B.C. approving thousands of hectares of logging in endangered caribou habitat, report finds. - By Stefan Labbé
06 OPENING REMARKS A now-infamous faux pas at a Coldplay concert has us reminiscing about some of Whistler’s own viral moments from years past, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter-writers share more on live music in Whistler, water quality in local lakes, and the location of Art on the Lake.
21 RANGE ROVER In which Leslie Anthony revisits the early days of heli-biking in B.C., and a legendary downhill known as “Disneyland.”
42 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Doing away with Canada’s electric vehicle mandate feels like it would be a mistake, writes Andrew Mitchell.
10 SPEED DEMONS With limited enforcement tools, the RMOW focuses on education and planning as e-bikes reshape local transportation.
17 ALL
ABOARD?
The Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest to Gold Rush route may be at risk following Canadian National Railway’s decision to discontinue parts of its B.C. lines.
26 HIGH AND LOWE On July 19, Marin Lowe became national XCO champ in Langford after a hotly contested duel with eventual runner-up Ella MacPhee.
30 DUSTY TRAILS
Two-time CCMA winner Owen Riegling plays the Whistler Summer Concert Series on July 25.
COVER You’d think by the year 2025 we could properly rake the forest without destroying it. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Revisiting some of Whistler’s most viral moments
WE’VE ALL been there.
One minute you’re vibing to Chris Martin’s sultry and sweet modern-pop-rock poetry at the Coldplay concert, getting all up on your HR mistress, not a care in the world. The next, you’re exposed as an overconfident cheater,
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
the embarrassing video of your infidelity
These days, it’s somewhat rare for clips like the cheating Astronomer CEO to go as spectacularly viral as this one did (if you haven’t seen it yet, or a recreation of it, you likely don’t have an internet connection)— almost like a throwback to a simpler time. Harlem Shake anyone?
But it’s nice to know there are still things we can all unite behind in today’s increasingly fractured political climate. And this week it had us reminiscing about some of Whistler’s more famous “viral” moments from years and decades past.
Without further ado, here are just a few of the most memorable.
BIKE PARK FREAKOUT
The most recent on our list, this spectacular bike park freakout involving an adult man and three teens—and a bike being tossed off a bridge—occurred just last month, and made the rounds on news sites and social feeds near and far.
As of this writing, the original video, in which a grown man casually assaults some minors for seemingly no reason, has amassed more than 30,000 likes and 22,500 shares on Instagram, and been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. That’s basically OJ in the white bronco in
terms of small- town crime visibility.
Last week police confirmed the man was arrested, with a date to appear in court. So let that be a lesson for all of us: aggressively assaulting children on camera = bad idea.
AIR JORDAN RUNNING MAN
If we’re talking viral moments in Whistler, using the mountains is almost cheating. It seems every other week there’s another clip of something awesome and/or terrifying making the rounds, whether it’s a death-defying drop or just a mountain biker being chased by a bear.
But the recipe for a real viral moment almost always involves something going hilariously wrong. And if that’s the viral content you’re after, look no further than
even pull a muscle.”
Oh, to be young again. Meanwhile, I pulled my groin walking up a slight incline the other day.
THE PEAK 2 PEAK BASE JUMPER
In early February 2014, renowned BASE jumper Graham Dickinson made headlines around the world when his “reckless” stunt in the resort went viral.
In an attempt to recreate a 2008 stunt by the late Shane McConkey, Dickinson, with the help of a female accomplice, BASE jumped from the Peak 2 Peak gondola… causing an estimated $10,000 in damage in the process when they had to wedge the doors open and
Kid, which was stolen from a house-party gig one fateful June night.
When Shearer made a public appeal for Steve’s return, he was greeted less than an hour later with the social-media equivalent of a ransom note.
“Two guys in real shitty black clothes and ski masks holding Steve with a ransom letter,” Shearer told Pique at the time. Their demand? That Shearer post a provocative photo of himself to Facebook within 24 hours, or the pinata would perish.
The hostage-taking took on a life of its own after that, with everyone and their dog getting in on the meme. In the end, it all culminated with a three-day bender and an epic foam party at Tommy Africa’s.
“He came back a bit worse for wear,” said
It seems every other week there’s another clip of something awesome and/or terrifying making the rounds, whether it’s a death-defying drop or just a mountain biker being chased by a bear.
Whistler Mountain’s Air Jordan.
The big-time drop-in from the very top of Whistler Mountain is made all the more famous for the audience it attracts—the line for the Peak Chair treated to a show while they wait for their own shot at fame.
Then-18-year-old Jaden Legate had one of the most memorable sends down Air Jordan in 2022, when his “running-man” style bailout made the popular @jerryoftheday Instagram feed—where it racked up more than 1.6 million views.
“I just was flailing in the air to try to get my balance so that I wouldn’t land funny … but thankfully the landing was really soft, and there was tons of snow,” Legate told Pique at the time. “I was a little bit shocked that I was OK, because I was totally fine—like, I didn’t
Videos of the incident and related news reports racked up hundreds of thousands of views in short order.
Ontario woman Kathleen Adams eventually pleaded guilty for her role in the stunt, and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation. Dickinson himself allegedly fled the country afterwards, and never saw his day in court.
He was tragically killed in a 2017 wingsuit incident in China.
PIÑATA STEVE
In the summer of 2017, all of Whistler was captivated by the tale of Piñata Steve—the mascot of local DJ Billy Shearer, a.k.a. Billy the
Alex Mitchell, one of Piñata Steve’s original captors. “They pillaged his guts for candy.”
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
In researching this hard-hitting piece of local historical commentary, we came across more (semi-)forgotten viral moments than we could ever fully explain in a single column—many of which will be recognizable to long-term locals with the mention of a single word or phrase, and some that are better left unexplained.
Patchy. Build the halfpipe. Kali the lost dog. Cooked. The Whistler Village rock jump. Or that time a couple were photographed mid-sex-act atop the roof of the Whistler Conference Centre.
Stories for another day. n
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Whistler’s live music scene
lives on at the Alpine Café
Thanks to Martini and Kevin, the Alpine Café is the new venue for us amateur musicians that do play covers. Our July 16 gig at the café confirms that a good time was had by all. The dance floor had teenagers, middleagers and older boomers all together.
If you don’t believe me, check out my YouTube channel @stevestarnaud3965.
Thanks again to the Alpine Café!
Steve St. Arnaud // Whistler
More people means greater impact in Whistler
Summer 2025! I was just up in Sea to Sky country yesterday enjoying a Sunday with extended family and reflecting on all the positive changes that have embraced Squamish over recent years.
While there, I picked up a copy of Whistler’s Pique Newsmagazine at the Squamish Adventure Centre. Within it, I read about an Alta Lake water condition that had caused numerous welts to a visitor. I have noticed over the years just how the quality of
all Whistler lake waters has declined since the early 1970’s when Whistler was almost a ghost town in summer, and if people don’t consider what they do in relationship to the lake waters it will decline even further.
Whistler must improve its wastewater system and people should consider spending less time in the sun or put less sunscreen or suntan lotion on before going into the water. Cover up instead.
I was very fortunate to experience Whistler at its very best year-round when it
comes to the natural world which everything was developed around over the decades. If you want the best of both worlds, you will need to heavily consider what made Whistler the greatest ski destination in North America many decades ago. It was Mother Nature itself, be it whatever the season, winter or summer. The rest was simply icing on the valley or mountain cake that we have all enjoyed for so many years since that time.
More people equals more impact, which means everyone needs to be more mindful
about how they experience this unique destination to keep it desirable both now and in the future.
Brian Wolfgang Becker // North Vancouver, B.C.
Hoping Art on the Lake returns to Alta next year
I hope Art on the Lake will return to the rightful spot of Alta Lake next year. I talked to many, many people who were disappointed that it moved to Lost Lake this year. Only one person I talked to attended this year and said it was not even close to being the same experience and that it was poorly attended.
Alta Lake has always been the hub of lake festivals and experiences since the pioneer days. Access for everyone is so much easier, hence being very well attended from the very first one. For me and many others it was the highlight of summer in Whistler. I always made sure I was here for it and had nothing else booked.
With three main waterfront parks and the many houses along the lake it was a real connection of Whistlerites and visitors. And I’m sure the watercraft rental companies appreciated the extra business.
I hope the organizers will reconsider their decision and return to Alta Lake next year! Ken Mason // Whistler n
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E-bike boom prompts questions about trail safety in Whistler
WITH LIMITED ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, RMOW FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND PLANNING AS E-BIKES RESHAPE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
BY LIZ MCDONALD
AS E-BIKE POPULARITY surges across North America, micromobility has become a convenient, emission-free way to travel through Whistler—especially for those looking to avoid traffic.
But with limited infrastructure and increasing speeds, some are raising questions about safety and regulation.
Whistler resident Richard Kinar said e-bikes have evolved to the point that more public discussion is needed around their use on multi-use trails like the Valley Trail, where pedestrians, dog walkers, children and riders often share the same space.
“They are often going far faster than anybody has anticipated. I think it’s an evolution and Transport Canada hasn’t kept up,” said Kinar. “People [are] e-biking, talking on cellphones, using selfie sticks— and I think it’s time we start talking about what’s acceptable.”
Kinar emphasized he supports e-bikes for their environmental and commuting benefits. But with electric bikes now capable of speeds well above the federally regulated 32 km/h limit—particularly when modified using tutorials easily found online—he worries about future injuries and legal liability.
“If I’m struck by one of these things,
eventually people could sue the municipality,” he said. “Or insurers would ask for regulation.”
Under federal law, e-bikes must not exceed 32 km/h and are limited to a 500-watt motor. Yet as some models blur the lines between e-bikes and electric motorcycles, Kinar believes they should be treated accordingly.
“They’re not electrically assisted bikes— they’re bikes with motors,” he said. “If they had gas-powered engines, people would draw the line.”
He would like to see the Resort
authority over speed or sale, Crompton added. However, Crompton noted the RMOW is taking steps to better integrate e-bikes into Whistler’s transportation network.
“In alignment with our Active Transportation Strategy, the development of an active transportation network plan is underway to help us better understand how e-bike commuters fit into the network,” he said. “We’ve also been advocating to the province for additional cyclist supports along the highway.”
“If you’re on an e-bike, wear a helmet and be cognizant of other people around you.”
- ROBERT DYKSTRA
Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) bring a resolution to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to address concerns and seek provincial guidance.
In an interview with Pique, Mayor Jack Crompton confirmed there are currently no plans to introduce a UBCM resolution on e-bike regulation.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to review the UBCM resolution package yet, but the RMOW has not made a resolution,” Crompton said.
While Transport Canada regulates e-bike specifications, municipalities have limited
Whistler is also planning to include e-bike and micromobility guidance in the updated Parks Use Bylaw expected to go before council this fall. Crompton said the new policy will emphasize rider behaviour rather than speed enforcement, which remains difficult with limited bylaw resources.
“The challenge of covering more than 50 kilometres of trails with as many access points as we have is pretty challenging,” Crompton said. “Our staff are not RCMP-qualified law enforcement people, so enforcing on higherpriority bylaw needs with higher success rates elsewhere in the community is what we are
prioritizing at the moment.”
That means education, not enforcement, is the focus for now. Since June, the RMOW has installed more than 150 signs and trail stencils as part of an awareness campaign that will continue through August.
“The signage focuses on respecting all users, identifying slow zones and encouraging riders travelling fast to use adjacent municipal roads,” said Crompton. “Education is the best tool we have right now.”
Still, as e-bike use grows, some are looking at additional strategies. Insp. Robert Dykstra of the Whistler RCMP said the issue is on their radar.
“If you’re on an e-bike, wear a helmet and be cognizant of other people around you,” he said. “You’re definitely going faster than other people. Pedestrians have the right-of-way on these paths.”
Dykstra emphasized that while criminal enforcement is possible in the event of accidents, most e-bike issues fall under regulatory frameworks—making collaboration between municipalities, health authorities, and community members vital.
As Kinar puts it: “When I sit with my friends and talk about how helpless we feel on the Valley Trail when [e-bikes] are going this fast, we need to discuss how we deal with them.”
With usage increasing rapidly—Evolve’s e-bike program in Whistler saw a 130-per-cent rise in rides in 2024—the conversation around safe shared trails is becoming more urgent.
“We need data from medical centres that have high use,” Kinar said. “And we need a resolution before the UBCM.” n
ON A ROLL An e-bike rider on Whistler’s Valley Trail.
PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD
NEWS WHISTLER
Former RMOW employee sues for wrongful dismissal
KEVIN CREERY SAYS HE WAS FIRED WITHOUT CAUSE AND NOW FACES BARRIERS TO RE-EMPLOYMENT
BY LIZ MCDONALD
A FORMER EMPLOYEE is suing the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) for wrongful dismissal, alleging he was fired without cause or notice and now faces significant barriers to re-employment.
Kevin Creery filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court in December 2024, claiming the RMOW terminated him on Oct. 22, 2024. He argues that due to a workplace injury and the specialized nature of his role, it will be difficult for him to find another job.
The municipality, in its response to the claim, denies wrongdoing and says Creery was lawfully dismissed. It also contends he was offered a generous severance package, which he declined, and disputes that he is unable to work or commute.
Creery had worked for the RMOW for more than 16 years. At the time of his dismissal, he was writing bylaws for protective services, including fire, bylaw enforcement and emergency management.
He sustained a workplace injury in 2017 and now lives with a partial disability recognized by WorkSafeBC. According to court documents, he suffers from chronic pain, concussion symptoms, mental health challenges and headaches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Creery began working from home, and the remote arrangement was later maintained as an accommodation for his disability.
