Spin Volume 13 Issue 10 by Sun Peaks Independent News

SUN PEAKS LENDING DILEMMA PAGE 5

“CROSSROADS” TRANQUILLE TUNNEL TOURS OPEN PAGE 10

OCTOBER 2—5

Rainy periods, seasonable

OCTOBER 6—10 Sunny, cool

OCTOBER 11—19

Rainy periods, mild

OCTOBER 20—28

Sunny, cool

OCTOBER 29—30

Showers, mild

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 10

@sunpeaksnews

OCTOBER 2—OCTOBER 30

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FEDERAL ISSUES AT HOME

Community leaders identify key points by BRANDI SCHIER

hen Sun Peaks heads to the polls this fall, residents will have many issues to weigh. In addition personal political principals, there are several federal topics which have an impact on the community where they live, work and play. For Darcy Alexander, general manager of Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR), it’s all about the big picture. “It’s no surprise which side of the fence I reside on. I believe that a strong economy is the number one issue. Without a strong economy you can’t pay for all the wonderful things in life that we enjoy,” he said. Alexander isn’t alone. According the CBC’s online Vote Compass tool, 36 per cent of respondents said the

“For the resort specifically, there are all kinds of policy issues going forward, from taxation to GST on foreign travellers, those kind of things. There are a myriad of other policy issues.”

economy was the single most important issue in this election campaign, followed by the environment at just over 11 per cent. Drilling further down, more speciﬁc themes emerged from those interviewed, centering on federal funding, the tourism labour shortage and tourism policies. “For the resort speciﬁcally, there are all kinds of policy issues going forward, from taxation to GST on foreign travellers, those kind of things. There are a myriad of other policy issues,”

Alexander said. From a municipal point of view, Al Raine, Mayor of Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, cited funding for infrastructure as a top federal election issue, which is no surprise for a growing community. With several big ticket projects on the local government’s wish list, such as a health centre and the Sun Peaks Centre, continued federal funding is a top priority. “We are hopeful they will continue to put funding into infrastructure programs,” he said. “The Conservatives committed a whole bunch of money before the election was called and it seems like the Liberals are saying they’re going to put even more money in.” Also critical to the resort’s success is employment and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Recent changes to the federal program, including increased application fees, have hit the tourism sector hard. “It still hasn’t been resolved to anyone’s satisfaction,” said Raine, adding he has spoken with

community representatives from around B.C. “That’s still a major issue but I don’t see it on any of the parties’ agendas,” said Raine. The labour crunch is expected to worsen in coming years. According to go2hr, B.C.’s tourism industry human resources association, the Thompson Okanagan region has one of the most severe levels of seasonality in the province. By 2020, they project the region will have 12,334 job openings with a labour shortage of 1,626. The food and beverage sector is forecasted to be hit the hardest. “The shortage of workers in any resort town environment is closing businesses, it’s reducing hours, its impeding the mountain resort’s ability to compete and offer a world class service,” said Christopher Nicolson, president of Tourism Sun Peaks. “We would ask the federal government to look at seasonal mountain resort business separately from things like urban-based call centres. “The government has provided exceptions and exemptions to the seasonal agriculture industry. So the federal government has looked at the agriculture industry as different and having speciﬁc needs. Our ask to the federal government would be they look at our industry in the same way as we

“That’s still a major issue but I don’t see it on any of the parties’ agendas.” have similar unique needs and challenges.” Nicolson pointed out that while tourism strategy conducted by Destination Canada, formally the Canadian Tourism Commission, isn’t a federal government issue, the funding that drives the strategy certainly is. “Over the past several years we’ve seen signiﬁcant cuts to Destination Canada and what’s happened more recently over the past half year are funding commitments to reinvest back into tourism,” he said. The Conservative government earmarked $30 million over three years to Destination Canada in its last budget, speciﬁcally to increase US visitors. In August, NDP leader Tom McClair promised an additional $30 million over three years, however tourism funding has not been a popular topic during the campaign so far. “The combination of increased marketing into the US at a time when the US dollar is favourable to travel in Canada is a very positive situation for Sun Peaks,” said Nicolson.

Vol 13 Issue 9 October 02—October 31

sunpeaksnews.com

How to get your vote on by BRANDI SCHIER

here’s never been a better time to have your say in who will be running the country for the foreseeable future. With a few easy steps and a bit of planning, even the most transient of Sun Peaks’ residents can cast their ballots on or before October 19. “If you’re a Canadian citizen and you’re 18 years of age or over on the day you’re voting, there should be ways to get you to vote. It’s just a question of being prepared,” said Dorothy Sitek, B.C. media contact for Elections Canada. “The important thing is to plan ahead. Register ahead of time if you can, look at what your ID options are, look through your files to see what correspondence will work to prove an address or see if you can get a letter confirmation of residence.” Voters can register online before 6 p.m. on October 13 on www.

elections.ca. This is the best way to ensure a smooth experience at the ballot box. Unlike a provincial election, in a federal election voters are assigned a polling station which makes registration a must. If your address is a PO Box, as many Sun Peaks residents must use, you can register and vote using that ID and address. It just takes a few more clicks on the website. Voters can also register in person at the local Elections Canada office in Kamloops with proof of name and address. To vote, bring your voting card, plus the required ID and documents to prove your identity and address to the assigned polling station. If your voter registration card hasn’t arrived via mail in time, look up your assigned polling station online using the postal code. If registering ahead of time isn’t an option, voters can register on election day at their region’s polling station with the accepted ID — it will simply take longer to be

processed. Option one is to show a government ID card with photo, name and current address. Another option is to show two pieces of ID and at least one must have your current address. The second piece includes documents such as a cell phone bill or bank statement, which can be shown from your mobile device. A complete list of accepted ID can be found online. Finally, if you have no way to prove your current address there is one more option to vote on election day. Show up at the correct polling station with two pieces of ID and a friend who lives in your area and who has the correct ID. This person can then attest to your home address and you take an oath to vote. New this year, Elections Canada is running a pilot project to help youth and students or anyone else who is temporality away from their home riding. They will be opening an office at the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society from Monday, October 5 to Thursday, Octo-

NEWS

brief

ber 8. Here you can register, vote in advance and get information. “Basically, it’s acting a temporary returning station,” said Sitek. “It’s voting by special ballot so people need to know what riding they’re in and who they’re voting for as they don’t get a list. They must write it in by hand.” If you’re busy on election day, you can vote in advance from Friday, October 9 to Monday, October 12 at the polling station. Another option is to vote by mail which may work for those who travel a lot. You need to apply online or in person by Tuesday, October 13 to cast your ballot by mail. Sitek recommends getting in touch with the local returning office for anyone running into issues or having trouble choosing the best way to vote. Nancy Plett in Kamloops can be reached at 1-866-545-0619 at her office located at 1201 Summit Drive West. Sun Peaks polling station will be located in the Sun Peaks Grand on October 19th.

Bear activity in village PHOTO: RYAN KIM

BEAR AWARE: Black bear takes a stroll in the village last month.

by JEAN STRONG

everal photos and sightings of black bears in the heart of Sun Peaks’ village last month, many posted on social media, had some residents worried bear activity

sunpeaksnews.com

in the area was on the rise. While one bear was euthanized, Conservation Services said the amount of bear activity in the area was normal for this time of year. “This was just a case of an individual bear doing something that people haven’t seen before,” said acting sergeant for the Thompson Fraser Zone of the Conservation Officer Service, Kevin van Damme. “As of the third week in August, complaints were at an alltime low with almost no conflicts at all.” The bear in question had to be euthanized after it became too comfortable in close proximity to humans in the village area. “We would hope the public would support our professional opinion. When we have to do that, we don’t want to do it. We do it to keep people safe,” said van Damme. A release from the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality on September 9 asked for berries be removed from trees in an attempt to discourage bears from becoming too comfortable around humans. “A fed bear is a dead bear”, the release stated, adding that conservation officers would be in the area issuing orders to remove berries. Van Damme explained trees like Mountain Ash, planted and cared for by residents, are tempting for bears who are simply seeking out the highest calorie foods they can find before they hibernate for the winter. He went on to say that black bears are unlikely to view a human as a food source. “The close proximity of a bear with a lot of people can cause some sort of minor defensive contact where someone gets knocked over or gets swatted,” he said, “But the intent is to get away from the person and escape and protect itself.” Van Damme said bears are rarely relocat-

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

ed, especially during the fall, as the animal’s efforts to return to its home territory will either be successful, making the relocation useless, or become fatal if they travel too far and starve. Van Damme said the best response to bears entering the village is prevention. Removing berries, fruit, or trees that may tempt bears near your home and securing your garbage can discourage a bear from coming close. But if you do encounter one he recommends speaking in a firm voice instead of yelling, letting it know you’re there, and gathering small children while you move into a safer place. People walking in and around the village may also choose to carry bear spray or walking sticks in case of a negative interaction.

