Pique Newsmagazine 2748

NOVEMBER 26, 2020 ISSUE 27.48

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STATE OF THE HUTS A RUNDOWN OF YOUR FAVOURITE BACKCOUNTRY AMENITIES AND HOW THEY ARE ADAPTING TO OUR NEW COVID-19 REALITY

14

OPENING DAY

Wear a mask, keep your

distance and be patient, WB asks

15

BRACING FOR IMPACT

The

accommodation sector readies for winter

52

SPIRITED AWAY Songstress Lozen fuses the musical and the spiritual on Goal Digger

Stay Safe. Be Kind & Support our Local Businesses!

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

48 52

40 State of the huts A rundown of your favourite backcountry amenities and how they are adapting to our new COVID-19 reality. - By Alyssa Noel

14

OPENING DAY

Whistler Blackcomb is urging

30

UP THE CREEK

Outdoor clubs are lobbying

people to be patient and follow COVID-19 safety protocols, as the

government agencies to maintain access to the backcountry as concerns

mountains open for the season.

heighten over lack of winter parking at Rubble Creek.

15

BRACING FOR IMPACT

The

48

WORKING IT OUT

Local gyms describe how

accommodation sector braces for the impact of new COVID-19 health

they strive to safely serve their clients in the face of additional COVID-19

recommendations, while Tourism Whistler halts regional marketing.

public health orders.

27

52 SPIRITED AWAY

STURDY PLATFORM

MLA Jordan Sturdy sits

Sea to Sky hip-hop

down (virtually) with Pique to look ahead to the political issues in the

songstress Lozen fuses the musical and the spiritual on her latest

region with his provincial election win confirmed.

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS B.C. has been fighting the overdose health crisis for decades and

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

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

Whistler is not immune to its impacts.

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A letter writer this week calls out the municipality for proposing a

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

4.89-per-cent tax increase as the community fights the impact of the pandemic.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Alyssa Noel laments that this coming holiday season may not be that merry, but she is hopeful it will be bright thanks to the joyful lights popping up early almost everywhere.

66 MAXED OUT Max opens up his mailbag answering questions on COVID-19 and accommodation, mask-wearing and when Trump will admit defeat.

Environment & Adventure

Arts & Entertainment Editor ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

39 THE OUTSIDER Writer Vince Shuley weighs in on diversity and inclusivity in sports and argues that

Sports Editor DAN FALLOON - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com

we all must do more to fight discrimination.

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 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.

46 TRAVEL Lisa TE Sonne shares some of her suggestions for enjoying boarding sports beyond those that involve snow.

Lifestyle & Arts

50 EPICURIOUS In a year without international guests, the Four Seasons’ new pop-up restaurant The Braidwood Tavern takes a hyper-local approach as it looks forward to its Dec. 15 opening.

56 MUSEUM MUSINGS Next month, the Whistler Museum will open the Land of Thundering Snow, a travelling virtual exhibit that examines the history and impact of snow avalanches across Canada.

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

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

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OPENING REMARKS

B.C.’s other pandemic needs our attention too I ADMIT IT has been decades since I experienced what an overdose can look like firsthand.

I was a pretty green reporter on a police ride-along when a call came over the radio about the overdose in an alley off of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in the late afternoon of a winter day. The officers might not have responded except one of them thought he recognized the description

BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com

of the person who was unresponsive—a man he had spent hours with over the previous several months trying to get help.

Of course it was raining.

Paramedics were already on scene when we got to the dark, dank, garbage-strewn alley—stereotypical in its appearance, to be honest.

passersby who kept walking with eyes averted, and the flashing emergency lights reflected in the puddles.

It didn’t feel real at the time and, in some ways, it still doesn’t.

It is a heartbreaking, unforgettable memory that I hadn’t thought about for years until this weekend when it all came flooding back as news broke that a local man had overdosed—thankfully, his friend recognized what was happening and called paramedics who were able to resuscitate him.

That ride-along was my introduction to the overdose crisis, which B.C. basically ignored until then-Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency in April 2016. Helping illicit drug users and recognizing the huge issues with opioid addiction was just not a popular political discussion back then— and to this day, we are still struggling to normalize it.

But normalize it we must.

Dr. Mark Tyndall of the UBC School of Population and Public Health opined in

“[T]he only pragmatic and ethical way forward is to offer a regulated, safer supply of opioids, decriminalize drug use, and redeploy resources that are used for drug law enforcement into health and social programs.”

- DR. MARK TYNDALL

I’m pretty sure I should have stayed in the car but no one paid me much attention as I followed the officers.

I can still see the scene clearly in my mind to this day: The police officer’s face where frustration warred with devastation and guilt (later, the officer said something like he felt partly to blame as he didn’t check in on the man that day), the paramedics kneeling beside the man, a small bunch of medical detritus scattered around them,

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the Canadian Medical Association Journal in August that, “the only pragmatic and ethical way forward is to offer a regulated, safer supply of opioids, decriminalize drug use, and redeploy resources that are used for drug law enforcement into health and social programs.

“In the last 5 years, the major responses to the overdose crisis have been to reverse overdoses through harm reduction programs, build a better addiction care

system, and create better housing and social services. Although these may be important actions and aspirations in the long term, they will not address the current emergency. Unless there is a radical change in our approach to the epidemic, overdose deaths will continue unabated. It is time to scale up safe supply and decriminalize drug use.”

It is a logical position made even more compelling as we come to grips with not just the overdose crisis, but also the way it is now deeply impacted by the other major health crisis we face—the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whistler Community Services Society’s (WCSS) executive director Jackie Dickinson fears that we will likely see more overdoses here as the impacts of self-isolation, an unsafe drug supply chain, restrictions on accessing harm-reduction services and stress play significant roles.

(The Public Health Agency of Canada found that recent data from several jurisdictions across the country show a worrying increase in opioid-related harms and deaths since the beginning of the COVID19 outbreak. This may be related to: changes in the illegal drug supply as supply chains have been disrupted by travel restrictions and border measures; less access to supports and services for people who use drugs, such as supervised consumption sites; and more use of substances as a way to cope with stress.)

Said Dickinson: “As we go into shorter, darker days and potentially more restrictions, it is important to foster dialogue in the community that substance use is going to go up.

“We are open. We are here and we are here to help people.”

If you need help, reach out to WCSS at mywcss.org. For free Nalaxone kits and virtual training, go to whistlercommunityservicessociety.janeapp. com. To learn about the Lifeguard app, go here: lifeguarddh.com. n

Enjoy the 2020/21 Winter Season Steve Shuster

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Hot tips for the ski season

course and use it all winter long. Better yet, buddy up and use the same tree to concentrate it. Watch out for tree bombs and tree wells.

GET THE RIGHT GEAR 8. Get backcountry gear: With longer lineups, enclosed gondolas and word of an uphill climbing track, consider getting touring bindings and skins so you can zip up to the closest chairlift for ascending.

9. Use that old backpack: All your extra items are bound to pile up, so bring an old pack, wear it or hang it in a tree. At lunch, sit on it to keep your butt warm.

With all the necessary COVID-19 safety rules on Whistler Blackcomb (WB), this year’s winter experience is bound to be different.

In fact, it might return us to the roots of sliding on snow along with fewer creature comforts.

You might be surprised, but backcountry skiers and riders subject themselves to these types of conditions as often as they can and they might just have some tips to share for the uninitiated.

My guess is that their tips might look something like this ...

STAYING WARM 1. Bring a puffy: Puffys are a critical piece of backcountry equipment. With flow through eating, outdoor loos and well-ventilated gondolas there won’t be as many opportunities to warm up. Wear or bring a warm puffy to trap your heat.

2. Pack a Thermos: The rare WB barista is able to take the poor-quality beans and make a good espresso-based coffee, but this year—no baristas, just drip. If you want good coffee or tea, bring a Thermos.

3. Go for a hike: Go to Flute or Blackcomb Glacier. The hike up will warm you up and keep you in shape so you can stay out longer. Really cold? Hike up the Horstman T-bar line. The lift (RIP) won’t get in your way.

EATING AND APRÈS 4. Brown bag it: Skip the reservations, stay outdoors and brown bag it like a backcountry user. Bring warm soups, tea and high-energy food like nuts, cheese, salmon or beef jerky, pepperoni sticks and, of course, chocolate.

5. Tailgate party: With limited après options adopt the backcountry ski or sledder practice of tailgate après. Bring, chilli, music, and juice cups. Stick to your parking stall to distance.

6. Location, location, location: With more brown bagging and grab-and-going with food,

PLANNING, TRAVELLING AND BEING PRESENT 10. Stick to one mountain: Avoid doing it all. Lineups and use of Peak 2 Peak gondola will make switching mountains less attractive.

Pick one mountain (Whistler) and stick to it instead of wasting time, energy and worry trying to get to greener grass. Enjoy what’s in front of you, because like backcountry travel it will take a long time to get over “there” safely.

11. Be patient with reservations: Due to high demand and chronic underfunding to BC Parks, camping and backcountry users have become used to having to make reservations for campsites and more recently trail use. It’s a pain and the web interfaces are horrible.

Just accept it and learn to breathe through it. As therapy, pen a letter to your Premier about increasing BC Parks funding and the crownland trail systems.

12. Spread out: When travelling in the backcountry, one of the best ways to reduce risk

we will be eating outside more often, so pick a visible spot in the sun, out of the wind (below the tree line), and away from hazards like tree bombs, tree wells and errant skis/boards. On wet days, be prepared and bring a tarp!

BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS 7. Doing it outdoors: Lineups for bathrooms will be long, so outdoor bathrooms will likely be added. Prepare for these at home by opening up your own bathroom windows and turning the heat down. If you choose to use nature for No. 1, choose one tree away from a drinking water

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR when crossing or skiing potential avalanche slopes is to spread out. Mimicking this approach in lift lines, bathroom lines and food lines should reduce the risk of transmitting COVID. Aim for two metres at WB facilities.

13. And finally, take it easy: With COVID circulating, we don’t need to put our safety personnel at greater risk. Dial it back a notch, skip the terrain park as one would in the backcountry when you are far away from help.

Most of all be kind, be calm and be safe out there and enjoy the fresh air and 2020-21 season!

Dan Wilson // Whistler

Proposed tax increase of 4.89% out of touch It seems that the mayor and council have their rose-coloured glasses on when it comes to budget issues for Whistler.

After a very difficult year for all Whistler businesses, and worse in sight by way

every possible moment looking for ways we can present our Outdoor Winter Wonderland Market.

Unfortunately, with the recent Provincial Health Order and the ever-changing directives for community events like ours, we are now not permitted to proceed with the market as planned for Nov. 28 and 29.

It is with deep regret that, as of 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, Bratz Biz 2020 is postponed until further notice. We have worked tirelessly and exhausted all potential avenues; ultimately, we must abide by the recent ruling specific to Bratz Biz made by Vancouver Coastal Health.

We know just how much this annual event means to so many of you. Every year, our hearts are warmed knowing how hard our vendors have worked on their businesses and the opportunity for youth that Bratz Biz represents.

We are devastated that Bratz Biz 2020 cannot go on as originally planned; however, we know that our amazing young artisans are also resilient entrepreneurs. Our team is

“With the increase in taxes the past few years and a whopping increase in our water bill in Function last year, there is only so much momand-pop owners can carry.”

- JAMES F. SMITH

of closures and restricted travel bans ...

Whistler businesses will have another bad year [in 2021], with many considering permanent closure.

With the increase in taxes the past few years and a whopping increase in our water bill in Function last year, there is only so much mom-and-pop owners can carry.

With other provincial and federal governments scaling back and also helping businesses, Whistler council seems to think all their taxpayers have bottomless pockets.

With the $10 million in project spending [proposed for employee-restricted housing], it’s obvious to me that council doesn’t care about small business or the other property owners that are struggling at this time.

Come on, mayor and council! Wake up and sharpen your pencils, get to work, do your job and do the difficult thing and cut back.

James F. Smith // Commercial property/ small business owner in Function Junction

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currently working on a way for our vendors to promote and sell their crafts in time for Christmas. Please check our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for further details as somehow, some way, Bratz Biz 2020 will happen!

Lee Erickson and Craig Lovell // Volunteer Bratz Biz Organizers

Is Whistler acting in its best interests?

We spent several ski holidays of a few weeks each in Whistler prior to 2016.

We are now looking to rent for February and March to ski and to look for a house to buy. Asking rental rates have increased substantially, yet there are tons of empty properties, even for Christmas, on the web.

Are we going to see an empty ski hill and village this winter?

Are property owners shooting themselves in the foot when they could be attracting more Canadians than normal?

Neil McCubbin // Calgary

Bratz Biz 2020 halted, for now This year, 2020, has certainly proven to be challenging, and it continues to push us all to find ways to adapt.

We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting Bratz Biz 2020. Our team has spent

Do you hate your neighbour?

There has been a trend lately of installing additional “Private Property—No Trespassing” signs around strata complexes.

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.

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NOVEMBER 26, 2020

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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These signs are being deliberately placed on shortcuts that are used by local residents to get home more quickly—tourists typically aren’t familiar enough [with the area] to know these routes.

In my experience, these routes are used

by Whistlerites to get to and from their homes in the fastest way. Not to mention that most streets do not have sidewalks or lighting and are therefore hostile to pedestrians, especially in slippery winter months.

Why do we continue to erect these signs?

In many cases, these same strata complexes already allow nightly rentals, so a fear of strangers seems misguided, but perhaps that’s the case. In many strata complexes, even long-term owners don’t know each other, but for some reason would prefer that fewer Whistler residents walk the paths of their complex.

What problems are we trying to solve by erecting “Private Property—No Trespassing” signs?

Wear and tear of a driveway/staircase/ rocky trail by a few pedestrians a day?

Privacy? Are we scared of seeing our neighbours as they walk home? Are we scared they might see into our home for one or two seconds while they meander to work?

Noise? Are the trespassers typically ruining strata owners’ quality of life? OK, maybe they are bit loud sometimes, but in my experience, this is a few seconds per week, max.

Litigation? Does Whistler have a rising trend of litigation by injured trespassers?

Are people coming home to picnicking

families on their patios?

What am I missing?

Brendan Ladner // Whistler

Community leaders need to be more outspoken on pandemic measures As rumours fly around Whistler of multiple cases of COVID-19, we have heard nothing from our leaders of this community.

How bad is it? How safe are we?

At the beginning of the pandemic, there were signs posed on the highway at the village warning of the dangers. Now things are much worse and cases are springing up around town in multiple locations. I personally service eight to 10 different homes a day and am at high risk.

My concern is we have heard nothing. Are there 10 to 50 to 500 cases? No one knows.

Each day, I am terrified to go to work into the unknown. How about some leadership?

Where is our mayor who should be informing us of the current situation?

I take all the proper safety measures that are available to protect my family and myself but have never been so scared to go to work in my life.

Close down those [who] can afford to do that. You are the leaders of this community; step up and give us reassurance.

There are a lot of very nervous people in this community right now. Please lead as you were elected to do and stop leaving the community in the dark.

Please be safe everyone.

Mike Steeves // Whistler n

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Christmas in November? It’s 2020, go nuts IT’S NOT THAT I hate Christmas.

It’s just that I can’t relate to the people who start their holiday countdown in July, finish their shopping before Thanksgiving, and push the boundaries on when it’s acceptable to start decking out their house in tacky red and white garb.

BY ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

The hard-and-fast rule in my book for that latter point is Dec. 1.

This year, however, I would like to file a formal exception.

Last week, on a particularly low day, I took the long way home from the grocery store, unable to bear the thought of returning to my apartment where I now spend most of days and nights. (These are hard times for non-homebodies.)

Driving down one random road in the pouring rain, I noticed house after house with multi-coloured lights strung across their roofs and trees trimmed in ornaments, already proudly on display in picture windows.

Something inside me cracked. Suddenly, tears were streaming down my face.

The quiet, collective decision these

strangers made to do one thing within their control to make their homes brighter, not only for themselves, but also for their neighbours and passersby felt like a message—like so much more than the (premature) celebration of a season.

Those glowing lights declared: Let’s not just ride this thing out and quietly wait for next year. Let’s find the joy that still exists,

truly unironic blasting of the Kenny Rogers Christmas album—tradition has not been my favourite part of Christmas.