His claim states he is unable to work in an office or community setting and that his specialized municipal legal skills are not easily transferable.
Creery is seeking damages for wrongful dismissal, interest, legal costs, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.
In its statement of defence, the RMOW says Creery’s employment contract limited his termination compensation to the minimum required under the B.C. Employment Standards Act. The municipality also argues that his disability does not prevent him from working in an office or commuting, noting he
returned to full-time office work after his injury in 2017.
The municipality states it allowed Creery to work remotely after COVID-19 as a temporary arrangement, but did not consider it a permanent accommodation. It further contends that his role was not highly specialized and that similar work is available elsewhere.
Upon termination, the RMOW says Creery was paid eight weeks’ salary in accordance with legal requirements and was offered an additional 40 weeks’ severance if he signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). He was also provided continued benefits until an undisclosed date, along with six counselling sessions, all of which he used.
In a termination letter shared with Pique, the RMOW offered Creery the extra severance on the condition he signed a waiver relinquishing his right to sue the municipality. The offer also included extended health and dental benefits through September 2025. Creery did not sign the agreement, which contained confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, allowing him to proceed with the lawsuit.
Creery said the severance offer was inadequate considering his age and years of service. He also expressed concern that signing the waiver would prevent him from speaking publicly about what he alleges is a problematic workplace culture.
He claims he was frequently micromanaged and undermined by supervisors, and was fired shortly after raising concerns internally.
“It’s frustrating to work in that environment and not have them quantify what they want to see,” he said. “They can’t say I have a problem but not explain the problem, you know?”
Creery also questions whether his disability was a factor in the decision to terminate his employment.
Asked for a statement, the RMOW said it does not comment on matters before the courts.
None of the claims have been proven in court. n
CIVIL CLAIM A former Whistler municipal employee is suing for wrongful dismissal.
FILE PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS
Whistler Community Foundation highlights growing impact and connections
VITAL SIGNS, LIVING WAGE AND GRANT PROGRAMS REFLECT CHALLENGES AND PROGRESS
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE WHISTLER Community Foundation’s (WCF) 2024 Annual Report paints a picture of deepening community impact, with more than $540,000 granted to local charities and initiatives this past year.
From housing and health-care to youth programs and environmental work, the foundation continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Whistler’s non-profit sector.
“We’re just really there trying to support the community—and we’re supporting the charities to support the community,” said WCF CEO Claire Moses.
In 2024, the organization received $808,973 in donations. Among its many initiatives, the foundation continued its work on Vital Signs, a project that combines data analysis and community dialogue to track Whistler’s well-being.
A COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
Last published in 2023, Vital Signs reports aim to answer questions like, “Do we have a sustainable future?”, “Is our community livable?”, and “Is everyone thriving?” The report uses data from Statistics Canada, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and non-profits to get a clearer look
at the overall level of social well-being in town.
The WCF also hosts community conversations to dig deeper into the numbers.
In 2024, Whistler’s living wage was calculated at $28.09 per hour by Living Wage BC and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. For families, monthly living expenses were estimated at $7,915, with housing alone consuming $3,056—or nearly 40 per cent.
That’s well above the affordability threshold of 30 per cent of gross income, long used as a housing benchmark.
“When you look at the Vital Signs report and look at the average wages and the jobs that are available, it shows that not everyone’s making a livable wage,” Moses said.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
To further highlight its work and impact, the WCF hosted a new-format community event in June, bringing together grantees, donors, and residents.
“This is the first time we’ve done an event like this,” said Moses. “It was a great networking opportunity—for charities to connect with donors, but also with each other.”
Instead of a formal presentation or panel discussion, attendees were invited to drop in and speak directly with representatives from the more than 40 organizations that received
WCF support last year.
“We got a lot of feedback from attendees that they really liked the flexibility,” Moses added. “It was a chance to build deeper relationships.”
FLEXIBLE FUNDING
Many grants focused on operational support—a need often overlooked by traditional funders.
“The biggest line item in any charity’s budget is the people, because it’s the people doing the work,” said Moses. “We offer flexible funding that they are able to use to best suit their needs at the time.”
That support included funding for Whistler Community Services’ counselling assistance program, which saw a 90-per-cent increase in demand between 2023 and 2024. The program provides low-cost mental-health services to residents without extended health coverage.
Other 2024 grants supported school garden programs like Healthy Eating, Healthy Pastimes at Myrtle Philip Community School, invasive species work by the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations, and neighbourhood initiatives like Cheakamus’ Halloween decorating fund through the Small Neighbourhood Grants program.
LONG-TERM IMPACT
The Foundation also continues to grow its
endowment fund model, offering long-term financial security to local charities.
“We’re seeing more organizations fundraise into their own endowment funds,” said Moses. “Once they make a donation, it sits in the fund, it grows, and it continues to grant every year.”
Donors can contribute to these charity-held funds directly—sometimes as a tribute, such as on a birthday—instead of giving a gift.
“There’s no grant writing involved. It’s just an automatic five-per-cent disbursement each spring,” Moses highlighted.
As the foundation enters its 26th year, it’s reflecting on key moments that shaped its direction. One of the most impactful was the early establishment of the Environmental Legacy Fund, created in partnership with the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
“It’s our largest and one of our oldest funds,” Moses said. “It allows us to grant the most overall each year and really speaks to this community’s priorities.”
With philanthropy often happening behind the scenes, the WCF wants to encourage more residents to show up, learn, and connect.
“Endowment might seem like a big word, but really, we’re just trying to support the people who are doing the work,” Moses said. “My call to action would be: get involved and come to these events. Everyone’s welcome.”
Read more and make a donation at whistlerfoundation.com. n
Population growth, changing political landscapes and a shifting climate have made it difficult to imagine what Whistler’s future holds.
• Update on: climate, housing, smart tourism, and community engagement from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• Discuss with Mayor, Council, staff and your
Downstairs at the Whistler Conference Centre (upstairs
Over the past year, we have worked with community partners to build a Smart Tourism Vision designed to reimagine a version of tourism that feels authentic, inclusive and meaningful. The goal is to inspire us to think about our future together.
Childminding, light food and refreshments are included. Learn more and discuss online at whistler.ca
The future of tourism is ours to shape. What does success look like to you?
Municipality of Whistler
Photo credit: Tourism Whistler, Justa Jeskova
WH ISTLER
Springtails:
Tiny Friendsatour Feet
Child abandonment charges approved in ‘highly visible’ Whistler Canada Day incident
POLICE BRIEFS: RCMP INVESTIGATING BIKE PARK ASSAULT
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
forWhistlerBioBlitz
A MAN IS FACING a pair of charges after a “highly visible” domestic incident at a Whistler hotel on Canada Day last year involving a child.
According to a release from the Whistler RCMP, police received a report just after 7 p.m. on July 1, 2024, of a disturbance at a hotel on the Village Stroll.
“Whistler RCMP members were approached by bystanders who indicated they could see a male holding a child over a balcony, a female could be heard screaming and damage was occurring inside the hotel,” the release said. “Members attended and initially apprehended the male and female under the Mental Health Act. The child involved also received medical care.”
Following an investigation, the BC Prosecution Service approved one charge of abandoning a child and one charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life against 45-year old Jason Frost in relation to the incident, the release said. Frost is not a resident of Whistler.
“This was a highly visible event as Whistler was in the midst of its Canada Day celebrations. We recognize the impact the incident had on individuals who witnessed this unfold in our community that day,” said Cst. Antoine Graebling, media relations officer with the Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP, in the release. “We are incredibly thankful for the multiple witnesses that alerted the RCMP which enabled our officers to act swiftly and professionally in managing this high-risk situation. Their cooperation and actions were key that day in saving a child’s life.”
With the matter now before the court, police can’t provide further details at this time, the release said.
that a child or youth under the age of 19 has been or is likely to be abused or neglected and that the parent is unwilling or unable to protect the child or youth must report the suspected abuse or neglect to the Ministry of Children and Family Development.”
To make a child protection report, call 1-800663-9122. If the child or youth is in immediate danger, call 911.
If you are a child or youth and would like to talk to someone, call 310-1234 (no area code necessary).
RCMP CONFIRMS INVESTIGATION INTO ASSAULT
The Whistler RCMP says its investigation into a viral assault in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park last month is ongoing.
In the video, a man was seen aggressively confronting three teenagers on a bridge in the bike park, eventually throwing one of their bikes off the bridge.
Police received a report of the incident on June 28, said Cpl. Katrina Boehmer, media relations officer for the Sea to Sky RCMP, in a release on July 17.
“Our RCMP investigators are continuing to gather the facts of what occurred,” Boehmer said in the release. “We know that this type of behaviour is not tolerated by our Whistler Blackcomb partners, and we will continue to support them in ensuring the safety and well-being of all users of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.”
The man in the video was arrested and released on conditions, with a date to appear in court. But the investigation continues.
“As demonstrated on that day, the Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP would like to remind everyone that the safety, welfare and well-being of children and youth is a community responsibility. Everyone in the community should be alert to signs of abuse and neglect in children and youth and more details about how to detect these signs can be found at Child Protection Services in BCProvince of British Columbia,” the release said.
“In B.C., anyone who has a reason to believe
“The Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the event and has not yet spoken with investigators,” the release said. “Anyone who has any information to provide can contact the Sea to Sky RCMP Whistler Detachment at (604) 932-3044.”
Vail Resorts said the man’s pass has been suspended.
“We have revoked this guest’s access to the WMBP, and their pass has been suspended,” a spokesperson previously told Pique. “We are committed to upholding a safe and respectful environment for all guests in our park.” n
UNDER INVESTIGATION A screenshot from a video showing an altercation in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park on June 27.
@BRODEY_WALKER
Justa Jeskova
Four serious illnesses prompt mosquito study in Sea to Sky
HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE URGING PEOPLE VISITING OR LIVING IN THE SEA TO SKY REGION TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES
BY JENNIFER THUNCHER
The Squamish Chief
THE REGIONAL HEALTH authority is calling on locals and visitors in Squamish and Whistler to protect against mosquito bites in the wake of four people coming down with serious illness last summer.
A Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) news release says a small-scale mosquito surveillance pilot project is being launched in the Sea to Sky region “to better understand the local mosquito population and the viruses they carry.”
The pilot is a result of the illnesses detected in 2024 and is being done with the BC Centre for Disease Control as well as the Líl wat Nation, Sk_wx_wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the University of BC.
Mosquito traps have been set up at select sites throughout the region.
The study will help update the list of mosquito species in the area and test mosquitoes for potential human pathogens, according to VCH.
Overall, the project will gather data that helps further assess risk and help tailor public-health advice on precautions against mosquito-borne illness in the Sea to Sky.
Last year, the four patients who contracted the California Serogroup (CSG) viruses—specifically the Snowshoe Hare Virus (SSHV) and Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV)—developed encephalitis, or swelling of the brain.
There are currently no vaccines available to prevent getting these viruses.
NOT NEW VIRUSES, BUT A CONCERNING CLUSTER
“While these are not new infections in the
What could CN
province, the number and severity of the cases triggered an investigation by VCH Public Health, which found that all four patients likely acquired the infections locally within the Sea to Sky corridor,” the release states.
While these viruses have circulated for decades, typically from May to October, reported cases of human illness are rare.
VCH suggests longer periods of mosquito activity may be linked to rising temperatures caused by climate change.
“While we encourage outdoor recreation and activity, we’re advising residents and travellers to the Sea to Sky area to take preventative measures against mosquito bites, between now and fall; and if they do get bitten, to be aware of and seek health-care if they develop neurological symptoms like confusion, seizures or severe headaches with fever,” said Dr. Moliehi Khaketla, medical health officer for VCH in the release.
Sea to Sky health professionals have been notified of the situation so they can consider if CSG viruses could be a cause for all severe neurological presentations of encephalitis and meningitis during the mosquito season.
“We’re also undertaking the mosquito surveillance project to learn more about the risk to the public,” said Khaketla.
Before the four cases last summer, only 10 cases of JCV or SSHV had been reported in B.C. since 2009, with only two in the VCH region.
“Serological surveys from other parts of Canada have found between one and 42 per cent of the population show evidence of prior infection, which suggests these viruses may be a cause of mild summer viral illness and an under-recognized cause of meningitis and encephalitis,” the release states.
Serological surveys are tests on people, like blood tests for antibodies.
Health officials stress that, in most cases, CSG viruses do not cause symptoms.
If there are any symptoms, they typically show up between five to 15 days after the mosquito bite.
“They are typically flu-like, including fever, headache, fatigue, and occasionally nausea or vomiting,” according to the release.
“Most individuals recover without the need for treatment, but in rare cases, the
viruses can lead to more serious conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis, which may require hospitalization and a longer recovery time. Symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis may include confusion, seizures, and/or severe headaches with fever.”
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
VCH Public Health provided the following ways people in the Sea to Sky can best protect themselves this summer and fall:
• Use mosquito repellent—Applying a mosquito repellent to areas of exposed skin is an excellent way to prevent mosquito bites. Check the product label for instructions on proper use. For more information about insect repellents, see HealthLinkBC File #96 Insect repellents and DEET.
• Wear protective clothing—Avoid dark clothing as it tends to attract mosquitoes. In areas with a lot of mosquitoes, wear fulllength pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Install mosquito screens on windows— Consider staying indoors or in enclosed areas with screens when mosquitoes are most active or abundant, which is typically from dusk to dawn.
