Pique Newsmagazine 2939

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Indigenous leaders reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, one year in. - By Brandon Barrett

14

WAITING GAME

Nearly five years after it was first proposed, a housing project on Nancy Greene Drive and Highway 99 is finally headed to a public hearing.

16

TRAGIC END

Family members remember Clorrica Riggs as selfless and helpful, with a bright smile and a free spirit.

20 FACE TO FACE

Whistler’s first all-candidates meeting took place on Sept. 21, setting the tone for the campaign ahead—but where are the young voters?

28 HIGH HOPES

Building height remains the main concern among nearby residents as a controversial housing project heads for adoption in Pemberton.

42 DROP THE PUCK

Hundreds of Whistlerites came out to the Meadow Park Sports Centre from Sept. 24 to 26 for Vancouver Canucks training camp.

46 OUT OF CONTROL

Contemporary art meets skateboarding in the Audain Art Museum’s newest exhibit, open now until Jan. 8.

COVER SLCC apprentice carver Brandon Hall works on the community reconciliation canoe. - By David Buzzard // davidbuzzard.com

Opinion & Columns

08 OPENING REMARKS

Democracy is not a passive exercise, writes editor Braden Dupuis—and if you’re not actively involved, you get the policy you deserve.

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The great e-bike debate rages on in this week’s Letters to the Editor.

Sales

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Reporters

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Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, GLENDA BARTOSH, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ANDREW MITCHELL, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON

President, Whistler Publishing LP

SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST

Columnist Harrison Brooks pens a goodbye letter to Pique as he moves on to other opportunities.

70 MAXED OUT As you meet and greet Whistler’s municipal election candidates this fall, be wary of simple solutions to complex problems, writes G.D. Maxwell.

33 THE OUTSIDER

The cycling industry champions itself as being at the forefront of emission reduction—but does the industry get away with greenwashing?

Environment & Adventure Lifestyle & Arts

44 EPICURIOUS Award-winning Creekside shop BReD has baked sustainability into everything it does since opening in 2019—and now it’s B Corp certified.

50 MUSEUM MUSINGS

Rudi and Merrilyn Hoffmann’s Mountain Holm Steakhouse—or Rudi’s Steakhouse—was a fixture among Whistler locals in the 1970s.

THE ENTIRE TIME I’ve lived in Whistler, I’ve heard stories of the resort’s legendary 2011 election.

Issues like asphalt procurement and pay parking had riled the electorate to the point of absolute discontent, and council meetings in the lead-up to the election became standing-room-only, must-see events (or so I’m told—I still have a hard time believing it).

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

That year, voters turfed Whistler’s entire mayor and council for the first and only time in the resort’s history. Then, to rub salt in the wound, Pique readers named “electing a new council” as the most sustainable thing Whistler did in 2011 in Pique’s annual Best of Whistler poll.

Ouch.

The events of 2011 were before my time, so I’ll refrain from passing judgment on the perceived ills of the council of the day.

I’m more interested in that mythical, robust engagement—the standing-roomonly crowds and the peanut-gallery rabble-rousers that make local politics sing

That’s because, for much of my time here, Whistlerites have come across as mostly indifferent—their discontent confined to a low grumble coming from somewhere in the back of the room.

They care about this place, sure. They’re quick to tell you when something has been done wrong, and like to share their opinions after the fact on Facebook. But most can’t be bothered to get involved until it’s far too late—and that’s a problem.

I’m not just saying it. The apathy is very real, and evident in the empty chairs at the Maury Young Arts Centre every second Tuesday.

I saw it first-hand for six years straight, when I served as Whistler’s only council reporter (a beat local photographer David

Buzzard once referred to as “the loneliest job in Whistler”—a depressingly accurate phrase that I never forgot); and for six years, I was often the only person in attendance when our local elected officials convened every two weeks.

So I’ve always found it a bit rich when Whistlerites get up in arms, long after the fact, over decisions made at municipal hall. Democracy is not a passive exercise, and if you’re not actively involved, you get the policy you deserve. Simple as that.

The apathy was evident at Whistler’s first all-candidates meeting held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, hosted by the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association.

For all the supposed angst and anxiety— and the whining—on social media the past four years, I would have expected a better turnout.

Instead, the gym at Whistler Secondary School sat half full, Whistler’s 21 election candidates cycling between the 50 or so people who bothered to attend.

As Mayor Jack Crompton pointed out before the event started, it was a beautiful,

in

lot,” one attendee told Pique. “It really helps a lot to look them in the eyes, hear them speak. Even if it’s just for five minutes, you get a good first impression. It’s really helpful. And then at least you’re feeling like you’re making an informed decision.”

I concur. Getting direct face time with the candidates helped me shore up my own ballot in a way that reading a news story or campaign website never could; allowed me to separate the legitimate from the irrelevant.

Being a council reporter may be lonely, but it also gives you great insight into the machinations of local government— and a finely-tuned nonsense detector for municipal candidates and their vague ideas.

Without naming names, here’s my takeaway from Round 1: aside from the five incumbents and three, maybe four contenders, every candidate running for mayor or council is trading in nonsense—uninformed and loosely compiled policy ideas; irrelevant passion projects; extended ramblings designed to limit those pesky questions from voters; general unpreparedness.

To list just one example, my table

would be paying attention to the reports and presentations coming to council— during an election season—wouldn’t you? Is that too much to ask? Because it seems like the absolute bare minimum to me.

Perhaps I’m being too hard on our council hopefuls. Running for office is a stressful, hectic endeavour, in which selfinterested individuals and groups pull you in two dozen directions at once. It’s understandable that some items will fly under the radar.

And I will say this: After having a chance to meet each of our candidates for office, I am confident that none of them are running for the wrong reason.

They may be coming to it with different ideas and varying levels of experience, but I believe all of our local government hopefuls are seeking office because they truly care about Whistler and its success—and that’s kind of special in itself.

By the time you read this, Whistler voters will have had a second chance to hear from the candidates, at Pique’s allcandidates meeting hosted in conjunction

sunny Wednesday—who could be bothered with local politics?

I get it. Ripping up the local trails on one of the last gasps of summer beats listening to local candidates spout their half-baked ideas any day of the week.

But it really cannot be overstated how valuable these all-candidates meetings are for learning about our local government hopefuls.

“This was my first time coming to this and I’m sorry I didn’t do it last [election]. It helps a

asked several candidates what they plan to do about red tape at municipal hall, and reducing wait times for building and construction permits. Outside of the incumbents, not a single candidate we posed the question to was aware (or if they were aware, they certainly didn’t mention it) that, just the night before, mayor and council heard a lengthy presentation about—go figure—reducing red tape.

You would think that the people who want to represent us on local government

with Arts Whistler and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. A third is scheduled for the following Wednesday, Oct. 5.

If you attended an all-candidates meeting, you likely have your own (and, I’m guessing, similar) impressions.

If you didn’t, you should make an effort to get some face time with the candidates before casting your vote—and once the election is over, start filling the seats at the Maury Young Arts Centre to make the council beat a little less lonely.

on our History. Connect to the Land.

Whistler should celebrate Melamed’s huge win

What a great weekend, and what a great season for our local boy Jesse Melamed. Born and raised in Whistler, a more “Whistler” kid would be hard to find. I won’t go on a rant about my continuing disappointment at our mainstream media that can’t find a way to lift its head from its own money navel-gazing of NBA, NHL etc., to mention or celebrate such an accomplishment as a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! I saw the lack of coverage during the golden days of Alison Sydor and Roland Green competing as the XC World Champions at home at Grouse, and we couldn’t even get the Vancouver Sun or Province to attend the press conference! Stevie Smith as DH champ was similarly ignored by our mainstream press.

Wonderfully, there is a new generation of local Canadians killing it in MTB currently with the likes of Jackson Goldstone, Finn Iles, and Gracey Hemstreet. Potential future world champions all. And many more in XC, EWS, etc. But I am sure Canadian media will be nothing but consistent, and will barely mention their successes.

But here in our MTB community, we have historically celebrated our heroes in biking and skiing admirably. However, I would suggest that Jesse’s win is something really special for our Whistler community. Jesse was born and raised here. He grew up riding every trail in Whistler from the time he was barely able to walk, never mind ride. He was surrounded and no doubt inspired by talented athletes, and

amazing riders, whom he had to chase. Many of the trails he rode have been maintained by his dad, Ken, and his family over the years. He has competed at a World Cup level for several years, all the while finishing his engineering degree at UBC! Who does that?

He had to excel at more than 45 races this year, each one potentially ending his year of competition with a major fall or major mechanical. His body shows the signs of the intense risk and wear and tear that this sport inflicts on its competitors. He had to overcome a massive fall in the second-tolast race that destroyed his helmet and parts

of his body like his hands. He has worked for the last many years to get the skills, the experience, and the mental toughness to beat the very best. Then he had to pull all that together, riding beat up and hurt, in the last race of the year to take it. What a great way to win like a true champ.

Given the success of our native son, I would suggest we find a way to acknowledge this effort. Name a street after Jesse, or how about a bridge?? Gee... maybe, just maybe, Vail Resorts could find a way to honour the result with some reference on the mountain?

I cannot think of a more deserving young

man, at the height of his powers. Congrats Jesse, you earned it.

Jayson Faulkner // Whistler

The issue isn’t e-bikes—it’s speed

Oh no! The indiscriminate “let’s ban it” brigade is back again re: e-bikes.

Peter Skeels is missing the point! (Pique, Sept. 22: “Put e-bikes on the ballot…”) By way of background, I am 67 years old and, in the summer, regularly ride the Valley Trail on my ordinary pushbike from Rainbow to town and often on to Creekside and elsewhere. My observation is that the vast majority of e-bike riders are of an older generation using the bikes at a leisurely pace in the comfort of knowing that, over-hill and down-dale, they can always get home using their power assist.

The issue is NOT e-bikes, but speed! The near-misses (and there are not many) I have had are all as a result of individuals on mountain bikes travelling fast (or dogs off leads)! Let’s not go down the indiscriminate banning route, thus preventing many older residents enjoying the lovely Valley Trail rather than having to use their cars!

Nick Barton // Whistler

Valley Trail safety is about the rider, not the bike

I have read lately a bit about e-bikes and the Valley Trail. I should state that I do not own or ride an e-bike (not yet anyway) but I would like to offer my opinion on this heated topic. The gist of what I have to say is that this is about

the rider, and not the bike. Whistler is full of respectful and considerate people, some of whom ride e-bikes, some of whom ride other forms of wheeled transportation. A mountain bike is quite capable of riding too fast, just as an e-bike is—and often they do go faster than they should. (I know this because I have been guilty of this on occasion on my leg-powered bike).

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

system. As a trail system, not a roadway, it was never designed or intended for motorized vehicles aside from authorized maintenance vehicles.

The increasing use of Class 1 e-bikes or pedelecs (electrically assisted pedal bicycles) has provided a safer alternative to vehicular travel with the added bonus of reduced emissions and health benefits.

- JEFF HEINTZMAN

I do not know what the rules should be, but the signs on the trail say “share the trail.” We need to respect each other—regardless of our mode of transportation.

Jeff Heintzman // Whistler

Stop pedalling misinformation

As one of the first users of the Valley Trail and probably the first and only cycle commuter for many years, I can attest to the fact that the Valley Trail was conceived by Whistlers’ Parks Planner, Tom Barrett, in the mid ’80s as a way to enable the community to use the right-of-way for the sewer

The outspoken discrimination that misrepresents all e-bikes as electrically powered is based on ignorance and misinformation. Pedelecs only move when the rider is providing muscle-generated pedal effort. The electric motor assists the muscle effort. Pedelecs have a maximum speed at a maximum 250-watt pedal assist of 20 mph. If a rider wants to go faster, it is purely through muscle effort.

Class 1 e-bikes are bicycles.

Stop pedalling misinformation.

David MacPhail // Maple Ridge n

FOR THE RECORD

An article in last week’s Pique incorrectly stated an unauthorized dam was built on a section of the River of Golden Dreams. The dam is in fact located on the nearby 19 Mile Creek. Pique regrets the error. n

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 GOT GOOD VIBES TO SHARE? Send them to goodnews@piquenewsmagazine.com

“[T]he signs on the trail say ‘share the trail.’”

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A goodbye letter to Pique

AFTER NEARLY a year and a half working as the town’s sports reporter, Wednesday, Sept. 28 marked my last day writing for Pique Newsmagazine

While my time at Pique is coming to an end sooner than even I would have expected just a few months ago, the experiences and

BY HARRISON BROOKS

opportunities that I have had as Whistler’s sports reporter will be memories I look back on forever.

Sitting here at my desk thinking about what to say about my time at Pique, my mind keeps taking me back to before I ever wrote a single word for the paper.

Working as a bartender in Saskatoon after losing my job as a general news reporter for the city’s news talk radio station in early 2020, I was, admittedly, disillusioned with journalism and unsure if I would even consider pursuing another job in the industry or just move on to something else entirely.

After months of applying to jobs with no responses, I had decided that I would take a break from the constant job search and just enjoy my summer.

That plan quickly got flipped upside down when a job posting for Pique Newsmagazine landed in my inbox. Even though I never expected to get the job, with just a couple years of experience under my belt, how could I not, at least, apply for a job as the sports reporter in an Olympic town?

Based on my job-search experience over the few months prior, I submitted my application with no expectation of even

no expectations of getting the job, but was starting to get excited about the possibility, nonetheless. But my pessimism turned out to be unfounded as I returned home from a long weekend at my family’s cabin to an email asking for a third Zoom meeting, in which former editor Clare Ogilvie would officially offer me the job.

And just three weeks later, with boxes packed to the ceiling of my Honda Civic,

Crankworx and even the Olympics. I was able to tell the stories of some of the best mountain-bike and snow-sport athletes in the world, and learn more about the sports that, until moving here, weren’t even really on my radar.

I wrote opinion pieces and cover features on a range of topics including life after competition for Olympians and the growth of Whistler’s women’s skateboard scene thanks to the work of the Real Wild Kittens.

But among all the great opportunities and experiences that I have had with this job, the best was working with the awesome group of people at Pique. And for that, I just want to say thanks.

hearing back. But just a couple days later I got an email with the second part of the application. A week after submitting that, I received another email asking for a Zoom interview, and a week after that, a request for a second interview.

Assuming they had many more qualified applicants than myself, I still had

I found myself leaving the city I pictured myself living in for years, on my way towards what I hoped would be a great new opportunity in Whistler.

And this job didn’t disappoint.

Over my time here, I was able to cover everything from small-town youth sports to huge international events like World Cups,

First off, thanks to former editor Clare Ogilvie and current publisher Sarah Strother for giving this relatively inexperienced journalist a chance to prove himself. Thanks to the rest of the newsroom— Braden Dupuis, Brandon Barrett, Megan Lalonde, Alyssa Noel and Robert Wisla— for all the help along the way and always keeping things fun and interesting in the office. And finally, thanks to the rest of the Pique staff for being an absolute joy to work with for the last 17 months.

As of right now, what’s next for me is still up in the air, but I am excited about the change of scenery and to see where life takes me next. With that said, so long, Pique—you will be missed. ■

[A]mong all the great opportunities and experiences that I have had with this job, the best was working with the awesome group of people at Pique. And for that, I just want to say thanks.

E A G L E L O D G E

White Gold affordable housing project finally set to advance

NEARLY HALF A DECADE AND SEVERAL REVISIONS LATER, NANCY GREENE DRIVE PROJECT HEADED FOR PUBLIC HEARING

BY ROBERT WISLA

AFTER NEARLY half a decade of waiting, an affordable housing project in Whistler’s White Gold neighbourhood is finally set to move forward.

On Sept. 20, Whistler’s mayor and council gave first and second reading to a rezoning bylaw for the project, which now proposes a 36-unit, three-storey apartment building on the corner of Nancy Greene Drive and Highway 99.

A public hearing will follow.

“The applicant team has worked hard to deliver an attractive building that responds to the site and to the neighbourhood context, and is aligned with Whistler’s design guidelines,” said Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) planner John Chapman in a presentation to council.

“The building has been revised and evolved to better address the guidelines for private sector employee housing rezoning proposals [and] Whistler’s design guidelines, as well [as] to take into account feedback that was received during the community engagement period.”

The existing zoning on the currentlyundeveloped site allows for a single residential dwelling.

All 36 units in the proposed building will be rental, with half of the units offered at below-market rates. The affordable units will be eligible for people on the Whistler Housing Authority’s rental waitlist.

Since its first iteration, submitted to municipal hall on Jan. 9, 2018, the project has been through several design changes, and has shrunk significantly. The initial proposal had about twice the apartment units—65 compared to 36 in the current

square footage and less units to divide the half-million-dollar soft costs for architecture and design, which is basically the same when you’re doing 20 units or 100.”

Nadeau and his team at Innovation Building Group are well regarded in B.C. as one of the province’s most energyefficient builders.

A 2020 cost analysis study of the firm’s all-electric Orion building in Pemberton conducted by the Zero Emissions Building

with its scale and the effects it could have on the character and the parking situation in the White Gold neighbourhood.

During the first engagement period, the RMOW received 147 pieces of correspondence from the public, Chapman said.

“There was certainly support for employee housing in this location,” he said. “Some of the concerns and opposition included concern about building size and density, the potential for increased delays in traffic, impact on privacy, and environmental concerns.”

Some of the proposed building changes include reducing the project’s height and density and increasing the amount of parking to a minimum of one stall per dwelling unit, along with a parking management plan.

While all councillors were enthusiastic about the housing project moving forward, Councillor Jen Ford voiced disappointment that the original proposal of 65 units was changed in favour of the smaller building.

proposal. As it now stands, the proposal would include 99 bed units in total.

The original plan was to offer all units at below-market rates, but rising construction costs have made market units a necessity.

“Our cost per net rentable square foot has gone up 50 per cent,” said Innovation Building Group founder and project proponent Rod Nadeau.

“Some of that is inflation, and changing it from 65 units to 36 units increases our cost-per-square-foot, because we have less

Exchange found it to be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the province at just $148/square foot.

The process for the White Gold rezoning has been exhaustive and lengthy. With an election on Oct. 15, followed by a public hearing and a development permit application process, Nadeau expects the building won’t start construction for at least another year or two.

The original proposal attracted some local opposition from residents concerned

“I think it’s actually a brilliant model. I’m sorry it’s just 36 units. I’d love to see more,” she said.

“I understand the challenges with parking. I think that we’re hopeful with the parking management plan and allowing for the reduction in parking spaces definitely brings us closer to affordability.

“The longer we waited, the more expensive it got,” she added.

“Let’s get it across, and let’s get it in the ground because this is great. It’s close to everything.” n

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT An artist’s rendering of the 36-unit apartment building planned for White Gold.

“The applicant team has worked hard to deliver an attractive building that responds to the site and to the neighbourhood context, and is aligned with Whistler’s design guidelines.”

