Invictus collaboration signifies unprecedented central role for the four Host Nations. - By Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
06 OPENING REMARKS
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Singles Awareness Day, Family Day or none of the above, make every day count, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers double down on the need for passenger rail in the Sea to Sky, and call out the “hypocrisy” of a recent teacher suspension.
30 THE OUTSIDER
Whether you’re chasing the best pow or the best pics, impatient decisions can have disastrous knock-on effects, writes Vince Shuley.
54 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Whistler’s well-being depends not only on getting people here, but also on ensuring they can leave, writes Andrew Mitchell.
12 TALKING STRATEGY
Whistler’s council is doubling down on its strategic priorities of housing, climate action, engagement and smart tourism coming out of its mid-term retreat.
13
HEALING
PATH Donations are pouring in for ski instructor Chris Song, who was paralyzed in an on-mountain accident last month.
34 ONE BIG FAMILY
The underdog Canadians secured team relay bronze at the Luge World Championships in Whistler on Feb. 8—Canada’s first podium since 2016.
40 FREEZING POINT
The Point Artist-Run Centre’s annual Winter Carnival celebrates 10 years this week, with events for the whole family planned on Feb. 16 and 17.
COVER Community, working together, helping rather than hindering—these are all becoming more rare in the world these days. We should take more opportunities to learn and work together with the residents of these lands we occupy. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Make every day count
DON’T LOOK NOW, but this week’s issue of Pique falls on a somewhat polarizing date: Valentine’s Day.
Perhaps that’s fitting. Afterall, Whistler, it is often said, is for lovers—and the proof is everywhere you look.
It’s in the steamy hotel hot tubs, the luxurious spas and salons; it grinds on the sweaty club dancefloors; whispers sweet
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
nothings across every swanky dinner table
Love traces every gondola line, every lift; floats in the crisp alpine air down through the valley, originating on and emanating from the highest peaks themselves—and how many have pledged their eternal, undying love on local mountaintops?
Too many to count.
Depending on your current relationship status, the above intro may have filled you with heart-fluttering whimsy, or stomachcurdling nausea—the eternal yin and yang of mid-February emotional states.
But then, depending on when you pick up this week’s issue, you might be celebrating a different occasion.
Where Feb. 14 marks Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15 denotes the unofficial holiday celebrated by single people: Singles Awareness Day.
It’s a delightfully amusing concept (maybe because the acronym is literally SAD?), but being unofficial, there isn’t much literature out there on Singles Awareness Day. According to Wikipedia, its origins stem from the early 2000s in a U.S. high school, where one particularly SAD fellow started the day as a sort of protest against Valentine’s Day.
The rest, as they say, is history.
But February’s daily madness doesn’t end there. Not content with just one day to sell cards, the sadists at Hallmark (presumably) are now pushing an entire week of lovethemed days leading up to the big day Feb. 14: Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day, and Kiss Day (here comes that nausea again).
But of course, if you’re reading this issue on Monday, Feb. 17—Family Day—you’re probably thinking more about familial connectedness than romantic flings.
Nonsense, all of it. We shouldn’t need special days on the calendar to show our fondness for those we love—and we shouldn’t need formal relationships to express love in general.
In these times of division and confusion, a little goes a long way. So whether you’re
mostly due to mental-health challenges or financial insecurity—an increase of 20 per cent over 2023.
Make no mistake, WCSS’ services are vital to this community, and there’s no better way to spread the love than donating some cold hard cash at mywcss.org.
MAKE IT UNCONDITIONAL
On that note, there are plenty of other local charities that would be eternally grateful for your donation or your time (you can find a handy list at whistlerfoundation.com/work/ non-profit-network/volunteer-in-whistler).
But Whistler Animals Galore is the place to go if you’re looking to make your love unconditional this February.
At any given time, there are hundreds of
It sounds simple, but studies have shown many of us would rather be in physical pain than be left alone with our thoughts for even a few minutes.
Researchers at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville tested the theory in 2014, leaving participants alone in a lab for 15 minutes at a time, giving them a button to shock themselves if they so wished.
Even though all participants had previously stated they would pay money to avoid being shocked, 67 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women chose to inflict it on themselves rather than just sit there quietly and think.
The research team suggested meditation could be helpful in steering the brain to more pleasant and productive avenues.
Try it before you scoff—you might just learn something about yourself.
head-over-heels this Valentine’s Day, commiserating with all your SADdest friends, or spending a long weekend with your family, here are just a few ways to spread the love near and far in Whistler.
WALK THE WALK
At the Whistler Community Services Society’s (WCSS) third-annual Nightwalk for Hope last month, the non-profit raised $45,000 for its outreach services.
Not a bad haul, but far from enough to meet Whistler’s ever-growing need.
In 2024, WCSS staff had more than 10,000 interactions with community members,
thousands of pets in Canada that need a home, and if you’re fed up with the fickle reality of modern dating, let me tell you: there is no love more pure and unconditional than that of a pup (cats are OK too, I guess).
LOOK INWARD
At the risk of veering too far into the territory of hippy-dippy pseudo-self-help bullshit, have you spent any time with you lately?
Just 20 minutes a day of mindful meditation—zazen, in the Zen Buddhist tradition—can do wonders for your mind, heart, and entire state of existence in a chaotic, seemingly random world.
TREAT YO SELF
But if you’re more the self-indulgent, instantgratification type, Whistler of course has you covered there, too.
Call in sick and go up the mountain. Get a massage. Treat yourself to a spa day. Eat that extra piece of cake. Take someone you care about out to a nice (insert made-up special day here) dinner.
Do something nice for yourself; for a friend; for your community.
Our big dumb reality won’t magically morph into a utopia in the meantime.
But we can make it better, one act of love and kindness at a time.
So make every day count. n
Director’s Vault Tours
Kids’ Scavenger Hunts
Drop-In Art-Making Station
DJ Dance Party
Après Bar & Raclette
Learn More:
Free Museum entry thanks to the generous support of Monday, February 17, 2025 4350 Blackcomb Way, Whistler 11am – 6pm
Traffic solutions ‘hiding
in plain sight’
The wise letter from Adi Ringuette (Pique, Jan. 31, “Valley gondola not the solution”) states “the train should also be considered for future expansion, reducing traffic from Vancouver and Pemberton, as the train track goes furthur in both directions.”
They are right, we should long ago have made better use of “resources that are already in existence.” Now more than ever, when our economy needs to diversify, but in sustainable directions, this railway could take some of our needless vehicle traffic off the road. Adi invites the mayor and council, and Whistler Blackcomb, and other traffic forces to step up and explain to the BC Government that this is the best kind of regional economic development.
Congratulations to Adi for skilfully reminding us of what is hiding in plain sight, right before our eyes.
Bob Anderson // Whistler
‘Hypocrisy is staggering’ in matter of teacher suspension
Ms. Alexandra McLean has my sympathy. For the crime of prioritizing safety and consistency, she’s forfeited five weeks’ pay, will endure a two-day licence suspension, and been muzzled with a severe gag order (Pique, Feb. 7, “Whistler teacher’s certificate temporarily suspended”).
“These cosseted students will have a rude awakening...”
- JOEL RICHMOND
Her heightened responses reflect the gravity of the situations her students imposed upon her and fellow classmates. Could she have handled things better? Perhaps. But who amongst us is free of that failing?
The Commission for Teacher Regulation’s obsession with student “wellness” is rather extreme. If one misbehaves and breaks the rules, should one not expect a touch of discomfort, shame, anxiety, and fear of consequences? Is it reasonable to expect a teacher to enforce standards without ever instilling unease in one who has fallen short of expectations?
The hypocrisy is staggering. Students must never suffer a single adverse emotion. But woe betide a teacher who has a student that feels anything short of blissful acceptance. These cosseted students will have a rude awakening when encountering reality beyond the Commission’s suffocating embrace.
Joel
Fransen // Richmond
Who is on the hill?
As a longtime guest of Whistler Blackcomb (WB) since 1990 may I make a suggestion to WB management from a guest/visitor’s perspective:
There are many WB employees; WB managers and volunteers on the hill and in various positions at the base.
Every one of these WB personnel when working wears a uniform; but they are all different and only indicate, to those “in the know,” their position and job within the WB
structure.
Look at it from a guests’ perspective: especially guests who are here for a short or first-time visit. “Who are all these people and who do I approach when I need help and what authority do they have if I am cautioned” (rarely happens)?
Why not post an easy-to-read poster or screen image at various points around the hill and on the WB website that clearly displays the various uniforms worn by WB employees and their role, and who to approach when help is needed or who has authority to make decisions or directions.
Backcountry Update
AS OF WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12
February is continuing where January left off— dry. There’s little-to-no meaningful snowfall in the forecast, aside from a few centimetres this weekend (depending on which weather model you check). That means backcountry avalanche conditions will be dictated by the snow already on the ground.
The good news? Cold temperatures have preserved soft snow in sheltered areas. A bout of northerly wind midweek redistributed snow in alpine terrain, forming wind slabs on a range of aspects. The primary avalanche concern this weekend is triggering wind slabs on steep, exposed slopes.
Beneath the surface, things get more interesting—though not immediately
alarming. The January dry spell formed a widespread weak layer that is now buried 30 to 80 cm deep. In most places, the soft snow above hasn’t yet formed a cohesive slab, which is a critical ingredient for slab avalanches. That said, conditions can change. If you’re heading into the mountains, pay close attention to the upper snowpack. Watch for red flags like shooting cracks, whumpfing sounds, or stiffer snow, as these all signal increasing slab potential. Right now, slab conditions are most likely found in wind-affected terrain, but factors like warming or new snow could cause slabs to develop in more areas. Enjoy the cold, soft turns where you can find them, and stay tuned to any changes as you move through terrain! n
CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain-info/ snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.
#110Stoney CreekNorthstar
Unlimitedownerusageand/or excellent revenuepotentialwith this 1bedroomtownhome inWhistlerVillage.
Ski school, adaptive, lift and service maintenance, managers, volunteers, lifties, kids ski-school bibs, ski patrol, etc.
Explain in simple terms who to approach for help and assistance and maybe the role of each person; and in the case of an incident or emergency who has the authority to direct and control the situation (a recent Roundhouse fire alarm resulted in, from my observation, chaos and zero control).
It is hard at times to explain to those “not in the know” that there are volunteers (the few that remain from the many pre-Vail Resorts) who are more than happy to assist at any time or that there are WB employees and volunteers in uniform (different colours) on the hill attempting to ensure the safety of all guests. What is their authority and what uniform do they wear? “Clipping passes” comes to mind. My thoughts: hopefully it will help us all ID who is who on “our hill.”
David
Sadler // Australia
Goodbye Maxed Out, hello Epic Rant
I’d like to thank Leslie (R)Anthony for expanding my apparently limited vocabulary of pompous political pejoratives in the Jan. 31 Pique... wow what an epic rant!
Someone once said “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” After reading Mr. Anthony’s recent opinion piece about the end of the world as he knows it, I feel like this notion could be expanded to include “there is nothing to hate, but hate itself.”
It feels to me like more love and less hate
is what we all need today.
Perhaps the more enlightened among us, or those with a platform, might do better and attempt to bridge the political divide instead of increasing it?
Who knows, maybe we can find some common ground before it’s too late?
Agree to disagree on some things and
Thisbrightupgradedone-bedroom townhome isaquintessential Whistlerproper ty! Withitsprimelocationin Creekside,skiersand bikerswilllove the two-minute walk to access thegondola,whileashortstrollwillput you infrontofthebustlingshopsand restaurants Creeksidehas to offer. Thenewwindows offer plenty ofnaturallightandsouthwestmountain viewsintheopen-conceptmainlivingareas. Unlimited ownerusewithnightly rentaloption
celebrate our diversity of thought and creativity.
Together we stand, divided we fall.
Peace out, and namaste,
Charley Raine // Whistler
Kudos revisited Compliments to Pique and author Leslie
Anthony for the clever, biting, erudite, and consuming article at the end of the Jan. 31 issue of the Pique (“It’s the End of the World as We Know It. Now What?”).
It is one of the best exposés on the dystopian U.S. President.
Thanks Leslie!
Jan Erickson // Whistler n
ROYAL RETURN Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was in Whistler on Feb. 10 to kick off the local portion of the Invictus Games. He was joined by wife Meghan Markle and Canadian pop icon Michael Bublé. The Games wrap Feb. 16 with a closing ceremony in Vancouver. Head to page 45 for more photos from the past week in Whistler.
PHOTO BY ANDY DITTRICH
Retreat offers Whistler council chance to reflect—and forge ahead
MID-TERM
RETREAT SAW OFFICIALS DOUBLE-DOWN ON STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF HOUSING, CLIMATE ACTION, ENGAGEMENT AND SMART TOURISM
BY BRANDON BARRETT
NEWLY ELECTED and fresh off the birth of her baby, Jessie Morden’s first council retreat as an elected Whistler official came with a steep learning curve.
“I was two weeks post-partum, I was in brain fog and the job was new to me. It was scary looking at all these things. I didn’t really understand a lot of it and a lot of it looked like a pipe dream to me,” said Morden, who became the municipality’s first born-and-raised Whistlerite elected to council in 2022. “Now sitting down in this January meeting, it was cool to see what we’ve been doing and it lit a fire under me to keep doing more.”
Mayor and council and several senior members of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff met on Friday, Jan. 24 for a midterm council retreat, a chance to reflect on what’s been accomplished over the past two years, as well as forge ahead for the remainder of the term.
“We set goals that looked like they’d take four years, and probably on housing, we did a lot of that in two years,” said Coun. Jeff Murl. “That was really interesting to reflect on: how much progress you can make in a short time when you set big goals.”
HOUSING
A longstanding issue in Whistler if ever there was one, housing is one of four strategic
priorities officials cemented at the start of their term, along with climate action, public engagement and smart tourism.
While you can arguably never build enough housing in Whistler—a recent, provincially mandated housing report determined the resort requires 1,572 new units in the next five years, and 5,639 in the next 20 years—real headway was made in the past two years.
The most significant initiative is undoubtedly the RMOW’s new Housing Action Plan, a wide-ranging guiding document and strategy identifying several key actions the municipality intends to take to support housing in the near term, as well as providing a framework for future years.
So far this term, 178 new employee ownership and rental units have opened in Cheakamus Crossing, while another 227 units are currently under construction, slated for completion next year.
“I think what really pushed this council towards housing action has been this community saying it’s important to them,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.
The mayor also touted the RMOW’s “innovative” response to provincial legislation last summer requiring local governments to update their bylaws to accommodate small-scale, multi-unit (SSMU) housing in single-family zones.
“Our staff came up with the concept of one of two units being for employee use, one of three being employee use, or two of four being employee use,” Crompton said. “We are the only municipality in the province that has applied that kind of guidance to this new zoning. It puts us in a position where new units generated through SSMU will serve
workers and we’re unique in that fashion and our staff did amazing work to get that done.”
CLIMATE ACTION
On the ever-urgent climate action file, officials continued work on the Climate Action Implementation Plan that was approved several weeks before council was elected in 2022. That over-arching plan contains several key strategies aimed at meeting the community’s climate and emissions targets by 2030, which it is not on track to do.
Key to those goals is getting drivers out of their cars. On that front, council was glad to hear the NDP-Green provincial coalition has committed to implement regional transit with “a focus on Sea to Sky corridor transit in 2025,” according to the agreement signed by both parties.
“I will say I’m cautiously optimistic and I have been cautiously optimistic in the past,” said Crompton. “We will push very, very hard on this. But it’s fair to say we have in the past.”
