UPDATE:

Kelowna RCMP has since announced they will be increasing patrols at Big White, after resort management called for help to deal with the lack of compliance with public health orders in the area.

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP changes approach to Big White policing amid COVID-19 concerns

Original:

Despite requests by resort management, the RCMP will not be stationing additional police officers at Big White Ski Resort to help with enforcement of public health guidelines.

Instead, it will continue to send officers to the resort municipality from Kelowna sa国际传媒� nearly an hour-long trip sa国际传媒� on a call-by-call basis.

On Tuesday (Dec. 15), resort management called for enforcement at the resort, saying itsa国际传媒檚 difficult to combat violations with no body of enforcement close by.

Big White Ski Resort vice president of operations Michael Ballingall said at least two RCMP members should be stationed permanently at the resort.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e asking for support between now and early January, and re-assess after that. But certainly, itsa国际传媒檚 important that we try to get some help nowsa国际传媒� I donsa国际传媒檛 want to enter into the world of proper policing, but minimum two (officers).sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Big White Ski Resort braces for more COVID-19 cases, calls for RCMP enforcement

He added that sa国际传媒楥hristmas is comingsa国际传媒� and that people will soon start to arrive from sa国际传媒榓ll oversa国际传媒� the Central Okanagan.

sa国际传媒滻n any given year, there are parties, theresa国际传媒檚 loud musicsa国际传媒� We donsa国际传媒檛 have anyone up here that can tell people not to do that,sa国际传媒� he said.

Later that day, a COVID-19 cluster was declared at the ski resort, something Interior Health (IH) attributed to shared housing and social gatherings.

So far there have been 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the community.

READ MORE: 60 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Big White Ski Resort cluster

The RCMP has since declined Ballingallsa国际传媒檚 request for additional resources. Asked if they would dedicate officers to patrol and enforce COVID-19 health guidelines at the resort, Kelowna RCMP said not at this time.

sa国际传媒淪taffing and the allocation of our resources is an ongoing discussion with our community and partners. At this time, we do not have an officer permanently assigned to the resort of Big White,sa国际传媒� said RCMP Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy.

However she said an RCMP does regularly patrol the area as part of their regular duties, and officers are scheduled to work shifts there during peak season.

Noseworthy encouraged the Big White community to reach out to the RCMP if they have concerns.

sa国际传媒淚f we receive a complaint of a loud party or a situation that is potentially in violation of the criminal code, provincial acts, bylaws, or the provincial health orders, we will investigate that incident,sa国际传媒� she said.

READ MORE: Front-line workers named Canadasa国际传媒檚 Newsmaker of the Year by editors

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com

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