Pique Newsmagazine 2652

DECEMBER 26, 2019 ISSUE 26.52

WWW.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM

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PERFECT VISION

16

OUR PLACE BRAND TW unveils ‘Whistler’s Place Brand’ based on feedback

32

BACKCOUNTRY WARNING Not business as usual in the Whistler backcountry

108

WHISTLER’S FAV BAND

We talk to the

Hairfarmers about two decades of playing

HAPPY NEW YEAR As the year and decade comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to reflect and give thanks for the year that has been.

The entire team at The Whistler Real Estate Company is truly privileged to live, work, and give back to the communities of Whistler & Pemberton.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of ou r clients, friends, and families for their continued support.

We wish you the very best in 2020 and hope that you are surrounded by love and warmth this holiday season!

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

www.whistlerrealestate.ca

WHISTLER

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

90

108

46 Best of Whistler In a town filled to the brim with folks who’ve chosen to carve out the good life here, it’s important to recognize the people, places and things that have helped them realize it. - By Joel Barde, Brandon Barrett, Braden Dupuis, Dan Falloon, Megan Lalonde and Alyssa Noel

16

OUR SENSE OF PLACE

Tourism Whistler

90

AMAZING ALEXANDER

Alpine racer

unveils ‘Whistler’s Place Brand’ based on resident, guest and business

Cameron Alexander has enjoyed the beginning of his 2019-20 season,

feedback.

winning his first-ever NorAm Cup race and making his World Cup debut.

38

CRAFT CANNABIS

Pemberton-based CNC gets

102 PARTY TIME

Pop the champagne, don your

the government’s seal of approval to go into production with its organic

sparkliest duds, it’s time to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Check out Pique’s

cannabis business.

guide to ringing in 2020.

42

MOUNTAIN HIGH

A three-day High Mountain

108 TWO DECADES

Unless you arrived in Whistler

Summit in Switzerland, has resulted in the adoption by countries around the

yesterday, you probably know The Hairfarmers. But do you know the 20-

world of scientific research systems developed in western Canada’s mountains.

year history behind the band?

COVER It’s not every year that you get to wish everyone a happy new decade! Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! - By Jon Parris 4 DECEMBER 26, 2019

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Opinion & Columns #103 -1390 ALPHA LAKE RD., FUNCTION JUNCTION, WHISTLER, B.C. V8E 0H9.

PH: (604) 938-0202 FAX: (604) 938-0201 www.piquenewsmagazine.com

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Editor CLARE OGILVIE - edit@piquenewsmagazine.com Assistant Editor ALYSSA NOEL - arts@piquenewsmagazine.com Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@wplpmedia.com Production Manager KARL PARTINGTON - kpartington@wplpmedia.com Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@wplpmedia.com Advertising Representatives AMY ALLEN - aallen@wplpmedia.com TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com ANTHONY JOYCE - ajoyce@wplpmedia.com Digital/Sales Coordinator AMELA DIZDARIC - traffic@wplpmedia.com Digital Sales Manager FIONA YU - fiona@glaciermedia.ca

08 OPENING REMARKS Whistler’s ongoing success must be embraced with vision and purpose— and all resort partners must step up to address community issues together.

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers ask that Cheakamus Crossing get some help with speedy drivers, and thank the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program for an amazing day of memories.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Joel Barde encourages us to choose grace over anger and kindness over meanness, so we can change the world for the better—one positive interaction at a time.

134

MAXED OUT G.D. Maxwell ponders the best things in Whistler—and finds they are not

things at all.

Environment & Adventure

Production production@piquenewsmagazine.com CLAIRE RYAN - cryan@wplpmedia.com LOU O’BRIEN - lstevens@wplpmedia.com WHITNEY SOBOOL - wsobool@wplpmedia.com

44 ECOLOGIC Writer Leslie Anthony salutes big outdoor companies who are getting onboard (and drive,

Arts & Entertainment Editor ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

45 THE OUTSIDER Vince Shuley shares some of his “greatest hits” from the last decade in the

Sports Editor DAN FALLOON - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com Reporters BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com JOEL BARDE - jbarde@piquenewsmagazine.com MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@wplpmedia.com Classifieds and Reception mail@piquenewsmagazine.com Circulation and Accounts LAURA PRIOR - lprior@wplpmedia.com Office and Accounts Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com I.T. and Webmaster KARL PARTINGTON Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, GLENDA BARTOSH, MICHAEL ALLEN, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ALLEN BEST, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON President, Whistler Publishing LP SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of Whistler Publishing Limited Partnership, a division of Glacier Media) distributed to over 130 locations in Whistler and to over 200 locations from Vancouver to D’arcy.

The entire contents of Pique Newsmagazine are copyright 2019 by Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of WPLP, a division of Glacier Media). No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the Publisher.

In no event shall unsolicited material subject this publication to any claim or fees. Copyright in letters and other (unsolicited) materials submitted and accepted for publication remains with the author but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms.

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6 DECEMBER 26, 2019

in some cases) the sustainability train.

outdoor adventure realm.

88 TRAVEL Writer Suzanne Morphet writes about the incredible comeback of Japan’s beloved red-crowned cranes. But all is not as it seems.

Lifestyle & Arts

98 VELOCITY PROJECT Writer Lisa Richardson advises us to not to shape the outcome—shape the space for healthy interactions and allow something greater than you could have ever planned to emerge.

100

EPICURIOUS Gelato and smoothie bar Confetti is the latest addition to Creekside, part of

Capital Zed’s renewed vision for the neighbourhood.

104

NOTES FROM THE BACK ROW This week, columnist Feet Banks reflects on the

year’s movie offerings with Part 1 of his “Best of the Year.”

106

MUSEUM MUSINGS Whistler’s beauty and history have been captured for decades in photos—

and these collections at the museum are some of the most important ways to preserve the happenings of our community.

110

PIQUECAL Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a Fire & Ice Show at 11:30 p.m., followed by midnight

fireworks at Skiers’ Plaza.

Happy New Year!

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OPENING REMARKS

Time to engage for the future LAST WEEK, OUR community came full circle in considering tourism in our town and all the participants in this jigsaw puzzle that has landed us as a top destination globally.

The discussion of the topic has been most recently percolating since it sort of boiled over September 2017 when passions in the resort heated to such a point over busyness and overtourism that the president and CEO of Tourism Whistler (TW) Barrett Fisher wrote a letter to the community, which was published in Pique (see www. piquenewsmagazine.com, Sept. 12, 2017).

Fisher celebrated the real success Whistler has experienced, and reminded

BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com

readers of the tough times we have had too, in her missive.

“So yes, business is booming,” wrote Fisher, “but so too is the level of local angst surrounding this growth.

“Whistler now attracts just shy of 3 million unique visitors annually, and with that growth has come increased pressures

responsible tourism,” said Fisher in that 2017 letter, and last week, 15 months and a great deal of research, planning and creative work later the organization called the community together to talk about a way to move forward.

In the months since the letter, TW not only continued its robust surveys of visitors, it also convened an evening-long community meeting (which I attended as a guest and which left me with a new appreciation for all the moving parts that have led to Whistler’s success) to get input from residents and other partner groups. It was an inspiring, eye-opening and hopeful meeting and I have been keenly waiting for the follow up from it.

The start of a strategy and long-term plan was unveiled by TW and Fisher on Dec. 19—and it did not disappoint (see related story on page 16 and 17).

That our tourism organization has embraced leadership in looking at how to move forward should be galvanizing to the community. This is a branding exercise that all resort partners can benefit from— the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Vail Resorts, the Chamber of Commerce, our various business sectors including accommodation, food and beverage and the myriad activities we offer.

“ ... we believe it critically important that a healthy local community will bridge to a vibrant tourist economy. You need both working in tandem.”

- BARRETT FISHER

in areas such as transportation, housing and staffing. We therefore are understandably feeling real pressure from back-to-back years of record visits.”

But the letter was not a commentary on issues we all know and understand: It was a call to action.

“Tourism Whistler pledges to take a leadership role in being stewards of

This is not a time for turf-wars amongst our resort leadership, this is a time to look forward and chart a path: All hands on deck.

Fisher, in her Dec. 19 presentation, reminded us that we have seen growth and it has created issues, but all indicators are saying we are heading for a bit of a slow down in the next couple of years (due to issues such as trade tensions and rising

geopolitical challenges, social unrest, prolonged uncertainty about Brexit and lower business confidence, the collapse of major travel group Thomas Cook, with more than 8.6 million flight seats cancelled from September 2019 until the end of August 2020 and so on).

Still, the UN World Tourism Organization is forecasting that international arrivals are expected to reach nearly 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals in 2020, 1.2 billion will be intraregional and 378 million will be long-haul travellers.

Tourism’s growth will continue and so we need to strategize a way forward for our resort’s continued success—and everyone has to be engaged.

One highlight of the presentation was the continued recognition of the importance of our community working and living here. TW wanted to “really confirm the characteristics and the local spirit of who Whistler truly is,” Fisher said in an interview with Pique following the presentation. “And why?

Because we believe it critically important that a healthy local community will bridge to a vibrant tourist economy. You need both working in tandem.”

This comment by Fisher reminded me of something I came across while wandering tourism internet sites and journals recently.

Said Rebecca Jackson of Perfect Stays, a luxury self-catering company: “Today’s travellers now crave engagement with the people, cultures and landscapes of the countries and cities they visit.

“In 2020, we will see this rise with travellers focusing on the native surroundings and how to fully immerse themselves into the local culture.”

With that in mind and TW’s branding strategy and long-term vision, the municipality’s focus on affordable housing, Vail Resort’s focus on a mountain experience second to none, the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to keep business robust and service levels high and all the other resort partners focused on success, it feels like we have a road map for the future. n

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8 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Steve Shuster

t: 604.698.7347 | e: steve@steveshusterrealestate.com www.steveshusterrealestate.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Action needed on speedy drivers I am writing to voice a shared concern amongst Cheakamus Crossing residents surrounding vehicle speed and pedestrian safety.

We are a traffic-calmed neighbourhood with a 30 kilometre/hour sign at the entrance (and each strata has its own posted speed limits as well, I believe). Other than this initial signage when entering the neighbourhood, there is no indication of the speed limit throughout municipal roads.

Although Bayly Park runs along the length of the entire neighbourhood, there is no playground zone signage.

There is a problem with people driving too fast (definitely over 30 km/h) throughout the whole neighbourhood, but it is of particular concern along the strip of Legacy Way between the daycare and hostel, where parents are loading/unloading their children, often having to park on the opposite side of the street because of limited parking.

This area also includes several crosswalks with direct access to Bayly Park.

Although these crosswalks are well marked, some are partially obstructed by landscaping, and drivers are failing to stop for pedestrians.

There are so many children living in our neighbourhood, as well as children that have reason to visit Cheakamus Crossing due to the

Crossing rises with new development. I think the following requests are reasonable and necessary to ensure pedestrian safety in our growing neighbourhood: • 30 km/h signage throughout the neighbourhood—Legacy Way, Cloudburst Drive, Mount Fee Road; • School zone signs on Legacy Way in the area surrounding Mountain Minis daycare; • Playground zone signs on Legacy Way for the length of Bayly Park (this could also be extended to Jane Lakes Road); • Raised crosswalk on Legacy Way at the corner of Mountain Minis Daycare and the Common Park. This crosswalk in particular would also benefit from a button/flashing light similar to the one found at the main crosswalk in Function Junction. Obstructive landscaping should also be removed in the area of this crosswalk; • Raised crosswalk and/or flashing light at the crosswalk on Legacy Way at Madeley Place.

Lindsey Ataya // Whistler daycare, gymnastics centre, park, playground, BMX track and soccer fields. Residents are concerned about the safety of these children.

Although the speed limit is already posted at 30 km/h, I do believe that more signage is necessary to remind drivers of the daycare and park nearby.

Keep in mind as well that with the hostel and Athletes’ Centre, we get many drivers who are not familiar with the neighbourhood. If these drivers happen to miss that first sign coming into the neighbourhood, they have no way of knowing the speed limit as they drive

through. They are also less likely to know that there is a park and daycare along Legacy Way. I’ve noticed that there is a school-zone sign in the area around Whistler Children’s Centre in Whistler Cay, and don’t see any reason why Mountain Minis shouldn’t fall under the same regulations.

Raised crosswalks in high-pedestrian traffic areas would also be beneficial to force drivers to slow down as they approach.

There is reason to be concerned that pedestrian safety will become an increasing concern as the population in Cheakamus

(Editor’s note: This letter was sent to council and is included in the Dec. 17 council package)

Memory for a lifetime A huge thank-you to both Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society and Dusty’s.

My husband Paul has Huntington disease. On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, Paul was able to, in a sit-ski, “see” the runs he used to ski.

Kudos to the amazing volunteers who enabled this to happen.

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david@davidlewisliving.com

jwalczyk@sutton.com

Viner Personal Real Estate Corporation

Shuster steve@steveshusterrealestate.com

suttonwestcoast.com

10 DECEMBER 26, 2019

|

LOCAL AGENTS

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LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Lewis

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LOCAL EXPERTS

Walczyk

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ph: 604-935-3380

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tf: 1-866-978-8866

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR He and his son David plus numerous others enjoyed several runs in brilliant sunshine and relatively warm weather.

A gathering at Dusty’s completed the spectacular day!

There, with the help of Harri, Dusty’s GM,

amazing servers Nicole and Ashley and about 50 friends, we celebrated Paul’s successful “ski day!” The memories created by so many supportive individuals will not soon be forgotten!

Jane Manning // Vancouver n

Backcountry Advisory Backcountry terrain can feel like a magical place. With magnificent mountains and a sea of powder, it provides a great feeling of escaping the crowds and entering the abyss.

However, large responsibility arises as you cross the boundary rope or step away from the trailhead. You are responsible for you and your group’s safety. You are also responsible to ensure you don’t harm others.

As backcountry travel has rapidly escalated in the last decade, it has meant groups have to be mindful and be diligent with backcountry etiquette. This includes: • Ensure you have the proper training to recognize avalanche terrain and perform companion rescue; are carrying the essential gear (transceiver, probe and shovel at the minimum), have trained and equipped partners, and understand the forecasts; • Before descending a slope, ensure there are no groups below you. Should you trigger an

avalanche, having people below it could have severe consequences; • Do not travel straight up commonly descended routes. This seems increasingly common, with parties setting a skin track or boot packing up the guts of common descents.

This dramatically increases your exposure time, increases the likelihood of an avalanche triggered above you, and means you’re a sitting duck without an escape route. There are usually safer routes with less exposure. If this sounds like you, then take a course from the Avalanche Canada training program and ride with experienced people to learn more about travelling through the mountains safely.

We all head to the mountains to experience the magic of them, but the most important thing is coming home safe at the end of the day. Keep the idea of backcountry etiquette in mind during your travels to keep yourself and others safe.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/mountaininfo/snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

Happy Holidays!

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PIQUE N’ YER INTEREST

The case for being kind EARLIER THIS MONTH, Pique ran a letter from a frustrated “part-time” Whistler resident who had a negative experience in the Marketplace IGA parking lot.

It got me thinking a lot about how people treat each other in this town—and the importance of being nice.

BY JOEL BARDE jbarde@piquenewsmagazine.com

“I tried to use my app to park … at Marketplace,” she wrote. “I even looked over at the parking control car and said: ‘there is the [f#$@*&] who is going to try to ticket us.’”

Evidently, the woman and her friends couldn’t pay via the parking app, because their “international data would not work.”

“We ran over to [a coffee shop] to use Wi-Fi and parked the car through the app at 12:29 p.m. The car was ticketed at 12:27 p.m.”

Whistler, the woman pleads, better watch out, as it’s dangerously close to alienating its lifeblood—the millions of tourists who flock here every year.

“I am embarrassed for Whistler to my friends and my guests,” she laments. “This just is not the Whistler I know and love.”

What stuck out to me after reading this

dispatch (apart from how it’s a master class in sounding entitled) was how much it differed from a recent experience I’d had in that very same lot.

A week or so prior, I’d blanked on registering my vehicle at one of the—clearly visible—machines that line the square, and exited the drug store to find a parking attendant in the process of administering a ticket to my car.

It was raining, and the man looked like he’d just finished one of the last legs of the West Coast Trail—exhausted, cold, and wet.

I pleaded with him not give me a ticket, telling him I was about to pay.

The man looked at me, then looked down, at my bags.

I think I smiled, realizing just how ridiculous I must have looked: standing there with all of the evidence he needed to call my BS. Then the parking attendant did something unexpected. He put away his machine and walked away, telling me something along the lines of, “I’m not going to ticket you, because you weren’t a jerk.”

I’ve thought about this small interaction since. Are people constantly being rude to this guy? What would possess someone to take out their frustration on someone who is merely doing their job?

From my vantage point, Whistler is by and large a friendly place. That said,

if you pay attention, you could certainly find examples of less-than-friendly (and downright rude) behaviour.

Recently, I saw a visiting national athlete (complete with one of those matching track-suits emblazoned with his country’s name and flag) badger a cashier to the point where another customer intervened.

And I routinely hear of instances where servers have positive interactions with customers, but don’t receive any tip.

“ ... we also need a cultural and relational revolution.

We need to name the language of a recovered society.”

- DAVID BROOKS

It’s easy enough to chalk this up to a few bad apples, to go on believing that this action-sports oasis doesn’t have any issues with civility (or for that matter clean drinking water).

But really, who are we kidding?

Like any community, there are rude people.

Writing in the American context, New York Times columnist David Brooks has argued that the Donald Trump presidency was fomented by a “spiritual and moral crisis” related to soaring rates of isolation, depression and feelings of economic dislocation.

In a recent TED Talk, Brooks speaks candidly about his own internal crisis, about how, despite his astonishing personal success, he was lonely and isolated. His marriage had failed. He had few real friends.

He had scaled the heights of the meritocracy, but had questions about his greater purpose.

We are in a “national valley” because we do not have a community-minded mindset to balance our personal one, he argues.

“We no longer feel good about ourselves as a people, we’ve lost our defining faith in our future, we don’t see each other deeply, we don’t treat each other as well. And we need a lot of changes. We need an economic change and environmental change. But we also need a cultural and relational revolution. We need to name the language of a recovered society.”

That recovery, I would argue, begins with the dozens of small interactions we have with each other each and every day.

By choosing grace over anger and kindness over meanness, we can change the world for the better—one positive interaction at a time. n

IT’S SNOWMOBILE SEASON! s U h t i W e r u t Adven

CARLETON LODGE | 604.938.1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM DECEMBER 26, 2019

13

136-4220 GATEWAY DRIVE - BLACKCOMB LODGE Enjoy the mountain lifestyle and embrace Whistler Village from this studio suite. The cornerstone building in Whistler Village for 35 years, the Blackcomb Lodge features a sauna, pool & hot tub, a modern lobby and ski/bike rentals on-site. The building shares space with the award-winning Araxi Restaurant in the heart of the village shopping an entertainment action.

Unique Whistler zoning allows the property to earn revenue when not occupied by the owner.

$240,000

Dave Beattie

RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate Whistler PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

604-905-8855 1-888-689-0070 Dave@DaveBeattie.com

Search available homes in the Whistler and Sea to Sky Country area at www.DaveBeattie.com

Nick Davies, Whistler local and experienced family lawyer practising across BC and Yukon.

FIRST PIQUE

Last week, Pique published an article about snowmaking—though it may have saved the start of this winter’s ski season, it’s not without environmental implications. Here’s what some of our Facebook followers had to say about the subject: “The idea that Whistler can ever be a green resort is laughable. Doing more to be energy conscious is admirable but the entire business model of a ski resort relies on reckless consumption.”

“Where’s the argument? There’s no debate to be had. Snowmaking definitely saved the start of the season. It would have been impossible to open before this week, resulting in a serious PR nightmare.”

“What about the 200,000 lbs of salt that goes on Horstman glacier every year? Isn’t that a little more environmentally interesting than water to snow back to water?”

“

Call at 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca

To recap: snowmaking saved the start of the season. It uses significant amounts of largely renewable energy and water to create snow, which then turns back into water.

Maclean Law is headquartered in Vancouver with offices across British Columbia.

“

Horstman House – Benchlands 2.5 BATH

1214 SQFT

Horstman House offers owners one week each month which you can use personally or have the front desk rent it on your behalf. #104 G1 currently has two weeks locked in for Xmas/New Years Eve 2020. Property is fully equipped and is turn key. Walk to Lost Lake, Fairmont Golf Course, and you can ski home right to the back of the building.

$279,000

604.902.6106 josh@joshcrane.ca

DID YOU KNOW

whistlerrealestatemarket.com

$

Stilhavn Real Estate Services 208-1420 Alpha Lake Road, Whistler, BC, V8E 0R8

”

An important detail that the article missed: Not all the water used in snowmaking becomes snow.

Some of it evaporates, or is lost in other ways. One study found that 15% - 40% of the water is lost. So the net effect is a depletion of the groundwater in the area around the ski resort.

4653-104 G1 BLACKCOMB WAY 2 BED

1.6 B

OUR ONLINE CONVERSATION

”

32,000

The number of tourists the UN World Tourism Organization is forecasting that international arrivals are expected to reach by the year 2020. Of these, 1.2 billion will be intraregional and 378 million will be long-haul travellers.

OF INTEREST

No one can deny that Whistler is an extremely photogenic place. With the valley’s majestic mountains, clear blue lakes, and abundant wildlife, it has been a beautiful getaway for lovers of the outdoors for more than a century. Many changes have taken place over those years, and the Whistler Museum and Archives Society is fortunate to have an extensive photo collection that documents most of it. It is amazing how much the valley has changed over the decades, and the ability to actually see the differences through photographs is a great asset for the preservation of Whistler’s history.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

“It’s easy to take the resort of Whistler Blackcomb for granted. After all, it’s a big, successful, [operation] that thrives on the good times of visitors from all over the world,” wrote Vince Shuley in his cover feature in December 2015, “Whistler Blackcomb’s golden jubilee: 50 years of good times and skiable lines.” For the majority of the population that lives in the Whistler Valley, the resort has simply existed from the first day they moved to town, the dual mountains of Blackcomb and Whistler barely fitting into their visual periphery from the village. But like every great enterprise, it all started with a pipe dream. n

The value of the mostexpensive bike stolen in Whistler in 2019. Last year bikes worth a total value of $85,000 were taken by thieves.

604-905-2827 Sharon@wrec.com 1-800=667=2993 Sharonaudley.com

14 DECEMBER 26, 2019

$

P.12

SFU avy study P.16

Monty returns P.74

FREE NOSTALGIA

100,000 The amount budgeted for the Strategic Planning Committee in 2020. It will be used for consultants, surveys and other engagement strategies for the municipally led brain trust.

22.50

Wishing friends, clients and family joy, health & prosperity in the coming year.

Happy Holidays!

WB’s financial strong

December 17th, 2015

|

WHISTLER’S WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE

| www.piquenewsmagazine.com

FOR SALE

9544 EMERALD DRIVE 6 BED | 4 BATH | SUITE | $2,895,000

LOT B-9391 EMERALD DRIVE PEACEFUL | 11,000+ SQ FT LOT | $1,194,000

FOR SALE

David Nagel 604-906-0026

SUTTON GROUP West Coast Realty

wolfofwhistler.ca

NEWS WHISTLER

Tourism Whistler unveils ‘Whistler’s Place Brand’ BASED ON RESIDENT, GUEST AND BUSINESS FEEDBACK, WORK MEANT TO INFORM ‘IDEAL’ TOURISM STRATEGY

BY BRANDON BARRETT AS THE RESORT’S destination marketing organization, Tourism Whistler (TW) has polled thousands of visitors about their experience here. But, notably, it has never undertaken a comprehensive survey of the local resident and business community.

Until now.

At its member and community engagement session on Thursday, Dec. 19, TW gave the public its first glimpse at “Whistler’s Place Brand,” the culmination of more than a year’s work aimed at defining what truly makes Whistler special and charting the longterm vision and strategy for “ideal tourism” into the future. The results are meant to guide not just TW’s marketing, by targeting guests who best match Whistler’s community values and interests, but also to “provide a filter” for local businesses and policy makers to help guide decision-making on things like programming and infrastructure investment.

TW wanted to “really confirm the characteristics and the local spirit of who Whistler truly is,” said TW president and CEO Barrett Fisher in an interview following the presentation. “And why? Because we believe it critically important that a healthy local community will bridge to a vibrant tourist

THRILL SEEKER Tourism Whistler’s place-branding initiative centres around the diversity of thrills you can find in Whistler.

PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER

16 DECEMBER 26, 2019

economy. You need both working in tandem.”

Based on online polls, in-person interviews and workshops, many of the findings reaffirmed what many already know about Whistler’s appeal: its natural beauty, vibrant village, modern infrastructure and international flair. But TW also gained some insights it hadn’t heard before, like how the community inherently magnifies experiences and emotion through its celebratory vibe and “go-all-out” mentality. It also heard how Whistler’s environment is a strong draw, but

promise” built around the many different kinds of thrills that can be found here— and, not just the typical adrenaline-fuelled, outdoor-based thrills immediately associated with Whistler. Initial images from the campaign that TW presented showed, for instance, a diner sabreing a champagne bottle at the Bearfoot Bistro, a woman relaxing in the hydrotherapy baths at the Scandinave Spa, and a hiker on a contemplative hike through the forest.

Like a lot of other destination

“[W]e believe it critically important that a healthy local community will bridge to a vibrant tourism economy.”

- BARRETT FISHER

it’s the culture of the community that serves as the glue that connects people to this place.

“We have been marketing the essence of what makes Whistler special and unique but I think this uncovered some new insights that would lend itself more perhaps to a long-term, sustainable tourism strategy and would assist us in setting goals for how we will continue to sustain a vibrant economy while balancing volumes,” Fisher said.

Armed with those insights, TW has developed what it’s calling its “brand

marketers, TW has increasingly relied on psychographics, the study and classification of consumers according to their values, aspirations and other psychological attributes, in its overall tourism strategy. Through its most recent polling, TW categorized the typical Whistler visitor into five broad categories that went beyond just demographics and geography: the “Purposeful Adventurer,” the thoughtful and educated outdoor enthusiast; the “Sophisticated Escapist”

who may ski along with engaging in other luxury activities; the “YOLO-er,” who is typically younger, confident and willing to challenge themselves while travelling; the “Nostalgic Vacationer” who is slightly older and wants a more rugged destination paired with the level of comfort they can afford; and the “Curious Explorer,” a visitor who may be surprised by what Whistler has to offer beyond outdoor activities, and enjoys shopping and dining with family.

Fisher stressed that the profiles are not intended to be exclusionary, but rather to better inform a self-sustaining, long-term tourism strategy that aligns with Whistler’s ethos.

“We’re trying to ensure that people who are passionate about Whistler, who are supportive of the natural environment are going to, in turn, be visitors who respect and give back rather than tourists who take away. And by ‘take away’ I mean, they’re leaving garbage behind, they’re coming in volumes but not necessarily engaging in our experiences. Maybe they don’t really love our more rugged environment so they go away with not necessarily a positive impression,” she said. “It’s really about the visitor getting what they thought they were going to get. If they get what they thought they were going to get, then they will actually have an amazing experience and tell their friends and have positive word of mouth, and hopefully they’ll come back again and again, rather than them come, be dissatisfied, have locals be dissatisfied, businesses be dissatisfied, and it’s not really

NEWS WHISTLER BO

UG

HT

!

ANOTHER HAPPY CLIENT! 9 - 4 3 3 5 N O R T H L A N D S B LV D ‘THE LAGOONS’ I’m please to have helped another family realize their Whistler dream.

If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in Whistler, please contact me. I’m Here to Help! - Nick

Nick Swinburne

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Engel & Völkers Whistler

NICK SWINBURNE

Phone: +1 (604) 932-8899 Email: nick.swinburne@evrealestate.com

FOR SALE

HAPPY

NEW YEAR!

SENSE OF PLACE Tourism Whistler CEO and president Barett Fisher presents ‘Whistler’s Place Brand” at its

recent members’ meeting, the culmination of a year’s worth of research and polling of residents, visitors and resort businesses.

PHOTO BY BRANDON BARRETT

aligned with our destination, our values, our physical attributes or our intangible characteristics.”

There were some distinct differences in the feedback TW received from locals compared to visitors. Residents, naturally, were wearier of Whistler’s growing popularity, while visitors were more likely to see the resort’s busyness as a contributor to its vibrant, dynamic atmosphere.

“It’s relative to maybe that resident who has lived here for 20 years and has seen a growth in visitation compared to a visitor, who maybe has seen [Whistler] once or twice and think it’s a very exciting place to be,” Fisher explained. “From our perspective, nobody wants to go to a restaurant that’s empty, they want to go somewhere that’s vibrant. We want a vibrant tourism economy, we want people to be enjoying the ambience and the animation. The people themselves create animation. We have twinkly lights and we have entertainment, but there’s a hum when you’ve got people coming to a place to enjoy and laugh and take in the sights. So it’s just about how we manage those volumes.”

Better dispersing visitation across different neigbourhoods outside of the village is one way TW has identified to allay some of the concerns around crowdedness.

Fisher highlighted Creekside as an example of a long-sleepy neighbourhood that is starting to become more of an attraction. “Now they have attracted some significant offerings down there which are actually very unique from elsewhere in the resort, which, in my mind, creates more of a destination draw,” she said. “So then, Tourism Whistler could start looking at how we can promote different neighbourhoods and then how each maybe has a unique character.”

Unsurprisingly, TW also heard from

residents about the challenges around affordability and housing that have persisted in Whistler for several years. Fisher said that, while it’s not in the organization’s purview, other resort partners such as the RMOW and Whistler Chamber are working on these issues to help preserve and sustain Whistler’s unique character for years to come.

“That’s definitely a comment that a lot of the local residents were making, that in order to keep Whistler vibrant, we have to preserve our local community. In order for people to stay here, that means it has to be affordable and all of those things that are important to base living,” she said. “We want to attract people and keep them because that’s going to preserve the culture of Whistler.”

Fisher underlined the need for collaboration in order for Whistler to achieve the right tourism balance that doesn’t dilute the experience here.

“Bringing together the partnerships in the resort through what we loosely refer to as ‘Whistler Inc.’—reenergizing them, reinvigorating them and bringing all the partners together is seen as a priority for the Tourism Whistler board of directors,” she said.

“It’s really about aligning everyone’s interests, and I guess the point is that it’s no longer solely about what the guest wants, it’s the guest and the community working and playing hand in glove.”

Tourism Whistler plans to launch its new brand in May, with a campaign video expected to roll out in the early fall of 2020.

Next year will also see the organization conduct member workshops to connect with local businesses on how they can align with TW’s new brand platform and work with resort partners on completing its longterm tourism vision and strategy. n

7294 Clover Road – Pemberton

Rare Opportunity to own 81.6 acres Build your Dream Estate or Equestrian Opportunity $3,995,000

1456 - 4308 Main Street, Delta Whistler Suites Studio – 1 Bathroom $239,000

265 - 4314 Main Street Town Plaza Studio – 1 Bathroom $669,000

NEW PRICE!

227 - 4314 Main St Town Plaza 1 Bedroom - 1 Bathroom $699,000

420B 2036 London Lane Legends 1/4 share

SOLD!

9120 Emerald Drive Emerald Estates 4 Bedroom - 3 Bathroom $1,420,000

Vacant Lot 12 + Lot 26 The Ridge at Pemberton $379,900 I $459,900

3100 - 1901 Nels Nelson Cresent Revelstoke 3 Bedroom - 2 Bathroom $1,300,000

4912 4th Avenue Smithers, B.C. 7 Bedroom - 4 Bathroom with 1 Bedroom - 1 Bathroom suite $995,000

2 Bedroom – 2 Bathroom $195,000

RE/MAX SEA TO SKY REAL ESTATE M: 604-932-8629 O: 1-888-689-0070

www.morelrealestateteam.com Ursula

Melissa

Connect with us

LOCAL EXPERTS WITH GLOBAL CONNECTIONS Your Real Estate Matchmakers in the “Sea to Sky Corridor”

DECEMBER 26, 2019

17

6715 CRABAPPLE DRIVE

$18,950,000

5454 STONEBRIDGE DRIVE

$22,000,000

5468 STONEBRIDGE PLACE

$12,950,000

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$12,495,000

604.932.7670

where privacy is paramount STONEBRIDGE HOMES & ACREAGE LOTS AVAILABLE

1640 SOUTHLANDS LANE

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3550 FALCON CRESCENT

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32 TREELINE

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6212 OBOE PLACE

$3,195,000

4961 HORSTMAN LANE

$9,000,000

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$3,200,000

2501 GONDOLA WAY

$7,950,000

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$3,179,000

8722 WEDGEVIEW PLACE

$1,550,000

$6,500,000

5638 ALTA LAKE ROAD

$6,250,000

sold

8362 RAINBOW DRIVE

$1,530,000

7281 FITZSIMMONS WALK

E. & O.E. THEWHISTLER REAL ESTATE CO. LTD | 17-4308 MAIN STREET, WHISTLER, BC, V8E 1A9 1.800.667.2993 ALL STATEMENTS BASED UPON WLS TRANSACTIONAL SALES ENDS (VOLUME & VALUE) 1986 - TO DATE

604.932.7670

happy new year & thank you A heartfelt thank you to our clients, colleagues, family and friends for an amazing year - over $156 million in properties sold and under contract. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.

- John, Suzi, Dani, Vicki and Nicole

3RD QUARTER MARKET UPDATE

CHALETS Sales activity remains steady with an average sales value of $2,968,000.

The third quarter of 2019 saw increased sales activity after a slower than average second quarter, bringing activity levels back to that of the last 6 quarters. The current market has stabilized from the frenzied conditions of 2015-2017, although overall sales values remain strong and relatively consistent.

TOWNHOMES & CONDOMINIUMS Townhome inventory has been lower than in previous years, and as such has seen a 10% drop in average sales value to $1,367,967 YTD. The condominium segment is the highest performing sector of market. Sales values have risen 13% YTD to $751,000.

Overall average transaction value YTD is $1,269,800 a slight increase on values from the first quarter. Buyer demand remains strong with continued interest in the resort and high visitation levels.

2932 ANCIENT CEDARS LANE

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FOUR SEASONS RESORT

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NEW CONSTRUCTION FAMILY HOME | 9088 CORDUROY RUN COURT | $2,520,000

AMAZING ROOFTOP PATIO SPACE | 8468 BEAR PAW TRAIL | $3,599,000

PERFECT FAMILY LEGACY HOME | 2116 NORDIC DRIVE | $4,499,000

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NEWS WHISTLER

Lil’wat Function development delayed to 2020 FIRST APPROVED IN 2017, DETAILS REMAIN SCARCE ABOUT WHAT’S BEHIND THE DELAY

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WHILE THE SIGN posted on a Lil’wat Nation development in Function Junction reading “Occupancy Spring 2019” was recently changed to read “Occupancy Fall 2020,” the message about what’s behind the delay remains the same from all parties involved: no comment.

“We received our conditional Development Permit in October 2017. There [were] quite a few conditions and we have been working through them over the past two years. We are involved in on-going discussions regarding several of the items and will not comment at this point,” said Lil’wat Business Group CEO Kerry Mehaffey, in an email.

Both the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure also declined to comment about the delay, deferring instead to the Lil’wat Business Group.

A realtor listed on the development’s sign did not return a call from Pique.

The lands are owned by the Lil’wat Nation through the Legacy Land Agreement of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Plans for the 2.15-hectare site include a gas station and three mixed-use buildings containing office, commercial and residential space (which has been increased from 18 to 48 units since 2017).

The residential units will be 100-percent rental and managed by a third-party property management company.

The conditions required for

through-lane towards the highway, and adding a second northbound through-lane and eastbound turn-lane at the Highway 99 and Alpha Lake Road intersection.

It’s unclear if the traffic improvement plans have changed since first introduced in 2017—earlier this year, Mehaffey said the Lil’wat were still in discussions with the provincial Ministry of Transportation

“[Y]ou don’t want to mess it up, because it is complicated.”

- JORDAN STURDY

approval include planning for localized improvements along the frontage of Alpha Lake Road and consideration for intersection improvements at Highway 99.

The original concept, presented to council in Oct. 2017, showed plans for big revisions to Alpha Lake Road near Highway 99, including realigning Lynham Road to create a new four-way intersection, widening Alpha Lake Road to include a dedicated left-turn lane and a second eastbound

AN EXPANSIVE HOME WITH S T U N N I N G V I E W S

regarding the traffic plan, and couldn’t provide specifics.

Nor could the RMOW. When Pique requested a copy of the project’s traffic impact study through an RMOW Freedom of Information request in April 2018, the request was denied under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (which allows a public body to refuse information requests that might reveal sensitive

information about or related to a third party—the third party in this case, the Lil’wat Nation, requested the records be kept confidential).

While Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy doesn’t have the hard facts behind the delay, what he’s heard through conversations is that it is related to the traffic improvements.

“My understanding is it’s around traffic management—that whole intersection area is problematic,” Sturdy said.

“I have talked to a few people about what’s going on and it sounds like it’s just going around in circles, to some degree, between the municipality, the developer and highways, around how best to manage this egress/ingress.”

The area in question contains an intersection and railroad tracks in close proximity, all just a few dozen metres from the highway.

“I think it’s just a matter of coming to a resolution on what this is going to look like, and you don’t want to mess it up, because it is complicated,” Sturdy said.

“But also I don’t think it’s fair to entirely put the whole obligation on the developer, either. They may be the trigger, to some degree, but that doesn’t mean that they’re the source of all the problems.” n

THE POWER OF CASH FLOW PLUS THE FLEXIBILITY OF P E R S O N A L U S E

3807 SUNRIDGE PLACE $5,390,000

8115 MUIRFIELD CRESCENT NEW $4,980,000

Perched in the exclusive Sunridge Plateau.

The home has ski in access, and is walking distance to Whistler Village. Two-storey floor to ceiling windows provide mountain views flooding your home with natural light. The three spacious bedrooms are all luxuriously outfitted with en-suite bathrooms.

This house is AirBnB allowed and a dream Whistler home. Located on Nicklaus North golf Course This home includes all furnishings.

Features include up to five bedrooms, and 4.5 bathrooms. Large family room with outdoor patio. Private hot tub. Excellent revenue generator.

A F U L LY T U R N - K E Y P R O P E R T Y R E A DY F O R YO U R H O L I DAY ENJOYMENT AND INVESTMENT

惠斯勒欢迎您！ 祝新年健康快乐！

3 7 8 / 3 8 0 - 4 0 5 0 W H I S T L E R W AY $598,000 The Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa is located in Whistler Village. Steps to the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas, shops, restaurants.

This is a 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom locked-off corner suite with two King size beds, a kitchen and a deck with views of the swimming pool, mountain and golf club. The floor plan is flexible to allow separate or combined use.

Ruby Jiang

Personal Real Estate Corp.

Engel & Völkers Whistler

Phone: 778-834-2002 Email: ruby.jiang@evcanada.com

24 DECEMBER 26, 2019

RUBY JIANG

Happy New Year from Sea to Sky Real Estate 7294 Clover Road

$3,995,000

Nestled at the foot of the spectacular Mt. Currie, this privated gated property is a one of a kind opportunity to custon-build your dream estate including your horse barn, caretaker’s suite and many more on acreage which affords privacy, space and the most incredible view of Mt. Currie. Property is 81.6 acres..

Ursula Morel*

4

604.932.8629

3800 Sunridge Place

$8,450,000

9096 Corduroy Run Court

$2,999,950

3129 Hawthorne Place

$2,995,000

New contemporary home by Heritage West Homes with 4600 sqft of living space ready to move into. Stunning main floor of 3500 sqft, 1100 sq ft finished lower level accommodates guests and family gatherings. 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, chef’s kitchen with ample sunshine.

Located 12 minutes from the hills and 5 minutes to shopping at Rainbow.

A Family Home walking distance to Whistler Village. Large Master Suite on the upper level with two ensuited bedrooms off the family room. Two Flex spaces provide for an office or small bedroom. The 15,179 sq foot lot is beautifully treed for privacy and allows for expansion of the home. Matterport 3D Showcase: rem.ax\3129

Ann Chiasson

Ann Chiasson

604.932.7651

8464 Bear Paw Trail

5

$3,595,000

604.932.7651

#108D - 2020 London Lane

3

$124,900

Stunning property designed by Stuart Silk Architects - nestled beside a creek for privacy with gorgeous mountain views, 5 bedrooms, theatre, office, gym, sauna and steam and a bright inviting family room. Boys and girls en-suited bunk bedrooms. Constructed to last with concrete and Corten steel and a copper roof. 3D Showcase: rem.ax/3800sunridge

An amazing Rooftop Deck compliments this well designed 4 bedroom home with private pockets for reading or exercise. A separate 2 bdrm suite is ready for revenue. The family room entices movie and game nights while the main living space allows for gourmet dinners and relaxing afternoons on the decks. 3D Matterport Showcase: rem.ax/8464bp

Evolution is the ultimate ski in / ski out, pet friendly ¼ ownership in Whistler! This corner one-bedroom suite offers everything you would wish for in a vacation property, at a fraction of the cost. The open floor plan features sophisticated design, a fully equipped kitchen, complete with granite countertops and Miele appliances, and an elegant living area.

