Pique Newsmagazine 3125

Through their eyes

The Lil’wat Nation’s youngest members are turning the tables for generations to come. - By Róisín Cullen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

06 OPENING REMARKS The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is so much more than brick, wood and mortar, writes editor Braden Dupuis.

08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers weigh in on the ongoing WLNG discussion, and say thanks for another successful Hike for Health.

11 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST If Canadians aren’t willing to pay more taxes or accept record numbers of immigrants, and cutting costs is almost impossible, where does that leave us?

58 MAXED OUT In which a brief stopover at the Kamloops Airport only serves to feed Max’s hatred of flying.

12 PIECE BY PIECE Time is running out to get immortalized in Whistler’s one-of-akind puzzle while giving back to the Whistler Community Services Society.

13 PARK PLANNING Whistler’s mayor and council heard an update on local parks at the June 11 council meeting.

40 TEEING OFF Whistler golfer James Lee is relishing a spot on the Team Canada golf roster—but he knows the work isn’t done.

44 NOW PLAYING The Whistler Film Festival is entering a new era with new director of programming Robin Smith.

COVER This seems like a good time to reflect on what the word unceded means and how it has changed the world around us. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com

Editor BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com

Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@piquenewsmagazine.com

Production Manager AMIR SHAHRESTANI - ashahrestani@piquenewsmagazine.com

Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@piquenewsmagazine.com

Advertising Representatives

TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com

GEORGIA BUTLER - gbutler@wplpmedia.com

Digital/Sales Coordinator KATIE DOUGLAS - kbechtel@wplpmedia.com

Reporters

SCOTT TIBBALLS - stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

RÓISÍN CULLEN - rcullen@wplpmedia.com

DAVID SONG - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com

ALYSSA NOEL - arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

LIZ MCDONALD - emcdonald@piquenewsmagazine.com

Office Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com

Classifieds and Reception - mail@piquenewsmagazine.com

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

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

www.piquenewsmagazine.com

What’s a WOOZA? Woozas are traditional handcrafted Italian Pinsa crusts. The original recipe was invented during the Ancient Roman Empire. They are

Whistler’s best-kept secret

EACH YEAR, about 3 million people fly, bus, and drive to Whistler to enjoy all the worldfamous ski and bike resort has to offer.

For the most part, they come to explore the namesake mountains of Whistler Blackcomb, or live the après nightlife, but more and more, guests to Whistler are finding their way up Lorimer Road to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

And once they arrive, they realize the First Nations museum/art gallery/meeting place is so much more than another

“It is my favourite thing. I absolutely adore this building,” says Téc tec (Delilah Peters), already a longtime SLCC ambassador at just 18 years old. Téc tec has worked at the SLCC for four years, but her connection to the centre stretches back to its construction.

“I’ve been coming here since it opened [in 2008], when I was like three,” she says. “So this is like home to me, and my dad [Bradley Peters] actually helped build this building.”

Designed by architect Alfred Waugh to resemble both the longhouses of the Squamish people and the Istken, or earthen pit houses, of the Lil’wat, the SLCC remains a modern marvel nearly two decades after it opened its doors.

Even on a random Friday in mid-June, the centre’s Great Hall is milling with a dozen or more guests, taking in the exhibits at their own pace before Téc tec gathers them for a traditional welcome song.

Today, guests are signing in from as far away as Belgium and the Netherlands, though it’s not at all uncommon to hear check-ins from even further afield.

“I absolutely love it, because I also hear stories from people, and their own experiences relating to what I’m talking about,” Téc tec says.

To call the SLCC Whistler’s best-kept secret isn’t entirely accurate—the centre has

new exhibits are well worth a repeat visit.

Ta na wa Yúus ta Stitúyntsam ’ / skel7áw ’ lh

(The person who protects the land / Steward of the land), on display until June 30, showcases how the Sk_wx_wú7mesh Úxwumixw and Líl’wat7úl have cared for their traditional territories since time immemorial.

Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes, meanwhile, shares the history of the Chiefs of 11 communities that came together to sign the famed declaration on May 10, 1911, and is on display until the end of the year.

There’s also a variety of workshops and tours on offer throughout the year (head to slcc.ca for more).

this,” she says, gesturing to the building and exhibits around her. “So mostly I hear, ‘thank you for telling us about it.’”

Just as the SLCC is more than just a tourism add-on, the building itself is so much more than brick, wood, and mortar—it stands as a symbol of two enduring, resilient Nations, and a guidepost for the young people tasked with carrying it all forward for future generations.

“It brought me a lot of my life back to me, starting here, getting to teach my culture,” Téc tec says, noting she wasn’t into the traditional ways as much as she would have liked to be growing up.

“It brought me a lot of my life back to me, starting here, getting to teach my culture ... as soon as I started here, I felt more connected to my cultural heritage.”

- TÉC TEC (DELILAH PETERS)

garnered international recognition since Day 1, and the influence of it and its ambassadors in Whistler has only grown in recent years, as evidenced by their being named Citizen of the Year at the Whistler Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Whistler Excellence Awards—but if you somehow haven’t been yet, you’re missing out.

There’s no time like the present: Friday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, and admission to the SLCC is free.

And if you haven’t been lately, a pair of

“I love working here,” Téc tec says. “My favourite thing is talking about my culture and getting to teach it to other people who don’t know it, and I’m still learning along the way as I go.”

There are few places better equipped than the SLCC to help her do that, and most are grateful to learn the history of the local First Nations, “because they had no idea,” Téc tec says.

“Some people had no clue about any of

“But as soon as I started here, I felt more connected to my cultural heritage,” she says.

As for National Indigenous Peoples Day, “it gives me a lot of pride,” Téc tec adds.

“We are very busy here, of course, but I’m just glad that we have a day to show off our culture and that we are here, that this is our land, and we’re happy to tell you all about it.”

At the SLCC, that message is on display 365 days a year.

Find more info at slcc.ca. n

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Green candidate’s lack of knowledge ‘disturbing’

We are writing because we take issue when people seeking office provide the public with serious misinformation. Together, we have nearly 20 years of experience as elected officials, including Michelle’s tenure as B.C.’s Minister of Energy from 2017 to 2020. We know what it is to run for and hold public office. It is a tremendous responsibility and requires a personal sense of accountability to ensure that you are well-informed and honest to the people.

In the June 7 issue of Pique Newsmagazine, Green candidate Jeremy Valeriote made false statements when suggesting Woodfibre LNG is “not a done deal.” His lack of knowledge about government processes, approvals and legal agreements is disturbing. He suggests that despite the project being approved by federal, provincial and the Squamish Nation governments, there are no ramifications to the public should all governments one day agree to rescind their approvals at the behest of a thirdparty MLA. Mr. Valeriote is either neglecting to do his homework or wilfully misleading the public for election purposes.

Any project proponent requiring government approvals has legal rights. Governments can’t just do away with past approvals without considerable cost to the public. What would he plan to cut so that he could pay the legal costs

of shutting down a multi-billion dollar project?

The affordable housing Squamish and Whistler desperately need, or health-care access for seniors in Pemberton and Bowen Island? Maybe child-care is so far down his priority list, that he never intended to support the development of a universal $10/day plan.

For the past year, we have been working together as members of the Gender Safety Advisory Committee for Woodfibre LNG. We bring our lifelong experience as advocates for women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people’s safety to reviewing and advising the WLNG project’s Gender and Cultural Safety Plan—the first of its kind in

the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Send them to edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com before 11 a.m. on Tuesday for consideration in that week’s paper.

Canada. We are proud of this trailblazing work and the leadership Woodfibre LNG is taking as the first net-zero LNG facility in the world by 2027. We would welcome the opportunity to better inform Mr. Valeriote about our work and government processes should he wish.

Kalkalilh Deanne Lewis—Squamish Nation Councillor, 2017-2021; Squamish Mayoral Candidate, 2022.

Michelle Mungall—NDP MLA NelsonCreston 2009-2020; Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, 2017-2020; Nelson City Councillor, 2003-2005.

Deanna Lewis and Michelle Mungall

Whistler’s Hike for Health a ‘resounding success’

Thank you to our community! The Whistler Health Care Foundation’s 3rd annual Hike for Health was a resounding success, with more than $103,000 raised for mental-health support in our community. A total of 217 hikers joined us, and 50 Trailblazers (individuals, families and businesses who donated $500 to $10,000). Together, we are going to make a significant impact in improving the mental health in our community.

We could not have done this without our host sponsor Whistler Blackcomb, our event sponsor, the Touchet family, and our many tireless volunteers. Looking forward to seeing you all out next year!

Jen Black // Vice-Chair, Whistler Health Care Foundation n

RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER NOTICE OF MEETING ON ANNUAL REPORT

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 starting at 5:30 p.m.

At Maury Young Arts Centre, 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler BC in the Franz Wilhelmsen Theatre

NOTICE is hereby given in accordance with Section 99 of the Community Char ter that the Council of the Resort Municipality of Whistler will be considering the annual report at the Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024

INSPECTION OF ANNUAL REPORT: A copy of the annual report is available for public inspection on our website at www.whistler.ca /corporateplan or at the Customer Service Desk of Municipal Hall, 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC , during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Monday to Friday (statutory holidays excluded).

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Please send submissions or comments on the annual report prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 to:

Email: corporate@whistler.ca Fax: 604-935-8109

Mail: Attention: Legislative Se rvices 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC , V8E 0X5

Please address your correspondence to Mayor and Council.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

Money for something

A LOT OF PEOPLE believe government is inherently terrible with money—and there’s no shortage of boondoggles you can hold up as proof like ArriveCan or all the pork in the Economic Action Plan. But the cold reality is there are a lot of economists who go through the federal budget every year with a fine-tooth comb and guess what? Almost all of the money goes where it’s supposed to.

BY ANDREW MITCHELL

It goes to health-care, welfare, benefits like Old Age Security (OAS) and other supportive funding, the military, matching funds with provinces to keep tuition affordable, maintaining infrastructure, the RCMP, the growing interest payments on our national debt, funding some innovation and investment, running government, and so forth. There’s a lot less discretionary spending in our $500-billionplus budget than people imagine and the boondoggles we get upset about only really represent a few percentage points of the total.

This isn’t meant as a defence or condemnation of any particular government, it’s just stating facts. And it’s also terrible news, because it means there’s no simple way to solve Canada’s many problems by making

a few easy cuts here and there. It doesn’t matter as much who is handling the purse if 95 per cent of the money in it is already spoken for.

Looming over everything is a demographic time bomb that started ticking almost 60 years ago. There are 8 million boomers and 2 million Canadians who are even older, which means we’re entering an era where one in four Canadians will be retired, using lots of healthcare, paying a lot less taxes, and benefitting from social programs like OAS.

At the same time, people want government to do more—build housing again, hire more doctors and nurses, build more hospitals, get addicts and the mentally ill off the streets, get tough on crime and repeat offenders, increase military funding to meet our NATO commitments, improve infrastructure, and so on.

None of that will be cheap. Given how tight things are when it comes to the budget already, our options are to, A) add more taxpayers to the bottom of the population pyramid through immigration, which will worsen our housing availability and affordability crisis; B) raise taxes, which is never popular even if government was mostly good with our money; or C) cut spending, which means these things people want and need will never happen.

Canada has so far gone with Option A, as well as a little of Option B by raising the capital gains threshold—which should be more popular than it is given it will only affect a tiny percentage of people.

Unless we accept a lot more of Option A, then all we’re really left with is raising government revenues by raising taxes, with maybe a little of Option C thrown in—such as reducing senior spending by raising the retirement age.

Take the cost of supporting our seniors. Right now, about 19 per cent of Canadians are over the age of 65. It’s going to be about 24 to 25 per cent soon, which represents another two million-plus seniors. The editors of the Globe and Mail calculated OAS costs will have increased to $81 billion a year in 2025 from $59 billion in 2020. That’s $22 billion more, and growing.

When it comes to health-care, the average spending per person is about $2,700/year, according to the Canadian Medical Association, while the average cost for Canadians over the age of 65 is closer to $12,000. Two million more seniors will have an additional annual healthcare cost of roughly $18.6 billion.

Want government to build housing again? It has been estimated we need about 4.4 million affordable homes in this country. According to my napkin, if the cost to build is $400 per square foot on average, and the average size of these new homes is 1,000 square feet, then we need a federal investment of $1.76 trillion dollars. And we need it yesterday.

Want more doctors and nurses? The federal government estimates we need about 49,000 more family doctors by 2031. The average cost per doctor to the Canadian health-care system is about $284,515 each

ATVTOURS Go Explor ing

year. Multiply one by the other and we’re looking at $14 billion a year. For nurses? The average salary is $71,894, and we need 117,600 of them by 2030, according to the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. That’s a hit of another $8.5 billion per year.

NATO? We’re expected to spend two per cent of our GDP on the military and we have not been keeping up. We’re currently underfunding our military by about $57 billion for 2023 through 2027 according to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, which is an average of $14.25 billion a year.

I can’t even begin to calculate what it would cost to reopen and staff new mentalhealth centres, to get our addicts and mentally ill off the streets. Or what the price tag would be to add all the public defenders, judges, courtrooms, police resources, prisons, prison guards, and other buildings and staff we would need to get tough on crime.

All of the other things we need—bridges, ports, airports, high-speed rail, investments in industry and innovation, subsidized tuitions, etc.—also have costs exceeding what’s currently in the budget.