• Prevent mosquitoes from breeding— Anything that can hold stagnant water could be a mosquito breeding site, even small amounts. Identify and remove these areas on your property during mosquito season. This might include emptying saucers under flowerpots, changing water in birdbaths twice a week, unclogging rain gutters, draining tarps, tires and other debris where rainwater may collect, and installing a fountain in ornamental ponds or stocking them with fish. Backyard pools can also be a significant breeding ground for mosquitoes if not maintained regularly. n
discontinuing its Sea to Sky corridor line mean?
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER’S RAINFOREST TO GOLD RUSH ROUTE MAY BE AT RISK FOLLOWING CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY’S DECISION TO DISCONTINUE PARTS OF ITS B.C. LINES
BY JENNIFER THUNCHER The Squamish
Chief
THE CANADIAN NATIONAL Railway Company (CN) has declared its plan to decommission part of its railway line from north of the railyards in Squamish through to 100 Mile.
The railway is mandated to release its railway line plans to the government and the public, which it did on July 11.
Its three-year plan shows it will decommission its “Squamish subdivision” of the railway line heading north of the District of Squamish to Lillooet—from mile marker 43.00 through to 157.60.
CN also released its intention to decommission the line from mile marker 157.60 to 257.00, which is on the Lillooet subdivision of the line that stretches past 100 Mile.
“CN provided official regulatory notice about a change to CN’s Three-Year Network Plan, initiating the discontinuance process for a portion of its rail network north of Squamish and south of Exeter in British Columbia,” the railway said in an emailed statement to The Squamish Chief
“As a leading supply chain enabler, CN makes operational decisions in a manner that is beneficial to both our customers and our supply chain partners … We prioritize transparency in our communications and decisions with all levels of government, key stakeholders, and our customers.”
WHAT ABOUT SQUAMISH TERMINALS?
According to CN, the rail line to Squamish Terminals is not included in the discontinuance, meaning it will be business as
usual and no customers there will be impacted.
In response to a question about next steps, the spokesperson for CN referred the Chief to the discontinuance process set out by the Canadian Transportation Agency.
According to the agency, one year after the railway lists its intention to discontinue a line in its three-year plan, “the railway must publicly advertise the availability of the line or any operating interest the railway company has in it, for sale, lease or other transfer for the continued operations.”
FUTURE FOR ROCKY MOUNTAINEER?
Asked about the discontinuance, Nicole Ford, vice-president of communications, sustainability and stakeholder relations at Rocky Mountaineer, said they are
considering next steps.
“We are aware of CN Rail’s notice of discontinuance for a portion of the rail line on which we operate our Rainforest to Gold Rush route,” Ford said in an email.
“CN is responsible for maintaining the rail infrastructure along this route, including the rail, ties, bridges, and vegetation control. Without CN’s management of the rail line, we will be unable to travel on the route. We are determining what this means for our longer-term operations in the region, but we look forward to operating the 2026 season of the Rainforest to Gold Rush route as scheduled.”
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
A spokesperson for the District of Squamish
BITE THIS Vancouver Coastal Health is launching a mosquito surveillance project in the Sea to Sky.
PHOTO BY KASYNETS OLENA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
said the municipality was notified of the rail discontinuation from CN on July 11, and officials “have no further information to provide.”
Sea to Sky federal and provincial leaders were more enthusiastic in their response.
Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Patrick Weiler said the discontinuance is “an exciting development,” especially combined with the provincial government’s promise of regional transit in the Sea to Sky.
“What really excites me is the potential for this corridor to be used for rail passenger transportation … Until about 23 years ago, [the corridor] had passenger rail service, and much has changed since then,” he said.
“The region has grown by over 60 per cent … You’ve seen the amount of folks in Metro Vancouver that are recreating in the Sea to Sky region has grown exponentially, and you’ve seen, even with an upgraded Highway 99, that it’s already at capacity, and we’re seeing frequent and oftentimes fatal incidents on it. So ... there’s a major need for alternative transportation options,” Weiler said, adding passenger rail is also another way for people to get out in an emergency.
He noted there are lots of complexities to adding rail, but there is an opportunity to look at the feasibility of it.
“There would need to be an operator,” he said. “We need to coordinate among governments, importantly, freight operators like Squamish Terminals, and freight does
have priority and [coordinate with] First Nations.”
Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, said in a joint news release with Weiler that the CN discontinuance is “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take over a lease that has nearly 40 years remaining on it, and to restore the rail line for public use and benefit as it was before it was controversially privatized by the BC Liberal government in 2004.”
Weiler and Valeriote noted in their release that from July 2026, interested parties will be
able to take over the rail line segment from CN Rail for train services.
They added in the event there are no interested parties for continued operations, the segment will be offered for net salvage value to different levels of government in accordance with the Canada Transportation Act.
“This gives us a one-year window to build a business case, secure support from all levels of government, and make an offer to acquire the lease, via an operating entity,” said Valeriote.
Weiler also noted the idea has been
floated of having the decommissioned rail line converted to active transportation.
It is an idea retired Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy, who lives in Pemberton, where he was previously mayor, and who served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of transportation and infrastructure for a time, could get behind, too.
He said he could envision accommodations and food and bike services along the route that could become a massive tourist draw, if passenger rail isn’t feasible.
“Let’s just pull up the tracks and put in a trail from here to Williams Lake. I mean, it could be a year-round trail at grade, globally renowned,” Sturdy said. “Can you imagine riding your bike along the rail at grade … from Squamish … all the way north of Lillooet through the Fraser Canyon?”
Sturdy said he is skeptical the ultimate cost of passenger rail would make it feasible, but it is worth looking into.
Ultimately, Valeriote and Weiler said they will work closely with local governments and community leaders to explore every viable path forward.
“These kinds of decisions will shape our region for decades. If senior levels of government are serious about investing in infrastructure to create jobs and strengthen our economy, this is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss,” said Valeriote.
For its part, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said in a statement that the CN decision was made in accordance with its 2003 CN Revitalization Agreement, signed under a previous government. n
ROCKY ROAD CN Rail’s plans to decommission parts of its lines could mean the end of the Rocky Mountaineer in the Sea to Sky.
PHOTO BY SL_PHOTOGRAPHY / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Pemberton eyes fresh rules for shortterm rentals after public backlash
NEW BYLAW PROPOSAL AIMS TO SOFTEN EARLIER PLAN AS PEMBERTON SEARCHES FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE VILLAGE OF Pemberton is taking another swing at regulating short-term vacation rentals (STVR)—this time with a revised bylaw that drops a controversial licensing limit and floats new incentives to convert tourist accommodations into long-term housing.
On Tuesday, July 15, the Village’s Committee of the Whole (COW) considered a staff report that takes into account concerns raised by the public during a May 27 council meeting.
Among the proposed changes: the removal of a two-year cap on STVR business licences, a possible system for managing unused licenses and reconsideration of the current five-per-cent-per-neighbourhood cap on STVRs.
The new direction arrives alongside a policy brief prepared in collaboration with students at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration. That economic analysis, tailored to Pemberton’s specific housing landscape, found stricter STVR rules or financial incentives to convert tourist units to long-term housing could yield millions over the next decade.
Three options were analyzed: keeping the status quo, banning STVRs in potential long-term dwellings like secondary suites or introducing a $1,000-per-unit subsidy to encourage owners to return those homes to the rental pool.
The options were analyzed for the per cent increase to the housing pool, a decade-long cost-benefit analysis, fairness to all parties— including STVR operators and the broader communities—how simple the program would be for policymakers to manage and the anticipated public response to the program.
The report found the subsidy option generated the largest net financial gain—$8.2 million over 10 years—while also scoring highest for political acceptability. And while it falls short of the second option’s effectiveness at increasing the long-term housing supply, the more stringent ban was predicted to face “substantial opposition, including, potentially, legal challenges from STVR operators.”
The subsidy model would offer a buyback-style subsidy for licence-holders willing to give up their permits. Staff warn simply revoking and re-issuing those licences to waitlisted applicants could backfire, resulting in no net gain to housing availability.
Despite council’s earlier interest in relaxing the neighbourhood cap to allow more short-term rentals, staff are cautioning against that move.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
“The addition of new short-term rentals
to the market would reduce the long-term rental housing supply, negatively impact hotels and result in a net financial loss to the community,” staff wrote in their report to council, citing the economic study’s findings.
The COW also considered methods to address unused licences. Staff floated the idea of requiring annual receipts as proof of operation. Councillor Ted Craddock suggested using inspections or invoices to verify occupancy.
The Village’s first attempt to amend STVR regulations this year was met with a wave of opposition from Airbnb owners in Pemberton. Residents argued the original draft bylaw— which included the licence expiry limit—was overly punitive and would unfairly target compliant operators.
“I have been operating my business in full compliance with local bylaws, Good Neighbour Agreements, and provincial shortterm rental regulations,” wrote resident Britt
Walker. “I am deeply concerned about the recent proposal to limit STVR licences to a maximum of two years.”
The original bylaw update had two key objectives: to increase turnover on STVR waitlists—giving more residents a chance to operate these businesses—and to increase the availability of long-term rentals, as part of efforts to ease the Village’s housing crisis.
“I think council totally sees the value of having some [STVRs]. That’s why we’ve left space in our bylaw to have some,” said Mayor Mike Richman in May. “But we’re trying to balance that with the fact that we have a real shortage of long-term rentals—[we need housing] for employees at the RCMP and daycare and other [places]. So, we’re trying to find a balance with this bylaw between those two opposing forces.”
An amended bylaw will be prepared for a third and final reading at an upcoming council meeting. n
SHORT AND SWEET The Village of Pemberton will consider an updated STVR bylaw during an upcoming council meeting.
Mining for Gold: a remote writer’s retreat returns to Gold Bridge
‘LOOKING FOR THE STORIES THAT UPLIFT US’
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
WHEN ANNA DRIEHUYZEN invited two writer friends to join her in Gold Bridge last summer, she wasn’t sure anyone would actually come.
“I didn’t really believe anybody was going to come up,” she recalls. “But a week later, Liz was emailing and saying, ‘OK, are we doing this?’”
The response—sent by Victoria-based writer Liz Crocker—sparked what would become Mining for Gold, a grassroots writing retreat in the remote Bridge River Valley.
From July 24 to 27, the retreat returns for a second year featuring workshops led by published authors and a lineup of cultural and community events aimed at building up a writing community in Gold Bridge and beyond.
Crocker, Driehuyzen and Carmen Kinniburgh of Thunder Bay, Ont. met online in 2022 as part of the same cohort in Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio, led by non-fiction author Claudia Cornwall. After graduating, they kept in touch.
“We were working together, sharing [our] writing and feedback with each other,” says Crocker. “And then approaching last summer, we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have our own writing retreat?’”
The idea for a gathering gained steam when Crocker missed out on a different retreat. So, Driehuyzen pitched a trip to Gold Bridge.
And while the South Chilcotin community, with a permanent population of about 40 residents and a prohibitive three-and-a-half-hour drive up the Hurley from Pemberton, wasn’t the most obvious gathering spot, Driehuyzen’s fellow alumni had long been captivated by her written descriptions of the area.
“Her descriptions of it in her stories just piqued our interest,” Crocker says. “And so we just thought, ‘Wow, what an opportunity to get to go to Gold Bridge.’”
What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into a three-day pilot retreat.
“We decided that we were going to make this the best retreat for the three of us,” Driehuyzen says. “Whoever wants to join, fantastic. But if it’s only the three of us, we’ll be super happy.”
The inaugural retreat saw eight writers gather at the one-room schoolhouse where Driehuyzen teaches. Locals showed up for open mic night. Vancouver Sun columnist Douglas Todd made a surprise appearance. And a young mother from town secured childcare and attended her first creative writing seminar.
This year’s retreat builds on that first edition with a longer itinerary, more defined structure and expanded programming that includes two morning workshops, author readings and evening open mics.
Friday’s writing session will be led by their former instructor, Claudia Cornwall, and Saturday’s by poet Jami Macarty. Guest author readings will take place Saturday night at the Bralorne Church, a historic venue that’s a short drive from Gold Bridge. Pat Dobie, a local author who has twice won the 3-Day Novel Contest, will attend the reading.
“And we also have this kind of walking morning where ... nature and walking the path allows us to find inspiration,” says Driehuyzen, referring to a Sunday morning labyrinth walk on a stone path modelled after the Chartres Cathedral design in France.
“It’s part of letting nature and movement inspire us,” adds Crocker.
The natural setting of the Bridge River Valley was a key inspiration during last year’s open mic night, when locals turned out to share stories inspired by the 2023 Downton Lake Wildfire.
“All of them were touched by the fires a couple of years ago,” says Crocker. “And so their pieces were just like heart-wrenching [and] gutwrenching.”
This year’s open mic night will take place Sunday, July 27 at the Bralorne Church, as part of the FireWeave Arts Festival, a community art exhibit led in part by artist and MA student Gillian Der. Her work explores the ecological and emotional aftermath of the wildfire.
Meals and accommodations are being coordinated informally, with some breakfasts and lunches provided at the Gold Bridge Community School and group dinners planned at local establishments like the Bralorne Pub and Tyax Lodge.
“If the writing wasn’t enough of an enticement, we hope the food and the company will be,” Driehuyzen says with a smile.
While a donation is suggested, organizers have secured funding support from SFU, the Bridge River Valley Community Association and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District to help cover instructor travel and food costs.
The name “Mining for Gold” is both a nod to the region’s extractive past and an invitation to unearth something deeper.
“There’s something in that title,” Driehuyzen tells Pique. “We can start looking to mine for the gold in this day and age where there’s so much division and catastrophes by looking for the stories that uplift us.”
“We’ve been talking about this theme of transformation,” adds Crocker. “That alchemy of turning something rough into something beautiful.”
For the organizers, key to transformation is helping to guide and inspire burgeoning writers in Gold Bridge. When asked how much of a writing community exists in the community, Driehuyzen didn’t hesitate: “None. We’re it.”