Murl was heartened to see a commitment from BC Hydro to install dozens of new EV chargers in the day lots and at the Whistler Conference Centre.
“Those EV chargers come with no cost to us and, if we use them enough, they’ll bring even more,” he said.
Wildfire remains top of mind for local officials, especially given the recent devastation wrought by the L.A. area fires in California. Last year, council greenlit additional funds to staff the Spring Creek Fire Hall No. 3 full time, in recognition of the inherent wildfire risk. The Cheakamus Community Forest, co-managed by the
RMOW, also recently agreed to test out green fuel breaks in certain sections of the public forest, a recommendation from divisive local ecologist Rhonda Millikin, who has for years pushed the municipality to rethink its approach to fighting fire, to mixed response.
“It will be interesting to see what they learn,” Crompton said of the pilot study. “We are going to continue to lean on provincial agencies with their expertise to deliver our wildfire mitigation programs. That work includes academics and professionals we don’t employ at the RMOW. My hope is that whatever is learned is passed on to those agencies that provide the insight and advice that we lean on.”
SMART TOURISM
Local council is leaning on the work of its new Smart Tourism Committee, as well as tourism destinations around the globe, to make progress on its next strategic priority.
“We’ve expanded our thinking, looking to examples around the world as far as dealing with the challenges and pressures facing us in today’s tourism environment,” said Crompton at the Feb. 4 council meeting.
That work will inform the development of an incoming collaborative destination plan, which emerged primarily out of a COVID-19 pandemic that created—and exacerbated— certain tourism trends in Whistler. While the resort is certainly no stranger to destination plans, Crompton said the new travel landscape the pandemic helped build necessitated a new guiding strategy.
“There was a huge amount of change
HALFWAY POINT Whistler’s mayor and council, pictured on election night in October 2022.
PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD / DAVIDBUZZARD.COM
Donations pouring in for paralyzed Whistler Ski School instructor
MORE THAN $100K RAISED FOR FAMILY OF CHRIS SONG, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED ON THE JOB LAST MONTH
BY BRANDON BARRETT
THE SKI COMMUNITY has banded together to support a Whistler Blackcomb Ski School instructor who was paralyzed on the job in an on-mountain accident last month.
Thirty-eight-year-old Chris Song was skiing in double black-diamond terrain on Jan. 28 when he suffered a “life-changing” accident, according to WB Ski School Kids manager Donna Kerr, who launched a GoFundMe campaign this weekend to support Song and his family as he embarks on his recovery.
According to Kerr, Song was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital following the accident, where he underwent multiple surgeries. His injuries reportedly include multiple broken ribs, a broken left shoulder and “an extremely serious” back injury that has resulted in paralysis from the waist down, wrote Kerr. Song is expected to be in hospital for approximately two months, before being transferred to Vancouver’s G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Song’s rehabilitation therapy could take upwards of a year.
“Chris will never walk again, and healing will take years,” Kerr added. “His life and the life of his family will never be the same.”
A husband and father of two, Song and his wife Jieun have lived in Whistler for nine years. Their two young girls attend local schools, “learning to ski, bike, play soccer, do gymnastics, hiking and so much more,” Kerr wrote on the fundraising page. “It is our goal to ensure the Song family can continue to enjoy this wonderful place we all call home while also supporting Chris in his long road to recovery.”
Donations have poured in since the GoFundMe campaign was launched
Saturday, Feb. 8, with more than $100,000 raised at press time. Kerr had originally set a target of $75,000, before upping it to $100,000, money that will help Song’s family cover several major costs, including the purchase of a wheelchair and creating an accessible environment for when he returns home. Additionally, funds will also support Jieun and their two children cover basic necessities in the wake of Song’s injuries.
“We in Whistler know how lucky we are to live, work and play in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Whistler has an amazing, supportive community, and the Song family needs your help,” Kerr wrote. “As
during COVID. We saw an explosion in visitation to this town, which exposed some weaknesses,” Crompton said.
While the plan will take a year-round view, Crompton theorized it would emphasize visitor spread in the summer months, when people access the alpine less.
“In the summer, more people stay in the valley, so there is an opportunity to learn how it doesn’t feel overwhelming for residents and is a great experience for visitors,” the mayor added.
Coun. Ralph Forsyth will chair the new Smart Tourism Committee, while Murl will take over his position on the Finance and Audit Committee.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Regularly receiving failing marks on community engagement and transparency in its annual Community Life Survey, the RMOW in 2023 created a whole new department
dedicated to improving engagement and strengthening Whistler’s social fabric.
Since then, the RMOW has introduced several novel ways to engage with Whistlerites, including a budget-themed trivia night at the Crystal Lounge, and its Borrow a Councillor program at the library, giving residents a chance to “lend out” an elected official for a 30-minute sitdown.
“Our focus on community engagement has been really noticeable for me through our budget process,” Murl said. “We made changes and continue to experiment new ways to hear the voices of Whistler, and I think that will continue.”
At the next council meeting on Feb. 25, Crompton said council will provide additional insights from the recent retreat and how they plan to move forward with their priorities for the rest of the term.
“Great work has been done. There’s lots left to do. I think we have an excitement to get to work on it together,” Crompton said. n COUNCIL RETREAT FROM PAGE 12
HEALING PATH Chris Song, right, is described as a patient, caring and welcoming figure at Whistler Blackcomb’s Ski School.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOFUNDME
Avalanche buries snowboarder southwest of Whistler
SQUAMISH SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONDED TO THE AVALANCHE INCIDENT NEAR SEAGRAM LAKE FEB. 4
BY LIZ MCDONALD
A SNOWBOARDER buried in an avalanche at Seagram Lake was rescued by his friend and other parties of backcountry tourers Feb. 4.
Nils Robinson was the manager on duty for Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR), and he told Pique what he learned about the situation from the RCMP, Emergency Health Services (EHS) and SAR members.
“SAR received a call from the RCMP about an iPhone SOS activation. That’s all we had at the time,” he said. “We investigated and determined there were two SOS activations in the area and we deployed members to Squamish’s airport and SAR’s compound. We didn’t know anything about the situation’s specifics, but we assumed there was either a medical incident or an avalanche.”
While SAR members were awaiting a helicopter from Pemberton to arrive and take them to Seagram Lake, they received a call from Emergency Health Services that a male snowboarder was buried in an avalanche and was dug out. The snowboarder was fully immersed for 15 to 20 minutes and buried a metre down. He was conscious, with decreased cognitive function and low oxygen levels.
“The subject and his friend decided he was well enough to sled out and we were not
required,” Nils said. “However, in talking to EHS, we decided to keep going. Anyone who has been buried that long, we have a duty of care to ensure we do everything.”
A Level 2 avalanche professional and two other experienced SAR members flew to Seagram Lake, and while they didn’t find the subject who was buried, they found other tourers and took photos of the slide while doing a snow stability assessment, Robinson said.
“If the injured party or their friend wants to reach out to us, we’d love to get more details about what they saw. They can contact us through our website or Instagram,” Robinson said.
The slide itself wasn’t large, with Robinson
estimating the avalanche was 1.5 in size, but the location created conditions for burial.
“Given the topography of a steep chute to Seagram Lake, there was an abrupt stop at the bottom which stopped the slide and built it up instead of fanning out with a less angulated location,” he said.
Squamish SAR wants to remind people that any time someone contacts emergency services through dialling 911, or using an InReach or iPhone SOS, emergency services will continue to try and communicate with them through the device to understand the situation. Another party who was in the vicinity provided details through iPhone satellite texting.
SKI INSTRUCTOR INJURY FROM PAGE 13
a community, this is our opportunity to offer Chris and his family the support and help that he would not hesitate to offer to anyone else.”
Kerr described Song as “caring, supportive, and welcoming” to everyone he meets. “His students in our Snow and Bike Schools only speak positively about their experiences, particularly how patient he is when teaching. Chris takes his time to guide and instruct each student at the level they are at with encouragement and positive feedback.”
As a result of the accident, Whistler
Blackcomb confirmed it has restricted sliding in double-black terrain for certain types of Ski School lessons and instructor groups for the time being.
In a Jan. 31 internal staff email shared with Pique, a Ski School supervisor said the team is “reeling” from the accident, and that the Ski School “as a whole is looking into practices and terrain to hopefully avoid something similar happening to another one of our team.”
In a statement Feb. 7, Whistler Blackcomb’s COO Belinda Trembath said: “The entire
“There is always some time between an SOS call-out and team mobilization. It goes through a number of steps in the process before it gets to us. There are also delays due to weather and aircraft,” Robinson said. “People should be prepared for self-rescue and know the tools they have. Since these guys dug him out in these conditions, they had the skills and tools to use them.”
Other advice Robinson provided was to read avalanche advisories, understand terrain, carry the essentials of a shovel, probe and transceiver and don’t hesitate to call SAR.
“The sooner you call, the better chances we have to get there, especially at this time of year when it gets dark early,” he said. n
Whistler Blackcomb team sends our sympathy and support to a member of our team who was seriously injured while skiing on the job on January 28. We are truly like family here at Whistler Blackcomb, and we are heartbroken that this incident occurred. The safety of our guests and employees is the most important thing to us, and we are conducting a comprehensive investigation of the incident.”
Donate to the fundraising campaign at gofundme.com/f/supporting-chris-and-hisfamily. n
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BC Parks releases interim park visitation data
SEA TO SKY CONTINUES TO SEE HIGH VISITATION; OUTDOOR RECREATION COUNCIL OF BC SAYS PARKS NEED MORE FUNDING
BY LIZ MCDONALD
BC PARKS’ recently released interim use data for 2024 reveals which of the province’s parks are getting the most love lately.
The interim report provides visitation data from April to September 2024, and the full report is slated for summer of 2025.
Parks collects visitation data from trail counters, reservations, visitor counts and surveys. The data informs resource allocation, future planning, interest and visitor impact, according to BC Parks’ website.
Anyone who visits Alice Lake for the day or to camp can attest to its popularity. Located 13 kilometres north of Squamish off Highway 99, the lakeside campground and day use site has ample trails, lots of shade and a cool lake with old logs and docks to rest on while swimming. Campers can access shower facilities and pit toilets onsite. But easy access also means high traffic. Day use last year reached more than 392,000 visitors, behind only Stawamus Chief Park (454,870), Porteau Cove Park (454,759) and Shannon Falls Park (412,542).
With more than 60,000 campers last summer, securing a campsite at Alice Lake on short notice is near impossible. BC Parks’ web page notes visitors “are strongly advised to make a reservation well in advance of any
stay at this park planned for July, August, or September. The park is usually full even on weekdays, with little turnover of campsites in the morning.” Campsite fees from Alice Lake generated $631,070 last year.
Those willing to work a bit harder to experience the natural wonders in the Sea to Sky can appreciate Garibaldi Park if they secure a day-use pass during the summer. Located 64 km north of Vancouver, the 195,000-hectare park has 90 km of hiking trails and is used year-round. With dense forests, alpine meadows and lakes, opportunities for recreation abound, from climbing, biking, swimming and fishing to canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing and backcountry touring.
Garibaldi has 10 backcountry campsites to choose from that require a reservation, and three shelters. Elfin Lakes hut can sleep 33 people, Kees and Claire Memorial Hut is independently operated by the Spearhead Huts Society, and there is an emergency shelter at Wedgemount Lake. Wilderness camping is an option for mountaineers, climbers, skitourers and experienced individuals. There are no garbage facilities, so everything packed in must be packed out.
More than 125,000 people hit up the park for day use last summer, while user fees totalled $401,338 and 43,276 people camped, according to BC Parks—second only to Alice Lake in the Sea to Sky.
Third place for most campsite visitation in the corridor is Porteau Cove. Located 20 km south of Squamish, camping is available year-round. BC Parks’ interim report shows 34,154 campers stayed at Porteau, which raked in $296,875 in park fees. Combining both camping and dayuse visitors, the park had the highest overall visitation in the Sea to Sky, at 488,892.
When comparing the 2024 interim data to reporting from 2023, Instagramfamous Joffre Lakes appears to have seen a 60-per-cent decline in day-use visitation. In 2023, the park had 149,993 day visits. In 2024, that number fell to 59,605. Camping declined from 4,592 in 2023 to 3,805 in 2,024, a 17-per-cent decrease. However, since the interim data from 2024 does not encompass the full fiscal year, Parks said it’s too early to say there’s been a definitive decline for 2024.
Reducing visitation stress on Joffre Lakes is a goal of BC Parks and the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations, whose traditional territory includes the park. BC Parks partnered with the Nations to close the park down for three periods last summer, and a park pass system started in 2021. Indigenous cultural celebrations and practices took place during the closures.
BC Parks and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) said in an emailed statement the strategy led to a 25-per-cent reduction in visitors between 2019 and 2022, “reflecting the objective of the
pass to reduce overuse at this park.”
Louise Pedersen, executive director for the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, said the data confirms what Sea to Sky communities observe.
“Our parks are busier than ever, and investment in developing and maintaining recreation infrastructure is falling behind,” she said in an emailed statement.
Pedersen highlighted that BC Parks visitation increased by 4.2 per cent between 2018 and 2024 in the South Coast region, with the Sea to Sky having some of the highest visitation.
But growth doesn’t come without challenges. Pedersen pointed to overcrowded trailheads, overflowing parking lots and parks operating at or beyond capacity, negatively impacting visitors.
BC Parks and the MOE said in an email the budget for this fiscal year is $62.908 million, and did not provide a statement regarding whether the budget is big enough.
“The amount of funding a park receives annually is based on a number of factors, including size, location; consideration of natural, cultural, and recreation amenities of the park; as well as the nature and complexity of facilities, and levels of service required to manage facilities and visitation,” they said. “Park funding is dynamic and is impacted by myriad factors including changes in levels of visitation, construction of new facilities, or updates to in park safety requirements.” n
Father-son duo bring psychology of parenting and sports to Whistler
QUINN AND BRIAN STOREY ARE SET TO SPEAK AT THE WHISTLER INSTITUTE’S NEXT GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES SPEAKER SERIES EVENT FEB. 27 AT THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE
BY LIZ MCDONALD
PARENTS ARE OFTEN FACED with conflicting advice on how to raise their kids, with competing theories rearing their heads seemingly every year. And for Whistler parents, whose kids are often highperformance athletes, there’s another layer of complexity.
Dr. Brian Storey, associate vice-president of Capilano University Squamish, and his son, Quinn, want to talk about all this and more for the Whistler Institute’s Global Perspectives Speaker Series event Feb. 27. The father and son are well-suited to the task.
Brian holds a PhD in curriculum theory and implementation, a master’s in educational psychology and two bachelor’s degrees. He represented Canada in the 1996 Olympics in sailing and is the former president and executive director of Physical and Health Education Canada.
Quinn is studying a Master of Science in clinical psychology at the University of Victoria, and his research through the Healthy Relationship Lab examines men’s mental health, fatherhood, and underlying mechanisms in intimate partner violence.
Quinn competed in the 2023 Pan Am Games in rowing and was an elite junior cyclist, among other athletic accolades.
In an interview-style conversation, the two “will touch on the roles of attachment, identity construction, development stages, and healthy/unhealthy social dynamics in sport,” according to the Whistler Institute. The duo spoke with Pique ahead of the event to give the audience a preview of what’s to come.
BUILDING RESILIENT HUMANS
Competitive sports can seem to many like the most important thing in the world. But for Brian and Quinn, it’s a continual learning opportunity that extends outwards into a web of social connections.
