Spin Volume 14 issue 5 by Sun Peaks Independent News

BIKE PARK gets new pro partner READ MORE > PAGE 15

CANADA'S FIRST BLIND INSTRUCTOR shares knowledge and passion

>PAGE 8

MAY 13—15

A few showers, cool

MAY 16—22

Scattered showers, mild

MAY 23 — JUNE 1

Scattered showers, warm

JUNE 2—9

A few showers, cool

Volume 14 Issue 5

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MAY 13 — JUNE 9

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The best in the kingdom SUMMER THEATRE BRINGS MEDIEVAL TIMES TO LIFE

”

What we try and create is an immersive environment that’s interactive and improvised.

by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

he Sun Peaks soccer ﬁeld will transform into the battle ground of an ancient kingdom when Chimera Theatre presents Knights of the Sun: Medieval Tournament Theatre this summer. The interactive, outdoor theatre production will have three shows per weekend over a seven week period beginning on June 24, with shows starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday

evenings and 11 a.m. matinees on Sundays. The show, created by co-writers Andrew Cooper and Taylor McCallum, revolves around the ﬁctional Tournament of the Sun which attracts knights from around the kingdom. The writers drew inspiration from real world history such as the Hundred Years’ War which took place in Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. “We took this place in history where these different houses, these different factions are ﬁghting against each other and

we created a world like that. There’s all these people coming from these different houses and they’re ﬁghting in this tournament trying to come out on top to prove their house is the best,” Cooper said. The performance will feature sword ﬁghting, quarter staff combat, and will be interactive between the actors and the audience. “It’s interactive because the actors will be right there with you, taking you around to different places. You won’t just be sitting in a chair for two hours,

you’re going to be on your feet, trying different things and talking to actors,” Cooper said. The medieval theatre will follow a similar style to Crossroads, Chimera Theatre’s production which told the story of when Kamloops’ Tranquille Farm ceased to exist as the King Edward VII Sanatorium through interactive theatre last fall. “What we try and create is an immersive environment that’s interactive and improvised,” Cooper said. Each character in the show

”

has a lengthy backstory, which allows them to engage directly with the audience, breaking the barrier that typically exists between performers and the public. There will also be engaging activities such as tarot card or crystal ball readings and sword training. “We’re hoping to have a controlled environment that we can allow a few people to try using a sword, kind of like a training drill,” Cooper said. “We’ll take them through the different

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

....Continued on Page 2

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local Municipality sets aside Health Centre donations ESTIMATES BETWEEN $250,000 AND $400,000 FOR EQUIPMENT by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

he Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) has created a new reserve fund to allocate donations intended for purchasing equipment in the new health centre. The municipality received multiple donations and created the Health Centre Equipment Reserve, which will be tracked online, to be transparent with how the money is spent. Chief administrative officer Rob Bremner estimated it will take between $250,000 and $400,000 to properly equip the new facility once it is built. “Council was very specific as to setting aside this money and a specific reserve and

if someone has a speciﬁc use then that’s where it will be listed and that’s where the money will go,” he said. SPMRM is also establishing a committee to ensure Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR), the Sun Peaks Health Association (SPHA) and healthcare professionals have a say in the operation of the facility moving forward.

“It’s a panel to be sure everybody has a voice in how it functions.”

“We’re going to set up a committee that will basically look at capital spending on

the (facility) over a number of years, utilities or if there’s anything to be fundraised for. It’s a panel to be sure everybody has a voice in how it functions,” Bremner said. Bremner said he expects a contractor to be chosen by the end of May. The deadline for bids was extended from April 15 to May 9, after which the project manager, council, SPR and SPHA will evaluate the applications and select a contractor. “Obviously the sooner the better, we have pretty tight timelines. I think they’re still very doable but we are running out of time so we need to make a decision sooner than later,” Bremner said. “I would certainly hope within 10 days of getting the bids we know where we’re heading.”

Wildfire preparedness day a success by CARMEN RUIZ

wildland environment is a wildfire environment. That’s the message Sun Peaks Fire and Rescue (SPFR) and FireSmart Canada addressed to residents of Sun Peaks on Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 7. With close to two dozen people in attendance, SPFR members answered the question ‘What is a FireSmart community?’, and addressed the dangers in the home and yard zone. “The home/yard zone (needs to be) 10 metres away from their house and that’s where we want people concentrating their efforts when cleaning up their yard,” said fire prevention officer, Dean Schiavon.

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Starting young: Greyson and his mom, volunteer firefighter Tarrah Clements, helped the public learn more about what they can do to be ready for wildfire season. | PHOTO CARMEN RUIZ

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

Because Sun Peaks is a wildland environment, SPFR has been working hard to make Sun Peaks a FireSmart community and putting on the event helped inform the community of what it means to be FireSmart. “Being a FireSmart community is being one that is officially recognized by FireSmart Canada to help reduce the overall risk assessment for wildfires within our community,” said Schiavon. In order to make Sun Peaks an official FireSmart community, volunteer board representatives are needed and Schiavon is looking for people who may be interested. For more information on FireSmart visit www.firesmartcanada.ca. To become a board member, email Schiavon at prevention@sunpeaksfirerescue.com.

positions, this is what it looks like to sword ﬁght.” The unique nature of the show creates different performances each night. In addition to the improvised interactions with the cast, the audience will also help choose the winner of the tournament, leading to different endings of the show. “If you come twice and

....Continued from Cover

you’re able to help sway the vote, you might see an entirely different ending the second time,” Cooper said. “It’s got enough that you could see it twice and enjoy it.” Tickets are available at the Sun Peaks Adventure Centre or sunpeaksresort.com.

