Issuu

DECEMBER 26, 2025 ISSUE 32.52

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FREE THE CRAZY CANUCKS

2025

T H E B E ST O F

WHISTLER 10

TEAM TOURISM B.C. resort towns join forces in new coalition

ALPINE ACQUISITION Whitecap acquires Blackcomb Helicopters’ tourism division

HEART TO HEART Sheri Marie Ptolemy explores love and loss on sophomore EP

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Best of Whistler 2025 Celebrating the people, volunteers and businesses who make Whistler the best place on Earth. - By Pique staff

06 OPENING REMARKS There are many ways to give back this holiday season,

10 TEAM TOURISM B.C.’s resort towns are joining forces in a new coalition aimed at

writes editor Braden Dupuis—but it’s important to name the reality behind the need.

addressing the unique challenges of the tourism sector.

08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers weigh in on the right to

14 ALPINE ACQUISITION Consolidation is afoot in B.C.’s backcountry-tourism sec-

repair, and share thoughts on political floor-crossings.

tor, as Pemberton-based Whitecap Alpine Adventures acquires Blackcomb Helicopters’ tourism division.

28 RANGE ROVER Leslie Anthony attempts once again to empty his brain of all the

62 GOLD STANDARD A new documentary from Anthill Films follows Jackson Gold-

killer ski-town band names he’s dreamed up over the years.

stone’s 2025 season, where he clinched a World Championship and the World Cup downhill overall.

78 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST It may be cliched to say it, but the people are the real 66 HEART TO HEART Pemberton’s Sheri Marie Ptolemy explores love and loss on her sophomore EP, Heartbeat.

Best of Whistler, writes Lizi McLoughlin.

COVER Gloves up. Elbows in. Worst to first, ftw! We may not all be crazy, but we are all Canucks! - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com Editor BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@piquenewsmagazine.com Production Manager AMIR SHAHRESTANI - ashahrestani@piquenewsmagazine.com

Reporters LUKE FAULKS - lfaulks@piquenewsmagazine.com DAVID SONG - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com Office Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com Classifieds and Reception - mail@piquenewsmagazine.com

Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@piquenewsmagazine.com

Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, VINCE SHULEY, LESLIE ANTHONY,

Advertising Representatives

GLENDA BARTOSH, ANDREW MITCHELL, LISA RICHARDSON,

TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com ANDREW BUDRESKI - abudreski@piquenewsmagazine.com Digital/Sales Coordinator KATIE DOUGLAS - kbechtel@wplpmedia.com

LIZI MCLOUGHLIN, TOBIAS C. VAN VEEN Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com

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Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of Lodestar Media) The entire contents of Pique Newsmagazine are copyright 2025 by Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of Lodestar Media). No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the Publisher. In no event shall unsolicited material subject this publication to any claim or fees. Copyright in letters and other (unsolicited) materials submitted and accepted for publication remains with the author but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, address and daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 250 words. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Pique Newsmagazine is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact (edit@piquenewsmagazine.com). If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information. ISSN #1206-2022 Subscriptions: $76.70/yr. within Canada, $136.60/yr. courier within Canada. $605.80/yr. courier to USA. GST included. GST Reg. #R139517908. Canadian Publications Mail Product. Sales Agreement #40016549.

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G R AB A C OPY OF WHI STLER’ S REAL ESTATE MAGA ZI NE

OPENING REMARKS

The reality behind the need IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE anyone in

Whistler—or anywhere in Canada— taking stock of things this December and pretending affordability is a solved problem. As we come to the end of 2025, the reality is for far too many, Whistler isn’t merely expensive, it’s structurally unaffordable. According to the latest Living Wage BC calculations, Whistler’s living wage for 2025 sits at $29.60 per hour—the highest in the province—and that’s what someone actually needs just to cover basic expenses without extras. The provincial minimum wage sits at $17.85, leaving a

BY BRADEN DUPUIS yawning gap between what people earn and what they must earn to live here. Add shelter, food, transportation and childcare to the mix and it starts to feel like a rigged game. Across Canada, the picture isn’t vastly different. Even though headline inflation has eased compared with recent years, the cumulative cost of food, shelter and transportation has risen sharply over the past few years—far outpacing wage growth for most Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, nearly half of Canadians reported rising prices were greatly affecting their ability to meet everyday expenses in 2024. That’s the backdrop for charitable giving this season: a community that’s supposed to be a playground for visitors, but one where many residents, long-term workers and families are struggling just to keep their heads above water. In Whistler, that struggle shows up in real numbers. Visits to the food bank at the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) exploded—an increase of hundreds of percent over the last halfdecade as more people find themselves priced out of the local economy. Food bank use jumped roughly 700 per cent from 2019 to 2024, and other essential

outreach services have seen similar upward pressure. In its 2024-25 Impact Snapshot, WCSS reported 21,865 food bank visits in one year, including 1,402 seniors and 2,659 children and youth (a significant year-over-year increase). WCSS also served 81,142 nutritious meals in local schools through its School Food Program. Outreach workers fielded more than 10,000 visits supporting mental health, crisis response, financial strain, housing insecurity, and social connection, 33 per cent of which were first-time clients. Further, WCSS welcomed 241 overnight stays at its Extreme Weather Shelter across 26 nights, a 50-per-cent increase compared to the season prior. WCSS itself isn’t shrugging and hoping someone else handles it. Their thrift and reuse social enterprises generate revenue that gets plowed right back into community supports, and they’re adapting to growing demand even as costs rise. The Whistler Community Foundation (WCF) is another key part of the support

Whistler shrank slightly in 2024, a sign economic pressures are pushing people out even as broader housing and cost-ofliving challenges persist. None of this should be abstract. When we talk about giving back— whether through dollars, your time, or your voice—we’re talking about neighbours who are struggling not because they lack grit but because the baseline cost of a decent life has moved. There are obvious places to direct that holiday generosity: Donate to WCSS: direct contributions help keep the food bank stocked, support outreach and counselling, and keep emergency services running when they’re needed most (mywcss.org); Back the WCF: giving to the foundation’s endowment or grant streams helps ensure smaller charities and initiatives don’t run out of runway mid-year (whistlerfoundation.com); Volunteer: check out WCF’s handy webpage at whistlerfoundation.com/ work/non-profit-network/volunteerin-whistler, help with WCSS outreach programs, or lend skills to local non-

forecasts that inflation will continue to moderate—but that doesn’t mean life is getting cheaper, especially in places like Whistler where housing and basic costs are entrenched. Wage growth for many Canadians still lags behind price increases on essentials, according to Statistics Canada, and the cost of living won’t suddenly reverse course on its own. In that sense, the holiday season isn’t just a moment to write a cheque or drop canned goods at a bin. It’s a reminder generosity isn’t seasonal, but structural. If we want Whistler to be a community where people can afford to live, work and belong, the giving can’t stop when the carols fade. It has to be part of the year-round work of caring for the people beside us in this expensive, beautiful, complicated place What’s uncomfortable about this conversation—and maybe why it matters—is charitable giving increasingly feels like a stand-in for policy failure. Food banks weren’t designed to prop up full-time workers. Community foundations weren’t meant

What’s uncomfortable about this conversation—and maybe why it matters—is charitable giving increasingly feels like a stand-in for policy failure.

ecosystem here. In 2024 the foundation reported more than $800,000 in donations and distributed more than $540,000 in grants across local charities tackling everything from food security to mental-health services. It also administers provincial funds aimed at poverty reduction—millions of dollars designed to strengthen inclusion and resilience in small communities. Still, it’s clear the demand for help is expanding faster than the safety net: the number of permanent residents in Owning on Green Lake means front-row access to Whistler’s most breathtaking waterfront living — and this property captures it all. Set on an 11,316 sq. ft. lot with 116 ft. of lake frontage, this west-facing retreat enjoys all-day sun and uninterrupted views of Whistler Blackcomb and the surrounding mountains. Enjoy quiet mornings on your private dock, year-round recreation at your doorstep, and the rare privacy that comes with a quiet cul-de-sac location. The beautifully renovated 3 bed/2-bath home offers open, airy living spaces and a brand-new deck designed to take full advantage of the scenery. With exceptional redevelopment potential, this is a coveted opportunity to experience the true Green Lake lifestyle.

profits. Time is as valuable as cash, and in a small community it’s noticed; Support local initiatives like shop-local campaigns that funnel a share of proceeds into community funds—this kind of giving keeps dollars circulating here; Get involved in events like WCSS’ annual Nightwalk (Jan. 29, 2026) or other fundraisers that build awareness alongside resources and bring people together around shared causes. Looking ahead to next year, there’s cautious optimism in some economic

to compensate for wages that don’t match rent. Yet here we are, leaning harder on generosity because the math no longer works for too many people. In a resort town built on service work, that contradiction is impossible to ignore. Giving matters—but so does naming the reality behind the need. The rise in demand isn’t a blip. And whether affordability improves next year or not, the people keeping this place running still need somewhere to land when the lift stops spinning. n

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR were making the right choice for their communities. But they made that choice alone, without including the very people who entrusted them with their voices in government. The people who elected them. That’s not how democracy should work.

Think bigger on sustainability Everyone’s talking about the “right to repair” these days, and sure, it’s a good cause. But it also feels like we’re being steered toward another distraction. Companies love to make it look like the problem starts and ends with us, the consumers, while they keep churning out products designed to fail and be replaced. It’s an old trick. Remember those 1970s anti-litter campaigns? They told us pollution was our fault for not picking up our garbage, instead of acknowledging that corporations were pumping out disposable packaging in the first place. That narrative worked so well then that we still see it playing out today. If we’re serious about sustainability, we need to think bigger. The right to repair is a piece of the puzzle, but we also need a right to return. If a company can’t take back what it makes, to reuse, retool, or upgrade it, it shouldn’t be making it at all. We’ve spent decades recycling, reusing, and feeling guilty, while the real responsibility lies with those producing the waste. It’s time to stop shouldering all the blame and start demanding that producers own the full life cycle of what they sell. That’s the only way we’ll make

“[T]hey made that choice alone, without including the very people who entrusted them with their voices...” - PATRICK SMYTH

real progress—for the planet and for all of us who have to live on it. Peter Skeels // Whistler/Pemberton

Voters should decide on political floor-crossings In the past two years, we’ve witnessed multiple B.C. MLAs and federal MPs cross the floor to join different political parties. When we cast our ballots, we’re not just voting for a person, we’re voting for

their values, their party’s vision, and the future they promised to build. In B.C., Bruce Banman, Lorne Doerkson, Elenore Sturko, Jordan Kealy, Amelia Boultbee, Teresa Wat, Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong have all changed parties or became independent. Have I forgotten anyone? More recently, federal MPs Chris d’Entremont and Michael Ma crossed to the Liberals just months after voters chose them specifically as Conservative representatives. These individuals may feel like they

Imagine supporting a candidate because you believed in their party’s platform on health-care, education, or economic policy, only to watch them join a party with fundamentally different values. How would that make you feel? Betrayed? Confused? Unheard? The issue is rooted in respect. If an elected official feels compelled to cross the floor, they should have the courage and integrity to call a byelection. Let the voters decide. Let them prove it at the ballot box. Patrick Smyth // Whistler n

Happy Holid days! y Wishing a happy holiday season to our guests, filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments.

We hope you are enjoying the view.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Backcountry Update AS OF WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24

The backcountry offers incredible adventures around here, but travelling in avalanche terrain always involves risk. While we can’t eliminate that risk entirely, developing good travel habits helps reduce exposure, improve communication, and support better decision-making so everyone makes it home safely. Good decisions start long before you step into the mountains. Safe backcountry days start with solid preparation. Before heading out, check the avalanche forecast and choose an objective that matches both the conditions and the experience level of everyone in your group. Make sure each person is carrying essential rescue gear—a transceiver, probe, and shovel—and that everyone knows how to use them. Preparation doesn’t just reduce risk; it also gives your group a shared understanding of the day ahead. Once you’re in the field, keep observing. Pay attention to changing conditions

such as snowfall, wind, or warming temperatures, as well as red flags like recent avalanches, or signs of instability like shooting cracks, or whumpfing sounds. It’s important to have a plan, but it’s just as important to stay flexible. If conditions don’t line up with expectations, adjusting your route or turning around is a sign of good judgment, not failure. Clear communication is another cornerstone of safe travel. Involve everyone in decision-making and create space for questions or concerns. Two-way radios can be especially helpful when groups are spread out, and they’re invaluable for snowmobilers, where engine noise makes communication difficult. Regular checkins at key decision points help ensure everyone is on the same page. Finally, remember that saying “no” is one of the most powerful tools you have. Choosing a more conservative option today keeps future adventures possible. The mountains aren’t going anywhere—but making smart choices ensures you will. n

CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain-info/ snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

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NEWS WHISTLER

B.C. resort town Chambers join forces, score early win on immigration resolution at Canadian Chamber AGM THE NEW COALITION AIMS TO RESHAPE IMMIGRATION PATHWAYS FOR RESORT TOWNS FACING LABOUR CRISES

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE from all 14

of B.C.’s provincially designated resort municipalities have officially joined forces to form the Resort Chambers of Commerce Coalition (RCCC), a collaborative advocacy group aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by tourism-driven economies. “We share similar challenges, similar opportunities,” explained Louise Walker, executive director of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. “Many are small communities with limited resources. We believe that a collaborative and united advocacy program would garner greater attention and action. Joining forces, we would have more effect.” Founding members include the chambers from Whistler, Revelstoke, Tofino, Ucluelet, Columbia Valley, Sun Peaks, Fernie, Harrison-Agassiz, Kamloops & District, Kimberley & District, Kicking Horse Country, South Okanagan, Trail and District and Valemount. Walker said seasonal labour shortages, international workforce dependencies,

CHAMBER CHATTER Caroline Lachapelle, chair of the RCCC, speaking at the Canadian Chamber AGM and Conference. PHOTO COURTESY OF RCCC

10 DECEMBER 26, 2025

housing affordability pressures, and the need to manage visitor-resident dynamics were through-lines for the 14 chambers. “We’re all typically smaller communities, population-wise,” she said. “We were all talking about the same things, and we decided that [it] would be better to talk together and work together.” The coalition was formalized in October ahead of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting. The RCCC’s inaugural chair is Caroline Lachapelle of the Revelstoke Chamber.

FIRST PRIORITY: IMMIGRATION REFORM

The RCCC’s first major advocacy effort tackles a pressing and shared concern: access to labour. “Workforce challenges are definitely the thing that we are all facing the biggest challenges with at the moment,” Walker said. “There were so many changes around immigration—international students, temporary foreign worker programs, spousal changes—that just added up.” Their debut policy resolution called for amendments to the 2025 federal Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) to better serve resort communities facing chronic labour shortages. RCIP is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers in rural and remote communities. The program only applies to rural communities with fewer than

50,000 residents located more than 75 km from a metropolitan centre. The RCCC resolution proposed amending RCIP to explicitly include resort communities, allow flexibility on population and location criteria and require federal engagement with local chambers and municipalities to tailor implementation. The proposal also includes a suggested federal definition of a “resort community” based on tourism reliance, accommodation ratios, destination marketing and strategic planning for visitor infrastructure.

AN EARLY WIN ON RCIP

The RCIP policy shift was one of 48 resolutions presented to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting (AGM) on Oct. 8 and 9. It passed with 94 per cent support from the national chamber network. Walker said moving beyond B.C.-specific language helped secure the win. “We were pretty confident with the resolution,” Walker recalled. “We’d spent a lot of time working on it, and made sure that we put forward a good proposal that [was] relevant to the whole of Canada, and not just B.C.” Walker said RCCC’s membership criteria doesn’t exclude non-B.C. resort towns, opening the door to members from outside the province. “And actually, one of the best outcomes of the AGM, is that there’s chambers of

commerce in other provinces that are now interested in being part of our coalition,” she said. “So there’s a couple in Alberta have reached out and said, “Hey, can we be part of this?” With adoption secured, the Canadian Chamber will now take the resolution to federal decision-makers, including tourism and immigration ministers. Locally, Walker said chambers will play a key role in implementing the policy if federal changes move forward. “It would be a working group coming together,” she said, noting different delivery models for RCIP exist across communities—from chambers and economic development organizations to municipal governments.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR RCCC?

The coalition is set to meet at the start of 2026 to decide on a chair and vice-chair, identify other chambers that may want to join up, and set out goals for the new year. Other pressing topics on the table include housing, transportation, and infrastructure. But it’s not all policy on the docket, Walker emphasized. “One of the really good things about the coalition is we are sharing best practices and looking at projects where we can work together,” she said. “Chambers don’t often have huge teams and big budgets. So really, working together is the goal; helping each other grow and be more effective.” n

NEWS WHISTLER

Molinaro sentencing delayed to 2026, crown seeking 8.5-10 years JUDGE LYNDSAY SMITH HEARD ORAL AND WRITTEN ARGUMENTS DURING DEC. 17 AND 18 HEARINGS IN PEMBERTON

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SENTENCING IN Roger Molinaro’s historic sexual assault case against two underage girls in Pemberton, originally slated for Dec. 17 to 18, has been pushed back to early 2026 to give Judge Lyndsay Smith more time to consider the arguments presented by the Crown and defence. This is the second time Molinaro, a longtime Pemberton resident and businessowner, has been up for sentencing. He was originally sentenced to five years and six months for three counts of sexual interference and two counts of invitation to sexual touching on Aug. 3, 2022. The B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a new trial on Dec. 11, 2023. One charge resulted in an acquittal, while the remaining six were ordered to a new trial. Molinaro was found guilty on June 25, 2025, of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference of a person under the age of 16 against Katelyn Pidperyhora and Xiola Aldrich. The girls—family friends of the Molinaros— were between the ages of nine and 12 or 13, and six and 12, respectively, at the time of the offences. The Pidperyhora, Aldrich and Molinaro families were repeatedly described as close friends. Judge Smith is sentencing on charges three and six—sexual assault against Aldrich and sexual interference of a person under 16 against Pidperyhora. The judge issued a stay of proceedings on the other two charges based on the Kienapple Principle, which applies when a number of offences describe different ways of committing the same criminal wrong, rather than different criminal wrongs. The Crown is seeking 8.5 to 10.5 years. Pidperyhora and Aldrich along with their families were present for both days in court to read out victim impact statements that underscore the past and ongoing harms to them and their families. “My childhood and the years that were supposed to be innocent and carefree were encircled with fear, confusion, and shame,” Pidperyhora told the court. “Playdates and sleepovers were moments that should have been simple and happy, but became memories of [pain] because I knew what was coming. “I often wonder what my life would look like if this had never happened. I think about the version of myself I might have become without carrying fear, shame and confusion so young.” Xiola Aldrich told the court she’s been diagnosed with clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and a conversion disorder that converts psychological trauma into “seizure-like movements.”

