B.C.’s new carbon rules turn Cheakamus Community Forest into $600K windfall. - By Stefan Labbé
06 OPENING REMARKS While conspiracy theories are fun, sometimes, the strange thing in the sky is exactly what officials say it is, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers plead for mercy on parking, and call for changes to new lawful access legislation.
22 THE OUTSIDER In the wake of another Whismas, Vince Shuley breaks down some persistent mountain biking myths.
42 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST New federal funding for athletes and sports organizations should prioritize children and youth, writes David Song.
10 HOUSING HURDLES Whistler’s mayor and council granted a first-of-its-kind employee-housing exemption to a Lil’wat Nation development at a recent meeting.
11 GIVE AND TAKE As the Resort Municipality of Whistler continues its wildfire mitigation efforts, more residents are speaking out about tree-thinning impacts.
26 NIGHT MOVES Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum and 2026 Olympian Riley Seger talks retirement and what comes next.
30 ORIGINAL SIN The Point Artist-Run Centre’s Sin and Gin fundraiser featuring the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society is scheduled for May 22.
COVER Wishing my garden came with a paycheque! - By Jon Parris // Adobe AI // @jon.parris.art
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com
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Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Is the sky falling? No
THERE’S SOMETHING magnetic about a good conspiracy theory.
They can come in all sizes, about anything really—from the assassination of public figures to lizard people controlling geopolitics.
For some, it seems there is no conspiracy theory too outlandish, while
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
for most of us, there has to be at least some semblance of believability for us
Work at a newspaper, any newspaper, for an extended period of time, and you’ll no doubt hear some really good yarns. But there’s a certain subset of conspiracy theorist who surely must exist in every town.
Somewhere, in some lonely newsroom, the phone is probably ringing right now.
“I’ve finally got proof!” mine told me when he called back in 2015 or so, mumbling something about the trees.
Proof of what? I asked.
“That they’re spraying us!”
I don’t remember where the conversation went from there, only that I had heard this one before. Those long white streaks in the sky are more than airplane contrails—they’re chemtrails, they claim.
The chemtrail conspiracy is probably so common because it’s easy to bite on: clearly visible, and plausible enough (assuming you don’t bother asking why— that pesky little word that puts the boots to most conspiracy theories if you use it well enough).
The theory really gained altitude
in the late 1990s, built around the idea that governments or shadowy elites were secretly dispersing chemicals through aircraft for purposes ranging from weather and population control to mind manipulation.
Evidence has always been in short supply, while explanations for those streaks overhead have remained stubbornly mundane: they’re contrails, essentially ice crystals formed from aircraft exhaust at high altitude.
But like any good conspiracy theory, chemtrails possess two powerful ingredients: visible “evidence,” and an answer for everything. Ask why governments would supposedly spend untold billions secretly spraying citizens for decades (without ever being exposed by whistleblowers and leaving no documentation), and believers tend to have an explanation ready. It doesn’t matter if it makes a lick of sense.
To be fair, humanity’s history with
And that brings us to Whistler. If you’ve noticed more red and rustcoloured patches creeping across hillsides in recent summers, you’re not alone.
Western spruce budworm—a native insect whose caterpillars feed on Douglas fir and true fir needles—has been chewing its way through parts of the Sea to Sky for years now, much to the alarm and dismay of many a Pique reader. While outbreaks are a natural part of forest cycles, prolonged infestations can weaken or kill trees, leaving hillsides stressed, unsightly, and more vulnerable to wildfire.
Which is why provincial forestry officials are preparing to intervene.
This summer, the provincial government plans to tackle the Western spruce budworm infestation using Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki , or Btk—a naturally occurring soil bacterium commonly used in forestry and agriculture that targets caterpillars
spray feels like being caught between a rock and a hard place.
“I think that approach addresses people’s concerns with spraying (the rock) against the possibility of significant tree mortality if the infestation continues for a few more years (the hard place),” Beresford said in an email.
“Cast your mind ahead to a Whistler Valley with many/most of the secondgrowth Douglas firs dead... the concern over wildfire will go through the roof and then what do we do? Cut them all down? That’s why I am preferring to spray even though I know it will have a short-term (two to three years) impact on the moths and butterflies that ingest the Btk.”
Beresford added that not all of the valley is being sprayed—mainly midelevation along Rainbow, Sproatt and up the Callaghan—so most of the butterflies and moths in the valley won’t be affected. So if you spot airplanes or helicopters
“Cast your mind ahead to a Whistler Valley with many/most of the second-growth Douglas firs dead... the concern over wildfire will go through the roof and then what do we do?”
- HEATHER BERESFORD
aerial spraying is not spotless.
From DDT mosquito campaigns to the devastating legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam, history provides examples where chemicals dispersed from the sky turned out to carry risks far greater than originally understood.
Which is partly why transparency matters whenever aircraft starts flying low over forests carrying tanks of anything.
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while having limited effects on humans, pets, birds, fish, and most other insects.
Provincial aircraft will target four sites in the Whistler and Pemberton areas from June 1 to July 1 (read more at cheakamuscommunityforest.com, and check back with Pique for more in the weeks to come).
Heather Beresford, executive director of the Cheakamus Community Forest, says the decision on whether or not to
buzzing low over the forest in the coming weeks, rest assured the sky is not falling.
Nobody is trying to alter your DNA, control your thoughts, or turn Whistler’s bears gay. Odds are, someone is simply trying to stop a very real insect from chewing through local forests before an already wildfire-anxious future gets even more complicated.
Sometimes, the strange thing in the sky is exactly what officials say it is. n
Our taxes are astronomical, and many residents who live here year-round support businesses in town whose taxes are, too. How about cutting the residents of Whistler a break via a discounted monthly or yearly pass, with the requirement that we vacate the spot within 60 minutes?
Bill McCaig // Whistler
Canada’s Bill C-22 forces the wrong trade-off
Canadians should not have to trade digital privacy and cybersecurity for public safety.
Bill C-22, the federal government’s proposed lawful access legislation, is being presented as a tool for police investigations. I support lawful investigations. Police should be able to obtain specific evidence with proper judicial authorization.
But Bill C-22 goes much further than that. Part 2 would create a new law authorizing the government to require electronic service providers to build access capabilities, assist authorities, and retain certain types of metadata. This is not only about what police can obtain
in a specific investigation. It is also about what companies may be required to build, store, or make accessible ahead of time.
Bill C-22 is not simply a matter of Canada catching up to its allies. It brings together several of the most controversial lawful-access powers seen elsewhere: secret technical-access orders, compelled-assistance powers, metadata retention, and access infrastructure that can become a cybersecurity target.
In the United Kingdom, secret
technical-access powers reportedly led Apple to withdraw its strongest iCloud protection for new users rather than provide access to encrypted data.
In the United States, the Salt Typhoon cyberattack reportedly targeted systems used by telecom companies to support lawful wiretaps. Surveillance systems built for lawful access became targets for hostile actors.
Canada faces the same danger. Major technology companies and encrypted-
communications providers have warned that forced access rules could lead them to remove secure features or leave the Canadian market rather than compromise privacy protections. That would make Canadians less secure, not safer.
Metadata is not harmless. Requiring companies to retain more of it would create records of where people go, who they contact, when they are active, what services they use, and patterns of work, health, faith, politics, family life, and personal vulnerability. That risks creating a standing surveillance layer over people who are not suspected of wrongdoing.
Encryption is not a loophole. It protects families, businesses, journalists, hospitals, financial systems, and public institutions. The government says Bill C-22 will not require encryption backdoors. The law should say so clearly.
Parliament should delete or suspend Part 2 of Bill C-22. At minimum, the bill must be amended to prohibit encryption backdoors, remove or strictly limit metadata retention, raise thresholds for subscriber information, require transparency, and add independent oversight.
If this concerns you, contact our MP Patrick Weiler and ask him to oppose any version of Bill C-22 that weakens encryption, expands metadata surveillance, or undermines online anonymity.
Jason Drury // Whistler n
Lil’wat Nation workers to get employee housing carveout in Function development
COUNCIL DEBATED WHETHER THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EXEMPTION TO WHISTLER’S EMPLOYEE HOUSING RULES REPRESENTED RECONCILIATION IN ACTION OR A PRECEDENT-BREAKING CARVEOUT
BY LUKE FAULKS
WHISTLER COUNCIL has moved ahead with amendments to a Lil’wat Nationled mixed-use development in Function Junction, expanding the range of permitted commercial uses while also broadening eligibility for the project’s employeehousing units to include employees of the Nation and its related entities.
The May 12 decision sparked some debate among councillors over the firsttime change in eligibility for employee housing in Whistler, but was celebrated by the Nation.
“This significant change, which would allow Lilwat7úl to rent the housing outside of current employee-housing agreement restrictions, represents far more than providing additional housing,” Lil’wat Business Group (LBG) CEO Rosemary Stager-Wallace wrote in a letter supporting the amendments.
“This change [represents] a commitment to Lil’wat Nation reestablishing its presence on our Traditional Territory. It also exemplifies a commitment to social and economic reconciliation.”