“Sport is an arbitrary place to develop humans. It’s zero-sum and competitive, and we need collaboration,” Brian said. “It’s touted as the way to build the next generation, but there are off-ramps to bad behaviour. There’s a deliberative process to reflection around sport experience that requires a parent and child to be engaged in processing their sport experiences together.”
For Quinn, having parents who work
in psychology-adjacent fields means he’s learned to evolve from an identity centred around sport, to understanding sport is an arena for personal growth that transcends competition.
“As a teenager I was resistant to it; it felt hard to accept when my identity was tied up in performance,” he said. “My parents’ messaging was strong and that benefited me long-term, especially as I transitioned between sports. Counterintuitively, that shift in mentality improved my performance.”
Sports have given Quinn a sense of belonging to community, a strong work ethic and discipline, leadership skills and respect for other people. When both athletes walk away from a competition gaining something, that’s a positive outcome for him.
A LIFELONG LEARNING PROCESS
“It’s been a joy to raise Quinn. Because I work in education, I got to have both my work and parenting intersect. I could test the things I was supposed to do ‘right’ and find out they didn’t work,” Brian said.
For Quinn, having two parents who were actively working on themselves meant he grew up in a home of constant learning, with
theories floating around on the daily.
“There’s so much theory and literature in sports psych—it feels very prescriptive,” he said. “It’s funny to see how these things played out for me in real life… We were always talking about these concepts and ideas, and my parents were open about what they were trying, and it developed an interest in human behaviour, which lead to UBC and then clinical psychology.”
Brian’s own athletic trajectory saw him overcoming barriers on his road to accomplishment, and he came to parenting with certain assumptions that what worked for himself translated to his son.
“Quinn and I had completely different upbringings. I didn’t have stable attachments, my lessons of sports were hard-won. I had to learn the language and theory and apply it in retrospect. Quinn had a parent set that reflected with him in action,” Brian said. “Objectivity as a parent is the main issue. When you overcome barriers yourself and get success, you can assume there is a parallel, but your child is their own unique individual. You can help facilitate their success versus assuming how that will unfold.”
Buy tickets for the event at whistlerinstitute.com. n
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Whistler council approves picnic shelter, heritage investment for Hillman House
OFFICIALS DEEMED THE COST TO PRESERVE AND RELOCATE THE HISTORIC 1940S BUILDING AT NITA LAKE TOO HIGH
BY BRANDON BARRETT
IT’S OFFICIAL: Hillman House, one of Whistler’s oldest and most historic buildings, will be demolished.
Elected officials on Tuesday, Feb. 4 voted to amend the site-specific zoning for an incoming housing project at 5298 Alta Lake Road. That gives the developer the option to replace the historic 1940s cabin with a picnic shelter or gazebo in a community park at the site that recognizes the building’s historical significance, using materials reclaimed from or similar to the original cabin. The amended bylaw also requires the developer, the Michael Hutchison-led Empire Club Development Corp., to make a cash contribution to the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) Recreation Works and Services Reserve Fund that will be used for heritage preservation and improvement. The combined value of the contribution and the cost of building the replacement amenity structure must be no less than $350,000.
One of the conditions on the mixed-use housing project’s approval was a requirement for the developer to relocate the cabin to a community park on the property and upgrade its foundation and exterior building envelope so it could be safely used and occupied between
May 1 and Sept. 30 every year. However, given the building’s poor condition—it has no water or insulation, limited electrical service, and bare stud walls—staff estimated it would cost at least $415,000 to restore it. Officials debated several options to preserve the cabin, including relocating it to Rainbow Park alongside several other historic cabins dating to the 1920s, but ultimately found the price tag too high.
“It certainly is a decaying building, and this is the right path,” said Councillor Arthur De Jong, who recently visited the cabin.
“When I look at our budget process recently, we have to find opportunities where we can save, where we don’t have to commit or spend. So, I think this is really good work, and finding a mid-path that still celebrates the heritage but puts the money where we really need it.”
What isn’t clear is exactly when the cabin’s interior was gutted. The building was occupied by renters in recent years, and Mayor Jack Crompton said he believes the developer stripped the interior at some point in the past two years.
Built in the mid-’40s by lumberman Alf Gebhart, the Hillman House (or Gebhart cabin, as it’s also known) spans multiple eras of Whistler’s evolution, from a roughand-tumble logging town to a hippie haven in the ’60s and early ’70s to its latter years housing local staff. It was named after
Vancouver schoolteacher Charles Hillman, one of Whistler Mountain’s original ski instructors, who used the property off and on as his ski cabin.
Known as Whistler’s original Toad Hall, the cabin is often mistaken for the Soo Valley property that would eventually take on the same name and was pictured in the iconic Toad Hall poster from 1973 featuring 14 young men and women posing in nothing but their ski boots.
“That particular structure is unique in that it has connections to the logging industry, skiing, second homeowners and employee housing, as well as Whistler’s counterculture of the ’60s and ’70s,” said Brad Nichols, executive director of the Whistler Museum, in an interview last month. “There’s not a single story that goes with that building, there are many stories.”
There have been efforts over the years to catalogue Whistler’s heritage buildings, but no official heritage plan or avenue for heritage designation has ever been formalized. RMOW staff have identified 14 other buildings in the Whistler Valley older than Hillman House they have deemed worthy of investment. Martin Pardoe, municipal manager of resort parks and open space planning, said the estimated cost to restore all the identified buildings is “north of a million dollars,” with the largest cost associated with the former hostel building that is today the Point ArtistRun Centre on Alta Lake.
Crompton said RMOW staff would return at a future council meeting with recommendations on how to spend the cash contribution for heritage preservation.
Asked if officials were considering developing a formal mechanism to designate heritage buildings in Whistler, the mayor said they would consider it “if we have capacity, but it’s not a top priority.” n
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OVER THE HILL The exterior of Hillman House, seen earlier this month prior to its planned demolition.
PHOTO BY MAUREEN RICKLI
Pemberton council floats infill incentives, new fire inspection fees
UPDATED FIRE SAFETY ACT PLACES MORE RESPONSIBILITY ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CONDUCT FIRE INSPECTIONS AND INCREASES PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NEW PROVINCIAL FIRE safety standards will mean changes to Pemberton’s fire service—and more costs to the community, council heard at its Feb. 11 meeting.
The Village of Pemberton’s (VOP) mayor and council heard from fire chief Cameron Adams at the meeting, who shared how Pemberton Fire Rescue might adapt to the new standards set out in the 2024 B.C. Fire Safety Act, which places more responsibility on local authorities to conduct fire inspections and increases penalties for violations.
“It’s going to increase our inspections massively that we need to comply with,” Adams told council.
To improve fire safety and align with the new provincial standard, Adams proposes new training for staff, establishing a fee structure to offset administrative costs of inspections, a communications plan to inform the community of the Act’s requirements, hiring a dedicated fire prevention officer, and ensuring “clear lines of communication with provincial agencies,” according to a report to council.
“We all have been falling behind and noticing for sure that there is some non-compliance through public buildings with the fire code,” Adams said. “As of recently, it’s becoming more and more apparent that we have been lacking in these inspections throughout the years, essentially [because] our priorities have been lying elsewhere for the services we provide.”
Inspections target fire-safety issues such as safety lighting, fire extinguishers, alarm panels and fire escape doors. As of Feb. 11, 148 inspections were waiting, but Adams expects that figure to rise due to new construction.
“Inevitably, this is going to result in more costs for the community,” said Mayor Mike Richman, of the new fire safety officer. “As this [cost] download comes up, we’re looking at a resolution for financial support from the province, especially for smaller communities, to cover some of these costs.”
Council motioned to have staff develop a fee structure for fire safety inspections to help defray the cost of the added position to the fire department.
Council heard from Adams again on a
homes across the community over the next decade.
Mayor and council previously voted to approve a bylaw amendment allowing up to four dwelling units in typical family neighbourhoods, also referred to as smallscale multi-unit housing (SSMUH), at its Dec. 10 meeting. During the Feb. 11 meeting, staff presented a report to council on four ways to kick-start those SSMUH projects.
“A big piece of this is capacity-building, so education, awareness and providing the tools for the individual property owner to find a use for their property,” said planner Colin Brown. “[People] might be sitting there saying, ‘I want to do something with my property, but have no idea where to start,’ and the idea stops right
“Inevitably, this is going to result in more costs for the community.”
- MIKE RICHMAN
separate fire report at the Feb. 11 meeting, which found Pemberton Fire Rescue responded to 436 incidents in 2024—up 16 per cent from 2023.
MOVING FORWARD WITH INFILL HOUSING
The VOP also received an update on the first of eight initiatives under the Housing Accelerator Fund, which awarded the municipality $2.7 million in grant funding to remove barriers and speed up the construction of 98 new housing units over the next two years, and nearly 1,995
there.”
Brown envisions an interactive “website or portal” with guiding questions that will help inform residents of potential building options and available grants.
The Village will also offer a pre-reviewed housing designs catalogue, “created by architects and pre-reviewed by village staff for compliance with all applicable regulations” to streamline construction once approved, according to a staff report.
Currently, VOP bylaws require that bylaw amendments aimed at land use changes, or variances, be considered by council. But a 2022 update to the Local Government Act
enables “local governments to define minor variances and to delegate approval of minor variances to staff,” which the VOP suggests could accelerate the approval of new housing units.
“So once we define what a minor variance is, we’ll come up with a set of criteria for staff to be able to evaluate these applications, with the idea that applications should fit this criteria to be delegated to staff,” said Brown. “If they don’t, then [the application] comes back to council.”
The last front addresses a disparity with the Village’s adherence to the BC Energy Step Code—a provincial set of standards for constructing energy-efficient buildings to reduce energy use and meet climate goals.
The Village of Pemberton uses Step 4 of the code, which demands new construction be 40 per cent more energy efficient than a baseline reference house, while the provincial standard is Step 3 (20 per cent more energy efficient than the baseline).
“The costs related to [a Step 4 code] could raise the cost by 20 or 30 per cent of the cost of construction,” Brown told council. “And so this incentive would be to relax the Step Code back to Step 3, and it would be temporary until 2027 when the province is all scheduled to go up to Step 4.
“So it’s an opportunity for a couple of years anyways, to potentially lower that cost of construction as an incentive.”
Brown noted it would be a trade-off; easing energy efficiency guidelines would make the construction of new housing less expensive and therefore help the Village meet its targets under the HAF, but also make it more difficult for the VOP to meet its climate targets.
Council motioned to have staff develop a report defining minor variances for infill housing developments. n
housing is needed to fulfil
Village of Pemberton’s obligations under the $2.7 million House Accelerator Fund. FILE PHOTO BY HARRISON BROOKS
Q’aLaTKu7eM Community School welcomes first graduate
‘WHEN WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER THIS MANY YEARS, IT BECOMES LIKE A LITTLE FAMILY’
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
AT THE 33RD kilometre of the In-SHUCKch Forest Service Road on the west side of the lower Lillooet Lake, lies the Q’aLaTKu7em First Nation. For the last seven years, a community school nestled in the Nation has served roughly a dozen local students out of a portable.
They’ve just welcomed their first graduate, Raoul Peters. He sums up how he feels about his graduation succinctly.
“Accomplished.”
OPENING THE SCHOOL
Jillian Fraser is the vice-principal and sole teacher at Q’aLaTKu7em Community School. She’s been with the school since its inception back in 2018.
Thanks to a partnership between SD78— the Fraser Valley School District in whose catchment the Nation technically resides— and the Sea to Sky’s SD48, whose proximity through the Forest Service Road makes it the best entity to service the community—a community school was born.
The number of students registered oscillates as people move or students opt for schooling in Pemberton. When the school opened, Fraser was surprised to have as many as 13 students between the ages of six and 16. This year, she has eight students enrolled, including Peters.
Fraser, originally from Ontario, had been working with Xet’òlacw Community School in Mount Currie when SD78 reached out and asked her to develop a curriculum for the new school in summer 2018. She and Peters have been there ever since, working and learning alongside Q’aLaTKu7eM elders and community leaders.
Peters remembers how he felt when the school was opened in 2018.
“I was excited,” he said. “Before, I wasn’t able to go to school every day due to the bus.”
Until the school’s opening, students from Q’aLaTKu7em had to make the trip up from the Nation to Pemberton for school, every day. Under ideal conditions, the bus ride would take at least an hour. But with harsh weather, an unpaved road and the risk of landslides, the journey could often take longer or be cancelled outright, leading to plenty of missed education days.
BUILDING THE PROGRAM
Because of how small the student population is, Fraser teaches every grade. As such, each student has a tailored teaching plan that incorporates the B.C. curriculum while also addressing their learning interests and emotional needs. She also reached out to Q’aLaTKu7em elders and leaders early on to bring traditional teaching and regular meals to the school.
Partly by necessity, due to the school’s remoteness, Fraser
incorporates several community initiatives and projects within the curriculum, many of which involve going out into the community to help students foster a relationship with the land. That means plenty of time spent in nature.
“We don’t have a gym in our little portable, but we have the beautiful territory and the land,” she said.
That always appealed to Peters, who said Fraser provided him with opportunities to explore more outdoor projects and learning during his time at the school.
“I was going into gardening [and] learning how to live off the land,” he remembered. “Every project, she’d give me some choices about what I wanted to work on, what kind of subjects I would be interested in, like fishing, hunting.”
The school’s remoteness does pose challenges for getting education resources and opportunities to Q’aLaTKu7em. So, Fraser regularly reaches out to the Sea to Sky community to tee up opportunities for students. She said the larger community has been “really receptive.”
“It’s really great to be able to try and make these connections for these students who have that barrier of the remote school and transportation and just knowing you know what choices they have,” she said. “There are a lot of people willing to donate time, services, snowsuits, whatever it is to help, and so that’s been a really beautiful thing, is to see that there are a lot of people that want to just help develop the program and give the kids these opportunities.”
That spirit of cooperation extends to Peters’ graduation gift, organized by the school in partnership with Chromer Sport Fishing in Squamish. Fraser reached out, never expecting to hear back from Chromer, about sponsoring an overnight trip in Squamish. They accepted, and during the second weekend in February, Peters and his dad, along with two others, set out on the Squamish River for a fishing trip on a four-person raft.
WHAT’S NEXT
Fraser is based in Pemberton, which means she still makes the hour-long drive to see her students every day. But she said moments like Peters’ graduation make the long trip well worth it.
“When we’ve been together this many years, it becomes like a little family,” she told Pique. “Seeing him grow into this young man who is following the dreams that he has set out and explored for himself, completing his education... we’re just so super proud.”
Fraser said Peters had the option to graduate this summer, along with the Pemberton Secondary School students, but felt it would be more meaningful to have his graduation be held in his home community.
“He said, ‘I’ve opted all this time to just be here in my own community,’ and so that’s ultimately what he chose, which I thought was a really beautiful thing, and really was
PAGE 26 >>
Public Hearing Notice
Official Community Plan Amendment (7451 and 7453 Frontier Street) Bylaw No. 981, 2025
Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 5:00pm, in-person at Council Chambers, 7400 Prospect Street, Pemberton BC and via Zoom Webinar ID: 840 0997 7920, (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84009977920)
What is Official Community Plan Amendment (7451 and 7453 Frontier Street) Bylaw No. 981,2025 about?
The bylaw has been prepared to amend Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw No. 654, 2011, to support a future mixed-use development. The subject lands are currently designated as Residential. The applicant seeks to amend the land use designation to Downtown to allow the inclusion of commercial in any future development of the site. The applicant is currently conducting an investigation on how best to utilize the site and will come back with a zoning amendment at a later date.
