Collaboration and tiny technology are revolutionizing the study of migration. - By Kylie Mohr / High Country News
06 OPENING REMARKS The success of the Whistler Housing Authority continues to make waves in other communities, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In this week’s letters, readers weigh in on Western spruce budworm, the Whistler Racket Club, and more.
22 RANGE ROVER Mountain biking and bike-packing in Iceland has become quite popular, writes Leslie Anthony—but in the early ’90s it was an unknown quantity.
42 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST As Whistler celebrates 50 years since its incorporation this week, Lizi McLoughlin asks the question: what do we want from the next 50 years?
10 HOUSING HURDLES Whistler’s mayor and council extended a financing lifeline for a new Cheakamus Crossing housing build at the Sept. 2 council meeting.
11 STAY COOL
The Resort Municipality of Whistler is moving to ban once-through cooling in the resort by 2030, after advancing related bylaws on Sept. 2.
26 TRI, TRI AGAIN One of the Sea to Sky area’s most distinctive fall pursuits—the Whistler X Tri—returns Sept. 13 and 14.
30 CREATIVE OUTLET
A new program at the Audain Art Museum offers art therapy for teens (no art experience necessary).
COVER Who needs a net?! You can catch more birds with honey. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
The growing influence of the Whistler Housing Authority
AS CHEAKAMUS CROSSING Phase 2 has developed over the years, Pique has been invited on more than one occasion to tour the site as it progressed.
First in the spring of 2021, when it was little more than some disturbed land, cleared lots and open trenches, and again the following
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
year, when two Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) builds consisting of 100 units total
Driving down Mount Fee Road today, past what used to be an active construction site, but is now a modern, beautiful neighbourhood of housing for Whistler employees, it’s stunning to think of the progress made in three short years.
It’s part of a story Whistler wants to better tell to the provincial government, and the world at large.
“A piece of feedback I received from the previous Minister of Housing was that we could do a better job of explaining who our community is and who is housed in these kind of projects, and that it’s not weekenders from the city who have big homes, but it’s workers who are making the provincial tourism economy go,” said Mayor Jack Crompton, in a discussion about this year’s Union of BC Municipalities convention at the Sept. 2 committee of the whole. “And so maybe we, as part of sharing about these housing projects, also just share who we are, and why this is so important.”
According to the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the resort has 1,033 employee-restricted
rental units and 1,191 employee-restricted ownership units, with about 84 per cent of the workforce living locally.
Since 2019, 745 new bed units of employee housing were created through its subsidiaries the WHA and the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation.
While not perfect, the model is always improving—and showing other communities what can be done in terms of employee housing.
Kevin Dorrius, general manager of Community Futures Revelstoke, said he took inspiration from Whistler in helping create the Revelstoke Workforce Affordable ForPurchase Housing Program.
“Most notably, I was just getting sick and tired of good businesses losing key staff
on board and we’ve come to an MOU on a very significant piece of property that we’re hoping to put about between 60 to 80 units of affordable, for-purchase housing on as our first foray into this, and then basically hand it off to the community housing society that we have which would then handle the ongoing management,” he said.
Revelstoke has been using the WHA model, and a similar initiative in Canmore, Alta., to build a “made-in-Revelstoke” solution, Dorrius added.
“We’ve taken some gems from both programs and are trying to [incorporate them], and Marla [Zucht, WHA general manager] has been absolutely incredible with giving some advice on things that they liked, things that they would have changed if they could now, and so
“I’m getting all kinds of calls from other communities and their newspapers about how this could adapt to their situation, to be honest … this is something that really should have been part of housing projects years and years and years ago,” Dorrius said.
“I think this is a model that needs to be duplicated everywhere. It’s not just Revelstoke, but a lot of places that the housing market has just gotten out of touch for people getting started, and we need to develop these secondary real estate markets to allow people to, at the very least, have housing stability.”
The housing situation in Whistler is of course still challenging, with exorbitant market rents, sometimes-sketchy landlords and often cramped living conditions. But the WHA gives the resort a distinct advantage,
“I think this is a model that needs to be duplicated everywhere. It’s not just Revelstoke, but a lot of places that the housing market has just gotten out of touch for people...”
- KEVIN DORRIUS
because their staff come to the inevitable conclusion after a while that with the price of rent and even just getting housing units in Revelstoke, which is pretty similar to Whistler, that they were leaving because they actually had no hope of being able to afford buying their own place,” Dorrius said.
In light of that, Dorrius began “looking closely” at the Whistler model, with an eye to creating some sort of for-purchase employeehousing program in his own community.
forth,” he said. “So that’s been really valuable. I can’t say enough thank-yous to Marla and the WHA for basically answering any questions I might have, so that’s been great.”
Dorrius said he studied up on WHA documents and policies in building Revelstoke’s own waitlist criteria and resale models ahead of their first foray into housing construction, planned for development late next fall.
And what started in Whistler in the late ’90s may soon spread even further.
and Dorrius rightly asks the question: where would we be without it?
“I’m trying to get people in Revelstoke to imagine … for Whistler, with 1,000 units of housing in its portfolio, what it would be like in terms of their workforce management, if they didn’t have this program,” he said. “And we need to get on board in Revelstoke and get the same kinda thing, because if we don’t create those opportunities for people that we want to have here, stay here, I don’t even know what kind of future we have.” n
Take action on Whistler’s red trees
To the Resort Municipality of Whistler and The Ministry of Forests: Please, please do something about the Western spruce budworm (choristoneura occidentalis) infestation in the Whistler area.
I first noticed a small patch of red trees along upper 19 Mile Creek on Rainbow Mountain in 2023. I feared the dreaded pine beetle had returned, however, it was not the pine beetle this time but the Western spruce budworm. That first year, many of the red trees did recover after 30 days and were once again green. The following year, in June 2024, that small red patch had grown to include most of the replanted forest between 19 and 21 Mile Creeks as well as areas above Function Junction and Callaghan Creek. That year, the red forest persisted for more than 60 days.
Fast forward to this year. The Western spruce budworm infestation has now grown to include most of the replanted forests on the west side of Highway 99 from Function Junction to Emerald Estates. The trees have now been red for more than 80 days. The Western spruce budworm is primarily eating the genetically similar replanted fir trees. The spruce budworm caterpillars are thriving, and multiplying exponentially!
In 2007-08, an infestation in B.C. grew to more than 800,000 hectares. Infestation can last five to 25 years, according to the BC Government website. The spruce budworm’s moths have been laying their eggs now for next year’s caterpillars, hence the current noticeable preponderance of moths.
Two possible options to stop these infestations are: Do more studies and let nature run its course. The Western spruce budworm will one day eat its way through our forests and move on to greener forests, leaving
behind a forest of dead, red, dry trees. There is also a high likelihood of wildfires, which, yes, would destroy the moths, caterpillars, and eggs; but at the same time, also destroy many of the homes in our Whistler community.
This should NOT be an option.
Option 2: Aerial spray the caterpillars this coming spring with Bacillus thuringiensis (Btk).
The spruce budworm is multiplying rapidly in our area. It is thriving on mostly genetically similar replanted fir trees along Highway
99 and surrounding areas. The Western spruce budworm is a very destructive native defoliator of Western coniferous forests. Once the replanted forests are eaten, the spruce budworm will move into the rest of the forest and just keep eating.
We have eight months to prepare before the next caterpillar infestation this coming spring. Thank you in advance for taking action in this matter.
Todd Bush // Whistler
Eliminating the WRC would be a huge loss
It has come to my attention that the beloved Whistler Racket Club’s (WRC) existence is threatened. For more than 30 years this club has acted as a hub for people such as myself to engage in physical activity and socialize with friends, and more recently as a summer camp venue for locals and tourists. It is even listed on the Tourism Whistler website as one of the many attractions here in Whistler!
The WRC continues to grow yearly in memberships and usage. As weather patterns keep changing, there will be an ever greater need for activities other than snow sports. The WRC has provided a year-round venue for tennis and the continuously growing sport of pickleball. It has recreational use and competitive use, hosting players from all over the world.
The WRC is in an ideal location. I understand the need for more housing in
Fare Change
Transfers and willcapfares daily after a second
Thismeansyou’ll neverpaymore thanthevalueof a DayPASSin a single transitday. Products purchased before October 1 willcontinue tobeaccepteduntil used up. Forfullpriceandnew product details, visit bctransit.com/Whistler.
Whistler. It would be difficult, however, to find a similarly accessible and central location for the Club. There seems to be plenty of locations that could be developed for housing, including parts of the golf courses or driving ranges and the area around Function Junction. Having a tennis/pickleball club that is centrally located is essential to its viability.
Eliminating the WRC would be a huge loss to permanent residents, semi-permanent residents, and visitors alike. I urge the mayor and Whistler council to reconsider its redevelopment.
Steven Fedder // Whistler
Whistler Summer Concert Series is about ‘far more than live music’
I find it difficult to explain to my friends who don’t live here just how special the Whistler Summer Concert Series is for our community. These evenings in Olympic Plaza are about far more than live music, they are about connection. We lay out blankets, bring our lawn chairs, and eat local fare while our children dance freely. Even our four-legged companions find their place in the mix! For a few hours, the usual divides disappear. Whistler Politico on Facebook? What’s that? We are not talking politics, comparing jobs, or worrying about the pressures of everyday life.
We are simply our Whistler family, together, sharing joy in the same space.
On Saturday afternoon, Aug. 23, watching our daughter and her friends dance in a flash
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
mob, I found myself speaking with Mayor Jack Crompton on the Great Lawn, trying to put into words what this means to us as a community. I thanked him for supporting something that brings so much joy and unity. It’s not easy to describe, but anyone who has been there knows it. The music is the backdrop, but the real headliner is the sense of belonging.
The Whistler Summer Concert Series has become one of the most cherished traditions in town, reminding us that our community is strongest when we gather in simple, positive ways.
Patrick Smyth // Whistler
A note of appreciation for Arts Whistler
I would like to write a short note of appreciation for Arts Whistler (AW). I am a member and have had the good fortune to participate in some of their Village Animation days this summer. I am a painter as well as a musician and have been able to practise both these disciplines in town amongst the crowds that pass through here everyday, which, for me, is great.
I would be home painting anyway, but in this program I get paid and have the opportunity for people to see what I do. If Whistler still has a soul, and I think it does, this is a great way to show the visiting world as well as our own locals that there are interesting and colourful people living here.
Thanks AW and see you next summer.
Jeff Heintzman // Whistler n
NickDavies, Whistlerlocal andexperiencedfamilylawyer practisingacrossBCandYukon. Callat 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca
Whistler council extends financing lifeline for Cheakamus Crossing housing build
THE RMOW ALSO ADVANCED REZONING FOR A 110-UNIT WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL IN CHEAKAMUS
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has opted to extend a $1-million repayment deadline for the Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) to ease nearterm cash pressure while it awaits an external financing partner for the second phase of construction on Lot 3 in Cheakamus Crossing.
Staff also received direction during the same Sept. 2 council meeting that, if additional financing is delayed, they should return immediately with options to avoid a potential stop-work order.
Chief financial officer Carlee Price told council the decision to extend the repayment period to Jan. 31, 2026 was to buy time while waiting for outside financing. Based on the funding timeline for Lot 5, September marks a potential turning point for Lot 3.
“If September is indeed when the external financing is identified, then all is well with this project and the amount of required funding to keep it moving tips down from there,” Price explained to council. “If, however, this is not the case, the situation becomes quite different.”