- JOHN CHAPMAN

Mayoral candidate Marcus Culver sees housing as key to solving many of Whistler’s pressing issues

BY BRANDON BARRETT

LIKE SO MANY Whistlerites before him, mayoral candidate Marcus Culver works a litany of jobs to make ends meet. A chef, chauffeur, seasonal contractor and part-time mattress salesman, the 41-year-old knows full well what it takes to play and stay in one of the country’s most expensive resorts. But as he’s watched the community he loves become even less accommodating to the young working-class that makes this town tick, he knew the time was now to step up and do something about it.

“I just decided to throw myself into the deep end,” he said. “I’ve been in town since ’99 and over my time here, I’ve just become increasingly more concerned about protecting our natural environment, both locally and globally, which has inspired certain lifestyle choices I continue to make today. And I’ve become more involved. I’ve started going to council meetings, attending all the community forums, often being the youngest person there. There are so many issues I see in this town that are not getting dealt with.”

One of those issues, in Culver’s mind, is affordable housing, a longstanding puzzle that, if solved, would help address myriad other persistent challenges that Whistler is facing.

“I’d say the biggest issue is actually an umbrella issue, because if you tackle the housing emergency, you simultaneously remedy the staff shortages, access to healthcare and child-care, and even assist with mental wellness, which is huge. You don’t hear about that a lot in this town,” he said.

Now that the Whistler Development Corp. has paid off the roughly $10 million in debt it owed to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), money that will go into the RMOW’s housing reserve fund, Culver said he wants to continue working with the municipal subsidiary and other construction firms to “immediately” start building more affordable housing projects. He also discussed the possibility of hiring more employees to the RMOW’s building department to help manage the workload, and recommended working with the provincial and federal governments to secure housing grants.

An environmentalist who has previously served on the board of the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment, Culver would like to see Whistler move quicker on its lagging climate goals.

“I want to see transparency and I want to see us actually reaching these goals. Whatever it takes,” he said. “We need more task forces, maybe, to come up with some easy solves to get people to drive less. It’s not like we’re

going to meet any of these goals otherwise.”

Culver said he’s heard a range of ideas from community members that he believes could move the needle on reducing emissions locally, including subsidizing more passenger rail service to the resort, establishing a valley gondola system, and launching a bus shuttle service that would ferry visitors in from Alice Lake, where they would park their vehicles. He was also in favour of the RMOW’s recent move to increase service frequency on the popular No. 10 transit route.

“Ridership would also increase if it could be a free service,” he added. “Perhaps we could also rebrand the transit system to something a little more enticing, such as ‘community shuttle service.’”

Culver also wants to step up education efforts locally around cohabitating peacefully with wildlife. Along with steeper fines for endangering wildlife for things like improper waste disposal, Culver said he’d like to see the minimum standards for killing a bear be raised at the provincial Conservation Officer Service, as well as more signage locally. To help with that, he said he would “like to see three big billboards at either end of town that addresses we’re living in bear country … and having the max fine in big letters, so you can’t miss it.”

With few young voices at last week’s allcandidates meeting at Whistler Secondary (see related story on page 20), Culver is determined to get that demographic out on election day.

“That’s the billion-dollar question,” he said. “Most people that are here to work are from out of the country and can’t vote. And those that are, are working multiple jobs like me and don’t have time. That’s something I actually want to try to work on and try to get more people out to vote.”

Culver joins Brian Walker and incumbent Jack Crompton on the ballot for mayor.

Whistlerites head to the polls on Oct. 15. n

ENVIRONMENTALIST SAYS ADDRESSING ‘HOUSING EMERGENCY’ WOULD HELP AMELIORATE ISSUES AROUND STAFFING, TRANSPORTATION, CLIMATE AND MENTAL HEALTH

IN THE RUNNING Marcus Culver.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

‘She could light up a room with her smile’: Search for Clorrica Riggs comes to tragic end

THE 29-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND DEAD ON RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 33 DAYS AFTER SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING

BY MEGAN LALONDE

THE EXTENSIVE, 33-day search for missing Whistler resident Clorrica Riggs culminated in tragedy on Sept. 25, leaving her loved ones grieving but grateful to have experienced her free spirit, her bright smile and her care for the people and places around her.

The body of the 29-year-old Whistler Blackcomb employee was discovered Sunday near a trail in the Rainbow Lake area, by an off-duty police officer reportedly out for a morning hike with his wife and dog.

Riggs was last seen on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at about 2 p.m., when she told friends she was heading out for a walk. Her car was later found parked at the trailhead to Rainbow Lake. Earlier that afternoon, Riggs sent a text to several of her closest friends. “The last message we got was ‘love you,’” those friends previously told Pique. “We are all holding that last message close to our hearts.”

In a release issued Monday, Sept. 26, police confirmed Riggs was found the previous day.

“This was a very unfortunate incident,”

Cpl. Angela Kermer, Sea to Sky RCMP media relations officer, said in the release. “We extend our condolences to Clorrica’s family, and follow their lead in thanking community partners in helping search for her.”

Riggs’ older brother Colin will remember her as “a breath of fresh air,” he said through tears. “She could light up a room with her smile … and cheer everybody up.”

In a phone call on Sept. 27, he painted a picture of an “angelic” woman who was “really big on helping people out,” and who was known to put aside her own struggles with mental health and drop everything to help a stranger.

Riggs was the youngest of six, growing up alongside two brothers and three sisters. She was born in Maple Ridge, B.C., and raised mostly in Alberta. Later, her travels brought her to Thailand for a meditation retreat, on road trips across the U.S., and eventually to Australia, where she lived for three years. “She loved the weather out there, that she could be able to do anything—hiking, swimming, surfing, any of those activities [year-round]… She just loved to socialize with people,” remembered Colin. “She loved the outdoors. That’s why she came to Whistler.”

Riggs moved to Whistler in January, finding work as a team lead in Whistler Blackcomb’s guest services department and, as usual, forming fast but deep connections. She made a lasting mark on her coworkers, said Colin, despite only calling the resort home for a few months. “She touched a lot of people’s hearts in Whistler. Anybody she met, that she worked with … really looked

new hobbies like snowboarding, mountain biking and climbing. “She would always challenge herself to learn new things all the time,” her brother remembered. She frequently practiced yoga, wrote poetry, was passionate about the environment and never left home without tossing her longboard in the trunk of her car, he added.

Colin echoed the RCMP’s thanks to the many individuals and groups who participated in the month-long search. The community’s continuous support and willingness to help “was overwhelming,” he said. In particular, Colin underscored his immense gratitude for his cousins Jim and Natalie Rock, who he said were “instrumental” in helping facilitate the search from their Whistler home.

at her like a big sister, because they could confide in her. She meant a lot to a lot of people, because a lot of people respected her values, her opinions and different ways of looking at [problems].”

In her spare time, Riggs reconnected with her love for skiing, and dove into

In the weeks following her disappearance, everyone from long-term locals to day-trippers, RCMP officers to volunteer search-and-rescue crews and drone operators to helicopter pilots pulled together to scour thousands of kilometres of rugged terrain, ultimately helping bring Riggs’ family a little bit of closure.

“It’s going be a journey; it’s going to take time,” said Colin. “To not have her presence around, it’s going to be very hard. But we have to take it one day at a time.” n

“She meant a lot to a lot of people, because a lot of people respected her values, her opinions and different ways of looking at [problems].”

- COLIN RIGGS

What can volcanoes teach us about space?

NASA SCIENTISTS TAKE ON MOUNT MEAGER NORTH OF PEMBERTON

BY ROBERT WISLA

WHAT CAN VOLCANIC mountains like Mount Meager teach us about space? According to NASA scientists, more than you might think.

A team of 13 scientists, graduate students, and support personnel recently arrived in the Pemberton Valley to research Mount Meager, and applied mountain research to help expand our understanding of space.

The Mount Meager massif, about 65 kilometres northwest of Pemberton, is one of Canada’s largest and most geologically active volcanoes, with numerous landslides and a couple of active hot springs—all of which point to the dynamic nature of the massif complex.

The scientists spent a few days at Meager earlier this month to further understand how life develops in an analog environment similar to those found on the Jupiter moon Europa, which may potentially hold life within.

“Mount Meager can tell us a whole lot about space because it’s an analog environment, which means it has some properties that are similar to other moons and other places in our solar system,” said

NASA scientist Morgan Cable.

“We can study its chemistry, its potential to hold life and the kind of life it hosts.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Cable, along with fellow NASA scientist Mike Paton and caver Christian Stenner, presented to students at Signal Hill Elementary, Pemberton Secondary and Xet ’ ólacw Community School.

In their presentations, the scientists explained their work, and how the volcanic complex can help further our understanding of space.

Paton is a robotics engineer that has been working with a team at NASA to build a robotic system known as an Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EEL). The EEL is a long snake-like machine that can move through ice and glacial surfaces to explore deep fissures and crevices in the ice.

Glacial environments like Mount Meager are perfect places to test these sorts of devices, as they are similar to the environments where the machines will be used.

“We can use that to inform what sort of instruments [will be needed] for a future lander or robotic explorer. We can use it to test some of our robotic technologies to make sure they can move in challenging terrain,” Cable said.

The research project was funded by the

National Geographic Society and the Trebek Initiative, and served as an opportunity for the scientists to conduct operation testing, where robotic prototypes are tested to work out some of the challenges that the robots may experience.

“We will do a real-time test in an environment and see what breaks, see what challenges we experience that we might

“I may start something that the next generation or even the one following will be the ones actually operating that mission on the surface of an alien world, and so it’s important to get people who are just as inspired to come and work for NASA and join us in these discoveries,” Cable said.

“I’m hoping that kids get inspired like I did when I was an eighth-grade student.”

Cable recommends that students interested in a career in space pursue internship opportunities with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency during their undergraduate college years.

not have predicted, and all of those things can help us get a much better chance of our actual real mission being successful and not encountering a problem we haven’t encountered before,” Cable said.

Cable was particularly enthusiastic about students getting involved in space exploration, as future generations will have to take over the current projects underway.

Aside from providing fertile ground for research, the geologically active nature of Mount Meager has made it an attractive potential spot for a geothermal power plant, currently being explored by the Meager Creek Development Corporation (MCDC)— which also helped coordinate the NASA scientists’ visit, and the presentations in the schools.

MCDC is still on target to have both the power plant and hydrogen production up and running at Meager by 2025, said Craig Dunn, managing director of MCDC and president of WellDunn Exploration, in an interview with Pique earlier this month. Developers hope to begin drilling within the next 18 months. n

“[I]t has some properties that are similar to other moons and other places in our solar system.”

- MORGAN CABLE

First Whistler all-candidates meeting sets the tone—but where are the young voters?

SPARSE ATTENDANCE AT WORCA-HOSTED EVENT, FIRST OF FOUR CANDIDATE MEETINGS BEFORE OCT. 15 ELECTION

BY BRANDON BARRETT

WHISTLER’S FIRST all-candidates meeting before next month’s municipal election saw a fairly sparse turnout, but for the prospective voters who did attend, it proved a valuable opportunity to ask pertinent questions directly to political hopefuls.

The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA)-hosted event at Whistler Secondary School was attended by roughly 50 people, who first got to hear a one-minute “elevator pitch” from each of the 15 council hopefuls, three mayoral candidates, and three school-trustee candidates, before the night moved into its “speed dating” round, with each hopeful rotating to a new table of voters every five minutes to answer questions from the public.

For the community members Pique spoke with, the format offered a welcome chance to have a face-to-face interaction with the candidates that went beyond their prepared platforms.

“This was my first time coming to this and I’m sorry I didn’t do it last [election].

It helps a lot,” said attendee David (Pique agreed to use attendees’ first names only to allow them to speak more freely). “It really helps a lot to look them in the eyes, hear them

speak. Even if it’s just for five minutes, you get a good first impression. It’s really helpful. And then at least you’re feeling like you’re making an informed decision.”

The candidates themselves took varying approaches to the roundtable discussions. Most went in ready and willing to engage with voters on their most pressing concerns, while a handful dominated their allotted time, leaving little room for questions. Some came in with well-rehearsed talking points, while others used the five minutes to share more of their personality and demeanour, which proved valuable with a slate that includes several newcomers to resort politics.

Attendee Dan said the event helped him whittle down his shortlist of candidates, and also “brought some other people to the fray” that he was previously unfamiliar with. “And a lot of it has to do with their demeanour, their ability to speak publicly, which I think is important for municipal representatives to be able to engage comfortably.”

LIGHT ON SPECIFICS

By and large, the candidates were wellversed on the challenges that have persisted in Whistler for years, if not decades—namely housing, affordability

FIRST IMPRESSIONS It was a sparse turnout to Whistler’s first all-candidates meeting of election season last Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Whistler Secondary School.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

We Believe that Every Day is

Day for Truth & Reconciliation

Whistler Blackcomb is committed to learning, listening and providing voice for our employees to engage in meaningful discussion. We asked – What does Truth and Reconciliation mean to you?

“My hope for truth and reconciliation week is that we all make an effort to not only share our platforms with Indigenous people but we also share the power. I dream of a world with Indigenous leaders on our boards, senior leadership teams and city councils.”

– Siginaak (Blackbird) Court Larabee, Indigenous Relations Specialist

“I show my encouragement on the 30th by reminding everyone to give thanks for every adventure that you have taken. The Creator has given you/us a playground that we have all come to enjoy and by taking a moment to give thanks before and after every adventure shows the spirits your gratitude that is in front of us and they will continue to bless us for futures to come.”

– Jonathan Moses, Advanced Parts & Warehouse Clerk

“It will be a time for healing and recognizing how we learn from our past. To not ignore what has happened and what is happening now. To be more open to the knowledge we need to mend our relationships and to be okay with feeling the discomfort of not knowing. Ignorance is not bliss. The want to understand is showing compassion.”

– Deidre Potter, Area Manager, Retail Rental

and staffing—so any hopeful that touched on issues outside of that seemed to leave an impression.

“I think they were concentrating on what we thought were going to be the main concerns: housing, staffing. That’s what they were prepared for,” said attendee Kee. “A couple of the candidates had some other issues that they brought forth. Like … management and efficiencies. And I thought that is a different topic, it’s important and I’m glad that was brought up.”

While there was much talk of the problems at hand, there was a noticeable lack of ideas to solve them amongst a good chunk of the candidates, which could partly be to do with the speed-dating format itself.

“I’d say that the format doesn’t lend itself to specifics. A one-minute elevator pitch, and then you have a very quick five minutes, so few of the candidates were able to articulate, in that framework, specific things they would do differently,” said David. “There seems to be a good realization of what the issues are and that they’re not simple issues, but how to fix them, we didn’t hear that tonight.”

Among the other issues brought forth Wednesday were how to manage Whistler’s continued growth, reconciliation with our local First Nations, and the community’s well-being and mental health.

WHERE ARE THE YOUNG VOTERS?

Notably, despite so many of Whistler’s biggest challenges impacting its young working class the most, they were largely absent from Wednesday’s all-candidates meeting, with the crowd leaning older, as has historically been the case at local political events.

“That’s one of our real problems in Whistler, I think,” said attendee Alan. “If you look, even at this very limited turnout, it’s older people. It’s all people our age. And this has been going on for years. It’s the workforce of Whistler, the younger people who are really suffering, but yet they’re not here.”

Attendee Kee, who works with Whistler’s vulnerable populations, said most of the issues discussed at her table don’t affect her directly as a retired homeowner.

“I actually didn’t talk about a single problem that I’m going to face in this community. My problem will be healthcare as I get older. I’m not going to have a housing issue. I’m not going to have an employee issue. I don’t want to own a business because I’m retired. So we brought up problems tonight and discussed things that affect almost nobody in this room,” she said.

NORTHLANDS A HOT TOPIC

The development slated for 4500 Northlands Boulevard—the largest and last significant

piece of developable land in Whistler Village—was a recurring topic, and even among the sparsely attended crowd, there was a healthy contingent of Whistler Racket Club (WRC) supporters voicing their opinions on the future of the facility, which sits on the planned site of the Beedie-led project.

As has been the case since the two development concepts for the 5.8-hectare site were first made public in June, there has been a wave of support for the facility to remain, either at its current location or somewhere else in the community, delivered by the developer as a community amenity that the municipality could attach to the project.

WRC pickleball coach Ben Thomas believes it to be such an important development that it could become a wedge issue that ultimately moves the needle on election day.

“I feel like there’s enough passionate people that will understand how important this opportunity is that any candidate that gets behind it, I think will do better. I think it’s been underrepresented and it hasn’t been out there,” he said. “But now that we’ve had a chance to discuss it with the candidates, they seem to be saying, ‘OK, we get it.’”

THREE MORE CANDIDATE EVENTS TO COME

The Whistler Racket Club hosted its own informal meet-and-greet with candidates on Friday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Then, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, after press deadline, Pique  joined Arts Whistler and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce in hosting an all-candidates meeting at the Maury Young Arts Centre, from 6 to 9 p.m. Candidates had an opportunity to address the audience and answer questions from the host organizations as well as community members.

Campaign season culminates on Wednesday, Oct. 5 with the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) and the Whistler Community Services Society co-hosting their own all-candidates meeting, focused on “Conversation, Climate and Community Wellbeing.” Held at the Maury Young Arts Centre from 6 to 8:30 p.m., the meeting will give candidates time to answer questions from the host organizations and members of the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event is free to attend, but space is limited, so arrive early to secure a seat.

For those unable to attend in-person, the meeting can be viewed online by registering at eventbrite.ca/e/ virtual-ticket-all-candidates-meetingwith-aware-wcss-tickets-417891503737. Registrations close at noon on Oct. 5. A link to access the livestream will be sent out prior to the event. Virtual attendees will once again have the chance to pose questions to the candidates remotely via Slido.

Pique will have more election coverage—including hearing from the candidates themselves—leading up to voting day on Oct. 15. n

Cannabis retail bylaw amendments making their way through the pipe

COUNCIL BRIEFS: WHISTLER TO INCREASE FINES FOR HANDICAP PARKING INFRACTIONS

BY ROBERT WISLA

WHISTLER IS ONE STEP closer to getting its first-ever legal cannabis retail stores after a suite of bylaws received first readings on Sept. 20.

The amendments apply to Whistler’s zoning, business licence and liquor licence bylaws, and will revise the resortwide prohibition on cannabis retail to designate five temporary use permit (TUP) areas where cannabis retail may be allowed: Creekside, Function Junction, Nesters Plaza, Whistler Village, and Village North.

Once the new bylaws are passed, a “designated intake period” will be defined, to allow the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) to consider complete cannabis retail TUP applications in a “batch application process,” according to a report to council.

The TUP application fee will be $2,400, and operators will also require a provincial Cannabis Retail Store licence and a $190 annual business licence.

