How Alaska Native youth are protecting the land for future generations. - By Lyndsey Brollini and Meghan Sullivan / High Country News
06 OPENING REMARKS Whistler’s 2024-25 winter season was headed for a dismal snowfall total, writes editor Braden Dupuis—then an early-March snowstorm turned the tides.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers give the Resort Municipality of Whistler a failing grade on finances, and ask the question: is it OK to vote Conservative?
20 THE OUTSIDER Every season comes with highs and lows, good days and bad days, but one thing is constant to Vince Shuley: the mountain never gets old.
42 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST In which an anxious alert turns into a prescient realization for Lisa Richardson: sometimes a false alarm is a beautiful wake-up call.
12 REC RATES A change to Whistler’s mill rate will mean higher taxes for recreational properties—and an extra $1.2 million in tax revenue.
13
OFFICIAL
BUSINESS
Whistler is prepping an update to its Official Community Plan in response to changing provincial legislation.
26 STYLE POINTS Freestyle Whistler alum Aidan Mulvihill earned national slopestyle gold in Whistler on April 5.
30 VIEW TO A KILL Kieran Kershaw’s short film I Could Kill Them Sometimes wowed both judges and the audience at the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown on April 7.
COVER We would have a much more connected relationship with the world around us if our world didn’t revolve so much around winning. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG for March’s early offerings to melt away in the valley.
Less than four weeks after a truly epic lateseason deluge, the alliterative signs of spring are once again all around us in Whistler, whether that’s bikes on the Valley Trail, bears on the golf courses, or barbecues grilling up a storm in the neighbourhoods.
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
But March’s early bounty is still paying dividends up top. An April 7 article on theweathernetwork.com referred to it as a “300-cm miracle”: the storm that reversed spring-skiing fortunes for thousands.
“If you blinked, you might’ve missed it. What started as an unremarkable winter suddenly turned into a late-season surge. As of March 3, the resort had logged just 628 cm of snow—and skiers were quietly bracing for a forgettable finish,” wrote Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton.
“But the weather had other plans. Between March 3 and March 26, Whistler picked up a staggering 283 cm of snow, averaging more than 11.8 cm per day. By April 7, the total climbed to 936 cm, thanks to another 25 cm through early April.”
According to Hamilton, the sudden shift in snowy fortunes was the result of a favourable weather pattern.
A “stubborn trough” anchored over the Gulf of Alaska conspired with a deep supply of cold air and redirected the storm track straight onto B.C.’s South Coast.
“Instead of mild Pacific storms with high freezing levels, temperatures dropped just enough to keep snow levels low, especially in the alpine. High-moisture events suddenly became high-accumulation snowstorms,” Hamilton wrote.
According to the Weather Network, Whistler’s seasonal snowfall average from 1996 to 2025 hovered around 1,100 cm a year, with notable outlier years coming in ’98-’99 (~1,836 cm) ’09-’10 (~1,400 cm) and ’10-’11 (~1,600 cm).
And it’s still coming. As of this writing on the morning of April 9, Whistler Blackcomb is reporting 10 centimetres of fresh snow on the mountains, and the snow stake at Pig Alley on Whistler Mountain is covered in a fresh white blanket. But all indications are spring skiing conditions persist, so your mileage may vary.
There’s no telling what next winter will bring in terms of total snowfall in the valley, or the winter after that, but the long-term trends on local mountains are undeniable. The announcement in late March that Whistler Blackcomb will no longer permit summer ski camps on the Horstman Glacier is proof enough of that.
“It is the reality of the glacier. As much as
Smart said. “There’s no denying that.”
The news is no doubt devastating for Momentum Camps, and indeed the ski community as a whole, but Smart isn’t giving up hope, pledging to double down on improving Momentum’s winter programs while also aiming to bring back summer camps with a new permanent training facility.
Whether or not we realize it or notice it as it’s happening, it’s a fundamental trait of humans—when circumstances change, we adapt, and keep moving forward (once we move past the initial stages of grief, of course… but most of us have come to terms with our denial and anger at this point).
So the 628 cm logged in early March was “edging uncomfortably close to the lowest fullseason totals of the past 30 years,” Hamilton wrote. Those dismal lows include 635 cm in ’04-’05, 671 in ’14-’15 and 734 in ’00-’01.
But as luck would have it, the furious, 283cm flurry of early March boosted the resort to a respectable 936 cm—not good enough to land in the record books, but at least enough to keep it from notoriety.
we’d like to blame somebody else, we can’t,” Momentum Camps’ John Smart told Pique last month. “We had a devastating result last year. This year rolls around, it’s a La Niña year, we’re all excited and then [the snow] shuts off in January and February.”
The snow (or lack thereof) was such that Momentum could not conceive of being able to build what it had in previous years.
“So it is a function of climate change,”
In the big picture, winters in Whistler will look different going forward. That’s no secret. As individuals, we can’t fix or reverse climate change, force our governments to act (or go back in time to force them to act sooner). All we really have control over is how we respond to what’s in front of us.
And despair, however justified, is not a sustainable response.
So hope and adaptation it is. n
Luxurious, modern, and sophisticated property steps from the Creekside gondola and shops. This 2-bedroom allows for 12 weeks of owner use or rental income if desired, including 2 weeks at X-mas this year. After a day on the ski slopes, relax in the pool and hot tubs. Enjoy the ski season more and own in Whistler at a fraction of the cost!
Rare opportunity to own in the exclusive Four Seasons Private Residences. This luxurious 2 bed/3 bath 1760 sqft apartment patios. Enjoy amenities such as a ski concierge, valet shuttle, health club, outdoor pool & hot tubs. Perfect for full-time living or the ultimate Whistler getaway. Experience
Move-in-ready, renovated 2 bedroom/2 bathroom 800 sq feet investment home on a 6969 sq ft lot in Lillooet’s desirable VLS neighborhood. Stylish updates include stainless steel appliances, raised panel cabinets, new countertops, fresh flooring, paint, and modern lighting on upper level. The lower level features updated flooring, butcher block countertops, and cozy cedar accents. Shared laundry for convenience. A rare opportunity combining modern upgrades with strong investment potential!
Rare opportunity to own in the exclusive Four Seasons Private Residences. This luxurious 2 bed/3 bath 1760 sqft apartment
Ski-in/ski-out from this luxurious 391 square foot deluxe studio suite in the Westin Resort and Spa. Enjoy granite counter tops, heated
Heavenly Bed. Amenities include pool, two hot tubs, exercise facility and spa. Only a short walk to all that Whistler Village has to
Upgraded 1-bed townhome in Whistler Creekside. Prime location, 2-min walk to Creekside Gondola, shops, and restaurants. New windows provide plenty of light and southwest mountain views. Fully furnished, move-in ready. Unlimited owner use with the Phase 1 nightly rental zoning. Nearby Alpha Lake, Nita Lake. Perfect for all seasons. Call to view. No GST
Upgraded 1-bed townhome in Whistler Creekside. Prime location, 2-min walk to Creekside Gondola, shops, and restaurants. New windows provide plenty of light and southwest mountain views. Fully furnished, move-in ready. Unlimited owner use with the Phase 1 nightly rental zoning. Nearby Alpha Lake, Nita Lake. Perfect for all seasons. Call to view. No GST
Westin Heavenly Bed. Amenities include pool, two hot tubs, exercise facility and spa. Only a short walk to all that Whistler Village has to
Luxurious, modern, and sophisticated property steps from the Creekside gondola and shops. This 2-bedroom allows for 12 weeks of owner use or rental income if desired, including 2 weeks at X-mas this year. After a day on the ski slopes, relax in the pool and hot tubs. Enjoy the ski season more and own in Whistler at a fraction of the cost!
patios. Enjoy amenities such as a ski concierge, valet shuttle, health club, outdoor pool & hot tubs. Perfect for full-time living or the ultimate Whistler getaway. Experience
Reading last week’s feature story about Whistler council’s priorities ahead of the 2026 election (Pique, April 4, “Tips up”), I could not help but notice one key missing element. Fiscal financial management is non-existent. Runaway spending. Recent concerns expressed of future reduced income only add to the taxpayers’ burden. The past three years have seen tax increases of more than eight per cent per year and one would expect staff to be seeking another increase next year.
Despite numerous inquiries to senior staff members and persons on council about cutbacks and savings the standard answer is, “look how good we are doing.” Never an answer about any significant savings or cut backs. I’d expect the same answer from a drunken sailor. Yes, they are doing good at spending money.
I’m extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with council spending like a spoiled rich kid with their parents’ credit card.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler gets a failing grade in my books.
Paul Fournier // Whistler
Is it OK to vote Conservative?
There is a well-known political saying that goes something like, “If you’re not a Liberal at 25, you have no heart. If you are not a Conservative at 35, you have no brain.”
This is perhaps due to being idealistic and unburdened as a young person with no real stake in the system. Then, later in life as you gain experience and start to build a family and assets, your political and life perspectives might change with time.
Interestingly, I know many beautiful and
wonderful people in Whistler over the age of 35, with families and large assets that clearly buck this trend and despite their age and wealth continue to vote Liberal or left. Why might that be?
If older, wealthier Canadians can vote left, then surely younger and poorer Canadians can vote right… clearly not all stereotypes or preconceived notions hold true.
The belief that good, compassionate, caring people should vote left might require more independent thought and analysis by
those among us curious and brave enough to think outside the box.
Things change. It’s a natural process and there is nothing to fear if we are prepared for it mentally, and hopefully maintaining our neuroplasticity and/or holding on to our childlike sense of wonder and infinite possibility!
The challenges facing younger people in Canada today are unprecedented on many levels, but it’s important not to feel helpless and lost in these confusing times. You have your whole life ahead of you… be strong, bold, courageous and willing to blaze a new path forward open to change and ready for the adventure!
Many of us saw what “fear” did during the COVID-19 pandemic, many more were too afraid to notice… fear and hate are powerful and necessary emotions at times, but they should not be our guiding forces.
There is no need to fear voting Conservative in the upcoming election!
It will not make you a bad person, just ask my neighbours. :)
Cheers, and may there be better days ahead for us all!
I am shocked and disappointed at Vail Resorts’ increasing promotion of alcohol sales at Whistler Blackcomb’s on-mountain restaurants.
Backcountry Update
AS OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
It’s been a stormy second week of April in the Whistler area, with a dynamic mix of weather conditions. Spring mountain weather is famously fickle—one moment it’s dumping snow and the powder is incredible, and the next, the freezing level shoots up and turns snow to rain. The great powder turns to mush and then freezes into a nasty crust. Then, just as quickly, the sun breaks through and everything softens up again—sometimes all in the same day!
Spring is often seen as the ideal time to pursue bigger backcountry objectives—steep couloirs you’ve been eyeing all season, lofty alpine summits, and ambitious ski traverses. However, it’s also a time of rapidly-changing mountain conditions. Danger ratings can jump from low to high (and back again) within hours. While the persistent weak layers that dominated the forecast headlines in February and March seem to be settling, it’s not quite “open season” yet.
Careful planning and smart travel decisions are key. A common (and wise) spring
strategy is to start early, while the snowpack is still frozen, and time your descent for when the surface softens into perfect corn snow. Pay particular attention to cornices, which are massive right now and can break farther back than expected. They’re particularly prone to collapse during warm, sunny days or active storm cycles. You don’t want to be on them or below them.
The weekend may be a nice break from the spring storms. We’re expecting avalanche danger to range from low to moderate, but that could change. Staying informed is crucial. Before heading out, make sure to check the latest avalanche bulletin at avalanche.ca in the evening before you’re planning to head out, and then again the morning of. Track freezing levels, and keep tabs on sun exposure throughout the day. Continue to monitor how well any new snow is sticking to underlying crusts.
Timing is everything right now—whether that means setting an early alarm or waiting patiently for the right window. The good news? If you play it right, you’ll earn some of the best turns of the season. 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.
There are now numerous in-your-face displays promoting schnapps, beers, canned cocktails, and the like.
There is already a major problem with fast and often out-of-control skiers. Now Vail Resorts wants to add alcohol to the situation. Vail has always prioritized profits over customer service. Now it is prioritizing profits over customer safety. This is truly disgusting.
Manrico
Scremin // West Vancouver
In response to ‘a short review of Whistler Blackcomb’
As a 53-year-old man, increasingly at risk of becoming both grumpy and old, I find myself further and further from dancefloors, and probably from ever weekending in Ibiza.
Instead I wander into the peaceful mountains on two skis (mostly two) or two wheels looking for... well, looking for a good time!
DJ at the base, DJ at Glacier, DJ at Horstman Hut!
Thank you!
Give my life more bass, more of a beat, and remind me I’m not dead yet.
Put a DJ inside each gondola!
As for the previous complaint (see Pique, March 28, “A short review of Whistler Blackcomb); dude... think about where you live, what you drive, what you eat, what you wear, and who you complain to/about and consider that perhaps you are a most significant environmental disturbance in your world.
Much more so than a few hours of house music.
As for the rest of us, may our amps continue to go to 11 into that good night!
