Pique Newsmagazine 3012

Pages from his playbook

Following Whistler Question founder Paul Burrows’ death earlier this month, Pique shares tales from Whistler’s ultimate storyteller. -

By Glenda Bartosh

14 CALL AND RESPONSE

Whistler Search and Rescue sees a rise in its response volume for the third consecutive year.

24 GROWTH SPURT

As Pemberton grows at breakneck speed, one of the most significant housing and neighbourhood developments in its history just took a major step forward.

18 FOR FUN’S SAKE Whistler’s Chris Whittaker and his co-worker Nuka de Joncas had three simple goals on their epic kayak trip through B.C.’s Inside Passage: “Have fun, eat well, not die.”

22 TAKE ’EM TO CHURCH The Whistler Community Church welcomes its new lead pastor, Tim Olson, at a time of religious decline in the resort.

32 SWEET SIXTEEN An incredible 16 of the 20 young skiers representing the coastal region at this week’s BC Winter Games hail from the Freestyle Whistler club.

36 PARTY FAVOURS Whistler’s favourite seasonending party, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, is set to return to the village after a COVID hiatus with a decidedly grassroots feel.

COVER I never knew Paul Burrows, but by the looks of it, he led his life with a big smile and a bigger heart. Something to be celebrated. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

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Social Media Editor MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com

Reporters

BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com

MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com

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

President, Whistler Publishing LP

SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com

Opinion & Columns

08 OPENING REMARKS Whistler stands on the shoulders of giants like Paul Burrows, who both foresaw what the resort would become, while also helping preserve its unique history, writes Brandon Barrett.

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week detail the “bizarre” experience of being rejected for a job at Vail Resorts, and propose turning the day lots into low-rising housing.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Columnist David Song laments the effect fantasy sports have had on our love of the game.

58 MAXED OUT In Part I of Max’s series looking back at the development of Whistler, he compares the local cheerleaders and naysayers who had very different views on the resort’s future.

Environment & Adventure

26 RANGE ROVER Columnist Leslie Anthony seeks out snowmobiling, frozen waterfalls and dinosaurs at Tumbler Ridge, one of B.C.’s most unheralded destinations.

Lifestyle & Arts

34 EPICURIOUS Since taking over Naked Sprout in Whistler Village last year, Marie-Christine Boulet has made the plant-based café and eatery all about the locals.

40 MUSEUM MUSINGS Meet the herd of furred, feathered and finned mammals who scrambled their way up Blackcomb Mountain 40 years ago for Whistler’s first annual Mascot Race.

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Whistler stands on the shoulders of giants

I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL a certain kinship with Paul Burrows, the dogged founder of The Whistler Question, among many other local accomplishments.

I cut my teeth at the Question, my very first “real-person” job out of journalism school, and got to watch it evolve into its next iteration after Glacier Media purchased Pique Newsmagazine

BY BRANDON

in 2013 and merged the two newsrooms. I was also there, in 2018, to bear witness to the Question’s final issue, the end of an era that began in 1976 out of the basement of Paul and his wife Jane’s Alpine Meadows basement.

I will never forget the first time I saw the Question’s inaugural issue, those yellowing sheets of mimeographed paper staring back at me from behind glass. To my young and naïve Millennial brain, steeped in the modernities of digital journalism, those stapled-together pages jammed with line after line of text may as well have been an ancient artifact, recovered from a dusty dig site long forgotten.

In that moment, it struck me like a lightning bolt: I am part of a larger whole, another link in a long chain of curious reporters and storytellers who have contributed in their own ways to the interpretation and understanding of this unique little ski town.

Suddenly, I grasped the immense responsibility that came with the job,

a recognition that I’ve tried to carry on throughout my career.

Getting to tell other people’s stories is a privilege I will never take for granted, and it’s one that Burrows understood deeply from the get-go. As Glenda Bartosh, who worked for Burrows as a cub reporter in the early ‘80s before purchasing the paper from him and his wife, told me last week, following his death, that no story was “too little or too corny” for him. “Everybody had a story to tell and they were all important.” (Head to page 28 for Bartosh’s beautiful, poignant cover feature for more on Burrows’ unparalleled life.)

Whistler’s potential that many of the cabinsquatting ski bums of the ’70s and ’80s didn’t (or at least weren’t willing to admit in those heady times). He foresaw the ski boom that was to come, and the inherent benefit of developing a pedestrian-only village (on the former site of the town dump, no less) that could accommodate the waves of visitors that were still a long way off.

“We were quite countercultural in those days, and he definitely could rub us hippies the wrong way with his pro-development stance,” remembers long-time local and Whistler Search and Rescue manager Brad Sills.

up staying for the long haul who are motivated to learn about Whistler’s unlikely journey from a tiny hippie enclave to a mammoth ski-tourism machine (and even fewer are motivated to go farther back than that, to the centuries of shared history of the Lil’wat7úl and Skwxwú7mesh on these lands).

This was another thing Burrows well understood. Speaking to Pique in a 2001 interview about his inability to establish a retirement centre in Whistler, he said, “In a normal town, losing the old people would be a disaster. But even Whistler will be unable to retain any continuity. You cannot look forward

Reading back through Burrows’ pointed writings, you soon realize many of the same stories we tell ourselves today about Whistler are largely different versions of the same stories told half a century ago.

At the heart of Whistler’s modern makeup, then as in now, is a question that will continue to be asked for generations: how do we avoid killing the very qualities of this special place that made it so appealing to begin with? Burrows, for all his stubborn opinions, understood something about

That tug of war between nature and development, progress and the status quo, continues to this day in Whistler, and no matter where you land on that particular debate, we have the Burrows of the world to thank for beginning the conversation.

They say those who ignore their history are doomed to repeat it, and Whistler is probably more susceptible to this powerful, inevitable force than most other communities. Most people come here for a good time, not a long time, so it’s typically only those who end

if you have lost the ability to look back.”

As we see flocks of long-time locals leave town, along with the institutional memory they possess, perhaps it’s time to follow in the footsteps of Burrows and the other giants upon which Whistler was built. We spend a lot of time and energy in this town looking ahead, which is part and parcel of an ever-evolving destination resort that aims to maintain its place at the top of the ski world. But looking back is just as important, if not more so, if we want to break the cycle of history repeating itself. ■

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The bizarreness of being rejected for a job by Vail Resorts

Last fall, I wrote a letter to Pique describing my experience applying for a job at Vail Resorts in Whistler during a housing crisis (“Letter: The bizarreness of applying with Vail Resorts in Whistler, Nov. 3, 2022).

More recently, I had the experience of applying for another job at that company. As before, I received a job offer from the applicant tracking system, but this time, instead of having to decline the offer because of a lack of housing, I received a message from the department in question saying that they weren’t going to hire me. Perhaps this is completely normal for this company, but it is very odd receiving a job offer from one part of a company and a rejection from another.

Chris Brossard // Whistler

Wanna mitigate Whistler’s housing crisis? Use the day lots for low-rise apartments

As a visitor to Whistler, having left just recently—I have been travelling to ski in Whistler for 22 years—and having read Pique both online and in paper regularly, I see the accursed accommodation problem is constant and always being discussed.

Whistler is one of those communities torn between its wish to remain clean, green, and special, while at the same time relying on us hordes of visitors for its economic existence. Low cost and staff housing is the constant theme and land use is always being contested. However, over the road from municipal hall are the day lots, the largest tract of open land in the village, fully utilized only on holidays and powder days.

The huge, flat carpark is an obvious choice to me to build multiple apartments on, while at the same time retaining the land area for its current use. I assume I am not the only observer of this obvious opportunity, but I have never heard it discussed. There is an ability to build low-rise apartments on top of the car park, or part of it, while retaining the ground floor for parking—no snow to clear either. Great. Just thinking while on the plane home to Oz again after another great month’s skiing.

Brian Beban // Australia

Would Garibaldi At Squamish help ‘Make Whistler Great Again?’

The best thing that could ever happen to Highway 99 and Whistler is opening Garibaldi At Squamish and Bridal Veil Mountain Resort in the Fraser Valley.

Getting these new resorts open will relieve all the pressure and Make Whistler Great Again.

Wes McIntyre // Vancouver n

“The best thing that could ever happen to Highway

Mountain

in the Fraser Valley.”

- WES MCINTYRE

Backcountry Update

AS OF TUESDAY, MAR. 21 Spring is finally here! We’re done with the short days and the worst of the cold snaps. The sun is out more, the air is warmer, and the days are longer. Images of spring skiing in T-shirts and sunglasses are likely to appear in your daydreams.

Wait just a minute… Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We are still in a transitional phase and March can be a real trickster when it comes to avalanche conditions. The weather can be variable, with rapid temperature fluctuations. As a result, changes to the snowpack can happen at an alarmingly fast rate this time of year. On that note, we expect to see new snow and cooler temperatures as we head into the weekend.

The good news is that this new snow may provide excellent powder skiing. However, fresh snow can quickly turn into heavy, dense, storm slabs that make for challenging skiing and potentially dangerous avalanche conditions. The silver lining is that storm-

slab instabilities that form during relatively warm periods settle and bond faster than they do in cold temperatures.

The recent sunshine and temperature fluctuations resulted in buried melt-freeze crusts that further complicate things. And, remember, the snowpack still contains the buried weak layers that we’ve dealt with throughout the season. New snow requires time to settle and stabilize. In the days after the storm, keep in mind that humantriggered avalanches are possible. Short periods of avalanche activity typically occur at the tail end of a storm, during periods of warm, sunny weather.

The March sun packs a major punch this time of year and can quickly destabilize new snow, causing wet, loose avalanche activity, primarily in steep, south-facing terrain. Your best bet will be to avoid steep, sunny slopes, particularly in the afternoon, when maximum heating is expected. Make sure you check the daily forecast at avalanche.ca for more nuanced travel and terrain advice. ■

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

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PARCEL TAX ROLL REVIEW

This notice is applicable to owners of proper ty situated within the Resor t Municipality of Whistler and whose proper ties are subject to one or all of the following parcel taxes:

• Emerald Sewer Specified Area Parcel Tax

• Alta Lake Road Local Area Ser vice Parcel Tax

• Water Parcel Tax

• Sewer Parcel Tax

The Resor t Municipality of Whistler advises that the parcel tax rolls for the 2023 roll year are available for public inspection at the Resor t Municipality of Whistler Municipal Hall, 4325 Blackcomb Way, business hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday only (inclusive) (statutor y holidays excluded).

The Resor t Municipality of Whistler also advises that any complaints of the tax roll must be received by the Manager of Financial Ser vices no later than 4:30 PM, Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Valid Complaints are:

• Errors or omission of a name or address,

• Errors or omissions on inclusion of a parcel,

• Errors or omissions of taxable area or taxable frontage,

• An exemption has been improperly allowed or disallowed

A complaint must be in writing and must:

• Include an address for deliver y of any notices in respect of the complaint,

• Identify the proper ty of which the complaint is made,

• Include the full name of the complainant and telephone number where they can be contacted at regular business hours,

• Indicate if the complainant is the owner of the proper ty,

• Indicate, if applicable, the name of the complainant ’s agent and telephone number where they can be contacted at regular business hours,

• State the grounds that the complaint is based upon,

• And any other prescribed information

Resor t Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

Fantasy sports have gotten out of hand

LIKE ANY SELF-RESPECTING sports fan who currently draws breath, I have tried my hand at fantasy sports. Unlike many, I am over it.

For anyone who doesn’t know: the term ‘fantasy sports’ refers to online games where participants assemble virtual teams of real athletes and earn points based on the real-life statistical performances of those athletes. This form of gaming has become

BY DAVID SONG

dsong@piquenewsmagazine.com

exponentially more popular since the turn of the century, with a myriad of formats and leagues available. Some put real money on the line, while others simply play to gain bragging rights over their friends.

Various friend groups have convinced me to do multiple seasons of fantasy football and fantasy hockey. I actually won a football league in my second year of participation— granted, that Kurt Warner-esque underdog journey was bookended by two pathetic outings where many of the star athletes I drafted got hurt or were simply ineffective.

If memory serves, my last venture into this world came in 2020, when I had very little fun being demolished by league-mates whom I felt were largely disinterested in engaging with me.

That’s the last time I played fantasy sports with professional acquaintances rather than friends.

In fact, it was the last time I’ve played at all.

Before you ask: no, I didn’t quit fantasy sports to cut off a gambling addiction. I’ve never wagered real money before, and I never will. And while it was frustrating to lose, my disappointing record wasn’t the main reason I stopped either.

Instead, I realized that fantasy sports can suck the joy out of being a sports fan.

If you’ve watched sports on TV or a

here. Instead, I’d like to point out how fantasy sports can skew our perception of athletics for the worse.

During a simpler time in history, people watched sporting events to cheer on their hometown team, appreciate their favourite sport, or spend quality time with friends and family. Nowadays, folks also want to observe how well the athletes on their fantasy squads are performing. There is merit to doing this. One of my closest friends says that playing fantasy football and hockey gives him a reason to watch teams

escalate into death threats, as they have against NFL players Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Justin Tucker and Brandon Jacobs in the past. (There are many, many more examples).

Moreover, fantasy sports can take a toll even on those who conduct themselves with basic human decency. I, for one, know my involvement in fantasy skewed my ability to watch a game. It wasn’t enough seeing my Green Bay Packers blow out division rivals at that point—I also needed the one Packers wide receiver I drafted to ball out, and I’d be disappointed whenever he failed to.

What a toxic way to engage with a sport I ostensibly enjoy.

streaming service at any point in the last year or two, chances are you’ve been inundated with sports betting advertisements featuring all kinds of celebrities. Fantasy sports have been on the gambling bandwagon for some time, with well-known companies like DraftKings and FanDuel offering many ways to draft a lineup and compete for monetary prizes.

The links between habitual betting and financial insolvency, substance abuse and mental health issues have been thoroughly documented for some time, as Pique editor Braden Dupuis pointed out in his March 9 editorial. However, I won’t unpack that issue

he would not otherwise. You may not be a Buffalo Sabres fan (and my condolences if you are), but having a breakout player like Tage Thompson on your fantasy roster may incentivize turning on the occasional Sabres game and watching what a hockey star not named Connor McDavid can do.

Having said that, fantasy sports drive people off the deep end on a regular basis. The sight of professional athletes being harassed on social media by fans who want them to put up big, fantasy-friendly numbers has become all too common in the year of our Lord, 2023. Every so often, these displays of immaturity

Nor is this mindset conducive to an educated outlook on sports. Fantasy tempts us to fixate on numbers in any given contest rather than digesting the big picture. For instance, the blocking of an offensive line never generates fantasy points, yet any true football fan appreciates how a dominant O-line can change the course of a game.

We sports fans are inherently emotional creatures, prone to losing sight of the big picture in life. We don’t need more reasons to exit a stadium or turn off a TV feeling angry or disappointed—yet that’s exactly what fantasy sports can provide. Some fans are more than capable of playing in a healthy manner, but others continue to give themselves to a game that stopped being fun long ago.

If you belong to the latter category, do yourself a favour and take a break. n

[W]hile it was frustrating to lose, my disappointing record wasn’t the main reason I stopped ...

Whistler Search and Rescue sees rise in response volume for third consecutive year

MOST REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE CAME FROM HIKERS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE

BY MEGAN LALONDE

THE GROWING NUMBER of people heading into the Sea to Sky backcountry doesn’t appear to be slowing down, if Whistler Search and Rescue (WSAR) statistics are any indication.

Call volume was up for the third year in a row, as WSAR manager Brad Sills stated in the annual report he presented to members at the organization’s annual general meeting on Tuesday evening, March 21.

According to the report, WSAR received more than 115 requests for assistance between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Of those, 88 required crews to mobilize—a six-per-cent rise— while four calls were resolved by promoting self-rescue, helping lost callers download GPS apps and route-find, or offering basic medical instruction to treat symptoms like fatigue, dehydration or muscle strain. WSAR members also provided assistance to their counterparts in Pemberton on four occasions.

Staggeringly, Whistler SAR’s 88 mobilizations in 2022-23 represent a 60-per-cent jump from the 55 mobilizations volunteers recorded pre-pandemic, in the year ending on March 1, 2020. Meanwhile, Whistler SAR volunteers fielded more than 110 requests for assistance in the 12-month period ending March 1, 2022, of which 83 required team mobilizations.

Whistler SAR’s busiest month of 2022 was March, when volunteers responded to 12 requests for assistance (seven of which came in during a four-day period from March 3 to 6), followed by August, with 11 calls. Phone lines were quietist in December, when volunteers responded to just three incidents—a “notable

exception,” considering the holiday period “is usually very busy,” the report pointed out—compared to four calls WSAR responded to in November.

“In general, the distribution of call volume over the months was fairly evenly distributed,” the report stated.

WHO DID WHISTLER SEARCH AND RESCUE HELP OVER THE LAST YEAR?

When it comes to rescues by activity, hikers represented the greatest proportion of search subjects, by far. They put in 33 calls for assistance, compared to 11 callouts for ski mountaineers, nine each for mountain bikers and climbers, and eight for snowmobilers. WSAR also responded to five missing persons calls, five requests for assistance from outof-bounds snowboarders, and four from out-of-bounds skiers, with calls from trail runners, commercial operators and an inland water incident making up the balance. Four calls were deemed avalanche responses.

The year marked a return to normal in terms of mountain biking-related call volume: WSAR responded to just three incidents involving mountain bikes in 2021, compared to nine in 2019.

WSAR crews visited the Garibaldi Lake area most often, on 18 occasions, followed closely by the Spearhead Range, at 17 responses.

Throughout the 12 months, WSAR helped a total of 118 people: 71 (or about 60 per cent) of whom were male and 47 female.

“Ten years ago, the call volume was more heavily weighted to young males 15-25 years of age,” the report noted.

