Pique Newsmagazine 2945

WHISTLER CHOCOLATE

In the early 1990’s Mark and Valerie left the East coast of Canada and headed to Vancouver and the West Coast. Every weekend they would travel to Whistler for white-water kayaking, climbing, biking and skiing. Even though they loved Vancouver their hearts were in Whistler and in November 2006 they decided to start Whistler Chocolate.

For over 15 years now Mark and Valerie have been providing Organic and Fair-trade chocolate bars wrapped in a 100% compostable wrapper. With 10 different flavours, Whistler Chocolate is bound to please everybody.

Prairie Naturals

Reach the peak of your health potential Being a man is full of rewards. It’s also full of challenges. Prairie Naturals believes the best investment any man can ever make is to invest in his own health and well-being. Their premium quality men’s natural health formulas give you the confidence, vigor and stamina to stand up to life’s many changes and challenges. The complete mens’ line is available at Nesters.

Bartender mafia

Stories from behind the Whistler taps. - By Aaron Peart

GOING THE

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

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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

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ISSN #1206-2022

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What does Remembrance Day mean to Canadians in 2022?

“We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.”

CANADIAN JOURNALIST and author Heather Robertson wrote those words, in a book published all the way back in 1977.

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

At the time, the Second World War was just a little over three decades gone—still relatively fresh, in the grand scheme of things, in the collective minds of Canadians, many of whom lived through the conflict first-hand.

Today, the war is nearly eight decades gone, and before long, there will be none left alive who witnessed its horrors through their own eyes. According to Veterans Affairs Canada, in March 2021, there were just 20,300 Second World War veterans alive in Canada (of an estimated 1.2 million who served), boasting an average age of 96 years young.

Just over 44,000 gave their lives defending Canada in the Second World War, after 61,000 or so did the same in the First World War—100,000 Canadian lives sacrificed in the name of their country.

One hundred thousand Canadian families in mourning.

As someone affixed with the dreaded “Millennial” tag, I am under no illusions as to the comfy, cushioned reality I was

raised in. I knew no prolonged hardship, endured no violent conflict; was asked to sacrifice nothing. The generations that followed mine experienced much of the same good fortune.

And so war and loss and sacrifice for the greater good was just something that happened in the past, to other people, the sad memory of it all growing ever fainter with each passing year.

But even in my small Saskatchewan town in the ’90s, everyone had a connection to the war. I vividly remember surveying my town’s cenotaph as a child, marvelling at the names of our local war heroes lost in battle—many of whom shared surnames with my classmates.

The connection was distant, but it was real—visible, tangible and traceable, right there in front of us.

And I remember the annual poetry and

bless them for trying).

Though I always did well in the annual competition, I don’t believe I was an exception to that rule. I vaguely recall one winning essay that described in great detail the horrors of war—or with as much detail as could be mustered by a pale Saskatchewan numpty whose greatest hardship was puberty.

And so I conjured up images of barbed wire and mud, mustard gas and blood— because that was what I imagined war to be like, all of it pulled from my severely limited frame of reference.

In fact, all the winning poems were similar, because we worked from the same reference points and source material. And we all shared the same truth: that evil must be met with good, and the good guys always win—but not without sacrifice.

That was nearly three decades ago,

discourse have on us as a nation in the long run? We will find that out in due time, I’m afraid.

In the meantime, we would all do well to remember why, exactly, our forefathers went overseas to fight, and what so many lost their lives fighting.

It’s fair to assume that Robertson’s generation felt the solemn importance of Nov. 11 in its bones; knew without question or hesitation that, despite our differences, we are all brothers and sisters defending and celebrating—and sacrificing for, when called to—the same great nation.

I don’t know if that inherent belief in the triumph of good over evil still exists today—or at least not in the form it used to.

If anything, Remembrance Day and all that it stands for should carry extra reverence in modern Canada, as a shining, aspirational monument to collective

picture-drawing contests held for Canadian schoolchildren by the Legion—a tradition that continues to this day, I’m happy to see.

As a towheaded little prairie kid who loved to read and write from a young age, I always jumped at the chance to contribute.

Each year, schoolchildren across the country take part, assembling clumsy references to sacrifice and sadness in the hopes it might amount to something deep and meaningful (it rarely does, but God

before the internet and social media arrived to bequeath upon each of us our own version of the truth; gift us an endless stream of questionable links to further any bad-faith argument, or at the very least muddy the waters of any good-faith conversation.

The effect is that, here in 2022, it feels as if the “shared national consciousness” Robertson referred to is not at all shared, and in fact barely even conscious.

What effect will our deeply fractured

identity and shared sacrifice that we’ve seemingly been on the cusp of forgetting in recent years.

There’s no clear path back to that ideal, at least not collectively.

But it has to start at the individual level—and that’s why I’ll be joining my friends and neighbours at Whistler’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony this Friday at Whistler Olympic Plaza to pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. ■

What effect will our deeply fractured discourse have on us as a nation in the long run? We will find that out in due time, I’m afraid.

The Bearfoot Bistro World Oyster Invitational & Bloody Caesar Battle returns with a spectacular line up of entertainment.

Cheer on the world’s top oyster shuckers as they battle for glory against the clock, experience the innovative and exciting Bloody Caesar competition entries from B.C.’s best bartenders, and celebrate the return of Whistler’s ultimate party.

Net proceeds from this fundraising event will be donated to Myeloma Canada. Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer. BENEFICIARY

Bye-bye, Games—we hardly knew you

Outstanding news from the provincial government on their decision not to support the 2030 Olympic bid! Outstanding!

I found it deeply ironic (is that a thing?) that several supporting agencies and governments were aghast that the provincial government did not consult them in their decision-making process!

They weren’t consulted? Were not consulted in the same manner that neither municipal, Canadian Olympic Committee and other bid partners didn’t seriously consult their constituencies? Neither Vancouver nor Whistler councils chose to take advantage of the recent elections which would have provided the perfect opportunity for taxpayers to vote directly on the concept of hosting this grotesque, marginal and wasteful spectacle. Couldn’t be trusted to get in line?

Why is giving a population direct democratic participation in a years long and billions of dollars long process for some reason consistently an antithesis to government?

Let them eat cake!

Brian Buchholz // Whistler

Whistler Youth Centre SafeTALK training a huge success

On Oct. 21, The Whistler Youth Center (YC) hosted free SafeTALK suicide alertness training

- BRIDGIT MULDOON

for youth. This training provided Whistler youth with a safe space to learn what to do should they recognize signs of distress. The 29 youths in attendance were engaged with the training, taking notes and asking questions. When asked

what motivated them to join the workshop, attendees responded that they wanted the tools to be able to help, and want young people to know they are not alone and that people care.

The YC wants to thank the Real Estate

Association of Whistler for providing funding through a community grant, and Functional Pie for providing pizza. The YC also thanks Mountain FM and Pique Newsmagazine for sharing news of the event. Your support helped make the SafeTALK training a success.

Programs like these help youth in Whistler build community through belonging. Letting folks know it’s OK not to be OK, and having tools to help is invaluable. If you are struggling with your mental health, the YC is here to help. You are not alone.

Bridgit Muldoon // Whistler Youth Centre youth worker

Transit timing in Whistler must be improved

Saturday, Oct. 22 saw me on a SkyLynx bus headed for Whistler en route to Pemberton. I am a big fan of public transit.

The bus was late leaving Vancouver and therefore late in arriving at Whistler. As we came in to the bus loop terminal, I and several other Pemberton-bound passengers could see just across the street the 99 commuter bus loading at the stop.

No problem, I thought, but the other Pemberton passengers knew that this could be a problem and left in a hurry to try to intercept the 99 bus, which was pulling out. The dash was led by an athlete in shorts and spandex, followed by a small herd of Pembertonians and trailed badly in the rear by this old geezer, who eventually gave up the chase, waved goodbye to the athlete and his followers and called home for help.

“Programs

The connection to Vancouver at the Gateway Loop is known to be a problem of timing leading to frequent inconveniences such as my case. I am assured by the powers that be that they are aware of the problem and are trying to do something about it.

My request would be to try harder.

Hugh Naylor / Pemberton

When I moved to this valley as a brighteyed teenager, the first place that I called home was a shared bedroom in the “ghetto” trailer complex in the Creekside parking lot. It was dry, somewhat warm and a place where I met lifelong friends.

Trailer camps have solved the housing crisis for many seasonal workers around

Whistler should revisit work camp housing

Every year at this point, young people with the Whistler dream in their hearts arrive in the valley. While many have secured employment, far fewer have found a home to move into.

Options are scarce and usually quite expensive. Perhaps now may be time to dust off the old worker trailer camp solution.

the world. They are cost-effective, quick to assemble, and for many, a godsend.

Even the Gondola Village “condo complex” in the Creek is effectively a stacked trailer camp.

They may not be pretty, but they are an efficient solution to a very serious problem affecting many people and businesses in Whistler. Just saying.

Donald Goodall n

She said yes… again! This time to a business partnership. Yup, we’re officially teaming up as the Boyd Team to bring you unparalleled Real Estate services. The home team advantage comes from our combined strengths, connections and leveraging the inter national presence of Engel & Völkers.

Whistler, this is our home, and where we want to help you find yours. For more info and to sign up for our newsletters scan the QR code:

Resort Municipality of Whistler

Resor t Municipality of Whistler

Village proper ty owner, managers and merchants

Whistler Village property owners, managers and merchants

The winter season is with us again and we would like to take this opportunity to remind all owners, property managers and merchants in Whistler Village of the importance of keeping the walkways, roofs, stairs and landings of stairs adjacent to their stores and properties free of ice and snow It is essential that customers and guests visiting our Village feel safe and comfortable in be ing able to travel freely about the area.

As the winter season is with us again, we’d like to take this oppor tunity to remind owners, proper ty managers and merchants of the impor tance of keeping walkways, roofs, stairs and landings adjacent to their stores and proper ties free of ice and snow It is essential that customers and guests visiting our Village feel safe and comfor table in being able to travel freely about the area

You are required to clear snow and ice from walkways, roofs, stairs and landings adjacent to stores and propertiesby 10 a.m. daily

You are required to clear snow and ice from walkways, roofs, stairs and landings adjacent to stores and proper ties by 10 a.m. daily.

RMOW Property Maintenance Bylaw No 810

RMOW Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 810

Get ready for winter by:

Get ready winter by:

1. Stocking up on ice-melting products (not road salt) and shovels

1 Stocking up on ice melting products (not road salt) and shovels

2 Checking the heat tracing on stairs and ramps around your property Thanks in advance for your cooperation

Download the Property Maintenance Bylaw at www whistler ca /bylaw in the Frequently Requested Bylaws section

Don’t you care about the disorganized, Vail Resorts?

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW what I did on Wednesday, Nov. 2?

Working from home in Squamish at approximately 1:30 p.m., I discovered I had a 3 p.m. dental appointment in Whistler. I thought the appointment was the next day.

I raced up the Sea to Sky Highway and

BY ALYSSA NOEL

Tasmanian Devil’d my way into Creekside Dental—dust flying, hair askew, tongue flapping.

When they asked me my husband’s birthday for my insurance I stared blankly at them and said, “Uhhh, April?” (It’s midMarch.)

Now, I ask you, Vail Resorts: do you think the person who found themselves in this scenario is capable of looking at their entire winter calendar and, months ahead of time, selecting several days in which they would like to ski?

NO. The answer is a hearty, laughable, reverberating no.

Frankly, I’m a moderately responsible, if somewhat disorganized individual who has held down the same job for a decade,

kept a dog in one piece for eight years, and has a child.

I would say on the spectrum of people skiing at Whistler Blackcomb, I skew much closer to PAC mom than ski bum. (I mean, that’s kind of a bad argument, because the ski bums definitely have managed to prioritize a pass, but you get the idea.)

The point is, if Vail Resorts’ new policy of limiting lift tickets each day—rewarding those who somehow knew when they’d feel like skiing—is a deterrent for me, that must be true for a whole heap of people too. (Yes, this policy was in place as a temporary COVID safety measure during the 202021 season, but those years don’t seem like a great baseline with which to compare anything.)

Now, if I put my thinking cap on, I can deduce that Vail likely wants to push more people towards pricey passes with this policy. Those passholders will probably enjoy bluebird weekends a little more with fewer people on the hill.

I’m happy for them, really. They’re much more into skiing than me and I get that.

But the prospect of, say, my parents deciding to visit in March and not being able to get day tickets to ski with my dad is a bummer.

It’s true that fair-weather skiers who

only plan to head up the mountain between one and 10 days this season can procure a Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass, rather than a lift ticket, to use whenever they like throughout the season. Access for Day Pass holders won’t be limited whenever they do choose to use them (especially if they spring for the unrestricted passes; the cheaper, restricted version comes with the caveat of a few holiday blackout dates) but they do still need to commit to purchasing those non-refundable, nontransferable Day Passes in advance, prior to Vail’s usual early-season cutoff date. Last season, the last day to buy a pass was Dec. 5.

This, of course, assumes that many days will reach their lift-ticket limit before people can buy tickets. According to the Colorado Sun (this policy is in place at all of Vail Resorts’ North American properties), this happened at resorts with the policy on 23 days during three holiday periods last year.

“This is a lever that will let us manage the experience on the most popular days without having to change the experience for our passholders,” said spokesperson Lindsay Hogan in that article.

She added that they don’t anticipate capping many days, but that remains to be seen.

If you’re having flashbacks to the last

couple of summers, that could be because this policy is similar to one rolled out recently by BC Parks, capping visitors to some of its busiest hiking trails.