Still, she’s hopeful the writing retreat, open to scribes of all levels, can start to change that.
For aspiring writers, Driehuyzen suggests writing consistently and finding an audience of some kind. She’s found regularly contributing to the local newsletter The Mountain Telegraph has been particularly motivating.
Crocker offered another word of encouragement to those who are just starting out: find other writers.
“Have people around you who understand the process and can support you and encourage you,” she says. “That’s why I joined the Writer’s Studio, in the end, was to get that community, because it’s so important.”
For more information on the event, or to express interest in attending, contact goldbridgewrites@gmail.com. n
The Happiest Place on Earth?
BACK IN 1998, heli-biking wasn’t a thing— unless you lived in the Sea to Sky, in which case it was a maybe, kinda, sorta thing. With mountain biking just finding its feet outside of competition, all angles were being explored— nowhere more so than in B.C. And from my editorial desk at BIKE magazine in Southern California, I was always happily lured north to join in the pioneering, some of it rife with potential, some not so much—though it would all, in the end, contribute to the development of freeriding.
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
And so it was one August day that year, I found myself chipping in to sling bikes aloft from Britannia Beach below a helicopter stuffed with “Froriders” Richie Schley and Wade Simmons, North Shore MB mafia boss Johnny Smoke, and always-game photographer Eric Berger, bound for a legendary downhill known as “Disneyland.”
Under azure skies, we were deposited in the still-snow-spotted sub-alpine (those were the days) where my colleagues donned fullface helmets and a disturbing amount of body armour for a tire-width trail that appeared to have been burrowed through ground-hugging vegetation by no more than a lemming or two. After dropping less than a hundred vertical metres we convened on a bench among scrub conifers where the trail, the riding—and the mind—began to open up. Soon, speeding along
a roller-coaster track with constant views to the spectacular glaciers of the Tantalus Range, we reached a small lake, the last of the snow, and the end of anything resembling horizontality.
Entering forest, we pitched downward on loamy ramps, spiralling through empty understory in a desperate connect-the-dots of droppable granodiorite. The pitch was relentless and, to the uninitiated (hello!), arguably insane: while I set the benchmark for face-first handlebar vaults, Berger concentrated on quality endos and stomachclenching switchback high-sides. At one point the trail bucked out of a dry stream bed to side-hill along a vertical quartzite outcrop; I’d almost cleared the formation when my right
I desperately tried to stall each freefall with nothing but hope. At one point, Jacob’s Ladder appeared—30 vertical metres of bermed, log-reinforced, metre-wide switchbacks set atop a ridge, like a zipper stretched over a codpiece. I high-sided on the first turn, Berger on the second. We watched in amazement as the others inched downward, balancing like gymnasts at each corner. At the bottom, where the trail mellowed toward another rock porch, a full croquet set materialized—hoops, wickets, balls and mallets planted among the pine needles. Bucksaw and shovel remnants represented other artifacts of a strange culture that had obviously gone before. Who, or what had created this madness?
We hit the valley floor seven hours after setting out. Beaten, bruised and bloodied...
pedal clipped a root and tipped me toward the rock, where, with diamond-like precision, protruding crystals promptly exposed bone along my entire forearm between glove and elbow pad.
Breathless from the constant adrenaline rush, we rolled gasping onto a slickrock porch that still hung an amazing 1,000 metres above a hazy Howe Sound. The view was stunning, the sunlit rock welcome respite from the dark enclave of the forest. It almost eclipsed the searing arm pain and pumped-out braking muscles. After a few minutes’ blotting up blood and bandaging, we shot down a cabin-sized rock and back into the trees.
Over the next hour, like an unrelenting Niagara Falls barrel nightmare, we were sucked again and again over steep haystack drops as
Apparently, motocross masochists with a penchant for chainsaw play had cut the trails over a decade. “The first time I was shown this place I was working in Squamish,” said Smoke. “And it changed my whole concept of riding. I brought a couple North Shore riders here and they went nuts, incorporating things they saw into their own trails. This is where the idea of the ‘Big Stupid’ rockface on The Skull [trail] came from; Disneyland had a definite influence on North Shore trails.”
This revelation put two evolutionary mysteries into perspective: Disneyland’s mix of rabid downhilling and technical circus acts had helped spawn two separate schools of B.C. riding: the purely hedonistic heli-drop downhill, and the sado-masochistic North Shore stunt ride. Schley had previously done
Disneyland both by helicopter and by riding up an old mine road to the base of the ridge, then hiking the rest—some 1,200 vertical metres— carrying and pushing his bike. He concluded the downhill approach had more merit.
“Disneyland is too steep to ride up, so you may as well fly,” Schley said at the time, presciently adding: “I believe the future of mountain biking will be more like skiing. Lots of it will take place on ski hills [indeed the Whistler Mountain Bike Park opened the following summer] and there will be a much bigger downhill component; so heli-biking could be a legit segment. If heli-skiing were affordable, way more people would do it; purity and soul won’t cut it in the new millennium— it’s the age of technology and thrill-seeking.”
What we lacked in tech we made up in thrills, as the skydive continued through fairyland timber and across a single-plank bridge to Andrews Rock, an imposing fivemetre face whose nose fell at 70 degrees onto a dirt compression, while the main wall pitched out to 90 for a bike-length then slammed the rider into an absolutely flat granite outrun. Cleaning it required nerves of steel, concentration, strength, and the kind of stupidity that only came from a bike with more front and back travel than a slinky— uncommon at the time. But the pros all aced the drop, Simmons even throwing in a little slalom flare around a crack system.
We hit the valley floor seven hours after setting out. Beaten, bruised and bloodied, I’d nevertheless contemplated the best fifty bucks I’d spent all summer. If there was any method in the madness of this kind of heli-biking it was this: after a surrealistic freak-show like Disneyland, even the gnarliest “regular” downhill seemed buff, and I believed I deserved it.
Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. n
How to look your very best for
Shaking out some timely grooming tips with Creekside’s The Fetching Dog
By Braden Dupuis
A2025WAGFes
s we approach the dog days of summer, there’s one event on the calendar every Whistler pet owner has circled.
Whistler Animals Galore’s WAGFest returns to Rebagliati Park on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Promising a full day of “fun and fitness benefiting our furry friends,” the party doubles as a fundraiser for one of Whistler’s favourite charities.
But every good pup knows it would be untoward to attend such a prestigious gathering without looking your very best.
That’s where The Fetching Dog comes in.
Founded by Samuelle Kredl when she was just 25 years old, the three-woman team behind the Creekside dog-grooming business now serves more than 1,000 clients with a focus on eco-friendly services and products, all sourced from local and Canadian businesses.
Whatever grooming attention your special pup needs, Kredl and her crew have you covered—starting from the ground up.
“We’ll start with the feet—we’ll do the nails, we’ll do the paw pads,” Kredl says, when asked for her petgrooming checklist.
“They get a lot of knots and stuff in [their fur], so we clear that up. We do a bath, shampoo and conditioner.”
Conditioner, she adds, is not a given in dog-grooming, but it is at The Fetching Dog.
“We do it because it’s good for the dog, kind of like your hair. It just moisturizes it,” Kredl says. “Then we give a good brush-out, blow dry. The blow dry gets all the forest bits and everything out. And then we do a full groom, so head-to-toe. Depending on the dog, [we] shave, brush, trim, clean the ears, check for ear infections.”
And no self-respecting pooch wants to show up to the
party with bad breath, so best get those teeth cleaned—at The Fetching Dog, teeth-cleaning can be done sedation-free, and even at your own home to keep your pup from getting too stressed.
As for tricks of the trade, Kredl recommends really staying on top of matted fur, which can lead to more serious problems if you’re not careful. “Especially around the ears, if
you’re not brushing out the top of the ears … mostly poodles, they can get haematosis, which is blood clots around the ear, because the skin can’t breathe,” Kredl says. “And around the bum. Golden Retrievers, shepherds, they get big knots. It’s just uncomfortable for the dog, and it can [lead to] skin irritation.”
Aside from the aesthetic appeal, regular brushing creates a bond with your dog, Kredl adds.
“It makes you feel closer to them, and them closer to you, and trust you, and you can just assess your dog more regularly,” she says. “Instead of getting a cut that gets infected, that gets away from you, it’s just staying on top of it.”
To that end, regular grooming can also serve as a “first-stop” of sorts before things escalate to a vet visit.
“We get to see everything on their skin. We see little bite marks. We’ll see scratches, whereas the vet won’t see it. The vet will just kind of do an overview. But we’re kind of the first stop,” Kredl says. “So I tell a lot of clients, come in regularly, we’ll check your ears, we’ll check the paws. We notice knots, we notice a lot of things that they then go to the vet for. So that’s a super important part of grooming.”
Grooming can also be an important socialization tool for puppies, Kredl adds, allowing them to get used to being played with—their paws or their face.
But the general advice for dog owners is regular grooming is important.
“It can be expensive, but it is a great service,” Kredl says. “And once you find a good groomer that you love—if it’s us, if it’s someone in Vancouver—stick with them, because they know your dog.”
With that, you should be all ready for the big party— which will surely provide ample opportunities to get all dirty again with some of your best dog friends.
Find more info about The Fetching Dog at thefetchingdog.ca, and read more about thebig event (and contribute to a great cause) at whistlerwag. com/wagfest2025.
B.C. approving thousands of hectares of logging in endangered caribou habitat, report finds
BY STEFAN
LABBÉ
Thousands of hectares of old-growth forest— critical habitat for British Columbia’s endangered southern mountain caribou—are currently slated for logging or have already been approved, according to a new report.
Research released earlier in July by three conservation groups—Stand.earth, Wilderness Committee and Wildsight—
used a satellite monitoring tool to identify 5,713 hectares of forest proposed and approved for logging across the ranges of three of the most at-risk herds: Columbia North, Groundhog and Wells Gray South.
That’s an area equivalent to about 14 Stanley Parks, said Eddie Petryshen, a conservation specialist at Wildsight.
“It means the future extinction risk of these caribou herds is being decided today with those decisions on pending and approved cutting permits,” said Petryshen.
“You log and disturb more and more of their habitat, you increase the extinction risk for these caribou.”
He pointed to science going back decades that shows road-building and logging attracts deer and moose as shrubs come up in the absence of trees. In turn, predators like wolves arrive with few barriers standing in the way of them and endangered caribou.
Study relied on satellite data, government documents
The analysis used a satellite tracking system, known as Forest Eye, built in 2023 with the help of the satellite firm Planet Labs. The Stand.earth tool systematically tracks forest cover change across the province.
Workers manually verify alerts flagged by the system to ensure forest cover loss occurred due to logging
number of experts—including foresters, geotechnical engineers, hydrologists and biologists—to manage impacts on caribou.
“We are unable to comment” on the more than 5,700 hectares of core caribou habitat the report flagged as slated for logging “as we don’t know how it was determined,” the ministry statement said.
A separate unattributed statement from the Ministry of Water Lands and Resource Stewardship noted B.C. has implemented predator reduction, material penning, and habitat protection in all three caribou herds targeted in the conservation groups’ analysis.
The ministry said the province’s Caribou Recovery Program, which launched in 2020, was currently in the external engagement phase, meaning “the program and First Nations are engaging with tenure holders and interest groups.”
“The goal of this process is to identify effective habitat protection and management thresholds that will support recovery of the caribou herds,” the ministry said.
The Columbia North, Groundhog and Wells Gray South herds are part of that process, alongside six other herds, the statement added.
Claims over pending logging come amid BCTS pause
Of the nearly 2.2 million hectares of total habitat area, about 41 per cent is already considered disturbed from activities like clearcut logging, mining, hydro power projects and resource roads. That’s above the 35-per-cent habitat disturbance threshold Ottawa considers acceptable under the species’ federal recovery strategy.
The latest analysis comes shortly after BIV reported BC
will last, and how it foresees the pause will impact caribou and the forestry industry. It also failed to clarify whether the province would be rolling out logging pauses in other parts of the province.
“I think it’s a bold move by BCTS, and it’s something other licensees should consider—because right now, we’re not seeing the leadership of the province and the federal government on this file around caribou,” said Petryshen.
The pause in new developments does not include existing logging approvals. Earlier this month, Petryshen said he came across an ancient forest cutblock north of Revelstoke, B.C., in the heart of the Columbia North herd’s core critical habitat. Less than a kilometre away, he said he found caribou scat.
“Just heartbreaking sort of scene when you have been working to try to recover these caribou,” he said
Signs of recovery overshadowed by long-term habitat decline
B.C.’s caribou populations have seen a 51-per-cent decline since 1991. Ten herds are now considered either locally extinct or functionally extirpated, according to B.C. government data.
The latest surveys suggest recovery actions— including maternal penning and predator reduction—have helped to reverse that trend, and have already saved the lives of an estimated 1,500 animals across the province.
The Columbia North herd has grown in recent years—from 147 individuals in 2017 to 209 individuals in 2023.
But those represent modest gains at a time the herd’s core critical habitat keeps shrinking, say biologists.
Despite government recovery efforts and requirements listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, caribou subpopulations lost twice as much habitat as they gained between 2000 and 2012, found one 2020 study.
“Despite this high level of existing disturbance, the B.C. government continues to
activity. The satellite imagery was then layered on top of maps showing core caribou habitat and pending and active cut blocks.
The three herds—which are thought to be the most viable within the mountain caribou’s southern range—were found to have 58 per cent of their habitat at risk of logging. The Columbia North herd’s habitat was found to face the highest risk of logging at 76 per cent.
