persecution or discrimination, and that’s why events like Peak Pride are important.” On Saturday the Sunburst Lodge will host “The Tops Lunch,” a late brunch from 1 to 2 p.m. before a pride parade departs at 2:30 p.m., making its way to Bottoms Bar & Grill for “The Bottoms Aprés.”

ALL AGES AND IDENTITIES ARE WELCOME AT PEAK PRIDE. Photo Karlee Friesen

That night the Sun Peaks Grand will host the “Taste of the Peaks” with five food stations paired with liquor tastings and live music before guests head to Masa’s Bar + Grill from 9 p.m. to late for music, dancing and drag queens. Hangovers will be nursed and goodbyes said the next day at a brunch at Mantles from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Baulkham said the goal is to show the resort is open to all people regardless of gender or sexual orientation and be a presence for all LGBTQ2S+. “Pride is really important, we’re standing with our brothers and sisters across the world who can be murdered or jailed just for who they love.” He added it’s also important to provide venues where

LGBTQ2S+ people can meet offline. “It’s still really important for us to create safe spaces for LGBT people to gather.” Whether you are a member of the community or an ally the event is open to all.

PLEASE HELP! Donate your used Skis, Boards, and Boots to help fund our program. Contact us and we will arrange pick up. Phone: 250.572.0616 Email: adaptivesportsatsunpeaks@ gmail.com

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

MOUNTAIN TOWN NEWS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Mountain Town News ALLEN BEST mountaintownnews.net allen.best@comcast.net

AS CANNABIS BECOMES MORE AVAILABLE, QUESTIONS REMAIN BANFF, Alberta — Mountain towns continue to smooth the rollout of stores selling cannabis to recreational customers. In Alberta, Banff has five applications for retail shops. In Colorado, the town of Fraser has adopted new regulations that allow extended business hours and locations. But is this increased access truly a good thing? Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter, has written a book called “Tell Your Children: The Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence.” In it he argues that cannabis poses more risk than has been commonly acknowledged. That there is correlation between mental illness and cannabis consumption is undisputed. Whether cannabis use causes mental illness is disputed by the

industry. The National Academy of Medicine, however, does see causality. “Cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses; the higher the use, the greater the risk.” This and other parts of Berenson’s book are dissected by Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker. He points out something cannabis users probably know very well. Recent developments in plant breeding and growing techniques have caused the typical concentration of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, to go from the low single digits to more than 20 per cent. It’s, he said, a difference like that between a swig of nearbeer to a tequila shot.

STUDENT VOWS LIFE OF ZERO WASTE FOR A YEAR WHISTLER, B.C. – A 17-year-old student in Whistler, Irie Smith has taken it upon herself to

attempt zero waste for an entire year. She began this odyssey on Oct. 1. She refuses to get goods that can’t be recycled or composted. What can’t be recycled or composted goes into a glass Mason jar. It includes such things as Band-Aids, receipts, and stickers from fruit. At first, she told Whistler’s Pique, she found it “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” But now, just a few months into the year-long commitment, she finds she can’t imagine returning to her former consumption habits.

A CATS-EAT-DOG WORLD IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK BANFF, Alberta — It was a cats-eat-dog world on the edge of Banff, the town in Banff National Park. Dan Rafla, a humanwildlife conflict specialist for the park, told the Rocky Mountain Outlook that two cougars had made quick work of a coyote carcass. He surmised that the cougars

had been drawn to elk in the area. As for the threat to people, he downplayed any risk. “The behavior is not alarming,” he said, while pointing out that attacks on humans are rare. In Colorado, cougars have been seen in a residential neighborhood of Glenwood Springs, which is about an hour down-valley from both Aspen and Vail. One video widely circulated on social media showed four of the cougars walking through a neighborhood on the edge of the pinyon-and-juniper forest that surrounds the town. A state game warden told the Glenwood Post he believed it was a mother and her three maturing cubs. Another mountain lion had been trapped and killed. Why wouldn’t it instead be transplanted? Dan Cacho, state game warden, said any place it would have been transplanted likely already has a mountain lion. “If there is a healthy lion in that area, then we are just

setting them up for failure,” Cacho explained. “We have to euthanize them for human health and safety.”