Councillor Ralph Forsyth reminded the council meeting attendees that the municipality will receive no income from

the pot shops besides property taxes, and criticized the federal government for holding all the revenue.

“The municipality sees zero tax dollars from this; there is zero incentive for us to do this. Maybe some people are gonna want to take a holiday here because we have a store that sells weed. I don’t know if that’s really realistic in the spectrum of tourism offerings,” Forsyth said.

“I just want to make that emphatically clear to everyone in the community that thinks we are going to have some kind of gravy train [with] the revenue source here. It’s not. You get the assessed value of property tax.”

A public hearing will follow.

To learn more, visit whistler.ca/ cannabis.

WHISTLER TO INCREASE FINES FOR HANDICAP PARKING INFRACTIONS

If you’ve ever driven with a grandparent or person with mobility issues and gotten to the grocery store only to find someone parked in the accessible stall without a decal, you will know first-hand that it is a frustrating, anger-inducing experience.

Now, the RMOW is looking to crack down on such instances.

To discourage people from parking in accessible spots, the RMOW is advancing bylaw amendments that will increase the fines for parking in accessible parking stalls to the maximum allowable amount municipalities can fine for bylaw infractions.

The amendment will raise the maximum fine from $150 to $500 ($300 if paid within two weeks).

Councillor Jen Ford proposed the amendment at the Sept. 20 council meeting, citing what she had heard from the RMOW’s accessibility committee.

“They are few and far between, and when you need those stalls available, you want them there. Parking in those stalls, if you do not have a decal, is unacceptable,” Ford said.

“As the appointee to the accessibility and inclusion committee, I wanted to share that this is something we talk about at almost every meeting, the availability and accessibility of our accessible parking spaces. It serves our community well to take these offences seriously.”

According to the RMOW, 39 tickets were issued for people parking in accessible spots last year, representing a small fraction of the 17,516 tickets issued for parking violations in 2021.

In addition to the fine increase for accessible parking violations, the bylaw amendment will also increase the fine for parking in taxi stalls, from a maximum fine of $100 to $200 ($70 if paid within two weeks).

The fee for commercial parking decals will also increase for Whistler’s businesses, going from $30 to $40 per vehicle up to a maximum processing fee of $400.

Commercial parking decals will remain free after 10 commercial parking decals for that business, as is the current process. This fee was last updated in the early 2000s when the RMOW created the Commercial Decal Program.

The bylaw amendments also update the section on advertising and marketing on the road to clarify that displaying a sign or using a vehicle to advertise a business or service, or selling or distributing goods or providing a service, including selling flowers, fruit, vegetables or seafood from a vehicle, is not allowed.

Parking fines are expected to generate about $400,000 in revenue in 2022. The fee increase for the commercial decals and parking fines is estimated to create an additional $80,000 in revenue in 2023.

If you want to learn more about getting an accessible stall decal, you can find more information at sparc.bc.ca/parking-permits. n

Whistler Chamber of Commerce announces new executive director, Louise Walker

FORMER HEAD OF SQUAMISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BEGINS IN HER NEW ROLE OCT. 17

BY BRANDON BARRETT

WHISTLER’S LARGEST business network has a new leader at the helm.

The Whistler Chamber of Commerce announced Monday, Sept. 26 that it has named Louise Walker as its new executive director, concluding its five-month search.

“Louise brings a dynamic combination of skills and experience to the Chamber, including her understanding of the unique nature of a resort economy, her evidencebased thinking to enhance our programs and advocacy efforts, and the relationshipbased leadership that is critical to the Whistler Talent Plan and the overall strategy of the Whistler Chamber,” said Diana Chan, chamber board chair, in a release.

Walker brings more than six years’ experience leading the Squamish Chamber of Commerce to her new role, a time she spent increasing membership and engagement, helping the community navigate its response to the COVID19 pandemic, and building “strong relationships” and supporting “the growth

of Squamish’s business community,” the release went on.

“On behalf of the board, we want to thank all our members for their patience as the board thoughtfully approached this search to recruit an Executive Director that understands the needs of the business community to reimagine the Whistler Chamber now and well into the future,”

Chan added in the release.

Walker assumes the new position at a time of change for the Whistler Chamber, as it looks to take on a larger role in both advocacy and employee recruitment. The Chamber’s newly drafted Talent Plan, expected for roll-out in the coming weeks, represents a shift in how Whistler approaches labour as a whole, Chan told

Pique last month.

“We are looking at how the Chamber, along with other partnerships, can be a bit more of the driver of bringing talent to Whistler, providing development opportunities and then helping employers retain those employees for a longer period of time,” she explained. “I think it’s a new way to approach looking at labour within Whistler, rather than try the things we’ve always tried.”

Prior to joining the Squamish Chamber, Walker worked for Tourism Whistler as the VP of marketing strategy, and has worked in numerous research and marketing roles, both in Whistler and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Walker officially begins in her new job on Oct. 17. The Chamber said it plans to “focus on core programs and events over the fall, while working with the Squamish Chamber to ensure a smooth transition for both organizations.”

Walker takes over for Melissa Pace, who announced she would be stepping down in April after five years leading the chamber. In June, Pace was named the BC Chamber of Commerce’s new director of member experience. n

Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that, Whitecap Resorts Ltd. from Maple Ridge BC, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests (MoF), Kamloops Region, for an Adventure Tourism, Intensive Use Site tenure situated on Provincial Crown land located in the vicinity of McGillivray Pass, in the Squamish Lillooet Regional District.

Ministry of Forests invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 3413739. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, Thompson Okanagan Region MoF, at 441 Columbia St. Kamloops, B.C. V2C-2T3. Comments will be received by MoF up to November 20, 2022. MoF may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http://comment. nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact the Freedom of Information Advisor at MoF’s office in Thompson Okanagan Region of British Columbia.

CHAMBER CHOICE Squamish Chamber of Commerce executive director Louise Walker at the chamber office in the Squamish Adventure Centre.

FILE PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD/DAVIDBUZZARD.COM

Building height still main concern at Harrow Road public hearing

PEMBERTON COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF CONTROVERSIAL HOUSING PROJECT NEXT MONTH

BY HARRISON BROOKS

APPROXIMATELY 15 community members crowded into the small Pemberton council chambers—with a handful of others joining via Zoom—on Tuesday, Sept. 27 to share their thoughts on an affordable housing project proposed for the corner of Harrow Road and Highway 99.

The project, as proposed, will be a fivestorey, 63-unit apartment complex with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, 30 per cent of which will be allocated for market rentals, 50 per cent for “rent geared to income” and the final 20 per cent saved for low-income households.

The 9,000 square feet on the bottom floor will be used mostly to hold the proponent’s— Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS)—new offices, with the remaining space delegated for other commercial uses.

The purpose of Tuesday’s public hearing was for council to get the last bit of public input before they make the final decision on whether or not to approve the zoning bylaw necessary for the project to go through.

Currently, the plot of land designated for the proposal is zoned for commercial tourism (C-2), which only permits tourist and tourismaccommodation-related uses including things related to arts and culture, child-care, convenience stores, gas stations, hostels, hotels, office buildings and restaurants, among others—but not permanent housing.

The sought-after zoning amendment would change the lot to a comprehensive development zone (CD-6), which would allow for the eventual building to be used for housing

as well as community services. The only other change that would come with the amendment would be increasing the max height of any building from 10.5 metres to 19m.

However, that new 19-m height allowance is the main concern among people who voiced their opposition to the project.

“I’d first like to say that I feel a little bit personally attacked by comments referring that because we live near a potential development site, we should be discounted because it’s assumed we’re only thinking of ourselves,” said one member of the public, who currently lives on Balsam Street, directly north of the project’s proposed location.

“I do think that in terms of the rezoning, doubling the height allowance is inappropriate, and basing it off feasibility when we haven’t had full visibility from the potential developer on why it’s the only option.”

housing without first adding 2.75m of fill.

“So the ultimate height difference between a four-storey building and the proposed five-storey building is actually less than five feet,” he told Pemberton’s Committee of the Whole (COW) on May 17.

Throughout the meeting, the public feedback leaned heavily towards opposition, with approximately 10 different community members expressing their disapproval versus just five people in favour of the project. But when the written submissions are accounted for, those numbers flip, with 26 of a total 44 respondents in favour of the project.

“It’s a reoccurring theme for people to say that they support affordable housing until it is proposed in their neighborhood. And it’s very hard to get people to consider other people’s needs instead of the imposition on their own property and their

project, including mayoral candidate Chadi Abouhalka, was why not just find another location for the same housing project?

“The thing is, if there is that much funding coming in, there’s always ways of logistics and being able to switch or even find zoning in a separate space,” said Abouhalka. “Why hasn’t anyone even decided to consult with the First Nations? There is an empty lot sitting there that can fit five buildings there perfectly. The logistics are not that hard to switch around.”

But as was mentioned earlier in Tuesday’s meeting by SSCS executive director Jaye Russell—and reported in that same May 19 article in Pique—after an extensive search, the Harrow Road site was the only suitable location found that would work for a project of this size.

“There are few parcels of land available. Following a detailed review of the limited potential options, we have selected the proposed site,” said Russell via Zoom at the Sept. 27 public hearing. “We believe this location works because it is a large enough site to accommodate a building of this size. It is close to the village and amenities and importantly it is for sale and available.

She wasn’t the only one from the adjacent neighbourhoods who was on hand to voice their opposition due to the height of the building, whether because of the aesthetic of adding a large-scale building to the village’s small-town look, or the fact the building might block some people’s views of the surrounding scenery.

However, in a May 19 article in Pique, Casey Clerkson, a consultant working with SSCS, explained the project needs four storeys worth of units to be financially viable, meaning a four-storey building would not work due to the area’s floodplain rendering the ground floor not suitable for

own lives. But I hope that we are the type of community that cares about others,” said the village’s manager of development services Lisa Pedrini, who shared her approval of the project via Zoom.

“We have a critical lack of rental housing in our community. And while this site is not perfect, and the concerns from nearby residents have been heard, we have to acknowledge that there is a lack of vacant land within the village that was large enough, affordable enough and central enough to suit a project like this.”

Another question brought up by multiple community members in opposition to the

“I can tell you this is a unique and unprecedented opportunity for a community the size of Pemberton to receive funding for not only the construction of the building, but also the capital to secure the land.”

Unfortunately, that “unprecedented opportunity” is also what has given council such a short timeframe to approve the zoning amendment, as the purchase of the land is linked to the amendment being approved and the funding for the entire project hinges on that land purchase, according to Peter Gordon’s presentation to COW on May 17.

With the final public opinions now on record, the next step is for council to make a final decision on the zoning amendment at the next regular council meeting in October.

DWELLING DISPUTE Artist rendering showing what the controversial Harrow Road apartment complex could look like if approved.

PHOTO

“[W]e have to acknowledge that there is a lack of vacant land within the village that was large enough, affordable enough and central enough to suit a project like this.”

- LISA PEDRINI

Lawyer Laura Ramsden aims to give new perspective to Pemberton council

FIRST-TIME COUNCIL CANDIDATE SEEKS HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY SOLUTIONS

BY ROBERT WISLA

THE COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to reassess if big city life was for them, and for lawyer Laura Ramsden and her partner, it offered the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream of living in a small town away from it all.

So the couple decided to pack their bags and leave Vancouver for Spud Valley, and two-and-a-half years later, they’ve fallen in love with the Pemberton community.

“The more I get to know people here, the more I love the place,” said Ramsden.

“People are very welcoming. They’re also incredibly helpful and interesting, and it’s just a great place.”

Now, Ramsden is looking to give back to her new community by serving on its municipal council.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Ramsden studied at the University of British Columbia, receiving a bachelor of science and law degree. In her day job as a lawyer, she handles everything from real estate and corporate services to general civil litigation and tenancy disputes.

Ramsden believes her perspective as a younger person—one currently renting, but wanting to lay down roots in Pemberton and start a family—is something needed on council.

“I’m in a position where I can come forward and bring the perspective of a large portion of the village’s population to the table,” Ramsden said.

“I’m renting; I’m on the younger side. I’m just starting up building my business. I don’t have a family yet—hopefully in the near future. I think that that perspective has sometimes been missing at the table, and not that it hasn’t been considered, but I think it’s also a different point of view.”

The top issue facing Pemberton this election is housing affordability, in Ramsden’s view, which she said affects all other aspects of the community’s development.

“Housing affordability has become particularly acute in the last couple of years since COVID, and it’s gotten to the point where it’s really impacting so many aspects of the community,” she said.

“You’re seeing it impact people’s businesses, you’re hearing local businesses who say they can find skilled workers and people who are willing to move up here to do it, but then those people can’t even find a place to rent, let alone buy.”

Ramsden noted the lack of housing has

made it difficult to find staff for childcare spaces in the village, resulting in Pembertonians putting off having children or having to take time away from their careers to do so.

“Even if we could find spaces or find people who would be willing to come in and be early childhood educators, there’s no place for them to live, or there are very limited spaces,” Ramsden said.

“That means there’s less affordable child-care, which means families that have young children, one spouse is working parttime or having to stay home with the kids which, again, just affects families’ ability to meet all their bills.”

Ramsden believes the solution to the housing crisis requires a team effort using all the tools in the municipal toolbox, and that the municipality must work closely with other levels of government to find solutions.

In particular, Ramsden is keen to see if the municipality could use property taxes to incentivize second homeowners to rent to long-term tenants, or look at ways the village could reduce hurdles for new buildings and developments.

“[I want to look] at the policies and building codes to make it more efficient, cheaper to build, and look at adding in some different housing models that might increase the supply and bring the demand and the price down,” she said.

Ramsden joins Ted Craddock, Derek Graves, Katrina Nightingale, Jennie Helmer, and Eli Zysman in the race for Pemberton’s four council seats. Check back with Pique in the coming weeks for more Pemberton election coverage.

Election day is Oct. 15. n

E leanor “ Tee” Kingsmill (nee Morrison)

Jan 1, 1924 Sept 19, 2022

After a vibrant and healthy life, we are sad to announce that Tee has passed away Tee was born in Summerside, PEI, one of six children and the daughter of Robert Morrison and Edna Noonan The family moved to Ar vida, Q C when Tee was a young girl It was in Ar vida that Tee met her soul mate Tony. He soon went off to fight the war and Tee worked on completing her dietetic degree at MacDonald College After the war, Tony & Tee found each other again and were married in 1945

Over the course of their 65 year marriage they lived in Toronto, Baie D’Urfe, British Guyana, Whistler and Vancouver After their move to the west coast in 1967, Tee & Tony enjoyed sailing, tennis, traveling with friends, golf, bridge and skiing at Whistler Tee was an active volunteer on Whistler Mountain as a ski friend and loved taking people on tours of the mountain She was also ver y involved with the original Whistler tennis club, the librar y and Club 50.

Tee was ver y creative and also loved sports. Her favorite date night was a game of double tennis with Tony and friends followed by dinner (which was a prime example of her sage advice “those who play together, stay together”) Tee loved to entertain and was always such a gracious host She also made a point of befriending younger generations, and our Christmas dinners would often have 3+ generations sitting around the table

Tee was vivacious, fun loving, chic, and the ultimate conversationalist. She had firm, well expressed opinions on a variety of topics Tee had a caring and compassionate nature She was also ver y independent and was fortunate enough to live on her own until 98 ½.

Tee will be greatly missed by her children Judy Day & Michael Kingsmill, grand children Caroline (Mike), Katie & Peter (Lucy), and great grand children Charlotte, Ryan & Sophie Day and all of her extended family and friends

Please join us for a celebration of Tee’s extraordinar y life on Sun, Oct 2nd, 3pm at the Vancouver Law n Tennis & Badminton Club, 1630 West 15th Ave, Vancouver In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Canadian Red Cross or Covenant House.

IN THE RUNNING Laura Ramsden. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Big issues, but no fast solutions at Pemberton all-candidates meeting

SPUD VALLEY VOTERS GET FIRST LOOK AT CANDIDATES AT PORCA-HOSTED EVENT

BY HARRISON BROOKS

APPROXIMATELY 100 Pemberton residents filled the room at the Pemberton & District Community Centre to hear from their local government hopefuls ahead of the upcoming municipal election at an allcandidates meeting on Sept. 26.

All three mayoral candidates— incumbent Mike Richman and challengers Chadi Abouhalka and David MacKenzie— were on hand for the meeting, as well as four of six council candidates: incumbent Ted Craddock, Jennie Helmer, Laura Ramsden, and Katrina Nightingale (who joined via Zoom with a sit-in at the table to speak for her in case of technical difficulties). Council candidates Derek Graves and Eli Zysman were not in attendance.

The forum, hosted by the Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association (PORCA) and moderated by PORCA president Ian Kruger, started with each candidate being given three minutes for opening remarks, followed by questions from Kruger and the audience and then two minutes at the end for closing remarks.

For most candidates, the opening remarks were a prepared statement used to

introduce themselves, outline some areas of concern they want to address should they get the job, and share their reasons for throwing their name in the ring and qualities that make them suitable for the job.

“With all the growth and change that is going on in this community, we’re not going to be able to stop the change that’s happening, but we do have the ability to make decisions about what that change looks like,” said Ramsden, the youngest candidate on the panel.

Others, like mayoral candidate Abouhalka, used the time to get more into specific platform ideas that he wants to implement should he get the job, while the incumbents (Richman and Craddock) used their opportunities to talk about the things they have already accomplished over their years of experience working for the village, and where they hope to take it moving forward.

Despite the different approaches to the opening statements, the main issues raised by nearly all the candidates—as well as the community members in attendance— revolved around similar topics, which included climate change, affordable housing and sustainable growth management.

Throughout the two-hour session, the candidates were asked seven questions covering topics including: what steps they

have taken towards reconciliation; specific solutions to combat the affordable housing shortage; how they plan for infrastructure to keep pace with the town’s growth; how they plan to support the growth of arts and culture in the community; the importance of the local trail network and plans to increase funding for it; their plans to combat climate change; how they have prepared for the role; and one question

audience how important they believe each topic is, and the focus they plan to put on each of those issues.

As the session began to wrap up, the closing statements gave the candidates an opportunity to show their passion for the community and once again reiterate what makes them the perfect person to represent the community of Pemberton for the next four years.

“This speed dating [format] is really tough. To talk about reconciliation in one minute, to tell you how we’re going to tackle housing in one minute. We haven’t even talked about transit today. We haven’t talked about recreation today, we haven’t talked about mental health and how we are going to support that kind of work,” said Richman in his closing remarks.

that was more so used as a way to call all the current council members liars than to invoke an actual thoughtful response from any of the candidates.

While it was difficult for candidates to do more than just scratch the surface on these big issues in their one minute of speaking time per question (as Richman noted on multiple occasions), each candidate did their best to show the

“There are so many ideas that I would like to share with you. There is so much more I would like to hear from all of you and tonight is tight. I would like this to be a springboard [and] I’m hopeful that this is the starting point.”

