Pique Newsmagazine 2842

OCTOBER 21, 2021 ISSUE 28.42

WWW.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM

FREE THE SQUEEZE

House Sales Are Booming in Rural B.C. — and Renters Are Getting Slammed

16

IN SESSION

Whistler’s pandemic

recovery working group is shifting focus

23

RECORD SALE

An empty lot sets a real

estate record by selling for $9 million

48

SPOOKTACULAR

Tapley’s neighbourhood

welcomes back trick or treaters

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Nesters Market Halloween fireworks Tapleys Farm October 31st at 7:30 pm (lower field)

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

42

48

32 House sales boom in rural B.C. As landlords cash out their ‘investment’ properties, many tenants are losing affordable homes. - By Alex Cosh // TheTyee.ca

16

IN SESSION

Whistler’s pandemic recovery working

28

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

With over 73 per

group is shifting its focus to a scenario planning exercise, which will

cent of Pemberton’s current food waste able to be recycled or composted,

probe some pertinent questions about the future of the resort.

the Village needs to find new ways to reduce waste.

17

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Data

42

THAT’S A WRAP

The one-year-only, multi-stop

in a COVID-19 Impact Snapshot for Vital Signs initiative details the

B.C. leg of the Crankworx World Tour wrapped up earlier this month at

pandemic’s impacts on tourism and other sectors.

SilverStar Mountain Resort outside of Vernon.

23

48

RECORD SALE

A 5.44-acre lot in Whistler’s

SPOOKTACULAR

Tapley’s neighbourhood has

prestigious Stonebridge development sells for $9 million, as Whistler sees

been given the go-ahead to host its annual trick or treat event for kids

Canadians make up 95 per cent of total buyers in 2021.

despite pandemic.

COVER Having your roof sold out from under you is no happy feeling. It’s happened to me too many times in Whistler. So much so that after 21 years, I couldn’t call it home anymore. -By Karl Partington 4 OCTOBER 21, 2021

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS This Small Business Week let’s work to support our workers by shopping

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

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

locally and giving them a shout out during these pandemic times.

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week continue to make the case for

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Editor CLARE OGILVIE - edit@piquenewsmagazine.com Assistant Editor BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@wplpmedia.com Production Manager AMIR SHAHRESTANI - ashahrestani@wplpmedia.com Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@wplpmedia.com Advertising Representatives TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com GEORGIA BUTLER - gbutler@wplpmedia.com Digital/Sales Coordinator AMELA DIZDARIC - traffic@wplpmedia.com Production production@piquenewsmagazine.com

vaccination on gondolas while another thanks the community for an amazing mushroom festival.

15 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Andrew Mitchell makes an impassioned plea for night skiing to be introduced on Blackcomb Mountain.

70 MAXED OUT With Grouse Mountain Resort announcing this week that only fully vaccinated people can ride its tram, Max wonders why Vail Resorts is not making the same decision for Whistler Blackcomb.

Environment & Adventure

Arts & Entertainment/Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com

31 RANGE ROVER Trains lower your carbon footprint, and are much less stressful than flying, which

Social Media Editor MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com

makes taking a train to go skiing the Zen of outdoor travel experiences, writes Leslie Anthony.

Reporters BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com HARRISON BROOKS - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com Classifieds and Reception mail@piquenewsmagazine.com Office and Accounts Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, GLENDA BARTOSH, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ANDREW MITCHELL, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON

Lifestyle & Arts

46 FORK IN THE ROAD Canadians waste a staggering $27 billion or so worth of food each year, which releases greenhouse gases. It’s time to manage your food waste.

52 MUSEUM MUSINGS The opening of the 7th Heaven ski region on Blackcomb Mountain changed the course of ski history in Whistler.

President, Whistler Publishing LP SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of Whistler Publishing Limited Partnership, a division of Glacier Media) distributed to over 130 locations in Whistler and to over 200 locations from Vancouver to D’Arcy.

The entire contents of Pique Newsmagazine are copyright 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.

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OPENING REMARKS

Celebrate Small Business Week with a little kindness MAYBE IT IS JUST ME , but nothing feels predictable right now.

Normally this time of year we hunker down for that intense fall rain (though I have to admit last weekend’s rain felt biblical!), then as the skies clear we lift our eyes to the mountains to see a fresh blanket of snow covering the peaks of Whistler and

BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com

Blackcomb mountains and we feel like all is right with the world.

We’ve got our ski passes, our new equipment thanks to the always-amazing Turkey Sale, we’ve grabbed the few things we missed at the Sidewalk Sale last weekend, the snow tires are on, U.S. visitors and

frontline workers are facing more and more disrespectful behaviour from those they are trying to help or serve.

And we have been reading in the headlines for months now that the toxic behaviour of many towards those working in the service industries such as servers and hotel staff is only escalating as they are now also having to check Vaccine Passport Card status and so on.

So I have a suggestion as we celebrate Small Business Week—let’s all make an effort to cherish those who are working in our community right now. I’m talking about all the servers in restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries—all of them. I’m talking about all the cleaners, the hotel staff, all those who work in the retail sectors and all our amazing grocery stores.

(And yes, though they are not small businesses, support our local municipal workers, our police, ambulance and all our

Some businesses have not made it, many have had to re-invent themselves; all of them have been profoundly affected by the pandemic.

others are on their way to help us animate our home resort for winter—we are feeling good about the coming season.

Right?

Not this year.

If anything, I would describe the underlying feeling in the resort as anxiety— there’s a kind of mild panic informing us and if I’m honest it’s like I can’t kick the “flight” response that I seem to be harbouring.

Last week we learned that many of our

healthcare workers too.)

Maybe our smiles, and the fact we made a choice to shop locally, and our words of encouragement can’t make up for those who lash out in frustration, but it could change someone’s day, and maybe that is enough for now.

The last 19 months has been hell, really it has. Some businesses have not made it, many have had to re-invent themselves; all of them have been profoundly affected by

the pandemic.

And it’s not over yet.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) a large number of small businesses are still struggling because of the pandemic’s fourth wave. It’s found that only 76 per cent of small businesses are fully open, only 45 per cent are fully staffed and only 49 per cent are bringing in normal revenues.

Added to this is the fact that many small businesses took the offer of government loans to help them bridge the shocking impact of COVID-19. The CFIB estimates that small businesses in Canada now owe a collective $139 billion.

It’s true that many have been able to keep the wolf at the door thanks to government subsidies, but at least two of those, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, are set to end Oct. 23—ironically the final day of Small Business Week this year.

So, more uncertainly lies ahead of us.

And simmering under all of this is the reality that Whistler simply does not have enough staff for a busy winter.

Businesses are getting creative with wages, shifts, and more, but many staff are also asking themselves about the levels of compensation they are getting considering the stress of the jobs they are working.

We are not alone in this. Recently, ski towns in Colorado banded together to bring workers in to fill more than 8,000 open positions—113 companies hosted a virtual jobs fair. No word yet on how successful it was...

As we draw closer and closer to winterresort season one thing is abundantly clear, the light at the end of the tunnel is still a long way away. n

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Vaccine passports for gondolas will protect Whistler economy (This letter was addressed to B.C. Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix, and Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and shared with Pique.)

of little to no effect. This would seem like the perfect setting for spreading COVID-19.

As it stands, Vail Resorts—owner of Whistler Blackcomb—is deferring to the provincial government as to standards to adhere to for COVID-19 prevention. I can only guess that they are fearful of alienating some of their guests by imposing stiffer measures and they would rather the government play the role of enforcer.

Regardless, the provincial government has the authority to impose standards that will be effective in preventing the spread of COVID19 within the skiing/riding venues and I am imploring you to do this for the sake of our health and economic welfare.

The Delta variant is the most infectious variant we have dealt with thus far and so I am sure you would all be motivated to limit its spread amongst skiers and riders from the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Vancouver Coastal Health has done an admirable job of limiting COVID-19 cases and keeping our hospitals running well. It would be most regrettable if we find ourselves being “ground zero” in Whistler again, filling up emergency wards and ICUs because relatively simple steps were not taken to minimize the potential spread of Delta.

This presumes no new, equally or more infectious variants are introduced in the meantime. The same rationale applies to all

SO LD

Based on current public health directives, the sit-down restaurants at the top of Whistler and Blackcomb require a vaccine passport for attendance.

These restaurants may account for 1/20 (likely less) of the seats available for eating while on the mountains. The large cafeterias consist of dense seating arrangements where strangers sit shoulder-to-shoulder, and backto-back.

More importantly, the current directives do not address individuals sitting in gondolas—a plastic bubble containing up to 10 people, which users share with a new selection of complete strangers from all over the province, the country, and the world, up to 10 times per day. Users are breathing heavily, in a moist environment, where masks are damp and often

ski resorts in B.C. I am a small business owner and longtime resident of Whistler. Two years in a row we have suffered early shut-downs of Whistler Blackcomb resulting in severe economic impact.

Last year, little was done (until after March vacation break and it was too late) to limit the spread of the Brazilian variant and a huge portion of our local population became infected.

Whistler Blackcomb is a huge economic driver for B.C. and so I would suggest that you would all be keen to prevent a similar occurrence happening again. If our province and the other larger provinces have vaccination rates well above 80 per cent, I cannot see that many potential customers will be turned away by stricter measures.

I would suggest that many more potential customers will be lost for fear of mass spread of COVID-19 while skiing and riding in B.C. My understanding is that your directives for vaccine passports are intended to apply to voluntary, non-essential activities that present risk of spread. Skiing and riding are certainly non-essential and so the same policy drivers should apply to these activities, where the potential for spread is acute.

Please give serious thought to the simple measures that would be required to make skiing and riding in B.C. so much safer. It will be of great health benefit and economic benefit.

Greg Diamond // Whistler

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Mushrooms among us The Whistler Naturalists would like to thank volunteers and participants who had a great time mushrooming in the rain during our 19th annual Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival last weekend.

We started with presentations and mushroom walks to 22 classes (more than 500 students!) at the local elementary schools—Spring Creek, Myrtle Philip and École La Passerelle. It was great to see so many students excited about mushrooms. Thanks to school presenters Andy MacKinnon, Kevin Trim, Paul Kroeger, David Walde, Kem Luther, Luke Mikler and Christina Nick.

We’d also like to thank our “Talks with Gurus” presenters: Andy and Kem who introduced us to their new book Mushrooms of British Columbia (now No. 1 on the B.C. bestseller list); Thom O’Dell for his talk on mushrooms and mental health; and Joern Rohde for judging and announcing the winners of the Fantastic Fungi Photo Contest. You can find a recording of the talks on our website: whistlernaturalists.ca.

Congratulations to winners of the photo contest in each category: Magali LalondeLegault for Captivating Colour and Weird and Wonderful; Aurora Moore for Gorgeous Gills; Liz Barrett for Tiny Toadstools; and Adam Smith for Fungal Fun. These photos and other wonderful entries can also be viewed on our website.

The Saturday morning “Walks with Gurus” brought back at least 150 different species of mushrooms that were displayed under tents in the afternoon. When the new species from the event are added to the Whistler Biodiversity Project list, we expect the total of mushroom species documented in Whistler will now exceed 900!

Finally, the Whistler Naturalists would also like to thank our key sponsors: The Whistler Community Foundation, AWARE and Resort Municipality of Whistler. Thanks also to wonderful support from Nesters Market, Tantalus Lodge, Whistler Bike Co., Avalanche Pizza, Whistler Cooks, Whistler Museum, Whistler Library, Creekside Market, Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council, Canadian Wilderness Adventures, and the Whistler Biodiversity Project.

See you next year, as always, the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Kristina Swerhun, Bob Brett // Whistler Naturalists

Time to do the right thing It is obvious to me and apparently to the 6,000-plus people who have signed the “Whistler/Blackcomb put public safety first petition,” that loading vaccinated and unvaccinated strangers together in a tightly enclosed and poorly ventilated space, a Gondola, is a bad public health policy (www.change.org/WhistlerBlackcombVaccineCertificates).

Presently, B.C.’s daily COVID-19 case counts are close to seven times higher than they were last year and with the more contagious Delta variant.

Mandates are proven to encourage vaccination among the population.

Although a normal gondola ride is anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes, there has often been occasions each ski season where I have been in an enclosed Gondola for 45 minutes or more, either due to mechanical issues or slow moving start and stop rides due to high winds.

Please, Dr. Bonnie Henry [B.C.’s public health officer] and Vail Resorts [owner of Whistler Blackcomb], help protect all skiers, riders, the little ski scamps, employees, guests and the greater community by implementing a vaccine mandate to access all ski lifts for those over 12 years old who are eligible to be vaccinated.

It will not only help to stop the spread of the virus, but will be a much more pleasurable experience for all of Whistler Blackcomb’s customers. Having to produce a vaccination certificate every time we want to access on-mountain amenities will be an unnecessary hassle for guests and for the employees who will be enforcing the entry-access protocols.

Austrian ski resorts, Lake Louise, Sunshine and Norquay have mandated a vaccine certificate or a COVID-19 testing requirement to access their ski lifts for the 2021-2022-ski season.

If Vail Resorts’ goal is truly to “keep our guests, employees and communities safe and to keep our mountains open for a long, successful ski and ride season” then a vaccine mandate seems to be a constructive and positive step towards achieving this goal for its “valued guests.”

Do the right thing; implement a vaccine mandate to access all ski lifts.

Esther Gorman // Whistler

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Fee for information erodes public trust I have made a few Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and have received, in cases, redacted documents and refusal of release of information on various grounds.

Now the RMOW wants to charge me to do “research” on information that is a button push away.

Now the BC NDP is introducing user fees for FOI requests. It will now cost you at least $25 to find out where your tax dollars went in B.C. Now our health boards are redacting documents and playing stalling tactics with our lives and those of our children.

Government must be transparent, and this fee will further erode public trust in our government and public institutions. This is how conspiracy theories can get their start—lack of democratic process and information that should be owned to the electorate.

Government works for the people.

Politicians get paycheques. There is more disclosure running a public company than in our governments.

Oh—my most recent edited FOI request to

SEE PAGE 12

>>

Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine.

Engel & Völkers Whistler

OCTOBER 21, 2021

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR << FROM PAGE 11 the RMOW? •What is the name of the law firm the RMOW used to litigate against the Pique?

•What was the total amount billed by this firm for the action?

Not asking for nuclear launch codes here…

Patrick Smyth // Whistler

Put your customers’ safety first WB I am looking forward to returning to Whistler this coming season and will do so following all guidelines to travel from Ottawa, including proof of vaccine (x2) to board a plane.

We know Whistler is following recommendations that all staff be fully vaccinated, but what about pass holders and ticket holders?

“Government works for the people.

Politicians get paycheques. There is more disclosure running a public company than in our governments.”

- PATRICK SMYTH

Whistler Blackcomb (Vail Resorts) has said it will welcome back skiers and will be operating lifts/gondolas at full capacity. Will this be like sporting events where proof of vaccination will be required?

It would be great if all lifts required this, and if your pass were not updated with your positive vaccination status you would be denied access.

We can’t go to a restaurant that runs at partial capacity without proof, so should eight people in a gondola or full load on the Peak 2 Peak be any different?

There is still time to marry our passes with proof of vaccination.

I hope Whistler can be a leader in showing the travelling public who are ready to support the resort, that they are 100-per-cent behind our safety.

Mike Hayes // Ontario

Traffic patterns in Cheakamus neighbourhood need consideration It was with interest that I read about the progress of Cheakamus Phase 2 (Pique, Oct. 14, “WDC making steady progress of Cheakamus Phase 2”). Congratulations. However, there has been not a word about traffic flow, especially when 295 units are occupied.

There is only one way in or out leading to the corner of Mt. Fee and Legacy, currently a three-way stop.

It sure looks like a traffic congestion bottleneck.

Hopefully this is being considered.

Jim Kennedy // Whistler

How to avoid another WB shut down Yup, that’s right. As we all know by now, Vail Resorts has announced an operating plan for 2021/22 that calls for packing Whistler

12 OCTOBER 21, 2021

Blackcomb’s (WB) gondolas with as many unvaccinated skiers and boarders as can be jammed aboard.

This is without regard to the health and safety of the majority of us who have had the common sense to get both COVID-19 vaccinations. Our only protection will be whatever loose and soggy interpretation of a mask the panting stranger beside you comes up with.

Unbelievably, the sainted Dr. Bonnie Henry [B.C.’s public health officer] has apparently blessed this new game of “Russian Roulette.”

Meanwhile, across the Rockies in Alberta, of all places, Banff Sunshine Village has announced that: “To comply with the province’s (i.e. AB’s) exemption program to access our slopes this winter, we will ask all guests to submit either a proof of vaccination, proof of a

privately-paid negative rapid test result taken within 72 hours of service, or a valid medical exemption.”

Though stranger than fiction, it turns out that you’d be much safer to board a gondola in Canada’s COVID-19 hotbed than here in Whistler.

Please write to Dr. Henry at bonnie.henry@ gov.bc.ca and ask her to please amend her Public Health Order to require the B.C. Vaccine Card to access WB ski lifts. Let’s try and stay healthy and avoid another early shutdown.

Nick Green // Whistler

Action needed on B.C.’s ‘abysmal’ forest practices This is a follow-up to my two earlier 2021 Letters to the Editor to Pique on B.C.’s abysmal forest practices.

Call this the last salvo. I met with retiring UBC Dean John Innes a few weeks ago hoping that in his retirement he would become more proactive in facilitating greater involvement between the UBC Faculty of Forestry and the B.C. government, with the goal of implementing the highest level of science-based forestry management in our province.

B.C. needs this to be much more than “his hope” as he called it in his last Dean’s Message, “11 Years as Dean: A Look Back.”

How could he say that the Faculty is “increasingly recognized as one of the leading faculties of forestry worldwide” given the sad state of B.C.’s forestry practices? He himself mentioned his “inability to engage government and industry” and there is little evidence of acceptable science-based management on the ground in B.C. Scientific progress is irrelevant if no one is listening and these advancements are not being acted upon.

I appreciate the way Dean Innes took our

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR government and the industry to task in his last Dean’s Message for their lack of interest in engaging and collaborating, but what that tells me is that the Dean of the Faculty needs to garner as much public support as possible and become very vocal and as proactive as possible.

His criticism of government and industry should be made very public. The people of B.C. need to hear it. Academics and scientists might not naturally embrace that role, but if they don’t speak out who will?

It must be unbelievably frustrating to be producing good science, if that is the case, yet with no one caring. The Dean and others like him need to speak out and sell the good science to the people and our government.

Given Dean Innes is retiring I have copied his successor, Dr. Rob Kozak, on these thoughts and have attached my two previous Pique Letters to the Editor (copying Premier John Horgan) for him to read. This thread is important, as it is my hope that Dr. Kozak, as the new Dean, will initiate a dialogue with our government with the goal of making the UBC Faculty of Forestry relevant in the management of our forests.

I hope Dr. Kozak will show leadership and courage in speaking out as loudly as possible with regard to the dire need for the highest level of science-based forestry practices in B.C. If the province won’t come to UBC then UBC needs to go to the province.

I hope Dean Innes will take this to heart and that in his retirement he will use all of his

know-how to do the same.

We need both of them to act now as our forests have run out of time.

Dennis Perry // West Vancouver, Whistler

The Residential Tenancy Act may make the rules, but the tenant calls the shots This is cautionary advice for anyone who may be considering renting a suite in their home.

It is imperative that you ensure when you start the initial rental that the negotiated rate reflects the market at that time.

It is also essential that you increase the rent by the allowable amount each year.

This amount is generally very low because it does not reflect the actual prices of new rentals coming to market, but the province of B.C. “basket of goods” cost-ofliving increase.

As an example, the last annual increase was 2.6 per cent as of January 2020, but this was rescinded in March 2020 and any monies paid to be returned, until Dec. 31, 2021 due to COVID-19.

Why is this important?

The rent remains as is even if the current renter leaves and you contract with another.

The crunch comes when you decide to sell your home as low rental income has a detrimental effect on the potential selling price.

When an agreed selling price has been established, the new owner may request that the current owner serve the tenant with an order to end tenancy in two months

stating that the new owner wishes the use of the rental suite for the occupancy by a close family member. (This request cannot be a condition in the sale/purchase of the dwelling). Parents and children of the owner and/or spouse are the only ones designated as close family members.

The owner is required to provide the tenant with one month of free rent.

If the tenant advises the Rental Tenancy Branch that the owner is not housing a close family member or the renovation of the suite is not proceeding in a timely manner the Branch may declare that a penalty equal to 12 months rent be imposed on the owner, payable to the tenant.

This may well be $18,000 to $24,000, depending on the size of the suite, and the order to pay would come from the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Aside from the above, if a tenant refuses to vacate after an order to do so has been issued by the Residential Tenancy Branch, the owner must go to the Supreme Court of BC and request a Writ of Possession.

This may result in a very expensive procedure if the tenants refuse to leave and take their possessions with them.

The owner would then have to hire a courtapproved bailiff, and pay to have the tenant’s possessions packed and stored in a secure facility for a designated period of time.

If the tenant does not retrieve their possessions then the owner must have notices placed in government publications and local press as to the intention to sell the

tenant’s possessions if the tenant does not claim them.

At this point the owner has paid all the costs detailed above and now must try and collect from the tenant.

Lots of luck!

I believe that theses draconian rules were put in place to control landlords of multiple rental units.

I believe there should be a separate set of regulations for landlords that rent a suite in their principal residence.

There should be an obligatory two months notice to vacate when an owner wishes to sell their home with no caveat for the tenant to prevent this from happening.

This notice should also apply if the owner wishes to renovate for the owners use or for rental.

The existing tenant should be given the right of first refusal at a negotiated rent that reflects the upgrade to the unit.

Annual allowable increases should reflect the actual prices of rentals coming to market, not the province’s “basket of goods” cost-ofliving increase.

When a current rental ends, whether it is voluntary or by an order of the Residential Tenancy Branch, the tenant must remove their possessions or face the sale of same on a where is, as is basis.

The revenue obtained, less any expenses born by the owner, would be payable to the tenant.

John Richmond // Formerly of Whistler, now in Sechelt n

OCTOBER 21, 2021

13

PIQUE N’ YER INTEREST

Light the night THERE’S AN INCREDIBLY DATED scrolling text box on Vail Resorts’ corporate website that highlights the various mountain resorts in the company’s growing portfolio, and Whistler Blackcomb—the No. 1 ski resort in North America for countless years running—isn’t on the list. A lot of resorts aren’t, which suggests that the site is old

BY ANDREW MITCHELL and not really intended for the public. The copyright line at the bottom of the page says 2007, and it looks every year of it.