EAST ROAD PART OF ONGOING DISCUSSIONS An all-weather road between Sun Peaks and Chase is part of a current engagement process between the provincial government and local First Nations communities. The Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ mountain resorts branch is working with the Little Shuswap Indian Band and Adams Lake Indian Band to align First Nation interests with local and provincial interests at Sun Peaks Resort, according to ministry media relations ofﬁcer Greig Bethel. A paved east road

between Sun Peaks and Chase was identiﬁed as one of the opportunities through discussions. There is no deﬁnite timeframe on the current process, and Bethel said the ministry expects it to continue over the next few months with ongoing engagement and consultation meetings. Once the engagement process is completed, the mountain resort branch will review and discuss the results with the participating bands, Sun Peaks Resort LLP and the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality.

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Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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local NEWS SUN PEAKS INDEPENDENT NEWS INC. PO Box 1043 Sun Peaks BC V0E 5N0

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

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OUR TEAM EDITOR & PUBLISHER Brandi Schier

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Official Community Plan adopted PROVINCE FINALIZES TWO YEAR PROCESS by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

he municipality’s Official Community Plan was adopted by the province following a nearly two year process. Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) formalized the document in 2014 and it was then sent to the B.C. Government, who approved it

Skateboarders working for a park SKATE PARK FOUNDATION SEEKS FINANCE EXPERTISE

REPORTER Jamie Shinkewski jamie@sunpeaksnews.com

WRITERS Carmen Ruiz

by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

CONTRIBUTORS Mayor Al Raine

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.

ON THE

COVER

PHOTO: CHIMERA THEATRE

on March 21. “We’ve been utilizing it as our guideline anyway, but it’s just a guideline for how you move forward as a community from a development standpoint, from an environmental standpoint, all those things. It presents some guidelines after all the consultation that went on of how the community wants to see Sun Peaks grow and develop,” said chief administrative officer

Rob Bremner. The Official Community Plan is a requirement of being a municipality. Bremner stated an election, and due diligence on behalf of the province to check that SPMRM consulted with the Sun Peaks community, First Nation communities and the Thompson Nicola Regional District, as reasons the process took nearly two years. “I think it’s a good, very simple and usable document,” Bremner said. “Sometimes they get a little convoluted, but I think ours is a very usable document and I think it was well done.”

kateboarders in Sun Peaks are continuing to raise awareness and funds for a new skate park. The Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation ran a fundraising campaign at 5forty Café throughout the winter each Saturday night where a dollar per pint went to the cause, which president Peter Wilson said pushed through over 200 pints and was successful at raising awareness. “We’ve been doing grassroots basic awareness, getting the Facebook page up,” Wilson said. The foundation will also be holding a fundraiser at 5forty Café on June 11 to coincide with the first Skate Sun Peaks longboard event. “I think it’s about building a community. How do you get people to move here and stay, and I think part of that will have to be a skate park.” The foundation received charity status in 2015, and is seeking someone who has financial experience to join the committee. Wilson estimat-

“

It’s a thing you can do when you’re three or something you can do when you’re 70.

”

ed a small skateboard will cost around $180,000. “I’d really like someone to come forth and help me if they have any experience with grants,” Wilson said. The Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality will match the first $50,000 the foundation raises and they have a location set in the east village for a recreation area that will include the skate park. “We’ve set aside a piece of land out at the recreation site,” said chief administrative office Rob Bremner. “That’s where it’s going to go. The rink obviously not, but the rest of it is still going to be a sports and recreation site.” Currently, skateboarders in Sun Peaks don’t have a location to skateboard and have to make the commute to Kamloops where they note the

skate park is full even when other nearby recreation sites are vacant. “We usually get our parents to drive us (to Kamloops),” said 12-year-old skateboarder Olson Advocaat. “Every day after school we’d just go there. Just being able to not go down to town and just skate up here.” A skate park in Sun Peaks would create a low-cost activity for people of all ages to enjoy when chair lifts are closed. “It would bring a lot of people together,” said fellow 12-yearold Sun Peaks skateboarder Will McGauchie. “Not only kids, but adults and all age groups because it’s a thing you can do when you’re three or something you can do when you’re 70.” “After the lift closes it’s something to do. It’ll be fun,” Wilson said. “This is going to be something that is free to the public and I think that’s important.” The Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation will be holding their annual general meeting at the end of month, tentatively set for May 28. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact them via the Facebook page www.facebook.com/SunPeaksSkatePark.

The plan outlines guidelines for community issues such as transportation, housing, safety, residential and commercial development, and parks and recreation. Although it was a lengthy process, following a record year in Sun Peaks Bremner said it’s a perfect time to adopt the plan. “We haven’t really had a lot of development at this point and time, but it’s in place right as things are really starting to move forward, starting to get a little better, and the economy is starting to move forward. It’s in place at the right time,” Bremner said.

QUICK RESPONSE PREVENTS SPREAD OF FIRE “There was nobody hurt, everybody was safe.” The quick reaction from Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) prevented extensive damage to a house on Sunburst Drive on April 26, according to chief Colin Cannon. SPFR received a call at 3:23 p.m. and had an engine on scene within six minutes. Two trucks and 13 firefighters responded. The fire originated in a vehicle and was spreading to the nearby home. “The crews should be fully commended on how fast they were able to get water onto the side of the building and stop it from burning because it was already in the eaves and had it gone into the roof, it would’ve been a lot harder to fight it,” Cannon said. The cause of the fire was undetermined due to the extensive damage to the vehicle, but SPFR confirmed it started in the van, which was sitting in the driveway. “We were able to respond quickly and get the fire knocked down that had started on the roof of the house and then proceed to knock down the fire in the van,” said prevention officer Dean Schiavon.