“I am furious,” she said, addressing Molinaro. “Who gave you the right to take my innocence, happiness and childhood away? Who gave you the right to hurt me the way that you did? And you didn’t just hurt me, you hurt so many more people I once thought of one big happy family.” Molinaro sat still during both days, looking forward, with the Pidperyhora and Aldrich families seated in the rows behind him. Defence lawyer Richard Peck suggested a “global charge” of five years is appropriate. He added that “principle of denunciation, deterrence and rehabilitation” should be considered during the sentencing. He began by introducing 25 letters of support written by friends, family and other locals who vouched for Molinaro’s character. Peck noted that everyone who wrote in about Molinaro was made aware of his conviction. Writers credited Molinaro as being “honest,” “hardworking,” “trustworthy,” and having a “contributing, giving nature.” Judge Smith remarked those characteristics were “the part that these families loved.” The Crown responded the descriptions shared by character references only served to underscore the harm to the victims and their families; Molinaro was trusted by the families and community at large, making survivors think they would be less likely to be believed by adults. That trust also afforded Molinaro access to the girls. Peck said the terms of bail—which Molinaro has respected—have proven a major impediment to Molinaro’s life. Peck said the defendant had been unable to seek housing without proximity to children, leading to Molinaro living out of a trailer. He also told the court Molinaro had been facing prolonged backlash and stigma since allegations of his crimes against Pidperyhora and Aldrich first surfaced, undermining his reputation in the community and preventing him from finding work. Molinaro’s strict compliance to his bail and the resulting punitive effects can help further the goals of rehabilitation and denunciation, the defence argued. Bartel concluded that sentencing would be enough to deter Molinaro in future, given the “highly situational” nature of the offences he committed. The defence also cited a number of post-Friesen sexual assault cases with similar characteristics, presenting a range of between two and 8.5 years. They noted that sentencing on the higher end usually involved aggravating circumstances like grooming. Smith said sentencing will likely occur in late January or early April. Read the full story at piquenewsmagazine.com. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whitecap Alpine Adventures makes major backcountry acquisition BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS SELLS ENTIRE TOURISM DIVISION, INCLUDING COAST RANGE HELI-SKIING AND TYAX ADVENTURES

BY GLEN KORSTROM Business in Vancouver CONSOLIDATION IS AFOOT in B.C.’s backcountry-tourism sector. Whitecap Alpine Adventures is buying Coast Range Heli-Skiing, Tyax Adventures and some government licences to offer hiking and glacier walking around Whistler from Blackcomb Helicopters for an undisclosed amount, Whitecap owner Lars Andrews told BIV last week. Those assets comprise all of Blackcomb Helicopters’ tourism division. “It’s worth a fair amount,” Andrews said of the transaction, adding that an exact figure is not available because “some things are still being worked out.” Andrews has been hosting guests at what is now a 3,000-square-foot lodge in the mountains north of Pemberton since around 2003, he said. The lodge usually accommodates up to 15 people. His family has owned that McGillivray Pass Lodge and some surrounding land for generations, which is distinctive within B.C. “People can’t own fee-simple land at that elevation anymore,” Andrews explained. “It was something that happened a long, long time ago as the

14 DECEMBER 26, 2025

FEATHER IN THE CAP Whitecap Alpine Adventures is acquiring Blackcomb Helicopters’ tourism division, including Tyax Adventures.

FILE PHOTO BY BRIAN GOLDSTONE / COURTESY OF BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS AND TYAX ADVENTURES

lodge was essentially a homestead.” No roads lead to the lodge so guests fly in by helicopter and walk up the mountain to ski down, he said. Included in Andrews’ current business is a tenure licence for about 32,000 hectares of surrounding land where Andrews owns the exclusive right to use the land for hiking and skiing tours. The businesses that he bought own tenures for those activities adjacent to his current tenured territory. Coast Range HeliSkiing’s tenure, for example, is about 10 times that of Whitecap’s, he said. Andrews

described Tyax’s tenure as “enormous,” explaining that it covers mountain ranges. Tenures on land can overlap with different companies owning tenures for different uses, such as logging or mining. Andrews plans to provide hiking and ski tours on his new companies’ land tenures. Unlike his current tenure, the new ones cover land that has some roads, he said. That means that his guests in parts of the new tenures do not need to fly in to accommodation by helicopter. The B.C. part of Andrews’ business brings in about 80 per cent of his revenue.

He also leases huts in Japan and in Europe on a seasonal basis and rents out those spaces. His Japanese business accounts for about 15 per cent of his revenue with European business responsible for about five per cent of his sales. Things are going well for Whitecap Alpine Adventures. “It’s been quite profitable over the years,” he said. Andrews pinned revenue at less than $10 million annually, and said the acquisitions could increase that by about five times. He employs about 25 people during peak season, and he said the new businesses will only add about five to seven employees to that total. His new tenures have five accommodation sites but each of those only take one person to manage, he added. For now, Andrews said he expects to keep in place his existing leadership team at his new companies and that there will be “not a ton of sweeping changes.” “The challenge for us right now is integration and finding efficiencies across the companies — finding where we can be a bit more efficient in an executive structure and things of that nature. So, I’m working a lot on the organizational structure right now.” n

28 TWO BEDROOM RESIDENCES at home in the heart of the village

NEWS WHISTLER

SLRD reviews director pay policy ahead of election year ‘DO WE WANT TO KEEP THESE [MEETINGS] FOR WEALTHY PENSIONERS?’

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter LOOKING TO REPRESENT your community on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board? You’ll earn roughly 15 per cent more than more than comparable regional districts across the province. Still, that pay may not be enough to cover the costs of stepping into public office. At a Nov. 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, the SLRD board was presented with the findings of a remuneration review by Harbour West Consulting. The consultants’ report confirmed the board’s stipends—$36,298 for electoral area directors and $18,153 for municipal directors—are among the highest for 12 comparable regional districts in B.C. But unlike many other regions, the SLRD does not provide additional per-meeting allowances. Directors flagged it as a hurdle to participation. “I would love to see the wages at a point where they’re actually high enough to attract people who are able to do the position or interested in running for election, if they have to give up part-time jobs or other careers to do this,” said Area B alternate director Paula DeJong. Directors also raised concerns about

the absence of paid travel time, childcare reimbursements, or mental-health benefits. The review comes ahead of next year’s local elections, with some current board members warning of low interest among potential successors.

TRAVEL TIME AND ALTERNATE PAY

While SLRD directors currently receive higher-than-average base stipends, the district is one of the few that does not compensate directors on a per-meeting basis. Instead, the stipend is intended to cover all core duties, including meeting attendance and related preparation time. That distinction puts the SLRD at odds with most of its peers. According to Harbour West Consulting, 10 out of 12 regional districts surveyed provide additional meeting payments on top of base salaries. These can range from $83 to $300 depending on meeting length, role, or geography. Consultant Kathryn Orde said the total value of those allowances in other regions is often substantial: “Those allowances may increase your basic stipend by up to 20 to 30 per cent… That’s significant.” The result is that while the SLRD’s stipends may appear generous on paper, they do not necessarily translate

into higher overall compensation— particularly for directors with greater travel and workload burdens. SLRD directors typically attend 32 to 51 meetings per year. Meeting time alone adds up to approximately 145 hours annually, not including travel, preparation or community engagement work. Currently, only alternate directors receive remuneration for travel time. Full directors are reimbursed for mileage at CRA rates ($0.72/km) but are not compensated for hours spent in transit. This policy sparked concern among several board members. “It’s basically three-and-a-half, fourhour drive in the wintertime for the Area A director at Pemberton for meetings,” said that area’s director, Sal DeMare. “That’s one way.” The report notes other regional districts are more flexible. Some pay travel stipends for trips exceeding 60 kilometres; others fold travel time into meeting remuneration. The ThompsonNicola Regional District, for example, compensates all directors for travel hours incurred when attending official business in person. Board members also raised concerns over how alternate directors are paid. According to the current remuneration

bylaw, alternate directors are compensated between $130 and $232 per meeting, depending on duration. Several directors said this was insufficient given the level of preparation required. “My alternate [takes] two days off work,” said Lillooet director Laurie Hopfl. “She’s got to learn all this stuff. She’s got to come prepared. It’s a lot of time for a couple hundred dollars.”

WHO CAN AFFORD TO SERVE?

As the 2026 election approaches, some directors expressed concern that the current pay structure could deter candidates, especially in high-cost communities like Whistler and Squamish. Area B director Vivian Birch-Jones said a strong potential candidate recently declined to run in her area. “She told me plain and simple, ‘I just can’t afford to give up what I’m doing and [run],” Birch-Jones told the board. “Do we want to keep these [meetings] for wealthy pensioners? I’d really like to see a whole bunch of young folks at the table.” The board ultimately voted in favour of a motion to have staff return with potential bylaw updates for consideration at a future Committee of the Whole meeting. Read the full story at piquenewsmagazine.com.n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Naomi Holliday takes the lead at WAG amid rising animal surrenders in Whistler ‘WAG IS THE DREAM JOB’

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WHISTLER ANIMALS Galore (WAG) has

a new leader, and she’s stepping in as the valley animal shelter faces a rise in animal surrenders, strays and long-term care needs. Naomi Holliday became WAG’s director of operations and development in September. While the title is new, the dream isn’t. “When I first got to Whistler eight years ago, I remember thinking, ‘WAG: that’s where I want to work,’” she said. “It all came together: my background in operations and fundraising, and my love of my dog, Sydney.” Sydney, an eight-year-old husky Holliday describes as “very talkative, very large, but the best dog,” played a key role in her journey towards taking the reins at the shelter. “She used to be reactive, and it taught me a lot,” she said. “An animal doesn’t automatically know how to ‘be a dog’ the way we want them to. That experience really deepened my compassion.” Before WAG, Holliday held roles in the corporate and non-profit sectors. She worked for firms like Apple or local social media outfit Northern Neighbour, before

18 DECEMBER 26, 2025

moving to the Whistler-based non-profit Zero Ceiling, where she ran operations and fundraising. “After my last corporate job ended, [I] really stopped and asked myself what I wanted to do,” she said. “It was time to give back. I didn’t feel fulfilled in those corporate roles. WAG is the dream job.”

SURGING ANIMAL INTAKES IN 2025

WAG has taken in at least 105 animals so far this year, representing a nearly 46-percent increase from 72 in 2024. “That number might be even higher now,” said Holliday during an early December interview. “We’ve definitely seen more strays. But we’re also seeing way more people trying to surrender their animals.” Behind the spike are some familiar pressures: Whistler’s housing crisis, costof-living strain and difficulty in finding rental units that allow pets. “We’re finding it harder to adopt animals out,” said Holliday. “But we’re also seeing a huge surrender list, people asking for help. A lot of it is financial. Sometimes someone needs to move home to care for a sick family member. Sometimes they just can’t afford pet care anymore.” The trend isn’t isolated to Whistler.

In 2024, the BC SPCA reported handling 906 pet surrender requests, according to the CBC. But during the first half of 2025 alone, they handled 800. Shelters across the country have reported struggles with capacity to meet that surging demand. WAG is working on other ways to meet the need. “We try to keep animals in their homes where we can,” Holliday said. WAG runs an animal food bank and the FANS (Financial Assistance for Neuter and Spay) program, helping pet owners access care they might not otherwise afford. “If someone asked me to give up my dog, I would burst into tears,” she added. “Some of these situations really can’t be helped. But we try.”

FROM EMERGENCY SURGERY TO SECOND CHRISTMASES

WAG’s longer-stay animals are also on the rise. “Right now we have Beau and Rae Rae,” Holliday said. “Rae’s about to spend her second Christmas in the shelter.” The shelter tries to make it cosy with snuggle time on sofas, enrichment toys and long walks, but Holliday is clear: “At the end of the day, it’s still a shelter. That’s why we’re working on behaviour plans to make animals more adoptable. It’s about preparing them for that next chapter.”

Sometimes, cases are more urgent: take Woodstock, an eight-week-old Shepherd-Heeler mixed breed who was found wandering the highway near Pemberton. He’s currently recovering from a fractured hind leg. “Somebody brought him to the front door tucked in their jacket,” Holliday recalled. “And where there’s one puppy, we figure there’s usually more, so we sent out a message to our Pemberton community. By the end of the day, we had seven more puppies and a dog with a chain embedded in his neck who needed emergency surgery.” The dog in question, a nine-monthold Border Collie Cross named Neo, is now healing up from the surgery in WAG’s care. Woodstock has been recovering under Holliday’s safe keeping. “He’s right next to me now,” she said during a chat with Pique. “Fostering has been such a special part of this job.”

WHISTLERITES SHOWING UP FOR WAG

Despite the challenges, Holliday says the Whistler community is showing up in big ways. WAG’s December donation campaign

SEE PAGE 20 >>

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NEWS WHISTLER

Former Sea to Sky local walks 3,000-km New Zealand trail in honour of her late dog ‘SHE WAS JUST A DAMN GOOD DOG’

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter FORMER WHISTLERITE and Pemberton resident is walking the length of New Zealand to honour her late dog and raise tens of thousands of dollars for a Whistler-based veterinary support fund that helps families facing emergency pet surgeries. Mackenzie Button has already covered more than 800 kilometres of Te Araroa—New Zealand’s 3,000-kilometre national trail—while steadily fundraising for the Stryker Fund, a financial-assistance program run through Coast Mountain Veterinary Services in Creekside. She began the trek on Oct. 19 and expects to finish in March 2026. “I am, I think, about 800 kilometres in right now,” Button said in a recent interview, calling in from Hamilton, NZ. “This is day 34 of walking.” The thru-hike, stretching from Cape Reinga at the northern tip of the North Island to Bluff at the southern end of the country, takes hikers across beaches, farmland, forests, river valleys and volcanic landscapes. While some sections can be biked or paddled, Button is completing nearly all of it on foot. A

WALKING TO HONOUR NOVA

Button is dedicating her journey to Nova, her six-year-old German Shepherd mix and longtime adventure companion who

died suddenly on Jan. 16, 2024 after internal bleeding caused by a ruptured splenic mass. She described Nova as the anchor of her life in the Sea to Sky area. “Oh gosh, she was the best. She was loyal, but she was independent, she was smart,” Button said. “She was just a damn good dog, like the best I could have ever asked for, really. “I lived in my van with her for years, and she just made me feel, like, safe and secure. And she was always down for whatever. Like, if it was a rainy day and we were hanging out in the van, she would hang out. If we were going to climb a mountain, she’d climb the mountain.” In her GoFundMe, Button wrote about Nova’s final day and the devastating diagnosis that left her with no viable treatment options. “I made the most harrowing decision to put her to rest that evening and walked out of the clinic without my best friend. Nova died on a random Tuesday and among the countless things she taught me, the impermanence of life hit me like a train. [She] showed me bravery, independence, unconditional love and how to enjoy any day no matter the weather.” Though dogs are not allowed on many New Zealand trails due to kiwi bird conservation rules, Button said the journey still feels deeply shared.

SEE PAGE 22 >>

NAOMI HOLLIDAY FROM PAGE 18

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20 DECEMBER 26, 2025

is currently being matched by Moguls Coffee House. Community fundraisers range from gift-wrapping at Kitchen Works to holiday cards designed by local kids. One recent highlight? A “WAG fest” day that included a cat-themed Whistler Film Festival screening, a fundraiser at Alpine Café and pet photos with Santa— all in the same 24 hours. “I love being out at these events,” said Holliday. “So many people come up to me to tell me about the animals they’ve adopted from WAG. They show me photos. That’s such a special part of the job.” For those wanting to get involved, Holliday said fostering—even shortterm—is one of the most impactful things anyone can do. “People don’t realize what a difference a weekend sleepover can make for an animal,” she said. “It gets them used to kids, cats, new spaces. It helps them relax and learn to trust.” WAG covers all expenses for fosters,

including food and vet care. The shelter also welcomes donations of toys, food, and treats.

BREAKING INTO THE NONPROFIT WORLD

For those looking to follow in Holliday’s footsteps and break into the non-profit world, she offers simple advice: start by showing up. “WAG tries to hire from our volunteers. So pick a group whose mission speaks to you and start there,” she said. “There are so many fun ways to help: dog walking, cuddling a cat, even snowboarding with youth through Zero Ceiling.” And once you’re in, she added, don’t hold back. “Just apply. Just go to events,” she said. “In Whistler, everyone kind of knows everyone and we all want to see each other succeed.” For more information on WAG, visit their website and check them out on Facebook and Instagram. n

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NEWS WHISTLER

Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service officer charged with voyeurism pleads not guilty MICHAEL ENGLISH SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL AUG. 17

BY BOB MACKIN S T L ’ A T L ’ I M X Tribal Police Service officer charged with three counts of voyeurism pleaded not guilty to all charges during a

THE

Dec. 1 hearing in North Vancouver Provincial Court. Michael Philip English was put on administrative leave and charged in September 2024 with two counts of recording consensual sex acts with one woman and one count of recording consensual sex with another.

It is alleged that English surreptitiously recorded his partners in private while he was off-duty, between 2020 and 2022. Identities of the complainants are covered by a publication ban. Also at the Dec. 1 hearing, Judge Timothy Hinkson heard an application

about admissibility of sexual history and confidential records evidence. Crown and defence lawyers are scheduled to return to Provincial Court for more pretrial applications on April 8 and May 1. English is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 17-18. n

up not being a candidate for it anyway, [but] I just loved the idea of it and like, what they do for other people.” After friends donated to help cover Nova’s veterinary expenses, Button was able to give about $2,000 of the remaining support directly back to the fund. “It was kind of just like a no-brainer that I would like to just give back to help somebody else that was in my position,” she said.

was straightforward but limited. “All summer, I made it my mission to go on like a big hike every week, and living in Pemberton, it was easy to make it happen,” she said. “I made sure that I liked my gear. I knew how it worked. I had everything I needed. And then, like, physically, I feel like you can only be so fit, and then the rest would just come from the trail.” Button is sharing updates from the trail on Instagram at @mac.onthemove, and donations can be made via her GoFundMe page. “Every dollar adds up to save a life,” she wrote. “And I truly can’t express how much this means to me.” n

‘A DAMN GOOD DOG’ FROM PAGE 20 “She could not have done this with me, so I’m doing it for her, in a way,” she said.

WHY THE STRYKER FUND?

The Stryker Fund Button is fundraising for was launched in March 2022 by Whistler’s Coast Mountain Veterinary Services after a critically ill cat named Stryker arrived from a rural location and his family, unable to afford lifesaving surgery, faced the heartbreaking decision to surrender him. To qualify for the fund, an animal’s situation must be reviewed and approved by the clinic’s management team and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis with input from outside specialists or shelter

staff. Applicants are expected to be faced with an emergency care need, financial hardship, and a condition that has a favourable prognosis. The clinic notes that “not everyone will qualify” given the strict guidelines in place to prevent misuse of funds. Button said she learned about the fund during Nova’s medical crisis. Unfortunately, due to Nova’s unlikely prognosis, she didn’t qualify. “I picked them because the Stryker Fund was started by Coast Mountain Vet, which is in Creekside, and that was the vet that I took Nova to regularly. She had Lyme disease, so we were at the vet all the time,” she said. “They told me about it, but she ended

A GOAL OF $3,333

Button hopes to raise $3,333—a number inspired by both the length of the trail and her fondness for repeating “angel numbers.” The physical preparation, she added,

HOLIDAY HOURS - PEMBERTON TRANSFER STATION Regular Hours Monday 12 - 7 pm Wednesday 12 - 7 pm Friday 12 - 7 pm Saturday 10 am - 5 pm Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

CLOSED at 3 pm Christmas Eve - Wednesday, December 24 CLOSED Boxing Day - Friday, December 26

Electronics, small appliances and batteries are accepted at the Pemberton Recycling Centre, 1954 Venture Place.

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Rinse containers and packaging before recycling.

Monday 1 - 5 pm Wednesday 4 - 8 pm Sunday 1 - 5 pm For more waste reduction tips, visit slrd.bc.ca/lovethisplace 22 DECEMBER 26, 2025

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1974

FIFTY YEARS OF FREEDOM

Steve Bayly NOVEMBER 10, 1954-

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 G.D. MAXWELL STEVE BAYLY IS A VISIONARY.

