SPIN Vol 15 Issue 3 by Sun Peaks Independent News

Organizers prepare for

Fire department

>> Page 2

>> Page 6

APRIL FESTIVAL

WINTER Forecast

ATTRACTS RECRUITS

MARCH 17—18 Showers, colder

MARCH 19—24 Sunny, cool

MARCH 25—31

Rainy periods, turning mild

APRIL 1—11 Showers, cool

APRIL 12

Few showers, seasonable

Volume 15 Issue 3 >> MARCH 17 — APRIL 12

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YOURS FREE TO TAKE HOME

FIRST PROVINCIAL drone search Seven people rescued with help of Kamloops tech company TAKES PLACE

“It was pretty exhilarating. We were incredibly grateful and it’s definitely something we will remember for the rest of our lives.”

Robert Atwood and Richard Sullivan with one of their drones. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

by JEAN STRONG

hen Robert Atwood answered his phone on the evening of Feb. 20 he didn’t expect to spend the night in the woods near Sun Peaks. But on the other end was Alan Hobler, president of Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR). A group of skiers was lost after leaving the ski boundary at Sun Peaks Resort and they needed Atwood’s help to find them. It wasn’t the first time he had been called to a search.

Atwood, CEO and co-founder of Hummingbird Drones in Kamloops, has been training alongside KSAR since 2015. But past searches turned out to be false alarms or the subjects were found before the drones were deployed. Atwood had no idea this would be the first successful drone search and rescue in the province. “We were pretty surprised, but there was no question if we were going to go or not.” Atwood was in Revelstoke for a conference but loaded into a car with co-founder

Richard Sullivan and drove the three hours to Sun Peaks where they met with 18 KSAR members ready to find the seven subjects lost somewhere in the forest between Sun Peaks and Whitecroft, known as the Henderson Creek drainage. The slope often lures unprepared skiers away from the resort, while they believe they are headed to the bottom of the mountain. The search went into the early hours of the next morning as Atwood and Sullivan guided the infrared drones above terrain that is challenging to navi-

gate on foot. “We have a live view from the drone and KSAR directs us where to fly,” Atwood said. “KSAR personnel will instruct us if we see something hot and decide if we want to investigate further or continue.” Three subjects were found around 10 p.m. and contact was made with the other four after midnight. They were all escorted off the mountain by KSAR members. “It was pretty exhilarating,” Atwood said. “We were incredibly grateful and it’s definitely something we will remember

for the rest of our lives.” Hummingbird adapted the infrared technology they use to find hot spots in wildfires to be used for Search and Rescue. The difference is the operator and guide look for heat and movement to identify those who are lost. While the technology worked well, it has room to improve. Atwood said he would like to add a way to communicate with subjects and better identify searchers. Overall the team said the

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

continued on page

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER Brandi Schier

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local NEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER

search was very successful and ran smoothly. As the ﬁrst search of it’s kind, it’s an important example of how drones can be used to make searches faster and more efﬁcient. Kamloops and Coquitlam SAR teams will continue to test their use and report to B.C. Search and Rescue (BCSAR) and Emergency Man-

agement B.C. on their ﬁndings. BCSAR vice president Colin Wiebe said the Sun Peaks search was exciting and a positive example of drone usage but the technology needs more time to prove itself. Wiebe said the technology needs to be tested in other seasons and types of searches to see if it’s a viable resource.

>> Safety and logistics planned for Snowbombing festival by JEAN STRONG

Jen Schier

jen@sunpeaksnews.com

F Jean Strong jean@sunpeaksnews.com

SALES CONSULTANT Caroline Thompson

groups; two snowboarders and a family of ﬁve skiers, who left the roped ski area boundary on the western edge of the resort. Snow in the area has tempted skiers and boarders to duck ropes in search of powder in the past, but they are quickly drawn into avalanche terrain with creeks and gullies that can be challenging to navigate.

RCMP ﬁrst called KSAR for the snowboarding duo who were reported missing by friends. But a sweep of the boundary by ski patrollers found ﬁve other tracks, complicating the search as the team could not be sure exactly how many subjects were missing. Two searches have taken place in the area since, but the drones were not used.

FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS PREPARE

GRAPHIC ARTIST

REPORTER

“We want to make sure any new tool is something that will help and not hinder.” Hobler said they were excited to use the technology after training for more than a year. “We are hoping to get them (drones) on more searches to see what their strengths and weaknesses are.” The subjects were members of two

rom April 6 to 10, Snowbombing music festival will draw around 5,000 people to the resort. Some residents voiced concerns and raised questions during a town hall style meeting on Feb. 15. Organizers and Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) representatives were on hand to address concerns regarding security, safety and logistics. In a following interview, Aidan Kelly, chief marketing ofﬁcer for SPR, said the organizers are aware

of the concerns and have over-prepared. He added that Broadwick Live, Brand Live and Blueprint, companies that are working together to put on the festival, have experience. “We’re really happy to see everything they’ve put in place. They’ve arranged events bigger than Snowbombing and are being more diligent than they need to be.” B.C. has been in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis and SPR is aware of the risks associated with large groups of people visiting the area who may not know the dangers currently associated with drug use in the province. Kelly said drug testing resources will not be available like at some other festivals. However, there will be a harm reduction tent and a down time area for attendees. Organizers also plan to educate attendees on the dangers of opioid-laced drugs before,

during and after their arrival at the resort. Kelly added that volunteers on the ground will help with education and prevention. B.C. Ambulance Service has also spoken with SPR regarding the addition of emergency services at the resort for the duration of the festival, but Kelly said nothing has been arranged as of printing. Private security personnel will be patrolling venues and ensuring all are emptied following an event. Businesses in the resort can arrange their own security if they choose as the festival’s hired security will focus solely on event areas. Police presence will also be increased in the resort for the duration of the festival. Organizers have put plans in place for venue clean up that include additional garbage and recycling bins as well as portable toilets. A dedicated clean up crew has been tasked with ensuring all venues are cared

for after their use. Concerns with parking and transportation have also been addressed as the resort will beneﬁt from extended shuttle hours, and additional shuttles will operate between Kamloops and Sun Peaks. In a news release, Tourism Sun Peaks encouraged anyone driving to the festival to carpool as parking may be limited. Attendees will also be kept off main roads while walking to and from P5, one of the main venues for headlining artists. “The Forest Stage venue (P5) will include an interactive experience leading to the venue, which will include animation and lights keeping festival attendees on the valley trail and off the roadways,” SPR announced in the release. Residents who have concerns or security situations will have access to a 24 hour hotline to report incidents or receive help during the festival.

caroline@sunpeaksnews.com

WRITERS Alicia Ashcroft Alison Hodgins 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 submitted

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TELUS PURCHASES MASCON CABLE by JEAN STRONG

ascon Cable was purchased by Telus Communications on Jan. 5 after 34 years of serving Interior B.C. communities from their base in Salmon Arm, although customers may not have noticed a change. Telus hired all of Mascon’s employees, including both owners, and has been working with them during the transition. “We have no plans to change staffing levels, and will be integrating our teams over the coming months,” said Richard Gilhooley, media

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

relations manager with Telus. “Telus will be working with the Mascon team throughout the transition to ensure there are no disruptions to existing services.” An email sent to Mascon customers said the acquisition would increase reliability and network capacity. Gilhooley said they plan to expand the fibre optic infrastructure that has been laid to Sun Peaks and to the majority of homes along Heffley Louis Creek Road. Currently, many multi-unit developments in Sun Peaks can connect to the cable that provides faster internet and higher quality television. “That work is targeted to

start within the next one to two years,” Gilhooley said. “We’ll be offering some of the most advanced communications infrastructure available in the world today for connected residents and businesses to access immediately.” Telus was interested in acquiring Mascon due to their complementary projects, Gilhooley said. “Mascon has provided great service to residents of the northern Okanagan, and we thank them for trusting Telus with the next evolution of service in communities like Sun Peaks.” Mascon has operated as a Sun Peaks’ phone and internet provider for 20 years, and

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Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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local NEWS LOCAL GROUPS BENEFIT FROM SPORTS LEGACY FUND

The ASSP team poses in November 2016. | FILE PHOTO

The Nordic team practises with the new biathlon equipment. | FILE PHOTO

by JEAN STRONG

CORPORATE

INDIVIDUAL

wo local groups have been awarded funds from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society Sports Legacy

Fund. The First Nations Snowboard Team and Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks (ASSP) received $5,000 and $7,125, respectively. The snowboard team will use their grant to purchase new equipment and apparel.

ASSP has plans to put their funds toward training instructors in skiing, snowboarding and student teaching. The number of students attending lessons offered by ASSP has grown this year. More snowboard lessons are

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Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

ganizations at Sun Peaks in past years. In 2016, the Nordic Club was given funds to purchase four laser biathlon rifles with electronic targets, which have been very popular with club members and helped teach them responsibility.