As previously reported, Lot 3’s financing
picture has proved murkier than Lot 5’s. The WDC has been covering the upfront costs of construction in the absence of external financing, approaching its borrowing limits.
Staff laid out three scenarios: if external financing is confirmed this month, Lot 3 can proceed without further intervention from the RMOW. If external financing is delayed, the WDC could face a $5-million to $6-million shortfall. The worst-case scenario—no financing identified this year—could leave the RMOW on
construction would be the most likely course in that scenario.
Other councillors reflected on the municipality’s broader approach to financing housing. Coun. Ralph Forsyth noted the WDC was pushed to accelerate construction, and is building faster than financing can sometimes be secured.
“They’re building [faster] than the people who are going to give us the money can get us the money,” he said, arguing
“They’re building [faster] than the people who are going to give us the money can get us the money.”
- RALPH FORSYTH
the hook for the project’s nearly $60-million cost. A staff report noted that outcome’s likelihood was “low but not zero risk.”
Councillors pressed Price on what would happen if funding fails to materialize.
Councillor Jeff Murl questioned whether there were “steps in between” before the RMOW would ever take on full financing. Chief administrative officer Ginny Cullen explained that if funding doesn’t arrive in September, staff would return “almost immediately” with options, including a possible stop-work order. Mayor Jack Crompton echoed that stopping
Whistler should not rule out returning to a self-financing model.
Alongside the repayment extension, the RMOW also approved a $5.9-million equity contribution to support the project, contingent on at least $6 million in external grant funding being secured. Crompton closed the issue by thanking staff for contingency planning.
“I think the [repayment] extension makes a lot of sense. It helps us get to that point where we hope we find a funding partner,” he said. “I’m confident we will find ways to fund this and future projects.”
REZONING FOR WHISTLER SPORT LEGACIES HOUSING PROJECT
Alongside decisions on Lot 3 financing, Whistler’s mayor and council also approved a rezoning bylaw on Sept. 2 that will allow Whistler Sport Legacies (WSL) to move ahead with a 110-unit workforce housing development in Cheakamus Crossing.
The project—slated for a new parcel created from portions of two legacy Olympic lands at 1080 Legacy Way and 1315 Cloudburst Drive—will deliver a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Plans also include auxiliary community space and two levels of parking, one fully underground.
Presenting the report, municipal planner Tracy Napier said the rezoning amendments were needed to permit the proposed density, height and setbacks, as well as to reduce on-site parking requirements. The sixstorey structure will stand next to the High Performance Centre.
Council heard the building will be designed to Step Code 4 energy efficiency standards and include green features, including EV charging stalls, energy recovery ventilators and 120V outlets for e-bike charging throughout the parking area.
“This provides a substantial benefit to the community,” Napier noted, citing consistency with Whistler’s Official Community Plan and employee housing policies. n
FINE FINANCE Another housing build underway in Whistler’s Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
Whistler council votes to phase out once-through cooling systems by 2030
THE RMOW IS JOINING OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING VANCOUVER AND ABBOTSFORD, IN BANNING THE ‘WASTEFUL’ DEVICES
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has voted to ban once-through cooling (OTC) systems, a water-intensive technology still used in local hotels, restaurants and grocery stores, by the end of the decade.
OTC systems, commonly found in ice machines, walk-in coolers, air conditioners and other commercial appliances, use a steady flow of drinking water to absorb heat before discharging it directly into the sewer.
According to RMOW staff, a single smallto-medium OTC unit consumes about 1.6 million litres of potable water annually— enough to fill half an Olympic-size swimming pool. Another estimate found Whistler’s existing OTC systems use more than 54,000 cubic metres of treated drinking water every year—the equivalent of 34 Olympic-size swimming pools.
“Because these once-through systems require a continuously running supply of cold water, which is then discharged into the sewer, they are considered wasteful, putting undue pressure on Whistler’s water supply and our wastewater system,” utilities manager Chris Wike explained in a June letter to business operators.
The bylaw amendments, given first three readings during a Sept. 2 council meeting, prohibit new OTC installations after Dec. 31, 2025, and require all existing systems to be disconnected from Whistler’s potable water supply by Dec. 31, 2030.
On peak days this summer, water demand came close to or dipped below reservoir levels considered necessary for fire protection. That’s the result of 11 years of below-average precipitation and a 7.2-per-cent increase in water demand over the last decade.
“The primary function of Whistler’s water system is to provide safe drinking water and to ensure we have enough supply for firefighting purposes,” Wike wrote. “With these functions alone, Whistler’s drinking water system is already near capacity on peak days. This means we need to take measures now to reduce our reliance on our water supply for non-essential use.”
Other B.C. jurisdictions—including Vancouver, Abbotsford and the Capital Regional District—have already prohibited OTC systems.
IMPACTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
On June 27, to prepare affected businesses, the municipality sent 230 letters to local hotel, restaurant and grocery operators, explaining the OTC phase-out and soliciting feedback through a survey. That survey only produced 19 responses, eight of which reported using OTC units. One business cited replacement costs ranging from $15,000 to $70,000 per system. Others called for a three-to-five-year
transition period.
Councillor Jen Ford voiced concern for small businesses already facing steep costs during the Sept. 2 meeting.
“It’s not just the cost of replacing the refrigerator, but also the installation. It may require costly renovations to the building, and they may not be allowed to do that if they’re renting,” she said. “There’s a lot of costs to this that I think are concerning for businesses.”
At the same time, Ford stressed she did not want to delay the bylaw’s adoption, acknowledging that the five-year transition gives operators time to adjust. Staff also said alternatives such as air-cooled or closed-loop water-cooled systems are readily available in markets where OTC equipment has been banned.
Coun. Jeff Murl noted while OTC systems once offered reliable cooling, they are increasingly hard to justify.
“My one concern with this process has been that it seems like we’re striking the anvil with two hammers,” he said, referring to both the new bylaw and the upcoming rollout of volumetric water billing.
“But the five-year timeline, I think, is the saviour for me. Over that five years, [operators will] start to see and start to pay the cost of that, and they’ll see the value in making that switch.”
Coun. Ralph Forsyth called for a “pull campaign, not a push campaign” to bring operators on-side and get them to understand the change well before the 2030 deadline.
When volumetric billing begins—likely in
“It may require costly renovations to the building, and they may not be allowed to do that if they’re renting.”
- JEN FORD
2026, according to Wike’s letter—OTC systems will become far more expensive to operate.
Alongside the OTC ban, council also passed an enforcement bylaw, creating a $500 ticketable offence for failing to disconnect equipment after 2030.
“This is an important component of Whistler’s water conservation program,” staff concluded in their report. “It will conserve potable water for core needs within the RMOW and reduce the demand on the potable water and wastewater systems.”
The bylaws will return for adoption at an upcoming meeting. n
Whistler sets the stage for UBCM minister meetings
LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL MEET WITH MINISTERS OF FORESTS, HOUSING, FINANCE AND TOURISM AT ANNUAL UBCM CONVENTION THIS MONTH
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
WITH THE ANNUAL Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention just around the corner, officials in Whistler are planning for meetings with several provincial ministers.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler has confirmed meetings with Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle, Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey, and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Anne Kang (together with the Resort Communities Collaborative).
Local officials went over the meetings and potential discussion points at the Sept. 2 committee of the whole meeting.
On forests, the topic of the day is unsurprisingly the Western spruce budworm infestation still reddening local trees.
“Being a tourist community, we get lots of people asking questions about the safety of our forests and the health of our forests,” said corporate coordinator Julie Farr. “So this meeting was requested to connect with them on this topic and hopefully create more opportunities to coordinate with the ministry on their communication out to the public about the Western spruce budworm.”
Councillor Ralph Forsyth noted one “important distinction” is that on this issue,
the burden of communication has fallen to the RMOW, even though addressing the budworm infestation is outside of its jurisdiction.
“And so our team has done, I think, a good job of communicating out to the community that you know, the trees are red, they’re not dead. Here’s the implications, here’s the plan moving forward,” Forsyth said. “But if we can’t articulate clearly what the province’s strategy is for spruce budworm, then I think it’s difficult for us to communicate to the community, and I think it’s their responsibility—if they’re responsible for managing the forest, they should be responsible for communicating the messaging that goes out.”
Councillor Arthur De Jong added the
adjustment to eligibility criteria, “which would be to support housing opportunities for community-focused organizations like WISH and Zero Ceiling and Sea to Sky Community Services,” she added.
Officials will also share an update on Whistler’s current housing project when they meet with the minister.
RMOW should highlight the longer-term fire risks associated with the infestation.
“I think that we need to kind of re-establish, or affirm, rather, the level of risk that this community is at with wildfires,” he said. “It’s not if, it’s when we’re going to get a big one. And this issue is breathing on us, with respect to that.”
On housing, the RMOW plans to discuss eligibility rules on community land bank lands, noting current rules limit eligibility to employees of Whistler, “which excludes residents who are unable to work for a variety of different reasons—social service needs, disability, etc.,” Farr said.
The RMOW plans to request an
“A piece of feedback I received from the previous Minister of Housing was that we could do a better job of explaining who our community is and who is housed in these kind of projects, and that it’s not weekenders from the city who have big homes, but it’s workers who are making the provincial tourism economy go,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “And so maybe we, as part of sharing about these housing projects, also just share who we are and why this is so important.”
The RMOW also plans to discuss property tax deferrals for workforce housing with the finance minister, noting current policy excludes allowances for tax deferrals on leased land properties or those with workforce housing covenants. Given increased property values and challenges with affordability, the RMOW notes adjusting the deferral allowance would support residents currently living in those property types, and help older owners age in place in their community.
This year’s UBCM convention takes place Sept. 22 to 26 in Victoria. n
RED SERIOUS Whistler’s red forests have been a hot topic this year.
RCMP BRIEFS: WHISTLER BIKE THIEF FOUND TO BE IN CANADA ILLEGALLY
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
A MAN WITH AN EXTENSIVE rap sheet of theft and property crimes dating back to 2006 is facing charges after once again getting arrested in Whistler.
In a release on Aug. 28, the Whistler RCMP said they received a report of a breakand-enter into a residential unit on Aug. 17. Police “conducted an investigation and were able to take a male immediately into custody,” the release said.
The next day, Aug. 18, five charges were laid against Stephen Ernest Blackwater, 46, including three charges of break-andenter with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of property obtained by crime and obstruction of a peace officer in the execution of his duties.
It’s at least the fifth time Blackwater has been arrested for crimes in Whistler. In August 2024, he was charged with one count of break-and-enter to commit an indictable offence after breaking into two local businesses.
Blackwater was found guilty of that charge, and sentenced to 493 days in jail and 18 months of probation, according to publicly available court documents. It’s unclear when he was released.
In 2008, Blackwater was charged with four counts of breaking and entering in the resort, one count of breaching an earlier condition that he stay out of Whistler, and for failing to appear in court on another charge. In that instance he was sentenced to six months in jail and one year of probation.
In 2007, he was charged with break-andenter with intent to commit an indictable offence in Whistler, and eventually sentenced to 34 days in jail.
And in October 2006, he was found guilty of theft under $5,000 for a different Whistler offence, eventually serving eight
days in prison.
The 2006 charge is the earliest, but Blackwater’s rap sheet extends far beyond Whistler. Plugging his name into Court Services Online produces three full pages of results, with petty crimes taking place everywhere from Prince Rupert, West Vancouver and North Vancouver to Burnaby, Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver.
