Pique Newsmagazine 3022

The conversation we’re not having

As Whistler sets up its first-ever drug-checking site, support workers want to open up the conversation around drug use. - By Brandon Barrett

14 PLAN OF ATTACK

From helping seniors age in place to incentivizing rentals in WHA ownership units, Whistler’s new housing plan aims to optimize the resort’s supply.

15 SUMMER

SAYS?

Whistler business owners remain optimistic ahead of what is looking like an unpredictable summer season.

18 IN SESSION The Whistler Sessions Scenarios lay out some potential futures for the resort—what happens next?

24 ROOF RAISERS UBC’s Varsity Outdoor Club is raising money for a new backcountry hut roof near Pemberton.

34 CREATING A CULTURE

The Pemberton Youth Soccer Association continues to build momentum in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

38

FIGHTING SPIRIT

The Spiritual Warriors celebrate the release of their new album, Indigenize , with a release party on June 3.

COVER Can we all just agree that the War on Drugs undoubtedly did more harm than good? - By Jon Parris //@jon.parris.art

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

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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 In light of Rainbow Park’s extended closure, editor Braden Dupuis reluctantly explores some of Whistler’s other incredible outdoor offerings.

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

This week’s letter writers call for a ban on selfie sticks at Whistler Blackcomb, add context to the discussion around GHG emissions, and advocate for a National Transportation Strategy.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST May is the best month of the year in Whistler, writes columnist Megan Lalonde—and she will not be convinced otherwise.

58 MAXED OUT Max prepares for the impending siege of summer visitors by laying down some right-ofway rules for Whistler’s Valley Trail.

Environment & Adventure

29 RANGE ROVER In the pantheon of unconscionable, difficult-to-comprehend things people do in Whistler, one act smells worse than all others, writes Leslie Anthony.

Lifestyle & Arts

36 EPICURIOUS Years in the making, Chubby Duck’s brings vertical, roasted meat to the Whistler masses.

42 MUSEUM MUSINGS When Whistler’s roads were all gravel, dust was a major problem throughout the valley.

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How dare the RMOW close my personal favourite park?

RIDING MY bike through Rainbow Park the other day, I overheard a snippet of conversation from an elderly couple.

“Rainbow Park is going to be closed for all of June, can you believe it?!” the wife said to the husband. “That sign back there said closed June 5 to 24!”

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

Actually, you read it wrong, the husband pointed out. The sign says June 5 to June 2024.

At this point I was too far beyond earshot to hear the wife’s reply, but even as I rolled away I could sense her shock and dismay.

It’s true: as of June 5, Rainbow Park—one of Whistler’s favourite summer hangouts— will close for construction for much of the next year.

Pedestrian access to the historical cabins and the dog park will continue, but otherwise Rainbow is a functional no-go from here on out.

Being a longtime resident of Whistler Cay, and a frequent visitor to Rainbow in the summer months, this news upset me at first, as I know it did many others.

How dare the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) close my personal favourite park?

Doesn’t the mayor see how this will affect me personally?

But once I came to terms with the shocking injustice of it all, I opted instead to make lemonade with the RMOW’s fresh, summer lemons. (As long as I don’t try selling it without a business licence, I should be fine, right?)

Without further ado, here’s a highly subjective and personal guide to Whistler parks not named Rainbow.

LAKESIDE PARK

Lakeside might be referred to as Rainbow Park’s less-attractive sibling. That is to say, it has similar features and accesses the same lake, but Rainbow is clearly the favourite child in this family.

Lakeside’s amenities include a small play area, ample green space, some picnic tables and a pair of public docks. Backroads Whistler is onsite to offer canoe and kayak rentals, and Lakeside will be your go-to launch point if you’re looking to access the River of Golden Dreams this summer.

PROS: Easily accessible by the Valley Trail from my house.

CONS: Too mainstream. With Rainbow’s extended closure, it’s the most likely to bear the extra weight this summer.

NUDITY? No.

WAYSIDE PARK

Just up the hill and around the corner on the Valley Trail, Wayside is like an even smaller, more low-key version of Lakeside—the forgotten youngest sibling of Alta Lake parks. In fact, if you don’t slow down on the Valley Trail, you might even zip right past, as I did on this particular park tour.

Like Lakeside, Wayside offers a public dock, amenities like picnic tables, and canoe and kayak rentals via Whistler Eco Tours. Also like Lakeside, it will serve as a primary launch point to the River of Golden Dreams this summer.

PROS: Quiet, secluded.

CONS: Small.

NUDITY? No.

ALPHA LAKE PARK

One thing is abundantly clear immediately upon arriving at Alpha Lake Park in Creekside—it is perhaps the most wellrounded of all Whistler parks, after Rainbow.

Alpha boasts amenities like tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, a swingset and a cute little play area. It’s got a decent amount of grass to stretch out on, some tree coverage off to the side, public dock access, and even a little sandy beach area in front of the lake.

Located as it is in Creekside, it’s also a convenient stop for visitors from the Lower Mainland who may not want to take the full Whistler Village plunge. Get in, get wet, get out.

PROS: Well-rounded, lots of amenities.

CONS: Too far from my house.

NUDITY? No.

MEADOW PARK

If it’s family picnic time you’re after, Meadow Park is your place. After all, it has everything you might need to host your extended family of weird cousins and their offputting offspring: all the green space you might need; a massive playground and spray park for the kids; basketball, tennis, and ball diamonds; picnic tables and plenty of parking; easy access to Alpine Café and Meadow Park Sports Centre.

The only real setback to be found at Meadow Park is the lack of lake access. You can hang out by the bank of the River of Golden Dreams, and even cool off if it gets too hot, but you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want to have a proper swim—which may be a non-starter for some.

PROS: It’s really big, and you will likely see some dogs.

CONS: No lake.

NUDITY? Nope.

LOST LAKE PARK

The black sheep of Whistler’s outdoor leisure

offerings, Lost Lake is easily Whistler’s wildest park. Its undeveloped shores stand watch over clean, pristine waters, and it is accessed primarily by gravel trails. For several weeks every year, it gets overrun by tiny, migrating toads, and it is home to Whistler’s famed nudie dock.

Put simply, with its extended beachfront, ample green space, and the vast trail network surrounding it, Lost Lake is a wonderful spot to while away the summer.

The RMOW even runs a free shuttle from the Day Lots if you’re not up for the gravel trek to the lake.

PROS: Trails, beachfront, and undeveloped shores.

CONS: Very popular despite its secluded nature.

NUDITY: Maybe!

This is to say nothing of the many smaller neighbourhood parks, trails, riverbank lookouts, rope swings, or otherwise underthe-radar swim or hangout spots dotting the Whistler Valley. Hop on a bike and point it in any direction on the Valley Trail this summer, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for (just don’t start any fires while you’re puttering around out there in the heat).

The real takeaway from this two-hour park tour? Whistler is absolutely spoiled when it comes to outdoor summer offerings. So take a breath, take a step back, and think about just how silly it is to get all up in arms over the fact that your municipality is able to invest millions—at no expense to taxpayers—in a major park upgrade, and in the meantime you are still able to go to, at minimum, five other beautiful parks, all within walking and biking distance.

So, yes, Rainbow will be missed this summer. But the grass is just as green, and the lemonade just as sweet, at Whistler’s other parks. ■

Whistler Blackcomb should ban selfie sticks

As someone who’s been coming to Whistler since 1983, the slopes were as crowded this season as I’ve ever seen them. One very troubling development is the prolific use of selfie sticks by both boarders and skiers (but mostly boarders), which tends to distract them from their surroundings and makes them a danger.

In fact, I was almost run into by two people with selfie sticks during a visit this past February.

The mountain should ban them outright. Vail Resorts seems to be overly concerned with liability issues, so hopefully this is one good thing they do.

Matthew Rotenberg // Montreal

Good times at the Whistler Children’s Festival

Hats off to Arts Whistler for an incredible Whistler Children’s Festival!

I worked and volunteered at this festival when I lived in town a decade ago, but this year I got to attend as a parent of two young children. The addition of the Cultural Connector passport was an awesome idea, and we spent the bulk of our day hopping between the library, the Whistler Museum, the Audain Art Museum, the Squamish Lil’wat

Cultural Centre, and the Maury Young Arts Centre exploring what it means to be creative. Bravo to the people who made it all happen and the local businesses that loaned their support. We’ll be back next year!

Magee Walker // Squamish

Berating ourselves on climate targets is counterproductive

I am writing in response to the recent story,

“RMOW sets sights on tackling emissions from large commercial buildings” ( Pique , May 8). This piece highlighted the fact that large commercial buildings account for 24 per cent of Whistler’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—a significant proportion for a single sector. However, I would like to provide some additional context to help our community understand these figures in relation to the global emissions landscape.

According to the World Resources

Institute, global GHG emissions were approximately 52.4 billion tonnes in 2016. In comparison, Whistler’s contribution in 2021 was approximately 127,337 tonnes. When compared to the global total, this represents a minuscule fraction—about 0.000243 per cent.

Even more eye-opening is the fact that the large commercial buildings in Whistler, while responsible for a significant 24 per cent of the town’s total emissions, contribute approximately 30,561 tonnes of CO2e. This is roughly 0.000058 per cent of the global emissions total.

To illustrate this tiny fraction, let’s consider our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Astronomers estimate that there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way. If we were to equate each tonne of CO2 equivalent to one star, global emissions would account for about half the stars in our galaxy. Whistler’s total figure of 127,337 tonnes, on the other hand, would be represented by just 127,337 stars. The emissions from large commercial buildings in Whistler, contributing 30,561 tonnes, would be equivalent to a still smaller, almost indistinguishable cluster of 30,561 stars.

It is crucial to critically examine the expectations we place on ourselves. Given the immense scale of global emissions, berating ourselves for not meeting highly ambitious targets can be unproductive and even counterproductive. While we must strive

for improvement, we must also understand the context in which we operate and set realistic, achievable goals. Only then can we make sustainable progress towards mitigating our impact on the climate.

Jason Drury // Whistler

How to buy a home in Whistler

This letter is in response to a story posted to Pique’s website on May 13, “The cheapest homes for sale in the Sea to Sky.”

The Whistler property at 9179 Emerald Drive is listed at $1,995,000 and last sold for $63,500 in 1989. To put the current plight of Whistler’s youth in perspective, let’s see how many years of minimum-wage income this would cost. This will better determine “who had it tougher?”

In 1989, B.C.’s minimum wage was $4.35,

contributed canning, knitting, quilting and other assorted items to the basket.

It is a delight. See you again next year at your fantastic fundraiser.

Gina Girard // Whistler

Canada needs a National Transportation Strategy

As we are approaching World Environment Day on June 5, let’s take a moment to highlight how fortunate we are as Canadians to have some of the most iconic and pristine wilderness areas in our very own backyard. Each year, 75 per cent of Canadians participate in outdoor recreation activities, and more than 22 million overseas visitors come to spend time in our beautiful country, many of whom hope to see our epic mountains, endless lakes and unique wildlife.

or about $9,500/year assuming 2,000 hours per year. So the house cost about 6.7 years of minimum-wage income.

In 2023, the house is listed for $1,995,000, which amounts to about 63.7 years of today’s minimum wage income ($15.65 x 2,000).

After much detailed analysis, I’ve come to the conclusion that kids today are hooped! If only they’d stop ordering avocado toast and quit their cellphone habit they too could save up for a home...

Keith Montgomery // Burnaby

Thanks for a fantastic Plant and Bake Sale

I attended the Women’s Institute Plant and Bake sale on Saturday, May 6, in Pemberton. I was also lucky to be the winner of the raffle basket. I would like to thank Barb for delivering the basket to Whistler and all the people who

In fact, outdoor recreation is such a part of the Canadian identity, that it contributes $98 billion to our economy each year.

Being aware of the richness of our natural resources, I can’t help but wonder: why is it so difficult to access outdoor recreation destinations by public transportation? As the executive director of Protect Our Winters Canada (POW), a national organization for the outdoor community on climate change issues, it’s a question I make it my duty to answer— and more importantly—to find a solution to.

Like me, you have probably noticed that it’s very difficult and complex to take public transportation if you want to get to national parks, or even local trailheads. Especially in the large metropolitan areas such as Whistler, where it is almost impossible to get out into nature without using a car.

Whistler averages about 8,200 visitors a day. The Sea to Sky corridor in B.C.,

“After much detailed analysis, I’ve come to the conclusion that kids today are hooped!”

- KEITH MONTGOMERY

bed, 2 bath,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

which stretches from Vancouver to Whistler, exemplifies the need to increase and diversify accessible public transit options such as passenger railways. With an average group size of 1.9, that amounts to about 4,300 cars on the Sea to Sky each day.

Not only are Canadians missing out on

Two weeks ago, I travelled to Ottawa to meet with ministers and policy advisors using only public transportation, a 10-hour trip on two trains and four buses. It was through this bold visit that I wanted to illustrate this national problem and propose concrete solutions, including a national transportation strategy that includes rural and outdoor recreation destinations.

All Canadians should be able to enjoy the beauty of our natural spaces without contributing to the climate crisis. Being in nature is the quintessential Canadian experience—and we all have the right to enjoy it.

Join me in ensuring that our government prioritizes sustainable transit solutions for our outdoor community and makes this issue a top priority!

enjoying our most incredible natural spaces, but Canadian communities are missing out on the jobs and economic benefits that come with increased sustainable tourism and the ability to move around regional areas with ease.

It is sadly ironic that in order to enjoy our natural heritage—which is part of our cultural DNA—we have little option but to add to the emissions that are changing these places irreparably, by using private vehicles to get there. As people who love spending time in nature, that’s pretty uncomfortable to hear—and it’s why we want to be part of the solution.

WAREHOUSE

Ali Wines // Executive Director, Protect Our Winters Canada n

FOR THE RECORD

Due to a technological glitch, some letters submitted in recent months using Pique’s online form may not have been received. If you did not receive a response to a recent letter, please feel free to resubmit directly to edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com or using the new form at piquenewsmagazine.com/ other/contact-us. n

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“All Canadians should be able to enjoy the beauty of our natural spaces...”

- ALI WINES

An ode to the best month in Whistler

MAY 29 marked seven whole years since I rolled past the “Welcome to Whistler” sign for the first time, with a snowboard, a hockey bag and a couple of suitcases in the trunk of my Jeep and an employment contract from the Whistler Question (R.I.P.) in my inbox.

“Probably a year and a half, maybe two years, max,” was my response that summer

BY MEGAN LALONDE

to anyone who asked how long I planned on staying. Joke’s on me—I’ve become a stereotype.

There are more than a few routine aspects of Whistler life I’ve gotten used to in those seven years, like navigating the bends I’ve memorized on the Sea to Sky highway, the ebb and flow of the seasons, or the nowfamiliar feeling of saying a gut-wrenching goodbye to friends, only to welcome them back to town a few years later. Just in case you needed more proof this corridor is a trap.

In building a life anywhere, you’ll start recognizing recurring bright spots that never fail to highlight your days, weeks, months and years. Here, those might look like Sunday morning lattes from your go-to

coffee shop; the first run you head towards on a powder day; your favourite dock to lounge on during hot, sunny summer days; or that one event, festival or race you look forward to year after year.

After seven turns around the sun as a full-time Whistler resident, I’ve conclusively determined that, for me, the entire month of May is one of those bright spots.

In other words, May is the best month of the year in Whistler, and I will not be convinced otherwise. Why would a month that falls under the entirely unappealing

storage for the first time. You can always count on at least a few days of sunshine before the Juneuary clouds roll in.

