Each fall Sun Peaks comes together in the spirit of generosity for Giving Tuesd-eh, an annual campaign organized by Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) which mirrors the global Giving Tuesday movement.
This year, 12 local organizations participated in Giving Tuesd-eh from Oct. 1 to 14, with TSP matching donations up to $12,000.
“It’s a chance for locals and visitors to come together and give back to the people and programs that make this place special,” TSP’s senior event manager, Theresa St. Louis said.” Whether it’s schools, non-profits or community initiatives, every donation helps strengthen the heart of Sun Peaks.”
Supporting education and preserving history
One of the primary beneficiaries of the campaign is the Sun Peaks Education Society (SPES), which supports the local school, a small but growing learning environment that plays a vital role in the mountain community.
This year, funds from Giving Tuesd-eh are primarily year-marked for the annual field trip, ” Peggy Leduc from SPES said.
“Because we’re a small school without the same facilities and resources as a typical district school, we focus on enriching our students’ programming. Last year for example, students went to Whistler. It was an incredible experience that wouldn’t have been possible without community support.”
The field trip isn’t just a getaway; it’s an essential learning experience.
“It helps students connect with one another, explore the outdoors and gain opportunities they wouldn’t get in our one-room schoolhouse,” Leduc said.
Funds go far beyond travel. Donations help SPES bring in guest speakers and specialists from avalanche safety experts to first aid instructors, resources the school district doesn’t typically cover.
“We’ve also used donations to refurbish our classrooms, upgrading electrical systems, improving air filtration and creating spaces where students can collaborate and socialize,” Leduc added.
For SPES, every dollar raised is a reflection of the community’s commitment to education.
“Everything that our school does outside of the district programming, the events, resources and experiences, comes from donations and fundraisers,” she said. “The fact that we’ve been able to keep this school running and thriving for years, entirely through community effort, is a success story in itself.”
While the exact destination for this year’s field trip is still being decided, options include marine stations, outdoor camps or a Vancouver trip combining arts and sports. The society plans to involve students in the decision-making process to ensure the experience reflects their interests and goals.
“We’re a small school, so planning trips can be challenging,” Leduc admitted. “But that’s what makes Giving Tuesd-eh so important — it gives us the flexibility to dream big for our students.”
Other beneficiaries include Sun Peaks Historical Society (SPHS), a volunteer-driven group dedicated to preserving the stories, photographs and landmarks that trace the resort’s roots back to its early days as Tod Mountain. Its current focus is the restoration of the Tod Mountain Herder’s Cabin, located in the West Bowl area.
“It’s the only historical building within the perimeter of the controlled recreation area or the municipality,” SPHS’ president Kristin Passmore said. “Last year we hired Heritage Works, an international conservation company, to assess the cabin and now we’re raising funds to conserve it.”
SPHS also collects oral histories and photographs from long-time residents, ranchers and early ski hill employees.
“Sun Peaks was built as Todd Mountain,” Nancy Greene Raine said. “The roots reach down into the valleys where farmers and ranchers helped build it. We’re trying to document those stories before they’re lost.”
For the historical society, Giving Tuesd-eh provides more than just financial help, it connects the community to its heritage.
“It’s good for community awareness,” Passmore added. “And a great opportunity for nonprofits to raise funds.”
Highlighting local nonprofits
Giving Tuesd-eh also provides a platform for the organizations and people behind the scenes Greene Raine said.
From Adaptive Sports Sun Peaks and ArtZone Sun Peaks to Sun Peaks Alpine Club and Sun Peaks Bear Aware, the work of nonprofits shapes the Sun Peaks experience.
“[Giving Tuesd-eh] helps people understand the extent of nonprofit groups that support Sun Peaks,groups not funded by the resort, Tourism Sun Peaks or the municipality, but by locals who saw a need and took action.”
Her comments reflect the broader mission behind Giving Tuesd-eh: to foster collaboration and highlight the often unseen work of community-led organizations.
That goal is shared by Regenerative Tourism B.C. (RE:BC), a provincial initiative that partners with destinations like Sun Peaks to promote sustainable and community-minded tourism.
Kirsten Ovstaas, public relations and marketing manager from RE:BC clarified the organization’s role in relation to Giving Tuesd-eh.
“Giving Tuesd-eh was put on by Sun Peaks,” Ovstaas said. “ We supported it through our channels and shared it on our website.”
RE:BC helps guide tourism organizations across B.C. toward regenerative travel practices, supporting campaigns like ‘Thanksgiving Back’, which similarly encourage giving and sustainability, she added.
“These are the kinds of initiatives we love to see, local programs that give back to the community and align with regenerative principles,” Ovstaas said.
SPHS sees Giving Tuesd-eh as a way to continue building connections between the past and the present. Inside the Tod Mountain Café, a map from 1961 still hangs on the wall, showing the resort’s very first ski runs. For many, it’s a symbol of the enduring legacy that the society hopes to preserve.
“When I was in the market last week, I spoke to someone who said, ‘We’re going to give to all the groups, especially since Tourism Sun Peaks is matching donations,’” Greene Raine said. “That really shows the community spirit here.”
TSP hopes the event will continue to grow as a staple in the resort’s calendar, showcasing the generosity that defines the community, St. Louis said.
“This campaign isn’t just about donating money,” St. Louis said. “It’s about being part of something bigger: supporting education, culture and well-being in Sun Peaks. When people give here, they’re helping create opportunities for future generations.”
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