MAYOR'S MESSAGE
“A look back and a peak at what is to come”
Before I take some time to reflect on 2025 and talk about what we are excited about for 2026 I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the Happiest New Year and I hope you all got some quality time with family and friends over the holidays.
As I reflected on what to share, I was struck by how with so many things happening I can’t think of one that didn’t feel former Mayor Raine’s presence and impact. It is said that one’s life is measured not in the things we accumulate but by the people we impact and the legacy we leave for others. Former Mayor Raine’s presence will be felt for decades to come.
We began the year with BC Housing awarding the Sun Peaks BC Builds contract to build the first attainable housing project in Sun Peaks. Local builder/developer Meranti Developments was the bid chosen. This project looks to bring online 110 middle income apartment units (studio-3 bedroom) for the spring of 2027. This project has the distinction of being the fastest concept to construction start of all the BC Builds projects in the province.
We held a By-election in April for Mayor and a Councillor. Four Sun Peaks residents put their names forward to run for my vacated seat on council. This was an impressive group of candidates, and I enjoyed the all-candidates forum. In the end Brian Gillespie won the By-election.
In the spring our Municipal Operations Department awarded the contract for a new freshwater pipeline to connect our potable water reservoir to the Municipality’s water treatment plant. This project was undertaken with the support of a $4.5 million federal/provincial grant. The majority of the work has been completed. In the early spring of 2026, the final steps will be completed to commission the pipeline. A huge thank you to our municipal team, contractor trades teams and Sun Peaks Resort LLP for their collaboration to get this project near completion.
In 2025 our planning department began a full review of our Short-Term Nightly Rental (STNR) policy. We had extensive community engagement with two public sessions. Recommendations will be coming to council in January.
Sun Peaks Fire and Rescue got a new fire truck. This new truck was gently used and came from another mountain setting. The four-wheel drive will be welcome on those snowy winter roads.
In support of our grant under the Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan we rezoned lots for future community employee housing. Work is underway with the BC provincial government to have these lots ready for the projects that will follow our BC Builds development. Earlier in December our planning department brought forward a Density Bonusing Bylaw which council approved. This new bylaw will support further growth of community employee housing.
Our Resort Development Strategy (RDS) for 2025-2027 was approved the by the province. This program will cover Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) spending on enhancing our tourism infrastructure and the visitor experience in Sun Peaks.
Council and the staff leadership team developed our first ever strategic plan to guide council and staff for the coming year.
A sneak peak at 2026!
As most of you now know, we haver been doing a great deal of advocacy work on the Foreign Buyers Ban. This work was started by former Mayor Raine and has included work by SPR LLP and the Canadian National Ski Council. In recent weeks we have seen positive signs that we may be making some headway on this subject. We look to have more to share on this early in 2026.
As we shared in November, we were working on a solution to get the community medical clinic reopened with a new operator. We hope to have more on this early in the new year. Over the last two months, a great deal of collaboration has occurred. The municipality as owners of the clinic, and Dr. Nowierski as the future operator, continue to work towards the goal of ensuring local health care and services are accessible to our community and getting the clinic reopened.
I mentioned earlier that the 2025-27 RDS funding has been approved. In 2026 we will be working on two projects at Sun Peaks Centre and Sun Peaks Centre Stage with Tourism Sun Peaks to enhance the use of these facilities and the guest experience. One will be $100,000 investment in a warming kitchen for the centre. The other will be $100,000 for a Food & Beverage trailer/concession to support events in summer and winter.
The other RDS funding project for 2026 is a Secwepemc Medicine Trail. $100,000 has been allocated for this project. I have asked the leaders of Adams Lake Band, Neskonlith Band and Skwlax te Secwepemculecw to provide design and cultural direction on this project.
2026 looks to be a busy year with the municipality working on a number of infrastructure projects.
As we enter the final year of our 4-year term I’d like to thank my fellow council members for their valued input and community leadership in guiding our community. We are extremely proud of the job CAO Campbell, the leadership team and staff have done over the past year.
I’d also like to thank our stakeholder partners, Sun Peaks Resort LLP and Tourism Sun Peaks. Your shared passion to see our mountain community grow and prosper is greatly appreciated.
To our larger community thank you for choosing Sun Peaks as your home, second home or home away from home. We are a diverse group of residents and property owners with a passion for where we live.
Mayor
Rob O’Toole