But that’s just the standard stuff most Canadians can relate to.

If not completely unique to Whistler, some spring experiences considered “normal” in the Sea to Sky are exceptionally rare in other parts of the world. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the novelty of snowboarding in a T-shirt and sunglasses in double-digit temperatures.

In May, Whistler’s true strength is

deal. Would I typically treat myself to three whole courses at one of Whistler’s Canada’s best restaurants, for no other occasion than it is a Wednesday? Let’s be real, neither my bank account nor my health can accommodate that kind of a hit on a regular basis. But when those three courses are offered for the price of a single entrée? Sign me the heck up.

Even better, if your friends are like mine, fewer visitors in town to serve means more time to dedicate to these endeavours. After a few months of hustling, spring in Whistler always feels like a collective deep breath, a chance to reconnect. It feels like the celebration of one season coming to an end and a fresh start as another begins.

label of “dead season” be my favourite time of year, you ask? OK, no one asked, but I’m going to tell you anyway.

May is when the days start feeling noticeably longer. It’s when temperatures start sliding past the 20-degree mark more regularly—aside from last year’s neverending winter—which, after months of snow, might as well feel like 30 C. It’s when you can confidently trade Blundstones for Birkenstocks and pull camping gear out of

multisport days. It’s pretty much the only time of year where you can hop on a lift and head to higher elevations for a few slushy laps, swap helmets and head out for a bike ride, then end your afternoon with an admittedly chilly dip in the lake. Throw in a round of golf or a trip to the driving range, if that’s your thing.

You can refuel your energy tank after all those spring activities with my favourite kind of dining experience: the dead-season

Or maybe my obsession with May stems more from my first impressions of a town that has become so important to me. This time of year reminds me of walking through the village on my first day in Whistler, as awe-struck by the rushing, icy-blue creek and rocky, snow-capped peaks as I was confused by crews coming off the mountain in full Gaper Day regalia—think party shirts, unicorn onesies and Pit Vipers. It reminds me of brief moments of “what the heck did I just get myself into?” overwhelmed by giddy excitement and a sense of limitless possibilities, not knowing what this place had in store for me.

Turns out, it was a lot of good. Even if it is a trap. ■

I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the novelty of snowboarding in a T-shirt and sunglasses in double-digit temperatures.

How can Whistler preserve and optimize its existing housing supply?

FROM HELPING SENIORS AGE IN PLACE TO INCENTIVIZING RENTALS IN WHA OWNERSHIP UNITS, THE RMOW IS EXPLORING WAYS TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE RESORT’S EMPLOYEE ACCOMMODATION

BY BRANDON BARRETT

WHISTLER IS OFTEN held up as a shining example of employee housing done right, and with more than 7,000 beds of resident-restricted rental and ownership housing delivered since the Whistler Housing Authority’s (WHA) inception 25 years ago, there’s no denying the community is ahead of the curve when compared to other resort towns.

And yet, for all its effectiveness, the WHA has understandably been unable to resolve Whistler’s longstanding affordable housing crisis alone, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) new Housing Action Plan reflects the barriers that still persist here. From expanded infill housing to expedited building timelines, the guiding document contains no shortage of ambitious ideas.

In the first of Pique’s series delving deeper into the plan, we hone in on one of six focus areas the municipality has arrived at to improve Whistler’s housing landscape: Protect and optimize employee housing.

For the purposes of this series, Pique will focus on the initiatives already underway or planned for this year, as well as future potential actions under consideration.

STRENGTHENING EMPLOYEE HOUSING EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT

An effort that gained momentum in 2022, the RMOW wants to continue prioritizing housing covenant education, compliance and enforcement, an effort that last year resulted in the turnover and sale of six WHA homes.

“Every time we gain compliance, and employee housing is used as the covenant directs, we get units back into service at a far lower cost. Those six units that have been returned to us are a big deal for our community. We expect to do more of the same,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “Many of the covenants that we have are old and sometimes the people living in them aren’t aware of exactly how they are permitted to be used, so that education is important for people to understand the covenants on title on their homes.”

The municipality dedicated more resources to housing education and enforcement last year, a trend Crompton said would continue in 2023.

INCENTIVIZE RENTALS IN EMPLOYEERESTRICTED UNITS

Dovetailing with the RMOW’s education and enforcement efforts is a desire to better incentivize the rental of available rooms in employee owner-occupied homes and employee-restricted suites, a potential future action being considered.

Because some rental rates are restricted by

covenants registered on title, staff suggested providing an “easy reference” for property owners to understand the rental rates allowed under their existing agreements, according to the plan. This could result in existing rental rates being evaluated to help incentivize owners to rent their units out.

“There’s been a lot of conversation about how some of the maximum allowable rental rates on existing suites are too low and therefore people don’t rent their suites,” Crompton said. “That’s something we want to look into to understand if amending those caps will drive owners to rent their units more often.”

REVIEW OWNER-RESTRICTED INVENTORY UTILIZATION

In a similar vein, the RMOW floated as a possible future action the review of ownerrestricted employee housing inventory to “further identify differences in unit values and understand potential impacts for retirees looking to downsize,” the plan stated, likely through WHA surveying.

“One of the interesting points that some people have made is that it’s difficult to move within the WHA inventory, so there may be ways to allow for people to downsize and others to upsize within the existing WHA inventory,” Crompton said.

As part of this potential action, the RMOW could consider maintenance and renovation costs in relation to WHA price appreciation restrictions when owners look to resell their homes.

UPDATE COUNCIL’S SENIORS HOUSING POLICY

With a view towards helping Whistler’s seniors age in the community, another potential future action is updating council’s existing seniors housing policy to “address aging-in-place features for seniors housing units and explore models to facilitate independent living and supportive housing,” the plan said.

The update will be in tandem with Vancouver Coastal Health’s upcoming Sea to Sky health services master plan, which will address health and wellness needs in the corridor as well as future population growth, seasonal fluctuations, and aging projections for the Whistler, Pemberton, and Squamish areas.

The regional health authority will begin its 18-month engagement with First Nations partners, local communities, municipal governments, and medical staff in June.

“Our housing approach needs to align with whatever the outcomes of the masterplanning process is,” Crompton said. “We’re looking for ways to ensure that there are features of our seniors’ housing units that serve the people who want to live in them and the health-care services that we have here dictate how well those people can be served in their housing and in the health-care system. I think it’s important to recognize this connection between aging in place and our health-care system in the region.”

Check back with Pique in the coming weeks for more on the RMOW’s Housing Action Plan. n

HIGH-LEVEL VIEW Through its new Housing Action Plan, the Resort Municipality of Whistler aims to optimize and protect existing employee housing.

PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE / GETTY IMAGES

Whistler businesses ‘optimistic’ ahead of an unpredictable summer season

AMID CLIMBING COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS, B.C.’S MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE ROSE TO $16.75 ON JUNE 1

BY MEGAN LALONDE

LAST MONTH, the World Health Organization officially declared an end to the global public health emergency sparked by COVID-19. It felt like a formality for a population that has long since abandoned the imposing public health policies put in place in 2020.

Among Whistler’s business community, “overall, there is a general excitement for the summer and a return to a somewhat normal summer season, certainly when you think about previous years,” said Louise Walker, executive director with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. “We are in the second year running with no restrictions, so that is good.”

With that in mind, many would expect businesses to finally be able to plan their summer operations with confidence. But even without the uncertainty of border closures or gathering limits, Whistler employers are still struggling to predict exactly what the coming months will look like, Walker added.

“I’d say there are some unknowns out there, especially around the economy and the impact of infrastructure upgrades, and some businesses are still facing labour challenges,” she said.

Adding to that list of stressors are questions surrounding just how busy a summer Whistler should expect in terms of visitors. As Pique reported last week, Whistler’s tourism outlook for the coming summer is not quite as strong as it was ahead of the 2022-23 winter season, with Tourism Whistler president and CEO Barrett Fisher describing a “softening” in the resort’s accommodation booking pace this spring.

Based on Tourism Whistler’s data, Whistler is not on track to break the visitation records it set in the years leading up to the pandemic. Instead, officials anticipate similar visitation levels to last summer.

The good news for local business owners? According to an economic update provided by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) representatives at a recent Whistler Chamber event, “even though economic growth is slowing down—this is overall for Canada—because employment still continues to grow, we’re not expecting a recession,” Walker relayed. “It’s more just a slowing down. The balance of visitors coming to Whistler is more important than ever, so that’s an amount of visitors our businesses and communities can manage.”

Striking the right balance is all the more important as the cost of doing business in B.C. rises, from property and employer health taxes to inflated supply prices and paying back pandemic loans. That also includes the province’s 2023 minimum wage increase, to $16.75 per hour as of June 1, up from $15.65.

A recent report from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade claims businesses

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in B.C. will shoulder an additional $6.5 billion in costs between 2022 and 2024, while the BC Chamber of Commerce’s latest Collective Perspective survey found costs have worsened for nearly nine out of 10 B.C. businesses this year.

“We all want to make sure that we’re paying our team a livable wage,” said Walker. “We’ve also got to make sure that we can [operate] a viable business where that’s not just passed on to the customer.”

When it comes to labour, just how challenging the resort’s long-standing employee shortage is this spring remains to be seen. The Whistler Chamber is preparing to launch a survey measuring the staffing challenges facing its members, Walker said, but in the meantime, “anecdotally, what we’re hearing is businesses just aren’t able to offer all the services that they used to, or the owners perhaps might be stepping into roles.”

As temporary foreign workers and working holiday visa holders continue flowing into the resort, it does appear Whistler’s labour crunch has improved slightly, “but there is still that challenge,” she said. “We’re not back to where we were five years ago, and that is directly linked to housing unaffordability. There’s no shortage of people that want to come and work in Whistler, it’s making it work that’s the challenge.”

To that end, as the organization embarks on developing its strategic plan this year, the Chamber is also investigating what its role in addressing Whistler’s housing crisis could look like. For example, “are there new opportunities that could be explored, like employer-funded options? We’re just looking at what some of the different options are just now,” said Walker.

Despite those persistent challenges, “I think unlike previous years, businesses have learned to be more resilient and agile to changing conditions,” Walker added.

“Everyone’s staying focused on a successful summer of operations and supporting a team and really delivering that great guest experience that we’re known for. So there’s lots of optimism.” n

SUMMER JOBS Ahead of the summer season, Whistler minimum-wage earners received a pay bump on June 1.

PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE / GETTY IMAGES

The RMOW has unleashed its four Whistler Sessions Scenarios—what now?

THE FOUR POTENTIAL FUTURES WERE PRESENTED IN A PAIR OF BRIEFINGS AT THE WHISTLER PUBLIC LIBRARY ON MAY 25

BY MEGAN LALONDE

AS PART OF THE WHISTLER Sessions team since its inception, MMGY Origin’s partner and executive creative director Danielle Kristmanson was one of about 40 people tasked with collaboratively imagining four possible scenarios for the resort’s future.

Those sessions took place over a threemonth period ending in February 2022, resulting in four highly-detailed, realistic, but not-always-rosy examples of what Whistler could turn into by 2050.

The scenarios explored what the resort could look like if it caved to increasing pressure to densify and grow, becoming a populous city in the mountains, or if it instead practised restraint and prioritized climate resilience. A third scenario imagined Whistler’s future if the resort leveraged the significant wealth available, gearing the tourism economy primarily towards the rich, while the fourth envisioned a Whistler forced to rebuild after collapse.

So, when client Tourism Whistler came to Kristmanson’s branding and creative content agency last year around the same time the scenario planning exercise wrapped up, seeking Origin’s help communicating Whistler’s future as a sustainable resort

destination in its annual marketing campaign, “I thought it was a perfect idea for me to brief my team on some of this Whistler Sessions stuff,” she recalled.

While the scenarios ultimately “provided some quality material” to help build Tourism Whistler’s campaign, that initial briefing didn’t exactly go according to plan. Laying the four scenarios on her staff in a 90-minute meeting, they struggled to process the potential futures Kristmanson had taken months to absorb herself. From outrage to despair and even a few tears, “There was a lot of reaction that was, frankly, quite negative,” Kristmanson said.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is hoping more local organizations and individuals follow Kristmanson’s lead in incorporating Whistler Sessions Scenarios into future planning exercises, but is offering up a few resources that aim to equip the community with a clearer understanding of exactly what the scenarios are, what they aren’t, and how the stories can be used as a tool—hopefully preventing any future tears.

The municipality officially unleashed the scenarios for public discussion on Thursday, May 25, presenting the four futures in a pair of briefings held at the Whistler Public Library. A mid-day session drew nearly 20 participants to the library’s

community room, followed by an evening briefing held in the main library over by the fireplace. Thirty-four people attended, including three members of council, RMOW CAO Ginny Cullen and general manager Karen Elliott, according to RMOW manager of corporate projects Michele Comeau.

“It’s really important, I think, to … understand that it is this tool for discussion,” Kristmanson told attendees at the first briefing. “It’s not the end scenario itself that is important. It’s all the stuff in it that you can use to prompt conversation and think about your problems in different ways.”

Briefing attendees had the chance to dig into the Whistler Sessions Scenarios after watching a video summarizing the four stories, then quietly reflecting on a series of questions like “How might the scenarios guide, or even change, the strategic direction of my community group or business?” before opening up the room for a group discussion.

“Are some of the ideas in the scenarios uncomfortable or grandiose or unwelcome? Absolutely,” Comeau told the audience, “but they are plausible, which is kind of scary. And if we don’t take action as a community to form the future we want, any of those scenarios or elements of them could be possible.”

Thursday’s events had three main objectives: to inform the community about the Whistler Session Scenarios and the

process that led to them; to spark community discussion and ideas about how to work cooperatively towards Whistler’s community vision—“and consider if we need to adjust, if a new path is revealed through this work,” Comeau explained. Finally, the event aimed to showcase how the scenarios are already being used throughout the community.

What the briefings weren’t intended to accomplish? “Solving the question of what the future of Whistler should look like,” she added. “This is really the start of a conversation to start a larger process.”

Stemming from the Whistler Recovery Working Group launched in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Whistler Sessions started as an exercise probing possible futures to guide the resort beyond pandemic recovery.

The process was facilitated with help from Reos Partners, and based on the “Transformative Scenario Planning” methodology its co-founder Adam Kahane helped create in South Africa as the country transitioned away from apartheid.

The full Whistler Sessions Scenarios booklet is available to read at engage. whistler.ca/whistlersessions, alongside PowerPoint templates, planning tips, worksheets and other resources for anyone interested in hosting a Whistler Sessions Implications Workshop. n

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Are we loving the Sea to Sky to death?

‘DON’T LOVE IT TO DEATH’ CAMPAIGN SEES SUCCESS IN FIRST YEAR

BY ROBERT WISLA

A STEADY FLOW OF TRAFFIC up and down the Sea to Sky highway, parking lots overflowing with visitors, lakes increasingly littered with rubbish—these are just a few of the hallmarks of overtourism, and a growing concern of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) and its member municipalities.

To help the region balance the demands of increased visitation and respect for the natural environment, the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council, an offshoot of provincial tourism marketing organization Destination BC, launched the Don’t Love It to Death campaign in 2022.

On May 24, the SLRD board received a report on the campaign from Destination BC senior project advisor Jonathan Heerema and consultant Amber Turnau, highlighting the marketing campaign’s progress and success over the last year.

“We’ve worked with [MMGY] Origin, a Whistler-based creative agency, and they helped us develop the content and the concept called ‘Don’t Love it to Death.’ It drives home the message that increased recreation and travel is putting a strain on the environment, communities, residents and the guest experience and infrastructure in the Sea to Sky and many areas throughout the province,” Heerema said.