The amendments apply to the Industrial Service Five (IS5) zoned portion of the Tseqwtsúqum̓ (“Chek-chookoom”) development site at the entrance to Function Junction, reclaimed by the Nation through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Legacy Lands Agreement.
LBG’s planned 5.3-acre development includes three mixed-use buildings featuring 72 employee-housing units alongside commercial and light
industrial space, including a planned neighbourhood grocery store. The project broke ground in October 2025.
A new intersection connecting Millar Creek Road to the highway is also planned in partnership with the Province of B.C.
PARKING CHANGES, GROCERY AND LIQUOR POSSIBILITIES
Council gave first, second and third readings to a zoning amendment for 1000 Alpha Lake Road at its May 12 meeting, while also rescinding and reissuing third reading for an updated housing agreement tied to the development.
According to a staff report, the changes will add “local service commercial” as a permitted use—opening the door to uses such as a grocery store, pharmacy, coffee shop, or liquor store.
Staff noted the changes would provide “needed retail choices and services” for Function Junction and nearby Cheakamus Crossing residents.
The bylaw amendments also revise parking requirements for the site after the addition of a grocery store and potential packaged liquor sales created a need for more non-residential parking. As a result, residential parking requirements have been reduced to one stall per unit.
The change that drew the sharpest council discussion involved the project’s revised definition of “employee.”
Under Whistler’s current zoning bylaw, employee-housing eligibility is generally limited to workers employed by businesses operating within municipal boundaries. Staff said that definition excluded many Lil’wat Nation employees, because the Nation’s businesses are administered from Mount Currie, north of Pemberton.
The amendment creates a sitespecific definition for the IS5 zone that also includes “persons employed by the
Lil’wat Nation or its related entities.”
Staff argued the change aligns with reconciliation objectives in Whistler’s Official Community Plan (OCP), including policies intended to support economic development opportunities and employee housing access for both the Líl’wat and Squamish Nations.
The amendments would not change the overall scale of the project, staff noted, nor add additional housing units beyond the previously approved 72-unit development.
COUNCIL DEBATE OVER EMPLOYEE EXEMPTIONS
Councillor Ralph Forsyth questioned whether the municipality had ever made similar eligibility exceptions for other developers. Tracy Napier, Whistler’s manager of development planning, responded she wasn’t aware of any previous exemptions.
“I suppose I’m the only one who has some discomfort at changing the housing covenants,” Forsyth said. “We’ve never done this for another developer before, and I don’t know if we would do it for any other developer. So I wonder why this is different?”
But the Lil’wat Nation is not just another developer, said Coun. Jen Ford.
“This isn’t just another guy with a hammer. This a community that has longstanding historical evidence that they lived here, live here, [and] will continue to live here,” she said.
“Every meeting we start with, ‘We are grateful to be here on the unceded and shared traditional territory of the Lil’wat known in their language as Lilwat7úl,’ Ford continued. “I think that we are putting our—it’s not even our money where our mouth is—we are standing in what we say every meeting. So I’m happy to have this debate with you, if this is about one developer or another, but this feels incredibly insensitive.”
Forsyth did not ultimately oppose the changes to the development, but cautioned against “picking winners and losers amongst the developers.”
“We are setting a precedent now for changing the rules to suit the whims of council,” he said.
Coun. Jeff Murl argued the amendment was broadly consistent with Whistler’s existing approach to employee housing, saying the municipality already supports developments intended to house local workers.
“We want employees to have a home here and be able to rent,” Murl said, adding the proposal also represented “the way we should be doing things in the future” as the municipality works toward reconciliation.
Mayor Jack Crompton also floated the possibility of expanding the exemption even further.
“I wonder if there’s an opportunity for us to include all members of the Lil’wat Nation, whether or not they’re employees,” Crompton said later in the discussion, suggesting such a move could better reflect the Nation’s historic connection to the territory. He noted the Nation was currently content with just pursuing the exemption for Lil’wat employees.
‘ACCESS TO MORE AFFORDABLE EMPLOYEE HOUSING’
Stager-Wallace’s letter similarly framed the amendments as part of a broader effort to reconnect Nation members with lands historically occupied by the Lil’wat people.
“For the vast majority of our community members, the idea of being able to live in Whistler and enjoy the mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers travelled by our Ancestors is not even a consideration,” she wrote.
“Access to more affordable employee housing would change that.”
GROUNDBREAKING
Lil’wat Nation’s Function Junction development broke ground last year.
Cypress Place residents press Whistler council over fuel-thinning near Highway 99
MUNICIPAL STAFF SAY THINNING WILL STAY OFF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND FOCUS ON REMOVING UNDERSTORY ALONG HIGHWAY 99
BY LUKE FAULKS
SOME WHISTLER residents are asking the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) for an on-site meeting before planned fuel management work begins near their Cypress Place homes in June, warning the project could remove too much vegetation from a narrow corridor between the Valley Trail and Highway 99.
In a letter to Mayor Jack Crompton and councillors Arthur De Jong and Jen Ford, Johanna Waterous wrote that residents only learned of the planned work on May 5.
“We all recognize the critical importance of preventative measures against the growing threat of wildfires, and securing routes for emergency vehicles and evacuations for the entire Whistler community,” the letter reads. “We appreciate that appropriate, balanced tree-thinning is an important part of these measures.”
But Waterous said residents are concerned about the “proposed extent and approach” to the work, arguing it could have an “immediate and potentially catastrophic impact” on their properties, as well as a negative impact for Valley Trail users.
The letter asks council to support “an immediate meeting on-site to understand exactly the extent and approach to any tree-thinning and clearance and agree what mitigations will be taken to address our concerns.”
According to the RMOW’s project page, the fuel-thinning in question will run from Nicklaus North Boulevard/ Cypress Place to Mons Crossing, is scheduled to begin June 1 and will run approximately two weeks.
‘TOO MUCH IS BEING TAKEN’
The issue also came up during the public comment period at council’s May 12 meeting, when Alpine resident Marcia Meszaros, a property manager for one Cypress homeowner, spoke to council about her concerns tied to fuel management along Highway 99 and the Cypress Place area.
Meszaros said residents are looking for clarity on “what’s going to be removed” and whether anything will be planted afterward. She also told council some residents are seeking legal advice.
“There is concern based on fuel management that has happened in other neighbourhoods along the highway, that too much is being done, too much is being taken and that’s basically where we’re at right now,” she said. “So all we’re asking for is the ability to have communication with
whomever is in charge that is doing this.”
The residents’ written concerns go beyond privacy and visual impacts. The letter argues mature coniferous and deciduous trees in the area are a “precious and irreplaceable natural resource,” while vegetation between the trail and highway acts as a buffer against noise, headlights and air pollution.
Residents also raised concerns about invasive species, flooding and the lack of a replanting plan, suggesting the municipality consider “green fire breaks” using semimature deciduous trees and shrubs.
“We reiterate that we understand the importance of the planned fuelmanagement work for Whistler and the broader community,” the letter reads. “We are asking for an approach that acknowledges and balances our concerns as property owners versus what may otherwise be an expedient but ultimately more destructive course.”
STAFF SAY WORK WILL STAY ON MUNICIPAL LAND
RMOW general manager of climate action, planning and development services Dale Mikkelsen said Whistler’s fuel-thinning program is federally funded, prescribed annually and already underway in other parts of the community. Cypress Place work is planned to begin June 1.
“We only do that on municipal lands. We do not touch privately owned lands,” Mikkelsen said.
He noted the Valley Trail sits within a statutory right-of-way on private property, with another buffer of trees on private property beyond that. The municipal work, he said, is planned for the buffer between the property line and Highway 99.
“We continue to learn year over year from the work that we do,” Mikkelsen said. “We know we had some concerns raised last year, particularly in the Emerald community, and so we are working to ensure that we manage more sensitively [to] try to leave as much deciduous material as we can for privacy screens.”
Mikkelsen said crews do not remove large trees or covenanted trees, and the work is focused on removing understory, “primarily coniferous trees,” that can help fire move into the canopy.
“There is an immediate visual impact, 100 per cent, we can’t we can’t duck that reality,” he said. “But when we’re trying to protect our only north, south, emergency access and egress, we feel the work is important, and we do it as sensitively as we can. And we do not do it on private land.”
Council carried the motion to receive and refer the Cypress Place correspondence to staff.
Read more online. n
WHISTLER |S QUAMIS H| NO RT HS HORE |V ANCOUVE R| OKANAGAN
Whistler first responders stage car crash for Whistler Secondary students
FIRST RESPONDERS STAGED A FULL EMERGENCY TO SHOW STUDENTS THE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPAIRED AND DISTRACTED DRIVING
BY LUKE FAULKS
ON A SUNNY Spring afternoon, the Whistler Secondary School (WSS) parking lot was transformed—with a wrecked car, bits of fencing and a tall shrub—into the scene of a staged impaired-driving crash.
The mock collision, held May 12, brought together the Whistler RCMP detachment, Whistler Fire Rescue Service, BC Emergency Health Services, ICBC, Whistler Victim Services and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for an emergency response scenario meant to show students how quickly a bad decision behind the wheel can ripple outward.