Advance voting is taking place in Pemberton on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Pemberton & District Community Centre, and again on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Election day is Oct. 15. n

“[W]e do have the ability to make decisions about what that change looks like.”

- LAURA RAMSDEN

Ted Craddock isn’t done with Pemberton council just yet

BY MEGAN LALONDE

ANY WAY THE CHIPS FALL, there will be a few new faces at Pemberton’s council table next month.

Six council hopefuls will compete for four seats on municipal election day, Oct. 15, including four first-time candidates and one former councillor. As the only incumbent in the running now that the nomination period has closed, Ted Craddock hopes voters are keen to welcome back at least one familiar face.

“Every election, it’s about the community filling in my report card and saying, ‘Have you done the job, Ted? Have you looked after us?’” he said. “And are you willing to make that commitment going forward?”

To the latter, Craddock’s answer remains a resounding “yes.”

As far as campaigns go, it’s far from Craddock’s first rodeo. His journey with municipal politics started in 1985 as a school board representative in Fort Nelson, before eventually moving on to the District of Squamish’s council table. He has called the Village of Pemberton (VOP) home for 18 years, and has spent much of those years as an elected councillor (Craddock briefly stepped away from the council table in the 2014 election, before re-entering the fray in a 2015 byelection).

So what keeps him coming back to the council table?

“Sometimes you find a job you just really love to do and enjoy getting up in the morning [for],” he said. “I love interacting with the people in the community and looking for questions from them, talking about politics and what’s happening in the community. And if I can’t answer the questions, I’ll go back to administration and get back to people.”

He’s also hoping to see a few projects through to their completion, like the Harrow Road affordable housing project, a daycare extension, new amenities at Den Duyf Park and a park-and-ride lot, for example.

“On the books right now, we have in excess of 150 full-time rental units that could come to council for third or final reading, either later this year or the first part of next year,” he explained. “I think that’s going to help alleviate any rental concerns in the community—and a lot of those rentals will be at less than market rate, depending on someone’s income or disability. I’m excited to see those come to council for final readings.”

That said, Craddock acknowledged Pemberton’s growing population and the importance of striking the right balance between growth and growing too quickly. That encompasses everything from keeping water, sewage, and road

infrastructure in good working order, to hiring new municipal staff.

“It is a real challenge,” he said. “We don’t get a lot of money from a one-per-cent increase in taxes—it’s about $20,000, so it’s not that we can take on a huge amount of projects in short periods of time. It’s a situation where we have to look at reserves and be wise with our money, and certainly aware of how tough it is for families right now. That’s one of my major concerns.”

Craddock said he’s ready to tackle the challenges associated with Pemberton’s water supply as well, after one of the municipality’s three available wells was decommissioned. The VOP recently applied for funding for a new water treatment plant with a ballpark price tag of $8.6 million, while Pemberton’s new municipal government will be tasked with finding another water source for the community in the years ahead.

Craddock sees his knowledge and experience as a councillor as an asset when it comes to solving those problems, as well as his skills working with budgets.

But before council can get to work on any big-ticket items, they’ll need to set out their priorities for the next four years and get on the same page, Craddock said.

“Just like last time, we’re going to have at least three new people on council, and it takes time to gel,” he said. “The council table will never completely agree on everything, but if we can sit there and work together to come up with a solution for the community, that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

Craddock joins Derek Graves, Jennie Helmer, Katrina Nightingale, Laura Ramsden and Eli Zysman in the race for Pemberton’s four council seats. Check back with  Pique in the coming weeks for more Pemberton election coverage.  n

A VETERAN OF B.C. MUNICIPAL POLITICS, CRADDOCK IS THE ONLY INCUMBENT COUNCILLOR WHOSE NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT ON VOTING DAY

IN THE RUNNING Ted Craddock.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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SCIENCE MATTERS

Canada can’t let industry and provinces stall carbon pricing

IN CANADA and many places worldwide, those who pollute the atmosphere must pay. By putting a price on activities that produce greenhouse gas emissions, governments make polluting more expensive and solutions more affordable.

As a Deloitte report puts it, “Carbon pricing reduces transition costs, in line with economic theory, because it acts as a financial incentive for consumers and businesses to modify their energy usage.”

With Phase 1 of Canada’s carbon pricing

BY DAVID SUZUKI

regime moving to Phase 2 from 2023 to 2030, most people have adjusted and incorporated it into business plans.

But, as with many measures to protect the environment and ourselves, vested interests are set on unravelling carbon pricing and fomenting backlash. That’s unfortunate because, as a powerful tool in the ambition to shift the “market” to cleaner energy sources, Canada’s carbon pricing needs to be strengthened, not stalled or weakened. And it needs to be much tougher on the biggest emitters, including the oil and gas industry, and fairer for Indigenous communities and small businesses.

The International Monetary Fund says 46 countries are pricing emissions and others are considering it.

Those with their own systems must meet minimum national stringency standards to ensure they’re comparable and contribute their fair share of reductions. If a province doesn’t meet the standards or fails to implement a system, the federal scheme will be imposed.

Many experts say Canada will start to see greater benefits as the price rises.

“Modelling conducted by Deloitte indicates that a gradual rise in carbon pricing to $170 per tonne in 2030 will drive major emissions reductions, bringing Canada three-quarters of the way to its Paris Agreement target,” with minimal impact on economic performance, Deloitte reports.

Although carbon pricing is widely accepted as a critical tool to help resolve the climate crisis, it faces persistent myths perpetrated by vested interests and some politicians and premiers. One is that it’s a significant factor in surging inflation and affordability issues. Although it’s designed to reduce fossil fuel use, including in transportation, it has a far smaller and more predictable influence on things like rising car costs and volatile gas prices than global events and companies that take advantage of them.

When carefully designed, carbon pricing has little negative economic impact on most individuals, especially those curtailing fossil fuel use by driving less or improving home energy efficiency, for example.

But there’s need for improvement here. In April, environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco released an audit that found Canada hasn’t done enough to ensure the carbon

Sweden’s carbon price, implemented in 1991 at about US$40 a tonne, is now $137, the world’s highest. According to Reuters, the country is a leader in renewable energy use, its 2018 carbon emissions per person were 3.5 tonnes, well below the 6.4 tonne EU average, and it cut emissions by 29 per cent over the past three decades.

Canada has had carbon pricing in all jurisdictions since 2019 (Alberta and B.C. since 2007 and 2008, respectively).

It started at $20 per tonne of emissions, and rose to $50 on April 1 this year. It will increase by $15 a year to reach $170 by 2030. Although it varies by jurisdiction, many households get rebates, and revenues are returned to the provinces they came from.

Even with a relatively low price, it has helped tame transportation emissions that would otherwise have surged, and its effectiveness will increase as it rises.

Canada permits provinces and territories to design their own systems or adopt the federal plan. All have submitted 2023 proposals for review, as required.

price is applied fairly to the biggest industrial emitters. He also said more exposure is needed on how provincial systems compare to the federal benchmark, and that “grant money to help small businesses become more energy efficient has been slow to roll out.”

Canada’s environment minister must now decide which provincial pollution-pricing schemes meet the grade and which are too weak. He should also close any loopholes and reject requests from provinces and industry for exemptions or further concessions. And all governments should collaborate to support and protect marginalized people in the shift to clean electricity.

Done well, carbon pricing is a proven economic lever to help with a smoother transition to cleaner energy, fewer emissions and better lives.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington. ■

When carefully designed, carbon pricing has little negative economic impact on most individuals, especially those curtailing fossil fuel use by driving less or improving home energy efficiency...

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Does the bike industry get away with greenwashing?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST light-bulb moments I had during my four years of university was during my introduction to life cycle analysis. Carbon emissions of products, services, and travel are talked about a lot more these days, but 20 years ago, it all but blew my sophomore mind. In his opening lecture for the semester, my professor gave us a real-

BY VINCE SHULEY

life example we’d all understand. When you design a public washroom, you have three options for people drying their hands: a fanforced hot air dryer; paper towel that gets used once and disposed of; and a roll of linen towel that gets used, laundered then reused.

Which method was the best for the environment? Everyone in the room had experienced all three methods, and a show of hands verified most students’ intuition that of course it had to be the reusable linen towel. The other methods either generated copious amounts of paper waste or involved manufacturing and powering a hot air machine. But we were all wrong. The linen towel was actually the worst for the environment. When you analyze the entire life cycle of fabricating that linen, then laundering it with detergents over and over, its environmental impact far eclipsed the other two methods of drying one’s hands. The reason why reusable linen had a brief surge in popularity in washrooms was that it appeared

to be more environmentally friendly.

The cycling industry champions itself as being at the forefront of moving our societies away from carbon-emitting passenger vehicles. Bikes generate far less carbon than cars during their manufacturing, and emit nothing. In turn, e-bikes—which have a far higher carbon footprint during manufacturing than traditional bikes—are way ahead of the environmental impacts of making electric cars. But if you dig into the minutiae, you quickly realize that selling lots of bikes and e-bikes isn’t without its own significant carbon footprint when you analyze the entire supply chain.

Last year, Trek—one of the world’s biggest bike brands—became the first bike manufacturer to release a detailed sustainability report. Trek is putting a lot of stock in the future of cycling, not

alternative materials; removing plastic waste from packaging; and creating zero-landfill manufacturing facilities. It’s great to hear that this bike company is fabricating water bottle cages from discarded fishing nets pulled out of the ocean. But the real meat for reducing carbon emissions came in the latter half of the report, with Trek’s goals of increasing the use of bike share systems in cities across the U.S., and, more importantly, shifting cycling modal share (getting people to choose bikes over cars). With Trek’s life cycle analysis, it has arrived at the “Rule of 430”: if you ride your bike 430 miles (692 kilometres) that you would otherwise have driven, you’ve saved the carbon equivalent of what it took to make your bike. Sorry, Whistler—that doesn’t apply to the shiny, carbon, dual-suspension mountain bike in the back of your truck (author guilty as charged). But it does make a

The point of all this is that accountability begins with transparency. Just because it’s a bike with two wheels doesn’t mean it gets a pass on its carbon footprint. The marketing team at Trek no doubt had their reservations about revealing that their full-suspension, carbon fibre-framed Fuel EX has a manufacturing footprint 32-per-cent higher than the bestselling alloy entry level mountain bike, the Marlin. But releasing a sustainability report this detailed set an example for every other bike manufacturer to follow.

For those curious, the number of kilograms of CO2 released by manufacturing (including the entire supply chain) was studied on four different bikes in Trek’s fleet: the entry level alloy MTB (Marlin), 116kg; the flagship carbon fibre road racing bike (Madone) 197kg; a full-suspension carbon fibre trail MTB (Fuel EX) 153kg; and the carbon fibre electric MTB (Rail) 229kg.

only for the growth of its business, but for the betterment of the planet. And while preaching about e-bikes replacing short car trips is all well and good, the Waterloo, Wisconsin brand knew that in order to get the rest of the industry moving towards sustainable bicycle manufacturing, it had to do some serious self examination first.

Flipping through the report, you notice all the typical greenification trends: reducing air freight and corporate travel; increasing reliance on renewable energy and

strong case for the commuting e-bike, which is the type of bicycle most likely to replace shorter car trips.

The key to unlocking the potential of the increasingly popular e-bike is, of course, more bike paths in urban areas. This is something we’ve begun to take for granted in Whistler, with the odd local crank already seeking to ban e-bikes from the Valley Trail and citing a ruling against Segways 20 years ago as precedent. But that’s a topic of discussion for another time.

So unless you intend to ride your new bike 692 kilometres on trips you otherwise would have driven your car, buying a bike is contributing a net positive of carbon emissions. OK, so the e-mtb has the worst carbon contribution from getting made, but what if you started riding your e-mtb to every far-flung Whistler trailhead, like Wedge or Cheakamus, instead of driving your bike on the back of your car? You can see how it all starts to get a bit subjective.

Bikes are key to the future of our planet, and getting more people out of cars and onto bikes in cities and urban areas has to be the first priority. But that doesn’t mean ignoring all the baggage that the cycling industry comes with.

Vince Shuley is mindful of his own carbon footprint. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince.

CYCLE LIFE Getting more people out of cars and onto bikes in cities and urban areas has to be a priority, writes Vince Shuley.

PHOTO

[I]f you dig into the minutiae, you quickly realize that selling lots of bikes and e-bikes isn’t without its own significant carbon footprint when you analyze the entire supply chain.

Master Carver Chief Ray Natraoro, centre back, with the SLCC’s Community Reconciliation Canoe.

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF SLCC

PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD /

By Brandon Barrett

WHEN CANADA MARKED ITS FIRST National Day for Truth and Reconciliation last September, the nation was just months removed from the devastating discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children buried at the site of the former Kamloops Residential School. That was followed by subsequent discoveries at residential schools across the country, thrusting forward a long-overdue conversation about the historical harms caused by Canada’s colonial legacy.

For many non-Indigenous Canadians, the grisly findings served as a necessary wake-up call, turning the oft-abstract notion of “Truth and Reconciliation” into something tangible and real, after years of Indigenous Canadians’ stories of children taken from their families and communities, to never return.

And for many Indigenous Canadians who either experienced the dehumanizing effects of residential schools first-hand, or who grew up in the shadow of parents who did, Kamloops allowed them to finally begin unravelling their own complicated pasts of mistreatment and trauma—and discuss them more openly.

“Both my parents went to residential school and they are survivors, and I grew up with them not even speaking of it. It buried a lot of unknowns when I was growing up,” recalls Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, elected councillor for the Squamish Nation.

As residential school survivors continue to deal with the aftershocks still reverberating from Kamloops, as well as preparing for the results of an upcoming radar scan at the site of the former St. Paul’s Indian Residential School in North Vancouver, where many local First Nation members were taken, the Squamish Nation has developed a support program for survivors and their families, called Yúusnew ’ as, which translates loosely to “taking care of each other.” Participants are swaddled in blankets, take part in sacred ceremonies designed to offer protection, and receive traditional healing medicines.

“Especially coming out of the pandemic, it’s about making them know they are not alone,” Williams explains. “Teachings are very important; they ground us, but at the same time we’re coming together as a community to hold them up.”

In that spirit, yúusnew ’ as would seem a fitting term for the challenging work of reconciliation itself, be you Indigenous or not. As Canadians, we have all been born into a system we had no choice but to inherit. But dismantling that system’s impacts, and understanding our place within it, is a choice, and if we are to continue down this path, then holding each other up is the only way forward.

In time for Canada’s second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, Pique caught up with Wilson and four other Indigenous leaders from across the Sea to Sky to get their thoughts on how we’ve done as a community and a country advancing reconciliation—and what barriers we have yet to cross.

www.sd48seatosky.org

In honour of survivors and of those who never returned, SD48 is taking steps to address the ongoing legacy of Residential Schools and to learn and teach the truth about Canada's history.

GEORGINA DAN, LIL’WAT NATION. Co-facilitator of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Indigenous Youth Ambassador program, and cultural administration coordinator

On Whistler’s efforts to advance reconciliation:

“I’ve seen a lot of growth within a lot of Whistler businesses and Whistler as a whole to recognize Indigenous peoples. I think there’s still a lot of room to grow, of course, but I think I’ve seen so much recognition and representation throughout this year, especially.”

On whether she ever tires of educating non-Indigenous people about Truthand Reconciliation:

“I do have some days that I get tired and I do need to really just put decolonization and Truth and Reconciliation on pause. But I think I have more days where I really embrace it and I’m ready to take on learning for myself, but also learning how to share and educate other people.

I think a lot of the time, when I take breaks, it involves practising the culture and reminding myself what this work is for. It’s to help revitalize the culture and help be part of the learning and sharing.”

TA7TALÍYA MICHELLE NAHANEE, Squamish Nation. Founder and owner of social change agency, Nahanee Creative. www.nahaneecreative.com.

On how companies can decolonize their workplace:

“A lot of times these work environments are not ready [to hire Indigenous staff]. They haven’t done their own personal work and investigated their own bias and inequity and asking the question, why aren’t there Indigenous employees here now?

That’s one end of the spectrum, and the other end is a company that invests in a series of workshops and training and brings in … resources for their people and sees it as ongoing work. When you start somewhere and then keep going with it. There are 94 [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] calls to action; that’s lifelong work. Like any business, it takes time and resources and talent, so it’s really about how people will prioritize the work outside of a national holiday.”

On the role of discomfort in Truth and Reconciliation:

“Colonialism was designed for the comfort of some at the discomfort of many. So if you’re someone who is comforted by it, for you to contribute to dismantling it, you’ll need to go through some discomfort.

The antidote to that, really, and what’s been helpful to me, is seeing these as systems that we are all within … I call it ‘unlearning’ and we are literally in the work of unlearning our biases all the time. Try not to make it just about you and your personhood, but who are you within the system, and who you choose to be within that system. That’s what I’m trying to activate with my work.”

Cultural administration coordinator Georgina Dan accepting the 2021 National Indigenous Tourism Award in Ottawa on behalf of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF BC.

Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, founder and owner of Nahanee Creative, a Squamish-based social change agency offering decolonial consulting, communication and design

PHOTO BY ALLY PINTUCCI

YVONNE WALLACE, LIL’WAT

NATION. Playwright, whose 2019 onewoman show in English and Ucwalmícwts, útszan, tackled belonging and identity as a mixed-race woman growing up in Mount Currie.

On how útszan helped engender pride in her identity:

“I started writing the play in 2015 and finished it in 2019, and in those four years, the amount of growth was remarkable. I was testing, through our language, a whole different relationship to customs and culture and identity. With all of that internal work, I was so in love with my life by the end of that.”

On Truth and Reconciliation not being a one-day affair:

“In the theatre and as a writer, my acts of reconciliation are every day. This process and the problem of working through it, it doesn’t stop for me. But for non-Indigenous people, sometimes you have the privilege or the liberty to just hang it on the shelf and let it collect dust until the next year. And so, I question why, ordinarily, the Indigenous have to carry this burden, when we were all born into this? Sometimes this is hard. It can be really challenging. But just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.”

On the Sea to Sky’s efforts to advancereconciliation:

“I just have a lot of mixed feelings all the time. Some days I feel one way, some days I feel another way. Sometimes I don’t know how to answer that question, especially because of my work. I work with School District 48, teaching Lil’wat language and culture, and sometimes it feels like we’re really moving ahead and there’s other days it feels like there are so many walls everywhere, which is an issue of working for an institution. I also know that everybody that I work with, they really care about this. Even if there’s walls there, we figure out a way to work through those and work together, and that’s great.”

On how she teaches Kindergarteners about the residential school system:

“How do you talk about this stuff to little Kindies so you don’t hurt them, but also that they can understand that something horrible happened? This was my phrase to them: ‘We are talking about children with skin the colour of mine that were taken from their homes, taken to a school and they were mistreated really badly. They were not allowed to see their families and now they’re adults and grandparents and we want to show them love.’ Then I say, ‘I have a plan on how we can do that.’ And they were like, ‘Yaaaaaa, we’re going to love them!’”