You may think that’s a bold statement about a man who’s on his second seeing-eye dog. But for decades now, Steve has been able to see what many others haven’t. When others didn’t, he saw a need for industrial buildings to help small businesses help build this town. He also saw a need for affordable housing for the people all those businesses and the town would require to thrive and prosper. And he set about meeting those needs. Steve was born and grew up in Vancouver. A keen sailor and skier during his teen years, he and some friends rented a cabin in Whistler while attending the University of British Columbia. “We rented an A-frame where Nesters is now and later a house at the end of White Gold in the mid1970s,” he recalls. Graduating in 1977 after studying political science and economics, Steve went to work for a Real Estate Investment Trust associated with the Bank of B.C., where he had a chance to do deals probably above his pay grade. He had native talent when it came to pulling together real-estate transactions. He also knew a good opportunity when one presented itself. So when Edgar Kaiser became CEO of the Bank of B.C. and the REIT was taken over, Steve was offered the chance to stay or take a severance. Shortly thereafter, in 1985, Steve became the owner of a Beneteau 375 sailboat he named “Severance.” Good decision. Sailing as far east as Turkey and transiting the Atlantic Ocean, Steve and wife-to-be Andrea were offshore for two years. But Whistler pulled them back. After all, he had a place here. Shortly after graduating from UBC, Steve and his cousin bought a double-wide Fabco trailer situated where his current house is, above Creekside. “It was on lease land from Garibaldi Lift Co.,” Steve says. “Franz Wilhelmsen was our landlord. We had power from the gondola barn and pumped water out of Whistler Creek. It was very inexpensive and we became weekend warriors.” So returning, he sold the boat and bought the lot where the trailer sat. It had since been developed, no longer needing power from the gondola or water from the stream. But the trailers had to go, logs had to come in, creating home sweet home to this day for Steve, Andrea and family. He worked in real-estate financing,

24 DECEMBER 26, 2025

PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD / COURTESY OF THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER

mostly in Vancouver. “But I really didn’t like it anymore,” he says. “I didn’t really fit in.” Fit or not, he did well but liked it less and thought he could do better in Whistler. Steve started building precast concrete warehouses in Function Junction in the early 1990s. He built eight and kept one, paying several hundred thousand dollars in works and services charges. They became the nucleus of the industrial/commercial hub growing around them and home to many businesses still there today. They were needed. Steve saw another need. Housing. Affordable housing. “I could see the writing on the wall,” he says. “Values were going up and people, the backbone of Whistler who’d built houses, were moving away. When they did, nobody local could come in behind them because housing was too expensive.” There was also about $6 million sitting in the bank, works and services charges collected over the years. No one seemed to have a vision for it. Steve did. The Whistler Valley Housing Society had built its building in Creekside in 1983 and while the board had other ideas, not much was happening with them. And earlier attempts at affordable employee housing—Tapley’s Farm and Lorimer Ridge—while successful at first blush, suffered from covenants that didn’t stand up to challenge, leaving them increasingly unaffordable as well. And it didn’t help the mayor of the day wasn’t particularly keen on employee housing. By the mid-1990s the problems were reaching a peak and a new council seemed more interested. “I pitched Ted Milner, Dave Kirk and Hugh O’Reilly with an idea of using the $6 million as equity to build housing,” Steve says. “So over drinks, Ted and I came up with a seven-point plan that became the nucleus for the Whistler

Housing Authority (WHA).” The points included: WHA would be wholly owned by the municipality and be self-funding within two years; would develop consistent and professional covenants and administer them; provide management of the properties, advocate for housing to be built by other developers; use the longest fixed-term and shortest amortization financing available; would not be a political body; and, wouldn’t look to municipal taxpayers to guarantee any mortgages. Steve agreed to serve as WHA’s general manager on an interim basis and set about hiring a bare-bones staff to work getting properties developed and managed. Leveraging the $6 million, an additional $13 million was borrowed in bank loans and used to purchase close to $22 million of real estate and build rental housing, including Beaver Flats, Nesters Pond, Nordic Drive and Lorimer Court. The properties were built and the annual rent covered their mortgages, funded property management and capital reserves and covered WHA operations. The decade between 1997 and 2007 saw substantial growth of WHA properties with Steve’s fingerprints on many of them. But the pipeline of new properties slowed down considerably while demand continued to rise. No longer playing a formal role with WHA, Steve was still committed to employee housing. “I was asked to help expedite more housing,” he says. “After doing an inventory for the WHA, we landed on what would become Rainbow.” It was an ambitious and “fairly complicated” plan, given the land had several different owners. But Steve was keen on seeing it through. More or less at the same time, he’d joined the board of the Whistler Development

Corporation, who’d been tasked with developing the Athletes’ Village for the 2010 Olympics, a community that would morph from athletes’ housing to employee housing post-Olympics. When the Games were finished in 2010, Cheakamus Crossing hit the employee housing market. At the same time, much of what would become Rainbow did as well. As a result, the seemingly unlimited demand for employee housing was met— Rainbow exhausted the WHA waitlist for ownership properties. And that was a problem. “After Cheakamus and Rainbow, there was a feeling we’d licked the problem of employee housing,” Steve says. That wasn’t Steve’s vision though. Advocating for continuing to build “a building a year,” the current administration didn’t see things that way. By 2013, there were already cracks beginning to show. “WDC—led by Eric Martin, Jim Moodie and Duane Jackson— were saying we need to get on with the next phase of Cheakamus,” Steve recalls. “Boy did we get pushback on that.” That pushback, to further develop the Olympic legacy lands, wound up costing another five years of little development. “We lost five years when construction costs and borrowing rates were much lower,” Steve says. Since 2018 though, WDC and WHA have built and operated a new building a year. Steve wasn’t done. He went back to where he’d started. “Nigel (Woods) and I built Nesters Crossing... with tremendous pushback from the municipality,” he says. The industrial/ storage facility Steve envisioned got built— landscaped, even—and provides secure, heated storage for 300 small businesses in town. “It’s good for local business, good to look after the little guys,” Steve says. Steve began losing his eyesight—not his vision—to retinitis pigmentosa in the late 1980s. Blindness set in by 2009. But it’s hardly slowed him down and hasn’t stolen his sense of humour. When someone complained to him about what an eyesore Rainbow was when viewed from across the valley, Steve quipped, “What do you expect from a guy that can’t see that well? You ask a blind guy to watch out for the visual impact? I don’t think so!” Notified a month ago about being awarded the Freedom of the Municipality, Steve was “surprised and honoured. Surprised because I kind of rubbed a few people the wrong way along the way. But it was wonderful to join such a good group.” His new honour joins a list that includes having a park named after him at Cheakamus in 2007 and being named Whistler’s Citizen of the Year in 2018. Today he remains a man of vision... and Whistler is so much the better for it. This is Part 17 in a 21-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. n

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NEWS PEMBERTON

A Q&A with Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman THE THREE-TERM MAYOR REFLECTS ON THE VILLAGE’S GROWTH IN 2025 AND PREVIEWS THE ELECTION YEAR TO COME

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter IT’S BEEN A BIG YEAR for one of the

province’s fastest-growing communities. This year, Pemberton has seen new infrastructure projects come online, policy changes aimed at speeding the development of new homes, work towards reconciliation with the Lil’wat Nation, and plenty more. Pique had a phone call with Pemberton’s mayor, Mike Richman, to talk about the year in review and look ahead at the election year to come. The following discussion has been edited for length and clarity. PIQUE: What were some of the big, new infrastructure wins for the Village in 2025? MIKE RICHMAN: Let’s start around our community centre. We completed the accessibility ramp at the Pemberton community centre that’s at the south

OPEN MIKE Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman is reflecting on a busy 2025 while looking ahead to the final year of his term. FILE PHOTO

26 DECEMBER 26, 2025

entrance. It gives easier access for wheelchairs, strollers, mobility aids and just a gentler and more accessible entrance to our very busy community centre. We’ve improved some of the safety in the area by building a raised crosswalk with flashers and street lights across

building at Den Duyf Park community recreation hub, part of our ongoing improvements to our recreation hub. It’s got some meeting and program spaces, a kitchen, showers, washrooms and a rooftop patio. And our new fire truck, Engine 11,

“[S]omething that’s really important work is the renewal of our protocol agreement with Lil’wat Nation.” - MIKE RICHMAN

Cottonwood [Street], and that’s what connects the community centre to the skate park and the parking lot. Across the street, in partnership with Stewardship Pemberton, we completed Phase 1 of the Portage Street Community Gardens next to our multimodal transportation hub there. There’s 550 new large garden plots community boxes there right now. The math on that is that it has the potential to support up to 150 residents in the community and produce up to 50,000 pounds of food annually. There’s the multi-use amenity

arrived, which is a big safety amenity to our community. What policy areas did the Village take a step forward on this year? We’ve been working a lot on our housing initiatives. So a lot of really strong behind-the-scenes work on housing policy—everything around parking, density, zoning, and the complete communities project—that will hopefully help us meet our housing targets in the future and work towards affordability.

And one of the priorities for this council has been around engagement. We have a new website that just got launched. We think it’s a lot more lot cleaner, a lot more intuitive and mobile friendly. And we also have the Engage Pemberton, [which] gives us another opportunity to connect with the community in a meaningful way. The new community engagement checkin surveys brought in a lot of great information from community members as we get into the budget season. And something that’s really important work is the renewal of our protocol agreement with Lil’wat Nation. We’ve put in some good, heavy work on that to put us in a more current position in terms of how we work together, how our relationship is established, how the Village can best acknowledge Lil’wat inherent rights and rights over their traditional territories [and] how we could work together in this valley to accomplish common goals. It’s something we’re still working on, and I look forward to being able to put a draft together with our partners and present it to the communities. Let’s stay on housing. How are you feeling about the village’s progress

NEWS PEMBERTON on delivering affordable housing moving into 2026? Something visible to the community is the Harrow Road project. Those affordable units will be of huge value to our community in 2026. They don’t solve our housing issues, but they’re a piece of the puzzle. And the services that will be provided downstairs on the first floor of the building will be absolutely wonderful services for our community. The village doesn’t build housing. We’re able to partner with Sea to Sky Community Services on the Harrow Road project. We would like to partner with Lions to get seniors housing, the next stage of the Lions Villa going. So we partner, but we don’t build housing. Our staff and council has been working really hard to put us in a place where hopefully we could streamline the process so it makes it easier for developers, where it makes it more attractive, a little

is a big one that we want to see happen. We have our universal water metering project, which is key water conservation for fair billing. Also a huge project for us is the construction of our new water treatment facility, located in the Benchlands neighbourhood. It’s going to protect and enhance the quality and reliability of our community’s water and keep up with the growth in our community. Another big one is the next phase of the multi-modal hub, [which] includes sidewalks, walkways, street lights, shared access to where the French school will be, a bus loop, shelter and passenger drop off lane. That’s a huge asset to our current transit system, and it’ll be a key point in our regional transit system. We’re putting in a new sani-dump for RVs. we’ve got some shade trees going in at Den Duyf, some more lawn areas, fencing a toddler-specific pump track.

“[W]e’re all feeling pretty confident that this is the year we’re going to see regional transit hit Highway 99...” - MIKE RICHMAN

more affordable for folks to provide housing in our community. So it’s sort of attacking the problem from multiple sides: What is the community need? And then how do we provide it? And how do we make sure that that housing can get built here? Expanding transit between Pemberton and neighbouring communities has been discussed for years. What milestones have we hit this year and do you hope to hit next year? We added 1,500 hours of transit service to our 99 route this year, which is huge. I really hope that when we have this conversation next year, one of the accomplishments we can all celebrate is regional transit. We’re having conversations with the province that are much more constructive than they’ve ever been in the years that we’ve been working towards this goal. So we’re all feeling pretty confident that this is the year we’re going to see regional transit hit Highway 99 and that is super important to affordability, to accessibility, to our climate goals, to getting folks to services they couldn’t necessarily afford to do so before. You’ve got one year left in your current term as mayor, your third term in the role. What priorities are you looking to focus on in this last year? Well, last year in the term is always a bit of a push for councils to want to complete some of their goals. So, regional transit

Hopeful that we’ll get the beach volleyball courts in, and if we can get some funding, we’d like to look at a playground in the near future there as well. Another thing I definitely want to see get further off the ground is work towards the next phase of the Lions Villa seniors housing. That’s a lot for our town.

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Given we’re going into an election year, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask if you intend to run for a fourth term. You know, ask me in six months. Right now, the focus is still on the work at hand ... Let me put it this way, I still really, really enjoy the job, and I really enjoy working for the community, if they’ll have me. A lot of it is personal level stage of life, and where my wife and I are at. We have a lot of discussions to have, and you can ask me again in June. Lastly, what were some of your favourite community events that happened this year in Pemberton? The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It wasn’t on the day, but we had the Sugarcane movie presentation at the community centre that was super powerful. We as a Village, we’re trying to find more and more ways to inform and educate ourselves, as well as our community. And Canada Day. Staff’s done a great job ... [celebrating] community is sort of the theme to it. So that was a great, great event. Slow Food Cycle is always a fun day around the community as well. n

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DECEMBER 26, 2025

RANGE ROVER

Thirtybuckburger Redux A FEW YEARS BACK, looking to inject

a little fun into a so-far desultory winter, I offered a column about all the potential names for bands and other local musical groups I had thought up over the years—mostly while swinging in the wind on inexplicably delayed lifts. Sometimes I scribbled them down on a break in the lodge, or, latterly, typed them

BY LESLIE ANTHONY into my smartphone. Other times I just remembered them. The list ultimately grew to proportions that required sharing just to free up phone—and brain—space. Having spent some time in bands in an earlier life, putting in a quartercentury of residence in Whistler, and being exposed to ski-town party bands around the world, I was inspired to combine the cleverness of ski-town chart-toppers—like Chamonix’s famous “house band” Gary Bingham and the Crevasseholes—with the simplistic brilliance of venerable local titles like The Hairfarmers, She Stole My beer and Whole Lotta Led to help spawn an entirely new generation of bar-band badassness. There were dozens of names in that first column representing a few years’ worth

TOOLS OF THE TRADE “We are The Courtesy Tools!” PHOTO BY SUMNERSGRAPHICSINC / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

28 DECEMBER 26, 2025

of ideas, and I ended it by summing my Top-10 faves: Bomb Tram, Halfday Ticket, Hotbox Gondola, Eighteen Roommates, Gold Medal Hangover, Broken Snowschool Scene, Death Before Download (the perfect heavy metal band), Hot Tub Sound Machine, Slow Zone Police Club, and the one that kicked it all off for me, Thirtybuckburger. After reading over that column again, other than the last entry—which neatly but sadly sums the contemporary reality of ski resorts—I’m not sure I

Spare Change means they’re not going away in the bigger picture: so we have Atmospheric River, Valley Rain, Winter Insects, Limited Terrain, The Snow Farmers and December Tomatoes (indeed I still had some) all standing as features of The Early Season Blues Band that can lead many of us to an unanticipated accumulation of Belly Fat. (Late-season aficionados, of course, might more naturally keen towards monikers like Spring Conditions, Raccoon Tan or The Isothermics).

Done and Dusty’s could be a house band if one was ever needed, but so could P-Tex, Lies and Duct Tape...

still agree with these picks (because hey, wouldn’t The Patrollers and The Poachers be the perfect ski-town double bill?). But whatever. The point is, a couple more years have gone by and my phone, not to mention my brain, is filling up again. This isn’t so much testament to an increasing number of lift stoppages as the fact that this will always be a fun game to play. So here we go. I think we can start things off with our most recent weather experiences because, while a week of abundant snow and the amazing work of Whistler Blackcomb’s mountain ops crew may have all but erased these from our memory, Climate

Fortunately, things can also always turn around in a hurry in the mountains, making more obvious standby names like Snow Stake, 20 Centimetre Rule, Death Cookies, Chickenheads and Dude Stole My Line relevant again. And while we’re on the mountain, wouldn’t The Runs be one of the best double-entendres ever? Manoeuvres in snow are also a perennial motherlode to be mined, and yet somehow my last column overlooked Straightline, Tip Drop, Twister Spread, Pre-release, The Elevenates, The Figure Eights, Double Backie, The Möbius Flips, Cat Road Scorpion and Tailbone Tomahawk. Mountain signage is similarly ripe for the picking: Wildlife

in Area (because there is always wildlife in the area and tourists love this sign), The Courtesy Tools (love this one—I can almost hear them playing), Hot Chocolate Coupon, Stolen Snowboard (sorry), and odes to Red Chair Scare like Panty Tree and Tower 17 (the one where the wind hits and you get an instant weather report). Done and Dusty’s could be a house band if one was ever needed, but so could P-Tex, Lies and Duct Tape (after the Stump movie). Actually, there are no end of contenders in that category: The Squatters, Bob’s Not Your Uncle, Road Salt, Ski-Boot Boogie, Paycheck Lifticket and Lifty Jam could all do the trick. And then, of course, there are names that sort themselves by musical genre. Moving up the road, things get more countrified with Pemberton Buzzkill, The Duffy, The Douglas-Firs and the bluegrass-festival-ready Pemberton Meadows. In the punk category we might find Meager Creek Slide, Debris Flow, The Effin’ Sledheads, Zombie Loppet, or Two-hour Liftline. As was the case with my last offering, I will remind readers that copyright doesn’t apply to band names (they’re considered branding) and the only way to protect them is by registering a trademark. And since I don’t have the time, money or inclination to do so with any of these, they are there for the appropriation of anyone who wants to turn them into the kind of party this town always needs. Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. n

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OPINION

Why Whistler’s food waste problem demands more from all of us BY ALEXANDRA CUSCHIERI YOU WANT to understand a community’s relationship with food, look at its bins. This year, as AWARE worked alongside GFL Environmental and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to confront our community’s growing food-waste problem, one thing became impossible to ignore: we are throwing away far too much food—much of it perfectly edible. About a third of what Whistler sends to landfill is organic waste. This not only consumes limited landfill space but also contributes to methane emissions and represents a loss of nutrients that could have been returned to our soils. And contrary to a common misconception, food doesn’t break down in landfills in a helpful way. Without oxygen, it decomposes anaerobically, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and leaving nutrients locked underground. Composting, on the other hand, allows oxygen to flow through rotating piles, transforming food scraps into healthy, usable soil. This year, we set out with a simple goal: to help Whistler reduce food waste and compost what’s left. What followed was a deeper look at the habits, systems, and assumptions that shape how our community treats food. IF

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MAKING COMPOSTING SIMPLER, MORE ACCESSIBLE

Our biggest priorities were minimizing food waste and maximizing composting. We shared practical food-storage tips, launched an interactive compost quiz, and created a visual compost guide that removed the guesswork. What belongs in the green bin? All food scraps: including bones, shells, and coffee grounds. What doesn’t? Produce stickers, twist ties, bread clips, packaging, and anything plastic (even if it looks compostable). A visit to Sea to Sky Soils reinforced why clarity matters: tiny produce stickers survive the composting process only to reappear in local soils—a stark reminder small plastics can cause big problems. We brought conversations into homes, classrooms, and community spaces. Hands-on activities showed just how easy it is to prevent food waste simply by storing food correctly, cooking creatively, or reviving wilted produce. Food waste starts long before the bin. Composting is a backup plan. The real work is reducing waste before it happens. More than half of the organic waste in Whistler’s landfill is avoidable: food that could, and should, have been eaten. Through workshops, business consultations, and on-site assessments, we began to see the patterns. Food waste happens across every stage of a food business. And nowhere is this more obvious than in buffets. Overproduction, oversized serving dishes, and overpiled plates all

contribute to excessive waste. Yet simple changes, such as switching to smaller plates and utensils, replenishing food more frequently, and improving communication between front- and back-of-house teams, can lead to immediate reductions.

THE BARRIERS ARE REAL, BUT SOLVABLE

All businesses are required to separate food scraps for composting under Whistler’s Solid Waste Bylaw. However, many are facing challenges with implementation. We saw the same challenges across various businesses: Shared waste rooms make sorting confusing, and space is often limited; High staff turnover means training must be visual and simple; Without clear signage, mistakes are inevitable; Buffets and banquets produce more waste than many people realize. We also saw solutions take hold. At the Four Seasons Private Residences, an organics-diversion pilot across 38 Private Residence kitchens showed how quickly behaviour can shift when tools and education are in place. “People want to do the right thing; they just need clarity,” their team told us.

