Pique Newsmagazine 3116

FINING BIG POLLUTERS CAN REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, BUT ONLY IF THE FINES MATCH THE CRIMES

Fine line

Fining big polluters can reduce environmental damage, but only if the fines match the crimes. - By Ben R. Collison // The Conversation

14 FIREY FUTURE

The RMOW and Whistler Fire Rescue Service are looking to fire seasons past for lessons in preparing for B.C.’s hotter, drier reality.

16 LOST AND FOUND

The Sea to Sky RCMP presented its 2023 crime stats to SLRD officials last month, showing a notable decline in missing persons reported in Whistler’s backcountry.

18 SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS

It was a bumper year for the RMOW, with municipal hall generating nearly $16 million in revenue above what was budgeted for the year.

22 HAVE A SEAT

Pemberton’s mayor and council were presented with a “Chair of the Next Generation” this month, to serve as a reminder for how their decisions impact young people.

32 HOPE YOU LIKE JAMMIN’ The Cut Rail

Jam saw Darcy Sharpe and Jasmine Baird triumph among snowboarders, while Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon and Naomi Urness won skiing titles.

36 CARRY ON

Two Dontas One Proctor Productions oneupped last year’s win at the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown this month with their zany short film about pizza and bank robbery.

COVER I took a deep dive into First Nations ledger art this week, an art form widely used from the mid-to-late 19th century up until the early 20th century as a way to record history once buffalo hides became scarce. The symbolism found in overwriting the underlying finances of countless colonists with First Nations history is hard to ignore. Seems not much has changed in the name of endless profit. I imagine all the same events will keep happening over and over, until we as a society say, “OK, that’s enough.” - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

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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 With so much doom and gloom around the growing threat of wildfire and the compounding effects of climate change, how do we cut through the anxiety to inspire meaningful action?

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A letter writer this week laments the state of Canadian healthcare, while the longtime organizers of children’s cancer fundraiser Balding for Dollars extend thanks.

13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST The most recent solar eclipse brought out the kooks and conspiracists in full force, a canary in the coal mine for the current state of society, argues Andrew Mitchell.

50 MAXED OUT Sure, it wasn’t the greatest ski season, but even when the skiing is bad, skiing is good, writes Max this week.

Environment & Adventure

24 RANGE ROVER In spring, columnist Leslie Anthony starts thinking about skiing the sweep of Arctic Sweden known as Lappland. And when he thinks about Lappland, he always thinks of Niehku Mountain Village.

Lifestyle & Arts

34 EPICURIOUS Seton Portage’s charming, family-run Highline Pub and Restaurant is the kind of place where everyone knows your name—and your order.

40 MUSEUM MUSINGS For April Fools’ Day 1984, the Whistler Question published one of its infamous prank articles about a new resort tax being introduced to B.C.—but not everyone appreciated the joke.

Making sense of the burning debris at Whistler’s doorstep

FOR YEARS NOW, local authorities have been sounding the alarm over the very real possibility of a wildfire tearing through the resort. I can still hear Councillor Arthur De Jong’s words echoing in my head, a warning he has reiterated more than once:

“It’s not a matter of if, but when.”

It’s a sobering message, particularly in light of our ever-worsening fire seasons, and

BY BRANDON BARRETT

the numerous examples of major wildfires devastating entire communities, be it Fort McMurray, Lytton, West Kelowna—you name it.

These catastrophic events are now such a fixture of Canadian summers it’s easy to become desensitized to them. I still remember the summer of 2015, when Whistler was choked for days on end by smoke drifting in from the nearby Elaho and Boulder Creek fires, leading Environment Canada to issue the highest air-quality rating it has. Walking around town, you could sense a palpable dread in the air, along with the sharp, acrid smoke. It didn’t help the thick haze blanketing our idyllic mountain town lent it a sort of surreal, dystopian feel (“It’s like Beijing,” one visitor told  The National Post). Several years and dozens of wildfires later, and smoky skies are as much a part of Whistler summers as bear sightings and patio après sessions.

So, how to cut through the indifference and inspire meaningful action? It’s a dilemma fire chiefs, government officials, emergency planners, climatologists and

beyond have wrestled with for ages. It’s only human nature that, at a certain point, the constant barrage of doom-and-gloom statistics about another worst wildfire season on record, or the harrowing footage of thousands of people fleeing their homes, would get to be too much.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the rise of so-called “climate anxiety” in society. Researchers from the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance released a study that found British Columbia’s 2021 heat dome sparked a 13-per-cent increase in anxiety related to climate change. The effect is more pronounced among younger demographics. A more recent study out of Lakehead University found 78 per cent of the 1,000 Canadians aged 16 to 25 polled

are well aware of, and, especially in these last few wildfire-ravaged years, have looked at new ways to engage the community on fire-proofing their neighbourhoods and properties. Relatively speaking, Whistler has one of the most comprehensive fire resilience and emergency preparedness programs around. Whistler’s FireSmart program, which offers a number of ways for local residents and businesses to fire-proof their properties, has seen considerable pickup in recent years.

But as Whistler Fire Chief Thomas Doherty rightly told  Pique  this week (see page 14): there is still much work to do, and it can’t and shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of the RMOW and Whistler Fire Rescue Service alone.

The RMOW took an interesting approach to the issue last June when it hosted an

growth, renewal, changing ideas of landscape, resilience, economy, and resource extraction.”

The remarkable thing about these books— besides their stunning, otherwordly imagery and exquisite prose—is that they’re not entirely focused on the negatives of wildfire. Fire, after all, is the ultimate tool of birth and destruction, and holds significant meaning across a swath of cultures and mythologies. The books also feature beautiful art and writing from those who deal with fire firsthand, like wildfire fighters and lookouts, perspectives we don’t often get in the news until disaster strikes.

“There is terror, and loss, and grief, and hope, and wonder, and resiliency all tangled up in the burning debris at our doorstep,” Abbot writes.

“There is terror, and loss, and grief, and hope, and wonder, and resiliency all tangled up in the burning debris at our doorstep.”

- AMORY ABBOTT

said climate change impacted their overall mental health, while 40 per cent said their feelings around climate change negatively affects their daily life.

Research also shows how important productive messaging is to keep the public informed, without leaving people in a state of fear and paralysis, something I’ll admit the media hasn’t historically done a great job of.

It’s a phenomenon the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and local fire department

event at the library I had the good fortune to moderate, called Fire Season: Collective Sense-Making Around Wildfires. The event was inspired by a project by a pair of B.C.based artists, Liz Toohey-Wiese and Amory Abbott, who have published two editions (with a third on the way this summer) of  Fire Season, which collect visual art, poetry, writing and essays that “look at wildfires as a container for more complex and experiential topics like grief, climate change, loss, new

I’m not suggesting this kind of multidisciplinary look at wildfire is going to miraculously provide the panacea to our worsening reality, but, if we want to truly reach the public, it’s not going to work if it comes from a place of fear. We have to find the deeper meaning in the message, and what better way to make meaning, to raise the emotional stakes, than through art?

Fire Season  editions 1 and 2 are available now at fireseason.org. ■

Canada’s crumbling health-care has turned me into another number

Canada‘s health-care has crumbled under my feet, because I have lost the ability to read. It’s an extraordinary thing for a writer to endure because words, especially in their written form, are the entire essence of my being.

I was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of epilepsy, even rarer still for a woman of my age. But it was not here in Canada where I learned of this diagnosis or received the therapy I desperately needed.

I was told the epilepsy clinic at Vancouver General Hospital has a current wait time of two years. Being diagnosed with reading epilepsy doesn’t give me an extra edge in the chaos of its wait times.

So must I wait two years without reading?

Suspecting the illness myself, and after months of debilitating neurological symptoms, I travelled all the way to Italy to see a group of specialists at a renowned epilepsy centre in Pavia.

It is said that about one per cent of the general population lives with epilepsy, so by my figures, in a population of 5 million British Columbians, that’s about 50,000 people living with the disorder. I’m now just another number.

My story is a familiar one. Canada‘s healthcare is excellent for medical emergencies, but we

do a poor job at what is deemed in this country as “non-urgent.” Canadians wait many, many months to see a specialist, if they are lucky to have a GP refer them to one. They wait even longer for non-urgent or elective surgeries.

Thanks to the mixed public-private healthcare in Italy, I was able to see a specialist within less than a week. The cost of the visit? About the same cost of a 90-minute massage in Whistler.

The cost of free health-care in this country indeed comes with a price. We pay for it with our lives; we pay for it with our time—paid out

fully in months and years. We pay for it with our suffering, with our anxieties—with our inability to function fully in society.

Thankfully, I have a second life in Italy and can return there anytime for medical care. But the vast majority of Canadians do not have this choice.

Farha Guerrero // Whistler

Bald is beautiful

Once again Whistler, you have outdone yourselves!

On Sunday, April 7, a record number of

heads were shaved and a record amount of money was raised at the 22nd annual Whistler Balding For Dollars event. With more than 30 heads shaved and more than $35,000 raised to date, this has, by far, been the biggest and best Balding For Dollars since we started back in 2002. This event would not happen without our gracious hosts at the GLC, the amazing head shaving done by the Blackcomb Barber Shoppe, the support of Pique and Mountain FM to help get the word out, and of course the Crystal Lodge for their amazing silent auction table. A special shout-out to Mike Walsh of Walsh Restorations for all the kindness and support over the past 22 years as well. We love you, Mike.

The event will have new folks at the helm in 2025 and beyond, but we have had the most amazing time making this event come to life. Thanks to everyone who took part, donated, and supported over the past 22 years. It’s been an amazing ride that has raised more than $470,000 for kids with cancer since we started!

Well done, Whistler. It has been an honour to be a part of this with all of you!

Whistler seniors need a space

As someone who has been organizing activities for seniors on behalf of Whistler’s Mature Action Community (MAC), Max’s April 4 column, “Who gets to live in Whistler?” struck a chord with me.

Wendy and Dave Clark // Whistler

The 2021 census found seniors comprised 25 per cent of Whistler’s population; that number is expected to rise to 33 per cent by 2031. Despite these numbers, Whistler has no seniors’ centre and few services to offer seniors who are not physically active.

Recently, the World Health Organization declared loneliness in seniors an epidemic that can lead to dementia and adverse health outcomes. A contributing factor to loneliness and social isolation in Whistler is the lack of available space where seniors can socialize, and in which special programs can be held. Without a seniors’ space, Whistler residents, many of whom have built and contributed to this community for years,

meet for various activities and where food can be prepared and served. Why are Whistler seniors so disadvantaged compared to those in many other communities in B.C.?

Whistler seniors need a shared space with staff support, accessible free parking, and kitchen facilities. Surely we deserve this much.

Charalyn Kriz // Whistler

Questions about Whistler’s new wateruse bylaw

Having read Heike Stippler’s letter regarding water restrictions, I agree with her logic (Pique, March 29: “Whistler ‘needs to do better’ on

will not be able to age comfortably in the community they love.

Thanks to the generosity of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church and the Whistler Racket Club, MAC has been able to hold its weekly dementia-friendly Making Connections program and several 55-plus drop-ins for coffee, conversation and games. Sadly, these two community-minded venues may no longer be available in the near future, with a new developments slated for the site of the Racket Club and the church’s plans to construct a new building.

Both Pemberton and Squamish have shared facilities supported by staff where seniors can

water-use bylaw”).

I have a couple of questions for the Resort Municipality of Whistler: Where are we with the phase-out of flow-through cooling systems used by many restaurants and bars? How many have stopped using this cooling system? Will they be asking for an extension to the phaseout deadline?

Will the overhead water-misting system used to cool riders in the gondola lineup for the bike park continue to be allowed? What about the misting systems on patios in the village?

These are massive, wasteful users of scarce water resources.

John Cooper // Whistler ■

Backcountry Update

AS OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

It’s been a week of typical spring-like backcountry travel, with a bit of fresh snow, some sunshine and low avalanche hazard at all elevations. However, temperatures dropped below seasonal norms, which preserved dry, wintery snow on north aspects above 2,100 metres. Everywhere else you travelled had a firm crust. The rapidly melting snowpack below treeline elevations made travel and access conditions challenging.

Change is in the air on the weekend. It looks like winter may return late Saturday or into Sunday, depending on the weather models you believe most. The primary problems to be on the lookout for are wind slab and wet/dry, loose avalanches. The wind slabs are most

CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN

snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

likely to be found below alpine ridgetops, and loose avalanches are most likely on steep, sunny slopes.

If you’re headed out into the backcountry this weekend:

Check the forecast for the most up-to-date avalanche conditions.

Make sure you have your avalanche rescue gear.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected slopes where triggering slabs is more likely.

Avoid sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day, especially after a fresh snowfall.

Give cornices a wide berth while travelling on or below ridges, and always be aware of what’s above your head. ■

Don’t eat the solar eclipse

I REMEMBER MY FIRST solar eclipse well because I screwed it up. My back turned to the sun for safety reasons, I got to watch my classmates watch the eclipse through the welding glasses they made and I messed up. I did get a consolation shoebox with a couple of holes punched into it, but I think I was looking in the wrong hole the entire time because I didn’t see anything—although I pretended I did.

BY ANDREW MITCHELL

There have been a few opportunities since then to take in a total solar eclipse, but I’ve missed them all for various reasons: slept in once, editing in a windowless room at school and forgot about it, the usual bad weather, and so forth. But while I’ve never seen more than a very partial solar eclipse in all my years on Earth, I still get the general concept—balls orbiting around one another in space that occasionally line up with spectacular effect. You don’t need to be an astrophysicist to understand it.

And yet…

This latest eclipse felt like a canary-inthe-coal-mine moment for where we are as a society. Either we’re getting dumber, or dumb voices are being amplified so loudly there’s

little practical difference.

There were citizens in Michigan who begged their mayor to stop the solar eclipse, concerned about a sudden influx of eclipse tourists mobbing the gas station.

We had a sitting member of the U.S. Congress telling people to “repent” because of the combination of the eclipse and a recent New York/New Jersey earthquake. Astronomers can predict solar eclipses hundreds of years in advance. They actually happen every two or three years, it’s just that we just don’t talk about them all because they most often occur over the Arctic or Antarctic. The Earth also rumbles 55 times a day on average, mostly in oceanic areas. It’s not that big of a coincidence.