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

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Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

opinion Importance of the 2016 Census by MAYOR AL RAINE

etween May 2 and 30 enumerators will be forwarding either a long form or a short form Canadian Census Questionnaire, which must be filled out as it is a legal obligation for every Canadian household. For Sun Peaks, this census is very important as many government grant programs are calculated on the number of permanent residents the community has. At the last census taken in 2011, Sun Peaks recorded 371 residents. We believe that many residents did not complete their forms or were not aware of the census. It is important that all residents (property owners and

non-property owners) register with Canada Census and fill in the census form. Health, school, recreational and social programs rely on census data to plan for future services. Most senior government grant programs use local population when awarding dollars to small communities so it is critical that we have everyone who calls Sun Peaks home to be register with their Sun Peaks address. On May 2, Statistics Canada started sending census packages by Canada Post. However this year you can complete your census questionnaire online. If you are away in May, please remember you can file online and have your presence in Sun Peaks counted at http:// www.census.gc.ca/. Census Canada information states “that all persons must

“Most senior government grant programs use local population when awarding dollars to small communities so it is critical that we have everyone who calls Sun Peaks home to be register with your Sun Peaks address.”

be included in their main residence including persons who are temporarily away. Only persons who do not have a main residence elsewhere in Canada should be included at the address they are

staying at on May 10, 2016.” Therefore if you are out of the country or temporarily away from Sun Peaks, your main residence is still Sun Peaks. For those who claim ‘Homeowner Grants’ for their Sun Peaks property, you have already declared your primary residence to be Sun Peaks, therefore you should report residency at Sun Peaks for May 10. Those Sun Peaks residents who have two homes in Canada can decide whether or not their main residency is here in Sun Peaks or in another location. However, we would advise that residents should be consistent, i.e. take their homeowner grant here in Sun Peaks, vote here, or plan to retire here, etc. Please make your commitment to Sun Peaks and fill in the census form.

local NEWS Ski patroller lends voice in support of sexual violence policy act by CARMEN RUIZ

olunteer patroller, longtime skier and parttime Sun Peaks resident, Jean Strong has become a main supporter of a new act being proposed by the BC Green Party. Bill M205: Post-Secondary Sexual Violence Policies Act, was first introduced by BC Green Party leader, Andrew Weaver, earlier this year. The bill insists that post-secondary institutions in British Columbia must address sexual violence involving students enrolled at their universities and how the institution must respond to incidents and complaints of sexual violence. Similar legislation has been put in place in Ontario. “We need this legislation because our colleges and universities aren’t doing enough to make their campuses safe for students,” Strong said in an article written for the BC Green Party’s website. Her support of the legislation

comes from a personal place. In 2012, she was sexually assaulted on the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Kamloops campus — twice. According to Strong, the university didn’t respond adequately when she came forward with her experiences. A journalism student, Strong published her story in 2015 in an online article. A former high school teacher then suggested she contact Weaver and work with his party by supporting the legislation and sharing her story. “I think it’s important to share my story because of all the very similar stories that have been silenced,” she said. Along with several articles published for CBC and local media, Strong wrote an article on the Green Party’s website about her experience and why she supports the bill. She also spoke at the University of Victoria earlier this month about what this bill means to schools and students, and addressed some of the misconceptions surrounding the proposal. “The bill doesn’t suggest

the university take the place of the RCMP or judicial system. It doesn’t suggest that universities should be investigating like the police would and doling out punishments based on their findings. It simply requires that the university have policies in place that will support students who report any kind of sexual assault or misconduct to the school, similar to workplaces having policies in place to handle sexual harassment.” It’s a feeling all too familiar to Strong. After she came forward about her assaults to a campus counsellor she was simply told to switch schools. “What has really made me continue work on this project even when it gets really difficult is the hundreds of girls that reached out to me after I first spoke out in 2015. I was flooded with texts, emails and Facebook messages from people so similar to me; girls at TRU who had been told to transfer schools,” said Strong. Strong has been living parttime in Sun Peaks since 2006 and began patrolling in 2012.

It was the community and the comfort she found in her patrolling that was a major factor in deciding to stay in the area. “Without telling (my co-workers) what was happening, I was able to rely on them and escape from the school community into one where I felt a lot safer and less vulnerable or victimized,” she said. Bill M205 is on track to be put into place by October of this year or sooner.

LETTER TO

the editor

INCREASE IN SUMMER ROOM RATES Should you have an economic driver and wish to destroy the work of many, do what the local hotels are implementing. The resort wishes to become a full year round opportunity and engage people to visit the mountain. I enjoy and appreciate the “music in the bowl” and the summer concerts and I have been attending for the last three years. I note that since that time, the hotel accommodation rates have increased by approximately 35 per cent without any substantial increase in service delivery. Should I attend this season, my budget will increase to a point where I will consider if the value is really there. I live in Kamloops and when I visit, I stay at a local hotel, get in a round of golf, visit and enjoy the restaurants, and usually go up the lift to appreciate the views and hiking. With the annual increases of all amenities, it may be more reasonable for me to attend the music festival and then drive back into the city. Be aware, merchants and hotel operators, there are many opportunities in this area over the summer to spend my limited budget on, and if I feel gouged, I may not visit the resort this year. I don’t disagree that a profit should be made, but don’t take advantage. - P. Lindsay Kamloops, B.C.