• groceries

• produce

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

WE’RE OPEN DAILY For all your Grocery Needs See you at the Bluebird Market Located on the Ground Floor of the Residences at Sun Peaks Grand Phone: 250-578-2414

Local businesses up for awards Three Sun Peaks-based businesses have been announced as finalists in the annual Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Business Awards taking place on October 24. Paddle Surfit, owned and operated by Heffley Lake resident Bodie Shandro, is up for the Tourism Award, sponsored by TRU Faculty of Adventure, Arts & Tourism and Tourism Sun Peaks. Sun Peaks Resort LLP is also a finalist for this award. Brain Train International, owned and operated by Sun Peaks’ Isabelle Hamptonstone, is a finalist for KGHM International – Ajax Project Home Based Business of the Year Award. Finalists will be interviewed by a panel to determine the winners. “Congratulations to all of the award nominees and now to the finalists. To be listed as a finalist is recognition of a business’ success and the hard work it takes to get there. We are looking forward to our gala event which will reveal the winners in each of the 17 award categories,” said Steve Earl, president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Tickets to the Business Awards Excellence Gala are available for $135 or $115 for Chamber members at kamloopschamber. ca or by calling 250-372-7722. PHOTO: SPIN

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: Sun Peaks residents have a new convenient location to donate household goods.

New donation bin

Visitors to the Transfer Centre will notice a new donation bin. Installed on September 17 by the Thompson Nicola Regional District, all proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters Kamloops. People can donate used clothing, bedding, curtains, shoes, books and small household items. According Wilf Bennet, supervisor at the transfer station, some items were donated immediately following the box’s arrival and so far most residents were pleased to have a convenient drop-off location for items, as opposed to travelling to Kamloops. Bennet said he sees many useable items thrown out every year, especially by seasonal workers leaving Sun Peaks, and hopes the new donation method will help to curb the waste.

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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 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

opinion PAGE “Freak” electoral lessons in Aspen SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS INC. PO Box 1043 Sun Peaks BC V0E 5N0

BRANDI SCHIER PUBLISHER’S NOTE brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

Phone: 250•578•0276 For comments, questions, concerns email: editor@sunpeaksnews.com Email your classifieds or ads to: editor@sunpeaksnews.com

www.sunpeaksnews.com @sunpeaksnews /sunpeaksnews sunpeaksnews @sunpeaksnews

#sunpeaksnews

OUR TEAM EDITOR & PUBLISHER Brandi Schier

brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

GRAPHIC ARTIST Jen Schier

jen@sunpeaksnews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Marty Hastings Julia Thrift Jean Strong

ost days, we live in a pretty idyllic environment. We’re fortunate to reside in a peaceful town, surrounded by a nature and ﬁlled with individuals who have chosen a dedicated mountain lifestyle. Serious problems seem few and far between. Besides the weather forecast, it can be hard to care what’s happening on the news. But what happens in Ottawa on October 19 will reverberate across the country and into our community, whether we acknowledge it or not. Policies decided in those stuffy Parliament halls will directly impact the sustainability of our mountain town. I’m not going to advocate for any candidate, party or platform, but I will argue we should all exercise our right to vote. It may seem futile, and extremely confusing, but until the vast majority of Canadians are

MEL ROTHENBURGER TNRD REPORT director.mrothenburger@tnrd.ca

ON THE

COVER

Graphic Art by Jen Schier

ran for sheriff in a heated, radical and even dangerous race. While this extreme situation is generally looked back on as a shake-up to the establishment, the underlying point (at least to me) is there is great political power in the hands of those who have chosen to disengage from the system. Aspen was a city with a seemingly solid conservative base and smaller Democratic opposition, but the real power laid with those who were undecided, marginalized and overall, apathetic. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) for Aspen, Thompson lost by a couple of hundred of votes. But despite the outcome, it’s still a stark example of the power of the people. In this issue we’ve done our best to give you some useful voter information, Without getting too bogged down in electoral reform, strategic voting and candidate scandal, we hope you choose to exercise your fundamental, Charter-protected, democratic right to vote.

Enviro lobbying at UBCM convention

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.

voting, we aren’t actually being governed by those chosen by our country. In the 2011 federal election, voter turnout was just over 61 per cent. That means almost of 40 per cent of us decided voting wasn’t worth our time. But there’s a lot of power lying in that 40 per cent. Aspen, another mountain town, helped shine a light on why we should care. In 1969, a controversial mayoral candidate galvanized “freak power in the Rockies” with the help of journalist, Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson’s resulting essay, The Battle of Aspen, is entertaining to say the least. He hit the streets and the bars, registering to vote every hippie, biker, and degenerate he could ﬁnd. Losing by only six votes, Thompson was motivated to make good on his promise to run for sheriff the following year. In more organized campaign, whose ‘freak power” platform contained some ludicrous ideas as well as drug reform, Hunter

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.

egional districts are a very close-to-home form of government but they’re also part of a collective local voice on many issues. During the current federal election, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been lobbying hard for infrastructure and other needs for communities and extracting promises from political parties that these will be addressed. The Union of B.C. Municipalities also lobbies senior governments. Sometimes, the tables are turned, with the UBCM being the one that is lobbied. That was certainly the case at this year’s UBCM convention in Vancouver. Member municipalities and regional districts — often at the behest of organizations whose views they support — submit resolutions to the convention for debate, usually aimed at asking the provincial government to take action.

This year, external lobby groups were much in evidence, trying to persuade delegates to vote for certain resolutions. Co-incidentally, many of these issues were closely related to the concerns of rural areas, especially on environmental matters. Sometimes the lobbying is done before the convention, sometimes during the convention, and sometimes both. One of the most persistent lobby efforts was made on behalf of a resolution presented by Richmond calling for the provincial government to declare an environmental bill of rights. For several weeks prior to the convention, delegates received email letters on a daily basis urging them to vote for it. While these emails came from many different people, they were all identical. Quite frankly, it quickly became an annoyance as my inbox was cluttered with this repetitious tactic. I voted for the resolution in spite of the lobbying effort, not because of. Many others didn’t, for reasons including doubts that it wouldn’t work, fears that it would harm rural economies, and suspicions

about the motives of “cappuccino-sucking condo-dwellers” from the city. Another intense lobby effort was launched months ago by the Our Horizon not-for-proﬁt environmental group. A few weeks ago, the group asked the Thompson Nicola Regional Distrct board to support a UBCM resolution proposing climate change warning labels on gas pump nozzles. I was in a distinct minority on our board in supporting the idea, but when the resolution, sponsored by Colwood, came up at the convention, it passed in a close vote. Clearly, the lobbying raised awareness among delegates so that when it came to the convention ﬂoor, they understood it. There were many other examples of lobby efforts on behalf of rural environmental issues — such as the Site C dam in the Peace and biosolids near Merritt — and they all played a legitimate role in the democratic system. The biosolids resolution, by the way, was jointly proposed by Merritt and the TNRD. It passed, and now the UBCM will ask the province to look at changes to the biosolids review process.

LETTER TO THE

editor

Dear Editor: I came to Sun Peaks with two friends for a weekend of golf in July. We partied hardy on Friday night and I woke up at 7 a.m. slurring and couldn’t walk. My friends phoned 911 and within a minute two paramedics from Australia were in our room. Shortly after, six first responders arrived from the local fire department. Wow — what service! An ambulance came and within an hour I was in Kamloops Hospital. For two days I missed my tee time. (After many tests I found out I was dehydrated. Why? I only drank two bottles of red wine and smoked two joints on Friday night.) Oh well! I made it back to Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge in September to thank everyone. I bought a $10 bouquet of flowers for a very nice hotel lady named Susan who looked after Barb, my wife. It looked like Barb was in worse shape than me — thought she was going to lose her great man of 55 years. If you are going to have a stroke come to Nancy’s Lodge — I was glad I did! I’m feeling great two months later. Maybe only drink one bottle of wine. Thank you to all, especially Elizabeth the young paramedic from Australia who gave me mouth-to-mouth CPR. From Barb and Dick, Hope, BC. P.S. Get ready, I’m coming back to Sun Peaks for New Years. I will probably pretend to have a heart attack. I sure liked that CPR treatment.