Dustan Woodhouse // Whistler
WWS Ski-a-Thon tops $28K
On behalf of our entire school community, I want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported our 4th Annual Ski-A-Thon, Whistler Waldorf School’s (WWS) high-altitude “pay-it-forward” fundraising event. It was an afternoon full of excitement as 89 participants across all grades completed a total of 519 T-bar laps, raising an impressive $28,319.
This event not only offers our students a fun, physical challenge but also provides them with the opportunity to learn the importance of giving back to their community. This year’s event was supported by the WWS Eco Team, who are excited to help fund local organizations committed to important environmental work including Whistler Naturalists, AWARE and POW Whistler. The funds will also allow the Eco Team to bring Lynn Martel, UN Year of the Glacier author-in-residence, to our community.
A huge thank you to the Whistler Blackcomb operational team and the Vail Epic Promise
grant for their generous support in making this event possible!
With sincere gratitude, Jen Dodds // Whistler Waldorf School
Whistler should increase tax for non-Canadians
Our federal government has tried to implement a foreign real estate buying tax, but this policy is not effective enough. An additional yearly municipal tax would have a more significant effect than that one-time tax.
With the new municipal tax increase, the municipality needs more revenue. For example, in the U.K., second homes are charged a higher rate of council (local government) tax. In some areas, particularly where there are many second holidays, there is 100 per cent more in annual property tax.
The end of our partnership with the U.S. presents an opportunity for Canadians to grow stronger and rethink our policy on U.S. citizens in Canada. At the same time, Canadian taxpayers are responsible for funding the public services that U.S. citizens use while living in Canada, all while competing in a free market that incentivizes American buyers.
Whistler’s housing market, which has
prioritized the highest bid, has transformed some neighbourhoods into empty streets filled with non-Canadian-owned houses. We chose to embrace American capitalism, resulting in an economy that doesn’t help our small businesses or support Canadians in raising their families.
As a Canadian citizen, I want to see municipal policies that prioritize our local economy. Over the years, I’ve observed that U.S. citizens and non-Canadians are moving to Canada, whether permanent residents or not, living here for entire seasons, and using our roads, infrastructure, and public services without contributing.
Let’s impose an additional 20 per cent on the yearly municipal property tax for all nonCanadian Whistlerites whose real estate is a secondary home to offset this “free ride.”
The Resort Municipality of Whistler can use this additional revenue to reinvest in our roads, schools, and health-care system.
We are responsible for thinking about the housing market for the next generation. With this additional 20-per-cent municipal property tax for non-Canadians, we can make a difference.
This tax would disincentivize Americans and non-Canadians from owning homes that Canadians could live in.
Our political position with foreign partners has changed, and now we must do what is best for our nation.
Mike Zane // Whistler n
Whistler council hikes recreational property tax in amended financial plan
SPLIT-VOTE DECISION EXPECTED TO GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $1.2M IN TAX REVENUE
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has approved updates to its Five-Year Financial Plan bylaw for 2025-2029, including a substantial increase to the mill rate for Class 8 (recreational) properties, following the rescinding and re-reading of the bylaw at the March 25 council meeting.
The most notable change was an amendment put forward by Councillor Ralph Forsyth to raise the recreational mill rate to 10 times the residential rate, rather than the staff-recommended 7.0 multiplier. The amendment passed with a 4 to 3 vote.
Councillors Forsyth, Jen Ford, Jessie Morden, and Arthur De Jong voted in favour of the amendment, while Couns. Cathy Jewett, Jeff Murl and Mayor Jack Crompton were opposed.
The increase will affect 12 taxable Class 8 properties. Previously, these properties paid a mill rate 6.1 times higher than the residential class. Staff’s rationale for the originally proposed increase is that the rate was significantly lower than what other municipalities charged to a large enterprise with an outsized role in the economy which consumes a large amount of local services.
The RMOW could not provide the exact properties affected by the change for privacy reasons, but Vail Resorts is the obvious main owner of properties that would be impacted.
Several other Class 8 properties aside from the 12 affected are non-profits, and therefore exempt.
After the meeting, staff told Pique the change will result in a year-over-year increase in municipal taxes between 78 and 105 per cent, based on property size, for affected
in tax revenue compared to the previously approved version of the financial plan. Of that, $300,000 will support payroll costs and $935,000 will go to the GCR.
During the presentation, RMOW chief financial officer Carlee Price explained the tax requisition adjustment is meant to account for NMC—employee housing developments as new properties added to the tax roll in 2024.
“This step of adjusting for prior-year, non-market change is a new one this year,”
“We have a revenue source that ... can make things more equitable for everyone in the community.”
- RALPH FORSYTH
properties. The funds will go primarily to the General Capital Reserve (GCR), which supports long-term infrastructure and community needs.
The Class 2 (utilities) mill rate was also increased, rising from $28 to $35 per $1,000 of assessed value. That increase aligns Whistler more closely with many other B.C. municipalities, most of which apply the provincial maximum to utility companies’ property.
Combined, the mill rate changes for Classes 2 and 8, along with an adjustment for non-market change (NMC) in 2024, are expected to generate an additional $1.2 million
said Price. “Because in the past, it has largely been unnecessary.”
Whistler’s actual 2024 tax revenues came in higher than budgeted. The updated 2025 tax requisition now incorporates the additional $309,000 in unanticipated revenue from NMC.
DIVIDED OVER MILL RATE
Council had a spirited debate about the balance between tax fairness and the potential financial impact on property owners in Class 8.
Forsyth, who introduced the amendment, said the increase was a way to distribute
municipal costs more equitably.
“We have a revenue source that … can make things more equitable for everyone in the community,” he said.
Others expressed concern about the impact of such a large increase. Murl supported the original staff recommendation, calling it a more measured approach.
“We’ll be tackling this issue in future budgets. I think maybe a gradual increase, as [staff] proposed, makes more sense,” Murl said. “I’m not saying never. I’m saying just maybe not this time.”
The revised financial plan also includes six projects that were missed, unfinished, or recently came into view in the budget process—three funded by provincial Resort Municipality Initiative grants and three through the General Operating Fund. Another sub-project proposed in the amendment was a new short-term rental enforcement initiative tied to a federal grant application. If approved, Whistler would receive $540,000 over three years from the Government of Canada’s Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund to support staffing, legal costs, and compliance efforts.
The amended 2025 budget maintains the previously announced 8.25-per-cent tax increase for residential, industrial, and business properties (Classes 1, 5, and 6), which together represent 99.5 per cent of the community’s assessed property value.
The amended Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw was given third reading following the vote on the mill rate amendment, and was subsequently adopted at the April 8 meeting. n
Whistler moves ahead with Official Community Plan update to align with B.C. housing legislation
MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL ENDORSES 2025 PLAN
REVIEW TO MEET NEW HOUSING MANDATES AND UPDATE REGIONAL ALIGNMENT
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE RESORT Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is moving ahead with a focused update to its Official Community Plan (OCP), aiming to comply with new provincial housing legislation while aligning with revised regional planning documents and correcting “housekeeping” issues from the 2020 update.
At its April 8 meeting, council endorsed the project scope and its associated public engagement strategy. The work must be completed by the end of this year to meet provincial deadlines. In late 2023, the Province of British Columbia introduced new legislation to increase housing supply, requiring municipalities to update their zoning bylaws and community plans accordingly.
Whistler has already taken several steps to comply. In June 2024, council adopted a bylaw allowing three to four units on some residential lots to support infill housing. It also designated the Whistler Gondola Exchange as a Transit-Oriented Development Area, enabling increased building heights and densities within 200 to 400 metres of the gondola station. In December 2024, the municipality received an Interim Housing Needs Report, which identified a requirement for 1,572 new housing units over the next five years and 5,639 units over the next 20 years.
The next step is to update the OCP to reflect these new policies and to ensure it supports the housing targets, including those for affordable rentals, family housing, seniors’ housing, and homes near transit. The plan must also accommodate the kinds of development enabled by recent zoning changes.
NickDavies, Whistlerlocal andexperiencedfamilylawyer practisingacrossBCandYukon. Callat 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca
In addition to provincial compliance, the update will amend Whistler’s Regional Context Statement to reflect recent changes to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy, which was revised in January. That document includes stronger climate action and housing affordability policies that now need to be reflected in Whistler’s own OCP. The municipality will also include minor “housekeeping” amendments, including small text or mapping fixes staff have tracked since the last update in 2020.
The update will take place in four phases over the course of 2025. The first phase, which runs from January through April, focuses on background work and the launch of a dedicated website. The second phase, from April to September, will involve drafting policies and gathering input through online engagement, a community workshop, and outreach to housing and service organizations. From September to October, the third phase will see the plan refined and prepared as a bylaw for council. The final phase, from October to December, will include a public hearing and council’s adoption of the final version.
Community organizations including the Whistler Housing Authority, Zero Ceiling, and Whistler Blackcomb will be invited to participate in workshops. Broader public engagement will occur online and will be promoted during the RMOW’s “Add Your Voice” event in June. Early consultation with the Líl’wat and Squamish Nations is also planned, consistent with the RMOW’s framework agreement with the two Nations. School Districts 48 and 93 will
MARKRIDDLE
{ Aug.25,1966- Mar. 8,2025}
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MAKE IT OFFICIAL Whistler council listens to a presentation by planner Joanna Rees at the April 8 council meeting at the Maury Young Arts Centre.
PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD
Recapping week two on the federal campaign trail
TAKING STOCK OF ALL THE ELECTORAL ACTION IN WEST VAN-SUNSHINE COAST-SEA TO SKY
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
CANADA’S 45TH FEDERAL election is in full swing, and candidates in the Sea to Sky had their first face-to-face confrontations at all-candidates meetings on the Sunshine Coast and in Squamish this week.
Here are just a few notes from week two on the campaign trail, presented in no particular order of importance. Be sure to follow the candidates on social media, or stay tuned to their websites for all the latest announcements—and check back next week for another weekly roundup of all the latest rumblings from the campaign trail.
• After making tracks up and down the Sunshine Coast last week, including a campaign headquarters launch event in Sechelt on March 22, Conservative candidate Keith Roy landed in Squamish April 3 for an evening of doorknocking. “It is awesome—people are so excited about getting Canadian resources out to market,” Roy said in an April 3 Facebook video. “People have realized that our best way to fight against Donald Trump is to get Canadian resources to market, create an energy corridor in Canada, pre-approved pipelines, pre-approved projects, so that we can start moving our country forward, restore the promise that Canada used to offer, and put Canada first for a change.”
• In a video posted to social media April 2, the NDP’s Jäger Rosenberg made an appeal to voters to resist the “myth” of strategic voting. “If you think by voting against your own interest, by voting Liberal, you are somehow stopping the Conservatives and Pierre Poilievre from
forming government, you’re not. Here in B.C., we don’t decide who the winner of the election is. That’s decided in Ontario and Quebec. But we do decide whether it’s a majority or a minority government.” The young candidate then highlighted recent NDP wins in Canada’s
“People have realized that our best way to fight against Donald Trump is to get Canadian resources to market...”
- KEITH ROY
OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN FROM PAGE 13
also be consulted. The Whistler Centre for Sustainability has been contracted to support communications and engagement under the direction of municipal staff.
Mayor Jack Crompton raised a concern about the necessity of holding a public hearing when the province has already mandated certain zoning changes. “What will happen if the community tells us they do not support the OCP changes as directed?” he asked. In response, planner Joanna Rees said
the municipality will have to get specific with its engagement.
“I think when we’re going out for engagement, it’s going to be central that there’s clear communication on which aspects of the amendments are required and which aspects can be tailored to meet the Whistler context,” she said. “So we’ll really be looking to be focusing on the engagement on those aspects that can be tailored to Whistler.”
minority Parliament like dental care, pharmacare and anti-scab legislation. “We will fight for you and hold the government to account,” he said.
• The People’s Party’s Peyman Askari remained active on X this week, posting a series of panel discussions with fellow PPC candidates touching on everything from truth and reconciliation and climate change to racism and immigration. “Calling all freedom groups: If you want change, you have to get in the game. Reach out to the candidates, vet them, and endorse the one who aligns most with your values,” Askari wrote on X on April 5. “You may find politicians revolting—but disengaging guarantees your loss.”
SEE
Councillor Arthur De Jong raised concerns about the carrying capacity for what he described as a potential doubling of Whistler’s population. Coun. Jen Ford countered, arguing that Whistler’s property owners aren’t likely to all create fourplexes on their single-family-home lots.
A broader, comprehensive review of the OCP, which will examine Whistler’s longterm growth and development, is anticipated within the next three to five years. n
• The Green Party’s Lauren Greenlaw had another busy week, making stops in Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish. “I passionately believe that shopping local is a win-win for everyone. It’s so important to support our local farmers right now, and it’s better for the environment and helps to create a more resilient local economy,” Greenlaw posted on social media after an April 4 stop in Pemberton.
“Harvest Boxes are just one example of the ways that you can support local in WV-SSC-SC!”
