In 2025 Sun Peaks faced one of the most eventful years in the municipality’s history, marked by a by-election, housing and infrastructure projects and the transition of the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre.

Speaking in a year-end interview, Mayor Rob O’Toole said the year was shaped by both progress and loss following the death of former mayor Al Raine last year.

“This time last year we were dealing with the passing of mayor Raine,” O’Toole said. “Coming away from that… it’s interesting to see how many things his hands were still on, projects that he championed.”

One of the most significant projects moving forward is the BC Builds housing development, something Raine had championed during his time in office.

“He wanted us to get an attainable housing project off the ground to help us sustain our young, skilled workforce,” O’Toole recalled. “So that project getting approval and getting under construction in 2025 was a big one.”

According to the mayor, the project has moved from planning to construction faster than any other BC Builds development to date.

“That’s something they’re very proud of, and so are we,” the mayor said. “The concrete is in the ground and we look forward to that building going up.”

The municipality also navigated a by-election following Raine’s death. O’Toole, who ran to assume the role of mayor unopposed, said the process demonstrated strong civic engagement.

He also praised Coun. Brian Gillespie, who was elected in the by-election and joined council in April.

“He’s done a great job jumping in and being an active member of council, bringing good feedback and asking some great questions.”

Health centre remains top concern

The transition of the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre has been the most challenging issue facing council this year, O’Toole said.

Discussions with the clinic’s proponent, Dr. Catherine Nowierski have made significant progress over the past two months.

“I strongly believe we’re going to see the clinic reopening sooner than later,” he said, while cautioning that no timeline can yet be confirmed.

He acknowledged public frustration, noting health care projects involve complex regulatory requirements that are not always visible to residents.

“When you’re dealing with local government, things like health care, there are a lot of requirements around process, around government-owned facilities that I can tell you before I was ever on council, I would have not understood either.”

He also confirmed that Dr. Signy Frank, a physician previously practicing in Sun Peaks, has permanently relocated her practice.

Reopening the clinic is important not only for patients, but also for local residents who work there, O’Toole reiterated.

“It’s not just you, I, the next person as a patient, but there’s also a whole team of Sun Peaks and area residents that work there, and those folks getting back to work is a big priority,” he said. 

While he was unable to provide a date or timeline for reopening the clinic, he said the work that’s been going on over the last 60 days has been “very positive and fruitful.”

He said he expects to be able to share more in the new year. 

Infrastructure upgrades underway

A new freshwater pipeline connecting the municipality’s potable water reservoir to its water treatment plant is among the largest infrastructure projects nearing completion.

The pipeline, which is approximately 90 per cent complete according to O’Toole, is expected to be commissioned in the spring after delays caused by missing components.

“In late spring, it’ll take us about 10 days to do some final testing and add a few pieces, and then the new water system will be up and running,” he said.

Once operational, the pipeline will eliminate reliance on the system that transfers water through the resort’s snowmaking infrastructure — a stopgap arrangement that required close cooperation with Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) over the last six years.

“[SPR] was very gracious,” the mayor said, noting snowmaking capacity was impacted to support potable water needs during low-supply periods.

“They understood the fact that the valley needed to have potable water.”

An additional phase of the project will include turbines capable of generating electricity to help power the treatment plant, he added.

“It puts security around our water supply for the foreseeable future.”

Strategic planning, housing and advocacy

Sun Peaks completed its first-ever strategic plan this year, developed with the assistance of an external consultant and involving both council and senior staff. Additionally, the 2025-2027 Resort Development Strategy received approval from the provincial government, which focuses on the municipality’s long-term vision for the Resort Municipality Initiative spending around tourism-based opportunities and infrastructure.

“There’s a number of projects that we’re doing in partnership with tourism Sun Peaks through that fund – upgrades to the Sun Peaks Centre and the arena and centre stage, to make the facility more user-friendly for everything from concerts to catering to movie shoots and whatever might be coming our way.”

Additionally the municipality completed the requirements for the final piece of funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund by putting through a new density borrowing bylaw. 

Those funds will go to the Sun Peaks Housing Authority.

“This is something that will help build a better foundation for our affordable housing and attainable housing over the next five to 20 years.” 

Continuing advocacy efforts related to the federal foreign buyer ban the municipality is seeking an exemption for controlled recreational land, and recently gained traction and the opportunity to communicate directly with the Federal Ministry of Housing.

“Stay tuned, looking to hopefully have some positive feedback to give the community here in the first quarter of 2026,” he said.

Access concerns from non-resident homeowners

Addressing concerns raised by non-resident property owners who say they feel disconnected from municipal decision-making, the mayor noted access is consistent between full-time residents and non-resident homeowners, as most municipal communication can go through email or virtual meetings. This won’t change in 2026, he assured. 

This year two members of the Sun Peaks Non-Resident Advisory Committee resigned citing lack of engagement with Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality council.

“Access is different because they’re not here year-round, but the ability to communicate is still there,” he reiterated. 

He cautioned against creating special access channels for non-resident owners, saying it could unfairly advantage them over full-time residents.

“I think if we were to create a model where a non-resident owner had some sort of specific, streamline access point to staff and council, I think one might argue that that’s the flip, that now that individual or individuals have better access than the people who live in the community full time.”

Other projects on the horizon

Projects on the docket for 2026 include some trail building and parks and recreation next summer and other things around infrastructure and sewage capacity expansion.

One positive collaboration includes work with local First Nations, primarily the medicine trail which has received new funding. 

“We’re hoping to work with Neskonlith, Adams Lake and Sexqéltkemc te Secwepemc in 2026 on that. We’ve invited them to join us on a working group to develop that with them giving us their cultural direction, ceremony and such, in that area,” O’Toole said.

Council is also preparing to review recommendations related to short-term rentals which will be brought to council in January following a study conducted by a consultant and municipal director of planning & community services Demitri Hofer.

The goal of the review is to strike a balance between protecting neighbourhood livability and supporting tourism in a community heavily dependent on visitor accommodations, O’Toole said.

“We are a one-industry tourism community,” he said. “Without tourism and nightly accommodation, we really don’t exist. So we’re trying to strike a balance there.”

Reflecting on nine months as mayor 

Reflecting on his first nine months as mayor, O’Toole said the workload exceeded his expectations.

“It’s been a learning experience and a lot of growth.”

With a couple of key items coming onto this council’s desk, 2025 demanded a high-level of attention. 

With 2026 shaping up to be just as busy, O’Toole feels more prepared. 

“All in all, it was a busy, busy year, a little busier than I expected, but now I’m kind of in a place where I’m expecting it, and now I see it coming at me a little more.”

A municipal election is scheduled for October 2026, and the mayor said he has not yet decided whether he will seek another term.

“That’s a family conversation I’ll have in the spring,” he said.

Though any future term as mayor is yet to be determined, he praised the council members he’s worked with this year, saying he would love an opportunity to work together again. 

“That would be a decision for them to want to run again and myself, and also for folks to want to give us that opportunity again, so we’ll see what happens.”