MAJOR INCREASE IN BUSINESS OUT OF JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT JACKSON, Wyo. – Air travel in and out of the Jackson Hole Airport rose 11 per cent compared the previous year, which itself was also a record. Some 391,000 passengers boarded commercial airlines at the airport, the only one in the United States to be located within a national park. It’s in Grand Teton National park, a few miles north of Jackson. Jim Elwood, the airport director, told the Jackson Hole News&Guide that the growth was based on a big winter for the ski area. While Colorado resorts suffered through marginal snow, it was blessed. But growth in the shoulder seasons was also substantial, especially among locals. Elwood expected shoulder-season growth to continue.

Peaks West Commercial Spaces for Lease Meranti Developments is now accepting submissions from businesses interested in leasing commercial space at Peaks West.

Units range from approx. 750 ft2 - 1250ft2 Occupancy August 2019 Please email darcy@meranti.ca if you are interested in being part of Sun Peaks’ newest commercial development.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

MONTH IN PHOTOS

BROCK HAWES AND NAYTE BROWN AT THE BC SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE PROVINCIAL SERIES IN BIG WHITE. Photo Supplied

VOLUNTEER SKI PATROLLER LAURA BALYX ENJOYS SUNSET FROM TOP OF THE WORLD IN JANUARY. Photo SPIN

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS TO EDITOR@SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM TO BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS

RYDER WHITE AND MORGAN FRANKLIN TESTING THEIR SILVER AND GOLD MEDALS AT A SLOPESTYLE EVENT AT APEX MOUNTAIN. Photo Supplied

ASHLEE COLLINS AND THERESA ST. LOUIS OF TOURISM SUN PEAKS ENJOY THE WINTER OKANAGAN WINE FESTIVAL. Photo SPIN

JOSS ADVOCAAT, MICHELLE PETRUSEVICH, DEAN SCHIAVON, COLIN CANNON AND MIKE JOHNSON PRESENT PAYSON COOPER WITH AN IPAD FROM FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. Photo SPIN

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 22

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE AT

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM/CLASSIFIED

SODOKU

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS ADS ARE PLACED DAILY

SOLVE THIS CROSSWORD

EDITED BY MARGIE E. BURKE EDITED BY MARGIE E. BURKE

CROSSWORD ANSWERS V16I13

ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF SPIN

FOR SALE Custom-built home on 20 acres 10 min. from Sun Peaks. Info at kirald1722@gmail.com.

SODOKU ANSWERS V16I13

WINTER Weather Forecast JANUARY 25 - FEB 1

Snow and rain showers, cold

Do you enjoy our puzzles?

FEB 1 - 16

Too easy? Too hard?

Showers, mild

LET US KNOW! FEB 16 - 22

Send your thoughts to:

Snow showers

editor@sunpeaksnews.com

or phone 250 578 0276

WANT TO ADVERTISE A CLASSIFIED AD? Submit online at sunpeaksnews.com/classified or call 250.578.0276

AAAAHHH....

That’s good. now gracefully twist your hips, find your center of gravity, spot your landing and land comfortably on your feet.

Reach one of Interiors BC’s most lucrative markets Call to arrange your promotion package today

250-578-0276 or visit

sunpeaksnews.com/ advertise red tree designs available at Alpine images photography 16

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

BUSINESS LISTINGS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

SERVICES

Your Fireplace Experts Professional Service & Repairs Fireplace Replacement Specialists 1200 Battle Street, Kamloops 250-372-3424 www.fireplacecentre.com

Pain / alignment concerns with hiking, running & skiing

250.314.1203 progressivestep.ca

Residential and Commercial Security (250) 374-2577 kamloopsalarm.com “PROTECTING SUN PEAKS FOR OVER 25 YEARS”

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

YOUR OPINIONS, COMMENTS OR COMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME Send your letters & opinions by mail to: Sun Peaks Independent News Box 1043 Sun Peaks, B.C. V0E 5N0 or by e-mail: editor@sunpeaksnews.com All correspondence must contain a last name & a contact number for verification—phone numbers won’t be published. Writers are encouraged to keep letters to 250 or fewer words. Letters submitted without the writer’s name won’t be published. Sun Peaks Independent News reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality & taste. Letters not published in Sun Peaks Independent News may be published online at www.sunpeaksnews.com VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

SPORTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Racin’ Jason sets sights on Daytona NIKKI FREDRIKSON