WHAT THE LATEST NUMBERS TELL US

Our baseline in 2023 showed that 26 per cent of Whistler’s landfill waste should have been composted. At the beginning of this year, we set a goal to reduce this to 21 to 23 per cent through education and on-the-ground support. The 2025 audit now shows that number has risen to 39 per cent. Compostable organics still make up a large share of our waste, with the majority of that being food that could have been eaten. A staggering 47 per cent of the waste landfilled by the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) sector, including businesses, hotels, restaurants, and schools, could have been composted. And more than half of this was food that never should have become waste in the first place. There is huge potential to keep this material out of landfill and give it a better purpose, whether that’s by nourishing people or becoming nutrient-rich soil. This is not a small issue. It’s a community challenge that requires all of our attention.

WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

This year’s campaign helped to build momentum, partnerships, and a shared sense of responsibility. In 2026, we’ll focus on the sectors sending the most organics to landfill and expand tools that help prevent food from becoming waste. This is only the beginning, and it will take all of us. Learn more and get involved at awarewhistler.org. This campaign is in partnership with GFL Environmental and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. n

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AT TEAM TRELEAVEN We sincerely wish you all the best in 2026!

OCTOBER 2, 2025 - FEBRUARY 2, 2026 Geoffrey Farmer, Las Crónicas del Vampiro, 22 de noviembre de 1973 (detail), 2010-2025. Audain Art Museum Collection.

We had a terrific time with family, friends and clients in 2025! It was a very rewarding experience for us all year long. We look forward to enabling you to reach your real estate goals in 2026! Whether buying or selling, Whistler holds the magic for you and your family. Call us for all your real estate needs to help you embrace the magic of Whistler.

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QUINTESSENTIAL WHISTLER FAVOURITE WHISTLERITE: MIKE DOUGLAS

FAVOURITE WHISTLER NON-PROFIT: WHISTLER ANIMALS GALORE

Not satisfied with crowning him Whistler’s favourite Whistlerite for the eighth time, Pique readers in 2025 have also named Mike Douglas their favourite Naomi Holliday leads the shelter that filmmaker. The double win is humbling, inspired her to ditch the corporate world he said, and deeply personal. and pursue non-profits. “It’s everything,” Douglas said. “I mean, “When I first got here, I was like, ‘WAG, I love this community and this town, and that’s where I want to work,’” said Naomi they’ve lifted me up so many times over all Holliday, who took over this fall as Whistler my years here and they continue to do so. Animals Galore’s director of operations So I feel extremely honoured.” and development. “It’s the dream job. No Douglas first moved to Whistler from one needs to say thank you.” Vancouver Island 37 years ago, chasing This year, Holliday and her team snow and mountain freedom. What’s reclaimed the Best of Whistler nonkept him here in the decades since is the profit title from the Whistler Community community. Services Society, ending a one-year gap “I came here for the mountains in the in WAG’s decade-plus winning streak. backyard, like a lot of people do, and The recognition was emotional. they’re great. But it’s really the people,” “When we found out here, we were so he said. “They have their priorities excited. We’re so thankful,” Holliday said. straight and they lift each other up. “I’ve definitely seen the amount of people That’s priceless.” in the Whistler community who love WAG Douglas is a pioneer of freestyle and want to support WAG... I’m not an skiing, co-founder of the “New Canadian emotional person, but it has made me shed Air Force,” and the founder of Switchback a tear over these last couple of months.” Entertainment, where he’s directed In 2025, WAG helped more than 105 documentaries about climate change, animals—up from just 72 in 2024. Some, mountain culture and, of course, skiing. like Woodstock the puppy and Neo the But his creative ethos has always gone formerly chained-up dog, have become deeper than the powder shots. local celebrities. Others, like famed long“What was kind of missing for me— term shelter residents Bo and Rae, are still and why I got into filmmaking—was looking for homes. telling the story behind the day, or “We’re finding it hard behind the thing that happened and to adopt out animals. made all the big splash on the screen,” More and more people he said. are trying to surrender Earlier this year, he re-watched the their animals— Whistler Blackcomb 50th anniversary film financial reasons, life he made with the resort a decade back. changes, housing issues,” “It was great to see, and just to sort Holliday said. “So we’re of refresh my memory of the journey of really trying to step up and this town,” he said. “For the people in keep animals in their homes.” the film who are now gone, it’s such a That means food banks, spay/neuter treasure to have those interviews and support, licensing campaigns, training those memories laid down on tape.” programs and a fast-growing foster network. Asked what he’ll film next, Douglas “Even a weekend sleepover, you pointed to Whistler’s unsung heroes. don’t realize the impact that can have “There’s this network of tireless on an animal,” she said. “Fostering is an people who keep this town running and amazing, free way of hanging out with supported and all these key things, and animals. [You] don’t have to pay vet bills they go unnoticed. I’d love to make a or food. You’re just giving an animal a behind-the-scenes doc on that underside home, even for a short period.” of the community that is unheralded,” Her advice to non-profit hopefuls? he said. Just jump in. Jeremy “Stinky” Peterson, last year’s “Volunteer. Go to events. Everyone favourite Whistlerite, came second, kind of knows everyone. Just do it,” she followed by Mayor Jack Crompton in third. said. “It’s the most amazing community.” Whistler Community Services - Luke Faulks Society came second, followed by Zero Ceiling in third. - Luke Faulks

32 DECEMBER 26, 2025

MIKE DOUGLAS ALL PHOTOS BY DAVID BUZZARD DAVIDBUZZARD.COM

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Extending our heartfelt gratitude for making Wild Blue part of your most memorable moments this year.

SCAN FOR DINNER RESERVATIONS

4005 Whistler Way | 604.962.2233 | wildbluerestaurant.com | @wildbluerestaurant COMPLIMENTARY UNDERGROUND PARKING

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

FAVOURITE VOLUNTEER 1. Denise Wood 2. Ashlie Girvan 3. Jackie Dickinson BEST DECISION BY WHISTLER COUNCIL IN 2025 1. Continued work on resident housing 2. Strengthening environmental rules 3. Enhanced engagement and input process for Northlands WORST DECISION BY WHISTLER COUNCIL IN 2025 1. Winter garbage bin closure 2. Increasing taxes 8.25 per cent 3. RMOW staff compensation continues to rise

WHISTLER ANIMALS GALORE

34 DECEMBER 26, 2025

BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF 2025 1. Spruce budworm infestation continues to turn trees red 2. Repeated reports of cougar encounters 3. Stinky’s on the Stroll sells to new owners

Owned

locally

Operat ed

Find the best customer service in Whistler here! We love what we do, and we love serving the Whistler community! As a locally owned grocery store that’s been part of the Whistler family since 1988, winning this award means the world to us—especially because it was voted for by you. We are also stoked to be recognised as your second Best Grocery Store! Thank you so much, Whistler! We’re so grateful to be your neighbourhood grocer. BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 BEST GROCERY STORE 2023, 2024

CREEKSIDE VILLAGE 604.938.9301

@whistlercreeksidemarket /CreeksideMarket

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RESTAURANTS AND CAFES THE BEST OF RESORT CASUAL: 21 STEPS “We tried to take one dish off the menu once,” recalled co-owner Allie Warner. “We got letters written to our chef. It was a riot.” That consistency, along with the generous portions, middle-ground pricing and famously flexible walk-in policy, have once again earned 21 Steps the title of Whistler’s favourite casual dining venue. It’s a repeat win, and for Allie and Johnny Warner, it’s still a thrill. “It’s super special being a locally owned and operated business,” Allie said. “It means a lot that the town supports us as much as they do.” The couple partnered with the restaurant’s original owners six years ago, but they’ve been fixtures at the restaurant for far longer—Johnny for 18 years, Allie for 13. Together, they’ve upheld the restaurant’s core promise: affordable, reliable food that keeps locals and visitors coming back. “There are a number of items that have essentially been the same since

origin. They’re house staples,” Johnny said. “Honestly, if we tried to take them off, there would be a revolt.” It’s not just about the garlic chili prawns or goat cheese starters. It’s about having somewhere to land after a travel day, no booking required. “We take reservations for about twothirds of the dining room,” Johnny explained. “But we know people don’t always plan that far in advance, especially locals. So we guarantee walkin space. Even on Christmas Eve, you can walk in and get a table.” That accessibility feeds a steady stream of word-of-mouth customers; from concierges, ski instructors, and even strangers met on the lift. “It feels like a secret,” said Allie. “If we only took people that booked in advance, it’d only be people who already knew us. Walk-ins let new people discover us.” And inside? A restaurant where staff stay for years, owners still work the floor, and regulars know what they want before they sit down. “We want our staff to stay happy and enjoy coming to work,” Allie said. “We just want to keep it consistent.”

BEST COFFEE 1. Forecast Coffee 2. Mount Currie Coffee Co. 3. Provisions

BEST FINE DINING 1. Rimrock Café 2. Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar 3. Il Caminetto

BEST BREAKFAST 1. Wildwood 2. Lorette Brasserie 3. Alpine Café

BEST DESSERT 1. Rimrock Café 2. Purebread Bakery 3. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar

BEST HOT CHOCOLATE 1. Blenz Coffee 2. Portobello 3. Moguls Coffee House

BEST WINE LIST 1. Rimrock Café 2. Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar 3. Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar

BEST LUNCH 1. Samurai Sushi 2. Hunter Gather 3. Provisions/Samurai Bowl (tie)

BEST BURGER 1. Splitz Grill 2. Caramba 3. RMU Whistler

FAVOURITE TAKEOUT 1. Samurai Sushi 2. Samurai Bowl 3. Barn Nork

BEST PIZZA 1. Functional Pie 2. Handlebar 3. Creekbread

BEST CASUAL DINING 1. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar 2. Caramba 3. Pasta Lupino

BEST STEAK 1. Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar 2. Sidecut 3. Rimrock Café

- Luke Faulks

VOTED BEST PIZZA IN WHISTLER 6YEARS IN A ROW! We could not be more thankful for all your AMAZING SUPPORT

2025

From our Functional Family to yours... Have a very wonderful holiday season as we wrap up this year together All the best to you in 2026!

www.functionalpie.ca • 604-962-3141 36 DECEMBER 26, 2025

2025

Thank you Whistler for voting us BEST APRES & BEST NACHOS

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BEST SUSHI 1. Sushi Village 2. Nagomi Sushi 3. Sachi Sushi BEST HEALTHY MEAL 1. The Green Moustache 2. Naked Sprout Café 3. Samurai Bowl BEST OFF-SEASON DEAL 1. Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar 2. Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar/ Rimrock Café (tie) 3. Il Caminetto

A FITTING FAMILY TRIBUTE: LORETTE BRASSERIE

LORETTE BRASSERIE

Thank You for voting us: 1st Best Burger!

38 DECEMBER 26, 2025

For veteran restaurateurs Jay and James Paré, Lorette Brasserie wasn’t just a new venture—it was a family tribute. “With Caramba, we paid homage to Mario [Enro]. With Quattro, we paid homage to Antonio [Corsi]. And then it was time to pay homage to our moms,” Jay said. “So we created Lorette.” Opened in spring 2025 in the former Elements space, Lorette takes its name from Jay’s mother and James’ grandmother, Loretta, as well as James’ late mother Lorraine. But while the name

2025

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

is rooted in family, the concept is rooted in culinary precision, nostalgia, and elegance. “There’s lots of bistros in town,” James explained, “but nothing doing the classics Parisian-style, with that bit of Quebec influence. That speaks to our heritage and experience.” Their chef, originally from Montreal, brought further authenticity to the project and helped drive the brasserie’s vision forward. Lorette’s menu showcases a rotating mix of brasserie classics (think foie gras, steak frites, duck confit) and West-Coast seasonality. There’s a brunch program and full dinner service, with “chef-driven food, great service, a relaxed atmosphere, and people having a good time when they come into our living room,” James said. That living room, of course, is unrecognizable from the space’s Elements days. “Everyone’s loving what we did to the room,” Jay said. “They

don’t even recognize it as Elements anymore. [It] was a complete rebuild.” It’s the first time the pair have gutted a space entirely—Caramba and Quattro both retained core structures—but Lorette gave them the chance to build a room from scratch, a blend of warm brasserie styling with a Whistler feel. “We’ve only really gone through shoulder seasons and one summer,” James added. “But it’s been phenomenal. We’re just excited for our first full winter season.” The honour of being recognized by locals hasn’t gone unnoticed. “For us, it’s just about people knowing where we are and wanting to come,” James said. “It’s kind of one of those destinations within the village… and it’s starting to make some traction now. Breakfast is back on board. Dinner’s rolling. We’re loving it.” - Luke Faulks

BARS, PUBS AND CLUBS

If you’re looking for a quality cocktail or two in a place that makes you really feel like you’re in Whistler, look no further than the Raven Room. Since opening its doors in January 2019, the Raven Room has established itself as one of the Sea to Sky area’s most distinctive cocktail bars. Located in the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, it offers a seasonally rotating menu for summer, winter and fall, as well as pop-up events for Halloween and Christmas. According to its website, the name originates from the fact that ravens often pair up—much like the Woodnutt and Redmond couples who co-founded the place. Owner Brandi Woodnutt is pleased that the Raven Room was named Whistler’s favourite cocktail bar, saying: “Obviously we’re pretty excited. We opened the Raven Room with the intention of good cocktails in mind … so it’s great that what we brought to the table is being recognized and that the people of Whistler are loving it just as much as we do. I think that our team has

BEST BEER SELECTION Coast Mountain Brewing - Thanks for voting!

Located in Function Junction • coastmountainbrewing.com •

40 DECEMBER 26, 2025

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

YEARS IN A ROW!

THE RAVEN ROOM: ‘A RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL BOATS’

coastmountainbeer

a blast when we actually get to execute a full menu from beginning to end. “We have a really talented team of bartenders who have a lot of fun in creating and coming up with the menu, so we try and stick to a framework that works for us and pump out some interesting things. Usually you’re going a lot brighter, more floral, more fun [in summer] to deeper and richer [in winter]. I don’t think we’ve broken any moulds or started with anything that’s been too crazy, but every season we do something completely different.” Woodnutt and her staff strive to be community-focused, always investing in relationships with those they encounter— be they guests or even other bars. “We do a lot of education within our space. We try and invite all the other restaurants to join along,” she said. “We try and get people up here that speak to certain spirits and the liquor industry as a whole, so that we can all learn together. My husband’s favourite quote is: ‘a rising tide floats all boats’ and that’s how we feel. If everyone’s doing better together, we’re all just executing better as a whole and everyone in town is having a better experience.” - David Song

BEST APRÈS 1. Dusty’s Bar & BBQ 2. Dubh Linn Gate 3. Merlin’s Bar and Grill

BEST WINGS 1. Crystal Lounge 2. Roland’s Creekside Pub 3. Dusty’s Bar & BBQ

BEST NACHOS 1. Dusty’s Bar & BBQ 2. Dubh Linn Gate 3. Merlin’s Bar and Grill

BEST BAR/PUB 1. Dubh Linn Gate 2. Roland’s Creekside Pub 3. Stinky’s on the Stroll

2025

Favourite Fitness Activity Provider 604-935-PLAY (7529) RMOWRecreation

Justa Jeskova

Thank you, Whistler, for voting us your

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BEST PATIO 1. Table 19 2. Beacon Pub & Eatery 3. Dusty’s Bar & BBQ BEST COCKTAIL 1. The Raven Room 2. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar 3. Bar Oso BEST MOCKTAIL 1. The Raven Room 2. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar 3. Mekong BEST BEER SELECTION 1. Coast Mountain Brewing 2. Dubh Linn Gate 3. Handlebar

THE RAVEN ROOM

FAVOURITE LOCALS’ HANGOUT 1. Stinky’s on the Stroll 2. Roland’s Creekside Pub 3. Alpine Café

THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST SKI SHOP IN WHISTLER! 4433 Sundial Place, Unit #6 Whistler, B.C. BC V8E 1G7, Canada (604) 938-9455 • info@fanatykco.com 42 DECEMBER 26, 2025

2025

Whistler’s locally owned & independent ski & mountain bike store in Whistler, British Columbia.

Thank You WHISTLER

We are deeply honoured to be recognized by the Whistler community as the Best Hotel in Whistler. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued guests for their continued support and for choosing Fairmont Chateau

FAIRMONT.COM/WHISTLER

MICHELIN 2025

P: MITCH WINTON

Whistler as their home away from home.

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

ARTS, MEDIA AND CULTURE THE HAIRFARMERS: ‘AN HONOUR WE NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED’

Most Sea to Sky denizens will not be surprised to learn the Hairfarmers have again been voted Whistler’s favourite band. “Grateful” Greg Reamsbottom and “Guitar” Doug Craig are local legends, after all. Their touring schedule is nearly unmatched, encompassing somewhere in the ballpark of 200 shows each year. However, this number pales when compared to the size of their repertoire: a rotation of more than 2,500 songs with one added each week during winter months based on what audiences are craving. Some artists excel at quantity, others at quality, but the Hairfarmers do both. Most people who listen to Craig play guitar never forget how it made them feel, while Reamsbottom wields two conga drums and a tambourine with the effortless skill of a virtuoso. “It’s an honour we never take for granted,” said Reamsbottom about

RESERVATIONS

topping the Best of Whistler contest once more. “We’re very blessed to be able to live here and have a ‘job’ that we love. It’s also very validating to know that our fans appreciate our efforts and value the connection we’ve made with them enough to give us their vote. “We’re always adding to our repertoire whether it be new, current songs or older songs that we haven’t played before. This keeps things fresh for both us and our audience as many people come to see us multiple times per week. Other than that, we’re doing our best to stay healthy and rested while maintaining a good work-life balance. This is crucial for us during the crazy busy winter season. Our schedule is intense and we always strive to match the high energy of our audience with a high-energy performance.” The Hairfarmers commemorated their 25th anniversary last year and show no signs of slowing down. Whenever they’re not spending time with loved ones or out in nature, they’re pondering how to improve their next concert or how to expand their musical toolbox. - David Song

LOCALLY OWNED

THE HAIRFARMERS FAVOURITE ARTIST/ ARTISAN 1. Andrea Mueller 2. Kate Zessel 3. Dave Petko/Vanessa Stark

FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHER 1. Logan Swayze 2. Joern Rohde 3. Blake Jorgenson/Rob Perry (tie)

FAVOURITE MAJOR ART SHOW 1. Anonymous Art Show 2. Teeny Tiny Art Show 3. Revitalized exhibitions are the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

FAVOURITE FILMMAKER 1. Mike Douglas 2. John Burke 3. Izzie Larter

FAVOURITE ARTS AND CULTURE EVENT, FESTIVAL OR SERIES 1. Crankworx 2. Whistler Summer Concert Series 3. Art on the Lake

QUALITY CRAFTED

FAVOURITE MUSIC ARTIST/BAND 1. The Hairfarmers 2. Brother Twang 3. Ruckus Deluxe

1st Place BEST CASUAL DINING 2nd Place

MODERN COMFORT FOOD

BEST COCKTAIL

ELEVATED DINING

BEST MOCKTAIL

WALK INS WELCOME (604) 966 2121 21STEPS.CA

44 DECEMBER 26, 2025

KITCHEN OPEN LATE

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE 3rd Place BEST DESSERT

• Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) • Lil'wat Nation • Squamish Nation • Squamish Legion • Royal Canadian Legion • Pearl Space • Provide affordable employee housing for our staff • Provide company funded beneﬁts for our staff • Divert over 3000lbs of cannabis packaging from landﬁlls with our self-funded recycling program, in partnership with Eco-Action Recycling • Provide award winning customer service to Whistler locals and visitors

2025

A Little Bud would like to wholeheartedly thank the readers of Pique Magazine for voting us Whistlers Best Cannabis Store 2025. By supporting A Little Bud, you’ve helped us Donate over $25,000 to:

From all of us here at A Little Bud, we thank the Whistler community and want to wish everyone a

Very Merry Christmas!