Click on the Investor link and you’ll go to a whole new website with a much more modern look. The media website is also newer and a bit different, as is snow. com—a site I had to navigate with one panicked thumb half a dozen times last season because I forgot to book in advance and the line was moving fast. The Whistler Blackcomb site is also unique, as are the web pages for the 36 other resorts in Vail Resorts’ portfolio.

I’m not trying to make Vail Resorts feel bad about its myriad websites—Bill Gates used to drive a Ford Focus to work after all—but to underline the fact that

this company has a lot going on; too much to worry about creating a consistent look, colour palate, and user experience in the online world. Or to add Whistler Blackcomb to the ticker at vailresorts.com.

Whistler Blackcomb skiers and boarders, a noisy bunch of malcontents at the best of times, are used to putting ourselves first, of setting the trends for the entire industry. Now we’re just a small—but important cog—in a machine that spans four continents when you include resorts partnerships. Where we used to lead, we now take directions from an office in a Denver, Colo. suburb.

That doesn’t mean we’ve been wholly neglected. The recent announcement that the Creekside Gondola would be upgraded to eight seats and the Big Red Express to six shows that someone is paying attention. It took a COVID-19 line that stretched around Franz’s Trail and under Highway 99 to highlight the dire need, but at least the call is being answered.

But while the lift upgrades are reason to celebrate, there’s still a feeling among the locals I talk to that we’ve gotten off track somehow. We had plans. Big plans.

Renaissance-scale plans. And given Whistler Blackcomb’s track record of doing the impossible there was no reason to believe that the dream wouldn’t come true.

Plans included a mountain coaster, a

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water park and bowling alley at Base II (along with a two-storey parking garage), and a bunch of new lifts—some of which made more sense than others.

The thing I cared the most about was the creation of a new night skiing zone on Blackcomb Mountain—something bigger and better than the area under the Magic Chair that would include a terrain park and have space left over for programs and the public.

There were a lot of benefits to this idea.

One benefit is the ability to run on-mountain racing, freestyle and other kinds of ski and snowboard lessons and groups during the week, hopefully reducing ski school lines on busy weekends.

Night skiing could also have an impact on lift lines and traffic. If the mountain is open late, there’s less pressure to get there when things open in the morning. People will also be able to leave at different times in the afternoon, hopefully staggering traffic and reducing the regular Sunday afternoon jams that are a crappy way for visitors to wrap up their weekends.

It also creates something else to do in the evenings, which is something this resort has struggled with. The night is also a good time to learn something new on the slopes, with fewer people to dodge while you’re learning to make turns.

I know I would get a lot more value out

of my pass as well. I’m a weekender, which means I get to share the mountains with 25,000 other people every Saturday and Sunday. If the snow is looking good then I need to be in a lift line by 7 a.m. or wait in a massive queue. A lot of days I’ll see the crowds, do the math, and decide not to bother because—it’s not worth it. At some point the amount of time spent in lines and on lifts outweighs the time you spend making turns.

If night skiing were an option, however, I’d go after work during the week or in the afternoons on weekends when things empty out a little.

There is a cost, obviously, but if small resorts like Grouse, Cypress and Seymour can offer night skiing seven nights a week, then so can we. I have a feeling that sales of beer, hot chocolate and nachos would more than cover the costs.

There is also a concern that people will go outside of the lighted area and get into trouble, but that’s a concern at all the other B.C. resorts that offer some night skiing— including direct competitors to Whistler Blackcomb like Big White and Silver Star— and they’ve figured it out.

This is not the first time I’ve written a column begging for night skiing. Sadly, it probably won’t be the last. Like the ticker on Vail Resorts’ corporate site, I’m sure they’ll get around to it eventually. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler pandemic recovery group shifts to scenario planning ‘THE WHISTLER SESSIONS’ WILL PROBE POSSIBLE RESORT FUTURES—AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

BY BRADEN DUPUIS THE WHISTLER Recovery Working Group—launched last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—is shifting gears.

The working group itself, made up of a diverse group of representatives from across the resort, wrapped in July, but work is set to continue this month through a scenario planning exercise, said chief administrative officer Virginia Cullen at the Oct. 19 Committee of the Whole meeting.

The scenario planning will consider some key questions, Cullen said.

Questions like what is the current state on the ground in the resort? What could happen in the years and decades ahead?

And what must Whistler do— individually and collectively—to recover from COVID-19 while staying true to the vision laid out in the new Official Community Plan?

“It’s not about what we want, it’s not about forecasting what we think will happen. It’s about the potential,” Cullen

IN SESSION Chief administrative officer Virginia Cullen presents to Whistler’s Committee of the Whole on Oct. 19.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

16 OCTOBER 21, 2021

said.

“What could happen, and that is both on the negative and the positive [so] there’s a real balanced look at it.”

Dubbed “The Whistler Sessions,” the exercise will run three times between now and February 2022, and probe possible futures to guide the resort beyond pandemic

towards becoming a more resilient touristbased community, as well as having our community vision come to play,” Cullen said.

A final report will be disseminated widely in the community to help all local organizations and residents work towards Whistler’s “desired future.”

“It’s not about what we want, it’s not about forecasting what we think will happen. It’s about the potential.”

- VIRGINIA CULLEN

recovery.

It will be made up of about 40 people (the original working group members and more), and result in three or four scenarios of possible futures, and the implications included in each.

“Through this, as we do this work, you’re able to identify adjustments and opportunities in our strategy and our planning processes and our action plans and operations for accelerated progress

The process will be facilitated with help from Reos Partners, which also worked with the initial recovery working group and on other community engagement initiatives, and will also integrate the ongoing work of Whistler’s Strategic Planning Committee (SPC).

The SPC, struck in late 2018 in the early days of mayor and council’s term, is currently working on a “Balance Model,“ which seeks to understand the relationships

and tradeoffs between population and other aspects of growth as they relate to the community vision.

While they complement each other, the SPC and the Whistler Sessions are distinct processes, Cullen said.

“The output [from the Whistler Sessions] is something that everybody will use to evaluate strategy in their own business and organizations,” she said.

“So I would say the Whistler Sessions is a broader community process, and the work that’s done there will help feed some good insight to the SPC work, but it doesn’t replace it.”

For all the issues now facing Whistlerites—whether it’s affordability, mental health or the labour shortage—it all comes back to housing, said Councillor Cathy Jewett.

“I really think an understanding of the kind of housing, and who we need to house, is a really important part, and I hope that that’s going to be part of the consideration,” Jewett said.

While the housing crisis will no doubt be included in the stories that come out of the sessions, “the actual question of how does housing need to be developed and brought in, and where and when, the SPC would be the place that that would be looked at in addition to the other organizations that we have working on,” Cullen said. n

NEWS WHISTLER

New Vital Signs snapshot details pandemic’s impact THE WHISTLER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION REPORT WAS RELEASED DURING OPEN HOUSE ON OCT. 12

BY MEGAN LALONDE A NEW REPORT from the Whistler Community Foundation’s (CFW) Vital Signs initiative paints the fullest picture yet of just how drastically the pandemic impacted the resort across several sectors.

The CFW released its COVID-19 Impact Snapshot during an open house held at the Whistler Public Library on Wednesday morning, Oct. 13, held in conjunction with Vital Signs Week across Canada. Vital Signs aims to foster grassroots conversations, while gathering data and using it to illustrate how a community is faring overall.

The idea for a COVID-19 Impact Snapshot came about after hosting virtual Vital Café events within the last year covering topics like youth health and wellness and parenting during the pandemic, explained Libby McKeever, WCF Vital Signs project coordinator. “We also saw that there was a huge need to talk about COVID” more generally, she said.

Added WCF executive director Claire Mozes, “We realized when we were talking at our Vital Cafés how COVID has just—and we all know this—has impacted everybody in some way or another, across industry, across ages, across every demographic, so it felt important to collect some data on this past year and see [if it can] tell us a little bit about what the community’s gone through.”

The snapshot chronicles declining mental health as the most prevalent theme of the pandemic. According to the report, 70 per cent of young adults aged 19 to 30 who responded to the WCF’s Communities that Care survey experienced worsened mental health, while 65 per cent reported experiencing anxiety.

Other notable statistics included in the report detail COVID-19’s massive impact on tourism, Whistler’s main economic driver.

The resort drew, on average, 342 visitors per day in April 2020, and 1,794 visitors per day in April 2021, the report states. That’s down significantly from the average of 19,942 visitors per day Whistler welcomed in April 2019.

“We all knew how quiet last year was.

But [to see] that stat, on paper—for me that was one that really stood out,” said Mozes.

Of the 809 Whistler residents aged 18 to 30 who responded to the survey, 38 per cent of young adults lost their jobs due to the pandemic, while 62 per cent collected government benefits due to full or partial job loss. Meanwhile, Whistler Personnel Solutions received 42 per cent fewer job applications in 2021 compared to 2020. The Whistler Food Bank saw a 52 per cent increase

in visits in 2020, with 2021 visits on track to be even higher, according to the report.

“To see those tourism stats and then just to so totally understand that ripple effect—people don’t have jobs, people who never ever would have lined up for the food bank are there, people who were brought over from other countries who had visas attached to workplaces and all of a sudden didn’t have work, couldn’t go home and they’re lined up with families,” said McKeever. “The depth and the breadth of how it affected everybody … I don’t think anybody quite understood how it could have cut so deep.”

The report also includes data about the number of crimes reported, housing costs and availability, volunteer hours lost, and Whistler Search and Rescue call-outs, as well as first-hand anecdotes proving how local arts, culture and community organizations managed to adapt.

It’s not all doom and gloom: the COVID19 Impact Snapshot also highlights a 20 per cent reduction in Whistler’s total estimated community-wide greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, while use of the library’s online courses and e-book site rose 228 per cent and 182 per cent, respectively.

“There are some nuggets in there that are good. Even if you think about Food Bank, and, OK, their user numbers went up greatly, but they also adapted and were able to offer delivery service for those people isolating and they didn’t have that before,” said Mozes. “Maybe that would be a great thing that they could keep going—I don’t know what their plans are, but maybe that helps other people that are bound at home for other reasons.”

Around 14 Whistlerites showed up to the library on Wednesday to join CFW staff for drop-in conversations about these pandemic-driven changes in the community’s housing, environment and social services situations.

The Impact Snapshot was funded by a community grant from the Real Estate Foundation of Whistler, and based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“Overwhelmingly, people were happy to have something in their hands, something tangible, where they could see at a glance what Whistler did and how [it] did” during the pandemic, McKeever recalled. The obvious connections between various sectors highlighted by the data was what seemed to strike people the most, she noted.

From a funder’s perspective, the data will hopefully encourage local organizations to recognize gaps in the community and apply for grants to fund new services to help fulfil those needs, Mozes added. n

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17

NEWS WHISTLER

Have your say on construction noise COUNCIL BRIEFS: NO PLAN TO DEAL WITH STREET PARKING; ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY CLOSES OCT. 26

BY BRADEN DUPUIS AS WHISTLER COUNCIL ponders changing construction start times to 7 a.m., the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is seeking feedback from residents and industry on permitted times for construction in residential zones.

A survey is now live at whistler.ca/ constructionnoise until 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.

“We are eager to receive input regarding the proposed Noise Bylaw and if it is consistent with the public’s expectations,” Mayor Jack Crompton said in a release.

“It’s important that we continue to check in to ensure our bylaws are reflective of community need and amend them when they are not working for us.”

Construction noise is currently permitted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in residential areas, seven days a week.

Council’s consideration for a 7 a.m. start came after a request from the Sea to Sky branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association, which noted in an Aug. 23 letter to council that the start time in many neighbouring municipalities is 7 a.m.

At its Sept. 7 meeting, council directed

MAKE SOME NOISE Whistlerites and industry can weigh in on proposed changes to construction start times until Nov. 1.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

staff to consider seasonal changes to the start time for construction noise, and return to council at a future meeting for further consideration of the noise bylaw.

If Whistlerites support changing the construction start times, the preferred options will be presented to Council for

consideration at a meeting in November.

NO PLAN TO DEAL WITH STREET PARKING Though residents continue to speak out about parking on residential streets—

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including the “dire situation” on Eagle Drive, which has effectively been turned into a parking lot, according to some residents— the RMOW said it has no plan to address the issue outside of bylaw enforcement.

In a letter to council, Eagle Drive resident David Guarasci echoed the recent sentiments of some of his neighbours, noting parking on the street has grown worse in recent years since pay parking returned to all village lots.

“The state of Eagle Drive has progressively devolved to a point where it no longer resembles a residential neighbourhood and as a resident, I am no longer willing to accept this situation,” Guarasci wrote.

“I am truly embarrassed by the scene when I turn the corner onto Eagle Drive approaching my home.”

Guarasci’s letter led to a short discussion at the council table.

“Do we have a plan for this? I’ve been down that street and it is kind of a gong show,” said Councillor Ralph Forsyth.

“Obviously we refer [the letter] to staff and then it goes into the hopper with the multitude of things that staff have to accomplish, but has anyone been down there? Has anyone turned their mind to this type of thing?”

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NEWS WHISTLER Whistler bylaw—which operates on a complaint-based response system—is “definitely aware” of the issue, said general manager of corporate and community services Ted Battiston.

“I did check into the number of responses over the past year. It is a substantial number,” Battiston said, adding that, when complaints happen, bylaw visits regularly over the next number of days.

“So our team is very aware of the issues in that space. There has been discussions of opportunities and what that might look like going forward, but there is not a formal plan to change at this moment besides continued enforcement in response to complaints.”

The problem isn’t restricted to Eagle Drive, pointed out Coun. Cathy Jewett.

“Another area is Panorama in Brio, and the reason is that there’s people from the Bike Park parking there, and then they ride into the Village,” Jewett said.

“I don’t know if it’s an issue in the winter, but it sure is in the summer, and what we can do about that I don’t know.”

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN SURVEY CLOSES OCT. 26 A survey that will inform the development of the RMOW’s Active Transportation Plan is set to close at noon on Oct. 26.

The survey aims to understand barriers

to using active transportation in the resort, while also asking for input on priority improvements for the short, medium and long term.

Once completed, the plan will be incorporated into municipal documents like the Whistler Transportation Plan, Transit Future Action Plan and Accessibility Action Plan.

Survey respondents have a chance to win a six-month bus pass valued at $270.

“I strongly encourage everyone to take part in this planning process. Efficient, practical and sustainable transportation options are extremely important to Whistlerites,” said Mayor Jack Crompton in a release.“Now is the time to share your ideas, challenges and perspectives to help us create an inclusive plan that is reflective of our needs while ensuring we are on track to meet our climate goals.”

Work on the plan is being funded by a $20,000 grant from the provincial government.

The RMOW’s Transportation Advisory Group created an Active Transportation subcommittee to guide the process.

Find the survey at whistler.ca/ letsmovewhistler, and learn more at whistler.ca/transportation.

BLACKCOMB WAY LAND USE CONTRACT SET FOR TERMINATION A Land Use Contract (LUC) on Blackcomb

Way is the next set for termination in Whistler, as a provincial deadline to terminate all LUCs in the province draws nearer.

Council gave first two readings of a termination bylaw for the LUC at 4644 Blackcomb Way at its Oct. 19 meeting, while also authorizing staff to schedule a public hearing.

The RMOW has been working to rezone eight areas in the resort affected

by LUCs—a regulatory tool used by the province between 1970 and 1980 as a way of contracting all the development regulations that apply to a property— since 2016.

In May of 2014, the Local Government Act was amended to automatically terminate all LUCs on June 30, 2024— which means municipalities across B.C. must have new zoning in place for these areas before June 30, 2022.

This past June, with just three LUCs rezoned so far and time running out, council endorsed a new streamlined approach for their termination.

The five still remaining represent about 2,350 lots and 43 stratas.

The Blackcomb Way LUC affects lands next to the Fairmont Chateau Golf Course containing six buildings with a total of 46 townhouse dwellings.

The lands in question are currently split-zoned, with a portion subject to the LUC and the remainder zoned Residential/Tourist Accommodation

18, said planner Philip Gibbins in a presentation to council.

Once adopted, the proposed termination bylaw will apply the RTA18 zone to the entirety of the subject lands, which provide for the existing approved development and uses.

A notification letter was sent to registered owners affected by the termination, along with a copy of the draft proposed RTA18 zone, though no public submissions have been received to date, Gibbins said.

“Is there any possibility within our rules and regulations that we can also notify the property manager, or the strata manager, in that they have a direct communication [with owners]?” asked Coun. John Grills.

“We want to make sure that people are properly notified.”

RMOW staff is in contact with strata and ownership groups about LUCs, said general manager of resort experience Jessie Gresley-Jones.

“I think we are getting the message out there,” he said.

“And as these continue to come to council on a hopefully more regular basis in the coming months and year, this will become more obvious, generally, to all individuals who are in LUC areas.”

A public hearing will follow prior to third reading.

Read more at whistler.ca/ landusecontracts. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler RCMP warn of online rental scams HOUSING AVAILABILITY ‘NEARLY NON-EXISTENT’ THIS FALL

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WITH A PREDICTABLY tight housing market in Whistler as winter approaches, the RCMP is warning residents of potential online rental and property scams.

Local police usually see an increase in scams at this time of year, targeting both long-term and short-term rentals, RCMP said in a release.

“Fraudsters can be very convincing and anyone can be a victim of a scam, but there are some things everyone can do to reduce their risk,” said Cpl. Nate Miller in the release.

Police recommend visiting the address in-person; requesting a lease or contract and reviewing it thoroughly; and searching online marketplaces for the posted rental address to ensure there aren’t duplicates.

“If the person requests payment in crypto currency, gift cards or e-transfer, this is a strong indicator of a scam,” Miller said.

“If you feel rushed or pushed to do something, it could be a sign of a scam. Go with your gut. If it seems off, it probably is.”

Those who think they are the victim of a scam can contact the Whistler RCMP, while suspected scams can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www. antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/indexeng.htm.

Sarah Singh from Toronto was excited to make the move to Whistler this winter, and even had a job lined up with Whistler Blackcomb—before she fell victim to an online scam herself.

As a person with disabilities, Singh said WB’s staff housing accommodations wouldn’t work for her, and she was desperate to find a one-bedroom apartment.

“It was like looking for a needle in a haystack,” she said of her search for a Whistler home.

Most of the landlords she contacted didn’t reply, but a link sent by a friend through Craigslist offered some hope.

The man who replied said his name was Jacob, that he lived in the U.S. and was looking for a “respectable tenant” to rent his apartment on Spearhead Drive.

“This all goes back to the fact that I don’t have experience in renting, but he said that once I pay the deposit he would send out the keys in the mail, and the lease information and all that type of stuff,” Singh said, adding that she sent the man $1,444.

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“Part of it was because it was so hard to even secure a place—I was like, ‘I’m willing to do whatever I can to secure this place, because it’s so impossible to even find somewhere.”

After she sent the deposit, the man sent a link to a website that showed a tracking number.

“It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

- SARAH SINGH

Soon after, he asked for another month’s rent, claiming his wife was in the hospital— which set off the red flags for Singh.

When she threatened to go to the police if the keys and contract didn’t arrive, the man cut off contact entirely, and when she went to report the listing online it was gone.

“Now I look back on it, it’s like, ‘You’re so stupid … clearly it was too good to be true,’” Singh said.

“But at that point I was so desperate to find somewhere to live, you know?”

Singh said she filed a report with the Toronto Police, but “I’m really just not optimistic, because I’m sure that name is fake, I’m sure everything is fake … changed his number, changed his name, changed the email.”

As for her dream of moving to Whistler, Singh said she has given up the ghost.

“Because this all happened, it really just turned me off from Whistler,” she said.

“Which is so sad, because I was really looking forward to it.”

But Singh isn’t alone in her desperate search, according to the 36,000-member Whistler Housing Rentals for Locals Facebook group.

According to administrator Jen Biberdorf, the group currently has about 200 “looking for housing” ads posted (which is actually about half of what was typically posted in the same time period pre-pandemic).

“Mainly singles and couples, but some families have been struggling as well.

Housing availability is nearly non-existent this fall,” Biberdorf said. “In the spring there were 100 new beds added to the market, however the number of shared rooms seems to have been reduced. The past few years I only really recommend house hunting in spring.” n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler records highest-ever vacant land sale STONEBRIDGE LOT SELLS FOR $9 MILLION, AS MARKET COMES BACK ‘WITH A VENGEANCE’

BY MEGAN LALONDE WHISTLER’S REAL estate market already has a reputation for pricey listings, but a recent land sale is pushing the parameters of what’s considered expensive to new levels.

Whistler Real Estate Company agent John Ryan recently set the record for highest land sale price recorded in Whistler with the transaction of a 5.44-acre (2.2 hectare) lot at 5466 Stonebridge Drive for $9 million.

Located on the west side of the valley in the eminent Stonebridge development, the residentially-zoned property offers panoramic views of Sproatt, Wedge, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, as well as “spectacular views” of Green and Alta Lakes, said Ryan. The sale was finalized in late September, without ever being formally listed on the market.

“It’s owned by the actual developers of Stonebridge, so it wasn’t actively being marketed,” said Ryan. “We just brought them the buyer.”

The property was assessed for $3,788,000 in July 2020, according to BC Assessment.

The final sale price is “pretty well bang on,” to what Ryan and his team expected, the realtor said. The price technically matches that of another Stonebridge lot— this one with about 10.87 acres, or 4.4 hectares—previously sold by Ryan for $9 million in autumn 2015. “That lot and this particular lot are Stonebridge’s two best lots,” he noted.

It represents yet another record for Ryan, who also represented Whistler’s highest-ever property sale at $22.225 million in 2016.

This latest lot sale clearly “illustrates that Whistler is on the map for the uberbuyers now,” said Ann Chiasson, managing broker and owner of RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate.

Though the recently sold Stonebridge property is no doubt sizeable by Whistler standards, it’s not solely the lot’s acreage that’s responsible for pushing the sale price to record-setting status, Chiasson explained.

“Stonebridge is a prestigious development,” she said. “The people that are buying up there have the money to buy what they want, and also, the views are spectacular.”