Last year, people between 26 and 30 years old accounted for the majority of search subjects (33), followed by the 31-to-40 cohort (30), and the 41-to-50 age group (18). Fourteen search subjects were between 21 and 25 years old, while WSAR helped eight subjects

between 15 and 20 years old, eight more who were between 51 and 60; six who were in their 60s, and just one child who was 15 or younger.

According to anecdotal data, tourists visiting the Sea to Sky from other countries accounted for 33 of the 118 subjects (11 Americans, six Mexicans, five British, five Chinese, three from the Czech Republic, two Japanese, and one Spaniard). Twentynine locals found themselves in need of help throughout the 12 months, while 35 subjects listed addresses from elsewhere in B.C., and 18 resided elsewhere in Canada.

HOW IS WHISTLER SEARCH AND RESCUE (AND OTHER B.C. GROUPS) FUNDED?

Each time a search-and-rescue operation makes its way into the headlines—for example, when WSAR responded to four separate callouts in a single day earlier this March—a handful of social media users will inevitably leave comments asking a variation of the same question: “Who’s paying for it?”

In B.C., that’s never the search subject, no matter how that individual or group found themselves in need of assistance. That’s the case not just in B.C., but across all Canadian provinces.

Whenever rumours arise that B.C. could consider charging search-and-rescue fees, “it causes us grief,” said Dwight Yochim, CEO of the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA). The group advocates on behalf of the province’s 78 different ground SAR groups and their more than 3,400 volunteers.

“What happens is someone goes missing, they don’t tell anyone, even if they have cellphone contact, they call their friends and their friends won’t call 911, they’ll try and go out and do the rescue themselves because they’re afraid of the bill they might get,” he explained. “It just delays us, and potentially means, rather than one subject, we now have several.

Or, “Imagine if there was a risk of being charged for a house fire,” Yochim analogized, “so someone tries to put out their house fire with a garden hose, and it catches the next house on fire and eventually the fire department has to show up. It’s the same thing. These are first responders.”

The sooner the call, the quicker the response, and the better the chance of a positive outcome, Yochim said. “The kind of society we have is we respond to people in need, and we don’t question it,” he explained. “That’s the position BCSARA has taken; that that’s the way we should do it to reduce risk.”

The province of British Columbia offers about $5 million in annual funding for SAR organizations across the province, and foots the bill for any costs incurred during a search and rescue operation, whether that be food, helicopter fuel, damaged equipment or other expenses. In 2018, BCSARA estimated it costs approximately $12 million to fund all 78 groups.

Crews like WSAR are registered non-profits that use donations to make up for the balance; paying for costs like training and equipment. Aside from WSAR’s annual “Wined Up” fundraising event, some donations come from grateful search subjects who found themselves on the receiving end of volunteers’ services.

“Sometimes you’ll save a subject and you’ll get a ‘thanks,’ which is really all that the volunteers ask for, but sometimes the subjects will come back in to provide a donation or help with fundraising—the support is quite nice,” Yochim said.

On a provincewide scale, search-andrescue volunteers responded to approximately 1,500 calls in 2022—down from the about 2000 responses conducted in the first year of the pandemic, said Yochim—and put in more than 440,000 volunteer hours.

“For every hour that Whistler [SAR] is out on a search, they’ve put in almost four hours in training and administrative work,” he estimated. n

CALL AND RESPONSE It was another busy year for Whistler Search and Rescue crews, who saw their call volume rise for the third year in a row.

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‘Accessibility benefits everyone’

WHISTLER GETS FUNDING TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY IN THE RESORT

BY ROBERT WISLA

THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) is one of eight B.C. municipalities and two First Nations communities receiving funding from the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to improve accessibility in the resort and provide accessibility training for municipal staff.

Brad McCannell, RHF vice president of access and inclusion, believes the funding provided through the B.C. Grants Program will go a long way toward improving accessibility in the communities.

“Almost 50 per cent of adults in Canada have a permanent or temporary disability or live with someone who does. Many of us struggle every day to access the places where we live, work, learn, and play, facing significant barriers that others take for granted,” McCannell said in a release.

“Accessibility improvements to spaces such as community centres, libraries and arts facilities will benefit everyone across our province—parents, seniors, people with temporary and permanent disabilities, their caregivers and loved ones. Everyone has a right to real, meaningful access.”

The municipalities receiving the grant were selected based on population and geographic representation. Local governments in Whistler, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Port Moody, Prince George, and Richmond will each receive $82,500 to improve accessibility at three sites in their respective communities.

The RHF will identify the locations needing improvement, and following the upgrades, municipalities will receive accessibility certification and plaques for each site.

According to McCannell, the RHF created the Accessibility Certification program to fill a gap between what is required by provincial building codes and the needs of the disabled community.

The program aims to provide meaningful access for disabled persons that considers a more comprehensive array of disabilities, while addressing issues not covered by

building codes— and ultimately changing the culture of the building industry.

The funding comes at an ideal time. Whistler is hosting the Invictus Games 2025, bringing hundreds of disabled and injured veterans to the resort to compete in adaptive sports.

Councillor Jessie Morden, council’s representative on the RMOW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Committee, believes improving access will help not only people with disabilities but also parents with small children, and the funding is coming at an advantageous time with the Invictus games quickly approaching.

“We’re thrilled to be selected by the Rick Hansen foundation for this grant, which is huge for our community. It will enable us to work towards our commitment to improving accessibility for residents and visitors with disabilities,” Morden said.

“Accessibility benefits everyone. So having this grant will help everyone who has small children. I have two kids, and one has to be in a stroller, and I find it hard navigating around town sometimes with the lack of ramps, elevators, or whatnot. We have to go far away to find one, so it will be nice to put in some more accessible areas like that.”

In addition to the funding, three RMOW staff members will receive a complimentary RHF Accessibility Certification tuition grant to instruct staff on how to rate existing buildings and pre-construction drawings on their level of accessibility.

“Not only do we recognize that municipalities require access to this program and funding, but we want to ensure that future building upgrades and new structures can be designed with accessibility in mind,” McCannell said. “Through accessibility training, each municipality will have the opportunity to continue their community’s accessibility journey and foster a positive culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

Along with the eight municipal recipients, two B.C. Indigenous communities will also receive funding through the program, which the foundation said it would announce in the coming months. n

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FUNDING ACCESS The Resort Municipality of Whistler is one of eight B.C. municipalities receiving funding from the Rick Hansen Foundation to improve accessibility in the community.

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Whistler residents push for tax deferment program access

PROPOSED TITLE-CHANGE PILOT IN TAPLEY’S FARM NEIGHBOURHOOD WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD

BY ROBERT WISLA

A PILOT PROJECT allowing dozens of people in Whistler’s Tapley’s Farm neighbourhood to participate in the Provincial Deferred Taxation Program (PDTP) will not occur.

On March 7, the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) mayor and council opted not to implement a title-change pilot for 28 leasehold properties in the Lorimer Ridge Strata, located adjacent to Myrtle Philip Community School on Whistler Housing Authority-owned land, that would change the properties’ titles from leasehold to fee simple ownership and allow residents to access provincial taxation relief.

According to Lorimer Ridge strata president Robert Risso, the pilot’s goal is to give aging strata residents access to the PDTP to provide some tax relief for residents as property values and associated taxes have risen significantly.

“As our residents have aged, some of them came up against [the problem] that they couldn’t defer their property taxes,” Risso said. “We had a few residents who reached that age and wanted to do that and found that they couldn’t, because they were leasehold. So we started this initiative to say, well, could we change that?”

The PDTP is a provincial low-interest loan program that allows individuals to defer paying property taxes on their principal residences.

The program is open to people aged 55 or older, with children under 18, a surviving spouse, or eligible persons with disabilities.

Currently, the PDTP does not apply to municipally-owned leased properties. Residents must pay annual property taxes on properties now worth millions, amounting to thousands in additional costs, which can be cumbersome for house-rich but cash-poor occupants.

Until 1993, lease stipulations were the only way to implement occupancy restrictions under

properties to fee simple, with continued occupancy-restricted housing covenants, will help residents acquire financing, as some banks will not lend to leasehold properties. The pilot could also provide a guide for other municipallyowned leasehold properties to follow.

“In the big picture, I don’t know how many other properties in Whistler could be impacted by this [freehold change], but as we show the road to it, as a pilot project, which we proposed, how many more could be?”

municipal assets. If the leasehold agreements are terminated in the distant future, the cost to the RMOW and WHA for acquiring the properties would be the fair market value of the buildings and other improvements,” RMOW planner Joanna Rees said in a presentation to council. “These lands also provide potential opportunities to address future community needs in prime locations.”

A report to council notes the current leases last 60 years, and extensions are available for another two terms, finishing in 2173. From staff’s perspective, the urgency to plan for the area’s long-term future is low.

While the pilot will not move forward, the RMOW does share some sympathy with the residents on the tax deferment issue. Mayor and council approved a resolution to work with the WHA to advocate for the provincial government to amend the deferment program to include municipally-owned leasehold properties.

the Municipal Act (now the Local Government Act). All pre-1993 Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) housing stock are leasehold properties and cannot be part of the deferment program, which will become a more significant issue as Whistler’s WHA-housed senior population grows. In the 2021 census, people aged 65 or older comprised nine per cent of the community, up from seven per cent in 2016.

Risso believes that changing the strata

Risso said. “We know there are hundreds of leasehold properties [in Whistler], but whether they would all comply or not, we don’t know.”

RMOW staff opposed the pilot primarily to safeguard the land for future employee-housing developments. If the leases are not renewed or expire, the WHA or RMOW can develop new housing in the prime location without purchasing the properties at market rate.

“Lands owned by the WHA are valuable

“This report has exposed something that is a problem for us, which is these homes not being able to access tax deferral but also other employee housing in our community,” Mayor Jack Crompton said. “I think the part of this resolution that says we’re going to get to work advocating to see the province allow for deferment to take place on properties like these, and then other employee housing projects, is important, and one that’s easier to get to work on.” n

“We know there are hundreds of leasehold properties, but whether they would comply or not, we don’t know.”

- ROBERT RISSO

‘Have fun, eat well, not die’: Whistler snowboard instructor turns 72-day kayak journey from Sunshine Coast to Alaska into web series

CHRIS WHITTAKER AND PADDLING PARTNER NUKA DE JOCAS DUBBED THEIR TREK UP B.C.’S INSIDE PASSAGE THE ‘FOR FUN’S SAKE EXPEDITION’

BY MEGAN LALONDE

CHRIS WHITTAKER has embarked on his fair share of outdoor adventures since leaving his native U.K.

The 29-year-old has guided paddle tours along Italy’s Sicilian coast and through B.C.’s Discovery Islands and is partway through his third winter as a snowboard instructor in Whistler. More recently, he launched his own company bringing small groups off the beaten path in far-flung destinations around the globe.

But most of those adventures came alongside an employment contract.

“I got into the outdoors as a way to travel and work, and it was a great job, but I’ve never really done any outdoor stuff just for myself,” Whittaker explained.

So sparked the idea to set out on his most ambitious, skill-testing adventure yet: kayaking up the Inside Passage. (Well, that, and a chance meeting in a pub back in 2018 with two kayakers who were completing the route themselves, said Whittaker.) It’s a shipping route that weaves through rugged archipelagos from the northwest corner of Washington State to the portion of Alaska’s coast that meets the Yukon and B.C. borders.

After initially considering going it alone, Whittaker tapped his coworker from a Quadra Island-based kayak guiding outfit, Nuka de Joncas, to join. No stranger to long-haul paddle trips, de Joncas previously kayaked the more than 7,300 kilometres between Montreal and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula over a 15-month period. (Whittaker’s longest kayak trip, comparatively, had been six days.)

At approximately 1,600 km, the Inside Passage was considerably shorter, but its remoteness posed an entirely different set of challenges. “It would be days, or sometimes over a week without really seeing anybody,” Whittaker said.

In keeping with their ultimate objectives to “Have fun, eat well and not die,” the pair dubbed their self-supported northbound journey the “For Fun’s Sake” or FFS Expedition. They planned to set off in 2020, but a small blip called the COVID-19 pandemic put a two-year hold on the endeavour. The pair eventually launched their boats in Lund, on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, last May. They paddled approximately 25 to 30 km daily before rolling into Skagway 72 days later, on the last day of July.

“The whole point of the trip was to have fun,” said Whittaker. “We weren’t trying to beat any record times … We’d have a few drinks in the evening; if we wanted to stay a bit

longer somewhere and watch the wildlife, we did that. We just wanted to make it everything it could be and really experience the whole thing. It felt really great to achieve that.”

They decided to film a web series, not just to hopefully entice sponsors, but to share the trip with friends, family and fellow adventurers. But “First and foremost, it was a way to document it for ourselves and our future selves to look back on,” Whittaker explained.

B.C.’s temperate rainforest offered a plethora of once-in-a-lifetime experiences to document, like a front-row seat to a pod of humpback whales bubble-feeding just metres from their shoreside campsite one morning. Whittaker’s concern about potential grizzly encounters, meanwhile, was quelled by a different kind of encounter, this one with a Kitasoo/Xai’xais Chief, a coastal First Nation near the Great Bear Rainforest, who is also a bear-viewing guide.

“He was in a canoe, we’re in our kayaks,” said Whittaker. “He took us down to this creek and, sure enough, showed us some grizzlies. It gave us an opportunity to ask him loads of questions and … he assured us that the [bears there] have plenty of food—they don’t harm humans unless you do something seriously bad to aggravate them, so that put the whole grizzly bear thing at ease.”

The meeting led to another highlight of the expedition, when the Chief invited the kayakers to stay in the community’s traditional bighouse. “Just to be somewhere dry was a win, but to be in such a special building was really mindblowing,” Whittaker recalled. “It’s the first bighouse I’ve ever even seen and to be able to go inside and sleep in it was wild.”

Aside from increasingly cold, damp conditions as they moved north—sometimes compounded by camp-stove malfunctions— treating the expedition as a content gathering mission provided its own set of logistical trials. For example, a lack of electrical outlets to charge their two GoPros, two DSLR cameras and drone.

“We just had to be really conservative with what and when to film … because the whole trip is so beautiful, so incredible, you just want to film every single mountain and every single bit of everything,” said Whittaker. “We discussed each day what we’d need to film to further the story and help the audience see what’s happening, so that allowed us to just turn the cameras on for something we knew needed to be captured.”

Now, Whittaker and de Jocas are releasing a new installment of the 10-part FFS Expedition series on their YouTube channel each Wednesday, with the first two episodes already uploaded and available for viewing at youtube.com/@ffsexpedition/videos. n

Heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors, teams, donors, artists, vendors, performers, attendees and the amazing volunteers that participated in our event. This year’s TELUS Winter Classic raised OVER $400,000 for our community!

This event would not happen without the dedication of some phenomenal people. Special mention goes to our extraordinary emcees Mercedes Nicoll, Robert Crowder, Joel Chevalier, Feet Banks and Mike Douglas. Scott McPhee, Norm Mastalir, Sue Bjormark, Christine Boyle, Barrett Fisher, Karen Goodwin, Lucinda Sutherland, JP Giroux, Rob Madden, Ace Mackay-Smith, The Pro Family, Rob Olive, Mike Varrin, Wendy Robinson, Paul Sauve, Jenna Jones, Mike Crane, Sarah Janyk, Debbie Cook, Whistler Community Services, WB Retail and the WB Events Department and so many more – we can’t thank you enough! A huge thank you to all of our volunteers and our Ski Pros for giving up their time for charity. Thank you to the amazingly talented Mike Tyler, Bob Van Englesdorp, Andrea and Angela Cooney and their entire crew who made the Gala look phenomenal as well as our talented performers who truly brought the weekend to life - Treeline Aerial, Vinyl Ritchie, The Hairfarmers, La Maison Lust, Sharai Rewels, Magda Regdos, Paintertainment and The Famous Players Band.

Thank you to TELUS who this year donated an extra $17,500 towards the Guess Your Time Challenge helping us raise funds for the Sea to Sky Community. Thank you as well to Ed Ashley from DanFoss Courier and Epic Promise for their post event donations that helped us achieve our fundraising goals!