“We want residents and visitors to think about the implications of their behaviours, conduct themselves respectfully, and realize that they’re responsible for the protection of the environment, communities, and wildlife in the process.”

The Don’t Love It to Death campaign incorporates various outreach tools, including billboards on Highway 99, posters on BC Ferries, social media posts and videos, and an outdoor ambassador program to raise awareness of the impacts of visitation on the environment.

Over the last year, the program has highlighted impacts on waterways, and how to travel in the region without leaving behind problems, with a few social media videos

garnering tens of thousands of views from people across the region.

“We’re loving some places to death, and a change in our behaviour is required,” Heerema said.

In 2019, more than 190,000 sightseers came through Joffre Lakes Provincial Park—a 222-per-cent increase over 2010. To address the rise in popularity, the provincial government implemented a free day-use permit system for better management.

It’s not just provincial parks feeling the strain. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) experienced a significant upsurge in tourists to its four destination parks over the past few years. In 2022, visitation to Whistler’s parks rose by 35 per cent over the previous year, which itself was 77 per cent higher than in 2019.

Lillooet Mayor Laurie Hopfl said the SLRD or provincial government should consider implementing a payment system for the some of the region’s busy parks.

“I think that we need to look at a Fee for Service, so to speak … We’re missing so much revenue that we could generate for clean-up and jobs and just that whole pay-to-play,” Hopfl said.

“I think the whole corridor needs help when it comes to garbage and littering and the whole ‘love it to death’ issue, but I still think it goes back to … people would maybe have a little bit more respect if they had to pay for the ability to be able to park there and use our parks and playgrounds.”

Overall, Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton is encouraged by the progress made on the public information campaign, seeing it as one of many steps in the battle to manage growing tourism in the region.

“I remember when we first had the conversations at the destination development strategy table about pivoting a little bit away from marketing the region towards management and care for the region, and I think this is a really important shift in focus,” Crompton said. “I’m hopeful that’s the first step, and there’s many more to follow, which is exciting because I think it means we’re doing things differently than we’ve done in the past, and this is a tremendous start.” n

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NATURE HUG A swarm of visitors lines up to take photos at Joffre Lakes in 2019.

FILE PHOTO BY JOEL BARDE

Assault charges for Whistler woman following altercation in village bar

POLICE BRIEFS: $12K WORTH OF TOOLS TAKEN FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES; TWO REPORTS OF FRAUD IN PAST WEEK

BY BRANDON BARRETT

A WHISTLER WOMAN is facing assault charges stemming from an altercation at a village bar this winter.

On Feb. 19 at approximately 1:45 a.m., Whistler RCMP was called to Brandy’s Bar after a complaint of a disturbance at the restaurant-pub. Upon arrival, police said in a statement that they located a female victim “who had sustained injuries from the [alleged] assault and required treatment from BC Ambulance.”

Shortly thereafter, police located a female suspect, who was arrested and later released from custody, with a court date set for June 14 at North Vancouver Provincial Court. The accused, Claire Aspinall, is facing charges of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.

Aspinall and the complainant were known to each other at the time of the altercation.

None of the above allegations have been proven in court.

Aspinall did not return a request for comment by press time.

$12K WORTH OF TOOLS REPORTED STOLEN

Whistler RCMP continues to investigate

the alleged theft of tools from two separate construction sites this week.

On Monday, May 29, police were notified of the reported break-ins to the local construction sites, which are believed to have taken place in the evening or overnight hours of the prior weekend.

In a release, police said a number of tools were stolen from both sites, with a combined value of approximately $12,000.

POLICE INVESTIGATING TWO REPORTS OF FRAUD

Local investigators are looking into two recent reports of fraud from the past week.

In one incident, police said an individual was contacted by an unknown number identifying themselves as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), a common phone scam that has risen in frequency in recent years.

If contacted by a CRA employee, they will

identify themselves when they contact you by phone, providing a name and phone number to call them back, if needed. If unsure, you can verify the employee’s identify before turning over any information by requesting their name, number, and office location. Then, you can end the call and contact the CRA directly to confirm the details provided.

In another purported instance of fraud this week, police said money was e-transferred to another individual with the intent of purchasing a vehicle.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, as well as the police.

STOLEN BIKE RETURNED TO OWNER

It was a happy ending for a cyclist this week who had their stolen bike returned without incident, police said.

On Monday, May 22, police said in a release that “a very alert citizen” notified the Whistler RCMP of an individual in possession of what was believed to be a stolen bike.

The bike was seized and an investigation began. The following day, police returned the bike to its rightful owner.

Whistler RCMP dealt with a total of 112 files between May 23 and 29. n

POLICE BEAT Whistler RCMP dealt with a total of 112 files between May 23 and 29.

PHOTO BY KIMBERLEE REIMER / GETTY IMAGES

Alpine Café gearing up for long-awaited upgrade

LOCALS’ HAUNT WILL SEE RESTAURANT SEATING EXPAND INTO EXISTING RETAIL SPACE

BY BRANDON BARRETT

IN A TOWN that seems to reinvent itself with every passing season, it’s the familiar standbys that the locals tend to appreciate the most. For the denizens of Whistler’s original residential neighbourhood, Alpine Café has been that consistent fixture for the past 20 years.

So, when word got out the owners of the locals’ haunt were finally ready to move ahead with the expansion plans they have envisioned for years, they had to reassure their loyal regulars that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

“People have said to us: ‘You’re not gonna make it all new-looking, are you?’ The answer to that is no,” said co-owner Kevin Wood. “It’s one of Whistler’s original old buildings and we want to keep the vibe of the place. I don’t want to give away too much, but it will certainly carry the feel of the café and will keep that friendly vibe.”

For years now, one of the few complaints Wood and fellow owner Martini Bart heard about the homegrown café is that there aren’t enough seats to accommodate the demand. With just 16 seats inside, the café struggles with a lack of capacity, particularly in the winter months when the 25 outdoor seats on

the patio go mostly unused.

“It’s essentially reimagining the space. The crux of it is the café doesn’t have enough seats and this has been a chronic problem for years. We have needed to increase the seating in there for 10 or 15 years,” Wood said.

The expansion means the café will stretch into the adjacent Alpine Market, also owned by Wood and Bart. A small retail component will be maintained, with essential items such as milk, eggs, pop and chips available for purchase.

Wood said the market has suffered in

recent years with the addition of the Your Independent Grocer and the Chevron gas station in nearby Rainbow.

“The store can’t exist in the shadow of Rainbow and the buying power they have, so that has to change,” Wood said.

While the upgrades take place, the convenience store will remain closed, although certain retail items can still be purchased from the café. With the additional seating, Alpine Café’s zoning will shift from a café-deli use to allow a restaurant use.

Among the other planned upgrades are

relocating the washroom so it can be accessed from inside the café instead of having patrons walk outside around the back of the building, and replacing the aging wood flooring.

“That’s probably the saddest thing for me, being the son of a cabinetmaker,” Wood said. “My last name is ‘Wood,’ not ‘Vinyl Plank Flooring,’ so I’m pretty sad to see the flooring go, but the health department told us that was a no-no.”

Wood expects the reimagined Alpine Café and Alpine Market will reopen in November— but not before a 20th-anniversary celebration with locals’ deals, live music, and more slated for later this summer.

“We’re talking about maybe extending to a weeklong celebration where we can incorporate community charities like [Whistler Animals Galore] and [the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association] and maybe do a bit of fundraising,” said Wood. “By then we will hopefully have more info about the project in terms of an opening date.”

For the former chefs who opened Alpine Café in 2003, the expansion has been a long time coming.

“Martini and I, when we planned this expansion years ago, our goal was to have our 50th birthday in the new space. We both turned 56 this year, and we’re still waiting. Maybe we’ll have our 60th in there,” Wood joked. n

Save with the Shoulder Season Menu

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME Locals’ haunt Alpine Café is undergoing a long-awaited expansion to add more restaurant seating for patrons.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

Purebread, Whistler’s beloved bakery, acquired by Coho Collective Kitchens

COMPANY AIMS TO EXTEND BAKERY’S REACH, AND WILL KEEP TEAM ON AT ITS SIX EXISTING LOCATIONS

BY BRANDON BARRETT

WHISTLER’S BELOVED bakery, Purebread, is adding another chapter to a story that began in Paula and Mark Lamming’s kitchen more than a decade ago.

In a release Monday, May 29, it was announced the homegrown bakery has been acquired by Coho Collective Kitchens Inc., the Vancouver-based food technology and commercial real estate company that provides private and shared kitchen and food production space to a variety of businesses.

With the partnership, Canada’s largest shared kitchen space operator plans to extend Purebread’s reach and expand the bakery’s brand presence across the country.

“Purebread is extremely excited for this new chapter alongside Coho. With their unwavering support and resources, Purebread is ready to spread our love for delectable treats to an even wider audience,” said co-founder Paula Lamming in the release.

“I just turned 61, Paula is 63, and we want to get on and enjoy the rest of our lives while we still can,” said co-founder Mark Lamming in a follow-up interview. “We are at a point where we are just about to open at [the Vancouver International Airport], so that’s our

seventh location, and I think there’s a desire within our team to have more opportunities and potential for growth, and that wasn’t something we were really motivated to keep going with. When we linked up with Coho, their philosophy, their attitude, their ethos, everything seemed to gel. They’ve got a really solid idea of what they want to do with their own side of the business and also how to integrate Purebread into that and take it to the next stage.”

The purchase agreement provides for cash consideration of $10 million, and the issuance of 1 million common shares of Coho, with an aggregate value of approximately $220,000.

Purebread will continue to operate as a separate entity, with its own operational and management team. The Lammings, who have increasingly stepped back from the business over the past year and a half, will stay on to assist Coho through the transition.

Coho said it would provide support in

areas such as marketing, sales, and finance to assist the company in developing new markets.

“We are thrilled to welcome Purebread into the Coho family,” said Coho’s CEO, Andrew Barnes, in the release. “Through this acquisition, we strive to expand the Purebread brand’s presence throughout Canada, leveraging Coho’s established network to propel the bakery forward. We acknowledge the incredible hard work and passion undertaken by the Purebread team to establish the brand and the business, and now, we aim to grow its reach.”

It’s been quite the journey for the Lammings, the Kiwi founders of Purebread, starting from selling their bread at local farmers’ markets in 2008 to today counting six locations across the Sea to Sky and Lower Mainland, including two in Whistler and one in Squamish. Known for their premium ingredients, decadent baked goods, and artisanal craftsmanship, Purebread consistently earns rave reviews and accolades, including at  The Georgia Straight’s Golden Plates awards.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think that anyone would buy anything that we would make, but there you go,” said Paula in an interview. “It’s been such a fun ride. We’ve met so many great customers and staff and we will miss it.”  n

BAKE-UP CALL Purebread counts six locations across B.C., including its original Whistler store, which opened in Function Junction in 2010.

FILE PHOTO BY CLARE OGILVIE

Feds, province investing millions in Whistler water infrastructure

WHISTLER TO GET $4.5 MILLION FOR NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT

BY ROBERT WISLA

THE RESORT Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is getting a cash infusion from the federal and provincial governments to pay for some expensive upcoming water infrastructure improvements.

On Friday, June 2, MP Patrick Weiler joined Mayor Jack Crompton and B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang in announcing $4.5 million in funding for Whistler to help complete the South Whistler Water Supply (SWWS) upgrade, for which council awarded a contract worth $2 million to Drake Excavating on May 2.

The federal government will provide $2,447,283 and the province $2,039,199 to support the work.

Weiler cited climate change and Whistler’s surging growth as critical reasons why the federal government supports the infrastructure upgrade, pointing to water restrictions on the Sunshine Coast and within the resort last summer.

“We are seeing rapid growth of small communities, particularly with more people seeking the benefits of quieter communities that allow them to be closer to nature and allowing more and more people to work remotely,” Weiler said. “However, many

of these communities are relying on older infrastructure that is not suited to presentday needs or the present-day environmental standards. We’re facing growth that requires more infrastructure to keep pace.”

The SWWS upgrade’s first phase includes the construction of about 600 metres of new water main, which will connect the water system in Function Junction to Cheakamus Crossing; replacing an existing well pump;

and decommissioning one well and two chlorine dosing systems.

The project’s second phase will begin in 2024, and include the construction of a water pump and pH treatment station adjacent to the existing Cheakamus Crossing well and pump station.

The RMOW budgeted $2.5 million for the work in 2023; $4.2 million in 2024; and $150,000 in 2025 for a total project budget of

$6.85 million.

Once completed, the upgrade will reduce the redundancy of the water supply to Cheakamus Crossing; help reduce corrosion in the pipe system; and provide pH correction that will help the municipality meet provincial water quality regulations.

“It’s the most critical infrastructure that we have,” Crompton said. “It allows people to access the basics of life, and for this particular

RENOVATIONS. CUSTOM HOMES. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

project, it’ll increase the water pH and meet Vancouver Coastal Health’s new waterquality requirements, [and] will also provide redundancy for Cheakamus and Function, which is a really big deal.”

The RMOW’s 2023 budget includes more than $14 million in water ($4 million) and sewer ($10 million) upgrades.

Major water and sewer projects on the work plan for 2023 include (but are not limited to): the South Whistler Water Supply upgrade; water system valve and fitting replacement; sewer main and manhole lining; and a roof replacement at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The announcement in Whistler on June 2 included funding for water infrastructure projects in the District of Lantzville, the Village of Kaslo, and the Village of New Denver, for a grand total of $14 million all-in.

“Communities like this contribute so much to the provincial and federal economy, and oftentimes when you have to build this infrastructure, it’s very expensive,” Weiler said, adding that often the source of funding for such projects is property taxes, placing a huge burden on residents.

“That’s why it’s really important that senior orders of governments are contributing to that, just the way that those communities contribute to our country.”

-with files from Braden Dupuis n

@cvcustombuilders

WATER WORKS From left to right: MP Patrick Weiler, B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang, and Mayor Jack Crompton at a funding announcement in Whistler on May 26.

PHOTO BY ROBERT WISLA

“It’s the most critical infrastructure that we have.”

- JACK CROMPTON

VOC raising money for backcountry hut renovation northeast of Pemberton

THE BRIAN WADDINGTON MEMORIAL HUT WILL REMAIN UNUSABLE WHILE VOLUNTEERS BUILD A NEW ROOF

BY MEGAN LALONDE

THE UBC Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is looking to the South Coast’s backcountry community for help covering the costs of an expensive hut renovation northeast of Pemberton this summer.

The student-run club received an InReach report in mid-March that part of the roof at the Brian Waddington Memorial Hut had collapsed and detached from the structure.

“We got a crew together and they went in the following weekend and put [the roof] back on,” explained Adam Steele, a member of the VOC’s executive. Following that emergency repair, an assessment confirmed the structure requires extensive refurbishment this summer. “It’s doing really well, but it won’t be able to take the snow next winter,” Steele added.

Located on the shores of Long Lake, at the head of Phelix Creek close to Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park, the Waddington Hut is one of four publicly-accessible backcountry cabins

the VOC owns and maintains across the Sea to Sky corridor.

The Waddington Hut has been a popular destination for both summer and winter non-motorized users since it was built in 1998, due in part to the easy access it offers to nearby peaks like Mount Gandalf, Mount Shadowfax, Mount Aragorn, and Peregrine Peak. The spacious cabin fits a maximum of 40 people, but features a uniquely insulated loft that comfortably sleeps 24, in addition to a solar lighting system, wood-burning stove, and a guitar.

members,” Steele added. “We’re definitely not a VOC-only endeavour—it’s not like clubhouses. It’s for everybody.”