For comparison’s sake, Chiasson’s brokerage recently sold a four-acre lot in the WedgeWoods development, slightly north of Green Lake, for $2.3 million.

It takes about the same time to travel “from [marketplace] to Stonebridge as it is to WedgeWoods, and it has similar zoning,” she explained. “If I was buying into the prestigious-ness of Stonebridge

and I wanted to pay $9 million, that’s one thing, but if I looked at practicalities and I could buy a four-acre lot at WedgeWoods for $2.3 [million], some people might make [a different] decision.”

According to data from Whistler Listing Services provided by RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, there have been 48 vacant land properties sold in Whistler so far this year, compared with 15 in the entirety of 2020, 10 in the whole of 2019 and 14 in 2018. As of Oct. 12, a total of 66 lots have sold in Whistler since January 2020.

The market is booming again in 2021, with 319 properties of all types sold in the first quarter of the year, 211 in Q2, and 231 in Q3. “Last year, the market was kind of coming back in summer, if you will, and this year it came back with a vengeance,” said Chiasson. “It was a very strange market.”

With limited inventory available this year, Chiasson tells the story of highly competitive, multiple-buyer situations and “difficulty for anything that’s priced reasonably,” she said. “This [$9] million lot, it had one buyer, but if you put a house in Alpine on the market at $2.8 [million], there’ll be anywhere from five to 10 buyers.”

Said Ryan, “There’s such a shortage of product, period, no matter if it’s condos or townhomes, single-family chalets, land; everything is just in incredibly short supply … [the market] is active, there’s no question about it.”

He added, “In all segments of the market, it’s short supply and high demand.”

And Whistler isn’t likely to see an influx of vacant land listed for sale anytime soon, Ryan explained.

“We’re very close to being out of bare land, and you’re already starting to see a lot of tear downs of smaller cabins, which has happened in more established resorts like Vail and Aspen, where they’ve been dealing with tear downs for decades—so it’s a bit new to us.”

According to Chiasson, there were 31 vacant lots for sale in Whistler as of Oct. 12.

Data shows the average sale price of a chalet, or single-family home, in Whistler is just over $4 million in 2021, compared to $3.265 in 2020 and $2.861 in 2019. The average sale price of vacant land is $1.68 million in 2021, down from $1.893 million in 2020 but up from $1.68 million in 2019.

Also of note, Canadians made up 95.91 per cent of Whistler property buyers from January to August 2021, with 2.95 per cent coming from the U.S. and Hong Kong buyers totalling 0.68 per cent. In 2019, 83.99 per cent of Whistler buyers were Canadian, while 10.24 per cent of buyers were American, and 2.61 per cent were of Chinese origin. n

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23

NEWS WHISTLER

How can B.C. municipalities better direct spending?

WHISTLER’S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HEARS PRESENTATION ON SOCIAL PROCUREMENT

BY BRADEN DUPUIS A NEW PROVINCIAL INITIATIVE aims to help municipalities get more bang for their buck.

The British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative (BCSPI), announced by the province in June, encourages local governments and organizations to pool resources, and gives them the tools and training to make smarter purchasing decisions that focus on best value rather than just the lowest price.

“Social procurement is the idea that every purchase has environmental, cultural and social impacts, whether you intend or not,” said Tori Williamson, director of education and communications with Buy Social Canada, a social enterprise with a mission to advance social procurement.

“The idea is that you’re not just going to be leveraging the economic value of your purchase, but you’re also going to be thinking about, is there other types of value that could be created that can contribute to your community and social goals?”

Every year, governments at every level spend billions on contracts and services— through the BCSPI, the idea is to add more positive intention to where the money is actually spent.

“[Governments] can think about, ‘OK, we already have strategies for our communities around things like poverty reduction, affordable housing, inequality, diversity— how can we use the money we’re already spending to achieve the goals we already have?” Williamson said.

“It makes sense across the political spectrum because you’re using the same spend to achieve more.”

There are 30 municipalities that are currently members of the BCSPI, Williamson said in a presentation to Whistler’s Committee of the Whole on Oct. 19, each of them taking different approaches to social procurement.

Members have spent more than $200 million on social procurement initiatives related to more than 50 pilot projects so far, Williamson said.

One example comes from the Comox Valley Regional District, where officials looked to install a $126-million water treatment plant while also maximizing employment, skills training and apprenticeship opportunities for local disadvantaged, equity-seeking and marginalized people.

“They were kind of curious if it was going to have additional costs on the project,” Williamson said, noting that the perception that social procurement will increase costs is a common myth.

“It makes sense across the political spectrum because you’re using the same spend to achieve more.”

- TORI WILLIAMSON

“They found that there was no additional cost and they were actually able to get double the amount of targeted (community employment benefit) hours that they initially looked at.”

Being a member of the BCSPI includes considering your broader objectives, then identifying opportunities to “incorporate social value in your existing purchasing,” Williamson said.

“So what are services you’re procuring, what are construction projects that are coming up, how can you leverage that spend to achieve the objectives that you’ve identified?” she said.

Member municipalities also aim to incorporate “community and vendor engagement, as well as training and education, and report on metrics throughout

the whole process,” she added.

The BCSPI grew out of a smaller program launched in 2016 focused on Vancouver Island and coastal communities.

On June 16, the provincial government announced a $500,000 grant to expand the program across the province.

The funding allows BCSPI members access to four partner organizations—Buy Social Canada, Presentation Plus Training and Consulting, Scale Collaborative and the Vancouver Island Construction Association—as well as lessons learned by other member municipalities.

“Everything is completely discounted—you get free training for your team, you get free consulting, [and] you get access to the member online centre,” Williamson said, adding that Whistler’s fee for the year would be about $1,500.

“The whole team is here to try and make it as easy as possible for [members]. I know that local governments are working their butts off; everybody has so much on their plate, so we want to make this as accessible and approachable as possible.”

Whistler’s mayor and council expressed interest in the concept, and a decision on whether to become a BCSPI member will come at a later date.

Find more info, including case studies from member municipalities, at bcspi.ca n

RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION OF INTEREST IN PROPERTY

This notice is pursuant to sections 24 and 26 of the Community Charter that the Council of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is considering a resolution to dispose of an interest in property by granting a first mortgage having a value of $33 million to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for the purpose of developing affordable employee and retiree housing. The mortgage, in the event of default, would give RBC recourse to land only, and not to the financial interests of the RMOW or its wholly owned subsidiary Whistler 2020 Development Corp (WDC). The mortgage will be registered on those parcels of land commonly referred to as “Cheakamus Crossing, Phase 2” and described as Lots 1 and 4, Plan EPP111931 of PID 026-772-213, Block A District Lot 8073 Group 1 New Westminster District, Except Plan EPP277 (the Lands), and the affordable employee and retiree housing will be developed on Lot 1. The term of the mortgage is less than 5 years. The RMOW is the registered owner of the Lands, and WDC is the beneficial owner of the Lands and is developing the affordable housing on behalf of the RMOW under a development agreement. To that extent, the RMOW is providing assistance to WDC by granting the mortgage as an interest in the municipal Lands.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca 24 OCTOBER 21, 2021

NEWS WHISTLER

‘A long-held dream’ come true: Safe housing now available for women in Whistler MAJOR DONATION ALLOWS HOWE SOUND WOMEN’S CENTRE TO PURCHASE TOWNHOUSE

BY MEGAN LALONDE FINALLY, women fleeing abuse in Whistler have the option to seek shelter in their own community.

The Howe Sound Women’s Centre (HSWC) recently established a temporary safe-home program utilizing unoccupied short-term rentals and secured long-term, affordable second-stage housing, in the form of a newly purchased townhouse, to support the needs of locally based survivors of gender-based violence.

Both the safe house and the second-stage housing were a long time coming, explained HSWC executive director Ashley Oakes. For years, women escaping violence in Whistler had to travel to Squamish or Pemberton to access safe housing. It was a hurdle often made insurmountable by factors like employment, children’s schooling, and transportation options that, in many cases, left survivors and their children stuck in dangerous or difficult situations.

“There was no emergency housing in Whistler of any kind, and it was a massive gap in service that we’ve been trying to address for years, and all within the span of a couple months, it came together,” said Oakes. “We are only hoping to be able to expand it from here.”

The HSWC was able to purchase the twobedroom townhome that will now serve as second-stage housing in August, thanks to an “unparalleled” $800,000 donation from parttime Whistler residents the Janzen family and $140,000 that was previously donated by Clasina Van Bemmel for this purpose in 2015.

“It was actually because of an article in the Pique that this all came together,” said Oakes. “I was interviewed back in the spring regarding housing needs in Whistler, and a local donor read the article, was motivated to support us. [The Janzens] reached out directly to me after reading that article and essentially bought us a townhouse outright.”

Oakes called the generous gesture “a career highlight,” in terms of fundraising.

“It was amazing,” she added. “Having that kind of a donation handed over and entrusted with us was incredible.”

The first tenant moved in on Sept. 15.

Lease agreements for this type of housing typically cover a one-year period and are “hyper-affordable,” said Oakes. HSWC’s new townhome, for example, is being offered at a monthly rate of $1,200. The fully furnished home allows families to live independently, but offers easy access to HSWC’s services.

Second-stage housing generally serves women, children and their pets who are either moving out of transitional housing or safe housing and in need of longer-term accommodations, or who are struggling to gain access to market housing and are in need

of support in order to take that next step.

But for those in need of that initial emergency safe housing, there’s also good news. A $200,000 grant from the Union of BC Municipalities recently provided to the Resort Municipality of Whistler is funding a pilot project that will see the HSWC operate a series of safe homes in unfilled Airbnbs and hotel rooms across the resort. The initiative began this month and is set to run until July 2022.

The Whistler Safe Home project addresses increased demand for emergency short-term housing by offering stays up to one month, and also aims to gain insights and data about the need for such shelters in Whistler beyond the grant funding’s mandate.

According to the HSWC, the RCMP has reported an increase in domestic violence calls over the past year, while the centre itself has housed individuals escaping domestic violence throughout the Sea to Sky corridor for nearly 1,400 nights. Earlier this year, Oakes told Pique that, anecdotally, 40 to 50 per cent of HSWC’s calls come from Whistler, but said that hasn’t translated to the numbers seen at their Pemberton or Squamish transition houses.

Whistler’s new safe home pilot project doesn’t necessarily have a capacity limit, said Oakes. “We could house multiple people at a time because we’re using a variety of locations and sites,” she explained. “Our hope is that we would be housing upwards of 30 folks through these next few months—it’ll all be based on need and demand, but we intend to be able to meet the needs of anybody that calls and wants to stay in Whistler.”

With reduced capacity at its existing safe and transition homes during the COVID19 pandemic, the HSWC has already been accessing what it calls “expansion sites” through hotel accommodations across the Sea to Sky over the last year, with support from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.

Now, the HSWC is advocating for long-term funding that will allow a safe home to continue to operate in Whistler once the current pilot project ends in July, Oakes added.

“We’re also looking at ways that we can support either access to existing affordable housing units in Whistler, or expand our housing stock in Whistler to be able to provide that housing,” she added. “That will be something that we continue to prioritize.”

The HSWC also recently launched a 24-hour mobile sexual assault response team in an effort to meet the needs of sexual assault survivors at any time, at any location within the Sea to Sky corridor, Oakes said.

Women requiring Howe Sound Women’s Centre services can call the 24-hour crisis line at 1-877-890-5711. For emails and a full list of services available, visit hswc.ca/get-help.

Men in crisis can contact the Whistler Community Services Society at mywcss. org/about-us/contact. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

The Bear Facts: Give B.C. bears a break

BY LUCI CADMAN WINTER’S REST can’t come soon enough for bears in B.C., as they continue to navigate increasing human-caused pressures and push through another challenging season.

(Editor’s note: Here in Whistler to date, the Conservation Officer Service has received 232 bear-related complaints, one bear was killed due to extensive conflict history and publicsafety concerns, and no relocations have occurred.)

THE PANDEMIC COST BEARS THEIR LIVES As bears sought shade and water sources to cool off during berry-scorching heatwaves, so did we. Unattended picnics and packs, strewn garbage and careless campers contributed to several park, trail and campsite closures and countless black bears being killed for their curiosity.

During the pandemic, BC Parks restrictions pushed unsanctioned trailblazers into new areas, impacting vital food sources and safe places to den, and making human behaviour less predictable. Vulnerable bears living on the periphery of the community rarely have the option to venture further into

the wilderness. Instead, they are displaced to lower elevations, increasing sightings and the risk to their safety.

Many people expect bears to behave in a way that is not true to their nature. You may not notice most bears passing through the community. They’re quiet and use their olfactory senses to source routes with the least opportunity for close encounters with humans. After all, we are an unpredictable neighbour, even if loud and intrusive.

RESPECT A BEAR’S PERSONAL SPACE Few things draw a crowd of people faster than a bear that dares to be seen. But the reality for bears living close to urban areas is that they can rarely afford to choose how far away they stay from people.

Many people have an exaggerated fear of black bears because they are so commonly misrepresented. We’ve been conditioned to believe they are bold if they dare to be visible.

We implore you to make the right choice for yourself and bears by never intentionally stepping into their personal space. Though they may appear comfortable with your presence, bears show signs of stress. Their attempts to ‘’speak’’ to us are frequently overlooked. A salivating bear is often described as one who is “frothing at

the mouth.” In fact, this intelligent animal is communicating with us and requesting space.

COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS These intelligent animals are not afraid of us and we don’t want them to be. We must acknowledge that these animals are in close proximity to people daily—without incident.

A calm bear walking through a residential area during the day is often mislabelled as “habituated,” a word that puts B.C. bears on target to become an unforgiveable statistic.

It is safer for everyone that a smart bear chooses to saunter as they pass through the community—they have no desire to bump into us, or our dogs.

For many, bears are expected to experience life under the cloak of darkness.

This may make people feel more comfortable sharing the landscape, but it isn’t realistic.

Daytime activity from bears is normal. The time of day and the areas they occupy are mostly dictated by hierarchy within their community. Expect to see bears close to homes, but know they won’t stay for long, providing we don’t invite them to.

In the fall, bears are under pressure to find calories before winter arrives. The fat reserves they build in the fall are integral to their survival and prospective cubs. Mating

season for bears takes place in the spring and summer months, but a fertilized egg will only develop if a female bear has gained enough weight during the fall period of excessive eating.

FEEDING WILDLIFE IS ILLEGAL, INTENTIONALLY OR NOT Attempting to help bears gain their winter weight may result in a record-breaking fine, as a Whistler resident recently found out. Though the act of feeding bears may be fuelled by good intentions, in British Columbia supplying bears with nourishment almost always results in those bears being killed. Unintentional feeding by failing to secure garbage, hanging bird feeders and allowing fruit to accumulate outside homes, contributes to hundreds of bears being killed every year.

Give bears a break by respecting their home and personal space, by not tempting them to the neighbourhood and by acknowledging that, like us, they are facing all the pressures of a modern world.

Luci Cadman is the Executive Director of the North Shore Black Bear Society.

Learn more about coexisting with bears at northshorebears.com and at Whistler’s Get Bear Smart Society. n

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NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

Food Recovery Action Plan presented to Pemberton council A NEW FOOD RECOVERY ACTION PLAN THAT AIMS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE ACROSS THE CORRIDOR WAS PRESENTED TO VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON OCT. 19

BY HARRISON BROOKS ON OCT. 19, Village of Pemberton (VOP) mayor and council were presented with a report seeking their continued collaboration on a Sea to Sky Food Recovery Strategy.

The report, presented by the Village’s OCP policy planner Lisa Pedrini and Whistler Centre for Sustainability’s planning and engagement specialist Shannon Gordon, is aimed at reducing food waste in the Sea to Sky corridor by improving food recovery and redistribution efforts.

Food recovery simply means redistributing all food that can be kept out of the waste stream by donating it to local food programs.

In Pemberton and the surrounding area, food waste currently accounts for approximately 10 per cent of the waste stream, while over 70 per cent of the current waste heading to landfills could have been either recycled or composted.

The report also outlined food security issues in Pemberton and the surrounding area. Five per cent of people are food insecure according to the report, with that number quadrupling in First Nations

FOOD WASTE Nearly three quarters of the Village of Pemberton’s current waste could be recycled or composted, according to a Food Recovery report.

PHOTO BY GETTYIMAGES.CA

28 OCTOBER 21, 2021

communities.

“This data is [from] 2013, so that has probably increased. Certainly, during COVID, youth are more at risk with seven per cent going to bed hungry and not having food in the morning for breakfast,” said Gordon.

“And then Indigenous peoples are even higher in terms of being food insecure at 22 per cent. So [there are] certainly some

“Sometimes there’s food available and they have nowhere to store it, especially the perishable stuff,” said Gordon.

A few ways the strategies could be rolled out, as Pedrini outlined at the Oct. 19 council meeting, include increasing access to commercial kitchen spaces that are large enough to handle the processing and preserving of food donations, and encouraging a take-home culture when it

“Sometimes there’s food available and they have nowhere to store it, especially the perishable stuff.”

- SHANNON GORDON

challenges in our area.”

The report outlines five strategies to address these food and waste issues, including: securing additional recovered food donations to meet food bank and program needs, removing barriers to accessing food programs, working with remote communities on food recovery and redistribution as desired or requested, and building overall capacity related to food waste and recovery.

One example of how these strategies could potentially be accomplished is as simple as finding more cold storage space to store recovered food.

comes to leftover food from events and gatherings, as guest-facing foods are not eligible to be donated to foodbanks.

Overall, within the five strategies targeting areas of need, the report outlines 27 total recommended actions for the Village to adopt to reach its goals of reducing food waste and increasing food accessibility for those in need.

One concern about the report, raised

by Councillor Ted Craddock, was the lack of emphasis on educating people about how food items should be properly disposed of.

“From my personal perspective, I find

I don’t have any garbage at the end of the month, I compost and recycle everything.

So I guess for me reading through there, I didn’t see anything there that said, OK, save your broccoli ends or don’t throw out that can that’s dented,” he said. “So how does the ordinary person understand what can be utilized? Rather than looking at and saying, ‘well the orange is bruised, I don’t want to eat that and so I’m just going to throw it out.’”

In response to Craddock, Gordon pointed to Action 24 in the plan, which aims to deliver the “Love Food, Hate Waste” campaign to educate people on food waste and celebrate major food donors. However, she did admit more could be done on the education side and expressed her hope that the Village will join the Resort Municipality of Whistler in pushing this campaign to more people (Pique, Oct. 11, “What to do about our immense food waste”).

The report was ultimately received by mayor and council, with a motion raised and seconded to follow the report’s recommendations “that the Village of Pemberton continues to support the Village’s participation in regional collaboration around food waste reduction and zero waste,” and “that Council direct staff to include relevant information and actions from the Sea to Sky Food Recovery Strategy and Action Plan in relevant policy work such as the Official Community Plan and the Community Climate Action Plan.” n

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pemberton.ca OCTOBER 21, 2021

29

SCIENCE MATTERS

Why not leave those leaves alone?

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AS AUTUMN BRINGS COOLER, shorter days, people in Canada will rake, mow and blow leaves from more than six million lawns. It’s a task you might want to ignore. Leaving the leaves can save you time and help pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Why do leaves fall in the first place? It starts with photosynthesis, which is how plants make their own food using energy from sunlight hitting their leaves. You may

BY DAVID SUZUKI

604•902•1891 www.heikedesigns.com

TIP of the week:

Getting ready for winter in the garden? - part 1:

• Maximize winter interest with cool plants • Move pots and tender plants inside • Keep watering potted plants in the winter

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Resort Municipality of Whistler

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30 OCTOBER 21, 2021

recall that chlorophyll is the hero of the story. It’s a pigment that absorbs sunlight and gives plants and leaves their green colour. Plants use that energy to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to create glucose, a type of sugar.

They combine sugars and nutrients from the soil to grow, releasing oxygen in the process.

Once fall arrives, deciduous trees shed their leaves through a process called “abscission,” which means “to cut.”

Chlorophyll molecules begin to break down, which allows other less-celebrated pigments to reveal themselves. These include carotenoids, the same molecules that make bananas yellow and carrots orange, and anthocyanins, which give red leaves their brilliance. Sunny warm days, cool nights and dry conditions can draw the colours out longer, while cold, wet, overcast weather can speed up the

into tree leaves as they fall. Woolly bear caterpillars tuck themselves into leaf layers.

Critters like bumblebee queens that have burrowed into the ground to hibernate also appreciate a layer of leafy insulation. And insects in the leaf layer provide a natural fall buffet for birds, chipmunks and squirrels, including birds called thrashers that “thrash” the fallen leaves to find insects.

What can you do to help these critters? The easiest option is to “leave the leaves”—the name of a growing international campaign led by the U.S.based Xerces Society. Instead of mowing, blowing, raking and bagging, consider leaving leaves where they fall.

Research shows leaving a thin layer of mulched leaves over winter won’t smother your beloved turfgrass. Instead, it can boost soil and lawn health. Just run the mower over the leaves and allow them to break down naturally. If you’re fortunate enough to have many trees and a colourful abundance of leaves, consider using them as mulch for garden beds and around trees and shrubs. If you must keep your lawn leaf-free, perhaps find space to pile them somewhere to naturally decompose.

Fall is also a good time to think about other ways to make your yard a safe haven for beneficial insects and wildlife. Many insects overwinter as pupae in the soil, and most wild bees overwinter underground, so when you tidy your garden, avoid disturbing the soil. When cleaning up your veggies and herbs, leave the roots in the soil so they can naturally decompose and add nutrients for next spring. And be sure to leave some seed heads and berries to feed birds through the

Research shows leaving a thin layer of mulched leaves over winter won’t smother your beloved turfgrass.

Instead, it can boost soil and lawn health.

leaf decomposition process, creating compounds called “tannins,” which produce less glamorous brown foliage.

When leaves hit the ground, they almost immediately begin to break down into the soil at the base of the tree. They provide a warm blanket to shield roots from the biting cold of winter and eventually send nutrients back into the soil. This is the tree’s cycle of life: nutrients from fallen leaves are absorbed into the roots and help produce buds and leaves again next spring. Drop, decompose, absorb, repeat.

As for pollinators, while the migratory flight of monarch butterflies generates much buzz, most butterflies and moths spend their winters closer to home, overwintering as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises or adults.

