Skip to content

SilverStar fourth B.C. mountain to form association: province

Vernon mountain resort gets seal of approval from province to form association
20886009_web1_190320-VMS-star-sewage
The province enabled the creation of Silver Star Resort Association on March 10, 2020, which will bring economic benefits to residents and businesses in the North Okanagan. (Morning Star file photo)

The province has greenlighted residents and businesses of SilverStar Mountain Resort to form an association, which could pave the way for economic benefits in the North Okanagan.

The Silver Star Marketing Task Force — comprised of interested stakeholders, property owners, businesses, hotels and the resort operator — put forward a proposal to start an association back in 2017 and on March 10, 2020, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved it.

SilverStar will be British Columbia’s fourth ski resort to establish an association like this.

The task force looked at practices used by the other three resort associations in B.C., which are Whistler, Sun Peaks and Red Mountain, when it designed its model and proposal.

With the association status, the Silver Star Resort Association (SSRA) is able to apply for grants and additional funding while creating a platform to advocate for the resort community within the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and the province.

The SSRA will help promote, facilitate and encourage the development, maintenance and operation of SilverStar, which in turn, will stimulate the local economy, create local jobs and generate provincial revenue.

Its primary goal is to “elevate the strength of Silver Star’s reputation as a year-round, family destination that delivers choice, quality and safety centered upon an integrated and supportive community,” the task force wrote in its newsletter.

The SSRA was approved by the RDNO in February 2018, which allowed it to move on to the next step: a petition.

The task force was successful in its efforts to gather enough petition signatures from landowners representing half of the property value within the resort’s boundaries later that year. The resort also filled the requirements of having a ski lift and year-round recreational area centre.

Now, the SSRA must sign up with the registrar of companies and elect its first board of directors before it can begin operations.

READ MORE: Vernon ski resort boosts club skiers with cash

READ MORE: Brother and sister thrive with Silver Star ski program


Brendan Shykora
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter


Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
Read more