Mapping shows Canada’s seabeds could hold billions of tonnes of carbon. - By Stefan Labbé
06
OPENING
REMARKS
Editor Braden Dupuis reckons with the unpleasant results of his holiday indulgence, and weighs an important question: is being fat allowed in Whistler?
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week weigh in on a (hypothetical) valley-bottom gondola, and share kudos to staff at Lost Lake.
20 THE OUTSIDER Mountain bike trails on the North Shore need cooperation, not contention, writes Vince Shuley.
42 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST It’s the end of the world as we know it, writes Leslie Anthony—what comes next?
12 MOVING OUT Whistler, Pemberton and Mount Currie all saw their populations decline slightly in 2024, while B.C.’s population grew by three per cent.
14 GAME ON Everything you need to know about the Invictus Games, which kick off in Vancouver and Whistler Feb. 8.
26 NORDIC PRIDE Local contenders earned a grand total of 20 medals at the Western Canadian Biathlon Championships last week.
30 JOIN THE CLUB Sea to Sky author Heather Hendrie’s curated collection, Awfully Hilarious: Period Pieces, took home a 2024 Canadian Book Club Award on Jan. 22.
COVER Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Shapeshifting in Whistler
CATCHING UP WITH AN EX recently, I was provided yet another humbling reminder of my own fragile, flabby mortality.
“Did you lose weight?” she asked. I could only laugh in protest, given the quivering mass of post-holiday indulgence she was speaking to—in fact looking directly at.
“…gain weight?” she tried again— obviously getting warmer now.
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
“Your shape is different,” she concluded. She poked disapprovingly at the big blob of skin and fat protruding over my suddenly too-tight sweatpants string—a massive male muffin-top the likes of which is rarely seen in Whistler.
“What is this?” she asked (rhetorically, I can only assume).
Not long after that she said something about her wallet being missing while hurriedly putting on her coat and heading for the door.
I waved a single, sausage-laden palm goodbye.
It wasn’t an altogether unsurprising exchange. Looking at myself in the mirror before she arrived, I knew she’d see the difference— the extra heft up front, clearly visible when viewed from the side; the increasing roundness in the face; the so-much-to-love handles, and the aforementioned unmissable muffin top.
I haven’t yet decided how much to let it bother me. I just wonder if there’s some sort of Resort Municipality of Whistler bylaw I’m now in contravention of. Is being fat allowed
in Whistler? At the very least, this torrid rate of mass cultivation is surely running adjacent to, if not outright afoul of some sort of local rule related to homegrown domestic livestock.
I jest, of course. There is nothing wrong with being fat—no matter what your skinny ex says or how fast she leaves after prodding your man muffin.
I’ve been fat before. Lost weight before. But on the eve of my 37th birthday, I’m finding the added heft is just that much harder to get a grip on (both metaphorically and physically).
And it’s all relative, of course. Many might look at me and claim I’m not fat, like reporter Brandon Barrett did last week—until I stood up at my desk and pushed my pregnant manpaunch out as far as it would go.
“OK, yeah,” he conceded, before mumbling
because of body image issues.
The findings, published in 2019 by the Mental Health Foundation, found one in five (21 per cent) men said concerns about body image had caused them to dress in a way that hid their body or parts of their body in the last year, while one in five also said they had negatively compared themselves to others because of body image in the last year.
More than one in 10 (11 per cent) experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings because of body image issues, and four per cent also said they had deliberately hurt themselves because of body image issues.
According to the federal government, almost two in three adults and one in three children in Canada are overweight or living with obesity. Recent stats for Whistler are hard
approach to dealing with self-image issues: improving media literacy (teaching about things like photoshop and image altering) and cognitive restructuring—training people to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones.
But like most things, it all comes back to perspective.
While the brain itself is no doubt a solid organ, it can be argued the mind is more akin to a liquid, taking the shape of whatever container it’s poured in to.
Through that lens, all of our personal and social hang-ups and anxieties can be attributed to a reflection of society; how we compare and contrast our life accomplishments and physical vessels based on others, and the “reality” we perceive
I just wonder if there’s some sort of Resort Municipality of Whistler bylaw I’m now in contravention of. Is being fat allowed in Whistler? At the very least, this torrid rate of mass cultivation is surely running adjacent to, if not outright afoul of some local rule related to homegrown domestic livestock.
something about having to get back to work and hurrying back to his desk.
Like many issues related to men, we don’t talk much about male body image as a society—probably because on the list of important issues we’re currently facing it doesn’t crack the top 500.
But according to research out of the U.K., millions of men struggle with how they look, with almost three in 10 adults (28 per cent) aged 18 and above reporting feeling anxious
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to come by, but a 2015 survey conducted by Vancouver Coastal Health found Whistler had the lowest obesity rates in Southern B.C., at just 14.2 per cent (Squamish clocked in at 21.1 per cent, just below Metro Vancouver at 21.7 per cent. Powell River was the heftiest of all communities surveyed, with an obesity rate of 37.9 per cent).
So if you’re fat in Whistler, like I currently am, you’re in the clear minority.
Researchers suggest a two-pronged
around us—our mind’s container.
Does it really matter if you’re fatter than others?
Only as far as you let it—and if we’re being realistic, not a single ounce in the great, grand scheme of the universe.
So maybe we should focus more on the shapes of our mind containers than the physical vessels lugging them around.
Of course, that is far easier said than done. If anybody needs me, I’ll be at the gym. n
Valley gondola not the solution
This letter is in response to an article in the Jan. 17 issue of Pique (“Could a valley gondola help solve Whistler‘s transportation woes?”).
Utilizing new resources is not the sustainable nor affordable way to solve congestion issues. Why don’t we consider using resources that are already in existence? For instance, let’s consider the train track that currently is not being used.
The train track runs from Cheakamus to Wedge. Why not have two massive parking lots on either side, and add in some shuttle buses at different stops on the way? The train can stop at Nita Lake Lodge, from which Creekside is an easy mountain access. Perhaps Lorimer or Sabre could be another stop; at which point passengers could get on a shuttle bus to the base of either mountain, Whistler or Blackcomb gondolas.
Consider up-cycling the old Cheakamus dump to a parking facility where passengers travelling from the south can buy a parking ticket for the day inclusive of train and shuttles in both directions. Same for the Wedge parking lot, for folks coming from Pemberton, and Whistler Village North. This will help Whistler reach its emissions goals,
“Why don’t we consider using resources that are already in existence?”
- ADI RINGUETTE
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.
and will alleviate some of the parking issues for Vail Resorts. The train should also be considered for future expansion, reducing traffic from Vancouver and Pemberton, as the train track goes further in both directions.
Adi Ringuette // WSS Grade 12 student
Kudos to Lost Lake staff
The Whistler Nordics would like to send a shout-out to Mother Nature and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) Lost Lake Nordic Trails crew!
After an early thin start to winter and cross country skiing, warm weather persisted and made for challenging grooming and trailmaintenance conditions. During this time, the RMOW staff did an amazing job to keep the trails in good shape so they could be enjoyed by local residents, our club members and most importantly at this time of the year, visitors from around the world.
The visitors I spoke to on the trails were thankful to have an accessible winter activity for them to enjoy. With the price of day lift tickets being so high, these types of lower-cost activities are critical to diversifying our product offerings.
With the recent cold snap, staff jumped into action working through the night to utilize the pilot snowmaking system to create mounds of snow to be distributed around the most popular loops. The trails around Lost Lake
Backcountry Update
AS OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29
Strong sunshine and warm temperatures through the last week of January left a thick surface crust in many areas, especially on sunny slopes. In contrast, shady upper elevations managed to hold onto some soft, dry snow, which is likely faceting during cooler overnight periods (faceting is the process where snow crystals transform into weak, sugary grains due to a temperature gradient in the snowpack).
The good news? We’re getting more snow. Forecasts are calling for strong southwesterly winds and up to 35 cm of new snow by Saturday morning. The bad news? The incoming storm snow isn’t likely to bond well with the current snow surface. This means we will likely see a significant avalanche cycle in the backcountry during the storm. Storm slabs formed during this period are expected to be highly reactive, with avalanches triggered both naturally and by people. While time will tell, we’re anticipating that the new snow will need several days to settle and form a stronger
bond. Avalanche danger likely won’t ease until a few days after the storm ends.
If you’re heading into the backcountry during a period of elevated avalanche danger, your best strategy is to stick to conservative terrain choices. Avoid complex terrain altogether. It might be tempting to chase powder after this extended dry spell, but playing it safe by sticking to simple, low-angle slopes without overhead hazard will be key.
As conditions stabilize and people start exploring more complex avalanche terrain, it’ll be important to ease into it slowly. Keep a close eye on how well the new snow is bonding to the crust or facets. Assess for conditions as you travel, watching for signs of instability such as recent avalanches, whumpfing, or shooting cracks. As the storm snow settles, we may see potential new avalanche problems like wind slabs develop.
With so much uncertainty around the bond between the new snow and the crust, staying informed is crucial. Be sure to check the latest mountain weather and avalanche forecast at avalanche.ca before heading out. n
CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain-info/ snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.
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are wonderful, and the continuation of the half-price evening tickets on Mondays and Thursdays make this activity accessible to more and more people.
Lost Lake is a real gem—protecting both winter and summer experiences is important for residents and our visitor economy that so many depend on.
We look forward to seeing how we can work together to expand water and snowmaking throughout the park for wildfire mitigation/ prevention and snowmaking in thin years.
Finally, please join us on the trails on Feb. 16 for the Cheryl MorningStar 32nd annual Lost Lake Loppet. We promise there are routes for all abilities.
Thanks again for stepping up.
See you on the trails!
Dan Wilson // Whistler Nordics
Thanks to search and rescue
We want to thank the ski patrol and searchand-rescue for coordinating our rescue from an out-of-bounds area of Whistler Mountain. Together, they were efficient to give us directions to follow for their search efforts that got us off the mountain quickly and effectively. They provided food and water and helped us with our equipment and guided us out of the woods in the dark. Without them, we wouldn’t have made it. Thanks again—Carter and Matteo.
Carter
MacLellan // Whistler n
POINT OF PRIDE Whistler Pride’s 32nd edition ran from Jan. 19 to 26, featuring everything from drag performances and comedy to dance nights—and of course, the fanfavourite ski-out/parade through Whistler Village on Friday, Jan. 24. See more photos from the past week on page 33.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SYLVESTRE / COURTESY OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB
Whistler, Pemberton, Mount Currie all saw population decline in 2024
SEA TO SKY POPULATION TRENDS RUN COUNTER TO B.C., WHICH GREW BY 3% IN THE SAME TIMEFRAME
BY BRANDON BARRETT AND LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NEW POPULATION estimates published by Statistics Canada reveal Whistler, Pemberton and Mount Currie populations shrunk slightly between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The estimates depart from the near-uninterrupted growth the region has seen for the last decade.
Populations shrunk by 2.7 per cent in Whistler, 4.8 per cent in the Village of Pemberton and four per cent in Mount Currie.
The area’s decline is at odds with a steady, province-wide increase in population. B.C. grew by three per cent in the same time span, to 5,698,430.
WHISTLER’S POPULATION FELL AS DEMAND FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SKYROCKETED
Whistler’s permanent population fell to 15,625 in 2024—a decrease of 440 people from 2023. Although the resort has mostly experienced sustained, steady growth over the long-term— including a 19-per-cent uptick between the 2016 and 2021 census—its population showed greater signs of volatility emerging out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Stats Can, Whistler’s population fell from 15,446 in 2020 to 14,771
in 2021, before climbing back up to 15,109 in 2022 and 16,065 in 2023, the first time the community’s population has cracked 16,000. While Whistler was no doubt affected by pandemic-fuelled mobility trends—six in 10 Canadians who relocated during the pandemic cited COVID as a factor—Jackie Dickinson, executive director of the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), theorized the recent decline was likely influenced by economic factors.
“My first thought and concern goes to the people who potentially felt like this is an
“Every service we have has gone up,” Dickinson said.
It’s a burden social service organizations and food banks have had to shoulder across the country. A recent report from Food Banks BC found household visits to food banks rose by 81 per cent between 2019 and ’24.
“Our usages have gone up every year, sometimes up to 35 per cent. What that’s telling me is we have people seeing the need to ask for help and also needing additional support to be able to continue to live in the community. We are very grateful to be part
“Every service we have has gone up.”