IN WHAT COULD BE CALLED THE BIGGEST LAP OF HIS RACING CAREER, SUN PEAKS RESIDENT RACIN’ JASON WHITE FOUND HIMSELF FIGHTING TO KEEP HIS DAYTONA DREAMS ALIVE. During a certification weekend Jan. 12 and 13, White was keeping his wheels straight as his car skidded across a bed of oil left on the track ahead of him. The malfunction by another car almost cost him certification to race in the ARCA Series on Feb. 9 in Daytona, FL. “There’s nothing much you can do,” he said. “You’re going so fast, you’re going 190 miles per hour. You can push on the brake pedal as hard as you want and it doesn’t do anything. You’re going so fast it feels like you’re not even slowing yourself down.” Fortunately able to keep his car in control, White continued his testing with Fast Track

Racing, continuing to hold his line for multiple laps in the top and middle groove of the track before moving to race the yellow line of a track, the fastest of them all. “They were very happy with my single car runs being under the 54 second barrier, so that was part of the factor of the certification as well,” he said. Now certified to race at the Daytona International Speedway, White said he feels confident heading into the Lucas Oil 200 and added he will arrive early to have two full days of practice before competing on the Speedway. “The hardest thing to do (at that track) is on the first lap you have to hold the throttle to the floor and you have to leave it there,” he explained. “You have to push as hard as you can on it. And it looks like when you’re coming up to the corner that you’re going to go right off the track but it actually holds, and it sticks and you pull about four g-forces in the seat but it actually does hold.” Should he have a successful first half of the Lucas Oil

WHITE WILL MAKE HIS DEBUT AT DAYTONA, FL RACING IN THE LUCAS OIL 200. Photo Reaume Brothers Racing

200, with no driver errors or accidents, he will be approved to race the NASCAR Truck series event the following weekend. “Once we get to the truck race then obviously that’s a big step up again back into the truck series and being in Daytona it’s pretty huge. We’re going to want to keep our nose clean and put

ourselves in a position to have the best day we possibly can and hope for a top 15 finish,” said White. Being methodical in his certification process, White and his team have been working since August towards earning the right to race at Daytona. “It’s a pretty big feat just to

even go down and do what I did in the test, nevermind to be able to go back and race.” White will be representing Zimmer Wheaton, YourGMCTruckstore.com and Powder Ventures Excavating in Daytona.

BDF seeks volunteers for annual event NIKKI FREDRIKSON

UNLIKE ANY OTHER BANKED SLALOM COMPETITION IN WESTERN CANADA, THE 8TH ANNUAL BLUEBIRD BANKED SLALOM, MARCH 9 AND 10, IS A TWO-DAY COMPETITION WITH SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS TAKING OVER THE HULLY GULLY COURSE. THIS LOCAL FAVOURITE ATTRACTS PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS FROM ALL OVER. BUT TO PUT ON SUCH AN ICONIC EVENT REQUIRES DEDICATION AND HARD WORK FROM VOLUNTEERS. THIS YEAR IS NO EXCEPTION, THE BLUEBIRD DAY FUND (BDF) IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO FILL A NUMBER OF POSITIONS. “It would be awesome to get 10 to 12 course marshals per Saturday and Sunday. We will need eight (volunteers for) banner crew, four people at the start and two to four at the bottom. Along with

course tear down on Sunday will need 12 to 15 people,” said Koach Thiessen coowner of Oronge Boardshop and event organizer. “Anything from an hour of digging to the sky is the limit,” said Thiessen. As a long time volunteer with the BDF, Thiessen said he continues volunteering because he wants to fuel the sports he depends on for support in his shop. “If you don’t nurture the sports and bring up young shredders and give back to people that support you, the circle of growth would end... I am very passionate about playing in the mountains and want to make everyone’s experience a great one.” Why should one get out and volunteer your time to the event? Theissen said because it’s an event that gets back to the roots of shredding with great camaraderie, sportsmanship and raises funds for the BDF,

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

A COMPETITOR CHARGES TOWARD HULLY GULLY AT LAST YEARS EVENT. File Photo

helping the local freestyle team and girls and boys mentorship programs.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Alecia at Sun Peaks Resort’s

Guest Services to be put on a volunteer list.

SPORTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Racers topping the podium NIKKI FREDRIKSON

“IT’S THE FIRST COMPETITION OF THE SEASON, WE’VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD IN TRAINING AND THEY BROUGHT IT TODAY,” SAID SUN PEAKS ALPINE CLUB U16 COACH BILL RUBLEE. The Sun Peaks Racers hosted the first TECK Open Series competition of the season Jan. 10 to 13 welcoming 15 clubs to Sun Peaks. Day one the athletes competed in Giant Slalom with SPAC topping the podium in women’s and men’s categories. Noa Hooton captured first place Jan. 10 with 2:00.91, she was followed by teammate Brynn Applegath who took third place with 2:01.86. In the men’s category, Benjamin Jacoby took first place at 1:59.07, teammates Rio Shatzko and Malcolm Smith both made top 15 coming in eighth and 12th respectively. Day two it was Applegath who topped the podium in the women’s at 2:00:62 with Hooton following closely behind in fifth. In men’s, two racers cracked the top 15 for the final day of Giant Slalom competition. Smith finished 14th with 2:04.21 while Shatzko finished fifth at 2:01.82. Shifting into the Slalom portion of the weekend the athletes continued to earn top 15 finishes, Hooton was just off

first place with a time of 1:45:79 to take second; Talyn Lorimer earned her first top 10 finish of the competition with 1:48.59. In the men’s category, Shatzko finished fourth with 1:37.01 followed by Jacoby in ninth and Niko Linder placing 15th with 1:40.47. On the final day of competition, it was Applegath and Lorimer who would finish in the top 15, Lorimer placing 13th and Applegath in fifth at 1:46.98. Jan. 19 to 20 was another successful weekend at home for the Sun Peaks Alpine Club (SPAC) who hosted the U14 TECK Zone Race. The racers topped the podium all weekend in the U12 men’s division and had top 10 finishes in each race in both U12 and U14 divisions. “It was really awesome, the kids worked super hard and put down some great runs there was some challenges, but they got it done in the end,” said SPAC U14 head coach Sam Fournier. Peyton Devlin had an extremely successful weekend placing in the top five each race and taking first place in race two on Saturday, with a winning time of 58.32. Teammates Maddie Lafontaine and Arabella Bugden maintained top 10 finishes throughout the weekend and were joined by Gabi Dinn who cracked the top 10 with a time of 1:06.32 on Sunday to take seventh.

JOSHUA JERSTAD (PICTURED CENTRE) PLACED ON THE PODIUM IN EACH RACE DURING THE U 14 TECK ZONE RACE. Photo Supplied

The U12 men were on fire that weekend taking first place each race. Douglas Hunter earned first place in race one on Saturday with a time of 50.40 and would again top the podium on Sunday, with a time of 1:02.25. Teammate Mason Poitras beat Hunter for top spot in race two on Saturday with a time 56.27. His speed continued into Sunday, with a time of 52.49 he stood at the top of the podium for the second time. The U14 athletes battled hard all weekend to put down multiple top 10 finishes. Coach Fournier said she was proud to see both Jaelynn Todd and Chloe Hurst in the top 10 adding both athletes had really good runs throughout the weekend.

Todd’s best finish was second place with a time of 1:00.35 in race one on Saturday. Hurst’s best finish was also race one with a time of 1:03.71 to finish seventh. Joshua Jerstad stayed consistent throughout the weekend taking third place in race one Saturday, third in race two and first place on Sunday. “He did super well he’s been working really hard in training, so it reflected this weekend. He had a bit of a mishap on the first morning but seemed to get it in the rest of the weekend. He still did super well it was really awesome to see,” said Fournier. In race two Cameron Currie was able to capture the silver medal with a time of 53.22. Teammate Fraser Jacoby

was another consistent finisher all weekend taking third place Sunday with a time of 1:42.57. Fournier noted Crispin Friskie as a standout performer this weekend. With consistent runs his best finish was a seventh place with a time of 57.52. “He’s been putting down some really solid runs. He was top 10 in a number of races, so it was really good to see him growing this season.” The U14 team will now focus on training in preparation for their next contest late February. The U16 athletes will take a break from training at Sun Peaks Resort and will travel to Apex Mountain Resort for Slalom, Giant Slalom and speed training before heading to Kimberley, B.C. Feb. 7 to 10.