FROM

sunpeaksnews.com

Re: B.C. Ambulance putting rules above common sense There is so much more to this story. There is a lack of ambulances province-wide and properly paid “on call” ambulance medic staff. Most of rural BC is staffed by “on call” paramedics and EMR’s. A $2/hour “stand by stipend” is what part-time “on call” medics receive until they get a call during their 12 hour shift (an average shift). If, and when, these rural medics get a call, they get paid for four hours at their regular rate of pay. How does one live on that wage? Many do not! The system is broken in my opinion. - Cliff Bergum

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 Indpendent News reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality & taste. Letters not published in Sun Peaks Indpendent News may be published online at www.sunpeaksnews.com 4

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Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

Healthy real estate market facing challenge problem around the beginning of this year. “In general, mortgage rules have tightened up. The lenders want more of down “It’s extremely busy right now,” said Liz payment and other regulations have Forster, managing broker at Sotheby’s Real changed,” said Forster. “I think now they Estate in Sun Peaks. “In fact, we’ve just are going through other areas with a fine had the busiest day we’ve ever had.” tooth comb to find out where the lendIt’s been a long road. But there’s opti- ers were vulnerable during the downturn mism regarding the real estate market in years in order to make sure that doesn’t Sun Peaks. happen again.” “Looking at the different types of properAnd one of those areas is ties in Sun Peaks we can identify without a recreational properties. doubt that the market is turning,” she said. Sun Peaks’ properties zoned as Tourist According to research by her company, Accommodation and those with a rental the most dramatic turnaround had oc- covenant on the title are the most likely to curred in large, end-unit townhomes, which be declined. showed a 26 per cent increase in sale price Despite that around 50 percent of propsince the bottom of the market in the spring erties in Sun Peaks have a rental covenant, of 2013. it is not usually enforced. While some other property types haven’t While properties residentially zoned are yet turned around, such as single family generally more likely to be approved there homes or smaller condos, generally the have also been instances where these market has improved and the numbers properties were also denied. back it up. From January to September In an email from Dominion Lending inthere was over a 50 per cent increase in cluded in the letter, it was stated that even overall sales over last year. if the property was zoned as residential, But at the Sept. 7 municipal meeting, Sun some lenders were denying loans if they Peaks’ council was officially made aware of found the property listed online as available a problem many were already familiar with for short-term rental. — financial institutions are increasingly de“…If loans are not being made on propnying lending for Sun Peaks properties. erties with or without the rental zoning, we Tod Kelleran, chairperson of the Non-Res- feel this will make future sales difficult and ident Advisory Committee, submitted a let- values indeed will plummet. As a result this ter to council outlining several recent expe- could certainly hinder the growth and viabilriences of those trying to secure financing ity of the resort as a whole,” stated Keller in Sun Peaks. in the letter. “When we were purchasing at Forest Implications of this new, unofficial policy Trails, we spoke directly to Kamloops HSBC have been predicted to limit future interest who indicated their bank did not wish for in investing and also make it more difficult any more exposure on property loans asso- for the community to grow. ciated with Sun Peaks, no matter how much When a sale is not completed due to equity we were prepared to put into the these problems both the municipality and property,” stated the letter. “We also tried a Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) are notified. mortgage broker, and their response back “We hope to invite some of the lenders from other banks was the same and that here to look at the resort, particularity the only possibility was a non-banking insti- some of the decision makers, and help tutional lender but that was them to understand that Sun Peaks is a not guaranteed.” different situation than many of the ‘recForster said Sotheby’s began noticing the reational’ properties in the province.” said Darcy Alexander, general manager for “We are, in fact, a municipality, SUN PEAKS SOLD LISTINGS SPR. with a strong, new infrastructure. We st rd Jan 1 —Sept.23 by BRANDI SCHIER

NEW TYPES OF BUYERS Snowbirds

“We are not alone. Sun Peaks is not being singled out for special treatment. Just the contrary — we are being tarred with a very broad brush.”

aren’t an unorganized territory, or remote, or without fire protection and a bunch of those issues.” Alexander also said he understood the lending rational had been very inconsistent, leading him to believe there is a lack of understanding. “We intend to work with the municipality and the other businesses in town to improve communication with lending institu-

tions and go from there,” he said. Alexander said he had been hearing similar stories from within the Interior. “We are not alone. Sun Peaks is not being singled out for special treatment. Just the contrary — we are being tarred with a very broad brush.” Mayor Al Raine stated the municipality was aware of the problem and planned to work with key players to solve it. Despite the issues surrounding the lending companies, Forster remains optimistic. “The fact that our sales have increased this year over last in spite of all this tells us something. That we are up 50 per cent basically says people are still buying in spite of the difficulties. People that want to buy here will continue to pursue lenders until they finally find one. It hasn’t been easy for some of them.”

Tourism Sun Peaks Community Update: October 2015 Overall resort occupancy rose to record numbers. July posted 20.6% ahead of last year with 8,810 occupied room nights, our highest occupied July on record. Combined with a 13.6% increase in August over 2014 to a total of 10,675 room nights occupied, it was a record-breaking summer for Sun Peaks. Overall, between the months of May and October, resort-wide room nights are pacing 13.8% ahead of last year. TSP pitched Sun Peaks stories at Canada’s GoMedia travel media conference in Penticton, and also partnered with Tourism Kamloops to sponsor and host one of the functions at the annual event. Five VIP media visited the resort in an advance of the GoMedia fam tour prior to the conference and experienced a variety of activities such as cross country mountain biking, Voyageur Canoe Tour, and an Offroad Segway tour. TSP will launch a pre-season social media based campaign in mid-October, in partnership with SPR LLP. The campaign will promote excitement about the ski season through a series of videos and a contest platform on Facebook. A ‘Book by November 15’ offer will also launch early October and will be promoted through digital media in all key North American markets. Leading up to the Toronto and Ottawa ski shows and eastern Canada marketing initiatives, TSP attended a function with Skican, the resort’s largest North American tour operator partner, promoting the resort to 10 qualified travelling ski clubs from the greater Toronto area. TSP is improving connectivity to travel trade partners and industry. In late September, staff trained over 60 US based retail ski specialist sales agents via TSP’s new webinar system. This market specific training will be delivered throughout the year during the height of the buying cycles. In October, TSP launches its first quarterly industry e-newsletter to a growing database of 600+ travel trade contacts. The 18th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival features new events this January including a Wine Crawl on January 15 of the opening weekend. Several events such as Three Elements, and Grilled Cheese and Wine were nearly sold out by late September. The majority of event tickets sold out in advance last year.

Kamloops commuters

Call 250.578.5380 or visit www.SunPeaksResort.com/Tourism

2015

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PHOTO: ADAM STEIN

Friday & Saturday November 6 & 7, 2015 313 Nishga Way Mt. Paul Soccer Dome

CONSIGNMENT DROP OFF: Fri., Nov. 6 • 5pm - 9pm EQUIPMENT PICK UP:

Sat., Nov. 7 • 5pm - 7pm

ADMISSION:

Adults $2 • 16 & under FREE!

Be sure to visit our exhibitors booths at the swap: Sun Peaks Resort Oronge Harper Mountain Visit www.winterextreme.com for Exhibitor Package or email: kamloopsskiswap@gmail.com

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

2014

Completion date forecast for local Health Centre FILE PHOTO

LOCAL HEALTH CARE: The current portable unit housing Sun Peaks’ clinic is forecast to be replaced by next winter.

by JEAN STRONG

he Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) is moving forward with plans to build the Sun Peaks Health Centre, forecasting completion by next winter. “We are going to push darn hard to get that happening,” said Al Raine, mayor of SPMRM. “At a meeting with Interior Health I

said we want to be able to invite the Minister of Health to open the building in December of 2016.” The clinic has been a priority in the community for years. In 2012, 95 per cent of polled residents ranked it as the most important facility needed according to an official Community Plan Facility survey. The municipality has planned to break ground in summer of 2016 and have the centre us-

able by the winter. It will be used as a space for a family medical practice in addition for use as an urgent care centre for those injured in the resort while skiing or biking. “There are injuries, and serious injuries, from time to time,” said Raine. “We need to be able to stabilize those patients on the hill.” Despite delays, SPMRM and the Sun Peaks Health Association (SPHA) have already raised over one million dollars for the construction of the centre, with more money expected to be raised through additional fundraising in the interim. “We can only build what we can afford” said Raine. “We need to be practical.” The centre is expected to be located beside Bento’s Day Lodge for easy access from the skiing area and from the nearby first aid locations already in operation. Location was a key consideration because it’s a priority to allow for the flow of patients from Ski Patrol to the clinic while maintaining privacy. Currently some patients need to be stabilized in the resort

for over an hour before they’re able to be transported to a Kamloops hospital by ambulance. The Health Centre will allow for an even greater level of care for those waiting for transportation. While Raine emphasized the current staff and volunteers are excellent and very well trained, he said there was still a large need for the local clinic. “We have a number of young families as well as seniors and retired people who need access to a clinic without driving into Kamloops,” he said. Raine doesn’t predict any problems attracting a doctor to the mountain. “It would be someone looking for the lifestyle” he said. He described someone who would appreciate “fresh tracks” in the morning before going into work, and said there are already medical professionals living in the community who may wish to be involved. The clinic will be supplemented by volunteer physicians whose work will be vital to the clinic’s operation, especially on the days where a main physician is not practising.

