Pique Newsmagazine 3114

30

The

Great Urban Shift

How climate change is reshaping wildlife in North American cities. - By Stefan Labbé

14 RESCUE REPORT

Whistler Search and Rescue

reported a slight increase in call-outs in its latest annual report—the fourth year in a row activity has increased.

20 DON’T BE ALARMED

The Resort Municipality of Whistler is planning an emergency scenario simulation in Spring Creek for April 18.

22 GROWING AWARENESS

The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment is planning a full slate of activities leading up to Earth Day on April 22.

26 OPEN HOUSE

The Pemberton Men’s Shed is inviting the community to the opening of its newly renovated space on May 4.

34 CUTTING EDGE Whistler figure skater

Ethan Adanac is bouncing back from injury—while keeping one eye on the future.

38 GONDOLA GALLERY Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak

Gondola is getting a makeover with the help of local Indigenous artists.

COVER Climate change seems like one of those problems only people with money can solve. How does the saying go? “Mo’ money, mo’ solutions!”- By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com

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Production - production@piquenewsmagazine.com

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Reporters

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

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

Opinion & Columns

08 OPENING REMARKS Whistler’s new vulnerable populations housing report shows us, again, how complex the housing situation is in the resort.

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers say goodbye to a local favourite bike shop; thanks to a “Blackcomb angel”; and no thanks for carbon-pricing policy.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Artificial intelligence is a Pandora’s box, writes Scott Tibballs— and we should kill it now.

Environment & Adventure

29 RANGE ROVER As winter gives way to spring, Leslie Anthony turns his thoughts to growing season.

Lifestyle & Arts

36 FORK IN THE ROAD Don’t discount those trusty kitchen scissors, which can be used to clip and nip all sorts of things—and even cut down on food waste.

42 MUSEUM MUSINGS Looking back at the first two instalments of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, which returns to the resort April 8 to 14.

54 MAXED OUT On addressing gaps in Whistler’s housing continuum, there are a number of “600-pound gorillas” in the room, writes G.D. Maxwell. Get

When it comes to housing in Whistler, most of us are ‘vulnerable’

OUTSIDE OF WHISTLER, there is often a perception of locals in the resort as well-off, well-to-do—rich, if you like.

And while, yes, there is an exorbitant amount of wealth in this town, like the rest of the world, it is not distributed equally, and far from it. The reality is, many people—seasonal

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

workers, young families, seniors, the works— make great sacrifices to call Whistler home.

Not only are most of us not “rich,” we’re actually a lot closer to “vulnerable” than we may think.

A new report at Whistler’s municipal hall sheds some light on the current situation on the ground.

The vulnerable populations housing needs assessment report received March 19 is intended to inform the municipality on the existing supply of, and community need for, emergency, transitional, supportive, and nonmarket rental housing, while also serving as an input to the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) long-term housing strategy.

Think nobody is struggling in Whistler? The report tells a much different story.

Following focus group sessions with nearly two dozen social-service providers and public sector participants, RMOW staff compiled a list of demographic groups noted as experiencing barriers to finding housing.

It includes (deep breath): seniors; people experiencing a change of employment, family structure, or financial situation; people who lack a social network; individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities; families; women and/or children fleeing violence; survivors of human trafficking; those who don’t meet Whistler Housing Authority

(WHA) eligibility requirements; young adults aged 19 to 35; workers whose housing is tied to their jobs; members of the LGTBQIA2S+ community; single, racialized men; people in overcrowded housing conditions; the injured and sick; and people struggling with addiction or mental-health issues.

Raise your hand if you are included in one (or several) of those categories. It would be far easier to compile a list of people who aren’t struggling with housing in Whistler.

But it’s one thing to see a list of faceless demographics; quite another to hear the actual stories behind the categories.

That’s where the report is perhaps most effective. In compiling it, RMOW staff interviewed people in the community about their housing situations, sharing the (anonymized) details in a presentation to council. The stories paint a dire picture of the

Brian investigated moving to Pemberton or Squamish, but with his children and support network in Whistler, it would have been more challenging to leave.

He lived in his van during the cold winter season for six months before he was offered a rental with the WHA.

Then there is Omar, who moved to Whistler from northern Africa in 2019. Omar works for a local non-profit, and is currently subletting a shared room for $900 a month which he will soon have to vacate.

For five years, Omar has moved from shared bedroom to shared bedroom, first in staff housing, then in market rentals. He was removed from the WHA waitlist when he enrolled in an employment and career training program, and was only able to work a set amount of hours each week, disqualifying him from WHA housing.

two nights with her children every few weeks, but despite her best efforts, Anita could not secure market rental housing.

She was offered a placement in a transition house in Squamish, but without a vehicle would not be able to return to Whistler each day. Similarly, she was offered a non-profit housing option in Pemberton, but could not commit to commuting by two buses each day if she had to take her kids to daycare while still working full time.

Fortunately, Anita was able to secure a WHA rental unit after just nine months on the waiting list.

“She knows this was very fast, but for someone in an emergency, this was a long time,” Beaubien said. “Over those nine months, Anita moved eight times, staying with friends and coworkers.”

reality on the ground for many.

Like Brian, who has lived in Whistler for 30 years. Brian owned a home with his wife, but moved into a rental with his sons after going through a divorce. As is the case for many Whistler residents, Brian was soon renovicted, and when he couldn’t find anywhere else to live, resorted to living in his van.

“Because he could not find stable housing, he lost custody of his children. He felt discriminated against when applying for market rentals in Whistler for living in his vehicle,” said planner Courtney Beaubien in a presentation to council.

Omar also has a wife in Africa applying to come to Canada, and he is concerned about what he will do when she arrives. He doesn’t want to leave, but there are no other housing options for him in Whistler.

Lastly, there is Anita, who moved to Whistler 15 years ago, got married, had two kids, and owned a home, before being forced to flee due to domestic abuse.

When she fled, she moved in with a coworker, who could not accommodate her kids. Local non-profit service providers were able to book emergency accommodation at a local hotel so she could at least spend one or

Put yourself in the shoes of those people above. Consider the logistics of every-day life when you don’t have secure, stable, long-term housing. This is just a small glimpse into the struggles real people are facing in this town, every single day.

The vulnerable populations housing needs assessment report won’t result in immediate action, but it’s a valuable informational tool nonetheless.

It shows us, again, how complex the housing situation is in Whistler; how there are no easy answers to fall back on.

And that when it comes to housing in Whistler, most of us are “vulnerable.” ■

Whistler Bike Co. says goodbye

As you may now be aware, Whistler’s oldest independent bike store recently closed its doors.

Whistler Bike Co. opened in 1994 in the Delta, running opposite seasons to Summit Ski.

I had the great good fortune to manage the Whistler Bike Co. for many years after the owners relocated to more fallow pastures upon their purchase of the Pemberton Bike Co. in 2000.

I will leave it to others to editorialize on the current environment in Whistler for commercial real estate and small business; local retailers know it’s a tough row to hoe.

I would like to thank Whistler Bike Co.’s owners—Johnny and Pete—for entrusting me to run their Whistler store and for providing a fun business culture and unique year-end staff rides.

Thanks to our many local and loyal customers who kept us busy over the years. It was a great pleasure to get you out onto the trails and to keep you rolling when your bikes needed repair.

Thanks also to the many colourful characters I worked with over the last two decades. The Bike Co. diaspora is spread far afield—from Colombia to New Zealand to France and all over the U.K.

And a final word of thanks to my last two work colleagues in Whistler—Andrew and Wez.

We fixed and sold a lot of bikes! Couldn’t have done it without you, gents. Rest assured the good times will continue at the Pemberton Bike Co. Looking forward to seeing everyone there, or better yet… See you on the trails!

David Mayr // Manager, Whistler Bike Co.

Thanks to a ‘Blackcomb snow angel’

I am not on social media so I couldn’t give a shout-out to this woman online. Didn’t get her

paradise! So she gets to see this view every day. What a sweetheart. She made our day. Wanted to give her a shout-out and thank her for making us feel so special. Blackcomb snow angel.

Lisa Binkley // Vancouver

“She made our day. Wanted to give her a shout-out and thank her for making us feel so special.”

- LISA BINKLEY

name, but she was so kind. Met her at the top of 7th Heaven on Easter Sunday and asked her if she would take our picture.

She asked us, what do you say to me today? “Happy Easter!” was our response, and she proceeded to give us two chocolate eggs. And then she did a Vogue -style photo shoot of us getting every angle possible—all the while with a beaming smile and positive energy.

We asked her if she wanted us to take her photo and she exclaimed she lives here. In

Only ‘scapegoating’ is from Weiler and Liberals

I must admit I had to read last week’s article on carbon-tax increases twice (Pique, March 29, “Scapegoating the carbon tax a distraction…”).

Does our MP Patrick Weiler actually think warm weather in West Vancouver can be affected by increased carbon taxation?

I fail to see how these two things are in any way related to one another. For those who

understand weather systems and patterns like El Nino and La Nina alternating cycles, brought on by Pacific Ocean temperature oscillation, it is understood these are large drivers of our weather. As evidenced by wetter, cooler conditions to the south of us, dryer and slightly warmer to the north. Results of a split jet stream.

No amount of extra taxation will affect this, but it will impact the financial situations for Canadian residents and business alike. The bottom line is federal and provincial policy can and does impact our economy in a negative way, weakening Canada’s competitive position on world markets.

But policy cannot change the weather.

On the assertion by Mr. Weiler the Liberal plan for fossil fuels is superior to the Conservative plan, well, let’s look at this government’s foray into the petroleum pipeline business. The original cost to complete the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline was $7.4 billion. Since takeover by the federal government in 2018, the project’s total cost has ballooned to $35 billion.

How is it possible to waste that much public money? Where did it go?

That amount exceeds the annual budget for the Canadian Armed Forces. Some business genius at work there.

The Conservative plan was to have private sector build the infrastructure. Charge royalties which would contribute to the economy. This is similar to policy in Norway, where they now enjoy US$1.6 trillion in investment funds derived from petroleum business royalties there. The interest alone from these funds covers many social programs, from healthcare to education. Converse to this plan, Canada has a national debt of $1.2 trillion, and rising, which costs taxpayers billions to service annually.

If there is any scapegoating or dishonesty going on here, as alleged by Mr. Weiler, it would be in trying to dismiss good policy while defending the dismal fiscal mismanagement of his government.

Steve Anderson // Whistler ■

Backcountry Update

AS OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3

Wintery conditions returned this week, with relatively cool weather and some new snow. The freezing level is looking to stay between 1,000 and 1,500 metres for the weekend, with a mix of sun and cloud and perhaps some isolated flurries. This sounds like a great setup for some spring backcountry travel.

The most likely avalanche concerns with this situation include wind slabs and loose, wet avalanches. Wind slabs are likely to be isolated to steep, lee terrain features at higher elevations near ridgetops. Loose, wet avalanches are most likely on sun-exposed slopes as the snow turns wet during the heat of the day. Cornices are also

large and concerning at this time of the year. Cornices could be triggered by humans when standing on ridges, or they could fail naturally at any point from warming.

Keep these potential avalanche concerns in mind if you venture into the backcountry. Assess for slabs at higher elevations. Avoid sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day. Stand well back from the edge of ridges, as they could have cornices along them. Always be aware of your overhead exposure, as any of these avalanche concerns could release at any point and impact you from above. Enjoy these spring conditions while we have them, and don’t forget the sunscreen. ■

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

Artificial intelligence is a Pandora’s box—we should kill it now

“THOU SHALT NOT MAKE a machine in the likeness of a human mind.”

That is a line from the currently very popular Dune sci-fi universe by Frank Herbert. Within that story, it’s a verse from a fictional religious text created in the millennia after humanity overthrew the complex computers oppressing it.

The gist of the verse is there can be no programming that can perform a task a human mind is capable of doing—be it

(this is a Terminator reference, in case you missed it). It’s a growing sector made up of far more than just gimmicks peddled by tech bros online—it’s a huge area of study at the world’s top universities… and military contractors.

me a hater. Automation of simple tasks is one thing, the data-scraping of human affectations and behaviours to be mashed into programs designed to mimic human expression is another.

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

It has become big enough an item the United Nations just last week passed its first resolution on regulating the sector—though in a customarily toothless UN way that “encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for risks,” according to Reuters.

stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

mathematical equations, logical assessments, wayfinding or decision-making. It is derived from fear of artificial intelligence taking away human agency.

Dune is, of course, science fiction, but artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest buzzword signifying where technology is leading us today, with the term used everywhere as the latest disruptor, the newest opportunity, the greatest gadget programming meant to make our lives easier.

What AI is today is really just algorithms being fed information and prompts—not robots capable of making decisions about governance or hunting down Sarah Connor

The resolution was non-binding, and also came from the top two powers in AI research and development, being the United States and China. They’re competitors across every sector, so their co-sponsoring of a file on AI is less a step in the right direction, and more an indication they’re both thinking about AI’s development potential—and what the other is doing in the field.

As a thought experiment, AI and its implications has a high ceiling, so I’ll narrow in on where I see AI as most offensive to me, personally: LinkedIn.

No, not the website itself, but the confected messages I get from those statuesque thought-leaders who reach out every so often to recommend I join them on such an illustrious journey of AI enrichment as… teach AI programs how to write, and potentially put myself out of a job?