I’ve only used that system twice. The first time, I hiked Panorama Ridge on a weekday in late September, so it was pretty quiet anyway. The second, I picked a Friday with thunderstorms in the forecast to run up to Elfin Lakes rather than the sunny Saturday I really wanted because it was already booked.

If I’m looking at this pass system from a purely personal standpoint, I would say I’m neutral, if leaning towards disliking it. But one advantage it has over Vail’s is you book your pass two days in advance—no sooner, but maybe later, if they’re still available.

That is a reasonable timeframe to look at a forecast, understand your week, and sort out any complications.

But, in the end, the new day ticket system isn’t meant to make people like me happy. It’s meant to make passholders happy and sell more passes.

Perhaps I’ll get lucky, the stars and weather will align, and you’ll see me on the mountain this winter. But, more likely than not, you’ll catch me puttering around the pressed tracks at Whistler Olympic Park, where I can roll up whenever I please. ■

Pace slows for Whistler real estate in Q3, but prices hold strong year-over-year

BUYER HESITANCY AND RISING INTEREST RATES MEAN FEWER BIDDING WARS AND A SIGNIFICANT SLOWDOWN IN SALES

BY MEGAN LALONDE

LOOKING TO PURCHASE a property in Whistler ahead of ski season?

Good news: you’ll have more time to step back and assess your options before pulling the trigger than if you were looking to buy a year ago.

“The bidding wars are done,” said David Higgins, managing broker of the Whistler Real Estate Company (WREC).

The average number of days Whistler properties spent on the market across all property types was 60 in September 2022, compared to 39 in September 2021, added Madison Perry, a realtor with RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, in an email.

“The best news is that in more areas of the market than not right now there is room for negotiation for buyers,” she wrote, which, after the highly-competitive, multiple-offer pressure cooker scenarios Whistler buyers experienced last year, “is a breath of fresh air for them.”

Broken down, single-family homes in Whistler spent a median of 55 days on the market in the third quarter of 2022 (Q3), compared to 43 days for townhouses and 31 days for condos, according to WREC’s Q3 Market Report. Although those numbers are significantly higher than the days-onmarket figure recorded in both Q2 and the same three-month time period last year,

“these numbers are relatively normal compared to historical levels.”

The bad news for buyers? Borrowing money to buy a property will cost you significantly more than it would have in 2021.

After dropping lending rates to near nothing early on in the pandemic, Canada’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate six times in just over eight months in an effort to curb skyrocketing inflation. The latest measure, a 50-basis-point hike announced on Oct. 26, brings the Bank of Canada’s current target rate to 3.75 per cent.

Whistler “isn’t immune” to those same economic stressors that have brought about a downshift in Canada’s real-estate market from coast to coast, said Higgins. In Whistler, the effect of those hikes manifested as a corresponding slowdown in sales volume in Q3. Both July and September ranked among the top 10 lowest monthly sales volumes in the last decade, according to WREC’s Q3 market report.

After recording $406 million dollars in sales in Q1, Perry said Whistler brought in $164 million across 102 total sales across all property types in Q3 of this year. Volumewise, that’s less than half of the 232 total transactions the resort recorded in Q3 in 2021.

Perry attributed that drop to a combination of low inventory (more on that in a minute) and buyer hesitancy. “Thanks to the interest rate increases, buyers are watching the market and waiting to see how the housing prices will react,” she explained.

But with that in mind, Perry said she has noticed different segments of the market react differently to rate increases. “Properties under $1 [million] are still quite competitive, as buyers want their little

slice of heaven, especially nightly rentable investment properties,” she explained. “Chalets and single-family homes are definitely seeing downward pressure, which I believe is due to the affordability being affected so significantly in that area of the market.”

In Perry’s view, “the luxury market seems relatively unaffected by the recent happenings,” she added.

Still, prices remain up year-over-year. The average price of a chalet, or singlefamily home in Whistler, hit just over $5.1 million in Q3, up from $4.73 million in Q2, while condos sold for $907,576 on average, down from $1.16 million in Q2, compared to just over $1.6 million for a townhouse ($1.84 million in Q2). The average sale of a vacant lot in Q3 was $143,333.

But considering Whistler’s limited number of sales, Higgins cautioned, one high-value transaction could skew those figures dramatically.

(The average sale price of a chalet in Whistler reached just over $4.1 million in 2021, compared to $3.265 in 2020 and $2.861 in 2019.)

In Whistler, “Prices are easy up and sticky down,” Higgins explained. “Right now, if I can’t sell my place, I can rent it for a lot of money, so I don’t need to sell it. If you don’t need to sell it, that means the prices aren’t going to change. So [sellers will] just wait.”

To that end, while buyers might have more time to assess their options, that doesn’t mean there’s an abundance of options to assess in the first place.

According to WREC, Whistler’s inventory rose about 29 per cent from Q2

2022, but is still trailing 37 per cent below the resort’s 10-year inventory average.

With about 234 listings in Whistler and 60 in Pemberton as of last month, “in terms of inventory, we’re still historically low in both” communities, said Higgins.

“A balanced market would be closer to 350, 400 in Whistler and 100 and change in Pemberton,” he added. “Our inventory is still low. It’s creeping up, but the pace of sales has slowed down. We’re not selling at the same pace … as this time a year ago.”

Higgins said he expects to see sale volume pick up in Q4, with Whistler’s market fortified by its limited supply and substantial demand, particularly as tourists return to the resort in droves. “We always see interest in October, November,” he explained. “There’s still interest there for people who want to get a hold of a place for the winter.”

And, with long-term rentals seemingly more impossible to find by the day (stay tuned for more coverage on housing constraints in the coming weeks), Whistler’s dearth of rental availability could also play a role in driving property sales.

Amid a lack of pressure from Vancouver buyers, the price of Whistler properties, on average, is probably “not going to go up,” Higgins conceded. “But a levelling out, that all depends. That’s when it’s very market specific—if you’re looking for a skiin, ski-out place on the mountain, that’s always going to be [a property] people want to get.”

Perry said she similarly isn’t expecting to see any “sharp drops” in prices, “because we are so highly desired worldwide and we have such low inventory to offer,” she noted. n

SELLING SUNSET BOULEVARD Sea to Sky realtor Madison Perry sold this 2.5 bedroom condo, zoned for nightly rentals, for $1.785 million last month.

New Creekside lifts won’t be ready for opening day, Whistler Blackcomb confirms

WITH RED CHAIR ‘FURTHER ALONG’ THAN GONDOLA DUE TO SHIPPING DELAYS, FREE SHUTTLES BETWEEN CREEKSIDE AND VILLAGE WILL AIM TO HELP EASE CONGESTION

BY MEGAN LALONDE

WHEN SKIERS AND snowboarders step into a gondola to head up Whistler Mountain for some opening day turns later this month, they won’t be uploading from the resort’s Creekside base.

Whistler Blackcomb’s Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express chairlift replacements will not be ready by the winter season kickoff on Nov. 24 due to unforeseen shipping delays, chief operating officer Geoff Buchheister confirmed last week.

Resort officials expect to see the upgraded Red Chair start spinning in early December, but say the timeline for the gondola’s opening is slightly murkier.

“Big Red’s further along,” Buchheister told Pique, “and we still don’t have all of the things that we need for the gondola.”

Specifically, “the [gondola’s] haul rope is on a boat, on its way, and that’s been the status of it for two months,” he added. “So the shipping and supply-chain issues, they’re dictating the timeline at this point.”

The good news? That critical piece of equipment cleared the final port and is officially on its way to Vancouver after reportedly leaving Stockton, Calif. on Nov. 2. The haul rope for the Big Red Express, meanwhile, was recently installed and spliced

checks after a gondola’s haul rope is hung, the COO explained.

Whistler Blackcomb is looking to help speed that process up. In addition to enlisting its own staff to supplement the Doppelmayr team, Whistler Blackcomb is bringing in a handful of lift mechanics from fellow Vail Resorts-owned ski areas in Australia, who recently wrapped up their own winter season, to help expedite the project. More hands on deck means “instead of having work cascade, having it layer on top of each other so that we can be more efficient and quicker,” explained Buchheister.

Whistler Blackcomb first announced plans to replace the previous six-seater Creekside Gondola with a new high-speed, 10-person gondola, and swap out the Big Red Express quad for a new high-speed, six-person chair, in September 2021. Those lifts were ordered from Doppelmayr last November.

The CEO of Doppelmayr Canada issued a statement expressing his team’s disappointment and apologizing to Whistler Blackcomb guests impacted by the lifts’ delayed opening. “We experienced significant global supply chain and shipping challenges, and did not anticipate delays to this degree,” said CEO Luc Guy.

“We understand the importance of these projects, and how this delay will impact uphill access and the overall guest experience out of Creekside. We are doing

the same day the haul rope left California.

Buchheister shared the update with community stakeholders at a meeting on Friday morning, Nov. 4.

Asked when Whistler Blackcomb received word the lifts wouldn’t meet the opening day target, Buchheister said resort officials started “getting signals” from lift manufacturer Doppelmayr in early October suggesting the project would be delayed. Buchheister previously told Pique in an interview on Sept. 29 the lift upgrades were, at the time, on track to be completed by Nov. 24.

Asked whether the gondola would be ready to welcome guests by the busy holiday period, Buchheister said, “Certainly, that’s the target that we are working towards.”

It typically takes lift workers about “30-plus days of work” to finish construction and complete required safety

everything we can in partnership with the Whistler Blackcomb team to complete the gondola as safely and quickly as possible. We will move with urgency and align to all safety protocols once the haul rope arrives, and we are confident that the new Creekside Gondola will truly provide an improved experience for visitors to these beautiful mountains.”

For now, said Buchheister, “What we have to do is just stay in the moment and be as prepared as we can for what we can do today, and control the things that are in our control.

“Obviously we’re at the mercy of the shipping world at some level, but I think we’re prepared for everything else ... that rope will not be stationary for very long and

“We experienced significant global supply chain and shipping challenges, and did not anticipate delays to this degree.”

FREE SHUTTLES, EXPEDITED LINES AND EARLY OPENINGS INTENDED TO EASE IMPACT

As the season gets underway, Whistler Blackcomb is implementing a few measures to keep operations—and guests—flowing prior to the Creekside lifts’ opening.

That includes “a serious effort around free and frequent additional transit and bussing options” running between Creekside and Whistler Village from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, explained Buchheister. “We recognize that that’s an inconvenience for guests,” he added, so those arriving to the Whistler Village or Blackcomb bases via the Creekside Shuttle will be met with their own expedited lift line.

In addition, the resort will open 15 minutes earlier than usual (at 8:15 a.m., conditions permitting), until lift construction is completed.

“What we’re doing is really focused on ... the guest experience for people that are lodging in Creekside; that park in Creekside; that live in Creekside,” said Buchheister. “Luckily we got good at bussing a year ago as we worked our way through the transit strike. We have the buses that we’ll put in play, and we’re working with the Resort

Municipality of Whistler and with other providers to make that bussing as positive an experience as we can.”

Whistler Blackcomb is also working with B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to install electronic signs alongside Highway 99 to keep guests driving north informed about realtime parking availability in Base II and Whistler Village day lots.

Creekside’s parking lot and businesses

(including Dusty’s and Can-Ski) will remain open from Nov. 24 onward, and Creekside-based ski school groups will also continue to meet at their usual location when ski school starts up on Dec. 10. Whistler Blackcomb plans to install a magic carpet area in Creekside for the youngest groups, while staff are currently working on a shuttling program to transport older ski schoolers to and from the village.

Depending on weather conditions,

there’s also “a real possibility” the Creekside ski-out could open to skiers and riders prior to the gondola’s completion, Buchheister noted.

“We don’t want to be here, but we are. And we have to be practical about that and think about, at the end of the day, how we can show up and support Creekside and get those folks over to the village as quickly as we can and as efficiently as we can,” he said.

“We think that’s going to help make up for the experience. It’s not the same as riding the gondola, but we’re doing everything we can given the situation that we’re in. And that allows us to let that Doppelmayr team focus on getting the lift up as soon as they possibly can, and then we’ll be back in action.”

Resort staff will also focus efforts on opening as much terrain as possible, as soon as possible on the Blackcomb side, said Buchheister.

“The whole team is focused on ensuring a great start to the season for our guests, and we’re going to open on Nov. 24,” he explained.

“We’ve got two gigantic mountains that as of [this week] are seeing cold weather and snow, which has been very positive in terms of thinking about what this opening footprint could look like. We recognize that we still have a ways to go and we’re weather dependent in a lot of ways, but it’s nice to see snow flying and a cold weather pattern behind it where we’ll be able to make some snow and ensure a strong delivery for the beginning of the season.” n

it’ll start going right onto the Creekside lift when it gets here.”

LIFT OFF Thanks to shipping delays, Creekside Gondola (pictured here on Thursday, Nov. 3) won’t be ready to haul skiers and snowboarders up Whistler Mountain on opening day.

PHOTO BY GEORGIA BUTLER

Here is how you can participate in Remembrance Day in Whistler and Pemberton

CEREMONIES

WILL BEGIN AT 10:30 A.M. ON NOV. 11; ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

BY ROBERT WISLA

ONE HUNDRED and four years ago, the guns went silent on the Western Front.

After four long years of brutal combat, and with an estimated 40 million people dead, the First World War—at the time dubbed the “war to end all wars”—ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

Today, Canadians from coast to coast continue to mark the date each year, pausing for two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. to remember those who laid down their lives for their country.

Residents in Whistler and Pemberton can honour the fallen at their respective community cenotaphs beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In Whistler, the Remembrance Day ceremony will begin with a veterans parade and Colour Party making its way from Ted Nebbeling Bridge down the Village Stroll to the cenotaph in Olympic Plaza.

