OCTOBER 15, 2020 ISSUE 27.42
WWW.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM
FREE DIRECTIONS
The
next
disruptor How might autonomous vehicles shape Whistler?
14
SPACE JAM Whistler’s restaurants wrestle with making the most of patio space
17
CAMPAIGN TRAIL Candidates talk relief for tourism businesses during COVID-19
44
RENAISSANCE MAN Author Wade Davis at the Whistler Writers Festival
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN 9040 Riverside Drive
FIND YOUR NEXT HOME ONLINE AT WHISTLERREALESTATE.CA
25 LAKEVIEW DRIVE
#324 CASCADE LODGE
1747 PINEWOOD DRIVE
Chalet
Condominium Bedrooms: 0.5
Chalet
PINECREST Bedrooms: 5
4315 NORTHLANDS BOULEVARD, VILLAGE
1,825 Bathrooms: 2
Square Feet:
ELIZABETH CHAPLIN elizabeth@elizabethchaplin.com
$1,495,000
ERIN MCCARDLE STIEL erin@wrec.com | 604 902 0520
9040 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
#106 WOODRUN
Chalet
Condominium Bedrooms: 1.5
WEDGEWOODS Bedrooms: 5.5
JEFF HUME *PREC jeff@wrec.com | 604 966 4058
267 Bathrooms: 1
Square Feet:
$129,000
4910 SPEARHEAD PLACE, BENCHLANDS
3,996 Bathrooms: 5
Square Feet:
$3,595,000
755 Bathrooms: 2
Square Feet:
JIMMY SIMPSON jimmy@wrec.com | 604 902 4002
$1,279,000
PEMBERTON
1,772 Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Feet:
Bedrooms: 4 JANE HEIM jane@wrec.com | 604 935 0802
$1,060,000
2712 RIMROCK ROAD NORDIC
Chalet Bedrooms: 4
2,836 Bathrooms: 4
Square Feet:
JOHN RYAN *PREC johnr@wrec.com | 604 932 7670
$2,795,000
604 932 5538 WHISTLERREALESTATE.CA *Personal Real Estate Corporation
Hours Oct 19-31 8am – 8pm Daily
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
October 19th to 31st Nesters will be closed all day Tuesday, October 20th for renovations. Sorry for the inconvenience Thanks for your support & Stay Safe! NUTIVA
ECO-MAX
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
HE Laundry Wash Plant-based ingredients, assorted varieties, 3L
1.6L
26
$
12
.99 /EACH
Pharmacy & Wellness PRESCRIPTIONS WHILE YOU SHOP
2019
8am to 6pm. 7 days a week.
$
.99 /EACH
IMMX Immune New Roots Herbal’s IMMX Immune formula is designed to maintain a healthy immune system. This unique formula is a combination of potent immune herbs in a well-balanced formula. IMMX Immune along with a range of New Roots Immune Supplements are now on sale at Nesters Wellness and Pharmacy.
604.932.3545 604.905.0429
Nesters Market Pharmacy
nestersmarket.com
7019 Nesters Road (Just 1 km north of Whistler Village)
Prices Effective At Whistler Nesters From: Thursday, October 15th to Wednesday, October 21st , 2020. We reserve the right to limit quantities. Sale limited to stock on hand. Some items subject to Tax, plus deposit, recycling fee where applicable.
THIS WEEK IN PIQUE
38
44
32 Driving force A recent panel hosted by the Whistler Learning Centre looked at how autonomous vehicles could shape the future of the resort. - By Braden Dupuis
14
SPACE JAM
Whistler’s restaurant sector wrestles
28
MAJOR AWARD
The Lil’wat Business Group is
with how to make the most of patio space amidst restrictions on seating
celebrating after winning Community-Owned Business of the Year (Two or
capacity this winter.
More Entities) at the Indigenous Business Awards
15
COMING UP SHORT
With Whistler businesses
38
HANGING ‘EM UP
After four Olympics, 11
saying they won’t have enough staff this winter, the Chamber of
World Cup podiums and a World Championships bronze, skier Manny
Commerce is lobbying for looser restrictions on foreign-worker programs.
Osborne-Paradis calls it a career.
17
44
TARGET TOURISM
The candidates for the
RENAISSANCE MAN
Anthropologist, botanist,
Liberals, Greens, and NDP weigh in on what’s on offer in their platforms to
photographer and author Wade Davis offers his advice on living a rich and
address concerns about tourism during a pandemic.
varied life ahead of his event at the Whistler Writers Festival.
COVER I love driving, road trips just wouldn’t be the same. But I also hate owning and maintaining a vehicle. As long as ICBC stays out of it, I think I could get onboard with autonomous vehicles. - By Jon Parris 4 OCTOBER 15, 2020
SHOP ONLINE
GROCERY PICKUP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE NOW!
OUR REFRIGERATED LOCKERS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE STORE ENSURE THAT YOUR PICK-UP IS LIMITED FROM PHYSICAL CONTACT.
SHOP.FRESHSTMARKET.COM
PR ICES E FFECT I V E F R I DAY, OCTOBER 16 – T HUR SDAY, OCTOBER 22
2 $ 3 GLUTEN-FREE RICE PASTA
Cut From Western Canadian
Annie's Homegrown
for
$7.99
170 g
lb
FRESH AAA CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF ® TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS family pack 17.61/kg
2$ 4 GRANOLA BARS Nature Valley
1 lb
trail mix, crunchy or lunch box 130 g – 230 g
for
$3.99
ea
BC FRESH DOLCE SUPER SWEET MINI PEPPERS 454 g
INSTANT 2 $ 7 ORGANIC OATMEAL Nature's Path
for
8's
$3.99 $4.99 $4.99 Paqui
TORTILLA CHIPS 155g
2 $7
for
Blue Diamond
ALMOND BREEZE 946 mL Celestial Seasoning
HERBAL TEA 20's
$2.49 $2.99
Thirsty Buddha
ORGANIC COCONUT WATER 1L
plus deposit & recycle fee
$3.49
Alexia
/100g
SWEET POTATO PUFFS
waffle cut fries 567g
$2.49
Sol Cuisine
VEGAN BURGERS ea bites, meatballs, fillets
Fresh Baked In-Store ea
MULTIGRAIN BREAD 450 g
or tenders 226 g – 333 g
Little Northern Bakehouse ea
DELICIOUS GLUTEN FREE LOAF 454 g – 567 g or bagels 4's
Olympic
NATURAL YOGURT 650 g Patak's
COOKING SAUCE ea 400 mL
Amy's
BOWLS ea 241 g – 283 g
FRUIT JUICE five alive or nestea ea 1 L
FRESH WILD PACIFIC HALIBUT FILLETS
ea spicy sweet potato or
plus deposit & recycle fee
$4.49
Woolwich ea
SOFT FRESH GOAT CHEESE 113 g
SEE IN-STORE FOR HUNDREDS OF MORE SPECIALS
$2.99 $4.99 $4.99
FRESHSTMARKET.COM • 8 AM – 9 PM DAILY ea * Promotional voucher must be
ea
ea
Minute Maid
$4.99
Ocean Wise
$1.99
ea
presented at time of purchase. Excludes applicable taxes, bottle deposits, tobacco, eco-fees & gift cards. This voucher has no cash value so we cannot give cash back. One voucher per person, per household, per purchase, per day. promotional voucher valid for in-store purchases only. This voucher is only valid at Fresh St. Market in Whistler.
4330 Northlands Blvd Whistler, BC V8E 1C2 Expires october 22, 2020
LOCATED IN WHISTLER MARKETPLACE VILLAGE NORTH
THIS WEEK IN PIQUE
Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS As the B.C. election draws near, make the time to take part in the all-
#103 -1390 ALPHA LAKE RD., FUNCTION JUNCTION, WHISTLER, B.C. V8E 0H9. PH: (604) 938-0202 FAX: (604) 938-0201 www.piquenewsmagazine.com
candidates debate tonight, and ask yourself what you want the next four years to look like.
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT
10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week ask election candidates to do something
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 Digital/Sales Coordinator AMELA DIZDARIC - traffic@wplpmedia.com Production production@piquenewsmagazine.com LOU O’BRIEN - lstevens@wplpmedia.com
about the low number of family doctors in Whistler and call out people for not wearing masks in public spaces.
13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Brandon Barrett delves into our fixation about the prerequisites we all have for calling ourselves “a local.”
62 MAXED OUT Max waves a cautionary flag as we approach Election Day and reminds people that one thing we can always count on is for politicians to make promises. Keeping them is another thing altogether.
Environment & Adventure
Arts & Entertainment Editor ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com
30 SCIENCE MATTERS David Suzuki argues that we at the least need to get fish farms out of the
Sports Editor DAN FALLOON - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com
way of migrating wild salmon. That means removing them from the Discovery Islands now.
Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com Reporters BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@wplpmedia.com Classifieds and Reception mail@piquenewsmagazine.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
Lifestyle & Arts
40 VELOCITY PROJECT Writer Lisa Richardson explores the remarkable courage behind those working to revive local Indigenous language.
42 EPICURIOUS With its traditional extravaganza cancelled, Gibbons Whistler decides to bring a month-long beer festival to the resort for October.
48 MUSEUM MUSINGS Getting Blackcomb Mountain wired for sound as it worked to open for winter was no easy task, as we learn in this week’s column.
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. Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, address and daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 250 words. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Pique Newsmagazine is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact (edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com). If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil. ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information. This organization replaces the BC Press council (and any mention of it).
ISSN #1206-2022 Subscriptions: $76.70/yr. within Canada, $136.60/yr. courier within Canada. $605.80/ yr. courier to USA. GST included. GST Reg. #R139517908. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40016549.
6 OCTOBER 15, 2020
42
48
Creekside Village has
BC TRANSIT PASSES NOW AVAILABLE!
100s of FREE DAY PARKING SPACES AVAILABLE! Feeding the Spirit of Whistler Since 1988
WE ARE OPEN DAILY, 7AM-9PM Tuesday & Thursday are Senior/Compromised only 7-8AM 7-8AM "Be calm, be kind and be safe" - DR. BONNIE HENRY
FATSO
Peanut Butter HIGH PERFORMANCE
Classic, Chocolate or Sea Salt Caramel
6.99 500G
$
For delivery or pick-up visit:
SPECIALS: OCTOBER 15-21, 2020
ORDER ONLINE!
creeksidemarket.com
PRODUCE
DELI
BAKERY
GROCERY
DAIRY/FROZEN
MEAT/SEAFOOD
CALIFORNIA GROWN
CREEKSIDE'S OWN
MAPLEHURST
OLD EL PASO
TROPICANA
DINNER KITS
JUICES
ARGENTINIAN
Hard Shells, Soft Shells, Hard & Soft, Stand & Stuff, Burrito or Fajita
Orange No Pulp, Some Pulp, Lots of Pulp, Ruby Red Grapefruit
RED SEEDLESS GRAPES
2.99/LB6.59/KG
$
PEMBERTON SNOWBOUND RANCH
NANTE CARROTS
Locally Grown in Pemberton
89
$
¢/LB
1.96/KG
JUMBO CHEESE STICKS
7 LAYER DIP
5.99EACH
$
OLD COUNTRY
PASTAS
Beef Lasagna, 4 Cheese Lasagna, Butternut Ravioli, Spinach Cannelloni or Herb Ravioli
6
$
.99
2.99 6 PACK
$
WONDER
HOT DOG OR HAMBURGER BUNS
2.99 12 PACK
$
450G
LOCATED IN
4.99 250-510G
$
VLASIC
PICKLES Baby Dills, Whole Dills, Zesty Dills or Bread & Butter
3
$
.99
1L
4.99 1.54L
$
CAVENDISH FARMS
FROZEN FRIES/ WEDGES
Pub, Extra Thin, All Seasoned Kettle Style, Herb & Garlic Crinkle
2 FOR
7 750G
$
CREEKSIDE VILLAGE - 604.938.9301
WILD PRAWNS
Frozen, Raw, Peeled & Deveined
12.99454G
$
CREEKSIDE'S OWN
CURRIED MANGO CHICKEN SAUSAGE
1
$ .99
/100G
OPENING REMARKS
Get your questions ready I CAN’T EVEN KEEP UP with the promises that the parties running in B.C.’s election are making on an almost-daily basis. Each one piled on another—and while many of them such as affordable daycare should be implemented without delay—I cannot help but be deeply concerned about the price tag of these promises. Perhaps it is because it is clear that this level of debt will not just be borne by my generation of taxpayer, it will be borne by my kids as well.
BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com
To date, there is no price tag for the Green or Liberal platforms, but the NDP tells us that its will cost at least $2.2 billion. (And this is just on the provincial level if they are re-elected. Let’s not forget that federally, the suite of spending going on as the nation copes with COVID-19 has resulted in a deficit north of $343 billion.) This week, we had a chance to watch the
opioid crisis to the economics of the pandemic and the plight of the long-term care system. For the most part, all three stuck to their platforms offering little new as we head to Election Day, Oct. 24. In Whistler tonight, Oct. 15, Pique, along with partners Arts Whistler and the Whistler Chamber, will hold a debate with our local candidates—incumbent Liberal Jordan Sturdy, the Green Party’s Jeremy Valeriote and Keith Murdoch for the NDP—from 6 to 8 p.m. by Zoom (go to https://business.whistlerchamber. com/events/details/whistler-s-all-candidatesmeeting-1670 to get access). This is a different debate than we have experienced before thanks to the precautions we have to take in pandemic times. But it is nevertheless a great opportunity to Zoom in and ask questions about issues that matter to you and to the community. COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Whistler and the entire community is feeling it. We are on the very front lines as we see restaurants, outdoor companies, Whistler Blackcomb and others struggle to plan (read: predict) for the coming season. We saw significant layoffs on the mountain this week and as we head into shoulder season, we
“If we are propping up a dying fossil fuel industry with taxpayer money, what we’re going to get [are] more emergencies in the future.” - SONIA FURSTENAU
leaders of the three main parties in a televised debate. The NDP’s John Horgan, the Green Party of B.C.’s Sonia Furstenau, and Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson debated in person (physically distanced) and with no audience. While it was civil, both Wilkinson and Furstenau tag teamed to call out Horgan for calling an election at all. The wide-ranging debate covered everything from climate change to the
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!
9387 Emerald Drive
Great opportunity to get into a single-family home in Whistler! This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home sits on a large 12,420 sq foot property with views of Armchair Glacier. It’s spacious and bright open concept kitchen/ living area make it perfect for entertaining. Kitchen features include stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. Save on the heating bills and enjoy cozying up in front of the airtight wood stove in the winter. With views out the front of the home and privacy off the back, this sizeable elevated lot offers potential for future expansion of the home. Plenty of storage for all your toys and sizeable outdoor living space. Call today for more information.
are all holding our collective breaths. What is on offer to help tourism and our community in the plethora of promises made in the lead up to the Oct. 24 election? The NDP in its platform is promising $1,000 in COVID-19 relief to certain families if re-elected, a freeze in rent increases to the end of 2021 and a means-tested, $400 renters’ rebate. It also announced a $1.5-billion economic recovery plan,
including allocating more than $100 million for tourism businesses and marketing. The plan includes a $300-million small- and medium-sized business grant program for all sectors, and a new tourism task force to work on short and long-term strategy. The B.C. Green Party is promising to create a $300-million rent-subsidy program for small businesses and roll out programs to support tourism operators, many of whom fear they won’t survive the winter. Furstenau has said the Greens would work with the federal government to set up a repayable loan program for members of the hospitality sector and large tourism operators unable to meet the criteria for small business support, though she admits she has not discussed the proposal with the federal government. Any support would be contingent on employers agreeing to re-hire staff laid off during the pandemic. A separate grant program would also be set up for non-profit tourism operators. A BC Liberal government is promising to eliminate the two-per-cent small business income tax on top of its promise to eliminate the PST. The Liberals have also committed to deliver emergency financing for some businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, through a loan guarantee program for the province’s more than 19,000 tourism and hospitality businesses. The threat to Whistler from changing tourism patterns due to COVID-19 is serious and top of mind but addressing climate change is just as important. Firm commitments are needed from whichever party takes the election. As Furstenau pointed out during the election debate, “If we are propping up a dying fossil fuel industry with taxpayer money, what we’re going to get [are] more emergencies in the future. “There is no doubt that we are in a climate emergency right now and the last thing that we need from governments is to be doubling down on investing and propping up and subsidizing to the tune of $6 billion this [fossil fuel] industry.” n
Unit 215 The Marquise LD
SO
asking price $1,550,000
Dave Brown
Personal Real Estate Corporation
davebrown@wrec.com www.davesellswhistler.com Cell: 604 905 8438 / Toll Free: 1 800 667 2993 ext. 805
8 OCTOBER 15, 2020
Steve Shuster
t: 604.698.7347 | e: steve@steveshusterrealestate.com www.steveshusterrealestate.com
$644,000
17-1350 The Marquise is centrally located in the Benchlands, TheDrive Bike Park Cloudburst and ski slopes are right across $1,799,000 the street. After a day of activities enjoy the swimming pool, hot tubAorcontemporary head to the exercise room mountain for a workout. Unit 215 has new home in Cheakamus Crossing. appliances, counter tops, carpet radiant heatingwith and In-floor sinks. The unit comes throughout, rangelockers & one ski locker, twogas storage across the hall, bikehot storage and fireplace, private tub and 3 parking Unit 215 is double carspots. garage. Stunning perfect for full time living, a views andget unparalleled access weekend away or a revenue to all of Whistler’s generator as nightlyoutdoor rentals recreational activities. Under are allowed.The unit is coming furnished with completion a few exceptions, construction, 2020. GST exempt!!!
Is Celebrating 25 Years WHISTLER, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU! To show our appreciation, we are throwing a
Customer Appreciation Event
From Wednesday, Oct. 14th to 24th using coupon code “HAPPY25TH” • Take 25% all Online and Phone orders. (Minimum $40 purchase before discount)
• Free Delivery within Whistler. • Part proceeds to be donated to a Local Charity.
Follow us on Instagram to enter to
win a $250 prize
www.senkaflorist.com • 604-932-3301
PRESENTS
Whistler Takeout, Pick up and Delivery
Open 7 days a week
piquenewsmagazine.com/whistlertakeout
Open 7 days a week 12 pm - 7 pm
Whistler Elixir brews raw and unfiltered craft Kombucha tea in small batches with premium and organic ingredients. Available for Home Delivery. We are now offering growler home delivery Open 7 days a week to Whistler, Pemberton, and Squamish residents!
CLAIM THIS SPACE!
We will deliver your kombucha to your door and pick up your empty…milkman-style!
& Sat! CALL YOURDelivery SALESEvery REPWeds TODAY!
Please select your kombucha subscription option below! Available flavours are Blue Open 7 days a week 12Ninja, pm - 7 pm Ginger, Razz-goji-rose, and Claude Monet.
Contact 604 788 7948 or go to our website https://www.whistlerelixir.com/home-delivery Whistler Elixir brews raw and unfiltered craft Kombucha tea in small batches with premium and organic ingredients. Available for Home Delivery. We are now offering growler home delivery to Whistler, Pemberton, and Squamish residents!
We will deliver your kombucha to your door and pick up your empty…milkman-style!
Great all Seasons! Greatpizza pizzaininWhistler Whistler,during centrally located Delivery Every Weds &19. Sat! And great comfort food during on the village stroll COVID
Please are select your kombucha subscriptionpizzas optionmade below! guaranteed mouth-watering Whistler residents and Visitors pizzas made Available flavours Blue Ninja,of can choose fromare a selection fresh from the finest ingredients. You selection of menus menus Razz-goji-rose, Claude Monet. available in all areas and of Whistler. items and delivery isGinger, Whistler.
Contact 604 788off 7948 orup goorders to our website Call ofofpick Call604 604932 9323131 3131totoorder order15% 15%discount discount off pick up orders am Open Fri- Sat noon 2:30 pm and SunOpen- 7https://www.whistlerelixir.com/home-delivery days a week 12 - Thurs 10 pmnoon - 11 pm
We are a popular brand of locally owned and operated quick service Japanese restaurants. All of our locations feature fast, consistent service with a focus on giving our community quality meals at very affordable prices. Samurai Sushi 210-7015 Nesters Rd, 604 935 0006
“By the locals, for the locals”
Samurai Bowl 2011 Innsbruck Dr 604 935 0055
OCTOBER 15, 2020
9
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Election candidates need to address shortage of family doctors in Whistler (Editor’s Note: This letter was addressed to B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix and shared with Pique.) Firstly, thank you and your team for exemplary leadership during this COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the relapse, B.C. continues to head in the right direction with leadership decisions grounded by science. But I write to you today as a concerned citizen living in Whistler regarding healthcare access for the growing number of young families with children and the growing population of seniors. Coming into the next provincial election, a group of concerned Whistler citizens would appreciate your guidance on: • Your government’s opinion on the state of declining accessibility to basic healthcare in Whistler. This is an issue critical to families and seniors in the Sea to Sky corridor. There is a serious shortage of family doctors for this 11,000-plus strong community; • This world-class resort faces a glaring decline in the number of GP / family physicians; • COVID-19 not only witnessed the closure of yet another private clinic (Coast Medical Clinic), but even more young families arrived into the corridor while doctors were headed out of town as they could not manage the high overhead costs of a public practice. Having
heard from several departing doctors, the crux of the matter is the economics from rents to staffing issues don’t make financial sense. Whistler is now down to two to three public practices, none of which are accepting new patients. Yes, the Whistler Health Care Centre is an amazing facility for emergencies, but there is a void for basic family health. Whistler residents understand that nurse practitioners can carry some of the burden, but the loss of qualified family physicians due to the financial burden is glaring. Perhaps the solution is to establish a Provincial Community Health facility with a
least another 12 to 15 months. Some analysts predict 2023. I’m gonna stick with Q4 2021. What troubles me about this ill-timed provincial election, besides having a candidate for the NDP who lives in the posh Yaletown neighbourhood of Vancouver, is the unending slew of campaign promises made by each party. I know it’s expected that political campaigning 101 is to promise the world, get elected and then not deliver, instead blaming the previous government. However, what I find particularly offensive is that not one party has explained how we are going to pay for all of these massive projects especially as revenues have dropped. So where do these magical funds come from? Political parties need to be realistic in their promises and back their spending with predicted revenues. We don’t need deficit spending or to go into debt, and must look to austerity. Where do we start? Perhaps all the MLAs should take a pay cut as many in B.C. have seen their incomes drop this year. Oh, whom am I kidding? We could pull a Bill Bennett circa 1983 when the government of the day fired 25 per cent of the public servants with workers and unions in the public sector losing the right to negotiate almost anything. Yea. That will not happen either. However, we certainly can put off capital projects for a couple of years, maintain spending on human capital and pay down our debt. Who’s gonna have the guts to step up and tell it the way it is? Bueller …? Bueller …? Oh. I was also a fashion model too once. Patrick Smyth // Whistler
focus on families and seniors in the corridor. Randall Jang // Whistler
Consider the cost of campaign promises I am a model. No, not that type. I do financial modelling for work. I take raw data and create scenarios to calculate the impact of future events or decisions. For example, when the price of oil dropped to MINUS $47, I didn’t panic because my models showed it would turn around. It did. Looking at the general global economy as a whole, we don’t get back to “normal” for at
WHISTLER | PEMBERTON | SQUAMISH Local Expertise with Nationwide Exposure Whistler Village
Wedgewoods
Village North
Blackcomb Benchlands
$899,000
$3,549,000
$1,099,000
$644,000
• 1 bed. 1.5 bath, parking spot 872 sq ft • Valhalla is centrally located next to Olympic Plaza and Village Stroll • Open Concept , corner suite
• Brand new construction • 5390 sqft master-built custom home with full warranty • 1.1 acre lot with river-front access
• • • •
• Location location location • Updated unit with 3 parking spots, two storage lockers • Full time living or nightly rentals, GST exempt
9109 Riverside Drive
13/13A Glaciers Reach
The Marquise SO LD
55-4375 Northlands Boulevard
Alexi
David
604-935-0757
604-902-7270 |
LOCAL
AGENTS
Steve
Viner Personal Real Estate Corporation
Shuster 604-698-7347
604-935-2287 marshall@marshallviner.com
david@davidlewisliving.com
alexi.hamilton.ah@gmail.com
10 OCTOBER 15, 2020
Marshall
Lewis
Hamilton
suttonwestcoast.com
Updated 2 bdrm, 2 bath townhouse Private hot tub, 2 decks Lock off unit, 2 separate entrances Phase 1, GST Paid
|
LOCAL
KNOWLEDGE
steve@steveshusterrealestate.com
|
LOCAL
EXPERTS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NE
Masks should be mandatory at BC Liquor Stores [I] was at Marketplace on Oct. 10 and observed about 25 per cent of customers (and some staff) not wearing face coverings [at the BC Liquor Store]. I went to the service desk to be told they had no authority to impose the wearing of masks. Quite interesting to also notice the total absence of the need for face coverings. The only positive action was on social distancing and number of patrons in the store. When discussing with staff, they explained their own concerns about this lack of basic safety for themselves. We are Whistler residents in our 70s with major concerns [about] COVID-19. I’m convinced that our government stores would not lose sales (being a monopoly) if they implanted a mandatory mask policy. Jacques Robert // Whistler
Award congratulations Last week, the Lil’wat Business Group won the BC Achievement Indigenous Business Award for 2020. As directors of the Lil’wat companies, we are very proud of the work our boards, CEO and staff have done. Averaging $15 million in revenues per year and 60 full-time employees, the Lil’wat Business Group is a model for Indigenous economic development. The keys to success have been many: leveraging legal rights to acquire economic assets, creating a long-term vision for investment priorities, slow and steady development of assets, carefully assessing business and investment partners, and managing the delicate balance between politics and business management decisions. Finally, the competence of the senior management team can’t be underestimated. Led by CEO Kerry Mehaffey, the team at Lil’wat Business Group realizes how economic development for the long-term is a slow and steady process. The business we engage in is for the benefit of the community and the team evaluates risks in that context. While “slow and steady” may not sound exciting, the results are anything but boring: Lil’wat Business Group has contributed millions [of dollars] to Lil’wat Nation social and cultural projects like language immersion, land purchases, a cultural centre, community transit, a youth centre, community gardens, fire protection, an annual rodeo and other recreation programs. Together, the direct and indirect benefits generated by Lil’wat Business Group are a critical part of rebuilding the Nation. Congratulations, Lil’wat! Maxine Bruce, Lois Joseph, Chris Irving, Vanessa Dan, Jessica Frank, Loretta Pascal, Samantha Wells, Saad Hasan, Sheldon Tetreault // Lil’wat Nation
Will new waste agreement increase GHG emissions? At the Oct. 6, 2020 council meeting, Whistler councillors voted in favour of a staff recommendation that has troubling GHG
emission implications for the community. I asked a question via email of the council during its online meeting and feel I did not get a satisfactory answer from the mayor. As someone who works in town and is interested in how our Whistler waste is managed, I have issues with some of the inconsistencies in the Administrative Report on Item 7.5 of that agenda concerning the awarding of the contract for Whistler waste to go to a new Belkorp landfill, Campbell Hill. The report said that, “All three proponents operate landfill gas recovery collection systems.” This appears to be misleading because further on in the report it states, “Campbell Hill itself is in its first year of operation and does not have its own gas collection system yet.” What made it even worse, is that the staff PowerPoint said, “All proponents operate a landfill gas collection system at their landfills.” That’s simply not true. To suggest since Belkorp operated a gas-collection system at its old closed landfill that it should be counted as relevant at the new landfill is ludicrous. This is important because not having a gas collection system in place increases the landfill’s GHG emissions. Belkorp said it is planning to construct a system, but who knows how long it will really take for it to do it. In the meantime, our waste will be contributing to GHG emissions more than it does now! Kristin Nuttall // Pemberton (Editor’s Note: Operators of new landfills in B.C. are not permitted by the province to install a gas collection system until the site hits a certain threshold of waste volume to warrant it. Municipal staff expect the Belkorp site’s collection system to get up and running next year.)