Rather, it’s been the weird, surprise holiday moments over the years that have stuck in my brain and make me smile when I cast my memory back. There was the year my extended family crashed the empty fire hall where my uncle volunteered in

Those glowing lights declared: Let’s not just ride this thing out and quietly wait for next year.

Let’s find the joy that still exists, embrace, and share it.

embrace, and share it.

It felt like both a literal and figurative light in the middle of a literal and figurative dark storm.

Other than a handful of things—jamfilled chocolate cookies that my mom only makes at Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, a

small-town Alberta; another year where we dropped in on relatives and launched a garage board-game marathon; or even the year at Pique when we all had to work on a Saturday to finish the holiday edition, culminating in an egg-nog-fuelled conga line with reporter Braden Dupuis singing

his original Christmas track.

But in 2020, most of us have gotten just about all the novelty we can handle. Forget new or unexpected or surprise.

I long desperately for a holiday filled with nothing but the familiar, the traditional, the mundane.

I’ve found an urge I’ve never felt before to join those Christmas-crazy folks whose desires have always been a mystery to me and watch Elf 100 times and sing along to Mariah Carey and deck my apartment out in bargain-basement red-and-white tinsel that will shed everywhere and get lodged in places I won’t notice for six more months.

More than anything, I want to go home to celebrate with family in a way I’ve taken for granted nearly every year of life.

That’s starting to feel less and less likely. Yes, it is just one year. Yes, a vaccine is on the horizon. Yes, there are plenty of things in my privileged life for which to feel grateful.

But sometimes none of that makes your current reality feel easier.

So, if travel bans and complicated preholiday quarantines are not within my control, at least I know there’s one place I can turn.

It might be tacky, red-and-white, and shaped like a fat old man, but it will also light up these darkest of times. ■

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

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13

NEWS WHISTLER

WB urges patience and responsibility as mountain opens ‘WE GET OPEN AND THEN WE WANT TO STAY OPEN,’ SAYS COO GEOFF BUCHHEISTER

BY BRANDON BARRETT WHISTLER BLACKCOMB’S (WB) chief operating officer is urging patience and personal responsibility from the community as Whistler gets set for a ski season unlike any other.

“It’s a difficult time for all of us as we’re trying to manage through. So we’re asking for patience as we do it,” said COO Geoff Buchheister. “We’re also learning about this as we go and we’re going to get better as the season goes on … We’re going to do everything we can to make sure we’re spreading people out, but the guest also has to give some consideration as well.”

Pique caught up with Buchheister ahead of Opening Day, Nov. 26, to discuss B.C.’s latest travel recommendations, COVID protocols, and navigating the resort’s new reservation system, as well as what skiers and riders can expect from the early season.

As COVID cases continue to rise both locally and across B.C., provincial health officials last week reiterated their recommendation against non-essential travel, specifically recommending skiers to stick to their local mountain. Pique followed

SUNDOWN SNOWMAKING Whistler Blackcomb’s snowmaking team preparing the mountain for Opening Day this week.

PHOTO BY PAT LABROSSE / COURTESY OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB

14 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

up with the provincial health office to get clarity on whether Lower Mainland skiers, for instance, can travel to the resort, and got back a canned statement that did not definitively say one way or the other.

“I think because the way it was announced as a travel recommendation or guidance, I bet we will see some folks from the Lower Mainland,” Buchheister said. “My request of all of those people is when they step up to the mountain at Whistler Blackcomb that they recognize we’re at a critical time with the pandemic.

As we open, we’re embracing a whole new set of policies and procedures and we’re asking our guests to employ the layers of protection we’ve been talking about all across the world, but specifically for us, it’s face coverings and distancing.”

Because lift staff won’t necessarily know where guests are travelling from, Buchheister said it is important they use common sense when visiting the mountain.

“We’re going to open up and we’re going to lean on people to make good decisions and decide how they best can take care of themselves and their own safety, and know that what [provincial health officer Dr.] Bonnie Henry says is super important for all of us to buy in to,” he said. “For me, it’s about personal responsibility. What are you going to do to ensure that you’re not contributing negatively to this?”

With “many COVID positives in town,” Dr. Fern von der Porten, the medical director for the Whistler Health Care

Centre, had a different interpretation of the recent recommendations, warning that “non-compliance will compromise our health and our ski season.

“We do not want to be the host of a superspread of this disease,” she wrote in an email.

“Everybody needs to do their part. Being a pass holder does not make you a resident of our community. Also, please [do] not come here to quarantine. Stay at home.”

WB has instituted a wide range of health and safety protocols intended to better manage the dispersal of guests both during upload and on-mountain. One of the most significant changes this year is WB’s new reservation system, which has garnered frustration from guests as they try to navigate the complicated online system and deal with long wait times to reach Guest Services.

“It’s not as simple as it used to be, so people have a lot of questions. I’d say the wait times on the phones have been longer than we would like, for sure. But I feel confident that we’ve captured the necessary information,” Buchheister said, adding that staff will follow up with customers in due time if they are unable to reach anyone by phone.

“The reservation system is going to be there for you and it’s all online. I trust you’ll be able to use that to get in there day in and day out and make sure you’re managing your reservation, and ideally, we don’t have to do all that stuff over the phone every time.”

This year, pass holders will have up to seven priority ski days they can use to

book anytime between Dec. 8 and April.

Then, every Wednesday, WB will release inventory for the upcoming week, which will allow guests to add additional ski days for that week that do not count as one of their priority days.

“For us, the reservation system is actually going to be a tool to help us manage our volumes,” Buchheister explained. “At the end of the day, with spacing, with the [health] guidelines, we can’t just open the gates and roll people in the way that we used to.”

Buchheister acknowledged how quickly the first week of the season has booked up, but stressed that it’s not a trend he expects to continue through the winter.

“The early season is the most challenging part of the year. Here we are, new health restrictions, limited terrain,” he noted.

“We’ve put an inventory limit in there so that we can manage the situation relative to the terrain we have available and I don’t anticipate this scenario is something we’ll be dealing with every day of the season.”

WB expects to have roughly 700 acres (238 hectares) of terrain available on both mountains for Opening Day. On Whistler, the Emerald, Red and Garbanzo chairs will be open, while Blackcomb will see Jersey Cream, Excelerator and Catskinner in use.

“Compared to a year ago … we’re looking way better in terms of available terrain for opening,” Buchheister said.

SEE PAGE 15

>>

NEWS WHISTLER

TOP FLOOR VIEWS

How accommodation providers are navigating travel restrictions TOURISM WHISTLER HAS SUSPENDED MARKETING UNTIL AT LEAST DEC. 7

BY BRANDON BARRETT WITH PROVINCIAL health officials reiterating the recommendation against nonessential travel last week, accommodation providers in Whistler are girding themselves for what is likely to be one of the slowest holiday periods in recent memory.

As of Nov. 7, Tourism Whistler (TW) suspended all of its marketing and sales initiatives to comply with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recommendation against travel for social or recreational reasons, which has been extended until at least Dec. 7 in light of last week’s announcement.

“We believe that’s the right thing to do so that we are not proactively promoting any marketing for the next two weeks, at least,” said TW president and CEO Barrett Fisher.

Like others in the accommodation sector, TW continues to accept bookings through whistler.com from out-of-province guests, as Victoria’s guidance against inter-provincial travel is a recommendation, not an order.

TW also has clear messaging on its site around local and provincial COVID protocols, and Fisher is hopeful prospective guests will use their best judgement when visiting here.

“There are orders and there are recommendations, so the orders are nonnegotiable and the recommendations are

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really for people to use their common sense,” she said.

Saad Hasan, president of the Hotel Association of Whistler, said similar guidance goes out to hotel guests prior to their arrival, wherever they are travelling from.

“We are not there to validate whether a guest wants to come or not. We are certainly open for business and are providing all the instruments required to ensure people are as safe as possible,” he said.

Matt Hick, CEO of vacation rental service alluraDirect, said property owners will follow up with out-of-province guests to confirm their place of residence. If they are coming from outside of B.C., they are encouraged to cancel their bookings for a refund or risk a non-refundable cancellation.

Those booking with an international address, meanwhile, will see a large warning pop up that indicates they are booking “at their own risk and all cancellations are nonrefundable,” Hick wrote in an email.

“I believe the other rental platforms have similar procedures to us regarding international guest warnings, but the property owners must enable this option manually in order for the message to show.”

Similarly, TW and the hotel sector will accept international bookings, as there are a number of legitimate reasons someone with a foreign address may need to book accommodation. In the case of TW,

SEE PAGE 17

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OPENING DAY PATIENCE FROM PAGE 14 Upload times are expected to be longer this year, as guests are only permitted to ride with their own household or cohort.

Vail Resorts’ West Coast communications director Marc Riddell encouraged the public to check WB’s channels before arriving to help determine where they should upload and park.

“People are going to have to be a little bit more deliberate with how they come and engage with us, so they will have to seek out the information in advance. We will certainly provide it from a frontline perspective, too,” he said, adding that there will be ample signage notifying guests when lots are full.

There will be limits on parking capacity in certain lots, depending on volumes, with “the most prominent” being at Creekside, Riddell said, where “the upload capacity will probably be a lot slower than at our other access points.”

Without the benefit of seasonal foreign workers, WB has had to double down on its domestic recruitment efforts, even with a

workforce that will count far less staff than in previous years. Buccheister said often employees are being trained on more than one job so they can slot into other positions as necessary.

“We’re embracing some new thinking around how we’re managing the workforce, making sure we’re getting people the hours they need,” he said.

Ultimately, Buchheister said WB’s main priority this year is to keep both guests and employees safe to ensure a full, uninterrupted ski season—but there are bound to be some bumps along the way.

“Our goal is to get open here, step into the season and work through this opening and learn every day,” he said. “We get open and then we want to stay open, which we feel is what’s best for our community and best for all the businesses in town—and it’s going to take some collective effort from all of us.”

Dec. 6 is the last day of the season to purchase from the suite of WB pass offerings.

Learn more at whistlerblackcomb.com. n

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

15

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NEWS WHISTLER << FROM PAGE 15 however, staff will follow up with U.S. and international bookings directly whenever the border closure is extended.

“And just to provide a bit of context, we only had one or two non-Canadian bookings that did not proactively cancel after the latest extension through to Dec. 21 (both from Washington) so we’re talking low volumes,” a TW spokesperson clarified in a follow-up email.

Looking towards the holiday season, traditionally Whistler’s busiest time of year, Fisher said it is difficult to predict, with an increase in 11th-hour bookings throwing off TW’s forecasting—but there’s no denying it’s shaping up to be a lean winter.

“It’s really hard to know, to be really frank, because without that international or long-haul visitation, everything is booked close in at the last minute, so our forecasting model is just not as accurate in this environment as it historically has been,” she said. “But without a doubt, we’re anticipating a much softer season, full stop.”

Hasan reiterated that point, noting how, with more British Columbians travelling close to home in the pandemic, long-term planning has proved a bigger challenge this year.

“Staycations can be hugely surprising,” he said. “Summer was, in a way, a good litmus test. We are thinking along the same lines that you will see this sudden shift of people coming into the resort, a sudden shift of things looking busy, and

BY THE BOOKING Whistler’s accommodation providers have had to navigate the province’s recent messaging around non-essential travel ahead of what stands to be a lean holiday period.

GETTYIMAGES.CA

then nothing. But thankfully, because of our experience with summer and our experience since COVID came about, I think everyone is prepared and ready, whether it’s restaurants, retail, coffee shops, or hotels.”

Although alluraDirect was seeing an encouraging increase in holiday bookings, specifically from Ontario, through October and early November, Hick said bookings “effectively stopped” after the first set of

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new health restrictions were announced three weeks ago.

“On Nov. 12, the cancellation requests started. On Nov. 19, the majority of reservations for the coming holidays were cancelled [en masse],” he added.

So far, alluraDirect’s bookings are down approximately 90 per cent for December compared to last year.

“The reaction we have received from the owners and managers of the rental properties has been one of frustration. A large portion of their annual rental income comes between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15,” Hick said. “One week things are starting to turn around, the next week things start to look not as promising, and finally the rug is pulled out from everyone.

The fallout has been financially and mentally devastating for many of our clients.”

Larger properties with four or more bedrooms have been hit the hardest, Hick said, as owners risk fines if the number of people accessing their unit is larger than restrictions allow.

“However, this provides a tough challenge for these property owners,” he explained. “Guest groups that are not taking the health orders seriously are simply misleading the property owners with the total number of guests and provide contact tracing details for only a portion of the group. With access codes being provided by email for most vacation rentals, this is causing some serious stress for these owners who are trying to ensure they do everything by the book.” n

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17

NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler businesses forge ahead under new COVID-19 travel restrictions EARLY SEASON MARKED BY PROVINCE’S REQUEST FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY

BY ALYSSA NOEL IN THE FACE

of new provincewide recommendations asking British Columbians not to travel for vacations or socializing, Whistler businesses seem to be taking the same approach they have since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out: Follow safety protocols, pivot where possible, and, despite challenges, hope the season ahead will bring local and regional tourists.

“I’m optimistic,” said Melissa Pace, CEO of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. “There are many businesses that are optimistic. We’re looking forward to the mountain being open—even if it’s a local’s day—it’s open and will be moving.

We’re working extremely hard these days under a lot of change. The chamber tries to make sure messages are clear, up-todate, and concise.”

But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a struggle for many as well.

“Anecdotally speaking, there is a sense of anxiousness,” she added. “There’s certainly a level of uncertainty. I think that

many businesses—if not all—are under extreme pressure to not only keep meeting payroll and rent and financial obligations, but to keep their doors open.”

The Scandinave Spa Whistler has seen fewer visitors, but it’s also been operating at a manageable level over the last few weeks, said Michelle Leroux, sales and marketing manager.

“Prior to this most recent [public health order] the spa was challenged with how many people were looking to come for the baths and the number of people that we could allow into the facility,” she said in an email. “More inclement weather means that we have to reduce capacity even further. We are confident that with all the preventative measures we’ve put in place, we will be able to stay open to serve our local community and keep our employees working at a time when having a safe space to take care of one’s mental and physical well-being couldn’t be more important.”

Looking to the season ahead, in addition to strict safety protocols, the Scandinave also plans to create a reservation system for the baths to address demand on weekends, especially.

“We hope our region can adhere to the latest health order so we can get back to a lower infection rate in B.C. and ensure the winter season can go ahead as planned,” Leroux wrote.

At Canadian Wilderness Adventures (CWA), both the end of summer and fall wound up being busier than expected, leading to some optimism that the winter might be the same.

“I don’t think [travel restrictions] have made any difference for us as of yet,” said Craig Beattie, general manager with the tourism company. “We’re operating. We have our snowmobile tours going. We’re gung-ho to try and fulfil our products we have going.”

Several of the company’s tours have shifted this winter to adhere to safety protocols. While its fondue tour is cancelled, for example, they’re planning to serve food outdoors around a campfire.

“You’ll have your food, live entertainment, creating that really fun outdoor experience,” Beattie said. “It will be spatially distant, with only your cohort, the same rules and regulations as a restaurant.”

While CWA has continued to be creative

and think on its feet, these, of course, are not usual times, he added.

“It is challenging, we all know that,” he said. “We’ve done everything we can to mitigate our losses and we had some cost cutting we had to do through it all.

The government subsidies have helped us to keep our staff employed and it allowed us to get projects done and work on new projects.”

To that end, chamber members are looking at new government programs, like the small- and medium-sized business recovery grants through the B.C. government, Pace said.

In the meantime, they’re keeping their eye on the rest of winter, not knowing what restrictions, orders or advisories might be in place.

“Individuals from the regional market are going to make a decision to come or not,” Pace said. “We’re prepared in Whistler to receive them. As far as businesses are concerned, safety protocols are in place.”

As for Sea to Sky locals, she had one more message.

“Locals need to shop local,” she said.

“Don’t go to Amazon, support local.” n

59

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NEWS WHISTLER

Overdose prompts warning to community not to use drugs alone WHISTLER MAN SAVED BY ROOMMATE WHO CALLED 911 who recognized what was happening and called 911. “[Paramedics] got there in time to give him the Narcan, but if he had been alone, it could have been really bad,” Lewis said.