Swallowtail butterflies camouflage their chrysalises as dried leaves, which get mixed

winter. Fall is also the best time to expand your wildflower garden. Seeds and bulbs should be planted once it gets too cool for them to germinate.

(The David Suzuki Foundation’s Beebnb program offers tips on how to be a superhost for bees and butterflies.)

I hope you get to see wondrous fall landscapes, filled with brilliant reds, yellows and oranges. But before you start raking, know that leaves are not litter.

They’re nature’s butterfly nursery and a free source of mulch and fertilizer. So, put your feet up and try a little wilderness this fall.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Strategist Jode Roberts. ■

RANGE ROVER

Reduce carbon and anxiety, ski by train AS BORDERS OPEN and travel is contemplated again, I’m looking forward to a more typical winter. One thing that has permanently changed for me as a working travel journalist, however, is trying to minimize my own carbon footprint as well as selling the idea to fellow travellers.

This involves not flying somewhere if I can reach it another way, or, if I have to fly to a

BY LESLIE ANTHONY different part of the planet, getting around via lower-carbon ground transport.

This has worked well for me in many parts of the world—particularly Europe and Southeast Asia/Japan. Which brings me to this: I love skiing by train. Not only do trains lower your carbon footprint, they’re also much less stressful than flying. Which makes taking a train to go skiing the Zen of outdoor travel experiences. Here are ten options from around the world.

THE GLACIER EXPRESS—An über-rail that unpacks both Switzerland’s breathtaking mountain scenery and fascinating alpine cultures, this storied train features luxurious viewing and dining cars— replete with specially designed wine glasses that compensate the train’s tilt on curves.

The 7.5-hour route from Zermatt to St. Moritz includes 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the 2,033-metre Oberalp Pass, but doing it in one shot is a great shame when you can stop

SKI BY TRAIN

The end-of-day train that returns skiers from Sedrun to Andermatt in the Andermatt Ski Arena, Switzerland.

PHOTO BY LESLIE ANTHONY

at storied resorts like Bettmeralp, Zermatt, Andermatt and St. Moritz.

EUROSTAR SKI TRAIN—Since 1997 the iconic Eurostar has run twice weekly from London’s Waterloo Station to the Tarentaise region of the French Alps, dropping skiers at Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice for quick access by bus, taxi and even directly by aerial tram to 16 major ski resorts, including Méribel, Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d’Isère. With 750 per train, Friday overnight and Saturday daytime services carry 24,000 skiers each winter.

VATNAHALSEN TRAIN—Located at the top of the Flåm Valley near Bergen on Norway’s west coast, Vatnahalsen Mountain Lodge dates to 1896. Famously referred to as the “St. Moritz of the North” in the 1930s, the lodge is only accessible by train. Combined with world-

cities like Gothenburg, Östersund, Luleå, Stockholm and Malmö. But you can also reach the popular ski resort of Åre on a night train from Stockholm, or do the long haul into the Arctic Circle through the iron-mining town of Kiruna to ski Abisko, Björkliden, Riksgränsen and even Narvik, Norway.

COLORADO SKI TRAIN—In California, a skier can ride from Oakland to Truckee via Amtrak’s California Zephyr, and catch a cab up to Northstar, Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows.

And there’s a ski train out of Boston to Wachusett, though the last few kilometres are by van. These slim pickings make the ol’ D&RG Ski Train from Denver to Winter Park, now well into its 70s, unique in the U.S. as the only dedicated train that delivers skiers directly to a ski hill.

as from Sapporo to resorts on Hokkaido.

Popular day trips from Tokyo include: the bullet train ride to Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Area or “KaruSki”; the express train Azusa from Tokyo’s Shinjuku station to Fujimi Panorama Resort in Nagano; and the short trip from Tokyo Station on the Max Tanigawa bullet-train to GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, where the ski-area ticket counter is actually in the train station.

VIA RAIL SNOW TRAIN EXPRESS—From Edmonton, Alberta, hop on the Via Rail Snow Train to Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world. At Jasper Station, head to your hotel and can catch a free shuttle to nearby Marmot Basin ski resort.

LE MASSIF TRAIN—An off-the-radar world-

I love skiing by train. Not only do trains lower your carbon footprint, they’re also much less stressful than flying.

class destination, one of many features that set Le Massif, Quebec, apart is that it can be reached by train. There was no accommodation at the hill until Club Med opened this year, so if you were here more than a day you’d traditionally bunk in the riverside town of Baie St. Paul. From there, a scenic 40-minute train ride delivers you to Le Massif station where you board a gondola to the main base area.

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD—The most exotic class freeriding and ski-touring this makes a trip to Vatnahalsen a unique experience.

When conditions allow, ski to the bottom of the valley and ride the world-famous Flåm Railway back to the lodge.

SWEDISH NIGHT TRAIN—There’s no better way to comfortably travel Sweden’s vast distances than by night, and Sweden’s state rail company SJ offers one of the most modern night train services in Europe direct to major

ALASKA SKI TRAIN—As a fundraiser for the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, this train is a unique, once-a-year chance to get out and explore Alaska’s backcountry by ski or snowshoe. From Anchorage, the train journeys north to Curry, a remote area north of Talkeetna that was once home to a ski resort long since lost to a fire.

TOKYO SKI TRAINS—Japan runs regular trains from Tokyo north to ski country, as well

entry on this list, it may not be a ski train per se, but the Trans-Siberian Railroad traverses almost 10,000 km of Mother Russia, delivering you to little-known places and mountain ranges that showcase a fringe backcountry ski community, deep Siberian powder, and skiing’s ancient origins.

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

OCTOBER 21, 2021

31

FEATURE STORY

House Sales Are Booming in Rural B.C. — and Renters Are Getting Slammed

As landlords cash out their ‘investment’ properties, many tenants are losing affordable homes

By Alex Cosh // TheTyee.ca

32 OCTOBER 21, 2021

FEATURE STORY

Housing is an issue often in the headlines in Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor. In this feature from the Tyee published in July we get a glimpse into other communities dealing with similar challenges from the Kootenays to the Sunshine Coast. ntil recently, Rick Dupperon and his family lived in a three-bedroom house in Creston, B.C., paying $900 a month.

That ended in early March, when his landlord told Dupperon that he planned to sell the property and gave him two months’ notice to leave. Dupperon and his family moved out on June 1.

Dupperon, still friends with his former landlord, did not anticipate how difficult it would be to find a new place at an affordable rate. “We’ve moved a fair number of times over the years, but what got us in a pickle is there’s just nothing available,” he says.

Dupperon and his family are staying in a camping trailer in a relative’s backyard. Dupperon, who receives disability assistance, has had the $700 shelter portion of his benefit cut because a trailer is not considered a permanent dwelling. It will only be reinstated, he says, if he finds a new place to rent.

The problem is that the few places for rent are mostly significantly more expensive than his family’s previous rent.

“We’re seeing everything from $1,135 up to $2,000 or more a month,” Dupperon says. “We’re looking constantly, everywhere we can. We talk to everybody we can.”

Dupperon and others facing similar hardships are being affected by rising property values and sales.

Data compiled by the Kootenay Association of Realtors, which encompasses Creston, shows the average sale price for residential units was more than $450,000 in May, compared to just under $275,000 for the same month in 2012. The average sale value for May 2020 was just under $375,000.

With 371 homes sold, sales activity in the region in May 2021 was, unsurprisingly, much higher than May 2020, one of the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also 26.3 per cent higher than the 10-year average for

that month.

This is a trend across much of rural B.C.—and, in fact, much of Canada— where rising property values have been motivating landlords in rural communities and small towns and cities to sell their rental properties, often to buyers moving in from cities.

This housing boom, frequently reported on in the context of middleclass buyers being squeezed out of formerly more accessible markets, is also displacing tenants in every corner of B.C., according to renters, realtors and property owners.

Many tenants are now being forced to compete for a dwindling supply of rental units at much higher costs.

According to Chuck Bennett, president of the Kootenay Association of Realtors, the vast majority of buyers are coming from within the West Kootenays area rather than major cities.

But, he says, many only moved to the area recently and are often first-time buyers.

“For younger buyers, a lot of them we’re seeing support from the parents, so wealth has transferred from the baby boomers who have quite a bit of money,” Bennett says. “There’s a lot of equity in the properties in the cities. I think it’s making its way out into the rural areas.”

Demand is fuelled by low interest rates, the appeal of easy access to outdoor activities and increased options for remote work. These buyers, who plan to live in the units rather than rent them out, are motivating some landlords to cash out of the market.

“There’s talk of the bubble coming to an end,” says Bennett. “So we are seeing sellers say, ‘Hey, you know what, it’s time, let’s put the rental property up for sale.’”

A landlord from the Kootenays who spoke on condition of anonymity says he’s seen the assessed value on several of his properties go up by a combined total of more than $100,000 in the past year.

OCTOBER 21, 2021

33

FEATURE STORY

e that iz al re to ed ne s rd lo d n a “L e, it becomes

when you rent a hom you feel at your home. It’s whereflip pantly say, peace or not. People will ’ ‘I guess you need to move, , and e m o h y m is is th t u b and my this is where my children whole grandchildren live and my asy, e t a th t o n ’s it o s y, it un m m co and I also work here.”

Gisele Colbert

While this landlord isn’t planning to search for a new place. sell any of his properties, he says he’s seen “Up to a year ago, people would come many others in the region who are—and to me and say, ‘Hey, you know I’ve got this this trend is driving up rents even when the place, are you interested?’ But now it’s just property remains a rental. dead,” Colbert says. “It’s like everything is “When a property is sold to an investor, way beyond our affordability. there’s a lot of pressure on that investor to “Landlords need to realize that when get the right percentage return, so they’re you rent a home, it becomes your home. It’s going to try to figure out a way to bring rent where you feel at peace or not,” she adds. up to market values,” the landlord says.

“People will flippantly say, ‘I guess you need In some cases, he says, unscrupulous to move,’ but this is my home, and this is landlords will evict tenants from their units where my children and my grandchildren using specious reasons in order to raise the live and my whole community, so it’s not rents after they’re out. These tenants enter that easy, and I also work here.” a market where few units are available, and Dupperon’s and Colbert’s experiences in what’s available is often priced higher than the Kootenays are unfortunately familiar to what they can afford. renters everywhere from Vancouver Island Some landlords, he adds, are cognizant to the Sunshine Coast to northern B.C. and of these problems. Another landlord in the the Interior. As recently reported by Capital area buys and rents properties to tenants Daily, some renters in Sooke are being for a maximum of 30 per cent of their forced into hidden homelessness amid the income, for example. district’s red-hot real estate market. Renters But on the whole, tenants are feeling in Kelowna are experiencing similar the pinch. The Canadian Rental Housing difficulties.

Index, which tracks rent affordability Provincial legislation states that when a across the country, currently lists the property is sold, the buyer becomes the new Kootenay Boundary, Central Kootenay landlord, and the tenant must be allowed to and East Kootenay regions as all “severely stay unless the buyer wishes to occupy the unaffordable” or “unaffordable” for the two unit themselves or use it for other purposes. lowest income groups.

The buyer can do this either by According to the Canadian Mortgage submitting a written request that the seller and Housing Corp., the vacancy rate end the tenancy, or by serving a two-month for Nelson—the “Queen City” of the notice to the tenant after taking possession Kootenays—was 0.5 per cent in October. of the property.

The CMHC only tracks average rents There is no specific data showing for purpose-built rental apartments, how many renters are being displaced which increased in Nelson from $710 in amid the current boom. The Residential 2013 to $927 in 2020.

Tenancy Branch does not keep track of how For some renters, the pressure is less many properties are registered as rentals. direct but still acutely felt.

Similarly, the CMHC does not keep track of Gisele Colbert, who rents a house with the number of properties that switch from two suites in Winlaw with her son for being rentals to primary dwellings after $2,000 per month plus utilities, said her they are sold. landlord recently communicated his wish A spokesperson for LandlordBC, a to increase the rent, despite a provincial lobby group representing landlords, said rent freeze in effect until Dec. 31. the group regularly loses members. In a Colbert, who’s lived in the region statement, LandlordBC blames this year’s since 1982, says the mere suggestion has attrition on the effects of the pandemic and left her and her son with the impression provincial measures aimed at protecting that the landlord wants them gone so he renters over the past 18 months, including can increase the rent significantly for the rent freeze, and the eviction moratorium, a new tenant. She’s feeling pressure to which ended last August.

Gisele Colbert stands on Perry’s Back Road bridge, which spans Slocan River in Winlaw. Colbert feels strong ties to the area’s geography and beauty, and is worried rising rents, caused in part by the rural housing boom, will mean she’ll lose her home. PHOTO BY BOBBI BARBARICH

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FEATURE STORY

CRISIS IN THE NORTH

Prince George, a city that once ran an advertising campaign promising Vancouverites an affordable lifestyle, is also seeing property values rise, leading to an increase in sales that is displacing renters.

According to data supplied by the BC Northern Real Estate Board, the average sale price for a single-detached home in Prince George in May 2016 was just over $229,000. That figure increased to over $447,000 this May. Home sales across the northern region in May were 40.3 per cent higher than the five-year average and 43.1 per cent above the 10-year average, according to the real estate board’s website.

Breanne Cote, a realtor in Prince George with Royal LePage, said this spike is motivating owners to sell—often, as in the Kootenays, to first-time buyers. These buyers are often moving from bigger cities like Vancouver and Kelowna and will occupy the properties themselves, forcing tenants to leave, she says.

“Tenants have been in properties for five, 10, 15 years, and the rental increase per year is so minimal that their rent has been a certain dollar number for a lot of years, and now if they have to go and find a new place, they’ve not been able to find something for that same price,” said Cote.

The average rent for purpose-built apartments in Prince George was $906 in 2020, up from $678 in 2010. RentBoard. ca currently pegs the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city at $1,255.

However, Cote added, houses with “mortgage helper” suites in the city are currently popular, meaning those rental units are likely to become available. Cote also pointed to purpose-built rental apartments currently being built in the city, which she predicts will help alleviate pressure on the rental market.

Nonetheless, the current market is making an already difficult situation even harder for low-income and precariously housed renters in the city, according to Laila Botelho, who has experienced homelessness several times since she was 17.

With tenants being displaced through

property sales, Botelho explained, renters are chasing a shrinking supply of rental units, many significantly more expensive than working-class renters can afford.

That also means landlords are able to be pickier with prospective tenants, and exclude those who, like Botelho, receive income assistance.

“A big thing that seems to be a problem is that landlords seem to expect that every single tenant that applies is going to be making three times the rent,” said Botelho, who supplements her income support working in retail. “[Another] problem is the stigma that landlords have towards people on income assistance, and people who have aged out of foster care,” she adds.

RENTAL CLOUDS ON THE SUNSHINE COAST Located two ferry rides away from the Lower Mainland at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, Powell River is also seeing a significant uptick in housing sales, resulting in displaced renters who can’t find affordable accommodation.

Neil Frost, president of the Sunshine Coast Real Estate Board, said that back in 2016 buyers in the region could purchase entry-level homes for under $200,000. Now, starter homes are selling for $450,000 and up. This year, the qathet region, where Powell River is located, saw record-setting residential sales figures for February and March, and strong sales in April and May. The region set yet another record for sales in June 2021.

Like the Kootenays, Powell River attracts buyers because of its relative affordability for larger properties and quality of life. Frost said around 50 per cent of buyers are coming from out of town, a figure consistent with the past several years, with many current buyers looking for housing, not investment properties.

All these factors, says Frost, have given some property owners good reasons to sell.

“One can only assume. We’re at a peak.

I’m not saying it is the peak, but it’s a great time to sell,” he says.

However, the result sees forced tenants out into a market with rising rents and very

limited supply. CMHC data show average rent for a purpose-built rental apartment was $606 in 2010, climbing to $856 in 2020. Since 2018, the Canadian Rental Housing Index has listed the region as “unaffordable” for those on low incomes.

“I’ve seen anecdotally people seeking co-habitation and roommates, whereas before you didn’t see that as much, or as much appetite for it, but rental supply is limited,” says Frost. “It’s very concerning.”

Renter displacement and constrained supply means that tenants who have to leave their homes for other reasons are also struggling to find new places to live.

In an interview with the Powell River Peak in May, local renter Margaret Gisle said a dispute with her landlord resulted in her being evicted from a rental suite that she had lived in since 2016, paying $500 per month.

While searching for a new home, Gisle, who receives disability assistance, said she saw shared bedrooms listed for between $600 and $900 per month. Unable to find an affordable place to stay, Gisle moved into a motel with the help of Lift Community Services, a local non-profit.

“Because of the housing crisis, folks who have to leave have nowhere to go.”

Carlie Tarlier, a homelessness prevention outreach worker with Lift, told the Peak. “I give out tents and sleeping bags to typical folks who are on some form of assistance, whether it’s people with disability or pensions.”

Back in the Kootenays, Rick Dupperon is hoping to find stable, affordable housing for his family before the winter comes.

While looking for housing, Dupperon was also struggling to figure out a way to visit his mother, who lived in Saskatchewan and was in palliative care.

He wanted to see her before she passed.

Dupperon says his family’s religion has given them solace in these difficult times.

“If there’s things we can’t handle, or don’t know what to do, we leave it to our father in heaven to help us,” he says.

“Because of the housing crisis, folks who have to leave have nowhere to go. I give out tents and sleeping bags to typical folks who are on some form of assistance, whether it’s people with disability or pensions.”

Carlie Tarlier

This feature was originally published in the Tyee on July 22, 2021. Some of the statistics may have changed in the time since it was published. (thetyee.ca/News/2021/07/22/ House-Sales-Booming-Rural-BC-RentersGetting-Slammed/) Alex Cosh is a writer who lives and works on the traditional territory of the Tla’amin people.

He writes for PressProgress, the Powell River Peak and Canadian Dimension. Follow him on Twitter @AlexCosh_ ■

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35

Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness

Month

Mental health concerns loom in COVID’s second autumn

Social interactions are increasing, but many employees are still working from home.

By Glen Korstrom

B

ritish Columbians have good reason to hope that this fall and winter will be more fun-filled than last year.

Government passes are enabling access to vaccinatedonly social venues, and events such as casinos, concerts and Vancouver Canucks games will be open for in-person business.

People’s social lives, however, are likely to remain somewhat less vibrant than they were pre-COVID-19, as many office employees continue to work from home, and some people are reticent to start increasing interactions with others.

This translates into the possibility that mental health issues will rise as the pandemic grinds on, Simon Fraser University associate professor of psychology Lara Aknin told Business in Vancouver last month.

This is because “social connections are important—a key predictor of our mental health,” she said.

But the pandemic has not produced what Aknin called a “landslide of mental health concerns.”

Canadians’ collective mental health suffered a blow in spring 2020, when the pandemic was new, but largely bounced back by mid-2020, said Aknin, who is part of the Lancet’s COVID-19 Commission Mental Health Task Force, and a co-author of a peer-reviewed study set for publication in an academic journal.

That study was based on research from hundreds of studies from around the world.

Some of those studies showed that people in mid-2020 started to feel more resilient, less lonely, less prone to suicide and less socially isolated.

Despite this, Aknin’s study also found evidence that people were showing signs of strain and feeling negative emotions.

“One of the most far-reaching data points that we pulled upon to make that statement was data collected by the Gallup World Poll, which is probably the most representative sample on the planet because it surveys upwards of 150 nations,” she said.

Negative outbursts in B.C., caught on camera and disseminated on social media, often came from individuals who were asked to wear

36 OCTOBER 21, 2021

Mental Health Awareness

Our mental health is strongly linked to our physical and emotional well-being.

Increasing exercise, decreasing pain, building relationships and engaging in community activities have all been proven to have a positive impact on mental health. Collectively, our team at Peak Training + Rehab Studio have extensive experience in supporting individuals from a wide variety of background and circumstances. We know how deeply our services can impact our clients and we’re proud to offer the Sea to Sky support through movement, rehabilitation and community connection!

Our top tips for mental well-being

Mountain Psychology and Neurofeedback Centre

Stephen L. Milstein, Ph.D., R. Psych. BC #765 - 604.938.3511 Dawna Dixx Milstein, OT. COTBC # AA0201 - 604.938.3523 Whistler: #107 - 4368 Main St, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4 Squamish: 38077 2nd Ave, Squamish, B.C. // 604.848.9273

Serving sea to sky for 18 years

• Take your exercise outdoors to get time in nature to further reap benefits • Focus on building strength and resiliency in your body which will translate to your mind • Join a small group class to make social connections while working on your physical health • Hire professionals to be a part of your health team - this may include a therapist, a Kinesiologist, and a Naturopathic Doctor • Set realistic goals and stay consistent Check out our website and blog for more info or to reach out to our team www.peaktrainingwhistler.com

OCTOBER 21, 2021

37

Mental Health Awareness

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38 OCTOBER 21, 2021

masks at fast-food restaurants. People were seen throwing coffee cups, destroying food displays and even urinating on a Dairy Queen counter.

Aknin said that it is hard to generalize, and that these outbursts may simply be reported more during the pandemic, but she added that pandemic-related mental health declines could be causing the confrontations.

One recommendation that her study has for individuals, organizations and health providers is to supplement existing mental health care with promotion of overall well-being.

“Exercise is a pretty significant predictor or important predictor of well-being,” said Aknin, who suggests people schedule breaks in their day. Gardening is another activity that is correlated with wellbeing, she said.

Books such as Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy suggest that scheduling time for mental breaks—even if it is just to take a long shower, do the dishes or stare out the window—can help de-stress people’s brains, and help people be more alert when they resume work.

While a recent study conducted by the University of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division (CMHA BC) found 37 per cent of British Columbians reported a decline in their mental health since the start of the pandemic, there is some good news.

Most British Columbians (82 per cent) say they are coping well with the stress of the pandemic, using approaches such as walking or exercising outside (58 per cent); connecting with family and friends virtually (40 per cent); maintaining a healthy lifestyle (44 per cent); keeping up to date with relevant information (38 per cent); and pursuing a hobby (41 per cent).

Not all mental health experts are convinced that people have been able to adjust to pandemic living or have their feelings of well-being return to pre-pandemic levels.

“The pandemic has had a profound impact on people’s mental health,” CMHA BC senior communications manager Pamela Findling said.

“In recent months, in B.C., [mental health declines] have been further compounded by the severe wildfire season and the confirmation of bodies at former residential schools.”

Findling said demand for mental health services in B.C. has surged since the pandemic began.