Repairing the collapsed roof entails stripping the existing materials and reframing it, said Steele.

The VOC anticipates the renovation will require several weekends of work, including “at least one” week-long stay after work gets underway in late July. Even with free labour donated by about half a dozen VOC volunteers, a new roof doesn’t come cheap: cost estimates for scaffolding, lumber,

these sorts of surprises, but we’ve got three other huts in the Sea to Sky, which all do get snow load and regular use … We want to be prudent for the future, and be sure that whatever we do now won’t put us back when [or] if any of our other huts run into trouble,” said Steele.

Club executives will direct any leftover funds to the VOC’s Special Projects budget.

The VOC also invites anyone in the community with local knowledge or specialized construction skills who wants to join in the repair efforts to reach out via email to information@ubc-voc.com. “We welcome them with open arms,” said Steele.

The club expects to complete the Waddington Hut’s new roof by Aug. 15, the time of year when the VOC usually asks people to stay out of the area to avoid disturbing grizzly bear foraging in the area.

The hut is about a 10-kilometre, 1,000metre elevation gain hike in from the trailhead, and is open to VOC members and non-members alike. The club only requests a $10-per-night donation from backpackers through its registration system.

Numbers from that system show roughly 500 registered users visit the Waddington Hut each season, not counting unregistered visitors. “More than 4,000 people use the [four] huts every year, and more than 60 per cent of them aren’t club

insulation, sheet metal, and hardware— plus the helicopter needed to transport all materials and construction debris—amount to about $30,000.

The club will contribute two-thirds of that sum from its own budget, drawing from membership fees and nightly donations it collects throughout the year. The VOC plans to cover another $5,000 through grants, but hopes to raise the final $5,000 through community contributions.

“We’ve got a Special Projects fund for

While work is underway, the hut will be unusable, Steele added. “People [should] be prepared that this isn’t the best place to be going if you want to be staying in the backcountry … People do go and camp near the hut, but it might have construction debris, equipment—we’re going to try and keep it as small as possible, but still, it’s going to be a busy place.”

Interested in donating to this project? Visit mountainclubs.org/donate and select “Brian Waddington Hut project” from the dropdown list to contribute. All donors automatically receive a tax receipt. n

RAISING THE ROOF Members of UBC’s Varsity Outdoor Club temporarily repaired the roof of the Brian Waddington Hut, near Pemberton, after it detached in March. The club is fundraising for a more permanent fix this summer.

PHOTO BY RYAN MACDONALD / COURTESY OF THE VOC

“[I]t’s not like clubhouses. It’s for everybody.”

- ADAM STEELE

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Is the Pemberton Valley Dyking District

SLRD CONDUCTING SERVICE AND GOVERNANCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

BY ROBERT WISLA

FOR THE PAST 75 YEARS, the Pemberton Valley Dyking District (PVDD) has managed the most extensive dike system in the province outside the Lower Mainland, and helped protect Spud Valley from numerous flooding events, big and small. However, the days of the PVDD may soon come to an end, as the provincial government aims to end the last diking improvement districts in the province.

On May 18, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) issued a request for proposals (RFP) to have the governance of the PVDD reviewed, and the resulting report will outline the potential fate of the improvement district.

According to an SLRD spokesperson, the regional district initiated the RFP at the request of the province, and the decision involved not just the SLRD but all members of the Pemberton Valley Emergency Management Committee (PVEMC), which includes the SLRD, Lil’wat Nation, the Village of Pemberton and the PVDD.

“Because it is a regional service for the Village of Pemberton (VOP), SLRD Electoral Area C and Lil’wat Nation, the Committee agreed, unanimously, that the SLRD should lead the RFP process, but this is a

collaborative effort and not an SLRD-specific project,” the spokesperson said in an email.

The end of the PVDD as a tax-funded organization has been on the horizon since 2006, when the provincial government officially began phasing out improvement districts across B.C. However, the creation of new improvement districts ended much earlier, in 1995, with most improvement districts absorbed into regional districts or joining nearby municipalities.

According to PVDD operations and maintenance manager Kevin Clark, most improvement districts are tiny entities that supply water and sewer services, making it logical to incorporate them into larger polities like regional districts. However, as the province has gradually dismantled the improvement system, it has resulted in red tape and funding constraints for the PVDD.

“They took our ability to apply for direct government funding away,” Clark said. “So that’s why, when we go for funding now, we have to go through the Village of Pemberton or the regional district to get money to do diking projects.”

But with that change came unintended consequences, Clark said. With very few diking districts left, the PVDD “ended up just getting lumped in,” he said.

“So [the Ministry of Municipal Affairs has] spent the last two years going back and

coming

to an end?

forth over where the PVDD should land,” Clark said. “Should we join with the village, should we join with the regional district, or should we do something else? Is there another option that none of us have thought of yet?”

The service and governance needs assessment will highlight the pros and cons of merging the PVDD with other levels of government. Following that, the parties involved will decide what is the best approach moving toward.

Clark is open-minded to the governance review, but wants taxpayers to have a chance to provide their opinion on the future of the PVDD.

“The public needs to be educated on what joining the regional district or what joining the Village [of Pemberton] or what staying as we are, what that means for their dollar,” he said. “Because as a taxpayer in this town, you should have a say on what [happens]. Every year you pay your diking taxes, you should also have a say on our future.”

The PVDD currently manages about 44 kilometres of dikes, 25 km of drainage ditches, 30-plus culverts and flap gates, 16 km of bank armouring in the valley, and does annual sediment management on significant rivers and creeks in the area, such as the Lillooet River, to manage freshet.

With a small staff of two full-time

workers, a summer student and one parttime employee, the improvement district is small but mighty, and is financed through grants from higher levels of government and through a local diking tax.

The current dike tax rate is set at $.57 per $1,000 in residential assessed value and $1.40 for commercial properties, which works out to about $625 for an average single-family residential property worth $1.1 million.

As property values rise in the Pemberton Valley, the PVDD brings in more tax revenue. In 2021, it brought in $1,001,819 in dike taxes compared to $857,578 in 2020, while government transfers increased from $687,005 in 2020 to $1,457,382 in 2021.

In the case the PVDD joins with the regional district, SLRD chair Jen Ford expects that it could be funded through a local service area similar to how landslide mitigation structures at Lillooet Lake Estates are being paid for, or through a joint funding model like in the case of the Pemberton and District Community Centre.

“I guess we don’t really know until we know what the structure would be, but we have lots of service areas that only the people that would interact with that diking would pay into, so it wouldn’t become a general government function like emergency services,” Ford said.

Read more at pvdd.ca. n

Answer our call for your feedback

The Community Life Sur vey is your oppor tunity to share your opinions on Whistler ’s municipal ser vices, community satisfaction, and your needs and priorities

Forest fuel management wor k continues adjacent to Alpine Meadows and Rainbow

Fuel thinning is taking place adjacent to the Alpine Meadows and Rainbow neighbourhoods which will affect trails in the area and paralleling 19 Mile Creek The expected end date of the project is September

This is impor tant wor k to reduce the ability of fire to spread from the forest into the community and vice ver sa, and to make wildfires easier to fight In fuel thinning , mature and deciduous trees are left, while lower branches are pr uned, and unmanaged second-growth trees, ground br ush and debris are removed

Trail closures will be in effect For your own safety, please obey all signs and staff Active tree-falling and heavy machiner y use creates a hazard for the public

Share your feedback by phone or online sur vey.

Phone sur vey: Between May 22 and June 12, Deloitte LLP will be conducting a phone sur vey to collect feedback from a random sample of permanent residents and second homeowners

Online sur vey: To receive a copy of the sur vey to your inbox, sign up to register for your unique link at whistler.ca/CLS. If you registered last year or have completed this year ’s phone sur vey, there is no need to register for this year ’s sur vey. Sur vey link s will be distributed the week of June 12.

For a list of affected trails: Whistler.ca/fuelthinning

Resor t Municipality of Whistler Whistler.ca/fuelthinning

More than an energy shift, we need a paradigm shift

IN THE EFFORT to limit and reverse the worsening impacts of global heating, the immediate goal is to quickly stop burning coal, oil and gas. That means rapidly shifting to renewable energy for electricity generation and transportation.

But simply switching from one source of energy to another and trading gas-powered cars, trucks and SUVs for electric ones won’t resolve the climate crisis—as important as those are. The interrelated environmental crises—deforestation, species extinction, climate change—are being driven by

BY DAVID SUZUKI

wasteful consumerism. Getting off fossil fuels poses more of a challenge if we continue to consume massive amounts of disposable products and energy.

As Andrew Nikiforuk recently wrote in the Tyee, “Any imperfect solution to our current civilization-threatening predicament must include dialing down our energy consumption rather than coming up with high-tech visions that keep accelerating it.” That includes the energy and materials used to produce growing mountains of disposable products, from smartphones to cars to clothing.

Almost everything we produce requires minerals and metals, which must be mined— including wind turbines and solar panels. If we continue to use electronic gizmos that must be replaced every year or two, and if we continue to insist that most people should have a couple of tonnes of metal, plastic and glass to move a hundred or so kilos of human, rather than building reliable transit systems

Sisyphean struggle has left us tired and alienated, created massive inequality and pushed us toward ecological collapse.

We need a paradigm shift.

Getting by with less doesn’t mean living less satisfying lives. It’s a question of what we value. We’ve been indoctrinated into believing that wealth and power are the ultimate goals, but only a minuscule percentage of the growing human population truly benefits from that, and the “trickle down” economic theory has always been a hoax.

If we truly valued the short time we each spend on this planet, we surely wouldn’t waste it to wreak misery and destruction in pursuit of elusive goals. We’d learn to find joy in family, friendship and nature, in learning and sharing.

Working ourselves to exhaustion and jetting off to some increasingly crowded resort area for a couple of weeks to recover can’t be what life is about. Does dining on burgers and steaks make us any happier than enjoying healthy, plant-based foods? It certainly doesn’t make us healthier. Does staring at a tiny device all day make us feel any more connected and satisfied with our lives than actually getting together with real people in real time, or taking in the quiet beauty of nature?

Industrialization, and especially car culture, were sold to us under false premises, fuelling a crisis that now threatens our survival. We’re not going to go back to the way things were, nor should we. But we can progress to better ways of living.

That will require quitting fossil fuels as quickly as possible and shifting to renewable energy. But we must also learn to use less. Energy efficiency is part of that, but reducing what we use is critical, especially in the Western world, where per-capita energy

and walkable communities, building out renewable energy might slow our descent but won’t save us from calamity.

That isn’t an argument against renewable energy, which is absolutely necessary. Coal, oil and gas are also mined, cause massive damage to air, water, land and climate and put all life at risk. But we can’t continue to thrive in a system that depends on constant growth on a finite planet—population growth, economic growth, ever-increasing consumption. We need unlimited sunlight and wind for energy, but we have to recognize that finite resources are required to utilize that energy.

We’ve been misled into believing that endlessly chasing after more, bigger, shinier things will bring us satisfaction and happiness when, in fact, it’s often the opposite. Our

consumption is many times higher than in other parts of the world.

We’re capable of great technological innovation, but that alone isn’t enough to create a better world.

As Nikiforuk writes, “In blunt terms we need an energy strategy that pointedly shrinks economic activity over time the same way chemotherapy effectively diminishes a cancerous tumor.”

We might be surprised to find that our lives will improve if we do.

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

The Tao of Poo

IN THE PANTHEON of unconscionable, difficult-to-comprehend things people do in Whistler, only one falls so far outside the calculus of comprehension or compassion as to merit its own branch of psychology. A lone act so lacking in logic that it eludes conventional analysis, even beggaring belief among those with only half a conscience. It doesn’t involve clear plastic Tim Hortons cups left at bus stops or on the dock, cigarette butts ground into the dry duff along the Valley Trail, or mylar

BY

ANTHONY

balloons, sparkles, and paper streamers loosed into the atmosphere from birthdays, grads and other minor human triumphs that find their way into our forests and streams—though all occur with almost daily regularity (and impunity). No, the foul and loathsome plague constellating our community knoweth no special name, but is grievously familiar to all and can be seen literally everywhere: legions of abandoned dog-poop bags.

Now, to offer a scintilla of charity where it’s (possibly) due, not all of these are the result of malign purpose, but of the modern mantra of wanting to get outside, in which the realities of what happens on long, meandering walks (or when you’re stoned—because, Whistler) often scuttles even the best of intentions. As an advice columnist at Outside summed it: “They bag the poop, set it on the side of

the trail, then pick it up when they return… [But] it’s an imperfect system. Sometimes you forget. Or it gets dark and you can’t find your goodie bag. Or you hike a loop and return on a different trail. Or a snowstorm blows in. In any event, what was at first a minor inconvenience that would eventually decay or be kicked into the brush is now a biohazard that will last dozens or hundreds of years. In effect you’ve forced someone else to weigh whether they want to carry your dog’s poop.”

You’ll recognize the ones putatively left with hopes of return. They hang on branches like Blair Witch Project decorations and sit proudly at intersections, propped on

looking clean and spiffy that people simply assume there’s an army of cleaners fanning out through the streets and forests every night. There isn’t.

To understand the uninformed foolishness doubtless driving this act, let’s go to the hive-mind psychology of online dog-poop discussion groups (legion, BTW) where consensus holds that the real problem begins with those who bag pet poop not because they’re conscientious citizens like the majority of dog owners, but because it’s what society expects dog owners to do and they know they’re being watched. And yes, if I see a leashed dog pooping I unconsciously

concrete rails, large rocks and even post boxes. Judging by sheer numbers, one must surmise there are hundreds of forgetful, lost or plain disoriented dog-walkers in Whistler. But like I said, charity.

We have all, of course, noted those left with no intent of return or disposal, chucked into the woods, peeping out from under rocks and logs, or piled in places with an inexplicable expectation of divine pick-up— like the thoughtfully placed mounds tucked behind Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) pump houses, where, I imagine they imagine, someone is paid to clean it up. And here’s where one might advance the occasionally made argument that the RMOW does such a good job of keeping Whistler

linger my gaze until I’m sure the owner is bagging the bounty. If I’m walking a dog at the time and have just dropped its own treasure in the trash, I’m somehow even more interested in this outcome. It’s Human Psyche 101: Are you with us or against us? And it’s hard not to notice others casting far-less discreet don’tyou-dares, Argus-eyed stares whose intensity increases with the publicness of the poop place. To complete the online consensus, these folks leave bags on the trail or toss them into the bush when no one is looking because they’re inconsiderate, lazy, and clearly have no respect for the environment or fellow citizens. “What’s the harm in one little bag?” they think.

Well…

In Chinese philosophy, the word Tao refers to an absolute principle underlying the universe that combines the concepts of yin and yang and signifies “the way”—a code of behaviour in harmony with the natural order. Outlined in the ancient text of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, this interpretation developed into Taoism, which has both religious and philosophical aspects. Let’s forget the religious part and focus on the philosophical: Taoism emphasizes inner contemplation and union with nature; simplicity and letting things take their natural course. Which we could all use a bit of. Leaving your dog’s shit behind in a bag prohibits pretty much everything from taking its natural course—nature, people, even dogs. Otherwise, even with the risk of fecal contamination of watersheds and the transference of disease to wildlife, it’s better to leave poo on the ground than behind in a bag. That’s because other than those that are ASTM D600-certified, even “biodegradable” dog poo bags leach harmful microplastics and release seriously problematic methane (hello, climate). In a commercial composting facility, this can take three months. If the bag is rated for home composting, six months to a year, depending on composting conditions. If it’s tossed into the forest, you’re looking at serious time. Even a traditional polymer bag will eventually degrade, but ecologists say it’ll take 10 to 20 years in the environment and 1,000 years in a landfill.

