Pique Newsmagazine 2807

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 ISSUE 28.07

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SLIPPERY

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MORE TRAGEDY IN THE SEA TO SKY BACKCOUNTRY SHOWCASES THE DANGER OF THIS WINTER’S SNOWPACK

16

MORE CHILDCARE Whistler council considers Rainbow rezoning for childcare

17

COVID CAMPAIGN Stakeholders work together at ski resorts to tackle pandemic

42

ON SCREEN The Audain Art Museum’s Tuesday Night Talks have grown in popularity

LET’S STAY HOME! Let’s all do our part to stay safe, stay healthy, and support local by staying home!

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

36 42

32 Slippery slope More tragedy in the Sea to Sky backcountry showcases the danger of this winter’s snowpack. - By Megan Lalonde

16

RAINBOW REZONING

Whistler council gave

28

TOWN HALL TROUBLES

Residents

first two readings to a rezoning bylaw that could add up to 24 childcare

express further frustration with Scotiabank after a contentious town hall

spaces in Rainbow at its Feb. 16 meeting.

meeting to discuss the closure of the Pemberton branch.

17

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Along with five other B.C. ski

36

GONE ANOTHER YEAR

The Enduro World

towns, Whistler has joined a new COVID-19 education campaign aimed at

Series announced the cancellation of its Whistler race again as its 2021

both locals and visitors.

season will focus exclusively on Europe.

20

HELPING HAND

New funding helps the Squamish

42

ON SCREEN

The Audain Art Museum’s Tuesday Night

Lil’wat Cultural Centre weather a challenging year as Indigenous Tourism

Talks have grown in popularity over two seasons, offering a way for the

BC aims to provide support through grants and new strategies.

museum to boost its profile while visitation is down due to the pandemic.

COVER One of the best things about this place is those who leave us are never gone or forgotten. They live on through spirit and the many memories they’ve left behind. - By Jon Parris 4 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE

Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS It’s been a tough week with two deaths in the backcountry and the

#202 -1390 ALPHA LAKE RD., FUNCTION JUNCTION, WHISTLER, B.C. V8E 0H9.

PH: (604) 938-0202 FAX: (604) 938-0201 www.piquenewsmagazine.com

COVID-19 lockdown still going on, and on. If you need to, reach out to the community and feel better.

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT

10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week draw attention to the housing

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Editor CLARE OGILVIE - edit@piquenewsmagazine.com Assistant Editor ALYSSA NOEL - arts@piquenewsmagazine.com Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@wplpmedia.com Production Manager KARL PARTINGTON - kpartington@wplpmedia.com Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@wplpmedia.com Advertising Representatives AMY ALLEN - aallen@wplpmedia.com TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com Digital/Sales Coordinator AMELA DIZDARIC - traffic@wplpmedia.com Production production@piquenewsmagazine.com LOU O’BRIEN - lstevens@wplpmedia.com

development proposed for Alta Lake Road ahead of its Feb. 23 public hearing.

15 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Writer Andrew Mitchell says we all feel February blahs, but argues if the COVID-19 pandemic and our failures have made anything clear, it’s the need to pull together to solve our problems.

54 MAXED OUT Max is using his fighting words as his frustration with all levels of government and their handling of the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Environment & Adventure

Arts & Entertainment Editor ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com

30 SCIENCE MATTERS David Suzuki argues that no matter how you look at it, there’s no reason to

Sports Editor DAN FALLOON - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com

continue burning fossil fuels and producing and consuming more products than natural systems can handle.

Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com

31 THE OUTSIDER Vince Shuley takes a look at satellite technology for the backcountry and reminds

Reporters BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@wplpmedia.com Classifieds and Reception mail@piquenewsmagazine.com Office and Accounts Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com I.T. and Webmaster KARL PARTINGTON Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, GLENDA BARTOSH, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ANDREW MITCHELL, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON President, Whistler Publishing LP SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of Whistler Publishing Limited Partnership, a division of Glacier Media) distributed to over 130 locations in Whistler and to over 200 locations from Vancouver to D’Arcy.

us that while it is becoming a must-have, it is only as good as the user.

Lifestyle & Arts

40 EPICURIOUS The Drop Coffee Bar, Whistler’s newest café offering located in the Summit Lodge, picks up where it left off at the start of the pandemic.

44 MUSEUM MUSINGS Once the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club finally decided to build its new cabin in Whistler in the mid-’60s, the search for the right piece of land began.

The entire contents of Pique Newsmagazine are copyright 2021 by Pique Newsmagazine (a publication of WPLP, a division of Glacier 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.

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OPENING REMARKS

Community support key to survival right now TO BE HONEST, it’s feeling pretty challenging to stay positive right now.

Last weekend’s Valentine’s Day was another opportunity for all of us to tell those we care about how much we love and value them.

But like quicksand beneath our heartbeats, the news that two people lost

BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com

their lives in the backcountry engulfed the celebration for many.

Those taken were vibrant people who loved the outdoors, and for whom being in nature was part of how they were dealing with our current way of life.

Still, there is a permanence to the feeling of loss in our community right now beyond these most recent deaths.

loss and trauma as well.

And there are many in our communities who are mourning the loss of family members and friends for numerous other reasons, including COVID-19.

Yet we can’t gather and mourn as a community, we can’t swap stories, we can’t hug and cry freely with our friends, our siblings, our parents—and this is wrenching; it is cutting deep.