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

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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

Open 11:30 am to 6:30 pm daily Located on the Ground Floor of the Residences at Sun Peaks Grand

Phone: 250-578-2414

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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news Local volunteer receives provincial award by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

Sun Peaks resident has received provincial praise for his volunteerism in the community. John Hatchett was one of 30 recipients of the 2016 BC Community Achievement Awards. “When one looks at the list of people who are being honoured for the Achievement Award, that’s a lot of peo-

ple who have given a lot of hours and a lot of effort in their communities,” Hatchett said. “It’s wonderful to be a part of that group.” Hatchett began volunteering for ski races shortly after moving to Sun Peaks 18 years ago and has been a volunteer ski patroller for 12 years. “We’d only been here for a month and Nancy Greene asked me to work on a race committee for what’s now the Alpine Challenge,” Hatchett recalled. He also helped form the Sun Peaks

Health Association, establishing the current community health facility and working hard to raise funds and plan for the new facility expected to open in December. “I guess the big moment was when we got the facility that we have now from Northern Trailer and opened it in 2002,” Hatchett said. An independent committee, comprised of Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun, Terrace mayor Carol Leclerc, and past recipients Daphne Goode of

Victoria and Christopher Seguin of Kamloops selected the recipients this year. “All British Columbians are inspired by those who lead by example, lending their time and talents in their community,” Premier Christy Clark said in a press release. “Thank you to the 2016 recipients; your commitment and generosity make a real difference in people’s lives.” The 2016 award recipients will be recognized with a certificate and medallion in a formal presentation ceremony in Victoria on May 25.

Kamloops search dog completes training GERTIE JOINS LOCAL SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

“They can search 10 times an area that you could with four or five searchers and in half the time.”

amloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) welcomed a new four-legged member to the team this April who will help search faster and farther when the need arises. Two-year-old German shepherd Gertie is the second search and rescue dog available to the Kamloops team with one dog on leave and another still in training. “It helps immensely,” said KSAR president Alan Hobler. “(Search and rescue) dogs basically search different than how people search. They can cover a much larger area in a much shorter time period. Effectively they can search 10 times an area that you could with four or five searchers and in half the time.” Trainer Michelle Liebe has spent hundreds of hours helping Gertie prepare for life in her new job, which started when

sunpeaksnews.com

Ready for duty: After two years of training, Gertie is ready to join trainer Michelle Liebe on searches. | PHOTO FACEBOOK

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

she was a puppy and takes around two years to complete. Less than half of the dogs complete the training, which includes daunting tasks such as flying in a helicopter and repelling down the side of a cliff. “It’s a very long training process, it starts right at the puppy stage. They go out and they will look for the puppy that is best suited for it and from there it’s not raised like a normal dog would be. Its specific purpose is for search and rescue,” Hobler said. “They’re trained and they’re treated a little differently than your house pet would be.” The personality of a search and rescue dog is also immensely important, according

to Hobler. The dog must be affectionate, non-aggressive and also very obedient. “We just absolutely love dogs, the public loves dogs, it’s a phenomenal (public relations) tool,” Hobler said. “The team members all love the dogs too so when you’re out on a search and there’s a dog there, all the searchers love it and if there’s a distraught family or children on a search, having a dog that’s also very sociable can be very helpful as well.” The hard work doesn’t stop now that Gertie has officially joined KSAR. Liebe and Gertie will continue to train every week, if not every day, to be ready for when duty calls. “The amount of dedication that the dog handlers have to go through, and of course the dogs as well, it’s a lifetime for the dogs. They don’t retire until they’re about eight years old and by that time they’ve spent their entire life just being dedicated to search and rescue,” Hobler said.

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

in PHOTOS Racers from the BC Provincial, Fernie, Manning Park, Alpental Snoqualmie, and Sun Peaks ski teams squeezed in one last session of race training in early May. - Photo Tourism Sun Peaks

Outgoing Tourism Sun Peaks President Christopher Nicolson listens during his farewell party in April. - Photo SPIN Harry Bear made an appearance at Meet a Machine in Kamloops in April. - Photo Tourism Sun Peaks

The HUB Nancy Greene Festival saw over 500 particpants and their families come to Sun Peaks and compete in several events over the weekend. Photo Sun Peaks Racers

Former head of mountain operations, Jamie Tattersfield, was honoured at Canada West Ski Areas' spring conference. - Photo Christopher Nicolson

Talyn Lorimer was recognized as U12 Female Excellence at the U10 - U16 Awards in April.

Local Candace White judged the Grade 4-5-6 Heritage Fair Projects in April

Photo Sun Peaks Racers

The Grand served up a BBQ treat after the first village clean up of the spring. Photo Ryan Kim

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; June 9

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GET out there Rekindling a passion for the slopes CANADA’S FIRST BLIND INSTRUCTOR SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

isa Bentz retired early at age 48 due to complications with vision loss and moved to Sun Peaks nearly four years ago from Vancouver for a lifestyle change. She left a frustrating situation in a big city and discovered a community where she is encouraged to pursue all the outdoor activities she loves to do. “I moved up here because the community’s so magic and everyone who lives here, it’s like living in the bubble zone, everyone’s just totally out-ofthe-box thinkers and can-do people,” Bentz said. Sports have been an important part of life for Bentz, who was diagnosed with an incurable disease and as a result has experienced gradual vision

loss since age nine. She was a nationally competitive skier and a silver medallist swimmer at the 1980 Paralympic Games in Arnhem, Netherlands.

“

It was complete freedom to me.

”

Bentz returned to skiing upon her move after a 10-year hiatus and was nervous she wouldn’t enjoy it because of her increased loss of vision. However, increased technology has improved guiding for visually impaired skiing and Bentz reclaimed her passion for the sport. “It was complete freedom to me,” she said.