How do I get more information?
A copy of the proposed bylaws and relevant background documents may be inspected at the Village of Pemberton Office, 7400 prospect Street from Tuesday, February 11, 2025 to Tuesday, February 25, 2025 during the office hours of 9:00am to 4:00pm (closed noon –1:00pm), Monday through Friday (statutory holidays excluded), and also online at www.pemberton.ca/public/download/files/255914
How do I provide feedback?
All persons, who believe their interest in the property is affected by the proposed Bylaw, shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard by Council at the public hearing. Written comments must be addressed to “Mayor and Council” and may be submitted at the public hearing or through one of the following methods prior to the public hearing (by noon on Monday, February 24, 2025):
Email: admin@pemberton.ca
Fax: 604.894.6136
Mail: Corporate & Legislative Services, Village of Pemberton, PO Box 100, Pemberton BC V0N 2L0
In Person: Corporate & Legislative Services, 7400 Prospect Street, Pemberton BC
New Pemberton Arts Council executive director lays out vision
CLÉA THOMAS SAYS SHE WANTS PEMBERTON ARTS COUNCIL TO OFFER DIVERSE, REGULAR PROGRAMMING AKIN TO ARTS WHISTLER
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE PEMBERTON ARTS COUNCIL (PAC) has a new executive director. After serving as interim executive director since July 2024, Cléa Thomas kicked off her two-year contract with the PAC on Feb. 1
Thomas is a multi-talented artist who brings her love of painting, felting and stop motion to the Council. She pursued film and animation in Sydney, New Zealand and Montreal.
“I love film. I love animation. But I would ask all the animators ... so you do that fulltime? And they said no,” she said with a laugh.
So, she pursued a master’s in geology, pairing a more stable living with her love of the outdoors and the mountains. Naturally, that zeal for spectacular nature—along with job opportunities for her and her partner— prompted her move to Pemberton six years ago.
But Thomas never abandoned her love of the arts. She joined the Arts Council last year, after being referred by the community centre. She pitched a finger-painting class during the PAC’s 2024 annual general meeting.
“You know, if you go to an AGM, you never leave the AGM,” she said. She promptly joined the board of directors after that.
“I just thought I could help. I wanted to help,” she said. “So I decided to step up.”
Thomas wants to see the PAC grow to offer the kind of programming offered by Arts Whistler: regular workshops, diverse artistic mediums and massive projects. She knows it’s a tall order, given the constraints of a town several times smaller than the resort municipality, but that’s not stopping her from swinging for the fences.
The Arts Council recently put out a call for proposals for local artists to cover the side of the Pemberton Valley Supermarket. After that, Thomas says the PAC is partnering with FireSmart to design and put up a fire safety mural on Signal Hill, on a northwestfacing side of the building. They’re still figuring out the details of the project, but expect it to be underway by summer. The PAC will also host the popular Mountain Muse Festival again this year.
To help inform priorities moving forward, the PAC surveyed Pemberton residents in December 2024, asking for input into what
such a celebration of little community.”
Now that he’s graduated, Peters will continue working with Murphy Construction and earn his Red Seal certification—a Canadian national rating for tradespeople. He’s been working with the local construction outfit for more than two years in a position Fraser set up for Peters’ work experience.
This was Fraser’s first time planning a graduation, but it won’t be the last. She’s
villagers want to see from the area’s arts scene. They got more than 100 responses.
The headline for Thomas was a desire to see more arts programming options in the village. Pottery was frequently requested by residents, and she says she’s looking for ways to expand into drama clubs and music lessons.
But the takeaway for her was the calls to have a dedicated arts space.
“I don’t think people can gather right now,” she said. “We don’t have a space, and I feel like it’s something that we need to have for artists and people to come together and do workshops.”
Once a space is secured, Thomas is hoping to branch out by running weekly workshops where local artists can share their skills with audiences. Respondents to the survey were asked if they were willing to lead workshops, and to leave their contact information if they were game. Thomas said the PAC intends to reach out and give Pemberton’s artists a chance to shine.
“Our mission for the Arts Council is to promote the arts, but also promote the artists,” she said. “So I just feel like this would be perfect for everybody to give a chance to all the artists that want to lead a workshop, to have the possibility to do so.”
The Arts Council is funded through the Pemberton & District Initiative Fund, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, grants, memberships and by donation. But to pay for a dedicated PAC space, diversify programming options and put on weekly workshops, Thomas says they’re in need of more money.
The next opportunity to contribute to the PAC is the Arts Fest; a fundraiser on March 8 at the Sunstone Golf Club, from 7 to 9 p.m.
In addition to live music and a local artist market with art for sale, the PAC will have 12 local artists and artisans—some of whom will provide live demonstrations of their skills.
The door price is $45 for PAC members and $55 for non-members. Youth tickets (for ages 12 to 18) are $30. Ticket prices cover the appetizers provided by Sunstone. An annual PAC membership costs $15, and provides discounts on PAC events and local business discounts.
PAC is asking locals and businesses to contribute items for a silent auction. Interested parties can reach out to pembertonartscouncil@gmail.com. n
expecting another graduate this fall.
She said Peters is a role model for the younger students that follow; both because of his graduation and because he’s pursuing his passion. She hopes it’ll inspire them to pursue what interests them, too.
“And it doesn’t have to be the same story as Raoul’s,” she said. “They know that Raoul’s story is his own, but that there are opportunities for them to follow their passions too, and for us to help to get them there.” n
$1,569,000
SQ.FT.:
Tales of the overstoke, photo edition
LIKE MOST media folks who go looking for paycheques in the outdoor industry, my career began behind a camera more than a keyboard. Photography and action sports go hand in hand, and if you want to document your adventures, photos are the proof.
BY VINCE SHULEY
I never graduated into the annals of the Whistler photography greats, but I did manage to get my work published in some ski and mountain bike magazines over the years. I even received a few cheques in the mail, though they rarely covered the time, effort and equipment I had to invest to get the photos in the first place. But that didn’t matter. I was building a name for myself, always willing to cart the extra-heavy bag of cameras, lenses and lighting gear. A few days were winners, coming home with a slew of shots I couldn’t wait to upload and edit. Many other days were a complete bust with poor light, poor snow (or both), with little to show for a day of hauling gear and freezing while waiting for the good light.
Just like overzealous skiers in search of pow, that desire to come home with the goods can cloud a photographer’s judgment. Not the wise ones, of course. They’ve seen enough close calls or injuries in the backcountry to know better. It’s the young, hungry, and impatient photographers that get themselves into trouble, mostly.
It was around 2010 when I got myself into trouble. I was on a heli drop on Rainbow Mountain with four other friends, all accomplished skiers and snowboarders.
edge. The frame was still a bit obstructed, so I nudged another half-foot closer. Perfect.
The next sound I heard was a few tonnes of solid snow shearing in two as I plummeted into the couloir. The rather large overhanging cornice had collapsed, triggering an avalanche and carrying me with it. My camera was still around my neck and I tried to hold onto it with at least one hand as I picked up speed in the slide, the sound now a large rumble. My boot clipped an obstruction in the fray, spinning me around and sending me headfirst
The professionals never seem to be in a haphazard rush when they’re shooting in the backcountry, and neither should we.
They were excited to have a photographer along in their group, since shooting your own footage on phones and compact digital cameras back then didn’t really yield the best-quality images.
After the quick two- to three-minute heli ride, we scoped our first couloir. The light was a bit flat, but I figured it was a good test run so I could nail the shot once the sun poked out. I had my skis off and my tripod out, checking the framing and focus. I was aware of the cornice, but considered I had ample support from where I was standing. The frame wasn’t quite right, so I moved a half-foot closer to the
on my back into the lower half of the couloir. I still had one hand on the camera, praying I might make it out of this with my most prized possession. Sliding backwards and headfirst, I dropped off a steeper part of the chute and a wall of snow washed over me. The rumbling around me was muffled by the engulfing snow, everything around me an eerie, middle grey. Snow was forced down my airway, the abrasive snow crystals painfully blocking any attempt at breathing. I finally let go of the camera and frantically clawed at my face hoping I could make an air pocket in the inevitable burial that awaited.
Then, all of a sudden I popped out into the sunshine. My head surfaced and I coughed up the snow obstructing my airway, my only injury a dislocated shoulder. The camera was nowhere to be seen and my friends were slowly making their way around down to me.
We spent the rest of the day digging for my camera in the rubble, to no avail. I’d escaped the avalanche relatively injury-free, but with an upcoming surgery; my uninsured camera would end up spending the next few months in the snowpack.
When I finally retrieved the camera, the lens and body were water damaged beyond repair. The only surviving part was the memory card. I uploaded the photos and realized the shot I was framing wasn’t even that spectacular, and my hungry photographer overstoke had risked my life for this mediocre image.
Whether you’re chasing the best pow skiing or just wanting to come home with the best photos of your day, impatient decisions can have disastrous knock-on effects. The professionals never seem to be in a haphazard rush when they’re shooting in the backcountry, and neither should we. Take the extra moment to consider the risk, regardless of how awesome that photo could turn out to be.
Vince Shuley leaves professional photography to the professionals these days. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY
Eby’s unscripted moment at Invictus Games strikes the perfect chord
PREMIER DAVID EBY didn’t have a speech prepared for the opening of the Invictus Games in Vancouver. He hadn’t written anything down. He didn’t have a teleprompter. And just minutes before he was set to walk onto stage to address the packed crowd of thousands at B.C. Place stadium on Saturday, he ended up tossing out most of what he’d been mentally preparing to say anyway.
What followed was an emotional address directly to American service personnel about the shared bonds of the U.S. and Canadian militaries, and a spoken reminder that British Columbians loved and welcomed them even during a time of political strife.
“I was just thinking about how I could deliver that message, that we’re good neighbours and no matter what we’ll always be there for each other,” Eby said in an interview.
The speech went viral, amassing high views and high praise from those who saw it. At the time, it sparked American athletes to make heart shapes to Canadian athletes, who returned the gestures amid a standing ovation.
It came at a time of heightened political tension between the two countries, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs against Canada and his demands it become the 51st state.
quickly in the 20 minutes before he was set to speak, right after Canadian singer Nelly Furtado finished her rendition of “I’m Like a Bird.”
“It just felt like a moment to speak directly to some Americans, which I’ve wanted to be doing, to say like we’re not mad at you, we love and respect you, and think you are great, and you are different and we like that and hopefully we’re still cool,” he said.
“This isn’t about you, it’s about politicians, so maybe we can take a step back in this moment.”
The unscripted moment is on brand for Eby. He dislikes reading prepared remarks, or taking notes. Most often, he freestyles when given the microphone.
“It’s always where I’m at my best,” he said. “I feel OK doing that.”
It’s also an incredibly risky approach for a modern politician, where the slightest misspeak can be clipped and exploited out of context on social media.
“There’s an element of risk as a politician in doing that,” he said. “But I find people really appreciate when you can be authentic and tell them what you’re thinking.”
The premier couldn’t see much of the reaction when he was in the spotlight. It was only after he went back to his seat that his wife Cailey told him he’d nailed it.
“Cailey was like, ‘Wow that was incredible,’ and telling me on the big screen
“This isn’t about you, it’s about politicians, so maybe we can take a step back in this moment.”
- DAVID EBY
Eby said he’d originally had a different speech in mind.
“I had a bit of a structure in my head going into this and wanted to hit on the sovereign Canada, true north strong and free,” he said.
But then, sitting in the stands, he saw the wounded United States veterans, who compete in the Invictus Games, enter the stadium. Some Canadians have taken to booing Americans and their anthem at sporting events—and while that didn’t happen at the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Eby said he could feel the tension.
“I was like, man, they must be feeling so anxious about what kind of reaction they are going to get here,” Eby recalled. “And I thought that was so awful they’d feel that way.”
He ran a new idea through his head
you could see the athletes making hearts at each other across the way,” he said. “I didn’t see any of that.”
But he watched it again for himself on Sunday.
“It moved me when I saw that video of the athletes giving each other a standing ovation and sending over hearts,” he said.
“It’s an incredible moment that came truly from who they are and what they’ve been through together.”
Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for Glacier Media. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio. rob@robshawnews.com n
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BY LUKE FAULKS,
LOCAL
JOURNALISM
INITIATIVE REPORTER
‘ONE HEART, ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT’
Invictus collaboration signifies unprecedented central role for the four Host Nations
Nearly 200 people gathered in the U’ll’us Community Centre in Mount Currie on Feb. 4 to celebrate a night of historic firsts for the Lil’wat Nation and the Invictus Games.
It was the first stop on a four-day trip for 15 Invictus athletes and representatives from the four Host Nations. The expedition carried the Invictus flag through the Lil’wat, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam First Nations, culminating in the flag’s arrival in Vancouver at the Games’ opening ceremony on Feb. 8.
It’s the first time Invictus is hosting winter sports, recognizing veterans’ healing occurs year-round.
And the expedition itself is considered a shared journey of healing between servicemembers and members of the Nation. It’s a close collaboration that signifies an unprecedented central role for the four Host Nations.
Lil’wat Councillor Christopher Wells, the evening’s MC, recalled having to fight for recognition during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and noted the expedition launch on Feb. 4 marked an important departure from previous events.
“They’re finally acknowledging us for who we are—the people of the West acknowledging our territories,” said Wells. “We’re strong in here today … we all come together, one heart, one body, one spirit, and four Host Nations.
“And tonight, we honour everybody.”
For two hours, those gathered under U’ll’us roof enjoyed saq’úta (dance), a
traditional feast and inspiring speeches from Ku’kwpi7 Skalulmecw Chief Dean Nelson, Ku’kwpi7 Gélpcal Cultural Chief, and Lhpatq Maxine Joseph Bruce—all in preparation for the journey ahead.
THE EXPEDITION
From Feb. 4 to 8, The expedition made its way down the Sea to Sky corridor toward Vancouver. The first night, they camped behind the Outdoor School in Mount Currie. The next day, it was snowshoeing in the Callahan Valley. Each day, the expedition party settled into a new campsite and practiced a new traditional skill. It culminated in an overnight camp on Mount Seymour, where they implemented all of the skills they gained together.
Pique sat down with Nick Booth—the CEO of True Patriot Love (TPL), Canada’s national foundation for the military and veteran community. Since 2019, Booth has been the chair of the bid to bring the games to Canada. He’s one of the organizers behind this year’s expedition.
Booth said the expeditions represent a “shared journey of recovery,” something he’s excited to partner with the four Host Nations on.
“So all of the expedition participants are on their own individual journeys, and there’s a lovely parallel with the shared journey that we’re doing with the First Nations as well, because of their historic challenges with colonialism,” he said.
Another avenue of partnership between the Games and the four Host Nations is the sharing of winter skills. Booth is as excited to highlight military winter training as he
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATCO
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATCO
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATCO
is to have the expedition learn traditional skills like camping, snowshoeing, and skiing from representatives of each Nation.
In addition to that exchange of skills, moving Invictus to a winter setting underscores the year-round nature of recovery.
“If you’re ill or injured, your recovery journeys don’t stop when it starts getting cold,” said Booth. “If you’re in Canada, you can do your cycling or other forms of adaptive sport in the summer, right? Obviously, when winter comes, those things aren’t available, [so] we wanted to build out adaptive winter programming.”
TPL has been taking Canadian veterans and serving members on challenging expeditions of recovery since 2012, going to places across Canada, and even the North Pole and Antarctica.
Jeremy Blair was on the Antarctica trip. He joined TPL in the summiting of Mount Vinson after a 20-year career in the army that ended in a medical release. He said the adventure led him to a journey of recovery he wasn’t expecting.