“CMHA BC has seen more people accessing its services, websites, and resources since the pandemic, which indicates that while many people are struggling, they’re also being aware of their struggles and reaching out for help, which is so critical.”

The CMHA BC website, heretohelp.bc.ca, offers mental health and substance-use information, videos, info sheets, workbooks and screening self-tests. It has seen a 51 per cent increase in visitors this year compared with the same time period in 2019, she said.

Referrals to the CMHA BC’s free BounceBack program, which teaches skills to help people overcome symptoms of mild to moderate depression or anxiety, have increased 49 per cent compared with the year before the pandemic, Findling said.

She added that CMHA BC responded to the pandemic by launching a COVID-19 section of its website in April 2020. Its information and resources have been viewed more than 60,000 times. ■

Take care: improve your mental and physical wellbeing Sponsored Content

Get moving!

By Dr. Allan Burgmann

Exercise does wonders. It leads to new brain cells with better connectivity, improved mood, healthier weight management, better sleep, and a reduction in inflammation. You don’t need to take up cross-fit or train for a marathon to see the benefits - daily walks or yoga sessions are a perfect way to get started.

Eat for your brain

Life has been pretty challenging lately, hasn’t it?

These past 18 months, maybe even more, have been a struggle. Many individuals have had to give so much of themselves to try and navigate their way through this pandemic.

Whether it has been from personal or professional experiences, the way our daily lives shifted has resulted in many increased feelings of stress and anxiety, and the results are still to come on what this has meant, and will mean, for our wellbeing.

Wholesome nutrition such as following the principles of the Mediterranean diet is another key component for wellbeing and can prevent or delay cognitive decline and possibly also Parkinson’s disease.

stretching your mental muscle every day is not only satisfying, it’s good for you!

Take a mindful moment

Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgement. By immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and feelings of a particular moment you can improve your ability to focus, reduce stress and better manage anxiety and other mental health challenges.

Following these steps can help improve mental and physical wellbeing. But if you find yourself in need of additional support, you can visit vghfoundation.ca/take-care for additional resources.

This means more greens and other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, No one is perfect. We’re all facing whole grains, fish and poultry and less butter, cheese, pastries, sweets, our own challenges in our unique and nuanced ways during this global red meat and fried or fast foods. pandemic.

Do what you can, and if you’re able Connect with your to implement some of these steps community Connections with your friends, family into your day, then that’s wonderful. and neighbours are key aspects to Just remember above all to take your mental health. care.

Social integration and community are Learn more about wellness resources available to you at crucial for happiness and longevity. vghfoundation.ca/take-care.

So foster relationships with friends and family and reach out if you need That said, I think it is remarkable Dr. Allan Burgmann BSc, MD, that so many of us are still caring for help. Talking with a friend when FRCPC (Psychiatry) (pictured above) ourselves while taking care of others. you’re feeling down can have a is an adult psychiatrist working Just don’t forget - you’re important. profound impact. Likewise, helping at Lions Gate Hospital. He works others also has health benefits for You matter. And sometimes it’s OK in both the acute inpatient and the helper. to take time for yourself. outpatient services, at the Hope Centre.

Keep learning Take a walk. Take a break. Take a An active brain is a healthy brain. moment. And if you find yourself Learning or practicing new skills needing a little more help, here helps keep your mind sharp and can Content provided by are some research-based tips that be a lot of fun. Whether it’s working The Kelly Patrick Dennehy Foundation, can help improve your mental and on a craft project, becoming a puzzle Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, physical wellbeing. master, or reading a new book, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

road trip South india

Mountains, Spices and Tea

40 JUNE 10, 2021

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Story and photos by Tim Morch

T

he Idukki District of Kerala can be described in three words: mountains, tea, and spices.

The verdant Western Ghat Mountains are home to everything you ever saw in a spice shop. Pepper, “the King of Spice,” cardamom, “the Queen of Spice,” ginger, clove, turmeric, cinnamon, tamarind, nutmeg, and way more. Tea is the lifeblood of the economy and immaculately manicured plantations extend as far as the eye can see.

On a motorcycle, you smell everything, and each passing spice plantation emits a unique aromatic sensory experience. Add great roads and impressive scenery and stir in friendly, educated people interested in discussing all sorts of topics.

Kerala has been a communist state since 1970, boasting the most active political population in the country.

Beneath “Hammer and Sickle” flags lie a progressive state, the first in India to openly accommodate the transgender community.

We stop in Thadiyampadu, close to the takeoff point for a hike up Palkulamedu Mountain. According to the Kerala Trekking Club, this peak is far from tourist routes and all we need is water and “sturdy walking sandals.”

The narrow road to the trailhead is lined with cashews. Parking next to a cow shed, a farmer pokes his head out to say “hello.” We leave the bikes and gear under the watchful guard of four cows, following a path up above the tree line.

Endless views of the shola (grassland forests) and mountains are the reward.

The twisting highway to Munnar, the capital of the tea district, is punctuated with lakes and rivers. Private tea plantations limit route options to state roads and none of the tempting tracks that lead through the private estates.

A quiet homestay on the outskirts of Munnar is home for three nights.

Walking about town, we see tourists for the first time, the tea estates and nearby national parks are a big draw. The tourist office warns independent hiking is forbidden; a guide and entrance fee is required. We were shown disappointing tourist “programs” and left disgruntled.

My travel companion Astried’s birthday was celebrated with an adventure into the Kannan Devan Hills.

Passing the highest tea plantations in the country we reach “Top Station,” a historic tramway sending tea down the mountain to the railhead below.

We found the trailhead—minus the checkpoint —and descended into the lush forest. A lone rooster guarded the track but demanded no fee. Two hours later, we were back, sipping chai and munching fresh oranges. Astried was angry at the dishonest tourist officials but elated to walk unguided.

ur pics o y e r a h S with us Eravikullam National Park forbids hiking near 2,69-mere Anamudi Mountain, the highest peak in India south of the Himalayas. We passed the busy entrance and spotted a road without a “No Trespassing” sign. Shortly further on, a young man appeared, telling us it was private property.

“Very sorry sir”, I said. “There was no sign.”

“That’s because the elephants came through last night and knocked it down,” he chuckled.

We learned the 1,500-hectare plantation has 24 varieties of ISO certified tea harvested every three weeks. Waving goodbye, we descended to Munnar.

Perfect weather the next morning made for a brilliant ride down the mountains. The checkpoint entering Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary had more monkeys than people. They loitered on the gate, hoping for food scraps, and leaped onto the hoods of cars. Elephant dung was scattered along the road underscoring the “Caution:Elephant Crossing” signs.

Stopping for “meals” at Meghna Hotel in Manupatti village, we asked if they saw many foreigners.

“They sometimes pass through in cars,” he said, “but you are the first who have ever stopped and the first foreigners on motorcycles I have ever seen.”

At a chai stall in tiny Puruvur village, Astried attracted attention. They had never seen a blond woman, let alone riding a motorcycle. A cluster of women gathered, and one old woman sat close to Astried holding her hand tenderly. She told stories as though we understood and clearly did not want us to go. Climbing aboard the bikes, she hobbled over to Astried with a tear in her eye and gave her a kiss, saying what could have only been “take care.”

We sailed along flat, straight roads to Aliyar Dam and started climbing into the Nilgiri Mountains on another exhilarating numbered hairpin highway.

The Anamalai—“Elephant Hill”—region is home to elephant, tiger, panther, Indian bison, langur, deer, gaur, sloth and more. Tea plantations and thick forests drown the hills in greens as we reach the town of Valparai for the night.

Our amazing journey continues …

For 28 days and more than 2,600 kilometres, Tim and his companion explored rural Tamil Nadu and Kerala (in 2017). Few foreigners ride the back roads of southern India and they certainly attracted a lot of attention, from chaistall stares to schoolchildren’s cheers and even newspaper coverage. Read more of the series on piquenewsmagazine.com and timmorch.com. ■

e #mypiqu

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OCTOBER 21, 2021

41

SPORTS THE SCORE

Crankworx wraps up cross-B.C. tour DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS CRANKWORX HAD TO SWITCH GEARS FROM THE USUAL WHISTLER STOP TO A MULTI-LOCATION LEG OF THE TOUR ACROSS INTERIOR B.C.

BY HARRISON BROOKS THE ONE-YEAR-ONLY, multi-stop, B.C. leg of the Crankworx World Tour wrapped up earlier this month at SilverStar Mountain Resort outside of Vernon.

Between Sept. 22 and Oct. 2, Crankworx B.C. made stops at SilverStar, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden and Sun Peaks Resort. And according to Crankworx’s managing director Darren Kinnaird, while the weather posed some challenges with the combination of rain and freezing overnight temperatures, he couldn’t be happier with the quality of the tracks the various resorts had for the riders.

“We dodged some bullets with the weather for sure,” said Kinnaird. “I’ve never had to scrape ice off of a slopestyle feature before, but the team all pulled together and worked really hard. A lot of tiger torches, but we were able to get the course ready each day for enough training time. The athletes were able to put on a great show and we saw some really good courses.

“That’s one of the things that stood out to all the athletes. The slalom courses at

POPPIN’ BOTTLES Canada’s Vaea Verbeeck and Casey Brown (left) celebrate their first and second place victories in the Air Downhill event at Crankworx B.C. on Oct. 2, 2021.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN/CRANKWORX

42 OCTOBER 21, 2021

Sun Peaks, and SilverStar were really worldclass racetracks and then the slopestyle up at SilverStar, the athletes all said it was maybe one of the best slopestyle courses that has ever been built and it really allowed them to showcase their skills and tricks.”

For some riders, like current Queen of Crankworx leader Vaea Verbeeck, the new multi-stop leg of the tour was a nice change of pace and got to show off a little bit more of her home province than the international riders are used to seeing.

“I love the concept of doing a little B.C. tour, and it was so nice to see the rest of the competitors from around the world get a taste of the rest of B.C. Most of them come at some point in their career and they’ll just go to Whistler because that’s the most iconic location,” she said. “But there is so much to B.C. and that’s what it’s known for, and so it’s nice to show them a bit more of the spots in the interior or just like the rolling mountains around the Okanagan. It’s really special to show.”

But despite the welcomed change of scenery and the world-class tracks the racers got to race on, this new format is a one-and-done as next year marks the return of Crankworx to its home in Whistler, which is something both Kinnaird and Verbeeck are stoked for.

“I think it’s safe to say everyone is super excited to return to Whistler, finally,” said Verbeeck. “Whistler is the first place I went to for Crankworx many years ago and it just

carries a lot of memories over the years. And even as of the last time we were there I have very cool memories from there from winning the last Queen of Crankworx title. So I definitely have nothing against going back to Whistler, very exciting to kind of go back to our normal way of doing Crankworx.”

However, Crankworx B.C. did not mark the end of the World Tour this year.

Kinnaird, Verbeeck and many of the other competing riders have already made their way to New Zealand for the final stop at Crankworx Rotorua.

With one last event on the schedule, there are many different story lines that Kinnaird believes fans of the sport should be keeping their eyes on. At the top of the list is Emil Johansson’s pursuit of the slopestyle triple crown after already winning in SilverStar and Innsbruck this year, as well as Verbeeck’s quest for back-toback Queen of Crankworx titles.

“We saw some good battles for the King and Queen of Crankworx. Vaea Verbeeck was the last queen in 2019 and she currently has the lead, but Harriet Burbidge-Smith did quite well and picked up a few podiums and Kialani Hines picked up a number of podiums, too. So as we come into Rotorua, the competition for the Queen is quite heated, it can kind of go any way so we will see how things play out,” said Kinnaird.

“But the biggest thing, probably, is the chance for Emil to win the triple crown.

That’s only ever been done once before.

We’ve had a number of athletes get close and crumble under the pressure, but that is probably the thing to watch for is can Emil win again and take the triple crown?”

Verbeeck, who battled back from third place in the Queen of Crankworx standings after Innsbruck to take the top spot heading into Rotorua, is currently in the last few days of her two-week quarantine in New Zealand and is trying to stay busy and not get too bored so that when she is able to leave the hotel, she’ll be ready to go and compete for the back-to-back title.

While she is already motivated to get the win, having her good friend, and fellow Canadian, Bas Van Steenbergen sitting atop the King of Crankworx standings lights even more of a fire under her to finish what she started.

“It would be super cool to repeat for sure. But I think the thing that makes me most excited is to potentially be able to win it with Bas,” she said. “Mathematically, he [will] win it, so at this point the pressure is on me, because I really want us both to be crowned at the same time, that would be super special. I think that is mainly why I want to win it so bad right now is not for me, it’s for us, it would be really cool.”

Crankworx Rotorua kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 2 and wraps up the following Sunday, Nov. 7 with the finals of each event being broadcast live on Red Bull TV. Highlights, as well as full schedule of events for Rotorua, are available at crankworx.com. n

SPORTS THE SCORE

Comfortably Numb Trail Race returns to Whistler in 2021 SPORTS BRIEFS: PEMBERTON CANOE ASSOCIATION WRAPS UP SEASON; LOCAL MOUNTAIN BIKERS SHINE AT BC CUP FINAL; BRODIE SEGER LAUNCHES HELMET FOR HOPE CAMPAIGN

Volunteer with the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s Village Host program.

BY HARRISON BROOKS SATURDAY, OCT. 2, marked the return of Whistler’s Comfortably Numb Trail Race after COVID-19 cancelled the event in 2020.

The race, which first began in 2004, is a 25-kilometre run along the Comfortably Numb trail starting at Wedge and finishing at Spruce Grove.

“It’s an iconic trail, it’s got a lot of history in Whistler for sure. It’s one of the first major cross-country, mountain-bike routes and it probably runs a bit better than it rides,” said co-race director Kristian Manietta. “It has beautiful views in it, it’s challenging, it’s up and down but you’re in the green room for so long and it’s just a great trail, and aside from that, it’s just great to be able to have races again.”

According to co-race director Dale Tiessen, approximately 70 people ran this year’s race despite many more registering for it.

“More people had signed up and maybe got scared off by the weather because there had been a lot of rain that week,” he said.

“But the weather on the day was really good.

The course was a little wet and muddy in spots but the actual weather on the day had blue sky at times, it really didn’t rain at all, it was a nice moderate temperature so people were running in T-shirts and shorts.”

Nicholas Lightbody finished first among the men, with a time of 2:12:08.

Michael Murdoch and Vincent Roseberry followed close behind with times of 2:17:18 and 2:18:12, respectively.

On the women’s side, Danielle O’Neill came in first with a time of 2:40:33, with Sarah Korpach and Mercedes Vince finishing second and third with times of 2:41:50 and 2:43:07, respectively.

Next year, Tiessen and Manietta hope to bring the race back to its usual time slot in mid-June.

Are you passionate about Whistler?

COMFY NUMB Nicholas Lightbody (centre), Michael Murdoch (left) and Vincent Roseberry finished first, second and third, respectively, in last week’s Comfortably Numb Trail Race

Apply this winter if you are a local and you want to:

PHOTO BY DEAN EGGLETON

result on her way to finishing the season in first overall.

Jake Polito and Lochlan Harvey round out Instinct Development’s impressive performance with Polito finishing fourth in Sechelt and first place in the overall standings, while Harvey settled into sixth in the overall series standings.

Other notable finishes from Sea to Sky riders include another first place finish in the Women’s open category for independent racer Marley Sheppard, third in U15 Men’s for Squamish’s Matteo Quist and fifth in the same category for Whistler’s Jack McCredie.

Also hitting the podium was a pair of Pemberton riders, Zac Stratton and Sami Teitzel, who came in first and second, respectively, in the U17 Sport Men category, Whistler’s Tori Dzenis and Squamish’s Madison Skrypnek, who finished first and second in Expert Elite Women, Coen Skrypnek, who finished first in the UCI Junior Expert Men category, and Whistler’s Lain Christie, who finished first in the Expert Elite Men category.

SEA TO SKY MOUNTAIN BIKERS HAVE SUCCESS AT FINAL BC CUP

PEMBERTON CANOE ASSOCIATION SEASON WRAPS UP

Whistler’s Instinct Development Racing team led the way for Sea to Sky riders at the final B.C. cup of the season, held on Sept. 26 at Coast Gravity Park in Sechelt.

Instinct’s Floyd Guy and Anthony Shelly placed first and second in the U15 Men’s Category, which was enough for Shelly to finish second in the season’s overall standings.

In the U15 Women’s category, Whistler’s Cameron Bragg grabbed another first place

The Pemberton Canoe Association (PCA) managed to pull off a successful 2021 season despite a late start due to COVID-19 restrictions still being in place into June.

“It was quite a good season considering it was a little bit of a slow start in the spring with not being able to do very much, but we were able to get quite a bit of programming up and running this year, especially the

SEE PAGE 44

Share what you know and love about Whistler Connect with visitors Do fun and meaningful work in your community Receive great rewards To apply or receive more information, visit Whistler.ca/villagehost or contact: Cathie Wood at cwood@whistler.ca or 604-935-8478 Apply by Tuesday, Nov. 2019 Nov. 9,11,2021

>> OCTOBER 21, 2021

43

SPORTS THE SCORE << FROM PAGE 43 after school stuff in the spring and the fall,” said Karen Tomlinson, commodore of the association.

“I think parents are always looking for outdoor activities for their kids to do. And the summer camps, they’re the same thing, they are always highly popular, especially last year with COVID too.”

With the after-school program in the spring and fall and the development program in the summer, the PCA ended up having 20 new paddlers join this season.

The club was also able to run its Women on Water program this summer, its Green Lake outrigger program and most of its regular paddling activities for returning members.

Unfortunately, the one program that wasn’t able to get off the ground this year was the association’s dragon boat program.

However, three PCA athletes were able to team up with members of paddling associations from Fort Langley, False Creek, Burnaby and Maple Ridge to compete in the Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver where they finished in fifth place in the Adult Mixed A final and second in the Open Final.

The association also had paddling duo Landon Drain and Brenna Nott qualify and compete in Nationals in Ottawa, and four girls including Maxine Charron, Adelaide Kluftinger, Naomi Robert and Grace Cleland place second in their age category (U14) at

the Pacific Cup Regatta, where Charron also took home first place in the U14 200-metre single kayak event.

The Pemberton Canoe Association hopes to be back to having a full season next summer.

SKI RACER BRODIE SEGER LAUNCHES HELMET FOR HOPE CHARITY COMPETITION Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum Brodie Seger has launched the Helmet for Hope Competition to raise funds for Project Hope.

The contest invites anyone to create their own ALS-themed helmet design for a chance to have that artwork featured on Seger’s helmet during the upcoming World Cup season, as well as win a $1,000 cash prize courtesy of Haywood Securities The guidelines for the competition require: the artwork to include the colour purple and at least one blue cornflower (the official colour and flower of ALS) and the hashtag #endALS somewhere in the design.

The artist must also leave the carbon fibre portion of the helmet and the MIPS and FIS logos visible.

The competition is now open and accepting submissions until Oct. 26. The winner will be announced on Halloween.

Submissions can be sent to helmet4hope@gmail.com.

Also, any donation made from the Helmet for Hope webpage (www.alsbc.ca/

helmet-4-hope) throughout the duration of the competition will be matched up to $5,000.

WHISTLER RACKET CLUB HOSTS FALL PICKLEBALL CLASSIC With the weather turning brisk and the rain falling last weekend, the Whistler Racket Club (WRC) moved from the openair outdoor courts to the dome for its Pickleball Fall Classic Tournament.

Despite the Summer Series tournaments last month supposedly being the finale of pickleball season, the demand for more pickleball has changed the plan, according to WRC co-owner Jamie Grant.

“We had the series, but now we’ll be continuing it into the winter. We’re going to have a holiday classic, probably in early December and then, because of the demand for more tournaments, we’ll probably follow that up with one in February and then one at Easter and then we’re into the spring and summer again,” said Grant. “So this is going to be a pretty consistent thing where every couple of months we’re going to have a big tournament in Whistler.”

Last weekend’s tournament kicked off on Friday, Oct. 15 with the Racket Club’s first-ever junior tournament, which drew 16 participants. The tournament continued through Saturday and Sunday and saw a total of 176 players of all different skill levels (3.0-4.5) compete in five different categories including Men’s singles, Men’s and Women’s

XC SKI SWAP The Whistler Nordics annual ski SWAP is happening!

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Purchase used cross country and *backcountry ski gear or sell your used equipment. Local retailers will also attend with great deals.

When: Saturday Oct 23, 2021 Wh Drop Off Gear: 9:00 – 11:00 Shop the Swap 11:00 – 12:00 MEMBERS ONLY Y 12:00 – 2:00 Everyone Welcome Payments by Etransfer for gear sold

Doubles, Juniors and Mixed Doubles.

While the gold medals were largely owned by out-of-town players—aside from Karen Ellott and her two partners Ash Hegland and Karen Ripper, who won the 4.0 Mixed Doubles and Women’s Double’s categories, respectively—the podiums were filled with locals.

Other notable performances include Alex Emm and Oliver Lane, who won silver and bronze in the Junior category, Barbara Woodbridge and Molly Marland, who finished second and third in the Women’s Singles category and Steve Cartner and Norm Binion, who finished two and three in the Men’s single’s.

On the doubles side, Cheryl Young and partner WRC co-owner Jamie Grant took silver in 4.0 Mixed Doubles. Lois Neu and Laura Puckett also finished second in the 3.0 Women’s Doubles, while Hegland and Davi Singh and Roberta Horn and Jessica Brown both took home bronze in the 4.5 Men’s Doubles and 3.5 Women’s Doubles, respectively.

Following the success of the junior tournament, the Racket Club plans to start after school pickleball programs this fall and winter to get more kids into the sport and help grow the skills of the ones who are already playing.

On top of that, as part of the WRC’s fall schedule that will be released soon, the club plans to host more pickleball clinics for players of all skill levels, including intro, intermediate and advanced clinics. n

We keep you playing with both physiotherapy and massage

Where: Whistler Creekside Underground Parking Lot 1 get your membership at www.whistlernordics.com *New this year: We are now accepting and selling backcountry equipment

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NEW SUMMER WHISTLER MAGAZINE IS OUT! Get your new edition in hotel rooms and select locations around Whistler. whistlermagazine.com

44 OCTOBER 21, 2021

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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE WHISTLER PEOPLE, PLACES, PARTIES AND MORE! www.piquenewsmagazine.com/vote Results will be published in our December 31st issue. Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, November 14th, 2021. Only online submissions will be accepted.