The true Tao when it comes to dogpoop bags is disposing of them—or at least remembering to—in the many, many, many receptacles provided by your tax dollars. This cleans the slate for everyone and lets everything take its natural course.

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

Leaving your dog’s shit behind in a bag prohibits pretty much everything from taking its natural course—nature, people, even dogs.

LESLIE

GIFT-WRAPPED Plastic poo bags are a common sight on the side of Whistler’s trails each spring and summer.

The conversation Whistler’s

As Whistler sets up its first-ever drug-checking workers want to open up the conversation around drug

By Brandon Barrett

On April 14, 2016, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to declare a public health emergency over rising numbers of drug overdose deaths, a measure intended to create more awareness of the situation and the need for more fulsome and timely data around overdose deaths.

B.C.’s health budget expanded, overdose prevention sites popped up in hotspots across the province, and information from coroners’ offices began to come in more rapidly. For a time, the efforts appeared to pay off. Overdose deaths levelled at the 1,500 range in 2017 and 2018, before dropping below 1,000 in 2019.

Then, of course, the pandemic hit, and with it, access to supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention sites was abruptly cut off. The death toll climbed once more. Last year, B.C.’s toxic drug supply claimed nearly 2,300 lives.

These statistics, as sobering as they are, don’t paint a holistic picture, with all the nuance and colour of the people and lives behind them. Coming off another health epidemic that peppered the news with weekly hospitalization rates and death counts, it was easy to reduce the toxic drug crisis to the black-and-white numbers.

“All these stats are real people. They’re part of families and communities. We can’t lose sight of that,” says Jackie Dickinson, executive director of the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS). “I think in the process of going through the COVID pandemic, as we’re in the midst of the opioid crisis, maybe we disconnect a bit from the issue until it becomes part of our own life or affects a family member.”

Seven years on from the onset of B.C.’s opioid crisis, Pique looks at how Whistler, a tourism hub and partier’s paradise, can shift the conversation around substance use and the inherent dangers of B.C.’s toxic drug supply, along with delving deeper into the issue from a provincial perspective.

s not having

site, local support drug use and addiction

Drug-checking services coming to Whistler

Starting this month, WCSS’ Nesters Road office will offer drug-checking services to the wider Whistler community, one tool WCSS and other social-service and care providers hope can help chip away at the stigma around substance use in a town where few want to rain on someone else’s parade.

“This is about normalizing reaching out for support. It’s about creating a sense of community and belonging so people know it’s OK to talk about these things, creating space and time for each other with those support networks and knowing who are the safe people to talk to,” said Lisa Coulter, outreach services program manager for WCSS. “That’s our hope. That’s our goal. I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight. It’s a small step in the right direction to open up those conversations, and it will take time to build trust with community members to know it’s a safe place to come and test and have those conversations— and that doesn’t happen right away.”

The centrepiece of the WCSS’ drug checking will be a FTIR spectrometer, a machine that tests small drug samples for a range of substances, including opioids, stimulants, and other psychoactive drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines. That will be supplemented with fentanyl and benzo test strips.

Fentanyl and its analogues are not uncommon to find in other substances, and even small trace amounts can prove dangerous. Para-fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue that can be more potent and difficult to detect than its chemical cousin, is being found in more drug samples across the province, while, in March, 46.5 per cent of all opioids tested in the province contained benzos. When taken together, the combination increases the chance of overdose. Xylazine, a strong animal tranquilizer, is also on the rise, detected in 28 drug samples in March.

“Anytime there’s a substance present in another substance that’s not meant to be there, it adds to the level of risk,” Coulter says.

“For instance, meth and ketamine will have a different effect than someone might expect. That’s where the danger comes in if you have a safe drug plan in place and you’re expecting certain side effects of that drug, and it’s different and you don’t necessarily know what your body’s reaction will be to that other drug.”

Along with the drug-checking services to ensure clients know what they’re potentially consuming, WCSS will offer in-person “point-of-care” support that would connect them to other harm-reduction resources, such as Naloxone training and take-home kits, fentanyl test strips, as well as outreach workers who can support participants in making smart decisions and creating safe drug-use plans.

At the core of this approach is a recognition that substance use should be treated first and foremost as a public health issue.

“The help that’s being offered is a health-care issue, but we’ve criminalized it,” Dickinson says. “When someone tells you they have diabetes and they use insulin to control it, or they have an EpiPen because they’re allergic, we see no stigma attached to it. Substance use is a totally different thing. The administration of insulin is a harm-reduction approach to care, and this is the same. I think that’s pretty powerful to think about.”

The province has expanded the availability of drugtesting, but the machinery needed is “quite cumbersome,” said Premier David Eby in response to a question from Pique during a roundtable call with Glacier Media editors on May 18.

“In any event, any intervention that we can provide to minimize the risk of overdose, of accidental overdose, and keep them alive, is critically important, so we’re always looking at opportunities like that through public health,” Eby said, adding that one of the sectors the province is looking closely at is the construction industry.

“We know there are a lot of people who use opioids to manage pain that comes from the very physical work that they do, and they are at significant risk of overdose,” he said.

“We see the disproportionate impact in that community, and so we’re looking through public health for ways to respond to these specific and discrete groups in different ways, and we’re going to keep doing that.”

Shifting the conversation

Stigma around drug use persists everywhere, but especially in a tourism town where most residents have uprooted their lives to live here, talking openly about things like mental health and addiction can prove a tall task.

“I think there is a pressure on people that come to this community to focus on the fact we’re living in paradise when things get hard. When we do that, we don’t create a lot of room for people to talk about their struggles,” Dickinson says. “One thing I often hear is, ‘But look at the mountains. I get to ski here every day.’ Well, mountains don’t solve problems.’

“We’re not always creating enough room to talk about how, even in paradise, things can go wrong.”

Guy Felicella knows a thing or two about having tough conversations. The Vancouver resident fell into addiction at a young age, and spent 30 years in the cycle of gangs, drugs, and prison. He survived homelessness, multiple lifethreatening bone infections, six overdoses, and the HIV/AIDS crisis on the Downtown East Side, and today works as a motivational speaker and peer clinical advisor at the BC Centre on Substance Use.

“There is still that old mentality of ‘pull up your bootstraps and get it together,’ but the reality is when you’re struggling and not reaching out, recovery is rarely possible alone. You really need to have the ability to reach out and have support,” says Felicella, who recommended Whistler hold townhall meetings to help foster the conversation

around drug use and addiction.

“We all learn our beliefs from somewhere, usually from our parents, and sometimes we learn them in a way where it’s judgmental or stigmatized. The hardest part of learning is unlearning, so there needs to be an open forum where people talk about it—that can go a long way.

“I think the stigma in our society has been just as deadly as the drugs themselves, and we have an obligation to our community to break that down so people can get the help they need.”

For as many Whistlerites that have taken the step to get

support for their drug use, Dickinson is concerned about all the others she doesn’t hear about—those suffering alone and in silence.

“I worry less about the amount of people accessing service and the increase in need we’ve seen. I worry more about the people who aren’t coming in,” she says. “Maybe they won’t access a counsellor. They won’t go see a family doctor. They’re stigmatized around social services. That, to me, is part of where our conversation should start going.”

Learn more at mywcss.org/mental-and-emotional-health/ harm-reduction.

B.C.: More than a billion invested, with a decriminalization model and safe supply project that haven’t reduced deaths

By Claire Wilson

The government of B.C. has invested almost $2 billion of direct, indirect and targeted funding into the province’s toxic drug crisis since 2014, according to an audit by Glacier Media.

However, experts say these investments have not done enough to lower the number of overdose deaths.

B.C. declared a public health emergency in April 2016, following a 30-per-cent increase in illicit drug overdose deaths between 2014 and 2015. The announcement marked the first time a provincial health officer exercised emergency powers under the Public Health Act, and the first time a Canadian province took this kind of action regarding a toxic drug crisis, according to the B.C. government.

“The declaration in 2016 was really met with very little in terms of concrete investment and overdose prevention, and even more so in terms of addressing the upstream policies that caused the toxic drug crisis,” said Nicole Luongo, B.C. systems change coordinator for the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

There have been approximately 17,369 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. since 1996, according to data from the BC Coroners Service (BCCS). Of this total, 596 deaths

have so far occurred in 2023, and 2,314 occurred in 2022—the highest yearly total ever recorded in the province.

“If your success is measured by overdose deaths, we still have a complete disaster on our hands. It is an ongoing crisis that has been going on for years now,” said Mark Haden, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health.

Following the declaration, the province created the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), which provides treatment and research for the toxic drug crisis, as well as the Joint Task Force on Overdose Response, intended to provide leadership from experts and give advice to the province.

Since Budget 2017 and through to the current fiscal plan, the B.C. government has committed more than $1.1 billion in targeted investments that address the overdose emergency, according to the BC United Caucus.

But many issues remain, such as ensuring access to B.C.’s safe drug supply, integrating treatment and harm reduction, and the framing of addiction and mental health, according to those who spoke to Glacier Media.

In B.C., mental health and substance-use resources

have been fully integrated at the provincial level for roughly the past decade, according to Haden and the Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addiction. The result, Haden said, is less funding for addictions and the dismantling of addiction services.

“There used to be intact addiction services programs that included detox, residential treatment centers, outpatient counseling, it was provincial. Then it was taken over by mental health and all of the addictions leadership left, and it was basically run by people that weren’t interested in addiction services and then we had the crisis,” Haden said.

While the experts who spoke to Glacier Media say they understand the need to look at both mental health and addictions, the assumption that addiction is also mental illness “dilutes the possibility of targeted policy responses,” said Luongo.

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions was created in 2017 to lead B.C.’s response to the toxic drug crisis and build a coordinated approach to mental health and addictions, according to the province.

“This is a supply chain issue, so we need to address

Pedestrians, a street cleaner and a first-aid attendant attempting to revive a man found unconscious on the corner of Pender and Columbia streets in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. In 2023 as of May, Vancouver was one of the areas with the highest rate of unregulated drug deaths in the province. PHOTOS BY CHUNG CHOW

the supply. Then you have the government coming out and saying we’re investing in addiction and mental health services, which is good. I’m not saying that’s not something we should be doing. That is a solution to a different problem and those problems are routinely conflated. That then both limits public imagination and limits the actual policy options available,” said Luongo.

Fentanyl—a potent synthetic opioid drug—and variations of it accounted for 86 per cent of unregulated drug overdose deaths in 2022, according to BCCS.

British Columbians have been accessing prescribed safe supply since March 2020, when the province introduced the first phase of the program, according to the B.C. government. From March 2020 to November 2022, roughly 11,670 people were prescribed safe supply medications.

“People are still accessing their drugs through the criminal system. So, when we stop doing that and we allow people to access their drugs through a health system,

then we can actually manage this. The only reason why people are dying is because people don’t know what they’re injecting,” said Haden.

Beyond safe supply, B.C. has also invested in treatment and harm-reduction strategies.

Guy Felicella, a peer clinical adviser at BCCSU, said that harm-reduction strategies need to be married with treatment and recovery policies, in addition to being delivered in a timely manner.

“We have both harm reduction and recovery. The challenge has always been with accessing both in a timely manner ... Recovery centres need to work better with the harm-reduction services as a hand off to let people know that if you ever feel like using you can go to this place, they’ll help you so you don’t have to die. Because this is the reality that we’re in,” he said.

“You can fund everything. But if the policy doesn’t allow the money to flow and hit the people, then what

good is the money?”

In 2023, Health Canada granted B.C. an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, allowing individuals to carry small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use. Haden described this decriminalization as a move that shows that the province sees the crisis as a health issue rather than a criminal one.

He pointed to Oregon and Portugal as two other examples of decriminalization. B.C. more closely resembles Oregon in that the province has implemented a decriminalization model but has not seen a subsequent decrease in its number of overdose deaths.

“Portugal decriminalized drugs, but they had the police play a role of referral to treatment that was quite insistent, it wasn’t required, but it was a very clear vehicle into treatment centres through police referrals,” he said, adding that this is the best model for decriminalization, but one that does not exist in B.C. or Oregon.

There were toxic drug deaths in nearly all B.C. health areas last year

By Bob Mackin

Only three of the 89 local health areas across the province— Fernie, Kimberley and Kootenay Lake—did not register a toxic drug overdose death in 2022, according to a spreadsheet obtained under freedom of information law.

Almost 40 per cent of B.C.’s 2,314 overdose deaths in 2022, the deadliest year on record, occurred in five local health areas, according to BC Coroners Service (BCCS) figures. Thirty-eight local health areas had between one and 10 fatalities.

B.C. declared a public health emergency seven years ago, following a significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths.

Since then, at least 11,807 people have died as a result of unregulated drugs. It is the leading cause of unnatural death in B.C., more than murder, suicide, motor vehicle crashes, drownings and fire deaths combined.

Vancouver-Centre North, which includes the Downtown Eastside, was the deadliest area in 2022, at 319 fatalities, followed by Fraser South (Surrey) (216), Greater Victoria (133) and Vancouver-City Centre (104).

Kamloops (96), Central Okanagan (92), Abbotsford (88), Prince George (84), Greater Nanaimo (80) and Burnaby (68) round out the top 10 local health areas to register the most overdose deaths last year.

The remaining City of Vancouver local health areas include: Vancouver-Midtown (47), Vancouver-South (38), Vancouver-Northeast (38) and Vancouver-Westside (seven).

A reporter had applied for a spreadsheet of statistics based on the first three characters of the postal code where each fatality occurred, but was advised that BCCS maintains a “small number policy to limit any risk of re-identification of individuals.”

“For small geographic areas, such as the municipality or first three characters of the postal code, the risk of re-identification can be high in areas where there are few deaths,” said the response from the government’s information access operations department on behalf of BCCS.

BCCS also said it is unable to report by community health service area because its system does not record at that level, so it relies on local health area figures.

Under that “small number policy,” BCCS suppressed the statistics for eight local health areas. No figures were provided for Bella Coola Valley, Central Coast, Fort Nelson, Nisga’a, Stikine and Snow Country, Telegraph Creek, Upper Stein, and Vancouver Island West.

The 38 areas that saw between one and 10 fatalities in 2022 included Prince Rupert and Cowichan Valley North and West (10); Powell River and Sunshine Coast (9), West Vancouver/Bowen Island (5), Haida Gwaii and Howe Sound

(2); and Windermere (1).

For January 2023, BCCS suppressed figures for 43 local health areas.

Vancouver had 61 overdose deaths in the first month of the year, but the BCCS said it was unable to separate fatalities by local health area. Surrey (24), Greater Nanaimo (13), Greater Victoria (11) and Central Okanagan (80) had the next-highest overdose numbers in January.

Nine local health areas recorded no deaths in the first month of 2023, including South Surrey/White Rock, Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver/Bowen Island.

January to March of this year had the second-highest number of overdose deaths on record for a first-quarter period. The 596 fatalities registered provincewide in Q1 2023 came close to the 2022 record of 599 overdose deaths.

During February and March—the first two months of B.C.’s hard drugs decriminalization trial—374 deaths occurred, at a rate of 6.4 per day.