Ann Chiasson

Ann Chiasson

Dave Beattie*

5

604.932.7651

#21A - 2300 Nordic Drive

$179,000

Looking for a luxury vacation home in the Worlds’ most sought after ski resort? This luxurious ski-in & ski-out townhome is 2,560 sq. ft. & is available for use 5 weeks of the year. Owners choose 2 weeks in the Fall/Winter and 2 weeks in the spring/summer, with 1 week rotating throughout the year. Enjoy all that Whistler Blackcomb has to offer.

Dave Beattie*

3

604.905.8855

#316G2 - 4653 Blackcomb Way

$125,000

604.932.7651

9145 Wedge Creek Rise

6

$749,000

Beautiful estate lot in WedgeWoods where you can start building right away! Build up to 5920 sq ft plus auxiliary building on this 1.112 acre lot. The lot is on a quiet cul-de-sac and offers easy level access, sloping down to Wedge Creek that runs through the bottom of the property. WedgeWoods is just a 12-minute drive from Whistler Village.

Sally Warner*

604.905.6326

#3 - 3502 Falcon Crescent

1

$2,325,000

Great one bedroom quartershare on the view side of Horstman House on Blackcomb. This suite gets the afternoon sun and is brighter than many. It features a fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, 4 piece bathroom, in-suite laundry and comfortably sleeps 4. Enjoy or rent out one week out of every four.

As you walk through the front door of #3 Falcon Ridge, you will be amazed by the absolutely stunning mountain views that you can enjoy from the living and dining area, from the kitchen and from all of the bedrooms. Soak up the sun and natural light with the high vaulted ceilings, and envision yourself sipping your coffee on one of the 2 sundecks.

Sally Warner*

Sally Warner*

604.905.6326

1

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A quiet setting with spectacular views of Blackcomb Mountain. With all the rooms on one level, the open floor plan feels very spacious. Features include 3 full bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen with a new fridge, new carpet throughout, new couch, a 60-gallon hot water tank, gas fireplace and in-suite laundry.

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WedgeWoods is a private 108 lot community with unique privacy and many larger properties.

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604.932.7651

PEMBERTON OFFICE 1411 Portage Road, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L1 604.894.6616 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070

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2 L O C AT I O N S I N W H I S T L E R Mountain Square (McCoo’s) // 604.932.2842 Village Common (McCoo’s Too) // 604.938.9954

locally owned and operated since 1987 /McCoos

We Love Our People The

DREAM TEAM SQUAMISH • WHISTLER • PEMBERTON

DANA FRIESEN SMITH L E A D R E A L TO R ® Whistler / Pemberton

JOCELYN RANDY & CINDY BLAKE & HOLLY SUSANNE & STEVEN N AT H A N I E L DELPHINE SARAH & JOSH M AT T LUCY & TYSON TA N YA & P H I L K R I S TA & E D JAIME & BERTRAND KELLY & CHAD TODD & SARAH KEVIN & MELLE LAURA & POPPY DEB LINDA DOM & CHRISTIAN SHANE & LISA CARA ARAN

KRISTEN DILLON R E A L TO R ® Squamish

208-1420 Alpha Lake Rd Whistler BC

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TOSHI & TOMOKO J O D I E & PAU L PAT & K AT E L Y N B R I T TA N Y & R I C A R D O S A R A H & DAV E BARB & KEVIN SARAH & LEO S A N JAY NEIL & HIMALI MARCUS COLIN & ELISHA ROB & MARILYN DAV E BRIAN DIMITRI MARC CLAIRE JEFF ASHLEY & MIKE DAV E M AT T JUSSI

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604.902.3878

We are so grateful to have the following clients join our big Sea to Sky family in 2019.

NEWS WHISTLER

There was $85K worth of bikes reported stolen in Whistler this year THAT’S UP FROM LAST YEAR, BUT DOWN FROM A RECENT HIGH OF ROUGHLY $300K IN 2016

BY BRANDON BARRETT BEING A HUB for mountain biking has at least one unintended side effect for Whistler: the theft of bikes that can fetch the price of a small car.

One of the more common crimes to grace Whistler’s RCMP’s weekly police report, the detachment has made a concerted, multi-pronged effort to combat bike theft in recent years.

Between April and October 2019, the RCMP recorded approximately $85,000 in reported bike thefts. While that’s more than the $40,000-plus reported in 2018, it should be noted that this year’s total includes a single bike valued in excess of $32,000. It’s also a steep drop from the 58 unrecovered thefts in 2017, valued at an estimated $156,000, and the 94 thefts valued at approximately $300,000 the year prior. (Whistler RCMP did not have the total number of thefts for 2019 tallied yet; the detachment typically presents its annual crime stats to mayor and council in the early New Year.)

Staff Sgt. Paul Hayes has credited the

drop at least in part to the detachment’s baitbike program. The RCMP has partnered with local businesses to secure a rotating fleet of bikes that are strategically placed around the resort. The bikes are monitored 24 hours a day, and, when one is stolen, police dispatch is alerted, and the bike’s exact location can be relayed in real time.

that stretched from the Lower Mainland to Pemberton. At the time, investigators said it was likely a small group of offenders responsible for the majority of offences.

These days, bike theft is big business, valued at $650 million annually in North America. In Vancouver, bikes often double as street currency and can be easily traded

“Word is getting out that stealing a bike in Whistler is just not worth the effort.”

- PAUL HAYES

Police said the initiative has been especially useful in identifying prolific, repeat offenders, many of whom travel from the Lower Mainland and beyond to specifically target the kinds of expensive, high-end bikes found in Whistler, usually with the intention of selling them elsewhere.

In the spring, for instance, North Vancouver RCMP warned of a string of thefts

for drugs. It’s not uncommon for dealers to sell hot bikes on Craigslist as a lucrative side hustle, police say.

Interestingly, Whistler RCMP said no bait bikes were taken this spring and summer. Although there’s no way to be sure, Hayes said it appears that “word is getting out that stealing a bike in Whistler is just not worth the effort.

“The Whistler RCMP will continue to employ various overt and covert ways to catch thieves in our community, which will include a robust bait bike program in 2020.”

The other major effort police have taken up is partnering with 529 Garage, a bike registration and recovery service launched by former Microsoft executive and avid mountain biker J Allard (born James).

Police can be limited in their ability to recover stolen bikes given that many owners don’t record their serial number, meaning investigators often only have a physical description to go off of—which, typically, is not enough to warrant a charge, even after a bike is found. With 529 Garage, users record their serial number and upload photos and a detailed description of their bike. After a bike is stolen, users can search the database by make and model, and an alert is sent out to members, police and bike shops within a 15-kilometre radius.

Local police have so far helped register hundreds of bikes to the app, setting up at popular local events like Granfondo Whistler. Across B.C., there are now more than 100,000 registered users on the app.

Learn more at project529.com/garage. n

SO

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28 DECEMBER 26, 2019

604-905-8912

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$120 million / 100+ properties sold in 2018 and 2019* DAVEBURCH.CA

C: 604.935.7913

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

David Nagel, Realtor 604-906-0026 I wolfofwhistler.ca

to the BEST peeps in Whistler

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JOERN ROHDE PHOTOGRAPHY

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NEWS WHISTLER

Not business as usual in the Whistler backcountry, say experts LOW SNOWPACK AND ‘PERSISTENT SLAB’ CAUSE FOR CONCERN; AVALANCHE CANADA ISSUES WARNING FOR SEA TO SKY

BY JOEL BARDE EXPERTS ARE WARNING that an unusual, early-season snowfall pattern has created an unstable snow base that is uncommon for the Coast Mountain range— and particularly hazardous.

The problem stems from a melt-freeze crust that formed on the developing snowpack in mid-November.

A layer of unstable, faceted snow— which is sugar-like in texture and has weak bonds holding it together—formed atop that layer, heightening the risk of avalanches on certain slopes.

Mike Conlan, a public avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada, said that what we are seeing in the corridor is typically found in a “continental” snowclimate, with the Western Canada Rocky Mountains serving as a prime example.

“They generally have a relatively thin snowpack and cold air, which weakens the snow,” said Conlan. “What we have on the coast is very similar to what the Rocky Mountains experience generally.”

Conlan referred to the issue as a “persistent slab” avalanche problem.

And while he foresees the precarious

“melt-freeze layer” gaining strength over time, that could take weeks or months and is entirely dependent on the weather.

“It will slowly start to gain strength—but very slowly,” said Conlan. “It takes weeks to months for a persistent slab problem to go away, generally [speaking].”

Snow depth information from the Squamish River Snow Pillow (1,340 metres), he added, indicates that there were only 28 centimetres of snow in November.

That compared to 61 cm in November 2018 and 178 cm in November 2017.

Backcountry recreationalists should stick to conservative terrain and not assume that the snowpack will behave like it has in previous years, said Conlan, noting that even “moderate gradient” slopes can pose an avalanche threat.

“Typically, within two to three days of a storm, the avalanche danger has decreased quite a bit,” he said, speaking specifically about Sea-to-Sky backcountry conditions.

“When we have a persistent weak layer within the snowpack, it will take longer for the avalanche danger to decrease.”

In a Dec. 15 report on the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides website, guide Brad White wrote that the current snowpack structure along the Spearhead Traverse is a “loaded gun” waiting for upcoming storms.

LONG WAY UP The dynamic of go-to Sea to Sky backcountry locations, including the Callaghan, has changed due to a relatively low snow base and a ‘persistent slab’ that is seen as being particularly hazardous.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA NOEL

“This layer has been the failure layer for several persistent slab avalanches that have been both skier triggered or sympathetically released [released in direct response to the release of a nearby avalanche],” read White’s report.

“The upcoming period is a time to stick to conservative, low-angle terrain and be

aware of the potential for overhead slopes or nearby steep slopes that may effect.”

Speaking from the Callaghan area, Ross Berg, owner and head guide for Altus Mountain Guides, said that while there is enough snow to be ski touring, the avalanche conditions that he’s seen are “very different” from previous years.

“It’s going to be a pretty widespread challenging instability that I think the coast is not really used to dealing with,” said Berg, who was taking a break from running an avalanche course.

Berg added that the hot summer and last year’s relatively low snowfall led to a significant amount of glacial melt, leading to an additional hazard in the form of crevasses that now have a thin layer of snow on them (a major hazard to anyone who might try to ski over top of them).

And while he doesn’t want to scare anyone away, Berg said it is important that all backcountry recreationists take a cautious approach and fully appreciate that this season isn’t business as usual.

People, he said, shouldn’t assume that they can ski in the same way they have in previous years.

“The mentality just needs to shift to represent the actual conditions—not common practices,” said Berg. n

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32 DECEMBER 26, 2019

20th ANNIVERSARY!

NEWS WHISTLER

Budget 2020: Strategically planning for the next 20 years in Whistler STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE LOOKS AHEAD TO A BIG 2020

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WHISTLER’S NEW Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)—launched in the direct aftermath of the 2018 municipal election—is looking ahead to a big 2020.

The 11-person committee now has two meetings under its belt, most recently convening on Dec. 10.

“We’re taking preliminary steps. We’re setting the course for the work of the SPC,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.

“Staff is working on data analytics and metrics that will be returned to the committee in Q2, Q3 (of 2020).”

A report to council on the SPC’s work will follow around that time as well, Crompton said.

Whistler’s 2020 budget includes $100,000 for the SPC’s work, and another $75,000 in 2021.

“It will be used to commission data analytics to model how Whistler has evolved as a community over recent years, and use it as a base to predict future growth scenarios,” Crompton said, adding that the budget also covers stakeholder engagement.

An open house will be held sometime in the new year to gather feedback from

the community.

While it’s still early in the process, the SPC is probing topics like resort and community capacity, land use, guiding metrics and housing, Crompton said.

“The SPC very much takes the Official Community Plan (OCP) and puts it to work,” Crompton said.

“There aren’t any aspects of the way our community operates that are outside the OCP, so it’s intentionally broad.”

The OCP, which received third reading on July 23, will be up for adoption sometime in the new year.

“We’re closer than we’ve ever been,” Crompton said.

Whistler’s SPC consists of Crompton, chief administrator Mike Furey, general manager of resort experience Jan Jansen, director of planning Mike Kirkegaard, members-atlarge Emily Amirault, Dave Brownlie, David Dale-Johnson, Robyn Spencer and Dave Williamson, as well as councillors Duane Jackson and Arthur De Jong.

“It’s a real privilege to be on that committee. We’re very much still at the initiation phase, really trying to determine what our overall objectives or outcomes are that we want from it,” De Jong said, adding that the issues at the forefront, in his opinion, are climate change and the impact

of changing technology.

“We’ve been on … the most significant growth curve ever in the last four years. In reality, in the next 20, we’re going to see periods of decline, and I’m just saying it with respect to the cyclical nature of weather and economy and geopolitics,” De Jong said.

“So it’s twofold for me: How do we ensure that we manage growth well when

“How do we ensure that we manage growth well ... but also, how do we build deep resilience for downturns?”

- ARTHUR DE JONG

we have it, but also, how do we build deep resilience for downturns?”

Furey, who will step into a new role as chief of strategic policy and partnerships when a new CAO is hired in 2020, said the key is in understanding the resort’s

“balanced carrying capacity.” “[It’s] a challenging question … If you hypothetically look at different scenarios, what are the impacts, and the economic model will hopefully understand what those impacts are,” he said.

Significant growth—or decline—will have an impact on everything from sewer basics to business to housing demand, Furey said.

With proper data analytics and modelling, the SPC can determine what those impacts are before decisions are made at the council table.

“Once we get through that it will be something like informed thinking and informed consideration,” he said.

The $100,000 budgeted for the SPC in 2020, which will cover the cost of consultants, surveys and the like, will be money well spent, the mayor believes.

“It’s an investment that really sets the course for the next 10, 20, 30 years as we approach decision-making. It’s one of the most critical investments I think we’ll make,” Crompton said.

“We want to understand what’s happening economically, environmentally and socially. So it’s a spend that lays the foundation for a lot of work that comes after it.” n

A WARM AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY AMAZING CLIENTS IN 2019!

Your business means the world to me & I look forward to helping you & your referrals in the future!

If you are interested in real estate in Whistler/Pemberton, you need a professional active in the market to help you navigate your way. I specialize in investment properties & have the expertise to make your buying and/or selling experience an easy & enjoyable one. Call me today to find out how I can help you!

Wishing everyone all the happiness & prosperity in 2020!

MADISON PERRY sea to sky realtor

MADISON@MADISONPERRY.COM

778.919.SOLD 34 DECEMBER 26, 2019

To all my clients, colleagues, friends & family for making 2019 another successful year.

A special thank you to my licensed assistant, Jamie Dowling.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2020!

cell: 604.932.9590 toll free 1.800.667.2993, ext. 838 email: marika@wrec.com

NEWS WHISTLER

Report on Whistler speed limits expected in the new year RESIDENTS IN MULTIPLE NEIGHBOURHOODS HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WHISTLER RESIDENTS wishing to see reduced speed limits in residential zones will want to keep their eyes on the council table in the new year.

A report discussing adjusting residential speed limits is coming to council on Jan. 21, said Mayor Jack Crompton at the Dec. 17 meeting.

The comment came in response to a letter from Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes, asking for support for a Saanich initiative to “modernize the Motor Vehicle Act.” “The current legislative reality of enacting municipal bylaws to change the speed limit on every block of every street is an administrative burden, but not one that can’t be overcome. Rather, it is the financial burden and visual clutter of having to install the tens of thousands of signs provincewide that is at issue,” Haynes wrote.

“More importantly, the current piecemeal nature in which speed limits are being lowered lacks consistency, effectiveness and safety. More costeffective, consistent and safer solutions rest with changes that can be made through the Motor Vehicle Act.”

SPEED DEMONS Residents in Cheakamus Crossing are fed up with people speeding in the neighbourhood. A report on speed limits in Whistler neighbourhoods is expected in early 2020.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

The issue of residential speeding is nothing new in Whistler.

At its Sept. 3 meeting, council received no fewer than 82 pieces of correspondence urging it to reduce the speed limit on Nicklaus North Boulevard from 50 kilometres/hour to 30 km/h.

Residents in other neighbourhoods like Rainbow and Cheakamus Crossing have also raised the issue of traffic safety.

“I was contacted by a member of the Nicklaus North neighbourhood … They’re very keen to see those changes and it will be good for them to know that they can expect to see something [at council on] Jan. 21,”

said Councillor Cathy Jewett.

The Dec. 17 council package also included a letter from a Cheakamus resident raising concerns with speeding (though that neighbourhood is already a 30/km zone).

Council has heard from more than one Cheakamus resident about the issue, said Coun. Jen Ford.

“A friend of mine, her seven-year-old daughter was hit by a car in Cheakamus, and had done all the right things—she looked both ways, she was crossing a crosswalk, it was light of day,” Ford said.

“So there are challenges with speed,

other communities are recognizing it, [and] this is a great piece of advocacy for our community to join.”

Ford said she would also advocate at the Union of BC Municipalities through her role as third vice president.

The letter was received and referred to staff.

Crompton said he has also been touch with Insp. Kara Triance, officer-in-charge for the RCMP’s Sea to Sky region, about the issue in Cheakamus.

“She has passed it on to her team and they will be taking enforcement action down there,” he said. “So there is more to it, but that is one of the tools that we have, and they will be down there.”

Last February, Ford attended the Vision Zero Summit in Surrey, where close to 100 road safety experts, municipal government staff, civic leaders, researchers and public health professionals discussed the issue of road safety.

One of her takeaways from the event, she said at a subsequent council meeting, was that a 30 km/h speed limit makes sense, as research shows the probability of pedestrian survival is about 90 per cent if struck by a vehicle at that speed, but reduced to 20 per cent if struck by a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h. n

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36 DECEMBER 26, 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 8279 ALPINE WAY • $2,349,000

End of a cul-de-sac, extremely private, sunny setting with incredible panoramic views of Whistler and Blackcomb Mtns. Large flat lot, beautifully landscaped, grassed yard. Modernized cabin (3 bdrm/2 bath) or build a 5000+ sq.ft. dream home.

415 WOODRUN • $1,399,000

Ski-In Ski Out very spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom fourth floor unit located on the quiet side of the building. Concrete building with common hot tub and swimming pool, central heating, underground parking, year round front desk.

2 BASALT • $1,899,000

1087 MADELEY PLACE • $2,049,000

Stunning new contemporary mountain home duplex in Cheakamus Crossing. Great views.

3 Bedroom, 3.5 Bathroom + media room. Modern, in-floor radiant heating throughout, top end appliances, private hot tub. double car garage.

Contemporary family home in sunny Cheakamus. 4 bdrms, 2.5 bath + large media/games room. Polished concrete flr w radiant heat, top end kitchen appliances, built by Vision Pacific. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac, private setting.

9567 EMERALD DRIVE • $1,499,000

13/13A GLACIERS REACH • $1,099,000

10,000 sq ft vacant lot available on a very quiet street in tranquil Emerald Estates. Bright and sunny all day, level, easy to build on 90 ft wide frontage. Private, backs onto lush Forest filled w trails and a swimming lake.

One level ‘lock-off’ townhome, two separate entrances with two decks enabling two stand alone rental units. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, private hot tub. Nicely Updated. Zoning allows unlimited personal use and/or rental income. GST Paid.

MARSHALL VINER PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

t: 604.935.2287 e: marshall@marshallviner.com marshallviner.com

BASALT LIVING WHISTLER IN CHEAKAMUS CROSSING 5 UNITS AVAILABLE STARTING AT $1,799,000.00 · Steam shower · Large covered decks · Private Jacuzzi hot tub · Electric blinds in master bedroom and living area · Charging station for an electric car · Pre-plumbed for air conditioning · Concrete demising wall · Sub Zero integrated fridge · Wolf range · Natural gas fireplace · In-floor radiant heat · Custom master bathroom and walk-in closet

T: 604.698.7347 E: steve@steveshusterrealestate.com steveshusterrealestate.com

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Pemberton’s second cannabis production facility gets the government’s seal of approval COAST MOUNTAIN CANNABIS INC. AIMS TO OFFER HIGH QUALITY, ORGANIC-CERTIFIED ‘CRAFT CANNABIS’

BY JOEL BARDE PEMBERTON-BASED Coast Mountain Cannabis Inc. (CNC) has received a federal licence to grow and sell cannabis, allowing it to put into effect a plan that’s been years in the making.

Founded by four partners in 2016, CNC applied to for a licence to cultivate, process, and sell for medical processes in March 2017, in the lead up to legalization.

“Back in those days, it was a very extensive 700-page document that you had to submit to Health Canada with all your security plan and your building plans,” said Andrew Ellott, who owns the 22-bay building in the Pemberton industrial park that the company will operate out of.

(The licence CNC was granted allows the company to sell both to the medical and recreational markets under the federal government’s cannabis regulation framework, added Ellott.)

CMC intends to cultivate, process

CRAFTED SUCCESS The team at Coast Mountain Cannabis are taking a smaller-scale approach to growing cannabis, producing organic certified “craft cannabis.” From left to right: Bob Balek, Brishna Kamal, Sean Hevesy, Mallory Lakins, ShyAnne Gunville, Andrew Ellott, and Tyler Burslem.

PHOTO BY JORGE ALVAREZ

38 DECEMBER 26, 2019

and sell a full suite of cannabis products, including dried and trimmed cannabis and oils, for both medical and recreational use.

In early 2018, the company put together an investor group, raising a little more than $500 million, and then went onto implement Phase 1 of its business plan April 2018.

(4,645-square-metre) facility operating at full capacity in 2021. The facility foresees 14 grow rooms and an oil extraction and processing lab.

Upon completion, CMC anticipates producing around 4 million grams of ultrapremium certified organic cannabis.

“We’ve created what I would consider very well-paid jobs close to where people live.”

- ANDREW ELLOTT

“At some point during the process, you’ve got to jump off the cliff, if you like, and spend the money to build a building even without the licence,” said Ellott.

CMC has built a 17,000-square-foot (1,579-square-metre) operation, which includes offices, a reception, changing rooms, a genetics room and a shipping and receiving area.

“We have about another third of the building that is currently under demolition ready for Phase 2,” added Ellott.

In a release, CNC said it is preparing a second push to raise private capital in early 2020 to fully fund Phase 2 construction.

Its aim is to build a 50,000-square-foot

Ellott said that legalization has led to “mass production” of cannabis, and that CNC is seeking to take a smaller-scale approach, producing organic certified “craft cannabis.”

“Watching what’s happening since legalization in 2018, it’s been a little bit disappointing to see, mass production techniques, people doing a million-, 2-million-square-foot facilities and maybe losing sight of what we’re really trying to do here, [which is] to grow quality cannabis,” said Ellott, adding that the company currently has eight employees, with six of them based in Pemberton.

Next summer, that will likely rise to

about 20 employees.

“We’ve created what I would consider very well-paid jobs close to where people live,” he said.

The Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation, which sold to Edmontonbased Aurora Cannabis in January 2019 in a deal worth $175 million, also operates a facility in the industrial park.

The industrial park is zoned for cannabis production, said Village of Pemberton (VOP) Mayor Mike Richman, but VOP council has placed a moratorium on further licences out of concerns about water consumption.

“We purchase our water in the industrial park [from the] Lil’wat Nation, and we’re currently finishing up a water agreement and usage agreement,” he said.

“Cannabis production can use a fair bit of water, so we put a moratorium [on new production facilities] until we’ve completed the negotiation with Lil’wat.”

The Pemberton industrial park has gained traction in recent years, with an increasingly diverse selection of businesses, following the trajectory of Whistler’s Function Junction neighbourhood.

Richman said it is important to have a diverse array of businesses in the area in the longterm.

“We really want to encourage a lot of different businesses to be able to come into the park and set up,” he said. n

Thank you.

A simple thank you to all my clients and colleagues who made 2019 such a success.

Hannah Garcia Personal Real Estate Corp.

604.966.8941 hannahgarcia.com

WHISTLER VANCOUVER NORTH SHORE

*According to sales report in the WLS

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Pemberton Secondary School takes a pledge SCHOOL PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE INSTANCES OF LATERAL VIOLENCE

BY JOEL BARDE THE HIGH SCHOOL experience is

Wishing you joy.

Sending you thanks.

As this decade comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank my clients for trusting me to help find them their luxury Whistler dream homes. I have had the privilege to work with hundreds of buyers to find special family homes where their children, and now their children’s children, congregate year after year, season after season to create lasting memories. I enjoy working hard to find the right legacy home for your family.

Here are some of the addresses of some of these beautiful, timeless, generational homes in the neighborhoods where I love to work and live: 3816 Sunridge Place

7445 Tree Top Lane

3810 Sunridge Place

7456 Tree Top Lane

3807 Sunridge Place

6955 Crabapple on the Lake

2986 High Point - Kadenwood 7425 Tree Top Lane 7437 Tree Top Lane

Four Seasons Private Residences numbers #51 #48 #52 #36

If you have yet to find your Whistler dream home, or if you are thinking of listing in 2020, please give me a call. I have the knowledge and experience, access to local and global networks, plus the dedication to get you the results you want.

604.905.9105 shauna@shaunaocallaghan.com I’M LOCAL I’M GLOBAL I’M B.C. 40 DECEMBER 26, 2019

different for everyone. While some refer to it as the best years of their lives, others can’t wait to be done with it, enduring bullying at the hands of others—who are often suffering with their own internal struggles.

A new initiative from the Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society (SSHS) and Pemberton Secondary School (PSS) aims to encourage kinder, more thoughtful behaviour among the school’s student body.

The Kindness Pledge lays out some guidelines for being a kind person, including completing a “simple act of kindness every day” and listening “without judgment.”

“I will let people know that I care—by my words, and my actions. I will live in kindness, I will care for myself so that I may be more caring towards others,” the pledge reads.

The kindness pledge was originally designed by the SSHS, and was modified by PSS staff to be more inclusive and directive, while still addressing its core aim: to reduce instances of lateral violence.

“My goal is to spread lateral kindness rather than lateral violence,” said Brittani Peters, a Lil’wat Nation Indigenous culture and language worker, who brought the initiative to PSS in coordination with fellow Indigenous support worker Helena Edmonds.

“There’s too much lateral violence within our communities. We need to bring back kindness and an understanding of how kindness feels in our heart.”

Signatories, she added, are required to have a guardian take the pledge.

Peters said that this allows the pledge’s message to be amplified.

“If someone sees our youth and young ones being kind, it makes a big impact on everyone,” she added.

As part of the school initiative, students are being awarded “kindness tickets” when they do something nice.

These tickets will in turn be entered in an end-of-year draw, said Peters.

The pledge is part of a much larger initiative, called the Kindness Project, which was launched by the SSHS at the Xet’olacw Community School in Mount Currie in April 2019.

The aim of the project is to restore and strengthen traditional Stl’atl’imx values of kindness and respect and combat issues of lateral violence, which can be defined as taking the anger that should be directed at a person that hurt you and turning it towards a peer, community member or even family member.

Among the Kindness Project’s core teachings is that everybody matters and is worthy of respect.

As part of the project, a host of Stl’atl’imx

GOOD CAUSE Indigenous support workers Helena Edmonds (shown in forefront) and Brittani Peters brought the Kindness Pledge to Pemberton Secondary School as a way to reduce instances of lateral violence.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

musicians produced an album, The Kindness Project, which went on to win a Native American Award for Best Linguistic and Historical Recording (thanks in no small part to Peters, who sang on the CD.) Rosemary Stager, health director for the SSHS, launched the kindness pledge at PSS with a Dec. 13 presentation at the school. She said she hopes students choose a “kinder response” to the challenges they face day to day.

In her presentation, Stager wove in some Canadian history from a First Nations’ perspective, highlighting the connection between residential schools and lateral violence.

It is important to understand that lateral violence is not confined to people who went to residential school, that the legacy of residential schools has extended through generation to present day, she told Pique.

On a positive note, Stager said she is encouraged about how First Nations’ history is now woven into school curriculum in ways that it previously hadn’t been.

“A lot of First Nation kids look around and say, ‘Why are so many of our people poor, while my other friends, who are white, seem more well off?’” said Stager.

She recalled that when she explained some of the underlying reasons to her son, he had a eureka moment. “He said, ‘Mom, I wish a lot of native kids knew this. It would make them feel a lot better about themselves,’ explained Stager.

“A lot of [kids] don’t understand the social dynamics on why things are the way they are.”

To learn more about the kindness project, check out www.sshskindnessproject.ca. n

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DISPATCHES OUT OF RANGE

High Mountain Summit delivers call to action

BY LYNN MARTEL A THREE-DAY High Mountain Summit, which took place in Geneva Switzerland, has resulted in the adoption by countries around the world of scientific research systems that were developed in Western Canada’s mountains.

The summit was co-chaired by Dr. John Pomeroy, Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change and director of Global Water Futures (GWF) and the University of Saskatchewan’s Coldwater Laboratory, located in the Canadian Rockies.

Attended by nearly 200 delegates from 44 countries including Canada, the US, Argentina, China, Pakistan and Norway, participants included scientists, researchers, government ministers and funding agencies including the World Bank.

Key organizing team member, Bob Sandford, Chair of Water Security with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health collaborated with experts to outline the summit’s program, and to draft the call to action.

“The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized the Summit because of threats from climate change to the high mountains around the world,” said

HIGH PRAISE Dr. John Pomeroy, second from left

(looking at the camera) accepts his Royal Society of Canada Miroslaw Romanowski Medal, along with other medal and award recipients.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

42 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Pomeroy. “High mountains are where the rapidly changing atmosphere intersects with snow and ice, key ecosystems, diverse societies and the headwaters for rivers that support over half of humanity.”

Melting snow and glaciers have already passed many tipping points, added Pomeroy, while treeline and shrubs are advancing into alpine tundra and streams are warming.

“These changes affect not only the high mountains, but also the sustainability of mountain and downstream communities for water, food and energy security,” he said. “The world requires better information and predictions for the high mountains.”

The call to action is to be implemented by governments and scientific research programs around the world under the convening leadership of WMO. Through it, improved and integrated observation and prediction systems developed in Western Canadian mountains to provide enhanced early warning for floods and droughts will be adopted by other mountain countries.

“The outcomes of the summit should be of interest to all Canadians,” said Sandford.

“The high mountain regions of the world are now warming at the same rate as the Arctic, which is already warming three to five times faster than the equatorial regions.

Alarmingly, climate change effects in both the Arctic and the world’s high mountains are now beginning to appear and persist 50 to 70 years ahead of when they were projected.”

Canada encompasses the Arctic and high mountain ranges, he added, explaining: “If climate impacts in these regions are accelerating, we should not expect it to take long for the same impacts

to appear in advance of projection further south at all altitudes and latitudes.”

In the wake of ice and permafrost loss resulting in landslides, massive rockfall and floods, Switzerland recently joined 16 other countries including Sweden, France and Britain in pledging to end all CO2 emissions by 2050 by incorporating their commitment into national law.

It’s exciting, Pomeroy said, to watch an idea born in the Canadian Rockies result in a global call to action.

“It’s wonderful to see the idea that became the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory, the Coldwater Laboratory and eventually Global Water Futures (GWF) adopted as the international blueprint for helping to save mountain ecosystems, water and communities from the impacts of climate change,” said Pomeroy.

“It shows that Alberta can export more than oil; it can export ideas that can help the world deal with the impacts of human-caused climate change to make our communities safer and more sustainable.”

Pomeroy was also recently recognized for his work, being awarded the prestigious Royal Society of Canada (RSC) Miroslaw Romanowski Medal for how his research has dramatically improved the understanding and prediction of hydrology and climate where snowcovers form and where melting snow and ice provide freshwater.

As director of Global Water Futures, the largest freshwater research program in the world, he is tasked with finding solutions to water threats in an era of global change.

“His research explores fundamental hydrological processes in the field and

predicts future water supply and quality using sophisticated computer simulation models,” said the RSC in a release. “He is the world’s most cited snow hydrologist.”

As GWF director, Pomeroy leads a team of researchers conducting studies focused on how snow is distributed within a watershed, how the snowcover evolves through the winter season and how this relates to energy balance. These, and other studies, have helped define current understanding on a global scale of how climate warming is impacting the Earth’s cold regions.

“I was very surprised and am very grateful for the medal,” Pomeroy said. “I have spent much of my life researching water because it is interesting and enjoyable, and because I hoped it would someday be useful to someone. I have been very fortunate to have had the experience of working with great teams. It’s wonderful to have our research recognized in this manner.”

Established in 1994, the Miroslaw Romanowski Medal is awarded annually in recognition of scientific work relating to environmental problems.

Learning that the Romanowski Medal comes with a cross-Canada lecture tour, which he will deliver next fall, was icing on the cake, Pomeroy added.

“The tour will be a chance to describe the results of our scientific investigations on snow, ice, water and climate from western and northern Canada to people across the country and to talk to them about their water issues,” Pomeroy said.

“I am also hoping it might inspire young scientists to take up the challenge and find the excitement that I have found about this field of study.” n

Seeking applications for Advisory Design Panel The Resort Municipality of Whistler is seeking qualified applicants to serve in a voluntary capacity on the Advisory Design Panel for 2020 in the position of regular member.

There is one vacancy available for a two year term. All regular members must be entitled to be registered as an elector to vote in Whistler’s municipal elections and one of the regular members must have professional expertise in the development industry.

The Advisory Design Panel is a Council-appointed committee that meets monthly and advises on matters concerning the design of the built environment in Whistler. Download terms of reference at whistler.ca/committees.

To apply submit a resume and brief statement that reflects your interest in participating on this committee by email to planning@whistler.ca or mail: Advisory Design Panel c/o Karen Olineck Resort Municipality of Whistler 4325 Blackcomb Way

Phone 604-935-8170 or email planning@whistler.ca for more information.

2019

Whistler, BC V8E 0X5

Application deadline: January 10, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

Whistler Measuring Up Select Committee of Council Membership The Resort Municipality of Whistler is seeking qualified applicants to serve in a voluntary capacity on the Measuring Up Select Committee of Council for 2020. Applications are being sought for two community members.

The Measuring Up Select Committee of Council is a volunteer committee appointed by Council to advise on matters concerning accessibility and inclusion in Whistler. The Committee’s Terms of Reference can be downloaded at www.whistler.ca/committees.

Nominees must be entitled to be registered as an elector and to vote in Whistler’s municipal elections and have first-hand knowledge of the issues and challenges facing persons with disabilities living in and visiting Whistler. Examples of eligible nominees include: • Persons with disabilities; • Caregivers; and • Professionals in the accommodation or tourism sectors whose roles include inclusion and accessibility.

Apply by submitting a brief statement that reflects your interest in participating on this committee to the Planning Department: by mail:

Planning Department Resort Municipality of Whistler 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC V8E 0X5 by email: planning@whistler.ca Phone: 604-935-8170 Submission deadline: January 10, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca DECEMBER 26, 2019

43

ECOLOGIC

Tis the Season IT’S NOT NECESSARILY Christmas-

THANK YOU! Words alone can’t express the gratitude I feel.

Thank you to all of my new clients in 2019 and to those I’ve worked with in the past for their continued support.

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2019 CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE Sunday, Dec 22nd

CHRISTMAS DAY, Wednesday, Dec 25th

Whistler, Our Lady of the Mountains 9:00 am Mt. Currie, St. Christopher’s 11:00 am Pemberton, St. Francis of Assisi 12:30 pm

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CHRISTMAS EVE, Tuesday, Dec 24th

NEW YEAR’S EVE, Tuesday, Dec 31st

Vigil of Christmas Mt. Currie, St. Christopher’s 5:00 pm Pemberton, St. Francis of Assisi 7:00 pm Whistler, Westin Resort & Spa, Ballroom - carolling 10:30 pm - mass 11:00 pm

44 DECEMBER 26, 2019

10:00 am

Whistler, Our Lady of the Mountains 5:00 pm

NEW YEAR’S DAY, Wednesday, Jan 1st

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motivated PR, but recent moves by big outdoor companies to get on board (and drive, in some cases) the sustainability train continue to be impressive. This is a good thing not only for what it achieves, but for the message it sends and the smaller boats that will inevitably rise on this tide.

To start, outdoor clothing company Arc’teryx pledged to match all donations made on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3) to the climate education group Protect Our Winters (POW), up to a total of $60,000. That’s a handy leg-up for the active organization as we head into the season it advocates for. To encourage individuals to donate, Arc’teryx

invoked a time-honoured mechanism that always works for gearheads: every $50 or more saw the donor entered in a draw for an outerwear ensemble.

Arc’teryx sees its partnership with POW as an opportunity to promote climate protection, aided by the actions of the ambassadorial athletes it sponsors. This particular donation, for instance, coincided with the launch of Arc’teryx/POW/Salomon athlete Greg Hill’s film Electric Greg. It’s the latest electric adventuring joint by Whistler’s Switchback Entertainment involving the Revelstoke ski mountaineer who has dedicated himself to climatefriendly adventuring.

And then there’s Patagonia, whose latest tag line—We’re in business to save our home planet—sees the company stepping up on a range of fronts.

An area that Patagonia pioneered and remains focused on is upcycling.

Acknowledging that the extraction and processing of virgin materials takes a toll on land, water and air, the company continues toward 100 per cent renewable and recycled raw materials. To that end, its latest collection of Recycled Black Hole bags—a water resistant, tough-as-nails gear-hauler—also reduces the amount of waste being thrown into landfills. Some 10 million plastic bottles went into building the fully recycled body fabric and webbing for this year’s line.

But buying everything new is for schmucks, right? So how about this: now you can also rent Patagonia gear. In midDecember, at its new flagship retail store in Denver, Patagonia introduced a reliable option for renting prime snow outerwear by being the first apparel brand to partner with Awayco, a premium outdoor rental platform. Building on the brand’s ethos of reducing unnecessary impact wherever possible, this alternative to purchasing gear includes technical ski and snowboard outerwear, as well as packs for men, women and kids. Even better, the process is dead simple: browse and reserve premium gear on Awayco.com, pick up and return it at Patagonia Denver.

Finally, on Dec. 16, Patagonia also announced that over 17 days, its community had raised $10 million in donations to 1,043 grassroots environmental organizations.

It started on Black Friday, when Patagonia committed to match individual donations made between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31, 2019, to a US$10 million limit. “We’re energized by our community’s response,” said Lisa Pike Sheehy, who leads Patagonia’s environmental activism team. “Together we made history ...

This is extraordinary generosity to some of the most deserving and underappreciated efforts to save the planet.”

Donations were made through Patagonia Action Works, a platform that connects individuals with local grassroots organizations that are taking action on a range of pressing issues. Plaudits rolled in from recipients.

Thanks to Patagonia’s donation matching, we can launch environmental campaigns in up to five more countries next year, resulting in new laws that protect rivers, oceans and forests,” said Earth Law Center’s executive director and directing attorney, Grant Wilson. Brian Sybert of the Conservation Lands Foundation said, “[It’s] a phenomenal end-of-year boost … which will help make sure … 70 community-based groups throughout the West and in Alaska— [have] the capacity and resources to hold the line against the Trump administration’s aggressive campaign to weaken protections and reduce public input on dozens of iconic public lands that they want to hand over to oil and gas development.”

Other beneficiaries include: the Environmental Defense Center, fighting to prevent a tripling of onshore oil production in Santa Barbara County; the Native Fish Society, working to revive wild fish across the Pacific Northwest; and the City Kids Wilderness Project, providing highimpact outdoor adventure and leadership development programming for Washington, D.C., youth.

“ ... we can launch environmental campaigns in up to five more countries next year ...”

- GRANT WILSON

In addition to its US$10 million donation match, Patagonia will continue its 30-plusyear tradition of donating one per cent of its 2019 sales to nearly 1,200 grantees. To date, the company has donated more than US$110 million to environmental nonprofits. Maybe there is a bit of Christmas in here.

Either way, the more companies that step up on the environmental front, the better—for us, for them, for the planet.

Leslie Anthony is a science/environment writer and author who holds a doctorate in connecting the dots. n

OUTSIDER

Fat flakes and other big moments of the decade THERE’S NOTHING that quite lifts the spirits of a snow-starved community than fat flakes. I’ll never forget the first time I witnessed these beautiful shapes falling from the sky. It was December 2004, my very first winter in Whistler and I was calling home to Australia from a (wait for it) payphone

BY VINCE SHULEY outside my building at Whistler Blackcomb Staff Housing. I’d never seen such quick accumulation of snow on the ground and struggled to keep my attention on the conversation with my mother, assuring her I was doing fine. I later learned that these fat flakes—with their high water content and temperature-driven clumping—don’t necessarily provide the best skiing, but just like that day 15 years ago, I’ll happily take fat flakes over no flakes at all.

When I saw the snow doing its darndest to make a Rocky Balboa-esque comeback this week and recalled that first magical, fat-flake moment, I realized that here we all are, at the end of another decade 10 years on from the Vancouver Olympics. Remember that big ol’ party?