“When I left [the army] I didn’t even know I had a problem,” said Blair. “To go down to Antarctica and walk down there… Not only did I realize maybe there was [trauma], but also that there was a way out of that.”
Blair’s son, who was also medically released from the military, competed in the Dusseldorf Games in 2023. He’s seen how being a part of the Invictus team helped his son’s recovery.
“Not being part of a team anymore is the biggest loss of identity,” said Blair. “[The expeditions] are an opportunity to be part of a team again, to feel like you’re contributing to a common goal, and realize that you’re not alone anymore.”
Blair now runs Off-Trail Odysseys, a veteran-owned and operated company staffed by fellow military veteran volunteers. Like TPL, Off-Trail Odysseys runs expeditions for veterans. That spirit of communal healing extends to the relationship between the Games and the four Host Nations.
WARRIORS FROM LIL’WAT
The dancing and speeches were intended to welcome the Invictus delegation to Lil’wat’s traditional territory. But Wells reminded those assembled it was important to honour those members of Lil’wat Nation who had fought and died in past wars.
“It’s so important that we honour and take care of our war veterans from past and the present, and I’m so thankful that they fought so hard so that we could still be living, speaking our language, singing, dancing and living in a peaceful country,” Wells said.
Coun. Maxine Joseph Bruce echoed Wells’ words in her speech during the last official talk of the night. She likened the traumatic experience of wounded servicemembers to the experience of members of Lil’wat Nation living under 150 years of colonial rule.
“Today, we’re on our healing path, on a beautiful journey that’s been bent for us,” she said. “And we share that energy with the athletes that will be in our territory, and I feel so emotional that we can be here to support them.”
In a discussion afterwards with Pique, Bruce underscored the similarities between the battles fought by Canadian servicemembers overseas and the historic and ongoing struggles by Indigenous communities to assert sovereignty over their own territories across Canada.
“Our people, we’ve done so much fighting for our land. We never talk about those battles that we’ve had to experience and endure and try and recover. And even this 150 years of colonialism can be very hurtful,” she said.
“But tonight you see that together, we could move forward.”
The theme of moving forward, together, was on display throughout the evening. Bruce highlighted specific members of the Lil’wat community who’d served, including her father. She said while those veterans might “fall through the cracks of society,” they were welcomed with open arms when they came home to Lil’wat.
It’s that last one in particular that Booth said sets this year’s Invictus Games apart from previous events. The partnership with the four Host Nations has been more pronounced, from the start of the bid in 2019, than in other countries or in Canada’s past games.
He told Pique a letter of support from Lil’wat Chief Dean Nelson and the four Host Nations helped get the bid across the finish line in 2019. Squamish Nation Councillor Wilson Williams was part of the bid team, and stood on stage alongside the Minister of Veterans Affairs for the announcement the Games were coming to Canada. Councillor Dennis Thomas from Tsleil-Waututh was in the Netherlands during the Hague Games to receive the announcement of the Games.
“So at every stage, the leadership of the First Nations has been front and centre,” Booth said. “It’s been a really inspiring part of the whole project.”
That extends, both Booth and Bruce were surprised to see, to the British Royal Family.
“Prince Harry stood on stage in front of the world and said … the Games are coming to Canada at the invitation of and with the permission of the First Nations,” Bruce said.
The year after, Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle visited the Ullus Community Centre— “to this same gymnasium,” Bruce said.
She acknowledged that while there was sometimes a “funny connotation” talking about the Royals in Lil’wat—the British Royal Family was, after all, a global force for colonialism, ruling one in every five people in the world at the height of its power. It’s difficult to decouple the monarchy from that legacy. But Bruce is conciliatory.
“You look at Prince Harry and the messages that come along with that Royal Family, and then it’s ironic that he’s brought this here, and he’s helping people heal,” she said.
TPL is running an exhibition on Indigenous servicemembers during the games, telling the story of Indigenous service in the Canadian Armed Forces—highlighting famed warriors like Tommy Prince and the Devils Brigade in the Second World War, and featuring profiles of other Indigenous soldiers who’ve served, including Tim O’Hear, a Dene Nation member and part of the expedition.
The exhibition is offered through TPL’s Legacy Fund—another first for the Invictus Games.
LEGACY OF THE EXPEDITION
For Invictus athletes, going home sometimes isn’t simple. Booth says while finishing can be a “bump” in your spirits, it can amount to a temporary reprieve from pain and trauma.
Many applicants don’t even get that reprieve, given the limits on participants in the Games.
“Invictus is a wonderful thing, and people have told me that they are alive because they’re in the Games,” Booth said.
“But it’s only eight days, and people’s journeys of recovery carry on beyond being in the Games.”
“Today, we’re on our healing path, on a beautiful journey that’s been bent for us. And we share that energy with the athletes that will be in our territory, and I feel so emotional that we can be here to support them.”
“When everything was done, he came home, and the people embraced him,” she said. “And they always say that—even when I went away, they would say, ‘Well, you know where home is.’”
- MAXINE JOSEPH BRUCE
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN SPORT
Bruce was adamant about the importance of sports in healing from trauma.
“These people that are doing the work at these Games, they’re still trying to heal,” she said. “And sports is a great way to heal.”
The 2025 Games’ unique collaboration with the Host Nations, highlighted by both Booth and Bruce, represents a step towards sport-specific recommendations within the Truth and Reconciliation report. Recommendations 87 to 91 all advocate reconciliation in sport, including: Providing public education on Aboriginal athletes in history; calling on all levels of government to support Aboriginal athletic development; amending the Physical Activity and Sport Act to make sure all aspects of the Canadian sport system are inclusive to Aboriginal peoples; ensuring that all national spots policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive of Aboriginal Peoples, including elite athlete development and coach-training programs; and meaningfully involving Host Nations in international sporting events.
The fleeting nature of the Games, and the recognition that hundreds of servicemembers who apply to participate don’t get in in the first place, led TPL to launch its first-ever Legacy Fund this year.
“What to do next after your time in service is not obvious, and even if you’re not medically released,” said Booth. “If you’ve been a submariner for 20 years, what does that look like in the civilian world? How’s the transition and that cultural change from being told what to do every day, what to wear every day, where to go every day, to all of a sudden a much more fluid, dog-eat-dog world?”
The Legacy Fund aims to provide seven, year-round projects aimed at helping servicemembers’ recovery, including providing access to year-round adaptive sports, advancing Indigenous reconciliation, research into which aspects of the winter games have the greatest positive impact on participants, and veterans’ transition and employment opportunities.
TPL has spent some of the money already, Booth said, on providing psychological first-aid training for families coming to the Games. Six veterans are being trained in sports presentation—including lighting, music, DJ-ing and other technical aspects of the gig. And on Sunday, Feb. 9, TPL held an employment symposium with more than 200 employers across the private and public sectors.
You can donate to True Patriot Love’s Legacy Fund through their website. TPL is a registered charity and can issue a receipt for tax purposes.
SETTING OUT
Roxanne Joe is an administrative assistant at Lil’wat Lands & Resources. She’s also the Nation’s representative on the expedition. A massive black rucksack with all her gear sat on a stage behind her as she outlined the task ahead to the assembled guests of the Nation.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this expedition team, and extremely proud to get two days in our Lil’wat territory, because it’s so vast and we have so much to discover out there,” she said.
“Yes, even in this very cold, harsh weather,” she added. On the day of the expedition’s reception, temperatures reached -11.
“We’re so proud of her … she’s representing the Lil’wat Nation [and] St’á’’imc Nation on this journey,” said Wells.
“My hands go up to all the people that are going to be travelling. Today we pray for your heart, your mind, your body, your spirit, while you travel through the territories. And that’s the way our ancestors travelled, for thousands and thousands of years, and we’re still here.” n
Underdog Canadians grab team relay bronze at Luge World Championships in Whistler
LOCAL ATHLETE EMBYR-LEE SUSKO
BY DAVID SONG
CANADA’S LUGE RELAY team of EmbyrLee Susko, Devin Wardrope, Cole Zajanski, Theo Downey, Kailey Allan and Beattie Podulsky watched with bated breath on Saturday night, Feb. 8, as Chelsea Forgan and Sophia Kirkby slid through Curve 16, a.k.a. Thunderbird Corner, at the Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC).
The American doubles unit was well off the pace, but still had an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals into podium position.
Forgan and Kirkby reached up to strike the finishing paddle that hangs above the track for relays… but not quickly enough. The Canadians were mobbed by teammates and coaches, their jubilant screams blending into hearty cheers from fans. It was official.
The field’s youngest squad had just guaranteed itself a World Championships medal on home ice, uniting for a four-run time of two minutes and 51.641 seconds. It is the Maple Leaf’s first team relay podium since 2016 and the fifth ever.
That medal turned out to be bronze, as Germany flew in for gold (2:50.361) and Austria wrapped up silver (2:50.492).
DESCRIBES TEAM CANADA AS ‘A BIG, HAPPY
WE ARE FAMILY
Aiming for a top-six result going in, Susko and company are thunderstruck to actually earn hardware.
“It hasn’t even sunk in,” revealed Susko, who placed fourth on Friday in ladies’ singles.
“My teammates are all basically my siblings at this point in life, so it proves how much of a big, happy family we really are. The hugs going around, the cheers, it’s truly incredible.”
Downey isn’t keen on physical contact, but even he was swept up in the moment.
“You’ve got to be in there with your second family, basically. This team is all you’ve got for half a year and it finally pays off, all that hard work.”
Havoc abounded during the week’s final discipline, with several nations committing uncharacteristic errors.
The United States ended up fourth after Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa skidded out, generating an insurmountable deficit for their peers. Italy false-started and was disqualified outright, forcing Olympic bronze medallist Dominik Fischnaller out of action. Even the powerhouse Germans and Austrians had some difficulty with Whistler’s lightningfast ice.
Most shocking of all was the crash absorbed by Marta Robezniece and Kitija Bogdanova. The Latvians were helped off track after flipping their sled.
Canada had its own mishap as Allan and Podulsky fishtailed out of Thunderbird Corner, just as they’d done racing women’s doubles 24 hours earlier. Already banged up from that event, they held it together by way of grit and poise.
FAMILY’
“Honestly, the only thing going through my head was ‘hit that pad,’” said Podulsky. “The whole team was riding on us … and you know, we did that so everything just happened to come together.”
Allan was likewise thrilled: “I’m literally at a loss for words right now. We love racing with this team. Devin and Cole have helped us so much with learning to slide doubles. Everyone did their part.”
‘THE STARS ALIGNED TODAY’
Sam Edney knows how it feels to win team relays.
Luge Canada’s high-performance director joined Alex Gough, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith in netting an unprecedented Olympic silver at Pyeongchang 2018. All except Snith were on hand to watch their successors rise up.
“This is a huge step for our group,” Edney said. “It started yesterday with Embyr and a momentous result for her with fourth. It’s a thing of momentum—I mean, we’re a gravity sport. That’s the beauty of the team relay: it’s about consistency over necessarily being the absolute fastest. You have the gate, you have the pad. You have to be perfect for a bit longer than you normally are because the pad is further than the finish line.
“We’re a team that can compete with some of the biggest nations in the world … and if we hammer that into the athletes’ minds and they produce repetitively, it shows what can happen.”
Zajanski is oldest among the underdog Canadians at 23, but the only number that matters is the placement on the results sheet.
“The stars aligned today,” he said. “We’re a young team, and just having [Sam, Tristan and Alex] here supporting us, saying how proud they are, gives us confidence that we’re able to step up to the plate when it matters. We’re showing our mentors that they’ve done well and we’ve taken what they said to heart.”
Everyone deserves credit: Susko and Downey on their respective singles sleds as well as Wardrope and Zajanski in men’s doubles, but Saturday’s bronze does not materialize without Allan and Podulsky. They filled a void left by the retirement of doubles slider Natalie Corless, which drove her partner Caitlin Nash down the singles route.
Not long afterward, Susko emerged as a singles ace—which meant the dissolution of her old tandem with Podulsky last year.
Edney and his coaching staff knew that Allan/Podulsky was going to be an experiment with no guaranteed outcome. Their patient approach to developing both youngsters over nine weeks contributed to success in Whistler, at the first Luge World Championships to feature ladies’ doubles in the relay.
“Even from when [Kailey and Beattie] first started to now, they have come so far,” Wardrope remarked. “Cole and I are just happy we could help them in any way we can, because that’s the same help we got from Tristan and Justin when we were first starting off. Being able to mentor another doubles team, and then having the six of us come together and place a medal is amazing.”
Susko added: “Though me and Beattie don’t slide doubles anymore, that holds a
RELAY REALITY Canada’s relay team at the Luge World Championships in Whistler on Feb. 8. Back row: Theo Downey (left), Devin Wardrope (middle) and Cole Zajanski. Front row: Kailey Allan (left), Beattie Podulsky (middle) and Embyr-Lee Susko.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL KRISTEN/FIL
‘Just insanity’: Embyr-Lee Susko fourth at Luge World Championships
ELLIS AND NASH CRACK TOP 16 FOR CANADA; AUSTRIANS EGLE AND KIPP REPEAT AS LADIES’ DOUBLES WINNERS
BY DAVID SONG
IF YOU TOLD Embyr-Lee Susko a year ago she’d be fourth at the Luge World Championships in her hometown, she would not have believed you at all.
Yet that’s exactly where the Whistlerite placed on a brisk Friday night under the lights: just missing a medal with a two-run time of 1:17.287.
Julia Taubitz (1:17.206) and Merle Fraebel (1:17.247) snatched gold and silver for Germany, while American Emily Sweeney clinched bronze (1:17.249).
Susko didn’t seem to care much about accolades, though. The onetime Junior Worlds runner-up and incumbent national champ was visibly emotional as fellow Canadian sliders embraced her warmly at the finish dock.
“Just insanity,” remarked 19-year-old Susko, her eyes still glistening. “You can’t even describe the feeling that it is to not drop a spot after your run and hold on. Everything was working well. I was able to put my body position, my mind and everything together, and I guess this is what happens when you put it all together on your own track.
“It really goes to show the sisterhood we have among this team, that your teammates are just as excited as you are to find success. It means more than anything. I was freaking out between runs ... it’s just really weird to be in basically an empty start house with people you have looked up to in the sliding community forever, and now they’re starting in front of me in the second run. That’s insane.”
really special place in my heart. When I get to race relay with Beattie again, it makes me so happy to be able to celebrate with one of my best friends.”
BACK TO BACK
Nobody, not even three-time Olympic gold medallist Felix Loch, could prevent Max Langenhan from defending his men’s singles title.
Langenhan blasted through two Saturday afternoon runs in one minute and 39.922 seconds total. His fellow German Loch earned silver (1:40.057) and Nico Gleirscher of Austria held onto bronze (1:40.144).
“Last year, Altenberg was one of my favourite tracks,” said Langenhan in reference to his maiden World Championships victory. “Here in Whistler, normally it’s every time so (expletive) close and every small mistake costs you so much time—but in the end, I’m super happy with these two runs. In the first run, I had some mistakes at the last few corners, but … I’m a back-to-back world champion. I couldn’t imagine more.”
Regarding Loch, who won the 2010
Trinity Ellis was the next fastest Canuck in 13th (1:17.653) and Caitlin Nash followed in 16th (1:17.755).
Ellis, a 2022 Beijing Olympian, still wants more out of herself. Nonetheless she’ll take the positive momentum after an underwhelming few months abroad.