Right out of the gate, you can consider

The creative world is already reeling from the proliferation of AI programs that scrape the internet for intellectual property belonging to very real image content creators to pump out twisted and weird interpretations of art, while in the legal world (of all places) there’s the incredible case of a B.C. lawyer caught red-handed submitting AI-generated text that included fake citations to cases that didn’t exist—to name only a few examples of the technology gone wonky, and applied in sectors it probably shouldn’t be applied in.

In the UN resolution, players in the AI space were encouraged to “monitor AI for risks,” but perhaps there should be something more—like the air-gapping of entire professions from not just the influence of artificial intelligence, but its application entirely.

The defense technology sector is the big bad in this space (again, Terminator ), but we don’t have to think so big, or so sci-fi, or so dangerous, to find egregious examples that threaten public confidence in institutions and information.

Consider the last few years of the online experience during COVID. How much information was out there that wasn’t true?

Everything was generated by a human— imagine if those wanting to mislead could simply ask a program to come up with a suite of authoritatively-written pieces designed to look like studies by reputable (but not real) universities on just about any issue you can think of. The average reader already doesn’t check the efficacy of a claim unless it’s completely out to lunch as it stands right now.

It’s true most “AI” we come up against is just gimmicks and toys, but as mentioned already, this is a serious area of study. You can bet there’s a few bright sparks out there working on how they can merge AI programming with drone technology.

It’s a terrifying field, so no, I will not (willingly) be teaching any AI programs how to learn anything, and certainly not how to write (my critics will say I don’t know how to write, anyway). The thin edge of the wedge was a ways back, and we’re well past the point of no return (GPS, Alexa—all that data is going into this), but I don’t intend to help the sector along on its journey to world domination.

AI as a field is currently well within our grasp. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to wonder what the world could look like if that changes, or if the tech is applied by those who do not seek our betterment. So before it gets out of our control, we should think along the lines of the creative mind of Frank Herbert (who wrote Dune in the ’60s), and stop the field in its tracks. ■

Whistler Search and Rescue by the numbers: Call-outs up in 2023-24

CALL-OUTS TO THE LOCAL SAR HAVE RISEN FOUR YEARS IN A ROW

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WHISTLER SEARCH and Rescue (WSAR) is continuing its upward trend of activity year-over-year, with another busy season of 110 requests for assistance, and 92 team mobilizations.

“The 2023-24 Whistler Search and Rescue response statistics are once again higher than the previous year in terms of overall activity,” reads the WSAR annual report, which covers March 1, 2023 to March 6, 2024.

The 92 responses in 2023-24 is an increase of four over 2022-23, when there were 88 responses. The increase means call-outs have risen for the fourth year in a row.

For the most recent season, the report noted in general, the distribution of call volume over the months was fairly even, with the one exception being the November and December period, which according to the numbers, saw zero and two responses, respectively.

That period is typically very busy, according to WSAR. The reduction in call-outs may have been to do with the very subdued early winter season, when there was minimal

snowfall and mostly just rain.

Despite a damp early winter, the year as a whole saw a few peaks: In January 2024 there were 14 responses; in August 2023 there were 13; in July 2023 there were 12—and in March 2023 there were a whopping 19 responses, which stands out as the highest number of responses in a month in the last two seasons.

Notably, for March 2024, which falls into

they were. The program also assists those in need with medical instruction, and acts as a much-needed point of contact as they navigate their way back to help.

The report paid reference to the number of call-outs in winter, which was noted to “contribute to significant levels of trauma, largely attributed to the various forms of recreational snow travel,” and was often the

“[The numbers] are once again higher than the previous year in terms of overall activity.”

- WSAR

the current year’s reporting to be summed up at this time in 2025, the number of calls is again down, likely due to the reduced activity on the mountain thanks to low snowpack combined with what was a high avalanche risk.

result of “sudden de-acceleration” and the associated blunt force trauma.

A breakdown of the activities that triggered a WSAR call-out backed up the assessment, with winter trending ahead of summer.

In 2023-24, there were four snowmobiling calls, 19 out-of-bounds skiers, four out-ofbounds snowboarders, 20 backcountry skiers, and two avalanche calls.

There were also three road rescues and two missing persons responses.

In summer, major trauma calls were usually related to mountain bike incidents. There were 37 summer calls in 2023-24, which included a wide array of injuries, from bone fractures to allergic reactions and fatigue.

Of significant note in the report was the caliber of tasks falling to WSAR, which are increasingly requiring medical evacuations.

“[This] remains the result of BCAS (British Columbia Ambulance Service) practice of deferring calls outside of their organized response areas or beyond their training/skill sets,” reads the report.

By the numbers, call-outs for the season consumed 7,816 man-hours. Thirty-eight calls were medical rescues, 23 were search missions, 31 were evacuations, and there were four fatal incidents.

Of the 92 calls last year, the report said nine of them were resolved by “an enhanced program of promoting self-rescue” when appropriate, wherein responders helped the caller download a GPS app onto their phone which helped them with route-finding, and the responding team with knowing where

In terms of location, the areas of note for WSAR appear to be the hills (no surprises there), with the Spearhead Range yielding 17 call-outs, the backside of Whistler 13, and the Garibaldi Lake area 15—though there were 10 call-outs within municipal borders and four within the areas of responsibility of Pemberton SAR.

“Volunteer SAR teams in the Sea to Sky corridor continue to work together co-operatively in times of need,” reads the report. “WSAR worked with Pemberton TO

There were plenty of summer activities triggering WSAR responses, however, with 25 hikers, nine climbers, five mountain bikers and one inland water call.

SAR on five separate incidents in addition to other teams. WSAR continues with a strong response partnership with Whistler Blackcomb when required.”

Perhaps the most high-profile call of the 2023-24 reporting season was the case of missing Whistler senior Robert McKean, who went missing with his dog the morning of Oct. 9, 2023.

More than 300 search-and-rescue members (from 21 different teams around the province) assisted with the search, with help from police, firefighters, and civilians.

On Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m., after nearly a week of intensive searching, the mass effort was suspended “pending further investigation,” the RCMP said.

“The search will continue,” said WSAR president Brad Sills at the time. “We will continue following up on leads, we’ll do some more aerial flying in the coming weeks, and yeah, police will continue to follow up on any of the tips that they get.”

Asked for an update, Sills said the search for McKean continues.

A PROFILE OF THE CALLERS

The report also included a breakdown of who was calling for WSAR assistance. The number of individuals assisted came in at 111 for the year, of which 68 were male, and 43 were female, which the report said showed a

if it’s a reflection of how busy the resort actually is or not, but it’s unseasonably quiet right at the moment.”

The one call was to recover a snowmobiler who injured their knee in the Brandywine area. They were successfully recovered with no issues.

The single call was a far-cry from normal March conditions, Sills said.

“March is our busiest month,” he said. “It started off really busy, but died down. I think the big snowfall that we had and the amount of warnings that the CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association) put out were very effective in raising people’s awareness about what was an appropriate recreational activity.”

Indeed the outdoor recreators of the Sea to Sky were rewarded for their patience with a hefty dump of snow in January and another in late February that made conditions favourable to head out—but warmer temperatures in March increased avalanche risks across the region.

Conditions were so warm the ski-patrol team closed portions of the alpine in-bounds to safeguard against the danger of avalanches, making the out-of-bounds options even sketchier by comparison.

Sills said the low number of call-outs, combined with the low number of fatalities Canada-wide from avalanches, is great news.

“Whether that’s a reflection entirely of a low-snow year, or years and years of public

“[March] started off really busy, but died down ... [the warnings] were very effective in raising people’s awareness about what was an appropriate recreational activity.”

- BRAD SILLS

continued trend of “gender equalization” in that previous years saw a greater number of men versus women being attended to.

“Ten years ago, the call volume was more heavily weighted to young males 15-25 years of age,” it reads, adding as of 2023-24, the age of callers was more evenly distributed.

The largest age groups represented were those between 41 and 50 (29), 31 and 40 (27) and 25 and 30 (24). Only three individuals attended to were over 70, and only two were under 15.

WSAR calls tend to be mostly for Canadians, with only 29 of the 111 individuals reporting an out-of-country address.

The breakdown of Canadians reveals Whistler locals are mostly good to go, however; only 18 individuals called Whistler home, while another 42 were from other parts of B.C., and the remaining 22 were from the rest of Canada.

WHISTLER HEEDS AVALANCHE WARNINGS

WSAR was mercifully idle during high avalanche risk warnings in mid-March, in a welcome change to typical March conditions.

“Things have quieted down here for the last two weeks,” Sills said.

“We’ve only been out once—I’m not sure

education actually paying off … it would be great if that was the case,” he said.

Avalanche Canada’s statistics record only five deaths related to avalanches for the 202324 season, compared to 15 in 2022-23.

Looking ahead, Sills said WSAR is already shifting gears to get ready for summer operations, as warmer conditions on the horizon point to a tapering season of winter activities.

SPRING SKIING AT WHISTLER BLACKCOMB

The season isn’t over yet, with Whistler Blackcomb open for skiing and riding until May 20.

Both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains will remain open for winter operations until April 14, after which skiing and riding will shift to Whistler Mountain exclusively, with Blackcomb closing for the season to accommodate lift maintenance requirements, and to continue on the Jersey Cream project, which will upgrade the current 4-pack to a high-speed 6-pack chairlift ahead of the winter 2024-25 season.

The final day for skiing and riding in the 2023-24 season is May 20 (conditions permitting).

-with files from Braden Dupuis n

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Whistler Public Library working towards new strategic plan

IN-PERSON VISITS UP 38%, WHILE LIBRARY PONDERS ITS MANDATE AND SCOPE

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

THE WHISTLER PUBLIC Library is on the cusp of beginning community engagement as it plots its strategic plan for the next few years.

Reporting on the state of the library at the March 19 committee of the whole meeting, library director Mikale Fenton said 2023 was a busy one.

Listing off achievements for the year, Fenton said the library opened its long-awaited Wonder Lab (a technologyoriented community space), while facility improvements included new small meeting rooms and the addition of book nooks, as well as a new sail on the patio—to say nothing of the numbers.

“Last summer we also achieved a personal record for our summer reading club attendance where we connected with over 1,700 patrons,” she said.

Higher numbers indicate more engagement: There were 156,000 in-person visits to the library in 2023, which was an increase of 38 per cent over 2022, and 2,525 new patrons registered.

The library collection increased by 4,238

physical items, while patrons borrowed 12,449 audiobooks and 17,694 picturebooks through the year.

“Of note, our highest-circulating item in 2023 was a Sphero Bolt, which is a coding robotic ball used to teach programming… followed by a ukulele,” said Fenton.

As for the strategic plan, Fenton said the library is operating off an 18-month bridging

our patrons use our facility, and like our community, our library must also continue to adapt, evolve and change.”

The library is designing a community engagement plan and actively reaching out to stakeholders and community partners to determine what areas it needs to focus on as a major space in the community, using five categories: Livability; raising Whistler’s

“The remote-work movement alone has had a tremendous impact...”

- MIKALE FENTON

plan that will get it to mid-2024, which was designed to “get us where we need to be to look forward.

However, “2018 and 2024, it must be said, might as well be decades apart in how we think about understanding public space and the way the public uses libraries,” she added.

“The remote-work movement alone has had a tremendous impact on the way

youth; reconciliation, EDI and access; lifelong learning and discovery; and community sustainability and resilience.

Each area was identified through a research report coupled with an “environmental scan” of Whistler community data, layered with library trends across the sector.

Fenton spoke to each area and how the library is considering them, but noted it is unable to tackle each alone.

“While the library doesn’t have the scope or the mandate to address every aspect of these challenges and opportunities, our hope is that by bringing them to light we can evaluate how the library’s strategic-plan process can create bridges and play a role in identifying and implementing solutions which do fall within our mandate,” she said.

The livability item encompassed the library as a physical, usable space for residents, as well as the needs of library staff in their experience working there.

“In our research and analysis, our key focus has landed on space and the importance of our physical space,” Fenton said. “As people increasingly live in densified housing, are working from home, perhaps while balancing at-home childcare due to a lack of daycare options or after school care, the importance of the library as a community living room is more important than ever as a place people feel they can belong and feel connected and be less isolated.”

Youth also feature prominently in strategic planning, with Fenton saying the library plays a vital role in supporting youth and families through youth programming

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RMOW planning emergency simulation for April 18

WHISTLER ALERT WILL BE ACTIVATED; RESIDENTS WILL NOT HAVE TO EVACUATE

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WITH ANOTHER WILDFIRE season just around the corner, local officials are planning an emergency evacuation drill later this month to prepare—and fine tune how they’ll navigate a worst-case scenario for Whistler.

It’s all for show, and just for the first responders, but residents in the Spring Creek area can expect to see some activity on April 18 from 9 a.m. to midday, with 30 emergency management staff responding to a simulated scenario.

(Don’t worry, residents will not have to evacuate.)

According to a release from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), the Whistler Alert system will be tested through a series of notifications, and there will be emergency vehicles onsite responding to a wildfire scenario. The only disruptions noted are the RCMP onsite, who will be going door to door simulating evacuation notices for some of the 184 residences in Spring Creek— specifically in the Bear Ridge complex on Spring Creek Drive.