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS

21 Steps , 29029 Everesting, 686 Technical Apparel Brand, Adara Hotel, Adele Campbell Art Gallery, ALGN Whistler, Alpine Stitch It, Altitude Fitness, Amos & Andes, Arc’teryx, Armchair Books, Art House Multimedia, Arts Whistler, Audain Art Museum, Back in Action, Barn Nork Thai Cuisine, Basecamp Fitness, Bearfoot Bistro, Bernard Leroux, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Blackcomb Springs Suites, Blazing Saddles Adventures, Blue Violet Design, Bogner of Canada, Burrowing Owl. Canadian Outback Rafting Company, Chromag, Coast Mountain Brewing, Coast Mountain Veterinary Services, Coastal Culture Sports, Coastal Mountain Excavations, Columbia, Connected Solutions, Copper Cayuse Outfitters, Cordelia’s Locket, Cows, Creekside Dental, Creekside Market, Crepe Montagne, Crystal Lodge, Cutting Edge Signs, Hotel, Dakine, David and Lisa Krasny, Descente, Dollhouse Agency, Dub Tubs, Eagleview Veterinary Hospital, Escape! Whistler, Everything Wine Evo Car Share, F45 Training Squamish, Flair Airlines, Fort Berens Winery, Fox Racing, FYI Doctors Whistler, Get The Goods, Gibbons Whistler, Hawksworth Restaurant, Helly Hansen Whistler, Herschel, High Mountain Brewing Company, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hy’s Steakhouse, Icebreaker, In Sport Fashions Inc., Jean Smart, Jenna Jones, Joe Fortes Whistler, Jones Snowboards, K2, KABN, Kate Zessel, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel, London Drugs, Malvados, McCoos Whistler, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures, Mthree, Mike McLellan Marketing, Nesters Market, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Nintendo, Nita Lake Lodge, Nonna Pia’s, Norrona, Northland Properties, Nourishment Meals, Oakley, OneUp Components, Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, Patagonia, Peak Performance Clothing, Peak Performance Physio & Massage, Picnic Whistler, Race and Co., Raincoast Books, RIDE Snowboards, RideHub Bikes and Espresso, Rimrock Café, RMOW, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, ROXY, Ruby Tuesday Accessories Ltd., RUX, Ryders Eyewear, Salomon, Sabre Rentals, Scandinave Spa Whistler, Sea to Sky Gondola, Sea to Sky Seasonings/ Amola Salts, Senka Florist, Skin Focus Regenerative Medicine Inc., Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Squamish Valley Golf Club, Süco’s, Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel, Sundial Hotel, Sushi Village, Tantalus Lodge, Tap & Barrel Group Restaurants, Teag + Gray, The Chef and The Dish, The Great Glass Elevator Candy Shop, The North Face, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Toptable Group, Vida Spa, Westin Resort & Spa Whistler, Whistler Brewing Co., Whistler Bungee, Whistler Cooks, Whistler Dental, Whistler Film Festival, Whistler Half Marathon, Whistler Kitchen Works, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Whistler Myofascial Release, Whistler Shooting Adventures, Whistler Sport Legacies, Whistler Village Inn and Suites, Xoco Westcoast Chocolate, Yvonne’s Spa, Ziptrek Ecotours Inc.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Watermark

&

Avaya, Bearfoot Bistro, Blackcomb Glass, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Caramba, Coast Mountain Photography, Doppelmayr, Ecolab, Event Rental Works, Gearforce, Haakon Industries, Robert and Maureen Hole, Intercity Packers, Ketel One, Lavazza, Listel Hotel, Lodging Ovations, Mountain Paint, Pemberton Hardware, Purebread, Quattro, Rocky Mountain Chocolates, Sawmill Bay, Sidecut Steakhouse, Snow Mountain Projects, Sundial Hotel, The Wombats, Toptable, Triton Automotive & Industrial Ltd., TSI Think Print Inc.,

Communications, Whistler Connections, White Stripe

RMOW finishes year with strong Q4 results, but U.S. bank crisis looms

REVENUES ROSE CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THE RESORT RESURGED FOLLOWING EASING OF PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS

BY ROBERT WISLA

AS PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS eased and tourists poured back into Whistler, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) experienced a solid fiscal year in 2022, with revenues exceeding pre-pandemic highs. However, dark clouds lie on the horizon as the U.S. financial system faces ongoing uncertainty.

At the March 21 council meeting, the RMOW’s director of finance, Carlee Price, presented a report on the municipality’s fourth-quarter (Q4) financials showing how Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) and parking revenues soared over the year.

“You’ll recall in the third quarter report that I mentioned a robust level of economic activity supporting, in particular, the revenues collected by the RMOW. This continued in the fourth quarter and most notably in the categories of MRDT and parking,” Price said.

In fiscal 2022, the RMOW brought in $107,415,834 in revenue, a 14-per-cent increase compared to the $94,086,172 in 2021, a whopping 107 per cent above what was budgeted.

MRDT revenues experienced a notable increase throughout the year, with income 4.4 per cent above 2019 in Q2, rising to 20.5 per cent in Q3 and 39.3 per cent in Q4, compared to 2019.

In total, $18,634,292 in MRDT revenue came in in 2022, 55 per cent higher than the previous year.

As visitation rose, parking revenue exceeded RMOW budget expectations by $918,000. In June, the RMOW raised parking rates on day lots 1 to 5, resulting in higher income. $388,000 of this surplus will go toward future community transportation initiatives.

Nearly all municipal revenues grew over the year. Programs fees and admissions rose 31 per cent, followed by permitting and fees (12 per cent), user fees (10 per cent), and property taxes (eight per cent). The revenue sources that saw the most significant year-over-year decline were transit fares, and leases, grants and works and services, which declined by six, 17, and 71 per cent, respectively.

Transit revenues were of course curtailed by the 137-day transit strike that ended last June, as well as the resort’s Return to Transit Loyalty Program, which provided free fares to riders throughout the summer, as well as discounted transit passes to encourage ridership.

“This was a program that incentivized purchases of six- and 12-month passes and pulled forward a lot of revenue into 2023 from 2022, which suggests that recovery in transit fares is going to be delayed into the future as well,” Price said. “It was a choice by this organization to focus on transit ridership and growing ridership rather than transit fares, specifically, and we expect this to continue to

be the case going forward.”

The RMOW’s investments also experienced a significant surge in 2022, bringing in $3,266,499, 154 per cent higher than in 2021. At the end of the year, the municipality had $64,922,137 invested with several financial institutions and Municipal Finance Authority bonds.

Price noted significant financial uncertainty in the air due to the collapse of California-based Silicon Valley Bank and assured council that the municipality invests reserve funds conservatively to avoid risk.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen to the banking system going forward. But it’s worth being extremely cautious, and it’s worth spending some time to think about how such an outcome might affect the RMOW,” Price said.

“On economic risk, it is important to prepare for a potential slowdown to tourist visitation. This would, of course, lag any significant change in the economy, but it’s something to keep in mind.”

EXPENDITURES

Municipal expenditures rose over the year in every department except for the CAO’s office, which decreased spending by 11 per cent due to pandemic-related duties subsiding. Price noted that rising inflation increased budgets as

the cost of materials and labour rose.

The Resort Experience department had the largest overall year-over-year increase at 10.2 per cent, due mainly to festivals and RMOW’s summer concert series returning, in addition to additional resources needed to address rising park popularity.

Mayor and council expenditures rose by 9.7 per cent. In June last year, the previous municipal council approved a significant salary increase for the next council, but this took effect at the beginning of 2023. Hence, the change is not in this quarter’s financials. Corporate and Community Services and Infrastructure Services spending increased by 8.9 and two per cent, respectively.

PROJECT SPENDING

The RMOW spent $25,043,876 of the $40.2 million allocated to projects over the year, 62.2 per cent of the planned budget. The budget initially included the Meadow Park Sports Centre envelope repairs, estimated at $1.1 million. However, the grant application for the project failed, resulting in the shelving of the project.

The large projects that saw a significant amount of work completed in 2022 include the Rainbow Park Phase 1 improvement, public safety building upgrades, Alta Vista Valley Trail lighting and various water and sewer system upgrades. n

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Whistler Community Church welcomes new lead pastor

TIM OLSON TAKES THE REINS AS THE NEW PERMANENT LEAD PASTOR AT THE MENNONITE BRETHREN FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF JON PASIUK

BY ROBERT WISLA

AT THE BEGINNING of February, Whistler Community Church (WCC), the only Protestant Christian congregation in the resort, welcomed Abbotsford’s Tim Olson as its new lead pastor. Attracted to the resort by a love of mountain biking, skiing and a desire to get out of his comfort zone, the 44-year-old Columbia Bible College graduate has taken well to the resort community, a decidedly areligious town.

According to the 2021 Census, British Columbia recently passed the 50-per-cent mark of people identifying as non-religious. The Sea to Sky, meanwhile, now ranks as the most non-religious region in the province, with Pemberton leading the way, at 79.7 per cent of its population identifying as nonreligious, agnostic, or atheist, following by Whistler (72.7 per cent), and Squamish (70.1 per cent).

Being the pastor of Whistler’s largest congregation is already a challenging task. Still, in a town growing at one of the fastest rates in the province, and with a demographic that is increasingly non-religious, it adds another level of complexity to the position.

Pique caught up with Olson to hear how he’s finding the new job at the Mennonite Brethren church and his new life in Whistler.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

PIQUE: Why did you want to be a pastor in a ski town like Whistler?

PASTOR TIM OLSON: I sensed that we needed to step out into something that made us uncomfortable because, as somebody trying to follow Jesus, I felt that’s just what he wanted me to do, saying, ‘Hey man, you’re comfortable,’ and we grow when we’re uncomfortable.

For us, it was [hard] leaving home and the neighbours that we love. We had this amazing community on our street, block parties, and all that stuff. So, leaving that, leaving both sets of parents and all of our siblings in the area and picking up and moving somewhere brand new, where we don’t know anybody— although I’m starting to get to—and just seeing what happens.

Our lifestyle, as far as just living as a family, has included mountain biking for quite a few years. My wife started a mountain bike club at the middle school she’s taught at, introducing kids to the sport, and our kids grew up doing it.

When we sensed that it was time to leave and go somewhere new, [we wanted somewhere] that was still close enough to family, where we could live the life that we already lived and be around other people that

are interested in similar passions and can get involved with the broader community. Because we share that love of bikes and mountains, it just seemed like a good fit.

Pique recently wrote a cover feature on the decline of faith in the Sea to Sky. What do you think of this religious decline, and why is Whistler such an increasingly nonreligious town?

A lot of churches are in decline all over the place. I think you’re seeing that many smaller churches are declining and disappearing in more suburban areas, and then a few big ones are growing. A lot of that growth is the people from the smaller ones leaving and going to the bigger ones because there are more services for them, like youth groups and kids’ stuff.

Something you get in the [Fraser] Valley or more suburban areas is more of a consumer approach to church and faith. Many people see going to church on Sunday like going to the mall. So, they want to pick whichever religious goods and services that fit what they’re looking for, then they’ll go check a place out for a Sunday and say, ‘Oh, I don’t like the music, or I don’t like the way the preacher dresses,’ and they’ve got 89 other places to go check out.

Whereas here, just because there are fewer [churches], I’ve noticed that even though the

congregations are smaller, the people I met seem much more invested in faith. It seems more real to them because I think there’s more of a cost associated with saying that somebody is a person of faith in Whistler. There could be a social cost or things like that.

It might be in decline, but from what I’ve observed so far, the ones that come seem to be on the right track because it’s not the cool thing to go to church. They don’t just do it because their parents always tell them to do it. There’s a really beautiful community that forms around their shared faith, and they live it out.

Do you have to be more generalist in your sermons to find common ground between different theological backgrounds, such as the United Church, Baptists, etc., with being the only Protestant church in town?

Our church is a cornucopia of all kinds of backgrounds, not just different theological backgrounds, like you said, be it United or Mennonite Brethren or whatever. It’s a real melting pot, and also cultural diversity is a huge thing in our church. People come from all over the world, and I think that’s so beautiful.

People come from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Chile. It really is people from all nations. For many people I meet, English may not be the primary language they grew up with. As far as leading,

you used the word “generalist.” I try to use language that’s accessible to everybody.

Since I was a youth and young adult pastor for years, I have also communicated in a way that young adults can understand and are engaged. So that’s a big priority of mine. The church is a big family that has young and old all together, all around the world, coming together as a community sharing faith in Jesus, and they want to live like him and love others as he did in their everyday lives in the community.

Being a pastor, some days you’re playing the role of therapist, community leader, administrator, social media ambassador, youth outreach coordinator, etc. How do you balance all those roles?

You prioritize and try not to get overwhelmed by the big picture all at once. We were talking before about being here short-term or longterm. If I saw it as we’re here for a short time, I’d like to see things change instantly, but I see it as a long game, and we can start working on different little things.

It’s not major cultural shifts that need to happen, just little micro shifts that will all add up over time to make something beautiful. The way I see it, the role of the pastor isn’t to do everything. The role of the pastor is to equip other people to do things, so my leadership style is relational. It’s relational because we’re not trying to build big programs. We’re trying to build people, which is much slower than just being hyped and trying to start something big. You want to see the deep-level work that’s going to bubble up.

Do you think the church should play any role in taking on the housing crisis or contributing somehow? Some churches are doing that throughout the province. That’s a great question. Yes, some churches [have helped build housing]. The church I was at in the valley in the early ’80s built a big apartment building for low-income housing on their church property. Over time, it got taken over by a society that now runs it as lowincome senior housing. I thought it was cool to see the church stepping up that way to help out. Here? Possibly down the road.

From what I’ve read in all the articles in the Pique and stuff that I’m trying to keep up with, the housing crisis, everybody says there’s a crisis, but it’s so complicated to figure out the solution. So, I don’t know how the church can be involved on a grand scale. But I do think that every person who is a part of the church has a role to play in our individual lives, and I do know people in the church who rent out rooms in their homes to people new to town.

Looking ahead, what are the main things you want to focus on over this next year, at the church and in general?

The main thing I hit on before about church being a Sunday service that people attend for an hour and a half a week. I want to see people leaving the building but understanding why they have jobs the other hours of the week. So, part of it is an identity shift away from church being where I go on Sunday to being a part of the church every hour of the week. So, when I go to work, I take the church to work with me. I want everybody who’s a part of our community to make that connection in their everyday life.

I want to get to know our community. I think many people don’t know that the church has a building. The church was here for 40 years but never had a building. Now that we have the building, we are looking at how it could be used as a blessing in the community, not just for church people.

This summer, we’re running a kids club, where there’ll be 40 or 50 kids, hopefully from the neighbourhood, able to come and learn and have fun and things like that in July. And then just looking at other ways that we could, hopefully, get to know our neighbours and see how we can use what God’s given to us to help the community.

I don’t want there to be communityversus-church or church-versus-community. There are probably ways you can partner on some stuff that we are not having at this point. I’d love to have those conversations with local stakeholders.

The Whistler Community Church is located at 7226 Fitzsimmons Road N. Learn more at whistlerchurch.ca. n

CHURCH GOER Tim Olson, new lead pastor at the Whistler Community Church.

PHOTO BY ROBERT WISLA

MARCH 14, THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON RECEIVED THE NKWÚKWMA BENCHLANDS DRAFT SUB-AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN

BY ROBERT WISLA

AS PEMBERTON CONTINUES to grow at breakneck speed, local officials are taking a hard look at the Village’s long-term future to ensure any new housing development in Spud Valley can meet the diverse housing needs of its expanding community.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 14, one of the largest and most significant housing projects in Pemberton’s history took a major step towards that goal, when Village of Pemberton (VOP) mayor and council received a draft subarea development plan for the proposed Nkwúkwma Benchlands project.

Consulting planner Cameron Chalmers broadly outlined the project at the meeting, and the next steps for VOP staff, council and the wider community to contribute to the final plan for the new residential neighbourhood.

“The sub-area plan represents a synthesis of all of the information that we’ve gathered over the last few years and then a projection of what that may look like in terms of policies and guidelines,” Chalmers said.

Led by Skénkenam Development LP, a partnership between the Lil’wat Nation’s Lil’wat Capital Assets and the Pemberton Benchlands Development Corporation, the proponents plan to develop 31.2 hectares (77.1 acres) of land—the largest remaining contiguous development site in the VOP— adjacent to Downtown Pemberton, over the

next two decades.

The project’s first stage will yield up to 275 new housing units that, at build-out, could accommodate between 600 and 700 occupants over the next 10 years. Remediation work on the former Pemberton Gun Range— which led to “significant” contamination of lead and copper, the VOP said—will have to occur in a future stage to allow for the building of the remaining 175 planned units, for a total of 450 units, with capacity for between 1,200 and 1,350 new residents in the neighbourhood over the next 10 to 15 years.

The VOP first approved the Benchlands Neighbourhood Concept Plan in 2008, with the first houses constructed the following

the mixture of densities proposed resulted from early community consultation, with affordability a significant priority for the development. “There’s some lots that can work with single-family or small-lot singlefamily [dwellings], and then others which might be better in a multi-family or a townhouse,” she said.

“The other point was the real increase in construction costs and the community’s affordability levels. So, we could do what Sunstone up there did, a lot of single-family [homes], but we believe that focusing on the smaller-lot, single-family duplexes and townhomes meets the market needs of the local community.”

2021 censuses, making it one of B.C.’s fastestgrowing communities.

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said that while the proposal is in the early stages of community consultation, the location continues to make sense to develop, and that building a diversity of housing will help ease the Village’s affordability and vacancy challenges.

“There’s only so many areas we can develop in our valley in Pemberton, constrained by [the Agricultural Land Reserve], floodplain and geography. This was identified as a place that will allow for the natural growth of Pemberton, so, as we’ve talked about before, growth is inevitable. This is the reason that it’s so important to get the housing mix right,” he said.

“As we grow, we have to make sure that we’re bringing in the mixture of housing that will help deal with the affordability crisis that we have, that it’ll provide for all levels of populations. So, it will be a big factor in terms of how Pemberton grows. That’s why we want to get it right.”

year. In 2017, the Lil’wat Nation began discussions with the province to acquire 60 hectares of Crown land in the neighbourhood, with the sale completed in 2021.

In the current iteration of the plan, duplexes and townhomes will comprise 43 per cent of the development, followed by single-family homes (42 per cent), with the remaining 15 per cent made up of apartment buildings. Altogether, housing will take up about 40 per cent of the total land area, with about half of the land reserved for natural areas and parks, and roughly one per cent dedicated to commercial and community uses.

According to Nkwúkwma Land Development manager Caroline Lamont,

Lamont pointed to smaller lots being easier for local contractors to develop, allowing for more of the project capital to be spent in the region. If the rezoning process continues as planned, the proponents hope to begin construction as early as spring 2024.

The sub-area plan estimates that if Pemberton grows by 6.48 per cent over the next five years, the population will increase to 4,501 people and, within 15 years, up to 11,232 people. To keep pace with this predicted population growth, an additional 400 homes must be constructed in the next five years, doubling to 800 in the next 15.

Pemberton’s population rose by a whopping 32.4 per cent between the 2016 and

The review of the draft plan marks the formal end of the information collection phase for the project and moves it closer towards the start of Phase 2, which is focused on policy and regulation development. This phase will also entail consultation from the community, council and local stakeholders.