“If you are alone, then you could die.”

While less common than popular party drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, heroin is “present and it has always been present” in the resort, said Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Paul Hayes. “In my experience, cocaine tends to be the more common of the two drugs found here, but the reality is those drugs are here and have been for as long as I have.”

According to the BC Coroners Service, there has been a 112-per-cent increase in the number of illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. between September 2019 and September 2020, with the ongoing pandemic contributing significantly as an underlying cause.

“We are focusing a lot on the concerns we have about the coronavirus and the pandemic, but deadly illicit drug overdoes should also be part of the really important conversations we are having about public health,” said Jackie Dickinson, executive

BY CLARE OGILVIE THE DOCTOR WHO treated a heroin overdose at the Whistler Health Care Centre on Nov. 20 is warning drug users not to take substances alone.

“The message is don’t use if you don’t have to [right now], but if you do have to and there are lots of reasons that people have to, then don’t use alone and have a Narcan kit,” said Dr. Clark Lewis. (Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is a medication used to block the effects of opioids.)

In recent days, Surrey RCMP issued a public warning after three people died of drug overdoses, which were linked to a toxic batch of illicit street drugs. “[This was] an experienced user who overdosed for the first time ever, which is alarming,” said Lewis, noting that overdoses are very rare in the resort. “[The person is] local and they were not prepared—they did not have a Narcan kit.

He was not alone, which was good.”

The ER doctor said the overdose victim was likely saved by his roommate,

director of the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS).

Hayes said the risk of using is higher in the pandemic in part because some of the products typically used to make certain illicit substances are tougher to acquire with the ongoing border closure.

“So people may be asking for cocaine, but what’s really in it, I would say every dose is different,” he said.

In response to the overdose, Dickinson wanted to remind people that WCSS is open and available to help.

“We are here and we are here to help people,” she said, adding that it is important that everyone look to their households and support circles at this time. “[Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry is giving us tools to help for our physical safety, but she is also giving us tools to support our mental health.

The whole ‘safe six’ [concept] is really meant to say, as we navigate these really challenging times: surround yourself with six people that are meant to support you in a variety of ways for you health and your wellness.

“We have to think about who our support

system is, and this is a great example of how that housemate or friend or that constant buddy who checks on you can literally be your lifeline.”

Dickinson urged people who do make a choice to use drugs not to do it alone, and to have a naloxone kit on hand. They are available from WCSS free of charge, and the virtual training to learn how to use the kits safely takes about 30 minutes and is also free. (Visit whistlercommunityservicessociety.janeapp. com to find out more about the kits.)

Whistler RCMP officers also carry and are trained to administer naloxone.

For those who find themselves using alone, Dickinson urged them to download the Lifeguard App (lifeguarddh.com).

This allows a user to set an alarm when using. If the alarm is not turned off, the app sends a message to 911 and local ambulance services.

WCSS is working to make sure people who want this service but do not have cell phones get the technology they need. If you have a cell phone you no longer need, consider donating it to WCSS (mywcss.org).

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler Community Services Society braces for winter challenges ORGANIZATION EXPANDING SERVICES OFFERED DURING PANDEMIC

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continue to surge and the pandemic approaches the nine-month mark with winter approaching, Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) executive director Jackie Dickinson said the organization is ready to help.

“We’ve been talking a lot about what it takes to have enough gas in our gas tanks, essentially, to navigate the next few months,” she said.

“There are a number of factors at play that can impact anyone’s mental health and well-being.

“We care about them and we need to ensure that their mental health and wellness is a top priority so they can continue to support the needs and the well-being of our community.”

In addition to the pandemic, with flu season, shorter days and a general sense of lingering uncertainty, the organization is preparing for an uptick in requests in what’s already been a record-breaking year,

noting that the worst stretch was in May, when 57 per cent of those seeking assistance identified as being in crisis.

As such, WCSS is expanding the scope of its services. For one, it has partnered with Whistler Connection to allow for more food bank deliveries, while in-person food bank services are available at 8000 Nesters Rd. on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.

As well, Dickinson stressed that even with some return to in-person support, services are still being offered virtually, which is all the more important at a time when more people may be isolating for any number of reasons.

“They have that resource to connect to someone virtually, connecting to something that’s a really positive tool and support system,” she said.

As well, a recent success came when WCSS coordinated with the Whistler Health Care Centre, so that when people get tested for COVID-19, they receive a text not only about how to access test results, but also how to access WCSS services.

“They can book online to meet with one of our access workers or access information

about our food banks,” Dickinson said.

“We’re really trying to connect right away to people who may be entering situations that will leave them economically vulnerable, challenged or isolated from their support networks.”

As the pandemic has continued, WCSS has sought insight from elsewhere as to how to tailor its response, Dickinson said.

One idea being implemented in highdensity areas in Vancouver is that food banks are also delivering hygiene products and cleaning products such as masks, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes for people sharing homes, which WCSS is looking to add.

“They’re being given the tools and resources to keep those areas safe and help mitigate as much risk and exposure as possible,” Dickinson said.

As well, WCSS is collaborating with regional food banks to determine how to continue to serve while keeping frontline staff safe.

Those looking to help can shop at the Re-Use-It or Re-Build-It centres, or support the holiday hamper program. Dickinson noted that $100 supports two for a week

while $400 provides food and gifts for a family of four.

As well, she stressed it’s OK for people to receive the help.

“We want to remove the stigma around that,” she said. “We want people to feel comfortable accessing our services knowing they’re confidential and we are here to support them.”

WCSS has collected demographic stats since 2014, with the community growing through increased access to affordable housing, as well as a baby boom.

“We see everybody, so when you look at our stats, we actively support young people and older people, but when you look at the main demographic, they’re often around 37 or 38 years old, a lot of times with dependents and they’ve lived in the community for more than one year,” she said. “That’s important information to share in the sense that I think that it normalizes this conversation for a lot of us who live here.

“They’re looking to find a way to make Whistler home, and they’re reaching out to services and that’s really a sign of strength.”

For more info, visit mywcss.org. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler traffic hit ‘near-normal’ levels in October DAY LOT RATE INCREASES TO TAKE EFFECT DEC. 15

BY BRADEN DUPUIS IF RUBBER-TIRE VISITORS to Whistler were being COVID conscious from March to September, they certainly shed their anxiety in October—at least according to local traffic counters.

“Looking at it now, we are seeing near-normal levels of traffic,” said general manager of infrastructure James Hallisey at the Nov. 17 council meeting.

“I think the October numbers [at our Brio traffic counter] were within a few hundred cars of where we were in 2019, so interesting to see how that travel has rebounded.”

The pandemic implications of that traffic growth aside, Hallisey was on hand for the meeting alongside transportation demand management coordinator Emma DalSanto to present an update on Whistler’s Transportation Action Plan.

A previously planned increase to parking rates in Whistler’s day lots, postponed due to the pandemic, will be put into effect this winter.

Starting Dec. 15, the new fees will be $12

per day in Lots 1 to 3 (from $10) and $6 in lots 4 and 5 (up from $5).

Monthly passes for Lots 1, 2 and 3 will now cost $70 (up from $62), while passes for Lots 4 and 5 will cost $36 (up from $30).

Whistler Conference Centre and Whistler Public Library underground parking fees will also be increased $5 each (now $20 for the day and $70 for the month) on Dec. 1.

surveyed,” he said.

“And compared to many of the other indicators around town, this was actually pretty strong.”

Prior to the pandemic, transit ridership was growing stronger than in 2019, DalSanto said, but took a predictable dive during stay-at-home orders.

“It has bounced back, and we’re

“[T]he October numbers [at our Brio traffic counter] were within a few hundred cars of where we were in 2019...”

- JAMES HALLISEY

While parking revenues predictably took a dive as the town slowed to a crawl in March and April, parking volumes were still “significant” on some summer days, Hallisey said.

“It is interesting that despite a global pandemic going on, traffic to those two parking lots was still significant; we were still over 70-per-cent full on the days

basically at about 50 per cent of where we were,” DalSanto said.

“One of the key things that we’re looking to do is to grow back our transit ridership and confidence in our transit system.”

Early-winter transit service kicked off on Nov. 21, with the return of the 4 Marketplace shuttle, 20x Cheakamus and 32 Emerald routes.

Full winter service resumes Dec. 5, and will add further additional trips on select routes (the 10 Valley Express included).

One area that needs continued focus is the management of parking at parks and trailheads, DalSanto added, noting that at some areas monitored, occupancy was above 85 per cent.

A pilot project launched this summer to shuttle visitors from parking lots to parks could provide some relief in that sense, she added.

“We’ve been talking about this, and we do think that with proper planning there could be something that could serve a certain part of the population,” DalSanto said.

“We have some ideas that we’ve been floating around for next summer, but we need more work on that.”

Whistler’s Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) is also moving forward with a $20 reduction to the spirit transit pass this winter, Hallisey said.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler is seeking four new community members to serve two-year terms on the TAG—read more at www. whistler.ca/municipal-gov/committees/ transportation-advisory-group. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

BC Transit issues RFP for EV buses CORRIDOR COMMUNITIES TO SPEND $2.9M FOR EV CHARGERS OVER FOUR YEARS

BY BRADEN DUPUIS AS BRITISH COLUMBIA moves towards a new EV mandate—that 15 per cent of new vehicle sales are EV by 2025, 30 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040—BC Transit is hoping to introduce its first electric buses in Victoria in the coming years.

A Request For Proposals (RFP) issued Nov. 18 outlines the operator’s plan to have 10 electric buses on the road in the province’s capital by the summer of 2022.

“It’s an exciting step forward for us in our low-carbon fleet program to get the RFP out the door,” said Jonathon Dyck, communications manager with BC Transit, adding that the RFP also allows BC Transit to purchase further buses and infrastructure from the successful proponent if necessary.

That said, there’s no immediate timeline to expand the electric fleet beyond Victoria.

“We’re looking at it as buses need to be replaced, and where we can get the infrastructure and those types of pieces,” Dyck said.

“And so right now we’re focused on these first 10 and we’re working through the process of determining, based on a number of factors, what that additional rollout would look like.”

Solid timelines or not, BC Transit is still committed to meeting its previously-stated goal of buying only zero-emission buses in all fleet classifications after 2028 and having a fully zero-emission provincial fleet by 2040.

“We’re still on track for the 2028 and 2040 target that we set out and this is a key step in moving towards it,” Dyck said.

from other transit systems as well … we’re working on our processes that work for our communities, but we’re also working hard to work in collaboration with external partners.”

According to a 2019 report by SFU energy think tank Clean Energy Canada, though the upfront cost of an e-bus is about two to four times higher than a diesel bus (which cost

“It’s an exciting step forward for us in our low-carbon fleet program to get the RFP out the door.”

- JONATHON DYCK

When the full rollout does happen, it’s possible that Whistler will get electric buses later than in other regions, as it already runs a fully compressed natural gas fleet.

There’s also the matter of Whistler’s intense winter snowfalls—would an EV bus pack the same power as its diesel counterpart?

“I think that these are all things that we’ll be looking at,” Dyck said, adding that the electric battery market has come a long way in recent years.

“We know that we’re also learning

about $500,000), e-buses will reach upfront cost parity with diesel buses by 2030.

With the project out for RFP, Dyck didn’t want to speculate on what BC Transit’s 10 new buses might cost.

As for the total cost of transitioning BC Transit’s entire fleet, “I know that that’s something that, as we go through this process, that we’re looking at and we’re evaluating as we go,” he said.

“Cost depends on a number of factors, and it also depends on what’s happening in

the market at that time, so I think that at this point we’re focused on getting these first 10 battery electric buses on the road and then going from there.”

The project is being funded by the federal and provincial governments, which announced $79 million for the fleet in the summer of 2019, as well as the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.

Meanwhile, The Resort Municipality of Whistler, District of Squamish, Village of Pemberton and Lil’wat Nation are partnering on a project to spend $2.9 million to install 43 new EV chargers at key locations over the next four years.

The spend could be offset by a potential $1,978,643 grant from the province’s Clean BC Communities Fund—though it is unlikely the RMOW will receive a response on the grant before spring 2021.

Whistler’s portion of the project costs (for 24 new chargers in the resort) are estimated at about $1.89 million (or $505,000 after the grant). If the grant doesn’t come through, the project will be re-evaluated and other funding opportunities will be pursued, an RMOW spokesperson said.

Climate action coordinator Luisa Burhenne is expected to return to council in the new year with a report on potential cost recovery options for local EV chargers. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

A post-election Q & A with Jordan Sturdy SEA TO SKY MLA TALKS COVID-19 RECOVERY, REGIONAL TRANSIT AND MORE AS HE READIES FOR HIS THIRD TERM

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WITH B.C.’S PANDEMIC election officially in the rear-view mirror, MLA Jordan Sturdy is headed for a third term representing voters in the Sea to Sky. A judicial recount completed Nov. 17 extended Sturdy’s narrow lead over the Green Party’s Jeremy Valeriote to 60 votes—and confirmed his win in the riding.

While the constituency has long been considered a BC Liberal stronghold, with changing demographics and electoral boundaries, the party knew it was in for a fight this year, Sturdy said.

“We had really anticipated a much tighter race going forward [after 2017],” Sturdy said.

“I think given the circumstances around the timing of this election, the COVID nature of the whole thing, and the fundamentals around leadership and the perception of the Greens … it all contributed to making this a very, very

tight race.”

Though the BC Liberal party elected MLA Shirley Bond as its new interim leader on Nov. 23, Sturdy said it’s unlikely he will pursue the top job when the party elects a new official leader next year.

That said, he’s excited for another term representing the Sea to Sky. “When we go through a new process of rebuilding a new leadership, new ideas, it can be a very exciting time,” Sturdy said.

“And I look forward to the opportunity to participate in the future of the BC Liberal party.”

Pique caught up with Sturdy to discuss the campaign, COVID-19 and his priorities going forward.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

THIRD TERM After a judicial recount, Jordan Sturdy is set to serve as MLA in the Sea to Sky for another term.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PIQUE: Given how tight the final result was, is there anything you would say to Green voters right now?

the voters, and I think it’s important to recognize that as an MLA, you’re not representing the people that voted for you, you’re representing everybody. That’s the job of the MLA, is to represent the region to the best of their abilities, with the knowledge and experience and worldview that you as an elected official bring to the position.

JORDAN STURDY: Nobody received the support of more than half the population, or half

What are your key priorities now that you’ve been re-elected?

JS: Clearly the primary consideration right now is all about COVID … hopefully we can begin to flatten this thing and bend it back down.

[It will likely be six months before a vaccine is widely available], but in those intervening months, with the border closed and with recommendations to limit movement to even within your health region, all of these things are going to put

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NEWS WHISTLER << FROM PAGE 27 additional pressures on businesses, as well as families and jobs, because it all comes down to employers being able to make their payrolls and make their rent payments.

So this is going to be an incredibly challenging time over the course of the next few months to balance off the health interests, which have to dominate, but also the business and personal and family interests that are related to that. So working with the federal government is going to continue to be a top priority, hopefully for our provincial government, but our relationship with our local MP [Patrick Weiler] continues to be important, and I’ve got a quality relationship [with him].

The province rejected a funding proposal for regional transit in the Sea to Sky from corridor communities last year—what needs to happen to get it done?

JS: We need to convince the provincial government that our proposed funding formula is the most reasonable and acceptable to all involved, and to this point they have a concern about it, which they clearly don’t share with Metro Vancouver, or the Capital Regional District—we just wanted to emulate that funding formula, and for whatever reason the province has been unwilling to look at that. Now we will obviously have a new transportation

minister, and hopefully he or she has more influence and is able to action that.

[Sticking with transportation issues], there’s ongoing concern about road maintenance both inside and outside of the concession, and I think those are legitimate concerns, and there’s ways that we can approach that in terms of documenting and better understanding what the contracts hold, so that we can hold the contract holders to account.

BC Parks don’t have the staff needed to manage an area this big, and which has been intensively used, so there’s no question more resources have to come to the table, for both the parks and the COS [Conservation Officer Service] as well as FLNRO Rec Sites and Trails people.

It’s an increasingly complex management area, with constantly increasing demands.