Rivalries develop in local hockey league NIKKI FREDRIKSON CHEERS ECHOED THROUGH THE NIGHT AIR AS THE ICE QUEENS AND UGLY PUCKLINGS WRAPPED UP THEIR HOCKEY GAME ON JAN. 17. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SUN PEAKS HOCKEY LEAGUE (SPHL) SEASON, THE TWO NOVICE TEAMS HAVE SEEN VAST IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SKILLS, EARNING RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SPORTSMANSHIP FROM LEAGUE ORGANIZER MIKE BILLHEIMER. “About week three…we saw that some of the teams are really coming into their own. They’re starting to make passing plays, and they’re starting to pick up speed, and they’re getting more power in their shots,” he said. This season the Ice Queens are standouts for Billheimer. The team retained most of the same players from last year and have a lot of fun on the ice, making them an entertaining group to watch each week.

“They haven’t won a game yet, but I would say they’ve got the most sportsmanlike team. They have the most fun and they’re a really well-rounded group of locals.” Maintaining the top of the novice division are the Flying Dutchman. With four straight wins (as of Jan. 10 rankings) they’re this year’s team to beat for a spot in the league championship on Feb. 28. In the intermediate division, player ability is more diverse as the league dropped their advanced division due to lack of registrations. That loss has sparked a new rivalry in the league between the $#!+hawks and Mid Ice Crisis as it’s the first year the two teams have faced off. Tyler Flieger, member of the $#!+hawks, said his team is made up mostly by ski patrollers whereas the Mid Ice Crisis group are lift maintenance. “We work really close with them, so it’s always fun to tease each other at work about the upcoming games. It’s a rivalry, but I’d say it’s a

JARED FEATHERSTONE AND RUSS WALTON MET WITH THEIR ASSIGNED MENTOR, LEIGH BADGLEY. Photo Supplied

pretty fun rivalry,” said Flieger. The rivals sit neck and neck in the standings with Mid Ice Crisis in first and $#!+hawks closely

following in second. The SPHL holds four weekly games starting at 6 p.m. Thursday nights with a bake sale and hot

chocolate available by donation to the Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society.

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

SPORTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

More features planned for Party in the Park NIKKI FREDRIKSON

BRINGING THE FUN BACK TO THE TERRAIN PARK, THE ANNUAL PARTY IN THE PARK SLOPESTYLE COMPETITION RETURNS SUNDAY, FEB.10 WITH ADDITIONAL FEATURES TO TEST COMPETITORS. “Party in the Park this year will be probably (see) a couple extra features in it, maybe more jump features than rail feature,” said Koach Thiessen, coowner of Oronge Boardshop and event organizer. “We’re hoping to incorporate a few more jump features to make it more of a true slopestyle for the kids.” Entering its fourth year, the event aims to be a fun mid-level event for competitors of all ages with four divisions, Grom (12 and under), Junior (13 to 16), Women’s Open and Men’s Open.

“As far as the intensity and hardness of the features it will stay the same. It’s meant to be like a blue contest so that all the younger groms can use it as a stepping stone and improve that way. It won’t be held in the bottom of the park with the big black jumps,” said Thiessen. Typically the event is held at the bottom of the top section of the Rockstar Energy Terrain Park but this year Thiessen said they will try and work some rail features into the three pack at the top of the blue park. “Party in the Park is meant more for fun for the kids, which even the older guys can still ride it and still have fun in it,” he said. Registration for the event takes place in the Village Day Lodge on Feb. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with all registration fees being donated to the Bluebird Day Fund. PARTY IN THE PARK WELCOMES ATHLETES OF ALL AGES TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS. Photo SPIN

Air Nation adds big air competition NIKKI FREDRIKSON

THIS WAS IS THE FOURTH YEAR SUN PEAKS HOSTED THE FIRST STOP OF THE AIR NATION TOUR AND THIS YEAR ORGANIZERS BROUGHT A NEW CATEGORY TO THE EVENT, BIG AIR. HAVING BEEN INCLUDED AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT IN 2018 IN PYEONGCHANG, AIR NATION ORGANIZERS DECIDED TO ADD THE EVENT TO DAY TWO OF COMPETITION ACCORDING TO BC SNOWBOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CATHY ASTOFOOROFF. “You think Big Air you think Mark McMorris and these huge jumps. What it is, is the last jump within the park. They’ve actually been training on it through the slopestyle, it’s just one jump is judged for the Big Air portion of it,” she stated. Five days out from the

event 60 participants had registered for the competition however Astofooroff anticipated another 15 registrants. “This event that we’re talking about at Sun Peaks is a NorAm level event so it’s a higher level event and it’s a FIS level which is the international level of NorAm. They have to be 13 plus to have a FIS license,” said Astofooroff. This year’s event had competitors from across Canada, the USA, Australia and Jamaica register as competitors. “The purpose of a NorAm level event at the end of the day (is for) the top athletes get World Cup starts and get recognized at the higher level event. It’s a very important piece of their pathway to get to the next level.” For younger competitors, Astofooroff said, it’s a great opportunity for them to be judged against higher level