Those with questions about the exercise can reach out to eoc@whistler.ca.

According to the release, the coming fire season is expected to again be severe in B.C., necessitating the need for increased emergency preparedness.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increased number of communities in B.C. affected by natural disasters—disasters that have required significant evacuation efforts,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.

“Because of the shifts we’re seeing with climate change, these events are becoming more common. Just this summer we saw wildfires devastate the community of Gun Lake (in SLRD Area A).

“I know that hit home for many of us. What we can take from this is that emergency preparedness is more important than ever.”

Staff at the RMOW receive Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) training through the Justice Institute of BC to better prepare the municipality to respond to emergencies or disasters should they come our way. According to the RMOW, simulations like the one planned for April 18 “bring it all to life, providing an invaluable opportunity to practice and determine gaps that may need to be filled outside of a real emergency scenario.

“The lessons learned from the exercise are expected to highlight key areas to improve in terms of planning, public engagement, notifications, and the evacuation process.”

Residents in the Spring Creek “evacuation zone” who want to know more about the evacuation process can take part in the simulation by taking direction from the RCMP

“[E]mergency preparedness is more important than ever.”

- JACK CROMPTON

on the day to make their way to the evacuation reception centre, which will be at the Spring Creek Fire Hall.

Spring Creek Community School, Spring Creek Daycare, Spring Creek Community Centre, PearlSpace and Zero Ceiling will not be part of the evacuation exercise.

All Whistler residents are encouraged to sign up for Whistler Alert, which is the official emergency notification system for Whistler. Those who are signed up will receive alerts via text, phone calls and email in the case of emergencies that may impact their health, safety or property. Read more at whistler.ca/whistleralert. n

WHISTLER LIBRARY FROM PAGE 16

and education.

The area covered most traditionally by a library’s mandate is lifelong learning and discovery—and Fenton said borrowing trends are continuing to change dramatically.

“Since 2019, ebook and audiobook use has increased by 20 to 30 per cent at the Whistler Library. Meanwhile, the cost for these items are significantly higher for a library to purchase than for the general public,” she said. “How should we plan our collection services and budgets to keep up with demand in a changing and complex new publishing climate? The pandemic taught us that reliable access to internet and a useable device is crucial to participate in society. It’s easy to take this for granted, yet how many people depend on the library

specifically for this connection?”

She also noted the rise in social media and devices as having a polarizing effect on society, and talked about how a library can meet that challenge by shoring up its own processes to protect against misinformation, while also leaning into its role as a community space that breaks down walls and fosters connection.

The complete report to the committee of the whole can be watched on the RMOW website at whistler.ca/council.

Under the timeline proposed for the strategic plan, community engagement will open this month, library staff will analyze the data in May, a draft plan will be created in June, and the final version will be unveiled in September. n

No�ceofProposedZoningAmendment Bylaw- No Public HearingtobeHeld

Zoning AmendmentBylaw (1000 Alpha Lake Road) No.2436, 2024 (the “proposedBylaw ”)

Purpose: Thepurpose of theproposedBylaw is to realignthe zone boundary betweenthe IS5 and CS2zones so that it is concurrent with theparcelboundary of theproposedsubdivision plan shownonthisno�ce.The proposed amendmentwill result in proposed Lot2 beingen�rely within theIS5 zone,while proposed Lot1 will remain en�relywithinthe CS2zone. If not splitzoned, proposed Lot2 will have amaximum floor spacera�ocalculatedbased on thefull size of theparcelratherthanjustthe por�on within theIS5 zone.Thisresults in slightly more permi�edgross floor area compared to if proposed Lot2 were split-zoned

SubjectLands: Thelands that arethe subjectofthe proposed Bylaware shownonthe map a�achedtothisno�ce,and arelegally describedasDISTRICTLOT 8078 GROUP1 NEW WESTMINSTERDISTRICT

BylawReadings: Considera�on of thefirst, second andthird readings of theproposedBylaw will be at theRegular Council Mee�ng on April9,2024.

To learnmore: Acopyofthe proposed Bylawand background documenta�on areavailablefor review from March29, 2024toApril 9, 2024at:

•MunicipalHallat4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler,BC, during regular office hoursof8:00a.m.to 4:30 p.m.,MondaytoFriday (statutory holidaysexcluded)

•Onlineonthe Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) websiteat: whistler.ca/RZ001184

Formoreinforma�onvisit: whistler.ca/RZ001184

AWARE lines up Whistler events leading to Earth Day

SEARCH FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTINUES AT LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHARITY

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

EARTH DAY IS AROUND the corner, and to raise awareness and advocate for sustainability and climate action, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) is organizing a suite of events in the lead-up.

Starting April 17 and going all the way to April 22—which is the globally recognized Earth Day—every day of the week will feature an event to draw in engaged locals and raise awareness.

AWARE board member Diana Mulvey explained the 2024 Earth Day events are a first for the organization.

“We’re really proud of what’s come together to culminate on Earth Day April 22,” she said. “There’s different activities, events, workshops that people can get behind and get involved with and really take action.”

The six events include yoga, a clothing swap, an old-growth and biodiversity talk, a pitch-in day, a repair café and a party for the planet with a silent auction.

AWARE was founded more than 30 years ago to run programs, organize events, and raise awareness around environmental issues and conservation, as well as ways locals can get involved and make a difference.

“To be honest, I don’t know we’ve ever

done anything this big in the community … we’re really, really pleased it’s come together the way it has,” said Mulvey, who explained the event is a big change for the organization, which recently said goodbye to longtime executive director Claire Ruddy.

The events for Earth Week are part of a mobilization of the organization in the months since then, and the board is actively searching for a new executive director to step in and plan more of the same.

“A big part of that person’s role will be to work with that member base, grow the member base and our volunteer base as well so that we can mobilize people to get behind some of these big issues and show up at those council meetings where it really makes a difference,” said Mulvey.

A recent opportunity for the community to show up and be engaged was the Big Moves update to Whistler’s mayor and council in March—a presentation that was unfortunately only attended by one member of the public.

Mulvey said that presentation was an example of a time and place the community could turn up and make its voice heard, influence policy, and show engagement.

“Even with this rich history of moving the dial on environmental priorities in Whistler, the need for a presence and engagement with community members and having an organization like AWARE is so much more urgent today with all the climate extremes

and the season that we’ve had,” she said.

“People do show up and people do care… I know how hard it is to get people to show up at those council meetings, and sometimes it takes an organization like AWARE or an individual to just nudge people and make sure that people know what’s coming up on the agenda.”

The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s Big Moves Climate Action Plan was influenced by engagement with AWARE, and Mulvey said it is one way residents can make a difference.

Whistler locals can look to the AWARE

website at awarewhistler.org for more details on the six events leading up to Earth Week.

“There are people in the community that really care deeply about these issues, and AWARE really wants to help raise that collective voice from all the citizens who can move the dials to encourage government and the private sector to really take action,” Mulvey said.

“And we want to help be a louder voice. Whether it’s showing up at events, helping us promote events or donating, there’s lots of ways to get involved.” n

FOREST FORAY The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment will host a biodiversity walk in the Cheakamus Community Forest, along with other events, in the lead-up to Earth Day 2024.

PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WWW.WHISTLERLAWYER.CA

adam@whistlerlawyer.ca | 604.905.5180

Resort Municipality of Whistler Canoe, kayak and SUP storage rack rental spaces at Whistler parks

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SLRD approves suite of water projects for Area C

ALMOST $120K WILL GO TOWARDS ENSURING POTABLE WATER FOR COMMUNITIES

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WATER PROJECTS IN the SquamishLillooet Regional District’s (SLRD) Area C will get a slight boost after the SLRD’s board of directors voted to allocate $119,630 to three projects in Devine, D’Arcy, and Pemberton.

Coming from the SLRD’s Community Works Fund, the allocation includes up to $37,000 to the Devine water service for capital upgrades, and another $32,630 allocated to the D’Arcy water service for curb stop (shut-off valve) replacement and a long-term planning assessment of the system.

The remaining $50,000 is an additional funding allotment to the Pemberton north water service to go towards replacing and upgrading water mains on Collins Road.

Some $22,000 previously allocated to a project for water boxes and hoses for the Devine water service was taken back as that project was struck from the SLRD’s list.

According to a staff report, the funds for the project in Devine are for the installation of a generator with an automatic switch, so the community will still have access to potable water in the event of a power outage.

Staff said having the system in place will allow automatic monitoring of the water source, save staff time, and benefit locals

(besides giving them continual potable water) through lower operating costs.

The money for the Pemberton north water project is a top-up of previously allocated funds, which was $220,000. According to staff, proposals received for the project came in over budget, hence the need for an additional $50,000 allocation.

That project includes a water main replacement on Collins Road, north of Pemberton—upgrading the existing pipes from

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50 millimetres to 200 mm, along with associated water services, valves and a fire hydrant. The mains will also be re-aligned so they do not go under a fish-bearing creek in the area.

The SLRD board voted unanimously to approve all of the funding allocations at the March 27 board meeting.

Money in the Community Works Fund can be used to support projects across the SLRD, and according to staff documents, the unallocated balance of funds come in at

$679,321.05 now that the three water projects are approved.

The funds are divided between the four areas—Area A has $1,489.47 remaining, Area B has $420,007.18, Area C has $225,186.29, and Area D has $32,638.11.

The Community Works Fund is allocated to local governments annually through the Union of BC Municipalities from the federal government’ss Canada CommunityBuilding Fund. n

WATER WORKS D’Arcy is one of three communities in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Area C to receive funding for crucial water projects of late.

PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

Sunrise April 26, 1948

Sunset March 18, 2024

Janet passed away peacefully at the Sea to Sky Hospice with lifelong friend Lynne by her side

Born and raised in Burnaby BC., Janet spent many years in Ontario before returning to BC Her last year was spent at the Lions Villa in Pemberton, where she enjoyed her time with friends, neighbours, family and her cat Annie.

In the early 70’s Janet embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling across the continent and all through Central and South America in a VW Van with two good friends.

Janet found much happiness in the little things in life: family, friends, her beloved cats, reading and writing to her pen pals She had over 70 pen pals around the world whom she counted as friends, some spanning many decades.

Janet made new friends everywhere she went, many of them lifelong

Janet is survived by her daughter Diana Burnfield and grandson Liam She is also survived by her mother Irene Esson, sisters Mary Noble and Shelley Esson, nieces and nephews Tina, Bill and Leah Noble and Santiago Esson as well as many great-nieces, nephews and cousins.

Janet will be dearly missed and remembered fondly by all who knew her. No service by request.

Donations in Janet’s name can be made to the Sea to Sky Hospice Society or a cat shelter of your choice

Janet Elisabeth Burnfield (nee Esson)

Pemberton Men’s Shed to launch new permanent home

ALL ARE WELCOME AT OFFICIAL OPENING PLANNED FOR MAY 4

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PEMBERTON’S MEN’S SHED is set to get a newly renovated home after six years in operation.

The group, which currently uses a trailer in the middle of the Lions Villas at 7420 Flint Street as a base, is inviting everyone in Pemberton to the renovated space’s official opening on May 4.

MP Patrick Weiler, MLA Jordan Sturdy, Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Area C Director Russell Mack will be in attendance. Representatives from the B.C. and Canadian Men’s Shed associations will also be there on the day.

The Men’s Shed movement originally began in the ’90s in Australia, and has since spread to more than 12 different countries. The concept tackles feelings of isolation felt by elderly men, particularly in rural areas like Pemberton. It allows men to socialize over “brown-bag” lunches, fishing and ski trips, while also working on construction projects around Pemberton.

Treasurer Richard Megeney said Pemberton’s men’s shed was one of the first of its kind in the province.

“At the time, we were only the third or fourth men’s shed in B.C.,” he said. “We ended up starting the men’s shed as a tools library, but we had the men’s shed concept around that.

alone. Megeney explained COVID-19 caused delays to the group’s long-term plans.

“During COVID, we went very quiet because it was difficult to meet,” he said. Thankfully, the group has come back stronger than ever. Grants from the United Way, as well as provincial and federal government programs, have allowed the group to upgrade its space.

“The men come together to participate and work together shoulder-toshoulder. That’s crucial.”

- RICHARD MEGENEY

“It is based on addressing the loneliness faced by people after their retirement. It offered an option to senior men to get out of their lonely situations, meet other people and participate in various things together,” Megeney added. “The men come together to participate and work together shoulder-toshoulder. That’s crucial.”

The idea has exploded across Canada, with now more than 50 men’s sheds in B.C.

“We took over a facility that the senior women had been using as an exercise facility. It was a double trailer,” said Megeney. “We arranged with the Lions Club to take it over as our permanent home. Grants have allowed us to upgrade this facility and use it as workshop. This is what we have been striving for. We weren’t previously able to achieve this as we didn’t have the money.”

The group is hoping more members will

join in the fun.

“We get together most Wednesdays for a brown-bag lunch,” said Megeney. “We get together at the rec centre, we have lunch, play a little bit of pool and exchange stories. That’s the main activity we have had over the last while. We currently have about 17 members. We are hoping it will become much larger once we get our workshop opened.”