Blackwater was held in custody until a scheduled court appearance on Sept. 2.
It’s unclear where Blackwater is originally from, though previous news reports stated he has “no fixed address.”
WHISTLER BIKE THIEF FOUND TO BE IN CANADA ILLEGALLY
Meanwhile, a separate theft investigation is also underway after police received a report on Aug. 13 about a man in possession of a stolen bike.
“Members were able to retrieve the bicycle and, during the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect in possession of the stolen bike was illegally residing in Canada,” police said in a release.
The man was arrested under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and local police worked in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency to “ensure that further investigation into the individual’s overstay in Canada was conducted.”
“We want the visitors and residents of the Whistler community to trust that when they call us, we will be there to assist,” said Cpl. Katrina Boehmer, media relations officer with the Sea to Sky RCMP, in the release. “Whether investigators are returning stolen property or arresting individuals to enforce the laws, our priority is to address each situation with professionalism and with the safety of our community in mind.”
Anyone with information on these cases or any other crimes is asked to contact the Sea to Sky Whistler RCMP at 604-9323044, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or go to solvecrime.ca. n
PROLIFIC OFFENDER Stephen Ernest Blackwater.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VICTORIA POLICE
‘Always
be alert’: Whistler’s Grant Lamont and dog escape coyote encounter
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AUG. 25 WHILE LAMONT WAS RIDING HIS BIKE ON DANIMAL
BY DAVID SONG
LONGTIME WHISTLERITE Grant Lamont was out for a routine bike ride on Aug. 25 around 9 a.m. when he and his dog Beans realized they weren’t alone.
Lamont had gotten partway down the Danimal North trail when he heard Beans growl. Gazing up the slope to his left flank, he sighted a pair of coyotes rushing towards them.
Beans, a five-year-old Catahoula leopard dog, is accustomed to running alongside her owner during bike rides and does not veer off the beaten path. Lamont ordered her to stay with him as they kept going, but the coyotes pursued them to a terrain feature near the bottom of Danimal. One of the canines began to menace Beans, prompting Lamont to dismount and look for an improvised weapon in self-defence as he kept his bike between himself and the animals.
Hefting a sizable rock with both hands, Lamont threw it at the hostile coyote from a distance of approximately three metres. He struck the animal in the head, causing both aggressors to retreat. Lamont then used his knowledge of the area to quickly find an exit— realizing Beans could outrun the coyotes, he decided to make for his parked car at best possible speed.
The coyotes did not abandon chase entirely, however, and Lamont says they were watching as he reached his vehicle.
Both man and dog got out of the situation unscathed, with Lamont reporting the incident to the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) minutes after it happened.
On Aug. 27, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) issued a coyote alert for the
“They seemed to be protecting something.”
- GRANT LAMONT
Hot Dog Alley and Whip Me Snip Me trails, but Lamont feels the canines may be based further up Danimal.
“They seemed to be protecting something,” said the 64-year-old. “With all the forest devastation they’re doing over there, with all the tree-thinning and everything like that … I think the coyotes’ den is probably higher up [than Hot Dog Alley]. Maybe they’ve had to move their den a couple of times.
“Initially, I was all amped up after it happened. I think those coyotes thought Beans was a smaller dog until [they got up close]. I
don’t think I’d ridden that fast for about 10 years … and my dog actually beat me to the car.”
‘ALWAYS BE ALERT’
Lamont has resided in Whistler since 1987 and served as a municipal councillor during the 2010 Olympics. He was among the original Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) board members, is employed by Destination BC at present and also co-founded the Whistler Bike Guide company.
The longtime local has encountered his share of wildlife over the years: cougars in the vicinity of the Micro Climate trail and Wedge, grizzly bears in the Chilcotin Ranges and wolves in the Colorado Desert. He believes the key to coexisting with animals is to give them space and to inform others (particularly Conservation Officers) about their presence in a timely fashion.
“Always be alert. I don’t ride with headphones or anything like that,” Lamont said. “I’m fairly in tune with nature, and I could almost feel [the coyotes’] presence before I saw them. There’s nature everywhere and you’re always going to have encounters. It’s really important to keep in a group, to be cognizant of your surroundings and have an exit path. I don’t think [my dog] is overly brave, but in this case she was just doing her part as my riding partner.”
Lamont emphasized that Beans is well-
behaved outdoors. She is trained not to chase animals, but will merely sit down and bark when she notices their presence. Some of Lamont’s guiding clients from Mexico, England, South America and the United States tend to request his dog on trips to assuage their anxiety about wildlife.
The COS and Resort Municipality of Whistler note at this time of year, coyotes may become more defensive towards people or pets while protecting dens or pups.
“The coyotes have reportedly shown ‘escorting’ behaviour, following people and dogs at a distance to guide them away from their territory, food source, or pups,” the RMOW said in its Aug. 27 alert.
“To protect yourself, your pets, and the coyotes, please consider avoiding these trails. When using any trail, keep pets leashed, as dogs can trigger defensive behaviour from wildlife.”
Officials offer some safety tips for coyote encounters: Stay calm and do not run; keep your dog on a short leash at your side. Pick up small children or dogs; calmly back away while maintaining eye contact. The coyote will stop following once you are out of its territory; if the coyote comes too close or acts defensively (like growling or lunging), shout and wave your arms. Then, back away slowly while making loud noises.
For more wildlife safety tips, visit wildsafebc.com. n
AWARE donates nearly 550 pounds of produce to Whistler Food Bank
THE ASSOCIATION OF WHISTLER Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) recently delivered 548 pounds of fresh produce to the Whistler Food Bank.
Said food was locally grown across 14 dedicated garden plots: six in Cheakamus, five in Spruce Grove (including one in the Spruce Grove greenhouse) and two at the Myrtle Phillip Greenhouse. The plots were set up as part of AWARE’s GROW Community Garden and Greenhouse Program with additional Value in Kind funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).
Planting began near the end of May, with five volunteers contributing 83 hours since then to cultivate produce and record data about the yields of the Cheakamus plots. Information from one harvest noted 35 pounds of peas, 30 pounds of kale, 22 pounds of zucchini, 20 pounds of lettuces, two pounds of beans and two pounds of radishes: all gifted directly to the Food Bank.
“Our hard work is paying off, and each week we’re proud to deliver fresh lettuce, peas, zucchini, and other seasonal vegetables
to the Whistler Food Bank,” said volunteer and lead farmer Patrick Smyth in a press release.
“Beyond the food itself, the experience has been a lesson in teamwork, resilience, and the value of giving back, showing us how little patches of earth can grow into something that supports both local food security and community wellness.”
with the opportunity to cultivate their own food while developing environmental stewardship.
Before grant funding, the GROW program was managed part-time by contract staff due to financial limitations. The grant has enabled AWARE to increase capacity, secure permanent staffing and launch educational initiatives about its programming.
“Our hard work is paying off, and each week we’re proud to deliver fresh ... vegetables to the Whistler Food Bank.”
- PATRICK SMYTH
The donation comes nearly a year after AWARE received a $50,000 grant from the Whistler Community Foundation’s allocation of the Community Prosperity Fund, itself a $25-million provincial initiative from the Government of British Columbia meant to reduce poverty and foster social inclusion.
GROW was selected to receive the grant money (to be spent over three years) because it provides more than 200 community members
“It is fantastic to see the first rewards of community-driven solutions come to life via this initiative,” said Pegah Pourkarimi, executive director of AWARE, in the release. “We are lucky to have the support of the Community Prosperity Fund to continue delivering this program as a meaningful way to demonstrate the linkages between climate and social issues, while building resilience in the local food systems.
“This is only the beginning. Imagine the possibilities when more community members get involved, more gardens are grown, and together we cultivate a mountain town where everyone has access to fresh, healthy, and locally grown food.”
Jackie Dickinson, executive director of the Whistler Community Services Society, which runs the Food Bank, added: “As the rising cost of living continues to impact families in our community, we’re seeing an increased demand for fresh produce which is becoming less financially accessible in grocery stores. Having locally grown, hardy crops is a huge asset to our team, as they tend to outlast recovered produce and help ensure we can provide nutritional diversity in our food bank throughout the week.”
Read more at awarewhistler.org.
GRANFONDO RETURNS SEPT.
6
On Saturday, Sept. 6. more than 5,000 cyclists will participate in the RBC GranFondo.
As per usual, drivers can expect delays between West Vancouver and Whistler between 5:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Motorists are advised to obey all traffic control personnel and be prepared to stop, with rolling re-openings taking place as riders
Speed limits will be reduced to 60 km/h on segments of Highway 99, although northbound and southbound access will remain available throughout the day. Below are the planned traffic pattern changes that may directly affect Sea to Sky residents:
Whistler: Function Junction to Village Gate Boulevard: signals will be flashing and traffic will be stopped intermittently at the entrances and exits to key Whistler destinations. Expect major delays entering and exiting the east side of Highway 99.
Southbound Village Gate Boulevard to Callaghan Valley road: signals will be flashing and traffic will be delayed from 9:15 to 10 a.m. for neutralized lead out. Road remains partially open.
Alta Lake Road will be available as an alternate traffic route from Highway 99.
Various intersections with Highway 99: Blackcomb Way West: closed in both directions.
Village Gate Boulevard: closed to northbound and southbound traffic from Highway 99.
Lorimer Road and Whistler Way: both open as alternate routes to Village Gate.
Whistler Northlands Boulevard at Village Gate: traffic signal will be flashing. Traffic control persons will be on site from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
Callaghan Valley Road: closed in both directions.
Highway 99: Porteau Cove Provincial Park: counterflow traffic adjacent to cyclists in effect, with one lane northbound and one lane southbound available for motorists, leading to single-lane alternating traffic for 1.3 km from 7:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Furry Creek: local traffic will be re-routed via internal roads to access the Sea to Sky Highway northbound and southbound from 7:15 until 11:30 a.m.
Britannia Beach: Single-lane alternating traffic will be in effect for one km.
Find more info at rbcgranfondo.com/ event-resources/whistler/traffic-advisories.
SD48 ISSUES BACK-TOSCHOOL STATEMENT
Most students in the K-12 age range are back to school as of Sept. 2. Both School District 48 (SD48) and the local RCMP have issued statements for families as they enter this busy time of year.
An SD48 spokesperson had this to say: “We’re thrilled to welcome students, families, staff, and community partners back for the 2025–26 school year, and we extend a warm greeting to those joining our district for the first time. The first week of September is always such an energizing time in our schools. Families are reconnecting, staff are ready to support student learning and well-being, and students are stepping into new opportunities to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections. We are especially proud to welcome new staff to our incredible learning community, and look forward to working together in the year ahead.
“This year also marks an important milestone as we develop our new District Strategic Plan. This process will be guided by student, staff, family, and community voices, and will help shape the Board of Education’s direction for the next five years. In addition, we are continuing our work in alignment with
provincial priorities, including implementing last year’s legislation on personal electronic devices in schools. That means no cell phones in elementary schools, and teacher directed use in middle and secondary schools.”
Meanwhile, the Whistler RCMP is providing members of the public with a number of safety guidelines.
For drivers: The speed limit within school zones is 30 km/h: a limit that also applies to all Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) streets.
Watch for pedestrians at crosswalks. A vehicle is required to yield to a pedestrian waiting to cross at a crosswalk.
Do not overtake or pass vehicles in front of you who may be waiting at a crosswalk or intersection. This creates a safety issue for pedestrians who may not be visible to you due to the vehicle stopped in front of you.