No photocopies, faxes or mailed entries. Only one entry per email address will be used. Please note we track user registration from individual IP addresses. We reserve the right to eliminate contest entrants if fraud is suspected. Pique makes every effort to create a concise list of Whistler businesses in the multiple choice drop downs. If you are a business owner in Whistler we encourage you to check the details and email us with corrections and omission suggestions. Email traffic@wplpmedia.com.

FORK IN THE ROAD

Waste not wanted ONE GIANT STEP TOWARD “NET ZERO” HAPPINESS: KICKING OUT FOOD WASTE OH, RIGHT. Here are those gorgeous beets … uh, well, they were gorgeous when we first got them from Ice Cap Organics. Let’s just say they’ve been left in the fridge a bit past their best-before date. And those golden pears … kind of pulpy now. And what’s this dark stuff buried deep in a plastic bag like something from a Halloween fright night? I don’t even want to open it!

BY GLENDA BARTOSH If you’ve ever taken a similar trip through your fridge, you know what I mean. But the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), with its goal of zero waste, has a timely reminder for us all.

This week is the 20th anniversary of the all-Canadian Waste Reduction Week, an initiative started by recycling councils and environmental groups back in the mid-’80s. (See? We can make a difference!)

The average person in B.C. produces 549 kilograms of garbage a year—about the weight of your average horse.

Whistlerites, by comparison, produce about 325 kg per person. Pretty good, but there’s still a long way to go to, and Waste Reduction Week is a great wake-up call.

Each day of the week focusses on different waste streams, and Friday is food waste— one of the best places to start.

About one-third of all the food produced on Earth is wasted! That’s food from farms, grocery stores, restaurants and your average home. And when food ends up in the landfill, it creates methane—a huge contributor to climate change that’s 25 times more potent than CO2. If we stop food waste, we stop a big

WASTING AWAY About one third of all Whistler garbage is food waste—but does it have to be?

Maybe it’s time to get creative with leftovers.

GETTYIMAGES.CA

46 OCTOBER 21, 2021

chunk of all greenhouse gas emissions.

We Canucks waste a staggering $27 billion or so worth of food each year, and most of that happens at home. So to put your own food waste on a diet, here are a few very doable, very Canadian tips: 1. CHECK IT OUT. The RMOW offers great resources for reducing food and other waste on its website to help move everyone to zero waste. About one third of all Whistler garbage is food waste, so check out the very resourceful, very local Love Food Hate Waste, an initiative by Metro Vancouver. Also, check out the food waste solutions that just earned Milan an Earthshot Prize.

2. STOP OVER-BUYING! No coincidence that National Waste Week happens when all that glorious fall harvest is rolling in from the fields. Most food waste at home happens from simply buying too much at once. I think we’re all getting over the hoarding impulses of COVID-19, but I bet you still tend to buy too much at once.

As my mom says, two people won’t eat a fresh cauliflower, carrots and broccoli all in one week. Over-buying also applies to dry goods. A giant bag of rice has a cheaper per-unit price, but you won’t be able to use it all before it’s rancid. Go for the smaller size. And if you do buy too much fresh produce, keep reading.

3. STORE IT RIGHT. One of the trickiest things with any food, especially fresh produce, is storing it right. Cut that loaf of bread in half and freeze it if you aren’t going to use it all soon. And make sure you’ve got your fridge and freezer set at the optimal temperature and humidity levels for our climate. Good, airtight containers will keep your grains and cereals fresh and bug-free. For veggies, “green bags” invented by John Mazurski from Poland are a great option. Use them in place of regular plastic bags in your fridge (like, don’t stick your bananas in them on the counter). While official results are mixed, I’ve found them super for keeping things like lettuce and green

peppers much fresher longer.

4. USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT. Resist the urge to toss what might seem “bad.” Get creative and use what you have.

I feel terrible wasting even the tiniest bit of food. But when I was younger—oh yes, I was once!—I rarely put in the effort to salvage perfectly usable food. I reckon I thought it was all contaminated, if even a tiny bit was “icky.” Now I think of all the effort and resources the farmers, the plants and animals themselves, the soil and water and more, all put into producing our food. So in our house, even though we can get a little ahead of ourselves with groceries (ergo the real-life stories, above) we throw out very little.

What does get tossed gets composted.

Besides, it’s too expensive to trash!

Those not-so-fresh beets? The beetroots were fine. All it took was a bit of patience to pick through the greens and trim the ratty edges, and we ended up with a gorgeous bunch that was delicious sautéed with olive oil, sweet onion and wine.

Those golden pears a little long in the tooth? Any fruit like that that gets away on you—pulpy apples, overripe berries— makes the best fruit compote in a hurry.

Cut away the worst bits, dice the rest and simmer it slowly in the smallest saucepan you can with just enough water to cover the bottom. When fruit is overripe, it cooks down fast, even on low heat. The more

you cook it, the thicker it gets. Play with it: Mash the lumps down into the juices released. Add maybe a teaspoon of honey, a dab of butter, a pinch of salt. Great alone, on porridge, or over ice cream.

As for those old-ish, odd veggies kicking around, get yourself a bag of Dan-D Pak soup mix, a mixture of dried peas, lentils, barley and more. Save your pot liquor—the water left over when you boil those lovely little Sieglinde potatoes from Pemberton, or what have you.

(Using pot liquor has been a tradition for centuries, especially for pregnant women and the infirm because it’s so nutritious and tasty.)

The Dan-D Pak soup mix is tasty, cheap, and easy to use. Just follow the directions on the package, and use up that pot liquor and whatever else you have— undried tomatoes, leftover cauliflower, and, yes, even something like that dark stuff, above, which was some fresh basil that went ugly but tasted fine.

Before you know it, Bob’s your uncle, and you’ve got yourself a fine pot of warm soup, perfect on an autumn day and full of all kinds of goodness you used to toss down the drain.

Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who can still hear her prairie relatives’ reassurances over blemishes on food: “That won’t hurt you!” n

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

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FITNESS CLASS SCHEDULE OCT 21 THURSDAY

OCT 22 FRIDAY

OCT 23 SATURDAY

I Cardio Bands & Core 7:45-8:45 a.m.

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ARTS SCENE

Tapley’s Farm welcoming all of Whistler back to its streets this Halloween FROM PUMPKIN-CARVING CONTESTS TO HAUNTED HOUSES, HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SPOOKIEST DAY OF THE YEAR

BY MEGAN LALONDE TAPLEY’S FARM IS GEARING UP to welcome the whole community back to Easy Street this Halloween.

The free, family-friendly event has been a Whistler tradition since 1983, but was scaled back last year to accommodate neighbourhood kids only amid the COVID19 pandemic. Now, it’s back to business as usual for Tapley’s Farm Halloween’s 38th iteration.

In 2020, “Vancouver Coastal Health didn’t want too many people—like, hundreds of people—walking around, so we just had locals and no fireworks. This year we’re back on track, [and VCH has] given us the OK,” said Amanda Wilson, who has taken over co-organizing duties alongside Shauna Hardy Mishaw.

Approximately 40 families are participating, Wilson said. “They go all out with the decorations, and there are usually a couple of live bands—we never know what people are going to do,” she added.

On Oct. 31, Easy Street, Toad Hollow, Corral Place and Balsam Way will be closed to traffic beginning at 4 p.m., with trickor-treating starting at 5:30 p.m. Those attending from other neighbourhoods can take advantage of free parking from 5 to 9 p.m. in Marketplace, while the “Park and Spook” shuttle—organized by BC Transit

TRICK OR TREAT Families from all around Whistler are invited back to the Tapley’s Farm neighbourhood to collect their fair share of spooks and sweet treats on Oct. 31.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

48 OCTOBER 21, 2021

and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW)—will run between Marketplace and Tapley’s Farm from 5:15 to 8:25 p.m.

Local high school students will also host a canned food drive at the neighbourhood’s entrance, with trick-or-treaters encouraged to bring non-perishable or cash donations for the Whistler Food Bank.

As usual, the Whistler Fire Department will be on hand to set off fireworks from Myrtle Philip Community School’s lower playing field beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Being one of the families in charge of treatproviding for most of the town, however, doesn’t come cheap: Those interested in donating are encouraged to drop a few sweet contributions into the candy donation boxes currently set up at a variety of schools, daycares and grocery stores around town.

Though the celebrations are geared toward families, Wilson also clarified that Halloween revellers without kids in tow are more than welcome to join in the fun. “It’s nice to still look around at all the different houses and how they decorate, and come watch fireworks and hang out,” she said.

TAKE A TRIP TO CAMP TERROR AT PEMBERTON SECONDARY SCHOOL Pemberton Secondary School’s (PSS) drama program is bringing back its annual haunted house in 2021. This year, it’s welcoming anyone brave enough to visit “Camp Terror.”

The walkthrough story—devised by the group and scripted by PSS drama teacher Renata Lewis—tells the tale of an illusory summer camp luring unsuspecting mortals to the site of Lucifer’s fall from grace.

There, “counsellors” round up campers as

an offering to the four horsemen while the apocalypse looms.

The audience, or “campers,” are led through a multi-room set (built by student set designers) for “orientation,” Lewis explained. “You get to go through a few fun, zany things and then you eventually meet the four horsemen.”

Students were inspired by classic slasher movies of the ‘70s and ‘80s, explained Lewis, like Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and Friday the 13th.

To that end, the performance interprets the camp theme in more ways than one: “It’s kind of like campiness that also meets gore,” she said. “It’s over the top, to say the least, and I think people will really enjoy that.”

Favouring campy-creepiness over jumpscares also means this year’s haunted house is suitable for all ages. Camp Terror will accept visitors on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30, with 15-minute performances running continuously from 7 to 9 p.m. each night. “You could imagine that’s a lot of work and strain for our actors, because essentially they’re not stopping at all,” said Lewis, “but they’re just so jacked up to actually be performing in front of a live audience that it’s so exciting.”

Tickets are on sale for $11.62 at bit.ly/2ZaDrBl and must be pre-purchased prior to the event, while attendees must not exceed groups of seven. Ticket-holders must wear masks throughout the experience and arrive on time for their booking.

ARTS WHISTLER HOSTING COMMUNITY CARVING CONTEST Is it even October if you’re not elbow-deep

in a pumpkin, scooping out slime and seeds?

Arts Whistler and the RMOW are challenging locals to put their carving skills to the test with this year’s Tour de Pumpkins, sponsored

by Nesters Market.

Scheduled to take place at Florence Petersen Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m., all are invited to get into the Halloween spirit with a free, self-guided walk through a community display of jacko’-lanterns.

Three prizes are up for grabs—one each for families, individuals and local businesses/organizations. The “most artistic, impactful design” in each category will earn the title of winning pumpkin, according to Arts Whistler. Prizes will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

Individual participants must check in their carved creations by 5:30 p.m. at the park’s entrance, just behind the Whistler Public Library. Pumpkins can be collected after the event and displayed at home, or left with Arts Whistler for composting.

Businesses interested in joining are also asked to email abrowne@artswhistler. com to commit to the contest prior to the event. Participating businesses can bring their carved submissions to Florence Petersen Park by 5 p.m. on Saturday, or drop pumpkins off at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Oct. 29 between noon and 6 p.m.

For eager carvers facing economic barriers, 50 pumpkins have been donated to the Whistler Food Bank ahead of Halloween.

The event will also feature music and entertainment from Monster DJ’s, Tia Horn, Paintertainment, Jazz the Balloon Man and live painting from Whistler’s 2021 Champion of Arts and Culture Dave Petko. n

ARTS SCENE

CHAIRMAN John McGie’s popular Chair Series will again grace the stage at The Point on Oct. 23.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Parsing the prolific output of playwright John McGie THE CHAIR SERIES RETURNS TO THE POINT ON SATURDAY, OCT. 23

BY BRADEN DUPUIS TO GET JUST A SMALL GLIMPSE into Vancouver playwright John McGie’s prolific output from the past five years or so, one need only track down his book—I Really Don’t Care If You Buy This Book—on Amazon.

The preview section for the book, a collection of more than 300 monologues McGie wrote for his ongoing Chair Series productions, showcases the wideranging eccentricities that make up the playwright’s consciousness.

Reading the list of titles alone conveys the entire spectrum of emotion McGie’s work spans—from absurd humour to romantic despair to existential doubt and dread (and everything in between).

Monologues with simple titles like “Sexy” or “Divorce” exist alongside outputs such as “Kindergarten Coup” and “Douche Canoe”—but in every instance it takes only a small amount of effort to imagine the content of each.

From the outside, it’s a lot to take in— and that’s to say nothing about what’s actually happening inside McGie’s brain.

“Literally, I can’t not do this,” he says, adding the caveat that he’s perfectly aware of how “wanky” that sounds.

“I don’t really wanna go down that road, but it is the old, ‘even if nobody looked at or read anything I do, I’d still be doodling on a napkin somewhere’—because you can’t help yourself.”

Where artists and their observers often tend to view that kind of compulsion through a romantic lens, McGie almost sees it as a curse.

“I really wish I didn’t have it, because my life would be a lot easier,” he says.

“I’d be very happy playing video games. I’m not altruistic, I don’t read lots of books—I read Archie Comics. I’m not a deep person. I’m very, very superficial,

but for whatever reason I’ve got this little thing that’s built into my DNA that I have to exercise, and that’s all it is.”

In the Chair Series—which returns to The Point Artist-Run Centre in Whistler on Saturday, Oct. 23—McGie asks performers for a single word, which he then uses to craft a monologue for them.

When the actors take the stage one at a time, a single, solitary chair is the only prop they have to work with.

McGie likens the process to a tailor custom-fitting a suit to a customer.

“If I do my job right, it’s fun for them.

It fits them well, so they can really sink themselves into it,” he says.

But given the format of the show, the opposite is just as true.

“If I haven’t done my job right as a writer, and they haven’t done their job right as a performer, there’s no hiding. Like, it will be bad,” McGie says.

“Because all you’ve got is the words and the performance.”

But when things go sideways in a performance, as they sometimes tend to, McGie is never shy in doling out encouragement, or bringing the audience itself onside to help.

“More often than not you can jumpstart the engine and then off they go. And actually I think the audience likes that too … because they are very much a part of the performance,” he says.

“We don’t need more pretense in the world. I don’t want to be pretentious. You have to dress so well when you do that.”

This year’s Chair Series features seven actors from Whistler, Squamish and Vancouver: Dea Lloyd, Amy Reid, Susan Hutchinson, Kathy Daniels, Janice Hayden, Angie Nolan and Jacques Lalonde, as well as a surprise musical performance.

Proof of vaccination and ID are required for entry, and a cash bar and snacks will be offered on site.

Tickets (which are limited) cost $20 plus tax and are available at thepointartists.com ■

OCTOBER 21, 2021

49

ARTS SCENE

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iF3 Film Festival to hold awards gala in Whistler AFTER SWITCHING TO A HYBRID FORMAT IN 2020, THE SKI AND SNOWBOARD FILM FESTIVAL WILL AGAIN BE BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON IN 2021

BY HARRISON BROOKS FOR THE FIRST TIME in its 14-year history the iF3 Film festival will be holding its gala and awards ceremony in Whistler.

The ski and snowboard film festival has held screenings in Whistler before in 2015, 2018 and 2019, but the awards ceremony has always been reserved for the festival’s home in Montreal.

But with the steady growth of the festival over the last few years and COVID19 restrictions making out-of-country travel a challenge for many filmmakers, president of iF3 Luke St-Jacques thought this was the perfect year to expand the festival to a new location.

“We are now in 2021, and we decided to do it [in Whistler because] a lot of the athletes and producers from around the world and in Canada decided to stay home to film this year,” he says.

“A lot of them stayed around their backyard, and ski and snowboard Hollywood is situated right at Whistler, so there is a lot of great athletes and producers

festival has changed drastically, according to St-Jacques, who says iF3 now has much more balance with a good mix of men’s and women’s content, skiing and snowboarding and storytelling and athletic performances.

However, possibly the biggest and most recent change to the festival’s format came last year when COVID-19 threatened to shut down the entire thing.

“In 2019 we had grown quite a bit, we were over 80 movies, and we were doing really well on both sides. We were starting to have plans for 2020 to go again to Whistler and make it a little bit bigger,” says St-Jacques. “And then of course, the pandemic hit and at that time it took us about two days, we gathered the team and we made a decision and we said we are going to focus on the hybrid format of the festival.”

The iF3 team decided to make almost all the films available online for free for anybody who wanted to be a part of the festival. They were even able to do a screening at a drive-in theatre and safely gather nearly 1,200 people to watch the films and the awards gala.

And because of the success of the 2020 festival, they decided to keep the hybrid

“In fact, we had the best year yet in terms of content and the types of projects.”

- LUKE ST-JACQUES

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50 OCTOBER 21, 2021

that are there right now, that have lived there for the last two months, that will be able to be at the gala for the first time in a couple years, physically.”

St-Jacques took over as president of the festival in 2017, the same year snowboarding was added to the content pool. At that time people kept telling him that film festivals like iF3 would surely begin to die out as apps like Instagram and Tik Tok began to take over people’s lives with their instant, short video models.

But St-Jacques refused to believe that there would be a time when people didn’t want more depth to the films they were watching and he worked hard to grow the festival even more.

“I was right. In fact, we had the best year yet in terms of content and the types of projects. It was such a difficult year for our judges, it was incredible,” says St-Jacques.

“I think there is a need for human beings to tell their stories in much more detail than a 30-second video. There is a need for us to understand, and if we can take the time and sit down and analyze what’s being proposed in front of us, it’s like reading a book and I don’t think it will get old either. People want to be immersed in something and you cannot be immersed in 30 seconds or one minute in flashes.”

Since its inception in 2007, the film

format moving forward and share most of the films online for anybody who can’t make it to one of the three film screening locations (Whistler, Montreal and Chamonix), or isn’t yet comfortable being in a crowd.

St-Jacques says every year of the festival, there are films that surprise the judges and show something unexpected— and this year is no different.

“On the women’s night I would definitely not miss the film from Jess Kimura called Learning to Drown. It’s a very important film to watch out of the festival. I don’t even have words because when I start talking about it, I am a little bit emotional,” he said.

“We’ve also got really good reports from the judging side about Tales From Cascadia from [Blank Collective Films]. They are also nominated for multiple awards.”

The festival runs from Thursday, Oct. 21 to Saturday Oct. 23, with screenings at multiple locations in Whistler including the Westin Resort and Spa and the Maury Young Arts Centre. Thursday and Friday’s screenings at Maury Young start at 7 p.m. while Friday’s screening at the Westin starts at 8 p.m. Saturday’s screenings take place at the Westin from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. with the awards gala to follow.

To watch online, go to festivalif3.com and click on the big blue “Live TV” button. n

PARTIAL RECALL

3 1

4 2D 2A

2E

2C

2B

5

1 FUNGUS AMONG US Get them started young! These tiny hikers braved the rain to learn about mushrooms during the 19th annual Fungus Among Us festival. PHOTO BY JOERN ROHDE/COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER NATURALISTS 2 CONTEST WINNERS Mushroom fans put their photography skills to the test as part of the Fungus Among Us Photo Contest: Magali Lalonde-Legault won both the 2A “Captivating Colour” and 2B “Weird and Wonderful” categories, while Aurora Moore won for 2C “Gorgeous Gills,” Liz Barrett for 2D “Tiny Toadstools” and Adam Smith for 2E “Fungal Fun.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER NATURALISTS 3 WET AND WILD Mhairi Smart was all smiles despite a muddy and wet ride at the Canadian Enduro Championships held in Whistler on Sunday, Oct. 17. Several Whistler athletes competed. Stay tuned for full coverage of the race in next week’s Pique. PHOTO SUBMITTED 4 SPOOKY SPIRIT These volunteers put on their scariest

costumes to serve as the welcome committee for Laughing Crow Organics’ haunted sunflower maze on Friday, Oct. 15. The scary event served as a fundraiser for the Pemberton Animal Wellbeing Society (PAWS) again this year. PHOTO SUBMITTED 5 RUN DANA RUN Local runner Dana Luck—seen here racing in the Survival of the Fittest in Squamish last month—will celebrate Halloween this year by running from Squamish to Whistler, all to raise money for Zero Ceiling and help fight homelessness in Vancouver and the Sea to Sky region. Donations can be made at bit.ly/2Z8h92B. PHOTO BY SCOTT ROBARTS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Resort Municipality of Whistler

MUSEUM MUSINGS

In accordance with sections 94 and 124(3) of the Community Charter, the following serves as Public Notice that the Resort Municipality of Whistler is proposing to amend “Council Procedure Bylaw No. 2207, 2018” with the “Council Procedure Amendment Bylaw (Electronic Meetings) No. 2334, 2021”.

Council considered first, second and third readings of the proposed Bylaw at the Regular Council meeting on September 21, 2021.The Bylaw was adopted at the Regular Council meeting on October 5, 2021.

The proposed amendments: • Replace section 1.3. d) of “Council Procedure Bylaw No. 2207, 2018” to consider the Longhouse at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre as one of the “Council Chambers”; •

Add section 1.3. f) with the definition of “Electronic Meetings”: means a meeting where all attendees participate electronically; and,

•

Replace PART 3 – ELECTRONIC MEETINGS – Section 2.8. Electronic Meetings in its entirety with the following: a)

A regular or special Council meeting or other Council committee meeting may be conducted by electronic means.

b)

Electronic meetings will follow the rules established by the Community Charter and Council policies pertaining to electronic meetings.

c)

Advance public notice of meetings that are open to the public, will be posted in the public notice posting places according to the procedures established in this bylaw for giving notice, and will include:

i. ii.

the way in which the electronic meeting will be conducted, and the place where the public may attend to hear, or watch and hear, the proceedings.

Pauline Lysaght Corporate Officer Resort Municipality of Whistler

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

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IN HEAVEN Skiing the T-bar bowl on 7th Heaven, some of the terrain opened up by the new lift in 1985.

GREG GRIFFITH COLLECTION.

Reaching 7th Heaven

BY ALLYN PRINGLE WHEN BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN opened for skiing in 1980, it had four triple lifts and one two-person chair that carried eager skiers up to the top of today’s Catskinner lift. In 1982, the Jersey Cream Chair expanded the lift-accessed terrain available on Blackcomb, but the mountain still needed something more to compete with Whistler Mountain. The operators found it with the 7th Heaven T-Bar. Avalanche forecaster Peter Xhignesse came into the office of mountain manager Hugh Smythe in the spring of 1985 and told him he wanted to show Smythe some skiing on the south side of Blackcomb.

