Test your mental mettle with more Canada-themed trivia questions. - By Pique staff
06 OPENING REMARKS If there is some approximation of what it means to be Canadian, it was likely on display last week in Sunrise, Fla., writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In this week’s letters, Green Party candidate Jeremy Valeriote sticks to his guns on WLNG, and readers weigh in on Canada’s economic woes.
11 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST A little bit of danger isn’t enough to keep reporter Liz McDonald from continuing her sermon on the granite mound.
66 MAXED OUT The Duffey Lake Road is one of Western Canada’s best mountain drives, writes G.D. Maxwell—and it’s also the road from hell.
12 SOFI SAYS The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s annual statement of financial information report reveals the municipality’s top earners and suppliers for 2023.
13 TRAVERSING RETIREMENT
Whistler Blackcomb’s VP of operations Doug MacFarlane is retiring after 36 years with the mountain.
46 ON BALANCE Whistler’s original “gymnastics freak” Karin Jarrett reflects on more than three decades of coaching.
50 WALK HARD Juno-winning indie rockers Walk off the Earth kick off the Whistler Summer Concert Series July 1.
COVER Tara is a Whistler based artist who is inspired by our beautiful BC surroundings. Unblended colours and bold outlines are her signature but she likes to experiment with other styles too. - By Tara Ryan // Taracrylics@gmail.com // Taracrylics.com //@Taracrylics
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
When we drop the puck
THERE IS A PHOTO in Pique ’s archives that has found its way to print repeatedly over the years.
It depicts Pique’s art director Jon Parris during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, wearing hockey gloves, a helmet and a full red track suit, arms raised high in
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
triumph as a crowd of thousands celebrates Team Canada’s hockey gold in Whistler’s
Taken by longtime local photographer Brad Kasselman, the image is nothing short of iconic here at Pique, both for its main subject and the transcendent moment in Canadian history it represents.
Those who were in Whistler for the Games will likely remember JP. His “Captain Canada” persona—red track suit, faux medals, massive Canadian flag, enthusiastic high kicks—was a fixture at local events during the 2010 Olympics and made headlines near and far.
But where did the enthusiasm for Canada stem from?
“It has to do with love,” JP said in a 2010 interview with Pique
“I think Canadians are some of the most understanding and compassionate people in the world. We have a reputation for acceptance and multiculturalism. The world would be such a better place if we all just had a little more respect, understanding and love for each other—something I think Canada is a world leader in.”
Well said, JP.
If you can remember it, Canadian pride was at fever pitch during the 2010 Games, and specifically immediately following Sidney Crosby’s gold-medal-winning OT goal—the moment immortalized in Kasselman’s photo.
But in recent years, the very concept has
taken a bit of a hit.
Case in point: Feeling the latent national pride of 2010 surging from somewhere deep in his (presumably loose given all those high kicks) loins, JP once again donned the red track suit during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, held this time in Beijing, China, for a rip around the Whistler Valley on his e-bike.
But he found the cheers and love that followed him through the 2010 Games was replaced by something different: jeers, dirty looks, and the occasional honking horn or middle finger.
As it happened, the 2022 Games occurred at roughly the same time as the notorious “Freedom Convoy” set up in Ottawa in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.
Suddenly, showing outward pride for Canada meant something very different than it did just 12 years earlier.
Two and a half years later, the matter of Canadian pride is still murky.
Another case in point: Pique’s office manager Heidi Rode has proudly flown a Canadian flag outside her home in Whistler for 15 years—only recently has it attracted sideways glances from passersby and comments from neighbours.
It is true we live in complicated, nuanced
How do you define being Canadian in 2024? Was there ever an easy definition?
If ever there were some close approximation, it was likely on display June 24 in Sunrise, Fla.
If you watched Game 7 between the Oilers and Panthers, you must have felt it, too— when the visiting Canadian fans drowned out Alanis Morisette’s rendition of O’ Canada (and finished well ahead of her); when generational Canadian talent Connor McDavid broke a literal Wayne Gretzky record en route to earning playoff MVP, despite losing the Stanley Cup; or when Panthers coach Paul Maurice (another Canadian) gave one of the most impactful on-ice victory interviews ever.
“Hey dad, your name’s going up with all your heroes—Beliveau, Richard, Howe, Lindsay… Maurice,” he said, speaking to the camera and holding back the emotions clearly on the verge of overtaking him (the Habs fan in me might be showing on this last example, but hot damn that’s a nice quote).
It only got better—Maurice ended the interview with this all-timer about his former team:
“If I could have one thing more, it would be for the Winnipeg Jets to win the next Stanley Cup.”
entirety of the Canadiens’ Cinderella run to the Finals in 2021, and was pulling strongly for the Oilers to finally end Canada’s cup curse this year.
As we now know, it was not meant to be. But watching your hockey team lose the big game in heartbreaking fashion is surely about as Canadian as it gets at this point.
But then they’re awarding the cup, and you see the pure elation of these guys, and something about it just makes you feel like a kid again. Suddenly you feel an odd source of pride for these sweaty men you’ve never met; get subtly emotional watching a bunch of loud, cursing louts pass a big silver bowl amongst themselves while cheesy inspirational music plays over the arena loudspeakers.
It’s easy to be cynical about this stuff— call it phony, or pointless propaganda fodder—but it’s just as easy to relate to the underlying humanity (the Canadianness ) if you’re open to it.
Strip away all the BS gambling ads and over-commercialization, and it’s still the same game it always was—the one that united us coast to coast every Saturday night, or every four years at the Olympics; gave a fledgling country some foundation on which to build an identity.
“When are we most Canadian? When we drop the puck.”
-RON MACLEAN
times. But we are complex beings capable of feeling and doing many things at once. Being proud of Canada need not come saddled with confusion and shame. Yet that’s where we stand on Canada Day 2024.
It’s a difficult topic to write about, partially for the very fact JP references above. Canada is as diverse a nation as they come, so how can one perspective possibly hope to understand or represent all the lived experiences making up the fabric of our country?
What a Canadian thing to say (and how the hell can you not be romantic about hockey?).
Some argue you shouldn’t bandwagon Canadian hockey teams solely for the sake they’re Canadian, but I’ve never bought into that. I fanned the Flames on their miracle run in ’04, backed the Oil in ’06 and the Sens in ’07. I was extra devastated when the Canucks lost in ’11, because that was the year Zdeno Chara broke Max Pacioretty’s neck, escalating the Habs/Bruins rivalry to bloody proportions.
I was of course sweating bullets for the
The foundation may be challenged these days, but it’s still there, as long as we say it is; still feel it underneath our feet.
So don’t let anyone tell you different. Fly the red and white proudly this Canada Day. Wear your red track suit and high kick for Canada. We’re all in this together, whether we like it or not.
Maybe Canada’s favourite hockey philosopher, the great Ron MacLean, said it best himself prior to Game 7: “When are we most Canadian? When we drop the puck.” n
In a climate emergency, no project is a ‘done deal’:
Green Party candidate
It’s a sure indication we’ve hit a nerve when Woodfibre LNG senior advisor and ministerturned-lobbyist Michelle Mungall writes in to defend both the company and the NDP government. There is an eyebrow-raising number of former provincial government staffers—including the current CEO of Woodfibre—who have gone on to lucrative roles in the oil and gas industry. But why are the current ministers unwilling to take responsibility for carrying on with this misguided fossil-fuel project?
In the midst of a climate emergency, no gas export plant is a done deal, and the 2027 completion date is a long way away. How many more floods, fires, smoke and premature deaths from toxic air quality will we see by then? Seven years ago this NDP government came into office promising climate action. They could have done the right thing and reversed course on LNG. Instead, they adopted the industry’s false claim that exporting our fossil gas is somehow a climate solution. Thanks to
pressure from the BC Greens and new federal rules under the Competition Act, government and industry will find it harder to get away with this kind of greenwashing going forward.
I’m well aware of the need to balance the public interest with potential costs from being sued by upset corporate interests. In an age where investor-state dispute settlements have been phased out of North American free trade agreements, should we be threatened by a company based in Singapore and owned by an Indonesian billionaire? And does the risk even come close to the $2 billion in public subsidies the project has already secured, or the untold billions in climate change costs we are already having to pay with public funds?
Being reminded about the company’s “rights” seems pretty tone deaf in this age of bloated oil and gas industry profits and increasing inequality in our society. What about the rights of the people who live in Squamish and the Sea to Sky—isn’t our government supposed to be looking out for our health and well-being?
The false narrative that cancelling this project means less money for the things we care about is straight out of the tobacco, opioid, and oil and gas industry playbook: deny, denounce, deflect, distract. Falsely claiming we’re doing our “customers” a favour while reaping massive profits that flow offshore is at best a delay tactic for an industry facing obsolescence.
I’ve spoken to hundreds of Sea to Sky residents who know that with our region’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, there are alternatives to business as usual that are way better for the planet and our current and future generations. Leaking climate-superheating methane gas and exporting 6 megatonnes of carbon pollution is a much bigger risk to the public interest than telling Woodfibre to pack up its industry of the past before it is built and then left stranded.
As an environmental engineer I know that we can embrace the accelerating energy transition and invest in green jobs for the future. And as a parent I will continue to stand up for our region’s kids and grandkids and do everything I can to tackle climate change.
Jeremy Valeriote // BC Green Party candidate, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky
Whistler has a history of adaptive innovation
Regarding the “adaptive chairlift prototype” article (Pique, June 14), it’s inspiring to see the ongoing advancements to improve the adaptive sport experience.
Like the Rupert Roller, invented by Whistler’s own Rupert Storer and Kyle Lawson, which allows adaptive skiers to load gondolas independently, without stopping the lift, this new chairlift for the bike park is a great addition to our community.
Sally Bennett // Whistler
How to solve Canada’s economic problems? Turf the Liberals
I read with great interest Andrew Mitchell’s Pique’n yer interest article in the June 21 issue of Pique. I would like to respond to his question “no simple way to solve Canada’s many problems.”
To that I say there is one simple way to solve Canada’s many problems: Change the government! Turf the Liberals.
Don’t believe me, Google “Trudeau’s Economic Incompetence in Seven Charts.”
Steve St. Arnaud // Whistler
Where did the Canadian government go wrong?
Re: “Money for something” in the June 21 edition of Pique:
When I came as a 23-year-old to Canada in 1967, the country had a population of 22 million, its infrastructure was second to none in every respect, immigration was percentagewise similar to what it is today, housing was affordable, and there was no shortage of it like now. Admittedly, Canada was demographically a lot younger then, but as the article states, the “time bomb” of the nation’s aging started ticking some 60 years ago, suggesting it
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
was foreseeable. So, what happened? What policies, what omissions got us from an excellent starting base then to where we find ourselves now?
Wolfgang Wittenburg // Squamish
Thanks for a level-headed take
Just a quick note to congratulate Andrew Mitchell for his “Money for something” article (see Pique, June 21). His level-headed, honest
“Change the government! Turf the Liberals.”
- STEVE ST. ARNAUD
account of the economic choices we face as a country (no matter who we elect in another year or so) should be published in the Globe and Mail or the Financial Post
It’s that good!
Francois Lepine // Whistler n
Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of 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.
by the crackling wood-burning fireplace, hostingsoiréesinthe privategazebo andhot tub, or seekingsolaceinthe sunlit solarium,thischaletweavesa tapestryofexperiences.
Locatedinthe desirable Benchlands area,this 4-bed, 3-bath home,including a1-bedroom legalrental suite,isjusta shortwalktotown. Situatedoff the flood plain and priced below BC AssessedValue,itoffers exceptionalvalue.Spanning over 1/3rdofanacre, this expansivelot provides ample space forprivate outdoor living,Pembertonstyle! Whether youpreferlounging beneaththe shady willowtree, tending to your vegetables and herbs in the fully irrigated garden,orstargazing amongst the trees from your secluded fire pit,this property offers aserene retreat. Inside,you'llfind acontemporary aesthetic with recent updates, including engineeredhardwood flooring,anew kitchen, customcabinetry, andheatpumpsinall bedrooms andthe livingroom.The double garage with aseparatedetached shed offers
In defence of dangerous deeds
AS I STAND at the edge of a north-facing gully on the Stawamus Chief walking paracord along the edge, my heart jumps into my throat. At a dizzying height of 700 metres above the Howe Sound, death welcomes me into its cold embrace if I take one wrong step. The granite is slanting more than I’d like, and my approach shoes aren’t gripping well with recent rainfall. Paracord gets stuck around a
BY LIZ MCDONALD
emcdonald@piquenewsmagazine.com
scraggly tree, and my fellow highliner loosens it for us, his back facing the nothingness of a gap we walk while highlining.
Highlining is an inherently dangerous sport that can cause injury or even death. People often say things like “you’re crazy,” or, “I could never do that,” when they hear about or see the sport. But I’d like to take a moment of your day to declare my defence of dangerous deeds. With the Sea to Sky as my audience, perhaps my column this week is preaching to the choir. You can’t trundle a rock in this corridor without coming across someone doing something both seemingly death-defying and deeply meaningful to them.
Despite this fact, I’ll continue my sermon on the granite mound.
My first line of defence for danger comes from the fact there is no such thing as a world or a life that is perpetually safe. I walk out of my house in the morning and come across speeding cars as I cross the street, and while I take precautions to mitigate the risk of getting hit by a car, I can’t control the actions of drivers on the road. Despite this risk, I happily go about my day, and no one calls me crazy for walking across a crosswalk.
borne out of innumerable individuals who experimented with brilliant schemes and ticking timebombs, trailblazing paths for us to follow and making rules for the game so we can learn from their fall lines.
Highlining also has trailblazers, mentors and best practices, but we lack sheer numbers to reach volume for normalization. While the sport is growing, with new faces practically each time I go out to rig and
It’s a kind of trust you just can’t get from going for a cup of coffee or a beer with a new acquaintance...
But maybe this isn’t a strong enough example. Skiing or snowboarding entails whipping yourself down a steep slope at speeds humans generally attain whilst in a solid metal box. Trees and sharkies pose danger, and then there’s people who don’t follow the alpine responsibility code.
What walking, skiing or even rock climbing have in common is power in numbers. Enough people take part in these activities that they’re normalized. They come with standardized rules and expectations
walk, I’m unsure if it will ever saturate the same way as other activities—because it’s arguably more terrifying.
You have to get comfortable with your parasympathetic nervous system telling you you’re about to die when in actuality, you’re safe, so long as your gear is in good shape and you’re using it correctly.
On top of being terrifying and dangerous, it’s gruelling. I’ve met few folks who can stand up on a highline immediately, let alone walk, and you need to want to pursue the sport
to really get good. I’ve learned more about myself in the last four years in this arguably pointless pursuit than I have at any other stage of my life. It humbles and uplifts me every single time.
To achieve basic abilities in this individualistic pastime, you must stand on the shoulders of giants, though understanding Newton’s laws of motion also helps.
Bonds are forged when you learn to conquer your fears with fellow athletes, just as those who walked before you did. I have learned to literally trust someone with my life, to question my abilities and always ask for advice, because you can’t fake it ‘till you make it when your error can lead to your own or your friend’s death.
It’s a kind of trust you just can’t get from going for a cup of coffee or a beer with a new acquaintance, though offering someone an alpine start cup of joe or a trail snack is always good form.
Learning from others, mastering yourself, having a positive attitude and moving your body are all worthwhile pastimes, and I think paradoxically pursuing danger lends itself to fulfilling the three higher needs of humans as defined by Maslow.
My physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, but love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization are fortified by pursuing a sport that, at the end of the day, does little for the world but means more than anything to me.
Thanks, danger. n
Whistler’s financials reveal uptick in number of high-paid municipal employees
THE RMOW’S STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS TOP EARNERS AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE MUNICIPAL PAYROLL EARNING MORE THAN $75K
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has released its provincially-mandated statement of financial information (SOFI), giving residents a look-in at the finer points of where municipal money is being spent.
In its documents for 2023, which must be filed with the province before June 30 of this year, the RMOW details the ins and outs of what it pays its employees and contractors.
First up: elected officials. SOFI documents reveal the RMOW’s seven elected officials were collectively paid $453,251 in remuneration last year.