VOP staff plans to host an open house next month with the proponents to get feedback from the community on the draft plan, with the date and time to be confirmed. Once council is satisfied with the draft plan, it will move into the final Official Community Plan and rezoning bylaws phase.

Residents can learn more about the draft plan online at haveyoursay.pemberton.ca. n

As Pemberton grows, one of the most significant housing developments in its history just took a major step forward

ON

BENCHLANDS BENCHMARK A rendering of the proposed Benchlands development site.

IMAGE COURTESY OF SKÉNKENAM DEVELOPMENT LP

“This was identified as a place that will allow for the natural growth of Pemberton ...”

- MIKE RICHMAN

Pemberton Substation Rebuild Project

BC Hydro will be hosting an open house to discuss our plans for the Pemberton Substation Rebuild Project We want to hear from you.

You’re invited to come and share your views with us:

Date: Monday, March 27, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PST

Where: Pemberton & District Community Centre

7390 Cottonwood Street, Pemberton, B C

Learn more at bchydro.com/pemberton

FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN INVITATION FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION

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

Accordingly, members of the public are encouraged to provide written submissions and comments on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s 2023-2027 Draft Financial Plan. Submissions and comments should be forwarded to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District by one of the following means:

Mail: Box 219, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0

Email: info@slrd.bc.ca

The 2023-2027 Draft Financial Plan is available for review on the SLRD website at: www.slrd.bc.ca.

Tumbling ice

IT’S COLD OUT, –29˚C to be exact, and we’re going snowmobiling.

Fortunately, in the few hours it takes to get ready and drive to our endof-the-road launch, the temperature meliorates somewhat. Besides, with heated handles, windshield, and dressed like the Michelin Man in everything I own, plus

BY LESLIE ANTHONY

a set of snowmobile leathers supplied by Randy Gulick, proprietor of Wild River Adventures, cold isn’t the thing that has me worried. Instead, it’s swirling gusts in the 80 kilometre/hour range, sweeping the icy mountain logging road we’re following, pushing the sleds sideways and throwing up the occasional snow witch. Twenty kilometres in, the road dives into calmer forest. Another 10 and we’ve arrived at our destination. Parking the sleds, I waddle the half-kilometre to Kinuseo Falls, a spectacular cascade higher than Niagara located some 60 km outside Tumbler Ridge, B.C. I’ve been here in the summer and seen only a couple of other visitors; today it’s devoid of anything but howling wind and snapping branches. There isn’t even the roar of the falls, which, with the exception of one miserable rivulet,

are frozen into a series of giant gelid steps. We gaze down from the platform built by BC Parks back in 1991 (they’d never do anything this cool today), scanning the gravel bar in the Murray River, where Randy uses his jet-boat to hold everything from barbecues to weddings in the summer. The straight-on view from below is money, but not really feasible in winter. But a trail up a nearby ridge lets you look down on the falls, so we head up, following the tracks of elk who’ve made it a winter yarding area. The view of the cataract from another angle is worthy. For a second, I think how crazy it is that such an enormity of

have increased to de facto snow-nados— at one point I watch as Randy drives right through one, his sled rocked from side to side as if being pried from the trail. Thus went our first day of a deep-winter trip to one of the province’s most unheralded destinations, a metallurgical-coal-cum-fossil-trove known for its mountains, waterfalls and Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark.

A flotilla of hopeful roofs adrift in a sea of skeptical pine some 400 km northeast of Prince George, and a few-hours from the Alberta border, Tumbler Ridge’s birth mother, the Northeast Coal Project, was

by paleontologists, these were dinosaur footprints—the trackway of a heavily armoured ankylosaur—sparking considerable interest. Spearheaded through a hiking club led by the enthusiastic Helm family, residents systematically explored the area. Additional trackways were found by both amateurs and interested scientists. Then dinosaur bone turned up—the first formally identified in the province. Major finds continued to accrue and do so to this day, covering 730 million years of Earth history. All of this can be explored at the thoroughly excellent Tumbler Ridge Museum, the best such institution north of Victoria, in which we spend several rewarding hours.

water can be frozen into silence; then I realize I can’t feel my toes and it all makes sense.

We’re in Monkman Provincial Park, and, as Randy’s other summer job happens to be park maintenance guy, we head to a set of cabins at park headquarters to light the woodstove and sip hot chocolate while he readies another cabin for a group of overnighting snowmobilers expected to materialize from the frigid ether. Somehow, between chores, Randy manages to grill thinly-sliced beef tenderloin for delightful sandwiches with all the trimmings, including homemade pickles. Man, I think, I’d follow this guy anywhere. Turns out I have to.

On the way out, following Randy’s lead, myself and two companions drive much faster in the rapidly failing light. The snow witches

the largest single industrial enterprise in British Columbia history: the entire model community, railway spur and two mines (the Quintette and Bullmoose) were erected in three years, beginning in 1981. Despite decades of ups and downs due to coal prices, Tumbler still resembles a shiny toy village, its history embodied in an enormous coal bucket dropped in the centre of town, as if from space. But it’s the whimsy of the paintings on structures throughout town that point the way to a different potential fortune: dinosaurs.

Tumbler lumbered onto the paleontological radar in 2000, when strange impressions were discovered along Flatbed Creek by eight-year-old Daniel Helm, son of a local doctor. As later confirmed

Every year there’s new finds and new places to rave about. One of those is Babcock Creek, which we visit the next day with Dee and JoJo of JADEfit, adventure guides who lead us on a seven-km ski that alternates between the creek’s iced surface and its snowed-over sandbars. We reach the Babcock Seeps, wellformed curtains of knobby candles built by freeze-thaw cycles dyed with colour from the soil and friable rock layers. Walking behind them, I see the ice analogs of stalagmites and stalactites; frozen water is a theme hereabouts it seems—afternoon included.

At the local airport, JADEfit lays out a great lunch of butter chicken with rice and naan, before we embark on a heli-tour with local company Ridge Rotors. The wind is stiff in the face of an advancing front, but not as bad as the previous day. Our pilot Jotham spends an hour expertly showing us rivers, lakes, mountains, snow-ghost forests and numerous waterfalls. But perhaps the best moment was how the tour started: following the Murray River, we swooped up to the bottom of Kinuseo Falls where we got that million-dollar front-on view after all. ■

Major finds continued to accrue and do so to this day, covering 730 million years of Earth history.

TALL FALLS Kinuseo Falls near Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Higher than Niagara Falls and a lot colder.

PHOTO LESLIE ANTHONY

Taking the next step with the BC Energy Step Code

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PAGES FROM HIS OWN PLAYBOOK

PAGES FROM HIS OWN PLAYBOOK

PAGES FROM HIS OWN PLAYBOOK

Tales of Whistler’s ultimate storyteller, Paul Burrows, by the players in his own stories

By Glenda Bartosh

THE FIRST STORY

PAUL BURROWS

EVER TOLD ME THAT REALLY STUCK IN MY HEAD INVOLVED A CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN LIMO, INTERPOL AND A KIDNAPPING.

An extraordinary force of nature who profoundly shaped the trajectory of Whistler, Burrows started Whistler’s first real newspaper; sat on council for years; led the first pro ski patrol; helped start Whistler Search and Rescue; and, overall, impacted so many aspects of the resort community that his personal story mirrors Whistler itself.

Burrows died recently at his home in Salmon Arm. He was 85. His wife, Jane, predeceased him in 2018.

Although born in York, England, in 1937, Burrows’ Irish roots ran deep, including the time-honoured Irish penchant for telling stories. In fact, his Irish mother, Nancy, a nurse, was a writer and storyteller herself; and Paul and his younger brother, John, were taught both Irish and English, all of which helps explain why he often came across as something of a leprechaun.

On the other hand, his dad, Dr. John Desmond Burrows, was a force of nature of a different sort: A well-to-do, entrepreneurial Brit who owned big tracts of land in Ireland and what was then-Rhodesia, he was stern, strong-willed, and emotionally distant. Interested in politics, farming and aviation, he graduated from two of London’s most prestigious medical schools, then rose to Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War while working in the jungles of Burma and India. And he lies at the heart of Paul’s kidnapping tale.

One pleasant Friday in June 1947, a chauffeur-driven limousine pulled up to the Quaker-run boarding school in Waterford, Ireland, where Paul and John were pupils. Under the guise of taking the boys to tea, Dr. Burrows had the headmaster pluck them from their classrooms. Once en route in the limo, with the boys ensconced in the back seat and papa up front—and this is where Paul would affect a twee English accent in the telling of the tale—his brother asked, “Daddy, where are we going for tea?”

“Actually,” papa replied gruffly, “we’re not a going to tea. We’re going to Rhodesia.”

What ensued was a 12-day escapade through Paris and Marseilles, North Africa, Sudan and Uganda, all the while being chased by Interpol. Paul’s parents divorced shortly thereafter.

The whole caper was just one chapter in Paul’s adventurous life. He lived on a 2,800-hectare “farm” in northern Rhodesia surrounded by baboons, leopards and lions. He attended Michaelhouse in Natal, one of a dozen high-end private high schools in South Africa run by the Church of England. So if Burrows came across as a fearless and intrepid adventurer— and a very good storyteller—it was with good reason.

ACROSS THE HIGH SEAS—TO CANADA

After several years of studying medicine at Cape Town University, Burrows’ “mischievous antics” ended it. Whether he said it wasn’t for him or they said he wasn’t for them, we’ll never know, but he switched gears and returned to England to attend the London School of Printing. Soon after, he was on his way to Canada with 42 British pounds in his pocket, a cardboard suitcase, and a letter from the Graphic Arts Union.

In 1962, he landed in Vancouver where he found a wellpaying union job and friends who were avid skiers. It may come as a surprise, but Burrows was a highly regarded printer, who worked for some of the best printing outfits in the city. He became an advisor to the printing department at Langara Community College, which eventually led to his position on the advisory board for the school’s journalism department—and me.

When it came time for me to graduate from Langara’s J-school in 1981, there was a teeny typewritten ad posted on the bulletin board: “Wanted: Reporter for The Whistler Question.” I had no idea where or what Whistler was—I’d been living in the States for 10 years and never skied in my life—so I asked the department head, Gerry Porter, if it was a good opportunity.

He hesitated a bit then looked me square in the eye and said, “Glenda, you could do better, but you could do a hell of a lot worse.”

Eight months into the job, Paul and Jane asked whether I might like to buy The Whistler Question and the associated printing operation. We closed the deal in 1982—the start of one of the worse recessions in Canada and one of the worst chapters in Whistler’s history. The interest rate on my loan to buy the business was 18 per cent. Paul and Jane, subsequently, took off on a year-long trek around the world, travelling by horse, train, bus, helicopter—you name it—through South Africa, France, Tahiti, and more.

But I didn’t regret my decision for a second. After all, I never would have heard that amazing kidnapping story.

WHEN YOUR BOSS LITERALLY DIGS YOU OUT OF A HOLE

WHEN YOUR BOSS LITERALLY DIGS YOU OUT OF A HOLE

WHEN YOUR BOSS LITERALLY DIGS YOU OUT OF A HOLE

“IT WAS THE SECOND SEASON of Whistler’s operation [1966-67], and Paul and I were ski-cutting— doing avalanche control on Paleface, a slope just down the ridge below the Roundhouse. I made the first ski cut. Nothing released. And then Paul ski cut. Again, nothing released. So I skied down, enjoying the nice deep powder snow—and as I was getting near the bottom, Paul started to ski down, releasing the whole slope, which avalanched and buried me almost up to my chest. I absolutely couldn’t move. I was stuck solid. So here’s little Paul, my boss, trying to dig me out with just his hands, apologizing profusely.

There’s some friction in snow during an avalanche, and when it comes to a stop, it sets up pretty hard, like a snowball. I was pretty scared while it was happening, to be honest, but then it was kind of funny watching Paul working so hard to dig me out.”

- BC Ski Hall of Famer Hugh Smythe Member of Whistler Mountain’s first pro patrol; former president, Intrawest Mountain Resorts

IS THERE ANY WHISTLER ICON BURROWS WASN’T PART OF?

IS THERE ANY WHISTLER ICON BURROWS WASN’T PART OF?

IS THERE ANY WHISTLER ICON BURROWS WASN’T PART OF?

Besides starting Whistler’s first community newspaper of record, a quick check of the Whistler Museum’s archives and various other resources reveals the kinds of adventures and stalwart community undertakings that Paul (and often his wife, Jane, too) started or had a big hand in. Here are just some of them at Whistler:

Alta Lake Ratepayers Association – member, and president 1972-73

Whistler municipal council – three-term councillor, 1984-90

Whistler (Alta Lake) Search and Rescue – founding member

Whistler Mountain pro ski patrol – first leader, 1966

Whistler Television Society – member

Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission (RMOW) – member

Whistler Museum & Archives Society – board member

Whistler Public Library Association – member of the first board of trustees

Whistler Resort Association (now Tourism Whistler) – director of arts

Whistler Museum and Archives board – founding member

Whistler’s Mature Action Committee – chair

Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium – founding member

Rotary Club of Whistler – charter member

Citizen of the Year – 1977

Whistler Chamber of Commerce – director

The list goes on. Paul and Jane also had roles in local health-care and the school district, and in Salmon Arm after retiring there. One thing, though, they weren’t part of—the infamous Toad Hall poster.

Top of the Red Chair and top of the world, Whistler Mountain, May 1967. Whistler’s first pro ski patrol, except for Cliff Jennings (far left) who was not a member. Pro patrollers next to Jennings (L to R): Paul Burrows, Murray Coates, Hugh Smythe and George Burns. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY HUGH SMYTHE

STILL INFLUENCERS IN SALMON ARM

STILL INFLUENCERS IN SALMON ARM STILL INFLUENCERS IN SALMON ARM

IN 2000, PAUL AND JANE said a final good-bye to Whistler and moved to a custom-built home in Salmon Arm. Towards the end of their Whistler era, Paul had spent years trying to build a retirement community, including chairing the Mature Action Committee.

The efforts went nowhere, largely “because it ran contrary to the youth culture Whistler was pushing” he told Pique Newsmagazine in 2001. He called it a loss for the whole community, much like the lack of affordable housing for workers—another case of killing the goose that laid the golden egg, which is how he characterized the Olympics.

“In a normal town losing the old people would be a disaster,” he told Pique “But even Whistler will be unable to retain any continuity. You cannot look forward if you have lost the ability to look back.”

In Salmon Arm, Paul and Jane continued to get involved in what they believed in. They established the Paul and Jane Burrows Endowment with the Shuswap Community Foundation, which will support environmental stewardship in the region for years to come.

Paul was active in Rotary, a founding member of Probus, and sat on the city’s Design Review Panel. He was also a big part of a citizens’ effort that succeeded in getting the Walmart shopping centre reduced in size by two thirds because the site is on an ecologically sensitive area at the mouth of the Salmon Arm River where it empties into Shuswap Lake.

“There was this rebel side to him — he was indefatigable. I mean, he was taking on Walmart,” says Cindy Derkaz, a Salmon Arm realtor who knew the Burrows well.

“Paul was a leader among the good caring citizens of our community — never afraid to speak up on controversial issues.”

That’s a side of Burrows many Whistlerites also well know, as they will some of the highlights that Salmon Arm’s Friday AM editor and publisher, Lorne Reimer, included in a tribute to Paul shortly after his death.

With their shared background, the two were also friends, so no surprise that Burrows’ final words to his fellow newsman were, “Keep the fire burning.”

ALL ROADS LEAD TO WHISTLER

Paul landed in Toronto, but the summers were too hot and humid for him. Vancouver’s climate was much more appealing, plus the pub scene offered two things: No. 1, he had a stage where he could entertain everyone with his stories and jokes, his 12-string guitar, and bawdy rugby songs he’d learned in South Africa.

“You couldn’t really sing some of those songs in this day and age,” notes Hugh Smythe, who was on the first pro ski patrol with Paul before going on to become president of Intrawest Mountain Resorts when it owned Whistler Blackcomb.

“I’d never heard a rugby song prior, and I don’t know that I’ve quite heard anything like it since.”

Paul taught himself to play the guitar (and the accordion) and, by all reports, played well. And while someone described his accent as English, Irish, Rhodesian and Canadian all mixed up in a blender, he had a lovely singing voice.

Two stories circulate about how Paul and Jane met: One has it that she and a bunch of her girlfriends saw him performing at the Devonshire Pub in Vancouver. The other says it happened when Jane was teaching at Britannia Beach and saw him at L’Apres, the restaurant at Whistler Mountain. Either way, Jane fell for him hook, line and sinker. They never parted.

Vancouver’s pub scene also connected Paul to a gang of ex-pats who loved skiing Mount Baker. It’s where he often skied, and first connected with a 17-year-old Smythe as well as Al Raine, another leading figure in the world of skiing and Whistler, and current mayor of Sun Peaks.

Next thing he knew, as Paul himself told the tale, he was living at Alta Lake, as Whistler was called then, in a trailer in the parking lot of Garibaldi Lifts Ltd., in charge of the pro ski patrol. Later, he went on to be one of five locals who formed Whistler (Alta Lake) Search and Rescue after an avalanche took the lives of four skiers in 1972.

As important as it was, Paul’s impact on Whistler’s early ski scene was just the beginning. Soon, he’d become more seminal in the valley than he was on the ski slopes.

WHAT WHISTLER ‘COULD AND SHOULD BECOME’

Shortly after Paul’s death, Raine, writing in a joint email with his wife, Nancy Greene Raine—former Olympic alpine skier and Canadian senator, and another force of nature who was

BC Supreme Court Justice Samuel Toy (right) swore in Whistler’s four new aldermen at a brief ceremony in council chambers Dec. 6, 1984. (L to R) Doug Fox, Paul Burrows, Diane Eby and Nancy Wilhelm-Morden. Whistler’s third mayor, Terry Rodgers, was also sworn in. WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION

Members of the Whistler Rotary Club, circa 1984, raised money by selling firewood. (L to R) Bill Wallace, Don MacLaurin, Bob Brown, Paul Burrows, Richard Heine, Brian Brown, Sid Young and a visiting Rotarian from New Zealand WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION

pivotal in Whistler—described Paul as one of the resort’s most prominent early pioneers.