We’ve had some not-as-big-but-still-

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Goar Bermúdez

García enjoying one of his finer moments of the decade atop Slalok Mountain.

PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY

notable things happen since then. While I’ll refrain from a Whistler history lesson that you can probably read on interpretive signs around town, I am going to cop out with another Outsider’s Greatest Hits column. This time it’s a double-edged sword of the best moments having some unfortunate negative baggage and some of the worst moments having some real silver linings. All moments of the decade as seen through my outdoor-opinion lens.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

NO. 1: DOING OUR BEST TO BRING BACK SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE LIFT LINE I’d been a columnist with the Whistler Question (RIP) for a little over a year when I had my first verbal altercation in a Whistler chairlift line. It was an early morning powder day congregation at the Wizard Express and myself and two friends had been waiting there for around an hour to reserve our place. A late-arriving salt-andpepper-bearded local decided he could fill an empty spot we had in the line and I told him that no, he would have to line up at the end of the singles line. I’d never seen a man so offended, but I wasn’t having any of his snakey, pow-day tactics. I wrote about the experience the following week, which sparked a vehement online debate about lift-line etiquette. Having seen all too many times the arrogance of locals skipping lines, the audacity of ski instructors abusing their lift-line privilege and too many meek rankand-file crowd members seeing it happen

and doing/saying nothing, it was time to take a stand. Localism is our common enemy in ski towns.

NO. 2: THE SPEARHEAD HUTS BECOMING A REALITY I wasn’t here for the inception of the Spearhead Huts idea back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but I did witness the rapid rise in ski touring culture that made building the Spearhead Huts a case that few could argue with. There have been so many obstacles along the way as one would expect from dealing with provincial government (and many other forms of) red tape, but the worst thing was hearing about the people in stakeholder power that were doing their best to stall—if not sabotage—the project through legal and governmental bureaucracy.

No one would ever go on the record of course, it was all hush hush behind closed doors and an insider speaking out would likely land that whistleblower in the unemployment line.

The Spearhead Huts proponents overcame all that adversity by doing their due diligence and standing up for what is rightfully a community asset. One out of three huts is great progress, but there’s a lot more work and fundraising to do. And the Spearhead Huts Committee isn’t without some of its own internal struggles trying to do just that.

More on that another time.

NO 3: THE RAIN THAT BROUGHT OUT THE WORST OF WHISTLER Hailing back to that infamous 2014-15

season that drenched Whistler in one of the biggest Pineapple Express weather systems we’d ever seen. If that doesn’t ring a bell, remember the photo of the drowned Glacier Express loading station resembling something out of the Book of Revelation? That photo went viral all over the internet, but not before the Torches and Pitchforks of the Whistler Winter Facebook group rallied and began sliding into Whistler Blackcomb’s (WB) DMs en masse. The argument was something along the lines of, “why the f--k do you have a four-day-old photo of powder skiing on the front of your website when this is the state of the mountain?!” Some WB marketing staff were getting ready to quit their jobs after fielding endless abuse from a sudden spike in Whistler troll population, collectively accused of misleading the public and profiting from the sorrow of Lower Mainlanders who didn’t check the weather report before driving up the Sea to Sky Highway. WB was doing what any business does during a rough patch, which is stay as optimistic as it could. The wrath of a rained-out locals crowd was one of its more trying moments, but once it snowed again, everyone forgot about that and went skiing.

Let’s hope our community endures the next decade just as well. Stay well and play outside.

Vince Shuley is hoping for another decade of outdoor adventures and the occasional missadventure. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider email vince@ vinceshuley.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n

DECEMBER 26, 2019

45

FEATURE STORY

IN MANY WAYS, celebration is Whistler’s inherent raison d’être. closer to home—the hundreds of Whistlerites who came out for So many of us come here to shirk off the rigours of everyday September’s climate march are testament to that. Thanks to the life in pursuit of something grander: the revitalizing nature, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment for exhilarating adventure sports, the tantalizing nightlife. their help in compiling that category.

That’s what makes Pique’s annual Best of Whistler We should also acknowledge a glaring omission from this readers’ poll so much more than just a popularity contest. year’s poll: the Favourite Band/Musician category. Due to In a town filled to the brim with folks who’ve chosen to a technical error in our polling system, it was accidentally carve out the good life here, it’s important to recognize the left off the questionnaire, and by the time we noticed, it people, places and things that have helped them realize it. was too late. (Hey, we’re not perfect, even though we are You’ll notice a few changes to this year’s Best of Whistler, starting ridiculously good looking.) But fear not, music lovers, the with a move to a more streamlined online surveying platform that category will return in all its glory in 2020, giving perennial we hope made filling out the questionnaire a smoother process. winners The Hairfarmers a chance to reclaim victory after We’ve also added several new categories, and tweaked the winning it a whopping 18 years in a row. wording of a few others. The Environmental category is brand Without further ado, let’s raise a glass and toast Whistler’s new this year, and long overdue given how important climate biggest, best and brightest, as voted by you. Here’s to a change was in this year’s federal election both nationally and fantastic year ahead! You deserve it. - BRANDON BARRETT

PHOTOS BY BRAD KASSELMAN || WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM 46 DECEMBER 26, 2019

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FEATURE STORY

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Qu t ti Wh t

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

FAVOURITE WHISTLERITE MIKE DOUGLAS Though this marks the sixth (!) time filmmaker and pro skier Mike Douglas has been voted favourite Whistlerite, the shock of getting the call never really goes away.

“Oh, no way!” Douglas says when reached by phone.

“Oh geez, I thought that was done. I thought that was all in the past.”

Douglas took this category four years running, from 2012 to 2015, before the late Chili Thom took the honour in 2016.

Whistler’s favourite son was back on top in 2017 before another local legend—Ace MacKay-Smith (a.k.a. Whistler’s Favourite DJ this year, Foxy Moron)—topped the poll last year.

What does it say to Douglas that Whistlerites keep sending him back to the top?

“Well, I mean, I’ve lived here for 30 years now … I came to Whistler for the mountains and I stayed for the community, and I guess my love of this community—I don’t know what the word I’m looking for here is—but it carries on past my own head, and maybe people appreciate that, I guess?” he says.

48 DECEMBER 26, 2019

“I’m fairly stunned right now, actually.”

In 2019, Douglas’ work as chair of Protect Our Winters Canada—an environmental non-profit aiming to impact policy decision related to climate change—took up almost as much time as his filmmaking work with his company Switchback Entertainment.

“I think it’s the pressing issue of our times … You can do a lot of things without a lot of things, but if you don’t have a livable planet, nothing works. The economy doesn’t matter; nothing matters,” he says.

“And being someone that’s outside and that’s travelled around a lot, and sort of seen the effects starting to happen around the world, I feel like it’s fairly urgent, and I do have a voice that spreads further than my circle of friends, and I feel like I have a responsibility to use it.”

Learn more at protectourwinters.ca.

TREVOR HOPKINS, cyclist and co-owner of Cranked Espresso Bar, came second, while pro-skier STAN REY finished third.

FAVOURITE VOLUNTEER TIE-GRACE BLOK AND DENISE WOOD Whistlerites love their volunteers so much, they decided to honour two of them in this year’s Best of Whistler poll.

That’s right—it’s a tie!

In 2019, Grace Blok—who took this category for the first time last year—shares the honour with Denise Wood.

“I just think that’s so sweet, and I’m honoured,” Wood says, adding that she’s guessing the votes came from her work with Whistler Animals Galore (WAG), where she has volunteered for years and now serves on the board of directors.

“I spend a lot of my spare time walking the dogs and helping the staff, and doing all that kinda stuff, and then helping at a board level, so maybe that’s why?” she says, adding that in the past she also volunteered with the Howe Sound Women’s Centre.

“I’m passionate about animal welfare, and I really like working with the WAG team … Non-profit isn’t easy work, especially animal welfare, and they’re just an incredible team of women, and I love working with them.”

For Blok, the shock of being named Whistler’s favourite volunteer is as prevalent as it was last year.

“That is unbelievable, I cannot actually fathom that—there are so many people, really, truly,” she says.

“Some of them are people that volunteer for committees and organizations, so you don’t always see that out front … Some of

them give so many hours, it’s phenomenal.”

Blok says, like last year, her volunteer efforts in 2019 were focused around local races and through her church, and that it’s likely her front-facing job with the Whistler Community Services Society—which isn’t actually a volunteer position—that garners her more attention.

“I get a great satisfaction in supporting people who are trying to achieve something, or to encourage them,” she says. “I think often volunteering means that you’re encouraging people … Some of the opportunities mean that you can impact what happens in your community, but most of the races that I do are really an opportunity to encourage people to meet and exceed their own goals.”

JEAN-SEBASTIEN TRUDEAU garnered the second-most votes, while ROSEMARY COOK took third.

BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD ALPINE MEADOWS It may be time to retire this category altogether, as no Whistler neighbourhood has ever collected more votes than Alpine Meadows—and it’s starting to look as if none ever will.

And there are only so many ways you can describe a neighbourhood, ya know?

Realistically, we could copy and paste

Hearty Welcome 2020!

Wishing my clients & friends a blessed & prosperous New Year!

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DECEMBER 26, 2019

49

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY DAN FALLOON

some of our past descriptions in this category, and nobody would be the wiser.

So, here’s some of what we’ve said in the past: “From its neighbourly vibe to its oldschool architectural charms, Alpine is a perennial favourite in this category, even with droves of young families flocking to Whistler’s newest neighbourhoods, Cheakamus and Rainbow.”

And: “Is it the dedicated core of longtime locals? An elaborate, annual vote manipulation using masked IP addresses?

Maybe Alpiners are just really diligent survey takers? (Nerds.)”

One thing is for sure: Alpine is, and will in all likelihood continue to be the place to live in Whistler.

CREEKSIDE once again took the second most votes, followed by RAINBOW in third.

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

FUNNIEST THING OVERHEARD ON THE CHAIRLIFT SEX STUFF If there’s one thing made clear from your responses in this brand-new category, it’s this: Whistler fucks.

Like, a lot.

Or at the very least, you want people you’re sharing a chairlift with to think you bang (in which case, well played, and we can relate).

Yes, your sordid sexual tales were far and away the favourite here.

Also, and this one is a bit more disturbing—Whistlerites (or visitors to the resort) seem to have some issues controlling their bowels. References to PEOPLE POOPING THEMSELVES, AND/OR FARTING LOUDLY, came in a close second.

(Should these be two separate categories? Or should we stick them together as one, unified, butthole-related group? Ah, the philosophical conundrums of working at a weekly community newspaper.)

In third place was BASHING OUR MOUNTAIN-OPERATING OVERLORDS, VAIL RESORTS. How did that one not win?

Ah yes. The fucking and the pooping.

Honourable mention goes to stories about drinking, smoking weed, fake books and Donald Trump.

FAVOURITE BACKCOUNTRY GUILTY PLEASURE CHOCOLATE While there is some gear you absolutely cannot do without on a trip into the backcountry,

there’s also some, let’s say, less-essential items in the grand scheme of things.

Sure, you don’t need those croissants and butter you packed, but damned if they don’t hit the spot when the time is right.

Surprisingly, the top answer was not alcohol related (we’re proud of you, Whistler).

No, it was chocolate that took the most votes in this category.

Unfortunately, the next three highestranking answers were all related to the booze: BEER, FIREBALL and WINE, with honourable mentions to WHISKEY, BAILEYS, BRANDY, TEQUILA AND MORE. (We won’t even get into the various mentions of drugs—who brings LSD on a backcountry trip?)

On sober reflection—keyword being sober—we take back that thing we said about being proud of you. Not trying to judge or anything, but maybe you should get help?

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50 DECEMBER 26, 2019

FEATURE STORY PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

BEST WHISTLER TREND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE As we noted last year when Whistler’s active, healthy lifestyle won this category, Pique’s journalists are what you might describe as “exceptionally fit,” (if you were a liar and/or a very funny comedian).

Come to think of it, it being the end of the year, it’s almost time for the newsroom’s annual stretch: “Getting Limber for 2020.”

Your second favourite trend this year was ACTION ON CLIMATE, and an increased awareness around environmental issues, while No. 3 was the year-round fashion flexibility of the TOQUE. Honourable mentions to PACKING YOUR OWN LUNCH, SHOWERING and PUBLIC FARTING.

WORST WHISTLER TREND LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING Last year, when the lack of affordable housing claimed this category for a third straight year, we wondered aloud—well, quietly actually, because it was printed in a newspaper, but you get the point—how long it takes for a “trend” to just be referred to as the status quo.

Well, make it four in a row for Whistler’s new status quo—housing woes are once again your least-favourite trend.

Your second-least-favourite trend this year was the frequent and casual use of COCAINE AND OTHER DRUGS (honestly… see the line in the backcountry blurb above about getting help—nobody will judge you).

In third place was VAN LIFE, which is

Best Wishes for the New Year From My Family To Yours!

directly related to our first-place finisher.

Some honourable mentions, in no particular order, chosen from the responses we can actually print: bitching and complaining about anything and everything, trolling on Facebook, littering, bad facial hair, not showering, man buns, ‘90s mom jeans, vaping, Jerrys, calling people Jerrys, and trends.

BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF 2019 IRONMAN LEAVING More than a few of Pique’s readers won’t miss Ironman as it swims, cycles and runs its way back to Penticton next summer, judging by your votes to crown its departure as our biggest news story of 2019.

A pair of MASSIVE SLIDES ON JOFFRE PEAK near Pemberton in May took second,

followed by the TRAGIC DEATH OF PRO SKIER DAVE TREADWAY in April.

Treadway, 34, died in a fall down a crevasse in the Pemberton backcountry on April 15, leaving behind his wife Tessa, sons Kasper and Raffi, and an unborn son.

BEST DECISION BY WHISTLER COUNCIL CONTINUED WORK ON HOUSING Right in line with your least-favourite trend, you were most impressed with council’s continued efforts around housing— whether it be down in Cheakamus Crossing with the development of Phase 2, through four new Whistler Housing Authority builds (and tweaking the rental guidelines for such properties), or greenlighting a new 200-plus bed Whistler Blackcomb

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51

FEATURE STORY staff building.

The snazzy new PEDESTRIAN UPGRADES IN FUNCTION JUNCTION came in second, followed by the introduction of a new ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW.

WORST DECISION

BY COUNCIL $3 MILLION FOR THREE BATHROOMS If you voted for the $3-million project to build three bathroom buildings in Whistler Village, just wait until you hear they’re now going to cost $4.5 million!

And, worse yet, you can’t even buy any of that sweet ganja in the village (at least not legally) to take the sting off, because the muni STILL HASN’T MOVED FORWARD ON ALLOWING ANY LOCAL POT SHOPS—your second least favourite council decision this year.

And, don’t look now, but some asshole just parked outside your house, assuming you have one, probably because of all the pay parking in the village. NOT ADDRESSING NEIGHBOURHOOD PARKING was No. 3 on this list.

FAVOURITE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM OLYMPIC PLAZA STAGE As previously established elsewhere in this section, Whistler and its millions of guests sure do love to poop (and fart—do not forget about the farting).

Maybe those multimillion-dollar bathrooms will come in handy for some of you?

Anyways, your favourite place to dump one out, according to our extensive reader survey, is at the Olympic Plaza stage.

You also like to poop and pee at the PAN PACIFIC and THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER, apparently.

We agree on that last point. The bathrooms at the Fairmont are next-level comfortable. It almost feels wrong to do the dumps there (but that ain’t gonna stop us).

FAVOURITE JERRY CARRY THE DECAPITATOR Though some of you deride the term Jerry

and all it stands for, it’s hard not to admire a good Jerry Carry—especially when they’re so sexily modelled by Pique’s own Big Daddy, production manager Karl Partington, as they were in a recent Instagram post.

But the Jerriest Carry of all, according to you, is The Decapitator—which for added context we provide one of our Instagram followers’ insights.

“The Decapitator … it might start as the somewhat organized but arm-pumping Offering at the parking lot but then spirals down to the Fishhook partway on the walk to the lift and ends in a full-on splayed out Decapitator by the time they see the Village Gondola liftline on a powder day… they are done before they start.”

BEST LOCATION FOR A PHOTO OP TOP OF PEAK CHAIR Your favourite place to snap that perfect picture in 2019 was at the very top of Peak Chair, followed by down below at GREEN LAKE (did you know it’s green because the muni paints the bottom every year? True story).

• Minor to catastrophic injuries • slip and fall injuries

WHISTLER ANIMALS GALORE As they seem to do every year, the good folks at Whistler Animals Galore destroyed this category, taking more than double the votes of second-place finisher, the WHISTLER COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY. Rounding out the top three was ZERO CEILING.

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• wrongful death claims

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Coming in third was the OLYMPIC RINGS, leaving us wondering how many tourists took the poll this year.

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In second was the OL’ OKLAHOMA SUITCASE, followed by THE BAZOOKA in third.

For some (again, very sexy) visual illustrations of each Jerry Carry, check out Pique’s Instagram.

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FEATURE STORY PHOTOS BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Cafés & R ta ʦ

BY BRANDON BARRETT

BEST COFFEE BLENZ COFFEE Blenz earned its first-ever gold in this caffeinated category, unseating perennial winner Mount Currie Coffee Co. Whistler owned and operated, Blenz is the rare chain coffee shop that also feels like a locals’ haunt, thanks to its friendly, personable staff and its commitment to community, regularly hosting fundraisers for local causes and cutting back on its footprint through its mug-sharing initiative (see Best Local Environmental Initiative on page 86).

Oh, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Blenz also serves a great cup of joe, sourcing premium beans from around the globe, poured from its top-of-the-line Nuova Simonelli espresso machine.

Perhaps this will make up for the fact that we dropped our Best Hot Chocolate category from the poll this year, an arena that Blenz rightfully dominated seven years in a row.

After five years with the Best Coffee crown, MOUNT CURRIE COFFEE CO. fell to second, while CRANKED ESPRESSO BAR in Rainbow cracked the list for the first time.

54 DECEMBER 26, 2019

BEST BREAKFAST

ELEMENTS WHISTLER

Elements once again earns bragging rights over its sister restaurant, Wild Wood Café, beating out the Function Junction diner for breakfast supremacy for the fourth year running.

Nobody in Whistler does the most important meal of the day quite like Elements, where a contemporary flair doesn’t mean sacrificing what should be the top priority for any restaurant: flavour.

Combine that with a laser-sharp service and kitchen staff and a menu that should appeal to both the health-conscious and the overly indulgent (ham- and brie-stuffed French toast, anyone?), and it’s no wonder this modern Main Street spot has topped this category for the past half-decade.

WILD WOOD, which shuttered its village location this year, came in second, while beloved Creekside greasy spoon, the SOUTHSIDE DINER, landed in third.

BEST QUICK LUNCH INGRID’S VILLAGE CAFÉ Ingrid’s is clearly doing something right, according to Whistler lunch-goers, who

anks for voting!

BEST COFFEE in Whistler AND

Best Local Environment Initiative in Whistler for our Community Mug Program and eliminating the sale of bottled water

Whistlerites, by and large, have a certain aversion to corporate life. Maybe it’s the community’s countercultural, hippie roots, but we tend to favour the flannel-and-toque look over business casual, the mom-and-pop shop over the chain store. That’s what makes Earls Kitchen + Bar’s win in the inaugural year of Pique’s Casual Dining category that much more remarkable.

With 66 locations across North America, GM Kevin Wallace says it was essential the location at 4295 Blackcomb Way was “a Whistler restaurant that happened to be an Earls, not just another Earls in a community.”

Part of that distinct approach is finding the kind of employees that fit Wallace’s mould, which, all the better in a town suffering the effects of a long-term staffing shortage, doesn’t always hinge on experience.

“I have a philosophy to think twice and hire once. Really, I’d rather run short than hire the wrong person. The people I hire don’t necessarily have to come with a wealth of experience—we’ll teach them that—but they have to come with a wealth of care,” Wallace explains.

“Honestly, when I sit in an interview with somebody, I think about whether I want to hang out with this person, and if the answer is yes, then I hire them.”

Earls toes the line between casual and fine dining—the in-house lingo deems it “sophisticated premium casual,” Wallace says—but the restaurant never gives off an air of pretention. You’re just as likely to sit down for a relaxed, low-key brunch on a Sunday morning as you are to walk into a rollicking late-night happy hour.

Ah yes, the happy hour, a Whistler local’s indulgence if ever there was one. Earls’ has an après happy hour everyday from 3 to 5 p.m., and a late-night happy hour from 10 p.m. ‘til close—plus a third on weekends and holidays for brunch— that virtually every Whistlerite with a wallet and an appetite has taken advantage of at some point.

“I think our happy hours are certainly popular in the local community,” says Wallace, in the understatement of the century. “I think that’s part of it, and I think the other part of it is the philosophy here: that I need to hire people who care about people a heck of a lot.”

Evidently, Whistlerites care a heck of a lot about Earls, too. - BRANDON BARRETT

2019

‘Not just another Earls’

Visit us at Whistler Olympic Plaza (#101 - 4388 Main Street, Whistler)

Thanks to all our regular customers for voting Ingrid's

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DECEMBER 26, 2019

55

FEATURE STORY have voted the cozy village café first in this category for the eighth consecutive year.

Freshness is the name of the game for Ingrid’s, which pumps out hearty, homemade soups, salads and made-toorder sandwiches for the steady stream of local workers looking for a quick and tasty lunch that won’t break the bank.

It certainly helps that the café is also home to one of the best veggie burgers in town, it’s ever-popular Superior Lentil burger, which is periodically offered for just $5.

In second place, GONE EATERY tied with SAMURAI SUSHI, while taco spot LA CANTINA came in third.

BEST CASUAL DINING EARLS KITCHEN + BAR In the first year of this category, it’s a restaurant that deftly toes the line between casual and sophisticated that earns the win, Earls Kitchen + Bar. One of several locations across North America, Whistler’s Earls has ingratiated itself with locals thanks to a wide-ranging menu done well, and not one, but two daily happy hours (and a third on weekends and holidays!) that practically every “ballin’on-a-budget” Whistlerite has taken full advantage of at some point. (See profile on page 41.)

HUNTER GATHER, the barbecuefocused brainchild of local catering company, Whistler Cooks, came in a close second, while fellow Main Street Italian spot, PASTA LUPINO, wasn’t far behind in third.

BEST FINE DINING RIMROCK CAFÉ Rimrock Café, always a perennial favourite of Best of Whistler voters, ran away with the inaugural Fine Dining category.

For all the change that Whistler has endured since the Creekside restaurant opened in 1985, you can always rely on the Rimrock for a level of quality and consistency that is nearly unparalleled in the resort’s dining scene. Whistler’s go-to spot for fish and game, it is also renowned for its rarefied service, thanks in part to the minimal turnover the restaurant has experienced in the midst of Whistler’s staffing shortage.

Whistler Village’s original and beloved fine-dining restaurant, ARAXI, came in second, while the Fairmont Chateau’s fourdiamond rated steakhouse, THE GRILL ROOM, was in third.

BEST DESSERT PUREBREAD Purebread was in no danger of relinquishing its title in this decadent category in 2019, having now won the Best Dessert category every year of its existence.

Started years ago out of Paula and Mark Lamming’s home kitchen, Purebread’s fresh-baked bread, cakes and treats have since spread to Vancouver, where the bakery now counts three locations.

Purebread is also slated to be part of YVR’s new “local marketplace” concept alongside Whistler Brewing, ensuring

56 DECEMBER 26, 2019

its delectable, ooey-gooey treats will be enjoyed by an even wider audience into the foreseeable future.

RIMROCK CAFÉ, no doubt bolstered by its ridiculously good sticky toffee pudding, came in second, while Whistler’s favourite ice-cream purveyor, COWS, was in third.

BEST WINE LIST BEARFOOT BISTRO Two of Whistler’s most cherished, longrunning fine-dining restaurants seem to duke it out every year for Best Wine List. In this ever-changing game of musical chairs, it’s Bearfoot Bistro’s never-ending wine list that takes home top honours in 2019.

With more than 20,000 bottles in its iconic underground cellar, the Bearfoot touts its selection as the largest of any restaurant in the province. Led by restaurant founder André Saint-Jacques and wine director Luc Trottier, the list boasts a robust selection of champagne, 20 years of Château Mouton-Rothschild, and even a 113-year-old bottle of Château Latour Grand Vin. ARAXI was close behind in second this year, while Best Fine Dining winner RIMROCK CAFÉ claimed third.

BEST BURGER SPLITZ GRILL Splitz Grill has won this category so many times—every year of its existence, in fact— that it should really just be renamed after the venerated burger joint.

Peter Goff is now two years into running the Main Street spot after taking over from long-time owners Cathy and Peter McGeough, and there’s been plenty of change afoot, including a renovated dining area and more of a focus on local events, such as the Pulp Fictionthemed library fundraiser last month, complete with “Royales with cheese” and deliciously thick milkshakes by donation. But one thing that isn’t going to change anytime soon is Splitz’s juicy, handcrafted burgers, which are highly customizable with more than 40 housemade sauces and toppings.

Splitz easily won this year with nearly 40 per cent of the vote, while EARLS KITCHEN + BAR narrowly beat out ROLAND’S CREEKSIDE PUB for second.

BEST PIZZA CREEKBREAD In another category that has seen only one winner throughout its existence, Creekbread took home Best Pizza honours once more— but there’s some stiff competition on its heels this year.

Creekbread is renowned for its distinct approach to ‘za, using non-traditional, organic ingredients (Pemberton potatoes for the win!) topped on a thin, chewy crust that could only come out of its massive, wood-fired oven.

Not far behind this year was relative newcomer, and Best New Business winner, FUNCTIONAL PIE, with PIZZERIA ANTICO’S Napoletana, thin-crust pizza in third.

FEATURE STORY

PHOTOS BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

All natural wood fired pizza!

AGAIN! A Z IZ P Us BEST ou for Voting

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57

FEATURE STORY PHOTOS BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

BEST STEAK HY’S STEAKHOUSE

Sushi Village

FUELLING PASSIONS SINCE 1985

Miki Homma was always a regular, gregarious presence at Sushi Village, the iconic Whistler restaurant he co-founded in 1985. Even in his final years, he made a point of being there for the beginning and end of dinner service, chatting up diners, pouring generous amounts of sake, and cracking jokes in his distinct Japanese accent.

As anyone who’s been around the business long enough can attest, that kind of commitment to both the clientele and staff is not always the norm for restaurateurs—particularly after 30-plus years. It would have been easy for Homma to stay in the background, taking care of quotidian administrative tasks, and leaving the business of running the restaurant in the capable hands of his wife, Naoko, and staff.

But then that wouldn’t be Homma.

“It’s nice that, at this restaurant, we’re staying true to what Miki started. Miki was all about the snow and the surf and kiting and always chasing that passion,” says restaurant manager Sam White. “Even though he loved to have a good time, there was always still the focus on why you’re here.”

Homma’s passion bled into his staff, a legacy that lives on more than two years since his passing.

“Miki was all about passion. It was play hard, work hard. I think, for us as a staff, we have a pretty diverse team. Most of us, our passions are in the mountains, but if they’re not, it’s something. It’s all about finding that balance of what drives you and motivates you and bringing that into the restaurant.

That’s what feeds the atmosphere,” White says. “Being able to work here, drives my passions in other places.”

Sushi Village now finds itself locked in a years-long legal dispute that could threaten its very existence (see “Strata termination could force sale of Sushi Village, Black’s and Mexican Corner for ‘nickels on the dollar,’” Pique, Oct. 31, 2019). White says the staff has heard from plenty of loyal customers since the news broke.

“We’ve definitely been feeling the support and loving the support. It’s been really good,” she says, adding that the community would lose “a staple piece to the lifestyle here” if Sushi Village were to close. “This restaurant is a bit of a refuge for everyone to come and let loose, blow off steam and have some good food.”

Long live Sushi Village! - BRANDON BARRETT

58 DECEMBER 26, 2019

There’s really no replicating Hy’s old-school steakhouse feel and top-quality cuts of beef.

The village mainstay can trace its origins to mid-‘50s Calgary, where founder Hy Aisenstat opened one of Alberta’s first fullservice steak restaurants above a women’s clothing store.

Renowned for its attention to detail, knowledgeable staff, and, let’s not forget, perfectly cooked steak, Hy’s has been Whistlerites’ favourite spot to go when they want a cut above for the past 21 years.

RIMROCK CAFÉ re-joins the list this year in second, while THE KEG STEAKHOUSE claimed third.

BEST SUSHI SUSHI VILLAGE In a town with plenty of sushi options to choose from, you have to go the extra mile to stand out from the crowd, and it’s Sushi Village’s uncompromising approach to its food as well as its distinctly vibrant (some might even say, after a few too many Dumbo Sakes, raucous) atmosphere that sets it apart.

The dynamic staff and dedicated team of Japanese chefs have also kept the vision of founder and beloved Whistler character Miki Homma alive since his 2017 passing. Here’s hoping Sushi Village has plenty more years of entertaining Whistlerites to come.

Upper Village mainstay NAGOMI SUSHI narrowly beat out Main Street’s SACHI SUSHI for second.

BEST HEALTHY MEAL GREEN MOUSTACHE The Green Moustache empire appears to be in no danger of slowing down any time soon. The repeat winner of this category (which replaced Best Vegetarian last year, another category the all-organic, vegan café has historically dominated), Green Moustache recently inked a deal to open several locations in New York to go along with its existing spots in Whistler, Squamish, North Vancouver, Port Moody and

Edmonton. On top of that, Green Moustache was tapped last year to consult on a newly built health centre in China, and can now be found in a healthy vending machine at Lions Gate Hospital.

In second this year was popular lunch spot INGRID’S VILLAGE CAFÉ, while NAKED SPROUT JUICE BAR CAFÉ claimed third.

BEST FOOD TRUCK WHISTLER WOOD FIRED PIZZA COMPANY It’s no secret that Whistlerites love their pizza, and in this new category, it was Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Company’s family-run food truck that captured voters’ hearts—and stomachs.

Serving Neopolitan-style pizza out of its mobile, custom-built 360-degree rotating wood-fired oven, the company’s distinct red truck can be found everywhere from the Whistler Farmers’ Market to the busy streets of Downtown Vancouver.

In a close second was LUCIA GELATO, with the Squamish-based TERIYAKI BOYS coming in third.

BEST OFFSEASON DEAL RIMROCK CAFÉ Whistlerites, by their very nature, love to indulge, but they also don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do so, which makes Rimrock Café’s long-running off-season special all the more, well, special.

Its $49 three-course meal is often the first deal on locals’ lips whenever someone is looking for the best culinary bang for their buck. For many Whistlerites, it’s the one time of year they give into their more sophisticated cravings, and with Rimrock’s focus on quality seafood, steak and game, as well as its massive portions, there’s no denying this is a title well earned.

Coming in second is ARAXI’S beloved $36 five-course special, while NAGOMI SUSHI’S $30 four-course deal—which was extended deep into the fall this year—was in third.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING FOR US WE’VE HAD A GREAT 2019 AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR! 2019 WINNER BEST FINE DINING BEST OFF-SEASON DEAL

GOING

OUT

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DINNER,

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LOCAL!

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 33 YEARS.

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CALL FOR RESERVATIONS www.rimrockwhistler.com

DECEMBER 26, 2019

59

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

B ,Clu & Pu

BY JOEL BARDE

BEST APRÈS THE GARIBALDI LIFT CO. If there is one thing that Whistler bars undoubtedly know a thing or two about, it’s how to host a good après sesh. And for years, this category has been dominated by the GLC. With its fist-rate location on top of the entrance to the Whistler Village Gondola, tasty food and beverage options, and a dynamic live-music lineup, it’s an obvious choice.

Readers voted DUSTY’S into second, and THE LONGHORN SALOON (which sits kitty-corner to the GLC) in third.

BEST NACHOS DUSTY’S Following a big day on the slopes, few things go down better than a big plate of nachos.

(Well, maybe beer—but everyone knows these ought to be consumed together.)

60 DECEMBER 26, 2019

BEST BAR/PUB

Served with a house-made salsa and sour cream, Dusty’s nachos are banging— and they certainly don’t scrimp out. The portions are HUGE. So when you go, bring (hungry) friends.

Fellow Whistler Blackcomb establishment MERLIN’S BAR & GRILL took second. And while nachos might not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks traditional Irish pub, DUBH LINN GATE landed in third.

The beloved Irish pub took back the Best Bar title in 2019, thanks to its down-home feel, nightly live music, and hearty eats. (See profile on page 65.)

For the second year running, THE BEACON PUB AND EATERY took second, while Upper Village standout and all-around class act, THE FITZSIMMONS PUB, got third.

BEST WINGS

BEST CLUB

EARLS KITCHEN + BAR

GARFINKEL’S

Few things bring the Pique’s editorial team together like Earls Kitchen’s infamous happy hours. And while Leroy’s Crispy Rips remains our favourite, everyone recognizes the restaurant’s wings, which come in your choice of hot, teriyaki or salt and pepper, are next level.

DUSTY’S took second in this category, followed by THE CRYSTAL LOUNGE.

DUBH LINN GATE

Let’s face it, Whistler knows how to party. If you’re looking for a family-friendly winterwonderland where everyone turns off the lights at 10 p.m., there are plenty of other options (i.e. Sun Peaks…or any number of other Vail Resorts’ U.S. properties).

Garf’s is well known for hosting some of Whistler’s craziest parties, and you can always bank on having a good time at its legendary locals’ night every Thursday.

The renovated TOMMYS WHISTLER took second, while MOE JOE’S got third.

BEST PATIO TABLE NINETEEN Nicklaus North’s lakeside eatery has climbed the ranks over the past three years. From third in 2017, to second in 2018, to its current position at the top of the heap.

With it’s delectable drink list, thoughtful, locally sourced food selection, and spectacular views overlooking the award-winning golf course, Table Nineteen is a go-to in summer months. And with a $2-million “refresh” in the works, it will have a fresh new look just in time for its reopening in this spring.

Last year’s winner, GLC, took second, while THE LONGHORN SALOON was third.

BEST COCKTAIL RAVEN ROOM In an article on the opening of the Raven

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61

FEATURE STORY PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

The perennial party-starter

A lot goes into being a sought after DJ. Sure, you have to 2000s, and says that a part of playing a good set involves have an extensive knowledge of music. But you also need to doing some research.

“I’ll ask a bunch of questions before I even say yes to a gig,” she be extremely adept at reading a room, knowing which track says. “Age range of guests, theme, etc. If I don’t think I’m the right is going to push the energy from a five to a nine.

With her wide appeal—she plays for locals, tourists and DJ for the gig, I’ll recommend someone who is. I spend a bunch families alike—Ace MacKay-Smith, a.k.a. DJ Foxy Moron, has of time making playlists or picking records (if I’m playing 45s) for established herself as an in-demand après act by playing to early and late [in the set], but then I just play what feels right for the a wide range of audiences, from random “outside” parties to vibe of the people in the room. I never fully pre-plan a set.”

MacKay-Smith also has another major title from last year’s the occasional family après at Olympic Plaza.

This last summer even saw MacKay-Smith played B.C.’s reader survey: favourite Whistlerite.

So, what’s her secret? (arguably) premier electronic destination: Bass Coast.

“I don’t really know how to answer that, but I really love “I was really nervous playing an evening set and lost my main playlist right before the set, but the crowd was so watching people have a good time at whatever they’re awesome and so many Whistler peeps showed up, so that doing,” she says.

“I don’t think that answers the question—but I support fun!” was memorable for a few reasons,” she says, by email.

MacKay-Smith began playing around town in the early - JOEL BARDE

Room back in January, co-owner Jason Redmond (formely of Araxi and Bar Oso) threw down the gauntlet, saying that the cocktail room, which operates out of a renovated, elegant space in the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel, was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“As great as Whistler is as a worldclass ski resort and host to people from all around the world, we found, as it’s become busier over the years, there’s been a level of complacency that we’d like to elevate,” he said. “We’d rather be a bit more focused on putting quality in the glass. If it takes a few more seconds or costs a dollar or two more, I think it’s worth it.”

Well, it appears that the Raven Room

62 DECEMBER 26, 2019

was able to follow through, taking top spot in the coveted best cocktail category.

In so doing, the cocktail bar beat out BAR OSO, which won the category for the past three years running and took second this year, and THE MALLARD in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, which placed third.

BEST BEER SELECTION COAST MOUNTAIN BREWING The boutique brewery—with its wellcurated selections of staples and seasonal delights—is hanging on to top spot. Coast Mountain beat out the DUBH LINN GATE for the second year running. THE BEACON

rounded things out in third.

FAVOURITE LOCALS’ HANGOUT STINKY’S ON THE STROLL During Whistler’s peak season, the visitors outnumber the locals by more than three to one. So, amidst a sea of pricier options geared towards tourists, it’s all the more important to have a place the locals’ love.

For the first time, that place is Stinky’s on the Stroll, the namesake of long-time Whistler barkeep Jeremy “Stinky” Peterson, who opened up the village sports bar this past summer. (See profile on page 64.)

Stinky’s just beat out TAPLEY’S in

this category, by two votes. Creekside’s ROLAND’S PUB finished third.

FAVOURITE DJ DJ FOXY MORON At this point, it should come as no surprise that the multi-talented Ace Mackay-Smith, a.k.a. DJ Foxy Moron, has taken home the favourite DJ category yet again.

With her well-curated set lists, which veer towards old-school funk and soul, Mackay-Smith has been a fixture around town for years, getting people in the party spirit.

DRE MOREL took home second in this category, while DJ STACHE was third.

BEST OF WHISTLER

2019 BEST Club On behalf of all staff and management at Garfinkel’s we would like to thank you for voting us as your favourite late night hangout. The support means the world to us as we strive to continue making Garfinkel’s the best it can be for our locals. Thanks again for voting and better yet thanks for coming!

Next time you’re in mention the Pique Best of Whistler for a gift on us!!

Congratulations Thank you to Whistler and all our amazing locals.

It’s such an honor to be voted best by you.

FEATURE STORY

Where Stinky knows your name

How do you create a new bar that locals gravitate to in a town with more than its fair share of established, beloved pubs?

That’s the question that longtime Whistler bartender Jeremy “Stinky” Peterson was faced with in the lead up to the summer opening of his new bar, Stinky’s on the Stroll.

According to Peterson, it all boils down to “being honest.”

“I’m not pulling any punches,” he says.

“Everything is fair here, you know what I mean? Like, I’m not overly expensive.”

That means fair drink prices ($6 for a beer or high ball), and creating a space where people feel at home.

“We just take care of people,” says Peterson. “It’s the people that work here that make it what it is.”

It doesn’t hurt that Peterson and his staff have a long history in town.

Peterson alone has about a quarter-century experience pouring pints for thirsty Whistlerites, having moved here to help open the shortlived Hard Rock Café in 1995.

After that, Peterson went on to bartend at Buffalo Bills, Tapley’s, Caramba, Roland’s, the Brewhouse, and Citta’s, a favourite with locals that closed after nearly three decades in 2014.

It all boils down to taking care of everyone that walks through the door, whether they be a longtime local or just “someone in town for a few days,” he explains. - JOEL BARDE

64 DECEMBER 26, 2019

FEATURE STORY

Luck of the Irish

Here’s a fun fact about the Dubh Linn Gate: It sells more Guinness than any other bar in Western Canada.

And if you happen to visit any given weekend, you’ll see why. The Irish pub—which has won in the Best Beer Selection category for three of the last five years—is the type of place where you pretty much need to make a deliberate effort not to have fun.

It’s got a friendly, unfussy vibe that keeps locals and tourists coming back, and it’s one of few places in town that appeals to a wide demographic. So bring your parents!

The Dubh Linn Gate is also known for its nightly live music. With a cozy dancefloor and slightly elevated stage, it’s a great place to catch up-and-coming musicians from out of town, and Whistler bands alike.

“We probably get five pitches a day, from bands near and far, saying that they’d like to play at the pub, and they want to be booked,” says Dubh Linn Gate manager Diane Rothdram.

But Rothdram has a rule. “I won’t book anybody until I actually see them play in a venue,” she says.

“We just want to make sure that they’re a good fit.”

For Rothdram, that means semi-regular trips to Vancouver to scout acts. “There’s not a ton of bands that are a good fit, because they need to be able to play Celtic music, but also a lot of [covers].”

As for food, the Dubh Linn Gate features classic pub cuisine like fish and chips, steak and Guiness pie. - JOEL BARDE

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FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY MEGAN LALONDE

Arʦ, Media & C t e

BY BRANDON BARRETT

FAVOURITE ARTIST/ ARTISAN ANDREA MUELLER Andrea Mueller has plenty of reason to celebrate these days (that is, if she can find the time): Not only is she Whistler’s favourite artist for the second year running, but she also welcomed a newborn son to the world in September.

(See profile below.)

Mostly known for her boldly coloured wildlife and landscape paintings, Mueller also runs popular paint nights and workshops.

Check her out at andrealikesart.com.