We all know what Canadians want and need from our government. The real question is whether we’re willing to pay more to get it, accept record numbers of immigrants we don’t have housing for, or both. If the answer is no to both questions, and cutting costs is almost impossible, then where does that leave us? n

Solving the puzzle of low donations to WCSS

WHISTLER’S ONE-OF-A-KIND PUZZLE IS BACK TO IMMORTALIZE LOCALS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE WHILE GIVING BACK TO THE WHISTLER COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

SEE YOU IN WHISTLER

BY LIZ MCDONALD

TIME IS RUNNING out to get immortalized in Whistler’s one-of-a-kind puzzle while giving back to the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS).

The “See You in Whistler” puzzle by Lorne Craig is making a comeback after its first edition in 2020, with proceeds once again going to the Whistler Community Services Society. The last puzzle raised $6,000 for WCSS. Alongside Whistler’s landscape, cartoonist and designer Craig will draw individuals into the art as a larger-than-life character, and local businesses can also get immortalized into the Village, Creekside or Function Junction for a price. The project’s fundraiser ends June 27.

There are only 20 spaces for individuals and 15 for businesses, but the project needs locals, businesses and international Whistlerites to purchase the puzzle in advance to make it financially viable. One puzzle costs $44, whereas an individual draw-in is $219 and a business buy-in is $349. The bigger buys also come with extra perks.

PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD

As anyone out on a powder day in Whistler can attest, finding each other can be a bit of a challenge. This feature of the ski town is embedded into the puzzle, with hidden Easter eggs puzzlers can search for once completing the picture.

“There’s a whole list of stuff you can find. So once the puzzle is made, you know the kids can spend hours looking for all that stuff,” Craig said.

With the fundraiser deadline looming, Craig needs to meet his goal of $12,000—

If Craig doesn’t meet the deadline, he’s planning to pause the puzzle project.

The piece is special to Craig as an artist because of the interactive nature.

“As a cartoonist, I often do things that are illustration for an ad or a piece of artwork for a social post and it’s sort of there and gone. This is a thing where people spend time with the art and they’re looking at every little piece,” he said. “So, it’s very rewarding to know that people are enjoying my work.”

“We’re seeing a decline in overall donations, and the speed at which donations are rolling in.”

- DAVE CLARK

the bare minimum price for production, donations and paying the artist.

“I have to make the call whether the number is going to work or not by the 27th. It’s right on the line. If I said yes now, I could do it. And we would just pay for the printing and the shipping of everything,” he said. “So, if people like the idea, buy some. It’s helping a good cause and it’s a fun product you can’t get anywhere else.”

The puzzles are made in the U.S., which ensures their quality and keeps production as local as possible while reducing shipping carbon emissions

DONATIONS DOWN AT WCSS

There’s something poetic about a puzzle as a fundraiser for the WCSS, a group whose services help people fit in and reflect the needs of Whistler. WCSS services include no-cost support for mental-health challenges, financial insecurity and substance use, the Whistler Food Bank and the Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It centres.

The society celebrates 35 years in Whistler with a birthday celebration July 11 at 8000 Nesters Road from 5 to 7 p.m., with games, cake and food from Splitz Grill.

But services also need support to run,

and Dave Clark, director of fundraising and community engagement for WCSS, said donations in the last couple of years are declining, a trend he said is seen across non-profit sectors with inflation chewing up people’s ability to give back.

However, increased understanding around the need for community support for food security and mental health are cushioning the decline.

“We’re seeing a decline in overall donations, and the speed at which donations are rolling in,” Clark said. “I think there’s levels of understanding within society that are helping to keep everything a bit more elevated than it would have done in other financial crises we’ve seen in the past.”

This year’s food bank fundraiser saw $90,000 raised, and last year, they raised $118,000.

“We’re super thrilled that we’re able to meet our goal, but when we do compare year over year, there’s a downward trend,” Clark said.

The downward trend has been ongoing for the last 12 to 24 months, but compared to the last 10 years, Clark said the society is still on an upward trajectory.

“Similar to a stock market ticker, the last 10 years do continue to upward trend, but in between that there are ups and downs,” he said. “So, I think we’re currently experiencing one of those downward current trends.”

The cash-in-hand fundraiser is important because WCSS has more buying power

PIECE BY PIECE Lorne Craig is the inventor of the “See you in Whistler” puzzle, which is back for 2024. Proceeds go to the Whistler Community Services Society.

NEWS WHISTLER

Rainbow just over the hill in ‘top of the peaks’ Whistler parks update

THE

LONG-AWAITED RAINBOW PARK REOPENING IS ON TRACK FOR AN END-OF-JUNE OPENING

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

WHISTLER’S POPULAR Rainbow Park is on track for an end-of-June opening, council heard last week, though work will continue into the fall.

In a “top of the peaks” update at the June 11 committee of the whole, manager of parks and planning Martin Pardoe gave a rundown on 12 projects currently on the parks and planning department’s agenda.

Pardoe began with the project closest to the cutting of red ribbons: Rainbow Park, which is around the corner but not quite wrapped up.

“It’s on schedule to open at the end of June, [but] there’s some work that will continue through to the autumn,” he said.

The project has been on the go since 2022, with the main construction efforts carried out in 2023 while this year has been for finishing touches.

LOW DONATIONS FROM

Though the park will mostly be open for public uses, Pardoe said work in the fall will pertain to the food-truck area, at the railway crossing and around the washroom, though the facilities will still be usable.

The Rainbow Park project is fully-funded by Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funds from the province.

Of note, Pardoe added there “are no further Valley Trail closures at Rainbow Park.”

“We’re very pleased with how it’s all coming together,” he said.

Also on the agenda was Lakeside Park, which Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) crews have been working on since last fall to improve drainage and replace failing trees, which are to be replaced with more durable and climate-resistant ones.

While Lakeside Park is coming along, Pardoe added the grass growing there has work to do, too, and locals can help with that.

PAGE 12

than the average consumer, so while food donations are welcome, cash helps the food bank purchase items people need based on dietary restrictions and nutrition.

Food donations are still welcome, and Clark noted items that are often overlooked include cereals and protein bars—food people can eat without access to a facility for boiling water.

The Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It centres always need more furniture, clothing and construction materials, and items sold go to supporting community programs and divert waste from landfills.

Another passive way to give back is through WCSS’ refundable recycling program run at various stratas in Whistler.

“We can arrange to come by your strata development and pick up your refundables,

and again, all that money that comes from that goes directly back into programming,”

Clark said.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the refundable recycling program can ask for more information by calling the Re-Build-It Centre in Function Junction, or find more info at mywcss.org.

Craig’s puzzle is also a solid choice for the environment, with the entire work of art being recyclable.

“If you get frustrated by it, you chuck it in the recycling bin,” he said. “It’s not going to be a bunch of micro plastic leaching into the world forever. It’s satisfying on a number of levels.”

Find the fundraiser at indiegogo.com/ projects/whistler-cartoon-jigsaw-puzzlefundraiser-2-0#/. n

BIRD’S-EYE VIEW A drone view of Rainbow Park in Whistler as of June 2024. The popular local park is set to reopen to the public in the weeks ahead.

PHOTO BY KEVIN SIBBALD / COURTESY OF THE RMOW

“We know everybody wants to get out on the lawn—it takes the right growing conditions which we haven’t had in the last week, but things are looking good, but [we] ask people to respect the construction fences and closures,” he said.

Meanwhile, Meadow Park is in preconstruction, as explained by Pardoe, who said the RMOW intends to replace the splashpad and playground as they are at the end of their lifespan and no longer fit for use due to new public-health and safety standards, and lack of accessibility.

That project will be tendered this month or next, with a construction start planned for September 2024, and completion by early 2026.

CHUGGING ALONG

Among projects nearing completion, there’s the cemetery master plan, which Pardoe said was “paused” due to changing sales trends through 2023 as staff wanted to monitor those trends and see how they impacted the plan itself.

The plan, which includes updated fees and bylaws, accommodates an expanded range of memorial and internment options, and “ensures very long-term capacity needs,” said Pardoe. It will be completed in 2025.

The recreation trails strategy is also “chugging along,” with a raft of tasks completed and a draft report in the works. Pardoe said there is ongoing dialogue with the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, with a final

reported slated for fall of this year. From there, the RMOW will prepare a comprehensive trails plan.

Also mentioned was a disc golf feasibility study for which there is upcoming engagement opportunities.

For the wetlands enjoyers, Pardoe also highlighted the Millar Creek Wetlands viewing platform project.

“This is a project that was inspired by the Rotary Club of Whistler,” he said.

“It proposes to build a wildlife viewing platform on the Valley Trail just outside of

“In

- MARTIN PARDOE

Function Junction, similar to the one just north of Rainbow Park. It provides views over the adjacent wetland and with educational and interpretive opportunities.”

That project is working through referrals and municipal permitting, with a tentative construction start in fall 2024. It will be funded through the Rotary Club, private donations and the RMOW.

Meanwhile, there’s a bridge replacement along the Comfortably Numb trail in the works, while the municipality is looking at improvements to Pine Point Park, where Pardoe said there were significant unmanaged paths and desire lines that were impacting the

forest and foreshore.

“There’s opportunities to contain the environmental impacts, to restore some trampled vegetation and provide additional lake access points and management enforcement of that area.” he said.

The scope of that project would be some 300 metres of gravel trails along existing paths, an added swim dock, and low wood protection fences together with environmental restoration to mitigate any damage.

That project is also working through referrals with the Squamish and Lil’wat

happening.”

Nations, and municipal permitting, and has a tentative construction start of fall 2024 thanks to RMI funding.

TRAIL PROJECTS

Another two Valley Trail projects are on the books: The Alpha Lake portion which Pique has previously reported on, and plans to tackle the “pinch point” that is the side of Highway 99 in Bayshores, where the Valley Trail, the highway shoulder, a pedestrian crossing and a transit stop are all in close proximity.

Pardoe said the RMOW is working on how to create 150m of physically separated Valley Trail

from the highway, “not just a painted line.” The project would also include pad and servicing for a bus stop shelter, while the highway shoulder would be maintained for cycling.

“There’s currently back and forth between ourselves and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for review and hopefully approval,” said Pardoe, who added that, like many projects, it had a tentative fall construction start, and would be funded through the RMI.

Finally, the department is also working on a Village Stroll Tree Strategy, as previously reported, which should have draft documents tabled by fall, while officials are also just getting started on the Parks and Valley Trail Strategy which will guide decisions around the Valley Trail for the next 10 years.

“In short, there’s lots happening,” concluded Pardoe.

Questions from council ranged from the mentioned “trends” at the cemetery, to measuring park use.

On park use, Pardoe talked about expected increasing pressures on the parks system due to population growth and tourism.

“Our approach will be to figure out how we can better accommodate those demands within our existing parks space,” he said. “And I think when people go to Rainbow Park in a couple of weeks when it’s open, they’ll see how we’ve created spaces around the edges and a lot more seating opportunities for people in that park, and that would be an example of how it rolls out on the ground.”

Council voted to receive the report, which can be watched on the RMOW website. It begins at the 23-minute mark. n

Whistler to pay $1M for a kilometre of paving in 2024

STAFF CITED INCREASED COSTS AND MORE INVOLVED WORK AS THE REASON FOR THE PRICEY TARMAC

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has awarded a $1-million contract to Squamish-based Alpine Paving for Whistler’s road and valley trail reconstruction project for 2024.

Projects from the RMOW’s infrastructure and parks operations departments were brought together for a $1,043,491.75 contract, and include almost a kilometre of road, and 147 metres of the Valley Trail.

Sections of road include 300m of Lorimer Road, 266m of Whistler Way, 350m of Spring Creek Drive, and 50m of Alta Lake Road North, while sections of the Valley Trail to receive some love in 2024 are near the Meadow Park Sports Centre, in Bridge Meadows, and along Whistler Way—though as noted, the stretches consist of only 147m combined.

It only takes a metre of paving to necessitate a road closure, but according to the staff report, road and trail users can hopefully expect not much in the way of disruption.

“The work planned for busy road and Valley Trail sections will be scheduled to be paved during non-peak periods and take into consideration festivals, events, and minimizing disruption to business in the

village core area,” reads the staff report.

“Paving work is expected to begin in June and scheduled to be completed by the end of September.”

In presenting the contract to council at the June 11 regular meeting, the RMOW’s manager of infrastructure services Chelsey Roberts said officials would “like to get the road work completed as soon as possible to decrease any impact to the village.”

According to the report, only one bid was received for the project, which was advertised on the RMOW website in May of this year.

The bid from Alpine Paving was well within the RMOW budget of $1.2 million for 2024, meaning Alpine Paving’s $1,043,491.75 is 18 per cent below what the municipality expected the project to cost. Funding will come from the RMOW’s general fund, which is replenished through property taxes.

Roberts said this year’s project is intended to tackle deeper cracks in the road surface that regular patching can’t fix, and will require the removal of top asphalt layers and replacement to complete works.

During questioning, Councillor Ralph Forsyth queried how long the sections of the Valley Trail would be out of commission, to which Roberts said there is pre-construction work to complete, but paving itself would take a day. As for detours, Roberts said signage will be in place.

Coun. Jeff Murl asked about the cost of paving, noting the average cost per metre of asphalt is almost $1,000.

Roberts explained the sections needing work were in need of more attention, while there was an increase in costs of paving since the 2023 program, which will be factored in to future budgeting.