TIME FOR AN

UPGRADE? – Head on up to our famous –

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Peaks Snow Cards: The Ultimate in Flexibility Includes 1 or 3 days of skiing or riding plus discounts all season! 1 Day Peaks Snow Card 3 Day Peaks Snow Card

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Purchase by November 15 for the best deals! Shop online at www.SunPeaksResort.com

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

NEWS

brief FILE PHOTO

SUN PEAKS POOL: Future splash park?

Pool plans swimming in uncertainty September 7 marked the last day for summer operations for the Sun Peaks Sports Centre swimming pool. It will not be reopening for this winter season. Plans for next summer are uncertain at this time. According to Darcy Alexander, general manager for Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SRP), the company which owns the property, there is a possibility it could re-open next summer. “We are also going to explore other options,” said Alexander. “Perhaps the conversion of the use to something else that would provide a summer water activity such as a splash park, or something like that. We aren’t sure at this point.” Decisions are expected to be made during SPR board meetings in early 2016.

get OUT THERE Like a fine wine, festival gets better with age PHOTO: COURTESY TOURISM SUN PEAKS

FUN BY THE GLASS: Sun Peaks’ favourite winter wine festival returns with over 20 events.

by BRANDI SCHIER

very January, Sun Peaks has a chance to show off its classier side with a wine festival fit for even the most urbanite of pallets. But lucky for us, we aren’t expected to step up our game too

much — “mountain formal” suffices for even the highest priced event and outdoor elements are incorporated into many others, dropping the pretention of big city style. The 18th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival returns from January 14 to 24, taking over the entire

village with brand new events, twists on old favourites and, of course, the classic sell-outs. The biggest change is the inclusion of second progressive event. Placed on the first Friday, its purpose is to enhance the first weekend while taking pressure off the enormously popular Progressive Tasting. The January 15 version is designed to appeal to a younger demographic, featuring value-priced wines and salty snacks. It will also feature outdoor games and a cozy mulled wine and hot apple cider tent to warm chilly toes and fingers. The Voyageur Bistro has launched a second event as an addition to their unique and popular Explorer Series dinner. The Coureur de Bios Repas, or “runners of the woods” dinner on January 20, will celebrate the early independent and entrepreneurial French Canadian woodsmen and their role in Canadian history. Local chef Annie Campbell will join forces with wine educator Gerrit Van Staalduinen and David Beaudion from the Dairy Farmers of Canada to create a historical and locally inspired menu. The evening will be topped off with a memorable presentation by Kevin Tessier, owner and operator of the bistro as well as the Northwest Voyageur Canoe Tours. New kids on the block in the Canadian wine scene, the Kamloops wineries,

will have a dedicated event at this winter’s festival. Welcome to the Kamloops Wine Trail is set for January 21 and will be hosted by Erik Fisher, general manager of Monte Creek Ranch Winery. He will showcase the new, award winning flavours emerging from just below Sun Peaks in the North and South Thompson River valleys from all four new vineyards. For those looking for an exciting way to top off a great day on the slopes, look no further than the new Spirited Après, hosted by the Cahilty Creek Bar & Grill. Okanagan Spirits will bring their celebrated Eau de Vie, made from 100 per cent B.C. fruit. And don’t forget your tuque — this outdoor event features a hand carved ice bar and bonfire. Even if you stick to the time honoured favourites, you can’t go wrong. Among the first to sell out are always The Three Elements (formerly, Port, Chocolate, and Cheese), The British Columbia Wine Awards, Dessert Wines and Aromatic Cheeses, A Taste of Sun Peaks and a relatively new event, Grilled Cheese and Wine. Overall, there are over 20 events to choose from. Don’t be one the locals desperately searching for Progressive tickets on Thursday night. Go to sunpeaksresort.com or call 1-800-807-3257 to buy your tickets early!

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 6:30 pm Monday, October 19, 2015 Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality Council gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing in Council Chambers at 106-3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC, to consider proposed Bylaws 0047, 0049 and 0050. What are Zoning Amendment Bylaws 0047, 0049, 0050? They are a change to Zoning Bylaw No. 1400 to rezone lands at 2204 Sunburst Drive, 2557 Mountain View Drive and 2206 Sunburst Drive respectively, from RS-1: Residential Single Family One to RS-1A: Residential Single Family One – Tourist Accommodation Zone to permit tourist accommodation (nightly/short-term rental). All persons who believe that their interest in property may be affected by the proposed Bylaws shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the Public Hearing. Additionally, they may make written submissions on the matter of these Bylaws which must be received at our office prior to 4:00 p.m. on the 16th day of October 2015. The entire content of all submissions will be made public and form a part of the public record for this matter. How do I get more information? A copy of the proposed Bylaws and all supporting information can be inspected from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday (except statutory holidays) at our office from September 28, 2015 until 4:00 p.m. the day of the Hearing; or please contact us via any of the below options. No representations will be received by Council after the Public Hearing has been concluded. Mail: PO Box 1002, Sun Peaks, BC V0E 5N0 Phone: 250-578-2020 Email: admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

CONNECTIONS Bluebird days ahead for local mentors PHOTO SUBMITTED

SMILES ON THE SLOPES: “Big” Joel Currie hangs with his “Little” Owen Sutherland on a sunny riding day.

by MARTY HASTINGS

here are plenty of parents without the means to give their children the skiing and snowboarding experience. Thanks to the Bluebird Day Fund — a non-proﬁt society established in 2010 in memory of former Sun Peaks resident Bryn Taylor — many economically disadvantaged youths will shred powder

this winter. “I really enjoy snowboarding and it’s really nice to share it with a kid who normally wouldn’t be able to get out and enjoy it,” said Dominik Koric, who is entering his third consecutive year in a mentorship role with the program. “It’s been great. He really loves coming up.” The Sun Peaks Bluebird Society (SPBS)

Different name. Same passion. SUN PEAKS

SECONDARY Discovery

CENTRE for balanced education

ACADEMY

Discovery

CENTRE

balancededucation.ca for balanced education

Our passion for education hasn’t changed – just our name. Much has changed since The Discovery Centre for Balanced Education was started in one mountaintop facility in 2010. There is now an elementary school Discovery has tripled. “Sun Peaks Secondary Academy” operated by School District 73Discovery and overall student enrollment fits our evolution. The new name speaks to where, who, and what we are. For more information, contact the for balanced education for balanced education Sun Peaks Education Society at info@balancededucation.ca or visit balancededucation.ca

CENTRE

sunpeaksnews.com

CENTRE

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kamloops to pair mentors with youths who apply to participate in the program. The organization also has other established programs which run every winter, such as Bluebird Park Sessions and competition reimbursement. There is a budget for 15 children to take part in the Sports Mentorship program this season and Bryan Lupul, president of the SPBS, said there is room for four more mentors to sign on. “A lot of the parents are thankful because their kid wouldn’t do anything like this if we didn’t have the program going,” Lupul said. “It’s deﬁnitely one of the programs we’re trying to build as big as we can.” Mentors are required to dedicate six Sundays — two each in January, February and March, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — to the children with whom they are paired. A bus picks up the kids in Kamloops and drops them off in the same spot when the day is over. Mentors are required to provide their own ski passes and ﬁnd transportation to and from Sun Peaks. To learn more about the Bluebird Day Fund, go online to bluebirddayfund.com, where there are links to apply. “Once we’ve found candidates at Bluebird, we contact Big Brothers and they do

criminal-record and background checks,” said Ben Morris, marketing director for the Bluebird Day Fund. “Then they partner them with the kids most in need in the area. “The mentors usually get a lot more out of it than they anticipate.” Taylor, a passionate snowboarder, was 24 when he and two friends went out for drinks after ﬁnishing a job on Nov. 1, 2006. They were driving home to Ashcroft when the truck his friend was driving veered off the road. Taylor and the friend who was driving were thrown from the truck and killed. “It’s a bluebird day,” was one of Taylor’s favourite sayings. The fund supplies children with transportation, skiing and snowboarding gear, a day pass at Sun Peaks and lunch at Masa’s Bar + Grill. Koric has mentored the same boy, who turns 11 in April, for the past three years and watched him grow up on the mountain. “It’s pretty fulﬁlling showing someone around and helping them enjoy something they wouldn’t be able to afford without the program,” said Koric, who’s lived in Sun Peaks for 10 years. “It’s something I’ve really enjoyed doing.”