Loss is also being felt at a lower level by all of us as we continue to strive to live a somewhat normal life during this pandemic.

As humans, a sense of tribe is part of what makes life enjoyable and fulfilling, but during this most recent lockdown, we are all seriously cut off from each other—family members unable to visit—all of us allowed to be only with those we live with.

It’s numbing.

And spare a thought as well for our kids who have had their whole social construct interrupted for over a year now, while parents have become teachers and

[T]here is no escaping that we still have months to go before the light at the end of the tunnel requires us to wear sunglasses.

For the families and friends of those lost in the avalanche in the backcountry of Blackcomb Mountain and the slide in Brandywine, the loss is immediate and penetrating and deep.

For the many first responders who are being frequently called out these days to rescue those in need, there are feelings of

counsellors at a depth most never imagined.

Following the ripple out, there is also a sense of loss as we see shops throughout our village shutter.

The hope, obviously, is that the closures are short-term and that the village, famed for its vibrancy and vibe, will be back before too long.

However, there is no escaping that we still have months to go before the light at the end of the tunnel requires us to wear sunglasses.

For those in mourning, we as a community offer you support in whatever ways we can.

For those struggling in your everyday lives, reach out to the community—we are here to support each other.

One of the positives we can hold onto going forward is that this pandemic has really changed the way we talk and think about mental health. Our conversations between each other, in the workplace, inside families about stress and loss and how we are coping are different now than a year ago.

It is one of the reasons why now would be a good time for Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system to cover the costs of psychologists and psychotherapists for those who need them.

It isn’t rocket science to understand that isolation and loneliness has a huge impact on us physically, and that it can take years to see the full impact of it.

Researchers, for example, followed people who survived the devastating fire at Fort McMurray in 2016 and found that a post-traumatic stress response lingered for several years. In a report published by University of Alberta researchers more than three years later, 37 per cent of 3,000 Fort McMurray students surveyed matched the criteria for PTSD, and 17 per cent dealt with depression of moderate severity. It is likely we will see the same thing post COVID-19.

At least we know this is likely, and so we can watch ourselves and watch and reach out to those around us as we all find a way to keeping going through this hell we are in.

We are all in it together, so let’s all do our best to be there for each other. n

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Are ill-informed objections for the health of the community or just self-interest?

My name is Caroline Lamont. I am the land development manager for the 5298 Alta Lake Rd. rezoning. I am a professional planner, living in restricted-resident housing for more than 20 years.

I am writing to clarify the rezoning application that is going to a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. The staff reports and virtual meeting link are available on the municipal website at whistler. ca/municipal-gov/council/meeting-agendasand-minutes.

Having worked for the municipality as a planner in the 1990s, then as a councilperson in the 2000s, I certainly know that for 40 years, there have been many creative approaches in achieving employee housing. Market housing allocations were used to subsidize housing at Lorimer Ridge, Millar’s Pond, Nesters, and Spruce Grove.

The Employee Service Charge Bylaw was used to reduce costs at Beaver Flats, Nesters Hill and Lorimer Court.

Rainbow had market housing as well as significant commercial development.

Cheakamus Crossing was heavily subsidized through the Olympics, and grants, yet still has 10-per-cent market housing. These innovative approaches have ensured a stable workforce and a strong community.

It is for this reason that I am confused why a handful of people in Whistler believe our project is “a bad deal,” when the approach is consistent (if not better) than other housing projects. The Alta Lake property has existing development rights (tourist accommodation) recognized in the OCP for more than two decades, with access through Nita Lake Drive.

The owners continue to pay property taxes based on the site’s potential and facilitated the installation of the major water line to service the properties along Alta Lake Road and Nita Lake Drive.

the staff reports and attend the public hearing presentation.

It has been three years since the Mayor’s Task Force [on Resident Housing] and there are over 600 persons on the employee housing “for-purchase” waitlist.

[This] project provides 21 employee units (69 bed units). The developer is required to donate/design/build a three-acre (1.2-hectare) park, extend the new Valley Trail link along the west side of Nita Lake with a bridge north, and renovate the Hillman cabin, all with a financial value of approximately $1.3 million (excluding the land dedications of 4.5 acres, or more than 48 per cent of the site).

It is unclear why new employee units, a developed park, riparian buffer, the extension of the Valley Trail and significant land dedications in exchange for two new market units are a “bad deal.” The existing development rights would not provide most of these amenities.

I personally have reached out and clarified the proposal to many of the strongest objectors, yet the inaccuracies continue.

Having been directly involved in affordable housing projects for most of my career, I continue to question whether the motives behind ill-informed objections are for the health of the community or just self-interest.

Caroline Lamont // Whistler

My main disappointment is those individuals that are comfortably housed claiming this is a “bad deal” for the community based [on erroneous] information.

As far as the impact of the development on the environment, the application has met municipal and provincial requirements, providing riparian setbacks to Nita Lake that far exceed existing developments such as Nita Lake Estates/Lodge, Boulder/Whistler Ridge and Beaver Flats.

I urge everyone that is either interested [in] or concerned about this project to review

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR conflicts of interest related to his longstanding service on Whistler’s public housing boards, Michael Hutchison downplays the nature of his involvement with the Mayor’s Task Force on Resident Housing (“Public hearing set for Alta Lake Road housing project”, Pique, Feb. 12).