While the group may now have a new space, it is their unique friendship that sets them apart from other local organizations. The men have each other’s backs and look out for each other in any way they can.

“We have become good friends, which would not have happened without it,” said Megeney. “We hike, we fish, we go bike riding together, skiing, kayaking, golfing, all of those things. That’s what it’s all about.”

A kitted-up workshop will allow the men to build on their previous successes.

“In the past, we have done community projects like building birdhouse kits for the children on Canada Day. We have done this two-years in a row,” said Megeney. “We put together around 75 kits. The children gathered around the floor of the community centre  and put them together with their parents. That was very successful.”

For more details or to get involved, email pvmss.v2@gmail.com.

Pemberton Airport to receive more than $121K from the province for runway repairs and painting

THE BC AIR ACCESS PROGRAM HELPS AIR FACILITIES SERVING FEWER THAN ONE MILLION PASSENGERS PER YEAR

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PEMBERTON REGIONAL Airport will receive $121,500 in funding from the province for runway repairs and painting.

The money is much-needed, as the airport’s runway is reportedly worse for wear these days.

The Village of Pemberton (VOP) vowed to support a funding application for up to $200,000 at a council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Mayor and council also agreed to contribute a matching contribution of up to $50,000 (25 per cent) towards the project. Cracks on the runway were last repaired in 2016. The airport has several hundred landings per year, mostly happening in August. However, there is no runway lighting, taxiway lighting, control tower or navigational assistance at the site. Access is also limited during winter months.

Project engineer, Sachindra Wijayabandara, told council repairs on the runway are needed sooner rather than later. Runway resurfacing is a top priority, as the tarmac is currently “riddled” with large cracks—some measuring up to 10 centimetres wide. They also risk getting far bigger if moisture permeates the asphalt.

The cracks create an uneven surface and disrupt visual painted markings, and are causing a serious safety hazard to aircraft using the facility. Wijayabandara told council they run the risk of the problem becoming far worse.

“It’s needed now,” he said.

In a statement on its website, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recognized the importance of the 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes

that connect people around the province, saying the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) is vital to help the government “fulfil its responsibilities related to medevac, wildfire suppression, emergency response, access to remote and Indigenous communities, tourism and economic development.”

Other projects getting money from the BCAAP this year include runway improvements at Kamloops, Castlegar and Terrace, an emergency heliport upgrade for the Metlakatla First Nation and improved accessibility at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre for passengers with disabilities. This year, $11 million will be invested to support 26 upgrades at 24 airports throughout B.C.

Since 2017, BCAAP has committed more than $63 million in grants to projects at 71 air facilities. The program is specifically for facilities serving fewer than one million passengers per year.

Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, Dan Coulter, said the funding stream is vital for the province. “Airports pay a key role in bringing together communities and people and provide the vital links that keep goods moving and our economy strong,” he said in a release. “This provincial support will help our regional airports with a wide range of upgrades that will increase safety, reliability and capacity for the services that British Columbians rely on including access to health-care and support for firefighting.”

Chair of the BC Aviation Council, Heather McCarley, said the “strategic” investments are particularly important for remote, rural and Indigenous communities.

“The BC Air Access Program provides front-line funding that supports wildfire suppression, air-ambulance, emergency response, tourism and economic initiatives for British Columbia’s airports,” she said. ■

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Stewardship Pemberton hosts ‘Seedy Sunday’ before busy growing season

A LARGE CROWD GATHERED AT PEMBERTON’S DOWNTOWN BARN WITH PEOPLE EAGER TO LEARN HOW TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

STEWARDSHIP PEMBERTON’S Seedy

Sunday on March 17 allowed locals to learn all about the non-profit’s summer projects before a busy season ahead. People could exchange knowledge about growing food and all things sustainability at Pemberton’s Downtown Barn, while Chicks with Picks provided lively background music to the large crowd.

Feasting for Change program director, Nikki Lax, said she hopes to get as many people involved in Stewardship Pemberton’s projects as possible over the coming months.

“These kind of events are so important for us to have,” she said. “Free, accessible knowledge of seeds and soil connects people. It’s amazing to be a non-profit that has all these different projects going. We are excited to keep this momentum going. We have the seed library here, the composting program. We also have the Fruit Tree Project and the Grow-it-Forward Garden.”

The organization’s Fruit Tree Project aims to remove bear attractants in Pemberton while educating locals on the nature surrounding them. Pickers gather fruit from landowners’ gardens, which is spread equally between three groups. One third is given back to the owners, a third to volunteers, and a third is donated to the food bank.

The Grow-it-Forward Garden also provides food to the most vulnerable in the community. Volunteers care for a large patch of vegetables at the Pemberton Creek Community Garden, and the harvest goes to the Pemberton Food Bank, Healthy Pregnancy

Outreach Program and Women’s Safe House.

Councillor Katrina Nightingale was thrilled to see such a large crowd at the event.

“I just love these community events. They inspire young people to get their hands in the soil,” she said.

Stewardship Pemberton’s executive director, Deborah Esseltine, said the organization is currently evolving and trying to organically follow what’s happening within the community.

“The Fruit Tree Project has been a real anchor for Stewardship Pemberton as it works out what it wants to do next,” she said. “It’s really helping the community to connect with sustainability.”

The cost-of-living crisis is causing families to look for alternative ways of getting food on their tables, she added.

“Food is so expensive right now. By growing your own food you have a lot of natural and healthier food,” Esseltine said. “We have such a wealth of knowledge in this community about growing some very good food. There are so many new families here that want to grow food in their own back yard.”

The Fruit Tree Project is expected to be incredibly popular this year, growing on last fall’s success. Longtime volunteer, Anne Crowley, explained the project is changing the way locals think.

“The most awareness needs to come from individual homeowners with fruit trees,” she said. “Nobody should ever be discouraging anybody from growing food. That’s really important, that we grow food. Ten days to a week, before the fruit is fully ripe, call the Fruit Tree Project and arrange to have pickers to come over and pick it all.” ■

ROOM TO GROW Members of Stewardship Pemberton at the organization’s Seedy Sunday event on March 17.

PHOTO BY ROISIN CULLEN, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Seeds of content

AROUND THIS TIME of year, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about one of the wonders of the natural world. No, not rubber boas and sharp-tailed snakes—though they’re deep in the mental mix as well. The things I’m actually referring to may seem inert to some, but are, in reality, as full of life as my ophidian friends.

I’m talking about seeds.

Plant seeds, some small enough to require

BY LESLIE ANTHONY

a microscope to see (that would be tropical orchids), contain everything needed to begin a new life. Much like an animal egg, inside a seed coat can be found a curled-up baby plant composed of embryonic root, stem and leaves. Also like eggs, a seed contains its own food supply—the endosperm —packed with nutrients to keep the embryo fed and support its early growth. With a hard coat protecting the delicate embryos within, seeds are unique structures able to endure drought, heat or freezing temperatures while remaining ready to spring to life when favourable conditions arise.

When a dormant seed is exposed to the right set of conditions, water and oxygen are absorbed through the coat. Remember those sprouting experiments with seeds, a glass and wet paper towels you did in

SOWING SEASON What will this year’s experimentations yield? Only time will tell.

COURTESY OF LESLIE ANTHONY

Kindergarten? (Or university when you tried to grow weed?) As the embryo’s cells divide and enlarge, the coat breaks open and out pops the root, followed by a leaf-bearing stem shoot. As the plant develops, seed leaves— or cotyledons—absorb the remaining food supply and continue to nourish the plant. Sunlight (and decomposition, if you’re using composted topsoil) aid germination by warming the soil. Once leaves sprout, sunlight provides further fuel for plant growth through photosynthesis (if you need a refresher on this gem of high-school biology, it’s the process in which light photons spark carbon dioxide and

sums our own approach to populating garden boxes in Cheakamus and on our modest townhome deck.

Like a restaurant menu rife with enticing photos, the cultivars listed and depicted in the WCS directory are a thing of instantaneous beauty, wonder and desire. How about some Jade Dragon Balsam Pear (a kind of squash)? Easter Egg II (a signature, multicolour radish blend)? Avalanche (a snow pea, natch)? Red Candy Cane (pepper)? Igor (Brussels sprout)? Kuroda Nova (carrot)? Touchstone Gold (beet)? Rossa d’Inverno Rubino (onion)? Mortgage Lifter (an heirloom

My partner is a sprouting machine, keeping us in a steady supply of buckwheat, sunflower, broccoli and pea sprouts...

water to combine and produce sugars then metabolized as energy for growth).

Fortuitously, I get a front-row seat to watch seeds do their thing all winter. My partner is a sprouting machine, keeping us in a steady supply of buckwheat, sunflower, broccoli and pea sprouts throughout the dark invernal days. Come the first hints of spring, however, we start thinking about putting seeds in the ground, what plants we should head-start indoors, and what kinds of things we want to grow this season (or at least try to grow; after all, everything is an experiment). This thinking is considerably aided by some stimulating plant porn—the West Coast Seeds (WCS) catalogue. This year’s cover motto is “Think Big, Act Small,” which pretty much

tomato)? Or the yet-to-be-named UC157 F2 (an asparagus hybrid)? We’ve lost track of the various things we’ve grown—or failed to grow—over the years, but suffice to say it has mostly been several different varieties of the usual suspects—garlic, zucchini, beans, radishes, Hakurei turnips, mustard, mesclun green mixes, lettuce, collards, choi of various kinds, potatoes (even when not expecting to grow them one always seems to pop up from previous years’ orphans), tons of basil, bazillions of tomatoes and more nasturtium than we ever know what to do with (you can make a pesto of the peppery leaves and eat the colourful flowers, but mostly they just vector in a lot of bees).

What really gets me thinking about seeds

in spring, however, isn’t the predictable pas de deux with old garden friends, but the possibility of retrying things we haven’t yet mastered (there are learning-curve issues with many garden staples, some of which can be solved by cultivars, timing, head-starting or pH adjustments—plus some that are never solved at all).

We also look forward to digging deeper with some of the stranger things we’ve successfully experimented with (wasabi radishes, wasabi arugula—both as eyewatering as advertised) or didn’t expect to get away with in a town at 600-metres elevation but have nevertheless managed to pull off— things like half-kilo beefsteak tomatoes, eggplant (though a bit on the small side), cilantro (with a bumper crop of fragrant coriander seeds), spinach strawberry (it’s a thing) and, last year, the infamous Carolina Reaper chili, Guinness Book of World Records holder from 2013 to 2023 for hottest pepper at ~2.2 million Scoville Heat Units (by comparison, jalapeños are typically ~2,000 to 8,000 SHUs). Neighbouring gardeners have been able to grow things like tomatillos and cucamelons.

Of course, the same changing climate responsible for these oddball wins is behind our perennial failures with spinach, beets, green onions and a second crop of almost anything—the upper soil just gets too damn hot these days. Regardless, with all this in mind, I’ve perused the 2024 WCS catalogue and have my sights set on giving quinoa, amaranth, okra and shishito peppers a shot this season.

Will any of these be successful? Who knows. They’re but a seed of an idea—and always food for thought.

Leslie Anthony is a biologist, writer and author of several popular books on environmental science. ■

PHOTO

HOW CLIMATE CHANGEIS RESHA

By Stefan Labbé

housands of species are moving poleward to escape a changing climate—and as they craw, bound and flap in and out of Canadian and U.S. cities over the coming decades, they will vastly change backyard wildlife for most of the human population, a new study has found.

The research, published March 27 in the journal PLOS ONE, forecasts human-caused climate change will trigger a “great urban shift” in the continent’s wildlife.

Some of the largest changes are predicted to occur among bird and insect species, 95 per cent of which will change the number of cities they occupy. Future generations of city-dwellers will likely hear vastly different bird songs than those heard today, while important pollinators, such as bees, are forecast to see a nine-per-cent decline across Canadian and U.S. cities.

Those changes are expected to impact agriculture, recreation, pest control and the management of disease, as species like bats leave cities and mosquitoes and ticks migrate north.

How many of the species will be perceived as invasive remains unclear. Those already prevalent across the continent, like earthworms, are expected to be found in 23 per cent fewer cities, the study found, potentially dealing an uncertain blow to how ecosystems decompose dead plants and animals.

APING WILDLIFE IN NORTH AMERICAN CITIES

At a less tangible level, many animals that adorn the jerseys of sports teams or flags might soon no longer call some cities home, said Alex Filazzola, a data scientist and biologist who led the study as a researcher at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Urban Environments.

“For us North Americans, and Canadians more specifically, almost most of us live in cities,” said Filazzola. “A national park or provincial park—that’s what most people nationally think of nature—but the one they interact with on a day-to-day basis is in their backyard, it’s on their streets, in a local city park. That’s the nature they see.

“Climate change is going to have a big effect on that type of biodiversity.”

While in the past, researchers have attempted to predict how individual species will shift their habitat due to climate change, the latest study marks the first North America-wide modelling that forecasts how animals will move en masse in and out of the continent’s cities.

To do that, the researchers modelled the future and past distribution of more than 2,000 terrestrial animals in 60 Canadian and U.S. cities. The cities were chosen for being among the most urbanized on the continent, with each having a population of more than 400,000 people.