“As soon as Whistler opened, Paul made the move and became one of the most active early residents of the fledgling ski area. Strong-minded and outspoken, he got involved in everything, from the Alta Lake Ratepayers Association to the many conversations taking place about what Whistler could and should become.”

The Whistler Question was crucial to those conversations.

In 1975, the Resort Municipality of Whistler was incorporated. Paul ran for mayor in Whistler’s first-ever election race, and was defeated by Pat Carleton, a coffee salesman, as he always liked to point out. It was something Paul never got over, but it spurred him on.

He’d built his first house in 1969, a tiny, 450-square-foot A-frame on Matterhorn Drive, and that’s where he and Jane started the newspaper. In the basement. The first edition got cranked out, literally, on a Gestetner machine on April 14, 1976—one week after Paul’s 39th birthday. Two sheets of legal-sized paper, mimeographed on both sides, and stapled in one corner.

It set the tone of what was to follow for the next 41 years: A good mix of sober news, sports, and fun community items, and always asking questions and more questions.

Paul often told the story of how he and Jane came up with the name. It was simple. A big question hung over the whole place at the time: Would Whistler make it; would it survive?

It certainly did, and while the Question is Paul’s ultimate contribution, he would also go on to start, shape, and generally impact the community in so many ways; the list of his accomplishments reads like a community service directory of Whistler. (See sidebar.)

He founded Rotary clubs, served for three terms on council and was part of so many Whistler boards, not-for-profits, associations and community-minded efforts—both serious and light-hearted—it’s tough to keep track of them all.

In 2000, after nearly 40 years, he and Jane finally said good-bye to their beloved Whistler and retired to Salmon Arm, where they built their dream home, a far cry from that little A-frame in Alpine Meadows. Then, in 2012, they had one final mountain to climb. Jane was diagnosed with familial Alzheimer’s disease, and Paul became her primary caregiver.

The thing that Jane’s nephew, Peter Elliott, told me last week that he most loved about Paul was the way he looked after Jane in her last years.

“It became his whole life to take care of her,” says Elliott from his home in Kingston, Ont. “He never did anything halfassed, if it was skiing or making wine or putting out a paper, and with Alzheimer’s it was the same thing.

“He became an expert on Alzheimer’s. And he cared.”

A big Burrowesque thank you to everyone who provided background (publishable and not), photos and stories for this article. Whether or not your stories are here, they were invaluable in shaping the narrative. Plus, an extra-special shout-out to Allyn Pringle, Brad Nichols and Jillian Roberts at the Whistler Museum and Archives, who jumped through hoops doing research to set the record straight on Paul and Jane Burrows, and their legacy at Whistler. Go to piquenewsmagazine. com for more stories about them, as well as to hear more tales from Burrows’ time at The Whistler Question ■

‘GONE FISHIN’ ‘GONE FISHIN’ ‘GONE FISHIN’

“I LIVED WITH THEM IN THE SUMMER OF ’76, in the basement of their little A-frame in Alpine Meadows, helping them with the Question and helping Paul fix their rental housing. We bonded, I guess is the word, and that bond stayed with us until last week.

One day we went fishing on Alta Lake. Jane stayed on shore with the dog, and Paul and I went out in his canoe. The water was so clear you could see the fish 20 feet down. I’d never experienced that kind of super-clear water in northern Ontario. And I have a picture of him. We’re standing alongside the canoe after, and I’m pointing frontwards, off to the right in the photo, and Paul’s behind and he’s pointing the opposite way, off to the left. It’s like the front end of the canoe doesn’t know where the back end is going.

I always picture that... Jane taking the photo, and we’re all laughing because we were just two guys out there trying to catch a fish—and we did. We actually caught a trout and ate it that night. It was delicious.”

- Peter Elliott, Jane Burrows’ nephew

The many faces of Paul Burrows: (From top left) Editor and publisher; distributing the early Whistler Magazine; proud publisher in 1981 holding the first BCYCNA award for The Whistler Question with staff (clockwise) Craig Spence, Glenda Bartosh, Anita Webster and Pauline Wiebe; leprechaun dancer. Bottom left: Burrow’s tiny A-frame in Alpine Meadows. WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION

Freestyle Whistler athletes bound for the BC Winter Games

TY REICHERT AND JACOB MARTIN WILL BE JOINING SEVERAL OF THEIR U14 PEERS AT SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT

BY DAVID SONG

WHISTLER AND SQUAMISH will be represented by 16 young freestyle skiers at the BC Winter Games this week from March 23 to 26 in Vernon.

Freestyle Whistler has been on quite the roll lately, with athletes like Jordan Peet, Maya Mikkelsen, Lynnette Conn, Jessica Linton and Sam Cordell bringing home multiple medals from the Canada Winter Games and the NorAm circuit. In fact, the BC Winter Games are accepting up to 20 freestylers from the coastal region this year, and the top 16 are all members of Freestyle Whistler.

Two of those contenders are Ty Reichert and Jacob Martin, who will be joining several of their peers at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Both 13 years old, Reichert and Martin have skied for essentially their whole lives. They are relatively new to the competitive scene, however, having picked up freestyle in 2022, yet their burgeoning talents have already translated to three medals apiece in various youth events.

One of Reichert and Martin’s earlycareer highlights came last April in Whistler. They, along with their close friend Nelson Beyriesmith, swept the podium at a big air contest on the youth-focused Timber Tour.

“That was one of the most exciting parts

of my life,” beamed Martin. “I love slopestyle and big air. They’re my favourite things to do in freestyle.”

Reichert, Martin and Beyriesmith—who call themselves the Burrito Boys—are just three of many who benefit from training in one of the world’s ski meccas. Whistler Blackcomb offers an incredible array of terrain, and Freestyle Whistler is one of the only clubs in Canada to have an airbag: a

are young—Reichert and Martin are dedicated to their sport. They already have an impressive toolbox of moves, including rail tricks, flips and off-axis rotations (or “corks”). Both are disciplined about their schoolwork, keeping their grades up even as they discover ways to fly higher and further.

“I had no idea that my son [would come to love freestyle],” said Stephen Reichert, Ty’s father. “Ty lost his very first tooth on Whistler

opportunity to grow as a person,” Stephen said. “Watching my son progress has just been really inspiring. Ty doesn’t go to school on Fridays [because] he trains, but he has to manage school in order to do that, so that adds responsibility. In the long run, it creates a much stronger human being.”

As a director, Muir has seen waves of talented athletes pass through the doors of his club. There was Dale Begg-Smith, a two-time Olympic medallist who grew up in Whistler despite representing Australia in his career. Simon d’Artois, the six-time World Cup medallist and one-time X Games king, is still going strong. Then you have Maia Schwinghammer, a 21-year-old who managed a pair of top-10 results (including fifth in single moguls) at February’s World Championships.

50-by-50-foot inflatable landing pad that allows youth to master new tricks in relative safety before attempting them on snow.

“As well, we’ve got a world-class moguls course and our own private rail garden outside of the terrain park on Blackcomb, so our athletes don’t have to deal with the members of the public going by,” said Chris Muir, executive director of Freestyle Whistler.

“Our coaches are fantastic too, but I think the facilities have been top-notch in terms of allowing athletes to develop those skills.”

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Don’t underestimate them simply because they

Mountain and he’s always wanted to go really fast, really high and do jumps. As a parent, it’s scary watching Ty and Jacob do this, but at the same time, they seem to be living their dream.”

Now, the boys are excited to showcase their skills on a provincial stage.

“There’s so many new opportunities and so many people to meet [at the BC Winter Games],” Martin said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, just all around a great time.”

“I’m really excited because it’s the first time I’ll be independent for a competition,” added Reichert. “We get to take a team bus there and our parents aren’t there [in the athletes’ village], so I have to be responsible in that way.”

His dad agrees. “I think it’s a really good

Muir knows his current athletes have similarly lofty aspirations for themselves. He hopes that the upcoming BC Winter Games will provide them with valuable experience that helps launch them to the next level.

For their part, Reichert and Martin hope to go where some of their older peers already have.

“It’s crazy how much people can progress with skiing,” said Martin. “It’s pretty inspiring how people [like Mikkelsen and Cordell] are already at that level.”

Other Freestyle Whistler athletes going to Silver Star include Jude Oliver, Saxon Berry, Armaan Asrar Haghighi, Eli Krumme, Mavik Mackinnon and Yamato Buhler, among the boys. The girls will be represented by Sylvia Trotter, Zoe Henderson, Sage Booth, Emma Horn, Mike Simonsen, Sierra Grant-Lavergne, Ellysaiya Haddad and Sylvie Lawrie-Lie. n

FLY-HIGH TY Ty Reichert is a U14 skier based out of Squamish, who trains with Freestyle Whistler.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

“That was one of the most exciting parts of my life.”

- JACOB MARTIN

Sea to Sky lugers return home after milestone season

TRINITY ELLIS, CAITLIN NASH AND EMBYR-LEE SUSKO ARE READY TO RELOAD AFTER A CAMPAIGN OF GROWTH AND SELF-DISCOVERY

BY DAVID SONG

IT’S BEEN A MILESTONE campaign for Trinity Ellis, Caitlin Nash and Embyr-Lee Susko, but after a season full of twists and turns—pun fully intended—the Sea to Sky corridor’s top lugers have returned home.

Ellis is the only active Canadian national teamer with Olympic experience, having placed 14th last February in Beijing. The Pembertonian has consistently been a top-20 finisher on the World Cup circuit and aspires to start cracking the top 10 before long.

“This season really showed me a lot of things,” Ellis said. “I was able to be really consistent with all my results, which I think is a strength of mine that I’ve grown on from last season. What I need to work on this summer is to get stronger and get my start times down, and I think it’s within reach.”

Nash, along with her partner Natalie Corless, made history back on Dec. 17 by winning the first women’s doubles World Cup medal in Canadian history. The 19-yearolds came from behind that day in Park City, Utah to earn bronze in a field full of more experienced opponents. It was a full-circle moment for the duo, who in 2019 broke barriers as the first women to partake in a World Cup doubles race.

Corless returned to school for the back half of the season, as planned, while Nash kept banking World Cup experience as a singles athlete.

“Breaking onto the World Cup scene this year, I was just looking for consistency and to put down results in every race that I was proud of,” explained Nash. “I think I’ve finished 22nd in three or four races in a row, which is kind of as consistent as it gets, but obviously, I was looking to reach for a little bit more than that, so there’s a lot of work to be done.

“As for the bronze medal, that was a really exciting period, and something that we were happy to have achieved together, Natalie and I. Honestly, no words about that.”

At January’s end, Ellis and Nash helped represent Canada in the 2023 World Luge Championships. They placed 18th and 22nd, respectively, while Ellis also joined Dylan Morse, Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski in finishing 10th at the team competition on a demanding German track.

It was the most well-attended race that the young athletes had ever been to—far outstripping the COVID-afflicted Beijing Olympics—and it went a long way towards refining their skills.

“The growth that we had in those two weeks as a team [during World Championships] was enormous,” Nash said. “It was seriously shoulder-to-shoulder, and the stands were full … and we had people out there with banners cheering for Canada. More experience over the next few years is hopefully what we need to start moving up in the ranks.”

THE NEXT GENERATION

Meanwhile, Susko made her senior FIL World Cup debut at 17 years old, placing 17th. The young Whistlerite ultimately wrapped up her season in style with three victories at the Canadian Luge Championships earlier in March—two of which came against senior-aged opponents like Ellis and Nash.

“I’ve been reaching at this next level [of my sport] for a couple of years now, and I finally am old enough to make the step,” Susko said. “It really meant a lot to come race with the big dogs at the World Cup, [but] I still definitely have some time in the juniors, which I’m excited to take advantage of.”

The Canadian luge team is a closely-knit group across all levels, from youth in the developmental program to more seasoned mainstays on the national “A” roster. Win or lose, sliders have each other’s backs.

“It’s an interesting dynamic in luge, because we’re so close as a team, but we’re also competing against our teammates all the time,” said Ellis. “But I think everyone on the team has really made an effort to be supportive of [their] teammates and be good sportsmen.”

Nash agrees wholeheartedly. “I think the internal competition within our team, specifically within the women right now, is what makes this group so strong,” she said. “Our ability to put aside our own individual emotions at the end of the race, regardless of the outcome, and support our friends is a quality that I’m really proud of.”

Ellis and Nash have been the youngest members of Team Canada for years. They’ve learned much from this country’s greatest luge generation: Alex Gough, Sam Edney, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith, who in 2018 won the first two Olympic luge medals in Canadian history. Those icons are now retired, and the torch has fallen to Ellis and Nash to help usher in a new renaissance of Canadian sliding.

They’re not ready to liken themselves to Gough and company just yet, but they are ready and willing to lead their teammates into the future—after some much needed R&R, that is.  n

DE-LUGE Sea to Sky lugers Trinity Ellis (front row, left), Caitlin Nash (back row, fourth from right) and EmbyrLee Susko (back row, second from left).

PHOTO BY DAVID SONG

New-look Naked Sprout is all about the Whistler locals

SINCE TAKING OVER THE PLANT-BASED CAFÉ AND EATERY, MARIE-CHRISTINE BOULET HAS LOWERED PRICES AND UPPED PORTION SIZES FOR THE LOCAL LUNCH CROWD

BY BRANDON BARRETT

THEY SAY THOSE who can’t do, teach. It’s an old adage that Whistler’s Marie-Christine “MC” Boulet used to follow to a tee. That is, until her students in Tamwood International’s food-and-beverage program kept asking her the same question: When are you going to start your own restaurant?

“I’ve been working in the food-andbeverage industry for about 20 years. I’ve done everything, man. From dishwasher to line cook to server to catering, I’ve done it all,” Boulet explained. “I also helped create the F&B program at Tamwood, and ... to be honest, the whole time I was teaching, I was wondering, and my students were asking me, why I didn’t have my own business. I always wanted to do that, but in Whistler, it’s not easy.”

Staring down the same potential challenges any small business in Whistler has to contend with—exorbitant lease rates, rising supply costs, a lack of available labour—Boulet had placed her dream firmly on the backburner.

And then, last year, Naked Sprout, the plant-based vegan and vegetarian café in the heart of Whistler Village, went up for sale. Boulet knew she had to shoot her shot.

“I wrote a business plan five years ago that was really similar to Naked Sprout: a vegetarian, vegan café; a small quick-service place. I wrote it all and then pushed it away, because I figured I couldn’t make it in Whistler—until I saw the Naked Sprout was for sale.”

Boulet and her 13-year-old daughter—who also works at the café (“She’s our most senior employee,” Boulet laughed) toured the space, and it quickly became apparent that it neatly aligned with the Quebec City native’s vision.

“The first thing my daughter said when she walked through was, ‘It’s so you, mom. It’s your vibe. Go for it,’” she recalled.

Since taking over last April, Boulet and her small team have maintained the emphasis on fresh-pressed juices and organic smoothies that Naked Sprout was long known for, while also beefing up the food menu (or the vegetarian equivalent), and trimming prices to attract the local lunch crowd.

“I didn’t scrap everything and restart on Day 1. I think the shop was working before,” she said. “What needed to be improved was affordability, food quality and food portions.”

The resulting menu of simple, homemade soups and sandwiches is not only among the best bargains you’ll find anywhere in the village—you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the café’s $12.50 lunch special, featuring a grilled sandwich and soup of your choice—but is jam-packed with tasty,

locally sourced ingredients that Boulet calls “healthy comfort food.”

That means everything from the sauces to its offerings of hearty soups are made completely from scratch, and, when that’s not possible, Boulet brings in Whistler-made products such as fresh bread from Rising Knead Bakery and coffee from Slopeside Coffee Roasting Company.

“I’m trying as much as I can to source and help support other small businesses,” she said.

“I know all my suppliers like that. It’s awesome to see and know who makes your food.”

In a town chock-full of health-conscious eaters and athletes, Boulet goes to great lengths to cater to whatever tastes and dietary needs her clients bring her, no easy feat in a restaurant industry that has grown increasingly resistant to modifications. (You’ll also be happy to hear, like I am, as someone who suffers from celiac disease, that the café doesn’t charge extra for glutenfree bread.)

“We accommodate pretty much any dietary restriction,” she said. “For me, that’s the best part: when someone comes back telling me, ‘I’m celiac and I’ve never had that good of food in a small café.’ It’s not just the food, it’s the energy, the vibe, and the atmosphere that makes the 12 to 14 hours of work I’m putting in every day worth it.”

Another change Boulet has implemented at Naked Sprout is ramping up its sustainability practices. She has completely eliminated single-use plastics, all of the packaging is compostable, and the café has managed to reduce the waste it sends to landfill to a single small bag per week, while reusing all its veggie scraps to make soup stock.

“It may not sound like much, but in this shoebox of a kitchen, I have to think it’s another achievement,” Boulet said. “Yes, it’s more expensive for me. The cost of all compostable [items] is awful. But I couldn’t do it any other way.”

For the uninitiated, Boulet recommends a sandwich the likes of which I have never seen on a menu before: The Broccoli, made with charred broccoli, red onion, red cabbage, date spread and roasted garlic aioli, served on garlic focaccia bread, a sweet-smoky-savoury combo that tends to surprise even the most skeptical eaters.

“The char of the broccoli works really well with the sweetness of the date spread,” she said. “To see the look on faces after their first bite, it’s awesome.”

