Pique Newsmagazine 2810

MARCH 11, 2021 ISSUE 28.10

WWW.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM

FREE GRIT

Bubbling up How athletes in Whistler have kept up their progress in a year without high-level competitions

14

MARATHON SESSION

Whistlerites give

feedback on divisive Nita Lake project

18

ON THE LAM

Kali the border collie

reunited with owners

40

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

36

32

40

Bubbling up How athletes in Whistler have kept up their progress in a year without high-level competitions. - By Dan Falloon

14

MARATHON SESSION

A lengthy public

26

FEE DECREASE

Village of Pemberton

hearing on a divisive housing project proposed for the shores of Nita Lake was

council starts the process of reducing business licence fees for

Whistlerites’ last chance to provide input before council considers third reading.

cannabis companies.

15

36

CORONAVIRUS RELIEF

Extensions to both

FANTASTIC FLECK

As she heads into NCAA

federal and provincial coronavirus relief programs are being welcomed in

Championships, skier Stefanie Fleckenstein looks back on her pandemic

Whistler, but more advocacy is needed, business leaders say.

season with the University of Colorado.

18

40

PET DETECTIVES

It took dozens of sightings,

a broken foot, plenty of roast chicken and even a pet psychic, but Kali the

RETRO FOR RENT Meet the Whistler designer who

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border collie has been reunited with her owners.

COVER In the past year, I’ve struggled with the question “Do we really need sports right now?” However, I always come back to the conclusion that having examples of grit, determination and overcoming obstacles might be exactly what we need right now. - By Jon Parris 4 MARCH 11, 2021

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS It’s hard to believe that we are entering the second year of the

#202 -1390 ALPHA LAKE RD., FUNCTION JUNCTION, WHISTLER, B.C. V8E 0H9.

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

coronavirus pandemic. What have we learned so far and what might change?

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A letter writer this week calls out Vail Resorts for failing to refund

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com

those following health guidelines by not coming to Whistler, while another implores people to pick up after their pooches.

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

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Alyssa Noel offers some advice to her daughter (due in a few months), as we marked International Women’s Day this week.

54 MAXED OUT Max talks about what aging in place looks like in a ski resort filled with youths, then, like the maverick he is, decides he’s skiing here until he can’t.

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

Environment & Adventure

Arts & Entertainment Editor ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

30 SCIENCE MATTERS As long as we capitulate and default to easy solutions to complex problems,

Sports Editor DAN FALLOON - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com

we’ll likely continue to drive wildlife decline and disappearance, argues David Suzuki.

Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com Reporters

31 RANGE ROVER Has it really been a year since Whistler went into lockdown for the pandemic? Leslie Anthony looks back at the year and how we coped.

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, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ANDREW MITCHELL, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON

Lifestyle & Arts

38 EPICURIOUS By now you’ve likely heard the news: Ingrid’s Village Café is closing its doors after 35 years of serving Whistler. This week, we pay homage to this iconic eatery.

42 MUSEUM MUSINGS Have you ever wondered who wandered and explored the Whisler Valley and

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.

mountains in the early days of the resort? This week, learn all about Pip Brock and his adventures.

The entire contents of Pique Newsmagazine are copyright 2021 by Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of WPLP, a division of Glacier Media). No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the Publisher.

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

Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, address and daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 250 words. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine.

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OPENING REMARKS

Year 2: What are our lessons?

IT IS TRUE: We are entering the second year of the coronavirus pandemic.

This week in 2020, we at Pique were talking about working from home; we were talking to our IT people about how to produce a newspaper, a team-based activity, from our kitchen tables; we were starting to understand that tens of thousands of people

BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com

in Canada were going to die. We had to come to grips with the fact that even those we trusted with our health did not know how to combat this foe—and it was going to be combat. This was going to be war.

It’s hard to imagine that just over 12 months ago, Canada’s top doctor, Dr. Theresa Tam said: “The risk of an outbreak in Canada remains low.”

And we believed her.

We believed it when we were told there was no real reason to wear masks. We believed it when we were told it was OK for

offices still seem like a good idea? I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure the high-sided cubicle is making a comeback.

And I also think mask-wearing is here to stay in places where people are confined in busy locations, like shopping malls, grocery stores and so on (let’s think about the incredibly low rates of flu this year thanks to our hand-washing and mask-wearing).

Working remotely is also here to stay and will, in the long-term, radically alter the idea of city centres.

And tourism is forever changed. I could be wrong, but I don’t think people will want to crowd scores deep into the Sistine Chapel anymore, or pack into Disneyland in the same way. I think people will continue to want wide, open spaces, places where we can breathe deeply and stretch without feeling anxious.

We will want restaurants that are not like home, places that we can “escape” to—and open kitchens demonstrating hospital-level hygiene will get nods of approval from patrons. And I would predict that printed menus, individually packaged ketchups (etc.), copious paper napkins and perhaps even the use of cash will stay in the past.

We have an inkling of how hard it actually is to grow enough food for a family, to look after sick family members—we have new respect for human labour.

international flights to continue in reduced numbers, that it was OK to travel—though not an “advised” activity.

What were we thinking? What are we still thinking?

Now we are holding on, as we are being told that the vaccines will have everything back to normal this year.

But I’m sorry, things will never be the same again. It may be a fatuous example, but honestly, do Google and Apple’s openplan, games-room, couch-filled living room

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I also believe in First World countries that we have an appreciation for farmers, food-industry workers, those in healthcare and various other front-line workers in a way that has never existed before. We have an inkling of how hard it actually is to grow enough food for a family, to look after sick family members—we have new respect for human labour.

And I want to desperately believe that as a nation we have learned lessons about the care of our elders and seniors.

In Canada, and elsewhere, we have also been staggered by the ability of our governments to plan and spend money when our nation is threatened. Leaving aside for the moment any criticism of the rollout or effectiveness of programs, let’s think about the fact that it’s getting done.

Can we focus on this lesson for the near future and imagine these forces for good being pivoted (can’t believe I just used that word!) to support the changes we all need to make to face the climate crisis? Could this be one of the most important realizations to come out of the war on COVID-19—that we could do this?

Something else that is abundantly clear with hindsight is that you can’t win a war like this by the seat of your pants. Canada did have plans put in place following the SARS and H1N1 virus outbreaks in the past, but it feels like we were all operating on a “this-can’t-possibly-happen-to-me” mentality. It’s like we were operating with a teenage brain. That is no longer the case.

And a question worth exploring going forward—because, let’s be honest, this is not going to be the last pandemic we face—is whether Canada needs to consider how it manufactures its own vaccines in the future.

Canada has vaccinated a smaller percentage of the population than about 40 other countries, with just three per cent of Canadians having received at least one shot as of Feb. 9, compared with 13.1 per cent in the U.S, 19.4 per cent in Britain and worldleading Israel at 67.4 per cent.

Are we too reliant on the federal National Research Council facilities for our vaccines? Is it time to partner with private sector to make sure this vulnerability is addressed?

No doubt there are a thousand other lessons from the pandemic each of us has learned so far.

For me, my greatest lesson? It is the realization that it’s the people in my life that make it worth living, not things or even experiences. I can’t wait to hug those I care about.

What about you? What are your lessons? n

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Not refunding or offering credit for unusable WB season passes unfair My wife and I were scheduled to make our annual two-week visit to Whistler from Jan. 6 to 20, 2021.

We had prepaid our accommodation at Crystal Lodge and season passes by early September.

An early decision by B.C. relating to the coast and Whistler area was published online in early December indicating “non-essential” travel to B.C. was to be [discouraged] due to the rising COVID-19 crisis.

As a result, we contacted the Whistler ticket office about a refund or credit for our season passes and were referred to a Vail Resorts website. We completed the inputs and waited.

After two months, we contacted a website for information and were flipped to someone who indicated we would be contacted. Eventually, we were contacted by a California “insurance adjuster” represented to review details of our claim for season pass refunds, and were assured our claim was now being processed.

Shortly thereafter, my wife received an email indicating her claim was being refused.

I have never heard anything on my own claim.

We are not happy about this since cancelling our trip to Whistler was at the request of the B.C. health authorities, an act of government which non-residents were obliged to adhere to.

We feel Vail Resorts should refund or credit our prepaid season passes for 2022.

Douglas & Donna McCaw // Ontario

S

Pick up after your pooch, please!

I have been going for walks with my dog from the end of Lorimer Road to Rainbow, or else along the edge of the Whistler Golf Club course.

Every time we go for a walk, we see at least three to five bags of dog poop that has been bagged and then left lying on the ground.

This is a huge problem for me as my young pup insists on swallowing bags that she finds.

I know that part is my problem, but I just don’t get why people would bother to pick up after their dogs and then leave the bag lying on the ground. All they are doing is adding more plastic to the environment. Not cool!

Please remember that the second step of

picking up after your dog is depositing the bag in the garbage!

Amanda Skoll // Whistler

Question all level of governments on the pandemic In the last few months, it has become clear that our community is speaking honestly about our current pandemic in privacy. Intellectual freedom has become jeopardized and any public discourse contrary to the government narrative has remained silent.

As a long-term resident of Whistler, my personal network [of] friends and colleagues stretch the entire spectrum of Whistler culture

and lifestyle. Throughout this event, I have remained in regular contact with my network and a major concerning common [thread] that I have discovered is that we all share many of the same logical oppositions [to] mandates but fear speaking out publicly. My formal request is that we stop behaving as though any dialogue contrary to the narrative voiced by our governing administrations is reprehensible. Such discussion has become taboo and in failing to speak, we falsify our collected data on public opinion.

Government criticism is of great benefit to all of us collectively and more so, our responsibility as contributing citizens of a democracy to maintain the optimal wellbeing of our community.

It is unmistakable that the extraordinary collateral damage caused by this pandemic far outweighs those afflicted with illness of COVID-19. Currently, we are experiencing a void of innate human needs like affection and connection. It won’t be long before we see the already rising suicidal and mental health crises skyrocket to become the next pandemic.

One year into this crisis, we have developed into a place of sustained stress activity in our mind and bodies. Research into long-term effects of fear, anxiety and loneliness reveals an inability to maintain a healthy biological foundation. This affects the body and brain’s oxygen levels, inflammation, dangerous blood pressure levels and intensive psychological disorders, just to name a few.

Locally owned businesses are permanently closing their doors, families are being torn apart, children are losing their friends. Our

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR only shameless avenue to connect with one another in person is limited to few bars, restaurants and skiing. With rumours of Whistler Blackcomb closing at any time, it is paramount that we address the longer-term effects of increasing lockdown mandates and restrictions on our civil liberties.

Should our beloved ski resort close, we would not only destroy our last remaining tie to our non-household loved ones, but also the last thread by which our tourism-based economy is hanging. It is absolute that in a full lockdown scenario, the majority of us would become dependent on government subsidies, allowing sensations of pride and meaning to vanish.

We have been saying that better times are coming. One year in and only worse [things] have arrived. It is good to be optimistic but far enough down that road, we find delusion.

“It is good to be optimistic but far enough down that road, we find delusion.”

- SUE SAW

Ask yourself: “Has my consumption of alcohol, drugs or tobacco gone up? Do I feel persisting loneliness or longing for friends and family? When was the last time I laughed until my gut was sore, or danced or sang at the top of my lungs?”

The sad truth is that [some] of those who struggled with a lack of social support prepandemic have already perished or declined to a life-threatening level of despair. It is now undeniable that COVID-19 will act [as a] catalyst to some within our community to seriously consider suicide. I have personally heard [of] two cases of this in our community.

I think we can all agree we want to live in a place free of lockdowns and covered faces.

So what logical measures are we taking to work together [for] this shared interest today [to] move away from isolation and socioeconomic devastation? [Neither] you nor I may have a perfect answer now, but the place to start is open communication and debate on the matter.

Whether [your] birthplace is as far as Australia or as near as Vancouver, we have made Whistler home because it has forever been a place that defies “convention.”

A place where we are surrounded by likeminded community that embraces the wide-eyed childlike essence of freedom and play well into retirement just as nature intended.

Our breed of values stretch back to the exemplary nature of our pioneers like Myrtle Philip or even further to the peaceful sharing of our geography by the Squamish and Lil’wat nations.

It is by sheer virtue of being a Whistler resident that you have an understanding of mental and physical health and its value towards a healthy life. Heck, why else would

we pay $1,500 of rent for 300 square feet of shared living quarters?

We have always found success in living contrary to the prescribed convention found in major cities or primitive politics. When did we stray from our nature?

Today, we have the opportunity to recognize the value of government while simultaneously taking responsibility to probe mandates in an effort to prescribe a more-tailored strategy for Whistler’s handling of the situation. Instead of blindly following [Provincial Health Officer Dr.] Bonnie [Henry’s] perpetual Groundhog Day report, I implore you to openly question government action and invite dialogue of your community to do the same.

Each day that we silence our concerns, we become further divided. [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau, Henry, or [Whistler Mayor] Jack Crompton are not your voice. You are your voice.

If you feel elements of government mandates are destructive or unlawful towards your basic human rights and freedoms, speak up.

Please, Whistler, I urge you to commence a free and two-sided discourse of our government health orders and mandates. This pandemic is affecting all of humanity in ways far beyond that of just infectious disease. Let us not censor or demonize the thousands of esteemed multidisciplinary scientific opinions. Many of which reside right here in your Sea to Sky corridor.

“In this together?” Let’s start acting like it.

Sue Saw // Whistler

Devastating B.C.’s public salmon fishery [Editor’s note: This letter was addressed to the federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan and shared with Pique.]

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For the past two years, your department has prevented the public fishery from keeping any Chinook in critically important southern B.C. salt and freshwater angling areas, even when no Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern are present. Furthermore, between April 1 and July 31, keeping abundant U.S. hatchery Chinook has also been off limits in areas where they make up a very high percentage of the Chinook stocks present.

These actions have had devastating consequences for the public fishery. Many hardworking Canadians in the public-fishing sector are now without jobs and the infrastructure that supports angling is struggling. COVID-19 has magnified these social and economic impacts.

In December 2019, Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau described your mandate as follows: “As Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, you will lead the Government’s work to sustain and rebuild the fisheries, and ensure that they remain healthy for future generations, while providing important economic opportunities to Canadians and coastal communities.”

In early 2020, the Federal Fisheries Minister’s Sport Fishing Advisory Board submitted a fishing plan that included opportunities to catch and keep abundant Chinook salmon (details at publicfisheryalliance.ca/openletter-background). It was developed with

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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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) staff specifically to avoid wild Fraser River stocks of concern using DFO’s latest scientific data.

It also offered a minimal, but sustainable, opportunity for the public fishery during these extraordinary times.

Yet, your department refused to implement the entire proposal, devastating Georgia Strait, Juan de Fuca Strait and lower Fraser River public fisheries. Not adopting this fishing plan defies logic, runs contrary to science-based fisheries management and to your mandate.

Specific Fraser River Chinook stocks are undeniably in trouble. The Public Fishery Alliance (PFA) strongly supports the immediate implementation of a comprehensive recovery program. The B.C. angling community has been pursuing this objective with your department for 15 years. Yet, since 2008, increased fishing restrictions including closures are the only tools the department has used.

The recovery so far, is a wretched failure.

The PFA recognizes Fraser Chinook recovery will take many years. We also understand recovery of these wild Chinook is attainable, as is providing sustainable fishing opportunities without detriment to stocks of concern. These dual objectives are critically important. Our sector must have some form of meaningful access to Chinook stocks that are not in trouble, in order to maintain hope for surviving these extremely difficult times.

We do not comprehend your unwillingness to follow your mandate. The ban on keeping hatchery-marked, or abundant Chinook defies logic at times and in areas like Howe Sound, Lower Georgia Strait and others identified in the Sport Fishing Advisory Board Proposal where there is zero evidence of the presence of stocks of concern.

The public fishery must be allowed to

retain Chinook in these areas. Anglers should also be able to keep U.S., hatchery-produced Chinook in Juan de Fuca Strait during April and May in 2021 and elsewhere if abundant hatchery Chinook are present.

These fisheries are defensible because: • This fishing plan allows anglers to keep Chinook in areas where weak runs of Fraser River Chinook do not occur based on decades of DFO data.

• Retaining identifiable hatchery Chinook and releasing wild Chinook produces a known conservation benefit. This conservation and fishery-saving tool is currently in use in Washington state.

• Hatchery Chinook account for greater than 70 per cent of the salmon present in JDF in April and May and it has been identified as a viable fishery candidate.

Wherever the 2019 and 2020 Chinook public fishery restriction applied, no coded wire tags were turned in, significantly compromising data recovery programs.

Allowing anglers to keep hatchery Chinook will result in the recovery of coded wire tags for critical scientific assessment.

Continuing your department’s heavyhanded and overly broad Chinook regulation for a third year will systematically dismantle the public salmon fishery.

The PFA strongly recommends your department allow anglers to keep Chinook as described. Failure to do so reinforces the common view that science-based fisheries management and your mandate letter from Prime Minister Trudeau are not guiding your actions.

Canadians deserve to know how your department operates and where it stands with respect to their interests, especially as a general election seems close at hand.

Christopher Bos //Public Fishery Alliance ■

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Serving sea to sky for 18 years

12 MARCH 11, 2021

AS OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 As we start to transition out of winter and towards spring conditions, there are a few things to keep in mind. One is the stronger impact that the sun has at this time of year: The heat from the sun can result in cornices weakening and failing, and can trigger avalanches on solar aspects.

When cornices heat up, they lose strength and can fail. Cornice failures are dangerous for a number of reasons. If you are travelling on a corniced ridge and one collapses below you, the fall alone could cause serious harm.

If travelling below a cornice, the volume of snow associated with a cornice failure can be similar to being involved in a large avalanche.

Additionally, cornices are heavy and they can trigger slab avalanches when they hit the slopes below.