Coun. Jen Ford asked whether the RMOW could influence start times for construction, noting peak traffic times and proximity to schools.

“If we have any influence there I would love to see it exercised,” she said. Roberts responded the works would likely be carried out over summer break, and the municipality will advise on optimal start times.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the contract. n

CANADA DAY JULY 1

Registration & set up starts at 10:30am at the Pique tent located on Blackcomb Way

10:30am Sign in and photos

11:00am Bike Judging

11:30am Prizes

11:45am Line Up

12:00pm Parade begins

Whistler’s Community Parade back by popular demand!

HOLE’D UP A (small) pothole on Spring Creek Drive that will be removed after the 2024 paving project in Whistler.

PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

Whistler’s environment group gets a new executive director

PEGAH

POURKARIMI

WILL HELP GROW THE ASSOCIATION OF WHISTLER AREA RESIDENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS IT ENTERS ITS BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR

BY LIZ MCDONALD

THE ASSOCIATION of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) has a new executive director, Pegah Pourkarimi, who is hitting the ground running during the association’s busiest season.

Pourkarimi comes to AWARE with an entrepreneurial spirit and experience in nonprofits in Canada and internationally. AWARE advocates for everything environmental in Whistler, from public education to community gardens, evidence-based policy and more. The organization held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 19 at the Audain Art Museum, allowing community members to meet the board of directors.

Pourkarimi said her goal is to focus on connecting community partnerships and solidifying operational priorities identified in AWARE’s draft strategic plan.

“We have a draft strategic plan and are getting the input from all of the various community stakeholders and partners. And also we’ve got our AGM where we will learn how we can better collaborate to amplify our impact within the community,” she said.

The group’s last strategic plan was from

2021-23, which is why they need a refresh.

Pourkarimi is also focusing on supporting staff and volunteers during the organization’s busiest season.

Summer programs on the go include the Zero Waste Heroes program, where AWARE

helps events reduce their waste. This year the heroes program is showing up at Crankworx Whistler, Arc’teryx Climbing Academy, RBC GranFondo, Whistler Village Beer Festival and Whistler’s Farmers’ Market.

Also on the go is the association’s GROW program, which facilitates community greenhouses and gardens. GROW provides local, healthy food for Whistlerites, while also reducing carbon footprints. Community gardens also eliminate packaging waste and facilitate community connections while getting hands dirty.

Through the GROW program, AWARE recently installed two compost boxes and 18 greenhouse boxes at Alpha Lake Greenhouse, and built 10 garden boxes. Two were placed at Alpha and the other eight went to Cheakamus Community Garden. The work was a partnership between AWARE and Whistler Blackcomb, with the mountain operator contributing $4,400 to purchase materials and supplies through the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation EnviroFund. Whistler Blackcomb carpenters also joined in the work.

On top of her new role, Pourkarimi is the business owner of To The Next Journey, which produces small-batch hot sauce in Squamish, and sits on the board of the Squamish Farmers’ Market.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pegah to AWARE,” said Paul Dorland, AWARE board president, in a release.

“Under her leadership, she will drive actions related to programming, advocacy, research and innovation to advance AWARE’s Strategic Plan. She will guide our small-yetmighty team of staff and volunteers. She will help grow membership and build the community’s voice to advocate for positive outcomes on climate action, circular economy, land-use and habitat conservation.”

Pourkarimi’s hard work extends to her life as a mom of twin boys, and when she’s not immersed in food, she’s chasing her sons on the slopes and mountain biking trails. Her children centre her desire for sustainable and climate-resilient communities.

Funding for the executive director role comes from the Whistler Community Foundation’s Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF). WCF manages funds earmarked for grants and donations from various donors who want to give back to the community financially on a long-term basis. The ELF was created in 2001 with grant funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler and aims to fund charities whose actions target environmental benefits for Whistler’s community. n

FULLY AWARE Pegah Pourkarimi will help drive AWARE’s strategic plan and advocate for environmental action in Whistler.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEGAH POURKARIMI

Dementia programing needs space in Whistler

ANNUAL WHISTLER ALZHEIMER’S WALK RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER

BY LIZ MCDONALD

PROGRAMMING FOR Whistler seniors with dementia is currently on hold because of a lack of local dedicated space for seniors.

June was supposed to feature Minds in Motion programming, a fitness and social program for anyone in the early stages of dementia and their caregivers lead by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. It was slated for June 4 to 25 at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church, according to Rita Fu, marketing and communications officer for Alzheimer Society of B.C. The program started, but is now paused until the fall, pending appropriate space.

The program was sought after by organizers of Whistler’s Alzheimer Walk, which was held throughout the province on May 28. However, this year’s walk in Whistler was postponed because organizers felt funds raised for programming weren’t coming back into the community.

Erika Durlacher, a member of both the Mature Action Community (MAC) and Whistler Elders Enrichment Society, said the choice was a tough call.

“Alzheimer’s Society has for years promised to bring the Minds in Motion program to the community, and it wasn’t

happening in the last few years. The committee that I had formed decided that until it happens, they weren’t going to assist in getting a walk going anymore,” Durlacher said.

Since the program started, the walk’s date was moved to Oct. 6.

MAC director Charalyn Kriz said space constraints for seniors is frequently an issue.

“I ran into this when I was trying to do the Making Connections dementia program, which I started up in Whistler October 2022 because the Alzheimer’s Society wasn’t coming into Whistler at that time with their Minds in Motion program. But now that they have tried to come this spring, they also ran into the same problem,” Kriz said.

Appropriate facilities include a fitness space and an activity room, which can be merged, but there’s also a need for kitchen space for serving food and beverages. The space also requires wheelchair access, and nearby parking and outdoor recreating spaces are important, too.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

The Making Connections program currently runs at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. While grateful for the space, Kriz said more permanent facilities are necessary for senior programming and people with dementia.

She pointed to Pemberton’s recreation centre, which caters to youth and seniors, as a positive model for running seniors’ programming targeted at dementia patients.

“When I run my program, it’s a team of volunteers on a rotating basis. Every week, it’s different people,” Kriz said. “So, the dementia participants, some of them find they are not making the connection with people, because it’s always someone different. Whereas in Pemberton, they form friendships with the staff.”

According to Kriz, one factor contributing to lack of space is the high cost of Whistler real estate. She and other seniors spoke to the Resort Municipality of Whistler this spring about their desire for a designated space.

“A contributing factor to loneliness and isolation of seniors in Whistler is the lack of available space where seniors can meet, socialize, and in which special programs and activities and seminars can be held,” she said at the time.

Making Connections runs every Wednesday morning and includes fitness activities, socializing, card games, music therapy and a light lunch, depending on the day. It’s funded from a grant from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Enrolment is open to anyone in the Sea to Sky.

The program also showed a need for

caregiver support, so now, twice a month there are caregiver support sessions in partnership with the Whistler Public Library and Sea to Sky Hospice Society.

The caregiver support programs are for anyone who provides care to individuals with complex needs, whether it’s someone with dementia or a chronically ill child, or even a new parent who feels stressed or socially isolated.

The drop-in support group runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the first and third Friday each month. The program is free, and refreshments are available.

“It’s an opportunity for caregivers to get together and socialize over a cup of coffee and talk through some things, and have an outing away from the responsibility of whoever they’re looking after,” Kriz said.

In July and August, some senior activities created by the Whistler Elders Enrichment Society will operate from Spruce Grove Park and Fieldhouse, with dates finalized by the end of June, but the municipal property is only available during the summer. In winter months, it’s leased to the Whistler Waldorf School. The space provides indoor and outdoor recreating opportunities.

Whistler Elders Enrichment Society programming will continue in the fall at the Maury Young Arts Centre, and the group is applying for charitable status. n

Notice of Proposed Zoni ng andParking Amendment Bylaw- No Public Hearingto be held

Zoning andParking AmendmentBylaw (Cheakamus Crossing Phase2 RM-CD2 Zone) No.2448,2024(the“Proposed Bylaw”)

Purpose: Thepurpose of theProposedBylaw is to amendthe RM-CD2 zone to allowadditional density on Lot5 at 1475 MountFee Road.The Proposed Bylawamendsthe RM-CD2 zone with regulations specific to Lot5 to providea GrossFloor Area (GFA)increasefrom6,975 to 7,075 square metres, and FloorSpace Ratio(FSR) increasefrom0.68to0.69. TheProposedBylaw also raises themaximum GFA of any apartmentbuildingfrom3,500 to 3,650squaremetres.

SubjectLands: Thelands that arethe subjectof theProposedBylaw areshownonthe map attached to this notice, and arelegally describedasLOT 5DISTRICTLOT 8073 GROUP1 NEW WESTMINSTERDISTRICTPLANEPP111931

BylawReadings: Considerationofthe first, second andthird readings of theProposedBylaw will be at theRegular Council MeetingonJune 25,2024.

To learnmore: Acopy of theproposed Bylawand background documentationare availablefor review fromJune 11,2024 to June 25,2024 at:

•MunicipalHallat4325Blackcomb Way, Whistler,BC, during regular office hoursof8:00a.m.to 4:30 p.m.,Monday to Friday (statutory holidaysexcluded)

•Onlineonthe Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) websiteat: whistler.ca/RZ001186

Formoreinformation visit: whistler.ca

SCAN THEQRCODE FORA COPY OF THE PROPOSED BYLAW ANDBACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

Potshots and potholes: SLRD area directors take aim at roads contractor

‘IT’S A MESS, TO BE POLITE ABOUT IT’: DUFFEY

BY SCOTT TIBBALLS

A COMMITTEE OF Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) area directors put the proverbial boots to roads contractor, Miller Capilano, during a discussion on ongoing communication with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) at a June 12 meeting.

In delivering a brief update to the committee of area directors, the SLRD’s director of environmental services, Omar Butt, reported the provincial government indicated no plans to do any paving work on the Duffey Lake Road in 2024.

“It’s noticeably worse this year, for sure, so we’ll keep pushing and keep letting them know our comments on that road,” he said.

The Duffey—which is Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet—was noted for its poor road-surface quality by area directors in the region. Following Butt’s brief update, where he also revealed the province gave the SLRD a questionnaire to provide feedback on the performance of roads contractor Miller Capilano, which maintains the Duffey, local directors launched into criticism of the company.

“We don’t know what they’re doing until they’re doing it,” said Area C director, Russell

LAKE ROAD A SORE SPOT FOR REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Mack, who represents a stretch of the Duffey from Pemberton towards Joffre Lakes.

Mack also pointed out a handful of burnt-out cars on the Duffey that have yet to be cleared despite promises from various managers at Miller Capilano.

“We just can’t leave abandoned, burnt-out cars on the edge of the provincial highway,” said Mack.

He also levelled criticism at Miller Capilano staff for the quality of grading carried out on secondary roads in the area, a

Mainland, and here’s these holes in the road that have been there for years, almost. I’m down there quite often, and I’m dodging the same holes I’ve been dodging for years.”

It was the Duffey that soaked up the most ire however, with Area A director Sal Demare also joining in to talk about quality standards not being met, while alternate director for Area B, Jacquie Rasmussen (who represents the rest of the Duffey to Lillooet not covered by Mack), agreed communication is lacking, and that the Duffey needs “some

“I’m dodging the same holes I’ve been dodging for years.”

- RUSSELL MACK

lack of responsiveness, and a lack of recourse at higher levels of government when issues were brought up to MOTI representatives.

It’s not just the more rural areas impacted, but high-traffic areas, too, according to Mack.

“Even down through Whistler and Squamish, there’s potholes in the roads down there that have been there for months,” he said. “That’s probably one of the most highest-used roads in the province with all the folks travelling to Whistler from the Lower

TLC.” Rasmussen added it also lacks pullouts for traffic, and is generally in poor shape.

The only director present to offer defense of Miller Capilano was Whistler Councillor Jen Ford, who said she had rarely not seen maintenance work on Highway 99 in her years of living in the area, positing long-term potholes in the Whistler area are more likely simply re-opening every year.

“It feels like they’re not doing anything, but that’s not the case,” Ford said, but she was

alone in her sentiments.

Rasmussen also brought up changes in the climate as a growing factor in signing contracts, noting annual shifts in conditions threw out what had previously been more predictable maintenance schedules.

“This whole climate-change era of dealing with those major impacts needs to be reflected in those contracts, that there’s extra money or extra something to be able to address those while still being able to maintain all the regular work that has to occur,” she said.

“[The Duffey] has some geotechnical complexities and we’re always going to be dealing with that; it’s important for emergencies and it’s important for economic development because it’s one of the main ways that tourists come up from Vancouver, they go through Lillooet and then they head on over to Alberta.”

The issue of emergency access stood out: The Duffey is the northern exit route for the Sea to Sky corridor, and directors noted the vulnerability of the region if the southern route was blocked and they had to rely on the Duffey.

If the southern route was blocked, the Duffey is “our only way in or out of here other than the Highline and the Hurley—and that’s suspect at best,” Mack said. SEE PAGE 23 >>

Naturespeak: Promoting biodiversity by cleaning up our act

BY CLAUDE-ANNE GODBOUT-GAUTHIER

DO YOU EVER come home from your daily mental-health walk with the bottom of your sweater caked in pesky burs that take forever to pick out of the fabric and won’t come out in the wash (ask me how I know)? Or even worse, have you ever had to spend hours picking burs out of your pet’s otherwise adorably fluffy tail after zooming through a field?