The Green candidate is hosting an event with former BC Green Party leader Adrianne Carr on Sunday, April 13 at the Brackendale Art Gallery.
• Liberal incumbent Patrick Weiler also kept up the pace in week two, visiting communities throughout the riding and engaging with voters.
5. “But more than anything, I’m hearing stories about people and communities coming together to stand up for Canada in this challenging moment. I’m ready to stand up and I know if we stand together we can come out of this stronger than ever.” Weiler was also advertising a “special event” with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Richmond on April 7.
• Whistlerite Gordon Jeffrey will once again be on the ballot, representing the Rhino Party. Check back with Pique next week for a profile on Jeffrey and his campaign.
• As mentioned, the candidates have ample opportunities to get familiar with each other, with all-candidates events scheduled for April 7 in Gibsons, April 8 in Squamish, April 9 in Roberts Creek, April 14 in Sechelt, April 15 in West Vancouver, and April 22 in Whistler.
“Building a stronger economy, investing in our communities and housing, protecting our natural environment and supporting the CBC come up every day in these conversations,” he said in a video posted to social media on April
• Candidates were confirmed April 9, after Pique’s weekly deadline. Advance polling takes place across the country from April 18 to 21. Election day is Monday, April 28.
Stay up to date with all the latest election news at piquenewsmagazine.com/2025canada-votes. n << FROM PAGE 14
Whistler Community Foundation announces $239K in spring funding
MORE THAN THREE DOZEN PROJECTS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL, ARTS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES GROUPS WILL BENEFIT
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
MORE THAN THREE DOZEN projects spearheaded by non-profits in the Sea to Sky are getting a boost this spring thanks to the Whistler Community Foundation (WCF).
The WCF announced $239,000 in grant funding for non-profits on April 3.
The largest grants will go towards environmental initiatives in Whistler (more than $70,000 will support the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment) and in Pemberton ($35,450 for the Stewardship Pemberton Society). Arts-focused groups like Arts Whistler ($2,000), the Whistler Writing Society ($3,500) and the Point Artist-Run Centre ($2,200) are also set to benefit, as
are social services ($3,000 for the Whistler Community Services Society).
Find a full list of recipients at whistlerfoundation.com.
The WCF was able to add $356,000 to its endowment funds last year thanks to increased contributions from the community, according to a release.
“In 2024, we surpassed $5 million in grants. And we are committed to resourcing care for both people and planet for the longterm through the endowment model,” said WCF CEO Claire Mozes in the release. “We encourage folks who are in a stable position to support local charities, either through endowment or direct.”
Applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants, which provide up to $500 for projects that connect people, are set to open May 1. n
IN THE RUNNING Conservative candidate Keith Roy pictured with supporters on the campaign trail.
FACEBOOK PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH ROY
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation fuels Whistler’s firefighters
THE FOUNDATION DONATED $700,000 FOR NEW FIRE TRUCK WITH A TENFOLD INCREASE IN WATER-PUMPING CAPACITY
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE WHISTLER FIRE Rescue Service (WFRS) is preparing to roll out a new addition to its emergency fleet—a wildland fire truck that boosts water-pumping power tenfold— thanks to a $700,000 donation from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.
The custom-built vehicle, manufactured by Safetek Profire in Abbotsford, replaces an aging truck at the end of its service life and is expected to be operational by June.
Fire Chief Thomas Doherty said the vehicle upgrade directly supports the fire department’s wildfire and emergency response capabilities.
“The addition of this new wildland fire truck significantly improves our ability to respond to fire and motor vehicle incidents in the community,” Doherty said in a release. “Upgrading our fleet was identified as a core need through the development of last year’s Community Wildfire Defence Plan, so we are extremely grateful to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation for this timely support.”
residents of the Sea to Sky,” said Whistler Blackcomb Foundation executive director Mei Madden in the release. “I can think of few greater benefits than knowing our hardworking firefighters and first responders are equipped with the best tools to keep our community safe.”
Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton noted the donation comes at a critical time.
“Whether it’s Fort McMurray, Lytton, Jasper or the recent Los Angeles wildfires, we’ve all seen the devastating impact wildfire can have on a community,” he said in the release. “This donation could not have come at a better time, as our summers grow hotter and drier.”
The new truck supports the goals of Whistler’s Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan and its more recent implementation strategy, the Community Wildfire Defence Plan, which outline proactive measures in training, emergency planning and policy development.
The wildland unit is one of three new vehicles WFRS plans to add this year. A rescue pumper is expected to arrive by the end of May, followed by another in September.
The new truck is compact enough to reach off-road wildfire zones and increases waterpumping capacity from 50 to 500 gallons. The unit can also respond to vehicle collisions and other emergencies.
regions like Whistler, the vehicle is a strategic investment in the community’s resilience.
As wildfire risk continues to escalate across B.C., particularly in forest-bound
“Our mission as a foundation is to help non-profit organizations that benefit
Since 1992, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants to Sea to Sky non-profits and community-serving organizations. n
RMOW advances major zoning changes for Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2
BY LIZ MCDONALD
AT ITS APRIL 8 MEETING, Whistler’s mayor and council approved the first three readings on a major zoning amendment for Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2 that will pave the way for significantly more employee housing at 1600 Mount Fee Road (Lot 3). The changes will allow for the construction of a five-storey apartment building and 20 three-bedroom townhomes, totalling 125 new employee-restricted units.
The proposed bylaw replaces existing zoning regulations for Lots 3, 4, and 6 to allow for higher-density development, better reflect actual parcel configurations, and update permitted uses.
WHAT’S PROPOSED FOR LOT 3?
Lot 3 is currently zoned for townhouses, with a three-storey height limit and floor space capped at 4,300 square metres. Under the new bylaw, it would be rezoned to allow both apartments and townhouses, increasing the allowable building height to five storeys and floor space to 8,900 square metres. The site would host 105 apartment units (14 studios with 10 accessible, 75 one-bedrooms, and 16
two-bedrooms with three accessible units); 20 townhouses in four two-storey blocks; and a shared underground parkade with 145 resident parking stalls, plus 15 visitor spots at grade.
The design steps down to three storeys at the southern end of the apartment building to better align with the neighbouring Lot 4 duplexes and single-family homes. All units include private storage and balconies, with accessible units receiving additional features like storage lockers near elevators.
WHY THE CHANGE?
The zoning update aligns with Whistler’s 20232026 Strategic Plan to complete Phase 2 by 2026 and with goals outlined in the Official Community Plan (OCP) to expand employee housing. Council previously endorsed the Lot 3 Project Plan in February, including its financing and rental framework.
Increasing the building area and reducing parking requirements are also meant to improve financial viability, making the housing more affordable. To balance the increased density, floor space at Lot 6 will be reduced accordingly, maintaining the overall density for the neighbourhood.
To date, there is no development plan for Lot 6.
Councillor Cathy Jewett inquired what the impact on Lot 6 would be given the workaround removed density, and if it would impact the potential for multi-unit buildings.
Staff did not have a definitive answer during the meeting.
LOT 4 UPDATES AND ARDU CHANGES
The bylaw also adjusts the zoning for Lot 4, where some homes are one-half duplexes rather than full duplexes. New provisions would allow Accessory Residential Dwelling Units (ARDUs) in one-half duplexes; require the ARDUs be residential rental-only, with a minimum of one parking space per unit; formalize setbacks and use designations for each of the 23 strata lots on Lot 4
The changes mirror updates already adopted in Whistler’s RM70 Zone and go beyond current provincial requirements for small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH).
CONDITIONS REQUIRED
Before final adoption, the developer— Whistler 2020 Development Corp.—must register a covenant in favour of the RMOW, create a parking management plan, register a
housing agreement for employee occupancy and rental rates, and wrap up a park development in Phase 2 before occupants get keys. Staff also proposed green building requirements which build on standards established in a 2021 covenant and include restrictions on natural gas use.
Some public concern was raised in February by one letter writer who owns property in the area about the changes to the scale of the development and the decision not to hold a public hearing. However, the Local Government Act allows municipalities to skip a hearing when proposed zoning changes are consistent with an existing OCP and primarily residential in nature.
Design changes were made following feedback from the Advisory Design Panel, including relocating visitor parking to enhance privacy and widening pedestrian pathways for accessibility.
Another positive potential from increased density was raised by Coun. Arthur De Jong, who asked whether there may soon be a grocery store in the south end of town.
“I do think we are probably getting close to some critical mass in the south of town that might support additional services,” said GM of climate action, planning and development services Dale Mikkelsen. n
FIRE-PROOF The custom-built vehicle, manufactured by Safetek Profire in Abbotsford, replaces an aging truck at the end of its service life and is expected to be operational by June. The unit may differ from the one pictured. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAFETEK PROFIRE
Whistler council flushes ahead with wastewater treatment revamp
AGING TANKS TO BE OVERHAULED BY 2026 TO PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
BY LIZ MCDONALD
FINGER BAFFLES, scum tower and influent are just of a few of the technical terms used to describe incoming replacements to Whistler’s wastewater treatment plant.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was enlightened March 25 by Chelsey Roberts, manager of infrastructure projects, who presented a contract recommendation to council. The contract, ultimately supported by council, was for $1,044,290 (sans GST) to CHB Services Ltd., which came in with an estimate 22 per cent below engineers’ estimated budget.
The plant will get upgrades to two sedimentation tanks and two sedimentation/ equalization (EQ) tanks which keep the pipes flowing in Whistler. In a presentation to council, Roberts explained how the tanks work, why replacements to the aging infrastructure matter, and in general, “de-baffled” the mystery of dealing with Whistler’s dung.
The tanks have seen some minor parts replaced since 2021, and the next phase of upgrades includes replacing the finger baffle,
skimming trough, motors and gearboxes in primary sedimentation tanks (PST) 1 and 2; and replacing the longitudinal collector system, cross-collector system, skimming trough, motors and gearboxes in PST/
equalization tank (EQ) 3 and 4. PST 1 and 2 require concrete restoration and concrete inspections are slated for PST/EQ 3 and 4.
“The equipment being replaced has exceeded its useful life, leading to
deterioration and potential failure,” Roberts said. “A failure of this critical equipment would disrupt operation, affecting the plant efficiency and reliability. If the equipment becomes inoperable, it could compromise the wastewater treatment process, posing a risk to the environment.”
PST 1 and 2 were built in 1986, and PST/EQ 3 and 4 in 1998.
Staff recommended awarding to contract to CHB Services Ltd., whose bid was well below the next compliant bidder, Drake Excavating ($1.73 million; 29 per cent above estimates).
Councillor Ralph Forsyth was assured that despite the low-priced bid, staff check that submissions are compliant with the necessary job requirements.
Coun. Cathy Jewett asked whether there is any concern about capacity of the facility, to which Roberts replied a capacity review is slated for later this year.
Work is scheduled over two years to ensure the facility can still withstand Whistler’s waste during high tides.
The first phase is expected to start in May, with PST 1 and 2 getting glammed by November 2025, and the rest of the job wiped up by November 2026. n
REFINED WASTE Whistler’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cheakamus Crossing.
FILE PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS
Inside the Pemberton Valley Trails Working Group
THE VALLEY’S PREMIER RECREATION ORGANIZATIONS SHARE HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT ROGUE TRAIL-BUILDING AND PROTECT SENSITIVE NATURAL AREAS
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TOURISTS COME from all over the world to run and ride on Pemberton’s extensive network of trails. Now, the groups behind those trails are sharing their process with the Valley’s residents.
During its first-ever public information project on April 3, the Pemberton Valley Trails Working Group (PVTWG) gave locals a peek behind the curtain at the work that goes into building up and maintaining local trails.
The massive group is comprised of representatives from Recreation Sites and Trails BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), the Village of Pemberton (VOP), Lil’wat Nation Title and Rights, Pemberton Valley Trails Association, Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association, Pemberton Wildlife Association, Stewardship Pemberton Society, and Spel’kúmtn Community Forest.
“Anyone who isn’t here tonight is probably a rogue trail-builder,” said the Lil’wat’s Xzúmalus Roxanne Joe, to laughter from the audience.
The PVTWG is responsible for the 2020 Pemberton Valley Trails Master Plan, which sets out a vision for the development of the area’s trails. The creation of that plan, the result of a collaboration between the wide
range of stakeholders listed above, marked the start of closer collaboration between the area’s key recreation groups.
In addition to building up the Valley’s network of trails, the Working Group exists to reduce the cultural and environmental damages done by constructing rogue trails.
UNSANCTIONED TRAILS ON UNCEDED TERRITORY
Pique sat down to chat with Xzúmalus after the PVTWG event. She’s been on the Working Group since 2021, when her boss recognized Xzúmalus’
where we are today,” said Xzúmalus.
“It’s not that long ago, our community members could go up on the McKenzie and go hunting and fishing and gathering and just walk around with their rifles on their back. Now, they can bump into a visitor mountain biking and get into this uncomfortable situation because the mountain biker thinks that this person shouldn’t be here with a gun.”
Xzúmalus said damage isn’t restricted to just trail-builders, but anyone who disrupts the earth without consent and without the proper due diligence.