- JACKIE DICKINSON
unaffordable place to live and exist,” she said.
It’s a trend Dickinson has seen first-hand at WCSS. She said several staff members, including those in supervisory roles, made the decision to leave the resort last year.
“They were valuable members of our team doing incredible work and there really wasn’t much as an employer we could do to keep them here because they couldn’t see Whistler as a long-term home,” she explained.
Whistler’s population fell last year even as local demand for social services skyrocketed, continuing a pattern that began in the pandemic. November 2024 was the busiest month in the Whistler Food Bank’s 35-year history, tallying 2,262 visits. The spike in demand is not relegated to the food bank, either.
of their care support plan, but it’s a wider conversation across the community and in B.C. as well,” Dickinson said.
“One thing we need to remember is ‘rent always eats first,’” she added, citing a quote by Sahar Raza, VP of research and advocacy at Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank.
While Stats Can didn’t break down its recent population figures by demographic, Charalyn Kriz, board member for Whistler’s Mature Action Community, said she’s clocked a longer trend of local seniors leaving town, citing a number of reasons, including a lack of advanced medical care, concerns around accessibility, and frustration with overtourism.
“If there was a way for seniors to downsize
that would free up homes for younger families, the community would stay vibrant,” she said. “The housing situation is just so poor in Whistler.”
Reached for comment, a communications official for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) said in a statement the local government typically relies on population data from BC Statistics over Stats Can, as it provides more frequent updates and forecasts. It’s also worth noting neither Stats Can’s projections nor the federal census count temporary residents, who make up a significant portion of Whistler’s workforce.
“We expect our population to continue growing, especially as Whistler progresses toward the development of new housing as outlined in the recent Housing Needs Report,” the statement went on.
In December, elected officials got a look at the RMOW’s Interim Housing Needs Report, an appendix to a 2022 housing report the province required local governments to compile. The report estimated Whistler will require 1,572 new housing units in the next five years, and 5,639 in the next 20 years.
PEMBERTON’S POPULATION DECLINED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
Pemberton’s population contracted to 3,566— down 180 villagers from the previous year. It’s the second year in a row the Village of Pemberton’s estimates have declined, after a slight decrease of 0.75 per cent between 2022 and 2023.
According to Scott McRae, the village’s manager of development services, the reported decline is not cause for concern.
NEWS WHISTLER
“Despite these anomalies, the Village has experienced significant growth, with a 32-percent population increase between the 2016 and 2021 Census periods and an overall rise of 30.6 per cent from 2016 to 2024,” said McRae in a statement to Pique. “While recent slight declines in population estimates may reflect a normalization post-pandemic, long-term trends clearly point to sustained growth in our community.”
McRae said officials are still planning for the population to reach the 5,000 threshold, at which point the Village of Pemberton is eligible to become the City of Pemberton.
Existing and anticipated population growth is already causing a housing crunch in the village, which officials are addressing with initiatives like the 2024 Housing Strategy and recent zoning changes.
“Beyond the numbers, we see the ongoing impacts of this growth, including a housing shortage that is affecting our community,” noted McRae. “Local employers report continued challenges in attracting talent to the Pemberton Valley due to a lack of available housing, an issue that underscores the importance of addressing housing needs as a priority.”
MOUNT CURRIE’S POPULATION STEADY OVER TIME
Stats Canada’s new estimates don’t provide data for the entirety of the Lil’wat Nation’s traditional territory, only the most populated area—Mount Currie. The unincorporated community’s population is estimated to have declined to 1,239 in 2024 from 1,290 in 2023. Since 2020, the downtown core of the Lil’wat Nation has declined by 34 people.
Mount Currie’s estimated population decline isn’t as much of a departure as Whistler and Pemberton’s; Stats Canada’s figures for the area have been up and down for the last two decades.
“As we see it, the population has been fairly steady over quite some time,” said the Lil’wat Nation’s chief administrative officer Rolf de Bruin. “When I look at the Census of 2021 [and] 2016, there is not a statistical trend or decline.”
De Bruin told Pique the Nation recognizes a lack of economic opportunities to meet a rising education level might be forcing some members out of the area.
“We’re working really hard to create more economic opportunities for our community members within our territory so that they can stay within the territory,” said de Bruin. “But at this point, when you look at the numbers,
individual income for community members within the subdivision is 50-per-cent lower than individual income in the Village of Pemberton.”
As of the 2021 Census, the median total income for Pemberton residents was $49,600 compared to just $24,600 in Lil’wat Nation.
He also flagged housing availability and affordability as another hurdle to keeping the population local.
“These are challenges that I think are fairly universal within the corridor,” said de Bruin. “We have to offer people a place to stay within our region that they can actually afford with corresponding employment.
“The Lil’wat Business Group has a very aggressive growth strategy in the areas of forestry and retail, construction, development and other industries to grow our opportunities here for members to stay within the territory.”
AREAS AROUND POPULATION CENTRES ALSO SAW DECLINES
Statistics Canada provides estimates for areas outside of population centres in the form of regional electoral district areas, including the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s four RDAs.
Unlike the SLRD’s designation, Stats Canada’s four areas exclude population centres. For example, Area C, which encompasses Pemberton and Mount Currie, does not include those population centres when calculating population estimates. Instead, smaller municipalities like Birken and D’Arcy fall into those categories.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District saw decreases in all four of its electoral districts.
“While the SLRD has historically been one of the fastest-growing regional districts in the province, the decline in recent years is not entirely surprising, as things like overall affordability, lack of available and affordable housing and lack of transportation infrastructure can have an impact on population,” a spokeperson for the SLRD told Pique
“As some of the master-planned communities come online in the SLRD in the future, this trend will likely shift again,” the spokesperson added, citing development plans for Electoral Area D.
That’s not to say the entire Sea to Sky area saw declines. The population of Squamish grew 5.6 per cent to 28,056 residents.
Check out Stats Canada to see how the Sea to Sky region compares to the rest of the country. n
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SLIGHT DIP Recent stats show populations in Whistler, Pemberton and Mount Currie declined slightly in 2024. CHARTS BY LUKE FAULKS, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
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An Invictus Games 2025 primer
WITH THE GAMES SET TO KICK OFF IN WHISTLER FEB. 8, HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING COMPETITIONS AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
BY LIZ MCDONALD
WITH THE INVICTUS GAMES Vancouver Whistler 2025 just around the corner on Feb. 8 to 13, all eyes will soon be on approximately 550 athletes competing at Whistler Olympic Park, the Whistler Sliding Centre and on Whistler Mountain.
The events are free to attend on location, but alpine events require a Whistler Blackcomb sightseeing, lift ticket or season pass. Viewers can also watch screenings at the Maury Young Arts Centre and the Village Square stage. The Invictus YouTube channel will also stream the events while TSN will carry daily highlights.
Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton said the coming days will include pre-games content shared on social media.
“I hope Whistlerites are as fired up as I am for welcoming the world to Whistler. Content will include new accessibility videos on social media to help guests navigate Whistler with greater ease,” he said.
Festivities kick off Feb. 8 in Whistler Invictus Village, which includes four fan zones: Whistler Olympic Plaza, the Maury Young Arts Centre, Village Square and
Mountain Square.
Whistler Blackcomb said it will will share a “Know Before You Go” guide on social media channels the week of Feb. 3.
Chelsey Walker, director of Whistler operations for the Invictus Games, said volunteers are busy setting up tents and picking up uniforms.
“We are so thrilled to be using world-class amenities that were used for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games,” she said. “We’re going to have a magical experience, with some competitors experiencing winter sports for the very first time, and others who are highly experienced.”
Here’s everything you need to know about event locations and times.
COMPETITION DETAILS
Feb. 10: The first sporting event runs from 12 to 7 p.m., with the skeleton competition at Whistler Sliding Centre.
Feb. 11: Athletes compete in cross-country skiing at Whistler Olympic Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as alpine skiing and snowboarding novice competition at Upper Fantastic on Whistler Mountain from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Skeleton races at Whistler Sliding Centre run from 12 to 7 p.m. and the biathlon
at Whistler Olympic Park runs from 12:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: Intermediate to advanced alpine skiing and snowboarding at Lower Olympic on Whistler Mountain runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I hope Whistlerites are as fired up as I am...”
- JACK CROMPTON
MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES
Feb. 9: From 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., activations include storytelling by Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Ambassadors at 2 and 5 p.m. at the Maury Young Arts Centre. The Whistler Invictus Concert Series in Village Square starts with a DJ Ira Dance Party at 2:30 p.m, Big Love at 3 p.m. and Taylor James at 3:35 p.m. The Hairfarmers take the stage and close out Day 1’s music at 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 10: The Maury Young Arts Centre has crafts led by Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Ambassadors at 2 p.m. Music at the
Village Square begins at 2:30, with DJ Foxy Moron, followed by The Spiritual Warriors at 3 p.m., and an official welcome starts at 3:45 p.m. Jim Cuddy and Barney Bentall take the stage at 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 11: The Maury Young Arts Centre has crafts at 2 p.m. Music starts in Village Square at 2:30 p.m. with DJ Witness, the Boom Booms at 3 p.m. and Five Alarm Funk at 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: The Maury Young Arts Centre has crafts at 2 p.m. Music starts in the Village Square with DJ PRAiZ at 2:30 p.m., followed by Lazy Syrup Orchestra at 3 p.m. and Hey Ocean! at 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: The Maury Young Arts Centre hosts Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Ambassador storytelling at 2 and 5 p.m., and the final day of music features DJ Vinyl Ritchie at 2:30 p.m. and Skratch Bastid at 3:30 p.m.
TRAVEL DETAILS
Roads will remain open during the Invictus Games, and transit options are encouraged. Parking is free in Day Lots 6, 7 and 8, with paid parking in Day Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Parking is also available for events at Whistler Olympic Park.
For more details on the festivities, head to whistler.ca or invictusgames2025.ca. n
Whistler Cycling Club calls for improvements to Highway 99
IN
LETTER TO TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY, CLUB PRESIDENT LOBBIES FOR BETTER SHOULDER-CLEARING, FOG LINES, AND SIGNAGE
BY BRANDON BARRETT
THE WHISTLER CYCLING CLUB (WCC) is calling on B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit to improve conditions along certain sections of Highway 99 that it says would make the road safer for cyclists.
In a Jan. 10 letter that was also shared with Whistler’s mayor and council, WCC president Alan Riches offered the results of the club’s annual assessment of Highway 99 cycling infrastructure in the Whistler area, completed during the biking season, from April through October.
“One of the demotivating factors for road cyclists in the area is the hazard and danger of highway traffic,” Riches said in a follow-up phone call. “As road cyclists, we don’t have a lot of choice as to where to go. We can use municipal roads, and we do a lot of times, but if you want to go on a group bike ride where you can paceline for a while, you need a better surface.”
Key to those better surfaces is shoulderclearing. Last year, the club noted the initial sweep of winter gravel on Highway 99 in Whistler took place in mid-April, more than a month earlier than in 2023, a timeline the WCC wants to see maintained going forward.
“The quality of sweeping was generally good, with the exception of northbound from Function to Spring Creek where there was considerable gravel on the shoulder throughout the cycling season,” the letter said.
The stretch of Callaghan Valley Road to Whistler Olympic Park was singled out as especially in need of repair. A feature of the annual GranFondo Whistler bike race, the WCC said the shoulder and vehicle lanes are “badly cracked and continue to deteriorate.”
The club noted repaving was done in several short sections last year, including the approach to the Callaghan Creek bridge.
“Callaghan Road is just in terrible shape,”
said Riches.
Following the first shoulder sweep of the season, the club wants to see annual repainting of fog lines in Whistler, a concern reiterated by Councillor Cathy Jewett at the Jan. 21 council meeting after no fog-line painting was done in 2024.
“I find the lack of fog lines here in Whistler to be a real problem,” she said. “As someone who cycles to Alta Vista, there’s a spot where the highway narrows to less than three feet and there’s no white line. It’s kind of scary going through that one spot … I hope we see that painting done this year. For it to go two years would be absolutely ridiculous.”
The WCC also lobbied for improved signage along Highway 99, particularly bicycle crossing signs at intersections like the ones installed in Squamish. The letter noted bike stencil pavement markings were used previously at some Whistler intersections but have since worn off.