We had QAnon and other conspiracists telling people not to believe government propaganda about staring at the sun, like “they”—Big Astronomy, I presume—were hiding something BIG. Like aliens. Or something to do with changing the Giant Bulb, the Earth being flat and all. Still others compared the medical advice to wear special glasses to the recent COVID mandate to wear masks—because no amount of death (more than 1.5 million in North America) will ever convince some people it wasn’t a hoax.

Several school boards, including Toronto’s, cancelled school for the day out of concern students would ignore the advice of teachers and damage their eyes during a time when the schools were liable for their safety.

Making kids stay home, only the parents could be blamed.

Not looking at a solar eclipse seems like it should be common knowledge by now, as well as common sense, yet one of the biggest trending search terms on Google after the eclipse was “Why do my eyes hurt?”

In some cases, people can be forgiven for their sore eyes. There was an alert on Amazon a couple days before the eclipse that some of the glasses they were selling by the thousands did nothing to protect the wearers. The fact that people can sell protective equipment to so many people through a major website without meeting any standards also seems dumb to me, and says a lot about where we are as a society.

The last totality to hit eastern North America wasn’t all that long ago, either: it happened in 2017. That was the one where the President of the United States himself ignored all the advice of optometrists and health professionals and snuck a peek at the eclipse from the steps of the White House.

It’s not like we haven’t gone through all of this before, time and time again. And yet idiocy ensued. If anything, it got worse.

How do we fix this? How can we get back to being the kind of society where it isn’t a controversial or debatable thing when a medical professional tells you something like, “Don’t look at the eclipse, you can damage your eyes?” And I don’t just mean eclipses, but also other important things like vaccines and

wearing helmets.

We used to defer to experts. Now everybody is their own expert, and far too many people don’t see the difference between the entire medical profession saying something and some rando saying the opposite on YouTube and TikTok. They’re not equal.

You could argue government has an important role to play in consumer protection, that social media companies have an ethical obligation to not amplify dangerous nonsense—and you’d be right on both counts. But any attempt by government to remove misinformation from the internet is automatically condemned as censorship. And social media companies don’t really want to do anything that hurts business; they know controversy drives engagement. Some have their own political motives.

Far too many of us prefer to get fed lies from conspiracy nuts, foreign governments, bad actors, unqualified and self-appointed experts, people looking to profit from misinformation, and whatever the hell Elon Musk is to government intervention. We can’t dam the flood of dangerous misinformation we know is happening because of the risk of abuse that might happen if we ever tried to clean up the digital commons.

The next opportunity to see a solar eclipse is in 2026, if you’re up for a trip to Europe. The next one to hit Alberta and B.C. is in 2044. I can only wonder what people will be saying about it then. n

Whistler looks to learn from fire seasons past

WITH A DRY SUMMER AHEAD, WHISTLER FIRE RESCUE SERVICE IS UNDERLINING EFFORTS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WHISTLER IS LEANING into its fire preparedness as a drier-than-normal winter comes to a close and another warm summer looms.

“The need for emergency preparedness is becoming more evident each year with the growing fire season, and the risks associated with that,” said Chief Thomas Doherty of the Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS).

“Looking at Lytton, Kelowna and Gun Lake, they’ve shown us first-hand the devastating power that wildfires can have and their increasing frequency in B.C.”

Doherty said the WFRS and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) are adapting to climate change by increasing their emergency preparedness through, among other things, simulating a community-wide evacuation.

On April 18, the fire department, the RMOW and the RCMP will simulate the scenario of a fire triggering an evacuation from the Spring Creek area in order to prepare them for the real possibility of a wildfire, and hopefully plug any operational gaps.

“That’s going to give us an opportunity to have our staff practise some of the tasks that they need to perform,” said Doherty. “Our senior staff and EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) staff will be going over evacuation

orders, and the process for that—the process for declaring a local state of emergency.”

Emergency support services will be on-hand doing practical exercises and doorknocking, and a trial Whistler Alert will be sent out as well.

The event is a first for the WFRS, though Doherty said the fire department does shared exercises with BC Wildfire, Whistler Blackcomb and Pemberton Fire every now and then, including one scheduled for May 1 on Blackcomb Mountain.

Simulating emergencies is just

and protect the community, because we know being proactive saves lives,” he added.

Doherty noted the consultants who worked with the RMOW and WFRS on the community’s Wildfire Protection Plan happened to be deployed last year to West Kelowna, where an August wildfire prompted the evacuation of more than 35,000 people.

“They were in Whistler prior to that fire doing the defence plan, and they said that what they saw happen to West Kelowna and the conditions they see in Whistler, we would experience a very similar wildfire event with

“[W]e have to be prepared and we have to expect the unexpected.”

- THOMAS DOHERTY

one component of Whistler’s wildfire preparedness: The RMOW is also working through recommendations on fire-proofing the resort as part of its Community Wildfire Resiliency Program, while Spring Creek is home to Fire Hall No. 3, which, as of mid2024, is expected to be staffed full-time, with hiring ongoing.

Changing wildfire conditions and longer summers have offered more lessons for firefighters across the province, said Doherty.

how quickly that grew,” he relayed.

A dry winter adds another challenge for fire and emergency personnel. On the day Pique spoke with Doherty, the provincial government released its snow bulletin for April 1, which showed the South Coast (which includes Whistler) was at 53 per cent of its typical annual snowpack, while the entire province was averaging 63 per cent, the lowest in 50 years.

“The experts at the River Forecast Centre tell us these low levels and the impacts of year-over-year drought are creating significantly higher drought risk for this spring and summer,” he said. “We know this is concerning news. Communities around B.C. experienced serious drought conditions last summer. It fuelled the worst wildfire season ever, harmed fish and wildlife, and affected farmers, ranchers, First Nations and industry.”

Doherty said the low snowpack was “always a concern. Ideally, you want to see that much higher.

“We’re just coming into spring and hoping we get a lot of moisture between now and the summer months, but we have to be prepared and we have to expect the unexpected.”

ALL HANDS ON DECK

An important aspect of preparing for a major wildfire is fuel mitigation, something the WFRS and RMOW have leaned into for years, and something residents can help with.

“When it comes to wildfire, we need all hands on deck. It’s going to take a community to protect a community. It’s not something that just falls to the municipality to look after; we need everybody,” Doherty said.

The best way for Whistlerites to chip in is through the local FireSmart program, which is implemented through seven initiatives: education, vegetation management, legislation and planning, development considerations, interagency cooperation, emergency planning, and cross-training.

The WFRS offers free FireSmart assessments to neighbourhoods and properties, and can provide resources and DEVASTATING

“It just keeps evolving and we have to stay ahead of that curve and be proactive, and continue to look for ways to better improve

The release prompted B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen to release a statement pertaining to drought conditions.

A small group of Gun Lake residents are pictured fighting the Downton Lake wildfire “tooth and nail” in August 2023.

knowledge for homeowners to protect their homes and the community.

Since it started in 2016, there have been 128 FireSmart neighbourhood assessments; 354 single-family dwelling assessments; 145 FireSmart workday projects; 1,672 properties serviced by the FireSmart community chipper; and 176 bins used in the community for vegetation removal.

The FireSmart adopt-a-trail campaign has five volunteer groups involved, while 19 neighbourhoods have received their FireSmart neighbourhood recognition. In 2023, the community chipper program serviced 224 properties over 20 days, and more than 180 metric tonnes of vegetation—potential fire fuel—were removed from Whistler on 26 FireSmart work days

Due to the high number of vacation homes in Whistler, Doherty said it is a good idea for property owners to incorporate FireSmart activities into their annual maintenance.

“We’ve made some significant progress in that regard, but it comes down to having everybody chip in, and we’d like to see more residents and more property owners be part of that process and get engaged and take on some responsibility of mitigating risk,” he said.

Many of Whistler’s neighbourhoods are nestled into the surrounding forest, posing another risk to property owners should the worst-case scenario come to pass.

“People come [to Whistler] for that [natural] experience, so it does create a challenge in trying to apply FireSmart principles to a community where the homes are in the intermix, between trees with overarching canopies. [Fire-proofing and fuel mitigation] are some of the measures that can come into play to reduce fuels up against the house.”

A simple FireSmart action to consider is clearing away leaves and detritus accumulated around the outside of a home— areas where embers would gather in a wildfire. Homeowners should also regularly clear their

gutters, remove leaves from their roof, and move woodpiles away from structures.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Preventative measures are one thing; staying informed is another.

The RMOW and WFRS are pushing for more residents to sign up for Whistler Alert, the resort’s official emergency notification system that delivers real-time messaging in an emergency through text, phone and email. Sign up at whistler.ca/emergency/ whistler-alert.

It’s not just residents that should sign up, but visitors, too, Doherty said.

“When you come to Whistler, we encourage you to sign up for Whistler Alert,” he said. “Even those that have vacation properties here, we strongly recommend you make that part of your booking process, so if they’re booking into your property, they [can] sign up for Whistler Alerts—same for hotels.”

With a range of efforts underway to ensure Whistler is ready for whatever may come of wildfire seasons now and into the future, Doherty said Whistler as a community is becoming more alert to the risks—and safer as a result.

“With all the planning the municipality is doing, the fuel-mitigation projects, the FireSmart program, the wildfire defence program … having all that information well in advance of a wildfire, we’re wellpositioned to protect the community as best we can,” he said. “Things are always changing, and we continue to look at how we can improve on our programs.”

Other key things residents should keep in mind heading into summer is whether they have an emergency plan for their household; having a go-bag ready for all household members that includes vital documents and any required medication in case you need to move quickly; and making sure your vehicle always has at least a half-tank of gas. n

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Missing person reports way down in Whistler backcountry

SEA TO SKY RCMP PRESENT 2023 CRIME STATS TO SLRD OFFICIALS, SHOWING DOWNWARD TREND IN ASSAULTS, STEADY NUMBER OF VEHICLE INCIDENTS ACROSS RURAL AREAS

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

SEA TO SKY RCMP presented crime statistics for 2023 to officials last month, offering a bird’s eye view of policing in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s (SLRD) rural areas. In the Whistler backcountry, one promising trend stood out: a steep decline in missing person reports.

“We saw a significant decrease in our missing persons reports,” said Staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley at the SLRD’s March 28 Committee of the Whole meeting. “I’m probably going to attribute that to the milder weather we’ve had over the entire winter. It was favourable weather, so SAR calls are declining.”

For the year, 35 missing person reports were filed in the SLRD’s Whistler rural zone, down from 53 in 2022, a 34-per-cent drop.

While missing person reports were down in the backcountry, that didn’t translate to a quieter year for Whistler Search and Rescue (WSAR). WSAR reported this month it responded to 92 calls in 2023-24, up from 88 the year prior. It marked the fourth year in a row the volunteer organization has seen an uptick in calls.

Primarily a backcountry area covering a

portion of SLRD Area C from Whistler to Pemberton, Bradley said crime figures in the Whistler zone were low across the board compared to the Sea to Sky RCMP’s two other rural policing zones, though there were three assaults and four sex offences recorded.

Bradley also noted Sea to Sky RCMP are looking at developing a backcountry policing model for the corridor, which the SLRD directors responded positively to.

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said he hoped Mounties would reach out to partner municipalities for help developing the model, particularly given important enforcement priorities such as wildfires, trash, and public

safety in the expansive backcountry. Richman expressed a belief the SLRD would support the RCMP in seeking grant funding to get the work done.

The Pemberton rural zone, encompassing the majority of Area C, saw the most assaults of all three zones, with 21 incidents (down from 22 in 2022), and nine sex offences reported (up from three in 2022).

On sex offences, Bradley said the detachment is working to improve its partnership with social agencies on outreach and improve reporting.

“Increased reporting is always welcome in these areas because we know it’s highly

under-reported,” Bradley said.

There was also an increase in threats, to 13 reports, and extortion, with six cases reported. Harassment was down to eight instances.

In the Squamish rural zone, which includes Area D, violent crime trended downwards in 2023, “very typical of the area,” Bradley said. There were nine reported assaults last year, down from 12 in 2022, and one recorded sex offence for the year.

On the flipside, harassment was way up—1,200 per cent—in the Squamish rural zone, rising from an admittedly small sample size of just one reported instance in 2022 to 13 last year.

Bradley said police are digging deeper into the reason for that, noting harassment offences can include neighbour disputes and landlord-tenant issues.

Property crime was on the decline with only two reports of car theft, four break-andenters (although police noted none took place at a residential property) and 11 cases of theft from a vehicle, down from 19 in 2022.

Fraud trended in the opposite direction, with 10 reported instances in 2023, up from four the year prior, a pattern RCMP has noted across the Sea to Sky, Bradley said.

ON THE DECLINE The Sea to Sky RCMP said missing person reports were down 34 per cent in the Whistler backcountry last year.

PHOTO BY ASCENTXMEDIA / E+ / GETTY IMAGES

‘We

love him’: Friends, RCMP worried over missing Pemberton man

GRAEME ALEXANDER FERGUSON HASN’T BEEN SEEN SINCE APRIL 1, ALTHOUGH HIS PERSONAL BELONGINGS HAVE SINCE BEEN FOUND AND TURNED INTO POLICE

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

WHISTLER RCMP  is asking for the public’s help in the search for missing man Graeme Alexander Ferguson.

The 49-year-old Scottish native was last seen at 1:30 p.m. on April 1 at the Gateway Bus Loop in Whistler Village. He was reported missing April 14.

Ferguson is described as Caucasian, bald, with blue eyes. He is 5-10 (178 centimetres) in height, and weighs 175 lbs (79 kilograms).

He was last seen wearing a black vest, a plaid brown and orange shirt, black snow pants and hiking boots.

Ferguson has lived in Pemberton for three

RCMP UPDATE FROM PAGE 16

“These are fairly sophisticated text scams, email scams or even phone-call scams of all different natures,” he added.

“They are very difficult to investigate, mostly because the offenders are [often] overseas, so it becomes a super complex investigation that doesn’t generally lead into charges ... Seeing these trends, for the 2024 year, we’re going to look at education for folks across the region.”

TRAFFIC NUMBERS

Traffic offences varied widely across the three zones.

In the Whistler rural zone there were 34 recorded vehicle incidents, down from 58 in 2022, and 13 impaired driving offences, down from 16.