Always stop for a school bus when the “Stop” sign is displayed and the lights are flashing, no matter which direction you are travelling. Both lanes of traffic must come to a full stop until the school bus stop sign is retracted, and its flashing lights are turned off.
If dropping your child off at school in a vehicle, be aware of your school’s traffic regulations and/or patterns in drop-off areas. School administrators will have traffic planning in place to ensure safety in the car park and drop-off areas.
For pedestrians: Stop, look and listen for vehicles at crosswalks and intersections. A pedestrian is obligated to remain safely on a curb or sidewalk if it is impractical for a vehicle to yield to the pedestrian waiting to cross at a crosswalk.
Consider reflective clothing or tags on backpacks on dark or rainy mornings, and do not walk on roadways where sidewalks are available.
For cyclists: Stop, look and listen for vehicles when crossing roads. In Whistler, “Stop” signs are erected where the Valley Trail network meets roadway crossings.
Always wear a helmet, as they have been proven to reduce head and brain injury.
If on the road, always ride single file and stay as close as safely possible to the right. Learn hand signals so drivers around you are aware of your movements, and be aware of traffic signs. A person operating a bicycle on the road is obligated to follow the same laws as a vehicle.
Kid safety: Have a travel plan in place for children who are travelling to school without parents or caregivers. Know your route and stick to it.
Have the name and contact information of another safe adult that can be contacted if you are unable to contact your parent or caregiver.
“While these safety tips might seem mundane and repetitive, the reality is that at this time of year, frustrations can increase with the additional traffic on the roads, whether that be in school zones or on streets and highways generally,” said Cpl. Katrina Boehmer, Sea to Sky RCMP media relations officer, in a press release. “We simply want to encourage people to remember to be kind, be patient, and be aware of your surroundings, whether driving a vehicle, operating a bicycle or walking. Our goal is for everyone to arrive safely at their destination.”
The fall’s first Board of Education meeting will take place on Sept. 10. n
The Resort Municipality of Whistler from time to time recognizes certain persons in the community who have contributed of themselves to help make Whistler a better place for all to enjoy.
The community recognizes these outstanding contributions by declaring them: “Freeman of the Resort Municipality of Whistler”
BY BOB BARNETT
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED that of the five women and 11 men who have received the Freedom of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the men have largely focused on the “resort” side while the women have tended to be community builders. That begs the question of what is “resort” and what is “community.” Few represent that Venn diagram-type of overlap better than Whistler’s first “Freeman,” Myrtle Philip.
Myrtle Philip was the heart of the community of Alta Lake, as postmistress, school trustee, cook, guide and proprietor of the general store.
She also owned and operated Rainbow Lodge, which grew to incorporate 45 buildings, could accommodate 100 people and was said to have been the most popular resort west of the Rockies during the 1920s and ’30s.
But numbers and titles don’t convey the sense of time and place that was Alta Lake in Myrtle’s day.
From 1914 to the early 1960s, when BC Hydro first brought power to the valley and a passable road was built from Squamish, the only semi-reliable connection to the world beyond Alta Lake was the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. The PGE brought mail, supplies and visitors a couple of times a week, if snowfall or rock slides didn’t block the tracks.
During this half-century, while Myrtle was building a resort and forging a community in B.C.’s Coast Mountains, the outside world experienced two world wars, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, and watched an Iron Curtain descend across Europe.
And all the while the fish were thriving in Alta Lake.
How she came to live here is a tale familiar to any graduate of Myrtle Philip School. Born and raised in Blue Hill, Maine in 1891, Myrtle Tapley became a teacher in nearby Brooksville in 1908 and boarded with the Philip family, where she met Alex, her future husband.
Alex had crossed the continent to work at a granite quarry in B.C. but didn’t like the work. By 1906 he had moved to Vancouver and was working at the Horseshoe Bar and Grill in Gastown. Alex and Myrtle corresponded for a couple of years and then were married in Oregon in 1910. She was 19, he was 28.
One evening a trapper who had escaped his Texas past for Alta Lake wandered into
the Horseshoe and told Alex about the beauty of the area. John Millar enthralled the Philips with tales of abundant fish and the huge potential for a fishing lodge.
In 1911 the Philips travelled for three days to visit Millar at Alta Lake. Impressed, in 1913 they purchased 10 acres on the west side of the lake. The price has been variously reported as $600, $700 and $800. Most of the Tapley family moved from Maine to help clear the land and construct the first buildings, while Alex remained working at the Horseshoe. By the end of 1914 Rainbow Lodge had four walls and a roof and the winter was spent finishing the interior.
The other big event in the fall of 1914 was the arrival of the PGE rail service, which initially ran from Newport (now Squamish) to Pemberton. The railway’s main business was hauling lumber from sawmills back to Newport but PGE representatives asked the Philips if they could cater to a fishermen’s excursion train. The first fishing tour arrived in May 1915. As Myrtle told a reporter in 1971: “When the day came, 25 fishermen got off that special train. We had only one boat and two rafts. But every one of those fishermen got fish. And they went back and told their friends about Alta Lake. And from that time on, we had all the business we could handle.”
Myrtle herself became an expert fisher, and continued fishing into her 80s. Vancouver writer Pat Prowd said: “She ties her own flies and she can set a fly against a downstream wind like most people just dream about.”
She was also skilled at riding horses,
leading tours from Rainbow Lodge’s stables.
Over the years, activity in the valley grew to include farms, orchards, saw mills and other vacation lodges, but Rainbow Lodge was the focal point. A brochure, circa 1940, stated:
“We have been established for twentyfive years and make no pretense of operating a fashionable resort. Meals, served family style in our log-walled dining room, are plain and wholesome, with an abundance of fresh vegetables, milk and cream. There are ten rooms in the Lodge, and forty sleeping cabins on the lakeshore and by the creek. Many of the cabins are built on the ‘close to nature’ style, which is practically the same as sleeping outdoors, thus permitting the guest to derive the benefit of pure mountain air both night and day.”
In the 1940s, after the war ended and B.C.’s Interior became more accessible by car, business levelled off. In 1948, with Alex wanting to retire, the Philips sold Rainbow Lodge for $100,000. The main lodge burned down in 1977, nine years after Alex died.
Myrtle never really wanted to sell the lodge, but she didn’t lack for things to do.
Provincial tax notices in 1931 included, for the first time, a school tax levy of $7.50. But there was no school in Alta Lake. So, Myrtle and others looked into building one. The job of dealing with the provincial government, hiring a teacher and obtaining furniture fell to Myrtle—a job she continued for more than 35 years.
Myrtle chaired the local school board
until 1946, when school boards were amalgamated into districts. She then became the Alta Lake school trustee for the Howe Sound School District. She travelled to meetings every month on the PGE, staying overnight in Squamish, until 1970.
In October 1976, 13 months after Whistler was incorporated as the country’s first Resort Municipality, the first Myrtle Philip school was officially opened, on a site now occupied by the Cascade Lodge and Delta Whistler Suites.
Speaking to the Whistler Answer in 1978, Myrtle said naming the school after her “was the biggest event of my life. I was never so full of emotion as on that day. I knew the school was to be named for me, but then the mayor made me first citizen of Whistler. I couldn’t speak. The Minister of Education made a nice speech and I was supposed to speak on all this but I was speechless.”
For several years, Myrtle Philip would be introduced to each new student at the start of the school year. She attended the school’s annual awards night until June 1986. She suffered a stroke in August that year and passed away 10 days later, aged 95.
This is Part 1 in a 16-part series recognizing Whistler’s Freedom of the Municipality holders, in honour of the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 50th anniversary. Watch for the others in the weeks ahead, and find them all at piquenewsmagazine.com.
Bob Barnett is the founding editor and co-publisher of Pique Newsmagazine. n
PHOTO FROM THE WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION / COURTESY OF THE WHISTLER MUSEUM
Beedie Living is hostingtwo CommunityOpenHouses to shareanupdateonthe developmentconcept andreceive inputonthe proposed community benefits packagefor theproposed developmentat 4500 Northlands Boulevard, Whistler
Interested membersofthe public areinvited to attend a Community Open House to learnabout the proposalandoffer feedback
Youmayalsoparticipatevirtually fromSeptember15thto27th at: www.4500northlands. com
Location: Myrtle Philip CommunityCentre, MillarRoom (6195 LorimerRoad, Whistler,BC)
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Pemberton’s Fruit Tree Project turns backyard bounty into community food security
THE PROGRAM IS SEEKING MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RECOVER THIS YEAR’S BUMPER CROP
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
IT’S A BUMPER YEAR for fruit in Pemberton. And thanks to the Stewardship Pemberton Society’s (SPS) Fruit Tree Project, thousands of pounds of apples, plums and pears are making their way to local families instead of going to waste.
Since June, volunteers with the project have harvested 3,000 pounds of fruit. Roughly one-third of the fruit is donated to the Pemberton Food Bank, while the rest is shared between homeowners and volunteers.
“This year has been quite a massive year for fruit,” said SPS coordinator Nikki Lax. “With food being so expensive, people are more conscious of what it means to have fresh, local produce on your table and to make sure we’re not missing the opportunity to feed members of our community.”
CRABAPPLES TO COMMUNITY-WIDE
The Fruit Tree Project launched in 2016 as the “Crabapple Project,” harvesting ornamental
crabapple trees along Portage Road to reduce bear attractants and, occasionally, turn the fruit into delicious crabapple jelly.
“It was the very first food security project that Stewardship Pemberton dipped its toes into,” Lax recalled. “From there it really shifted into all the other fruit trees in town, and it’s grown a lot since those early days.”
two hours, and in peak season we can have up to four harvests in a week. Whether it’s young people, retirees or people working from home who can sneak out for a morning pick, we really need all the hands we can get to make this possible.”
Black said this year’s abundance is a motivator for homeowners and volunteers alike.
“This year has been quite a massive year for fruit.”
- NIKKI LAX
That growth has come with a shift in community attitudes, she said.
“As a community, everyone is so much more conscious of where food is coming from, what happens to food that doesn’t get harvested, and wanting to help each other out,” Lax added. “This project just really caught people’s interest at the right time.”
At the heart of the project is a rotating crew of community members who give up a few hours to climb ladders, shake branches and pack boxes of fruit.
“We’ve had nearly 200 volunteer hours already this summer,” said project coordinator Megan Black. “A typical harvest lasts about
“Some trees haven’t produced in years, and suddenly they’re exploding,” she said. “There’s also a great social side—people come looking to meet others, and it becomes a way to connect with the community while doing something good.”
For newcomers, the experience is approachable. So much so Lax brought her parents to a harvest when they were visiting the area.
“You can just show up with no experience, and there’s something for you to do,” Lax said. “It’s a fun two hours, and you get to take some home with you. Pretty sweet opportunity.”
TACKLING FOOD WASTE AND FILLING GAPS
Nationally, nearly half of all food produced in Canada is wasted, according to a 2024 Second Harvest study. In small agricultural communities like Pemberton, that waste often happens right in people’s yards.
“Of course we need a program that bridges these gaps,” Lax said. “In a food system, there are always going to be gaps. The Fruit Tree Project is figuring out how we can fill them.”
For homeowners, the program also relieves the guilt of seeing fruit rot on the ground.
“When they find out we have a program that can help with the abundance, they’re relieved,” Black said. “People don’t want to see it go to waste, but they don’t always know what to do with it.”
The harvest season typically runs until mid-to-late September, with events scheduled around ripening cycles.