W
T LIS
IN
G
12 SMOKETREE Beautifully renovated 2 bedroom townhome, a short walk to Whistler Village with mountain views.
$980,000 WH IS TLER’S #1 RE/MAX AGENT
sally@sallywarner.ca
106-7015 Nesters Rd, Whistler
604-932-7741
propertiesinwhistler.com
Marshall Viner Register atWhistler’s marshallviner.com receive weekly real estate updates PremieretoLifestyle Neighbourhood
18 Gables
NG ISLTID LO S W E N
• 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom • One of the best locations in Whistler
W NE
G TIN LIS
• Spacious townhouse on one level, modern decor • Phase 1, allows nightly rentals, GST applicable
$1,499,000 T 604.935.2287 E marshall@marshallviner.com marshallviner.com
Let’s take composting seriously in the village With the release of the federal Liberals’ ban of single-use plastics coming into the limelight, isn’t it high time that we addressed the effects of this properly in our community? The majority of restaurants and shops in Whistler started phasing out plastic straws, bags, cutlery and take-away containers a long time ago. They have been replaced by PLA, or plant plastics as they are also known. Way to go, Whistler, what a great start! What’s not so great is that these products, once they have been taken from the restaurants or shops, then go directly into regular bins in the streets. The customers are eating at our lovely parks and new outdoor seating areas and then throwing the biodegradable packaging into a regular bin. This in turn is sent to landfills. Landfills are a dry, moisture-free environment. This packaging will not break down in this environment, thus making it nearly as bad as fossil-fuel plastics. With COVID-19 already being a burden on the businesses around the country and in Whistler, it’s heartbreaking to see the hard work and changes they are making just getting thrown in the trash.
Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine.
Engel & Völkers Whistler
OCTOBER 15, 2020
11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Nick Davies, Whistler local and experienced family lawyer practising across BC and Yukon.
There have long been promises from the municipal government to put in organics’ bins around the village next to the regular and recycling bins, but nothing has ever come to fruition, albeit with the pilot project with few compost bins scattered here and there. The organics’ disposal ban and tariffs were first introduced in 2014; that is a six- year window for the changes to be made. All restaurants were made to comply, but the municipality has not held itself responsible for this. As we’ve geared towards using more disposable products than ever before due to COVID-19, this needs to be addressed promptly. Our world is in need and we need to take responsibility. Rorey Riley-Gillespie // Whistler
Call at 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca Maclean Law is headquartered in Vancouver with offices across British Columbia.
49-6125 EAGLE DRIVE 2 D IN
S DAY
Walk to Whistler Village and the ski lifts from this 1,710 sq.ft. Smoketree townhouse in Whistler Cay Heights. This three-level townhouse features 2 bedrooms, den, 3 bathrooms, a sauna, a wood-burning fireplace and a huge loft of almost 200 sq.ft. Carport and easy parking.
SOL
machines accept coins. If you have a smartphone, you can pay by Visa debit on Pay by Phone, and it says it is looking into adding the Visa and Interac debit for meters.)
Do not stay silent I am fortunate to be Canadian and to live in Squamish, and I am grateful to be alive. Armenia is one of the oldest remaining civilized nations that has a continuous history back to the Stone Age. Armenia is on the edge of Eastern Europe bordering Turkey, Iran, and the former USSR republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Armenian Genocide was the systematic mass murder and expulsion of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians carried out in Turkey and
“As we’ve geared towards using more disposable products than ever before due to COVID-19, this needs to be addressed promptly.” -ROREY RILEY-GILLESPIE
Dave Beattie
RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate Whistler PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
604-905-8855 1-888-689-0070 Dave@DaveBeattie.com
Vote in the
Search available homes in the Whistler and Sea to Sky Country area at www.DaveBeattie.com
BC Elections October 24, 2020 gershoncpa.com 12 OCTOBER 15, 2020
Pay parking problems I am writing [about] the parking situation in Whistler. I am aware that there are other and more serious concerns taking place during these difficult times. However, I would be more than pleased if you could take a few minutes to read this. I generally find that the parking in Whistler is very good with a lot of parking options all around the village. However, due to all parking machines only accepting credit cards, it is very inconvenient if not impossible for me to park in Whistler. Considering I am only 18 years old and do not have my own credit card, it would be very appreciated if the parking machines would accept cash or at least Visa debit cards. I am convinced I am not the only person having trouble parking in Whistler due to not possessing a credit card. Today, for example, I had a dentist appointment. I was on my way trying to find free parking knowing that most machines only accept credit cards. After being unsuccessful in finding free parking, I tried pay parking. I got to the machine and tried to pay with my Visa debit card. I thought it worked after the screen went back to the home screen, until not too long after my dentist appointment, [after] finding a parking ticket on my windshield. Of course, I paid the parking violation knowing the payment must not have been accepted, which is also a little strange considering Visa debit gets accepted online. Finn Schroeder // Whistler (Editor’s note: According to the Resort Municipality of Whistler, free parking is currently available in Day Lots 4 and 5 until Dec. 14. After Dec. 15, the monthly pass is $30 and you can purchase that with cash at municipal hall. All municipal
adjoining regions by the by the Ottoman government between 1914 and 1923. Armenia now is under fire again from Turkey and the state of Azerbaijan in a direct, all-out, pre-planned war armed by drones and state-of-the-art weapons designed to kill as many people as possible. This intentional action is genocide. Please request that NATO intervene to prevent another massacre. Magnificent cathedrals are part of the heritage of Armenia dating back to 300 A.D. and predating this are petroglyphs and astronomical stone formations. Before the Jewish Holocausts during the Second World War, in Adolf Hitler’s order to Wehrmacht commanders on Aug. 22, 1939, a week before the Nazi invasion of Poland, were the words: “ … send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children. “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” To be silent at this time is to be complicit in the crime itself. Turkey killed more than 1 million Armenians during and after the First World War in an intentional act of genocide, and then incorporated the Armenian lands into Turkey, including Lake Van and the mountain of Ararat where Noah’s Ark was purported to have landed after a great flood. The Turkish advance was stopped by Soviet forces, and the Armenian-Turkish border is still held against Turkey with the assistance of Russian forces. In the city my where my mother’s family were born, Turkish militia removed every single stone of the Cathedral, killed every person and smashed the buildings. Only broken stone blocks remain of Harput, a town of 200,000 people near Lake Van. Davin Peterson // Squamish n
PIQUE’N YER INTEREST
What does being a ‘true local’ really mean anyway? IN WHISTLER, where pretty much everyone comes from somewhere else, being considered a local can be a real badge of honour. But what exactly makes you a Whistler local? Is it based on how long you’ve eked out a life here? The number of blown knees you’ve suffered on the mountain?
BY BRANDON BARRETT The assortment of pastel-coloured toques you own? Your familiarity with shoulderseason restaurant deals? Nobody really knows for sure. Some say it’s five years. Some think you have to have lived through the highwater-mark of the 2010 Olympics to be considered a true local. Others believe if you landed here before Whistler “sold out” and went all corporate in the 2000s, then you’re probably the real deal. Then you meet an old-timer who drove four hours up a treacherous dirt road in a Flintstones car back in the ‘60s just to nab a cabin to squat in and you begin to realize the system used to determine our local-ness is very much a sliding scale. For the most part, this question is a
way for Whistlerites to engage in a bit of fun, harmless debate and acknowledge that we’ve all taken our own distinct paths to get to one of the most beautiful and unique places on Earth. But taken too far and this nativism can engender an “us-versus-them” outlook that ultimately does more harm than good. You see it online almost every day, when a resort newcomer takes to the Whistler Winter Facebook page to ask an innocuous question about life in Tiny Town, only to have scores of snarky commenters jump
he has encountered in his three years in town. Recalling a specific instance in which a resident drunkenly berated a young woman trying to hail a cab from the taxi loop because “she doesn’t even know where she’s going and I’ve been here 12 years,” Edmunds believes it’s not an entirely uncommon mentality to find in Whistler. “It’s sort of like this mild form of elitism,” he said. “I don’t think locals mean to put it out there that way, but it exists, for sure.”
“It’s sort of like this mild form of elitism, I don’t think locals mean to put it out there that way, but it exists, for sure.” - BERNIE EDMUNDS
down their throat. Yes, I’m aware that social media shouldn’t be held up as a bastion of respectful discourse, but the attitude persists offline as well. A couple years ago, I sat down with RCMP Cst. Bernie Edmunds for an ongoing Pique series profiling local cops who go above and beyond the call of duty, and he touched on the sense of division
It’s a mindset that you can sympathize with given the reality that comes with living in one of the most popular ski resorts on the planet. Practically every weekend of the year (pre-COVID, of course), we turn the keys to paradise over to a fresh batch of tourists we desperately hope will leave our community in the same shape they found it. Add in the growing financial and social
pressures brought on by Whistler’s booming popularity that have already squeezed out some of our best and brightest—pressures that have only been exacerbated by the pandemic—and you see how the millions of visitors and seasonals who grace our village every year could breed resentment among the local populace. But I challenge Whistlerites in this particularly reflective moment we find ourselves in to take a moment to think back to a time when they were the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed newcomers to town, brimming with hope at the prospect of a brand-new life here. We might not have been able to find our way around the village if our lives depended on it, and sure, we probably asked the same dumb, naïve questions that every new Whistlerite does—”What the heck is an RMOW?” was one such query I remember asking my befuddle editor on my first day as a cub reporter—but we are all connected through our shared passion for this place. When you get down to it, isn’t that what makes a true Whistler local? It’s not the number of notches on your belt, but a love for the great outdoors, a lust for living life to the fullest, and a willingness to take risks in order to build that life. In this time when we have the rare opportunity to really chart the long-term course of this community, this should be the only quality of a Whistler local that truly matters. n
OCTOBER 15, 2020
13
NEWS WHISTLER
Restaurants looking to make most of outdoor seating this winter LOCAL OFFICIALS SUPPORT EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY PATIO USE UNTIL OCT. 31, 2021
BY BRANDON BARRETT WHISTLER
FOOD and beverage operators are wrestling with how to make the most of outdoor seating areas this winter in the face of continued restrictions on capacity put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Last week, Whistler council voted to support the extension of approved temporary expanded outdoor service areas until Oct. 31, 2021, giving local operators another year to capitalize on additional seating while still complying with provincial health orders. But while a similar move was welcomed recently by restaurateurs in the Lower Mainland, the reality of Whistler’s colder winter weather means there is no clear-cut solution for resort businesses hoping to maintain the expanded capacity they were granted this summer. “It really is a business-by-business situation, depending on where they’re located and what type of outdoor space they have access to. Is it covered or is it not covered? Is it a strata or a common property? There are so many variables,” explained Eric Griffith, head of the Restaurant Association
THOSE PATIO CONCERNS Local restaurateurs are considering a number of options for maintaining outdoor seating areas this winter—and none of them are an easy fix.
PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER
14 OCTOBER 15, 2020
of Whistler (RAW). “There’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all situation.” Municipal staff has spoken with several operators in recent weeks to get a sense of how they are planning to winterize their outdoor areas this winter. While no one indicated a willingness to erect a permanent structure, some are considering either a temporary building or tent structure, or a retractable awning,
“I would love to have a simple solution.” - JOE MOONEY
depending on their available space. The issue, however, is that any temporary structure greater than 10 square metres requires a building permit by provincial law, adding to the time and cost of the approval process. “I would love to have a simple solution,” said Joe Mooney, municipal manager of building services, “but the Building Code is a piece of provincial legislation that we don’t have a lot of discretion on and we don’t have a lot of room to go outside its parameters.” Another challenge with any temporary structure in this part of the world is, of
course, snow clearing. “Snow is the enemy when it comes to structures,” Mooney added. Heavy snowfall would require nearconstant clearing of any tent-like structure, and then you run into potential issues around disposal, Griffith said. “Once it comes down, it’s gotta go somewhere, depending whether you’re on private or municipal land. That’s the other consideration, but it’s something that can be managed and will require a little more thought and time.” Whistler does have experience using temporary tenting in the winter months: Ahead of the 2010 Olympics, large, purpose-built temporary structures were erected around the village that were regularly manned by snow-clearers. The difference then, according to Councillor and long-time food-and-beverage operator John Grills, was “a lot of time was put in to making sure those were safe,” something local restaurateurs already feeling the financial pinch don’t have the luxury of this time around. Restaurateurs are exploring the possibility of having a purpose-built, 10-m2 temporary structure that, with enough buyin from operators, could be built en masse, driving down the cost, but it’s unclear if the investment would be worth it for such a small structure, Griffith said. “A 10-square-metre place, if it was enclosed and heated, is really enough for about one table. How is that going to look?” Some operators are considering the
use of other non-traditional spaces to add seating, such as kitchens or common areas in a larger building, “but then, landlords will probably charge rent,” admitted senior municipal planner, Melissa Laidlaw. “Are there vacant spaces where somebody could do a pop-up? But again, what’s the cost of that?” Joey Gibbons of Gibbons Whistler, which runs several local restaurants, bars and clubs, said the company is focusing more on “working with the elements—snow banks, ice bars” rather than building tentlike structures. “The muni has been awesome to work with on that front,” he added. “Then we’re going to explore using plexiglass [to separate outdoor tables]. We’ll keep doing what we can do to try and gain as much capacity as we can so we can serve the guests and cut down on wait times.” Heating is another factor in the equation, with the municipality recommending the use of electric over propane heaters to better align with its climate strategy. But even that could pose issues “because I think many of the buildings are already running at capacity when it comes to electric,” Laidlaw noted. “The other thing is encouraging patrons to dress warmly.” In June, the municipality streamlined the approval process for temporary patio extensions, ultimately greenlighting 18 applications. That raised Whistler’s capacity by 470 seats, increasing businesses’ average capacity from 42 to 54 per cent. n
NEWS WHISTLER FLEXIBLE LOCK-OFF FLOORPLAN
Labour survey paints dire picture for winter staffing levels
102AB-2129 LAKE PLACID RD ‘WHISTLER RESORT & CLUB’ 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom lock-off apartment in Creekside. This flexible floor-plan offers various options for nightly rental or unlimited owner use. $869,000
SIXTY-EIGHT PER CENT OF BUSINESSES POLLED WITH 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES SAY THEY WON’T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF
Nick Swinburne
Personal Real Estate Corporation
Engel & Völkers Whistler
BY BRANDON BARRETT FOR YEARS, we’ve been hearing about the struggles Whistler employers often deal with trying to staff their businesses, but with the restrictions on travel and foreignworker recruitment due to the pandemic, the resort’s labour picture is looking even more dire than usual this winter. In a recent Whistler Chamber of Commerce labour survey, 68 per cent of respondents with 50 or more employees said that, despite ramping up domestic recruitment, they did not have enough staff this summer and predict they will not have enough employees for the upcoming winter season. It’s prompted the chamber to continue pushing both the federal and provincial governments to improve the accessibility of existing foreign-worker programs as a means to hire staff for hard-to-fill positions. “There’s some low-hanging fruit that has come out of this survey, which we knew about before, but what impacts our ability to move the dial forward on some of these programs is that now we have data that pushes the government to see exactly where we land with some of these foreign worker
employer initiative that would allow for expedited processing for companies that have previously used the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and pass a compliance review. It also asks the federal government to create direct pathways for more temporary foreign workers to gain permanent residency, as well as working to improve public opinion and understanding of the program. The survey results hit home on just how reliant Whistler businesses really are on foreign workers. Prior to the pandemic, for instance, local businesses said less than half of job applicants were Canadian or had Permanent Resident status, while more than a third—35 per cent—of Whistler’s workforce had Working Holiday visas. In all, roughly 45 per cent of the resort’s workforce are foreign workers of some kind, compared to less than three per cent nationally. A vast majority—73 per cent—of local businesses polled said foreign-worker programs are important or very important to their success. “It’s a very solid component of our staffing, but we pivot as well and the circumstances are such that our business demand will drive how much staffing we need this winter,” noted Hotel Association of Whistler president Saad Hasan, adding that staffing levels haven’t been as much of
NICK SWINBURNE
Phone: +1 (604) 932-8899 Email: nick.swinburne@evrealestate.com
“[Foreign workers are] a very solid component of our staffing, but we pivot as well...” - SAAD HASAN
programs,” said chamber CEO Melissa Pace in a follow-up interview. In the short term, the chamber is lobbying Victoria to resume allowing applicants in the hospitality and foodservice sectors to be considered for B.C.’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which has historically brought high-demand foreign workers and entrepreneurs to the province to gain permanent residency. “What they did in March when COVID hit was they took out some of the most crucial jobs that we have here in our community … from the B.C. PNP program,” Pace noted. “There is now a big void.” Federally, the chamber has drafted a resolution for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM later this month that calls on Ottawa to implement a trusted
8 G L E N E AG L E S , B E N C H L A N D S
$1,950,000
a challenge just yet for the hotel sector. Part of that is the wider reach larger hotel brands have when it comes to bringing in staff from other locations and a doubling down on domestic recruitment this year. Hasan was quick to note, however, that recruitment for the winter season got underway later than usual this year as hotels dealt with the effects of the pandemic, adding that many “absolute frontline” positions, such as dishwashers, remain unfilled. “We are reaching out across Canada, for sure, but what we anticipate is that we will have ample staff to service our guests,” he said. According to the chamber’s survey, the five positions Whistler businesses said were
SEE PAGE 17
>> OCTOBER 15, 2020
15
YOUR SEA-TO-SKY SPECIALISTS ST I LH AV N .CO M
NEW LISTING
THE WILFRED
21 - 4325 Northlands Blvd, Whistler
409 - 1310 Victoria Street, Squamish
313 - 1870 Dowad Dr, Squamish
204 - 8080 Nicklaus Blvd, Whistler
$1,199,950
$519,000
$575,000
$1,150,000
• 2 Beds, 2 baths, 796 sq.ft • Newly renovated • Centrally located in the Village • Zoned for nightly rentals
• 1 Bed + den / 1 bath • Top floor corner unit • Private rooftop deck with hot tub • Wonderful views!
• 1 Bedroom plus den • Approx 1,100 sq ft • High end finishings and great location • Completion Fall 2022
• Golf in golf out • Green lake views • Mountain views • Clubhouse living
DANA FRIESEN SMITH, PREC*
KRISTEN DILLON
JENNA FRANZE
JOSH CRANE
604.902.3878
778.266.0150
604.345.5415
604.902.6106
dana@seatoskydreamteam.com
kristen@seatoskydreamteam.com
jenna@jennafranze.com
josh@joshcrane.ca
324 - 4573 Chateau Blvd, Whistler
604 - 919 Station Street, Vancouver
207A - 2020 London Lane, Whistler
8332 Mountainview Drive, Whistler
$1,239,000
$664,000
$128,000
$5,890,000
• Full renovated and sold furnished • Top floor 1 bed plus a large loft • Pool/hot tub, underground parking, exercise room and front desk
• Turn-key investment property • Across from new VGH location • Close to sky train • Newly renovated
• 1 Bed, 1 bath • 2 Weeks at Christmas • Fully equipped • Steps from the gondola
• 5.5 Bed, 5.5 bath modern chalet • Luxury mountain living • Private heated driveway • Breathtaking mountain & lake views
HANNAH GARCIA, PREC*
IAN TANG, PREC*
SARAH MORPHY, PREC*
JEREMY FAIRLEY
604.966.8941
604.839.7347
604.906.1940
604.935.9150
hannah@hannahgarcia.com
ian@iantangrealestate.com
sarah@sarahmorphy.com
jeremy@jeremyfairley.ca
W HIST L E R | SQ UA M IS H | P E M BE RTO N | VANCO UVER | N ORTH SHOR E This communication is not intended to cause or induce the breach of an existing agency relationship
*Personal Real Estate Corporation
NEWS WHISTLER
Sea to Sky candidates lay out plans for tourism, business recovery ECONOMIC RECOVERY FRONT AND CENTRE IN OCT. 24 ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
BY ALYSSA NOEL WHEN IT COMES to supporting tourism, all three candidates vying for the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA seat acknowledge how intertwined the issue is with other problems like housing, cost-ofliving, and labour shortages in Whistler. “We all know tourism has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, especially in the Sea to Sky,” said Keith Murdoch, NDP candidate. “The NDP is doing a lot to try and promote the tourism industry. We’ve made a $100-million investment in tourism in our economic recovery plan and I’m expecting a good chunk to be invested in Whistler and across the corridor. We all know how big tourism is here.” The NDP has also said it would provide funding for a new tourism taskforce, and offer local governments, First Nations and non-profits grants to build tourism infrastructure. For Murdoch, the key is listening to what small tourism business owners want, he said. “I want to see our tourism recovery
plan be driven from the ground up,” he said. “The best ideas will come from the people directly experiencing the challenges.” The Green Party, meanwhile, has said it would allocate $300 million for a six-month rent subsidy program to help
small businesses. More directly related to tourism, the party is proposing to retool a provincial grant program to focus more directly on supporting tourism operators and speed up the time it takes to get grant money flowing.
“I think we need to be able to be adaptable to regional versus international visitors, depending on what happens with the pandemic,” said local Green Party
SEE PAGE 18
>>
STAFF SHORTAGE FROM PAGE 15 most commonly filled by foreign workers were cooks, servers, restaurant hosts/ reception, guest services and supervisor or managerial roles. Of course, there remains considerable uncertainty around what Whistler’s visitation levels will look like this winter, but Hasan said that however tourism levels shake out, the hotel sector will be relying on similar staffing numbers as years past. “We are preparing for a normal winter, with certainly some reductions in occupancy, but at the same time, we aren’t planning for a drastically reduced staff because we feel that the service demands will be higher than a normal year,” he said, referring to the increased COVID health and
sanitation protocols. Looking ahead, Pace is hopeful the chamber can work with the wider community to develop a recruitment strategy that targets Canadians. “The longer this lasts and the longer global travel is closed, the more important it’s going to be for us to hire Canadians and make our community a place where they want to work, live and play,” she said. But that solution isn’t as simple as ramping up recruitment, Pace added. Making Whistler more desirable to domestic workers would require the resort to look at ways to improve everything from affordability and housing, to daycare and regional transit.
One idea is to increase the number of Indigenous employees in Whistler’s workforce, which Pace said currently hovers around two per cent. A key piece of that puzzle will be finding a longawaited funding arrangement with the province for the Sea to Sky’s regional transit concept, which would ideally connect Mount Currie to Whistler and beyond. But it will also require additional training to better support Indigenous workers, Pace said. “There’s definitely a desire that we see from the survey results that the community would like more cultural education on working with our Indigenous community, so that’s something we’re going to work on,” she added. n
Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Start with our famous Cheese Toast, then choose from a selection of Hy’s favourite appetizers, entrées and desserts.
Chef's 4-course menu
3995 Sunday to Thursday
HY’S STEAKHOUSE WHISTLER | 4308 MAIN ST ( I N T H E D E LTA H OT E L ) | 6 0 4 .9 0 5 .5 5 5 5 | H Y S S T E A K H O U S E.C O M
OCTOBER 15, 2020
17
NEWS WHISTLER
Win one of four high school scholarships TO LIVE AND LEARN IN VICTORIA, BC
IN THE RUNNING The Sea to Sky’s three provincial election candidates each discussed plans to address tourism and business recovery in the corridor ahead of the Oct. 24 election.
uld This coou be y
WE’RE IN YOUR AREA OCTOBER 19-22 We’re making a special trip to Whistler to meet with students and their families who are interested in St. Michaels University School and our scholarship contest, The Best School Year Ever®.
<< FROM PAGE 17 candidate Jeremy Valeriote. “A lot of the recovery is about being set up to be resilient and adaptive to weather the storms. There’s a role to play for government spending, off the top acknowledging that small businesses are core to our community.” He also pointed to the federal government’s recent announcement that the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy would cover up to 65 per cent of rent and another 25 per cent for businesses that are closed due to a mandatory health order. As well, he said, the federal government expanded the Canada Emergency Business Account by an extra $20,000. “All this is to say that the provincial government’s response of promoting tourism recovery has been lacklustre, and suggest weak local representation,” he said in a follow-up email. “The tourism task force that will produce a report at the end of December doesn’t have a representative from the Sea to Sky, a major oversight, considering our place in the tourism sector in B.C. And local officials are frustrated that most assistance has gone to the Destination Marketing Organizations instead of actual business. The B.C. Greens understand the importance of tourism and small business in the new green economy, and the stress of local friends and family who don’t know if they’ll have a job in tourism this winter.” For its part, the Liberal Party said its plan is to offer bridge financing and loan
Book your in-person or virtual appointment today Contact the Admissions team at: 1-800-661-5199 or admissions@smus.ca Visit bestschoolyearever.ca for more information.
ur pics o y e r a h S with us
e #mypiqu
F
18 OCTOBER 15, 2020
S @M Y O L LO W U
PIQUE
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
guarantees to tourism-industry operators. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson has also said he would eliminate the two-per-cent small business income tax. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but two per cent in a skinny year can be everything,” said local incumbent, Liberal MLA Jordan Sturdy. “We’re also proposing—there are over 19,000 tourism and hospitality businesses in B.C.—loan guarantees so they have access to capital. That’s often one of the challenges.” Another challenge in the Sea to Sky when it comes to tourism is navigating the short term during the pandemic while keeping an eye on the longer term when the area returns to grappling with overtourism. “The potential for overtourism remains,” he said. “I am confident we will get past COVID, but it will take a year or two do that—then even longer, perhaps, to see international tourism pick up again. So, now is the time to be focusing on what our capacity is in the region as a whole … If we don’t have the investments we need, and an understanding of what capacities are, we put that [tourist] experience at risk.” Meanwhile, Sturdy also believes the federal government plays an important role during the pandemic in helping small businesses. “[The provincial Liberals] would be working hand in glove with [the federal government] for short-term rent relief for commercial tenants. How that will work, it will have to dovetail with the federal government.” The provincial election is Oct. 24. n
NEWS WHISTLER
Whistler Health Care Centre trauma room upgrade gets major boost SEA TO SKY REGIONAL HOSPITAL DISTRICT CONTRIBUTES $500K TO FUNDRAISING CAUSE
BY DAN FALLOON THE PLANNED trauma room upgrades at the Whistler Health Care Centre recently got a significant boost as the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District (SSRHD) donated $500,000 to the cause. The contribution puts fundraising for the $1.5-million upgrade well past the halfway point at $1 million. Whistler Health Care Foundation (WHCF) chair Sandra Cameron said the donation puts the project in a good place. “It gets us two-thirds of the way through, so now we’re on the big push to get the last $500 [thousand],” she said. “In the next few months, we should get this.” To this point, the project had also received $300,000 from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation in addition to another $200,000 raised. Cameron explained that breaking the seven-figure threshold proved to Vancouver Coastal Health, which is overseeing the project, that it will actually come to fruition. Cameron added that work is expected to
20 OCTOBER 15, 2020
begin in the spring. “It puts us over the top to know that we could actually pull this off,” she said. “Before they break ground and before they get too far down with the project, they want to see that we had the ability to come up with the funds, and with this donation, it definitely puts us into that category.