1-1050 Millar Creek Road Whistler, British Columbia V8E 0S5 • 604-962-1990

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SPORTS AND RECREATION MARIELLE THOMPSON: GROUNDED GREATNESS

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE

A perennial presence in the top three of each year’s Pique Newsmagazine Best of Whistler voting, Marielle Thompson has finally risen to Spot No. 1. It’s not difficult to understand why. Thompson is already known as one of the greatest female athletes to ever grace her sport of ski cross. As of this writing she’s earned 73 World Cup medals, 36 of them gold. Four times she proved to be the most consistent racer on the circuit all year long, with a Crystal Globe to show for each of those remarkable seasons. The Whistlerite also knows how to excel when it matters most, as demonstrated by her Olympic title in 2014, Olympic silver from 2022 and three World Championship podiums. She’s only 33 with potentially a few more years of elite racing left in the tank, but when informed of how the vote turned out she was humble. “Wow, how exciting!” Thompson said. “Thank you, Whistler, for voting

for me as [your] favourite winter athlete. There are so many awesome athletes to pick from that it really means a lot. See you on the slopes!” Ask any of her friends, loved ones or teammates and they’ll probably speak of Thompson’s grounded nature. She isn’t a diva, she isn’t high-maintenance and she doesn’t necessarily talk a big game. What she brings instead to her field is an unflappable calmness and poise that empowers her to maximize the eyeopening talent she’s been blessed with. Adversity has struck multiple times, but it hasn’t held Thompson down. She competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics just four or so months removed from tearing her ACL and MCL, then battled through a series of smaller injuries in 2023-24 to lock up her most recent Crystal Globe. Her knee gave out again in February of this year, but she’s already back on snow and gunning for a berth at Milano Cortina 2026. Barring something unexpected, Thompson will be one of the greatest challengers to incumbent Olympic gold medallist Sandra Naeslund’s reign. - David Song

We are very grateful to be named as best patio and best golf course in Whistler! T19 IS OPEN ALL WINTER FROM 3PM WITH INCREDIBLE HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS FROM 3PM TO 5PM DAILY.

HALF PRICE PIZZAS

$8 20 oz Pints $9 Wines by the Glass Cocktail and Non-Alcoholic Specials

2025

VOTED ‘BEST PATIO’ AND ‘BEST GOLF COURSE’ IN WHISTLER!

46 DECEMBER 26, 2025

WHISTLER

2025

Thank you to everyone who voted for us and to the Whistler community for this honour. Being named Best Grocery Store in Whistler 2025 means a lot to the Nesters Market team. This award really belongs to our incredible staff. We’re extremely proud of the folks who keep the shelves full, the lines moving, and somehow still smile when someone asks where the milk is… while standing right beside it. Most of all, thank you to our customers. Your support, loyalty, and patience during busy days make it all worthwhile. We’re proud to be your neighbourhood grocery store and we promise to keep doing what we do best—taking good care of you, our Whistler local. Thank you Bruce and the Nesters Team

Nesters Market 604.932.3545 Pharmacy 604.905.0429

nestersmarket.com

7019 Nesters Road

(Just 1 km north of Whistler Village)

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FAVOURITE WINTER ATHLETE 1. Marielle Thompson 2. Marcus Goguen 3. Truth Smith FAVOURITE SUMMER ATHLETE 1. Jesse Melamed 2. Georgia Astle 3. Jackson Goldstone FAVOURITE JUNIOR ATHLETE 1. Rafe Hudson 2. Carter Durlacher 3. Owen White FAVOURITE PARK 1. Rainbow Park 2. Lost Lake 3. Alpha Lake Park FAVOURITE SKI RUN ON WHISTLER OR BLACKCOMB 1. Peak to Creek 2. Ridge Runner 3. Dave Murray

FAVOURITE SLACKCOUNTRY RUN/AREA 1. Million Dollar Ridge 2. Khyber’s 3. Flute Backside

BUSINESS SERVICES

FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE 1. Nicklaus North 2. Whistler Golf Club 3. Fairmont Chateau

FANATYK CO: ‘THANKS TO ALL OUR GREAT STAFF’

FAVOURITE BIKE TRAIL 1. Flashback 2. Lost Lake 3. Tin Pants FAVOURITE ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATOR 1. Canadian Wilderness Adventures 2. Ziptrek Ecotours 3. Whistler Bungee FAVOURITE KIDS’ CAMP 1. Axis Adventure Camps 2. Combo Camps 3. Kids on the Go

When it comes to Pique’s Best of Whistler poll, “Favourite Ski Shop” might be one of the toughest categories to win. Skiing is the main reason Whistler exists in the first place, and these days there’s virtually an embarrassment of riches to choose from if you’re on the hunt for new winter equipment. Fanatyk Co. ended up second in 2024’s voting, but this year its staff are in high spirits to officially be known as Whistler’s most popular ski shop. “It’s really awesome that the community chose us because there are so many great options out there,” said store manager Patrick Duval. “Basically it’s thanks to all our great staff that show up every day and do a wicked job at getting people sorted out with new ski gear. We’re super fortunate to have longterm staff, as well as the owners working in our store all the time.

“Two of the owners, [Scott Humby and Kevan Kobayashi] actually work as boot fitters so they probably have some of the most experience in town. [Our third owner] Bruce Pegram is not in the store as much, but he’s keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.” While it also operates as a bike shop during summer months, Fanatyk Co. currently offers custom boot fitting by appointment which can be booked online. A solid array of demo skis give customers the ability to try on various pairs before settling on one that fits their needs. Duval has been employed at Fanatyk Co. for nearly 20 years and he’s learned that boot fitting is a major part of the ski shop industry. He lauds his staff for their friendliness and attention to detail in that particular aspect of their job. Fanatyk’s boot prices include fitting sessions and one-on-one, professional service. “We just really appreciate the support [from our community] and let’s keep the good times rolling,” Duval said. - David Song

CONGRATS ERICA!

The Whistler Real Estate Company would like to extend a big congratulations to Erica Lawson for being voted Whistler’s Favourite Realtor in the Best of Whistler 2025 Awards!

You local guides to extraordinary living. Erica Lawson

whistlerrealestate.ca 604 932 5538

Whistler Property Sisters Team

604.966.7181 | erica@wrec.com

A first place finish in the Best of Whistler!

48 DECEMBER 26, 2025

Voted the best transportation company between Vancouver and Whistler Direct Service between Whistler and Vancouver Washrooms are now available on board Providing dependable, on-time service you can trust

2025

Multi Passes for frequent travelers with round trips as low as $25

Office hours: 9am-7:30pm 7 days a week

604-349-1234 • EpicRides.ca

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BEST NEW BUSINESS IN 2025 1. Lorette Brasserie 2. Mt. Waddington Outdoors 3. Meadow Café BEST SKI SHOP 1. Fanatyk Co. 2. evo 3. Comor Sports BEST SNOWBOARD SHOP 1. The Circle 2. Showcase 3. Evolution Whistler BEST BIKE SHOP 1. Coastal Culture 2. Fanatyk Co. 3. Arbutus Routes

FANATYK CO.

BEST USED, VINTAGE AND CONSIGNMENT CLOTHING STORE 1. Re-Use-It Centre 2. Deja Vogue 3. The Velvet Underground

We are so grateful for your support and can't wait to keep serving you!

We are absolutely thrilled and honoured 2nd place for Best Casual Dining and 2nd place for Best Burger!

4314 Main Street

Thank you for embracing Lorette brasserie in its first year and voting us Best New Business.

604 • 938 • 1879 www.carambarestaurant.com 4359 Main Street

50 DECEMBER 26, 2025

604 • 962 • 1808

www.lorettebrasserie.com

THANK YOU WHISTLER FOR

40 YEARS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT! Thank you for being part of the Rimrock Family, the support of the community means the world to us. It’s Rimrock’s 40th anniversary in 2026, and we’re collecting stories from the people who’ve been part of its journey — staff, guests, friends, locals, families, everyone. If you have a memory, a favourite dish, a funny story, or a photo that captures what Rimrock means to you… we’d love to hear it.

SCAN TO SHARE YOUR RIMROCK STORY

RIMROCKCAFE.COM

2117 WHISTLER ROAD

604.932.5565

@RIMROCKCAFE.WHISTLER

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Thank You, Whistler!

We are honoured to be voted Whistlers best Physiotherapy/ Acupuncture Clinic for the 9th year in a row . Being recognized by our local community—especially y ear after year—means a great deal to our entire team. Living and playing in a mountain town comes with incredible rewards, and sometimes a few aches and injuries along the way. Our passionate team is proud to help Whistler locals stay active, prevent injuries, and get Back in Action when recovery is needed. Keeping this community moving—on snow, dirt, and trails—is what we do best.

Call, email or book online 604- 962-0555

www.backinactionphysiotherapy.com

‘we keep you playing’

THANK YOU WHISTLER Thanks to my valued clients and industry partners for your trust, collaboration, and for voting me Best Mortgage Broker in the 2025 Pique Readers’ Choice Awards.

BEST CLOTHING STORE 1. the beach 2. The Circle 3. Lululemon

BEST CANNABIS STORE 1. A Little Bud 2. The Nest 3. Spiritleaf

BEST JEWELRY STORE 1. Keir Fine Jewellery 2. Ruby Tuesday 3. 3 singing birds

FAVOURITE LIQUOR STORE 1. Nesters Liquor Store 2. Marketplace BC Liquor 3. Creekside BC Liquor

BEST STORE FOR GIFTS 1. 3 singing birds 2. Get the Goods/Whistler Kitchen Works (tie) 3. SLCC /Audain Art Museum (tie)

BEST GROCERY STORE 1. Nesters Market 2. Creekside Market 3. Fresh St. Market

said. “It starts with the hiring. We really try to get to know who they are… if we feel like they have that family value—the integrity, the pride, the honesty—then they fit our mould. Our family also is an extension of the community.” Stewart describes Nesters as a place Bruce Stewart has managed Whistler’s Nesters Market since 1997, but don’t “where people meet and hang out and expect him to take much credit for Nesters catch up and bump into each other.” being voted Pique’s “Favourite Grocery That vision is reinforced through partnerships with everyone from the Store” in 2025. “We’re very, very excited to win Whistler Community Foundation to the that,” Stewart said. “It shows that our local girls’ skateboard camp, to the food bank. A recent community fundraiser customers trust us again and think we do for the Paguia Portillo family, who our best for them.” That “again” carries some weight. were in a serious car accident, brought Nesters won this category for years, in thousands. before a transition to a new head office The market also tries to stock locally briefly shook up operations. and Canadian-sourced produce as much “We lost the award for two years in a as possible. row,” Stewart said. “It really highlights “Customers really care about what my staff have done this past year Canadian products. We’re getting onions to bring that back—that sense of how from Alberta instead of California now, great our store was and is again. I really and we’ve still got root vegetables from give them the kudos to bring that back Pemberton,” Stewart said. “People will let together for us.” us know when we miss the mark. [Local Today, with a staff of 85, Nesters has sourcing] is something our customers reasserted its role as a community hub really care about these days, and we for locals and visitors alike. work hard to meet our customers where “I think the main key things are our they’re at.” service levels. Our staff are excellent - Luke Faulks around working with customers,” Stewart

WHISTLER’S FAVOURITE GROCERY STORE NESTERS

Here’s to an amazing 2026!

JENNIFER BROPHY - MORTGAGE SPECIALIST DIAMOND AWARD WINNER - TOP 5% DLC BROKER SEA TO SKY MORTGAGE TEAM JENNIFERBROPHY.CA 604.905.9790

52 DECEMBER 26, 2025

NESTERS MARKET

Thank You

FOR VOTING US WHISTLER’S BEST SALON! 2025

We are truly grateful for all your ongoing support.

2025

H A I R LOU NGE

We are thrilled to have been recognized as Whistler’s Favourite Optometrists in the Pique’s “Best of Whistler” awards. Here at FYidoctors Whistler we feel so fortunate to work with Dr. Shea Colpitts and Dr. Cindy Wagner, two caring and knowledgeable optometrists who are committed to providing exceptional patient care. We are so thankful for the community’s support and look forward to SEEING you all in 2026!

Call us at 604-932-2600 or go online at fyidoctors.com to schedule your next eye exam

FYidoctors Whistler - Doctors of Optometry 213-4368 Main Street DECEMBER 26, 2025

2025

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

Thanks to all our staff & customers!

Open for Breakfast & Lunch Every Day from 8am-3pm Voted Best Breakfast in Whistler

Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 3:30pm-7:30pm for Dinner with our BBQ Menu 4-1085 Millar Creek Road • (604) 905-5066 • See our menu at wildwoodcafe.ca

KEEPING IT REAL: ERICA LAWSON, FAVOURITE REALTOR

It’s a competitive town for real estate and for realtors. So when Whistler locals vote someone their favourite realtor, it carries weight. For Erica Lawson, this year’s winner, the recognition was deeply meaningful. “Honestly, it’s massive to me,” she said. “I’ve been a member of the community for a long time, and it’s so special to be voted [in].” Lawson co-runs Whistler Property Sisters alongside her sibling, Hillary. While their styles may differ, Erica says the partnership works because they share a commitment to Whistler and its residents. “She’s really involved with community in other ways too. [Both] of us are really community focused. We really bounce ideas off each other a lot and support each other,” she said That sense of community is also what drew Lawson to Whistler in the first place. Originally from Ontario, she arrived at 18 and quickly fell for the valley’s mix of wilderness and belonging. She later studied business at BCIT and cut her teeth at BlueShore Financial before pivoting fully into real estate, where her reputation for honesty, responsiveness and no-nonsense advice quickly earned

her a loyal client base. That approach has only grown more valuable as the market shifts. “Right now we’re advising buyers there is a lot more negotiating happening,” she explained. “We’re looking at the trends of the last three to six months, not so much the trends over the last year, because it’s changing so much, so fast.” For sellers, she emphasizes pricing strategy: “Doing the market research and pricing homes correctly the first time is a key part in the success of selling their home.” She also understands first-hand why families make sacrifices to live in Whistler. “Even on a rainy day, you can go for a hike and get away from it,” she said. “It’s such a healthy community that encourages kids to get outside and [do] some activities in the fresh air.” With two children of her own now growing up in the valley, Lawson’s connection to the place has only deepened. “So many people want to be here, but it is extremely hard to buy real estate here,” she acknowledged. “For a lot of families, [they] are settling on a smaller home or a home that makes sense to them because they want to live in this community.” Asked what buyers should look for in a realtor, her advice is simple: “Someone that’s honest and gets back to you quickly, that’s big in real estate.” - Luke Faulks

Raised by Mountains... Igniting Memories

2025

Thank you for voting Keir Fine Jewellery as Whistler’s

BEST JEWELLERY STORE keir nejewellery.com

Whistler Village Stroll

54 DECEMBER 26, 2025

/keir nejewellery

@keirjewellery

ERICA LAWSON

2025 Rainbow Electric has taken over operations for Spark Electrical and look forward to welcoming their clients!! Proudly Serving from Whistler to D’Arcy 5-1040 Millar Creek Rd., Whistler, BC V8E 0S4

Phone Main: 604-932-3813

Long standing local staff

Email info@rainbowelectric.ca DECEMBER 26, 2025

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

FAIRMONT CHATEAU FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER: ‘MAKE SPECIAL HAPPEN’ From all of us at Creekside Dental, thank you to the Whistler community and our wonderful patients for once again voting us Best Dental Practice for the Pique’s Best of Whistler 2025.Your trust and continued support mean the world to us, and we are truly grateful to be part of such a caring and close-knit community. As the holiday season approaches, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, filled with warmth, joy, and good health. Thank you for allowing us to care for your smiles—we look forward to serving you in the years ahead! Sincerely

Happy Holidays

ide Dental! from all of us at Creeks

2025

Dr. Truong and the Creekside Dental Team

317-2063 LAKE PLACID ROAD in Franz’s Trail beside Creekside Market

PH: 604 938 1550 • www.creeksidedentalwhistler.com

56 DECEMBER 26, 2025

Any self-respecting resort town will have plenty of hotels to choose from. Tourists possessing the appropriate budget can stay in all kinds of swanky, upscale places, but only one can earn the honour of becoming Whistler’s favourite: and the Fairmont has done just that six years in a row. Ken Hall, Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s general manager, is pleased to hear the news. “We are truly appreciative of this recognition from Pique readers,” he said. “Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s goal is to be the heart of the destination, not only for visitors from around the world but also for Whistler and B.C. residents. We strive to create an inclusive resort where everyone feels welcome. “Our hope is that local and B.C. residents see the Chateau as part of their Whistler lifestyle—whether it’s enjoying local events, relaxing in the Mallard Lounge, dining in our restaurants, teeing off at our golf course or unwinding at the spa. We are very pleased that we continue to be in the hearts and minds of locals.” This year proved to be full of new initiatives, achievements and memories for Hall and his staff. Early months were defined by abundant snowfall and a number of flagship events: the Mexico Ski Cup, an International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference and of course the Invictus Games. Summer saw one of the largest U.S. incentive programs

in Fairmont Whistler history: a success made possible by local partners who helped facilitate curated activities, dining and mountain-top attractions. The hotel also launched its new “Make Special Happen” campaign, which included two days of service culture training for 780 colleagues and helped produce Fairmont Whistler’s highest guest satisfaction and employee engagement scores ever. Moreover, hotel leadership is continually seeking to bolster relationships with organizations like the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and Audain Art Museum. As a result, the Fairmont earned this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Resort in Canada and two Michelin Keys. “Fairmont Chateau Whistler has a really great location, right in the upper village with ski-in/ski-out access to Blackcomb Mountain. Guests can wake up and be on the slopes within minutes,” Hall remarked. “Our 519 rooms and suites, including the Fairmont Gold Experience with its private lounge and personalized concierge service, give guests a lot of options depending on what kind of stay they’re looking for. “Amenities matter too: our pools, hot tubs, outdoor saunas, spa, restaurants, and beautiful golf course all add to the experience. More than the design and features of the resort, it’s really about the talent and experience of our team that sets us apart. Every day we strive to create lasting memories for our guests, and to make special happen during every stay.” - David Song

CONGRATS AMBER! A third place finish in the Best of Whistler!

The Whistler Real Estate Company would like to extend a big congratulations to Amber Mann for being voted one of Whistler’s Favourite Realtors in the Best of Whistler 2025 Awards!

whistlerrealestate.ca 604 932 5538

604.902.1321 | amber@ambermann.ca

Thanks for voting LCP for the third consecutive year as

THE BEST PLUMBERS IN WHISTLER!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at Lee Carter Plumbing Ltd!

2025

We value the continued loyalty of our wonderful customers and the hard work of all our exceptional employees.

Lee Carter Plumbing Ltd.

Web: www.lcplumbing.ca • Tel: 604 698 8665 Email: info@lcplumbing.ca DECEMBER 26, 2025

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

BEST REALTOR 1. Erica Lawson 2. Carmyn Marcano 3. Amber Mann FAVOURITE HOTEL 1. Fairmont Chateau 2. The Westin Resort & Spa 3. Four Seasons Resort BEST MORTGAGE PROVIDER 1. Jennifer Brophy 2. Eileen Craig 3. Karen Garrett BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY 1. WRM 2. Outpost/Whistler Platinum (tie) 3. Whistler Premier BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY 1. Pika Landscapes 2. Heike Designs 3. High Country Landscaping

BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 1. TM Builders 2. RDC Fine Homes/CVC Custom Builders (tie) 3. Gavan Construction Company

BEST TRANSPORTATION TO VANCOUVER 1. Epic Rides 2. YVR Skylynx 3. Whistler Connection

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE 1. Creekside Market 2. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar 3. Functional Pie

BEST ELECTRICIAN 1. Rainbow Electric Ltd. 2. Green Lake Electric 3. West Electric BEST PLUMBING COMPANY 1. Lee Carter Plumbing 2. Spearhead Plumbing & Heating 3. 220 Plumbing BEST RESTORATION COMPANY 1. Walsh Restoration 2. Ascent Property Renewal & Restoration 3. On Side Restoration BEST AUTO MECHANIC SERVICE 1. Barney’s Automotive 2. SMD Automotive 3. Whistler Automotive

WHISTLER 360 FILE PHOTO

58 DECEMBER 26, 2025

forecast as whistlers best coffee shop

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

Voted Whistlers Best Coffee Shop

building community around coffee

in british columbia

2025

THANK YOU! The Re-Use-It Centre is honoured to be voted your Best Used Clothing Store!