It’s so important that we have the resources here to manage well, and to really make

“The question is how big an impact and how do we manage that impact to minimize it, and whether Canada and B.C. should be part of those markets.”

- JORDAN STURDY

You’ve been outspoken about the need for more funding for parks management in B.C. How do we convince the government to spend the money where it’s needed?

sure the quality of the experience for both the residents and the end guests can be maintained and in fact enhanced.

[And] education needs to be an important part in all that government does to manage people on the landscape.

JS: The argument, I think, remains the same: both FLNRO [the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations] and

You mentioned after the campaign that maybe you need to do a better job of explaining your advocacy around

things like resource development.

What did you mean by that?

JS: That’s a great question, and it’s a big question, and I don’t have a ready answer for it. I guess I come from the resource sector. I worked in forestry, worked with energy companies, more specifically around renewable energy than anything else … and then obviously, I’m in the agriculture business, and that is a primary resource sector business …

All of these things have an impact, and I don’t think there’s any debate about that. The question is how big an impact and how do we manage that impact to minimize it, and whether Canada and B.C. should be part of those markets. I’m convinced that, while we are by no means a perfect producer, we are an ethical one, and we are a quality one, in all of those different sectors.

I get the impression that at times people think that if we’re not part of those sectors, then there will be no impact, and the reality is, the attention goes to other jurisdictions who may or may not have the same quality of industry.

I’m not saying ‘all things at any time,’ but I do believe that we can do a good job, and we should be part of the market on all of those things, but we need to keep an eye on how we’re doing it, and make sure that we’re accountable for the decisions that we make as sectors, or as government or as individuals. n

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NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Outdoor clubs advocate for winter parking at Rubble Creek ACCESS TO BACKCOUNTRY LOCATIONS IS ERODING IN THE SEA TO SKY CORRIDOR, GROUPS SAY

BY ALYSSA NOEL LOCAL OUTDOOR CLUBS are raising concerns about limited access to Garibaldi Provincial Park heading into what is expected to be a record-breaking year for backcountry use in the Sea to Sky corridor.

The most pressing concern the groups highlight is the “no parking/tow away” signs that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure installed along Highway 99 and the Rubble Creek access road last year, which offers access to numerous popular winter backcountry locations like the Garibaldi Neve Traverse, Black Tusk, Garibaldi Lake, Mount Price, Sphinx Bay, Burton Hut and the surrounding peaks.

On Nov. 18, the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC), which represents the interests of outdoor clubs across the province, wrote a letter to BC Parks officials and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy asking them to consider plowing the Rubble Creek access road and parking area for about $12,000 to $18,000 a year. The FMCBC argues that road maintenance contractor Miller Capilano passes by the area regularly and could easily clear the area as a secondary priority.

“With the growing interest in winter

DIG IT About 50 outdoor enthusiasts dug out a section of Daisy Lake Road last March. Many outdoor groups are again advocating for the government to allow access to parking near Rubble Creek.

PHOTO BY KYLIE SCHATZ

30 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

backcountry recreation (snowshoeing, hiking and ski touring) and the huge urban populations in the Lower Mainland and Sea-to-Sky communities, we simply cannot afford to lose access to Rubble Creek,” the letter, signed by Barry Janyk, executive director of the group, said. “Why? Garibaldi Lake has lower levels of avalanche hazard than most other trails in the region and closing this access point may push people into areas where the hazards are greater.”

On top of that, he pointed out, the two locations to access the park in the winter have their own problems. Diamond Head (the Elfin Lakes trail) has limited parking near Squamish while Singing Pass has only a handful of parking spots in the Whistler Village Day Lots.

“Anticipated backcountry pass restrictions imposed by Whistler/ Blackcomb this winter due to COVID-19 will also limit access to the park,” the letter continued.

The FMCBC first started advocating for access to Rubble Creek—and other areas around Whistler—two years ago when the problem started getting worse.

“We came up with a list of access issues in the Sea to Sky corridor,” said Jay MacArthur, access and environment director for the Alpine Club of Canada Vancouver chapter and both the former director and president of FMCBC. “We met with [MLA] Jordan Sturdy and Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and we wrote letters. It’s a low priority. They just don’t have enough [of a] budget to deal with it in either ministry.

Very little has been done in the last two years. It’s something we’re pushing for.

There are more and more people wanting to use the outdoors.”

Other outdoor groups have taken on this issue as well. Last March, members of UBC’s Varsity Outdoor Club took matters into their own hands and dug out 10 to 15 parking spots.

“There are more and more people wanting to use the outdoors.”

- JAY MACARTHUR

“We want to show that this is really important in that we’re willing to work at it and find a solution,” said Haley Foladare, access coordinator for the VOC, at the time.

While BC Parks and the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) didn’t offer a response to Pique by press time, last year MOTI told Pique parking was prohibited in the area because of concerns that the barrier at Garibaldi Lake could collapse, putting people in its path in peril.

“Parking along the road is prohibited … as well as to allow access by maintenance vehicles and to help ensure safety in a hazard zone,” the statement read.

In the opinion of Bryce Leigh, access and environment director of the Alpine Club of Canada Whistler section, the problem likely

comes down to money.

“The challenge here, to be blunt, is BC Parks is brutally underfunded,” he said. “If the decision involves spending money, the easy decision is not to do that because [they] don’t have money in the first place. That makes it frustrating for us.”

The access issue at Rubble Creek speaks to the larger issue of diminishing backcountry access, particularly around Whistler, Leigh added.

It ranges from the gate at Brandywine Falls being closed through the fall and winter to a logging company taking out the bridge over Roe Creek to access the Brew Lake area and VOC hut to the deteriorating road conditions up to Brandywine Meadows, to name just a few.

“If access decreases, it’s going to be concentrated in one place,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Rubble Creek, the FMCBC also raised concerns that there could be safety issues if backcountry users return to their vehicles after a long day, perhaps in the dark, to discover they are no longer there.

“If someone comes off the trail cold and fatigued to find their vehicle gone, it is not the same as a person getting their vehicle towed from a no-parking zone in the city,” the letter read. “There is no easy way to get assistance.”

FMCBC doesn’t expect to get a response to its letter until after various ministers are officially appointed on Thursday, Nov. 26.

However, members plan to forge ahead with more public outreach on the issue.

To stay up-to-date, visit mountainclubs. org/resources/blog. n

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Elevate at Sunstone amendment passes at Pemberton council COUNCIL BRIEFS: DEPARTMENTS PRESENT Q3 REPORTS

BY DAN FALLOON THE FIRST TIME that Sunstone Ridge Developments Ltd. came to Village of Pemberton (VOP) council asking for some amendments to its major development permit on Oct. 20, they were sent back to the drawing board.

But after the company made some tweaks to its request, most of council was satisfied and passed the proposal at its Nov. 17 regular meeting.

On Oct. 20, council referred the amendment back to staff after expressing concern regarding issues such as visitor parking, pedestrian connectivity to areas outside the development, diversity in the look of units and how Development Permit Area Guidelines are being followed.

After requesting the number of visitor parking spaces be reduced from 13 to four, the new version sees the developers ask for a reduction to eight. In her presentation, planner Joanna Rees noted the development still has 91 more overall parking spaces than is required.

As well, the new application includes plans for a gravel pedestrian trail to connect with the Community Trail, calls for additional trees to help screen the twotiered retaining walls, and emphasizes the diversity presented by the site, if not the units themselves. Report writers Rees and Cameron Chalmers also noted that the Oct. 20 staff report found the project is “generally compliant with the applicable Development Permit Area Guidelines.”

When presenting to council, Rees noted that the two-tiered retaining walls between downslope units will include vine planting to help cover them, as well as coniferous trees to help hide them, while the southeastern retaining wall will be a green Sierra Earth Mechanized wall standing roughly seven metres tall.

Noting that work on the neighbourhood had already begun and would require retaining walls, Chalmers opined that what was presented is a reasonable compromise, while also noting that the Hillside Development Guidelines were approved after the project was well underway.

“The retaining structures that are being proposed in this application are certainly much better than most of the conventional alternatives,” he said. “It does allow for some green and, from a distance, will be less perceptible than the other systems that are used.

“In order for this project to work in a meaningful way, it will require some retention. There’s simply no way around it.”

Chalmers added that, by virtue of their location on the site, that the retaining walls

won’t be visible by the general public.

“One of the things we have to look at is, ‘Where will people actually view the wall from?’ The way this project is situated, it’s not one that’s visually prominent from many public spaces,” he said. “It’ll be part of the trail experience, without question, but it’s not like some of the retaining walls we see in other communities, which are extremely visible from the highway or from a major public space.”

Chalmers noted that council could expect to see a discussion report on hillside retention issues in the near future.

“On hillside sites, there’s often going to be need for retention, but if those are thought of in advance and if they’re done more comprehensively than at an individual lot level, we have a much better chance of coming up with solutions that are less visually intrusive and disruptive at that scale,” he said.

Councillor Leah Noble felt council’s concerns were generally addressed but along with Coun. Ted Craddock, supported a “friendly amendment” to make the connector trail “as family friendly as possible.” Craddock also added that anything that could be done to “soften” the sevenmetre-tall retaining wall should be done.

Coun. Amica Antonelli opposed the motion.

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DEPARTMENTS PRESENT THIRD-QUARTER UPDATES Also at the Nov. 17 meeting, various departments provided insight into what they accomplished in the third quarter of the financial year.

Manager of operations and projects Tom Csima said the period was “very productive” and updated several tasks.

Among the projects the department completed was line painting and adding more parking spots on Frontier Street North by the community barn, he noted.

“We did get a lot of feedback after the downtown [enhancement] project having removed the perpendicular parking spots,” he said.

As well, the department bought and installed a speed reader on Pemberton Farm Road East in order to encourage motorists to slow down.

“If we have a pole to put it on, we can move it to different neighbourhoods,” he said. “The problem with these devices is people eventually do become complacent to them, so the thought was we could move it around to different neighbourhoods periodically to remove that complacency and also to get that benefit in other neighbourhoods as well.”

For a complete rundown of thirdquarter updates, head to the online version of this story at piquenewsmagazine.com. n

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NOVEMBER 26, 2020

31

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Natural hazards workshops to offer insight into Sea to Sky landscape SESSIONS TAKE PLACE ON DEC. 2 AND 3 TO OFFER EXPERT INFO, LOCAL DISCUSSION

BY ALYSSA NOEL VERONICA WOODRUFF doesn’t want to cause you any more anxiety.

But she’s decided to forge ahead with hosting a virtual community engagement session called Impact of Cascading Natural Disasters on Sea-to-Sky Communities because it’s both fascinating for locals to learn about the wild natural landscape around them and it’s important to be prepared.

The Pemberton resident first started studying natural hazards in the Sea to Sky well before the COVID-19 pandemic uprooted everyone’s lives.

“People aren’t thinking about this day-to-day, but the fantastical nature of a massive earthquake or volcano [eruption] is like, ‘OK, I’m going to file that away and take note,’” Woodruff said. “The topic is engaging and the implications are broad.”

While Woodruff might be best known locally for her work with Stewardship Pemberton, she recently honed in on her interests in the natural world and decided to focus on landscapes.

That has shaped both her consulting work and led her to pursue a master’s degree at Royal Roads University, where she’s now studying the topic.

“I realized all this great research was happening on the ground, so I got in touch with the researchers and they were doing all this interesting work. Then looking at emergency preparedness from the local government perspective, they’re doing a ton of work,” said Woodruff.

The upcoming workshops will take place on Dec. 2 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for Sea to Sky north (areas like Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation, and SLRD Area C) and on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Sea to Sky south (Whistler, Squamish, SLRD Area D).

“They’re the same format, the same speakers, and risk events are essentially the same for all the communities in the Sea to Sky,” Woodruff said. “The reason I split them is I want to have a community dialogue. We have expert presentations I’m really looking forward to. Then it’s an opportunity for community dialogue.”

Expert presenters include local emergency managers, as well as Glyn Williams-Jones, co-director of the Centre for

Natural Hazard Research at Simon Fraser University, and Steve Quane, an expert on volcanology from Quest University.

“Glyn, through the Centre for Natural Hazards Research, has a number of graduate students crawling up the hillsides here and [conducting] programs on monitoring [like the] mass instabilities on Mount Meager,” Woodruff said. “The technology they’re using is emergent technology to allow for real-time monitoring and it’s not extraordinarily expensive. They’re piloting that on a number of locations—Mount Currie, Garibaldi. He’ll talk about that in terms of what the innovations are now around research and monitoring risk.”

Quane, meanwhile, will be talking about the Geopark Project in Whistler.

“It’s a really exciting initiative,” Woodruff added. “What an excellent way to introduce natural hazard risk in an engaging way; look at this incredible landscape and the way it’s evolved.”

For her part, Woodruff has launched a survey for Sea to Sky locals to share more about their knowledge of natural disaster risk— from forest fires to earthquakes, landslides, floods and more—how prepared they are,

and insight into how they might handle emergency situations like an evacuation.

“So far, people are taking the time to write comments, which will all be part of data analysis,” she said. “I really appreciate the level of information people have provided.

I’m so pleased with the level of interest from the community and government and individual communities as well.”

While initially, a few registrations for the workshops were rolling in, it wasn’t until Woodruff checked in on completed surveys that she realized around 170 people had registered for the workshops at the end of the survey.

Because they plan to create smaller groups for discussion, Woodruff said they’re still able to accommodate more participants.

“Some people are emailing saying, ‘I’d like to participate, but I’m just a resident,’” she said. “Those are the kind of people I really want to engage with. Emergency planning has to involve the people who are going to be affected to make it effective.”

You can fill out the anonymous survey until Sunday, Nov. 29, at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/N8C8C7J. To sign up for the workshop, email vwoodruff@clearcourse.ca. n

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Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Square Feet: 1,206 This fantastic home is positioned between Whistler Village, Alta Lake and Creekside Village. Enjoy overlooking the Whistler Gold Course with peek-a-boo mountain views and sunshine Furnished and equipped plus underground parking, hot tub in the complex and nightly rental zoning this property is ready and waiting for you!

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SCIENCE MATTERS

Friendships make life and climate better

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RECENTLY I’VE BEEN thinking about what a low-carbon life might actually look like.

We would drive and fly less and mostly cycle, walk and ride transit. We’d eat less meat and more plant-based foods. We’d heat our energy-efficient homes with electricity or geothermal and get power from the wind and sun.

It might also be a life that puts greater emphasis on friendship.

In the report, “Zeroing in on Emissions,” David Suzuki Foundation policy analyst Tom Green writes, “many of the things that support well-being, such as time with

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friends and family … do not require much by way of material and energy use.” We can have fun playing ball hockey, hiking or enjoying music with others.

If we spent more time building relationships, we would also enrich our inner lives, and that could reduce the consumption that drives carbon output and pollution. We might feel less need for things like overseas holidays, big cars, the latest devices and toys and more clothing than we actually wear. Why? Because the satisfaction offered by friendship is deeper than that offered by stuff.

Philosophers such as Aristotle knew that friendship is a major contributor to happiness. Friendship, said the great

friendship development, for creating new ones or rebuilding those we’ve let slide.

Some organizations—including credit unions and the David Suzuki Foundation— offer employees time to volunteer at local agencies and strengthen the community.

Why not also provide an opportunity to strengthen personal connections? Aren’t they equally significant?

We seldom give this topic sufficient attention. When I attended school, I was taught how to calculate the area of a circle but never given a course in making a circle of friends. Teachers assumed we’d learn this on our own. But not everyone did. Surely if we need to understand circles, we need to understand and learn how to foster some of the most gratifying relationships in our lives.

This would be especially helpful for people less attuned to friends’ importance, particularly in mid-career, when professional life is often central. Once a year, we could change our phone message to, “Thanks for reaching out. I’m on my friendship sabbatical now. If you’re calling to start or deepen a friendship, I’m happy to talk this week. Otherwise, I’ll get back to you when I return.”

The sabbatical would, however briefly, make companionship our focus. In practice, this could mean many things: tracking down buddies we haven’t spoken to in years and restarting the conversations; going to a high school reunion and making a point of staying in touch with former classmates; deepening bonds with co-workers by seeing them outside of business hours.

Years ago, I saw a subway ad showing

“No one would choose to have all good things all by himself, for man is a social and political being and his natural condition is to live with others.”