The Whistler Singers and Whistler Children’s Chorus will perform songs of remembrance and lead the gathering in O Canada, and for the first time since 1952,

people will sing “God Save the King” instead of “God Save the Queen.”

According to Steve LeClair, organizer of the Whistler Service of Remembrance, this year’s program will include the Last Post and the Rouse, a helicopter fly-by, a cannon firing, poetry readings, and a presentation of wreaths.

Remembrance Day offers an opportunity for younger generations to keep the memory of those who served the country alive, LeClair said.

“We owe our freedom to those who gave their lives to serve our country in previous conflicts, and it’s important that we don’t forget that. Our veterans are getting older and it’s important to keep that memory alive,” he said.

“We have such a wonderful standard of living here, and it’s due in large part to those people who sacrificed so that we can have that.”

The event will also be livestreamed at whistler.ca so those who wish can attend the ceremony virtually.

Residents who want to volunteer or wish to place a wreath on Remembrance Day can contact LeClair at steve.leclair@shaw.ca.

Up the highway in Pemberton, the Legion is holding its annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in front of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 201 building on Prospect Street.

The Legion requests that members of the public who wish to participate in the parade assemble at the Pemberton Fire Hall

at 10:30 a.m., with the procession beginning at 10:45 a.m.

After the service and laying of wreaths, the public is invited to the Pemberton Legion for a small luncheon. While previously reserved for people in the armed forces and veterans, membership in the Legion is now open to the general public.

“Our mission is to serve veterans, including serving military and RCMP members and their families, to promote remembrance, and to serve our communities and our country,” Legion Branch 201 president Lesley Clark said in an email.

The Legion is also a caretaker of the Pemberton cemetery, and lays wreaths at each veteran gravestone every year.

Recently, the Pemberton Legion held a joint Halloween fundraiser with Whistler Adaptive, a local non-profit focused on helping introduce individuals with disabilities to sport, recreation and therapeutic sports programming.

Collective Kitchen provided a meal, followed by music DJ’d by Pete Cronin. Once all the items are confirmed sold, the silent auction is expected to raise more than $10,000. n

LEST WE FORGET Whistler’s Remembrance Day ceremony returns to Whistler Olympic Plaza on Friday, Nov. 11.

FILE PHOTO BY CLARE OGILVIE

New pilot program launched in Whistler to fight dementia

WHISTLER MATURE ACTION COMMUNITY PROGRAM SEEKS TO LOWER THE STIGMA AROUND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN RESORT’S GROWING SENIOR POPULATION

BY ROBERT WISLA

A NEW PILOT program seeks to connect Whistler’s seniors and reduce the stigma surrounding dementia.

Launched Oct. 21 by the Whistler Mature Action Community (MAC), the Making Connections program aims to help people with dementia and their caregivers by slowing cognitive decline and allowing them to socialize with others in the same situation, break through isolation barriers, and develop support networks.

According to MAC director Charalyn Kriz, the response to the program’s first session was overwhelmingly positive.

“We were so surprised at the reception we got. It’s a much-needed program, and it was very touching to see their response; they were so grateful,” Kriz said.

“They’re sort of in a desperate place, because in-home support is very expensive, and the caregivers are almost trapped taking care of their loved ones. So this provides an opportunity for socializing and meeting new people, meeting people in the same situation.”

Every session begins with 45 minutes

of gentle fitness led by an accredited fitness instructor, followed by a period of mind-stimulating games and activities and socializing over lunch.

The program was sparked by Erika Durlacher, chair of the Whistler Alzheimer’s Walk Committee, whose husband Pierre had dementia for 10 years. Due to Whistler’s lack of facilities and programs, the couple had to

Way Better at Home program, has taken the initiative to implement its own program.

MAC hopes to reduce the stigma around the issue while also fostering a sense of belonging.

Cognitive decline is a relatively common problem among Canada’s growing senior population, and one surrounded by stigma, as many seniors don’t want to admit

province. However, its senior population is rapidly growing.

The wave of young people that moved to the resort in their 20s when it first opened in the 1970s is beginning to hit their 70s and 80s, resulting in a growing demand for services catering to seniors.

The population of Whistlerites over 65 has doubled within the last five years, from 555 (6.3 per cent of the total population) to 1,265 (nine per cent).

According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s senior population is one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country. The 2021 census counted more than 861,000 people aged 85 and older, double the number observed in the 2001 Census, with this demographic growing by 12 per cent between 2016 and 2021.

make their way down to North Vancouver up to three times a week for treatments.

In larger centres like the Lower Mainland, the Alzheimer’s Society runs the Minds in Motion program for people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. Whistler did not have enough patients to warrant a local Minds in Motion program, so MAC, in partnership with the Sea to Sky United

to experiencing it.

In 2022, nearly 600,000 Canadians had dementia, a number that is rapidly rising. According to a study produced by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the number of people with dementia will climb to just under 1 million by 2030.

Demographically, Whistler is among the younger municipalities in the

The pilot program will run every second Friday morning until Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Currently, the program is at capacity at its current location, and the organization is actively looking for a larger space for 2023 as well as more resources to allow the program to accommodate more participants.

Those interested in joining in the new year can contact Kriz at cdkriz@gmail.com. n

“[T]he caregivers are almost trapped taking care of their loved ones. So this provides an opportunity for socializing and meeting new people, meeting people in the same situation.”

- CHARALYN KRIZ

Connect Whistler respectfully takes place on the shared unceded traditional territories of Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation.

• = Please note registration is required for these events.

MONDAY NOV 14

Whistler Museum’s

Guided Walking Tour

11am-12pm • Whistler Village

Uncover Whistler’s unique history, tales behind the mountain devel opment, and Olympic stories. Led by long-time Whistler locals. •

Connect Whistler Welcome Dinner

6-8pm • Whistler Racket Club

Supported by Friends of the Library! Complimentary activi ties and charcuterie boards. Axe Throwing, Table Tennis, Giant Tennis, Pickleball, a live DJ from 7-9:30pm. Lots of fun prizes •

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15

Renting in Whistler: Your Rights as a Tenant

12-1pm • WCSS

Protect your rights and avoid scams with Parneet Grewal, Legal Advocate from SSCS. •

Fitness Class: Mountain Ready 12-1pm • Meadow Park Sports Centre

Increase your capacity to go fur ther for longer. FCFS

Naloxone Training

4-5pm • WCSS

Presented by Whistler Community Services Society. Learn about Harm Reduction and receive a free take home Naloxone kit. •

DodgeBall

8-10pm • Myrtle Philip School

Presented by Late & Unique Nighttime Activities (LUNA) Wear your shorts and headbands, it’s Dodgeball time! Bring a team, a friend or come solo! •

WEDNESDAY NOV 16

Whistler Museum’s Guided Walking Tour

11am-12pm • Whistler Village

Uncover Whistler’s unique history, tales behind the mountain devel opment, and Olympic stories. Led by long-time Whistler locals. •

Service Provider Drop-in

1-4pm • Whistler Public Library

Meet service providers from Whistler Community Services Society, Whistler Welcome Centre, Howe Sound Women’s Centre & WorkBC.

Fitness Class: Strength + Cardio

4-5pm • Meadow Park Sports Centre Build strength and fitness with this high-intensity class. FCFS

Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Awareness 7-9pm • Maury Young Arts Centre Presented by Mountain Skills Adventure Academy. A must for backcountry explorers. You could win a MSAA AST 1 Course. •

THURSDAY NOV 17

Museum Tour: Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

1-2pm • SLCC

View artifacts and hear stories that give an overview of the past

and present way of life of the Squamish and Lil’wat peoples. •

Fitness Class: Yoga Roll and Release

1:30-2:30pm • Meadow Park Sports Centre

Prehab and body mobility mainte nance for the winter season. FCFS

Whistler 101: Indigenous Peoples 4-5pm • SLCC

Learn about the history, language, and culture of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation with cu rator Mixalhíts̓a7, Alison Pascal. •

Film Screening: The Great Disconnect 7-8:30pm • Whistler Public Library

Co-hosted by Whistler Rainbow Connection. Uncovering why, in a world seemingly more connected than ever before, people are feel ing more and more socially isolat ed – and the true cost this has on our lives and communities. •

FRIDAY NOV 18

Guided

Fitness Class: Zumba 11:30am-12:30pm Meadow Park Sports Centre No experience required. FCFS

Lost Lake Polar Bear Dip 1-3pm • Lost Lake Park

Presented by LUNA. Brave souls can take the freezing plunge! •

‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it’

A Q&A WITH OUTGOING WHISTLER COUNCILLORS JOHN GRILLS AND DUANE JACKSON

BY BRANDON BARRETT

ONE OF THE THINGS about carrying on the work of Whistler’s municipal council over Zoom during the pandemic was that it afforded those who tuned in a window into elected officials’ homes.

“The fun thing about Zoom is you can see what was behind John’s desk—and all the folders,” Duane Jackson said of fellow Councillor John Grills’ home office. “He’s got everything from 2011 and before. If you ever want to know anything, just ask John.”

It’s the kind of institutional knowledge that can only be gained through the painstaking work of municipal council, much of which doesn’t make it into public view. There’s the frequent committee and board meetings; the interminable, 500page council packages to read; and the kind of community outreach and relationship management that goes hand in hand with serving in local government.

For Grills and Jackson, there is a combined 18 years of council experience between them, and as the pair got set to wrap up their time in office, both having made the difficult decision not to run again in the Oct. 15 election, Pique caught up with

the municipal stalwarts to chat about their biggest accomplishments and setbacks, closing information gaps in the community, and how to turn political anger into action.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

PIQUE: How will you look back on this term specifically, which had some, let’s say, very unique challenges to it?

GRILLS: A good council was elected, so we went into it with a full head of steam. And we reached the point, in ’18, when there were those questions about over-capacity, overtourism, but it levelled off. So it was, ‘OK, what do we need to do to tweak it? Where’s a good baseline? So, the businesses are good, the community is good.’ And then, of course, the world had a different plan for us [with COVID-19], and we went from good occupancy to near zero occupancy. My file was tourism

economy, so I thought I was living pretty and then I couldn’t sell my portfolio for anything.

JACKSON: It’s just within the last six months that we feel like we’ve come out of that sort of turmoil, and staff are back in the office and people are making plans, budget plans, seeing where things need to get fixed, where investments need to be made. So that we’re better prepared in the future, and then you just start to feel everyone’s working really well together. And so we’re leaving it in a good place where there’s a good relationship with staff and council. So given that there’s only the two of us leaving, hopefully there’s a lot of continuity so that relationship can build.

You both have served multiple terms on council. Do you think there’s something about the nature of Whistler that the people who vote here tend to favour consistency and experience?

GRILLS: Yes, just based on what has happened over the years, but on the other side of that, I think there are ways, if you haven’t been here as long as the 40- or 30-year person, but you put in the hours and you’ve done some volunteering and you’ve gotten your name a

COUNCIL CONNECTION Outgoing Whistler municipal councillors Duane Jackson (left) and John Grills.

PHOTO BY ROBERT WISLA

Ross Harlow

It is with great sadness that

share the

of the passing of Ross Harlow He slipped away peacefully under the excellent care of the Hilltop House staff in Squamish with his family in attendance on November 1st Ross had a big heart and a big personality and will be missed by many On Januar y 5th , he would have been married for 60 years to Beth. Together, they raised 2 children, Rosie and Stephen In 1996, they moved to Whistler and were so lucky to be able to share their lives wit h Rosie, her husband Stewart and their 2 beautiful grand daughters, Rebecca and Madeline They shared so many good times, travel vacations, ski days and too many memories to count Ross was pre deceased by his brother George and is sur vived by his brother John and his wife Josie John, Josie, Ross and Beth loved to get together in Ontario or for a sunny vacation and had many laughs together. Ross loved visiting with his nieces and nephews who were part of both George and John’s f amilies

Ross always had a good stor y or a joke to share He was never happier then when he had a mic in his hand and he was entertaining a crowd. He loved skiing, waterskiing and along with Beth, was a dedicated Rotarian He cherished his many friends and enjoyed golfing, playing poker and visiting with them

If you wish to make a donation, please consider the Rotar y Foundation or the Salvation Army

A Celebration of Life will b e held at The Whistler Racket Club 4500 Northlands Blvd. on Friday, Nov. 25th. from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

little bit known on some committees, then voters will recognize that you’re working hard to get towards that seat.

JACKSON: You have got to earn that respect, and it’s funny, most of the councillors, we sit on lots of boards and committees. But before council, we sat on boards and committees and we were involved … Not only are you familiar, but you generally know a reasonable amount of people and you’ve already earned their vote. And then, if you’re not a complete wingnut, as [Pique columnist G.D. Maxwell] describes it, and you see a council working together and working with staff and being able to communicate with respect, then, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Everyone’s got an idea that we’re all doing something wrong or we’re missing the boat. I think people that know us and know the job of council involves a lot more hours than just turning up for a couple of Tuesday meetings know you’re a good investment, know that you’re getting good value out of your councillors.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say there is frustration in the community right now over several issues, which often gets directed at the RMOW and council. Do you feel that anger towards council is warranted, generally?

JACKSON: There’s no doubt daycare, health-care, transit, all those other hot topics, they are just

as hot as housing and a lot of them we don’t have any jurisdiction over them anyway. But it doesn’t stop you being frustrated, right? And, I mean, as councillors, we’re no less affected in education, health-care, mental health, or anything. I mean, we all have families. Yeah, it’s frustrating, and I wish we could do more. I think this municipality does more than many other municipalities, trying to facilitate

you have a better understanding of why the decisions are made the way they are.