“There could be potential damage to
“It’s hard to reprimand someone just doing something that they love.”
-
mountain-biking bonafides.
With its nearly 800,000 hectares of unceded traditional territory, the Lil’wat Nation has a vested interest in minimizing future unauthorized incursions onto its land. Sometimes, that takes the form of unsanctioned, or rogue, trail-building.
Rogue development in the Valley is nothing new for the Nation; the issue dates back well before mountain bikers were tearing up the slopes.
“It’s been an ongoing concern for Lil’wat since the arrivals of settlers in our territory, [and] more recently, with the recreation industry making its way north of Whistler to
cultural and archeological [and] harvesting sites, and those who take it upon themselves to alter the earth without consent and consultation with the Nation [in which] they are recreating,” she said.
People who build unsanctioned trails aren’t trying to do damage deliberately, Xzúmalus said; even children within the Nation will occasionally go out onto the land and build their own jumps and trails.
To reduce that damage, the Lil’wat Title and Rights department (recently rebranded from Lands and Resources, to reflect the high-level politics that the department is regularly tasked with) has worked to increase
knowledge among visitors, like a 2023 signage campaign reminding recreationists about the hunting and gathering in shared areas.
Xzúmalus said those knowledge campaigns, along with the trails master plan, have contributed to a decline in rogue trail-building. Making the process clearer and providing new trails a path to legitimacy has helped.
“It’s hard to reprimand someone just doing something that they love,” said Xzúmalus. “And we don’t want to police people. So it’s just about education and working together.”
MESSING WITH MOSS AND MOTHS
Veronica Woodruff was quick to remind attendees of the Pemberton Valley’s unique environment.
“We’re right at this cusp between the Coastal and the Interior forest,” Woodruff told the audience. “Also, we’ve got the low elevation up until up into the alpine tundra. So when you have overlap, that is where all the species live.”
Woodruff represents the Pemberton Wildlife Association (PWA) in the Trails Group. She noted Whistler’s annual BioBlitz, which has slowly moved up the Sea to Sky, has clocked nearly 2,000 distinct species in Pemberton—including more than 49 types of bees, 188 types of moss and, unfortunately, 22 types of mosquitoes.
Because all those distinct species exist in the same spaces as the Valley’s network of trails, Woodruff said deliberate trail
XZUMALUS ROXANNE JOE
Last all-Indigenous fire unit featured in Knowledge Network documentary
‘WE’RE NOT
JUST WORKING IN A FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY, WE’RE WORKING IN A FIRST NATIONS PROVINCE’
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
MATT NELSON knew he wanted to fight fires since he was in Grade 7. His teacher, now-Lil’wat Nation’s Chief Dean Nelson, was a firefighter before moving to teach at the Xet’ólacw Community School in Mount Currie.
“He planted that seed,” Nelson remembers.
Now, Nelson features in Wildfire, a fivepart documentary series from Knowledge Network set to premiere on April 29. The series’ final episode interviews him for his work as part of the last remaining allIndigenous fire crew in B.C.—the Salish Fire Unit, based in Lil’wat Nation.
In 1988, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) started to partner with Indigenous communities around the province to build up local fire-fighting capacity and create employment opportunities. The Salish Unit in Mount Currie, founded in 1989, was one of the earliest crews.
The Salish Unit manages the PembertonSquamish Zone—stretching from D’Arcy all the way down to Horseshoe Bay. They also belong to the Coastal Fire Centre, a massive area that includes Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, all the way inland to Hope. During particularly devastating fire seasons, they can also become a provincial resource, deployed as far as Kamloops and Burns Lake.
At their peak, there were 25 Indigenous Unit Crews operating throughout the province’s six fire centres. A short essay published in 2021 on the BCWS website recounted the benefits of the partnership.
“The program has benefitted the crews and individuals who comprise them, providing them with steady seasonal employment, instilling pride in Indigenous communities,
allowing for shared resources and developing relationships between government and community,” it reads. “Indigenous members have made up some of the most well-respected and knowledgeable crews in the province.”
But today, the Salish Unit is the only remaining Indigenous crew within the BCWS.
Nelson worked for six years with the Salish Unit. He now works on building capacity as a wildfire specialist with the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C.
He told Pique the decline in Indigenous fire crews is the result of recruitment struggles. Physically demanding tests, time spent away from families and communities and the cost of requisite training equipment can be barriers to gaining the new members needed to maintain status as a fire crew.
That loss of Indigenous fire crews has important ramifications for fire-fighting in the province.
“We’re not just working in a First Nations
PEMBERTON VALLEY TRAILS FROM PAGE 18
placement and adequate water management are key—particularly with atmospheric rivers set to increase in a changing climate.
“I think that this has to be really, really well thought out, because what happens when you don’t build great drainage, you get this big storm and then you get water in hibernacula, that’s where the snakes and reptiles are sleeping,” she said.
Xzúmalus expressed a similar concern.
“There’s a lot of these trails that are game trails, or they used to be hunting trails, or someone’s mushroom trail that maybe a recreator just started to build on top of,” she said.
Woodruff told the audience the environmental effects of a trail can often extend well beyond what one might think.
Case in point, a zig-zagging climbing trail doesn’t just affect the space where the trail is cut into the mountain, but all the space between cutbacks. What might seem like a straightforward cris-crossing line is actually a massive tract, potentially upending a delicate ecosystem.
“So even though you’re on this trail that zig-zags back and forth, your effects are
actually this huge area in between,” said Woodruff. “When you put a slight buffer on that trail, it’s three times the area that you are going to be impacting.”
As a solution, she suggested strategic widening of trails; some parts of a trail, particularly berms on a tight corner, see much more traffic than the other side.
“The area of travels are changing over time, but we continue to maintain the whole width. Let’s stop doing that,” she told the audience. “The trail experience is better when the trail is more narrow, anyways.”
THE PROPER CHANNELS
The Working Group revolves around the pursuit of Section 57 exemptions. Under Section 57 of the Forest and Range Practices Act, any group that wishes to perform “construction, rehabilitation or maintenance of a trail or recreation facility on public land” needs to get the go-ahead from the provincial government.
For the PVTA’s Luke De Jager, that means re-orienting “keen young guys who want to
he noted. “BCWS could get you back into the forest. I think it’s so important for First Nations to be in the forest and part of the team.”
Nelson hopes the documentary raises awareness of the importance and engaging nature of the work. He remembers the job as being a north star for him when he was young.
“I’m hoping to pull a lot of our young Indigenous people, pull them into the crew so that way we could teach them structure and have a goal to push for,” he told Pique.
“It could help the community create healthier youth and give us direction, because it gave me a lot of direction. I’m hoping I could give other people direction.”
Crews number about 21 to 22 members. Nelson said while the goal is always to reduce turnover, it’s likely they have two to three openings a year. Nelson encourages young members of the Nation to get involved.
community, we’re working in a First Nations province,” said Nelson.
“For First Nations to be a part of our service is so important because we’re bringing awareness of cultural sites,” he added. “And BCWS in the last few years has done a really good job at recognizing these sites, but it’s also important that we be a part of that.”
Nelson said he wants to see Indigenous fire units’ membership start growing again.
In addition to effective fire-fighting with an eye to sites of cultural importance, fire crews play an important role in the community. When the fire season isn’t as active, the unit isn’t at rest. Nelson noted they’re often out working on building firefighting capacity, spreading knowledge, trail-building and working with communities.
He also said there’s a healing component to working as a firefighter.
“I think the other big, important piece is First Nations are going through a rough time,”
build their own trails” to either maintain or build proper, authorized sustainable trails. It also means building with an eye towards protecting the cultural values of the Lil’wat Nation and environmental values that make the Valley so special.
The PVTA evaluates potential new trails internally. Should they wish to proceed, that trail will then be presented to the PVTWG for everyone to look over and cross-check.
Then that will be reported to the Lil’wat Land Use referral committee for any recommendations they might have—which will likely include an archeological study and an environmental study by an ecologist, followed by an assessment of the levels of support from landowners and local development.
Once the Lil’wat Nation, the SLRD, VOP, developers and other stakeholders have been consulted, the PVTA will send off a Section 57 application package to Recreation Sites and Trails BC.
Once a trail has been approved, officials from the provincial government will perform a walk-through—after which construction can begin. Another walk-through will be done
Through interviews with the Salish Unit and crews across the province, the documentary follows the “strength and resilience of those affected by the devastation” of wildfires, and communities’ resilience in the aftermath of those devastating events. Interviews were conducted during the devastating 2023 wildfire season—Nelson’s last year with the unit—which saw more than 2.84 million hectares burned in B.C.
“As wildfires grow more intense, understanding how they’re fought and managed is crucial,” said Knowledge Network CEO Michelle van Beusekom in a statement. “We hope the series deepens appreciation for the incredible work being done by wildland firefighters and sparks a broader conversation about how we adapt to the evolving wildfire landscape.”
Wildfire premieres on Tuesday, April 29, with new episodes dropping weekly. The Knowledge Network released a trailer for the series on its website. n
after construction is completed.
“Once all that goes through, the PVTA has the responsibility to build [and] maintain trails going forward in collaboration with those other parties,” said De Jager.
The PVTA obtained a Section 57 exemption in November 2024, for the Tour de Soo 1, 2 and 3, Dogwood Ridge and Umik trails.
Xzúmalus said while rogue trails damage relationships, the consultation standards set out by the Working Group and provincial law are contributing to better relationships between all parties. But she also noted a one-size-fits-all approach to Indigenous consultation on recreation might not be appropriate.
“I love to remind people that something that’s acceptable in one Nation may not be acceptable in another Nation. We have different lines and resources, we have different values,” she said.
“It’s always good to just establish a connection and get to know each other.”
The Trails Working Group wrapped the evening’s workshop with a screening of the documentary Dirt Relations. n
INTO THE WILD Wildfire features the story of Matt Nelson, a former member of the Salish Fire Crew. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
The mountain never gets old
JUST LIKE the superstition of never calling last run, I tend to avoid proclaiming the end of winter skiing. I’ve skied too many pow days in May to make that blunder. But with spring rain abound, melt-freeze cycles in effect and T-shirts and shorts popping up around
BY VINCE SHULEY
the valley whenever the sun shows up for 10 minutes, I’m resigned that any powder from here on in will be an unexpected bonus.
We’re in the midst of another World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF), and while I feel this event has struggled for relevance in recent years, I have to hand it to the Gibbons team. They’ve not only kept the WSSF alive (through the pandemic years and everything), they’ve managed to sprinkle it with some fresh ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed the Coffee + Creatives talks earlier in the week, learning from the media professionals who succeeded in their own Whistler-grown careers. Back again for 2025 are the more familiar jibbing competitions, film and photo showdown and nightclub parties at Gibbons venues. On the hill, the spectacle that is the Saudan Couloir
Ski Race Extreme takes place today (April 11), a true heritage event you need to see for yourself. Less competitive but likely to draw a bigger party crowd is the Slush Cup on Sunday, April 13, definitely one for the younger Whistler.
Riding the Glacier Express chair in the sun the other day on my way to another round of slushy Spanky’s laps got me thinking that some things on the mountain never get old. The terrain has changed with the glacial ice melting and sinking, but uploading for afternoon Blackcomb laps is something I’ll never tire of. It’s just too damn fun.
But over the years here, some things did start to get old. Here are a few of my opinions on what’s still great on our beloved local mountain, and what could be better.
NEVER GETS OLD: BLASTING GROOMERS AT HIGH SPEED
Is there a truer representation of alpine skiing? Powder gets the hype, but at a busy resort, powder can also feel scarce. And what does Whistler Blackcomb have a lot of? Groomed runs with just enough steep incline to lay those edges over and haul ass out of that turn.
DID GET OLD: SKIING OUT OF CONTROL
I love skiing fast, but I also know when to pull it back. Whether you’re dropping into the Saddle or West Cirque, it’s on you to make sure you can shut it down quickly if an intermediate skier happens to wander into your path.
NEVER GETS OLD: JUMPS AND SIDE HITS
Catching air time is one of the best feelings in skiing. Nailing your pop for a second or two of floating through the air, then touching down smooth? Hard to beat that, pow or no pow. Big drops aren’t on my menu as much as they once were, but if you ski away from launching a 20-footer, you’re having a good day on skis.
DID GET OLD: TERRAIN PARK
I know what the freestyle kids would say to this. “The terrain park didn’t get old, Vince. YOU got old.” Fair enough. While I enjoyed my moments in the park in my 20s (it felt great stomping a 540 and skiing out switch), it only took a few falls in my 30s to put my park days behind me.
NEVER GETS OLD: SUNNY POW DAYS ON PEAK CHAIR
I’m a Blackcomb skier to the core, but when you have a clear day and fresh snow on Whistler Peak, you don’t want to be anywhere else. The Peak zone has changed dramatically over the last few years with most entrances to Whistler Bowl either inaccessible or a gong show of skiers falling over the moguls, and each other. But it’s still some of the best skiing in the world.