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thinker, is “most indispensable for life. No one would choose to live without friends, even if he had all other goods.” Our pals provide us with companionship, guidance and comfort.

Aristotle didn’t view humans as consumers, and believed acquiring possessions is not the core of our being.

Rather, he emphasized developing virtues like courage and wisdom, in concert with beloved comrades. “No one would choose to have all good things all by himself, for man is a social and political being and his natural condition is to live with others,” he explains in his book on ethics.

But if a life revolving around friends is more rewarding than one devoted to material acquisition, how can we cultivate it?

One thing we might do is set aside more time for it. We could create “friendship sabbaticals.”

This would require employers and schools to give us a few days each year for

a father with his children and the caption, “Play with them now.” It suggested men should make more effort to connect with their kids. I’d argue something similar for all adults. We need ads showing a group of pals, with the caption, “Friendship: make time for it now.”

Friendship isn’t just a climate solution because it provides more satisfaction than consumerism; our companions also offer solidarity and help us develop the courage to undertake activism and speak out boldly.

Few of us could march in the streets year after year or continue to organize, petition and protest if we didn’t stand beside people whose company we love.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst Gideon Forman. ■

OUTSIDER

Diversity in the outdoor industry has a long way to go THE WORLD WOKE UP in 2020 to the racial injustices that continue to ravage our society. Law enforcement has issues with systemic racism, not just a few bad apples. Academic articles have been published with titles such as “Ignored to Death: Systemic Racism in the Canadian Healthcare System.” The BIPOC acronym

BY VINCE SHULEY has all but become a household name. And while meaningful change isn’t happening overnight, at least awareness has increased to a point where it’s on the minds of people born into intrinsic privilege.

People like most of us here living in Whistler.

Some movement has occurred in the outdoor tourism and action sport industries pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. In August, Powder magazine (RIP) published a web story written by Japanese-American skier Garrett Schlag highlighting his experience as a non-white growing up in the very white ski town of Park City, Utah. The story is analogous to almost every North American ski town (including Whistler), because of the stated statistic from the National Ski Areas Association: 88 per cent of skiers are white.

SPORTS FOR ALL Like many action sports,

mountain biking needs to strive for more diversity, equity and inclusion.

PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY.

Schlag contested the view of white skiers to “leave race out of it” when he spoke up about the lack of racial diversity among skiers: “Any difficulty in processing skiing’s whiteness is a result of a racially homogenous space so insular that its existence as such has gone largely unchallenged,” he wrote.

“Skiing has long served as an escape for white people from multicultural politics and accusations of privilege, and that is precisely why we can’t leave race out of it.”

The mountain-bike industry is equally lacking in diversity. Though I couldn’t find any concrete stats such as the 88 per cent

expressing support over the last week has been disheartening,” wrote Park. “There have been countless comments actively diminishing black athletes’ experiences of racism, knee jerk whataboutism, and false equivalencies about looting and extremists.

We know that this community is made up of many amazing people, so there has to be a gap in understanding somewhere.

It’s tempting to be cynical of lip service wokeness and hashtag activism, but a large number of our community aren’t ready to acknowledge that there’s a problem at all.

And that’s a problem.”

But it was the voice of Elliot Jackson,

“Any difficulty in processing skiing’s whiteness is a result of a racially homogenous space so insular that its existence as such has gone largely unchallenged.”

- GARRETT SCHLAG

figure above, anyone who has ridden a popular trail area can tell you that it’s an incredibly white sport. On June 6, 2020—the week following the George Floyd protests in the U.S.—Pink Bike’s Brian Park wrote an editorial titled “Race & Accessibility in the Mountain Bike Community” that criticized the industry for its reaction (or lack thereof) as well as the responses from Pink Bike’s own community members.

“The mountain bike community’s response to athletes and industry

one of the few people of colour who compete in the UCI World Cup Downhill, which offered the most scathing summary of the cycling industry in an 11-minute Instagram TV video.

“I’m talking about the experiences I have on a daily basis,” he said. “Like when people come up to me and say ‘do you think you’d be on Giant (sponsorship) if you weren’t black?’ These things happen all the time to black people. Everyone; brands, athletes, fans, they build this image

or identity of being culturally inclusive.

You’re saying that racism doesn’t exist in cycling, but how would you know? Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

A lot of us went through some selfreflection this year about this issue.

The guilt of staying silent as an implicit endorsement of the status quo—not realizing what actions we can take without being labelled as disingenuous.

But there are those who are going beyond that and taking positive steps. This year Whistler mountain biker and coach Anita Naidu combined her bike clinics with social-impact training that focused on “anti-racism, understanding privilege and learning how to be an effective ally.” The Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA) launched a crowdfunding campaign this week as part of the North America-wide MTB Equality Fund to assist more BIPOC coaches getting certified (head to mtb-equity-coalition. causevox.com/PMBIA if you’re inclined to support that particular initiative).

Our country is grappling with the immediate challenge of the pandemic right now, but we don’t want to lose sight of these issues, which are also affecting our outdoor communities. Acknowledging the problem is the first step. Doing more about it than what we’ve been doing is the next.

Vince Shuley is looking for more ways to make the sports he loves more inclusive. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. ■

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

39

FEATURE STORY

40 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

FEATURE STORY

STATE OF THE HUTS A RUNDOWN OF YOUR FAVOURITE BACKCOUNTRY AMENITIES AND HOW THEY ARE ADAPTING TO OUR NEW COVID-19 REALITY

BY ALYSSA NOEL

T

here’s an inherent magic to backcountry huts.

Skins, gloves and an assortment of wet gear lines the walls while a fire roars

and exhausted skiers and splitboarders prepare their dinners—which tend to range from dehydrated packages to shockingly elaborate spreads—and recount their day of playing in untouched powder.

No lines. No cell service. Just pure and utter escape—all culminating in a comfortable (if occasionally smelly) setting with friends and strangers who share

the same singular passion.

While that tightknit mixing of people might be part of the charm of a night in a hut, it’s also the kind of social activity the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing us to avoid right now.

Backcountry experts are all warning of a surge in new users this winter as people grapple to find safe ways to enjoy the tumultuous season head. But in the Sea to Sky, most backcountry huts will either not open or open with tight rules and restrictions that mean planning well ahead of time.

Each organization that oversees these beloved winter gems is facing different obstacles to opening heading into the 2020-21 season.

From dwindling funds to prohibitive safety protocols to lack of resources, Pique checked in to see how each group is handling the challenges.

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

41

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY ALYSSA NOEL

FOR THE FIRST TIME in its history, the Alpine Club of Canada’s (ACC) Whistler chapter had to lock the Wendy Thompson Hut this summer.

HUT: Located in Marriott Basin, it falls under the jurisdiction of Recreation Wendy Thompson Hut Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC), which STATUS: first mandated they close last Closed until at least Dec. 10, spring—only not everyone followed those rules. but stay tuned “There was a fair amount of CHECK IN AT: unsanctioned use of the hut, which accwhistler@gmail.com is a shame,” says Janice Tedstone, reservations coordinator with ACC Whistler. “We’ve never locked the hut. It was always open. The Thompson family wanted the hut to be accessible. If someone is up there on a day trip and injures themselves, it needs to be open.”

Since first closing in mid-March, ACC Whistler has kept in touch with RSTBC in the hope they could negotiate a suitable safety protocol to open for the winter. Currently, though, the hut is to remain closed until at least Dec. 10 due to non-essential travel orders, the potential increased burden on search-and-rescue organizations, and lack of sanitation, the government organization said.

But, if they are able to open this winter, there are other logistical issues. The organization not only refunded all trips that were booked for the spring (“We were at 100-per-cent capacity into early April,” Tedstone says), but they also offered refunds earlier in the season when the avalanche risk was high.

That added up to $9,000 in refunds, nearly all the money they needed to fly in a supply of firewood and do regular maintenance.

The concern now is if the hut reopens at six-person capacity (compared to the usual 16) those six people will not be able to haul in enough firewood on their own for a safe and comfortable stay.

“If we do open up, people will have to figure out how to heat themselves,” Tedstone adds.

“That will be a huge issue.”

The other concern: if they have to close again after opening and refund money, they will be put into another tough financial situation.

But Tedstone has managed to retain some optimism.

“If it can open in spring and summer and we can get some revenue, that should be enough—along with the funds we have right now—to supply for next year. This year, we’re in dire straits.”

In the meantime, they’re asking to backcountry users to respect the closure of their hut—and others—should it remain closed.

“The key thing is to make a point of having people understand that when we close a hut, they need to respect that,” Tedstone says. “There are a lot of people behind the scenes doing their best to ensure the safe operations of these huts.”

ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA, WHISTLER CHAPTER

“WE DON’T LOCK OUR DOORS AND WE CAN’T LEGALLY LOCK OUR HUTS. WE LIFTED OUR [VOLUNTARY CLOSURE] IN LATE JUNE TO MID-JULY. BASICALLY, WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS RELEASE A SET OF COVID GUIDELINES FOR HUTS.” - HALEY FOLADARE

UBC VARSITY OUTDOOR CLUB HUTS: Brew Hut, Brian Waddington Hut STATUS: Voluntary closure CHECK IN AT: ubc-voc.com/register-and-pay

THE VOC HUTS are a little different than most because they’re technically designated as emergency shelters.

“We don’t lock our doors and we can’t legally lock our huts,” says Haley Foladare, access coordinator for the VOC. “We lifted our [voluntary closure] in late June to mid-July. Basically, what we decided to do was release a set of COVID guidelines for huts. It was the typical: social-distance, wear a mask, use hand sanitizer. We can’t manage the number of people in the huts anyways, so we said, ‘If you’re using

the huts, please follow these guidelines.’”

However, that’s changed for the winter ahead. “We don’t think there’s COVID-friendly ways for people to use our huts this winter,” Foladare says. “We think there will be a lot of people in the backcountry this winter.”

While the rules are the same for both Brew Hut and Brian Waddington Hut, Brew Hut is facing some extra challenges this year.

In late October, a logging company in the area decommissioned its bridge over Roe Creek (located about six kilometres down the Roe Creek Main Forest Service Road), essentially cutting off easy winter access to the hut and the area. (There is alternative summer access, but the hike in is much harder.)

“Essentially, that hut isn’t going to be accessible this winter unless you’re willing to do a creek crossing on your feet,” Foladare says. “That’s the reality of the situation. We are working on plans for a new bridge. We’re working with other stakeholders in the area.

Hopefully in the next year or so [we can build a replacement]. It’s still in the works.”

It’s possible, she notes, that the replacement could be a footbridge rather than a crossing for vehicles.

COVID aside, trying to save access to areas in general has been a challenge, which is why her role was created, she says.

“The community needs to be advocating for access right now,” she says. “It really is a community effort to maintain access to these places we like to go.”

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42 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO BY ANDRE CHARLAND PHOTO BY KATE BRANDON

JAYSON FAULKNER IS NOT exaggerating when he says you SPEARHEAD couldn’t have picked a worse season THE EQUATION FOR BC HUTS SOCIETY to open a new backcountry hut.

Mountaineering Club (BCMC) hut BC MOUNTAINEERING The Kees and Claire Hut, which openings is pretty straightforward.

HUT: CLUB officially opened in September 2019, Mountain Lake, North Creek, Kees and Claire Hut HUTS: might have been off to a good start and Plummer Huts are remote and STATUS: Watersprite Lake Cabin, in the fall, but then a particularly little-used so they reopened more horrendous avalanche cycle hit, quickly than the Watersprite Lake Closed, but possibly opening Mountain Lake Hut, North Creek followed, of course, by the COVID-19 Cabin, which has been one of the this winter Cabin, Plummer Hut pandemic. most popular destinations in the Sea CHECK IN: STATUS: “We were operating at 90-plus-perto Sky this year. spearheadhuts.org cent occupancy until COVID hit and (It should be noted the North Watersprite expected to open we had to shut down in the middle Creek Cabin, near Pemberton, was with rules, Mountain Lake, North of March,” says Faulkner, who chairs closed for the fall again following Creek and Plummer open the Spearhead Huts Society. “We had a grizzly bear attack in September.

CHECK IN: bookings until the end of May and then beyond. All those had to be cancelled. It was as bad The 36-year-old man involved as it gets. We couldn’t reopen because of the BC Parks closure. That was really unfortunate.” suffered minor injuries.) bcmc.ca But in August, they managed to reopen with strict rules. Only 16 people in a single Thousands upon thousands group were allowed and they had to book Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights to allow for of people flooded the Watersprite the hut to be cleaned between guests.

Lake trail this summer, largely The hut capacity is usually 38 people. due to BC Parks closing its popular hiking destinations and then limiting their use “We were immediately booked pretty solid for those small groups,” Faulkner says. throughout the season.

Then they were thrown another wrench. Their insurance was due at the end of October.

For that reason, the hut stayed closed.

Initially, it had been a couple thousand dollars, but now the bill was coming in at closer to “Obviously, when you’re dealing with an area where you have thousands of people $50,000 or $60,000. (That’s due to several outside global factors, including climate change, visiting it year-round, it presents challenges for management,” says Chris Ludwig, BCMC forest fire risk, and issues in the insurance industry.) president. “That’s why we’ve been slow to open it. We don’t have to open it; the motivation “That begs the question, if you’ve got a $50,000 or $60,000 bill for insurance and you’re for us to open it is not revenue, it’s to provide opportunity to the public and our members. operating at what amounts to one-eighth of our sell-out capacity, can we even afford to It cannot come at the cost of burdening what our organization can manage in a pandemic.” open?” Faulkner says.

The cabin, built in 2017, was packed solid before COVID. When it reopens, it will only be Since first talking to Pique about this issue, he followed up to say they found an able to accommodate six people from one bubble. There will be a fixed fee and no refunds. insurance company that would insure them at just over half that initial quote.

“There will be a cool-down period of three days after [each use] to allow potential viruses It’s still a hefty bill—and something many backcountry operators are facing, although to decontaminate,” Ludwig says. “It’s impossible for us to be there 24/7.” they’re not all non-profits like the Spearhead Huts Society.

The determining factor for when, exactly, it can open is an update to BCMC’s automatic “This is a community asset,” Faulkner says. “The reason we built this was for the booking software. community. That’s always been the goal and vision. It breaks my heart to have such a “The software has to be able to do it,” he says. “Then there’s the managing of it to keep remarkable community asset that took so much blood, sweat, and tears to happen—and it COVID-friendly. We have a draft of what we’re going to do.” the donations from the community who believed in it—and it may sit without being able Another issue facing BCMC that most outdoor clubs are grappling with is the lack of to be utilized.” revenue. Ludwig estimates the cabin brings in about $20,000 in revenue each year, which Still, Faulkner is cautiously optimistic they could reopen in some capacity this winter. goes into upkeep and firewood.

It would likely be like this past summer with 16 people in a single group over a three-night But, he adds, the decision to reopen is not about money. period, but they are attempting to negotiate the rules with BC Parks, given their unique, “It’s a matter of balancing public safety and opportunities to the recreating public,” he says. large space.

His one tip for backcountry users, new and experienced, heading into the unusual “We proposed the idea: why can’t we have four groups of four? We can have people in the season? hut separated for eating and cooking and spread people out in the living area,” he says. “We “Join an outdoor club,” he says. “Statistically, you’re far less likely to get in an accident just really have been caught between a regulatory rock and a hard place.” if you’re part of a club than on your own or with a meet-up group.”

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43

FEATURE STORY

THE TRAIL TO KEITH’S HUT has been closed since a rockslide on Joffre Peak destroyed the summer access through Cerise Creek.

HUT: When—or if—it will open Keith’s Hut remains up to BC Parks.

But when the COVID-19 crisis STATUS: hit, the Keith Flavelle Memorial Hut Closed Society decided to close the hut itself CHECK IN: in September. It will remain that way Keithshut.ca through the winter.

However, not everyone got the message this fall.

“We put a sign at the trailhead, at the parking lot, and tried to make it as evident as possible,” says Scott Flavelle, who helps run the hut. “We put locks on the door and plywood over the front windows. One mistake we made was not getting the closure out on social media as soon as possible.”

Earlier in the fall, one man who had made the two-hour hike decided to break the two locks on the door and stay overnight.