The can-do attitude of the community encouraged Bentz to take a teaching course and she became the ﬁrst blind person to earn a Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing level 1 instructor in the nation. “I think it’s a sense of pride and also a sense of humbleness in that hopefully other people will know that it’s possible and go try it themselves,” she said. Bentz has begun sharing her experiences on her website, www.accessability411. ca. The site was a place where she shared the information she gained working as a medical social worker. Last year she also began writing a blog, sharing how she adapts activities such as hiking, golf and paddle boarding. “There’s just so many things you can’t learn about being blind and you can’t pass on until you live it,” Bentz said. “Twenty years ago I never would’ve thought I was living this life (today).” Bentz said the best way for her to learn a new activity is

Out for a hike: Lisa Bentz (second from right) uses the sense of touch to know the gradient of the hiking trail. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

through touch. For example, to learn to paddle or to swing a club she places her hands on a hip and shoulder to feel the instructor’s motions. While hiking a steep face, she knows how big a step or drop is by feeling how much her guide’s hip ﬂexor moves. “You don’t have to support her or anything like that,” said Jim Alix, who is often Bentz’s guide. “This is such a social place. People are here because they want to be here. You don’t

have to put yourself out to enjoy being with other people.” Bentz is continuing to expand her horizons. Waterskiing is on the agenda for the summer, and powder skiing will be the challenge next ski season. “You never know why you’re on this earth or why you’re given these challenges, but hopefully my experience will help somebody,” she said. “I think that people don’t know what they can do until they’re in that situation.”

these other great Family Fun Events! AT SUN PEAKS RESORT

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July 1-3

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STAY FROM $109 PER NIGHT! More info at SunPeaksResort.com/Events Call Central Reservations at 1.800.807.3257 †Restrictions may apply.

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

Share Your Sun Peaks Story.

arts ENTERTAINMENT Our skiing champ OLYMPIC TRIBUTE SONG SURFACES AFTER 46 YEARS by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI AND BRANDI SCHIER

he guitar sets a folksy tone and a man’s voice bellows out a long-unheard song through the speakers. “Nancy Greene, our Nancy Greene, fairest ﬂower ever seen. The sun will shine, the moon will beam down on the one, our Nancy Greene,” the chorus rings. The folk song Nancy Greene was recorded by Bob Unrau and originated in Greene’s hometown of Rossland, B.C. An online version of the two-sided record, which includes a sec-

ond track called Rossland B.C., surfaced in social media circles at the end of the ski season. The song refers to Greene as “our skiing champ, our Canadian queen” and “our only champion girl.” SPIN reached out to Unrau’s daughter on social media to ﬁnd out more. “Gosh, way back when on the 45’s,” said Amberlee Ficociello, reminiscing on the music format of her father’s day. The song was written by Alex Riley, who was friends with Greene when she won Olympic gold and silver in 1968 and was recorded the following year.

She said she loved to hear of father’s recording surfacing after so many years. “It’s touching because music was such a big part of my Dad’s life. It’s nice that some gets recognized and acknowledged because, that recording especially goes back a really long time,” she said, including that Unrau now lives in a senior’s home in West Kelowna and is nearing the age of 80. Unrau loved to play country music and was always part of small band growing up. He was inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. As far as Ficociello is aware this is her father’s only recording and she still has a few copies at her home. Nancy Greene Raine said it’s the only song to her knowledge that was written in her honour following her Olympic wins. “I don’t think I’d ever heard it before. It certainly wasn’t fa-

Our Canadian Queen: This tribute to Sun Peaks resident Nancy Greene Raine surfaced on social media last month. | PHOTO FROM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/LOSTKOOTENAYS

miliar,” Greene Raine said. “It’s kind of funny, a blast out of the past.” She said she feels fortunate to have grown up in an active community where everybody knows each other and there was a ton of local support. “It makes you really appreci-

ate where your roots are and you never forget that,” Greene Raine said. “You never forget the people that helped you get where you got to.” The song can be heard at http://citizenfreak.com/titles/305315-unrau-bob-nancygreene-b-w-rossland-b-c.

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

sunpeaksnews.com

arts ENTERTAINMENT Alan Doyle to wrap up Summer Concert Series by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

lan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies will headline the ﬁnal weekend of the outdoor Summer Concert Series in Sun Peaks on August 20. For more than 20 years, Doyle was one of the lead singers for the Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea. The four-time East Coast Music Award winners are best known for their hit songs such as Ordinary Day and The Night Pat Murphy Died. The group parted ways in

Summer tunes: Doyle will lead his band of Beautiful Gypsies to Sun Peaks for the final concert of the summer. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

2015 and Doyle launched a solo career with the release of his album So Let’s Go. Doyle has previous expe-

rience playing in the region. Great Big Sea played in Kamloops as a part of their 20th anniversary tour in 2013 and

Doyle performed solo as the opening act for the Barenaked Ladies in October 2015. Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies will make their Sun Peaks debut as part of their 2016 tour, which features sold out shows across North America. They take to the stage on Saturday night during the ﬁnal concert weekend that runs from August 19 to 21. “Hot off the heels of our announcement for Sam Roberts Band to headline the ﬁrst weekend of our Summer Concert Series on July 8, we are delighted to host Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies to close out the show in late August,”

Aidan Kelly, director of sales and marketing for Sun Peaks Resort LLP, said in a press release. “We have always been a big proponent of promoting Canadian talent and we are thrilled to provide our guests with an opportunity to experience some of our country’s best.” Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies are the third Canadian band that is booked to play in Sun Peaks this summer. Sixtime Juno Award winner Sam Roberts Band will kick off the Summer Concert Series on July 8 and the Sun Peaks Music Search winner The Burn Ins will play ﬁve shows during the summer.

Greater attention to detail >> Artist and photgrapher launch new collaboration by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

local artist ofﬁcially launched a new collaboration project at the Kamloops Spring Home Show at the McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre on April 9 and 10. Airbrush artist Will Dallimore teamed up with Kamloops photographer Melanie Dreyer to create a unique experience, which included a professional photoshoot paired with a portrait painting created from the photo of choice. “The artwork I create has been mistaken as a photograph so many times that working with Mel just seemed like a

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perfect ﬁt. It’s a whole experience package,” said Dallimore, who has called Sun Peak home since 2011. “I don’t know of any other artist and photographer who are working so closely on something.” Dallimore stepped out of his comfort zone with a live demonstration of the new collaboration at the home show to expose event-goers to their work. It was only the third time he had painted in front of a crowd. “I was pretty nervous at the start of the weekend, but by the end of the weekend I was pretty comfortable with all the interactions and actually showing complete strangers and seeing how interested they were in what we’re doing,” he said.