BLUEBIRD FUNDRAISERS The sixth annual Giverballs Open Golf Tournament was held on Friday, September 18. The event was one of two major fundraisers that help support the Bluebird Day Fund, providing money which goes toward sustaining programs and new gear for the children. “We used to get second-hand gear through fundraising drives, but it ended up being really junky stuff for the most part,” said Morris, noting the golf tournament was expected to raise about $4,000. The annual Fall Ball is the next Bluebird Day fundraiser, a black-tie event usually held on the ﬁrst weekend of November. “That’s a real big one for the grown-ups,” Morris said. “They get to really dress up and we make a theme each year.” Tickets will be made available when organizers determine a date for the event. More information will be made available at bluebirddayfund.com.

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

OR POST YOUR PHOTOS USING #SUNPEAKSNEWS @SUNPEAKSNEWS

Dana Hoppenrays takes a swing while smartly dressed for the Annual Giver Balls Open Fundraiser golf tournament.

Duncan Currie hands off the coveted green jacket to 2015 club champion Len Beauchamp.

The first Peaks Pedal Fest wrapped up on closing weekend with several events, incluing the Yeah Bru! Dual Slalom Race. (Brooke Madley Photo)

Great people gathering for a great cause at the sixth Annual Giver Balls Open Golf Tournament.

Wren Grunling, 4 years old, won the Foot Down Derby during Peaks Pedal Fest. (Brooke Madley Photo)

inPHOTOS

Hundreds of Spartan competitors challenged themselves Sept. 26 to 27. (Tourism Sun Peaks Photo)

Liz Derksen’s “McGillivray Creek” was accepted into Vancouver art show, Scenes from Western Canada

Mayor Al Raine, Nancy Greene Raine & Erik Meertens’ team at the Big Little Golf Tourney. (Ian Watson Photo)

Vol 13 Issue 9 October 02—October 31

sunpeaksnews.com

ARTS ENTERTAINMENT Local history takes centre stage: At a crossroads PHOTO: SPIN

PLAYING OUT HISTORY: The Chimera actors pose after their ingual performance in September.

by BRANDI SCHIER

Mexican Cuisine made from the ﬁnest, freshest ingredients. All prepared by our Chef to be healthy, tasty and fresh. Early Bird Special + $12 Pitchers from 4 to 6 pm daily Located at the Hefﬂey Boutique Inn

250-578-8343

Sun Peaks’ smallest Hotel with the greatest Rooms.

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

ut -o e ke bl Ta aila av

G ar rea ga t rit as

“A lot of people died here,” said Tim McLoed, manager for the Tranquille-onthe-Lake project. We are standing in the decrepit foyer of an aged hospital. The crisp September air feels particularity Halloweeny, but soon the spook factor fades and is replaced by historical fascination. I’m gathered with a small group participating in new guided tunnel tour “Crossroads”, a collaboration between local theatre group Chimera and the owners of the fabled Tranquille property. Located 15 minutes from Kamloops, the once completely self-sufficient community has a complex history beginning in the early 1900’s. But tonight, it’s 1958. After over fifty years as one of the leading tuberculous centres in the country, the sanitarium is set to close and the fight is on to determine what’s to be done with the vast property. It currently sits at 500 acres with over 40 abandoned buildings, some of which have been restored by the new owners or by film crews throughout the years. But it was once comprised of thousands of

acres of ranch land and state of the art medical facilities. Interactive actors lead us through the buildings, peppering in their characters’ individual stories with historical context. Scripted scenes play out, capturing the emotion and connection people had with this now almost-forgotten place. We tour several buildings, including a section of the vast underground tunnel network. Over 40 kilometers stretch underground, once used to transport food, laundry, patients and their bodies. Only a small portion is now deemed safe for the public tours. The characters’ situations lend insight into the looming decision, underscored with reproductions of media stories and audio clips from the time period. Worth over $22 million at the time, everyone from the provincial government to the Kamloops Board of Trade to the local nurses had an opinion for the future of the complex. We learn the facilities opened once again in 1959, this time as a home for the mentally challenged. Some of the characters stay, some move on. It’s a crossroad for both the individuals and

the community. It was only after the roving theatre production ended we learned the total number of people who drew their last breath there was over 1600. And for every one of those tragic stories there are thousands more, many much more positive — from people who recovered there, people who doctored there, people who ranched there and even people who fell in love there. “Many soldiers from World War One came here sick with TB and married local nurses or other workers,” said McLeod, adding one of the best parts of opening the tunnels and property up for tours has been collecting the stories from people returning to the property or from people sharing their relatives’ narrative. Tranquille’s recent history has been no less engaging. “We are at a crossroad now too,” said Annette McLoed, manager at Tranquilleon-the-Lake. Future plans have been delayed but are impressive in their scale. A progressive housing development surrounded by acres of urban farm on the shores of Kamloops Lake are still in the blueprint stages, but it’s hoped it will one day be home to over 4000 people. In the meantime, the investors have launched Tranquille Farm Fresh, rent the property for corporate functions and as a ﬁlm venue, host educational programs and family friendly events. “It will still be about health, wellness and sustainability. It’s really returning the property to its roots,” she said. “Crossroads” will be performed several times a night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until November 1. Tickets are available through Kamloops Box Ofﬁce.

ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

EVENT LISTINGS EVERYDAY

SATURDAY—MONDAY

U-PICK PUMPKIN PATCH

FAMOUS TURKEY SALE

OCTOBER 1 OCTOBER 31

Tranquille Agra farms invites you to find your perfect Jack-O-Latern pumpkin, jump on a hay ride and take part in other Halloween fun. 250-376-9426

OCTOBER 10— OCTOBER 12

Discounts from 40% to 60% off on everything from gloves to to base layers to skis from last year’s winter stock. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Bento’s Day Lodge and around the village.

CORN MAZE AT TRANQUILLE FARM FRESH 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4600 Tranquille Rd. This 6 acre corn maze is sure to amaze explorers of all ages. info@tranquillefarmfresh.com

OCTOBER 1 NOVEMBER 1

‘CROSSROADS” TRANQUILLE TUNNEL TOURS

7 p.m., 8:15 p.m., or 9:30 p.m. 4600 Tranquille Rd. Explore the history of the famous Tranquille property through an interactive play and tour. Tickets available through Kamloops Live Box Office. jan@kamloopslive.ca

YOGA, WINE TASTING & PICNIC AT PRIVATO

Bring your yoga matt for a blissful Sunday afternoon on the great lawn at Privato Vineyard & Winery. 12 p.m. Yoga, 1 p.m. Tastings & Picnic. Tickets are $30.

HEFFLEY CREEK HARVEST SALE-A-BRATION

employment@sunpeaksresort.com

MONDAY

OCTOBER 5

SUN PEAKS MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING Municipal Office in the Kookaburra Lodge 7 pm – 250-578-2020 admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.com

OCTOBER 24

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heffley Creek Hall. Celebrate fall with a craft fair, yard sale, bake sale, harvest sale and luncheon. 250-578-7525

OCTOBER 17

ROCKTOBERFEST

Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre presents their annual Rocktober Fest event with live music from Kelowna’s ‘One Night Only’ and tasty German food. Tickets are $35 or $15 for the band only available by phone t 1-877-7747263. The party starts at 6:30 p.m. Must be 19+.

SATURDAY

NOVEMBER 14

HEFFLEY CREEK DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION

Dinner at the Heffley Creek Hall from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. features roast beef, yorkshire pudding, potatoes, salads and dessert. 250-578-7525

reservations@sunpeaksgrand.com

SATURDAY

NOVEMBER 21

SUN PEAKS MUNICIPAL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Municipal Office in the Kookaburra Lodge 7 pm – 250-578-2020. admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.com

FRIDAY — SATURDAY

OCTOBER 17 OCOTBER 18

www.wineclub.privato.ca

HERTIAGE WEEKEND AT TRANQUILLE FARM FRESH

Celebrate the harvest with old tractors, a working thresher from 1922, lawnmower races, pumpkin guns and much more!