On March 31, Naked Sprout is offering 50-per-cent off all in-house food and drinks to celebrate Boulet’s one-year anniversary of taking over the shop. Learn more at nakedsprout.ca. n

NUDE FOOD Marie-Christine Boulet fulfilled a long-held dream when she took over Naked Sprout, the plant-based café and eatery emphasizing simple, healthy comfort food, last April.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH

OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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  with your price of admission for no extra charge.

ARENA SCHEDULE

Please see whistler.ca/recreation for the daily arena hours or call 604-935- PLAY (7529)

Pared-down WSSF is back—with a ‘grassroots’ feel for 2023

SEASON-ENDING FESTIVAL WILL BE SCALED BACK FROM PAST YEARS, BUT SOME OF ITS MOST BELOVED EVENTS ARE STILL ON THE ROSTER

BY ALYSSA NOEL

GATHER ROUND, CHILDREN.

Let us tell you a tale of the Whistler days of yore. Back before COVID, there was a festival, unique to the resort, with sports, photo and film competitions, and music—all to celebrate the end of yet another blissful winter season. It’s tagline: “Party in April, sleep in May.”

OK, we’ll lay off the schtick. You probably remember the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF), but given the time-warping quality of the last three years, here’s a short recap of its recent history: in 2018, Whistler Blackcomb (WB) scaled back the festival from its traditional 10 days to six after Watermark Communications stepped down from organizing the event. That year, WB’s in-house producer, Crankworx Inc., and Gibbons Whistler, co-produced the event.

In 2019, the festival was at risk of folding when Gibbons stepped in to purchase it.

That year, the company hosted a slightly scaled-back version of the season-ending event, but then, of course, 2020 hit.

“We did a virtual [festival] in 2021,” says Brittia Thompson, strategic director with Gibbons Whistler. “Then there hasn’t been one since.”

That is, until now.

WSSF will mark its slow and steady return to the resort calendar from April 10 to 16.

“Because this is the first one since 2019, we really took a more grassroots approach with it,” Thompson says. “We’re not going

That last event replaces the popular Pro Photographer Showdown, though only slightly. Where the former event brought in photographers from around the world to present a career-spanning slideshow of their work, the updated version will feature exclusively local talent.

“The feedback we got is, ‘We have so much talent here in the Sea to Sky, can we showcase the talent here?’” Thompson says.

there will be a set three-to-five words of dialogue that must be included.

“The mandatory line of dialogue is going to be randomly chosen from those submitted by the public, so keep your eyes peeled for that contest, as the person who submits the winning line will win tickets to the 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown,” says Simon Moffatt, marketing manger for the WFF, in an email.

Their goal as producers is to facilitate as much creativity as possible.

“For this year’s showdown, we have aimed to make the format as open as possible so that filmmakers are not too constrained and can bring any story they want to life,” Moffatt says. “Thinking outside of the box is definitely key to this contest and we are really excited to see what the filmmakers produce this year.”

as big as previous years … We reached out to people who were involved in the past, then we looked to partners in the community who do these events really well.”

On the sports front, that means the return of the Saudan Couloir Race Extreme as well as the Slush Cup. The culture events, meanwhile, include the return of the 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown—which will be presented and produced by the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) for the first time—Intersection, in which selected filmmakers have 12 days to shoot and edit a winter action sports film, and the Sea to Sky Photo Challenge.

As for the filmmaker showdown—in which filmmaking teams shoot, edit, and produce a three-to-five-minute film in just three days—registration is opening soon.

“When we came out and said [the festival] was coming back, we had so many filmmakers—Whistler- and Vancouverbased—reach out wondering when and where registration was opening,” Thompson says.

For its part, WFF says the competition will be similar to previous years, save for one logistical tweak: rather than filmmakers including a mandatory prop (to ensure they shot their film within the 72-hour timeframe),

On the music front, while the festival would love to welcome back largescale shows to Skiers’ Plaza like in the past, for now, it’s using local venues already set up for music.

“Definitely there will be some local talent in there, as well as out-of-town talent coming,” she adds. (Keep an eye open for announcements on who’s performing this week or next.)

The other arts events are all slated to take place in the Westin’s ballroom, but with less seating than past years. Those wanting to attend should purchase tickets asap.

“Ticket sales are going really well,” Thompson says. “A lot of people are just going by word of mouth right now, which is great.”

For more info, or to purchase tickets, visit wssf.com. n

PARTY ON WSSF returns from April 10 to 16—this time, with many of its arts events slated for the Westin (and not the Whistler Conference Centre, as in past events, pictured here).

PHOTO SUBMITTED

“The feedback we got is, ‘We have so much talent here in the Sea to Sky, can we showcase the talent here?’”

- BRITTIA THOMPSON

The Cold Smoke brings the blues to Whistler

CATCH THE NEW LOCAL TRIO AT THE FIREROCK LOUNGE ON MARCH 25

BY ALYSSA NOEL

WHEN HE’S NOT BUSY working as a local realtor or volunteer ski patroller, Peter Lalor likes to play the blues.

“I’ve been playing for over 20 years on various instruments—from keyboard and piano to guitar,” he says. “I played in several bands in town, mostly for fun, but semiseriously. Then, when all the live music stopped during COVID, I was looking for a new direction—and going back to my electric guitar roots was where it took me.”

But it wasn’t until he chatted with Monty Biggins, a multi-instrumentalist and veteran Whistler musician, that a new modern blues band began to take shape.

“He’s the first person I ran it past,” Lalor adds.

His pitch: With very few Whistler musicians playing the blues, they would have a golden opportunity to perform some niche shows around the resort.

Biggins was in. But it took them some time to find the right drummer, eventually landing on Sean Clarke to round out their trio.

And that’s how The Cold Smoke—a play on their roots in both skiing and blues music—was born.

“It’s been a great success so far,” Lalor says. “I think what we see is people who are not expecting what they get. We see people coming in saying, ‘I wonder what this band is like?’ And we hit them with modern interpretations of blues songs. It’s something refreshing for them.”

The trio has been playing at the FireRock Lounge every two weeks, usually on Saturday

CALL FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS

Applications are now being accepted for our April 1st, 2023 Spring Funding Deadline.

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

nights, as well as the odd gig at RMU in the Upper Village, and at the Crystal Lounge.

Part of their appeal is the improvisation and creativity they add to their covers. They glean inspiration, in part, from modern acts like Gary Clark Jr., Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Marcus King, though Lalor says he’s been “heavily influenced” by the big names, too, from B.B. King to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton.

“Both Sean and Monty are extremely talented musicians and they bring a lot—each of them brings their own style to the band,” he says. “It wouldn’t be the same sound with two other guys. I think we’ve found our voice with the set-up we have.”

One thing Lalor has learned as the group has started playing more gigs around town is just how many hours Whistler musicians log outside of stage time.

“All the performers in town … we spend another 10,000 hours [aside from performing] practising, getting good at it, and maintaining that level of quality,” Lalor says. “It takes hard work no one sees behind the scenes. I practise every day, Monty plays every day, and Sean is in another band. It takes a lot.”

But, over the last six months as a trio, it’s been worth it to offer a new genre and unique covers in the resort.

“We really are a New Orleans-style bluesrock trio, and that’s certainly unique for this town,” he says. “It’s nice to have an alternative, something completely different.”

Catch The Cold Smoke next at the FireRock Lounge on March 25, April 8, 22, and 29, at 9 p.m. They’ll also be at RMU on April 15 at 6 p.m.

Stay up to date with the group on their Instagram @thecoldsmokeband. n

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WHERE THERE’S SMOKE The Cold Smoke, a new Whistler blues band, is bringing their unique sound to the FireRock Lounge and RMU this spring.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Audain Art Museum acquires new Emily Carr painting

ALSO IN ARTS NEWS: THE POINT ARTIST-RUN CENTRE HOSTS SPRING SESSIONS

BY ALYSSA NOEL

THE AUDAIN ART MUSEUM has added a new Emily Carr painting to its collection, thanks to its founders, Michael Audain and his wife, Yoshiko Karasawa.

The pair provided the funds for the museum to acquire the piece, titled Survival

“The museum has an excellent Emily Carr collection already,” Audain told Pique. “We’ve got probably one of the top three Emily Carr collections in the country. I thought we had enough, but when this painting became available last Christmastime, the provenance of the painting was explained to me, and I was able to see an image of it. I thought, ‘Wow, this is a very important painting.’”

Purchased from a private collection in Quebec, when the painting goes on display at the museum next month, it will mark the first time in more than 60 years that members of the public will have a chance to see it.

“It’s only been exhibited [three times]: once in Vancouver 80 years ago in 1943, and once in Montreal in 1959,” Audain said. “It’s amazing that the painting helped represent Canada at the 1952 Venice Biennale—that’s

where the art world meets every couple of years. It was the first time Canada had been invited to participate at Venice. I think that in itself is of great historical interest.”

A 28-by-23-inch oil on canvas, which Carr signed in 1940, the piece depicts a British Columbian forest—more specifically, a lone tree standing in the middle of what appears to be a clearcut—making its new West Coast home fitting.

“There was a chance to return it to the West Coast, so I thought we should try to help in that regard,” Audain said.

The new acquisition marks the 33rd Carr in the museum’s collection. Audain and Karasawa donated 22 from their collection. They have also provided the funds for another 11 to be purchased since the museum’s opening in 2016.

“I wanted the museum to have one of the best Carr collections in the country,” Audain said. “I value her. I love her work so much. I think it represents so much of what British Columbia is all about, given her concern about the environment, the condition of our forests, and land. And, of course, her connections with the … Indigenous people of our coasts. I felt it would be wonderful to have that in the collection.”

We take pride in the homes we lease and you can rest easy knowing your home is looked after with The Westin. We have:

• A designated contact person

• Monthly rent paid by the hotel directly

• Maintenance issues overseen by our Engineering team

• Scheduled Monthly Inspections

• No Visitors, smoking or pets allowed at any time

PLEASE CONTACT

Karen Bauckham on 604.935.4354

or people@westinwhistler.com

SPRING (ARTIST SESSIONS) HAS SPRUNG AT THE POINT

The Point Artist-Run Centre is set to host new spring sessions from March 25 to April 23. (Save for one songwriting session that already took place on March 19.)

On Saturday, March 25, kids ages six to 10 are welcome to head down for Dragons & the Creative Process, hosted by actor, musician, and writer Jacques Lalonde. The Vancouverite has been a guest star on shows like Sesame Street and The Addams Family—and has made appearances at both the Vancouver and Whistler Children’s Festivals. That session runs from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Then, from 2 to 4 p.m., long-time Whistler artist and musician Aude Ray will take “young artists on a creative adventure” with her Painting and Song workshop. Register at thepointartists.com.

On Sunday, March 26, the Whistler Writers Society will be hosting the first of its One-Day Writers Retreats from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Find out more at whistlerwritersfest.com.

Then jump ahead to Sunday, April 16 for a drop-in Jazz Jam, hosted by Brett Florio on guitar, Rajan Das on upright bass, and Bob Miller on saxophone. All levels of musicians are welcome to attend and contribute. That event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m., by donation.

Finally, on Sunday, April 23, the venue will host a Bluegrass Jam featuring a threepiece host band. All skill levels are also welcome to that afternoon, which takes place from 1 to 4 p.m., by donation. n

Resort Municipality of Whistler NOTICE Change of Council Meeting Date

The Committee of the Whole (COTW) and Regular Council Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, 2023 are being moved to Monday, April 3, 2023.

Council meet in the Franz Wilhelmsen Theatre at Maury Young Arts Centre, 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, B.C. The Meetings will commence at 2:00 p m for COTW and 5:30 p m for Regular Council

Notice of changes to the 2023 Council Meeting Schedule is given in accordance with sections 94 and 127 of the Community Charter.

Pauline Lysaght, Corporate Officer

CARR PARK Survival by Emily Carr is now part of the Audain Art Museum’s permanent collection.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler is looking for housing for our Staff Associates

PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE

Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events

POP-UP BARBED CHOIR AT THE PEMBERTON LIBRARY

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

LAUGH OUT LIVE! PRESENTS:

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A LOCAL?

A not-to-be-missed Whistler experience, this smorgasbord of improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy paired with huge prize giveaways, videos, and special guests won’t disappoint, though it may have you questioning your overall life choices.

> March 30, 31 and April 1, 8 p.m.

> Maury Young Arts Centre

> $25 at showpass.com/laughoutlive

THE PEOPLE’S FILM PRESENTS: BABE

The People’s Film is back on Saturday, March 25, with a special family matinée showing of Babe. One of those rare films that work for all age levels, Babe continues to captivate children and melt the hearts of even the most stoic of adults. Grab your favourite stuffed animal and meet up at the Arts Centre for one of the greatest kids’ films ever made.

> March 25

> Maury Young Arts Centre, 3 p.m.

> Adults $10 | Kids (under 16) $10—includes a small bag of popcorn. showpass.com/babe

Do you love to sing? Do you love meeting new people?

Do you like all types of rock music, new and old?

Barbed Choir is coming back to the Pemberton Library!

Join Jeanette Bruce and Laura Nedelak on March 28 at the Pemberton & District Public Library. They will be singing Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.”

Please be advised that this is not a spectator event and those who attend will be expected to sing!

Registration is required. RSVP at pembertonlibrary.ca/ event/pop-up-barbed-choir-at-the-pemberton-library

> Tuesday, March 28, 7 p.m.

> Pemberton and District Public Library

> Free

COMMUNITY

WHISTLER VEGAN POTLUCK

Come join Whistler Vegans for a delicious vegan potluck. Please bring a vegan dish to share (no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, gelatin, honey, etc.) and your own plate and fork. Dinner is at 7 p.m. and the potluck will wrap up by 9:30 pm.

> March 25, 7 p.m.

> Please email for the address at whistler@earthsave.ca.

> $25

PHOTO BY JOERN ROHDE / COURTESY OF LAUGH OUT LIVE!

Recreation Trails Strateg y

The RMOW is leading the development of a Recreation Trails Strategy that will guide decision-making related to trails and trail-related amenity development, improvements, access, funding and management

We want to hear your input on the Initial Directions that will inform the development of the draft Strategy

Have your say, your way:

March 28, 2023 5:30pm to 7pm Online information and Q&A session

March 28 –

April 14 2023 Online input via Engage Whistler website

March 28, 2023 1pm to 3pm Pop Up Booth @ Whistler Public Librar y

March 29, 2023 3pm to 5pm Pop Up Booth @ Meadow Park Spor ts Centre

March 30, 2023 5pm to 7pm Pop Up Booth @ Meadow Park Spor ts Centre

Resor t Municipality of Whistler whistler ca

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the ‘First Annual Mascot Race’

BY JILLIAN ROBERTS

DURING THE 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, it was common to see mascots Quatchi, Miga and Sumi around, as well as their sidekick Mukmuk the marmot. However, before these mascots descended on Whistler, a different marmot mascot ruled the resort. That marmot was known as Willie Whistler.

WE ARE HIRING

The Whistler Resort Association (WRA) began operations in 1980 aiming “to promote, facilitate and encourage the development, maintenance and operation of the resort land.” The new mascot of the WRA, Willie Whistler, was introduced in 1981 to promote Whistler. The name “Willie Whistler” was chosen through a competition for local children to “Name the Whistler Marmot.”

while carrying loaded trays through a challenging obstacle course.

There was no shortage of local mascots to compete in the Mascot Race. The Whistler Question did not mince words when discussing the popularity of the suited figures. ‘Though Pro Tour racers are supposed to hold centre stage for the weekend, they just might lose it for a while to a herd of furred, feathered, and finned mammals who will ramble, scramble and swim their ways up Blackcomb Mountain to participate in the First Annual Mascot Race,” read an article in the paper.

“Confirmed entries in this unpredictable contest include: Whistler’s own famous marmot, Willie Whistler; the race’s sponsor Yukon Jack; E. Bunny, the mystery rabbit, from Blackcomb Mountain; The Mountain Inn’s Delta Duck; the A&W Root Bear; Hemlock the friendly sasquatch; and Bee

Please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence to: Cathie Greenlees

cgreenlees@squamishchief com

Closing date is March 3, 2023

Eight-year-old Tammi Wick won a Blackcomb season pass for choosing the winning name.

Willie’s first big event was the Fall Festival, an event to celebrate the upcoming winter and bring life to the time of year still known as the shoulder season. Each day of the festival had a scheduled meet-and-greet with Willie Whistler so everyone could get a picture with the new mascot.

Mascots were so popular in the 1980s that the “First Annual Mascot Race” was held on Blackcomb Mountain on March 26, 1983. The race was held as part of the Yukon Jack Challenge, which saw the Pacific Western Pro Tour Finals race on upper Springboard and a “Hospitality Cup”—where local hospitality staff were tasked with minimizing spillage

Bob

It will be strictly a case of survival of the fittest in that event.”

Though the mascots featured on the front cover of the Whistler Question the following week, it is unclear who won the First Annual Mascot Race. We also could not find any evidence of the mascot race continuing annually.

Willie Whistler was always in the middle of the action, greeting visitors, shaking hands with dignitaries, playing golf, skiing and presenting awards. After a busy life, eventually it was only mice that wanted to be inside the mascot suit. Ultimately, Willie went the way of Dusty the Horse and ended up in the landfill. n

the Beluga Whale from the Vancouver Aquarium.

Willie Whistler was always in the middle of the action, greeting visitors, shaking hands with dignitaries, playing golf, skiing and presenting awards.