“This is a controlled environment, but it’s been designed to replicate a scene that demonstrates the significant impact of distracted and impaired driving,” Cpl. Katrina Boehmer told students before the exercise began. “They’re going to be treating this like a real-life tragedy. So you’re going to see some intensity that you would see with a severe trauma incident.”
CREWS TREAT THE SCENE LIKE A REAL CRASH
The scenario began with a staff member posing as a cyclist who came upon the
crash and called 911.
“There’s been a crash. It looks really bad,” the caller said in the staged call to emergency services. “This car smashed into a tree and went through a fence.”
Inside the vehicle were students from WSS’ drama program, playing the roles of injured passengers. One student posed as the driver, another as a frontseat passenger trapped in the wreckage, while others played passengers with less serious injuries.
Fire crews were the first major
response students watched unfold.
Whistler Fire Chief Thomas Doherty narrated as firefighters approached the vehicle, first performing what he described as an “outer circle” to scan for hazards like hydro lines or other dangers before moving closer to the car.
The demonstration then moved into a prolonged extrication. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle, taped and broke windows, removed glass, cut into the car and used hydraulic tools—including the Jaws of Life—to create space around the
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trapped passenger.
“It’s very frightening inside the vehicle,” Doherty said. “It’s very noisy with all the extrication tools, glass breaking.”
Paramedics then walked students through how they would triage several patients, co-ordinate with fire crews and prepare for possible helicopter transport to a major trauma centre. In the mock scenario, the trapped passenger had spinal deficits and an open fracture (expertly rendered with a fake bone poking through the student’s leg), requiring responders to move slowly and communicate carefully.
Once the emergency response wrapped, police turned the focus to the investigation.
Officers explained how collision investigators would photograph the scene, look for skid marks, measure debris fields, seize vehicles and download vehicle data to help determine speed, braking, steering and other factors.
The impaired-driving portion followed, with students watching as the driver was questioned and given a breath sample. In the scenario, police said the driver failed the roadside test and would be arrested for impaired operation.
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CRASH COURSE Crews begin assessing the scene and preparing the passenger for extraction.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
Whistler Food Bank sets $100K fundraising goal
THE WHISTLER COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY IS IN NEED OF DONATIONS TO SUPPORT HEAVILY-USED FOOD BANK SERVICES
BY DAVID SONG
THE WHISTLER Community Services Society (WCSS) is throwing its weight behind the Whistler Food Bank program and hopes locals will join the effort.
A fundraising goal of $100,000 has been set for 2026 to support Food Bank operations. Last year the Food Bank logged more than 20,000 visits, a notable uptick in demand compared to pre-pandemic years. This rise in usage reflects a longer-term trend, with visitation increasing by approximately 600 per cent since 2019.
WCSS executive director Jackie Dickinson identified rising housing costs, affordability pressures, injuries, illness and scattershot work hours as key factors that generate food instability in the Sea to Sky area.
“Food insecurity in Whistler continues to affect more people than many realize, including working individuals, families with children, seniors and longtime residents who are struggling with the rising cost of housing, groceries, transportation and child care,” Dickinson explained. “Behind every statistic is a real person living in our
community: parents, seniors aging in place, people living with disabilities and families doing their best to keep up with the rising cost of living.
“The Whistler Food Bank is seeing record levels of demand, and community support is essential to ensuring we can continue to provide nutritious food and meaningful support to our neighbours.”
WCSS provides service in multiple languages, food delivery for people with limited mobility and a child-friendly environment that caters to families. The organization also strives to do more than just solve the immediate problems of people in need.
“WCSS embraces a human-centred, wraparound approach to care, and continues to expand support for seniors aging in place and new families in the community,” said Dickinson. “While someone may first access support through the Food Bank, our team works closely with Outreach Services in the same building to connect people with mental-health support, programs for new parents, financial assistance to help children attend camps and sports activities, tax filing support and other essential services that strengthen community well-being.”
Donations allow WCSS to maximize
its existing budget, purchase food in bulk, respond to changing needs quickly and maintain consistent access to healthy meals for locals. Dickinson emphasized that each financial contribution has a direct impact, and even seemingly small amounts donated can add up to tangibly improve the daily lives of Whistlerites.
The Food Bank operates each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 8000 Nesters Road. Visit mywcss.org/fundraiser to donate, or to learn more. n
MOCK EMERGENCY FROM PAGE 14
‘THE MEMORY NEVER GOES AWAY’
The afternoon’s most emotional remarks came from MADD volunteers, who spoke after the staged rescue wrapped. Marita Maas said the sound of sirens during the simulation still affected her years after she was hit head-on by an impaired driver.
“We like to call ourselves survivors of impaired driving, not victims,” she said. “I know first-hand what that feels like. And actually, when the first responders pulled up and I heard the sirens, I got goosebumps, even though it’s been many years.”
Maas said she had a two-year-old and an eight-month-old at the time of the crash.
“My own kids are in high school now and university, but they almost grew up without a mother,” she said. “I was alone in that car. Thankfully, none of my kids were with me.”
She described a long list of injuries: a broken femur, a shattered pelvis, a broken arm, damage to her eye socket and a hole in her skull. The driver who hit her, she said, had five previous impaired-driving infractions. “It changed my life,” she said.
Bob Rorison, also with MADD, left students with a direct warning.
“If you’ve had a drink, if you’ve used some marijuana or any other thing, do not get in that car,” he said. “If you know the person that’s driving that car has used something, don’t get in that car ...
“If you can prevent somebody from impaired driving, keep their keys, do anything, talk to them, but do not let them get in the car, because they will destroy their lives, and they’ll destroy every other life,” he added. “You guys have your whole life ahead of you, and I want you to make the most of it.” n
Whistler’s École La Passerelle, explained
THE RESORT’S SOLE FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS WITH FRENCH LANGUAGE IN THE FAMILY TO SIGN UP
BY LUKE FAULKS
IN THE LATE 1980S, Whistler resident Claire Kingzet was looking to have her children educated in French. The challenge was that, at the time, the resort municipality lacked a dedicated Francophone school.
So, she worked to get the provincial Ministry of Education and local school district on side and, in 1990, Whistler became home to Programme Cadre. The French-language program opened with just 12 students spanning kindergarten through Grade 7, taught by Dominique Joyal.
The standalone École La Passerelle formally emerged in 1995 following the creation of the Conseil Scolaire Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), or School District 93, before later relocating from a building beside the Whistler Village fire hall after Spring Creek Community School opened in 2004.
Today, the school serves roughly 60 students.
But despite its decades-long history in the resort municipality, principal Diane Payette said misconceptions about the school persist—including confusion over whether it’s part of the Sea to Sky
School District’s French immersion program, whether it’s a private school, or whether it will eventually close due to the construction of a new francophone school in Pemberton.
Here’s the skinny on Whistler’s École La Passerelle.
DIFFERENT FROM FRENCH IMMERSION
Payette said one of the largest points of confusion stems from the distinction between francophone education and French immersion.
“French immersion is a program that is offered by anglophone school boards [for] their students who want to learn French,” she explained. “Our school board teaches the whole curriculum in French, so we’re not a language acquisition program. The same way anglophones have the curriculum in English, we have the curriculum in French.”
Unlike most school districts in B.C., which operate regionally, the CSF functions as a province-wide school district with schools spread across the province, from Victoria and Vancouver to Prince George and Terrace.
Francophone schools in B.C. operate under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees
minority-language education rights to eligible French-speaking Canadians.
Unlike French immersion programs— which are optional language-learning streams run through anglophone school districts—the CSF system exists to provide French-language education equivalent to what anglophone students receive elsewhere in the province.
“It’s the sole idea of equal access to quality education,” Payette said. “No matter how many students you have, these students should have access to the same quality of education as nonfrancophone students.”
Francophone education in B.C. is intended for children with at least one French-fluent parent or “ayant-droits”— families with French-language heritage who qualify for minority-language educational rights under the Charter.
Payette said many eligible families may not realize they qualify, particularly for the ayant-droits category.
She pointed to examples where a grandparent may have attended a French-language school elsewhere in Canada before the family relocated to another province where francophone schooling was unavailable.
“The language and the culture was being lost because of lack of access,”
Payette said. “So that’s very much part of our mission, is to promote French language, whether it’s alive in the family or whether it’s been a little bit lost.”
‘NO PLANS FOR THE SCHOOL TO CLOSE’
Payette is also speaking out about concerns that families may incorrectly assume École La Passerelle is being folded into the new École La Vallée school in Pemberton, or affected by changes to French immersion enrolment elsewhere in the Sea to Sky corridor.
“There has been no plan for the school to close,” Payette said. “There has been no plan for our kids to be driven up and down the highway to go to another municipality.”
She stressed that schools within the CSF system serve distinct geographic catchments.
“For us, our catchment is the municipality of Whistler, and for Pemberton, it’s the village of Pemberton,” she said.Though École La Passerelle currently shares a building with Spring Creek Community School, Payette said the long-term vision within the CSF is for schools to eventually operate from their own facilities.