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community PUT ON YOUR PARTY PANTS >> April festival brings economic spin off and marketing opportunities BRANDI SCHIER PUBLISHER’S NOTE brandi@sunpeaksnews.com

his April Sun Peaks will host a party on a scale the resort hasn’t seen before. While we’re no strangers to music events, such as the summer concert series and one-offs such as the Sheepdogs during the Dew Am Tour a few years ago, Snowbombing will take a small army of people to co-ordinate and take over the entire village as well as mountain venues. In the past, Sun Peaks has

generally shied away from events aimed at younger audiences and there’s a sense of nervousness among some members of the community. Fears of tarnishing our family friendly reputation and of “festival culture” are deﬁnitely out there, but in my opinion they’re unfounded. While there may be a few situations that arise when 5,000 people come together to celebrate winter and music, I can guarantee most attendees are not here to trash accommodations or vandalize property, as some have suggested. They’re here to enjoy the resort and the amazing amenities we have, just like regular guests. First off this festival is not inexpensive, especially when compared to other B.C. summer festivals. It’s attracted a demographic of mainly young, working professionals with an

average age of 27, as well as smaller numbers of students and seasonal workers. In general, it should be a fairly responsible group. And speaking of money, this festival will be a boon for local business owners, as well as for the accommodation sector. In Mayrhofen, Austria, where the original Snowbombing festival has been operating since 1999, the week-long festival surpasses Christmas in terms of economic impact. We also have the chance to build on this event and ensure that the economic beneﬁts are worth any inconveniences. There may be growing pains associated with stafﬁng levels and hours of operation, but at the end of the day it will all be worth it. From a safety and logistics perspective, we’re in good hands. The assembled team

brings together a wealth of experience in dealing with large scale events and music festivals, both in Canada and the U.K, such as Vancouver’s Festival of Lights and Squamish Festival. They’re used to dealing with crowd sizes many times the one expected in Sun Peaks, and know how to prevent and deal with emergencies. I’m excited to see the many components and venues come together, using Sun Peaks to its full potential with a grand scale budget. It will be next-level for us, and it’s exactly what’s needed to help elevate the resort to a world renowned destination. It’s a smart move to turn four dead days in April into an opportunity to drive interest and visits. While some people may be unhappy with the type of music and crowd the festival draws, events like this provide an op-

portunity to market to a wider audience. One day, many of these guests will have families or be taking group ski trips, and they’ll remember the awesome experience and options here. For example, this festival is enticing people from Whistler to come party in Sun Peaks, which is the complete opposite of what normally happens. This is an awesome opportunity to show off our community to new visitors and I encourage everyone to get involved, just as they normally do. Volunteer, take in a few shows, and soak in the festival atmosphere. Put on your party pants and appreciate the fact you live in a place where amazing events like this happen. And if you really don’t feel like you can deal with the temporary increased noise levels, it’s a perfect time for a weekend getaway.

LETTER to the editor

Re: Burning The Midnight Oil

n your recent article ‘Burning the Midnight Oil’ there is a quote from ﬁlmmaker Kieran Nikula: “It’s funny, I am reminded of old stories of guys skiing back in the day with small car batteries and car stereos so they could listen to music before small tape players. I have been reaching out to people and trying to remember where I caught wind of these savages.” I am one of those old guys. In 1975 or 1976, as a young university student and avid skier, I bought an ‘Astraltune Stereopack’ from an ad in the back of a ski magazine. The last

time I checked, I couldn’t ﬁnd anything on the Internet about Astraltunes either, but prompted by Kieran’s comment, I tried again. It turns out someone else noticed that there was no written record of the product and took the time to create a detailed web page with a history of the Astraltune. Although there is also a Wikipedia article, it is not as thorough. Here are a couple of quotes from the article: “So what exactly was the Astraltune Stereopack? On the company’s Trademark application, it is described as “a portable stereophonic tape deck, headphones and battery sold as a unit and mounted in a

pack.” This description is pretty accurate. Basically, the Astraltune was an automotive-style stereo cassette deck, mounted in a hard plastic case along with an array of ﬁve General Electric NI-CAD rechargeable batteries. The deck slid into a padded nylon pack, which had two shoulder straps and a waist strap and was meant to be worn against your chest. A Velcro ﬂap covered the top of the pack, which, when opened, gave access to the cassette door, eject/ fast-forward buttons, and the volume, tone and balance controls. The whole unit weighed in at about 3.5 pounds, and measures about 8 inches tall, 5

inches wide, and 3 inches thick. The batteries could power the unit for about 5 hours. Remember that it wasn’t until 1979, three or four years later, that Sony came out with a much smaller, lighter and more polished product, the Sony Walkman, so the Astraltune was innovative and ahead of its time. The technology advanced and the Walkman gave way to iPods. iPods have given way to iPhone and Android phones with a much better version of the early Astraltune concept baked in. Instead of 10 songs per side on a cassette you had to ﬂip, people walk around with instant access to thousands of

CRIME brief

n one night on Jan. 21, RCMP patrolling at Sun Peaks issued 13 tickets to drivers, ﬁve of which were due to impaired driving. Two 90-day and three, three-day immediate roadside prohibitions were given to impaired drivers. One driver was found to be driving while prohibited and another driving without a license. Police said the number of impaired drivers was concerning.

“Police would like to comment that ﬁve impaired drivers in one night is somewhat disturbing to ﬁnd and as a result further check stops will be organized,” said Te’kmlups Rural RCMP in a March press release. The release added the three way stop at Creekside Way and Village Way continued to be a problem area with drivers not respecting posted stop signs.

March 5 saw one vehicle leave Hefﬂey Louis Creek Road two kilometers east of Sun Peaks. The car was down an embankment and both the driver and single passenger had to be freed by emergency crews. Police on the scene said the vehicle was travelling at 40 km/ hr in icy conditions when the driver lost control. Two other vehicles left the

songs on their phones. I loved my Astraltune and used it for skiing, as well as at my summer job working on a golf course. My friends thought it was the coolest gadget and would regularly ask to try it on a run or two. I was moving around a lot at that time and I lost track of mine, but it was a great idea a little ahead of the technology. Check out this link for a full description and photos. Www. justabuzz.com/astraltune.shtml. From Douglas Alder

• groceries

road on March 11. One driver lost control and slid into the ditch two kilometres west of Whitecroft at 4:20 p.m. Fifteen minutes later a westbound vehicle lost control when approaching the accident, sliding off the road and landing on the passenger side. No one was injured in either vehicle. Roads were wet with ice at the time.

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Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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local NEWS BUILDING A CAREER: WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM ENTERS TENTH YEAR >> Recruitment drive adds volunteers to fire department by JEAN STRONG

hen Luke Harrison made trips from his home in Smithers, B.C. to Sun Peaks for ski races as a child, he never imagined he would one day live in the resort. He grew up and attended the Justice Institute of B.C., completing all of the required certifications and training to become a firefighter. After moving to Sun Peaks for ski patrol his interest in emergency response grew and he decided to apply at Kamloops Fire Rescue and for the Work Experience Program (WEP) at Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (SPFR) in 2011. The program, available at only a handful of departments, accepts just four of around 40 applicants for six months of

work, training, volunteering and community service. During his interviews and tests years ago in Kamloops, Harrison said he met applicants who had come from the Sun Peaks program. “I could already tell they were above anyone else there,” Harrison said. He earned a coveted Sun Peaks spot where from May to October he attended countless training days, volunteered at concerts, tested smoke alarms, cleaned and organized equipment and experienced life as a firefighter. “Before I got into firefighting I prepared to handle unexpected challenges,” Harrison said. “But balancing work, life and the department taught me time management and discipline. It’s not easy.” Now he is one of many work experience program (WEP) participants who found work in firefighting. Harrison is the training officer at SPFR, one of only a few paid positions, and is now sorting through applications for the WEP in 2017, now

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Friday, March 31, 2017 7:00 p.m.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipal Council gives notice that it will hold a Public meeting in the Hearthstone Lodge at 3160 Creekside Way, Sun Peaks, BC, to review the 2017 5 Year Financial Plan. Questions, comments and feedback can be forwarded to Nicky Braithwaite at admin@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca 6

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

entering its tenth year. He said the program is important to bring more manpower to SPFR in the summer months and it gives students an opportunity to learn and gain experience. With so many applications for a limited number of spaces, Harrison said he looks at an applicant’s training beyond the minimum requirements and places a high value on volunteering and community service. In addition to the WEP, seven new volunteers recruited in November will be certified to respond to calls by the end of March. Harrison Connell, Tyler Flieger, Brodie Lamb, Chris Mark, Shaun Pettit, Jamie Veillette, and Abby Wilson are all completing the Exterior Firefighter Operations program, the

Harrison has gone from taking part in the WEP program to selecting this year’s students. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

new minimum standard for all SPFR members. It was the first recruiting drive in the five years Harrison has been at the station but he said he expects another next spring

to bring more strong members to the SPFR team. “They’re a really committed and enthusiastic bunch,” he said. “As a first batch I couldn’t think of a better group.”