His comments to Pique suggest that he was merely part of a “public consultation” and that the Resort Municipality of Whistler had solicited his expertise as a private developer.

In fact, he was invited to join the task force specifically in his capacity as chair of the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) board.

While it may be that he only attended a couple of these meetings, these were closed-door and confidential policy discussions in which he participated as head of our non-profit WHA. As noted in the article, the task force’s Code of Conduct prohibited members from engaging in transactions for personal profit that accrued from confidential information gained through their involvement.

The timeline behind the Nita Lake proposal should raise eyebrows. Mr. Hutchison resigned as chair of the WHA shortly after the Guidelines for Private Sector Employee Housing were amended by Council to permit precisely the kind of development he is now pursuing; preparations for a similar rezoning application for 5298 Alta Lake Rd. in 2018 were already underway when the original guidelines were first endorsed.

As a member of the Mayor’s Task Force and as chair of the WHA for nearly a decade, Mr. Hutchison’s engagement with our publichousing policy has been longstanding and intimate, a history of public service for which he was appropriately presented with a Civic Service Award in 2017.

For years, however, he attracted criticism that he might be acting in his own selfinterest as a developer—criticisms that were repeatedly dismissed on the basis that he was never actively engaged in building employee housing. Now, however, he is seeking approval for a highly contentious (and highly profitable) rezoning that would mix massive market townhomes on the lakefront with smaller employee units at the back of the site—all based on public policy and municipal guidelines that he helped shape.

As G.D. Maxwell wrote in these pages on this very issue (Pique, Oct. 22, 2019): “I find it questionable when people seek to profit from opportunities they were involved in creating.”

We need to hold our public officials—whether elected, paid, or volunteer—to the highest ethical standards. The mayor has promised to give this rezoning proposal “a fair hearing”; I say it demands “appropriate scrutiny.”

Given the facts already available, there appears to be much more to this story, and the public deserves to be informed.

Brandon Green // Whistler

Stronger action needed to stop spread of coronavirus An occasional closing of a Whistler bar and/or restaurant is not going to cut it in controlling this pandemic.

Easterners are now not able to take their spring break in the Caribbean or Mexico— Whistler will be their alternative vacation choice from March 1 to 18.

Vaccinations in Canada are running at a pace five-per-cent the rate of the United States. Aspen has required a negative COVID19 test three days prior to arrival since Dec. 15, or a 10-day quarantine, to get on the hill.

Vail is busy vaccinating those over 60 and school teachers—even Indonesia is vaccinating this age group—[while] we will be working on our seniors likely in May and our school teachers in June.

Virus variants are on the rise here—40 last weekend—and could overwhelm us by midMarch, according to Simon Fraser University researchers.

It’s time for some Aussie rules—there, not one death has occurred since late October.

Canada has suffered 21,000 COVID-19 deaths—Australia 900—one has been 15.6 times more likely to die in Canada.

Like Aspen, we must discourage nonresidents. We should be turning back visitors at Alice Lake unless they can show that they have tested negative within the last 72 hours.

Without strong measures, Whistler threatens to become a petri dish for this plague.

We are past the time of “Be kind, be calm, be safe”—it’s time for the hammer.

Lennox McNeely // Whistler

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The Garibaldi Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) provides structural fire suppression, medical emergency response, vehicle fire response and interface fire assistance to a service area that extends from the southern boundary of the Resort Municipality of Whistler southwards along Highway 99 to the Ministry of Transportation salt sheds.

The department is made up of volunteers primarily residing in the Pinecrest/Black Tusk Communities.

The department, through its charitable society, is always looking to raise funds.

Over the years, the community has been very supportive through donations made at various fundraising events. To say we are appreciative of this is an understatement. So where does the money go?

Three years ago, a new primary engine was required to maintain service levels— after an extensive search, a replacement was found. The purchase was made entirely with funds that had been raised through donations to the society over many years. By raising donations, the department can selffund many things at no additional cost to the regional tax base.

Our most recent purchase was for medical training gear. The department now has one First Responder (FR) Instructor Trainer, two certified FR instructors and an additional seven FR trained medical personnel. As a result of this, the GVFD is now responding to medical emergency (911) calls both in the community and in our larger callout area.

We also appreciate our partners in the

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BE SAFE. BE KIND.

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Thank you to Whistler Bus Driver No. 4 On Feb. 2 at about 12:55 p.m., my son and I anxiously boarded the Marketplace No. 4 shuttle near the bottom of the Excalibur Gondola.

We had just downloaded because my son, Oskar, who is 14 and a member of the Freestyle Whistler program, had broken his arm while doing a drop near Crystal Chair with his brothers.

He was understandably in a lot of pain and we were on our way for urgent care [at the Whistler Health Care Centre (WHCC)] as fast as possible.

The bus driver, whose name I did not get, unfortunately, performed an amazing act of service and generosity for us. Rather than the brief break he was about to have, and with the support of the other passengers, he left the bus loop and took us right to front of the [WHCC]. We jumped off and within minutes, the amazing nurses and doctors of the hospital had him under their care and all was well.

[I] just wanted to say thank you! [It] was a real act of kindness and made a difference to [myself] and a young guy in a lot of pain.

Michael and Oskar McPhie //Whistler

Call at 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca Maclean Law is headquartered in Vancouver with offices across British Columbia.

Local Love

AS OF WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 Avalanche conditions have been challenging in the Sea to Sky this winter. Atypical weak layers have persisted longer than usual in what is often a pretty friendly coastal snowpack.

