The best of the best from Pemberton, as voted by Pique readers. - By Pique staff
06 OPENING REMARKS The disaster in Jasper is felt acutely in Whistler, and the similarities are impossible to ignore, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers weigh in on Waldorf, red trees in Whistler, and a recent “clean” energy conference in the resort.
11 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Before you anonymously sully someone’s reputation and/or report them to the police, consider inquiring with your fellow human being, writes Liz McDonald.
62 MAXED OUT On environmental issues, Canada’s recent baby steps are rapidly being disavowed, stepped away from, and shunned, writes G.D. Maxwell. Don’t worry, be happy?
12 CAMP NOWHERE Whistler residents are raising concerns about illegal campers in the forests surrounding the resort.
13 SEEING RED An outbreak of western spruce budworm is to blame for red trees in Whistler’s forests, according to the Cheakamus Community Forest.
40 BACK ON TOP Whistler’s Jesse Melamed celebrated a second-consecutive Canadian Open Enduro triumph at Crankworx Whistler last week.
46 STORIES OF THE LAND Award-winning First Nations composer, Russell Wallace, is preserving his language for future generations.
COVER I ate my first nasturtium recently—who knew flowers were the best?! - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
ALMOST A WEEK later, it is difficult to find words to describe the scene in Jasper, after a wildfire decimated the historic mountain community overnight on July 24.
Decimation, devastation, despair—take your pick. It all leads back to a sick sense of longing lingering somewhere in the bottom
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
“My initial response is similar to most of us, I expect… deep sadness,” said Mayor Jack Crompton in a statement to Pique on July 25. “It does make me grateful for the comprehensive emergency planning we have done, and motivates a desire to do even better.”
But there is another word that keeps popping up: inevitable.
I remember reading about the trees turning red in Jasper back in 2018, a result of a bad mountain pine beetle infestation, and thinking it was only a matter of time.
I’ve long thought the same about Whistler—and that was before our own trees started turning red (read more about that on page 13).
For what it’s worth, according to University of Alberta professor Jen Beverley, the dead trees in Jasper were only one small part of the equation.
In an interview with the National Post, Beverley said the dead trees were not as pivotal as the high winds, hot temperatures and overall dry conditions.
“You’re going to get a high-intensity crown fire under those conditions, with or without mountain-pine-beetle kill,” Beverley said, adding trees attacked by mountain pine beetle are most vulnerable to fire a year or so after the fact, before the needles fall and the tree dies.
Even a healthy forest without dead trees would have been consumed by the Jasper fire, which roared into town with a wall of flame 100 metres high, by some estimates.
“When you have extreme wind conditions driving a fire in an area with continuous fuels, there’s very little you can do to stop that,” Beverley said.
The similarities to Whistler’s circumstances are undeniable.
More than 20,000 people in and around the Rocky Mountain town were ordered to evacuate on July 22, three days before the fire arrived. Officials estimate 30 per cent of the town was lost to the fire.
Ron Hallman, president and CEO of Parks Canada, told CTV News the organization started doing prescribed burns in the park in 1995, and started implementing FireSmart
fortified our community. And I credit Parks Canada for the work that they did on the landscape to protect our town and when the attack came,” he told reporters.
“We suffered casualties. Absolutely. And it is so incredibly hurtful. But we did hold our ground, we saved 70 per cent of our town.”
In Whistler, staff at municipal hall watched the disaster in Jasper play out in real-time, “heartbroken” for their local government colleagues and fellow humans across the provincial border.
“It is difficult to watch the footage and hear the stories as Canadians, as citizens of our own resort community, and as local government employees who are responsible for emergency planning in a mountain town. We are balancing shock, empathy and grief with deep professional concern for how
need at their fingertips while it’s top of mind.
“We hope seeing a similar community going through this tragedy is a reminder to Whistlerites that disaster can strike anywhere, and that being prepared can save homes and lives.”
If there’s just one word Whistler should take from the disaster in Jasper, it’s preparedness.
We can’t stop idiots or reckless illegal campers from starting fires; can’t stop the sun from drying out the forests, or lightning striking down; can’t quell the winds that might change our good fortune in an instant.
But we can all be prepared.
Have a go-bag ready and accessible, and make sure it has everything you’ll need if you have to evacuate: clothes, medications, pet food, important documents.
Keep your car’s gas tank full, or close to it
“When you have extreme wind conditions driving a fire in an area with continuous fuels, there’s very little you can do to stop that.”
- JEN BEVERLEY
measures in 2003.
“To address known threats from mountain pine beetle and other factors, Parks Canada has regularly performed prescribed fires and mechanical removal of hazardous trees and underbrush in the park,” he said.
“Parks Canada and our partners have done everything we reasonably could have done to reduce fire risk over many years, and to be prepared for what may come.”
Jasper’s mayor, Richard Ireland, lost his own home in the fire.
“We anticipated with Parks Canada that something like this could happen. And so we
we might respond to the same scenario,” a communications official said.
Whistler’s emergency management team, in particular, is tracking everything that’s happening in Jasper.
“There are critical learnings for us as we follow their public alerts, the municipality of Jasper’s emergency notifications and the many news articles being shared,” the official said. “These climate emergencies present opportunities to strengthen our own response.
“Tragedies like this capture everyone’s attention, and we want to ensure our community has the information that they
(keeping some snacks and water in the trunk doesn’t hurt, either). Don’t have a car? Make sure you know where the closest muster point is in the event of a local evacuation (and pack lightly—there’s gonna be a lot of people on those buses).
Make a plan. Sit down with your family or housemates and talk logistics for when worse comes to worst, and know what you’re going to do in the event of an evacuation.
And most importantly, sign up for Whistler Alert, which will be the fastest way to get immediate emergency updates.
Read more at whistler.ca/emergency. n
Don’t funnel public funding into private schools
After a closed council meeting on June 25, which sparked concerns of government overreach and a continued trend of poor transparency from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and its mayor and council, parents of Waldorf students moved swiftly to oppose this action on the part of council. The ensuing “lively public comment” has included attacks on the credibility of a columnist of Pique, denigrating his opinion as “Trumpian” and “composed… in the depths of a heat stroke stupor,” over a piece written in support of the June 25 decision to enforce the provincial requirements for the usage of Spruce Grove Park.
Spruce Grove Park sits on a conditional Crown grant, given to the community to create a public park and to facilitate outdoor recreation. Nothing in the grant stipulated that this land could be used for the operation of an independent school, long-term or otherwise. An independent school is one which “receives Ministry funding and is accountable to the Ministry for the delivery of the BC Curriculum.” The list of BC Independent Schools also includes Brentwood College and St. John’s School, and therefore the term “private schools” is not inaccurate, per colloquial language. Since a
“temporary” 23-year municipal lease signed in 2002, Waldorf has failed to secure a permanent location within or near the RMOW. Providing education to 192 students (representing 11 per cent of Whistler residents between the ages of five and 19) at the rate of $14,125 for a Grade 10 or 11 student (tuition plus associated fees), combined with the provincial funding of $5,868 per student, paying for a permanent space for Waldorf with municipal funds has not been considered in the best interests of the community.
Waldorf currently holds assets in total of $1.8 million based on its T3010 filing made with CRA for 2023, and does not operate with a limited budget, despite claims to the contrary. With a total student population of 5,100, School District 48 had a total expense for the scholastic year ending June 30, 2024 of $84.9 million, or $16,645 per student. Meanwhile, Waldorf had a total expenditure of $3.1 million or $20,005 per student (an 18-per-cent difference). Despite this higher per-student funding surplus, staff of Waldorf are under
compensated compared to their public-sector peers. The mean salary for full-time employees of Waldorf is $69,743—23-per-cent less than the mean for secondary school teachers in the province. However, it is inaccurate to suggest that this under-compensation is due to inadequate funding; filings show a total revenue of $3 million for 2023 and nearly $3.3 million in 2022.
Meanwhile, other non-profit organizations, such as the bewilderingly under fire Mature Action Community (MAC), which offers support services to members of the community with dementia and whose major source of funding has come in the form of a $20,000 federal grant, are obliged to rent space from Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church or drive to Pemberton and make use of the community services provided there. There are certainly other non-profit organizations who provide services to Whistler who can tell a similar story.
On July 18, Council reversed course on the June 25 decision, and has extended the lease for two years, now ending June of 2026. Also, all language of this being a “final lease extension” has been removed, leaving the door open for a loud and exclusive minority to dictate the community services available to the many again in two years’ time.
The RMOW issued an additional statement on July 24 to “provide a few points of clarity.” Originally, Waldorf administrators said “the RMOW [had] confirmed that staff will be
directed to work with the province to determine if the Crown lease allows for a permanent school in Spruce Grove Park.” But the RMOW has since clarified, saying it will “seek some indication the Province could be amenable to [a usage] change within the coming months.” Also, the RMOW has insisted that, “the addition of another year of lease does not constitute a Council decision to enable Waldorf to stay permanently.”
At a time when Canadians are feeling the impacts of a tightening economy, when academic performance in B.C. is declining, and with income inequality increasing in Canada, this is not the time to be funnelling public funding into private schools, non-profit or otherwise, who meet the needs of the few at the expense of the many. Instead, the parents of Waldorf students should see this situation not as an “us versus them” fight—the Trumpian dichotomy—but as an opportunity to model compassion, compromise for others’ needs, respectful communication, and a sense of community; not just the narrow community of family and friends, but the broader community of the many diverse groups that comprise Whistler.
A.
Niall Craddock // Whistler
What to do about red trees in Whistler?
I find much food for thought in Pique’s July 26 article “Why are the trees turning red in Whistler?” (see page 13) and the analogies between Whistler and Jasper in terms of forests, insects and fires.
I thank Heather Beresford and the Cheakamus Community Forest for providing information and additional links about the spruce budworm. I am concerned, however, that the proposed response is “tactical” and “wait-and-see” rather than strategic and proactive. The mid-elevation forests around
“There are alternatives to large-scale fuel breaks...
- COLIN J. RANKIN
Whistler are the product of the logging and fire history in the valley. The largely even-aged stands of trees with limited species diversity, combined with our current hotter, drier and longer summers, make Whistler vulnerable to large-scale catastrophic fires such as what we’ve just witnessed in Jasper.
There are alternatives to large-scale fuel breaks or biological or chemical efforts to control insects. For example, introducing controlled fires or openings during moister spring and fall seasons. Creating or
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
encouraging patches of differing ages and types of trees and vegetation, rather than waiting four or five years for complete defoliation and highly flammable hillsides, may be worthy of consideration. If we wait too long, what we see may be through tears...
Colin J. Rankin // Whistler
Putting ‘clean’ in clean energy
Last month, the Pacific NorthWest Economic Summit was held at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Government officials from northwestern states and provinces met with business leaders to discuss regional economies. Clean energy was said to be an important topic to be addressed, with a focus on the hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen could be a great solution to shift away from fossil fuels for trucking. Electric powered vehicles aren’t powerful enough for large loads yet. Burning hydrogen as a fuel produces water vapour as the primary emission, making it a clean alternative to fossil fuels. But, we are only discussing the burning process here, the production of hydrogen can have substantial environmental downsides.
There are two ways to produce hydrogen. The most common method, Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), also referred to as “blue hydrogen,” has a high global warming potential (GWP), mainly due to the CO2 emissions associated with the process (Suleman et al., 2015). Moreover, the methane used in the process is fossil gas (known under the greenwashing term “natural gas”). The extraction process of fossil gas, fracking, has devastating effects on the environment, with shocking water contamination and dangerous air pollution.
The second option, electrolysis, or “green hydrogen,” is the cleanest method. Electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, leaving nothing else behind. When combined with nuclear or renewable energy, green hydrogen can be very efficient and environmentally friendly (Utgikar & Thiesen, 2006). If we were to really discuss clean energy and decarbonization, this would be the method used.
Interestingly, FortisBC, leader in fossil gas production, was not only participating as a business, but was also one of the sponsors of the summit. Can we see a conflict of interest here? No doubt their business would profit from selling all the fossil gas required for the SMR process. FortisBC is also currently facing a lawsuit over allegations of greenwashing.
Last week’s summit was about economic development. It seems to me that the terms “clean” energy and decarbonization were used as a ruse. When fossil fuel businesses foot the bill at the Fairmont for talks of decarbonization with government officials, a flag should be raised.
Marilou
Carswell // Pemberton 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.
The cowardly world of online anonymity
WORKING IN this business with a heart, we come across everything from the intricacies of garbage disposal policies to horrific deaths and everything in-between.
BY LIZ MCDONALD
emcdonald@piquenewsmagazine.com
But occasionally, we find out about an incident that is infuriating enough to spur an opinion column. As a reporter, I tend to keep my angry opinions to myself. It’s my job to report the facts and highlight the community’s voices. However, recently, a local elderly bird watcher who will remain nameless was falsely reported to the RCMP for allegedly watching children. We’ll call them Jamie.
Jamie is a member of the Whistler Naturalists, and was collecting data about waterfowl near the Montebellow wetlands. They and other birders use binoculars to observe wood ducks a few times a week.
However, they weren’t the only person making observations that day, though the birder’s data was definitely more accurate. An unknown woman observed the bird watcher and reported them to the Whistler RCMP, accusing the birder of peering at her children.
She also took to the Facebook group, Whistler Summer 2024, posting photos
seeking the birder’s identity, including their face and vehicle’s license plate number. While the woman didn’t say why she was posting about them, she wrote she had “made several calls to the police about [them].”
The anonymous post has since been taken down, but it was published in a group with more than 50,000 members.
The birder was investigated by the RCMP, and their neighbour and family member were questioned, as well. The incident provided an opportunity for me to pause and think about anonymous posting on social media platforms, the weight our
our ability to openly share our opinion, and whether that opinion is abhorrent to others or not, we deserve the right to know who is saying what.
In journalism, we reserve anonymity for very specific circumstances. The Society of Professional Journalists offers ethics guidelines for issues such as anonymity, and the bar is pretty high. It notes: “Consider sources’ motivations before promising anonymity. Reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Explain why anonymity
Social media allows information to spread quickly, and algorithms prioritize emotionally driven content.
words hold, and what one should perhaps do before calling the police on another person.
I view anonymous posting as a cowardly attempt at making your voice heard without being willing to put your face and name to your statements. It doesn’t allow other people to understand who the source of information is, and in an era when source credibility is incredibly important, it leads to further opportunities for misinformation and disinformation. A free public relies on
was granted.”
In line with this guideline, I’m not telling you who the birder was because it isn’t in the public interest to know their identity, and it could do further harm to their reputation.
These guidelines also beg the question: what was the motivation of the anonymous poster on Whistler 2024?
I’ll likely never know, nor will the person who was falsely accused. For better or worse, social media can protect people’s identities.
I’m not saying it’s never justifiable to shield your identity online, but this instance shows the possible injustice.
Publishing a false accusation can also lead to legal action called defamatory libel. Trained journalists tend to understand this, because we publish statements widely and can be held legally accountable for our actions. The criminal code, section 298 (1), defines defamatory libel as a “matter published, without lawful justification or excuse, that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult the person of or concerning whom it is published.”
Two final notes.
I encourage everyone to pause before they take to social media to play internet sleuth. Social media allows information to spread quickly, and algorithms prioritize emotionally driven content—if information makes people angry or sad, it’s likely to get more likes, shares and comments and keep people tuned into their electronic forms of reality. There’s no truth detector built in, and what you read online can come from a specialized academic or some dude with a tinfoil hat.
Finally, next time you suspect someone, like a bird watcher, of inappropriate conduct, maybe stop for a moment, and if possible, inquire with the original source—your fellow human being—before you jump to a conclusion and call the cops on them. n
GUIDED
Illegal camping tops up fire anxiety in Whistler
THE NUMBER OF SEMI-PERMANENT CAMPERS AROUND WHISTLER HAS PROMPTED THE RMOW TO STEP UP ADVOCACY ON THE ISSUE
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
WHISTLER’S MAYOR AND council is stepping up advocacy to the province on what to do about illegal camping around—but not in—the community, and the wildfire risks it exposes Whistler to.