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

“I DON’T KNOW ANY OTHER ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER WHO ARE WORKING SO CLOSELY ON SOMETHING.”

“It seemed like a good way to get exposure. It’s a well-attended event that’s for sure.” Dallimore, who has been painting for about 20 years, was impressed with the high attention to detail in Dreyer’s photos and saw it as an opportunity to improve his portrait paintings, which he said have been gaining recognition over the past ﬁve years. “In the past with some of my paintings, some of the images I’ve been given as reference have been a challenge to actually create such a highly detailed image. So when I saw

Live launch: Will Dallimore did a live demonstration of his portrait painting at the Kamloops Spring Home Show. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

Mel’s work I thought if I could use one of her images as reference I’d create an even better painting,” Dallimore said. “She’s got such an incredible eye and such great detail in her images.” Though the collaboration has just begun, Dallimore said he has already noticed an increased quality in his art. He likes to paint what he sees and

being able to use Dreyer’s images has provided a good reference for him. “The two I’ve done with her so far it’s just gone up ﬁve or six different levels of quality,” he said. “For me, I strive to create such a highly detailed image that to do so I need the best reference possible, so that’s where the actual idea of the collaboration came together.”

arts ENTERTAINMENT Ski lift provides unique skateboard experience Longboarders take to MCC course by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

he mountain cross cart track will open to different four-wheeled riders on June 11 and 12 when Landyacht and Unkle Events present Skate Sun Peaks, a unique skateboarding experience down the mountain. The event will be one-of-akind as the participants will make use of the magic carpet to transport them back to the top of the course. Typically, these type of events use a quiet road down a mountain which forces road closures and limits the amount of time spent on the course. “What we’re looking forward to is the lift. I know the lift’s not a chair and it’s not massive, but to run a typical event you have to open and close the road many times

throughout the day because the participants need to travel back up the same road,” said event producer Lee Cation. “We don’t have to close our road, or in this case pathway or cart track, so we can have continuous skateboarding.” “They’ll be skateboarding until their legs drop off or their wheels burn off. The fact we don’t have to close the track to shuttle back up is the biggest feature.” The nature of the cart track will also make it challenging for skateboarders. The track is paved into the natural slope of the hill as opposed to being flattened or banked as typical courses are, which will make it difficult to gain traction, according to Cation. “We call it tight and techy,” said Cation, who made a trip to test the track in 2015. “It’s challenging and technical. It comes quick. You’re not finished one

Tight and techy: The MCC course will prove a challenging ride for skateboarders during the inaugural Skate Sun Peaks in June.

| PHOTO ALEX MOFFET

corner before you’re set up for the next one, it comes pretty fast. It only takes you about a minute to do a run, but your legs are burning and it’s definitely exhilarating because the corners are coming at you really fast.” Cation said longboarding doesn’t always receive a warm welcome and compares it to the reaction from skiers when snowboarding started gaining popularity, and is grateful Sun Peaks had an open mind to open the track for the inaugural event. “Sun Peaks is already going to be branded in our history as one of the supporters, some of the people that saw an opportunity, or saw this as something that could benefit a region and getting people outside and being active,” he said. Cation said he hopes to see over 50 participants in the first year of the event. It costs $140 for the weekend and registration is available at skatesunpeaks.com.

EVENT > listings SATURDAY

MAY 14

HEFFLEY CREEK SPAGHETTI DINNER

Spaghetti, salad, bread and dessert will be served in a dinner fundraiser for the Heffley Creek Hall Tickets are $12 each or two for $20 at the door. 250-578-7525

THURSDAY

MAY 19

19TH ANNUAL TRASH BASH

4 to 7 p.m. Grab a friend, lend a hand and get our community cleaned up for the busy summer season ahead! Meet at Bento's Day Lodge. Dress for the weather - boots and gloves are recommended. 250-578-5542

THE WHOLE

7 p.m. at the Sun Peaks Municipal Office located in the Kookaburra Lodge. www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

www.sunpeaksresort.com

Skateboarders will descend the mountain cross cart track all weekend, taking the magic carpet back up in a unique longboarding event. www.skatesunpeaks.com

SATURDAY

JUNE 18

5K FOAM FEST

The fun obstacle course run will stop in Sun Peaks for the first time, featuring more than 22 obstacle challenges that promises runners to get foamy, muddy and wet.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

JUNE 6

COMMITTEE OF

BIKE PARK OPENING DAY

SKATE SUN PEAKS

JUNE 11 & 12

TNRD BOOKMOBILE

bookmobile@tnrd.ca

JUNE 24

The Sunburst Express chairlift will begin operating from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the summer activities.

www.5kfoamfest.ca

The TNRD Bookmobile visits the Bento’s Day Lodge parking lot every third Thursday from 3 to 4:15 p.m.