“Columbia North, in particular here in the Kooteney and Columbia region, is kind of our last shot at having caribou in this region for the long term,” Petryshen said.
Ministry ‘unable to comment’ on
report’s findings
An unattributed statement from the Ministry of Forests said logging and road-building plans in caribou habitat rely on a
Timber Sales halting “new investments” in unprotected core caribou habitat of the Columbia North herd. At the time, the Ministry of Forests said the logging pause was part of a collaboration with First Nations, industry, as well as local and federal governments.
The goal, according to the ministry, is to “refine our knowledge, align shared priorities that support caribou and other objectives like mitigating wildfire risk and responsibly securing timber supply to support the economy.”
The ministry failed to answer several questions, including how much forest the logging pause will impact, how long it
approve new logging permits,” the conservation groups’ analysis concludes.
The report also criticized the province for failing to implement recommendations under the Old Growth Strategic Review, including putting high-risk old-growth forests off-limits to logging.
It also challenged the government to direct office staff to withhold approvals for new logging and road construction in critically endangered caribou habitat. n
is private healthcare clinic in North Vancouver is leading the shi toward proactive, continuous care
Lifespan Medical empowers patients to take control of their health — without the long wait times
At Lifespan Medical, early detection is not a luxury — it’s the foundation of care.
From the very first visit, patients undergo a comprehensive assessment designed to uncover potential health issues before symptoms arise, setting the stage for timely and effective intervention.
“We’ve been able to identify key health risks and guide patients toward the support they need — concerns that might have gone unnoticed for years if we hadn’t taken a proactive approach,” says Dr. Sue Stock. “The feedback we receive has been overwhelmingly positive. For many, it’s the most thorough and responsive healthcare experience they’ve ever had.”
Stock is the co-founder and medical director of Lifespan Medical, a private healthcare clinic in North Vancouver that offers a comprehensive approach to both preventative and primary care for patients of all ages. At Lifespan, proactive medicine isn’t just about early detection — it’s about long-term health partnerships that help patients feel supported throughout the year.
Unlike traditional models where the care can feel fragmented or reactive, Lifespan Medical’s approach is personalized and proactive. Patients benefit from access to advanced in-clinic diagnostics, expert medical interpretation, and a coordinated care team that includes an endocrinologist, general practitioners, registered nurses, registered dietitian, kinesiologist and more. After the initial assessment, patients remain under the clinic’s care, receiving follow-up, lifestyle support and timely access to their care team as health needs evolve.
“Patients are often looking for longer appointments, clarity and easier access to their healthcare,” says Stock. “At Lifespan, we provide a setting where people can explore their health concerns in depth, set meaningful goals and feel supported throughout their journey.”
Stock founded the clinic after more than 25 years as an endocrinologist. She saw firsthand how many chronic
Lifespan Medical’s mission is to rede ne proactive healthcare.
illnesses and serious diseases could have been prevented — or treated more effectively — with earlier intervention.
“I got tired of always managing disease after it had already progressed,” she says. “So many of these conditions are preventable if we simply catch them earlier.”
Lifespan Medical combines this vision with cutting-edge technology, offering diagnostics such as DEXA body composition scans, ultrasound, mole mapping/skin cancer screening, VO₂ max testing, balance and fall-risk assessment, comprehensive blood testing, and ECG.
The process starts with an in-depth, one-hour intake focused on a patient’s history, goals, and concerns. Over a four-hour comprehensive assessment, more than 200 biomarkers are reviewed and a personalized health plan is created — one that spans the full year, with check-ins and continuous monitoring.
“We provide our patients with one of the most thorough preventative
assessments in the Lower Mainland in just four hours,” Stock explains. “Trying to piece the same together across different locations could take you up to a year, assuming you could even get in.”
But what sets Lifespan apart isn’t just the technology or speed — it’s the ongoing care that comes after. Patients aren’t left to navigate their results alone. They’re supported with expert interpretation, follow-up plans and ongoing access to a dedicated team focused on optimizing their long-term health.
“Ana,” a pseudonym used to protect her identity, is a client of Lifespan Medical who greatly benefited from the clinic’s approach to patient care. “My visit to Lifespan was a pretty incredible experience, and I wish everybody could have this same experience,” Ana says. “When it comes to health and wellness, knowledge is power. I would highly recommend checking out Lifespan.”
At Lifespan Medical, early detection is the standard — but it’s just the beginning. Through a private, comprehensive care model, patients can finally experience the kind of healthcare that is proactive, personalized and built to last.
For more information, visit www.lifespanmedical.ca.
Dr. Sue Stock, co-founder and medical director of Lifespan Medical.
‘I could do this for a living’
REIGNING U23 NATIONAL XCO CHAMPION MARIN LOWE DISCUSSES HER ATHLETIC JOURNEY
BY DAVID SONG
SHE WAS A BRIGHT-EYED , bushy-tailed 16-year-old in Nové Město na Moravě, a Czech town of just under 10,000 people that hosts UCI World Cups in the cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) disciplines. The year was 2022 and Lowe had registered for a junior event alongside her Stimulus Orbea teammates: Isabella and Ava Holmgren.
Isabella placed seventh, Ava eighth and Lowe ninth. It was something of a core memory for them all.
“We’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, we have what it takes!’” Lowe said. “I think that definitely sparked something in me, [realizing] I could do this for a living.”
Lowe qualified for her maiden World Championships that very year. She finished 16th due in part to a bout of COVID shortly beforehand, but still gained valuable experience—not to mention inspiration observing the elite races that same weekend.
In 2023, the Squamolian really made her presence felt with XCO silver at the World Championships in Glentress, Scotland.
“I still think it’s one of my best performances. It was just like one of those days where you feel on fire,” recalled Lowe. “The course is super awesome at that venue, and I think it’s still one
of my favourite courses regardless of results. Had an awesome race, came second to my teammate Bella Holmgren … to go beyond [my original goal of a top 10] and get a medal was pretty surreal.”
Fast forward to the present and you’ll find Lowe to be a key member of the Canadian U23 women’s cross-country squad alongside both Holmgren sisters and her old friend, Ella
up even before becoming national teammates. They’ve also bonded as fellow University of Victoria students, with MacPhee pursuing a kinesiology degree and Lowe a double major in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies.
Both are coached by 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Catharine Pendrel, and both view her as a role model.
“I was very lucky that I had family and friends who I felt very comfortable talking to, and also got help early on.”
- MARIN LOWE
MacPhee. On July 19, Lowe became national XCO champ in Langford, B.C. after a hotly contested duel with eventual runner-up MacPhee.
TRAINING BUDDIES
Folks have asked Lowe why she never got into downhill or enduro biking despite her origins in Squamish. Ironically, she felt “super terrified” of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (WMBP) and its brake bumps as a young girl who simultaneously loved cross-country trails. Lowe was evidently meant to be an endurance athlete, displaying talent at biathlon, crosscountry skiing and running as well.
MacPhee has been there for not quite every step of the way, but close. She and Lowe met in kindergarten and did similar sports growing
“We’re great training buddies,” Lowe said about MacPhee. “Right now she’s definitely faster than me, but we push each other in different ways all the time. We’re definitely competitive with one another, but for the most part we’re very close and have a lot of fun together. It’s nice to have a friendly face when we’re out in Europe.”
MacPhee bested Lowe at this July’s national XCC event, grabbing silver in comparison to Lowe’s bronze.
After spending 2024 with Pittstop Racing Team, Lowe signed on with Liv Factory Racing. She was attracted to the brand’s values as an allfemale unit with a mission to empower women in mountain biking, and further impressed by Liv’s approach to management. When they gave her an offer, she didn’t dare refuse.
‘TOUGH MOMENTS ALONG THE ROAD’
For Lowe, it hasn’t all been fun and games. Nagging injuries meant she only cracked the top 10 once last year, while contracting mononucleosis and dengue fever prevented a return to her old stomping grounds in Nové Město this May. Fortunately the symptoms weren’t as harsh as they could have been, enabling Lowe to follow up her campaign-high two straight fifths in Araxá with ninth and sixth at her next World Cup in Leogang.
There is, however, another ailment Lowe battles. She was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at age 12 and has experienced its deleterious effects in many aspects of life.
“I was very lucky that I had family and friends who I felt very comfortable talking to, and also got help early on,” reveals the now 20-year-old. “There’s been some tough moments along the road. I worked with a psychologist very, very frequently … but after my first World Champs in Les Gets, my OCD got very hard to navigate and I actually started taking medication for it.
“This was a hard decision to make because I always wanted to deal with it on my own, but it’s actually quite crazy how much medication has helped. All the energy I was putting into fighting these intrusive thoughts, now I can put into my sport and just enjoy life a bit more … but [OCD] is definitely still a part of who I am. For anyone out there potentially struggling … talking to people was really, really big for me and you don’t have to be scared of taking medication. It can be very helpful.” n
REIGNING CHAMP Marin Lowe of Squamish represents Liv Factory Racing on the UCI World Cup circuit.
PHOTO BY ROBIN NEVRALA
SPORTS THE SCORE
Mariza Nasu reflects on placing fourth at U17 Pan-American Championships
THE SQUAMISH WRESTLER’S COACH, FRANK MENSAH, DOESN’T THINK ‘ANY OBSTACLE’ WILL HALT HER DEVELOPMENT
BY DAVID SONG
MARIZA NASU’S STOCK is rising fast.
The Squamish-based wrestler placed fourth among 43-kilogram girls at June’s U17 PanAmerican Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She lost to eventual victor Natalie Radecki of the United States and Mexican bronze medallist Karen Silva, but did defeat Peru’s national champ Margarita Pumachaico.
It was Nasu’s maiden international contest, and the first she participated in without her father, Mike, by her side.
“I was definitely more nervous not having my dad there, but I had lots of support from my coaches and teammates,” she remarked. “I also knew my dad was watching me online back home, cheering me on.”
Nasu grinded her way through a demanding early season just to qualify for Pan-Ams. She fell short at B.C. Provincials and was bested during her fifth-place match at the Canadian Wrestling Championships (U19, U17, U15) in T’Suutina Nation, Alta.—but soldiered on undeterred.
A reversal of fortune took place at the Canadian Championships (Senior, Junior, Cadet) in Edmonton, which doubled as national team trials and were held separately from the T’Suutina event because of divergent age groups at the international level. Nasu struck gold to clinch a Pan-Am berth, winning each of her matches.
“This achievement means a lot to me because at the start of the wrestling season, I wasn’t getting the results I wanted in tournaments,” Nasu said. “Then when it mattered most, I finally placed first and I’m very proud that my hard work paid off.”
Her coach, Coast Wrestling Academy technical director Frank Mensah, is very impressed by her poise.
“I’ve seen a lot of great athletes over the years who do very well nationally, but they get to PansAms and freeze. They can’t even put together a way to score points,” Mensah said. “To see [Mariza] come out the same athlete in Rio that she was [in Edmonton], it shows she’s a competitor, and I don’t think any obstacle will stop her.
“The Pan-Ams, for me, are a test to see how athletes deal with struggles. You’re looking at the best of every country. It’s almost like going to rehearsal for a wedding and then going to the actual wedding … [in all of Mariza’s previous competitions] the mat would have been at ground level, with coaches only a few feet away from you. At the international level, she’s competing on a platform which is elevated a good 33 inches or so. Your coach feels so much further from you, and you feel like you’re naked on stage.”
A GRAPPLER’S LIFE
Nasu started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) as a child out of Mountain Jiu-Jitsu in her hometown, with her dad as coach. She transitioned into wrestling two years ago because of the future opportunities it presents, and believes her BJJ experience grants the mental toughness necessary to go far as an athlete.
Mensah agrees, saying: “Even though she’s wrestled for a short time, the other martial arts that she’s done helps [bolster] her competitive experience. It’s grappling with a few different rules, but at the end of the day it’s still a combative sport. I find that jiu-jitsu makes kids a little bit tougher. They have a little more grit.”
When asked about the people who have helped her develop, Nasu praised the team at Coast Wrestling Academy as well as her previous gym, Westsider Wrestling.
“[Mariza’s kind words] mean a lot because you never truly know as a coach what kind
“The Pan-Ams, for me, are a test to see how athletes deal with struggles.”
- MARIZA NASU
of impact you’re having on the athlete,” said Mensah. “There are a lot of coaches in our program that make everything work. The funny thing is, in her final Pan-Ams match, she was actually coached by a couple of other people so it shows we’ve all worked together to make sure she meets her goals.
“I definitely don’t want to take anything away from Westsider. That program did an amazing job for Mariza. They put a lot of effort into her over the years, to the point where she was good enough to be with our program and we could put in some finishing touches.”
Now approaching her Grade 12 year, Nasu must decide whether to pursue international or university competition after high school. If choosing the former, she’ll need to put on muscle in order to make the 50-kg weight class (the lightest offered to adult female wrestlers overseas). Before that, however, keep an eye out for Nasu at the U17 World Championships from July 28 to Aug. 3 in Athens, Greece. n
GOLD STANDARD Mariza Nasu of Squamish won the 2025 Canadian Wrestling Championships in the 43kg weight class.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE NASU
Lettuce celebrate!
AND LET US EAT CAKE AT WHISTLER’S 50TH AND B.C.’S 167TH BIG BIRTHDAYS COMING UP
IF I CAN BORROW a line from Pique’s own push email a while back—thank you, Liz McDonald, for your fun “groaner” of a dad joke (what did the iceberg say to the romaine?)—lettuce celebrate, indeed!
For here comes a bunch of “let us (not them) eat cake” moments. To start, BC Day is just around the corner on Aug. 4, giving us the first real long weekend of the summer. (How
is this year!), it’s still a good time to stop and reflect. After all, any of us lucky enough to live in this part of the world have so much to celebrate—anytime—we don’t even need a special day of the year.