On how to practise reconciliation on a practical, day-to-day level:

“I think what I want people to always know is to be kind to yourself, be loving through this path, and really do your homework. Really delve into it.

TANINA WILLIAMS, LIL’WAT NATION. Cultural educator with School District 48, and owner of Indigenous consulting agency, Amawilc. www.amawilc.com.

Once you get this information, don’t just let it sit there. What can you do with it so you can help heal the real people that this has happened to? … The easiest thing to do if you know an Indigenous person, or even if you see somebody you think is Indigenous, is smile and give them the biggest love energetically, because that’s what they need.”

Lil’wat playwright Yvonne Wallace.

PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD / DAVIDBUZZARD.COM

Lil’wat cultural educator Tanina Williams.

PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD / DAVIDBUZZARD.COM

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION EVENTS AROUND TOWN

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) is Whistler’s hub for Truth and Reconciliation events this Friday, Sept. 30, with programming scheduled throughout the day in the museum’s Great Hall, theatre, galleries and out on the mezzanine patio.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be self-guided tours, a film series in the theatre, kids’ crafts and exhibitions, including “Residential Schools” and “Ancient Medicine: From Feast to Famine to Freedom.” The Community Reconciliation Canoe, carved this summer, will also be on display, with SLCC apprentice carvers Qáwam ’ Redmond Andrews and Brandon Hall on hand.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lil’wat Nation artist Bill Ritchie hosts a live demonstration, weaving cedar roses. Then, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Chepximiya Siyam Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard “Buddy” Joseph co-host a weaving demonstration.

On the mezzanine patio and inside the longhouse, there will be guest speakers discussing Truth and Reconciliation and surviving residential school from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then again from 2:30 to 4 p.m. At 1 p.m., there will be a performance by the SLCC’s Spo7ez Performance Team, before a break at 1:30 p.m. and a moment of silence observed at 2:15 p.m.

Admission to the museum is free on Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., thanks to support from CIBC and the

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, while SLCC programming is supported by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).

Elsewhere in the community, flags will be lowered to half-mast at all municipal facilities, and the Fitzsimmons Bridge will be lit orange.

The RMOW is also in the process of completing a Truth and Reconciliation crosswalk at the corner of Blackcomb Way and Lorimer Road, adjacent to the SLCC. Designed in partnership with the museum by artist and SLCC ambassador Tmícwts’a7 Irene Terry Peters, the orange crosswalk honours the survivors of Canada’s residential school system, the children who never made it home, and their families. It features seven white feathers representing the Seven Grandfather Teachings of love, respect, bravery, truth, honesty, humility and wisdom.

“The crosswalk is a beacon that signals our acknowledgement of the past and our commitment to an equitable shared future. For those who may not be aware of our past, I hope this instalment will pique curiosity and draw them into this shared reconciliation journey with us,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton in a release. For more information, visit slcc.ca/NDTR. ■

The SLCC is Whistler’s hub for Truth and Reconciliation events. Pictured is Squamish Nation weaver Cheximiya Allison Burns Joseph. FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLCC

2022 General Local Government Election

Notice of Election by Voting

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY given to the electors of the Resort Municipality of Whistler that an election by voting is necessary to elect one (1) Mayor, six (6) Councillors, and two (2) Schools Trustees. The persons nominated as candidates and for whom votes will be received are:

MAYOR - ONE (1) TO BE ELECTED

Surname Usual Jurisdiction

Name of Residence

CROMPTON Jack Whistler

CULVER Marcus Whistler

WALKER Brian Whistler

COUNCILLOR – SIX (6) TO BE ELECTED

Surname Usual Jurisdiction

Name of Residence

DE JONG Arthur Whistler

FORD Jen Whistler

FORSYTH Ralph Whistler

JAMES Tina Pashumati Whistler

JEFFREY Gordon Whistler

JEWETT Cathy Whistler

LADNER Brendan Whistler

LAPADAT Curtis Whistler

LOPEZ Melinda Whistler

MILLIKIN Rhonda Whistler

MORDEN Jessie Whistler

MURL Jeff Whistler

PLISKA Gabriel Whistler

RUSH Sarah Surrey

TITUS Dawn Whistler

SCHOOL TRUSTEE – TWO (2) TO BE ELECTED

Surname Usual Jurisdiction Name of Residence

BORDIGNON Deb Whistler

HIGGINS Cynthia Whistler

LYTHE Rachael Whistler

Voting Dates and Location

GENERAL VOTING will be open to qualified electors on: Saturday, October 15, 2022

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Myrtle Philip School Gymnasium 6195 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC

ADVANCE VOTING will be open to qualified electors on:

Wednesday, October 5 & Saturday, October 8, 2022

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Whistler Public Library

4329 Main Street, Whistler, BC

Elector Registration

If you are not on the list of electors, you may register at the time of voting by completing the required application form available at the voting place.

To register you must meet the following requirements:

• 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day;

• Canadian citizen;

• a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;

• resident of the Resort Municipality of Whistler; OR

• registered owner of real property in the Resort Municipality of Whistler for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; AND

• not disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.

To register, resident electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture ID is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

To register, non-resident property electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity. Proof of ownership of the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners is also required.

Mail Ballot Voting Information

NEW ***all electors are eligible to vote by mail ballot ***

REQUESTING A MAIL BALLOT PACKAGE:

To vote by mail, electors must submit an Application to Vote by Mail to the Resort Municipality of Whistler by 4 p.m. on October 12, 2022. Application forms are available on our website at whistler. ca/elections and at Municipal Hall. Voters may submit their mail ballot application forms:

By hand, mail or other delivery service to: Chief Election Officer Whistler Municipal Hall 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC V8E 0X5

By email to: election@whistler.ca

The Resort Municipality of Whistler will send out mail ballot packages commencing on September 29, 2022 To be counted, mail ballots must be RECEIVED by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Pauline Lysaght Chief Election Officer

Vancouver Canucks return to Whistler for training camp

THE THREE-DAY CAMP FEATURED EVERYONE FROM STAR PLAYERS TO ROSTER HOPEFULS—AND EVEN A PAIR OF TWIN LEGENDS

BY HARRISON BROOKS

WITH HUNDREDS of local hockey fans in attendance, the Vancouver Canucks kicked off their pre-season with a three-day training camp at Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre from Thursday, Sept. 22 to Saturday, Sept. 24.

The 60 players in attendance were split into three groups, with each participating in a roughly hour-long practice each day followed by an inter-squad scrimmage, as well as plenty of time in between spent interacting with fans and signing autographs.

On top of seeing their hockey heroes up close, some lucky local kids like Ronin Kester and Logan and Peyton Hoverd, among others, got the chance of a lifetime to skate on the same ice as some current NHLers as well as Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

“Amazing. Amazing,” said Logan. “I’ve watched them for a bit, so it was cool seeing them. We did a few passing drills and skating, and then we did some rotation drills and then at the end we got to play a game with them, which was cool.”

For Peyton, the highlight of the weekend was collecting signatures from all the players who they were able to skate with.

Meanwhile, Kester walked away with an extra special souvenir when Vasili Podkolzin gave him his stick at the end of practice.

“It was really cool,” he said, still beaming with excitement from the experience.

YOUNG GUNS LOOK TO IMPRESS

With only unofficial individual and group skates before it, the Whistler training camp offered the first opportunity for young players and new additions to impress the Canucks coaching staff ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Of the many storylines to follow throughout the pre-season, and across all the players looking to make a strong impression early in the year, it was 2019 second round draft pick Nils Hoglander who had head coach Bruce Boudreau’s attention after Day 2 of camp.

“I was going to say, let me talk about Hogs, because I think he is the best player

spot to take, but I’m excited for it. I feel really good … so I’m ready for this camp,” he said. “[I just have to] show what I can do. My first year and half of the second, I think I played really good, so just keep going from there. I know what I have to work on, and now I just go out there and play the way I know I can.”

Other standouts from training camp in Whistler included new signings Ilya Mikheyev and Andrei Kuzmenko. It was Mikheyev’s blazing speed and Kuzmenko’s heavy shot— which he used to score several goals during the group ice times to the delight of the fans in attendance—while playing on a line with Elias Petterson, which had some of the team’s veteran defensemen on notice.

“Amazing. Amazing.”

- LOGAN HOVERD

on the ice right now,” said Boudreau. “He looks so much faster than he did last year, determination, he’s definitely ready. I think last year was a little bit of a setback for him, he doesn’t want it to happen again.”

After a promising rookie season in 2020-21 that saw him finish the year with 27 points in 56 games, the sophomore season didn’t go quite as planned for Hoglander, who struggled to find consistency and ended up with just 18 points in 60 games before his season was shut down by a groin injury that required surgery.

Now fully healthy, Hoglander has his sights set on forcing his way into a roster spot again this year and taking his game to the next level.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a real tough

“The first thing you notice with [Mikheyev] is his speed, and when you look at [Kuzmenko], for me, I think the shot is the first thing I’ve noticed,” said Tyler Myers. “But you can tell both are going to be very effective players for us this year. Really good additions to the team, going to provide a lot of depth for us and makes it that much more exciting starting up.”

VETERAN PRESENCE

While the younger players are hoping to impress the coaches enough to get a spot on the opening night roster, veteran players, whose jobs are secured, often use training camp more for getting their legs under them and getting ready for the

regular season in October.

But that’s not the case for 10-year NHL veteran Danny Dekeyser, who, after spending his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings, now finds himself on a professional try-out with the Canucks.

“I think you see it a lot nowadays, especially with how the [salary] cap is, and everybody being so tight against it, sometimes guys get squeezed out and you‘ve got to try to grab your opportunity or a chance when you can,” said Dekeyser, who chose Vancouver because of the potential fit he saw here for his defensive-style game.

“I’m just here to grab a spot if I can and play as hard as I can, so for me that’s to be responsible defensively, move the puck out of the zone as quick as I can and help out on the PK. I’ve been playing on the penalty kill my whole career, so that’s something that I’m comfortable doing and I feel like it kind of comes natural to me, so that’s where I think I can help out.”

One promising sign for Dekeyser is being paired with fellow veteran defenseman Myers throughout camp, something Boudreau said he does on purpose to give NHL guys a fair chance to show what they can do while playing with other experienced players.

With camp ending Saturday, the Canucks opened up their pre-season schedule the following day with half the players travelling to Calgary and half staying in Vancouver for split-squad games against the Flames.

The Canucks take the ice again Thursday, Sept. 29 when they face the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The regular season kicks off for the Canucks on Oct. 12 against the Oilers in Edmonton. n

SHARK ATTACK The Vancouver Canucks battle it out in training camp in front of approximately 500 local hockey fans.

PHOTO BY HARRISON BROOKS

Whistler’s Jesse Melamed takes Enduro World Series overall title

MELAMED MAKES HISTORY WITH FIRST-EVER EWS OVERALL WIN BY A CANADIAN

BY HARRISON BROOKS

FOLLOWING UP A 2021 season which saw Jesse Melamed finish top three in the Enduro World Series (EWS) overall rankings, the Whistler product took things to the next level in 2022, finishing the season as the 2022 EWS overall champion.

Although he also finished with the most points in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, this win marks the first-ever official EWS overall win by a Canadian, which is an accomplishment Melamed holds dear to his heart.

“To get it done is something that I’ll never forget, and that’s pretty special to me, because I’ve worked so hard at it. It’s insane to see my name next to everyone else that has won the title. So yeah, it’s a pretty big accomplishment,” he said.

“I was someone who always watched racing as a kid, and I always cheered for any Canadians whether that was cross-country or downhill.”

That included watching the winning exploits of legendary Canadian downhiller Stevie Smith, who tragically passed away in 2016. While Melamed was never close to Smith, “I always watched him, and I kind of felt like this was for him, and continuing that legacy, because watching him take the overall in Downhill was pretty special,” he said.

“So yeah, I hope some kids can kind of look up to me for that and know that Canada is a strong race nation, and we have what it takes. I think I’m still the only Canadian to win an EWS race and now the first one to win the overall, so it’s cool to kind of pave the way for that.”

Winning the overall title is something Melamed never expected himself to accomplish. In fact, at this time last year, he described it as “disheartening” to consistently race as fast as he could but still fall short of the pace set by Jack Moir and Richard Rude—the first and second overall finishers in 2021, respectively.

So at the end of his best season ever—at the time—Melamed was left racking his brain trying to figure out how to take the next step and get to the same level as the top competitors.

And after getting his bike tuned in the way he wanted it, and getting in a good off-season of training, Melamed was ready to hit the ground running at the start of the 2022 season—and he never looked back.

“I think I was still figuring out the bike in 2021. I made some changes in the offseason, that actually started at Nationals, and then I spent the winter on it; I got really comfortable, and I came into the season fast,” said Melamed. “That allowed me to build through the season with those other guys, whereas in 2021, I felt like I wasn’t on their pace, I was changing things and I

could never build throughout the season. I just kind of stayed the same, and I just didn’t have the winning pace.”

Across the Series’ first three races, Melamed and second overall finisher Rude were neck and neck, with Rude taking the slight advantage with two firsts and a secondplace finish to Melamed’s two seconds and a first. However, Melamed gained a bit of a cushion on Rude at the EWS event in Whistler, where he took gold on his home track while Rude fell to 44th.

The next race in Burke, Vermont saw Rude and Melamed, once again, neck and neck, with the American taking top spot and Melamed coming close behind in third. Melamed would then gain a little more ground on Rude the following week in Sugarloaf, Maine, where the two finished in first and 21st, respectively.

And it was that consistency—which saw Melamed inside the top-10 in all eight races, including six podium finishes across the series’ first six races—that was the difference between Melamed and Rude.

“I guess I was just on the podium pace this year, and just able to make it happen every race,” he said. “I’ve always felt like I was fast, but I always lacked that consistency and that smart riding. And I think I figured that out in the last couple seasons.”

The last two races of the series took place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on Sept. 17 and Loudenvielle, France on Sept. 24, where Melamed would finish eighth and sixth, respectively, edging out Rude by one spot in each race to hang on to the overall title with 3,870 points to Rude’s 3,345.

Rounding out the 2022 overall podium was Germany’s Martin Maes with 3,315 points, while 2021 overall winner Jack Moir battled back from a slow start in the first half of the season to land in the top four with 3,030 points. n

CALL FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS

Applications are now being accepted for our October 1st, 2022 Fall Funding Deadline

The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to community groups and charities whose activities provide benefit to residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor in the areas of health, human services, education, recreation, arts & culture and the environment Special emphasis is placed on children, youth and family programs For more information, eligibility requirements and to complete an application, please visit our website at whistlerblackcombfoundation com Or contact Mei Madden, Executive Director at mmadden@whistlerblackcombfoundation com

WORLD CHAMPION Whistler’s Jesse Melamed, shown here on the top spot of the podium after EWS Whistler in August, rode his way to the top of the 2022 overall rankings—a first for Canadian Enduro racers.

PHOTO BY HARRISON BROOKS

Owners of Whistler bakery BReD put their money where their mouth is with B Corp certification

THE AWARD-WINNING CREEKSIDE SHOP HAS BAKED SUSTAINABILITY INTO EVERYTHING IT DOES SINCE OPENING IN 2019

BY BRANDON BARRETT

SINCE OPENING the doors to their awardwinning vegan bakery, BReD, in Creekside three years ago, husband-and-wife owners Ed and Natasha Tatton have proven time and again that operating a small business with morals doesn’t have to break the bank.

“You’ve got to be in it for the long game and see how society is changing and where people want to spend their money and their time working as well. That’s important,” said Natasha. “I think the companies that are focused on the bottom line and nothing else, maybe they won’t be around in 10 years. Maybe nobody will be that interested in them or want to support them. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. We don’t know, but we just see there seems to be a change in the consciousness in society of what they’re looking for.”

Now, the Tattons have put their money where their mouth is, recently achieving Benefit Corporation—or B Corp—status in B.C.

Granted by the non-profit B Lab, B Corp status signifies a for-profit company that voluntarily meets the highest

standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.

“The idea, ultimately, is that the world, in some way, maybe socially or environmentally, is better for your business being there than without it,” explained Natasha.

Using entirely compostable packaging, producing zero food waste, and using no animal products, the organic bakery was already meeting many of the sustainability criteria prior to being certified. Notably, despite being located just a hop, skip and a jump from the fertile farmland of Pemberton, where BReD gets much of its produce, the shop’s mountain setting actually made it more difficult to meet B Lab’s criteria to source more than half of its ingredients within a 50-kilometre radius.

So, B Lab agreed to extend its criteria for BReD to 200 km—although even within that distance it can be difficult to find organic ingredients such as flour, which the Tattons source from Anita’s Organic Mill in Chilliwack, roughly 220 km away, or their organic salt, which they get from further afield on Vancouver Island.

“It’s hard as a mountain-based business to get the certification. It’s a lot easier to source locally in the city because everything is so close to you,” said Natasha. “With a little bit of persuasion, I managed to get them to understand. I was like, ‘There’s Whistler, then there’s forest, then there’s Squamish, then there’s forest, and then there’s the city, and there’s nothing in between.’”

But it’s not just the environmental side of things that scored points for the bakery. A big part of the B Corp certification revolves around governance, with points awarded for things like paying staff a living wage, business transparency, and having established inclusivity policies in place. At BReD, each staff member is paid a living wage, and all employees, including parttimers, receive full health benefits.

“We’ve come a long way,” said Natasha. “When we first opened the business, we didn’t have any money in the bank and we weren’t sure how much we could pay people. So the initial opening staff weren’t paid very much; they were all on minimum wage to begin with. But over time we were able to make a profit and pay them what they deserved. So we built up to that.”

It also led the Tattons to update their employee handbook to ensure their policies, like their anti-racism efforts, were up to date.

They also scored points for donating one per cent of their annual revenue—B Corp companies get awarded for either doing that or donating a fifth of their profits—to animal, social and environmental causes, such as Whistler Animals Galore, Happy Herd and the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment. BReD also partners with Trees for the Future, with the charity planting a tree for every coffee the bakery sells—totalling close to 50,000 trees to date.

“We never opened the bakery to make

millions in profit,” said Ed. “But to be able to be a B Corp, you need to make money to be able to give back, to pay people properly, to donate to these animal and environmental charities.”

On that front, the Tattons hope they can serve as a model for businesses big and small in Whistler looking to make a difference in their own way.

“I just hope more people see what we’re doing and see the traction we’re getting and the lineups we have and think maybe they should do something like this,” Natasha said. “We’re here to inspire people. We’re not here to compete. We’re here to co-exist and collaborate.”