Riffing off of a letter to the municipality about the semi-permanent nature of a handful of encampments around Whistler’s fringes on forest service roads, after some discussion on risks of wildfire, sanitation and jurisdiction, council determined at its July 23 regular meeting to write its own letter to the province raising the issue.
“I just urge we keep working on this,” said Councillor Arthur De Jong, referencing the Cheakamus Lake Forest Service Road, which was identified by members of the community as of particular concern.
“When we’re in real extreme [weather] and a fire ignites, it will quickly go up the disease-ridden [forest] south aspect … it will hit second growth on the shoulder of Khyber, and you’ll have a rank 4 or a rank 5 which will take out half the valley—it is that volatile.
“So when we are in extreme, we have to find a way to get these illegal campers out of these interface areas. It is critical.”
All councillors who spoke to the issue leaned into the fire danger of campers setting up around the community—including in the
WedgeWoods area to the north.
Coun. Ralph Forsyth asked Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff what the municipality could do to “raise the alarm bells to the ministry that we have a serious problem at both ends.
“We have it at Wedge where there’s basically near lawlessness, and at Cheakamus which is adjacent to one of our neighbourhoods,” he said. “What can we do to signal to the ministry as urgently as possible that something needs to be done?”
Staff’s response was the answer was partly political, and that there were ongoing conversations with the province at a staffing level.
“I can share that the fire chief has had regular conversations with the [Conservation Officer Service] since the letter was received … and before that,” said Ted Battiston, the RMOW’s general manager of corporate services and public safety.
“I also know that the deputy fire chief was in touch with the conservation officers on the same issues this week. Bylaw continues to be in touch… from staff to staff, we are in touch with them at least weekly,” he said, but added more needs to be done.
“I agree that the issues are still persistent and we haven’t gotten to the place that we need to get to. This conversation needs to continue on all sides of this.”
Forsyth pressed the urgency of the issue.
“I would urge the mayor to get on the horn with the ministry or whoever is responsible, because I would hate for us to be sitting here six months from now saying, ‘wow, we really should have done something about the illegal camping on either end as the village burnt to the ground,’” he said.
“Not to be too alarmist, but it does worry
me. It’s pretty out of control.”
For his part, Mayor Jack Crompton said he was doing just that, but raised jurisdictional borders as an issue for the RMOW, given forest service roads leading in to Crown lands are the responsibility of the province, and beyond the reach of municipal bylaws.
“I think it’s really important that we acknowledge whose jurisdiction this is, and not give anybody in this community the sense that we have the tools to fix this,” Crompton said.
“We do not have the tools, we do not have the jurisdiction.”
That said, Crompton ran with a staff recommendation that the municipality formalize its advocacy by writing a letter, and the motion was unanimously supported.
The RMOW has received numerous letters over the past season from concerned residents, some of whom also reached out to Pique to voice concerns.
Cheakamus resident Trevor Mitzel said the lack of enforcement was signalling to others that camping for long periods of time is acceptable around Whistler.
“Whether it’s acceptance or a manpower issue, there’s no enforcement of anything and the encampments are getting large,” he told Pique
“You’ve got a large number of people living without adequate facilities, so you have the issues that go along with that, and it’s getting to a point where it’s looking like it’s becoming permanent—people are now building relatively permanent structures around their recreational vehicles.”
Mitzel highlighted the recent Jasper wildfire and the impact on that town as more cause for concern in Whistler.
“We have that same risk,” he said.
“Just a couple of days ago I was riding a trail which leads from the Wedge parking lot, and where we parked our truck we could see the remnants of four or five recent bonfires, so it’s a matter of people are using charcoal and gas grills in an undeveloped campground setting, as well as there’s a lot of gas generators. They make noise, so people do what makes the most sense, they stick them in the woods 40 feet away from their RV, and those gas generators are a huge fire hazard as well.”
Mitzel also said the number of people living in encampments for long periods of time meant there was a lot of human waste and garbage accumulating in the woods—and driving away residents who typically used those outdoor spaces for recreation.
He backed calls for the municipality to step up advocacy and do whatever it can to discourage camping around Whistler, stressing it isn’t about moving along homeless people, but discouraging people taking advantage of a lack of enforcement to camp and recreate in the area for long periods of time for free.
“I don’t think these are people who have fallen through the cracks of our social safety net in Canada, these are people who have realized no one is going to stop them from squatting on public land,” he said. “So they’re making the choice to squat on public land, which I think is irresponsible if we don’t stop it—it creates such an exposure to the community.”
Mitzel added he believes not moving along campers is an invitation to more.
“There’s rules in place, there’s limitations on how long you can camp on public lands,” he said. “Those rules are there for a reason, and they need to enforce that.” n
RULES OF THE ROAD Campers along the Cheakamus Lake FSR near Whistler in July 2024.
PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
Why are the trees turning red in Whistler?
AN
OUTBREAK OF WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM IS TO BLAME, ACCORDING TO THE CCF
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
WHISTLER RESIDENTS and guests to the resort might have noticed an off-coloured tinge in the forests this week.
According to the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF), an outbreak of western spruce budworm is to blame.
In a post on its website July 24, the CCF noted red trees are showing in the areas above White Gold, Function Junction and along Sproatt and Rainbow Mountains. The outbreak is reportedly happening across the Coast/Interior transition forests from Whistler to Hope, and seems to be restricted to the band of higher elevation forests (about 800 to 1,100 metres), the post said.
“At this point, the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) is monitoring the situation in connection with the Ministry of Forests (MOF) and taking a wait-and-see approach. If tree mortality begins to occur at an unacceptable rate over the next couple of years, the CCF will work with the MOF to determine next steps,” the post said. “Currently, the only viable management option is to aerial spray with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a biological agent that kills the caterpillar when it eats the treated tree needles and is harmless to other species.”
SEEING RED
According to the CCF, the western spruce budworm is a native defoliator of interior Douglas-fir in British Columbia.
“It is not an introduced species. Outbreaks have been recorded in B.C. since the early 1900s to the present day,” the CCF said on its website. “In 1987 and again in 2007-2008, over 800,000 hectares were infested by the
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budworm, mostly in the Southern Interior of the province. Budworm outbreaks may be sustained for years.
“The western spruce budworm feeds primarily on Douglas-fir. True firs, larch and spruce may also be affected. The caterpillars feed on the new needles, but will move onto the older needles if all new foliage is consumed. Trees appear reddish in colour once needles have been fed upon. Attack does slow down growth and can affect tree form.”
Asked how the outbreak might increase wildfire risk in Whistler, CCF general manager Heather Beresford said it depends how long it lasts.
If it subsides in one or two years, fire risk likely won’t increase substantially, but if it lasts longer than that and trees begin to die en masse, Whistler could be in trouble.
“The CCF will continue to monitor the situation. Typically, the Province will take the lead on a broad aerial spraying program and the CCF would participate if that became necessary,” Beresford said in an email.
“If widespread mortality occurs on the [spruce budworm] stands, the risk of ignition within these stands is probably increased due to the more flammable nature of dead/dry stems on the landscape, and should a fire start in these dead stands it would likely move swiftly into adjacent live stand areas. The dead and weakened trees are also more susceptible to secondary pests (bark beetles, etc) which could contribute to the problem of dead trees on the landscape,” she said.
“The bigger risk from fire across the whole Whistler Valley is the current stand conditions and abundance of dense/overdense stands. The whole valley is susceptible to landscapelevel fire which could move swiftly through the crowns and into neighbourhoods. Similar
RED ALERT Whistler trees are currently dealing with an outbreak of western spruce budworm, according to the Cheakamus Community Forest.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHEAKAMUS COMMUNITY FOREST
NEWS WHISTLER
to Jasper, the Whistler Valley has overly dense stands with 100-per-cent crown closure, limited landscape-level fuel breaks with housing integrated directly into the forests with no clear lines/divisions between urban and forested lands.”
FROM JASPER TO WHISTLER
The complete devastation in Jasper is no doubt on the minds of all Whistlerites. In 2018, Jasper had a red-tree problem of its own, thanks to a mountain pine beetle infestation.
But according to University of Alberta professor Jen Beverley, the dead trees in Jasper were only one small part of the equation.
In an interview with the National Post, Beverley said the dead trees were not as pivotal as the high winds, hot temperatures and overall dry conditions.
“You’re going to get a high-intensity crown fire under those conditions, with or without mountain-pine-beetle kill,” Beverley said, adding trees attacked by mountain pine beetle are most vulnerable to fire a year or so after the fact, before the needles fall and the tree dies.
Even a healthy forest without dead trees would have been consumed by the Jasper fire, which roared into town with a wall of flame 100 metres high, by some estimates.
“When you have extreme wind conditions driving a fire in an area with continuous fuels, there’s very little you can do to stop that,” Beverley said.
As of July 30, the fire danger rating in Whistler was low, and the resort was at Level 1 on the 0-to-5 drought scale.
“The forest dryness is near normal for this time of year. The precipitation we’ve had in 2024 is more than twice what we had for the same time last year, but it hasn’t been enough to alleviate drought conditions,” a communications official said in an email.
Whistler’s water reservoirs (used for both domestic use and for fighting structure fires)
spruce budworm have been ongoing for years in the Interior, only recently spreading over the Duffey from Lillooet.
“Most outbreaks end within a few years, and most trees recover. However, in cases of severe defoliation over multiple years, or where additional stressors are present, trees can ultimately die. This is where experts point to the role of climate change,” the official said. “Consecutive years of drought lead to trees that are stressed and less resilient to
“Most outbreaks end within a few years, and most trees recover.”
RMOW
vary every day due to usage and supply levels, they added.
“Most recently, our reservoir levels were at normal levels during the week of Crankworx and overall, our water use is down slightly comparing July 2024 to July 2023. The updated Outdoor Potable Water Use Bylaw may be one reason for the water savings.”
As for the spruce budworm infestation, the RMOW will monitor the situation and follow the advice of experts, the official said.
“This is something we are keeping our eyes on, keeping top of mind in our work with our partners and experts in the community, and are consulting with the provincial Ministry of Forests on,” they said, noting issues with
naturally occurring infestations. With this in mind, we need to continue to focus on climate resilience and managing our forests to ensure they contain diverse species.”
The major concern, they added, is a persistent, mass infection killing trees en masse in Whistler—adding to the fire risk.
STRATEGIC AND WIDESPREAD
Beresford noted in Whistler, the focus is on a “tactical approach” to wildfire mitigation.
“The CCF is looking at the risk based on stand conditions, locations, modelled fire and climate information as well as
the risk factors and starting the process of fireproofing/increasing the resilience of the landscape to fire,” she said. “This looks like large-scale strategic fuel breaks that can be used to defend/hold a fire from spreading. This includes ensuring creation of fuel-break planning includes access planning for all parts of the community forest so that protection crews can easily access areas on the ground to set up defence lines to hold/stop a fire from advancing. Beyond the landscape-level fuel breaks there is also a need to plan/implement appropriate stand-level treatments, which are designed to decrease fire intensity and behaviour.”
But the CCF can only do such work on Crown lands, not private, Beresford added.
“For individual homeowners, it means getting your property fully FireSmarted, not just cutting down a few trees around your house,” she said. “Install metal roofing, close up gaps, and remove flammables around your house. In the bigger picture, entire streets and neighbourhoods need to do this instead of just individual houses here and there. The FireSmart program needs to be strategic and widespread.”
The Ministry of Forests is conducting its annual aerial overview survey program, which monitors forest health issues provincially, the RMOW said.
“Their surveyors will look to capture the defoliation when they fly over the Whistler area,” they said. “When the maps are finalized, we will have the opportunity to see what they observed of the spruce budworm activity this summer.” n
Erin McCardle Stiel
RMOW clarifies Waldorf arrangement ‘only an extension’
‘HAVING
AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPERATE OUT OF SPRUCE
GROVE
PARK IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT THAT WALDORF KNEW AND ACCEPTED’
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has issued a point of clarification regarding the Whistler Waldorf School’s lease at Spruce Grove Field, following another closed-door decision late last week.
In it, the municipality clarifies there is no guarantee the school remains on the site past June 2026.
Whistler’s council originally voted in a closed meeting on June 25 to give the school one year to find a new location. Following a major outcry from the Waldorf community, council apparently reversed course, voting to extend the lease to 2026 in a second closed meeting held July 18 (Mayor Jack Crompton and Councillor Jessie Morden were recused from the decision, as their children attend the school).
Following that, the Whistler Waldorf School’s board of trustees sent an email to parents, saying in the new lease extension, RMOW staff were “instructed to remove language regarding a final lease extension.
“Additionally, the RMOW has confirmed that staff will be directed to work with the province to determine if the Crown lease allows for a permanent school in Spruce
Grove Park,” read the email signed by board of trustees chair Erik Wallsten. “We believe this decision is a commitment by all parties to work together to find a long-term solution so that the essential daycare and education services the school provides can continue.”
Asked for comment at the time, the
“We want to thank you for listening, we want to thank you for being supportive, and we want to thank you for giving us an opportunity to become part of the solution to some of the issues that Whistler faces.
“We know that your job is very difficult, you have multiple stakeholders with multiple
“The addition of another year of lease does not constitute a Council decision to enable Waldorf to stay permanently.”
- RMOW
RMOW said it didn’t “have anything further to add to what the Whistler Waldorf School has shared today.”
There were also no comments or clarifications on the matter from council at the July 23 regular council meeting, at which Wallsten thanked council for its change of heart.
“It’s very simple, on behalf of the students, the teachers, the staff, and the board of the school we want to just thank you,” he said.
interests, and limited resources, and so we come here to offer to continue being a solution. We think that it’s a big tent, we can fit a number of groups, a number of interests in whatever we want to do, and we believe that working together we can find a solution.”
On July 24, after Pique went to press with the original story, the RMOW offered more info.
“Having an independent school operate
out of Spruce Grove Park is, and always has been, a temporary arrangement that Waldorf knew and accepted,” reads a statement posted on the RMOW website. “As such, Council wishes to provide a few points of clarity:
• Waldorf sits on land the municipality manages under a provincial Crown Grant for park and outdoor recreation purposes. The RMOW does not know whether the Province would entertain a change in the potential land uses designated under the Grant. The RMOW will seek some indication the Province could be amenable to this change within the coming months.
• Council has heard from citizens on both sides of this issue and remains open to input.
• The addition of another year of lease does not constitute a Council decision to enable Waldorf to stay permanently. While Council has extended the timeline, it is only an extension. This does not create certainty for the school on this site, and the Waldorf Board of Directors is aware of this risk.
• A planning process to determine the best possible use of Spruce Grove Park, and the full breadth of community benefits it could offer, is planned to occur within the next two years.”
Council will not convene again until Sept. 10. Check back with Pique for more as this story develops. n
RMOW paves the way for more EV charging stalls
AGREEMENT WITH BC HYDRO WILL INSTALL UP TO 60 CHARGING SPACES ON RMOW-OWNED PARKING LOTS
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
WHISTLER’S COUNCIL has endorsed a plan that would add up to 60 new EV charging points in two parking lots owned by the municipality.
Under a licence of occupation agreement approved at the July 23 regular council meeting, BC Hydro will install up to 42 chargers at the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) Day Lot 3, and up to 18 at the Whistler Conference Centre’s parking lots.
The new charging points add to the RMOW’s growing suite of EV charging stations in its goal to adhere to its “big moves” climate action policy, with the proliferation of EV charging options part of moves to de-carbonize commercial and passenger transportation to and within Whistler.
Speaking to the report, the RMOW’s climate action coordinator, Maria Thorlakson, said expanding the public charging network is important to keep up with the growing EV market, and a key part of the RMOW’s EV strategy.