There have been a number of serious recent accidents in the backcountry surrounding Whistler, including two deaths last weekend.

The snowpack has been exceptionally reactive and tricky this season, and recent avalanches have involved skiers and boarders with years of experience in the backcountry.

Now we’re looking at an incoming atmospheric river (commonly known as a “Pineapple Express”) that is expected to hit the mountains this weekend. These long, narrow plumes of moisture deliver heavy amounts of precipitation and mild air, and are a recipe for rising avalanche danger.

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An unusual way to find a lost cell phone My name is Maria Bojadziev, and I am an avid skier at Whistler with a season ski pass for 32 years.

On Jan. 22, a day we call in Whistler a bluebird day on the mountain, I took, as usual, the Creekside Gondola and on to the Big Red Chair, and then on the Peak Chair to ski.

The scenery at the top was so beautiful that I wanted to take a picture. Oh! My cell phone was missing. Where? I recalled that I left it in the Creekside Gondola.

I was very disturbed but decided that I cannot miss this wonderful weather and went on skiing. By the end of the day, I came back to the upper station of the Creekside Gondola—I simply wanted to inquire if any attendant had found my cell phone.

While approaching the gondola, two beautiful, blue eyes over the face mask looked at me and a young girl with the name Jill (Jillian Lynch) asked me: “Are you Maria?”

I was amazed. How does she know?

I said, “Yes, I am Maria.”

She informed me that my husband would wait for my return at the usual place in the afternoon to take me to our place. My husband is not a skier, but my friends dubbed him as the “shofer” since he drives me back and forth to the Creekside Gondola when I go skiing.

She also said that my phone would be returned to me by my good friends John and Karen [Wood] (they are residents of Whistler) to our place.

How did she know all this? [After all], many skiers and boarder riders are using the gondola. Now is the interesting part. While Jill was holding the phone and wondering how to handle the situation, John left a message on my phone inquiring whereabouts I was skiing. Jill, being not only beautiful but clever, found a way to organize the return of the phone.

I am very thankful to Jill and John and Karen.

I wish Jill much success in her career and a happy life. I am lucky that I am a part-time Whistlerite.

Whistlerites are amazing folks.

Maria Bojadziev // Whistler ■

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community. Home Hardware in Function was kind enough to let us sell kindling in their parking lot over a weekend, raising almost $3,000 for the department. For our annual summer fundraiser in 2019, many small businesses donated towards prize baskets that were then raffled off. A huge thanks to all the small business people!

We get it, this year especially—times are tough for many people and we appreciate even more the funds that have been sent our way. You should also know that every penny raised goes directly towards purchases for the department.

On behalf of the women and men of the GVFD, I would like to express our whole-hearted thanks to the community at large for its donations and support.

Joe McDermid // Garibaldi Volunteer Fire Department

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This is a good time to dial your terrain choices back and wait to see how the snowpack responds.

Challenging and persistent conditions require patience and a conservative approach to avalanche terrain. Choose low-angle slopes and avoid areas where the snowpack is thin. Avoid travelling under large slopes and diligently investigate how snowpack layers are interacting. This could be a time to brush up on your backcountry travel skills with something like a one-day Managing Avalanche Terrain course. If you’re new to the backcountry, check out Avy Savvy, our new online tutorial or take an Avalanche Skills Training course.

It’s been a weird year and a lot of people have got into trouble lately, let’s take a collective step back and give the snowpack time to settle out and heal.■

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/mountaininfo/snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

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Decisions.

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14 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

PIQUE’N YER INTEREST

Groundhog days EVERY FEBRUARY, we’re almost guaranteed a few things will happen: A groundhog in Ontario will predict the weather; a different groundhog in Pennsylvania may see things differently; and we’ll spend more time talking about why we need a Black History Month than about actual Black history.

BY ANDREW MITCHELL Whistler will experience a face-freezing, wax-gripping, pipe-bursting cold snap, often accompanied by a power outage that is just long enough to cause concern. Home Hardware will sell out of space heaters.

Someone will forget Valentine’s Day and will end up buying their partner some scratch-and-win tickets at a gas station.

Someone else will remember Valentine’s Day but choose not to celebrate it because it is clearly a fake holiday created

by Big Flower, Big Chocolate, Big Greeting Card and Big Red Wine to guilt people into buying things. This will inevitably lead to an awkward conversation over when was the last time you did something nice for her? (It could be a “him,” to be fair, but who are we kidding?)

We will all get the blahs after four months of winter weather, with a solid two months of winter remaining in our bumpy, somewhat elevated part of the world. I find it helps to remember that we will gain a full 135 minutes of daylight at this latitude in just 28 days, or close to five minutes more light every single day.

The Earth is tilting about 28.5 kilometres relative to the sun, which means our relative position today is where Squamish was two days before.

I think one of the reasons that February can be so difficult for people is the fact that it can be so predictable.

For example, I predict that we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about COVID-19— like every month, true, but the conversation is going to be a little bit different.

The anniversary of the first confirmed case in Canada was in late January 2020 and the first death in Canada and B.C. was in early March. We are now coming up on the one-year anniversary of the decision to close the border, as well as certain businesses and activities, for as long it would take to “flatten the curve.” I don’t think many of us thought we would still be talking about the same thing so many months later.

