Oliver (BC), Canada (Wednesday, June 28, 2006) - In a signing ceremony on June 15 at the new Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, British Columbia's Premier Gordon Campbell, Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie and Mount Baldy Ski Corporation President Brett Sweezy signed a landmark agreement. Immediately following the event, the Master Development Agreement for the Mount Baldy Resort was approved. This approval sets the stage for Mt. Baldy to become B.C.'s newest four-season destination ski and snowboard resort.

The agreement is the first of its kind to be signed in B.C. and sets out a revenue sharing framework for the development of Crown lands as part of the ongoing expansion of Mt. Baldy, near Osoyoos. The resort's growth is a key part of a long-term strategy to develop the South Okanagan’s appeal as a four-season tourism destination.

"With all necessary expansion approvals in place, we are now aggressively entertaining financial and development partnerships to position Mt. Baldy as Canada's next destination resort," said Sweezy. "We have over C$2.5 million in planned activity on the mountain this summer, including the development of a new water system, completion of the Wapiti Subdivision and development of the Sugarlump terrain."

At full build-out, Mt. Baldy could see the addition of eight new lifts servicing over 2,000 acres of terrain with over 2,000 feet of vertical drop. This expansion represents a five-fold increase to the 500 acres of terrain currently available. The Master Plan calls for a fully interconnected 7,800-bed village to be built in four phases. The village is designed so that 80% of the new development will be ski in/ski out and will incorporate an 18-hole championship golf course.