DID GET OLD: PEAK CHAIR LINEUPS ON SUNNY POW DAYS
The best days skiing the Peak aren’t with the
deepest pow, they’re those sleeper hits when the forecast was off and no one was expecting it to be that good. The Peak lineups on sunny pow days have gotten to the point where even I’ve questioned whether it’s worth the wait. Of course, I’ll feel differently after my run. But if the line starts to creep up to the T-bar, it’s time to ski something else.
NEVER GETS OLD: BLACKCOMB STORM DAYS
I was at a birthday party last week where a ski patroller was proudly sporting a T-shirt that read: “Blackcomb Ski Patrol - Opening the Alpine First Since 1980.” In addition to the hard work those patrollers do every pow day, the lift system and terrain just work so much better for gradually opening up more of the mountain and keeping skiers skiing.
DID GET OLD: BLACKCOMB’S BIFURCATED ALPINE
The demise of the Horstman T-bar years ago meant you had to traverse all the way to 7th Heaven in order to access the dozens of ski lines into Jersey Cream Bowl. Chainsaw Ridge is one of my favourite spots to ski on either mountain, but alas, the crowds chasing the sun over to 7th means it’s rarely worth the time investment. Thankfully, more Spanky’s laps helps fill the void.
Vince Shuley will never tire of skiing Whistler Blackcomb. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince. shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
FOREVER YOUNG Some things get old. The mountain does not.
PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY
BC NDP urges Poilievre to do his LNG homework next time
BY ROB SHAW
THE B.C. GOVERNMENT is dismissing a new promise by federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to fast-track Phase 2 of the enormous LNG Canada project near Kitimat, saying it’s nothing more than election rhetoric.
Energy Minister Adrian Dix said Ottawa has no role left in approving Phase 2 of LNG Canada, because the project received joint federal and provincial environmental permits in 2015.
“The decision as to whether LNG Canada proceeds with the second phase is largely a decision from them,” he said of the company. “That’s a sort of a budgetary investment decision for them.”
Poilievre toured the $40 billion export terminal on Monday, which is 95 per cent complete and will export 14 million tonnes of natural gas overseas. He said doubling capacity with a second phase is critical to Canada’s economy, could create hundreds of new jobs, produce new revenue, and benefit the economy at a time of trade uncertainty with the United States.
Poilievre said he would not subject Phase 2 to the federal Liberal government’s oil and gas emissions cap, which could block the project if it proceeds with cheaper but higheremission natural-gas powered turbines instead of electricity.
“The project will not go ahead if it cannot run on natural gas,” Poilievre said. “It won’t happen. So when the Liberals say that they’re
new projects,” he said.
Nor is LNG Canada required to use electricity in Phase 2, because its permits already cite natural gas turbines.
“The project is already permitted and it’s permitted as a gas-fired project,” said Dix. “So he’s factually incorrect.”
A briefing note for the energy minister in 2023 confirmed “LNG Canada has all the necessary permits they need to build Phase 2” and that “these permits allow for use of gasfired turbines to power two additional trains at the site in Kitimat.”
Provincial officials were hopeful LNG Canada was considering a phased electrification approach for Phase 2, as well as retrofitting Phase 1 and some compressor stations with electricity, but those talks were preliminary, according to the briefing note.
“Our proposed Phase 2 expansion is permitted for gas-powered turbines and could proceed as such, in the event our five joint venture participants (JVPs) reach a positive final investment decision for Phase 2,” LNG Canada vice-president Teresa Waddington said in a statement Monday.
“The focus for LNG Canada and our JVPs is finding a pathway to a final investment decision that takes into account overall competitiveness, affordability, pace, future GHG emissions and stakeholder needs.
“We don’t rule out the possibility of replacing Phase 2 gas turbines with electric drive turbines at some point, but a number of developments need to take place, including an expansion of the province’s hydroelectric grid capacity, before a timeline is contemplated.”
“[H]opefully he reads a little more so he’s a little better informed.”
- ADRIAN DIX
going to ban LNG Canada from using gas to power the plant, what they’re saying is the plant will not be allowed to happen.”
He said the cap on emissions for the oil and gas sector “makes it impossible” to proceed with Phase 2, as does the industrial carbon tax.
“If you want energy independence, if you want these monstrous, big, beautiful projects to go ahead, you are going to need a change in government,” said Poilievre.
The B.C. government also has a requirement for major projects to be net-zero on emissions by 2030, but relaxed that rule last week for projects where it’s not possible to connect to enough electricity capacity. The province is currently planning a $3-billion expansion to the northwest transmission line to help connect projects like LNG Canada and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Dix said LNG Canada’s Phase 2 would not have to meet provincial net-zero requirements because its permits were approved as part of a joint federal-provincial process prior to the rule.
“That requirement was put in place for
2025COMMUNITYENRICHMENTPROGRAM
The Community EnrichmentProgram(CEP)providesfunding to not-for-profitorganizationsor societies that Council considers to be contributing to the general interestand advantage of Whistler community.The categoriesincludeEnvironment,Social Services, Community Services, RecreationandSportorArtsandCulture.
TheRMOW awarded$174,504 throughtheCEP to the followingorganizations:
AxemenRugby Club
Poilievre on Monday also proposed a joint “one-stop shop” for permitting from all levels of government, including First Nations, with a cap on approval times of within a year.
B.C. has also been moving towards a “single window” for permitting in housing, transmission lines, wind and solar projects. Premier David Eby has also promised to bring in new benchmarks for mining permits. In some major projects, the federal and provincial environmental assessments are already combined.
“We’re moving and changing to a onewindow approach on transmission projects on all renewable energy projects,” said Dix.
“So I’m glad that Mr. Poilievre has read what we’re doing in British Columbia, and hopefully he reads a little more so he’s a little better informed.”
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. n
,400WhistlerMatureAction Community$3,500
Association$4,000 Myrtle Philip CommunitySchool PAC$560WhistlerMulticultural Society$10,000 PearlSpace SupportServicesSociety$24,000WhistlerNaturalists
Sea to Sky CommunityServicesSociety$5,000WhistlerNordicsSkiClub
Sea to SkyNordics
TheCrisisInterventionandSuicide
$6,500
$4,000
$4,000Whistler PembertonNewcomerServices$1,500
Young with heart
AHow Alaska Native youth are protecting the land for future generations
By Lyndsey Brollini and Meghan Sullivan / High Country News
Alaska Native youth are living through a pivotal time,
bearing witness to the dramatic impacts of climate change that have occurred during their lifetimes: rapidly melting permafrost, warming oceans and declining salmon runs. Subsistence living, which is critical to Alaska Native culture and rural food security, has suffered in turn, whet er it involves Iñupiaq whale hunts, Gwich’in caribou harvest or Tlingit salmon fishing. The threat to a shared way of life is uniting many Indigenous people across the state, calling them to protect Alaska Native homelands and cultural continuity.
In light of this, many Alaska Native youth are dedicating their careers to protecting the environment and bringing Indigenous knowledge into mainstream spaces, including environmental science, policy work, increased tribal co-management and conservation initiatives. High Country News talked to four young Alaska Native women from different parts of the state who are working in climate advocacy, from community organizing to fishery sciences.
Jazmyn Lee Vent
Siqiniq Jazmyn Lee Vent (Koyukon Athabascan and Iñupiaq) has attended Ambler Road meetings for half her life. Vent, who is 24, went to her first meeting at 12 years old. At that time, the Ambler Road project—which would build a 340-kilometre-long highway to a mining project through sensitive habitat—was in the beginning stages, and different road maps were still being considered.
“I remember that, in our hall, a bunch of our elders (were) sitting in the meeting, and even though they might have not known exactly what was going on in those early stages of the proposed development, they knew that it was really important to show up and speak out against it,” Vent said. “So I really try to carry that with me.”
Vent co-founded No Ambler Road in 2023 to amplify the voices that oppose the proposed road, which could harm caribou migration patterns and habitat along with salmon spawning streams. For Vent and many others working on No Ambler Road, the project is much too risky, given that caribou populations are declining in Alaska and across the Arctic, and people can’t fish in the Yukon River.
Projects like these are often at the whims of the current administration. Last year, the Biden administration rejected the Ambler Road project, citing the harmful impacts it could have on the environment. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers never fully revoked the project’s permit, and Alaska’s congressional delegation and Gov. Michael Dunleavy support building the road, while President Donald Trump has long been enthusiastic about resource extraction in Alaska.
Vent wants the federal government to uphold the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and its obligation to sustain subsistence hunting and fishing. Most of all, though, Vent wants Alaska Native people to be centred in these decisions and for companies, politicians and governments to leave their homeland alone.
“People might think this is crazy,” Vent said, “but I really envision a future where Alaska Native people have title to our land and are able to engage in these decision-making processes that directly impact our livelihoods.”
Sophie Swope
Anaan’arar Sophie Swope (Yup’ik) founded the Mother Kuskokwim non-profit three years ago at 24 in her hometown of Bethel, Alaska.
Previously, she was the self-governance director for Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council, which was in
consultation with federal agencies about the Donlin Gold Mine project. If built, it would be one of the largest open-pit gold mines in the world—and it would be located dangerously close to salmon spawning tributaries in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta).
“I noticed the energy was low,” Swope said. “I kind of stood up and was like, ‘Hey guys, this stuff is really important, and we have to really fight to take care of all of our natural resources. Because it’s all that we have, and it creates who we are.’”
It was a key experience that inspired her to found Mother Kuskokwim. Swope now works full-time on fighting the Donlin Gold Mine, a project that is supported by her own Native corporation, Calista Corporation, despite its potential impact on salmon populations.
She helped organize a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, arguing that its environmental impact statement was insufficient—a lawsuit the group recently won.
If chemicals from the mine get into rivers and food, it would be devastating for people in the Y-K Delta, who already suffer from extremely low salmon runs. And Swope doesn’t want future generations to have to worry about toxicity in their food or having a large tailings dam nearby.
“One day, I will have children, and hopefully I’ll have grandchildren, too,” Swope said. “I want them to have the same access to these resources that our DNA was literally created to thrive off of.”
Her elders taught her how to find her own voice. Now she wants younger generations to realize that they can and should use their voices when their way of life is threatened—and that they, too, have an obligation to take care of this place for future generations.
“Our time here on this Earth is very short,” Swope said. “We were gifted all of the things that we have by our ancestors, and we’re only borrowing this space on Earth from the future generations.”
Malia Towne
Malia Towne, who is Haida and Tlingit, grew up subsistence fishing every summer on her family’s traditional lands near Ketchikan, Alaska. As the years went by, they watched as the salmon population that their community had relied on for centuries began to fluctuate and decline. “It made me realize that something needed to be done,” said Towne.
Towne’s Tlingit values drove her to work in fishing sustainability.
“Everything is circular within traditional values,” she said. “What I do today affects tomorrow. It’s the whole reason I got into this work, because I want to be able to continue practicing what my ancestors practiced and want future generations to be able to do the same.”
Now a senior at Northern Arizona University, Towne, who is 20, studies environmental science, hoping to help ensure healthy fishing populations within Alaska. Last summer, she worked at the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, a non-profit that promotes sustainable fishing practices and flourishing coastal communities. Her goal is to protect subsistence salmon harvesting and create more access for subsistence fishers, many of whom are Alaska Native.
“My mom says it’s genetic,” joked Towne. Her grandfather worked in fishing sustainability, and her sister does as well. “It’s in our blood.”
Towne aims to create policies that prevent environmental damage from happening in the first place, as opposed to laws that merely slap Band-Aids on serious injuries that have already occurred. These policies would incorporate an Indigenous approach to conservation, protecting the environment while still allowing for sustainable harvesting and resource use.
Towne cited the recent movement to list the king salmon as endangered. “It’s something that needs to be protected, but you shouldn’t cut off all access, because that hurts more people,” she said. “It’s incredibly detrimental to subsistence fishers.”
“
“Our relationship to the land, it’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. When I think about the future, I cannot—I will not—live in a future that does not have that, or where I’m not able to provide that for my family.” Mackenzie Englishoe
”
After graduating, Towne plans to return to Alaska and continue working on fishing sustainability, ideally in tribal co-management. She hopes the policies she works on today will help salmon populations thrive for generations to come.
“What we do now is important, whether or not it’s recognized or appreciated today,” she said. “It will be appreciated eventually. Eventually, we’ll be thankful for it.”
Mackenzie Englishoe
Mackenzie Englishoe’s great-grandparents taught her to live off the land, using Gwichya Gwich’in knowledge that had been passed down for centuries. Englishoe’s greatgrandparents, who experienced the dramatic changes caused by colonization, dedicated their lives to ensuring that her generation would be able to continue living the Gwich’in way of life.
“Our relationship to the land, it’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual,” said Englishoe, who was raised between the remote Chandalar Lake in the Brooks Range, and Gwichyaa Zhee (Fort Yukon), a village of roughly 500 people on the Yukon River. “When I think about the future, I cannot—I will not—live in a future that does not have that, or where I’m not able to provide that for my family.”