Springtime is when cornices are usually at their largest as they have been growing all winter. Pay attention to where they exist, give them a wide berth, and move quickly to minimize time spent below them.

When a slope facing the sun heats up, the snow becomes weaker as it melts. In the

early season, only steep, south-facing slopes feel the impacts of the sun, but as the season progresses, lower-angle south, southwest and eventually west- and east-facing slopes begin to feel the heat, too.

When the snow surface begins to feel moist, it is weakening; it’s wise to avoid steep slopes with moist snow on them. This is really worth keeping in mind when trip planning. Solar aspects that are frozen in the morning may pose little danger, but they can heat up and present a significant hazard by the afternoon. Make sure you take this into consideration so you don’t find that your route out of the mountains at the end of the day has become more hazardous than expected.

For the coming weekend, it looks like the Sea-to-Sky region will get a healthy reminder that we are indeed squarely in the middle of the seasonal transition by offering up a day of sunny spring weather on Saturday, followed by a winter storm on Sunday, with a possible 20 to 30 centimetres expected.

Be ready to change your mindset from one day to the next. Things can, and do, change quickly at this time of year! ■

CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountaininfo/snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

PIQUE’N YER INTEREST

Lessons for a girl in 2021 IN AN EFFORT to make a rather dismal pandemic Christmas a little more jolly last year, I put a piece of paper in a box, wrapped it up and placed it under our tree.

On that paper: the gender of a baby due in early summer.

The trick worked. I was very excited for Christmas morning to glean a little

BY ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

information about the new life growing inside me.

Initially, my husband had been against finding out the baby’s gender ahead of time.

In theory, I agreed with his stance. Did I care whether it was a boy or a girl? No. Would we strive to raise a baby of any gender to be strong and kind, emotionally intelligent and brave, and see beyond the general confines of his or her own gender? Yes. So what did it matter? It didn’t, of course. But still, that “male” or “female” listed on the paper would set in motion a vision of a hard-to-imagine future that is quickly approaching.

When Dec. 25 arrived and we tore the box open, we were both elated to see “female fetus” listed somewhat clinically on the paper.

Since then, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what it means to raise a girl.

I mean, the clothes are certainly cute (and that’s with my sister plucking all the frilly, sparkly items out of her hand-me-down piles, knowing that’s not really my taste), but beyond that, in 2021, what does raising a girl mean?

I’m writing this on March 8, International Women’s Day, prompting a little extra reflection on the idea of bringing

navigating this world as a female.

A small, evolving list: • Be kind, but don’t put your own comfort or safety at risk for the sake of someone’s feelings. Being a “nice girl” is overrated. (Still working on this one.)

• Do not let other people’s limitations set your own. Yes, I am pregnant and trail running. Yes, I hike (safe locations) alone (and have been questioned by older men about it). Yes, I run in the dark by myself in

Make that cross-country move, apply for that dream job you’re just a little under-qualified for, try that activity or sport that ... freaks you out. a girl into the world. I could offer a laundry list of progress that still needs to happen to ensure gender equality (in particular for women of colour), or myriad things I will worry more about with a girl rather than a boy (namely, the kind of men who will undoubtedly leave snide comments on this column), but more than anything, I’m excited about the idea of raising a strong, thoughtful, brave girl—and passing along the many, many lessons I’ve learned about

the winter months. Do it safely and no one’s fear should dictate how you live your life.

• You can care about your appearance, relationships, or wear as much pink as you want and still be a strong feminist. Or you can care less about any of those things and still be a strong feminist. On top of that, you can get married, or not. You can have kids, or not. You don’t have to conform to one vision of what it means to be a woman.

• Nearly every woman I know has gone

MIDWEEK SPECIAL Caaghan Cruiser

through a bout of disordered eating at some point—ranging from mild to severe. Food is fuel and you need fuel to accomplish just about anything.

• It is really fun passing men in races.

Sometimes they don’t like it and that makes it doubly fun.

• There are so many wonderful, kind, thoughtful men out there. The ones who aren’t will show you very quickly they are not worth your time.

• F*ck being ladylike. Farts are funny.

Swearing can be OK in the right context (I mean, read the room on that one). Bathroom humour wins the day.

• There is enough room at the table for all women. Sometimes, women don’t like other women because they perceive them as a threat. Avoid this type of toxic jealousy at all costs. It’s usually not about you anyway.

(And besides, the vast majority of women you encounter will lift you up.)

• Be self-sufficient, but OK with accepting help sometimes, too.

• Above almost everything, be brave.

Make that cross-country move, apply for that dream job you’re just a little underqualified for, try that activity or sport that kind of freaks you out. Sure, this might apply to men too, but for too long, bravery was an attribute meant for them alone.

Turns out, it’s the surest path to a fulfilling, interesting life. ■

SAVE

25%

CARLETON LODGE | 604.938.1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM MARCH 11, 2021

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler has last say on housing proposal in marathon hearing COUNCIL WILL NOW CONSIDER THIRD READING OF MIXED-USE PROPOSAL FOR 5298 ALTA LAKE ROAD

BY BRANDON BARRETT WHISTLERITES HAD their last say this week on a divisive housing project proposed for the shores of Nita Lake before council considers third reading.

In a marathon public hearing streamed to more than 80 homes on Tuesday, March 9, the community weighed in on a mixeduse project proposed for 5298 Alta Lake Road that was first submitted in 2018 under the RMOW’s private developer guidelines for employee housing. The Empire Club Development Corp. proposal currently calls for 11 market tourist-accommodation units, 11 market residential units and 21 employeerestricted units on the lakefront site.

The project has so far garnered significant opposition, but Tuesday’s hearing appeared to be more evenly divided. And while critics’ concerns have varied, with issues raised over the project’s density, its potential impact on traffic as well as the ecologically sensitive site, support for the proposal tended to hone in on one component: Whistler’s dire need for affordable housing.

“At the end of the day, Whistler is a

HOUSING HEARING A marathon public hearing on Tuesday, March 9 was Whistlerites’ last chance to give input on a divisive housing proposal for 5298 Alta Lake Road before council considers third reading.

FILE PHOTO

14 MARCH 11, 2021

growing community and we need more housing,” explained Amanda Eggleton, who said the lease is coming up soon on her and her husband’s home. “We’re going to have to find a place that not only we can afford, but so we can continue our life and our careers here. Any projects that support the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) in making our life here more stable and more comfortable, we’re all for it.”

If there is one thing that both supporters and detractors can agree on, it’s the need for more WHA housing, a point that was reiterated time and again during Tuesday’s meeting. But for many of the project’s critics, the potential benefit to the developer, former WHA board chair Michael Hutchison, does not match what the community is getting back in return.

“When I first heard of this application I was deeply, deeply offended as regarded to what the potential benefits for the community might be,” said former councillor and Freedom of the Municipality holder Garry Watson.

The project has gone through several iterations since first being presented under the RMOW’s guidelines for employee housing from private developers. A rezoning application for the site was first submitted in the spring of 2018, but was withdrawn before council could consider it, with a staff report noting the applicants determined one or more of the evaluation criteria “did not fit with their development goals for the property.” By March 2019, lawmakers had adopted new guidelines, removing the

requirement that all proposals considered be 100-per-cent employee housing, and permitting limited amounts of unrestricted market housing to support a project’s economic viability.

When council got its first official look at the project in September 2019, it proposed 15 three-bedroom employee restricted townhomes and 22 three-bedroom markettourism-accommodation townhomes, before it was revised to its current form in February of last year.

Watson and other critics of the project are calling for a more equitable tradeoff than the 4,202 square metres of market gross floor area for the 2,000 m2 of employee gross floor area proposed.

“That is basically my concern, that the profit potential in this project for this developer is his motivation, and that motivation is substantial,” Watson said.

“You’re being taken down the road for financial gain, and that needs to be examined and that needs to be fundamental to your assessment of the proposal. We can get more employee housing than has been proposed.”

The project’s supporters, meanwhile, reiterated that the community stands to gain a significant amount of employee housing— to the tune of 72 employee bed units, a 65-per-cent increase—in comparison to the existing zoning at the site, which allows for a hotel use and several cabins.

“The most fascinating thing … for me to watch about this proposal is public opposition is seemingly ignoring the as-ofright zoning for a hotel and cabins,” said

Whistler native and chair of the Urban Development Institute Beau Jarvis.

“As a long-time resident of Whistler I would be disappointed if council turned this application down and what we’re left with is the existing zoning—because this application is clearly much better.”

Nita Lake Estates resident Bruce Green pointed out, however, that several of the amenities planned for the site, such as a Valley Trail extension, were already a condition of the existing zoning, while a dedicated park space and nature conservancy tied to the proposal were unlikely to have been built on anyway, he contended, as they were protected riparian areas.

“That’s really the bargain I submit the council should be looking at: is the municipality getting what it should in amenities for that great increase in density?” Green asked.

But Whistler can’t ignore its need for both market and employee housing, argued land-use design consultant Crosland Doak.

“Today there is a dwindling supply of housing stock for non-restricted, middleincome Whistlerites,” he said. “We’ve been focusing a lot on resident-restricted [housing], but I think we’re dangerously close to losing the middle ground in Whistler.”

Tuesday’s hearing marks the last legislative step before council considers third reading and then adoption of the proposed rezoning amendment for the site, which would also require an amendment to Whistler’s Official Community Plan. ■

NEWS WHISTLER

Changes to COVID relief programs welcomed in Whistler EXTENSIONS A ‘HUGE WIN,’ BUT MORE ADVOCACY NEEDED, SAYS WHISTLER CHAMBER

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WHILE ALL WHISTLER businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, some in certain industries, like travel providers, were hit harder than others.

In the case of Whistler Connection, last spring’s border closures led to an immediate 90-per-cent drop in revenue.

With a majority of its business—shuttles to and from the airport—evaporated, the company transitioned into a local delivery service, and opened its wash bay as a car wash and detailing service.

While the creativity (and some sound financial positioning pre-pandemic) helped the company retain key staff, Whistler Connection has also benefited from the bevy of relief programs floated by provincial and federal governments, said general manager Dan Harmon.

“Overwhelmingly, I’m grateful for the level of support that the federal and provincial government has offered to small business. We’re incredibly fortunate to live here and be in a country that has taken this kind of stuff seriously,” Harmon said.

“They’re pretty key to our continued survival.”

is advocating for the federal rent and wage subsidies (both extended to June on March 3) to be further extended “until such a time that businesses are well into recovery,” Pace said.

On the provincial recovery grant, news that businesses now have until Aug. 31 to apply (and can qualify with just a 30-percent revenue drop, rather than 70 per cent) is a “huge win,” Pace added.

“The government has been great … they’re responding in a way that they are hearing us,” she said.

“So there is a thank you there to the governments for doing what they’re doing.

[But] there needs to be more, and we just have to keep pushing.”

While the government supports are appreciated (and the Chamber an excellent resource for local businesses trying to navigate them), businesses would also benefit from more clarity and lead time moving forward, Harmon said, noting that at some points last year, employers were getting information on relief programs after the fact.

“I would just have them publish information four weeks ahead of time … just to give us a little bit of a buffer for planning,” he said, adding that the uncertainty is stressful for employers and workers alike.

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News that key relief programs for businesses—the provincial business recovery grant and the federal wage and rent subsidies—are being expanded and refined is welcomed in Whistler, but the advocacy work is not finished, said Melissa Pace, CEO of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s great news, but from speaking with some of our members, doors open does not equal financial success,” Pace said.

“So these programs are vital to keeping doors open, but it’s also coming at a potential debt load which is not sustainable for most.”

With that in mind, the local chamber

But despite the challenging year in the rearview mirror, and the challenges still to come, there have been positives in the chaos, too, he added.

“The community of small business owners and managers here has been really helpful, and heartening through the whole process. There’s been good communication between different industries, even between traditional competitors, and there’s a common sense of purpose that we all want to try and help each other get through this and come out the other side,” Harmon said.

“So I think that’s been a really positive element to all of this.” n

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15

NEWS WHISTLER

RMOW kicks off Rec Trails Strategy with survey COUNCIL BRIEFS: PUBLIC HEARING HELD FOR RAINBOW DAYCARE; WB ‘STILL WORKING’ ON NEW HOUSING

BY BRADEN DUPUIS THE RESORT Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is kicking off a new multi-year project to develop a Recreation Trails Strategy with a survey of local trail users.

Whistlerites have until March 31 at midnight to fill out the survey, which covers everything from trail busyness and gaps in the network to wildlife conflicts and parking. The survey takes about 20 to 25 minutes to complete.

“I encourage everyone who uses Whistler’s extensive trail network to add their voice to this first step in developing the Recreation Trails Strategy—whether you use the trails for biking, hiking, running or trials bikes,” said Mayor Jack Crompton, in a release.

“More engagement opportunities will also take place at later dates as part of the

step-wise process to develop a Recreation Trails Strategy for Whistler that will be comprehensive, long-lasting and effective at meeting the diverse set of needs within our community.”

The strategy—expected to be completed in the fall of 2022—is neccessary as local trails have seen increased usage in recent years.

The project is being paid for with provincial Resort Municipality Initiative funds. Read more at whistler.ca/trailstrategy.

PUBLIC HEARING HELD FOR RAINBOW DAYCARE A rezoning that would allow a new daycare to open in Rainbow is headed for third reading following a public hearing on March 9.

The application from Calgary-based Rainbow Canuck Properties Ltd. seeks to amend the current zoning of the commercial site at 8200 Bear Paw Trail (also known as Rainbow Plaza) to improve the viability of

Take your crimper off Craigslist ‘cause you’re going to need it. We’re throwing it back to the golden era of telethons: the 1980s! With pleated pants and padded shoulders, your favourite operators will be standing by to take your call amongst a variety of entertainment. So rally your bubble, dress up, tune in, and get ready to cut up your living room floor with none other than the Famous Players Band. And don’t forget to bid on our Silent Auction items at wbfauction.com. Auction closes on March 13th at 9pm.

16 MARCH 11, 2021

DELAYED DEVELOPMENT Whistler council first endorsed a rezoning for a new Whistler Blackcomb staff housing building on Sept. 3, 2019. Though the rezoning bylaw received third reading in Jan. 2020, it is still awaiting adoption.

FILE PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

the commercial tenancies onsite.

The landlord has an agreement with local childcare operator Creekside Kids to fill a vacant space on the site, which can accommodate 24 kids and five staff.

No one spoke at the virtual public hearing, though six people wrote letters in support. Third reading will follow at a future council meeting.

WB ‘STILL WORKING’ ON STAFF HOUSING BUILDING More than a year after it was last before council, Whistler Blackcomb (WB) says it is

“still working” on a proposal for a new staff housing building.

A rezoning bylaw for the proposed 240-bed building received third reading on Jan. 21, 2020, but has yet to come back for consideration of adoption.

Asked for an update, an RMOW spokesperson said the file continues to progress, and that staff continues to work with the applicant to advance the project.

A WB spokesperson had nothing further to add on the reasoning behind the delay, other than to say the mountain operator has been focused on its operations during this incredibly challenging year. n

Saturday, March 13 7:00pm-8:30pm Where: On-line Join us online at whistlerblackcombfoundation.com to access the LIVE LINK and for more details BIG NEWS! Vail Resorts EpicPromise has committed to matching donations to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation up to $100,000!

NEWS WHISTLER

After days on the lam, lost dog reunited with owners BORDER COLLIE KALI CAPTURES WHISTLERITES’ IMAGINATION

BY BRANDON BARRETT IT TOOK DOZENS of sightings, a broken foot, a whole chicken and even a pet psychic, but a lost dog that captured Whistlerites’ imagination over the past two weeks has finally been reunited with her owners.

Kali is a two-year-old border collie rescued from northern Manitoba that had spent less than two days with new owners Doug and Mary Forsyth before she escaped from their Cheakamus Crossing home on Feb. 23.

“It was only about 33 hours. She had two sleeps in our house and one full day and then went missing early the second day, before we could feed her breakfast even,” recalled Doug.

The tightknit neighbourhood quickly banded together, and makeshift search parties began following the dog’s tracks, covering dozens of kilometres a day. Soon enough, sightings of Kali started pouring in.

Accustomed to living outdoors, the former stray was “on the move constantly,” Doug said, with sightings reported from Creekside to Function and nearly everywhere in between.

But as soon became apparent, the usual tactics weren’t going to work on Kali. Wary

18 MARCH 11, 2021

of people and unfamiliar with leashes, she managed to elude dozens of would-be captors over her two-week odyssey. So the Forsyths enlisted help from staff at the Squamish dogtraining centre, Canine Valley, who stressed patience in their approach.

“From the get-go, they said it’s going to take days, and it could take a week,” Mary said. “Of course at that point, we were like, ‘No, no, no.’ We didn’t believe that.”

Receiving dozens of calls and texts a day from Good Samaritans, the Forsyths were led on a wild goose hunt.

Chasing after such a skittish dog was out of the question, so they relied on a diligent group of neighbours they dubbed “Team Kali” who would report the dog’s location in real time.

There were a handful of close calls over the two weeks. Enjoying the 360-degree view that a frozen-over Nita Lake offered, Kali was spotted numerous times lying in the middle of the ice. One day, Doug even took to the lakeshore armed with a whole roasted chicken in the hopes of attracting her, while Team Kali manned the Valley Trail asking onlookers to keep clear.

“Doug went over there and played in the snowbank for three hours with a fresh chicken from Creekside Market,” Mary relayed with a chuckle. “We were trying to trap this busy

dog, and it didn’t work. We got very close.”

Another helpful neighbour, Tina Symko, managed to lure Kali inside her Cheakamus garage, before the ever-elusive canine somehow squeezed her way past as Symko was closing the door.

“I made a bit of an awkward lunge to try and block her from getting through the door, and she just squeezed out underneath me,” Symko remembered. “In the process, I bashed myself up a bit and ended up with a broken foot. I took one for Team Kali there.”