In 2020, B.C. became the first Canadian jurisdiction to statutorily permit and regulate Benefit Corporations. The B Lab has reportedly began outsourcing some of its certifications of smaller enterprises, like BReD, which Natasha said allowed her and her husband’s company to get accredited quicker than they originally anticipated.

“I was told there was a two-year waiting time to get processed, and within a couple months, I was asked for verification papers,” she noted. “It’s a good thing we’re a microenterprise, and they’ve realized the value. ‘We’ve got to get these people certified and support them because they’re actually so key to the local economy.’”

BReD is currently open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit edsbred.com. n

BAKED IN Ed and Natasha Tatton, owners of Whistler’s award-winning vegan, all-organic bakery, BReD, have baked sustainability into everything they do since opening their doors in 2019.

DARBY

Contemporary art meets skateboarding in new exhibit

OUT OF CONTROL: THE CONCRETE ART OF SKATEBOARDING RUNS AT THE AUDAIN ART MUSEUM UNTIL JAN. 8

BY ALYSSA NOEL

THREE, 3,000-KILOGRAM marble barriers sit in the middle of a room at the Audain Art Museum.

There were actually five pieces, created by artist Cameron Kerr, in a private collector’s house on Bowen Island. Only, it turns out there are a whole host of logistical hurdles to jump in order to transport art that weighs as much as a small elephant— elevator, truck, and floor capacity chief among them.

“Three thousand kilograms is the limit of our forklift to lift things, and the big [sculpture] actually weighs more than 3,000 kg,” says Kiriko Watanabe, curator at the museum, who was tasked with monitoring that transport closely.

It might have been a unique problem, but it’s fitting for a unique exhibit. The sculptures are just one part of Out of Control: The Concrete Art of Skateboarding, which runs at the museum until Jan. 8.

“The show is very much what the title says,” says guest curator Patrik Andersson, an associate professor with Emily Carr University who teaches contemporary art.

“It’s about who’s in control. What does it mean to be out of control? The subtitle—

the concrete art of skateboarding—is relating the relationship between art and architecture. I’ve designed the show almost like a concrete poem.”

While the exhibit marries skateboard culture and visual art, the show could certainly help the museum with its goal to bring more young patrons through the door.

“I see skateboarders hanging out, outside the museum on our staircase on their way or after they skated at the skate park. I’d love to

“[Pezel] has always had a gallery in her store and the gallery is in a closet in the back of her store. When I showed this to her she was like, ‘Oh yeah.’”

Other sections include: Rethinking the Barriers of Public Space, addressing the “designed environment” that skateboarders face; House, Home, and Freedom to Move, which features a fabric house created by Mikaela Kautzky made from bedsheets, table cloths and other items from her

installed, skateboarders actually skated it, creating rough, splintered edges and marks on what was a pristine sculpture.

Upstairs, meanwhile, features five artists who respond to tropes of skateboarding’s rebellious side.

While the show features local, national and international artists, the majority are from B.C.—and a surprising number wanted to create new pieces for it.

say, ‘Come in,’ but then I realized, ‘OK, would they be interested in seeing what we have?’

Really, I wanted them to get excited about art,” Watanabe says.

To that end, Andersson created several distinct sections to the exhibit—including one exhibit-within-an-exhibit tucked into a closet off the first room, curated by Michelle Pezel, who owns Vancouver’s Antisocial Skateboard Shop.

“It was nice of the museum to allow me to use this space,” Andersson says of the long, narrow closet usually hidden away.

childhood home with a film screening inside; Language, Poetry, Music and Youth Culture, playing Dan Graham’s documentary Rock My Religion; Finding Balance in Art, Life, and Skateboarding, including a photo series by Samuel RoyBois created for the exhibit called Black Mountain, a play on the drinking game Wisest Wizard; and Skateboarding on the Edges of Modern Art, which includes Raphaël Zarka’s “Paving Space—Regular Score, W9M1,” produced by Squamish’s Van Urban Timber. Days before that piece was

“Patrik and I started working on this show more than three years ago and the majority of the artists featured in this exhibition are, or once were, skateboarders, so they got so excited,” Watanabe says. “Because the exhibition date was so far in advance, they wanted to create new works for this exhibition. The museum was happy to have supported some of the major productions such as Raphaël Zarka’s sculptures that we marked in Whistler and had people skate on prior to the installation, as well as Andrew Dadson’s new series of cuneiforms that are being shown for the first time. Many of those new prints of cuneiforms were taken in Vancouver in the last few months. We were very happy to have supported that creation.”

Filled with wildly varying mediums, interactive pieces, and a general youthful exuberance, the show breaks new ground for the museum.

“I hope that people will agree that this exhibition that Patrik curated engaged not only youth, but also serious art-gallery goers,” Watanabe says. “Because it really shows you how visual arts and sport can go together.”

RAMPING UP Raphaël Zarka’s sculpture Paving Space is one of the pieces featured in Out of Control: The Concrete Art of Skateboarding.

PHOTO BY MIRAE CAMPBELL

“Patrik and I started working on this show more than three years ago and the majority of the artists featured in this exhibition are, or once were, skateboarders, so they got so excited.”

- KIRIKO WATANABE

Pandemic project leads to performances for One, Two, Trio

VANCOUVER TRIO KICKS OFF WHISTLER CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY’S FALL SERIES ON OCT. 2 AT THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE

BY ALYSSA NOEL

VALERIE WHITNEY is surprised to discover One, Two, Trio thriving beyond the pandemic.

The brass trio started out in 2020 as one-time project to record a performance for the non-profit organization Chamber Music in the Schools.

“We never expected it to go beyond that,” says Whitney, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) who plays French horn. “Then we just kept getting together and reading through music.”

Alongside Katherine Evans, who worked in administration at UBC, on the trumpet, and trombonist Jeremy Berkman, a sessional instructor and chamber music coach at the university, the trio rediscovered the joy of simply playing music.

“The pandemic took away the performing side of it, which was devastating, but the fruit of that was we had an opportunity to come back to music as individuals and let it be something that’s about interacting with other musicians and creating a really intimate relationship in that way without performance pressure and that whole dynamic,” Whitney says.

Still, as the pandemic eased and concerts started to take place once again, they were surprised to find an appetite for their offerings. That’s because brass trios are much less common than the more typical quintets.

“None of the three of us expected it,” she says. “But the truth is it’s a great combination of instruments and the music is quite interesting. We can steal music

from lots of different instrumentations and rework it for our own performances.”

And, of course, “it’s a lot easier to transport three people than five or eight,” she adds.

Next up, the trio will be performing in the first concert of the Whistler Chamber Music Society’s fall series on Sunday, Oct. 2.

Spread across 45 minutes, their repertoire covers 400 years of music.

“Our earliest composer is William Byrd, born in 1543. Then the most recent we have is a piece written by Stephen Chatman born in 1950, with a piece written last year,” Whitney says.

“The repertoire is going to be from William Byrd to Leonard Bernstein and beyond.”

On top of playing as a trio, they like to “play on our name One, Two, Trio” and allow time for solos as well, she adds.

Music aside, the musicians share a passion for engaging with audiences while performing.

“All three of us really believe that a performance is not 100 per cent until you have developed a relationship with your audience,” Whitney says. “That’s what feeds us as performers. One of my favourite parts is putting the horn down and talking … It’s me sharing my own relationship with music and my own story through music. That’s what I try to do. That’s the value of the performer. It’s not, ‘I’m a wonderful performer. Look at me.’ It’s, ‘Here’s what I have to share. I want to bring you on a journey with me.’”

Catch One, Two, Trio on Oct. 2 at the Maury Young Arts Centre. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for youth under 20. Get them in advance at the Maury Young Arts Centre or online at whistlerchambermusic.ca.

They will also be available at the door. n

THAN K YOU

from the team at Coast Mountain Brewing to our community here in Whistler and throughout the Sea to Sky for supporting us amongst a stacked field of 45 breweries to win PEOPLE’S CHOICE at this year ’s Whistler Village Beer Festival!

With the win, you’ll find our beers on tap for the next year at Black’s Pub and Stonesedge Kitchen

HORN DOGS One, Two, Trio kick off the Whistler Chamber Music Society’s fall concert series with a performance at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Sunday, Oct. 2.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

21 Steps

Alpine Café

Alta Bistro

Amber Salmon

Armchair Books

Barn Nork Beacon

Blackcomb Liquor Store

Blenz

Break Thru

Brickworks

Canadian Wilderness Carumba

Clare O’Dea

Creekbread

Creekside Market

Dubhlinn Gate

Earls Elements

Elevation

Fanatyk Co

Fitzsimmons Pub

Fresh Street Market

Gail Steele

Gibbons Hospitality Harajuku

Hy’s

Joe Forte’s

Kitchen Works

Labatt’s

Lyndsay Graham

Whistler Real Estate

Meg McLean

Real Estate Team

Mongolie Grill

Nagomi Sushi

Nita Lake Lodge

O & R Restaurants

Okanagan Breweries

Pacific Pilsner

Proximo

Purebread

Quattro

Raven Room

Rim Rock Café

Russell Beer

Sachi Sushi

Southside Diner

Splitz Grill

Steamworks Stinky the man

Stinky’s

Sushi Villiage

Tapley’s

The Keg

Tracy Fawcett

VIP Whistler

Whistler Bike Co (Dave the Wave)

Whistler Happy Pets

Whistler Hardware

Wild Wood Restaurant

This is How We Love finds power in its characters

BOOK REVIEW: AUTHOR LISA MOORE FEATURED AT WHISTLER WRITERS FESTIVAL, RUNNING FROM OCT. 13 TO 16

BY KATHERINE FAWCETT

I’VE NEVER BEEN to Newfoundland. But thanks to authors such as Megan Gail Coles, Kathleen Winter, Michael Crummey and Lisa Moore, I feel I’ve visited many times. With their books and stories as portals, I feel more like a local than a tourist in the communities and characters, hearts and minds that inhabit The Rock.

Moore is from St. John’s, and her books are deep dives into life on the East Coast. Her newest release, This Is How We Love, is reflective of her 2009 novel February. The earlier book centred on the 1982 Valentine’s Day sinking of the Ocean Ranger oil rig off Newfoundland’s coast, a disaster that killed all 84 men aboard and left a chasm of grief at the community and individual level. In February, Moore deftly showed how we never quite know the ways deep grief will manifest itself, infuse our very being, and drive our actions and perceptions.

In This Is How We Love, released this spring by House of Anansi Press, Moore dances with the various ways love motivates us and shapes our lives. Like grief, love can be overwhelming. It can come at us without warning. It might be welcomed and celebrated, or it might be inconvenient, inappropriate, and messy.

In both This Is How We Love and February, as well as the riveting crime caper Caught, and her recent short story collection Something for Everyone, Moore’s power is in the precision and intention of her storytelling and characters. (Who can forget that shoe-store back-room sex scene in Something for Everyone?) Moore’s every word, every sentence, every detail, is a tiny snowflake; perfectly shaped and unique. Together, they make a storm so strong it can shut down a whole province. Like snowflakes—and love, for that matter—the plot of This Is How We Love meanders. It blows and flits. It stings and sparkles. It may bury your house and car and keep you trapped under its spell for far longer than feels comfortable.

The book opens with a violent attack on 21-year-old Xavier in the middle of a raging storm. Xavier’s parents are in Mexico when he is beaten, stabbed, and left for dead in a snowbank. The attack was videotaped and was seemingly unprovoked. For Jules and Joe, simply getting to the hospital where their son lies, is a logistical, emotional, and physical nightmare.

As Xavier hovers between life and death, his story unfolds in scenes and flashbacks. So, too, do the stories of people connected to him. We meet young Trinity, Xavier’s childhood friend whose choices lead her into a shady and dangerous world; Trinity’s reckless birth mother; and Mary, the stoic foster mother. We meet Xavier’s

mother Jules and learn of her connection with her mother-in-law Florence. We meet Violet, who Xavier is obsessed with, and Murphy, Trinity’s druggie boyfriend who was handcuffed by the police in front of all his classmates in third grade after he threw a stapler through the window.

In This Is How We Love, there is love infused with selfishness and sacrifice, obligation, and betrayal. There is abuse and neglect. And there is generosity, passion, and devotion. What was most gripping for me was the complicated, unbreakable (but deeply damaged) bond between Trinity and Xavier.

These multi-layered tellings and the time-hoppings can be somewhat disorienting— not unlike driving through a wicked snowstorm and not quite being able to see the road. (Or, traipsing through unplowed snow on foot, when the roads are all shut, and the cars are all buried.) While a tad confusing at first, this irregular approach to storytelling is ultimately extremely effective. Each scene crystallizes in gritty, lucid prose, and the reader is dropped immediately into the hearts and lives of characters so real they feel like family.

There are twists, tension, and mystery in This Is How We Love. But above all, there is insight and compassion. Through Moore’s storytelling and bang-on dialogue she poses the questions: What makes a family? What is love? Can we choose who we love? And does it even matter?

Katherine Fawcett is the author or The Swan Suit and The Little Washer of Sorrows Watch for her newest horror story in the pages of Pique’s Halloween edition. She lives in Squamish.

Lisa Moore will be part of the Sunday Book Talk: Coffee and Conversation (in-person and online) with moderator Wayne Grady at the Whistler Writers Festival on Sunday, Oct. 16. For tickets, visit whistlerwritersfest.com.

NOVEL APPROACH Lisa Moore’s latest novel, This is How We Love, will be featured at the Whistler Writers Festival on Oct. 16.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Roland’s Pub would like to thank the following sponsors of our 2022 golf tour nament on Sep. 19th:

Dan Graham

Andrew Kent

Cameron Kerr

Alex Morrison

Michelle Pezel

Samuel Roy-Bois

Ron Terada

Raymond Boisjoly

Karin Bubaš Andrew Dadson

Hannah Dubois Noah Friebel

Tim Gardner

Bracken Hanuse Corlett

Christian Huizenga Mikaela Kautzky

Wallace

Zaki

Zarka

Rudi’s famous strudel

BY JILLIAN ROBERTS

IN WHISTLER TODAY you have your pick of restaurants catering to all tastes, including many fine-dining options. Unsurprisingly, the options were more limited in 1970, when Rudi and Merrilyn Hoffmann’s Mountain Holm Steakhouse opened at Nesters. Later known simply as Rudi’s Steakhouse, it was an instant favourite among Whistlerites, often requiring reservations weeks in advance.

Rudi had trained as a chef in his home country of Germany and got his start in Whistler in 1969, working as the head chef at the Christiana Inn on Alta Lake.

“When I was at the Christiana, I quadrupled the turnover. I was just serving different food than they were used to,” Rudi said in an interview with the Whistler Question

“In those days, the general fare in ski areas was hotdogs, hamburgers, chili.”

At the time, the Christiana Inn and Le Après were the main restaurants in Whistler. Seeing that there was a market in Whistler for finer dining, Rudi set out to start his own restaurant. He purchased Tony’s Hamburger Heaven, a late-night eatery running out of a former Pacific Great Eastern Railway tool shed, and the rest is history.

With appetizers including escargot, goose liver pate, prawns and scallops (“Coquilles Saint Jacques a la Parisienne”) all for under $6 a dish, flipping through a menu is likely to make anyone long for restaurant prices from 1986 as their mouth begins to water (and when Rudi first opened in 1970, the prices were even lower). The main dishes include additional information to help diners choose. The 8-oz. Filet Mignon Par Excellence includes the claim, “You can cut it with a fork!”

With loyal customers returning again and again, Rudi’s became the venue of choice for wining and dining. Franz Wilhelmsen, president and founder of Garibaldi Lift Co., could often be spotted in the Steakhouse. He did not hold back his praise for Rudi’s, saying, “I don’t think I ever had better food anywhere

in the whole world.”

It was a regular venue for events, including the weekly Rotary Club meetings and birthdays, and the restaurant would hold an annual traditional European Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve, featuring goose, dumplings and homemade Christmas pudding.

The glowing reviews were global. According to the August 1972 issue of Ski Magazine, “while Whistler’s nightlife would rate three on a one-to-one-hundred scale, its feeding potential would rate about 92. The main reason is the Mountain Holm Steakhouse, known as Rudi’s because of its bearded proprietor, a master chef from Germany. Rustic, warm, personal; magnificent beef for $6.”

To cater to the demand, Rudi’s was renovated in 1974 to expand the lower seating area and increase the kitchen space, yet the 60-seat restaurant still filled up.

It has been argued that Rudi’s was more about dessert than dinner.

“Rudi wasn’t famous for steak, he was famous for strudel. That was his undoing,” said former local Bob Penner in an oral history interview.

“The strudel came off of Rudi’s strudel press on Thursdays, and anyone who knew anything in the Valley was lining up on Thursdays to buy Rudi’s strudel. Rudi believed to have a good strudel you had to be able to read a newspaper through it and if it had any breaks he went into an absolute tirade.”

Despite the rave reviews, Rudi was unsuccessful selling the restaurant in 1977, and instead leased the building. This led to a revolving door of restaurants in the space— including Vallee Blanche, Madame’s, and Le Chalet. Eventually, Rudi’s opened back up in 1984 to the excitement of Whistler locals, however, the changing times were hard on Rudi’s Steakhouse. The new town centre kept tourists in Whistler Village and increased competition, and the downturn in the economy meant fewer people were eating out. Rudi’s closed for good in 1986, but is still remembered fondly throughout the community. n

RAISE THE STEAKS While it may not look like much from the outside, Rudi’s Steakhouse was the historical venue of choice for a fancy meal in Whistler. Rudi’s was burned for fire practice after closing in 1986. The next year, Nesters Market opened on the same site.

WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION

1 ALPINE ACCESS The new AlpX Expeditions downhill heli-biking trail between Pemberton and Whistler was looking good earlier this September.

PHOTO BY CAVAN BRADY 2 ALL TIME FALL TIME Clearly September is prime time to get on your bike and into Whistler alpine zones. Pictured is the Lord of the Squirrels trail.

PHOTO BY TIAGO KNORST 3 MILLER TIME Vancouver Canucks star forward J.T. Miller carries the puck up the ice during the team’s training camp at Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre.