“The way this season has been going, this will definitely be my best result—as I would hope and expect at a home track,” said the Pembertonian. “My second run was just cleaner all around: more relaxed, better lines … just small things, but it really adds up here in Whistler.
Regarding what it’s like to compete in her backyard, Ellis added: “It’s awesome having the support of so many people, so many connections that we have in the Sea to Sky. I have my mom, Caitlin’s mom and Embyr’s mom standing together out there cheering for us. Feels really good.”
Canada’s lugers have their sights set on the next Winter Olympics, which are now less than a year away. One thing’s for certain in Susko’s mind: with experience comes speed.
NEW BENCHMARKS
Their course record didn’t stand for long, but their victory will.
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria flew down the Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) track in 38.858 seconds to open women’s doubles action. That formerlyunprecedented time was lowered again in run No. 2 by Germans Jessica Degenhardt
Olympics in Whistler at just 20 years of age, Langenhan added: “He’s the best teacher in the world. You can imagine so many athletes want him in their teams because he’s putting so often good runs down in training. If you have questions for lines in the track, you can every time ask him. You can learn a lot from him.”
Langenhan then joined his compatriots Julia Taubitz, Hannes Orlamünder, Paul Gubitz, Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal to dominate the team relay.
Canada failed to qualify an athlete into the top 20 for run No. 2. Downey just missed out in 22nd and Dylan Morse ended up 26th. Notably, 18-year-old Bastian Van Wouw placed 28th out of 30 athletes in his first senior international event.
“Not getting that second run was a big dampener on my day, but going down the track [for relays] lets you relax a lot more. You can just focus on what needs to get done,” said Downey. “And Bastian joined luge probably three years after me. I’ve always been there for him, and he’s always been there for me.”
For more Worlds results, visit fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/53rd-fil-worldchampionships. n
This February, share your love with the Sea to Sky Hospice Society by donating to the programs and services that support our community Whistler Blackcomb Foundation will match every dollar contributed up to $100,000.
Todonatevisit:seatoskyhospicesociety.com/donate
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and Cheyenne Rosenthal, who now hold Whistler’s track record at 38.806 seconds.
Egle and Kipp netted their second straight World Championships title anyway (1:17.724), putting Degenhardt and Rosenthal into the runner-up hole (1:17.753). Clocking in for third was another team from Germany, Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina (1:17.784).
“It’s unbelievable,” Egle said. “We didn’t expect it at all, because [Whistler] is a start track and we are not that fast to start. We were getting into the race with no high expectations, so we are speechless that we won this race today.”
“First run was pretty good,” added Kipp. “We had a little bit of a skid at the entrance to 14, but everything was fine. It was only small, minor mistakes, and the second run was also good.”
‘THE FIRE HAS BEEN FUELLED’
Beattie Podulsky and Kailey Allan wound up eighth (1:18.408) after a late second-run miscalculation had them sidewinding across the line. Even so, the young Canadians feel pleased with their overall effort.
“Honestly, I’m really happy with how we did,” said Podulsky, who has not raced doubles from the sled’s top position before this year. “This is our first World Champs, period, let alone as a team. It’s awesome how we did, we laid down pretty solid runs, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Allan remarked: “I’ll take that first run any day. It was a great run. Beginning at corner 16 [in the next run], we skidded a little bit. My foot fell off so she couldn’t hold [position] as good, and that’s why we had hit. Hopefully we can clean that up, make sure everything stays together for the team relay.”
Luge Canada’s roadmap to Milano Cortina 2026 shifted when one half of its original doubles pair, Natalie Corless, retired. Corless’ former running mate Nash became a singles
athlete, leaving an opening for Podulsky and Allan to unite.
Allan says their teammates have been nothing but helpful: dishing out fist bumps, high fives and guidance throughout the day. She also voiced gratitude for Canadian fans who were boisterous in supporting the Maple Leaf.
“I’m really excited with the opportunity it presents us as a team, and I’m excited to see what we can do,” Podulsky remarked. “This is
our first season together and I know it’s a lot more in store for us. The fire has been fuelled, so we’re going to come back next year with a lot more passion.”
UNDER PRESSURE
Germany struck men’s doubles gold with two excellent jaunts down track by Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Constantin Gubitz (1:16.538) who beat their bronze medal compatriots, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:16.671). Sandwiched between them were Martins Bots and Roberts Plume who grabbed silver for Latvia (1:16.640).
“World Championships itself is a huge deal, and having it at home in front of friends and families puts so much more pressure on you,” said Wardrope. “But it was really fun. We enjoyed it. We had a good time, even though the results probably aren’t at the spot that we wanted them. We still thought it was a really good race.”
Zajanski echoed that sentiment.
“It just comes down to being able to perform under pressure, right?” he asked rhetorically. “When you’re at a home World Championships, there’s so much pressure coming from the media, family, friends, ourselves, so getting that experience and being able to manage it going into an Olympic year will give us the confidence we need.”
Wardrope and Zajanski also felt that getting in an extra race with Thursday’s mixed doubles put them in a good head space for the team relay. n
WORLD-CLASS Embyr-Lee Susko pictured during the FIL Luge World Championships at the Whistler Sliding Centre on Feb. 7.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL KRISTEN/FIL
SPORTS THE SCORE
Six Invictus Games podiums for Canada in Whistler
SPORTS BRIEFS: GOGUEN GOLD IN KICKING HORSE; THREE STRAIGHT FOR THOMPSON
BY DAVID SONG
PRINCE HARRY, Duke of Sussex, and Meaghan Markle were on hand at Whistler Olympic Plaza on Monday, Feb. 10 to address Whistlerites as twin CF-18 Hornets roared overhead, bringing the Invictus Games 2025 to the Sea to Sky. Michael Bublé made a surprise appearance as well, joining fellow recording artists Jim Cuddy and Barney Bentall.
By the end of the second day of local competition, six Canadians had found the podium in five different disciplines, including a silver in biathlon for Guillaume Durand.
“Family is medicine,” said Durand, a retired Canadian Army sergeant once deployed to Afghanistan and Latvia, in a French-language interview on the Invictus Games YouTube channel. “I’ve lost a lot of friends on missions. I’m very lonely, very internal. It’s like I’m stuck inside, but when I was on a mission, we had team spirit. Everything I had in the Army, and lost in between, I’m finding it again with the Invictus Games.”
Other Canadians to podium included Lee Jarratt (alpine skiing), Justin MacDonald (biathlon), Shan Mulford (biathlon), Cheryl Belanger (biathlon), and Jérôme BoisvertBoucher (Nordic cross-country).
The Games wrap Sunday, Feb. 16 with a closing ceremony at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.
MARCUS GOGUEN DEFENDS B.C. SNOW WITH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR GOLD IN KICKING HORSE
Three Canadians earned hardware at Friday’s Freeride World Tour (FWT) event in Kicking Horse, B.C., but only one can say he dominated the competition.
That man is Marcus Goguen. He landed an enormous cork 720 and a seamless doubledrop, forcing judges to award him 96.67 points and an arguably career-defining victory.
Abel Moga of Spain was the only other skier to breach the 90-point mark (90.33) for second place and Kiwi Ben Richards wound up third (87.67).
“Winning here at home feels surreal,” Goguen told the media after his spectacular effort. “Having my family and friends around makes it even more special. I am thrilled to have put down a solid run and to bring more aggressiveness and style into my performance.”
Incumbent FWT ladies’ snowboard queen Erin Sauvé likewise did Canada proud with bronze (71.67). Michaela Davis-Meehan
clinched gold for Australia (81.33) and silver went to France’s Anna Martinez (78.00).
Said Davis-Meehan in a press release: “I feel amazing, mostly relieved after crashing in the first two competitions. It feels great to land my run, the snow was perfect, the drops were beautiful, and I finally feel good about my riding again.”
Jonathan Penfield put his newfound Canadian citizenship to use by finishing third among male snowboarders (74.67), but couldn’t get within shouting distance of triumphant French standout Victor de le Rue (88.67). Holden Samuels locked down the runner-up spot (79.67) on behalf of Team USA.
Another American, Molly Armanino, emerged on top of the women’s ski division (84.67): besting Jenna Keller (82.00) and Lena Kohler (77.67) in that order.
THREE STRAIGHT WORLD CUP VICTORIES FOR MARIELLE THOMPSON
Marielle Thompson’s World Cup win streak has hit three for the fourth time in her career. The Whistlerite’s latest breakthrough in Val di Fassa, Italy moves her atop the season rankings with a 73rd medal (and 36th gold) in 147 appearances.
Likewise acquitting herself well was Courtney Hoffos, who grabbed bronze for her seventh medal and the first since an ACL tear wiped out her 2023-24 campaign. Marielle Berger Sabbatel finished between the Canadians for silver.
“Great racing today. It’s really exciting to have three wins in a row,” Thompson stated in a press release. “I just have to refocus heading into tomorrow as it’s a new race. I feel good on my skis and am prepared and confident for tomorrow. I just need to make a few little changes and figure out the start, but I’m happy with where I’m at and super stoked to be leading the World Cup again.”
Saturday marked the fourth of five women’s races this year in which Canadians have taken two or more podium positions.
“I was super excited to be on the podium, especially after a long season off and doing ACL rehab, so it feels like we’ve been trusting the process and I’m getting back up to speed,” said Hoffos in a release. “I didn’t have a great start to the day because in the training run, I hooked an edge in the start and did a penguin slide down the features, so I didn’t really get a chance to practice this morning. I had to just bring it all in the race.”
India Sherret placed fourth, but remains second in the overall with 645 points to Thompson’s 681. Hoffos occupies eighth with 291. n
AnamendmentoftheabovenotedLicensees’ForestStewardshipPlanisproposed. Testspa7is a First Nations-ownedcompanylocated withinthe Lower Lillooet River Valley, withinthe Sea toSky Natural ResourceDistrict ThisForestStewardship Plancoversthe Tuwasus Creek,Sloquet Creek, Douglas Creek,Gowan Creek, and Rogers Creek areas. Thepurposeofthisamendmentistoincludethefollowing:
• AnadditionofSkatinNationsintothe currentlyapprovedForestStewardship Plan asaLicensee.
As perSection 20ofthe ForestPlanning andPractices Regulation, notice isherebygiven to all Guide Outfitters, Trappers,Private Landowners, Water Users,OtherStakeholders, andtheGeneralPublictoreviewtheForestStewardshipPlansothatyourcomments andconcernscanbeaddressed.
NOTHING LIKE A FORMER-FRIEND-TURNED-BULLY TO GALVANIZE CANUCKS AT THE CASH REGISTER
YOU COULDN’T HAVE picked a better week than the lead-up to Valentine’s Day to galvanize a nation into falling in love with itself all over again. All it took was the latest disturbing gush of noise spewing out of the big bully south of the border, not least of which are tariffs real and threatened against our homegrown Canadian businesses and industries.
So it’s been kind of a self-reciprocating Valentine lately—with love from us, to us—
sent by Canadians from coast to coast to coast, including folks lucky enough to call Sea to Sky home.
“Buy Canadian!” proclaimed loud and clear is the new national anthem. And the “I am Canadian” Molson beer commercial featuring Jeff Douglas, a.k.a. Joe Canada, from 25 years ago is riding right on its coattails.
But the old anthem hasn’t been forgotten. It was touching—inspiring, even—to see Jimmy Pattison display an iconic Canadian forest scene with just two giant words: “O Canada!” on all his huge digital billboards outside BC Place days before the herostudded, star-studded Invictus Games Opening Ceremony.
And for all the Canadian participants, volunteers and spectators, five words in
Prince Harry’s opening remarks couldn’t have resonated more: “Show the world your fearlessness…”
Indeed. In light of all the nastiness and arrogance blasting out of the White House— and let me remind us all it was British troops, not Canadians, who burned it down in the War of 1812, despite the current occupant of same spreading lies to the contrary—seems we Canucks are honing our fearlessness into action. At least we are when it comes to the cash register and local businesses, especially the small ones.
According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 99.7 per cent of all employer businesses in Canada are small- to medium-sized enterprises, employing 500 or fewer people, and ones employing fewer than 100 folks make up the lion’s share of those.
It’s small businesses that benefit the most when we search out the red maple leaf and buy those “Product of Canada” or “Made in Canada” goods. It can be complicated (there’s help, below), but in a nutshell, if it’s labelled “Product of Canada” at least 98 per cent of the total direct costs of producing the item were incurred in Canada. “Made in Canada” means direct costs incurred in Canada—for ingredients, labour or whatever—are 51 to less than 98 per cent. Our intrepid public broadcaster, CBC, has a great explainer on all this.
Then there are all those helpful signs in stores springing up like new sprouts to guide us to all things local or Canadian-made. At Whistler, pretty much all the grocery stores have had signs along those lines, especially since COVID struck, but Don Gourlie at Creekside Market and the Fresh Street managers seem to be going the extra mile during Trump 2.0.
HOW TO SHOW YOUR TRUE CANADIAN LOVE
Some of us have been reading labels and going Canadian AMAP (as much as possible) for years. Some of us are just starting to dip our toes into those great northern patriotic waters. Either way, or somewhere in between, the push to support local businesses has never been greater, or the complications more challenging. Like Windset Farms, growers of great greenhouse produce that’s at least partially sustainable, is based in Delta, B.C., where it operates on 92 acres. They also partner with growers in Mexico and operate 168 acres in California, but at least they label accordingly.
To help us navigate these often-fraught waters, great not-for-profit resources like these have sprung up. Consider donating if you appreciate them:
• Made in CA: Detailed and well-organized, this is a super, comprehensive “Made in Canada” grocery guide—food, cleaning supplies, the works.
• Buy Canadian First: When he realized lists of “Buy Canadian” products weren’t always accurate, Vernon, B.C., resident Fred Nelson started this Facebook site so people can add their own examples. You’ll also find other cool posts, like the one calling for a Tesla boycott, and a link to Pete McMartin’s great Vancouver Sun column bidding America bye-bye.
• Buy Beaver (formerly Is It from Canada?): Check out this cool site started by two techies in Montreal just weeks ago. You can scan QR codes on labels with your phone and get way more detail, and check out products others have scanned and posted. Sea to Sky producers—post your products here!
• Open Food Facts: If you’re concerned, like some of us, that this all might be getting a tad jingoistic on our part, you’ll like this site, which inspired Buy Beaver. Made “by
everyone for everyone,” it aims to increase food transparency worldwide.
GO SEA TO SKY OR GO HOME
Besides supporting all the wonderful farmers from Pemberton to Squamish (some of their root veggies are available year-round), every time you buy local, you’re helping one more neighbour and adding one more stick to the White House fire. BTW, according to CBC News, we are making a (retail) difference! So let’s go, fearless local Canadian shoppers!
But first, a big Canadian “thank you!” to Cheeying Ho, Leslie Anthony, Stella Harvey, Clinton Small, Anita Webster and all the other intrepid Pique readers for your great ideas and tips. I’ll follow them up more in the future, but for now here’s a small taste of loyal Pique-ers’ favourites, all made or based in beautiful Whistler: Whistler Chocolate—for Valentine’s Day! Organic, fair trade.
Slopeside Coffee Roasting for great locally-roasted coffee.
Granola from Cranked Espresso Bar or Purebread Bakery (along with their wonderful baked goods)
Vessel Refillery, a locally-owned low/ little-waste company that stocks and delivers all-Canadian household cleaning and personal hygiene products.
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who looks forward to everyone being more neighbourly again. n
TRUE NORTH “Buy Canadian!” proclaimed loud and clear is the new national anthem.