Read the full story online. n
Pemberton and District Museum preps for a busy 2026 season
THE LOCAL HISTORICAL HUB IS THROWING OPEN ITS DOORS ON JUNE 2, WITH A SEASON KICK-OFF CONCERT WITH THE HAIRFARMERS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 21
BY HILARY ANGUS
THE PEMBERTON and District Museum is busy dusting off the shelves before its season opener on June 2.
The local history headquarters will feature many of the exhibits and events the community knows and loves such as the Toonie Tea Tuesdays, as well as a new agricultural exhibit documenting Spud Valley’s evolution as a farming community.
“We’re really excited about the movement that’s happening,” said Charmaine Carpenter, the museum’s executive director.
The agricultural display will be built as a permanent exhibit in the John Arn Cabin, which was moved onto the site in 2021 and has so far only been used
for events.
It will be developed over the course of the 2026 season, enabling guests to observe the space as it grows, and as pieces of the valley’s agricultural past are pulled together from the archive and the community.
“We are just moving things around, so as pieces of our other exhibits that are about agriculture are moved out, then that allows us to evolve those spaces as well,” Carpenter said.
The new exhibit will also feature information about local Indigenous communities and their interactions with agriculture in the valley.
“It will probably take the whole season for all of that to come into a full fruition, or have the story completely unfold, but we are hoping that in the next month, people will still at least be able to poke their heads in and see how it’s developing,” she said.
In addition to the new exhibit, the museum is continuing to work on a significant capital project to build a fully accessible, winterized washroom so it
can offer accessible year-round events.
“Disability in many heritage museums is a complicated issue, because if you have a heritage building, you don’t want to alter it, but at the same time, then it’s not accessible,” Carpenter said.
“This new washroom will have the look of an older building, and it’ll match the aesthetic of the site but will be completely accessible.”
To support the rebuild, the museum is hosting an annual Season Kick-Off Fundraiser event on June 21 with The Hairfarmers.
The two-part event will feature family-friendly games and activities from noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the afternoon events is $5, and free for children aged five and under.
The evening will pick up at 6 p.m. with an outdoor concert by The Hairfarmers, a bar, and a silent auction. Early bird tickets for the evening are already on sale for $25, and all proceeds from the event will go to support the washroom rebuild.
“We’d love to pack out the museum.
It’s an outdoor concert, so it’s a ton of fun,” Carpenter said.
Early-bird tickets for the event are available online at zeffy.com/ en-CA/ticketing/2026-season-kick-offhairfarmers-concert.
For regular visitors to the museum, opening hours will be Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from June 2 through to the end of October.
The museum will also open on Mondays from noon until 5 p.m. during the peak summer season in July and August.
The popular Toonie Tea Tuesdays, where guests can enjoy homemade treats with live music, history talks, and readings, will run on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., from July through September.
“It’s a really exciting year for us, there’s a lot of big changes,” Carpenter said, adding that they continue to be extremely grateful to the SquamishLillooet Regional District, its Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services committee, and the wider community for their ongoing support. n
HISTORICAL HUB The Pemberton and District Museum opens for the season June 2.
All I want for Whismas
THIS PAST MONDAY , Whistler Blackcomb (WB) finally took the ski season off life support. I’m impressed we made it that far, both the company doing its best to keep runs open and skiers keepin’ skiin’. Some years, you get surprise winter resurrections in the first half of May. This was not one of those years. But for the final weekend of the ski lifts turning, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least give it a send-off (or the kiss of death for 2025-26). So when a friend invited me for a WB dual-sport day (ski
BY VINCE SHULEY
slush in the morning, ride the bike park in the afternoon), I said why the hell not. With the lower mountain already in summer mode and the Whistler alpine shut down for snow operations, the only access to the mountain was via the Blackcomb Gondola. The ride up did not paint a great picture for spring skiing, but once we stepped out next to the Rendezvous, it actually looked OK. Laps on Jersey Cream skied excellently, as did 7th Heaven (if you had the patience to traverse the mountain on a shrinking lane of peppered brown snow). Just being up there and activating the skiing muscle memory once more before hanging up the planks… That reminded
me of how much fun I had skiing my local hill this season, despite all the weather challenges.
After swapping the skis for bikes (dual-sport day needs a bit of gear logistics), the second part of my Sunday was spent lapping the Fitzsimmons Chair, which continues to impress mountain bikers with how quickly it can devour a lineup that trickles down towards the old Zog’s. That important lift upgrade means I’m spending less time in the line and more time riding some of the finest trails in the world.
When I have this much fun riding my mountain bike, I wonder why more
runs in on every visit, visit at least 20 evenings a summer. That’s an average of 1.25 evening visits per week, which isn’t too hard when you live locally. With my commute from the northern end of Squamish now in the equation (this gets easier once Creekside Gondola opens for bikes), 20 evenings would be ideal.
So with that math, with an early bird price of $441 for a Twilight Pass (including tax), that works out to $22.05 per evening, or $7.35 per run if I conservatively only get three runs in per evening. If you’ve ever had a stellar run down one of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s world-class trails, you’ll
After swapping the skis for bikes (dual-sport day needs a bit of gear logistics), the second part of my Sunday was spent lapping the Fitzsimmons Chair…
people don’t ride the bike park more often. To state my case, I’ll do my best to bust the following myths.
ANOTHER EXPENSIVE SEASON PASS TO BUY
Yes, the pass is not cheap and it keeps nudging a bit more expensive every year. I still think the Twilight Pass is the best bang for your local buck, especially if you intend to ride trails throughout the valley and/or you work full-time. I tend to look at the value of my Twilight Pass by having the minimum runs, minimum days rule: get at least three
agree that even in this economy, that’s $7.35 well spent. Especially when you chalk up how much you need to invest into purchasing and maintaining your mountain bike.
IT’S ALL BRAKING BUMPS AND REPETITIVE TRAILS
Yes, these corrugated monstrosities are a real challenge for the bike park trail team to keep ironing out. They form in high-traffic parts of flow trails, where— you guessed it—riders brake excessively. The remedy is quite easy. Either ride different trails (I tend to opt for more
rocky and technical trails in summer heat when braking bumps are at their worst) or look for a different line on the trail where the bumps are less prominent. These lines do exist, you just have to experiment with your approach. Which brings me to the repetition. There’s a reason people learn to ski in resorts and not the backcountry. Mileage, mileage, mileage. Exploring new trails on your bike is a big reason many of us enter the sport. But if you want to get faster, more skilled at cornering and more confident to launch that side hit, the most efficient way is to keep lapping the trail until you notice a difference.
RIDING BIKE PARK IS AN INJURY WAITING TO HAPPEN
This one is the hardest to defend. I’ve had some of my biggest crashes in the bike park because I was confidently riding at speeds I wouldn’t be risking on other trails. But like any risk in the mountain sports we love to do, it can be managed. The aforementioned repetition can lead to over confidence, but you just need to check your speed (or severity of the feature) to your skill level sometimes. If you’re not comfortable, back off and work your confidence back up again. Or better yet, get a lesson. I’ve made years worth of progress in a single weekend of coaching from Whistler Mountain Bike Park guides. High mileage coupled with sage instruction to improve your skills? That’s how you break through in your biking.
It’s bike park season. Go get it.
Vince Shuley had a great Whismas. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail. com or Instagram @whis_vince. n
WHISMAS TIME The skill and mileage you gain riding the Whistler Mountain Bike Park can outweigh the risk of injury.
carbon was in them. The data was then used to estimate how much carbon was present per hectare in each forest plot.
The recently published results were striking. In second-growth forests, thinning was found to have significantly reduced the fuel load in the forest understory while leaving overall carbon pools intact.
Fire-resistant deciduous species like willows and alders flourished in the newly opened spaces, their water-rich limbs adding another layer of protection.
Gary Bull, a professor emeritus of forestry at UBC, said the CCF’s apparent success in limiting wildfire risks was welcome news.
“The risk of wildfire up around Whistler is just unbelievable,” he said. “I’m thrilled that they were able to put it into place.”
Simard said their findings come with some important trade-offs. While biodiversity in the understory increased, thinning trees and leaving behind more high-value Douglas firs led to a decline in tree diversity. That could make the forest more vulnerable to pests or climate change, the study found.
“In this case, it was definitely worth it,” Simard added. “You reduce the fire risk. You increase biodiversity on the ground. And you didn’t lose carbon pools.”
Cheakamus looking to boost carbon credits
Thinning a forest’s smaller trees is a common technique used worldwide to promote the growth of bigger trees, increase harvest rotations and make more money. But the practice’s impact on ecosystems and forest carbon stores has been less clear, according to Simard.
In the Cheakamus Community Forest, the study found success hinged on how carefully the work was done. Unlike intensive thinning operations near Nelson and Smithers, where research has found heavy machinery damaged ecosystems, Simard said managers of the Whistler-area forest appear to have largely avoided collateral damage to the forest floor.
Clearcut forest plots told a much different story. Compared to intact old-growth forests, the clearcut plots were found to have lost 42 per cent of their total carbon.