“We can actually see what new registered vehicles we have in B.C., and in 2023, we saw that 20 per cent of new vehicles registered in B.C. were electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that’s up from 16 per cent in 2022, so we’re seeing those numbers increase quite rapidly,”
she said, noting the numbers track with the province’s zero-emissions vehicle sales targets, which require that 100 per cent of light-duty vehicles sold in B.C. be zeroemissions by 2035.
The RMOW’s own municipally-owned EV charging network is yielding data that backed up an increase in utilization, said Thorlakson, who said it made a “pretty strong case” for more charging stations.
Enter BC Hydro, which as Thorlakson explained, approached the RMOW with the proposal to install, maintain and operate the new
chargers on municipal property free of charge.
BC Hydro already operates chargers at the Whistler Conference Centre, and has proven to be a reliable partner as a provider in the past, said Thorlakson, who added that BC Hydro was also the only provider that charged users based on power used, rather than time at a charger, “and this has been identified as a more fair, equitable and accurate way to charge for EV charging,” she said.
Additionally, she said the RMOW anticipates less fluctuation in fees for users, as BC Hydro rates must be approved by the BC
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As laid out in plans presented to council, the chargers in Day Lot 3 would be installed in two phases: The first would see up to 22 Level 2 chargers (which are the most common public charging types), followed by up to another 20 pending the rate of utilization.
The charging points in Day Lot 3 would be along the western perimeter of the lot, against the berm that separates the lot from Blackcomb Way. If all 42 chargers are installed, the entire western perimeter of the lot would be dedicated to charging stations.
Thorlakson said the RMOW engaged with BC Hydro to ensure the plans minimized the loss of existing regular parking stalls while ensuring there was enough space for the number of stalls proposed.
Under the agreement, the RMOW would continue to operate the Day Lot as it does now, in conjunction with Whistler Blackcomb, and it would also remain responsible for snow clearing. BC Hydro would be responsible for the installation, maintenance and operation of the charging infrastructure.
The layout of where additional charging stalls would go at the conference centre at both its underground and surface lots was not yet available, as those plans are still being drawn up, but according to the report there
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POWER UP A map of the planned BC
Search continues for missing Whistler senior
ROBERT MCKEAN, 80, WAS LAST SEEN THE MORNING OF OCT. 9, 2023
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
NEARLY TEN MONTHS after he went missing, officials have not given up on the search for Whistler senior Robert McKean.
The 80-year-old local man, who has dementia, went missing Oct. 9, 2023, while walking his dog.
The search consisted of more than 300 search-and-rescue members (from 21 different teams around the province), with help from police, firefighters, and civilians.
On Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m., after nearly a week of intensive searching, the mass effort was suspended “pending further investigation,” the RCMP said at the time.
According to the Whistler RCMP, signs were erected at strategic locations earlier this spring, including Rick’s Roost trailhead, Rainbow Reservoir, 19 Mile Creek Bridge and Rainbow Lake Trailhead.
“As well, a search with Whistler RCMP, Whistler SAR, and RCMP Police Dog Services was conducted on May 13 in an area identified by SAR that could yield evidence. The area was searched extensively but no evidence of Mr. McKean’s whereabouts was identified,” said Whistler RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks.
“Searches began again by the RCMP as the snow melted and will continue to occur alongside Whistler SAR. We are requesting anyone in and around the area to keep an eye out and report any items located to the Whistler detachment.”
The investigation will remain active, Banks added.
Reserve Cst. Steve LeClair with the RCMP added “tremendous effort” has been put into the investigation to date.
“We have had extensive searching done by the Police Dog Service as well as RCMP members on foot in the terrain, drones, doorto-door searches and anything else we could think of,” LeClair said.
“Everyone wants Mr. McKean and his dog, Lexi, to be found so that the family can have some closure. To this end, we have
erected several metal signs to remind people to keep their eyes open for any sign of him or his dog and to inform visitors that if they see something, they should contact the police. This investigation will remain active with any and all leads followed up until Robert is found.”
Whistler Search and Rescue president Brad Sills said the organization awaits “any new clues” that might direct a new search effort.
“We all hope to bring closure to the family soon,” Sills said.
McKean was last spotted the morning of Oct. 9 on a construction-site security camera situated at the top of Alpine Way.
He was wearing: medium blue size 7 New Balance running shoes; blue jeans; a green rain jacket over a blue Canucks jersey; and a tan ballcap with a blue brim.
He was walking his dog Lexi on a blue and white checkered leash attached to a blue harness.
Anyone with any information about McKean’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP detachment at (604) 932-3044 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS) or solvecrime.ca. n
EV CHARGING STALLS FROM PAGE 18
would be up to eight fast chargers in the surface lot, and up to 10 Level 2 chargers in the underground lot.
During questioning, Councillor Ralph Forsyth asked if users who wanted to charge paid both a Day Lot fee, and a charging fee, to which he was told yes.
In following up to ask what happened if a vehicle—EV or no—parked at a charging stall and was not using the charging infrastructure, staff said technically they could be ticketed by bylaw, but could not say whether any such tickets had been issued in the past.
Coun. Arthur De Jong queried why Day Lot 3 was the focus in the BC Hydro agreement, and was told other lots already have charging infrastructure, while Lot 3 does not.
Coun. Cathy Jewett asked about the current numbers of EV chargers in the RMOW and how many were needed to meet expected demand going forward, to which Thorlakson said there are 53 Level 2 charging points and two fast chargers owned by the RMOW, combined with the various privately-owned hotel chargers as well as new chargers being installed at Marketplace.
“We’re getting close to the 172 (needed by 2025 according to RMOW estimates), which is great, and hopefully we can attract more of this,” said Jewett.
The agreement with BC Hydro is for a 10-year license to occupy the portions of Lot 3 and the Conference Centre car parks for the charging stalls ending on July 31, 2034. n
STILL SEARCHING Whistler senior Robert McKean. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER RCMP
Visionary extreme skier Sylvain Saudan dies at 87
BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN’S SAUDAN COULOIR SKI RACE EXTREME WAS NAMED AFTER THE SWISS ICON
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE LEGENDARY Sylvain Saudan died July 14 at 87, according to Swiss outlet Le Matin, having lived a storied life as a pioneer of extreme skiing.
Saudan was known as “skier of the impossible,” pioneering descents previously believed to be reserved for mountaineers and ice climbers.
But his influence on Whistler will be best remembered through the Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme, described as 2,500 vertical feet of “thigh-burning hell.”
The competition started in 1987, and footage on YouTube shows typical ’80s fits: flashy colours with no helmets, ski goggles over toques. One athlete is quoted saying he expected the descent to be harder as he competed for $5,000. Then, gnarly wipeouts abound as they take on the couloir.
Peter Chrzanowski, Pemberton-based filmmaker, extreme skier and paraglider, was a friend of Saudan’s, and hosted him in 1989 and again in 2017 when Saudan visited Whistler.
“He was a difficult man,” he said. “Like most people with a lot of accomplishments, he did have a fairly big ego, but we became really close friends.”
Saudan wrote the introduction to Chrzanowski’s book I Survived Myself, and he called Chrzanowski a “longtime friend. He helped in many occasions and I will always be grateful to him.”
Chrzanowski said Saudan left many video recordings of his adventurous exploits, and he would love to one day see someone digitize the records into a film.
Hugh Smythe, president of Blackcomb when the mountain was creating the race
named after Saudan, recalled how in 1985 a T-bar was installed close to the location of where 7th Heaven Express now sits, and opened up terrain for Blackcomb— including the couloir.
“That T-bar gave Blackcomb the highest vertical drop in North America … it opened up Horstman Glacier and pretty much tripled the size of the skiable terrain on Blackcomb,” Smythe said.
In line with the impressive nature of the
terrain, the marketing team at Blackcomb needed to find a name that would stick in minds.
“We wanted to come up with something on the same theme as Corbett’s Couloir [in Jackson Hole, Wyo.],” Smythe said. Prior to Blackcomb’s, Corbett’s Couloir had the highest vertical drop in North America’s ski resorts.
They chose an impressive name to match the terrain: Saudan.
“I’m going, ‘who’s he?’ And I very quickly was educated,” Smythe said.
The race was not without controversy, though, as no one at Blackcomb consulted Saudan about the naming, which led to a subsequent lawsuit that was eventually settled. Saudan’s name was dropped and eventually restored when he paid homage to the mountain and came around to the moniker.
“I have a collaboration with Whistler Blackcomb and I’m very happy about this collaboration,” said Saudan in a video interview with Whistler Blackcomb from 2017. “I think it will be very good. This is a good thing.”
The race ended in 2001, only to make a comeback in 2018 and 2019 before being paused again during the pandemic.
For a full history lesson on Whistler Blackcomb’s Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme, read “Steep Measures,” originally published in Pique April 4, 2018. n
LOCAL LEGEND Sylvain Saudan shakes hands with Whistler Blackcomb COO Pete Sonntag in 2017.
FILE PHOTO BY BRAD KASSELMAN
Whistler signs off on another $400k for transit
A 10% INCREASE IN SERVICE HOURS COMES AT A PRICE
BY SCOTT TIBBALLS
WHISTLER’S COUNCIL signed off on a new annual operating agreement with BC Transit for the Whistler Transit system at its July 23 meeting.
The new agreement, effective from April 1, 2024 to May 30, 2025, costs $15,143,432— which is more than $2 million above the previous operating agreement.
According to a staff report, the bump is related to a 10-per-cent increase in service hours permitted by the province for 2024 and beyond; new operations contract wages; increased costs of fuel, parts, and equipment; and new technology costs, like the implementation of the new Umo electronic fare collection system.
Lucky for Whistler, the difference from last year isn’t entirely covered by the taxpayer. BC Transit is responsible for 47 per cent of funding Whistler’s public transport, while all fares collected go into the system. There is Resort Municipality Initiative funding in the mix, too, and the municipality continues to draw down on safe-restart funds it was allocated during the pandemic—meaning for the RMOW, it needs to cough up an extra $400,000 for the new operating agreement.
According to the staff report, $300,000 of the increase was already accounted for in the budget for 2024.
In delivering the report to council, the RMOW’s transportation demand management coordinator, Emma DalSanto, explained staff had not expected the province to grant the entire service expansion request to the RMOW—which explains the shortfall in funding, and another $114,000 needs to be added to the municipal budget for transit in 2024 and 2025.
The same increase in costs to operate the system means the province is chipping in a further $918,000.
DalSanto’s presentation included a look at transit numbers for Whistler— which showed ridership is up, the increase in service is being taken advantage of, and ticketing is being improved.
“You can see in 2024 we are at our highest that we have been ever in this season,” she said, referring to a graph showing weekly ridership numbers were tracking over 40,000 in July—a period of the year where ridership traditionally tracks lower.
“It looks like going forward we will be at our highest ever in winter as well for ridership,” she said.
Broadly speaking, DalSanto said Whistler Transit has recovered beyond all the trials and tribulations of the last few years.
“We are back above 2019, which was our highest ridership previously: we’ve recovered from COVID; the strike; [and] a lot of the issues we had last year with driver shortages,” she said.
She also said re-allocation of routes is working, pointing out every time they re-allocated resources to the 10, that route saw a jump in ridership.
The 10 is the Valley Express, serving as the backbone of the entire Whistler Transit system.
Looking at route-by-route graphs, DalSanto said ridership showed that “tourism was back,” highlighting free shuttle routes, and routes that serve staff housing as trending upwards over previous years.
During questions, Councillor Cathy Jewett asked about fares, which account for some $2.5 million in funding for transit, querying who set the rates.
DalSanto explained the RMOW has the power to set fares, and has done so since 1991, pointing out Whistler council has consistently set fares below the BC Transitrecommended rates to ensure affordable transportation options.
Changes to ticketing also came up in questions, with the new Umo system praised by councillors for finally being applied to Whistler. Paper tickets already in circulation will still be accepted, but DalSanto said they will no longer be sold going forward.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the new annual operating agreement with BC Transit, and to approve the budgetary changes, which will be baked into the annual budgetary documents following a financial update this fall. n
NEED A LIFT? A chart showing annual transit ridership in Whistler, with 2024 tracking above previous years.
IMAGE COURTESY OF THE RMOW
Pemberton’s Harrow Road development eyes fall 2026 opening
SEA TO SKY COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM CONTINUING OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SEA TO SKY Community Services (SSCS) is starting an open chat with Pemberton locals about its new Harrow Road Affordable Housing and Community Hub project. Team members will be at the Pemberton Farmers’ Market at the Downtown Community Barn every Friday until the end of summer to hear comments, questions and suggestions.
The project on Harrow Road has been in the works since 2021, and a related zoning amendment was adopted in October 2023.
Located at Harrow Road and Highway 99, the 63-unit, five-storey building will feature a mix of one-, two-, and threebedroom units, with 30 per cent allocated for market rentals, 50 per cent for “rent geared to income,” and 20 per cent for lowincome households. The 9,000-square-foot bottom floor will be used for SSCS’ new
offices—in which they will run 28 of the 40 programs they offer throughout the Sea to Sky—with the rest of the space slated for commercial uses. SSCS now hopes to build the development in just two years.
Pemberton’s mayor and council previously adopted a two-year permissive
“We have been working with Lil’wat Nation for the last few years,” she said. “We have a working relationship with them already. They seemed very interested in doing the blessing.”
Abraham estimated construction should be completed in just 24 months.
“[I]t’s just a commitment to connecting and engaging with the community.”
- JESSIE ABRAHAM
tax exemption for the build, and also agreed to waive associated development fees totalling $311,383.
A land-blessing ceremony with the Lil’wat Nation is planned for Sept. 24, and construction will begin shortly after. Director of housing at SSCS, Jessie Abraham, told Pique getting the land blessed before turning the sod was incredibly important to them.
“We are hoping to open in fall 2026,” she said.
SSCS has gone from strength to strength in the community for three decades, and staff hope the new development will further their reach.
“We provide new programs and support to Pemberton and its surrounding area. Sea to Sky invests more than $2 million annually
in the community through these services,” said Abraham. “We have 20 full-time staff that live and work in Pemberton. They want to see the community do well and thrive. The new development will have affordable accommodation and a community hub. We have services from newborns up to seniors. It will be a safe and accessible space for community members.”
In the meantime, the team hopes to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere at their farmers’ market booth. They are also planning to have a presence at other big community events.
“Essentially, it’s just a commitment to connecting and engaging with the community,” said Abraham. “If people want to leave questions or comments about the new building, we will bring the answers back to the next farmers’ market. It gives us an opportunity to continue the conversation. There will be a spin the wheel with giveaways and a colouring area for children. In general, it’s about building relationships. We can hear concerns and things we might have missed.”
You can read more about the Harrow Road development at sscs.ca/harrowroad. n
AT YOUR SERVICE
The Sea to Sky Community Services team at Pemberton’s Farmers’ Market.
PHOTO BY SHAIROSE UKANJI / ENGAGE DELANEY
‘Grizzly bears are territorial’
A LEADING EXPERT IS WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ILLEGAL BEAR VIEWING THIS SEASON
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A VIDEO OF THREE grizzly bears interacting in a Pemberton field gathered more than 4,000 views on social media this month. In the video, two yearlings tell another grizzly where to go. While those helping the threatened population were happy to see the bears act like they would in the backcountry, they are warning people about the dangers of illegal bear viewing.
Dr. Lana Ciarniello is one of the leading bear experts in her field, having researched black bears and grizzlies since 1993. She told Pique the video shows the bears having a conversation.
“It’s totally normal behaviour,” she said. “Grizzly bears are territorial. They are saying ‘buzz off’ to the one that’s trying to join them ... That’s how bears talk to each other. They use their body language and the positioning to speak to each other.”
She confirmed the two yearlings in the area are orphans, but experts don’t know how their mother died.
“We don’t know what happened at all,” said Ciarniello. “They had a year and a bit with mum so hopefully they have some survival skills. What’s most detrimental to their survival is humans.”