Englishoe, 21, is living during another time of change.
Using the traditional knowledge her great-grandparents taught her, she works on climate-crisis issues that impact villages in Interior Alaska: fostering healthy caribou and moose populations, protecting Indigenous land rights and water and improving wildfire management. She’s been particularly involved in efforts to combat king salmon’s decline in the Yukon River, advocating for closing salmon fishing in Area M near the Aleutian Islands and ending bottom trawling.
“Seeing the king salmon decline over time has really broken me,” she said. “And then seeing people who do not have this connection to the salmon, people who are not from these lands, making decisions about it, and a lack of action from them … It’s just broken me.”
Last March, Englishoe was elected the emerging leaders chair for the Tanana Chiefs Conference, representing 42 Alaska Native communities in the Interior Region through her role as youth advisor. She wants young Alaska Natives to know that they’re capable of making change and that they deserve to have a seat at the table.
“Indigenous people, we do this work out of a place of love. For our community, for future generations, but also for people who are not Native,” she said. Everything is connected, she explained, from the salmon to the bears to entire food systems beyond Alaska. “So we’re trying to protect everybody, out of love.”
This article appeared in the April 2025 print edition of High Country News
Find the original story online at hcn.org/issues/ how-alaska-native-youth-are-protecting-the-land-for-theirfuture-ancestors/#. n
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP CENTRE: Malia Towne, Mackenzie Englishoe, Sophie Swope and Jazmyn Lee Vent. Mer Young/High Country News
ScantheQR code formore informationor to register yourgroup: CelebrateEarth Weekandhelp keep Whistlerbeautiful. Volunteeron Saturday, April26, to helpcleanup your favourite parks,trails, lakeshores,andneighbourhoods.
Enjoya volunteerappreciationBBQ at theVillage FireHall fromnoon to 2p.m.
ScantheQRcodetoregister
Aidan Mulvihill earns national slopestyle title in Whistler, Maya Mikkelsen second in moguls event
OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE ELLIOT VAILLANCOURT, AYDEN FRASER
BY DAVID SONG
SEA TO SKY TALENTS were wellrepresented at Day 1 of the 2025 Canadian Freestyle Championships on April 5, but none soared higher than Aidan Mulvihill.
The Freestyle Whistler alum took care of business at Highest Level Park on Blackcomb Mountain to grab gold. Avery Macyk did enough for silver and Henri Joyal went home with bronze.
“I’m hyped. I’m super stoked on how the comp went,” Mulvihill said. “The whole event was set up really well. Kind of felt like I had a bullseye on my back, especially being the only national team athlete doing slopestyle, so I had to really put it down. I wanted to set the standard high for the team, and was able to do that. It means a lot that I was able to do it in my hometown and become national champion.”
Unlike most other events, Freestyle Nationals puts every athlete into the same division: which meant young teens got to drop
in against those with World Cup experience. Mulvihill shouted out Jude Oliver, a 15-yearold local who finished fourth, by calling Oliver “unreal” and admitting he’ll be a little nervous for himself once Oliver gets older.
Sina Clegg, meanwhile, topped the podium in ladies’ moguls at the Gemini Freestyle Centre. Not far behind was runnerup Maya Mikkelsen, and Florence Laroche pulled up third.
second in Canada. I did it last year, so I’m happy to do it again this year.”
RESULTS ROUNDUP
Perhaps the most seasoned of the Canadian victors this time around was men’s moguls king Elliot Vaillancourt. The Drummondville, Que. native fended off worthy efforts by Charles Beaulieu (second) and Mavrick Sauve
“I’m hyped. I’m super stoked on how the comp went.”
- AIDAN MULVIHILL
“Honestly, I think it was more about having fun and the performance came second,” remarked Clegg. “It was super nice to be with everyone in Canada. I want to just carry momentum from this competition [forward]. All the girls were firing, all of us were pushing each other, so I hope to keep that going into spring camp and training.”
Added Whistler’s Mikkelsen, who is getting ready for her inaugural World Cup tour next season: “I’m super happy to be
(third) to secure first place.
Although he’s earned two World Cup silvers from the 2023-24 campaign, Vaillancourt has been trying to rediscover his touch as of late.
“I wasn’t supposed to initially come here, being part of the [Canadian] World Championships group, but I wanted to come and try to grab another title here and that’s what I did,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with the overall result after a tough season. It
was a challenging qualification…with those icy conditions, it was very easy to make an extremely expensive mistake. Once we showed back up for finals, [we could] turn on the gas, take more risk and the consequences were less, so I feel like all the guys just went and tried to put on the biggest show possible.
“Coming into this season, my mindset was affected by last year. I had very good results, so I was kind of taken away from the process and more oriented towards the results. Everything shifted in my mind, which it shouldn’t have, because the way I got there [to World Cup podiums] is the way I should have kept on going. This year forced me to take a step back and come back to why I enjoy skiing over just trying to get a good result.”
Last but not least, Ayden Fraser prevailed in women’s slopestyle ahead of silver medallist Analise Perry and bronze medallist Zoe Greze Kozuki.
Fraser appears to be trending in the right direction after recovering from a significant knee injury that laid her low in early 2024.
“I was very happy with how I did,” said Fraser. “Even got to do a trick [on Saturday] that I haven’t done in over a year: a right cork seven, which was something I last did the day I tore my ACL. Did it in my second finals run, and I just … felt so good to accomplish that, let alone the results that came with it.”
Find full results at fis-ski.com. n
SKI FREE An athlete takes flight at the 2025 Canadian Freestyle Championships in Whistler.
PHOTO BY DANA LODER
22nd
Greze-Kozuki nets big air gold, Mikkelsen and Clegg tie for dual moguls supremacy
LITVINENKO AND
at Canadian Championships
BOUGIE
PREVAIL, GRIFFITHS AND OLIVER EACH GRAB SILVER
BY DAVID SONG
ILL-TIMED ADVERSE weather prevented this year’s Canadian Freestyle Championships from concluding exactly as planned on Sunday, April 6, but medals were still handed out based on the athletes’ qualifying runs.
Zoe Greze-Kozuki followed up her slopestyle bronze with a big air victory, cementing her spot as the event’s top overall non-moguls practitioner among women. Makenna Griffiths finished in the runner-up hole and Jillian Mullie placed third.
“She’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and her skiing is so nice to watch,” Griffiths said about her fellow Whistlerite Greze-Kozuki, who is also returning from injury. “She’s super comfortable on her skis and everything. I really enjoy watching her ski because she can really tweak out grabs and land really nicely.”
Misha Litvinenko struck gold among male big air contestants. Jude Oliver came through for silver and bronze went to Avery Macyk— the latter of whom was eventually crowned men’s overall king.
Oliver recalled: “Misha came out of the gate swinging with triples and stuff. He didn’t even hit the jump switch and he did a switch 18, which was insane—definitely put the pressure on a bunch of people. But I’m really stoked on how everyone performed. A lot of people did new stuff in that competition, and it’s pretty cool to watch all that go down.”
Dual moguls ended up being too close to call on the ladies’ side, with Maya Mikkelsen tying Sina Clegg for top honours. Clegg won the overall in her discipline, with Florence Laroche and Citrine Boychuk deadlocked in third position.
Jean-Christophe Bougie netted a dual moguls win of his own alongside overall
triumph for the weekend. He was joined on the podium by Cole Carey (silver) and Simon Phillippon Fugere (bronze).
‘WE WERE ALL PREPARED TO JUST BE SAFE’
Each of Sunday’s competitors knew the weather forecast and realized they needed to play their cards wisely.
“When I was taking the gondola up, you could see that it was super foggy so we were all prepared to just be safe,” explained Griffiths.
“When we got to qualifications, there was a super nice window [with] no fog and kind of perfect visibility, so that was great. People could actually do the tricks they wanted to.”
For example, Griffiths was one of only two girls to land a cork 900.
Oliver reached into his bag and pulled out a switch 1440 featuring a Japan grab: a maneuver that doesn’t compromise his vision at any point in the air. He stated that Whistler is his favourite venue and was proud of his performance a day after ending up fourth in slopestyle.
Outside of the results, a number of Canadians expressed appreciation for the fact that moguls athletes got to brush shoulders with their slopestyle/big air counterparts at Nationals—a rare phenomenon in the sport.
“I think our park is amazing, one of the best in Canada. Our jumps are built so perfectly by our park crew and I think everyone should be able to experience them,” Griffiths said. “I have some super close friends in moguls—one of my closest friends was competing at the same time as me, so I got to do a couple laps with her and watch her.”
Aidan Mulvihill, Saturday’s slopestyle champ who elected not to start the big air, remarked: “It’s always unreal to have events that collaborate with snowboarders, with ski racers, with mogul skiers, with halfpipe skiers, with aerialists. It’s so cool to see everybody’s viewpoint on the sport.” n
SWITCH-HITTER Zoe Greze-Kozuki performs a switch 700 mute grab at the 2025 Canadian Freestyle Championships.
PHOTO BY AGA IWANICKA
One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns!
ENJOYING TIME OUT OF TIME AT EASTER
Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters, Give them to your sons.
One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!
SUCH A CUTE sing-songy rhyme, this little ditty still entertains youngsters via nursery books (when you can get them off their phones) and videos. But like so many things
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
we overlook these days, it’s really a time machine that reaches back to one version of many that were the traditional call of vendors in 18th-century England, including on the grimy streets of London.
It all started on Good Friday, with the rhyming calls of sellers filling the lanes and alleyways as they lugged baskets of piping “hot” cross buns fresh from the oven to your door—much like DoorDash today. Cross
buns were already popular on the continent, including France, and like many traditions they subsequently spread from England to Canada and other Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and— quelle surprise !—India and Pakistan.
Here’s another eyebrow-raiser: The long and winding trail of hot cross buns can be traced back in time and to places most of us would never have guessed, far earlier than the Christian era. But more on that in a bit.
Today, hot cross buns are still a big favourite amongst many favourites in this neck of the woods. Nothing better than an appropriately sweet bread to celebrate the sweet coming of spring and, for many, the end of Lent. (Other than chocolate, of course.)
There’s the superb glossy pane di pasqua from Italy, made with milk and sometimes potatoes. Or specially seasoned kahk from Lebanon. Sweet folar da páscoa, with its braided top, from Portugal. And the delicious paska from Ukraine I often saw while growing up in Edmonton—tall as a funny top hat and crowned with a dollop of icing and colourful sprinkles. (Canada, especially the prairies, has the biggest population of Ukrainians outside of Ukraine.)
Hot cross buns are such perfect comfort food, their popularity has spread in more ways than one. Never mind Good Friday. I’ve seen them tempting us on store shelves as early as February! Rich little buns fragrant with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves, if they’re from a good baker. Plump with raisins or currants and, more recently, green or orange bits of candied fruit peel. Ideally, it’s real peel from lemons, limes and oranges simmered in sugar syrup. But in these mass-production times, more often those little bright bits are—surprise,
surprise!—industrially sweetened and coloured bits of turnip. Never mind. Just think of it as a source of fibre.
Finally, they’re baked to perfection and, in my books, best topped with a light glaze that makes the whole thing shine—including a cross of light-coloured dough, not one piped in icing.
All of which brings us to another quirk about these hot cross delights. As with too many things lately, you can find any number of contradictory back stories or “histories” online—including totally made-up ones— especially regarding how that distinctive cross arose.
To save you time, and put us all on the right track, here’s a summary from a very reliable source. Alan Davidson’s The Oxford Companion to Food is a fascinating companion to hang out with whenever you want to take a breather from “normal” life—as we’re all meant to do on traditional holidays like Easter.
For me, poking through the pages of a real book anytime, especially when it’s well done, is like giving myself a big hug. And if you or any young ’uns you know are curious about all things “food” you’ll go down more than one rabbit hole (add winking emoji) with this volume that earned Davidson a James Beard Foundation Cookbook Award.
Bonus: you can find it in many libraries or, if you’re lucky, online or at a secondhand outlet, like the Squamish Community Bookstore. Better, order one from your friendly, neighbourhood indie bookstore, like Armchair Books in Whistler (with free home delivery plus a 10-per-cent discount for folks in Pemberton and Squamish), or Book Mountain and Gather Bookshop in Squamish. And read on….
THE RISE OF HOT CROSS BUNS So where did the whole hot cross buns thing come from?
First off, according to Davidson, the word “bun” has been used in English since the 15th century. Originally from the French bugne , for swelling, it refers to the bulging shape. As for the “hot” stuff, that part started when the buns were sold hot from the bakery, starting on Good Friday. As for the distinctive cross, which traditionally was cut into the top of the bun or rendered in strips of lighter-coloured dough, it predates Jesus of Nazareth like many symbols in Christianity.
“The mark is of ancient origin,” writes Davidson, “connected with religious offerings of bread, which replaced earlier, less civilized offerings of blood.” Egyptians used crossed marks representing the horns of oxen on small round buns they offered to the goddess of the moon. Ancient Greeks and Romans made similar offerings. And Saxons ate buns marked with a cross in honour of the goddess of light, Ēostre. Rabbits and eggs were connected to same.