The six councillors were each paid $52,460, while Mayor Jack Crompton earned $138,493—an increase of 31.5 percent over 2022, when he earned $105,353.
Last year yielded significant raises for councillors, too: Though 2022 was an election year, re-elected councillors earned $41,366— making the 2023 paycheck a 26.8-per-cent raise for councilors.
Overall, remuneration to Whistler’s elected officials went up by just under $100k in one year, from $353,627 in 2022.
On the expenses front, the top claimant was Councillor Jeff Murl, who claimed $7,262 in expenses, while Coun. Jen Ford claimed only $76. The remaining five were spread between $1,346 and $5,665, for a total of
$26,879 for all seven.
For employees of the municipality, 2023 yielded some hefty numbers, with the total amount paid rising to $35,149,817, from $32,153,888 in 2022—an increase of 9.3 per cent.
The total amount for all pay to RMOW employees (including elected officials, benefits and contributions, but not including expenses) was a hefty $44,160,986—up from $39,995,129 in 2022, an increase of 10.4 per cent.
Overall expenses revealed a decrease— while elected officials claimed more, employees claimed less: With only $350,491 claimed by employees in 2023, compared to $452,051 in 2022—a decrease of 22.5 per cent.
Notably, the number of employees earning a paycheck over the $75k reporting threshold ballooned from 169 in 2022 to 207 in 2023, with a staff report rationalizing it as a result of annual cost-of-living adjustments to its pay scale. The report includes a segment explaining the reporting threshold has remained stagnant for more than 20 years, and if it had moved with the economy, the number of employees having their pay individually reported would be lower.
“The threshold of $75,000 for the SOFI employee remuneration schedule has not changed since 2002,” reads the report. “If the threshold had increased by the Vancouver average annual consumer price index (CPI) each year since 2002, the threshold would be approximately $116,000 for 2023, and would reduce the number of employees whose remuneration is reported in the SOFI.
“With all things remaining equal, the number of employees listed in the SOFI will continue to grow annually as the reporting threshold is held constant at $75,000 and
RMOW remuneration increases with cost-ofliving adjustments.”
Going by the number volunteered by the RMOW, there were 56 employees who earned more than $116,000 last year, with that group collectively accounting for $8,029,644 of the $35,149,817 paid to all employees.
Top earners in the RMOW are as expected, with chief administrative officer Ginny Cullen earning $284,449 last year, having enjoyed a 16-per-cent raise over 2022 when she earned $245,155.
Only four other employees crossed the $200k mark, being general manager of corporate services and public safety, Ted Battiston, who earned $207,741; Whistler Fire Rescue Services chief, Thomas Doherty, who earned $211,246; general manager of infrastructure services, James Hallisey, who earned $206,603; and human resources director Denise Wood, who earned $202,875.
Overall pay rates for RMOW employees have been on the up for the last few years: In 2017, the total remuneration and benefits across all employees was $30.7 million. That number rose to $32.7 million in 2018, then $33.1 million in 2019. It contracted slightly to $32.9 million in 2020, before ballooning to $36.8 million in 2021 and then $39.9 million in 2022 and now $44.1 million in 2023.
Responding to Pique queries, Cullen said the increase over the last few years was due to an increase in staff in key departments that were previously understaffed—such as the building department.
She added the RMOW was previously underpaying staff when benchmarked to other municipalities, which has been corrected in recent years, bringing about the relatively
large jump recently.
On the supplier and contractor front, the RMOW reported total payments of $110,442,217 in 2023–up from $98,294,155 in 2022. Companies that receive payments over a $25,000 threshold are all named individually. Top receivers of municipal money were: BC transit, which was paid $6,057,209 (up from $4,192,177 last year); BC Hydro, which was paid $2,122,036 (up from $1,797,396); Coastal Mountain Excavations, which received $4,833,539 (down from $5,360,295); Corona Excavations at $3,678,893 (down from $5,874,426); Drake Excavating at $3,018,396 (up from $2,317,612); GFL Environmental at $3,719,301 (slightly up from $3,548,301); the RCMP at $6,290,698 (up from $3,720,441); and Tourism Whistler, which received $8,126,310 (up from $6,136,576).
Also among contractors listed is the parent company of Pique Newsmagazine , Pacific Coast Publications LP, which received $104,058 from the RMOW for legislatively required public notices and advertisements in 2023.
At the June 25 regular council meeting when the statements were included in the council package with no presentation, councillors asked no questions.
During comments, Councillor Arthur De Jong said he appreciated the note from staff on the lack of change in the $75k remuneration reporting threshold, and added he would appreciate data on the range of salaries paid to give a more overarching view of remuneration to staff.
The full RMOW SOFI document can be read on the municipal website as part of the June 25 regular council meeting package. n
Whistler Blackcomb’s Doug MacFarlane traverses to retirement
WB’S VICE PRESIDENT OF MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS HAS BEEN WITH THE TEAM FOR 36 YEARS
BY LIZ MCDONALD
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB (WB) is saying goodbye to Doug MacFarlane, vice president of mountain operations.
MacFarlane is retiring after 36 years touring his way up the ranks of the company. According to a release issued by WB, skiindustry veteran Brian Suhadolc will take over the role.
MacFarlane expressed admiration for those he worked with over the years and the mountains he pursued a career in based on passion.
“It’s impossible to sum up what 36 years at Whistler Blackcomb have meant to me. Not many people are lucky enough to say they pursued their passion and turned it into a career they’re proud of—but I can. There won’t ever be enough words to accurately share what these mountains—and most importantly, the people here—have meant to me,” MacFarlane said in the release.
“I’m eternally grateful for every moment and lesson learned over the years, every team I’ve been part of, and every person I’ve had the pleasure of crossing paths with. This certainly isn’t goodbye, it’s just ‘see you later’ as I enter this new adventure of retirement as a loyal guest of these two great mountains.”
Belinda Trembath, Whistler Blackcomb VP and COO, called MacFarlane a pioneer of mountain operations and integral to bringing Whistler to the world as an international destination.
“Doug’s leadership and tremendous impact can be felt in every corner of Whistler Blackcomb and within the community. In his 36 years at the resort, he has been a pioneer in mountain operations and a key player in elevating Whistler Blackcomb to what it is today—an iconic global destination known
for its incredible on-mountain experiences,” Trembath said in the release.
“He has inspired countless team members over the last three decades and his legacy is one of passion. On behalf of the entire Whistler Blackcomb and Vail Resorts family, we wish Doug nothing but the best as he enters this new chapter.”
Filling MacFarlane’s big skis, Suhadolc has ran mountain operations throughout North America, at Park City Mountain and Vail Mountain, and comes to WB from Mount Snow in Vermont, where he was the vice president and general manager, according to Trembath. At Park City, he executed a $50-million lift upgrade and connection project, and at Vail, he brought in a snowmaking system.
“It’s impossible to sum up what 36 years at Whistler Blackcomb have meant to me.”
- DOUG MACFARLANE
“I have the utmost confidence in Brian, and I know he will step into this role with a level of focus and excellence that Whistler Blackcomb demands,” Trembath said.
In the release, Suhadolc called the new role an honour and stressed the excellence and innovation at WB as admirable.
“I look forward to listening, learning, and getting to know the Whistler Blackcomb team and the community while also bringing my experience and passion for mountain pperations to the role,” he said.
He begins his role Aug. 5. n
BIG MAC After touring his way up Whistler Blackcomb, Doug MacFarlane is now set to traverse retirement.
Sea to Sky car crash survivor tells her story
AFTER A HARROWING NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, JEHAN JIWA HAS A MESSAGE FOR DRIVERS
BY LIZ MCDONALD
IT WAS A REGULAR January day driving along the Sea to Sky highway for Jehan Jiwa and her father. They were coming back to Vancouver from their vacation home in Whistler. Conditions were unremarkable, with little snowfall or traffic that Monday afternoon, Jan. 9, 2023.
But driving along the Sea to Sky highway near Brittania Beach would change her and her family’s life forever.
“The only part I remember was that out of nowhere, an SUV started coming almost
was incredibly wrong. And then that’s all I remember. My next memories are waking up in the ICU two days later.”
Her father was taken to Lions Gate Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries as Jiwa went into emergency surgery at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) to remove a piece of her damaged intestine. Her extensive injuries included a fractured femur, tibia and fibula, five fractured vertebrae, two liver lacerations, a fractured thumb, two fractured fingers, a collapsed lung, intestinal resection, a dislocated sternum and severe internal bleeding.
Pique reported the accident at the time, which saw Sea to Sky Squamish RCMP, BC
“[T]he next thing I remember is just a monstrous collision.”
-
JEHAN JIWA
directly at us,” Jiwa said.
“And I remember thinking, ‘wow, that car is coming right at us. It’s going to turn, though, I’m sure it’s going to turn.’ And then next thing I remember is just a monstrous collision. It seemed like the car was almost in flight.”
Once the car came to a stop, she and her father tried to communicate and find out if they were both OK.
“I remember my dad and I looked at each other. We couldn’t speak, just, I think, out of pure shock, but we just looked at each other like, ‘Oh my God.’ He asked me, ‘Are you OK?’” she recalled. “And I tried to say, ‘Yes, I think I’m OK,’ but I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t get my breath. So, I knew that something
Enjoyfreeparkaccessthissummer. Stay with us for more time to enjoyour NEWSea to SkyDiscGolf Course,summerbiathlon, hiking,bikingand premium access to iconic backcountrytrails in thestunning Callaghan Valley. whistlerolympicpark.com/ hours RV &C am pgr
Highway Patrol Squamish, Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance, and Miller Capilano respond. More than a year later, Jiwa reached out to share her story of recovery, in the hopes drivers will be more careful along the Sea to Sky.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
She would spend the next month at VGH, undergoing three surgeries before starting a journey of recovery, which she’s shown in detail through an Instagram video.
“The month after that was essentially just learning to breathe again, learning to
BC Transit’s new electronic fare system, Umo, is now ready for use in the Whistler and Pemberton Valley Transit Systems. Umo allows you to select the best payment method for your lifestyle and travel habits.
It’s your choice how to use Umo – app or reloadable card.
Ever y rider must carry their own payment method and may choose between:
Downloading the Umo Mobility app from the Apple App or Google Play stores or Pick ing up a reloadable Umo card for free from a BC Transit vendor
Buy passes or load cash through the app, online at ca.umopass.com, Umo’s customer ser vice line at 877·380·8181, or through a vendor.
Visit bc transit.com/umo for more info or call 877·380·8181 toll-free for support.
IN RECOVERY Jehan Jiwa poses for a photo with her parents.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEHAN JIWA
of Pemberton
Room to Roam
sit, to stand, to walk a couple steps, to do a couple stairs, to talk, to feed myself, to use the bathroom, you know, it was a complete loss of control, loss of ability, and essentially [I was] starting from the ground up, rebuilding my body,” Jiwa said.
The trauma extends to her father, as well, whether it was seeing her unable to breathe and bleeding from the accident, or from the time he was separated from her while at a different hospital for 24 hours.
Jiwa’s mom was thousands of kilometres away in East Africa at the time, leaving her unable to immediately be by her daughter’s side.
“It’s in our consciousness all the time,” she said. “It’s impacted our ability to enjoy going back up to Whistler, because the Sea to Sky now will always have a bit of a tainted memory for us.”
Jiwa’s recovery includes physio, kinesiology, massage, acupuncture, counselling, workouts, doctor’s appointments and consults. The extensive care is covered by ICBC, which she expects to need for the rest of her life.
She has recovered to the point someone may not notice anything out of the ordinary, except for a limp. But she said the inward trauma is still there, and sometimes people need to be reminded she needs support.
“There’s no outward signs of the trauma that I’ve endured. And so, people sometimes forget what has happened, and I’ve had to learn that you have to remind people what you’re going through, because people don’t
know what’s going on beneath the surface of anybody else,” she said. “I encourage people to speak up and use your voice to let people know what you’re going through, whatever it might be.”
‘ONE SHIFT AT A TIME’
Before the accident, Jiwa worked with the Vancouver Whitecaps and has a longstanding love for hockey.
Her passion started with the Canucks’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, and she describes her desire to lace up again as a “North Star.” But what’s most beneficial to her
is the mentality that comes with living life one buzzer to the next.
“In hockey the mentality is one shift at a time. So that’s the way I look at it—one shift at a time. Don’t get too far ahead. Don’t look at things too much in advance. Just do the work hour to hour, day to day,” she said.
Jiwa is also vice president of the women’s non-profit, Grindstone Award Foundation, which provides financial aid to families of girls who can’t afford to play hockey.
While the crash has completely changed her life, there were no criminal charges laid against the driver, whose identity is unknown to Jiwa.
“I know he is a male, but I don’t know who or what he looks like, or his name—I sometimes think that I could be standing at Starbucks and he could be standing next to me grabbing a coffee. I wouldn’t know that this is the person who changed my life. We’ve had absolutely no interaction. There’s been no attempt at an apology or anything like that,” she said.
Headlines about car accidents on the Sea to Sky happen practically every week, an occurrence that makes reporting on them, or sitting through the traffic jams, normalized. Yet this normalization doesn’t show the life-changing consequences for survivors like Jiwa.
“It’s meant to be a really beautiful drive, but yet, you see people that are going double the speed limit, people who are distracted or merging when they shouldn’t be. And it’s really unfortunate,” she said. “I hope that more is being done at an RCMP level, at an ICBC level, at a government level to enforce different penalties and more policing, because people need to be held accountable.”
Full of grit and adamant about taking her trauma and doing good for herself and others, Jiwa is available to share her story as a motivational speaker, and has featured as a guest on Women’s Hockey Life podcast and the National Hockey League Players Association.
“I’m always happy to talk to anyone who wants to learn more or wants to talk about grit, perseverance, trauma, recovery, any of those those subjects, because they’re very near and dear to my heart,” she said. n
•Ona tranquil cul-de-sac in Bayshores neighbourhood
•Mainhouse has4 bedroomsand features a2-bed suite
•Spacious deck is idyllic setting foroutdoor enjoyment •Doublecar garage boasts amplespace forall your gear
•Exclusive skiin/skiout location on Snowridge Circle •Classic SkiChalet •New roof,refinished logs,new mechanical
Gondola
DRAMATIC IMPACT First responders at the scene of the crash on Jan. 9, 2023.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEHAN JIWA
Whistler day lot parking rates to increase
DAILY AND MONTHLY RATES ARE GOING UP, WHILE HOURLY RATES WILL STAY THE SAME
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
PARKING RATES are going up in Whistler’s day skier lots.
Starting July 1, the daily rate to park in lots 1, 2 and 3 will go up by $4, to $18, while the rate in lots 4 and 5 will rise by $2, to $10 per day.
The monthly rate for lots 1, 2 and 3 will go from $72 to $108 on July 1, while in lots 4 and 5 it will go from $25 for Whistler residents and employees, to a flat $40 rate for all users.
Hourly rates will remain the same: $3 per hour in lots 1, 2 and 3, and $2.50 per hour in lots 4 and 5.
The cost to park in the oversize lot (next to lot 3) will go up as well, with the daily rate going from $28 to $36.
According to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), the rising rates are part of wider goals to discourage private vehicle use.
“This will help us make some of the big moves necessary to meet our climate action targets by further encouraging us all to move beyond the car,” reads the RMOW website on the rate changes.
“Raising parking rates means drivers bear the cost of personal vehicles, contributing toward helping us evolve and expand our transportation options for everyone. The
alternative would be having all taxpayers bear the brunt of the cost of this much-needed climate-action infrastructure.
“Paying for parking also helps remind
“Paying
us to try and reduce our environmental footprint, which is crucial to be able to meet our GHG reduction goals by 2030 as we face the climate crisis.”
The RMOW added while rate increases are “never a welcome sight ... we hope this will encourage you to take advantage of our affordable transit and active transportation options or consider carpooling when you can.”
To that end, funds raised will be plowed into Whistler transit, increasing hours, reliability and consistency.
The RMOW also noted the cost of maintaining the lots is increasing, so the changes reflect those costs and allow the municipality to operate the lots more effectively.