Then you’ve had the displeasure of meeting common burdock, an invasive plant best known for its globe-shaped, prickly seedheads. Burdock was first reported in North America in the 1600s; originally from Europe, it is now commonly found in Whistler.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS?

Common burdock is easily recognizable by its large, heart-shaped leaves and purple, bristled flowers. It is sometimes confused with rhubarb, but the former has matte leaves and a woolly underside, whereas the latter has shinier leaves, red stems, and cones of creamcoloured flowers.

WHY DO WE CARE?

I want to acknowledge that common burdock has some practical uses. Herbalists employ it in traditional Chinese medicine, and the taproot is also consumed as a root vegetable in Japanese cuisine.

Nevertheless, burdock infestations can become a “sticky” issue: its large leaves can outshade and outcompete native plants, leading to biodiversity loss; there have also been instances of small birds and bats getting stuck in burs. Moreover, common burdock hosts powdery mildew and root rot, which damage crops and ornamental plants.

POTHOLES FROM PAGE 22

He highlighted emergency access as a key way to get the issue of the Duffey noticed at a higher level of government, because if the southern route was compromised, “everything coming into our corridor is going to come over the Duffey … and that road, well, it’s a mess, to be polite about it.”

Directors discussed moving the issue to the board level of the SLRD, and taking it to the provincial government through the local MLA.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The clingy burs burdock uses to spread its seeds may be a clever adaptation, but don’t be fooled—burdock is not infallible. By controlling the seed spread and digging out the plants, we can noticeably reduce the prevalence of burdock in Whistler.

Case in point: The Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) has worked with volunteers to remove burdock from the Valley Trail and other public sites since 2018, through a program called Banish Burdock. Thanks to the work of some dedicated volunteers, several areas are now showing very little burdock regrowth. There is hope, and we are seeing native plants repopulate many of these former “burdock deserts.”

The beauty of Banish Burdock is it allows you to juggle your busy life and hectic work schedule while still supporting Whistler’s biodiversity. You see, Banish Burdock volunteers select a burdock patch to “adopt” for the whole summer, so they can work on controlling the pesky invasive when they please.

The other advantage of Banish Burdock is you don’t need to be a plant nerd, seasoned landscaper, or conservation expert to get involved. All you need is some elbow grease and a willing attitude; the SSISC staff will teach you everything you need to know and even lend you some tools for the summer.

DON’T BE ‘PRICKLY’; IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

To say Whistler’s natural environment is special is beyond cliché, but let’s not take it for granted. As stewards of this land, it is our responsibility to tend to it—which, in my opinion, includes controlling the invasive species that threaten it.

Visit ssisc.ca/burdock to learn more about how you can help.

Naturespeak is prepared by the Whistler Naturalists. To learn more about Whistler’s natural world, go to whistlernaturalists.ca. n

Seeds Annuals

Perennials

Hanging Baskets

Bagged Soil

Vegetables

Planters + Pots

Tools + Supplies Lawn Care

WIN ME!

Miller Capilano Highway Services is responsible for Highway 99 from Function Junction in Whistler, to Duffey Lake, as well as the Pemberton Meadows Road and Pemberton Portage Road to D’Arcy, together with secondary roads near the SLRD. Highway 99 between Function Junction and Horseshoe Bay is maintained by an affiliate company of Miller Capilano, known as Miller Capilano Maintenance Corporation. n

JUST A PRICK Three looks, one unwanted plant. Common burdock is hiding in plain sight.

PHOTOS BY CLAUDE-ANNE GODBOUT-GAUTHIER

‘We are at risk of becoming a second Highway of Tears’

FORMER OPERATOR OF ONLY INTERCITY BUS SERVICE PAST WHISTLER URGES POLITICIANS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT SAFETY OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING ‘OVER THE MOUNTAINS’

BY RÓISÍN CULLEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

THE FORMER owner/operator of independent transportation service “Owl Bus” is urging politicians to take action to provide transportation between Mount Currie and Lillooet. Lillooet local Jill Stainsby fears people will have no option but to hitchhike as no other intercity service exists past Whistler.

Stainsby ran the twice-weekly intercity Owl Bus route between Whistler and Kamloops for nearly five years.

She parked her reliable white Dodge Journey for good on Feb. 1, citing her advancing age as her reason for stepping down. At the time, Stainsby stressed another transit company needed to take her place.

In a letter written May 25 and addressed to B.C. Premier David Eby, transportation minister Rob Fleming, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Area B Director Vivian BirchJones, and Lillooet Friendship Centre Society executive director Carol Camille, Stainsby highlighted the declining state of the Duffey Lake Road.

In her letter, Stainsby said a reliable BC

Transit or subsidized service would empower locals to access more services, and expressed her fears that former passengers’ safety will be compromised.

“Please give this request careful scrutiny and consider the safety and capacity that would be provided to residents of this area,” she said. “We are at risk of becoming a second Highway of Tears.”

trucks are increasing their footprints on the route, while other industry is also picking up. “The Talisker Gold Mine in Gold Bridge is starting up again, planning to take its gold to the New Afton Mine processing facility near Kamloops,” she added.

Stainsby has also seen multiple crashes on the route while driving her bus.

“It seems to me that there are motorcycle

“Lillooet needs a subsidized service over the mountains.”

- JILL STAINSBY

The Lillooet woman went on to point out the Duffey Lake Road is in “rough” shape. “Two recent landslides have changed Duffey Lake, which used to stop at a log pile at the boat launch at the north end but now continues at least 100 metres further before it becomes Cayoosh Creek again,” wrote Stainsby. “The road is being undermined and the cement barriers are getting closer and closer to being pulled down, mostly but not entirely on the water side to the west of the road. The entire asphalt route is cracked, dented, folded and with new potholes and rockfalls.”

Stainsby explained logging and BC Hydro

fatalities every summer long weekend, and I have seen two such accidents this spring, although I do not know if they were fatal,” she wrote. “The bikes rested in ditches. I have been stuck behind several accidents and my vehicle was stuck south for five days after that big landslide.”

Stainsby added the Duffey is not just a tourist route for those travelling to Joffre Lakes or nearby campgrounds. People use the route to go shopping, get to work and to get medical care.

“More services exist in Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish than in Cache Creek

or Savona or even Merritt. Transit access or subsidized service would be beneficial for all,” she wrote.

The former transit operator said most of her customers were First Nations. She sometimes allowed people to ride her bus for free.

“While Lillooet has approximately 2,500 residents, many of them Indigenous, the surrounding population is reportedly 5,500 people,” she said. “There are also populated First Nation territories located along unpaved Forest Service Roads. Lillooet needs a subsidized service over the mountains.”

Stainsby requested the government “prioritize a full repaving and renewing on Highway 99 from Whistler north to Lillooet and the Southern Interior of B.C. at the junction between Highways 97 and 99, 11 kilometers north of Cache Creek.

“If this needed to be done in two stages, then the Electoral Area B of the SquamishLillooet Regional District needs prioritizing,” she said.

The SLRD received Stainsby’s letter and escalated it to the board level.

Pique reached out to the Premier of B.C., Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, SLRD Electoral Area B director, and Lillooet Friendship Centre Society for comment, but did not receive responses before press time. Check piquenewsmagazine.com for updates. n

STAY SAFE Former operator of Owl Bus, Jill Stainsby, is calling for safe, reliable transport between Mount Currie and Lillooet.

PHOTO BY ROISIN CULLEN

Congratulations WHISTLER SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADS

Whistler Professional Firefighters, Local 3944, would like to Congratulateour GRAD 2024 scholarship recipients

We wish them allthe best in their future endeavours. CharlotteEvans

Joern Rohde Photography courtesy of WSS

CharleySutton

M e t r o n o m i c s " A l l R o u n d e r " A l u m n i

PhoenixStanshell &David Peatfield(2023)

Juliette Pelchat& WeiTienHo(2022)

Jenica Felius &Isabella Cross(2021)

KaiSmart &SamanthaDeally (2020)

• • •

Co ng ra tu la ti ons Wh is tl er Gr ad ua te s2 02 4!

Congratulationstothe tenrecipientsofthe ResortMunicipalityofWhistler's scholarshipsfromWhistlerSecondary's Classof2024.

NatalieBridge

Ossian Dalgliesh

Emilie Des iens

John Ferris

Daniel Ford

JaethamMasculino

John Paguia

Madeline Pardoe

Luke Seco

Ben amin Unruh

Congratulationstoall of youand best ishes foryour ourneyahead.

ARTDEN DUYF MEMORIAL BURSARY

ARTS WHISTLER ARTAWARD

BOB BROWN-RICHARDHEINE MEMORIAL ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP

BONNYMAKAREWICZ MEMORIAL –WHISTLER PIQUE AWARD

CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS ASSSOCIATION:SEA TO SKYAWARD

CHILITHOM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

CREEKSIDE DENTAL SCHOLARSHIP

CUPE 2010 SCHOLARSHIP

CUPE 779SCHOLARSHIP

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -AppliedDesign, Skills,and Technologies

Classof2024

Whistler Secondar y’s28thGraduatingClass

SCHOLARSHIPS ANDAWARDS

DYLANJONES LEADERSHIP AWARD

FAIRMONT CHATEAUWHISTLER AWARD

GIBBONS WHISTLER AWARD

GORDON MCKEEVER MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP

GRAVITY LOGIC AWARD

HOWESOUNDSTUDENTLOANASSOCIATION BURSARY KELLYBLUNDEN MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP

KELTY AND RILEY DENNEHY SCHOLARSHIP

KELTYAND RILEY DENNEHY SCHOLARSHIP

MARGOFRASER MEMORIALAWARD

METRONOMICS “All-Rounder”AWARD

MIKEWALSH MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP

NESTER’SSCHOLARSHIP

RAVEN SCHOLARSHIP

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -Community Service (Volunteer Activity)

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -FineArts

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -Indigenous Languages and Culture

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -Languages

DISTRICT/AUTHORITYSCHOLARSHIP -PhysicalActivity (and Health)

REALESTATEASSOCIATIONOFWHISTLER AWARD

RESORTMUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER AWARDS

SEA TO SKY PRINCIPAL’S &V.P’S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

SOPPSCHOLARSHIP

SPRING CREEK PACAWARD

SQUAMISH-LILLOOET REGIONAL DISTRICT BURSARY

TINNEYMEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

TONYTYLER MEMORIAL AWARD

WALTER ZEBROWSKI MEMORIAL ROTARYSCHOLARSHIP

WENDY THOMPSONSCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB FOUNDATION-PETER XHIGNESSE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WHISTLER FIREFIGHTERS -LOUISE BUCHHOLZMEMORIAL

WHISTLER LAKES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION AWARD

WHISTLER MOUNTAINSKI CLUB AWARD

WHISTLER ORTHODONTIC CENTER SCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER REALESTATECO. AWARD

WHISTLER SCHOLARSHIPFUNDSCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER SEAWOLVES SWIM CLUB SCHOLARSHIP

WHISTLER SKATINGCLUB AWARD

WHISTLER YOUTH SOCCERCLUB, ANDREE JANYK & BOB CALLADINE AWARDS

WSS MATH TEAMSCHOLARSHIP

WSS PACAWARD

WSS PERFORMINGARTSSCHOLARSHIP

From thetraditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Lil̓wat7úl,and St’át’imcPeoples,itiswithsincere gratitude that we recognizethe continuedgenerosityofWhistlerand corridor businesses, organizations, andindividuals in theirgreat suppor tof Whistler Secondar ygraduates.These generous acts form an impor tant par tnership in thedevelopmentofour youthinreaching theircareerand educationalgoals anddreams, as they become thriving,contributingmembersofsociety Thankyou from thestudents, parents,and staffofWhistlerSecondar y.

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca

Please accept ourmostsincere congratulationstoeachofyou for successfully completing asignificant milestoneinyourlife- your SecondarySchool Graduation. Mayyou achievegreat success in your educationaljourney,excel in your personal pursuits,and embrace theexcitingopportunities andchallenges that lieahead as youstepintothe world. Allthe

WALDORF SCHOOL GRADS

John Paguia

Gab Lacaden Sam Pita

Landon Courtney Andrei Stewart

Photos by Joern Rohde Photography

Whistler Scholarship

Sean Felius

Tia Horn

Ben Unruh

Soren Weetman

Samarra Wrightson

Ossian Dalgliesh

Emilie Desbiens

Madeleine Pardoe

Ben Fish

Wendy Thompson Scholarship

Bella Askew

Maika Shishido

Charlie Bradley

Tyler Craig

Kianna Houlding-Heisterman

Jojo Ng

Walter Zebrowski Rotary

Memorial Scholarship

Sophia Cross

Soren Weetman

Sarah McSeveney Scholarship

Isabella Mounzer

Kelty & Riley Dennehy Scholarship

Emilie Desbiens

Lyla Hirsh

Tyler Sopp

Grad Legacy Scholarship

Shahd Kizawi

Doug & Mary Forseth Scholarship

Amelia Richards

Jennibelle Lin

Thandi Karanjot

Chili Thom

Memorial Scholarship

Jojo Ng

Ezrai Phillips

Emily Noort

Marshall James

Don MacLaurin Memorial Rotary Club of Whistler & Cheakamus Community Forest Scholarship Fund in 2024

Image: Chili Thom Memorial Scholarship winner Ezrai Phillips (left), with WCF CEO Claire Mozes (right). Image credit Joern Rohde.