604-932-1121

mywcss.org

reuseit@mywcss.org

DECEMBER 26, 2025

T H E B E ST O F W H I ST L E R 2 0 2 5

HEALTH AND FITNESS MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE: SERVING THE COMMUNITY

Thank you

for voting us the BEST KIDS CAMP FOR 2025! 2026 registrations open in January 604-907-2947 • www.axisadventurecamps.com

More than 530,000 people and counting have walked through the doors of Meadow Park Sports Centre this year at one point or another. These numbers don’t take December into account, but they do start to paint a picture of how widely used the facility is. Meadow Park was voted Whistler’s favourite fitness provider yet again despite competition from other local gyms, clubs and organizations. It’s got lots of bells and whistles that attract heavy perennial visitation: an ice rink, swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness centre, squash courts and more. Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) manager of recreation Roger Weetman said: “Meadow Park Sports Centre is a real place of connection for the community. You’ll see people from all walks of life, all types of users—whether that’s someone who’s just coming in for the first time, or other people training for a high-performance sport. We’ve definitely seen an uptick in growth, particularly since COVID. Our staff are very good at trying to maximize every inch of space and use every minute of time available in the fitness studio to try and meet that community demand.”

FAVOURITE FITNESS ACTIVITY PROVIDER 1. Meadow Park Sports Centre 2. Altitude Fitness 3. Whistler Racket Club FAVOURITE MEDICAL PRACTICE 1. Whistler 360 Health 2. Creekside Health 3. Whistler Health Care Centre

Get noticed! • Social • Google • Websites

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• Sponsored content

Glacier Media Digital experts help businesses succeed online. Contact your Sales representative at Pique Newsmagazine today for a free digital audit

604-938-0202 sales@piquenewsmagazine.com

60 DECEMBER 26, 2025

FAVOURITE CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE 1. Creekside Health 2. Whistler Chiropractic Clinic 3. Whistler Wellness FAVOURITE PHYSIOTHERAPY/ ACUPUNCTURE PROVIDER 1. Back in Action 2. Peak Performance 3. The Movement Lab FAVOURITE HAIR SALON/ BARBERSHOP 1. Mountain Chic Hair Lounge 2. Elevation Hair Studio 3. Süco’s Hair Salon FAVOURITE MASSAGE SERVICE/SPA 1. The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge

A quartet of new group programs made their debut in 2025. Fit 4 Life is a low-impact class meant to help improve functional strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Youth interested in learning the basics of strength and conditioning now have their own Lift Club, while a separate Girls’ Strength Club helps young women with overall athletic development. Last but not least, Stride Forward is a rehabilitation program for users with lower limb injuries. Approximately 10,770 people checked into a total of 1,136 fitness classes this year, to go along with 7,162 skate rentals and 943 participants in swimming lessons. “I’m extremely fortunate to have such knowledgeable and passionate staff that work together so cohesively,” remarked Weetman. “You’ll often hear water cooler conversations like, ‘I was thinking about this class and that class.’ The culture is very much one of serving the community and allowing for experimentation. “The diversity of staff and the perspectives they bring is imperative, and it’s actually reflective of the variety of programs we’re running … the unique classes that each of them are offering. Our people are bringing expertise and perspectives from across the country and potentially all over the world.” - David Song

2. Scandinave Spa 3. Peak Performance FAVOURITE DENTAL PRACTICE 1. Creekside Dental 2. Whistler Dental 3. Alpenglow Dental FAVOURITE OPTOMETRIST 1. FYiDoctors 2. Bailey Nelson FAVOURITE AESTHETIC/ DERMATOLOGIST SERVICE 1. Kiki’s Beauty Bar 2. Whistler Medical Aesthetics/The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge (tie) 3. Be Beauty Laser & Esthetics FAVOURITE ESTHETICS PROVIDER 1. The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge 2. Soles Nail Lounge & Footwear 3. Kiki’s Beauty Bar FAVOURITE TATTOO PARLOUR 1. Black Ohm Tattoos 2. Death Proof Tattoo and Barber 3. Whistler Tattoo Company/Pokieheart Piercing and Tattoo (tie)

Thank you, Whistler! I’m deeply honoured to be voted 2nd Place

2025

Best Realtor.

Carmyn Marcano | Whistler Realtor Real Estate Advisor Hello@CarmynMarcano.com CarmynMarcano.com 604-719-7646

SPORTS THE SCORE

Anthill Films presents new Jackson Goldstone documentary THE SEARCH FOR MILLISECONDS DOCUMENTS GOLDSTONE’S 2025 SEASON, WHERE HE CLINCHED A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE WORLD CUP DOWNHILL OVERALL

BY DAVID SONG JACKSON GOLDSTONE had a 2025 to remember. Win a World Championship? Done. Tie Aaron Gwin’s record of four straight World Cup downhill triumphs (and fall 1.2 seconds short of a fifth)? You bet. Earn an overall World Cup title on Canadian soil? Roger that—and he’s just 21 years old. It wasn’t just a comeback after losing most of 2024 to a serious knee injury. It was a yearlong run of dominance that put the mountain biking world on notice, and Anthill Films has chronicled the story in their latest project: The Search for Milliseconds. Goldstone himself is well aware of how small the margins of victory can be in his sport. “It’s incredible this year, how tight the times were. I think the tightest one was my winning run in Leogang, [Austria] … 0.05 seconds apart,” he said. “Those little tenths of a second here

GOLDEN BOY Jackson Goldstone won the World Cup downhill overall in 2025, and his season is chronicled in The Search for Milliseconds by Anthill Films. PHOTO BY COLIN JONES

62 DECEMBER 26, 2025

and there—I think we did the math and it was a few inches.” Anthill raked in a Sports Emmy this June for its previous movie, Anytime, and they’re pleased to follow up with a film representing Squamish: a place both the company and Goldstone himself

there] next year. “It was an intensified, important race in terms of the moment. He just absorbed all that pressure and was able to do his run. One other thing: the legacy of who he looked up to. The late, great Stevie Smith had won there. It was quite an

“It was an intensified, important race in terms of the moment.” - COLIN JONES

grew up in. Co-founder and director of photography Colin Jones assembled his team, following the young phenom throughout his campaign from preseason testing to that final dramatic race in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. “It’s many years in the making in terms of seeing him grow, then seeing his success … and then him being plagued with injury,” remarked Jones. “[Winning in Mont-Sainte-Anne] was extra special for Jackson. Even just chatting with him about it: ‘this was the top of the top,’ he said. Outside of being Canadian, it’s such a legendary track—the longest-standing World Cup track and there isn’t [a race

important moment in his career, and it was to all of us as Canadians. Then Finn Iles did it just a few years ago. Jackson wanted to be on that list as well.”

‘A KID WHO GREW UP AND MET HIS GOALS’

The Anthill team didn’t want to present Goldstone’s exploits in Mont-SainteAnne the way most outlets would cover downhill mountain biking. Instead they wanted to bring a fresh angle, capturing the buildup and intensity of race day. That meant waking up at about 5 a.m. and heading to the top of the course, watching event staff install the start gate

and volunteers obtain their radios by daybreak’s light. In so doing, Jones and his colleagues observed the latent energy associated with a World Cup finale. Impromptu sound bites from other riders also helped contextualize the moment beyond numbers and results. It wouldn’t have materialized without the help of bike suspension manufacturer Fox Factory Holding Corp. and its race department manager Jordi Cortes. According to Jones, Cortes’ calm demeanour and wealth of experience was key for uncovering the relationships and engineering feats behind a winning season. “It’s important for the viewers to see that [Jackson’s] just a normal kid who has these dreams and ambitions,” Jones said. “Things out of your control can happen, and we wanted to—for good or bad, win or loss—have [the Mont-SainteAnne event on camera] because the story is there either way. “I think you’re going to learn a true Canadian story. You’ll learn about Jackson as a kid who grew up in the Sea to Sky corridor with those dreams. He started off in freeride but his interest went into racing, and then he just covered all his bases in terms of learning the sport. It’s a cool story of a kid who grew up and met his goals.” The Search for Milliseconds is available now on Red Bull TV. n

SPORTS THE SCORE

HOW NOW Reece Howden greets another ski-cross athlete at the World Cup race in Innichen, Italy on Dec. 21. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEPA

Reece Howden becomes all-time wins leader in men’s ski cross after Arosa gold SPORTS BRIEFS: TRUTH SMITH FINISHES SECOND AT INAUGURAL PROGRESSIVE ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN RAIL JAM

BY DAVID SONG THERE’S A NEW ALL-TIME wins king in ski cross and he’s from Chilliwack, B.C. Reece Howden ascended to his 19th World Cup victory on Dec. 16 in Arosa, Switzerland. He has officially surpassed France’s Jean-Frédéric Chapuis to become the most decorated man in his sport. Johannes Aujesky placed second for Austria and Swede David Mobaerg ended up third. Jared Schmidt was the nextmost successful Canadian man in eighth, while Nicholas Katrusiak of Whistler earned his first World Cup points of the season in 16th. “Today’s race was unreal,” said threetime Crystal Globe recipient Howden in a press release after the event. “A huge shout out to Jean-Frédéric Chapuis setting an amazing benchmark and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete with him, to take this mark and to push it higher. Felt like this has been hanging over my head for a couple of weeks now and amazing to get it done. “There a lot of the guys out here who are figuring out the start and have a lot of speed. I just tried to focus on myself, to minimize mistakes and it all worked out. I really like the fight at the start and then really explode on the back half of the course. Excited about this team: the guys are firing, the women will get it going in Innichen and stoked for the rest of the season.” Season-opening winner Courtney Hoffos paced the Maple Leaf ladies in

eighth, but went down hard during her quarterfinal matchup and was stretchered off. The extent of her injuries is unknown as of this writing. Two more locals also participated in Arosa›s night race: Tiana Gairns managed 18th and Marielle Thompson was 20th in her first World Cup since February. Gold in the women’s contest went to Sandra Naeslund of Sweden. Daniela Maier represented Germany well with silver and bronze went to home-snow favourite Fanny Smith.

SMITH SECOND AT OPEN RAIL JAM

Truth Smith hadn’t been expecting to participate in the maiden Progressive Rockstar Energy Open Rail Jam until the last minute, when organizers added him to the roster in Breckenridge, Colo. He made the most of his opportunity on Dec. 20, clinching both a secondplace result and the Nixon Best Time award. Brandon Davis triumphed among male snowboarders and Sam Anderson finished third. “I’m just [expletive] fired up to be here,” said Smith, a Rockstar Energy Open Video Qualifier Series (VQS) invitee, in a press release. “All the homies are here doing crazy stuff! We’ve been getting fired up all day and then the crowd here now is amazing.” The Whistlerite thus added to a prolific 2025 in which he also emerged victorious at The Grind Rail Jam on home snow, and joined with filmmaking crew Shmobb to earn top prize at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) Intersection movie contest. n

DECEMBER 26, 2025

FORK IN THE ROAD

Getting out of the box on Boxing Day A DAY MEANT TO SHARE WITH THE POOR HAS MORPHED INTO ALL KINDS OF SHAPES I USED TO HAVE an AppleCare specialist

in Austin, Texas, who turned into my phone pal because we talked so often. (Those were the days of some bootlegged capacitors.) He actually picked up instead of letting my call bounce to voicemail when he saw my area code light up because he liked talking with Canadians. Apparently we don’t yell like his other clients. Anyway, we got to talking about the holidays. I teased him because he was away for two weeks right before Christmas. “You Americans are so lucky, you have one big holiday from American

BY GLENDA BARTOSH Thanksgiving through to Christmas,” I said. The years I lived in the States, seemed it was a whole month of festive bingeing that started with a penultimate turkeyfest the third week of November and went through to the ultimate one Christmas Day. Mucho socializing, consumption and other excesses that seemed like a good idea at the time went on in between. I don’t know how we got any work done. In fact, now that I think of it, we didn’t. “Yeah, but you guys have Boxing Day and Family Day,” he lamented. Well, yes, but Family Day was a bone of contention for years after

OUT OF THE BOX Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season. PHOTO BY ALLCHONOK / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

64 DECEMBER 26, 2025

Alberta riled things up, like they often do, with the first Family Day in 1990. Eventually, every province got one on the third Monday in February since there was such a long drought of long weekends until Easter. (Some provinces call it Heritage Day.) Apparently a new one-day national holiday costs the Canadian economy big time. Seriously, when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was proposed estimates were that it would cost $3.6 billion in lost productivity and extra payroll. Still, we did the right thing. In China, people were outraged years back when government officials proposed doing away with the three Golden Week holidays, or at least cutting way back on them so they were more like Golden Day holidays. Previously, the national government had instituted a week for holidays around Chinese New Year, another week May 1 for Labour Day, and another week off for National Day in October. The strategy was ostensibly to give people more time to visit family. Turns out it was all just a ploy to increase consumption, something we Westerners know nothing about. (Ahem, FIFA World Cup advocates in Vancouver.) Last known estimates I could find put tourism revenue during one 2020 Golden Week in China alone at more than US$68 billion. The irony of some of this holiday reality rears its head now as most Canadians still associate Boxing Day with sales, sales and more sales, even though Black Friday and Cyber Monday are giving it a run for its money. While Boxing Day crowds were smaller in 2024 versus the previous year, Retail Insider is still predicting good things for this year. Some 8.6 million

shoppers are expected to participate online and in person in what’s called Boxing Week, with B.C. residents the most engaged, and Vancouverites 33 per cent more likely than the average Canadian to shop Boxing Week. Biggest age group overall: 35 to 49. Thing is, Boxing Day started in England as a way not of getting, but giving—to the poor and to the needy. In Edmonton, when I was growing up, boxing was the big draw Friday nights on CBC TV, the only channel we got, so we kids liked to tease each other that Boxing Day meant we got to hit each other, preferably without gloves. But parents and aunties told us no, no, no, it was called Boxing Day because in England people went round with boxes of leftovers, presumably turkey and plum pudding or trifle, to share with friends and neighbours. At the time, it

VICTORIAN BOXING DAY PUNCH Take the juice of 10 lemons and the thin rind of 3, the juice of 4 Seville oranges and the rind of 2. Cut the rinds into fine thin strips. Take 6 glasses of melted calves’ foot jelly and 2 quarts of boiling water and stir them together in a hot jug. Allow it to cool slightly. Place 1 pint of French brandy, 1 pint of white wine and a glass full of crushed sugar into the punch bowl. Lace the whole thing with Jamaican rum. Pour the melted calves’ foot jelly and water into the alcohol, and stir in the rinds and citrus juice with a stick of sweet briar, if you can find one. n

sounded authentic. But my old pal, Mark, who hailed from England, heartily denied both “sharing” angles—with the poor or with neighbours, at least during his era. He explained Boxing Day also meant giant department store sales at Harrods and the like, with one or two real bargains to lure in the crowds, and all the excess Christmas merchandise that didn’t sell marked down to get rid of it. In his grandfather’s day, Boxing Day meant the servants, chauffer and gardener had the day off after the Christmas hubbub. Leftovers were left in the icebox for the lord and master to eat, then lots of households would gather round in the morning for a hunt— essentially a pack of hounds chasing a hare and tearing it apart once they got hold of it. Sounds like a typical Boxing Day to me. In England, Mark and his family would follow the proceedings on foot or by car, taking along sandwiches and having a glass or three of the traditional punch that was served as an alcoholic breakfast. Every hunt had its own recipe, and even as a boy he would have a sip. If you haven’t had enough “punch” in your holiday season yet, here’s an interesting recipe for a Boxing Day punch from Victorian England that would fuel any hunt, even one for a bargain. Maybe you can just leave out the calves’ foot jelly. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of the holidays. It’s a long stretch to Family Day. Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who reminds you we see about half a million tonnes of wrapping paper in B.C. landfills each holiday season. n

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

FITNESS CLASS SCHEDULE DEC 27 SATURDAY

DEC 28 SUNDAY

DEC 29 MONDAY

DEC 30 TUESDAY

I Mountain Ready Conditioning 7:30-8:30 a.m. Andy

I Low Impact Strength 7:30-8:30 a.m. Andy

F Yin & Yang Yoga 9-10 a.m. Heidi

I Cardio Circuit 9-10 a.m. Andy

DEC 31 WEDNESDAY

JAN 01 THURSDAY

MPSC Closed – Happy New Year!

DEC 26 FRIDAY

F FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION

Flex-reg’ classes have a separate fee and allow you to register for classes on the days that fit your schedule.

R REGISTERED FITNESS Registered fitness classes have a separate fee and a defined start and end date. Pre-registration is required for the entire set of classes.

I INCLUDED FITNESS These classes are included with your price of admission for no extra charge.

POOL HOURS DEC 26 FRIDAY

DEC 27 SATURDAY

DEC 28 SUNDAY

DEC 29 MONDAY

DEC 30 TUESDAY

DEC 31 JAN 01 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

LAP POOL

9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

6 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Closed

LEISURE POOL

9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Closed

HOT SPOTS

9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

6 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Closed

ARENA SCHEDULE Please see whistler.ca/recreation for the daily arena hours or call 604-935- PLAY (7529).

whistler.ca/recreation |

@RMOWRecreation | 604-935-PLAY (7529)

ARTS SCENE

Pemberton’s Sheri Marie Ptolemy explores love and loss on sophomore EP Heartbeat THE FIVE-TRACK RELEASE BLENDS CLASSIC COUNTRY INSTRUMENTATION WITH INTIMATE, EMPATHY-DRIVEN SONGWRITING

BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SHERI MARIE Ptolemy, a Pemberton-

born singer-songwriter and member of the Samahquam First Nation, has released her second extended play album, Heartbeat. The five-track project explores the emotional terrain of love in all its forms. Heartbeat, released on Dec. 17, draws influence from classic country traditions and storytelling, blending lyrical intimacy with live instrumentation. The project marks a significant step forward for Ptolemy, whose debut EP Summer reflected her early university songwriting years. “I got married a couple years ago, and so I was in this really happy spot in my life,” Ptolemy said in an interview with Pique. “So I was writing a lot of love songs and exploring that. But then I also simultaneously had friends who were going through the opposite; tackling breakups and divorce and all those life things. “And so [Heartbeat] just slowly became this project all about love and relationships.” Each of the five tracks explores a

FROM THE HEART Sheri Marie Ptolemy’s second EP is part of a four-season series and features live studio recordings and self-directed music videos. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHERI MARIE PTOLEMY

66 DECEMBER 26, 2025

different facet of that emotional spectrum: heartbreak, new romance, long-term connection and self-love. The album includes previously released singles “Angel” and “Truer Love,” which helped build anticipation for the full EP. “Angel” has already made waves in the Canadian country scene, landing on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country, Apple Music’s Indigenous Now and Spotify’s North Country playlists. “With every song you put out, you kind of hope that it might help make your

and step into other people’s shoes for a moment,” she said. “Especially when I’m writing songs about my friends; I feel like the reason why I’m able to do that is because of empathy.” Ptolemy, who studied both film and creative writing at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (UBCO), said her academic background has shaped her thematic and visual approach to music. “I studied creative writing at UBCO, and I think that really influences the