Despite the injury, Symko, who even fielded calls from a pet psychic offering help, said she was happy to lend a hand to a neighbour in need in this pandemic year when so much has felt beyond our control.

“You’re not saving the world. You’re not curing COVID, but at least if you can bring this lost dog home to its new family, that’s a great thing that everyone could feel good about,” she said.

On the advice of Canine Valley, the Forsyths soon switched tactics, setting a pair of trap crates (one of which was borrowed from Whistler Animals Galore) with bits of food inside to entice Kali. Doug also set up a motion camera that notified him when something was caught on tape. The first night’s catch? A wayward racoon.

Eventually, however, the Forsyths

spotted Kali on camera venturing into the crate, which for the first few days it was set, was not armed, so she would grow more comfortable in it. By Monday, March 8, they re-armed the crate, set some food inside and hoped for the best.

Their perseverance paid off.

“I was crying. I admit it, I was crying,” said Mary of her reaction to finally getting Kali home.

Wasting no time, the Forsyths took Kali to Canine Valley the day after her reunion for training. “I went from relief that she was home and safe to switching gears to figure out how we were going to train her so this never happens again,” Doug said. “We’re undertaking this immediately to try and turn this from a feral dog to a domestic dog.”

In the whirlwind of Kali’s reunion, the Forsyths have still found time to appreciate the immense support offered by friends, neighbours and complete strangers in getting her home safe.

“The two big wins were getting Kali back and No. 2 was connecting with so many people that cared,” Doug said.

The Forsyths have also enjoyed Kali’s newfound celebrity status, spending some time Monday night going through the many memes she has inspired on Facebook.

“Kali’s a true Whistler local now,” Doug said. n

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SENIORS 80 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, INDIGENOUS (FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS, INUIT) PEOPLE 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AND ELDERS, IT’S TIME TO BOOK YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION.

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Questions about COVID-19: Call 1-888-COVID19 or visit gov.bc.ca/covid19 MARCH 11, 2021

19

NEWS WHISTLER

Capacity planning ongoing at Whistler’s municipal hall A YEAR INTO COVID, WHISTLER OFFICIALS KEEPING EYES ON THE FUTURE

BY BRADEN DUPUIS A YEAR AGO, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was much work being done at Whistler’s municipal hall concerning the question of overtourism, and what the resort’s true carrying capacity might be.

That work understandably took a backseat as border closures and restrictions on gatherings emptied the resort last spring.

But the pandemic hasn’t negated the need for capacity planning—if anything, it has exacerbated it, according to Toni Metcalf, economic development and tourism recovery manager with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).

“I think what COVID has really done is highlighted more clearly some of the challenges that the community faces that maybe were below the surface previously, or maybe not as widely known throughout the community,” Metcalf said, pointing to things like mental health and well-being, the importance of outdoor spaces and supporting local business.

“So I’d say [this work is] even more important now, because of the challenges that have been experienced in the last 12 months or so.”

The work in question is a carrying capacity analysis, and involves pulling data points from all corners of the resort—including bed unit capacity, tourist accommodation and transit usage, wastewater treatment plant levels, Tourism Whistler data and more—to identify correlations and build models of the future.

The end result will be a “management tool” to be used by future councils to guide decision making.

With data collection ongoing, scenario planning is still a few months away, Metcalf said, adding that there are a range of scenarios that could be considered.

One example involves considering Whistler at full bed-unit build-out.

“If all of those bed units are developed, what is the implication on capacity across

“We won’t be able to solve everything in the short term...”

- TONI METCALF

Some other “key deliverables” of the project, as outlined by Metcalf: to define a base set of metrics; establish a definition of the resort’s comfortable carrying capacity; develop a framework for balancing economic growth with business and community needs; and define tangible metrics and strategic actions in alignment with the community’s vision.

our different infrastructure and amenities?”

Metcalf said.

Other possible scenarios include changes to the resident/second-homeowner split, major shifts in the tourism visitor base, or the impacts of climate change, she added.

“We have an amazing group of [Strategic Planning Committee] members who we’ll be asking for input on those different scenarios,”

she said. “So it will be a collaborative process to come up with those.”

While visitation to Whistler is still well below pre-pandemic levels, Metcalf said research shows there is pent-up demand for travel and families with expendable cash— which means talk of overtourism may soon return to the resort.

“We won’t be able to solve everything in the short term; there’s going to have to be some longer-term strategies that will need to be implemented to get us to a place that we all want to be,” Metcalf said.

“So I wouldn’t say this is the silver bullet that’s going to solve everything, but certainly it will help to inform, and help council make decisions as time passes.”

In a broader sense, the work is really about helping the community achieve the vision it laid out in its updated Official Community Plan (OCP), Metcalf said.

“When you look at our OCP … and some of the key goals and strategies and ideals and values within that OCP, the idea is that this balance model and the work we’re doing now would be a real, tangible input to achieving and implementing those goals and strategies,” she said. n

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21

NEWS WHISTLER

WCSS fighting hunger in schools through minifridge program CLASSROOMS ACROSS WHISTLER WILL SOON BE HOME TO SELF-SERVE FRIDGES STOCKED WITH FRESH FOOD

BY BRANDON BARRETT AS FOOD SECURITY and community development manager for the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), Gizem Kaya has given back to the resort community in innumerable ways. But few moments in her career compared to the day last montth when she got to see the seed of her idea blossom into a reality.

“It was a really emotional day, especially after a very challenging year of the COVID pandemic and essential servicing where we’ve seen challenge after challenge,” Kaya said. “This is one of the positive things that came out of COVID.” On Thursday, Feb. 25, Kaya was on-hand for the delivery of 28 mini-fridges to Whistler Secondary School (WSS), an initiative that was borne out of the COVID19 pandemic to help fight hunger and food insecurity among Whistler’s youth. Now, each WSS classroom, as well as several common areas, house the self-serve fridges, allowing students to pick from a variety of fresh-made sandwiches, wraps, fruit,

veggies, and other healthy snacks at any time throughout the school day.

Made possible in part due to funding from the Breakfast Club of Canada, dozens more mini-fridges will be placed in classrooms at Spring Creek Community School, École La Passerelle and Whistler Waldorf School in the coming weeks.

For several years, thanks to funding from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, WCSS has organized its school lunch program, which, pre-pandemic, took the form of a communal fridge that was open to all students. But with concerns around sanitation, as well as students being divided into distinct cohorts, the communal concept presented a number of challenges.

“We did our best to accommodate those needs until now, by sending grab-and-go items with no fresh foods. But that never really sat well for us and it doesn’t get too healthy for the kids in that sense,” Kaya explained. “The more fresh food you can provide, the more accessible food you can provide, the more kids are going to eat it.

They’re going to eat healthier, too.”

The old system, which required students to ask permission from a teacher

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“We talk about this word [stigma] all the time. What does it mean?” asked WCSS executive director Jackie Dickinson. “It means any kid going up to [the fridge], sanitizing it, grabbing that wholesome piece of food and then going back to their desk, and another kid looking over and saying, ‘I can do the same.’ It’s normalizing it and supports the behavioural learning needs of that classroom. Everyone comes out of the equation in a positive way: the child, the family, the teacher.”

According to WCSS data, the initiative couldn’t come at a better time. In 2019, the school lunch program served 23,800 meals and snacks to Whistler youth. In 2020, a year that saw in-school learning suspended for nearly three months, that number jumped to more than 40,000.

“The goal is to normalize this if you’re hungry,” said Kaya.

“There are multiple reasons why kids come to school without food. It could be mental health issues, it could be very busy lives at home, it could be as simple as a

forgotten lunch, or it could be that kids are going through a growth spurt and the parents don’t realize it.”

WCSS has also beefed up its foodservice infrastructure to meet the added capacity, which included the purchase of industrial refrigerators and dishwashers, as well as the hiring of a dedicated food security coordinator, Cara Burrow.

On March 1, WCSS also launched its new Kids Can Cook program, a culinary lesson and meal kit that the non-profit is offering for free, or as a paid service to families that want to contribute what they can or sponsor another family’s kit.

It’s all part of WCSS’ effort to shift perceptions of what a food bank can be, and remove the negative associations connected to food insecurity.

“This year is an especially challenging year where everybody has experienced what financially restricted individuals go through in other years,” Kaya said.

“So it’s OK to come and grab that food, it’s so OK to ask for help. We just want to make sure we’re removing every possible barrier and meeting the needs of the community.” n

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED TEMPORARY USE PERMIT

Twin River Gravel Company Ltd. – Mobile Concrete Plant Temporary Use Permit #67 PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given in accordance with Section 921 of the Local Government Act that the Regional Board will be considering the issuance of the abovementioned permit at its regular Board meeting on March 24, 2021. The purpose of Temporary Use Permit (TUP) #67 is to allow for:

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1. A mobile concrete plant to operated by Twin River Gravel Company Ltd, which is currently operating an open pit mine in this location.

The site of the mobile concrete plant is approximately 6000 m2 in size, and in a previously disturbed area of the mining tenure.

The subject application applies to a portion of land legally described as part of District Lot 3364 Group 1 New Westminster District.

Private indoor gatherings spread COVID-19.

A copy of TUP #67 and relevant background documents may be inspected may be inspected on pages 618 to 629 of the following Board Agenda: https://slrd.civicweb.net/ document/132182

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Written submissions respecting matters contained in TUP #67 must be received at the SLRD office no later than 9:00am, March 24, 2021.

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www.whistler.ca/ covid19 MARCH 11, 2021

23

NEWS WHISTLER

Sea to Sky RCMP seeking public input on strategic plan POLICE BRIEFS: STRANDED SKIERS RESCUED FROM CAKE HOLE VIA SNOWMOBILE

BY BRANDON BARRETT

RCMP RESCUES STRANDED SKIERS VIA SNOWMOBILE

THE SEA TO SKY RCMP is looking for the public’s input on its three-year strategic policing plan, according to a release.

Feedback will be gathered through an online survey, which closes Friday, March 12.

“As we are unable to conduct in-person consultation due to the pandemic, we developed an online alternative in order to continue engagement and consultation while maintaining safety,” said acting Insp. Gareth Bradley in the release. “The goal is to receive input from all communities within [the] Sea to Sky as well as a variety of agencies and stakeholders that have a part to play in public safety. This online tool will be among the first steps towards constructing the 2022-2024 Sea to Sky RCMP Strategic Plan.”

The survey is available online at tinyurl.com/s2sRCMPsurvey.

A pair of stranded skiers had an RCMP member—and his snowmobile—to thank for getting them out of the Whistler backcountry safely last month, according to the local detachment.

At about 2 p.m. on Feb. 17, Whistler RCMP received a call from a couple stranded in the area of Cheakamus Lake. The pair had skied down from Peak Chair and ended up in the area of Cake Hole, police said.

Uninjured and prepared for the elements, the couple managed to make it to the Cheakamus Lake trailhead. Mounties responded on snowmobile, and linked up with the skiers approximately seven kilometres down a forest service road before transporting them back to safety.

“Whistler RCMP respond to stranded skiers and snowboarders regularly in this area, as it is a common occurrence.

That being said, not everyone is fortunate

RIDE ALONG A pair of skiers stranded near Cake Hole last month were ushered to safety via snowmobile thanks to the local RCMP detachment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHISTLER RCMP

enough to get an RCMP snowmobile ride out,” police said in a statement.

With four machines available, the Whistler RCMP will typically use snowmobiles to assist with stranded or lost individuals in accessible areas of the backcountry, as well as responding to avalanches and to conduct safety patrols in the Brandywine, Rutherford and Hurley areas.

Local RCMP members typical undergo four days of snowmobile training, which includes avalanche skills training, as well as basic snowmobile maintenance and manoeuvring.

“A skill that members practice the most during the course is how to dig out their snowmobile when they are stuck,” wrote Cst. Dylan Rinke in an email. n

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25

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Cannabis licence fees could decline in Pemberton COUNCIL BRIEFS: COUNCIL GREEN LIGHTS ICE RINK GRANT APPLICATION

BY DAN FALLOON VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON (VOP) council has opted to start the process of reducing business licence fees for cannabis industry ventures.

At its March 2 meeting, council discussed the report from legislative assistant Gwendolyn Kennedy during Committee of the Whole and voted to start the bylaw amendment process during the regular council meeting.

Kennedy’s report outlined that, before passing its fee structure in early 2019, council focused on cost recovery when wading into allowing the cannabis industry to operate in town with intent to review it down the line. Council received a pair of letters from local businesses requesting a review, addressing one in December and a second in January.

The fees, originally established in 2019, are $5,000 for a standard cannabis producer or for a retail business, or $2,500 for a micro producer with a $1,000 approved application processing fee for retail businesses.

Kennedy’s report recommended reducing the licence fees to the standard rate

TO THE LETTER The Coast Mountain Cannabis facility is shown. Company co-founder Andrew Ellott was one of two letter writers encouraging the Village of Pemberton to conduct a review of business licence fees.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COAST MOUNTAIN CANNABIS

26 MARCH 11, 2021

of $150, plus application fees of $1,000 for production facilities and $1,000 plus costs such as advertising and public consultation.

Council elected to follow most of Kennedy’s recommendations when drafting the bylaw amendment, approving changes to application fees, but opting to take an incremental approach to annual fees, halving them for 2022 and bringing them in line with other industries for 2023.

Councillor Ted Craddock was concerned about reducing fees too quickly.

keeping track of day-to-day operations or dealing with issues as they may or may not come up,” Fraser said.

Coun. Amica Antonelli also favoured a slower, steadier reduction of fees.

“Some of the outcomes of these shops, so that includes fuelling people’s addictions and youth entry into drug use, aren’t really paid for directly by municipal taxes, but that doesn’t mean that these aren’t expenses that we’re all paying for,” she said.

“I guess that’s just something to consider

“It’s pretty tough to turn a buck in the cannabis industry.”

- DOUG BENVILLE

“With such a short time in business, we really don’t know what the costs are going to be with these operations,” he said during the meeting. “I’m always trying to be a little cautious that we’re covering any potential issues that we haven’t run into at this time.”

Chief administrative officer Nikki Gilmore recalled that while reviewing retail business licences was “administratively burdensome” at the outset, only two stores are permitted in town and both are currently operating. Manager of corporate and legislative services Sheena Fraser does not foresee major costs associated with the industry in the future.

“Going forward, I don’t see that there’s a lot other than our regular bylaw review and

when we’re looking at all this.”

Pure Extracts Corp. founder and COO Doug Benville, whose letter started the process, was glad to see council take the first steps to reducing the fees.

“It’s great. It’s really great. I think the fee was a little unfair, especially seeing what’s happening with cannabis companies in the market. It’s pretty tough to turn a buck in the cannabis industry,” Benville told Pique.

Benville’s company has paid its fee once, having been licensed in October, though it started building its facility in 2018.

With four production facilities and two retail stores in town, Benville credited the VOP for creating a climate that is welcoming to the sector.

“The municipality here is pretty good about working with cannabis companies.

They understand it’s a new industry and there’s room to grow on both sides,” the long-time Whistler local said.

Benville reported that full production is underway and Pure Extracts will have private-label Pure Pulls products on shelves next month.

Coast Mountain Cannabis co-founder Andrew Ellott authored the second letter.

GRANT SEEKS ICE RINK FOR BARN An approved grant application is looking to secure not only a new floor for the Pemberton Community Barn but a portable ice rink as well.

In communication and grants coordinator Vinka Hutchinson’s report, she stressed that the barn requires a “muchneeded upgrade” in the form of a new concrete surface.

“Staff have opted to pursue concrete for this project as it was identified as the preferred surface during the Downtown Enhancement Project. Also, from a public works perspective, a concrete surface would be a lot easier to keep clean and tidy,” she said during the meeting.

The application to the federal Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI) will also request funds for the purchase and installation of a portable 27.4-by-13.7-metre portable ice rink, including chillers and

SEE PAGE 27

>>

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

New interactive map highlights Canadian places named after women

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NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA LAUNCHED THE PROJECT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

BY ALYSSA NOEL ZOOM IN ON the Sea to Sky corridor using a new interactive map called Recognizing Women with Canadian Place Names and you will find one small brown dot.

It represents Mount Taylor, east of Mount Currie, which was named after Ada Taylor, the first nurse in Pemberton.

North of Pemberton Meadows, there’s another pink dot for Mount Pauline, named for Pauline Fraser, said to be the only woman to ride a horse to the top of that mountain.

In total, the new map, which Natural Resources Canada launched on March 8, International Women’s Day, documents nearly 500 place names like this, approved by federal, provincial, and territorial naming authorities in Canada named after women.

“It gives [people] access to a piece of information, a piece of our history that they otherwise wouldn’t see,” said Janice Sharpe, senior director with Natural Resources Canada. “What I also like about this map is it’s not a static point in time like a paper map would be; it’s evergreen. We can continuously update the information as we get it.”

The map offers a sample of place names with categories like Indigenous cultures, early settler/pioneer, political figure, community service, medicine/ science, arts/literature, royalty/religion, familial, and unknown.

“We were trying to get an equal number of places across all our jurisdictions in Canada and also places that maybe had some background information on them,” Sharpe said. “What stood out … [is] the diversity of places, the rationale as to why they were named after women. In some cases, it was because of a family member or prominent family in a particular area, and in others, it was because a woman made a significant mark on Canadian society. So there’s all those ranges in between.”

The project took nearly a year to put together, in part because of the process of fact-checking all the data that pops up with each place name.

“Many of these names have a very minimal story,” says Steve Westley, geographer at Natural Resources Canada. “What we’ve put on the map is the best that we have in our historical archives, the best we can find from researching with our partners in the provinces and territories. Some names have a lot of information behind them, whereas

“It gives [people] access to a piece of information, a piece of our history that they otherwise wouldn’t see.”