“The community support is there for the project.” - SANDRA CAMERON
“The community support is there for the project.” Cameron said in a presentation to the SSRHD board that the foundation didn’t come forward with a specific ask, requesting only what was feasible on the district’s side. Procuring a half-million donation, she said, was a significant shot in the arm. “They have supported us in a lot of our big projects, so there was hope that we would get
money,” she said. “Five-hundred [thousand dollars] was definitely very generous.” District chair and Whistler Councillor Jen Ford, who also sits on the WHCF board, said that after discussing what the district had socked away in reserves and analyzing projects coming down the line, the board reached a consensus on the amount. “Everybody’s stretched in new ways due to COVID, so we didn’t take the decision lightly,” said Ford. “The money is coming out of reserves but it obviously will impact what we’ll have to raise in future years.” Ford confirmed that the district recently voted to bulk up its reserves through taxes and a rate will be decided during its 2021 budgeting process. But the need to fund the project was clear, she added, given that the 25-year-old room is only roughly 18 square metres. “It’s grown very busy for many years and the building itself is not growing,” she said. “With the trauma room, there is a lot more equipment required to give the kind of care, and to evolve the care, that people need when they go into the trauma room. With more equipment and more people in a very small room, something had to change.”
Whistler Health Care Centre medical director Dr. Fern von der Porten explained that the trauma room is where the sickest patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke or have been intubated, are treated. “At this time, with the pandemic and so much going on in healthcare, this just creates a better place for our staff to treat our patients with the highest level of need,” she said. “It creates a bigger useable area. It modernizes the facility. It makes it so that we have more room to work with the modern equipment that we have. “It’s not that we can’t give great care now. We do. [But we will be able to] do even better because we’ll have a better working space for it.” Cameron said to raise the remaining funds, the foundation will apply for grants and appeal to private businesses. As well, a social media campaign will soon launch and a Hike for Health fundraiser is planned for next summer. “Anything small, even, is so greatly appreciated,” von der Porten said. Learn more about the project on YouTube by searching for “Whistler Health Care Foundation Trauma Room Upgrade.” ■
IN WHISTLER, WE WEAR MASKS..... “Because we care. A mask is a visible public signal that we are trying to protect Vanessa Werner, Postpartum Doula & Breathwork everyone in our community and we understand that we Practitioner can carry and spread “Out of respect for each other’s safety.” the virus before we develop any symptoms of illness.” BrucePace, Mohr,CEO MD,Whistler WhistlerChamber Health Care Centre Melissa of Commerce “Because it “So is our to support our business webusiness can all keep doing what we love.community.” “ Maeve Jones, human and life enthusiast Jack Crompton, Mayor, Resort Municipality of Whistler “To protect our to parents.” “To encourage visitors do the same.” Bruce, Whistler Public Library KatrinaJeanette Frew, Director of Training, Gibbons Whistler “To show kindness and encourage trust.” “To keep our future leaders protected.” Cheximiya Allison Burns-Joseph, Cultural Ambassador, Squamish Dr. Karin Kausky, Whistler Health Care CentreLil’wat Cultural Centre “Because we respect each other.” “To protect our elders and knowledge keepers.” Cultural Ambassadors, Squamish Lil’wat CulturalSchool Centre -Stuart Bent, Principal Spring Creek Community “For the health of our students, and families.” “Toand helpwell-being protect those who are highstaff risk.” Nora Clark, artist Barrett Fisher, President and CEO, Tourism Whistler “So we welcome world again.” “To protect ourcan friends who the are dealing with cancer. And to keep my mom and dad safe!” Geoff Buchheister, COO, Whistler Blackcomb Chris Winter, skierthis & mountain “So weDad, can husband, ski and ride winter.” biker “To keep our community safe.” Colt Paul professional kayaker “BecauseRichard my dadKemble, has brain cancer and can’t get sick.” “BecauseRichard my dadKemble, has brain cancer and can’t get sick.” professional kayaker Colt Paul “To keep our community safe.” “So weDad, can husband, ski and ride winter.” biker Chris Winter, skierthis & mountain Geoff Buchheister, COO, Whistler Blackcomb And to keep my mom and dad safe!” “To protect ourcan friends who the are dealing with cancer. “So we welcome world again.” Barrett Fisher, President and artist CEO, Tourism Whistler Nora Clark, “To help protect those who are highstaff risk.” “For the health and well-being of our students, and families.” -Stuart Bent, Principal Spring Creek Community Cultural Ambassadors, Squamish Lil’wat CulturalSchool Centre “To protect our elders and knowledge keepers.” “Because we respect each other.” Dr. Karin Kausky, Whistler Health Care CentreLil’wat Cultural Centre Cheximiya Allison Burns-Joseph, Cultural Ambassador, Squamish “Toshow keepkindness our future leaders protected.” “To and encourage trust.” KatrinaJeanette Frew, Director of Training, Gibbons Whistler Bruce, Whistler Public Library “To encourage visitors to do the same.” “To protect our parents.” Jack Crompton, Mayor, Resortand Municipality of Whistler Maeve Jones, human life enthusiast “So we can all keep doing what we love. “ “Because it is our business to support our business community.” Melissa of Commerce BrucePace, Mohr,CEO MD,Whistler WhistlerChamber Health Care Centre the virus before we develop any symptoms of illness.” “Out of respect for each other’s safety.” everyone in our community and we understand that we Practitioner can carry and spread Vanessa Werner, Postpartum Doula & Breathwork “Because we care. A mask is a visible public signal that we are trying to protect
WE WEAR MASKS..... IN WHISTLER,
NEWS WHISTLER
New research digs into link between social media and avalanche safety SFU MASTERS STUDENT STUDYING HOW PLATFORMS IMPACT DECISION-MAKING IN THE WINTER BACKCOUNTRY
BY ALYSSA NOEL HOW DOES SOCIAL media impact your decision making in avalanche terrain? That’s the question Amelie GouletBoucher is trying to answer as part of her masters thesis for Simon Fraser University. As a student of the Avalanche Research Program, which is part of the school’s Resource and Environmental Management department, and an apprentice ski guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, Goulet-Boucher knew anecdotally that social media platforms impact how and where people spend time in the outdoors, but few formal studies have been done to dig deeper into the impact. “We all know it’s happening,” she said over the phone from her home in Golden, where she’s studying online due to COVID19. “We’re just trying to understand—and officialize—how it’s happening, how much of an impact [it has], and how much [recreationalists] are using that information in the field.” Her research, which will be aimed
at winter backcountry users of all levels, ranging from skiers and splitboarders to snowshoers, ice climbers and snowmobilers, will take place in three phases. The first happened two years ago with a study that asked broad questions on social media use. This winter, Goulet-Boucher is heading into the second phase, conducting in-depth interviews with around 20 recreationalists. “For people using [social media], we’re trying to determine what that landscape looks like—who’s using it, what platforms, at what stages in decision making are they using it, how does it have an impact? Are they making riskier decisions?” For example, are people using platforms like Instagram, Facebook, even Strava to decide where to go? Are they gleaning information from posts to make decisions about avalanche risk? Phase 3, meanwhile, is expected to start in early spring 2021 and will involve an online survey. The data from the interviews in Phase 2 will help shape what questions GouletBoucher asks in the survey, which will be more widely distributed.
RISK FACTOR Amelie Goulet-Boucher, a masters
student at SFU, is researching the connection between social media and avalanche safety. PHOTO BY AMELIE GOULET-BOUCHER
While people might be reluctant to admit if they’ve put themselves in riskier situations for, say, an Instagram photo, she hopes the anonymity in the online survey will lead to people answering honestly. (The interview
DIVORCE LAWYER
EARLY BIRD
SEPARATION ADVICE
• Contested and Uncontested Divorce • Asset and Property Division
SEASONAL SNOW REMOVAL
DEAL
• Asset and Property Division
• Parenting Arrangements
• Child and Spousal Support
• Child and Spousal Support
• Court Applications
• Separation Agreements
We can also help with
Marriage Agreements (often called pre-nuptials) and Cohabitation Agreements.
Starting From
ONLY $900* *Sign up your neighbour as a new client and each receive a $100 discount. Enquire about our early morning service.
information will also be private, she added.) “I’m really hoping in the survey—it’s totally anonymous, just them and the computer—maybe they’ll be inclined to talk about specific situations,” she said. She put a call out for volunteers in the Sea to Sky corridor—and around Canada— and was overwhelmed by the number of people who were interested in taking part. Those who are interested in what her thesis uncovers will be able to find the results on the Avalanche Canada website (or simply reach out to her). The project is funded in part by the organization and it will also look at how people are using its Mountain Information Network (MIN), which features un-moderated posts about weather, snowpack, and avalanche conditions from backcountry users. “Avalanche Canada is interested in learning how they can harness that information on social media better so their forecast will be more accurate, which is a big part of why they created MIN,” Goulet-Boucher said. “We’re bringing that into the conversation.” For more information, visit avsocmedia. avalancheresearch.ca. ■
KARIN EMOND
332-4370 Lorimer Road Whistler Tel: 604-932-3211 k.emond@raceandco.com
RACEANDCOMPANY.COM
don’t GET STUCK
Book your Winter snow removal now! microblading • shading • ombre • correction •
Tel: 604-907-8222 | Alltimemoving.ca
Blue Highways Whistler * 4368-206 Main St., Whistler
604.905.8385 * mbpmu@outlook.com
22 OCTOBER 15, 2020
NEWS WHISTLER
Report should give RMOW better insights into housing needs NDP REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PRODUCE HOUSING NEEDS REPORT BY 2022, AND EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER
BY BRANDON BARRETT IT TOOK A PUSH from the provincial government, but the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is getting ready to begin production of a report that officials say will give decision-makers better insights into the resort’s long-term housing needs. In April 2019, B.C.’s Local Government Act was amended to require municipalities to collect housing data, analyze trends, and ultimately produce a report that describes their community’s current and anticipated housing needs by April 2022, and every five years thereafter. To help fund that work, the province provided $5 million to the Union of B.C. Municipalities to distribute over three years. The RMOW is eligible for $20,000 in grant funding based on its 2016 population base. While the municipality is no stranger to analyzing housing data—the most recent comprehensive study was released in late 2017 to go along with the Whistler Housing Authority’s (WHA) annual needs assessments—this round of analysis will draw on a number of data sources that the RMOW did not have access to previously. “It’s been a long time coming and it’s a shame we had to wait for the province to give us a kick,” said Councillor Duane Jackson at
report, including recent tax-filing and demographic data from Statistics Canada, the results of the RMOW’s 2017 housing report, visitation data from Tourism Whistler, internal municipal planning data, local school enrolment numbers, and information on homelessness from the Whistler Community Services Society. “Whether we get the funding or not, I think this is critical work,” Jackson added. “I think we have everything in place to manage that data when it comes in. I think it’s been the missing link and I’m just so excited about it.” The RMOW will place a particular emphasis in its data collection on housing affordability and understanding the forces that have influenced the market in recent years. “This is going to be looking at the continued limited housing supply, continued rising prices, which have not let up in recent years, and also the impact of COVID-19,” Kemble said. On the COVID front, Kemble said the RMOW is keen to gain a better grasp on the stresses the pandemic has placed on Whistler’s housing supply and demand, and how it has shifted the utilization of homes in the community. “[COVID] is bringing new considerations for the demand of Whistler housing as the remote workforce becomes
5 COURSE $39 ANNIVERSARY MENU FROM LOCAL FARMS TO YOUR TABLE FOR 39 YEARS
Available Sunday – Thursday R E S E R V AT I O N S R E C O M M E N D E D
après + oyster specials saturday and sunday from 3-5pm dinner daily from 5pm
“Whether we get the funding or not, I think this is critical work.” - DUANE JACKSON
the Oct. 6 regular meeting of council. “The information we’re going to get back is far superior that the WHA needs assessment, which is relying on self-reporting.” The province has provided municipalities with more than 50 distinct pieces of data to collect that will look at everything from current and projected population figures, household income, significant economic sectors in the resort, as well as the currently available and anticipated housing units. “Through these available datasets that have been made publicly available for free, we can set a very good ground level and template to build off of with our analysis,” explained Richard Kemble, economic development analyst with the RMOW. However, due to the “very unique set of needs” in Whistler’s housing market, Kemble said the RMOW will be bringing in additional data to supplement the
a more prominent feature, and also [a rise in] city residents moving to more desirable locations in rural communities,” he noted. Coun. Jen Ford also urged staff to collect employment data that would otherwise have been carried out by the WHA in its annual housing needs assessment, which did not go ahead this year due to the pandemic. “[That] was a very consistent metric for us to understand how many employees were living locally,” she said of the assessment. “It’s one thing to understand how many people live here. It’s another thing to understand how many employees are required to keep this town going.” The deadline for the grant application is Oct. 16. If the application is successful, the RMOW will have a year to complete the report from the time the grant is received, after which it will be posted on whistler.ca. n
$39 4 COURSE 39
5 COURSE
PRE FIXE
$
PRIX FIXE MENU $37 WINE PAIRINGS
AVAILABLE WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY R E S E R VAT I O N S R E C O M M E N D E D OPEN FROM 5PM ILCAMINETTO.CA
604 932 4442
OCTOBER 15, 2020
23
NEWS WHISTLER
Local Halloween events look a little different this year WHISTLER, PEMBERTON ADJUST TRICK-OR-TREATING DUE TO COVID-19
BY ALYSSA NOEL FOR THE LAST 36 years, the Tapley’s Farm neighbourhood has been a spooky hub for Whistler’s Halloween revellers. But like almost everything this year, Oct. 31 will look a little different. After provincial officials said that the annual gathering— which can see anywhere between 600 and 700 people stream through—was not pandemic-friendly, organizers officially cancelled. “We’re definitely sad, but we’re going to go ahead on a smaller scale and welcome the kids from Whistler Cay,” said Julia Smart, who has helped host the event, which involves collecting donated candy, bussing people into the neighbourhood, and fireworks, for the last 17 years. “If there are a few stragglers with nothing going on in their neighbourhood, they can come
down, but it won’t be the usual Tapley’s Halloween.” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said that Halloween isn’t cancelled this year, “it’s just going to look different, like everything is looking different this year.” She is encouraging trick-or-treaters to head out only in small groups, ideally in their own neighbourhood, and pick up candy from the end of a driveway. She also encourages pre-packaged, individual treats. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control, meanwhile, is also encouraging people not to attend any Halloween parties, to turn off their porch light and stay home if they’re sick, incorporate a mask into their costume, and wash their hands or sanitize often. Likewise, Halloween in Pemberton will look a bit different. The Glen neighbourhood similarly will not be hosting large-scale trick-or-treating with community candy
A-MAZE-ING One Halloween event happening in Pemberton this year is the Field of Screams maze down Pemberton Meadows Road. PHOTO BY ALYSSA NOEL
donations. Homes that are participating in trickor-treating will have their porch lights on. As a COVID-19-friendly alternative to an indoor haunted house, Laughing Crow Organics—adjacent to the Beer Farmers down Pemberton Meadows Road—will be repurposing its sunflower maze and turning it into a haunted sunflower maze on Oct. 23, 24, 30, and 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Dubbed Field of Screams, it will take place in the same sunflower maze from the summer, only the flowers are now wilted and more than a little spooky looking.
Organizers suggest you dress for the weather—including appropriate footwear for the slippery ground—leave your pets at home and consider that it might be too scary for kids under 10. Parking is limited and anyone attending is asked to use the COVID-19 selfassessment tool before coming. “Respect social distancing and bring a mask (or wear a scary one!),” the event page said. Admission is cash donation to PAWS, the local animal rescue. For tickets, visit eventbrite.ca/e/fieldof-screams-tickets-124503704933. n
LOCAL EXPERTS GLOBAL REACH The same team that you trust with your print advertising can assist in creating your digital footprint
Glacier Digital Services in partnership with Pique Newsmagazine offers solutions in website design, SEM, SEO, social media and so much more. Call your sales representative today. 604 938 0202 24 OCTOBER 15, 2020
NEWS WHISTLER
INVASIVE FISH A goldfish that was found in Pinecrest Lake in 2018. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Goldfish in Whistler lakes not easily eradicated PUBLIC URGED TO REPORT SIGHTINGS OF INVASIVE FISH
BY BRADEN DUPUIS UNTIL RECENTLY, it was something of an urban myth amongst Whistler’s environmental types and nature lovers that there are goldfish and koi—both invasive species—in Alta Lake and other local water bodies. “We had heard rumours for a few years that people had seen the occasional orange fish, and we never really got any photo evidence or confirmation of the species ID,” said Clare Greenberg, executive director of the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC). “Until, I think it was two years ago, one of the Whistler municipal staff members personally observed them [in Alta Lake].” This summer, numerous sightings of both fish (which can be hard to tell apart from a distance, Greenberg says) have been reported to the SSISC, prompting the organization to put together a fact sheet about the pesky invasives: ssisc.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GoldfishFactsheet-2020.pdf. The fish have been spotted in Alta Lake, Jordan Creek (between Alpha and Nita lakes) and even One Mile Lake in Pemberton, Greenberg said. It’s not a new thing, she added; invasive fish have been in local waterways for years, including in Pinecrest Lake south of Whistler, which has an ongoing goldfish infestation with “quite severe” impacts (see “Goldfish discovered in Pinecrest Lake,” Pique, Aug. 24, 2018.) “Because they’re detritus feeders, they essentially will swim along the bottom of the mud and sort of eat up all the decomposing vegetation and whatnot,” Greenberg said, adding that the fish create a turbidity in the water, muddying it up and in turn impacting native plants and fish. “So they both outcompete native species and they also prey on native species, and the shallow, vegetated habitat can change
when goldfish are there, in terms of water quality and turbidity.” Left to their own devices, the goldfish and koi populations could have immense impacts on the native ecosystem, changing the dynamic of both the number and diversity of fish and amphibians currently present in the lake, Greenberg said. And addressing the problem is complicated. There are essentially two methods for dealing with the invasive fish, Greenberg said: mechanical methods like fishing, netting or even electrofishing, or using a piscicide— essentially a pesticide that kills fish. Adding chemicals to Whistler’s waterways is a non-starter, and with mechanical methods, “you’ll never achieve eradication, particularly because goldfish and koi are really good at evading those kind of methods,” Greenberg said. “I guess the message here is that we’re probably going to be stuck with these fish for the long term, and hopefully we can work with provincial government staff and local municipal staff on a plan to just continually suppress the population, so that it doesn’t become super impactful.” The message for the general public is to report all sightings of the fish (at ssisc.ca/ report); to never release goldfish or other pets into the wild (which can net you a fine of up to $100,000); report incidents of illegal release to 1-877-952-7277; and know and follow the rules specific to the lake you’re visiting. “It’s really important that we can get an understanding of where the fish are, so that we can try and work with the provincial government on coming up with a plan on what can we do about it,” Greenberg said. “Because unless we have good maps and good knowledge of where the fish are hanging out, it’s really hard to apply for funding or to put together a plan of attack.” Find more info at whistler.ca/ invasivespecies. n
HEAT PUMPS - ONE SYSTEM FOR YEAR ROUND COMFORT! Quiet - Energy Efficient - Low CO2
Financing & Rebate Programs Available Add UV Air Treatment or High Efficiency Filters to your HVAC system to improve indoor air quality!
Program Registered Contractor Home Renova on Rebate Program
• Commercial HVAC Services • Boiler Sales & Service • Heat Pump Installa ons • Custom Designed Systems to fit any home or business.
Contact us today! 778-994-3159 westerntechnical.net OCTOBER 15, 2020
25
NEWS WHISTLER It is with very deep sadness that I announce the passing, on October 4, of my ever loving husband and forever soulmate.
Eric Robert Henderson 1958 – 2020
Exceptional builder-Helicopter pilotLover of nature-Adventurer-Powerhouse hiker-Inventive tinkerer-Lifelong learner of science and technology and my super fun, witty and playful best friend Eric loved big, boisterous, joyous parties, and so we are postponing his Celebration of Life to when the sadness of Covid-19 and its restrictions are over. Because he’s on all of our minds at this time, I would love to hear your reminiscences and fun stories about Eric now. Please email them to me at Laczina5@gmail.com . I will safeguard them for later when we all get together to celebrate him. If you’d like to commemorate Eric’s life now, please donate to BC Cancer (Pancreatic). Thank you to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Sea-to-Sky Community Hospice. Eric’s final month was spent in hospice, where he, his wife Kathleen, and their beloved dog Chippy, were cared for 24/7 by the most loving team of palliative experts ever: Dr. Brenda Millar, Dr. Peter Bull, RNs Fiona, Pip, Jeremy, Amy, Ros and both Lindseys. From the bottom of my heart I thank you all for everything you did to help us. Thank you to the oncology/chemotherapy team at Squamish General Hospital. Dr. Garth Campbell, and RNs Jane and Heidi looked after Eric with such personalized care and attention. Thank you to BCCancer; specifically to the pancreatic cancer team led by Dr. Daniel Renouf, with his nurse assistant Rebecca, and so many other cancer experts who looked after the many facets of Eric’s disease. I am grateful for your boundless efforts towards your goal of a world free of cancer.
Kathleen Laczina Whistler 26 OCTOBER 15, 2020
MUSHROOM MAN Guru Bryce Kendrick is one of the presenters at this year’s Fungus Among Us. PHOTO BY JOERN ROHDE/ COURTESY OF FUNGUS AMONG US
Naturespeak: Fungus Among Us factoids BY BOB BRETT AND KRISTINA SWERHUN THIS WEEKEND IS the Whistler Naturalists’ 18th annual Fungus Among Us event—and we are going virtual this year with a Fantastic Fungi Photo Contest, Talks with Gurus and Cooking and Preserving Wild Mushrooms (details at end of article) on offer. To get everyone excited we thought we’d share some factoids we’ve learned since our first event.
MUSHROOMS HAVE PERSONALITIES Some things happen each fall, like falling leaves and rain. Mushrooms aren’t so predictable. During our second year, for example, we found 132 different species of mushrooms of which only 31 were repeats from the first year. This variability has repeated itself since. Some years the woods are bursting with almost every sort of mushrooms. Others are dominated by Tricholomas (including pine mushrooms), or cobwebveiled Cortinarius species, or by boletes such as slippery jack. Chanterelles might be plentiful some years and rare as hens’ teeth in others. Plentiful or scarce, there’s always something interesting to find.
MUSHROOMS ARE PEOPLE TOO … …Or at least closer than they are to plants. Back in the 1700s, Linnaeus classified all life into only two kingdoms: animals and plants. This worldview persisted until 1969 when fungi were finally recognized in their own kingdom. While scientists still debate how many kingdoms there are, fungi have kept their place as a separate kingdom more closely related to animals than plants. It makes sense that fungi are more like us since only plants can transform the sun’s energy into food through photosynthesis. Like us, fungi have to get their energy either from a plant or something that’s eaten a plant.
WHAT ARE ALL THOSE MUSHROOMS DOING IN OUR WHISTLER WOODS? Many mushrooms in coniferous forests are attached to tree roots. Like other plants, trees create sugars through photosynthesis. The trees share those sugars with the fungi through their roots and the fungi use the sugars to, among other things, construct the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) that spread their spores. In return, the fungi deliver water and nutrients back to the tree. Most mushrooms in our woods need trees and most of our trees need mushrooms. Other mushrooms are decomposers, which means they are like living garbage disposals. When something dies, the decomposers take over from there. Without them, dead trees and other organisms would pile so high that the living trees would be completely covered, and the nutrients within dead organisms would be locked away so new trees wouldn’t be able to grow. Decomposer fungi live right on their food, so look for them on tree trunks, on seed cones or fallen leaves.
HOW TREES TALK TO EACH OTHER It’s recently been shown that fungal filaments (mycorrhizae) can provide a conduit that links two or more trees. Suzanne Simard at UBC has a popular TED. com talk (“How trees talk to each other”) that provides a fascinating insight into these linkages. She has even found that a tree is more likely to pass nutrition to trees related to it (which she calls mother and daughter trees, respectively).
VIRTUAL FUNGUS AMONG US THIS WEEKEND:
Friday (7 p.m.): Talks by gurus and winners of the Fantastic Fungi Photo Contest announced. Saturday (4 to 6 p.m.): Cooking and Preserving Wild Mushrooms with Chef Bruce Worden. Both events online. Watch live on our Facebook Page or via Zoom. More details at whistlernaturalists.ca. ■
VOTE IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION Find where and when to vote below. We’re helping B.C. vote safely during the pandemic. Here’s what you can expect if you vote in person: • Physical distancing and capacity limits • Election officials wearing personal protective equipment (such as masks and face-visors)
You can vote in person or by mail. Vote in person Vote at a district electoral office – Find the office nearest you at elections. bc.ca/deo. Voting is available now during office hours.
• Frequent cleaning of voting stations and surfaces
Learn more at elections.bc.ca/safevoting.
• Your Where to Vote card. Look for it in the mail from Elections BC. It will make voting faster and easier. • Your own pen or pencil to mark your ballot, if you wish. • You may wear a mask in the voting place, if you wish. We encourage voters to wear a mask when they vote to protect others. You will not be asked to remove your mask to vote.
Vote on election day – Find voting places and the dates they are open below, or visit wheretovote.elections. bc.ca. Election day is Saturday, October 24, but there are lots of ways to vote before then.
• Election workers trained on safe workplace guidelines and pandemic protocols
If you are ill or self-isolating, do not visit a voting place. Contact Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683 to discuss your voting options.
• ID that shows your name and home address. See elections.bc.ca/id for the list of acceptable ID.
Vote at advance voting – Find advance voting places and the dates they are open below, or visit wheretovote. elections.bc.ca.
• Protective barriers and sanitization stations
Follow the instructions from election officials in the voting place to help maintain physical distancing. You will be asked to sanitize your hands before and after voting.
What should I bring if I vote in person?
Vote by mail If you requested a vote-by-mail package from Elections BC, return it as soon as possible. Vote-by-mail packages must be received by Elections BC by 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on Saturday, October 24. Mail your completed package as soon as possible or return it in person so that it is received before the deadline. See elections.bc.ca for a list of in-person drop-off locations.
