PMMA is a rare drug, and one which hasn’t been routinely tested for in B.C. coroners’ investigations. Following information from Alberta that PMMA was detected in relation to several deaths in that province, toxicology findings were reviewed in all 16 of B.C.’s 2011 ecstasy-involved deaths and two of the three 2012 deaths. PMMA was found in five cases. As with MDMA (ecstasy), there is no known safe dose of PMMA. 

The B.C. Coroners Service warns that although PMMA was detected in five cases, there were 13 other ecstasy-related deaths in the same period that did not involve PMMA. The most recent death is still being investigated.

“Ecstasy is in our community and, you don’t know where this stuff is coming from, so we could have ecstasy that’s no problem this week, but a great deal of problem next week,” says Constable Bernie Ward, Tk’umlups Rural RCMP. “It’s how it’s made. There’s more than one recipe that can kill you. You’re just an idiot to try it, that’s what it comes down to.”

The Coroners Service concurs saying, “There’s no guarantee of purity in a drug that’s concocted for profit in a clandestine environment and every ingestion of ecstasy is a risk.”

Fire and burn injuries are the third leading cause of injury and death for children. A survey by Safe Kids Canada found that 70 per cent of Canadian parents didn’t know that most common cause of burn injuries to children is scalds.

“Most adults realize that children need to be kept safe from fire or hot objects like the stove but they don’t realize that hot liquids are just as dangerous,” said Cannon.

The most common cause of burn injuries is from hot liquids, such as spilled hot drinks and hot tap water, rather than fire.

Because a child’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, their skin burns four times more quickly and more deeply than an adult’s skin at the same temperature. Most home hot water heaters in Canada are set at 60 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, a child’s skin can burn in just one second.

If a burn occurs, cool the area with cold water. Don’t use ice or oils, and cool the burn for at least 10 minutes.

For more information on Burn Awareness, visit: www.burnfund.org

Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks Society (ASSP) is establishing a Sno-Limo service at Sun Peaks for both recreational and instructional use and is currently recruiting drivers.
The Sno-Limo is a sit-down apparatus that allows anybody, regardless of ability, the opportunity to experience skiing in a safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly manner.
ASSP is looking for fit, healthy individuals who enjoy people, and winter activities and who appreciate the opportunity to enable guests to enjoy this unique experience. Previous ski ability or certification is not required, however, the program does require two to three days of training which begins Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. To register for training or for further information contact: Gerry at 604-805-0227, or Dick at 250-372-7322(H), 250-852-1805(C)

Sun Peaks recently became eligible for the RMI program, and will now receive annual funding payments that will allow it to focus on its goal of increasing visitation during the summer and shoulder seasons. This activity will support B.C.’s tourism sector revenue goal of $18 billion by 2016 as well as the Province’s new tourism strategy, ‘Gaining the Edge’.

“The provincial government has recognized the contribution that tourism makes to the provincial economy and resort communities,” says Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine. “Funds available through the Resort Municipality Initiative enable resort-oriented communities to build and expand the attractions that have successfully brought tourists to the region. With these funds, we will grow tourism at Sun Peaks, which benefits our residents and the Kamloops region.”

In 2006, the RMI was developed to assist resort-oriented municipalities maintain and grow robust local and regional tourism economies. The program helps small resort municipalities overcome unique challenges and take advantage of opportunities with a goal of increasing tourist visitation, visitor activities, employment, private investment, municipal tax revenue and the diversification of the municipal tax base.

“As we celebrate the last 50 years of skiing at Tod Mountain and 20 years as Sun Peaks, we recognize the resort as a world-class destination that draws significant tourism dollars to our region. This funding will allow them to take their success to the next level, which will increase investment and create jobs for local families,” explains Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.

The RMI is allocated bi-annually. Funding announced for Sun Peaks is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011.

“Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan” identifies tourism as one of the eight sectors critical to the province’s growth.

Residents of Sun Peaks and Whitecroft, and guests to the resort, indicated that the recreational facilities they’d most like to see are additional valley trails, a covered ice rink/multi-purpose indoor facility and a fitness centre. When asked to rank social/cultural facilities, respondents put a community centre, an outdoor concert venue and a library/social centre at the top of the list. As for residents’ facilities, a health clinic topped the list at 95 per cent while a new school and employee housing rounded out the top three.

The survey also asked respondents to select their top priorities to help gauge the most important projects overall. Topping the list at 82 per cent was a health clinic followed by a covered ice rink/multi-purpose indoor facility at 56 per cent. The respondents then ranked a new school at 53 per cent followed by a gym/fitness centre and a community centre tied at 41 per cent each.

Input from the survey will aid prioritizing grant applications and capital planning.

After 23 years of hosting speed demons from around the globe, the iconic Velocity Challenge speed skiing race at Sun Peaks has come to an abrupt halt for 2012.

What started in the late 1980s as a local speed skiing challenge between B.C. racers grew into an International FIS Speed Ski World Cup event attracting racers from up to 10 countries. For the last nine years the Sun Peaks Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Ski World Cup held the unique position of being the only speed skiing event in North America.

Local support for the event has always been strong, but this year the event funding hurdle was insurmountable.