New developments to face additional charge Development cost charge bylaw planned by municipality New developments at Sun Peaks may have to pay a development cost charge (DCC) on new construction before the end of the year. Rob Bremner, chief administrator officer of Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, said an engineering consultant has been hired to help the municipality create the bylaw which would see developers pay the costs associated with updating infrastructure and utilities for their projects. For example, if a road or sewer needed to be upgraded to handle increased capacity due to the new build, the developer would pay an amount determined by a formula accounting for population,

density, number of units and other factors. Other communities in B.C. have DCCs in an effort to ensure taxpayers don’t bear the costs of growth. “The idea is to get something forward pretty quickly in order to capture some of the development that will be coming forward,” Bremner said. “Because of the significant growth that we’re seeing and the fact that there’s a lot of things like our roads that you don’t want to keep heaping back to the taxpayers, development should pay for its own way.” The bylaw would also be used if the municipality takes over community utilities from Sun Peaks Utilities Co. Ltd, that currently privately

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owns and manages gas, water and wastewater within the municipality. Municipal management would allow DCCs to be collected for upgrades or changes to those utilities in addition to the infrastructure currently under municipal management. “If we take over the utilities then water and sewer would come into the DCC bylaw. We would have to own the utility in order to collect the DCC on it,” Bremner said. Four readings and a public hearing are needed before the bylaw can be passed as well as a review by the provincial government. Bremner said the municipality will also meet with stakeholders as the bylaw is created.

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local NEWS RINK REFRIGERATION SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED by JEAN STRONG

fter challenges connecting the refrigeration plant to it’s power supply, the refrigeration system for Sun Peaks’ new ice rink should be ready to operate by March 18.

“Hopefully we’ll get this thing ﬁred up before the warm weather starts to come in,” said Rob Bremner, the municipality’s chief administrative ofﬁcer. Operating the rink during the day has been challenging as warm temperatures and sunlight affect some areas of the surface, while cooler tem-

peratures at night mean most evening skate times have been able to operate with minimal changes. Sun Peaks Hockey League has been forced to extend their season after several games were canceled due to the melting ice and resulting poor conditions.

Bremner said the B.C. Hydro power connection has now been made. The rink’s lights have been removed from generator power and are also connected to the permanent power supply. The plant will allow the rink to operate at least until the end of March, and possibly into

April, should events and visitor numbers make staying open ﬁnancially viable. “We could certainly run it (the rink) into April pretty easily,” he said. “But it will be a matter of what are the usages, how many bookings we have, and does it make any ﬁnancial sense.”

HEALTH CENTRE BUILDING TAKES SHAPE >> Construction on track for completion this summer

Sun Peaks’ health association members tour the new facility under construction. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

by JEAN STRONG

unicipal council and Health Association members took their ﬁrst walk

through the new health centre on Feb. 26, which is currently under construction. Crews have worked through the winter and are on schedule for completion of the new structure by late summer, which will house a

community clinic, health care provider offices and mountain operation’s ski patrol. Rob Bremner, Sun Peaks municipality’s chief administrative officer, said workers will rough in plumbing throughout March, followed by the installation of electric and mechanical systems. Bremner said he expected the mountain operations area to be ready for use by August or September, in time for the next ski season. The clinic space won’t be far behind. “It’s going well and if it continues to go smoothly we should be on track for late summer or early fall,” Bremner said. Fundraising efforts to outfit the clinic areas with office and medical equipment are ongoing with over $300,000 raised so far. Everything from desks and stationary to exam room and physiotherapy supplies will be needed. All donations are issued a charitable tax receipt.

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Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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local NEWS LOCAL INSTRUCTORS ONE STEP CLOSER TO NATIONAL TEAM >> Néron and Terwiel represent Sun Peaks at Interski comp

Néron on edge, practicing for the competition. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

by JEAN STRONG

wo Sun Peaks Sports School instructors have been picked to try out for a national team representing

Canada in 2019. Anne Terwiel and Luc Néron competed against nearly 50 other skiers in Silver Star, near Vernon, B.C. in February. They were judged in categories like moguls, corridors and race style turns for their technique, control,

speed, line choice and accuracy. The trials were the first in a series of tests this year and next to earn a spot on the Canadian Interski team travelling to Bulgaria in 2019. The final group will meet with other national teams from around the world to share their skiing and teaching techniques. Further stages of competition include presentations on ski technique to judge teaching ability and meeting with all finalists to create a compatible team. It was Néron’s second time trying out for the team; his first time his English was deemed not strong enough for the teaching portion. He returned having elevated both his skiing and English and ranked first overall. He said he was confident

heading into the weekend but he couldn’t help but be a little nervous. “I go to try out to make myself better and improve myself,” he said. “I was very comfy with my technique.” He said focusing on himself during the competition instead of being intimidated by competitors helped him feel confident. “I was really excited with the result,” Néron said. “I was really happy. When I was on the east coast my English wasn’t really good. Now I am less shy and more confident.” Néron said that having Terwiel competing by his side made the weekend even better. “I was really proud to practise with her. She was pretty nervous so I tried to help her and I said to

her ‘just trust yourself, you are a really good skier, just do it.’” It was Terwiel’s first time trying out for the team, a new goal she set for herself. After countless hours on skis and in the gym she said she was still nervous to compete. “I went out to all the clinics I could at 8 a.m., did race training, fitness training, in corridors,” she said of her training. “It was really really fun, I was nervous but I had fun.” After competing against some of the best skiers in Western Canada she said she was amazed to have earned fourth place. “I didn’t expect to be on that list,” she said. “What I’m most looking forward to is training with Luc.”

PUSH FOR CELLPHONE SERVICE ON ROAD TO SUN PEAKS >> Local associations ask Telus to expand coverage by JEAN STRONG

oing off the road and being unable to call for help is a thought that has likely passed through the minds of anyone regularly commuting between Sun Peaks and Kamloops. For those who live along the increasingly busy thoroughfare

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of Heffley Louis Creek Road, emergencies like break and enters, assaults or fires may be on the mind. Much of the road has no cell service and in the case of an accident or emergency, it may be necessary to walk to a nearby home to contact emergency services. Jim Davies, vice president of the Heffley Lake Community Association said this is not a safe option. “If a vehicle leaves the road on this stretch in snowy conditions there is a chance that their only means of contacting help would be their cell phone,” he wrote in a letter to Sun Peaks’ municipal council. “Even if the accident was

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

witnessed, the delay in communication with emergency services can mean a difference between life and death.” The association has been encouraging Telus to add coverage to the area since last year. Liz Suave, Telus spokesperson, said they have heard the demand from the community and will continue to assess adding service in the area. She said building infrastructure would be costly. When they assess a new area, she said, they look for access to consistent power, connection to the Telus network and resident demand. The association has received letters of support from the Sun

Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, MP Cathy McLeod, MLA Terry Lake and Mel Rothenburger of the Thompson Nicola Regional District. Other organizations such as the Whitecroft Community Association and the Kamloops Indian Band have also given support. The Tk’emlups Rural RCMP department also gave their support to the cause. They were dispatched to 10 collisions on Heffley Louis Creek Road and 22 at Sun Peaks between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2016 Sergeant Doug Aird said. But collisions only account for less than 20 per cent of total calls in the area. “It works out to at least one

(call) per day between Heffley and Sun Peaks, so cell service through the whole area would provide better emergency services and response times for police, fire and ambulance,” said Aird. Davies said the lack of coverage in the valley also has a negative impact on business and recreation. He said accommodation and recreation businesses suffer without connection as guests will choose operators who are located in areas where they can stay connected. He also pointed to a number of recreation areas such as the campsite on Heffley Lake where emergency responsders or services can’t be contacted.