According to Smythe, he hadn’t done much hiking or skiing in the area and thought that it was unlikely there would be much promise in the south-facing area known to be windy with lots of rocks. After being shown the area by Xhignesse, however, he was convinced that the area had potential.

At the time, Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises was owned by the Aspen Skiing Corporation and the Federal Business Development Bank (FBDB), which also co-owned Fortress Mountain Resort in Alberta. Smythe knew that there was a relatively new T-bar on Fortress that wasn’t being run due to the drop in business after Nakiska Ski Area opened. Over the space of two days and a night, the T-bar on Fortress was quietly taken down and transported across the provincial border. With the T-bar in the Blackcomb parking lot, Smythe approached Aspen and the FBDB about funding its installation. Though at first they refused, pointing out that they were trying to sell Blackcomb, Smythe convinced them that he could fund the lift by selling incremental season passes.

On August 18, 1985, Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises officially announced the start of construction on its new “High Alpine T-Bar,” which would provide access to the area identified by Xhignesse, with a catered luncheon, heli-skiing, and a rendition of the 1983 Parachute Club song “Rise Up” encouraging skiers to “Rise up, rise up to the Mile High Mountain.” The addition of the T-bar promised to expand Blackcomb’s

skiable terrain from 420 acres to 1,160 acres with 22 new runs and increased its vertical reach to 5,280 feet (1,609 metres) or one mile (according to Smythe, there may have been a “little bit of a licence” taken on that number), the highest in North America.

Despite the summer start, wet and cold weather in October and November delayed the completion of the lift. In mid-October, with about half of the towers installed, operations manager Rich Morten reported that they needed only two and a half days of clear weather in order to pour the rest of the footings and erect the towers. By the beginning of November, they were still waiting for a break in the weather to allow helicopters to complete the work.

The High Alpine T-Bar was finally completed in mid-November but it would be another month before it opened to the public. Because of the rougher terrain (described as “boulders the size of cars and buses” by Blackcomb’s Dennis Hansen), more snow was needed before the new runs would be ready for skiing. Once the T-bar did open, however, it gathered rave reviews.

The new terrain was described by trail manager Garry Davies as “fabulous,” and according to Olympic skier Nancy Greene, “The enormous variety of slopes and spectacular views are really unequalled in North America.” Even the competition was impressed, with Lorne Borgal of Whistler Mountain claiming that the launch of the T-bar opened up the “big alpine world” and put an end to Blackcomb’s uniformly designed character. The T-bar was the first destination of 16-year-old Mike Douglas (now a free-ski legend) on his very first ski trip to Whistler, who described arriving at the top of the lift as being “dropped off at the edge of the world” and the trip down as “the coolest adventure ever.” For Smythe, the T-bar was a turning point for Blackcomb and he credits it with both inspiring Whistler’s Peak Chair the next year and with attracting Intrawest to purchase Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises.

Though it was a huge development for Blackcomb Mountain, the T-bar didn’t remain in place for very long. In 1987, it was replaced by the four-person 7th Heaven Express, which continues to transport skiers and snowboarders to the windy and rocky terrain pointed out by Peter Xhignesse. n

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 21 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Even the wisest among

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Self-help author James

us are susceptible to being fascinated by our emotional pain. Even those of us who do a lot of inner work may be captivated and entranced by frustrations and vexations and irritants. Our knotty problems make us interesting, even attractive! They shape our self-image. No wonder we are sometimes “intensely, even passionately, attached to suffering,” in the words of author Fyodor Dostoevsky.

That’s the bad news. The good news, Aries, is that in the coming weeks, you will have extra power to divest yourself of sadness and distress and anxiety that you no longer need. I recommend you choose a few outmoded sources of unhappiness and enact a ritual to purge them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In Norway, you don’t call your romantic partner “boyfriend” or “girlfriend.” You say kjaereste, which is gender neutral and is translated as “dearest.” In Sweden, you refer to your lover as älskling, meaning “my beloved one.” How about Finland? One term the Finns use for the person they love is kulta, which means gold. I hope you’ll be inspired by these words to experiment with new nicknames and titles for the allies you care for. It’s a favourable time to reinvent the images you project onto each other. I hope you will refine your assumptions about each other and upgrade your hopes for each other. Be playful and have fun as you enhance your empathy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The band Creedence Clearwater Revival, led by Gemini musician John Fogerty, achieved tremendous success with their rollicking sound and socially conscious lyrics. They sold 33 million records worldwide. In 1970, they were the best-selling band on the planet, exceeding even the Beatles. And yet, the band endured for just over four years. I foresee the possibility of a comparable phenomenon in your life during the coming months. Something that may not last forever will ultimately generate potent, long-term benefits. What might it be? Meditate on the possibility. Be alert for its coming. Create the conditions necessary for it to thrive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote, “I am unlike anyone I have ever met. I will even venture to say that I am like no one in the whole world. I may be no better, but at least I am different.” I urge you to make that your own affirmation in the coming weeks. It’s high time to boldly claim how utterly unique you are—to be full of reasonable pride about the fact that you have special qualities that no one in history has ever had. Bonus: The cosmos is also granting you permission to brag more than usual about your humility and sensitivity, as well as about your other fine qualities.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Nigerian poet Ijeoma Umebinyuo writes, “I will always want myself. Always. Darling, I wrote myself a love poem two nights ago. I am a woman who grows flowers between her teeth. I dance myself out of pain. This wanting of myself gets stronger with age. I host myself to myself. I am whole.” I recommend you adopt Umebinyuo’s attitude as you upgrade your relationship with yourself during the coming weeks. It’s time for you to pledge to give yourself everything you wish a lover would offer you. You’re ready to claim more of your birthright as an ingenious, diligent self-nurturer.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As author David Brooks reminds us, “Exposure to genius has the power to expand your consciousness. If you spend a lot of time with genius, your mind will end up bigger and broader than if you spend your time only with run-of-the-mill stuff.” I hope this strategy will be at the top of your priority list during the next four weeks. You will have abundant opportunities to put a lot of “excellent stuff into your brain,” as Brooks suggests. Uncoincidentally, you are also likely to be a rich source of inspiration and illumination yourself. I suspect people will recognize—even more than they usually do— that being around you will make them smarter. I suggest you help them realize that fact.

Clear describes a scenario I urge you to keep in mind. He speaks of “a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow, it will split in two.” Clear adds that “it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before.” You’ll thrive by cultivating that same patience and determination in the coming weeks, Libra. Proceed with dogged certainty that your sustained small efforts will eventually yield potent results.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseus Elytis was speaking like a consummate Scorpio when he said, “What I love is always being born. What I love is beginning always.” Like most Scorpios, he knew an essential secret about how to ensure he could enjoy that intense rhythm: He had to be skilled in the art of metaphorical death. How else could he be born again and again? Every time he rose up anew into the world like a beginner, it was because he had shed old ideas, past obsessions, and worn-out tricks. I trust you’ve been attending to this transformative work in the past few weeks, Scorpio. Ready to be born again? Ready to begin anew? To achieve maximum renaissance, get rid of a few more things.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I haven’t had enough sleep for years,” author Franz Kafka (1883–1924) once confessed to a friend. It showed in his work, which was brilliant but gaunt and haunted. He wrote stories that would be written by a person who was not only sleepdeprived but dream-deprived. The anxiety he might have purged from his system through sleep instead spilled out into the writing he did in waking life. Anyway, I’m hoping you will make Kafka your anti-role model as you catch up on the sleep you’ve missed out on. The coming weeks will be a fantastic time to fall in love with the odd, unpredictable, regenerative stories that well up from your subconscious depths while you’re in bed at night.

They will refresh your imagination in all the right ways.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “The reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day,” writes author Anne Lamott. I will add that on rare occasions, virtually everyone in your tribe is functioning at high levels of competency and confidence. According to my analysis, now is one of those times. That’s why I encourage you to take extraordinary measures to marshal your tribe’s creative, constructive efforts. I believe that together you can collaborate to generate wonders and marvels that aren’t normally achievable. Group synergy is potentially at a peak—and will be fully activated if you help lead the way.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I believe your plan for the rest of 2021 should borrow from the mini-manifesto that Aquarian author Virginia Woolf formulated at age 51: “I will go on adventuring, changing, opening my mind and my eyes, refusing to be stamped and stereotyped. The thing is to free one’s self: to let it find its dimensions, not be impeded.” Does that sound like fun, Aquarius?

It should be—although it may require you to overcome temptations to retreat into excess comfort and inertia.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Anyone who isn’t embarrassed of who they were last year probably isn’t learning enough,” writes author and philosopher Alain de Botton. That’s too extreme a statement for my taste.

But I agree with the gist of his comment. If we are not constantly outgrowing who we are, we are not sufficiently alert and alive. Luckily for you, Pisces, you are now in a phase of rapid ripening. At least you should be. The cosmos is conspiring to help you learn how to become a more vibrant and authentic version of yourself. Please cooperate! Seek all available updates.

Homework: Tell me why you’re such a gorgeous creature. https://Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com n

Truth be told.

Our communities are powered by local newspapers. Celebrate how trusted journalism sparks important conversations at nationalnewspaperweek.ca.

News Media Canada Médias d’Info Canada

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

OCTOBER 21, 2021

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PRE-LOVED RE-LOVED = COMMUNITY LOVE RE-USE-IT CENTRE Donations daily 10 am to 4 pm Accepting pre-loved clothing, gear and household items.

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Hiring - Experienced Pipelayers Corona Excavations Ltd is looking for experienced pipelayers and labourers to work for the current construction season.

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If you are interested or have any questions please call 604-966-4856 or email me with your CV at Dale@coronaexcavations.com.

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ONYX CONCRETE LTD IS LOOKING TO HIRE A JOURNEYMAN CARPENTER AND CARPENTER’S APPRENTICE. Our projects are demanding and fast paced, the ideal candidate must be able to work 10-12 hour shifts.

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The Rotary Clubs of Whistler are now meeting virtually.

The Whistler Club Tuesdays at 3.

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

MEETING PLACE Welcome Centre at Whistler Public Library Information, support, community connections and ESL practice groups for newcomers and immigrants.

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Tim McGuire 1963-2021

Full Time Sales Associate Born in Ottawa, Tim grew up in Hawkesbury, Kenora, Rothesay, La Tuque and Ottawa. He spent many happy years living and working in Ottawa but his home and his heart have been in the mountains in Whistler where he lived for almost 30 years.

FULL TIME SALES ASSOCIATE 4-5 DAYS A WEEK

Garibaldi Graphics has a full time, long term position available in a busy printing/re store located in Function Junction. Must have computer skills, enjoy multi tasking be reliable and have a friendly and professional demeanor. Duties include custome service and executing a variety of print jobs.

Garibaldi Graphics has a full time, long term position available in a busy printing/retail store located in Function Junction.

Must have computer skills, enjoy multi tasking, be reliable and have a friendly and professional demeanor.

Duties include customer service and executing a variety of print jobs.

Wellness benefits offered.

What we offer: Great work environment, competitive salary, flexible schedule,staff discounts, bonuses & the opportunity to work where you live, while saving time and money ($2 +per hour in savings) on your commute!

Please apply in person to #104-1200 Alpha Lake Road in Function Junction or email resume to whistler@garibaldigraphics.com

104-7445 FRONTIER STREET, PEMBERTON, BC 604-894-6002 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Fiercely independent, Tim always lived life on his own terms. He was involved in several businesses over the years, but is best known for a successful career in the hotel and property management business.

Timmer, as his friends called him, was a charmer, with a sparkle in his eyes and an easy laugh. Tim was a CSIA skier, a golfer, a talented hockey player with "great wheels", a musician (guitar, harmonica, and bass) and a loyal friend. Intelligent and full of integrity, Tim was a kind man who was always ready to help others.

During a holiday to the Dominican Republic he bought and distributed baseball bats to local teams in need. Tim also spent hours fostering animal shelter dogs, enabling damaged animals to rehabilitate so they could be adopted into loving homes.

Please apply in person to #104-1200 Alpha Lake Road in Function Junction Incentive Bonus or email resume to whistler@garibaldigraphics.com

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, APPLY TODAY! Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd., Whistler, BC

Off Property Contacts &Vacation Counselors (full time) Eligible successful candidates may receive*: • Extensive benefits package which may include; ski pass or wellness allowance, disability coverage, travel insurance and extended health and dental.

and

Spirit Pass Financing Available

For seasonal full time roles (Restrictions may apply)

Check our website for seasonal opportunities at our 3 venues

• Discounted employee rates at any Diamond Resort International resort.

• Full-time work year round and a FUN work environment. *eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment.

Email your resume with the position you wish to apply for to: embarc_hr@diamondresorts.com

Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers

is now hiring for

Houseman Guest Service Agent

Most of all, please take a moment to raise a toast to the special person that Tim was.

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, APPLY TODAY! Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd., Whistler, BC

Full Time Tour Receptionist Eligible successful candidates may receive*: • Extensive benefits package which may include; ski pass or wellness allowance, disability coverage, travel insurance and extended health and dental.

• Discounted employee rates at any Diamond Resort International resort.

• Full-time work year round and a FUN work environment. *eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment.

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If you want to work with a fun team email your resume to: smallpotatoesbazaar@telus.net

Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues

• Six figure earning potential!

The McGuire family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at The Squamish Hospital and The Sea to Sky Hospice for their professionalism, skill and commitment to Tim in treating the illness but also for the kindness and care they brought to supporting Tim through this difficult journey. In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Tim’s memory to WAGS, the Whistler Animal Galore Society (www.whistlerwag.com) where Tim was an active volunteer or to The Squamish Sea to Sky Hospice (seatoskyhospicesociety.ca) where Tim was cared for so kindly in his final days.

4 - 5 days a week

We are seeking a reliable, self-motivated individual who loves to work with people. Good communication, memory recall, math and multitasking skills, are required.

Previous retail and merchandising experience preferred.

We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits.

Ask about accommodation.

It is with deep sadness that the family of Tim McGuire is letting you know of his passing after a short, valiant and fierce battle with cancer which took him too soon.

ASSISTANT MANAGER & SALES ASSOCIATE

Email your resume with the position you wish to apply for to: embarc_hr@diamondresorts.com

This dynamic role includes the following Perks and Benefits:

• Competitive Wages and Benefits • Signing Bonus and Seasonal Bonuses provided • Fun Team Environment • Supportive Management team • Wages starting from $19/$21 per hour • Discounted Ski Pass Available • Part-time and Full-time Positions Available Please reply with a cover letter and resume to hr@listelhotel.com

Thank you for your interest. Only those applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted.

OCTOBER 21, 2021

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

NESTERS MARKET & WELLNESS CENTRE

MAINTENANCE HELPER

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BISTRO TEAM LEAD / BARISTAS GUEST EXPERIENCE AGENTS GUEST EXPERIENCE TEAM LEADS RESERVATIONS AGENT RESERVATIONS TEAM LEAD SPA EXPERIENCE AGENTS

WHAT WE OFFER: BATH MEMBERSHIP FOR YOU AND A FRIEND STAFF HOUSING UPON AVAILABILITY FREE MASSAGE AFTER 3 MONTHS DISCOUNTED WB SPIRIT PASS AND MORE!

apply at hr.whistler@scandinave.com

NORTH ARM FARM FARM FIELD LABOURER

Weeding, irrigating, harvesting and processing fruits & vegetables. At least 2 full seasons of agricultural experience required. Looking for hardworking individuals able to work in all types of outside conditions. Minimum 40hrs/wk over a minimum 5 days/wk. $15.20 - $18/hr.

Job duration: 32 weeks Jan 1st-Aug 31st -or- March 3rd-November 3rd 2022 Applicants can mail, or email resumes to North Arm Farm PO BOX 165, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 Email: info@northarmfarm.com

Deli, Bakery, Produce, Grocery and Meat Clerks Cashiers Full or Part Time E-mail or drop in your resume to: bruce_stewart@nestersmarket.com please cc ian_fairweather@nestersmarket.com or call us at 604-932-3545

PERKS • Competitive wage – Depending on experience • Access to medical and dental benefits for full time applicants • Percentage discount from store bought goods • Flexible and set schedule • Relative training

Resort Municipality of Whistler

Employment Opportunities · Supervisor, Bylaw Services · Skate Host - Whistler Olympic Plaza Ice Rink · Recreation Cashier - Whistler Olympic Plaza Ice Rink · Facilities Maintenance I · Accounting Clerk · Records Digitization Assistant

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/careers

Get noticed!

• Social • Google • Websites • Programmatic • SEO/SEM • Sponsored content

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Required: Class 1 or Class 3 Truck Drivers Please send resume to: Email: info@whistlerexcavations.com

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with Whistler officials to meet convention provincial ministers at annual

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Whistler Mechanical Ltd. is hiring plumbers and gas fitters.

Truck Driver 3 Night Shift - Temporary Full-Time Victim Services Crisis Worker Casual Utilities Technician Regular Part-Time Chief Operator Wastewater Treatment Plant Regular Full-Time Project Manager Temporary Full-Time Community Patrol Officer Multiple Positions - Casual/On-Call

squamish.ca/careers

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NEW PHOTO EXHIBIT DO CUMENTS 20 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE OU TDOOR SPORTS MECCA

Applicants must have completed 1st and 2nd year Canadian Red Seal training. Applications are also accepted if you have an out of country journeyman qualification.

Please e-mail your resume to whistlermech@hotmail.com or call the office (604)932-6219 and ask for Sandy.

AIR RIGHTS A BEAR’S TALE Kathleen Russell’s debut

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Looking to adopt?

Valid B.C. Drivers license is required.

We offer competitive wages, use of company vehicle, gas, tools, phone, extended health benefits etc.

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WEILER WINS Liberal incumbent Patrick Weiler is re-elected in Sea to Sky

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14OCTOBER 14, 2021 ISSUE 28.41 18 GOING UP?

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OCTOBER 21, 2021

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6 8

9 2 3 1 4 7 8 4 7 9 3 1 • 5 6 4 • • 4 2 • 2 1 5 3 • 9 8 6

Teppan Village is hiring Japanese Teppanyaki Chefs in Whistler.

JOB DUTIES: • Prepare and cook Teppanyaki and other Japanese food including Sushi.

• Ensure food meets quality standards.

• Estimate food requirements and cooking time.

• Instruct Kitchen Helpers and Cooks in preparation, cooking, and presentation of food.

• Assist Head Chef and supervise cooks and kitchen helpers.

• Inspecting ingredients for quality and freshness and supervising all food preparation.

• Create new menu, recipes and specials.

• Ensure to provide excellent live cooking presentation and customer services at the Teppanyaki bar.

• Work as a team and ensure orders are completed in timely manner.

• Ensure Teppan cooking presentations are performed in most safe environment.

QUALIFICATIONS: • Completion of High School and 2-3 years of experience as a cook/chef.

• Experience as a Teppanyaki Cook/Chef an asset.

1

V. EASY

• Good understanding of Japanese food and Teppanyaki food.

3 4

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# 57

V. EASY

All season, Permanent, Full-time, 30 hours per week, $25 per hour, 4% vacation pay Start Date: As soon as possible.

Language of work is English Address: 301-4293 Mountain Square, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4 Apply by email at teppanvillage@shaw.ca

2 3 8 5 5 7 9 4 6 6 1 3 9 6 3 5 7 2 7 Lil’wat Nation 3Employment 1 7 9 6 Opportunities 7Science Teacher - Community 1 School 4 • High School Math and • Child and Youth Therapist – Community School • Program 2 Coordinator 5 - Ts’zil4Learning Centre 9 8 • Indigenous Support Worker Services -Full Time -Ts’zil Learning Centre • High School English and Humanities 6 8Teacher – Community 2 5School • Education Assistant - Community School

WE ARE HIRING

Part-time Labourers and Full-time Scaffolder/Carpenter • Great working atmosphere with a fun crew operating in the Sea to Sky corridor • Competitive wage negotiable based on experience

V. •EASY Finance Manager - Ullus Building

• Internal paid training

• Schedule is typically Monday – Friday 7am-3pm

Send cover letter and resume to admin@alpinescaffolding.com by 2pm Nov 1, 2021

60 OCTOBER 21, 2021

# 57

# 59

V. EASY

• Education Jurisdiction Coordinator – Community School • Community Advocacy Representative - Ullus • Indigenous Support Worker Casual No.2 - Ts’zil Learning Centre • Indigenous Support Worker Casual No.1 - Ts’zil Learning Centre • Early Childhood Educator and/or Assistant - Daycare • Early Childhood Educator Infant Toddler - Daycare • Administrative Assistant to Health Director – Health Centre • Land Use Referral Research Assistant - Ullus

• Experience preferred but not mandatory for Labourer position • Physical ability to complete the tasks; heavy lifting, bending, reaching etc. is required on a daily basis

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# 58 2 1 4 9 7 5 3 3 6 1 4 7 9 5 2 8 5 6 2 3 1 8 4 4 7 8 5 2 6 1 9 3 Pension Plan 3 7 5 8 9 6 2 2 9 5 8 1 3 7 4 6 Employee Assistance Program 9 2 6 5 3 1 8 1 3 9 7 6 8 4 5 2 Extended Health Benefits 8 9 7 4 5 2 6 6 2 7 3 4 5 8 1 9 Development 6 3 8 1 4 9 Professional 7 8 5 4 2 9 1 3 6 7 Gym facility 7 4 9 2 6 3 1 5 8 2 6 3 4 9 7 1 1 5 3 7 8 4 9 7 1 3 9 5 2 6 8 4 Please visit our career page for more information: 4 8 1lilwat.ca/careers/career-opportunities-2/ 6 2 7 5 9 4 6 1 8 7 2 3 5

www.sudoku.com

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Roland’s Pub is looking for an Assistant Kitchen Manager Day and night shifts.

• Assisting Kitchen manager with ordering • Managing inventory • Receiving deliveries • Assisting with menu changes • Food costing • Preparing soups & sauces • Creating specials Line cooking is also required.

Salary will be based on experience.

Extended Medical & Dental benefits, ski pass, and staff discounts in Pub and Red Door Bistro.