The club recommended installing southbound “Share the Road” signs near Village Gate Boulevard in the village and Lake Placid Road in Creekside to supplement existing signs in those locations, as well as both north- and south-facing signs between Whistler and Squamish. There are currently three northbound and one southbound “Share the Road” signs within Whistler, and none on the way to Squamish.
In June, new rules came into effect in B.C., requiring highway drivers to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres when passing a cyclist. The WCC wants to see signage erected in Whistler advising motorists of the new regulations.
Several officials commended the work done by the WCC at last week’s council meeting, including Coun. Jeff Murl.
“Reading this letter, it shows me that organizations like this, volunteers who have a passion can get together and advocate and help us advocate to other levels of government,” he said. “Good work to them.” n
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SHOULDER SHRUG The Whistler Cycling Club is lobbying B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation to improve shoulderclearing, fog lines, and signage along Highway 99 in Whistler.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN RICHES
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VISI T US AT TH E WESTIN , WHISTLER
Dirt dollars: B.C. mountain biking study aims to quantify trail economics
SQUAMISH
IS ONE OF SIX B.C. COMMUNITIES TARGETED FOR THE PILOT STUDY SPEARHEADED BY MOUNTAIN BIKING BC
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS of trail systems in B.C. will soon be better understood, thanks to a study funded by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
Mountain Biking BC (MBBC) received $300,000 for a Trail Stewardship Enhancement Project and is putting the money to work in trail information kiosks and signage, as well as a community trails impact study. The study will be spearheaded in six pilot communities and then spread throughout the province to member communities that are part of MBBC. Using a mixture of mobile analytic data, focus groups, trail counters and interview intercepts, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the economic benefit of trails in the province.
Project manager and Whistlerite Grant Lamont said the pilot study will include Squamish, Golden, Fernie, Kamloops, Vernon and Cumberland.
“I think the main reason why these studies are important for trail communities, which include hikers, bikers and runners, is that data helps governments make landuse decisions. If we can show the numbers of users, where they’re from, and economic
value of visitors and local trail-users, we can lobby for more maintenance funding,” Lamont said. “In many communities with tourism pressures on trail networks, it’s the same four people doing everything. This will enable clubs to manage resources better, too.”
Executive director for MBBC, Martin Littlejohn, said with the growth in trail-users since COVID-19, many trail management organizations are feeling the pressure.
“Certainly, in COVID-19, there was a boom in trails and use, and [community groups] capacity was at its limits. That hasn’t changed much, it’s become more complex,” he said. “It’s not just people going out to build
trails, there’s a lot of administrative burden for volunteers to go through trail-building approval processes, as well as fundraising and maintaining trails.”
MBBC aims to help them by representing trail clubs at a provincial level, making a business case for trails in B.C.
“One advocacy challenge has been understanding the impact of trails, how much they’re used, where do people come from, what’s their economic value? There’s no clear view on what that really means,” Littlejohn said.
While Squamish has pre-existing economic impact data from studies in 2006
and 2016, Littlejohn said MBBC’s will be the first province-wide study digging up the dirt on trail recreation’s economic impact.
“This is a far more comprehensive, bigger in scope and ambitious project. There’s a lot of interest by communities,” he said.
Dr. Farhad Moghimehfar, BC Regional Innovation Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development and professor in the Department of Recreation and Tourism Management at Vancouver Island University, has partnered with MBBC for the study.
“There are multiple ways of gathering data, but the main focus is on mobility analytics data,” he said. “Every time we use our cellphone, the apps with active location know exactly where you are. They aggregate that data, combine it with other information they know about you that comes from your telecommunications provider like Rogers or Bell or Telus.”
While the data is anonymous and aggregated, it provides Moghimehfar with demographic information, where someone’s from and the time they’ve used a trail.
Another method of data collection is surveys for visitors and locals which will examine attitudes and understanding of local trail systems, constraints and services provided, and benefits to the community.
SEE PAGE 17 >>
604.932.3211 s.shaw@raceandco.com
PAPER TRAILS A mountain biker on a trail in Squamish.
PHOTO BY ASCENTXMEDIA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Whistler man, 22, dies after medical incident
RCMP BRIEFS: POLICE WARN OF TEXT SCAM; STAY SAFE ON WHISTLER’S ICE
BY BRANDON BARRETT
A FUNDRAISER has been launched to support the family of a 22-year-old Whistler man who died suddenly last week following a medical incident at one of his workplaces.
Identified by friends as New Zealand native Matthew “Mattie” Mitchell, he was remembered for his “remarkable life, inspiring spirit, and lasting impact,” according to friend Lisa Brignull, who launched the fundraising campaign and worked with Mitchell for years at a F45 gym in Christchurch, where she “had the privilege of watching him grow from a shy boy into a confident, inspiring young man.”
Brignull described her colleague as “more than just a remarkable F45 coach and a talented gymnast who coached the youth—he inspired and encouraged everyone around him. His infectious laugh, kind heart, and ability to uplift others made him truly one of a kind.”
Brignull goes on to say Mitchell once ran a marathon without training, “demonstrating his incredible determination, resilience, and adventurous spirit. He believed in pushing boundaries and living life to the fullest.”
Mitchell was preparing for his dinner shift at local fine dining restaurant, Wild Blue, on Thursday, Jan. 23 when he went into sudden medical distress and was later pronounced dead. His sudden passing rocked the tightknit staff at both Wild Blue and at Creekside Market, where he worked in the meat department. Both businesses closed on Jan. 24 out of respect for Mitchell and their respective teams.
Mitchell’s family is currently in Canada. A Givealittle campaign, which had raised more than $26,000 at press time, will help cover the costs of bringing Mitchell back to New Zealand, including legal and embassy fees, a full autopsy in Vancouver, funeral expenses, and flights for his family.
POLICE WARN OF TEXT SCAM
Whistler RCMP is warning of a scam circulating in certain B.C. communities in which scammers pose as police or the federal government, seeking sensitive information.
In a release Friday, Jan. 24, Mounties said
DIRT DOLLARS
FROM PAGE 16
The final method of data collection Moghimehfar spoke to was interviews and focus groups with community members and trail managers.
“We combine this data with information trail managers keep, including previous surveys, and we have an accurate understanding of what’s happening,” Moghimehfar said.
Data collection will run from February through to September, and then analysis and reporting are the next steps. Because of the
the fake text messages and emails contain “legitimate-looking RCMP and Government of Canada logos and a Canadian flag.” The public is advised not to respond to the messages, and to delete them immediately.
“We want people to know that the RCMP will never ask for individuals to provide their personal information through a text message,” wrote Cpl. Katrina Boehmer in the release.
Anyone with any information regarding the source of these text scams, or any other crime, is asked to contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044, or Crime Stoppers, at solvecrime.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS.
STAY SAFE ON WHISTLER’S ICE
With temperatures dipping well below freezing, local lakes are proving an inviting space for skaters. The last week has seen locals out on Alta and Green Lakes in Whistler, and One Mile Lake in Pemberton.
But because each lake has unique characteristics, including different freeze and thaw times, the Sea to Sky RCMP is urging skaters to be aware of the risk.
“No ice or body of water is ever entirely safe,” said Sea to Sky media relations officer Cst. Antoine Graebling in a statement. “Anyone enjoying recreational activities near a body of water must make their personal safety a top priority.”
The Whistler and Pemberton detachments added a few safety tips to help skaters keep safe out on the ice, including: knowing the condition of the ice before you go out; considering the impact of recent weather patterns; Never going out on the ice alone; telling someone your schedule, including where you’re going and what time you’re expecting to be back; coming prepared with an emergency kit; and referring to the ice thickness card from the Canadian Life Saving Society.
For more information, the RCMP recommends The Lifesaving Society’s Ice Safety Education, which, in addition to many of the tips listed by the RCMP, adds wearing a thermal protection/buoyant suit, checking in with local ice experts (like resorts, police and snowmobile clubs) before setting out and carrying a rope with you.
- Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter n
high volume of data, the team will produce multiple reports for different stakeholders that suit their needs.
“A lot of our communities across the province are seeking new ways of engaging in economic and social progress,” Moghimehfar said. “Resource-based economies are challenged, and they want to seek new ways to collect income for their community. Mountain biking has increased exponentially since COVID-19, so it’s a good time to study trail use and how it benefits the economy.” n
UBC students team up with Lil’wat for Sea to Sky forestry research
THE RESEARCH PROJECT FOCUSES ON COMMERCIAL AND PRE-COMMERCIAL THINNING, TRADITIONAL BOTANICALS AND CULTURAL BURNING
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TWENTY-ONE STUDENTS with the University of British Columbia’s Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) program visited the Sea to Sky in January to learn from Lil’wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) about economic and traditional elements of forestry.
Between Jan. 20 and 24, the students worked with LFV on how to develop a landscape-level forest management plan that respects key conservation, fire management and cultural values.
They were led by Ken Byrne, a UBC lecturer and registered professional forester (RPF) and lecturer at UBC. Byrne has been organizing these expeditions for some time, usually working to arrange the MSFM in partnership with a community forest or smaller tenure nearby or owned by a First Nation.
“Indigenous content is layered throughout the program, because obviously
we’re managing on public land which, in B.C., is largely unceded ancestral and traditional territory,” said Byrne. “We need to respect that when we’re putting together those [management] plans in ways that we have not done in the past.”
During their visit, students met with the Líl’wat Nation council, community
trees and to obtain wood products; precommercial thinning, where smaller trees with no commercial value are removed to boost biodiversity and reduce fuel for forest fires; cultural burning, a traditional practice meant to reduce the risk of fire and boost biodiversity and wildlife habitat; and botanicals, which involves research into plants with cultural
“[T]he point is that we can do it sustainably and still have a resource for our children in the future.”
- KEN BYRNE
members, and LFV staff to understand their objectives and challenges in managing the forest tenure.
Every year, Byrne works with a partner Nation to establish key themes that will guide the team’s research. This year, in collaboration with LFV general manager Klay Tindall, the team settled on four areas:
Commercial thinning, which involves selectively removing trees from a forest to improve the growth of the remaining
value to the Lil’wat Nation.
Byrne says the four themes are a necessary balance of commercial forestry and respecting traditional values.
“We’re teaching all the fundamentals of forest management, of sustainable forest management, which of course includes the economic—everybody needs wood to build houses, everybody needs paper, everybody needs the products that come from forests,” noted Byrne. “But the point is that we can do
it sustainably and still have a resource for our children in the future.
“So that’s what we teach and that is the role of a professional forester.”
The MSFM has also worked with the Osoyoos and Ulkatcho First Nations in years past on projects involving old growth and oldgrowth recruitment.
Tindall said he’s glad LFV can offer the students some hands-on learning opportunities that will help them garner a deeper understanding of forestry and push beyond commercial values.
“We’re thrilled to partner with UBC on another project,” Tindall said in a release.
“Our collaboration has allowed us to combine traditional forest science with Lil’wat cultural knowledge and values, leading to more informed management decisions.”
“These decisions have enabled Líl’wat Forestry to recognize the value of forests not just for their timber, which helps provide housing for British Columbians as well as capturing carbon in these finished wood products, but also for their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.”
In addition to working with LFV, students visited the Cheakamus Community Forest in Whistler and the Squamish Community Forest during their week-long stint in the Sea to Sky. n
FIELD TRIP Students worked with Lil’wat Forestry Ventures in community forests across the Sea to Sky from Jan. 20 to 24.
PHOTO BY KEN BYRNE
Pemberton park booking fees too high, local business tells council
IN A LETTER TO THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON, SWEET SKILLS OWNER SAYS PARK BOOKING FEES RISK DRIVING HER BUSINESS AWAY
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
SYLVIE ALLEN is the founder and coach at Sweet Skills, a women’s mountain biking outfit based in Pemberton. But after 10 years in operation, Allen is raising the alarm about the Village’s park booking fee structure—namely, a $1,000 deposit fee and $75 non-refundable permit fee.
“Given the relatively small scale and infrequency of my bookings, I am finding that the costs associated with these park reservations no longer make sense for my business, especially as I am trying to keep my pricing affordable for locals,” Allen wrote in a letter to council.
Sweet Skills uses the Den Duyf Bike Skills Park, which opened to much acclaim in 2022.