GET out there A SKI TRIP FOR THE AGES: AUSTRALIAN MAN MAKES THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME by JOEL BARDE

od Bishop is going big this year. Usually he and his wife are lucky to get away for three weeks of vacation; this year they’re taking nine. “We made it longer, because if I can’t travel again, I want to have done what we’re doing,” he explained, as he looked out a window of his corner apartment in the Sundance Lodge. Seated next to his wife, Marisa, Bishop talked about their shared love of skiing. The two discovered the sport together when they went to an Australian resort for their honeymoon. The experience left them wanting more and began a lifelong love affair with the sport. An entrepreneur, Bishop eventually decided to make a business of his passion and opened a ski store and a travel agency focused on ski vacations. Now 68, he sold the travel agency and grew the store

Rod and Marisa take a moment in their condo overlooking the base of the Sundance chairlift. | PHOTO JOEL BARDE

with the support of Marisa. Snowcentral operates two brick and mortar shops in Brisbane, Australia, and has a strong online presence. “I work seven days a week so I can come here,” he said,

smiling as he looked around his condo. Remembering his ﬁrst visit to Sun Peaks in 1997, Bishop shared how the village was a skeleton of itself, and Al Raine—Sun Peaks’ current

mayor—was sorting through groceries, having picked up orders from Kamloops for resort guests. “Al was working hard at customer service from the beginning,” said Marisa. Later, Raine would visit the Bishops’ shops to help promote the nascent resort. Bishop felt Sun Peaks was particularly well suited to the needs of Australian skiers and over the years they have supported its growth by singing its praises. “We felt the resort was perfect for skiers who only ski around ﬁve days a year domestically,” explained Bishop, who noted the range of beginner and intermediate terrain. As for the reaction of the people who visited: “They all loved it and wanted to come back again.” Recognizing a business opportunity, the Bishops bought their ﬁrst unit in the Sundance Lodge in 2003, and over the years have picked up an additional 10 units. “When I walk in the door, it

just feels like home,” he said. This year, Bishop was elected president of the Coast Sundance Lodge strata council, and dove into the role with his usual zeal. These days skiing, which once ignited only passion, can also cause pain as Bishop has a bad leg. So sometimes he’s content to just look out his window, as riders board the Sundance chair and kids shred down the mini terrain park that sits just beside it. But those days are rare, and he always tries to push through and join his wife as the two always ski together. Yet despite his love of skiing, he fears that this year may be his last on the slopes. When he gets back to Australia—after stints in Whistler and France—he’s scheduled for a signiﬁcant surgery that could preclude future travels. Not prone to sentimentalities, he said he’s hoping for the best, though resigned to the worst. “There’s life with skiing, and there’s life without skiing.”

SPRING EVENTS For details visit SunPeaksResort.com/Events March 18

March Music Madness: Free outdoor concert with Band of Rascals and Jesse Roper March 24 & 25 HUB International Nancy Greene Festival March 26-31 Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) Ski & Snowboard Festival April 1 All Girl Freestyle Snowboard Camp presented by Canada Snowboard April 2 Adaptive Sports Winter Festival April 2 Party in the Park presented by Oronge Boardshop April 6-10 Coors Light Snowbombing Canada April 15-17 Tod Mountain Days Spring Festival April 16 Easter Extravaganza April 17 Ski Season Closing Day

SunPeaksResort.com/Snowbombing Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

sunpeaksnews.com

arts ENTERTAINMENT TAKING DIY TO THE NEXT LEVEL by BRANDI SCHIER

t’s a cozy Saturday morning and I’m enjoying a freshly pressed coffee and a delish toffee-pecan cookie. But instead of lazing at home, I’m in a bright and welcoming space about to learn a new skill, crochet. Or maybe I should say attempt to learn. Andrea Mcloed Heath, owner of Mountain Stitch Design and supplier of my favourite toques, is practising her patience and teaching us how to create our own headbands. It’s all part of a new initiative by two creative Kamloops entrepreneurs called Makeshift, a business geared towards hosted and styled DIY and craft workshops. Brianne Sheppard and Callie Duncan partnered and have begun to build a community of “like-minded makers” from their base in Dallas, an eastern area of Kamloops. “We don’t want people to feel intimidated that they aren’t creative or that they don’t like projects. It’s all just about making things that aren’t perfect, having fun and meeting new people,” said Sheppard. The workshops allow people to try something they’re interested in without investing a lot of money in equipment, supplies or classes. “A lot of what we’re doing are skills-based crafts, so it’s not something that you’re gonna be perfect at the ﬁrst time. Our goal is to support people as they learn new projects, with drop-in craft nights and sending out resource guides and being there to support you in your new hobby.” The second business is their space known as The Collective.

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>> Kamloops entrepreneurs turn crafts into a business community

Brianne Sheppard (left) and Callie Duncan (right) in their collective space located in Dallas. | PHOTO SPIN

It does double, or even triple, duty as an event venue, retail location and artistic studio. Currently, two photographers use it as studio space and it can also be rented by the hour or the day. Monthly pop up shops provide artisans with a place to sell their creations, bringing together a carefully curated mix of local artists. Instead of a traditional retail space, the pieces are part of a styled installation. “It doesn’t feel like a store; it’s more like the objects are part of a display,” said Sheppard. The collaborative approach is a direct response to high priced retail space, and is similar to the trend of co-working and co-ofﬁce spaces. “We need the space to work for a lot of different people. We want to collaborate... If we get into a position where we are working with other people, then it has beneﬁts for everyone,” said Sheppard.

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

The duo relies heavily on social media to identify and connect with other artists in the region. “There are so many people doing cool things in Kamloops, but they can be hard to ﬁnd... We’re hoping to bring everyone together so we can support each other. Instagram is our biggest way of ﬁnding and attracting people, because it’s such a visual platform.” Their business also capitalizes on people turning away from mass manufactured products and placing a higher value on one-of-a-kind or local products. “Why not have something handmade, or well-made or locally-made?” said Sheppard. Popular apps like Pinterest and DarbySmart are fueling inspiration, prompting people to pick up hobbies that their grandparents may have practised but weren’t passed down. As the gathering comes to an end, a few star pupils leave

Andrea, owner of Mountain Stitch Design Co., helps to complete the stitches. | PHOTO SPIN

with completed headbands, but we all promise to drop into a future hosted “stitch and bitch” to keep working, or watch the tutorial videos they’ll send. My headband is a few sad stitched rows after a few startovers, but I feel like I have a solid grasp of the basics. Plus, I’ve met a group of new, creative folks to help with projects in the future, which is really Sheppard’s goal.

“To me, Makeshift is more about the socializing and meeting people. I’m deﬁnitely the person who goes home with a wonky headband because I’ve spent so much time talking. But to me, art and being creative is more about the process than the end result.” For more information go to www.makeshiftkamloops. com or follow @_makeshift on Instagram.

arts ENTERTAINMENT THRILL OF THE PERFORMANCE: CONNECTING WITH THE BC MUSIC SCENE by ALICIA ASHCROFT

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK WEEKLY LINE UP SUN SUNDAY Funday TUESDAY Ladies Night THURSDAY Open Mic SPECIAL PERFORMANCE SERIES MARCH 25TH Après DJ patio Party/DJ & Dancing 9pm - 11pm

un Peaks’ March calendar is jam-packed with not-tobe-missed entertainment. Peter Ernst, musician and owner of Powder Hounds Restaurant, is an enthusiastic supporter of March Music Madness. It’s a month-long free live music initiative throughout the resort and there are eight days in March where Powder Hounds offered concerts after 8:30 p.m. “Live music is always appreciated by locals and guests alike,” he said. As the leader of the Peter Ernst Band, Ernst is currently set to release his own album. As a musician, Ernst thrives on the thrill of the performance. “When performing, you give and you receive energy. Without an audience there would not be a concert.” Ultimately, that exchange of positive vibes is a huge part of his reason for participating in March Music Madness.

FRIDAY

ST. PATTY’S DAY AT THE CLUB

APRIL 1 Dave Coalmine live Après performance/ evening show 9pm - 11pm

Enjoy Irish themed drinks to celebrate St. Patrick’s day. Free cover before 11 p.m.

APRIL 15 - 16 Closing Weekend Patio Party TH

GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, GREAT TIMES

250 578 5542

SUNDAY TO FRIDAY

MARCH 26 TO 31

CADS SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL

250 578 5417

A week long festival with attendees from across the country. Adaptive ski and snowboard lessons, racing and fun activities.

FRIDAY

FREE MUSIC IN THE VILLAGE

disabledskiing.ca

ST.PATTY’S DAY WITH ANDREW CHRISTOPHER

1 844 774 7263

MARCH 17

Andrew Christopher hosts free live music at Voyageur Bistro to celebrate St.Patricks day. 250 578 5268

FRIDAY

FREE LIVE MUSIC

Hang out at the village base to listen to Jesse Roper and Band of Rascals. Free, starts at 5 p.m.