“When you clear cut the trees, you basically lose all of that above-ground carbon pool,” Simard said.
Beresford said the UBC study has pushed the CCF to plant a greater diversity of fire-resistant trees in a way that creates a more natural forest beyond Douglas fir, the coast’s traditional “money-maker.”
The potential is significant. In 2023, the research firm Brinkman Earth Systems
carried out modelling on the Cheakamus forest. Its conclusion: the community forest could match its traditional harvest revenue by logging just one-third of its legal limit and making up the difference through carbon credit sales.
Beresford said the resort municipality and its two Indigenous partners are seeking to take the CCF’s carbon offset project to the next level. While the community forest has had a moratorium on old-growth logging since 2021, it is now looking at shortening its five-year audit cycle to open up a new tranche of carbon offsets.
Cheakamus would continue to offer an “extremely conservative” number of carbon credits and avoid risks of “greenwashing” by only selling offsets in forests that are truly protected from logging, she added.
“What Saudi Arabia is to oil, B.C. is to carbon,” said Beresford, noting the province’s potential. “I still don’t understand why we are the only community forest in B.C. doing it.”
This story is the first in a two-part series. Up next: communities that found B.C.’s carbon credit protocol leads to a dead end. n
Partial retention harvesting in the Brandywine Valley, part of the Cheakamus Community Forest. The group, which is co-managed by Whistler, Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation, now makes more money selling carbon credits than from harvesting.
PHOTO BY HEATHER BERESFORD
‘I was ready to go on into the next chapter’
WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB ALUM AND 2026 OLYMPIAN RILEY SEGER ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT IN EARLY APRIL
BY DAVID SONG
RILEY SEGER believes the greatest victory of his ski career is represented by the people he has shared it with.
His longtime Alpine Canada teammates are some of his best friends. His older brother, two-time Olympian Brodie Seger, has been everything from a rival to a role model to a familiar roommate on the road. His coaches have taught him plenty. The Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) is what helped shape him, and where he occasionally mentors young athletes.
As Riley rides off into the sunset, he will miss pushing out of start gates across various elite World Cup tracks. He understands how special it was to travel around the globe with his peers for a living. Truth be told, he’s disappointed in his lone Olympic performance this February where he couldn’t finish the super-G in Bormio, Italy.
Even so, the 29-year-old realizes that it is time to move on.
“I know I can do a lot better, but I realistically thought: I also have different priorities now,” Riley said. “[The Olympics] felt like a bit of a natural finish line. I evaluated everything honestly and it seemed like … I was ready to go on into the next chapter. I’m studying to pass my level 3 [Chartered Financial Analyst] exam in August because I do not want to have to take that thing twice.”
A self-professed math nerd, Riley has always enjoyed dealing with numbers. Having been supported by many as a skier, he now wants to help others achieve their financial goals while using the work ethic and time-management skills he’s learned to tackle a challenging field.
FRIENDLY COMPETITION
Riley had his first brush with Whistler’s ski-school programs at a young age. He progressed alongside Brodie and another national-level teammate, Cameron Alexander, and fell in love with the
adrenaline of racing at about 12 years old. Years in the WMSC fold elevated him to the BC Ski Team and eventually the Canadian development pipeline.
As a young adult, Riley earned four Nor-Am Cup wins and made his World Cup debut in October 2019 in Sölden, Austria. Placing 22nd two years later in Beaver Creek, Colo. netted the younger Seger his first World Cup points, and his first top-10 result came in 2023 at an Aspen super-G event.
Between his milestones in Sölden and Aspen, Riley was also a full-time student and varsity athlete at Montana State University from which he graduated with
a finance degree.
Riley feels blessed to have an older sibling who walked a very similar path in life. Brodie, two years his senior, modelled what was necessary for success at each level of athletics: from the BC Team to Nor-Ams to the World Cup and beyond. They’ve spent months on end together while in-season for the past decade, and never fail to push each other forward.
“Something you could almost more broadly put towards our whole team is ‘friendly competition.’ Everybody wants to win,” commented Riley. “I always want to beat Brodie. He always wants to beat me. I also want to beat all my teammates
and they all want to beat me—but at the end of the day, we’re all best friends. We also want the other person to be better and to have the best chance of achieving their own goals.”
Alas, Riley did fall short at the two biggest events of his life. He was 20th at last year’s World Championships in Saalbach, Austria where he spent half his run trying to find a rhythm. In Bormio, he missed a gate.
CHAMPIONS IN LIFE AND SPORT
Fortunately, the Olympics still proved to be unforgettable.
Because he didn’t compete in the downhill event, Riley got to partake in the opening ceremony and walk behind Canadian flagbearer Marielle Thompson, a fellow Whistlerite. Olympic kits awaited him and his peers in their hotel rooms. The men’s alpine skiers were somewhat isolated from the rest of the Games due to their location in Bormio, but Riley still felt proud to represent his nation each time he saw the Olympic rings around town.
His presence will be missed.
“When we got into this sport, we had no idea how big of a part of our lives it would become or where it would take us,” Brodie wrote on Instagram. “So many years later, we had the incredible opportunity to represent Canada on the Olympic stage together. We grew from sibling rivalry to teammates, pushing each other to be better the whole way. It’s not going to be the same without the Rileyman around, but I’m a proud brother and can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. Big things I’m sure!”
Riley knows that if and when he needs help at any point, he can call on virtually anybody in his ski community for a favour—a rare privilege indeed.
“The [WMSC] motto is ‘’building champions in life and in sport,’ and I think with my peers they’ve definitely succeeded,” he said. “That’s something extremely special and I’ll always be thankful to the club for cultivating that environment.” n
TURNING THE PAGE Whistler Mountain Ski Club alum Riley Seger in action.
PHOTO BY JÜRGEN KLECHA
Whistler Golf Club general manager Alan Kristmanson gives renovation update
THE VENUE IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO RE-OPEN IN JULY 2027
BY DAVID SONG
AS MOST LOCAL golfers already know, the Whistler Golf Club shuttered on Sept. 2 of last year to accommodate $10 million worth of renovations.
The venue had been operating since 1983 and was already far beyond the usual 25-year lifespan of key infrastructure like irrigation and drainage systems. Other, more subtle changes are also taking place: four decades of people hitting bunker shots have altered the shape of certain greens by accumulating sand upon them. Since Whistler’s climate fosters a short growing season, Club decision-makers elected to close until midsummer 2027 for this major project.
A new irrigation mainline (the pipe that transports water from its source and throughout the course) has been installed, with the new system expected to allow superintendent Andrew Arseneault to use much less water than before in caring for the turf.
Largely favourable spring weather has also enabled crews to progress on what is known as rough shaping: giving the fairways some contours and finalizing underground infrastructure.
When all is done, the Club will boast a redesigned Hole No. 3, 4, 8 and 12, new tee complexes for improved playability, innovative bunker designs, enhanced fairways to facilitate higher turf quality and a renovated Palmer’s Gallery Bar and Grill.
“We’re not changing the layout of the golf course. Everybody loves the walkability of it, but we are going to make a few significant changes,” explained general manager Alan Kristmanson.
“Equipment has changed a lot since the ‘80s so a few things safety-wise: we’re moving the 12th green left because the golf ball’s flying so much further. From a layout and a walkability standpoint, you won’t see changes, but you’re going to see much bigger tee complexes, re-imagined greens, re-imagined bunkers.
“We’re working on the interior of Palmer’s—that name may change, it may not—and our outdoor patio. We’ll have
a new head chef, a new menu and we’re going to potentially keep it open yearround. We’re also putting in a new snack shack right by the first tee.”
MAINTAINING
PALMER’S LEGACY
Charged with helming the renovation process is Thad Layton, formerly Arnold Palmer Course Design’s lead architect. Layton has overseen prolific work done at venues like the Saticoy Club, Naples Lakes Country Club, Seattle Golf Club and more.
“Working with Alan and his team on this comprehensive plan has been a pleasure. This renovation will be a true transformation while staying true to Arnold Palmer’s original Canadian design,” he said in a release.
Kristmanson is likewise pleased with Layton’s professionalism and savvy design ideas, remarking: “The thing that was really important to me was the Palmer legacy. I felt it was important to have somebody that understood his overall philosophies and obviously knew our golf course well, having been out here a few times. [Thad’s] been amazing. He’s open to feedback from me from a playability and golfer standpoint … and he lives in Denver so he’s a mountain guy who understands our mountain culture.”
The Club has set a very tentative re-opening date of July 1 next year, but weather will dictate how the rest of the renovations unfold. Kristmanson and his peers remain in touch with their clientele and have gotten mostly positive feedback in-person and on social media.
“None of us want to be closed for a year,” said Kristmanson. “We know how much that impacts the golf community, but at the same time, they also understand we do have an aging asset and infrastructure is really important to reinvest in. Obviously it’s an inconvenience for them this year, and we completely understand that … but everyone’s made their alternate golf plans and now they’re all just really, really excited to see how we’re moving along here.”