MASCOT MAYHEM Mascots making their way up Blackcomb Mountain for the First Annual Mascot Race in 1983. WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION

Come be a part of our awesome team as The Squamish Chief ’s new Multi-Media Account Manager

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ELECTORAL AREA C

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 5:30pm

Public Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 466 of the Local Government Act that a Public Hearing will be held electronically regarding the following bylaw:

1 Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No 765, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 1742-2022

PURPOSE OF BYLAW 1742-2022:

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is in the process of updating all the Electoral Area bylaws to reflect recent changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act (ALCA) and ALR Regulations. In addition to these updates to agricultural provisions within the Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No 765, 2002, staff are proposing a number of additional amendments to update areas of the bylaw that are considered outdated or areas where rewording is required for ease of interpretation and implementation

Proposed Zoning Amendment

The following key amendments are proposed to Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No 765, 2002:

• Agricultural changes including amendments to agricultural cannabis production and cannabis retail, as well as changes to regulations around residential uses of ALR land These amendments are important at a minimum to create consistency with the uses allowed in the Agricultural Land Commission Act

• Changes are proposed to clarify and create consistency around the calculation of gross floor area These changes propose to create a separate list of inclusions and exclusions for principal buildings and auxiliary buildings.

• Amendments to definitions around camping, including campground, camping unit, and recreational vehicle are intended in part to clarify the difference between forms of temporary accommodation and permanent dwellings.

• A number of changes are proposed to height regulations since many zones do not currently have their own height regulation Where height regulations do exist within the current bylaw, they largely apply to all buildings within a zone Updates will distinguish between different types of buildings permitted within a particular zone (single family dwellings, duplexes, accessory buildings, farm buildings, etc.) The updates also aim to create consistency between similar building types across different zones where it makes sense to do so

• Other minor amendments include changes and additions to definitions and additional uses added as uses permitted in all zones.

While the area covered by Bylaw 1742-2022 is the entire Electoral Area C of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, most of these changes are more specific to the CD1 (WedgeWoods) zone and agricultural properties.

INFORMATION

A copy of the proposed bylaws and relevant background documents may be inspected at the Regional District office, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC, during office hours 8:00 am to 4:30 pm from March 13 to March 29, 2023 not including weekends and statutory holidays or on the SLRD website at www slrd bc.ca/BL1742-2022 The public hearing is to be chaired by Electoral Area C Director Russell Mack as a delegate of the SLRD Regional Board

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

All persons who believe that their interests are affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaw at the public hearing All persons can 1) submit written comments; and/or make oral representations LIVE via online video or phone conferencing (your image may be broadcast to the Board or the public if your video camera is turned on)

1 Submit Written Comments to the Board:

Written submissions must be addressed to “SLRD Board of Directors,” and include your name and mailing address. Until 4:30pm on March 29 2023, written submissions will be received at the following:

Email: planning@slrd bc.ca

Hard Copy: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Planning Department

PO Box 219, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0

Written submissions will also be accepted on March 29, 2023 between 4:30pm and the time when the motion to close the Public Hearing is made During this timeframe, written comments must be submitted by email to: bkolenbrander@slrd bc.ca

2. Participate LIVE via Online Video or Phone Conferencing

The live Public Hearing will take place March 29, 2023 at 5:30 p m via online video and phone conferencing The Public Hearing will be conducted using Zoom and can be accessed via either online video or phone conferencing No registration is required Log-in details will be posted to the notice page: www slrd bc.ca/inside-slrd/notices a minimum of three days prior to the Public Hearing You may also call the Planning Department three days prior to the Public Hearing at 604 894 6371 to get the log-in information

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF MARCH 24 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If we were to choose one person to illustrate the symbolic power of astrology, it might be Aries financier and investment banker J. P. Morgan (1837–1913). His astrological chart strongly suggested he would be one of the richest people of his era. The sun, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus were in Aries in his astrological house of finances. Those four heavenly bodies were trine to Jupiter and Mars in Leo in the house of work. Further, sun, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus formed a virtuoso “Finger of God” aspect with Saturn in Scorpio and the moon in Virgo. Anyway, Aries, the financial omens for you right now aren’t as favourable as they always were for J. P. Morgan—but they are pretty auspicious. Venus, Uranus, and the north node of the moon are in your house of finances, to be joined for a bit by the moon itself in the coming days. My advice: Trust your intuition about money. Seek inspiration about your finances.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The only thing new in the world,” said former U.S. President Harry Truman, “is the history you don’t know.” Luckily for all of us, researchers have been growing increasingly skilled in unearthing buried stories. Three examples: 1. Before the U.S. Civil War, six Black Americans escaped slavery and became millionaires. (Check out the book Black Fortunes by Shomari Wills.) 2. More than 10,000 women secretly worked as code-breakers in the Second World War, shortening the war and saving many lives. 3. Four Black women mathematicians played a major role in NASA’s early efforts to launch people into space. Dear Taurus, I invite you to enjoy this kind of work in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time to dig up the history you don’t know—about yourself, your family, and the important figures in your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Since you’re at the height of the Party Hearty Season, I’ll offer two bits of advice about how to collect the greatest benefits. First, ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman says that mental preparation is the key to effective partying. He suggests we visualize the pleasurable events we want to experience. We should meditate on how much alcohol and drugs we will imbibe, how uninhibited we’ll allow ourselves to be, and how close we can get to vomiting from intoxication without actually vomiting. But wait! Here’s an alternative approach to partying, adapted from Sufi poet Rumi: “The golden hour has secrets to reveal. Be alert for merriment. Be greedy for glee. With your antic companions, explore the frontiers of conviviality. Go in quest of jubilation’s mysterious blessings. Be bold. Revere revelry.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you have been holding yourself back or keeping your expectations low, please STOP! According to my analysis, you have a mandate to unleash your full glory and your highest competence. I invite you to choose as your motto whichever of the following inspires you most: raise the bar, up your game, boost your standards, pump up the volume, vault to a higher octave, climb to the next rung on the ladder, make the quantum leap, and put your ass and assets on the line.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to an ad I saw for a luxury automobile, you should enjoy the following adventures in the course of your lifetime: Ride the rapids on the Snake River in Idaho, stand on the Great Wall of China, see an opera at La Scala in Milan, watch the sun rise over the ruins of Machu Picchu, go paragliding over Japan’s Asagiri highland plateau with Mount Fuji in view, and visit the pink flamingos, black bulls, and white horses in France’s Camargue Nature Reserve. The coming weeks would be a favourable time for you to seek experiences like those, Leo. If that’s not possible, do the next best things. Like what? Get your mind blown and your heart thrilled closer to home by a holy sanctuary, natural wonder, marvellous work of art—or all the above.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s an excellent time to shed the dull, draining parts of your life story. I urge you to bid a crisp goodbye to your burdensome memories. If there are

pesky ghosts hanging around from the ancient past, buy them a one-way ticket to a place far away from you. It’s OK to feel poignant. OK to entertain any sadness and regret that well up within you. Allowing yourself to fully experience these feelings will help you be as bold and decisive as you need to be to graduate from the old days and old ways.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your higher self has authorized you to become impatient with the evolution of togetherness. You have God’s permission to feel a modicum of dissatisfaction with your collaborative ventures—and wish they might be richer and more captivating than they are now. Here’s the cosmic plan: This creative irritation will motivate you to implement enhancements. You will take imaginative action to boost the energy and synergy of your alliances. Hungry for more engaging intimacy, you will do what’s required to foster greater closeness and mutual empathy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet Richard Jackson writes, “The world is a nest of absences. Every once in a while, someone comes along to fill the gaps.” I will add a crucial caveat to his statement: No one person can fill all the gaps. At best, a beloved ally may fill one or two. It’s just not possible for anyone to be a shining saviour who fixes every single absence. If we delusionally believe there is such a hero, we will distort or miss the partial grace they can actually provide. So here’s my advice, Scorpio: Celebrate and reward a redeemer who has the power to fill one or two of your gaps.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Poet E. E. Cummings wrote, “May my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple.” That’s what I hope and predict for you during the next three weeks. The astrological omens suggest you will be at the height of your powers of playful exploration. Several long-term rhythms are converging to make you extra flexible and resilient and creative as you seek the resources and influences that your soul delights in. Here’s your secret code phrase: higher love

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let’s hypothesize that there are two ways to further your relaxation: either in healthy or not-so-healthy ways—by seeking experiences that promote your long-term well-being or by indulging in temporary fixes that sap your vitality. I will ask you to meditate on this question. Then I will encourage you to spend the next three weeks avoiding and shedding any relaxation strategies that diminish you as you focus on and celebrate the relaxation methods that uplift, inspire, and motivate you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Please don’t expect people to guess what you need. Don’t assume they have telepathic powers that enable them to tune in to your thoughts and feelings. Instead, be specific and straightforward as you precisely name your desires. For example, say or write to an intense ally, “I want to explore ticklish areas with you between 7 and 9 on Friday night.” Or approach a person with whom you need to forge a compromise and spell out the circumstances under which you will feel most open-minded and openhearted. P.S: Don’t you dare hide your truth or lie about what you consider meaningful.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean writer Jack Kerouac feared he had meager power to capture the wonderful things that came his way. He compared his frustration with “finding a river of gold when I haven’t even got a cup to save a cupful. All I’ve got is a thimble.” Most of us have felt that way. That’s the bad news. The good news, Pisces, is that in the coming weeks, you will have extra skill at gathering in the goodness and blessings flowing in your vicinity. I suspect you will have the equivalent of three buckets to collect the liquid gold.

Homework: Name one thing about your life you can’t change and one thing you can change. Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

In-depth

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A great next move for Whistler property Owners that have tired with the Airbnb game or Property Fees. Let’s see if we can make a match and develop a long-term relationship here. General inquiries please email mark.munn@fairmont.com

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ACCOMMODATION WANTED accommodationwanted Retiredteacherseeksquietsuite forskiseason,pkg,NS,NP,refs. psutkap@gmail.com.orcallPaulat 416-999-3831

Big Blowout SLATE TILE SALE

EMPLOYMENT

FullTime SouthVancouverIsland-SomethingDifferent! workingwithourteamtomake yachtsshine,insideandoutsideexperiencenotrequired-enthusiasmis abilitytoworkatheights,inconfinedspaces,overthewater,in teamsorsolo,physicallydemanding,liftingofreasonableweight(50 lbs),communicatewellinEnglish, withbasiccomputerskills driver’slicense&PleasureCraft Operator’sCardassetsbutnot critical startingwage$22.00perhourwith benefitsafter3-months yachts@philbrooks.com https://philbrooks.com/

MARCH TIMESHARE FOR SALE

Westin Whistler time share week #13, one bedroom unit #907. For 2024 the week begins 3/30 and is the 13th Saturday every year thereafter.

Asking $5,000 Canadian.

Email Patrick at C21mcm@aol.com for details.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

SoundGardenLandscape &DesignLtd.

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thisinvolvesleadingateam,coordinatingwithcraneandothercontractorsandsiteprep. mustbecapablewithtoolsandsome basicelectricalknowledge waterchemistryknowledgeandany hottubmanufacturertrainingwouldbe anasset canoperatetruckwith20fttrailer abletooperateandhavelicensefor forklift Dorepairworkonresidentialandcommercialhottubandpoolequipment service@splashhottubspools.com

TwinRiverGravelCo.Ltd-Truck

Driver

Class1TruckDriverpositionavailable forwellestablishedlocalgravelcompany.Fulltime,competitivewages andbenefitsplan.Pleaseemailresume:jessica@twinrivergravel.ca

We've Got You Covered

The Team (who are

We have sk iers, snowboarders, fanatics, musicians, family people, single people, and ever y other variety of people, but above all, we have happy people!

The good stuff!

• Flexible schedule for shredding!

• Wage based on experience plus tips

• Fun and healthy work environment

• 40% discount at sister companies

• T nt

• Walking distance to the brand new Creekside Gondola

• Employee showers

• Killer sound system

• Funky ambiance and good vibes only!

Don’t ignore this oppor tunity! Of course you are happy where you are, but shouldn’t you always be happier? Come in and check it out We

T

Amazing opportunities available:

Registered Dental Hygienist Certified Dental Assistant

LOVE WHERE YOU WORK! JOIN OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS Competitive Wages | Hiring Bonus | Relocation Bonus

APPLY TODAY:

liz@whistlerdental.co

whistlerdental.com/

We are hiring

Director of Banquets

The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler has the following positions available:

HOUSEMAN

Please reply by email: parmstrong@pinnaclehotels.ca

Roland’s Pub is looking for an Assistant Kitchen Manager.

Position is full time, year-round. Starting salary is $52,000 + tips, staff meals, and other perks. Extended Medical and Dental, ski pass, golf pass, and staff discounts at Roland’s Pub & Red Door Bistro. Must have line cooking experience, food safety certification, and some management experience is beneficial. Duties will include cooking on the hotline, assisting with ordering & receiving of food products, creating specials and new menu items, organizing freezers & fridges, and ensuring kitchen staff are properly stocked and prepared for busy lunch & dinner rushes. Temporary staff housing is available. Please email resume to info@rolandswhistler.com or apply in person at 2129 Lake Placid Road in Whistler’s Creekside.

The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler is currently hiring

• GUEST SERVICE AGENT (FT)

Please drop off your resume at the hotel or email : athalakada@pinnaclehotels.ca

Roland’s Pub is looking for a new bar manager.

Must be a sports enthusiast and have bartending experience. Duties will include inventory and ordering of all alcoholic products as well as other items. Creating promotions with suppliers and other Pub events. A few bartending shifts and management shifts, a combination of days & nights. Salary will be based on experience, plus tips and staff meals. Extended medical & dental benefits, ski pass, and gas allowance.

Please email resume to info@rolandswhistler.com

We’ve got a job you’ll love.

IS HIRING

H e l p u s e n d y o u t h h o m e l e s s n e s s

Youth Case Worker

o n e d e s e r v e s a p l a c e t o c a l l h o m e Z e r o

C e i l i n g i s a s o c i a l s e r v i c e n o n - p r o f i t c o m m i t t e d t o e n d i n g y o u t h

T o a p p l y , s e n d a r e s u m e a n d c o v e r l e t t e r t o : i n f o @ z e r o c e i l i n g o r g D e a d l i n e : O p e n u n t i l f i l l e d

W e o f f e r c o m p e t i t i v e w a g e s a n d f u l l - t i m e s t a f f w h o p a s s p r o b a t i o n r e c e i v e :

h o m e l e s s n e s s W e p r o v i d e y o u n g a d u l t s w i t h h o u s i n g , s u p p o r t i v e e m p l o y m e n t p l a c e m e n t s , l a n d - b a s e d p r o g r a m m i n g , a n d i n d i v i d u a l i z e d s u p p o r t W e s t r i v e t o c r e a t e a n e n v i r o n m e n t i n w h i c h y o u n g p e o p l e h a v e a s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g a n d a r e s u p p o r t e d t o h e a l a n d g r o w J o i n o u r t e a m o f e m p a t h e t i c , s t r e n g t h - b a s e d Y o u t h W o r k e r s to p r o v i d e w r a p a r o u n d , h o l i s t i c c a r e f o r y o u n g a d u l t s i n o u r W o r k 2 L i v e s u p p o r t i v e h o u s i n g a n d e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r a m R e q u i r e m e n t s : F o u r d a y w o r k w e e k $ 2 6 / h r s t a r t i n g w a g e , e x t e n d e d h e a l t h b e n e f i t s & R R S P m a t c h i n g W h i s t l e r B l a c k c o m b s e a s o n p a s s ( s u m m e r a n d w i n t e r ) T h r e e w e e k s o f p a i d v a c a t i o n a n d t e n p e r s o n a l d a y s

W e e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y w e l c o m e a p p c a t o n s f r o m a l l q u a l i f i e d p e o p l e , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w i t h l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e , r a c i a l i z e d p e o p l e , p e o p l e o f a l l s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n s , w o m e n a n d t r a n s * p e o p l e , I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s , t h o s e w i t h d i v e r s e a b t i e s , m e n t a i l l n e s s , a n d f r o m a l l s o c i a l s t r a t a

M o r e i n f o a t z e r o c e i l i n g o r g / j o i n - o u r - t e a m

We’ve got a job you’ll love.

The Mallard Lounge is hiring an

Assistant Food & Beverage Manager

YOUR EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• Minimum 2 years food & beverage leadership experience

• University/College degree in related discipline an asset

• Thorough knowledge of wines, liqueurs and other beverages

• Sommelier designation an asset

• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

• Assist in positioning the Mallard Lounge as one of the top dining choices in Whistler

• Have full knowledge of all restaurant and bar menus

• Create unforgettable experiences for our guests and colleagues

• Assist in achieving financial goals through revenue maximization and managing expenses

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU:

• Competitive Benefits

• Career Growth Opportunities

HOW TO APPLY:

• Extensive Travel Perks APPLY HERE

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HOUSEKEEPING:

Dogs and pick-up trucks don’t mix!

Engineer

Engineer

Dogs who are riding in the backs of pickup trucks may look like they’re having fun, but they are not safe.

When you transport your dog in the open bed of your pickup, you endanger both your dog and other motorists. If your truck hits a bump or if you step on the brakes suddenly or swerve to avoid an obstacle, your dog can easily be thrown from the truck bed and onto the road. Even with a restraint your dog may be seriously injured or killed riding in the back of a pickup. Why risk your dog’s life? Put him in the cab with you in a travel crate, or if you have an extended cab, have your pet ride in the back portion of the cab where he will be away from the front windshield.

Lil’wat Nation Employment Opportunities

Ullus Community Center

· Early Childhood Educator

· Director of Lands & Resources

· Director of Community Programs

· General Manager, Community Services

· Finance Assistant

· Family Enhancement Worker

· Transition House Support Worker

· Projects & GIS Manager

Ts’zil Learning Center

· Indigenous Advocate Supervisor

· Indigenous Support Worker – Culture & Language

· Outreach Worker

· Receptionist

Youth Centre

· Administrative Assistant

· Youth Program Coordinator

· Youth Centre Coordinator

Lil’wat Business Group

· Forestry Summer Students

· Junior Saw Labourer

· Senior Saw Labourer

Please visit our career page for more information: lilwat.ca/careers/career-opportunities-2/

Parents of New Grads: Is your new graduate mechanically minded and not going to school in September?