Send resume to info@rolandswhistler.com

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, APPLY TODAY! Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd., Whistler, BC

Whistler Premier Resorts, Whistler’s leading property management firm is currently recruiting!

What We Offer You:

• Full Time Positions • Competitive Wages • • Discounted Ski Pass • Discounted Employee Rates • • Supportive Team Environment • Staff Housing • • Opportunities for growth & more • • Signing Bonus •

The current career opportunities are:

ROOM ATTENDANT GUEST SERVICE AGENT ROOM •ATTENDANT NIGHT AUDIT HOUSEMAN/INSPECTOR GUEST• SERVICE AGENT FULLNIGHT TIME MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AUDIT • HOUSEMAN

Full & Part Time Housekeepers Full Time Member Experience Associate Full Time Maintenance Technician

Eligible successful candidates may receive*:

• Extensive benefits package which may include; ski pass or wellness allowance, disability coverage, travel insurance and extended health and dental.

• Travel Allowance and discounted employee rates at any Diamond Resort International resort.

• Full-time work year round and a FUN work environment. *eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment.

APPLY TODAY AT PEOPLE@WHISTLERPREMIER.COM

Email your resume with the position you wish to apply for to: embarc_hr@diamondresorts.com

Property Maintenance and Services Ltd. is looking for:

Employment Opportunities:

1 X ALL YEAR ROUND MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATE AND WINTER LEAD 1 X MECHANICAL SNOW REMOVAL / SNOW PLOW OPERATOR 1 X WINTER SNOW REMOVAL LEAD - Manual 8 X SNOW REMOVAL TEAM MEMBERS

$20 to $25 Wage, Dependent on Experience Performance-based Salary Increase • Vacation Pay $600 Lifestyle Bonus Interested?

Email Resume to: snowburstwhistler@gmail.com

Guest Services Agents Maintenance • Housekeeping Apply to: jobs@pembertonvalleylodge.com

Competitive wages, health benefits, casual environment OCTOBER 21, 2021

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

Climate Action and Resilience Specialist (Full-time, Regular) 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, subregional 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 and collaborative individual to fill the position of Climate Action and Resilience Specialist. Reporting to the Director of Protective Services, this position is responsible for coordinating the SLRD’s overall approach to climate action and resilience, and the implementation and monitoring of related strategies.

The ideal candidate will possess: a post secondary degree in environmental studies, community planning, sustainability, climate change, disaster risk reduction, or a related discipline; and a minimum of 5 years of professional experience developing and advancing climate action policies, programs and initiatives (an equivalent combination of experience, training and education may be considered).

For further information, please refer to the full job description at www.slrd.bc.ca/employment.

Salary will be determined commensurate with experience. This position also offers a comprehensive benefits package, participation in the Municipal Pension Plan, a compressed work week and the possibility to work from home.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume with a cover letter by email, no later than October 31, 2021 at 11:59 pm, to: Monica Halitzki, Human Resources Manager Squamish-Lillooet Regional District mhalitzki@slrd.bc.ca We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

62 OCTOBER 21, 2021

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Team!!

HILTON WHISTLER RESORT & SPA is currently hiring for the following positions:

Sales & Catering Coordinator Reservations & Group Coordinator

THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

WE OFFER AMAZING BENEFITS! Life & Leisure Program Health Benefits Staff Accommodation

Room Attendant

Free Staff Parking

• Reservations • Concierge • Room Attendant • Server

House Attendant

Free Meals

• Maintenance (General and Power Engineer Class 4)

Night Audit Supervisor Maintenance Technician Food & Beverage Hostess/Host Food & Beverage Door Attendant Food & Beverage Server 3rd Cook 2nd Cook 1st Cook Chef de Partie

Tuition Program 50% Discount in our Food & Beverage outlets Team Member Travel

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Program including Friends & Family Benefits

Email your cover letter and resume to

hr@hiltonwhistler.com

Vacasa Whistler is currently hiring: • Housekeeping Coordinator/Inspector • Assistant Guest Services Manager • Guest Service Supervisor • Assistant Housekeeping Manager • Outside Houseman • Maintenance Technician signing bonuses available Benefits include - Activity allowance, extended medical, RRSP match, opportunities for growth and more.

To apply for this opportunity, please specify the position and email your resume and cover letter to: paul.globisch@vacasa.com We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

OCTOBER 21, 2021

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THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

Media Coordinator About You

About Us

You are curious, have a positive attitude, and a desire to learn.

Guru Communications is a Whistler-based company that provides media strategy and negotiations for national advertisers.

You are a team player.

You pay close attention to detail and you have strong communication skills – both verbal and written.

Ideally you have a marketing, advertising, or media background + office experience.

You have a post-secondary degree and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 30 years of age or younger as per the terms of the Digital Skills For Youth Program.

We are expanding and looking for the right team member to grow with us.

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We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits.

Ask about accommodation.

Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues

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Whistler Sliding Centre (Bobsleigh, Luge & Skeleton) Track Worker Facility Ops Worker – Snow Clearing Control & Timing Operator Refrigeration Operator Lead, Track Medical Responder

There is long-term career advancement potential for the right candidate.

If you’re interested in joining a growing team of fun, energetic professionals, send your resume to careers@gurucom.ca

Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers

Come Grow Sport with us at our Whistler Olympic Legacy Venues

 Squamish  Whistler  Pemberton

BUS DRIVER

School District No. 48 (Sea to Sky) is accepting applications for the following position: • Bus Driver – Pemberton/Whistler Area This is a 4 hour per day position covered by our CUPE Collective Agreement and offers a competitive rate of pay and benefits package.

Further information regarding this position and the School District can be found at https://www.makeafuture.ca/regions-districts/bc-public-school-districts/metro/sea-to-sky/

We offer competitive wages, a unique environment, seasonal bonuses, staff discounts and benefits.

Ask about accommodation.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 48

Whistler Sliding Centre Temporary labourers needed: Oct 14 to Nov 14 Track surface prep & maintenance Flexible shifts Info email: jobs@whistlersportlegacies.com Visit our website to view current postings and to apply: www.whistlersportlegacies.com/careers

Home Improvement and Building Supply Centre

WE ARE HIRING! Full-time/Part-time Sales Associates We are looking for motivated individuals with excellent customer service skills to join our team!

• Competitive Wages • Extended Health Benefits • Ski Pass or Wellness Fund Allowance Please send your resume to whistleradmin@windsorply.ca or apply within. #107-1055 Millar Creek Rd., Whistler, BC V8E 0K7 www.windsorplywood.com

64 OCTOBER 21, 2021

The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler has the following positions available:

LAUNDRY ATTENDANTS, ROOM ATTENDANTS, HOUSEMAN AND MAINTENANCE POSITIONS HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR Please reply by email: parmstrong@pinnaclehotels.ca

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SHUTTLE DRIVERS

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GUEST EXPERIENCE REPS If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume to employment@canadian01.com

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INTERVIEWS

Drop-in or email hr@joefortes.ca to pre-schedule.

4417 Sundial Place Whistler BC

Visit canadianwilderness.com/employment for full job description and how to apply.

Domino’s Pizza in Whistler is • Customer Service Representative • Delivery Experts (Drivers) • Assistant Managers All positions can earn 20$/hour minimum Subsidized accommodations and profit sharing available Apply in store between 11am-4pm Monday thru Sunday at 4368 Main Street, Whistler

66 OCTOBER 21, 2021

Our Whistler location is looking for an

INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE & DELIVERY DRIVER WE OFFER Competitive Wages ■ Medical & Dental Coverage ■ Retirement Savings Plan ■ Staff Discounts Employee Incentive Programs ■ Health & Wellness Program ■ Opportunity for Growth

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604-966-1437

coastmountaincleaning@gmail.com

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604.932.1388 / 1.877.932.5775 blackcombchimney@yahoo.ca

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Available for private viewings. Tel: 604-868-0117 7322 Old Mill rd, Pemberton,bc

THE COMPLETE GLASS CENTRE

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SURVEYING

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68 OCTOBER 21, 2021

Serving the Sea to Sky Corridor Since 1963 ▪ ▪ ▪

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PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 11 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 35 37 38 40 41 43 46 51 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

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3 4 8

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V. EASY

# 57

DOWN

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LAST WEEKS’ ANSWERS

6 1 7 5 7 6 9 3 2 5 8 7 6 3 7 8 4 6 9 4 2 1 6 5 2 4 9 1 7 1 9 8 6 8 2 3

V. EASY

# 58

Enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell, in such a way that: • Each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once • Each vertical column contains each digit exactly once • Each 3x3 box contains each digit exactly once Solving a sudoku puzzle does not require any mathematics; simple logic suffices.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: VERY EASY

2 3 8 5 5 7 9 4 6 6 1 3 9 6 3 5 2 7 3 1 7 9 7 1 2 5 4 9 6 8 2

7 6 4 8 5

V. EASY Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com# 59

2 8 9 6 7 7 1 3 9 5 7 6 1 5 9 4 3 2 8 5 4 6 7 V. EASY

1

2 8 4 3 6 5 2 9 8

7 8 1

# 60

ANSWERS ON PAGE 60

OCTOBER 21, 2021

69

MAXED OUT

The Vail fail continues…

“WE BELIEVE implementing this policy (mandatory vaccine passport program for everyone accessing Grouse Mountain) over the winter season will provide the strongest protection against COVID-19 to those who visit and work at the mountain.”

—Michael Cameron, president of Grouse Mountain Resort “We remain committed to doing everything we can to help keep you safe this season.”

—Whistler Blackcomb’s COVID-19 Commitment to Safety.

BY G.D. MAXWELL

Only one of those statements is true.

The other is PR spin, also known as, well you know.

Little Grouse Mountain has stolen the thunder from big, bad Vail Resorts with Monday’s (Oct. 18) announcement requiring all people accessing the mountain this season to be fully vaccinated. The details of the program are so simple even a company as centralized and hidebound as Vail Resorts could understand them... if only they had both the will and the humanity.

Grouse has dubbed its program VaxTrax. For the upcoming month, before the mountain opens for skiing and riding, season passholders and multi-day snow school participants can submit a digital copy of their B.C. Vaccine Passport and government ID. By doing so, their passes will work. It’s a one-shot deal, good for the season. What could be easier?

Can’t get your act together to do it up front? In that case you can do it in person before Nov. 15 and if that’s too onerous, you can do it the first time you go skiing this season. People who go up on day tickets will have to show their passport each time they buy tickets.

What that means is the 15-minute Skyride tram up the mountain will run at, “... regular operating capacity.”

Of course, Vail Resorts’ operating protocols this season embrace full lifts too.

In the handy-dandy FAQs in their COVID-19 protocols, they answer the question whether they will practise physical distancing on gondolas. The answer? “No. We will load lifts and gondolas at normal capacity, optimizing guest movement around our resorts.”

Can’t say I’m sorry to see the last of last season’s one-person gondys but what about the long lines at the bases of the mountains? Surely we’ll keep our distances and have to wear masks there. Right? “No. Face coverings will not be required for lift lines.” And, “Currently there are no public health orders in place mandating physical distancing indoors or on lifts or gondolas.

We will continue to monitor those orders

70 OCTOBER 21, 2021

PHOTO BYJAY MARTIN ON UNSPLASH

as the pandemic evolves and will follow all federal and local public health orders.”

Let me translate that. We, and by we I mean Vail Resorts, will do the absolute minimum required by law or public health order. We, and by we I mean Vail Resorts, will do absolutely nothing we don’t have to do to keep you safe while you come spend money at our resorts.

Of course, if you want to enjoy an overpriced burger while on the mountain, you’ll have to line up to show your vaccine passport. Ditto kids 12 to 18 who are in ski and ride programs that include lunch.

“These are currently the only parts of our experience that will require proof of vaccination, unless required by local public

being catered to here? Currently, according to the federal government, travellers into Canada have to have been fully vaccinated, with approved vaccines, at least 14 full days prior to the day they enter Canada. So all those Epic™ passholders who live outside Canada have to be vaccinated before they can test their skills against the terrain of Whistler and Blackcomb. Any Epic™ passholder who’s planning on coming must already pass the test; they’re not going to be disturbed by Vail Resorts requiring them to prove their status.

Somewhere around 80 per cent of B.C. residents are fully vaccinated. A requirement wouldn’t piss them off.

Anyone flying to Vancouver from inside

We, and by we I mean Vail Resorts, will do absolutely nothing we don’t have to do to keep you safe while you come spend money at our resorts. health.” So says Vail Resorts.

This is reminiscent of the heartfelt, if meaningless, phrase, “Your concerns are our concerns” ... but only if we’re required to be concerned about them by law.

Otherwise, screw off and stop bothering us with your meaningless petitions, letters and emails. In the immortal words of W.C. Fields, “Go away, kid, yer bothering me.”

So the question arises: exactly who is

Canada will have to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 22, well ahead of opening day as it’s currently scheduled. No problem there.

While no empirical data exists to back up the claim, I don’t believe it’s out of the question to suggest most everyone who is vaccinated will feel a whole lot better if they know everyone else in the gondola with them for the next 25 minutes, more or less, shares their status, whether they’re panting

into a mask, neck gaiter or not.

So here’s the challenge. I challenge anyone from Vail Resorts, from Rob Katz on down, to publicly justify their position on this. Since I know they won’t take this challenge, at least not publicly, I’ll up the ante. I’ll happily contribute $1,000— sorry, Rob, but it’s not an insignificant sum to me—to the charity of their choice, even if that charity is the Brotherhood of Anti-Vaxxers. Of course, if it is, it’ll be a contribution under their name.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be out of pocket on this one. Vail Resorts operates under a veil of no comment. They’ve proven over and over again they really don’t care what any of us think of them as long as we keep lining up at their resorts. And since their current policy even fails from a straight business analysis—deploying staff they don’t have to check vaccine status at all their on-mountain eateries—whatever lame excuse they could think up would sound even more pathetic than just staying mum on the subject.

Since the only hope of strongarming Vail Resorts into doing the right thing rests with Dr. Bonnie Henry requiring them to do it, keep those emails you’ve been sending her coming. While it may seem redundant, if you’ve already sent one, send a few more.

I don’t know if they ever get to her but here’s the best email address: bonnie.henry@gov. bc.ca While you’re at it, can’t hurt to cc her bosses: adrian.dix.MLA@leg.bc.ca or HLTH. Minister@gov.bc.ca and, of course, Big John himself, premier@gov.bc.ca.

I know Bonnie doesn’t ski but maybe one of her staff will be able to explain the reality of riding gondolas to her. Hope springs eternal. ■

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

VILLAGE 6-4211 This 2 bed/2 bath in the heart of the village is a 2 minute walk to the ski hill. With mountain views from the south facing living room, there is a walk out covered deck, perfect for a hot tub, a sauna, wood burning stove and underground parking. $999,000

Peter Lalor

VILLAGE 720-4320 Sundial Crescent Pan Pacific Mountainside is a superbly located full service hotel within the heart of Whistler Village. Enjoy being within close walking distance to many of the best attractions, shops & restaurants that Whistler has to offer. $499,000

604-902-3309 Maggi Thornhill *PREC

WHISTLER VILLAGE 762-4090 Whistler Way This luxurious 425sf studio offers spectacular views to the west over the Whistler Golf course practice facility, kitchen, heated floors and gas fireplace.

Phase 2 ownership gives you 28 nights of personal use in the winter with an additional 28 nights in the summer.$419,000

604-905-8199 Nick Swinburne *PREC

604-932-8899

SOLD

NORDIC 206-2007 Nordic Court Locals Alert! Rarely available condo in the best kept locals secret development in Creekside.

Zoned for employees and retireees. Immaculate, nicely upgraded one bedroom with storage is a rare gem. End your housing dilemma and get into the market today! $649,000

Rob Boyd

BAYSHORES 4J-2561 Tricouni Place This property did not last long on the market. Call me today to get your property sold. $49,000

604-935-9172 Kerry Batt

604-902-5422 Ken Achenbach

NEW TO MARKET

WHISTLER CAY HEIGHTS 6400 St Andrews Way Great neighbourhood in Whistler!

You’ll enjoy this 3 bedroom and large den, plus 2.5 bathroom Duplex spacious home. Approx. 2,000 sq.ft. with large sunny patio, 2 car garage with guest parking & stroll to local trails, shops & Whistler Village. $2,580,000

Kathy White

WHISTLER 9084 Corduroy Run Court Over 1 acre flat lot. Build an up to 5920 sq.ft. dream home + large coach house. Privacy surrounds you, yet you‘re only 12 min away from the village.

You’ll love it here. $1,250,000

NEW TO MARKET

PEMBERTON PLATEAU 29 – 7360 Pemberton Farm Road Way Beautifully renovated townhome, bright end unit with views of Mt. Currie. 4br/3.5ba, high ceilings, double garage, propane fireplace, new kitchen and bathrooms with a designer furniture package. $969,000

PEMBERTON 7362 Pemberton Farm Rd East Prime development site next to Den Duyf park. One of the few remaining residential sites in the Village of Pemberton & not in the ALR. Plenty of year round sunshine plus valley views.

Unlimited potential for income generation. $2,395,000

604-902-7220 Caronne Marino *PREC

604-616-6933 Sherry Boyd

604-966-7640

Whistler Village Shop

Whistler Creekside Shop

Squamish Station Shop

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

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

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

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

whistler.evrealestate.com

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

604-905-8324

3D Tour - rem.ax/35peaks

#35 - 1450 Vine Road

3D Tour - rem.ax/510pan

$719,000

This 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhome in the popular Peaks complex in Pemberton comes with an oversized single garage, and the ability to park 2 vehicles in front of the unit, allowing space for all the toys to be safely stored inside.

The back deck overlooks a quiet grassy common space with a very private feel to it.

Richard Grenfell

2

604.902.4260

#510 Pan Pacific

3D Tour - rem.ax/1489balsam

$495,000

This 5th floor studio has a fully equipped kitchen, living/dining area, gas fireplace, sundeck, beautiful bathroom and sleeps 4 comfortably with a queen size murphy bed and queen size pull-out couch. Amenities include a heated year-round salt water pool & dual hot tubs - the perfect vantage point after a day of summer fun or winter après.

Sally Warner*

.5

604.905.6326

1489 Balsam Way

This custom constructed home on a beautiful street in The Glen neighborhood in Pemberton has many custom features that were well planned out during construction.

This home has a beautifully landscaped yard with mature trees, shrubs & established flower beds plus raspberry bushes and it is fully irrigated and easy to maintain.

Sherry Baker

4

604.932.1315

3D Tour - rem.ax/208horstman

Video - rem.ax/1504whitecap

#1504 Whitecap Crescent

$1,750,000

$549,000

9329 Warbler Way

$1,275,000

#208 - 4653 Blackcomb Way

$899,000

Enjoy Pemberton’s premiere neighbourhood from your dream home on Lot 12, The Ridge. Sun and views all day long from this easy build lot. Zoning is very flexible allowing you to build up to 6500 sq ft of living space including 2 accessory buildings. Easy access to all recreation that Pemberton has to offer and only 30 minutes drive to the world class resort Whistler Blackcomb.

Welcome to Wedgewoods, a master planned community of 108 beautiful properties. Phase Six includes the final 19 estate lots which allow for luxury homes plus a carriage house. Stunning mountain views and sunshine make Phase 6 a very special offering. Only 12 minutes north of Whistler with hiking, and biking trails at right at your door and snowmobiling close by.

This Phase 1 property allows you to live in your suite full time. You are close to the Chateau Golf Course, Lost Lake Park. The free bus stops in front of the building for easy access to the village and lifts. Alternatively, enjoy the short walk along the tree lined trail to reach the village.

Ursula Morel*

Ann Chiasson

Bruce Watt

604.932.8629

3D Tour - rem.ax/7063nesters

7063 Nesters Road

3D Tour - rem.ax/6gleneagles

$2,788,000

LOCATION....LOCATION. Conveniently located between Nesters Plaza and Whistler Village with the Valley Trail and public transit at your doorstep. Enjoy the peaceful setting from the covered deck or relax by the wood-burning fireplace in the spacious living room with a vaulted ceiling. Recently updated with new kitchen and bathroom granite counters plus new flooring.

Dave Beattie*

1

604.905.8855

604.932.7651

#6 - 4636 Blackcomb Way

3D Tour - rem.ax/305fourseasons

$95,000

Adjacent to the Fairmont Chateau golf course, this rarely available, 1/10th interest in an immaculate 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome boasts a spacious open layout , heated slate floors in bathroom. A cozy wood burning fireplace, large master bedroom with sitting area, and plenty of secure parking are among the many amenities.

Dave Sharpe

604.902.2779

1

604.905.0737

2

305/306 - 4591 Blackcomb Way

$1,550,000

This luxurious 2 bedroom suite is an end unit featuring two spacious, ensuited master bedrooms. Two private patios to enjoy a main living area with a pull-out sofa. Enjoy the Four Seasons Resort Whistler including 9000 square foot spa, outdoor pool, health club, in-house restaurant and lounge, room service, and ski concierge.

Doug Treleaven

604.905.8626

2

3D Tour - rem.ax/413alpenglow

#413 - 4369 Main Street

$395,000

Best Price in Alpenglow! This 4th floor studio with views of Sproat Mountain is a perfect little getaway and revenue generator. Located in the middle of Whistler Village, steps from Olympic Plaza, food and shopping, and a short walk from the ski hill. Complex includes a pool, hot tub and exercise room, and secure underground parking.

Matt Chiasson

604.935.9171

.5

#212 - 4220 Gateway Drive

$285,000

A renovated studio with loft - right in the heart of Whistler Village and within a 2 minute walk to the ski lifts. These fully furnished lofted studios include a fully equipped kitchen and sleep 6. Blackcomb Lodge has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades to the indoor swimming pool, hot tub and other common area facilities.

Michael d’Artois

WHISTLER OFFICE 106 - 7015 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC V8E 0X1 604.932.2300 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070 *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

If you are a home owner, buyer, tenant, landlord, or small business in need of help during this time, please see our updated list of resources at: remax-whistler.com/resources

604.905.9337

1

9407 Portage Road

$795,000

This is a great piece of property, almost 19,000 square feet. 3 bedroom with vaulted ceilings that has been well taken care of, about 10 minutes past Gates Lake in Birken B.C. The house is set back from the road, and there are many large tree’s on this property, so it’s nice and private. This property is suited for full time living, or use it as a weekend getaway.

Michael Nauss

604.932.9568

3

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