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

AIR NATION SUN PEAKS WAS JAN. 22 TO 24. Photo Canada Snowboard

athletes. “I would love to see it keep happening at the level it is. It services a very important part of the long term athlete development

at the NorAm level, it could possibly go to a higher level,” she said. “At this point we provincially only deal with NorAm’s and nationals, in the future

who knows?” The competition was held Jan. 22 to 24 before heading to Mont Tremblant Feb. 1 to 3.

SPORTS

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Brooke Lacey to represent Canada in Russia NIKKI FREDRIKSON

IN HER SIXTH SEASON OF SNOWBOARDING, BROOKE LACEY HAS ADVANCED FROM A RECREATIONAL BOARDER TO A VOLUNTEER WITH THE CANADIAN SKI PATROL AND NOW HAS SET HER SIGHTS ON COMPETING IN THE SLOPESTYLE CATEGORY AT THE 29TH WINTER UNIVERSIADE KRASNOYARSK 2019 IN SIBERIA, RUSSIA. Lacey, who had previously competedintheArcticWinterGames learned about the opportunity in an e-blast from Snowboarding Canada. The Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk competition is an event for university students and as a third-year business student at Thompson Rivers University Lacey met the criteria. “I was like ‘What, I’m in university, I’m not competitive material by any means, but I do really enjoy hitting the park and having fun and I really enjoy snowboarding…’ so I sent them an email back. They were like we’ll be in touch, we’ll let you know if there’s anyone higher level then you,” Lacey said. By late September she had received confirmation she would represent Team Canada at the event,

with a reaction of disbelief and excitement she called her parents to discuss if she should pursue the opportunity. “I just assumed they’d say ‘no it’s way too expensive, focus on your school’ and they were super stoked on it,” she said. “They were like ‘what this is is a once in a lifetime opportunity, you have to do this.’” As a student Lacey said her schedule has become a lot more intense than she’s used to, but she’s looking forward to the competition. “Now instead of a full-time five classes, I’m three classes which is the minimum for full-time this semester. With that I’ll be practising hopefully five to six days a week on the slopes and (dryland) training every day,” said Lacey. The competition will be the first time she’s travelled outside North America, traveling 33 hours for the March 2 to 13 event. ‘I’m the only person on the slopestyle section of snowboarding, but there is also alpine and boardercross. We’ll be going as a group and sticking together there, but for my section, I’ll be alone,” she said. Goalwise, Lacey plans to assess the calibre of her competitors before she sets a goal for where she hopes to end up in the standings.

BROOKE LACEY IS IN HER SIXTH SEASON OF SNOWBOARDING. Photo Supplied

“I’m nervous because compared to some other athletes going in they definitely will have a competitive advantage for how long they’ve been snowboarding for, or the resources they have offered to them,” she explained. Focusing on her own skills, she hopes to clean up some of her tricks and to become more comfortable and confident on rails. “Of course it’s my goal to have my 360s really clean and have a big ‘ole handful of tricks to pull out. So that’s my goal too and of course to go there and have fun. I want to make friends while I’m there and enjoy this.” Lacey’s competitive dream to compete in Siberia will cost her family roughly $10,000 to $12,000

with the entrance fee alone totaling $3,000. She has started a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of easing the financial burden of her travels. “I set up a GoFundMe because I do have friends and family that want to help me. Now that the community’s finding out if they want to, they can, I won’t say no.” Lacey will travel to a few Canadian competitions before representing Canada in March. To donate to her gofundme campaign visit: www.gofundme. com/brooke039s-slopestyle-touniversiade. BROOKE LACEY IS A THIRD YEAR BUSINESS STUDENT AT THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY. Photo Supplied