I think that speaks to something of a disconnect, particularly on housing, between the work the RMOW does and the public’s perception. We know we need to build more housing, but it isn’t as simple as snapping your fingers.

[housing] data and do we need more data? We’ve got lots of data. And we get lots of feedback. And unfortunately, there’s more demand than we can supply. We can only supply what we can do without risking the taxpayer, which is [the Whistler Development Corp.’s] mandate. But it’s so complex in terms of funding, and the funding is a moving target. Because everyone knows the business interest rates go up, costs go up, inflation goes up, and wages don’t go up as fast. And because you’re always planning two or three years out, you’re trying to anticipate what that future environment is going to be like.

What we need to do is remind everyone when we do have sites ready. And if we can find the funding, council has been very positive in leveraging the reserve funds so that we might continue that momentum.

things like the daycare and being involved in transit—certainly housing. So I think there’s more to learn and we’re starting to have more conversations with businesses and businesses are seeing that they need to be more involved in their own housing solutions, which is good, because it’s maybe another avenue we can go down to help finance these things.

GRILLS: I think there’s plenty of opportunity, even if it’s a small board or a small committee or volunteering as a Village Host or something, to be more involved in the community. And once you make that step, you feel more a part of it. I think it’s a bit of a relief from the anger or whatever else. And

GRILLS: You probably remember just before COVID, we got into doing more town halls … and then, of course, the gate dropped [with COVID] and the intention is to bring those back.

The amount of open houses we’ve done on different things, some are well attended, but for the most part, [they’re not]. The community forest open house is the same six people every time.

JACKSON: There was a question last week about

What are some of your favourite memories on council?

JACKSON: Dancing at the UBCM convention [in Whistler]. That’s always a good time. [Laughs.] We don’t want to let the fun factor down.

This term, I certainly knew some of the councillors I’ve worked with before, but in this process, you make new friends. And then what’s cool is being on the boards, like the WDC board, it’s just the most amazing group of people. And you know, a lot of them don’t even live here, yet they contribute like they live here. And they care about

Do you feel like there are information gaps in the community around some of the work council does?

“The amount of open houses we’ve done on different things, some are well attended, but for the most part, [they’re not]. The community forest open house is the same six people every time.”

- JOHN GRILLS

Whistler driver escapes injury in single-car rollover

RCMP BRIEFS: MAN TRIES TO STEAL TV; DRUNK DRIVER NABBED; E-TRANSFER SCAMMER TAKES $2,800

BY ALYSSA NOEL

A DRIVER NARROWLY escaped injury

after a single-car rollover took place on Highway 99 and Blueberry Drive on Nov. 6 at about 4:30 a.m.

Police say the driver hit a sheet of ice, slid off the road, and collided with a rockfall. The collision caused the car to roll onto the driver’s side, trapping the driver and blocking the southbound lane.

The driver was not injured.

It was one of 109 files opened by the Whistler RCMP from Nov. 1 to 7.

TV THIEF ON THE LOOSE

Police were called to the 4800 block of Glacier Lane at about 7:25 p.m. on Nov. 6 when a not-so-neighbourly man attempted to steal a television from a lobby.

According to police, the man fled the scene without the TV when confronted. While police are still trying to identify him, they say he lives in the area— though most certainly didn’t own the TV.

DRUNK DRIVER CAUGHT

Shortly after 12 a.m. on Nov. 6, an RCMP officer out on a routine patrol spotted a car speeding and watched it drive through a stop sign in Whistler Village’s Day Lot 3. After pulling the driver over, the officer found evidence that they were impaired and asked them for two breath samples.

The driver failed and immediately received a 90-day roadside driving

JACKSON AND GRILLS Q&A

this place like they live here … But just the selflessness of those board members—and that’s like a lot of our municipal boards, the volunteers on the WHA board, whether it’s the community forest, recreation, the health-care society. So many people just contribute, and there’s generosity in terms of funding, looking for solutions, and being part of the solution, not part of the problem.

GRILLS: For me, it goes back to the 2014 election when we talked about building a relationship with our First Nations neighbours. There wasn’t one. Other than the [Squamish Lil’wat

prohibition. They also had their car impounded and received two violation tickets under the Motor Vehicle Act, police said.

E-TRANSFER SCAM

Police are reminding people to keep an eye on their bank statements after a complainant contacted them on Nov. 4 about an unauthorized e-Transfer of $2,800

FROM PAGE 24

Cultural Centre], that was pretty much it in the community. It started with the umbrella agreement with [Whistler Blackcomb] and their working relationship. And then under Nancy [Wilhelm-Morden, former mayor], we started the process of getting a protocol agreement and that letter of understanding and MOU and then finally, the framework agreement. So there’s still so much more work to do, but that foundation has been established, that relationship has been established. That communication is there now when it wasn’t before.

Talking about negatives, the biggest negative for me was losing Andrée [Janyk,

from their account.

The investigation is ongoing, but police advise the public to call their bank if they spot anything out of the norm happening on their account.

Police ask anyone with any information regarding the above files to contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or go to the website solvecrime.ca. n

Whistler councillor who passed away in 2017 while in office]. That was crushing. I didn’t want to go through this without mentioning her. She was a powerhouse.

JACKSON: She was a big, big part of 2011 and onward into the 2014 council.

GRILLS: Almost to her last breath. When Jack [Crompton] and I visited her on the last day or second last day [before she died], she was still [concerned with council]. ‘Is the soccer field going through? Is this happening? They read the agenda to me; it looks good.’ n

Pemberton’s Dr. Will Ho hanging up his stethoscope

AS THE PHYSICIAN PREPARES TO HEAD HOME TO AUSTRALIA, B.C.’S NEW HEALTH-CARE FUNDING MODEL REPRESENTS ‘STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION’ FOR HIS COLLEAGUES

BY MEGAN LALONDE

ASK DR. WILL HO about his experience practicing family medicine in Pemberton, and he might tell you a story about a bike ride he took a couple of years ago.

“It was the end of a work day, I was tired. I was kind of feeling deflated out on the trail, not riding particularly fast, just wanting to get it done, get the exercise, go home,” he recalled. “Then in amongst the trails, there was a patient I’d been looking after who I knew was undergoing treatments for cancer.

“You can only imagine the kind of toll that has on your body, and here this patient was, pedalling up the same trail I was on, having a great time,” Ho said. “It just gave me a whole new perspective in that instant moment.”

It’s one of many examples where, “what I’ve gotten out of looking after my patients, I don’t think they realize,” said Ho. “As much as they get out of my care, I also get a lot back from being in that privileged position and looking after them.”

It’s moments—patients—like that Ho will miss after he hangs up his stethoscope on Nov. 17.

After six years practicing in Pemberton, Ho, his wife, and their two young children are packing up their life in the valley and heading home to Cairns, Australia to be closer to family.

Since moving to the resort, Ho has

provided residents of the valley and nearby First Nations, from Lil’wat to N’Quatqua, with both primary and emergency care as a family physician with the Pemberton Medical Clinic. He also served as physician lead for B.C.’s Rural and Remote Divisions of Family Practice.

Ho said he had an idea of what rural medicine entailed, after previously practicing in rural Australia and as a commissioned medical officer in the Royal Australian Navy for the better part of 10 years, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few professional challenges.

Pronunciation, for one, said Ho, recalling

resuscitations or trauma, in particular, “by the time we speak to the specialist down in the city, which we invariably have to do in order to arrange transfers, they’re asking us, ‘What does the CT scan show?’ or ‘What did this X-ray show?’ or ‘What did these blood results show?’” he explained. On a weekend or overnight, “we literally don’t have any of those, with the exception of X-ray sometimes.”

Ho continued, “To relay that back to them, they’re like, ‘How have you managed to do all of this without those tests?’ But we just use our clinical skills—you look, listen ... and just make do.”

of whom live locally and others who commute to Pemberton, and the help of locums—or substitute medical professionals—who travel to help out when needed.

Paramedic shortages in the BC Ambulance Service have been more difficult, Ho said, as “that really limits our ability to get people to the places they need to be in a prompt manner.”

Though the clinic hasn’t yet been successful in finding a replacement for Ho, his patients will be reallocated to the practice’s other doctors and nurse practitioner. In addition, a new family doctor who has committed to working out of the Pemberton clinic a couple of days a week will help fill the gap in the meantime.

one instance where it took him a few minutes and more than a few attempts to catch the attention of a waiting patient named Craig, not to mention struggles with the province’s electronic medical record system dictation software picking up his Australian accent.

Another challenge, though not necessarily unique to Pemberton, was the inevitability of working in a resourcelimited environment, he explained.

“We hold ourselves to a very high standard, and the work we put out is something that we can be proud of,” he said. “But sometimes it’s difficult when, a lot of times, we’re working with [limitations].”

When dealing with serious incidents like

To that end, Ho said he feels comfortable walking away from the Pemberton clinic knowing he’s leaving his patients in the capable hands of “by far the best bunch of colleagues,” he’s worked with, including reception staff, nurses, nurse practitioners and the five usual physicians who staff the valley’s emergency room.

Though B.C.—and Canada as a whole— is experiencing a well-documented ongoing family doctor shortage, Ho said the clinic is currently well-positioned to serve the valley’s rapidly growing population.

In terms of staff shortages, “In Pemberton, disruption has been reasonably limited,” he said, citing a roster of dedicated nurses, some

In speaking with Ho, it’s clear his personal experience with family medicine has, despite the presence of challenges, been nothing short of overwhelmingly positive. But with data showing fewer Canadian medical students are choosing to pursue family medicine compared to other specialties—according to the Canadian Resident Matching Service, a not-for-profit connecting med students with residency placements, 30.7 per cent of Canadian medical students ranked family medicine as their first choice in 2022, down from 38 per cent in 2015—how can the powers that be help those students see the benefits of a career in primary care?

“One of the really obvious things is to pay them better and recognize the value of family doctors,” said Ho. “The announcement on Monday (Oct. 31) by Health Minister Adrian Dix and the ministry with this new remuneration model, for family doctors, I think is a fantastic step in the right direction.”

B.C.’s new payment model will give

THANKS, DOC Pemberton physician Dr. Will Ho is leaving the Sea to Sky and heading home to Australia, but says his colleagues are wellpositioned to keep providing care.

“What I’ve gotten out of looking after my patients, I don’t think they realize.”

- WILL HO

Pemberton to build new fast EV charging stations

CHARGING STATIONS, TO BE INSTALLED NEXT SUMMER, BOLSTERED BY $100K IN FEDERAL FUNDING

BY ROBERT WISLA

PEMBERTON WILL SOON get its first public Level 3 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) for electric vehicles, which will allow most EVs to charge to 80 per cent in under an hour.

Sea to Sky MP Patrick Weiler was in Pemberton on Nov. 7 to announce a grant of $100,000 from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program to create two new charging stations in the municipality.

The successful grant is in addition to a $50,000 grant through the province’s CleanBC Go Electric Program.

The two new chargers will be located adjacent to Pioneer Park on Aster Street in the Village’s downtown core, across from the Pemberton Hotel. The stations are estimated to be fully operational by summer 2023.

“It’s so exciting to see these investments and new electric vehicle chargers in this underserved area of the Sea to Sky Highway,” said Councillor Ted Craddock.

“The installation of more EV chargers is essential for delivering on the strategy that will encourage adoption of electric vehicles moving everything forward. We’re very grateful to Natural Resources Canada and the Province of B.C. for these investments that will help the Village meet its emissions [targets].”

Earlier this year, the Village of Pemberton (VOP) launched its Community Climate Action Plan, which identified several strategies to help the community meet its ambitious emission-reduction targets, key among them reducing vehicle emissions.

Passenger vehicles are the most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the VOP, accounting for approximately 83 per cent of emissions:

DR HO FROM PAGE 28

family doctors like Ho’s colleagues a substantial raise: starting in February 2023, the Ministry of Health says a full-time family doctor in B.C. will reportedly earn $385,000 annually, on average, up from the 2020-21 average of $250,000.

The new compensation model, the result of negotiations between the province and physician advocacy groups Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors, represents a retreat from the current fee-for-service model, the province explained in a release, under which doctors are paid about $30 for each patient they see per day regardless of the nature of those patients’ health concerns.

Under the new model, physicians’ earnings will depend on factors like time spent with a patient, the number of patients seen in a day, the number of patients supported through that doctor’s office,

58 per cent from passenger vehicles and 25 per cent from commercial vehicles. The municipality seeks to reduce emissions by 50 per cent from 2007 levels by 2030—and a 100-per-cent reduction by 2050.

Weiler pointed out that the federal government has also made transitioning from fossil-fuel vehicles a key priority during its term.

“Our government has an ambitious climate plan that’s aimed at creating a stronger economy and more sustainable jobs, and we’re taking stronger steps to meet our climate commitments and to get Canada to net-zero emissions within the next three decades,” he said.

According to Weiler, the federal government has committed to spending $1.7 billion on zero-emission vehicle rebates (up to $5,000 per vehicle purchase until March 2025), and $400 million to create 50,000 charging stations across the country.

“When it comes to action on climate, transportation must be a key focus area because, in Canada, about 25 per cent of our emissions come from transportation. Three-quarters of those emissions come from two sources: passenger cars and trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve made the commitment to ensure all new vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emissions by 2035, and we’re finalizing regulations to ensure that this goal becomes a reality.”

In a press release, Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman welcomed the funding announcement.

“The installation of the fast chargers at this location will significantly improve the EV charging network in our region,” he said. “This will be the first public Level 3 DCFC in Pemberton establishing an important link in an underserved area of Canada’s national highway system.” n

and the complexity of a patient’s health concerns, as well as administrative and overhead costs family doctors are currently responsible for covering.