Visit whistlergolf.com/renovationupdate for more details. n
GREEN MACHINE Workers renovating the Whistler Golf Club this spring.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN KRISTMANSON
Wild Blue keeps its crown as Whistler’s top table
PARTNER NEIL HENDERSON SAYS VANCOUVER MAGAZINE AWARD REFLECTS A STAFF CULTURE BUILT AROUND CONSISTENCY, HOSPITALITY AND SUSTAINABLE SOURCING
BY LUKE FAULKS
FOR THE SECOND straight year, Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar has been named Best Restaurant in Whistler by Vancouver Magazine.
For owner and restaurant director Neil Henderson, the latest award is less about personal recognition than validation for the team behind the restaurant’s rapid ascent.
“It’s just the overwhelming feeling of being so, so proud of what the team has accomplished,” Henderson said in an interview with Pique. “And it’s a real testament to the team, their passion, their training, their self-learning [that] the award is just a reflection of them.”
Since opening in 2022, Wild Blue has quickly accumulated accolades, including a DiRōNA Award of Excellence and recognition from Wine Spectator for its wine program. The restaurant also earned an honourable mention for Best Wine Program in an Upscale Restaurant at the Vancouver International Wine Festival.
In its awards writeup, Vancouver Magazine described Wild Blue as a place where “locals and tourists alike flock,” praising its “elegantly designed room” and recommending diners pair the sablefish with the house-made linguine to create a “forever memory with someone special.”
‘AN ELEVATED EXPERIENCE’
That polished experience—equal parts luxury destination and local haunt—has been central to Wild Blue’s identity from the start.
“I think the key points would be that we aspire to be the best for somebody’s night out,” Henderson said. “First and foremost, we’ve got Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine. We focus on sustainable seafood and premium steaks. We have an award-winning wine program, and our focus is in a really
warm, hospitable and kind service.”
At the same time, Henderson noted the restaurant has tried to avoid becoming inaccessible or overly formal.
“We’re definitely looking to work within an elevated environment and an elevated experience, but we also offer something for our visiting guests, but also the locals alike,” he said. “In the off-seasons, we have a different style of menu and a local offering that is compelling. And in the winter, [we’re] striving to perform at a really luxury level that is completely what Whistler guests are looking for internationally.”
Wild Blue’s menu—guided by Pacific Northwest ingredients with French and Italian coastal influences—was shaped in part by partner and chef Alex Chen, Henderson said.
“Alex’s cuisine was a fresh offering of the highest calibre,” he said. “He really brought to life that sustainable seafood focus on British Columbia, but also with elements of French and Italian coastal regions as influences, and looking for just that excellent, really consistent execution.”
Chen echoed that philosophy in a
release announcing the award.
“Our focus has always been on thoughtful sourcing and precise execution, creating a dining experience that feels elevated but still connected to this place,” he said. “To see that resonate is very rewarding for the entire team.”
‘THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY BEHIND EVERY ELEMENT’
That sourcing philosophy extends beyond buzzwords, Henderson added, shaping everything from the seafood suppliers Wild Blue works with to the seasonality of its menu.
“There’s always a story behind every element,” he said. “Making sure that we’re using sustainably sourced bluefin tuna when wild is unavailable, but there’s some very, very high-quality farms. If it’s salmon, we’re using it very much seasonally. If it’s halibut, we’re using it seasonally. And when the season’s over, we stop using those.
“Our menu evolves as we roll through the winter, spring, summer and back into the fall again.”
Henderson repeatedly returned to staff culture as the backbone of
the restaurant’s success, describing hospitality less as technical execution and more as a mindset.
“The team is key. It’s the absolute core,” he said. “They are the ones delivering on the day-to-day. They are the ones reflecting that creativity and drive and passion and kindness.
“In my experience, one of the key traits is finding staff members that genuinely enjoy looking after others,” he added. “They’re keen to learn, they’re keen to be taught, but they’re also fundamentally just kind.”
Despite the growing pile of awards, Henderson said the original vision for Wild Blue was never centred on recognition.
“The aspiration at the beginning wasn’t focused on awards,” he said. “The focus was creating this environment where guests are centred, peak hospitality, consistent, creative culinary execution, highly responsive to guest feedback and always having high expectations of the team.
“But the awards have been a lovely addition and a lovely testament to what the team has achieved.”
‘WHISTLER OPERATES AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL’
More broadly, Henderson believes the recognition also reflects the strength of Whistler’s restaurant scene as a whole.
Wild Blue was announced ahead of perennial Whistler heavyweights Il Caminetto and Red Door Bistro, which claimed silver and bronze, respectively, while Lorette Brasserie and Araxi earned honourable mentions.
“I’m extremely proud of our community of restaurants that we have in Whistler,” he said. “Whistler operates at an extremely high level.
“I’ve been to other resorts around, and I really remark at how high-level the restaurant community operates here,” he added. “I think the local community and B.C. both deserve to be really proud of what we have here.” n
INTO THE WILD Chef Alex Chen (left) and restaurant director Neil Henderson accept Gold at the 2026 awards. PHOTO SUBMITTED
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OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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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.
Point Artist-Run Centre fundraiser to feature Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society
THE EVENT, DUBBED ‘SIN AND GIN,’ IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22 AT THE PARC ITSELF
BY DAVID SONG
THE NEXT Point Artist-Run Centre (PARC) fundraiser is swinging around the corner—pun fully intended.
Kat Single-Dain and Nathan Barrett are headlining an event dubbed “Sin and Gin.” Single-Dain will teach an all-levels dance lesson to those in attendance before Barrett and his Brass Tax band light up the venue.
Both artists play instruments (trombone and sousaphone for SingleDain, trumpet for Barrett) and they’ll be joined on stage by guitarist Noah Walker, bassist Patrick Metzger, clarinet man Matt Lam and drummer Sangito Bigelow.
“We had the opportunity to get a great swing band from Vancouver, Brass Tax, along with their swing dance instructors from the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret,” says PARC artistic director Stephen Vogler in a press release. “When I dug a little more into the emergence of swing dancing, I discovered it really exploded a hundred years ago in 1926 at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York.”
Red Seal Chef Frédéric Royer is on deck to serve an appropriately 1920s-themed
four-course dinner, with fine wines, craft beers and specially-curated gin cocktails available as well. Sea to Sky artists and businesses have donated items for the silent auction that remains open through the night of the event.
Single-Dain and Barrett have frequently performed in Whistler, but Friday will mark their first visit to the PARC. They accepted the gig after hearing from Walker, who has previously attended a similar event.
“We love collaborating with all kinds of groups and are no stranger to that,” Barrett says. “We also run the Parade of
‘AS EASY AS WALKING’
Dancing is a commonplace social activity, but it can also generate anxiety for those who are more introverted or relatively shy to physical contact. However, Single-Dain wants to put people’s minds at ease.
“I want people to know that the way I teach makes it really easy to grab onto. I’ve been basically specializing in beginner lessons,” she explains. “I love teaching. I think it’s a great honour to teach beginners because I want the world to dance more, and this music is great for dance, too. The way I do it is just to make it as easy as walking. We’re walking to the
“We love collaborating with all kinds of groups and are no stranger to that.”
- NATHAN BARRETT
Lost Souls here in Vancouver, which is over 200 artists and dozens of different groups that we work with. We’re up for anything, really. Stephen’s awesome, the space is awesome, there’s nothing not to like.
“All the tunes we’re playing are going to be from around, give or take, [the 1920s]. We’re really doing only oldtimey swing and it’s amazing how fun and uplifting this music can be. These are good tunes. They stand up. They withstood the test of time.”
music and starting there. I have tricks that I’ve developed.”
Although swing dance can appear bouncy and vibrant, its movements are grounded to the point where SingleDain compares it to being in a basketball game. This is in contrast to certain other famous styles like tango, which give the impression of flowing smoothly across the floor.
Barrett and Single-Dain both originate from the realm of theatre
acting. As professional and personal partners, they’re grateful for the chance to do what they love together.
“It means the world to us,” remarks Barrett. “We’ve got our kids hanging around and we’ve got our babies that we’re kind of juggling backstage sometimes, but it’s just so beautiful to have a family feel on stage and I think people really find that endearing.
“Also, we have a connection. I’ve played in a lot of bands with a lot of musicians and playing with your spouse or family is really special. We get a chance to capitalize on that, just make it work and keep working together. It’s like the biggest gift ever and music is a spiritual experience too, so it means everything.”
Sin and Gin takes place on May 22 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets including both dancing and dinner are $95 or $80 for PARC members. Dance lessons and festivities only are $45 and $40 for members.
All proceeds will go towards PARC’s Children’s Theatre, Music and Art Camps, and the 15th Annual Flag Stop Theatre & Arts Festival running between Aug. 5 and 8.
“We’re really thankful for the generous support of the community for this event,” says PARC operations manager Emma Strong in a release. “Whistler is such a supportive community when it comes to keeping our non-profits thriving.”
Visit thepointartists.com/events/ sin-gin-swing-dance-for-our-annualfundraiser to secure your spot. n
SPRING FLING Artists from the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHAN BARRETT
Josh Epstein unveiled as new Whistler Film Festival Society executive director
EPSTEIN OFFICIALLY ASSUMES THE ROLE ON JULY 1
BY DAVID SONG
JOSH EPSTEIN will be the next Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) executive director.