SATURDAY

MARCH 17

APRIL 6TH - 9TH Snowbombing Weekend DJs Nightly

ther animates the village.” Williamson said she is particularly excited for the concert at the village base on Saturday, March 18. “We’re stoked for Band of Rascals and Jesse Roper—these are more-than-up-and-coming acts and both are awesome to watch.” The Victoria, B.C. based bands hail from the same place, but their musical styles are varied yet complementary. Jesse Roper promises an energetic live performance, a thrilling homage to Stevie Ray Vaughan and vintage Texas blues, with lashes of the blues rooted in soul, rock and country funk. Band of Rascals offers the “ﬁnest foot stompin’, hoot’n n holler’n, hoe down, craze driven, tasty blues born rock n roll that you’ll ﬁnd this side of the country.” As for the entertainment at Power Hounds, there are eight separate evenings of musical offerings. Sabrina Weeks will be performing the evening of March 18, and describes her voice as “a ménage à trois be-

tween Etta James, Fae West and Doris Day writhing beneath black satin sheets.” The eclectic Margit Sky Project will perform Saturday, March 25. Known for their versatility, the band will feature a non-genre speciﬁc performance of rock, folk, oldies, Celtic and country. For more information go to: sunpeaksresort.com/eventsthings-to-do/events/march-music-madness-concert.

EVENT > listings MARCH 17

“I live for these magical moments—having a wonderful night with food, music and friends. This is what life is about.” Ernst noted that many acts perform a mix of originals and covers that engage audiences and encourage participation. Ernst said the creation of this musical month is due to community spirit and generosity amongst local businesses. “It’s not competitive between Masa’s, Morrisey’s Pub or The Club—it’s about the music. What is most important is that everyone goes home happy, after two hours of music, dancing and smiling.” Connie Williamson, events manager for Tourism Sun Peaks, said she is thrilled with the musical line-up this year. “Whenever possible, we showcase local artists. We’re so lucky; Kamloops has an amazing talent pool. “Working with the food and beverage sector only serves to heighten the dining and nightlife experience at Sun Peaks. It adds a fresh element and fur-

Head to Morrisey’s Public House or Powder Hounds to hear some free live music from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. sunpeaksresort.com

FRIDAY

MARCH 17

FRIDAY RACE SERIES

Registration and bib pick-up is in the Village Day Lodge breezeway from 8:30 to 11 a.m. All Ages, $15 per person. Course inspection starts at 10:15 a.m. and racing starts at 11:15 a.m. 250 578 5442

SATURDAY

MARCH 18

MARCH MUSIC MADNESS CONCERT

MARCH 18

Morrisey’s Public House and Powder Hounds host live music for free. 8 to 11:30 p.m.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

MARCH 24 & 25

HUB INTERNATIONAL NANCY GREENE FESTIVAL

More than 500 kids take to the slopes in a variety of races and other events. hubngfestival@gmail.com

FRIDAY

MARCH 24

FREE LIVE MUSIC

Powder Hounds hosts The Guy Who lives here for a concert from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. 250 578 0014

SATURDAY

250 578 5442

SUNDAY

APRIL 2

ADAPTIVE SPORTS WINTER FESTIVAL

SATURDAY

APRIL 1

ALL GIRLS FREESTYLE CAMP

Ride the day away alongside other girls. Local coaches focus on your progression in the park during the one day camp. 778 266 1244

ASSP invites you to a Winter Festival and Wind Up. Races, sleigh rides, buffet dinner and a chance to try adaptive equipment. 250 572 0616 250 578 5442

THURSDAY TO MONDAY

APRIL 6 TO 10

COORS LIGHT SNOWBOMBING CANADA

SATURDAY

APRIL 1

FREE LIVE MUSIC

Mo Jazz performs a free concert at Masa’s Bar & Grill. 6 to 11:30 p.m.

Thousands hit Sun Peaks for an epic music festival. Ludacris, Kaskade and more take the stage to entertain crowds. 1 855 578 5395

sunpeaksresort.com

FRIDAY

APRIL 7

SATURDAY

NEW ORLEANS NIGHT OUT

APRIL 1

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

MARCH 25

Heffley Creek community garage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the Heffley Creek Hall and homes in the community.

Meet with other comunity members at the 5 p.m. coffee house. Open Mic night starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission $3.

778 266 1244

250 578 0014

SUNDAY

HEFFLEY CREEK COFFEE HOUSE

Oronge Boardshop brings music and prizes to the third annual Party in the Park Slopestyle. Four divisions of riders will compete in 30 minute jam sessions.

The Kamloops Hospice Association hosts a fundraising evening of eating and dancing. Richard Graham & the Broad Street Back Beats will perform live music. 6 p.m. at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre in Kamloops. 250 372 1336

APRIL 2

PARTY IN THE PARK

sunpeaksnews.com/events Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

sunpeaksnews.com

arts ENTERTAINMENT FROM SCOTLAND TO SUN PEAKS IN TRUE RIDER STYLE >> Michelle Urquhart shares the inspirations and aspirations for her Kamloops-based brand

Urquhart poses with her board and logoed gear. | PHOTO NAILL HARRIS

by ALISON HODGINS

t ﬁrst glance, Michelle Urquhart doesn’t look like a fashion designer. She’s a bubbly 26-year-old with bright blue eyes and a colossal smile. The give-away is her handmade hood, which features her

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discreet logo: three trees to represent the change in the seasons from summer to winter, and a single word, Mara. “I’m obsessed with being outside,” Urquhart told me over a latte at a Kamloops, B.C. coffee shop. “When I was a kid, my family had a cabin at Mara Lake, by Sicamous. We spent our summers out there, so

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

the name kind of made sense to me.” A true Kamloopsian, Michelle began snowboarding when she was 10 years old. But her passion for riding Canadian slopes was put on hold when she moved to Prestwick, Scotland, where she lived for 14 years. “We’d still snowboard, and we made sure we went to the French Alps at least once every season,” she said. Her inspiration for her first hood came from the drizzly weather in the U.K. “I had a snowboard jacket without a hood, and with the rain in Scotland it just didn’t make sense. So I decided to make myself one.” She showed me the first hood she made; it’s dark purple and black, and reversible. The quality of the fabric and precise stitching is impressive. Artistic talent runs in the family. Her brother is a tattoo artist and she began sewing at a young age. Michelle studied fashion at college for two years, before taking costume design at university. “I hated it,” she admitted, “but I still loved sewing.” Urquhart used sweatshirts, fleeces, acrylics and jersey knits to craft her custom hoods, thermal hoodies and embroidered beanies. The original design of her rambler hood has evolved to include a drawstring. “I want to make things I would want to wear, and my friends would want to wear, so I’m careful about the details,” she said. “The hoodies have thumb holes, because who doesn’t want thumb holes?” Urquhart has a team of riders at Sun Peaks who sport her handmade gear on the mountain. For the most part, her designs are one-offs; she doesn’t want everyone wearing the same thing. Urquhart likes to keep a close-knit relationship with her customers. “I’d love for the brand to go big, but I’m happy to keep it local for now,” she said. Next up is designing and producing a line of guys clothing.

Also, outerwear such as jackets and gloves may be on her mind for the future. You can ﬁnd Mara Clothing

Co. at Oronge Board Shop in downtown Kamloops and online at www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ MaraClothing.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Friday, March 31, 2017 7:00 p.m.

www.sunpeaksmunicipality.ca

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Team BC at the U16 Canadian National Alpine Ski Championships in Thunder Bay, Ont. - Photo Facebook.com/ BCAlpine

Mark and Helen Jones presented their Kilimanjaro Bursaries to Daylin, Ben, James, Noah and Kailum. - Photo Adaptive Sports Sun Peaks

Celebrity chef Vikram Vij greets guests at the Sun Peaks Grand. - Photo SPIN

A group of Sun Peaks Grand Hotel guests present a Health Centre donation, matched by the hotel. - Photo SPIN

Volunteers ran another successful Bluebird Banked Slalom event on March 11 and 12. Check out results at sunpeaksnews.com - Photo Oronge Boardshop

Sun Peaks students donned pink capes in honour of the anti-bullying initiative called #ShredTheHate - Photo Instagram Sun Peaks Nordic Club’s Xavier and Feron Wallace and Rider Dobson participated in the BC Midget Championships in February. - Photo Submitted

Rayne Hunt Porter, left, celebrates her third place finish in the BC Snowboard Cross Provincial Finals in Big White. - Facebook.com/ firstnationssnowboardteam

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

ut -o e ke bl Ta aila av

G ar rea ga t rit as

Thanks to a Kamloops Blazers Foundation grant, the Sun Peaks Nordic Club owns four lazer biathlon rifles with electronic targets. - Photo Submitted

250-578-8343

Sun Peaks’ smallest Hotel with the greatest Rooms.

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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MOUNTAIN news MOUNTAIN TOWN NEWS by BY ALLEN BEST ALLEN.BEST@COMCAST.NET MOUNTAINTOWNNEWS.NET

Getting charged up about EVs in Durango DURANGO, Colo. – Electric cars remain rare in Durango, but local groups hope to change that. A non-proﬁt called 4CORE has been working with La Plata Electric Association and Mercy Regional Medical Center in an effort to get grants to pay for public charging stations. But the group also hopes to engineer a group buy of Nissan Leafs by matching buyers with a pledge of deeply discounted prices, reports the Durango Telegraph. Such group buys have been occurring in many areas, including the Vail-Aspen-Glenwood Springs area, as well as the college towns along the Colorado Front Range.