Of those who died of a toxic drug overdose in the first quarter of 2023, 71 per cent were between the ages 30 and 59, and 77 per cent of the victims were male.

twitter.com/bobmackin ■

This article is part of an in-depth, provincewide journalistic effort by Glacier Media to examine the scope, costs and toll of the opioid and toxic drug crisis in British Columbia—a public health emergency that has taken at least 11,807 lives since 2016.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911. If you need help with substance abuse, call the B.C. government’s alcohol and drug information and referral service at 1-800-663-1441. It’s available 24 hours a day.

Pemberton Youth Soccer Association continues to build post-pandemic momentum

THE CLUB TREATED MORE THAN 100 YOUNG PLAYERS AND 24 PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO PROFESSIONAL COACHING AT ITS EARLY MAY JAMBOREE EVENT

BY DAVID SONG

THOUGH THE SEA TO SKY corridor will likely forever be known as a hotbed of skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking, there is a reason why soccer is known as the beautiful game. Simple, ubiquitous and accessible, it is capable of retaining players and fans in areas dominated by other sports—like Spud Valley.

When COVID-19 first emerged in 2020, Pemberton Youth Soccer Association (PYSA) president Robbie Stevens was one of many left scratching his head. Back then, Stevens felt that local soccer had flatlined, to an extent, and wondered what would happen next.

He and many others were thrilled that fall when the PYSA’s player base grew to 170, a 62-per-cent increase compared to the 105 registrants in fall 2019. Female participation surged by 97 per cent, while male participation went up 41 per cent.

CREATING A CULTURE

Momentum has held strong. The PYSA has retained nearly all of those who signed up during the pandemic, and as of 2021 had 185 players between the U6 and U12 age categories. In total, 6.16 per cent of Pembertonians were

playing soccer that year—the highest rate in the Sea to Sky, even though soccer programs in Whistler and Squamish accommodate athletes as old as 17.

“It’s up to us to lead as a club and an organization,” said Stevens. “We’re very conscious at the board level of [healthy] culture, and that just doesn’t happen on its own, right? You have to embrace creating your culture and managing it, and we’ve been able to really see that through, continuing to keep soccer exciting and interesting for the kids.”

More than just a board member, Stevens is himself a soccer parent. His son plays on the PYSA’s U11 squad, and his daughter is an alum who has graduated to a development team in Squamish.

Former alpine ski racer Britt Janyk Tilston, a mother of two girls in the club’s U12 and U10 age divisions, is also on the board. The 2010 Canadian Olympian has seen huge growth within Pemberton soccer over the last two years, with many new families signing up and more than 20 girls in the U12 bracket alone.

Tilston has been a volunteer coach for two seasons, witnessing first-hand the positive impact of community soccer on her daughters.

“I get to see my own kids learn the game and be a part of it, and at the same time, get to know the other kids better,” she said. “[Coaching] is definitely a time commitment, but the reward of getting to watch those kids learn and grow with the game makes it worthwhile.”

SOCCER SCHOOL

The PYSA took another step forward on May 6 and 7 by hosting its first “Soccer Jamboree.”

Coaches from Vancouver’s European Football School (EFS) led more than 100 youngsters, including PYSA alumni, in a series of training camps tailor-made for each age group. Tilston and her fellow parent volunteers got their own session as well, thanks to UEFA-certified coach Amar Talic.

According to Stevens, it can be difficult for Sea to Sky soccer clubs to access developmental programs for their coaches, because they are located some distance from Vancouver. Online resources provided by Canada Soccer help, but there’s no substitute for in-person workshops run by qualified individuals like Talic.

Tilston is no stranger to world-class coaching from her alpine skiing heyday, but learning from EFS professionals has equipped her to better mentor her daughters and their teammates.

“[The Jamboree] was a great opportunity,” she said. “As a parent of two kids, there’s a lot going on … and it’s not easy to get to coaching clinics, so the fact that it came to us for that weekend was a great kickoff to the season. And now, we have a few more tools in our pockets to keep things going through the rest of the spring session.”

Having said that, PYSA decision-makers understand that it will almost always be easier for an eight-year-old child to listen to a 17-year-old fellow athlete than a 47-yearold parent volunteer. That’s why they’ve partnered with head coach Mark Freeman

of the Whistler Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) to enlist high school-age players as assistant coaches in Pemberton. Roughly half a dozen PYSA alumni contribute to local training sessions on a regular basis.

“When I was racing, if a skier who was a bit better than me came out and shared some of their knowledge, I paid attention a little bit differently,” Tilston said. “So with those teenagers out there, helping out and being a part of our practices, it gives the younger kids someone to look up to.”

Moreover, the Jamboree raised approximately $1,330 for the Pemberton Food Bank, which is enough—according to PYSA treasurer Mark Graham—to feed nearly 60 families at minimum. Other local sponsors, including Mount Currie Coffee Company, Pemberton Valley Supermarket and Pemberton Valley Lodge, also pitched in to ensure the event’s success.

Stevens praised his colleagues, notably community engagement coordinator Christine Cowin, for putting together a successful event. Together, they hope to ensure that the Jamboree becomes an annual tradition in Spud Valley.

“We’ve gotten great accolades and soundbites back from the parents on how much they appreciated this, and they felt that it was a great opportunity for them to connect with other parents,” said Stevens. “It all ties back to that idea of community and how we all depend on each other.”

More information on the PYSA’s summer offerings can be found at pembertonsoccer.sportngin.com. n

KICK IT The 2023 Pemberton Youth Soccer Association Jamboree provided more than 100 young players with professional coaching.

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Whistler Off Road Cycling Association to host third annual Back Forty fundraiser

PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE ON JUNE 10 WILL GO TOWARDS WORCA TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THE INDIGENOUS LIFE SPORT ACADEMY

BY DAVID SONG

FOR A THIRD straight year, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) is raising money to build local trails and support the Indigenous Life Sport Academy by way of its Back Forty fundraiser.

Scheduled for June 10, the Back Forty is a spiritual successor to the Nimby Fifty, a technical cross-country mountain bike race that ran yearly for about a decade in Pemberton. That contest ceased to be after 2019, but WORCA events director Quinn Lanzon was inspired to make something similar happen in Whistler.

“Other than Crankworx, Whistler hasn’t had a big community biking event [in some time],” Lanzon said. “In the past, there was the Westside Wheel Up, which I think ran for nearly 30 years, but the people who organized it kind of moved on, and there was just nothing going on.

“And I just wanted to put together an event that was different from the Westside Wheel Up. I wanted it to be not just a community event, but really something that lives up to Whistler’s reputation as a worldclass place.”

‘A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN DO IT’

Part of what interests Lanzon in endurance bike racing is its capacity to attract riders of varying skill levels. High-calibre athletes once frequented the Nimby Fifty, and there are indeed some big names among the 275 individuals slated to take part in this year’s Back Forty.

Take for instance Geoff Kabush, a threetime Canadian Olympian with nine World Cup medals under his belt, or Port Moody’s Lief Rodgers, an Enduro World Series (EWS) rider who is gunning for his third consecutive Back Forty win. They will be joined by a group of American pros led by Stephan Davoust, veterans of the United States-based Singletrack Series.

These top-flight cyclists will be joined by a bevy of everyday folk who are approaching the event like a challenge, an early summer goal, or simply a great excuse to spend a day behind their handlebars.

“It is definitely bigger than your typical Saturday ride, but I think a lot of people can do it if they put their minds to it, and that’s definitely something that motivates a lot of people to come out,” said Lanzon.

WORCA’s first Back Forty took place in 2021—delayed a year due to the onset of

COVID-19—and ran with just 90 athletes. In hindsight, Lanzon knows he made that inaugural course too long and difficult for many, but a seed was planted. The 2022 instalment saw 130 riders help raise more than $12,000.

This year’s fundraising goal is set at $15,000. The course, which covers a total of 26.3 kilometres with roughly 1.4 kilometres of elevation gain, has added a new first stage in Cheakamus with the finish line now located in Alpine. Participants must cover a total of three stages in an individual time trial format.

The purse amounts to a total of $5,000, with half allocated for men and half for women.

LOCAL SUPPORT

Despite the absence of Specialized, a bicycle brand that sponsored last year’s Back Forty, the event remains on track thanks to financial support from Sundial Hotel and Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting, the latter of which will provide first aid services.

Lanzon also wanted to highlight the event’s other sponsors, including Whistler Connection, OneUp Components, RideWrap, Chromag and Gibbons. The latter is hosting an open-to-the-public après on June 10 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC). Gibbons will donate $1 from every beer sold directly to WORCA.

Volunteers are always vital to the Back Forty’s success. Generous Whistlerites can fill various roles as course marshals who cheer on riders and respond to potential injuries, timers who keep the clocks running, feed station attendants who provide midrace fuel-ups, and après workers who exchange drink tickets for beers.

All volunteers receive their own food and beverages for the day, as well as a prize pack containing various bike components, an entry into the raffle draw and priority registration for next year’s fundraiser.

“It’s a fun event to get involved with, but it’s pretty high-paced,” Lanzon said. “You show up, you get your briefing, you hike into the woods, and then the stages are only open for two to three hours each, so people move through them pretty quick.

“We take care of the volunteers, and there’s a bunch of different options for shifts that range from one hour to help clean up at the end of the day, to spending the whole day helping out if you want to, but most of the shifts are between one and three hours.”

More information is available at worca. com/thebackforty. n

Years in the making, Chubby Duck’s brings vertical, roasted meat to the Whistler masses

THE VILLAGE DONAIR AND POUTINE SHOP IS HERE TO SATISFY YOUR LATE-NIGHT CRAVINGS

BY BRANDON BARRETT

WHEN MOST CANADIANS hear the word “donair,” chances are they associate it with the City of Halifax’s official snack: a beautifully messy pita wrap filled with spitroasted shaved beef, tomatoes, onions, and its signature sweet and garlicky sauce.

But the world of donair is a diverse one, stemming from the “doner kebab” popularized in the 1970s by Turkish immigrants in West Berlin. A type of kebab made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, donair has inspired a smorgasbord of regional variations, from Arab shawarma and Greek gyros to Mexican al pastor and, yes, Halifax donairs.

In England and Australia, it’s not unusual to find shops dishing out juicy kebab (the preferred term over donair), a beloved latenight dish for the post-pub crowd. Now, Jared Dyk, Aussie native and owner of Whistler’s newest munchie spot, Chubby Duck’s, is hoping to bring his own version of a Canadian favourite to the Whistler masses.

“We put an Aussie-English spin on

Canadian donairs. Traditionally the East Coast donair, which we’re offering, is just your beef, tomato and onion with the sweet garlic sauce, but kebab is the late-night food of choice in Oz. There’s one on every corner on any pub district. It’s the exact same situation in London,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anyone else doing what we do in Whistler: vertical, roasted rotisserie meat, so the beef and chicken and fries, and then

Dyk said.

Chubby Duck’s also offers a vegetarian falafel wrap or snack pack, and, for those looking for another Canadian culinary hallmark, the menu will also feature traditional poutine.

“Lots of places do many, many things and they’re amazing, but seeing we were so limited on space, we decided our best

2019. With architectural drawings and a building plan in hand, Dyk was waylaid by the pandemic in 2020, mere weeks after renovations began.

“We had to build up from scratch again, and then we were able to revisit it a year ago when COVID started to wrap up. That’s when we got caught up in that municipal [permitting] backlog. Obviously, they are short-staffed too, and they were awesome to help make it happen. We got our approvals in September, and it’s been a six- to eightmonth building process trying to hit those deadlines.”

Dyk and his partner had another deadline to consider: the birth of their second child.

variations of those products.”

Offering chicken or beef options, marinated in-house and stacked onto “big cone rotisseries,” the menu will serve up the thinly shaved meat either in a pita, or piled high atop a mound of fries and smothered in cheese and a variety of sauces, known as a “Halal snack pack” Down Under.

“It is basically an Aussie version of a poutine that has fries and grated cheese and done with donair meat and sauces on top, with the option to add fresh toppings,”

course of action was to do four or five things and do them really well—things we know we can do,” explained Dyk, who added that he plans to slowly expand the menu over time, with a view to offering more snack-sized items.

Opened last month next-door to Fat Tony’s in a small, 300-square-foot space that has sat vacant for years, Chubby Duck’s was a long time coming. Dyk first began working with Fat Tony’s in 2010, before he and his wife purchased the pizzeria in

“We were in a bit of an odd position if we didn’t make those deadlines. My wife is due with our second, so if we didn’t get open for May long weekend, realistically, I’m not sure we could’ve opened after the baby was born, just with staff training and getting procedures in place.”

Currently open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, Dyk expects Chubby Duck’s to extend its hours in the coming weeks to 2 a.m. once staff gets fully trained up.

“The goal would be to at least make it to 2 a.m. to capture all of the bar crowd and nightclub crowd,” he said.

Learn more at chubbyducks.ca. n

FULL CHUB Chubby Duck’s opened last month next to Fat Tony’s in the village.

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“The goal would be to at least make it to 2 a.m. to capture all of the bar crowd and nightclub crowd.”

- JARED DYK

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)

The Spiritual Warriors celebrate release of Indigenize

ALBUM RELEASE PARTY SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 3 AT THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE, AHEAD OF EXTENSIVE TOUR

BY ALYSSA NOEL

THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS have a staggering number of concerts ahead of them this summer.

“Things have been going crazy,” says Leroy Joe, vocalist and guitarist with the group. “We’ve done a bunch of shows already and we have 25 more coming up, all in B.C., starting [in Whistler].”

The impetus for their tour: a new album, called Indigenize, the group’s first since 2019.

While the songs are a combination of new and old, they build on the band’s foundation of mixing world music, reggae, and rock with the Lil’wat Nation’s Ucwalmicwts language.

“We make this music, but also use our language and culture,” Joe says. “It’s contemporary world-reggae-Indigenous.”

The first single, “Oh Ama Sq’it,” available for streaming and download now, is an upbeat track buoyed by harmonious, blended vocals, winding from pop to reggae

and back. It’s a tailor-made singalong, even without any working knowledge of Ucwalmicwts.

“That’s the most upbeat one,” Joe says with a laugh. “It’s a real positive, happy song.”

The gist of the lyrics: “How are you today? Let’s dance, let’s sing.”

Four of the album’s tracks are entirely in

a guest appearance (as he has on all their albums) on “Woman’s Honour,” which he wrote with his mother.

Only the single is currently streaming, but the band is gearing up for its official album release with a party at the Maury Young Arts Centre on June 3 at 7 p.m.

The full lineup you can expect to

tour and be on the road. I’m looking five years ahead. We’re going to keep going, tour Europe, tour the world.”

He has reason to be optimistic. The last time they put out a record—2019’s Ancestors the Warriors took home four awards from the Native American Music Awards in New York, including Song of the Year (“This is Our Song”) and Best World Recording.

Since then, Joe has spent time growing the band’s online presence.

Ucwalmicwts, at least one tells a traditional story, and two feature guest rappers.

Joe’s daughter, Daisy, a singer in the band, had to learn to rap in order to replicate the latter two live.

“We have one song called ‘St’at’imc,’” Joe adds. “That’s our nation from the north in Pavilion to near west Harrison, where I am right now. That song, I talk about every community—11 communities—our nations within a nation.”

Another track, “Mekisiso,” the Cree word for “golden eagle woman,” is a personal song about Joe’s wife, while Russell Wallace makes

see, alongside Leroy and Daisy, includes Rich Doucet on drums, Cuyler Biller on guitar, Mike Rowe on bass, and Q De Lorenzis on keys.