COUNCIL BRIEFS FROM PAGE 26 liners. Though planned primarily for use at the barn, the rink could be set up elsewhere.

CHCI funding would cover $250,000 of the estimated $329,000 cost. Hutchinson’s report requests that council tap into the VOP’s COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant for Local Governments to cover the remainder, though with a “healthy” contingency, according to Gilmore, it is likely that VOP funding will not need to be utilized in any

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significant way.

Coun. Ryan Zant was especially excited to see the application.

“I really hope we get this grant. I think it would be huge for our community,” he said.

“An ice rink has been on the list for a long time and I think using it under the barn is a great use of that space.”

For more from the meeting, head to piquenewsmagazine.com. n

$3,199,000

Amazing family home on 8.1 acres above the valley with southern exposure, this four bedroom/four bathroom home with a three bedroom/one bathroom revenue suite, outbuildings, and workshop has everything you need!

Bedrooms:

7

Bathrooms:

DAN SCARRATT*

5

dan@wrec.com 604 938 4444

1481 BALSAM STREET

PEMBERTON

- JANICE SHARPE

others, the record simply doesn’t state why a particular town or lake was named for a woman. And part of the reason for having this map is to try to encourage feedback from the public. If they know more … let us know and we’ll add it to our database.”

For her part, Sharpe hopes the map will help Canadians gain a deeper understanding of their own geography.

“I really hope that this map gets spread across all generations as well, that young people are able to access it, particularly our academic institutions can promote this kind of learning,” she said. “Little bits of information can be gleaned that you would never get in a textbook … It gives us the female perspective of that history as well, which I think is an important and timely way of looking at our country.”

To see the full map, head over to tinyurl.com/e5mkbrbf. n

$1,200,000

Are you looking for an off grid escape?

Offering 172 acres in close proximity to Anderson lake, this property provides complete privacy and boasts its own air strip. Get in touch to find out more!

$1,120,000

Located in The Glen, one of Pemberton’s favourite neighbourhoods, this beautiful custom home has timber-frame features with plenty of natural light, a 5+ ft high crawl space, garage, outdoor space and a one-bedroom conforming revenue suite!

Bedrooms:

5

Bathrooms:

2.5

DANIELLE MENZEL* danielle@wrec.com 604 698 5128

#9 STONE RIDGE

$2,225,000

4822 SPEARHEAD DRIVE, WHISTLER

Sold after less than one day on the market! The buyers of this beautiful, ski-in/ski-out townhouse were represented by Katelyn Spink of The Whistler Real Estate Company.

Listing courtesy of RE/MAX 3000.

Bedrooms:

3

Bathrooms:

2

KATELYN SPINK katelyn@wrec.com 604 786 1903

604 894 5166 WHISTLERREALESTATE.CA MARCH 11, 2021

27

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Pemberton Legion appreciative of federal funds BRANCH NO. 201 TO CONTINUE SERVING LOCAL VETERANS

BY DAN FALLOON THE ROYAL CANADIAN Legion Branch No. 201 in Pemberton has not been immune to the impacts of COVID-19, so it’s thankful for a helping hand in the form of federal funding, according to branch president Lesley Clark.

The branch received $11,919.22 through the Veterans Organizations Emergency Support Fund, part of Canada’s COVID19 Economic Response Plan. Clark said the funding came through in December, though local MP Patrick Weiler made the announcement, which saw more than $91,000 in funding spread across the region, on March 2.

“Legions are community pillars for many veterans. Now more than ever, the services they provide are essential to the well-being of veterans but also to the wider community. It is vital that our government responds to the challenges that legions

across the country are facing as a result of the pandemic,” Weiler said in a release.

Clark said that the funding will be used for basic, practical everyday costs.

“It was very important. Basically, we were closed for a couple of months at the beginning of the COVID outbreak and we’ve had to reopen with limited hours,” she said.

“Getting that funding has been extremely important because it can help pay for our insurance and our property tax and all those sorts of things, which means that we can be there for assisting veterans when they need our help.”

Though the branch can open its doors, operations are scaled down compared to normal, which has taken a bit of its revenue.

The lounge is open with restrictions, but community group meetings and events like Friday Night Dinners and Sunday Afternoon Meat Draws—for which the branch is generally a hub—are still off.

The branch also had to hold its Remembrance Day service virtually last November as well.

Media and Misinformation: A conversation with Pique Thursday, March 18, 7:00pm to 8:30pm Join us for a conversation with Pique Newsmagazine's editorial team! If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a community newspaper, this event is for you.

Hear from Pique's editorial team about the process of covering COVID-19 and community news in a time of social upheaval.

There are two ways to join this event: go to https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/81963285430 to join the Zoom webinar, or tune in live on the facebook.com/ whistlerpubliclibrary page.

28 MARCH 11, 2021

SERVICE ADJUSTMENT A shot of the Pemberton Legion’s 2020 Remembrance Day service, held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

“We are staying in touch with our veterans around town via email,” Clark said. “But it’s definitely had an impact on people being aware of [the fact that] we’re still there, we’re still operating, we can still give advice.

“If veterans need assistance, they can contact us and we can put them in touch with relevant departments. We have some funding that is held in the Poppy Trust Fund, which is garnered from the annual poppy campaign, so if we need to help veterans financially, we do have processes that we can follow to give them support that way.”

Clark said the branch’s 12-person executive has conducted countless phone

calls to help keep things on track during the pandemic.

“We’ve been able to keep in touch and move forward with projects that we can move forward with and just basically keep us open,” she said.

If Pemberton residents want to help, Clark said the best way is to join up, as the branch is always looking for new members.

From there, they can get further involved by attending meetings and lending a hand in fundraising efforts.

“Membership fees help support all the veterans programs,” she said. “Once things get back to normal, we will be opening our doors and getting our fundraising activities going.” n

SearchBC TrainBC WorkBC A good job makes all the difference, especially now.

As BC’s economy recovers, WorkBC can help you find your place – explore new opportunities, upgrade your skills, or train for a new career.

WorkBC.ca/FindYourPlace

Five-Year Financial Plan Invitation for Public Consultation

ur pics o y e r a h S with us

e #mypiqu

F

S @M Y O L LO W U

PIQUE

Regional Districts are required to adopt a five-year financial plan, setting out the proposed expenditures and funding sources for each service. The financial plan is to be made available for public consultation.

Accordingly, members of the public are encouraged to provide written submissions and comments on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s 2021-2025 Draft Financial Plan. Submissions and comments should be forwarded to the SquamishLillooet Regional District by one of the following means: Mail: Box 219, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 Email: info@slrd.bc.ca The 2021-2025 Draft Financial Plan is available for review on the SLRD website at: www.slrd.bc.ca.

MARCH 11, 2021

29

SCIENCE MATTERS

Ques�ons?

We’re Listening

604.894.6135

Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel The Village of Pemberton 2021 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel will sit on Tuesday, March 16th 2021 at 3pm via Zoom.

A review of the Frontage Tax may be requested to the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel on one or more of the following grounds: (a) there is an error or omission respec�ng a name or address on the parcel tax roll, (b) there is an error or omission respec�ng the inclusion of a parcel, (c) there is an error or omission respec�ng the taxable area or the taxable frontage of a parcel, (d) an exemp�on has been improperly allowed or disallowed.

For a folio to be reviewed, wri�en no�ce must be received by the Village of Pemberton prior to 4:30pm Friday, March 12th 2021.

admin@ pemberton.ca

pemberton.ca

Wri�en no�ce must include an address for delivery of any no�ces in respect of the review, iden�fy the property of which the review is made, include the full name of the requester and telephone number where they can be contacted at regular business hours, indicate if the requester is the owner of the property, indicate, if applicable, the name of the requester’s agent and telephone number where they can be contacted at regular business hours, state the grounds that the request is based upon, and any other prescribed informa�on.

The parcel tax roll is available for public viewing at the Village Office recep�on desk as of 8:30am Wednesday, February 24th 2021

VillageofPemberton

30 MARCH 11, 2021

www.pemberton.ca

Easy way out for wildlife conservation isn’t what it appears H.L. MENCKEN once wrote that “there is always a well-known solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.”

This is often the case with society’s responses to human-caused wildlife decline.

Take salmon populations along B.C.’s coast. According to assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, only two of 29 wild Chinook salmon populations aren’t at risk of extinction. (Data is lacking to determine the status of three. All the rest are at risk.)

A number of factors cause salmon populations to decline, including overfishing,

BY DAVID SUZUKI climate change and stream, river and estuary degradation. Because it’s a challenge to reduce catch quotas, restore streams and change development and resource-extraction practices, authorities often take an easier way to recover dwindling salmon numbers: hatcheries. Now, 23 federally controlled hatcheries release hundreds of millions of juvenile salmon into the wild every year in attempts to maintain fisheries and offset their decline.

Yet salmon hatcheries only appear to be a simple solution. Salmon released from hatchery stocks add strands of complexity to the threats facing wild salmon, and are believed to contribute to wild salmon declines.

“The latest science shows that large hatcheries cause wild salmon more harm than good,” David Suzuki Foundation senior research and policy analyst Jeffery Young said. “Hatchery salmon weaken wild salmon genetics, compete with wild populations for limited resources and drive fisheries that continue to harm wild fish.”

Human activity is also putting caribou at risk throughout Canada. Their decline is driven by habitat loss and degradation, especially from linear corridors such as seismic lines, logging roads and recreational trails. Predators use these corridors to increase their caribou-hunting success rates.

In September 2020, Jasper National Park declared that one of three caribou populations living within its boundaries had winked out, while the other two were “dangerously small.” Declines in Jasper have been driven by poor wildlife management, like elk introduction, and compounded by habitat loss and degradation in adjacent ranges.

Although the park has stabilized the elk populations, evidence from Jasper’s recently extirpated Maligne caribou herd, as well as other available scientific research, indicates more should be done, including limiting human access.

Backcountry ski and snowmobile supply routes into Jasper’s Tonquin Valley pack trails and bring noise and people into high-quality caribou habitat. Recreational

activity can stress caribou, displace them from the best habitat and make it easier for wolves to gain access and kill them.

In November 2020, Parks Canada announced it was contemplating its first captive caribou breeding program in Jasper.

“We expect a captive herd for breeding purposes could start producing animals for release as early as 2024,” Jasper’s conservation manager said.

In February 2021, Jasper lifted access restrictions mid-season in the highly imperilled Tonquin herd’s range, despite the conservation community’s calls to keep them in place to give the caribou a greater chance of survival. It appears the park’s staff—unwilling to invest in current conservation measures to decrease risks and apply a precautionary approach to the remaining herds—is banking on captive breeding as the panacea to its declining caribou problem.

But as with hatcheries, captive breeding programs are not as simple as they appear.

Captive breeding is a risky undertaking that involves semi-domesticating wildlife. The risk is compounded if it entails population augmentation—taking caribou from places where they’re surviving and putting them into an environment where survival has failed in the past.

Further, as the icing on the oversimplified-solution cake, captive breeding is often accompanied by predator control—killing animals that prey on caribou. This practice throws a wrench into the elegant symbiotic dance between predator and prey that has existed for thousands of years.

Steve Jobs once said, “If you define the problem correctly, you almost have the solution.”

[T]he primary problem is our failure to set limits to the impacts of human activities...

Here, the primary problem is our failure to set limits to the impacts of human activities in spaces wildlife depend on to survive. Our current solutions indicate that we haven’t had the courage to address our problems head-on, nor the sense of responsibility required to roll up our sleeves and clean up our messes.

As long as we capitulate and default to easy solutions to complex problems, we’ll likely continue to drive wildlife decline and disappearance.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Boreal Project Manager Rachel Plotkin. ■

RANGE ROVER

Happy anniversary THE OTHER NIGHT, my partner and I popped a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate an anniversary. But not that kind of anniversary. Instead, we were tippling to a year of lockdown, of staying home, of keeping things as small but as interesting as possible. Grateful for living where we do and the opportunities available during a time of restraint, it seemed worth honouring.

BY LESLIE ANTHONY It had been exactly a year since my March 7 flight back to Canada from Zurich, chased by the burgeoning pandemic. While there, the COVID-19 bomb had detonated in northern Italy and its fallout spread into Switzerland. Over the two weeks from the day I arrived, the country went from zero cases to more than 300. All of Europe and Scandinavia were similarly on fire.

Fleeing the frontlines with full knowledge of the juggernaut to come, I returned home to find my partner similarly eyeing the horizon, stocked up on food, TP and cleaning supplies, some of which were already no longer available. I also arrived in Whistler with a sense of incredulity: tourists everywhere, zero concern on display, as if no one read the news. And yet, as an international ski resort, it was a virtual

MAN ON A MISSION Leslie Anthony leaves Zurich, March 7, 2020 heading home to Whistler as COVID-19 begins to spread like wildfire across Europe.

PHOTO BY LESLIE ANTHONY

certainty coronavirus had been holidaying here for a while. I only needed look over my shoulder at what I’d seen in Europe and a mid-February week in Japan to know that. Having studied the 2003 SARS CoV-1 outbreak, I didn’t need to do the math on SARS CoV-2, didn’t need to hear government advisories or public health platitudes. It was all there in the scientific literature: aerosol transmission, mask-wearing reduced risk of both spread and contraction. My epidemiologist friends all concurred. With a serious skepticism around political motives and interference in any crisis, and scientific training to operate by the precautionary principle, I’d already been masking on public conveyances—including Whistler’s lifts—since mid-January and hadn’t touched a door handle, ATM or payment machine in months. Now, returning from an unexpected hot zone, I voluntarily selfisolated for two weeks, as if I knew a secret.

I didn’t make it halfway through before the dominoes started to fall.

The NBA. The NHL. Outbreaks in Colorado. Cases in and around Whistler.

First, Aspen, then Whistler Blackcomb, issued statements about gondola “cleansing” and not packing in as many people. Smart and responsible as this was, it also seemed risible. Then, after all ski areas in Switzerland, France, Italy and Norway shut down completely, Alterra Mountain Company and Vail Resorts, North America’s two largest ski-resort companies, closed their stable for a week—pending consideration of how to proceed for the rest of the season. But with the writing already on the wall of the ICU, the “pause” lasted three days before the season ended for good.

Thinking they could just ride it out, folks scrambled into the backcountry or went touring on Whistler Blackcomb. But then bars and restaurants closed and hotels emptied. Physical distancing and 14-day isolations were mandated. Entry to Canada ended for all but citizens, and the border belatedly but thankfully closed with the U.S., where Trumpism had already made the pandemic much, much worse. Inside of a week, the entire capitalist world— along with its mountain playgrounds—had completely melted down.

Seasonal workers by the thousands in Whistler who lost jobs overnight decided to party the place down one last time.

Embarrassingly, photos from these idiocies circled the globe on social media. Tourists who’d recently left Whistler now tested positive for COVID-19—as did skiers at several B.C. heli-ski operations. Vail Resorts wisely issued an edict to clear Whistler Blackcomb’s staff housing. In its wake came an exodus like a wartime refugee scenario—save for the ski and snowboard bags. Afterward, everything went quiet.

But then, like a flower pushing up from the mud in spring, stirred hope.

After a deep breath to accept the new reality, Sea-to-Sky residents showed how creative and compassionate they could be: the first hour at all grocery stores was dedicated to elders and the immunocompromised; local distilleries donated hand-sanitizer; people sewed masks at home for healthcare workers; free home delivery of food, beer, and other items kicked in; online grocery-shopping appeared; people swarmed to online meeting apps. Valley dogs couldn’t believe

their good fortune—the whole family home, all day, and more walks than they could handle. These positive notes in a time of collapse made it feel everyone was pitching in, like we were a community. We all knew the worst was yet to come, but in a ski town where there’s always hope for a better powder day, there was suddenly hope for a better world.

This became the overwhelming leitmotif for the rest of the year. As we took care of each other, our governments and institutions did their best to take care of us. Sure, there were Covidiots, anti-maskers, antivaxxers and sundry freedom-fighting morons to deal with, but they were largely and rightly ignored (like the conservative rabble who inevitably complain about hiccups inherent in any disaster relief effort, they deserve no soapbox, only a mirror in which to ask themselves what they did to help out). And then there were the heroics of Canada’s frontline workers to cheer, the marvellous adaptations by many local businesses, and the extraordinary efforts of Whistler Blackcomb to give us some kind of summer and now, what has been a wonderful winter plied through the teeth of the COVID-19 storm—a privilege none of us should take lightly, especially given the very real hardships and death toll across the country.

So, Prosecco. From both of us to all of you, happy anniversary, Whistler. It’s not over yet, but it has been a time, eh?

Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. ■

MARCH 11, 2021

31

FEATURE STORY

32 MARCH 11, 2021

FEATURE STORY

Bubbling up How athletes in Whistler have kept up their progress in a year without high-level competitions By Dan Falloon

W

ith only about a year remaining until the 2022 International Paralympic Committee World Championships Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in in Norway in late February before heading to a test event in Beijing, China, Canadian athletes are ramping China, but both were cancelled before the calendar flipped. up and giving their all to qualify.

Even so, the skiers planned to head overseas for training, For most, even in the face of the ongoing but with the federal government pondering mandatory COVID-19 pandemic, that has meant heading hotel quarantines for those returning to Canada (which to Europe for a World Cup season of some form, gaining were later implemented), the team opted to stay close to precious points and making the case they should wear the home for the winter. maple leaf on sport’s biggest stage.

Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum Mollie Jepsen, But for the Canadian para-alpine team, the 2020-21 who snagged four Olympic medals including a gold at campaign has been set exclusively in B.C. as athletes have PyeongChang in 2018, had mixed emotions about the spent much of the winter at Panorama Mountain Resort cancellation’s effect on her season. before a camp at Kimberley after cancelling a planned “It’s obviously really disappointing that we aren’t in excursion to Europe with about three days’ notice. The Europe right now but I still feel really, really grateful that squad subsequently settled here in Whistler in late February we’re actually able to be on snow and be training,” she says. for dryland training, where it will remain until early April.