SUN PEAKS OEPNING DAY

Kick-off another great winter season in Sun Peaks! guestservices@sunpeaksresort.com

SATURDAY

NOVEMBER 21

SUN PEAKS ANNUAL FIREFIGHTER CHARITY GALA

Sun Peaks Annual Firefighters’ Charity Gala, will be hosted by the Sun Peaks Volunteer Firefighters Society in support of The Sun Peaks Health Centre & Adaptive Sports. Tickets are $90 and available from the Su n Peaks Grand. 1-844-744-7263

250-376-9625

FRIDAY—SATURDAY

OCTOBER 23— OCTOBER 24

WEDNESDAY

OCTOBER 7

WINE MAKERS DINNER AT MONTE CREEK RANCH

Enjoy a five course dinner including Monte Creek Ranch wine pairings with each course. Tickets are $89. 250-372-9901

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 19

OCTOBER 4

The Sun Peaks Alpine Club hosts its annual Bavarian-themed fundraiser. Cocktail hour followed by an authentic German dinner, beer tasting, games and a live and silent auction. Starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Colombo Lodge in Kamloops. Tickets are $75.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location TBA Bring your resume to land a sweet winter gig!

SUN PEAKS RESORT JOB FAIR

MONDAY

SUNDAY

OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 10

SATURDAY

FRIDAY—SATURDAY

SATURDAY

kamloopsoktoberfest@gmail.com

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 1 OCTOBER 29

KAMLOOPS HERITAGE RAILWAY PRESENTS: THE GHOST TRAIN

Departure @ 7 pm Tickets are $29 for adults. kamrailcom/ghost-train.php

@sunpeaksnews

PHOTO SUBMITTED

OKTOBERFEST

guestservices@sunpeaksresort.com

WEEKENDS

Cheers to fall – Oktoberfest returns

/sunpeaksnews

PROST!: Sun Peaks Alpine Club is planning for another sell-out fundraising event.

by JULIA THRIFT

Local racers will swap their ski suits for lederhosen and dirndl once again this fall — all for a good cause of course. The Sun Peaks Racers’ annual Bavarian Oktoberfest will take place on October 24 at the Colombo Lodge in Kamloops, marking the fourth year for the successful event. It’s the main fundraiser for the Sun Peaks Alpine Club, a non-proﬁt organization which offers both on and off snow ski racer training for young people. “It’s an energetic room, full of fun,” said Daimion Applegath, president of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club. “We sell 340 seats and every single person wears authentic German attire they have either purchased or rented.” Originally inspired by the motivation to create a sustainable and entertaining fundraiser available to as many people as possible, the event has replaced an annual ski swap and charity ball and requires less volunteer hours overall. The event takes place in Kamloops to ensure

the event is more accessible to everyone. “The initial committee did some brainstorming and found Oktoberfest to be a great ﬁt because of ski racing’s European history,” said Applegath. “It’s been a sell-out since year one.” The night includes a Bavarian cocktail hour with live entertainment, an authentic Bavarian dinner, and both a silent and live auction. And no Oktoberfest would be complete without beer tasting and dancing. “This year we’ll have many authentic German lagers, as well as pretzels and an amazing meal provided by the Lodge,” said Applegath. Organizers are encouraging people to get their tickets quickly. Tickets sales began on September 7 and are available by contacting kamloopsoktoberfest@gmail. com. The Sun Peaks Alpine Club also relies on funding through gaming grants as well as from several on-mountain events throughout the winter, such as the BC Alpine races, Building Our Best, Nancy Greene’s Alpine Classic and the HUB International.

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM/classified

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE AT

SUDOKU

SUDOKU ANSWERS V13 I9

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

Sun Peaks Lodge & Steakhouse is hiring for Dec-Apr F/T Line Cooks, P/T Dishwasher, F/T Housekeeper, F/T Front Desk Agent. We offer: competitive wages, seasons pass. Pls send resume to info@sunpeakslodge.com or drop off.

Sun Peaks Hair Studio “Style For Everyone” located on Burﬁeld Dr. Cuts, Colours, Formals. Professional Service at Low Cost. www.styleforeveryone.ca.

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS ADS ARE PLACED DAILY

DISTRIBUTED EVERY 4TH FRIDAY

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

CROSSWORD SOLUTION V13 I9 1

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New 2 bdrm basement suite available Dec. 1 on Fairways Dr. $1200/month. Includes internet and satelite TV. Contact tarjar@ bcinternet.net or 250-320-4045 after 4:30 pm. Fully furnished bedroom in a beautiful 4 bedroom house on Fairways, mature tenant, $700/month. Email: snowcrow68@gmail.com 2 bedroom unfurnished basement suite on Mountain View Dr. $1250/month. 1 year lease required. Contact timelessdevelopments@telus.net. 1 bdrm condo at Timberline Village. Fully furnished. W/D, ﬁreplace, hot tub, ski locker. N/S, N/P. Available Nov. to Apr. $1500/ month utilities included. randybattison@telus.net.

FREE DELIVERY! on all furniture & mattress purchases over $999! Same day delievery & pick-up available! Beds, bunk beds, sofas & dining sets on sale in Kamloops store! 250-434-2337. See store deals at GoWFB.ca/kamloops. Historic & Contemporary Art Photography of B.C. with the emphasis on Kamloops - www.triversphoto.com

Classifieds cut off date for next issue (Vol. 13 Issue 11)

WE’VE MOVED!

Monday October 26

Come visit us in the Kookaburra Lodge

WESTSYDE SERVICE

ESTABLISHED: 1996

Auto Repairs Diesel Repairs Air Conditioning Repairs Gov. Certified Inspection Facility

ACCOM WANTED Retired, local couple wanting to live on the mountain. In the village or close, suite or 1 bedroom. Would caretake larger home as well. Dec through March. 250-819-2761. Looking for a long term rental (6 months) of a house commencing November/December, 2015. Preference is for large, modern, luxury stand-alone furnished house with 4+ bedrooms and a very strong preference for ski-in/ski-out locations. Would consider 12 month rental if required. Please respond to bhuntington@armourre.bm with details.

BILL & MIKE LINDSAY SPECIALIZING IN SITE PREPARATION, RESIDENTIAL EXCAVATION, GROUND WATER ISSUES, BOULDER STACK RETAINING WALLS For Estimates: 250-851-1021 jasonw@telus.net

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

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Move forward 8. Supervise 15. Part of a gun 16. Subscription continuation 17. Vacuum tube type 18. Hardens metal 19. Nabokov novel 20. Deck quartet 22. “Goodnight” girl 23. Compass point 25. Cease 26. Chip maker 29. Bad-tempered 31. Sault ___ Marie 12

sunpeaksnews.com

34. Sea nymph 36. Decease 37. Thames town 38. Unsubstantial 40. Inﬂexible 42. Goddess and sister of Ares in Greek mythology 43. Goddess of dawn in Greek mythology 45. Thing that sucks 46. Boy king 47. Frank 49. Destitute 50. German auto 52. To talk, usually in a

pompous manner 54. Heals 56. Did the butterﬂy 57. With “up,” exasperated 60. Plant of the buttercup family 62. Stalagmite makeup 65. Pillage 66. Catch 67. Least difﬁcult 68. Stroll

DOWN 1. ___ boy!

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

2. Historic Scott 3. La Dolce ___ 4. Cabinet dept. 5. Vietnam’s ___ Dinh Diem 6. Chest or closet material 7. Builds 8. Table scraps 9. Neckline shape 10. Animosity 11. Dupe 12. Lottery 13. Acquire through merit 14. Ultimatum word 21. Israel’s Barak 23. Food and water 24. Potpourri 25. Luges 26. Atlas feature 27. First prime minister of India 28. Treacherous 30. Narrow inlet 32. In shape 33. Diary bit 35. Live 37. Host 39. “___ don’t say!” 41. Parent’s sister 44. Reason to cancel school 47. Contiguous with 48. Vestiges 51. Old ﬁnnish money 53. Appliance brand 54. Cod, Good Hope, or Canaveral, e.g. 55. Home of the Bruins 56. Spanish muralist 57. Decree 58. French 101 verb 59. Woodland animal 61. French possessive 63. Baton Rouge sch. 64. MSNBC rival

Welcome Fall with good friends and a great big fireplace! OCTOBER SPECIALS

$4 Cans of Beer Free Pool from Monday To Friday Located in the Sun Peaks Village Day Lodge | Call 250.578.5434

Hot & Hearty Breakfasts served daily, 7:30–10:00am LOCATED IN THE SUN PEAKS VILLAGE DAY LODGE

BUSINESSLISTINGS SERVICES

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ENTERPRISES LTD.