PHOTO BY HARRISON BROOKS 4 TAKING THE EDGE OFF Whistler‘s Mountain Edges Synchro Skating team enjoys a Thursday refreshment after their dryland training session under the Audain Art Museum.  PHOTO

SUBMITTED 5 ROCK STARS Pemberton’s Signal Hill Elementary School welcomed a few special guests from the Meager Creek power project to class on Wednesday, Sept. 21, including two NASA scientists. Michael Paton, Morgan Cable and cave geologist Christian Stenner chatted with students about everything from the work currently underway at nearby Mount Meager, to snake robots to the possibility of alien life in our solar system.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 48

McCurley

Rotary

Whistler Millennium’s annual Brandywine Boogie

Sept. 24.

right: Jonathon, Tycho

Vincent

Aaron

2022 GENERAL SCHOOL ELECTION

NOTICE OF ELECTION BY VOTING FOR SCHOOL TRUSTEE

ELECTORAL AREA 4 (SLRD Electoral Area C)

An election by voting is necessary to elect one (1) Trustee for Sea to Sky School District Trustee Electoral Area 4 (SLRD Electoral Area C) The following persons are candidates for this office:

School Trustee Electoral Area 4 One (1) to be Elected Surname Usual Name Residential Address

BARLEY Rebecca D’Arcy BC

VAUGHAN Margo Mount Currie, BC

VOTING DATES AND PLACES

Advance and general voting opportunities will be available to qualified electors of Sea to Sky School District Trustee Electoral Area 4 (SLRD Electora Area C) as follows:

School Trustee Electoral Area 4

Type of Voting Date Time Voting Place

Advance #1 (Required) Wednesday October 5 2022 8:00 a m to 8:00 p m

Advance #2 (Required) Wednesday October 12, 2022

Advance #2 (Additional) Wednesday October 12 2022

General (Required) Saturday October 15, 2022

ELECTOR REGISTRATION

Pemberton & District Community Centre 7390 Cottonwood St Pemberton

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Poet Susan Howe describes poetry as an “amorous search under the sign of love for a remembered time at the pitch-dark fringes of evening when we gathered together to bless and believe.” I’d like to use that lyrical assessment to describe your life in the coming days—or at least what I hope will be your life. In my astrological opinion, it’s a favourable time to intensify your quest for interesting adventures in intimacy; to seek out new ways to imagine and create togetherness; to collaborate with allies in creating brave excursions into synergy.

teacher Siddhartha Gautama who lived in ancient India was just one of many Buddhas. And by my astrological reckoning, you will have a much higher chance than usual to be like one of these Buddhas yourself in the coming weeks. Waking up will be your specialty. You will have an extraordinary capacity to burst free of dreamy illusions and murky misapprehensions. I hope you take full advantage. Deeper understandings are nigh.

8:00 a m to 8:00 p m

5:30 p m to 8:00 p m

8:00 a m to 8:00 p m

Pemberton & District Community Centre 7390 Cottonwood St , Pemberton

Blackwater Creek Elementary School 9667 Pemberton Portage Rd Devine

Pemberton & District Community Centre 7390 Cottonwood St , Pemberton

There is no need to pre register as the registration of all qualified electors for these elections will take place at the time of voting At the time of voting you will complete an application form (available at the voting place) and make a declaration that you meet the following requirements:

Resident Electors

To register as a Resident Elector you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day October 15 2022; AND

• be a Canadian citizen; AND be a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; AND

• be a resident of the electoral area on the day of registration; AND

• not be disqualified under the School Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

Non Resident Property Electors

To register as a Non Resident Property Elector, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day October 15, 2022; AND

• be a Canadian citizen; AND

• be a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; AND

• be a registered owner of real property in the electoral area for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; AND

• not be entitled to register as a Resident Elector; AND not be disqualified under the School Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

In addition, the following applies in respect of Non Resident Property Electors:

• The on y persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust (no one can vote in respect of property that is owned (in whole or in part) by a corporation or trust); AND

• If more than one individual is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the individual owners, register as a Non Resident Property Elector; AND

• To register as a Non Resident Property Elector, a person must not be a Resident Elector of the same trustee electoral area or any other trustee electoral area of Sea to Sky School District and can only register as a Non Resident Property Elector in relat on to one parcel of and in Sea to Sky School Distr ct (as a result a person can register as an elector in only one trustee electoral area in Sea to Sky School District)

In order to register at t me of vot ng:

Resident Electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a s gnature) Photo identification s not necessary The identification must prove both residency and identity

Non Resident Property Electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entit ed to register in re ation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners (Please contact the SLRD ahead of time for the required consent form it must be signed by a majority of the property owners Unsigned or incomplete consent forms cannot be accepted)

For identificat on you must produce at least 2 documents that prov de evidence of your identity and place of residence, at least 1 of which must contain your signature The following classes of documents will be accepted:

Driver s Licence; BC Services card (with photo or w thout photo); Owner ’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC; BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard; Ministry of Soc al Development and Poverty Reduction Request for Continued Assistance Form DES8 (now Monthly Form EA181 ); Social Insurance Number card; Cit zenship Card; property tax notice; cred t card or debit card; or utility bill (electr city natura gas water te ephone or cable) Election officials must accept the above listed identification documents and may also accept other forms of documents that provide evidence satisfactory to them (such as valid current passport)

MAIL BALLOT VOTING

Qualified electors are eligible to vote by mail Up until 4:30 p m on Thursday October 13, 2022, qualified electors can request a mail ballot package by submitting the following information to Chief Election Officer by mail (Box 219, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0), by fax (604 894 6526) or by email (kclark@slrd bc ca):

• Your full name; AND

• Your residential address; AND

(For Non Resident Property Electors on y): address of the property in relation to which you are vot ng; AND

• You must indicate whether you wish to register as a Resident Elector or as a Non Resident Property Elector; AND

• Method of delivery of your mail bal ot package (your choice of the following four options):

(1) pick up at SLRD office in Pemberton by you personally OR

(2) pick up at SLRD office in Pemberton by an authorized person* OR

(3) regular lettermail service through Canada Post to your residential address, OR

(4) regular lettermail service through Canada Post to an alternate address that you provide when requesting the mail ballot package

*Name & address of the authorized person must be provided The authorized person must swear a solemn declaration & show 2 pieces of ID before the mail ballot package will be released The authorized person is limited to assisting only 1 elector in this manner

Mail ballot packages will be ready (for pick up at SLRD office in Pemberton or for mailing) as soon as ballots are available and no earlier than September 26 2022

To be counted completed mail ballot packages must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8:00 p m on Sa turday October 15, 2022 Electors are responsible for ensuring that their completed mail ballot packages are received by the Chief Election Officer, taking into consideration the cut off dates associated with each delivery method and location Please see more detailed information at www slrd bc ca/Election2022 regarding how, where and when to return completed mail ballot packages

• FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact Chief Election Officer Kristen Clark by phone at (604) 894 6371 ext 230 or (toll free) 1 800 298 7753 or by email kclark@slrd bc ca

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Social reformer Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) had a growlery. It was a one-room stone cabin where he escaped to think deep thoughts, work on his books, and literally growl. As a genius who escaped enslavement and spent the rest of his life fighting for the rights of his fellow Black people, he had lots of reasons to snarl, howl, and bellow as well as growl. The coming weeks would be an excellent time for you to find or create your own growlery, Taurus. The anger you feel will be especially likely to lead to constructive changes. The same is true about the deep thoughts you summon in your growlery: They will be extra potent in helping you reach wise practical decisions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Conduct your blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind,” wrote Gemini poet Gwendolyn Brooks. I love that advice! The whirlwind is her metaphor for the chaos of everyday life. She was telling us that we shouldn’t wait to ripen ourselves until the daily rhythm is calm and smooth. Live wild and free right now! That’s always good advice, in my opinion, but it will be especially apropos for you in the coming weeks. Now is your time to “endorse the splendor splashes” and “sway in wicked grace,” as Brooks would say.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Don’t look away,” advised novelist Henry Miller in a letter to his lover. “Look straight at everything. Look it all in the eye, good and bad.” While that advice is appealing, I don’t endorse it unconditionally. I’m a Cancerian, and I sometimes find value in gazing at things sideways, or catching reflections in mirrors, or even turning my attention away for a while. In my view, we Crabs have a special need to be self-protective and self-nurturing. And to accomplish that, we may need to be evasive and elusive. In my astrological opinion, the next two weeks will be one of these times. I urge you to gaze directly and engage pointblank only with what’s good for you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Tips to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Play at least as hard as you work. 2. Give yourself permission to do anything that has integrity and is fuelled by compassion. 3. Assume there is no limit to how much generous joie de vivre you can summon and express. 4. Fondle and nuzzle with eager partners as much as possible. And tell them EXACTLY where and how it feels good. 5. Be magnanimous in every gesture, no matter how large or small. 6. Even if you don’t regard yourself as a skilful singer, use singing to transform yourself out of any mood you don’t want to stay in.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the coming weeks, you should refrain from wrestling with problems that resist your solutions. Be discerning about how you use your superior analytical abilities. Devote yourself solely to manageable dilemmas that are truly responsive to your intelligent probing. PS: I feel sorry for people who aren’t receptive to your input, but you can’t force them to give up their ignorance or suffering. Go where you’re wanted. Take power where it’s offered. Meditate on the wisdom of Anaïs Nin: “You cannot save people. You can only love them.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh was born under the sign of Libra. He said, “The root-word ‘Buddha’ means to wake up, to know, to understand; and he or she who wakes up and understands is called a Buddha.” So according to him, the spiritual

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I invite you to be the sexiest, most intriguing, most mysterious Scorpio you can be in the coming weeks. Here are ideas to get you started. 1. Sprinkle the phrase “in accordance with prophecy” into your conversations. 2. Find an image that symbolizes rebirth and revitalization arising out of disruption. Meditate on it daily until you actually experience rebirth and revitalization arising out of disruption. 3. Be kind and merciful to the young souls you know who are living their first lifetimes. 4. Collect deep, dark secrets from the interesting people you know. Employ this information to plan how you will avoid the trouble they endured. 5. Buy two deluxe squirt guns and two knives made of foam rubber. Use them to wage playful fights with those you love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): There’s an ancient Greek saying, “I seek the truth, by which no one ever was truly harmed.” I regard that as a fine motto for you Sagittarians. When you are at your best and brightest, you are in quest of the truth. And while your quests may sometimes disturb the status quo, they often bring healthy transformations. The truths you discover may rattle routines and disturb habits, but they ultimately lead to greater clarity and authenticity. Now is an excellent time to emphasize this aspect of your nature.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let’s imagine you are in your office or on the job or sitting at your kitchen table. With focused diligence, you’re working on solving a problem or improving a situation that involves a number of people. You think to yourself, “No one seems to be aware that I am quietly toiling here behind the scenes to make the magic happen.” A few days or a few weeks later, your efforts have been successful. The problem is resolved or the situation has improved. But then you hear the people involved say, “Wow, I wonder what happened? It’s like things got fixed all by themselves.” If a scenario like this happens, Capricorn, I urge you to speak up and tell everyone what actually transpired.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To honour your entrance into the most expansive phase of your astrological cycle, I’m calling on the counsel of an intuitive guide named Nensi the Mercury Priestess. She offers the following advice. 1. Cultivate a mindset where you expect something unexpected to happen. 2. Fantasize about the possibility of a surprising blessing or unplanned-for miracle. 3. Imagine that a beguiling breakthrough will erupt into your rhythm. 4. Shed a few preconceptions about how your life story will unfold in the next two years. 5. Boost your trust in your deep self’s innate wisdom. 6. Open yourself more to receiving help and gifts.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Colin Wilson describes sex as “a craving for the mingling of consciousness, whose symbol is the mingling of bodies. Every time partners slake their thirst in the strange waters of the other’s identity, they glimpse the immensity of their freedom.” I love this way of understanding the erotic urge, and recommend you try it out for a while. You’re entering a phase when you will have extra power to refine and expand the way you experience blending and merging. If you’re fuzzy about the meaning of the words “synergy” and “symbiosis,” I suggest you look them up in the dictionary. They should be featured themes for you in the coming weeks.

Homework: What’s the best change you could make that would be fairly easy to accomplish? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES

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

ALWAYS HIRING STAGS! STAGS! STAGS!

LONG-TERM RENTALS

FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER is growing its Housing portfolio and sourcing additional seasonal and longterm Chalet and Condo contracts for our Hotel Management Team Members.

Our leaders are mature, career driven drivers that know the word respect. Contract terms for property Owners are stress free with no commissions and includes representation from our 4 person fulltime Housing Department working with you 24/7; maintaining all aspects of the tenancy including quarterly inspections.

A great next move for Whistler property Owners that have tired with the Airbnb game or Property Manager Fees.

Let’s see if we can make a match and develop a longterm relationship here. General inquiries please email mark.munn@fairmont.com

RENTALS

TOFINOHOUSEFORSALE-

Beautifullydesigned1057ft2,3 bedroomhomeon1/2acre,800 metersfromMacKenziebeach&3 kilometresfromtown.1-levelhouse boastscathedralceilingsthroughout,fullmaplekitchen,naturalfire woodstove,livingroom,covered cedardecks,1.5bathrooms.Large windowsfacethefullyforestedprivateareasaroundthehome.Furnishingsnegotiable.Asking$1.4 million.

Contact:AnneorRickHalasat 604-467-6130halas@shaw.ca https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/ 24809315/1124-fellowship-dr-tofino

Looking

PEMBERTON

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OBITUARIES

ComecelebratethelifeofRoss Walker1932-2022whopassed awayinAugust.

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.

Shopping daily

10 am to 6 pm 8000 Nesters Road 604-932-1121

RE-BUILD-IT CENTRE

Donations daily

10 am to 5 pm

Accepting pre-loved furniture, tools and building supplies

Shopping daily 10 am to 5 pm 1003 Lynham Road 604-932-1125

Visit mywcss.org and our social channels for updates.

RossWalkerwasason,husband, dad,fatherinlaw,friend,caring person,passedquietlyAugust 18.22inOttawa,Ontario.Rosshad averyrich,happylifeprofessionallyandpersonally.Hewasavery contentperson.Rossgrewupwith histwobrothersJackandDon WalkerinOrangevilleOnt.Ross wasmarriedfor65yearstoHarley whotogetherraisedtheirthree kidsGeordie,Sandy,andCam. Rossenjoyedspendingtimewith hisdaughterin-lawLindaandtwo grandchildrenJenniferandBrenden.RossgraduatedfromtheUniversityofTorontoinEngineering. HewasaonecompanyguyworkingforDELCANfor45yearsinhis roleasVicePresidentofHighway design.Rosshelpeddesignparts oftheQEW,401Hwy,theYellowheadHwy,theRingroadsinReginaandEdmonton.Hewasresponsibleforthecloverleafdesign forofframpsfromhighways.Ross verymuchenjoyedhisroleas ChiefofGatesfortheWhistler MountainWorldCupdownhill1982 -1990.Helovedplayinggolfatthe BlackSquirrelGolfandCountry ClubandenjoyedhisTuesday morningsatRotary.Theconstant besidehisfamilytimewashislove ofskiing.Rossskiedalloverthe world,everychancehecouldget tostrapontheboards,hewas therewithasmileonhisfaceand readytogo.Hisfavoriterunhad tobeWhislter’sHarmonyBowlfor firsttracks...nowhegetsfirst tracksallthetime,restpeacefully Dad.Acelebrationoflifewillbe helpOctober15,20221-4pmin WhistlersMauriceYoungArtCenterFormoreinformationplease emailGeordiewalker12@gmail.com DonationcanbemadetotheCam Walkermemorialfundpleasevisit thefollowingwebsitehttps://www. educationfoundationottawa.ca/bur sary/the-cam-walker-fund/ ComecelebratethelifeofRoss Walker1932-2022

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

WE ARE OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LIVE-IN CARETAKER OF A PRIVATE WHISTLER RESIDENCE.

The ideal caretaker has 20 year’s work experience with a proven track record in hospitality and or the property /building management or site management sectors. Experience and knowledge of HVAC, security systems, grounds upkeep and general maintenance is an asset.

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This is a full-time live-in opportunity. Familiarity with, and long-term residency in, Whistler is an asset.

Please submit your resume via email at caretakerwhistler@gmail.com. Resumes will be received until 5pm on October 10th, 2022. Due to anticipated response, only those who will be interviewed will be contacted.

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For more information, please search our Encore Job Opportunities page at the below link.

https://jobs.encoreglobal.com/search-jobs/Whistler

We are currently hiring the following positions for projects in WHISTLER.

We are currently hiring the following positions for projects in WHISTLER.

Journeymen Carpenters (5+ years) Skilled Labourers

Journeymen Carpenters (5+ years)

Skilled Labourers

We offer competitive pay, a benefits package, company cell phone plan, interesting projects, a collaborative team environment, and a chance to improve your existing skills.

We offer competitive pay, a benefits package, company cell phone plan, interesting projects, a collaborative team environment, and a chance to improve your existing skills.

We are looking for dedicated team players who want to join a rapidly growing company and establish a long term career in construction.

We are looking for dedicated team players who want to join a rapidly growing company and establish a long-term career in construction.

Please forward your resume to Lea@gccltd.ca

Please forward your resume to Lea@gccltd.ca

Please note that Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) acquired Diamond Resorts International (DRI) as of August 02, 2021. If you apply to work at a Diamond Resorts company you will be an applicant of a subsidiary of HGV. A transition to HGV will occur as we integrate technology, systems and branding but it will take time until our separate operating systems, employment policies and benefits are fully integrated. As a result, for a period of time, employees will receive correspondence and messaging from Diamond Resorts as well as from HGV and related entities.

: embarc_hr@hgv.com

Your Moment to Rise…

OPPORTUNITIES

ENGINEERING:

CULINARY:

APPLY HERE

Photo Credit:

Lil’wat Nation Employment Opportunities

Ullus Community Center

• Capital Projects Manager

• Finance Manager

• On-Reserve Lands Manager

Health & Healing

• Early Childhood Educator/Assistant

• Infant Development Program Coordinator

– Maternal & Child Health

• Mental Wellness Outreach Worker

• Project Manager for Health

Ts’zil Learning Center

• Career Development Practitioner

• Employment Advisor

• Administrative Assistant

• General Labourer (on-call)

Lil’wat Business Group

• On-call Cashier

Xet’olacw Community School

• Grade 2 Teacher

• High School Teacher (on-call)

• IT Assistant

• Grade 5 Teacher (Maternity Leave)

• High School Math Teacher

•

Housing

3rd and 4th

friendly, outgoing,

articulate

• Do

Send

Guards Join a Dynamic Team of Art Lovers!

The Museum is currently seeking: Monitor artwork in galleries, enforce and implement security protocols, and communicate rules and guidelines to visitors.

• Permanent, Part-Time

• Starting at $23 per hour

• No Experience Necessary

• Benefits Packages Available

$500 Signing Bonus!

For complete job descriptions and to apply visit audainartmuseum.com/employment

Or email applications to bbeacom@audainartmuseum.com

Roland’s Pub

great

have great attention to detail

desire

Medical

Dental

perform

workmanship. Ability to problem solve and diagnose issues quickly and accurately. If this sound like you, lets chat.

in person or email resume to

•

•

•

•

•

We look forward to hearing from you!

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

• Staff Housing available

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

We are a collaborative team with a passion for where we live and what we do. If you love Whistler’s unique mountain culture and want to join an innovative and supportive team, we are now hiring for the following opportunities:

• Travel Consultant (Full Time, Year Round)

• Visitor Centre Agent (Full Time, Year Round)

What we offer: a flexible schedule offering work-life balance, excellent compensation and benefits package, and a great team environment.