No death sentence for this grizzly bear WEST GLACIER, Mont. – Last June, Brad Treat was riding a mountain bike near Glacier National Park when he rounded a corner at high speed and ran into a grizzly bear. In the collision, he ﬂew over the bear and landed on his hands and then his back, breaking his wrists and his left shoulder blade. Riding a short distance behind, Treat’s companion arrived to see the bear standing over Treat and left to seek help. When others returned an hour later, Treat was dead, the result of a mauling. The Daily Interlake of Kalispell, Mont., reported that an inter-agency review board released its review last week, ﬁnding that the bear, having been surprised, responded with its “natural defense response.” The review team recommended public lands managers better evaluate trails before opening them to mountain biking. For example, does vegetation reduce

visibility? Do trails go into areas that have the sort of forage preferred by the bears? Group says hunting grizzlies should end WHISTLER, B.C. – The new Grizzly Bear Foundation in British Columbia is calling for an end to the legal killing of grizzly bears. “We don’t think the legal killing of grizzly bears is a good idea in this day and age,” said Vancouver-based philanthropist Michael Audain, who funded an art museum in Whistler. About 300 are killed in British Columbia each year, reported Pique Newsmagazine, which also said the species is in trouble there. Audain told Pique that he was surprised to learn that grizzlies can be hunted in provincial parks in British Columbia, and most of the hunting is done from boats or vehicles. Aspen adopts regulations to discourage chain stores ASPEN, Colo. – After months

of talk, Aspen has added a new layer of review that is intended to slow down the transformation of its downtown commercial core into chain businesses. The regulations deﬁne “formulae retail” as any business having 11 other stores in the United States with standardized characteristics, including product lines and trademarks. The Aspen Daily News described the regulations as a watered-down version of those originally proposed by a citizens’ group who are concerned that Aspen’s retail stores are starting to look too much like the rest of America. The added review does not apply to the 21 re-development projects in the pipeline. Councilman Adam Frisch said he doesn’t believe the new law will make it any easier for younger entrepreneurs to lease downtown commercial space. He suggested there may ultimately need to be commercial space that is leased out at subsidized rates to qualiﬁed tenants.

After Stowe, what’s next on the Vail Resorts menu? BROOMFIELD, Colo. – The buying spree by Vail Resorts may not be over. The company is scheduled to soon pick up Stowe Mountain in Vermont. The Denver Post reported that Vail Resorts chief executive Rob Katz said he expects to one day offer “multiple choices” for Epic Pass skiing in New England. The company has been doing well this winter. It has reported revenue of $725.52 million during the second quarter, up 21 percent from the year-before period and topping expectations of investors. Whistler Blackcomb delivered beyond expectations and, of course, it has snowed lots of places. The Post reports that the effective ticket price – deﬁned as lift ticket revenue divided by skier visits – climbed 7.7 per cent. The Post also pointed to the continuing strength of the Epic Pass. The sale of 650,000 of the passes minimized impact of a slow start to the ski season.

TOD MOUNTAIN 4-H CLUB REVIVED by DANIELLE CIRANI TOD MOUNTAIN 4-H CLUB REPORTER

Tod Mountain 4-H Club members pose for a group photo. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

sunpeaksnews.com

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

ust this year, the Tod Mountain 4-H Club started up and running again. The signiﬁcant thing is that this 4-H Club was started in 1978 with only 8 members including the Brady and Peters’ families. The Club leader was Mr. Barry Brady. The philosophy of the Tod Mountain 4H Club at that time was to be a family-based club with meetings rotating between family homes. There were lots of potluck meals enjoyed by everyone! Some activities the members did included showmanship practices, judging practices and social interactions. Even though this Club was not large in number, it was uniﬁed and team-based. The original Tod Mountain 4-H

Club won the George Challenger trophy for the top 5 beef members one year when the PWF had over 300 participants. Even though the Club did not have a constitution or set of bylaws at that time, the families agreed that the Club function was to teach the members knowledge of the agriculture industry and stressed that skills learned in 4-H are life skills and are important to member development. Sadly, in 1984, the Tod Mountain 4-H Club ceased to have a large enough membership and the remaining four members transferred to the Yellowhead 4H Club. But now we are glad to announce that the Tod Mountain 4-H Club has been started back up again by Mr. Barry Brady’s son, Jonathan Brady. The Club’s purpose is “to provide positive development opportunities for youth so they learn to be citizens

who are competent, conﬁdent and who contribute positively to their community.” Our Club now consists of 24 beef, sheep and Cloverbud members. We are pleased to say that even though we are bigger than the previous Tod Mountain Club, we are still a very family and team-based club. We would like to thank Meranti Developments (Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and Lori Franklin) for being our Club sponsors. We are looking forward to the upcoming year and we can’t wait to see what it will bring! Advertise in Sun Peaks Independent News for as little as $80 per month Call today to place your advertisement

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Answers can be found in the next issue of SPIN FOR SALE Equestrian Ranch, 43 acres, prime location, all land irrigated from the Thompson River, plus property has an excellent well. 20 acres in hay, 30 paddocks, 70 x 200, indoor arena, with 13 stalls and paddocks, 150 X 200 outdoor pen. Four bedroom home and three bedroom mobile. Close to Sun Peaks – 1 hour away. 20 mins to Kamloops, and much more. $1,400,000. Call 250-319-6367. Custom crafted queen size bunk bed for sale. Extremely sturdy and made with beautiful local wood. One of a kind. Already at Sun Peaks. $3000.00. For photos txt 250 819 8571.

SODOKU ANSWERS V15I2

ACCOMMODATION WANTED Accommodation needed for next ski season. I am a retired single lady working as a Sun Host and for adaptive sports. 2 bedroom unit preferable. Contact 778 586 4183 or 0044797341823452.

EMPLOYMENT Experienced full time Breakfast and Prep Cook required at The Dunes at Kamloops. Please send resume and references to billjr@golfthedunes.com. Sun Peaks Lodge is hiring for the summer 2017. April 29 – Oct 17. Full and part time, daytime hours. *Housekeeper *Laundry Housekeeper *Server (breakfast and/dinner) on call *Front Desk agent *Bell men (am+pm split shifts – can be combined with Housekeeping or Laundry). Please email info@sunpeakslodge.com if you are interested. Northwest Voyageur Company and Voyageur Bistro are hiring for spring/summer! Multiple positions available... cooks, servers, guides, drivers and support staff. Full and Part time positions available, seniors welcome! If you have a positive attitude and want to be a part of a great team with competitive wages and great beneﬁts, please send your resume and cover letter to info@voyageurbistro. ca. For more information about our canoe tours and our fabulous restaurant, please visit voyageurbistro.ca

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>> sports REACHING GOALS AT LIGHTNING SPEED

Veillette on one of his races down the course. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

Veillette celebrates after one of his laps down Headwalls at Sun Peaks. | PHOTO SUPPLIED

by JEAN STRONG

few years ago Jamie Veillette wouldn’t have pictured himself flying down Headwalls at 148.42 kilometres an hour on a pair of skis. But on March 4, he strapped on a pair of the extra long speed skis for the first time and found

himself staring down the steep groomed pitch as part of the So You Think You’re Fast Eh event for first time speed skiers. Thirty first-timers joined him and when he moved into the competition he was part of a group of 47 skiers from 12 countries. But getting there wasn’t easy. In 2015 Veillette decided to turn his life around and focus on bettering himself.