“My favourite thing about songwriting and music in general is the ability to tap into other people’s lives...” - SHERI MARIE PTOLEMY

career kick off,” Ptolemy said. “When it doesn’t, it’s always hard to swallow. So to see a song I love so much, and that I worked really hard on, have this kind of recognition—it’s a major win for all of us. We’re really proud of that song and the life it’s taken on.” While Ptolemy draws from personal experience, her approach to songwriting is rooted in empathy and observation. “My favourite thing about songwriting and music in general is the ability to tap into other people’s lives

way that I approach music,” she said. “When poets are writing a poetry book, they have to decide what goes into that— what the container will be for all of these works. I really give that a lot of thought.” She said she’s currently developing a four-EP project, one for each season. Heartbeat, with its “deeper, heavier topics,” represents the fall. Beyond the music itself, Ptolemy is directing and producing her own music videos for “Angel” and “Truer Love.” Her passion for film, honed during her

undergraduate studies, is central to her creative identity. “It’s really important to me to be able to create visuals to match the songs,” she said. “With this project and the next one coming up, I’m really prioritizing that and kind of taking it into more short film territory, where I’ll do more acting instead of just performance.” Musically, Heartbeat reflects a more mature and collaborative sound than her debut, thanks in part to the contributions of guitarist Marcus Ramsay and bassist Phil Bell. “We really were pushing the envelope,” Ptolemy said. “We performed live as much as we could in studio with as many of the musicians involved, just because I really wanted to capture that feel. There’s something really magical about what happens when you all play together.” Raised in Pemberton, Ptolemy said she grew up “pretty isolated” musically, playing on her own. But she’s watched the local scene expand dramatically. “It’s definitely grown,” she said. “It’s so cool how much has changed since I was a teenager. It’s really inspiring. There’s just so many more art-centred events.” Looking ahead to 2026, Ptolemy is already at work on her spring-themed EP, Shipwrecked, which will address mental health and recovery following a neardeath experience earlier this year. Heartbeat is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. n

ARTS SCENE

Laugh Out LIVE! unveils new holiday show ‘The Chairlift Chronicles’ THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 27 TO 29 TO KICK OFF THE GROUP’S FIFTH SEASON

BY DAVID SONG SEASON 5 of Laugh Out LIVE! is heading

your way with a bang. The local comedy and performance troupe has revamped its signature Marquee Variety Show into a new offering dubbed “The Chairlift Chronicles,” to run from Dec. 27 to 29 in the Rainbow Theatre. Guests are invited to enjoy an upbeat pre-show party in the foyer, with recognized DJs Foxy Moron and Vinyl Ritchie as well as a fully stocked bar on hand. The program itself features an expanded set on stage and a fast-paced running order. New this year is the debut of an original game show inspired by The Price Is Right and sponsored by the Whistler Hardware Store. From a production standpoint, the Chairlift Chronicles has been one of Laugh Out LIVE!’s most ambitious undertakings. Set and costume demands were higher than usual, and the creative process unfolded alongside a busy time of private holiday bookings. Just like previous Marquee Variety Shows, the Chairlift Chronicles will put multiple genres into a blender: original short films, improv games, sketch comedy and interactive elements that get viewers going. Laugh Out LIVE! founders Ira Pettle and Rebecca Mason promise some parts of the show will actually take place on chairlifts. “What makes the Chairlift Chronicles stand out is its variety-style mix: familiar enough to feel festive and accessible, but unpredictable enough that audiences never know what’s coming next,” they say in a press release. “Audiences can expect entirely new content featuring fresh scenes, bold new characters including an unforgettable old Scotsman, comedy that isn’t afraid to touch on real-life topics like menopause and dating, alongside classic Whistler absurdity. “The inspiration came from wanting to create a holiday show that felt distinctly Whistler without being a traditional holiday production. December in Whistler is its own world: busy, chaotic, joyful, and sometimes ridiculous, and that energy shaped the show from the start. With December being a peak visitation month, the show was curated to speak equally to locals and visitors … something people can instantly relate to while still feeling like an experience you can only have in Whistler. The goal was to capture the town’s spirit in a way that feels accessible, whether you’ve lived here for ten years or arrived last week.”

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Laugh Out LIVE! has been building momentum throughout the fall and winter. Notable firsts included its Squamish premiere (heralding a broader touring initiative that brings locally rooted comedy to neighbouring communities), a maiden round of improv classes in Pemberton, Whistler’s first sketch class and the start of acting courses in partnership with the Lil’wat Nation. These novel options complemented existing classes like mixed-level and women’s-only improv as well as “Fearless”: an applied improv session designed for people navigating social anxiety. Mason and Pettle also co-hosted the Whistler Excellence Awards for a second straight year, with Mason earning the Rising Star of the Year award. Come 2026, the Laugh Out LIVE! on Tour series heads to Pemberton in January, Bowen Island in February, back through Whistler, and on to North Vancouver in April. The group’s Public Speaking and Presentations workshop (delivered in conjunction with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce) will return by popular demand, the StandUp Standoff series continues through April, and new entertainment offerings are being developed in partnership with the Hilton. Before all that, Pettle and Mason hope to see the Rainbow Theatre packed for all three nights of the Chairlift Chronicles. “The holidays come with a lot of pressure: travel, family dynamics, packed schedules, and live comedy gives people permission to let go for a couple of hours,” they remark. “It’s one of the few times where you’re fully present, laughing with the people around you instead of scrolling or rushing to the next thing. It’s also a great indoor activity during the holidays, especially in Whistler, and a unique way for people to spend time together when family or friends are visiting. “Sharing a live show creates an easy bonding experience, whether you’re locals showing guests around or visitors looking for something that feels authentically Whistler. Also a great option for folks looking for an alternative to parties, dinners, and sometimes stressful holiday gatherings. In a place like Whistler, where the season can be busy and intense, comedy becomes a kind of release: bringing locals and visitors into the same room and reminding everyone that laughter is a shared language.” Visit laughoutlive.com for tickets and more information. n

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Notice of Proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw - No Public Hearing to be Held Zoning Amendment Bylaw (School Use) No. 2503, 2025 (the “proposed bylaw”) Purpose: The purpose of the proposed bylaw is to add school and auxiliary daycare uses as permitted uses on a portion of land within the existing RS-E2 (Residential Single Estate Two) Zone, and to permit a subdivision to create a separate legal title for the portion of land where only a school and auxiliary daycare would be permitted. Subject Land: The lands that are the subject of the proposed Bylaw are shown on the map attached to this notice, and legally described as: Lot 34, District Lot 2246, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP1933 Bylaw Readings: Consideration of the ﬁrst, second, and third readings of the proposed Bylaw will be at the Regular Council Meeting on January 6, 2026. To learn more: A copy of the proposed Bylaw and background documentation are available for review from December 23, 2025 until January 6, 2026 at: • Municipal Hall at 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC, during regular oﬃce hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (statutory holidays excluded) • Online on the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) website at engage. whistler.ca/public-hearings-anddevelopment-notices SCAN THE QR CODE FOR A COPY OF THE PROPOSED BYLAW AND BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca DECEMBER 26, 2025

Lil’wat Forestry Ventures Forest Operations Map ID #2869 Notice of Public Review and Comment Notice is hereby given that Lil’wat Forestry Ventures, holder of First Nations Woodland License #N2V, is seeking public review and comment on Forest Operations Map (FOM) ID #2869, which is covered by Forest Stewardship Plan #891. The review and comment period related to FOM ID #2869 is available for a 30-day period from December 26th, 2025, to January 26th, 2026. This FOM consists of 7 proposed cutblocks, 3 sections of road reconstruction, and 7 sections of proposed new road construction located in the Rutherford Creek and Mount Currie areas in the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District. The FOM can be viewed at https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, and by searching Licensee using the ‘ﬁnd’ function. Alternatively, the information contained in the FOM can be made available for inperson viewing during normal business hours at Chartwell Resource Group Ltd.’s oﬃce at #201 – 1121 Commercial Place, Squamish BC. Comments can be submitted anytime during the 30-day period through https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, e-mailed to Lilwat.FOM@crgl.ca, or mailed to the address noted above. Please reference the FOM ID when submitting comments. Following the review and comment period, this FOM may be relied upon to apply for a Road Permit or Cutting Permit for a 3-year period, ending January 26th, 2029.

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

NEW YEAR’S EVE FILE PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER

PUBLIC SKELETON EXPERIENCE Try Whistler’s most unique activity and slide like an Olympian! Ride solo on your skeleton sled through six corners with speeds of up to 100 km/hr. Don’t worry that your run might be over too fast; you get to go twice! Public Skeleton runs rain, snow or shine. No experience required and limited availability. Ages 16-plus. > Dec. 28 > Whistler Sliding Centre

SWEDISH AFTERSKI Tuesdays are for the Swedish! Don’t miss out on the ultimate après-ski celebration! A local tradition for 10 years, come and party like the Europeans do. Celebrate a day on the slopes with dancing and singalongs. > Dec. 30, 3 to 7 p.m. > Longhorn Saloon

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS IN WHISTLER VILLAGE

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68 DECEMBER 26, 2025

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Celebrate the last night of the year surrounded by the energy of the mountains and the spirit of this community. Whistler’s New Year’s Eve brings people together with activities that invite you to move, connect, and take in the winter atmosphere. Enjoy a full lineup of immersive experiences, including yoga sessions, the enchanting Wintersphere, outdoor skating, a soothing sound bath experience, the radiant Luminosity Parade, and the exhilarating Fire & Ice Remix, creating a truly unforgettable night for all. The festivities conclude with a spectacular early fireworks show at 9 p.m., lighting up the sky with vibrant colours and energy. > Dec. 31, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. > Various locations

NYE GALA WITH LAUGH OUT LIVE! Ring in the New Year with a spectacular evening of dining, music, and comedy! Savour holiday favourites over a festive buffet with all the trimmings, and dance the night away while Laugh Out LIVE! keeps the party spirited throughout the night! Two seatings to choose from and reservations are required. > Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. > Hilton Whistler

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT WILD BLUE Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Wild Blue with an elegant dining experience. Choose from two seatings, each combining luxury with contemporary mountain ambiance for an unforgettable evening. The Gala Seating includes a live DJ, party favours and a glass of Perrier Jouet NV Champagne at the Midnight Party

Celebration. All Gala Seating guests are invited to stay past midnight! > Dec. 31 > Wild Blue Restaurant

NEW YEAR’S EVE GATSBY PARTY Ring in the New Year in true Gatsby style at the newly renovated Lakeside Lounge at Nita Lake Lodge! Step into an unforgettable night featuring a live brass-band party with The Phonix, whose high-energy performance will keep the celebration roaring! Sip on sparkling bubbles, indulge in fresh, decadent oysters, and soak in the glamorous atmosphere as you count down to the first moments of the new year. > Dec. 31, 8 p.m. > Nita Lake Lodge

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER Indulge in a four-course tasting menu with a dining experience that sets the stage for an unforgettable and elegant New Year’s Eve celebration. Savour bold flavours, toast to new beginnings, and immerse yourself in the warm, exclusive atmosphere. Reservations required. > Dec. 31, 5 to 10 p.m. > The Den

MAXX NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA Dress to impress and walk the red carpet at the Maxx Fish NYE Gala. Enjoy live music from Ella Mathison, dance the night away with DJ Fidel Cashflow, and catch surprise performances by Calendar Girl Productions showgirls. All capped off with a confetti countdown to midnight! > Dec. 31, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. > Maxx Fish

NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER AT THE CHATEAU Ring in the New Year in style at the Chateau’s glamorous Gala Dinner. Indulge in a lavish buffet brimming with festive favourites, then hit the dance floor as Side One brings the energy with pitch-perfect covers of the biggest hits from past and present. It’s a night of sparkle, celebration and unforgettable moments. Advance reservations are required. > Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. > Fairmont Chateau Whistler

NYE FIRE & ICE SHOW Where else but Whistler would performers entertain you with an electric mix of music, dance and spinning fire? Watch world-class athletes flip and twist through a burning ring of fire, then finish the night off with a first-class fireworks display. Please note the Fire & Ice Show is dependent on weather conditions. > Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. > Skiers’ Plaza

PARTIAL RECALL

1 DUSTY TRAIL Pique’s longtime sales manager Susan Hutchinson is saying goodbye after more than two decades with the paper. Your coworkers and clients will miss you dearly, Susan! PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS 2 WORTH FRAMING Helen Hamilton shared this adorable product of a recent Christmas-themed date night, “making this A-frame cabin from scratch, complete with melted orange lollipop windows. LED candle placed inside for the house warming!” PHOTO BY HELEN HAMILTON 3 DANCE PARTY Locals cut a rug at a holiday party following an evening of caroling in Whistler Village. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAIN GRUNWELL 4 SNOW THANKS The snow arrived in Whistler just in time for Christmas—but you’re not going to convince Izzy to trust this sketchy snowman. PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS 5 TIS THE SEASON This year marked the 15th-consecutive year this group of Whistler locals has gone caroling in the village to bring some Christmas spirit. “And something seemed to work as it snowed that day!” says Iain Grunwell. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAIN GRUNWELL

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WHAT’S THE SKINNY? Members of the Bury expedition in 1939. BURY COLLECTION

The ‘skin’ny on Whistler’s ski-touring history BY BRONWYN PREECE

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70 DECEMBER 26, 2025

SKI-TOURING and split-boarding continue to grow in popularity as people strive to extend their range into the backcountry of the local Coast Mountains. However, it is nothing new. In 1933, the first documented ski ascent and descent from the top of London Mountain—now known as Whistler Mountain—was made by Pip Brock. With “terrible” skis purchased from a Vancouver department store, the feat of the intrepid 19-year-old was at first disbelieved by locals. His claim was, however, confirmed by binoculars which showed his tracks: the first top-to-bottom run of Whistler, sited and sighted, 92 years ago. Pip recalls “most mountaineers thought that skiing was impure and indecent. But a few of us being frivolous, realized the fin and value of ski for winter touring.” Pip was later joined by celebrated, nationally-treasured mountain adventurers Don and Phyllis Munday, skiing up Wedge Creek as means to summit Wedge Mountain. Initially, local ski-touring converts were few and far between. Pioneering prospector Harry Horstman (whom the glacier on Blackcomb and hut are named after) indignantly heckled the young Pip Brock, chastising him with: “What the hell you got them planks fur? I can get around twice as fast on my snowshoes as you can on them slitherin’ boards!” But it was “slitherin’ boards” that George Bury, along with three others, chose to use for their 1939 expedition: the first to assess the potential for ski development in the area. The four men began their explorations from Cheakamus Lake and over the period of 10 days, skinned and skied their way around. The tour ended by way of skiing down The Barrier to the railroad tracks and flagging down the southbound train headed for Squamish. The development idea was sidetracked with the start of the Second World War. The group never revisited the idea post-war.

In the 1960s, Stefan Ples became actively involved with Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. in its development of Whistler as a ski area. Stefan was incredibly familiar with the mountain, having been touring up and down it for years. There is a story of when Stefan first met Franz Wilhelmsen (“The Father of Whistler”), president of Garibaldi Lifts, fittingly on top of the mountain. Franz had arrived by helicopter, Stefan by skis. Franz is reputed to have said, “what are you doing on my mountain?” to which Stefan replied, “what are you doing on mine?” It is ironic that Stefan became so involved with the ski resort’s development given it is said he truly could not conceive why people would choose to take a lift up the mountain, just to ski a short distance down. Though eventually awarded a lifetime pass, Stefan’s preferred method of access was by skinning. It took Stefan approximately three hours to reach the peak. The Spearhead Traverse is now the area’s most popular ski-touring mission, linking Blackcomb and Whistler by way of an approximately 34-kilometre, horseshoe-shaped route across the peaks of the Fitzsimmons and Spearhead ranges. The traverse crosses 13 glaciers, and depending on routing, nine or 11 mountain passes. In 1964, the first successful tour of the circuit was completed by four UBC Varsity Outdoor Club members. It took the group nine days, starting from the base of Blackcomb. Today, the Spearhead Traverse is regarded as beginning at the backcountry gates atop of Blackcomb and ending in Whistler Village. The Spearhead Huts Society built a state-of-the-art, 38-bunk backcountry accommodation in 2019, with two more huts planned along the route. A strenuous endeavour, most take two to four days to complete the trek, however the fastest known times currently hover around the two-hour mark for both men and women. The Spearhead Traverse is undertaken by approximately 4,000 people per year, skinning their way into the storied tracks of this place. n

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 26 BY ROB BREZSNY

Cecropia trees and Azteca ants have a special relationship. The trees’ hollow branches serve as nesting spaces for the ants and offer them sugar-rich food. In return, the ants aggressively defend the trees from herbivores and predators, protecting them from damage. This mutualism benefits both species. The trees get protection that enhances their growth, while the ants gain shelter and nutrition. In the coming months, Aries, I invite you to seek symbiosis that’s equally vigorous. Enjoy the fun challenge of reducing your solo struggles as you rouse collaborations that boost your power and everyone else’s. The goal is intelligent alliance, not compromise. Be resourceful as you trade a bit too much independence for just the right amount of interdependence. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When potters centre clay on a wheel, they typically use one hand inside the vessel to apply steady, controlled force. The other hand remains fluid, guiding and stabilizing the outer rim of the spinning clay. This balanced use of pressure—one hand firm and bracing, the other adapting minutely to the shifting clay— helps bring the lump into perfect symmetry. I propose you make this a prime metaphor in the coming months, Taurus: control meeting surrender. You will be crafting a new balance between security and surprise. Too much rigidity, and the form cracks; too much flow, and it collapses. Practice the middle art. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet Audre Lorde spoke of how caring for herself was the exact opposite of being selfish. It was the foundation of her ability to serve and inspire other people. My Aunt Sophie used to say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” Educator Stephen Covey advised, “Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” Poet Vironika Tugaleva writes, “Learning to love yourself is essential and life-changing.” Everything I just said should be your keynotes in the coming months, Gemini. Boost your self-care to sublime levels. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A remarkable species of jellyfish can circumvent the aging and death process that affects all other animals. Turritopsis dohrnii converts its mature, specialized cells back into stem cells, essentially recycling its own body into youth. The process may repeat indefinitely, making the animal theoretically immortal. In the coming months, Cancerian, your emotional wisdom will also show amazing regenerative power. Challenging and intriguing situations will be opportunities for you to initiate stunning acts of renewal. Like the jellyfish, you won’t merely manage change but will use it as a catalyst for vigorous growth. Have you ever before been blessed by such wildly rejuvenative powers of metamorphosis? I don’t think so. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to ancient Egyptian myth, the sun god Ra rode a celestial boat across the sky by day. Each night, he plunged into the underworld to wrangle with chaos so he could rebirth light in time for the dawn. That’s your mythic assignment for the coming months, Leo: not to be nonstop luminous, but to renew and nurture your radiance in the dark. Your courage will lie in feeling and learning from your doubts without identifying with them. Your magnetism and wisdom will deepen as you descend. You won’t be less golden for passing through shadow. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In medieval monasteries, scribes added whimsical drawings called drolleries into the margins of sacred manuscripts. These marginalia included scenes like frogs playing harps, nuns chasing rabbits, and fantastical creatures engaged in playful or absurd activities. How should we interpret these seemingly prankish additions? Scholars disagree. In any case, I recommend you experiment with drolleries of your own, Virgo. Inject improvisation into duty. Add ornament to order. The coming months will reward your serious play. You’ll

accomplish more by enjoying the work than by obsessing on perfecting it. A touch of friskiness may even improve efficiency. So when you edit, doodle; when you analyze, wink. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Italy’s Orto Botanico di Padova is the world’s oldest botanical garden still in its original location. Since its inception 480 years ago, it has been a centre for botanical research, education, and conservation. Its layout is striking, a square inscribed in a circle, symbolizing harmonious order. In the coming months, Libra, you will be wise to associate yourself intimately with a similar wonder: an enduring source of beauty and revelation that you can both serve and benefit from. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Astronaut Chris Hadfield has spent 166 days orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station. In the microgravity of outer space, he says, motion is very smooth; objects and people float. He marvels at how everything is always moving, and yet the pace itself is tranquil and unhurried. I foresee you enjoying a lot of this kind of grace in the coming months, Scorpio: momentum without mania; constant fluidic movement that’s never hectic or rushed. What a great privilege! I expect you will rack up many flowing accomplishments. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Kyoto’s famous moss gardens, caretakers practice artful arrangement rather than total removal of shed foliage. They use delicate tools to gather trees’ cast-off leaves and arrange them on the moss to create visual harmony rather than bare tidiness. This approach reflects the Japanese aesthetic principles of embracing imperfection. Supposed “flaws” become part of the beauty of the garden. I propose that you regularly adopt a metaphorically comparable approach in the coming months, Sagittarius. Integrate rather than edit. Be creative with what’s changing form. Treat so-called messes and unexpected plot twists not as blemishes but as rich textures that feel meaningful and inspiring. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A newly planted orchard spends its first year growing roots, not fruit. Underground and unseen, the real work happens. I surmise that’s like what you will be doing in the coming months, Capricorn: mostly invisible stabilization and preparation. If anyone asks you what you’re producing, smile inscrutably and say, “Depth.” Be committed to the quiet, hidden work rather than any showy song and dance. As my rough and rugged spirit guide Esther likes to say, “You don’t got to prove nothin’ to nobody!” The nourishment you will be storing up will sustain later abundance. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Engineers may engage in “stress testing.” They evaluate a system’s hardiness and reliability by subjecting it to pressure or force. I suspect that life will bring you a benevolent version of this trial in the coming months, Aquarius. That’s a good thing! It’s not meant to break you, but to prove how much resilience you have developed. Situations that might have formerly cracked your confidence will affirm and reveal your upgraded endurance. Take note of your composure and congratulate yourself for it. You will have every right to exult in the vivid evidence of how much you’ve grown. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source.” Apply her counsel dynamically during the coming months, dear Pisces. Be the great replenisher. Make yourself into a fountain of beauty as you share lavishly. Nurture tenderness and adoration with unexpected flowers, gorgeous music in the midst of the routine, and affection expressed through artful thoughtfulness. Be brilliant and persistent in ensuring that love thrives. Your elegant generosity and fond attention should enrich everything you touch. Homework: What’s the best thing you can do to stimulate more of the love you want in 2026? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