As co-founder and co-CEO of Motion 58, Epstein has taken the lead on a diverse portfolio of projects while securing considerable financing through a mixture of private investment and national funding programs (including Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, and various provincial tax credit initiatives). He is experienced as a producer, writer, actor, and entrepreneur and boasts a deep regional and national background spanning the realms of development, financing, production and distribution.
The University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business graduate previously participated in the WFFS Screenwriters Lab alongside Motion 58 partner Kyle Rideout, later contributing as a mentor and facilitator to WFF’s talent development programs.
“It’s a tremendous honour to step into the role of executive director at the Whistler Film Festival Society,” Epstein says in a press release. “The festival is a cornerstone of Canada’s creative landscape, celebrating bold storytelling, championing emerging voices, and connecting our industry to the world.
“Looking ahead, I see a powerful opportunity to build on WFF’s legacy by further connecting artists to audiences, industry, and global markets, ensuring
the festival continues to be a defining moment in a filmmaker’s journey. I’m excited to work alongside the remarkable team, artists, and partners who bring this festival to life each year.”
Epstein’s tenure will begin on July 1 as he succeeds former director Angela Heck, who stepped down in January. Heck will adopt the role of transitional advisor through the upcoming Whistler Film Festival (Dec. 2 to 6) to ensure a smooth exchange in leadership.
“Josh’s background reflects exactly what we need in this next phase: a leader who can execute, build strong partnerships, and deliver results sustainably,” remarks Sue Brouse, chair of the WFFS board of directors. “He brings a producer’s mindset, disciplined financial stewardship, and deep industry relationships that will strengthen WFF’s position both regionally and nationally. We’re grateful to Angela Heck for her exceptional leadership and for supporting a thoughtful transition.”
Heck commented that it has been “a true privilege” to helm the WFFS for five years while expressing pride in the organization’s accomplishments to promote and develop Canadian filmmakers. She added that “this feels like the right moment for me to explore new opportunities.”
A release elaborates that, under Epstein’s guidance, the WFFS “will continue to strengthen its commitment to Canadian talent development, industry partnerships, and year-round programming, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for one of Canada’s most dynamic cultural organizations.” n
HEAD HONCHO Josh Epstein will become the executive director of the Whistler Film Festival Society on July 1.
OF THE WHISTLER
Dairy delivery by dugout
BY BRONWYN PREECE
THE LAY of the local landscape was much different in the early 1900s. The area’s epicentre was Alta Lake. Prospecting, trapping and logging, followed by fishing and later farming dominated, giving reason and rise to the development of a small community and a handful of lodges in the valley beneath London Mountain.
London Mountain (since renamed Whistler) likely earned the name due to a group of original prospectors who formed The London Group in 1903. One of those early prospectors was Alfred Barnfield.
Barnfield left London, England, arriving in Squamish in 1886 or 1887. He was later hired to inspect the length of the Pemberton Trail. The rough route ran from Burrard Inlet to Squamish up through the area now known as the Whistler Valley northward to Pemberton and onto Lillooet. First developed with the intention to access the Interior’s gold rush and as a cattle trail, the route was completed in 1887. It remained the only way to access Alta Lake (then called Summit, but renamed for the purposes of mail delivery with the establishment of the area’s first Post Office in 1915, for there were too many Summit Lakes in the province) up until the arrival of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1914. It was through Barnfield’s inspection that he first came to visit the shores of the lake where he would establish a farm some years later.
Barnfield returned to Alta Lake, preempting 65 hectares of Crown land on its northeast end, in 1905. Pre-emption was a practice common in British Columbia in the late 1800s to early 1900s, which allowed settlers to acquire Crown land for development and agriculture. After improving it, the land could be purchased at a low price. As per the agreement with the government, Barnfield was required to build a cabin and clear a portion of the land. To do so, he backpacked building supplies over the Pemberton Trail from Squamish.
Barnfield continued to prospect with the London Group, staking claims in the Garibaldi/Black Tusk area.
On August 1, 1910 Alfred Barnfield married Daisy Hotchkiss. He was 42, she
was 19. Despite the age difference, the marriage appeared to be a loving one and the two raised four children.
The Barnfield Farm had 14 cows at the peak of its production, along with chickens and a few pigs. Alta Lake was becoming a fishing destination with the opening of Rainbow Lodge in 1915 and subsequent establishments opening up around Alta lake. The Barnfield family’s farm was able to fulfil a much-appreciated local niche: daily fresh milk and cream delivery. They fulfilled orders by dugout canoe. Groceries and dry staples were able to be delivered by train, coming north from Vancouver; however, fresh dairy demanded local production. In a 1993 interview with the Museum, Alfred’s daughter Vera reminisced about how he made his deliveries every day, even when the weather was questionable. “He never missed a morning and sometimes it would be so stormy he just couldn’t hardly make that canoe go,” she recalled. Whatever the weather, Alfred would end his deliveries with a visit to Rainbow Lodge, where he would be brought up to date on all the local gossip of the burgeoning lake community… which would then be repeated and rowed around!
Rainbow Lodge was the largest customer of the Barnfield Farm, reputedly purchasing 80 quarts of milk, four quarts of whipping cream and two quarts of table cream daily for their guests.
The Barnfields moved their farm operation to Brackendale in 1926. However, every summer, they continued to load their cows and chickens onto the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) and travel north to Alta Lake. How long they continued this practice is unconfirmed, however the Barnfields did maintain full ownership of their quarter-section up until the 1970s.
Alfred Barnfield passed away in 1960, shortly after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary to Daisy, who passed in 1980.
In the early 1970s, the bulk of the property was sold for the development of the Whistler Cay subdivision and Adventures West. Small lots were left to the three remaining Barnfield children (one died in the Second World War). The remaining land was sold in 1988, becoming Barnfield Place, a nod to the legacy of initial local land development. n
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology
WEEK OF MAY 22 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you’re a professional photographer, now is an ideal moment to invest in the higher-end lens you know would expand your best work. If you’re a committed chef, it’s a perfect time to spring for a precision knife set that elevates your craft. If you’re a devoted yoga or meditation teacher preparing a new series, you might decide to purchase an upgraded sound system to share your vocal offerings more crisply. And if you are none of the above, consider this your sign to obtain a key instrument or tool that will help you move to the next level of professionalism in the work you’re called to do.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When we hear people described as having fertile imaginations, we may assume they are artists, writers, or musicians. But the truth is that many creative visualizers are engineers, city planners, inventors, and the like: those who design and build functional wonders. Of this group, you Tauruses make up a disproportionately high percentage. Your tribe is often most imaginative when vitalizing concrete details and transforming practical matters. In the coming weeks, this will be a vibrant X-factor in your relationship with the world.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When many people reflect on their early years, they focus on the alienation and wounds they endured. Few recall, in vivid detail, the moments of joy, triumph, and breakthrough. It’s a symptom, I suppose, of our era’s compulsive cynicism, and not necessarily an accurate account of the past. So many good things happened, too! This isn’t to dismiss the real pain that shaped us in our tender years. Still, I want you to know that you are in a season when it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the blessings of your beginnings—the fun, guidance, and grace that helped you flourish. Update your gratitude!
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Of all the zodiac signs, you have the most potential to cultivate robust emotional intelligence that’s helpful in practical situations. More than everyone else, your feelings are less likely to render you vulnerable and fragile and more likely to make you a powerhouse. The coming weeks will be prime time to deploy these talents to the max. I encourage you to summon gleeful exuberance as you provide your sensitive, heartful nurturing. Practice the ingenious art of keeping the world emotionally literate and spiritually alert.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I am pleased to predict that you will be less egotistical and narcissistic in the coming weeks than you have ever been in your life. In saying that, I don’t mean to imply that you’re any more egotistical and narcissistic than the rest of us. I’m simply saying you can get a liberating reprieve from the excessive pride and selfishness that regularly debilitates us all.
Congratulations, Leo! This grace period should enable you to deepen your attunement with your soul’s blueprint, the design of destiny you chose before birth. I bet you will enjoy a period of vibrant, exciting tranquility.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Consider this a friendly heads-up to your inner critic, your gloomy side, and any voice in your head that expects too little from life. Upcoming astrological omens are influencing me to predict a stream of auspicious omens and fortunate events. So if you’d rather cling to tired stories about not being good enough or strong enough, you might want to skip my forecasts for a while. But if you’re ready to vivify your faith in your power to eagerly create what you desire, stay tuned.