Species were selected from a global database, including everything from four-legged mammals to semi-aquatic life, like amphibians and dragonflies, as well as bats and birds. Each had to have been spotted within a city at least 10 times over the past decade to be included. In total, more than 18.4 million occurrences were recorded.

The scientists then used several climate-change models under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios to predict how species would move between now and 2100, when up to 90 per cent of the global population will live in cities.

The researchers measured the suitability of future climates for different animals on a scale of zero (completely unsuitable) to one (ideal climate).

Every city sees big gains and losses

Under every climate-change scenario, the study found “every city had both substantial gains and losses of urban species by the end of the century.”

Cities with high precipitation in the past were predicted to have the most turnover in species, with both the greatest gains and greatest losses. That includes cities in temperate inland regions of the continent, like Ottawa, Quebec City, and those across the American Midwest.

Quebec, Ottawa and Winnipeg are all expected to nearly double their species richness, the study found.

“The warmer and wetter climate projections for these cities are likely to prove favourable for many animal species currently limited by winter conditions,” wrote the authors.

Filazzola said in many Canadian cities, his team found a lot more species coming in than leaving, adding: “That kind of makes sense. You have an extended growing season. A lot of species in Canada are limited by the cold temperatures and so you have a lot more species coming in than are leaving.”

The largest net declines in species were forecasted for cities in subtropical parts of the eastern U.S. and coastal California, while the fewest changes were found in arid urban areas like Las Vegas, Nev., and Tucson, Ariz., where many species are expected to better adapt to a warming climate.

Vancouver expected to see biggest species loss of Canadian cities

Should cities face higher levels of urbanization and the world face higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the study found the intensity of species loss will likely climb.

Cities with the highest richness of animals in the past were expected to see the biggest declines and fewest gains in new species.

Vancouver is expected to see more species lost and fewer gained than any other Canadian city, Filazzola said. Like other cities, most losses are not expected to extend to widely distributed animals, like raccoons, squirrels and birds of prey, but more endemic species, said the lead researcher.

“The ones that are more localized—those species are going to actually see a really big change,” Filazzola said.

Toronto, meanwhile, is expected to see a 13- to 18-per-cent net gain in the number of species living in the city. That net gain comes through losing 22 per cent of current species and gaining 41 per cent new animals—numbers that represent “a massive change in the overall species composition,” the study said.

Losses will alter people’s connection with nature

When animals will make their big move in or out of a city is expected to vary. Some species are expected to shift earlier than others, with timing likely to depend on “tipping points in climate conditions,” the study found.

“Regardless of actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, substantial shifts are expected to occur in the composition of urban wildlife this century.”

As with recent generations, urban residents may not notice how many animals have disappeared from their communities because they arrived or were born after so much had already disappeared—what scientists describe as the shifting baseline syndrome.

“Alternatively, the shift of urban species may be so substantial and within a single generation that it will be clearly noticeable among residents,” wrote the researchers.

The movement of animals in and out of cities will inevitably raise a debate between sharing and sparing land for animals in urban spaces.

“Climate change,” the study concluded, “will therefore shape the cultural identity and connection to nature for people in cities.”

Newly arrived animals living in cities are expected to face more stress, experience more disease, and face a combination of habitat fragmentation, light and noise pollution, and warmer temperatures. In a caveat, the authors said animals better adapted to urban environments may do better, and some may find isolated refuge in an urban microclimate.

The study did not consider how interactions between animals, as well as the ability to move through natural environments and changing land cover, might affect their movement in and between cities.

The overall patter, however, was clear, with the authors noting that “within a few decades” the timing and volume of impacts from climate change will “produce a dramatic change in many urban species.”

Managing the influx and departure of wildlife will likely first fall to cities, Filazzola said.

“The bulk of who’s gonna be responsible for managing all this is going to be municipal governments, local governments,” he said.

“They don’t really have control over the climate change but they’re still gonna be responsible for trying to support and manage all the species going forward.” ■

Whistler figure skater Ethan Adanac bouncing back from injury

THE WHISTLER SKATING CLUB PRODUCT FINISHED SEVENTH AT THE 2024 BC WINTER GAMES

BY DAVID SONG

AN UNTIMELY AILMENT prevented Ethan Adanac from bringing his best stuff to the 2024 BC Winter Games in February, but he can take solace in knowing he made the most of his circumstances.

The Whistler Skating Club (WSC) member injured his hamstring three weeks before the Games. He could hardly walk in his skates at first, and as days went by, the significance of the setback became obvious. Ethan knew he would be far from peak condition in Quesnel, and wondered if he would even go at all.

“Honestly, some days I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this,’ and then other days, I was like, ‘screw it, I’ll go,’” he admitted. “It was frustrating, but it was also knowing that hopefully I could do something that—given the circumstances—I was happy with.”

Ethan scored 16.50 points at the Games to finish seventh out of eight contestants. He had a crash course in how to manage injury and disappointment along the way, and still feels he managed to connect with his peers

meaningfully.

“It wasn’t my favourite performance by any sense of the imagination. I had to seriously tone it back,” he said. “But in reality, I went—I qualified and that’s what matters.”

THE FINER DETAILS

When asked to describe her son, one word came to Stephanie Adanac’s lips right away: dedicated.

him to his first entry-level figure skating class. Needless to say, he’s stuck with it.

From a layperson’s point of view, figure skaters are at their most exciting when airborne. Ilia Malinin of the United States made history in December 2023 by being the first man ever to land a quadruple axel (fourand-a-half rotations) in an ISU Grand Prix short program, and controversial Russian Alexandra Trusova likewise turned heads with her maverick five-quad effort at the

“I just want to skate because it’s fun.”

- ETHAN ADANAC

“The consistent commitment that he has to skating and his passion for the music associated with his time on ice is just incredible,” she remarked. “He’s a 14-year-old in every way, shape and form, but put him on the ice and he is so focused, so intent on what he does and how he trains. It’s amazing to watch.”

Having enjoyed skating since early childhood, Ethan found hockey to be a little too rough for his tastes. That’s when former WSC head coach Dianne Diamond introduced

Beijing Winter Olympics.

Ethan, however, is more of an artisan. He relishes exploring the nitty-gritty of knee bend, footwork and edgework—details only experienced skaters and fans typically pick out. Therefore, he usually scores well on the interpretive and performative aspects of any given routine.

‘WE’RE SO LUCKY’

As one of the few boys in the WSC, Ethan is

accustomed to working with a predominantly female peer group. He also trains regularly at Champs International in Burnaby under the wing of male coaches like 12-year veteran Neil Wilson, three-time Canadian titleholder Emanuel Sandhu and three-time national teamer Ben Ferreira—all of whom he finds inspiring.

Having said that, Ethan will never take his home club for granted.

“We’re so lucky. We have a bunch of really good coaches and the group as a whole is amazing,” he said. “I find when I go down to Vancouver to train, and when I was at the BC Winter Games, a lot of people are like, ‘oh, there’s figure skating in Whistler?’

“The fact that we’re able to push through the disadvantages of having only one sheet of ice, fighting back and forth with hockey teams and everyone wanting to use it, is pretty impressive. All the coaches—Dianne Diamond, Katia Barton, Morgan Wentworth and Emily Nichols [who is currently in Japan]—have contributed in their own ways.”

As he rehabs his hamstring, Ethan looks to enter the pre-novice division and master his double axel en route to what hopefully becomes a berth at the annual Skate Canada Challenge. Beyond that, his passion for the sport transcends any particular goal.

“Yes, I want to go to the Olympics,” Ethan said. “That would be nice, but [otherwise] I just want to skate because it’s fun.”

n

CUTTING EDGE Ethan Adanac is the highestlevel male athlete at the Whistler Skating Club as of 2024.

PHOTO BY EDDIE MUSCROFT PHOTOGRAPHY

SPORTS THE SCORE

Canadian Skeleton Championships return to Whistler

REIGNING WORLD CHAMP HALLIE CLARKE AND JOSIP BRUSIC WIN THE LADIES’ AND MENS’ DIVISIONS, RESPECTIVELY

BY DAVID SONG

FOR THE FIRST TIME since COVID-19, Canada hosted a nationals event for skeleton on March 31—and several top talents were in Whistler to strut their stuff.

Hallie Clarke maintained her winning ways with a Sunday breakthrough: a combined two-run time of one minute and 48.70 seconds. Veteran racer Jane Channell finished second (1:49.83) and Grace Dafoe rounded out the top three (1:51.82).

Squamish’s own Payton Spence wound up sixth (1:58.16).

Meanwhile, Josip Brusic slid to the gold medal among men (1:49.09) ahead of Kyle Donsberger with silver (1:49.22). Bronze went to Jordan Rwiyamilira (1:49.31).

“Our program has gone through a lot in these past few years … so I think [this race] means a lot in terms of where our program is,” Clarke said. “How exciting it is to be able to race with your teammates in nationals and how supportive everyone was meant a lot, too. It was a really good way to end the year.”

Added Dafoe: “We haven’t had a Canadian Championship for skeleton in quite a few years, so even to know that we had it on the schedule was really, really exciting. I went in with no expectations, but placing third was awesome. Any placement within those women, I would have been happy with because we’re so united.”

A NEW DIRECTION

The closest Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) may ever come to a major free-agent signing was in November 2023, when Clarke returned to the Maple Leaf. The Brighton, Ont. native spent her debut World Cup campaign with Team USA, earning two silver medals and a World Championships top 10 under the American banner.

“The direction that BCS was heading and the coaching staff that was hired was probably the biggest reason I came back,” explained Clarke. “The easiest way to see that is the success we all had as athletes. It was a really great year for us, and I truly do think that it’s just going to keep getting better.”

Clarke led the pack this season, making history as the youngest woman ever to strike gold at an IBSF World Championship. She held serve on Feb. 23 over four runs to best Kim Meylemans of Belgium and home-turf favourite Hannah Neise, not long after winning the 2023 Junior World Championships—which were also in Winterberg, Germany. Her triumph made a lasting impact on her teammates.

“I was cheering, I was crying, I was feeling all the emotions,” remembered Dafoe about the day she watched Clarke seize glory. “It’s so exciting for our program, but also just for Hallie. When I get to train with her, I get to see how far back I am from the best athletes in the

world. Even though she is a bit younger than me, she very much mentored me when I raced my first World Cup this year, just prior to the World Championships.

“At the end of the day, Hallie’s just a fantastic human. She’s a fantastic teammate— we’re really excited for her.”

Clarke was humble in the face of such praise, emphasizing she in turn looks up to Dafoe, Channell and many of her other teammates to help her grow as an athlete. She also lauded new BCS head coach Joe Cecchini and technical coach Micaela Widmer—both formerly of the Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC)—for what they and former Olympian Kevin Boyer have done.

“Providing opportunities for people is one of the biggest factors, but they’ve also brought all of the athletes together in an environment that really allows you to celebrate and support each other,” Clarke said. “I think that that part was missing before. Everyone had so much fun this past week [in Whistler] and any time that we’re all together as a team.”

WORLD’S FASTEST ICE

The WSC may not be the most famous track of its kind. Others in Winterberg, Lake Placid or Lillehammer may be more elegant, with their smooth, gliding turns and storied reputations… but nobody takes for granted the opportunity to test themselves on Earth’s fastest ice.

“I stand by the statement that if you can slide at the Whistler Sliding Centre, you can learn any track in the world,” Dafoe opined. “It’s one of the most technical and one of the most difficult for us.

“There is actually an aura when we travel internationally and people are going, ‘Oh, you train in Whistler?’ [Hearing them talk], they mention some fear around it… but for us it’s just another day of training.”

Clarke concurs. Having experienced a bevy of new tracks for the first or second time this year, she leaned on her time at the WSC for confidence.

Now with a much-deserved offseason ahead, Canada’s female skeleton racers and their male peers will look to recharge before turning their focus to summer training.  n

ON YOUR MARK Team Canada in action

Cut away to your heart’s content

A PAIR OF GOOD KITCHEN SCISSORS JUST MIGHT BE YOUR BEST NEW KITCHEN FRIEND

ONCE UPON A TIME, 101 years ago, hubbie and I were landlords. (Note to self: Don’t do that again.) One of our more “exceptional” tenants, and I use the term loosely, ahem, did a runner with two months’ rent owing and half his worldly goods left behind for us to dump, clean, or otherwise deal with.

We found good homes for most of his stuff, but one thing I adopted during the

precious for obsessive chefs on cooking shows who have nothing else to do with their lives.

BY GLENDA BARTOSH

process was a good pair of kitchen scissors.

Before going to—and during—journalism school, otherwise known as j-school in the biz, I’d worked in many a restaurant and pub, posh and otherwise, where, incidentally, I regularly earned more in tips alone working part-time than I did at my first full-time-plus reporter’s job at the Whistler Question. In fact, two short shifts and one eight-hour one a week nicely paid my way through life the whole time I was at j-school.

So I’d seen many a professional chef put kitchen scissors to good use over the years, and I bet Mr. Runner had, too, since he’d come from a pub/resto background. But I’d never owned any.

I always thought kitchen scissors were kind of affected. You know, something

FAVOURITE NEW RIGHT HAND

scissors recently supplanted my former favourite kitchen tool, the spatula, for the way they cut down on waste.