As per a 2023 bylaw, booking a park or public space for a commercial/corporate event (which Sweet Skills is classified as), requires a six-month permit fee of $75, an hourly rental fee of $25.45/hour for adults, and a refundable security deposit of $1,000.
“The $75 permit fee covers administrative costs associated with reviewing applications and issuing permits,” according to a spokesperson for the Village of Pemberton. “The fee also supports and offsets the cost of operations and maintenance for our public spaces.”
According to the bylaw, the security deposit can take up to a month to return to renters.
Allen’s classes are aimed at adults and run between once and three times a year, between one and three hours each time. That means a single session can cost up to $1,151.35.
Allen’s letter compared the cost to Whistler’s booking; No permit or deposit fee, and a lower hourly rental fee ($21.35 compared
to Pemberton’s $25.45). The same event, held in Whistler, would cost her $64.05
And while she prefers Pemberton’s bike park to Whistler’s offering (partly because she’s a local), she wrote the “disproportionate” nature of the fee structure might prompt her to take her business elsewhere.
COUNCIL’S RESPONSE
During the Jan. 21 council meeting, officials seemed amenable to re-evaluating the park booking scheme.
“I think the letter [was] very informative, well laid out and just raises some concerns about how we’re supporting a small business owner,” said Councillor Katrina Nightingale, adding she was concerned about Allen having to take her business elsewhere.
“I’m wondering if there’s a way we can consider what she’s addressing, which is the fees, and specifically the huge $1,000 deposit fee for park bookings is significant.”
Part of the problem, said Nightingale, is the funding structure for amenities like the bike park. Grants enable the village to build those services, but once construction is finished, there are often fewer avenues for grants to support services.
“Based on the letter, I think that there’s room for some [consideration] on how that structure is working right now with regards to that space,” said Pemberton chief administrative officer Elizabeth Tracy.
“Now would we as a village be able to go in the same direction that Whistler does in terms of providing the space for free? Perhaps not, because we do need that revenue to maintain the amenities that we have, but there may be adjustments that we may be able to make.”
Council motioned to have recreation staff look into booking fees and deposits. n
UPS AND DOWNS The local bike camp and clinic business uses the Pemberton Skills Park located at Den Duyf Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON
North Shore trails need cooperation, not contention
I’VE NEVER really felt the need to participate in Dry January, Sober October or any other sober form of virtue signalling. I applaud those who cut back their alcohol intake, of course, but I’ve always found consumption in moderation year-round is a healthier approach than a month off the booze bookended by partying and heavy drinking.
BY VINCE SHULEY
But this Dry January weather? Well that can piss right off.
There’s a couple of reasons I’m disappointed with how January showed up this year. One is the fact we had such a strong start, but instead of keeping the momentum going, this consistent high-pressure system has all but taken the wind out of the winter sails.
Two: WTF La Niña? I thought we were friends, but you’ve barely shown up for your scheduled visit. There’s still time to turn this around, baby. I believe in you. February will be our month. I know it.
Low-snow complaints aside, I try to be an optimist in such trying times. Sharpen your carving skis, blast the groomers and stay up on the mountain until the sun begins to set. As the Eastern skiers can attest, there’s still fun to be had when the runs are rock solid. But in conditions like these my gaze starts to wander to my mountain bike, which I’ve
learned you should never have buried too deep in your gear storage over the winter.
The other thing that’s got me thinking about trails is the current controversies on Vancouver’s North Shore. Earlier this month, the North Shore Mountain Bike Association’s (NSMBA) executive director Deanne Cote penned an open letter all but condemning the actions of rogue trail builders. These are the diggers that proceed to build unsanctioned trails without any permission from landmanagement bodies, in this case Metro Vancouver.
The proliferation of rogue trails—which spiked during the pandemic alongside mountain biking’s popularity—is once again drawing ire from other user groups on the North Shore. Back in November, someone went as far as booby-trapping Corkscrew, a busy and authorized mountain bike trail
and advocacy efforts. Metro Vancouver has resorted to decommissioning trails like New Normal, which despite rising in popularity with advanced and expert riders and getting some maintenance, was not built with permission. I’ll note here that I haven’t ridden New Normal and can’t speak to the quality and consistency of the maintenance being done.
I feel for the core riders on the North Shore. Those who’ve grown up with challenging trail systems built by expert builders but are now frustrated with a system of busier, less challenging sanctioned trails. Squamish and Whistler trail networks have only expanded and—with a few exceptions—have only gotten better in the last 20 years, with unsanctioned building playing a significant part.
Cam McRae from MTB website NSMB.com (no relation to NSMBA) did a great roundup of opinions from core North Shore riders
Rather than spending taxpayer dollars chainsawing through bridgework or throwing logs over the trail to effectively shut it down, effort should be made to overcome the bureaucracy of legitimate trail building...
on Mount Seymour, with piles of debris including nasty-looking rusted nails sticking out of wood.
Cote, who represents the NSMBA, noted despite it happening in the past, the old way of building unsanctioned trails and later trying to retroactively sanction them is not sustainable—not on the busy North Shore, anyway. Building unsanctioned trails puts the whole community back a few steps as it pertains to land-management relationships
including bike shop owners, trail builders and former NSMBA leaders and board members on the state of the challenges North Shore riders are facing. Many were quick to defend the hard-working staff of the NSMBA, but were less happy with the organization’s messaging lately.
Almost all were critical of Metro Vancouver’s approach to trail management. Rather than spending taxpayer dollars chainsawing through bridgework or throwing
logs over the trail to effectively shut it down, effort should be made to overcome the bureaucracy of legitimate trail building, they said. Unfortunately, not enough mountain bikers seem to have the patience for that, hence all the rogue trail building in a trail system that’s obviously not meeting the needs of the mountain bike community.
Where Cote erred in her interview with CBC was suggesting enforcement against rogue trail building could be a potential solution to curbing the practice. The NSMBA membership was not impressed, saying unsanctioned trail building is what built the network in the first place, and that the “more stick, less carrot” approach will only lead to a network of bland trails without any steep or technical features, which is what defines North Shore riding in the first place.
When the original North Shore trails were built back in the ’80s and ’90s, it was the Wild West, likely with a few hundred riders at most on any given day. Now, there’s a massive riding population within a stone’s throw of all those trails, dozens of competing user groups and a slew of inefficient land management bureaucracies. It’s no wonder they’re experiencing all these issues. Calling for the heads of the NSMBA’s leadership is not the answer, but those leaders need to remember they are beholden to the riding community. While not perfect, our own trails in the Sea to Sky don’t seem to have the same level of land-management complexity that the North Shore trails do, something I’m thankful for. But there will come a time when our own community will have to wrestle with the same issues. Both Squamish and Whistler have had their battles in the past to preserve riding zones, so I’m sure we’ll be ready for it.
Vince Shuley is ready for winter to make a triumphant return. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince. shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
TRUE NORTH Vancouver’s North Shore trails played a key role in the evolution of mountain biking, but rogue building and land management bureaucracy is creating conflict among user groups.
PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY
Overcoming climate change requires system change
FIRES SCORCHING CALIFORNIA, floods inundating Spain, heat killing and knocking monkeys from trees in Mexico, droughts scouring southern Africa, hurricanes ripping through the U.S.—it’s impossible to ignore. Scientists confirm 2024 was the hottest year on record for land and ocean—exceeding expectations. Average global temperature breached the 1.5 C threshold for the first time last year. Every year for the past 10 years has been the hottest!
“To put that in perspective, temperatures during the warm periods on Earth three million years ago—when sea levels were dozens of feet higher than today—were
are available and improving every day. But the powerful fossil fuel industry and its related arms—including the auto industry—are holding us back. Corporate executives amass obscene wealth as conflict and war drive global profits to record levels.
We could have cleaner air, water and land, a stabler climate, more green spaces, better jobs and working conditions, greater equity and improved health and wellbeing if we were to stop being fooled into believing that putting profit above planet is good.
BY DAVID SUZUKI
only around 3 C warmer than pre-industrial levels,” NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt said in the Guardian. “We are halfway to Pliocene-level warmth in just
When will people take it seriously?
We’re activating feedback loops and breaching tipping points, with extreme weather–related events increasing and ecosystems collapsing, yet we carry on as if everything’s fine. Sure, a lot of progress has been and is being made in cleaner, renewable energy and other solutions, but we’re not moving quickly enough—thanks mainly to the fossil fuel industry and its political and media lackeys.
Every minute we stall in getting away from gas, oil and coal locks more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, wreaking accelerating havoc for years, decades or centuries. The
We need every tool, from market solutions such as carbon pricing (misleadingly called “carbon taxes”) to transformative shifts away from the consumer-capitalist regime that’s destroying Earth’s life-support systems.
Change is hard. And leaving it until the problem has become a crisis makes it harder. But not changing will make life far more difficult for far more of us, and for those who come after us. We still have time and opportunity to create a better world from this crisis, but it’s quickly running out.
As the New York Times reports, “If nations had started reducing emissions in 2005, they could have made gradual cuts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees,” while starting in 2015 with adoption of the Paris Agreement “would have required steeper cuts” and “Starting today would require cuts so drastic as to appear essentially impossible.”
We absolutely must use energy wisely and efficiently, rapidly shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, protect and restore natural spaces and free ourselves from the wasteful consumerist economic systems that hold us hostage.
Change will take effort from everyone. We must stay informed, engaged and active. We must learn to look beyond industry propaganda to find the truth and share it with others. As climate scientist Peter Kalmus
Change will take effort from everyone. We must stay informed, engaged and active.
devastation will continue to worsen unless we free ourselves from the suicidal fossil fuel economy—hotter, drier conditions and strong winds fuelling massive wildfires, increased bouts of precipitation combined with denuded hills and lands triggering floods and landslides, water becoming scarce as glaciers melt and reservoirs dry up, migrants fleeing areas made inhospitable by heating temperatures, agriculture decimated by droughts and floods.
The climate crisis is also fuelling an affordability crisis, as extreme weather events, floods, fires, droughts, heat and pollution drive agricultural losses, increase healthcare costs, hamper supply chains and make property insurance prohibitively expensive or impossible to obtain in affected areas.
The most frustrating part is that solutions
writes in the Guardian, “Let’s do everything we can think of to chip away at the social license that the billionaire class and the fossil fuel industry desperately cling to.”
We must urge politicians from all parties to take this crisis—and opportunity—seriously. So, get involved, have conversations, write letters, sign petitions, march in the streets, vote for good climate policies, spend time in nature—do everything you can to ensure a brighter future for everyone.
There’s no end to what we can accomplish if we work together!
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. Learn more at davidsuzuki.org. n
Lost in the deep Mapping shows Canada’s seabeds
could hold billions of tonnes of carbon
Flat, cold and seemingly devoid of life—muddy seabeds have largely been ignored as Canada moves to double the share of its oceans under protection to 30 per cent of its exclusive economic zone by the end of the decade.
But according to a new study, published Jan. 17 in the journal FACETS, those assumptions are wildly off base.
By Stefan Labbé
“Blue carbon” sinks—including the world’s mangrove forests, salt marshes and sea grass beds—have become an increasingly popular climate solution for governments and businesses looking to pull carbon out of the atmosphere in the same way trees do.
Out of view of the public, deep, muddy seabeds have rarely been considered, according to Graham Epstein, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Victoria’s department of biological sciences and the study’s lead author.
“Muddy sea floors can sometimes not be as fully appreciated,” said Epstein. “They can be a bit of a harder sell.”
Yet according to Epstein’s calculations, just the top 30 centimetres of Canada’s exclusive economic zone contains almost 11 billion tonnes of carbon. That’s equal to half the carbon stored in Canada’s forests.
The study—which brought researchers together from UVic, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Oceans North—says when Canada is expanding marine conservation areas, it should consider including more carbon-rich sea beds as deep as 2,500 metres under the surface.
Researchers say bottom-fishing, deep-sea mining, oil and gas extraction, and marine construction all threaten to disturb a biological carbon pump that plays a critical role in removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Carbon pump under threat
Around the world, the top one metre of seabed sediments are estimated to hold about 2,300 billion tonnes of organic carbon—about 200 times more than what’s stored in all coastal vegetation.
About a third of that sea-floor carbon comes from rivers pouring organic matter into the sea. The rest is from often microscopic creatures that die at sea and later sink to the bottom in a biological carbon pump that cycles carbon dioxide deep into the world’s oceans for up to thousands of years at a time.
By absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and breaking down dead animal and plant matter so it can sink deep into the ocean, microbes and plankton have long acted as one of the lungs of the global climate system. But there are some worrying signs that system is faltering.
Epstein said the amount of CO2 the ocean can absorb from the atmosphere globally is already slowing down because of the effects of climate change.
In 2021, a study looking into the impacts of a marine heat wave off the coast of Western Canada found the so-called “blob” threatened to re-order the ocean’s biological pump. As nutrient levels dropped in the warmer water, the size of phytoplankton cells decreased in a trend that could mean less carbon is getting scrubbed from the atmosphere.
Any activities that disturb carbon buried on the ocean floor would mix it back into the seawater. And that could limit the ocean’s carbon-sucking powers even further, said Epstein.
“It could slow the ocean’s abilities to continue to absorb carbon,” he said.
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Locals rack up 20 medals at Western Canadian Biathlon Championships
SEA TO SKY NORDICS AND WHISTLER NORDIC DEVELOPMENT CENTRE ATHLETES NET SEVEN GOLDS IN CALLAGHAN VALLEY
BY DAVID SONG
THIS YEAR’S Western Canadian Biathlon Championships (WCBC) yielded a flurry of success for local contenders, who earned a grand total of 20 medals.
Among them was Mia Rodger, who authored two of the meet’s most dramatic victories in a spirited head-to-head with Cheyenne Tirschmann.
Rodger edged out her rival from Biathlon Yukon by 1.8 seconds in the youth women’s sprint on Friday, Jan. 24 (with everybody else more than 18 seconds behind the pace). Rodger next prevailed by 7.6 seconds over Tirschmann in Saturday’s mass start. Both are headed to Östersund, Sweden in late February to represent Canada at the World Youth Championships.
“Mia’s dad actually was the race organizer and apparently she’s really good friends [with Cheyenne],” remarked Sea to Sky Nordics board member Lesley Trivett. “It’s pretty tight competition. [1.8 seconds] is not a lot, especially when you’re looking at time on the
range, transitions, potential penalties and all that kind of stuff.”
Lucas Smith and Tyler Ng became the weekend’s most decorated locals. Smith stood atop the open men’s podium three times (once for sprint, twice in mass start), with Ng notching a trio of runner-up finishes.
Among U17 male sprinters, Reed Murray and his twin brother Max collected silver and bronze, respectively—the margin between
overall, especially since it feels like our winter training had a slower start [no thanks to lower snow levels],” said Sea to Sky Nordics head biathlon coach Sarah McCaw. “I am even more impressed by our community of parents and families that continue to support these events even when their athletes have moved on from the sport. I think it speaks volumes about the impact the sport of biathlon has on athletes and what a close group we are.
“It was a terrific event and the many clubs have expressed their gratitude and appreciation...”
- SARAH MCCAW
them less than two seconds. Reed proceeded to win the U17 prone mass start, and Max was third again.
Other Sea to Sky medallists include Lucas Clements (youth men’s mass start gold and sprint silver), Alexander Hatloe (junior men’s silver in both disciplines) and Taje Hansen (bronze, youth men’s mass start).
Ivan Pozniak placed second and third in the adult 3 men’s category and Graham Tutti contributed a third-place result of his own.
“Honestly I am impressed by the athletes
“It was a terrific event and the many clubs have expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the organizing committee.”
‘NOTHING BEATS WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK’
A total of 136 athletes, including 22 from Sea to Sky Nordics and the Whistler Nordic Development Centre, participated in the WCBC this time around. Visitors stopped by from across British Columbia and Canmore, Alta.,
Winnipeg, Man., Lumsden, Sask., Hay River, N.W.T., Whitehorse, Yukon, and two American cities (Middleton, Wisc. and Granby, Colo.) as well as Villard de Lans, France.
How did the event reach as far abroad as France? Masters athlete Pierre Duflon, at one point a Sea to Sky resident, brought a group together to revisit his old stomping grounds.
More than 50 volunteers helped things run on schedule, including youth from Whistler Secondary School (WSS) and the region’s downhill skiing programs.
“It speaks to the venue and the community, the relationships we’ve built over the years,” Trivett said. “Nothing beats Whistler Olympic Park on a groomed, beautiful day when we have the right snow, and the park has done an amazing job even given the dry spell. It’s nice to see intersport support across the board, especially since biathlon isn’t the usual thing people think of when they think about Whistler.
“Other kids who were performing this weekend didn’t make the podium, but had strong results and I think that speaks to the quality of our coaching and talent. Our head coach, Sarah, is seeing kids she taught when they were seven now competing at the World Cup level. We’re super pleased with the results and what we’re seeing out of our alumni as well.”
For more results from the 2025 WCBC, visit zone4.ca/event/2025/O0DbrE. n
WESTERN FRONT Athletes in action at the 2025 Western Canadian Biathlon Championships. PHOTO BY JOJO NG
Local moguls skier Alex Mysko finds purpose in retirement
THE FORMER FREESTYLE BC ATHLETE REFLECTS ON ENDING HIS CAREER
BY DAVID SONG
WHEN YOU SPEND your whole life striving towards a goal and you reach the end of that road, what happens next?
Alex Mysko found himself grappling with that question last April, when he officially retired from moguls skiing. The Barrie, Ont. native had been in Whistler for roughly two years competing with Freestyle BC, yet he knew the end had come.
No longer was Mysko willing to push himself to the limit. Moguls athletes walk a razor’s edge between amplitude and precision, and in order to be great one must endure his or her fair share of bone-rattling falls. Shy away from doing so, and you’ll find your progress plateauing or stagnating outright.
Change is afoot, too. Judges no longer evaluate the discipline as they did when Alexandre Bilodeau won his first of two Olympic championships at Vancouver 2010. Different styles of turning and new strategic approaches now play into the hands of certain individuals—of which Mysko is not one.
You can labour for years to ply your craft by the book, but the book can always change. Mysko found that experience “demeaning,” and his commitment waned once he felt like he no longer had a solid benchmark to aim for in training.
Nevertheless, the early days of retirement were by no means pleasant.
“Originally I was pretty lost,” Mysko admitted. “I never knew who Alex was other than Alex the Skier. My entire identity was Alex the Skier. People would just ask me about skiing, and everything was always about skiing because that’s how people knew me— that’s how I knew myself. When you close that chapter and no longer have that identity, it’s terrifying.”
Mysko’s brother, Paul, called him out. Knowing Mysko needed to hold his head up and get going again in life, Paul did what any caring family member would do.
He exhorted Mysko to run a marathon.
MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES
Forty-two-odd kilometres of aerobic punishment isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but Mysko found it life-giving. He was able to point the skills and habits from his skiing career in a new direction, training six days per week. It felt natural, like he’d never truly ceased working. He loved the newfound grind.
Back in late October, the brothers started the Niagara Falls International Marathon. Mysko placed 48th and Paul finished a very respectable 20th overall among men, but their results weren’t the point.
“I truly think that marathon and training all summer was the saving grace to my retirement,” said Mysko.
When asked to reflect on his career, the 21-year-old alludes to countless memories and lessons learned through world travel,
observing and competing against the best. He now understands medals and performance goals aren’t the be-all and end-all.
“Skiing really teaches you that it’s about the journey and what you get from the experiences,” Mysko elaborated. “On a bad day, one of your teammates can pick you up and carry you along. As an athlete, you’re so focused on trying to be the best, working hard every day and getting better. There’s egos involved and conflict, and everyone’s young.
“You’re so engaged and involved that you lose sense of what you’re actually doing. I think the coolest part is to look back and think: damn, those are just memories and experiences we all got to cherish together.”
‘REALIZE WHAT YOU’RE DOING’
One of Mysko’s formative memories came at 11 years of age, when coach Kaelan Doucette brought him to his first moguls event in Caledon, Ont.
Mysko began skiing as a toddler but had spent a year away from the sport. Doucette convinced him to try a different discipline, and he won. Nascent dreams burst to life inside the youngster’s mind, and he could scarcely stop thinking about his new favourite pastime.
Watching Bilodeau fly to gold on home snow provided additional inspiration, and Mysko aimed for a competitive pathway. The Olympics and World Cup circuit ultimately remained out of reach, but he did become a veteran of provincial teams in Ontario and British Columbia.
“If you’re an athlete, you really have to take a step back and realize what you’re doing, and how cool it is,” he said. “On hard days, I asked myself: ‘would 10-year-old Alex be happy with what I’m doing?’
“Of course there was more on the table I would’ve loved to accomplish, however, I still accomplished way more in my career than I
“Ten-year-old Alex would never believe what I did.”
- ALEX MYSKO
could ever have thought. Ten-year-old Alex would never believe what I did.”
Mysko is back in Ontario for now. He sees himself working in business long-term, a field he’s prepared for due to years of trial, error and personal growth in sport. The allure of the Sea to Sky still calls to him, though, and he plans to return one day.
“Whistler’s just a magical place,” Mysko remarked. “You can do everything all the time. In the spring, you can ski and golf on the same day, and in winter you can go find the best powder all over the mountain. There’s always something to do. There’s always an adventure to go on in Whistler.” n
53rd FILLUGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHISTLER
February 6-8 février
WhistlerSlidingCentre /4910GlacierLane,Whistler Centre dessportsdeglissedeWhistler/ 4910,alléeGlacier,Whistler
luge.ca/wc2025
RaceTimes Programme:
Thursday/jeudi
February 06 février
Races/épreuves: 10:30- 12:45
Awards/prix: 13:00
Friday/vendredi
February 07 février
Races/épreuves: 14:00- 19:30
Awards/prix: 20:30
AprèsLuge
Saturday/samedi February 08 février Races/épreuves: 13:45- 17:45
The Matrix lives—so you want the red pill or the blue?
FANS COULDN’T HAVE PICKED A BETTER OPENER FOR THE PEOPLE’S FILM NEW SEASON
IT WAS SO DAMN PERFECT the people chose The Matrix for kicking off Arts Whistler’s 2025 People’s Film series—a mere nine days after Trump’s coronation—that we should all give “The People” who voted for it a hearty pat on their collective back, or at least shake their collective hand. (The People’s Film is a Whistler fan favourite where the community votes on one of four movies related to a central theme.)
If you were too young to have soaked up The Matrix when it was first released, or too
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
busy to catch it this go-round, it’s no secret this 1999 piece of cinematic dynamite pretty much blew up movie-making—maybe even the way we think of reality—forever.
The first of what eventually grew into a series, The Matrix stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer programmer-turned-hacker recruited by rebels to help them fight AI machines that have taken over the world and stuck all the humans inside a giant simulated reality called the Matrix. At one point, Neo can take a red pill, which would let him see what was really happening beyond the Matrix’s simulated reality, or a blue pill, which would let him return to experiencing the la-la-land illusion.
The whole Matrix metaphor of feeling like you’re trapped in a totally unreal reality has become a huge icon for the transgender community, and more. Many fans also think The Matrix was so cyber-prescient and AI-precognitive we could set all our futurism watches by it, even today. (Could anyone ever have imagined all the self-satisfied CEOs and billionaire owners/enablers of AI and social media at Trump’s coronation along with the digital influencers tying their own hot-air balloons to same?)
The Matrix directors are the Wachowskis—trans sisters, Lilly and Lana, who grew up on comic books and gaming, and are still into them big time. Children of a Polish immigrant, they were both born as boys and grew up in Chicago, one of the sanctuary cities ICE has already raided— along with Dr. Phil, the TV personality!—for undocumented immigrants, as per Trump’s first-day executive orders.
More Trump/Matrix ironies are at play than you can shake a stick at. Like his launch of a US$500-billion AI plan, and all the gender-affirming policies he nuked with another first-day executive order, declaring there are only two genders—male and female. This reality-warping order is straight out of The Matrix with statements like this: “These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
Huh. Beyond the theatrical Trumpian tossing of pens into the audience at the Capitol One Arena—like Eddie Van Halen tossing guitar picks into a crowd—after he signed eight executive orders onstage, all this makes me wonder two things: Did “The People” of Whistler have some kind of insider scoop on what he was going to sign into action when they voted on The Matrix? And what kind of
movie-making dynamite can we expect from the Wachowskis now?