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE
CLASSES –FAMILY DAY
Point Artist-Run Centre celebrates
10 years of Winter Carnival fun
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON FEB. 16 AND 17
BY DAVID SONG
THE POINT Artist-Run Centre (PARC) is about to reach a milestone: year 10 of its recurring Winter Carnival.
Scheduled during the B.C. Family Day long weekend, the 2025 Carnival promises to deliver its usual mix of hearty food, lively entertainment and kid-friendly outdoor activities.
Expect an opening act on Feb. 16 titled “Comedy & Winter Art Auction by Laugh Out Live!” Local favourites Ira Pettle and Rebecca Mason will present a brief comedic skit before hosting the art auction itself—a role they inherit from usual auctioneer Chris Quinlan, who’s unavailable this time around.
Headlining the dinner show is Petunia & The Vipers, a band known for its original, genre-spanning music: jazz, Western swing, punk, ragtime, Mexicana, French cabaret, Romanian, folk and six decades of country all in the same kaleidoscopic blender of sound. The group’s frontman does indeed go by the mononym “Petunia.”
“They sound like a really unique band … and I like their little tagline: ‘hillbillyflavoured, swing-inflected, ragtime good time,’” comments PARC director Stephen Vogler. “I think they’ll fit the bill well in getting people up on the dance floor, but also bringing a real variety of styles. Petunia sounds like a real vagabond and I know he surrounds himself with the best musicians on
depending on his location. The Vipers are based in Vancouver, like he is.
FREE FESTIVITIES
Don’t forget about a slate of family-oriented activities on Feb. 17.
The PARC will come alive with a colourful afternoon of free stuff like snow sculpting,
“[W]e really appreciate people making the effort to come over here and it’s well worth their while.”
- STEPHEN VOGLER
the West Coast, so it should be a great show.”
According to the Vipers’ website, Petunia is “a modern musical enigma” who has spent more than two decades playing at churches, dive bars, rundown theatres, street corners and hitchhiking junctions across Europe and both Americas. This restless spirit was nurtured during his youth in rural Quebec, a place full of pristine land and secret haunts.
Petunia also works as a theatre actor and writer, but when on stage he rotates through multiple sets of supporting performers
doughnut eating and guest appearances by costumed character Frosty and DJ Ira’s Dance Party. Greg Kelly returns to provide live campfire music with partner-in-crime Rachel Strobl in tow.
While conditions can always change, the recent cold snap bodes well for Alta Lake’s ice to stay firm. If so, expect classic Canadian pastimes like shinny, curling and ice dance to join the mix. Food and beverages are provided by Cypress Point Café and Harrop’s Bar.
“We’re going to amplify the outdoor
music this time because around-the-campfire acoustic is kind of tricky on a cool winter day,” Vogler explains. “The ice is looking solid. Angie Nolan has always run the ice dancing: you get groups of kids or families, they choose a tune they want, we play it and they do the moves that they just made up. More in the spirit of fun than true Olympic competition.”
Vogler wishes to thank presenting Carnival sponsors like Nesters Market, Pasta Lupino, Burnt Stew Consulting Services and the B.C. Arts Council along with other partners like the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), Steamworks Brewing, Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, the Whistler Wine Guy and Gibbons Whistler. He also expresses gratitude for locals who support the PARC year-in, year-out.
“We are over here on the other side of the lake. It’s a lot more difficult in the winter for people who don’t have a car [to reach the Point],” acknowledges Vogler. “We’re kind of lobbying to get transit back on the west side of Alta Lake … but we really appreciate people making the effort to come over here and it’s well worth their while.”
Doors open for Sunday’s dinner show at 6 p.m., with Petunia & The Vipers taking the stage by 8:15 p.m. Monday’s festival runs from noon until 4 p.m. Learn more about the 2025 PARC Winter Carnival at thepointartists.com/ events/9th-annual-winter-carnival-at-thepoint-ma3gp. n
WINTER WARRIORS Vancouver band Petunia & The Vipers take the stage at the Point on Feb. 16.
PHOTO BY FRANCIS A WILEY
Young Whistler ballerinas certified gold and silver by Royal Academy of Dance
LOCAL INSTRUCTOR JANE HERRLICH IS ‘INCREDIBLY PROUD’ OF ALL HER STUDENTS
BY DAVID SONG
A GROUP OF LOCAL BALLET dancers have earned some notable accolades.
Thirty students between the ages of five and 16 took part in last December’s Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams. Each and every one of them received gold or silverlevel awards.
These youngsters are: Nana Matsunaga, Moka Higashi, Olivia Boehmer, Sophie Parrett, Layla Perry, Zadie Oughtred, MeiLin Redenbach, Arielle Wollf, Dylan Ryan, Nilarose Mansouri, Stella Martin, Poppy McCaig, Lela Riddlington, Sakura Fukaya, Freyja Graebling, Oliva Rangel, Miyabi Ueno, Rae Blumes, Drew Blumes, Sophia Wallace, Lucy Wallace, Aislinn Richters, Sophia Emm, Ruby McCaig, Sarah Berka, Ella Scrase, Laura Hallisey, Maddy Tully, Camille Barth and Olivia Persson.
Most have been practicing under the tutelage of Jane Herrlich and her Dance with Jane outfit since 2019.
According to Herrlich, the RAD is one of the world’s most prestigious ballet organizations known for its structured training syllabus and internationally recognized testing. These exams assess a dancer’s technique, musicality, performing skills and overall artistry.
Earning a gold or silver award in these exams is a significant achievement, as it demonstrates a high level of proficiency and commitment to one’s craft. These accolades can open doors to further training, scholarships, and professional opportunities in the dance world, as well as extra credits for post-secondary education.
“I am incredibly proud of each individual student, not just for their achievements but for the dedication, passion, and perseverance they bring to every class,” Herrlich said.
AnExclusiv e
trade tastin g
“Seeing them grow in confidence, strength, and artistry is what makes teaching so rewarding.
“Thank you to the parents for giving them the opportunity to dance and all the practices at home. All their hard work truly inspires me, and I am so grateful to pass on my love of dance to them.”
Herrlich’s own passion for dance began at a young age, as is the case for her pupils. She grew up attending her mother’s dance school and was “surrounded by music and movement from the very start.” Upon graduating from high school, the Brit attended Preston Dance College in her home nation where she studied a variety of genres, including tap, modern and ballet.
She holds a Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies from the RAD in addition to her Tap and Modern Diploma with another noteworthy organization, the Imperial Society of Dance.
Next, Herrlich became a professional dancer who taught her craft overseas, an experience she greatly enjoyed. Whistler welcomed her approximately six years ago and she taught skiing, as many locals do, but dance remained her true love.
Herrlich founded Dance with Jane in September 2022, which she describes as “a space for children and adolescents to learn different dance styles, perform, and take part in examinations.” Her students range from three to 18 years old and normally train at the Maury Young Arts Centre.
“I am thrilled to share my love of dance with the next generation,” remarked Herrlich.
Some of Herrlich’s crew linked up with the Pemberton Dance Studio, Mountain Movement Dance Collective and Coastal City Ballet for a 2023 rendition of The Nutcracker in the Maury Young. Dance With Jane’s next production will run May 29 and 30: Alice in Wonderland. n
Purpose: OnJune11,2024,theResort MunicipalityofWhistler(RMOW)amendedZoningand ParkingBylaw No.303,2015(Bylaw303) to accommodate small-scalemulti-unithousingonparcelsof residentiallandwith restrictive zoning,as required by the LocalGovernmentAct.Theproposed bylawmakesfurtheramendments toBylaw303,whichare related,but go beyondthe scopeofthesmall-scalemulti-unithousingchanges.
Theproposed bylaw:
• addsanenforcementclause if owners fail to provide a statutorydeclaration required by Bylaw 303, •updatesemployeehousing covenant referencesinBylaw303 so thatallsuch referencesthatapply to additionalgross floorarea foranauxiliary residentialdwellingunit,orthesubdivisionofan auxiliary residentialdwellingunit,point to the same formofemployeehousing covenant,that was previouslyadded forsmall-scalemulti-unitdevelopments,and •allows anaccessory residentialdwellingunitin eachhalfofaduplex,intheRM70 zone.
SubjectLands:Theproposed bylawaffectsallparcelsin zoneswhich requirestatutorydeclarations to confirm compliancewitha zoning requirement,allparcelsintheRS1,RS2,RS3,RS-E2,RS-E5, RTA-C1andRI1 zones which require,orotherwise refer to,standardchargeterms foremployeehousingagreements,andone-half duplex zonedparcelsintheRM70 zone.
BylawReadings: Considerationofthefirst, second,andthird readingsoftheproposed bylawwillbe at the Regular CouncilMeetingon February25,2025.
Tolearnmore:A copy oftheproposed bylawandbackgrounddocumentationare available for reviewfrom February14 to February25,2025 at:
• MunicipalHall at 4325Blackcomb Way, Whistler,BC, during regularofficehoursof9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.,Monday to Friday(statutoryholidays excluded)
Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at
FAMILY DAY
FACE SHOTS AND SNOW JOBS
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, or as the Laugh Out Live! crew like to call it, Singles Awareness Day. The annual celebration of overpriced dinners, mediocre sex, and the desperate hope that roses will fix your relationship is upon us, and what better way to spend it then with some high-energy improv, side-splitting sketch, and uproarious stand-up comedy with a Valentine’s twist!
> Feb. 14 and 15, 8 p.m.
> Westin Resort & Spa
> Tickets start at $44
FAMILY DAY WEEKEND AT THE SLCC
Celebrate this Family Day weekend with engaging Indigenous experiences at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Explore Indigenous culture and heritage by experiencing the four exhibits with a guided tour, workshops and storytelling. Free admission for youth and kids (ages 0-18) when accompanied by a paying adult.
> Feb. 15 to 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
FAMILY DAY AT THE AUDAIN
Visit the Audain Art Museum with your family on Feb. 17 for a day of free admission (courtesy of Pique Newsmagazine and Glacier Media), scavenger hunts, activities, Raclette on the Porch, Director’s Vault tours, kids Art Workshops, and an après DJ Dance party in celebration of Family Day!
> Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
CHERYL MORNINGSTAR LOST LAKE LOPPET
Whistler Nordics is proud to present the 32nd annual Whistler Loppet, one of the longest running events in town. Join in with multiple course options including kids, recreational and competitive. Now renamed the Cheryl Morningstar Lost Lake Loppet, it starts and finishes at the Lost Lake PassivHaus and follows trails in Lost Lake Park.
> Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m.
> PassivHaus
BC FAMILY DAY KIDS APRÈS
Kids Après is back for the B.C. Family Day weekend! This is a great chance to bring the whole family by the Museum to learn something new about Whistler’s history, add your own colour to archival images, and take home a wintry craft! Entry to the Museum is by donation.
> Feb. 16 and 17, 2 to 5 p.m.
> Whistler Museum
BC FAMILY DAY SPECIAL
Enjoy 25 per cent off all ski and snowshoe tickets for B.C. Family Day! A family is like branches on a tree. We all grow in different directions, but our roots remain as one. Happy #BCFamilyDay from everyone at Whistler Olympic Park.
> Feb. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
> Whistler Olympic Park
From top: Dale Marie Campbell, Woman Who Brought the Salmon, 2021; Veronica Waechter, Reflections, 2019; Freda Diesing, Old Woman with Labret, 1973.
YOUR DAILY DOSE WHISTLER OF
Familiar faces
BY ALLYN PRINGLE
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON to head off on a trip and find yourself running into people you know from home, no matter how far you’ve gone or how small your community is.
In the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, this phenomenon was often reported on in the Whistler Question’s “Notes From All Over,” which listed the comings and goings of members of the Whistler community, from birthdays and gossip to sightings in other locales.
In the spring of 1984, Inge and Jens Nielsen headed off on a visit to Denmark and Germany. They came across a familiar name on their return trip when the flight crew was introduced; their flight from Frankfurt was captained by none other than Chuck Blaylock.
known for informal hockey games. He kept a light outside the house that could illuminate nighttime games and he would clean a good-sized rink, eventually even buying a snowblower.
With no hockey arena in Whistler until late 1992, Chuck was part of negotiations to have Whistler teams come down for games when the arena in Squamish opened in 1978 and helped found the Whistler Hockey Association with Bill Barrett, Tom Hickey and others. Whenever hockey was being organized in Whistler from that time on, Chuck was sure to be involved.
Chuck also instructed for Jim McConkey at the ski school on Whistler Mountain and became very involved in the small ski-area community. In an oral history interview in 2011, Chuck remembered that once they got telephones installed, it was not uncommon
He kept a light outside the house that could illuminate nighttime games and he would clean a good-sized rink...
A pilot for Air Canada, Chuck grew up in Montreal before moving out to British Columbia for two years in 1953. He never moved back, and his family instead settled in Vancouver. On a camping trip at Alice Lake in the 1960s, Chuck decided to drive further up the road and ended up at Green Lake. Growing up in Montreal and seeing lots of families head off to cabins in the Laurentiens, Chuck’s father had told him that if he found somewhere he could drive to in a few hours and be at a lake, he should build a cabin there. It happened that Capilano Highlands Ltd. was selling lots in Emerald Estates and the Blaylocks purchased one right on the lake.
Before working for Air Canada, Chuck had played Junior hockey, and even played internationally. The combination of a lakefront property and winters with three feet of ice on Green Lake meant Chuck, who remained an avid hockey player, became
for Emerald residents who were out of town to call their neighbours to check on their property. Neighbours let each other know where the key had been left out and Chuck would often go over to neighbours’ houses to check on their pipes and the snowload on the roof. As Whistler and its needs grew, Chuck became part of the Whistler Health Planning Society (renamed in 1985 to the Whistler Health Care Society) and volunteered his time for numerous organizations and projects.
Upon hearing Chuck was piloting their flight, Inge Nielsen sent a note up to the captain. In return, she, Jens, and their 12-year-old niece Iben who was coming to visit Whistler for three weeks were all invited up to tour the cockpit. Inge described it as “incredible to see the swoop of the horizon through the wrap-around windows” and the June 7, 1984 edition of the Question thanked Chuck for “safely spiriting them home.” n
SAFE FLIGHTS Chuck Blaylock.
WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1993
1
Resort Municipalityof Whistler Food Service Opportunitiesin Whistlerparks
Apply today to bepart ofthe Park Eatsprogram!
TheRMOWislooking for foodtrucks,pop-upsand deliveryservices to Whistler ’s parks forsummer2025.
Vendorapplicationsaredue by February 23,2025.
Formore informationandalink to theapplication, visitwhistler.ca/ParkEats
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 14 BY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Love requires stability and steadiness to thrive. But it also needs unpredictability and imaginativeness. The same with friendship. Without creative touches and departures from routine, even strong alliances can atrophy into mere sentiment and boring dutifulness. With this in mind, and in accordance with astrological omens, I offer quotes to inspire your quest to keep togetherness fertile and flourishing. 1. “Love has no rules except those we invent, moment by moment.” —Anaïs Nin. 2. “The essence of love is invention. Lovers should always dream and create their own world.” —Jorge Luis Borges. 3. “A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person, but never in quite the same way.” —Mignon McLaughlin.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In celebration of the Valentine season, I suggest you get blithely unshackled in your approach to love. Be loose, limber, and playful. To stimulate the romantic and intimate qualities I think you should emphasize, I offer you these quotes: 1. “Love is the endless apprenticeship of two souls daring to be both sanctuary and storm for one another.” —Rainer Maria Rilke 2. “Love is the revolution in which we dismantle the prisons of our fear, building a world where our truths can stand naked and unashamed.” —Audre Lorde. 3. “Love is the rebellion that tears down walls within and between us, making room for the unruly beauty of our shared becoming.” —Adrienne Rich.