But those sturdy Henckels kitchen scissors have served us well over the years, thank you very much, clipping and nipping a wide range of things, including fresh flower stems which I cut back an inch or so at a 45-degree angle to encourage them to suck up more water in a vase. (I’m pretty good at getting two-plus weeks out of a bouquet, nipping those stems one inch at a time every few days. Don’t forgot to change the water at the same time, and those gorgeous Easter tulips or daffies you got will last way longer.)

Kitchen scissors are also great for cutting open all those ridiculous, over-the-top sealed

and don’t want when it comes to carrot tips and tops; green beans snipped to size; and prepping parsley, cilantro, lettuce, you name it. All bow before good kitchen scissors.

But I had to really stop and reflect the other day when I caught myself actually carving away the bad bits on fresh spinach leaves using those scissors to follow the structure of the leaves themselves, for that’s how the blackness tracked. When I did that, most of the leaf was saved.

If you read this column regularly, you’ll know I’ve written about all the rotten implications of food waste more than once over the years. (Just search my name, with “Pique” and “waste” and you’ll get all kinds

Food waste ain’t some kind of nambypamby thing we fortunate, privileged ones get to toss out like it’s nothing.

plastic bags of frozen veggies or even cereal packaging that you can’t, for the life of you, tear open any more with your bare hands, driving you to seriously consider a flame thrower. (My amazing 96-year-old mom, who still lives independently, first alerted me to that one. She thought she simply didn’t have the strength left in her hands to do it. But that’s only part of the problem. Even hubbie and I can’t do it!)

Kitchen scissors are faster, more agile and safer than a paring knife for doing it all. They smoothly nip off clumps of grapes to serve to your pals. Ditto cutting away what you do

of hits, like “Spring for sufficiency, and the satisfaction it brings” from March 2022 or “Is that melon really a good buy?” from July 2023, and, most recently, “Waste—not wanted,” from earlier this year.)

The facts are there, in black and white. I won’t bore you with them all, but suffice to say the RMOW estimates about one third of the waste generated in Whistler is food waste! One UN report says the average Canadian wastes about 79 kilograms of food a year. In sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia, that number is under 11 kg. But the real zinger is that food (and yard) waste generates

methane, which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping the sun’s heat around our fair Earth.

Food waste ain’t some kind of nambypamby thing we fortunate, privileged ones get to toss out like it’s nothing.

And as I was having fun creatively cutting away the black-ish bits from those spinach leaves, generating the tiniest blob of waste in the compost bucket, I suddenly flashed back to my 19-year-old self, cooking for the first time after I left home. I’m sure I would have blithely tossed away a quarter of that bunch of spinach because I would have simply tossed the entire infected leaf away. Leaf after leaf after leaf. Even if only a wee part was “bad.”

Spring has finally sprung in this neck of the woods, and with it will come ever more and ever nicer produce—yes, from our local famers, eventually, but primarily from California and Mexico.

I often think of all the amazing prairie farmers and B.C. orchardists in our family circle, past and present. All the time, work and effort they and millions of others like them put into growing our food. And I think of all the effort—and the fuel and carbon emissions burned—to truck it to our grocery stores. But first I think of the effort and resources nature itself puts in, pumping all that goodness into our produce, one tiny leaf after another, after another.

The very least I, or any of us, can do is change up our habits. I recommend trying a very handy pair of kitchen scissors to carve away any wee bits of bad and save the greater good.

Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who knows one pair of scissors won’t save the planet, but it’s an easy, thoughtful place to start. n

PHOTO BY GLENDA BARTOSH

Gondola Gallery art series comes to Whistler

FIRST NATIONS ARTISTS CHIEF JANICE GEORGE, BUDDY JOSEPH AND LEVI NELSON DESIGNED NEW LOOKS FOR THE PEAK 2 PEAK

BY DAVID SONG

THE PEAK 2 PEAK is receiving a makeover. Local Indigenous artists Chief Janice George, Willard “Buddy” Joseph and Levi Nelson have partnered with Vail Resorts and Epic Pass to contribute to the new Gondola Gallery series. They’ve each emblazoned Whistler’s most recognizable cable cars with a variety of iconography that harkens back to their First Nations cultural roots.

George and her husband Joseph are two of Squamish Nation’s finest who often involve themselves in graphic design projects in and around Vancouver. Each has a solid resume: George is a trained museum curator and Salish weaver in addition to being a

Squamish hereditary chief, while Joseph formerly directed Squamish Housing and Capital Projects. The couple founded L’hen Awtxw Weaving House to share the practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving.  Their piece, “Wings of Thunder,”

release. “We’ve done weavings on murals and buildings, reviving something that was put away all those decades ago now.

“[M]aybe you can imagine what it’s like to experience my territory and see home through my eyes.”

- LEVI NELSON

embodies the story of the most powerful being in Squamish mythology and its familiar roosting spot upon Black Tusk.

“It’s more than just the techniques of weaving—it’s about ways of being and seeing the world. Passing on information that’s meaningful,” say George and Joseph in a

“The significance of the Thunderbird being on the gondola is that it brings the energy back on the mountain and watches over all of us.”

Nelson of Lil’wat Nation emphasized reddish hues in “RED,” his aptly-titled characterization of Coast Salish and Northwest Coast society. The Columbia University graduate is known best for his contemporary Indigenous art made using oil paint and a

variety of media formats on canvas. Nelson also designed the brand for the 2025 Invictus Games alongside Mack Paul, Olivia George and Ray Natraoro.

“Red is a sacred colour within Indigenous culture, representing the life blood of the people and our connection to the Earth,” said Nelson. “These shapes come from and are inspired by my ancestors. To be inside the gondola, looking out through an ovoid or through the Ancestral Eye, maybe you can imagine what it’s like to experience my territory and see home through my eyes.”

The Gondola Gallery series first launched ahead of the 2023-24 winter season at Park City Mountain and Stowe Mountain Resort before coming to Whistler. It features oneof-a-kind art installations and a film series celebrating the unique backgrounds of artists who love the mountains and the possibilities they unlock.

“Wings of Thunder” and “RED” now adorn two cabins on the Peak 2 Peak system. Learn more about these works and their creators at epicpass.com/info/gondola-gallery.aspx. n

GONDOLA GALLERY ”Wings of Thunder” by Chief Janice George and Buddy Joseph, and “RED” by Levi Nelson are now decorating a pair of Peak 2 Peak cable cars.

Pemberton Arts Council brings in new executive director

FREESTYLE WHISTLER MOGULS COACH BRAYDEN PAWLIK IS ‘EXCITED TO GET STARTED’

BY DAVID SONG

THE PEMBERTON Arts Council (PAC) has a new executive director.

Brayden Pawlik assumed the role in January, not long after moving to Pemberton in 2023. The St. Catharines, Ont. native has a bachelor’s degree in design and illustration from the Ontario College of Art and Design University under his belt, as well as experience as a graphic designer and freelance illustrator dealing with various businesses in Vancouver, the Sea to Sky and beyond.

Perhaps the largest name on Pawlik’s resume is Pabst Blue Ribbon, the lager beer company based out of San Antonio, Texas.

“I’m pretty excited to get started with the Pemberton Arts Council,” he says. “Just being able to work within this community and show off all the local talent here will be a lot of fun for me.”

More than just a commercial man, Pawlik has been involved with the fine arts for many years. He is accomplished at drawing, oil painting and working with aerosols, and has stuff on display at the Maury Young Arts Centre.

This side of his career tends to be more introspective than his graphic design portfolio, and Pawlik branches out a lot in terms of subject matter. His thesis in school was themed around expressing the mental aspects of sport into a surreal environment and visual style.

Speaking of sport—Pawlik isn’t just an artist. He began skiing competitively at age seven, which culminated in half a dozen years on the Nor-Am Cup circuit. The Ontarian proceeded to add 14 years of highlevel coaching on top of that, and is Freestyle Whistler’s head moguls coach at the moment.

“I find that [skiing and art] go hand in hand, honestly,” says Pawlik. “One side is a very physical, athletic pursuit, and the art side allows me to be very creative and explore a more thoughtful side of things, experiment a bit with visuals and stuff. They balance each other out a lot more than I thought they would.

“With the way my schedule balances out right now, I’m able to do PAC work through the early parts of the week and then be right on the hill Thursday to Sunday. My work-life balance is perfect, because neither of those things feel like work to me at all.”

‘PERSONAL AND PERSONABLE’

As a lifelong skier, Pawlik has always been attracted to the towering, white-capped peaks here out West. COVID-19 delayed his move, but he got out to British Columbia as soon as travel

LEADING

restrictions began to ease in 2021.

He landed in Pemberton two years after that—and there’s no buyer’s remorse.

“The art scene here is very personal and personable, and it’s just very grassroots,” Pawlik says. “I love that aspect of it. That’s a big [factor] which attracted me to this role.

“I really want to get to know the arts community here. I know Squamish and Whistler, and the artist community is very apparent in those areas. Pemberton, I haven’t been here that long, and I want to start making a lot of art friends here.”

Much as Pawlik balances the sporty and creative aspects of his life, he also juggles fine art with his more commercial pursuits. The two may not line up in terms of straightforward subject matter, but can indirectly inspire one another with regards to aesthetic: colouring, composition, typography and so forth.

“They both excite me in very different ways,” he reveals. “[Fine art] can be more expressive, while [design and illustration] gets me more analytical—almost like a math equation visually.

“Then, it can flip flop. You can take certain elements of graphic design and make them very expressive, and you can take elements from fine art and make them much more concrete—I wouldn’t say sterile, but more solid and structured.”

One of the largest items on Pawlik’s agenda is the upcoming Mountain Muse Festival, with which he hopes to continue a beloved legacy. Beyond that, he encourages Sea to Sky folk to stay tuned for all kinds of local art initiatives over the next few months.  Visit pembertonartscouncil.com for more information on PAC programming.  n

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THE PAC Brayden Pawlik is the Pemberton Arts Council executive director as of January 2024.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAYDEN PAWLIK

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

ANONYMOUS BUYING NIGHT

ANONYMOUS BUYING NIGHT

•Waituntil afew days above10-15 degrees to allow‘lil critters andpollinatorstoleave their winter homes

The Anonymous Art Show Buying Night is back!

Each participating artist’s identity—established creative or an up-and-coming talent—is kept secret until you select your art. Whether you’re seeking a creation from a highly sought-after artist or searching for the perfect piece to fill a void on your walls, the Anonymous Art Show is an exciting opportunity to buy impressive original artworks. The Anonymous Art Show is Arts Whistler’s annual signature fundraiser, bringing high-energy excitement to art-buying at a gala evening that raises funds for community art programs.

> April 5, 7 to 11 p.m.

> Maury Young Arts Centre

> $30

ALTA LAKE BIRD WALK

Join the Whistler Naturalists on the first Saturday of the month for a walk to Rainbow Park. Open to anyone interested in learning about birds and contributing as a citizen scientist. There will be experienced birders on hand who are happy to share their knowledge. More information at whistlernaturalists.ca/birding.

> April 6, 8 a.m.

> Meet at the bottom of Lorimer Road by the catholic church.

> Free for members, by donation for nonmembers

LAUGH OUT LIVE! PRESENTS: ONE NIGHT STAND

Laugh Out LIVE! Presents: One Night Stand—An Improv Workshop & Show! For one night only, join Laugh Out LIVE! for an intimate evening workshop designed for first timers, closet performers, and curious cats! This two-hour workshop is the perfect way to test the waters and try improv with no obligation! The evening will culminate in an exclusive improv show featuring the Laugh Out LIVE! cast!

More shows in the Laugh out LIVE!’s traditional format are scheduled for April 12 and 13. Head to laughoutlive. com for more.

> April 8, 8 to 10 p.m.

> The Point Artist-Run Centre

> $20 to $35

WORLD SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL

Born out of a love of all that is mountain culture, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) has been the ultimate après of the winter season since 1996. This annual celebration of snow sports, music and arts showcases Whistler’s reputation as a mecca for mountain culture.

Find more details and a full schedule at wssf.com.

> April 8 to 14

> Various venues

> Varies

1 QUILT ENVIRONMENT The Whistler Valley Quilters’ Guild shows off its recent efforts to “wrap our community in warmth and love” at an event hosted by the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY FORSETH 2 ANGEL IN HEAVEN Lisa and Lisa wanted to share thanks to the “Blackcomb angel” who made their ski day extra special with a fun photoshoot on top of 7th Heaven last week. PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA BINKLEY 3 HOPPY BIRTHDAY A group of Whistler friends celebrated an Easter birthday in the Callaghan Valley with Canadian Wilderness Adventure’s new Snowshoe/Barrel Sauna Experience. PHOTO COURTESY OF PINA BELPERIO 4 LAUGH FACTORY Mayor Jack Crompton joins Laugh

The Rotary Club of Whistler is invitingapplications for funding!

Applications closeApril 30th,2024

Rota ry will fu nd Local Projects relatedto Yo uthWellBeing

For applicationforms andinformation please applyto info@rotary-whistler.org

Roland's Pub is open for lunch Wednesdays & Thursdays from 11:30am!

Join our lunch club!