Officials believe the plan will make a difference in improving health-care across the province, said Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, president of Doctors of BC, in a release.

“Over the last months, the provincial government has listened to the voices of physicians who passionately care about our patients,” he added. “The new payment model option for family doctors is unique in Canada, bringing together the best of a range of payment methods. The goal is to not only stabilize longitudinal family practice, but to also make it sustainable and rewarding. Everyone deserves a family doctor, and this new option is a major step toward making that goal a reality.” n

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Douglas Denman on Sept. 24, 2022 at 88 years of age. Chuck passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

Chuck grew up in Victoria before becoming a long-time resident of West Vancouver and Pemberton. He had various careers; operating service stations with brother Bob and friend Bill Prittie, prospecting with brother-in-law Tom Williamson, in construction alongside son Steve, farming and fun with the love of his life, Beth. He was a true friend who was respected by all for his honesty and support.

Chuck was happiest when his beloved family was close at hand. His sense of humour and candour enlivened many a Sunday night family dinner. He was loved beyond measure and will be missed more than words can say.

He is survived by his wife Beth; his children, Heather Knowlden (Nick), Colleen Denman, Marcia Crowley (Stephen) and Stephen Denman; his grandchildren, Sarah Cameron (Tahj), Kate, Sean and Paula Knowlden (Mike Clemente), Riley and Curtis Holroyd (Laurel Dominique), Spencer (Emma), Fraser (Shadi) and Andrew Crowley; sister- in-law Edna Denman and many nieces and nephews.

To write a condolence to the family, please visit www.squamishfuneralchapel.com

Anything but a normal routine

I’VE GOTTEN MORE conscious when writing about localized weather events in this column, mostly because there’s usually a four- to- six-day lead time from when I submit these words to my editor to when the column runs in Pique the following Thursday. This has stung me a few times when waxing poetic about the powder storm of the decade

BY VINCE SHULEY

before an unexpected rain event raises the freezing level to the stratosphere. I watch the forecast like everyone else, but we all know anything more than 48 to 72 hours out is a crapshoot. And don’t get me started on preseason snowfall predictions.

But looking back on the weather is as clear as a bluebird day.

It’s been a weird year of weather in Whistler. If you remember way back to last December, we had a super start to winter when the snow banks grew so large they almost toppled. Then, in January, we had a few pineapples rip through the region before a six- to- eight-week snow drought,

killing any notion of a return to the powder seasons of yore. A welcome late-season redo in the spring brought pow well into May, but at the expense of summer arriving on time. The rain and cold lingered into August, the last we saw of either until a couple of weeks ago. All Time Fall Time was cancelled for 2022, but 20 degrees and sunny in late October wasn’t getting a lot of complaints, with the exception of a few dusty mountain bikers. Now we’re in early November, and

work properly on the first day of turns. That means giving those dried-out ski bases a fresh coat of wax, or if I was diligent enough last spring, scraping off the summer storage wax. Cruising past folks on dried and shrivelled boards on the opening day cat track—saving a few precious minutes of lift-line waiting—never gets old.

With wet storms always looming, I also like to give my Gore-Tex some fresh water repellency treatment. Like waxing skis, it’s

Speaking of heavy activity, over the years I’ve found that ski touring has its own unique fitness requirements. Running and hiking only do so much for preparation. The only way to get skitouring fit is to stretch those skins on and get marching. Luckily, there’s actually quite a bit of base building up in them thar hills right now, so it doesn’t have to be the typical early season “just for the views” trip (also known as the “just for the ‘gram” trip).

folks have already been skiing and sledding in the backcountry for a couple of weeks.

So while our society is more or less back to normal, the weather is anything but.

While I can’t control the temperature, snowfall or the opening date of the Creekside Gondola, I can control how ready I am for the impending winter. I’ve never been motivated enough to prepare my body in the gym to do pre-season dryland training, but I do like my equipment to

an easy chore to put off. But if you want to avoid your jacket and pants turning into popsicles, do your treatment. Arc’teryx recommends cleaning or treating your garment’s Durable Water Repellency (DWR) “every 10-12 days of heavy activity.” A morning of lining up in the rain on a higher freezing level powder day easily counts as a day of heavy activity as far as your jacket is concerned. So pick up some Nikwax before it sells out until Christmas.

Less on the physical side (but very important on the analytical side) is keeping a constant, watchful eye on the snowpack. This is another chore that can be easy to forget when you’re balls-deep in pow for a week straight. But if you’re skiing in the backcountry, checking the Avalanche Canada app for the latest bulletins, observations and analyses should be as drilled into your routine as checking snowforecast.com. Read it most days, especially when there are major changes in wind, temperature or precipitation.

If I were to make one prediction about this winter, it’s that it will be unpredictable. Better make sure we’re ready for it.

Vince Shuley’s routines are in a constant state of refinement. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. ■

PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY

[W]hile our society is more or less back to normal, the weather is anything but.

BY AARON PEART

It was late in the night, or early in the morning, depending on your standpoint. Streetlights cut through the darkness of Whistler’s Village Stroll, highlighting cast-aside paper plates, a pizza crust here and there.

A single, wordless call-out echoed through the night from a voice that would come to have no owner. The autumn fog settled around me as I walked alone along the stroll, the tourists and “local” partygoers having streamed and tumbled into the illuminated snake of taxis waiting like chariots at a gala.

My footsteps echoed off the windows of the restaurants, long since closed for the evening. I re-checked my phone to make sure I had remembered the right address in my notes. This is the place, I thought to myself. Slowly, I approached the door, taking one last drag on my hastily rolled joint before crushing it out with the heel of my black boot. It had been a long night, and I wasn’t sure I’d be up to the challenge of what lay ahead.

*Knock, knock, knock*

A long pause, followed by an approaching stranger on the other side of the heavy service door… not used for service, just the fashion for the time. There was a brief silence as the stranger presumably looked through the peephole, followed by a deadbolt unlocking. A huge man opened the door inward, ushering me inside. I heard the bolt hit home behind me, and walked through a dirty locker area with a lone pair of shoes that would not likely see their owner until the following evening. A turn in the hallway funnelled me to a larger room, where the big man behind me announced two words: “Aaron’s here!”

The crowd cheered and raised bottles, the nearest to the doorway giving me an embrace. I asked him how his night was.

“Don’t ask,” he replied simply, rolling his eyes. “Let’s get a beer.”

I have deliberately left these locations and names vague. This is the way of the Bartender Mafia.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN SPIRIT(S)

Much like Whistler itself having an unseen infrastructure of parking and maintenance beneath its fairy tale Village, there are multiple, overlapping layers to the resort’s service industry. In the same manner as military service people, nurses in trauma wards, and—even a little closer to home—lift ops kids on their first winter away, the men and women running Whistler’s bar industry share a special bond.

It’s a bond built on the intimate knowledge of the average shittiness of customers, and late-night stories abound that could only be believed if seen… or if they were uttered by one of your trusted brothers and sisters behind the bar.

“It was a decent Saturday night with a good mix of regulars and tourists. One of my regulars is known to have a smart mouth when he drinks, but it’s usually harmless. I have a big bar of about 15 seats, and everyone sitting there can see everyone else—it can be a great time!

One night, these four girls came in, on a birthday, or stagette, I can’t remember now. Four men who were already seated at the bar almost immediately began unashamedly hitting on them, and my smartass friend decided to shame them, commenting on their progress like David Attenborough describing apes in a nature documentary.

The other customers, myself and the rest of the staff, and even a couple of the girls were entertained. The gentlemen, less so.

In response, one of the gentlemen sent a ‘muffdiver,’ a shot covered in whipped cream, to my smartass regular. It’s meant to be embarrassing, as you’re not supposed to use your hands, and the drinker gets whipped cream all over their face. I warned the guy, ‘this isn’t going to work out in your favour,’— because I know my regular pretty well, and he’s kind of a rascal. But the buyer insisted, so I sent it over.

Smart-ass friend SCOOPED the cream off the glass with one of our laminated happy hour menus, raised the shot to cheers the buyer, and drank it. This sent the bar over the edge, and everyone was howling. Like all good acts, smartass knows when to go out on a high note, so he walked over, smoothly acquired one of the girls’ numbers (which was the icing on the cake, in my opinion), looked at me and said, ‘I have to pee, tip yourself.’ Then he tossed his entire wallet to me.”

- Katy

OF CHAOS, ZEN, AND VIGILANTE JUSTICE

Bartending seems to attract a certain type of worker. Focused, able to multitask, confident in both their abilities and in approaching strangers, and not afraid to speak out if a customer (or for that matter,

a co-worker) is out of line. There must be some aspect of us—or me, anyway—that is a little broken, because nothing fires me up more than a busy après shift with 30 tickets up on the counter for everything from pitchers of beer and espresso martinis to shot skis and caesars.

Once you allow the wave of chaos to wash over you, it’s actually pretty zen, if I’m honest. After a long shift, you look up from the service ice for the first time in hours, crack your back, and wash the olive juice and simple syrup off your forearms… I don’t think I’ve had a better beer than that first one after work.

We all know each other, because we have to know each other. A bigger restaurant might employ 30 to 40 servers, and maybe eight bartenders. While the servers may have their own special bond, oftentimes you’ll find a bartender on his or her day off, sitting at the physical bar rather than taking up a table. Maybe it’s some subconscious security blanket; maybe it’s just nice to have something in common with the person on the other side of the taps.

(On that note, don’t take it personally if we don’t remember your name when we’re not working. There might be 300 customers and only two or three people serving on the bar. In fact, if we do remember your name, it’s either for a very good reason or a very bad reason.)

“If I had a nickel for every time someone drank whisky out of my scrotum after hours at work, I’d have about three or four nickels. Not a lot of nickels in the grand scheme of things, but that’s a lot of shots taken from my nuts…

Oh, here’s a story. One time, when I was working at a club, I saw a guy slip something into a girl’s drink—she happened to be the manager’s close friend, but I would have acted the same regardless. I stole the drink back, jumped over the bar and made sure to connect with his jaw on the way down. The commotion brought the bouncers to the bar, and they dealt with him (this was years ago, so I can’t remember how the rest of his night ended, but this was back when there were security camera blind spots in certain areas—so I doubt they kissed him on the forehead and sent him off into the night).

The next morning I got a call from the boss asking for me to come in during the day… The whole way to his office, I was sure in my heart I was getting fired for attacking a customer.

When I arrived, I knocked on his door, then sat down. Boss said, ‘you

saved us a lot of headache and a lot of bad press last night, that was some fast thinking.’ Handed me a handle of Crown Royal as a gesture of thanks. Did not see that coming at all!”

- Bryan

HIGHS AND LOWS

Of course, with the highs invariably follow the lows. As with all parts of this community, the loss of a friend hits hard. At the beginning of 2021, we lost Beacon bartender Jesse Van Roon to a skiing accident. I won’t pretend to have known him very well, but there was a mutual respect whenever we frequented each other’s establishments. Losing Jesse in particular was a surprising gut-punch, because he was so young, and precisely because I didn’t know him well, I was surprised at the hole he had left.

Outside of the “industry,” we as bartenders are privy to special moments, be they celebratory (I’ve lost count of how many wedding receptions I’ve worked) or sorrowful. What I have found is that the latter still brings out a joie de vivre that might seem out of place or even inappropriate. But if anything, it cements a pride in this town: we’re here for a good time, not a long time, and some wakes achieve legendary status to rival even the wildest of birthday celebrations—as anyone that attended revered Whistler artist Chili Thom’s 2016 celebration of life can attest.

“Where to begin… I’ve got orgies; staff more messed up than the customers; serving Pamela Anderson; our fateful Ghost Pepper Sauce phase where one guy ended up in hospital because he got it all over his junk…

Having a high powered sprayer installed behind the bar, basically giving me a water weapon I could use to spray people outside the front door; après battles with neighbouring

restaurants; and the time a chick tossed a full salt shaker at my head and I hurdled the bar and football tackled her…”

- Sarah

IN GOOD CONSCIENCE

Years ago I heard a line: servers are the face of a restaurant; the kitchen is the soul. That makes the bartender the inner monologue of the restaurant, or even the conscience. Or maybe we’re more akin to cowboys—making a drink up on the fly because a customer is (for example) allergic to an ingredient, and figuring out how to ring it in to the computer later.

In contrast, servers might have to

run to the kitchen to see if they can work around this allergy, and risk the wrath of the stereotypical chef on the line (side note: we love all you little goblins in the kitchen— thanks for the mistake food).

Many of us can—or could—drink like sailors in our heyday, and if you meet one that doesn’t get hangovers, run like hell. We know the scene you’re looking for and how to get in, lemme just make a quick call and see if they have room for you over there.

And hey, if you forget to pay (because you’re nice people, I’m sure it was an accident) don’t worry! We can use those same lines of communication to track you down, so that there’s no misunderstandings for the rest of your vacation.

“We have a selection of craft B.C. beers on our taps. This one dude—had to

be the dreaded tourist on a conference—asked if we had Stella Artois on tap. No, I explained to him, but we did have a European-style pilsner that might scratch the itch. I poured it for him, mostly so he’d stop talking at me. He drank the entire thing, then said, ‘yeah, I didn’t really like that one, can I have a couple ounces of each beer you have so I can try them all?’ My response: ‘So you want two free beers? Firstly, who the hell do you think you are? And secondly, if your basic tastebuds didn’t like the basic beer you just drank, I KNOW you won’t like the Double IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Raspberry Sour, or any other of what’s on tap, so I’m not gonna waste my time. Here’s a bottle of Kokanee.’”