ROB BREZSNY
I dare you to give the following words, composed by poet Pablo Neruda, to a person who will be receptive to them. “You are the keeper of my wildest storms, the green shoot splitting the stone of my silence. Your love wraps me in galaxies, crowns me with the salt of the sea, and fills my lungs with the language of the earth. You are the voice of the rivers, the crest of the waves, the pulse of the stars. With every word you speak, you unweave my solitude and knit me into eternity.”
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Among its potential gifts, astrology can raise our awareness of the cyclical nature of life. When used well, it helps us know when there are favourable times to enhance and upgrade specific areas of our lives. For example, in the coming weeks, you Scorpios could make progress on building a strong foundation for the future of love. You will rouse sweet fortune for yourself and those you care for if you infuse your best relationships with extra steadiness and stability.
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): To honour the rowdy Valentine spirit, I invite you to either use the following passage or compose one like it, then offer it to a willing recipient who would love to go deeper with you: “Be my thunderclap, my cascade of shooting stars. Be my echo across the valley, my rebel hymn, my riddle with no answer. Be my just-before-you-wake-up-dream. Be my tectonic shift. Be my black pearl, my vacation from gloom and doom, my forbidden dance. Be my river-song in F major, my wildeyed prophet, my moonlit debate, my infinite possibility. Be my trembling, blooming, spiralling, and soaring.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote, “The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all.” One of those strange jewels in you is emerging from its hiding place. Any day now, it will reveal at least some of its spectacular beauty—to be followed by more in the subsequent weeks. Are you ready to be surprised by your secret self? Are your beloved allies ready? A bloom this magnificent could require adjustments. You and yours may have to expand your horizons together.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 2025, the role that togetherness plays in your life will inspire you to achieve unexpected personal accomplishments. Companionship and alliances may even stir up destiny-changing developments. To get you primed, I offer these quotes: 1. “Love is a trick that nature plays on us to achieve the impossible.” —William Somerset Maugham. 2. “Love is the ultimate outlaw. It won’t adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is sign on as its accomplice.” —Tom Robbins. 3. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. Yet each day reveals new constellations in our shared sky.” —Emily Brontë.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Psychotherapist Robin Norwood wrote that some people, mostly women, give too much love and kindness. They neglect their own self-care as they attend generously to the needs of others. They may even provide nurturing and support to those who don’t appreciate it or return the favour. Author Anne Morrow Lindbergh expressed a different perspective. She wrote, “No one has ever loved anyone too much. We just haven’t learned yet how to love enough.” What’s your position on this issue, Virgo? It’s time for you to come to a new understanding of exactly how much giving is correct for you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you ready to express your affection with lush and lavish exuberance? I hope so. Now would be an excellent time, astrologically speaking.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I want you to be moved by intimacy and friendships that buoy your soul, inspire your expansive mind, and pique your sense of adventure. To boost the likelihood they will flow your way in abundance during the coming weeks, I offer you these quotes. 1. “Love is a madness so discreet that we carry its delicious wounds for a lifetime as if they were precious gems.” —Federico García Lorca. 2. “Love is not a vacation from life. It’s a parallel universe where everything ordinary becomes extraordinary.” —Anne Morrow Lindbergh. 3. “Where there is love there is life. And where there is life, there is mischief in the making.” —my Sagittarius friend Artemisia.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Every intimate alliance is unique, has its own rules, and shouldn’t be compared to any standard. This is a key theme for you to embrace right now. Below are helpful quotes. 1. “Each couple’s love story is a language only they can speak, with words only they can define.” —Federico Fellini. 2. “In every true marriage, each serves as guide and companion to the other toward a shared enlightenment that no one else could possibly share.” —Joseph Campbell. 3. “The beauty of marriage is not in its uniformity but in how each couple writes their own story, following no map but the one they draw together.” — Isabel Allende. 4. “Marriages are like fingerprints; each one is different, and each one is beautiful.” —Maggie Reyes.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Borrowing the words of Aquarian author Virginia Woolf, I’ve prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. “You are the tide that sweeps through the corridors of my mind, a wild rhythm that fills my empty spaces with the echo of eternity. You are the unspoken sentence in my every thought, the shadow and the light interwoven in the fabric of my being. You are the pulse of the universe pressing against my skin, the quiet chaos of love that refuses to be named. You are my uncharted shore.”
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Love and intimacy and togetherness are fun, yes. But they’re also hard work— especially if you want to make the fun last. This will be your specialty in the coming months. I’ve assembled four quotes to inspire you. 1. “The essence of marriage is not that it provides a happy ending, but that it provides a promising beginning—and then you keep beginning again, day after day.” —Gabriel García Márquez. 2. “The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. But those who follow the art of creating it day after day come closest to discovering it.” —Pearl Buck. 3. “Love is a continuous act of forgiveness.” —Maya Angelou. 4. “In the best of relationships, daily rebuilding is a mutual process. Each partner helps the other grow.” —Virginia Satir
Homework: What’s the most outrageously loving act you could engage in? FreeWillAstrology.com.
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates
weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com
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Cardinal Concrete, A Division of Lafarge Canada Inc is the leading supplier of ready-mix concrete in the Sea to Sky Corridor. We are currently seeking a career oriented individual to fill the role of Commercial Transport/Heavy Duty Mechanic at our Head Office Location in Squamish, BC.
This is a skilled position which primarily involves preventative maintenance and repair of a large fleet of commercial transport vehicles including concrete mixer trucks, dump trucks, trailers, forklifts and light-duty trucks.
Minimum Qualifications:
• B.C. Certificate of Qualification, and/or Interprovincial Ticket as a Commercial Transport Mechanic, and/or Heavy Duty Mechanic Ticket
• 3-5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Compensation $46.71 to $50.21
To view a full copy of this Job Description visit: www.cardinalconcrete.ca/about/careers
Apply to: info@cardinalconcrete.ca
Come build and grow with the best team.
Our team of people is what sets us apart from other builders. As we continue to grow as the leader in luxury projects in Whistler, our team needs to expand with us.
We are currently hiring:
Labourers ($20 - $30 hourly)
Carpenters Helpers/Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly)
Experienced Carpenters ($30 - $45 hourly)
Carpentry Foremen ($40 - $50 hourly)
Rates vary based on experience and qualifications. Red Seal is a bonus but not required. Crane Operator experience considered an asset.
EVR is committed to the long-term retention and skills development of our team. We are passionate about investing in our team’s future.
WE OFFER:
• Top Wages and a Positive Work Environment
• Flexible Schedule - Work Life Balance (We get it, we love to ski and bike too.)
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement (Need help getting your Red Seal?)
• Assistance with work visa and Permanent Residency (We can help!)
BENEFITS & PERKS:
• Annual Leisure & Tool Benefit – Use toward ski/bike pass, tool purchase, etc. – you choose!
• Extended Health and Dental Benefits for you and your family
We promote from within and are looking to strengthen our amazing team. Opportunities for advancement into management positions always exist for the right candidates. Don’t miss out on being able to build with the team that builds the most significant projects in Whistler. Send your resume to info@evrfinehomes.com We look forward to hearing from you!
Join our Growing Team!
We are hiring two positions: Executive Director (salary range - $135k-$150k) and Membership Coordinator (wage range - $30-$35 per hour)
The Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice (STSDFP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare and patient outcomes from Squamish to Whistler. By collaborating with physicians, nurse practitioners, health authorities, and other local stakeholders, STSDFP strives to ensure community members have access to high-quality primary care. We empower family physicians and nurse practitioners to have a greater influence in the healthcare system, promote a supportive and collaborative work environment for healthcare providers, and foster professional satisfaction.
Both the Executive Director and Membership Coordinator are full time positions and will require working remotely with access to a vehicle, a valid driver’s license and must reside within commuting distance to both Squamish and Whistler. The STSDFP offers competitive salaries along with a comprehensive benefits package.
Scan to learn more about these career opportunities
Position Overview: The Family Preservation Worker, part of the Child and Family Services team, implements culturally appropriate programs to support family development. They coordinate resources to enhance family collaboration and provide support services aimed at promoting children’s safety, reducing vulnerability, and assisting caregivers.
Qualifications:
• A Social Service Diploma/or equivalent in Social or Human Studies Discipline (or in process) or a combination of experience, education and training 3-5 years.
• Knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Services Act
• Experience working with vulnerable children, youth and families
• Experience and ability to work with family groups
• Demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity of First Nations Peoples
See full job posting on the careers page/website: sshs.ca/careers/
Knowledge & Abilities:
• Support Prevention and Early Intervention programs to minimize child care placements, emphasizing family preservation and reunification.
• Provide access to supportive services like parenting workshops, counseling, treatment options, and cultural healing activities for family well-being.
• Promote collaboration among family members, interim caregivers, MCFD, specialized services, and community resources for a cohesive support network.
Special:
• This position is requires travel to indigenous communities served by SSHS, accessed by Forest Service Road
• SSHS offers a competitive benefits and employment package to full time employees
Apply now by sending your resume and cover letter via email: julia.schneider@sshs.ca Looking for some extra cash?
Pique Newsmagazine requires a driver to take on our Whistler South and Upper Village routes. We would require the driver to be physically fit, have their own car, insurance and Worksafe BC coverage. Pique publishes every Friday and requires the newspaper to be delivered by Thursday evening or on Friday morning. If interested please contact Sarah at sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Child & Family Services
ÚlÍus Community Centre
• Social Worker ($80,371.20 - $91,673.40 per year)
• Transition House Support Worker ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Director of Human Resources ($93,475.20 to $101,556 per year)
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
Child & Family Services
• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
• Operation Manager ($59,878 to $73,564 per year)
• Program Manager ($57,330 to $64,610.00 per year)
• Receptionist ($31,122 to $38,038 per year)
• Operations Manager ($59,878.00 to $73,564.40 per year)Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
• Social Worker ($80,371.20 to $91,673.40 per year)
• Family Mentor ($38,038 to $53,599 per year) - Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
• Health Care Assistant ($38,038 to $53,599 per year)
• Early Childhood Educator ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Early Childhood Educator ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
Xet’òlacw Community School
Xet’òlacw Community School
• Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
• Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Camp Counsellor ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
Community Development
• Language Resource Worker or Language Teacher ($46,683 to $109,520 per year)
Please
• Cultural Camp Supervisor ($46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
Employee Health & Wellness Plan available
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR – Minimum 5 years or 5,000 hours operating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$42 per hour.
HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC - Commercial Truck & Transport, Transport Trailer, Class 1 or 3 air brakes preferred. 4x10 or 5x8 schedule. Red Seal certified receive $200/month tool allowance. $39.70- $47.90 per hour. 5% premium on hourly wage for Lead Hand position.
CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-the-job. Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required. Previous experience preferred but not required. Training provided. $25-$32 per hour.
Estimator Required
Location: Sea to Sky Corridor, British Columbia
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Compensation: $85,000 - $120,000 per year + Bonuses (based on experience)
Company vehicle and cell phone supplied
RRSP matching
Medical and dental
Position Overview:
We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Estimator to join our team at Alpine Paving. The Estimator will be responsible for estimating costs and preparing accurate bids for paving projects, as well as supporting the project management team throughout the project life cycle. The successful candidate will have a strong background in estimating, project costing, and an in-depth understanding of the paving industry.
If you are passionate about the paving industry and have a strong background in estimating, we’d love to hear from you!
Please submit your resume and cover letter to david@alpinepaving.com
Do something…
IT WASN’T a long weekend or a powder day, yet people heading south from Whistler Village on the second Sunday in January faced a wait of up to an hour just to get to the highway south of Function. This did not spark joy.
BY ANDREW MITCHELL
I was stuck in it, too, eventually giving up and trying the northbound to Alta Lake Road option to bypass the aggravating mess caused by the two-lane section of Creekside—only to eventually find myself in the longest wait to turn right on Highway 99 that I’ve ever seen. Vehicles were backed up almost to Cardiac Hill.
I do know better than to be caught out in our Sunday traffic, but in this case my daughter was participating in the high school ski races (who scheduled those for a Sunday?) and I needed to meet her afterward to pick up her skis before she bused down to the city where she goes to school. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, you can’t avoid being stuck in our worst traffic.
The problem is we tend to treat our traffic jams as anomalies, something that happens occasionally, rather than as a serious structural
problem that happens all the time—predictably, annoyingly, and with real-life consequences for locals and our guests. Imagine trying to get to the airport on time on a Sunday afternoon, not realizing you needed to give yourself eight hours instead of four.
It’s not just Sunday afternoons. Anytime it snows even a little bit, I can’t make a left turn out of Spring Creek unless someone in the solid and unbroken column of northbound vehicles actually stops to let me through at the exact same time when there is no southbound traffic—and there’s a lot of southbound traffic.
It’s nerve-racking because visibility is limited looking uphill and by the time you pull out to
weekend. We know residents in Brio, Nordic and Spring Creek can’t easily go left when there’s heavy traffic and can barely turn right sometimes. We know the second right-side passing lane that starts north of Creekside causes more traffic and mayhem than it alleviates. We know buses aren’t an option because they can’t get through the traffic either. We know 80 km/h is too fast for the curvy and hilly section of highway between Alta Lake Road and Function.
We’ve known all this for a long time now.
The question is whether anybody, anywhere, is doing anything about it. Is this miserable situation on anyone’s radar?
We all know there’s a problem. We know we get traffic on Fridays, on powder days and on Sunday afternoons—Monday if it’s a long weekend.
make a turn a vehicle going over 80 km/h can appear out of nowhere. I’ve had to pull into the yellow lines just south of the intersection to let speeding vehicles go by more than once.
I’m fortunate that I can bike and walk to work some days, but a car is often a requirement for my day job. Transit isn’t an option for me either, and buses get just as stuck in traffic as other vehicles.
We all know there’s a problem. We know we get traffic on Fridays, on powder days and on Sunday afternoons—Monday if it’s a long
Is the municipality asking the province for help?
Is the Ministry of Transportation finally willing to consider some changes to remedy the issue, whether it’s installing traffic circles and pull-out lanes for neighbourhoods, adding a third lane for buses, policing the lights during busy times to get more traffic through, or building overpasses for pedestrians so we/they don’t have to add to the traffic problems by pressing the walk button?
Is Vail Resorts doing anything to inform
skiers about the traffic waits and taking steps to stagger the exodus from the mountains—like extending the day with some night skiing?
By the way, the four-person carpool lots are great and Vail deserves credit for that idea. What other ideas do they have?
One immediate step I’d like to see would be for signs to be posted along the highway asking/ telling visitors to yield for local traffic. At least make people aware that people are trying to get to work, pick up kids and in general live their lives around their ski day.
Another is to add more affordable storage lockers around base areas so people can choose to bike or walk to the mountains, bypassing the highway completely.
Another is to get rid of the second southbound lane north of Creekside— splitting the traffic into two just creates longer delays bringing two lanes back to one a few hundred metres down the road. One southbound lane should turn left, another straight, one should be for express buses and buses only (enforced by camera), and one should turn right. After the intersection it would briefly be two lanes for people turning out from either side of the highway.
Going back to three lanes with an alternating middle lane, like we had for the Olympics, may not be viable when there’s snow on the ground but when the way is clear then why not have a middle lane for transit and buses?
I don’t really care what we do as long as we do something. This has been going on for far too long with too little action. Whistler’s wellbeing depends not only on getting people here, but also on ensuring they can leave. n