Get 10 stamps on your lunch card and your 11th lunch is free* (Restrictions apply)

Children are welcome everyday until 10pm, so bring the kids in for brunch on the weekends from 11am - 2pm

FOREST OPERATIONS MAP (FOM) NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW & COMMENT

Black Mount Logging Inc. holder of FSP #962, gives notice and invites written comment on proposed blocks and/or roads in FOM: 1215. Review and comment period begins April 5, 2024. and ends May 5, 2024. The FOM will be available for review and comment at 2021 Paco Road, Squamish, BC V8B 0J6 from 9 am - 4 pm. To ensure a representative is available to discuss the FOM any interested parties should call (604)-898-5415 or email in advance to arrange an appointment. The FOM is also available online for review and comment by visiting https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects. In addition, comments can be mailed or submitted by hand to the above address or emailed to drollins@bmlogging.com.

The FOM can be relied upon by the FSP holder for the purpose of a cutting permit or road permit application for three years. The FOM included in this notice is valid until April 5, 2027

The early days of WSSF

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

APRIL IS the last month for our temporary exhibit, Off the Lip: The Rise of Snowboarding in Whistler. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, make sure you stop by before it closes to allow for the installation of another new exhibit. Although Off the Lip is the first exhibit dedicated to snowboarding in our current facility, the museum’s first snowboard display took place in April 1996, and was developed to coincide with the very first World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF).

According to festival director Doug Perry, WSSF organizers had two goals when they began planning: to increase activity in the resort at a traditionally quiet time of year, and to attract as much media attention as possible. To this end, they planned 22 events over 10 days with 1,500 athletes participating.

The 1996 festival brought together established events that already took place in the spring, such as the Couloir Ski Race Extreme, the Whistler Cup, and the WestBeach Classic, and added more events both on the mountain and throughout Whistler Village. These included family events, arts and culture programming such as the snowboard exhibit at the Whistler Museum, industry displays and demos, more ski and snowboard competitions, and performances by nearly a dozen bands in various venues over three days with Vancouver’s 54-40 closing out the festival. By the end of the 10 days, Perry had heard the festival described as “the single most important happening in the ski and snowboard industry,” and organizers were already looking ahead, promising an even bigger and better festival next year.

WSSF returned in 1997 from April 4 to 13, including many of the same events. Additional events were planned as well, including two bike races meant to take place on the mountains. The Grinders Cup Dual Eliminator Mountain Bike Snow Race was scheduled to run on Blackcomb Mountain under the Magic Chair, but was cancelled due to lack of interest from competitors.

The Norco Challenge did go ahead, and featured Norco factory riders trying to gain as much speed as possible down Whistler

Mountain’s Saddle.

Some of the snow events also raised money for various causes, such as the Backbone Enduro Vertical Challenge coordinated by Chris Kent. Teams and individuals competed to see who could finish the most runs over an eight-hour period while uploading only the Creekside Gondola and the Red Chair. Competitors collected sponsorships, and the money raised went to a rehabilitative medical research centre proposed by BC Rehab and to the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.

Other organizations also got involved in the festival through partnerships and by creating their own tie-in events, increasing the number of arts and culture events at WSSF. The Whistler Resort Association (WRA) offered a new “Stay for Free” promotion where buying three days of dual-mountain skiing got you two nights in a hotel for free. Heaven, advertised as a “full-on, all-night interactive rave,” planned to turn the Whistler Conference Centre ballroom into a dance club with DJs from Toronto and Los Angeles. Twenty-three bands were scheduled to play throughout the festival and, for the first time, film was introduced as a component with the Moving Pictures film festival featuring “some of the hottest and most controversial Canadian films from the past year.”

According to statistics gathered just after WSSF finished, the 1997 festival was a great success for the resort. More than 2,000 athletes came out that year to participate in the various events, and the audiences for most events also increased, with more than 8,000 spectators gathering at the base of Whistler Mountain to watch the WestBeach Invitational Big Air competition. Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains reported their highest single-day skier numbers for the month of April on April 5, and the WRA reported bookings exceeding the 1996 WSSF by about 80 per cent (and facilitated an increase in package bookings of 200 per cent). Though not all businesses reported their numbers, the Longhorn and McDonald’s both reported record sales days during the WSSF.

WSSF will be back again this year from April 8 to 14 and, though it has changed in many ways since it first began in 1996, will still include some familiar aspects. n

WORLD BEATERS Tony Moser, Lisa Korthals, Lee Anne Patterson, Beau Jarvis and Chris Winter (along with missing team member Catherine Fortier) are ready to take on the World Technical Skiing Championships held as part of the WSSF in 1996.

WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, BONNY MAKAREWICZ, 1996

Free Will Astrology

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries author Eric G. Wilson claims, “Darker emotional states—doubt, confusion, alienation, despair—inspire a deeper and more durable experience of the sacred than contentment does.” I disagree. I know for a fact that an exquisite embrace of life’s holiness is equally possible through luminous joy and boisterous triumph and exultant breakthroughs. Propagandists of the supposed potency of misery are stuck in a habit of mind that’s endemic to the part of civilization that’s rotting and dying. In any case, Aries, I’m pleased to tell you that in the coming weeks, you will have abundant opportunities to glide into sacred awareness on the strength of your lust for life and joie de vivre.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Will humans succeed in halting the decimation of the environment? Will we neutralize the power of fundamentalism as it fights to quash our imaginations and limit our freedoms? Will we outflank and outlast the authoritarians that threaten democracy? Sorry I’m asking you to think about sad realities. But now is an excellent time for you to ponder the world we are creating for our descendants—and resolve to do something in loving service to the future. Meditate on the riddle from Lewis Carroll’s book Through the Looking Glass: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The genius polymath Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) contributed much treasure to science and engineering. One encyclopedia sums up his legacy: “He was the father of observational astronomy, modern-era classical physics, the scientific method, and modern science.” Unfortunately, many of Galileo’s ideas conflicted with the teachings of Catholicism. The church fathers hounded him for years, even arresting him and putting him on trial. The Vatican eventually apologized, though not until 350 years after Galileo died. I expect that you, too, will generate many new approaches and possibilities in the coming months, Gemini—not Galileo level, of course, but still: sufficiently unprecedented to rouse the resistance of conventional wisdom. I suspect you won’t have to wait long to be vindicated, however.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Now would be a perfect time to prove your love. How? You might begin by being extra considerate, sensitive, sweet, and tender. I hope you will add sublime, scintillating touches, too. Maybe you will tell your beloved allies beautiful truths about themselves—revelations that make them feel deeply understood and appreciated. Maybe you will give them gifts or blessings they have wanted for a long time but never managed to get for themselves. It’s possible you will serenade them with their favourite songs, or write a poem or story about them, or buy them a symbol that inspires their spiritual quest. To climax all your kindness, perhaps you will describe the ways they have changed your life for the better.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo naturalist and ornithologist William Henry Hudson (1841–1922) said, “I am not a lover of lawns. Rather would I see daisies in their thousands, ground ivy, hawkweed, and dandelions with splendid flowers and fairy down, than the too-well-tended lawn.” I encourage you to adopt his attitude toward everything in your life for the next few weeks. Always opt for unruly beauty over tidy regimentation. Choose lush vitality over pruned efficiency. Blend your fate with influences that exult in creative expressiveness, genial fertility, and deep feelings. (PS: Cultural critic Michael Pollan says, “A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.”)

BY ROB BREZSNY

access your own resources and activate your own potential.

2. Be forthright and straightforward in asking the people you help to help you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I don’t regard a solar eclipse as a bad omen. On the contrary, I believe it may purge and cleanse stale old karma. On some occasions, I have seen it flush away emotional debts and debris that have been accumulating for years. So how shall we interpret the total solar eclipse that will electrify your astrological house of intimate togetherness in the coming days? I think it’s a favourable time to be brave and daring as you upgrade your best relationships. What habits and patterns are you ready to reinvent and reconfigure? What new approaches are you willing to experiment with?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): At your best, you Scorpios are not invasive manipulators. Rather, you are catalysts. You are instigators of transformation, resurrectors of dead energy, awakeners of numb minds. The people you influence may not be aware that they long to draw on your influence. They may think you are somehow imposing it on them, when, in fact, you are simply being your genuine, intense self, and they are reaching out to absorb your unruly healing. In the coming weeks, please keep in mind what I’ve said here.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In my astrological opinion, it’s prime time for you to shower big wild favours on your beautiful self. Get the fun underway with a period of rigorous self-care: a physical check-up, perhaps, and visits with the dentist, therapist, hairstylist, and acupuncturist. Try new healing agents and seek precise magic that enhances and uplifts your energy. I trust you will also call on luxurious indulgences like a massage, a psychic reading, gourmet meals, an emotionally potent movie, exciting new music, and long, slow love-making. Anything else, Sagittarius? Make a list and carry out these tasks with the same verve and determination you would give to any important task.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming days will be a favourable time for you to wrestle with an angel or play chess with a devil. You will have extraordinary power in any showdown or collaboration with spiritual forces. Your practical intelligence will serve you well in encounters with nonrational enigmas and supernatural riddles. Here’s a hot tip: Never assume that any being, human or divine, is holier or wiser than you. You will have a special knack for finding compassionate solutions to address even the knottiest dilemmas.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your featured organ of the month is your nose. This may sound beyond the scope of predictable possibilities, but I’m serious: You will make robust decisions and discriminating choices if you get your sniffer fully involved. So I advise you to favour and explore whatever smells good. Cultivate a nuanced appreciation for what aromas can reveal. If there’s a hint of a stink or an odd tang, go elsewhere. The saying “follow your nose” is especially applicable. PS: I recommend you take steps to expose yourself to a wide array of scents that energize you and boost your mood.

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

• A designated Housing Manager

• Monthly rent paid by the hotel directly

• Maintenance issues overseen by our Engineering team

• Scheduled Monthly Inspections

• No Visitors, smoking or pets allowed at any time PLEASE CONTACT Megan O'Donnell on 604.2037854 or people@westinwhistler.com

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I praise and celebrate you for your skills at helping other people access their resources and activate their potentials. I hope you are rewarded well for your gorgeous service. If you are not, please figure out how to correct the problem in the coming months. If you are feeling extra bold, consider these two additional assignments:

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When is the best time to ask for a raise or an increase in benefits? Can astrology reveal favourable periods for being aggressive about getting more of what you want? In the system I use, the time that’s 30 to 60 days after your birthday is most likely to generate good results. Another phase is 210 to 240 days after your birthday. Keep in mind that these estimates may be partly fanciful and playful and mythical. But then in my philosophy, fanciful and playful and mythical actions have an honoured place. Self-fulfilling prophecies are more likely to be fulfilled if you regard them as fun experiments rather than serious, literal rules.

1. Upgrade your skills at helping yourself

Homework: Imagine that everything and everyplace in your life is holy. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES

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

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Long

604-932-0677

info@mountaincountry.ca

Accommodation SEEKING

ACCOMMODATION WANTED

MARKETPLACE

Fairmont Chateau

Accommodation SEEKING

ACCOMMODATION WANTED

Lookingfor1or2BRunitin WhistlerstartingAprilorMay2024, LONGTERM

JakubownsplumbingcompanyCheck Mechanical,Ivetaisfinishinglast semesteratVCMT.Ithasbeen6years sincewemovedtoWhistler.Non smokers,nopets.Weneedparking spot.Referencesuponrequest.778522-7060

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

Hey I’m Pumpkin! I’m a super friendly, loveable guy who recently arrived at WAG due to my ongoing health issues that just weren’t getting better. Thanks to WAG’s Critical Care program, I’m receiving the consistent, ongoing care I need and am starting to show great improvement! In my time at the shelter, I have made a big impression on the staff and have definitely stolen a heart or two... and some biscuits. Other than hanging out with my human pals, my favourite things are getting lots of cuddles, being brushed and snoozing in your lap - I even purr whilst getting my wounds cleaned because I know it’s to help me feel better. I’m making so much progress and I can’t wait to find my purfect forever home to continue my journey! Could you be my second chance at health and happiness?

Age: Approx. 7.5 Years Old

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Gender: Male

Size: XL (10+kg)

To learn more about Pumpkin and donate to his Critical Care, visit at whistlerwag.com

Communications Coordinator (Regular, Full-Time)

Looking to contribute to your local community?

Consider a career in local government. Join the SLRD’s team of dedicated staff who work together to make a difference in the region.

Headquartered in Pemberton, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) delivers a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents. The SLRD is a BC Regional District consisting of 4 member municipalities (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet) and 4 electoral areas. Services include land use planning, solid waste management, building inspection, fire protection, emergency preparedness, 911 services, recreation, water and sewer utilities, regional transit, trails and open spaces as well as financial support for various community services. The region contains some of the most spectacular forests, waterways, and mountains in the province and affords an endless range of opportunities for outdoor adventure, making it an exceptional place to live, work and play.

The SLRD is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented communications professional to fill the full-time position of Communications Coordinator. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Engagement, the Communications Coordinator provides communications, engagement and grants support in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. The position includes a wide range of responsibilities in the areas of communications and engagement administration and planning, content creation, public, community and media relations, management of brand standards and communications during emergencies.