Congratulations to the class of 2024

From your community grocer! We wish you all the best on your future endeavours

Photo by Toshi Kawano / Sea to Sky Photography

Ecstatic highs and crushing lows of the Back Forty

DURING ALL my years in Whistler, I’ve mostly kept racing and competition at arm’s length. I had certainly never considered entering a marathon XC race. I remember interviewing participants in the Nimby 50 many years ago and wondering why rank-andfile riders wanted to put themselves through such a physical and mental ordeal on their weekend.

BY VINCE SHULEY

A chance chairlift ride on a powder day back in March of this year with my friend Quinn Lanzon started a reversal on that thinking. After a couple minutes of ski chat, he got down to business.

“So, are you doing my race this summer?” he asked.

“Uh, I thought it was sold out already?” I replied, somewhat caught off guard, grasping for an out.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you in,” he said with a wry smile, leaving me no way to wriggle out of this one.

“Alright, done,” I said, acting as if I was not intimidated at all by what I had just signed up for.

Lanzon’s race is the annual Back Forty, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association’s (WORCA) biggest race of the year in length, in elevation gain, and in participation. The 2024 event took place June 8 in unusually warm and sunny conditions (it normally rains every year on race day), with more than 270 riders lining up to ride three timed XC segments on Whistler trails, totalling

28 kilometres and more than 1,300 metres of climbing. Between segments, riders are treated to aid stations where they can gather themselves, rehydrate and refuel with some snacks. Dozens of volunteers marshal the course and help with race logistics, as well as managing an après event at Meadow Park for hundreds of exhausted mountain bikers.

My preparation for the Back Forty started about eight weeks before race day. I made sure to frequent my indoor trainer to build up my fitness, and a one-day spring ski tour around the Spearhead Traverse helped get my mental state ready for hanging out in the pain cave. Most Whistler bike trails were covered in snow in March and April, so I drove out to Pemberton to sharpen my early season single-track skills. In the three weeks before the race, I pre-rode each

self-seeded, so I took my place in the second wave of riders, somewhere at the back of the fast guys. I managed the climb up to HiHi via See Colours and Puke without vomiting, which I considered my first victory of the day. A few forced and unforced errors on the climbs in Tunnel Vision slowed me down a bit, but I was in a good place climbing back up Single Track Mind before a decent run down AM/PM.

With the longest stage done, after a brief refuel next to Forecast Coffee I began the grind up the Flank. The wide climbing trail made passing (and getting passed) easy without anyone needing to pullover and break their pace. I dropped into Pura Vida thankful the roots were not glazed wet and trying to stay as high as I could on the awkward corners. After tricky climbs on Three Birds, I noticed my left

The cramps in my left leg were so bad I couldn’t stand on my pedals anymore, so I was forced to sit on my saddle and bobble over roots and rocks.

segment of the Back Forty course so I knew what to expect and when. A friend showed me a couple of faster lines on Pura Vida. I attempted—unsuccessfully—to make it up the Westside’s infamous Twenty-Seven Switchbacks climb without stopping. I considered my line choice on the rooted, slippery chute on Lower Billy Epic, where I ran into another rider (likely from out of town) who had signed up for the Back Forty and—after trying to negotiate the double black trail on his pinner XC bike—told me he wasn’t going to do the race anymore.

While I felt prepared, I knew it was going to be hard. And that’s the whole point of the Back Forty.

The Stage 1 start on Cheakamus trails was

quad beginning to cramp. I finished Stage 2 in just under an hour and cooled down in the shade on Stonebridge Drive before pedalling up to the start of Stage 3 on Beaver Pass.

Veterans of the Back Forty know TwentySeven Switchbacks all too well. It’s an old-school climb to access the trails off the northern end of the Rainbow-Sproatt Flank, built back when Whistler mountain bikers were tougher. While a great trail for e-bikes, during the Back Forty it resembles a scene out of The Walking Dead with riders pedalling, stopping and shambling their way up the final big climb of the day. My legs gave out several times, and I joined the shambling procession before mustering enough grit to get back on my bike.

What felt like hours later, I ran into Lee Lau, who was marshalling at the top of Billy Epic. The familiar face lifted my spirits and the heavy metal blaring out of his portable speaker was the perfect segue into the final big descent.

The bottom of Billy is where everyone thinks the race ends, but one final climb awaited us. The cramps in my left leg were so bad I couldn’t stand on my pedals anymore, so I was forced to sit on my saddle and bobble over roots and rocks. A spectator yelled I was a few hundred metres from the finish line so I dug deep into whatever determination I had left. Then, it was over. I hit my stretch goal of under three hours total time, placing midpack in 89th place in Men’s Open.

“[The Back Forty] gives the elite racers a course they don’t often get to ride, and it gives everyone else a course where finishing is an accomplishment in itself,” said Lanzon once we had both collected ourselves after the race. “I can appreciate what everyone goes through. It’s hard. Like, really hard.”

After organizing the event for the past five years, making adjustments to the course and dialling in the planning and logistics, Lanzon—who has served for years on WORCA’s board of directors—has officially handed the reigns of the Back Forty to WORCA’s events team led by race director Kat Pohran. That meant he could race in the 2024 event himself and ride the same ecstatic highs and crushing lows that define the marathon XC experience.

I haven’t decided whether I’ll do the Back Forty again next year. It was a great way to re-enter mountain biking after a couple of years of injuries, and I feel more than ready for any alpine epic this summer.

But I’m also not in a rush to return to that Stage 3 purgatory. So I’ll call it 50/50 at this point.

Vince Shuley is now ready to resume pedalling. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n

FEELS LIKE FORTY DAYS The annual Back Forty Marathon XC race tests riders’ physical and mental limits on Whistler trails.

PHOTO BY MARGUS RIGA

Through their eyes

A Lil’wat-led education system is turning the tables for generations to come

By Roisin Cullen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photos courtesy of Xet’òlacw Community School

Xet’òlacw Community School on the Lil’wat Nation’s traditional territory was created in 1972, when a group of parents who were not happy about how Canada was treating their children decided to take matters into their own hands.

Today, the school stands as a beacon of hope—a place where an education system built on resilience helps future leaders to connect with their culture and traditional territory, and where the Lil’wat Nation’s youngest members are turning the tables for generations to come.

Today, Rosa Andrews is the proud principal of the school and a welcoming face to current and past students alike. She has revolutionized the local education system and created a friendly atmosphere for locals.

“I was a student in the Indian Day School. I was afraid to go to the public school,” Andrews recalls. “My brothers were in the public school system and they weren’t being treated right. One of their friends was punched and knocked out by a teacher. My brothers had to find their way home. They hid in the ditches all the way home because the teacher was driving the road looking for them.”

Andrews’ mother decided to take action when her boys refused to ever go back to school. “They said if she wanted them to go back to school, she would have to make our own school,” she says. “That’s when my mom and a few others took over the Indian Day School in Mount Currie. They brought in elders to teach us. I started to learn that we had songs, a language, a culture and our ways.”

This momentous change was the start of something special, the start of restoring balance. “The way the education system was going meant that it wasn’t instilling pride in us,” says Andrews. “It was a form of assimilation. It was a continuation of ‘Kill the Indian in the Child.’”

Xet’òlacw Community School’s supercourses are an integral part of a curriculum that prioritizes protecting their students’ sense of self. In addition to regular classes like math, English, Ucwalmicwts, social studies, and science, Xet’òlacw Community School runs five supercourses throughout the year. Each course lasts at least five days, and represents an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an area of interest, to develop new skills, engage with traditional and contemporary aspects of Lil’wat culture, and explore potential career directions.

The supercourses usually run in September, December, February, April, and June. This year’s supercourses include: mountain biking, restaurant kitchen prep, visual arts, exploring the territory, ultimate frisbee, traditional crafts, golf and frisbee golf, bull-riding, Shakespeare, cedar-hat making, independent studies, grad prep, and construction. Past students were able to learn woodwork, skiing and snowboarding, hunting and fishing, drivers ed, philosophy, wilderness first aid and emergency preparedness, and equine studies.

The school’s annual supercourses are favourites for students and teachers alike. Grade 8 students embark on a camping trip to Skelula7 (Owl Lake), while Grade 11 has a college and university exploration trip. Meanwhile, Grade 12 hikes the long trail to the Stein.

Charlotte Jacklein is one of the teachers on the supercourses.

“In my current supercourse, exploring the territory, we are canoeing on One Mile Lake, hiking in the Duffey, whitewater rafting on the Green River, horseback riding near Birkenhead Lake, and visiting elder and hereditary chief Hubie Jim at Sutikalh in the Duffey,” she says. “In addition to exploring their traditional territory in a variety of ways, students help plan and shop for meals, discuss and decide on possible trip routes based on weather, conditions, and group needs, and develop their teamwork and leadership skills.”

Andrews says the courses have run for as long as she can remember.

“The supercourses are more our way of connecting kids to their land and traditional territory,” she says. “When I take the Grade 12s out to the Stein Valley, I bring a spiritual leader and elder. We do our sweat ceremony. The kids build the sweat lodge. They learn the proper procedure for building a sweat lodge. The elder and spiritual leader are both there to teach them and guide them. They go through the sweat. When I’ve gone into a sweat with those kids, I see and hear the learning that’s going on there.”

For many students, it is their first time in a sweat. The trip gives them time to disconnect from the modern world and connect with what really matters.

“It’s really good for them because there’s no WiFi,” says Andrews. “They have to disconnect themselves and reconnect to the land and the spiritual connections that are out there. When they get to Grade 12, it’s a long hike. On the trail, the kids are learning team-building. In our culture, it’s not all about us. We are always thinking about community and how we can contribute to our community.”

Photos taken by the students display the important connection between the elders and the community’s youngest members. Andrews has seen first-hand how culture saves

“The way the education system was going meant that it wasn’t instilling pride in us. It was a form of assimilation. It was a continuation of ‘Kill the Indian in the Child.’” - Rosa Andrews

lives. One student’s story has stayed with her as it shows just how important the supercourses can be.

“There was one student and for one reason or another, his parents moved away,” she says. “He ended up in Alberta. When he came back to us in high school, he was very disconnected. He was very troubled with alcohol and drugs. He started coming to school but he couldn’t stay in a classroom. I started to feed him. I kept asking him if he was hungry. I gradually got him into the classroom, and he started to take classes.”

“When we got there, he found a drum that somebody had brought. He started to sing and said he wanted to learn how to drum. He wanted his own name. We said we would work on that. The fog came and we couldn’t fly out. We decided to have a naming ceremony… ”

- Rosa Andrews

The following year, Andrews took the young man on the Stein trip with her Grade 12s.

“When we got there, he found a drum that somebody had brought. He started to sing and said he wanted to learn how to drum,” she says. “He wanted his own name. We said we would work on that. The fog came and we couldn’t fly out. We decided to have a naming ceremony…

“They were sitting at the sacred fire talking about the name. All of a sudden, I heard the boy holler. He started running towards me. He was so excited that he didn’t see the guideline on my tent. He hit it and fell.”

The young student was so excited because he had finally found his name.

The group then held a name-giving ceremony for the young man, with all the Grade 12s joining in.

“In our name-giving ceremony … You lift the person up. We put him on a block of wood. We wrapped him in a bear hide,” Andrews says.

“During the ceremony, he kept saying to himself that he wasn’t going to cry. When he officially got his name, one of the students said that they wanted to sing him a song. They sang him the Bear Song. Then another student wanted to sing him a song and they kept doing that.”

After he was honoured with the songs, the young boy vowed to reconnect to his language and to become a fluent speaker. “When we take the kids out onto the land, it’s about connecting them to who they are as Ucwalmícw, people of the land,” Andrews says.

Former students are always welcome back to the school when they feel lost or just when they want to feel at home.

“A lot of students come back. They come back as education assistants,” says Andrews. “There’s got to be balance. The mission and vision of our school is to instil pride in who we are. We have to educate our children in a way that we can entrust them to be our future leaders as we have been entrusted. Within that, there has to be balance. Our children have to be able to survive in both worlds. They have to survive in the Western world with their identity intact. Right now, the Western way is so dominant that we go off balance.”

Read more at slcc.ca. n

WHISTLER EXCELLENCE AWARDS GALA

James Lee named to Team Canada golf roster

THE PART-TIME WHISTLERITE HAS ALSO COMMITTED TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

BY DAVID SONG

JAMES LEE hits fairways on a regular basis, and his career is progressing as nicely as most of his tee shots do.

Earlier this year, Lee was selected to Team Canada’s NextGen golf program. He turned heads with a blistering 2023 season that included back-to-back victories at the BC Junior and Northern California Junior tournaments to go along with silver at the Canadian Junior Championship.

“It’s great,” said Lee. “To be on any national team is quite the honour, especially the Canadian one.”

The 17-year-old is already a fairly decorated athlete. In addition to his No. 1 ranking in the B.C. Order of Merit, he was named the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Junior Player of the Year in 2023. Lee splits his time between Whistler and Burlingame, Calif., and plays competitive

hockey during winter months.

His two main pursuits couldn’t be more different: the methodical, calculated slow burn of golf versus the fast, physical and team-oriented nature of hockey. Yet after his mom Jennifer (a former figure skater) put him on ice, he grew to appreciate both sports.

roughly seven years old. He remembers falling in love with the game quickly and spending hours at other Bay Area venues like Mariner’s Point, where staff members sometimes kicked him out for overstaying his assigned time slot.