The full RMOW rationale and explainer can be read on the municipal website. n
Nita Lake Lodge becomes new owner of Whistler’s Creekbread
WHISTLER’S CREEKBREAD is under new management.
The new owners are just down the road, with Nita Lake Lodge Resort and Spa taking on ownership of the iconic Whistler Creekside establishment, according to a June 18 release.
According to the release, Nita Lake Lodge doesn’t plan to make too many changes.
“Recognizing Creekbread’s status as a local favourite, Nita Lake Lodge aims to preserve and enhance its legacy
•Coveted Golf Course Neighbouhood
•Situatedalong thevalleytrail
•WhistlerBlackcomb Mountain Views
•4 Bedroom,3.5 Bathroom +1 Bedroom suite
•3,763 sq.ft. home
$6,100,000
1,616sq.ft.
•Large picturewindows,soaring vaultedceilings
•Panoramic Mountain Views
•Phase Izoningfor nightlyrentals
as a cornerstone of the Creekside dining community,” reads the release.
“This strategic partnership underscores Nita Lake Lodge’s commitment to supporting locally owned businesses that prioritize community engagement, authenticity, and culinary excellence using locally sourced ingredients.”
According to Nita Lake Lodge, management and staff of Creekbread will continue to operate independently under the Creekbread brand.
“We are thrilled to welcome Creekbread Restaurant into our family,” said John Holton, General Manager of Nita Lake Lodge Resort & Spa.
“Creekbread is integral to the fabric of the Creekside community, and we are committed to upholding its rich tradition.”
Creekbread opened at Whistler Creekside in September 2009 in space previously occupied by Uli’s, and has since become a staple of the pizza scene in Whistler.
1917, oilonwood, 21.5× 26.7cm, National Gallery of Canada,Ottawa,Bequest of Dr.J.M.MacCallum, Toronto, 1944, Photo: NGC.
Visitation ‘down significantly’ at Whistler Blackcomb last season
POOR SEASON HAMPERS 2024-25 SEASON PASS SALES: VAIL RESORTS
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
SEASON PASS SALES for the upcoming North American ski season are lagging, according to a recent update from Whistler Blackcomb parent company Vail Resorts.
“Pass product sales through May 28, 2024 for the upcoming North American ski season decreased approximately five per cent in units and increased approximately one per cent in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through May 30, 2023,” said Vail CEO, Kristen Lynch, in the company’s quarterly fiscal report released June 6.
In the report, Lynch went on to say the company believed the reduction was due to the poor 2023-24 season, which had limited sales opportunities to customers—and not due to the eight-per-cent price increase across Vail Resorts properties heading into 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.
“We believe the spring pass results for guests committing for winter 2024-25 were impacted by the industry decline in visitation following a record 2022-23 U.S. ski season,” she said.
“The decline in units relative to the prior year season-to-date results was primarily driven by a decline in new pass holders. The primary source of new pass holders in the
spring are lift-ticket guests that visited in the prior winter season. This past season, lift-ticket visitation declined due to weather, and did not fully return to typical behaviour after conditions improved, creating a smaller audience as the primary source of new pass holders in the spring.”
That said, Lynch added Vail Resorts still has the bulk of a season to sell passes ahead of it.
“We believe the full year pass unit and sales dollar trends will be relatively stable with the spring results,” she said.
primarily at Whistler Blackcomb, which was down significantly relative to the prior year period,” the report said.
Despite the challenges, Vail Resorts reported its net income for the quarter was $362 million, up from $325 million in the same quarter last year.
“Despite these challenges, [Vail] grew resort net revenue and Resort Reported EBITDA to record levels in the third quarter, supported by the stability created from our advance commitment strategy, operations
ski season saw a 7.7-per-cent reduction in skier visits, driven by conditions and “broader industry normalization” following the COVID19 pandemic.
However, despite the decline in skier visits, the company reported “ancillary spending was strong,” with guests opening wallets across ski school, dining and rental businesses across Vail Resorts properties.
“Resort net revenue for the second and third quarter combined period increased one per cent and Resort Reported EBITDA increased six per cent over the prior year,” the report said.
- KRISTEN LYNCH
The dust is still settling on the varied 202324 season, which Vail Resorts reported as “unfavourable” for the majority of the season, before yielding improved results in March and April, when visitation across the company’s North American resorts rebounded—except at Whistler Blackcomb.
“While pass product visitation returned as expected, as we communicated in April, lift ticket visitation did not return to typical historical guest behaviour for the spring,
executional excellence, and continued strong growth in ancillary spending per skier visit across our ski school, dining, and rental businesses at our resorts,” said Lynch.
“The winter season included significant weather-related challenges, with approximately 28-per-cent lower snowfall for the full winter season across our western North American resorts compared to the same period in the prior year.”
Overall, the company reported the last
Looking ahead, the company has updated its guidances for the year ending July 31, reporting its expected EBITDA for the year to be between $825-$845 million, compared to the previous quarterly guidance that expected the range to be between $847-$889 million.
“The reduction relative to the guidance provided on March 11, 2024 (previous quarterly report) is primarily from lift ticket visitation not returning to typical historical spring behaviour as expected in the March and April period, primarily at Whistler Blackcomb, along with lowered expectations for the fourth quarter of $9 million primarily related to the demand outlook for our Australian resorts,” said Lynch.
You can read the full Vail Resorts quarterly report on its corporate website. n
Sea to Sky MP reacts to Liberal loss of Toronto heartland seat
LOSS OF TORONTO-ST. PAUL’S SHOULD TRIGGER ‘REFLECTION’ BY
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
A BRITISH COLUMBIAN Liberal MP is reacting to the loss of a party seat on the other side of Canada by saying it was a message that is “hard to ignore” for the prime minister.
“I think that this is the kind of result that warrants serious reflection on by the prime minister, it’s that plain and simple,” said West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP, Patrick Weiler, of the byelection result which saw the inner-city Toronto-St. Paul’s riding fall from Liberal hands for the first time since 1993.
“I don’t think there’s a way of sugarcoating that result,” said Weiler.
“Toronto is an area that has long been a Liberal stronghold for good reason, and I don’t think there’s any way of taking that result and not taking that as a clear message.”
In Vancouver on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to the news the previously safe seat of Toronto-St. Paul’s had fallen to the Conservative Party, whose candidate Don Stewart secured a 590vote lead over Liberal Leslie Church in the preliminary count overnight, by saying it was
TRUDEAU, MP PATRICK WEILER SAYS
“not the result we wanted,” but made no mention of his job security in comments at an event with no reporter questions.
He repeated previous Liberal Party talking points, saying he heard people’s concerns and frustrations.
“These are not easy times, and it’s clear that I, and my entire Liberal team have much more work to do to deliver tangible, real
progress that Canadians across the country can see and feel. We’ll never stop working and fighting to make sure that people have what they need to get through these tough times,” he said.
Asked about Trudeau’s next moves, given Toronto-St. Paul’s has traditionally been at the heart of Liberal territory for the party, Weiler said there is an appetite for
change among voters—but the exact type is tricky to define.
“I would say it’s hard to ignore that people are looking for change,” he said, but didn’t go much further, instead talking about what he characterized as change offered by the Conservative Party.
“It’s not as if I’m having people walking up to me to tell me they’re looking for the change that the Conservatives are offering, like sidelining the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to pass unconstitutional criminal laws, or to reopen the abortion debate, or to attack minority rights. I’m certainly not hearing from people that they want to abandon all action on fighting climate change or to cancel the carbon tax that doesn’t even apply in B.C., and I’m certainly not hearing from people that they want to raise taxes on home-building—all things that the Conservative Party has put forward.
“But, I am hearing from people that they’re looking for change, and if we’re not offering it, they’re going to look for it elsewhere.”
On the potential of a new leader for the party, Weiler reiterated the result should trigger “reflection” on the part of Trudeau.
“I think this is the kind of result that
GOT CHANGE? Liberal MP Patrick Weiler speaks at a funding announcement in Whistler last year.
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK WEILER
100 Women Whistler whips up more than $250k in five years
THE LOCAL CHAPTER SEES WOMEN GET TOGETHER FOUR TIMES A YEAR, WITH EACH MEMBER DONATING $100 TO A LOCAL CHARITY
BY LIZ MCDONALD
HAVING A POSITIVE impact as an individual can sometimes seem hard, but when individuals unite to give back together, they can have a huge impact—$259,600 worth, in fact.
100 Women Whistler, a local chapter of the 100 Women Who Care Alliance, has been in operation since 2019, and since then, has collectively donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to local charities. The concept is simple: 100 women each donate $100 during one meeting, raising $10,000 for a local charity. The amount raised fluctuates based on membership, and the group meets four times a year, raising $40,000 plus annually.
Founder Ashlie Girvan was inspired to start the local chapter because of the simplicity of the process and the sizable impact one group can have. She wants people to know membership is open to women from all walks of life.
“Our membership worried that people didn’t realize that you can join at any time. It seemed like it was sort of an invite only or you can only join in January … People can join at any time by visiting our website and using that membership tab,” Girvan said.
Each chapter is run independently, and they get to decide what works for them,
choosing a different dollar amount or the times they vote, according to Girvan.
Once a year, each member nominates an eligible charity within Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton. Three nominees are randomly chosen six weeks before a quarterly meeting and asked to present to the chapter. From
there, members vote anonymously and the majority charity wins.
Each quarter, members meet at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler to hear the pitches, and members can socialize for an hour before the meeting begins.
The second quarter donation meeting
“People can join at any time by visiting our website...”
- ASHLIE GIRVAN
warrants serious reflection by the prime minister, because [Toronto-St. Paul’s] is a riding that we have no business losing, particularly given the effort that’s been put into it, and particularly with a very compelling candidate,” he said.
Pressed on what the unexpected result means for him, as the MP of a bellwether riding that has been held by the government of the day since 2008, Weiler said he will
double down on trying to connect with constituents, and is advocating for issues they consider important.
“[Toronto-St. Paul’s] is a riding that should be a Liberal riding, and that’s something we need to take account of right across the country,” he said.
With an election due to be held in October next year at the latest, and the Liberal government down in the polls since early 2022,
heard presentations by AWARE, the Pemberton & District Museum and Archive Society and Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, with Cheekye earning $11,300 for its youth program, Into the Woods.
In April, CIBC donated $10,000 to the Whistler chapter in lieu of client gifts. The group chose a recipient by voting for a presentation which previously pitched and didn’t get a donation. Sea to Sky Community Services earned $10,000 for a healthy pregnancy outreach program.
The next meeting is slated for Sept. 18, and men interested in joining their own giving circle will soon have an opportunity, with 100 Men Whistler starting up this fall.
Find more info at 100womenwhistler. com. n
and significantly behind the Conservatives since mid-2023, Weiler said the government has a lot to do to get the work done, and the messaging across.
“This isn’t just a communications exercise, I’m making sure we’re delivering and people are feeling that at the local level,” he said. “So that’s what I’m taking from it, and I hope that’s what folks across the country are taking from it as well.” n
Whistler rezones its one transit ‘bull’s-eye’ under provincial direction
THE GONDOLA EXCHANGE WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE PROVINCE AS A TRANSIT HUB, WITH NO INPUT FROM WHISTLER
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
THE PROVINCE’S newly-created “Transit Oriented Development Areas” (TOD Areas) won’t make too much of a splash in Whistler, with only the village’s Gondola Exchange receiving the designation.
Under new provincial legislation, municipalities must alter their bylaws to allow for greater housing density near transportation hubs, with all municipalities being assessed and alerted by the province of where in their borders they have transportation hubs that meet provincial criteria.
For Whistler, that’s the Gondola Exchange, on Blackcomb Way—which is the heart of Whistler’s transit network with 14 routes stopping there. Of the entire network, only the 10 (which goes from Emerald Estates to Cheakamus Crossing) does not go to the Gondola Exchange.
Under changes adopted June 25, the Gondola Exchange is now the centre of a cluster of density bylaws that set the minimum allowable height of residential development at six storeys for developments within 200 metres, and four storeys for developments between 200 and 400m. All parcels of land that are wholly or partially within the 200 and 400m radius of the Gondola Exchange
fall under the new bylaws. The municipality must adhere to these new minimums when considering rezoning applications.
“In TOD Areas, local governments cannot deny rezoning applications on the basis of height or density if they are within the minimum allowable amount,” said RMOW planner Joanna Rees in presenting to council.
“Eligible sites within the TOD Area must be zoned for all or partial residential use,” she added.
Also under the provincial requirements, which are laid out in Bill 47, the municipality is now barred from requiring off-street parking for residential developments within the TOD Area—meaning developers can choose to not include residential parking, and the municipality would be unable to force them to. Developers could still voluntarily include parking in the developments should they choose, while parking associated with non-residential developments still apply.
Any applications within the TOD Area would follow the same standard rezoning process, with the only difference being council wouldn’t be able to reject the application based on height or density if they were within the minimum allowable metrics.
Following the presentation, Councillor Cathy Jewett noted the village’s Gateway Loop fell outside of the “bull’s-eye” that was the TOD Area coordinates the RMOW was
HOST FAMILIES
provided by the province, and asked why the loop was not considered a TOD Area of its own.
In response, Rees said the province used set criteria to identify the Gondola Exchange, and the RMOW received direction that did not include the Gateway Loop.
“The criteria includes 15-minute service frequency, to a more unique line and route connections, service seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., one route meeting minimum frequency of at least 12 hours per day, and permanent purpose-built infrastructure,” she said.
Jewett was not discouraged by that criteria, and continued her line of thought.
“I could just see though, given [the Gateway Loop] is a major hub of transportation, that it could be considered, especially the fact we have a lot of people coming up the highway on buses.”
What did fall inside the TOD Area set by the province also came under question from Jewett, who asked if staff knew how much of the radius area was in a floodplain.
“It looks to me like a lot of it is within the day skier parking lots, which are part of a floodplain,” she said, going on to speak about what else was within the radius such as parts of ski runs.
“I’m just curious about the potential, because for me I see it as pretty difficult land to take advantage of,” she said.
Rees responded that for parcels to qualify, they would have to be zoned for partial or all residential use, ruling out lands such as those under Whistler Blackcomb’s tenure.
Rees later said the RMOW had done a preliminary review of the parcels within the TOD Area, and “the majority of them don’t have residential uses, but at this time it’s difficult to speak towards what the redevelopment potential or the interest in uptake would be.”
Coun. Jeff Murl picked up Jewett’s comments, saying the Gateway Loop had “all the same amenities as [the Gondola Exchange] does, and seems like it includes a lot more opportunity than Gondola Exchange—has anyone ever said this is a better TOD?”
He was told by head of planning services, Dale Mikkelson, that given timelines from the province, and that the TOD Areas were assigned by the province, the RMOW was doing what it was asked.
“There could be a time in the future if a municipality decided they wanted to apply those rules to a different location, you could identify that to the province,” he said.
“But right now, the designated location in Whistler is Gondola Exchange, it’s the only one that meets that criteria.”
RMOW staff later confirmed to Pique the TOD Area designation was done without consultation, and the RMOW did not have input into the decision. n
Employee housing soaks up Whistler council time
COUNCIL BRIEFS: DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR FUNCTION PROJECT; SENIORS TO BENEFIT FROM COMMUNITY FUNDS
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has increased the maximum rental amount for future employee housing at 5298 Alta Lake Road following a lengthy discussion on how much to raise it by.
Under the initial housing agreement signed off on by the municipality, future owners of the 21 employee houses to be built could charge up to $800 per room. That number was questioned by councillors at the May 28 council meeting when staff recommended increasing the maximum amount the developer could sell the units for at the developer’s request, but without a parallel increase to rental amounts, and the issue was set to come back before council with changes.
Council’s issue with the number was that by increasing the selling price, the developer could benefit (and the project remain viable), while future owners of the units would not see the same benefit.
When it did return to council at the June 11 meeting, some councillors were not too impressed with the amount it went up by, with staff recommending an increase from $800 per room to $806.26 per month, per
the increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) since the registration of the housing agreement in 2023. Likewise, the maximum rent per square foot went from $2.75 to $2.77, and the rental rate for the entirety of a three-bedroom unit went from $3,695.00 to $3,723.90.