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
else can you catch a decent summer break if you don’t get holiday time?)
Here’s the trick: So we could all enjoy an August long weekend, the thoughtful MLAs who supported the initiative by then-Premier Dave Barrett’s NDP government back in 1974 not only created BC Day. They ensured it fell on the first Monday of every August, even though B.C. was officially founded on Aug. 2, 1858.
So it’s our 51st BC Day, and Beautiful British Columbia’s 167th birthday this year. And even though it’s not one of those big, blast-worthy 50th or 100th anniversary dates we Westerners love to mark (like Whistler’s
And if you’re doubly lucky and get over to Victoria for BC Day, whatever birthday year, there are oodles of good local bakeries and tea rooms that can serve up a sweet slice of something. Get it to go and enjoy it out on the front lawn of the legislature, overlooking the magnificent old Empress Hotel and lovely inner harbour.
IF WE CAN’T HAVE CAKE, THEN WE’LL SING FOR OUR SUPPER
Meanwhile, Whistler has a mountain of fun planned to mark the RMOW’s big 5-0 soon after BC Day. And while I don’t see any cake in the line-up, at least not yet, no doubt it’s going to be a pah-ty.
The whole thing kicks off with a major multi-day celebration starting Aug. 21 to 24 with tons of free events for people of all ages: Kid zones, dog parties, yoga sessions. Illuminated installations to light up your life! Retro dance parties—you name it, including a mass sing-along led by Canada’s Choir! Choir! Choir! when you might even find yourself, if not singing for your supper, at least singing your heart out. Even better!
Add that’s just the start. More 50th birthday fun is planned throughout fall and winter to extend the celebrations. You can read more in the July 11 edition of Pique.
And maybe, just maybe, if anyone at muni
hall is reading this right now (add winking emoji), there might even be cake, especially Sept. 6, the day in 1975 the resort municipality was officially incorporated. It was the first resort municipality in Canada, and the start of what are now 14 resort municipalities across B.C.—all kicked off by the same NDP government of the early ’70s that brought us BC Day.
If that isn’t enough, Whistler Blackcomb’s big 60th anniversary is also happening this year. What we now know as Whistler Blackcomb started in 1965 as Whistler Mountain—a full 10 years before the Resort Municipality of Whistler was born. So maybe they’ve got a 60-metre cake in the works!
Hey, that’s not such a stretch! The record for the world’s longest cake, according to Guinness, was a whopping 5,300 metres or 17,388 feet created by the Bakers Association in Kerala, India, by some 1,500 chefs and bakers.
Plus Whistler Mountain had a 12-metre cake everyone went nuts for at their 20th birthday party in 1985. Whistler Museum and Archives can happily inform you about lots more wild and crazy events for those 20th-year celebrations. Hugh Smythe, then head honcho at Blackcomb Mountain, donned a Garibaldi Whistler Mountain shirt for fun. Besides that very l-o-n-g birthday cake, there were more retro-themed bands (Whistler loves retro!), a Gondola Stuffing Contest (which saw 27 kids stuffed into one four-person gondola!), and even free VIP meals.
Trust Seppo Makinen, whose crews cut the first runs on Whistler Mountain, to note it was “the first time in 20 years the lift company was going to pay for a meal.” Good ol’ Seppo.
WE’RE HERE FOR A GOOD TIME
So I say, free or not, lettuce all celebrate—and eat cake—as much as we can, as often as we can. Life is short, and on that note, here’s living proof that it might not be too bad.
I think a lot of folks are getting disillusioned by government lately—and you know what I’m talkin’ about. But remember, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Before they were swept out of power in 1975 (yes, the creation of Whistler was one of their last official acts), that NDP government accomplished so many amazing things, it blows me, and a lot of other longtime British Columbians, away. Here’s a small sampling: A provincial ambulance and air-ambulance service. Initiatives for First Nations. B.C.’s first ministry of housing. Neighbourhood pubs! Pharmacare for seniors. Robson Square. The SeaBus. A provincial Status of Women office. The most extensive human rights code in Canada. And more!
They also created something we should all be eternally grateful for, and guard ferociously— our treasured Agricultural Land Reserve. Developers have groused about it for years, but the ALR still protects 4.6 million hectares of precious farmland across B.C., primarily for the production of food.
This was all the more amazing because that NDP government only held power for 39 months!
So you don’t need a long time, just a good time, to get good things done. Keep that in mind as you head to your next birthday party, especially if it’s your own.
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’s always loved having her cake and eating it, too. n
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Owen Riegling to visit Whistler for the first time
THE TWO-TIME CCMA RECIPIENT PLAYS THE WHISTLER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ON JULY 25
BY DAVID SONG
IF YOU GOOGLE Owen Riegling, one of the first things you’ll see is his official website where he’s described as “the kind of artist so down to earth his boots are always dirty.”
Riegling was raised on a 100-acre farm in Mildmay, Ont., a town of just over 1,200 people. Mildmay has its fair share of amenities: a grocery store, a hardware store, a few restaurants, a park and a recreational complex. To the passerby, it likely comes across as nothing special. To Riegling, it’s hearth and home, and a place he’ll never forget.
“Doesn’t matter where the music takes me, I’ll always have my deepest connection in the place that I was raised,” he says. “Mildmay is about working hard, looking after your own, and being kind to your neighbours. That’s what I try to live by.”
Music didn’t play a huge part in Riegling’s life at first. He grew up as many rural Canadian boys do, riding dirt bikes and shooting pucks around on his local ice rink. He’s sure to have gotten his fair share of presents for Christmas,
but the one he remembers most was a guitar.
Riegling didn’t start seriously playing that guitar until his teens, but was hooked after his maiden performance with his guitar teacher’s band. He found himself falling in love with the instrument and where mastering it might possibly take him one day. Helping that process along was Eric Church, a country
(OIART) by winning a contest. His prize? Free time at a recording studio in London.
After brushing shoulders with some OIART graduates who talked about how the school benefited them, Riegling studied music production there and learned to become selfsufficient in the career he was quickly and inevitably leaning towards. By 2023, he’d
“I’ve learned that there is no rhyme or reason to what works or what doesn’t.”
- OWEN RIEGLING
artist whom Riegling covered often in his youth and went to see live on a family road trip to Maine.
By the age of 15, Riegling already knew what he wanted to do forever. He was going to be like Church and make music.
Even so, the young man gave business school a try. Spoiler alert: it didn’t fit him well, but playing modest gigs on campus did. Fortunately, Riegling learned about the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology
signed a deal with Universal Music Canada and was partnering with some of Nashville’s hottest producers.
‘BE YOURSELF, BE REAL, DON’T GET DISCOURAGED’
Riegling is only 26, but he’s already got a platinum-certified single (“Old Dirt Roads”) under his belt. Big entities have taken notice of his work, with Spotify naming him one of
last year’s Hot Country Artists to Watch and Amazon Canada labelling him a Breakthrough Artist to Watch. Two Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) bolster the Ontarian’s resume even more.
Inquire about these achievements, however, and Riegling has a fairly modest response for you.
“They help to legitimize what I’m doing, but I’d still be doing the same thing without them,” he says. “[My approach to songwriting] is left of centre. I make music the way I consume music. I don’t listen to one thing, I don’t make one thing.”
Having never been to the Sea to Sky corridor, Riegling is excited for his inaugural appearance in the Whistler Summer Concert Series. He promises lots of new music, tour dates and project announcements for existing fans and hopes to make more this week. Just don’t count on him to betray his own principles.
“I’ve learned that there is no rhyme or reason to what works or what doesn’t,” Riegling explains. “Be yourself, be real, don’t get discouraged. Keep trucking. There’s no shortcuts.”
Expect DJ T Rex to liven up Olympic Plaza at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, July 25. Then at 7:30 p.m., Riegling is on hand to take the stage. Visit whistler.com/events/concerts for more details. n
DIRT DIARIES Two-time CCMA winner Owen Riegling.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW BERINATO
Point-Artist Run Centre organizing Pop-Up Bike Ride
THE JULY 27 EVENT FEATURES A RIDE AROUND THE VALLEY TRAIL AND PERFORMANCES FROM DIFFERENT ARTISTS
BY DAVID SONG
THE POINT ARTIST-RUN Centre (PARC)
Pop-Up Performance Bike Ride serves as an appetizer for the upcoming Flag Stop Theatre and Arts Festival, but it also promises to be enjoyable in its own right.
Described by PARC artistic director Stephen Vogler as “a fun crossover between recreation and arts”, this ride takes participants on a leisurely jaunt along the Valley Trail. Along the way, they’ll encounter artists like Gary Wayne Peterson, ALGN Whistler Dance, Kathryn Daniels and Carla Fuhre, Jaxon Mishaw and Papa Josh Trio.
First up, Peterson sets the mood at 4 p.m. in Florence Petersen Park. Originating from the ‘Namgis First Nation, Peterson started a band at 20 years of age and has since opened for the likes of George Leech, Murray Porter, Bill Henderson, the Black Crows, Gene Simmons and more. Having encountered local icon Kostaman in 2009, he has performed in Whistler for many summers to date.
Peterson, originally from Alert Bay, was also once employed at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria as a carver and ambassador for his Kwakwaka’wakw culture. There is prestigious lineage on both sides of his family: Dale Peterson Sr. is his father, descended from the two original ‘Namgis tribe families, while mother Dorothy nee Alfred is the eldest child of Chief Christopher Alfred Kwakiutl.
“He’s got a really big voice,” says Vogler about Peterson. “He really does span from blues, folk, funk and reggae, a nice mix of styles, and he just seemed like the right vibe for [Florence Petersen Park].”
POPPING UP
The ride itself gets underway at 5 p.m. Stevie Bell, a stylish young woman known for her dress-up game, will lead the procession around Alta Lake’s north end until Balsam Park, where
Amélie Lavoie and ALGN will be set up to perform and give dance lessons. Vogler praises ALGN as “the real deal,” and the studio is also going to be part of Flag Stop itself.
Next up, Daniels and Fuhre are on tap to deliver monologues authored by John McGie in front of the heritage log cabins at Rainbow Park. Those familiar with The Chair Series know what to expect.
“[Kathryn and Carla] are two really fine directors and actors from Squamish. Kathryn is actually one of the founders of Between Shifts Theatre and Carla works closely with them as well,” explains Vogler. “We’ve had them direct plays for the Flag Stop Festival for the last five years … [although not] this year. It’s really great hearing them get into character. [Monologues] are easy to do on location because the only prop is one chair. It’s really good writing—John collaborates with the actors one-on-one, they give him a word and then he writes the piece from that word.”
Finally, riders head to the PARC itself where Jaxon Mishaw awaits with more music. He’ll be joined by the Papa Josh Trio (guitar player and vocalist Josh Suhrheinrich, bassist Dave McPeak and Jeff Maynard on drums).
“[Jaxon] is a young kid who grew up in Whistler. He took a lot of the band camps with Papa Josh over the years here at the Point … and now you see him out doing gigs, playing for Arts Whistler and busking,” Vogler says. “He plays acoustic guitar and has a really nice voice.
“Josh is known around the area and has toured across the United States. His trio are really captivating because they’re just so damn good. They have stuff that gets people moving, you know: the funk and pop rock.”
Guests unable to attend the ride from start to finish can still drop by the PARC at 6:30 p.m. on July 27 for beverages, a light dinner and entertainment by Mishaw and Papa Josh. Tickets are $10 for the concert only and $20 for the concert and food.
Flag Stop, meanwhile, is scheduled for Aug. 6 to 9 with details forthcoming. Visit thepointartists.com/events for more.
THE POINT ARTIST-RUN CENTRE PRESENTS THE 14TH ANNUAL Whistler, BC
Wednesday, August 6, 6PM
Florence Petersen Park (By Donation)
DAKOTA PEARL | BALKAN SHMALKAN THE WEST COAST FRONT | DJ VINYL RITCHIE ALGN WHISTLER
Friday, August 8, 6PM
The Point Artist-Run Centre (Ticketed) THE CONVERSATION Play Premiere by Bronwyn Preece LAUGH OUT LIVE! Comedy THE HISTORY OF GUNPOWDER (Freak-out Funk Orchestra)
Saturday, August 9, 6PM
The Point Artist-Run Centre (Ticketed)
THE CONVERSATION
Stage Play by Bronwyn Preece LAUGH OUT LIVE! Comedy MIVULE (Afro-Reggae)
Sunday, July 27 Flag Stop Preview
Pop-Up Performance Bike Ride (By Donation)
-Florence Petersen Park (4PM) to The PointGARY WAYNE PETERSON (Live Music) | ALGN WHISTLER (Dance)
KATHRYN DANIELS & CARLA FUHRE (Monologues) JAXON MISHAW | PAPA JOSH TRIO (7PM at The Point)
August 6-9, 2025
Whistler Village & The Point Artist-Run Centre
TICKETS AND MORE INFO AT THEPOINTARTISTS.COM
ENJOY THE RIDE The Point Artist-Run Centre’s Pop-Up Performance Ride returns on July 27.
Noticeishereby giventhat CheakamusCommunity Forest,holder ofLicense#K3V,isseekingpublic review and comment on Forest OperationsMap(FOM)ID#2471,whichis covered by Forest StewardshipPlan#912 fora30-dayperiodfromJuly25th,2025, to August 25th,2025.This FOM consistsof3proposedoperatingunits, as wellastheassociated roads,locatedinthe generalareainand aroundWhistlerintheSea to SkyNatural ResourceDistrict.