Pemberton rural saw higher numbers of traffic offences, at 88, but that was in line with

years. Concerned friends told Pique he was supposed to take a bus to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal on his way to Victoria, but they don’t believe he ever did. They noted he was given a ride from Pemberton to Whistler in order to catch the bus.

Friends became extremely concerned for Ferguson’s well-being when someone found his personal belongings and posted them to the Whistler Winter Facebook group several days ago. His passport, ID and credit card were all in the bag that was found. The items have been turned in to the RCMP.

Ferguson hasn’t been active on social media since April 1, according to friends.

“We just want him to get his things back and him to be safe,” a friend told Pique. “We love him.” ■

the 90 offences recorded in 2022. The zone also counted 31 impaired drivers in 2023, up from 29.

In Squamish rural, traffic offences were up across the board, with 80 vehicle incidents in 2023, a 19-per-cent uptick from the year before, and 20 impaired driving offences.

Bradley added the RCMP is also working on improving response and closure times on the highway following accidents.

“We do what we can to divert traffic in an efficient way. It’s very dependent on how big the scene is when we have a major collision, but we do everything we can to get that highway open as fast as we can,” he said.

Whistler rural, by comparison, was down across the board, with 34 motor vehicle incidents (compared to 58 the year before), and 13 cases of impaired drivers (down from 16).

You can watch the RCMP update on the SLRD’s YouTube channel. ■

SEEKING ASSISTANCE Graeme Ferguson was last seen at 1:30 p.m. on April 1 at the Gateway Bus Loop in Whistler Village.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER RCMP

Money, money, money: Whistler reports higher-thanexpected revenues for 2023

AN EXTRA $16 MILLION IN REVENUES WILL NOT TRANSLATE TO A TAX BREAK, HOWEVER

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

IT WAS A BUMPER YEAR for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), with end-of-year financials confirming that, in 2023, tourism and the local economy were back in full swing.

“To summarize 2023 is to say that the tourism economy was very strong, and was followed mid-year forward by a healthy local economy,” said the RMOW’s Chief Financial Officer, Carlee Price, at the April 9 council meeting.

Municipal hall generated $125,393,061 in revenue for 2023—nearly $16 million above what was budgeted for the year.

After several relatively lean postpandemic years for tourism, Price said strong indicators for the sector included user fees, as well as revenue generated through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) and the hotel tax (or MRDT)—which exceeded budget expectations by 11 and 30 per cent, respectively. Taken together, the RMI and MRDT streams generated a combined $22.3 million. User fees, which include parking, generated more than $15.5 million.

“These are the two programs that are most sensitive to tourism volumes—so the fact that tourists were coming and staying overnight in hotels drives the MRDT higher, and the fact that day visitors were coming and skiing and enjoying the community affects parking revenues,” Price explained.

Locally-facing amenities and programs were also generating high revenues, relayed Price, highlighting the Meadow Park Sports

constrained in some way.”

Some of those dollars, Price explained, helped cover higher expenses associated with an increase in the use of services, while much of the non-tax revenues were subject to conditions. RMI funds, for example, have to go to tourism-facing services. Day-skier parking revenue funds transit. Utility funds support themselves, while grant spending is controlled by the granting

“Times are good and the RMOW is certainly benefiting.”

- CARLEE PRICE

Centre and local transit, which she said was still recovering from 2022’s strike action, but had, by year’s end, even exceeded preCOVID levels from 2019.

“$16 million in unexpected revenue sounds like a great outcome,” Price said. “Times are good and the RMOW is certainly benefiting.

“But, it is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of this excess revenue is

authority.

As such, Price said the benefits of the extra $16 million “may not be immediately visible, and may not directly benefit ratepayers in the way that they wish,” namely, on their annual property taxes.

“The question that naturally comes to mind is whether the 2023 strong revenue result means a big break on property taxes is

coming,” Price continued. “The answer to this question is no, but the community does stand to benefit in ways both big and small.”

Price explained much of the funds are moving into reserves, which allows the RMOW to spend the extra windfall on future projects that will benefit the community down the line.

Price noted 2023 was the first year revenue could move from the MRDT stream into the RMOW’s Employee Housing Reserve, with $2.1 million earmarked for that fund—something that may not be repeated in future years due to fluctuating revenues, “but in 2023, it was certainly a win for the community,” she said.

Price added 2023 was also a good year for project delivery.

“Project spending achieved 70 per cent of the budgeted amount—this is a very high level relative to some recent years,” she said. Some projects cited were the Rainbow Park upgrades, which are nearly complete, and the South Whistler Water Supply project that is well underway.

High interest rates are also benefiting the RMOW, with investment income exceeding expectations. Price noted, however, that the Canadian economy is showing signs of cooling and a rate cut is expected. n

RMOW goes about committee restructure

THE MUNICIPALITY IS AMALGAMATING SEVERAL COMMITTEES IN A BID TO IMPROVE PUBLIC INPUT TO COUNCIL

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) is set to establish three new select committees of council focused on Climate Action and the Environment, Housing and Strategy, and Smart Tourism.

Council gave the thumbs up to the new committees at the April 9 council meeting, the culmination of a review last year that found the RMOW had too many committees, without clear mandates for each.

Senior communications officer Erin Marriner said the changes would allow the committee structure to better align with municipal priorities, while streamlining the process, establishing more robust terms of reference, and securing more community input.

The three standing committees— Audit and Finance, Human Resources, and Governance and Ethics—remain unchanged, while, of the select committees, four remain the same, with the three new select committees joining their ranks.

The three additions are amalgamations of existing committees, resulting in a net decline in committee members: The climate committee was amalgamated from the former Transportation Advisory Group and Forest and Wildland Advisory Committee; while the Smart Tourism Committee is a successor to the Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee, the Economic Partnership Initiative and the Festivals, Events, and Animation Oversight Committee.

Under the review, Marriner explained the RMOW will be implementing a new termsof-reference template across its committee structure, with built-in flexibility to allow each committee to carry out its mandate.

“We previously had 20 committees and all

the terms of reference were different, which was difficult for everyone to track and train people,” she said. “[Developing new terms of reference is] really trying to bring consistency to how they operate.”

The new Climate Action and Environment Committee will be tasked with advising RMOW staff and council on matters related to the environment, climate change and transportation, with items such as Big Moves, the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, transportation and ecological concerns falling under its mandate. The committee was proposed to be made up of 16 members, of which four will be at-large and drawn from the wider community.

The Housing and Strategy Committee will be tasked with housing and long-term strategic planning matters. This committee will have 13 members, including six at-large from the community—though five of those will be shifted over from the Strategic Planning Committee, with only one position to recruit for.

The Smart Tourism Committee is intended to advise on tourism through the lens of a “unified and collaborative approach to destination management.” It was proposed to have 16 members, including three at-large, though this was amended by councillors in discussion.

During discussion, Councillor Ralph Forysth moved a number of amendments, which were ultimately supported, to increase the size of two committees by adding a fifth RMOW staff member to the Climate Action and Environment Committee (increasing to 17 members), and adding a representative from Arts Whistler as a voting permanent member to the Smart Tourism Committee along with another member at-large, increasing its membership to 18.

On the Smart Tourism Committee,

Sea to Sky Invasive Special Council names new executive director

BRINGING A WEALTH OF PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION, MICAELA ANGUITA STEPS UP TO LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

THE SEA TO SKY Invasive Species Council (SSISC) has a new executive director, with Micaela Anguita stepping into the role as of April 15.

“I’m excited to once again join the SSISC team in tackling invasive species issues in the region,” she said in a release.

Anguita brings with her a raft of previous experience with the SSISC, having worked in various roles between 2018 and 2022 across the breadth of the organization, giving her experience in eco-restoration, conservation, GIS mapping, and invasive species control and management.

Anguita steps into the position vacated by longtime SSISC executive director Clare Greenberg, who moved on to a new role with the provincial government after 10 years at the helm of the SSISC.

“Though it will be hard to fill Clare’s shoes, I hope to apply all the knowledge she imparted to me over the years,” said Anguita. “I feel honoured to step into this role for an organization that has accomplished so much.”

Anguita holds a Bachelor of Science in natural resource conservation from UBC, with an emphasis on science management, as well as an Advanced Diploma in GIS from BCIT.

Having worked as a restoration and conservation project manager on the unceded lands of the S’wx’wú7mesh and Lil’wat7úl Nations for many years, Anguita prioritizes traditional Indigenous knowledge in landscape-level planning.

SSISC board chair (and Pique columnist), Leslie Anthony, said the organization is pleased to welcome Anguita into the role.

“This is a complex job with many funding and government partners, a raft of new staff to train each summer, a lot of education and outreach, and a huge area to monitor from West Vancouver to D’Arcy that encompasses several ecosystems, each with its own invasive threats,” he said in the release.

RMOW RESTRUCTURE FROM PAGE 19

Forsyth argued input from Arts Whistler is essential, while the need for community input is paramount given what all councillors have heard from the community on that file.

“How many times have we heard, ‘It’s all about the tourists, it’s not about us, about the community?” he said.

“I get that it’s a big group and a lot of voices, but I think adding one more community member hopefully assuages those fears in the community that we’re doing this for smart ‘tourism,’ and the community gets neglected.”

Only Coun. Jeff Murl opposed adding additional committee members, saying Arts Whistler’s and the community’s input could be included by inviting guests to meetings on items relevant to them, but he was unsuccessful in swaying other councillors to vote with him.

Forsyth also moved to add another RMOW staff member to the Climate Action and Environment Committee, which, as proposed, would have included the CAO, the general manager of infrastructure services, and two non-voting staff members. Again, only Murl was opposed.

“Mica brings an impressive, in-depth understanding of all these moving parts to the table, as well the breadth of her other conservation and restoration work in the corridor. Having worked with Mica in various capacities, I’ve become acquainted with her knowledge, expertise and professionalism and look forward to having her join SSISC’s already impressive and capable team.”

Read more about the SSISC and the scope of its work at ssisc.ca. n

Another amendment was to expand the scope of the Climate Action and Environment Committee to have input on parks and recreation infrastructure.

Mayor Jack Crompton and the RMOW CAO are members of all three committees, with the remainder of membership a mix of RMOW staff, representatives from stakeholder organizations relevant to each particular committee, First Nations and youth.

Recruitment of members-at-large will take place over the coming weeks, with staff explaining the RMOW will look for members with expertise specific to each area. n

‘Chair of the Next Generation’ presented to Pemberton council

STUDENTS FROM PEMBERTON SECONDARY SCHOOL DECORATED THE CHAIR WITH THE TOPICS THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A GROUP OF up-and-coming leaders from Pemberton Secondary School unveiled their “Chair of the Next Generation” to Pemberton council at a meeting on Tuesday, April 9.

The “Chair of the Next Generation” project helps young people discover their own voice within their community and further afield. The “Mères au front” (mothers at the front) originated in Quebec and has now made its way to Pemberton. Students are asked to decorate an old chair to represent the topics they care about most. The chair is then moved into council buildings, a reminder of the up-and-coming generation and the problems they will have to face.

Pemberton mom Maude Cyr worked hard over the last few months on Pemberton’s own chairs of the next generation. Youth in Signal Hill Elementary School were also invited to take part in the project. The Grade 10 leadership club from Pemberton

Secondary School previously met with Mayor Mike Richman to discuss what is important to them.

Cyr said the project is also a good way of easing young people’s eco-anxiety and worries about their future as climate change affects our communities in real time.

The mom made a short speech before gifting the chair to Pemberton council.

The project is increasing in popularity around Canada and even further afield in Europe.

“At the moment there are 80 municipalities in Quebec that have this chair in their council offices,” Cyr said. “These people [Mères au front] want to leave a fairer and greener world to our children and future generations. We ask elected officials to put in place the necessary

“May the protection of life in all its forms be a part of your decisions and actions.”

- MAUDE CYR

“We are here today because we want to donate the ‘Chair of the next Generation’ to you so that a place is reserved for children at your meetings,” she said. “We ask that this chair be permanently placed around the Pemberton council table and that it reminds you of the expectations of future generations regarding the climate emergency. May the protection of life in all its forms be a part of your decisions and actions.”

measures to respond to the climate emergency and the degradation of the ecosystem.”

Features added to the chair demonstrate the priorities of the fully female leadership group. They include: a bridge over the river connecting communities; a red dress to symbolize the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women; an orange shirt representing the impact residential schools had on the community and truth

and reconciliation; and LGBTQ2S+ colours for inclusion in the community. The three main languages used in Pemberton—English, French and Ucwalmícwts—are also included on the chair.

Proud teacher, Alexandra Alain, thanked the girls for their participation in the project.

“It’s been an honour to be involved with this project with the students,” she said. “I am so proud of them. You give me hope in our world.”

The teens hope the chair will serve as an important reminder to Pemberton politicians over the important years to come.

“Our expectation for politicians is that when making decisions for our town, they take into consideration how it may affect the kids of the future,” they said. “We hope they will not only focus on problems that are present but issues that might come up in the future and will affect the next generation.

“We hope that as time goes on, the chair will still be there to remind politicians about the future generation during their decision-making, but also that it becomes second-nature while making decisions to think about the youth and what they may want.”

Mayor and council stressed to the girls their door is always open, and that they appreciate any ideas and feedback the students have. ■

HAVE A SEAT The girls from Pemberton Secondary School presenting their ‘Chair of the Next Generation’ to Mayor Mike Richman at a council meeting on Tuesday, April. 9.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAUDE CYR

Seasonal Service Change

Effective April1 and April15, 2024

April 1–14: Late Winter Service

April 15: New Service Expansion for Spring/Summer/Fall

-Increased frequency of service andimproved timing forall routes inSpring/Summer/Fall standard schedule

-Reintroduction of Route 32 Emerald

Pemberton adopts zoning amendment for Prospect Apartments—with no added parking spots

COUNCILLORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PREVIOUSLY RAISED CONCERNS THE PLANNED PARKING LOT SPACES WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR RESIDENTS

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PEMBERTON OFFICIALS adopted a zoning amendment for Prospect Apartments, at a council meeting on Tuesday, April 9—but there remains no additional parking spots for the development, despite the public’s pushback.

The intent of the rezoning is to accommodate the mixed-use development in Pemberton’s downtown core, including residential apartments and compact commercial spaces suitable for local businesses, within a short distance from amenities and services. The residential complex will be built on the corner of Prospect and Aster streets.