In second was prolific painter VANESSA STARK (who technically resides in Pemberton,

but given the amount of work she does in Whistler, her impact on the resort’s art scene is undeniable), while graffiti artist and muralist KRIS “KUPS” KUPSKAY came in third.

We would be remiss if we didn’t also mention that beloved late painter Chili Thom earned enough posthumous votes for second place.

FAVOURITE MAJOR ART SHOW EMILY CARRFRESH SEEING It’s perhaps fitting that the Audain Art Museum’s largest, most ambitious exhibit yet, Fresh Seeing, a retrospective of the period before, during and after Emily Carr’s trip to France, would be recognized as Whistler’s favourite major art show of

2019. It took an outsized vision and grand ambition, after all, for a woman artist to even attempt such a trip back in 1910.

Featuring 64 watercolours, sketches and paintings from both private and public collections, Fresh Seeing deftly showcases Carr’s radical transformation from relatively muted landscapist to relentless experimentalist, showcasing the distinct culture and history of remote West Coast Indigenous communities with her bold use of colour and form.

THE TEENY TINY ART SHOW, Arts Whistler’s annual exhibit proving that bigger isn’t always better, came in second.

THE ANONYMOUS ART SHOW, another Arts Whistler exhibit, which featured 370 pieces by 200-plus anonymous artists, wound up in third by just one vote.

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FAVOURITE ARTS AND CULTURE EVENT OR FESTIVAL CRANKWORX

By now, it’s clear that Whistlerites’ like their sporting events to come with a little dose of arts and culture on the side, and in the case of North America’s largest mountain biking festival, Crankworx, it seems like event organizers are doing something right.

Along with some of the most intense action on two wheels, Crankworx also features popular summer action sports photography contest, Deep Summer, along with Dirt Diaries, a mountain biking-themed film competition.

CORNUCOPIA, Whistler’s annual celebration of epicurean decadence, returned in second place this year, while

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FEATURE STORY another repeat finisher, the WORLD SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL—which was recently taken over by Gibbons Whistler—landed in third.

FAVOURITE CELEBRITY SIGHTING JASON MOMOA It’s safe to say that most Whistlerites wouldn’t kick Jason Momoa out of bed for eating crackers. Everyone’s favourite Dothraki and star of the DC Comics’ blockbuster Aquaman was a regular presence in Whistler in 2019, as far as celebrities go, after he was rumoured to be filming nearby for Apple’s sci-fi drama, See. If you do a quick Google image search (but be warned: there is a strong chance that ogling Jason Momoa pictures will become your new obsession), you can even find a photo of the beefy Hollywood star posing with a fan outside of the GLC— in the same salmon-coloured blazer he sported at the Oscars.

Along with being a straight-up dreamboat (those eyes!), he’s also, by all accounts, a super approachable, down-to-Earth guy.

Fellow Hollywood star OWEN WILSON earned enough votes for second, while Canadian Prime Minister and avid snowboarder JUSTIN TRUDEAU was a close third.

FAVOURITE WRITER G.D. MAXWELL PHOTOS BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Creating art…and a baby

When Andrea Mueller earned first place in Best of Whistler’s Favourite Artist category last year, she had just taken the leap to become a full-time artist.

This year, the first-place winner has made an even more drastic life change. On Sept. 27, she had her son, Aro. “With the baby, I’m happy to be still relevant,” she says. “That’s my main goal. I would really like to [stay] on the radar.”

It’s hard to imagine the long-time local artist dropping off the Whistler radar. In the last year alone she built up her popular paint nights, was named Whistler Blackcomb’s featured artist of the year, and even had her art on the 2019 Hoji 4Frnt skis.

“The paint nights for me have been really, really fun,” she says. “I have loved teaching other people in town and seeing other people be creative. That’s been my whole thing from the get-go. Working at Arts Whistler [my job] was getting other people involved in the arts. Continuing it on my own has been awesome.”

She also found a way to continue painting during those last long, uncomfortable days of her pregnancy. Forty-one days before her due date, she started creating wildly varying mini paintings and opened it up for auction on her Instagram for 24 hours. As a bonus, the person who bought the last painting before the baby arrived won a prize pack.

The images ranged from John Lennon to bats dreaming of pizza to donuts and bunnies.

“It was so well received,” she says. “It was awesome. It was fun and motivating for me.

I could paint any weird thing I wanted, which was fun.”

Next up? “I would say I’m looking forward to getting some more experimentation done—and figuring out how this little pumpkin face can get involved in my paintings.

Working on creative stuff with him would be fun.” - ALYSSA NOEL

68 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Pique columnist G.D. Maxwell isn’t much for the spotlight. After another Pique writer, film columnist Feet Banks, dethroned Maxwell from his long-time reign in this category back in 2017, he proclaimed it “a relief”—if only to give one of the many other talented local scribes some shine.

Well, whether he likes it or not, Max returns to the top of the literary heap in 2019, his second win in a row.

Maxwell has been writing about the ins and outs of Tiny Town since 1992 in his weekly back-page column, and whether you agree with his hot takes or not, there’s no denying they always get a reaction. (See profile on page 70.)

FEET BANKS returns again in second place, while Velocity Project columnist LISA RICHARDSON and Pique reporter and playwright BRANDON BARRETT tied for third.

FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID MCCOLM There are plenty of talented photographers in this town, but there are perhaps none better than David McColm at capturing the breathtaking wonder Whistler inspires.

McColm’s awe-inspiring time-lapse photos now reach far beyond the confines of Whistler, with his iconic images gracing everything from postage stamps to posters and puzzles. (See profile on next page.)

In a flip of last year’s results, event and magazine photographer JOERN ROHDE moved up to second, while actionadventure and commercial photographer BLAKE JORGENSON fell to third.

2019

FEATURE STORY

Whistler’s Favourite Beauty & Aesthetic Spa!

Capturing Whistler’s beauty

David McColm isn’t sure what to say when people mention they voted for him in Best of Whistler.

“I’m humbled and I appreciate it. If I see someone and they say, ‘David, I voted for you!’ I say, ‘Thank you,’” he says, laughing. “I don’t know what else to say.”

The ever-humble McColm held onto top spot in the Favourite Photographer category for the second year in a row. The long-time local has earned the adoration of Whistlerites for his epic landscapes and stunning night shots.

“I guess I am known to sort of focus on the big landscapes, the Whistler landscapes, and I guess people like that, which I’m happy about,” he says. “I think people do appreciate some of the night-sky photography that I do with the Northern Lights and the Milky Way. Not everyone can get out and see it.”

But it’s not just Sea to Sky scenes he captured in 2019.

The jet-setting shutterbug travelled to South America and Iceland to photograph those epic vistas as well.

“To experience and photograph the total solar eclipse [in Chile] was mind blowing,” McColm says. “The Southern night sky is really cool.”

For the coming year, he has a few possible photo destinations on his list, including Australia, where his daughter currently lives.

“It wasn’t on my radar until she moved there,” he adds.

But he also plans to shift his approach to travel going forward, keeping the environment in mind.

“I’m more conscious about air travel,” he says. “I don’t want to do it frivolously … I want to do fewer trips, but longer.”

In the meantime, McColm wants to emphasize just how many amazing photographers there are here at home.

“At the end of the day, I’ll say it 100 times: I talk to three or four photographers a week and I say, ‘Wow, that’s so cool,’” he says. “I’m blown away.” - ALYSSA NOEL

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69

FEATURE STORY

‘I loved being anonymous’

“I would almost as soon go home with the Ms. Congeniality Award, but that’s never going to happen,” joked Pique’s wry, opinionated, and longest-running columnist on his second win in a row in the Favourite Writer category.

In a more earnest tone (for a second), he adds, “I’m always amazed, actually. I really am. I’m amazed more and more as the years go on that there are so many people who are old enough to enjoy what I write, but still know how to use a computer.”

As of this week’s issue, Max has written a whopping 1,373 Maxed Out columns since the paper first started 25 years ago. (In case you’re keeping score, that is, by far, the highest number of any Pique columnist).

Things were a lot easier in the early days back when no one knew who was behind the G.D. Maxwell pen name and he hadn’t yet been forced to run a headshot.

“I loved being anonymous,” he says. “I loved that people thought it was Bob [Barnett, Pique’s founder] writing under a pseudonym.

When people mentioned it I’d say, ‘Yeah, I think it’s Bob, too.’”

He was eventually convinced to run a photo—but first came one in a Zoro mask, then a picture featuring two bottle caps placed over his eyes like monocles—and his trips to the grocery store haven’t been the same since.

“That’s possibly the most humbling and uncomfortable thing,” he says. “I’ll just be standing there and someone will come up and say, ‘I really like what you write, man. I’m so glad you’re still doing it.’ I say, ‘Thank you! Now go away before I turn red or wet myself.’”

But, of course, there are always those who don’t agree with his stance, particularly when it comes to political goings on.

“There’s a relationship that exists between a columnist and readers that doesn’t exist between most people who write news stories and readers,” he says. “It’s really important for a columnist to have a voice that sounds familiar to people after a period of time. They read him and think it’s almost like having a conversation or listening to him tell a story. It’s like comfy slippers or something, so even if you don’t agree with him, you come back to see what they have to say. A lot of times the notagreeing part is why they come back.” - ALYSSA NOEL

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FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

B S vi

BY MEGAN LALONDE

BEST NEW BUSINESS FUNCTIONAL PIE This year, Whistlerites chose Functional Pie, the New-York-meets-Detroit-style pizza joint in Function Junction that recently celebrated its first anniversary, as their favourite new business. With dine-in and take-out options, as well as individual slices available for the lunch crowd, it’s easy to see why Functional Pie has won over Whistler’s hearts—and stomachs.

Read more about Whistler’s favourite new business below.

Village pub STINKY’S ON THE STROLL took second place, while Creekside’s new vegan bakery and coffee shop BRED took third.Â

BEST SKI SHOP/BIKE SHOP COASTAL CULTURE When it comes to gear, Creekside shop Coastal Culture earned a double-honour as best ski shop and best bike shop, proving

72 DECEMBER 26, 2019

they’re Whistler’s go-to no matter the season or sport. After taking second place last year in the ski category, Coastal Culture snatched away the winning title from Fanatyk Co. after a six-year-long reign. Skiers voted FANATYK CO. into second place, while COMOR SPORTS snuck into third.  In the best bike shop category, Coastal Culture held onto the undefeated reign it’s held since opening in 2016, blowing away the competition with 29 per cent of the votes. FANATYK CO. once again followed in second, while EVOLUTION slid into third.Â

BEST SNOWBOARD SHOP SHOWCASE For those who prefer to ride down the mountain, Showcase Snowboard Surf & Skate Shop earned the title of best snowboard shop for the fifth year in a row.

Located just steps away from the gondolas, Showcase staff are always available to help you find the best fit and gear for your season.Â

THE CIRCLE was voted Whistler’s second-favourite snowboard shop, while COMOR SPORTS once again took third place.Â

the category’s 2018 results, with RUBY TUESDAY Accessories landing in second and ROCKS & GEMS in third.Â

BEST CLOTHING STORE

BEST HAIR SALON AND BARBERSHOP

THE BEACH Local boutique The Beach continues its reign as Whistler’s best clothing store, with its wide selection of the trendiest designers, labels and swimwear brands on the market. Proving their penchant for sustainability, Whistlerites voted the RE-USE-IT CENTRE, operated by the Whistler Community Services Society, into second place, while LULULEMON narrowly took third.Â

BEST JEWELRY STORE KEIR FINE JEWELLERY Whistler deemed Keir Fine Jewellery—the locally owned establishment that’s been providing locals and visitors with customdesigned pieces and Canadian diamonds for the past 25 years—as the best jewelry store in town. The rankings were a carbon copy of

ELEVATION HAIR STUDIO Whether you’re in need of fresh colour, a trim, or a drastic cut, Marketplace salon Elevation Hair Studio was named the Best Hair Salon/Barbershop to fulfill your needs. FARFALLA HAIR & ESTHETICS once again finished second while BLACKCOMB BARBER SHOPPE took third.Â

BEST GROCERY STORE NESTERS MARKET Nesters Market was another repeat winner in this year’s survey, again taking home the title of Whistler’s best grocery store with its always-dependable selection of produce, essentials, health and specialty products. CREEKSIDE MARKET repeated its second-place performance, while YOUR INDEPENDENT GROCER took third again this year.Â

2019 We would like to thank everyone who supported us.

We are truly honoured to be recognized as a leader in our community.

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73

FEATURE BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TD CANADA TRUST This year, TD Canada Trust once again proved to be the community’s favourite financial institution in which to harbour their hard-earned funds.

The Marketplace bank was followed by RBC ROYAL BANK in second place, while BLUESHORE FINANCIAL snuck into third.

BEST REALTOR KATELYN SPINK Whistler’s real estate market is one of the hottest out there—meaning our local realtors need to be at the top of their game, too. When it comes to buying and selling local property, voters named Katelyn Spink as the best realtor to help them do so. Raised in Pemberton by two realtors who specialize in renovating and selling houses, Spink describes herself as, “A small town girl with big city experience.” Read more about Spink and her work below.

The Wolf of Whistler DAVE NAGEL repeated last year’s second-place ranking, while CAROLYN HILL earned third place.

BEST OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATION/BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER The luxurious Fairmont Chateau Whistler is clearly a favourite among both visitors and locals. It joins Coastal Culture as a doublewinner this year, taking home the dual titles of best overnight accommodation and best customer service.

NITA LAKE LODGE was voted into second place in the accommodation category, while the THE FOUR SEASONS came in third Locally owned businesses reigned supreme in the best customer service category, with coffee shop BLENZ taking second and grocer CREEKSIDE MARKET in third.

BEST GIFTS 3 SINGING BIRDS The community chose Marketplace boutique 3 Singing Birds as its preferred spot to shop for special gifts, keepsakes and souvenirs, thanks to its unique selection of quality goods.

Creekside shop GET THE GOODS took second, while the Village’s COOL AS A MOOSE followed closely in third.

BEST BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY RDC FINE HOMES RDC Fine Homes was once again named Whistler’s Best building or construction company. The custom home builder is used to winning—it regularly takes home multiple Georgie Awards, which annually celebrate excellence in home building and renovation in B.C. The firm is up for six Georgies at the 2020 awards.

TM BUILDERS were second, beating out third-place MOUNTAIN CONTRACTING by just a single vote.

74 DECEMBER 26, 2019

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

The home-maker

In a town where the vast majority of residents have come from elsewhere, Katelyn Spink has a distinct advantage among the field of local realtors.

Not only did she spend much of her childhood in Pemberton (and the other half in Comox), she was raised by two realtors.

“I kind of always watched and thought it would be something that I was into,” she says.

Her deep roots in the industry, coupled with her involvement in both the Whistler and Pemberton communities could be one of the reasons why Spink was voted Best Realtor for the first time this year.

“It’s amazing; I’m very taken aback, to be honest,” she says with a laugh. “I think it’s been the same face for a couple of years in a row—and she’s rad too, I love Dana [Friesen Smith].”

After travelling the world, working in industries like tech and sports apparel, real estate seemed like the obvious choice once Spink decided to return home to Pemberton twoand-a-half years ago.

“You want to know where you want to be and where you want to call home,” Spink says. “Travelling is something that’s always been really important to me, but I was kind of hopping around and working in sales in some capacity for other people. I wanted to work for myself, and I wanted to do a job where I work with people daily and incorporate my own kind of style and schedule. This seemed like a natural fit.”

She adds, “I’m pretty lucky, because it makes a big difference when you know a lot of people here.”

To that end, Spink strives to stay true to herself, taking “a very casual approach” when working with clients.

“I try to make it as fun as possible, as well. I think it’s an industry that can have a harsh edge or outlook on it—a little sharky, some might say,” she notes. “You get a lot of suits, and I don’t wear those. It’s kind of nice to offer something that’s different—and I think there’s a lot of agents that do a good job of that here.”

Based off this year’s survey results, that approach has resonated with her clients.

“Thank you so much,” says Spink to voters. “It’s a grind, it’s a difficult but rewarding job so it’s really, really cool to know that everyone is recognizing that and taking the time to support me.” - MEGAN LALONDE

2016 16 2017 2018 2019

01 2014 01 2013

the beach whistler

Thanks for voting us Best Clothing Store 7 years running!

We've got a pretty great selection of Swimwear too...

Located near the Olympic Rings on the Village Stroll.

Follow us on Instagram @thebeachwhistler

604-932-7505 DECEMBER 26, 2019

75

FEATURE

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Slice of life

Local businesses are what make this mountain town go round. As it turns out, there’s little this community likes more in a business than cheese and dough. Voters chose Functional Pie, Whistler’s newest pizza shop, as their favourite new business this year.

The Function Junction storefront recently celebrated its one-year anniversary after opening its doors on Nov. 16, 2018.

“It’s gone by really fast,” says Functional Pie owner Leigh Scott.

Over the past year, Functional Pie has separated itself from the rest of Whistler’s pizza scene with its unique recipes, which Scott describes as “inspired by Detroit-style pan with a [New York] classic design.”

In case you’re part of the continually dwindling population of locals who have yet to head south for an East-Coastinspired slice, that means oversized slices with crispy, caramelized crusts that are almost as cheesy as the centre of the pie. While the restaurant offers a handful of seats for those looking to dine-in, full pizzas are available for takeout, as are slices perfect for the Function lunch crowd.

The restaurant also focuses on fresh, premium ingredients, with a menu full of Italian cheeses, roast chicken, fennel sausage, capicola, and fresh veggies. It also caters to the

76 DECEMBER 26, 2019

meat- and-dairy-free crowds, with plant-based toppings like vegan cheese and vegan sausage.

Scott drew on 12 years of experience as a server at the Fairmont, coupled with his years of perfecting the art of pizzamaking at home, when opening up his own shop, looking to foster authenticity and “a constant connection” with his customers.

That all-important authenticity—in both the product and the intentions of the locals who make it—has even impressed groups that one might assume to be the harshest pizza critics around: New Yorkers themselves. As Scott recalls, “We’ve had a couple of people from New York … and then we had a group of eight to 10 people come in [visiting from New York City], and they all said it was one of the best” pizzas they’ve had.

Although Scott said he eventually hopes to expand his entrepreneurial range, “to do more interesting things than pizza,” for now the longtime local and his staff are just excited to join the roster of independent Whistler businesses that are slowly but surely transitioning the once purely industrial neighbourhood into the most happening locals’ hang-out zone in town, and thankful for the overwhelming support the community has afforded them so far.

“We’re just so happy,” he says. - MEGAN LALONDE

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST NEW BUSINESS! WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT OVER OUR FIRST YEAR. WWW.FUNCTIONALPIE.CA

MAKE WAVES. MOVE MOUNTAINS. Torah Bright, Hokkaido, Japan

111-1085 MILLAR CREEK RD 604-962-3141.

DECEMBER 26, 2019

77

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Sp ʦ & Re eatiо

BY DAN FALLOON

FAVOURITE SUMMER ATHLETE BRANDON SEMENUK Whistler has no shortage of summer athletes to adore, but Brandon Semenuk remains the leader.

With his sixth consecutive win, Semenuk further entrenched himself as the community’s favourite sunny-time sportsperson.

And hey, seeing his winning run at Red Bull Rampage certainly cements why he’s rightfully the defending champ here, holding off challenges from runner-up FINN ILES, downhiller and whipmaster extraordinaire, and a two-way tie for third between Enduro World Series faves JESSE MELAMED and YOANN BARELLI.

FAVOURITE WINTER ATHLETE STAN REY In taking his third win in a row in this category, Stan Rey kept his victory in perspective. “It was very humbling, for sure.

Living in such an awesome community, it’s nice to be recognized by people. I just try to be outgoing and show that I love what I’m doing. It’s nice that people kind of like that,” he says.

Rey had an extra special 2019, getting

78 DECEMBER 26, 2019

married to 2018 Olympic ski-cross gold medallist Kelsey Serwa in September.

On snow, Rey kept himself occupied working on three different movie projects, The 7 Stages of Blank with fellow Blank Collective collaborator Alexi Godbout, and two projects for Salomon’s Freeski TV, Solstice and Charge.

In the latter, the skiers worked with world champion drone pilot Jordan “Jet” Temkin, in what was a unique experience, as Temkin’s machine could fly 120 kilometres an hour.

“It was pretty amazing watching him fly.

It’s not like a normal drone. If you let go of the controls, the drone just drops out of the air,” he says. “None of us could even keep up, and he would be flying under couches, through the railings in the stairs.

“Watching him fly the drone outside was pretty mind blowing. He can go in between branches.”

Rey describes Solstice, meanwhile, as more of a beauty movie centred around sunrises and sunsets. He enjoyed working on a project that was less focused on the action and more on nature.

“We’d go film just a couple things ski touring, or a couple turns. I thought it was a really unique piece because it was tamed skiing. It wasn’t anything crazy, but at the same time, I thought it was a really beautiful piece,” he says.

Regarding The 7 Stages of Blank, Rey appreciated the opportunity to get some

hardcore action in.

“It’s a high-action ski porn with a little bit of story behind it,” says Rey, who filmed North American segments, but bowed out of a Chamonix segment after hurting his back. “It’s a lot of powder skiing, even though we didn’t have the greatest winter.”

This year, Rey and Godbout are working on a new Blank project along with a six-tonine-part web series, as well as some work with Salomon TV. Rey also plans to launch a YouTube channel to provide some skiing instruction.

In terms of locales, he’s planning to head to Japan for certain, but his main project revolves around following the snow, so his itinerary isn’t set in stone.

Ski-cross racer MARIELLE THOMPSON, after finishing third in the FIS Crystal Globe rankings, took second in this category. Snowboarder MARK MCMORRIS, meanwhile, placed third.

FAVOURITE JUNIOR ATHLETE FINN FINESTONE Finn is in once again.

A year after taking the mantle from aged-out junior Finn Iles, snowboarder Finn Finestone defended his crown in this category in 2019.

“I’m super stoked and big thanks to the community for all the support,” he says.

The 16-year-old slopestyler is coming

off a strong year, having earned his first NorAm Cup medal, a bronze, in Calgary and competing at the FIS Junior World Championships in Sweden in the spring, earning a 28th-place finish in big air.

Speaking in advance of the season, Finestone had just returned from a training camp in Austria. He says he’s feeling pretty confident in his style, so he turned his eye more to longevity and maximizing his ability to stay healthy and on course.

“I was mainly just thinking about tricks to improve on, so it was visualization and just getting stronger,” he says. “I was working on my body a bit to get stronger so I could maintain my energy throughout the season as well, in case I get hurt, or whatever happens.”

Finestone will compete on the NorAm and Canada Cup circuits this year, and, if he’s lucky will hope to land a World Cup start. At press time, he was also the first alternate for the Canadian team for the Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland.

“It would be great [to go],” he says. “Last year, going to Sweden for Junior Worlds, it was a big deal for me, getting to meet new people and to ride with different countries and different kids and see what they have to offer.

“It was the first time in my riding that it was televised, so it was nerve-wracking and exciting to go up to the bigger stage, for sure.”

Golfer KAITLYN HILL locked down

Happy Holidays

& Thank You! Thank you for the special recognition!

We are fortunate to have so many quality, local golf courses & patios in Whistler and are grateful for the community support.

2019

Team Nicklaus North + Table Nineteen

Voted Best Golf Course in Whistler Voted Best Patio in Whistler nicklausnorth.com

FORGET THE FORECAST

DECEMBER 26, 2019

79

FEATURE FAVOURITE BIKE TRAIL DARK CRYSTAL Just one vote separated the winner and our two runners-up, and it was ultimately firsttime winner Dark Crystal taking the crown this year.

Whistler Blackcomb incorporated Dark Crystal, which was started as an illegal trail in 2015, into its system in 2017.

The Blackcomb Mountain trail was constructed in a special spot, according to builder Scott Veach, who built Dark Crystal alongside Ben Haggar.

“Ben and I both really like slabs and big rock faces so we tried to target as many of those as possible without having any unnecessary climbs,” Veach told Pique in 2017. “We wanted to create a trail where you could take your hands off the brakes. That’s a feature for us, where you can hit the fall line without pedalling or hitting the brakes.”

A-LINE and CRANK IT UP tied for second.

FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE PHOTO BY ABBIE FINESTONE

second place while there was a three-way deadlock for between mountain bikers AMY ERTEL and JACKSON GOLDSTONE and skier JUDE OLIVER.

WHISTLER OR BLACKCOMB? BLACKCOMB Skiing or boarding? Pepsi or Coke? Kant or Kierkegaard? Every community or social circle has its line-in-the-sand questions, and in a community with two fantastic neighbours for winter gravity recreation, choosing one or the other is ours.

If you’re #TeamBlackcomb, you’ve chosen the winning side along with nearly 55 per cent of respondents, keeping the northern ridge undefeated on the four occasions we’ve held this poll.

FAVOURITE SKI RUN ON WHISTLER OR BLACKCOMB PEAK TO CREEK Just because Blackcomb is the complete package for our respondents doesn’t mean

Save the hardcore

for the hill.

Find real time info on when your bus is coming with

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/transit

80 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Whistler has nothing to offer. Take the thighburning Peak to Creek, which starts off with skiers soaking in views of Black Tusk and Cheakamus Lake and, 11 kilometres later, deposits you conveniently at the mouth of Dusty’s for some wings and beer. What more could you ask for?

There was a two-way tie for the runnerup position, with the DAVE MURRAY DOWNHILL of Whistler and RIDGE RUNNER of Blackcomb finding themselves even. Other high-ranking faves were Spanky’s and 7th Heaven.

FAVOURITE SLACKCOUNTRY RUN OR AREA MILLION DOLLAR RIDGE Sometimes, to feel like a million bucks, you’ve got to head outside of the boundaries.

And sure enough, the spot most respondents go to for that rush is Whistler Mountain’s Million Dollar Ridge, which is famous for its face shots and perfect pow.

KHYBER’S edged out FLUTE BACKSIDE for second.

NICKLAUS NORTH GOLF CLUB There’s not usually much difference in results between the three options for hitting the links in town, and this year was no different.

Fewer than 90 votes separated first and third, but Nicklaus North once again pulled out the win in a category it has held every year since the category was offered in 2013.

The par-71, 18-hole championship course nestled just north of the village once again welcomed several of the province’s top golfers after hosting the Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Whistler Open once again this past June.

THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER GOLF CLUB eked ahead of WHISTLER GOLF CLUB for second.

FAVOURITE SPORTS EVENT OR FESTIVAL CRANKWORX When you’re bringing scores of the world’s best mountain bikers to your resort for a week and a half of racing and judged events— and don’t even charge admission for it?

That’ll get you in the good graces of an adoring public.

This year’s festival had countless memorable moments, with hometown hero Finn Iles capturing the Air DH once again, Squamish junior Jakob Jewett shocking the world by playing giant killer en route to the RockShox Ultimate Pump Track Challenge semifinals, or Emil Johansson overcoming months of health issues to land a jaw-dropping run and winning his first Red Bull Joyride.

Not to mention, the festival continued to expand its offerings for women, hosting the first-ever women’s Speed and Style with the hopes of hosting a women’s slopestyle contest in the future.

The best news? There will be two extra days of Crankworx in 2020.

The newly sold WORLD SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL placed a distant second, but could rise next year under Gibbons Whistler’s new management.

SUBARU IRONMAN CANADA (R.I.P.) was third.

FAVOURITE ADVENTURE TOURISM COMPANY THE ADVENTURE GROUP The Adventure Group won this category for the first time in a close battle last year, and repeated in much the same fashion this year, finding a margin of victory of just 32 votes.

The boost came from the opening of the Vallea Lumina musical forest in 2018 and with a winter version opened this year as well, TAG kept the momentum.

The company has a wide selection of other offerings as well, though, ranging from Superfly Ziplines, RZR adventures, whitewater rafting and bungee jumping to snowmobiling and snowshoeing.

CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES was a narrow second while ZIPTREK ECOTOURS was third.

FAVOURITE FAMILY ACTIVITY SKIING AND BOARDING Yep, you read that correctly.

In our world-famous ski resort, the No. 1 activity for families, is to make the most of it by skiing and snowboarding.

Keeping with the theme of getting the kiddos outdoors, CAMPING was second and HIKING was third.

FEATURE STORY

On a rampage

Though seminal slopestyler Semenuk opted against pursuing a record sixth Red Bull Joyride victory here in Whistler during Crankworx, voters didn’t hold it against him as he won this category for a sixth consecutive year and a seventh time overall.

Reached via email, Semenuk was grateful to see his hometown continue to rally behind him.

“To see continued support from my hometown is incredible! I credit a lot of my success to the area and people I grew up around. Whistler is a special place for any mountain biker and I’m fortunate to have grown up there,” he writes.

He was busy this year on the bike and off, filming Parallel with Ryan Howard as well as Midpoint. In recent years, Semenuk had pursued his passion of rally racing, though he hasn’t been able to drive as much lately.

“Between my obligations as an athlete and producer, there isn’t a lot of spare time.

Regardless of that, it’s been a refreshing change, and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to be creative, and grow as an athlete through these other facets,” Semenuk explains.

And hey, seeing his winning run at Red Bull Rampage certainly cements why he’s rightfully the defending champ here.

“Red Bull Rampage is the premiere event for mountain biking, so it’s a great feeling to walk away with that title,” Semenuk notes. “The event is fairly late in the year, so it doesn’t conflict with my schedule much, plus its very similar to what I’m doing the rest of the year … building unique lines, testing these lines, and then performing.”

It’s too early for Semenuk to reveal what’s on his docket for 2020, but he hopes to chase some similar projects with some new endeavours as well. - DAN FALLOON

PHOTO BY PETER MORNING COURTESY OF REDBULL

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FEATURE STORY PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

He th & Fitn

BY DAN FALLOON

FAVOURITE SPA SCANDINAVE SPA While silence is required when you’re relaxing at Scandinave Spa, those who love it aren’t shy to shout it from the mountaintops.

Scandinave has won this category every year since it was first offered in 2011, but when you get into the hot-and-cold routine, it’s easy to understand why the hydrotherapy plan is beloved. Scandinave also offers massages, so it’s not hard to put in a full day at the day spa.

THE SPA AT NITA LAKE LODGE was second while VIDA SPA AT FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER came third.

FAVOURITE CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE WHISTLER CHIROPRACTIC It’s been a decade of dominance for the clinic.

Whistler Chiropractic has won this award every year it’s been bestowed upon a full practice, since 2013, but the three years prior, Dr. Keith Ray won Best Chiropractor twice and Dr. Patrick Shuen won it once.

Those two are still there, along with Dr. Jacqueline Brusset, and continue to have Whistler’s backs when they need it the most.

Dr. Andrea Bologna of VILLAGE CENTRE CHIROPRACTIC came second and Dr. Adam Underhill of DR. ADAM UNDERHILL CHIROPRACTIC was third.

FAVOURITE PHYSIOTHERAPY OR 82 DECEMBER 26, 2019

MASSAGE PROVIDER BACK IN ACTION

In a historically competitive category dating back to when physiotherapy was its own division, Back in Action won for the third consecutive year.

The Main Street clinic provides a variety of services, ranging from concussion assessment and treatment, which the clinic pioneered in the resort, to osteopathic services, occupational and hand therapy.

Back in Action took the narrow win over PEAK PERFORMANCE while THE SPA AT NITA LAKE LODGE was third.

FAVOURITE DENTAL PRACTICE CREEKSIDE DENTAL Make it an even dozen for Creekside Dental this year, and if you have a baker’s dozen to celebrate, they can take care of you.

Even with some change in dentists over the years, the friendly clinic, headed by Dr. Julian Truong and Dr. Michael Rivera, keeps on coming back to the top spot.

WHISTLER DENTAL placed second while WHISTLER SMILES DENTAL CLINIC took third.

FAVOURITE MEDICAL PRACTICE WHISTLER MEDICAL CLINIC When you’re not feeling your best, you want to know exactly where you have to go.

For the last decade, Whistlerites have made a beeline for the Whistler Medical Clinic if they have ailments to overcome.

The current team of Dr. Karin Kausky,

Caring caregivers

Back in Action co-owner and sport physiotherapist Therese Leigh explains that several of Back in Action’s practitioners have worked there for countless years, so patients are familiar with the faces they see when they come by.

“It’s nice to know that everyone appreciates our service,” she says. “It’s not just a recognition of one person but our entire practice, and we try to make sure that we can refer our clients to anyone within our practice and have confidence that they can be well-treated, diagnosed and better.”

One of the elements that Leigh posits about why Back in Action is a consistent contender is that the clinic provides a variety of services, with all three partners (Leigh, Mike Conway and Bianca Matheson) certified in both manual therapy and sports physiotherapy, being the sole practitioners in town to have both accreditations.

“It gives us a good background knowledge that we can use to treat clients, and at times, try to answer questions from our other physios that we work with on our team,” she says.

Leigh adds that since Back in Action welcomes a wide variety of clients, those who work there find it that much more rewarding, knowing the clinic can help so many people return to doing what they love.

“We’re not just physiotherapy. We also have other disciplines in our practice and we can cross-refer to one another,” she says. -DAN FALLOON

Keep your SPINE IN LINE • Joint Mobilization/Manipulation • Soft Tissue Therapy/ART® • Core Exercise Prescription • Custom Orthotics • Foundation Training • Massage Therapy & Acupuncture Available

604-932-1922 H

Unit 204, St Andrews Building, Beside the Keg

www.whistlerchiropractic.com

Thanks for voting us

Best of Whistler

Thanks Whistler for voting us Best Physiotherapy & Massage Therapy Clinic

• Specialized Sports and Manipulative Physiotherapists.

• Osteopathy and Occupational Therapy

• Sports injuries, Spinal Manipulation • IMS, dry needling & acupuncture • Concussion & vestibular rehabilitation • Custom Braces, splits and Orthotics

DIRECT BILLING TO INSURANCE PLANS WORKSAFE CLAIMS WELCOME

We keep you playing! backinactionphysiotherapy.com find us on

604.962.0555 Easy Main St. location next to Domino’s Pizza

We would like to Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you from the staff at Creekside Dental for voting us your favorite dental clinic .in the Pique’s Best of Whistler 2019. Our team is again humbled and grateful of this recognition.

We pride ourselves in providing the best dental experience while caring for your dental health.

We always look forward to your visit and appreciate your referrals to family and friends.

Creekside Dental has been your “locals” office for over twenty years.

We thank the community for the support throughout these years.

From our family to yours, wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and all the best in the new year.

2019

NO REFERRAL NECESSARY, IN-SUITE SERVICE AVAILABLE

FROM WHISTLER CHIROPRACTIC

2019

Keith Ray, B.Sc., D.C. Jacqueline Brusset, B.P.E., D.C. Pat Shuen, B.P.E., D.C.

!

Year w e N y p ap

PH: 604 938 1550 317-2063 LAKE PLACID ROAD

in Franz’s Trail beside Creekside Market

www.smilewhistler.com DECEMBER 26, 2019

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FEATURE PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Trained to win

The confirmation of her sterling reputation came at a pretty darn good time for Meaghan Sutter.

Sutter opened the doors of her Function Junction training facility, Peak Training Fitness, on Nov. 1.

“The support from the community has been absolutely overwhelming. It’s really allowed me to take the next step in my business, to really have the confidence to push a little bit further, to push out of my comfort zone, knowing that I have such an amazing community of people behind me to back me up,” she says. “There’s so much connection and so much value that we can all bring to each other. Everyone wants to really help elevate each other.”

Sutter, who’s originally from Ontario and previously worked at Whistler Creek Athletic Club, says that while she was nervous about being a trainer moving into Whistler given how fit much of the population already was. However,

in four short years, she carved out her niche, and made a go of it.

“I really questioned whether being a personal trainer was actually going to be successful, to be honest,” she recalls.

In addition to being a trainer, Sutter is also a kinesiologist, so depending on the client, she has recovery at the top of mind when training. She says that background informs her when working on personalized plans for her clients.

With her new fitness centre, Sutter says she’s still working hard to determine how best to serve Whistler.

“My focus is to figure out exactly what area I need to fill in the community, what needs are of the people that maybe aren’t being met quite yet, whether it’s more one-on-one or more group stuff, rehabilitation classes,” she says.

Sutter adds she also hopes to further her own education in order to constantly improve as a trainer. - DAN FALLOON

Dr. Sarah Truscott, Dr. Thomas DeMarco, Dr. Laura Malley, Dr. Danielle Patterson and Dr. Brennan McKnight has earned that billing for the clinic for a 10th consecutive year.

COAST MEDICAL CLINIC snuck past TOWN PLAZA MEDICAL CLINIC for third.

amenities such as mat rental, snacks and tea with its classes.

The 100-per-cent Whistler-owned operation features 11 experienced teachers to lead you in your class.

Last year’s champ, YYOGA, topped THE CORE for second.

FAVOURITE FITNESS FACILITY MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE Apart from Best Neighbourhood (of which this winner is a part) this may be the least surprising result for regular readers, as Meadow Park Sports Centre has held down this category for more than 20 years.

When you’ve got a tip-top gym, pool and NHL-sized rink to go along with squash and basketball courts, a sauna, and a steam room, there’s a reason for that longevity.

With better equipment access, an

84 DECEMBER 26, 2019

expanded cardio room and new dedicated stretching room on the way, it’ll be difficult to foresee Meadow Park being knocked off its perch anytime soon.

The new kid on the block, ALTITUDE FITNESS, earned second place while THE CORE CLIMBING AND FITNESS CENTRE took third.

FAVOURITE YOGA/PILATES

FAVOURITE BEAUTY AND AESTHETIC PROVIDER

YOGACARA

THE SPA AT NITA LAKE LODGE

Those who love Yogacara love it a lot.

In order to maintain an intimate atmosphere, the Sundial Place-based studio limits class sizes to 15. For that, those who go made their appreciation known, voting the studio tops in this category for the first time.

As well, the studio seeks to create a welcoming environment, offering

If you want to look great and feel even better, our readers swear by The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge.

In this brand-new division, the Creekside-based spa received praise for such treatments as hydrofacials, Erjonia’s Verjú fat loss system, and a wide range of facial therapy and spa esthetic treatments.

BE BEAUTY SPA AND TANNING

LOUNGE was second while WHISTLER MEDICAL AESTHETICS took third.

FAVOURITE TRAINER MEAGHAN SUTTER In a town where even the grocery store clerks are fit as a fiddle, athletic trainers have to go above and beyond to meet the needs of their active clientele.

Meaghan Sutter, formerly of the Whistler Creek Athletic Club, is clearly meeting those high standards at her new Function Junction facility, Peak Training Whistler.

With a background in kinesiology, Sutter uses strength and mobility training to help her discerning clients reach their fitness goals.

Personal trainer and golf fitness specialist CHRISTINA LONGO of Bulletproof Bodies placed second, while Marina Leon of the WHISTLER CORE CLIMBING AND FITNESS CENTRE took third.

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1-800-667-2993

DECEMBER 26, 2019

85

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN/WWW.COASTPHOTO.COM

Env оm t

2,500 a year.

Soon after, the coffee shop decided to stop selling them.

While turning down easy sales might not be the most typical of business practices, Corvino said the cause was important to his staff.

BLENZ COFFEE “There a few members of the team that are We all know that Whistlerites appreciate really environmentally conscious,” he explains. their natural surroundings—after all, it’s “It was just an easy fix to reduce waste.” kind of our calling card—and Pique readers Blenz was also recognized for its mughave chosen Blenz as a standout for the sharing program, whereby people are inaugural year of this environmentally- invited to grab a clean, reusable mug rather minded category. than take a disposable cup.

In recent years, Blenz has instituted a “There are a core group of regulars that mug sharing and water bottle policy aimed work locally that will come in, take a mug and at cutting down on customers’ footprint. bring it back the next day,” says Corvino.

John Corvino—who co-owns the coffee In addition to the environmental nod, shop along with his wife Caitlin, and Wendy Blenz has also taken top spot in the Best Kendall—were going through their books Coffee category, a distinction he credits when they noted the astonishing amount of to his team. single-use water bottles they were selling: “An amazing cup of coffee isn’t just about

BY JOEL BARDE

BEST LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE

86 DECEMBER 26, 2019

what’s in the cup,” he says, stressing the level of customer service his team brings.

Second went to AWARE’S ZERO WASTE HEROES INITIATIVE, which helps events minimize their waste. And third went to STRAW WARS WHISTLER, a popular movement that aims to dramatically reduce the amount of straws given out at local cafés, restaurants and bars.

BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE CLIMATE CHANGE On the environmental front, it goes without saying that Whistler is a bit of a contradiction: A resort community with a major carbon footprint (just think about all those emissions from the planes and cars that get people here) that also cares deeply about its footprint.

But guess what?

We care about climate change—a lot.

Pique readers voted climate change as the resort’s biggest environmental challenge, followed by SINGLE-USE PLASTICS in second, and the THREAT OF WILDFIRE in third.