Black Tusk Fire and Security Inc. provides apprenticeships and a supportive learning environment through on-the-job training and a four-year Sprinkler Fitter Apprenticeship Program.

Overview

Black Tusk Fire & Security is one of BC’s most trusted fire safety and security providers, servicing the Sea to Sky region and the Lower Mainland. The Fire Sprinkler apprenticeship is a full-time, paid position, working Monday-Friday; based out of our office in Whistler to service customers within the Sea to Sky corridor.

Job Duties

• Install wet and dry sprinkler systems as per the NFPA and Building Code;

• Install fire sprinkler systems for residential and commercial applications;

• Service, inspect and repair wet and dry sprinkler systems;

• Service, inspect and repair backflow systems

Requirements

• Self-starter who takes initiative

• Mechanical aptitude and basic knowledge of hand tools

• Strong attention to detail

• Excellent communication skills

• Valid drivers’ license

• Must reside within the Sea to Sky corridor

• We offer competitive wages, extended medical/dental benefits and growth potential with paid education/training.

This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door within the industry or advance your current work experience into a long-term career with a growing company.

Please respond with your resume and current references.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those qualified will be contacted.

Starting wage: $18.00 per hour

SEND YOUR RESUME TO: hr@btfsi.com

109-1330 Alpha Lake Rd., Whistler, BC V0N 1B1

Whistler: 604.935.1140 | Squamish: 604.892.9793

Vancouver: 1.877.657.1140 | www.BTFSI.com

WE OFFER AMAZING EMPLOYEE PERKS & BENEFITS!

Life & Leisure Program

Extended Health Benefits

Retirement Savings Program

Free Staff Parking

Free Staff Meals

Education Reimbursement

50% Discount in our Food & Beverage outlets

Go Hilton Team Member Travel Program (including Friends & Family Benefits)

APPLY TODAY THROUGH OUR QR CODE!

CULINARY Cooks

Chef de Partie

Dishwasher

HOUSEKEEPING

Room Attendant

House Attendant

FOOD & BEVERAGE Banquet Server

Restaurant Host

SALES

Sales Coordinator

Night House Attendant

WE ARE HIRING

Assistant Recreation Facility Maintenance Supervisor - Regular Full-Time

Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Advisor - Regular Full-Time

Economic Development Coordinator – Casual/On-Call

Front Counter Clerk – Regular Full-Time

Labourer 2 – Regular Full-Time

Utility Operator 1 – Water Distribution – Regular Full-Time

Recreation Program Instructor 1 – Biking – Temporary Part-Time (4-19 hours) (2 Positions)

Recreation Program Instructor 1 – Biking – Casual/On-Call

(Multiple Positions)

Building Official – Casual/On-Call

Labourer 2 (Multiple Positions) – Temporary Full-Time

Economic Development Specialist – Regular Full-Time

Small Equipment Operator and Winter Truck Driver 3 – Regular Full-Time

Executive Assistant to the General Manager, Community Planning and Infrastructure and Administrative Technical Coordinator – Regular Full-Time

General Manager of Community Planning and Sustainability – Regular

Full-Time

Recreation Facility Attendant 2 – Casual/On-Call

Recreation Facility Attendant 1 – Casual/On-Call

Custodian – Casual/On-Call

Recreation Program Instructor 1 – Fitness – Casual/On-Call

Recreation Program Leader – Casual/On-Call

Lifeguard 1 – Casual/On-Call

Financial Services Specialist – Temporary Full-Time

squamish.ca/careers

Hiring – Dump Truck Driver

Corona Excavations Ltd is a civil based construction company with a professional and enjoyable working environment working in the sea to sky corridor from Pemberton to Squamish.

We are looking for an experienced dump truck driver to join our crew. We are offering full time hours from April 1st with competitive wages and benefits. You would be driving a 2018 Mack Tandem dump truck servicing our job sites in Whistler and Pemberton.

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

Hiring – Yard/Delivery Person

Corona Excavations Ltd is a civil based construction company with a professional and enjoyable working environment working in the sea to sky corridor from Pemberton to Squamish.

We are looking for a person to drive around small tools/ equipment and parts to sites as well as help maintain our yard. Any mechanical or equipment experience would be beneficial in the growth of the role. We will provide a work vehicle and the potential for development within the company.

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

Hiring – Ground Staff

Corona Excavations Ltd is a civil based construction company with a professional and enjoyable working environment working in the sea to sky corridor from Pemberton to Squamish. We are looking for ground staff to work for the upcoming construction season. Experience with operating, pipelaying and landscaping are beneficial. We are offering full-time hours with wages and benefits dependant on experience.

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

Position involves customer service and sales. Some computer and bookkeeping related tasks also required.

Looking for an individual who works well independently. Flexibility in work schedule and training is provided.

Located in Function Junction mariomarble@shaw.ca

604-935-8825

BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS MANAGER, FLEET & EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

TITLE: Manager, Fleet & Equipment Maintenance

LOCATION: Pemberton BC

STATUS: Full-time, Permanent

ABOUT US

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

ABOUT THE JOB

Reporting to the Operations Manager, Blackcomb Helicopters, this role will oversee the Fleet and Equipment Department, ensuring all assets (excluding aircraft) are operating at maximum efficiency. This role will focus on the maintenance and upkeep of company vehicles and other auxiliary helicopter and operational equipment, such as pumps, re-fueling systems, trailers, water buckets, and sling gear. Another key aspect of this role will be administering a robust tracking system and ensuring maintenance schedules and regulatory requirements are adhered to, and that all equipment is properly tracked, maintained, and accounted for. This role will require regular visits to our bases and workshops in order to cultivate an understanding of the operation, personnel, and its nuances.

YOU HAVE

• A valid B.C. or other provincial Driver’s license with satisfactory driver’s abstract.

• Experience in general vehicle repair, servicing, electrical, hydraulics, and electric over hydraulic controls, fuel system maintenance, fuel system plumbing.

• Commercial Transport and National Safety Code experience.

• Your Red Seal Certificate in Automotive or Heavy Duty Mechanics.

• The ability to exceed deadlines and anticipate operational needs.

• Commercial driving/towing experience, ability to operate many types of equipment.

• Legally entitled to work within Canada.

This is an excellent position for a self-starter who is looking for an opportunity to take ownership of their tasks and department. Salary will be commensurate with experience. We offer an excellent benefits program, and an energetic and diverse working environment.

THE FINE PRINT

Blackcomb Helicopters is an equal opportunity employer and to that end, we want all barriers removed to ensure a fair screening process for all candidates. All resumes will be reviewed with an eye to skill set and experience only, and are considered without attention to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. To this end, we ask all applicants to ensure you do not include any personal information on your application and remove pictures from your resume if you have them.

INTERESTED?

If you or someone you know would be a good fit for this role, please send a resume to: Fiona Cochrane, HR Manager fcochrane@mcleangroup.com

JOIN OUR TEAM

ARE YOU A SELF-MOTIVATED INDIVIDUAL LOOKING TO GROW YOUR CAREER IN SQUAMISH?

Come

If you don’t already live in Squamish, you should know it’s one of the most innovative and attractive communities on the West Coast just a short commute from the North Shore of Vancouver. It has a growing worldwide reputation for outdoor recreation with world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, water sports and skiing, boarding and the backcountry in the winter. We’re youthful, engaged and passionate about where we live!

And if you’re a local – well, you know you’re in the right place to forge a career and lucky to call Squamish home.

We’ve got an opportunity to work and truly be a part of this inspired community at its media hub, The Squamish Chief. We’re part of Glacier Media Group and Local News Network, the largest local digital network in Canada. We work with our clients to offer cutting edge solutions like programmatic, Social, SEO, sponsored content and community display advertising on our website – and yes, we reach customers through our trusted newspaper as well. We’ve got media opportunities covered.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• You have sales experience and are comfortable making cold calls and setting up/ leading meetings with new and existing clients.

• A self-starter with a consultative selling approach working with clients planning both digital and print advertising campaigns.

• Building and maintaining client relationships with your exceptional communication skills comes easy to you.

• You are a goal orientated individual with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

• You possess strong organizational skills and have the ability to multitask in a fast paced environment.

Here’s the essentials of what we offer:

• Competitive salary + uncapped commission package.

• Comprehensive health and dental coverage and extended benefits.

• Extensive onboarding training and ongoing support.

Come join us!

Please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence to:

Cathie Greenlees cgreenlees@squamishchief.com

Closing date is March 31, 2023

VISION PACIFIC CONTRACTING LTD. is hiring new team members: EXPERIENCED CARPENTERS LABOURERS

We offer:

• Extended Health and Dental benefits for you and your family

• 20cm snow rule & mental-health bike days

• Flexible schedule & awesome staff parties!

• Work-life balance is as important to us as it is to you!

Send your resume to info@vispacific.com

30 Years in Business Whistler’s Award-Winning Custom Home Builder www.vispacific.com

We've

" T h e h o t t a b l e t o b o o k t h i s s e a s o n i s n e w s u s t a i n a b l e s e a f o o d s p o t W i l d B l u e R e s t a u r a n t + B a r " -

O N D É N A S T T R A V E L E R

Lost and Found?

If you spot a stray animal or have lost an animal, call WAG at 604-935-8364. WAG operates a lost and found service to help reunite lost pets with their families.

www.whistlerwag.com

WE OFFER:

: w i l d b l u e r e s t a u r a n t c o m / c a r e e r s

: c a r e e r s @ w i l d b l u e r e s t a u r a n t c o m

VISIT US ONLINE AT WHISTLERGOLF.COM/CAREERS.

Vacasa’s forward-thinking approach and industryleading technology help set us apart as the largest full-service vacation rental company in North America. We are seeking individuals with a passion for providing exceptional vacation experiences for our Owners and Guests.

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

**SIGNING BONUS**

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

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

ACROSS

DOWN

LAST WEEKS’ ANSWERS

The Fourth Dimension — Part I

YOU MAY HAVE heard by now, assuming you haven’t just beamed in from another solar system: Whistler has a housing problem. Interestingly though, Whistler has had a housing problem since, let’s see, forever. Forever in the history of Whistler doesn’t stretch back beyond the middle of the last century. The history before that was of a place called Alta Lake, and before that whatever the Skwxwú7mesh and Lil’wat7úl people called it, which definitely wasn’t either Alta Lake or Whistler. [Editor’s Note: There were various small First Nations villages that dotted the land where Whistler sits today, including a village shared by the Lil’wat7úl and Skwxwú7mesh at the confluence of Rubble Creek and the Cheakamus River called Spo7ez.]

BY G.D. MAXWELL

But that earlier history aside, Whistler has had a housing problem since the dreamers and skiers began to develop it. Initially, any oversight—and oversight is probably a good word for it—to the Wild West development of the nascent town was thumbs upped or downed by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD). Whistler was within Area D of the SLRD, a tract that ran from the north boundary of Squamish to the south boundary of Pemberton. Area D was represented by a single director, one of nine.

The SLRD had the power to conduct planning studies, community planning and land-use zoning. The SLRD had little interest in exercising those powers. I won’t bore you with the reasons but, well, blame Squamish.

Early development here was pretty much left up to the early landowners, who, of course, had a high degree of civic interest and a humble degree of self-interest. Just kidding. They were in it for themselves and if they’d have had their way, Whistler Village would be where Barney’s Automotive is now.

To continue to beat a horse many of you might think have died by now, the province stepped in and slapped a development freeze on the town in 1974, a move roundly applauded by the landowners. Just kidding. See above.

In a joint statement by B.C.’s Resource Minister, Bob Williams, and Municipal Affairs Minister, Jim Lorimer—ironic he had the same name as the road, eh?—they said the freeze , aimed at largescale developments, might, if unplanned and unregulated, seriously affect land use and servicing plans that were being prepared. A year later, the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act was passed and Whistler gained control over it’s land area and future. Kind of.

Should you be under the misguided impression I keep this kind of trivia in my head, I don’t. But Garry Watson, who has been instrumental in the development and history of Whistler, does. Or at least did long enough to get it down on paper and graciously share it with me.

But I digress.

A key aspect of Whistler’s development

and planning no one really took into account was the fourth dimension—time. When planners say they’re planning for the future, it’s a pretty narrow definition of the future, often just the amount of time it’ll take to complete the development. To their credit, no one doing the early planning for Whistler really imagined it would skyrocket into the success story it has become today. And, yes, I use the word success knowing full well some would disagree and, more to the point, success is a slippery concept.

unparalleled terrain the future resort would offer, at least in the North American context.

What the cheerleaders didn’t take into account was the havoc about to sideswipe their dreams. While the council of the day finally got provincial approval to site Whistler Village were it is today, and initial plans for the village had been created, and the Whistler Village Land Company formed, with work starting by the summer of 1979...

no one ever dreamed that by August 1981, the Bank of Canada’s interest rate would top out

attention to that fourth dimension. All the attention was lavished on how to make Whistler more successful. How to attract more visitors, put more heads in beds, fill those shoulder seasons and turn the ski resort into a four-season mountain resort.

Fortunately for you, I’m not about to go into detail on any of that.

During what we might call the pioneering years of Whistler—1970s to financial Armageddon in the early 1980s—the town drew an interesting mix of far-sighted business people, ski bums, hippie jocks, squatters, and nascent weekend warriors.

Those building lots you might see in real estate ads, currently asking $2 million and more, could be had for a few thousand dollars. Keen Vancouver skiers, trustifarians, upright citizens, people with better-off friends, and those who successfully dealt in contraband, managed to scrape together the money to buy one. Many built their own homes over the ensuing years. Many of those were prototype ski cabins, a smattering of which can still be glimpsed in almost every residential enclave in Whistler.

For those of you who have only ever known Whistler as a ‘World-Class’ resort, let me gently remind you things were not always so. In those early days, before there was a Whistler Village, there were probably more naysayers than cheerleaders when it came to the subject of this town’s future success.

Many of the naysayers pointed out the drawbacks of the mountain: insufficient elevation, too close to the meteorological effects of the Pacific, reached by an unpaved road that was a road in name only among them.

What the naysayers didn’t take into account was the growing interest in skiing, the future development of Blackcomb and the

just under 21 per cent and commercial banks’ prime rate would touch 23 per cent!

To put that into context, there are people in danger of losing their homes today because the Bank of Canada rate has hit 6.7 per cent.

But, again, I digress.

The province bailed Whistler out. The cost was high and eventually the province made out quite nicely on their investment, arguably at a high cost as a result of the rapidly accelerated development of Village North. Blackcomb Mountain was developed. Growth spurred more growth and Whistler became what it is today.

But as I said, no one really paid any

Quite a few of them had “caretaker” suites where locals lived. Having tenants provided comfort and security for Lower Mainlanders who were busy during the week working at jobs and dreaming of skiing on the weekend. Other suites were mortgage helpers for locals building their homes, the income from which was vital to keep all the balls in the air and not wind up turning the keys over to the bank that held their rapidly escalating mortgages.

None of them, in their wildest dreams, ever imagined they were building a home, a future retirement bonanza and a ticking time bomb that would radically change the course of the town when the future became the present.

More on that next week. ■

In those early days, before there was a Whistler Village, there were probably more naysayers than cheerleaders when it came to the subject of this town’s future success.

WHISTLER VILLAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE SUMMER OF 1979. BECK COLLECTION / WHISTLER MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

GLOBAL REACH, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME

WHISTLER VILLAGE

423 - 4295 Blackcomb Way Freehold full ownership Phase II property. This studio has a full kitchen, A/C, fireplace, queen size bed, and a Muffphy bed. Great revenue for investment. $215,000

Ruby Jiang 778-834-2002

Welcome Andrea Dirks

Real Estate Advisor

Andrea moved to Whistler in 2000 living in both Whistler and Pemberton before settling in Squamish with her husband to raise their 2 kids.

In addition to being a homeowner, Andrea has many years of experience investing in real estate, having had rental properties both locally and in the Okanagan. She understands first hand the challenges and rewards of owning investment properties.

When she is not working or volunteering, you can find Andrea running or hiking one of the amazing Squamish trails or cheering her kids on at the soccer field.

Andrea Dirks 604-902-3999 andrea.dirks@evrealestate.com

CONTRIBUTION AT CLOSING

BENCHLANDS

401(G2) - 4653 Blackcomb Way Beautiful top floor/corner unit with spacious 2 bed, 2 bath layout. Features; heated outdoor pool, hot tub, games room, gym, ski-in access, free area shuttle & much more. Enjoy one week each month!

$385,000

KERRY BATT prec* 604-902-5422

EMERALD ESTATES

9488 Emerald Drive Build something spectacular on this 11,725SF lot with classic Emerald views of Wedge and Armchair. A relaxation of the roadside setback approved, over $200k in site and services prep, let your imagination go with what could be. $1,595,000

Rob Boyd - boyd team

604-935-9172

PEMBERTON

1730 Reid Road Private mountain retreat immersed in nature. Mountain views, gentle creek, and perennial gardens surround. 5 acres with option to build a second dwelling. $1,675,000

Suzanne Wilson

604-966-8454

PEMBERTON

9505 Lillooet Forest Service Road Capturing stunning 360-degree mountain views, this 336-acre waterfront property is just 20 minutes from downtown Pemberton. The acreage offers multiple use options and a choice of two prime homesite locations. $3,999,000

Steve Legge prec* 604-902-3335

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

Whistler Village Shop

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

whistler.evrealestate.com

SQUAMISH

38009 Helm Way Stunning new 3 bed/ 3 bath townhome on the Mamquam Blind Channel with stellar views of the Squamish Chief. Steps away from the new ameneties center completing in 2024. Upgraded flooring and appliances, new home warranty! $1,099,000

Sherry Boyd - boyd team 604-902-7220

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