Mayor and council engaged in what ended up being an hour-plus-long back and forth, divided by a handful of intermissions
the amount owners of the future units at 5298 Alta Lake Road could rent a room for by 16.5 per cent over the $800 that existed in the initial housing agreement, to $932 per room. The maximum rent per square foot will go to $3.20, and the maximum amount for a three-bedroom unit would go to $4,306. It was opposed by Crompton and Councillor Jeff Murl, who later noted the gap in municipal policy.
“We would like to see a formula that follows current economics.”
- CATHY JEWETT
on whether to go with the CPI-connected increase, go to 30 per cent of current minimum wage in B.C., a 16-per-cent increase in line with the increase to sales price, or a different number as settled on by council.
Speaking to the suggested numbers that came up during the meeting, Mayor Jack Crompton counselled against making policy on the fly, noting if they strayed from existing policy or staff recommendations they needed to acknowledge that.
In the end, council voted 5-2 to increase
Council also made a resolution to direct staff to do policy work and come up with a new formula that would dictate the amount homeowners of units governed by employee housing agreements could charge for rooms, with a percentage of minimum wage to be considered.
“We would like to see a formula that follows current economics,” said Coun. Cathy Jewett, who later noted the RMOW would likely be seeing more employee-restricted housing in the future.
ALPHA LAKE ROAD PROJECT GETS THREE READINGS
The RMOW has given first three readings to the issuance of development permits and a housing agreement for a major housing development at 1000 Alpha Lake Road, which will see 72 employee housing units added to Whistler’s inventory.
Whistler’s mayor and council previously approved a rezoning to allow the project to proceed back in April, when the Lil’wat Nation-led project was revised to allow for more housing and the removal of a previouslyproposed brewery.
Council voted unanimously to give three readings to a development permit and housing agreement for the project, which will include three, four-level-equivalent buildings with employee housing and mixed commercial/ industrial space. There will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units across the project.
As per amendments in the development permit, before any construction can take place, the RMOW will receive a security deposit of $255,355.63 to ensure landscaping works are carried out in accordance with the development permit.
As per the housing agreement, all 72 employee housing units will be rental units, with no maximums imposed on the owner.
Whistler’s Vision Pacific wins national award
THE LOCAL CONTRACTOR WON A CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST EXTERIOR RENOVATION
BY LIZ MCDONALD
WHISTLER CONTRACTOR Vision Pacific
won a Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) award this spring.
The company earned top honours for best exterior renovation for tackling a property owned by Tim Regan, head of Vision Pacific. He explained his company’s approach to the renovation focused on maintaining the traditional aesthetic of the house.
“The renovation was a real complement to the original structure,” Regan said. “We have lots of kids and we have some grandkids. My wife and I wanted the backyard to be very low maintenance but high functional [for family].”
He called the property the “antithesis of contemporary,” and described it as a typical 1990s-style Whistler home. He has added a mudroom and garage but modernized the backyard, including a trellis and retractable awning for the south-facing space.
Named “Mountain Haven,” the title makes sense, considering it’s a respite in the mountains for the busy life of a builder.
CHBA announced the awards May 10 in Saint John, N.B. More than 900 entries vied for industry recognition and review from 300 volunteer industry experts evaluating
the submissions and choosing finalists and winners, according to a press release issued by CHBA.
Vision Pacific has been up for awards and involved in numerous projects over the years, which Regan attributes to the company’s approach to homes.
“We’re very drawn to doing great creative work. And every job we approach with a desire to make it the best as possible and introduce different elements,” he said. “The houses speak to us, and we want to hear what the houses are saying, and then we landscape them and adorn them in a way that really magnifies the look.”
The company was also a finalist in best whole home renovation under $800,000. A second Whistler finalist included TM Builders, which was vying for best detached custom
COUNCIL BRIEFS FROM PAGE 27
LAST OF CEP FUNDS ALLOCATED TO WHISTLER SENIORS
The last of Whistler’s Community Enrichment Program (CEP) funds will go to the Mature Action Committee (MAC).
From an initial budget of $180,504, 35 applicants received $169,185, while 10 students from Whistler Secondary School received
$1,000 scholarships, leaving $1,319.36 leftover for 2024.
In a report to council on June 11, staff laid out which groups got everything they wanted, and which groups got less than they asked for, with 31 applications falling short, of which MAC was one, missing out on $2,290 of its initial $4,290 ask.
Coun. Cathy Jewett was the only
home between 4,001 to 5,000 square feet and best bedroom/suite.
While he couldn’t attend the award ceremony in Saint John, Regan is about to embark on a journey to the province for the first time. There, he expects to once again get inspiration for future builds.
“I’m always looking for creative inspiration and then we adapt it to here,” he said.
The national recognition comes on the heels of a provincial Georgie Award for another local builder, Alair Whistler, which won for best condo renovation under $250,000.
“It is something that I’ve always wanted… it’s nice to get that recognition,” said Alair Whistler’s Jason Zavitz.
Whistler’s Schreyer Construction was also a finalist for four Georgies this year. n
councillor to speak to the report.
“I had previously asked if we could assign that money to the Mature Action Committee,” she said. Council voted to allocate all of the leftover funds to MAC.
MAC will spend its CEP funds on its ongoing sessions and seminar series for mature Whistlerites in an effort to combat loneliness. n
VISION REALIZED “Mountain Haven” by Whistler contractor Vision Pacific.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED A SILENT AUCTION ITEM AND TO OUR GOLD. SILVER & BRONZE SPONSORS: GOLD: INNERGEX. PEMBERTON VALLEY SUPERMARKET. SILVHORN AUTOMOTIVE. SQUAMISH LILLOOET REGIONAL DISTRICT. WHISTLER WELDING
SILVER: SARBRE RENTALS. EDWARD JONES HEDCO GROUP MEAGER CREEK DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. PEMBERTON LEGION BRANCH 201. WHISTLER REAL ESTATE COMPANY WHISTLER RESORT MANAGEMENT
BRONZE: DANIELLE MENZEL PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION. FREYBE. LISA HILTON PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION. MATTHEW CALLAGHAN PERSON REAL ESTATE CORPORATION. PIQUE NEWSMAGAZINE. VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON. FISH & RICE SUSHI AND BEYOND BACKCOUNTRY MOTOSPORT STEAMWORKS BREWERY
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AT SUNSTONE GOLF CLUB AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THEIR SPIRIT AND HARD WORK!
Public toilet at Pemberton train station building to reopen this summer
THE WASHROOM WAS CLOSED DUE TO ‘INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR’ AND VANDALISM
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE PUBLIC TOILET at Blackbird Bakery in Pemberton will finally reopen this summer, according to a report from Village of Pemberton (VOP) chief administrative officer Elizabeth Tracy at a council meeting on Tuesday, June 18.
Vandalism and “inappropriate behaviour” forced council to close the facility at the start of this year. The VOP’s communications and engagement advisor, Michelle Fernandes, previously said local businesses were being affected by the disruptions.
Tracy announced the washroom would be back up and running soon.
“The team is currently in the process of getting the bathroom ready to operate. It will be open for this summer again,” she said. “In the past we have had vandalism and other issues with the washroom. It does pose some concerns for us as staff.”
Tracy said council would consider installing porta potties in the area if significant issues arise again. She said the portable toilets
would alleviate pressures on businesses and ensure there remains a toilet in the area.
Council recently received a $25,000 Sparc BC accessibility grant to improve the public washroom.
“The goal would be to update the washroom to a single-use facility that may be less hospitable to gathering or misuse,” said Tracy. “This would also then include accessibility upgrades which are much needed for this facility.”
She asked for feedback from staff on whether council should wait until 2025 to complete the project or find the funds in this year’s budget.
Mayor Mike Richman asked if the funds could be used that quickly.
“We have already received the funding and it’s good until 2026,” said Tracy. “If it was something that council wanted us to reprioritize, we could look at that.”
“The team is currently in the process of getting the bathroom ready to operate.”
- ELIZABETH TRACY
But the project looks like it would more than likely cost a lot more than council has been granted, Tracy added.
“With the prospect of the grant, we were able to do some requests for proposals. The original estimate that we received was for $63,000,” said Tracy. “We have again gone out to tender to see if we can get something that is a little bit tighter and closer to the $25,000. The $63,000 might be closer to what the market is.”
Councillor Ted Craddock worried the washroom would be closed during busy long weekends during the summer. He estimated a minimum six-week construction timeframe could coincide with Pemberton’s busiest time for tourists.
“I am wondering if it makes any sense. It would be closed for at least half of the busy time,” he said. “Is there any need to rush something that we can budget for next year along with this $25,000?”
Tracy said Craddock made a really
good point. She expressed her doubts construction would be completed that quickly. Richman considered planning to budget for the project for fall of this year or early spring. He stressed the need to get it done before next year’s busy season.
Coun. Katrina Nightingale said she would like to see the project completed sooner rather than later.
“I think that moving forward in the fall is best,” she said. “It’s an urgent matter in the community. I think that it needs to be dealt with as quickly as we can.”
The washroom’s closure in January led to discussion about public intoxication in Pemberton’s downtown core.
Consistent public intoxication can be a “complex issue requiring a collaborative approach,” said Staff Sgt. Sascha Banks of the Sea to Sky RCMP, in an email at the time, adding council members can reach out to the RCMP directly if they have concerns.
“In regards to the intoxicated-in-public concerns, Pemberton RCMP members consistently patrol the downtown area of Pemberton, including the Blackbird Bakery,” Banks said. “Yes, tickets have been handed out in the past, and Pemberton RCMP does receive calls regarding this matter in the area mentioned.”
Tracy said staff would get a clearer idea of the cost of the project and bring plans back to council to discuss further. n
WASH UP The public washrooms at Blackbird Bakery will soon reopen to the public.
FILE PHOTO BY ROISIN CULLEN
NEWS PEMBERTON
Pemberton daycare slated for September opening
PEMBERTON CHILDREN’S CENTRE IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ITS STAFF IN THE AREA
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE LONG-AWAITED daycare expansion in Pemberton is edging ever closer to completion. Pemberton’s Children’s Centre said in a Facebook post it had “high hopes” to open the doors for Sept. 3.
In 2019, the Village of Pemberton (VOP) made daycare expansion a strategic priority.
The VOP received $2,771,000 through the ChildCare BC New Spaces Fund for the expansion in April 2022, and site prep work for the expansion began later that year.
However, a funding shortfall emerged. Village staff engaged with ministry officials and applied for supplementary funding. A further $800,000 was awarded as a result in early 2023.
The nearby Nature Play Park and PlayScape structure had to be relocated to allow for the build, sparking debate over reducing green space in Pemberton.
Pemberton’s Children’s Centre asked for the community’s help in finding affordable housing for its staff.
“If you or anyone you know has housing options, please reach out to the centre,” they said. “We will start contacting families on our waitlist once we have a confirmed
2024.
opening date.”
PHOTO BY ROISIN CULLEN
The Centre said the number of additional daycare spaces being offered will be dependent on how many qualified teachers they can hire.
The expansion will eventually provide an additional 50 childcare spaces for the 3-5 age group, in two new classrooms.
More information about the work on the project to date is available at haveyoursay. pemberton.ca/daycareexpansion. n
Brave neighbours stop house fire spreading to forest in community past Pemberton
A DANGEROUS HOUSE fire was extinguished by fast-acting residents before it spread to a nearby forest on Friday, June 21. The fire broke out in a lakefront home at Lilllooet Lake Estates east of Pemberton.
Lillooet Lake Estates (LLE) is a community of some 150 lots, seven kilometres southeast of Highway 99 on the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road.
Residents of the home escaped just in time after noticing smoke. The fire quickly engulfed the top floor and the rafters of the roof.
Thankfully, word of the fire spread just as fast within the tight-knit community.
Neighbours started to fight the fire within 15 minutes. They used the community fire water network and a recently installed lakefront water pumping system.
Thirty residents rushed to the scene to help. They manned the hoses, salvaged belongings, and comforted the devastated homeowners.
As a result, the blaze was extinguished by that afternoon, with no further spread to neighbouring properties or the surrounding forest. Residents monitored the scene overnight.
President of LLE, Gary Young, explained in a press release the cause of the fire is
not known at this time. “Accidental causes or system failure is suspected,” he said. “Investigations and insurance response is forthcoming. The homeowners were insured, and we are asking that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”
The area is not serviced by local fire departments in Mount Currie or Pemberton due to insurance regulations—which means residents must be prepared for the worst at all time.
“This fire was a true test of our equipment and training,” said Young. “Without the lakefront pumping system installed by the residents of Gate 5, this fire could easily have spread into the forest canopy and beyond. We are extremely grateful that no one was injured.”
LLE residents attend annual fire-system training and FireSmart preparedness events. Young applauded all community members for their heroic response.
“The LLE Board will be taking a close look at this event and seeing how we can learn from it to be even better prepared and equipped in the future,” said Young. “But one thing is certain—it is the LLE spirit of community that really saved the day.”
- Róisín Cullen/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter n
Squamish Store Closing
PEMBERTON VALLEY DYKING DISTRICT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
THURSDAY, July 11, 2024 @ 7:00 pm 7390 Cottonwood Street, Pemberton, BC
The Pemberton Valley Dyking District (PVDD) will be holding its 77th Annual General Meeting, and you are invited to attend this event. You will gain a great overview of what the PVDD does, see what projects have been completed and what projects are in progress for 2024/2025.
At the Thursday, July 11, 2024 AGM, the PVDD will be electing two Trustees to the Board for a term of approximately 3 years - terms end on the date of the election held in the 3rd year Landowners to also approve Trustee honorarium at this meeting.
Voter Eligibility: (ID must be presented)
Only persons attending the election and meeting the following eligibility requirements are entitled to vote:
• A Canadian Citizen
• Eighteen years of age, or older.
• An owner of land within the Pemberton Valley Dyking District boundaries.
• A resident of the province of British Columbia for the prior six months.
• A legal representative of an owner of land within the Pemberton Valley Dyking District boundaries.
• An authorized agent of a corporation or board that owns land within the Pemberton Valley Dyking District boundaries A letter written on company letterhead must be delivered to the Retur ning Officer, by the authorized agent, before the election begins That authorized agent must also sign a Statutory Declaration Form prior to voting.
Trustee Eligibility:
• Every person who is qualified to be an elector is also qualified to be a Trustee.
• The spouse of a qualified elector may also hold the office of Trustee.
For further details, please go onto the Pemberton Valley Dyking District’s website: www.pvdd.ca
TAKING CARE Pemberton’s daycare expansion pictured in April
Perennials on Parade!
Potted perennialsare agreat waytolevel up your deck/patio Adddimesionand texturetothe garden this holidaly weekend.
We have allyourgardenessentialstoget growing. Come by to celebratewithusand checkout our weekly fresharrivals
8069 Mons Rd.WhistlerBC| Phone: 604-932-3654
ar eo pe nFri
7392 LarchStreet
Looking forthe perfect family home? Look no further, located in the quiet neighborhood of “The Glen”this newlyupdated home has it all. The extensive renovation includes, new kitchen,a ppliances, cabinets, ba throoms, flooring, paint throughout, fixtures, fireplace insert, and more.The Spacious 1bedroom suite makes this the perfect family home. walk to schools andadjacent Zurcher park. Listed at $1,379,000
#28 -7410 FlintStreet
Gas fuels the climate problem, not the solution
IN RESPONSE TO multiple complaints, Ad Standards Canada recently found that advertising for fossil gas gave an “overall misleading impression … that B.C. LNG is good for the environment, amounting to greenwashing.”
The ads, by industry front group Canada Action, promoted the debunked message that so-called “liquefied natural gas”—which is mostly the deadly greenhouse gas methane— is good for the environment and climate because it can replace higher-emitting coalfired power. “B.C. LNG will reduce global emissions,” the ads claimed over a bright green background. Other industry groups and gas companies are using similar messaging.
numerous survival strategies. For decades, industry executives and allies downplayed or covered up the evidence—some from its own scientists—that its products would heat the planet to dangerous levels if used as intended. Although that tactic is still employed, mounting evidence and real-life experiences of global heating have made it more difficult to fool the public.