With two Canadian parents, Lee spent his childhood travelling between British

“I would say my game is built on accurate driving and a good short game.”

- JAMES LEE

“Both teach you different life lessons and pose different mental challenges,” Lee said. “In hockey, you have to be disciplined and accountable to your team. You have to follow directions and a system, etc. In golf, it’s more about discipline and accountability to yourself. Patience is a big one.”

‘A

CURIOUS PERSON’

Lee joined his first kids’ golf camp at Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame when he was

Columbia, Ontario and California. His family eventually acquired a Whistler home and he wasted little time scoping out the Sea to Sky snow sports scene. Golf is still priority No. 1, however, and Lee has become versatile and even-keeled on course.

“I would say my game is built on accurate driving and a good short game,” he said. “I don’t hit it really far, maybe a little above average, but then I chip and putt nicely. When my irons are on, I tend to have a good week.”

At one point, Lee was coached by

Golf Canada veteran Matt Wilson in Bear Mountain, brushing shoulders in the process with established men’s and women’s athletes. Joining the national team wasn’t front of mind back then, but he recognized it as a possibility.

Five years later, he’s made it—with much more work still ahead.

Golf is arguably one of the most difficult sports to achieve consistent success in, and virtually anyone can win any round on any given day. That’s how Lee approaches his tournaments: he needs to give his all, regardless of how his opponents are ranked or how he performed at the last event.

Such an attitude will serve him well in the Ivy League both in and out of competition. Lee has committed to play for Princeton University in fall 2025 alongside fellow Canadian Eric Zhao, and eagerly awaits his first cuts at the NCAA Division I level.

“I’m just a really curious person in general and I love learning new things about golf,” said Lee. “There’s so many different intricacies, and I enjoy spending five or six hours messing around to see what works.

“Receiving awards is obviously very nice, but ultimately that’s not what I play for. I play because I love the game and I want to get better. I want to be the best version of myself.” n

TEE FOR TEAM CANADA It’s all out in front of James Lee, who was recently named to Team Canada.

Whistler Wolves launches youth boys’ program

THE SEA TO SKY RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM REPEATED AS NINES CHAMPS AND IS 2-0 TO BEGIN THE REGULAR SEASON

BY DAVID SONG

THE LOCAL wolfpack is off and running to begin the 2024 season.

Whistler’s Wolves defended their Rugby League British Columbia (RLBC) Nines Tournament title with a convincing lateMay effort at South Surrey Athletic Park. After proceeding through their round robin stage undefeated, the Wolves eliminated the Vancouver Dragons 20-12 in the final.

It was a hard-fought match, with both squads entering halftime tied 4-4. Harvey Lew cashed in two second-half tries to break the deadlock for Whistler, and Isac Cygler’s allaround performance earned him MVP honours.

Kane Strachan, Blake Mahovic, Conal Donnelly and Michael Balanda also distinguished themselves, with Balanda voted Player of the Day by his peers.

“We were able to withstand the wet and physicality from all teams down in Surrey to go back-to-back which is great for our club,” said Strachan. “Now we are set on going further in the regular season competition.”

As of this writing, the Wolves have downed both of their opponents in regularseason fifteens action.

Whistler bested the Vancouver Valley Vipers 48-30 in the opener, with Lew and Guy Williams finding the scoresheet. The Point Grey Thunder proved a stiffer challenge last weekend, but the Wolves grinded out a 34-30 breakthrough.

“I’m just extremely happy to see so many guys come out from the Sea to Sky and want to play rugby league in Whistler,” head coach Blake Stewart remarked. “We had 20 players suit up at the Nines [in Surrey]. It’s just another example of rugby league growing in the corridor, and hopefully we can continue this both on and off the field.”

PLAYING WITH MENTORS

One key way to foster more growth is to engage the next generation, and that’s what the Wolves are doing with their new program for boys aged 15 to 18.

This initiative aims to build a pathway for talented youth athletes to enter the provincial pipeline. The Canada Rugby League Association (CRLA) is organizing a

game between Team B.C. and Team Ontario in September, and Stewart thinks some of the local teens can play at that level—especially with intentional training.

“Some kids might be intimidated to see 25 to 30 men running around playing rugby. Maybe they don’t want to join in [at first],” said Stewart. “Getting them skill development specific to their age group was a big factor. I want to make sure that they can come play and train with a mentor.”

Of course, the Wolves are equally accommodating of novices and newcomers to the sport in their youth sessions, which run Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. on the Whistler Secondary School field. The goal is to get more people involved, no matter what they feel comfortable with.

High-level teens are always welcome to train with the men if desired, while Stewart and some of his team leaders take a hands-on role in facilitating adolescentoriented programming.

ORGANIC GROWTH

Sea to Sky rugby enthusiasts of all ages and aptitudes now have a wealth of opportunity to lace up their cleats. The Axemen, fresh off another Division 2 playoff championship, offer rugby union in the winter and spring while the Wolves play rugby league during summer months.

League is more fluid and fast-paced than union, with fewer stoppages in play and a limit of six tackles before a team turns the ball over to its opponent. Many local athletes like Strachan and Mahovic partake in both codes, even if they didn’t do so growing up.

“We have the Axemen doing amazing things in Squamish. Our guys play for them, their guys play for us and what happens is both clubs grow organically,” Stewart said. “The [annual] Nines Tournament is the first exposure that most people get to the game of rugby league.”

Wolves sponsors like Stinky’s on the Stroll and The Backyard pub have also been “unreal from start to finish,” according to Stewart. Each establishment helped provide a bus for the team, allowing players to travel to the Lower Mainland for away games relatively hassle-free.

Learn more about the Whistler Wolves on their Facebook page at facebook.com/ WhistlerWolvesRL.  n

Meet with me via video conference, telephone, and in person

Watering your lawn only once a week saves as much as 37,600 litres a month.*

HOWLIN FOREVER The Whistler Wolves are starting fast in their 2024 regular season.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLAKE STEWART

SHOLTO SHAW

Three cheers for summer’s first long weekend and some real Canadian gems

A NEW TWIST ON OUR GRANDDADDIES—GO VEGGIE DOGS ALL THE WAY

HIP, HIP, HOORAY! And throw in a double yay! It’s the first real long weekend of summer coming up, and this year Canada Day (that’s July 1, for all you come-from-away visitors) falls right on the holiday Monday. On top of that, for the first time in a while Whistler’s Canada Day parade is back in real style so you can’t help but cheer, or at least cheer up.

BY GLENDA BARTOSH

After a four-year hiatus, the resort is revving up to host one of the coolest celebrations that captures the imaginations of visitors and locals alike. What’s hopefully back as an annual event is here to stay— the Canada Day parade and celebrations. (I like how Councillor Ralph Forsyth described it in an earlier Pique article: “The ‘great alchemy’ of Whistler that is guests and locals, intermingling, doing things we all enjoy.”)

Best of all, this year’s event has been given a good, solid re-think so it includes local First Nations’ input along with consideration of our most pressing existential challenge in mind.

Staff at the beautiful Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre have been part of the

planning process, plus this year, for the first time, participants are preparing for a real people-powered, no-heavy-infrastructure, no-motorized-vehicles event in light of the climate crisis. Colourful floats are definitely still part of it all. But this year, think pedal power, e-bikes, human power—you name it—to generate power sans fossil fuels, with imagination and creativity taking front and centre stage.

I can’t wait! Rain or shine, it’s going to be a blast. And given the July 1 weekend, which pretty much flows right into July 4 celebrations, given all our U.S. visitors, the first weekend of July pretty much turns into summer-party-central for Whistler and much

of the Sea to Sky.

But if you’re one of those locals who likes to pick up, pack up and get away from it all, I’ve got you covered, too. Hopefully, you’re on the no-heavy-infrastructure, no-motorized-vehicles vibe as you head out for your summer fun—or at least you go-low as much as you can. After all, the whole concept behind a vacation is to “get away” from normal, so why not take the opportunity to explore some low-footprint ways of living you might not usually do.

Youth Time Magazine, an online platform run for and by young people, has a great list of tips on how to have a greener vacay. How about buying that swimsuit or camping gear

BEST CANUCK CAMPFIRE BEANS EVER

You can prep this at home before you go and take it along or, better, heat it over a tiny fire in an old blackened pot just like our grandaddies used to do.

Grab a tin of Yves Veggie Cuisine Black Beans and a package of Yves Hot ‘n Spicy Veggie Dogs. Trust me—they really aren’t that spicy, and taste way better than the regular ones. (Great for hot dogs, too, or snacking any time, like you’re chewing on a big Havana cigar!) Dump the beans, liquid and all, into a pot. Slice in as many veggie dogs as you like, along with a handful of diced onion and fresh red or green pepper. We like to add in a good half teaspoon of cumin and ground coriander, too. Or dress it up as you like. Bring it all to a soft boil and let it simmer about 10 minutes, until the onions are cooked and the flavours mingle. Delicious—and hearty—straight out of the pot or over bread or toast.

Best of all, Yves products are plant-based and still Canadian-made. The company was started in Vancouver in 1985 by Yves Potvin, who first landed in Vancouver on a $200 bike after riding 5,000-plus kilometres from Montreal. Paul McCartney, who’s been vegetarian since the ’70s, loves Yves veggie dogs so much he made the company the official supplier for all his concerts, starting in 1993. Mr. Potvin never looked back... But in 2002, he did sell Yves Cuisine to U.S.-based health and wellness giant, Hain Celestial. n

second-hand at your favourite thrift store, like Whistler’s Re-Use-It Centre?

Stay out of those planes, and try re-thinking your destinations and how to get there with the least amount of fossil fuel. Would a bike trip do? Or sharing a co-op car, ideally an electric one, with your buddies?

Resist all those fluffy white towels and opt out of hotel-room cleaning. (We didn’t take it once during our recent two-weeker in Ottawa. It was cool.) Or at least cut way back: Think of all the power it takes to dry those dang towels! And think about that sunscreen… is it safe for our pristine waterways?

Wherever you go, eat local. After all, that’s half the reason you’re getting “away”—to experience life the way the locals do. As for your “eat local” routine here, think Canadian all the way, for Canada Day and beyond.

It’s been a crazy long, cool spring, so local fruits and veggies are slow to the markets, but they’re starting to show up. Look for B.C., especially Sea to Sky, labels first. Try some local smoked salmon in your day pack or picnic. And if you’re totally into an easypeasy, all-Canadian, vegetarian version of hot dogs or that classic, beanies and weans (that’s wienies and beans, for all you nonprairie folks) give my little recipe here a try. It’s fast, tasty, easy, and so good for you and all that great Canadian nature we love.

As for Whistler’s Canada Day celebrations, here’s my best insider tip—the kids’ pedal parade is absolutely the cutest thing of all.

Happy Canada Day!

Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’s been a fan of Yves veggie dogs for decades. n

O’ CANADA Get those spokes shined up—the popular Pique Pedal Parade returns to Whistler Village this Canada Day after an extended hiatus.

ME AD OW PA RK SP OR TS CE NT RE

R REGISTERED FITNESS Registeredfitnessclasses have aseparatefee anda defined start andend date Pre-registrationisrequired forthe entire setofclasses.

I INCLUDED FITNESS Theseclassesare included with your priceofadmission fornoextra charge

‘The programming was always spectacular’

ROBIN SMITH EXCITED TO BE THE WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL’S NEW DIRECTOR OF FILM PROGRAMMING

BY DAVID SONG

AFTER THREE decades of experience across the cinematic industry, Robin Smith is donning a new hat.

Smith is the Whistler Film Festival Society’s (WFFS) new director of film programming, replacing Paul Gratton, who is stepping into the honorary programmer emeritus role.

Over the past 23-odd years, Smith has attended WFFS events as both an industry representative and an audience member. He knows Gratton and festival executive director Angela Heck well, and he admires what their team brings to the table.

“I love Whistler, first and foremost, and although I live in Ontario, my heart very much lives in B.C.,” says Smith. “The programming was always spectacular. Having a festival with the backdrop of the mountains is spectacular. I’m a real big fan of smaller festivals that bring audience members, filmmakers and industry people together—whereas in the bigger cities like Vancouver and Toronto, everyone disperses and you don’t get that same sort of energy.”

‘UNIQUELY DIFFERENT’

Anyone with  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on their resumé is bound to turn heads in the movie world, and Smith does.

He managed the release of that four-time Oscar winner and numerous other prolific pieces:  All About My Mother, Away From Her, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Blackfish, Up the Yangtze and  Kedi.

“Each film is so uniquely different,” he says. “I’ve been really fortunate throughout my career in working with some great people. I’ve always felt that to do something well, you need to know all facets of what it entails.

“Case in point: if you’re a director, you should really know what a producer does, what a cinematographer does and what an

whales and marine conservation in general. Both have made a salient impact on differing segments of the public, and Smith thinks he learned valuable lessons from each of the assignments he’s worked on.

“I do distinguish documentaries as being different from fiction films, but in a weird sort of way, they live in the same space,” he remarks. “I’d be foolish to think that both are received by audiences the same way, but good documentaries are strong stories and if you find fiction with a strong story, it can resonate the exact same.”

“I’ve always felt that to do something well, you need to know all the facets of what it entails.

- ROBIN SMITH

editor does just to get an overall feel for [filmmaking]. I took that same approach into the film space … learning a little bit about marketing on one angle, sales on a different angle, acquisitions, legal, but at the end of the day, it was [about] engaging audiences.”