With any luck, you’ll soon be connected— to a nice trove of hot cross buns in your world. Many good bakers make them, but if you’re into it, one of the best recipes I’ve found is in The Complete Harrowsmith Cookbook from Harrowsmith, of course—that fine Canadian magazine published since 1976 in beautiful Ancaster, Ontario, and endorsed by David Suzuki for many good green reasons.
Another hard-copy delight worth holding on to. Enjoy.
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’ll always choose paper and ink over eyeboggling screens. n
ALWAYS WELCOME Wearing wire pattens on her shoes to protect them from the mud, this old woman is selling hot cross buns from a basket to eager takers. From “The Baby’s Bouquet” by Walter Crane, published in 1878 by George Routledge & Sons, London.
PHOTO BY WHITEMAY / DIGITALVISION VECTORS / GETTY IMAGES
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE
Kieran Kershaw wins grand prize, People’s Choice Award at 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown
KERSHAW’S FILM IS TITLED I COULD KILL THEM SOMETIMES
BY DAVID SONG
EVER SINCE his first foray into the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown last year, Kieran Kershaw has been thinking about how to up his game.
Consider it upped.
Kershaw and his team—producer Beth Andrews, cast members Josh Kahle, Natasha Morley, Shae Poulin and Callum Anderson— placed first in the 2025 Showdown to earn $5,000 on Monday, April 7 at the Whistler Conference Centre. They also netted a $500 Gibbons gift card for the People Choice’s Award, which is decided by audience vote.
The winning entry is named I Could Kill Them Sometimes, featuring Kahle and Morley as two irritated retail workers fielding the requests of difficult patrons. Morley’s character quips about how she could “kill” these types of customers, setting up a decidedly morbid plot twist.
“For the crowd, it’s knowing we made something relatable … and people feel a connection. It made people go, ‘yeah, I’ve had customers like that,’” says Kershaw. “For the judges, it’s like that ultimate recognition. It’s saying this film stands up in the eyes of peers, critics and fellow filmmakers—people who I respect.”
CONTAINED STRESS
Each Showdown entrant has three days to produce their movie. Kershaw’s crew had access to only six hours of filming time because they chose an active local retail store as their setting: F as in Frank Vintage Clothing.
Kershaw works in retail, but it took approximately a year of brainstorming to decide he wanted to draw inspiration from his day-to-day life. He started by jotting the words “retail murder” down on his phone, and fleshed out the concept during bus trips,
her crewmates and remaining poised when they accidentally besmirched $450 of store stock with fake blood.
“We’re super grateful to [F as in Frank] for letting us film in their space,” remarks Kershaw. “Figuring out how to navigate that conversation with the store was tricky, but winning this competition goes a long way to covering costs of this film so we can only be grateful.”
Kahle wants to make sure his director receives due credit as well.
“Based on the first day and the second day
“The teams that got into the final again this year really stepped up the game...”
- KIERAN KERSHAW
chairlift rides and solitary sessions in hotel lobbies. Proofreaders from Whistler and Kershaw’s native United Kingdom gave vital feedback, transforming version No. 1 of the script into version No. 7—which came to life.
Kershaw and company began filming each day around 8 a.m., when the store manager arrived. They had to wrap things up within 30 minutes of the store opening to public access. Many ideas were left on the cutting room floor as a result: on Day 1, the team only got through 11 of a planned 40 shots.
Andrews played a pivotal role in helping it all coalesce. Kershaw lauds her for keeping production on schedule, grabbing snacks for
[of filming], it was a very motivational optimism, but there was also an understanding that we [weren’t] able to get to everything Kieran had in his original mind,” Kahle says. “I really applaud Kieran’s ability to differentiate between what’s necessary, what’s creative and what’s frilly.”
‘A REAL STEP UP’
No movie can shine without the right cast, and Kershaw’s actors delivered.
For example, Kahle has a six-year background in retail management and states “if there’s one thing I know how to be, it’s freaking disgruntled … that wasn’t even acting, that was
genuine.” He’s also a fashion stylist who knows how to get in touch with his creative side.
Kahle was impressed, however, by Morley’s work ethic. “My background is theatre so there’s no way I’m going to learn this entire script within a day, and I have to work as well,” he recalls. “So when we showed up on the first day of filming and [Natasha] had it all memorized, I was just dumbfounded by her persistence and being able to make sure that nothing on her end was going to hold this shoot back.”
Likewise, Poulin and Anderson held up their part of the bargain as supporting actors.
“I come from a directing and writing background [in Vancouver] so I’m used to being completely behind the camera,” Poulin admits. “I was surprised that I got lines at all. I haven’t seen myself on screen for eight years, but [the team] really made me feel like I had an important part. Honestly, I felt so passionate about this that I really want to get back into [filmmaking].”
Finally, Kershaw made a point to praise the Showdown as an event that unites creatives with their local community. He doesn’t take for granted the opportunity to share his passion on a wider stage.
“This year was a real step up from the previous year that I entered,” Kershaw opines. “The teams that got into the final again this year really stepped up the game, but the newcomers—the faces we hadn’t seen before—produced some insanely creative work. I only wish we all had more time in Whistler to make stuff together, because if we could all get together and make some crazy stuff, I think the world’s our oyster.”
Watch I Could Kill Them Sometimes on the World Ski and Snowboard Festival’s YouTube channel. n
KILLER INSTINCT 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown winners, clockwise from left: Natasha Morley, Josh Kahle, Shae Poulin and Kieran Kershaw.
PHOTO BY OISIN MCHUGH
Wildcard entrant JB Liautard victorious at 2025 Pro Photographer Showdown
AARON SCHWARTZ TAKES PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
BY DAVID SONG
FROM A WILDCARD to the winner’s circle: that was JB Liautard’s journey at this year’s Pro Photographer Showdown (PPS). As a result, the French freelancer will be highlighted in September’s issue of Forecast Ski Magazine.
Some brand-new Arc’teryx gear and his name on the recognizable championship trophy (carved by Lil’wat artisan Redmond Q’áwam’ Andrews) won’t hurt either.
“It means a lot, honestly,” Liautard says about his breakthrough on April 8. “It’s not easy being a photographer in this industry nowadays, especially after COVID; the industry took a big hit and so did we. It’s something really subjective in the end, photography, so having people judge your work is always humbling. You don’t always win, but when you win, it’s the best feeling.”
Aaron Schwartz may not have tasted the sweet feeling of victory, but he wooed viewers with a predominantly black-andwhite snowboarding portfolio that got him the People’s Choice Award. Schwartz is a graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design and is based in Switzerland for now.
Other contestants included Washingtonian Paris Gore, Morgan Maassen of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Revelstoke’s Zoya Lynch. The latter was unable to attend the PPS on Tuesday night.
“I have a lot of respect, especially as we all have super different styles. It’s like comparing stuff that are not truly the same, so that’s what makes this contest hard as well,” remarks Liautard. “You have Aaron with black and white, super graphic lines in the snow, then Paris with a different approach [to mountain biking], and then Morgan with his water shots that are insane. I’m glad we can spend time together.”
Before kicking off the show, event organizers played a warmly-received tribute to local pro snowboarder Jeff Keenan, Idahoan Alex Pashley and Kaslo native
all of whom tragically passed away in a March 24 avalanche.
‘RUN AND GUN’
Hailing from Valence, Liautard picked up mountain biking early but didn’t get into photography until a crash at 14 years old broke his collarbone. The youngster still wanted to keep up with his friends on the weekends and realized a good camera might enable him to do so.
Quickly discovering that he enjoyed the shoot as much as the ride, Liautard purchased his first DSLR at 18 years of age. He’s 29 now and continues to travel the globe capturing his favourite sport in all manner of gorgeous, remote locales.
Liautard put his love of mountain biking on full display at the Whistler Conference Centre. His showcase featured athletes in a variety of landscapes: forests, canyons and rocky terrain. Many of Liautard’s shots were taken at dawn or dusk, and his skilful manipulation of lighting had event patrons oohing and aahing.
“It’s a time of the day where I can mix natural light and artificial light without having huge gear,” Liautard explains. “I’m just having a backpack and I can do stuff like run and gun. Where I live, it’s not like B.C., it’s not all pretty outside, so the easiest way I found to make things look good is to control everything, control the lighting, control what was going on.”
The PPS has been on Liautard’s radar since he was just entering the photography field, and he’s thrilled to finally win it.
“[This competition] gathers some of the best photographers in the industry,” he says. “Just being part of it was honestly the highlight for me. I had shoulder surgery at the beginning of the year, so I was not doing much, and then I saw … there’s a wildcard entry. I had time to prepare my work and submit, and then I was super happy because this trip to Whistler came right after I could [start] moving better.”
Find out more about Liautard’s career at jbliautard.com. n
WILDCARD WINNER JB Liautard won the 2025 Pro Photographer Showdown in Whistler on April 8.
PHOTO BY OISIN MCHUGH
PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE
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 piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
ZERO CEILING FUNDRAISER
ALPENGLOW APRÈS
As the sun casts its final golden hues across Whistler’s peaks, the Mallard Lounge Patio transforms into the heart of Alpenglow Après. This limited-time event invites you to revel in an elevated après-ski experience. Live DJ tunes fill the sun-soaked patio, while fireside warmth and shareable culinary delights create a vibrant atmosphere in the Upper Village. Sip Kettle One cocktails, including signature tap espresso martini, and let the magic of Alpenglow illuminate your evening.
> April 11-12, 3 to 6 p.m.
and under ski for free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate only (not online).
> April 12-13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
> Whistler Olympic Park
ALPINE LIVING: STORIES FROM WHISTLER MOUNTAIN’S CARETAKERS
> Mallard Lounge
> Prices vary
SEPPO’S LIVE MUSIC
Every Saturday throughout the season, enjoy Corona Live Music Sessions at Seppo’s Bar with exclusive Corona specials!
> April 12, 1 to 3 p.m.
> Roundhouse Lodge
Listen to the caretakers of Whistler Mountain share stories from the 1980’s. Featuring Janet Love Morrison, Laird Brown, Colleen Warner and Rob Boyd.
> April 16, 7 p.m.
> Whistler Museum
ZERO CEILING’S GET OUTSIDE FUNDRAISER
AUDAIN GALA & AUCTION
The highly anticipated “Destination Gala” at the Audain Art Museum makes an exciting return. Funds raised allow the Museum to continue to showcase beautifully curated exhibitions and innovative engagement activities for children and adults alike. The event will begin with an exclusive cocktail reception followed by an elegant dinner and vibrant “après.”
> April 12, 6 p.m.
> Fairmont Chateau Whistler
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK BONUS WEEKENDS
Whistler Olympic Park is excited to offer two bonus weekends this year! April 12/13 and April 18, 19 and 20. Discounted tickets are available at $25 for adults, $10 for youth (18 and under) and $5 for dogs. Kids 6
Join us at Hunter Gather from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 17 to raise funds for Zero Ceiling’s youth outdoor access programs this summer! One dollar from every meal or drink will be donated to the cause, and attendees can win a two-night stay at the Journeyman Lodge or other great prizes—raffle tickets are only $10! No entry fee—donate what you can. Find more info at zeroceiling.org and buy raffle tickets at zeroceiling.rafflenexus.com.
> April 17, 6 to 9 p.m.
> Hunter Gather
YOGA AT THE AUDAIN
Revel in the stunning architecture of the Audain Art Museum every Thursday as you work through a calming one-hour practice with rotating instructors. Classes emphasize breathing, alignment and ease as you stretch and strengthen your body and mind.
> April 17, 9:30 a.m.
> Audain Art Museum
> $5 for members, $22 general admission
Whistler’s first library
BY ALLYN PRINGLE
WHEN MARCEL and Joan Richoz first moved to Alta Lake (the area would not technically be known as Whistler until 1975), it was a move to a much smaller community and a rather different way of life than the Whistler of today.
Originally from Switzerland, Marcel began skiing at Whistler Mountain in its first season, having previously skied on Grouse Mountain and been told about the development happening at Whistler. In 1968, he saw lots for sale in Alpine Meadows for about $1,800. Thinking that was expensive, he put off buying a lot until the price had gone up to $3,500.
Marcel purchased the lot as an investment, but after he and Joan spent the 1971-72 season living in a small village in Switzerland they found it hard to return to city life in Vancouver again. Instead, they put up a big canvas tent on the lot in Alpine and spent the summer camping. Marcel, a fine woodworker, began learning carpentry and over the next couple of years he and Joan constructed a small, round log cabin on the property, followed by a house they built themselves with help from friends and neighbours. Looking back during an oral history interview in 2023, Joan recalled they moved into their permanent home during a blizzard in November 1974.
Though Whistler had been declared a municipality by the time their daughter was born in late 1975, there were still relatively few families around and services such as pediatricians and grocery stores were a drive or a train ride away. Joan and her baby would catch the train at the flagstop at Mons and be picked up by her father in North Vancouver in order to visit the doctor, run errands, and do the shopping for the next few weeks before catching the train back up.