Heading into the second year of lockdowns is a good time to ask some hard questions about what we did right, what

we did wrong, and how we’re going to get through the next six months or so it will take to get a critical mass of Canadians vaccinated.

Initiatives like the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit and various programs to support businesses and organizations have helped millions of Canadians to weather government restrictions and job losses, and should probably be counted among the things we did right—though the long-term wisdom of adding $400 billion to the national debt is going to be debated for decades.

As for what we did wrong, that’s a topic everyone has strong feelings about. From the failure to mandate masks early in the pandemic to the continued travel between regions, there is no shortage of difficult conversations we should be having as a nation, province and community. There has been far too much patting ourselves on the back up to this point.

It’s an uncomfortable fact that countries like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have a fraction of our per-capita cases and deaths while keeping their economies mostly open.

In other words, there are absolutely things that we could have done at all levels to save lives, prevent long-term COVID-19 aftereffects, keep people working, and improve our collective mental and physical health.

But while most people will point

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their finger at government—and for good reason—it’s also clear that people deserve a good part of the blame. We’ve been dragging this out ourselves by making selfish decisions and putting our own narrow interests ahead of the collective good. In my humble opinion, that’s the main reason that so many countries are doing better than Canada: they have a stronger culture of sacrifice and putting the needs of others first. Those governments obviously did a lot of things right as well, but without the cooperation of the people, it wouldn’t have worked.

I honestly don’t know where we went wrong or what the fix is. We’ve had recycling in Canada for almost 40 years now and some of my neighbours still can’t take five seconds to separate their waste. People are ostensibly taught how to drive and there are signs everywhere, but they still tailgate and drive 10 km/h over the limit in snowstorms. Our self-centred approach to living life is literally killing us, and the planet.

While that message is not going to lift anyone’s February Blahs, I do believe there is hope. If the COVID-19 epidemic and our failures have made anything clear, it’s the need to pull together to solve our problems. Failing to lean that lesson, which we’re learning the hard way, would truly be something to be blah about. ■

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NEWS WHISTLER

Council endorses rezoning for new daycare in Rainbow RAINBOW PLAZA TARGETED FOR UP TO 24 NEW DAYCARE SPACES

BY BRADEN DUPUIS WHISTLER COULD soon see some much-needed daycare spaces open north of Whistler Village after council endorsed a related rezoning bylaw on Feb. 16.

The application from Calgary-based Rainbow Canuck Properties Ltd. seeks to amend the current zoning of the commercial site at 8200 Bear Paw Trail (also known as Rainbow Plaza) to improve the viability of the commercial tenancies onsite.

According to Doug Porozni, chair of Rainbow’s parent company Ronmor Developers Inc., the application has been a long time coming.

“We wanted to do a bit of a cleanup, because it’s been a lot of years since we’ve owned the asset, and we’ve always had some challenges with some leasing,” Porozni said.

“So we wanted to get a little more flexibility built into what we could do there.”

While the rezoning will apply a number of small changes to the existing CD1 zoning to allow a greater variety of commercial uses, Porozni said Ronmor has committed to a local childcare operator—the relatively new Creekside Kids, which opened in Creekside in December—to fill the space.

OVER THE RAINBOW A rezoning application for Rainbow Plaza could see new daycare spaces added to Whistler’s Rainbow neighbourhood.

IMAGE SUBMITTED

16 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Creekside Kids is currently licenced for “occasional childcare” and has a capacity of 20 kids, but is looking at moving into a new space in Creekside as well as its expansion into Rainbow, said co-owner Melissa Baxandall.

Once in the new spaces, Creekside Kids will be able to offer infant/toddler and childcare services to locals, Baxandall said.

While local childcare providers often

the system and you need to know how to do it, and you need to stay committed to it,” she added.

“So there’s ways around stuff, but it is very time consuming.”

The vacant space at Rainbow (170 square metres of gross floor area) can accommodate 24 kids and five staff, according to a staff report to council from planner Clancy Sloan.

“We wanted to get a little more flexibility built into what we could do there.”

- DOUG POROZNI

cite staffing as the main driving force behind daycare shortages, Creekside Kids takes a different approach, she added.

“We’re pretty fortunate. We’ve been in the field for 18 years, we’ve opened 21 plus [facilities] … so we’re pulling from a different pool than other providers in Whistler are pulling from,” Baxandall said.

“We have a team that opens facilities, we have a team that trains, we have experience with converting credentials.”

Converting Early Childhood Education credentials can take about six months for some here on visas, “but you need to know

The application also includes plans for an enclosed outdoor play area.

Some of the definitions and uses in the current zoning are restrictive and outdated, “including uses such as video and cable store or shoe repair,” Sloan said in a presentation to council.

Along with a grocery store, Rainbow Plaza currently includes a liquor store, dentist’s office and café. The zoning amendment bylaw proposes a new subsection requiring the commercial floor area of the parcel (excluding the grocery store) to be comprised of at least three

Commercial Retail Units (CRU) with a combined gross floor area of at least 450 square metres, and that a minimum of 85 square metres be retained for use as a café, restaurant or public house.

“This is to ensure that there is a suitable mix of uses retained at the site and suitable area available to support these uses,” Sloan said.

The food and beverage stipulation was included “as this is deemed an important service to the neighbourhood, and it provides animation to the plaza,” he added.

Council was supportive of the rezoning for the potential new daycare spaces, but had some questions about the F&B requirement.