Qualified candidates possess a minimum of 2 years of related experience including working with web-based content management systems, social media and online engagement platforms, and other forms of electronic communication. The ideal candidate will also have excellent oral and written communication skills. The full job description for this position can be viewed at www.slrd. bc.ca/employment

The salary range for this position is $74,263 - $83,584 annually. Also available with this position are: a comprehensive benefits package; participation in the Municipal Pension Plan; a compressed work week (9-day fortnight); learning and career development opportunities; and eligibility to work from home in accordance with the SLRD’s Remote Work Arrangements Policy. Interested candidates are invited to submit their cover letter and resume (preferably in .pdf format) by email to careers@slrd.bc.ca. This posting will remain open until filled, with application review commencing on April 29, 2024.

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

Why work with us?

Continued

• Great Team Culture

Positive Work Environment

Apply to connect@tmbuilders.ca

tmbuilders.ca/careers/

Full Time Meat Manager

($64,480 – $76,960 (+ benefits) depending on experience)

Full Time Assistant Meat Manager

($54,080 – $70,720 (+ benefits) depending on experience)

Our Team enjoys:

ü Flexible schedules

ü Training and experience

ü Substantial Employee Discount Card & Benefits

ü Prime location in Pemberton

ü Short commute = less time, more $$$

Download or fill out our online application at https://www.pembertonsupermarket.com/ about/employment/ or stop by the store and we will give you an application to fill out. You can also email us at jobs@pembertonsupermarket.com or call us at 604-894-3663.

FIELD SURVEYOR.

Preferably with a technical school program in geomatics

and precise monitoring.

Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D also an asset to assist in office with computations and drawing preparation.

In this role, you will be responsible for collecting data and conducting surveys in various locations. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, has a strong attention to detail, and possesses excellent problem-solving skills.

Experience and Proficient in the use of robotic survey instruments and GPS equipment is an asset.

Work in engineering and building construction layout, topographic site surveys, site improvement surveys and precise monitoring.

Please call Ian @ 604-932-3314 or email @ ian@dbss.ca

Send Resumes to Ian@dbss.ca

Please call Ian @ 604-932-3314 or email @ ian@dbss.ca

We are looking to hire another member to our team at Straightline.

Experience in Plumbing is required. Gas Fitting and HVAC would be preferred but not essential. Wages are based on experience.

Part-time or Full-time positions available.

Please call 604-935-8771 or email straightlineplumbingandheating@gmail.com for more information.

Whistler’s premier visitor magazine is on stands now!

Look for our Winter 2024 Issue!

Vacasa’s

approach and industry-leading technology

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.

Front Desk Agent $23.25 per hour

(**THE ABOVE POSITION PLUS SIGNING BONUS** $1000 FT)

Owner Relations Manager $55,000 per year

Full Time all year round

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.

forward-thinking

help

JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT SSHS

• Youth & Family Support Worker ($55000 - $60000)

• Community Health Nurse ($90000 -$100000)

• Home and Community Care Nurse ($90000 -$110000)

• Clinical Services Manager ($100000 - $125000)

About Us: SSHS is a non-profit Indigenous Health Organization dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities. Our organization provides culturally appropriate healthcare services, programs, and initiatives to support the holistic health of Indigenous individuals and families.

Learn more at sshs.ca/careers/ Send your application to Julia.schneider@sshs.ca

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 dinning bistro which is well run, fun, and does 60-70 covers a night.

• Wage is $25-$28/hour based on experience, plus tips. Medical & Dental benefits and staff discounts in Roland’s Pub.

Email resume to info@reddoorbistro.ca

The Museum is currently seeking:

Guard

Monitor artwork in galleries, enforce and implement security protocols, communicate rules and guidelines to visitors.

• Part-Time

• Starting at $23 per hour

• No Experience Necessary

• Benefits Packages Available

Visitor Services Associate

Provide friendly and helpful customer service to guests, sell admission, memberships, and Shop merchandise.

• Part-Time

• $24 per hour

• 1-3 shifts per week

COPYWRITER

Part Time, Contract (One Year)

The Copywriter is responsible for writing

engaging and targeted content for Tourism Whistler’s email program, and also provides copywriting support for collateral and advertising campaigns.

This role requires an individual with a passion and knowledge of Whistler, experience writing for various media channels, and the ability to think strategically and creatively to produce response-driven copy across various channels.

What we offer: part time flexible schedule (16 hours per week) with a hybrid approach that balances in-office and remote work, a commitment to health and wellness, and a fun and supportive team environment.

The starting wage range for this role is $27 - $29 per hour.

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

Our team of people is what sets us apart from other builders. As we continue to grow as the leader in luxury projects in Whistler, our team needs to expand with us.

We are currently hiring: Experienced Carpenters $30 - $45.50/hourly. Wage based on experience. Red Seal is a bonus, but not mandatory.

EVR is committed to the long-term retention and skills development of our team: We are passionate about investing in our team’s future.

We offer:

• Top Wages

• Training & Tuition Reimbursement (Need help getting your Red Seal?)

• $500 Annual Tool Allowance

• Extended Health and Dental Benefits (Also includes Family Benefits.)

• Flexible Schedule - Work Life Balance. (We get it. We love to ski and bike too.)

• Assistance with Work Visa and Permanent Residency (We can help.)

• Positive Work Environment

• Junior Coordinator, Member Relations ($22 - $24 per hour)

• Coordinator, Human Resources ($22 - $24 per hour) As a requirement of the Canada Summer Jobs Program, these positions are available to applicants up to 30 years of age, who are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada. TO VIEW OUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO APPLY, VISIT US ONLINE AT: WHISTLER.COM/CAREERS.

We promote from within and are looking to strengthen our amazing team. Opportunities for advancement into management positions always exist for the right candidates. Don’t miss out on being able to build with the team that builds the most significant projects in Whistler. Send your resume to info@evrfinehomes.com We look forward to hearing from you!

High school students encouraged to apply!

NOW HIRING FOR SUMMER 2024

Shuttle Drivers Tour Guides

Scan the QR to apply

start as early as May 24th wages start from $20.50 - $24.80

Lil’wat Nation Employment Opportunities

Ullus Community Centre

• Social worker ( $80,371.20 - $91,673.40 per year)

• Band Social Development worker ($38,038 - $53,599 per year)

• Housing Administrator ( $46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)

• Transition House Support Worker ($20.90 -$29.45 per hour)

Xet’òlacw Community School

• Social Worker/ Counsellor ($80,371.20 -$91,673.40 per year)

Lil’wat Health & Healing

• Nurse Manager ($59,787 - $99,717.80 per year)

• Pension Plan

• Employee Assistance Program

• Gym facility

• Extended Health Benefits

• Professional Development

Please visit our career page for more information:

https://lilwat.ca/careers/ Benefits

HELDERBERG HOLDINGS Ltd. dba

P O Box 546. WHISTLER. BC. CANADA. V0N 1B0

A commercial cleaning company, in Whistler. BC, is looking for full-time, long-term employees/cleaners

Competitive wages, starting at $27.50 per hour (reviewed after 3 months)

Must have a valid Driver’s License

A high school diploma and fluent in English are prerequisites

Working hours:

must be available to start early – 5am

Duties will include the following:

• General cleaning of commercial properties and offices.

• Replenishment of essential supplies where relevant.

• Reporting of supply status at the various commercial properties and offices.

• Reporting of deficiencies in any of the working locations

Send resume to: teamcwhistler@telus.net

Or call: 604 935 8715

HYDROVAC OPERATOR - Valid Class 1 or Class 3 with air brakes Manual transmission. 2 years experience preferred. $32-$37 per hour.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, Squamish - Minimum 5 years or 5,000 hours operating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$42 per hour.

HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC, Whistler – Red Seal Certified, Commercial Truck & Transport, Transport Trailer required. CVSE Inspector’s ticket, Air Conditioning ticket, Class 1 or 3 with air brakes preferred. Toolbox available for rent. $37.70-$39.80 per hour.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SPECIALIST – Keen eye for detail and proficiency in data entry and management required. Completion of accounting courses preferred. $26-$35 per hour.

ACCOUNTANT – Prepare financial information, statements, reports and develop internal control procedures. CPA or working towards designation preferred. $32-$42 per hour.

ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL SPECIALIST, Whistler – CPA, PCP or working towards certification preferred. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $27-$36 per hour

Who gets to live in Whistler?

SO MANY municipal elections ago I can’t remember which one—and I’m too busy to actually look it up—an interested young person, a ski instructor if memory serves, tossed his hat in the ring for a council seat. All was going pretty well for him. He was meeting people, shaking hands, getting his name out there, making inroads.

BY G.D. MAXWELL

And then... the all candidates’ meeting happened. Again, things were going pretty well until my good friend and rabblerousing senior citizen, now deceased, Betty McWhinnie, asked him a question about services for seniors in Whistler.

Not yet out of his 20s, it was a bit like asking a fish what he thought about elephants. A pregnant pause grew more pregnant while he pondered an answer. Then he said something that may have—relying on memory here— included the thought if not the exact words, “Whistler isn’t really a place for seniors.”

Since I’m pretty sure more people in attendance knew Betty than knew him, a hush fell over the crowd, possibly a collective gasp escaped. He immediately sensed he’d probably answered the question incorrectly and began to verbally scramble.

From where I sat, front row, centre, I saw fear in his eyes. But the more he said, the worse things got. I began to mime someone digging a hole from which there was no escape until he finally ran out of steam and time and an air of defeat—prescient—settled heavily over his shoulders.

Needless to say, he failed to get elected.

Truth, in that case, was not a good defence. Whistler wasn’t then a good place for seniors. Whistler then, as now, is a great place for seniors. Some seniors, not all. The ones who are hale and hearty, who enjoy good health and robust constitutions. Who visit a doc once a year to be told how healthy they are. And how lucky. Who can still shovel snow, climb stairs, ski as many days as they are years old, and still have friends who haven’t yet shuffled off this mortal coil. Or at least some of the above.

The others? Still ain’t a place for them. Now that I am one and have seen many depart for senior-friendlier places, I can say that. Which brings me to the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) vulnerable populations housing needs assessment final report presented to council recently.

Just as the hopeless council wannabe was struck dumb by the proposition there were seniors in Whistler and they may have unmet needs, you may be surprised to contemplate the existence of vulnerable persons living among us. If so, you probably aren’t one. Congratulations.

But if you stick around town long enough, it seems inevitable you may find yourself involved in determining what, if anything, Whistler does to address some of their needs. Or not. Hard to know for sure, since the purpose of the report is to, “identify the

existing supply of and community need for emergency, transitional, supportive and nonmarket rental housing ... not to attempt to provide solutions…”

The solutions, should there be any, will require concerted effort and wide-spread community involvement to both answer and provide. They will go to the crux of and determine what kind of community Whistler will be as it grows further, attracts a wider spectrum of people, and embraces—or fails to embrace—their needs.

“Immediate, short-stay housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.” The only current “housing” that falls within that category is the extreme weather response shelter, a subject about which I have already written too much. The report cites a small, year-round need for this type of housing.

Then there’s transitional housing, a type of housing for residents available for between 30 days and three years. Think women and children fleeing a violent home; a safe house;

But let’s be honest—without employees there is no resort, and without the resort there is no town.

So who or what are vulnerable persons?

Any person who is, or is perceived to be, in a disadvantaged position or marginalized and, as a result, may experience barriers to housing.

The report uses a continuum of housing and focuses on four categories with the greatest impact on vulnerable persons: emergency; transitional; supportive; and non-market rental housing. For the sake of brevity—the report is 100 pages long—let’s skip non-market rental housing. The RMOW has for many years focused on creating this, at least as far as building employee-restricted housing is concerned. And there seems to be a clear intent to continue building it.

Emergency housing is defined as,

people in whatever form of crisis who need a place to live while they transition to secure housing.

Supportive housing is, “a type of housing that provides on-site supports and services to residents who cannot live independently.” This includes, for example, older adults and people with disabilities.

In all four categories of housing, the need far outstrips the supply. For example, there is no current transitional housing in Whistler. There is an estimated need for one long-term transition/safe house and looking a decade down the road, perhaps two.

The only supportive housing currently operating in town consists of the rental units run by Zero Ceiling, sufficient to house nine

youths at two sites. The current need is pegged at 22 beds for youth and 20 for adults, seniors and people with disabilities. Those numbers run up to 28 for youth and 26 for the others a decade from now.

And while Whistler has a robust and growing non-market rental stock geared towards employees, much more is needed to house those with lower incomes, both now and 10 years hence.

There are a number of 600-pound gorillas in this room. One is where the funds might come from to address any of these housing needs. To date, Whistler has been fortunate to have created the existing stock of employee-restricted housing with minimal taxpayer pressure. But let’s be honest— without employees there is no resort, and without the resort there is no town.

Another gorilla is the sticky issue of who gets to live here. Anyone who wants to, regardless of their ability to make their own way? People who have temporarily fallen on hard times? People who have helped build this town, but have gotten old enough and need help staying?

These are hard questions with no easy answers. They go to the core of what kind of people we believe we are. The answers are too important to be left to a handful of people who make and shape policy. They affect everyone who lives and wants to live here.

So, at the risk of suggesting the impossible, I’m going to say it’s worth your time and effort to read the report and decide for yourself. You can find it on the RMOW’s website, whistler.ca, if you search for vulnerable populations housing, or follow this link: whistler.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2022/10/RMOW-VPHNR-ReportMarch-2024.pdf. ■

MIA DE JESUS / UNSPLASH