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Crusty Bill Cowan (William Wallace Cowan) AKA Bill the Cleaner It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear friend , “Crusty” Bill Cowan. Bill was born in Kingston, Ontario on July 29, 1967. Bill moved to Whistler in 1993. In the early days, crusty Bill worked for Blackcomb ski rental shop and then later in the ski/snowboard repair shop. Bill was always known for his excellent repair work. Later, Bill worked for Fanatykco ski and cycle as the head bike mechanic. Most recently, up until his blood condition diagnosis, he worked at Canadian Snowmobile as a snowmobile/ ATV mechanic. Crusty, “AKA Bill the Cleaner “ was best known for his bike handling skills. There were very few trails he could not clean. He mastered mtn bikes, e-mtn bikes, trials motorcycles and most recently became an avid adventure motorcyclist. Bill also had an extensive collection of flashlights, that he shared with many of his close friends. Despite Bill’s “crusty” demeanour, he a very soft spot for his friends and wildlife. Not only did Bill enjoy feeding the birds and squirrels at his work site at Canadian snowmobiles, he befriended the little critters. In the early years, Bill was never considered an amazing skier and was known for carrying several pairs of goggles in his backpack because of his constant face planting in the snow. Snowboarding provided Bill with some on hill dignity, and he became very proficient on his carving board. He later picked up skiing again after carving skis became popular and was a carving menace on the hill, but never found a use for ski poles as they just got in his way. Bill was very brave in face of death and was smiling and joking until the very end. Bill passed away in Squamish under his own terms by MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying), on December 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm while listening to one of his favourite TOOL songs, “Descending ”. Bill will be very missed by all who knew and loved him. A celebration of life will be held in Pemberton, in the Spring of 2026.

DECEMBER 26, 2025

The Museum is currently seeking:

Educational Art Instructuor Part-time, $29.00 per hour. Deliver regular art-based workshops to adults and children at the Museum, deepening students’ knowledge and understanding of the history and methods of art-making in British Columbia.

BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONALISM

Application deadline December 29, 2025.

SAFETY

STRONG WORK ETHIC

Employee Health & Wellness Plan available HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR – Minimum 5 years or 5,000 hours operating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$46 per hour. Apply and learn more via the QR code, or email applications to efeaver@audainartmuseum.com

CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-the-job. Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required. Previous experience preferred but not required. Training provided. $28-$33 per hour. PIPE LAYER – Minimum 5 years experience in civil construction. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$43 per hour.

The Museum is currently seeking:

Accounting Clerk Part-time starting at $28.00 to $30.00 per hour, based on experience.

TRUCK DRIVER – BCDL Class 1 or Class 3 with air brakes required. Manual transmission. 2 years experience preferred. $35-$41.50 per hour. CRUSHING & EARTHWORKS MANAGER – Must have experience with civil construction. $33-$46 per hour.

Y APPL

Provide support with daily POS audits, accounts payable, data entry, GL reconciliation and other tasks as required. Application deadline December 29, 2025.

THE 2025-2026 PEMBERTON GUIDE on stands now!

Apply and learn more via the QR code, or email applications to tlerose@audainartmuseum.com Xwalacktun, He-yay meymuy (Big Flood)(detail), 2014-15. Photo: Mirae Campbell.

72 DECEMBER 26, 2025

AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SSHS HEALTH PROGRAM

Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society

Program overview: The Health program team works together to provide care to community members of three remote First Nation communities by being responsible for full scope nursing care to a variety of clients, constantly promoting health and wellness education, and aligning care out of community in some cases, providing care to home care clients with chronic diseases Open Positions: 1. Clinical Services Manager ($90 000 - $120 000) 2. Home and Community Care Nurse ($90 000 - $110 000) 3. Community Health Nurse ($90 000 - $110 000) Each position requires a minimum of the following Qualiﬁcations: • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from a recognized university • 5+ years nursing experience including: O Public health (maternal, infant, child, youth, mental wellness, addictions) O Home care (elder health, chronic disease management, injury prevention) • Current CPR (HCP) certification • Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) further qualifications may be required based on the position Special: • These positions require traveling to indigenous communities served by SSHS, accessed by Forest Service Road • SSHS offers a competitive benefits and employment package to full time employees About SSHS: SSHS is a non-profit Indigenous health organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous communities. Our organization provides culturally appropriate health care services, programs, and initiatives to support the holistic health of Indigenous individuals and families. See full job postings: sshs.ca/careers/

Applications and questions can be directed to: julia.schneider@sshs.ca

COMMUNITY

HOME SERVICES

CRAFT FAIRS/BAZAARS

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS

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Whistler made Christmas bandanas for your pets! $10 each Sizes range from XS-XL Please contact Rebecca If you’re interested Phone 604 905 8824

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See our full page schedule ad in this issue of Pique for details

Director of Planning and Development Services (Regular, Full-time)

Looking to contribute to your local community? Consider a career in local government. Join the SLRD’s team of dedicated staff who work together to make a difference in the region. Headquartered in Pemberton, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) delivers a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents. The SLRD is a BC Regional District consisting of four member municipalities (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet) and four electoral areas. Services include land use planning, solid waste management, building inspection, fire protection, emergency preparedness, 911 services, recreation, water and sewer utilities, regional transit, trails and open spaces as well as financial support for various community services. The region contains some of the most spectacular forests, waterways, and mountains in the province and affords an endless range of opportunities for outdoor adventure, making it an exceptional place to live, work and play. The SLRD is seeking a strategic and collaborative Director of Planning and Development Services. The Director of Planning and Development Services is responsible for overseeing the planning and development, building services, bylaw enforcement and GIS land and property mapping functions of the SLRD. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, and as a member of the senior leadership team, this position provides oversight, direction and guidance on planning and development policies, plans, and bylaws in alignment with SLRD strategic goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of seven (7) years of recent experience in progressively senior planning roles, an undergraduate degree in planning or a related discipline plus a post-graduate degree in community and regional planning; and full membership with the Planning Institute of BC and/or the Canadian Institute of Planners. For further information, please refer to the full job description at www.slrd.bc.ca/employment. The salary range for this position is $135,455 - $152,456 annually. A comprehensive extended benefits package, participation in the Municipal Pension Plan, compressed work week (9-day fortnight), and professional development opportunities are also available. Interested candidates are invited to submit their cover letter and resume (preferably in pdf format) by email, no later than January 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm to careers@slrd.bc.ca. We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

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Thank you to all our volunteers and foster homes, we love you!

MOVING AND STORAGE

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big or small we do it all! WSET Wine Course

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Missed the sold-out December class? Don’t miss this one! WSET Level 2 in Wines this January Registration deadline: January 2nd, 2026 Dates: Jan 12, 13, 14,19, 20, 21 Exam: January 28th, 2026 from 10-12 Where: Mekong Restaurant, Creekside

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Our team of people is what sets us apart from other builders. As we continue to grow as the leader in luxury projects in Whistler, our team needs to expand with us. We are currently hiring: Labourers ($20 - $30 hourly) Carpenters Helpers/Apprentices 1st to 4th year ($25 - $35 hourly) Experienced Carpenters ($30 - $45 hourly) Carpentry Foremen ($40 - $50 hourly) Site Supervisor Rates vary based on experience and qualiﬁcations. Red Seal is a bonus but not required. Crane Operator experience considered an asset. EVR is committed to the long-term retention and skills development of our team. We are passionate about investing in our team’s future.

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WE OFFER: • Top Wages and a Positive Work Environment • Flexible Schedule - Work Life Balance (We get it, we love to ski and bike too.) • Training & Tuition Reimbursement (Need help getting your Red Seal?) • Support with work visa and Permanent Residency (We can assist)

We’re Hiring

BENEFITS & PERKS: • Annual Leisure & Tool Benefit – Use toward ski/bike pass, tool purchase, etc. – you choose! • Extended Health and Dental Benefits for you and your family We promote from within and are looking to strengthen our amazing team. Opportunities for advancement into management positions always exist for the right candidates. Don’t miss out on being able to build with the team that builds the most significant projects in Whistler. Send your resume to careers@evrfinehomes.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re looking for an Operations Facilitator who can make a lasting impact in our community. Does this sounds like you:

SQUAMISH

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74 DECEMBER 26, 2025

• You light up talking about youth empowerment, social justice, and any excuse to be outside. • You tell stories that make people stop, feel something, and think “Wow, I want to be part of that”. • You’re a proactive doer who sees what needs to happen, and make it happen. • You’re a community connector who builds relationships like it’s second nature. • You love being part of a fun, supportive, tight-knit team where everyone shows up for each other.

Scan the QR code to ﬁnd out more and apply

3 6

• Human Resources Generalist ($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year)

Community MEDIUMProgram

6 5 8 6 3 2 7 5 6 6 7 3 1 4 1 2 7 4 1 5 3 8 3 5 9

1 4 8 6 9 • Title & Rights Coordinator ($38,038.00 to $53,599.00 per year) 5 7 Child &8 Family Services 4 • Family 2 Enhancement Worker 7 ($38,038.00 3 to $53,599.00 per year) Lil’wat Health & Healing + Pqusnalhcw Health Centre 1 5 9 • Healing Program Manager ($57,330.00 to $64,610.00 per year) 6 3 • Community Health Nurse ($41.42 to 52.81 per hour ) + $2.15 hourly 9premium) 4 – Please highlight this one. 6 ÚlÍus Community Centre

7 2

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MEDIUM

# 58

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9 8 2 2 5 1 3 Please visit our career page for more information: https://lilwat.ca/careers/ 5 WE’RE 6 HIRING 3 5 9 4 6 4 7 Explore careers at the RMOW this new year. Happy 2 Holidays! Apply to the Resort Municipality today: whistler.ca/careers 7 2 6 9 4 9 1 2

Xet’òlacw Community School

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MEDIUM

4 1

9 5

# 59

8 5 1 9 4

2 6

5 6

7 1

1 3 8

MEDIUM

# 60

Whistler’s premier visitor magazine is on stands now!

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# 57

4 5 6 3 8 2 1 7 9

Answers

1 2 3 7 6 9 5 8 4

8 9 7 5 1 4 3 6 2

9 1 8 2 4 7 6 5 3

6 4 5 8 9 3 7 2 1

www.sudoku.com

3 7 2 6 5 1 9 4 8

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7 8 1 4 3 6 2 9 5

2 3 4 9 7 5 8 1 6

Looking to adopt? # 58 4 3 6 9 2 7 8 5 1 8 2 9 3 1 5 7 6 4 For an updated list of who 1 5 7 4 8 6 3 2 9 is available, check out our 7 4 1 5 6 2 9 8 3 website. 2 6 8 7 9 3 4 1 5 5 9 3 8 4 1 6 7 2 9 7 4 1 5 8 2 3 6 www.whistlerwag.com 6 8 5 2 3 9 1 4 7 3 1 2 6 7 4 5 9 8

# 59

4 9 1 6 5 3 2 7 8

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3 2 7 4 8 1 9 5 6

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# 60

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6 4 1 3 2 8 9 5 7

7 9 8 6 4 5 1 3 2

8 3 2 9 5 4 6 7 1

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Look for our Winter 2026 Issue!

9 2 4 8 5 1 3 6 7 1 4 5 6 8 9 7 3 2 2 Find 7 3 it on select stands and 4 1 in 8 Whistler hotel rooms. 5 9 6

4/11/2005 DECEMBER 26, 2025

PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 10 15 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 44 45 47 51 52 53 55 56

57 58 60 62 63

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65 66 67 68 69 71 73 75 76 77 78 81 83 84 85 87 90 92 94 95 96 98 99 100 101 103 105 106 108 109 110 111 113 114 115 118 119 120

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124 125 126 127 128 129 131 133 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142

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DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 28

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30 32 34 36 37 39 40 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 57 59 61 63 64 66 70 72 74 76 79 80 82 84 86 87 88 89 91 93

94 96 97 99

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102 104 105 107 109 110 112 113 114 115 116

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117 118 119 121 122 123 125 126 130 132 133 134

Plumbing device Mickey -Fleur- -- -Indigenous Alaskan Cut Glowing coal Unruly child Ready to eat Anger Elec. unit French friend USA neighbor

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Enter a digit from 1 through 9 in each cell, in such a way that: • Each horizontal row contains each digit exactly once • Each vertical column contains each digit exactly once • Each 3x3 box contains each digit exactly once Solving a sudoku puzzle does not require any mathematics; simple logic suffices.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM

8 2 1 5 9 4

8 6 4 5 7 3 9

7 2 1 4 9 7

MEDIUM # 57 Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

ANSWERS ON PAGE 75

76 DECEMBER 26, 2025

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DECEMBER 26, 2025

PIQUE’N YER INTEREST

Celebrating the real Best of Whistler I THOUGHT A LOT about what to write to accompany this year’s Best of Whistler awards. But there was only ever one thing I wanted to say. It’s cliched and unoriginal, and I’m gonna say it anyway: The people are the Best of Whistler. Yes, of course, that includes the people who the Best of Whistler awards typically celebrate, those who run local

BY LIZI MCLOUGHLIN businesses, volunteer, and make local art. But as someone who falls into two of those categories, I don’t think we’re the ones who matter most. That honour goes to the thousands who show up to work every day to teach toddlers to ski, deep clean hotel rooms, and direct irate drivers around the Day Lots. The whole machine of this town would collapse if no one was willing to wake up at 4 a.m. to write the snow report, plow the roads, and drive the buses. It’s often relentless, exhausting, and unrecognized work, done so we can all make memories here in the mountains. And it’s not just that they keep the lifts turning and the patios open for service: they keep each other going, too,

BEST OF THE BEST There’s a lot to love about this place, but Whistler wouldn’t be what it is without the people. PHOTO BY ASCENTXMEDIA / E+ / GETTY IMAGES

78 DECEMBER 26, 2025

day-in, day-out, without thinking twice. In the town with the highest living wage in B.C. (it’s now $29.60/hr for those keeping score), many frontline workers are just barely scraping by. From a distance, it’s easy to glorify the uncertainty of trying to make ends meet in a seasonal ski town as exciting and liberating. But I remember the feeling of living paycheque to paycheque, and it was mostly an acute sense of anxiety. And when I felt that way, it was always other people, often just as broke

Black, Indigenous, and marginalized communities have deep cultures and a long history of mutual aid: of organizing to meet each others’ needs and ensure everyone in a community can thrive. The central tenet of mutual aid is solidarity, not charity—supporting each other while working together to change our own circumstances, rather than hoping that others with more wealth and power will “save” us. Everyone has a role to play, and skills, resources, ideas, and energy to contribute to our collective

I love living in a place where people care so much: about each other, and about what this community is and could be. and uncertain as me, who lifted me up. When I couldn’t find a place to live, it was the new friends who let me sleep on their couch. When I felt ashamed at the measly $50 in my bank account, it was the workmates who laughed it off and invited me over for dinner. When the holidays came around, and I was far from home, it was the near-strangers who made space for me at their table. In my privileged life, I’ve rarely experienced first-hand what it’s like to be so generously and reciprocally supported by people around me who weren’t family, or even close friends. I didn’t know it at the time, but there’s a name for that kind of support: mutual aid. Many

well-being. In Whistler, many of us who grew up in Western cultures get our first taste of a kind of basic mutual aid through those shared dinners, sofas to sleep on, and rides back from the hospital when we need them. But we stop short of the next part: of collaborating to change our collective circumstances so everyone can thrive. At least in my experience, as mine and my friends’ lives become more comfortable, we’re letting our brief experience of collective care fade into the rearview. Fewer people sleep on my couch, I give fewer rides to the airport, and show up on fewer doorsteps with treats to make someone’s hard day a little easier.

In our individualistic, capitalist culture, we default to solving our own personal problems of scarcity and instability without solving the collective ones. And we’re all the worse for it. We’re more isolated and overstretched and lonely, but because this is what our parents did, and their parents did before them, we don’t stop to question it. Our cultural conditioning prevents us from seeing what most people learn from a young age: we cannot thrive alone. I imagine that to people who have lived in cultures that practice mutual aid for their whole lives, we look shortsighted and selfish. There are plenty of those people here in Whistler, quietly working to hold each other up while fighting for a better community that meets everyone’s needs. It’s to our detriment when we choose not to see it, or forget too quickly our own experiences of caring for each other. I love living in a place where people care so much: about each other, and about what this community is and could be. We’re truly great at looking out for each other when the going gets tough and working hard to preserve the magic of our town. But I can see a Whistler where we don’t just care for each other when things are hard. Where instead we continuously lift each other up, demand more, and create the things we need, together, because we can. We may have a lot to learn, but we’ve got far more to gain. Lizi McLoughlin is a local non-profit leader, an average-but-enthusiastic mountain athlete, and an eternal optimist. n

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Andrew King

604.932.0703

5 | 4,330 SQFT

$5,395,000

Bob

Cameron*

604.935.2214

17 - 1530 Tynebridge Lane

25 - 4637 Blackcomb Way

305 - 4910 Spearhead Place

3D TOUR: rem.ax/17glades

3D TOUR: rem.ax/25snowberry

3D TOUR: rem.ax/305woodrun

The Glades - Spring Creek

TOWNHOUSE

Snowberry - Benchlands

CONDO

3 | 1,387 SQFT

Bruce

$1,875,000

604.905.0737

Watt

74 Black Tusk Drive

3 | 1,362 SQFT

$2,295,000

TIMESHARE

Dave

Beattie*

604.905.8855

315B - 2036 London Lane

Pinecrest

Woodrun - Benchlands

Legends - Whistler Creek

3D TOUR: rem.ax/74tusk

2 | 1,050 SQFT

$24,900

Dave

Sharpe

604.902.2779

16 Garibaldi Drive Black Tusk Village 3D TOUR: rem.ax/16garibaldi

CHALET

SHARED OWNER

5 | 3,128 SQFT

Denise

$1,830,000

604.902.2033

Brown

CHALET

1.5 | 723 SQFT

Laddie

4 | 2,152 SQFT

$269,000

604.603.7672

$1,949,880

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR OPEN HOUSES: TEXT Open to : 604.229.0067

Hannam

Laura

Barkman

604.905.8777