In a twist, he later got in touch with Flavelle.

“About a week later, I was in contact with the person. He had gone up to fix the locks again. I said, ‘Didn’t you see the sign?’ He claimed he bushwacked through the trees and didn’t see it. It was odd, but it’s all done. It’s been fixed and locked again,” he says.

Looking ahead, the society hopes to both potentially create a reservation system for the hut someday and continue to hope BC Parks restores access.

In the meantime, though, Flavelle encourages everyone not only to respect hut closures, but also to practice good backcountry etiquette this winter.

“It’s certainly not forever,” he says. “Everyone says COVID is not forever.”

KEITH FLAVELLE MEMORIAL HUT SOCIETY

PHOTO BY JOHN BALDWIN

OPEN OR CLOSED? Here’s the status of several other popular huts in the Sea to Sky corridor: ELFIN LAKES SHELTER – CLOSED JIM HABERL HUT – UNDETERMINED (check back to accvancouver.ca/hutsoperated-by-the-vancouver-section) TENQUILLE LAKE CABIN – CLOSED

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45

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

SUP

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NON-BORING

PHOTO BY LISA TE SONNE

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46 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

PHOTO COURTESY OF 15 KNOTS

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

By Lisa TE Sonne

S

nowboarders may be carving up the slopes now with creative, crunchy cruisin’, but we can also dream about future cruises that offer different kinds of boarding that rely on water (in a liquid state) or the shifting sands of time.

Boarding fans know “’sup” isn’t just text talk for “What’s up?” SUP is an acronym for stand-up paddle-boarding, a popular sport beautifully suited for Whistler, with its lakes and rivers and views of the Coast Mountain Range.

SUP is also a wonderful sport to enjoy when travelling, to get new perspectives of different parts of the world (and to do so without wearing a mask when on the water). Personally, I have loved SUPing along a river to a cave in Puerto Rico, and along the fancy homes of Huntington Harbor in California, which is just across the Pacific Coast Highway from the famous surf boarding waves of Huntington Beach.

In Puerto Rico, I saw flora and fauna I wouldn’t have otherwise. In California, I saw how other humans live—with yachts parked at the docks in front of their homes on man-made islands. You can even paddle up to a dock for a meal.

As a travel writer, I have loved paddling from a kayak with UNCRUISE in Alaska and the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. To be upstanding, they now offer SUP for their active passengers on cruises in Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, and Belize.

“We host adventurers from ages eight to 99,” says president Dan Blanchard, “and while not all of them will paddleboard, there is still fun to be had as a spectator. We have plenty of first-time paddle boarders and feel that their desire for new experiences is enhanced and inspired by being outdoors!

“This is particularly felt during times of COVID-19 as more people explore remote places and new options for a bit of reprieve.”

Blanchard adds that UNCRUISE has “…experienced expedition guides to assist you right from the stern of the boat—keep watch, take photos, and even give you a bit of a lesson, if needed.”

Wave-catching, fishing from the board, and doing yoga on the board are all variations of paddle boarding in diverse places. When I was in the interior jungles of Papua New Guinea, I saw many people on the Sepik River standing in shallow long wooden boats using one long paddle. In an area where wheeled transportation wasn’t possible, they looked like they have been doing their own form of SUP for many generations.

“Modern” SUP credit is usually given to the Olympic gold-medal-winning Duke Kahanamoku and his pals in Hawaii as an adaptation of surf boarding. (Kahanamoku won multiple Olympic gold medals in swimming starting in 1912.)

For easy entry into the only boarding sport that is more popular than snowboarding (numbers-wise), a warm locale like Waikiki in Hawaii, where surfing became famous, is a memorable, easy place to learn. The water is warm, and the waves are gentle and long. The boards are long, also. Usually within the first lesson you

can ride a wave, and wave your hand at Diamond Head in the distance.

If you are thinking of trying kiteboarding, a relatively easy place to start learning the challenges of both on the water and in the air is in Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island with English as the main language.

Years ago, on the white sands of Puerto Rico, I learned about the controls and was harnessed up with 15 Knots Kiteboarding School. I checked in recently with Juan Carlos Morales of 15 Knots who tells me they now use jet skis to accelerate learning. He also says the shop will re-open in December and be active until next fall, when the winds die down again.

“WE HOST ADVENTURERS FROM AGES EIGHT TO 99.”

- DAN BLANCHARD Asked about the name of this school dedicated just to kiteboarding, Morales informed me that 15 knots is the average speed of the winds on Puerto Rico, and a great speed for gentle learning, and, “We just like the name!”

If you are looking for a place far from home to try windboarding (a.k.a. windsurfing), I can personally recommend the Caribbean Island of Bonaire where it is photographic, fun, and warm. I had enjoyed windboarding years before in Malibu, California but the waters were choppier, the winds more wily, and the water colder.

I felt more competent in Bonaire (Not that the word competent belongs in the same sentence as “me” and “windboarding!”).

My most adventurous boarding so far has been ashboarding (a.k.a. volcano boarding) in Nicaragua, where the sport was invented. Walking up the fascinating blackened rubble of a volcano with steam venting out of nearby holes makes one feel as if the upcoming ride has truly been earned. There was a sitting option and a standing option. I sat and was still hooping and hollering on the way down!

Austin Adventures, which sponsored that Nicaragua trip, is currently adapting its projected trips around the globe in 2021 with COVID-19 safety in mind. The company also customizes trips. Dan Austin recently informed me that ashboarding in Nicaragua, and even sandboarding in the Sahara of Morocco, are not out of the question to add to an itinerary.

Let’s hope by the time the snows melt, more waters of the world are available with safe travel—and that you can even check out if there are some skills transfer from snowboarding to ashboarding or sandboarding.

Please share your bucket list boarding destinations as well as favourite kinds of boarding and best travel places for boarding in the comments section of the online version of this article—so we can all board well instead of being bored.

Lisa TE Sonne loves exploring and sharing places and people. Feel free to message her on LINKED IN at LisaTESonne or visit www.

LisaSonne.org. n

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Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/roads NOVEMBER 26, 2020

47

SPORTS THE SCORE

Whistler gyms aboard COVID19 roller-coaster LOCAL FACILITIES WORK TO STAY OPEN WITH CHANGING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS

BY DAN FALLOON IN THE FOUR YEARS since she purchased Creekside’s Gateway Building to open her gym, Altitude Fitness, Katie McFetridge has faced vandalism, structural issues and a trades shortage that extended her opening timeline to more than two years.

Now she’s staring down the challenges of operating during a global pandemic, including orders coming down from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Nov. 19 cancelling classes and making masks mandatory.

“The whole shutdown of classes was a pretty big blow,” McFetridge said. “When we reopened back at the end of May, we re-evaluated how we could serve the most amount of people as possible.

“We decided to reduce gym hours and then we’d do an early boot camp. We got 60 women between the three boot camps.

“It was challenging because people wanted us to open the gym early, but this allowed us to serve the most amount of people.”

McFetridge feels for the clients who are striving to stay fit in a bit of an unfamiliar manner.

“Now we’ve got 60 girls trying to navigate the gym without the help of our head trainer,” she said. “It’s kind of shitty, to be honest.”

Adding to McFetridge’s frustration is the efforts she’s put into planning and presenting protocols to the provincial government that last week’s order seemed to toss aside. McFetridge said her plan, first sent along as an original document before she was asked to fill out a 10-page form,

MASKED WORKOUT Whistler gyms, including Altitude Fitness, remain operational with mask mandates in place.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE MCFETRIDGE

48 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

detailed the gym’s procedures from arrival to departure.

“It’s a blanket shutdown of classes without evaluating individual cases,” she said. “They had us all send in our COVID plans specifically related to group fitness. When they first announced that, there weren’t any guidelines, there wasn’t any checklist.

“We built our COVID plans for fitness from the ground up.

“A week later, nope, all that’s out the window. Everything’s out the window, all the plans you had approved. It’s back to square one.”

Other precautions, she explained, included taking temperatures of those in the boot camp as soon as they resumed following the spring shutdown, a policy later extended to anyone entering the facility.

As well, everyone gets their own sanitizing rag and bottle, and, of course, masks are now mandatory. McFetridge hasn’t experienced much pushback, as clients are just happy they’re still operating in some capacity.

workouts a little bit if they find a mask a little uncomfortable to deal with, but it’s for the greater good,” she said. “Most people are really good.

“I prefer to reduce what we’ve got and

“[W]e’ve got 60 girls trying to navigate the gym without the help of our head trainer.”

- KATIE MCFETRIDGE

“I think everybody understands that we want to keep the gyms open and if you want to keep the gyms open, then you have to play by the rules,” McFetridge said. “If you’re not going to follow the rules, you get warned once and the next time, it’s a twoweek suspension.”

Across the highway at Whistler Creek Athletic Club, co-manager Hannah Edleston found a similar response to the changes.

“Some people may have to tweak their

stay open than try and give everything and have to be closed. We’re just trying to find a happy, safe medium.”

Edleston said that over the course of the past eight months, the gym’s focus has been on supporting its members however possible.

One of those pivots included online personal training and Zoom classes.

“Our Zoom classes are more for our 50-years-and-plus age group,” she said.

“It’s been really popular because that’s

the age group that isn’t really coming back to the gym.”

Like McFetridge, Edleston has found a similar appreciation for whatever services the gym is able to provide, as she received between 15 and 20 requests for equipment per day after the March shutdown, fulfilling as many as possible with easily moveable equipment like weights, barbells and stationary bikes.

“They were begging me for whatever I had,” she said. “I helped as many people as I could, but I’ve got a limit of what I’ve got and what I can do.

“If I could do something, I would, basically.”

Edleston stressed how important physical activity is for mental well-being, which is being put to the test as the pandemic drags on.

“People really value having somewhere to go to help deal with the mental health side of things. It shows me how many people are really struggling,” she said. “Having no gym and no equipment to work out [with] is affecting people dramatically.

“That we can provide a service to help people through this, I think is vital, really.” n

SPORTS THE SCORE

Brusse moves from Posse to Pack VETERAN BLUELINER IN MIDST OF FINAL JUNIOR SEASON IN NORTH VAN

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NOAH BRUSSE WILL forever be a legend in Princeton, but for his last season, he wanted to come home.

The 20-year-old defenceman became the Princeton Posse’s all-time gamesplayed leader last season, suiting up for 177 regular season contests over four seasons, plus another 15 in the postseason. Serving as team captain, he was a leader in all zones, tallying 39 points in 47 regular season games, plus seven in six Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) playoff contests, when the season was called due to COVID-19. Brusse was later named the league’s top defenceman.

But this season, Brusse is suiting up for the North Van Wolf Pack of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, a Jr. ‘B’ outfit like the KIJHL. After a 2-3 start, games were postponed earlier this month because of a public health order.

“It was a little weird [joining a new team] after being in the same place for so long...”

- NOAH BRUSSE

“It’s definitely weird being on this break right now, but things started out all right for us,” said Brusse, who had a goal and five assists in five games. “It was a little weird [joining a new team] after being in the same place for so long, but it didn’t take long to get used to it. There’s lots of good guys.”

One of those teammates is Noah Malthaner, a Squamish player and fellow Wolf Pack rearguard with whom Brusse came up in the Whistler Winterhawks program. Brusse credited Malthaner with convincing him to request a move from the Posse to the Wolf Pack for their final junior seasons together.

The Wolf Pack also boasts younger local talents in defenceman Michael Friesen, forward Alexandre Binette and goalie Samuel Gilmore, meaning there were several familiar faces for Brusse.

“We’re a real strong team, really fast.

A little smaller, but we have a really good chance of doing really good things this year,” he said.

The atmosphere around the rink has been a bit different because of the pandemic, Brusse said, noting that not only do players wear masks after games and practices, but they also minimize the time

WELCOME

Sharni Hargraves

PACKING UP Noah Brusse is wrapping up his junior hockey career with the North Van Wolf Pack.

PHOTO BY JEROME MARBURG

spent in the room before and after.

“There’s not nearly as much hanging out in the room because you’re not supposed to be around large groups of people for long periods of time, obviously,” he said. “It’s a big change but it’s not too bad.”

While it felt strange for Brusse not to head back to the Similkameen region this year, he feels the change was for the better.

He also couldn’t help but wonder what could have been for the 2019-20 Posse with no pandemic, considering the squad was the best he’d been a part of in four seasons, winning five of six playoff games before being sent home.

“Over the years, the team got better more and more,” he said. “It was the strongest team I’d been a part of and I was a big leader on that team.”

WARM INKS DEAL WITH AHL CHICAGO There’s a Warm gust heading into the Windy City.

Whistler goaltender Beck Warm has inked a standard player contract with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Chicago Wolves for the 2020-21 season, which is expected to begin in early February. The Wolves are the top affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Warm split the 2019-20 season, his final junior campaign, with the Tri-City Americans and the Edmonton Oil Kings, helping Edmonton to the third-best record in the Western Hockey League when play was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Warm suits up for Chicago, it’ll be the highest level of hockey a Whistler product has achieved. Garrett Milan has played 25 games at the ECHL level, a step below the AHL, for the Atlanta Gladiators, Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Rapid City Rush.

Warm previously attended NHL prospects camps with the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals. n

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SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR ADVISORY DESIGN PANEL The Resort Municipality of Whistler is seeking qualified applicants to serve in a voluntary capacity on the Advisory Design Panel for 2021 in the position of regular member. There is one vacancy available for a two-year term. The regular member must be entitled to be registered as an elector to vote in Whistler’s municipal elections.

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

To apply, submit a resume and brief statement that reflects your interest in participating on this committee by email to planning@whistler.ca or mail: Advisory Design Panel c/o Karen Olineck Resort Municipality of Whistler 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC V8E0X5 Phone 604-935-8170 or email planning@whistler.ca for more information.

Application deadline: December 14, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

49

EPICURIOUS

Without international guests, Four Seasons’ new pop-up restaurant takes a hyper-local approach OPENING DEC. 15, THE BRAIDWOOD TAVERN WAS DEVELOPED WITH GLOBAL RESTAURATEUR RICHARD SANDOVAL

BY BRANDON BARRETT IN A YEAR WHEN the resort didn’t get to welcome its usual influx of international guests, the Four Seasons Whistler is taking a hyperlocal approach to its latest pop-up dining experience.

“The inspiration behind Braidwood Tavern … came from a contemporary twist on a rustic, mountainside cabin,” explained Four Seasons’ marketing coordinator Carolina Pires in an interview. “We really wanted to provide a vibrant and highenergy welcoming space for not only our guests, but we want to make it a place that is approachable for locals.”

Developed in partnership with the Richard Sandoval Hospitality Group, which counts more than 45 restaurants worldwide, the Braidwood Tavern’s menu is geared towards familiar comfort foods with the modern flair the Four Seasons is known for, all inspired by B.C.’s abundance of seasonal, local ingredients.

“Food to me is a very social experience, and at Braidwood, our emphasis is on re-energizing familiar dishes and presenting them in a way that creates community and social connection—sharing with those around you,” said Richard Sandoval, CEO and founder of his namesake hospitality group, in a release. “Whistler’s culinary scene is very unique and vibrant, and we’re excited to create a modern update on a classic food styling.”

The menu will offer classic dishes from across the Americas, including some familiar après favourites treated with Sandoval’s usual penchant for playfulness, like a green chile burger made from grass-fed Canadian beef and a roasted poblano pimento cheese, Brohm Lake duckling carnitas poutine with a poached duck egg, and a local elk salami and arugula pizza topped with a hit of spice from Calabrian chiles.

That will be paired with an extensive local cocktail and beer program, with more

LOCAL LOVE The Four Seasons’ new rustic pop-up restaurant, the Braidwood Tavern, was inspired by B.C.’s abundance of seasonal ingredients.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

than a dozen taps highlighting some of the best craft brewers from the Sea to Sky and across B.C. The tavern will also pour its own house-brewed beer.

Furthering the mountain aesthetic, the Four Seasons worked with Vancouver’s Box Interior Design to create a chic yet rustic

“The elements have age, have place,” Box Interior Design founding principals Jay Brooks and Cynthia Penner said in the release. “Using indigenous and reclaimed woods such as fir and cedar, and natural textiles such as wool, gives a feeling of authenticity and integrity.”

