It’s “Situation Critical” as rock fans make an "Urgent" dash to see this summer’s Sun Peaks Summer Concert Series Weekend lineup.  

One of Canada’s most popular rock acts from the eighties - Platinum Blonde, along with the lead singer from Foreigner, Lou Gramm - will have fans reminiscing about the days of teased hair and vinyl records.

Platinum Blonde performs in the evening on Friday, July 3. Lou Gramm takes to the Sun Peaks stage in the evening on Saturday, July 4.

The next dates for the concert series are in August. On Friday, Aug. 28, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts will sing some of their Juno Award-winning and platinum-album-selling hits such as Something to Live For and Living in the 90s. Renowned Canadian blues, rock singer and guitarist Colin James will treat fans to his hits, such as Why’d You Lie, as well as new recordings from his Hearts on Fire release.

The $10.5-million a year Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) program, which is managed by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, helps small, tourism-based municipalities attract visitors. The Sun Peaks’ Summer Concert Series is made possible through this program. Sun Peaks has received $1,323,941 in RMI funds.

Other communities that participate in the RMI program include Fernie, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount, Osoyoos and Whistler.

To keep British Columbia’s economy diverse, strong and growing, since Sept. 2011 the BC Jobs Plan has been building on the strengths of eight of the province’s key sectors using B.C.’s educated and skilled workforce. B.C.’s tourism sector is one of the eight key sectors identified in the BC Jobs Plan, having created more than 132,200 jobs and generated $13.9 billion in revenues throughout the province in 2013.

Since RMI inception in 2007, over $87.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

Quotes:

Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson - 

“Sun Peaks is renowned as a winter ski destination but has developed into a family-oriented, four-season resort. This RMI funding will boost Sun Peaks’ growing reputation and attract new visitors from every direction for the benefit of the entire region.”

Mayor Al Raine of

“With funding through the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative program, these concerts have increased our summer business and hotel occupancies which translates into increased community employment. We have seen businesses previously closed in the summer season open and many businesses have extended their operating hours over the summer months. Our community is most appreciative of this provincial program which has enabled Sun Peaks to move forward as a year round tourism attraction.”

Quick Facts: 

• The RMI program aims to: increase the number of visitors, their length of stay, broaden resort activities, increase employment and diversify the local tax base.
• In 2014, 4.7 million international visitors came to B.C. - a 5.3% increase and nearly a quarter of a million more people than the previous year.
• In 2009, Ski Canada Magazine voted Sun Peaks Resort best race training centre, best kids’ terrain park, best ski-in/ski-out village and best alpine resort in summer. A Condé Nast Traveler reader’s poll named Sun Peaks among the top 10 resorts in North America.

Learn More:

To learn more about the RMI program, please visit:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=30A40BDA6D8346798E15C6050063F719

For more details on the Sun Peaks Summer Concerts:
http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/events-and-festivals/concerts

BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799