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We’ll monitor your website so you can focus on your business and we can focus on keeping your site secure.

n Home Improvements n No job too small n Repairs n 25 years experience n Property Checks & n Renovations Maintenance

Custom Responsive Web Designs built exclusively on the WordPress Platform

Cathy Earle

Digital Media Specialist

RUSCHENTERPRISESLTD@GMAIL.COM

peaksmedia.com • 250 434

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BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION BLIK HOME DEVELOPMENTS

Michael Ferber

PAUL ROBERTS

5025 Cammeray Dr., Kamloops BC V2H 1L8

CUSTOM BUILDER | PROJECT MANAGER NEW HOMES | ADDITIONS

Providing Preventive, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Implants Free Parking

Builders of Luxury Homes

timelessdevelopments@telus.net www.timelessdevelopments.ca

E-MAIL: blik_developments@yahoo.ca PHONE: 250 371 4880

General Practitioner 250-376-5354

250 318 1177 250 578 8970

Dr. D. Barry Dextraze Dentist

New PatieNts welcome #21-750 Fortune Drive, Kamloops E-mail: drdex@shaw.ca ~ www.drdextraze.com

ZOOM! — Whitening System

Grether Contracting Serving Sun Peaks Since 1992 Kitchen & Bath Renovations Damage Restoration Drywall & Painting Concrete Repairs Building Maintenance & Consulting

CALL ANDRÉ "FIRST" 250-371-1753 • grether@telus.net

SUN PEAKS ONLY DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL HOT TUB COMPANY LOCATED IN THE LITTLE SHUSWAP LODGE 250 578 8669 24HR EMERGENCY CALL OUT 250 214 0464

painting services & repairs

Sun Peaks Plumbing & Heating

Pacific Paintsmith

*Pre-winter specials*

Painting Sun Peaks since 1999

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Interior | Exterior General wall repairs Maintenance painting

Richard VanCamp cel. 250.319.0577

pacificpaintsmith@hotmail.ca

Excavating Ltd. •

Excavating & Snow Clearing

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Landscape Rock/Granite

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1”—4”, 4”—12”, 5”—18”, Sand, Pitrun

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Greg: 250 371 7800 • gzieb@telus.net

FOR SALE FOR SALE IN WHITECROFT

Get your annual safety service now Save up to 20% on fireplace, water heater & furnace maintenance Licensed, insured & bonded

CALL 250-879-1737

sunpeaksplumbingandheating.com

Sun Peaks Education Society

AGM Monday, October 26, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Municipal Office, Kookaburra Lodge Advertise in Sun Peaks Independent News for as little as $20 per month. Call today to place your advertisement.

250-578-0276 or visit

sunpeaksnews.com/ classifieds

The Sun Peaks Education Society is pleased to extend an invitation for your presence at the 2015 SPES Annual General Meeting. Business of the meeting will include:

· Review of SPES business · Review and approval of the society’s financials · Nomination and election of directors · SPES is seeking Directors for the Board

Membership subscriptions are $20 per annum; please ensure membership forms are completed and pre-paid on the night to ensure voting privileges.

For more information, please contact info@balancededucation.ca or visit

www.balancededucation.ca

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

Peaks’ sun sets on summer biking PHOTO: STEVE RIFFEL

AUTUMN RIDES: Rider Dylan Sherrard rips down Barn Burner on closing weekend.

by MARTY HASTINGS

he mountain biking scene at Sun Peaks is progressing, but much work is still to be done before downhill and cross-country riders are satisfied. “In the mountain bike world, word of mouth is everything,” said Aidan Kelly, director of sales and marketing for Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR). “We’ve taken a step in the right direction, but we’re not there yet.” Long has the downhill bike park been

sunpeaksnews.com

considered one of the best and most-challenging in the country and efforts have been made in recent years to make the trails more suitable for less-experienced riders. “We’re limited a little bit just based on the terrain we have to work with,” Kelly said. “With the layout of the mountain and where the mountain bike trails go, they’re pretty steep. We don’t have much lower-grade stuff to work with, but there are options to look at to mitigate that. “If we want to attract that beginner mar-

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

ket and the family market for downhill mountain biking, we’ve got to progress even further.” The number of hikers and bikers buying chairlift passes was up this summer, a tribute to the work done by the SPR trail maintenance crew (which grew by one staff member this year) and as a result of an improving tourism climate across B.C. Kelly also noted altered marketing and promotional strategies paid off this summer. Sun Peaks successfully hosted the 2015 Canadian Downhill Mountain Biking Championships in July and the event will return for the third consecutive year in 2016. “There was a good buzz around the resort that weekend and that helped boost the profile of the bike scene,” Kelly said. “The conditions and trails were some of the best we’ve seen at Sun Peaks. We’ve got great terrain up here for mountain biking. It’s just a matter of how well you can make those changes and improvements. “We made some changes and they were very well-received. We want to keep pushing, though.” The cross country trails at Sun Peaks are primed to improve in the coming years, thanks in part to the Sun Peaks Recreational Trails Association (SPRTA), established last year by Jase Petersen, Mike Sleziak, Meghan Kolodka and Zac Cunningham. “There is a general lack of cross country single track up here,” Sleziak said. “We have the bike park and it’s awesome, a world class park but, on the pedal up and ride down, as far as cross-country behind Mt. Morrissey, it’s lacking a solid network.” Much of SPRTA’a inaugural year was spent dealing with red tape insurance issues and seeking permission to put shovels in the dirt. “There are some real gems kind of hidden, but they’re separated by very long stretches of fire road and double track that are fairly uninteresting,” said Sleziak, noting SPRTA received a grant from the Sun Peaks Municipality. “People just wish there was more there. Building a network is on peoples’ minds and that’s sort of the reason why we started the association.” Once it got the go ahead, SPRTA wasted no time getting to work on a new cross country trail, half of which is expected to be complete by the end of October. The trail will begin on the south side of the golf cart path going to Hole 9 on Sun Peaks Golf Course, part of an old World Cup cross country race course. “We’re breaking in an old section of trail and pushing into the woods on the south side of the back nine of the golf course, creating a new trail that will connect the bottom of the Morrissey chairlift to the village with single-track,” Sleziak said, “Both myself and Jase are really, really keen to keep working until the ground freezes.” The work will continue when the thaw arrives next spring. “There is reason to be optimistic about mountain biking up here,” Sleziak said. “We have the full support of the community and everyone seems to be rallying behind the cause.”

SPORTS

brief FILE PHOTO

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS: Join up!

Adaptive Sports holding registration sessions Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks will be hosting an Instructor Orientation on October 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Cunliffe House in Kamloops. Information will be presented on becoming a volunteer ski instructor, including more about the registration process and course dates. Annual membership is $10. There will also be two registration sessions for students this fall at the Sahali Mall in Kamloops. The organization will be completing memberships and also taking payment for lessons. The first session takes place on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the second will be held on November 13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Adaptive Sports is also reminding parents that October 19 is the deadline to apply for the Children & Youth Equipment Grant. This grant is for British Columbian children and youth with a disability who are members of BC Adaptive Snowsports and demonstrate a financial need.

New Learners’ Area Beginner skiers and snowboarders will have a place to slip, slide and stumble without fear of embarrassment when the white stuff starts to fall this winter. Aidan Kelly, director of sales and marketing for Sun Peaks Resort LLP, told SPIN a new carpet lift accessible learners’ area will be located beside the Sunburst Chairlift. “We’re doing it just based on demand because we got a lot of traffic last year and a lot of firsttimers,” Kelly said. “It will be a dedicated, controlled environment for new skiers.” Kelly said the learners’ area is expected to be operational when Sun Peaks opens to skiers and snowboarders on Saturday, November 21. “This is a good way to enhance the experience of beginners,” Kelly said.

The tough road to Spartan PHOTO: REEBOK SPARTAN RACE

Local Charles Albrow, better known as Pip, leaps over the final obstacle.

by MARTY HASTINGS

ven his mom thinks he’s crazy.

Charles (Pip) Albrow finished seventh overall in the Reebok Spartan Beast race on Saturday, September 26, conquering the 20-kilometre obstacle course at Sun Peaks Resort in three hours, nine minutes and 16 seconds. There’s nothing insane about that, a great time on one of the circuit’s toughest tracks, but there’s more to Albrow’s Spartan story, which took a gruesome turn on June 29. “I was on a day off and I misjudged the size of a rather large jump mountain biking,” said Albrow, a 27-year-old Sun Peaks resident. “I came down hard and I broke my back.”