Aspiring volunteers can sign up for the project’s weekly newsletter through stewardshippembertonsociety.com. Newsletters include harvest dates, times, and what to bring.
Homeowners with fruit trees can also register through the website to have their trees added to the schedule.
“This is a community-powered project,” said Black. “Whether you come out once or every week, your contribution makes a real difference.” n
Contract awarded for Catiline Creek remediation marks ‘real milestone’ for Lillooet Lake Estates
THE $12M PROJECT FOLLOWS YEARS OF UNCERTAINTY, EVACUATIONS AND COMMUNITY LOBBYING FOR SAFER CONDITIONS ALONG THE LANDSLIDE-PRONE CREEK
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE of uncertainty, the residents of Lillooet Lake Estates (LLE) are celebrating a turning point in their fight against landslides.
On Aug. 23, the lakeside neighbourhood announced Pemberton/Whistler-based Coastal Mountain Excavations Ltd. had been awarded the contract to remediate Catiline Creek—a project community leaders say will finally bring safety to the landslide-prone area.
“This marks a real milestone,” said LLE president Gary Young in a press release. “We have been working on the Catiline Project since 2013 when a debris torrent swept through our community—destroying property and putting community members at risk. Now we could have shovels in the ground as early as this October, and a new creek channel in 2026.”
A DECADE OF RISK
The danger posed by Catiline Creek has loomed large over the community southeast of Pemberton since at least 2004, when the first of several debris flows off Twin Goat Mountain tore through the area. A particularly destructive event in 2013 deposited more than 25,000 cubic metres of material and forced an extended evacuation.
In the years since, residents have been living in limbo, waiting for another disaster.
A 2015 geotechnical assessment commissioned by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) outlined multiple mitigation options, from widening the creek to constructing costly debris retention barriers, but no clear path forward emerged. The district also recommended evacuation, a directive many homeowners resisted.
“I don’t think there’s very many people who want to leave,” longtime resident Chris Malthaner said at the time. “To leave your primary or principal asset behind and just walk away and basically start from zero? Is that what they’re asking for us to do? That’s pretty tough.”
So, the community pushed for help from higher levels of government. In 2023, residents approved a local service area that allowed the SLRD to borrow $4 million toward the project,
to be repaid by affected homeowners.
Grants from the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program ($5.7 million) and the provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund ($2 million) followed, bringing the total project budget to nearly $12 million.
“A few years ago, LLE asked the SLRD to partner with us because the grant programs shifted and required a local government to manage the funding,” Young said. “The SLRD agreed and at the end of 2023 we received two grants and secured a community loan of up to $4 million to finance the project.”
GETTING STARTED
The contract awarded to Coastal Mountain Excavations will see approximately 900 metres of Catiline Creek widened, deepened, straightened and reinforced with training berms to safely direct debris flows through the community and into Lillooet Lake. A diversion channel will also be installed near the top of the creek. More than 180,000 cubic metres of material will be moved in the process.
A new bridge will also be constructed on the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road, with a temporary crossing slated for this winter and permanent replacement expected in early April, 2026. The SLRD will manage the project, oversee permitting and establish a long-term maintenance program.
Work is expected to take about 18 months, with the bulk of construction scheduled for a one-year period dependent on weather conditions.
For Young and others, having a local contractor at the helm is a point of pride.
“We are really glad the contract went to a local firm,” he said. “We know the people in this valley share the LLE commitment to doing the project right, and it makes sense that the work should stay in the Whistler/ Pemberton community as well.”
He said the project’s approval marks a new chapter for a community that has lived under the shadow of debris flow risk for too long.
“This is an affordable, close-knit community of families who love this mountain life,” Young said. “Working together with all three levels of government, and our residents, we’ll now be able to give them all a safer future.” n
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OVER/UNDER An artist’s interpretation of the remediated creek channel and new bridge across the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLOOET LAKE ESTATES
Driven a fjord lately?
ONLY PEOPLE who watched TV between 1982 and 1998 will recognize the pun in the title of this column. It’s a clever turn on one of the most recognized—and effective—advertising slogans of the always-sloganning automotive industry. Have You Driven a Ford Lately? aimed to reconnect consumers with the Ford brand during a period where American cars were
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
mostly shitty gaz-guzzlers whose quality was in freefall while far-more reliable and fuel-efficient Japanese brands were on the upswing.
None of this has anything to do with what I’m about to write. Nor does the fact that I’m sitting in a coffee shop on a sweltering day in Medicine Hat, Alta., in the middle of my biennial cross-Canada drive—which makes this even weirder for both of us. Anyway, the relevant word here is “fjord.” As in the classic, glacier-carved variety common to Northern Hemisphere outposts like Alaska, B.C., Greenland, Norway and even Iceland— the place I’m actually writing about.
This is my third nostalgic column concerning the early days of mountainbike exploration. I’ve covered heli-biking in Squamish and freaky Gulf Island mountainbike culture. This one is about mountain biking and bike-packing in Iceland, something you now hear a lot about as it has become quite popular. But you should know that we were the
first to do it—and fail miserably.
Sometime in the early ’90s, I was on a ski assignment in Iceland with my frequent photographic collaborator of the time, Henry Georgi. Impressed with both scenery and terrain, at some point we raised the prospect of mountain biking with our logistical supporter, the country’s tourism director. “What’s mountain biking?” he’d said.
It was on like Donkey Kong.
That summer, myself, Henry, and two of his pals from rafting days on the Ottawa River, Snake and Wes, arrived in Reykjavik and took a several-hour bus ride to Stykkishólmur on the northern Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland. Here, we caught a ferry across Breiðafjörður to the fabled Westfjords, where we would begin riding.
Upon arrival, there were immediate
panniers, not only did the bikes sag on their nonadjustable rear suspension elastomer (look this up), but a fair amount didn’t fit. We would soon discover it takes twice as much energy to pedal a load that’s bouncing up and down—and that Icelanders are uninterested in any food you can’t carry. Third: Never plan an exotic mountain-biking trip where, before you’ve even slept, you must make a heinous climb.
The Westfjords are a volcanic basalt hand sticking out into the North Atlantic, each digit a plateau separated from the next by a fjord. The road climbed ~1,000 metres to each summit and dropped the same amount on the other side. The climbs were death, the downhills scary brake-burners. My memories are twofold: nearing the top of one three-hour grind, I was amazed to see a large dump truck pass me— with Wes and his bike waving from the back;
To appease the locals, we got off the trails and climbed a volcano. But when we rode down its gritty slopes, our derailleurs seized up with black volcanic dust.
problems. First: not only were our bikes still in boxes, but factory-new and yet to be built up. Exacerbated by jetlag, this operation took hours, resembling an uncontacted Amazonian tribe trying to put together an IKEA storage wardrobe, and further hampered by the fact that although August, the temperature was zero and tiny metal bits couldn’t be handled with gloves on. Second: when we loaded as much food and gear as possible into backpacks and
when we eventually tired of the up-and-down and decided to overland on a sketchy jeep track to avoid a couple, we got lost in the fog and found ourselves in an emergency shelter with a guest log entry about how people had been stuck there for days without food. Water probably wasn’t an issue as it was usually pouring rain here.
We eventually made it to the airport at Isafjordur and flew to Lake Myvatn—“midge
lake”—referencing the clouds of enormous insects hatched daily from its numinous waters. Lost in translation, however, was that these were not midges but bloodthirsty mosquitos. Fortunately, it was so cold and wet, we were wearing everything we owned, so this wasn’t the problem it could have been. And we actually found some cool singletrack! Oh wait, singletrack hadn’t been invented yet and those were hiking trails, their walkers indignant to be interrupted by the clang of metal and shouts of marauding mountain bikers—something no one had ever seen.
To appease the locals, we got off the trails and climbed a volcano. But when we rode down its gritty slopes, our derailleurs seized up with black volcanic dust. It then became an hourly chore for the remainder of the trip to unclog these with pressurized water from a squeezable bottle. That meant carrying extra water—and cutting our own rations back.
To avoid the dust, it was jeep tracks from here on in. We headed cross-country to Europe’s largest waterfall, Dettifoss, and again got lost in the fog. We rode along the mid-Atlantic ridge with boiling pools, smoking fumaroles and the smell of sulfur making it feel an eruption was imminent. We plied the rainbow rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar and stayed at a hut usually used by snowmobilers, where Henry and I had once ski-toured.
In the end, with the bikes wrecked and ourselves not far behind, we completed not a single planned transit. Still it had been an amazing exploratory trip. I reported my glowing findings in the second-issue ever of Bike Magazine, where I was Senior Editor and the pun-loving Managing Editor titled my story as above.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. n
VOLCANIC EXPEDITION Somewhere on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
PHOTO BY HENRY GEORGI / BIKE MAGAZINE
To catch the smallest songbirds
Collaboration and tiny technology are revolutionizing the study of migration
Main Photo Courtesy of Danny Schmidt/ All photos from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Whistler X Tri returns on Sept. 14
THE KIDS RACE WILL BE HELD SEPT. 13, WITH BOTH EVENTS HOSTED AT LOST LAKE
BY DAVID SONG
ONE OF THE SEA TO SKY area’s most distinctive fall pursuits is coming back.
This year’s Whistler X Tri is scheduled for Sept. 14 in and around Lost Lake with two formats available. The Championship course involves a 1,500-metre swim, a 25.2-kilometre bike ride and 10 kilometres of running, while a more beginner or casualfriendly Sprint option features 750 metres in the water, 12.6 kilometres of biking and five kilometres on foot.
There’s also a team relay allowing groups of three to divide the workload among themselves.
As usual, the event will be held on dirt trails instead of pavement. Race director Kristian Manietta opined that X Tri delivers a more laid-back atmosphere than traditional triathlons—a viewpoint which appears to be reflected in survey answers about previous races.
“The camaraderie among participants
and spectators created an electric atmosphere and I achieved my personal best in a sprint triathlon,” voiced one registrant.
Another said: “The vibe is like no other race: such a great combination of quality course and quality competition but also super friendly and well-run. Love this event and
how we organize and run the event, nothing changes with our level of professionalism or the athlete experience we bring to the table.”
YOUTH PARTICIPATION
Said athlete experience will continue to extend
“In terms of how we organize and run the event, nothing changes with our level of professionalism...”
- KRISTIAN MANIETTA
can’t wait until next year.”
From 2022 to 2024, X Tri operated beneath the XTERRA umbrella, but that is no longer the case. Instead the contest has returned to its previous branding from 2019 and 2021.
“The decision to rebrand was partly [influenced by] finances with increasing licensing fees, and partly about the direction XTERRA stated to be going,” explained Manietta. “The costs of putting on a worldclass event with great community feels are significant and we want to be able to continue bringing this to our community. In terms of
to minors, for the X Tri Kids Race will be held one day before their adult and junior peers compete. Three age divisions are offered: five to eight, nine to 13 and 14 to 15.
Courses tackled by these young athletes will vary in length. The youngest bracket face 25 metres of swimming, two kilometres astride their bikes and a one-kilometre run, while the 14 and 15-year-olds are challenged to travel 200 metres in the lake followed by an eightkilometre ride and three kilometres on foot.
“[My wife Charlotte and I] have been fortunate to have a kid grow up in Whistler
and get to do Kidsworx and Phat Kidz,” said Manietta. “When [our son] Mack was younger, we also travelled down to the Lower Mainland and Squamish for the kids’ triathlons. I’d also been involved with Ironman that had kids races and it just made sense to offer a full kids’ triathlon with our off-road tri. I wanted to give them the opportunity to do something achievable yet challenging that left them feeling like they accomplished something.
