Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) has been developing a plan to avoid economic dips when Sun Peaks’ tourist traffic tends to slow during the spring and fall.
TSP executive director Naomi Kerchinsky shared they’ll be rolling out a long-term event strategy, centered around using the Sun Peaks Skating Rink as an event venue during shoulder season.
After a successful event-filled summer in 2023, TSP saw some potential for a tourism boost, Kerchinsky said. When she was brought on as executive director in January, they developed a plan.
Sun Peaks Events
“Sun Peaks has an interesting history of events,” she said. TSP used to get Resort Municipality Funding from the B.C. government, and used it to put on large concerts.
“We had Kevin Costner and we had Blue Rodeo, and all these concerts were free,” she said.
Since the municipality formed, the funding goes straight to them instead to be put toward things to make the community better, such as expanding the Valley Trail, Kerchinsky explained.
“We [TSP] continued on with our own event strategy, using some of the MRDT funding,” she said, adding that the free, slopestyle events TSP puts on provide some form of an economic driver, but not as much as ticketed events would.
“In order for us to ticket an event, it has to be in a location where people can enter and leave, with boundaries,” she said about turning the rink into an event space. Another important factor for hosting ticketed events is weather protection.
TSP’s new hire Greg Albrecht will be developing an event strategy then running concerts and events as a contractor in the 2025 season.
“This year, we’re looking at pressure testing and pushing some things through to really build what we see is the future of events in this community,” Kerchinsky said.
Sun Peaks Centre Stage
Making the rink multi-faceted so it can be used in the winter for skating and used by TSP for the rest of the year means making some changes in the design of the arena, and removing the boards was the first step. They’re looking at plexiglass board options that are much easier to store and getting curtains and sound rigging for when they have ownership of the space, Kerchinsky said.
“We also see great value in the Sun Peaks Centre,” she said, adding the use could be as a green room or welcome hall.
The goal is to be making use of the Sun Peaks Centre and the Sun Peaks Centre Stage from 2025 to 2029.
Further initiatives
They’re revving up to launch Sun Peaks Live, a way to keep people informed on everything that’s going on in Sun Peaks, whether it’s run by TSP or local businesses.
“On our main channels, we are trying to bring people to Sun Peaks,” she said. “When people are in Sun Peaks, we don’t really have a channel that talks about things like trivia night, and the silent disco at Bottoms.”
Currently, TSP can’t provide a set-in-stone event schedule, as they’re still building on what they want to do.
“We also are looking at building out these tentpole event weekends,” she said. Events such as retro fest are something they already know are successful.
This year, they’ll also be supporting ArtZone’s CREATE! Arts and Craft Festival, showcasing classic cars during Sun Peaks Speed Week and having a dog festival called Sun Paws in the Peaks.
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