Never mind all the tariffs and “Canada, the 51st state” hoo-ha he continues to spout (the latter drawing audible gasps from participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos during his digital appearance there), if you’re still on the fence about our new simulated reality, how about this? For several hours on Jan. 20, Meta showed exactly zero results on Instagram and Reddit for any Democrat or left-leaning hashtags (like #Democrat, #DNC or #TheLeft), while #Republican and the like popped up with millions of posts.
Remember, these are the same media platforms, now fact check-free, owned and operated by Mr. Zuckerberg—only one of the dozen or so social media giants, billionaire tech executives and other non-elected officials front and centre in the main “throne room” for the coronation, the Capitol Rotunda. Meanwhile, nary a state governor was to be seen there. Those would be the officials elected by millions of American voters.
As for that simulacra-type Democrat breach at Meta, even their own officials said they were baffled. Russian bots, anyone?
We know Russia, China and Iran all interfered with the 2016 U.S. election, and again in 2024, seeding divisive voter disinformation. Heck, never mind elections. There’s pretty much a pernicious and constant firehose of online Matrix-ing happening around the world.
The not-for-profit Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMas), which was set up in Germany in 2021 to monitor extremism, identified more than 600 Doppelgänger posts coming out of Russia in the weeks before the upcoming German election. Mimicking reliable legacy media like der Spiegel, the
posts are filled with lies and disinformation boosting the far-right AfD party. And they’ve attracted 2 million-plus views. Similar Russian Doppelgänger campaigns to sow division and confusion amongst voters have previously mimicked The Guardian, France’s Le Parisien and RBC Ukraine.
So where’s Neo when we need him?
Don’t think for a minute that Canada is immune to all this. But so far our response has been relatively, well, Canadian. In 2023, the feds set up a commission to look into foreign election interference. Like a scene from The Matrix , the final report came out the day before The People’s Film night. While it found no evidence of traitors, it warns about disinformation destroying our democracy. Shockingly, it does zip-all to set up a tangible monitoring tool like CeMAS, but MP Charlie Angus has called for an investigation into the reality-warping power of Mr. “X” Musk.
Before I sign off, here’s one more mindblower from our collective pseudo-reality. Last I checked, schools in Whistler and beyond still aren’t educating kids on how to critically analyze what they see online.
Media literacy? Bias mindset? Really, couldn’t we all take a semester-long course in both right now? (See Pique ’s excellent Jan. 17 “Opening Remarks” by our fearless editor, Braden Dupuis, for more on such reality warps.)
Meanwhile, the Wachowskis are still making movies, and The Matrix is alive and well.
So which pill would you like—the red one or the blue?
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’s never swallowed a blue pill in her life. n
MEADOW PARKSPORTS CENTRE
FITNESSCLASSSCHEDULE
separate feeand allowyou to register for classesonthedays that fit your
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Awfully Hilarious: Period Pieces wins 2024 Canadian Book Club Award
ANTHOLOGY CURATOR HEATHER HENDRIE FEELS IT VITAL TO BREAK THE STIGMA AROUND MENSTRUATION
BY DAVID SONG
IF YOU’RE AT A PARTY with friends or in the office chatting to colleagues, there are various acceptable topics to broach. Menstruation isn’t usually one of them.
Sea to Sky author Heather Hendrie wants to erode that taboo. Why? Because (barring exceptional circumstances) every girl gets her first period. Every woman deals with them for decades as a routine part of life. For those born with two X chromosomes, menstruation is as normal as going to the bathroom is for everybody.
Hendrie is well-versed in challenging social stigma. The first entry in her Awfully Hilarious series, titled Stories We Never Tell, was inspired by an uncomfortable date. Her recent second instalment, Period Pieces, is about exactly what you’d expect.
“This actually is a potential tool and way of getting some really important social messages out there,” Hendrie says. “Menstruation has historically been so stigmatized, received so little attention. There’s been significantly less funding of women’s health over the years … so I put out the call for submissions and very quickly was inundated with stories. We really hit a nerve.”
Period Pieces has been well-received and
then some. It won a 2024 Canadian Book Club Award (CBCA) in the anthology/short story division as the only independently-published work to do so.
“I’m really moved by this because [the CBCA] is a reader’s choice award—the biggest reader’s choice awards in Canada,” Hendrie says. “This means people have read the book and given us a vote of confidence. Twentysix of us contributed to the project and I’m so delighted that they now get to be called award-winning authors, many of them for the first time. Here’s our 11-year-old: she’s an award-winning author.”
this life event,” remarks Hendrie. “If you read the stories of the 60- and 70-year-old contributors, they’re very, very different. For some people my age or slightly older—I’m 45—it’s still really scary to say, ‘I have my period.’ Many menstruating people have the experience of hiding a tampon up their sleeve to go to the bathroom.
“Period products should be as ubiquitous as toilet paper in a washroom … but in some parts of the world, people have to choose between groceries or period products. That’s just not OK. If it weren’t for periods, none of us would exist, yet there’s so little understanding and the
“If you’ve got a story to tell and you feel shy, you’re not alone.”
- HEATHER HENDRIE
PHOTO BY JULIA BURSEY
TURNING THE TIDE
As a creative nonfiction anthology, each poem or prose segment in Period Pieces reflects the true experience of its writer. A promotional blurb on Amazon states the book “explores menstruation through feminine (but not always female) archetypal milestones of the maiden, mother, and crone—and the many identities we embody in between.”
The collection begins with an 11-year-old girl looking forward to her first period as a rite of passage: an idea that may baffle many.
“Kudos to her mom and the culture she’s growing up in because she’s excited about
medical establishment has yet to catch up.”
Fortunately, the social tide appears to be turning towards a greater level of understanding.
HUMOUR: THE BEST MEDICINE
Hendrie works as a clinical counsellor with True Nature Wilderness Therapy. She understands how to help folks heal from trauma. Period Pieces can, in her opinion, also provide a measure of healing.
“A few things really help with that: one is
community, and another is being able to feel a sense of validation to put things in perspective. Humour is a really, really good tool for our nervous systems. Often you might feel a sense of relief after a good cry, and laughter can actually achieve something very similar. Some of these stories might make you laugh, some could make you cry, but that’s very deliberate.”
Indeed, an event wouldn’t be Awfully Hilarious if there wasn’t some element of “awful.”
Hendrie also wishes to shout out Period Pieces editor Meghan Power for going outside the box. Instead of rigidly adhering to British English conventions, she took into account where each contributor learned to speak and read. Normally it would be odd for one poem to spell “color” without a “u” and the next to include a “u”, but Hendrie thinks Power did an excellent job maintaining every writer’s voice in this fashion.
Period Pieces is available locally at the Whistler Public Library, Armchair Books, Get the Goods in Creekside and Arts Whistler. The next Awfully Hilarious collection, Pillow Talk, is in production, too—it’s meant to be an honest look at sexuality and intimacy. Submissions close April 15 and Hendrie encourages people to consider throwing their perspective into the hat.
“If you’ve got a story to tell and you feel shy, you’re not alone,” she elaborates. “Our intent is to give preference to historically marginalized or unrepresented voices. We really want a diversity of voices, but we’re looking for suppressed stories. Somebody does not have to identify in any particular way in order to submit.”
Learn more at awfullyhilarious.com. n
FUNNY STORY Contributors to Awfully Hilarious: Period Pieces left to right: Claire Sicherman, Nicole Breit, Heather Hendrie, Erica Otto, Stephanie Nand and Bridget McClarty.
Veterans Art Show and Exhibition graces Whistler until Feb. 15
THE NEW EXHIBIT IS PRESENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UPCOMING INVICTUS GAMES
BY DAVID SONG
THE INVICTUS GAMES is all about providing unwell soldiers with a pathway to healing through sport, but there are other ways to rebound from trauma as well. Creativity fits the bill, and that’s why the Maury Young Arts Centre is hosting a Veterans Art Show and Exhibition.
On display until Feb. 15, the new exhibit is described as “illustrating the transformative and therapeutic role of art in fostering resilience and recovery” on Arts Whistler’s website.
People don’t always envision fine art and military service as things that go hand-inhand with one another, but both have been integral parts of Chief Warrant Officer Chris Hennebery’s life. Hennebery, who created the Veterans Art Show, joined the Canadian Forces at 16 years of age and is still part of the Royal Westminster Regiment (an infantry reserve unit) some four decades later.
Hennebery was educated at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. He works for multinational software giant SAP by day and spends much of his free time painting, sculpting or dealing with ceramics. The 100 Mile House native even founded the Veteran Artists Collective (VAC): a nonprofit organization that facilitates art workshops for active-duty Forces members and veterans alike.
“From my point of view, the military and serving in Canada has always been about creating time and opportunity to better myself and help my community—and from the art side, it’s not that much different,” Hennebery says. “Both are kind of scary in their own ways. Both are not well-suited for people who want to be in a purely safe space. Both require you to put yourself out there: to commit, be passionate and look to create specific outcomes.”
One positive outcome creative expression can bring is improved mental health. When an individual is doing an exercise like painting or carving, the parts of his or her brain that tend to focus on trauma can quieten—not unlike the endorphin release associated with physical activity.
Hennebery has lost more friends to suicide than to the War in Afghanistan, driving him to give back to his fellow soldiers. The VAC runs programs all over Canada introducing service members to art, but also granting opportunities for them to showcase the fruits of their labour.
‘AN
EFFORT OF LOVE’
Last November, the first VAC art show took place around Remembrance Day at the Gallery George in Vancouver. It was hugely successful, not just in terms of art pieces sold but also in terms of letting veterans see their work presented professionally.
Before long, a chance for service members to display their art in conjunction with the Invictus Games materialized.
Hennebery played a role in bringing the Games to Vancouver and 40 artists answered his call for submissions. The result: more than 150 pieces of content to be shown in parallel at the Gallery George and the Maury Young.
“It all came together pretty seamlessly,” comments the longtime reservist. “We were like: ‘hold my beer, let’s do [another show] times two.’ A lot of work went in from the artists, gallery owners and volunteers. They concentrated on creating some beautiful pieces of work, and the quality is amazing. The galleries have been awesome to work with.”
Hennebery also wishes to thank key VAC partners like Honour House, the Royal Canadian Legion and the True Patriot Love Foundation. Even Boeing, known for manufacturing military aircraft in addition to commercial jetliners, emerged “out of nowhere” to sponsor the art show in Vancouver and Whistler.
“This has been an effort of love,” says Hennebery. “Invictus is about overcoming challenges, using sport and physicality and really working hard to improve yourself … applying those parts of your brain where a lot of trauma resides. Art [yields] the same outcome. You’re getting healthier, you feel like you’re achieving something. There’s a competitiveness to it, and there’s a selfimprovement to it.”
For more information about the Veterans Art Show in Whistler, visit artswhistler.com/calendarupcoming/veterans-art-show-exhibition. n
NOTICE
2025COMMUNITYENRICHMENTPROGRAM
TheResort municipality ofWhistler(RMOW)will be accepting Community EnrichmentProgram(CEP)applicationsfrom community groups looking for financial assistance for2025.TheapplicationperiodrunsfromJanuary 24 to February14,2025,
TheCEPprovidesfunding to not-for-profitorganizationsor societiesbased withinWhistlerthat are considered by Council to be contributing to the generalinterestand advantageofthemunicipality.The categoriesinclude ‘Environment’, ‘SocialServices’, ‘Community Services’, ‘RecreationandSport’ or ‘ArtsandCulture’
Eachinterested community groupis required to complete aGrantApplication Formandpresent to Council at a CommitteeoftheWholeMeetingon February25,2025.Allapprovedfundingwillbeissuedno laterthanApril30,2025.
GrantApplication Formsare available at www.whistler.ca/cep or at the receptiondeskoftheWhistlerMunicipalHall,Monday to Friday,from8a.m. to4:30p.m.
Pleasesubmitapplicationto: LegislativeServicesDepartment,RMOW 4325Blackcomb Way Whistler,BCV8E0X5
Phone: 604-935-8114
Email: corporate@whistler.ca
Completedapplicationsmustbe received by 4p.m. February14,2025.No late applicationswill be accepted.