“Each year, the kids’ race has been a highlight. Last year we got hit with a lot of rain … but they showed their grittiness and still had huge smiles across the finish line. They stepped up to the extra challenge and definitely got those feelings of accomplishment.”
Manietta also expressed appreciation for X Tri’s local partners: such as Ride Wrap, Coast Optics, RDC Fine Homes, Moguls and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Much of the financial support goes towards prizes for competitors, while a dedicated cadre of volunteers keeps everything running smoothly year after year.
“They’re literally the linchpin of events, but they also are an additional cheer squad and big supporters of the athletes racing,” Manietta said about the volunteers. “We love them and are always in need of them.”
Visit whistlerxtri.com for more information, or to register. n
TRI HARDS A mass start occurs at the 2023 Whistler XTERRA triathlon.
PHOTO BY SCOTT ROBARTS
‘Felt like my rear wheel was catching me at one point’
ELLY HOSKIN STRIKES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD IN VALAIS
BY DAVID SONG
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN a coming-out party for Elly Hoskin, who spent the last few months entrenching herself amidst the ranks of elite enduro riders. On May 16, she became the first woman outside of France and Great Britain to win an Enduro World Cup (EDR).
For the Squamish native, Monday, Sept. 1’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championship was icing on an already-sweet cake.
Hoskin kept World Cup overall queen Ella Conolly and French veteran Mélanie Pugin at bay to lock down her first championship title in 35 minutes and 13.67 seconds. Conolly battled to silver (35:18.20) and Pugin nipped at her heels for bronze (35:20.51).
“Good day for a Monday,” Hoskin quipped in an online interview with Cycles Devinci. “Started strong on the first two [stages]. I knew I had to capitalize on those because Stage 3 was not up my alley. We just laid it all out there on the last one and it was pretty hectic. It felt like my rear wheel was catching me at one point.
“I’m just taking it in and really enjoying all these kids coming up to me. It’s just really special and I can’t wait to see what this unlocks for me.”
Few were shocked to witness Richie Rude don his own rainbow stripes after the men’s contest (29:37.67). Even Slawomir Lukasik, this year’s overall titleholder, was forced to settle for runner-up position (29:40.17). Elliot Jamieson made Canada proud by finishing third (29:58.15) ahead of 2024 World Champion Alex Rudeau (30:05.22).
Having notched his inaugural Canadian Open Enduro victory in August, Jamieson was over the moon about this latest breakthrough.
“Speechless right now, and words can’t explain how grateful and stoked I am to have achieved this with the most amazing people around me,” he wrote on social media after the race. “This is the best sport ever. Thank you and much love to everyone.”
ALL-OUT ATTACK
Hoskin prevailed on her first two stages, but gave up more than a 30-second buffer as her
opponents clawed back time. Conolly and her fellow Brit Harriet Harnden each won a section, while Pugin’s day-long consistency kept her within range of the leaders.
Fans looked on to see if the 35-yearold Frenchwoman could overtake 26-year-old Conolly, or if 21-year-old Hoskin might rebound when it mattered most. Youth ultimately prevailed over experience: Hoskin surged to win the final stage as Harnden faded into fourth.
“I attacked as hard as I could on the last two [stages] and came away with it,” explained Hoskin in a press release. “When I knew I was sitting in second, I knew it was more about holding that position than making up time… and it worked out.”
Rude, meanwhile, found himself within 10 seconds of Lukasik and Rudeau with four stages completed. The American legend poured it on to wipe out Lukasik’s edge and vault himself to a triumphant outcome.
“I only raced two other enduros this year after riding downhill,” said Rude, who was golden in both the Garbanzo DH and Air DH last month at Crankworx Whistler. “To be on the top step is unreal right now. On Stage 5 I gave it my all, saw how close the gap was [0.2 seconds] and had to give it everything on Stage 6.”
Decorated Whistlerite Jesse Melamed re-aggravated an injury and crashed hard in practice, but still achieved sixth place.
“Worlds really is special. There is something about the all or nothing, one-day championship event that brings out an extra gear. I showed up ready to race and lay it all on the line and I did that, but I couldn’t stay mistake free. A stage win among some real bad ones. Sometimes it goes and sometimes it doesn’t, and we’re all racing for those good days,” Melamed posted on Instagram.
“I didn’t have it today but so many people did that deserved it: [Richie] the GOAT doing what he does best, [Elly] taking the freaking World Champion title … and [Elliot] taking bronze in elite men’s. So proud of the Canadian squad representing enduro out here. I had so much fun racing today and I can’t wait for another shot at it next year.”
For more World Championships results from Valais, Switzerland, go to valais2025. ch/results. n
Whistler Women’sHockey
CUP CONTENDERS Elite women’s podium from the Enduro World Cup race on May 16, left to right: Ella Conolly, Elly Hoskin and Morgane Charre.
PHOTO BY BORIS BEYER
Quick and easy rocket fuel eases re-entry back into reality
KEEPING IT SIMPLE AND HEALTHY KEEPS IT TASTY, TOO
FINDING YOURSELF labouring away after Labour Day? Shhh, not too loud now. I can hear your sighs from here…
After a brilliant stretch of summer fun, it’s that back-to-reality time of year. But if things get a little overwhelming at times, maybe we can all take “a mountain of inspiration,” as local climber and author Kevin McLane put it, from nine-year-old Reagan Goodwyn.
This four-foot bundle of energy, who hails from Moab, Utah—home to the fabulous Arches National Monument carved by erosion
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
from the reddest of rock, and a haven for hikers and mountain bikers—pulled off her “mountain of inspiration” earlier this summer when she was only eight and looking forward, like the rest of us, to tons of holiday fun.
Like all school-aged kids, that usually means freedom from classes, computer screens and the constraints of regular life, which might be part of what spurred Reagan on to become the youngest person ever to climb the Stawamus Chief. Located just south of Squamish, this magnificent granite dome challenges rock climbers from around the world, but A), they’re usually men (like about three-quarters are), and B) they’re definitely
way older.
Reagan, who’s more living proof that girls can achieve wonders, actually led her dad on the climb, which took more than five hours to reach the top of the first peak and included difficult traverses. If that doesn’t inspire you, I’m not sure what will.
So here we go, folks, off into the world of reality sandwiches and climbing every mountain. Literally. Ergo I’m picturing that, like Reagan and her family, we all want to keep ourselves and our loved ones operating as optimally as possible, with as little hassle and expense as possible, when it comes to fuelling our brains and bodies.
Packed days and maybe upset conditions lie ahead, but you can always count on family, friends and colleagues—and a good meal. But if things get too nerve-racking, take a page from Reagan’s playbook. Whenever she feels stressed she simply sings songs.
EASY MATH FOR POWERING UP
I’m a big fan of Harvard Medical School’s e-newsletter, HEALTHbeat, which anyone can sign up for. It often offers health tips that are easy on the pocketbook and easy to keep in mind, especially busy minds.
I really liked these ones from a recent edition. They use simple fractions to keep you in the right “frame” for good eating, plus I’ve added a few extras.
Best thing this time of year is you can jazz up just about any quick, basic meal for home or lunch bags with all the great fresh produce available, especially at local farms and farmers’ markets. Even the most routine items, like a lowly sandwich, lights up with fresh ingredients. (Try it open-faced with one slice of bread, good bread, like
Purebread’s, and yummy greens on top to hold things down.)
It doesn’t take much: Say, a few slices of fresh mushrooms from Sea to Sky Mushrooms & Wild Foods in beautiful downtown Brackendale (a stone’s throw from the Chief) added to eggs or whatever. (Serve breakfast for dinner—so easy!) Or a handful of fresh mint from Ice Cap Organics or North Arm Farm in Pemberton to jazz up a ho-hum wrap or salad. Since it hasn’t travelled thousands of kilometres, the flavours—and nutrients—are pow. Heck, you can even grow a pot of fresh mint on your windowsill.
• Half your plate should contain fruits and vegetables, ideally a variety of colours and types. In this case, Harvard doesn’t count potatoes—especially French fries—as veg. All of which echoes a tip from Toronto’s Harley Pasternak, fitness guru and “trainer to the stars” (think Rob Lowe and Gwyneth Paltrow). Harley was on CBC recently talking about his latest book, The Carb Reset, including this catchy tip: Eat as close to the original source as possible. Like real potatoes, not chips or fries. Or the whole grains below,
NOT ALL KIDS HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT
Spring, summer, fall—lots of kids don’t get enough good, nutritious food to eat year-round. The Vancouver Sun ’s Adopt a School program fills in behind the scenes. Since the program started in 2011, $15.1 million has been sent to hundreds of schools across B.C. Anyone can pitch in what you can via their website at vansunkidsfund.ca. n
rather than bread or processed flours. Apples not apple juice. You get the picture. But back to Harvard...
• A quarter of your plate should be filled with whole grains—as close to the original source as possible, to echo Harley. Barley, quinoa, oats, brown rice are all good choices. And I’ll add bulgar, so popular in Mediterranean cuisines. In the same “original source” spirit, which means more nutrients and flavour, try Bob’s Red Mill brand. Yes, they’re based in the U.S., but it’s Oregon, which is pretty close to our collective Canadian hearts. Plus it’s an employee-owned company, a rare bird these days and one always worth supporting.
• The final quarter of your plate should be healthy sources of protein: fish, beans, nuts, seeds, poultry, eggs. High-fat meats and processed or cured meats are out; red meat and cheese should be limited.
• Use healthy oils like olive and canola for cooking, salads, whatever. Limit butter.
• Drink low- or no-calorie liquids like water, coffee and tea. Skip sugary drinks. And limit milk to one or two servings per day. Given real apples are way healthier than apple juice, one of my little tricks is diluting real fruit juice with plain water, or herbal-type tea with no caffeine. Great for hydrating kids or hubbies who can’t stand plain water. Asian, Latin American and Persian specialty stores have a rainbow of herbal teas that are healthy, tasty and inexpensive, especially since you can usually brew them two or three times. Some of my faves include hawthorn, hibiscus and pandan. Enjoy!
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’s always been into simple fractions you can easily picture. n
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN Or at least give it a good try. You can count on help from your pals and colleagues, and the best food to fuel yourself. PHOTO BY SORN340
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE
Audain Art Museum volunteer manager Elyse Feaver talks art therapy
THE TEEN-FOCUSED PROGRAM IS LED
BY DAVID SONG
THROUGH HER conversations with parents, Elyse Feaver knows there is an undercurrent of anxiety common to many Sea to Sky youth. That’s why the Audain Art Museum’s engagement and volunteer manager believes her institution’s new art therapy class is valuable.
Feaver describes art therapy as a safe, inclusive realm for teens aged 12 to 18 to explore their feelings by way of creative expression. Some might be afflicted with various mental-health issues, while others might just be looking for a new outlet—all are welcome.
Leading the program is Angela Walsh Noble, an art therapist in training who also has two bachelor’s degrees from Queen’s University and a master’s in Art Education from the University of British Columbia on her resume. She possesses two decades of experience dealing with a variety of age groups in an equally diverse range of settings:
BY PEMBERTON EDUCATOR ANGELA WALSH NOBLE
from public and private schools to galleries and museums.
Noble is currently pursuing an Advanced Post-Graduate Diploma from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.
“She is the most caring human I’ve ever met,” Feaver says about the Pembertonian educator. “I know that she’s had a lot of
have gone through.”