“One of the pillars behind this concept was to make sure it is approachable for locals and that they feel like it’s a place they can go.”

- CAROLINA PIRES

design that is meant to evoke “the warmth of your favourite uncle’s cabin,” Pires said.

(Not your lame uncle, don’t worry.) In fitting with the tavern’s name, it will be wrapped in braided-wood panelling made from woven reclaimed pine, cedar and spruce.

Taking the local flavour a step further, the Four Seasons is also working with the Whistler Contemporary Gallery to populate the walls with locally made art.

Four Seasons is no stranger to pop-up dining, and in recent years has created

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 50 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

an annual concept—like last year’s Japanese izakaya spot, Let’s Ramen— that lends diversity to the hotel’s culinary offerings while keeping things fresh for the kitchen team.

“Our kitchen team loves these projects just to keep the dynamic and the innovation going,” Pires said.

And although the concept was in the works pre-COVID, the Braidwood Tavern’s local emphasis naturally aligns with the new reality of physically distanced dining, Pires added.

“One of the pillars behind this concept was to make sure it is approachable for locals and that they feel like it’s a place they can go,” she said. “For example, we will have things like specials and happy hours to make sure we cater to the local market and to focus also on the music scene to make it a fun, high-energy [setting].”

The Braidwood Tavern opens Dec. 15.

Learn more at braidwoodtavern.com. n

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MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH

OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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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 NOVEMBER 26 NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBER 28 NOVEMBER 29 NOVEMBER 30

DECEMBER 1

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

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I Low Impact Endurance Beth 7:30-8:30 am ONLINE

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R Gentle

I Slow Flow Yoga - Laura 10:30-11:30 am ONLINE

R Gentle I Zumba Fit for Seniors Susie 10:45-11:45 am - Diana ONLINE 1-2 pm ONLINE

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SUNDAY

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I Zumba - Carmen 6-7 pm ONLINE

Closed daily for maintenance from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.

I Low Impact I High Impact Strength - Beth - Andy 9-10 am 9-10 am ONLINE ONLINE

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F FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION Flex-reg’ classes have a separate fee and allow you to register for classes on the days that fit your schedule.

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MONDAY

Skate rentals are $8 per pair and includes admission. $2 admission fee without rentals.

Helmets and masks are encouraged.

Occupancy limits are in place.

R Gentle Fit for Seniors Diana 11-12pm Online Only

I Mountain I Zumba Ready Fitness - - Rachel 6-7 pm Steve 5:15-6:15 pm.

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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.

VULNERABLE PERSON’S FITNESS CENTRE TIMESLOT 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 7 days a week

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

PUBLIC SKATE SCHEDULE NOVEMBER 26 NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBER 28 NOVEMBER 29 NOVEMBER 30

DECEMBER 1

DECEMBER 2

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

12:15-1:15 p.m.

12:15-1:15 p.m.

12:15-1:15 p.m.

12:15-1:15 p.m.

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.

1:45-2:45 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.

6:30-7:30 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 |

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• 20 person capacity • Enhanced cleaning • Online booking is limited to those 50 years of age and older • Those under 50 with underlying health conditions are still welcome but must call 604-935-PLAY (7529) to book • Masks highly recommended while exercising

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ARTS SCENE

Lozen digs deep on Goal Digger SEA TO SKY HIP-HOP SONGSTRESS MERGES THE MUSICAL AND THE SPIRITUAL ON LATEST ALBUM

BY BRANDON BARRETT HIP-HOP, GENERALLY speaking, has never been all that interested in spiritual matters. Many a rapper has evoked God in their verses, sure—hell, Kanye’s whole son-of-God shtick has basically defined the second half of his career, if you forget the whole MAGA hat thing—but it’s usually in the form of a ridiculous brag (also Kanye: “I am a God/hurry up with the damn massage”) or a reckoning with some unspeakable deed (Prodigy: “Lord forgive me, the Hennessy got me not knowin’ how to act”).

So yeah, rap has always been concerned with the soul, the thin line between good and evil, the inevitable tug of temptation into sin. But faith? Spiritual practice?

Self-discipline? The quiet work of inner exploration? That’s a bit harder to find.

This historical dividing line, rap’s own separation of church and state, might help explain why Sea-to-Sky hip-hop artist Lozen had been so reluctant to merge two parts of her life that now seem so naturally intertwined.

“I’m recognizing that music is a part of my spiritual practice and that everything I do can be, in a sense, an act of devotion on my soul path,” she says.

“Previous to Goal Digger, I kept my physical life and spiritual life very

SOUL TRAIL Sea to Sky hip-hop artist Lozen

has always kept her music and her spirituality separate—that is until her latest album, Goal Digger, out Nov. 27 on Soul Path Records.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

52 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

compartmentalized. I’ve come to realize that integrating the two is essential for my growth not only as a creative but as a human being in general.”

Born Meaghan Mullaly, Lozen’s introduction to spirituality came from her father, a “modern Buddhist” who exposed her to the ideas of Eastern philosophy.

Since then, she has continued her own spiritual practice, and ultimately, fused it with her creative practice.

In fact, each of the seven tracks on Goal Digger, released by Soul Path Records, corresponds with a different chakra, and

wanted. I had to check in. A big part of it was realizing I was out of balance because I wasn’t nourishing the parts of myself that really needed nourishing.”

A former battle rapper and Whistler FM morning host who left the resort’s party scene for the relative peace of Squamish, Lozen had to learn the hard way that burning the candle at both ends wasn’t productive for her music career or her personal life.

Bouncing from gig to gig, reluctant to turn down any opportunity, she realized “I wasn’t honouring my body, essentially,” she recalls. “I was constantly losing my voice,

“I asked myself how I could use this as an opportunity. I had been wanting to shift my creativity. Music is a part of my creativity, but I love creating in different mediums as well.”

- LOZEN

the album artwork, which Lozen designed herself, was inspired by a Tibetan singing bowl a friend had given to her.

She’s hopeful the album, and by extension her own personal journey, can maybe serve as something of a roadmap towards a meaningful life.

“When I talk about Goal Digger, it’s [about] digging deeper on the superficial goals,” she says. “I had come to a place where I had set these goals for myself, and a lot of them I had achieved, but then I had to dig deeper and ask if it was what I really

getting vocal nodules and having to get surgeries and stuff like that. So I thought, ‘How do I not only sustain what I do but have that in balance with the rest of my life?”

The pandemic has offered a welcome opportunity to slow down, and like any hard-working artist on their grind, Lozen adapted to the new reality by continuing to break down barriers between her music and the rest of her pursuits, like dance.

“I’d never really thought about integrating it into my music before, and I don’t know why I separated them in the past,” she

relays. “It was brought up to me several times at shows, because I would do my set, usually a hip-hop or electronic set, but then after I’d be wilding out and dancing and breaking.”

Just as comfortable spitting 16-bar verses as she is belting out Janis Joplin, Lozen switched up her process this time around, writing songs on her acoustic before penning a verse.

“I wanted to be more involved in the production process and I understood I needed [a producer] to do that with who had some kind of chord theory,” she explains.)

“I wasn’t actually doing it, but just having that language has helped me be more involved in the composition.” (Veteran beat-maker Vago, who has worked with other notable hip-hop artists like Swollen Members, Choclair and Kardinal Offishall, handled production on the record.)

Lozen has even become her own merchandiser of late, after a vendor bumped the rates to produce a line of hats she wanted to go with her standout single and music video, “Ladies World” (which spoofs on the seminal ‘90s flick, Wayne’s World). Instead of eating the unexpected cost, she picked up a vintage sewing machine and stitched the hats herself.

“I asked myself how I could use this as an opportunity. I had been wanting to shift my creativity. Music is a part of my creativity, but I love creating in different mediums as well,” she says. “So here was a way for me … to be a part of that process. I get to use my hands and get out of my brain and get more physical. I enjoyed that.”

For more info and to hear the record, visit lozenmusic.com. n

RESERVOIR

BY REBECCA BELMORE

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1152 Mainland Street, Suite 430 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6B 4X2

THE NEW CINEPLEX LOGO MASTERBRAND LOGO

The NEW CINEPLEX logo colour palette of deep rich blue is derived from the traditional CINEPLEX Odeon colours, evolved to a rich and elegant Midnight Blue.

The gold for the rings remains the same as the original CINEPLEX Entertainment logo.

In most instances the 4-colour version of the logo should be used on materials with a 4-colour background. Avoid using glows or keylines around the logo for contrast against backgrounds.

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MUSEUM MUSINGS

SNOW SCIENCE Bruce Watt, Roger McCarthy and an as-yet unidentified patroller check over data in the

Alpine Office.

GEORGE BENJAMIN COLLECTION

Avalanche control and thundering snow

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

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56 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

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NEXT MONTH, we will be opening Land of Thundering Snow, a travelling exhibit created by the Revelstoke Museum & Archives. The exhibit complements Revelstoke Museum’s virtual exhibit of the same name, which examines the history and impact of snow avalanches across Canada and we are very excited to be its first stop through March 2021.

When we think about avalanches in Whistler, one of the first things to come to mind is often the sound of avalanche control that echoes through the valley in the winter.

According to John Hetherington, who joined Whistler Mountain’s pro ski patrol for the 1967-68 season, early avalanche control was often, “putting a bunch of Forcite dynamite sticks together and going out and going, ‘I think we should throw some over here, and I think we should throw some over there.’” Over time, the patrollers learned which slopes and conditions were more likely to have an avalanche, but it was still mostly done by instinct and past experience.

In 1978, Hetherington and Chris Stethem, a former patroller then working as Whistler Mountain’s safety supervisor, wrote the “Whistler Mountain Avalanche Control Programme,” a technical memorandum, describing the methods then used by Whistler patrollers and providing an idea of a typical morning.

Documents such as this are incredibly useful for learning about past procedures and the development of current practices.

Over a typical season, patrollers would use approximately 1,000 avalauncher rounds and 2,000 hand charges containing Submagel 95 per cent, a nitroglycerin explosive. Hand charges were most often

used one at a time, but sometimes they were combined into doubles or triples in “special circumstances.” For control purposes, Whistler Mountain was divided into three sections, Zones A, B and C. The zones would be covered by teams of two using their own knowledge of the area and radios to communicate.

On a typical control day, 7 a.m. would see 10 to 12 patrollers heading up Whistler Mountain to the Alpine Office at 1,850 metres. Along the way, weather data, snowfall readings and wind readings were taken. Once at the alpine office, one patroller would take weather readings while the others would begin preparing the day’s charges. The patrol leader would make an initial evaluation of the avalanche hazard and decide on the control measures.

On an average day, three hand-charge teams and one avalanche gun team would be sent out by 8 a.m. to cover Zone A. A second gun team would then head out to clear the more inaccessible slopes of Zones B and C. Radios would be used to update other teams and allow the plan to be adjusted. If all went according to plan, Zone A would usually be open by 8:45 a.m. when the first skiers were reaching the upper mountain.

On days when helicopters were used, eight patrollers would control Zone A while three patrollers controlled Zones B and C from the air. The helicopter was not, however, without its shortcomings.

Helicopter use was limited by the weather and reportedly eliminated the “feel” for the snow that teams learned while hiking.

Avalanche control is only one focus of the virtual Land of Thundering Snow exhibit, but it is one with which many are familiar in Whistler. Though we will not be able to host an opening event, we hope to see many of you (from a distance and a few at a time) at the physical exhibit over the winter. n

PARTIAL RECALL

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SUNRISE SUNDOG A morning sundog rises over Mount Currie, as seen from Blackcomb Helicopters’ base. PHOTO BY TAYLOR LOVERING. 2 OLYMPIC OPENING The sun popped out and skiers clicked back into their skinny skis as Whistler Olympic Park officially opened for the winter on Saturday, Nov. 21. PHOTO BY JIM BUDGE. 3 NITA NUTCRACKER It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Nita Lake Lodge in Creekside. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 4 PUZZLE PIECES Cartoonist Lorne Craig,

creator of the “See You in Whistler” puzzle and fundraiser, presents the Whistler Community Services Society with a cheque for $6,000, raised through sales of the 500-piece puzzles. “What the photo can NOT show are any of the 200+ people who donated by purchasing a puzzle, and drove this project to sell out completely (over 300 puzzles in total!) Our backers truly made this wacky project a reality,” wrote Craig in a message to Pique. “As we still have people asking for a See you in Whistler puzzle of their own, we are now working on filling a 500-puzzle order for March 2021. With any luck, we will be making another puzzle piece cheque to match the first one!” Head to seeyouinwhistler.com for a link to the Indiegogo page to place an order. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 5

ALPHA IN THE A.M. Alpha Lake looking frosty in the morning hours under a fresh blanket of November snow. PHOTO BY PETRA LEGATOVA.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! Send your recent snaps to arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!

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DINNER NIGHTLY from 5:30pm Reservations recommended 604.932.2223 / teppanvillage.ca Located above the Hilton retail shops overlooking the Village stroll

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Resort Municipality of Whistler

Cheakamus Lake Road Wildfire Thinning Fuel thinning will take place starting November 30 to spring 2021 along Cheakamus Lake Road.

The road will be closed for the duration. Farside and AM/PM trails may require intermittent closures.

For safety reasons, please stay off the road and closed trails, follow signs and instructions of wildfire crew, and leash dogs.

Please visit project webpage for the latest information and closure dates.

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “A little too much is just

enough for me,” joked poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau.

I suspect that when he said that, he was in a phase similar to the one you’re in now. I bet he was experiencing a flood of creative ideas, pleasurable self-expressions, and loving breakthroughs. He was probably right to risk going a bit too far, because he was learning so much from surpassing his previous limitations and exploring the frontiers outside his comfort zone. Now here’s your homework, Aries: Identify two actions you could take that fit the profile I’ve described here.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Biologists believe that no tree can grow more than 141 metres tall. As much as an individual redwood or spruce or mountain ash might like to sprout so high that it doesn’t have to compete with other trees for sunlight, gravity is simply too strong for it to pump enough water up from the ground to its highest branches. Keep that in mind as a useful metaphor during the next 10 months, Taurus. Your assignment is to grow bigger and taller and stronger than you ever have before—and know when you have reached a healthy level of being bigger and stronger and taller.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I haven’t felt the savoury jolt of bacon in my mouth since I was 15, when I forever stopped eating pigs. I still remember that flavour with great fondness, however. I’ve always said I’d love to find a loophole that would allow me to enjoy it again.

And then today I found out about a kind of seaweed that researchers at Oregon State University say tastes like bacon and is healthier than kale. It’s a new strain of a red marine algae called dulse. If I can track it down online, I’ll have it for breakfast soon. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that you, too, are primed to discover a fine new substitute—something to replace a pleasure or resource that is gone or taboo or impossible. What could it be?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): By age 49, Cancerian author Norman Cousins had been struck with two debilitating diseases. His physicians gave him a one in 500 chance of recovery. He embarked on a series of unconventional attempts to cure himself, including “laugh therapy” and positive self-talk, among others. They worked. He lived lustily for another 26 years, and wrote several books about health and healing. So perhaps we should pay attention to his belief that “each patient carries his own doctor inside him”—that at least some of our power to cure ourselves resides in inner sources that are not understood or accredited by traditional medicine. This would be a valuable hypothesis for you to consider and test in the coming weeks, Cancerian. (Caveat: But don’t stop drawing on traditional medicine that has been helping you.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In accordance with astrological rhythms, I’m giving you permission to be extra regal and majestic in the coming weeks. You have a poetic licence to be a supremely royal version of yourself, even to the point of wearing a jeweled crown and purple silk robe. Would you prefer a gold sceptre with pearls or a silver sceptre with rubies? Please keep in mind, though, that all of us non-Leos are hoping you will be a noble and benevolent sovereign who provides enlightened leadership and bestows generous blessings. That kind of behaviour will earn you the right to enjoy more of these lofty interludes in the future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the coming weeks, I will refer to you as The Rememberer. Your task will be to deepen and refine your relationship with the old days and old ways—both your own past and the pasts of people you care about most. I hope you will take advantage of the cosmic rhythms to reinvigourate your love for the important stories that have defined you and yours. I trust you will devote treasured time to reviewing in detail the various historical threads that give such rich meaning to your web of life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Those who build walls are their

own prisoners,” wrote Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin. She continued, “I’m going to fulfill my proper function in the social organism. I’m going to unbuild walls.” I hope that sounds appealing to you, Libra. Unbuilding walls is my first choice for your prime assignment in the coming weeks. I’d love to see you create extra spaciousness and forge fertile connections. I’ll be ecstatic if you foster a rich interplay of diverse influences. If you’re feeling super-plucky, you might even help unbuild walls that your allies have used to halftrap themselves.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t help me grow, there’s no point with you being in my life.” Singer and actress Jill Scott said that. In my view, Scorpios may be the only sign of the zodiac that can assert such a sentiment with total sincerity and authority. For many of the other tribes, it might seem harsh or unenforceable, but for you it’s exactly right—a robust and courageous truth. In addition to its general rightness, it’s also an especially apt principle for you to wield right now. The coming weeks will be a potent time to catalyze deep learning and interesting transformations in concert with your hearty allies.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “You live best as an appreciator of horizons, whether you reach them or not.”