Voting Places for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Advance Voting Places (open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on the dates listed)
Open Dates Fri Oct. 16
Thur Oct. 15
Sat Oct. 17
Sun Oct. 18
Bowen Island Comm School 1041 Mt Gardner Rd, Bowen Island, BC Gleneagles Golf Course Clubhouse 6190 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC
Pemberton Sec School 1400 Oak St, Pemberton, BC Sea to Sky Hotel 40330 Tantalus Rd, Squamish, BC Telus Whistler Conf Centre 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC The 55 Activity Centre - Great Room 1201 Village Green Way, Squamish, BC West Vancouver Presbyterian Church 2893 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC
Mon Oct. 19
Tues Oct. 20
Wed Oct. 21
General Voting Places (open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, October 24):
District Electoral Offices:
Bowen Island Comm School
Lions Bay Comm Hall
Telus Whistler Conf Centre
1041 Mt Gardner Rd, Bowen Island, BC
400 Centre Rd, Lions Bay, BC
4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC
Don Ross Middle School
Pemberton Sec School
Totem Hall
1115 Industrial Way Squamish, BC (778) 572-4410
42091 Ross Rd, Squamish, BC
1400 Oak St, Pemberton, BC
1380 Stawamus Rd, Squamish, BC
Garibaldi Highlands Elem School
Rockridge Sec School
Ts’Zil Learning Centre
2590 Portree Way, Squamish, BC
5350 Headland Dr, West Vancouver, BC
125 Lillooet Lake Rd, Mount Currie, BC
Gleneagles Golf Course Clubhouse
Sea to Sky Hotel
West Vancouver Presbyterian Church
6190 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC
40330 Tantalus Rd, Squamish, BC
2893 Marine St, West Vancouver, BC
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Candidates for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Candidate’s Name:
Financial Agent:
Keith Murdoch BC NDP
Caitlin Pope 5799 Wales St, Vancouver BC, V5R 0E6 (604) 619-6633
Jordan Sturdy BC Liberal Party
Gabrielle Loren 1004-175 Victory Ship way, North Vancouver BC, V7L 0G1 (604) 926-3808
Jeremy Valeriote BC Green Party
C Paul Dorland 5524 Old Mill Lane, Whistler BC, V8E 0C4 (416) 917-4115
elections.bc.ca / 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 6 1 - 8 6 8 3
Official Agent:
@ElectionsBC
NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY
Lil’wat Business Group honoured MOUNT CURRIE ORGANIZATION TAKES HOME INDIGENOUS BUSINESS AWARD
BY DAN FALLOON THE LIL’WAT BUSINESS GROUP has been bestowed an impressive honour. On Oct. 5, the BC Achievement Foundation announced that the organization was one of eight Indigenous Business Award winners, as the group won Community-Owned Business of the Year (Two or More Entities). CEO Kerry Mehaffey said the award is a major feather in the cap for the group. “It means a huge amount, just to be recognized across the province as a leader in business economic development and it’s a testament to our community leadership,” he said. The Lil’wat Business Group has three arms: Lil’wat Retail Operations LP, including the new gas station and post office, the Tsípun Supermarket at Xet’ólacw and Líl’wat Broadband Services; Lil’wat Forestry Ventures LP; and Lil’wat Construction Services LP.
FUELLED UP Lil’wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson at
the new Lil’wat Gas Station and post office, which are part of the Lil’wat Business Group’s holdings. FILE PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS
28 OCTOBER 15, 2020
Mehaffey said that the past year has been a successful one for the business, with the gas station and post office opening in September 2019 after 20 years of planning, even in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Mehaffey added that the forestry division, meanwhile, has seen no change in demand or workflow. While Mehaffey hasn’t received any specific indication from the BC
“It means a huge amount, just to be recognized across the province as a leader in business economic development and it’s a testament to our community leadership.” - KERRY MEHAFFEY
“It’s a testament to that long-term vision and tenacity of leadership of the community,” he said of the gas station opening. “The biggest challenge [during COVID] is a loss of our ability to plan into the future. Some of our retail locations had strong years as more people from the community stay home to shop directly in their communities, and traffic volumes have still been high past the new gas station site.”
Achievement Foundation about what put the group over the top, the foundation explained its principles in a release. “Each year, the Indigenous Business Award program recognizes Indigenous enterprises that create and expand opportunities, relationships and communities, all with the goal of a more inclusive and prosperous future,” chair Anne Giardini said in a release. “I am particularly
inspired by this year’s Awardees. All of them exemplify resilience and innovation during this time of challenges. This year’s Awardees demonstrate that integrating the practices of the past with the economies of the future benefits us all.” Lil’wat Business Group has supported several community projects over the years, and in terms of recent initiatives, Mehaffey is proudest of the language immersion classroom at Xet’ólacw Community School. As well, Mehaffey noted that the group has acquired parcels of land near the reserve, though there is no concrete plan for them at this time. Also on the horizon is the long-planned development of a gas station in Whistler’s Function Junction, which he hopes to get underway in 2021. With no award ceremony this year because of the pandemic, Lil’wat Business Group will instead be recognized, along with the other winners, in a social media campaign in November. Mehaffey said the BC Achievement Foundation recently sent a videographer for a community tour, interviews with Chief Dean Nelson, Councillor Maxine Bruce and himself to get a sense of the organization’s work in the community. n
NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY
Childcare centre public hearing to come Oct. 20 PEMBERTON COUNCIL BUSY ATTEMPTING TO FACILITATE SPACES, ECE WORKERS
BY DAN FALLOON AT ITS OCT. 6 regular council and Committee of the Whole meetings, Village of Pemberton (VOP) council addressed the lack of childcare space in the community as part of three separate items of business. Firstly, during the regular meeting, council gave the first two readings to a zoning amendment after a childcare centre applied to operate in the Portage Road commercial zone. The amendment would allow childcare centres in all commercial zones. The public hearing will take place during the Oct. 20 meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. Earlier in the day, new Pemberton Children’s Centre manager Bobby Boyd presented at council’s request. Boyd covered a variety of topics ranging from how the centre operates during the COVID-19 pandemic to how government could help childcare operate more effectively in the community. In terms of facilitating the field’s success, Boyd stressed that while finding government funding for spaces is important, it means little if wages for early childhood educators (ECEs) don’t become more attractive. “Space isn’t the issue,” said Boyd, who came to Pemberton from Vancouver Island this summer. “I’ve been part of projects where we’ve built beautiful daycare space and had plenty of room, but what it comes down to is we can’t staff it.” Currently, the centre’s staff members are mostly coming from Japan and South Korea, and their certificates are transferrable. Boyd noted that the pandemic has acutely highlighted issues, as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit was often higher than wages, while potential staff members say that they can earn significantly more and enjoy benefits such as a ski pass at a desk job in Whistler with far less of a health risk. “We really need to recognize early [childhood] educators as teachers, as educators, and pay them accordingly,” he said, noting that the centre offers $18 to $20 an hour to start, rising to $22. Boyd added that staff has an added workload because of the pandemic, with additional cleaning, sanitizing and handwashing for both themselves and the children. While the VOP is exploring free or subsidized ECE training, Boyd has observed that few are enrolling. “People are just not signing up for it,” he said. As cold and flu season approaches, Boyd said the centre is challenged in that schools are allowing children with runny noses to attend if they’ve tested negative for COVID-19. “That’s not a good thing because we’re
pretty much full capacity with the children in each room,” he said. “When we allow a runny nose in, when the family has done due diligence, taken a COVID test and it’s not COVID … that runny nose turns into a cold and suddenly we have one of our staff sick. Then we’re in trouble.” Recently, he said, nine staff members were out sick after a child with a runny nose was admitted. However, since children also got sick and stayed home, there were still enough staff members to take care of the children who showed up. “If we can’t find more staff to cover staff away sick, the alternative is closing a room, which means everyone loses out on care,” he said. Boyd said there are 49 spots in the centre, divided into three rooms based on age. The centre needs at least three ECEs in each room, but ideally has four. Back at the regular council meeting, council opted to resubmit its Childcare BC New Spaces Grant application, even though there is a miniscule chance it will be approved. Chief administrative officer Nikki Gilmore was wary of reapplying, wondering whether it was the right time to put its initial application, with a rate of about $60,000 per childcare space, when the threshold is $40,000 per space. “We’re wondering what benefit there might be to resubmitting when we know we don’t qualify,” she said. “We’re wondering if this is something we want to spend time on at this point, knowing we won’t get the funding.” Richman highlighted that at a recent meeting with Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen, he brought up the failed application and stressed that the $40,000 limit is not doable in Pemberton with its construction and development costs. “I’d like to continue fighting that fight,” he said. Councillor Ted Craddock wondered if there was a chance to tap the province for the $40,000 offered while the VOP found the remaining $20,000 per spot. “I don’t want to miss out on the 40 and wait a year or a year and a half to get these families support,” he said. “I think the community really needs that space if they’re going to get moms back to work and careers back on track.” Borrowing would require alternative approval process or referendum, with the latter option generally tied to an election. Coun. Ryan Zant, meanwhile, wondered how much staff effort would go into resubmitting. Gilmore said the process is through an online platform, and all fields will need to be filled out once again. “We probably wouldn’t have a lot of changes, but it would be more than clicking ‘Send’ again,” she said. adding while there wouldn’t be any additional research, staff would want to confirm their facts. ■
RE-ELECT
Jordan STURDY West Vancouver – Sea to Sky A strong economic recovery plan to restore confidence and rebuild BC Prioritization of regional transit to connect communities across the Sea to Sky Increased resources for parks and the natural environment Immediate action to support small business and local families Improvements to housing affordability and access to childcare www.votejordan.ca / JordanWestVanSeatoSky / Twitter: @jordansturdy / Jordan_sturdy_wvs2s 604.849.4014 votejordansturdy@gmail.com
AUTHORIZED BY DAVID GOLDSMITH, FINANCIAL AGENT FOR THE BC LIBERAL PARTY | 1-800-567-2257
Public No�ce
No�ce to Amend Business License Bylaw No. 855, 2018
Ques�ons? We’re Listening.
604.894.6135
admin@ pemberton.ca
www.pemberton.ca
In accordance with s. 59 (2) of the Community Charter no�ce is hereby given that the Council of the Village of Pemberton intends to amend Business Licence Bylaw No. 855, 2018 at the Regular Council Mee�ng to be held on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 9:00a.m. What is the Business Licence Amendment (Housekeeping) Bylaw No. 890, 2020 about? In general terms, the purpose of the proposed housekeeping bylaw amendment will be to: 1. Address minor changes to wording, of several defini�ons and clauses to improve clarity 2. Establishes a new Auxiliary Business Fee of $50 per loca�on if doing the same business in more than one loca�on 3. Amends and reduces the late payment fee if the Business Licence is renewed a�er January 31st 4. Removes the requirement to provide no�ce in wri�ng of a business closure What is the significance? The amending Bylaw will improve and clarify several sec�ons of the Bylaw and responds to feedback received from the Business community respec�ng the late payment fee. How do I get more informa�on? Copies of the proposed Bylaw and relevant background documenta�on may be inspected at the Village of Pemberton Office, 7400 Prospect Street during office hours from Thursday, October 8th to Monday, October 19th 2020 and also available online at www.pemberton.ca How can I provide Feedback? All persons, who consider they are affected by the proposed Amending Bylaw, will be provided a reasonable opportunity to make representa�on to Council in wri�ng. Wri�en submissions must be addressed to “Mayor and Council”, and must be received by, noon, Friday, October 16, 2020 to: Email: admin@pemberton.ca Fax: 604-894-6136 Ha Hard Copy: Corporate & Legisla�ve Services, P.O. Box 100, 7474 Prospect Street, Pemberton, BC Wri�en submissions received for the proposed Bylaw Amendment will be included in the Agenda Package and will be available on the Village of Pemberton website at www.pemberton.ca Sheena Fraser, Corporate Officer
VillageOfPemberton
www.pemberton.ca
OCTOBER 15, 2020
29
SCIENCE MATTERS
Public No�ce Ques�ons? We’re Listening.
No�ce to Amend Council Procedure Bylaw No. 788, 2015 In accordance with sec�on 123 (3) of the Community Charter no�ce is hereby given that the Council of the Village of Pemberton intends to amend Council Procedure Bylaw No. 788, 2015 at the Regular Council Mee�ng to be held on Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
(604) 894.6135
In par�cular, sec�on 18 Order of Proceedings and Business will be amended to adjust the order of proceedings by moving considera�on of Bylaw Readings forward in the agenda to follow Staff Reports. This change follows a recommenda�on by Ministerial Guidelines that if mee�ngs are to be held via electronic means, items that may be of greater public interest (ie: staff reports, bylaw presenta�on and readings) should be considered at the beginning of the mee�ng.
admin@ pemberton.ca
Other amendments to the Bylaw include minor housekeeping to correct numbering inconsistencies and clarifica�on of electronic par�cipa�on for commi�ee and commission members. A copy of the proposed Council Procedure Amendment (Order of Proceedings) Bylaw No. 888, 2020, is available on the Village of Pemberton website.
www. pemberton.ca
Ques�ons and comments can be directed to Sheena Fraser, Manager of Corporate & Legisla�ve Services, at 604-894-6135 ext 228 or sfraser@pemberton.ca.
www.pemberton.ca
We’ve got you covered.
Pick up the latest issue of your favourite read on stands throughout Whistler ever Thursday
Keith Murdoch Keith Murdoch to Sky Keith Murdoch for West Vancouver-Sea for Vancouver-Sea Sky for West West Vancouver-Seato Sky Keith Murdoch Keith Murdoch for West Vancouver-Sea toto Sky
West Vancouver-Sea toto Sky or WestforVancouver-Sea Sky
Keith Murdoch has a long history helping people Keith has history helping people and fighting for justice. a Labour Organizer KeithMurdoch Murdoch hasaaAs along long history helping people Keith Murdoch has long history helping people and fighting justice. As ahas Labour Organizer Keith Murdoch hasfor a long history helping people for more than fifteen years, he created and fighting for justice. As a Labour Organizer andfighting fighting for As justice. a Labour Organizer and for justice. a LabourAs Organizer for more than fifteen years, hehe has created long-lasting improvements for workers, their families, formore more than fifteen years, has created for than fifteen years, he has created for more than fifteen years, he has created ith Murdoch has a long history helping people long-lasting improvements fortofamilies, workers, their families, long-lasting improvements for the workers, their and communities within Sea Sky corridor long-lasting improvements for workers, their families, long-lasting improvements for workers, their families, d fighting for justice.and Ascommunities a Labour Organizer and within the Sea to Sky corridor communities within the Sea to Sky corridor and across British Columbia. His collaborative and across British Columbia. His collaborative and communities within theSea Sea Sky corridor and communities within the toto Sky corridor more than fifteen years, he has created and across British Columbia. Hisdone collaborative approach, energy, andand passion will get the job approach, energy, passion will get the job done and across British Columbia. His collaborative and British Columbia. His collaborative for theacross people ofenergy, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. ng-lasting improvements for workers, their families, approach, and passion will get the job done for the people of West Vancouver-Sea toget Sky. approach, energy, and passion will the done approach, energy, and passion will get the jobjob done d communities within the Sea to Sky corridor Whether making your life more affordable for theit’s people of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. or making sure kids and families get the support for the people of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. for the people of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. d across BritishWhether Columbia. His collaborative it’s making your life moreyou. affordable they need, Keith Murdoch’s priority is always Whether it’s making life more affordable proach, energy,or and passion will getand the your job done making sure kids families get the support Whether it’s making your life more affordable Whether it’s making your life more affordable or making sure kids and families the supportfor people Murdoch and Johnpriority Horganget are working the people of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. theyKeith need, Keith Murdoch’s is always you. or making sure kids and families get the support or making sure kids and families get the support they need, Keith Murdoch’s priority is you. like you, not those at the top. They’realways making life better they need, Keith Murdoch’s priority is always you. they in need, Keith Murdoch’s priority is always you. here West Vancouver-Sea to Sky by: hether it’s making your life more affordable Keith Murdoch and John Horgan are making sure kids and families get the support Keith Murdoch and John Horgan areworking workingfor forpeople people ey need, Keith Murdoch’s priority is always you. Keith Murdoch and John Horgan are working forfor people likeKeith you, not those and at the top.Horgan They’reare making life better Murdoch John working people
like you,thenot atthethe top. making life better • Fighting climatethose crisis through CleanBC climateThey’re plan like you, not those at the top. They’re lifelife better here in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky by: like you, not those at the top. They’re making better here in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky by:making • Working with local governments to improve public transportation in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky by: eith Murdochhere and John Horgan are working for people • Supporting people andVancouver-Sea businesses through COVID-19 to Sky by: here in West ke you, not those at down theontop. They’re making life better • Cracking real estate speculation • Investing in new schools and education ere in West Vancouver-Sea topublic Sky by:
• • • •
• Fighting the the climate crisis through thethe CleanBC climate • Fighting climate crisis through CleanBC climateplan plan • Fighting the climate crisis through the CleanBC climate plan keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca Fighting the climate crisis through the CleanBC climate plan •• Working local governments improve publictransportation transportation • Working withwith local governments to to improve public keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca • Working with local governments to improve public transportation Workingpeople with local governments to improve public transportation •• Supporting people businesses through COVID-19 • Supporting andand businesses through COVID-19 Fighting the climate crisis through theand CleanBC climate plan COVID-19 • Supporting people businesses through •• Cracking down on estate speculation Supporting people and businesses through COVID-19 • Cracking down on realreal estate speculation Working with local• governments public transportation Cracking downto onimprove real estate speculation •• Investing indown new schools public education Cracking on real estate speculation • Investing in new schools andand public education Supporting people and businesses throughand COVID-19 • Investing in new schools public education • Investing in new schools and public education Cracking down on real estate speculation : keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca
:keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca • Investing in new schools and public education keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca
: @KeithAMurdoch keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca : @KeithAMurdoch1 keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca
Authorized by Caitlin Pope, Financial Agent, 604-619-6633
keithmurdoch.bcndp.ca keith.murdoch@bcndp.ca
30 OCTOBER 15, 2020
To save wild salmon, Discovery Islands fish farms must go DURING THEIR miraculous but perilous journey from inland spawning grounds, down rivers, out to sea and back again years later, Pacific wild salmon often must pass open-net coastal salmon farms. Here they swim through waters that can harbour parasitic sea lice and harmful viruses and bacteria. In its 2012 report, the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River identified potential dangers to salmon migrating through the Discovery Islands between B.C.’s mainland and Vancouver Island. In response, the provincial
BY DAVID SUZUKI government put a moratorium on new fish farm tenures in 2013. It was set to expire Sept. 30, but B.C.’s snap election puts salmon farm policy in question. Sept. 30 was also the Cohen Commission’s deadline to remove the 18 existing Discovery Islands fish farms unless government could show they pose no more than “minimal risk of serious harm” to wild Fraser sockeye. These farms have continually failed to meet the “minimal risk” threshold. The aquaculture industry’s own data show 33 per cent of farms exceeded the sea lice limit while juvenile salmon were migrating past this year. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada review failed to consider sea lice impacts or the cumulative effects of the nine pathogens
penned in one place. They often attack a salmon’s head and neck and eat its skin, eventually killing it. They’re especially dangerous to juveniles migrating from freshwater to the ocean. Because salmon spend their lives inland and at sea, they beautifully illustrate the connections between ocean, freshwater and terrestrial ecology. They bring nitrogen from oceans to streams and rivers, where eagles, bears and other wildlife that feed on them spread it throughout the rainforests, providing nutrients that keep the forests strong. They are also integral to First Nations cultures and diets. When wild salmon disappear, ecosystems and ways of life collapse. Besides sea lice and pathogens like Piscine orthoreovirus, farmed Atlantic salmon escapes can threaten wild salmon populations. In 2017, a pen in Washington state owned by Canadian company Cooke Aquaculture broke open, releasing 300,000 Atlantic salmon into the Pacific and nearby waterways. Some were caught and it appears most eventually died and didn’t mix with wild salmon, as they would have on the Atlantic coast. But the incident convinced the state to phase out salmon farms by 2025. Oregon, California and Alaska have banned them. We should do the same. This year’s Fraser River sockeye salmon runs have been the lowest on record. To justify its continued existence in this sensitive environment, the aquaculture industry is sowing confusion around the uncertainty of evidence, but that doubt should inspire a precautionary approach.
The aquaculture industry’s own data show 33 per cent of farms exceeded the sea lice limit while juvenile salmon were migrating past this year. it assessed. Although seven of the nine risk assessments showed some degree of uncertainty (with two showing high levels), the review concluded the farms pose no more than minimal risk and can stay. Ignoring the pathogens’ cumulative impacts provides an incomplete view. Not including sea lice risks defies logic. Biologists and First Nations submitted evidence showing lice continue to harm wild salmon, despite control efforts. Those controls rely on chemicals that can harm the environment, and lice are becoming resistant to them. A consortium of 101 First Nations, along with sportfishing groups and ecotourism operators, demanded the farms’ removal. Sea lice that target wild salmon occur naturally but weren’t a problem before fish farms. In the ocean, fish can survive with a few lice attached. They fall off when the salmon return to freshwater. But sea lice thrive where thousands of salmon are
Feeding a growing human population is a challenge. We can’t continue plundering the seas and exhausting them of wild fish. But we must ensure that aquaculture is done in ways that don’t harm the environment. For fish farms, that likely means moving them to closed systems on land, which cost more, and growing less ecologically damaging species, like shellfish, which can have a lower profit margin. Short-term profits for big companies aren’t worth risking entire coastal ecosystems and ways of life. Amid the current climate and biodiversity crises, people must demand changes so food production meets human needs without destroying the natural world that feeds us. David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington. ■
No�ce of Public Hearing Zoning Bylaw Amendment (Child Care Centre) No. 889, 2020
Public Hearing Date: Tuesday October 20th, 2020 Time: 9 am Zoom Webinar ID: 840 7209 7931
Ques�ons? We’re Listening.
604.894.6135
admin@ pemberton.ca
What is the Zoning Bylaw Amendment (Child Care Centre) No. 889, 2020 about? The Zoning Bylaw Amendment will add “Child Care Centre” as a permi�ed principal use in all Commercial Zones including: C-1 (Town Centre Commercial), C-2 (Tourism Commercial), C-3 (Portage Road Commercial), C-4 (Service Commercial) and C-5 (Neighbourhood Pub Commercial). What is the significance? Wh This Zoning Bylaw Amendment aims to remove barriers and help facilitate the development of both private and public Child Care Centers in Pemberton. How do I get more informa�on? Copies of the proposed bylaw may be inspected at the Village of p Pemberton Office, 7400 Prospect Street during office hours from Thursday October 8th to Monday October 19th 2020 and also available online at www.pemberton.ca How can I provide Feedback? You may provide comment virtually at the online Public Hearing, or you may provide a wri�en submission prior to 4pm Monday October 19th, 2020. In order for wri�en submissions to be included in the Public Hearing agenda, they must be submi�ed by 12 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2020. All other submissions will be forwarded to Council before the start of the Public Hearing but will not be included on the agenda. To submit comments or inquire regarding addi�onal informa�on please contact: inqui Joanna Rees, Planner jrees@pemberton.ca Box 100, 7400 Prospect Street Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L0
www.pemberton.ca
Sheena Fraser, Corporate Officer
VillageOfPemberton
www.pemberton.ca
all candidates meeting FREE OF CHARGE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Register at whistlerchamber.com to get Zoom link
Your vote makes a difference!
Find out where your candidates stand and get answers to YOUR questions. The Whistler Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Pique Newsmagazine and Arts Whistler are delighted to host the virtual Whistler All Candidates meeting ahead of the provincial election. Moderated by: Mo Douglas
Resort Municipality of Whistler
Climate Big Moves Survey – Have your say Want to help Whistler reduce its climate impact? We are putting the finishing touches on the ambitious Climate Action Big Moves Strategy and want to hear from you. Work in the tourism or building sector? Then this survey is for you too. Share your input on Whistler’s six proposed Big Moves and identify community solutions on how we can all take action to dramatically reduce our community’s greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Compare your candidates and cast your vote - Provincial Election Day is Saturday, October 24! THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 6:00 – 8:00PM Register at whistlerchamber.com to get the Zoom link PRESENTING PARTNERS
Take the Climate Big Moves Survey now: surveymonkey.com/r/BigMoves
Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/BigMoves
whistlerchamber.com OCTOBER 15, 2020
31
FEATURE STORY
The
next
disruptor How might autonomous vehicles shape Whistler? By Braden Dupuis
32 OCTOBER 15, 2020
FEATURE STORY
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF MODERN HUMAN HISTORY, there have been key technological advancements or turning points that flipped society on its head in an instant—otherwise known as “disruptors.” Think of things like the introduction of the shopping centre in the 1950s, and its impact on mom n’ pop Main Street, or how cell phones—and then smartphones—changed how we communicate. Or the automobile, which appeared on the scene at the turn of the 20th century and had nearly completely eliminated the use of horses and carriages in major urban centres a dozen years later. Today, some of the world’s most profitable companies are fervently preparing for the next great disruptor: the autonomous vehicle. “Most people who’ve really thought about this think there is potential for pretty dramatic change in the way we live and work,” said real-estate economist and University of Alberta professor David Dale-Johnson at a Sept. 26 Whistler Learning Centre (WLC) panel discussion on autonomous vehicles. “But there’s some challenges, obviously.” Artificial Intelligence remains one hurdle (though it is improving rapidly), Dale-Johnson said, while others include things like adverse weather conditions, connectivity and consumer acceptance. “Adoption is a big deal,” he said. “I talked to a whole bunch of planners [and] city leaders in 2019; all of them said the big unknown is to what degree will people widely accept this—actually adopt the technology—and that’s a big unknown.” OCTOBER 15, 2020
33
FEATURE STORY
The AMOD model envisions a future in which the average person doesn’t own his or her own vehicle, but can make use of an app to “summon” an autonomous vehicle whenever necessary— think Uber without the human interaction. RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Here to help answer your financial questions in uncertain times It is always emotional to see markets drop significantly. But depending on your personal situation, it may be beneficial to stay invested. Here’s why: Historically, markets have recovered from downturns and produced gains. Those who stay invested have realized these gains in the long term. Many can benefit from staying invested and sticking to their long-term plan – and we can all benefit from focusing on our health and the health of those around us.
Ultimately, your most important asset is your health. Be safe, stay well and show compassion for those around you. If you’d like assistance with questions or financial uncertainty, please don’t hesitate to contact me for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
Don Brett, MBA, CIM, CFP Wealth Advisor 1-888-612-9566 | don.brett@rbc.com www.donbrett.com
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©2020 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved. 20_90892_SEU_001
34 OCTOBER 15, 2020
FEATURE STORY
The ‘AMOD’ way There’s a term for the hypothetical future that might soon be hoisted upon us by the next big disruptor: Autonomous Mobility On Demand (AMOD). The AMOD model envisions a future in which the average person doesn’t own his or her own vehicle, but can make use of an app to “summon” an autonomous vehicle whenever necessary—think Uber without the human interaction. A colleague of Dale-Johnson’s at the U of A estimates the AMOD model could save households up to $20,000 a year, he said. Of course, there is still a healthy skepticism in terms of AMOD feasibility. The Society of Automotive Engineers has developed a ranking system for vehicle automation, Dale-Johnson said, weighted on a scale of zero to five—zero being no automation, five being full, with four constituting a “very high” level of automation that still allows the user to step in, if necessary. While there are many Level 2 cars on the road today (the typical Tesla is a Level 2, Dale-Johnson noted), most cars would likely classify as a Level 1 (which include minor automated features like cruise control, for example). “[Tesla founder and CEO] Elon Musk, he thinks we’ll be at Level 5 actually very soon; at the same time, the guy who runs Toyota’s research institute thinks we may never get to Level 5,” Dale-Johnson said. The roadblock to full automation is uniquely philosophical, in a way. “The issue is, if you’re following a vehicle and all of a sudden a mattress falls off the roof of the vehicle right in front of you, is the car smart enough—does it have enough intellectual capacity—to know what it’s supposed to do?” Dale-Johnson said. Putting the philosophical conundrums aside, the adoption of the AMOD way would have profound effects on society. The most drastic would be less congestion on all roadways, far fewer accidents, and a sudden need for way less parking. Entire neighbourhoods would change and likely further densify, as driveways could be transformed into laneway housing. Whistler’s many parking lots might be redeveloped, Dale-Johnson said, with potential for more housing, parks or retail.