“Unfortunately, as with many sporting events around the globe these days, we failed to meet our required funding amounts to host a successful event, and we had to make the very difficult decision to cancel,” explains Adam Earle, organizer and chief of race for the Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Ski World Cup. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but hosting an international ski race is exactly the same as running a business—if you can’t meet your budget, then you’re out of business. If the cancellation could’ve been avoided, it would’ve been as the Velocity Challenge, for many in the area, is a cornerstone event at Sun Peaks Resort and there are so many volunteers, sponsors, racers and others involved.”

While the 2012 Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Ski World Cup at Sun Peaks has been shelved for this season that doesn’t diminish the draw this event has on racers from around the world.

Swedish racer Christian Jansson vowed a new course record when the Swedes return to race at Sun Peaks in 2013.

“The Swedish team is really sad to hear that the Sun Peaks race is cancelled this year,” said Jansson. “You should know that the Swedish team thinks that Sun Peaks is a world-class race, we all hope we can come back next year to meet the happy people in Sun Peaks, make new friends for life and ski fast. It’s time for someone to take a new track record on the Headwalls and we all hope we are welcome to try next year.”

Looking forward, Earle is steadfastly positive about the event’s future in coming years.

“When you look at where we started back in the ‘80s, just a small group of locals with shovels trying to build a speed ski track, and fast forward to today where we are only one of eight or so ski resorts around the world with the know-how to host such an event. This speaks volumes about the commitment put forth by our volunteers, our sponsors, Sun Peaks Resort and the whole community of Sun Peaks. After 23 years of success this event is not going to just fade away because of an economic burp like we experienced this year, we are going to regroup and come back bigger and stronger.”

Last October, the Sun Peaks municipal council implemented a Facilities Committee to assess the facilities existent at Sun Peaks, and to determine what new facilities residents want. To collect this information, council has published a “Facilities Survey,” asking that residents of Sun Peaks, Whitecroft, and area, complete it. Information from the survey will assist municipal council in capital planning and prioritization for grant applications. Click here to access the survey. It closes Jan. 31, 2012. At press time 297 people had completed the survey.

The municipality has appointed a part-time bylaw officer, Tony Costantino. He will work approximately 12 hours per week enforcing Sun Peaks’ bylaws. The municipality has also partnered with village hotels to provide additional security on the weekends.

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality will host the second public forum on short-term rentals on Sat. Feb. 11. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to discuss the issues and possible solutions surrounding short-term rentals in Sun Peaks. The forum will again be facilitated by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability.

The municipality has an opening on the non-resident advisory body and is seeking a new committee member. The committee meets several times a year to address topics of property owners who are unable to vote. To apply for the advisory committee, email.

Event organizers are anticipating a sell out crowd for the HSBC sponsored event.

“We’re going as max as we can,” says Anne Haight, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sun Peaks Resort. Revellers will enjoy a three course dinner with wine, entertainment and a souvenir to commemorate the anniversary.

Everyone is encouraged to share their favourite Tod Mountain and Sun Peaks memories at the open mic portion of the event. Other entertainment includes slides, videos and archival clips from Bill Rublee and Steve White’s Snow Show.

The event gets underway at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort with cocktails at 5:30 followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $99 per person and may be purchased through Central Reservations.

With Canada now being the largest Icewine maker in the world and temperatures dropping below -30 last week it was fitting to have a seminar titled “Worshipping Icewines” during the 14th Annual Winter Festival of Wine at Sun Peaks Resort.

Icewines can be drizzled over French Toast or waffles with whipped cream, or simply drizzled over vanilla ice cream. Icewines work brilliantly in reductions for pork, for dunking biscotti and old style doughnuts. For the more decadent tastebuds you can try Icewine with a fresh Crème Brûlée. Our host Eric von Krosigk, suggested you could also try Icewine as a Belly Shot!

 The seminar offered a sample of seven Icewines from the Okanangan. Von Krosigk, a Winemaker and Viticulturist from Summerhill Pyramid Winery explained, “Beauty is in the mouth of the holder. It all comes down to thumbs up or thumbs down. ” Below are my thumb ratings out of 5. (There are no thumbs down – they were all fantastic!).

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
2006 Zweigelt Icewine

One of the more expensive Icewines of the seven sampled.
Flavours of Strawberry, White Pepper, Cinnamon and Cherry.

Retail: $148 | Grape: Red

Sonoran Estate Winery
2008 Ehrenfelser Icewine

The least expensive of the samples.
Flavours of Apricot, Maple and Honey.

Retail: $30 | Grape: White

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
2007 Riesling Icewine

Although not my favourite, this Icewine has won several awards.

Retail: $80 | Grape: White

Quail’s Gate Winery
2010 Riesling Icewine

Great taste for a great price.
Flavours of Dried Apple and Dried Apricot.

Retail: $35 | Grape: White

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
2007 Peace Chardonnay Icewine

I didn’t love the scent of the wine however the flavour was lovely.
Would be great with Fresh Fruit or Cheese.

Retail: $80 | Grape: Red

Gehringer Brothers Estate
2010 Cabernet Franc Icewine

The most expensive bottle. The flavour lived up to it’s price tag.
Delicious scent with Bubblegum notes.
Would be great with English Christmas Cake.

Retail: $175 | Grape: Red

Summerhill Pyramid Winery
2007 Pinot Noir Icewine

Had a very Port like taste.
Flavours of Rubarb Crisp and Dried Apricots.

Retail: $125 | Grape: Red