Residents in Pemberton Meadows raised
concerns about how close grizzlies were to their homes last season. Some parents said they meet their children at the bus with guns and trucks in tow after a too-close-forcomfort encounter.
Ciarniello said the population is just starting to get back to normal after the gold rush.
“At one time, that valley would have had a lot of bears. We shot the mother bear and we had some habitat alteration,” she said. “Now, they are starting to recover but we are going to love them to death. One of the things that happens when we are trying to recover the
population is that the bears grow. They come down and fill these fracture areas. What we are hoping is that they keep expanding and then they move into these threatened units.”
Last fall, an unauthorized bear tour company operating out of Whistler caused great concern for the Lil’wat Nation, government officials, bear experts and local farmers. The now closed Yogi’s Bear Tours shed a light on the issues illegal bear viewings cause for both residents and bears.
“The bears get used to people. They get used to the goodies in the area,” said Ciarniello. “Eventually, a conflict happens,
and they get killed. The benefit of the doubt is very rarely given to the bear.”
The bear expert said there should be no viewing of threatened populations.
“When these people leave after these viewing experiences, it’s the bears and the residents that pay the price,” she said. “Now the bears are much more used to humans, they will start to push the boundaries and move closer to houses. These bears haven’t been subjected to any type of garbage. That’s really, really good. If viewers drop food or leave something there, you might as well put a bullet in the bear’s head. Once a viewer gets too close, they will get attacked. People tend to push boundaries.”
Tourists also set up camp on private property, infringing on residents’ privacy.
“I wouldn’t want people driving towards my property and looking into my yard with high-powered binoculars. The viewers need to put themselves in the shoes of the residents.” said Ciarniello. “It is also an agriculture area, where they already have to control weeds.”
People who would like to observe bears in a safe and responsible manner should turn to a reputable company.
“If people want to view bears without hurting them, they should go to a commercial bear-viewing operation,” said Ciarniello. “This is a threatened unit. People are doing a lot more damage than good.” n
BUZZ OFF A pair of grizzlies captured on video near Pemberton chasing a third grizzly off.
SCREENSHOT
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AS THE CONSEQUENCES of burning dirty, climate-altering fossil fuels hit harder by the day, many are seizing on nuclear power as a “clean” energy alternative. But how clean is it?
Lac Seul First Nation, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Fort William First Nation, and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations.”
Carmyn Marcano
Engel & VölkersWhistler
carmyn.marcano@evrealestate.com
604-719-7646
Although it may not produce the emissions that burning fossil fuels does, nuclear power presents many other problems. Mining, processing and transporting uranium to fuel reactors creates toxic pollution and destroys ecosystems, and reactors increase risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and radioactive contamination. Disposing of the highly radioactive waste is also challenging.
Five First Nations—including Grassy Narrows, which is still suffering from industrial mercury contamination after more than 60 years — have formed the First Nations Land Alliance, which wrote to the NWMO, stating, “Our Nations have not been consulted, we have not given our consent, and we stand together in saying ‘no’ to the proposed nuclear waste storage site near Ignace.”
KathyWhite Engel & VölkersWhistler
kathy.white@evrealestate.com 604-616-6933
The people living in Ignace and South Bruce, Ontario, are learning about the
BY DAVID SUZUKI
potential dangers first-hand. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), a not-for-profit corporation representing nuclear power companies, has identified those communities as potential sites for disposing of six million bundles of highly radioactive waste in a “deep geological repository.”
The federal government has agreed to the
It’s an all-too-common story: environmentally damaging projects foisted on communities that need the money such
In this case, the NWMO has already paid Indigenous and municipal governments large sums to accept its plans—ignoring communities that will also be affected along transportation routes or downstream of burial sites.
According to Canadian Dimension, industry expects to ship the waste “in two to
Groups such as We the Nuclear Free North are also campaigning against the plan.
All have good reason to be worried. As Canadian Dimension reports, “All of Canada’s commercial reactors are the CANDU design, where 18 months in the reactor core turns simple uranium into an extremely complex and highly radioactive mix of over 200 different radioactive ingredients. Twenty seconds exposure to a single fuel bundle would be lethal within 20 seconds.”
The spent fuel will remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years, and contamination and leaks are possible during storage, containment, transportation and burial. Industry, with its usual “out of sight, out of mind” approach, has no valid way to monitor the radioactive materials once they’re buried.
With 3.3 million bundles of spent fuels already waiting in wet or dry storage at power plants in Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec and Manitoba, and many more to come, industry is desperate to find a place to put it all.
Even with the many risks and no site yet chosen for burial, industry and governments are looking to expand nuclear power, not just with conventional power plants but also with “small modular reactors,” meaning they could be spread more widely throughout the country.
three trucks per day for 50 years, in one of three potential containers.” None of the three containment methods has been subjected to rigorous testing.
Even without an accident, trucking the wastes will emit low levels of radiation, which industry claims will produce “acceptable” exposure. Transferring it from the facility to truck and then to repository also poses major risks.
Although industry claims storing highlevel radioactive waste in deep geological repositories is safe, no such facility has been approved anywhere in the world, despite many years of industry effort.
Canadian Dimension says, “a growing number of First Nations have passed resolutions or issued statements opposing the transportation and/or disposal of nuclear waste in northwestern Ontario, including
Nuclear power is enormously expensive and projects always exceed budgets. It also takes a long time to build and put a reactor into operation. Disposing of the radioactive wastes creates numerous risks. Energy from wind, solar and geothermal with energy storage costs far less, with prices dropping every day, and comes with far fewer risks. Industry must find ways to deal with the waste it has already created, but it is time to move away from nuclear and fossil fuels. As David Suzuki Foundation research confirms, renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar is a far more practical, affordable and cleaner choice.
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
What’s Crankworx about?
CRANKWORX ROLLED through town again last week, and while some may think it has gotten a little samey after 20 years, I actually
BY VINCE SHULEY
had one of my favourite Crankworx weeks in years. I’m not on the media and photography beat nearly as much these days, leaving the sweaty work of running around covering all the events to the industry professionals. The week is legendary for world-class racing and infamous for raucous partying, with brands and teams seemingly all trying to outdo each other in who can have the most fun.
After attending and enjoying 13 Crankworx festivals in Whistler and seeing where the organizers have taken it over the years into 2024, I’ve compiled what I think mountain biking’s annual pilgrimage is—and isn’t—about.
CRANKWORX IS ABOUT RIDING YOUR BIKE
This should be a no-brainer for tourist visitors, but the hundreds of industry folk who come for big meetings, socials and handshake deals can get a bit caught up in their overloaded schedules and forget to ride their bikes. I have to commend Whistler local Quinn Lanzon (who
convinced me to race the Back Forty earlier this spring) for organizing early morning rides throughout the week, getting these overworked bike industry people out of bed, onto their bikes and back to the village in time for their first appointments of the day. It inspired me to get out with my own bike company colleagues while they were in town and I hope the trend continues at future industry events.
this year when the male slopestyle athletes refused to compete in Rotorua, citing unsafe riding conditions and undercompensated competitors. But things have gotten better on that front. The last-minute time change to Red Bull Joyride, pushing it up to 10 a.m. on Saturday to avoid strong afternoon winds, was an example of organizers putting their athletes’ needs ahead of livestream
What I do mind are groups of kids who maraud the Village Stroll, stuffing their backpacks and treating tired trade-show workers like product dispensers.
CRANKWORX IS NOT JUST ABOUT FREE SWAG
Giveaways are always going to be a part of these events. Getting your product or logo into the hands of attendees can be an effective marketing tactic, but just like overzealous hands at Halloween, the greed of some attendees can get a little much. And yes, I’m talking about (some of) your kids. When I’m working at my employer’s booth, I don’t mind youth who come up and politely ask if there’s swag or giveaways happening. What I do mind are groups of kids who maraud the Village Stroll, stuffing their backpacks and treating tired trade-show workers like product dispensers. Swag is fun, but let’s mind our manners.
CRANKWORX IS ABOUT PROGRESS
It was a rough start to the 2024 event calendar
numbers or spectator convenience. Crankworx has also championed women’s participation at all its events, and was one of the first to offer an equal prize purse. Witnessing the talented female slopestyle riders hit the gargantuan Boneyard jumps—in their own sanctioned competition—was a sign real equality is gaining traction in mountain biking.
CRANKWORX IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE PARTY
People like to get loose in Whistler. Nothing new there, but some athletes and industry players can sometimes overdo it with the simple plan of “getting f–ked up” every night. These people tend to have a lot of influence in the mountain biking world and it doesn’t set a great example for young up-and-comers to aspire to. Speaking of which, the Aspire event hosted by Eliot
Jackson and the Grow Cycling Foundation on July 22 was a breath of fresh air to the normal bro-down gatherings Crankworx is known for. The event welcomed young athletes, families and underrepresented communities with the goal to help create pathways for these people in the sport. The panels of creators, professional athletes and industry leaders were both informative and compelling, plus the decision to make it an alcohol-free event felt more than appropriate.
CRANKWORX IS STILL ABOUT RACING
With Crankworx scheduled during a gap in the UCI World Cup Downhill calendar this year, more of the world’s fastest racers were in attendance and able to compete in the Canadian Open Downhill. The 1199 track in Creekside is gaining notoriety as one of the steepest and most technical venues for DH racers and a bid for a World Cup stop (or hosting the World Championships) inches closer. Seeing Squamish local Jakob Jewett take the win at the Canadian Open for the second time cemented the fact Whistler is producing some of the fastest mountain bikers in the world.
Thanks to everyone who made the 2024 Crankworx festival such a success. The lack of sleep, abundance of hangovers, and exhaustion from riding bikes almost every day last week made for quite the recovery. See you all next year.
Vince Shuley took it easy this week. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
GET HIGH Almost 20 years on, Crankworx keeps pushing the limits of the sport of mountain biking.
PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN / COURTESY OF CRANKWORX
BEST OF PEMBERTON BEST OF PEMBERTON 2024
2024
Word on the street is , the people of Pemberton HATE it when you call their town anything other than Pemberton.
Pemby? How dare you.
Spud Valley? Wtf is actually wrong with you?
Tonitown? OK now you’re just making stuff up.
As an editor, my days are filled with compromise, and so I often go out of my way to remove references to Spud Valley in our pages and on our website, lest I find a particularly solid spud launched through my window one day.
But you will never convince me to purge the use of Pemby from our pages completely (though I will say I am more mindful of overusing that now, too). If you’ve ever done newspaper layout, you’ll appreciate the need for spacesaving flexibility in things like headlines and photo captions. Also, the need to mix it up once in a while!
Pemberton. Pemberton. Pemberton. Type it too many times and the word loses all meaning.
Whatever you want to call it, it was another eventful
year in that lovely little town north of Whistler that is most definitely not Whistler—and Pemberton residents clearly have much to be thankful for.
Salt-of-the-Earth neighbours, incredible artists, and some of the best small-town businesses you’ll find anywhere in B.C.—Spud Va… er, Pemberton… really does have it all.
As with every year, this year’s Best of Pemberton highlights the best of the town’s best, as voted by Pique readers in our annual online poll—but it’s far from comprehensive.
To really get the full flavour of [insert irritating nickname here] you’ll have to make the visit yourself.
And you should! Just leave the experimental nomenclature at home.
It’s Pemberton. And don’t you forget it.
-Braden Dupuis
I love Whistler, and for 25 years I’ve been a leading Luxury Realtor® and called this magical town my home. From the moment we meet, you’ll notice I’m working for you. My goal is to help you achieve your dreams, whether that means selling your property at a price that exceeds your wildest expectations, helping you find your dream home, or assessing your next smart investment.
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This front row, Red Sky, is the epitome of modern mountain living, with spectacular views of Blackcomb, Whistler, and surrounding mountains. An abundance of light floods the south-facing living area through floor-to-ceiling windows; you’ll always see the alpenglow or sunset. Your modern high-end kitchen with an open plan is ideal for entertaining indoors or on your large balcony: contemporary custom millwork, heated floors, and a gas fireplace featured on the main living floor. It is a gathering place for family and friends to embrace and enjoy time together for years.
SPORTS
AND RECREATION SPORTS AND RECREATION
Favourite Golf Course
1. Big Sky Golf Course
2. Sunstone Golf Club
Favourite Bike Trail
1. Fat Tug
2. No Err/Cream Puff/Lumpy’s Epic
3. Happy Trail
Favourite Hiking Trail
1. Lumpy’s Epic
2. Waterfall Trail
3. Joffre Lakes
Favourite Lake
1. Gates Lake
2. Anderson Lake
3. Birkenhead Lake
Favourite Winter Adventure Activity
1. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding
2. Cross-country skiing
3. Snowshoeing
Favourite Summer Adventure Activity
1. Mountain Biking
2. Backcountry hiking
3. Horseback riding
Favourite Tourism Operator
1. The Beer Farmers
2. Blackcomb Helicopters
3. Laughing Crow Organics
Favourite Athlete
1. Ethan Hess, paralympic sit-skier
2. Logan Pehota - Freeskier
3. Lucas Cruz, MTB/Rebecca Beaton, MTB
Best Local Environmental Initiative
1. Integration with Lil’wat/N’Quatqua for opportunities to learn from traditional knowledge
2. Salmon restoration
3. Bear-attractant management
PHOTO BY FELIX ABRAHAM
BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS SERVICES
Favourite New Business
1. The Bread Warehouse
2. Elevate Bike Shop
3. Saneh Thai
Favourite Farm
1. North Arm Farm
2. Laughing Crow Organics
3. Rootdown Organic Farm
Favourite Wellness/Fitness Service
1. Village Yoga
2. Leaning Cedar Therapy
3. Ivy Esthetics
Favourite Hotel or B&B
1. Joffre Creek Cabins
2. Pemberton Valley Lodge
3. Ancient Cedars Lodge
Favourite Electrician
1. Fenner Electric
2. BlueBird Electric
3. AMB Electric
Favourite Plumber
1. Grizz the Plumber
2. Straightline Plumbing and Heating
3. 220 Plumbing
Favourite Realtor
1. Danielle Menzel
2. Katelyn Spink
3. Lisa Hilton
Favourite Building or Construction Company
1. BC Passive Haus
2. Fitzgerald Building Company
3. New Leaf Contracting
Best Wedding Venue
1. Riverlands Red Barn
2. North Arm Farm
3. Big Sky Golf Club/Ancient Cedars Lodge
Favourite Gas Station
1. AC Gas
2. Lil’wat Gas Station
3. Petro Can
The Bread Warehouse
Danielle Menzel
One-two finish for Jesse Melamed, Remi Gauvin at 2024 Canadian Open Enduro
ELLA CONOLLY WINS ELITE LADIES’ RACE, ELLY HOSKIN ON TOP AMONG U21 WOMEN
BY DAVID SONG
A SECOND-CONSECUTIVE Canadian
Open Enduro triumph will help Jesse Melamed get rid of the bitter taste in his mouth.
Melamed is weathering a down season, at least by his own lofty benchmarks. The former Enduro World Series (EWS) overall champ has placed no higher than fifth at each World Cup race so far and has uncharacteristically doubted his own instincts. Sometimes he’s crashed outright, and other times he’s been too slow out of the gate.
None of those things happened on Sunday, July 28, however, as Melamed reminded everyone of who he is and what he can do. Thirty-eight minutes and one second is all he needed to journey through five demanding stages and win gold at Crankworx Whistler.
Remi Gauvin overcame a blown tire to seize silver (39:02.93) after earning bronze last year. Lief Rodgers clocked in third (39:15.22).
When asked to rate his performance, Melamed said: “Honestly, pretty close to 10 out of 10. I had a plan to ride steady and not blow any corners because it’s so loose out there, and I stuck to that—as hard as it was. It’s nice when you aren’t constantly making mistakes.