Plans for the complex include 1,000 square metres of commercial space on the ground floor; 45 residential units split among the other three floors—four studios, 29 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom apartments—plus 54 underground parking stalls (10 of which will feature electric-vehicle charging connections, while the remaining 44 will be electric-vehicle ready), and 90 bike stalls. There will be storage for at least two bikes per unit.

The proposed development allows for car-free living in the middle of Pemberton’s downtown core. A traffic impact assessment conducted in January determined the 54 parking spaces proposed for the Prospect Apartments would fall about 14 spaces short of current zoning requirements.

However, members of the public raised

concerns over the number of parking spots during a public information meeting last summer, with 15 to 20 people attending to share their views.

On Oct. 17, 2023, Pemberton’s mayor and council opted to delay third reading for the new apartment building, as both councillors and members of the public still had concerns over the low number of parking stalls planned for the development. Third reading eventually went ahead two weeks later, on Oct. 31.

Ultimately, off-street parking requirements did not change between the second reading and eventual adoption of the zoning amendment bylaw. The rationale behind this, according to the Village of Pemberton, is the project’s proximity to downtown, with most daily amenities within close walking distance of the complex.

Mayor Mike Richman said at the Oct. 17 meeting the plans were a chance for Pemberton to move towards a more ecofriendly future.

“It’s our obligation to look to the future and change the way we do things,” he said. “We talk about making changes and thinking outside of the box. We are headed to a society that’s a little less car dependent. Personally, I recognize that this will put some pressures on parking.”

STARK Architecture submitted the application in March 2023 on behalf of property owner Fitzgerald Building Co. Three single-family homes currently sit on the lot, which is zoned for commercial and residential use under a Commercial Town Centre designation. ■

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AMENDMENT APPROVED A rendering of the four-storey, mixed-use residential complex proposed for the corner of Prospect and Aster streets in downtown Pemberton.

Lapp of Luxury

IN SPRING, I start thinking about skiing the sweep of Arctic Sweden known as Lappland. And when I think about Lappland, I always think of Niehku.

Remember Fäviken? Magnus Nilsson’s mystical Michelin three-starred eatery in the Swedish hinterlands that reigned culinary king from 2011-2019? While it hogged the limelight other Swedish gastronomes were also making magic in the middle of Scandinavian nowhere.

BY LESLIE ANTHONY

Like Patrik “the Sock” Strömsten, who spent 40-some seasons in the wonderfully isolated ski resort of Riksgränsen, high above the Arctic Circle. “I serve wine at night, ski during the day, and get paid for it,” the congenial ex-mogul skier once told me, putting his vocation in the most prosaic of terms.

In 2005, Strömsten opened Meteorlogen Ski Lodge and Restaurant in Riksgränsen’s oldest building—a restored 1903 customs and weather station where he’d once dwelt in squalor as a young ski bum. The boutique lodge filled from the outset with well-heeled ski-tourers, heli-skiers and their guides; the restaurant, showcasing food of the land, was a sensation, its wine cellar equally so—with Strömsten awarded Sweden’s Sommelier of the Year for a second time in 2014. At that point, Meteorlogen’s success convinced him

of an unfulfilled market. “It showed me how many adventurers like to sleep in a good bed and drink a nice glass of wine,” he’d summed.

With the conversion of historic buildings into world-class lodging and dining facilities suddenly his jam, Strömsten took aim at a disintegrating roundabout that once served the railway which has run daily through Riksgränsen for more than a century, delivering iron ore from the town of Kiruna to the port of Narvik on the Norwegian coast. Teaming up with mountainguide pal Johan “Jossi” Lindblom and retired builder Clas Darvik, the trio opened Niehku Mountain Villa in spring 2018.

into a 5,000-sq.-km wilderness of more than 60 skiable peaks. “I’ve guided all over the world, but was always drawn back to these incredible mountains,” reflects Jossi, who oversees the ski product. “I knew we could deliver some of the best heliskiing and ski-touring imaginable.”

“I knew we could deliver some of the best heliskiing and ski-touring imaginable.”

- JOHAN LINDBLOM

With 14 rooms, a Michelin-aimed kitchen, and Strömsten’s wine-cellar savvy, it was instantly the planet’s most exclusive and luxurious touring-and-heli-ski lodge, yet still reflected the grassroots vibe of Riksgränsen’s early days as a far-flung spring ski destination. The old roundhouse’s semi-circular stone wall now passes through the lodge’s deck, lobby and kitchen as a fascinating architectural anchor. Interior design draws inspiration from stone and other natural materials, colours and the cultural traditions of Lappland’s Sami people. Throughout, Niehku retains a personal, relaxed ambience.

Of course, Niehku wouldn’t exist but for skiing. Out the front door you can ski-tour or fly

I’ve been to Niehku a few times and the highlight has always been bolting out for a couple of hours of skiing under the midnightsun the evening we arrive, enjoying chalky snow in warm light. Next day we’ve usually flown deep into the range, where seemingly endless runs demonstrate how deceptively big the vertical is. I’ve also done touring drops close to Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest peak, to ski from north-facing cirques of cold, knee-deep snow onto a long, sloping glacier. Grouping up in the sunny valley, temperatures always seemed comfortable as we enjoyed a superb lunch from the Niehku kitchen of something like pork-and-potato soup (eaten with a compostable wooden “spork”) and sandwiches featuring homemade bread and butter; dessert was always the n’est plus ultra of Lappland cuisine—a cloudberry muffin. After a half-dozen runs we’d head back over the chocolate-chip sweep of Arctic Lappland.

At dinner—always a set menu (unless you have dietary concerns), we’d enjoy mussels, reindeer, chanterelles, and other delights

of northern Scandinavia, learning more of Niehku’s backstory as Strömsten poured wine between courses. He’d met Lindblom in 1993 and the two hit it off, forming a raucous local rock band known for spontaneous nudity. Other hijinks ensued. “Jossi and I used to boulder on this,” he’d once recalled wistfully, pointing to an old rock wall now inside the restaurant. “We left a few litres of blood there.”

The catalyst for the lodge was Clas, a longtime client of Jossi’s. One day in 2012, with heli-skiing cancelled due to weather, Clas skied off the backside of Riksgränsen and saw the old roundhouse. He immediately suggested to Patrik and Jossi they do something with it—perhaps build a hotel. They said, “sure,” not realizing six years on, that this wild, in-themoment idea would come to fruition.

With Patrik departing for other projects a few years ago and Jossi remaining as CEO, Niehku is still as unique and exclusive as ever, the award-winning architecture and masterful elements celebrating the past by adding value to historical structures in a modern design context—a Plexiglas-covered, converted coalpit wine cellar in the restaurant’s centre; massive timber amalgams supporting a logbeam roof, and an iron woodstove in the style of a locomotive boiler. It’s also a design that plays to the strengths of the land, where you can watch the midnight sun pool on snowy hillsides without having it pour in through the massive, arched windows to violate the dining area’s intimacy. In March, while the sun still sets, you can sit in a glass sauna nursing a branded Niehku beer as Northern Lights streak the sky—a ski experience like no other.

Oh, and the name? No surprise that Niehku means “dream” in the Sami language.

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

LUXURY LODGE Niehku Mountain Villa, one of the most exclusive and luxurious touring-and-heli-ski lodges on the planet.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLIE ANTHONY

BECOME A VOLUNTEER:

3 tips for making the most of your fi rst volunteer experience

National Volunteer Week (April 14-20) is the perfect time to extend a big thank you to the roughly 624 million Canadians who spend countless hours a year volunteering. Are you interested in joining the ranks of this awesome volunteer workforce yourself?

National Volunteer Week takes place April 14 – 20 across Canada. It celebrates the importance of giving back and encourages active volunteerism in generations to come. If you’ve never volunteered, here are a few tips to ensure your first experience is as enjoyable as possible.

1. Identify your goals and skills. Ask yourself why you want to volunteer and what skills you bring to the table. Then, choose a volunteer program that matches your values and interests. This will ensure you have an impactful and meaningful experience.

2. Set realistic expectations. Find out what the volunteer organization expects of you, especially regarding time. This will prevent you from overcommitting and having a poor experience. You don’t want your volunteering experience to dominate your already busy schedule. Start small; you can always increase your commitment as your confidence and abilities grow.

3. Keep an open mind. You’ll likely work with people from all walks of life when volunteering. Therefore, it’s essential to approach the experience from a place of exchange and learning. Most importantly, have fun and be receptive to forging new friendships.

Volunteering has several benefits, including gaining real-world experience, developing new skills, expanding your professional network and exploring new occupations. To celebrate National Volunteer Week, find a cause important to you and start giving back today.

VILLAGE HOST AND BIKE HOST VOLUNTEERS

THANKS TO YOU WE ARE CELEBRATING 18 YEARS! OF SERVICE TO THE WHISTLER COMMUNITY

During National Volunteer Week we want to thank and celebrate you – our wonder ful Village Host and Bike Host volunteers!

These last few years have been different and challenging. We have learned to adjust and to pivot, and to do things in new ways

Through all of this you continued to be dedicated, friendly and caring. You gave freely of your time and your knowledge. You suppor ted businesses and visitors, and helped to keep us safe.

You are an integral and impor tant par t of Whistler’s passionate and engaged community

YOU ARE INVALUABLE AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!

Village and Bike Host Volunteers

Village Hosts

Lynn Ashton

Mar y Beadon

Sylvia Brandt

Sue Brown

Rosemar y Cook

TC Cull

Sandy Culpitt

Patricia Dagg

Lisa Donahoe

Judith Dyer

Marilyn Fell

Doug Fell

Karen Gardner

Bruce Hall

Heather Hall

Wendy Harrison

Jon Harper

Liz Har vey

Anne Hibbelin

Lorna Hill

Sorca Holmes

Adrienne Hughes

David Hughes

Janice Hulse

Alison Hunter

Daniel Jonckheere

Sue Kelly

Tim Kelly

Mar y Ann Kumli

Marie LeDuc

David Little

Audrey Lundie

Kevin McFarland

Karina Meik

Christina Merer

Ruper t Merer

Robin Nichols

Sharon Noesgaard

Barb Oliver

Eric Philips

Chris Patrick

Michele Radnidge

Jill Rowledge

Gail Rybar

Trish Sloan

Judi Spence

Susie Spiwak

Helen Stanley

Patricia Stoop

Len Van Leeuwen

Tonnie Van Ginkel

Sheila Walker

Margaret Waller

Tom Waller

Anita Winkle

Ted Winkle

Liz Whelan

Dan Whelan

Bike Hosts

Don Armour

John Champion

John Condon

Roger Lundie

Rober t Mongeau

Eric Philips

Barb Radlgruber

Brad Sinclair

Mar y Ann Stewar t

Roger Tarrent

The team at the Audain Art Museum extends a sincere thank you to our dynamic and dedicated team of Volunteers, Educators, Docents, and Committee Members!

The involvement of these passionate individuals is critical to the overall Museum visitor experience.

The AAM is thrilled to be once again welcoming new Volunteers in the fields of Engagement and Event Support. If you are interested in contributing, our team would like to hear from you!

Email connect@audainartmuseum.com to lear n more about becoming involved. audainartmuseum.com

THANKYOU...

TO OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, DONORS,AND CORPORATE SUPPORTERS FORYOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO HEALTHCARE IN THE SEA TO SKY!

Your TIMEisVALUED

$70,000- 13 VITAL SIGNS MONITORS

$5,000 - X-RAYCHAIR

$5,000 - LAB STORAGE FREEZER

$50,000 - OPERATING TABLE FOR THEO.R. (co-funded with theWhistlerHealthcareFoundation)

Contribution towardsthe CT scan project (WLNG andSHF)

Fundingfor education andteam building for VCH staff/ locations. squamishhospitalfoundation@gmail.com

NOTICE OF ZONING AMENDMENTS

ELECTORAL AREAS A,B,C,D

Pursuant to Section 467(1) of the Local Government Act notice of the intent of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) to consider the subject bylaws at the April 24, 2024 SLRD Board meeting is provided:

“The SUBJECT BYLAWS”

- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area A Zoning Bylaw No

670, 1999, Amendment Bylaw No 1851-2024;

- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area B Zoning Bylaw No

1300-2013, Amendment Bylaw No 1852-2024;

- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No

765, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 1853-2024;

- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area D Zoning Bylaw No

1350-2016, Amendment Bylaw No 1854-2024.

PURPOSE OF THE SUBJECT BYLAWS:

The Local Government Act was amended on December 7, 2023, to require local governments to update their zoning bylaws to allow secondary suites or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all single-family zones and where applicable, permit a minimum of 3-6 units of smallscale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH) in zones otherwise restricted to single-family dwellings or duplexes Zones restricted to single-family dwellings or duplexes as of December 7, 2023, are referred to as Restricted Zones in the legislation.

Local governments are required to update their zoning bylaws before June 30, 2024 to comply with SSMUH legislation.

A minimum of one secondary suite or one detached ADU must be permitted on lots zoned for single-family use. Local governments may decide to permit either a secondary suite or ADU, or both a secondary suite and an ADU on a lot.

Unless an exemption applies, three to six dwelling units must be allowed on each parcel of land zoned for single-family or duplex use that is:

a) wholly or partly within an urban containment boundary established by a regional growth strategy, or

b) if (a) does not apply, wholly or partly within an urban containment boundary established by an official community plan within a municipality with a population greater than 5,000 or

c) if neither (a) or (b) apply, in a municipality with a population greater than 5,000.

Exemptions from the three- to six-unit minimum requirements on lots zoned for singlefamily and duplex use include:

• lands that are not connected to a water or sewer system provided as a service by a municipality or regional district (must be connected to both);

• parcels of land that are larger than 4,050 m2 or lands in a zone for which the minimum lot size that may be created by subdivision is 4,050 m2;

• land that was protected, as of December 7, 2023, under the Heritage Conservation Act, or by bylaw under s. 611 of the Local Government Act; and

• land within a designated Transit-Oriented Area.

The subject bylaws propose to provide for the changes required by the Province Revisions include allowing secondary suites in all residential zones and an additional accessory dwelling unit in some residential zones (dependent on location, size and servicing), changes to setbacks in residential zones, height increases for single family dwellings and accessory dwelling units, new parking requirements for secondary suites, and residential density increases in SLRDserviced areas and areas within the urban containment boundaries of the Regional Growth Strategy

No density increases are proposed for land within the Agricultural Land Reserve except for increases to the size of secondary suites

All SLRD Zoning bylaws are being amended to address the required changes The subject bylaws apply to lands located in Electoral Areas A, B,C and D where the SSMUH requirements are applicable.