“We know that we’re in a situation that not a lot of people It’s meant that stars like Mac Marcoux, owner of five are in. Even if people are racing, they’re not getting a lot of Paralympic medals over two Games at just 23, have had to training time in.” adjust to dramatically different winters than normal.

Marcoux, meanwhile, says that even though the team At Panorama, Marcoux says the rigid timetable ended up with “Plan B,” he’s appreciated what Alpine sometimes left him feeling more like an office drone than Canada brass has been able to assemble on the fly. a jet-setting, elite athlete: on-snow training in the morning, “Our team has put together a really good training lunch, dryland training, physiotherapy, dinner, sleep. environment over the last couple of months so even though Rinse, repeat. we’re not racing and haven’t had the opportunity “It gets to be a monotonous schedule,” he tells Pique to get in the start gates,” he says. “We’re shortly after posting up in Whistler in late February. still moving in the right direction “If we want to keep things interesting, we switch dryland even though we’re not and physio around.” racing.”

Meanwhile, Luge Canada’s NextGen program—which could very well supply competitors in Beijing—spent its entire season in Whistler.

Here’s a look at how the two programs have approached such a critical period in an unprecedented moment in sport.

Staying home

What success looks like You’d expect that ripping an entire season of international competition away from high-achievers like Jepsen and Marcoux might be crushing.

But Marcoux says at this point in his career, he’s enjoyed the opportunities presented by the change of pace, ranging from the chance to get “sendy” on Panorama’s slopes to tending to some nagging aches and pains to having a dryland marathon when he’d normally be tapering down his season. As well, he took a mental break from the season rather than train at Kimberley. However, he’s had to handle the stress of new schedules.

“I’m learning to be more fluid with all the plans and rolling with the punches,” he says. “I’ve had a lot of really good days on snow and I’ve had the opportunity to focus on some injuries and making sure that my body’s 100 per cent rolling into the summer and next winter.”

Hallat recalls telling the team in November that it may be difficult to adjust to ever-shifting goalposts, especially when it wasn’t possible to have the

Mac Marcoux and guide Tristan Rodgers are shown during training.

Photo by Roger Carry

Mountain sports are planned at the mercy of enough external conditional factors that participants have to be on their toes at all times, ready to adjust to a postponement, cancellation or change of venue.

But the pandemic has ratcheted that to a whole new level, says Alpine Canada’s paraAlpine high-performance director Matt Hallat, a three-time Paralympian.

“We are adjusting continuously,” he says.

“We have a pretty good annual plan set out every spring and there would be obviously be minor modifications to that as always, but at this point in time, we’re pretty much month-to-month looking at adaptations and changes.”

The team was planning to attend the

MARCH 11, 2021

33

FEATURE STORY simplest rubric of gold, silver and bronze.

“Obviously, success is going to look a little different this year than probably what we’re used to it looking like,” he says. “I defined that as, ‘Can we stay healthy?’ is No. 1 and I mean that in terms of COVID but I also mean that physically, as skiers and then mentally also. Obviously, mental health is a challenge, especially during the pandemic.

“No. 2 is ‘Can we continue to train

Mollie Jepsen in action.

Photo by Roger Carry

on the ski hills?’ which was not a guarantee at that point.

“No. 3 was to stay motivated and there were all different ways in which we could try to do that, racing being one of those.”

The team managed to avoid any positive cases of COVID-19, Hallat says.

Jepsen, admittedly, has had some struggles grappling with the latter point, especially once the realization came that heading to Alberta for a possible spring camp may be the furthest she ventures from home this year.

“At times, motivation comes and goes, especially when we were very close to going to Europe,” she says. “At that moment, it was really tough.

“But as a team, we took some time to decompress, come to terms with it, chat about what our motivations are and what’s keeping us going.”

And, all things considered, Jepsen feels she’s been able to make the most of the year, exorcising nerves and tentative feelings on the slopes; with a rediscovered aggression, she’s prepared to add to her medal tally next March in Beijing.

“I’m really happy with where my skiing’s at right now. I’ve had a lot of time to go back to the basics and build back up again. It’s rare to actually have that time,” she says. “I’m at a point where I have a lot of confidence in my skiing right now which is something that I haven’t had in a while because of injuries and illness [a Crohn’s disease diagnosis that caused her to miss all of 2018-19], so I’m pretty stoked about that.”

Hallat, meanwhile, has seen the effects of what a full season can do for some of the up-and-coming paraathletes when they can use veterans as measuring sticks in the absence of organized competition.

“It was really impressive to see the gains that could be made when you go out day after day after day for that length of time,” he says. “The younger athletes are at a point in their career where that’s really beneficial for them and we’ve really seen them excel and continue to close the gap on their more senior and more decorated teammates.”

Whistler or bust When Luge Canada, meanwhile, made the choice to send only its senior athletes, including Whistler’s Reid Watts, to Europe for a portion of the World Cup campaign, it didn’t exactly find itself with the luxury of choice that its skiing counterparts did.

After the closure of the Calgary track, the Whistler Sliding Centre was the only option for its NextGen athletes.

High-performance manager Sam Edney, a four-time Olympian, says the team created “as much of a bubble as possible” before and during its time in Whistler.

“We put the focus on how we can create as close to a normal daily training environment as possible,” he says.

“With the one venue across the country now, we were able to put our focus on how we were able to make Whistler a bit of a safe zone for our athletes.”

Athletes were tested before entering the group, stayed and ate catered meals at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre (WAC) and, apart from an adjustment period in the camp’s early days, adhered to the stringent protocols.

“We created a slogan for that whole time,” Edney recalls, “‘From the WAC to the track and back.’

“That slogan, I think, worked pretty well the entire time.”

Edney says there were “multiple meetings” with athletes prior to bringing the Calgary-based athletes, who make up the bulk of the NextGen program, to Whistler.

“We kept them present in that sense, reminding them of the value that we are able to participate in this and the responsibility is on our group to make sure that we’re able to continue doing that,” he says.

Edney reports that apart from a couple cases of symptom management, the only COVID scare came early in the fall in the form of a school exposure before athletes arrived in Whistler in late October. The exposure delayed one group from arriving on time, as they joined up in November.

“That was the wakeup call even before we even came into that bubble setting, to reconfirm that we’re doing all the right steps,” he says.

One track minds Even though Pemberton’s Trinity Ellis is classified as part of the NextGen group, she’s far from lacking in international experience, having started racing Junior World Cups in the 2017-18 season, racking up four podium appearances including two wins.

While she was disappointed to be held close to home, she understands the decision in the light of the pandemic. As well, repeating the same course over and over allowed Ellis to hone in on the intricacies of luge in preparation for 2021-22.

“Sliding on the same track over and over again for this

40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS HERE! IN PRINT AND ONLINE!

/whistlermagazine 34 MARCH 11, 2021

A new role WHILE MANY ATHLETES REMAINED HOME, former Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) executive director Mark Tilston took on a new role as Alpine Canada’s men’s head coach this year, heading overseas with the team for months on end.

“It’s definitely a change and during a pandemic, it just makes it harder. You want to come into a position and help to plan or support the plans that are in place, but then plans are moving all the time,” he says. “It definitely makes it a little more of a challenge.”

Tilston appreciates how the team has been careful in adhering with protocols in place on the road.

“Pretty much most things,” he says when asked what differences were present on tour this year. “We’re tested pretty much every few days when we change resorts or change groups [such as when a member of the speed team joins the technical team or vice versa].”

As for the job itself, with a solid grounding of young athletes in place, including WMSC alums Jack Crawford, Broderick Thompson, Brodie Seger, Cameron Alexander, Kyle Alexander and Riley Seger, he’s taken the approach of staying hands-off as much as possible for a team on the rise.

“For me coming in, it’s a lot of observing what’s going on and trying to support the way people are doing things rather than coming in and saying, ‘We’re going to change this,’” he says. “It’s a really good team of staff and athletes.” whole season was a unique experience. Usually, we’re on a new track every week,” says Ellis, who turns 19 in April. “[It] really allowed me to focus on the smaller things that you don’t get to work on in a normal season.

“I really worked on my position and consistency of sliding and I made some progress, for sure.”

In a similar boat was Calgary’s Cole Zajanski, who has been training at Whistler for more than half of his 19 years.

Zajanski, who made his FIL World Cup debut with doubles partner Devin Wardrope in 2019-20, took the season to work on posting faster start times, and sought to improve his aerodynamic positioning on the sled.

“I pushed myself physically and mentally to see how far I could go,” he says. “On a track with so much training, it was so much easier to accomplish.”

With Whistler still unmatched as the world’s fastest track, Edney emphasizes that, given the confinement to one course, it’s a great place to be to gain run volume and lock in one’s technique. Essentially, if the racers can excel going 130 km/h, it’ll generally translate onto other gliding tracks where they’re maxing out at 120 km/h.

That said, though, some courses require athletes to drive more actively, and losing a year of learning those tracks will result in a gap.

“The biggest thing we miss is getting that volume, that training on those European tracks where the majority of international competitions will be held,” Edney says.

“You’ll go to some of these European tracks where there’s more of an emphasis on a rhythm in a driving track.

Brodie Seger and Crawford have both reached new heights this year, with each taking a fourth-place showings at the recent World Ski Championships.

Tilston will plan to return home to wife Britt, a longtime World Cup racer, and their two children, in late March, fully immersing himself back into the family after his two-week quarantine. He credits Britt’s patience for making his move possible.

“I’m really fortunate having a wife that understands it,” he says. “It certainly doesn’t get easier when you’re home alone with two kids, dealing with COVID protocols.”

The World Cup season will wrap after Lenzerheide, Switzerland on March 21, though Tilston is still awaiting word on whether national events will be held on this side of the pond upon his return.

While he’s among the world’s best racers on the elite circuit, Tilston’s mind didn’t stray far from the future generation that is losing out on racing during some crucial formative years.

“My fear, frankly, is that we’re going to move backwards against the competition,” he says. “It’s a little bit concerning.

“If there’s no races, it’s tough for the kids to be motivated … If you could just take a year and skip racing for training and up your abilities, it would be great, but racing provides a lot of the stimulus and the push for motivation.”

- Dan Falloon

“[But] if we’re having to be stuck on one track, then Whistler provides a lot of the elements that we need to train—speed being No. 1.”

Zajanski agrees that he’ll feel the loss of time at driving tracks, but notes that Whistler’s velocities will at least create the right mindset.

“Whistler’s more of a gliding track so you don’t have to do too much,” he says. “With the speeds, you have to be focused and can’t be slacking off on the mental area.”

Finding a sense of home When in Whistler, most of the athletes stick together as a team away from the track, the slopes or the gym, though locals like Jepsen and Ellis are able to stay with family.

Throughout the winter, the visiting athletes have been, admittedly, kind of bored when not practising their sport.

Zajanski says he’s been limited to Netflix, and is at a point where he can’t even pick a favourite selection or two.

“We watched pretty much everything,” he says. “It pretty much blurs together at this point.”

However, teammate Ellis has been granted a little more latitude being at home, enjoying the opportunity to spend time with family to go skiing and sledding.

“Being home this winter for the first time in years, I did a lot more things that I normally wouldn’t do,” she says.

Meanwhile, Jepsen took the opportunity to take strides forward in her post-secondary career at Quest University.

“I thought I’d be on a seven-, eight-year bachelor’s degree program and now I’m actually able to make a dent in it and pick away,” she says.

Looking ahead While it’s difficult to picture a scenario where tried-andtrue performers like Jepsen and Marcoux aren’t selected to head over to Beijing, the situation is in greater flux for the potential first-timers in Ellis and Zajanski, who, prepandemic, had hoped to lock up his spot with a strong performance this winter.

“Not knowing what next season will hold for us, I’m still a bit nervous, but I think with what we’ve been able to accomplish this season, we’ll be able to at least get our footing and try to qualify for the Olympics,” he says.

But, looking a bit further down the line, with a brand-new quadrennial kicking off in the 2022-23 season, there may be some changes in how to approach the cycle even postpandemic if the stuck-at-home athletes found some benefits.

“The pandemic has forced everybody to rethink how they live their lives and we’re no different,” Hallat says. “It’s hard to fully imagine a scenario where we go completely back to what we were before.” ■

WHISTLERS FAVOURITE CLOTHING STORE

Located near the Olympic Rings on the Village Stroll. Follow us on Instagram @thebeachwhistler

2019

New arrivals in-store OPEN DAILY 10AM-6PM

OR

VISIT THEBEACHWHISTLER.COM

604-932-7505 MARCH 11, 2021

35

SPORTS THE SCORE

Fleckenstein prepped for NCAA championships WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB ALUM EARNED SKIER OF THE MEET CROWN AT DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

BY DAN FALLOON THE PAST YEAR has been a time of adaptability and flexibility, and according to Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum Stef Fleckenstein, the 2020-21 Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) was no different.

Fleckenstein, in her third season with the University of Colorado Buffaloes, has taken part in just six college races this season, earning a runner-up finish in the giant slalom (GS) at RMISA Championships at Park City, Utah on Feb. 18.

Fleckenstein was particularly excited to do so well considering she hadn’t trained that much in the discipline, in part because of her schedule, and also due to a shoulder injury suffered in December.

“It was really exciting to do well in the GS race and it was definitely a confidence boost because I’d just been focusing so much on training that I haven’t been able to see my pace against other racers,” she told Pique. “It felt good to get some confirmation that what I’m doing is working and it also feels good late in the season because I missed so much of the early season that it feels like my season has finally started.”

SPEEDY STEF Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum Stef Fleckenstein, shown here racing in 2020, has enjoyed a solid third year with the University of Colorado Buffaloes.

PHOTO BY BRETT WILHELM/NCAA PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

36 MARCH 11, 2021

Fleckenstein took fourth in the slalom the same weekend to emerge as the RMISA Skier of the Meet for the women’s division.

While Fleckenstein hit the top 10 in each of the other four races she completed, she wasn’t always satisfied with her showings.

That was in part because she broke down her approach and was still recalibrating when she returned to race action.

“I’ve spent a lot of time this year focusing more on my technique. That isn’t always necessarily great for racing because a lot of

day rather than having them broken up, meaning she has to account for four all-out runs, rather than two.

“I wouldn’t say my approach to the runs is any different, but I’m having a harder time managing my energy,” she said. “I do get really excited to race and I’ve had to really focus on maintaining my energy when I’m not actually racing and there’s been a lot more focus involved [between races].

“Normally it’s only two, so you can get away with draining some energy between

“I have a grip on college racing but I don’t think college ever gets easier, honestly.”

- STEFANIE FLECKENSTEIN

times, when you’re focusing on technique, you’re slowing things down and I don’t think I really had a race mentality for the first couple races back,” she said. “Now I’m a lot more confident in my technique and I’m starting to be able to push myself more and get myself into that racing mindset.”

AMENDED CALENDAR The race schedule has been different this season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Fleckenstein explained. In order to minimize the number of people onsite, skiers will run back-to-back races on a

races, but when it’s four runs, you really have to work on conserving your energy.”

While the timeline makes for long days, that’s not what’s affected Fleckenstein the most. Instead, she’s found it more challenging to adjust if the first half of the day doesn’t go as planned, though a new routine has helped her get used to it over the course of the campaign.

“You don’t have time to think about your first race; you just have to go right into your second one,” she said. “Normally, you’d have the whole night to look back on it.

“It’s a lot of mental work because you don’t always have a good first race and you

don’t want that to affect your second race.”

JUNIOR YEAR As part of her third season with the Buffaloes, Fleckenstein qualified for the NCAA Championships, which will run March 10 to 13 in New Hampshire. From there, she’s hoping to return to Canada if spring racing is a go, but if not, she’ll stay stateside for U.S. Nationals before coming north for summer training.

With graduation on the horizon, Fleckenstein has set her sights on cracking the Canadian team once again, an endgame that has been different from some of her fellow skiers.

“My particular mindset of wanting to race after college and trying to requalify for the Canadian team, it puts you on a different training plan and a different track than a lot of my teammates,” she said. “I have a grip on college racing but I don’t think college ever gets easier, honestly.”

One small change Fleckenstein has enjoyed is online classes, as she can learn at night while spending the day focused on her training. It worked for the fall semester as she earned straight As. The family legacy in The Centennial State could continue after her graduation: Fleckenstein’s younger sister, Katie, joined her at Colorado this year, though she is did not race this season as she is recovering from an ACL injury.

“She’s hoping to get back to it next year,” Fleckenstein said. “She’s been training a lot and she’s looking really good.

“I think she’ll be a star on the college circuit.” n

SPORTS THE SCORE

Warm eyes NHL after inking deal GOALIE SIGNS WITH CAROLINA AFTER STRONG AHL START

BY DAN FALLOON BECK WARM ENTERED the 202021 American Hockey League (AHL) season looking to land an NHL contract.

It took all of four games.

Warm has impressed in starting his professional career, and the Carolina Hurricanes saw fit to secure his services for the time being as he becomes the first Whistlerite to snag a deal in the world’s top league.

The 21-year-old signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced on March 6. The deal is worth US$700,000 this year and $750,000 next year at the NHL level, and is worth $60,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL). Warm also received a $50,000 signing bonus.

Warm said he and his camp had been engaged in talks with the Hurricanes for about a week before officially putting pen to paper.

“Obviously, it was something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and it happened, so it’s super exciting for me and my family,” he told Pique. “The first part of the season was a bit of a tryout and it was my goal to get a contract with them. And then it happened.”

Suiting up for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Carolina’s top affiliate, the sixfoot-tall netminder has been a revelation early on in his first professional season, starting out 4-0 before suffering his first defeat, 3-1 to the Cleveland Monsters, on March 6.