“Just because you know a 17-minute stage doesn’t make it any easier. They had a couple
new tracks in there too—stuff I’ve never ridden before, which is really amazing. Even on that last stage, I was getting a bit loose because I forgot where I was going, so it’s great to have some fresh-cut stuff in Whistler that challenges me like the World Cup does.”
Ella Conolly was the class of the elite women’s field (43:19.27) as Noga Korem held down the runner-up spot (44:29.45).
Third-placer Florencia Espiñeira Herreros distinguished themself as well (45:13.05), fresh off an E-Bike World Cup (E-EDR) overall title.
“I just felt really comfortable today,” said Conolly, who also got second in dual slalom. “Whistler always provides huge courses, especially from Top of the World, so that’s the most memorable and challenging thing all in one.”
‘ALWAYS GOOD TO RACE AT HOME’
In 2023’s Canadian Open Enduro, Sea to Sky riders filled both the men’s and women’s elite podiums. Three of those half-dozen medallists—Melamed, Gauvin and Espiñeira— rose to the occasion again.
Things nearly didn’t unfold that way. Gauvin flirted with the idea of withdrawing after his tire went flat at the Top of the World, but the competitor in him refused to give up. He forged on, made necessary repairs when able and was proud of his fight back into silver-medal position.
“It’s hard to beat Jesse, I’ll say that, but it’s super fun racing with him,” quipped Gauvin. “We practiced all day together [on Saturday]. Always good to race at home—I wish we did
more of it, honestly. This year’s Crankworx was unreal.”
In turn, Melamed praised his former Rocky Mountain Race Face (RMRF) teammate.
“It’s just great to be able to share this sport with one of my best friends, Remi,” he said. “I almost wanted him to win … it’s tough because obviously I’m here to win, but it’s great to see him get second.”
Meanwhile, Espiñeira demonstrated their ability to thrive in multiple disciplines.
“It’s a big change for me to be racing the normal bike after my main season was on the e-bike,” they commented. “Maybe my performance could be a bit better, but still I felt my pace was strong. It’s obviously special for me to be racing in Whistler because I have a big support crew: all my friends, which are like my family here.”
‘PHYSICAL AND BLOWN-OUT’
Elly Hoskin upgraded her silver medal from last year to the colour everybody wants most (45:40.31). No other U21 woman could match her speed, though runner-up Geza Rodgers provided a feisty challenge (47:10.46). Rounding out the podium was Hannah Gillcrist (47:41.79).
“Feels really good to finally get gold here in Whistler,” Hoskin said. “It’s such an iconic venue to finally tame: so physical and blown-out. It’s really nice to come home and get away with it … Top of the World is always memorable and challenging, but it’s always a classic and one of my favourite stages of all time.”
Geza, like Gauvin, faced an unwelcome mechanical issue. She banged up her
derailleur on Stage 2, but was able to fix it with help from her team before managing a smooth effort the rest of the way.
“Sometimes I get a bit in my head about [mechanicals], but I just have to remember that it can always be fixed and it’s not the end of the world,” said Geza. “There’s still a bunch more stages to go and time to make up.”
Nor was the contest a cakewalk for Lief, Geza’s older brother.
“I was struggling a lot with my hands and my arms,” Lief revealed. “They were getting really pumped up on a lot of stages because they were so long … but I still was able to hold on.”
Hoskin’s fellow Squamolian Jacob Quist did well to capture bronze among U21 men (40:19.47) and nearly overtook eventual second-place athlete Joe Millington (40:19.35). Nicolas Brochet stood above them both (39:58.54).
Sebastien Harrisson needed a rerun and was happy to get one, for he wound up third (42:29.44). The Pemberton native shared the U17 boys’ podium with victorious Jonte Tummon (41:44.95) and Nash Jamieson, who received silver (42:26.46).
Other champions included Keely Bathurst (U17 girls), Sion Gwynn (amateur men), Tereza Natrová (amateur ladies), Shane Gayton (masters men) and Melissa Newell (masters women).
“I went pretty conservative for the most part,” stated Gwynn. “A few mistakes: I had one big crash on Stage 3 and then a flat on Stage 5, but managed to hold enough air to take a win. It’s all about mindset: don’t overthink it, don’t override the tracks, just have fun out there and flow.” n
OPEN AND SHUT 2024 Canadian Open Enduro medallists, left to right: Remi Gauvin, Noga Korem, Ella Conolly, Jesse Melamed, Flo Espiñeira and Lief Rodgers.
PHOTO BY DAVID SONG
Alma Wiggberg makes history as first women’s Red Bull Joyride champ
DFX ALUM NATASHA MILLER FINISHES SECOND, SHEALEN RENO IN THIRD
BY DAVID SONG
ON SATURDAY, JULY 27, Alma Wiggberg had two chances to etch her name into the annals of mountain biking. She just needed one.
Wiggberg put the rest of the 2024 Red Bull Joyride lineup on notice with an opening run that featured a suicide no-hander, a backflip barspin, a backflip one foot can and a stylish toboggan. Impressed judges graded her an 89.40, and no other woman came within 10 points of that benchmark.
Natasha Miller gave her best effort (78.60) to lock down silver, and FBMA Slopestyle World Championship overall lead Shealen Reno earned bronze (78.00), but Wiggberg is the very first female Joyride victor in history.
Although the 21-year-old seemed cool as a cucumber, she had to buckle in for one heck of a fight.
“I’m very happy with how the weekend turned out,” said Wiggberg. “I was very nervous and scared of the course during the first practice day, but I’m just stoked on my riding at the end.”
Those nerves are understandable. Wiggberg and company dropped in on the very same slopestyle track as their male peers: newly-minted Triple Crown athlete Dawid Godziek, runner-up Timothé Bringer and Max Fredriksson in third.
“I was not liking the course all week,” Miller admitted. “I really wasn’t putting anything down I was happy with. Didn’t really have a run [in mind] when I dropped in today, but I kind of made it up as I went.”
If Miller can put suicides and tuck no-handers into sequence off the cuff, she may quickly become an elite slopestyle contestant. She’s only 17 years of age and was cutting her teeth in Whistler Blackcomb’s DFX kids program not so long ago. The Coquitlam native missed a few Crankworx stops because she had to wrap up high school, but she displayed her ability to hang with anyone.
Broadcast obligations with Red Bull prevented Caroline Buchanan from joining the party, but the former BMX and mountain bike world champ was over the moon watching her fellows take off.
“I would love to be competing on this stage, however, this is an iconic moment for the ladies joining Joyride,” Buchanan said on-air.
A LONG TIME COMING
Mountain biking as a whole is no doubt better off with women’s slopestyle in the mix at last. It took years of organizational prep, community lobbying and hard work from the riders themselves, but the reward turned out to be worth the wait.
Kathi Kuypers (who made the cut as an alternate once Natalia Niedźwiedź wiped out in practice) was the first lady to test the waters and withdrew from contention after one lap to place fifth. Lisa-Marie Blanc ended up fourth, and Harriet Burbidge-Smith finished sixth
PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN / CRANKWORX
after suffering unfortunate crashes in both of her attempts.
“We should definitely be here,” said Wiggberg. “This is perfect, to have women on course.”
The Swedish maestro has personally conquered some obstacles en route to this watershed moment. A 2021 shoulder injury sustained during a pump track event required two surgeries to properly heal, and Wiggberg spent all of last winter and then some in rehab. She missed the inaugural ladies’ slopestyle competition in Rotorua, but quickly established herself as a favourite going forward.
Wiggberg’s passport mirrors that of another cyclist who has had to overcome various physical ailments. You may have heard of him: Emil Johansson.
“I’m super proud,” beamed the threetime slopestyle Triple Crown man. “Alma’s bounced back from injury … she came in, put her foot down and said she wanted that top spot on the podium.”
Whistler’s heralded slopestyle venue sported, for the first time, a cannon log as its concluding feature. According to Buchanan, riders needed to make a statement with their final trick, and Wiggberg did just that.
Her breakthrough means she’s punched a lifetime ticket to future Crankworx slopestyle events.
When asked in the finish corral if she had any encouraging words for the hordes of kids watching her perform, Wiggberg spoke three words: “Just keep pushing.”
She certainly will be taking her own advice.
Wiggberg and Robin Goomes finished the campaign tied for second in FMBA overall points (2,320). Goomes was golden in Rotorua but did not appear in Whistler. Reno stands alone above them both with 2,329.6 points. n
Thomas Hugh Horler
(1954 – 2024)
Tom moved to Whistler in 1994 where he lived for the next 20 years, raising his family with his wife Yoshiko. Tom was responsible for opening the first McDonalds restaurant in Whistler followed several years later by another one in Pemberton. In 2007 he was awarded the Business Person of the Year by the Whistler Chamber of Commerce
During this time as a Whistler resident, he was committed to his participation in many not-for-profit organizations. He volunteered with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, the Whistler Housing Authority and the Whistler Museum and Archives Society In his role as a Community Ambassador, Tom worked with the 2010 Olympic Bid Committee to secure the rights to host the games in Vancouver and Whistler.
Many people will also remember Tom as a dedicated and inexhaustible skier.
Tom leaves behind his wife Yoshiko, daughter Beverley, son Hugh, and his five sisters and their families. A Celebration of Life will be held Sept 6, 2024 at 2 PM at the Boal Chapel in North Vancouver. Friends are invited to share their memories at www.mem.com
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HISTORY MADE Alma Wiggberg triumphantly raises her fist at the 2024 Red Bull Joyride.
Ryan Gilchrist, Martha Gill declared 2024 Crankworx King and Queen
GILCHRIST SAVOURS PUMP TRACK VICTORY, JORDY SCOTT FINISHES FESTIVAL ON TOP
BY DAVID SONG
RYAN GILCHRIST and Martha Gill entered 2024 with the same mission in mind: become the King and Queen of Crankworx, respectively. Four tour stops, dozens of races and untold hours of training later, the palace gates have swung open to welcome mountain biking’s new monarchs.
Gilchrist landed in Whistler as the odds-on favourite to clinch his first overall title, although the 114-point edge he held on Tuhoto-Ariki Pene was far too slim to warrant relaxation.
Things were even tighter on the ladies’ side, with a mere eight points between Gill and oncoming force Jordy Scott.
Yet when Gilchrist and Gill awoke on Saturday morning, they might have done so with smiles on their faces. Both had usurped the throne after Friday’s Speed and Style event and were awaiting official coronations. The Ultimate Pump Track Challenge was, for them, a pressure-free affair.
Gilchrist dominated anyway as the only person to clock under 12 seconds on any of his runs. Tommy Zula held on for silver as Niels Bensink claimed bronze, but the Aussie now has three gold medals and one runner-up across all of this year’s pump track events.
Miscalculations in the small final
relegated Gill to fourth, but Scott wrapped up her festival on a high note by dethroning incumbent Whistler pump track champ Kialani Hines for her season’s third triumph in the discipline. Ending up with bronze and her first Crankworx medal was Dani Johnson.
A SONG OF BLOOD AND SWEAT
Alma Wiggberg and Dawid Godziek may have won Red Bull Joyride, but at least a portion of centre stage belongs to the new King and Queen.
“This is a year of achievement for me,” said Gilchrist, the only man to surpass 1,000 points in the standings (1,144). “Tuhoto got me [at the tour’s opening stop] in Rotorua, but I knew I was close. Execution after execution, round after round, showing up, putting in the work and finishing in Whistler is very special.”
Remarked Gill: “I put a lot of work into this: blood, sweat and tears. It’s been great battling with Shania [Rawson] and Jordy, and I’m super proud of this achievement. [The Queen title] was my goal.”
Yet one athlete’s glory is another’s defeat, and Pene found himself drawing the short straw this time around.
The recently-deposed King had a forgettable week by his own elevated standards. He failed to medal in Whistler, though he got within 1.5 seconds of Canadian Open DH hardware. Pene was looking quick
on the pump track, but veering into Zula’s lane and almost doing the same to Bensink kept him off the podium.
Nonetheless, Pene rarely shows open disappointment and voiced lots of appreciation for his chief rival.
“Ryan’s a bloody beast,” quipped the Kiwi. “He rips it hard. He’s smooth. He looks good on the bike. He really pushes everyone’s limits, I reckon. Big ups to my bro for taking the dub.”
About his own 870-point, third-place campaign, Pene said: “I was looking forward to the [Canadian Open DH] and I was happy that I put a good [fourth-place] result in there. Everything else just came along and I enjoyed it, really. I’m happy.”
One would be remiss to forget about Jackson Frew, who leapfrogged Pene to finish second in the season overall. Frew’s body absorbed some punishment in Whistler, and he felt like he’d been “hit by a truck” after earning dual slalom gold. The Australian downhill demon also clinched Air DH silver to go with Speed and Style bronze for 951 total points.
“It’s time for bed,” said Frew with a deep exhale. “It’s been an incredible season and this week has been absolutely insane. We swung for everything. A couple things at the start of the season I’d like to have changed ... but we’ll be fired up next year.
“Tuhoto is one of the most gifted bike riders I’ve witnessed, ever, and Ryan is the same but
he’s also one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met in my life. Fair play to both of them. We’ve got quite a good camaraderie in this series and everyone’s kind of friends, so it’s cool to see them succeed.”
GAME OF THRONES
Newcomers to the mountain bike world may be unaware of Gill’s enduro background. The Brit spent seven years tackling lengthy stages across continents until her motivation and mental health began to waver. Facing a fork in her life’s road, Gill elected to try Crankworx.
It might have been the best professional decision she’s ever made.
“To be honest, fun has always been the focus for me … just making sure I’m at home on my bike,” Gill explained. “When I’m doing that, I’m racing good, so when the fun started to die out in enduro, I stopped doing that and started doing more Crankworx. Worked out pretty well for me.”
What does “pretty well” look like? A 2023 Breakthrough Rider of the Year award—the same year she wound up second in the Queen race behind legendary Caroline Buchanan— followed by 1,152 points and undisputed greatness in 2024.
Meanwhile, Scott’s six-medal Crankworx SEE PAGE 43 >>
SPORTS THE SCORE
Jill Kintner racks up 10th consecutive Air DH victory in Whistler
SILVER TO AMY MORRISON, GEORGIA ASTLE COLLECTS BRONZE
BY DAVID SONG
THERE ARE LEVELS to every sport. There are also levels of dominance, and when it comes to the Crankworx Whistler Air DH, no one beats Jill Kintner. Gifted women from all corners of the globe have been trying for a decade to vanquish the Seattle native on A-Line, and as of right now: they still cannot.
Amy Morrison of Nevada got within four seconds (4:43.039) on July 24, but that was only enough for silver. Local heroine Georgia Astle, fresh off her third Garbanzo DH triumph, walked away with bronze (4:46.901). Yet the coveted gold found itself around Kintner’s neck for a 10th straight time (4:39.878).
That’s, of course, to go with her four UCI World Championships, five Queen of Crankworx accolades, 15 World Cup titles and the 2008 Olympic BMX bronze medal. Dominance personified.
“You never know with these things,” Kintner said. “Everyone keeps getting faster. The course was really tricky and slippery with big holes … but I was feeling pretty confident. My race run was smooth and calculated.”
SOLVING THE PUZZLE
As the final piece of Crankworx’s high-velocity triple crown, Air DH is a unique fixture in the mountain biking landscape. It involves neither the Canadian Open DH’s pure speed nor the gruelling endurance of Garbanzo, but it does ask riders to go fast on a course littered—by design—with jumps.
You’ve got to understand what you’re doing to have any chance at success.
“I know every little inch of where to put my tires and where to brake,” remarked Kintner. “I’ve done enough laps of this trail. The process of racing is the most fun part, because [on a normal day]: once you jump the jumps, you’ve got it.
“But in racing, you have to not overshoot and pedal in certain sections and really piece a puzzle together. I enjoy racing A-Line more than just riding it.”
Put 2024’s Air DH next to its previous edition, and the difference is night and day. Last year’s race was moist and messy, with rain churning up mud and obfuscating riders’ goggles. Wednesday’s contest was dusty and dry, though athletes and fans did embrace pleasant temperatures in the high-teens to low-20s.