DISTRIBUTED EVERY 4TH FRIDAY Classifieds cut off date for next issue (Vol. 17 Issue 2)

Monday Feb 18 Regular display advertisements cut off date for next issue (Vol. 17 Issue 2)

Friday Feb 15 Online classifieds ads are placed daily at: SunPeaksNews.com

250.374.4030 VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

FILMS, EVENTS

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 22

#MYSUNPEAKS

FINALISTS

VOTING RUNS JAN. 28 TO FEB 10 AT WWW.SUNPEAKSAWARDS.COM *more than one name indicates a tie

FAVOURITE LOCAL VOLUNTEER

1. Jim Alix 2. Chris Mark 3. Mike Billheimer, Sonya Trevisi, Aut-Lin Foster, Abby Wilson

BEST PATIO FOR FULL SEND APRÉS

1. Morrisey’s Public House

BEST OFF MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY

1. Mountain Man Dog Sledding

FAVOURITE SKI/BOARD TUNER

1. Elliot Capper/Fall Line

BEST LIVE TUNES VENUE FAVOURITE LOCAL BUSINESS PERSON

2. Bottoms Bar & Grill 3. Cahilty Creek Kitchen + Taproom

2. Elevated Fishing Adventures 3. Northern Taekwon-do

2. Matt Zukowsky/McSporties 3. Dylan Stevens/Fall Line 1. Morrisey’s Public House 2. Masa’s Bar + Grill 3. Bottoms Bar & Grill

BEST PLACE TO SEND IT FOR THE ‘GRAM BEST FESTIVAL BEST WAY TO TREAT YOURSELF

2. Jason White/Powder Ventures 3. Izzy Hamptonstone/Brain Train Intl.

2. Rockstar Energy Terrain Park 3. Gil’s 1. Snowbombing 2. Retro Rock Weekend 3. Winter Okanagan Wine Festival 1. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 2. Baby Doh’s Mountain Fair 3. Sun Peaks Spa 1. Marty Celioska/Bottoms Bar & Grill

FAVOURITE BARTENDER MOST HANGOVER BUSTING CEASER

1. Gemma Harris/Alpine Images Photography

1. Top of the World

FAVOURITE BARISTA

2. Brian Nelson/Bottoms Bar & Grill 3. Heino Ruitenbeek/Morrisey’s Public House, Brian Beck/Mantles Restaurant 1. Voyageur Bistro 2. Bottoms Bar & Grill 3. Morrisey’s Public House 1. Konrad & Elizabeth Glowczynski/ Bolacco Café 2. Tom Craig/Tod Mountain Café 3. Emma Christy/5forty Café + Grill,

Geoff Lindsay/5forty Café + Grill, Rye Manganelli/Tod Mountain Café

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22

Serving Sun Peaks and area since 1995

ALPINE RESORT REALTY

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

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

NEW LISTING

2220 SUNBURST DRIVE | $889, 000 Fantastic location for skiers! This spectacular family home, just minutes to skiing, features 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and panoramic views to both Tod and Morrisey. Sunny southern exposure is great for warmth in the winter. Gather with friends for après ski in the family room, the kitchen, or in the formal living room; each room features a cozy fireplace. Bright selfcontained spacious 2 bedroom suite in the basement. This property is offered fully furnished with hot tub; GST paid.

#415 FIRESIDE LODGE | $334,500

#29 TIMBERLINE VILLAGE | $239,900

Immaculate, south facing, ground floor 1 bedroom condo with private garage, nestled next to a forested area and year round creek, and steps from the Village. Features 12 ft ceilings, open kitchen/dining area with living room, cozy river rock fireplace, heated tile floors, in suite laundry and a spacious bedroom with a private patio. Peaceful setting, beautiful mountain & valley views, and a great place for family and friends. Where mountain memories are made! Offered largely furnished with private hot tub; GST paid.

NEW LISTING

1379 BURFIELD DRIVE | $619,000

4151 SUNDANCE DRIVE | $1,279,000

#325/327 CAHILTY HOTEL & SUITES |

$199,000

BRAND NEW ski-in half duplex under construction with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, located in the family friendly neighbourhood of ‘Burfield’. Basement entry with an over height garage plus additional living area that can be developed. Timber posts and gable accents with front stone detail will accent this mountain home with timeless finishing. Open concept main floor living area with 9 foot ceiling, engineered hardwood flooring, and so much more! 2/5/10 New Home Warranty. GST applies.