To learnmore,visitwhistler.ca/cep
PATH TO HEALING “Twilight” by Ginette Robitaille.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BECKY SMYKALA/ARTS WHISTLER
ACCESSIBLE PEAKS:
ARTS SCENE
PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE
Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
THE CHAIR SERIES
THE CHAIR SERIES
Sixteen monologues. Eight actors. One writer. The Chair Series back at the lodge! Written and directed by Vancouver playwright John McGie, The Chair Series is theatre at its most fundamental level. There are no large props, costumes or elaborate sets. The only prop is a chair for each actor and some sound to augment the story. The actors rely solely on their craft and the script that McGie has written specifically for each player.
> Feb. 1, 7 p.m.
> Point Artist-Run Centre
> $20
ALTA LAKE BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists on the first Saturday of the month for a walk to Rainbow Park. Open to anyone interested in learning about birds and contributing as a citizen scientist. There will be experienced birders on hand who are happy to share their knowledge. More information at whistlernaturalists.ca/birding.
> Feb. 1, 9 a.m.
> Meet at the bottom of Lorimer Road by the catholic church.
> Free
RAVEN SPIRIT CONTEMPORARY DANCE
This introductory class, run by Raven Spirit Dance’s co-artistic director, Starr Muranko, is open to all levels and invites you to deepen your connection with your body and breath while discovering your natural movement expression. Creative movement explorations are inspired by themes of land, place and identity.
> Feb. 1, 4:30 p.m.
> Maury Young Arts Centre
> $21.69
LEARN TO BURNWOODBURNING 101
Step into a world of creativity and warmth with this exclusive woodburning workshop guided by a passionate local artist known for her engaging teaching style. Over the course of two immersive hours, you’ll learn the fundamentals of this timeless craft.
> Feb. 3, 7:15 p.m.
> Blenz Coffee
> $60
HUMAN DESIGN WORKSHOP
Join this interactive journey to help you uncover your unique blueprint. Discover the 5 Human Design Types and how they work together to create harmony. Connect with your chart and discover your unique energy. Workshop includes supportive tools and resources to get you started in understanding your Human Design.
> Feb. 4, 7 p.m.
> Yogacara Whistler
THE IMPROV BATTLE
Featuring the cast of Laugh Out LIVE! with legendary DJs Foxy Moron and Vinyl Ritchie. Two teams of quickwitted, sharp-tongued improvisers take your wildest suggestions and turn them into side-splitting scenes, ridiculous characters and unpredictable hilarity while battling for improv supremacy. No scripts, no safety nets, just pure, unfiltered comedy chaos!
> Feb. 4, 8 p.m.
> Garibaldi Lift Co.
> Tickets start at $23
BARBED CHOIR
Do you love to sing? Do you love meeting new people? Do you like all types of rock music, new and old? Head on down to sing with Barbed Choir - Whistler’s rock choir. Meetings are drop-in, no registration or experience necessary.
> Feb. 5, 7 p.m.
> Whistler Public Library
LUGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
More than 150 athletes, representing more than 25 countries, battle it out for the title of king and queen of luge. This action-packed event features a track full of amazing activities including entertainment, local food options, beer gardens and much more! Be trackside to check out these athletes who will reach speeds of up to 130 km/hour.
> Feb. 6 to 8
> Whistler Sliding Centre
MUSEUM MUSINGS & ASTROLOGY
Valleau Logging—a family business
BY ALLYN PRINGLE
NOT ALL SUMMER residents of Alta Lake came to the area for the fishing or a mountain holiday. When Everett Valleau moved his company, Valleau Logging Ltd., to the area in 1955, he came to log timber around Alta and Green Lakes.
Valleau Logging was a family business, and over the years each of Everett’s sons (Bob, Eugene, Gerald, Howard, Laurence, Lindsay, and Ron), at least 10 of his grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren all worked for the company in different capacities. The Valleaus operated from Parkhurst on Green Lake and later moved their logging camp to Mons. As skiing opened up in the area and development increased, the Valleaus formed a subsidiary company, Alta Lake Contractors Ltd., to provide excavation work, road-building, and more. In 1965, they were hired by Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. to build the road from the valley to the midstation of Whistler Mountain while the logging side of the company removed the usable timber from some of the runs that were cut. The Valleaus and their crews also built roads and parking lots for the Cheakamus Inn (now Whistler Vale), the Highland Lodge, and the Alpine Villas development.
In 2023, the museum spoke with Karyn Smith, one of Everett’s granddaughters, who remembered coming to the area with her
family each summer, though they lived on Vancouver Island throughout the rest of the year. She remembered Parkhurst as “a fun place to be” and also a busy place in the summer as it was a working camp with the mill, bunkhouses, and a dining hall, though each of Everett’s sons had their own cabin with their family.
With so much family around, Karyn spent a lot of time with her cousins. The kids would often go swimming, though Karyn recalled that her grandfather was “the only adult I ever knew who would swim in Green Lake,” having grown up washing in Galway Bay in Ireland. They would also go on Sunday outings where they would walk down the railway tracks to go horseback riding at Buckhorn Ranch or to the
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In medieval Europe, beekeepers made formal reports to their hives of significant events in the human world, like births, deaths, marriages, and departures. They believed the bees needed to be continually informed so as to ensure robust honey production. The practice was called “telling the bees.” Let’s make this an inspiring story for you in the coming weeks, Aries. I invite you to keep your community fully apprised of what’s happening in your life. Proceed on the assumption that sharing your plans and changes with others will generate harmony and support. Like the beekeepers, you may discover that keeping your community in the loop will strengthen your bonds and sweeten your endeavours.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A regular guy named Jesse Ronnebaum bought an old painting at a yard sale for 50 cents. For the next 10 years, it hung on the wall in his living room. Then he noticed a dim inscription on the painting that suggested maybe it was more valuable than he realized. Consulting an art dealer, he discovered it was an unusual composition that featured the work of seven prominent artists—and was worth a lot of money. Ronnebaum said, “Years of struggling, barely making bills, and the whole time there’s $50,000 hanging over my head, literally.” I am predicting metaphorically comparable events unfolding in your life during the coming months, Taurus. Hidden value will no longer be hidden. You will potentize neglected sources of wealth and finally recognize subtle treasures.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Namibia’s arid grasslands, fairy circles periodically emerge. They are highly regular rings of bare land encompassed by vegetation. What causes them?
Supernatural entities, as believed by the local people? Sand termites or hydrogen-loving microbes, according to a few scientists? As yet, no definitive explanation has emerged. I love that! I cherish mysteries that thwart attempts at rational explanation. In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I
invite you to specialize in tantalizing and unsolvable enigmas in the coming weeks. Your soul needs rich doses of provocative riddles, mysterious truths, and fun puzzles. Exult in the liberating declaration, “I don’t know!”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Wherever you wander, be alert for signals that remind you of who you used to be. This will stimulate your creative speculation about who you want to evolve into during the next few years. As you ruminate about your history, you will get inspirations about who you want to become. The past will speak vividly, in ways that hint at your best possible future. So welcome clues from people who are no longer alive. Be receptive to old allies and influences that are no longer a central part of your world.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Crown shyness” is a phenomenon seen among some trees like lodgepole pines. In forests, they grow big and strong and tall, yet avoid touching each other at their tops. This creates canopies full of pronounced gaps. What causes this curious phenomenon? First, if branches don’t brush up against each other, harmful insects find it harder to spread from tree to tree. Second, when winds blow, branches are less likely to collide with each other and cause damage. There’s a third benefit: More sunlight penetrates to the forest floor, nourishing animals and other plants. I propose that you adopt crown shyness as a metaphor for your use, Leo. Express your beauty to the max—be bold and vivid and radiant—but also provide plenty of space for your allies to shine. Be your authentically amazing self, but create boundaries that allow others to be their amazing selves.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some astrologers assert that you Virgos suffer from an ambition deficit. They authoritatively assert that a fiery aspiration to achieve greatness never burns hot within you. But in the coming months, I will work to show you a different perspective. Let’s start now: Many of you Virgos are highly skilled at being self-sufficient. But sometimes this natural strength warps into a hesitancy to ask for help
Tapleys’. Mr. Tapley (Myrtle Philip’s brother Phil) would collect their mail for them and they would have a ball game and eat the meal provided by Mrs. Tapley (Phil’s wife Doreen).
By the time they moved the logging camp to Mons, Karyn was old enough to start working as a “flunky” in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and other vegetables, fetching the meat from the walk-in freezer, doing the dishes, and keeping the coffee going. As Whistler Mountain developed more, Karyn got other jobs working at the Christiana Inn and the Highland Lodge.
Throughout the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, it was not uncommon for the Valleau name to pop up whenever there was a community project that needed support or an unexpected
BREZSNY
and support. And that can diminish your ability to fulfil your ambitions. My goal will be to celebrate and nurture your selfsufficiency even as I coach you to be dynamic about gathering all the assistance you can.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Life is not fair. In the coming days, you will be odd proof of this fact. That’s because you are likely to be the beneficiary of uncommon luck. The only kind of karma that will be operating in your vicinity will be good karma. X-factors and wild cards will be more available to you than usual. Your timing will be impeccable, and your intuition will be extra incisive. You may even be tempted to theorize that life is conspiring to bring you an extra supply of meaningful experiences. Here’s the clincher: If anyone in your sphere is prone to feeling envy because you’re flourishing, your charm will defuse it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here are three questions to ruminate on: 1. What resources are you afraid you will run out of or squander? 2. What if your fear of running out or squandering these resources obstructs your ability to understand what you need to know and do so that you won’t run out or squander them? 3. How can you dissolve the fear and feel confident that the necessary resources will keep steadily flowing in, and you will use them well?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Most stars have at least one companion star, sometimes two. Our sun, which is all alone, is in the minority. Astronomers have found evidence that our home star once had a companion but lost it. Is there any chance of this situation changing in the future? Might our sun eventually link up with a new compatriot? It’s not likely. But in contrast to our sun’s fate, I suspect that 2025 will offer you a significant diminishment in your personal loneliness quotient. If you crave more camaraderie and togetherness, the coming months will be a favourable time to seek them out. Your meditation question: What’s the opposite of loneliness?
job that needed doing. In 1956, when a train crash led to three boxcars loaded with lumber jammed in place and blocking the line, the railway’s equipment couldn’t move the cars. The Valleaus used their logging machinery to pry out the cars and then drag them up the track and into the forest, where they are now a popular destination.
The Valleaus also offered office space in their administration building at Mons to serve as a post office after it moved out of Rainbow Lodge in 1966 and made their kitchen at Mons available to the Alta Lake Community Club to prepare fundraising dinners. When some residents of Whistler started up an Ice Stock Sliding Club during a cold-butsnowless winter, the Valleaus set aside an area of blacktop for them to continue playing throughout the year.
In the early 1960s, when the Alta Lake District Ratepayers Association applied to lease acreage for a dump, the Valleaus donated equipment and labour to excavate ditches and fill them in once full. They also provided equipment to help the Alta Lake Sports Club build a bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek when they were building Nordic ski trails around Lost Lake. Laurence Valleau was named Whistler’s Citizen of the Year in 1974.
As Whistler became larger and more emphasis was placed on the resort development of the area, Laurence and his sons Rick and Dave moved Valleau Logging to Pemberton. n
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the coming weeks, your authenticity will be your greatest strength. The more genuine and honest you are, the more life will reward you. Be alert for situations that may seem to demand camouflage when in fact they will ultimately reward your complete transparency. You will be most powerful and attractive as you allow yourself to be fully seen. You can even use your vulnerability to your advantage. Be openly, clearly, unabashedly yourself.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): As I envision your life in the coming weeks, I am moved to compare you to certain birds. First, there will be similarities between you and the many species that can literally perceive Earth’s magnetic fields, seeing them as patterns of shadow and light overlaid on their regular vision. You, too, will have an uncanny multi-dimensional awareness that helps guide your travels. Secondly, Aquarius, you will be like the migrating songbirds that recalibrate their internal compass every day when the sun sets. In other words, you will make steady efforts to ensure that your magical ways of knowing are grounded in earthy rhythms.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In some Polynesian cultures, there is a belief that one’s mistakes, including excessive anger, can cause physical sickness. Hawaiians traditionally have employed a ritual remedy for such ills called ho’oponopono. It includes acts of atonement, forgiveness, and correction. It may even involve a prayer conference where all the people involved talk about their mutual problems with respect and compassion, seeking solutions and restitution. The coming weeks will be a fantastically favourable time for you to carry out your own version of ho’oponopono, Pisces.