As he worked to overcome personal challenges and recover from injuries, he joined the local CrossFit gym, to which he credits the support of his goals and helping him become the strongest and healthiest he’s ever been. “Black Beaver (CrossFit) gets all the credit,” he said. “Two years ago I wouldn’t have done it.” His hard work at the gym paid off, as Veillette said his back and legs needed to be strong for the days of racing at Sun Peaks’ Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Skiing World Cup. Preparing mentally was an-

FIRST SNOWCROSS RACE A SUCCESS by JEAN STRONG

or a weekend in February, 112 people raced down a new snowcross course at Sun Peaks. They flew over rollers, carved around berms and fought to be the fastest ones to reach the bottom of the course. The teams of four, racing side by side, were part of the 21st Annual Telus Nancy Greene Alpine Classic event, but this year was the first time the race was held on a snowcross course in the event’s history. Ski cross Olympian Ashleigh McIvor was on hand to give racers tips. As a gold medalist during the 2010 Olympics, she easily helped people feel comfortable on the course. “She (McIvor) was very

hands on, she was giving racers tips for different parts of the course specifically and was there to work with everyone,” said Christina Antoniak, director of marketing and communications at Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR). Nancy Greene Raine, who was thrilled to see the event evolve into a snowcross course, said McIvor was a wonderful asset. “She spent time with everyone and really enjoyed being there,” Raine said. “It was wonderful to have her as our guest coach.” Raine added she was happy with how the event went. “Everyone loved the new format and after a few practice runs down the track they had lots of fun in the actual race.” Antoniak said mechanical counters have been placed on the new course to track its

use until the end of the season. The data will help SPR decide if the course will return in 2018, either built completely from snow or partially from dirt over the summer. The second option would allow it to operate with less snow. She added a snowcross course could help attract more teams and events to the resort. Team Rosedale, made up of Ian McLaren, Neil Otsig, Anne Terwiel and George Terwiel, took home the McSporties Cup. Team Sun Peaks Snow Sports School made up of Luke Hartigan, Jim Howarth, Marek Revai and Ally Wagon claimed the Telus Cup. The fastest female and male skiers were Anne Terwiel and Rob Palmer respectively. Julianna Hettinger and Dom Koric claimed the fastest female and male snowboarder titles.

other challenge as not much can compare to the sport. “It was a little daunting,” Veillette said of standing at the second start located lower down the Headwalls ski run. “I had butterflies.” At one point the racer ahead of him crashed, sparking reservations, but after a little more practise on the course he felt at home.

“The first couple (of runs) I was focused on my form but by the end I was thinking about what’s for dinner.” Veillette, who grew up in Kamloops but moved to Sun Peaks in 2010, saw the community rally to support him. His mom, Sue Elder, who competed in and won the Velocity Challenge in 1986, attended all five days of the event. Coworkers from Ski Patrol and friends from throughout the village came out to cheer him on during his runs. “That was a really cool feeling,” he said. “It was people I have been around my whole life.” People he met for the first time also helped him compete— his ski suit was borrowed from a member of the Swedish team. The transition back to making turns while skiing Headwalls was strange, Veillette said. But he thinks next year he will take part again. Until then he is on the search for a new target. “I’ll find a new goal.”

New Nordic festival glides to success The Sun Peaks Nordic club is celebrating a successful weekend of Nordic events that brought together clubs from around the province, according to Phil Youwe, Nordic operations co-ordinator at Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR). “We were super stoked on the success of the weekend,” he said. “There was a wrap up event at the Nordic Centre with more than 100 people, all with smiles.” One hundred and two competitors took part in Loppets and, for the first time, a sprint competition. “The skiers that came out for it were super excited,”

Youwe said. “It will only grow every year.” Youwe added that consolidating what used to be two separate one-day events into one weekend was a good choice. “It’s easier to organize and we chose one good weekend so a lot of groups were able to come out. “We also had super sponsorship,” said Youwe. “It was a very important component to our success.” Main sponsors of this year’s event were Bula, Solomon, Sun Peaks Lodge, Blackwell Dairy, Swix, SPR and Tourism Sun Peaks.

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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>> sports PODIUM SWEEP IN PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS by SUN PEAKS NEWS

inter will end too soon for the Sun Peaks Snowboard Club (SPSC). Head coach Danny Webb said his charges are just finding their stride, seeing the results of a season’s worth of hard work, most notably at the final event of the Ride On Provincial Snowboard Series at Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna earlier this month. “The under-19 boys, they’d never entered a boarder cross competition and they rocked up to the B.C. provincial championship and swept the podium,” Webb said. “I knew they were awesome riders, but they had never been in a competition at that level before.” Finishing first, second and third, respectively, in the un-

Pearse, Abraham and Rokosh atop of the podium in Big White. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

der-19 men’s snowboard cross division on March 5 were Ben Pearse, 15, Markus Abraham, 15, and Max Rokosh, 16. “We were just like, ‘Let’s go out there and have fun and see how we do,’” Webb said. “They just kept on going through the heats and they were all together in the final four.” Pearse also placed well in

the under-19 slopestyle competition on March 4, finishing fifth among 17 entrants. He is two years younger than the first-place finisher and three years younger than the silver-medal winner. In under-15 slopestyle action, Connor Barrett and Jax Anderson each reached the semifinal round.

“We’ve seen such a huge improvement since the start of the season,” Webb said, noting Jackson Steed and Merek De Witte had strong performances at Big White. “The boys started off hitting some jumps and having one or two safety tricks. They went into this competition having five or more different tricks they can throw off jumps and rail tricks they’ve been learning.” Webb also helps out coaching the Kamloops First Nations Snowboard Team, which received a standout performance from Rayne Porter, who placed third in women’s snowboard cross. “She was so pumped,” Webb said. The SPSC formed this season, a competitive incarnation of the Bluebird Day Fund (BDF) Park Sessions program. The BDF and Sun Peaks Resort LLP help fund the club.

There were 11 training days on the schedule this season. The Ride On stop at Mount Seymour in January marked the first competition in club history. Competing in the under-19 category, Rokosh placed third in slopestyle to become the first rider in club history to reach the podium at a Ride On event. The competitive season is over and focus is turning to next winter. Webb would like to see his crew attend more events in 2017-18, including one a little closer to home. “I’m trying to get Sun Peaks to join up with BC Snowboard to see if we can get some kind of event going here next winter,” Webb said, noting the resort will also hold the 2018 B.C. Winter Games. “We’ve got everything we need up here.”

LOCAL RACERS COME HOME WITH NATIONAL EXPERIENCE by SUN PEAKS NEWS

osh Jacoby and Beckett Hooton found out what competition looks like at the highest level at the Under 16 Canadian Alpine Skiing Championships. The two Sun Peaks Racers and program director, Montana Molyneux, trekked across the country to the event, which ran from Feb. 21 to Feb. 26 in Thunder Bay, Ont.

sunpeaksnews.com

“It was about results,” Molyneux said. “The goal at nationals was about B.C. being a strong province and, for those kids who made it, it was their chance to compete on a national level to see how fast they can go and how they compare.” Both Jacoby and Hooton were ranked among the top 14 males in the Under 16 B.C. Alpine standings, which qualified them for nationals. There were five competitions at the Canadian championships. In the Super G, Jacoby placed

Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

53rd and Hooton was 56th; in the Alpine Combined (one Super G run, followed by a Slalom run), Hooton was eighth, while Jacoby did not finish his Slalom run; Jacoby was 49th and Hooton did not finish the Giant Slalom; both skiers recorded DNFs in the night-slalom races and took part in the parallel team slalom races. “Beckett had a really good day in the Super Combined,” Molyneux said. “Josh’s Slalom race is what stuck out to me. “The kids came away knowing

what it’s like to really push yourself at a race. We basically told them, ‘You earned the right to be here, now see what you can do.’” Nathan Romanin, who skis out of Whistler, won the overall boys’ title, fighting through icy, hard snow conditions unfamiliar to most Team B.C. skiers. “There was a big crew of kids that were really there to compete,” Molyneux said. “You can really use that as motivation to take to the next level. “A lot of them will move up to

FIS, where you race nationally much more often.” More national races might be in their future, but Hooton and Jacoby still had work to do this season at the final B.C. Alpine Teck Open Series event, which ran from March 9 to 12 in Whistler. “The nationals was an amazing experience and some of the races went really well,” Molyneux said. “The kids learned if you want to turn up your skiing, this is how you do it.”

>> sports FINDING PODIUM POTENTIAL >>Sun Peaks rider qualifies for provincial RBC Training Ground finals

Brewer shows his his athletic abilities during a set of tests. | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

by SUN PEAKS NEWS

hen Bill Brewer’s gym teacher at Merritt Secondary told him about RBC Training Ground, his interest was piqued. Of the handful of students she thought might be interested in the event, Brewer, a 15-yearold member of the Sun Peaksbased Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nations Snowboard Team,

was the only one to take on the challenge — and he’s glad he did. RBC Training Ground is a program designed to uncover athletes with Olympic podium potential, often in sports they may not have considered. Athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 participated in a series of physical tests measuring speed, power, strength and endurance in front of coaches and officials from national sport organizations.

There were five qualifiers held across B.C., with the top 100 athletes earning the right to compete at the provincial final in Richmond on March 4. Brewer travelled to the Kamloops qualifier at the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) on Feb. 12. “It was about pushing myself to the limit, to where I can’t go anymore,” Brewer said. “I think it went pretty well.” Athletes took part in four events at the TCC — vertical jump, 40-metre sprint, a strength test (stand on a block and pull on a handlebar hooked to a chain) and stamina-testing beep test (yes, like the ones from high school). “I’m not sure how they picked me, but they must have had to mark me on each test and I qualified for Richmond.” Brewer was among the top 17 competitors at the Kamloops qualifier, meaning he earned his

ticket to the provincial final in Richmond. “There were lots of other good athletes there who train all the time,”Brewer said of the competition on the Lower Mainland. “I haven’t had as much training, but I think I did well. “They haven’t talked to us about the results yet.” Select athletes will be identified for additional sport-specific testing and may receive financial support from RBC toward their training and competition programs for up to three years. The top performer at the B.C. final will be awarded a trip to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Advancing to the final is a confidence-boosting feat for Brewer, who will likely aim to improve his test numbers at Training Ground next year. In the meantime, he’ll wrap up snowboarding season this month with his teammates at an event at Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon, B.C. “I don’t think I’d be anywhere close to where I am now if I weren’t on that team,” Brewer said. “It’s helped a lot with the racing and everything they’ve taught us.”