With the caveat that there’s a long ways until the 2021-22 campaign kicks off, Warm’s contract means he’s the only goalie in the Carolina organization signed to a contract beyond the end of this season, as NHL goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer will be unrestricted

free agents and Alex Nedeljkovic and Wolves teammate Jeremy Helvig are set to become restricted free agents.

Warm isn’t taking anything for granted, however.

“It’s definitely nice and good to have [the contract], but it doesn’t really change anything. I’ve got to keep doing my thing and it doesn’t really change my mindset at all,” he said.

Through five contests, Warm has a .935 save percentage (tied for fifth overall) and 2.43 goals against average. He’s helped Chicago to a Central Division-leading 8-2-1 record heading into this weekend’s action.

Warm said his junior experience in the Western Hockey League, where he spent parts of five seasons with the Tri-City Americans before a midseason trade to the Edmonton Oil Kings early in 2020, prepared him well.

“Guys are bigger and faster. I was ready to go up a level, get some faster pace, and test myself a little bit,” he said of his AHL experience.

Warm has settled in to pro life in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen the Wolves play their home games at their practice facility without spectators while the squad has also temporarily taken on a second parent club in the Nashville Predators, who have added their prospect netminder Connor Ingram to the Wolves’ goalie carousel.

“I think everyone knows that it’s a strange hockey year and I think everyone’s just really grateful to be playing under the circumstances,” he said. “It’s been good to get to know all these other goalies and talk to them about certain things. It’s been an awesome experience.”

Warm noted that the empty-stands experience is a little odd before the game starts, but added it’s “business as usual” once the puck drops.

He had initially joined the Wolves on an AHL-level contract signed last November. n

Moguls athletes shine at Worlds WHILE CANADIAN moguls legend Mikaël Kingsbury rightfully garnered the bulk of the attention at this week’s FIS World Championships at Almaty, Kazakhstan, the accomplishments of some Sea to Sky competitors were also stellar.

In the dual moguls event on March 9, Pemberton’s Brenden Kelly and Whistler’s Sofiane Gagnon were just off the podium in men’s and women’s action, respectively, as both took fourth to set new career bests.

Kelly fell to Japan’s Ikuma Horishima in the men’s small final while Gagnon was toppled by Kazakhstan’s Anastassiya Gorodko on the women’s side.

“Having beaten Horishima in my last competition in Deer Valley, I knew I was going to have to push really hard. I went all

out, but unfortunately lost control after going too big on my top air and ended up blowing out of the course,” Kelly said in a release.

Gagnon, meanwhile, has competed just once since the 2019 World Championships as she recovered from a knee injury.

“Returning from a long rehab and walking away with a new best result really meant a lot to me,” Gagnon said in the release.

In the single moguls event on March 8, Kelly was 17th among men while Gagnon was 19th among women.

Kingsbury, meanwhile, won both events, sharing the single moguls podium with France’s Benjamin Cavet and Kazakhstan’s Pavel Kolmakov while defeating Australia’s Matt Graham for the dual moguls crown. n

“We keep you playing” Physiology, Sports, Spinal & Hand Physio, Concussion Rehab, Braces, Orthotics, IMS, Book online at backinactionphysiotherapy backinactionphysiotherapy.com com or call 604 962 0555 for an appointment appointment.

Annual Creekbread (Take Out) Fundraiser When: Tuesday, March 23rd Where: In Your Own Home

Creekbread will generously donate a percentage of all take-out pizza sales to the club that are ordered between 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm on March 23rd.

9th Virtual Toonie – The Finale! March 8-14 Go to www.whistlernordics.com for details Whistler Community Foundation welcomes the new

Sea to Sky Hospice Society Fund Congratulations to the Sea to Sky Hospice Society for investing in social and emotional support, bedside vigils and bereavement care that is crucial to our strength and resilience in the corridor.

Investing in a thriving community, together. whistlerfoundation.com/give MARCH 11, 2021

37

EPICURIOUS

Iconic Whistler restaurant to close its doors INGRID’S VILLAGE CAFÉ SERVES ITS LAST LUNCH ON MARCH 29

BY NOW YOU’VE LIKELY heard the news: Ingrid’s Village Café is closing its doors after 35 years of serving Whistler.

While the popular breakfast and lunch spot, located in the heart of the village, was initially opened by its namesake back in 1986, sisters-in-law Fiona Minton and Nancy MacConnachie took a leap 18 years ago and bought it.

BY ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

“We bought it in 2003 as the Olympics were being announced,” MacConnachie said.

“We were in the village watching the Olympic announcement with that whole big crowd …

We had already signed the deal, but we were like, ‘Fingers crossed Olympics are coming to Whistler.’ And they announced it and the crowd went wild. We looked across to Ingrid’s and we knew we did the right thing.”

The subsequent 18 years were busy ones for the pair, raising families while running the restaurant. Not surprisingly, the 2010 Olympics ended up being both a highlight and an exhausting experience.

“Because of the buses that people had to [take] really early, we were pretty much open

END OF AN ERA Fans of village mainstay Ingrid’s can grab lunch or breakfast until March 29, when a brand new restaurant will open in its wake.

PHOTO BY CLARE OGILVIE

38 MARCH 11, 2021

from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.,” MacConnachie said. “It was just so fun and amazing. I look back on that—I had three young kids at the time—and I think, ‘How did I do that?’ But it was fun and a wild time.”

When the pair initially took over the space from Ingrid’s son, they planned to stay true to her original, unconventional vision.

“We followed his lead and kept with the original recipes because it was a business

fresh ingredients were on hand. She would tell people what they were having for lunch.”

In keeping with that mysterious style, it was an off-the-menu item that proved to have enduring popularity over the years.

“Our freestyle wrap… was invented by a customer maybe eight, 10 years ago,” MacConnachie said. “It’s never been written down anywhere. It’s never been on a menu board. Yet it’s spread through word

“We ... kept with the original recipes because it was a business that worked.”

- FIONA MINTON

that worked,” Minton said. “It sold good, fresh food and it was served to the locals … As the years progressed, food fashion changes and you adapt and move along with that.”

One example: it turns out Ingrid herself had three recipes for the well-loved veggie burgers the restaurant offered. But Minton and MacConnachie tweaked those recipes to add vegan or gluten-free items to the menu.

“She was an immigrant from Germany and we have customers still to this day who were here when Ingrid ran the place,” MacConnachie said. “She was quite a character. She would pretty much just make whatever she wanted to make or whatever

of mouth, through tourists, and we sell about 25 of them a day … It’s become quite funny how it’s this undercover freestyle wrap that is a coveted lunch menu item.”

It’s all the more impressive considering just how many employees—largely women, for a reason they can’t quite pinpoint— from all around the world have put on the Ingrid’s apron over the years.

Over 18 years, they’ve had more than 350 employees—and helped about 20 become Canadian citizens. “We also follow about 20 Ingrid’s babies on Facebook,” MacConnachie added.

“Our longest employee lasted about five-and-a-half years—we’ve had several

long-term ones—and the shortest I’d say was about five-and-a-half hours,” she said with a laugh.

In truth, the never-ending cycle of the resort’s seasonal staffing is one thing they’re happy to say goodbye to.

Overall, though, the time felt right for MacConnachie and Minton to try something new.

“We just felt it was time for us to try something else and have a break from dealing with this rollercoaster ride at times that Whistler can be,” Minton said.

New owners will take over the space and while it will remain a restaurant, it will be a completely different concept.

“It’s been great owning a local business—lots of flexibility while we were both raising families and now our kids have grown up and it’s time for us to move on as well,” MacConnachie said. “It’s just time to move on and try some different things.”

But first, before they close their doors on March 29, they’re paying homage to the last (almost) two decades with a daily special competition in which customers can come in, share their favourite breakfast or lunch special, and, potentially, see it featured on the specials board—along with winning a free meal.

“We’re going to be contacting old staff we’re in contact with and asking them for their favourite special,” MacConnachie added. “We welcome anyone to come in and if they have a special they want to see on the board as a memory thing, come in and let us know and we’ll make it happen.” ■

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Timeslots can be booked up to 72 hours in advance

whistler.ca/MPSC

MARCH 11 THURSDAY

GROUP FITNESS SCHEDULE

MARCH 12 FRIDAY

MARCH 13 SATURDAY

I Strength Builder 7:15-8:15 a.m.

Louise

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 7:15-8:15 a.m.

Beth

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 8:45-9:45 a.m.

Louise

I Open Studio 8:45-9:45 a.m.

Beth

MARCH 14 SUNDAY

I Strong Glutes and Core 7:45-8:45 a.m.

Jess

MARCH 15 MONDAY

MARCH 16 TUESDAY

I Low Impact I Open Strength and Studio Stretch 7:15-8:15 a.m.

7:15-8:15 a.m.

Beth Andy

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 7:15-8:15 a.m.

Steve

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 8:45-9:45 a.m.

Andy

I Mountain Ready Strength and Structure 8:45-9:45 a.m.

Steve

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 8:45-9:45 a.m.

Beth

R Gentle Fit for Seniors 9-10 a.m.

Diana *ONLINE

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 9:15 -10:15 a.m.

Jess *ONLINE I Aqua Fit

I Aqua Fit

Shallow 10-11 a.m.

Marie-Anne

Deep End 10-11 a.m.

Marie-Anne

I Slow Flow Yoga 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Laura

F Barre

Marie-Anne F FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Marie-Anne

R Gentle Fit for Seniors 1-2 p.m.

Marie-Anne *ONLINE

R Ballet for Children 3-3:45 & 4:15-5 p.m.

Jane

I Strong Glutes and Core 5:15-6:15 p.m.

Jess

MARCH 17 WEDNESDAY

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

I Tighten

and Tone 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Beth

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

Resident Registration: Online – Saturday, March 13 @ 11 a.m.

By Phone – Sunday, March 14 @ 9 a.m.

F Barre

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Marie-Anne

Learn more at whistler.ca/register

@RMWhistler |

@rmwhistler |

@rmowhistler

R Gentle Fit for Seniors 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Diana *ONLINE

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.

SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION

I Mountain Ready Strength and Structure 5:15-6:15 p.m.

Steve

I Low Impact Strength and Stretch 5:15-6:15 p.m.

Garret

I Mind and Body Stretch 6:45-7:45 p.m.

Heather

I Slow Flow Yoga 6:45-7:45 p.m.

Laura

ARENA PUBLIC SKATE SCHEDULE THU 11

FRI 12

SAT 13

SUN 14

MON 15

TUE 16

WED 17

12:15-1:45 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.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

ARENA STICK AND PUCK SCHEDULE THU 11

FRI 12

SAT 13

SUN 14

MON 15

TUE 16

8:15-9:30 a.m.

(Adult)

8:15-9:30 a.m.

(Adult) 10:15-11:45 a.m.

(Adult)

WED 17 8:15-9:30 a.m.

(Adult)

10:15-11:45 a.m.

(Adult)

POOL SCHEDULE

Lap swim and family swim times available daily by reservation only at whistler.ca/swim.

whistler.ca/recreation | whistler.ca/notices | 604-935-7529 @RMWhistler |

@rmwhistler |

@rmowhistler

COURT BOOKINGS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Meadow Park Sports Centre has moved to online bookings for squash and basketball.

Learn more at whistler.ca/squash

@RMWhistler |

@rmwhistler |

@rmowhistler

ARTS SCENE

Whistler designer breathes new life into mid-century furniture EVA BERESOVA’S REREPUBLIC REPURPOSES VINTAGE PIECES FROM FORMER EUROPEAN REPUBLICS

BY BRANDON BARRETT LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS who wind up in Whistler, Eva Beresova has never been much for the typical workaday grind.

Studying design and architecture in college, the Czech Republic native initially went the traditional route, trying to carve out a career as a commercial interior designer.

“I soon enough realized I’m not a 9-to-5 person,” she said. “It was kind of killing me.

I was actually losing my creativity.”

So, Beresova charted her own path, one that combined a passion for design with her well-honed collector’s eye, and in September last year, launched ReRepublic, a service that rents out mid-century furniture and accessories, all from former European republics, to staging projects, such as photo and TV shoots, theatre productions, realestate viewings, and art exhibitions.

While the concept only officially became a reality last fall, the seeds of ReRepublic were first planted years earlier. Growing up in 1980s Czechoslovakia, Beresova grew up surrounded by the mid-century aesthetic, which, because of its political associations, can be tough to find.

“Honestly, mid-century European

RE-RETRO Whistler’s Eva Beresova sources unique mid-century furniture from former European republics as a way to promote sustainability and share the design values of the era with a wider audience.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

40 MARCH 11, 2021

[design] is disappearing,” she explained.

“We were under the communist regime and then in ’89, everything collapsed and the borders opened, and then people were thinking, ‘We’re finished with this.’ They would burn furniture from their grandma or whatever just to start fresh.”

But beyond its nostalgic appeal, Beresova is drawn to furniture of the era because of its detailed craftsmanship and bold, clean design.

the game, Beresova said, like, for instance, the particular hue of wood that can only be created from years of everyday use.

“What happens to this furniture over the decades is that it’s touched so many times and it’s in the sunlight and has gone through so many stages that the wood develops a specific colour, and any staining or any brushing is super difficult to reach the same level,” she noted.

“Once you see a photo shoot with pieces

“My pieces are 90-per-cent handmade, probably even 95, and the materials are real. It’s real wood, real veneer, real crystal.

If there’s a silver detail, it’s real silver, not something that’s sprayed over.”

- EVA BERESOVA

“Later on, especially in the ‘90s, production started to be massive and there was less and less handiwork,” she said. “My pieces are 90-per-cent handmade, probably even 95, and the materials are real. It’s real wood, real veneer, real crystal. If there’s a silver detail, it’s real silver, not something that’s sprayed over.”

It was an appreciation first instilled in Beresova by her father, a professor of design and dedicated collector himself, who taught his daughter the tell-tale signs to look for when scouring for the latest vintage piece. Authenticity is the name of

like this, there is no way to fake it.”

At close to 100 items, Beresova’s collection features statement pieces like the Tatra leather armchair by designer František Jirák, or the clean, simple lines of a retro wall clock by defunct Czech manufacturer Pragotron. She mostly sources pieces from both in-person and online auctions, and relies on the expertise of fellow designers and collectors in Europe, who scour vintage markets for specific items of interest. Beresova also works with a master carpenter and upholsterer back in the Czech Republic to help restore the

pieces to their former glory.

“In Vancouver, it’s so pricy that pieces have to arrive already restored,” she said.

“But it’s not just about money; it’s also about experience. My carpenter is 65 years old. He can look at a table and tell me, ‘You bought real rubbish.’ You learn so much about each piece.”

For now, Beresova wants to avoid the resale market, instead offering her unique pieces for rent as a way to promote sustainability and share the aesthetic values of the era with a wider audience. “[I don’t want to sell an item] because it will just end up in a private collection and no one will ever see it or touch it or take a photograph of it or appreciate the design value of it,” she said.

“I know that would be the easiest option for me, to put it online and I would get really good money for it, but I am trying to hold onto this idea of renting it only because I want more people to enjoy it.”

Targeting primarily architects, interior designers, photographers and stage producers (ReRepublic worked with Squamish’s Between Shifts Theatre in 2019 to stage the ‘60s-set farce, Don’t Dress for Dinner), Beresova knows in order for her business model to work, she’ll have to continue looking beyond the Sea to Sky. “I’ve got a niche service so I need to look for people who are into this era,” she said.

“The whole idea is that I’m not renting furniture and accessories, I’m actually renting a design value, so how about we go together?”

To learn more, visit rerepublic.ca. n

Seeking Mural Artists The Resort Municipality of Whistler is seeking artists to create a large scale mural at the newly constructed washroom building in Whistler Olympic Plaza.

Artists should have some background with outdoor mural projects.

Proposals are currently being accepted, and a selected jury will review submissions.

Proposals are due Friday March 12, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

RESERVOIR

BY REBECCA BELMORE

Learn more at whistler.ca/bids For further details contact parks@whistler.ca.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

BC POLICE ACT SHARE YOUR VIEWS

by Friday, April 30 The Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act wants to hear your views on policing and related systemic issues.

The Committee will review all input and invite interested participants to make presentations.

For full details, visit our website or call the Parliamentary Committees Office at 250-356-2933 or toll-free 1-877-428-8337.

OPEN THURSDAY TO SUNDAY | 11AM - 6PM

Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act

www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/rpa

MARCH 11, 2021

41

MUSEUM MUSINGS

SUNDAY, APRIL 4 TH 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

the ce à la cae

E ASTER BRUNCH Join us for The Wildflower’s Easter à la carte brunch! The menu will include a personal fruit serving, family-style pastries, and a choice of breakfast entrées. Choice of one Mimosa or Caesar cocktail will also be included for guests ages 19+.

Adults $49 | Children 6 - 12 yrs $29* *Applicable taxes and service charge extra.

BOOK ONLINE VIA OPENTABLE.COM, CALL 604 938 8000 OR E-MAIL: 4599 CHATEAU BOULEVARD WHISTLER.RESTAURANTS@FAIRMONT.COM

CHATEAU-WHISTLER.COM

IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO FIND A DOG

Thanks to so many caring people, businesses and hundreds of calls/texts we’ve been able to follow her travels and know where she has been and that she was safe.

After 14 long days the efforts of Team Kali successfully brought her home. She is healthy and in good shape.

Not only did we get Kali back safely but we were able to experience first hand the genuine concern of so many friends and strangers who stepped up to help.

It was a phenomenal demonstration of what an awesome community we live in.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mary and Doug Forseth 42 MARCH 11, 2021

FIRST DISCOVERIES Pip Brock at the top of Whistler Mountain in the 1930s.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BROCK COLLECTION

Walking with Pip Brock

BY ALLYN PRINGLE MILDRED AND REGINALD Brock first visited Alta Lake in 1927 as guests of friends. Mildred fell in love with the area and the Brock family bought three small lots on the southwest corner of Alta Lake, hiring Bert Harrop to build a cottage that they named Primrose. The Brocks and their five sons visited Alta Lake each summer; it’s likely that their youngest son, Philip “Pip” Gilbert Brock, spent the most time exploring the area.