The FOM canbeviewed athttps://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, and by searchingLicenseeusingthe‘find’functionorthroughthe CheakamusCommunity Forest websiteHarvestingPlanspage.It can alsobemade available forin-personviewingduringnormalbusiness hours at Chartwell ResourceGroup Ltd.’s office at #201–1121 CommercialPlace,SquamishBC.
Comme nt s ca n b esubmitte d anyt im e duringth e 30-day period th ro ug h ht tps://fom.n rs .g ov.bc. ca /public/p ro jects,e-maile d to Ch eaka mus. FO M@crgl.ca,ormailed to th e addres s no ted ab ove. Please referencethe FOMIDwhensubmitting comments.
Followingthe review and comment period,this FOMmaybe relied upon to apply fora Road PermitorCutting Permit fora3-yearperiod, endingAugust 25th,2028.
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
ARAXI LONGTABLE
EVO WHISTLER GRAND OPENING TAILGATE
Celebrate the start of bike season and the opening of evo’s newest Whistler location with the Trailgate Party! It’s an après-style event for all riders and all levels. Expect group rides, bike and pedal demos, food, drinks and raffle prizes, with all funds raised supporting Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA). Come for the trails, stay for the community.
> July 26, 1 to 5 p.m.
> 4295 Blackcomb Way Unit # 115
MOVIES IN THE PLAZA: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Experience a variety of free films, spanning from timeless classics to recent releases, amidst the scenic backdrop of Whistler Olympic Plaza on select Wednesday and Saturday nights. Don’t forget to bring blankets or low chairs for a cozy evening under the stars.
> July 26, 8 p.m.
> Olympic Plaza
PAINT & SIP WITH CASS DICKINSON
Spend a relaxed evening with friends painting beautiful Whistler landscapes, guided by local artist Cass Dickinson. For just $40, you’ll receive all the painting supplies you need along with a glass of wine to enjoy as you create. All artistic abilities are welcome.
> July 26, 7 p.m.
> Point Artist-Run Centre
ARAXI LONGTABLE DINNER
Araxi Restaurant’s Culinary Director Chef James Walt welcomes guests to the annual Araxi Longtable Dinner nestled under Mount Currie at the picturesque North Arm Farm. Guests will enjoy live entertainment and a cocktail reception followed by a four-course family style menu with wine pairings from British Columbia’s top producers.
> July 27, 3 to 7:30 p.m.
> North Arm Farm
WHISTLER FARMERS’ MARKET
A feast for your senses, the Whistler Farmers’ Market features local produce, tasty food, local artisans, live entertainment and family activities. Markets happen every Sunday until Thanksgiving on Oct. 13, with the addition of Saturday markets on Aug. 2, Aug. 30 and Oct. 11.
> July 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Upper Village Stroll
IMPROV & ACTING CAMP WITH IRA PETTLE
Join Whistler kids entertainer and performance coach Ira Pettle for a week of Improv Acting. In addition to the fun, participants will build confidence, enhance communication and listening skills, and exercise creativity! There are two age-specific dates to choose from.
> July 28 to Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
> Point Artist-Run Centre
Datedthis22nd dayofJuly,2025.
HeatherPaul ChiefAdministrativeOfficer
Whistler.
SUMMER WHISTLER MAGAZINE IS OUT!
MUSEUM MUSINGS & ASTROLOGY
Building a Fortress—Part 3
BY ALLYN PRINGLE
WHEN DAVE AND LYNN Mathews and Hugh Smythe arrived at Fortress Mountain in September 1974, their goal was to turn the ski area around and make it saleable. Snowridge, as it was called at the time, had declared bankruptcy in 1973, and was put up for judicial sale by the Federal Business Development Bank (FBDB). Over the 1974-75 ski season, Dave, Lynn, Hugh and their employees turned Fortress into a successful ski resort, which meant the time had come to sell the operation for the FBDB.
When Dave and Hugh met with Ken Miller of FBDB about selling Fortress, they suggested they approach Aspen Skiing Corp. (later Aspen Ski Co.), then the largest ski company in North America and considered “the top of the pecking order.” A small ski area in Alberta seemed like an unlikely investment for Aspen, but a series of events in Colorado made it a surprisingly good time to approach the company.
According to Hugh, they had heard Darcy Brown, the president of Aspen, was having trouble getting some approvals for developments they wanted to do at Snowmass and so was looking at other potential projects. He was even reported to have made a statement at a public meeting about taking Aspen’s money out of not just the county but
the country, which made it seem like an ideal time to approach the company. They travelled to Colorado to pitch Fortress to Darcy, and in 1975 Aspen decided to buy half of the ski resort, leaving the other half with the FBDB.
Once the sale was completed, Dave and Lynn took a bit of time off and then returned to Whistler to manage the Whistler Inn and Resort for Jack and Ann Bright. In June 1975, Aspen asked Hugh to continue managing Fortress. He decided to stay and, like he had while working for Garibaldi Lifts Ltd., began taking night-school classes to learn more
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Hindu cosmology, the Sanskrit term “Lila” refers to divine play. It’s the idea that all of creation is a sacred and artful amusement performed by the gods with joy, sorrow, artfulness, and flair. I hereby proclaim Lila to be your theme of power, Aries. You have been so deep lately, so honest, so drenched in feeling. Now, life is giving you a big wink and saying, “It’s playtime!” You can start this fresh phase by making a list of all the experiences that bring you fun, recreation, and entertainment. I hope you emphasize these pursuits in the coming weeks.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the high desert of Chile, astronomers work at observatories on mountaintops where the air is dry, and the sky is clear. There, away from light pollution, the universe reveals itself with astonishing intimacy. But even the most powerful telescopes can’t function during the day. I suspect you will be like those observatories in the coming weeks, Taurus: capable of seeing vast truths, but only if you pause, quiet the ambient noise, and look during the dark. This approach should embolden you to use your intelligence in new ways. Stillness and silence will be conducive to your deep explorations. Night will be your ally.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Are you courageous enough to let go of sparkly clean but unfruitful fantasies so as to clear space for reality’s disorderly richness? Are you wild enough to relinquish naïve fears and hopes so you can see the raw truths blooming right in front of you? Are you cagey enough to discard the part of your innocence that’s rooted in delusion even as you bolster the part of your innocence that’s fuelled by your love of life? Here’s my response to those questions, Gemini: Maybe you weren’t mature or bold or crafty enough to accomplish these heroic feats before, but you are now.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): : Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied creatures. Over centuries, they assemble massive reef systems, turning their fragile exoskeletons
into monumental architecture. These creatures can be a symbolic reminder that your sensitivity is not a weakness; it’s your building material. Keep that in mind during the coming weeks, when tender care and your nurturing ability can be primal sources of power. I invite you to start creating an enduring sanctuary. Generate a quiet miracle. Construct an elegant masterpiece. For best results, allow your emotional intelligence to guide you. You have the precise blend of aptitudes necessary to coax beauty to grow from vulnerability.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I predict that your imminent future will be a ticklish and tricky but ultimately uplifting masterpiece. It will feature guest appearances by members of your private hall of fame, including one future luminary you have not yet fully appreciated. This epic series of adventures may begin when you are nudged to transform your bond with a key resource. Soon, you will be encouraged to explore frontier territory that offers unexpected help. Next, you will demonstrate your understanding that freedom is never permanent but must constantly be reinvented.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Sci-fi author Octavia Butler wrote, “All that you touch, you change. All that you change changes you.” The coming weeks will be prime time for you to honour and celebrate that prayer, Virgo. You won’t be a passive dreamer, gentle traveller, or contemplative wanderer. Rather, I predict you will be a tidal force of metamorphosis. Parts of your world are pliable and ready for reshaping, and you will undertake that reshaping. But it’s important to know that the shift will go both ways. As you sculpt, you will be sculpted. As you bless, you will be blessed. Don’t be shy about riding along on this feedback loop. Do it with reverence and glee. Let the art you make remake you. Let the magic you give become the magic you are.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In certain Hindu traditions, the deity Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half-male, half-
about the business side of skiing, this time at SAIT in Calgary.
Over the next few years at Fortress, Hugh got Aspen to invest in the resort’s first triple chair (Aspen needed some convincing that with mazing, singles lines, and clear instructions, triple chairs could be fully loaded) and Fortress began to make a profit. Then, in 1977, a couple of things happened that would influence Whistler’s development; Paul Mathews contacted Hugh and suggested they work together on a development proposal for Blackcomb Mountain, and 20th Century
BREZSNY
female—a divine fusion of opposites. They are not torn, but whole in their duality. I invite you to be inspired by their symbolism in the coming weeks, Libra. For you, balance will not be about making compromises or pushing to find middle ground. It will be about embracing the full range of possibilities. Energies that some people may imagine are contradictory may in fact be complementary and mutual. Benevolence will coordinate well with fierceness and vice versa. Your craving for beauty will not just coexist with but synergize an affinity for messy fertility. This is a time for sacred synthesis. Don’t dilute. Integrate.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart wrote, “God is not found in the soul by adding anything, but by a process of subtraction.” Subtracting what? He wasn’t referring to losing something valuable, but rather to letting go of obstacles that obscure our direct experience of the divine. I invite you to make abundant use of this principle, Scorpio. Slough off layers of illusion, outmoded fantasies, and self-images soaked in others’ longings. As you let go, do so not in bitterness but in a joyous quest for freedom.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’m hoping that the Season of a Thousand Feelings hasn’t confused you. I’m praying that you have maintained a measure of composure and aplomb while navigating through the richest emotional flow you’ve experienced in many moons. It’s true that in some ways this barrage has been draining. But I’m certain you will ultimately regard it as being highly educational and entertaining. You will look back at this bustling interlude as a gift that will take a while to harvest completely.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Greek myth tells us that Persephone didn’t just return from the underworld each spring; she ruled there half the year. Yes, she was taken there against her will, but she adapted, transformed, and ultimately wielded great power in the depths. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, you will have the chance
Fox made a lot of money off the success of Star Wars merchandising.
Though the official call for proposals for Blackcomb had not yet been put out by the Province of British Columbia, Paul and Hugh, along with engineer Ken Farquharson, began putting together a bid. To secure financing, they decided to pitch it to the Aspen board of directors. While that pitch didn’t get very far, Al Raine, then in charge of provincial ski-area coordination, reached out to Jerry Blann, who worked in planning for Aspen. Aspen then became interested in Blackcomb and Hugh had to make what he described as “a critical decision in [his] career”: whether to continue with Paul and Ken or stick with his employer. Like at Fortress in 1975, he decided to stay with Aspen.
In 1978, 20th Century Fox used the profits from Star Wars to diversify, and bought Aspen. That same year, the province chose the bid from Aspen and development began on Blackcomb Mountain, meaning Hugh returned to Whistler as competition for his previous employer, Garibaldi Lifts. The opening of Blackcomb Mountain on Dec. 4, 1980 was part of an era of huge change and development in Whistler when, with the construction of Whistler Village, Whistler began to look more like the resort you see today. It is possible, however, that Whistler would be quite different if Dave, Lynn and Hugh hadn’t decided to reopen a “derelict ski area” in Alberta back in 1974. n
to navigate realms that other souls may not be brave enough to enter: taboos, unusual yearnings, ancestral memories. My advice is to go gently but with intense resolve. Don’t act like a tourist. Be a sovereign explorer, even a maestro of mystery. Claim your throne in the underworld. Use it to create healing maps for others. When your work is done and the right moment comes, you will rise again into the light.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In my astrological opinion, you are ready to graduate from the University of Senseless Suffering. It’s time to get your diploma and treat yourself to a vacation. I’m not saying you will never again experience pain, of course. Rather, I’m telling you the good news that your dilemmas in the coming months will be more fully useful and redemptive. They will feel more like satisfying work than unpleasant ordeals. Congrats on the upgrade, Aquarius! You are forever finished with at least one of your arduous lessons. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said you can’t step in the same river twice. Like everything else in nature, the river is in constant flux. It may appear to be the same, but the water is always flowing. What Heraclitus didn’t say is that you are never the same, either. Eternal change is your destiny. I invite you to ruminate eagerly on this truth, Pisces. Hopefully, it will help you let go of any hyper-perfectionist urges you might have. It will inspire you to see that the plan you made a while ago may need revision— not because you were wrong, but because you have grown. So yes: It’s time to reassess and recalculate. The goal isn’t to stick to the blueprint, but to build something that breathes with your becoming. Let the ever-new version of you draw a fresh map. It will be wiser than the last.
Homework: There’s an important thing you can’t do yet but will be able to in two years. What? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.comNewsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.
A NEW HOPE Jerry Blann and Hugh Smythe from Fortress Mountain Resorts present the Blackcomb development to the public in November 1978.
WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1978
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PositionOverview: Providesadministrative support to theJordan's PrincipleServiceCoordinator,Service Coordinationdelivery, andsupport communitybuildingactivitiesasneeded.Disseminate informationtothe publicandtoservice providersand community-basedprofessionalsto promote Jordan'sPrincipleand reduce servicebarriersforIndigenous childreninBC.