“I’m glad there’s language in there about maintaining a minimum of three CRUs, but I am challenged by having the stipulation of maintaining one F&B,” said Councillor John Grills, noting that “there’s been a number of operators” in the space already.

“If this daycare goes well and they’re looking for more space, it would be interesting to see if they have to come back and ask for that to be removed,” he said.

“We may see that in the future.”

While the potential daycare site is essentially sandwiched between two licenced businesses, “from our review of the BC licencing regulations for childcare facilities, there is nothing as it relates to distance from licenced premises,” Sloan said.

A public hearing will be held prior to third reading. n

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EARLY in the pandemic, Whistler’s resort stakeholders had been meeting regularly to discuss their response to COVID-19. So when Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called on B.C.’s ski industry to come together to find ways to reduce transmission in the face of climbing case numbers, the resort was ready.

“We were well positioned,” said Sarah McCullough, Whistler Blackcomb’s (WB) director of community and government relations. “From the start of the pandemic, Whistler really had a partnership approach to responding.”

In response to surging case numbers in ski communities in recent weeks, the provincial government has teamed up on the campaign with WorkSafe BC, six local governments and the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA).

The goal is to reinforce protocols around quarantine, social gatherings, both in staff and valley housing, set up accommodation for residents to self-isolate safely, and assist employers in contact tracing.

At WB, much of those efforts were already underway, but the aim is to bolster communication with both staff and guests, and leverage existing messaging from the other participating communities, like the Fernie Strong website, with information around COVID protocols, that could work locally.

“On the messaging front, the single biggest difference is around the penetration into the grassroots within communities,” explained Christopher Nicolson, president and CEO of the CWSAA. “We know that the prevention of transmission at ski areas has been effective, but that’s at ski area operations. Where there hasn’t necessarily been the same comprehensive effort around the province—and this is what Dr. Henry brought forward—has been on mobilizing the entire ski ecosystem.”

What that means is using more “direct communication channels” to reach both employees and residents of ski towns, Nicolson said. At WB, that takes the form of things like posters, weekly emails, and conversations with staff-housing advisors and department supervisors, as well as new initiatives such as PA announcements at base areas and in lift lines, and new signage around mitigating maze jumping in lines, McCullough said.

“We have the channels, it’s just either beefing up the communications or adding materials and really focusing on what we can control, which is the lift lines, mask compliance, reservations, things like that,” she added. “You

E

SINCE

can never really over-communicate or overeducate on how we’re going to be able to work together to reduce transmission.”

Along with drawing on messaging from the CWSAA and the other participating communities—Fernie, Sun Peaks, Rossland, Revelstoke and Invermere—each specific community has the freedom to tailor their messaging to a local audience, which is useful when trying to cut through so-called COVID-19 fatigue.

“It’s not going to be one thing, it’s going to be a variety of different kinds of things,” said Nicolson. “And I definitely think peerto-peer [communication is effective], and if we think of the ski ecosystem, it’s leveraging those distribution channels that already exist within our ski communities across the province and tend to be a little unique.”

The campaign’s digital footprint is divided into two streams: the Ski BC Strong arm (skibcstrong.ca) targeting local residents and employees of ski communities, and the Ski Well, Be Well arm (skiwellbewell.ca) targeting visitors and guests.

Tourism Whistler said it would be supporting the Ski BC Strong initiative by sharing messaging and information through its member website, newsletter and at member meetings, while it will be assisting the Ski Well, Be Well effort via its visitor-facing channels, such as whistler.com, its Whistler Insider blog, and its social media channels.

“The focus of the messaging is things like: planning ahead, following COVID-19 safety protocols, sticking to your household bubbles and avoiding social gatherings/parties,” explained a TW spokesperson in an email.

B.C. health officials have said Whistler’s recent uptick in cases has largely been due to social gatherings, and the campaign will include more education for ski resort employees and residents on that front.

“When you look at the employee groups within the communities, that’s definitely one target, but you’re also looking at residents within communities: families, children with play dates and couples of any age having dinner parties,” Nicolson said, adding that addressing protocols in shared housing will be a particular focus.

“Dr. Henry definitely focused in on shared accommodations, but typically private shared accommodations,” he said. “That was an area that was highlighted, so this is where we get into both the messaging standpoint as well as opportunities for isolation.”

Whistler had already established a process to link residents unable to isolate in shared housing with safe accommodation, which Nicolson said wasn’t the case at some of the other participating ski communities.

The campaign will also include digital and TV ads spearhead by the CWSAA. n

N

BY BRANDON BARRETT

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NEWS WHISTLER

Rapid COVID-19 testing ongoing in Whistler BROUGHT IN AS OUTBREAK RESPONSE, HEALTH AUTHORITIES WILL REASSESS NEED FOR RAPID TESTING LOCALLY

BY BRANDON BARRETT SAMMY LOSEE isn’t what you would call a patient person.

“I hate waiting for things,” she said with a laugh.

So when the 43-year-old Pembertonian was unsure if the splitting headache she was experiencing earlier this month was connected to COVID-19, she jumped at the chance to get a rapid test in Whistler, in lieu of the more common Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

“I was eager to get the results immediately,” said Losee, who noted she got her positive results back in less than 10 minutes. “I work for a childcare centre and it had been a couple days since symptoms started, but the first day or two, I didn’t really know I was experiencing COVID symptoms.”