- Alec

CUPS RUNNETH OVER

It would be preaching to the choir to say that our lives are better than most people’s vacation—that’s half the reason some of us moved here for one season… 15 years ago. But it certainly takes commitment to work a job that has you face to face with some high-falootin’ tourists that invariably ask you “what’s your real job?”… and you’re not allowed to punch anyone in the face.

I know I could have that job security I keep hearing about, but I’m not alone when I say that after almost two decades, I still love my career, and day to day, my stress levels are scarcely ever more than “am I late?” and “are my shoes tied?”

But this piece of writing has only scratched the surface of some of the things I and my brothers and sisters in spirits have seen or heard over the years. Buy me a drink or two, and I might tell you a couple more.

Stay thirsty. ■

“

Whistler ultramarathoner Vicki Romanin proving that age is just a number

AT 62 YEARS YOUNG, ROMANIN FINISHED GRUELLING TOR 330 RACE FIRST IN HER AGE GROUP

BY DAVID SONG

THE MARATHON IS the longest race on the Olympic program. Since 1921, it has spanned a length of 42.195 kilometres. For most people, the word “marathon” is synonymous with the idea of an ultimate test in endurance. Most people can hardly fathom the idea of running an “ultramarathon,” which is any footrace longer than 42.195 kilometres.

Vicki Romanin is not “most people.” She describes marathons the way that most would describe a 100-metre sprint: “very short and intense.” The longtime Whistlerite has done her fair share of marathons, but she prefers to experience a bigger, more immersive odyssey. Enter the ultramarathon.

Ultras, as they are sometimes called, come in various forms. You have everything from 50-kilometre races to 170-kilometre grinds like the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in the Alps. Even more epic are the multi-day, multi-stage pain trains like Italy’s Tor des Geants (TOR 330): approximately 350 kilometres mixed with more than 100,000 feet of technical ascent and descent.

For most of us mere mortals, events like the UTMB and TOR 330 are the stuff of legend. The physical abilities required

to complete them seem borderline superheroic. It can be hard to believe that those who wield such abilities, like American Dean Karnazes, Spaniard Kilian Jornet or Emelie Forsberg of Sweden, do not in fact hail from another planet.

Yet there is a cadre of such extreme athletes living right here in the Sea to Sky corridor, including Romanin. Originally from Prince George, she has called Whistler home for more than 20 years. Romanin grew up

competitors crossed the finish line, including Romanin. Since then, she has experienced a litany of injuries, including a ruptured ACL, multiple hamstring issues, and even a slicedup Achilles tendon courtesy of her cat. From December 2020 to August 2022, Romanin worked her way through physiotherapy and tested herself in various races from Whistler to Oregon.

The final litmus test was this year’s Squamish 50/50 in August: 50 miles and 50

Karen that they would see the race through.

“I’m passionate about running, I’m passionate about being in the mountains,” Romanin said over the phone. “But the fact that other people had also, you know, invested in this particular race, it was a little push I needed to not just give up.”

In early September, Romanin, Michael R., and Karen arrived in Courmayeur, a ski resort town in northwest Italy that serves as both beginning and endpoint of the TOR 330. They were joined by two more friends: Michael H., who would also run the 330, and his brother Robert, who would be his crew.

running, figure skating and riding horses, but turning pro in any sport was never on her mind. Instead, she became a dentist, and running became a key way for her to maintain her physical and mental health.

At age 50, Romanin’s equivalent of a midlife crisis was the decision to start running competitively. That was more than a decade ago. Today, at 62 years young, Romanin has completed the TOR 330—twice.

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD

In September 2017, 52 per cent of TOR 330

kilometres on consecutive days. Romanin had finished twice before in 2014 and 2018, and managed to do so again this time, but five hours slower than her previous effort. Even backed by veteran coaches in Eric Carter and Gary Robbins of Ridgeline Athletics, the odds were against her, and Romanin was sure that there was “no friggin’ way in hell” she could face the TOR 330 again.

So why did she do it anyway?

Romanin’s husband, Michael R., had supported her for years, and he needed a vacation. The couple had also promised their close (and recently widowed) friend

Although ultramarathon running is an individual sport, competitors are blessed by the work of their crews: small groups of auxiliary personnel who change headlamp batteries, restock food and water, clean clothes and provide navigational assistance. Romanin’s crew consisted of her husband, Michael R., and Karen, and though Karen had never crewed before, she took to her new duties fast and well. Romanin described their presence as “the icing on the cake,” and their support allowed her to focus on race strategy.

Competitors have 150 hours to complete the TOR 330, yet it is not a stage race where everyone runs the same segments together. Instead, athletes must decide when to eat, when to sleep, and how far to push themselves each day, all the while meeting stringent time cut-offs en route to six major “Life Bases’’ and 34 smaller aid stations placed throughout the course. This makes the mental aspect of an ultramarathon equally as demanding

GROUP GRIND Italy’s TOR 330 ultramarathon is not for the faint of heart. PHOTO

“You learn not to wear yourself out at the beginning, you learn to take care of yourself.”

- VICKI ROMANIN

Whistler

as the physical side.

Fortunately, Romanin had experience to lean on. She and her coach, Robbins, prepared a variety of dehydrated camp foods so she would be well-fuelled while avoiding eating the same things each day. Robbins also emphasized the importance of getting enough sleep in a tactical manner.

“If I pushed it any further [than what was wise], I knew I would start hallucinating,” Romanin said. “I have a history of that, and many ultra runners do. I needed every advantage I could get this time.”

Above all, Romanin clung to a simple play that Robbins had called in the huddle before the race. “Six 60-kilometre days,” he had said. “You can do this in your sleep.”

HELLO ITALY, MY OLD FRIEND

Romanin began the 2022 TOR 330 at noon local time on Sept. 11 as one of 11 Canadians among 1,100 athletes. She described the first two days as the “toughest two 50-kilometre mountain runs you will ever do” and by day three, the carnage was piling up. Romanin’s crew was her safety net, and as Michael H. forged ahead, a chance encounter with a fellow athlete became an unexpected source of strength for her.

On the eve of day four, the Whistlerite spotted a lady that she refers to as “J,” a younger competitor from Alaska. They quickly bonded, helping each other through the dramatic ups and downs of the event.

“J had some pretty serious doubts—and wild mood swings—which are absolutely normal on long ultras,” Romanin wrote in her race blog. “The highs and lows are not something you can describe, but if you can’t get over them, they can derail your race. Sometimes you just need a friend to let you vent and be the calm voice of reason that you

BEST IN CLASS Vicki Romanin raises the trophy she earned for finishing first in her age group at this year’s TOR 330 in Italy.

all going to be knock-outs’: Fairmont Chateau Whistler to present four Cornucopia winemaker’s dinners this fall

QUAILS’ GATE, LITTLE ENGINE WINES, VANESSA VINEYARD AND BLASTED CHURCH TO OFFER A TASTE OF THE INTERIOR

BY MEGAN LALONDE

WHEN A RESTAURANT partners with a vineyard to host a winemaker’s dinner, the menu-planning process usually follows a certain formula.

“Typically, the chefs design the menu and then we would approach the vineyards and be like, ‘Hey, here’s the menu, can you give us some wines that you think would pair well with this?’” explained Nicholas Humphreys, clubhouse manager and resort sommelier at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

Brainstorm sessions between Humphreys and the Chateau’s senior sous chef of restaurants, Sean Thornhill, have looked a little different ahead of the Fairmont’s Cornucopia offerings this month. The hotel is gearing up to host four winemaker’s dinners with four different wineries over two November weekends as part of Whistler’s annual food and drink festival.

“We’ve kind of gone the opposite way about it,” said Humphreys. “We’ve really taken it from its roots up—we’re digging into the wine, really figuring out the flavour profiles and then trying to match that or contrast it in the dishes, to really highlight Sean’s expertise.”

WINE AND DINE

For Thornhill, a winemaker’s dinner—or four—can serve as a creative push to think outside the box, he said.

“The most fun part of [the process] for me as a chef is being able to talk to somebody who really knows wine, and I can approach things as someone who knows food, and then to have a back-and-forth conversation about what we’re tasting and what we think it pairs with,” he explained.

“For me, a lot of times that has created some new ideas, and some of the best dishes I’ve ever come up with have originated from approaching food from a different angle because of the wine.”

The end result is four unique menus specifically designed to accompany each winery’s slate of offerings this year.

“There’s no aspect of the menus that’s repeated,” said Humphreys. “If Sean decides he likes one of these dishes, it may end up on our winter menu, but they are designed purely for Cornucopia.”

It all kicks off in the Fairmont’s eminent Grill Room on Friday, Nov. 11 with the Quails’ Gate Winemaker’s dinner, followed by Saturday’s Little Engine Wines event the following evening. The next weekend, the crew from Vanessa Vineyard will step into the spotlight on Friday night, Nov. 18, while Blasted Church will wrap up the Fairmont’s winemaker’s event series on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Attendance is capped at between 40 and 60 tickets per dinner, with price of admission including a welcome drink and five courses, each accompanied by wine pairings. Attendees can also expect

“to learn a lot about the vineyard,” noted Humphreys. “They’re getting all the information from the winemaker or the winery owners, and then they get a chance to taste five to six different wines from their portfolio. So they’re really taking a deep dive into that specific winery.”

This November marks Thornhill’s first Cornucopia season in the senior sous chef role. He started at the Fairmont Chateau a little over a year ago, initially taking charge of the Mallard Lounge before assuming more responsibility for The Grill Room and The Wildflower over the summer amid the departure of the hotel’s longstanding executive chef Isabel Chung.

The Chateau is preparing to welcome its new executive chef, Cliff Crawford, later this month. Crawford comes to the Fairmont’s Whistler property armed with more than two decades of professional culinary experience, beginning at Bermuda’s Fairmont Southampton in 2002. In addition to working as executive sous chef at Fairmont Vancouver Airport and, most recently, as executive chef of Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Crawford’s resume includes stints at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Thornhill, meanwhile, started his career in his hometown of Calgary, working his way up the kitchen ranks in fine-dining establishments like Q Haute Cuisine, Teatro Ristorante and Rouge before transitioning to the Hawthorn Dining Room at Calgary’s Hotel Fairmont Palliser. As a chef, Thornhill described himself as French- and Italian-

trained “with a lot of Eastern flavour profiles thrown in there.”

His typical style includes taking “humble ingredients and elevating them” using both traditional and modern techniques, Thornhill added, “and trying my best to highlight the best of locally-available ingredients, which we’re very lucky to use here in B.C.”

Speaking of keeping it provincial, the Chateau is once again treating Cornucopia as an occasion to highlight existing relationships with four vineyards that, while all rooted in B.C.’s interior wine region, offer their own distinct specialties.

Quails’ Gate, nestled on the shores of Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna, is “a huge staple in the Okanagan wine scene,” said Humphreys, while Naramata’s Little Engine Wines represents “a little bit of a newer partnership.”

Vanessa Vineyard, coming from Cawston, in the Similkameen Valley west of Oliver, will showcase how a hotter climate can affect the product in your glass, while Okanagan Falls’ Blasted Church is taking a different approach to presenting one of their wines in particular.

The Blasted Church team will pair one of Thornhill’s courses alongside four different vintages (or harvest years) of their Nectar of the Gods Cabarnet Sauvignon “to give us an idea of how the wine develops through the different seasons, and how a warmer or a wetter year can impact the way that a wine itself tastes, along with of course the aging process,” said Thornhill.

For more information or to purchase tickets, head to whistlercornucopia.com. n

‘They’re

As part of Cornucopia festivities, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s Grill Room will host four unique winemaker’s dinners with B.C. wineries this November.

R Prenatal Fitness 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sara

F Spin 6-7 p.m. Courtney

F Dryland Training 6:45-7:45 p.m. Garret

I Yoga Roll & Release 8-9 p.m. Laura

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

R REGISTERED FITNESS Registered fitness classes have a separate fee and a defined start and end date.  Pre-registration is required for the entire set of classes.

I INCLUDED FITNESS These classes are included  withyourpriceofadmission fornoextracharge.

I TRX Mixer 5:15-6 p.m. Courtney

F Spin 6:15-7:15 p.m. Courtney

I Strong Glutes and Core 6:15-7:15 p.m. Carly

I Mountain Ready Conditioning 5:30–6:30 p.m. Anna

F Spin 6-7 p.m. Courtney

F Dryland Training 6:45-7:45 p.m. Garret

I Slow Flow Yoga 8 9 p.m. Laura

Connect Whistler ClassStrength & Cardio 4-5 p.m. Lou

I HIIT Express 5:15-6 p.m. Alex

F Spin 6:15-7:15 p.m. Alex

I Zumba 6:30-7:30 p.m. Carmen

Tracing Influence dives deep into what makes an athlete

SWITCHBACK ENTERTAINMENT FILM SET TO SCREEN AT VIMFF AND WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL

BY ALYSSA NOEL

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF tearing up at Switchback Entertainment’s Tracing Influence, Mike Douglas won’t mind.

“There are people certainly that this is hitting quite deeply,” he says. “And the number of people that have told me they had tears in their eyes or were bawling is pretty high, too.”

The longtime Whistler director (who himself is an influence to many in the freeski community) isn’t aiming to make you cry, but he does want to make ski movies with heart.

“It’s still a ski film, for sure, but I like to make films that make people think and feel in a bit of a different way or a deeper way,” he says.

The film operates almost as a series of mini-documentaries (of course, interspersed with hype-you-up ski footage) of six athletes and the people they deem their biggest influence in the sport. To connect the dots between their enviable careers and the

people who inspired them, each section also delves into their childhood and history.

“It’s something that’s been in the back of my mind for a lot of my life,” Douglas says. “I was a kid dreaming about skiing and always looking at the heroes I had when I was younger. When you look back as an adult and think about what made the difference, I can pin it down to a few people who said something, did something, or just had this profound effect on what I chose to do.”