“Buried in here is how many people do we want to have in Whistler, but I think that’s a whole other panel,” he said. Ski and bike lifts would have to allow for autonomous vehicle drop-offs, and the vehicles themselves would need to accommodate skis and bikes. Autonomous buses or shuttles could operate between Whistler’s various neighbourhoods, as well as on the Sea to Sky from Vancouver, Dale-Johnson added. “But given Whistler, I would guess there’s still going to be people with pickup trucks and snowmobiles, and preferences for their own vehicle to do those things, and there’s nothing in here saying that that’s not going to be possible or permitted,” he said. Another question posed by the AMOD concept is one of privacy: do I want car companies to know my every movement? Dale-Johnson gave the example of Barcelona, “one of the most wired cities in the world.” There, the mayor simply said to the telecoms, “you can get this data, but it has to be non-connected to any individual,” Dale-Johnson said. “We have to be able to deal with it in a way that maintains the privacy of the individual, from whom came the data.”
Meet the Jetsons In promoting the WLC event, Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton, who served as moderator, found it hard to believe the words coming out of his own mouth. “I was saying, ‘Come, we’re talking about autonomous vehicles and flying cars,’ and then I’d laugh, because it seems so unbelievable,” Crompton said. But after a presentation from JR Hammond, CEO and founder of Canadian Air Mobility (CAM), the concept felt, ironically, much more grounded. “I’m trying to restrain my laughter every time I say flying car,” Crompton said. It’s a point Hammond has heard before. “Anyone that has referenced the cartoon The Jetsons, where they’re flying around in those little pods? That’s actually here,” Hammond said, adding that CAM and other industry partners
are actively working with regulators at all levels to make flying cars—or “advanced air mobility” (AAM)—a reality. Advancements in both battery and hydrogen fuel cells have made vertical takeoffs and landings a possibility, Hammond explained—think drones big enough to carry people—which will reduce the need for ground infrastructure like airports, runways or expanded highways, and wildly transform the way people and goods are transported. “We are looking at these vehicles carrying between six to 14 passengers, such that we have the economies of scale and those price points making it available for the general public, and not just for the upper one per cent,” Hammond said. “While the majority of these initial vehicles will have a pilot onboard in order to satisfy the high degree of safety regulations that we already have for air transport in the country, there’s a movement to become autonomous as quick as our regulations and safety standards can be mandated.” It’s tough to say when our new Jetsons reality will become commonplace, though Hammond noted there are a couple of companies in Canada currently going through their testing and certification process. The regulatory aspect poses a steep ascent, with everything from noise and visual disturbance to pollution requirements to be considered. “The really beneficial part is the drone industry has been working over the past decade and a half, [and] has painted a beautiful platform for us to build upon,” Hammond said. “[But] point blank, we do not have any regulations that currently exist for this, so we are working hand in hand with Ottawa on developing them out in sync with the operational opportunities.” In Whistler and beyond, AAM could have profound impacts. Hammond points to search-and-rescue operations as one area of unique local interest. “Having a natural, incorporated system through the mountainous areas, this piloted—and then very quickly autonomous—search-and-rescue opportunity showcases how additional human lives could be complimented by a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle similar
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebates Up to 75% available for Whistler single family homes, multi-unit residential buildings, and workplaces. whistler.ca/rebate
OCTOBER 15, 2020
35
FEATURE STORY
“This network is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together, including machines, objects and devices.”
say, autonomous vehicles or the police or fire being on the same internet as everybody else, you can slice it so that people are on secure lanes, basically, so there’s no one else in your lane,” Leathley said. “There’s some huge security implications there, but certainly an important thing to consider when designing wireless networks for autonomous vehicles.” There is “a whole ecosystem of things that need to come together” to make autonomous vehicles a reality, Leathley added, including 5G wireless spectrum licensing at the federal level and widespread infrastructure upgrades. Whistler is “really an interesting place” on that last point, Leathley said, as the upgrades to the Sea to Sky Highway completed for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games included a fibre optic cable for instantaneous video file transfer to Vancouver. “So they built this fibre to be able to do that, and really overbuilt it,” Leathley said. “So some of the infrastructure required in terms of Step 1, it is at least in part there, which is an important first step towards this.” Driving a car is a complicated process, and drivers must be able to react to pedestrians, streetlights, and even the unpredictable at a moment’s notice. “So if an autonomous vehicle is going to do the same thing, it’s got to have that same type of capability, and be able to do it in milliseconds, the same way that we do,” Leathley said, adding that in the pilots and trials taking place right now, autonomous vehicles are performing “dramatically” better than humans in terms of reaction time. With 5G, “we’re going to bring the data “[That] is where the safety element centres and the computation dramatically comes in: you don’t have drunk driving closer to the edge of the network … even associated with autonomous vehicles; you though it’s going the speed of light, going don’t have people speeding way over the to Toronto and back is still a bit of a ways,” limit,” he said. he said. “So all of these sort of risky behaviours, “So that has a huge implication in terms autonomous vehicles are now dealing with, of certainly the speed but also some of the but you do need to have that capability in privacy implications, as well.” place so that the car can see or be aware 5G (the fifth generation of broadband of certainly the other vehicles, people and network technology) is said to be up to 100 cyclists, and all these sorts of things. times faster than 4G, with lightning-fast “So that’s where a 5G network is a really reaction times and the potential for network important building block.” slicing—crucial in ensuring autonomous Find a video of the full panel discussion vehicles are safe. at whistlerlearningcentre.com/course/ “So instead of all of the traffic related to, av-event/. ■
- Peter Leathley
to that of a helicopter, [but] with much more nimbleness, a quieter noise profile, and operating on a zero-emissions aspect,” he said. The benefits to tourism are clear, as arrivals to YVR could board autonomous flights direct to Whistler, but there’s also broad implications for remote First Nations communities, Hammond pointed out. “There is a massive opportunity for this technology that doesn’t require the ground infrastructure to start creating the connection pieces to deliver medical services … to areas that conventional ground transportation has been a strain,” he said.
The 5G revolution For all the promise shown by autonomous vehicles, none of it will be fully realized without the advancement of 5G technology. “This network is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together, including machines, objects and devices,” said Peter Leathley, director of technology strategy with TELUS. The way much of the network is built today, phone signals travel from towers to fibre optics, then to Downtown Vancouver before heading east to Toronto and south to Seattle, Leathley said.
Now ng! Hiri
OPEN 10-8
WE CUT & COLOUR • NOW HIRING OPEN UNTIL 8PM • SINCE 1994
36 OCTOBER 15, 2020
Vote for your favourite Whistler people, places, parties and more!
Best of
Whistler
www.piquenewsmagazine.com/vote
Results will be published in our December 31st issue. Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, November 8th, 2020. Only online submissions will be accepted. No photocopies, faxes or mailed entries. Only one entry per email address will be used. Please note we track user registration from individual IP addresses. We reserve the right to eliminate contest entrants if fraud is suspected. Pique makes every effort to create a concise list of Whistler businesses in the multiple choice drop downs. If you are a business owner in Whistler we encourage you to check the details and email us with corrections and omission suggestions. Email traffic@wplpmedia.com.
SPORTS THE SCORE
Osborne-Paradis announces retirement WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB RACER, FOUR-TIME OLYMPIAN LAST RACED IN 2018
BY DAN FALLOON AFTER A DEVASTATING crash during training in 2018, Manny Osborne-Paradis was determined to race on the FIS World Cup circuit again, even after having 13 screws placed in his rebuilt left leg. From a physical standpoint, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum was well on track to achieve that goal in 2020-21, but even after putting in two years of hard rehabilitation, Osborne-Paradis opted to retire, making his decision official with an announcement on Oct. 13. Osborne-Paradis, 36, said that having to spend a season hunkered down in Europe away from his family—during a pandemic, no less—was too much to bear. “One is that, with COVID, I’m going to have to be away from my family so much for this,” he said. “This has already been quite an uphill battle to get back.” While rehab was a challenging process that didn’t end up with the planned payoff, Osborne-Paradis said, especially with two young kids at home, he’s been better served for having done it. “At the end of the day, I put in all the work because I wanted to get back, but it needed to be done. Without the determination to want to get back, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “My
CALLING IT A CAREER Manny Osborne-Paradis announced his retirement on Oct. 13, 2020.
FILE PHOTO BY GEPA COURTESY OF ALPINE CANADA
38 OCTOBER 15, 2020
body feels really good … I can go for a run. I can go mountain biking. I’ve been going on some hikes. It’s pretty good. “Every time I take the next step and I’m worried that it’s going to swell up and be so painful, it’s the complete opposite. I don’t feel it the next day. Everything’s great. “The rehab was tough, but now I get to live my best life now because of it.” Osborne-Paradis, who grew up in North Vancouver and now lives in Invermere, was originally set to rejoin the team for the tail end of the 2019-20 campaign, but at an appointment to remove one of the screws, doctors realized that his meniscus wasn’t properly reattached, which set him back. “I was going to have to take this winter as a progression to snow and to racing and then, hopefully at the end of the season, go in a couple races, which is fine,” he said. “There’s a commitment to go over to Europe for months on end, with a two-week quarantine.” That led Osborne-Paradis to consider his health during the pandemic, in light of how many different public spaces he’d have to enter. Osborne-Paradis said the “tipping point” for him was watching the documentary The Weight of Gold, which covers the mentalhealth challenges faced by Olympic athletes including Michael Phelps, Lolo Jones, Bode Miller and Shaun White. At his first training session after watching it, Osborne-Paradis was doing one-kilometre sprints and his decision came quickly. “You get to the point where you keep pushing, where you want more—what I’ve done my whole career—I literally just stopped halfway through and started
walking,” he said. “At the end, I just said, ‘I think I’m done’ and that was it. “I walked back to the car, went home and I told my wife.” While Osborne-Paradis said that he’d never felt some of the extreme issues the documentary delves into, such as suicide and deep depression, it was another reminder of the battle that awaited him ahead. “You’re fighting for your best interests and the team’s always fighting for the team’s best interests and it’s always kind of a grind,” he said. “I’m going to have to fend for myself to get training.” The four-time Olympian, who had a best Games finish of 13th in the downhill in Turin in 2006, had many individual accomplishments over the course of his career, winning three World Cup races and podiuming eight other times, as well as claiming his first World Championships medal, a bronze, in super-G in 2017. Even so, Osborne-Paradis’ fondest moments are touring with fellow Canadian Cowboys Benjamin Thomsen, Erik Guay, Francois Bourque, John Kucera, Dustin Cook, Mike Janyk and Jan Hudec. “When I look back, the biggest and proudest moment I have—and it’s funny to me because it’s an individual sport—is the Canadian Cowboy team, being part of something so special,” he said. Osborne-Paradis said that between Crazy Canucks and the Cowboys, there were strong racers like Thomas Grandi and Rob Boyd, but the Cowboys were the next successful group of male Canadian skiers. “With it being a group, it was just so
fun to show up to races every weekend and being able to podium,” he said. “Almost every Canadian Cowboy has a World Championship medal, so to be part of that group, the camaraderie that we have and spending decades together, it’s the best memory. “We had our spats and we had our victories, but we never questioned the process. We never really understood how good we were, but looking back, it was a fantastic time to be part of ski racing.” Next up for Osborne-Paradis is completing an undergraduate degree in business and entrepreneurial studies at Royal Roads University over the next two years. Taking a page from his training approach as an athlete for how to properly prepare, Osborne-Paradis concluded that his education was the top priority. “I’d love to finish my undergrad and then I’d have the right tools for the jobs I want to participate in,” he said, adding he hopes to remain in the ski world. “I haven’t told anybody that I’m retiring and I’ve had so many job offers,” he added with a laugh. “A couple of my mentors said, ‘Take your time. Wade through the offers. Figure out what’s important to you.’” Ever since coming to the conclusion that his racing days are behind him, Osborne-Paradis has come to be more at peace all the time. “Every day, I’ve felt better and better about this decision,” he said. “It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders, and not trying to be the best in the world at something every day is a relief.” n
SPORTS THE SCORE
First Nations Snowboard Team makes pivot NEW INDIGENOUS LIFE SPORT ACADEMY EMBRACES UNSTRUCTURED ACTIVITIES
BY DAN FALLOON CHELSIE MCCUTCHEON GREW up as part of the First Nations Snowboard Team (FNST). But with the organization broadening its focus after rebranding as the Indigenous Life Sport Academy (ILSA) in June, the Squamish resident is embracing the additional opportunities for her children, 13-year-old Cullan and eight-year-old Kaida. McCutcheon, who works with the ILSA as the Whistler Blackcomb Snowboard Coordinator and Squamish Nation Mountain Bike Manager, said that while physical activity itself is important, the act of doing it can hold additional significance. “It’s more like a mission that started with my parents 35 years ago. They grew up as teen parents on the reserve and they wanted something different for our family and so they focused on applying me into skiing and on the ski team to create that positive social change,” said McCutcheon, who is Wet’suwet’en. “That vibrates through my children because now it’s a natural part of our family and them calling Whistler Blackcomb their home mountain, that’s the legacy of our family’s decisions when I was a baby.” McCutcheon said the FNST broke down economic barriers to allow her to not only access the sport but also reconnect with the land. She’s glad to see the program evolve into the ILSA in order to create chances for Indigenous youth to take part in rock climbing, mountain biking, skateboarding and hiking. “Economically, it’s generally not accessible or easily accessible and programs like the Indigenous Life Sport Academy open up that barrier,” she said. Additionally, McCutcheon said participation in these activities helps to bridge gaps between Indigenous and nonIndigenous communities, which she saw as part of the FNST and as recently as this month’s women’s rock-climbing clinic. ILSA executive director Court Larabee said the shift has been underway for some time now as it moves away from a focus on high-level competition and spotlights love of the sport rather than an “us-versus-them” mentality. “My focus was never in the world of competition,” he said. “We were making small internal changes throughout the years and then when COVID hit and our programming was cut so violently quickly over the winter, we were left with a little bit of surplus budget. That surplus itself, we put into the rebrand and launched.” Larabee’s instincts were confirmed after the program surveyed participants about
YOUR WINTER DRIVING SEASON EXPERTS ALL MAJOR TIRE BRANDS FULL-SERVICE / FULL-VALUE AUTO SHOP OFF-SEASON TIRE STORAGE SERVICE OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY
whether they still wanted to compete. 1216 Alpha Lake Road, Function Junction, Whistler “About six of them out of 300 said yes,” Tel 604.932.5347 // smdauto.com // tirecraft.com he said. “Listening to my own intuition and knowing what they wanted proved that they wanted the exact same thing. “They just want to have fun in a progressive space and they still want to excel in the sport, but the focus of competition is so quick and far between. You have this small window to be great and you need this excess amount of support and surplus.” While the FNST had spread its reach across the country, the ILSA will startWe small, Wekeep keep you you playing playing with with both both physiotherapy physiotherapy and and massage massage We keep you playing with both physiotherapy and massage offering programming to all Indigenous We We keep keep you you playing playing with with both both physiotherapy physiotherapy and and massage massage youth in the Sea to Sky starting with Lil’wat and Squamish nations and those in between. “We’re going to be doing activities that you can do for life, where you don’t need a team, you don’t need a practice space, you don’t need to wait for anything,” www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com Larabee said. “You can simply pick up your www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com 604 962 0555 skateboard, your golf clubs, your snowboard 604 604962 962 0555 0555 604 604 962 9620555 0555 and do what we all do, just slide away some of your daily stresses.” In particular, Larabee said, skateboarding has seen strong uptake, with roughly 120 new participants joining up. There is also a skateboard donation program within the system, he said. Purchase used cross country and *backcountry ski gear or sell your used “That gift of a skateboard, we know, can equipment. Local retailers will also attend with great deals. absolutely change lives,” he said, adding When: Saturday Oct 24, 2020 that the academy’s first skate camp is set for this weekend. Drop Off Gear: 9:00 – 11:00 In the future, the academy will look to Shop the Swap 11:00 – 12:00 MEMBERS ONLY offer sports such as surfing, while he’s open 12:00 – 2:00 Everyone Welcome to other sports not currently on the radar. Pick Up Cash or un-sold Gear 2:00 – 3:00 “Anyone who’s championing or is interested in these unstructured sports, Where: Whistler Creekside Underground Parking Lot 1 whether we offer them or not currently, get your membership it’s an opportunity for us to grow our own at www.whistlernordics.com organization,” he said. Check out our online auction at In addition to fostering participation in 32auctions.com/WhistlerNordics2020 *New this year: We are now accepting and sport, Larabee hopes to create a mentality Open Until Nov. 6th selling backcountry equipment of participants creating opportunities for others. Through a partnership with the Indigenous Sports and Recreation Council, the academy provides free training for youth to become coaches or guides to allow them to give back to the program, helping it stay sustainable, and gives them the tools to pursue a career. Past participants are making their mark in a variety of fields, Larabee said taking on on leadership roles in politics and business. “The impact that we had with snowboarding is only going to be returned Give to over 30 funds and see your impact grow. tenfold as we add all these different sports,” he said. McCutcheon, for her part, is seeing the positive effects in her son. “He already knows that he’s going to be a leader within the sport as his first job Investing in a thriving community, together. experience,” she said. whistlerfoundation.com/give For more, visit lifesportcanada.org. ■
Our RMTs Looking Looking for forare one oneback place place Looking for one place Looking Looking for for one one place place and working get to toease ease those thoseto aches aches to ease those aches to toand ease ease those those aches aches you ‘back in action’ and pains? pains? and pains? and andpains? pains?
XC SKI SWAP The Whistler Nordics annual ski SWAP is happening!
Your gift grows here.
OCTOBER 15, 2020
39
VELOCITY PROJECT
Rise of the Revivers: Part 1 YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, JUST BE WILLING TO FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE COVID-19 HAS MADE Lisa Sambo want to say, “It’s good to see you.” More than that, it’s made her acutely aware of how much she’d like to hug people, to greet them with an over-the-top enthusiasm, to tell them
BY LISA RICHARDSON she loves them. She laughs at herself when she shares this with me. “You know what I mean, right?” She thought about getting T-shirts printed with “I love you” written on them, but then she tried to imagine her father wearing one. Not everyone can enthuse with equal openness. (We huggers and casual I-love-you droppers are aware that we are outliers.) And so she thumbed through an online dictionary of greetings and phrases, and finally settled on “It’s good to see you.”
ÁMA S7ATŚXENTSÍNA! Sambo is an early childhood educator by training, the Director of the N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre and a member of the N’Quatqua First Nation. She had been inspired by a rousing call to action issued by Wanosts’a7, Dr. Lorna Williams, a Lil’watul leader in education and an internationally lauded champion of language revitalization.
LOVE FOR LANGUAGE Attendees sing the Women’s
Warrior Song at the HELISET T E SK´ÁL (Let the Languages Live) international conference in June 2019. YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT
40 OCTOBER 15, 2020
“Indigenous languages, the languages of our land, of each of our lands, are spoken nowhere else on the planet, so when they go, they’re wiped from the land. And we cannot let that happen. Our languages are the voice of our lands. Our languages keep our connections to the ancestors. They’re our connections to the descendants, it’s the legacy, wisdom and knowledge that we leave those who come after us, and we need to keep clear about those responsibilities that we have to our descendants. I have university credentials but these are my true credentials for speaking about language revitalization: I have known language loss. I have known what it’s like not to be able to communicate, not to have a voice, not to be understood, not to be able to make myself understood. I know what that feels like. When I came back from residential school and my spirit was broken, it was the old people who I lived amongst, who recognized it and did something about it. So I relearned my language.” The video of Wanosts’a7 (Williams) speaking these words, addressing a conference was, says Sambo, “like a language love bomb.” So, last June, she attended the HELISET TŦE SḰÁL (Let the Languages Live) international conference, in Victoria, B.C. It was the only Indigenous-led international conference held to mark the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages. The conference brought together more than 1,000 language specialists, Knowledge Keepers and community champions from 20 countries. Williams was a keynote speaker. Sambo, who is quite happy living a quiet life in D’Arcy, and doesn’t seek out big crowds,
big conferences or big adventures, was blown away by the experience. And overwhelmed. And not sure where the heck to start. More precisely, Sambo felt fear and shame. She’d been working at the daycare at the N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre since 2005. Language and culture were always on the agenda. “But we always focused on culture,” she admitted. “Language just felt so unattainable. So overwhelming.” So many ways they might do things wrong. And not even know it. So, all the kids would really learn to say in Ucwalmícwts was: “There’s six green frogs.” Sambo grieved this. Not only does she have to answer to the questions of parents (“what’s that going to do for my son?”) and funders and bureaucrats (“how did you spend this money?”), she also has an eight-year-old daughter who asks even harder-to-answer questions, the out-loud and the underlying ones, like, who am I? And, what is my place in this world? At the conference, she learned that a good place to start (so that your daughter can learn that there are words and teachings that clearly and beautifully speak to her place in the world and the great love the ancestors and the spirits and the land have for her) to revitalize language in your community, is with a language-needs assessment. Ask the community: “Where are we at with our language?” The First Peoples’ Cultural Council has been doing this work for a long time—and doing it well—against odds, brick walls and strategically placed stumbling blocks. It’s why B.C. has one of the greatest diversities of Indigenous languages anywhere, and why B.C. had the capacity to host an international
conference. They have developed resources to support language needs assessments. There is money available. And there is the tragic gap, a vast delta between what can be done, and the actually doing of it. Sambo didn’t really want to wade into that delta, alone. She definitely didn’t want to put out a survey that would require her relatives to say, ‘They put pins and needles in my tongue to stop me speaking the language.’ She didn’t really want to quantify the amount of pain and loss that surged in, in response to the question: where are we at with language revitalization in our community. “Knowing that this would be required, for me to ask those questions, and listen to those answers, and notice my uncomfortableness with it, and to continue to breathe … that is the part that terrified me,” said Sambo. And knowing that she wanted her daughter to be able to play with words, to play with her language, as joyfully as an eight year old should, moved her into that place of discomfort. Anyone can order a T-shirt. All are welcome to place an order at https:// urstore.ca/group/nquatqua-tshirt-popuppd?fbclid=IwAR1ZnTrlVQB56Dhrvwwb3H 6V6BRahDSJ4jk64rlEPuhJE3gu5NjKioA7 LU8 before Oct. 29. Pick up Pique next week, Oct. 22, for Part 2 of this series or go online to piquenewsmagazine.com. The Velocity Project: how to slow the f--k down and still achieve optimum productivity and life happiness. ■
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH
OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Entry by reservation only; book early to avoid disappointment. Book your timeslot up to 72 hours in advance for each separate activity online – whistler.ca/mpsc or by phone – 604-935-PLAY (7529) GROUP FITNESS SCHEDULE OCTOBER 15 THURSDAY
I Sweat It
OCTOBER 16 OCTOBER 17 OCTOBER 18 OCTOBER 19 OCTOBER 20 FRIDAY
I Low
SATURDAY
I Body
Out – Louise 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Impact: Endurance – Beth 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Pump Boot Camp – Jess 7:45-8:45 a.m.
I Low Impact: Strength & Stretch - Louise 9-10 a.m.
I Sweat Effect – Beth 9-10 a.m.
SUNDAY
F Sunday
Fun Day – STEP! $5 – Liz 8:30-9:30 a.m.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
I Low Impact I Sweat
OCTOBER 21 WEDNESDAY
I Low Impact: Endurance – Andy 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Endurance – Steve 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Effect – Beth 7:30-8:30 a.m.
I Low Impact: Strength & Stretch – Jess 9:15-10:15 a.m.
R Gentle Fit for Seniors – Marie–Anne (Online Only) 9-10 a.m.
I Low Impact I High Impact Strength & Class – Andy Stretch – Beth 9-10 a.m. 9-10 a.m.
I Covid Yoga R Gentle Fit for Seniors – – Laura 10:30-11:30 a.m. Diana (Online Only) 1-2 p.m.
I Zumba – Susie 10:45-11:45 a.m.
I Mountain Ready Fitness – Steve 9-10 a.m.
R Gentle Fit I Aqua Fit Deep – Marie– for Seniors – Anne Diana (Online 10-11 a.m. Only) 11-12 p.m.
I Zumba – Susie 12-1 p.m.
R Yoga Tune Up® Hip Help for Chronic Sitters - Laura 3:30-5 p.m.
R Yoga for Kids – Heidi 3:15-4 p.m.
I Zumba – Carmen 12-1 p.m.
F Spin – Courtney 5:15-6:15 p.m.
F Spin – Courtney 5:15-6:15 p.m.
I Mountain Ready Fitness – Steve 5:15-6:15 p.m.
I Zumba – Rachel 6:45-7:45 p.m.
I Zumba – Carmen 6:45-7:45 p.m.
F Dryland Training – Garret 6:45-7:45 p.m.
R Yoga Class Pass Stretch and Restore – Rya (Online Only) 7:30-8:30 p.m.
R Grrrl’s Boot Camp – Jess 4-4:45 p.m.
F FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION Flex-reg’ classes have a separate fee and allow you to register for classes on the days that fit your schedule.
I Body Pump Boot Camp – Jess 5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
R REGISTERED FITNESS Registered fitness classes have a separate fee and a defined start and end date. Pre-registration is required for the entire set of classes.
F Dryland Training – Garret 6:45-7:45 p.m.
R Yoga Class Pass, Mind Body Stretch – Heather (Online Only) 7:30-8:30 p.m.
I INCLUDED FITNESS These classes are included with your price of admission for no extra charge. See exact schedule of classes at the sports centre or online at: whistler.ca/recreation
R Yoga Class Pass Stretch & Restore – Rya (Online Only) 7:30-8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
12:15-1:15 p.m.
12:15-1:15 p.m.
12:15-1:15 p.m.
1:45-2:45 p.m.
1:45-2:45 p.m.
1:45-2:45 p.m.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
POOL SCHEDULE
Lap swim and family swim times available daily by reservation only at whistler.ca/swim.
whistler.ca/recreation | whistler.ca/notices | 604-935-7529 @RMWhistler |
@rmwhistler |
@rmowhistler
RESUMING DAILY AS OF OCTOBER 19
Space is limited per timeslot. Pre-registration is required Please come dressed for your session and only bring essential items. Limited storage options are available for personal belongings.
whistler.ca/skate
Early Bird pricing is only available until November 8.
PUBLIC SKATE SCHEDULE THURSDAY
PUBLIC SKATE
EPICURIOUS
Whistler Village Craft Beer Month brings breweries to the resort EVENTS RUN AT VENUES AROUND TOWN THROUGH OCTOBER
BY ALYSSA NOEL
FALL SPECIALS
3 41 Course Dinner
for
$
AVAILABLE 7 DAYS A WEEK
ONLY IN ...