Karmic blessings are coming.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): To be blunt, dear Libra, I think you need soul medicine that’s most available in frontiers, borderlands, and thresholds. Some of these might be bright, shiny places, and others may be akin to mazes and tunnels. Please keep in mind that your main motivation, as you seek adventures in the outskirts, should be the quest to have fun as you blow your own mind. For the sake of your lust for life and joie de vivre, you really must explore power
spots untouched by trivia and pettiness: sanctuaries where vastness, freedom, and raw vitality can wash away at least some of your fixations and habits.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Giant Pacific octopus dens are identifiable by the “gardens” of debris outside. They include shells and bones, arranged like ornamentation around the entrance. Are the creatures trying to decorate? Scientists don’t know. But it’s clear they are leaving evidence of their appetites. The result is distinctive, artistic, and revealing. With this scenario as your metaphorical meditation, Scorpio, I invite you to look at what you have been pursuing and consuming in recent months. Contemplate the stuff piling up in your sphere. What do your finished experiences reveal about your quest for meaning? Does this pattern reflect your deepest intentions? Is this who you want to be? Make sure the story you’re telling about yourself is the right one.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Advising a Sagittarius to be patient is like asking a bonfire to burn slowly and politely. Still, I will give it a try. Because I love you, I will dare to be frank. So here goes: If you want to align yourself with astrological currents, practice being reverently at ease with life’s madness as you watch and wait. See if you can take genuine pleasure in resting within a field of calm trust. Imagine, with fearless delight, the rewards that will find you as you nurture a steady, unhurried confidence in your intuition, which will ultimately tell you exactly what you need to do.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1994, immunologist Polly Matzinger revolutionized her field with a radical theory. She discovered that our immune systems don’t focus on distinguishing “self” from “non-self,” but rather responding to threats. The body puts less emphasis on asking “is this me?” and more on “is this harmful?” Her breakthrough transformed our understanding of immunity, autoimmune disease, and transplant rejection. According to my analysis of the astrological riddles, you Capricorns could benefit from a similar adjustment. Don’t worry about whether any particular influence harmonizes with your identity or aligns with your history. Instead, ask, “Is it nourishing or harmful? Supportive or useless?” As you refresh your approach to guarding and protecting your precious self, new options will become visible.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my interpretation of the astrological signals, you have run into an obstacle to your creative flow, or may soon do so. Though this could feel discouraging at first, I think it’s a promising sign. It indicates that a hidden bug is surfacing. An inner saboteur is no longer operating in the shadows. You’re being given the opportunity to repair an unseen energy leak that has been sapping your vitality. To illuminate this process, consider the wisdom of author Joyce Carol Oates. She says that writer’s block arises when a writer subconsciously believes that what they’re trying to create is false, misguided, or harmful to themselves, which results in a temporary creative paralysis. Be brave and relentless in hunting down the glitch in your self-love, Aquarius.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Maybe you’ve been having thoughts like this: “I’m too scrambled to do what’s necessary to get unscrambled.” Here’s another snag that may be tangling your mind: “I’m too mixed up to know what questions to ask to sort out my confusion.” If this is true, Pisces, I’m here to offer advice. Imagine calling a timeout on the whole noisy world and slipping free of the habitual trance. Consider retreating to a sanctuary where time doesn’t oppress you and complications subside. Let your mind be empty, give your ambitions a rest, and immerse your tender attention in the deepest part of yourself you can find.
Homework: The most beautiful thing you’ve done? The most beautiful thing you’ll do? https://tinyurl.com/333x999.
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates EXPANDED
In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com
Proposed Land UseObjectives
Relating tothe Howe Sound/
Sea-to-Sky Areaof B.C.
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Re source Di stri ct.Theseobject ives will bebi ndingf or thep urpo ses ofthe Fo restandR ange Practice sAct
Theproposedlanduseobjectives wouldimprove foreststewardship intheareassetoutin SchedulesA andB oftheproposedorder to help protec tI ndigenousculturalvalues, forest biodiversity and old- growth forests. Theobjectivesdealwithstewardship topicssuch asculturalheritageareas, oldforests,matureforests,large cedar trees, riparianandwetlandareas, andculturally modifiedtrees.T he proposedlanduseobjectivesare basedonthe forest management directioncontained withinthe 2025 Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement(Phase2)
Th edra ft ordercontainingt he proposed land us eobjective s, includ ingthe Sc hedule Aand Bmapsa nddigitals patialfiles,c an be viewedordownlo aded at : engage.gov.b c.ca/squamish-na tion-land-use
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Th epub licisi nv ited to co mment in wr itingonthedraf to rd er duringthe6 0-dayr eviewp eriodf rom May22,2026, to 4:00p.m.on July 20,2026 . Co mm entscanbesentto:
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Salary:$87,500 -$98,480annually
Plus acompetitive benefitspackagethatincludescomprehensiveextended health anddentalbenefits, pensionplan,flexibleworkoptions, learning anddevelopment opportunities
HeadquarteredinPemberton,theSquamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD)serves four membermunicipalities—Squamish,Whistler,Pemberton, andLillooet—andfour electoralareas.Located in oneofBritish Columbia’s mostscenic regions, theSLRD offers asupportive, hybridworkenvironmentand anexceptionalplacetoliveand work
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New Canadian sports funding should prioritize children and youth
AFTER THIS YEAR’S Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, my social media feed became inundated with articles from several media outlets raising the same question: “why didn’t Canada win more medals?”
Canadians made just 21 podium appearances, a step down (pun
BY DAVID SONG
dsong@piquenewsmagazine.com
intended) from the 26 in Beijing four years ago, the high-water mark of 29 at Pyeongchang 2018, 25 from Sochi 2014 and an unforgettable batch of 26 from Vancouver 2010. Bad luck may have contributed somewhat to the result: for instance, dismal snow conditions and fundamentally flawed venue design held the talented Canadian ski-cross group back from realizing its potential.
We must also give due credit to other nations like Italy, which seized the moment by obtaining an unprecedented 30 medals on home snow.
Yet as other Facebookers, Instagram users and Redditors discussed the culprits behind Canada’s step back, I already knew what was happening: we don’t fund our athletes enough to keep up with the likes of Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy who’ve been spending anywhere from six to 10 times more than our federal government on sport—to say nothing of our powerhouse neighbours to the south.
Back in February, I wrote that “politicians and decision-makers occasionally wax poetic about the greatness of Canadian athletes, but it is past time for them to back up such rhetoric with money.” It’s a good thing they’ve now done so.
On April 28, Canada unveiled during its Spring Economic Update a generational investment of $775 million over five years, and $118 million annually ongoing, to begin in 2026-27.
“The Government of Canada made it clear … they share Own the Podium’s belief that sport matters in this country. This generous landmark … is an investment in a stronger and safer sport system and
As
infrastructure.
Sports fosters physical and mental health when responsible coaching and management are in place. It’s an invaluable arena for young people to forge friendships, make cherished memories and learn life lessons that could serve them well in any future personal or professional endeavour.
Evidently van Koeverden (a four-time Olympic kayak medallist) recognizes this, for he said: “This is a generational investment in sport because sport is about more than competition. It is about belonging, physical activity, confidence, and opportunity. From the playground to the podium, we are expanding access to
country has ever mustered at the Winter Olympics all-time.
China (1.4 billion), the United States (342 million), Germany (84 million), Italy (59 million) and Canada (40 million) have all failed to replicate Norway’s level of dominance. The obvious question: what makes these Scandinavians so formidable?
It’s not just money, but also a holistic approach to athlete development. The Norwegian youth sport system does not keep score until children reach age 12, and they are encouraged to try multiple disciplines. A culture of fun and wellrounded growth draws numerous kids back to their local teams year after year, and some turn into Olympic medallists.
Case in point: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo once thought he’d be a soccer player, but ultimately got into cross-country skiing. No other Winter Olympian in history can match his 11 gold medals—and he’s only 29.
in a healthier population of Canadians of all ages,” said Anne Merklinger, CEO of Own the Podium, in a press release.
“Prime Minister Mark Carney, [Secretary of State, Sport] Adam van Koeverden and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne [Minister of Finance and National Revenue] reinforced the Government’s commitment to Canadians that sport is an important community asset and unifier in this country that needs to be supported at all levels.”
What really draws my eye are those last three words: at all levels
As gratifying as it can be to witness Canada’s athletes earn world and Olympic medals, that’s not the main reason we should back our sporting
sport so more Canadians can participate in their communities, while ensuring our athletes have the support they need to train, compete, and succeed.
“Sport is one of our greatest nation builders, and these investments will help build a stronger Canada, inspire the next generation and leave a lasting legacy for everyone.”
Grassroots cultural and financial investment in sport may generate an uptick in overall success among national athletic programs. Look to Norway, which led all nations in Milano Cortina with 41 medals despite its modest population of roughly 5.6 million. That brings the Norwegians up to 166 golds, 145 silvers and 135 bronzes: more than any other
“When you try different sports, you also meet different cultures and that means you develop the social skills to handle different kinds of people,” said Tore Øvebrø, Norway’s director of elite sport, to CNN. “There is a broad learning base and when you have those kinds of kids, it’s easier to build a highperformance culture; they know who they are, what they want. We like the kids to feel that they are in it for themselves.”
Øvebrø added that by age 25, 93 per cent of his country’s populace has been involved in some kind of organized sports. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported in 2024 that 70 per cent of youth athletes drop out of organized sports by their 13th birthday due to injuries and burnout.
So let us Canadians learn from the best. If we marshal our resources towards keeping our young healthy, we’ll probably have more to cheer about across the board. n
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