SPIN is grateful for our sponsors. Become one.

WEEKLY NEWS FOR JULY 16

Good afternoon folks,

This week, the municipality held a candidate information session for folks interested in running in the 2026 general election taking place in October. This election will decide the next councillors and mayor for the upcoming term of four years. You can find this on our dedicated 2026 general election landing page, where other election related articles will be shared in the future.

I recapped the session below, with a bit of information on who can vote and how. Candidates will be announced Sept. 11 and before then, SPIN will send out a survey to learn what readers want to know from each one. Meantime, feel free to send your questions in a response to this email or to editor@sunpeaksnews.com. 

Plus, are you prepared for an emergency? Recent wildfire activity in the area contributed to poor air quality and elicited concerns of evacuations. Be sure you’re signed up for Voyant Alert. Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality uses the app, and it is the best way to stay updated during emergency events.

Additionally, the B.C. Wildfire Service Mobile App provides near real-time data, and the “near me” and “saved locations” functions help get accurate and timely push notifications sent directly to your mobile device. For details on evacuation alerts and orders in the region, visit TNRD.ca.

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO KNOW: PARTICIPATING IN THE 2026 SUN PEAKS GENERAL ELECTION

All the basics of running and voting in the October 2026 general election in Sun Peaks.

SUN PEAKS MOUNTAIN RESORT MUNICIPALITY UPDATES OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

The municipality will host a public engagement session and hearing prior to finalizing the Official Community Plan.

ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE PROGRAM ROLLS INTO SUN PEAKS THIS SUMMER

Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks is launching adaptive mountain bike lessons, with new equipment and a growing team of trained instructors.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 👀

SUN PEAKS STEPS UP WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AS SUMMER BEGINS

Wildfire fuel-reduction work on Morrisey is nearing completion, while Sun Peaks Fire and Rescue urges residents to FireSmart properties, monitor restrictions and prepare for emergencies.

YOU SHOULD KNOW 🎤

Local and regional tidbits to be aware of.

✋🏽 Residents are invited to share their thoughts on proposed changes and updates to the municipality’s Official Community Plan July 23 during an open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sun Peaks Centre for community members to learn more about the plan. The draft of the plan is available here, and residents can submit comments here. 

🚨 Sun Peaks falls just outside of a regional heat alert that covers nearby areas of Kamloops, the Okanagan Valley, Lillooet and Shuswap. There is also an air quality alert in effect due to wildfire smoke for the south Fraser Canyon, including Trans Canada Hwy 1 from Lytton to Dogwood Valley and the South Thompson region. Situations can change rapidly, be sure to stay up to date on all alerts through the Government of Canada Climate website.

🚗 The 16th annual Show-N-Shine raised $3,000 for the Heffley Area Community Wildfire Response Team in memory of Jim Davies, a longtime member of the Heffley Lake Community Association who passed away in March. 

🛟 The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has been approved to borrow funds to build a Regional Search and Rescue Hall. The total amount to be borrowed is $6.3 million over a 20-year loan period. Only 86 eligible electors submitted a response opposed to borrowing the funds, significantly less than the 14,000 which would have been required for the initiative to fail.  

🎤 The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is seeking input on resource roads and road systems. Fill out the survey to help identify resource roads that are currently used to access recreation areas, open but potentially at risk of closure or deactivation, or are already closed, limited or difficult to access. The survey also asks about barriers, seasonal closures, wildlife management closures and other access challenges. 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 📸

Have a photo of the week? Send it to editor@sunpeaksnews.com to see it featured in our newsletter and print. 

EVENTS 🎫

Sun Peaks Alpine Club Annual Golf Tournament

⛳  All golfers are welcome for the annual Sun Peaks Alpine Club Golf Tournament with contests, prizes, on-course lunch and dinner at Masa’s Bar + Grill. All proceeds go towards the Sun Peaks Alpine Club, $205 per player and $775 per team. Email spacgolftournament@gmail.com to register.

Date: July 17   Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Sun Peaks Golf Course

Sun Peaks Speed Week

🚘 Tourism Sun Peaks will be holding a free car show to view vintage and race cars with food and beverages at the Sun Peaks Centre Stage. There will also be a Vendor Village with an automotive part exhibition at the Sun Peaks Centre. In the evening, there will be a free concert from Paisley Groove at the Village Stage from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Date: July 17 - 19    Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Sun Peaks Centre Stage

Canada Cup DH

 🚲 

🚴🏻 The Dunbar Summer Series is partnering with Sun Peaks Resort for the 2026 Canada Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race. With practice sessions, seeding runs and final races all included in the event, spectators are invited to watch top downhill riders from all over Canada. Volunteers are needed for the event, contact stephenexley@shaw.ca for more information.

Date: July 17 - 19   Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Sun Peaks Resort

ArtZone Summer Camps

🎨 Join ArtZone Sun Peaks for a full week of summer camp activities including swimming, yoga, fairy gardens, pirate adventures, bug exploration, magic class and acrylic painting. Children are welcome to join for the full week or drop in days.

Date: July 20 - 24   Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: ArtZone Art Hub

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality council meeting

🙋 To find the Zoom link for each meeting, click on the title of the upcoming meeting you would like to attend in the Schedule of Meetings on. You will find the Zoom information linked in the top centre of the council agenda. Those interested in connecting with the municipality can email council, send a letter directly to council members or the mayor to be included in the agenda or speak as a delegation at the meeting. If it is a new topic, the request must be submitted before 1 p.m. on Wednesday prior to the council meeting.

Date: July 21    Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Sun Peaks Centre or Zoom

WEEKLY 

Sundays

👩🏼‍🌾 Stroll through the Sun Peaks Farmers' Market from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

⛪️ Sun Peaks Church will be holding a service every Sunday evening at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join at the Annex.

📚 The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library’s mobile library visits Sun Peaks School every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Whitecroft Village from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. 

Mondays

👐 From July 6 to Aug. 24 Quizzy Rascal Quiz Nights will be at Masa's starting at 8 p.m. $2 cash per person, with teams of up to six!

Tuesdays

💪🏽 Join Heffley Creek Hall for Golden Fitness classes, all ages and fitness levels welcome. Dancersize is at 11 a.m., followed by gentle weights at 12:30 p.m., Tai Chi walking at 1:30 p.m., chair pilates at 2 p.m. and chair yoga at 2:30 p.m.

Fridays

❤️ AA community addictions meetings run every Friday at Sun Peaks Secondary beside the Health Clinic, starting at 7:30 p.m. 

KEEP IN TOUCH 📲

Did you know we are on social media? While Meta’s response to Bill C18, the Online News Act, significantly reduced the amount we are able to post on Facebook and Instagram, SPIN posts regularly on BlueSky. From time-to-time we may even hop on a TikTok trend! Follow us on both using the icons at the end of this email.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEWSLETTER?

⭐   ⭐⭐   ⭐⭐⭐   ⭐⭐⭐⭐   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

YOU SAID 🎤

Want your comments featured in our newsletter? Fill out our survey.