The Attic
ABOVE 21 STEPS
2
Buy
Appetizers
1
Get
Free
AVAILABLE SUNDAY TO THURSDAY
RESERVATIONS 604.966.2121 w w w. 2 1 s t e p s . c a 42 OCTOBER 15, 2020
WHEN GIBBONS WHISTLER had to pare back the popular Whistler Village Beer Festival in September—including cancelling its two-day main tasting event—there was still more craft beer to celebrate. So, they thought, why not continue the festivities for an entire month? “We can’t get 5,000 people together in a closed-in environment because you can’t do gatherings right now,” said Joey Gibbons, CEO with Gibbons Whistler. “But we’ve got all these relationships. The breweries all love to come to Whistler. We’ve always been super inclusive with other venues and hotels in town and worked closely with the Resort Municipality of Whistler. One thing Whistler does better than anyone else anywhere else I’ve done business is our ability to collaborate and work together on initiatives.” To that end, the company decided to host the first-ever Whistler Village Craft Beer Month throughout October. From Oct. 1 to 31, various venues around town have teamed up with a range of B.C. breweries to host different events. “There are so many incredible craft breweries from around the province,” Gibbons said. “People are passionate about what they do and what they’re about. You get them up here to tell their story and it’s this wonderful thing.” One example: the Steamworks Brewmaster Dinner that took place on Oct. 8 at Black’s Pub. It sold out (although, these days, that means 30 tickets rather than 200). “I saw our own team get excited about it,” Gibbons said. “These are hard times. [We’re] trying to get people together in a safe way for celebration in a time of such uncertainty.” Depending on your perspective, events are either half over or half left. For the coming weekend, they range from a beerinfused dinner with Howe Sound Brewing at Stonesedge Kitchen to Deep Cove Tap Takeover & Slider Pairings at The Longhorn
CRAFT CHEERS Black’s Brewmaster dinner in partnership with Steamworks was a popular event during Whistler Craft Beer Month, which runs through October.
PHOTO BY ROB PERRY
Saloon and Brunch Brews with Coast Mountain at The Raven Room. Gibbons said he doesn’t have one specific event he’s looking forward to, but rather, it’s “more about hearing from venues that are appreciative—almost other people’s places moreso than my own. I love seeing our team celebrating and going on their own to enjoy it, but I love seeing the collaborative work in the community and seeing people get on board.” Yet another glaring omission on the year’s events calendars is Halloween. One event to help fill the gap is the Halloween Tinny Takeover with Backcountry Brewing at Garfinkel’s on Oct. 29 from 4 to 10 p.m. Across the province, new rules have meant that nightclubs like Garf’s have had to adjust their hours—and keep music to a talking level—which has presented challenges. “We went from being a place with a line up and 330 people dancing to closing at 10 p.m. and no music above speaking levels,” Gibbons said. “When you’re in a business where you get happiness from serving others, it’s tough. It’s tough for our
team. Being able to do something we enjoy is a win. We’re doing stuff and other places are getting on board and bringing energy.” While adhering to public safety rules has been a challenge, it’s necessary, he added. “Most everyone does it in a nice, safe way and follows rules out there,” he said. “Every day is tough and it’s hard on the managers, staff, authorities, mayors, CAOs—everyone. But we’ve got a tough team, a tough town, a resilient town. Local entrepreneurs are out there hustling and have been doing it for seven months straight, trying to stay alive, trying to keep banks happy, and pay the bills and understand what the rules are.” So far, the craft brewery events have drawn visitors up to Whistler for the weekends. “People are coming out from Alberta, even Montreal,” Gibbons said. “I think we’re going to see Whistler like it used to be a while ago where we saw a lot more Canadians and people from the North Shore.” To see the full list of events running through to Oct. 31 and to get tickets visit gibbonswhistler.com/festivals-events/ whistler-craft-beer-month/schedule. n
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
ESCAPE TO MEXICO
23
$
THREE COURSE MENU
2 MEALS FOR THE PRICE OF 1
AVAILABLE 7 DAYS A WEEK! Sunday to Thursday 5pm – 9:00pm Friday & Saturday 4pm – 10pm At the Base of Whistler Mountain in the Sundial Hotel 12-4340 Sundial Crescent / 604.962.4450
Present this voucher and get a second meal of equal or less value for free, with the purchase of two beverages. Valid Monday-Friday for dine-in only, from October 19th to November 13th, 2020.
FOLLOW US ON Insta
www.themexicancorner.ca
LAND ACT: NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A DISPOSITION OF CROWN LAND
Take notice that the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District from Pemberton, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNROD), Surrey for a Statutory Right of Way situated on Provincial Crown land located at Britannia Beach, Parcel A, Except Part on Plan BCP10055, District Lot 891, Group 1 New Westminster, District Plan BCP7077.
Resort Municipality Municipalityof of Whistler Whistler Whistler Village property propertyowners, owner, managers Whistler Village managers and merchants and merchants
The winter season is with us again and we would like to take this opportunity to As the winter seasonproperty is with us again, we’and d likemerchants to take this to of the remind all owners, managers in opportunity Whistler Village remind owners, propertythe managers and roofs, merchants thelandings importance of keeping importance of keeping walkways, stairsof and of stairs adjacent walkways, roofs,and stairs and landings adjacent their Itstores and properties free of to their stores properties free of ice andtosnow. is essential that customers ice and snow. It is essential that feel customers andcomfortable guests visiting our Village feeltravel safe and guests visiting our Village safe and in being able to and comfortable in being able to travel freely about the area. freely about the area.
The Lands File number for this application is 2412400. Comments on this application may be submitted in two ways: 1)
Online via the Applications and Reasons for Decision Database website at: https://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/applications.
2)
By mail to the Senior Project Manager, Marli Bodhi, at 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0.
Comments will be received by the Ministry of Forests Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development until November 8, 2020. Comments received after this date may not be considered. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact Information Access Operations at the Ministry of Technology, Innovation, and Citizens’ Services in Victoria at: www.gov.bc.ca/citz/iao/.
walkways, roofs, You are required requiredto to clear snow and ice from walkways, roofs, stairs stairsand andlandings landings adjacent to adjacent to stores stores and andproperties propertiesby 10 a.m. daily. RMOW Property Property Maintenance RMOW MaintenanceBylaw BylawNo. No.810 810 winter by: Get ready for winter by: 1. Stocking (not road salt) and shovels 1. Stockingup upon onice-melting ice-meltingproducts products (not road salt) and shovels and ramps around your property 2. Checking Checkingthe theheat heattracing tracingononstairs stairs and ramps around your property Thanks in Thanks inadvance advancefor foryour yourcooperation. cooperation. Download Bylaw at at www.whistler.ca/bylaw in the Downloadthe theProperty PropertyMaintenance Maintenance Bylaw www.whistler.ca/bylaw in the Frequently Requested Frequently RequestedBylaws Bylawssection. section.
Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/bylaw OCTOBER 15, 2020
43
ARTS SCENE
‘I want the act of being alive to be my job’ ANTHROPOLOGIST, BOTANIST AND AUTHOR WADE DAVIS’ ADVICE ON LIVING A RICH LIFE
BY BRANDON BARRETT YOU CAN’T WRITE a profile of Wade Davis, the headliner of this year’s Whistler Writers Festival, without mentioning the long list and diverse array of his interests and achievements: Anthropologist, botanist, photographer, filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, historian, political commentator, professor, and author of 23 books. He has scoured the darkest corners of the Amazon for rare plants, spent a year in the rough-and-tumble logging camps of the Haida Gwaii, studied voodoo rituals and the so-called zombies of Haiti, and braved the frigid cold of the Arctic. In short, Davis has lived the kind of globe-trotting, adventure-fuelled life that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Dos Equis commercial, and in hindsight, appears like the product of a meticulously crafted career plan. So it comes as a relief to hear that Davis once suffered the same self-doubt and uncertainty over his life’s path that most young people do. “No young person in history was more confused, more anxious, more almost
A LIFE WELL LIVED Wade Davis is in
conversation with CBC’s Vicki Gabereau on Oct. 17 as part of the Whistler Writers Festival’s virtual Saturday Night Gala. PHOTO SUBMITTED
44 OCTOBER 15, 2020
insane with uncertainty as yours truly,” he admits. “In retrospect, I was just in the process of doing the most creative thing one can do, which is build the pieces of one’s own life. It takes time for something to come into being that has never existed before, and that is the whole wonder and complexity of a unique human life.” What separated Davis from his peers at the time—besides his precocious young mind and tireless work ethic, of course— was an unrelenting desire to figure out his place in the world coupled with an inability to compromise. “For at least a full decade, when other people were far and away into conventional options, in a sense, I remained this free spirit. Eventually it all came together with my first book [1985’s The Serpent and the Rainbow], and I realized, ‘Oh, that’s what I am. I’m a storyteller.’ “I suppose, in a sense, I gave my destiny time to find me.” It’s the kind of patience that Davis stresses to young people in his orbit, who often feel like they have to rush off to follow some rigid career path to arrive at an interesting and fulfilling life. “We have this idea that a career is something you try on like a coat, and then you wear it for the rest of your life. The truth is, especially in today’s world, it’s very difficult for people to find a single outlet in which to plug an entire life,” he says. “As a young person, I couldn’t imagine a
single career to which I would dedicate my entire life. For me at least—and I’m not in any way denigrating these professions—but the idea of being a dentist or an accountant or a lawyer and having to separate work life and recreation from family life just never made sense to me. I want the act of being alive to by my job.” It was a lesson Davis learned firsthand one day as a young twenty-something at the law office his sister was articling at. Fresh off of his research stint in the Amazon, Davis kept his options open by applying to both law school and grad school for botany. In the lobby of the law office, an older woman behind the reception desk asked him if he was the guy who “ate all those weird plants” in the Amazon. After replying yes, the woman who Davis called his “fairy godmother” led him by the hand back to a dusty law library, and pointed to a rolling ladder. Davis climbed up to find himself face to face with an old lithograph of a 19th-century barrister, complete with “wig, fat belly, hooked nose—the whole works.” “Is that you?” she asked him. “I freaked and I said, ‘No!’” Davis recalls. “I came down the ladder, walked with her back to the front desk, picked up the phone and retracted my application to law school.” It was among the first of many examples of Davis bucking societal convention to follow his innate curiosities, which have brought him to the far reaches of the globe. And even with his academic pedigree—
he holds degrees in anthropology, biology and ethnobotany, all from Harvard—he has always favoured real-world experience over book-learning. “One of the biggest misconceptions or untruths that we grow up with, particularly in the bland world of the bourgeoisie, is that creativity happens to other people … And the truth of the matter is creativity is never a motivation of action, it’s a consequence of action,” he says. “It took me the longest time to realize, in a sense, that I had the right to be creative. Given that I’ve built my entire career and supported my family through various acts of creativity … the miracle of my life is that out of that kind of sterile and in a way uninspired suburban upbringing, I ended up finding my way to creativity not because of an innate attribute that I had that somebody else didn’t, but because I jumped off cliffs and I simply did. “My point in all this is if you want to be an Amazon explorer, go to the Amazon.” In conversation with CBC’s Vicki Gabereau on Oct. 17 at the Whistler Writers Festival’s virtual Saturday Night Gala, Davis will be discussing his latest book, Magdalena: River of Dreams, about the river that shaped the Colombian nation that sits so close to his heart. The book has earned sparkling reviews—including a tweet from former President Juan Manuel Santos urging every Colombian to read it—
SEE PAGE 45
>>
ARTS SCENE
WHAT’S NEW
ON SCREEN The Whistler Film Festival might not look exactly the same this year, but one new addition is a contest for Sea to Sky filmmakers.
PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE/ TOURISM WHISTLER
WFF launches Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase ARTS NEWS: FUNDRAISER LAUNCHED TO HELP MAT THE ALIEN; SHAUNA HARDY MISHAW STEPS DOWN; FLAUTIST PERFORMS ONLINE FOR KIDS
BY ALYSSA NOEL ARE YOU A BURGEONING filmmaker in the Sea to Sky corridor? The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) wants you to submit a short (think 15-second) pitch for its Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase. The new regional filmmaking competition—which comes with a $2,000 prize—is open to filmmakers of all levels, but they have to reside somewhere from
Horseshoe Bay to D’Arcy and Birken. “The showcase is about discovering great stories that connect us to the people and our community while highlighting filmmakers from the Sea to Sky region,” according to the release. But there’s a catch: if your Sea-to-Sky film pitch is one of the 20 finalists, after taking part in an online workshop on Oct. 26, you will have just 20 days to do prep, filming, and post-production on your five-minute film.
SEE PAGE 46
AUDAIN EXTENDED: PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR EXPERIENCE Book Your Bubble into a private, safe and exclusive guided tour on Saturdays and Sundays, outside of public opening hours. Join the Museum’s knowledgeable Docents for an intimate look at the latest changes to the Permanent Collection of BC art from a unique, curatorial perspective. Visit audainartmuseum.com/extended to book.
>>
WADE DAVIS FROM PAGE 44 but it was a recent piece for Rolling Stone that examined America’s bungling of the COVID-19 crisis that has sparked a flurry of attention. Racking up more than 350 million social media impressions, the article, entitled “The Unraveling of America,” views the U.S. response to the pandemic as a signal of the global superpower’s decline. “At the height of the crisis, with more than 2,000 dying each day, Americans found themselves members of a failed state, ruled by a dysfunctional and incompetent government largely responsible for death rates that added a tragic coda to America’s claim to supremacy in the world,” he writes. Penned by a Canadian professor (although he is married to an American and holds U.S. citizenship), the piece stoked swift backlash from a certain segment of reader in the U.S. “It’s not an anti-American piece,” Davis maintains. “It’s more of a love letter to the country. The first step in any intervention is to hold a mirror up to the face of the loved one and show them just how far they’ve fallen. That’s the first step on the path to rehabilitation.”
Just weeks away from the election, Davis believes that whatever the outcome, bridging America’s growing divide will take years to come. “Even if Biden does win, the chasm that has been created and provoked and exploded by Trump will not go away. He will exploit that for his own well-being,” Davis says. “If Lincoln called, in his wisdom, for charity for all and no malice towards men, this dark troll of a man celebrates malice for all and charity for none. If Washington famously couldn’t tell a lie, this man constitutionally can’t recognize the truth. If you actually … draw up a list of all the things he’s done to raise disdain, and look back on all the things we’re supposed to be as decent, moral, kind individuals, all the ideals of our entire Western intellectual civilization, this man represents the antithesis of the embodiment of every trait of character that we have been raised to dismiss and abandon.” The Whistler Writers Festival runs virtually from Oct. 15 to 18. Tickets to the Saturday Night Gala and all other events are available at whistlerwritersfest.com. n
NOW OPEN THURSDAY TO SUNDAY & HOLIDAY MONDAYS | 11AM – 6PM audainartmuseum.com/visit Bill Reid, Killer Whale, 1984, bronze, Audain Art Museum Collection. Gift of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa. Courtesy of the Bill Reid Estate, photos by Darby Magill.
OCTOBER 15, 2020
45
ARTS NEWS << FROM PAGE 45 “The Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase is our way to celebrate the area where the Whistler Film Festival began 20 year ago by connecting with local creators to share local stories,” says Angela Heck, managing director of the festival, in a release. “We want to push creator instincts and resourcefulness to their fullest potential.” Any type of film—from live-action to animation, stop motion to documentary—is welcome, but they must be created in the Sea to Sky. The deadline to submit a pitch is Oct. 18 at 11:59 p.m. There is a $20 application fee. The winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize, which will be announced at the WFF Awards Ceremony on Dec. 20. For more visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.
from the chest down,” the GoFundMe page reads. “This road to recovery will be a long and emotional battle for Mat. While we all know he is not one to shy away from a challenge, this is going to be the biggest fight of his life.” Since Oct. 5, more than 2,200 people donated over $157,097 towards the $200,000 goal to help “with the costs associated with his recovery,” the page says. “Times are difficult for us right now, but Mat needs his family, friends and fans more than ever to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” It goes on to say that his brain appears to be undamaged and his family will offer more updates as he recovers. To contribute or read more go to https:// ca.gofundme.com and search “Really Good Fundraiser.”
FUNDRAISE FOR MAT THE ALIEN
SHAUNA HARDY MISHAW STEPS DOWN AS WFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A GoFundMe is underway to help raise money for a well-known DJ who has been a fixture in the Whistler nightclub scene for decades after he was badly injured in a bike crash near Nanaimo Oct. 2. Mat Andrew, better known as Mat the Alien, was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital for emergency surgery on his vertebrae and spinal cord. “While it’s still very early on and new information continues to come in daily, we know that Mat is currently paralyzed
Shauna Hardy Mishaw, executive director of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has stepped down from her role, the festival announced earlier this month. Hardy Mishaw, who founded the festival in 2001, will remain on its board of directors and will also serve as interim development director for the 2020 edition. “Through every moment of my WFF journey, I have been driven and inspired by the dedication and commitment of our community, staff, supporters, audiences
and artists, which have enabled us to become one of Whistler’s signature events, grow our reputation as a champion and incubator of diverse domestic talent and great stories, and do our part to move the dialogue forward on gender equity, diversity and inclusion,” Hardy Mishaw said in a release.
“This road to recovery will be a long and emotional battle for Mat. While we all know he is not one to shy away from a challenge, this is going to be the biggest fight of his life.” “I am very proud of the impact and legacy we have created, and know that our team is well-positioned to succeed with the online and physical delivery of our programs going forward.” Last year, Hardy Mishaw was recognized as one of 50 women from around the world making an impact in show business as part of the 2019 Variety International Women’s
Impact Report. She also received the 2014 Women of the Year award and the 2009 Wayne Black Service Award from Women in Film & Video Vancouver for her work supporting B.C.’s entertainment industry. Locally, she was also named the 2008 Whistler Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. “Under Shauna’s leadership, WFF has been established as ‘Canada’s coolest film festival,’ and is widely recognized as one of North America’s top film festivals,” Ann Chiasson, chair of the Whistler Film Festival Society, said in the release. “We remain indebted to her vision, leadership, and commitment to our organization, programs, and people.” Angela Heck, who was recently promoted to managing director, will now be at the organization’s helm.
ONLINE MUSIC CLASS Flautist Anne-Elise Keefer is set to take part in the Whistler Public Library’s Virtual Classics for Kids program on Oct. 20 from 11 until 11:45 a.m. The online program aims to offer kids (from babies up to five-year-olds) and their caregivers a chance to enjoy and learn about classical music. Keefer, who has performed with everyone from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to Orchestra London and the National Ballet, will introduce families to the flute. For more on how to log on visit whistlerlibrary.ca/events/classics-kids. n
2019
the beach whistler SHOP ONLINE thebeachwhistler.com
YOUR FAVOURITE CLOTHING STORE! NEW FOR FALL
Locals Special!
Book now Before it’s gone Massage $50 for 60 Minutes $75 for 90 Minutes Facials $65 for 60 Minutes $80 for 75 Minutes
Follow us on instagram @thebeachwhistler
thebeachwhistler.com
|
604-932-7505
LOCAL EXPERTS GLOBAL REACH The same team that you trust with your print advertising can assist in creating your digital footprint
Nails $35 Gel Manicure $40 Gel Pedicure IPL Skin Rejuvenation $50 for 30 Minute Consultation Offer ends October 31st.
Our mission is to be the best full-service boutique spa in Whistler, offering great service and value and to our local community and guest. Come discover the Glacier Day Spa.
Call your sales representative today for a free digital consultation!
Glacier Digital Services in partnership with Pique Newsmagazine offers solutions in website design, SEM, SEO, social media and so much more. 604 938 0202
contact us at 604-938-1800 ClientCare@GlacierDaySpa.com
46 OCTOBER 15, 2020
The Hamber Foundation
OCTOBER 15, 2020
47
MUSEUM MUSINGS
WIRED F0R SOUND Blackcomb Mountain’s phone wire room should have looked like this one, which Telecommunications Workers Union workers had set up elsewhere in Whistler. WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1980
Blackcomb’s DIY wiring BY ALLYN PRINGLE TODAY, WE TAKE the ability to receive or make a call for granted, but for those preparing to open Blackcomb Mountain in 1980 it would not have been as easy as picking up the phone. It appears that months before the mountain was set to begin operations, its phone system was already under stress. In the first week of March, the Whistler Question reported that “Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises were growling a lot on Saturday, when their only overworked telephone was out of action for the eighth time this year!” For the small team working out of the Blackcomb offices in construction trailers on the Town Centre site, the phone system was operational for the summer, but that didn’t mean Blackcomb wasn’t still having some telephone woes. On July 17, 1980, all union work on the Town Centre site (including the operation of the liquor store) stopped as the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) set up picket lines for two days. The dispute was over telephone lines and a power line being installed from the valley to the buildings at the top of the first lift by Blackcomb workers. Blackcomb wanted the lines installed on a weekend, as they had to cross 11 different road crossings on their way up the mountain, which would have stalled or stopped other construction work happening during the week. BC Tel claimed that they couldn’t supply workers to install the lines on the weekend due to a ban on overtime by the union, while the TWU claimed they were willing but that BC Tel refused to schedule overtime. Relations between BC Tel and the TWU had remained tense since a lockout and labour dispute a few years earlier. In 1979, BC Tel and the TWU had failed to reach an agreement on the 1980 contract and by July, the TWU had begun a “Super Service” campaign where they provided customer service while working to every
48 OCTOBER 15, 2020
rule and regulation, including ones that were usually deemed non-essential, thereby slowing down productivity. On Sept. 22, the TWU began selective strikes, where construction and other workers would report to work but refuse all assignments except emergency repairs. This included the pre-wiring of communication lines in new buildings, creating a backlog of construction jobs. For Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises, which was meant to move to its permanent offices at the top of Lift 1 in December, this presented a problem. They had managed to get lines laid to the building, but the ongoing labour dispute meant that they could not get TWU workers in to set up the individual office lines. Instead, Lorne Borgal, Blackcomb’s administrative manager, got to take a crash course in phone installation. According to Borgal, the TWU was able to install phone blocks, but they could not do the wiring. A local phone company employee showed Borgal how it worked and he was left to wire phones for each of the offices, most of which had three separate lines. The building had a room where all of the cables came up from the main line and then split up to the various offices and, by the time he was done, Borgal described the contents of the room as a “big mass of wires” coming out from the wall by almost a metre. Protection was built around the mass to prevent anyone from accidentally touching it and shutting down all the phones, as it was thought the wires could fall out. Despite his inexperience (as Borgal put it, he was “not a phone guy, at all”) the phones were operational for Blackcomb Mountain’s opening. Eventually the TWU workers were able to return to the building and install the phone lines properly, putting an end to Blackcomb’s phone problems. When shown the room of wires, the workers howled with laughter and, according to Borgal, he laughed right along with them. n
PARTIAL RECALL
2
1
3
4
5
6
1
PUMPKIN PICKING Pumpkin season is in full swing at Pemberton’s North Arm Farm, with its patch stocked with pumpkins of all sizes—just in time for spooky season. PHOTO BY JAMES COURT PHOTOGRAPHY. 2 SNOWY SENDOFF Riders closed TROTTING ALONG The Whistler Turkey Trot went off with COVID-19 precautions at Lost Lake on Oct. 11, with 50 runners taking part. Geneviève Cauffopé came away with the victory in the five-kilometre race, finishing in 21 minutes, 15.7 seconds. The event also raised $750 for the Whistler Food Bank. PHOTO BY ROBSHAER.COM / WHISTLER TURKEY TROT. 4 RAINBOW DREAMS A startlingly vivid rainbow hovered over Green Lake on Oct. 10 after Whistler experienced a significant rain event. PHOTO BY CLARE OGILVIE. 5 GENEROUS GIFT The past few months have been challenging for everyone, especially charities like the out the Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s 2020 season with a few snowy laps on Monday, Oct. 12. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 3
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice that has lost important funding thanks to an uncertain economy. Despite experiencing similar difficulty this year, Pan Pacific Whistler stepped into help, gifting $10,548.69 to Canuck Place—“a fitting tribute,
as 2020 marks Pan Pacific Whistler’s 10th anniversary as a charity partner, with more than $110,000 donated over the past decade,” the organization explained in a release. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 6 side of the tracks over the train gap in Pemberton. PHOTO BY AGA IWANICKA/@AGAIWANICKA.
MIND THE GAP Felipe Barberis flies to the other
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! Send your recent snaps to arts@piquenewsmagazine.com
Recycle? Yes or no?
STINKY'S LOUNGERS OF THE WEEK!
Get the BC RECYCLEPEDIA App We are now open 11am to 10pm Go Sports!!!
Stay Stinky! 21-4314 Main Street
www.rcbc.ca RECYCLING COUNCIL OF B.C. MEMBER OCTOBER 15, 2020
49
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 BY ROB BREZSNY
Resort Municipality of Whistler NOTICE OF INTENTION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDER A PARTNERING AGREEMENT Pursuant to section 24 of the Community Charter, Council of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) proposes to provide safety improvements, noise and dust abatement works adjacent to the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. NATURE OF PARTNERING AGREEMENT: LAND IMPROVEMENTS INTENDED RECIPIENT:
ALPINE PAVING (1978) LTD.