Homework: Make two promises to yourself: one that’s easy to keep and one at the edge of your capacity to fulfil. Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com.
QUEEN OF THE FOREST Miss Valleau Logging Kristi King rides atop the Valleau float in the Pemberton parade. WHISTLER QUESTION, 1980
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Come build and grow with the best team.
Our team of people is what sets us apart from other builders. As we continue to grow as the leader in luxury projects in Whistler, our team needs to expand with us.
We are currently hiring:
Labourers ($20 - $30 hourly)
Carpenters Helpers/Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly)
Experienced Carpenters ($30 - $45 hourly)
Carpentry Foremen ($40 - $50 hourly)
Rates vary based on experience and qualifications. Red Seal is a bonus but not required. Crane Operator experience considered an asset.
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 and a Positive Work Environment
• Flexible Schedule - Work Life Balance (We get it, we love to ski and bike too.)
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• Annual Leisure & Tool Benefit – Use toward ski/bike pass, tool purchase, etc. – you choose!
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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!
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Cardinal Concrete, A Division of Lafarge Canada Inc is the leading supplier of ready-mix concrete in the Sea to Sky Corridor. We are currently seeking a career oriented individual to fill the role of Commercial Transport/Heavy Duty Mechanic at our Head Office Location in Squamish, BC.
This is a skilled position which primarily involves preventative maintenance and repair of a large fleet of commercial transport vehicles including concrete mixer trucks, dump trucks, trailers, forklifts and light-duty trucks.
Minimum Qualifications:
• B.C. Certificate of Qualification, and/or Interprovincial Ticket as a Commercial Transport Mechanic, and/or Heavy Duty Mechanic Ticket
• 3-5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Compensation $46.71 to $50.21
To view a full copy of this Job Description visit: www.cardinalconcrete.ca/about/careers Apply to: info@cardinalconcrete.ca For more information visit www.cardinalconcrete.ca/about/careers
Position Overview: SSHS is seeking a self-motivated, autonomous Home and Community Care Nurse to provide care to adult community members (19+) of three (3) remote First Nations communities by being responsible for full scope nursing care to home care clients and members with chronic diseases, constantly promoting health and wellness education, and aligning care out of community.
Qualifications:
• Current practicing registration as a License Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) with the BC College of Nurse and Midwives (BCCNM)
• Current CPR course for Health Care Providers (HCP)
• Completion of specialty nursing certificate/certified practice (BCCNM) as applicable and two (2) years’ recent, related public health nursing experience including experience related to the population applicable to the job or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Knowledge and Abilities:
• Care for clients with acute, chronic, palliative, mental health, and substance use needs.
• Deliver direct care and care management, empowering clients to navigate community services.
• Collaborate with clients, families, and interprofessional teams to establish realistic wellness goals.
• Partner with primary care providers and other care professionals.
Special:
• This position is requires travel to indigenous communities served by SSHS, accessed by Forest Service Road
• SSHS offers a competitive benefits and employment package to full time employees
See full job posting on the careers page of our website: sshs.ca/careers/ Apply now by sending your resume and cover letter via email: julia.schneider@sshs.ca
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10:30-11:30 am w Lou
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6:30-7:15 am w Jess
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9:00-10:00 am w Heidi
Tuesdays - Spin
6:00-7:00 pm w Courtney
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5:50-6:30 pm w Sara
See our full page schedule ad in this issue of Pique for details
Position Overview: The Family Preservation Worker, part of the Child and Family Services team, implements culturally appropriate programs to support family development. They coordinate resources to enhance family collaboration and provide support services aimed at promoting children’s safety, reducing vulnerability, and assisting caregivers.
Qualifications:
• A Social Service Diploma/or equivalent in Social or Human Studies Discipline (or in process) or a combination of experience, education and training 3-5 years.
• Knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Services Act
• Experience working with vulnerable children, youth and families
Knowledge & Abilities:
• Support Prevention and Early Intervention programs to minimize child care placements, emphasizing family preservation and reunification.
• Provide access to supportive services like parenting workshops, counseling, treatment options, and cultural healing activities for family well-being.
• Experience and ability to work with family groups
• Demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity of First Nations Peoples
• Promote collaboration among family members, interim caregivers, MCFD, specialized services, and community resources for a cohesive support network.
Special:
• This position is requires travel to indigenous communities served by SSHS, accessed by Forest Service Road
• SSHS offers a competitive benefits and employment package to full time employees
Child & Family Services
• Social Worker ($80,371.20 - $91,673.40 per year)
Child & Family Services
Child & Family Services
• Transition House Support Worker ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Social Worker ($80,371.20 - $91,673.40 per year)
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
• Social Worker ($80,371.20 to $91,673.40 per year)
• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
• Transition House Support Worker ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Program Manager ($57,330 to $64,610.00 per year)
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
• Operations Manager ($59,878.00 to $73,564.40 per year)Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
• Early Childhood Educator ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Family Mentor ($38,038 to $53,599 per year) - Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
• Program Manager ($57,330 to $64,610.00 per year)
• Operations Manager ($59,878.00 to $73,564.40 per year)Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
• Early Childhood Educator ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
Xet’òlacw Community School
Xet’òlacw Community School
• Custodian ($17.40 to $20.90 per hour)
• Family Mentor ($38,038 to $53,599 per year) - Would you please highlight/emphasize this position?
• Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Camp Counsellor ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Early Childhood Educator ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
Xet’òlacw Community School
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
Community Development
• Elementary School Teacher - Grade 3 ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
• Language Resource Worker or Language Teacher ($46,683 to $109,520 per year)
• Cultural Camp Supervisor ($46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)
• Camp Counsellor ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year)
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
Community Development
• Cultural Camp Supervisor ($46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
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Title: Motel Manager and Caretaker
Department: Hitching Post Motel
Status: Full-Time Permanent
Pay Scale: $66,560 - $83,200 Annual Salary
Schedule: 40 hours per week, available to work evenings and weekends
Accommodation: On-site
3
Additional Benefits: Cell Phone and Mileage Allowance
Summary of Duties:
The Motel Manager and Caretaker is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of The Hitching Post Motel, ensuring smooth functioning across departments, and delivering excellent guest experiences. This role requires the management of 10 Single Rooms and 2 Multi Roomed Cabins, to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction; and plays an important role in maintaining and ensuring the upkeep of buildings, grounds, facilities, and assets. The Motel Manager & Caretaker role also has an onsite staff housing component/ opportunity with a 3-bedroom apartment available.
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Please apply online at lilwatbusiness.ca/careers
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It’s the End of the
IN A WIDELY disseminated photo, Alberta’s nutbar petrostate premier Danielle Smith and Canadian MAGA-foghorn-fanboy Kevin O’Leary are seen smiling beside the American presidentelect, whose ring they’ve journeyed to Florida to kiss. That their host—adorned in the red cap that, since 2016, has come to symbolize low IQ, avarice and uninformed mendacity—is also
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
a convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser, dishonest businessman, insurrection instigator and serial liar of unheralded magnitude makes you wonder what they’re smiling about.
But grin they do, as if gifting shimmering teeth to the archcriminal they flank will somehow immunize them from malign imperium. Unlikely, it turns out. Whatever desperate favour they’d hoped to curry now seems (at least publicly—who knows what kind of greasy secret deals were made) dust in the wind after this week’s punitive executive orders and statements from a president who, the literal minute he was sworn in, showed himself to be as vicious, vindictive and vengeful as he is vain, vacuous and volatile. The decrees seemed almost biblical. Yea verily the earth was scorched and darkness did descend. In an instant, thousands of Americans lost their jobs, hopes, dreams. It wasn’t as bad for Canada, where we lost only the innocence of presumed friendship with
a neighbour.
World
as We Know It. Now What?
None of this is a surprise. Or shouldn’t be—unless you’re a conservative voter with a power to self-delude on par with those antivaxxers who genuinely believed Bill Gates was injecting us with trackable microchips back in 2021. It doesn’t matter to O’Leary who, living stateside, will get even richer no matter what decisions are cast by his Oberste Führer Smith is a different story. Especially now that Trump declared his intent to force down global oil prices and put enough pressure on Canada to literally collapse its economy, at which point, presumably, he’ll loot the nation of all those things “America doesn’t need.” As Argus-eyed National Observer columnist Max Fawcett noted in November’s “Alberta Oil is About to Get Trumped,” the province is likely in for a world of hurt. Indeed, its sycophantic MAGA-gaga premier’s blindness to the precarious Jenga game she has been playing with the province’s future is second only to the visionless citizens cheering her on.
But forget about Canada. I’ll get back to that and the slow-motion, right-wing coup that forced out our lame-duck prime minister in another column. Besides, machinations in America are more informative of the nightmarish reversal-of-progress to expect if we make the grave error of voting Pierre Poilievre’s MAGA-wannabe CPC into power.
If it seems Trump learned the lessons of his shambolic, twice-impeached first term in taking proper steps to bulldoze away unopposed this time, take heart. There’s actually staunch opposition. Many states took prophylactic pains to strengthen jurisdictional bulwarks and launch legal challenges. In just two days, the new U.S. government was staring down hundreds of lawsuits from states, organizations and institutions. A judge has already declared the attempt to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional; others have decried Trump’s
blanket pardoning of convicted Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. In a traditional post-inauguration sermon on Jan. 23, to the humiliation of Trump’s entire Addams Family entourage, a bishop begged he consider the many cast into fear by his mean-spirited proclamations. And congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, pestered by journalists about attending the inauguration, cleared the air for many in saying, “I don’t celebrate rapists, so no, I’m not going to the inauguration tomorrow.” (There are, thankfully, many Americans who’d like no one to forget that in addition to installing a first convicted felon in its highest office, the country now has a President Rapist In Chief— which makes for a nice acronym).
Yes, the inauguration. What fun! Melania, dressed for the funeral she has wishfully envisioned forever. And, of course, the Bootlick Broligarchy. Funny, in a not-so-funny way if you recall that on election day—long before his Nazi salutes, “over-enthusiastic waves” or whatever he was doing—Marvel Comic bad-guy-in-the-making Elon Musk posted on his swirling-toilet platform X, “Novus Ordo Seclorum”—a scary AF Latin phrase for New World Order. (For a truly hilarious take on the day see: https://shorturl.at/cn6J9.)
Speaking of hilarity (no, not Trump’s risible parade of highly unfit cabinet picks), Americans who once joked about Trump 1.0’s much-publicized “shithole” meme in reference to their own country now fear it’s official—an unchecked, oligarch-funded theocracy of science-denying, conspiracyadjacent greedmongers sleepwalking its citizens toward genuine fascism. Agnotologists—who study deliberate, culturally induced ignorance and doubt used to sell a product, influence opinion, or win favour through disinformation—are going to have a field day. (Doubtless they’ll also come across the name Pierre Poilievre.)
As for corporate media sanewashing
Trump’s every move, Substack political columnist Scott Dworkin noted: “Nothing you are seeing or hearing regarding Trump or his cult members is normal. These pathological liars are woefully unhinged and unqualified, which puts our country at risk.” At risk enough to unleash a wave of transphobia and enact KGB-style spying on DEIA hires and activities complete with a snitch-line and ominous threats to “non-reporters.”
Oh, and that drop in egg prices Trump promised as if he could wave a magic wand? Sadly, the price of eggs in the U.S. is currently spiking due to avian flu. Solving this requires urgent intervention by the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration— both currently shuttered—as well as rapid research by the National Institutes of Health, whose grant review process was cancelled along with “devastating” freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring, leaving the country’s scientists in “uncertainty, fear, and panic.”
So where does this leave us?
In his searing Substack essay “We failed to stop the rise of fascism. What comes next?” Robert Evans cites the need to throw out the resistance playbook and try something completely different (not Luigi Mangione-level different, but equally disruptive to the mental well-being of our current oligarch captors). “The dark days have come again because they never really left. All the battles and street-fighting and organizing from 2017–2020 bought us four years of badly negotiated peace while the rot continued unabated,” he writes. “Hope, as George Miller reminded us, is a mistake. If you don’t fix what’s broken, you’ll go crazy. That’s where we are now, going crazy.”
Leslie Anthony is a science/environment writer and author who holds a doctorate in reversing political spin. n