“I think we’ll play most of the new songs— definitely five or six,” Joe says of the upcoming show. “We’ll play some old stuff, too.”

While they’re combatting a few nerves about their impending travel schedule, which kicks off after the local gig, Joe says it’s also a dream come true.

“It’s our dream. It’s my dream,” he says. “I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never had the opportunity to really go on

“I dug in and it’s really starting to grow,” he says. “What I’m learning is I’m putting in this work and it’s going to pay off. Not that I want to make money at this, but if we can make a bit of a living, or do a bit more with music, go on the road, I think we have a good team here to do that.”

Ultimately, he adds, part of their goal is to continue educating people.

“Especially with Indigenous reconciliation—with Canada, B.C., North America wanting to learn and be educated—a lot of our music is education and history,” he says. “But it’s also for my people to keep the language and some of these songs alive.”

Tickets for the June 3 show are on sale now: $15 for adults or $7.50 for kids at showpass.com/spiritual-warriors.

For more on the band, head to thespiritualwarriors.net. n

SPIRITED AWAY The Spiritual Warriors celebrate their new album, Indigenize, with a release party at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Saturday, June 3.

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“[A] lot of our music is education and history...”

- LEROY JOE

Long-awaited dance performance hits the stage with Mountain Meets Cloud

PEMBERTON’S GRUFF GOAT DANCE STAGES SHOWS JUNE 9 AND 10 AT THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE

BY ALYSSA NOEL

GRUFF GOAT DANCE’S production of Mountain Meets Cloud has been a long time in the making.

“How long?” you ask.

Think back to the days before you had ever heard the term “COVID-19.”

“I pitched the concept of a Sea to Sky myth, a romance between the mountains and the clouds, to Mo [Douglas, executive director of Arts Whistler] in the spring of 2019—something that would be of cultural significance to all of us in the corridor,” says Trish Belsham, founder, creative director, and choreographer of the Pemberton-based group. “She liked the idea a lot. I began working on it with the dances in studio, fleshing out ideas, creating movement motifs for different dances involved.”

But then, as it did with so many groups and events in the last several years, the pandemic sidelined those plans.

The studio had to contend with restrictions, then shutdowns, and, eventually, moved to Zoom rehearsals. While they were able to release a dance video—thanks to one of their videographer members, Elena Aranguren—set to the music of former Whistlerite Jesse Thom, the show was ultimately put on hold—until now.

After four years, Mountain Meets Cloud will finally hit the stage at the Maury Young Arts Centre on June 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. Revisiting the project hasn’t been without challenges, though.

“It was like herding goats,” Belsham jokes. “Some cast members had moved away, but resumed rehearsing online. Some new members joined and, two babies later, we were good to resume once more.”

In total, nine dancers will perform in the show, which Belsham describes as “a tale of truth and love: told through song, dance,

The RMOW is seeking fall/ winter themed submissions for the Street Banner Ar t Program. The winning designs will be featured on lampposts throughout Whistler for the 2023/2024 winter seasons.

Submissions are open now, and welcome through June 26, 2023.

clown, and storytelling.”

“It’s multi-disciplinary, and offers a range of emotional content through storytelling,” she adds. “It’s sometimes scary, but fun and deeply engaging for the audience, judging by the reactions of folks who continuously drop into rehearsals. It’s definitely not boring. And I think [it] appeals to a broad spectrum of audience members, not only dance enthusiasts, including children and their parents looking for content on cultural themes that appeal to all ages.”

That said, the show they started back in 2019 has seen a few tweaks along the way.

“We’ve rehearsed the hell out of this whole show for so long, but there’s new members and it has continued to grow,” Belsham says. “I just have that feeling in my gut it will work out. It also has a lot to do with the conviction and talent of the performers.”

But it could also be attributed to the fact that this show marks the group’s 10-year anniversary, too.

What started as Belsham responding to a call-out for performers for potential outdoor festivals turned into a “choreographed hiphop hoedown,” featuring the two women who showed up for the first class and performed at a fundraiser for the Downtown Community Barn.

“I chose a name that I thought reflected the vibe of the locals, and Gruff Goat Dance was born,” she says.

Looking beyond the upcoming performance, Belsham hopes to take the group to the next level.

“I’d like to have people that don’t necessarily even dance, but love to perform [join] and see if we can expand the range of disciplines,” she says. “It’d be great to have musicians and actors and people doing spoken word.”

Tickets for Mountain Meets Cloud are on sale now at showpass.com/gruffgoatdance.

For more, visit gruffgoatdance.ca. n

Full details, including the Request for Proposal: whistler.ca/banner s

GRUFF IT OUT Gruff Goat Dance will perform at the Maury Young Arts Centre on June 9 and 10.

PHOTO BY CORA MENZEL

Resor t Municipality of Whistler whistler ca/banners

Photo credit: Oisin McHugh

creatives, do you want to see your wor k here?

Brother Twang tap into the ether for After School Special

WHISTLER ROCKERS RECOUNT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR LATEST EP

BY ALYSSA NOEL

BROTHER TWANG found themselves doing things a little differently for their new EP.

Even after they wrapped up their 2021 album, The World Went Crazy Yesterday, the Whistler music veterans found themselves still in the midst of creativity.

“We pumped out an album, but it wasn’t over,” says George Skoupas, guitarist and vocalist with the group. “We still had time and the pandemic was still going. We were still writing songs in one form or another.”

Only, the way they were writing this new set of songs was a little different—in a couple of ways. For one, Jay Romany, the band’s other vocalist/guitarist, starting doing something he hadn’t done in nearly 15 years: writing on piano.

“These songs on the new EP are born from piano that came from Jay,” Skoupas says. “He sent the files and because we had time, we were spitballing—three, four, five completely different songs.”

Those songs, cinematic in nature, prompted the pair to dream up music videos before they were even committed to recordings.

“We pictured the videos and backstories before we recorded them. Everything was ass-

backwards,” Skoupas adds.

While the rest of the band—Todd Vague on drums and Derek Stembridge on bass— weren’t available for studio time, the pair decided to record on their own and their new three-song EP, After School Special , was born. (They’ve been performing as a duo since the pandemic, but still appreciate their less-frequent, full-band shows.)

“The first song written for it is called

‘Use Me,’” Skoupas says. “The premise is sometimes you have writer’s block, but in an instant, an entire song will come to you and you put it down and record it. I got to thinking, ‘Are we a conduit?’ There are ideas floating around in the ether and they get delivered to you.”

Already, they’ve released a video for the track featuring a lone dancer in a dark, lush forest, in the studio, on a desolate road, then

finally joined with a group of others.

That track is followed by “Off Broadway,” a standout that offers the feel of an epic, classicrock ballad.

“Jay sent me a song that was a creepy piano song, but very anthemic,” Skoupas says. “I could hear Stevie Nicks on it. Once I added my part to it, it sounded like a cinematic piece out of a movie.”

Finally, rounding out the release, is the title track.

“Jay sent a piano bit and I spit out lyrics that were pretty creepy,” he says. “He said, ‘Where did that come from?’”

The premise is a Howard Stern-like show that does prank calls, only, in this instance, they prank someone “having the worst life or worst day.”

“You never know what’s going on in someone else’s life when you’re having a laugh,” Skoupas adds. “Ideas can come from anywhere. We use the term ‘the ether’ a lot. We get ideas delivered to us. It’s an enjoyable thing to follow it through and see where it goes.”

You can check out the EP for yourself on all streaming platforms.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for Brother Twang this summer, in particular in regular rotation on Saturdays at Whistler Blackcomb’s Mountain Top Summer Feast, starting June 23.

For more, visit brothertwang.net. ■

TWANG BROS Brother Twang’s new EP, After School Special , is available now on all streaming platforms.

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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

NOURISH SPRING SERIES

JUN2-30

NOURISH SPRING SERIES PRESENTED BY CORNUCOPIA

Join your friends from Cornucopia for a true celebration of the spring season with fresh menus, fresh cocktails, and a fresh perspective. Savour local cuisine with invigorating farm-to-table dinners, Sunday brunches and a cultural spring feast. Join in farm visits with tastings, free exercise classes, forest walks and art picnics. It’s a spring culinary and wellness series that will nourish your body and mind.

> June 2 - 30

> Various venues

> whistler.com/events/spring-cornucopia

BEGINNER BIKE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPS

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to take care of your bike year-round, how to get it ready for riding after the winter, and how to manage maintenance out on the trails. We’ll cover how to fix flats and change tires, and we’ll discuss what you should be able to repair or adjust yourself, and how to recognize problems that should be addressed by a bike shop.

Please note that these workshops are designed for beginners.

Registration is required, and space is limited! Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up for either workshop, max two spots per person! These workshops are for adults only.

> June 3, 1 - 3 p.m.

> Library Plaza

> Free

In Januar y, your imagination helped create the draft Meadow Par k Master Plan and concepts Now we are ready to share how your input shaped these plans!

BY MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER

FOREST THERAPY IN FLORENCE PETERSEN PARK

Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing, is a practice of mindful engagement with nature that restores us to a calm and connected state of being.

In this community experience, certified forest therapy guide from Society of Trees, Monica Sander Burns, will offer guided techniques to engage the senses and settle the mind, allowing you to fully open to the magic, wonder and awe of the forest right outside your doorstep.

Registration is required and space is limited! Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up, max two spots per person.

> June 4, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

> Florence Petersen Park > Free

MAKING CONNECTIONS DEMENTIA FRIENDLY SOCIAL CLUB

MAC’s Making Connections is a weekly program for people with early stage dementia and their caregivers on Wednesday mornings.

More like a social club, this program starts with 45 minutes of gentle fitness, followed by games and brain-stimulating activities, and socializing over a light lunch.

The goal is to slow cognitive decline in the afflicted and allow caregivers to bond, share experiences and develop their own support network.

Register at whistlermac.org under the events tab, Making Connections Program.

Prepay by e-transfer to treasurer@whistlermac.org.

> June 7, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

> Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church

> $5

We love your passion for play, so we want to make sure we have captured the ideas shared with us in the Phase 1 engagement

Please fill out the Phase 2 sur vey before June 9, and thank you for helping us make Meadow Par k awesome!

• review the draft Master Plan;

• read about the playground and spray par k concepts; and

• complete the online sur

need

PHOTO

2023 Proper ty Tax Notice

Proper ty taxes are due in Whistler on Tuesday, July 4.

V isit whistler.ca/proper tytaxes for full details, including:

• online access to your proper ty tax infor mation through the MyWhistler por tal;

• payment options, including how to save time and pay online;

• home owner grant eligibility and application infor mation for your principal residence through the Province of B.C.; and

• infor mation on Proper ty Tax Defer ment through the Province of B.C.

A well-oiled road

BY JILLIAN ROBERTS

YOU MAY spend the day breathing in dust while you are riding in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, but it is unlikely you have to worry about dust every day while hanging out in your yard. However, when Whistler’s roads were all gravel, dust was a major problem throughout the valley.

Brent Wallace grew up spending weekends at his family cabin in Alta Vista throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

“Here’s something that people will not believe—used motor oil from cars, trucks and buses was spread on the highway to keep the dust down,” he said, when describing the oiling process.

fast cars and white jogging shoes will have realized that the recently-gravelled shoulders of Highway 99 have been liberally laced with oil from Cheakamus Canyon to Alpine Meadows.”

Despite following the spirit of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the oiling of the roads was not cheap. In 1979, residents on the west side of Alta Lake were disappointed to hear that Alta Lake Road was not going to be oiled with Whistler’s other residential streets. The municipality decided against it because the process was going to cost $4,000 to oil just the residential section of the gravel road.

Even once the town centre was developed, many local roads remained dirt. It was not until 1982 that the roads around Alpine were paved to improve access to the newly created

“Oil trucks would go up and down the highway and through the subdivisions spreading oil to keep the dust down. It was done on an industrial level. You would hire a company or the highways department would oil the highway.”

Drivers on Highway 99 would feel lucky when the road had been recently oiled before their trip.

Highway 99 was paved during the summer of 1966 from Squamish to Mons. However, the paving of local roads came far later. You can imagine the mess that the oil would make for cyclists and pedestrians. In 1979, the Whistler Question wrote, “By now, those of you who have dogs, small children, baby strollers, 10-speed bicycles,

Meadow Park. Roads throughout the other local subdivisions followed, while north of Whistler, the Duffey Lake Road was not paved until 1992.

It is almost impossible to imagine pouring truck loads of motor oil around Whistler’s pristine lakes and forests today, although this method for dust dampening is still used on dirt roads in some more remote regions of Canada.

While you may come across the odd pothole, dampening the dust on suburban streets is not something we have to worry about anymore. Instead of being poured on the road, used motor oil can be recycled at many of the automotive shops in Function Junction. n

GREASE ME UP Highway 99 before it was paved.

LEIDAL COLLECTION

“Oil trucks would go up and down the highway and through the subdivisions spreading oil to keep the dust down. It was done on an industrial level.”

- BRENT WALLACE

Resor t Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/proper tytaxes

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF JUNE 2 BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): History tells us that Albert Einstein was a brilliant genius. After his death, the brain of the pioneer physicist was saved and studied for years in the hope of analyzing the secrets of why it produced so many great ideas. Science writer Stephen Jay Gould provided a different perspective. He said, “I am less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.” I bring this to your attention, Aries, in the hope it will inspire you to pay closer attention to the unsung and underappreciated elements of your own life—both in yourself and the people around you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Human life sometimes features sudden reversals of fortune that may seem almost miraculous. A twist in my own destiny is an example. As an adult, I was indigent for 18 years—the most starving artist of all the starving artists I have ever known. Then, in the course of a few months, all the years I had devoted to improving my craft as a writer paid off spectacularly. My horoscope column got widely syndicated, and I began to earn a decent wage. I predict a comparable turn of events for you in the coming months, Taurus—not necessarily in your finances, but in a pivotal area of your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I am weary of gurus who tell us the ego is bad and must be shamed. In my view, we need a strong and healthy ego to fuel our quest for meaning. In that spirit and in accordance with astrological omens, I designate June as Celebrate Your Ego Month for you Geminis. You have a mandate to unabashedly embrace the beauty of your unique self. I hope you will celebrate and flaunt your special gifts. I hope you will honour your distinctive desires as the treasures they are. You are authorized to brag more than usual!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): One study reveals that British people own a significant amount of clothing they never wear. Other research suggests that the average American woman has more than 100 items of clothing but considers just 10 per cent of them to be “wearable.” If your relationship to your wardrobe is similar, Cancerian, it’s a favourable time to cull unused, unliked, and unsuitable stuff. You would also benefit from a comparable approach to other areas of your life. Get rid of possessions, influences, and ideas that take up space but serve no important purpose and are no longer aligned with who you really are.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In July 1969, Leo astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon. But he almost missed his chance. Years earlier, his original application to become part of NASA’s space exploration team arrived a week past the deadline. But Armstrong’s buddy, Dick Day, who worked at NASA, sneaked it into the pile of applications that had come in time. I foresee the possibility of you receiving comparable assistance, Leo. Tell your friends and allies to be alert for ways they might be able to help you with either straightforward or surreptitious moves.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Great shearwaters are birds that travel a lot, covering 13,000 miles every year. From January to March, they breed in the South Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Africa and South America. Around May, they fly west for a while and then head north, many of them as far as Canada and Greenland. When August comes, they head east to Europe, and later they migrate south along the coast of Africa to return to their breeding grounds. I am tempted to make this globetrotting bird your spirit creature for the next 12 months. You may be more inclined than ever before to go on journeys, and I expect you will be well rewarded for your journeys. At the very least, I hope you will enjoy mind-opening voyages in your imagination.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): One of the central myths of Western culture is the Holy Grail. For more than 800 years, storytellers have spun legends about the search