TERM:
2020-2021
EXTENT:
WITHIN OR ADJACTENT TO ALPINE PAVING TENURE AREA ADJACENT TO CHEAKAMUS CROSSING NEIGHBOURHOOD
The RMOW would be providing safety improvements, noise and dust (airborne particulate matter) abatement works along the access road into the gravel quarry and asphalt plant tenure area located adjacent to the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. Brooke Browning Municipal Clerk
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Would you be willing to meditate on how you might become more skilled in the arts of intimacy? Would you consider reading books and websites that offer guidance about strategies for being the best partner and ally you can be? Are you receptive to becoming more devoted to practising empathy and deep listening? I’m not saying you’re deficient in these matters, nor am I implying that you need to improve your mastery of them any more than the rest of us. I simply want you to know that now is an especially favourable time for you to make progress. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Entre chien et loup is a French idiom that literally means “between dog and wolf.” It’s used to describe twilight or dusk, when the light is faint and it’s tough to distinguish between a dog and a wolf. But it may also suggest a situation that is a blend of the familiar and the unknown, or even a moment when what’s ordinary and routine is becoming unruly or wild. Entre chien et loup suggests an intermediary state that’s unpredictable or beyond our ability to define. In accordance with astrological omens, I propose you regard it as one of your main themes for now. Don’t fight it; enjoy it! Thrive on it! GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For 34 years, the beloved American TV personality Mr. Rogers did a show for children. He’s now widely acknowledged as having been a powerful teacher of goodness and morality. Here’s a fun fact: His actual middle name was “McFeely.” I propose that you use that as a nickname for yourself. If McFeely doesn’t quite appeal to you, maybe try “Feel Maestro” or “Emotion Adept” or “Sensitivity Genius.” Doing so might help inspire you to fulfill your astrological assignment in the coming weeks, which is to allow yourself to experience more deep feelings than usual—and thereby enhance your heart intelligence. That’s crucial! In the coming weeks, your head intelligence needs your heart intelligence to be working at peak capacity. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A blogger named Dr.LoveLlama writes, “You may think I am walking around the house with a blanket around my shoulders because I am cold, but in fact the ‘blanket’ is my cloak and I am on a fantasy adventure.” I approve of such behaviour during our ongoing struggles with COVID-19, and I especially recommend it to you in the coming days. You’ll be wise to supercharge your imagination, giving it permission to dream up heroic adventures and epic exploits that you may or may not actually undertake someday. It’s time to become braver and more playful in the inner realms. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to author Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, “The body has its own way of knowing, a knowing that has little to do with logic, and much to do with truth.” I recommend that you meditate on that perspective. Make it your keynote. Your physical organism always has wisdom to impart, and you can always benefit from tuning in to it—and that’s especially important for you right now. So let me ask you: How much skill do you have in listening to what your body tells you? How receptive are you to its unique and sometimes subtle forms of expression? I hope you’ll enhance your ability to commune with it during the next four weeks. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In his fictional memoir Running in the Family, Virgo author Michael Ondaatje returns to Sri Lanka, the land where he spent his childhood, after many years away. At one point he enthuses that he would sometimes wake up in the morning and “just smell things for the whole day.” I’d love for you to try a similar experiment, Virgo: Treat yourself to a festival of aromas. Give yourself freely to consorting with the sensual joy of the world’s many scents. Does that sound frivolous? I don’t think it is. I believe it would have a deeply calming and grounding effect on you. It would anchor you more thoroughly in the here and now of your actual life, and inspire you to shed any fantasies that you should be different from who you are.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The hardest thing you will ever do is trust yourself,” says Libran journalist Barbara Walters. Really? I don’t think so. In my experience, the hardest thing to do is to consistently treat ourselves with the loving care we need to be mentally and physically healthy. But I do acknowledge that trusting ourselves is also an iffy task for many of us. And yet that’s often because we don’t habitually give ourselves the loving care we need to be healthy. How can we trust ourselves if we don’t put in the work necessary to ensure our vitality? But here’s the good news, Libra: In the coming weeks, you’re likely to be extra motivated and intuitively astute whenever you improve the way you nurture yourself. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “You can’t learn anything when you’re trying to look like the smartest person in the room,” writes author Barbara Kingsolver. That’s a useful message for you right now. Why? Because you will soon be exposed to teachings that could change your life for the better. And if you hope to be fully available for those teachings, you must be extra receptive and curious and open-minded—which means you shouldn’t try to seem like you already know everything you need to know. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’ve decided not to use quotes by famous writers who’ve endorsed bigoted ideas. In the future, my horoscopes won’t mention the work of T. S. Eliot, Roald Dahl, V. S. Naipaul, Edith Wharton, Kingsley Amis, H. P. Lovecraft, Flannery O’Connor, Rudyard Kipling, and Louis-Ferdinand Celine. I’m sorry to see them go, because I’ve learned a lot from some of them. And I understand that many were reflecting attitudes that were widespread in their era and milieu. But as I’ve deepened my commitment to fighting prejudice, I’ve come to the conclusion that I personally don’t want to engage with past perpetrators. Now, in accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to take an inventory of your own relationship with bigoted influences—and consider making some shifts in your behaviour. (More info: tinyurl.com/BigotedAuthors1 and tinyurl.com/BigotedAuthors2) CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn chemist Tu YouYou doesn’t have a medical degree or PhD. Yet she discovered a treatment for malaria that has saved millions of lives. The drug was derived from an ancient herbal medicine that she spent years tracking down. In part because of her lack of credentials, she remained virtually unsung from the time she helped come up with the cure in 1977 until she won a Nobel Prize in 2015. What’s most unsung about your accomplishments, Capricorn? There’s a much better chance than usual that it will finally be appreciated in the coming months. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Luck is what happens to you when fate gets tired of waiting,” says author Gregory David Roberts. If that’s true, I expect that a surge of luck will flow your way soon. According to my astrological analysis, fate has grown impatient waiting for you to take the actions that would launch your life story’s next chapter. Hopefully, a series of propitious flukes will precipitate the postponed but necessary transformations. My advice? Don’t question the unexpected perks. Don’t get in their way. Allow them to work their magic. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Have you formulated wily plans and crafty maneuvers to help you navigate through the labyrinthine tests and trials up ahead? I hope so. If you hope to solve the dicey riddles and elude the deceptive temptations, you’ll need to use one of your best old tricks— and come up with a new trick, as well. But please keep this important caveat in mind: To succeed, you won’t necessarily have to break the rules. It may be sufficient merely to make the rules more supple and flexible. Homework: What belief would you be willing to change your mind about if offered convincing counter-evidence? FreeWillAstrology.com
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates
Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca
50 OCTOBER 15, 2020
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
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
RENT SELL HIRE
BUY
Accommodation
ADULT SERVICES
LONG-TERM RENTALS
ADULTS ONLY
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Specializing in Real Estate Sales & Long-Term Rental Management Services Investors seeking to purchase a Rental Property & Owners seeking Long-Term Rental Management Services please phone 604-932-7849 or email info@whistlerproperty.com to discuss services & fees
Where locals look
D E A D L I N E
FOR PRINT ADS
DISPLAY ADS
CLASSIFIEDS.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM
PRINT & ONLINE SELF-SERVE
Tuesday 4pm
Secure & scamless Fully searchable Targeted online community Categorised listings No reposting Trusted by locals Make your listing stand out with featured locations
List your accommodation rental in print & online * a week from only
$5
Sell your stuff online print only & online
* Free for 30 days
$11* per week
Advertising Options
Packages start with 4 lines of text. Additional text .....$1/line Add one image in print and up to three online as per package level. Bolding .............50¢/word Border .......................... $2
* Rates are based on using Pique’s self-serve online application at classifieds. piquenewsmagazine.com
Foxy, sexy, raven haired, olive skinned Mediterranean beauty available for sensual massage sessions. Enquire for further information, availability and rates text/call: (604)262-5183
LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS: Duane Kercher • 604-932-7849 duane@whistlerproperty.com Forrest Chittick • 604-902-7178 forrest@whistlerproperty.com
View Rental Listings at:
Accommodation
LONG-TERM RENTALS
REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE SERVICES For a weekly sales report of new and sold listings in Whistler & Pemberton, please go to whistlerrealestatemarket.com or contact josh@joshcrane.ca
Contact a sales rep today.
604-938-0202 piquenewsmagazine.com
FIX
DRIVE
SELL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
NOW HIRING:
SNOWMOBILE GUIDE/INSTRUCTOR SNOWSHOE GUIDES We offer a fun, outdoor work environment with a great team of like-minded individuals. An always changing, always challenging DRIVERS work day with theSHUTTLE opportunity to connect with people from all over the world. Flexible schedules and amazing staff parties GUEST EXPERIENCE REPS are definite perks of the job. PERKS INCLUDE: FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE – FRIENDS & FAMILY DISCOUNTS – We offer aEPIC fun, STAFF outdoor work environment with aFOR great team of PARTIES - FREE ACTIVITIES STAFF like-minded individuals. An always changing, always challenging work day with the opportunity to connect with Full job descriptions at: people from all over the world. Flexible schedules and amazing staff parties www.canadianwilderness.com/employment/ are definite perks of the job.
If you are interested in joining our team, PERKS INCLUDE: please submit your&resume to FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE – FRIENDS FAMILY DISCOUNTS – employment@canadian01.com EPIC STAFF PARTIES - FREE ACTIVITIES FOR STAFF Full job descriptions at: www.canadianwilderness.com/employment/
If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume to employment@canadian01.com
Long Term Rentals
Monthly rental accommodation that is available to local renters for a minimum of 12 months.
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.
WANT TO ADVERTISE
your service here? Call Pique at (604) 938-0202, or email sales@piquenewsmagazine.com
Spacious 2 bdrm Spacious 2 bdrm with big windowspatio-parking-completely equipped, Washer-Dryer-Dishwasher-FreezerInduction Range. Large all fridge- N/S, N/P - txt your phone # & email or leave msg at 604-889-5718 604-889-5718
The Pemberton Valley Trails Association is looking for an Executive Director. This is a part-time contract position for an individual with great administrative skills and a passion for trails. For more information and to apply, contact the PVTA via our website: www.pembertontrails.com
ALPINE MEADOW
MARKETPLACE
or send an email to: contact@pembertontrails.com
FURNITURE Spectacular View Spectacular View - 3 bdrm , 2 bath completely equipped n/s, n/p - ample parking - pls text your phone no & email or leave message 604-889-5718 604-889-5718
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
WHISTLER FURNITURE CO
BEDS IN STOCK! SAME DAY DELIVERY! MATTRESSES-BUNK BEDSSOFA BEDS-CUSTOM SOFAS
Get the added punch to make your business ad standout with a classified display ad. Free ad design, colour options, incentives for ad frequency.
WORK
NOW HIRING:
Classifi eds CALL OR PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED WITH OUR ONLINE SERVICE FOR EITHER PRINT OR ONLINE...OR BOTH!
RENT
JOIN OUR TEAM
Experienced Service Plumbers / Gas Fitters Required
Full Time - Long Term - Immediate or Winter Start Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton Competitive Wage Package + Incentives Company Vehicle, Phone + Uniforms Provided
SIGNING BONUS Queen mattresses from $289.99 Bunk Beds from $699.99 Sofa beds from $1099.99
NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
whistlerfurniture.ca 2-1020 Millar Creek Road
604.938.4285
Send resume in confidence to: service@spearheadsph.com SPEARHEAD PLUMBING AND HEATING LTD. WWW.SPEARHEADPLUMBING.COM We pride ourselves with having a long term team of employees, and helping you reach your fullest potential.
OCTOBER 15, 2020
51
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
Book your classified ad online by 3pm Tuesday
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
MARKETPLACE FOR SALE - MISC
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
Are you looking for a really sweet job? We are looking for an enthusiastic, friendly and driven individual to join our team as a Retail Supervisor. You must have excellent communication, strong organization skills and attention to detail is a must. This is a great opportunity for someone who wishes to learn about managing, merchandising and purchasing for a successful small business. The Retail Supervisor is responsible for opening, closing, placing orders, re-stocking, merchandising, training, refunds, bank deposits, customer service issue resolutions and direction of sales associates.
This is a permanent full-time position and Must be able to work a flexible schedule. Supervisor and/or management experience an asset. Compensation could be between $16.00 - $20.00 per hour based upon experience, along with a full season ski pass and there is potential for a sales bonus. We are located in Whistler, British Columbia. Please email resumes to Kelly Czekurlon kczekurlon@gmail.com
(604) 935-1076
CLEANING SUPERVISOR COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY • Competitive Wages • Permanent/Full time Position • Flexible hours • Must have: o Relevant Experience o Driver’s License
To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to teamcwhistler@telus.net
Unit #115-4350 Lorimer Road, Whistler,BC, V8E 1A5
H I G H M O U N TA I N BREWING CO.
RE-USE-IT AND RE-BUILD-IT PRE-LOVED -> RE-LOVED = COMMUNITY LOVE Open for your donations daily from 10 am - 6 pm Open for shopping starting June 15!
We accept pre-loved clothing, gear and household items at RE-USE-IT, furniture, tools and building supplies at RE-BUILD-IT. Visit mywcss.org and our social channels for updates.
BREWHOUSE WHISTLER, BC
@piquenews
Be a part of our dynamic team at one of Whistler’s busiest spots!
We are currently interviewing for Red Seal Carpenters (or equivalent experience) Please submit resume to: info@evrfinehomes
Whistler’s Premier Estate Builder
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
Sous Chef and Service Manager 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 mvedan@mjg.ca
4355 BLACKCOMB WAY
WHISTLER, BC, V0N 1B4
Early Childhood Lead Teacher Needed Perfect for an ECE Certified Teacher (or Asst. enrolled in ECE Cert. program). Why work with WWS?
WHISTLER’S
BEST STORAGE
one month *
free
OPEN / 7 DAYS WEEK
* PREPAY 3 MONTHS GET 4TH FREE
604.932.1948
1209 Alpha Lake Rd., Function Junction
www.a1ulock.com
STORAGE WE’RE HIRING FOR CONSTRUCTION: HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15594
- Tuition remission for children & full benefits.
To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15529
View whistlerwaldorf.com/employment Email principal@whistlerwaldorf.com
MOVING AND STORAGE
NORTHLANDS
- $23-30/hour (based on experience).
- Financial compensation towards your Waldorf Teacher Cert.
HOME SERVICES
CIVIL CONSTRUCTION PIPE LAYER GRAVEL TRUCK DRIVER
To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15739
WE’RE HIRING FOR SNOW SERVICES:
STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE
BEST PRICES IN WHISTLER FURNITURE, CARS, BOATS & MOTORCYCLES ETC STORAGE AVAILABLE
BEST
PRICES
IN WHISTLER
SNOWPLOW OPERATOR *GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM AVAILABLE*
To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15774
604.932.1968 52 OCTOBER 15, 2020
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
BUY
big or small we do it all! Call 604-902-MOVE www.alltimemoving.ca
WALSH
RESTORATION USE A WALSH CUBE TRUCK FOR FREE TO MOVE YOUR POSSESSIONS TO WALSH STORAGE
We Added More Containers!
WALSH STORAGE Pemberton Industrial Park 1944 Stone Cutter Place Owner Residence On-Site
PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
The Property Manager will be responsible for the management of a portfolio of residential properties in Whistler. The preferred candidate will possess experience in customer service, owner relations, communications, building maintenance and working independently. Property management license is a benefit but not necessary. Growth and development opportunity. Salary position with medical, ski, and education benefits.
E-mail or drop in your resume to: bruce_stewart@nestersmarket.com
Submit your resume by e-mail to Gina Ciccone by October 21, 2020 at gina@mountaincountry.ca www.mountaincountry.ca
TAX PER MONTH
2 HRS FREE TRUCK TIME
160 +
TAX PER MONTH
4 HRS FREE TRUCK TIME
Call Mike Walsh
604 698 0054
mike.walsh@walshrestoration.ca
BUILDING AND RENOVATIONS
Wiebe Construction Services Serving Whistler for over 25 years
• 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
SELL
Meat Clerk Produce Clerk Deli Clerk Grocery Clerk
Junior Property Manager
8 X 20 CONTAINERS
$
DRIVE
NOW HIRING AT OUR WHISTLER LOCATION
Mountain Country Property Management is currently recruiting for the following position:
Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits. Ask about accommodation.
100 +
FIX
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
8 X 10 CONTAINERS
$
WORK
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
HOME SERVICES MOVING AND STORAGE
RENT
Whistler Athletes’ Centre (High-Performance Training and Accommodation) Positions for this venue are currently filled Whistler Sliding Centre (Bobsleigh, Luge & Skeleton) Track Medical Responder Whistler Olympic Park (Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing and Outdoor Activities) Guest Activity Rep Rental Services Tech Nordic Sport Instructor Maintenance and Operations Worker Custodian
Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers
Resort Municipality of Whistler
Employment Opportunities • Emergency Program Coordinator Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/careers OCTOBER 15, 2020
53
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
Book your classified ad online by 3pm Tuesday
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
HOME SERVICES FLOORING
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS Discover a workplace as awesome as our location...
SHAW CARPET & FLOOR CENTRE
Family owned & operated
We are the Spa for you
Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is currently recruiting: Registered Massage Therapist ( RMT) Esthetician • Spa attendant / cleaner 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.
Open Monday through Friday 8:30 - 4:30 Saturday 10:00 -4:00 Sundays and Evenings by appointment only.
… and discover why Nita Lake Lodge is the place for you!
3-1365 Alpha Lake Road Whistler, B.C, V0N1B1
Work alongside our amazing team and enjoy: o Working for a Canadian family owned and operation Boutique Lodge o Peace of mind from enhanced sanitation and operational protocols o Extended Health & Dental o Staff rates at our award-winning spa & restaurants
Phone 604-938-1126 email shawcarpet@shaw.ca
We are currently hiring: Bartender Guest Service Agent Host / Hostess House Attendant Registered Massage Therapist Room Attendant Shuttle Driver (part time)
R0021827549
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.
email your resume and expression of interest to: careers@nitalakelodge.com
piquenewsmagazine.com/ local-events/ Services
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Incentive Bonus
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
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
piquenewsmagazine.com/events
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
The Sea to Sky corridor’s top civil construction company. We are currently recruiting professionally minded people to join our team:
Awesome workshops coming up! October 17 Yoga Tune Up® Hip Help for Chronic Sitters October 24 Shoulder Shape Up EACH: 3:30-5 pm $20 for residents
Equipment Operators Class 1 Truck Drivers Pipe Layers • Construction Labourers
$26 for non-residents $20 more to purchase Yoga Balls
Email resume to: info@whistlerexcavations.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS - 52 $76.70/YEAR
CANADA - REGULAR MAIL
www.whistler.ca/fitness 604-935-PLAY (7529)
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
54 OCTOBER 15, 2020
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
BUY
Community
RENT
WORK
FIX
DRIVE
SELL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NOTICES GENERAL NOTICES
PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
ROTARY CLUBS OF WHISTLER The Rotary Clubs of Whistler are now meeting virtually. The Whistler Club Tuesdays at 3. The Millennium Club Thursdays at 12:15. Contact us at info@Whistler-rotary.org for log in info. All welcome.
WE’RE HIRING
DISHWASHERS Apply today!
Staff Housing Available! Competitive Wage + Benefits Package
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
This storied restaurant offers a modern taste of Italy and brings a fresh, contemporary style of dining to the mountain. C U R RENT OP P ORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEERS Big Brothers, Big Sisters Sea to Sky Volunteer to Mentor- just 1hr/week - and make a difference in a child's life. Call 604-892-3125.
FRONT-OF-HOUSE
EMPLOYMENT
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.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Full Time Whistler Construction Company is seeking a fun energetic and organized ( Office Administrator / PC ) that has the ability to be a leader and work in a fast paced environment. Available immediately
Service Assistants Hosts
Please email your resume & cover letter to careers@ilcaminetto.ca
Canstar Restorations helps people by restoring buildings and possessions that have been damaged by fire or water. We are seeking Restoration Technicians* Project Manager Restoration Field Supervisor *No experience necessary we provide training! • Competitive salary • RRSP matching, health and dental, 4% vacation, sick days • Work in a variety of homes and businesses along the Sea-to-Sky • Amazing team and incredible culture • Opportunities for advancement and over-time Email resume to careers@canstarrestorations.com
Requirements: Experience in (Excel, Word, Spreadsheets, QB), Creating & managing budgets. Job description: AP & AR, Payroll, H/R, Safety & WCB paperwork. Competitive wage. Please provide the following via email: ( Resume (PDF), Salary expectations). email office@modernconceptcontracting. com ***Local Automotive*** Automotive technician for year round position in Whistler. 604-905-9109 steve@localautomotive.com MMI Plumbing and Heating Ltd. Journey Plumber/Gasfitter Looking for journey plumber, gasfitting an asset. Looking for someone who likes variety in their work as we do commercial and residential projects of all sizes. Van provided and competitive wages based on experience starting at $40/hour. Serving Whistler and Squamish. dave@mmiplumbing.ca 604-966-1361
Career Opportunities at the District of Squamish SUSHI VILLAGE IS HIRING EXPERIENCED JAPANESE CHEFS IN WHISTLER Responsibilities: • • • • • • • • • •
Preparing Sushi and cooking other Japanese traditional food. Plan menu and ensure food meets quality standards. Estimate food requirements and estimate food and labour costs. Instruct Kitchen Helpers and Cooks in preparation, cooking, and presentation of food. Supervise Cooks and Kitchen helpers. Assist Head Chef with recruiting and hiring kitchen staff Inspecting ingredients for quality and freshness and supervising all food preparation. Create new menus and specials. Ensure excellent customer services at the Sushi bar. Work as a team and ensure orders are completed in timely manner.
Qualifications: • Completion of secondary school and minimum of 3 years of experience as a cook/chef
Whistler Personnel Solutions Full-time, part-time & temp jobs. No cost, no strings. 604-905-4194 www.whistler-jobs.com
Full-time / All season / Permanent Language: English 40 hours per week $25 per hour Benefits: 4% vacation pay, BC medical coverage and extended health plan. Start date: As soon as possible.
Recreation Facility Attendant 1 & 2 Are you a maintenance expert with the flexibility to work on-call shifts? Would you like to learn how to operate and maintain equipment at Brennan Park Recreation Centre? If so, the District of Squamish is currently recruiting for Recreation Facility Attendants! Planner 1 – Temporary Full-Time Janitor – Temporary Part-Time Janitor - Casual/On-Call Recreation Program Leader - Casual/On-Call Community Patrol Officer - Casual/On-Call Animal Control Assistant – Casual/On-Call Bylaw & Animal Control Officer - Casual/On-Call Building Inspector - Casual/On-Call
Address: 10, 11 – 4340 Sundial Crescent, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4 Apply By Email At Info@Sushivillage.com
To find out more, please visit: squamish.ca/careers OCTOBER 15, 2020
55
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
Book your classified ad online by 3pm Tuesday
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
1 7 Contract Development Manager:
Whistler 2020 Development Corporation (WDC) is recruiting for a Contract Development Manager who will be responsible for a range of project management services pertaining to the construction of 100 affordable employee-restricted apartment units contained within two buildings and the development of 600M of public road. Starting in the fall of 2020 for approximately 2 years, the Manager will work with existing WDC consultants and project managers to tender and schedule the projects described above. The role will include representing WDC in all communication with the RMOW, WHA, and other partners, and providing regular updates to the WDC Board of Directors. It is not expected this will be a full-time role. Experience with civil construction and multi-family housing projects in Whistler is required. For a full job description and to apply for this role, please visit: https://www.theultimatehrresource.com/
5 3
We are a National Health Care Advocacy firm opening a new office in Whistler, BC looking for an organized individual with office administration and/or office management and bookkeeping experience, to join our team. This is a year-round, part-time, Monday – Friday position. 2 Positions available.
4 7 9
ADMINISTRATION DUTIES AND SKILLS
8 1 6 4 5
BOOKKEEPING General bookkeeping using QuickBooks Processing payments and update spreadsheets Follow up on outstanding payments Other general accounting duties
2 8
7 1
QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS • • • • • •
Glaziers & Carpenters
Working on projects in Whistler you will be joining a team that specializes in creating unique glazing solutions for complex commercial and residential builds. We are looking for candidates who have the ability to read construction drawings, proficiency with tools, experience in the trades and enjoy detail work. Work is full time year round with access to medical and leisure benefits.
Resumes and job descriptions: chrish@blackcombglass.com www.blackcomb.tech • www.blackcombglass.com
9
1 5 5 3 • 6 4 8 • • 7 • 1 Starting date is flexible. Salary is dependent on experience. Starting 9 4 wage is $25.23–$33.25 depending on ability. HARD Part-time hours: 20-25 hours per week to start
Ski and bike park pass program, golf and lots of fun! Interested applicants please send resume and cover letter to gm@jmdms.ca
# 45
Apply to: jobs@pembertonvalleylodge.com
Competitive wages, health benefits, casual environment 56 OCTOBER 15, 2020
6
High School diploma Attention to detail and accuracy Must be extremely organized, reliable, and takes initiative Excellent written and verbal communication skills Prior bookkeeping experience with QuickBooks Excellent proactive time management skills and the ability to multi-task Ability to work in a fast paced environment Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and to exercise discretion. Strong work ethic, and able to work independently and collaboratively with a team, and meet deadlines Proficiency in Microsoft Office software such as Excel and Word
Employment Opportunities: DO YOU LIVE IN PEMBERTON? Maintenance Lead THEN WHY COMMUTE TO WHISTLER?
2 3 9
• Reception, speaking to clients on the phone, answering and directing general phone calls and emails • Provide excellent customer service, and take detailed, and accurate information when communicating with clients and stakeholders • Completing forms and updating spreadsheets • Computer work, using Microsoft Excel and word and Cloud-based systems • Assist team members with daily duties and tasks • Ability to plan, organize and work efficiently HARD • Mailing, scanning, online filing, other office duties • Establish work priorities, and ensure procedures are followed and deadlines are met • Compile data and prepare periodic and special reports and correspondence • • • •
Positions:
4 6
1 7 8 5 3 4 9 2 6
Answers 6 2 5 1 9 7 3 8 4
4 9 3 8 6 2 5 7 1
3 4 7 2 5 8 6 1 9
5 6 9 3 7 1 8 4 2
www.sudoku.com
8 1 2 9 4 6 7 5 3
9 8 6 4 1 5 2 3 7
2 3 4 7 8 9 1 6 5
7 5 1 6 2 3 4 9 8
# 46
9 6 7 1 3 2 8 4 5
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
BUY
RENT
WORK
FIX
DRIVE
SELL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
BACKCOUNTRY
BLACKCOMB
WORK , P LAY, R E PE AT ALL LOCATIONS ARE HIRING FULL-TIME
Rental Supervisor, Floor Supervisor, Ski/Snowboard Sales Associate, Service Shop Technician, Shipping/Receiving Warehouse Associate BENEFITS Season Pass, Store Discounts, Flexible schedule, Paid Volunteer Time Off, Paid sick time, Charitable giving match, Employee Assistance program Apply in person, or email resume to jobscanada@evo.com
www.evo.com
Join Our Team Employment Opportunity Building and Planning Clerk – Permanent, Full-�me posi�on Are you a natural? Become one of the Village’s most valuable natural resources: our people. Repor�ng to the Manager of Development Services, the Building and Planning Clerk acts as the primary point of contact for the Development Services team, providing a variety of administra�ve support services and managing public inquiries regarding permit applica�ons, municipal bylaws and other relevant legisla�on. The Building and Planning Clerk assists in the processing of applica�ons and issuance of building permits and development approvals. YOUR ULTIMATE NEXT ADVENTURE BEGINS TODAY! JOIN OUR TEAM TODAY! CURRENTCAREER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES Front Office Night Supervisor
Front Office Night Supervisor Room Attendant FrontRoom Office Attendant Supervisor Fairmont Gold Supervisor Front Office Supervisor Health Club Attendant Fairmont Gold Supervisor Guest Club Services Captain Health Attendant Guest Services Captain
Shuttle Driver Shuttle Driver Royal Service Agent RoyalService Service Agent Guest Agent Door Attendant Guest Service Agent Food Beverage Server Door&Attendant Server’s Food &Assistant Beverage Server
Server’s Assistant
Qualifica�ons: • Minimum three (3) years administra�ve experience in a Local Government environment, or an equivalent combina�on of educa�on and experience • Experience in current planning and development aspect of Local Government preferred • Knowledge of BC Building Code an asset • Demonstrated ability with Microso� Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint • Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and sa�sfactory Driver’s Abstract Interested? Let’s talk. Please send your resume and cover le�er to recrui�ng@pemberton.ca, by Tuesday, October 20, 2020. For a full job descrip�on and to learn more about the Village of Pemberton, please visit www.pemberton.ca. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
STAFF HOUSING AVAILABLE | SKI PASS DISCOUNT | WELLNESS ALLOWANCE GLOBAL HOTEL STAY DISCOUNTS | COMPETITIVE WAGES EXTENDED MEDICAL BENEFITS | OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT FOR FULL DETAILS AND TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT:
https://careers.accor.com/global/en/
VillageOfPemberton
www.pemberton.ca OCTOBER 15, 2020
57
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
Book your classified ad online by 3pm Tuesday
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
We’re Hiring
FOOD EXPEDITORS APPLY TODAY!