Those words from poet David Whyte would be a perfect motto for you to write out on a piece of paper and tape to your bathroom mirror or your nightstand for the next 30 years. Of all the tribes in the zodiac, you Sagittarians are most likely to thrive by regularly focusing on the big picture. Your ability to achieve small day-by-day successes depends on how well you keep the long-range view in mind. How have you been doing lately with that assignment? In the coming weeks, I suspect you could benefit from hiking to the top of a mountain—or the metaphorical equivalent—so you can enjoy seeing as far as you can see.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sensible Capricorn author E. M. Forster (1879–1970) said, “Passion does not blind. No. Passion is sanity.” That’s the opposite of what many poets and novelists have asserted down through the ages, which is that passion isn’t truly passion unless it renders you half-crazy, driven by obsession, and subject to delusion and irrationality. But in offering you counsel in this horoscope, I’m aligning myself with Forster’s view. For you in the coming weeks, Capricon, passion will help you see clearly and keep you mentally healthy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Alpine swifts are small birds that breed in Europe during the summer and then migrate long distances to Africa for the winter. Ornithologists were shocked when they discovered that at least some of these creatures fly for more than 200 days without ever once landing on the ground. They’re not always flapping their wings—sometimes they glide—but they manage to do all their eating and drinking and sleeping and mating in midair. Metaphorically speaking, I think it’s important for you to not act like the alpine swifts in the coming months, dear Aquarius. Please plan to come all the way down to Earth on a regular basis.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): There’s substantial evidence that when people talk to themselves out loud in the midst of doing a task, they improve their chances of succeeding at the task. Have you ever heard athletes giving themselves verbal encouragement during their games and matches? They’re using a trick to heighten their performance. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to experiment with this strategy in the coming weeks. Increase your brainpower by regularly offering yourself encouraging, supportive instructions.

It’s fine if you just sort of whisper them, but I’d love it if now and then you also bellowed them.

Homework: Imagine it’s 30 years from now and you’re telling God the worst things and best things you ever did.

What would they be? Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/FuelThinning

58 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

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Protect your pooch this winter!

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Communications & Projects Coordinator (Permanent, F/T)

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is located in southwestern BC and consists of 4 member municipalities (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet) and 4 electoral areas. The region contains some of the most spectacular forests, waterways, and mountains in the province and affords an endless range of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents. Services include land use planning, solid waste management, building inspection, fire protection, emergency preparedness, 911 services, recreation, water and sewer utilities, regional transit, trails and open spaces as well as financial support for various community services.

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62 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

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Accountant (Permanent, F/T) The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is located in southwestern BC and consists of 4 member municipalities (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet) and 4 electoral areas. The region contains some of the most spectacular forests, waterways, and mountains in the province and affords an endless range of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents. Services include land use planning, solid waste management, building inspection, fire protection, emergency preparedness, 911 services, recreation, water and sewer utilities, regional transit, trails and open spaces as well as financial support for various community services.

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•

Building, maintaining, improving and communicating the SLRD’s asset registry and asset management plans and strategies.

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•

Performing other related work as required.

For further information, please see the full job description at www.slrd.bc.ca/employment Compensation will be determined commensurate with knowledge, skills and ability, includes a comprehensive benefit package and Municipal Pension Plan and offers the ability to work a compressed work week (nine-day fortnight).

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume with a covering letter by email, no later than January 8, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. to: Suzanne Lafrance, Director of Finance Squamish-Lillooet Regional District slafrance@slrd.bc.ca We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

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David Weldon david@summersnow.ca 604-938-3521

whistlerglass.com

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mountainglass.ca | info@mountainglass.ca

604-932-7288

THE COMPLETE GLASS CENTRE

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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.

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604-894-6240 7426 Prospect St, Pemberton

SURVEYING BUNBURY & ASSOCIA BC LAND SURVEYORS

Serving the Sea to Sky Corridor Since 1963 ▪ ▪ ▪

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64 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

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# 48

ANSWERS ON PAGE 61

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

65

MAXED OUT

Max answers the mail…

WE SEEM TO BE approaching an event horizon where many are being sucked into a black hole created by the confluence of our resurgent pandemic, personal responsibility, government inaction and Santa Claus. I know this because my email inbox is bearing a closer resemblance to social media, or at least what I’m told social media looks like since I don’t go anywhere near it, personally.

For those of you I’ve been unable or unwilling to answer personally, perhaps you’ll recognize your question, issue, whine, bitch in what follows.

BY G.D. MAXWELL Hey Max. What the f#&* is up with the Vailures running our mountains? I tried to make a reservation for opening day on Sunday and couldn’t cuz they were booked up. Booked up? Is that a joke?

Same thing for Friday and Saturday. I haven’t missed opening day since I moved here. What if I skin up?

Pissed Off

DEAR PO: I don’t know when you moved here but I can’t remember the last year I actually went up on opening day. But then, skiing five open runs and downloading along with thousands of other people always struck me as about as appealing as dating my sister, not that my sisters aren’t hot but...

I don’t know if you’ve been watching the weather recently but I’d guess the reasons the mountains are booked up may be a combination of limited terrain, sketchy stability in the alpine, the fear of God an outbreak of COVID will occur and close operations down, pent-up demand, a strong hope they can have ski-outs—death before download, eh?—and a view toward the longer season.

As for skinning up, go for it. Your pass probably won’t work if you try to load a chair up there but if you want one great run and a lot of exercise, go for the gold—on one of the other mountains around here. WB doesn’t need the grief.

GD, I’m seeing lots of cars around town from Alberta. Aren’t they supposed to stay home? Who do they think they are and what are they doing here?

Instant Local

DEAR IL: Welcome to localdom. I don’t know about all of them but I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few don’t think of themselves as employees of WB and also instant locals. The pandemic killed off this year’s crop of Aussies, so Canadians it is.

We should be glad we have such a wimp for a premier. If Mr. Horgan had the stones to go along with the patter, he’d stop trying to pass the buck to the federal government to restrict interprovincial travel and just close the province’s borders to people from

66 NOVEMBER 26, 2020

GETTYIMAGES.CA

other provinces. With the Atlantic bubble disintegrating into provincial bubbles, it’s pretty clear provincial premiers have the power to close borders. But it’s so much easier to challenge other levels of government to do the dirty work. And let’s face it, with Thumper Kenney’s reluctance to take steps to deal with the firestorm of cases in Alberta, Horgan should build a wall and make him pay for it.

Of course, if our own government would declare Whistler an independent Resort

therefore didn’t have to quarantine. How come they don’t have to do that?

Scared and Masked

DEAR SM: I generally assume when you say you “read” somewhere, you mean some unreliable, alternative-fact post on social media made by someone who doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. I think this is a pretty safe bet since there is no blanket exemption to 14-day quarantine rules for people flying in on business trips. To get one

I generally assume when you say you “read” somewhere, you mean some unreliable, alternative-fact post on social media made by someone who doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Principality we could shut our borders to people from Surrey and the Fraser Valley, which have the highest number of COVID-19 cases by far. Since St. Bonnie told Vancouverites to go ski their local mountains, we won’t have to worry about them coming up for a while, will we? Just kidding.

Why don’t you write a column about all the people from other countries making bookings to be here over the holidays?

I read somewhere a lot of them are supposedly coming in for business and

of those, you have to have enough pull with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration or Public Safety.

As far as a lot of people making bookings from other countries, I’m certain the local lodging sector will be helping them, assuming there are any, adhere to the quarantine period. After all, not even the accommodation providers are desperate enough to run the risk of being shut down if their negligence resulted in having them be known as super spreaders. Then again, maybe it’s just the glass-half-full optimist in me.

Hey, your(sic) American. Is Trump ever going to admit defeat?

Happy to See Him Go.

DEAR HAPPY: You have a lot of company.

The short answer is, no, the Orangutanin-Chief will never admit defeat, absent a frontal lobotomy, which isn’t such a bad idea but highly unlikely. The Don is infallible; just ask him. But I’m sure President Biden and at least half the rest of the country will be happy to see security escort him out of the White House on Jan. 20.

Oh, and I am no longer American.

A small but important detail. And I’d explain the difference between your and you’re but I’m tired of rolling that rock up the hill.

Max, when are you going to write another column urging people to wear masks?

Zorro

DEAR ZORRO: I’m waiting for the scars from the last column about wearing masks to heal. I had to pay for a more robust spam filter for my email after the last time. And now that St. Bonnie has finally gotten over whatever weird political hang-up she or her bosses had about bringing in a provincial requirement, I’m happy to let her deal with the hate mail.

Having said that, I saw a news clip recently about an artist who painted masks for people with a reasonably good likeness of the covered up portion of their own face.

They’d grown tired of people saying, “Wow, I didn’t recognize you with a mask on.” It made me wonder why local artists aren’t doing that to make a little money while waiting to see if anyone is going to buy art for Christmas. I’d personally buy a few, not necessarily of my own face. n

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

NEW TO MARKET

FOR RENT

WHISTLER VILLAGE 37-4375 Northlands Blvd Fully turn key, move in ready 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath! Walk everywhere from this townhouse! One of the absolute best locations in town. Enjoy a beautiful king size bed/ensuite bath in the master and underground parking Winters’ lease or years lease available! $5,500/mo

Jake Breuer

ALTA VISTA 101-3050 Hillcrest Drive Beautifully renovated in 2019.

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604-698-7259 Laura Wetaski

WHISTLER CAY HEIGHTS 6318 Fairway Drive Luxury New Custom Home features 5 beds, 5 baths, media room & office. Double garage & HRV heating w built-in A/C. Beautiful mountain views & 2 spacious covered decks. Unique under construction opportunity in an exclusive central location. $5,998,000

604-938-3798 Ron Mitchell *PREC & Rachel Allen 604-966-4200 SKI IN/SKI OUT

ALPINE MEADOWS 8361 Rainbow Drive This family home with one bedroom suite is located near valley trail & nearby Meadow Park.

The Ri-1 Zoning can be explored for future renovations or building your future new Chalet. $1,699,000

Kathy White

WHISTLER VILLAGE 116-4220 Gateway Drive Perfect Whistler Studio/Bachlor Apartment. Phase 2 Zoning allows for revenue and up to 56 days of owner use annually. Building in prime Village location with all the amenities. $209,000

604-616-6933 Kerry Batt

604-902-5422 Janet Brown

604-935-0700

14.09 ACRES

SKI IN/SKI OUT

BLACKCOMB BENCHLANDS 413-4800 Spearhead Drive, Aspens Enjoy peaceful days and evenings on your private balcony from this top floor skiin/ski-out 1 bedroom suite. Enjoy full time personal use of your suite and the availability to rent it out when you are not using it for investment revenues. $868,000

Allyson Sutton

WHISTLER CREEKSIDE 314D-2036 London Lane Bright 2 bed/2 bath corner unit in Legends, with vaulted ceiling & mountain view. This quarter share property gives you 1 week/month personal use, or earn revenue through the rental pool. Ski in/out to Creekside gondola! $215,000

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

604-932-7609 Peter Lalor

RAINBOW 8975 Highway 99 Panoramic mountain and lake views!

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Whistler Village Shop

Whistler Creekside Shop

Squamish Station Shop

36-4314 Main Street · Whistler BC V8E 1A8 · Phone +1 604-932-1875

325-2063 Lake Placid Road · Whistler BC V8E 0B6 · Phone +1 604-932-1875

150-1200 Hunter Place · Squamish BC V8B 0G8 · Phone +1 778-733-0611

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

Engel & Völkers Whistler *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION ©2019 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

604-932-7997

3D Tour rem.ax/21atnaturesdoor

2 Garibaldi Drive

$625,000

#314 - 4369 Main Street

$375,000

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.

A stylish studio unit right in Whistler Village with a beautiful view of the mountains. Recent updates include a sleek new kitchenette, slate flooring in the kitchen and bath, rain shower, luxury vinyl plank in the living area, slate fireplace surround, new AC unit, electric roller blinds and modern lighting throughout.

Laura Barkman

Madison Perry

604.905.8777

.5

778.919.7653

#21I - 2300 Nordic Drive

A one tenth ownership in this magnificent mountain home offers 5 weeks per year of ski in-ski out convenience and all the luxury amenities of a world class private residence development. The best kept secret at Whistler, this property differs from any other development.

Matt Chiasson

3D Tour - rem.ax/223aspens

#223 - 4800 Spearhead Drive

$900,000

1

604.907.2223

#101 - 4220 Gateway Drive

$280,000

A renovated 635 sq ft studio right in the heart of Whistler Village and within a 2 minute walk to the ski lifts. These fully furnished properties include a fully equipped kitchen and sleep 6. Blackcomb Lodge has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades to the indoor swimming pool, hot tub and other Common Area facilities.

Michael d’Artois

3D Tour - rem.ax/34redsky

1

604.905.9337

3D Tour - rem.ax/304wrc

#304A/B - 2129 Lake Placid Rd.

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. It was designed to take full advantage of the wonderful mountain views and natural surroundings.

RARE OPPORTUNITY to own a unique PHASE 1 lock-off with TWO SEPARATE RENTAL UNITS which generate great cash flow in Whistler! This bright, renovated top floor, lock-off floor-plan gives the option to have 1 two bedroom unit, or 2 separate units. Rent through short or long term platforms or use for your own personal usage.

3.5

604.905.6326

Ursula Morel*

#107 - 4910 Spearhead Drive

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

$979,000

$125,000

2

604.932.8629

This 1 bed/1 bath QUARTER OWNERSHIP property in Evolution offers custom finishings, contemporary design & comes fully equipped. Building amenities include: outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, games room, exercise room & media room. Enjoy 13 weeks per year of personal use and/or rental income.

Bob Cameron*

604.935.2214

1

2578 Snowridge Crescent

$6,200,000

The 3440 square foot, five bedroom plus den, 4.5 bathroom home is very versatile.

Zoned for nightly rental you can separate the income with a 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite and or a 3 bedroom plus den home. Equipped with an outdoor Hot Tub, views of Whistler Peak, Whistler Creek and the Dave Murray Downhill run.

Bruce Watt

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

604.905.0737

604.907.2717

3800 Sunridge Place

2

5.5

$7,395,000

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

3D Tour - rem.ax/2578snowridge

#105D - 2020 London Lane

$1,799,000

3D Tour - rem.ax/3800sunridgeplace

#34 - 8400 Asheigh McIvor Way $2,399,000

Sally Warner*

3.5

604.935.9171

3D Tour - rem.ax/107woodrun

Turn key mountainside suite is ready for you. Fully furnished SKI-IN/SKI-OUT 1 bedroom suite on Blackcomb Mountain has an outdoor heated pool, 3 hot tubs, exercise centre, bike room, gardens, and is steps to the Upper Village. Phase 1 zoning allows you to live in the property full time or you can also rent it nightly.

Meg McLean

$165,000

5

604.932.7651

3D Tour - rem.ax/101altavista

#101 - 3050 Hillcrest Drive

$1,075,000

A very desirable, two bedroom two bath, open style floorplan. The home was completely renovated in 2019, the improvements include; new vinyl windows, interior doors, heated wood and tile flooring, custom kitchen cabinetry with quartz countertops, and high quality Kitchenaid and Bosch appliances.

Chris Wetaski

604.938.2499

2

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