INPUT:

A copy of the subject bylaws may be inspected at the Regional District office, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC, during office hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from April 14 to April 24, 2024 not including weekends and statutory holidays. You can also learn more about the subject bylaws when the April 24, 2024 Board agenda is posted on the SLRD website (https://www slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/meetings-agendas) on Friday, April 19th. Additional information may be found on the SLRD website here:https://www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/current-projects-initiatives/ small-scale-multi-unit-housing-legislation-bill-44-housing-statutes

The SLRD Board will be considering first reading of the subject bylaws at theApril 24, 2024 SLRD Board meeting. All persons may provide written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaws. Written submissions must be addressed to “SLRD Board of Directors,” and include your name and community of residence.

Until 4:00 pm on March 23, 2024, written submissions will be received at the following:

Email: planning@slrd.bc.ca

Hard Copy: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Planning Department PO Box 219, Pemberton, BCV0N 2L0

BY BEN R. COLLISON THECONVERSATION

ome of Canada’s biggest employers have a poor track record of abiding by environmental laws. When laws are broken corporate leaders don’t go to prison; instead, the company is fined. But the fines are rarely severe enough to scare them into changing their ways, let alone enough to make companies repair environmental damage or build a cleaner future.

Everyone has seen the headlines over the years: Coal company Teck fined $60M for contaminating rivers in southeastern B.C., Manitoba paper mill fined $1M for leaking toxin into Saskatchewan River and Husky fined $3.8M for 2016 oil spill into North Saskatchewan River. The combined value of these three companies—Teck, Kraft Paper and Cenovus (Husky’s parent corporation)—is more than $75 billion.

Monetary penalties for breaking environmental laws continue to rise. Yet, many companies are failing to maintain compliance and pollution continues to flow. This is especially true in the case of water.

PROTECTING WATER

Canada has an abundance of renewable surface water and groundwater—a precious resource that often gets taken for granted. Despite persistent challenges with drinking water insecurity and climate-induced water stress, water access in Canada is a privilege that many other regions of the world do not have.

Water pollution from natural resource extraction can hinder economic drivers like tourism and fisheries, impair Indigenous rights, harm species at risk of extinction and perpetuate environmental racism.

HOW FINES ARE ISSUED

There are two main options for fining big polluters: administrative penalties or court charges.

Administrative penalties proceed more quickly and have historically been used for relatively small fines. Several provinces including British Columbia and Ontario have recently upped maximum penalties to $750,000 and $200,000, respectively, for corporations, depending on what law is broken.

Court charges are more common when federal law—such as the Fisheries Act—is also involved. Court convictions carry more social weight, allow for much bigger fines and threaten jail time. However, they can also take years, and spending time in prison for harming the environment is an exceedingly rare outcome.

Flexibility in fine amounts and bogged-down court systems have resulted in administrative penalties increasingly being favoured by regulators. For example, these penalties were nearly 20 times more frequent than court charges for industrial pollution under the B.C. Environmental Management Act from 2017 to 2022.

For many businesses, a hefty one-off fine for breaking an environmental law is an unsettling wake-up call. Responsible employers reflect on this seriously and take tangible steps to reduce the chance of their operations harming the environment in the future.

But for wealthy repeat offenders, fines may be treated as nothing more than the cost of doing business. This is where the problem lies, and some of Canada’s richest corporations prove it.

REPEAT WATER POLLUTERS IN RECENT HISTORY

Teck Resources has been fined again, and again and again for contaminating rivers and harming endangered fish in the Elk Valley, B.C. with toxic mining run-off from five nearby coal projects. The company has also been fined several times for toxic spills and leaks into the Columbia River from its nearby zinc and lead smelter.

in combined fines. While this may seem a hefty sum, it equals just 2 per cent of Teck’s $3.9 billion dollar profits in 2023 alone.

In Québec, Rio Tinto has been fined less than company’s

a million dollars on multiple occasions for illegal acid discharges into rivers from its smelters and refineries. The company’s market cap is $104 billion.

Oil giant

Suncor Energy—$9 billion in 2023 earnings—has a history of repeatedly polluting the Athabasca River with sediment and sewage, in addition to oil spills and

toxic releases during seabed drilling in offshore Newfoundland. None of Suncor’s fines related to water contamination has ever exceeded $1 million.

Scroll through any of these big polluters’ websites and you’ll find elegantly worded commitments to sustainability and caring for the environment. But actions speak louder than words, and no amount of greenwashing lingo can erase the smears from a record of chronic non-compliance with environmental laws.

Serious policy changes to better protect water—Canada’s most valuable natural resource— from repeat environmental offenders are warranted.

POTENTIAL PATHS FORWARD

Laws work to protect the environment when they are strongly written and enforced. Amendments to the Clean Air Act in the United States in 1990 pushed polluters to innovate and resulted in a 60-per-cent drop in air emissions over the following 20 years despite a 33-per-cent increase in manufacturing output.

Mimicking the successful regulatory overhauls of the past is no guarantee of success today. Still, there are several paths forward to reduce environmental degradation from natural resource extraction that are worth considering:

A new tier should be added to environmental laws with no maximum penalty, only applying to companies with a current market cap over a certain threshold—perhaps a billion dollars. This new penalty class would meaningfully punish the wealthiest of polluters

without infringing on responsible actors.

Court prosecutions should be favoured over administrative penalties because they allow for bigger fines and posting to the environmental “offenders registries” which attract more public attention. Threats of public shaming and heftier penalties may spur environmental action from companies looking to avoid

hurting shareholder confidence.

Stop-work orders and revoking operating

A WIDER PROBLEM

permits through sanctions from resume digging.

Land Act: Notice of intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land

are rarely used but should occur more often. Recent efforts, like forcing Coastal GasLink to stop work due to water-contamination issues, removes the legal authority from a polluter and forces clean up before shovels

serious

The importance of healthy water systems to Canadians cannot be overstated—it is time to get serious about how this resource is protected.

It’s too early to know the environmental ramifications of the Baltimore bridge collapse. What is clear, however, is that while corporate entities look to limit their own liabilities, the American public will most likely be left to pay for the clean-up.

This most recent disaster is not unlike the $40 million in clean-up costs sitting on Canadian taxpayers from a 2014 tailings dam failure at the Mount Polley Mine that spilled 24 million cubic metres of toxic waste into Fraser River salmon habitat. The company (Imperial Metals) was never fined for the incident.

From Baltimore to the Fraser River, financial penalties to those who damage our environments remain pitifully low. Only by holding polluters truly to account can we effectively work to end environmental pollution both in Canada and around the world.

Ben R. Collison is a PhD Student with the School for Resource & Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. He receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, and Wilburforce Foundation. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/fining-big-polluters-can-reduceenvironmental-damage-but-only-if-the-fines-match-the-crimes-226204. ■

Take notice that TTQ Economic Development Corp (owned by Xa'xtsaDouglas First Nation) from Tipella, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests (FOR), Surrey for a replacement license of occupation from Industrial camp to include Ecotourism basecamp recreational site situated on Provincial Crown land located at the vicinity of Sloquet Creek and 75 km Inshuckch FSR, Group 1, New Westminster District containing 8.8 Hectares, more or less. The Lands File Number for this application is 242504. Comments concerning this application should be directed to the Project Manager at 200-10428 153rd Street, Surrey, BC V3R 1E1.

Comments will be received by the Ministry of Forests until April 25, 2024

Ministry of Forests may not consider comments received after this date

Please visit the Applications, Comments & Reasons for Decision website at https://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record For information, contact Information Access Operations at the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services in Victoria at: www.gov.bc.ca/citz/iao/

Whistler hosts first-ever World Ski and Snowboard Festival Rail Jam

SHARPE AND BAIRD TRIUMPH AMONG SNOWBOARDERS; GEOFFROY-GAGNON AND URNESS WIN SKIING TITLES

BY DAVID SONG

THE CUT RAIL JAM, a brand-new addition to the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) lineup, is in the books.

As a unique item on the sporting landscape, the Rail Jam highlighted both skiers and snowboarders in a slopestyleinspired showcase of creativity and technical prowess. Forty contestants from all backgrounds dropped in on Saturday, April 13, from X Games gold medallist Darcy Sharpe to 12-year-old local skier Agness Friesen.

Sharpe and 2022 Olympian Jasmine Baird each clinched a snowboarding title, while Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon prevailed among male skiers as the only athlete to attempt (and land) a spectacular backflip. His fellow national teamer Naomi Urness emerged victorious in women’s skiing with quality runs throughout the bluebird afternoon.

“I think I started pretty strong and got a little soggy near the end, but I’m always pretty critical of myself,” said Sharpe, who had to skip practice and ease himself into competition due to a thumb injury. “Mainly, it’s just fun riding with the crew. Format was super fun.”

Adds Baird: “I was stoked to take the win and it was really cool to compete here at home because all the homies were out either watching or competing too—having us all hyping each other up definitely added to the

good energy. Had a great time celebrating after with everyone too, and the first-place cash definitely doesn’t hurt!”

Rest assured: the youngsters did not look out of place.

Amalia “Billy” Pelchat pulled up second, displaying confidence and snowboarding skill well beyond her 16 years on Earth. Avery Krumme locked down runner-up position at 15 years old between Urness and Canadian NextGen athlete Skye Clarke, who was third.

Others in the top three included Phil Gaucher (second, men’s skiing), Luke Smart (third, men’s skiing), Bailey Birkkjaer (third, ladies’ snowboarding), Josh Lebrun (second, men’s snowboarding) and Cameron Spalding (third, men’s snowboarding).

“Third was surprising to me,” remarked Nor-Am Cup veteran Smart. “I got into the competition last-minute because some people dropped out. Stoked to have that opportunity and put down some runs.”

Each podium finisher received a custom Skullcandy wireless speaker and the same payout regardless of gender: champions got $3,500, while second place netted $1,000, and third yielded $500.

SAVAGE SHREDDERS

When asked about the Rail Jam’s various young talents, Smart quipped: “The sport is crazy now. Kids are savages.”

He’s right.

Krumme caught fire at the beginning of her season and has yet to be extinguished. The Squamolian earned bronze at Junior Worlds in Livigno, Italy and double gold at Nationals on home snow in addition to five Canada Cup medals.

Pelchat enjoyed a solid campaign herself, with Nor-Am silver in Sun Peaks and a fourth-

place Junior Worlds slopestyle effort to go with a pair of top-20 results at Gangwon’s Winter Youth Olympics.

“The Rail Jam was not as stressful [as most competitions], especially being able to do it with your friends and push each other,” said Pelchat. “I’m good friends with Jasmine Baird and she was super supportive. All the girls there were super supportive.”

A special shout-out goes to Friesen and her Sea to Sky peer Lyra Xu. Both were originally alternates, but received a chance to compete—and impressively, neither was eliminated in qualifying. Friesen’s day ended in the semifinals, but Xu made it all the way to the five-woman final.

“Just a little bit,” admitted the 15-year-old snowboarder when asked if she felt nervous about riding against professionals. “But I was excited to meet them.”

Xu’s coach, Simon Fraser, was unsurprised at her performance.

“Lyra’s been working really hard this season … and going into this year, her mentality has completely changed,” he said. ”She knows what she’s out here trying to do and she’s not going to take any breaks until she either fights to the death or lands perfectly.”

‘WHY WE LOVE THE SPORT’

Whistler is one of the globe’s top snowsport destinations and a fitting backdrop for an event like the Rail Jam. In Sharpe’s eyes, it’s a much-needed step in the right direction.

“Our community is built on ski and snowboard culture, and we don’t have any sick spring events left locally,” opined the Olympian. “Not trying to sound harsh, but that’s the reality of it. We used to have Grenade Games; we’ve had world-class slopestyles in Blackcomb Park, and none of

that happens anymore.

“Big thanks to the organizers, [contest director] Jen Girardi, the sponsors and the community for making the Rail Jam happen. Hopefully they see value in it and do it bigger because I think it’s good to have this associated with Whistler’s name.”

A dearth of snow in the valley prompted organizers to relocate the Rail Jam to the top of the Emerald 6 Express Chair on a few days’ notice. Girardi explained in a press release: “It was a tough but necessary call to move the event out of Skiers Plaza. Our goal was to run a ski and snowboard contest for the Whistler community and it was a huge success. We can’t wait to make it bigger and better in 2025.”

Varying temperaments could be found among the athletes. Some, like Baird, are always competitive and had their eyes on the prize from the first practice run. Others like Smart and Pelchat allowed themselves to relax a tad more and bask in their day on the mountain. All came away appreciating the novel experience.

“Usually ski and snowboard events don’t run together, but I think having both in the Rail Jam was a good call,” said Baird. “It allowed for the event to always have someone dropping in, alternating skier and boarder, instead of having to wait for the judges. I think that brought more energy and hype overall and didn’t let the crowd get bored.

“Myself and so many others in Whistler have basically dedicated our whole lives to skiing and snowboarding. Hosting events like The Cut have a huge impact on the community because it gets people stoked, especially the younger generation when they get to watch pros compete and say, ‘I want to do that!’ It just brings people together and reminds us all of why we love the sport so much.”  n

JAM SESSION Darcy Sharpe in action at The Cut Rail Jam on April 13.

PHOTO BY BEN GIRARDI

SPORTS THE SCORE

Johnny Aether wins S2 speed skiing world title

THE FORMER SLALOM ATHLETE REPRESENTS A NEW BREED OF CRAZY CANUCK

BY DAVID SONG

A TYPICAL MEN’S World Cup downhill race features average velocities between 95 and 112 kilometres/hour, with some contestants topping out at more than 150 km/hr in certain stretches. Pretty impressive, right? But we’re not talking about downhill or its relatively familiar cousins in the alpine world.

Instead we’re here to discuss speed skiing, with France’s Simon Billy setting the world record of a whopping 255.5 km/hr. Valentina Greggio of Italy established the ladies’ record at more than 247 km/hr. They and their peers are the only athletes in a non-motorized sport to experience acceleration on par with what a Formula One driver feels in the cockpit.