Affordable Staff Housing May be 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 30 renowned hotel brands in over 131 countries around the world, and we’re still growing. Opportunities abound!
FULL TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE START
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES Experienced Bartenders (Araxi) Experienced Servers (Bar Oso) Server Assistants (Araxi + Bar Oso) Our outstanding team is looking to add individuals with a variety of skill sets and experience. Friendly, hardworking candidates are invited to apply.
• ROOM ATTENDANTS • HOUSE ATTENDANTS
Please apply online at: toptable.ca/careers
PERKS AND BENEFITS • STAFF ACCOMMODATION • FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE • EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFITS • MARRIOTT HOTEL DISCOUNTS • FREE STAFF MEALS • $1000 WINTER WELLNESS PACKAGE
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.
Email your resume to work@westinwhistler.com with your Zoom / Skype contact info.
join
PUT YOUR CAREER ON A NEW PATH
h s e r f the
n o i t u l o ev istler
LOCATED IN WHISTLER MARKETPLACE VILLAGE NORTH
#wh
Work & Play Program #loveyourjob
MANAGER, MEMBER ASSESSMENTS Full Time, Contract (18 months)
• Competitive Wages • Affordable Staff Accommodation Available for Successful Candidates • Extended Health & Dental Plans • Healthy & Fun Place to Work • 10% off Groceries
WE’RE HIRING
· CASHIERS · ONLINE PERSONAL SHOPPER (6AM – 12 PM )
· GROCERY EXPERTS
This position requires an individual with excellent communication and leadership skills. The successful candidate has an aptitude and understanding of finance and accounting, and previous experience with contact management and financial databases.
· BARISTA
To view our career opportunities, and to apply, visit us online at: whistler.com/careers.
(6AM – 10AM
OR
7PM – 12 AM )
(8AM – 8PM )
To apply, send resume to careers@freshstmarket.com
58 OCTOBER 15, 2020
With responsibility for the day to day member assessments function at Tourism Whistler, the Manager of Member Assessments ensures the equitable enforcement of Tourism Whistler’s bylaws, and oversees the billing and collection of assessment fees as they pertain to the organization’s membership. This includes billing and account enquiries, data maintenance, ongoing member service and communication.
classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com
BUY
RENT
WORK
FIX
DRIVE
SELL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM/JOBS
THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS
N’Quatqua Band
N’Quatqua Band
120 Casper Charlie Place, P.O. Box 88, D’Arcy, B.C. V0N 1L0 Phone (604) 452-3221 • Fax (604) 452-3295
120 Casper Charlie Place, P.O. Box 88, D’Arcy, B.C. V0N 1L0 Phone (604) 452-3221 • Fax (604) 452-3295
Accountant REPORTS TO:
JOB POSTING
BAND ADMINISTRATOR SUMMARY OF WORK DESCRIPTION: The Accountant will work in conjunction with the Band Administrator and key Program Staff in maintaining the financial accounting and control system for all programs. He/she will ensure maintenance of all computerized ledgers, journals and produce financial reports. The Bookkeeper will supervise the finance staff and provide support.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Banking: - oversee monthly bank reconciliations. Accounts Payable: - Reconcile accounts payable sub-ledger. Accounts Receivable: - Preparation of invoices and statements as required. - Maintenance of cash receipts journal. - Preparation of aged accounts receivable listing. Financial Reporting: - Prepare monthly-computerized financial reports including budget information. - Alert the Program Managers as to any significant variances in actual budget comparisons. - Complete special reports for submission to the Managers and Chief and Council. - Review reports for accuracy for outside agencies including Health Canada, Human Resources Development Canada and AANDC. - Work with Program Managers to ensure all program reports are submitted to funding sources in a timely manner. Budgeting: - Work with Program Managers of each Department to ensure annual budgets are prepared. - Provide advice and assist the Program Managers in implementing/ monitoring of budgets throughout the year. - Provide recommendations to the Program Managers and Chief and Council. Payroll: - Prepare quarterly report & payment for W.C.B. Other related duties: - Attend and participate in Council and community meetings upon request. - Other related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Must have: - Training in accounting, auditing, budgeting, financial planning combined with experience; - Proven experience in financial budget analysis, preparation of monthly/ annual financial reports, and accounting principles; - Experience in working in First Nations accounting or financial management environment. - The incumbent must have a vehicle and hold valid B.C. driver’s license.
BAND ADMINISTRATOR The Band Administrator is responsible for the efficient and effective operations of the Band. The Band Administrator will work closely with
each of the Departments of the N’Quatqua Band and will serve as the Supervisor of the Department Managers. The Band Administrator will administer multiple programs and services, including financial assets of the band, property, natural resources and information and will manage in accordance with policies and priorities set out by Chief & Council. He/she will forecast program needs and plan for future program requirements. He/She will ensure effective financial management of programs and services, including accountability and will seek funding enhancements to improve service opportunities. The Band Administrator will keep abreast of new initiatives and will ensure programs are managed, delivered and evaluated in a coordinated and integrated approach on a fiscal basis and in a culturally appropriate and responsive manner. The Band Administrator will develop a detailed annual budget for Council approval, and will assist Department Heads in preparing annual departmental budgets. He/she will maintain sound working relationships with Staff, representatives of other departments, governments and outside agencies. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: Supervision/Performance Management: Provides a structured process for the supervision of Staff to ensure that required standards and program policy guidelines are met; Provides consultation on a day to day basis to the Department Managers, as appropriate, in the performance of their duties in relation to: a) Policy interpretation d) resource management practice b) Program eligibility e) workload management c) Case management practice f) conflict resolution Works closely with Chief & Council in policy updates and/or developments; Administration & Financial Management: Maintains information, records, monthly calendar, schedules; Ensures that files are secure; Consults with Chief and Council on a regular basis; Provides regular reports and ensures the financial systems of the programs are maintained and accountability is in place; Monitors revenues and expenditures of all departments and works closely with department heads and/or Finance Manager on budgets; Identifies new sources of revenue for programs and services and applies for additional funding; Identifies and informs Council about new economic opportunities and risk assessment; Meets deadlines; EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: - Degree in Business Management or combined post-secondary education and work experience; - Previous work experience in a First Nations Band Office; - 3 to 5 years working experience with a First Nation;; - Must have experience in planning, conducting and managing programs and projects in a First Nations setting. - Must have knowledge of First Nations history, traditions, lifestyles, culture, including approaches to community development and programming; - Must have experience and good skills in proposal writing, strategies, policies, operational and financial planning; - Must have excellent communication skills; - Must have ability to prioritize goals and objectives within timeframes; - Must have a sound understanding of financial management and preparing detailed annual budgets with working experience; - Must have good understanding of outside government organizations and funders; - Must have experience in supervising Managers and Staff; - Must have experience in negotiations; - Must have strong leadership skills; OTHER: - Must pass a criminal records check; - Must be able maintain flexible hours. - Must have transportation and a valid BC driver’s license. - Must have ability to work as a team member. - Must have excellent public relations, interpersonal and communication skills. - Must be able to work independently and serve as a Team Leader. Please forward resume, cover letter to Jenn Levine, jennifer.levine@nquatqua.ca at N’Quatqua Band Office. Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. We would like to have a minimum of 3 applicants prior to setting up interviews. The closing date for this job posting will be August 20, 2020 at 4pm
Please forward resume, cover letter to Jenn Levine, jennifer.levine@nquatqua.ca at N’Quatqua Band Office. Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. We would like to have a minimum of 3 applicants prior to setting up interviews. The closing date for this job posting will be August 20, 2020 at 4pm
PLAY HERE www.whistlerwag.com
Don’t forget to scoop the poop! It’s not fun to step in, or to see around town. Help keep Whistler clean and pick up after your dog.
» piquenewsmagazine.com/jobs OCTOBER 15, 2020
59
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
• Carpets • Upholstery • Tiles • Car Interiors
info@suncrestwindowcoverings.com
604.698.8406
CLEANING
• Furnace • Airducts • Dryer vents
www.blackbearcarpetcleaning.ca • 604 698 6610
• • • •
Wood blinds Sunscreens Shades Motorization
www.summersnow.ca
Summer Snow Finishings Limited
CHIMNEY
BLACKCOMB CHIMNEY PATROL LTD.
COAST MOUNTAIN CLEANING est. 2011
We follow all VCH, Min of Health Covid 19 protocols Insured & Bondable Commercial, Residential and Nightly Rentals
Serving Whistler since 1986
Specialized in cleaning Chimneys, Furnace & Airducts, Dryer vents.
www.CoastMountainCleaning.com
100% ECO FRIENDLY CERTIFIED
david@summersnow.ca 604-938-3521
Custom Window Treatments Contact us today for a free quote or consultation
CARPET CLEANING
BLACK BEAR CARPET CLEANING LTD.
David Weldon
604-966-1437
Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc.
604.932.5775 / 1.877.932.5775 blackcombchimney@yahoo.ca
CoastMountainCleaning@gmail.com
FURNITURE
GLASS
Mid Century Modern Furniture Call to book a private viewing at our new showroom 604-868-0117
TIRED OF THOSE OLD CONDENSATED, MOLDY WINDOWS AND DOORS?
GLASS
WINDOW REPLACEMENT
Take advantage of the benefits and savings you will receive from new windows and doors. Call Whistler Glass for your onsite consultation
604.932.1132
7322 Old Mill Rd., Pemberton
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
whistlerglass.com
THE COMPLETE GLASS CENTRE
PAINT
SURVEYING
SURVEYING
BUNBURY & ASSOCIA BC LAND SURVEYORS
Serving the Sea to Sky Corridor Since 1963 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
▪ ▪ ▪
Phone: 604-932-3770
Surveys Surveys
▪ ▪ ▪
North Vancouver to Lillooet
Surveys Plans
Surveys
www.bunbury-surveys.com SQUAMISH OFFICE #207 - 38026 Second Avenue Phone: 604-892-3090 email: squamish@bunbury-surveys.com
DOUG BUSH SURVEY SERVICES LTD DOUGLAS J BUSH AScT, RSIS 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
LOCAL EXPERTS GLOBAL REACH Glacier Digital Services in partnership with Pique Newsmagazine offers solutions in website design, SEM, SEO, social media and so much more. Call your sales representative today for a free digital consultation! 604 938 0202
60 OCTOBER 15, 2020
PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 10 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 44 46 48 51 53 58 59 61 62 63 65 67 69
Early camera Brinks Urchins Banal Comment to the audience Marsh grass Courtyards Thorough check Bedding plant Where Valletta is Unmitigated Politician Margaret Chase -Hawaiian guitar, briefly Stone marker Gyro shell Columbo portrayer Cry of discovery Mock fanfare (hyph.) All mammals have it Norse god Timid Hwys. Wanton looks Vaccaro or Lee Kilt-wearer’s refusal Mountain features Whirlpool rival Not rigid Wrecker’s job Green parrot Mr. Montgomery of jazz More dismal Dogpatch’s -- Abner Undersized pup Disparaging remarks Library section
71 72 74 75 76 77 79 80 81 82 83 84 87 88 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 100 101 102 103 104 106 107 109 112 114 115 117 119 122 125 126 127 131
Surfeit Kind of house or hat Give it a go Flourished Counts the minutes Trophy stand Bullet size He married Bacall Supernova Snarls up Crumbles Storage place Skips Echoed Not as strict Praise Kyoto cash Wet lowland Late spring flower Admit Pretended to be Laundry cycle Unmatched Harem honcho Ruby Take a mate Sullivan and Murrow Least at risk Of roses and tulips Evening party Boom periods Comfort City near Syracuse Intensity -- to lunch Oven shelf Recipe verb Heat in the microwave Antique
132 133 134 136 137 139 141 143 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152
Seacoast eagle Signs one’s name to Heaped up Sheep sound Band members Swindler Issued from Skylight locales Dawns, in poetry As -- -- (generally) Plunders Up and about Norse neighbor Removed the peel Pie pans Alloys, generally
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 30
On the blink Honshu city Enjoyed a repast Pitches Answers Literary style Slacker Execs Harbors Squandering Near (2 wds.) Eur. country Medieval holdings Fergie’s first name Small job Pirate’s quaff Foolish one Support a church Social mores Spread false charges Formal papers
32 34 37 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 54 55 56 57 60 62 64 66 68 69 70 71 73 75 76 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
Brainstorm Wildcats Jungfrau or Eiger CSA fighter Reaction to a mouse Farewells Chalets, often (hyph.) Broadcast Leather for honing Jeweler’s lens Had Skewed Hologram maker Inspected Burro alternative Type of duck Sacred place Spheres For fear that Damsel’s locks Search engine find Depleted (2 wds.) Plugged away Shop tools Fall flower Slammed Sizable handbags Make lacework Ms. Miranda Move jauntily Four-footed Romeos Avoid expiration Ad award Shortenings Rust or lime Typefaces Legal matter Narrow down Pass over
91 93 94 97 98 99 102 103 105 108 109 110 111 113 116 118 119
Overpopulated Nat King -Skywalker’s mentor Screen blinker Dijon dad Really fancy Enjoy an evening meal Halite (2 wds.) Grumpy’s pal -- -de-sac Bordered Be without Musicians of yore Scottish for John Baltimore hitter Dominoes Speeds along
120 121 123 124 126 128 129 130 132 135 138 140 142 144
Jostle Really go for Open, as a bottle Land, to Caesar Piece of flatware Kapitan’s command (hyph.) “The Trial” author Flip-chart stand Latin I verb Ounce fraction Conclude Not just mine King, in France Be billed
LAST WEEKS’ ANSWERS
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: HARD
1 7
5 3
4 7 9
4 6
2 3 9
9 1 7 6
8 1 6 2 1 4 5 9 8
HARD Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com# 45
7
8 5 HARD
4 7 8 3
2 1 5 7 6
4 7
5 9 2 4 8
3 2 3 2
8 2
3 6 # 46
ANSWERS ON PAGE 56
OCTOBER 15, 2020
61
MAXED OUT
Promises, promises … THE NOTION every nation, and by extension every junior level of political organization, gets the government they deserve can be traced back further into antiquity than any of us really care about. That it’s survived to this day is both remarkable and remarkably wrong. More accurately, very few of us get or enjoy the government we deserve and this time around, for residents of British Columbia, it is the one certainty we can place a bet on. Whatever the outcome of this completely unnecessary election, the
BY G.D. MAXWELL majority of us will not wind up with the government we deserve or desire. That having been said, many of us will vote with our pocketbooks, as opposed to our brains. We’ll mark our ballots for whichever party panders to the petty, economic wishlists we believe are in our best interests. In other words, we’ll sell our vote for a pocketful of promises. Perhaps this is a good time for all of us to remember election promises are on par with “the cheque’s in the mail,” “I’ll respect you in the morning,” and ... well, best we just skip over the third big lie. It is the law of the land. Election promises are unenforceable in any court in Canada. They are, at best, enforceable in the next election, by which time most of them will have been forgotten and we’ll be barraged with new promises by hopefuls with neither hope not intention of abiding by them. Does that make us suckers? Decide for yourself, sucker. The list of promises from the three parties is extensive and, well, impossible to believe, unless you still believe in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. And just to avoid the strident emails, yes, I know there’s a fourth party, the B.C. Conservative Party. (Insert raised eyebrows here.) The best thing that can be said for them is they’ve only made two promises... and one of them, predictably, is scraping the carbon tax. Yawn. It’s hard to tell whether the Liberals or NDP are promising a bigger moon. For sheer chutzpah and pie in the sky, the Liberals are promising to eliminate the provincial sales tax for a year and peg it at three per cent the next year. Since this would leave something like a $10.8-billion hole in provincial revenue for those two years alone, it would be nice to know how it would either be filled or what would be cut to make up for it. One consequence that probably doesn’t need mentioning is that as much of it as possible would be downstreamed to already-hardpressed municipal governments. For comic relief, they are also promising not to reinstate MSP premiums they refused to eliminate. Throwing red meat to their base—and attempting to demonstrate they haven’t completely lost their minds—they’re
62 OCTOBER 15, 2020
GETTYIMAGES.CA
promising to restrict camping in city parks and enforce an ignored ban on roadside panhandling. And here I thought they’d gone soft. Well, maybe they have. They’re also promising $10-, $20-, or $30-per-day childcare, based on income. No word on where they’ll get the additional childcare workers or sites. And just to jog the memories of business owners, they’re promising to end the two-per-cent small business income tax, something the NDP is counting on being long forgotten. Not to appear to be pikers by comparison, the Horganites are simply offering cash for your vote. Well, not
They’ll freeze rents until 2022, give renters a rebate if they don’t make too much, build hospitals and a new medical school, Skytrain extensions, give money to seniors, ad nauseum. The Greens are promising the kind of things we expect from Greens. Money for renters, money for stay-at-home parents with young children, free childcare, an “exploration” of a four-day workweek, a ban on old growth logging, a ban on fracking, a ban on the export of logs and other standard, boilerplate Green initiatives. Notably, and in no way to be considered an endorsement, the Green Party is the only one promising to pull the plug on Site C. In opposition, Horgan said the same thing, not
Whatever the outcome of this completely unnecessary election, the majority of us will not wind up with the government we deserve or desire.
exactly. But they are promising $1,000 cold, hard cash to every family with a household income under $125,000. Make more than that and they’ll start to reduce that payday; make more than $175,000 and they figure you’re voting Liberal anyway and you don’t get squat. They say they were planning to do that anyway and it has nothing to do with the election. (op. cit. The cheque’s in the mail.)
that I’m implying anything here. Truth be told, I’d probably support any party with a reasonable chance of forming government that would irrevocably promise to nuke Site C. Sorry, Greens. It’s not because I’m an anti-dammer. It’s because I’m an economic realist. Having sat through more economic courses than I can remember—something that can be said for almost everyone who’s sat through one
or more—the long-lasting lessons of the dismal science having the most impact can be distilled to two: the relationship between marginal cost and marginal revenue— something that explains so many things in life—and, more importantly to this topic, sunk cost. Sunk costs are costs already incurred, money already flushed down the toilet. In rational economic theory, sunk costs are unrecoverable and, therefore, should have no bearing on future decision-making. Looking at a project like Site C, the only relevant costs are prospective costs, the costs to be incurred in the future should you decide to pursue the endeavour. The sunk costs for Site C are known. And substantial. Breathtaking, actually. But they are irrelevant to the decision to proceed. The budget for the project has ballooned from $6.6 billion to ... pick a number. $11, 12, 13 billion have all been kicked around. That was before the recent release—admission would be a better word—of geotechnical issues that have cast serious questions about exactly what it will cost to build a safe dam at the site, issues BC Hydro were apparently aware of from the beginning. Issues so serious the former CEO of BC Hydro, Marc Eliesen, has called for a moratorium on further work. Do the words Muskrat Falls ring a bell? The difference between Site C and Muskrat Falls is important: the taxpayers of Canada are on the hook for Muskrat Falls, compliments of the former federal Conservative government. The taxpayers of B.C. are on the hook for Site C. Now, if only the Green Party had a hope in hell of forming government. Alas. But at this point, the NDP owns Site C. I know what that means for my vote. n
FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME G L O B A L R E AC H , L O C A L K N O W L E D G E SOLD
WHISTLER CREEKSIDE 3-2170 Sarajevo Drive Walk to the Whistler ski / downhill bike gondola. One bedroom / One bath townhouse with views. Renovated by respected: Ario Construction. (Phase 1 – Nightly Rental Zoning) GST exempt $499,000
Kathy White
BLUEBERRY HILL 126-3309 Ptarmigan Place Beautfully renovated 2 bed/2 bath, 1216 sq ft unit. Nightly rentals allowed. Underground parking. Storage. No GST. https://my.matterport.com/ show/?m=Bt2CePXY4N1 $1,235,000
604-616-6933 Lisa Johnson-Stott
WHISTLER VILLAGE 486-4090 Whistler Way Westin Resort & Spa studio suite with balcony, kitchen & gas fireplace. Ski in / ski out to Whistler Gondola and be close to it all while enjoying the fabulous hotel amenities. Call today! $350,000
Rachel Edwards
EMERALD ESTATES 9205 Lakeshore Drive Rare lakefront on Green Lake can be yours. Private, large (12,086sf), sweeping views, an immaculate yard and a charming log home. A perfect turnkey residence or a potential redevelopment opportunity. Amazing in all seasons! $4,575,000
Gina Daggett
604-907-2888 Kerry Batt
BAYSHORES 2304 Brandywine Way Bright 4 bed/4 bath duplex in Bayshores, just minutes from Creekside. Open living plan with renovated kitchen & flooring and vaulted ceiling. $1,599,000
604-966-4200 Janet Brown
BLACKCOMB BENCHLANDS 309G2-4653 Blackcomb Way Picture perfect mountain retreat! 2 bed/2 bath, one week monthly, Christmas 2021, heated pool, hot tub, gas fireplace, just shy of 1000 sq ft, bonus time available. Call today and discover the perks of shared ownership! $245,000
604-902-5422
ALPINE MEADOWS 8745 Idylwood Place Take in views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains from every level of this secluded family home located in a quiet Alpine Meadows cul-desac. 4.5 beds/3.5 baths PLUS a 2 Bed revenue suite! $3,890,000
604-935-0700 Peter Lalor
EMERALD ESTATES 9557 Emerald Drive Modern, 2 level, 3200sf home with rental suite. 4 Bedrooms, 3 decks, workshop, hot-tub, 2 car garage. Tranquil forest setting and easy access to local hiking and biking network. $2,699,000
778-998-2357 Nick Swinburne *PREC
604-902-3309
SQUAMISH 66-38183 Westway Avenue Beautifully renovated condo. 3 Beds & 1 bath. Updated kitchen with energy efficient appliances. New flooring, 3 year old HW tank & in suite washer/dryer. Building has a gym & bike room. Close to trails. Perfect for first time buyers. $395,000
604-932-8899 Angie Vazquez *PREC
778-318-5900
CONTRIBUTION AT CLOSING Engel & Völkers is a proud champion of Special Olympics. Many of our advisors donate a portion of their commissions to Special Olympics on behalf of their clients. This simple program means that every time we help our clients realize their real estate goals, we are helping a Special Olympian get just a bit closer to theirs. whistler.evrealestate.com 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
*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.
3D Tour - rem.ax/206nicklausnorth
2 Garibaldi Drive
$625,000
#206 - 8080 Nicklaus North Blvd.
$1,190,000
Have your housing needs changed – are you able to work from home? Consider the purchase of this 7535 sq.ft. flat lot and plan your home build for Spring. Black Tusk, located just 15 minutes from Whistler Resort is the perfect spot to social distance, create a sustainable vegetable garden and enjoy a less hurried lifestyle.
This condo is located in one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Whistler right on the 16th tee of the world-renowned Nicklaus North golf course. Floatplane access gives a luxurious arrival to your Whistler getaway & allows quicker access to the amenities this neighbourhood boasts including biking, hiking, boating, Scandinav Spa & more.
Laura Barkman
Madison Perry
604.905.8777
2
778.919.7653
3D Tour - rem.ax/1428collins
1428 Collins Road
$1,675,000
6
604.907.2223
#755 - 4090 Whistler Way
Michael d’Artois
$565,000
2
604.902.4260
#34 - 8400 Ashleigh McIvor Way
$2,499,000
604.932.8629
A unique opportunity to own a revenue property in the spectacular Whistler Valley. Zoned for nightly or long term rental, this studio apartment is situated on the ground floor, on the quiet side of the building. Located only a few minutes walk to the Creekside gondola as well as shopping, restaurants, and bars, with transit, only steps away.
Matt Chiasson
.5
604.935.9171
Sally Warner*
604.905.6326
#107 - 4910 Spearhead Drive
$1,799,000
The Woodrun is one of the few concrete buildings in Whistler and #107 is conveniently located on the ground floor facing the green belt. The unit features a boot heater, huge owner locker, Washer, and Dryer in suite and the gym and pool access is just across the hallway.
Richard Christiansen
604.907-2717
2
$2,479,000
3.5
#229 - 4905 Spearhead Drive
$899,000
Ski in Ski out location only a 5 minute walk to Upper village. Located in Greystone which is an extraordinary complex with an outdoor pool and hot tub right on the ski hill. This 1 bedroom with lock off is one of the largest one bedroom units listed with zoning for Tourist Accommodation or unlimited personal use.
Sherry Baker 604.932.1315
1
3D Tour - rem.ax/3800sunridge
Bright family home within walking distance to Whistler Village with beautiful Blackcomb Mountain views. Open concept floor plan is perfect for entertaining. Flex room could be used for an office or bedroom plus master bedroom are situated on the main level. The upper level showcases 3 bedrooms with a loft.
Ursula Morel*
$354,900
3D Tour - rem.ax/229greystone
This stunning Red Sky townhome offers fabulous south facing exposure and delivers sunshine from dawn to dusk. There are 3 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, a huge family room or 4th bedroom. This townhome offers contemporary mountain architecture with extensive use of natural wood and stone.
3D Tour - rem.ax/3282arbutus
3282 Arbutus Drive
5.5
604.905.9337
3D Tour - rem.ax/34redsky
This 2 bed 2 bath townhome in the sought after Peaks development is located in the preferable cul-de-sac area of the complex, and backs onto a large amount of green space in a private setting. The covered deck off of the living space offers morning sun and afternoon shade for those hot summer days.
Richard Grenfell
$519,000
A comfortable 1 bedroom end unit high on the 7th floor over looking the Whistler driving range with a full view of neighbouring mountains will sleep 4 comfortably. The Westin Resort & Spa is connected to the Gondola Base in Whistler Village. This multi star hotel is consistently the best revenue generating condo/hotel in Whistler.
3D Tour - rem.ax/10thepeaks
#10 - 1450 Vine Road
#102 - 2109 Whistler Road
3D Tour - rem.ax/107woodrun
A beautiful 6 bedroom home on 1 acre of land minutes away from downtown Pemberton. South-facing views of Mount Currie from the top of the main home with large deck, wood-burning fireplace, updated kitchen with stone countertops & stainless steel appliances; heated slate & marble floors & updated bathrooms.
Meg McLean
3D Tour - rem.ax/102highland
.5
3800 Sunridge Place
$7,450,000
Priced well below replacement, 3800 provides the perfect Multi Generational home where family and friends can connect and rejuvenate. Planned to perfection for sharing; the home offers 5 bedrooms, media room, family room and office in a private location. Available for showings by appointment.
Ann Chiasson
WHISTLER OFFICE 106 - 7015 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC V8E 0X1 604.932.2300 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070 *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
If you are a home owner, buyer, tenant, landlord, or small business in need of help during this time, please see our updated list of resources at: remax-whistler.com/resources
604.932.7651
5
2121 Nordic Drive
$3,150,000
Secluded 1.24-acre view development lot in Nordic Estates within walking distance to ski out, Creekside village and lakes. This hostel zoned lot comes with 25 bed units and allows 5,500 sq. ft. buildable. Presently there is a well-kept 4BR /2 bath old cottage, originally the Alpine Club, sitting on a rock overlooking old trees and the peak of Whistler Mountain.
Bob Cameron*
604.935.2214
4
PEMBERTON OFFICE 1411 Portage Road, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L1 604.894.6616 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070