But why “influence” rather than “hero?”

Well, the former word has developed a bit of a bad reputation in the social media age.

“There’s so much talk about influence these days—usually related to social media— and it’s often referred to in a negative way. That was another way I looked at it: what is real influence? Where is there substance and

where is it fluff? And is there a difference? These are questions we set out to investigate when we started the film,” he says.

In order to find subjects, the team sent out a survey to 20 people in their skiing sphere. They asked questions about their influences and then parsed the results for two things: “the passion of their response”

development, we considered going down that road, interviewing psychologists and digging into why that is.”

But, in the end, the six athletes’ stories were too compelling to pass up.

They include: Alexi Godbout and Philou Poirier, Mali Noyes and her mother Kathy Noyes, Robert Aaring and Mark Abma, Emma Patterson and her brother Jonclay Patterson, Gaëtan Gaudissard and Victor Galuchot, and Connor Ryan and Cody Townsend.

“I think they all moved me in some way,” Douglas says. “I was really pleased at how different they were … In this group, the way they were inspired and the paths that moved them forward were all very different, which, to me, was really cool.”

and a wide variety of answers, Douglas says.

One thing about the results that surprised him was the gender divide in the answers. Nearly every female athlete who responded cited a family member or close friend as their biggest influence, whereas the men had “a more abstract hero” like a professional skier they had seen in a movie or at an event.

“It was quite interesting,” Douglas says. “At one point, early into the film’s

Tracing Influence is set to screen as part of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival on Friday, Nov. 18 at the Kay Meek Arts Centre. Tickets are available at vimff.org/show/snowsports-show-2.

A handful of other films screening at the festival also feature Whistler talent, including Unfinished Business, Dancing in the Mountains, and Rascal²

Meanwhile, Tracing Influence is also screening at the Whistler Film Festival on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m., both at the Maury Young Arts Centre. Tickets are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com. n

MOUNTAIN MENTORS Connor Ryan is featured in the film Tracing Influence sharing the story behind his biggest influences.

“It’s still a ski film, for sure, but I like to make films that make people think and feel in a bit of a different way...”

- MIKE DOUGLAS

Telling the tales of Canadian immigrants, one pair of shoes at a time

THE SHOE PROJECT ADDS WHISTLER DONATIONS TO ONLINE AUCTION, RUNNING UNTIL NOV. 14

BY ALYSSA NOEL

THERE’S A GOOD REASON Stella Harvey was attracted to The Shoe Project.

The Whistler author and founder of The Whistler Writers Festival (and 2022 Whistler Citizen of the Year) wrote a book, The Brink of Freedom, about the experience of immigrants desperate to flee to Greece and the hardships of their journey. (And she was born in Cairo, Egypt before her family moved to Calgary when she was a child.)

“It’s a really important topic for me, having done so much research for my second book,” she says. “It’s a really cool way to have people tell their stories.”

The project, marking its 11th year, is a Canadian charity that helps immigrant women write, and perform, their stories told through a pair of shoes.

It starts with a 10-week writing workshop with a writer-mentor then leads to performance coaching and culminates in a performance. Events have taken place everywhere from Toronto and Vancouver to Edmonton, Canmore and Halifax.

When Harvey’s friend, author Caroline Adderson, mentioned serving as a mentor for the group and fundraising along the way, she was instantly interested.

“It’s a little different,” she says. “This brings people together that have had a particular experience that needs to be voiced and talked about and written about as a way to make it real and to deal with some of those past [experiences]. Writing is a great way to process your story.”

This year, Harvey got involved with the organization’s online auction fundraiser, donating not only a pair of shoes from Italy (that she didn’t find herself wearing in

Whistler very often), but she also rounded up a basket of books from Sea to Sky authors, a Whistler Writers Festival pass, and a one-on-one writing consult.

“No one hesitated,” she says of the authors. “Everyone was happy to be involved.”

Cordelia Tang, executive director of the organization, was a participant back in 2013.

“It kind of brings up the pain that you have gone through and then to talk about it and to be brave enough to talk about it, but … the process of sharing it with people who really can understand your stories, your feeling, your pain, that process is actually healing,” she says. “Most of the participants I have talked with, when they talk about their workshop experience, they all have said that this sharing process is really healing.”

Shoes might seem like a niche topic, but they actually serve as an accessible entry point—and metaphor.

“It’s a universal object that everybody has,” Tang says. “Immigration is essentially a journey. At a certain point there’s a pair of shoes you’re wearing on your journey. It works to bring a whole life story—boil it down to a short essay, and it also just works so well with that metaphor of the journey to come to Canada.”

Living in a resort town full of immigrants, Harvey says she would love to bring the project to Whistler in the near future.

“I mentor students in the creative writing studio at SFU. Hopefully I could use some of those skills to lead a group here. That would be my hope,” she adds.

Learn more about the project at theshoeproject.online. To check out the online auction, visit biddingowl.com/ TheShoeProject28124 before it closes on Monday, Nov. 14. n

BIG STEP A participant of The Shoe Project shares her story on stage in Vancouver in 2020.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

REMEMBRANCE DAY NOV10-27

COMMUNITY

WHISTLER’S ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY

Whistler’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony will once again take place at the cenotaph in the Olympic Plaza. The event will start with a veterans parade and Colour Party, which will make its way from the Ted Nebbeling Bridge down the Village Stroll to the Whistler Cenotaph in the Olympic Plaza.

> Whistler Olympic Plaza

> Friday, Nov. 11 @ 10:30 a.m.

IBSF NORTH AMERICAN CUP

About 100 bobsleigh and skeleton athletes from more than 20 nations will be racing in the North American Cup at the Whistler Sliding Centre from Nov. 7 to 13. Spectating is free during sliding times, and spectator parking is available on site. Bring your cowbells and cheer on the athletes!

> Whistler Sliding Centre

> Nov. 7 to 13

EMHÁM: CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS ARTS AND KNOWLEDGE

Join Arts Whistler every week in November for a series of fun Indigenous-led workshops at the Maury Young Arts Centre. Don’t miss this weekly opportunity to build stronger relationships, share in Indigenous knowledge, and foster greater understanding.

> Events scheduled for Nov. 10, 17 and 25. Prices, venues and start times vary

> Head to artswhistler.com/emham for tickets and more info.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

WHISTLER ARTISAN MARKET

A brand-new market hosted by your local artists featuring creatives from the Sea to Sky and across B.C. This two-day event will feature up to 40 vendors in Whistler’s biggest indoor market since 2019.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler,

Paying with Borgal Bucks

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

FOR MANY BUSINESSES that involve retail or food services, staff discounts are a common benefit for employees. Staff discounts can take many forms, with some offering more savings than others. In the 1980s, staff discounts on food at Whistler Mountain had a physical presence in the form of “Borgal Bucks.”

Borgal Bucks took their name from Lorne Borgal. Borgal had first come to Whistler as a teenager, and spent weekends volunteering for ski patrol on Whistler Mountain. In 1980, he was hired by Hugh Smythe to work in administration at the soon-to-open Blackcomb Mountain, where he got to wire telephones and direct traffic. After three years, Borgal left Blackcomb Mountain and went to Europe for a longawaited vacation. While on his vacation, he received a call from Mike Hurst at Whistler Mountain letting him know that Franz Wilhelmsen was retiring and Borgal was being considered as his replacement. Borgal joined Whistler Mountain as president and CEO in 1983, a role he kept for six years.

During his time there, Whistler Mountain replaced multiple triple chairs with the Village Express gondola, built Pika’s Restaurant at the Roundhouse, added the Peak Chair, and celebrated Whistler Mountain’s 20th birthday. He also tried introducing new programs and initiatives to update and improve Whistler Mountain’s customer service and management. Members of management were required to spend one day a month during the ski season working in a front-line position, which could lead to improvements for both customers and employees as management experienced the difficulties of different jobs

and were sometimes more willing to spend money or try new things to fix them.

One benefit that was introduced for employees was the “Borgal Buck” or “Dusty Dollar.” Whistler Mountain staff could pay for the physical coupons, which could then be used to purchase food from Whistler Mountain at a discounted price. On the coupon itself, the name of the currency appears to be “Dusty Dollars,” no doubt a reference to Dusty’s at the base of Whistler Mountain where the coupons could be used. Prominent on the paper coupon, however, is also a photo of Borgal.

According to a recent interview with Janet Love Morrison, Borgal Bucks entitled staff to 40 per cent off food from Whistler Mountain and could also be purchased against one’s next payday “if you were hungry and couldn’t make your paycheque.” It would seem that these coupons became quite popular. “Everybody had Borgal Bucks,” Love Morrison noted.

Love Morrison recalled other staff discounts offered by Whistler Mountain in the mid-1980s as well, including significant discounts on ski equipment and the offer of a payment plan spread over multiple paycheques, which Janet remembered using to purchase banana-yellow Atomic downhill skis for her boyfriend Gordy Harder.

Like Borgal, Love Morrison filled various roles at Whistler Mountain during her years working there, including cleaning the volunteer cabin, working at the daycare, and living at the top of the mountain with Gordy as alpine caretakers.

Today, staff discounts are still a popular way to provide benefits for employees, though they vary from organization to organization. As far as we are aware, however, there are no discounts in Whistler these days that feature the face or name of the company president and CEO.

BUCKING THE TREND Franz Wilhelmsen and Lorne Borgal at the dedication of Franz’s Run on Whistler Mountain. Lorne Borgal’s photo was featured on the Borgal Bucks used by Whistler Mountain employees.

WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CORPORATION COLLECTION

1 VILLAGE VIEWS Dead season was in full effect in Whistler Village on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 8, as the post-daylight-savings sunset glowed over the empty stroll.

PHOTO BY JESSLYN GATES 2 COASTING AND CRUISING The Coast Mountain brew crew celebrates after winning the silver medal for its Valley Trail Pale Ale at the B.C. Beer Awards on Saturday night, Nov. 5. PHOTO SUBMITTED 3 SNOVEMBER After Friday’s snowstorm and a few days of flurries, Whistlerites woke up to a resort blanketed in white on Monday morning, Nov. 7. PHOTO BY MEGAN LALONDE 4 VALLEY VIEWS With sun shining and snow sparkling, the Whistler Golf Club looks dramatically different than it did at the beginning of the month. PHOTO

BY BRADEN DUPUIS 5 FROSTED FLAKES A view of Whistler’s surrounding peaks took a frosty turn following last week’s snowfall.

PHOTO BY BARNABY ROSE 6 BIG ROAR Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) resident kitten Floyd working hard to prove that

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When you Aries people are at your best, you are driven by impeccable integrity as you translate high ideals into practical action. You push on with tireless force to get what you want, and what you want is often good for others, too. You have a strong sense of what it means to be vividly alive, and you stimulate a similar awareness in the people whose lives you touch. Are you always at your best? Of course not. No one is. But according to my analysis of upcoming astrological omens, you now have extra potential to live up to the elevated standards I described. I hope you will take full advantage.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In my experience, you Tauruses often have more help available than you realize. You underestimate your power to call on support, and as a result, don’t call on it enough. It may even be the case that the possible help gets weary of waiting for you to summon it, and basically goes into hiding or fades away. But let’s say that you, the lucky person reading this horoscope, get inspired by my words. Maybe you will respond by becoming more forceful about recognizing and claiming your potential blessings. I hope so! In my astrological opinion, now is a favourable time for you to go in quest of all the help you could possibly want. (PS: Where might the help come from? Sources you don’t expect, perhaps, but also familiar influences that expand beyond their previous dispensations.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Sometimes, life compels us to change. It brings us some shock that forces us to adjust. On other occasions, life doesn’t pressure us to make any shifts, but we nevertheless feel drawn to initiating a change. My guess is that you are now experiencing the latter. There’s no acute discomfort pushing you to revise your rhythm. You could probably continue with the status quo for a while. And yet, you may sense a growing curiosity about how your life could be different. The possibility of instigating a transformation intrigues you. I suggest you trust this intuition. If you do, the coming weeks will bring you greater clarity about how to proceed.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality,” wrote ancient Roman philosopher Seneca. That’s certainly true about me. If all the terrible things I have worried about had actually come to pass, I would be unable to function. Luckily, most of my fears have remained mere fantasies. What about you, fellow Cancerian? The good news is that in the coming months, we Crabs will have unprecedented power to tamp down and dissipate the phantasms that rouse anxiety and alarm. I predict that as a result, we will suffer less from imaginary problems than we ever have before. How’s that for a spectacular prophecy?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Poet Matt Michael writes, “Sure, the way trees talk is poetry. The shape of the moon is poetry. But a hot dog is also poetry. LeBron James’ tomahawk dunk over Kevin Garnett in the 2008 NBA Playoffs is poetry. That pothole I always fail to miss on Parkman Road is poetry, too.” In accordance with current astrological omens, Leo. I’d love for you to adopt Michael’s approach. The coming days will be a favourable time to expand your ideas about what’s lyrical, beautiful, holy, and meaningful. Be alert for a stream of omens that will offer you help and inspiration. The world has subtle miracles to show you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Michael Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka, but as a child moved to England and later to Canada. His novel Running in the Family describes his experiences upon returning to his native Sri Lanka as an adult. Among the most delightful: the deluge of novel sensory sensations. On some days, he would spend hours simply smelling things. In accordance with current astrological omens, I recommend you treat yourself to comparable experiences, Virgo. Maybe you could devote an hour today to mindfully inhaling various