Jonathan Simpson, known professionally as Johnny Aether, isn’t yet within striking distance of those numbers. His personal best of 171.8 km/ hr was, however, enough to win him this year’s FIS S2 Speed Skiing World Championship.

Victor Persson of Sweden earned silver (169.3 km/hr) and Czechia’s Petr Koudela went home with bronze (168.63 km/hr).

The S2 division includes those who compete using gear suitable for standard alpine skiing, while the faster and more prestigious S1 class requires athletes to obtain purpose-built equipment.

“If I’d been working at the sport for a long time, I would give you some sort of really meaningful speech … but this experience has renewed my love for sport in general,” Aether said.

NEED FOR SPEED

Ski racing has always been in Aether’s blood. He cut his teeth as a boy with Club Mont SteMarie in the Ottawa region while taking part in Whistler-based summer camps. Later on, he became an NCAA Division III athlete at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

After concluding his education at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Aether became an operations program manager for STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver. He thought his competitive days were over, and for good reason. How many people throw themselves back into high-level sport in their 30s, with an established career path already before them?

That’s why Aether didn’t initially take it seriously when Mark Rowan, president of the Canadian Snowsports Association, began scouting him for speed skiing. In fact, he thought it to be a joke—but the stars began to align.

The S2 World Championships were moved to Vars, France, the very track where Billy and Greggio achieved their records. Aether was invited to join, and he ended up doing so for fun.

“When do you have an opportunity to do something crazy like this as an adult with a desk job?” he remembers asking himself.

“I’ve been retired from alpine racing for over a decade, easily.”

One would think Aether formerly specialized in downhill or super-G given the nature of his new sport. Yet his best discipline by far was the highly technical slalom, which gave him an acute awareness of stance and base useful in speed skiing. He’s also something of a daredevil, which helps.

“There was so much rather dangerous straight-lining that I’ve done over my life because there’s always been a need for speed,” Aether admitted.

I’M THE JUGGERNAUT

Aether more or less touched down in Vars cold turkey. He had never previously trained on a speed skiing run, and nobody knew who he was. Regardless, all kinds of Europeans welcomed him with open arms—a far cry from the often intensely competitive environment of alpine skiing.

“There were races where I have spoken to other Canadian athletes—Canadians, who are some of the friendliest people—and they would turn around, walk away and ignore me because they knew I came from [a U.S. school],” recalled Aether. “I’m not trying to trash-talk anybody here, but everyone’s competing for the same sponsorships and resources.”

One must give their whole life to becoming an elite alpine athlete. Professionals train seven days a week, on and off of snow, and spend many of their remaining hours finetuning gear. Speed skiers, conversely, master a more specific skill: how to distribute their mass and hold a tight tuck to be as aerodynamic as possible.

It’s not as all-encompassing, which perhaps makes speed skiers more comfortable with lending a helping hand.

Aether spent several training days out with Team Czechia. At one point, a Swede named Carl Ribbegårdh offered him a pair of poles more suitable for the task than what he’d brought.

The Whistlerite wore his baggy neon construction suit in practice, which slowed him down noticeably. Despite that, he brought speed when it counted the most on March 25, winning the competition by healthy margins.

Aether is all-in. He’s already working with an Olympic-calibre trainer in preparation for the following season, where he’s qualified to partake in the S1 division. To do so, he’ll need sponsorship along with some custom equipment: including a latex ski suit and the distinctive, wing-shaped headgear he calls the “Juggernaut” helmet (as it resembles one worn by a specific Marvel Comics supervillain).

“Maybe I’m full of myself, maybe I’m overly confident, maybe that’s what you need to be in this sport, but I feel like I’m really close,” Aether said. “Next year, my goal is to start dialling in the gear and getting my stuff as heavy and aerodynamic as is allowed.”

Perhaps the Crazy Canucks would be proud of him.  n

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Everyone is family at Highline Pub and Restaurant

THE SETON PORTAGE RESTAURANT WILL TRANSPORT CUSTOMERS BACK TO A TIME WHERE EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE A CHAT

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

THE HIGHLINE PUB and Restaurant in Seton Portage offers travellers and locals alike an oasis in the wilderness. The building feels like you have been welcomed into someone’s intimate family kitchen, where owner Rhea Lopez knows everyone by name. Tourists feel instantly at home in a place that has not lost its small-town, Canadian charm as the decades rolled by.

A true one-stop shop, Highline features an onsite pub, restaurant, hotel and store that could be mistaken as a mirage after braving the treacherous Highline Road. There are seven rooms for weary drivers and workers staying in town overnight. Most importantly, Lopez’s spot serves as a community hub for locals who adore her.

Lopez’s establishment brings a whole new meaning to the term “family-run.” Her boyfriend oversees supplies, her daughter runs the store, and her eldest son is always ready to help out with the cooking.

The native of the Philippines also caters events and has even decked out the pub for a local wedding.

As far as the food goes, Highline’s

mouth-watering ribs are a sight to behold. Daily specials include fish and chips, the Filipino staple, chicken adobo, and wings. Tasty appetizers, plenty of pizzas, and the infamous Highline Burger are just a few of the many options on the menu. There are also vegetarian dishes to ensure everyone in the family is catered to. Regular live music and karaoke nights provide entertainment and a chance to meet new friends.

Established in 1984, Lopez and her

in case they need a hand. We always check in with each other.”

The community supported Lopez and her family through this heartbreaking time.

“After my husband passed, I thought I would have to move back to my family in the Philippines,” said Lopez. “Everyone was so understanding here. Sometimes when I was grieving, you would be crying at work. Everyone would know to just leave me be because that’s how I preferred it. They treat you like family.

“We make sure we are all stocked up ahead of stormy weather because the community pretty much relies on us.”

- RHEA LOPEZ

husband took the reins of the Highline Pub and Restaurant back in 2017. Lopez was working in Grande Prairie, Alta. when she met the Seton Portage man.

“I met my husband there. He grew up here. We moved back here and bought this place,” says Lopez. “In 2020, he passed away. I have been doing this since then.”

For the pandemic-fuelled years after her husband’s death, Lopez kept the hotel going for the good of the community she loves so much.

“I just love it here,” she said. “If someone is coming in on the road, we keep an eye out

That’s what I like about being here.”

The recent arrival of cell service to the area makes running a business a whole lot easier, but the same age-old problems persist. Getting in and out of Seton Portage during a storm is almost impossible. Getting supplies to the restaurant is a similar, almost insurmountable feat.

Over the years, Lopez has gotten used to knowing when the weather is about to wreak havoc.

“We make sure we have everything. This is the one place that helps everyone,” she said.

“We make sure we are all stocked up ahead of stormy weather because the community pretty much relies on us. We don’t want to say we don’t have something. Sometimes, we have substitutes. We work it out.”

Lopez said she was convinced her entire livelihood would be decimated by forest fires last summer.

“If we have a fire here, both roads are closed,” she said.  “Everyone was evacuated.”

However, Lopez still felt she had a job to do.

“It was pretty much just me, my boyfriend, my son and one of my friends working here,” she said. “We were feeding over 200 firefighters every day. I always want to help in my own way. I thought I could play my part, stay here and just break even. I just reminded the firefighters not to forget us when it was time to go.” she said. “The fire was crazy and I thought this place would be gone.”

The family behind Highline Pub have similar concerns about the upcoming summer season.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Lopez said. “Last time, it got really bad just after Canada Day. I didn’t think it was going to get as big as it got.”

Lopez’s amazing food and hospitality are no longer local secrets. She admits visitors are now coming from Vancouver to get a taste of small-town life—and maybe an ice cold beer.

You can find out more about the Highline Pub and Restaurant at facebook.com/ highlinepub, or contact the woman behind the whole show at rlopez1720@gmail.com. n

FAMILY FOOD The Lopez family outside of their Highline Pub and Restaurant in Seton Portage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RHEA LOPEZ

Two Dontas, One Proctor win big at 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown

KRIS AND KEVIN DONTAS JOIN WITH RYAN PROCTOR AND KIAN ESMAILI TO MAKE SHORT FILM ABOUT PIZZA AND BANK ROBBERY

BY DAVID SONG

KRIS AND KEVIN Dontas ask each other weird questions all the time. They ponder avant-garde philosophical debates and off-thewall moral dilemmas on a regular basis, and it’s a trend they’ve adapted into their filmmaking. This time around, the query was as follows:  “If someone were to hand you the perfect pizza, would you eat it if you could only do so once?”

The brothers and their buddies Ryan Proctor and Kian Esmaili decided to address this question in cinematic form. It earned them first place and an accompanying $5,000 prize at the latest World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown.

Two Dontas One Proctor Productions is familiar with this achievement, having last unlocked it in 2023 for their previous submission Would You Rather. They oneupped themselves this time with The Pizza Problem, which also netted the People’s Choice Award and a $500 Gibbons gift card.

“I feel like when you get the judges’ approval, it’s confirmation that you made a good film,” opines Kevin. “Your audio was clear and crisp, your lighting was on point, your story made sense from front to back. But when you get the audience’s approval as well, it means not only did you tick all those boxes,

but you did it in a way that made a really enjoyable and fun film for people to watch.

“It’s like icing on the cake—or tomato sauce on the pizza.”

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

The 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown requires participants to shoot, edit and produce a movie within 100 kilometres of Whistler in three days. Projects can be recorded on any device, and must be three to five minutes in length.

There’s a particular restaurant in the

on random people’s vans saying: ‘Hey, would you rent your van out for the weekend?’”

A friend eventually offered his van but asked for it to remain in Squamish, so the crew used that one for interior scenes and a second vehicle for additional shots in Pemberton.

“This being our third time doing the 72-Hour Showdown, we definitely remembered a lot of the hurdles that you always face when doing this project,” says Kevin. “We have found more tricks of the trade in tackling the problems. This was our very first time writing out a full script before

“We love just coming up with a silly idea and making a video.”

- KRIS DONTAS

Dontas’ hometown of Corunna, Ont. named Antonio’s Pizza. This establishment inspired not only the premise of their video, but a key role within it (a world-renowned pizza maker who ends up pitting Kevin and Proctor’s characters against each other). Two Dontas One Proctor elected to challenge themselves with a dialogue-heavy script, as opposed to the visual comedy of  Would You Rather The greatest logistical hurdle turned out to be the procurement of a panel van to serve as a criminal’s getaway vehicle.

Recalls Kris: “For weeks leading up [to the shoot], we were literally leaving sticky notes

we started filming a movie, and it worked really well.

“When we laid out all the footage on the timeline, it was exactly five minutes long, and we’ve never had that happen before.”

‘WE’RE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE’

The Pizza Problem unfolds with some of the same morbid tonal contrast found in a superhero action comedy like Marvel’s Deadpool or DC’s The Suicide Squad Kevin and Proctor play two eccentric bank

robbers who are fully capable of shooting the breeze about whether they would eat the perfect pizza only once… minutes before producing suppressed handguns and climbing out of their van to grab the cash. Not long afterwards, they rush back to the vehicle: one of them is covered in tomato sauce to represent a particularly messy kill.

The hostage they bring turns out to be Antonio (played by Kris), who can make the very paragon of a pizza that the criminals had been contemplating—so do they leave him alive? Stakes escalate from there as the robbers quickly turn on each other, their philosophical differences too much to overcome.

“We wanted to have the characters be these hyper-intelligent sociopaths,” Kris explains. “They’re robbing a bank while talking about a silly philosophical question about pizza. They’ve been best friends forever but they’re finally at odds with one another, and it’s such a pivotal point in their relationship that they’re going to fight to the death.

“We wanted to get that across in five minutes … to keep pace, to not over-explain the idea but explain it enough.”

At the end of the day, Proctor and the Dontas brothers are simply grateful to be supported by the Whistler community in their creative hijinks.

“We keep saying: We’re just happy to be here,” Kris expresses. “We love just coming up with a silly idea and making a video. The fact that people get to laugh, enjoy it, smile and then vote for our video … it was an honour, honestly.”

Learn more about the WSSF at wssf. com and watch  The Pizza Problem on YouTube.  n

PIZZA BOYS Winners of the 2024 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown, left to right: Ryan Proctor, Kian Esmaili, Kris Dontas and Kevin Dontas.

PHOTO BY OISIN MCHUGH

Nicolas Teichrob sweeps Sea to Sky Photo Challenge

THE UCLUELET-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER WON BEST IN SHOW AND PEOPLE’S CHOICE

BY DAVID SONG

FOR NICOLAS TEICHROB, art and science go hand-in-hand.

The Ucluelet, B.C. resident holds a Masters of Science in glacier hydrology, which equips him to understand natural ecosystems and the impact of human activity upon them. In turn, his filmmaking and photography background enable him to raise awareness and appreciation for environmental issues in mediums other than a scientific journal.

Both skillsets carried Teichrob to the dual titles of Best in Show and People’s Choice, along with $3,000 in prize money, at the 2024 Sea to Sky Photo Challenge, held April 10 as part of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

“Winning both of them provides validation of my craft and my art,” he says. “As an artist, you don’t need that—but it really helps. I make my show based on what I think is aesthetic and enjoyable, and I hope that translates [to the audience].

“I’m very grateful for everyone who supports the arts and has supported my image-making—whether that’s athletes or people in my life—because without people interested in art, we couldn’t do what we do. Making art is deeply impactful for my soul.”

Teichrob’s images have been featured in magazines of varying genres around the world: from skiing and mountain bike publications to general outdoor pieces. He’s also won a Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) Award for Best Experimental/Unique Cinematography alongside Athan Merrick for his work on the 2017 salmon migration film, Uninterrupted

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Open thinking and problem solving come naturally to Teichrob, and most of his pursuits reflect both. He’s his own worst critic and constantly strives for a sharper image or a

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more astutely framed shot. It’s a good thing though, pushing him to improve in multiple realms and approach each new project like a puzzle to solve.

“As you tell a story in one format, inevitably that will improve your storytelling in another format,” Teichrob says. “That is something I think stands out in the work that I do and the people I work with.”

Teichrob believes science also engages the creative part of one’s mind—to pose a relevant hypothesis, to test it in a sound manner and then to convey it in a way others can process and appreciate.

“I seek to show nature, its beautiful places and happenings in a way that the average person does not see,” he explains. “Showing how beautiful nature is, that’s one way you can get folks to consider their own relationship with nature. At the end of the day, I think sharing things from a place of love and authenticity is the most effective way to connect with people.”