No art experience is required. The program is designed to be private, encouraging registrants to process their emotions, grow in self-awareness and gain personal insight without feeling like they need to make galleryquality content. None of their creations will be photographed or displayed to the public.
“For a town that really puts sports before everything, for some kids ... arts is a way to bring them back to community.”
- ELYSE FEAVER
wonderful community connections, and she also works a lot with the Indigenous communities from Pemberton to Lillooet. I feel like she is a true asset to our team in being able to deliver high-level programming that connects at a really grassroots stage in the development [of teenagers].
“The Audain has such a strong collection of art connected to B.C. [Angela] will use that as a jumping point to really help youth express the emotions and experiences that they may
Noble’s art therapy classes began on Aug. 11, averaging five kids per session. Feaver believes more could be interested in signing up, based on her experience with students on school tours.
“In a town that really puts sports before everything, for some kids … arts is a way to bring them back to community. One who couldn’t play hockey anymore after a concussion lost his identity, but through art sessions he was able to find his voice again. Sometimes kids don’t even have the words to use to express what they’re feeling. [Art therapy] becomes more of a cathartic process for them to process in a nonverbal way.”
Art therapy at the Audain is facilitated by grant money from the April 1 Foundation. In order to knock down barriers hindering participation, classes will be free for museum members beginning Sept. 8 and discounted below its current $15 price point for non-members. Feaver says her team is open to feedback about all of its communityoriented programming.
“Back to school is a time when teens are falling back into routine,” she says. “Maybe they finish their summer travels or summer jobs, and they might be looking for a little bit more structure. We’re really going to reach out to schools and get these teens to come in and test the program.”
For details and registration, visit audainartmuseum.com/children-and-youthprogramming. n
“There’s this one beautiful painting called ‘Pond’ by Gordon Smith, and next to it is this other, very dark canvas that really evokes his involvement in the Second World War. I really find that teens gravitate towards the dark one and they have a lot of questions,” she says. “Even if kids aren’t really expressing problems outwardly or not falling behind in school, sometimes they just want to know about things a little deeper.
SWEET ESCAPE The Audain Art Museum introduced art therapy for teens in August.
PHOTO BY DARBY MAGILL
Whistler Writers Festival offers Halloween-esque lineup in 2025
THE FESTIVAL IS SCHEDULED FROM OCT. 30 TO NOV. 2, FEATURING NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS LIKE SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA
BY DAVID SONG
IN CONTRAST to previous years, the next Whistler Writers Festival (WWF) will take place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 under the theme of “Joyful Resistance.” A total of 14 reading events and nine workshops are on the docket, many intended to double down on themes of mythology, legends and horror/thriller fare as temperatures get colder.
Some folks might still be getting used to the schedule change, but festival artistic director Rebecca Wood Barrett looks forward to what lies ahead.
“With new dates this year, we really wanted to embrace Halloween and make it fun and thrilling for book lovers,” she says in a release. “We’ve been able to design some truly special events that feature authors who are so talented at mystery and supernatural elements, like Silvia Moreno-Garcia ... whose new book is The Bewitching. It’s perfect for the time of year we’re having the festival.”
The festival kicks off on Oct. 30 with “Connecting Cultures: Legends, Language and the Land” with Tsawaysia Dominique Nahanee and P’áq’emúl Shelby Dan. Expect these Indigenous guest storytellers to present myths in the oral tradition from Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation, respectively, and to discuss their communities’ vital connections to the land at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC).
On Halloween itself, get ready for “All Hallows Eve: Murder and Mayhem” with Laugh Out LIVE! as well as authors Susan Juby and Liann Zhang, with both acts happening at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
Juby’s latest book, Contemplation of a Crime, features a Buddhist butler sleuth while Zhang’s debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead explores the darker aspects of social media. This panel is moderated by thriller writer Amber Cowie, who was short-listed for the 2017 Whistler Book Award. A seasonal cocktail labelled Spirit’s Kiss and an All Hallows Eve-themed photo booth round out the night.
‘SOMETHING
FOR EVERYONE’
Crime author Juby returns on Nov. 1, helming the “Create Your (Crime) Fighter” seminar at
the Fairmont. She will help participants learn the key elements of writing crime fiction: like a compelling investigative protagonist, a villain of worthy skill and smarts, an interesting offence and a plot that keeps readers hooked.
Those in need of an adventurous offering may want to check out “Spilling the Tea: Dragons, Thieves and Romantasy” with New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle on the same day as Juby’s workshop. From hardhitting gothic horror to spicy romantic comedy, she is well-versed in giving her audiences what they want. In Halle’s newest book, Realm of Thieves, two crooks with a stake in the illegal dragon egg trade put both their livelihoods and hearts at risk in a daring venture.
Last but definitely not least, enter “The Bewitching, A Night of Spellcraft and Suspense.” Moreno-Garcia, whose previous book Mexican Gothic made tremendous waves on social media and the New York Times bestseller list, will be on hand to talk about The Bewitching: a multi-generational gothic horror saga depicting three women in three different eras. With fans in attendance, moderator Jeanette Bruce and Moreno-Garcia are set to navigate a conversation about fantasy, horror, noir, historical fiction and more.
The Mexican-Canadian novelist had this to say about the idea of joyful resistance in an interview with WWF: “Simple existence can be resistance. For example, there are many LGBTQ books that are being challenged and banned, and the simple act of these writers creating something is a struggle in itself.”
The WWF also returns some beloved events, including an outdoor activity on Nov. 2 called “Finding Our Way: Salish Stroll Forest Walk.” The popular Sunday BookTalk and Breakfast with Antonio Michael Downing, Sarah Leavitt and Evelyn Lau is back as well.
“We had such a wonderful opportunity to bring in some new genres and explore some new events this year, and it’s going to be a very entertaining festival,” Wood Barrett says. “I can’t wait for audiences to experience everything from poetry to romantasy, to thought-provoking nonfiction, to contemplative fiction. We’ve got something for everyone, even children and their families.”
Grab WWF tickets beginning Sept. 10 on Eventbrite. More details, including exact timing for all events, can be found at whistlerwritersfest.com. n
Applicationsarenowbeingacceptedforour st October 1, 2025FallFundingDeadline.
toresidentsoftheSeatoSkyCorridor in theareasofhealth,humanservices, education,recreation,arts&culture andtheenvironment.Specialemphasis isplacedonchildren,youthandfamilyprograms. Formoreinformation, eligibilityrequirementsandtocompleteanapplication,pleasevisitour websiteatwhistlerblackcombfoundation.com,OrcontactMeiMadden, ExecutiveDirectoratmmadden@whistlerblackcombfoundation.com
ARTS SCENE
PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE
Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
RBC GRANFONDO
ART OF THE COCKTAIL: BACK-TO-SCHOOL EDITION
Celebrate the season of fresh starts with a back-toschool edition of The Art of the Cocktail. Enjoy expertly crafted cocktails inspired by classroom nostalgia, from crisp apple creations to playful takes on lunchbox favourites, with a fun 10-minute Art History minilesson. The featured Cocktail: The Pencil Sharpener! Raise a glass to learning, creativity, and a spirited new season.
> Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
RBC GRANFONDO
The RBC GranFondo Whistler is a stunning point-topoint cycling journey along the famous Sea to Sky corridor between Vancouver and Whistler. There are distance options from 55 km to 122 km and all offer beautiful landscapes and a clear, traffic-free passage along the Sea to Sky Highway. The event is family friendly and open to all abilities.
> Sept. 6
> Various locations
SPO7EZ ARTIST MARKET
The Spo7ez Artist Market celebrates the incredible talents of artisans from the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. It takes place on the first Saturday of each month this summer, in addition to a full-day of immersive programming on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day on June 21.
> Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
NEW MUSEUM EXHIBIT: RMOW’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Whistler Museum is launching a new exhibition as part of the Municipality’s 50th celebrations! It explores the RMOW Act and its impact on Whistler’s past, present and future. The event also offers a first look at concept plans for the future Whistler Museum, with models and renderings on display. This special event marks the beginning of the Museum’s capital fundraising campaign and invites the community to be part of shaping what comes next.
> Sept. 6, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
> Whistler Museum
ALTA LAKE BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists for a walk to Rainbow Park. Open to anyone interested in learning about birds and contributing as a citizen scientist. Connect with experienced birders who are happy to share their knowledge.
> Sept. 7, 8 a.m.
> Bottom of Lorimer Road
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 a Saturday market on Oct. 11.
> Sept. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Upper Village Stroll
SUNDAY SLOWDOWN
After the excitement of RBC GranFondo Whistler, treat your body and soul at the Sunday Slow Down. Set in the tranquil Audain Art Museum surroundings, you can register to enjoy a calming sound bath meditation, a restorative yoga session, or a guided tour of the AAM’s Permanent Collection or Special Exhibition.
> Sept. 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
WHISTLER VILLAGE BEER FESTIVAL
The 12th annual Whistler Village Beer Festival, presented by Gibbons & Brewhalla, is returning in 2025. The main event on September 13, will feature 40-plus craft beverage manufacturers and more than 80 varieties of craft beverages, including beer, cider, and seltzers to sample at the iconic Olympic Plaza, with the mountains as your backdrop. Complete with food trucks, live music, interactive activities, and thousands of fellow festival lovers, this event is always an incredible time.
> Sept. 8 to 13
> Various locations
MUSEUM MUSINGS & ASTROLOGY
A warm-hearted welcome
BY LOGAN ROBERTS
WARTIME RATIONING was nearing its end by the summer of 1947, but for Rainbow Lodge, a renowned romantic honeymoon destination, another type of rationing prevailed. Upon returning from her summer vacation, Pat Wallace reported it was “poor hunting for husbands at summer resorts,” and that “the chances of nabbing a rich Romeo or a plain every-day bread-winner for the future [were] very slim.”
The lack of romantic prospects did not seem to deter Pat Prowd and Pat Wallace, both reporters for Vancouver newspapers who often journeyed up to Alta Lake. Prowd was a reporter for the Daily Province and the Vancouver News-Herald from 1939 to 1960, while Wallace began her career at the Vancouver Sun before moving to the Daily Province in 1944 to be Women’s Editor, retiring in 1982. Wallace’s sister, Moira, married Prowd’s distant cousin, James McCarthy, in 1951, connecting the two families. James had proposed at Rainbow Lodge at Christmastime 1950.
The two women may have been guests at the resort, but they were not afraid of mixing business with pleasure. Prowd in particular “usually lent a hand to Myrtle Philip in the running of the lodge.” According to Dick Fairhurst, “this meant helping the staff clean
the main lodge, cabins, and shower house.”
Both journalists documented life at Rainbow Lodge in the ’40s and ’50s, singing the praises of the lakeside community, and continuing to visit after Myrtle and Alex sold Rainbow Lodge.