So the industry is resorting to other plans—scaling up plastic production (plastic is an oil and gas byproduct) and touting the benefits of “natural” gas among them.
Co nveni entl yl oc at ed in the heart of Pemberton, this rare 2bed, 2bathupper, endunit in Mountain trails offersall of the comforts of home, with aw ood bu rning fireplace, newa ppliances, lots of na tural light and alarge patio.Included in this unit are 2u nde rground pa rk ing spaces with addedstorage
Listed at $679,000
BY DAVID SUZUKI
Although the standards branch has no enforcement power and doesn’t release its findings publicly, the issue illustrates the lengths to which the fossil fuel industry will go to keep profits rolling in, even in the face of disaster. (The decision was leaked by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, which was not a complainant.)
For a relatively brief, albeit far too long, period of human history, global economies have run on coal, oil and gas. These fossil fuels appeared to be almost limitless, and could be quickly burned in gas-guzzling vehicles and factories, driving profits to the point that the industry became the most lucrative in history.
The fuels conferred real and imagined benefits for large numbers of people, offering mobility, heat and light, faster production and more. Used wisely, they might have provided a net benefit to humanity. But
But fracked methane gas is far from natural and isn’t a climate solution. Throughout its life cycle, it devastates landscapes, pollutes waterways, uses excessive amounts of water (often in drought-stricken areas), consumes massive volumes of energy to process and liquefy and creates emissions during transport and burning.
Not only that, flaring and leaks from wellhead to power plant emit massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Methane, of which the gas is composed, is up to 87 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It breaks down much faster than CO2, which remains in the atmosphere for centuries, but it causes a lot of heating while it’s there. That’s why reducing and eliminating it is a good, quick climate solution.
New research from the David Suzuki Foundation shows British Columbia’s rush to develop LNG is bad on every front, from economics to climate. Far from a “green” replacement for coal, LNG development locks up investment in fossil infrastructure, locks in emissions and locks out renewables. The International Energy Agency and others predict that LNG demand will drop precipitously as cheaper renewables are deployed at accelerating speed. A massive
We must leave fossil fuels in the ground. Our future depends on it. No amount of greenwashing or gaslighting will change that.
burned wastefully and rapidly in the name of greed and obscene profits, they’ve polluted air, land and water, harmed human health, reduced biodiversity and spewed climatealtering greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. We’re now reaping the consequences with heat domes, floods, droughts, illness, death, migrant crises, biodiversity loss, water shortages and more.
Most or all of the true benefits fossil fuels offer can be better realized with cleaner energy sources and less-polluting products—along with a shift away from wasteful, unnecessary consumerism.
As the consequences of burning coal for power and oil for transportation and more become clearer, the sector has seized on
oversupply in gas is also being developed, much of it by low-cost competitors for Asian markets, where B.C.’s gas would be exported. Every credible agency and person— from the International Energy Agency to the United Nations to universities worldwide and climate scientists everywhere—has warned that further development of gas, oil and coal will propel the world into irreversible climate chaos.
We must leave fossil fuels in the ground. Our future depends on it. No amount of greenwashing or gaslighting will change that.
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington. n
Overtourism redux
I JUST RETURNED from a week-long work sojourn to Quebec. On assignment for a travel magazine, the thrust of the story had to do with UNESCO Global Geoparks—both established and pending—with a side of UNESCO’s other touristic redoubts, Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites. Quebec has a few of each, embedded in regions already known for their
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
natural beauty, history, art and gastronomic delights. In other words, touristy places. As a result, and with it being summer, I anticipated a little bit of something I’ve come to dread in such locales: the bugbear of overtourism. We’ll come back to what I found.
No doubt you’ve heard the term. Not to be confused with mass tourism, which is often sustainable, overtourism—where visitation either exceeds a destination’s carrying capacity and/or the type of tourism taking place causes significant negative impact— had become a global problem by the new millennium. Strangely, it stayed off the news radar until around 2015; then it took another five years, a pandemic, and the pentup travel demands of billions of people to demonstrate the toxicity of overtourism on a local level as city folks mobbed and misused the closest open spaces they could reach. The Sea to Sky experienced it with an abundance of disconnected, cavalier visitors who only
wanted to go somewhere—anywhere —to feel free to do what they wanted, whether that was revving their engine on a quiet backroad, camping illegally, lighting fires everywhere or not being responsible for even their own garbage as long as they got that Instagram shot to prove they’d put lockdowns behind them. It was as if, having endured the restrictions and responsibilities we’d all faced, some felt justified to push the limits of natural and community values anyplace they went. Entitlement at its worst. The result was permit requirements for some B.C. Parks and the Lil’wat Nation, fed up with government foot-dragging over impacts to its
a garbage emergency and eroding beaches had created an ecological crisis that showed no signs of abating as the island sought to add to its already seven million/year tourism total; Thailand closed an entire island because of environmental degradation caused by visitors (similar can be seen almost anywhere, from the Grand Canyon to Machu Pichu); in 2017, Barcelona, Spain, experienced a major backlash against tourism that manifested in graffiti, signs and eventual street riots; hot on their heels in protest were the citizens of Venice, Italy, already one of the most crowded places on Earth before cruise ships started docking in high numbers, tipping the livability
Visitors behave with more entitlement than ever...
lands, unilaterally shutting down Joffre Lakes Provincial Park (the best thing that could have possibly happened, but I digress…).
Though tourism numbers per se have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels in many parts of Canada, the effects and attitudes of “rebound overtourism” persist. Visitors behave with more entitlement than ever, sparking much handwringing and hopeful actions like Destination BC’s “Don’t Love it to Death” campaign you may have seen collateral for.
Allison Jane Smith was one of the first journalists to tackle overtourism back in 2018 with a piece pointedly titled: “The Next Trend in Travel is… Don’t.” Insisting it was time to rethink the purpose of travel, the article offered high-profile examples of how tourism was destroying environments and driving out locals: on the Indonesian island of Bali
balance and driving out half the populace with high rent and other costs (sound familiar?).
A crush of humanity numbering 20 million visitors a year had turned a vibrant, historic city into a sad caricature of itself (it now charges a fee to all visitors).
The starting point for Elizabeth Becker, author of Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism, is one most wouldn’t be aware of: prior to the pandemic, tourism and travel was an $8 trillion annual industry and the largest employer on Earth, sustaining one in 11 people. Her conclusion was that neither operators nor tourism types could reel in a monster that clearly required government intervention. “Most governments still measure tourism success simply by the number of visitors. The more, the better. For the moment, officials have been reluctant
to regulate tourism to the benefit, first of all, of their own citizens. Instead, tourism is seen as an easy moneymaker and a short cut to economic development… France, Bhutan, Costa Rica and Canada are among the few countries with governments willing to co-ordinate policies of sustainable tourism and they haven’t suffered: they are among the most popular destinations in the world.”
And while Banff may be far better managed than other places of mass tourism like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, Petra in Jordan, or even Nepal’s Mount Everest trek, it doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way. As Becker summed: “Cities and societies can be just as vulnerable to runaway tourism as ocean beaches and forest habitats, and governments need to do the hard work of taming tourism for them as well.”
And so, what did I find in Quebec? No problem at all. Granted, this was early summer, but driving 2,500 kilometres from Quebec City through Charlevoix, across the St. Lawrence and around the entire Gaspé Peninsula, every stop and every experience was an uncrowded delight, whether ferry, street festival or UNESCO designated site; restaurant, museum or national park. All were hosting tourists—both Quebecois and those from abroad, families and otherwise—but nowhere were there too many. Somehow it was all well-managed and well-maintained, with people paying for the privilege of any activity—such as parks—that required staff and upkeep. Experiences were spread out and uncompromised by numbers. You could walk to a lot of them. There was no free parking anywhere. Not a single off-leash dog. And plenty of enforcement.
Whistler might want to think about that.
Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. n
BETTER BUSINESS A perfectly managed Quebec evening free of crushing crowds of tourists.
PHOTO BY LESLIE ANTHONY
1. Whistler’s Canada Day parade returns this year—when was the last time it was held?
A. 2023
B. 2020
C. 2019
D. 2018
2. Legendary Whistler local, the late Seppo Makkinen is said to have cut the first ski runs on Whistler Mountain. In which year did he start?
A. 1966
B. 1958
C. 1970
D. 1964
3. What was Whistler Mountain originally named by British naval surveyors in the 1860s?
A. Alta Mountain
B. London Mountain
C. Whiskey Mountain
D. Marmot Mountain
4. Whistler finally welcomed its first cannabis retail shops in October 2023, but the resort’s relationship with weed goes way back. Which local amenity is named for a Whistler snowboarder infamously stripped of gold in 1998 after testing positive for cannabis?
A. Lake
B. Trail
C. Park
D. Ski run
5. Which Whistler bridge is frequently lit up with coloured lights to honour various causes, such as cystic fibrosis awareness, mental health, and many others?
A. Cheakamus River suspension bridge
B. Cloudraker Skybridge
C. Fitzsimmons Creek bridge
D. Village Gate bridge
6. The success of the Whistler360 Health Collaborative was voted one of Whistlerites’ favourite news stories in Pique’s annual Best of Whistler poll. In what year did the resort get its first full-time doctor?
A. 1964
B. 2001
C. 1978
D. 1980
7. The B.C. government enacted wide-ranging legislation this year enabling higher density in all local neighbourhoods. According to the RMOW, how many properties are impacted in Whistler?
A. 3,470
B. 2,650
C. 850
D. 1,725
8. Trapper John Millar, the namesake of Millar Creek, arrived in Whistler (then Alta Lake) in the early 1900s. As rumour has it, he may have fled the U.S. because he was wanted by Texas Marshals. What crime was he reportedly wanted for?
A. Fraud
B. Armed Robbery
C. Murder
D. Arson
9. Whistler’s first mayor and council was sworn into office Sept. 6, 1975. What was Whistler’s population at that time?
A. 1,200
B. 980
C. 325
D. 530
10. The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 2023 statement of financial information showed $44 million in total payroll costs. By how much did municipal payroll costs increase over 2022?
ANSWERS
1. C. Whistler’s last Canada Day parade was held in 2019, the year before COVID-19.
2. D. Makkinen cut the first runs on Whistler in April 1964. He stayed in a tent near the timing hut at the original gondola while he worked.
3. B.
4. C & D. Trick question! Both Rebagliati Park and the Whistler Blackcomb ski run Ross’ Gold are named for snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, who famously earned the first-ever snowboarding gold medal in the discipline before it was temporarily stripped away after he tested positive for trace amounts of cannabis.
5. C.
6. D. According to the Whistler Museum, Whistler didn’t have full-time medical care until 1980, when Drs Christine Rodgers and Rob Burgess set up in the resort.
7. A. In Whistler, about 3,470 properties are affected by the new legislation, spread across 40 “zones.” Of those, 281 have a minimum requirement under the new legislation to allow for an auxiliary dwelling unit, 211 will permit triplexes, and a whopping 2,978 will be eligible for the full fourplex upgrade.
8. C. According to Florence Petersen’s book, First Tracks, Millar, a Polish immigrant, had travelled to Alta Lake after acquiring “two notches in his gun,” meaning he was reputed to have shot two men during his days in Texas.
9. D. According to one of the RMOW’s first employees, Geoff Pearce, Whistler had a population of about 530 people at the outset of 1976.
10. D. Payroll costs rose 10.4 per cent year over year at municipal hall.
3. B. The Trans Canada Trail stretches from coast to coast for 28,000 kilometres, making it the globe’s longest recreational trail.
4. C. The Magpie River in Quebec was granted legal personhood in 2021 by the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit to protect it from environmental harms.
5. A. Tilt Cove in Newfoundland and Labrador had a population of five people as of the 2021 census count.
6. D. The maple delicacy’s decline was attributed to severe storms and atypical temperature fluctuations, but that didn’t stop me from putting it on eggs, bacon, in spaghetti sauce or my tea!
7. B.
8. A. Mount Logan is 5,959 metres above sea level and the second largest mountain in North America.
9. D. Alberta’s Wood Buffalo National Park is home to the world’s largest beaver dam which is 800 metres long. The dam was discovered on happenstance by scientists studying satellite images for climate change effects in 2009.
10. A. The North American house hippo was featured in a public service announcement by Concerned Children’s Advertisers, and the commercial made a resurgence in 2019.
1. Roughly how many hours does it take to drive through Canada from Windsor, Ont., to Whiteshell, Man.?
A. 24 hours
B. 17 hours
C. 5 hours
D. 47 hours
2. Which bay has the highest tide in Canada?
A. Hudson Bay
B. Georgian Bay
C. Shirleys Bay
D. Bay of Fundy
3. What is the longest trail in Canada?
A. The Great Divide Trail
B. Trans Canada Trail
C. Kettle Valley Rail Trail
D. Vancouver Island Trail
4. Which river was granted personhood in 2021?
A. Columbia River
B. Saskatchewan River
C. Magpie River
D. The Thames River
5. What is the smallest town in Canada?
A. Tilt Cove, Nfld
B. Ingersoll, Ont.
C. Oliver, B.C.
D. Carcross, Yukon
BY
6. Which Canadian agriculture product saw a 40-per-cent decline in harvest between 2023 and 2022?
A. Fiddleheads
B. Canola
C. Apples
D. Maple Syrup
7. How many national parks does Canada have?
A. 52
B. 37
C. 67
D. 24
8. What is the tallest mountain in Canada?
A. Mount Logan
B. Mount Robson
C. Mont Tremblant
D. Blackcomb Mountain
9. Which non-human creature has created a structure so big you can see it from space?
A. Eagles
B. Marmots
C. Ants
D. Beavers
10. This animal was featured in commercials throughout Canada and taught critical-thinking skills to kids.
A. The North American house hippo
B. Wary the Walrus
C. The Canadian Investimoose
D. Private Eagle Eye
PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES/OMERSUKRUGOKSU
PHOTO
GETTY IMAGES/SHAUNL
1. Who led the BC Liberals to defeat in the 2020 British Columbia provincial election?
A. Shirley Bond
B. Christy Clark
C. Kevin Falcon
D. Andrew Wilkinson
2. What provincial legislation has controversially increased density zoning across British Columbia?
A. Bill 44
B. Order 66
C. The Manhattan Project
D. The X-Files
3. How many Canadian provincial governments are currently run by the New Democratic Party?
A. All of them
B. Two
C. Four
D. The New Democrats do not run anything, the illuminati do.
4. Who is the leader of the Conservative Party of BC?
A. Trevor Bolin
B. Pierre Poilievre
C. Keith Roy
D. John Rustad
5. How many Canadian prime ministers have held a riding in British Columbia?
A. Zero
B. One
C. Two
D. Six
ANSWERS
6. How often do elections have to be held in Canada at the federal level?
A. At most every two years
B. At least every four years
C. Whenever polling says the government is unpopular
D. Never, we only hold them because the Americans get too much attention otherwise.
7. How many federal ridings will there be in British Columbia for the next election?
A. 42
B. 43
C. 78
D. Not enough
8. How many terms has Justin Trudeau been prime minister?
A. One
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
9. What international grouping is Canada not a part of?
A. BRICS
B. G20
C. NATO
D. USMCA
10. Which country has received billions in funding for military purposes from Canada since 2022?
A. Israel
B. Mexico
C. Ukraine
D. Quebec
ANSWERS
1.
2. C. Moncton, New
1. Where did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle go for an extravagant meal out while visiting Whistler this year?