SATURDAY

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

THURSDAY

MAY 26

250-578-7525

JUNE 19

FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH, CAR SHOW AND CRAFT MARKET

Bring your favourite dad down to check out some great old cars, have a fantastic brunch and do some shopping at the market at the Heffley Creek Hall.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

JUNE 24 – 26 KIDS FEST

The village will be alive with a multitude of free activities from Zumba, interactive theatre demontrations by Chimera Theatre, Djembe Django drumming circles, face painting, bouncy castles and more. 250-578-5542

MONDAY

JUNE 25

ART ZONE SOCIAL BBQ

Come celebrate summer and the arts in Sun Peaks at the Art Zone social BBQ. Starting at 4 p.m. with a short meeting, bring your family, friends and what you wish to drink. www.artzonesunpeaks. com

sunpeaksnews.com/events Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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MAY BEGINS WITH WATER WEEK May 1 to 7 was officially declared Water Week in Sun Peaks, as part of a provincial initiative by the BC Water & Waste Association. The goal of the campaign was to raise awareness of the value of water, the need to protect it, conservation and the support of a sustainable process to get clean water from source to tap to drain and back. “Sun Peaks Utilities are already deep in conservation anyway with low flow toilets and shower heads and everything they do,”

chief administrative officer Rob Bremner said. “We certainly use a lot less water than others in the province.” B.C. residents use an average of 350 litres of water each per day, and 91 per cent of residents in the province receive their water from a municipal system, according to the BC Water Week’s website. Residents who are willing to pledge to protect, conserve and support provincial water systems are eligible to win a prize at www.valueofwater.ca.

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Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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>> sports Foam Fest relocates to Sun Peaks JUNE EVENT SET TO DRAW UP TO 6,000 by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

unners will be set to be soaked on the slopes when the 5K Foam Fest comes to Sun Peaks on June 18. The fun run, which guarantees participants to get “foamy, muddy and wet,” returns to the B.C. Interior after a successful event in Silver Star in 2015. The course will feature more than 22 obstacle challenges for participants ranging from the classics like walls and mud pits to ones unique to Foam Fest. “You’ll see the unique obstacles of Foam Fest, which would include the D-Drop Mega Slide which is a 55-foot tall, one of

the world’s tallest, waterslide. You can expect the biggest bounce house you could ever imagine filled with foam you’ve got to run through, it’s called the Chamber of Foam, and then there’s three separate slip n’ slides on the course,” said director of partnership Michael Lambert. “One of our most popular obstacles is the lily pads where we run, there are basically mats across the water, on the pads without falling in. Fifty per cent of people make it.” Beginner and experienced runners are encouraged to sign up, and any obstacles that seem too difficult can be skipped. Participants should plan to get “dirty, wet and clean

all in the same run,” according to the event’s website. The five-kilometre course will begin in the village with the course set up all over the mountain and a festival zone at the finish line. “Obstacle course racing is one of the fastest growing sports in the world right now and Foam Fest is an entry level,” Lambert said. “You can run the five km with 22 plus obstacles and not worry about a time. It’s all about having fun.” Lambert said the event hopes to attract more than 5,000 participants and will sell out at 6,000 people. Registration is already attracting people from throughout the Interior, the Lower Mainland and as far away as Calgary and Edmonton. Registration and event information is available at www.5kfoamfest.ca. “Our west coast stops are

Foamy fun: The 5K Foam Fest will bring up to 6,000 participants to tackle the 22-plus obstacle course on June 18. | PHOTO SUBMITTED (5K FOAM FEST)

filling up quickly, you want to grab your ticket now for sure,”

Lambert said. “You don’t want to miss it.”

Youth Nordic skiing continues to grow JACKRABBITS PROGRAM SEEKS NEW COACHES by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

he Sun Peaks Nordic Club’s jackrabbits program is looking to continue expanding following another season of growth. The third year of the youth program had between 35 and 40 kids from Sun Peaks and Kamloops between the ages of three and 13 strapping on cross country skis each Saturday for three months between December and February. “We’re not really motivated by getting X number of kids in the program. The motivation is really providing life skills in the community,” said Christopher Nicolson, head coach of the jackrabbits program. “The very fact we’re part of a Nordic and

sunpeaksnews.com

Nordic fun: Jackrabbits members sported their new uniforms throughout the successful 2015-16 season. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

an alpine community probably illustrates that the best. Success for us is kids having fun and kids developing skills with as many things as you can

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

slide on.” The addition of a Nordic terrain park this winter was a huge benefit for skill development. New jackrabbits uni-

forms also provided an unexpected comradery among the kids, Nicolson said. “Like any program, the root of it has to be fun. For the kids the terrain park represented that, it represented fun,” Nicolson said. “We, as coaches, just implemented and incorporated the terrain park into our sessions. We started there, often times we’d finish up there and as we’re working on particular skills we would use some of the terrain park features into those skills.” The number of participants has more than doubled since the jackrabbits began, and now they’re looking for additional coaches to add a teenaged group to the program’s offerings. “One of the things we’re doing is adding a level for that early teen age, so we

need to have some additional coaches to be able to cover that full spectrum,” Nicolson said. “If we can bring in two more coaches next year it would be a massive asset for us. It’s a sign of success of the program.” Another new feature for the upcoming jackrabbits’ season will be laser rifles and sensor targets to safely integrate biathlon programming. The Nordic club received funding from the Kamloops Blazers Sport Society Sport Legacy Fund and will have them ready for use next winter. “The biathlon will be a big, big hit. We know there’s already pent up demand and excitement about it. It’s another opportunity to tie in yet another Olympic sport into the Sun Peaks community,” Nicolson said.