In August 1947, Wallace’s column, “Urban Album,” publicized the ‘Doin’s Club,” a “familiar institution” of Rainbow Lodge. The club embraced the task of greeting guests
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Austin Curtis was a prominent Black scientist whose work had spectacularly practical applications. Among his successes: He developed many new uses for peanut byproducts, including rubbing oils for pain relief. His work exploited the untapped potential of materials that others neglected or discarded. I urge you to adopt a similar strategy in the coming weeks, Aries: Be imaginative as you repurpose scraps and leftovers. Convert afterthoughts into useful assets. Breakthroughs could come from compost heaps, forgotten files, or half-forgotten ideas. You have the power to find value where others see junk.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In Polynesian navigation, sailors read the subtle rise and fall of ocean swells to find islands and chart their course. They also observe birds, winds, stars, and cloud formations. The technique is called wayfinding. I invite you to adopt your own version of that strategy, Taurus. Trust waves and weather rather than maps. Authorize your body to sense the future in ways that your brain can’t. Rely more fully on what you see and sense rather than what you think. Are you willing to dwell in the not-knowingness? Maybe go even further: Be excited about dwelling in the not-knowingness. Don’t get fixated on plotting the whole journey. Instead, assume that each day’s signs will bring you the information you need.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The umbrella thorn acacia is an African tree whose roots grow up to 115 feet deep to tap hidden water beneath the desert floor. Above ground, it may look like a scraggly cluster of green, but underground it is a masterpiece of reach and survival. I see you as having resemblances to this tree these days, Gemini. Others may only see your surface gestures and your visible productivity. But you know how deep your roots run and how far you are reaching to nourish yourself. Don’t underestimate the power of your attunement to your core. Draw all you need from that primal reservoir.
at the station, their motto being: “don’t wait to be introduced, just smile and say hello.” The club derived its name from Billy Standard, a veteran of the First World War who purportedly first visited Rainbow Lodge in the ’20s. Billy became notorious for referring to Worcester sauce as the ‘doin’s, and the term quickly became “the by-word of the camp that season,” lending its name to a social club.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5 BY ROB
CANCER (June 21-July 22): To make a tabla drum sing, the artisan adds a black patch of iron filings and starch at the centre of the drumhead. Called a syahi, it creates complex overtones and allows the musician to summon both pitch and rhythm from the same surface. Let’s imagine, Cancerian, that you will be like that drum in the coming weeks. A spot that superficially looks out of place may actually be what gives your life its music. Your unique resonance will come not in spite of your idiosyncratic pressure points, but because of them. So don’t aim for sterile perfection. Embrace the irregularity that sings.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There’s a Zen motto: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” I hope you apply that wisdom in the coming weeks, Leo. Your breakthrough moments of insight have come or will come soon. But your next move should not consist of being self-satisfied or inert. Instead, I hope you seek integration. Translate your innovations into your daily rhythm. Turn the happy accidents into enduring improvements. The progress that comes next won’t be as flashy or visible, but it’ll be just as crucial.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Gross National Product (GNP) is a standard of economic success by which countries gauge their health. It reflects the world’s obsession with material wealth. But the Buddhist nation of Bhutan has a different accounting system: Gross National Happiness (GNH). It includes factors like the preservation of the environment, enrichment of the culture, and quality of governance. Here’s an example of how Bhutan has raised its GNH. Its scenic beauty could generate a huge tourist industry. But strict limits have been placed on the number of foreign visitors, ensuring the land won’t be trampled and despoiled. I would love to see you take a similar GNH inventory, Virgo. Tally how well you have loved and been loved. Acknowledge your victories and awakenings. Celebrate the beauty of your life.
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BREZSNY
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In Japanese haiku, poets may reference the lingering scent of flowers as a metaphor for a trace of something vivid that continues to be evocative after the event has passed. I suspect you understand this quite well right now. You are living in such an after-scent. A situation, encounter, or vision seems to have ended, but its echo is inviting you to remain attentive. Here’s my advice: Keep basking in the reverberations. Let your understandings and feelings continue to evolve. Your assignment is to allow the original experience to complete its transmission. The full blossoming needs more time to unfold.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Australian desert, there’s a phenomenon called desert varnish. It’s a thin, dark coating of clay, iron, and manganese oxides. It forms over rocks due to microbial activity and prolonged exposure to wind and sun. Over time, these surfaces become canvases for Indigenous artists to create images. I like to think of their work as storytelling etched into endurance. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, consider using this marvel as a metaphor. Be alert for the markings of your own epic myth as they appear on the surfaces of your life. Summon an intention to express the motifs of your heroic story in creative ways. Show the world the wisdom you have gathered during your long, strange wanderings.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Indigenous Australian lore, the Dreamtime is a parallel dimension overlapping the material world, always present and accessible through ritual and listening. Virtually all Indigenous cultures throughout history have conceived of and interacted with comparable realms. If you are open to the possibility, you now have an enhanced capacity to draw sustenance from this otherworld. I encourage you to go in quest of help and healing that may only be available there. Pay close attention to your dreams. Ask your meditations to give you long glimpses of the hidden magic.
The initiation ritual? Drinking a teaspoon of Worcester sauce. With some 1,600 members initiated by the summer of 1947, it is no surprise supply of the condiment remained scarce at the resort.
Winter weather did little to discourage either journalist from making the journey up the railway. In fact, Prowd’s March 1950 visit resulted in a “deep suntan to rival anything she might have picked up in Palm Springs.” Her holiday consisted of wintry picnics at Green Lake, with Myrtle building fires in the snow. Myrtle also adapted her “delicious flaky blueberry pie” recipe for the season, adding fresh snow to the ingredient list. Her guests deemed this variation “pure ambrosia.”
Both reporters spent the holiday season of 1950-51 at Alta Lake, described as “a winter wonderland of gentle white quiet.” Wallace told the Daily Province’s readers how she was met with “great stars of white” as she disembarked the train at Rainbow Station. The Philips’ house guests danced their way into the new year, dispersing at half past five on Jan. 1. “High in the mountains,” Wallace wrote, “1951 received a warm-hearted welcome bar none.”
Logan Roberts was the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program. She has now returned to school to continue her studies. n
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Saturn is your ruling planet and archetype. In the old myth of the god Saturn, he rules time, which is not an enemy but a harvester. He gathers what has ripened. I believe the coming weeks will feature his metaphorical presence, Capricorn. You are primed to benefit from ripening. You are due to collect the fruits of your labours. This process may not happen in loud or dramatic ways. A relationship may deepen. A skill may get fully integrated. A long-running effort may coalesce. I say it’s time to celebrate! Congratulate yourself for having built with patience and worked through the shadows. Fully register the fact that your labour is love in slow motion.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In Greek mythology, the constellation Aquarius was linked to a heroic character named Ganymede. The great god Zeus made this beautiful man the cupbearer to the gods. And what drink did Ganymede serve? Ambrosia, the divine drink of immortality. In accordance with astrological omens, I’m inviting you to enjoy a Ganymede-like phase in the coming weeks. Please feel emboldened to dole out your gorgeous uniqueness and weirdness to all who would benefit from it. Let your singular authenticity pour out freely. Be an overflowing source of joie de vivre and the lust for life.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 1932, trailblazing aviator Amelia Earhart made a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic, steering through icy winds and mechanical trouble. When she landed, she said she had been “too busy” to be scared. This is an excellent motto for you now, Pisces: “too busy to be scared.” Not because you should ignore your feelings, but because immersion in your good work, mission, and devotion will carry you through any momentary turbulence. You now have the power to throw yourself so completely into your purpose that fear becomes a background hum.
Homework: Give yourself a second chance at a worthy goal! Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
CHRISTMAS CLASSIC Christmas 1950, Alta Lake. (Left to right) Pat Wallace, Myrtle Philip, Pat Prowd, Jim McCarthy, Moira Wallace.
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Providecaretoadult communitymembers(19+), being responsibleforfullscopenursing care to homecareclientsandmemberswithchronic diseases,constantlypromotinghealthand wellness education,andaligning careoutof community
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SSHSis anon-profitIndigenous HealthOrganizationdedicated to improvingthehealthand wellbeingofIndigenous communities.Ourorganization providesculturallyappropriate healthcare services,programs andinitiatives to supportthe holistichealthofIndigenous individualsand families.
SSHS teammemberstravel fromourofficeinMountCurrie, BCinto thecommunities,often drivingalong aForestService Road foruptotwo hoursor beinghelicopteredin. This ensuresthatSSHSmembersfromnewborns to Eldershave access to thehealthand wellnesssupports at theirhealth stations,orhealthspace,intheir home communities.
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PEOPLE HAVE always lived and worked and loved in the mountains and valleys we now call Whistler. But a century ago, settlers suddenly began to look at this landscape and imagine it as something other than what it was: a fishing lodge, a paper mill, an Olympic Games venue.
BY LIZI MCLOUGHLIN
For the last 50 years, one vision has won out—that of a world-class mountain resort. As the Resort Municipality of Whistler celebrates its 50th birthday, it’s easy to see our town as fully formed: a master-planned community, designed to make an Olympic dream come true. After all, the bold ideas of a few businessmen in the 1960s still determine so much about how we live, work and play here. Likewise, it’s easy to assume the future is pre-determined, too. That this current incarnation of Whistler is the one that’s here to stay. But that’s not necessarily true, and certainly not inevitable. What Whistler is— and can be—depends both on what we can
FUTURE-FOCUSED What do the next 50 years hold for Whistler?
imagine, and what we choose to do.
Most of us hope Whistler will leave its mark on us. We hope we’ll be moved, changed, or at the very least entertained by what we find in the mountains. But along the way, we leave our mark here, too: in how we play in the mountains, where we choose to trade our time for dollars, and who we choose to care for. Each of our individual decisions add up to push our community in one direction or another.
We may not feel like we’re writing the history of Whistler, but we are. The history of Whistler that gets told is a story about a small group of people who had a vision and took an opportunity to make it a reality. But
the primary care they need.
Meanwhile, Whistler has never had a place where young adults with developmental disabilities can live independently of their parents. Then a few weeks ago, the Whistler Independent Supported Housing Society—a non-profit founded by local parents— and Whistler Sport Legacies announced a partnership that will empower people to stay in the only home they’ve ever known.
To some, these stories might not seem as glamorous or exciting as stories about Olympic dreams and pioneering big mountain skiers. But they are exciting, and vitally important: they show that the same creative, bold spirit that created a world-class
But while we’re comfortable telling the story of Whistler’s past, we seem to struggle to seriously consider, let alone get excited about, what the future could bring.
that’s just one story of thousands about the people, ideas, and choices that have shaped this town into what it is today.
For example: three years ago, 50 per cent of Whistler’s residents didn’t have a family doctor. Now, thanks to a few locals who came up with a creative solution, Whistler 360 Health has connected more than 10,000 with
resort is now making Whistler the kind of community where people can truly thrive.
There are a thousand things Whistler could be. It could be the first carbon-neutral resort town in the world. It could be the first ski town to provide affordable housing for all its community members. It could set the standard for sharing power and profit
with First Nations. It could be accessible by passenger rail. It could be a hub for creativity, or technology, or anything else we want it to be.
But while we’re comfortable telling the story of Whistler’s past, we seem to struggle to seriously consider, let alone get excited about, what the future could bring. Conversations about the future are more often vague, reactive, and rarely full of hope. Have we been constrained for so long by one narrow idea of what Whistler is that we can no longer think imaginatively about what it could be?
If so, we have to find a way to start. Because our history will keep being written, whether consciously or not. Each of our actions will keep quietly adding up, shaping the next chapter of Whistler’s story. Surely it’s better, then, to know where we want to go? To articulate our vision—individual or collective—of what we hope Whistler can be, rather than assuming we already know what it is destined to become, for better or worse.
Fifty years is not a long time, and we’ve achieved a lot. So it’s time to start asking: what do we want from the next 50 years? When Whistler’s 100th birthday rolls around, what will we be celebrating? What stories will we tell? What will we have dreamed of, and what will we have built?
Lizi McLoughlin is a local non-profit leader, an average-but-enthusiastic mountain athlete, and an eternal optimist n
4
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