Comfortable slopeside one bedroom lock-off offering unlimited owner’s use with experienced management in place to rent the property when not being used by the owner. Prime ski-in, ski-out location with views of the ski hill that sleeps up to a family of eight. Efficiency kitchen with new queen size Murphy bed, pullout sofa and full bath on one side that connects to the adjacent room with two double beds, with bar fridge and microwave, plus additional bathroom. GST applicable.

NEW LISTING

NEW PRICE!

NEW LISTING

Exceptional light and views from this quality built Sundance Estates home nothing was missed! From deluxe cabinetry and appliances, high end lighting and bathroom fixtures, to tasteful use of tile and hardwood, this home speaks quality. Massive great room with floor to ceiling rock fireplace, large partially covered decks provide for hot tub and great outdoor access. Tandem garage plus carport and large driveway provides ample parking and storage. Ski easement adjoins the property. Offered furnished with hot tub; GST paid.

#36 FOREST TRAILS | $378,900

Location is everything! Spotless one bdrm. 4th floor corner unit with fantastic views of mountain & Village. Prime ski access, close proximity to restaurants and shopping, this cozy home offers everything you need. Open floor plan, cozy fireplace, higher ceilings, covered deck overlooking the Village. Zoning allows for nightly rentals. Fully furnished; GST applicable.

SOLD Take advantage of the central location and easy ski-in, ski-out access from this ground floor studio suite in charming Timberline Village. Ready to enjoy this winter, this mountain retreat comes fully outfitted with custom made queen sized Murphy bed, cozy rock faced gas fireplace, full kitchen with modified island creating extra space for entertaining, 3 piece bath, heated tile floors in kitchen & bathroom, and private patio backing onto tranquil green belt. Offered fully furnished; GST not applicable.

NEW LISTING

#101/103 CAHILTY HOTEL & SUITES | $189,900 Beautiful and practical at the same time! Ground level one bedroom lock-off suite with 10 foot ceiling and custom built-in cabinetry is fully furnished and offers a flexible floor plan for personal use and rental. Efficiency kitchen with queen size Murphy bed, pullout sofa and full bath on one side that connects to the adjacent room with two double beds and an additional bathroom. Unrestricted owner use with positive rental income. Make it your family getaway for years to come! GST applies.

#423 FIRESIDE LODGE | $229,000 Bright & cozy top floor studio with prime ski-in, ski-out access through the inner village with restaurants and shopping right at your doorstep. Everything you need, complete with full kitchen overlooking the dining area; living area with river rock fireplace. Features shared laundry, inviting lobby with lounge and fireplace, elevator, secure underground parking, outdoor hot tub and spacious storage room for skis and bikes. Unlimited owner use for convenient year round or recreational living. Offered furnished with GST paid.

NEW LISTING

#214 HEARTHSTONE LODGE | $48,900 Ski-in / ski-out location in the heart of Sun Peaks Village. Spacious deluxe studio suite offered fully furnished. Comfortably sleeps 4 and features full kitchen and cozy fireplace. This condo hotel property features 180 days of owners personal use and features 2 hot tubs, fitness facility and underground parking. Skiing and golf are mere steps from your front door. Offered fully furnished; GST applicable.

#10 THE CABINS | $649,000 Charming 2 storey cedar cabin features 4 bedrooms plus loft, and partially finished basement with separate family room. Spacious comfort, open kitchen with centre island and heated tile area, living room with vaulted ceiling and rock-faced gas fireplace. Main floor has three bedrooms, exclusive top floor master suite with ensuite and walk-in closet. Level parking and entrance to the main floor, with a covered front and side porch. Designed for ease of living with a welcoming and flexible space for the whole family. Fully furnished; GST not applicable. Bareland strata fee $175/month.

2581 MOUNTAINVIEW DRIVE | $262,500 Residential building lot conveniently located at the base of Mt. Morrisey with great ski-in access and stunning mountain views. Quiet cul-de-sac location backing onto forested ski terrain. With no time limit to build out you can relax & take time to plan your perfect mountain getaway. Design guidelines in place and zoning allows fora two bedroom legal revenue suite. Underground services installed to the lot line. GST is not applicable.

SUNPEAKSREALTY.COM 24

VOL 17 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 25 — FEBRUARY 22