Astle, for her part, dug deep to reach the podium.
“I’m proud because of how tired I felt after [the Garbo DH], so I’m happy that I could put the pedals down and manage third,” she said. “But I was like: ‘dang, maybe I shouldn’t have sprinted quite as hard yesterday’ … now I have a full-on black lung, as Zoolander would say.
“A-Line is definitely a track that I would love to win on at some point. It is where I learned how to jump and where I started my love for the bike park.”
Meanwhile, Martha Gill reinforced her lead atop the Queen of Crankworx standings with a sixth-place effort for 952 total points. Jordy Scott cools her heels in second (847 points) and has yet to make the top 12 so far in Whistler. Shania Rawson was 10th on A-Line and is up to 792 points.
‘AN AMAZING FEELING’
Immediately after prevailing in the U19 ladies’ Air DH, Julia Lofqvist Traum put both hands on her helmet in obvious elation. She then fell to her knees as other riders moved to congratulate her.
“I knew I could do it today and I wanted to back up [my win] last year,” gushed the young American, who finished in 4:49.629. “I broke my hand [earlier on] and I was just in the gym pedalling for a long time, so that helped.”
When asked about her display of emotion, Traum explained: “I heard [the commentators] say I’m going into the lead—that’s an amazing feeling. This is such a stacked category, and it’s like the best show in the world.”
Traum did something no woman in her division has pulled off all week: dethrone Matilda Melton, who clinched silver this time around (4:50.217). Megan Bedard gave her fellow Whistlerites reason to applaud by earning bronze (5:01.947).
In U17 girls’ action, Cami Bragg was pleased to notch her second victory of the festival (4:49.492) in a feisty duel with the speedy Aletha Ostgaard (4:51.788). Completing the top three was Indy Deavoll (4:54.516).
After a tough start to the week, Addison Rutherfurd got onto a podium with her golden effort among U15 girls (4:55.417). It wasn’t easy, though, as runner-up Arleigh Kemp came within seven one-hundredths of a second of the Kiwi (4:55.486). Megan Pretorius swooped in for third (5:06.886).
Finally, Emilie Simeur returned to the victor’s box as champion of the U13 girls’ invitational (5:20.784). Indy Tomic was approximately 14.7 seconds back, and Zoe Knight a further 11 seconds behind. n
FROM PAGE 42
streak ended unceremoniously in Whistler. She struggled out of the gate, failing to crack the top nine in each of her first three competitions, but managed a Speed and Style silver before her pump track win.
Similar to Gill, a healthy mindset was key to Scott’s resurgence and her 1,042 points.
“I learned that taking it less seriously and reminding myself to have fun really made a
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WHISTLER
difference,” said the Las Vegas resident. “It’s definitely one of those reality checks: [pro riding] is such a crazy thing that I’m doing right now, and getting knocked out in a round of 16 is not the end of the world. Super happy to take a win and finish off the season.”
Holding down spot No. 3 with 837 points is Rawson, who was highlighted with this year’s Breakthrough Rider accolade. n
Happy 50th anniversary, BC Day!
BACK IN THE ’70S, DAVE BARRETT’S NDP GOVERNMENT BROUGHT US THIS WELCOME HOLIDAY, THE ALR—AND WHISTLER
GOOD NEWS , my fellow British Columbians!
With the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in full swing right through BC Day and beyond (last call: Sunday, Aug. 11), we can really cheer on those 45 Olympian athletes from our fair province on the holiday set aside to celebrate all things British Columbia. (That includes 21 athletes from Metro Vancouver and 11 from
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
Vancouver Island, including Tofino native Sanoa Demple-Olin, in surfing, of course. Sorry, no one from the Sea to Sky this year.)
So happy BC Day, friends and neighbours! Let’s raise our glasses Aug. 5 to its 50th anniversary.
For a holiday that seems like it’s been around forever, it’s pretty surprising it was only 50 short years ago under the government of then-premier Dave Barrett and his NDP team that BC Day was created via provincial legislation. Slated for the first Monday of August, it made for a much-loved summer long weekend we couldn’t imagine being without.
Besides creating a welcome new holiday, the Barrett era was amazing for many more initiatives that went way beyond the usual box of provincial politics—and I mean “provincial” in every sense of the word.
It was even more amazing because that NDP government only held power for 39 months. Like you don’t need a long time, just
a good time, to get things done.
And it was all led by this unique East Van character from a working-class background who’d once tarred roads for the City of Vancouver. Dave Barrett was also an expert on Second World War battles, happy enough to be remembered as the guy who saved Cypress Bowl from logging, and so ingrained in federal and provincial politics that he lectured about them at Harvard and McGill. He also was awarded the Order of Canada and, on a more Whistler-ish note, trained by Jesuits, just like local legend Paul Burrows.
People have said those dynamic changes happened mainly because the NDP knew they wouldn’t be re-elected. Who knows the reasoning behind closed doors, but before they were swept out of power in 1975, their accomplishments included so much we British Columbians take for granted today
a civic holiday on the first Monday of August to celebrate the unique culture and achievements of British Columbia. The date also nicely commemorates the declaration of the Crown Colony of British Columbia by ye olde parliament in Westminster on Aug. 2, 1858—also, ironically, a Monday.
Plus in 1974, B.C. was one of the few provinces that didn’t have a civic holiday in August, so BC Day was meant to correct that. Right on! (as we ’70s hipsters used to say).
But there’s one initiative from that dynamic time I figure all of us British Columbians should be particularly grateful for—our treasured Agricultural Land Reserve. Developers have complained about it over time, but the ALR protected 4.6 million hectares of precious farmland across the province primarily for the production of food. (It, along with other initiatives, is pretty much laid at
For a holiday that seems like it’s been around forever, it’s pretty surprising it was only 50 short years ago under the government of then-premier Dave Barrett and his NDP team that BC Day was created…
that these are just some of the highlights: A provincial ambulance and air ambulance service; B.C.’s first ministry of housing and first environmental and land-use secretariat; neighbourhood pubs—yes!; mandatory kindergarten; Pharmacare for seniors; French immersion in schools; Robson Square; the SeaBus between North Van and downtown Vancouver; initiatives for First Nations; a provincial Status of Women office; and the most extensive human rights code in Canada.
As well, it was the attorney general of the day, Alex MacDonald, who proposed
the feet of Bob Williams, another NDP giant of the time, who had a hot/cold relationship with Barrett—and many others. He died July 7, at age 91.)
The ALR has been critical in maintaining a local food supply, such as it is, but especially in locations facing enormous development pressures, like the Fraser and Okanagan valleys, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
Think about it: Once upon a time Vancouver Island was totally food self-sufficient.
In that spirit, head out to your local
farmers’ markets and farmgate vendors—in Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, wherever— and buy some of our lovely B.C. produce and products. Like local honey and dairy products (Tree Island Yogurt or Avalon milk, anyone?). Pemberton Valley organic greens, fresh Fraser Valley blueberries and raspberries, or even some Italian prune plums and early apples we’re still expecting from the Okanagan this year since those trees managed to survive the winter from hell I wrote about last time.
Add some of your favourite B.C. wine and/ or brews (maybe a pint from Pemberton’s Beer Farmers or Whistler Brewing). And if you’re still an omnivore, maybe some fresh local meats to grill, like from Pemberton Meat Co. and Stony Mountain Farm, originally in Squamish and now up near 100 Mile House.
Also, I’d be remiss in blathering on about this whole era if I didn’t mention that it was the Dave Barrett government that established the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Some say it was also a Bob Williams thing.
Yes, folks, it was Sept. 6, 1975 that the RMOW was incorporated, and it was the vision of people like Franz Wilhelmsen and other locals who were dreaming of the Olympics back in the ’60s that set everyone down the road to Whistler. (Read all about it on Whistler Museum’s web site.)
In 2018, after several years of struggling with Alzheimer’s, Dave Barrett died at age 87. Although he wasn’t a big fan of bringing the Olympics to Whistler—he, like many others, thought the money could be better spent on other things—thanks to him and his “team,” which I pointedly use during our current Olympian era, this year we can all cheer on the 50th anniversary of BC Day.
Salut!
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who can barely believe how much the Barrett government achieved in such a short period of time. n
NIFTY FIFTY Happy BC Day, friends and neighbours!
PHOTO BY SCOTT O’NEILL / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
ME AD OW PA RK SP OR TS CE NT RE
‘I wasn’t allowed to join band; I don’t know why’
AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER, RUSSELL WALLACE, SHARES THE SONGS HIS MOM WAS BEATEN FOR SINGING
BY RÓISÍN CULLEN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
WHEN FLORA WALLACE attended residential school in Kamloops in the 1930’s, she was beaten by nuns for singing in her own language. Now, her son proudly sings in his own language and passes it on to “anyone who will listen.”
Russell Wallace is an award-winning composer and singer from St’at’imc and Lil’wat Nation. His motivation for making songs in his own language was spurred on by his brave and resilient mom.
The Vancouver-based artist spoke to Pique about the importance of keeping language and music alive.
“My mom taught me a lot. She was from Xaxli’p in Lillooet and met my dad,” he said. “They moved to Mount Currie and learned the songs from there. She went through residential school and was beaten for singing in her language. She kept singing these songs and sharing them with other students.”
Wallace’s mom stressed the importance of making your voice heard, even in the face of oppression.
“She would share these songs with us and tell us the importance of keeping them,” he said. “Before she passed away, she told me to
keep sharing these songs and not to let anyone to stop me from sharing them. So many people had tried to stop her from sharing them. My responsibility is to keep sharing them out of respect for her. I share them with anyone who wants to learn.”
THE NEXT GENERATION
Wallace spends a lot of his time working with youth in universities and helping disadvantaged teens get the start they need. Hearing his own songs sang back to him never gets old. He is currently teaching refugees
oppression First Nations people here faced, he said.
“They are shocked because they escaped oppression from their own country to find out that this country did similar things to its Indigenous people. It’s eye-opening,” said Wallace. “They want to learn about Indigenous people so it’s really good just to see that. I share our songs with people from all over the world. It’s so good to see people smiling, laughing and wanting to share.”
The composer now uses St’át’imcets language in his songs, bringing the phrases to a worldwide audience on
“My responsibility is to keep sharing them out of respect for her. I share them with anyone who wants to learn.”
- RUSSELL WALLACE
all about his First Nations history through a Vancouver youth choir project called Kindred.
“We share songs and sing with newcomers and refugees. It’s really amazing to share them with these youth,” said Wallace. “A lot of them say that Canada didn’t tell them about what it did to Indigenous people.”
BY TIM MATHESON
Refugees coming to Canada for the first time are often shaken by the horrific
streaming platforms. However, he did not grow up learning the language. His mom and dad both had different responses to the hardship they faced in residential schools.
“It’s something that I had to learn. I am the youngest of 11 children. I grew up in Vancouver,” he said. “It was my dad’s decision not to teach the younger children our language. He went to residential school as
well. He thought he was saving us from all of the stuff that had happened to him. He did it out of love.”
Flora would teach the children bits and pieces of their language when they asked, determined to pass it on to the next generation.
“I learned some of it from the songs. Right now, the majority of what I learn is in St’át’imcets,” Wallace said. “I reach out to friends and cousins in Mount Currie for help with translation. A song doesn’t have to have 10 pages of prose. It could just be one phrase or a few words.”
The teacher was influenced by other Indigenous artists to compose works in his own language.
“I was influenced by Leroy Joe with the Spiritual Warriors,” he said. “The majority of the songs that they sing are in St’át’imcets. They have a certain style. I love all different types of music. I thought it would be good to have our language in all of these different types of music. I set out to make songs in all of these different styles.”
THE RAY AND FLORA WALLACE BURSARY
Wallace set up the Ray and Flora Wallace Bursary in his parents honour. It supports Indigenous music students at Vancouver Community College. The loving couple tried to support students in need, without their own children knowing. Their home was a haven for those down on their luck.
“My parents were very supportive of
LEGACY OF LANGUAGE Award-winning composer, producer and singer, Russell Wallace.
PHOTO
everybody,” said Wallace. “I only found out how supportive they were a few years ago. They had a whole hidden history. People would come to their house back in the ’80s when a lot of students didn’t have enough funding for books. They knew my parents were supportive. My dad would give them money for books. If they needed money to get back home, he would buy them a bus or train ticket. Somebody just told me four years ago that all of the students knew that my parents would help them. They never told me that.”
Creating a bursary in his parents’ name was a no-brainer for Wallace.
“I wanted to start something in their name because they contributed so much. Part of Indigenous history in the city is erased,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are forgotten. My dad loved music even though he didn’t play anything. My mom loved music because she sang. I just thought the bursary would be a perfect fit.”
Serious barriers still exist for some young talented musicians.
“I look at the barriers that I encountered. Some of them are still present now,” Wallace said. “When I went to high school, I wasn’t allowed to join band. I don’t know why. I have a feeling it was because of racism. They didn’t want me there. I loved music and I wanted to learn it. I had to learn it on my own and it took a long time. I don’t have any Western music training. It’s a bit of a hindrance. A lot of people require that you have that.”
Wallace explained lots of kids cannot easily access music lessons or buy an expensive instrument.
“It costs money to take lessons. If your school doesn’t have a band program, you are going have to pay to learn,” he said. “I know the struggles of being a student. Canadian society is not supporting the arts like it should be. Music and arts are being cut from the curriculum all the time. It is setting up a twotier system where you have to be rich to learn how to play piano.”
Wallace knows more than most the important connection between land and language.
“If you lose your land, you are going to lose your language. If you lose your language, you’re going to lose your land,” he said. “There is philosophy and world view in the language. Any language that is lost is a huge loss to humankind. Trying to keep even just a phrase alive is important.”
‘HOW MANY SNOWS ARE YOU?’
The artist uses one example to convey the beauty of his ancestors’ language.
“In English, when you ask someone what age they are they give a number of years,” explained Wallace. “In our language, the question is ‘k’winaszánucw máqa7.’ It basically translates to ‘how many snows are you?’ You ask how many winters that person has survived. It’s a very poetic way of asking that question. Winters are very hard and a lot of people pass away during winter.”
Wallace’s mom made it her life’s mission to pass her songs down to the next generation. She would sing them in the family kitchen at the top of her lungs.
“My mom was a bit of a rebel,” said Wallace. “The pushback she got would just make her sing louder. She forced me to be a spokesperson and a teacher, things I didn’t
ARTS SCENE
really want to do at that time. She was good at forcing me to do things.”
Wallace’s single “Pride” is about being two-spirited and finding peace in his identity.
“The LGBTQ2+ community in Western society has been looked down upon,” he said. “That went into our community through colonialism. There wasn’t much talk about it. My parents never talked about it, either. I never came out to my parents. That’s something I feel a bit bad about.”
Wallace hopes he can help others feel proud of who they are.
“I think even now, there are a lot of people in our community that feel shame about these things. It seems counterintuitive to say that I feel proud,” he said. “My parents taught us to be humble. I don’t want to feel shame, I want to feel pride. That’s what the song is about. The words are basically saying that I have two spirits, two life forces inside of me. I feel proud about being that way.”
Wallace said he still sees homophobia and transphobia across Canada in 2024.
“In B.C., some towns refuse to fly the pride flag. It’s still out there,” he said. “Being an older man and coming out late in life, I am willing to do the work that’s needed. It’s everywhere. Colonialism really did a number on our communities. There are still people who think being different is bad. I have encountered it. I have heard homophobic and transphobic words. It has permeated all parts of society. There are also good people and allies who support the community.”
For Wallace, music usually comes before the lyrics. “I have all these ideas floating around. Sometimes, I put them on the backburner until I am ready to do something with them,” he said. “I look at phrases in our language and see what fits.”
With “Pride,” he hunted down the words to display how he felt about being two-spirited.
“It took a long time for me to create it,” he said.