Teichrob is especially passionate about giving youth a platform to engage with their world. Social media is full of… shall we say, less-than-fruitful material that distracts consumers from what’s happening around them, and the Vancouver Islander tries to provide an alternative with his “Take a Stand Youth for Conservation” outdoor education program.

Folks who spend time in nature will, for the most part, grasp the deleterious effects of climate change and develop a vested interest in mitigating said effects. That’s true for teenagers as well, and Teichrob feels even those who live in cities will find ways to express themselves.

“The ‘Take a Stand’ program gives an avenue and an outlet for youth to share and to make a piece about nature that they might love,” he says. “We don’t have very many opportunities to share art in current Western society … but maybe when teens do a little project, maybe it strikes a chord.”

Check out Teichrob’s portfolio at nicolasteichrob.ca. n

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Join us forworkshops highlightingwildfire riskstoagricultural operations in theSLRD. Learnmeasuresproducers cantaketo preparefor andmitigatethose risks.

ElectoralAreas C& D

Thurs, May2,2024- 6:00 PM-8:30PM PembertonCommunity Centre

May2,2024- 6:00 PM-8:30PM PembertonCommunity Centre

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Register forin-person workshops before April25. Virtualmeetinglinks will be shared 48 hoursbeforethe event.

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Nicolas Teichrob (middle) won Best in Show and People’s Choice at the 2024 Sea to Sky Photo Challenge.

PHOTO BY OISIN MCHUGH

BIODIVERSITY TALK

VALUE OF OLD GROWTH & BIODIVERSITY TALK

Hosted by the Cheakamus Community Forest, learn how old-growth ecosystems link to biodiversity, and the well-being of people and the planet at a talk with Dr. Andy MacKinnon, renowned forest ecologist, educator, and co-author of Plants of Coastal British Columbia, who will speak to the connections between old-growth ecosystems and biodiversity and how they affect the planet’s well-being as well as our own.

Join AWARE and the Cheakamus Community Forest to build our collective understanding of the values of old forests—from biodiversity to climate resilience and human needs.

> April 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

> $17.31

PITCH-IN DAY

Join AWARE and hundreds of volunteers, including community groups and local sports associations, as you roll up your sleeves to clear litter in neighbourhoods from Emerald to Function. Fuel up at a post-event community barbecue hosted by the RMOW. Meet at the north end of the Nesters Market parking lot (not in front of Nesters) to divvy up supplies and plan routes.

Dress for the weather. Disposable gloves and bags will be provided. Please bring thicker, washable gardening gloves to save on waste if you have them.

> April 20, 8:30-11 a.m.

> Nesters

TAKE THE PLUNGE: OPEN MIC NIGHT WITH LEANNE DUNIC & FUNDRAISER BOOK SALE

Come join the Whistler Writing Society for a night

of creativity and community as we host a free Open Mic Night with local writers, featuring Leanne Dunic, author of  One and Half of You, To Love the Coming End,  and  The Gift . Leanne will read from her most recent work,  Wet , a lyric novel with photos. Whether you want to share your own writing or poetry, or enjoy listening to others express themselves, this event is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a storytelling experience. Register now to save your seat!

We’ll also be holding The Whistler Writing Society Book Sale. Pick out some of the hottest books from our previous festivals and events to add to your home library!

> April 20, 7:15-9 p.m.

> Whistler Public Library

> Free, but registration is required at eventbrite.ca.

ISRAELISM SCREENING WITH SPECIAL GUEST DR. GABOR MATÉ

Presented by Sea to Sky Palestine-Whistler in collaboration with Rising Tide Squamish, check out a free screening of the award-winning documentary, Israelism

When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns. They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.

Following the screening, there will be a live Q&A with renowned Jewish-Canadian physician, addiction specialist, and best-selling author, Dr. Gabor Maté, who will be joining via Zoom.

> April 25, Doors at 6:15 p.m., screening at 6:30 p.m.

> Whistler Public Library Community Room

> Free, but registration is required at showpass.com.

TheHonourableJohnAllenFraser

Whiledeeply committedtothe serviceofhis country, John’slovefor hisfamilyand loyaltytohis friendswas paramount. He waspredeceased by hisbeloved wife Cate (Findlay)who washis best friend,and most trustedcounsel andconfidantefor 59 years. Hisdaughters,sons-in-law,and 7granddaughterswerehis greatest pride.

Born to Clarence andLottieFraseronDecember15, 1931,inYokohama, Japan, his family returned to Canada in 1934,eventually settlinginVancouver.Asa teen,he worked in alumbermillinthe interior of BC,where he gained adeep appreciation fornature, anda stringentworkethic that carried himthrough lawschool at the University of BritishColumbia, Canadian Army Reservetraining, anda life-long career in public service.

Hisinterests were varied andmany. He wasa voraciousreader, passionateabout musicand sport, andwas alover of thenatural worldtowhich he dedicatedhis life prot ecting.Anavidoutdoorsman,hefound joyand solace from hisbusylifeinbird watching,fishing,hunting andhorseback riding.Johnwas akeen sportenthusiast that believed in thepower of sportand competitiontobring nationsand people together.Through hisloveofskiing, he methis wife Cate,and theirsharedloveof Whistler lasted alifetime.

John wasinstrumentalinconvincingBCHydro to move theplanned hydrolines to thewestsideofthe Whistler Valley to allowfor thedevelopment of aski hill andhe enthusiastically took on theroleofChairmanofthe VancouverGaribaldi Olympic BidCommitteefor the1976Olympic Winter Games. When it wastimetoslowdown andtaketimeout,Johnand Cate always retreatedtoWhistlerwhich ultimately became theirpermanent home

Hispassion forjustice andpublicservice propelledhim into public life,and in 1972, he waselected to theHouse of Commonstorepresent VancouverSouth,and he did so with an unwavering commitmenttothe people he served.Asa Member of Parliament for21years,heservedasMinisterfor theEnvironment,Postmaster General, Minister of Fisheriesand Oceans,and Canada’s firstSpeaker of theHouse of Commonstobeelected by secret ballotbyhis peers. Behind thescenes, he advocatedtenaciously forimportant causes andinitiatives.One of hisproudest moments whileserving as Speaker, wasbeing witnesstothe Government of Canada announcing redressfor Japanese Canadians.

John AllenFraser, P.C.,OC.,OBC., CD., K.C.,the 32nd Speakerofthe HouseofCommons passed away peacefully at theage of 92 in VancouveronApril 7th, 2024.

He leaves behind histhree daughtersSheena (Martin),Anna(Rob),Mary(Mike)and seven granddaughters, Cate (Mack),Danielle, Sarah, Lottie,Annie, Chelsea,Addie.

Aheadofhis time,his insights anddedicationtoenvironmental conservation came earlyinhis career andare evidencedincountless initiativesthroughouthis life includingleading rolesinCanadaUSnegotiationsonAcidRain, theprotectionofthe Skagit Valleyand SouthMorseby (Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve),South Chilcotinand thePacific Salmon Treaty with theUS. As Speaker, he launched an environmentactionplancalled“Greeningthe Hill,”the programwas thefirst of its kind in government andenthusiastically supported by allparties.The program resulted in transformative initiativesincluding thefirst formal parliament-wide recyclingprogram,the conversion of parliamentaryvehiclestocleaner energy,and water-efficientfountains,tonamea few. He chairedthe FederalPacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, andthe IndependentBCPacific Salmon Forum.

He served as theAmbassadortothe United Nationsfor theEnvironment and SustainableDevelopment -a testamenttohis long-standingand steadfastadvocacy forthe preservation of theplanet, anda tributetohis abilitytorepresent Canada on theworld stagewithconfidence, humility,and humour

With adeep appreciation forthose whoservedtheir country, he proudlyservedas Honorary Lieutenant Coloneland Honorary Colonelofthe Seaforth Highlandersand is arecipient of theVimyAward forhis contribution forthe defenceand security of Canada andthe preservation of democratic values

Knownfor hismischievous humour,his sharpwit andhis outstandingoratory skills, hisintellect,curiosity,and unfalteringsense of fair play wasa drivingforce throughout hislife. Hislovefor literature,respect forthe law, andappreciation for therolehistory playsinshaping thefuturewas evidentineverythinghedid

He waskindtoall, curiousabout everything,and dedicatedtoleaving hisbeloved Canada abetterplace forthose whocameafter him. He taught us allabout the honour that lies in beingboldenoughtobelieve in something, andbrave enough to fightfor it.Hewas afatherwho believed vehemently that therewerenolimitstowhat hisdaughters couldachieve,anuncle whoimpartedsageadvicetohis nieces, nephews, andgodchildren,and averyproud Grandpa– whoasked us allevery day what we were doingt oserve ourcountry

Youtaught us well Dad– andwillbeforever missed.

Acelebration of life in hishonourwillbeheldatSt. Mary’s Church in Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouverat 1:00 PM on May31st, 2024.A reception willfollowatthe Seaforth Armoury, 1650 Burrard Street,Vancouver.

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Notice is hereby giventhatSpel'kúmtnCommunity Forests, holder of License #K5X,isseeking public review andcomment on Forest Operations Map (FOM)ID#1429,which is coveredbyForestStewardship Plan #868. Thereviewand comment period relatedtoFOM ID #1429 is availablefor a 30-dayperiodbetween April19, 2024 to May19, 2024. This FOMconsistsof 3proposed cutblocks, as well as theassociatedroads,locatedinthe general area in around Pember tonand MountCurrieinthe SeatoSky NaturalResourceDistrict.

TheFOM canbeviewedathttps://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, andbysearching Licensee usingthe 'find'function.Alternatively, theinformation containedinthe FOMcan be made availablefor in-personviewing during normal business hours at Char twellResourceGroup Ltd.'s office at #201-1121 CommercialPlace,SquamishBC.

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Following review andcomment period,thisFOM may be relied upon to applyfor aRoadPermitorCutting Permit fora 3-year period, ending April19, 2027.

Fool me once…

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

AS FAR AS WE know, Drew Meredith never did win the lottery, as discussed in our last Museum Musings about the Whistler Question’s April Fool’s article of 1982. Other prank articles published by the Question, however, were less far-fetched, such as the ones published in 1984.

The Question’s banner headline for March 29, 1984 read “SoCreds OK User Tax.”

In the article, editor Kevin Griffin described how the provincial government had “set a Canadian precedent” when it made changes to the Municipal Act allowing resort towns with a population under 10,000 “to levy a local sales tax of up to two per cent” on liquor sales “by the drink,” day ski passes, meals, hotel, short-term rentals, and retail goods. The revenue would be collected by the province and then redistributed back to resort-town municipal governments.

In the article, Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Curtis reportedly said the government recognized resort towns often “unduly tax local ratepayers to provide needed resort amenities” and this change was meant to address that tax burden.

Whistler’s Mayor Mark Angus was also quoted in the article pointing out similar taxes used in American ski resorts such as Sun Valley and Aspen. He and the Whistler Resort Association were both described as being in support of the new tax, and expected tax money to go towards park maintenance, snow clearing, a free bus system, and other projects.

Like in previous years, the front page of the Question included other articles along the same line: one detailing the proposed free bus system and another about a fountain that would be built with money from the new tax to improve Village Square, which was described as “a black hole” and a “place without a focus.”

Readers would have quickly realized there was no such tax, and therefore no free buses or new fountain in the works (though there had been a shuttle bus operating the previous year

funded by a municipal grant, advertising, and passenger fares). Towards the end of the main article, quotes from Al Raine were followed by the statement: “Raine also added that he didn’t mind being quoted in an April Fool’s story because he agreed with the thrust of the article anyway.”

According to the accompanying editorial, the topic of a user tax was chosen because the Question wanted to write articles they would like to see in the paper, and to generate discussion among the community and levels of government. The paper also asked visitors to the resort what they thought of a municipal sales tax for their “Whistler’s Answers” feature. Though most were against paying more for their visit, one visitor from San Francisco said, “I wouldn’t mind at all. A lot of American visitors look at the exchange rate and it’s not too bad. If they can take two per cent and turn it around to make it work for the community, it’s all right.”

The following week, three residents were asked what they thought of the April Fool’s stories, and Mark Angus was quoted (truthfully this time): “As long as you take it lightly no damage is done,” and one resident said it was more believable because they had seen user taxes in other resorts. Not everyone appreciated the joke articles, however. One letter to the editor the following week was unimpressed and claimed it was “presumptuous” to assume readers would read the complete story and explanatory editorial rather than just the headline; a headline, they argued, that could prevent visitors from returning.

Throughout the month of April, the Question published other articles about how such taxes worked in various American resorts, where Whistler’s funding currently came from, and more. In 1987, the provincial government established the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), which applies to short-term tourist accommodations. While not exactly like the tax proposed by the Question in 1984, the MRDT has similar aims and the paper was able to report on the story without having to create its own quotations.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Landscape architect Eldon Beck shows off the features of Village Square in the early 1980s, though some people supposedly thought the area could really use a fountain.