>> sports Local pro now official bike park partner by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

S >> Sun Peaks launches new summer biking camps Whip it: Dylan Sherrard enjoys the bike park in Sun Peaks. | PHOTO STEVE RIFFEL

un Peaks Resort took another step forward in the growth of the mountain bike park by announcing an official partnership with Kamloopsbased professional mountain biker Dylan Sherrard on April 5. “I’m quite excited about it. It’s basically the natural next step forward with me helping to try and grow riding around the resort,” Sherrard said. “I just feel really proud. I think it’s really cool. I love the place and I’ve been riding there since I was 17.” The partnership between the resort and Sherrard was launched alongside the Shred Hard Summer Camp series,

featuring a diverse schedule with different programs for riders of all ages. The camp series includes the Shred Hard Sick Weekend Camp on July 9 and 10, the five day Shred Hard Summer Camp from July 11 to 15 and the four week Shred Hard Sunday School for young shredders starting on July 17. Sherrard said he will also be available for private guiding. “All the summer camps we do are pretty mellow programs. It’s really just designed to get kids out and show them a really, really good experience,” the 26-year-old said. “It’s definitely more about fun than anything else, but we also integrate quite a bit of skill building into the programs too.” Sherrard grew up in the Yukon and moved to the Kam-

loops area because he wanted mountain biking to be a mainstay in his life. He has been riding in Sun Peaks since 2007 and instructing since 2009. “Dylan is a long time rider and ambassador of the Sun Peaks Bike Park and has been helping us in various capacities for many years,” Aidan Kelly, director of sales and marketing for Sun Peaks Resort LLP, said in a press release. “An official partnership was simply the next step forward together in growing the park.” The partnership will also include community events such as the Sun Peaks Pedal Fest and Grass Dual Slalom World Championships from Sept. 3 to 5. The Sun Peaks Bike Park opens June 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SPRTA working to complete first official trail VOLUNTEER CAPACTIY DOUBLES WITH NEW TOOLS by JAMIE SHINKEWSKI

get people riding the trails too early it does have a detrimental effect,” Peterson said. “Ruts start to form in the mud and that sort of stuff and that’s just more maintenance work we need to do once it does finally dry up.” SPRTA will be doing work on trails at least one day per week for approximately four or five hours, depending on member availability. “We’re very mountain bike oriented so far,” Peterson said. “We’re looking to broaden our horizons as we grow in our membership base. If there are people that want to take on the hiking side of things we’re open to people getting involved.” SPRTA will hold their annual general meeting at 5 p.m. on June 5. Anyone looking to get involved can contact them on Facebook or at sprtatrails@gmail.com.

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s the snow melts and trails begin to dry, cross country biking and hiking enthusiasts are getting ready and the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association (SPRTA) is preparing for the warm months ahead. SPRTA will be purchasing new tools for trail maintenance and building thanks to a $1,560 community grant from the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. The new tools will double the amount of volunteers able to help with trail maintenance and building from less than 10 to around 20. “If we weren’t interested in hiking, biking, snowshoeing and all these things ourselves, I don’t think there would be a lot

driving this,” said acting SPRTA vice president Mike Sleziak. “We’ll buy more tools and double our productivity.” A major project this summer will be the completion of a new cross country biking trail between the village and Morrisey chairlift, which they hope to have completed by September. “That would give enough time for people to be out riding it and potentially be on the trail map next year,” said acting SPRTA president Jase Peterson. “That’s been our sort of ‘proving trail’ to show the standard of trail we’re going to be building.” Trail riding and maintenance are still weeks away as the trails need to dry out before they can be used. “It’s still fairly wet out there so we want to hold off getting out there and publicizing people getting out there because if you

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Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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#59 Crystal Forest - $269,000

#12 Sun Mountain Villas - $184,900

Kookaburra Lodge starting at: $169,000 Hearthstone Lodge starting at: $28,900

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#46 Woodhaven - $419,900

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 14 Issue 5 May 13 — June 9

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Ski to your doorstep of this level entry 2 bedroom plus family room furnished mountain townhome. Ski-in, ski-out location just steps away from the downhill & nordic trails with incredible views of Mt. Morrisey & Mt. Tod from the 2 sundecks. Open concept main floor with heated tile flooring & a river rock gas fireplace. This is a cozy & inviting space with sunny southern exposure in a peaceful location. This home has plenty of extra storage space & a private garage. GST paid.

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#58 Stone’s Throw - $394,900

This updated condo in Stone’s Throw is one of Sun Peaks’ most attractive ski-in, ski-out complexes located on the 16th fairway of the golf course with mountain views. This bright south facing home features two levels of living space, including 3 bdrms & 2 baths. The living room has dramatic vaulted ceiling with soaring windows, custom blinds, rock fireplace, and a large open kitchen with granite countertops & eating bar, S/S appliances & heated slate floor. Includes hot tub & GST paid.

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5411 Lookout Ridge - $988,000

This 2013 PNE Prize Home is a beautiful open concept two storey home filled with classical architectural details and state of the art fixtures & appliances. Features rustic traditional w/ country chic decor that has a colour palette of crisp white, cream, black & linen. This sophisticated home features 3 spacious bdrms, 4 baths, games room complete with pool table and 2nd storey family room. GST paid.

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Large 1 bedroom condo situated on the 2nd fairway of the Sun Peaks Golf Course & McGillivray Creek adjacent to green space offering privacy & views. Extra large covered deck engineered for a hot tub, private garage & carport offering additional storage space for toys. Bright open floor plan with spacious kitchen, dining and living room plus large utility & laundry room. Located a short walk along the Valley Trail from the Village and all resort amenities. Quick occupancy available.

Fireside Lodge starting at: $136,900 Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge starting at: $71,900 Sundance Lodge starting at: $16,900 The Residences at Sun Peaks Grand starting at: $49,000

6488 Yates Creek Rd (Little Heffley Lake) - $789,000 Spectacular lakefront estate on 3.4 acres with over 400 ft of waterfront on pristine Little Heffley Lake. This is truly a remarkable 4 bedroom home with office & custom built in cabinetry, loft, full daylight walkout basement with stunning lake views, family room, garage with workshop & additional carport. Dominantly perched overlooking the lake with mountain views, a modern kitchen, open design concept with vaulted ceiling & three sided gas fireplace. You can fish from the private dock or right off the grassy shoreline.

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2502 Eagle Court - $650,000