STORIES OF THE LAND
Some of Wallace’s recent compositions were featured in Stories of the Land. The Vancouver Chamber Choir played the special concert consisting entirely of works by Indigenous composers at the First Nations Longhouse at UBC on June 8. Sadly, Wallace contracted COVID-19 and was not able to attend.
“I got emails from some of the singers in the audience. They said it went really well,” he said. “They used three choral pieces that I had written. One of them was a new premier of a song I wrote a long time ago.”
Wallace’s new album Retro Salish Futurisms features lots of different genres of music.
“It’s a mish-mash of songs that I heard growing up,” he said. “There’s a disco song on there in the St’át’imcets language. It’s full of all the stuff I loved growing up. I wish I had my ability that I have now back then.”
The veteran composer wants to ensure Indigenous youth can hear their own language in modern music.
“There wasn’t a lot of Indigenous music out when I was growing up,” he said. “I worked in radio back in the ’80s and I always trying to find Indigenous music to play. It was so hard. That’s when I realized that I should start playing music because I loved it. It would have made a big difference even just to hear Indigenous music back then.” n
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PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE
Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
ALL ABOARD SKATE JAM
ZERO CEILING ALL ABOARD SKATE JAM & FUNDRAISER
Join Zero Ceiling for our first annual Skate Jam! Win epic prizes from EpicPromise, evo, Circle Whistler, and more. Learn new tricks in our beginner area. Compete in heats for all ages: Kids under 10, Youth 11 to 16, and Adults 17+.
Mikey Barton will be our host for the afternoon, keeping the energy high and the vibes fun. Enjoy beats from DJ BUSEREREKE and DJ PRAIZ, and grab raffle tickets for a chance to win amazing prizes from Whistler Blackcomb & TELUS. Visit the Zero Ceiling tent for “Griptape Customization Station” by Sleestak, and hot dogs by donation.
Don’t miss out—bring your friends, your boards, and your enthusiasm!
> Aug. 7, 1:30 to 6 p.m.
> 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 Aug. 3, Aug. 31 and Oct. 12.
> Aug. 3 and 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Upper Village Stroll
> Free
MONTHLY BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists for a bird walk on the first Saturday of each month. The walks are at Alta Lake, open to anyone interested in birds and covering many types of habitat. You’ll be joined by birding experts who compile a detailed inventory list on year-round bird activity.
> Aug. 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
> Meet at Bottom of Lorimer Road
> Free
WONDER LAB OPEN HOUSE
Explore a World of Curiosities in the Wonder Lab! Try out the Tech Kits, which include coding games, activities, and robots for all ability levels. No registration required, drop-ins welcome. This session is for all ages; kids under 9, please bring an adult!
> Aug. 6, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
> Whistler Public Library
> Free
Pick up the latest issue of your favourite read in Whistler.
FILE PHOTO BY HARRISON BROOKS
Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land
Take notice that I, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Formerly Shaw Communicat ions), from Brampton, Ont. have applied to the British Columb ia Ministry of Forests (FOR), South Coast Region for a Statutor y Right of Way situated on Provincial Crown land located at PID-030-475-112 DL 1559, PLAN A-19, LI LLOOET DIST RICT (CN MP 92.44)
FOR invites comments on th is application. The Lands File is 2412291. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, South Coast Region, FOR, at 200-10428 153rd Street Surrey, BC V3R 1E1. Comments will be received by FOR up to August 23, 2024. FO R may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision Database website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.
Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submission s.
NOTICE OF HAZARD
This Notice of Hazard is published in accordance with section 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Pr ivacy Act and pursuant to Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) Policy 7.3: Mount Meager Landslide Hazard Notification.
The SLRD is in receipt of a jour nal ar ticle entitled: “Hazard and risk from large landslides from Mount Meag er volcano, British Columbia, Canada”. The ar ticle was published on March 1, 2008 in Georisk: Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards.
The ar ticle identifies a safety risk to persons and proper ty from debr is flows in the Mount Meager and Lillooet River valley areas as far south as the head of Lillooet Lake.
A copy of the ar ticle is available as follows:
• at the Pember ton & District Public Librar y; and
• on the SLRD’s website at: https://www.slrd.bc.ca/emergencyprogram/hazard-repor ts-infor mation/local-hazard-repor ts/ mount-meager-landslide-hazard
Dated this 23rd day of July, 2024.
Heather Paul Chief Administrative Officer
Seeing green in Whistler
BY ELLA HEALEY
WHEN IT COMES to green practices in Whistler, we have come a long way from bear-attracting open dumps. Long before we had the waste collection facilities we have today, residents were responsible for their own garbage disposal, which resulted in a lot of garbage being burned and buried.
In the 1960s, the Alta Lake Ratepayers Association (ALRA) designated a central dump located where Whistler Village is today. When the dump was in use, families took turns cleaning and containing the site and watching for bears, but their efforts were not enough to keep bears away. In its prime, the dump made a popular bear-viewing area!
As the number of tourists travelling to Whistler by train increased, so did the amount of accumulated garbage at the train stations. Locals took action by repurposing oil drums as garbage bins for the stations. After the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was formed in 1975, officials made the decision to relocate the landfill and build the Village.
In the 1960s, copper was dumped into Alta Lake in an effort to kill off an invasive species. Unfortunately, the copper harmed the entirety of the lake’s population. One of the few residents to publicly express concern about environmental changes around this time was Bill Bailiff. He wrote a column in the Alta Lake Community Club’s newsletter that discussed how to protect the geography, topography and forestry of Whistler. In more recent years, Dr. Ian Spooner, an environmental scientist, has taken an interest in monitoring how pollution and development have affected Alta Lake, as well as Lost Lake. Through looking at the sediment records of the two lakes, Spooner was able to analyze their strengths and vulnerabilities and offer advice on how to protect them.
friendly community. Today, AWARE is responsible for GROW Whistler, an initiative that helps residents grow packaging-free food close to home. They promote GoByBike weeks during which people are encouraged to travel by bike instead of by car. They also teach zero-waste workshops where students learn the importance of reducing waste and keeping it out of landfills.
Retired RMOW environmental stewardship manager Heather Beresford has discussed the many ways she and the RMOW have worked to protect the environment since she started in the mid 1990s. Beresford remembers putting up fish fences, measuring, tagging and counting fish to keep track of the population, and removing man-made dams. In her early years at the RMOW, Beresford worked to address problems with the streams to ensure the fish are able to spawn. She worked with the RMOW on creating lookouts on the River of Golden Dreams, which were designed not to disturb the surrounding wetlands.
Beresford also participated in ecosystem monitoring with the Whistler Naturalists’ Bob Brett, and worked on the municipality’s 2007 bear safety program, garbage bylaws, and the western toad migration protection, all part of the RMOW’s efforts to preserve wildlife. Today, Beresford’s efforts are focused on the Cheakamus Community Forest, almost 50 per cent of which has been protected so it cannot be harvested. As its executive director, Beresford works on making the community forest more climate-resistant—she is a great example of a Whistler local leading the way in environmental stewardship.
Since the 1960s, there has been growing environmental awareness in the community. From dealing with garbage to recognizing the human impact, there have been increasing efforts to combat the negative effects of the growing population in Whistler.
Whistler.
In 1989, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) was formed to help protect Whistler’s wetlands. We can thank AWARE for the Re-Use-It Centre, recycling depot, and habitat protection initiatives, as well as other instrumental projects that have helped Whistler become a more environmentally
The community continues to produce strong efforts to preserve the natural, beautiful environment of Whistler, and keep the environment healthy so visitors have the opportunity to experience all of Whistler’s natural beauty.
Ella Healey is the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program. n
CAUGHT IN THE ACT A historical Whistler bear caught rummaging through some garbage containers.
WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, AUGUST 1979
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ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology
WEEK OF AUGUST 2 BY ROB
BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): One meaning of the word “palette” is a flat board on which painters place a variety of pigments to apply to their canvas. What would be a metaphorical equivalent to a palette in your life? Maybe it’s a diary or journal where you lay out the feelings and ideas you use to craft your fate. Perhaps it’s an inner sanctuary where you retreat to organize your thoughts and meditate on upcoming decisions. Or it could be a group of allies with whom you commune and collaborate to enhance each other’s destinies. However you define your palette, Aries, I believe the time is right to enlarge its size and increase the range of pigments you can choose from.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The star that Westerners call Arcturus has a different name for Indigenous Australians: Marpeankurrk. In their part of the world, it begins to rise before dawn in August. For the Boorong people of northwest Victoria, this was once a sign to hunt for the larvae of wood ants, which comprised a staple food for months. I bring this up, Taurus, because heavenly omens are telling me you should be on the lookout for new sources of sustenance and fuel. What’s your metaphorical equivalent of wood ant larvae?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Seventy per cent of the world’s macadamia nuts have a single ancestor: a particular tree in Queensland, Australia. In 1896, two Hawaiian brothers took seeds from this tree and brought them back to their homestead in Oahu. From that small beginning, Hawaiian macadamia nuts have come to dominate the world’s production. I foresee you soon having resemblances to that original tree, Gemini. What you launch in the coming weeks and months could have tremendous staying power and reach far beyond its original inspiration.
Come on down to Creekside this long weekend to avoid the village crowds!
Roland’s Pub is serving brunch on Saturday & Sunday from 11am - 2pm, children welcome!
Come and chill on our patio with some frosty beverages and tasty pub food. Beer & Wine Store is open every day from 11am-11pm
Resort Municipality of Whistler
NOTICE - Cancellation of Council Meeting
The Regular Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. is Cancelled.
Notice of changes to the 2024 Council Meeting Schedule is given in accordance with sections 94 and 127 of the Community Char ter.
Pauline Lysaght, Corporate Officer
Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler .ca Resort Municipality of Whistler wh istl er.c a
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ketchup flows at about 0.03 miles per hour. In 35 hours, it could travel about a mile. I think you should move at a similar speed in the coming days. The slower you go, the better you will feel. The more deeply focused you are on each event, and the more you allow the rich details to unfold in their own sweet time, the more successful you will be at the art of living. Your words of power will be incremental, gradual, and cumulative.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Astrologer Chris Zydel says every sign has superpowers. In honour of your birthday season, I’ll tell you about those she attributes to you Leos. When you are at your best, you are a beacon of “joyful magnetism” who naturally exudes “irrepressible charisma.” You “shine like a thousand suns” and “strut your stuff with unabashed audacity.” All who are lucky enough to be in your sphere benefit from your “radiant spontaneity, bold, dramatic play, and whoo-hoo celebration of your creative genius.” I will add that of course you can’t always be a perfect embodiment of all these superpowers. But I suspect you are cruising through a phase when you are the next best thing to perfect.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Friedrich August Kekule (1829–1896) transformed organic chemistry with his crucial discovery of the structure of carbon-based compounds. He had studied the problem for years. But his breakthrough realization didn’t arrive until he had a key dream while dozing. There’s not enough room here to describe it at length, but the image that solved the riddle was a snake biting its own tail. I bring this story to your attention, Virgo, because I suspect you could have practical and revelatory dreams yourself in the coming weeks. Daydream visions, too. Pay attention! What might be your equivalent to a snake biting its own tail?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Please don’t succumb to numbness or apathy in the coming weeks. It’s crucial that you don’t. You should also take extreme measures to avoid boredom and cynicism. At the particular juncture in your amazing life, you need to feel deeply and care profoundly. You must find ways to be excited about as
many things as possible, and you must vividly remember why your magnificent goals are so magnificent. Have you ruminated recently about which influences provide you with the spiritual and emotional riches that sustain you? I encourage you to become even more intimately interwoven with them. It’s time for you to be epic, mythic, even heroic.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Historically, August has brought many outbreaks of empowerment. In August 1920, American women gained the right to vote. In August 1947, India and Pakistan wrested their independence from the British Empire’s long oppression. In August 1789, French revolutionaries issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man, a document that dramatically influenced the development of democracy and liberty in the Western world. In 1994, the United Nations established Aug. 9 as the time to celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In 2024, I am officially naming August to be Scorpio Power Spot Month. It will be an excellent time to claim and/or boost your command of the niche that will nurture your authority and confidence for years to come.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): August is Save Our Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. I hope you will celebrate by rising up strong and bold to defend our precious natural treasures. Remember that without cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom, and hackneyed ideas, life would be nearly impossible. JUST KIDDING! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. Here’s the truth. August is Scour Away Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. Please be an agent of original thinking and fertile freshness. Wage a brazen crusade against cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom, and hackneyed ideas.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’re never too old or wise or jaded to jump up in the air with glee when offered a free gift. Right? So I hope you won’t be so bent on maintaining your dignity and composure that you remain poker-faced when given the chance to grab the equivalent of a free gift. I confess I am worried you might be unreceptive to the sweet, rich things coming your way. I’m concerned you might be closed to unexpected possibilities. I will ask you, therefore, to pry open your attitude so you will be alert to the looming blessings, even when they are in disguise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A friend of a friend told me this story: One summer day, a guy he knew woke up at 5 a.m., meditated for a while, and made breakfast. As he gazed out his kitchen window, enjoying his coffee, he became alarmed. In the distance, at the top of a hill, a brush fire was burning. He called emergency services to alert firefighters. A few minutes later, though, he realized he had made an error. The brush fire was in fact the rising sun lighting up the horizon with its fiery rays. Use this as a teaching story in the coming days, Aquarius. Double-check your initial impressions to make sure they are true. Most importantly, be aware that you may initially respond with worry to events that are actually wonderful or interesting.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): At least a million ships lie at the bottom of the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers. Some crashed because of storms, and others due to battles, collisions, or human error. A shipwreck hunter named Sean Fisher estimates those remains hold more than $60 billion worth of treasure. Among the most valuable are the old Spanish vessels that sank while carrying gold, silver, and other loot plundered from the Americas. If you have the slightest inkling to launch adventures in search of those riches, I predict the coming months will be an excellent time. Alternately, you are likely to generate good fortune for yourself through any version of diving into the depths in quest of wealth in all of its many forms.
Homework: What message would you like to send your 12-year-old self? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates
In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com
Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land
Take notice that I, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Formerly Shaw Communicat ions), from Brampton, Ont. have applied to the British Columb ia Ministry of Forests (FOR), South Coast Region for a Statutor y Right of Way situated on Provincial Crown land located at PID 015-880-648 DL 3364 GROUP 1 NEW WESTMINSTER DIST RICT EXCEPT PARCEL A (REFERENCE PLAN 1067) BLOCK A and BLOCK B PLAN 18705 (CN MP 85. 12).
FOR invites comments on th is application. The Lands File is 2412290. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, South Coast Region, FOR, at 200-10428 153rd Street Surrey, BC V3R 1E1. Comments will be received by FOR up to August 23, 2024 FO R may not be able to consider comments received after this date Please visit the Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision Database website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.
Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submission s.
Whistler Resort is growing its Housing portfolio and sourcing additional Chalet and Condo Rental contracts for our Hotel Team Members. Our leaders are mature, career driven drivers that know the word respect. Contract terms for property Owners are stress free with no commissions and includes representation from our 4 person fulltime Housing Department working with you 24/7; maintaining all aspects of the tenancy including quarterly inspections. A great next move for Whistler property Owners that have tired with the Airbnb game or Property Fees. Let’s see if we can make a match and develop a long-term relationship here. General inquiries please email mark.munn@fairmont.com
Work with us
Join our rapidly growing company and build yourself a sucessful career in construction.
NOW
HIRING EXPERIENCED
(3+ years):
$37.50 - $43.00/hr Carpenters Carpenter Helpers
$30.00 - $37.50/hr
The starting wage is dependent on experience and qualifications.
We offer opportunities for growth, competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package, company cell phone plan, and plenty of fun social events. gavanconstruction.ca /careers
MANAGER, SALES & MARKETING
Full Time, Year Round
Love a good challenge? Passionate about the place you call home? Whistler.com is looking for community-loving, mountain-appreciating, environment-respecting people to join our team.