At the time, there were only two trains from Squamish to Alta Lake each week, though the steamship from Vancouver to Squamish was daily. Rather than limiting himself to the train schedule, Pip Brock would often choose to walk more than 60 kilometres to reach Alta Lake. According to Pip, this walk would take “a long time, about 10 hours.” The boat would reach Squamish around 2 p.m. From there, Pip would sometimes splurge for the 50-cent taxi fare to get as far as Cheakeye, but more often than not, he and any companions would walk straight to Primrose. Pip recalled that not many others wanted “to do the walking,” and so he mostly walked alone.

Parts of his route led him down some of the remaining sections of the Pemberton Trail. In 1992, Pip recalled that “the parts that were there were excellent, but then it would just disappear under rock falls and stuff.” For other sections of the journey, he would walk along the railway tracks and, if he was lucky, a freight train might come by and give him a ride.

Once he reached Alta Lake, Pip would spend his time hiking and exploring the area. One of his favourite hikes was to

Russet Lake, still a favourite destination for many people today. At the time, there was quite a good trail on the north side of Fitzsimmons Creek, which Pip thought was most likely built and maintained by whomever was trapping in the area.

Pip’s trips around the area did not end with the end of the summer; he would continue even after the snow fell using skis. Around Easter in 1933, Pip climbed to the top of Whistler Mountain and skied down, marking the first reported ascent and descent of Whistler on skis, though he later described the department store skis he used as “terrible things.” Ski touring had not yet become popular among the majority of mountaineers at that time. Pip said that, “most mountaineers thought that skiing was impure and indecent. But a few of us, being frivolous, realized the fun and value of skis for winter touring.”

Pip and his brothers continued visiting the valley even after the tragic death of their parents in a plane crash at Alta Lake in 1935.

In the 1930s, Pip began joining Don and Phyllis Munday, legendary mountaineers from North Vancouver, on trips, including an attempt to reach the top of Mount Waddington. In 1937, Pip and the Mundays skied up Wedge Creek and then skied and climbed up to the top of Wedge Mountain, marking the first ascent of Wedge by skis.

They also made the first ski descent in the Blackcomb backcountry and “skied right up to the source of Cheakamus to Mount Sir Richard.”

Since Pip began exploring the mountains surrounding Alta Lake by ski, ski touring has become increasingly popular. Today, however, few of those who head out into the backcountry around Whistler choose to begin their trip with a 10-hour walk from Squamish. n

PARTIAL RECALL

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1 ICE CAVE, CAMERA, ACTION Taking photos is pretty much mandatory when visiting the exceptionally photogenic ice cave on Blackcomb Glacier. PHOTO BY ANDY DITTRICH/WWW.GRIP.TV 2 LONG LINE The astonishingly long lines for the Blackcomb Gondola over the weekend prompted many skiers and riders to dump their gear to mark their approximate place in line. This White Gold photographer doesn’t necessarily agree with the revived Wizard Chair tradition, telling Pique that “Standing in line is standing in line.” PHOTO BY TOM COLE. 3

CRYSTAL CHAIR COMPANION An adorable Whiskey Jack dropped by for a visit during a Crystal Chair stoppage recently. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 4 VALLEY VIEWS Solitude Trail in Upper Callaghan Valley, pictured in February.

5 SNOW WORRIES Sue Drinnan at Journeyman’s Lodge on Saturday, Feb. 27 admiring the snow cone. PHOTO BY PETER SHRIMPTON. 6 WHERE’S KALI? Safe and sound at home, finally! The saga of the lost former stray that consumed the Whistler community last week ended happily when the resourceful pup was caught and returned to her family on Monday, March 8, after 14 days on the run (see related story on page 18). PHOTO SUBMITTED. PHOTO BY PETER SHRIMPTON.

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

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43

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology WEEK OF MARCH 11 BY ROB BREZSNY

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44 MARCH 11, 2021

Follow us on @themexicancorner

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Artist Richard Kehl tells this traditional Jewish story: God said to Abraham, “But for me, you would not be here.” Abraham answered, “I know that Lord, but were I not here, there would be no one to think about you.” I’m bringing this tale to your attention, dear Aries, because I think the coming weeks will be a favourable time to summon a comparable cheekiness with authorities, including even the Divine Wow Herself. So I invite you to consider the possibility of being sassy, saucy, and bold. Risk being an articulate maverick with a point of view that the honchos and experts should entertain.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Spiritual author Ernest Holmes wrote, “True imagination is not fanciful daydreaming. It is fire from heaven.” Unfortunately, however, many people do indeed regard imagination as mostly just a source of fanciful daydreaming. And it is also true that when our imaginations are lazy and out of control, when they conjure delusional fears and worries, they can be debilitating. I bring this to your attention, Taurus, because I believe the coming weeks will be a favourable time for you to harness the highest powers of your imagination—to channel the fire from heaven—as you visualize all the wonderful and interesting things you want to do with your life in the next nine months.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I’m always waiting for a door to open in a wall without doors,” wrote Gemini author Fernando Pessoa. Huh? Pessoa was consistently eccentric in his many writings, and I find this particular statement especially odd. I’m going to alter it so it makes more sense and fits your current needs. Here’s your motto for the coming weeks: “I’m always ready to figure out how to make a new door in a wall without doors, and call on all necessary help to make it.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can’t drive to the Kamchatka Peninsula. It’s a 269,000-square-kilometre area with a sub-Arctic climate in the far east of Russia. No roads connect it to the rest of the world. Its major city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, is surrounded by volcanoes.

If you want to travel there, you must arrive by plane or ship. And yet Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has long had a thriving tourist industry. More so before the pandemic, but even now, outsiders have come to paraglide, hunt for bears, and marvel at the scenery. In this horoscope, I am making an outlandish metaphorical comparison of you to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Like that land, people sometimes find it a challenge to reach you. And yet when they do, you can be quite welcoming. Is this a problem? Maybe, maybe not. What do you think? Now is a good time to re-evaluate.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Biting midges, also known as no-see-ums, are blood-sucking flies that spread various diseases. Yuck, right? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we used science to kill off all biting midges everywhere? Well, there would be a disappointing tradeoff if we did. The creepy bugs are the primary pollinators for several crops grown in the tropics, including cacao.

So if we got rid of the no-see-ums, there’d probably be no more chocolate. I’m guessing that you may be dealing with a comparable dilemma, Leo: an influence that has both a downside and an upside. The central question is: Can you be all you want to be without it in your life? Or not? Now is a good time to ponder the best way to shape your future relationship.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): According to my analysis of your imminent astrological potentials, you already are or will soon be floating and whirling and churning along on an ocean of emotion. In other words, you will be experiencing more feelings and stronger feelings than you have in quite some time. This doesn’t have to be a problem as long as you do the following: 1. Be proud and appreciative about being able to feel so much. 2.

Since only a small percentage of your feelings need to be translated into practical actions, don’t take them too seriously. 3. Enjoy the ride!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Poet Wendell Berry says “it’s the immemorial feelings” he likes best: “hunger and thirst and their satisfaction; work-weariness and earned rest; the falling again from loneliness to love.” Notice that he doesn’t merely love the gratification that comes from quenching his hunger and thirst. The hunger and thirst are themselves essential components of his joy. Work-weariness and loneliness are not simply inconvenient discomforts that he’d rather live without. He celebrates them, as well. I think his way of thinking is especially worthy of your imitation in the next three weeks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Famous and influential science fiction novelist Philip K. Dick relied on amphetamines to fuel his first 43 novels. Beginning with A Scanner Darkly, his 44th, he did without his favourite drug. It wasn’t his best book, but it was far from his worst. It sold well and was made into a movie featuring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey, Jr., and two other celebrity actors. Inspired by Dick’s success without relying on his dependency—and in accordance with current astrological omens—I’m inviting you to try doing without one of your addictions or compulsions or obsessions as you work on your labour of love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Ninety per cent of all apples in the world are descended from a forest of apple trees in southeast Kazakhstan. Most of us have tasted just a few types of apples, but there’s a much wider assortment of flavours in that natural wonderland.

You know how wine is described as having taste notes and aromas? The apple flavour of Kazakhstan’s apples may be tinged with hints of roses, strawberries, anise, pineapples, coconuts, lemon peels, pears, potatoes, or popcorn. Can you imagine travelling to that forest and exploring a far more complex and nuanced relationship with a commonplace food? During the coming weeks, I invite you to experiment with arousing metaphorically similar experiences. In what old familiar persons, places, or things could you find a surprising wealth of previously unexplored depth and variety?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Andrew Tilin testified that he sometimes had the feeling that his life was in pieces—but then realized that most of the pieces were good and interesting. So his sense of being a mess of unassembled puzzle parts gave way to a deeper contentment—an understanding that the jumble was just fine the way it was. I recommend you cultivate and enjoy an experience like that in the coming weeks, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Indian poet Meena Alexander (1951–2018) was born under the sign of Aquarius. She became famous after she moved to the U.S. at age 29, but was raised in India and the Sudan. In her poem “Where Do You Come From?,” she wrote, “Mama beat me when I was a child for stealing honey from a honey pot.” I’m sorry to hear she was treated so badly for enjoying herself. She wasn’t committing a crime! The honey belonged to her family, and her family had plenty of money to buy more honey.

This vignette is my way of advising you, in accordance with astrological omens, to carry out your personal version of “stealing the honey from the honey pot,” dear Aquarius. Take what’s rightfully yours.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The bad news is that the narrow buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea is laced with landmines. Anyone who walks there is at risk for getting blown up. The good news is that because people avoid the place, it has become an unprecedented nature preserve—a wildlife refuge where endangered species like the red-crowned crane and Korean fox can thrive. In the coming weeks and months, I’d love to see you engage in a comparable project, Pisces: Finding a benevolent use for a previously taboo or wasted part of your life.

Homework. If you have a question whose answer might be interesting to other readers, send it. Maybe I’ll address it in the column. Truthrooster@gmail.com

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com

Thursday, March 18th is Transit Driver Appreciation Day!

NOTICE OF WAIVING OF PUBLIC HEARING ELECTORAL AREA C McGillivray Falls Public Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act that a Public Hearing will be waived regarding the following bylaw: 1.

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No. 1696-2020

The zoning amendments address the provincial requirements for land use contract termination by June 30, 2024. Local governments are required to have zoning bylaws in place by June 30, 2022 that will apply to the land once the land use contracts are terminated. The proposed zoning amendments will replace the underlying Rural 1 zone with a zone that reflects the development on the property. The zoning amendments will apply to all properties that are subject to the McGillivray Falls Land Use Contract Bylaw No. 87, 1976.

Let’s show our collective appreciation to these everyday heroes who are deeply committed to safely getting us to work, to school, to our appointments and back home.

These properties will now be subject to the Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002 and specifically regulations set out in the RR MCG Zone (McGillivray Falls)

Share your kind words and gratitude at bctransit.com/contact

Resort Municipality of Whistler Whistler.ca/transit

Communications Coordinator (Permanent Full-Time) 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 range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents, including land use planning, solid waste management, building inspection, fire protection, emergency management, 911 services, water and sewer utilities, recreation, trails and open spaces, and financial support for various community services.

The SLRD is seeking an experienced and energetic full-time Communications Coordinator to provide communications and public relations support in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The position encompasses a range of responsibilities, including communications and issues management planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The Communications Coordinator is also responsible for grant administration, including writing/editing funding proposals.

The ideal candidate will have post-secondary education in communications, public relations or a related field, as well as five or more years of related experience, preferably in a local government context. The ideal candidate will also possess skills and experience in the following areas: • Communications, community and media relations, marketing, and issues management principles, practices, strategies and evaluation techniques; • Digital communication and social media principles, practices, strategies and analysis; experience working with (and writing for) web-based content management systems, social media channels and other electronic forms of communication; • Strong writing, editing and proof-reading skills with excellent attention to detail; able to conduct research and compile, synthesize and explain complex information in a relatable way; • Strong computer skills; graphic design skills and experience will be considered an asset; • Highly organized and self-motivated; able to handle multiple projects under tight deadlines with limited supervision; • Sound judgement, tact and diplomacy; able to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion; • Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills; able to build and maintain effective and respectful relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.

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 March 21, 2021 to: Nathalie Klein, Executive Assistant Squamish-Lillooet Regional District nklein@slrd.bc.ca

INFORMATION & SUBMISSIONS? The proposed bylaw and relevant background documents may be inspected on pages 185 to 196 of the following Board Agenda: https://slrd.civicweb.net/document/128290 Third reading of Bylaw No. 1696-2020 is scheduled for Wednesday March 24, 2021. All persons who believe that their interest in the property is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaw. Written submissions (mail or email) must be received at the SLRD office no later than 9 am Wednesday March 24, 2021.

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Box 219, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L0 • www.slrd.bc.ca P: 604-894-6371 • TF: 1-800-298-7753 F: 604-894-6526 • E: info@slrd.bc.ca

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

MARCH 11, 2021

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Blue Amber Production Inc. has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, for purposes situated on Provincial Crown land located at Hurley Forest Service Rd. Producer, Amber Palson, 1975 Haro st., Vancouver, BC. said purpose is filming of ski promotional film.

Lands File application is 3413615.

Concerns of this application may be directed to the Sr. Land Officer at 250-8284436. Comments will be received by the MFLNRO until 04/ 15/21, not after this date. Visit www.arfd.gov.bc. ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more info.

Warehouse Lien Act Pursuant to the Warehouse Lien Act, Bill MacGillivary - we have placed the contents located in Storage Container A-19 at Mons Holdings Ltd.8080 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC under seizure due to non-payment of storage charges in the amount of $798.00. Unless the full payment together with all costs of this action is made - the contents of this unit will be sold at the above noted address at 10:00am, March 25, 2021. Abc Professional Bailiffs Ltd 604-682-0337 604-6181721 doug@probailiffs@com

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MEETING PLACE Welcome Centre at Whistler Public Library - Information, support, community connections and ESL practice groups for newcomers and immigrants. Meet people, make connections, volunteer, build your communication skills in English.

Multicultural Meet Up every Friday 9.3012pm.604-698-5960 info@welcomewhistler.comT FB: WhistlerWelcomeCentre

This is a part-time, contract position.

The Market Manager is expected to run the market on Friday afternoons, and to provide on-going support (average 10 hours/week total). April 1 to Nov 30 with potential for extension.

Are you organized, self-motivated, and excited about local food and community? Go to the website to learn more and apply by March 15th. http://pembertonfarmersmarket.com/ Steamworks Brewery Sales Representative Steamworks Brewery is currently hiring a Sales Representative for its North Shore/Sea-to-Sky territory. This position requires being on the road, interacting with customers, and promoting Steamworks products. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is familiar with the areas to learn and grow in the craft beer industry. We look forward to hearing from you! dani@steamworks.com Whistler Orthodontic Centre Certified Dental Assistant Looking for personable and dedicated dental assistant for vibrant satellite orthodontic office. Duties include clinical care, sterilization, and digital record acquisition and management. If qualified ortho assistant, then additional patient care duties available. Please fax or email resumes to addresses below. 778-990-3839 888-535-3028 dsonyahoglund@hotmail.com whistlerorthodonticcentre.com

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Whistler Slo-Pitch Association Head Umpire The Head Umpire upholds the standards expected of WSPA. They manage recruitment, training, mentoring, scheduling & payment of league umpires. Must have a passion for slo-pitch, umpire experience, positive attitude, strong organizational & communication skills & access to a computer.

Email resumes to info@whistlerslopitch.com

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Accountant This full-time role will assist with the accounting and financial reporting of the Lil’wat Business Group.

The Lil’wat Business Group was established to generate revenue and employment opportunities on behalf of the Lil’wat Nation. We currently have active operations in Forestry, Retail and Land Development. With new opportunities and significant assets, the Lil’wat Business Group is poised to grow substantially over the coming years.

Please send your resume and cover letter to rachel.dan@lilwat.ca by Mar. 21, 2021.

For a full job description, please visit lilwat.ca/careers

lilwat.ca

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ROTARY CLUBS OF WHISTLER The Rotary Clubs of Whistler are now meeting virtually.

The Whistler Club Tuesdays at 3.

The Millennium Club Thursdays at 12:15.

Contact us at info@Whistler-rotary.org for log in info. All welcome.

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Administrative Clerk

N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre PO BOX

(Permanent Full-Time)

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, trails and open spaces as well as financial support for various community services.

The SLRD is seeking to fill the permanent, full-time position of Administrative Clerk. The purpose of this position is to carry out a range of clerical and administrative duties in support of the SLRD’s Legislative and Corporate Services Department.

The ideal candidate will possess demonstrated skills and experience in the following areas: • • • • • •

Strong customer service focus.

Reception/front counter/mail duties.

Maintenance of office supplies, corporate records, databases, and manuals.

Preparation of routine correspondence.

Assist with organization of office, including coffee and lunch room duties.

Liaise with suppliers/vendors and external organizations.

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 midnight on April 11, 2021 to: Nathalie Klein, Executive Assistant Squamish-Lillooet Regional District nklein@slrd.bc.ca

is hiring for the upcoming season starting mid April.

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Must have valid BC drivers license and work permit.

Email blackcombchimney@yahoo.ca 50 MARCH 11, 2021

ABORIGINAL SUPPORTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR The N’Quatqua First Nation is seeking a qualified Aboriginal Supported Child Development Educator to fill a full-time position at N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre. The successful candidate will join our NCFDC team, the function of the Aboriginal Supported Child Development Educator is to provide the extra staffing support to a child care center in order for children with extra support needs to fully participate in the child care settings chosen by their families. The Educator works as a team member with child care setting staff and with all the children and families providing general support to the whole program to ensure effective inclusion of the children.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability in: • Ability to develop and maintain a warm, caring, responsive relationship with the child.