SPECIES OF GREATEST CONCERN GRIZZLY BEARS Everyone knows that Whistlerites love their bears. And one of the greatest bears of them all, the grizzly, is slowly recovering in the Sea to Sky corridor (though the popularity of the backcountry and speed of development is certainly a concern for their recovery).

Readers showed the second most love to the tiny WESTERN TOAD and the WOLVERINE. ■

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- Amie Q, Peterborough, United Kingdom

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Winter tours starting at $179 per person

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Japan’s beloved red-crowned crane makes a miraculous come back

88 DECEMBER 26, 2019

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Story and photos

by Suzanne Morphet

I

f there’s one animal the Japanese love—other than cuddly dogs— it’s the Red-crowned crane. Their reverence for the bird shows up in logos on everything from sake bottles to chopsticks, and at ceremonies from weddings to baptisms. There’s even a saying, that if you fold a thousand origami (paper) cranes, you’ll be granted a wish.

And yet Tancho, as the Japanese call it, is lucky to be alive. Hunted almost to extinction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it can now be found only on the northernmost island of Hokkaido.

I was curious to see this bird, but also to understand how the Japanese could change their feelings so profoundly towards it.

“Nowadays we think ‘beautiful bird,’ but at a different time, it was food,” explains my guide as we drive to a crane sanctuary in eastern Hokkaido, close to the city of Kushiro.

It was in the marshes near here in 1924 that some cranes, fewer than 20, were discovered.

And when something is rare, it seems to be part of human nature that we attach more value to it. That was certainly the case with the crane. Locals jumped into action to help Tancho, feeding the surviving cranes corn and fish to get them through the tough winter months every year beginning in 1935.

In 1952, the government designated the bird a Natural Monument. And in the first survey of cranes that same year, 33 were counted. It was the beginning of a miraculous turn-around.

In 1958, the Japanese Crane Reserve opened in Kushiro with the goal of not just protecting cranes, but propagating the endangered species. After 10 years of trial and error, they finally succeeded in artificially hatching chicks in 1970.

At the beginning of this century, the birds numbered more than 1,000 and now the population of cranes is thought to be around 1,300.

Before leaving for Japan, I read as much as I could about the cranes. A birdwatching friend recommended The Birds of Heaven by Peter Matthiessen (author of The Snow Leopard), beautifully illustrated by B.C. naturalist and painter Robert Bateman.

I learned that cranes mate for life and perform elaborate mating rituals, including dancing and singing. One writer compared them to ballerinas, with their long, slender legs and graceful movements. When I learn I’ll be in Hokkaido during their courtship season in late winter, I’m even more excited.

I knew there would be more than a little bit of luck involved in catching a mating display, but even before packing my suitcase, I could already picture it. Snow would be falling, the sun would be setting and a pair of cranes would begin their duet by spreading their wings, pointing their beaks skyward and declaring their love for each other in turn.

Don’t think I’m anthropomorphizing.

I’ve seen the photos; these birds are the epitome of elegance and romantic affection.

As we approach the Tsurui ito Tancho Sanctuary, it’s a bright, sunny

day and it hasn’t snowed in weeks.

But immediately we see cranes, dozens of them, standing in a farm field, where every day between October and March they’re fed corn. To the north there’s a river where they roost at night and as we watch, a few more fly in for the feeding.

Suddenly, I’m reminded of the cows on the farm where I grew up. Every day they would wait for my father to shout “cowboss” when it was time for them to come in from the field to be fed corn silage.

There’s no denying the cranes are far more beautiful than cows with their bright red crowns, black tail feathers and snowwhite bodies. But like the cows, these birds seem tame and only interested in eating.

They stand around looking bored and before long I feel the same way.

That’s not all. There’s too many of them. And we can get too close. We can almost reach through the fence and touch them. Even though the birds are free to come and go as they please, this feels like a zoo.

We hang around, waiting and watching until a man with a pail appears and starts scattering handfuls of corn over the frozen ground. The birds don’t rush at the food.

Instead, they peck at the kernels in the civilized way of someone who’s well fed and knows where their next meal is coming from.

We leave and drive to another feeding station across town, but the scene is similar.

A lot of birds, but not a lot of interaction; certainly no dancing, and after a few minutes we’ve seen enough.

I’m disappointed, but I know that says more about me than it does about the cranes.

Just as the Japanese went from hunting them to loving them, I’ve gone from being excited to being bored, and all in the space of a couple hours. What’s with that?

I’m pondering all this as we head to our hotel in a town some distance away.

We’re driving through pretty countryside with rolling hills and open fields. It’s that magical golden hour just before the sun sets.

Suddenly, I see a dark shape moving across a snow-covered field. It’s a fox, and he’s on the hunt for rodents hiding under the snow.

Our driver pulls over and we open the windows to get a better view. Even though the fox is at least 100 metres away, we’re mesmerized. Backlit by the setting sun and framed by a stand of mature trees, the setting is picture perfect.

We watch as the fox pauses, cocks his ears, then pounces head first into the snow, just like in those National Geographic videos.

He comes up empty-mouthed and keeps walking.

And now I realize, this is how I like my wildlife: truly wild, self-sufficient and strong.

Dear cranes, I wish you well, and I hope that soon you won’t be so dependent on people.

I hope you can spend all your days in the marshes, where you belong. Then, you can dance like nobody’s watching. Prying eyes like mine won’t be able to easily find you. Sure, a few determined bird watchers will seek you out, but the rest of us will just have to be content looking at their pictures. And for your sake, I won’t mind. https://hokkaido-sightseeing.com n

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Grant Howard Ayers It is with great sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Grant Howard Ayers at the young age of 64.

He leaves behind his wife Karen Pinchin, two children, Brandon and Shelby Ayers and three siblings Myron Ayers, Lyle Ayers and Brenda McLeod.

Grant was born on December 9th, 1954 to Howard and Marion Ayers in Pemberton B.C. With no formal postsecondary education Grant purchased Edgemont Moving and Storage and became a self-taught businessman.

Through his 35 years with the company he has played a pivotal role in turning it into a reputable business. He was a kind-hearted and involved father and we will miss his support and advice. We take great comfort knowing that he is with his father Howard once again.

The funeral service will be held between 12pm to 5pm on March the 7th 2020 at the church located at 7422 Dogwood St, Pemberton.

DECEMBER 26, 2019

89

SPORTS THE SCORE

Alexander enjoying solid start to season WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB ALUM EARNS NORAM WIN, MAKES WORLD CUP DEBUT

BY DAN FALLOON CAMERON ALEXANDER claimed one NorAm Cup win in Lake Louise and was a hundredth of a second away from another.

It’s been an excellent December for the Whistler Mountain Ski Club alumnus, who has posted four top-10 finishes in NorAm Cup action after making his first two World Cup starts in Lake Louise on Nov. 30 and at Beaver Creek, Colo. on Dec. 7.

While the 22-year-old is more than familiar with Lake Louise, with six total NorAm top-10 finishes in his career, he credited jumping to the World Cup level with claiming his first-ever win in the downhill on Dec. 12.

“I got a start in the World Cup in Lake Louise, which gave me some confidence going in. I’ve obviously skied that track plenty of times before,” he said. “I was able to go out and have some good runs and luckily, come out with the win as well, so I was super happy about that.”

The triumph came a day after Alexander was just 0.01 seconds back of Jeffrey Read in the first downhill of the week. He also got to share the podium with younger brother Kyle, who was 0.06 seconds back.

COOL CAM Cameron Alexander has been sturdy early in the 2019-20 alpine ski season.

PHOTO BY MALCOLM CARMICHAEL/ALPINE CANADA

90 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Alexander wrapped the Lake Louise portion of the schedule with a fifth-place showing in the super-G. The scene shifted to Nakiska a couple days later, and he took 10th in the Alpine combined including 12th in the super-G portion. While Alexander was generally satisfied, he knows that he could have done a bit better at the second stop.

Beaver Creek downhill the following week.

While there are some minor differences in making the leap, he said he tried to focus on the similarities heading in.

“They set the World Cup a little bit faster and more open, but it’s still ski racing at the end of the day,” he said. “You come in thinking it’s going to be crazy different, but

“You come in thinking it’s going to be crazy different, but it’s really not.”

- CAMERON ALEXANDER

“I’ve had some good skiing, but I’ve had some mistakes,” he said. “I come away knowing that I’ve been skiing well, which is a positive, but I would have liked to have been faster on the timing board.

“You need to look at what you need to improve on to not have those mistakes, but you also really want to make sure you find the good and continue doing that as well.”

Looking back on his World Cup debut, Alexander said he was honoured to broach the top level on home soil.

“It was pretty special, obviously. It was a big step for me, making my first start in Lake Louise. My family was there and they were super pumped as well,” he said. “It was cool to get that first one under my belt.”

Alexander took 48th in the Lake Louise World Cup, and he jumped to 42nd in the

it’s really not.”

By the end of the season, Alexander will look to secure the NorAm downhill or super-G title and lock down a World Cup spot for the 2020-21 campaign. He also recently found out he’d been invited to start 2020 World Cups in Wengen, Kitzbuhel and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

“It’s going to be exciting. Kitz is definitely a big-time track. I’ve done the Europa Cup there, so I know it a little bit, but it’s definitely a little bit of a step up to the World Cup,” he said.

Alexander approached the offseason looking to add muscle in the gym, and once he returned to snow, he focused on working on technical skills, especially in giant slalom.

“That can translate well into the speed

disciplines,” he said. “Making sure I was skiing confidently coming into race season was the main focus.”

Several other WMSC alums took part in the NorAm Cup series in Lake Louise and Nakiska.

Those with top-30 finishes included: • Stefanie Fleckenstein (second in the Dec. 11 downhill, fourth in the Dec. 12 downhill, seventh in the Dec. 13 super-G, fourth in the Dec. 16 alpine combined and eighth in the Dec. 19 slalom); • Ella Renzoni (eighth in the Dec. 11 downhill, sixth in the Dec. 12 downhill, sixth in the Dec. 13 super-G, 13th in the Dec. 16 alpine combined, 12th in the Dec. 17 giant slalom and 30th in the Dec. 19 slalom); • Jack Crawford (sixth in the Dec. 12 downhill and first in the Dec. 13 super-G); • Brodie Seger (eighth in the Dec. 11 downhill, ninth in the Dec. 12 downhill and third in the Dec. 13 super-G); • Riley Seger (sixth in the Dec. 13 super-G and third in the Dec. 16 super-G); • Asher Jordan (28th in the Dec. 11 downhill, 27th in the Dec. 12 downhill, 18th in the Dec. 13 super-G, fifth in the Dec. 18 giant slalom, eighth in the Dec. 19 slalom, and third in the Dec. 20 slalom); • Tait Jordan (30th in the Dec. 12 downhill and 28th in the Dec. 13 super-G); and • Nathan Romanin (30th in the Dec. 13 super-G).

For complete results, check out www. fis-ski.com. n

SPORTS THE SCORE

Matteau Rushbrook excelling with Comets WHISTLER FORWARD NAMED FEMALE MIDGET AAA PLAYER OF THE MONTH

BY DAN FALLOON WHEN YOUR TEAM has lost just one BC Hockey Female Midget AAA contest since the beginning of the 2018-19 season, you’re in a good situation.

That’s the case for Whistler forward Camie Matteau Rushbrook with the Greater Vancouver Comets. After going 32 for 32 in her debut season, Matteau Rushbrook and the Comets are 13-1-0 in league play so far this year. According to myhockeyrankings. com, the Comets are ranked third in the country as of Dec. 19, and have been No. 1 at times this season.

Matteau Rushbrook helped the Comets to a league title last season and they advanced to the Pacific Midget Female Regionals against the Alberta champion St. Albert Slash before bowing out.

In her sophomore season, the 17-yearold has risen in the Comets’ ranks, serving as an alternate captain and already surpassing her goal total from her rookie season with five tallies and five assists so far.

“My second year has been awesome so far. Even though we’re halfway through the year, I feel like we’re just getting started,” she said. “It’s been awesome to take on more of a leadership role this year, being a second-year player on the team. I’m mentoring some of the new girls because we have quite a new team. So far, it’s been really, really great. We’re finding good success as well, which has been awesome.”

Matteau Rushbrook has taken her game to the next level as well, and on Dec. 20, BC Hockey announced that she was selected as its Female Midget AAA player of the month for November.

“I’m not going to say that I’m the strongest player on the ice, but it’s nice for people to recognize the work that I put in off the ice, bringing everyone together and keeping that positive environment,” she said.

After steamrolling through the league last season, being the only one of the five clubs to post a winning record, both the Fraser Valley Rush and Northern Capitals have won more games than they’ve lost heading into Christmas, with the Rush handing the Comets their only loss in Matteau Rushbrook’s tenure.

“Obviously, it’s not nice to lose, but it’s nice to have that competition in the league.

It’s nice to see other teams doing well,” she said. “There’s a lot more competition this year and I think it’ll make the playoffs really interesting.

“It’ll be good, because we’ll really get to learn how to fight for our spot in the league and fight for a championship.”

Even in the face of significant turnover from last season, the Comets gelled quickly, Matteau Rushbrook said. In its first action of the campaign in September, Greater

Vancouver won the Stoney Creek Midget Showcase in Ontario, which was a bonding moment for the squad.

“We started to hear all these Ontario teams talking about us, which was a really big deal because we’re this little team from B.C. We’re not really well known in the hockey world,” she said.

More recently, the Comets posted a 3-0-2 record at the USA-Canada Cup in Kitchener and Waterloo, Ont. While the quality of competition is toughening in the B.C. league, Matteau Rushbrook said the truest tests come when the team heads east.

“There’s no competition like going to play those teams in Ontario and Alberta.

Obviously, they have way more teams, a bigger pool to pick from, and they have some really amazing teams and skilled players,” she said.

Though she’s often in the city or on the road with the team, Matteau Rushbrook still lives in and attends school in Whistler.

“Last year, it was harder because there was so much travel involved and there was quite a bit of missing school involved,” she said. “This second year has been quite a bit easier to transition to for me and my family.

I’m a lot closer with a lot of people who live in the city now, so sometimes I’ll stay over there.

“It just makes the transition easier.”

Even with her busy schedule, Matteau Rushbrook has made a point of making time for the next generation of young hockey players. During the Hometown Hockey festival in February, she presented to elementary school students about her journey, and she has helped with the female atom team’s inaugural season.

“I never in my life would have imagined that I would have so much of an impact on people in my community and hockey has given me that outlet to help others and lend support to all those people who made me who I am today,” she said. “All those people in Whistler Minor Hockey and all those teachers at the schools, they’re the reason I’ve been so successful and why I’m doing so well.”

Matteau Rushbrook added that she hopes to coach more with the Winterhawks in the New Year. She’s glad to see the team come to be, as she played boys’ hockey until joining the Comets last season.

“It’s really important for those young girls to have a positive female role model who’s been through the same thing as them,” she said. “When I was their age, I wish I had someone that would have came out and supported me in the same way.”

Matteau Rushbrook will graduate from the Comets after this season. She is planning to pursue her postsecondary education next year, but hopes to keep playing hockey whether it’s at the varsity or intramural level.

“I want to keep the game in me. I want to keep playing,” she said. n

No ce of Elec on by Vo ng 2020 School Trustee By-Elec on Trustee Electoral Area 3 (Village of Pemberton)

Local school trustee by-elec ons allow the community an important opportunity to choose a representa ve who will lead and oversee our valuable investment in public educa on.

Trustees are hardworking community leaders who come together in the context of a board in support of student success.

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY given to the electors of Trustee Electoral Area 3 (the Village of Pemberton) that an elec on by vo ng is necessary to elect one School Trustee, and that the persons nominated as candidates and for whom votes will be received are: School Trustee-ONE (1) to be elected Surname

Usual Names

Osburn

Erica

Walden

David

Residen al Address 1406 Pemberton Farm Rd. West, Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L0 8975 Pemberton Meadows Road, Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L2

VOTING DATE AND LOCATION

GENERAL VOTING will be open to qualified electors of Trustee Electoral Area 3 (Village of Pemberton) on Saturday, January 18th, 2020 between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at Signal Hill Elementary School, 1410 Pemberton Portage Road, Pemberton BC, V0N 2L1 ELECTOR REGISTRATION There is no need to pre-register to vote as the registra on of all electors for this elec on will take place at the me of vo ng. You will be required to make a declara on that you meet the following requirements: • 18 years of age or older on general vo ng day; • Canadian ci zen; • resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately preceding the day of registra on; • resident of OR registered owner of real property in the Village of Pemberton for at least (thirty) 30 days immediately preceding the day of registra on, and • not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from vo ng in an elec on or otherwise disqualified by law.

Resident electors must produce 2 pieces of iden fica on (at least one with a signature). Picture iden fica on is not necessary. The iden fica on must prove both residency and iden ty.

Non-resident property electors must produce 2 pieces of iden fica on (at least one with a signature) to prove iden ty, proof that they are en tled to register in rela on to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, wri en consent from the majority of the property owners.

Mohammed Azim, Chief Elec on Officer (604) 892-5228 Ext. 104 DECEMBER 26, 2019

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SPORTS THE SCORE

Sea to Sky Nordics taking part in Quebec exchange BIATHLON SEASON OFF TO STRONG START

BY DAN FALLOON A HANDFUL OF Nordic skiers from Sea to Sky Nordics are set to do a homeand-home with new friends from Quebec’s Chelsea Nordiq club.

West Vancouver’s Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club initially planned the exchange through the federal Canada Sports Friendship Exchange Program and later invited Sea to Sky Nordics to take part.

The Chelsea contingent will arrive on Dec. 31 and stay until Jan. 8, while the return trip is set for early February.

Sven Brouwer, who is serving as the lead organizer on the Chelsea side, said the club wants to hold an exchange for its 12- and 13-year-olds every year.

Last year, Chelsea’s racing program connected with Canmore, and this year, its adventure program was hoping to find a match. While Chelsea had approached Hollyburn’s adventure program in the past, the idea wasn’t viable at the time, Brouwer said. However, he said Hollyburn reached out to make it happen this time around.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to go to a different region, see that area there, and see how people are being active in the

outdoors,” he said. “Cross-country skiing is just the medium, though it’s not the only thing we do.

“They get to interact with some kids from a different area, get to know them, and hopefully make some friendships.”

Sea to Sky Nordics coach Dave Clark said approximately 14 Quebec athletes will come here, while roughly a dozen B.C. skiers, split between Hollyburn and Sea to Sky, will head east in February.

While here, the Chelsea skiers will be split between Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and the Vancouver area. Some days, the athletes will be split into their geographic Sea to Sky or Hollyburn group, though the entire contingent will have time together in both Whistler and Vancouver during the trip. One day will be devoted to exploring the city, including visiting Stanley Park and Granville Island, among other attractions. Here in Whistler, the group will take in the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. For two nights, all the athletes will stay over at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre and get a taste of the Olympic experience.

“It’s a great opportunity. They get a chance to stay where the Olympians stayed,” Clark said.

During the return trip, the B.C. athletes

will visit the annual Winterlude Festival and, conditions permitting, skate on the Rideau Canal. Some skiers will also take part in the Canadian Ski Marathon, where participants can go up to 160 kilometres in two days.

Brouwer said the club was hoping to arrange a tour of the Supreme Court, and looked forward to bringing the westerners to Gatineau Park.

“We have Gatineau Park here, which has got over 220 km of cross-country ski trails, both skating and backcountry. There are a bunch of cabins you can ski to, ski in and stay in,” he said. “They’ll get that experience as well.”

Clark explained that seeing different aspects of Canadian culture will be at the forefront for the travellers as well.

“It’s primarily English-speaking, but there’s obviously going to be a lot of French around as well. They’re getting that exposure to a piece of culture of our country, which is neat,” he said.

Brouwer, meanwhile, is excited for his charges to see some new geography when they arrive later this month.

“For most of our kids, it’ll be their first experience going out west. It’ll be really cool to see the mountains,” he said. “We don’t quite have mountains, but we’ve got lots of hills. We’re in true boreal forest, with

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lots of backcountry fun trails to do. It’s a good mix.”

To access the federal grant, Clark said, each athlete had to pay a small processing fee, but after approval, the travel costs were covered. The hosts then take care of the costs for the visitors for expenses such as meals, admission charges and rentals.

FOUR LOCAL BIATHLETES HEADED TO BC WINTER GAMES Four Sea to Sky Nordics junior racers qualified for the BC Winter Games in Fort St. John in February.

Through their performances at the qualifier at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre earlier this month, JoJo Ng, Ryan Clark, Sophie Firth and Josie Clifford will all compete at the Games from Feb. 20 to 24.

A fifth club member, Graham Benson is eligible for a wildcard selection and will find out closer to the event if he made it.

BIATHLON SERIES HOLDING OPENER ON DEC. 29 The Whistler Biathlon Society, meanwhile,

SEE PAGE 94

>>

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READY TO GO Jack Crawford (right) prepares for a run at Val Gardena, Italy on Dec. 20.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALPINE CANADA

Crawford sets new career best at Val Gardena SPORTS BRIEFS: HARLE THIRD IN ATLANTA; CANADIANS PODIUM IN INNICHEN

BY DAN FALLOON

The women’s racing in Val d’Isere, France, was wiped out due to weather.

WHISTLER MOUNTAIN Ski Club (WMSC) alumnus Jack Crawford reached new heights in Audi FIS World Cup action in Val Gardena, Italy on Dec. 20.

Competing in the super-G, Crawford posted a 17th-place finish, 0.89 seconds off the pace set by winner Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria. Kjetil Jansrud of Norway placed second while Thomas Dressen of Germany wound up third.

The day was beset by foggy conditions that created long delays, and prevented fellow WMSC grad Brodie Seger from racing.

“I kept my head in a good place and when it was time to go I totally forgot about the wait and just skied the way I know how to. Conditions were dark and hard to see but the track stayed in great condition and I was able to take advantage,” said Crawford of the delays in a release.

The 22-year-old set his previous career high just two weeks earlier, taking 21st in the Beaver Creek super-G on Dec. 6.

Other Canadians who got in a run were Dustin Cook and Ben Thomsen, finishing 40th and 43rd, respectively.

HARLE THIRD IN ATLANTA In a venue known for dingers, Whistler’s Teal Harle socked a home run on Dec. 21.

Competing at SunTrust Park, the home of Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves, Harle took third in the FIS World Cup big air men’s event. Harle put up a two-run score of 185.25 to place 2.25 points back of winner Alexander Hall of the United States and 1.25 points back of Antoine Adelisse of France. Other Canadians included Alex Beaulieu-Marchand and Evan McEachran back to back in seventh and eighth, respectively, while Max Moffatt wound up in 17th, Mark Hendrickson was 19th, Etienne Geoffroy Gagnon took 20th and Edouard Therriault was 23rd.

On the women’s side, Megan Oldham was the lone Canadian in sixth, while the Swiss took the top two spots at Mathilde Gremaud topped Giulia Tanno. Great Britain’s Isabel Atkin placed third.

In the snowboard contest on Dec. 20, meanwhile, Canada’s Nicolas Laframboise placed second in the men’s event, 10.50

SEE PAGE 96

>>

BIATHLON FROM PAGE 92 will host the first of three races as part of its 2019-20 Biathlon Series at Whistler Olympic Park on Dec. 29 with bib pickup at 9:30 a.m. and racing starting at 11 a.m.

The competitive categories are first up, while those looking to get into biathlon will take a safety orientation beginning at 1 p.m. before starting their races at 1:45 p.m.

“For the kids that are maybe a little younger and who haven’t been competitive yet, or haven’t even tried the sport, or adults who haven’t tried the sport, in the afternoon, they can come out and try it out, get some of their first experience at racing,” said Clark, a volunteer with the Whistler Biathlon Society. “It gives them

94 DECEMBER 26, 2019

an opportunity to have a fun, friendly, competitive outing in their sport.”

Clark noted that the safety session is primarily to teach people how to use the gun properly and safely.

“You’re using live ammo and a real .22. You’re not using lasers or air guns or anything like that,” he said.

Clark added that for those newer to the skiing aspect, the course can be adapted and shortened.

Registration for the first race closed on Dec. 23. However, the other two races are slated for Feb. 2 and March 7.

For more information, visit www. whistlerbiathlon.com. n

Passenger

BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON

Public

Whistler’s Most Unique Experiences!

Everyone can slide like an Olympian – no experience required!

Ride down the world’s fastest sliding track in a 4-person bobsled -steered by a trained pilot- with top speeds of 125+ km/hr, or launch yourself down the track on your skeleton sled to reach up to 100km/hr.

Tourism Whistler/Blake Jorgenson

Tourism Whistler/Blake Jorgenson

Thank you for supporting sport!

The Whistler Sliding Centre is a non-profit organization, all proceeds go towards growing sport and supporting bobsleigh, skeleton and luge athletes in training.

• Daily from Dec 20, 2019 to Mar 29, 2020, plus bonus dates. Operating rain, snow or shine!

• $189/person; youth discount (bobsleigh only) • Physical restrictions apply; minimum age bobsleigh 14, skeleton 16 years.

Ready to Slide?

Advance booking is required:

whistlerslidingcentre.com

604-964-0040 /whistlerslidingcentre @slidingcentre

SPORTS THE SCORE << FROM PAGE 94

Happy Holidays PEAKVENTURES.CA 604-938-0688

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96 DECEMBER 26, 2019

points behind American Chris Corning, who ran away with the win. Whistler’s Darcy Sharpe was ninth while Mark McMorris was 32nd, and Michael Ciccarelli was 37th.

As for the women, Brooke Voigt landed on the podium in third behind two Japanese competitors as Reira Iwabuchi scored the win and Kokomo Murase placed second.

CANADIANS HIT THE PODIUM IN INNICHEN Canadian ski-cross athletes managed to keep it together in the face of wild weather conditions at Innichen, Italy.

Heavy rain and snow forced organizers to cancel the final heats of the Dec. 21 race and the training results from the day prior stood as official.

Kevin Drury nabbed his third victory of the season on the men’s side.

“Yesterday was a battle. Just trying to keep it as smooth as possible through all those big holes and ruts. Always happy to win a quali. Landing on the podium always feels good, doesn’t matter really how, still feels good,” Drury said in a release.

Germany’s Florian Wilmsmann and France’s Jonathan Midol shared the podium with Drury in second and third, respectively.

Other Canadians included Reece Howden in ninth, Brady Leman in 15th, Christopher Del Bosco in 16th, Zach Belczyk in 20th, Kristofor Mahler in 21st, and Carson Cook in 33rd.

On the women’s side, Brittany Phelan took a third-place finish behind winner Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France and Sandra Naeslund of Sweden. Whistler’s Marielle Thompson took fifth, while Abby McEwen was 12th, Courtney Hoffos 15th, Zoe Chore 16th, and India Sherret 18th.

In Dec. 22 action, Thompson jumped back onto the podium with a second-place showing behind Switzerland’s Fanny Smith while Germany’s Daniela Maier wound up third. Canadians dominated the small final with Hoffos, Phelan and Sherret taking fifth, sixth and seventh in order. Lastly, Chore took 13th and McEwen was 16th.

The men, meanwhile, were shut out of the podium as Switzerland’s Joos Berry topped France’s Jonathan Midol and fellow Swiss Jonas Lenherr for the win. Reece Howden won the small final, taking fifth, while Mahler was eighth, Del Bosco 11th, Belczyk 14th, Leman 18th, Drury 25th and Cook 32nd.

BOWMAN WINS IN CHINA Canadian skier Noah Bowman held off a pair of Americans to win the FIS World Cup halfpipe at Secret Garden, China on Dec. 21.

Bowman scored a 91.50 in his second of three attempts to knock off Yankee Aaron Blunck by 0.75 points and Lyman Currier by 1.75 points.

Other Canadians included Sam McKeown in 11th, Brendan MacKay in 15th, Dylan Marineau in 28th and Evan Marineau in 30th.

On the women’s side, Rachael Karker’s first run of 88.75 proved enough to score second spot behind only Russian Valeriya Demidova, who posted a 92.50. China’s

Fanghui Li, meanwhile, placed third.

In the snowboard final on Dec. 22, Canadian Elizabeth Hosking placed seventh.

Two Chinese athletes, Jiayu Liu and Xuetong Cai, took the top two spots on the podium while American Maddie Mastro was third.

No Canadian men participated.

Australia’s Scotty James topped Yuto Totsuka and Ruka Hirano, both of Japan, to win gold.

LOCAL EQUESTRIAN ATHLETES ENJOYED SUCCESSFUL 2019 Three local equestrians finished in the provincial top five in their respective divisions in the 2019 BC Hunter Jumper Association (BCHJA) season.

Gabby Holland, who trains with Shirley Hills of the Pemberton Valley Equestrian Centre, placed third in the province at the Open (to Pro) Division in both the 1.15metre Jumper and 1.15-m Junior Amateur Division levels. Holland accomplished the feats while riding a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood named Icarius.

Meanwhile, Judy Ameli also took third in the province in the 1.20-m Amateur division while riding new horse Cortez D. Ameli trains with Perneill Training and Lindsey Paton Garner from Capstone Equestrian.

As well, Sally Warner took fifth in the province in the .90-m Amateur division while riding Rivaldi. Warner, like Holland, trains under Hills.

Three of Hills’ other students, Dr. Laura White, Sula Coulson and Ayva Caldwell, also enjoyed fine seasons on the circuit.

The awards were officially handed out on Dec. 7 at the BCHJA’s Year-End Awards Gala at Langley’s Newlands Golf and Country Club.

WHISTLER HALF MARATHON REGISTRATION OPENS JAN. 1 The Whistler Half Marathon will be marking its 10th anniversary in 2020, and if you want to take part in the festivities, you can claim your spot soon.

Registration for the June 6 race, which started in 2011, opens on New Year’s Day at 9 a.m.

“People are trying to get their spot and nail down their New Year’s resolutions, so it’s always a fun tie-in with that,” said race director and founder Dave Clark. “A new year, new perspective, new goals.”

While he’s still confirming how the anniversary will be marked, Clark said there won’t be any changes to this year’s course or to the race offerings, as the 30-kilometre, 10-km, 5-km, kids’ run and, of course, the half marathon, will all be offered this year.

The Dog Jog in support of WAG will return on June 7, as will the Recoverun, a free, coached, slow-paced run to help runners bounce back from the “hard push” the day before.

Since its inception, the Whistler Half Marathon has supported Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, raising more than $185,000, and Clark hopes to top the $200,000 mark this time around. n

DEC 26TH - 31ST

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SHOP ONLINE AT *SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY

VELOCITY PROJECT

Hold space; Invite emergence I COUNTED UP the interviews I did this year—40 voice memos, some still awaiting transcription, pages of scribbles, Word documents already filed away. What would that look like as a collage of portraits, I wondered? Is there an Instagram Best 9 homage available, to honour the cumulative effect of these conversations on me, to capture what remains after the stories are filed—the fingerprints left in the sticky clay of my heart.

BY LISA RICHARDSON Earlier in the year, after interviewing a Japanese architect, I learned how the things you shape, shape you. After the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, Michiko Okano had volunteered in a movement called Home for All, designing community gathering spaces for villages that had been devastated by the tsunami. In Iwanuma, she worked with a local advisor, a rice farmer and demolition guy who became the project manager for their small building.

Tomikatsu Yachinuma was her polar opposite—rural to her urban, brash to her demure, rough to her refined. But they had a common intention: Yachinuma was offering his service to the project, as a way of honouring a friend and mentor who had been killed in the tsunami. Okano, too, was deeply moved to help.

Okano veered away from her typical hyper-modern architecture, to design a

SHAPESHIFTER Don’t shape the outcome, shape the space for healthy interactions and allow something greater than you could have ever planned to emerge.

WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

98 DECEMBER 26, 2019

traditional Japanese farmhouse, for the community. The walls would be made of straw and mud and rendered by hand.

Okano’s idea was that everyone in the community could pitch in. Yachinuma disagreed—it wasn’t practical, it would be better to get a professional contractor.

Okano stood her ground—this was not just about the outcome. She saw it as a chance for the community to get their hands on, to move beyond a role of victims of tragedy or beneficiaries of charity, to become co-creators, to share the experience of building something together.

Okano, already doing the design work voluntarily off the side of her desk, travelled up to the building site from Tokyo with her weekends, so she could help. She and Yachinuma laugh now, as the hyperlocal café and farmers’ market they built hums with the activity of lunching rice-farmers and families.

They point out the first wall they rendered, its imperfections, and the progressive improvement evident in each section, tracing the story of friendship and collaboration in mud and smooth hand-strokes. In the end, no one doubts that it was the right thing to do.

Their energy is baked into this building now, and the building, the community, the whole process, is baked into them.

Dr. Suzanne Simard gave me a vocabulary for this. The trailblazing ecologist introduced the world to the idea that forests are a kind of networked intelligence. She has taught Complex Systems at university, trying to help students understand what it means to be part of an ecosystem. She wants them to be systems thinkers, not reductionists. “Western science tears things apart. It’s a wonder we find out anything at all. We don’t look at emergence.”

An emergent property, explains the interweb, is a characteristic an entity gains when it becomes part of a bigger system. Emergent properties help living

organisms better adapt to their environments and increase their chances of survival.

Complex systems—like forests, like communities—have enormous capacity to self-heal, explains Simard, because of this mysterious principle of emergence.

The interactions of the parts give rise to something more than the parts—often unpredictably and wonderfully so.

Even our conversation was an example of emergence, said Simard. “Things are emerging out of this interaction between Suzanne and Lisa, things I’ve never thought about before, or that you haven’t thought about before. Neither of us are trying to dominate the other, or the conversation, and so by letting it flow, emergent things are coming out.”

Priya Parker, a professional facilitator and author of The Art of Gathering, talks about how to curate gatherings of people in such a way that something bigger can arise. For Parker, this is an art-form—a combination of hosting and facilitating that is soft-touch but strong. It’s not about the agenda, the place settings, the décor, the meal, the things we typically obsess over when planning a gathering. “We overrely on putting meaning into things,” says Parker. “Thanksgiving is only Thanksgiving because of the turkey; a birthday party because of the cake and the candles. We’re told that we need to get ‘the things’ right.”

None of the things actually matter.

“Community is built through the creation of meaningful conversation.”

Parker says the better place to start is by asking, What do you need in your life right now, that by coming together, these people might help you fulfil?

I wanted to trust in the medicine of women gathering together—so I invited people to a cookbook club centred around Vancouver chef David Robertson’s new cookbook Gather.

I challenged myself not to overprepare, overcater, or overstress—a serious act of will. My job, as I had set out in the invitation, and kept reminding myself, was to hold a space.

People showed up that night in waves bearing crockpots and tureens and serving dishes. Some also brought their own plates or cups, or extra soup bowls, knowing there would be 20 of us. Someone brought name tags because many of us were strangers to each other. Someone else brought little cards we could write the names of our dishes on. The system self-organized, (because Women), and I focused my energy on holding space for this purpose—that we may feel nourished by the medicine of coming together. We followed Parker’s script, playing a game she calls 15 Toasts, that demanded everyone, at some point in the evening, interrupt the micro-conversations and share a story to the chosen theme of “a time when you felt deeply nourished.”

We overcame our collective horror of public speaking, motivated, it’s true, by the penalty that the last person had to sing their toast. Something emerged in that space that was far bigger than me and my mismatched china, an amazing cookbook or even the collection of meals laid out on every available horizontal surface.

This is science. And it’s magic. And it’s something, in these troubling days, that we can pour our trust in.

In any space where we strip off the armour and come together, with a sense of purpose, something unpredictably wonderful is able to emerge. Something that might yield the answers we won’t find alone. Something with the power to shape and heal the world.

The Velocity Project: how to slow the f*&k down and still achieve optimum productivity and life happiness. n

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH

Meadow Park Sports Centre is located 4 km north of Whistler Village.

OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Last entry by 9:30 p.m.

GROUP FITNESS SCHEDULE THU 26

SAT 28 Total Body Conditioning 7:30-8:30a.m.

I Low Impact Circuit 9-10a.m.

I Circuit 9-10a.m.

SUN 29

I

BOXING DAY! NO CLASSES TODAY

MON 30

TUE 31

Low Impact Circuit 7:30-8:30a.m.

I Low Impact Circuit 9-10a.m.

Circuit 7:30-8:30a.m.

I

I Low Impact Circuit 9-10a.m.

I Aqua Fit Shallow 9:30-10:30a.m.

Barre Sculpt 10:30-11:30a.m.

I Zumba 12:15-1 p.m.

I Zumba 10:30-11:30a.m.

FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION FITNESS CLASSES ‘Flex-reg’ classes have a separate fee and allow you to register for classes on the days that fit your schedule.

REGISTERED FITNESS CLASSES Registered fitness classes have a seperate fee and a defined start and end date.

Pre-registration is required for the entire set of classes.

I

INCLUDED CLASSES

WED 1

I

Boot Camp 5:10-6:10p.m

I

I Zumba 6:20-7:20 p.m.

All other classes are included in the price of admission.

See exact schedule of classess at the sports centre or online at: whistler.ca/recreation

HAPPY NEW YEAR! NO CLASSES TODAY

FRI 27 Low Impact Circuit 7:30-8:30a.m.

I

ARENA SCHEDULE THU 26

FRI 27

Drop-In Hockey

SAT 28

SUN 29

8:15-9:45a.m.

MON 30

55+ Drop-In Hockey

TUE 31

WED 1

Public Skate 12:30-4p.m.

Public Skate 12-4p.m.

TUE 31

WED 1

8:15-9:45a.m.

Family Stick & Puck 12:45-1:45p.m.

Family Stick & Puck 12:45-1:45p.m.

Family Stick & Puck 12:45-1:45p.m.

Family Stick & Puck 12:45-1:45p.m.

Family Stick & Puck 12:45-1:45p.m.

Public Skate 2-6p.m.

Public Skate 2-6p.m.

Public Skate 2-6p.m.

Public Skate 2-6p.m.

Public Skate 2-6p.m.

POOL SCHEDULE THU 26

FRI 27

SAT 28

SUN 29

MON 30

Please see whistler.ca/recreation for daily pool hours.

whistler.ca/recreation | whistler.ca/notices | 604-935-7529 @RMWhistler | @rmwhistler | @rmowhistler

EPICURIOUS

Have ‘your treat, your way’ at Creekside gelato and smoothie bar, Confetti SHOP IS ONE OF SEVERAL NEW FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCEPTS COMING TO NEIGHBOURHOOD

BY BRANDON BARRETT AS PART OF Capital Zed Creekside Concepts, Kaori Zage and her husband have made it their mission to rejuvenate the long-sleepy neighbourhood with a flurry of new and unique culinary and retail concepts. That includes the latest addition to Creekside, Confetti, a gelato and smoothie bar that is all about customization.

“The idea was we really wanted to bring a sweet shop to Creekside,” said Zage when reached in her home base of Singapore.

“One thing that was lacking there was ice cream, so we decided to do a combination of ice cream, coffee and frozen drinks.”

Opened in August, Confetti serves up locally beloved Lucia Gelato with a smorgasbord of toppings to choose from— 30, to be exact—that is reminiscent of the sundae bars of yesteryear. That, of course, includes the kinds of indulgent treats you’d expect, such as sprinkles, M&Ms and marshmallows, as well as healthier options like fresh fruit, hemp seeds and goji berries— the perfect accompaniment to Confetti’s selection of smoothie and acai bowls.

“Our tagline is ‘Your treat, your way,’” Zage said. “It started with ice cream, then it was like, ‘Well, what about some healthy alternatives?’”

Confetti also offers a line of specialty coffee drinks that Zage was adamant would be made the traditional way.

“We’re actually making the milk-tocoffee ratio true to what you would find in Italy for a proper latte. I’m obsessed with my coffee, but I want it the way I get it in Italy. It’s really taking the proper ratios,” she explained.

The shop uses Nespresso coffee by design, as Zage didn’t want to step on the toes of other Creekside coffee purveyors.

“We purposefully didn’t do the barista style of coffee, we did Nespresso because … we don’t want to cannibalize other people’s business,” she said. “Starbucks has your

IT’S A CELEBRATION New Creekside gelato and smoothie bar Confetti draws on inspiration from London’s Covent Garden for its interior décor. The shop offers 30 toppings to have your ice cream or smoothie bowl exactly the way you like it.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

barista, it’s a little bit more automated. BrEd just opened and they have a La Marzocca machine, so I felt really strongly that we shouldn’t do something else that would directly compete with that.”

local people and pulled it together.”

Confetti is the first of several food and beverage concepts Capital Zed is planning for Franz’s Trail. While she was tight-lipped about the details, Zage said plans are in the

“We’re trying to take a tiny little space and tell its own little story.”

- KAORI ZAGE

For the décor, Zage said the shop’s interior was designed with London’s airy Covent Garden in mind.

“We’re trying to take a tiny little space and tell its own little story,” she noted. “I think it’s really cute. It’s something that I had seen and envisioned from my walks around London. I wanted to bring the look and feel to the space. I worked with some

2-4PMINTER ALL W LONG

works to bring an Asian-style restaurant, a wine bar and a speakeasy to Creekside next year.