Joan began volunteering for the Whistler Community Arts Council (today Arts Whistler) in 1983 when her neighbour, Margaret Long, co-founded the first Whistler Children’s Art Festival. She also began volunteering at the Myrtle Philip School, especially in the library and during lunch hour. When the Whistler Public Library Association was formed in December 1985, Joan served on that board as well, before becoming the library’s first (and for a time) only employee.
Like Whistler, the library that opened in 1986 was a much smaller and different library than the one that we know today. It was located in 1,400 square feet in the basement of municipal hall and began operating in August with a collection of 4,600 books. The space had been furnished with custom shelving by members of the Rotary Club of Whistler, notably Andy Petersen and Bill Wallace, and was open to the public for a total of 16 hours per week.
Joan had completed a distance
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is asking you to be a source of generosity and strength for the people and animals in your sphere. I hope you will exude maximum amounts of your natural charisma as you bestow maximum blessings. Soak up the admiration and affection you deserve, too, as you convey admiration and affection to others. Here’s a secret: The more you share your resources, help, and intelligence, the more of that good stuff will flow back your way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ceramicist Jun Hamada says trying to force harmony into her art leads to sterile work. “The most beautiful pieces come from the moments I stop trying to make them beautiful,” she notes. “They emerge from embracing the clay’s natural tendencies, even when they seem to fight against my intentions.” I recommend her approach to you in the coming weeks. Your best results may emerge as you allow supposed flaws and glitches to play an unexpected part in the process. Alliances might benefit, even deepen, through honest friction rather than imposed peace. What will happen when you loosen your attachment to enforced harmony and let life’s natural tensions gyrate?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini-born Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was a prolific architect who orchestrated many daring designs. Among his most audacious experiments was a project to build a house over a waterfall in Pennsylvania. “It can’t be done!” experts said. But he did it. Before he was ready to accomplish the impossible, though, he had to spend months studying the site’s natural patterns. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are ready to consider your own equivalent of constructing a house over a waterfall. Prepare well! Do your homework!
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the early phase of his illustrious career as a photographer, Edward Weston (1886–1958) cultivated a soft-focus, romantic style. But he ultimately converted to stark, uncompromising realism. “The camera,” he said, “should be used for recording life, for
education program that the provincial government offered to become a community librarian. Unlike a public librarian in a
WEEK OF APRIL 11 BY ROB
rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself.” If there is anything about you that prefers warm, fuzzy illusions over objective, detailed truth, I suggest you switch emphasis for a while. If you like, you can return to the softfocus approach in June. But for now, a gritty, unsentimental attitude will be essential to your well-being.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my mini-manifesto about change, just in time for a phase when change is most necessary and possible for you. 1. Real change is often a slow and subtle process. There may be rare dramatic shifts, but mostly the process is gradual and incremental. 2. Instead of pushing hard for a short time, you’re more likely to change things by persistently pushing with modest strength for a sustained time. 3. Rather than trying to confront and wrestle with a big problem exactly as it is, it’s often more effective to break the seemingly insurmountable challenge into small, manageable pieces that can be solved one at a time through simple efforts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Textile artist Mei Zhang wondered if the synthetic dyes she used on her fabrics were limited. Might there be a wider variety of colours she could use in her creations? She discovered that her grandmother, using age-old techniques, had produced hues modern dyes couldn’t replicate. “The most sustainable path forward,” Zhang concluded, “often involves rediscovering what we’ve forgotten rather than inventing something entirely new.” I recommend that counsel to you, Virgo. The solution to a current challenge might come from looking back instead of pushing forward. Consider what old approaches or traditional wisdom you might call on to generate novelty. Weave together fresh applications with timeless principles.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The moon rises about 50 minutes later every day, and always at a slightly different place on the horizon. The amount of light it shows us is also constantly in flux. And yet where and how it will appear
BREZSNY
tomorrow or 10 years from today is completely predictable. Its ever-changing nature follows a rhythmic pattern. I believe the same is true about our emotions and feelings, which in astrology are ruled by the moon. They are forever shifting, and yet if we survey the big picture of how they arise, we will see their overall flow has distinct patterns. Now would be a good time for you to get to know your flow better. See if you can detect recurring motifs. Try to develop more objectivity about how your precious emotions and feelings really work. If you do this correctly, you will deepen and enhance the guiding power of your precious emotions and feelings.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Research reveals that interludes of productive uncertainty may strengthen our brain’s neural pathways—even more so than if we consistently leap to immediate comprehension. The key modifier to this fortifying uncertainty is “productive.” We must be willing to dwell with poise in our puzzlement, even welcome and enjoy the fertile mystery it invokes in us.
Neurobiologist Aiden Chen says, “Confusion, when properly supported, isn’t an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding.” These ideas will be good medicine in the coming weeks, dear Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Persian American author Haleh Liza Gafori translates the poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. One of their joint books is titled Gold She writes, “Rumi’s gold is not the precious metal, but a feeling-state arrived at through the alchemical process of burning through layers of self, greed, pettiness, calculation, doctrine—all of it. The prayer of Sufism is ‘teach me to love more deeply.’ Gold is the deepest love.” That’s the gold I hope you aspire to embody in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You are in a resplendently golden phase when you have more power than usual to create, find, and commune with Rumi’s type of gold.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming weeks will be
larger city library, community librarians were expected to do just about everything, from cataloguing each item in the collection to janitorial duties when needed. This meant while volunteers helped process (cover and label) and shelve books, Joan was responsible for creating the catalogue cards. Each item required at least three 3”x5” cards containing all of its information and most items had more. One card would be kept back for inventory, one would be filed as a title card, and another would be filed under the author. If a book could be searched for under multiple subjects, Joan would create additional cards to be filed under each subject heading. Working with only an electric typewriter, each card was typed individually. The following year, the library got its first computer and Joan found an automated program that meant she only had to type out the information for each item once and could then print out copies of the cards as needed.
Along with cataloguing, Joan managed a busy library that also served as a community centre and meeting place for Whistler residents and visitors. Joan ran storytimes for kids and got to know almost everyone who came in, even remembering some of their library card numbers before circulation became automated.
Since opening in 1986, the Whistler Public Library has moved twice and grown a lot in its collection, its programs and its usership. n
an excellent time to reframe the meaning of “emptiness” in your life. To launch your quest, I will remind you that quiet interludes and gaps in your schedule can be rejuvenating. Sitting still and doing nothing in particular may be a good way to recharge your spiritual batteries. Relieving yourself of the pressure to be endlessly active could be just what you need to open up space for fresh possibilities.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There was a time, many years ago, when I consulted a divinatory oracle every day of my life. Sometimes it was the Tarot or the I Ching. I threw the Norse runes, did automatic writing, used a pendulum, or tried bibliomancy. Astrology was always in the mix, too, of course. Looking back on those days, I am amused at my obsession with scrying the future and uncovering subconscious currents. But employing these aids had a wonderful result: It helped me develop and fine-tune my intuition and psychic powers—which, after all, are the ultimate divination strategy. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I believe you now have an enhanced power to cultivate and strengthen your intuition and psychic powers.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The fovea is the part of the eye that enables sharp vision. Humans have just one kind of fovea, which gives them the ability to see clearly straight ahead. Eagles have both a central and peripheral fovea. The latter gives them an amazing visual acuity for things at a distance. This extra asset also attunes them to accurately detect very slow movements. I suspect you will have a metaphorical semblance of the eagle’s perceptual capacity in the coming weeks, Pisces. You will be able to see things you wouldn’t normally see and things that other people can’t see. Take full advantage of this superpower! Find what you didn’t even know you were looking for.
Homework: Which of your previous bests are you primed to surpass? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.
BOOK IT Librarian Joan Richoz rifles through the card catalogue before it was replaced by computer terminals in 1995.
WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1995
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THE GUY on the phone sounded hyped up and anxious, which probably isn’t the ideal system state for a dispatch person. He was calling to get some information from me, to pass on to Emergency Services, because my partner had launched an SOS call from his device somewhere in the backcountry. He didn’t have any other
BY LISA RICHARDSON
information for me. And I didn’t know my husband’s licence plate, or who he was out with, where they’d gone, or where they were headed. (I know, I know, but sometimes my beloved-of-thepast-ten-thousand-days sounds a bit like white noise, sometimes I just don’t ask, and sometimes his plans unfold at the last minute and I’ve already left for my day.)
I had a flash of cold clarity: is this the phone call that changes the rest of my life?
I was grateful our 12-year-old was at school and I’d have a few hours to work out what the situation was before needing to tend to him as well. I started making calls.
Twenty minutes later, I had a page of scribbled notes and numbers and an inner emergency circle activating, when three messages came in via every channel my husband had at his disposal: Stand down, false alarm. All is well. I called everyone with the update. The RCMP wouldn’t fully
accept it until they’d driven to our house to physically sight him that night, but every other emergency response immediately stood down, except my own nervous system’s, which doesn’t have such an easy-to-access off-switch.
My yoga mat was unfolded next to the kitchen table. I took myself to the ground, assumed “child’s pose,” knees wide, sitting back on my haunches, bowing forward, forehead to the ground, letting the earth reassure me: All’s well. All’s well. All’s well.
For now.
It’s a temporary reprieve. I know this. One day, there will come the call that changes everything launching us into an entirely new narrative arc. But for now, I could go back to my plot line and eat the lunch that had grown cold sitting by the stove-top.
That night, freshly sighted in the driveway by a police officer, and in debt a case of beer to friends for hijacking their mellow morning with a false alarm, my apologetic fella mentioned a podcast he’d listened to for work. In Delivering Adventure, Whistlerite Chris Kaipio interviews ice-climber and paraglider Will Gadd about managing risk in our highrisk sports. Gadd takes issue with the word “manage.” Instead, he “engages” with risk. I turn over the difference between managing something and engaging with it, in my mind. I never liked being managed by an employer, or worse, a middle manager who was trying to download his responsibilities on to me so he could go skiing. I don’t like when someone tries to manage my emotions, when it would feel more respectful to engage with them. I parent in a way that is an awkward tussle between the sense that I should be managing my kid, his schedule, his ambitions, my ambitions for him, his emotions, his social life, and his future possibilities much more professionally, but the
effort and joy of engaging with those things is more natural, even though it seems to put him in the driver’s seat a lot more than I ever was allowed to be in it as a kid…
I’ve attended community engagement sessions and felt horribly “managed” by the process, as if I was just part of a checka-box routine and the procedure was held very tightly so nothing could go off script or get too unwieldy. I left feeling suffocated, patronized, disengaged.
It’s interesting, that we use the phrase “to get engaged” when a couple decides to make a commitment to each other and embark on a life together. We don’t pledge “mutual management.” It’s a promise to dance, to navigate the mess.
Indeed, engagement feels preferable all around. So much more respectful. Less clean and clear. More unwieldy and dynamic. But definitely preferable.
Lately, I’m listening to the grief teacher Francis Weller in conversation with Nate Hagens on the Great Simplification podcast. All around me, people are walking their own grief journeys, Trump seems to signal imminent collapse with his every rambling pronouncement, AI is becoming more and more frightening, and my nervous system doesn’t know what to make of it all.
Weller, the author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow, says the thing about grief is, we need to engage with it, but more often than not, we try and manage it, and our management technique is usually to just stuff it down hard. Try not to let it out. Most people are afraid of their grief, their big feelings, afraid that if they give in to them, there’s no coming back. But really, says Weller, what happens is that by oppressing those emotions, we become stuck, frozen, reduced versions of ourselves.
He says, once, we lived in communities
with lives that met “the primary satisfactions”—we were nourished by ritual, shared meals, conversation, dance, singing… and in the loss of these from our cultures and ways of being, we crave something and meet it with secondary satisfactions—money, stuff, success, accolades, stimuli, things to make us feel fulfilled and alive… but because they aren’t primary satisfactions, the gaping hole at our heart for connecting and belonging, will never be filled, so we keep on consuming consuming more more more. We have become unsatisfiable, and insatiable, trying hard not to feel anything unpleasant or bad, and thereby not really feeling very alive at all.
As I write this (and may the fickle hand of fate pass over me for a bit longer, and may waves of grace and love be with those who are in the grip of that hairy hand), I am the person whose partner came home, whose kid is walking up the driveway at the end of the day, and who has a clean bill of health. I don’t presume any of those things, any more. Weller calls this the first gate of grief: everything we love we will lose. Precarity is actually the bass track for our entire life playlist. Sometimes a false alarm is a beautiful wake-up call. Sometimes the alarm is real and we are in the storm, or watching from the sidelines as someone else has their life rocked.
Engaging with the precarity of my life and loves, right now, won’t fully prepare me for the one-day loss of them, but it has awakened me to their preciousness a little more.
At the very least, I’ll make the effort to ask the fella where he plans to go tomorrow.
Lisa Richardson is a longtime contributor to Pique whose writing, journalling workshops, yoga classes and other random contributions are fuelled by her deep gratitude for place and desire to contribute to greater community resilience. n
