By Dylana Milobar

Sun Peaks businesses working with RCMP to tackle drug presence

Feb 13, 2019 | 2:58 PM

SUN PEAKS, B.C. — RCMP sat down with business owners in Sun Peaks this morning to strategize tackling drug-related issues in the community.

Locals provided their own accounts to police of drug use incidents at Sun Peaks, and got input from RCMP on how they can help the situation.

The mountain municipality’s mayor says it’s not just about drug and crime prevention, but public protection.

Al Raine sat down with members of the community and business owners today along with RCMP to discuss what they need to be doing to reduce drug use at the resort,

“I think we would be naive to think that there are no drugs in Sun Peaks, and that some of the employees of the resort, and guests of the resort are using drugs,” he says. “So we felt we should first of all understand what the depth of the issue is. Secondly, are there things that we could be doing better to discourage and monitor what is going on?”

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According to the mayor, a few drug related incidents have recently occured, which led to the organization of today’s meeting.

“Several people have said to me that it seems to be that the young people think that this is just ordinary, and it’s kind of common place and accepted,” Raine says. “Almost getting a little bit more out in the public than it should be. So we want to discourage that.”

“Our focus as a community is to offer recreation to our guests and to give meaningful employment,” he explains. “Certainly we know it’s not just young people that are getting involved in drugs, but we have a duty, a responsibility, to make sure that we have rules in place and people know what is expected of them.”

Following the meeting, community members and business owners in Sun Peaks will be keeping a vigilant watch for suspicious or drug related activity, and communicating with RCMP.

“So that if we do have problem guests, we can pass the message on, and if we have employees, that we can take the right action with the employees.”

Not only highlighting crime reductions methods, Raine says today’s meeting also went over how to prevent loss of life through drug use.

“Unfortunately, with the new drugs, the more powerful drugs, and fentanyl, this is very risky business, ” Raine explains. “Today with some of the drugs that are out there, people are dying.”

Despite some concerns raised around the emergence of illegal substances, Raine says there has not been a fatal overdose in the community, and businesses are as prepared as they can be for when overdoses occur.

“All of the bars, all of the restaurants, and the hotels have all done training with their staff,” Raine says, “So the night audit people who are there late at night, and our first responders here in the community have all had naloxone training. The kits are everywhere.”

For now, Sun Peaks businesses will be refreshing their employees on safety and legal policies, and keeping in contact with RCMP.