The Manager, Sales & Marketing is a sales-driven and results-oriented individual, with a focus on creating compelling offers and promotions, and maintaining supplier account relationships, including managing the Preferred Partner Program and the Whistler Rewards loyalty program.
This role works closely with the Senior Manager, E-Commerce and the Tourism Whistler Marketing team to develop timely and relevant offers for our customers, and explores new opportunities to drive year-round incremental room nights and revenue.
What we offer: a nine-day fortnight schedule, an excellent benefits package, a commitment to health and wellness, and a fun and supportive team environment.
The starting salary range for this role is $60,000 - $64,000 annually.
TO VIEW OUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO APPLY, VISIT US ONLINE AT WHISTLER.COM/CAREERS.
HOUSEKEEPING
• Housekeeping Coordinator ($49K-51K/yr)
• Room Attendant ($21/hr)
• House Attendant ($21/hr)
FOOD & BEVERAGE
• Banquet Server ($23/hr)
• Server (evening) ($17.40/hr)
ENGINEERING
• Power Engineer ($34/hr)
LOSS PREVENTION
• Loss Prevention Supervisor ($22.50/hr)
CULINARY
• Chef de Partie ($26.50/hr)
• Cook ($23/hr)
• Kitchen Steward ($20/hr)
Our team of people is what sets us apart from other builders. As we continue to grow as the leader in luxury projects in Whistler, our team needs to expand with us.
We are currently hiring:
Labourers ($20 - $30 hourly)
Carpenters Helpers /Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly)
Experienced Carpenters ($30 - $45 hourly)
Carpenter Foremen ($40 - $50 hourly)
Rates vary based on experience and qualifications. Red seal a bonus but not mandatory.
EVR is committed to the long-term retention and skills development of our team. We are passionate about investing in our team’s future.
We offer:
• Top Wages
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement (Need help getting your Red Seal?)
• $500 Annual Tool Allowance
• Extended Health and Dental Benefits for you and your family
• Flexible Schedule - Work Life Balance. (We get it. We love to ski and bike too.)
• Assistance with Work Visa and Permanent Residency (We can help!)
• Positive Work Environment
We promote from within and are looking to strengthen our amazing team. Opportunities for advancement into management positions always exist for the right candidates. Don’t miss out on being able to build with the team that builds the most significant projects in Whistler. Send your resume to info@evrfinehomes.com We look forward to hearing from you!
Proposals for Property Management Services
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($20.90
$29.45 per hour)
• Family Mentor ($38,038 - $53,599 per year)
Xet’òlacw Community School
• High School Teacher (upper Math) ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Social Worker/ Counsellor ($80,371 - $91,673 per year)
• Elementary School Teacher: Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
Ts’zil Learning Centre
• Indigenous Support Worker –
•
High School Teacher (upper level Math)
Mount Currie, BC Full-time
Title: High School Teacher
$60015.00-$109520.00/year
Department: Community School
Status: Full Time Regular
Pay Grid: Teachers = $60,015-$109,520
Reporting to: School Admin Team
Summary of Duties:
• The High School teacher will teach courses, which involves instruction in differentiated classes under the supervision of the School Admin Team.
Key Deliverables and Expectations:
• Strong classroom management skills.
• Ability to accommodate the needs of students with a range of learning styles and abilities.
• Ability to use strength-based, student centered approaches to plan engaging and educational lessons and courses.
• Ability to motivate students and to adjust instructional strategies accordingly.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills including the ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents.
• Strong assessment practices.
• Ability to use technology to enhance student learning.
• Ability to embed local First Nations culture into teaching practice.
• Experienced and/or interested in integrating place-based, outdoor learning practices in educational delivery.
• Knowledge of the B.C. curriculum.
• Perform other related duties as requested.
Experience and Attributes:
• Possession of / or ability to apply for a B.C. Teaching Certificate
• Must complete a Criminal Record Check
• TQS Category
View jobs at Lil’wat Nation https://lilwatnation.easyapply.co/
CIVIL CONSTRUCTION
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 preferred, Commercial Truck & Transport and Transport Trailer preferred. Class 1 or 3 with air brakes preferred. Tools 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.
Bridge River Head Start / Daycare Program is seeking an individual to commit to providing high quality care to children aged 0-6 years with interest in working in a unique program and ensuring that there is use of best practice provided during the program delivery.
HEADSTART/DAYCARE MANAGER
Reporting to the Health Manager, the Administrator will be responsible primarily for the overall Supervision of the Headstart/Daycare program. This includes and understanding to staff supervision and scheduling, ensuring all licensing, and reporting requirements are being met, and ensuring a quality land-based program is being offered to children and families.
HOME COMMUNITY CARE WORKER - HCCP
Full-Time (35 Hrs. per week – Flexible Hours)
Working as a member of the Ama7 Swa7 Home & Community Care Program, Under the direction of Home and Community Care Nurse, the successful candidate will provide delegation of tasks set out by HCCN around personal care to clients living at home on reserve. In this role, you will travel to homes where clients require personal care. Daily/Weekly Journaling Logs are to be submitted to HCCN as per client list.
Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume to:
Gary Forsyth, Administrator
Bridge River Indian Band, P.O. Box 190, Lillooet BC, V0K 1V0 Fax: 250-256-7999
While we welcome all candidates, only those selected for an interview will be contacted
Why
Xet’olacw Community School Job Postings:
Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3
Mount Currie, BC Full-time
$60,015.00-$109,520.00/year
Title: Elementary School Teacher
Department: Community School
Status: Full Time Regular
Pay Grid: Teachers
Reporting to: School Admin Team
Summary of Duties:
• The Elementary School teacher will teach courses, which involves instruction in differentiated classes under the supervision of the School Admin Team.
Key Deliverables and Expectations:
• Teach all subjects in the selected i.e. Grade 2 Class with Physical Education, Ucwalmícwts (traditional language), and a library time supervised by other teachers or staff.
• Committed to excellent instructional preparation and consistent record keeping. Timely reporting to administration, when necessary, e.g., report cards, attendance records and data request
• Use data to drive classroom/school–wide improvement initiatives
• Maintain open and consistent communication with students and their families about their academic progress
• Teach numeracy and literacy in collaboration with others according to the school’s strategies for improving academic outcomes
• Be a positive team player committed to the belief that all children can learn at high levels
• Commit to ongoing professional development including willingness to be coached by the Elementary Supervisor and Regional Principal via school visits, video teleconference calls etc. and joining Provincial Professional Learning Community model (in Vancouver) and a School-Wide PLC model on site.
• Working in the ReadWell Program (platooned) as well as Literature program and centers.
• Work with Saxon Math in collaboration with other Primary teaching staff
• Enjoy participating in school event days such as Sports Day, Eagle Run, and Flake Rodeo etc.
• Perform other related duties as requested.
Experience and Attributes:
• Possession of / or ability to apply for a B.C. Teaching Certificate
• Experience and/or education in special needs an asset
• Strong interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills including the ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents.
• Strong assessment practices.
• Strong classroom management skills.
• Ability to accommodate the needs of students with a range of learning styles and abilities.
• Ability to use strength-based, student centered approaches to plan engaging and educational lessons and courses.
• Ability to motivate students and to adjust instructional strategies accordingly.
• Ability to use technology to enhance student learning.
• Ability to embed local First Nations culture into teaching practice.
• Experienced and/or interested in integrating place-based, outdoor learning practices in educational delivery.
• Knowledge of the B.C. curriculum.
• Must complete a Criminal Record Check
• TQS Category
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
ARE YOU A SELF-MOTIVATED INDIVIDUAL LOOKING TO GROW YOUR CAREER IN SQUAMISH?
Come be a part of our awesome team as The Squamish Chief’s new Media Account Manager.
ARE YOU A SELF-MOTIVATED INDIVIDUAL LOOKING TO GROW YOUR CAREER IN WHISTLER?
If you don’t already live in Squamish, you should know it’s one of the most innovative and attractive communities on the West Coast just a short commute from the North Shore of Vancouver. It has a growing worldwide reputation for outdoor recreation with world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, water sports and skiing, boarding and the backcountry in the winter. We’re youthful, engaged and passionate about where we live!
Come be a part of our awesome team as Pique Newsmagazine’s new Media Account Manager.
And if you’re a local – well, you know you’re in the right place to forge a career and lucky to call Squamish home.
If you don’t already live in Whistler, you should know it’s one of the most innovative and attractive communities on the West Coast. We are youthful, engaged and passionate about where we live!
And if you’re a local – well, you know you’re in the right place to forge a career and lucky to call Whistler home.
We’ve got an opportunity to work and truly be a part of this inspired community at its media hub, The Squamish Chief. We’re part of Glacier Media Group and Local News Network, the largest local digital network in Canada. We work with our clients to offer cutting edge solutions like programmatic, Social, SEO, sponsored content and community display advertising on our website – and yes, we reach customers through our trusted newspaper as well. We’ve got media opportunities covered.
We’ve got an opportunity to work and truly be a part of this inspired community at its media hub, Pique Newsmagazine. We’re part of Glacier Media Group and Local News Network, the largest local digital network in Canada. We work with our clients to offer cutting edge solutions like programmatic, Social, SEO, sponsored content and community display advertising on our website – and yes, we reach customers through our trusted newspaper as well. We’ve got media opportunities covered.
Here’s what we’re looking for:
• You have sales experience and are comfortable making cold calls and setting up/ leading meetings with new and existing clients.
Here’s what we’re looking for:
• You have sales experience and are comfortable making cold calls and setting up/ leading meetings with new and existing clients.
• A self-starter with a consultative selling approach working with clients planning both digital and print advertising campaigns.
• Building and maintaining client relationships with your exceptional communication skills comes easy to you.
• A self-starter with a consultative selling approach working with clients planning both digital and print advertising campaigns.
• You are a goal orientated individual with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
• Building and maintaining client relationships with your exceptional communication skills comes easy to you.
• You possess strong organizational skills and have the ability to multitask in a fast paced environment.
• You are a goal orientated individual with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
Here’s the essentials of what we offer:
• You possess strong organizational skills and have the ability to multitask in a fast paced environment.
• Comprehensive health and dental coverage and extended benefits.
• Compensation package $50k plus including a competitive salary + uncapped commission.
• Extensive onboarding training and ongoing support.
• Comprehensive health and dental coverage and extended benefits.
• Extensive onboarding training and ongoing support.
Come join us!
Come join us!
Please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence to: Susan Hutchinson shutchinson@wplpmedia.com
Please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence to: Cathie Greenlees cgreenlees@squamishchief.com
Closing date is August 8th, 2024
Closing date is February 2, 2022
Don’t worry, be happy?
FIFTY-FOUR YEARS AGO , on a nice spring day, the first widespread Earth Day celebration took place... at least in North America. As I recall, I stole a few hours away from studying for final exams and went to hear some speakers, listen to some music, breathe some ganjascented air, and stare longingly at hundreds of
BY G.D. MAXWELL
environmentally conscious coeds proving less is more by not wearing excessive clothing in the warm spring sunshine.
There was hope in the air, but mostly there was confusion. No one seemed to know much about the subject. The depth of environmental problems were largely unknown. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring had been out for eight years, but it took a while for it to be seen as a clarion call to environmental awareness, as opposed to an indictment against DDT and other pesticides.
Besides, we had other, more pressing problems, the most immediate of which for me were those pesky exams. Flunking final exams meant facing a far bigger problem than environmental degradation. It meant losing full-time student status and winding up in Vietnam taking rice paddy baths with thousands of other surly grunts.
At this dawn of environmental consciousness raising, Vietnam, still smouldering race relations, incipient feminism and the hangover from the Summer of Love all seemed like more immediate issues from my limited perspective in the USofA. I don’t know what the hot-button issues were in Canada. At that time, I only ever thought of Canada as a very attractive alternative to the Mekong Delta.
Two years into the nightmare of Nixon and only a few corners away from the outrages of Watergate, the OPEC oil embargo and, ugh, disco, it was easy to relegate environmental concerns to the webby corners of the mind, where it fought for shelf space with other pressing problems, acne for example. Since we all wore clothes from Sally Ann and Goodwill and none of us had cars, we didn’t perceive ourselves to be part of the problem anyway. God knows we weren’t part of the solution.
Fifty-four years later, we are the problem and God knows we still don’t have a clue what the solution is. We’ve traded in our beat up Corollas for F150s, the greatestselling segment of automotivedom in the Great White North, or massive SUVs. They’re bigger, heavier, suck gasoline like a ’68 Coupe deVille, and have replaced both the station wagon/minivan as the family vehicles of choice and the little red sports car as a mid-life crisis solution. Full disclosure: I own a little red sports car. We rationalize our choices under the guise of protecting our family—Baby On Board—and wanting something old joints can get in and out of easier. Full disclosure: little red sports cars do neither.
We—collective we, mostly the wealthy,
vacant, second homeowners in Whistler— build homes that look like boutique hotels out of massive, showcase logs, using enough wood to construct a dozen more rational houses. We congratulate ourselves for selecting only the finest of the best, huge, straight, towering trees to support and envelop homes far larger than we need and, in many cases, homes that will stand empty—but heated—for much of the year. These are homes where we can proudly take friends and family and instil the values of waste, conspicuous consumption and greed in our children, thus ensuring these values are propagated into the future.
Maybe, just maybe, the smug complacency Canadians have fallen into
and I’m only guessing here, where to spend their winter, sun-seeking vacations. But right up there. Especially during what used to be called summer and now is more frequently referred to as fire season.
Fire season is in full swing in B.C. and Alberta. Probably elsewhere in Canada as well, but there’s only so much I can keep track of. Enough C02 is being released into the atmosphere to offset most of the gains made by taking whatever half measures we’ve been taking to reduce our active contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
If all this seems too, shall we say, pessimistic, take heart. At least there is the political will to take bold steps to tackle the
We’ve traded in our beat up Corollas for F150s, the greatest-selling segment of automotivedom in the Great White North, or massive SUVs.
regarding environmental issues received a sharp elbow in the ribs last week when yet another massive wildfire threatened to consume much of Jasper. Who’s kidding who here? If we don’t live in Jasper or have particularly fond memories of the place—I don’t—we’ve already been distracted by something else. Oooh, a squirrel.
In poll after poll, Canadians claim environmental quality and threats are top of mind. After housing. After inflation. After,
problem, rise to the challenge, do something to secure a better future.
Just kidding.
Our political leaders seem as timid as ever. The baby steps they have taken are rapidly being disavowed, stepped away from, shunned. Last week Vancouver reversed its bylaw banning natural gas as a choice in new construction. Citing the questionable rationale the move would reduce barriers for construction of more middle-income
and multiplex housing, thereby making Vancouver homes more affordable, at least one councillor was honest enough to hang the decision on choice. “Choice on how people cook their food, heat their homes and heat their water.” He failed to add choice on how they contribute to the problem.
Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre claims he’ll tackle the problem by scrapping the carbon tax, lifting caps on oil and gas emissions and loosening environmental regulations. “If Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault enacted it, the Conservatives are likely to reverse it,” he said.
Of course, in Tiny Town we have our Climate Action Big Moves. We want to build zero-emission buildings, close the loop and shift toward lower-carbon consumption. But we don’t want to do something as simple as ban propane heaters on patios. We apparently have a God-given right to drink cold beer on a cold patio after a day of so-so skiing because of a thin snowpack and be warm and comfortable doing so. Goes hand-in-hand with restaurants and pubs having the same right to serve those beverages to warm, cosy patrons.
It may be splitting hairs, but I’m not being pessimistic. I prefer the path of Zeno of Citium... sort of. Zeno was the proponent of stoicism. Stripping out all the components of living peacefully with nature, the takeaway of his writings on stoicism comes down to accepting things outside your control, focusing on what you can control... which ain’t much, but does include how you react to what’s going on around you.
Not quite don’t worry, be happy, but better than yelling at clouds. n