A. Splitz Grill
B. El Furniture Warehouse
C. Il Caminetto
D. Dubh Linn
2. Which city in Canada has the most Tim Hortons?
A. Calgary
B. Toronto
C. Moncton
D. Vancouver
3. Where was the first McDonalds in Canada?
A. Abbotsford
B. Ottawa
C. Toronto
D. Richmond
4. What day is Pemberton’s Farmers Market held?
A. Friday
B. Saturday
C. Sunday
D. Everyday
5. Which locally brewed beer scooped gold in the World Beer Cup this year?
A. Black Tusk Ale
B. Whistler Forager
C. Molson Canadian
D. Winter Dunkel
6. Where in the village can you buy a ‘Canuck Classic’?
A. Mount Currie Coffee Company
B. Fat Tony’s Pizza
C. Portobello
D. Subway
7. Which Whistler restaurant landed on Air Canada’s list of ‘Canada’s Best New Restaurants’ in 2023?
A. Wild Blue
B. Joe Fortes
C. Araxi
D. Merlin’s Bar & Grill
8. Approximately how many cups of coffee does the average Canadian drink every day?
A. 4 .5
B. 1.5
C. 3
D. 2.7
9. What dish did The Old Spaghetti Factory chain serve in the ‘70s?
A. Spaghetti with Poutine
B. Spaghetti with Maple Syrup
C. Spaghetti with Pop
D. Spaghetti with Liver Sauce
10. Where is the oldest restaurant in Canada?
A. Lillooet
B. Montreal
C. Halifax
D. Winnipeg
C. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Il Caminetto to celebrate a romantic meal on Valentine’s Day 2024.
with Chicken Liver Sauce was on The Old Spaghetti Factory’s menu when it first opened. Most pasta dishes at the time cost just over $2.
10. B. L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel in Montreal is Canada’s oldest restaurant. It was built in 1754 as an inn.
PHOTO BY TY NIGH_FLICKR
1. Which film festival features mountain culture?
A. Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
B. Toronto International Film Festival
C. Fringe Fest
D. Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
2. Which Indigenous artist won Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Artist of the year at the 2024 Junos?
A. Shawnee Kish
B. William Prince
C. Aysanabee
D. Snotty Nose Rez Kids
3. This software has taken Canada and the world by storm, leading to concerns around paying artists for their work among other issues.
A. TikTok
B. Metaverse
C. Microsoft Excel
D. ChatGPT
4. This world-famous artist’s ticket sale process left some Canadian fans devastated.
A. Justin Bieber
B. Taylor Swift
C. Drake
D. Olivia Rodrigo
5. What year was the Vancouver Art Gallery built?
A. 1931
B. 1922
C. 1999
D. 200
6. This Canadian actor was cast as Ken in 2023’s Barbie movie.
A. William Shatner
B. Jay Baruchel
C. Ryan Renolds
D. Ryan Gosling
Engel & Völkers Whistler kathy.white@evrealestate.com 604-616-6933
PHOTO BY GOTOVAN_FLICKR
7. Netflix’s show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was filmed in which Canadian city?
A. Vancouver
B. Halifax
C. Toronto
D. Montreal
8. This Canadian author’s well-read fictional novel was turned into a Netflix series.
A. Joseph Boyden
B. Alice Munro
C. Rupi Kaur
D. Margaret Atwood
9. Who wrote Canada’s official English lyrics for our national anthem?
A. Joni MItchell
B. Celine Dion
C. Robert Stanley Weir
D. Avril Lavigne
10. What year did This Hour has 22 Minutes premiere?
A. 1995
B. 1993
C. 1999
D. 1992
1. A local woman set a new 50-kilometre course record at the 2024 Run Comfy Numb event while outrunning all but one man in the same distance. Who was she?
A. Kelly Young
B. Claire Dewar
C. Megan Komori Kennedy
D. Angela Shoniker
2. Marielle Thompson won her fourth ski-cross Crystal Globe this season and also helped Canada to another overall Nations Cup. How many Nations Cups has Canada won in total?
A. 3
B. 7
C. 16
D. 11
3. Which of the following is the only athlete not to win a title in the inaugural World Ski and Snowboard Festival Cut Rail Jam?
A. Jasmine Baird
B. Luke Smart
C. Darcy Sharpe
D. Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon
4. On June 2, 2024, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Who scored the series-winning goal?
A. Zach Hyman
B. Connor McDavid
C. Evan Bouchard
D. Leon Draisaitl
5. Who was the first Canadian woman to win gold at the U23 Nordic World Ski Championships?
A. Maria Lundgren
B. Alexandria Loutitt
C. Sonjaa Schmidt
D. Beckie Scott
6. Last November, quarterback Cody Fajardo led the Montreal Alouettes to victory in the 110th Grey Cup. Which CFL team did Fajardo last play for before Montreal?
A. Toronto Argonauts
B. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
C. B.C. Lions
D. Saskatchewan Roughriders
7. Which of the following soccer players represented Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
A. Jonathan David
B. Atiba Hutchinson
C. Ike Ugbo
D. All of the above
8. Whistler’s Francois Hebert is the first Canadian to win the Laser Master Sailboat Championship in over 20 years. Where did this event take place?
A. California
B. New Brunswick
C. Florid
D. British Columbia
9. In what year did Squamish’s Miranda Miller earn downhill gold at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships?
A. 2015
B. 2017
C. 2018
D. 2009
10. What sport did incumbent Pemberton Arts Council executive director Brayden Pawlik grow up competing in?
A. Hockey
B. Alpine skiing
C. Moguls skiing
D. Basketball
Karin Jarratt rides off into the sunset
WHISTLER’S ORIGINAL ‘GYMNASTICS FREAK’ HAS RETIRED AFTER 33 YEARS OF COACHING
BY DAVID SONG
ASK WHISTLER Gymnastics coach Tami Mitchell to discuss her longtime friend and colleague, Karin Jarratt, and the words “gymnastics freak” quickly come to mind.
“I would describe her as the most dedicated, enthusiastic person,” Mitchell elaborated. “No matter where she lived in the world, she would make sure that there was a gymnastics club, or she would coach kids.”
The Sea to Sky has been fortunate Jarratt chose to put down roots here and be a driving force on the local gymnastics scene for 33 years. Her athletes love her. Her coworkers love her. Many people have many things to say about her praiseworthy service to the community.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. On June 21, Whistler Gymnastics officially bid their head coach and facilities manager farewell.
“We are so fortunate that we attract coaches from around the world who keep showing up and adding their influence to our gym,” Jarratt remarked about retirement. “I do as much as I can by being a good role model, but I’m happy to say I’m leaving behind a gym that’s really well set up. The equipment is safe and clean. It has a good reputation, and there are people who will ensure that the program keeps moving forward.”
Meaghan Smith, who has coached in Whistler for about four years, is one of several
promising talents who have matured under Jarratt’s wing.
“I was young and inexperienced, and Karin really helped guide me through what the club values,” said the Manitoba native. “We want to support every athlete that we can … and she really emphasized that. Karin has brought Whistler Gymnastics to where it is now.”
‘THE THING I HAVE TO DO’
Born in Berlin, Jarratt grew up in Prince George. The trajectory of her life changed in 1976 as she watched Nadia Comăneci win five medals (including three golds) as the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10 score during an Olympic contest. Jarratt fell in love with the Romanian icon’s exploits and knew she’d discovered her true passion.
Comăneci was, at that point, 14: one year older than Jarratt when she made her own (relatively late) entry into gymnastics.
Quickly picking up the skills of her new sport, Jarratt was happy to pass on knowledge and began mentoring younger athletes by her mid-teens. She worked as a photographer by day, but remained a coach by night.
“Coaching has rarely been full-time for me,” said Jarratt. “It’s always been the thing I have to do.”
At the turn of the 1990s, there was already a teacher-led gymnastics program at the old Myrtle Philip school. Jarratt got involved immediately and was on staff when the club became a proper non-profit organization. That meant eligibility for government grants, which translated into more resources.
Whistler Gymnastics levelled up again after the 2010 Olympic Games by acquiring a legacy training facility now known as
the Oros Centre: one wing of the Athletes Centre in Cheakamus Crossing. The building came pre-equipped with foam and trampoline pits, and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation contributed substantial funding for additional equipment.
Many athletes and organizations have undergone dryland training at Oros, including, at one point, the Canadian men’s downhill ski team.
“We’ve been super lucky,” Jarratt said. “The community has really rallied around our sport. Athletes from all over the world go to the Canadian Sport Institute gym and they have to pass by our main window. They all pause, look in and ask their coaches: ‘can we play in here instead? This looks way more fun.’”
‘I WILL ALWAYS KEEP THEM SAFE’
Jarratt is all about fun, positivity and fruitful growth.
She certainly pushes her pupils, especially when she knows they’ve got more to give. At the same time, she maintains a healthy environment in which athletes can be sure of their well-being.
“Karin spreads her love of gymnastics to the individuals she coaches and develops good citizens,” Mitchell commented. “It’s not about reaching the Olympics. It’s about building good people.”
Explains Jarratt: “My No. 1 priority is relationship. Because I teach competitive athletes, I don’t feel it’s fair to ask them to risk themselves without trusting me first. They know that I will always keep them safe. My promise is that I’ll never ask them to do something they can’t do … but I’ll challenge them so they’re not bored.”
It’s a sound approach. Gymnastics is viewed by many as a foundational sport that offers the agility, flexibility, endurance and overall physical literacy needed to excel at many other disciplines. Mix in Jarratt’s holistic coaching philosophy, and you get a number of locals who hold their own in skiing, biking, soccer, and more.
And while gymnastics results contain an element of subjectivity owing to the presence of judges, club members are trained to set realistic and personalized goals each year instead of merely going for the podium.
When it comes to dealing with other coaches, Jarratt is no backseat driver. Instead, she grants them autonomy when they prove themselves capable.
“Karin is there for guidance,” elaborated Smith. “This was my first year coaching a fully competitive group by myself. She always told me: ‘this is your program. You are the facilitator of this group.’ She did let me fail and figure things out on my own, which I truly appreciate because that’s what you need to do, but she was always there to lend a helping hand.”
Jarratt’s relationships with her students have largely passed the test of time. Various alumni frequently reach out via text or phone call—or even visit in person—years after they graduate from Whistler Gymnastics. It’s a rare and precious dynamic in the world of sport.
“My cheeks warm [when I think about it],” said Jarratt. “I feel so privileged that I’ve touched some kids enough to be a happy memory in their lives. Some have proudly presented their children to me, saying: ‘[My daughter’s] in gymnastics now, too. I wanted to make sure she had the same great experience that I had.’ I love that, and it gives me some peace walking away.” n
ALL SMILES Whistler Gymnastics coach Karin Jarratt (middle) with two of her young athletes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KARIN JARRATT
SPORTS
Sascha Gilbert earns national ski-team berth
THE
WHISTLERITE HAS JOINED THE NEW CAST D DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM
BY DAVID SONG
LOCAL SKIER Sascha Gilbert has taken a big step forward in his career by being named to the brand-new “CAST D” national team.
CAST D is the product of unprecedented cooperation between Alpine Canada, various provincial and territorial sport organizations, and the athletes themselves. Its aim is to gather top Canadian U21 skiers and offer them national-level resources to expedite skill development.
Gilbert joins the fold alongside Kyle Blandford, Pierick Charest and Jesse Kertesz-Knight among men, and he’s pleased to say the least.
“It’s pretty massive because this is something that I’ve been dreaming of since I was… I don’t even know,” Gilbert said honestly. “I started really racing [at about age] 12, and as you go through the years, you’re doing everything with the goal that one day you’re going to be on the national team. Now that it’s happened, it’s pretty exciting.”
Added men’s alpine head coach John Kucera in a press release: “Congratulations to the athletes who have been nominated to the team. They have all put in significant effort on and off the snow to achieve this nomination. I am very excited for the introduction of the CAST D Team and look forward to all of our staff working to support the athletes on their journey to the podium.”
FORMATIVE YEARS
Gilbert’s parents always knew they would put him and his sister into a winter sport. Their choice was between hockey and skiing, but the latter allowed the family to spend time outside rather than in an arena.
This move naturally brought Gilbert up to Whistler, where he’s resided for more than eight years. As a young child, he enjoyed freeride skiing, but ultimately followed a pack of his pals into the racing side of things. Gilbert’s love of sending it downhill grew with each positive jump in his development, and he knows alpine skiing was the right choice.
Gilbert made sure to shout out the bevy of coaches who have taken him under their wing. Chief among this group are Team B.C.’s Morgan Pridy and Dustin Koepke, who helped him revamp his entire approach to sport over the last two years. Before that, there was Drew Hetherington of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC), Morgan’s brother Conrad Pridy and Richard Jagger, who has since moved to Alberta.
“I can’t say how important coaches are in the skiing world,” Gilbert emphasized. “A good coach can truly make or break anything.”
‘PUT YOUR NOSE IN IT’
A relatively versatile athlete, Gilbert excels at the disciplines of giant slalom, super-G and
GATE CRASHING Sascha Gilbert powers through a turn on course.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SASCHA GILBERT
downhill. He especially appreciates the first two and the abilities they have pushed him to foster.
“The audience is able to see the two opposite ends of the ski spectrum [with the speed of downhill and the technicality of slalom], but the two middle ones bring a pretty good mix,” said Gilbert. “In giant slalom, you’re going really fast but you also have to make lots of turns in a short amount of time. A lot of people think of GS as the base discipline, the building block.
“And to have success in super-G, you need to know where to be smart and where to let yourself go. A term I always use is ‘put your nose in it.’ When I’m inspecting, I’m picking out parts of the course that are going to be more turning-heavy, and then I’m picking out parts I’m going to be able to attack on and gain speed through.”
Gilbert also credits part of his development to how he was trained as a youth. While he never specialized outright in freeride, coaches like Hetherington would often take him up the mountain to ski powder. As a result, he’s learned to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations—a level of poise that serves him well in each and every race.
Needless to say, Gilbert intends to take full advantage of his opportunity with CAST D. World Championships and Olympic berths are long-term goals, but for now he intends to keep grinding as a full Nor-Am season awaits. The 20-year-old also expects to race the Europa Cup super-G in Wengen, Switzerland on the same course World Cup skiers tackle.
View the full 2024-25 Alpine Canada roster at alpinecanada.org/news/athletesnominated-to-2024-25-canadian-ski-team. n
KARIN EMOND
‘La Dolce Vita’ embraces slow Italian living every Thursday at the Four Seasons
THE BRAIDWOOD TAVERN IS EAGER TO WELCOME WHISTLER LOCALS TO ITS PATIO EVERY THURSDAY THIS SUMMER
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
CHILL TUNES in the sunshine, tasty cocktails and mouth-watering pasta set the Four Seasons’ ‘La Dolce Vita’ events in a class above the rest. Thursdays at the hotel’s Braidwood Tavern have always been special for guests and locals alike. This year’s event is no different.
For $65 (excluding drinks), guests can get their own taste of Italy from the carefully curated buffet that will get your weekend off to the right start. Everything on the tables has been planned to give that “wow” factor, and it’s the little details that help transport customers to a sunny afternoon in Italy.
Freshly baked bread, a smattering of cheeses, grilled vegetables and a selection of Italian olives get the meal off to the right start. The buffet style makes the meal a social event as guests chatter while the live band provides ambient background music.
Fresh pasta and risotto are the maincourse selections, with the option to add seafood. Sixteen-hour braised veal shank is also available.
The thirst-quenching Rosa Fizz is the perfect patio drink, and the heavenly tiramisu espresso martini provides that added kick. A timeless negroni is also on the cocktail menu for those who want to keep it classy.
According to chef de cuisine Horacio Macias Leon, the food tries to capture the magic of an Italian summer. “Our menu is a tribute to the vibrant flavours and joyful
ago, we renovated the space.”
The event allows staff to use their creativity to come up with an offering people will keep coming back to over the summer.
“We have a lot of employees who come from different parts of the world with lots of culinary experience,” he said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to create something exciting and give our local community a
“I think we have the best patio in Whistler.”
- CAROLINA PIRES
spirit of Italy, crafted with the freshest local ingredients and a touch of contemporary flair—we even have a cheese wheel to ensure pasta is cooked in creamy, cheesy goodness,” he said.
General manager Chelan Goonetilleke said Thursdays at the hotel have always been special. “Thursday is always the day that locals come to us for our events. For the past 20 years, we had our famous barbecue,” he said. “Locals, families and their dogs would all line the streets for these events. A few years
different thing every year. It’s a great place for families to hang out and enjoy Thursdays here.
A lot of the people who come on Thursday are from outside of the hotel because they hear about it around the village. It’s a good mix.”
Vancouver-based band, Local Motion, played soothing favourites from artists like Fleetwood Mac, the Cranberries and Norah Jones.
“This group doesn’t usually play in a hotel environment,” said Goonetilleke. “They play at events. We decided not to go with the
typical hotel band in the hopes that we could get people up dancing and have fun.”