for a precious chalice with magical qualities, including the power to heal and offer eternal youth. Sober scholars are more likely to say that the Holy Grail isn’t an actual physical object hidden away in a cave or catacomb, but a symbol of a spiritual awakening or an enlightening epiphany. For the purposes of your horoscope, I’m going to focus on the latter interpretation. I suspect you are gearing up for an encounter with a Holy Grail. Be alert! The revelations and insights and breakthroughs could come when you least expect them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): June is Dare to Diminish Your Pain Month for you Scorpios. I hope you will aggressively pursue measures to alleviate discomfort and suffering. To address the physical variety, how about acupuncture or massage? Or supplements like boswellia, turmeric, devil’s claw root, white willow bark, and omega-3 fatty acids? Other ideas: sunshine, heating pad, warm baths with Epsom salts, restorative sleep, and exercise that simulates natural endorphins. Please be equally dynamic in treating your emotional and spiritual pain, dear Scorpio. Spend as much money as you can afford on skilful healers. Solicit the help of empathetic friends. Pray and meditate. Seek out activities that make you laugh.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A hungry humpback whale can hold more than 15,000 gallons of water in its mouth at once—enough to fill 400 bathtubs. In a funny way, their ability reminds me of you right now. You, too, have a huge capacity for whatever you feel like absorbing and engaging with. But I suggest you choose carefully what you want to absorb and engage with. Be open and receptive to only the most high-quality stuff that will enrich your life and provide a lot of fun. Don’t get filled up with trivia and nonsense and dross.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Funny story: A renowned Hollywood movie mogul was overheard at a dinner party regaling an aspiring actor with a long monologue about his achievements. The actor couldn’t get in a word edgewise. Finally, the mogul paused and said, “Well, enough about me. What do you think of me?” If I had been in the actor’s place, I might have said, “You, sir, are an insufferable, grandiose, and boring narcissist who pathologically overestimates your own importance and has zero emotional intelligence.” The only downside to speaking my mind like that would be that the mogul might ruin my hopes of having a career in the movie business. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I hope you will consistently find a middle ground between telling the brazen truth to those who need to hear it and protecting your precious goals and well-being.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When faced with important decisions, most of us benefit from calling on all forms of intelligence. Simply consulting our analytical mind is not sufficient. Nor is checking in with only our deep feelings. Even drawing from our spunky intuition alone is not adequate. We are most likely to get practical clarity if we access the guidance of our analytical mind, gut feelings, and sparkly intuition. This is always true, but it’s extra relevant now. You need to get the full blessing of the synergistic blend. PS: Ask your body to give you a few hints, too!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Has your intuition been nudging you to revise and refine your sense of home? Have you been reorganizing the domestic vibes and bolstering your stability? I hope so. That’s what the cosmic rhythms are inviting you to do. If you have indeed responded to the call, congratulations. Buy yourself a nice homecoming present. But if you have resisted the flow of life’s guidance, please take corrective measures. Maybe start by reorganizing the décor and furniture. Clean up festering messes. Say sweet things to your housemates and family members. Manage issues that may be restricting your love of home.

Homework: Tell a loved one a good secret about them. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

Fairmont Chateau

Whistler Resort is growing its Housing portfolio and sourcing additional Chalet and Condo Rental contracts for our Hotel Team Members. Our leaders are mature, career driven drivers that know the word respect. Contract terms for property Owners are stress free with no commissions and includes representation from our 4 person fulltime Housing Department working with you 24/7; maintaining all aspects of the tenancy including quarterly inspections.

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

Roland’s Pub is looking for a Kitchen Manager

Position is full time, 40-50 hours per week. Must have line cooking experience in a fast paced kitchen, Food Safe Level 1, and some ordering & food costing experience. Salary is minimum $60,000/year to start or negotiable for qualified applicants, plus medical & dental benefits, gas allowance, phone allowance, ski or golf pass, and other perks.

Please email resume to  info@rolandswhistler.com Staff accommodation available.

Red Door Bistro is Seeking a full time line/grill cook.

1-2 years experience working in a similar station an asset.

• Duties include prepping/portioning/cooking steaks, seafood and pan cooking.

• Imagine working in a well respected fine dining bistro which is well run, fun, and does 80 covers a night.

• Salary based on experience, plus tips. Medical & Dental benefits and staff discounts in Roland's Pub.

Email resume to info@reddoorbistro.ca

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

For more information on all we have to offer, please visit www.evrfinehomes.com or send your resume to info@evr finehomes.com

E-mail or drop in your resume to: rory_eunson@nestersmarket.com please cc bruce_stewart@nestersmarket.com or call us at 604-932-3545

PERKS

• Competitive wage – Depending on experience

• Flexible and set schedule

• Relative training

Pique Newsmagazine is seeking a Sales Coordinator.

Pique Newsmagazine is looking to fill a focal role of sales coordinator in our advertising sales department. The chosen candidate will possess uncompromising customer service and work well under pressure while thriving in a fast-paced deadline driven news media environment. The ideal applicant will have previous experience working with a print/ digital media sales team. Strong administrative and communication skills are essential in this role, and attention to detail is a must. You will be highly organized and able to act as a liaison between departments, as well as possess a high level of professionalism when dealing with clients. We offer an excellent remuneration package as well as a benefits plan.

Located in the mountain resort town of Whistler, British Columbia, Pique Newsmagazine is the unequivocal leader in reporting, interpreting and understanding the culture of the Coast Mountains and what it means to those who live, work and play in Whistler.

Interested candidates should forward their resume and a cover letter to Susan Hutchinson at: shutchinson@wplpmedia.com

HIRING WE ARE

Why work for us?

Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control

Corporate Services

Facilities

Public Works

We offer competitive wages, comprehensive pension plan and health benefits, and we are driven by our passion to serve community.

• Bylaw and Animal Control Officer – Regular Full-Time

• Community Patrol Officer (Multiple Positions) – Casual/On-Call

• Clerk 4 – Freedom of Information and Records – Regular Full-Time

• Assistant Manager of Facilities – Regular Full-Time

• Labourer 1 – Temporary Full-Time (Multiple Positions)

• Labourer 2 – Regular Full-Time

• Labourer 2 (Multiple Positions) – Temporary Full-Time

• Utility Operator 1 – Wastewater Collections – Regular Full-Time

• Recreation Program Leader- Biking - Temporary Part-Time (4 positions)

• Recreation Program Instructor 1 – Biking – Temporary Part-Time (3 positions)

Recreation

• Recreation Program Leader - Temporary Part-Time (multiple positions)

• Recreation Program Instructor 1 – Biking – Casual/On-Call (Multiple Positions)

• General Manager of Community Services – Regular Full-Time

Senior Management

• Director of Corporate Administration – Regular Full-Time

• Director of Human Resources – Regular Full-Time

As an equitable and inclusive employer, we value diversity of people to best represent the community we serve and provide excellent services to our citizens. We strive to attract and retain passionate and talented individuals of all backgrounds, demographics, and life experiences.

squamish.ca/careers

Deadline is June, 23rd 2023. No phone calls please. Apply

Starting wage $24/hour, Flexible Hours, Health Benefits Drop by

JOIN OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler has the following positions available:

• ROOM ATTENDANTS

• HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR

• EVENING HOUSEMAN

Please reply by email: parmstrong@pinnaclehotels.ca

The Pinnacle Hotel Whistler is currently hiring

• GUEST SERVICE AGENT (FT)

• OVERNIGHT NIGHT AUDITOR (FT) Please drop off your resume at the hotel or email : athalakada@pinnaclehotels.ca

With increasing temperatures, it is far too dangerous for dogs to be left in vehicles. Heat stroke, coma and death can result even with the windows left open.

Hiring Cooks

No early mornings or late nights

Great team, great perks

Minimal experience required

Start immediately

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WE ARE HIRING: ALL FRONT-OF-HOUSE POSITIONS

Be part of the Infinity Group’s newest culinary adventure, as we bring the Ultimate Thai culinary experience to Whistler.

Opening July 1

Mekong’s menu is designed by highly acclaimed Chef Angus An, of Maenam restaurant in Vancouver.

our mission

To create an immersive, authentic Thai experience, delivered with deep care, and that’s where you come in.

If you’re an enthusiastic, positive, growth-oriented hospitality professional, looking for an exciting new role, you’ll fit right in with our rockstar team! careers@infinityenterprises.ca

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** $1000 (FT)

Guest Service Agent Night Auditor Maintenance Technician Assistant Housekeeping Manager Lead Housekeeper

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.

Staff Accommodation, Perks & Benefits

Manager, Marketing & Communications

Develop and execute Whistler Olympic Park’s overall marketing strategy!

Whistler Olympic Park is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation & Nordic sports. The role increases awareness and engagement for Whistler Olympic Park, driving visitation both in winter and summer while playing an integral role within a supportive, cross-functional team delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Develop and execute Whistler Olympic Park’s overall marketing strategy! W histler Olympic Park is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation & Nordic sports The role increases awareness and engagement for W histler Olympic Park, driving visitation both in winter and summer while playing an integral role within a supportive, cross-functional team delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Our ideal candidate:

Extensive experience in:

Extensive experience in:

• Delivering successful marketing & communication programs

Delivering successful marketing & communication programs

• Developing content & communications for a variety of channels including website email and social media

• Developing content & communications for a variety of channels including website, email and social media

• Managing contracted agencies

• Managing contracted agencies

Passion for outdoor recreation and sport

Passion for outdoor recreation and sport

What we offer:

Competitive wage & staff housing options

Competitive wage & staff housing options

Extensive benefits package & perks, incl. health & wellness options, WB season pass financing & more

Extensive benefits package & perks, incl. health & wellness options, W B season pass financing & more

whistlerolympicpark.com/careers

ACROSS

LAST WEEKS’ ANSWERS

Right-of-way rules for Whistler’s Valley Trail this summer

WHISTLER will soon be under siege. If you’ve been paying attention and can trust your senses, you might have detected, over the recently past long weekend, a hint of what’s to come. We were awash in it during most of spring skiing. As was the case with the rapidly disappearing snow, there’s no escaping its force.

Summertime. Sunshine. Heat.

The spring bonus of summertime heat lasted long enough to kickstart what’s euphemistically known as Wildfire Season, one of two major seasons in Canada, winter being the other. But since those fires were largely, though not exclusively, limited to the northern reaches of the two Western provinces, the warm, sunny weather played out locally in fresh sunburns, clouds of new insects, and the rapid de-layering of our wardrobe.

BY G.D. MAXWELL

Local shops selling ice cream were ecstatic, if unprepared. In New York City, more than any place I’ve ever visited, there is a breed of street vendor. Those of you who grew up in Whistler may not be familiar with that term. It describes a group of independent merchants who—I’m not making this up— actually sell their goods from the sidewalks of town, adding colour, flavour and excitement to the street scene. On any bright, sunny day in the Big Apple, they’ll be hawking sunglasses, visors, hats and sunscreen. This group of entrepreneurs are so efficient at what they do that, at the first drop of rain, their tables are magically transformed into umbrellas, cheap plastic raincoats, and windbreakers.

So it was with Whistler’s ice cream merchants. Overnight, they went from selling hot chocolate and the promise of summer to come, to selling ice cream cones. While I’m sure they rotate their stock regularly, it would not surprise me to imagine some of those tubs, containing the less-popular flavours, still had scoop marks from last summer in them.

Since that first expeditionary force of visitors crept up the valley, there have been several others of greater and lesser intensity. None have been more than a small taste of what’s to come, but taken together, they foretell of the full-blown invasion a few short weeks away: WEEKENDERS!

Over the next few weekends, we’ll notice gradually but inexorably increasing numbers of weekend visitors. They’re generally pretty easy to distinguish. They tend to wander aimlessly, in groups, stopping unexpectedly, occasionally looking at maps or their phone’s map apps. They’re frequently, though not always, dressed better than you and I, and their wardrobe is more tinged with an allover newness ours lacks. They drive nice cars

and their cards are gold and platinum. We appreciate their patronage, but they do bring an unavoidable disorder to our weekend lives.

Their full fury will be unleashed on the Canada Day long weekend, when they will descend in numbers untold. I don’t want to sound alarmist, but preparedness is our best bet for peaceful coexistence.

As with any invading force, clashes occur most often where congestion and friction is inescapable. In our town of summer treats, that place is the Valley Trail, Whistler’s best, free, beautiful promenade. Congestion on the Valley Trail on any summer weekend,

if you’ve survived the first six months of riding, you just assume some driver will make an unsignalled right turn—from the far left lane—at the upcoming intersection, running you up onto the sidewalk, into the newspaper stand. You know it’s coming and react accordingly, pummeling the hood of their car with your tire pump while questioning the marital bliss of their parents.

By contrast, on the Valley Trail, you can ride up behind someone pushing a stroller and walking a dog, followed by a child on a bike, for example. You might have had them in view for several hundred metres,

ignore them Monday through Friday with impunity, but they will save your bacon on the weekend.

Supreme right of way on the Valley Trail is afforded to bears. Bears are even more unpredictable than weekenders, and just as indifferent to our presence. Give them a wide berth and go slowly around blind corners.

When two bicycles meet, riders wearing spandex have the right of way over riders wearing clothes that won’t get them assaulted if they stumble inadvertently into a biker bar. If both riders are wearing spandex, the more macho bike and/or the muddier bike/bloodier rider prevails.

Bikes meeting e-bikes are an increasing problem. I believe we can look to the law of the seas for guidance. As a general rule, unpowered watercraft have the right of way over powered boats. Powerboats give way to sailboats, kayaks, and such. Unless the powered vessel is a ferry, barge or freighter flying a flag of convenience, in which case a sailboat demanding the right of way is simply a suicidal fool. So e-bikes should give way unless ridden by a suicidal fool.

but particularly long weekends, makes traffic on Highway 99 seem like a cakewalk by comparison. What is, during the week, a main thoroughfare, becomes, on weekends, a scene resembling a Hong Kong alleyway, a teeming mass of people moving, it seems, in completely random motion.

Unlike, say, riding a bike in gridlocked, metropolitan, rush-hour traffic, riding a bike on the Valley Trail during a summer weekend is madness. In city traffic, you have a much better chance of anticipating the actions of the homicidal maniacs around you than you ever will on the Valley Trail. In the city,

during which time they did nothing more extraordinary than weave aimlessly from one side of the trail to the other. But as you approach, the probability is much greater than chance they might do something as unexpected as spreading a picnic lunch out across the breadth of the trail, resulting in a collision with a Tupperware container full of potato salad and a severe road rash salved with mayonnaise. Don’t laugh, this actually happened to someone I know.

So, as an aid to survival, I offer these simple right-of-way rules for conduct on the Valley Trail this summer. You may, of course,

When bikes meet walkers it doesn’t matter who has the right of way. Walkers will do what they please. Bikers should announce their presence to walkers well in advance. This is particularly true if they are approaching them from the front, mistakenly believing just because you’re in front of them you will be seen. The exception to this rule is a bike approaching walkers in the “wall of idiots” formation—a minimum of four abreast, blocking the entire trail. It is perfectly acceptable to choose one at random and call it a teachable moment.

Finally, unleashed dogs have unlimited right of way. They’ll take it anyway.

Be safe out there. ■

Congestion on the Valley Trail on any summer weekend, but particularly long weekends, makes traffic on Highway 99 seem like a cakewalk by comparison.

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