• Ability to establish and maintain supportive, collaborative relationships with families and staff.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, positive, professional, non-judgemental attitude.

• Physically ability to carry out the duties of the position.

• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports community, inclusion and is culturally significant for young Aboriginal children • Understanding and working knowledge of Child Care Licensing regulations • Interpersonal, written, oral communication skills and maintaining positive communication with parents • Collaborating with community service providers, Self-directed and able to initiate and complete projects

• Valid Early Childhood Educator Certificate, SNE Licence to Practice.

• Clear Criminal Records Check & Current First Aid • Food Safe or willingness to obtain

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• Some knowledge of curriculum and philosophies in First Nations Early Childhood settings.

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Terms of Employment: • Full-time, Monday to Thursday hours to be determined • Start Date: As soon as possible • Wage: (negotiable depending on experience) Cover Letter & Resume to: Title: Lisa Sambo, Manager Agency: N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre Email: lisa.sambo@nquatqua.ca Fax: 604-452-3295/3280 Deadline: until position is filled We thank all those who apply. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

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Human Resources Manager (Permanent, F/T)

N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre PO BOX 88/64 CASPER CHARLIE PLACE, DARCY BC V0N 1L0

JOB POSTINGS

PRESCHOOL CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR INFANT TODDLER EDUCATOR The N’Quatqua First Nation is seeking 2 qualified Early Childhood Educators. One is a full-time permanent position, the other is a full time maternity leave position at N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre. The successful candidates will join our NCFDC team. The Early Childhood Educators work as team members with other child care setting staff and with all the children and families providing general support to the whole program to ensure effective inclusion of the children.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability in: • Ability to develop and maintain a warm, caring, responsive relationship with the child.

• Ability to establish and maintain supportive, collaborative relationships with families and staff.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, positive, professional, nonjudgmental attitude.

• Physically ability to carry out the duties of the position.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is located in southwestern BC and consists of four 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.

The SLRD is seeking an experienced individual to fill the role of Human Resources Manager as part of the senior management team, reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

This position is responsible for developing, communicating and implementing Human Resources policies, programs, procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and in support of the strategies and goals of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Working closely with senior management, the position supports the attraction and retention of a qualified and professional employee base focused on delivering customer service excellence to the SLRD’s residents, property owners and businesses. The Human Resource Manager ensures the Occupational Health and Safety Program is compliant with legislation and supports a safe, healthy and productive workplace.

The ideal candidate will have post-secondary education (degree or diploma) in human resources, business administration, management, psychology, or a related discipline as well as five or more years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The ideal candidate will also possess a Certified Human Resource Professional designation (CHRL designation preferred). Local government experience is an asset, including working knowledge of BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and its implications for local government communications.

• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports community, inclusion and is culturally significant for young Aboriginal children

Additional responsibilities of the successful candidate include but are not limited to:

• Understanding and working knowledge of Child Care Licensing regulations

• Responsible for Personnel in the Logistics Section during an activation of the Emergency Operations Center.

• Interpersonal, written, oral communication skills and maintaining positive communication with parents

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).

• Collaborating with community service providers, Self-directed and able to initiate and complete projects In addition, the Early Childhood Educators will have: • A minimum of 2 years work experience in a child care setting • Valid Early Childhood Educator Certificate, ECE Licence to Practice or going to school to take Early Childhood Educator courses.

• Clear Criminal Records Check & Current First Aid

• Benefits Administrator for the SLRD; • Management Lead on Occupational Health and Safety; and

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume with a covering letter by email, no later than March 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. to: Nathalie Klein, Executive Assistant Squamish-Lillooet Regional District nklein@slrd.bc.ca

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

• Food Safe or willingness to obtain • Some knowledge of curriculum and philosophies in First Nations Early Childhood settings.

CONNECTIONS CONNECTION S wellness

Terms of Employment: • Full-time, Monday to Friday hours to be determined

Currently Seeking...

• Start Date: As soon as possible • Wage: (negotiable depending on experience) Cover Letter & Resume to: Title: Lisa Sambo, Manager Agency: N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre Email: lisa.sambo@nquatqua.ca Fax: 604-452-3295/3280 Deadline: until position is filled We thank all those who apply. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

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# 52

ANSWERS ON PAGE 48

MARCH 11, 2021

53

MAXED OUT

Here’s to skiing Whistler until I can’t…

“Age is not a particularly interesting subject.

Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.”

— Groucho Marx “The older I grow, the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.”

— H.L. Mencken “I’m so old I won’t even buy green bananas.”

— George Burns

EVERYONE WANTS to live long; no one wants to get old. Go figure. Getting old sucks.

BY G.D. MAXWELL That it’s way better than the alternative is cold comfort because, let’s face it, the alternative is still a pretty abstract concept until it sneaks up, taps us on the shoulder and whispers in its chilly voice, “Time’s up, turkey.”

It’s as pointless to obsess about death as it is to bitch about long lift lines on weekends—yes, that was a bitch about long lift lines on weekends. Death’s like your last final exam and like all the other exams in your life, giving it any thought until the last possible moment serves no useful purpose whatsoever; you’ll forget everything when the time comes and you’ll just spend needless hours tormenting yourself. The only people who obsess about death are those same keeners who never understood that deadlines were something to make, not something to beat. Serves ‘em right.

The first time I can remember giving my own death any thought was the first time a part of me died, that is to say, the first time a part of me was murdered. The culprit was a lower molar. The assassin, an endodontist—Latin for sadistic inflictor of unimaginable pain.

At the moment of death, the moment she plunged her hypodermic shiv into the nerve of the ailing tooth and killed it dead, there was, just like they say, a bright light at the end of a long tunnel and I could see my dear departed tooth swirling the bowl. I also levitated out of her chair, such was the exquisite moment of pain.

I went home, had a wake for my tooth, got rip-roarin’ drunk, realized my dead tooth couldn’t really enjoy the party, understood grieving is for the living, not for the dead, got philosophical, passed out and paid a big price the next day when I had to get on with life with a large number of brain cells having joined my molar in the Great Hereafter. Can I get an Amen?

But aging and death obviously aren’t the same thing. They’re more akin to foreplay and climax which, while being more or less joined at the hips, aren’t the same thing either. The main difference is getting old

54 MARCH 11, 2021

GETTYIMAGES.CA

is definitely one of those things even guys don’t want to rush through.

So far, the indignities of aging seem to be manageable. I’ve hardly given a second thought to the other murdered teeth in my mouth. I can deal with the reading glasses, even though they seem inexorably to get stronger; I can pretend the lighter hairs in my beard are actually, finally blond coming through; I can fool myself into thinking everyone who skis feels like their knees are about to give birth to aliens when they’re finished.

And I can even live with the dread of what’s lurking just around the corner which, based solely on advertising, seems to be a life incontinence, flatulence, erectile

in that. Relativity is one. If I were living in a retirement community instead of eternally youthful Whistler, I’d be considered the young hoodlum the rest of my neighbours would watch with suspicion. The other flaw is most people 15 years older than I am are dead.

But living in Whistler, I’m definitely the brother who was left on Earth in Einstein’s parable. I age every year while my brother, floating through space at the speed of light, ages hardly at all. Except, like a death of a thousand cuts, my theoretical brother is actually the people I meet here and I don’t have to wait a couple of decades to witness the startling results.

I grow demonstrably older every single

If I were living in a retirement community instead of eternally youthful Whistler, I’d be considered the young hoodlum the rest of my neighbours would watch with suspicion. dysfunction, high cholesterol, higher blood pressure, acid reflux, and, of course, a generally frustrating battle with chronic constipation punctuated only by bouts of raging diarrhea, all of which work in concert, conspiring to turn me into the junkie I spent so much of my earlier life trying to avoid becoming.

Like Bernard Baruch, I always considered old age as, at a minimum, 15 years older than I am. There are two flaws

year. Yet, in an age-defying miracle, those all around me remain, on average, in their mid-20s.

There seem to be, between Canada and, in non-pandemic years, Australia and the U.K., an endless supply of 22-yearold, fresh-faced suckers. If there weren’t, Whistler would have to rethink its whole business model.

When I moved here, it wasn’t so bad. I couldn’t exactly fool myself into thinking

I blended into the greater population but I knew no one could imagine I was as old as I was given my lack of wisdom.

Now? People expect wisdom... but fish a dry hole.

So here I am, caught in what I like to think of as the awkward years. Older but not mature.

To be honest, I have a problem with the whole mature thing. I don’t feel mature. I’m not sure I ever will. But I fully expect to get older. And crankier. And proud of it. I fully intend to become a Geezer, and as God is my witness, I’ll wring the full measure of Geezerness out of my experience.

That having been said, I fully expect to age in place, whatever that means. Being a skier, I’m hanging my hopes on what I like to call the Continuum of Care Ski Resort Model.

Under the model, people would start their ski resort lives out at a place like Whistler, or Revelstoke, where only youth, vitality and mindless cliff jumping are valued. In Phase II, The Middle Years, people realizing they can’t possibly afford to raise a family in Whistler would move to Fernie or Rossland or maybe close to Silver Star, places where they could afford homes.

Phase III, The Fallin’ Apart Years, call for easier mountains and closer healthcare facilities. Kimberley and Panorama come immediately to mind.

And finally, Phase IV, The Golden Years.

Years when gentle and rolling replace steep and deep as desirable terrain features.

When close, full-service hospitals hold more appeal than full-on après bars. In other words… the Sun Peaks Years. Gee, maybe we roll the name back to Tod Mountain, or Sunset Peaks.

Or maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll keep finding those few who are 15 years older here, who still ski hard and will until they/we shuffle off to whatever follows. ■

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME G L O B A L R E AC H , L O C A L K N O W L E D G E SOLD

NORDIC 2C-2300 Nordic Drive Own a 1/10th share of this slopeside duplex at Whistler’s ‘At Nature’s Door’- a luxurious, shared interest, private residence community. Home 2 features 2,706 sq ft - 4 bedrooms + media room & 5 bathrooms. $289,000 Asking Price

NORDIC 19-2301 Taluswood Place Ski in/Ski out, views, peaceful & bright with an open layout...this home offers all of that and more! This amazing 3 bedroom/2 bathroom luxury Bluffs townhouse offers everything you need for full time living or nightly rentals.GST Paid. $2,100,000 / incl. GST

604-966-1364 Allyson Sutton

Katherine Currall

WHISTLER VILLAGE 125/125A-4388 Northlands Blvd Village GEM! Amazing lock-off townhome that sleeps 10 comfortably. Recently renovated throughout, gas fireplace, private hot tub on a 480 sq ft deck, Airbnb rentals okay, outdoor pool, ready and “turn-key“ for a new owner. $1,949,000

604-932-7609 Kerry Batt

604-902-5422

NEW TO MARKET

BLACKCOMB BENCHLANDS 316-4809 Spearhead Drive Your opportunity to have your own 1 bedroom AirBnB apartment on Blackcomb Mtn. This great location gives easy access to the ski run, and amenities include heated pool, hot tub and gym. Book your showing today. $759,000

Nick Swinburne *PREC

RAINBOW 8975 Highway 99 14.09 Acres. Panoramic mountain and lake views! Opportunity to develop a unique & private family estate just 10 minutes north of Whistler village $7,500,000

EMERALD ESTATES 9508 Emerald Drive Welcome to “Raven-Hut” the epitome of mountain modern design. Interior living spaces flow seamlessly with the outdoor living spaces 3 bedrooms & 2 bathroom house with a lovely 2 bedroom & 1 bathroom suite. $3,995,000

604-932-7997 Maggi Thornhill *PREC

604-932-8899 Bob Daniels

SOLD

604-905-8199

NEW TO MARKET

PEMBERTON MEADOWS 8354 Pemberton Meadows Road Imagine a 3.5 bdrm/2 bath country home with a wrap around deck on a 3 acre piece of paradise with mature trees, flowers, veggie garden and picture postcard views including Mt. Currie! $1,399,000

PEMBERTON, SUNSTONE 7677 Cerulean Drive Home of the 2020 PNE Prize Home, Sunstone is one of Pemberton’s newest communities boasting all day sun and sweeping 180 degree views of Mt. Currie and the valley. Zoning allows for a carriage house and nightly rentals. $399,000

Brigitta Fuess

Suzanne Wilson

604-932-0751

CRUMPITWOODS 2237 Windsail INCREDIBLE VIEWS. 3 level home in prestigious Crumpit Woods. Floor to ceiling fireplace, luxurious chef’s style kitchen, large bedrooms, games room, gym & suite below. Large garage in a quiet cul-de-sac with trails on your doorstep. $2,299,998

604-966-8454 Angie Vazquez *PREC

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.

778-318-5900

3D Tour - rem.ax/251deerlodge

#251 - 4314 Main Street

$630,000

Deer Lodge is a centrally located property right in the heart of Whistler Village. #251 is a bright and spacious studio suite on the quiet side of the building with a great view of the mountains to the west. Inside, the unit has a full kitchen, a full bathroom, a space saving Murphy Bed and a spacious patio, and has a neighbour on only one side.

Madison Perry

.5

778.919.7653

2034 Watson Way

$1,750,000

Unique Opportunity! Enjoy views overlooking Nita Lake and mountains in all directions.

Close proximity to Nita Lake in Whistler’s Creekside, and all of Whistler Creek’s amenities. Current Cabin has 2 bedrooms and a studio suite for use or long term rental, and is prime for redevelopment. Call today to arrange a viewing of this rare property.

Matt Chiasson

3.5

604.935.9171

9281 Siskin Street

$1,493,850

WedgeWoods is a private 108 lot community with unique privacy and many larger properties. You can build a family home as well as an auxiliary building of 2150 sq. ft. A select group of properties located in The Highlands at WedgeWoods have just been launched and offer beautiful views.

Meg McLean

604.907.2223

3D Tour - rem.ax/107woodrun

#719 - 4090 Whistler Way

$365,000

The Westin Resort & Spa is adjacent to the Gondola Base in Whistler Village. This multi star hotel is consistently the best revenue generating condo/hotel in Whistler. A quality full service resort includes an indoor /outdoor swimming pool, 2 hot tubs, large exercise facility, spa and a mall for browsing and dining. This unit is a great investment.

Michael d’Artois

.5

604.905.9337

#107 - 4910 Spearhead Drive

$1,799,000

The Woodrun is one of the few concrete buildings in Whistler and #107 is conveniently located on the ground floor facing the green belt. The unit features a boot heater, huge owner locker, Washer, and Dryer in suite and the gym and pool access is just across the hallway.

Richard Christiansen

604.907.2717

2

7201 South Fitzsimmons Road

completely renovated 4 bedroom and den home in White Gold. The den could easily be used as a 5th bedroom for extended family groups. This spacious home is located on a large, flat 12,159 square foot corner lot, right on the Fitzsimmons Creek. Enjoy views of Whistler Mountain, Blackcomb Mountain and the river from different rooms.

Sally Warner*

3D Tour - rem.ax/1766pinewood

#512 - 4899 Painted Cliff Road

$249,000

1766 Pinewood Drive

$4,788,000

604.905.6326

4.5

3D Tour - rem.ax/333greystone

$2,198,000

#333 - 4905 Spearhead Pl.

$1,588,000

Spectacular, refurbished, lodge style fully equipped studio suite, with private deck tucked away on Blackcomb Mountain at the Blackcomb Springs Suites. This is the ultimate ski in, ski out lodging! In the summer enjoy the proximity to top notch hiking and mountain bike trails, or our world renowned ski slopes in the Winter.

Anexecutivepropertyona15,000sqftlot.Thesolidpostandbeamdesignhasbeenexecuted withexceptionalcraftsmanshipandisidealforentertainingandfunctionalfamilyliving.

Withover4000sq.ft.,thehomeprovidesfourbedrooms,alargeofficethatcouldbeafifth bedroom,andaonebedroomguestsuiteabovethegarage,separatefromthemainhome.

Ski-in Ski-out, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, at the coveted Greystone Lodge. Children can ski to the Magic Chair and Whistler Kids in mere minutes. Walking distance to all the Upper Village amenities, 5-star hotels, Lost Lake and world class golf. Super location. Move-in-ready, or generate nightly revenues. video - rem.ax/333ski

Ursula Morel*

Chris Wetaski

Darryl Bowie

.5

604.932.8629

3D Tour - rem.ax/8164alpine

8164 Alpine Way

5

604.938.2499

3D Tour -rem.ax/215tyndall

$1,899,000

#215 - 4338 Main Street

3D Tour - rem.ax/215evolution

$1,250,000

Enjoy the proximity to Meadow Park Sports Center, Green Lake, Alpine Market, Whistler Secondary school and easy access to the Valley Trail system from Whistler’s favorite residential area of Alpine Meadows. This 4 bedroom home is situated on a large lot of over 11,000 sq.ft.

COURT ORDERED SALE - 814 ft2, 2 bedroom 2 bath, corner unit at centrally located Tyndall Stone Lodge in the heart of the village.Sweeping views of Rainbow, Armchair, Wedge and Blackcomb mountains and overlooking The Olympic Village Park and skating rink. Relax at the Pool and Hot Tub after a day of skiing or trail riding.

Dave Beattie*

Dave Sharpe

604.905.8855

4

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

604.902.2779

2

604.220.5751

2

215B - 2020 London Lane

$129,000

A luxurious 592 SF 1 bedroom, 1-bathroom suite. More similar to a spa than your standard hotel. Sophisticated suites with modern design; soaker tubs & doublesided glass showers; pull-out sofas; spacious decks; fully equipped kitchens; flat-screen TVs & DVD plays; fully furnished; W/D, spa-like amenities.

Denise Brown*

604.902.2033

1

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