Park laps for ladies Women’s Snowboard Federation hosts camp Progression, not perfection, will be the name of the game during Park Days Sun Peaks, hosted by the Women’s Snowboard Federation and local coaches Marlie Marchewka and Abbey Louis. One of numerous stops throughout the province this season, the one-day camp will help riders from beginner to intermediate gain skills and confidence on park features. Marchewka said she is looking forward to a day dedicated to female riders in the park. During her time coaching with the Bluebird Day Fund Sunday Session they have only had one female athlete. “We saw an opportunity during a professional development session and with the local female freestyle talent here in Sun Peaks, an event like the all female clinic would be a great fit,” she said.

Hosting a ladies only clinic creates a supportive, positive and non-judgmental atmosphere where athletes can encourage each other. It also promotes a healthy female representation in a male-dominated industry. “We want to share all that snowboarding has to offer, on and off the snow,” said Marchewka. “Sun Peaks has its own little heartbeat here and it can only be enhanced if there are more female role models for the next generation to come. The girls can expect a relaxed, personalized atmosphere, experienced coaching, new friendships and not to mention good times with great people!” Registration includes a day of coaching, lift ticket, lunch, prizes and a BC Snowboard Membership for $120. Season pass holders pay $75. Spaces are limited, www.ridedays.ca/bc. Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12

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ALPINE RESORT REALTY

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NEW LISTING

4108 SUNDANCE DRIVE | 1,479,000

29 THE PEAKS | $364,500

The architect got it right from street appeal to interior design. Prestigious Sundance Estates 4 bedroom home plus 2 bedroom suite with separate entrance, main floor with an open design, large great room, floor to ceiling rock fireplace, custom kitchen and dining room, all complimented by great window packages and French doors to patios side and back. Spec levels and finishing details are exemplary. Upper floor is master bedroom with 6 piece ensuite, walk-in closet and office/den. The property is fully landscaped with private back yard and oversized garage. Offered largely furnished, GST paid.

This bright 2 bedroom townhouse is an end unit, and has convenient access to the Sun Peaks Village and chairlifts. The main ﬂoor living area features a central kitchen with pantry, dining room, spacious living room with gas ﬁreplace, two outdoor decks and full bath. This home is ideal for gathering family and friends and provides a comfortable open space with private garage and extra storage. Upstairs are two bedrooms with a shared bath and laundry. This townhouse has views of some of the ski runs on Mt. Morrissey and is offered furnished and GST paid.

SOLD

NEW LISTING

20 THE PEAKS | $394,500 This updated townhouse located on the golf course features 2 bedrooms and spacious family room with 2.5 bathrooms. Bright south facing end unit with views of Mt. Morrisey overlooking the second fairway of the Sun Peaks Golf Course. This basement entry, three level townhome has an open concept main floor with cozy gas fireplace, new engineered wood flooring, new countertops, sinks & fixtures, lighting and appliances, 2 sundecks and heated tile flooring with 2 bedrooms upstairs. The lower level has a newly finished family room and bathroom with new paint and flooring, spacious sundeck and private hot tub. Single car garage with work bench and additional parking available. GST paid.

58 SETTLER’S CROSSING | $269,900 Near level entry, open concept one bedroom + den condo. Upgraded with new laminate flooring, kitchen/bathroom counter tops and modern furnishings. Features include heated tile floors in kitchen and bath, cozy gas fireplace, spacious covered deck and front door sitting area. Store your gear in the outside ski locker at your front door or designated storage unit in the garage. Secure, heated underground parking. Settlerʼs Crossing is a well-maintained, ski in/ski-out development zoned for nightly rentals and close to the Morrisey lift, cross-country/snow shoe trails and 18-hole golf course. GST has been paid.

NEW LISTING

56 SETTLER’S CROSSING | $359,000

29 CRYSTAL FOREST | $329,000

This upper level bright 2 bed, 2 bath condo has beautiful features including rich hardwood ﬂoors, vaulted ceiling, & soaring windows. Offers great ski-in, ski-out access, secure underground parking and extra storage. 5 minute walk to the main village. This development is zoned for nightly rentals so you can easily generate income when youʼre not here. Strong revenue statements available. A home at Settlerʼs Crossing will put you at the heart of all Sun Peaks has to offer. This is the kind of place that brings families together to create a lifetime of memories and traditions. Offered fully furnished with private hot tub.

A close walk to everywhere in this centrally located spacious 3 bedroom townhome in beautiful Sun Peaks. Features a cozy ﬁreplace, functional galley kitchen with eating bar, heated tile ﬂoors in entrances, bathrooms and kitchen and great views to the top of Tod Mountain. The 3 levels give great separation for families and larger groups. Convenient weather protected access from your 2 underground parking stalls to your back door. Ski locker at your back door. Offered fully furnished with GST paid.

SOLD

NEW LISTING

SOLD

21 CRYSTAL FOREST | $291,500

11 TRAPPER’S LANDING | $592,500

40 SNOW CREEK VILLAGE | $519,000

Beautiful ground level 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo, which comes fully furnished and features a spacious open floor plan with cozy heated tile floors, cozy gas fireplace, private hot tub, ski storage locker, and 2 secure underground parking spaces. What a great location with convenient ski-in access close to Mt. Morrisey and all Sun Peaks Resort amenities. Easy walk to the main village, skating rink and Sun Peaks Golf Course. High speed internet and cable also included in the maintenance fee. GST paid.

Beautifully appointed south facing ski-in, ski-out townhouse featuring 3 beds plus cozy family room & 3 baths neighbouring the Sun Peaks Village. The top floor provides 2 master suites, both w/ ensuite baths. This bright end unit has an open three level split design w/ vaulted ceiling & soaring windows, heated tile floors & an attractive river rock fireplace. Appreciate ample storage space in your 2 car tandem garage for you skis, bikes and toys, conveniently located on the valley trail and close to all resort amenities. Views of Mt. Morrisey and fully furnished with private hot tub, two sundecks and a private patio for those evening barbecues.

This three level townhome with private garage features 2 bedrooms with vault ceiling, 3 bathrooms & a self-contained ground level legal suite with separate entry that could be easily rented out or included as part of the main home and used as a third bedroom or family room. This home has never been rented & is in pristine condition with heated tile ﬂoors, bright spacious kitchen, cozy gas ﬁreplace, two sundecks & is offered furnished with GST paid. This popular slope side development offers the best ski-in, ski-out locations in the resort.

NEW LISTING

4206 BELLA VISTA DRIVE | $1,499,000 High quality custom built home in ski-in, ski-out location with spectacular window package and exceptional views of the mountains and valley. Open & expansive design and features a stunning floor to ceiling natural ledge stone fireplace. The cabinetry & finishing is impressive with high end appliances & fixtures throughout. All 3 bedrooms have private baths & comfortable hot water radiant heat on basement & main floor levels, plus a legal suite. The details in this home are outstanding with all natural stone, slate & soaring timbers.

2224 SUNBURST DRIVE

| $784,900

This mountain side level entry 5 bed resort home includes a spacious two bed self-contained legal suite. Bright spacious ﬂoor plan w/ open kitchen, dining room & living room with access to large covered deck, main ﬂoor laundry & walk-in pantry. Sunny south facing exposure where you can enjoy your private hot tub & ski in right to your door with only a few short steps to the adjacent ski run. This mountain home features a 2 car garage & a dedicated entrance to the ski room downstairs w/ large covered patio and family room. This low maintenance, fully furnished home is in a great location w/ an easy walk down side of the ski run into the village & all resort amenities. GST not applicable.

6071 LAKE BAY ROAD | $1,075,000 Find solitude in this beautiful 4 bedroom, 4 bath custom lakefront home with spacious family room & games room. The open kitchen, dining room & living room features a beautiful wood burning rock ﬁreplace & opens up to your sundeck overlooking the lake. This year round home is situated on .74 acres with 103ʼ of low-bank waterfront & your own private docks. There is a large 2 car garage with extra storage and a detached 2 bedroom vintage guest cabin in the back yard.

WWW.SUNPEAKSREALTY.COM 20

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Vol 15 Issue 3 March 17 — April 12