Such engagement can vary, and shouldn’t be measured purely by metrics like awards or box office gross.

When  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon released in 2000, for instance, very few expected it to make more than $214 million in theatres and earn 10 Academy Award nominations. In contrast,  Blackfish netted just $2.3 million, but jump-started enduring discourse about the issues facing captive orca

He adds: “[When I work on movies], it’s a nice combination of considering artistic merit and thinking about what audiences right across Canada are looking for.”

FROM SET TO MARKETPLACE

Indeed, a large chunk of Smith’s career has taken place in distribution. He was most recently the CEO of Blue Ice Docs Inc. and has also worked at such companies as Lions Gate Entertainment, the National Film Board of Canada, Seville Pictures, Alliance Films, Capri Releasing and levelFILM.

Distribution is an oft-unheralded aspect of cinema. Even industry professionals can at times have a nebulous grasp of what it is.

Put simply: distribution is the mechanism of delivering finished movies to viewers, encompassing strategies like theatre-release timing or partnership with streaming and video-on-demand platforms.

These nuances usually take place out of the public eye, but even A-list Hollywood superstars can be susceptible to them.

Example: Tom Cruise’s juggernaut Mission Impossible  franchise underperformed financially last summer, with  Dead Reckoning Part One grossing less than twice its production budget due to competition from  Barbie  and  Oppenheimer  (which combined for more than $2.3 billion at the box office). Had  Dead Reckoning released at a different time, it may have been more successful.

Granted, the “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon was at least as surprising as  Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s meteoric rise. Still, it can be a good case study in why distribution matters.

“I see [distribution] as being the caregiver or nanny that helps bring that film into the marketplace,” Smith explains. “I’m a man of metaphor, and creating a film is sort of like the birth of a baby. My job as distributor was trying to tutor that ‘baby’ in regards to the ways of the market: finding those audiences and conduits to connect the film to the audience.”

Fortunately, the WFFS is not struggling to reach viewers. The 2023 festival enjoyed a 14-per-cent attendance boost and is considered by many to be a high point in the organization’s history. Smith is poised to help maintain that upward trend—he’s got a million ideas in his head and looks forward to solidifying them in concert with his new colleagues. n

PROGRAM PRO Robin Smith is the Whistler Film Festival Society’s director of film programming as of June.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN SMITH

‘I love working with aspiring writers’

JENNIFER MANUEL IS THE 2024 WRITER IN RESIDENCE FOR THE WHISTLER WRITERS FESTIVAL

BY DAVID SONG

THE UPCOMING Whistler Writers Festival’s (WWF) writer in residence program will feature the award-winning Jennifer Manuel.

Manuel secured the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize in 2017 for her debut novel The Heaviness of Things That Float: a story about a nurse in a West Coast Indigenous community. After serving for 40 years, the protagonist and others in her community must grapple with the effects of a local man’s disappearance and the weight of secrets kept over time.

“There was a nurse in my community that I very much admired, so my first novel is very, very loosely based on her,” Manuel explains. “Obviously, I was thrilled to win the Ethel Wilson Award. I was surprised and relieved at how many First Nations people not only loved the book, but endorsed the fact that I had written from a white perspective about what it’s like to be in their communities.

“What I appreciate the most is how many readers have told me—in a positive way—how much the book impacted them.”

OPENING UP EMOTIONALLY

Manuel’s first exposure to writing came early, as her mother Lynn penned numerous children’s books. She dabbled and experimented throughout young adulthood, but did not begin to write with substantial vigour until her mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The White Rock, B.C. native resolved to publish something in the three months Lynn had to live. She did “everything she could” to get quality words down and brought her first short story to Delta Hospice. Lynn was proud, to say the least, and after she passed away, Manuel kept going.

“We underestimate how stories, because of their emotional aspect, get absorbed by our subconscious more than anything else,” she says. “I think that’s why the Bible is written in stories and not written as an essay. That’s how we, as human beings, learn about ourselves. We open up emotionally and take it all in.”

Nowadays, Manuel teaches English at Shawnigan Lake School south of Duncan, B.C. Her second novel,  The Morning Bell Brings the Broken Hearted, was released last April and casts light upon how Canadian education systems may struggle to meet the needs of remote reserves.

Why is Manuel often inspired to create Indigenous stories? She has worked with various tribes as a treaty archivist for more than 30 years and has two grandchildren with First Nations blood. She’s also taught in isolated villages like Dease Lake in northern British Columbia and Kyuquot on Vancouver Island’s northwest shore—the latter of which inspired Tawakin, the main fictional settlement in her books.

Manuel didn’t want to produce a memoir

despite her background as a white educator amongst Indigenous communities. Instead, she feels fiction can resonate more deeply with her audience.

‘CULTURES AND PERSONALITIES’

As this year’s writer in residence, Manuel will mentor other authors via one-on-one sessions and group lectures at the Alta Lake Artist’s Cabin. She’s been to Whistler many times before and looks forward to returning because she “loves” the community.

“I love working with aspiring writers or even accomplished writers, and I learn so much from reading other people’s works,” Manuel says. “I’ve worked so hard to understand how to write fiction and I enjoy passing on [my knowledge]. And … I love seeing what other stories people are wanting to put out into the world, regardless of what the format or the genre is.”

Having previously filled a similar role at the McLoughlin Gardens in Comox, Manuel knows being a writer in residence isn’t typically just an exercise in teaching. One gets to immerse oneself in their own writing, which in her opinion feeds positively into workshops and seminars for others. It’s also a valuable opportunity to connect with other authors on a personal level.

“I find that every writing community in a particular physical location is very different. They all have their own cultures and personalities,” remarks Manuel. “I’ve been to [the WWF] twice and it’s incredibly well-organized. There’s a vibrancy that I haven’t always felt at other festivals I’ve gone to, so I’ve always been really excited coming to Whistler.”

The 2024 Writer in Residence program runs from Sept. 17 to Nov. 16. Learn more at whistlerwritersfest.com.  n

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

Join our lunch club!

Get 10 stamps on your lunch card and your 11th lunch is free* (Restrictions apply) Children are welcome everyday until 10pm, so bring the kids in for brunch on the weekends from 11am - 2pm

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LAUNCHINGJUNE 27,2024

THURSDAY TO SUNDAY 4:00 PM –10:00 PM

WRITE STUFF Award-winning author Jennifer Manuel will be in Whistler for nearly two months this fall.

PHOTO BY NICK CAUMANNS

ARTS SCENE

PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE

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

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

Experience immersive cultural programming, Artists Market on the Mezzanine, and kid’s craft activities throughout the day. Explore authentic First Nations artwork and keepsakes in the Gallery and Gift Shop, and enjoy Indigenous-inspired cuisine at the Thunderbird Café. Admission is free, gratefully provided by proud partner CIBC and programming by the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

> June 21

> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

> Free

HOLISTIC TOUR & INDIGENOUS TEA OFFERING

Experience an authentic Indigenous wellness tour with Cultural Ambassadors through the Salish Forest followed by a tea offering. Beginning with a welcome song, short film and brief introduction to the Centre, a Cultural Ambassador will guide an interpretive forest walk, presenting herbs and medicinal plants that grow in the region. Following in the Longhouse, guests learn and savour the healing benefits of traditional teas, served with First Nations traditional Bannock.

Read more at slcc.ca.

> June 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

> $49

MOUNTAIN TOP FEAST

Head up to the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain for an incredible, mountain top dining experience with live music. Enjoy mouthwatering mains, fresh salads and delicious desserts at 1,800 metres (6,000 ft) high in the mountaintops with the whole family.

> June 22, 5:30 p.m.

> Roundhouse Lodge, Whistler Mountain

> Varies

WHISTLER MEN’S CIRCLE

A weekly meeting held on Thursdays for men who want to explore their experience of being a man through sharing and holding space in a supportive environment. The peer-led group offers an opportunity to share what is alive for them, what they may be struggling with and which areas of their life they are grateful for. This series is presented in partnership with Whistler Community Services Society and Whistler Public Library.

> June 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

> Whistler Public Library

> Free

Pick up the latest issue of your favourite read in Whistler.

PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS

NEW SUMMER WHISTLER MAGAZINE

‘Hang on to your hat— we’re gonna build a town’

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

WHEN THE Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was formed in 1975, the organization was small enough its employees numbered in the single digits for the first couple of years. According to Kris Shoup, when she was hired in 1977 as the secretary of the building inspector (Jim Murray, employee No. 1), she became the RMOW’s fourth employee.

Shoup arrived in Whistler for the summer in 1976 and never left. There were just over 500 residents in the valley at the time and, as Shoup put it, “I absolutely adored it; I thought it was great.”

A vet technician, she ran the vet clinic located in Alpine Meadows, though there was no vet living in Whistler full-time. The vet

Shoup held the position of municipal clerk until the mid-1980s.

During her tenure with the RMOW, Shoup worked out of a variety of locations, including the lunchroom of the original Myrtle Philip School, trailers, the “little green building” built using a government grant, and, finally, the current municipal hall after the Keg building was relocated.

The Keg was moved from its original site on Alta Lake to its Whistler Village location in 1981. It would take three years, however, before municipal staff and council were able to move in, and in the interim, Shoup and others worked out of the previous town hall, which was moved down to Function Junction. During this period, Shoup recalled being able to run up to Loggers Lake at lunchtime for her daily swim. After the move to the Village, she continued her

would come to Whistler once a week and do all the surgeries and appointments booked by Shoup, who did as much as she was able for the rest of the week. She got to know a lot of the residents working at the clinic, as “everyone had a dog” and, in the case of an emergency such as a dog hit by a car, Shoup would try to stabilize the animal as much as possible so they could be driven to Squamish.

In 1977, during a particularly bad winter for skiing, Shoup was hired as Jim Murray’s secretary, though she continued to work at the clinic for another year or two as well. About six months later, she became deputy clerk and then, when Geoff Pearce was promoted from municipal clerk to administrator, was told by Carleton, “Congratulations, you’re the new clerk.”

lunchtime swims, but now in Lost Lake.

Whistler saw a lot of change from 1977 to the mid-1980s. According to Shoup, one of the most exciting things to happen while working at the RMOW was the day Pearce, still the municipal clerk at the time, came out of a meeting and told her, “Hang on to your hat—we’re gonna build a town.”

She also worked with Trevor Roote organizing public access along with the sewer system in order to build the Valley Trail; witnessed the planning and construction of the training wall along Fitzsimmons Creek (for flood prevention); and saw first-hand Mayor Pat Carleton’s excitement when they found out a Delta hotel would be built in Whistler Village, the resort’s first big-brand hotel. n

EARLY DAYS Whistler’s 1982 council in its first formal portrait: Councillors Bill Peterson and David O’Keefe, Administrator Geoff Pearce, Mayor Mark Angus, Municipal Clerk Kris Shoup, and Councillors Bernie Hauschka and Terry Rodgers.

WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1983

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF JUNE 21 BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I love being logical and reasonable! The scientific method is one of my favourite ways to understand how the world works. I am a big fan of trying to ascertain the objective facts about any situation I am in. However, I also love being intuitive and open to mystical perceptions. I don’t trust every one of my feelings as an infallible source of truth, but I rely on them a lot to guide my decisions. And I also believe that it’s sometimes impossible to figure out the objective facts. In the coming weeks, Aries, I suggest you give more weight than usual to the second set of perspectives I described. Don’t be crazily illogical, but proceed as if logic alone won’t provide the insights you need most.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In their book Your Symphony of Selves, Jordan Gruber and James Fadiman propose a refreshing theory about human nature. They say that each of us is a community of multiple selves. It’s perfectly natural and healthy for us to be an amalgam of various voices, each with distinctive needs and forms of expression. We should celebrate our multifaceted identity and honour the richness it affords us. According to my analysis of astrological omens, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to exult in your own symphony of selves and make it a central feature of your selfunderstanding.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013, you launched a journey that will finally culminate soon. What a long, strange, and interesting trip it has been! The innovations you activated during that time have mostly ripened, though not entirely. The hopes that arose in you have brought mixed results, but the predominant themes have been entertaining lessons and soulful success. I hope you will give yourself a congratulatory gift, dear Gemini. I hope you will luxuriate in a ritual celebration to commemorate your epic journey. The process hasn’t been perfect, but even the imperfections have been magical additions to your life story.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I suspect you may have metaphorical resemblances to a lightning rod in the coming weeks. Just in case I’m right, I urge you not to stroll across open fields during thunderstorms. On the other hand, I recommend that you be fully available to receive bolts of inspiration and insight. Put yourself in the presence of fascinating events, intriguing people, and stirring art. Make yourself ready and eager for the marvellous.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “It’s hard to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going,” said experimental filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. He’s implying that there’s potential value in getting lost. Unexpected discoveries might arrive that contribute to the creative process. But that will only happen if you first have a clear vision of where you’re headed. Jarmusch’s movies benefit from this approach. They’re fun for me to watch because he knows exactly what he wants to create but is also willing to get lost and wander around in search of serendipitous inspirations. This is the approach I recommend for you in the coming weeks, dear Leo.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Does any person or institution own a part of you? Has anyone stolen some of your power? Does anyone insist that only they can give you what you need? If there are people who fit those descriptions, Virgo, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to fix the problems. According to my understanding of life’s rhythms, you can summon the ingenuity and strength to reclaim what rightfully belongs to you. You can recover any sovereignty and authority you may have surrendered or lost.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In ancient Greek myth, Sisyphus was a forlorn character punished by the gods. He was required to push a boulder from the bottom to the top of a hill. But each time he neared the peak, the big