The compression fracture of his T7 vertebra occurred less than three months before race day. “That was the most painful thing I’ve ever done,” said Albrow, originally from southwest England. “But, as broken backs go, it’s one of the better ones. T7 is in the middle of your ribs, as they come to the back, so my ribcage acted as pretty good natural splint. “I was able to return a lot quicker than anybody thought. I kind of had Spartan in the back of my mind.” Albrow had big plans for the 2015 event, having entered for the first time last year in the open category, claiming first place overall with the event’s fastest time (2:28). The Sun Peaks Ski and Bike Patrol employee was fixated on entering this year’s race in the elite category — and he wanted to win. A broken back was not going to stop him. Rehab was intense, with painful swimming sessions at the Tournament Capital Centre and lengthy trail runs along the road to recovery. He was unable to run until four weeks ago. Two weeks ago, Albrow thought being in race shape by Sept. 26 might be a realistic goal. Last Monday’s training run sealed his decision to enter the elite category. The Spartan Beast brought competitors through an extremely challenging course

most consider to be more difficult than last year’s gruelling test. “You go all the way up Mount Tod, then pretty much down to the village and all the way up Sundance, climbing over walls, on monkey bars, carrying weights and crawling in mud pits underneath barbed wire.” For Albrow, the toughest obstacle of the day was the Hercules Hoist, which saw Spartans lift up two water-saturated sandbags using a pully system. “I come in at a massive 130 pounds. The sandbags were heavier than me, so I had to do 30 burpees instead,” said Albrow, noting temperatures were all over the map, with snow falling on the mountain’s peaks. “It was a very difficult course this year.” (There were reports of some participants refusing to do burpees and treating event volunteers poorly. Albrow was not one of them.) Albrow’s time this year was more than half-an-hour slower than his 2014 mark, but he was at full health last September and the Beast course was not as difficult. Most people would be thrilled to come back from a broken back and complete the Spartan, but Albrow is not satisfied. “I was pretty stoked, but I’m very competitive, so I was kind of hoping for a topfive finish,” he said. “After this year, doing well despite coming back from injury, I’m very keen to next

year race the same category and see if I can win.” There’s no reason to doubt him in 2016. And, he might have more support from a certain family member. “My mother is not too impressed, but she doesn’t try to stop me, either,” Albrow said. “She’s known me long enough. She shakes her head, and that’s that.”

RACE RESULTS The Spartan Ultra Beast 42-kilometre, 56-obstacle race title went to Mikhail Gerylo, who posted a time of 7:02:04. Allison Tai was the fastest woman, with a time of 9:59:59. Shaun Stephens-Whale placed first in the 20-kilometre, 26-obstacle Spartan Beast elite division, with a time of 2:36:54. Faye Stenning’s time of 3:11:56 made her the fastest female finisher. Austin Azar won gold in the five-kilometre, 15-obstacle Spartan Sprint elite division, finishing in 56:37. Pavla Lounova won the women’s event with a time of 1:20:21. Ryan Leavitt won the Spartan Beast open division with a time of 3:22:41. Claiming the women’s crown was Nancy Loranger, who posted a time of 3:44:47. Alexander Schoenherr earned gold in the Spartan Sprint open division with a time of 1:01:04. Stella Jacura finished in 1:12:55 to win the women’s title.

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

sunpeaksnews.com

ALPINE RESORT REALTY

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

Serving Sun Peaks and area since 1995

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#15 Settler’s Crossing - $309,000

Enjoy the private and peaceful setting from this upper level 2 bdm, 2 bath, skiin, ski-out condo located in the development of Settler’s Crossing. Adjacent to the Sun Peaks Golf Course. Features open kitchen w/ wood cabinetry & stainless steel appliances, living area with cozy gas fireplace, & heated tile floors. Looks onto forested area w/ mountain views and is fully furnished w/ hot tub. Underground parking & additional storage space available. GST is not applicable.

#6 Woodhaven - $389,900

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4110 Sundance Drive - $739,000

Custom built 4 bdrm home w/ 2 bdrm legal suite located in Sundance Estates overlooking the Village w/ great ski-in, ski-out access. Features hardwood floors, fir finishing details, floor to ceiling windows w/ vault ceiling, gourmet kitchen w/ granite countertops & eating bar & spacious dining room with access onto large sundeck. This upscale neighbourhood is sun-filled year round with stunning mountain views & is a quiet area on the mountain.

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#6 Alpine Greens - $284,900

Pristine 3 bdrm, 2 bath condo features an authentic river rock wood burning fireplace w/ timber mantle, heated tile floors, newer paint & window coverings and comes fully furnished. Enjoy the sundeck overlooking the 2nd fairway & valley trail close to lifts & all resort amenities. Top floor master bdrm is spacious & comes complete w/ ensuite & private balcony w/ views of Mt. Morrisey. This “move in ready” home is south facing & is a pleasure to show. GST paid.

#16 Trail’s Edge - $365,000

Fully finished 2 bdrm, 2.5 bath ski-in, ski-out townhouse w/ hot tub. This mountain townhome features sunny south facing exposure with easy access to the village & resort amenities. Quality finishing throughout w/ inviting open living area, spacious kitchen, heated tile floors, cozy fireplace, private patio & large sundeck, 2 car tandem garage & additional storage space. This is one of the more admired projects in the resort due to the location and convenience it offers. GST applies.

This charming 1 bdrm condo is located only minutes from all village services which makes this an attractive home to visit anytime of the year, or live year round. Cozy wood burning fireplace, natural finishes & open floor plan w/ vaulted ceiling add to the warm feeling this condo offers. This property backs onto the golf course & valley trail w/ great mountain views & if offered furnished with GST paid.

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#14 Crystal Forest - $244,000

This true ski-in, ski-out, fully furnished 4 bedroom home backs directly onto forested ski terrain & the Morrisey Connector ski run. This townhome features a great open floor plan with vaulted ceiling, gourmet kitchen w/ granite countertops, spacious dining room that opens up to the large living room, 2 decks, a private patio & hot tub, private garage & extra storage. Feel the warmth & comfort with classic mountain decor & cozy gas fireplace. GST paid.

Sunny courtyard location w/ south facing exposure & ski hill views of Mt. Morrisey compliment this beautiful 2 storey, 2 bdrm, 2 bath townhouse. This home is fully furnished & has 2 secure underground parking spaces, additional storage, cozy gas fireplace, heated tile floors in kitchen & baths. Crystal Forest has the ambiance of a Tyrolean Ski Village. With easy ski-in access this location offers the best of both worlds that is convenient to all resort amenities. GST paid.

4106 Sundance Drive - $1,379,000

This remarkable home features high end finishing & deluxe appliances that compliment the gourmet kitchen w/ solid maple cabinetry, granite countertops & stunning floor to ceiling windows. This floor plan was carefully planned as the care taken in detail. Features a 2 car garage w/ additional parking available plus a bright self contained 2 bdrm legal suite offered furnished w/ hot tub & sauna. GST paid.

Fireside Lodge starting at: $103,900 Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge starting at: $69,900 Sundance Lodge starting at: $24,900 The Residences at Sun Peaks Grand starting at: $49,000 Kookaburra Lodge starting at: $169,000 Hearthstone Lodge starting at: $29,900

#33 Forest Trails - $214,900

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 13 Issue 10 October 02—October 30

Ski-in, ski-out, 1 bdrm condo w/ private garage & only a short walk to the Village. Enjoy the mountain & valley views and the privacy of forested green space & meandering creek from your living room and sunny patio. This is the perfect four season getaway that comfortably sleeps 4 features high ceilings, open living & dining area, cozy rock fireplace, private in suite laundry, heated tile floors in the kitchen & bathroom. Offered fully furnished w/ hot tub. GST applies.

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#22 Forest Trails - $272,000

Upper floor 2 bdrm, 2 bath retreat nestled next to forested area and creek with mountain & valley views. Forest Trails has a peaceful setting and offers convenient ski-in, ski-out access & is a short stroll to village & all amenities. Condo features open kitchen and living area w/ nook, southwest facing sundeck, heated tile floors, gas fireplace, in suite laundry, and ensuite off master bedroom. Additional storage space in private garage and GST is applicable.

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Immaculate 2 bdrm plus den located in the prestigious townhouse development of Woodhaven backing on to the Sun Peaks Golf Course. Great ski-in, ski- out access & beautiful mtn views. Spacious, open kitchen with luxurious quartz countertops, new flooring & lighting, cozy corner fireplace & comfortable furnishings. This mountain home has never been rented and is offered furnished with hot tub & GST paid.

#4 Alpine Greens - $189,900

#45 Trail’s Edge - $469,000

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