1 SLIPPERY BUSINESS Whistlerites came out in force for the wet and wild Slush Cup on Sunday, April 14, which welcomes skiers and riders dressed in ridiculous costumes to charge through spring snow before skimming across a slushy ice pond. PHOTO BY GEORGIA BUTLER 2 HI, HORSE It was a perfect Pemberton day for a trail ride on Sunday, April 14. PHOTO BY SUSAN HUTCHINSON 3 THANKS A MILLION Pique sales staffers Georgia Butler and Susan Hutchinson got all glammed up for the eighth annual Audain Gala on Saturday, April 13, where the local art museum raised a record $1 million. PHOTO BY DAVE BROWN 4 PEACE FOR PALESTINE Organizers held a banner drop on Whistler’s Nordic bridge on Friday, April 12 calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. PHOTO BY MANUEL SCHULTE 5 OVER THE RAINBOW (PARK CLOSURE) A peek at the newly upgraded Rainbow Park, which has been closed to

ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I suspect two notable phenomena will coalesce in your sphere sometime soon. The first is a surplus supply of luck. I’m not sure why, but the fates will be sending surges of good karma your way. The second phenomenon is this: You might not be entirely alert for the potential luck flowing in your direction, and it may not leap out and grab you. That could be a problem. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which means you are getting a heads-up about the looming opportunity. Now that you realize you must be vigilant for the serendipitous blessings, I’m confident you will spot them and claim them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You will be wise to summon extra love and rapport as you ruminate on your vivid upcoming decisions. Wouldn’t you like to bask in the helpful influences of smart allies who respect you? How nurturing would it feel to receive healing encouragement and warm appreciation? I suggest you convene a conference of trusted advisors, good listeners, sunny mentors, wisdom keepers, and spirit guides. Maybe even convene a series of such gatherings. Now is an excellent time to call in all your favours and get the most inspirational support possible as you navigate your way to the next chapter of your life story.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you drink alcohol, don’t operate a forklift or backhoe. If you gamble, protect yourself with safeguards and have a backup plan. If you feel called to explore altered states of consciousness, consider doing meditation, dancing, or chanting holy songs instead of ingesting drugs. If you have an itch to go hang-gliding or sky-diving, triple-check your equipment. And if you have the urge to try to walk on the water, don a lifejacket first. But please note, dear Gemini: I am not advising you to timidly huddle in your comfort zone. On the contrary. I highly recommend you stretch your limits. Just be secure and smart as you do.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I plotted out my usual astrological reckonings for your current destiny. Then I slipped into a meditative trance and asked the spirits to show me future scenes that correspond to my assessments. In one prominent vision, I beheld you partying heartily, navigating your avid and inquisitive way through convivial gatherings. In other scenes, I saw you engaged in lively discussions with interesting people who expanded your understanding of the meaning of life in general and the meaning of your life in particular. I conclude that intelligent revelry will be a main theme for you. Productive excitement. Pleasurable intrigue. Connections that enliven and tonify your imagination.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The theory of synchronicity proposes that hidden patterns are woven into our lives. Though they may ordinarily be hard to detect, they can become vividly visible under certain circumstances. But we have to adjust the way we interpret reality. Here’s a clue: Be alert for three meaningful coincidences that happen within a short time and seem related to each other. I predict the emergence of at least one set of these coincidences in the coming weeks—maybe as many as four. Synchronicities are coming! You have entered the More-Than-Mere-Coincidence Zone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Psychologists J. Clayton

Lafferty and Lorraine F. Lafferty wrote a book called Perfectionism: A Sure Cure for Happiness. It’s based on their work with clients who damaged their lives “in the illusory pursuit of the unrealistic and unattainable standard of perfection.” In my observation, many of us are susceptible to this bad habit, but you Virgos tend to be the most susceptible of all. The good news is you now have an excellent chance to loosen the grip of perfectionism. You are more receptive than usual to intuitions about how to relax your aspirations without compromising your competence. As inspiration, consider these words from author Henry James: “Excellence does not require perfection.” Leadership expert R. R. Stutman

adds: “If perfection is an obstacle course, excellence is a masterful dance.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which they never show to anybody,” wrote author Mark Twain. I agree that everyone is a moon and has a dark side. But it’s important to note that our dark sides are not inherently ugly or bad. Psychologist Carl Jung proved to me that our dark sides may contain latent, wounded, or unappreciated beauty. To be healthy, in fact, we should cultivate a vigorous relationship with our dark side. In doing so, we can draw out hidden and undeveloped assets. The coming weeks will be a favourable time for you Libras to do this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your current state has metaphorical resemblances to idling in your car, waiting and waiting and waiting for the red light to change. But here’s the good news: I expect the signal will turn green very soon—maybe even within minutes after you read this horoscope. Here’s more good news: Your unlucky number will stop popping up so often, and your lucky number will be a frequent visitor. I’m also happy to report that the “Please don’t touch” signs will disappear. This means you will have expanded permission to consort intimately with influences you need to consort with.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I think it’s time to graduate from your lessons in toxic kinds of enchantment and launch a new experiment with healthy kinds of enchantment. If you agree, spend the next few days checking to see if any part of you is numb, apathetic, or unreceptive. Non-feelings like these suggest you may be under the enchantment of influences that are cramping your imagination. The next step is to go in quest of experiences, people, and situations that excite your imagination, rouse your reverence, and raise your appreciation for holy mysteries. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you connect yourself with magic, marvels, and miracles.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Luther Burbank (1849–1926) was a practical artist. Using crossbreeding, he developed more than 800 novel varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, and flowers. Among his handiwork was the russet Burbank potato, a blight-resistant food designed to help Ireland recover from its Great Famine. My personal favourite was his Flaming Gold nectarine, one of the 217 fruits he devised. I propose that Burbank serve as your role model in the coming weeks. I believe you have the power to summon highly pragmatic creativity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): L. R. McBride wrote the book The Kahuna: Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii. He describes the role of the kahuna, who is a blend of sorcerer, scholar, and healer. At one point, a kahuna gives advice to an American tourist, saying, “You have moved too fast for too long. You have left part of yourself behind. Now you should slow down so that part of you can catch up.” I’m offering you the same advice right now, Aquarius. Here’s your homework: Dream up three fun things you can do to invite and welcome back the left-behind parts of you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the course of my life, I have heard the following three statements from various people: 1. “Everything would be better between us if you would just be different from who you are.” 2. “I would like you more if you were somebody else.” 3. “Why won’t you change to be more like the person I wish you would be?” I’m sure you have heard similar pronouncements yourself, Pisces. But now here’s the good news: I don’t think you will have to endure much, if any, of such phenomena in the coming months. Why? First, because you will be more purely your authentic self than you have ever been. Second, because your allies, colleagues, and loved ones—the only people who matter, really—are likely to be extra welcoming to your genuine self.

Homework: Enjoy free articles and audios from my new book: https://bit.ly/lovelifegifts

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

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Fairmont Chateau

If interested, contact: 604-809-5398 Accommodation

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

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Group Fitness Classes

Fridays – Power Pilates

7:30-8:30am w Liv

Saturdays – Low Impact Strength

9:00-10:00am w Lou

Sundays – Vinyasa Yoga

9:00-10:00am w Mel K

Mondays – Barre Blend 10:30-11:30am w Kristi

Wednesdays – Gentle Fit 1:00-2:00pm w Diana

Thursdays – Swim:

Speed & Efficiency 12:00-1:00pm w Hector

See our full page schedule ad in this issue of Pique for details

Full Time Meat Manager

($68,640 – $79,040 (+ benefits) depending on experience) 10% Annual Bonus Based on Performance

Full Time Assistant Meat Manager

($64,480 – $72,800 (+ benefits) depending on experience)

Meat Cutter

($20.50/hr – $32.00/hr (+ 20% discount card & benefits) for full time staff)

Our Team enjoys:

ü Flexible schedules

ü Training and experience

ü Full Benefits & Employee Discount Card

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.

www.whistlerexcavations.com

The Sea to Sky corridor’s top civil construction company.

We are currently recruiting professionally minded people to join our team.

Construction Labourers

*Competitive wages, extended health benefits (after 3 months)

Email resume to: info@whistlerexcavations.com

Resort Municipality of Whistler Employment Opportunities

• Parks Planner Full-timepositionwithastartingwageof$52.95anhour

• Lifeguard/Swim Instructor Part-timepositionwithastartingwageof$27.57anhour

• Labourer I – Village Services Termpositionwithastartingwageof$32.91anhour

• Wastewater Operator lll Full-timepositionwithastartingwageof$45.50anhour

Resor t Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca/careers

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.

Guards

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

• Full-Time & Part-Time

• Starting at $24 per hour

• No Experience Necessary

• Benefits Packages Available

Apply and learn more via the QR code, or email applications to bbeacom@audainartmuseum.com

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

www.evrfinehomes.com HELDERBERG HOLDINGS Ltd. dba P O Box 546. WHISTLER. BC. CANADA. V0N 1B0

Come

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

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!

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.

HeadquarteredinPemberton,theSquamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD)deliversawide rangeofregional,sub-regionalandlocalservicestoitsresidents.TheSLRDisaBCRegional Districtconsistingof4membermunicipalities(Squamish,Whistler,Pemberton,Lillooet)and 4electoralareas.Servicesincludelanduseplanning,solidwastemanagement,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 intheprovinceandaffordsanendlessrangeofopportunitiesforoutdooradventure,makingitan exceptional place to live, work and play.

The SLRD is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented communications professional to fill the full-timepositionof Communications Coordinator.ReportingtotheDirectorofCommunications andEngagement,theCommunicationsCoordinatorprovidescommunications,engagementand grantssupportinafast-pacedandcollaborativeenvironment.Thepositionincludesawiderange ofresponsibilitiesintheareasofcommunicationsandengagementadministrationandplanning, content creation, public, community and media relations, management of brand standards and communicationsduringemergencies.

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 otherformsofelectroniccommunication.Theidealcandidatewillalsohaveexcellentoraland writtencommunicationskills.Thefulljobdescriptionforthispositioncanbeviewedat 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.

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•

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• Language Resource Worker ($46,683- $63,973 per year)

• 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 ($85,685.60- $117,280.80 per year)

•

•

• Professional Development Ullus Community Centre

$27-$36 per hour

Even when the skiing is bad, skiing is good

“It was the best of times.”

OCTOBER WAS the best of times. Last October. It was much like September. Which was much like August. Only cooler. Summer lingered long into autumn. Again. But that was okay. Nothing wrong with prolonging summer.

BY G.D. MAXWELL

To a point. Wearing shorts in October. Biking. Climbing. Whatever.

Environment Canada and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were still hedging their bets on what kind of winter might be just around the corner. To the extent there was agreement, cold and wet seemed to be the watchwords for British Columbia. Being optimists, cold and wet was heard as snow. But the Man of Flowers, looking at the ramrod straight Echinacea in his garden, attracting late bees from far and wide, was predicting a mild winter. Pffft— what does he know?

“It was the worst of times.”

November was the worst of times. Not as bad here as places where many of the wildfires of summer still burned across the country. But in our particular bubble, waiting for snowfall, bad. Better than what was to come but not nearly as good as we hoped. It was a lot like October. Which was a lot like September. Etcetera.

Newbies were palpably nervous. “Where’s the snow?” Oldies were nostalgic. “I remember skiing top to bottom on November 11.” Or some other date already past as November dragged on with no real snow. Ugh.

“It was the age of wisdom.”

Not personally, mind you. Those of us with enough seasons here to remember really good ones that started slow whistled past the graveyard. Channelling Doris Day singing “Que Sera, Sera.” Horrible thing to have in my head, but at least it was from an Alfred Hitchcock film. The Man Who Knew Too Much, in case you’re wondering.

There was no wisdom to be found but there was still a lot of optimism. Maybe not optimism. Maybe just hope. Leavened with prayer. To Ullr.

“It

was the age of foolishness.”

As the angst of November bled into the depression of December, people notched up their concern. Holiday reservations were down and being cancelled. Even the fabled November rain crust was tepid. Snow was an increasingly hoped-for event.

Some enthusiastic young guys pilfered ice from the Zamboni shavings at Meadow Park and built a hit in their driveway. Flat, narrow

landing. Perhaps desperation, not foolishness. Others scoured that place across from WAG for rockier rock skis than the rock skis they already had. More desperation. More hope. Lots fled to the desert. Maximum desperation.

“It was the epoch of belief.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll come,” said with a shrug of the shoulders. “S’gotta. Always has. Well, almost always.” Even the most liberal-minded were ready to clamp down on immigration and send El Niño back where he belonged.

Worse, the jet stream settled into a familiar, portentous pattern, sending moisture further

but way better than Earth tones. A cold snap snapped. A new year began. Not a lot better than the old one, but we were able to move up a step in the strata of rock skis.

It was about this time I was reminded of a lesson passed on to me by a crusty, old Whistleratic. “Max, there’s a big difference between saying skiing is good and the skiing is good. Skiing is always good. The skiing sometimes sucks. If it does, just remember, skiing is good.” And so it was.

Skiing was good. Life affirming even. Nothing like it. Not even close. I was settling in, getting used to what there was. I backslid a bit on a trip to Big White. There was so much snow some guys were shovelling the roof of

If you think skiing and riding was a little disappointing this season, be thankful you don’t own a vineyard.

south. Not much. More than once Squamish and Vancouver got dumped on. We got dick. If we’re going to have a white Christmas we’re going to have to flock the heck out of the village.

“It was the winter of despair.”

Yeah, I skipped a bunch of Dickens’ other clauses. So sue me. Hail Mary snow put a happier face on the holidays. Not a lot happier,

the place I was staying. Seriously. But living up to its name, I didn’t see anything there but thick fog three of four days. Big Whiteout. On the other hand, I wasn’t worried about hitting rocks.

So all this is just chewing up real estate, leading up to the annual question: What kind of season was it?

In a word, Epic. Just kidding. In three words, skiing is good. There were moments. Not many. But there wasn’t anything I’d rather be doing. And as has been said for decades

by Maple Leaf fans, there’s always next year... er, later this year. Next season. And the latest prognostications—fancier form of whistling past the graveyard—from the people who honestly believe forecasting weather is rooted in science rather than voodoo, offers a fighting chance El Niño will be replaced by his sister, La Niña. She of the I Can’t Believe How Much Snow There Is years. Muy bonita

The worst part of the season had nothing to do with skiing or conditions on the mountains. The worst was the cold snap in January. If you think skiing and riding was a little disappointing this season, be thankful you don’t own a vineyard. Feel sorry for them, not ourselves. Well, ourselves when B.C. wine becomes harder to find.

And if you need something to buoy your spirits, it’s hard to beat having Whistler opened late this year. Spring skiing doesn’t get a lot better. Unless we miraculously wake up to 30 centimetres of fresh next week.

So while I hesitate, I feel compelled to use the old-same Out of Ten scale and proclaim 2023-24 a... Four. With a bullet. The bullet being spring skiing on Whistler. Maybe even a Five, due solely to rekindling a passion for skiing groomers and finally finding some amazing slalom skis to replace my old favourites, now next year’s rock skis. Thanks, Bill.

And I have to give a call-out to the hard working boys and girls at WB. Vail may still be a local epithet but being able to dish up as much of a playground as we had this year was a noteworthy, almost alchemical effort. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re riding the Peak Chair take a look at that cliff just to the side of the Patrol bump. That used to be the main entrance to Whistler Bowl. Not that many years ago. ■

NICOLAMAR GARET / GETTY IMAGES / STOCK COLLECTION