TO VIEW OUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO APPLY, VISIT US ONLINE AT WHISTLER.COM/CAREERS.

Salary based on experience, 40-45 hour work week. Extended Medical & Dental Benefits after 3 months, ski pass, corporate golf pass to use, discounts in Pub & Bistro. The chef de partie would be 4th in command within Red Door Bistro and Roland’s pub kitchens. Within this management position the candidate would need to be comfortable communicating, taking orders, guidance and direction from the Executive Chef, Sous Chef and Roland’s pub Kitchen manager.

Duties will include but not limited to:

ROLANDS PUB KITCHEN

• Responsible for executing daily prep/cooking/cleaning & service routines in the Pub kitchen and assist in preparing dishes on the hot line when Pub kitchen manager is ON DAYS OFF. (2 shifts).

• Ensure all specials are properly food costed and priced accordingly.

Assist in creating daily food specials, soups, menu development.

• Maintain reasonable labor costs

RED DOOR BISTRO & ROLANDS PUB KITCHENS

• Prepping and cooking during service in Red Door Bistro on any station. (3 nights).

• Ensure all food safety cooking and cooling standards and sanitation protocols are within Vancouver Coastal Health Guidelines.

• Assist in maintaining cleanliness & organization of fridges, freezers, shelves, floors and work stations in both kitchens.

Assist in hiring and training of new staff on all procedures to maintain consistency.

• Assist in creating daily food specials, soups and menu development

Apply in person to 2129 Lake Placid Road in Creekside or email

to

our t eam!

Open Positions:

• Security Officer

• Server Assistant

• Server

• Laundry Attendant

• Bell Attendant

• Purchasing Supervisor

(Maternity Leave Coverage)

• Night Cleaner

• Core Agent

• Guest Room Attendant

• Culinary Roles

• Steward

• Painter

• Shift Engineer

& many more opportunities

Benefits:

• Competitive Wages

• Access to affordable shared staff housing both on-site and off-site

• Extended Health and Dental Benefits for permanent roles

• Winter Ski Pass (with 6 month contract commitment)

• Comp & Discounted nights at Four Seasons worldwide for permanent roles

• Complimentary meals per shift in our employee dining room

• Excellent training and development opportunities

• Employee theme recognition days and events EOM,

Years of Service Celebrations, Birthday Events, etc;

APPLY NOW!

http://jobs.fourseasons.com P&C.whistler@fourseasons.com

Vacasa’s forward-thinking approach and industry-leading technology help set us apart as the largest full-service vacation rental company in North America.

We are seeking individuals with a passion for providing exceptional vacation experiences for our Owners and Guests.

We offer competitive wages and benefits: Travel allowance for Squamish/Pemberton-based employees OR Ski Pass/Activity allowance, Extended Medical, RRSP match, Recognition Program, Fun & Safe Work Environment-Great Team, opportunities to grow and more.

BONUS** $1000 (FT)

Housekeeper - Full or Part time

Housekeeper Runner - Full or Part time

Guest Service Agent - Full or Part time (year-round)

Night Audit - Full or Part Time (year around)

Apply online today! https://www.vacasa.com/careers/positions or email: paul.globisch@vacasa.com or call to find out more details at 604-698-0520

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Assi stant Di rector of Engi neeri ng

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler is seeking an Assistant Director of Engineering!

Competitive Wage

Monthly housing allowance

Ski pass

Comprehensive health, dental, and retirement benefit plans

Global travel benefits with Four Seasons

Fun, engaging work environment

If

exciting opportunity sounds

directly

Seasons website: https://jobs fourseasons com/

COMB

HELI C O P TERS

BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS

TECHNICAL RECORDS CLERK

Job Location: BHLP Pemberton Base1850 Airport Road, Pemberton B.C.

Status: Full-Time Permanent Position

ABOUT US

Blackcomb Helicopters is a well-established full service, multi-fleet helicopter company with rotary flight and maintenance services. We have bases in Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Sechelt, Lillooet and Vancouver.

POSITION

This position will be part of the Technical Records Team working in a variety of projects such as: organization of technical records information, data input, filing, assisting the Technical Records supervisor, updating all aviation relation databases, assistance in safety initiatives, and other office duties when required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Above average English skills, both verbal and written;

• Experience in the aviation industry or related work a definite asset;

• Good attitude and excellent work ethic. A self-starter.

• Detail driven your attention to detail is a source of pride for you;

• Superior knowledge of Word and Excel and able to pick up new software quickly;

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to focus on repetitive tasks;

• Great sense of humour;

• Legally entitled to work in Canada.

This is a position working Monday to Friday of 40 hours per week, however, we will require flexibility in terms of days worked as occasional weekend work may be required due to the nature of our business. We offer an excellent benefits program, RRSP, and an energetic and diverse work environment. This position does require working at our base, however, remote work from home is available on an occasional basis.

Note: Blackcomb Helicopters is federally regulated, therefore, proof of double vaccination is a condition of employment.

If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to attention to: Human Resources at mcleanhr@mcleangroup.com noting Technical Records Clerk Application in your subject header.

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH

Recreation Facility Clerk – Temporary Part-Time (Parental leave)

IT Senior Systems Specialist – Regular Full-Time

Planner 1 Regular - Full-Time

Planner 1 Temporary - Full-Time (anticipated end date of October 2023)

Planner 1 Temporary - Full-Time (anticipated end date of March 2023)

IT Business Analyst - Regular Full-Time

Utility Operator 1 – Water Distribution – Temporary Full-Time

Manager of Procurement – Regular Full-Time

Recreation Program Leader – Regular Part-Time (4-19 hours)

Recreation Booking and Office Services Coordinator – Regular Full-Time

Recreation Program Coordinator – Temporary Full-Time (Approx. 3 months temporary assignment)

Labourer 1 – Temporary Full-Time (Multiple Positions)

Victim Services Crisis Worker – Casual/On-Call

Recreation Facility Attendant 2 – Regular Part-Time

IT Systems Specialist – Regular Full-Time

Senior IT Business Analyst – Regular Full-Time (Multiple Positions)

Watch Clerk – Regular Full-Time (Multiple Positions)

Financial Services Specialist – Temporary Full-Time

Truck Driver Class 1 – Regular Full-Time

Utilities Technician – Regular Full-Time

Custodians – Casual/ On Call

ACROSS

1 Amphibians

6 Tuesday’s treats?

11 Curry a horse

16 Connoisseur

21 Expire, as a policy

22 Not burning

23 Grinding machine

24 Century plant

25 Consummate

26 Lettuce

27 LPGA star Lorena --

28 Pertaining to the sun

29 Aachen article

30 Big quarrels

32 Hunting knife

34 French article

36 Not common

37 Greet the dawn

39 Rest 41 Dweeb

43 Jazz and rap

45 Outdoes

47 Oscar nominee

49 Final word (hyph.)

51 Aristocrats

53 Fielder’s blunder

54 Edible seaweed

55 Bean for sprouting

59 Inexpensive wheels

60 Nurse’s helper

61 Colonial dances

64 Chum

65 Stage whisper

66 Provides funds

68 Foretell

69 Squander

71 Craving

72 Blush

74 Kid who rode Diablo 76 Strike out

77 Aboard ship 79 Boat berth

80 Mr. Spock’s father 81 Stunner 82 Wears well 84 Samurai’s land 85 Hive of bees 86 Slogans 88 Underway 89 Bell tower sound 90 Weeps 94 -- Abdul-Jabbar

95 Traveler’s stop 96 Lamas’ melodies

98 Be victorious

99 Astrologer’s scales

100 Druid

101 Sunspot phenomenon 103 Cuba neighbor 105 Ivy Leaguer

106 Norma Jean

109 Avec’s opposite

110 Infant’s wear

111 Is, in Segovia

113 Macho motorcycles 114 “Forsyte Saga” heroine 116 Injurious acts

117 Moocher

119 Pitfall, maybe 120 Not poetry

121 Enzyme secretion 124 Shower liners

126 Goya’s home

128 Comic-book heroes (hyph.)

132 Familiar vow (2 wds.)

133 Snake River loc.

135 Frosty

137 Harness up 139 Ms. Thurman

140 Subject 142 Mecca resident

144 Fully conscious

146 Early moralist

148 Not slouching

149 Squad car sound

150 Enigma

151 Meanness

152 Cubicle llers

153 Curly lock

154 Pod contents

155 Walks back and forth

DOWN

1 Lea et (var.)

2 Half diameters

3 Spreads out, as a map

4 Government property org.

5 Kind of awareness

6 Commotions

7 Battery terminals

8 Intimate 9 Sun ower yield 10 Wild guess 11 Fire y cousin

12 More suggestive

13 Additional 14 Taunting cry

15 Restaurant offering

16 Hordes

17 Have -- -- at 18 Heroic quality

19 Skirt the issue 20 Uncool ones 31 Snake shapes

33 Herr von Bismarck

35 Cairo locale

38 Receded 40 Excuse

42 False 44 -- de plume

46 Chief’s adviser

48 Pilot et al.

50 Away from the wind

51 Snouts

52 Express a view 53 Northern duck

54 Tap 56 Capsize 57 Dapper 58 Merriment 59 Poet -- Angelou

60 Llama habitat 62 Dramatist Henrik -63 Take an oath 66 Fixes typos 67 Shoulder blade 70 Grads

73 -- Downs (racetrack)

75 Big rug exporter

76 Passed out cards

78 Change 80 Herb or guru

81 Safari leader 83 Varsity (hyph.)

84 Wharf

85 Burns 86 Puts in the post

87 Fly the shuttle 88 Cotton pods 89 Get on the horn

91 Due for payment 92 Chomps down 93 Nasty mood

94 “Fish Magic” artist 95 Acrophobe’s dread 96 Rubbernecks

97 Chases away 100 Gator kin 102 Web habitue 104 Wing 107 In the future 108 Bowling game 110 Wild horse 112 -- Baba 115 Rough le 116 Authors 118 Removes a renter 119 Rides the banister 120 In twos 121 Headquartered

122 Feel passion for 123 Strides along 125 Become acclimated 127 Distinct stage

129 Harmonious sound 130 Wax theatrical 131 Scruffs

134 Type of prof 136 Canine noises

138 Luggage fastener 141 Gross!

143 Melody 145 Adversity

Pollution org.

Be wary of simple solutions to complex problems

SO, THERE’S this election thing happening. Again. You interested? You paying attention? You ought to be.

Yeah, I know, it happens every four years locally, and whenever someone in power provincially or federally thinks they can sneak in a win. Senior levels of government aside, local politics are where you have the best shot at making your voices heard and your vote count. Maybe you don’t believe that. Maybe you should.

Use the skate park? Know how it got there in its very improved way? It only took a handful of skateboarders and a bit of

BY G.D. MAXWELL

organization to convince council to pony up enough dough to make it happen. Try that with provincial or federal politicians.

That’s not the only example. Many of the community amenities we might take for granted came about because a few people— sometimes even one person—pushed a good idea far enough and long enough to make it a reality.

So, you’ve got a choice. If you’re comfortable letting other people make the decisions and advocate for the changes that affect your life, sit back, ignore politics, let it all just wash over you. It’s a valid option. But don’t complain about what you get. Don’t bitch and moan on social media and think it matters. It doesn’t.

On the other hand, if you’re not comfortable just taking whatever you get, jump right in. Get involved. Make your voice heard. You’ll probably never live in a town where it’s easier to talk to and maybe influence the decision-makers than this one.

How do you get involved? Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit. Talk to your friends. What do they know and think about the candidates? Read what’s in Pique. Hop on to the municipal website and read about the candidates. Here’s the link: whistler.ca/municipal-gov/ elections/candidates/candidate-bios.

Not a lot of information here, but some of the candidates provide links to their own websites where you can find more.

Shake yourself out of your home and attend the meetings where the candidates speak and answer questions. Not too many of you, and mostly the usual suspects, made it out to WORCA’s speed dating night. A few more at the Racket Club. Don’t know about Pique ’s Wednesday, Sept. 28 all-candidates meeting, since this is only Monday morning, but that one is probably still available to stream.

Your last shot is Oct. 5, when AWARE and WCSS host the candidates to talk

about climate and community well-being.

Seeing and hearing the candidates face-to-face is worth the effort. It’s like the difference between communicating with a potential partner online and meeting them in person. It’s easier to judge whether they impress you or not. Whether they’re open and genuine or sketchy and furtive.

After all, these are the folks who are going to be making decisions—and setting policy—on issues you’re interested in.

Like housing, for example.

Every candidate has listed housing as an important issue, the important issue. A few seem to think it’s an easy issue to deal with. Most just want more. We need more employee housing to make the resort operate. There isn’t a category of workerbee that doesn’t need more housing, from doctors to lifties. Many running say not enough has been done; all want to do more.

Few have suggested it isn’t as easy as, well, just building more housing. In

mention I’m writing this as an opinion columnist with a long history of writing about housing, not as a board member of the Whistler Housing Authority.

The simple fact is Whistler will never have enough housing for everyone and anyone who wants to live here—at least unless we abandon our self-imposed limits to growth. So it’s not a problem that yields to easy solutions, soundbites or glib admonitions to just build it.

Same with issues like adequate availability to health-care, day-care, regional transit, climate change and environment mitigation, the high cost of living, staff shortages, right sizing, overvisitation and seniors’ issues. Very few are challenges any municipal council can change or solve by fiat. Most involve working with other levels of government... all other levels. They involve give and take. They involve changing the way people live their lives. They involve money. They involve solutions no one has successfully

the air and melting snow with their damn outdoor heaters? Or sledders filling their big trucks and sleds to chase pow?”

It means forcing those restaurants to stop using once-through water-cooling, a large expense when they’re still recovering from the hit they took during covid. It may mean mandating no more use of natural gas for heating and cooking. Is that something a municipality has the power to do under the Community Charter?

These are small examples of big problems. To the extent they’re solvable, they’re going to require knowledgeable people working hard to achieve incremental victories. Those victories aren’t going to be gained by simplistic slogans. Fact is, the people who want you to believe those problems are easily solved will be the ones who become disillusioned if they get elected. Once disillusioned, they’ll either tune out or become angry, neither of which gets things accomplished.

the clamour of voices calling for more, they seem less enthusiastic. But they’re not. They’re acknowledging the very real difficulties engulfing the housing issue.

Like the cost of construction that has risen so far so fast it’s impossible to build rental housing that doesn’t require either huge grants and/or subsidies or huge, maybe unaffordable rents.

This is probably a good time to

imagined or executed, otherwise they wouldn’t be issues, they’d be solved.

When a candidate says, for example, “Hey, just set climate targets and reach them. Problem solved.” Think about what that actually means. It means, for example, getting a lot more people to use transit... even you. To which you might say, “Why should I use transit when we can’t even get restaurants to stop warming

We need to elect councillors who will think big while accepting small victories. We need people who are willing to work harder than the job pays. Who know both their power and limitations under the Community Charter. Who will build the bridges between Whistler and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the provincial ministers and bureaucrats and their federal counterparts. We need people who will work harmoniously together while advocating their own beliefs when their colleagues don’t necessarily agree with them. We need people who will nurture the community while remembering we’re a resort whose success is the underlying foundation for anything we can accomplish as a community.

Simple, eh? Now it’s up to you to decide who those people are and vote for them. It ain’t a beauty contest, and just because a candidate is your friend doesn’t mean they’ll make a good councillor.

Choose wisely, grasshopper. ■

We need to elect councillors who will think big while accepting small victories. We need people who are willing to work harder than the job pays.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME

GLOBAL REACH, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

WHISTLER VILLAGE

#329-4314 Main Street Spacious 1 bed/1 bath condo right on the Village Stroll. Unit has been updated and features; private balcony, gas fireplace, in-suite laundry, over-sized/ accessible parking stall, common area hot tub & gym. $1,099,000

Kerry Batt prec* 604-902-5422

NEW TO MARKET

NORDIC #36-2250 Nordic Drive Ski/bike in & out to Creekside from this luxury 4 Bed/3.5 Bath townhome. Renovated last year to the highest specifications. Garage & carport for ample storage and parking. Private hot tub. Nightly rentals allowed. $3,980,000

Janet Brown 604-935-0700

SOLD

WHISTLER CAY HEIGHTS

#4-6127 Eagle Ridge Crescent 3 bedroom, Eagle Ridge townhome within a short walk to Whistler Village restaurants, shops, gondolas and golf course. Quiet location, tennis court, storage lockers and covered parking stall. $1,845,000

Nick Swinburne prec* 604-932-8899

SOLD

#64-2400 Cavendish Way Whiski Jack, with an easy walk to the ski out trail to Whistler Creekside gondola, and conveniently positioned between Whistler Village and Creekside. $990,000

BRIO

3283 Arbutus Street Enjoy your private, large, fenced and bright back yard in this spacious 4 bed/3 bath duplex. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac and a short walk to the Village, this property offers everything a family could want for their Whistler home. No Strata fees. $2,300,000

Allyson Sutton prec* 604-932-7609

CREEKSIDE #16-1200 Alta Lake Road Unit #16 Twin Lakes is the perfect 4 season get away or full time residence that Whistler has to offer. Enjoy the residents only private beach on Alpha Lake in the sizzling summer months where you can swim, float with friends, canoe, paddle board or bask in the sun. $1,299,000

Maggi Thornhill prec* 604-905-8199

NEW TO MARKET

BENCHLANDS

#112-4800 Spearhead Drive The Aspens on Blackcomb. One of the best ski in ski out locations in Whistler. Complex features a year round outdoor pool, 3 hot tubs, work out room, ski & bike valet and secured underground parking. Fully furnished and turn key 2 bed, 2 bath. $1,689,000

Caronne Marino 604-905-8324

CONTRIBUTION AT CLOSING

LILLOOET

5555 HIGHWAY 12 3/4 acre lot with unobstructed views up & down the Fraser river. 95 feet of beach front, majestic mountain views. 200 amp service to the lot and a drilled well with over 30 gallons per minute! Bonus: vendor take-back mortgage! $309,000

Katie Marsh 604-902-9505

SQUAMISH #305-40437 Tantalus Road This 3 bed/2bath south facing corner unit features a spacious and open living plan. Floor to ceiling windows and an adorable deck to have your morning coffee on. Pet and rental friendly. $849,000

Alyssa Salloum 604-358-5595

Engel & Völkers i s a proud c hampion of Special Olympics. Many o f our a dvisors donate a p or tion of t heir commissions to Special Olympics o n behalf o f their clients. This simple p rogram m eans t hat ever y time we help our c lients realize their real estate goals, we are helping a Special Olympian get j ust a bit closer to theirs.

Whistler Village Shop

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

Squamish Station Shop

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

Each brokerage independently owned and operated.

Engel & Völkers Whistler

NORDIC

Javier Hidalgo 778-320-2426