A Q&A with prospective councillor Brian Gillespie

“I’ve called Sun Peaks home for almost 20 years,” Gillespie wrote to SPIN in an email. “I’m the general manager and part-owner of Bottoms Bar & Grill, a community hub in the village where I see residents daily and stay connected to the issues that matter to them.

I was elected to Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality Council in a by-election and am running for re-election, bringing a hands-on, community-minded perspective to council decisions on infrastructure, finance and community services.

I’m running because I believe Sun Peaks’ next chapter needs steady, engaged leadership committed for the long term. I’ll be away for part of the campaign this fall, travelling with my fiancée Kendra to the west of Ireland to finalize wedding details for next year. I’m grateful for the community’s understanding and remain reachable throughout.”

“The Sun Peaks Health Association has been reactivated and is now leading the work on what the clinic’s future operating model should look like. That’s an important shift – the community, through the association, is helping drive what a health centre here should be.

From here, the municipality’s role is one of partnership. In the near term, that means administrative support where needed, and further down the road, helping pursue grant opportunities as the centre’s operations and buildout take shape.

There’s also a direct role for the municipality as landlord of the building itself. Subsidized rent and other mechanisms can help ease the financial load on the association as it works to stand the clinic back up. But I also believe council has an important political role to play. As the elected voice of the community, we should be advocating directly with Interior Health and the Province for appropriate funding and support for healthcare delivery in Sun Peaks.

The association shouldn’t have to carry that advocacy alone.

Ultimately, I see the municipality as a steady and reliable partner to the association, while also using the voice and influence of elected council to advocate for the healthcare services our community needs.”

To review SPIN’s coverage of the health centre, visit our dedicated landing page. 

“There has already been substantial effort directed toward addressing the foreign buyer ban. Credit is due to Mayor Rob O’Toole for the work put into this issue to date, along with the efforts of Sun Peaks Resort, provincial tourism organizations and others who have helped make the case for resort communities.

If the ban is extended, that advocacy needs to continue, with a focus on making the case to the federal government for an exemption that recognizes the unique circumstances of a resort community like ours.

If and when the policy is lifted, I expect it will have a positive effect on the community, but it isn’t a magic wand. Infrastructure and long-term planning have already been a focus, and that work needs to continue regardless of what happens with the ban. We need to make sure Sun Peaks is prepared for future investment and development, with the infrastructure and services needed to support that growth.”

To review SPIN’s coverage of the ban, visit our dedicated landing page.

“We need to balance two things at once: building the infrastructure required to support the growth already planned for Sun Peaks, while maintaining and eventually replacing the aging infrastructure that keeps the community running today.

As a resort municipality, I believe in the principle of tourism helping pay for the impacts of tourism. Residents, tourism and the broader business community all have a role to play – one group shouldn’t automatically carry the load. At the same time, our long-term financial planning has to account for the true and growing cost of maintaining what we already have. Water, sewer and roads don’t get younger.

There isn’t one funding model that solves all of this. We need a concerted effort to pursue every reasonable option – including senior government grants backed by proactive lobbying, appropriate contributions tied to growth, tourism-related funding opportunities, and close planning with our partners at the resort.

We also need to be upfront with residents about the trade-offs: what gets built now, what gets deferred, and what either decision costs. For me, the bigger picture isn’t growth for its own sake. It’s making sure Sun Peaks grows in a way that’s financially and practically sustainable over the long term.”

“My primary business is in the restaurant industry as General Manager and part-owner of Bottoms Bar & Grill. I also co-own Dorb & Norm’s, a waste removal company that is winding down as of Nov. 1. 

Both businesses have given me useful firsthand perspective on some of the issues that come before council. 

Business ownership also means being very clear about conflicts of interest. One clear example during my time on council was a liquor licence matter affecting Bottoms. I recused myself, and I would handle any future matter where my business interests directly intersect with a council decision the same way.”

“First, advocate for education. Continue working with and advocating to the school district as our population grows.

Second, prioritize safe community infrastructure. Crosswalks, walkways, signage, appropriate speed limits, playgrounds and emergency planning might not always be thought of as “youth initiatives,” but they directly affect whether this is a safe and healthy place for kids to grow up.

Third, support the organizations already doing the work. Groups like Art Zone, the Sun Peaks Education Society and the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association create opportunities for young people and families that the municipality doesn’t need to duplicate. 

I don’t see those as three standalone election promises. They’re examples of a broader responsibility: making sure the next generation is considered in our long-term planning and policy decisions, not just when youth happens to be the question of the moment.”