The jet-setting Zage has drawn inspiration everywhere from the boldly flavoured street food of Vietnam to the Burlingtonian architecture of London’s historic Savile Row in the conceptualization of the new businesses. You’d be hard-

$5.00 LAGER S T I R I P S L L E W $5.00 E R U T A E F E N I $8.00 W L I A T K C O C M R $8.00 WAATURE FE

*TAX INCLUDED IN PRICES 100 DECEMBER 26, 2019

pressed to find a developer that is more hands-on, fretting over what would be considered minor details by other bigmoney investors. In the fall, she brought in a host of chefs from Asia to test recipes and source out ingredients from Vancouver.

She is dead-set on bringing authentic cuisine to the neighbourhood that remains accessible—both in flavour and price point.

“I had originally hired some consultants based in Canada and I quickly realized I want people who actually cook this food, to really understand how we’re going to make this,” she said. “There’s been so much effort put into actually getting these ingredients so we can make sure we can cook it the way it’s cooked in Asia.”

Stay tuned for more news in the new year on the plans for Franz’s Trail. In the meantime, Confetti Gelato is located at 222-2063 Lake Placid Rd. and is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more, visit confettigelato.com. n

LOCALS FAVOURITE SINCE 1982

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Visit us at your favourite location: WHISTLER NESTERS

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Available at:

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129/4340 Lorimer Road Open Daily from 11:30am-9pm

IN A HURRY? CALL AHEAD NESTERS: 604 962 2299 | VLLAGE: 604 962 9950

VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION LOCATED IN CARLETON LODGE, 4280 MOUNTAIN SQUARE

DECEMBER 26, 2019

101

ARTS SCENE

Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Whistler WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ELEGANT BASH, A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, OR A LOW-KEY CELEBRATION, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO RING IN 2020 IN THE RESORT

BY ALYSSA NOEL NEW YEAR’S EVE is a polarizing holiday.

safe, and welcome to a new decade!

WHAT: Whistler’s New Year’s Celebration WHERE: Whistler Olympic Plaza/ Whistler Conference

Some argue you pay too much for an underwhelming night at the bar—where drink prices are as high as expectations.

Others see it as a chance to take stock on the year that has passed and set intentions and goals for the year ahead.

But, for many Whistlerites, it’s simply a chance to party.

Pique has scoured the town (OK, fine the internet; it’s raining out. We’re not leaving our Function office!) and put together a comprehensive list of all your options—the cheap, the pricey, the family friendly—for Dec. 31. (Pemberton, we haven’t forgotten about you. Turn to page 105 for more.)

Happy New Year, Whistler. Have fun, be

Centre/ base of Whistler Mountain PRICE: Free

NEW YEAR Ring in the New Year with fireworks in Skiers’ Plaza at midnight.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve 2020 WHERE: GLC PRICE: $90 DETAILS: DJ Riddim will be spinning at this

PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE/ TOURISM WHISTLER

102 DECEMBER 26, 2019

DETAILS: If you’ve got kids in tow, this is the New Year’s itinerary for you. From 12 to 5 p.m., head to Whistler Olympic Plaza for an extended Family Après that will include music, dancing, face painting, balloon animals, treats, and more. If you need to warm up, walk over to the Whistler Conference Centre for the Whistler Holiday Experience from 12 to 7 p.m.

Inside you’ll find a mini-putt course, bouncy castle, crafts, video games and more. Don’t worry, there’s a special section were parents can lounge and enjoy coffee or hot chocolate.

Finally, head down to Skiers’ Plaza for a special Fire & Ice Show at 11:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at midnight.

party. You can also expect a bubbly toast at midnight—and front-row seats to both the Fire & Ice show and midnight fireworks.

TICKETS: showpass.com/nye2020/ WHAT: Great Gatsby NYE Party WHERE: Longhorn Saloon PRICE: $110 DETAILS: The folks at the Longhorn have crafted a rich backstory for their NYE bash. “We are in the era of prohibition,” they write. “Bars are closed due to heavy saloon license fees and underground establishments that illegally sell alcoholic beverages [have] sprung up in their place. The young wild folks, known as ‘flappers and dappers,’ drink, smoke and dance all night at these ‘speakeasies,’ having a good time and getting a little ‘loosey-goosey’ without having to worry about being in trouble for doing so.”

In short, dress in your finest roaring ‘20s attire and expect bubbly, appies, and party favours—and don’t forget to head out to the patio for fireworks.

TICKETS: showpass.com/nye-2019-greatgatsby-roaring-20s WHAT: Hollywood Nights – NYE 2020

WHERE: Garfinkel’s PRICE: $50 DETAILS: Catch Fidel Cashflow and Tylo playing Top 40, remixes and club hits—and taking requests. Tickets include “entrance to the biggest and most elegant NYE in Whistler,” along with party favours and a champagne toast.

TICKETS: tablelist.com/e/garfinkels-presentnye-2020-hollywood-nights-at-garfinkels952100a95e5f086f WHAT: New Year’s Eve by order of the Peaky Blinders WHERE: The FireRock Lounge PRICE: $30 - $40 DETAILS: Inspired by the TV show Peaky Blinders, the FireRock is “HIGHLY” encouraging you to don your best 1920s Birmingham garb. DJ Stache will provide tunes, but the theme party rides on your participation.

TICKETS: showpass.com/firerock-nye/ WHAT: Stay Golden—2020 NYE Party WHERE: Tommys Whistler PRICE: $49 - $99 DETAILS: Expect handcrafted cocktails, DJ

ARTS SCENE

Credit: RAEF.ca

audainartmuseum.com/events Yoga @ the Audain | Fridays 6:30 – 8pm Art After Dark: Carr Trees - Clay Sculpture Friday | Youth: 3:30pm – 5:30pm Adult: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Get inspired by the Landscapes in the current Special Exhibition Emily Carr Fresh Seeing: French Modernism and the West Coast. Visit the Schmidtke Studio to learn and create your own clay sculpture.

Learn about mixing colors, shaping techniques, binding clay, and composition.

Family Studio Sunday | 12 – 4pm Dre Morel, bubbly, party favours and light grazing boards.

TICKETS: showpass.com/nye-at-tommys-staygolden/ WHAT: NYE Masquerade Ball WHERE: Buffallo Bills PRICE: $50 - $100 DETAILS: You’re going to want to make sure to follow this dress code—after all, half the fun will be taking off your mask at midnight for a champagne toast. Expect a winter wonderland and dress to impress.

TICKETS: showpass.com/buffalo-billspresents-the-nye-masquerade-ball/ WHAT: New Year’s Eve Gala WHERE: Fairmont Chateau Whistler PRICE: $199 DETAILS: Not into the bar scene? Fear not, the Fairmont has an elegant alternative for you. After enjoying a buffet dinner, guests can dance the night away to Vancouver’s Famous Players band and ring in the New Year.

TICKETS: Phone 604-938-2006 or email cwr. concierge@fairmont.com.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve 2020 WHERE: Pangea Pod Hotel PRICE: $65 DETAILS: Pangea’s resident DJs Badge and Bobs will be spinning at this party. You can also look forward to artisan flatbread pizza and signature cocktails all night long. Tickets include three drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

TICKETS: eventbrite.ca/e/new-years-eve-2020party-pangea-tickets-86237928967

WHAT: Nita Disco – NYE Party WHERE: Cure Lounge & Patio PRICE: $89 DETAILS: Shake it up and head to Creekside for New Year’s Eve this year. Local legend DJ Foxy Moron will be DJing and tickets include bubbly, a drink, late-night bites, and a costume contest for whoever has the most stylish ‘70s outfit.

TICKETS: showpass.com/nita-disco-nye-party/

This week create your own mountain giant inspired by the W.P. Weston painting “Jotunheim”.

Open New Year’s Day | 10am – 5pm

WHAT: Creekside New Year’s Eve WHERE: 217-2063 Lake Placid Road, Whistler PRICE: $65 DETAILS: Something is going on in Creekside.

First, there was a newly revamped State of the Art exhibit. Then the eponymous throne from HBO’s Game of Thrones made an appearance. Now the two events are coming together to ring in 2020.

“With a stacked lineup of DJs, partygoers can dance the decade away and move between locations with ease,” the description reads.

DJs include DJ Dakota, tyMetal, and DJ Gainz. Tickets will get you a bubbly midnight toast and canapés.

TICKETS: showpass.com/creekside2020 WHAT: New Year’s Eve Party WHERE: The Crystal Lounge PRICE: $10 DETAILS: Well, let’s just say it. Bless The Crystal’s little heart for its $10 entry fee—at the door no less. Undoubtedly Whistler’s most laidback (and local) NYE bash, it will also include live music with JennaMae and the Groove Section.

There will also be bubbles at midnight and “all the party hats you’ll ever need.” n

Credit: Mirae Campbell

Admission $18 Adults & Seniors | FREE Ages 18 & Under Location 4350 Blackcomb Way – between Day Lots 3 & 4 Hours Open 10am – 5pm Daily, 10am – 9pm Friday, Closed Tuesday

DECEMBER 26, 2019

103

NOTES FROM THE BACK ROW

Best of the year: Part 1 THE RODENT is coming for us all!

Cinematically, 2019 was punctuated

by Disney’s domination (six of the top 10 grossing flicks of the year, without counting

BY FEET BANKS Star Wars) and the continued proliferation of superheroes, franchises, and remakes on the big screen with much of the interesting stuff happening on the streaming platforms.

Episodic narratives (Euphoria, Handmaid’s Tale, Watchmen) continue to enjoy a golden era, but the streaming platforms served up some pretty decent original flicks as well.

So, from where I sit (in the back), here are the best of 2019: Best Heat Check Performance: This is for the actor/actress who comes out

BEST OF 2019 JoJo Rabbit was a “gamble that paid off” in 2019.

PHOTO BY KIM FRENCH COURTESY OF TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX

of nowhere and does a lot with a little screen time. Margaret Qualley takes it this year as “Cat” in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. As the tall, dark, and utterly appealing-est Manson family member, Qualley holds her own with Brad Pitt and even steals a scene. Expect big things in 2020. Runner Up: Keanu Reeves as the best/worst boyfriend ever in Ali Wong’s Always Be My Maybe.

Biggest One-Two Punch to the Feels: There wasn’t a more tear-jerking duo than Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Morgan Neville’s documentary about the life and love-filled philosophy of children’s television icon Mr. Rogers, followed up with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Marielle Heller’s drama based on a 1998 Esquire magazine cover story on Mr. Rogers and why his magic still works on adults as well as children. Tom Hanks stars.

Best Horror Flick: Us, the second film from Jordan Peele (Get Out), offers a fresh take on the home-invasion plot with a nice bit of social satire backed by some phenomenal acting, particularly by Lupita Nyong’o, who does double duty with maximum results. Even if you see the end

twist coming, this one is a smart horror that stands up on repeat viewing.

Best Gamble that Pays Off: New Zealand’s Taika Waititi (What We Do in Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) has a solid track record, but even so, it took balls to pitch, and pull off, Jojo Rabbit. In an age of hyper-sensitivity, Waititi sticks the landing on this comingof-age love story set in Nazi Germany with a 10-year-old protagonist whose imaginary best friend, and biggest cheerleader, is old Adolf himself. An unflinching look at both the absurdity and brutality of war, this is one of the year’s best flicks.

Biggest Gamble that Didn’t Pay Off: Netflix gave Michael Bay $150 million to make 6 Underground, starring Ryan Reynolds as a billionaire who fakes his own death so he can lead a special ops team to take down some vaguely MiddleEastern dictator. Unburdened by the need to attract people to the theatre, Bay goes batshit crazy on car chases, exit wounds and ultraviolence, but fails (miserably) to find/massage a script that can tie it all together. This is Bay at his biggest, loudest and worst.

Best Source Material: “I heard you paint houses…?” is only an epic book title once you realize the unspoken second part is “with blood.” In The Irishman, Martin Scorsese adapts that book, and the story of teamster/enforcer Frank Sheeran’s life, into a 3.5-hour underworld epic starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, who came out of retirement to steal the movie.

Some people moaned about the digital de-aging but anything that gets Scorsese et al. together again is ok with me.

Best Nic Cage: Cage didn’t do much this year (only made six films) but Primal was probably his best (Cage on a ship fighting a bunch of jungle animals and a “mercenary assassin”). However, his understudy Matthew McConaughey swung for the fences and brought it home with The Beach Bum, director Harmony Korine’s boozy ode to a south Florida poet/stoner and the misadventures he can’t seem to not jump into. Moon Dog is a total f*ck-up, but he’s certainly not scared of livin’—that’s ell-eye-vee-eye-enn. Can the rest of us say the same?

Tune in next week for Part 2 and until then, watch movies, make movies, and happy ho ho ho. n

LIVE MUSIC! TUESDAY BLACKS’N’BLUES WITH SEAN ROSE

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 5 NIGHTS THURSDAY TUESDAY TO SATURDAY

NEW YEARS EVE LIVE MUSIC | BEST VIEWS GLASS OF BUBBLES | CANAPES Tickets $50 at showpass.com/nyeblacks

$5 HAPPY HOUR! 9am-12pm & 9pm-1am

104 DECEMBER 26, 2019

BAND CAMP WITH THE JAMS

FRIDAY KARAOKE WITH JUAN

SATURDAY CAT MADDEN

Jewellery Handbags Shoes

The Dream Holiday Gift Shop 10% TUESDAYS mention this ad and receive 10% off of all products on Tuesdays L o c a t e d i n t h e To w n P l a z a a c r o s s f r o m T h e G a p 6 0 4 . 9 0 5 . 6 2 9 0

ARTS NEWS

VILLAGE 8 SHOW SCHEDULE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27TH – THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND ADVANCE SCREENING STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (NR) DAILY; 12:00, 12:15, 3:25, 6:45, 7:00, 9:50, 10:00 * NO 9:50 & 10:00 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST *3D* STAR WARS: RISE OF SKYWALKER (NR) DAILY; 3:40, 10:15 * * NO 10:15 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST

LITTLE WOMEN (G) DAILY; 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45 * NO 9:45 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST

CATS (NR) DAILY; 12:40, 3:40, 6:40, 9:30

FEST FUN Winterfest offers Pembertonians a chance to ring in the New Year with a party at the community centre.

* NO 9:30 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Pemberton rings in the New Year WINTERFEST RETURNS ON DEC. 31 FOR FAMILIES, WHILE THE PEMBERTON HOTEL PLANS AN EPIC BASH

BY ALYSSA NOEL AFTER THREE YEARS, Pembertonians are starting to notice a pattern.

Winterfest, which used to take place at some point over the season—all contingent on when One Mile Lake would freeze—has found a consistent date on New Year’s Eve. “I think there’s some consistency now.

People are like, ‘Oh right, we get to finish the year this way,” says Carlee Cindric, who helps organize the winter celebration.

The one-day festival runs from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Pemberton & District Community Centre with activities mainly for families to enjoy. This year, that includes face painting, kids’ crafts, plenty of hot dogs, s’mores, and pizza, as well as a dance party, hosted by Ira Pettle. (And it’s all free!)

New additions this year include an aerial silks performance by Treeline Aerial, a Cheese! Box photo booth, and parking lot drop-in hockey underground at the centre. “[The aerial silks had] been on my radar for a couple of years, but we never had the budget or capacity to do it,” Cindric says. “It will take place in the Great Hall—everything will—which has super high ceilings. It will be an ambience performance throughout the afternoon. I’m excited for it.”

Pick-up hockey will likewise take place throughout the afternoon. “It’s pick-up, drop-in, so when you come, throw yourself in,” she adds. “Sticks, balls, and nets are all available.”

Finally, there will also be family dance lessons at 4 p.m., courtesy of the Mountain Movement Dance Collective.

The fun will culminate in an early countdown for kids before the fireworks at

the Signal Hill Elementary School field at 8 p.m.

“I hope people come out,” Cindric says.

“We’ve tried to make it a bit bigger and more exciting this year, leading into 2020.

There’s excitement around that.”

While Winterfest is geared towards younger kids and their families, local teens can mark their calendars for Saturday, Jan. 25 when organizers are partnering with the youth centre to host a silent disco dance.

“That’s Winterfest’s way of targeting that youth market,” Cindric says.

Meanwhile, they’re still looking for volunteers to help out on Dec. 31 with dayof activities.

For more information, or to reach them, visit pembertonwinterfest.com.

The InsiderS’ Guide to Whistler Winter edition out now Fit it in your pocket.

Take it everywhere.

Free.

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG) DAILY; 12:55, 3:55, 6:55, 9:45 * NO 9:45 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST

RICHARD JEWELL (PG) DAILY; 12:35, 3:35, 6:35, 9:40 * NO 9:40 SHOWTIME DEC 31ST

FROZEN 2 (G) DAILY; 1:00, 4:00, 7:00

Visit imaginecinemas.com

NYE FOR THE ADULTS The Pemberton Hotel is hosting a New Year’s Eve bash this year—and the theme sounds a little out of this world.

“Hop on our ultra-modern monorail to go back to the future as we warp you forward through time to the world of 2020 that you might have imagined to be true back when you were daydreaming in your youth,” the description reads.

Think robots, flying cars, and a few alien invaders. The official title of the party?

2020: A New Year’s Eve Space Odyssey.

To that end, Oliver Deshop and J to the U will provide “an interstellar soundtrack of supernova sounds and big bangin’ beats to keep you orbiting around the speakers with the gravitational pull of a booty-shaking black hole.”

If that sounds good to you, tickets are $25 at Mount Currie Coffee Company in Pemberton. The fun starts at 9 p.m. n

DECEMBER 26, 2019

105

MUSEUM MUSINGS

PICTURE PERFECT Photo archives are an important part of keeping track of Whistler’s history.

THE GRIFFITH COLLECTION

Cameras and museums: How photographs help preserve history

BY HAILEY SCHMITKE

DECE

INNER W 9 1 0 2 , H MBER 26T

Nita

PET of the

week

Name: Nita

This is Nita. She is a rescue from Mt. Currie. Nita lost her front leg to cancer in December. But that didn’t slow her down, and even though the cancer has returned, she still smiles all day long, loves to play in the snow, and hang out at the lake. She loves people and everyone seems to fall in love with her when she greets them with a smile or a lean. She is a special girl who truly knows the meaning of living in the moment and reminds us daily to appreciate all the joys in life.

Visit a Whistler Happy Pets store to pick up your prize.

Function Junction: #101-1085 Millar Creek Rd. Bring a copy of this ad to redeem your prize.

YOUR PET COULD BE NEXT!

Email your pet photo with name & details to tsweeney@wplpmedia.com

106 DECEMBER 26, 2019

NO ONE CAN DENY that Whistler is an extremely photogenic place. With the valley’s majestic mountains, clear blue lakes, and abundant wildlife, it has been a beautiful getaway for lovers of the outdoors for more than a century. Many changes have taken place over those years, and the Whistler Museum and Archives Society (WMAS) is fortunate to have an extensive photo collection that documents most of it. It is amazing how much the valley has changed over the decades, and the ability to actually see the differences through photographs is a great asset for the preservation of Whistler’s history.

If you follow the Whistler Museum on social media, you know that we have some very interesting photos in our archives.

One of our largest photo collections is the Greg Griffith Collection. Greg Griffith is an Australian-born photographer who moved to Whistler in 1973 to ski. He went on to have a successful career in photography, showcasing Whistler’s natural beauty and documenting more than 30 years of Whistler’s history. Donated to the Whistler Museum in 2009, the collection is made up of thousands of Whistler-related photographs, ranging in subject from skiing and snowboarding competitions to mountain tours and dramatic scenery.

Another of the Museum’s larger photo collections is the George Benjamin Collection, which was donated in 2010.

George Benjamin is a semi-professional photographer, who moved to Whistler in 1970 after staying in Toad Hall for a ski vacation. He owned a well-known cabin called Tokum Corners until the 1980s and opened a photography store called the Photo Cell in Creekside, following in the footsetps of other family members that owned a photo-finishing business in Ontario. He

lived in Whistler until the 1980s, and took many impressive photographs of the area during his time here.

The Whistler Museum is also proud to house the Philip Collection, which includes photographs taken during the Rainbow Lodge era. These photos illustrate the beauty of Whistler while it was still an undeveloped fishing retreat, and offer an interesting comparison between the Whistler Valley of the early- to mid-19th century, and the Whistler of today.

There are so many other aspects of the WMAS photo collection that we won’t be able to cover in this article, but they all play an enormous part in illustrating the valley’s colourful history. From early horseback riding trips to present-day Crankworx festivals, the trusty camera is always there to help preserve our history.

The WMAS collection currently includes more than 170,000 photographs, which may seem like a lot, but we are always looking for more. We are especially eager for photographs related to snowboarding and mountain biking in Whistler, photographs documenting life as mountain staff, and photographs from the 1990s to the present.

With the 10th anniversary of the Olympics coming up, we’re hoping to expand our Olympic photographs collection, too.

Any photographs related to Whistler are extremely useful, though, and if you’re interested in donating to the museum, please get in contact with us! You can send an email to our archivist, Alyssa Bruijns, at archives@whistlermuseum.org. We would love to be able to add your photos and stories to the larger Whistler narrative.

If you’re interested in viewing part of our photo collection, you can go to www. whistlermuseum.smugmug.com, where you can order prints of any archival photo we have digitized. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram, where we often feature photographs from the WMAS collection. n

PARTIAL RECALL

2

3

1

4

5

6

1 TUSK AT SUNSET Black Tusk was dressed in a fresh white coat when the skies cleared for this stunning sunset shot last week. PHOTO BY ROB BENTON. PARTIAL CREDIT. 2 HAPPY HANUKKAH Ira Pettle (left) and Alon Rimon pose for a photo in their favourite Hanukkah sweaters at the Whistler Public Library’s second annual Community Hanukkah Celebration, held on Sunday, Dec. 22. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 3 SANTA’S SPRING CREEK WORKSHOP Spring Creek School & L’Ecole Passerelle had their Santa’s Workshop fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 13, during which the families and children raised a record $2337, which was donated to Whistler Community Services Society. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 4 CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS The Pique crew came to work dressed in their finest holiday pajamas to make sure the paper you’re currently reading was published by Christmas. Happy Holidays from our family to yours! BY MEGAN LALONDE. 5 SANTA GOES SKIING Whistler Blackcomb’s annual Santa Day returned to the resort’s slopes on Friday, Dec. 20. The first 100 Santas—or Mrs. Clauses—in line that morning had the opportunity to ski for free. PHOTO BY MITCH WINTON, COURTESY OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB. 6 IRON THRONE Attention all Game of Thrones fans: Have you ever dreamt of sitting on the Iron Throne? An official replica of the HBO series’ most iconic symbol of power is currently located in Whistler’s Creekside Village until Jan. 2. Stop by for the opportunity to snap a photo on the throne! PHOTO SUBMITTED.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY 6-9PM

Music Line Up: Friday December 27th : Pierre Eady

STINKY'S LOUNGERS OF THE WEEK!

HAPPY HOUR

$15 PITCHERS & $2 OFF NACHOS From 4pm - 7pm | Mon - Thurs

DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS Mon-Fri 12-4pm

1045 Millar Creek Rd, Whistler, BC V8E0W5

Your NFL Home

GO SPORTS! Home off tthe h TTater t TTots! t !

21-4314 Main Street | Open Daily from 10 AM to Midnight Hiring kitchen staff. Please stroll by.

DECEMBER 26, 2019

107

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

The Hairfarmers celebrate 20 years WHISTLER’S BIGGEST BAR BAND MARKS TWO DECADES PLAYING IN THE RESORT AND AROUND THE WORLD

BY ALYSSA NOEL ONE NIGHT The Hairfarmers were playing a wedding reception in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s Wildflower restaurant.

It was going well. Everyone was partying and no one wanted to stop when the mandatory quiet time hit at 11 p.m.—but one guest really didn’t want the fun to end.

“At the end of the night we were like, ‘OK, good night,’” recalls “Grateful” Greg Reamsbottom, co-founder and singer for the band. “A guy said, ‘I’ll give you $10,000 to play another hour.’ We said, ‘We’d love to take you up on that, but the venue has given us strict limits and we don’t want to make them mad.’ He said, ‘I’m not joking. I’ll give you 10 grand.’”

Years later, another man approached him and asked if they remembered the experience (and FYI, they followed the rules, both wanting to maintain their still-

TWO DECADES The Hairfarmers are marking 20 years of playing music in Whistler and around the globe.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

108 DECEMBER 26, 2019

strong relationship with the Fairmont … and thinking the guy was full of it).

“He said, ‘Do you know who that guy was?”

It was Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (before the company truly exploded), the man said.

measure—has shaped their successful career.

Another example? Last summer, they found themselves playing a wedding in Italy. The bride, it turns out, comes to Whistler every winter to ski with her girlfriends and when her now-husband

“When you’re in a relationship with someone, be it platonic or a business relationship, there’s a real depth of character that comes through when you really trust and know a person’s character—what their boundaries and capabilities and limitations are ... ” - DOUG CRAIG

It might be impossible to fact check this anecdote, but one thing is certain: in a place like Whistler it could be entirely true.

Looking back on their 20 years as the resort’s most successful bar band, both Reamsbottom and “Guitar” Doug Craig are quick to highlight the ways this unique place—which draws millionaires and ski bums from around the world in equal

proposed, her stipulation was they bring the band to their reception.

“We’ve got people that literally book their wedding dates based on our availability,” Reamsbottom says. “It’s amazing. What an honour to be part of the biggest day of their life.”

The Hairfarmers actually got their start at a mutual friend’s wedding at Birkenhead

Lake in the late ‘90s. Back then, Craig was living in Whistler with a successful solo music career and Reamsbottom had just started coming up from Vancouver to visit a girl—one of Craig’s friends—he had met at a music festival in Oregon. (Spoiler alert: they’re now married.)

Unbeknownst to each other, the couple had invited each musician up separately—a move that could’ve ended terribly. By the end of the night, though, they were jamming together, their music trajectory forever altered.

“It was a funky, hippie wedding and it was a really fun night,” Reamsbottom says. “He heard the missing harmonies he always wanted in a band and I heard the kind of guitar I wanted to hear.”

After that, they played together occasionally until the challenge of playing music at night and working a demanding job driving an 18-wheeler became too much for Reamsbottom.

“I specifically remember I was sitting in my house in Bayshores and Greg knocked on the back door and he came in and we sat in my den in front of the fireplace and he said he wanted more of a role in our duo and more responsibility,” Craig says.

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

EER EVERYDAY B 5 $ 10PM

PARTY TIME Grateful Greg (left) and Guitar Doug have been onstage for countless Whistler bashes, including some dress-up events.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

HAPPY HOUR DRAFT ONLY

Unlike most bands that have to toil away in obscurity before making the move to full-time, Craig already had established gigs around town and as The Hairfarmers they were immediately busy.

The first handful of years went by in a blur. Around 2009, they upgraded their sound system and made another important move.

“I quit smoking pot,” Craig says. “We were both drinking very heavily … then we made a concerted effort to sober ourselves up. That did an amazing thing for our show.”

Adds Reamsbottom, “It made a huge difference … When you’re playing one or two shows a day and getting free drinks, if you’re spreading it out over 10 hours a day, you’re not falling on your face, but you’re operationally wasted. Surprisingly, it’s not hard [to turn down free drinks] once we decided to do it.”

Around that time, Craig also developed vocal nodes that he had to have removed—a scary prospect for someone who sings on stage. But the results helped shape the band’s future sound.

“I had come out of surgery and I wasn’t supposed to be using my voice for a couple of weeks,” he remembers. “Greg sang all the vocals and, as my voice built back up, I started doing back up.”

While the pair talk about Whistler’s supportive and thriving music scene, they admit they’re one of a handful who can make a living playing music full time.

Part of their popularity and longevity is due to their astonishingly large repertoire of music—and the fact that, unlike many bands and DJs, they love fielding requests.

According to their website, they have about 2,500 songs to draw from—ranging

from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash to Coldplay and Taylor Swift.

“Every week, we’ll add a different song,” Reamsbottom says. “It might not be a new song, but a song new to us. Today, we’ll play the Four Seasons and we have four new songs.”

Throughout the winter they play non-stop in the resort and then, after a month-long break, their summers are filled with weddings, corporate gigs, and private shows—all around the world.

“It’s happened really organically,” Reamsbottom adds. “We didn’t set out to say, ‘We should make that happen.’ We just got up on stage and tried to have as much fun as the audience.”

While 2019 marked two decades playing together, both say it doesn’t feel like it.

“Whistler is like some kind of surreal, alien particle time accelerator or something,” Reamsbottom says.

For his part, Craig says he’s looking forward to The Hairfarmers’ future.

“When you’re in a relationship with someone, be it platonic or a business relationship, there’s a real depth of character that comes through when you really trust and know a person’s character— what their boundaries and capabilities and limitations are,” he says. “When they push past those, their natural talent comes through … I’m really looking forward to the next 10 years with him.”

You can catch The Hairfarmers next at Dusty’s on Saturday, Dec. 28 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 29 at the GLC from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 8 to 11 p.m., and at Merlin’s on New Year’s Eve from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

For more visit thehairfarmers.com. n

TILL CLOSE

+taxes

Let it Snow

CABERET SHOW

GLC | FREE SHOW | DECEMBER 27 TH DOORS @ 7:30 PM | FAMILIES WELCOME DECEMBER 26, 2019

109

PIQUECAL

YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE For a complete guide to events in Whistler, visit piquenewsmagazine.com/events

ONGOING & DAILY

MUSIC

THU

12.26

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

STATE OF THE ART

Sub-cultures and anti-movements are celebrated and portrayed in gritty and thought-provoking mediums.

Artists come from far and wide to create a community of urban street and snow ingenuity, and push the boundaries of the State of the Art. > 11 am-7 pm > Whistler Creekside

WALK AND TALK SERIES, PERMANENT COLLECTION

Docents will provide visitors with an introduction to the Audain Art Museum and its permanent collection. > 1 pm > Audain Art Museum

THE WHISKEYDICKS

> 3:45 & 9 pm > Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub

EV KINSELLA

> 4-8 pm > Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery

Come check out an official replica of the Iron Throne from the HBO series Game of Thrones, located in Creekside Village at the future Deli / Wine Bar venue. > 2-6 pm > Whistler Creekside

12.27

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

STATE OF THE ART

See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 11 am-7 pm > Whistler Creekside

> 8 pm > The Living Room @ the Pangea Pod Hotel

GARFINKEL’S THURSDAYS

Whistler’s longest running locals’ night! 604-932-2323. > 9 pm-2 am > Garfinkel’s

Band Camp is a local talent development night. Free. > 9 pm-midnight > Black’s Pub & Restaurant

Now in its eighth year, the Made In Whistler Market is designed to showcase a carefully curated group of artists from Whistler and the Sea to Sky region. > 12-5 pm > Westin Resort & Spa

WALK AND TALK SERIES, PERMANENT COLLECTION > 1 pm > Audain Art Museum

IRON THRONE EXHIBIT THROWBACK THURSDAYS > 9 pm > Tommys Whistler

THE GROOVE SECTION > 12:15 pm > Pan Pacific Mountain Side

FAMILY APRÈS

Sip a hot beverage and enjoy live music, dancing, face painting, hula hooping, characters in costume, and more! > 3-6 pm > Whistler Olympic Plaza

See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 2-6 pm > Whistler Creekside

> 9 pm > Crystal Lounge

THURSDAY NIGHT FUNK FEATURING DJ DAKOTA > 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

SPORTS

WALK AND TALK SERIES, SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Docents will provide visitors with an introduction to the Audain Art Museum and its special exhibition. > 5:30 pm > Audain Art Museum

The Whistler Youth Band is a beginner band for youth ages 10 and up. > 6-7:30 pm > Myrtle Philip Community School

110 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Learn more about Whistler’s culture and history. Now open by donation. > Daily 11am-5pm, Thu until 9pm > Whistler Museum

Come show us your dart skills at our league night. > 9 pm > Tapley’s Pub

THE CULTURAL CONNECTOR: A JOURNEY OF ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY

Grab a Cultural Connector guide and explore Whistler’s world of culture. As you follow the Cultural Connector route, you’ll discover the stories that enrich Whistler’s culture, the venues that celebrate it and the milestones that we’ve achieved along the way. Free. > Ongoing > Maury Young Arts Centre

COMMUNITY

GAMES CAFE

Come in and enjoy a massive selection of popular games. Sunday to Thursday. > 4-8 pm > Cranked Espresso Bar

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME > 10:30-11 am > Whistler Public Library

LET IT SNOW!

The Playroom are coming to GLC with their debut Christmas Cabaret Show! Family friendly. Tickets are free. > 7:30-10 pm > Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC)

LEAGUE NIGHT WHISTLER YOUTH BAND

WHISTLER MUSEUM

MADE IN WHISTLER

COMMUNITY

ROTARY CLUB OF WHISTLER MILLENNIUM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

KARAOKE WITH JACK-QUI NO

BAND CAMP IRON THRONE EXHIBIT

FRI

COMMUNITY

WELCOME CENTRE MULTICULTURAL MEET UP

Come and say, “hi” if you are new to Canada and Whistler!

Contact info@welcomewhistler.com or 604-698-5960. > 9:30 am-noon > Whistler Public Library

JUMMAH SALAH (FRIDAY PRAYER)

There will be a weekly “Jummah Salah” (Friday Prayer) held at the Maury Young Arts Centre Multi-Purpose Hall. > 1:30 pm > Maury Young Arts Centre

WHISTLER YOUTH CENTRE DROP-IN

For ages 13 to 18. Free. 604-935-8187. > 3:30-11 pm > Maury Young Whistler Youth Centre

P: Paul Morrison

CLASSIC CANADIAN HELI-SKIING

THE PINNACLE OF WHISTLER’S SKIING EXPERIENCE. TERRAIN

VARIETY

EXPERTISE

432,000 acres & 173 glaciers with exclusive rights to most of the glacial terrain in the region.

Various package types to suit your needs utilizing 5 and 10 passenger helicopters.

Our guides are fully certified with decades of experience in B.C.’s coastal mountains.

OVER 50 TIMES THE AREA OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB WITH AN AVERAGE OF 50 SKIERS & RIDERS A DAY

VISIT US AT THE CARLETON LODGE IN WHISTLER VILLAGE 604.905.DEEP (3337) whistlerheliskiing.com

DECEMBER 26, 2019

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PIQUECAL MUSIC

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

APRÈS JAMS

Dive head first into the weekend every Friday for après. > 2:30-5:30 pm > Brickworks Public House

Dance the night away to local live music. > 9:30 pm > Tapley’s Pub

FRIDAY NIGHT ALL LOVE NO CLUB > 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

SKIITOUR (DJ CANOSIS) > 3:30 pm > Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC)

A parent-directed hour with board games, crafts and a story corner with felt puppets. Free. > 3:30-4:30 pm > Whistler Public Library

WHISTLER TRI CLUB SWIM SQUAD

> 3:30-5:30 & 8-11 pm > Mallard Lounge

Triathlon focused swim squads. > 6-7:15 am > Meadow Park Sports Centre

THE WHISKEYDICKS

Learn songs and rhymes to soothe and entertain baby while encouraging early language development. Free. > 11-11:30 am > Whistler Public Library

FAMILY TOGETHER TIME

SPORTS

PATRICK GAVIGAN

SINGING WITH THE BABIES

WHISTLER YOUTH CENTRE DROP-IN

> 6-10 pm > Maury Young Whistler Youth Centre

> 3:45 & 9 pm > Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub

LADIES’ NIGHT

It’s Whistler’s No. 1 stop for stag and stagette parties. > 9:30 pm > Moe Joe’s

SATURDAY NIGHT ALL LOVE NO CLUB > 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

SUPREME SATURDAY

Supreme Saturday features a rotation of Canada’s best DJs, playing alongside local talent. > 10 pm > Garfinkel’s

SPORTS

DISCOVER LUGE

This one-session sport program enables children (eight to 14 years) to get a taste of the Olympic winter sport of luge by sliding down the track on their own sled! $20. > 12-2 pm > Whistler Sliding Centre

STEPHEN LECKY

> 4-6:30 pm > Nutcracker Holiday Lounge (Fairmont Chateau Whistler)

JEREMY THOM

> 4-8 pm > Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery

INDOOR PICKLEBALL DROP-IN > 4-6 pm > Whistler Racquet Club

MUSIC

THE HAIRFARMERS

SUPER SPORTS SATURDAY

Don your best jersey and come cheer on your favourite team at Whistler’s premier sports bar. > Tapley’s Pub

Voted Whistler’s best band every year since 2001, The Hairfarmers combine uncanny vocals with innovative guitar and percussion covering all your favourite songs. > 3-6 & 8:30-11:30 pm > Dusty’s Bar and Grill

SKIITOUR (DJ CANOSIS) > 3:30 pm > Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC)

LIVE MUSIC

Solo artists perform every week. > 6-9 pm > Whistler Brewing Company

SUN

12.29

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DAVE HARTNEY LADIES’ NIGHT

Ladies get complimentary entry and a glass of bubbly before 10 pm. > 7 pm > Buffalo Bills

SAT

> 3:30-5:30 & 8-11 pm > Mallard Lounge

12.28

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT Brought to you by Tommys Whistler and DJ Dre Morel. > 8 pm > Tommys Whistler

> 1 pm > Audain Art Museum

Bringing you a different special guest DJ. > 8 pm > Tommys Whistler

See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 11 am-7 pm > Whistler Creekside

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

WALK AND TALK SERIES, PERMANENT COLLECTION

FREESTYLE FRIDAYS

STATE OF THE ART

WALK AND TALK SERIES, PERMANENT COLLECTION > 1 pm > Audain Art Museum

BROTHER TWANG

Come wind down your ski day or ramp up your Saturday night festivities with the boys from Brother Twang. > 9 pm-midnight > FireRock Lounge

IRON THRONE EXHIBIT See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 2-6 pm > Whistler Creekside

CIROC FRIDAYS > 9 pm-2 am > Garfinkel’s

IRON THRONE EXHIBIT See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 2-6 pm > Whistler Creekside

SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE PARTY

This is Whistler’s biggest nightlife event each week. > 9 pm-2 am > Buffalo Bills

STATE OF THE ART

GET JACK’D AT MOE JOE’S

DJ Rosco spins all night long to get your weekend started. > 9 pm-2 am > Moe Joe’s

See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 11 am-7 pm > Whistler Creekside

WALK AND TALK SERIES, SPECIAL EXHIBITION > 3 pm > Audain Art Museum

LIVE @ BLACK’S FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS

Start the weekend off right with music by B.C.’s finest party. > 9:30 pm > Moe Joe’s

WALK AND TALK SERIES, SPECIAL EXHIBITION

> 9 pm > Black’s Pub & Restaurant

> 3 pm > Audain Art Museum

Food Lovers Unite!

Best prices on locally sourced produce.

Check out Weekly Flyers in store or online at:

yourindependentgrocer.ca Rainbow Store 8200 Bear Paw Trail Whistler 604-932-1128

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112 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Photo: Paul Morrison and Athlete: James Heim

CAN-SKI Village Whistler Village 604.938.7755

CAN-SKI Performance Marketplace 604.938.7137

CAN-SKI Westin Westin Resort & Spa 604.905.2262

CAN-SKI Blackcomb Blackcomb Base 604.938.7744

CAN-SKI Alpine Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa 604.938.7130

CAN-SKI Creekside Franzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trail Creekside 604.905.2160

PIQUECAL FIRE & ICE SHOW

Whistler’s top skiers and riders (including Whistler Blackcomb ski school instructors) spin and twist through a burning hoop. Free. > 7 pm > Skiers’ Plaza

MUSIC

SUNDAZE WITH DJ NAT MOREL Head over for DJ Nat Morel’s Brickworks residency, Sundaze. 604-962-2929. > 3-6 pm > Brickworks Public House

SUNDAY GLOW PARTY

Music provided by Fidel Cashflow, La Dooda, and friends. 604-935-1152. > 9 pm > Moe Joe’s

MOUNTAIN MONDAYS END OF YEAR PARTY

The KosmiK Konnection is happy to host the last Mountain Mondays of 2019. > 7 pm > Longhorn Saloon

OPEN MIC JAM NIGHT

An open stage invitation for all who can sing, perform or even just wanna jam out with our house band. > 9 pm > Crystal Lounge

SUNDAY NIGHT THEORY > 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

> 3:30-5:30 & 8-11 pm > Mallard Lounge

The Crystal Lounge hosts trivia every Monday night! > 9 pm > Crystal Lounge

> 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

> 3:30-6:30 & 8-11 pm > Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC)

ALEX MAHER

> 3:45 & 9 pm > Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub

MON

12.30

SEAN ROSE

> 4-8 pm > Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery

See Thursday’s listing for more info. > 11 am-7 pm > Whistler Creekside

COMMUNITY

DAVE HARTNEY > 4:30-6:30 pm > Nutcracker

MUSIC & WORDS

> 10 am > Whistler Public Library

JERRY’S DISCO

Dust off your gaper day getup ‘cos the best Jerry outfit gets a free bottle of Prosecco! > 7-10 pm > The Living Room @ the Pangea Pod Hotel

> 6-7:15 am > Meadow Park Sports Centre

WE RUN WHISTLER: FINAL RUN OF 2019

Join us as we get creative with run routes on the Valley Trail! Two distance options available - ~5k and ~10k.