However, the emphasis here is on catching up with friends and making new ones. “Towards the middle of these events, the groups at tables get bigger,” Goonetilleke said. “People come here to have a laugh.”
There is also a sculpting workshop available to keep little hands busy.
Director of communications, Carolina Pires, said the hotel wants locals to feel like they can enjoy its patio without the fear of a hefty price tag.
“Four Seasons has always had the tradition of bringing the community together on a Thursday,” she said. “The whole purpose of Thursdays in our hotel is to create that spirit of gathering. We want music and to bring the hotel to life. Our chefs were very passionate about the fresh pasta and the Italian concept. The bar team was down to create some tiramisu espresso martinis. That’s how ‘La Dolce Vita’ came about.”
Pires hopes people of all ages get to enjoy their hidden sun trap.
“We wanted to make sure that it’s an event that brings the patio to life and brings Whistler as a community here,” she said. “Four Seasons is perceived as a high-end place. We definitely have our finedining options, but we also want people to come here for our patio. I think we have the best patio in Whistler.” n
NICE AND SLOW Check out ’La Dolce Vita’ Thursdays this summer at the Four Seasons.
PHOTO BY ROISIN CULLEN
ME AD OW PA RK SP OR TS CE NT RE
‘Good vibes, lots of hype’
WALK OFF THE EARTH GRACES WHISTLER ON CANADA DAY
BY DAVID SONG
WALK OFF THE EARTH is walking back up to the Sea to Sky.
The Juno and Canadian Radio Music Award-winning indie pop band from Burlington, Ont. will kick off the 2024 Whistler Summer Concert Series with its signature musical eclecticism—and an assist from opening act DJ Foxy Moron.
Some may know and love Walk off the Earth’s original content, including hit singles like “Red Hands,” “I’ll Be There,” and “Rule the World.” Others may be more acquainted with the group’s covers of famous pop songs like “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Whistlerites might have seen them perform live in the shadow of the Boneyard pre-pandemic.
Thanks in part to their practice of making internet content, Walk off the Earth rode out COVID-19 health restrictions better than most artists did. Now they’re thrilled to be back on tour in the United States this summer alongside decorated violinist Lindsey Stirling before jetting across the pond to Europe.
However, longtime band member Joel Cassady and his mates are glad to head out west before accumulating those frequent-flier miles.
“Hopefully this year’s Canada Day will have [super high] energy, good vibes, lots of
hype, and people just celebrating life and music,” said Cassady. “We don’t get to play enough in Canada … to be surrounded by Canadians and good, loving Canadian energy. You don’t get that everywhere else in the world, so it’s something that we definitely don’t take for granted.”
JACKS-OF-ALL-TRADES
A cornerstone of Walk off the Earth’s philosophy is the band members’ never-sayno attitude. For more than a decade, they’ve routinely pushed creative boundaries in their continuing exploration of new styles and ways
guitars, keyboards, ukuleles, basses and kalimbas in addition to his vocal talent. Gianni Nicassio and Sarah Blackwood are experienced with all of the above, plus the banjo, mandolin, cello and glockenspiel (the latter of which resembles a small xylophone).
David “Tokyo” Speirs plays the trumpet, flute and various percussion instruments.
It’s a far cry from your traditional band, which has a fixed lead singer, drummer, bassist and so forth.
Cassady calls himself “a jack-of-alltrades” while recognizing that not everyone loves an avant-garde approach to art. Every now and then, a classically-trained musician
“We always think about everything as a visual group, not just as a musical group...”
- JOEL CASSADY
of keeping it fresh for their fans.
“We always think about everything as a visual group, not just as a musical group, and that has allowed us to set ourselves apart,” Cassady explains. “People can expect really unique things. They’re probably going to want to call or text a buddy midway through [our concert] and say: ‘what the hell is this? I’ve never seen a musical performance group do something like this before.’”
Each of the group’s members is proficient with a diverse musical toolbox.
For instance, Cassady has played drums,
might criticize their use of a cello or a harp, but such feedback is usually balanced out by others who thank the group for inspiring them (or their loved ones) to pick up a certain instrument.
‘DON’T SLOW YOUR GRIND’
If Cassady were to give an up-and-coming performer advice, he would tell them: “don’t wait on anyone to do anything for you.”
The music industry continues to shift. As formerly-revered labels wane in influence,
independent artists are rising from the woodwork using social media and their own enterprising spirit as career launchpads. Yet some may never make it big because they were too passive—after all, there’s much talent and many good ideas out there vying for attention.
“We still work 12 hours a day making sure that all of our stuff has our identity,” says Cassady. “If we don’t do that, we know that someone else who’s working just as hard right now—who deserves that opportunity— is going to come and take our spot. Just because you get an awesome manager and an awesome agent, don’t let that slow your grind. Otherwise, trust me, it’s going to bite you.”
As part of maintaining their own identity, Walk off the Earth members carefully consider each new project. They won’t cover an existing song unless they feel they can bring a fresh and worthwhile interpretation to the table, and they stick to their guns.
“Having success with our originals as well as covers is a nice one-two punch,” Cassady remarks. “Nine times out of 10, we’ll get hit up by the original artist [of a song we cover], they’ll approve of our version … and we’ve got gold and platinum records for original stuff, too. We’ve been able to define ourselves as more than just a ‘cover band.’
“Even if people think that [we’re just a cover band] initially, they start going down the rabbit hole and see just how much other catalogue we have. That’s how we rope them into our cult.”
Foxy Moron gets the party started on July 1 at 6:30 p.m. before Walk off the Earth lights up Whistler Olympic Plaza at 7:30 p.m. Learn more at whistler.com/events/concerts/. n
WALK THE WALK Canadian pop band Walk off the Earth kicks off the Whistler Summer Concert Series on July 1.
PHOTO BY ANDREA HUNTER
Record-setting Indigenous musician Aysanabee performs July 4 in Whistler
THE OJI-CREE ARTIST IS PART OF THE 2024 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
BY DAVID SONG
AYSANABEE is only three years into his music career, but he’s already made history.
On March 23, the Oji-Cree singer songwriter became the first Indigenous person ever to claim a Juno Award for both Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year. Receiving both honours was Here and Now, a six-track EP containing a number of highly personal stories.
“The biggest thing [about winning two Junos] was being recognized by my peers. Those people who sit on juries are all within the music industry,” Aysanabee says. “The fact that they can look across a really massive range of artists and decide that what I’m doing is worthy of those wins … it feels good.
“I don’t go out and try to [make music] for the awards, but not going to lie: it’s great to get them. Not sure if ‘validation’ is the right word, but it definitely fills my cup and gives me some energy to keep doing what I already want to do.”
Sandy Lake First Nation is brimming with pride for one of its favourite sons, who initially grew up in Northern Ontario without running water or electricity. Aysanabee’s family moved to the Thunder Bay area when he was four, and he eventually picked up a guitar lying around his childhood home.
The young man set up shop in a backyard camper van to write his first songs… whenever he wasn’t toiling away in a remote mining job. One day, Aysanabee fell through thin ice while attempting to cross a river and had to fight for survival as his boots and pants filled with water.
“If I get out of this, I’m not going to waste any more time. I want to go and give music a real shot,” he remembers thinking.
Aysanabee made it across that treacherous river and found himself Toronto-bound three months after that. He was 19 years old.
‘TRUE TO MYSELF’
There were a few more twists and turns in Aysanabee’s path. He ended up going to school and working five years as a digital
content editor with CTV News. During this time, he briefly played in a band with former CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme at Newzapalooza: Toronto’s recurring battle of the media bands.
Aysanabee’s music career began in earnest when he signed with Ishkōdé Records, one of Canada’s first labels owned by First Nations women (Amanda Rheaume and ShoShona Kish, to be precise). His debut album, Watin , is an intimate retelling of phone conversations with his grandfather: during which Aysanabee learned much about Watin’s experiences on the reservation and in residential school.
Here and Now, conversely, was borne out of the multi-instrumentalist’s own genuine self-reflection.
“Everything I write is true to myself,” Aysanabee explains. “It’s something I’ve experienced within my own life, whether it’s super serious or fun and silly. I don’t think there’s any right or wrong way to write a song, but people can definitely tell when you’re putting on [an act], and I don’t think that’s something I do.”
The fast-rising star has been compared to artists like Kings of Leon, Matt Corby, Hozier, Bon Iver and Kim Churchill. He’s come a long way from being the teenager who played in the backyard because he was too nervous to let people hear him in the house.
“Everyone’s got their different thing which makes them tick,” says Aysanabee. “Some people love doing yoga, some people love watching films, and I really get this emotional release when I perform … putting everything on the line and being vulnerable. I used to have terrible stage fright, but I think people really connect with authenticity.”
Aysanabee is eager for his inaugural Sea to Sky trip. Some of his childhood pals once skied and snowboarded in Whistler, though he didn’t have the money to join back then. Even so, he’s awestruck each time he witnesses mountains because “they never look real” to him.
DJ Peacefrog will open the show on July 4 at 6:30 p.m. before Aysanabee graces Whistler Olympic Plaza at 7:30 p.m. Learn more at whistler.com/events/concerts. n
A redesignisunderway forthe municipal website, Whistler.ca. We want to make it easyfor youtofind what youneed and lear n about ourcommunity
Pleasehelpusunderstand how youuse thesite and whereyou seeroom forimprovement.
Fill out thesur vey, now through Friday July 12 here
Survey time:5 minutes
Sign up for achance to provide in-depth information in an online inter viewfor mat.
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
CANADA DAY IN WHISTLER
CANADA DAY IN WHISTLER
Celebrate Canada in style with a wide variety of events hosted by the Resort Municipality of Whistler and community partners. Activities are planned throughout the day, with the fan-favourite parade through Whistler Village taking place at 12 p.m.
It all wraps up with indie rockers Walk off the Earth and the first instalment of the Whistler Summer Concert Series at 7:30 p.m.
Read more at whistler.ca/canadaday.
> July 1
> Whistler
> Free
WHISTLER FARMERS’ MARKET
A feast for your senses, the Whistler Farmers’ Market features local produce, tasty food, local artisans, live entertainment and family activities. Markets happen every Sunday until Thanksgiving on Oct. 13, with the addition of Saturday markets on June 29, Aug. 3, Aug. 31 and Oct. 12.
> June 29 and 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Upper Village Stroll
> Free
BARBED CHOIR
Do you love to sing? Do you love meeting new people? Do you like all types of rock music, new and old? Head on down to sing with Barbed Choir—Whistler’s rock choir. Meetings are drop-in, no registration or experience necessary.
On July 3, we’ll be singing “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s!
> July 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
> Whistler Public Library
> Free
MOVIES IN THE PLAZA: EDDIE THE EAGLE
Make Movies in the Plaza your new summer tradition and get cosy on the Great Lawn for a cinematic experience under the stars. Movies are scheduled on select Wednesday and Saturday evenings this summer and are free to watch. Bring blankets or low chairs for a relaxing evening under the stars.
On July 3, catch Eddie the Eagle
> July 3, 8 p.m.
> Whistler Olympic Plaza
> Free
Roland’s Cold Beer & Wine Store is open every day from 11am - 11pm, 365 days a year!
Grab your cold beverages on your way to the lake, park, or wherever you are going to celebrate!
Lake fun in Whistler
BY ELLA HEALEY
WHISTLER’S LAKES offer a variety of water-based activities and are a great place to cool off during the summer heat. From sailing regattas and floating art galleries, to swim races and a quadrathlon, Whistler’s lakes have seen it all!
The Alta Lake Sailing Club’s annual seasonend “Regretta” included sailing races as well as land-bound activities for participants of all ages. The first ever “Regretta” was hosted in the summer of 1965 and was named for the regret the community feels as the summer comes to an end. Today, the Whistler Sailing Association offers sailing programs, rentals and races throughout the summer. Alta Lake and Green Lake permit motorized boats; however, they must be kept under 10 horsepower. Nonmotorized boats such as pedal boats, kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards are welcome on all of Whistler’s lakes.
On Victoria Day, 1975, the first instalment of The Great Earth, Snow, Water race was held. The first leg of Whistler’s version of the quadrathlon included skiing from the top of Whistler Mountain, then running the remaining distance to today’s Creekside where the first baton pass-off took place. The next leg was a bike ride around Alta Lake after which the baton was passed to the group’s canoe team. The canoeists then paddled through the River of Golden Dreams to the first weir and passed the baton to a runner who completed the race by running all the way back to Creekside. The 2014 revision of the race included an extra three components: ski or snowboard touring, downhill mountain biking and cross-country biking.
Through the ’70s and early ’80s, windsurfing at Alta Lake became very popular. Whistler was home to multiple windsurfing regattas as well as a weekly race night. Participation eventually declined due to legal issues and a lack of equipment. On the legal side of things, windsurfers on Alta Lake were a cause for concern for those participating in the Fun Fitness Swim race in the 1980s. After a swimmer and windsurfer collided (both were OK!) the swim race was moved to Lost Lake. The Fun Fitness Swim race was roughly a mile and a half long and was offered as a community fitness event rather than a competitive race. The swim race took place from 1979 until the early ’90s. Today’s water-bound activities include paddling across Alta Lake and along the River of Golden Dreams. This route takes visitors through lush scenery past old-growth trees, and offers breathtaking mountain views. A round trip takes roughly three hours and can be completed in a kayak, canoe, or on a paddleboard. Tours can be booked or selfguided depending on skill and comfort level. Alta Lake is also home to Art on the Lake, which includes local artists, live music, and a floating art gallery. One of Arts Whistler’s more recent annual undertakings, the first Art on the Lake event was organized four years ago as a way to host an arts event during the pandemic. This event takes place in August and is accessible by boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
Keep an eye out for more information on local lake activities to participate in this summer. Remember your sunscreen and towel for every lake day adventure!
Ella Healey is the summer program coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program. n
LAKE LIFE Whistler’s pristine lakes have proven a summertime draw since the community’s earliest days.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER MUSEUM
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology
WEEK OF JUNE 28 BY ROB
ARIES (March 21-April 19): This may sound weird, but I think now is a perfect time to acquire a fresh problem. Not just any old boring problem, of course. Rather, I’m hoping you will carefully ponder what kind of dilemma would be most educational for you—which riddle might challenge you to grow in ways you need to. Here’s another reason you should be proactive about hunting down a juicy challenge: Doing so will ensure that you won’t attract mediocre, meaningless problems.
BREZSNY
to your blissful success, and how could you diminish it? If you’d like to refresh your memory of the long-term predictions I made for your destiny in 2024, go here: tinyurl. com/Libra2024. For 2023’s big-picture prophecies, go here: tinyurl.com/2023Libra.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Now is an excellent time to start learning a new language or to increase your proficiency in your native tongue. Or both. It’s also a favourable phase to enrich your communication skills and acquire resources that will help you do that. Would you like to enhance your ability to cultivate friendships and influence people? Are you interested in becoming more persuasive, articulate, and expressive? If so, Taurus, attend to these self-improvement tasks with graceful intensity. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you do. (PS: I’m not implying you’re weak in any of these departments; just that now is a favourable time to boost your capacities.)