ROB BREZSNY

rock, which had been enchanted by the crabby god Zeus, slipped away and rolled back down the hill. The story says that Sisyphus had to do this for all eternity. If there have been even minor similarities between you and him, Libra, that will change in the coming months. I predict you will finally succeed—is this your fifth attempt?—in finishing a task or project that has, up until now, been frustrating.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Is it possible to reap spiritual epiphanies while having sex? Can intense physical pleasure be a meditation that provokes enlightened awareness? Can joy and bliss bring learning experiences as valuable as teachings that arise from suffering? Here are my answers to those three questions, Scorpio, especially for you during the next four weeks: yes, yes, and yes. My astrological ruminations tell me that you are primed to harvest divine favours as you quest for delight.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your animal magnetism and charisma could be wildly potent in the coming weeks. I’m worried that as a result, you may be susceptible to narcissistic feelings of entitlement. You will be extra attractive, maybe even irresistible! But now that you have received my little warning, I hope you will avoid that fate. Instead, you will harness your personal charm to spread blessings everywhere you go. You will activate a generosity of spirit in yourself that awakens and inspires others. Do not underestimate the electrifying energy pouring out of you, Sagittarius. Vow to make it a healing medicine and not a chaotic disruptor.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’ve had thousands of crucial teachers. There would be no such thing as me without their life-changing influences. Among that vast array have been 28 teachers whose wisdom has been especially riveting. I feel gratitude for them every day. And among those 28 have been five geniuses who taught me so much so fast in a short period of time that I am still integrating their lessons. One of those is Capricorn storyteller and mythologist Michael Meade. I offer you these thoughts because I suspect you are close to getting a major download from a guide who can be for you what Meade has been for me. At the very least, you will engage with an educational source akin to my top 28.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In one of my previous lifetimes, I was a bricoleur—a collector and seller of junk who re-used the castaway stuff in new ways. That’s one reason why, during my current destiny, I am a passionate advocate for recycling, renewal, and redemption—both in the literal and metaphorical senses. I am tuned in to splendour that might be hidden within decay, treasures that are embedded in trash, and bliss that can be retrieved from pain. So I’m excited about your prospects in the coming weeks, Aquarius. If you so desire, you can specialize in my specialties.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Some people imagine that being creative means having nonstop spontaneous fun. They think it’s primarily exuberant, adventurous, and liberating. As a person who prizes imaginative artistry, I can testify that this description is accurate some of the time. But more often, the creative process involves meticulous organization and discipline, periods of trial-and-error experimentation, and plenty of doubt and uncertainty. It’s hard work that requires persistence and faith. Having said that, Pisces, I am happy to say you are now in a phase when the freewheeling aspects of creativity will be extra available. You’re more likely than usual to enjoy spontaneous fun while dreaming up novel ideas and fresh approaches. Channel this energy into an art form or simply into the way you live your life.

Homework: If you’d like to give me a gift for my birthday on June 23, consider signing up for my newsletter: https://Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

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

NOTICE OF PROPOSED TEMPORARYUSE PERMIT

9040 PembertonPortage Road –Special Events TemporaryUse PermitNo. 75

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby giveninaccordancewithSection 921 of the Local Government Act that theRegionalBoardwill be consideringthe issuanceofthe above-mentioned permitatits regular Boardmeeting on June 26, 2024. Thepurposeof TemporaryUse Permit (TUP)No. 75 is to allowfor:  event useinorder to enablethe applicant to hosteventswithupto200 attendees fora durationofupto3years.

Thesubjectapplicationappliesto 9040Pemberton PortageRoad:

Acopy of TemporaryUse Permit No.75and relevant background documentsisavailableby request. Pleaseemail planning@slrd.bc.ca formoreinformation on this application, as well as forany questions or concerns

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Box219, 1350 AsterStreet, Pemberton, BC,V0N 2L0• P: 604-894-6371 TF: 1-800-298-7753

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Come build with the best team.

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:

Labourers ($20 - $30 hourly)

Carpenters Helpers /Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly)

Experienced Carpenters ($30 - $45 hourly)

Carpenter Foremen ($40 - $50 hourly)

Rates vary based on experience and qualifications. Red seal 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 for you and your family

• 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!

www.evrfinehomes.com

•

• Human Resources Generalist ($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year)

• Receptionist ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)

• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)

• 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

• High School Teacher (upper Math) ($60,015.00 to $109,520.00 per year)

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

• Elementary School Teacher: Grade 3 ($60,015.00 to $109,520.00 per year)

• High School English Teacher ($60,015.00 to $109,520.00 per year)

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

Lil’wat Business Group

• Transfer station supervisor ($25.65 to $35.15 per hour)

• Cashier ($17.40 to $18.50 per hour)

• Junior Saw Labourer ($19.00 to $24.00 per hour)

• Senior Saw Labourer ($23.00 to $29.00 per hour)

The Museum is currently seeking:

Registrar

Coordinate all aspects of the Permanent Collection and Special Exhibitions, including registration, maintenance, security, records, and assisting with research and exhibition development.

• Permanent, Full-Time

• $55,000 - $60,000

• Health Benefits

• Transit Allowance

• Wellness Benefit

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

NOW HIRING!

Full Time Assistant Meat Manager

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

Full Time Meat Wrapper

($17.40/hr - $22/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 $$$

Key Responsibilities:

• Welcome guests warmly upon arrival, facilitating smooth check-ins and check-outs.

• Coordinate and fulfill special requests to exceed guest expectations.

• Perform a variety of maintenance tasks such as basic plumbing, electrical repairs, carpentry, painting, and general upkeep.

• Conduct regular inspections to identify maintenance needs and ensure all equipment and facilities are in optimal working condition.

• Respond promptly to maintenance requests from guests and colleagues, prioritizing urgent issues to minimize disruptions.

Qualifications/requirements:

• Previous experience in hospitality, guest services, or property maintenance is preferred.

• Handy skills including basic plumbing, electrical repairs, carpentry, painting, and general maintenance.

• Valid BC driver’s license and clean driving record required.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as necessary.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation package. $23.00/hr and 40hr/week

• Opportunities for career growth and development within the company.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, which include extended medical care, ski pass and bike pass.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter to info@whistlersuperior.com, for a detailed description of the position, please visit www.whistlersuperior.com

Whistler Superior Properties is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Our vision is for LíÍwat to flourish with full autonomy of our territory, preserving our language and culture, by cultivating a prosperous, healthy, and harmonious community for all. N ákmen (Our Way) provides the foundation for all of the Nation’s work as we move towards self-determination.

Who you are

We are searching for a passionate and visionary leader dedicated to building organizational culture and infrastructure within an Indigenous organization. You excel in clear and honest communication, engaging people in planning and decision-making processes, and demonstrating a deep commitment to the community and it’s people. With a talent for inspiring and creative leadership, you have a proven history of forging strong relationships and cohesive teams. You navigate seamlessly between boardroom settings with Chiefs and Council and Government Officials to community interactions with members and Elders. As a financially savvy professional and policy expert, you have established solid networks with Indigenous organizations, government agencies, and other relevant partners.

What you will do

Reporting to the Chiefs and Council you will oversee and lead the LíÍwat Nation’s administration and operations, covering all aspects of operational planning, policy implementation, financial oversight, program and department management, economic growth initiatives, capital project execution, human resources, employee well-being, and community engagement and development.

What we offer

• A salary range of $160,000 to $180,000 per annum.

• A healthy benefits and insurance package and a 9% matched pension plan.

• Three weeks vacation to start, in addition to extra paid holidays (5), wellness leave (5), and office closure during the Christmas period.

To express interest

Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume to careers.jouta@mnp.ca no later than July 5 2024, at 5:00 pm PST. To review the full job description, please visit: https://lilwatnation.easyapply.co/

I hate flying

I HATE FLYING . It’s demeaning, uncomfortable and environmentally suspect. And after flying out of Kamloops, I hate it even more.

In the world of terrorist threats, the Kamloops airport undoubtedly does not rank in the top-tier watch list. I’m certain Orange Alert remain words unspoken there

BY G.D. MAXWELL

except around Halloween. While there may be any number of sleeper cells in and around Kamloops, I suspect they tend to fall nearer the somnambulant end of the continuum than they do the deranged, mad-bomber end.

Would-be terrorists embarking on their missions of destruction from Kamloops would face several intractable obstacles bound to sorely test their mettle. For starters, you can get anywhere in the world you want to go from Kamloops… as long as that place is Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary or Edmonton. Not knowing any personally, I’m pretty sure real terrorists prefer to avoid connecting flights and intuitively appreciate the underwhelming terror effect of hitting a target in any of those towns. Chances are pretty good the U.S. networks wouldn’t even pick up a story of a terrorist attack on a strip mall in Kelowna except to make fun of yet another Canadian town name.

And actually hijacking a plane out of Kamloops would probably not make much tactical sense, since it seems the only aircraft flying out of there are Dash 8s, Cessnas and waterbombers. Unless they were looking at taking out a really small target—or setting a Guinness World Record for terrorist waterballooning—Kamloops probably wouldn’t be the departure terminal of choice.

But assuming, for a moment, a sleeper cell in Kamloops was recruited from the bottom of the class at Terror University and decided to go for broke, I’m certain they’d never make it past airport security. I imagine it’s easier to be thoroughly, annoyingly, methodically secure at an airport processing a couple of hundred passengers a day than it is at one several orders of magnitude larger, but I’ve got to hand it to the hard-working security detail at Kamloops—they make getting on a plane even more of an adventure than usual.

Admittedly, the portly gent in line ahead of me fit the profile. I’m not certain which profile, but if I were a cop and couldn’t find any visible minorities to hassle on a slow Friday night, I’d have pulled him over… if for no other reason than to get a really good look at his facial hair.

He was a biker-looking kind of guy and could easily have passed for a travelling midway worker. Six-foot-five, maybe 300 pounds (138 kilojoules), polished pate, metallic orange reflective Oakleys, black leather vest laced up the sides but way too small to meet in the middle of his vast expanse, jeans, cowboy boots. No luggage.

Even without his proudly bald head his beard would have drawn attraction. It started

in that netherworld where head hair ends and sideburns begin, swooped down and bifurcated at his chubby cheeks, one stream curving upwards to follow the lines where his cheekbones would have been had he had any cheekbones visible, a second plunging down to highlight his jowls. The two courses of black hair met again just below the terminus of a very handsome, vaguely Fu Manchu-ish mustache where they merged with themselves and joined up with his chin whiskers.

In between the severely trimmed frames of hair was an island of cleanly shaved skin.

centimetres longer than its sidekicks, and topped each off with a small, glass bead.

The woman appraising him for potential terrorist threat looked dumbfounded, no small feat for anyone who has exposed themselves to the dumbfounding effect of dealing with the general public for any length of time.

“Remove your belt, please,” she said.

Without a whimper of protest or a word in return, the bikercarney hoisted his belly with one hand and deftly unbuckled and slid his belt through its loops with the other. It was

In the world of airport security, here’s a helpful hint. Never, under any circumstances, wear shoes that draw attention to themselves.

Apparently not satisfied with simple geometric shapes, the island itself was punctuated with points of hair from above and below nearly meeting in the middle. Very rococo.

But all the side effects were window dressing for the curvaceous Van Dyke celebrating the carneybiker’s multiple chins. Not content with bringing his chin whiskers to an understated point, he had—well, somebody had, I can’t imagine the many hours of maintenance this concoction required— braided his chin hair into three small, almost delicate whips, the centre one being several

the kind of belt favoured by rodeo cowboys; thick, stiff, generously-tooled leather with a small serving platter of silver and gold metal for a buckle, itself adorned with a HarleyDavidson logo.

“Thank you,” the security dominatrix said, dismissing the proffered belt after a cursory, visual examination.

I suspect she only asked him to remove it to watch what happened next. The process of rethreading the belt was much more tortured than its removal, made all the more difficult by what I like to imagine was an old knife

wound from a gang fight plaguing his right shoulder. Having snaked the belt through the tunnel made by jean loop and cascading belly as far as he could with his left hand, he couldn’t quite reach the end of it with his right hand to continue the journey behind his back and looked, for just a moment, like a small boy wishing his mommy was there to help finish dressing him.

“Move along please,” the Queen of Security said, stifling a snicker. “Next.”

In the world of airport security, here’s a helpful hint. Never, under any circumstances, wear shoes that draw attention to themselves. New, bright white, shiny sneakers with flashy little inserts that reflect headlights if you’re silly enough to run at night draw attention to themselves.

Securityzilla was eying my new, bright white, shiny Sauconys.

“They’re safe,” I joked, smiling at her.

Second helpful hint—choose your words carefully.

“Remove your shoes,” she said. It could have been worse. I was smart enough to just shut up and do as she said and pad on through the metal detector in my sockfeet.

The shoes were unarmed and were duly returned to me, along with my camera, tape recorder, iPod and extra batteries. My flask was already empty—nervous flyer syndrome. It was 5:45 a.m. Pacific daylightsquandering time.

My day of flying ended at 9 p.m. MDT, two security checks later, none so thorough as the one in Kamloops.

I hate flying. n

PHOTO BY MIHAIL / ADOBE STOCK