10 BY ROB BREZSNY

aromas. Tomorrow, meditate on the touch of lush textures. On the next day, bathe yourself in sounds that fill you with rich and interesting feelings. By feeding your senses like this, you will give yourself an extra deep blessing that will literally boost your intelligence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You evolved Libras understand what’s fair and just. That’s one of your potencies, and it provides a fine service for you and your allies. You use it to glean objective truths that are often more valuable than everyone’s subjective opinions. You can be a stirring mediator as you deploy your knack for impartiality and evenhandedness. I hope these talents of yours will be in vivid action during the coming weeks. We non-Libras need extra-strong doses of this stuff.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here are tips on how to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Be a master of simmering, ruminating, marinating, steeping, fermenting, and effervescing. 2. Summon intense streams of self-forgiveness for any past event that still haunts you. 3. Tap into your forbidden thoughts so they might heal you. Discover what you’re hiding from yourself so it can guide you. Ask yourself prying questions. 4. Make sure your zeal always synergizes your allies’ energy, and never steals it. 5. Regularly empty your metaphorical trash so you always have enough room inside you to gleefully breathe the sweet air and exult in the earth’s beauty.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I straddle reality and the imagination,” says Sagittarian singer-songwriter Tom Waits. “My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.” I think that’s great counsel for you to emphasize in the coming weeks. Your reality needs a big influx of energy from your imagination, and your imagination needs to be extra well-grounded in reality. Call on both influences with maximum intensity!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sometimes, Capricorn, you appear to be so calm, secure, and capable that people get a bit awed, even worshipful. They may even get caught up in trying to please you. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily—as long as you don’t exploit and manipulate those people. It might even be a good thing in the coming weeks, since you and your gang have a chance to accomplish big improvements in your shared resources and environment. It would take an extra push from everyone, though. I suspect you’re the leader who’s best able to incite and orchestrate the extra effort.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you have been posing as a normal person for too long, I hope you will create fresh outlets for your true weird self in the weeks ahead. What might that entail? I’ll throw out a couple of ideas. You could welcome back your imaginary friends and give them new names like Raw Goodness and Spiral Trickster. You might wear fake vampire teeth during a committee meeting or pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to send you paranormal adventures. What other ideas can you imagine about how to have way too much fun as you draw more intensely on your core eccentricities?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I suspect you will have metaphorical resemblances to a duck in the coming weeks: an amazingly adaptable creature equally at home on land, in the water, and in the air. You will feel comfortable anywhere you choose to wander. And I’m guessing you will want to wander farther and wider than you usually do. Here’s another quality that you and ducks will share: You’ll feel perfectly yourself, relaxed and confident, no matter what the weather is. Whether it’s cloudy or shiny, rainy or misty, mild or frigid, you will not only be unflappable—you will thrive on the variety. Like a duck, Pisces, you may not attract a lot of attention. But I bet you will enjoy the hell out of your life exactly as it is.

Homework: What’s the unfinished thing you most need to finish? 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

ESTABLISHMENT

LOCATION: 1 1208 Alpha Lake Road

LICENCE TYPE: LIQUOR PRIMARY

APPLICANT: RISING TIDE CONSULTANTS

Forged Axe Throwing Ltd is a Liquor Primary licensed establishment with hours of service of 11 am-11 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am to 12 am Friday through Saturday. The licensee has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) to permanently extend the licensed service area to add a 3 person patio and a 15 person patio for a total increase of 18 persons to the licensed capacity for the establishment.

Residents and owners of businesses may comment by writing to:

Resort Experience, Planning Department Resort Municipality of Whistler 4325 Blackcomb Way • Whistler, BC V8E 0X5 planning@whistler.ca

PETITIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

To ensure the consideration of your views, your written comments must be received on or before December 3, 2022. Your name(s) and residence address (or business address if applicable) must be included

Please note that your comments may be made available to the applicant and local government officials as required to administer the licence process.

Photo: Ben Girardi

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

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.

STATUS:

ABOUT US: Tourism Pemberton is an independent, not for profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting tourism and travel for Pemberton, BC and the surrounding region For the past several years, Tourism Pemberton has managed a variety of projects, campaigns, and events in an effort to build a responsible and sustainable tourism economy for the benefit of local residents and visitors including: Backcountry S anitation Infrastructure, Agri tourism Wayfinding Signs, Range Beyond Range Circle Route, Pemberton Farm Tour, The Raven Guide and more!

POSITION: The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for daily administrative duties, Membership management, marketing initiatives and campaigns, grant sourcing and applications, and the management/production of the annual Slow Food Cycle Sunday event

WE OFFER: An exciting work experience i ncluding a competitive contract wage, flexible hours, complimentary Membership, and the opportunity to work from home!

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•

•

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•

Tourism Pemberton Executive Director

Centre Coordinator • Maintenance/Shoveler

Health & Healing • Infant Development Program Coordinator Ts’zil Learning Center • Indigenous Support Worker • Receptionist (on-call)

Lil’wat Business Group • Cashier (on-call) • Kitchen Staff

Transfer Station Operator Xet’olacw Community School • Grade 5 Teacher (mat leave)

Grade 2 Teacher • Educational Facilitator

Custodian (on-call)

SPECIALIST, EMAIL MARKETING

Full Time, Year Round

The Specialist, Email Marketing is responsible for facilitating Tourism Whistler’s email marketing strategy. The Specialist coordinates the planning, development, distribution and analysis of targeted email campaigns with an objective towards brand loyalty, customer retention, and sales revenue.

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

We’re also recruiting for: Winter Visitor Surveyors (Part Time, Winter Contract).

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

At the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) our vision of ‘Service. Relationships. Results.’ is all about providing a valued service, building strong relationships with our stakeholders, and achieving greater results for the province.

The LDB is one of two branches of government responsible for the cannabis and liquor industry of B.C. We operate the wholesale distribution of beverage alcohol within the province, as well as the household retail brand of BC Liquor Stores.

We employ nearly 5,000 people in over 200 communities and have been named one of BC’s Top Employers 14 times over for offering exceptional places to work rooted in values of fairness and respect, work-life balance, and inclusion and diversity. We believe that our people are our greatest asset. Being a reputable employer with programs of skills training and professional development are what attract candidates to BC Liquor Stores, while our progressive, forward-thinking culture is why employees with a growth mindset thrive.

Auxiliary positions are on-call, meaning hours of work are not guaranteed and subject to availability. Some auxiliary employees may not initially work a full 35-hour week, but with more hours worked and more seniority gained, more opportunities for more hours of work will follow.

Auxiliary positions are not permanent full-time but can lead to permanent full-time opportunities with a very competitive total compensation package, including a comprehensive pension plan, medical and dental coverage (including massage and physiotherapy), tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs, and access to public service employee bene ts including career support services, nancial and legal services, and employee and family counselling.

We are dedicated to the highest quality of customer service, delivered with friendliness, individual pride, initiative, and retail passion! If you t this description and you are prepared to work in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply to become a part of the Whistler area BC Liquor Stores.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following quali cation requirements: • Be at least 19 years of age • Be able to legally work in Canada

Be able to provide excellent customer service

Be able to communicate effectively and professionally with the public

Be able to demonstrate aptitude for cashier and related duties, including calculations

Be able to perform physically demanding work, including lifting 20-25 kg boxes

Have a valid Serving It Right Certi cate™ • A Criminal Record Check is required.

BC Liquor Store Sales Associates may be required to operate a variety of mechanical and hand-operated equipment, in addition to handling large volumes of bottles as part of the LDB’s recycling program. Rate of Pay as of April 10, 2022: Auxiliary Sales Associate - $20.33 per hour

boorish

Like a good sentry

Della

Watch pockets

Drop -- -- line

Lead Chipmunk

Threshold

“Miles Runs the -Down”

Join a certain way

Dogie catcher

Social mores

Fragrance

Hoarded

Crusty desserts

Wall decoration

Photo

Facilitated

Some locks

DOWN

Twist roughly

Not urban

Texas landmark

Sellers or Lorre

Esteemed

Screen pictures

Word of disgust

Clean the deck

Baby food

Crop duster

Rain hard

Foot-pound relative

Road map info

Borge of the piano

Miscellany

Take it all o

Wear away

Pertaining to the sun

Made blueprints

Kind of folder

Certain corn chip

Hop out of bed

Piano part

Bank features

Delicate

Remove wiretaps

Loafing

Utilize

401(k) kin

Delivery truck

Reckons

Debutante’s bow

A vital sign

Emmet 80 A pound sterling 81 Card-game expert 82 Magnificent 83 Ms. Zellweger 84 Appetizer tray item 85 Mr. Unseld 86 Brewer’s grain

Drill

Low-fat spread

Not working 91 Novelist -- Zola

Radio, TV, etc.

LaBelle

Make amends

Pithy

Big computer key

British peer

Borscht veggie

Mongol dwelling

Annapolis grad

Grass skirt accessory

Farewell, bid

HEWING TO THE path of least resistance, it’s not often I applaud steps taken by the provincial government. Far more satisfying to snipe about an unnecessary election call to stroke the premier’s ego or the potentially ruinous financial decision to move forward with the Site C dam rather than give it the death it so rightly deserves.

But sometimes they manage to get it right. Sometimes they make a tough decision that’ll have political fallout. Yes,

BY G.D. MAXWELL

sometimes they surprise us.

And so it was two weeks ago when Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, announced the cabinet’s decision the province would not support the 2030 Olympic™ bid. While the decision surprised many—and pissed off more than a few— it probably shouldn’t have come as the surprise so many thought. Nor should it have raised the ire of those who felt slighted.

Melanie Mark, then B.C.’s tourism minister, put the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and bid backers on notice last July that they weren’t going to get a free ride from the province. She told them the province wouldn’t consider supporting the bid until the COC showed proof the participating four First Nations and communities—three in total: Vancouver, Whistler and Kamloops—were willing to ante up their share of the costs.

She was looking for, “Letters of support and minutes or resolutions from Indigenous governing bodies and local government councils...” She also wanted proof their support reflected outcomes of local public engagement. Oh, and she wanted it by the middle of August.

The bid, announced in February, was dubbed the Indigenous-led bid after four First Nations—the Lil’wat, Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh—signed an agreement with the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to explore a possible bid. To broaden the appeal, Kamloops was added along the way, with Sun Peaks to host some of the snow events.

Vancouver council signed on in July. Whistler’s council was supportive from the start. Kamloops came on board in August. None had reached out for that necessary public support.

There was much written and said about the alleged strength of the bid, particularly the perceived extent to which facilities from the 2010 Games might be put back into use. There was also a lot of speculation the various senior levels of government would be hesitant to not back the bid because of the inclusion of the four First Nations.

But common sense prevailed when the business proposal was submitted to the province. It reportedly asked for $2.12 billion in cash and other support to host the Games, half from the province and half from the federal government. In addition, the province would guarantee any deficits.

Given the track record of the last Olympics™, where security alone was estimated to cost in the neighbourhood of a billion dollars and endemic cost overruns occurred, there is every reason to believe the proposed budget was light. It also failed to answer the province’s query about how much skin the First Nations and host venues were going to have in the game.

The response was, well, predictable. The province’s lack of backing was derided as a slap to the face of true reconciliation.

Beare indicated the cabinet came to the decision to not support it on the basis of the costs involved, the risks inherent, and the obvious fact the money could be better spent on higher-priority needs across the province.

She also said this decision had been communicated to the First Nations several days prior to the announcement being made.

That the province could find more productive ways to spend $1 billion plus goes without saying. From one end of the province to the other, health-care—a provincial responsibility—is a shambles. Emergency rooms in many communities have reduced hours or have shuttered entirely for periods of time. If you and your family have a family doctor, count

being see much in the way of relief. Ask the people providing support and assistance on the ground whether they’d rather fund another bread and circus or see the people they deal with every day get the mental health counselling and access to treatment they desperately need.

Even though he chastised the NDP government’s communication and consultation efforts, our own Liberal MLA, Jordan Sturdy, wasn’t convinced the bid was, “necessarily a good idea or something the corridor needs.” Acknowledging the potential benefits for Whistler, he saw little in the proposal benefiting either Pemberton or Squamish.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The benefits for the rest of the province were not only zero, they were negative. Outside our bubble, there was considerable resentment over the money spent for the 2010 Games. It was seen as largesse flowing to Vancouver and Whistler while other communities not only didn’t benefit but saw needed provincial funds dry up, something they attributed directly to the Games.

But was it?

As Minister Beare outlined the process, the four First Nations came to the province about a year ago to make initial queries about provincial support for the bid. She was silent as to what, if any, encouragement was given to the idea, but clearly by last summer, the province’s position was made clear.

Beare said she received the official proposal in the two weeks prior to the announcement the province would take a pass on it. And while she praised the bid,

yourselves fortunate and hope she or he doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon. People are leaving the profession faster than they can be replaced. And this province isn’t alone facing these challenges.

Explain to someone waiting hours in the hallways of an emergency ward why hosting the Olympics™ is a higher priority than them getting in to see a doc before they pass out or give up.

And that’s the low-hanging fruit of health-care. It’s likely to get attention long before issues of mental health and well-

The provincial government made the right decision. With the challenges currently facing all B.C. communities, and especially many First Nations communities, and with rampant inflation and the very real potential for a recession in the new year, squandering billions on a circus that promised benefits to only a few would have been indefensible.

Reconciliation is a journey, a process. Done well, it will forge a new way forward where both sides win—not everything they want, but something. Done poorly, it will be a perpetual zero sum game with winners and losers. But if reconciliation means reasonable minds can’t come to different conclusions, it’s just a stalemate. And no one wins. ■

“’Tis but a scratch!” -the Black Knight

Outside our bubble, there was considerable resentment over the money spent for the 2010 Games.

PHOTO BY ERIK ODIIN ON UNSPLASH