Headlamps mandatory for the run. Visit werunwhistler. com for more info. Free. > 5:55 pm > Lululemon

FAMILY APRÈS

Soul Club Whistler spinning that funky soul soundtrack. > 9 pm > Black’s Pub & Restaurant

COLLIN BULLOCK

> 3:30-5:30 & 8-11 pm > Mallard Lounge

Blues night with Sean Rose. > 8 pm > Black’s Pub & Restaurant

Allow yourself to get lost in our winter wonderland at Buffalo Bills. Don your masks and embrace the beauty and elegance of the mountains—dress to impress. > 9 pm > Buffalo Bills

KARAOKE NIGHT > 9 pm > Crystal Lounge

TUE

12.31

Ever wondered what it would like to walk the red carpet in your most glamorous attire? Tickets include entrance to the biggest and most elegant NYE in Whistler, complimentary coat check, party favours, and champagne toast. $55. 604-932-2323. > 9-11:59 pm > Garfinkel’s

RUCKUS DELUXE

> 3:45 & 9 pm > Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub

COLIN BULLOCK & STEPHEN LECKY TRIO

TUESDAY TURNTABLISM WITH DJ PRAIZ

THE HAIRFARMERS

NYE AT BRICKWORKS

> 3:30-5:30 & 8-11 pm > Mallard Lounge

> 10 pm-2 am > The Keg

> 4-8 pm > Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery

STEPHEN LECKY

> 4-6:30 pm > Nutcracker Holiday Lounge (Fairmont Chateau Whistler)

114 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Tommys Whistler presents STAY GOLDEN NYE, sending off 2019 in style and welcoming in the New Year in Whistler’s newly upgraded Nightclub! Tickets include: Light grazing station between 8-10pm; Champagne on arrival; Special Entertainment and Photo Ops; and DJ Dre Morel. $49. > 8 pm > Tommys Whistler

NYE 2020—HOLLYWOODS NIGHT

EV KINSELLA SOULFUL SUNDAYS

STAY GOLDEN X NYE PARTY

> 3-6 pm > Whistler Olympic Plaza

MUSIC

You are invited to party like a local at the local’s house party. > 9 pm > Tapley’s Pub

> 4-6:30 pm > Nutcracker Holiday Lounge (Fairmont Chateau Whistler)

NYE MASQUERADE BALL

SUNDAY FUNDAY

LOCAL’S SUNDAY SESH

EVAN KENNEDY

BLACK ‘N’ BLUES WHISTLER TRI CLUB SWIM SQUAD

MUSIC Darragh will be kicking it off. > 8 pm > Tommys Whistler

> 4-8 pm > Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery

SPORTS

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

STATE OF THE ART

CONNOR FITZ

RECOVERY MONDAY’S

MONDAY MIX MADNESS THE HAIRFARMERS

> 3:45 & 9 pm > Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub

TRIVIA NIGHT

Whistler’s biggest party every Monday Night. > 9:30 pm-3 am > Moe Joe’s

MARC CHARRON

RUCKUS DELUXE

> 3:30-6:30 pm > Merlin’s Bar & Grill

Ring in a new decade with us in true Brickworks style, with music from Evan Kinsella. Enjoy complimentary bubbles to toast at midnight. 604-962-2929. > 9 pm-1 am > Brickworks Public House

116 DECEMBER 26, 2019

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology WEEK OF DEC 26 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Denmark during the Second World War. In 1943, Hitler ordered all Danish Jews to be arrested—a first step in his plan to send them to concentration camps.

But the Danish resistance movement leapt into action and smuggled virtually all of them to safety via fishing boats bound for Sweden. As a result, 8,000+ Danish Jews survived the Holocaust. You may not have the opportunity to do anything quite as heroic in 2020, Aries. But I expect you will have chances to express a high order of practical idealism that could be among your noblest and most valiant efforts ever. Draw inspiration from the Danish resistance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When she was 31, Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë finished writing her novel Jane Eyre. She guessed it would have a better chance of getting published if its author was thought to be a man. So she adopted the masculine pen name of Currer Bell and sent the manuscript unsolicited to a London publisher. Less than eight weeks later, her new book was in print. It quickly became a commercial success. I propose that we make Brontë one of your role models for 2020, Taurus. May she inspire you to be audacious in expressing yourself and confident in seeking the help you need to reach your goals.

May she embolden you, too, to use ingenious stratagems to support your righteous cause.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): 2020 can and should be a lyrically healing year for you. Here’s what I mean: Beauty and grace will be curative. The “medicine” you need will come to you via poetic and mellifluous experiences. With this in mind, I encourage you to seek out encounters with the following remedies. 1. Truth Whimsies 2.

Curiosity Breakthroughs 3. Delight Gambles 4. Sacred Amusements 4. Redemptive Synchronicities 5. Surprise Ripenings 6. Gleeful Discoveries 7. Epiphany Adventures 8. Enchantment Games 9. Elegance Eruptions 10. Intimacy Angels 11. Playful Salvation 12. Luminosity Spells CANCER (June 21-July 22): “There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” wrote author Zora Neale Hurston. According to my astrological analysis, Cancerian, 2020 is likely to be one of those years that asks questions, while 2021 will be a time when you’ll get rich and meaningful answers to the queries you’ll pose in 2020. To ensure that this plan works out for your maximum benefit, it’s essential that you formulate provocative questions in the coming months. At first, it’s fine if you generate too many. As the year progresses, you can whittle them down to the most ultimate and important questions. Get started!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Roman Emperor Vespasian (9–79 AD) supervised the restoration of the Temple of Peace, the Temple of Claudius, and the Theater of Marcellus. He also built a huge statue of Apollo and the amphitheater now known as the Colosseum, whose magnificent ruins are still a major tourist attraction.

Vespasian also created a less majestic but quite practical wonder: Rome’s first public urinals. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you Leos to be stimulated by his example in 2020. Be your usual magnificent self as you generate both inspiring beauty and earthy, pragmatic improvements.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When Virgo author Mary Shelley was 18 years old, she had a disconcerting dream-like vision about a mad chemist who created a weird humanlike creature out of non-living matter. She set about to write a book based on her mirage. At age 20, she published Frankenstein, a novel that would ultimately wield a huge cultural influence and become a seminal work in the “science fiction” genre. I propose we make Shelley one of your role models for 2020. Why? Because I suspect that you, too, will have the power to transform a challenging event or influence into an important asset. You’ll be able to generate or attract a new source of energy by responding creatively to experiences that initially provoke anxiety.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libra-born mystic poet Rumi

(1207–1273) wrote that he searched for holy sustenance and divine inspiration in temples, churches, and mosques—but couldn’t find them there. The good news?

Because of his disappointment, he was motivated to go on an inner quest—and ultimately found holy sustenance and divine inspiration in his own heart. I’ve got a strong feeling that you’ll have similar experiences in 2020, Libra.

Not on every occasion, but much of the time, you will discover the treasure you need and long for not in the outside world but rather in your own depths.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Among his many accomplishments, Scorpio rapper Drake is an inventive rhymer. In his song “Diplomatic Immunity,” he rhymes “sacred temple” with “stencil.” Brilliant! Other rhymes: “statistics” with “ballistics;” “Treaty of Versailles” with “no cease and desist in I;” and—my favourite—”Al Jazeera” (the Qatar-based news source) with “Shakira” (the Colombian singer). According to my analysis of the astrological omens in 2020, many of you Scorpios will have Drake-style skill at mixing and blending seemingly disparate elements. I bet you’ll also be good at connecting influences that belong together but have never been able to combine before.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) embodied a trait that many astrology textbooks suggest is common to the Sagittarian tribe: wanderlust. He was born in Prague but travelled widely throughout Europe and Russia. If there were a Guinness World Records’ category for “Time Spent as a Houseguest,” Rilke might hold it. There was a four-year period when he lived at 50 different addresses. I’m going to be bold here and hypothesize that 2020 will NOT be one of those years when you would benefit from being like Rilke. In fact, I hope you’ll seek out more stability and security than usual.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Fifteenth-century Italian metalworker Lorenzo Ghiberti worked for 28 years to turn the doors of the Florence Baptistry into a massive work of art. He used bronze to create numerous scenes from the Bible. His fellow artist Michelangelo was so impressed that he said Ghiberti’s doors could have served as “The Gates of Paradise.” I offer Ghiberti as inspiration for your life in 2020, Capricorn. I think you’ll be capable of beginning a masterwork that could take quite some time to complete and serve as your very own “gate to paradise:” in other words, an engaging project and delightful accomplishment that will make you feel your life is eminently meaningful and worthwhile.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re wise to cultivate a degree of skepticism and even contrariness. Like all of us, your abilities to say NO to detrimental influences and to criticize bad things are key to your mental health. On the other hand, it’s a smart idea to keep checking yourself for irrelevant, gratuitous skepticism and contrariness. You have a sacred duty to maintain just the amount you need, but no more—even as you foster a vigorous reservoir of receptivity, optimism, and generosity. And guess what?

2020 will be an excellent time to make this one of your cornerstone habits.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) finished writing The Divine Comedy in 1320. Today it’s considered one of the supreme literary accomplishments in the Italian language and a classic of world literature. But no one ever read the entire work in the English language until 1802, when it was translated for the first time. Let’s invoke this as a metaphor for your life in the coming months, Pisces. According to my visions, a resource or influence that has previously been inaccessible to you will finally arrive in a form you can understand and use. Some wisdom that has been untranslatable or unreadable will at last be available.

1-888-887-5215 Gillian - 604 902 9087 Tanya - 778 350 4405

A

SEASON OF GIVING

Support your local community. ts There are a number of reasons to refocus your gifting habits this year.

Whether you’re concerned about the environment, not sure what to purchase or looking for more far-reaching presents, take a look at the community around you. In Whistler, we’re lucky to have a very caring community. From environmental to health to homelessness, there are many worthwhile causes to consider supporting this Christmas.

So instead of braving the crowded shops, consider making a donation in someone’s name to one of these Season of Giving causes. This could help you enjoy the season without stress and make a difference in your local community.

Homework: Your imagination is the single most important asset you possess. Listen: https://bit.ly/YourProphecy

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES

In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com

nd the charity that best suits you. https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/seasonofgiving

DECEMBER 26, 2019

117

classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com

Book your classified ad online by 4pm Tuesday

ADULT SERVICES

LONG-TERM RENTALS

Accommodation

MARKETPLACE

HOME SERVICES

HOME SERVICES

ADULTS ONLY

SPRUCE GROVE

FURNITURE

BUILDING AND RENOVATIONS

MOVING AND STORAGE

WHISTLER FURNITURE CO

Wiebe Construction Services

Unfurnished, one bdrm suite available now in Spruce Grove. Newly painted, with washer/dryer, gas fireplace, backyard and parking available for one vehicle. Annual lease only. Suitable for single, mature professional or couple. $1200 per month.

Please email pfnadell@yahoo.com if interested.

LONG TERM RENTAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES

WHISTLER

Property Owners seeking Annual or Seasonal Rental Income from screened Tenants, please contact one of our 4 Rental Agents to discuss revenue, services & fees.

LICENSED RENTAL AGENTS: Simon Westwood 604-967-1195 simon@WhistlerProperty.com Forrest Chittick 604-902-7178 forrest@WhistlerProperty.com

Short Term Rentals

Monthly or seasonal rental accommodation that is available to local renters for less than 12 months, or where the rental price varies throughout the year.

Vacation Rentals

Nightly and/or weekly rental accommodation, available to visitors over a short period of time.

118 DECEMBER 26, 2019

big or small we do it all!

Call 604-902-MOVE www.alltimemoving.ca

NORTHLANDS

STORAGE STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE

BEST PRICES IN WHISTLER FURNITURE, CARS, BOATS & MOTORCYCLES ETC STORAGE AVAILABLE

SHAW

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Monthly rental accommodation that is available to local renters for a minimum of 12 months.

FLOORING

2-1020 Millar Creek Road

the insiders’ guide to whistler

Long Term Rentals

FOR SALE - MISC

whistlerfurniture.ca

THINGS TO DO

A C C O M M O D AT I O N LISTINGS, DEFINED:

604.938.4285

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

• Kitchen and Bath • Renovations & Repairs • Drywall • Painting • Finishing • Minor Electrical & Plumbing

Ray Wiebe 604.935.2432 Pat Wiebe 604.902.9300 raymondo99.69@gmail.com

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Enquire for further information, availability and rates text/call: (604)262-5183

Serving Whistler for over 25 years

MATTRESSES-BUNK BEDSSOFA BEDS-CUSTOM SOFAS

Queen mattresses from $289.99 Bunk Beds from $699.99 Sofa beds from $1099.99

Foxy, sexy, raven haired, olive skinned Mediterranean beauty available for sensual massage sessions.

LONG-TERM RENTALS

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Rosie Blaser 604-932-8864 rosie@WhistlerProperty.com Duane Kercher 604-932-7849 duane@WhistlerProperty.com

VIEW AVAILABLE RENTAL LISTINGS AT:

Come and visit Whistler’s funkiest thrift store and get (almost) everything you need for your EPIC season! Winter clothes, skis, boards, boots, bindings, goggles, toques and more! As well as all the usual stuff to make that rented closet feel like a palace. You may even find some hidden treasure you never knew needed.

Shopping and Donation hours: 11am - 6pm, 7 days a week 8000 Nesters Road 604-932-1121

Family owned & operated

Open Monday through Friday 8:30 - 4:30 Saturday 10:00 -4:00 Sundays and Evenings by appointment only.

Re-Build-It Centre Furniture, appliances, kitchen cabinets, doors, plumbing, tools, flooring, hardware, lumber, lighting and more!

Phone 604-938-1126 email shawcarpet@shaw.ca

Open 10am-5pm, 7 days a week 1003 Lynham Road, Function Junction 604-932-1125 Recycle, Re-build and Re-invest in your community. All proceeds support 28 programs and services such as the food bank, outreach services, and counseling assistance offered by Whistler Community Services. www.mywcss.org Like us on Facebook @ Whistler Community Service Society

WALSH

USE A WALSH CUBE TRUCK FOR FREE TO MOVE YOUR POSSESSiOnS TO WALSH STORAgE

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VACATION RENTAL CLEANING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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VACATION RENTALS

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Housekeeping - daily, weekly monthly Move in/out & Construction Cleaning IICRC Professional carpet cleaning Caretaker Services

Accommodation

REAL ESTATE

604.932.1968

3-1365 Alpha Lake Road Whistler, B.C, V0N1B1

WhistlerProperty.com

Last minute Xmas nightly rental. Luxury 4 bed 3 bath Townhouse (Fitz Walk) walking distance to the Village. Available for week Dec 19-26, $2000 per night. Email josh@ joshcrane.ca for more details.

PRICES

IN WHISTLER

8 x 10 COntAIneRS

100 +

$

tax per month

2 hRS fRee tRuCk tIMe

8 x 20 COntAIneRS

160 +

$

tax per month

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Call Mike Walsh

604 698 0054

WHISTLER’S

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FREE STUFF

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FREE STUFF

For a weekly sales report of new and sold listings in Whistler & Pemberton, please sign up at whistlerrealestatemarket.com or email josh@joshcrane.ca

Free shelving . Wood/wire rack com-bo.

Shelves pull out. In great shape. Stands just under 6 feet tall. Call 604-938-0202 if interested. They are located in Function.

BEST STORAGE

mike.walsh@walshrestoration.ca

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604.932.1948

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BUY

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Services

EDUCATION

SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION

No Fitness Classes on Dec 25 and 26 and Jan 1st

Try these for $5 the week of Jan 4

WINTER SKILLS COURSES

Spin Sat 9 am & M/W 6-7 pm Grrrls Boot Camp Mon 4:15 pm Parent and Baby Fit Mon 10:30am Barre T/Th 10:30 am and Wed 11:45 am Pilates Mat Tues 6:45 pm

AVALANCHE SKILLS TRAINING (AST) COURSES LEVEL 1+ AND 2

www.whistler.ca/recreation 604-935-PLAY (7529)

BIG MOUNTAIN AWARENESS CAMPS FOR 10-15 YEARS OLD

CREVASSE RESCUE/ GLACIER TRAVEL COURSE

SIGN UP AT EXTREMELYCANADIAN.COM INFO@EXTREMELYCANADIAN.COM OR CALL 604-938-9656

NOTICES

FIRST AID AND SURVIVAL

GENERAL NOTICES ROTARY CLUBS OF WHISTLER & PEMBERTON

Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m.

BG Urban Grill: 604-905-5090 & Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Pan Pacific, Mountainside. www.whistler-rotary.org Pemberton Rotary Club at the Pemberton Community Centre, Wednesdays at 7:15am www.pembertonrotary.ca

U.S.

Exchange Rate

27% as recommended by:

MEETING PLACE Welcome Centre at Whistler Public Library - Information, support, community connections and ESL practice groups for newcomers and immigrants. Meet people, make connections, volunteer, build your communication skills in English.

Multicultural Meet Up every Friday 9.3012pm.604-698-5960 info@welcomewhistler. com FB: WhistlerWelcomeCentre

UPCOMING COURSES Wilderness First Aid Workplace OFA 1, 2 & 3 16hr SFA-C & CPR Childcare First Aid + we sell & stock first aid kits

Whistler Singers Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm at Myrtle Philip School in the Toad Hall room.

Everyone is welcome!

Inquiries can be sent to whistlersingers@gmail.com For more info, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ whistlersingers/

Women's Karma Yoga - Thursdays, 9-10, ongoing by donation and childminding provided. Whistler Women's Centre: 1519 Spring Creek Drive. Drop-in for weekly yoga classes led by an all female team of certified yoga instructors. All women, all ability levels welcome. hswc.ca | 604-962-8711

Whistler Reads - Meets to discuss a new book every eight weeks. Go to bookbuffet. com & click on Whistler Reads for the latest book/event. Paula at 604-907-2804 or wr@ bookbuffet.com

YOUTH ACTIVITIES CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Donate Used Clothing & Household Goods- To be distributed to local charities

by Sharon 604-894-6656 for pick up.

Playground Builders: Creating Play Building Hope - Playground Builders is a registered charity that builds playgrounds for children in war-torn areas. Learn more, volunteer or donate at www. playgroundbuilders.org

Sea to Sky Community Services - running dozens of programs in Whistler to help people through times of crisis and with everyday challenges. www.sscs.ca 1-877892-2022 admin@sscs.ca

Stewardship Pemberton Society and the One Mile Lake Nature Centre- Connecting community, nature and people through education, cooperation, and community involvement. www.stewardshippemberton. com

Whistler Health Care Foundation raises funds for improving health care resources and services. New board members welcomed. Contact us at info@ whistlerhealthcarefoundation.org or call Karen at 604-906-1435.

1st Whistler Scout Group - outdoor & adventure program for girls and boys aged 5-17. Times and locations vary.

More info: http://1stwhistlerscoutgroup. webs.com.

Contact scoutsatwhistler @gmail.com or 604-966-4050.

Whistler Children's Chorus Rehearsal Tuesdays at MILLENNIUM PLACE (4 - 5:30 pm) contact whistlerchorus@gmail.com Whistler/Pemberton Girl Guides Adventures for Girls age 5 & up. Sparks & Brownies (Gr K,1,2,3) Guides (Gr 4,5,6) Volunteers always welcome. coastmountaingirlguides@gmail.com Whistler Youth Centre - Drop - in: Fridays 3:30 - 11 PM & Saturdays 6 - 10 PM for ages 13 - 18. Located downstairs in the Maury Young Arts Centre (formerly Millenium Place). We offer: a Ping pong table, Pool table, Skateboard mini ramp w. skateboards and helmets to borrow, Free Wi-Fi, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, Guitars, Board games, Projector and widescreen TV's. Facebook THEYC Crew, www.whistleryouthcentre. com or call 604-935-8187.

COMMUNITY LISTINGS ARTS & CULTURE

Griffin Squadron Squamish Air CadetsOpen to youth 12-18yrs at Don Ross Secondary School on Tues at 6:30pm.

Pemberton Arts Council - Connect with other artists, writers, artisans, musicians & help make Pemberton a vibrant arts community. Call 604-452-0123 or visit www. pembertonartscouncil.com

Pemberton Valley Trails AssociationMeets the second Wed of each month. 7pm at the Pemberton Recreation Centre. Call 604-698-6158

Sea to Sky RC Flyers - Model Aeronautics Association of Canada Club active in the Sea to Sky Region flying model airplanes, helicopters and multi-rotors. Contact S2SRCFLY@telus.net

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Provides sports & recreation experiences for people with disabilities. Chelsey Walker at 604-905-4493 or info@whistleradaptive. com

Whistler Martial Arts offers - Kishindo Karate for kids age 4 and up, Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids and adults. Also Kickboxing, Judo, Yoga and Bellyfit for adults. Call Cole 932-2226

Maury Young Arts Centre - Whistler's community centre for arts, culture & inspiration. Performance theatre, art gallery, daycare, youth centre, meditation room, meeting facilities. www.artswhistler.com or 604-935-8410

Pemberton & District Community Centre - Located at 7390 Cottonwood St. Fitness Centre, facility rentals, spray park, playground, children, youth, adult & seniors programs. For more info 604-894-2340 or pemrecinfo@slrd.bc.ca

MUSEUMS Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre Explore First Nations Art Galleries, and Interactive Exhibits. Gift Shop & Cafe are in our admission free area. Open Tuesday'sSunday's per week. 10am-5p.m..

LEISURE GROUPS

Knitty Gritty Knit Night- Held every Tues 6-8pm. Free evening open to everyone with a love for knitting/crocheting. Beginners welcome. For location and further details email knittygrittywhistler@gmail.com or find us on facebook.

Arts Whistler - Full arts & culture listings.

Comprehensive artist directory & programs, events & performances year-round. For info 604-935-8410 or visit www.artswhistler.com

Whistler Valley Quilters Guild - Meets most 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from September through May. Visitors interested in Quilts and other Fibre Arts are more than welcome to join us. Experience not a requirement. For location and topics of upcoming meetings email: whistlerquiltguild@gmail.com , visit www.whistlerquilters.com or look us up in the Arts Whistler calendar under What's On.

COMMUNITY CENTRES

Alpine Club of Canada Whistler Section - Outdoor club focused on ski/split board touring, hiking, mountaineering and skills training.

More info: accwhistler.ca For meetings, trips and events: accwhistler. ca/Events.html

Whistler Community Band - Rehearsals on Tuesdays 7 - 8:15 pm CONTACT whistlerchorus@gmail.com FOR LOCATION

SELL

LEISURE GROUPS

SPORTS & RECREATION

Sea to Sky Singers - Invites new & former members to join us for an exciting new term, the spring & fall terms culminate with a concert. Choir meets Tues, 7-9pm at Squamish Academy of Music, 2nd Ave. Veronica seatoskysingers@gmail.com or 604-892-7819 www.seatoskysingers.net

DRIVE

SPORTS & RECREATION

training@whistlerfirstaid.ca

Pemberton Writers - Meet with other writers to review and critique monthly.

Opportunities for writing in a comfortable and creative setting. Email crowley7@telus. net

FIX

ARTS & CULTURE

Duplicate Bridge Club- Whistler Racquet Club reconvenes in late fall. The club meets every week and visitors are welcome. For partner, please call Gill at 640-932-5791.

VOLUNTEERS Big Brothers, Big Sisters Sea to Sky Volunteer to Mentor- just 1hr/week - and make a difference in a child's life. Call 604892-3125.

WORK

COMMUNITY LISTINGS COMMUNITY LISTINGS COMMUNITY LISTINGS

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Community

RENT

Mountain Spirit Toastmasters- Builds communication, public speaking, and leadership skills . Wednesdays at the Pan Pacific Mountainside - Singing Pass Room, 5:30-7pm. Email contact - 8376@ toastmastersclubs.org www.whistler. toastmastersclubs.org Pemberton Women's Institute - Meets the third Mon of each month in the activity room at St. David's United Church at 7:30pm.

New members welcome. Linda Ronayne at 604-894-6580 Rotary Club of Whistler - Meets Tuesdays AM & PM www.whistler-rotary.org

Whistler Museum & Archives Society Explore interactive exhibits, listen to local stories & discover Whistler's journey. Open daily 11am-5pm, 4333 Main St. www. whistlermuseum.org or 604-932-2019

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING Whistler Breakfast Club Meets monthly at 6:45-8:30am at Whistler Chamber office. Offering a chance for business owners to meet and "speed network" with other business owners to build their circle of contacts and collaborators in the Sea 2 Sky Corridor. Learn more at facebook.com/ whistlerbreakfastclub

Whistler Chamber of Commerce - Is the leading business association in Whistler that works to create a vibrant & successful economy. Learn more about the programs & services at www.whistlerchamber.com

Women of Whistler - Group that provides opportunities for Whistler businesswomen to network, gain knowledge & share ideas in a friendly, relaxed environment. Learn more at www.womenofwhistler.com

Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium Meets every Thurs at 12:15pm at Pan Pacific Mountainside. 604-932-7782

FOR SENIORS

Shades of Grey Painters Meet on Thursdays from 1-00 - 4:00 pm @ the Amenities building, Pioneer Junction, Vine Road, Pemberton. We are like-minded 50+ acrylic painters who get together to paint and learn from one another. No Fee.

Activate & Connect - Come join us Thursday mornings 9:30am to 11:00am at Whistler Community Services for a weekly drop in program for seniors 50+. Everyone welcome, in partnership with Mature Action Community. www.mywcss.org

DECEMBER 26, 2019

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

Coastal Mountain Excavations (est. 1975) is a Civil Construction and Snow Services company serving the Sea to Sky Corridor and beyond.

We are currently recruiting:

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ACCOUNTANT Email resume to careers@coastalmountain.ca

Whistler Brewing Company is hiring...

Brewery Operator F/t Under the supervision of the Head Brewer, the brewery operator is responsible for brewing, filtering & operating the packaging lines (kegging, canning and bottling).

Our ideal candidate will have: · At least 1 year of Commercial Brewery Experience · Ability to stand 8 hours per day and lift/move up to 60 kg.

· Ability to work in a manufacturing setting with varying temperatures with moderate noise levels.

Mature Action Community (MAC) - Represents seniors in Whistler and welcomes new members. MAC meets for fun and interaction with local seniors and those just visiting on Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Whistler Community Services Community Room for Activate and Connect. Come join us for coffee and socializing while engaging in fun activities. Check us out at www.whistlermac. org or view our schedule on Facebook Whistler Mature Action Community Group page.

We are looking for someone with brewing experience who is passionate about the industry and has the potential to learn and grow.

Outreach Services - Free confidential support for adults dealing with the challenges of social wellness. Please call our office at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker.

We offer a great health & benefits package, a monthly beer allowance, Taphouse discounts merchandise/ food, RRSP matching, paid vacation & sick days after 90 days probation period. $17.25- $19.25 /hr Please apply within.

Pemberton Men's Shed - Weekly social meetings WED. 11-2 in the Seniors/youth Rec. bldg. beside library. Social meeting with BYO Bag lunch, card games and pool/ snooker. Help out in YOUR community, operating the Pemberton Tool Library.

Senior Citizen Organizations - Is an advocacy group devoted to improving the quality of life for all seniors. Ernie Bayer 604576-9734 or ecbayer2@gmail.com

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler has the following positions available:

Earthsave Whistler - Providing info & support to people who are interested in making healthier, greener, more peaceful food choices. earthsavewhistler.com

ROOM ATTENDANTS (F/T AND P/T) Please reply by email: parmstrong@pinnaclehotels.ca

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES APPLY TODAY! Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd., Whistler, BC

Member Reception (full time) Eligible successful candidates may receive*:

Join a dynamic team and surround yourself with art The Audain Art Museum is currently seeking:

Security Supervisor Full time, year round

• Extensive benefits package which may include; ski pass or wellness allowance, disability coverage, travel insurance and extended health and dental.

• Travel Allowance and discounted employee rates at any Diamond Resort International resort.

• Full-time work year round and a FUN work environment *eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment.

Email your resume with the position you wish to apply for to: embarc_hr@diamondresorts.com

Competitive starting wage Medical benefits & staff discounts No experience necessary, all training provided

To apply, please email your resume to bbeacom@audainartmuseum.com Mirae Campbell

Resort Municipality of Whistler

Employment Opportunities Lifeguard/Swim Instructor · Utilities Group Manager · Accounting Skate Host Clerk ·· Labourer I - Lost Lake Nordic Trail Crew/Patrol Wastewater Treatment Plant Process Supervisor ·· Planning Analyst Labourer I – Village Maintenance · Lifeguard/Swim Instructor · Youth and Public Services Specialist

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/careers

120 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Whistler’s premier visitor magazine is on stands now!

Look for our Winter 2020 Issue!

Find it on select stands and in Whistler hotel rooms.

Healthy Home, Healthy Planet - Expert in green cleaning offers tricks, info & advice on the best way to green clean your home or work space! Call France 604-698-7479.

Free private presentation on request. www. healthylivingwhistler.com Re-Build-It Centre - Daily 10:00am to 5:00pm. Accepting donations of furniture, quality used building supplies & new items.

Deliveries and pickups available for $35. Call 604.932.1125, www.mywcss.org, rebuildit@ mywss.org Regional Recycling - Recycle beverage containers (full deposit paid) electronics, appliances, batteries, Lightbulbs, drop-off times are 9am-5pm on Nesters Rd. Pick up service 604-932-3733 Re-Use-It - Daily 11:00am to 6:00pm, Donate all household goods in good shape.

Accepting bottles & cans, old electronics, anything with a cord, and light fixtures for recycling. All proceeds to WCSS. Call 604.932.1121, www.mywcss.org, reuseit@ mywcss.org.

The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) Whistler's Natural Voice since 1989. Regular events, project and volunteer opportunities. www.awarewhistler.org info@awarewhistler.org The Mountain Village Social Gathering Join us at one of our regular social gatherings on the last Wednesday of every month.

There is a group of us at The Mountain Village who are forming a sustainable, multi generational neighbourhood based on the co housing model. WHAT IF... Housing wasn't just a place to live, but rather, a way of life? To find out more, visit our Facebook page @themountainvillage or go to our website www.themountainvillage.ca

5 8 2 1 4 9 3 6 7

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Baby/Child Health Clinics - Free routine immunizations & newly licensed vaccines for purchase, growth & development assessments & plenty of age appropriate resources avail. By appointment 604-9323202

7 2 5 6

8 9 2 Certified Dental Assistant 9 4 5for2 busy family dental clinic Located 20 minutes north of whistler in the 2 6 beautiful pemberton valley.

1 6 8 7 Also seeking 8 5 1 3 Part-time Dental Hygienist 4 3 1 7 Hours negotiable 6 with competitive wage.

8 Email “info@pembertonvalleydental.ca”

Families Fighting Cancer In The Sea To Sky - We are a non profit partner with Sea to Sky Community Services. We provide financial and practical support to children and parents with dependants diagnosed with cancer. Please contact us on our confidential email: ffcseatosky@gmail.com, visit our Facebook Page or website www. familiesfightingcancer.ca

KidsArt - Provides financial assistance to enable children of financially restricted families to participate in arts and culture education. Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker. www. mywcss.org.

or fax# 34 to 604-894-6934

Kids on the Move - Provides financial EASY assistance to enable children of financially restricted families to participate in sport programs. Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker. www. mywcss.org.

We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits.

Ask about accommodation.

Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues

Camp Fund - Provides financial assis-tance to enable children of financially restricted families to attend camp. Call WCSS at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker. www.mywcss.org

9 7 6

RENT

Whistler Athletes’ Centre (High Performance Training and Accommodation) Positions for this venue are currently filled

Whistler Sliding Centre (Bobsleigh, Luge & Skeleton) Track Worker / Guest Activity Rep Host Videographer / Guest Activity Rep Host Refrigeration Operator

Whistler Olympic Park (Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing and Outdoor Activities) Heavy Duty Mechanic

Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers

District of Squamish Career Opportunity District of Squamish District of Squamish Career Opportunity Chief Financial Officer Career Opportunity

Outreach Services - Free confidential support for adults and families experiencing challenges with mental health, food insecurity, housing insecurity, substance use, misuse or addiction, employment, eating disorders, violence in relationships, roommate conflict or homesickness.

Contact our office at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker or visit www. mywcss.org.

9 Chief Financial Officer District of Squamish is seeking a dynamic 2 3 7 The 8 Officer Chief Financial The District of Squamish is seeking dynamic individual to provide leadership toathe Finance 8 6 4 department, individual toand provide leadership to the Finance guidance and expertise to The District of Squamish is seeking a dynamic department, and guidance and expertise to senior managers and leadership directors across individual to to themultiple Finance 1 7 3 8 2provide senior managers and directors across multiple departments.

Thisguidance position plays a significant department, and and expertise to departments. This position plays a significant 5 6 role providing strategic financial advice to the senior managers and directors across multiple role providing strategic financial advice to the Chief Officerplays and tosignificant Council. A 2 9ChiefAdministrative 7Administrative 1 This4position departments.

Officer and toa Council.

A Chartered Professional Accountant designation providing strategicAccountant financial advice to the designation 8 role 6Chartered 4Professional (CPA) is required.

Chief Administrative Officer and to Council. A (CPA) is required.

4 1 Chartered Professional 8 3 Accountant designation squamish.ca/careers squamish.ca/careers (CPA) is required.

5

Pemberton Parent Infant Drop-In Facilitated by Capri Mohammed, Public Health Nurse. Every Mon 11am-12:30pm at Pemberton Public Library.

Pemberton Strong Start Family Drop-InA play group for you and your under-5 child.

Signal Hill Elementary, Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri, 9am-12pm. Thurs only 12pm-3pm. Call 604894-6101 / 604-966- 8857 Whistler Public Library - Open Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat & Sun 11am5pm. Music & Words, Mon 10am. Rhyme & Song, Tues 10:30am. Parent & Infant dropin, Thurs 11am. Preschool Story Time, Fri 10:30am. Singing with the babies, Sat 11am.

Call 604-935-8433

EASY SOCIAL

# 36 squamish.ca/careers

SERVICES

Access to Justice - Need legal advice but are financially restricted? Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 to find out more or visit www. mywcss.org.

11-4154 Village Green (in the Crystal Lodge) Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4 Peak Performance Massage Therapy has a rare opening for a

# 35

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Registered Massage Therapist 7 6 3 9 4 1 5 2 8

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6 We 9 require 4 2 5 an 8 experienced 3 7 1 RMT to join our team 2 3 5 9on7a permanent 1 4 6 8 or part-time basis.

7 8 1 6 4 3 2 9 5 We have 1 7 a3 very 8 6busy 4 5year 2 9round business, so this is a great opportunity 5 4 9 1for2an7individual 8 3 6 to join a highly successful and experienced and Physical Therapists.

8 2 6 5 3 team 9 7 of1 RMT’s 4 9 5 7 3 8 6 1 4 2 Please send your enquiries to 4 6 2 7 1 5 9 8 3 Rick Renaud RMT, at rick_renaud@yahoo.ca 3 1 8 4 9 2 6 5 7

4/11/2005

CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE? WORK WITH US! We are currently recruiting for:

Marke�ng & Communica�ons Manager

Full-�me posi�on | Applica�ons considered as received

APPLY TODAY!

artswhistler.com/careers

Apply to: getinvolved@artswhistler.com | attn: Susan Holden Maury Young Arts Centre | 604.935.8410

DECEMBER 26, 2019

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COMMUNITY LISTINGS SOCIAL SERVICES Counselling Assistance Available WCSS subsidizes access to a private counselor for $35-$50/hr depending on financial need. Contact an outreach team member at 604-932-0113 www.mywcss.org

Do you want to share in something special this winter?

If challenge & fun at work is what you desire, come see us today!

Cooks Hosts Expeditors Barbacks Setters Shift Managers Join us! Go to www.earlswantsyou.com and apply through our site. We will be in touch soon!

Counselling Assistance WCSS subsidizes access to a private counsellor depending on financial need. Contact an outreach worker at 604.932.0113 or visit www.mywcss.org.

ESL Volunteer Tutor Program Volunteer one-to-one tutoring for new immigrants & Canadian citizens.

For more information or to register, contact the Whistler Welcome Centre info@welcomewhistler.com or call 604.698.5960 Food Bank, Pemberton - Run by Sea to Sky Community Service. Open every second Monday. 604 894 6101 Food Bank Whistler - Located at 8000 Nesters Road, every Wednesday from 10am to noon. For emergency food bags, please call 604.935.7717. www.mywcss.org/food-bank Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program- Learn how to prepare healthy affordable meals at this outreach program.

Sea to Sky Community Services 604-894-6101 Meadow Park Rec Credit - If you are financially restricted, you may be eligible for a $131.20 municipal recreation credit. Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 and speak with an outreach worker. www.mywcss.org.

North Shore Schizophrenia Society Services for family, friends & community. Mental illness info, support & advocacy. Call Chris Dickenson at 604-966-7334 Outreach Services - Free, confidential support for youth experiencing challenges with mental health, food insecurity, housing insecurity, substance use, misuse or addiction, employment, eating disorders, violence in relationships, roommate conflict or homesickness. Contact our office at 604.932.0113 to speak with an outreach worker or visit www.mywcss.org.

Pearl's Safe Home - Temporary shelter for women & children experiencing abuse in relationships.

Locations in Whistler & Pemberton avail 24/7. All services are free. 1-877890-5711 or 604-892-5711

Incentive Bonus and Ask about accommodation.

We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits.

Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues

Spirit Pass Financing Available

For seasonal full time roles Check our website for seasonal opportunities at our 3 venues Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers

122 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Is hiring (FULL TIME) DISHWASHERS COOKS Wages are very competitive (based on experience), great perks and benefits.

Come join the best team in Whistler!

Interested applicants please email your resume to or contact Samantha at skeenan-naf@Crystal-Lodge.com

RMOW Rec Credit - If you are financially restricted, you may be eligible for a $127.60 municipal recreation credit. Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 www.mywcss.org Support Counselling - For women regarding abuse & relationship issues.

No charge. Call 604-894-6101 Victim Services - Assists victims, witnesses, family members or friends directly affected by any criminal act or traumatic event. Call 604-905-1969 Whistler Community Services Society - Outreach Services Now Available Monday to Saturday at our new location - 8000 Nesters Road (next to WAG) 604.932.0113 www.mywcss.org

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Whistler for the Disabled - Provides info for people with disabilities on what to do & where to go. Visit www.whistlerforthedisabled.com Whistler Housing Authority - Long term rental & ownership housing for qualified Whistler employees . Visit www.whistlerhousing.ca Whistler Mental Health & Addiction Services - If you or someone you know needs help with a mental health issue or substance misuse or addiction problem, we can assist. Mon-Fri 830am-430pm. 604-698-6455 Whistler Multicultural Network Settlement information, social support and programs for newcomers and immigrants living/working in Whistler.

604-388-5511 www.whistlermulticulturalnetwork.com Whistler Opt Healthy Sexuality Clinic - Professional sexual health services at a reduced cost. Free HIV testing. Clinics at Whistler Health Care Ctr, 2nd floor on Tues 4:30-7:30pm.

Winter hours Thurs. 5:00pm-7:00pm.

Confidentiality assured.

Whistler Women's Centre - Provides confidential support, resources, referrals and advocacy for women living in the Sea to Sky corridor. All services are free of charge and include access to emergency safe housing, child/youth counselling, play space and computer access. Drop-In Centre open Mon 12-230, Tue-Thu 12-5. 1519 Spring Creek Drive. You can also access our services at the Whistler Public Library on Mondays from 3-6 p.m. www.hswc.ca or call (604)9628711. 24 HR Crisis Line: 1-877-8905711 Whistler WorkBC Employment Services Centre - Provides free onestop employment services to job seekers and employers.

Drop in services at the Pemberton Library Thursdays 1-5 PM, and at the Whistler Public Library on Mondays from 3-6 PM. For more information visit www.WhistlerESC.com or call us at 604-932-1600

Whistler Adventure School (WAS), located in Whistler, BC, Canada is hiring an

OPERATIONS & ADMIN COORDINATOR Flexible work schedule and good remuneration for the right candidate Based in Whistler, BC, Canada, Whistler Adventure School is hiring an Operations & Admin Coordinator. This position is part-time (20 hours/week) with a flexible work schedule and possibility of full-time. The successful applicant will be responsible for managing WAS programs to administer and support enrollment in WAS programs.

Activities of the work include, but are not limited to, any/all of the following: • Maintains inventory of WAS facility and program needs • Assisting in Marketing/Agent support-Working with the WAS sales and marketing team to ensure agents are supported with marketing materials and assisting in student conversion (from inquiry to course enrollment) • Course/Faculty setup-ensuring course materials/supplies/equipment is ordered and ready.

• Oversees and coordinates Cooperative Education (Program “Coops”) • Registration and support of students for program and course enrollment.