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Barbara Sher and Barbara Smith wrote the book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It. I invite you to think and feel deeply about this theme during the coming months. In my experience with Geminis, you are often so versatile and multi-faceted it can be challenging to focus on just one or two of your various callings. And that may confuse your ability to know what you want more than anything else. But here’s the good news. You may soon enjoy a grace period when you feel really good about devoting yourself to one goal more than any other.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are entering a phase when you will be wise to question fixed patterns and shed age-old habits. The more excited you get about re-evaluating everything you know and believe, the more likely it is that exciting new possibilities will open up for you. If you are staunchly committed to resolving longstanding confusions and instigating fresh approaches, you will launch an epic chapter of your life story. Wow! That sounds dramatic. But it’s quite factual. Here’s the kicker: You’re now in prime position to get vivid glimpses of specific successes you can accomplish between now and your birthday in 2025.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): How many different ways can you think of to ripen your spiritual wisdom? I suggest you choose two and pursue them with gleeful vigour in the coming weeks. You are primed to come into contact with streams of divine revelations that can change your life for the better. All the conditions are favourable for you to encounter teachings that will ennoble your soul and hone your highest ideals. Don’t underestimate your power to get the precise enlightenment you need.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Border collies are dogs with a herding instinct. Their urges to usher, steer, and manage are strong. They will not only round up sheep and cattle, but also pigs, chickens, and ostriches—and even try to herd cats. In my estimation, Virgo, border collies are your spirit creatures these days. You have a special inclination and talent to be a good shepherd. So use your aptitude with flair. Provide extra navigational help for people and animals who would benefit from your nurturing guidance. And remember to do the same for your own wayward impulses!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): We have arrived at the midpoint of 2024. It’s check-in time. Do you recall the promises you made to yourself last January? Are you about halfway into the frontier you vowed to explore? What inspirational measures could you instigate to renew your energy and motivation for the two most important goals in your life? What would you identify as the main obstacle
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio-born Gary Hug was educated as a machinist and food scientist, but for many years he has worked primarily as an amateur astronomer. Using a seven-foot telescope he built in the backyard of his home, he has discovered a comet and 300 asteroids, including two that may come hazardously close to Earth. Extolling the joys of being an amateur, he says he enjoys “a sense of freedom that you don’t have when you’re a professional.” In the coming weeks, Scorpio, I encourage you to explore and experiment with the joys of tasks done out of joy rather than duty. Identify the work and play that feel liberating and indulge in them lavishly.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your power spots will be places that no one has visited or looked into for a while. Sexy secrets and missing information will be revealed to you as you nose around in situations where you supposedly should not investigate. The light at the end of the tunnel is likely to appear well before you imagined it would. Your lucky number is 8, your lucky colour is black, and your lucky emotion is the surprise of discovery. My advice: Call on your memory to serve you in amazing ways; use it as a superpower.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Happy Unbirthday, Capricorn! It’s time to celebrate the season halfway between your last birthday and your next. I hope you will give yourself a fun gift every day for at least the next seven days. Fourteen days would be even better. See if you can coax friends and allies to also shower you with amusing blessings. Tell them your astrologer said that would be a very good idea. Now here’s an unbirthday favour from me: I promise that between now and January 2025, you will create healing changes in your relationship with your job and with work in general.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): While sleeping, my Aquarian friend Janelle dreamed that she and her family lived in a cabin in the woods. When dusk was falling, a strange animal put its face against the main window. Was it a bear? A mountain lion? Her family freaked out and hid in a back bedroom. But Janelle stayed to investigate. Looking closely, she saw the creature was a deer. She opened up the window and spoke to it, saying, “What can I do for you?” The deer, who was a talking deer, said, “I want to give you and your family a gift. See this necklace I’m wearing? It has a magic ruby that will heal a health problem for everyone who touches it.” Janelle managed to remove the necklace, whereupon the deer wandered away and she woke up from the dream. During subsequent weeks, welcome changes occurred in her waking life. She and three of her family members lost physical ailments that had been bothering them. I think this dream is a true fairy tale for you in the coming weeks, Aquarius.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A psychologist friend tells me if we have an intense craving for sugar, it may be a sign deeper emotional needs are going unmet. I see merit in her theory. But here’s a caveat. What if we are currently not in position to get our deeper emotional needs met? What if there is at least temporarily some barrier to achieving that lovely goal? Would it be wrong to seek a partial quenching of our soul cravings by communing with fudge brownies, peach pie, and crème brûlée? I don’t think it would be wrong. On the contrary. It might be an effective way to tide ourselves over until more profound gratification is available. But now here’s the good news, Pisces: I suspect more profound gratification will be available sooner than you imagine.
Homework: Take a vow that you will ethically do everything necessary to fulfil your most important goal. Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com.
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates
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
• Chief Administrative Officer($160,000 to $180,000 per year)
• General Manager of Community Services ($120,000.00 to $135,000.00 per year)
• Cook – Daycare ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
• Financial Reporting Manager ($59,878 - $74,564 per year)
• 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)
Lil’wat Business Group
• Transfer Station Supervisor ($25.65 to $35.15 per hour)
• Stock Lead ($17.40 to $20.00 per hour)
• Pension Plan • Employee Assistance Program
• Gym facility • Extended Health Benefits
• Professional Development
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/ Benefits
BOOKKEEPER WANTED
We’re looking for a motivated individual to join our team as a manager’s assistant at the front counter of our busy trade shop. Any experience within the construction industry will be an asset.
Whistler Glass is looking to hire an experienced full time, long term bookkeeper with minimum 5 years experience whom would work with us in house in our office Monday to Friday, off on weekends and holidays.
To apply email brian@whistlerglass.com
Must have experience with:
• Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
• Payroll
• Tax remittances and bank reconciliations
• Sage 50 (required)
• PST regulations (preferred)
• Must have Canadian Residency
• Wage to start at $32 - 35 per hour (negotiable as per experience)
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)
FT Youth Case Worker
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Advocate for participants in areas including, but not limited to: employment, medical, mental health, renters rights, government agencies, and policing & law.
• Provide transition planning support to graduates and alumni.
• Provide in-home support, including, but not limited to: cleaning, chores, and conflict resolution.
• Continually conduct outreach to build/support new and existing community contacts.
• Contribute to Zero Ceiling's respectful, honest, and equitable work environment to co-create a positive and dynamic working culture.
KEY SKILLS:
• Creative problem solving
• Ability to self-motivate, work independently, and organize work and time efficiently.
• Strong understanding of personal and professional boundaries.
• High level of digital, written and oral communication skills.
Set schedule - Friday to Monday $28.00/hr, paid bi-weekly + competitive and comprehensive
Carpenters Helpers /Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly)
($30 - $45 hourly)
($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.
Training & Tuition Reimbursement (Need help getting your Red Seal?)
Dental Benefits for you and your family
Work Life Balance. (We get it. We love to ski and bike too.) and Permanent Residency (We can help!)
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. info@evrfinehomes.com We look forward to hearing from you!
www.evrfinehomes.com
NOW HIRING!
Full Time Assistant Meat Manager
($64,480 – $72,800 (+ benefits) depending on experience)
Our Team enjoys:
ü Flexible schedules
ü Training and experience
ü Full Beneits & Employee Discount Card
ü Prime location in Pemberton
ü Short commute = less time, more $$$
Download or fill out our online application at https://www.pembertonsupermarket.com/ about/employment/ or stop by the store and we will give you an application to fill out. You can also email us at jobs@pembertonsupermarket.com or call us at 604-894-3663.
GUEST SERVICES/MAINTENANCE AGENT
At Whistler Superior Properties, we are dedicated to creating memorable experiences for our guests. Our commitment to exceptional service and attention to detail sets us apart, and we’re looking for a passionate Guest Services/Maintenance Agent to join our team. This is a permanent year-round position.
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.
We are looking to hire another member to our team at Straightline.
Experience in Plumbing is required. Gas Fitting and HVAC would be preferred but not essential. Wages are based on experience. Part-time or Full-time positions available.
JOB POSTINGS
N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre
PO BOX 88/64 CASPER CHARLIE PLACE, DARCY BC V0N 1L0
604-452-3584
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR
The N’Quatqua First Nation is seeking a qualified Early Childhood Educator to fill an on- call position at N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre. The successful candidate will join our NCFDC team, providing morning Preschool and afternoon Group Child Care classes for Aboriginal children aged 3-5 years old and / or support for the Infant Toddler program. Responsibilities include implementing and evaluating activities and experiences within an inclusive environment that adhere to Aboriginal Head Start philosophies.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability in:
• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports community, inclusion and is culturally significant for young Aboriginal children
• Understanding and working knowledge of Child Care Licensing regulations
• Interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• Maintaining positive communication with parents
• Self-directed and able to initiate and complete projects
In addition, the Early Childhood Educator will have:
• A minimum of 2 years work experience in a child care setting
• Valid Early Childhood Education Certificate and License to Practice
• Infant Toddler/Special Needs Certification an asset
• Clear Criminal Records Check & Current First Aid
• Valid Food Safe Certificate
Terms of Employment:
On call: Mon-Thursday Start Date: On-call as needed
Wage: ($23/hr ) with opportunity for Wage Enhancement program
Cover Letter & Resume to:
Anita Patrick, Director N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre
Email: anita.patrick@nquatqua.ca
Will remain open until we receive a qualified individual to the role. We thank all those who apply, only those candidates selected for the interview will be notified
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
TRUCK DRIVER - Valid Class 1 or Class 3 with air brakes required. Manual transmission. 2 years experience preferred. $32-$40.45 per hour.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, Squamish - Minimum 5 years or 5,000 hours operating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$42 per hour.
HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC, Whistler – Red Seal Certified, Commercial Truck & Transport, Transport Trailer required. CVSE Inspector’s ticket, Air Conditioning ticket, Class 1 or 3 with air brakes preferred. Toolbox available for rent. $39.70-$47.90 per hour.
CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-the-job. Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required. Previous experience preferred but not required. Training provided. $25-$32 per hour.
Join the #1 Global Leader in Hospitality. Apply at Jobs.Marriott.com. Contact Adela.Celustkova@deltahotels.com for more information, or drop by and talk to
DELTA WHISTLER VILLAGE SUITES
NOW HIRING
COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT/HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC
Permanent, Full-Time
Cardinal Concrete, A Division of Lafarge Canada Inc is the leading supplier of ready-mix concrete in the Sea to Sky Corridor. We are currently seeking a career oriented individual to fill the role of Commercial Transport/Heavy Duty Mechanic at our Head Office Location in Squamish, BC.
This is a skilled position which primarily involves preventative maintenance and repair of a large fleet of commercial transport vehicles including concrete mixer trucks, dump trucks, trailers, forklifts and light-duty trucks.
Minimum Qualifications:
• B.C. Certificate of Qualification, and/or Interprovincial Ticket as a Commercial Transport Mechanic, and/or Heavy Duty Mechanic Ticket
• 3-5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Compensation $45.57 to $49.07
To view a full copy of this Job Description visit: www.cardinalconcrete.ca/about/careers
Apply to: info@cardinalconcrete.ca
Resort Municipality of Whistler Employment Opportunities
Full-timepositionwithastartingwageof$52.95anhour.
MOBILE MECHANICAL LIGHTNING
There are salons, and then there is THE salon... is HIRING!
Stylists • Estheticians
Full or Part Time Available
Competitive commission based on education and experience. Extended benefits, spirit pass, and more! Send resumes to: aveda@farfallahair.com
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
THE WHISTLER HOUSING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING
& Information Management Specialist
Responsible for the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) Employee Housing Programs’ communications and engagement initiatives, as well as being a leading coordinator of the WHA’s IT projects. Full-time position. Salary Range $40 -$46 per hour.
The Communications, Engagement, and Information Management Specialist will lead the WHA’s communications and engagement strategies helping to increase awareness and understanding of the Employee Housing Programs and strengthen connections with the community and partner organizations. The ideal candidate is a strong, innovative, and strategic communicator committed to the mission and vision of the Whistler Housing Authority and fostering a community where Whistler’s workforce can be housed in safe, secure, affordable housing.
A full description of required responsibilities, skills and experience is available at: www.whistlerhousing.ca
Interested candidates are invited to submit a Resume and Cover Letter by email to mail@whistlerhousing.ca
Deadline for applications is July 26, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
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/
The road from hell
THERE ARE many scenic highways in Western Canada. But there is only one that can be considered the best, twisty, mountainous, scenic, challenging drive, especially if you happen to be piloting a car that stirs your blood and holds the road. That would be the Duffey Lake section of Highway 99 from Lillooet to Mount Currie. Either direction.
Why best? It’s scenic. But that’s so common in this province it’s almost prosaic.
BY G.D. MAXWELL
It’s challenging—multiple hairpin turns, sneaky decreasing radius corners, rollercoaster sections and ascents/descents that are so steep they’re likely flagged in Road Design 101 as Not Recommended. The cherry on top is an almost total lack of RCMP and no cell coverage along its length.
Pity, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has let it degrade into a condition that can only honestly be described as dangerous. Brutal. Life-threatening. Criminal. Nearly third-world. And we’ll have to wait, well, no one knows how long we’ll have to wait while it continues to compost before they finally decide to do something about it. Wait because getting road project information out of MOTI is second only to getting any decision.
Two recent Pique stories underline the horrors of driving the Duffey. One, citing a committee of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, turned a harsh light on roads contractor, Miller Capilano. But coming from a governmental body, their assessment of the road didn’t even begin to underscore the horrors
For the past several decades, I’ve driven the Duffey a number of times between April and November and not infrequently in the winter. It’s the principal route out of Whistler to the central Interior and the only route to Smilin’ Dog Manor. It climbs and rolls and twists and turns through some of the province’s most stunning scenery. But winter or summer, it’s a horror show.
The half out of Mount Currie is the worst. That may have to do with harsher winter conditions, geotechnical issues, Miller’s maintenance as opposed to Dawson’s—which has the contract for the other half—and more traffic from Instagomers heading to Joffre Lakes and Duffey Lake. But largely it has to do with the fact that half of the highway was resurfaced several years before the half out of Lillooet. It’s had a number of years more neglect.
The atmospheric rivers a few years ago didn’t help, either. There was a period when the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 97 were both impassable and all traffic heading to the Lower Mainland used the Duffey, a road definitely not engineered or designed for large transport trucks.
The first time I ever drove the Duffey it was still a dirt and gravel road, much like the Highline Road to Seton Portage but with less scary switchbacks. There are currently sections
of the Duffey—lookin’ at you around the lake— that are more broken up and rougher than the dirt road was.
Rain, frost heaves, sub-structural sloughs, traffic and mediocre maintenance have made the section approaching the lake from the Lillooet side to beyond it on the Mount Currie side a terrifying drive. Long sections of the pavement is broken up in two long strips... the width of tires, not surprisingly. There are
front suspension bottomed and the front tires threatened to join the rears.
Now I know where it is and respond accordingly. Now anyone paying attention knows where it is because its far side is black with the rubber left behind by people hitting it at or below the posted speed limit. I’ve seen unsuspecting cars literally thrown into the other lane, their drivers struggling to regain control.
There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing the car in front of you trailing flames from the rear brakes. And no place you’re as likely to see it as that section of the Duffey.
crushing potholes, suspension-bottoming compressions, edge erosions and a couple of spots where the blindly brave can still legally pass. Guilty.
Just past the too-small pullout at the end of the lake, heading toward Mount Currie, there’s a wicked compression that spans all of the westbound lane and part of the northbound. Travelling toward Mount Currie, it used to be invisible. I hit it once before I knew it was there. It sounded like I’d hit a wall when my
Hopefully they’ve recovered and still have sufficient alignment left to negotiate the hairpins at the top of the pass, the sudden jolts, like hitting a curb, where the road meets a couple of bridges and make the descent into Mount Currie.
There are two ways to slow down a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. It seems most drivers only know one—hit the brakes.
But the descent after Joffre Lakes is relentless and steep, with one sign posting
an 18-per-cent grade. Along with the grade, there are several sweeping turns where the road is subsiding near the edge in the downhill lane. Subsiding enough to eat a front tire and pull the car toward the abyss. There are also a handful of carnival-ride hairpins. And if you’re unfortunate enough to follow anyone who doesn’t know how to use their gears, but especially one of the many rental RVs driven by Europeans used to roads that are wellmaintained, there is the acrid smell of brakes nearing the point of combustion.
There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing the car in front of you trailing flames from the rear brakes. And no place you’re as likely to see it as that section of the Duffey. Unless you’re focused on the two burned-out cars that have been there for a while.
But the best ever sighting was a rental RV whose hapless driver mistook the narrowness of the road shoulder, slipped the passenger side wheels off into a ditch and the top of his RV came to rest against the vertical rock face on the other side of the ditch. I stopped, explained it would take me another 30 minutes for me to get within cell range and I’d call the RV company when I did. Oh, and it would likely take a couple of hours to get a tow truck up to pull him off.
So get with it, MOTI. Best road around, on the scenic tour of all those rental RVs, great tourist draw, but all in all, the road from hell. I know, deaf ears. But whenever you get around to bringing the road up to snuff, add a couple of pullouts, like mountainous roads around the world. n