Providesleadershipof acomprehensive range ofnursingprogramswithincommunityandpublic health
CommunityHealthNurse
Providesleadershipof acomprehensive range ofnursingprogramswithincommunityandpublic health
Providesleadershipof acomprehensive range ofnursingprogramswithincommunityandpublic health
CommunityHealthNurse
CommunityHealthNurse
Providecaretoadultmembers(19+),being responsibleoffullscopenursingcaretoa variety ofclients, constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcare outof community
Home &CommunityCare Nurse
Providecaretoadultmembers(19+),being responsibleoffullscopenursingcaretoa variety ofclients, constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcare outof community
Providecaretoadultmembers(19+),being responsibleoffullscopenursingcaretoa variety ofclients, constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcare outof community
Home &CommunityCare Nurse
Home &CommunityCare Nurse
Providecaretoadult communitymembers(19+), beingresponsible forfullscopenursingcare to homecare clientsandmemberswithchronic diseases,constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcareoutof community
Child& FamilyServices
FamilyPreservation Worker
Providecaretoadult communitymembers(19+), beingresponsible forfullscopenursingcare to homecare clientsandmemberswithchronic diseases,constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcareoutof community
Providecaretoadult communitymembers(19+), beingresponsible forfullscopenursingcare to homecare clientsandmemberswithchronic diseases,constantlypromotinghealthand wellnesseducation,andaligningcareoutof community
Child& FamilyServices
SupportsSSHSfamiliesthroughculturally sensitiveprogramsandservices,promoting children’s safetyandqualityoflife. This role coordinatesresources to enhancefamilyunity, empowering familiesasprimarycaregivers.
Child& FamilyServices
JordansPrinciple
FamilyPreservation Worker
FamilyPreservation Worker
JordansPrinciple Administrative Assistant
SupportsSSHSfamiliesthroughculturally sensitiveprogramsandservices,promoting children’s safetyandqualityoflife. This role coordinatesresources to enhancefamilyunity, empowering familiesasprimarycaregivers.
SupportsSSHSfamiliesthroughculturally sensitiveprogramsandservices,promoting children’s safetyandqualityoflife. This role coordinatesresources to enhancefamilyunity, empowering familiesasprimarycaregivers.
JordansPrinciple
JordansPrinciple
JordansPrinciple Administrative Assistant
EarlyChildhoodDevelopment
ECDProgram Coordinator
Providesadministrativesupport to theJordan’s PrincipleService Coordinator, Service Coordinationdelivery, andsupport community buildingactivitiesasneeded.Disseminate informationtothepublicandtoservice providers andcommunity-basedprofessionalstopromote Jordan’s Principleand reduce servicebarriersfor IndigenouschildreninBC.
Providesadministrativesupport to theJordan’s PrincipleService Coordinator, Service Coordinationdelivery, andsupport community buildingactivitiesasneeded.Disseminate informationtothepublicandtoservice providers andcommunity-basedprofessionalstopromote Jordan’s Principleand reduce servicebarriersfor IndigenouschildreninBC.
JordansPrinciple Administrative Assistant Providesadministrativesupport to theJordan’s PrincipleService Coordinator, Service Coordinationdelivery, andsupport community buildingactivitiesasneeded.Disseminate informationtothepublicandtoservice providers andcommunity-basedprofessionalstopromote Jordan’s Principleand reduce servicebarriersfor IndigenouschildreninBC.
Whistler Seasonal Rental Wanted (Mid-Nov to MidApr)
Warm and responsible fam‐ily of four (2 adults, 2 kids) + small dog, recently relocated to Vancouver from Montreal, seeking a 3–4 bedroom home for the 2025/26 ski season (mid-Nov to midApr).
Our kids are enrolled in the WMSC race program, and we're looking forward to spending the season im‐mersed in the Whistler com‐munity.
Preferred areas are Whistler Cay Heights or Benchlands, but we're open to other pos‐sibilities that offer conve‐nient access to the moun‐tain.
We’re quiet, reliable tenants (a lawyer and a psycholo‐gist) and will treat your home with great care. Bud‐get: $6-8K/month (flexible for the right fit).
Any leads or advice would be greatly appreciatedthank you! Contact: 514-430-4530
We’re looking for a like-minded business to join us in our beautiful office space in Whistler Village Square. This is a sublease opportunity offering a private, secure, and professionally managed workspace with access to shared amenities.
Price depending on your needs Includes shared access to boardrooms, whiteboard, AC, and Kitchen. Flexible arrangements possible
We are exploring this opportunity, and any arrangement would be subject to landlord approval.
Contact: kayla@metronomics.com
Come buildandgrow withthebestteam.
Ourteamofpeopleiswhatsetsusapartfromotherbuilders.Aswe continuetogrowasthe leader inluxury projectsinWhistler,ourteamneedsto expandwithus. We are currentlyhiring:
Labourers ($20-$30hourly)
CarpentersHelpers/Apprentices1st to4th year ($25-$35hourly)
ExperiencedCarpenters ($30-$45hourly)
Carpentry Foremen ($40-$50hourly)
Rates vary based onexperienceand qualifications.Red Sealis a bonus but not required Crane Operator experienceconsidered anasset.
EVR is committed tothe long-term retention and skillsdevelopment ofourteam We are passionateaboutinvestinginourteam’s future
We promotefromwithinandarelookingtostrengthenouramazingteam.Opportunities for advancement intomanagementpositionsalways exist for the right candidates.Don’t missout onbeingabletobuildwiththeteamthatbuildsthemostsignificantprojectsinWhistler Send your resumetoinfo@evrfinehomes.com We lookforwardtohearingfrom you!
RENOS & HOME IMPROVEMENT
MOVING AND STORAGE
PEMBERTON
GISandITSupport Technician
(Regular,Full-time)
Looking tocontribute toyourlocalcommunity? Consider a careerinlocal government.Jointhe SLRD’s teamofdedicatedstaff who worktogethertomake a differenceinthe region.
TheSLRDisseekingacollaborativeindividualwithexcellenttechnicalandanalytical skillstofill the position ofGIS and ITSupport Technician.The GISandITSupport Technicianisresponsiblefordeliveringgeographicinformationsystems(GIS)services andsupportingtheSLRD’sinformationtechnology(IT)infrastructure.
Th e ideal ca ndidat e has a minimu m of 2 year s ofGI S wo rk experienc e and a post-secondary diploma ordegreeinGeographic Information Systems,Information Technology, or a relate d field Fo r furtherinformation,pleas e refe r toth e fulljo b descriptionat www.slrd.bc.ca/employment
The salaryrange for this position is $76,194- $85,757 annually.A comprehensive extended benefitspackage,participationintheMunicipalPensionPlan,compressedworkweek (9-dayfortnight),andprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesarealsoavailable.
We sincerelythankallapplicantsfortheirinterest,however, onlythoseshortlistedwillbecontacted.
ADMINISTRATOR, CALL CENTRE
Full Time, Year Round
Love a good challenge? Passionate about the place you call home? Tourism Whistler is looking for community-loving, mountain-appreciating, and environment-respecting individuals to join our team.
The Administrator, Call Centre plays a key support role, ensuring the operational effectiveness of the Travel Consultant team. While Travel Consultants focus on selling Whistler vacation packages via phone, email, and online chat, the Administrator ensures the seamless execution of these sales.
This role enhances the overall guest experience by maintaining efficient internal processes, supporting team productivity, and ensuring the timely and accurate fulfillment of reservations.
What We Offer:
• Whistler-based with a hybrid approach that balances both in-office and remote work
• A commitment to health and wellness, and a fun and supportive team environment
• Starting Wage: $22.00 per hour
TO VIEW OUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO APPLY, VISIT US ONLINE AT WHISTLER.COM/CAREERS.
ÚlÍus Community Centre
• Receptionist (Ullus) ($17.85 - $20.90 per hour)
Child & Family Services
• Transition House Support Worker ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
Title & Rights
• Project & Culture Manager
($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year)
Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
to $109,520 per year)
• Healing Program Manager
• Camp Counsellor ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year)
• Program Coordinator
• High School English and Humanities Teacher ($60,015 to $109,520 per year) Community Development
• Cultural Camp Supervisor ($46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)
($46,683.00 to $63,973.00 per year)
• Assistant Director, Health & Wellness ($93,475.20 to $101,566.00 per year)
Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/
Community Program
• Recreation Coordinator ($38,038 to $53,599 per year)
Xet’òlacw Community School
• Education Assistant ($20.90 to $29.45 per hour)
• Language Resource Worker or Language Teacher ($46,683 to $109,520 per year)
Community Development
• Community Justice Development
Facilitator ($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year)
Location: Downtown Pemberton
Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:30pm (42.5 hrs/week)
Pay: $35-$40/hr (based on experience)
Responsibilities:
Diagnose, repair, and maintain customer vehicles
Conduct frame inspections for cracks or damage
Install, balance, and repair tires (passenger, light truck, commercial, agricultural)
Perform motor vehicle safety inspections (body, frame, powertrain, etc.)
THERE’S TALK of following America’s lead and doing away with Canada’s electric vehicle mandate. That feels like a mistake.
The goal of Canada’s Electric Vehicle Availability Standard is (was?) to ensure all new light-duty vehicles sold are zero-emission by 2035. Some 20 per cent of new vehicle sales by the end of 2026 are supposed to be hybrids and EVs, with that number increasing to 60 per cent by 2030.
BY ANDREW MITCHELL
It seemed doable, if a little bit aggressive, when it was announced three years ago, but there’s no getting around the fact we’re almost definitely going to miss that first milestone.
And now our auto-manufacturing industry—already hanging on by its fingertips with Trump throwing out random tariffs based on how much world leaders are willing to debase themselves by kissing his ass—is asking the federal government to pull back completely.
I’m not unsympathetic. It’s an important industry that employs a lot of people and right now almost all of it revolves around internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Attempts to build EVs here by funding battery plants have also been sidetracked by tariffs and global wars.
I do get that the 20-per-cent target by the end of 2026 is an extreme longshot at this
BUMPS IN THE ROAD There’s no getting around the fact Canada will almost definitely miss its first EV mandate milestone.
point, but we’re also doing better than some critics expected—EV sales in Canada in 2024 were around 13.8 per cent, with B.C. leading the country with almost 25 per cent EV sales. That’s well short of what Norway has achieved with its 88 per cent EV adoption rate, or even the 22 per cent rate achieved by China, but it’s still momentum in the right direction.
Those numbers are expected to drop slightly in 2025 with Tesla’s brand cratering along with trust in its erratic CEO and Canada dipping into recession territory, but it’s far from failure.
There are good reasons we’re going to miss targets. The price of gas isn’t what it was a few years ago and consumer confidence in the economy is also down—people are taking a wait-and-see approach before spending money and holding onto their ICE vehicles a little while longer.
There are also some significant roadblocks when it comes to charging infrastructure that are going to take time to resolve. For example, about a million people in B.C. live in strata properties that can’t easily charge their vehicles without making some significant upgrades to their building’s electrical systems—which won’t come cheap. Installing load-management systems on older electrical panels to avoid using more power than is available also costs thousands. It could be a decade or more before older buildings can reliably provide fast-charging capability to every owner and tenant.
As well, Canada is a large country with lots of empty spaces between cities and towns, and range anxiety is real. You can drive hours between towns to get to public charging stations, only to find yourself in a line of other EV drivers who all need to charge their cars and trucks at once—and it takes time. There will need to be a lot more and faster chargers for EVs to be practical, even if it
means setting up charging waypoints in the middle of nowhere.
There also aren’t a lot of affordable EVs out there compared to ICE vehicles. Even the micro-sized Fiat 500e starts at $42,000, while you can get an entry-level ICE vehicle for just over half of that.
I know you’re supposed to calculate how much money you’ll save on gas and maintenance over the life of the vehicle, but those kinds of savings really only benefit the kind of people that can afford to pay cash up front. The irony of EVs is the people who could benefit the most from cars that are inexpensive to operate are the same people who can’t afford to buy them.
It’s expensive to be poor. Humorist Terry Pratchett came up with a theory of socioeconomic unfairness in his book Men at Arms that economists now call “Boot Theory.”
As Pratchett put it, poor people can only afford to buy cheap boots that give out after a year or two while rich people can invest in good boots that will last more than a decade. In the end, the poor boot-buyer will spend up to 10 times as much as a rich one to keep their feet out of the snow.
There was an option to get cheaper EVs on the market, but Canada followed the U.S. lead in applying 100-per-cent tariffs on Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD. The cheapest BYD vehicles could be under $20,000 in Canadian dollars if available here. However, while that might have helped us meet our climate goals, it wouldn’t have helped our automotive industry while helping a country we’re not overly friendly with these days. There are all kinds of interests to balance on the road to sustainability.
But while there are good reasons why EVs haven’t taken off as fast as we’d like, there are also good reasons why we can’t give up.
On a hike in the alpine the other day, I looked south to see a brownish haze winding
down the Sea to Sky highway—air pollution from all the ICE vehicles heading to Whistler on a Saturday morning. EVs will eliminate that toxic haze and clear our air.
You also can’t help but notice all the red trees lining the valley on both sides, courtesy of an outbreak of spruce budworm that could kill a significant number of trees if the outbreak persists. They are a naturally occurring pest in the dry Interior of the province, and it’s not a stretch to imagine their rapid spread into Whistler was made possible by recent years of hotter, drier summers linked to our changing climate.
There’s also a need to at least try to meet our climate-change commitments, reducing emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. If we want to replace America as a trading partner, we’ll need to trade more with Europe—and they take climate change a lot more seriously than we do. They might not tariff our exports like some countries I could mention but the EU’s carbon duties are basically the same thing.
I wrote a column about 11 years ago hoping the car I bought then—a very affordable and fuel-efficient Honda Fit— would be the last ICE vehicle I would own. I still hope that’s the truth because time is running out and EVs are still a bridge too far when it comes to cost and utility. The Boot Theory thing, the power thing, the utility thing—all are considerations I’m going to have to weigh in the next year or three.
But not if Canada gives up on its EV strategy, writes off its losses, freezes its grants, stops investing in the transitions, freezes out competitors, and follows the lead of the United States and its capricious Madman in Chief while we abandon one of the lowest-hanging fruits in reaching our climate-change commitments…
Like I said in the beginning, it just feels like a mistake. n