• Responds to and directs inquiries via all forms of communication including Social Media, working closely with sales and marketing team.

• Financial updating of WAS student and agency transactions • Organizing, hosting and attending events at the WAS facility or elsewhere for the students, faculty, agents, community, perspective students and press • Regular meetings/visits with students, sales and marketing team and/or Agents • Assists in IT duties such as updating software (MAC) on school computers.

• Other duties as assigned

WE’RE HIRING

DISHWASHERS Apply today!

Staff Housing Available!

Competitive Wage + Benefits Package This storied restaurant offers a modern taste of Italy and brings a fresh, contemporary style of dining to the mountain.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES BACK-OF-HOUSE Line Cooks

Requirements: A business, marketing or communications related degree and fluency in spoken and written English is required, additional languages a plus. Strong organizational and administrative skills, effective time-management and an outgoing personality are an asset.

Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references by email to: admin@whistlermountainadventureschool.com fax to 604 962 2219. Email is preferred. No phone calls please.

We offer year-round full and part-time hours, gratuities, potential for future growth within the company, and an employee discount at all Toptable restaurants.

Please email your resume & cover letter to careers@ilcaminetto.ca

Closing Date Dec. 31st, 2019 Only those selected for interviews will be contacted

SUPPORT GROUPS Are you troubled by someone's drinking? Al-Anon can help.

Al-Anon meeting, multi-purpose room, 2nd floor, Whistler Health Care Centre, Wednesdays, 5:30 pm. 604.688.1716 Birth, Baby and Beyond - Join a registered counsellor and meet other moms with the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences in a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental setting. Call 604.932.0113 for more information or visit www.mywcss.org.

Concussion Support Group - WCSS is offering a recurring 8 week program to support people living with persistent post-concussion symptoms.

Contact WCSS at 604.932.0113 and speak with an outreach worker about upcoming sessions or visit www.mywcss.org.

Epilepsy Support GroupFor individuals & families seeking guidance or support.

Contact eswhistler@gmail.com

Basalt Wine + Salumeria are currently looking to fill the roles of:

PART-TIME HOSTS & EXPEDITORS Please send your cover letter and resume to skeenan-naf@crystal-lodge.com Wages are very competitive (based on experience), great perks and benefits. Come join the best team in Whistler!

DECEMBER 26, 2019

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Grow. Contribute.

Explore.

HERE

Be a part of our dynamic team at one of Whistler’s busiest spots!

At The High Mountain Brewing Company, Whistler Brewhouse, we take pride in our product and service - From the busy patio to the cozy two-sided fireplace, from our exceptional pizzas to our hand-crafted beer.

We are currently looking for

Dishwashers Line Cooks Prep Cooks Food Runner / Hosts

to share our vision. Experienced Servers who are passionate about food and beer and excel at service and customer service.

We offer comprehensive benefits packages after a probationary period, as well as competitive wages.

Please come by with your resume or apply via email to adam@mjg.ca

4355 BLACKCOMB WAY WHISTLER, BC, V0N 1B4

Ziptrek Ecotours is now hiring:

HR Manager Accounting Manager APPLY TODAY AT ZIPTREK.COM

PLAY HERE

District of Squamish Career Opportunity District of Squamish District of Squamish Career Opportunity IT Business Analyst | Regular Full Time Career Opportunity

IT Business Regular Timewill Reporting to theAnalyst Manager| of IT, this Full position IT Business Analyst | Regular Full work closely with District departments to Time assess Reporting to the Manager of IT, this position will current practices, processes, and systems, work closely withManager District departments to assess Reporting to the of IT, this position will making recommendations for improvements current practices, processes, and systems,to assess work closely with District departments and implementing changes. position plays making recommendations forThis improvements current practices, processes, and systems, a key in driving changes. positive This change by plays androle implementing position making recommendations for improvements a key role technology in driving positive change by leveraging and communicating and implementing changes. This position plays leveragingwith technology communicating effectively all areasand of the organization. a key role in with driving positive change by effectively all areas of the organization.

Candidates with SharePoint administration leveraging technology and communicating Candidates with experience will beSharePoint preferred.administration effectively with all areas of the organization. experience will be preferred.

Candidates with SharePoint administration experiencesquamish.ca/careers will be preferred. squamish.ca/careers

squamish.ca/careers WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE PART TIME / FULL TIME: LINE COOKS BUSSERS HOSTS

We feature evening work only, staff meals, competitive wages and a great work environment.

So if you’re looking for a change or some extra hours, come by and see us. Flexible schedules are available.

» piquenewsmagazine.com/jobs

124 DECEMBER 26, 2019

APPLY IN PERSON WITH RESUME BETWEEN 3-5 AT QUATTRO 4319 Main St. in the Pinnacle Hotel

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Immigrant Peer Educators - Immigrants providing support and information for those who may be experiencing challenges adjusting to a new culture. 604-388-5511 info@whistlermulticulturalnetwork.com Pregnancy and Infant Loss - Facilitated by a registered counsellor, this program is designed for couples and individuals who have experienced loss of a child, either before or after birth. Please call WCSS at 604.932.0113 and speak to an outreach worker for more information or visit www. mywcss.org.

SMART Recovery Whistler (SelfManagement and Recovery Training) A Cognitive-Behavioural group for individuals with substance abuse con-cerns.

Drop-in: Registration is not necessary.

Wednesdays 5:30-7:00pm Whistler Health Centre (2nd floor-group room) Whistler Alcoholics Anonymous: 12-step support group for men and women who want to stop drinking or are recovering from alcoholism. Meetings are held at 7 pm Mondays (women's only), 8 pm (open meetings) Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays; Whistler Medical Center, 4380 Lorimer Road, 2nd Floor multiple purpose room; 604-905-5489, https://www. bcyukonaa.org

STAFF ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE The Bearfoot Bistro, Whistler’s premier fine dining restaurant is growing its team.

Be part of the action to deliver exceptional fine dining experience to guests in an award-winning and high volume dining room.

Whistler’s premier visitor magazine is on stands now!

RELIGION Jesus Rock Of Ages Ministry- A bible based church that holds services at Millennium Place's main floor theatre at 4:30pm. www. jesusrockofages.com Roman Catholic Church- Come celebrate mass at Our Lady of the Mountains, Whistler on Saturday 5pm, Sunday 9am, Tuesday 5:45pm, Wednesday 7pm, Thursday/Friday 5:45pm. St. Francis of Assisi, Pemberton on Sunday 12:30pm and Friday 9am. St. Christopher's, Mt. Currie on Sunday 11am.

604-905-4781

Look for our Winter 2020 Issue!

We are hiring for the following Kitchen Positions: Catering Chef Morning Catering Cook

Line Cooks Dishwashers

We offer year-round or seasonal employment, industry leading wages, staff accommodation for kitchen positions, medical services plan, staff meal, staff discounts and more.

To apply please drop off your resume at the restaurant from 3 to 5:30pm or send it to info@bearfootbistro.com

Find it on select stands and in Whistler hotel rooms.

4121 Village Green | Adjacent to Listel Hotel 604 932 3433 | bearfootbistro.com

Whistler Church- Join us for worship and fellowship around Jesus. Sunday 10 am at Myrtle Philip Community School, 6195 Lorimer Rd. Nursery, Sunday School to gr. 6, Youth gr. 7 and up. Call Pastor Jon 604-7983861 / Kelvin 204-249-0700 or www.whistlerchurch.ca Whistler Church- Join us for worship and fellowship around Jesus. Sunday 10 am at Myrtle Philip Community School, 6195 Lorimer Rd. Nursery, Sunday School to gr. 6, Youth gr. 7 and up. Call Pastor Jon 604-7983861 / Kelvin 204-249-0700 or www.whistlerchurch.ca

FUR & FEATHERS Get Bear Smart Society - Learn more about coexisting with bears. To report a conflict, garbage or attractant issue call 604-905BEAR (2327) www.bearsmart.com Pemberton Wildlife Association Advocates for the conservation of fish, wildlife & wilderness recreation. Also offering target shooting & archery facilities. www.pembertonwildlifeassociation.com WAG - Whistler Animals Galore - A shelter for lost, unwanted, and homeless cats and dogs. Let us help you find your purrfect match...adopt a shelter animal! For more info 604-9358364 www.whistlerwag.com

PRIVATE CLEANER WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR OWN SCHEDULE? FLEXIBLE HOURS: MORNINGS/ MID SHIFT/ AFTERNOONS / NIGHTS Join ResortQuest Whistler Outside Properties Team

• Competitive Wages • Ski Pass • Extended Medical To apply for this opportunity, please specify the position and email your resume and cover letter to:

beth.fraser@resortquestwhistler.com DECEMBER 26, 2019

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We’re Hiring

DISHWASHERS APPLY TODAY!

Staff Housing Available!

Competitive Wage + Benefits Package

Here’s to the Journey At Westin, we recruit the brightest, most energetic people in pursuit of developing an exciting and rewarding career. Marriott International has 29 renowned hotel brands in over 122 countries around the world, and we’re still growing. Opportunities abound!

• CHEF DE PARTIE • SALES COORDINATOR

Our outstanding team is looking to add individuals with a variety of skill sets and experience. Friendly, hardworking candidates are invited to apply.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES FRONT-OF-HOUSE

• ENGINEERING FACILITIES ASSISTANT MANAGER • BUSSER

Expeditor / Food Runner BACK-OF-HOUSE

PERKS AND BENEFITS • MSP & EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFITS • DISCOUNTED MEALS • FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES

• STAFF ACCOMMODATION • MARRIOTT HOTEL DISCOUNTS • WINTER WELLNESS PACKAGE

Pastry Cook Line Cook (1-2 years experience) Sushi Chef

Email your resume to work@westinwhistler.com or visit Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

Please email your resume & cover letter to careers@araxi.com or present in person at Araxi between 3-5 pm daily.

We offer year-round full and part-time hours, gratuities, potential for future growth within the company, and an employee discount at all Toptable restaurants.

Delta by Marriott Whistler Village Suites Is currently recruiting for the following positions:

- Housekeeper (Room Attendant) - Houseperson / Public Area Attendant STAFF HOUSING IS AVAILABLE! Start your journey today with: competitive wages, growth opportunities, a positive team environment, medical benefits, play money (ski pass, etc), 100% provincial health care coverage.

To Apply: either submit an application online at Marriott.com/careers or send your resume to barbara.fraser@deltahotels.com

NORTH ARM FARM

FARM LEAD HAND

Lead a team of seasonal farm workers performing all aspects of farm work.

The farm Lead Hand will be involved in all aspects of the farm. The ideal candidate is hard working, not afraid of the weather and likes to fix stuff.

Responsibili�es include: • sowing, tending and harves�ng crops • tend to farm animals • perform general maintenance on the farm including farm vehicles, tools & equipment • maintain crop records • other farm related tasks as required Report to owners of the farm Please reply to info@northarmfarm.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS - 52 $76.70/YEAR

CANADA - REGULAR MAIL

ISSUES

$136.60/YEAR

CANADA - COURIER

$605.80/YEAR USA - COURIER

PAY BY MASTERCARD, VISA OR AMEX. TEL. 604-938-0202 | FAX. 604-938-0201

126 DECEMBER 26, 2019

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

You’ve seen the breaking news!

BC has approved the first ever ride hailing company, Whistle Ride and we are launching first in Whistler.

Now hiring for the following positions: ROOM ATTENDANT VALET BREAKFAST COOK • • • • • • •

Competitive Wages Associate Housing Wellness Allowance/Ski Pass Flexible Schedule Discounted Food Extended Medical Benefits Spa Discounts

Discover new opportunities and embark on a career in Hospitality with Pan Pacific Whistler To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to careers.ppwhi@panpacific.com

Now Hiring:

MECHANIC Red Seal Journeyman On Call | Casual Competitive Wage

DRIVERS WANTED! Be part of a movement - help launch a new transportation industry, while driving on your own time and earn the majority of the fare.

Join our team as a FULL TIME, PART TIME OR CASUAL DRIVER! We will assist driver-partners meet the ride hailing qualifications.

Next information session Jan 9th at 6:30pm at Whistler Secondary, RSVP below. ride@whistle.ca www.whistle.ca

Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa Hospitality

Integrity

Leadership

Teamwork

Ownership

Now

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN ROOM ATTENDANT RESERVATIONS COORDINATOR

~ AWESOME PEOPLE WORK HERE ~ Perks Include: Flexible Schedule, Competitive Wage Based On Experience, Free Transport, and Staff Socials.

604-938-9711 whistlerconnectiontravel.com/employment

Apply online on hr@hiltonwhistler.com or in person Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm We thank all interested applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted DECEMBER 26, 2019

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE. Clique Hotels & Resorts is searching for hospitality professionals to join our newest property, Blackcomb Springs Suites, in beautiful Whistler BC.

NOW HIRING FULL TIME HOUSEPERSON & HOUSEKEEPERS, MEMBER SERVICES (FRONT DESK) ASSOCIATE, HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR, POOL TECHNICIAN • The most comprehensive compensation package & outstanding perks • Shared housing at $25 per day, including WiFi & utilities* • Our strong teams hold the top 5 spots on Trip Advisor in Canmore, AB *based on shared accommodations.

TO APPLY FOR ONE OF THESE EXCITING POSITIONS, SEND YOUR RESUME TO HR@CLIQUE.CA

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

IS HIRING

Full & Part-Time Drivers

Required Skills and Experience: • Class 2 (w/ Air Brake) License Preferred • Class 4 Unrestricted License accepted (if willing to upgrade) • Training for Class 2 License upgrade available for selected candidates

Why Work For Us? • Excellent hourly wage • Steady Year-Round Work • Season End Bonus Please send resume to info@vipwhistler.com

We are currently interviewing:

Carpenters Carpenters Helpers Labourers Level 2 First Aid Attendant Please submit resume to: info@evrfinehomes

Whistler’s Premier Estate Builder

128 DECEMBER 26, 2019

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BABYSITTING WHISTLER IS HIRING!!!

Looking for enthusiastic, reliable, motivated & hard working full time time staff!

Discover a workplace as unique as our location…

We offer Spirit Pass, a great wage, shift work, full & part time hours!

Enjoy your winter creating your own schedule! To apply Please Email info@babysittingwhistler.com Must have; First aid, criminal record check, eligible to work in Canada.If you do not have these at the time of applying We can guide you on how to obtain them.

Kitchen Positions The Pony Restaurant in Pemberton is hiringLine cooks: Must have 2+ years experience in a similar role and feel comfortable cooking a variety of foods offered on our menu-Pizza, salads, plating desserts, ect.

Sous Chef: 5+ years experience in a similar role. Have good knowledge of running the kitchen line, strong on grill, pans and contributing to daily specials.

Dishwashers:F/t p/t available All positions have competitive wages, bi-weekly tip outs, and staff discounts.

Email: events@thepony.ca

Squamish Personnel Solutions Whoooo is your perfect fit?

604-905-4194 squamish-jobs.com

SECRET SHOPPERS ON CONTRACT The Whistler Chamber is seeking supervisors, lead hands and anyone interested in advancing their customer service skills to conduct secret shops between Jan 14 – March 9, 2020.

You have: • • •

… and discover why Nita Lake Lodge is the place for you! o Work alongside our amazing team and enjoy perks : o Staff rates at our award winning spa and restaurants o A free overnight stay each year as well as friends and family rates

An interest in elevating Whistler’s service Great observation and writing skills Commitment to complete 3-5 shops per week (an average of 3-5 hours) for an 8 week period

You will get to experience local activities, restaurants, retail and get paid for it!

To apply, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/62NGPJP To complete this application please be prepared to review a recent shopping experience where you asked questions.

o Benefits & End of Season Bonus ( $600 ) o Work for a family owned and operated Boutique Lodge

We are currently hiring : CULINARY POSITIONS INCLUDING OUR IN-HOUSE PASTRY DEPARTMENT BANQUET CAPTAIN MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATE SPA ESTHETICIANS & RMTS GUEST SERVICE AGENT email your resume and expression of interest to: careers@nitalakelodge.com

EXECUTIVE CHEF DREAM JOB

Team Member housing/resources available Recently renovated kitchen Feb or March start date Open for breakfast/lunch/dinner May-Oct, dinner only Dec-March, enjoy a very flexible spring-fall-winter

Work with our previous Executive Chef, now Corporate Chef for five GolfBC owned/ operated clubhouses and other restaurants - providing great support for this position along with ample creative freedom.

Very competitive compensation/benefits/perks

Inquires: General Manager | jlowe@golfbc.com | 604.938.9898 (216) golfbc.com/resources/employment DECEMBER 26, 2019

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e h t n i o j

Fresh n

THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

LOCATED IN WHISTLER MARKETPLACE VILLAGE NORTH

NOW HIRING AT OUR WHISTLER LOCATION

o i t u l o ev tler

If you are a student 15 years or older, we have flexible hours and we want you!

#whis

Work & Play Program #loveyourjob • Competitive Wages • Extended Health & Dental Plans • Health & Wellness Benefit — the value of the Spirit Pass

NESTERS MARKET & WELLNESS CENTRE

• 10% off Groceries • Flexible Schedule • We don’t cut hours in the off season • Healthy & Fun Place to Work

WE’RE HIRING · BISTRO/DONUT SUPERVISOR · · BARISTAS · DONUT BAKERS ·

Grocery Clerks Produce Clerks Deli Clerks Meat Clerks Bakery Clerks Juice Bar Clerks E-mail or drop in your resume to: bruce_stewart@nestersmarket.com please cc ian_fairweather@nestersmarket.com or call us at 604-932-3545 PERKS • Competitive wage – Depending on expereince • Access to medical and dental benefits for full time applicants • Percentage discount from store bought goods • Flexible and set schedule • Relative training

To apply, send resume to careers@freshstmarket.com

Staff housing available We are seeking flexible, hardworking and hard playing

FT Houseman PT Front Desk Agent PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME HOURS AVAILABLE

Please apply if you can bring your smile and positive energy to our team and our guests!

Please email your resume to: roberto@aavawhistlerhotel.com Thank you for your interest.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

130 DECEMBER 26, 2019

Your next big adventure starts here.

PART TIME POSITION WITH A COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY • Starting wage of $20.00 per hour.

• Flexible working hours • Must have a valid Driver’s License Send resume to: teamcwhistler@telus.net Or call: 604 935 8715

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WE’RE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR DYNAMIC TEAM Reservations and Sales Coordinator - Part time experienced vacation consultant and administration position available. Experience with accommodation reservations and hotel operations essential and understanding of groups sales and OTA's an asset.

Front Desk Agents [Full-time & Part-time positions available] - We offer a great work environment, competitive wages, flexible work schedules, a variety of benefits including Wellness Program or Spirit Pass, training, development & more.

Reply by email to cheryl@whistlerreception.com www.whistlerreception.com fit it in your pocket. take it everywhere.

free.

We are the Spa for you If you are looking for a new place to call home: • We manifest positive energy • We have a long term and loyal team • We treat you fairly and look out for your wellness • You are listened to • We give you proper breaks and time to set up between services • We offer extended medical benefits • We have potential staff housing at affordable rates • You can enjoy $5.00 cafeteria meals • You have the opportunity to work for other Vida locations in slow season We are here for you.

Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is currently recruiting: REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST (signing bonus RMT only) SPA PRACTITIONER • ESTHETICIANS GUEST SERVICE AGENT To join our unique Vida family, email Bonnie@vidaspas.com Vida Spas - Vancouver & Whistler Live well. Live long. vidaspas.com Thank You for applying Only those considered will be contacted.

C U R R E N T LY H I R I N G

DIRECTOR OF BUILD & DESIGN We are looking for a capable and experienced business leader, looking to build out our Build & Design group within the Sea to Sky and beyond!

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE • • • •

Lead and grow our maintenance division.

Lead and grow our residential and commercial construction & development group.

Lead and grow our cleaning division.

Lead us through a complete overhaul and update of our various business concepts over the next 5 years.

Please send us your cover letter and resume to info@gibbonswhistler.com

APPLY NOW info@gibbonswhistler.com

DECEMBER 26, 2019

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CALL THE EXPERTS

Want to advertise your service on this page?

BLINDS ETC.

Call Pique at (604) 938-0202, or email sales@piquenewsmagazine.com

BLINDS ETC.

BLINDS ETC.

SUNCREST WINDOW COVERINGS

WINDOW COVERINGS Whistler’s Source for Blinds since 1989

Custom Blinds • Shades • Draperies

• BLINDS • SHADES

• SHUTTERS • DRAPERY

Connie Griffiths Tel: 604-935-2101 Email: windowcov@shaw.ca www.whistlerwindowcoverings.ca

CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS

david@summersnow.ca 604-938-3521

Custom Window Treatments Contact us today for a free quote or consultation info@suncrestwindowcoverings.com

604.698.8406

• Wood blinds • Sunscreens • Shades • Motorization

www.summersnow.ca

Summer Snow Finishings Limited

CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS

CARPET CLEANING

A B S O L U T E S TO N E S O L U T I O N S

BLACK BEAR CARPET CLEANING LTD.

QUALITY COUNTERTOPS CANWEST CABINETRY

SERVING WHISTLER AND VANCOUVER

BU I L D E R S O F F IN E Q UAL IT Y CAB IN E TS

GRANITE • MARBLE • QUARTZ

- A C O M M I T ME NT TO QUALITY S INCE 1 9 9 9 -

We are the manufacturer and pass the savings on to you!

604-328-0611 inf o@ca nw est c a b inet r y. c o m c an w est c a b inet r y. c o m

David Weldon

• CARPETS • UPHOLSTERY

• TILES • CAR INTERIORS

100% ECO FRIENDLY CERTIFIED

CABINET AND COUNTERTOP SHOWROOM CALL 778-858-9386 | 15-1005 ALPHA LAKE ROAD www.absolutestonesolutions.net

www.blackbearcarpetcleaning.ca • 604 698 6610

CHIMNEY

FURNITURE

GLASS

BLACKCOMB CHIMNEY PATROL LTD.

Mid Century Modern & Teak Furniture At Affordable prices.

Serving Whistler since 1986

Specialized in cleaning

Take advantage of the benefits and savings you will receive from new windows and doors.

Call Whistler Glass for your onsite consultation

Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc.

Chimneys, Furnace & Airducts, Dryer vents.

Visit our showroom at 7433 Frontier st, Pemberton

604.932.5775 / 1.877.932.5775 blackcombchimney@yahoo.ca

GLASS

HEALTH / DENTAL BENEFITS

HEALTH & DENTAL BENEFITS AUTO GLASS SPECIALISTS · Frameless Shower Enclosures · Complete Window/Door Packages · Custom Railing Glass Systems · Fogged/Failed Window Replacements

mountainglass.ca | info@mountainglass.ca

604-932-7288

THE COMPLETE GLASS CENTRE

SURVEYING

Retail and Restaurants Construction Industry  Adventure Tourism and Hospitality  Professional Services and Manufacturing

KEEP IT LOCAL WHISTLER! 604-935-4680 oceansunfinancial.com benefits@oceansunfinancial.com

Surveys Plans

Surveys

www.bunbury-surveys.com

Phone: 604-932-3770

132 DECEMBER 26, 2019

SQUAMISH OFFICE #207 - 38026 Second Avenue Phone: 604-892-3090 email: squamish@bunbury-surveys.com

Our paint team has over 25 years combined paint sales experience, and we can help you get things right the first time. Now offering In Home Paint Consultations! Pemberton Valley Rona.

Let us help you love where you live.

Book your in-home leen Consultation with Col today!

604-894-6240 7426 Prospect St, Pemberton

SURVEYING DOUG BUSH SURVEY SERVICES LTD DOUGLAS J BUSH AScT, RSIS

Serving the Sea to Sky Corridor Since 1963 ▪ ▪ ▪

PAINT

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Surveys Surveys

whistlerglass.com



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North Vancouver to Lillooet

604.932.1132

We specialize in all industries such as

BUNBURY & ASSOCIA ▪ ▪ ▪

WINDOW REPLACEMENT

TIRED OF THOSE OLD CONDENSATED, MOLDY WINDOWS AND DOORS?

THE RIGHT TOOLS. THE RIGHT PEOPLE. Surveying | Mapping | Engineering | Environmental | Landscape Architecture | Planning To learn more visit: www.mcelhanney.com

p: 604-932-3314 c: 604-935-9515 Engineering & construction layout Topographic & site improvement surveys Municipal, volumetric & hydrographic surveys GPS - global positioning systems www.dbss.ca // dougb@dbss.ca

PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 10 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 35 37 38 39 41 43 46 47 51 52 54 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68

Pleasantly warm Stinging insect Sniffler’s need Jack who ate no fat Not in a whisper Bandleader Count -French farewell Not here Draws close Put on paper Fish finder Persian Gulf craft Ms. Bombeck Furnish with help Nostalgic fashion RNs’ supply Traveler’s refuge Chic Born as Grant foe Japanese dogs Yarn spinner “Guys and Dolls” lead Catchall gp.

Ladles Custards Make hazy Rope fiber Fortunate (2 wds.)

Drift Lunch times Moo goo -- pan Get accustomed Practical joke Making a bow Second showing Designer -- Claiborne Tied up

8 5 6 7 2 9 3 4 6 9 8 1

69 Untrue 70 Placid 71 Auto import 73 Ick! 74 Ration 75 Classified (2 wds.)

76 Coffee and steamed milk 78 Faint with pleasure 79 -- con carne 81 Injure 84 Lay upstream 85 Speed along 86 Singer -- James 90 Tolerates 91 Salon debris 92 Iron-pumper’s reps 93 Web addr.

94 Ore deposits 95 Commended 96 Guided a raft 97 Moon track 99 Summer mo.

100 Rani’s garments 101 Leg bone 102 One-celled animal 103 Part of a list 105 Revival shout 106 Has a say 107 Happier 108 Woody’s son 110 Superdome team 112 Pour forth 113 Preferences 116 Buffalo Bill - 117 Reagan’s nickname 118 Condor nest 123 Mdse. bars 124 Rotter

126 127 128 129 131 133 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 31 33

1 3

1 5 2 8 5 4 7

6 7

2

7 6 5 9

EASY

36 Go to the polls 40 I, to Fritz 42 Irritate 43 Mix smoothly and inseparably 44 Luxuriant 45 Orchestra member 46 Bean for sprouting 47 Radio parts 48 Taj Mahal site 49 Public square 50 Pet shop cutie 51 Ballpark nosh 53 Like a hermit 55 Everglades wader 56 -- Loa volcano 57 Ached for 59 Temporary peace 60 Synthetic fabric 63 Sulk 64 Prey grabber 65 Not phony 66 Shortstop -- Banks 68 Memory units 69 Streams forth 70 Keeps afloat 72 Skate runner 74 Grant 77 Mellows 78 Undercover agents 79 Kitchen tool 80 Reserve 81 Ocean, in Mongolian 82 Give or take 83 Gnat 84 Soft fabrics 85 Some South Africans 87 Floated down the river 88 Yuma or Zuni

Fragrant blossom Term of endearment Dock Rubberneck Find a loophole Develop Panorama Metric units Kline or Costner More reasonable Pen name Toboggans Precise Listen On edge

# 33

Deadly poisons Storm warning Like good soil Fresco Fabric meas.

Less trusting Actor’s whisper Plop down Social equal Expedites Loved madly Pedro’s son Large green parrot Mongol dwelling Has on hand Frat letter Kindled anew Place for a rodeo Small gulls Safari leaders Kudu cousin Hideouts

9 7 6

2

8 5 4 EASY

89 Vow venue 91 Engage 92 Tags along 95 Hunter’s wear 96 Office kitty (2 wds.)

97 Warren Buffett’s hometown 98 Drapery support 100 Zesty dip 101 Jane or Henry 102 Hirt and Gore 104 Get tangled 106 Intense 107 Artillery piece user 109 Grade school break 111 Sour

112 113 114 115 117 119 120 121 122 125 126 130 132 134 135

Spurred on Fixes a shirttail Showery time Snake plate Bonn’s river Author -- Zola Gymnast’s stickum Specks Blank a tape Hockey feint Volcano’s output High sign Exasperate Charlotte of “Bananas” Large winery tank

LAST WEEKS’ ANSWERS

7 2 5 6

9 4

5 2

1 6

8 7

3 1 7 8

8 9 2 6 1 3 6 # 34

Enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell, in such a way that: • Each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once • Each vertical column contains each digit exactly once • Each 3x3 box contains each digit exactly once Solving a sudoku puzzle does not require any mathematics; simple logic suffices.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: EASY

9 7 8

3 2 9

4 9 2

4 5

1 2 3 7

5

7

6 8 4

1 8

4 3 9

3 7 4

1 5 1

EASY Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com# 35

9 2 3 7 8 8 6 4 1 7 3 8 2 5 6 2 9 7 1 4 8 6 4 4 1 8 3 5 EASY

# 36

ANSWERS ON PAGE 121

DECEMBER 26, 2019

133

MAXED OUT

Should you stay or should you go?

LEAVE OR STAY? Stay or leave? It’s either a question weighing heavily on your mind or something you never really give much thought to.

I fall in the latter camp. But I know an alarming number of people who have decided they’ve had enough of Tiny Town and are either packing up, planning to leave or long gone. Their reasons are as varied as they are. Some are tired of the premium we pay to live here, like higher prices for food, gas, housing and almost everything else.

Some have had enough of our Wet Coast weather and long winters. Some have lived too many years in a tourist town and just want some peace and quiet. Some have headed back to the Old Country—Ontario,

BY G.D. MAXWELL Quebec or other points east.

And some have left and returned.

Seemed like a good idea at the time, but they found moving to another town meant leaving a lifetime of friends behind and a social network they didn’t fully appreciate until it wasn’t there. Like the old song about not missing your water ‘til your well runs dry.

Some found breaking into a new town, especially a small town, wasn’t as easy as they imagined ... or as easy as it was when they were several decades younger. Their description of the experience brought to mind the cliquishness of Southern—U.S.— inhospitality as captured in the down home saying, “Jus’ ‘cuz the cat had kittens in the oven, don’t make ‘em biscuits.”

But this being the “Best of Whistler” issue, it seems worthwhile to weigh in on things I find best about this bubble I live in. It may be too introspective but what the heck.

I was intimidated by Whistler the first time I visited. Actually, I was injured by Whistler the first time I visited. Actually, the injury took place on Blackcomb on a run that is now a terrain park. Had I not been injured, I may never have moved here.

That fact alone should make you wish the mountains paid more attention to safety.

But I was unable to ski and had three days left in town. So instead of skiing, I sold my multi-day ticket and bought a condo.

It proved to be the gravitational force necessary to draw me back when I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to being a ski bum. Talk about your random events.

When I moved here, it took about three hours to begin to understand I’d probably eventually leave boots first. The best thing about Whistler? The stunning beauty.

The most easily overlooked thing about Whistler? The stunning beauty.

Whether you’re in the village, on the mountains, going to work, going to play or just wandering around, if you don’t stop and look around you—especially up—it’s easy to miss. If you do stop and look around, it’s simply breathtaking. Any direction you

134 DECEMBER 26, 2019

PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER

look. Beauty and grandeur. Clear blue skies or ripping storms. What’s in front of your nose or the furthest horizon. There isn’t a bad view ... with the possible exception of Rainbow, where I live, viewed from across the valley. Maybe someday it won’t look like a scar.

As I got to know this place I understood beauty was more than skin deep. There were spiderwebs of hiking trails that began at the end of almost every residential street and stretched out for more kilometres than could be covered in a day. Or a week. There

to a decade after I’d been up the mountain hundreds of days. Then I remember not being surprised when that happened over and over again and still manages to happen almost two decades later! Naturally, I’m not counting the many places beyond my ability to ski and live to tell the tale.

Ownership, schmonership, the mountains will be here when we’re all just memories and as long as my aging body holds out I’ll enjoy what they have to offer.

Well, maybe not rain days.

The real keeper though, the spice in

But I was unable to ski and had three days left in town. So instead of skiing, I sold my multi-day ticket and bought a condo.

were lakes and streams to swim in and fish in and paddle on and just lie on the shores of and watch the sun arc across the sky.

And, of course, there were the mountains. Constant but ever changing with the weather and snow conditions, Whistler and Blackcomb dish up a lifetime of skiing, hiking and climbing. I remember being surprised when I discovered or was shown a new, in-bounds place I’d never been

the stew, the reason I won’t be looking for another place to live out my life is, not unexpectedly, the people. It seems cliché but it’s the people I’ve met, locals and tourists, who have nurtured deeper roots than I’ve ever put down any other place I’ve lived.

When I arrived, it was an experiment.

The outcome depended on the community I unearthed beneath the facade of the trendy

ski resort I’d only visited. Being a tourist, I didn’t even know whether there was a community. But when I found it I knew I’d arrived and was staying. “So this is where my people have been hiding all these years,” I thought. Not only was there a community here, it was a vibrant, creative, exciting community. It was the kind of place that gets created when people from all over choose to live here.

Read those last four words again.

Choose to live here. Other than a handful of young kids who were born here, everyone living here 30 years ago had chosen to live here. Chosen to move here from wherever it was they’d grown up or lived before. Chosen to make this their home, whether home was a nice house or a rough squat. Imagine the kind of energy that exists in a town where everyone has decided it is the place for them to make a life.

Welcome to Whistler.

So this is the best of Whistler. The other stuff, the stuff people voted for, is all nice.

It’s great to have wonderful restaurants, enough services to be able to stay in town for most of your needs, great physios, dentists and docs, an active arts and culture scene, more events than you can manage to attend. But the real best of Whistler is more ephemeral and it isn’t until you step outside the bubble you begin to feel the force drawing you back.

Leave or stay? No contest. n

SEASONS GREETINGS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WHISTLER VILLAGE 261-4314 Main Street Town Plaza studio with strong AirBnB revenues! Cozy fireplace, in-suite laundry, sleeper sofa & murphy bed. On the Village Stroll in Deer Lodge, this Phase One property allows self-management, nightly or long-term rentals or full-time living. $579,000 NEW TO MARKET!

BENCHLANDS 11-4894 Painted Cliff Ski in/Ski out from this 3 bedroom/2 bathroom, completely renovated in 2018 with the highest quality fixtures and appointments offering a modern rustic retreat, with no expense spared Phase 1 zoning allows for nightly rentals or full time use. $2,350,000

Katherine Currall

Allyson Sutton

604-966-1364

604-932-7609 Maggi Thornhill *PREC

NORDIC 7D-2300 Nordic Drive Ski-in/ski-out location at Fairmont‘s At Nature’s Door. Tenth share ownership.

Private hot tub, wood-burning fireplace, over 2300 sq ft, common area pool, gym, sauna, steam room and more.

Inquire about the perks! $189,000

PEMBERTON MEADOWS 8354 Pemberton Meadows Road Beautiful Country home on 3 flat acres in a park like setting with amazing views. Home offers 3 bedrooms, office, living/dining/ kitchen area plus a spacious family room ,1 car garage & storage. Perfect hobby farm $1,499,000

Kerry Batt

Brigitta Fuess

604-902-5422

RAINBOW 8468 Bear Paw Trail There is nothing like this brand new stunning mountain home. 4 spacious bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms, a cozy den, an incredible open floor concept allows for the kitchen, living and dining to soak in these 180 degree views; from Black Tusk to Wedge! $3,599,000

Caronne Marino *PREC

604-905-8199

GREEN LAKE ESTATES 8115 Muirfield Crescent Located on Nicklaus North golf Course on the 14th fairway, this house is AirBnB nightly rental allowed! 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom, plus an office which could be 5th bedroom. Big kitchen, private hot tub and etc. $4,980,000

604-932-0751 Ruby Jiang *PREC

WHISTLER VILLAGE / GRANITE COURT 109 4405 Blackcomb Way Rare 3 bed/3 bath upper unit in Granite Court. Just steps from Whistler Village and Lost Lake. Wraparound windows with tons of natural light.

Nightly rentals allowed $1,688,000

604-905-8324 Janet Brown

TALUSWOOD / NORDIC ESTATES 42-2250 Nordic Drive Located in the ski-in/ski-out neighbourhood of Taluswood. Southwestern facing 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 2,295 sq/ft townhome. Completely renovated! $2,995,000

778-834-2002

THE COURTYARD 14-2213 Marmot Place Complete reno, short walk to Creekside Gondola. New heated flooring, carpeting & drywall. Turnkey, legal zoning for Airbnb. More info? See full website, photos, 3D guided tour & VR showcase http://14.digitalopenhou.se $679,000

604-935-0700 Ken Achenbach

Whistler Village Shop

Whistler Creekside Shop

Squamish Station Shop

36-4314 Main Street · Whistler BC V8E 1A8 · Phone +1 604-932-1875

325-2063 Lake Placid Road · Whistler BC V8E 0B6 · Phone +1 604-932-1875

150-1200 Hunter Place · Squamish BC V8B 0G8 · Phone +1 778-733-0611

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

Engel & Völkers Whistler *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION ©2019 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

604-966-7640

3106 St. Moritz Crescent

$1,224,000

Quiet corner townhouse in Blueberry Hill Estates. This suite enjoys a large kitchen centring the open main floorplan for socializing and hosting dinner parties with a wine fridge close to the dining table. Two spacious bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms make up the upper floor. The main level also features a powder room and laundry room.

Meg McLean

2

604.907.2223

#304 - 7350 Crabapple Court

$469,900

840 square foot 2 bedroom in Orion, Pemberton’s newest condo development. Great views, private garage, storage, efficient state of the art design and construction, Orion is due to complete in early 2020. Beyond “passive” standard for energy efficiency and a focus on healthy living construction techniques.

Michael Nauss

2

604.932.9586

#312 - 7445 Frontier Street

$575,000

Top floor corner unit two bedroom plus den condo in Pemberton’s beautiful Elements building. This 1302 sq ft condo is located in the “tower” corner looking south east offering superior views of sunrises and Mount Currie.

Essentially having two master bedrooms, each with 4 piece ensuite bathrooms.

Patrick Saintsbury

604.935.9114

2.5

Sea to Sky Real Estate

Wishes Everyone a Very #301D - 2020 London Lane

$240,000

Happy New Year

#45 - 4388 Northlands Blvd.

This 2 bedroom 2 bath condo has one of the best locations in the building, a corner unit facing the outdoor heated pool and forest. With a week of owner usage available for Christmas 2019, this unit should be at the top of your list for quarter ownership properties. Access to the Creekside gondola for skiing on Whistler mountain is practically on your doorstep.

Richard Grenfell

6471 Balsam Way

2 bedroom townhome in Glacier’s Reach in Whistler Village. This townhome is conveniently located right across from the shops and stores at Marketplace and the free shuttle bus to the ski lifts. It offers 2 sundecks with a fabulous view of the mountains, air conditioned bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen and private hot tub.

2

604.902.4260

Sally Warner*

$2,495,000

#265 - 4314 Main Street

$669,000

Beautiful studio unit showcases an optimal layout to sleep 4 with screen doors separating the bedroom and living quarters. Situated in Deer Lodge, Town Plaza at the ideal, quieter end of the Village Stroll. Equipped with large wheel-chair accessible kitchen and bathroom, stone countertops, stainless-steel appliances, gas fireplace, AC and in-suite laundry.

Ursula Morel*

604.932.8629

.5

WHISTLER OFFICE 106 - 7015 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC V8E 0X1 604.932.2300 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070 *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

remax-whistler.com awarded best website 2018 by Luxuryrealestate.com

Property Management remaxseatoskypm.com

2

$1,549,000

Wonderfully secluded duplex backing onto greenbelt of Whistler Mtn. Tucked away but minutes to Creekside lift and shopping. The home has a 4 bdrm 2 bthrm main and access to the 2 bdrm 1 bthrm suite. Many upgrades completed. Huge lower parking area that could have a garage. Enjoy the privacy and quiet of your hot tub.

5

604.932.1315

604.905.6326

2300 Brandywine Way

This lovely home has 4 bedrooms, large family room and office in addition to the main living/dining room. The yard offers privacy with lots of room to play and garden, is fully irrigated & backs on to green space and a gently flowing creek. Heated floors in the bathrooms, entrance and Kitchen adds another layer of comfort.

Sherry Baker

$959,000

Ted Morden

5233 Jordan Lane

$6,580,000

604.938.3606

#104D - 2020 London Lane

6

$113,500

An amazing property in an amazing location! Situated on 1.3 acres within walking distance to the Creekside Ski Lifts & Bike Park, Jordan’s Pointe offers nightly rental zoning & an exceptional family home or executive retreat. Designed for entertaining both inside & out, this property is unique in many ways. 3D Showcase: rem.ax/5233Jordan

Enjoy all of the benefits of luxury condo ownership at the base of Whistler Mountain at a fraction of the cost. This 1 bed/1 bath quarter ownership property in Evolution offers custom finishings, contemporary design & comes fully equipped.

Enjoy 13 weeks per year of personal use and/or rental income.

Ann Chiasson

Bob Cameron*

604.932.7651

5

604.935.2214

1

PEMBERTON OFFICE 1411 Portage Road, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L1 604.894.6616 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070