Losee’s situation exemplifies what advocates argue is one of the main benefits of rapid antigen tests: cutting down on the time it takes to receive results (PCR results generally can take a full day or more), so a patient can enter quarantine and begin notifying potential exposures sooner. For essential workers like Losee, that extra

time can be crucial. As it stood, because health authorities still require a PCR test if a patient receives a positive rapid test result, as the antigen tests are considered less accurate, contact tracing didn’t begin in Losee’s case until Feb. 9, a full week after she last worked at the childcare centre.

“It doesn’t [cut down on contact tracing time] but it does allow people to have knowledge of potential exposure,” she said of the rapid test, which she wants to see adopted on a wider scale.

“It gives you a faster idea if you are positive, so that you can make the changes necessary to nip it in the bud as quickly as you can.”

With coronavirus cases on the rise locally at the time, B.C.’s Ministry of Health began rapid testing in Whistler the last weekend of January as a trial, and continues to administer them.

In an email to Pique, the ministry said rapid testing is used in outbreak response, “and B.C.’s Medical Health Officers can pilot or otherwise use rapid [point-of-care] testing in additional settings where risk of transmission is higher and people are more vulnerable to infection.”

Although not favoured as a single test for active infection, because the rapid antigen test is quicker, cheaper, and easier

PUT TO THE TEST Brought in as a response to Whistler’s recent COVID-19 outbreak, rapid antigen testing continues in the resort, but a positive result will still necessitate a standard polymerase chain reaction test.

GETTYIMAGES.CA

to administer, typically as a nasal or throat swab, some experts recommend it as a broad approach, with several countries turning to

rapid testing as they struggled to contain the second wave of the virus.

Another key distinction of the rapid antigen test is that, although not diagnostic, it is “meant to screen people who may not be aware of their infection,” the health ministry explained, an important resource for communities with younger populations such as Whistler.

“The thing with the antigen test, it’s confirming people that are infectious,” said Whistlerite Philip Johnson, who contracted the virus in late January and has been a vocal advocate for rapid testing. [Since March 2020, he has also been an investor in Sona Nanotech, a Nova Scotia-based firm that has been approved to manufacture rapid tests for the European Union.]

“With the PCR test, it’s just confirming that you’ve had or have COVID. I know people are going into isolation, missing two weeks of work because they’ve had COVID and aren’t infectious anymore. So that’s where the PCR test is actually not great for containing an infectious disease, because it’s not testing for people who are infectious. It’s just finding people who have COVID in their systems.”

As of Feb. 8, B.C.’s health ministry has made 277,446 rapid tests available to health authorities to use, and, for the

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 – 5:30P.M. If the Government of British Columbia lifts the Provincial State of Emergency currently in place before February 23, 2021, this Public Hearing will be held at the following location: MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE Franz Wilhelmsen Theatre, 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW (5298 ALTA LAKE ROAD) NO. 2289, 2020 And ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW (5298 ALTA LAKE ROAD) NO. 2283, 2020

most part, that has taken the form of pilot projects in settings such as schools, correctional facilities, remote First Nations communities, and long-term care homes. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix have pointed to concerns about the test’s accuracy, as well as its potential strain on an already overloaded healthcare system, as reasons for not adopting it more broadly.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) will reassess the need for rapid testing in Whistler on an ongoing basis, the health ministry said.

VCH said in a Feb. 10 release that the spread of the virus within Whistler seems to be slowing compared to recent weeks. Fortythree new cases were identified between Feb. 2 and 8, as well as an additional 24 older cases with earlier symptom onset dates, bringing Whistler’s total caseload for the year to 614.

Anyone with COVID-like symptoms is advised to first consult B.C.’s self-assessment tool. If you meet the self-assessment criteria or you are still concerned, you should call Whistler’s COVID clinic line at 604-9661428, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, which is also where you can inquire about rapid testing. n

SUBJECT LANDS: The parcel that is the subject of the proposed Bylaws is 5298 Alta Lake Road, Whistler, described as LOT B (REFERENCE PLAN 2643) EXCEPT PART DEDICATED ROAD ON PLAN BCP7865, DISTRICT LOT 2246, GROUP 1 NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT. The parcel is identified as “subject property” on the map attached to this notice.

PURPOSE: In general terms, the purpose of the proposed Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw is to amend Schedule “A” (Whistler Land Use Map and Designations)of Whistler’s Official Community Plan to change the land use designation of the subject lands from Visitor Accommodation to Protected Natural Area, Parks and Recreation, Residential and Visitor Accommodation, and Residential Low to Medium.

In general terms, the purpose of the proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw is to amend the TA17 Zone (Tourist Accommodation Seventeen) to provide for 21 employee housing dwelling units, 11 tourist accommodation dwelling units, 11 residential dwelling units and an amenity building on a 1.93 hectare portion of the subject lands conditional on the provision of amenities. The amenities entitling the owner to the greater density of development are transfer to the Resort Municipality of Whistler of a 1.44 hectare portion of the subject lands for nature conservation park and community park and a 0.5 hectare portion of the subject lands for future employee housing, construction of valley trail on the subject lands, relocation and restoration of two heritage structures on the subject lands,construction of the community park on the subject lands, and construction of 21 employee housing dwelling units on the subject lands.

INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS: A copy of the proposed Bylaws and relevant background documentation along with written submissions received may be inspected at the Reception Desk of Municipal Hall at 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC, during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (statutory holidays excluded) from February 11, 2021 to and including February 22, 2021, and on February 23, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A copy of the proposed Bylaws and relevant background documentation along with written submissions received may also be viewed online on the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) website at: whistler.ca/RZ001157 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: All persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaws will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard by Council at the Public Hearing. All persons can: 1) submit written comments to Council; and/or 2) make oral representations LIVE via online video or phone conferencing. (Your image will not be broadcast to Council or the public.)

1. Submit Written Comments to Council Written comments must be addressed to “Mayor and Council”, and include your name and mailing address.

Until 3:30 p.m. on February 23, 2021, written submissions will be received at the following: Email: Fax: Hard Copy:

corporate@whistler.ca 604-935-8109 Resort Municipality of Whistler Legislative Services Department 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler BC V8E 0X5

Written submissions will also be accepted on February 23, 2021 between 3:30 p.m. and the time when the motion to close the Public Hearing is made.

During this timeframe, written comments must be submitted by email to: corporate@whistler.ca All submissions will form part of the Public Hearing record and will be added to the Public Hearing Package as they are received. The Public Hearing Package will be available on the RMOW website at: whistler.ca/RZ001157 2. Participate LIVE via Online Video or Phone Conferencing The live Public Hearing will take place February 23, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. via online video and phone conferencing. The Public Hearing will be conducted using Zoom and can be accessed via either online video or phone conferencing. No registration is required.

If you wish to make oral representations to Council on the proposed Bylaws by online video or by phone, please use the Public Hearing web link or one of the phone numbers (including Webinar ID) provided below.

• The web link for the Public Hearing online video option is: https://whistler.zoom.us/j/68829595622 • The phone numbers to access the Public Hearing phone conferencing option are as follows: +1 778 907 2071 +1-647-374-4685 • The Webinar ID is: 688 2959 5622 Instructions for Participating via Zoom Online Video or Phone Conferencing

We provide education, support and information for anyone concerned about dementia or memory loss.

To learn more about our services or access free webinars and information, including COVID-19 resources, visit alzbc.org or call the First Link® Dementia Helpline:

•

Online video: It is possible to access the Public Hearing on a computer, tablet or smartphone using the web link above. Your camera will not be available, but your microphone will need to be enabled. To indicate that you wish to make an oral representation, click on the ‘raise hand’ feature.

The moderator will allow each person to speak in turn. When it is your turn to speak, your microphone will be unmuted and you will be asked to provide your name and address for the public record. Please be patient as there may be others in the queue before you.

•

Phone conferencing: To access the Public Hearing by phone, use one of the phone numbers above along with the Webinar ID as prompted. To indicate that you wish to make an oral representation, use the ‘raise hand’ feature by dialing [*9]. When it is your turn to speak, the moderator will announce the last three digits of your phone number, and your line will be unmuted. You will be asked to provide your name and address for the public record. Please be patient as there may be others in the queue before you.

After the conclusion of this Public Hearing, Council cannot receive representations from the public on the proposed Bylaws.

General information on participating in the RMOW’s electronic public hearings is available here: https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council/public-hearings Members of the public can also view the Live Stream of the Public Hearing at: https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council/meeting-agendas-and-minutes OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW (5298 ALTA LAKE ROAD) NO. 2289, 2020 And ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW (5298 ALTA LAKE ROAD) NO. 2283, 2020 Map showing Subject Lands

English 1-800-936-6033 Punjabi 1-800-674-5003 Cantonese or Mandarin 1-800-674-5007

Subject Property

Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca FEBRUARY 18, 2021

19

NEWS WHISTLER

Funding helps SLCC weather a challenging year INDIGENOUS TOURISM BC AIMS TO HELP THE PROVINCE’S INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES THROUGH GRANTS AND NEW STRATEGIES

BY ALYSSA NOEL HEATHER PAUL STARTED her new job as executive director of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) just four days before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in earnest last year.

That means she’s yet to have a businessas-usual day in nearly a year.

Instead, the business card holder that was meant for her new cards is filled with postcards of the SLCC’s cultural ambassadors.

“Every week I change it because I want to look at their faces—I want to know them,” she says. “I haven’t had a normal opportunity to know them.”

Like all cultural and art institutions the world over, the SLCC has taken a massive hit to its bottom line in the last year.

“We went from 90,000 visitors a year to 500 in July,” Paul says. “It was not unheard of by 11 a.m. to have had 400 people through the doors … and that’s gone.”

To that end, the SLCC was pleased to receive funding from Indigenous Tourism BC [ITBC] as part of that organization’s new three-year strategy to help Indigenous businesses survive the pandemic.

“It covers some of our operating costs,” Paul says. “We are a 100-per-cent Indigenous organization; we’re owned and controlled equally by Squamish and Lil’wat nations and Indigenous tourism is an important part of the Canadian tourism infrastructure.” “[ITBC] also has some of the same goals we have: cultural revitalization, bringing back and bringing forth the true history of Canadians through the story of Indigenous people, the culture, art, and language that has been lost.”

In total, the funding came to $95,000.

It’s just one source of funding the SLCC has accessed during this challenging time. “[It’s been] anything from $5,000 to $95,000,” Paul says. “It’s a huge range.

We keep talking about how there’s a grant overload right now. Our grant writers are exhausted …We’ve made some difficult decisions in streamlining administration and organization. A third of our leadership team is now Indigenous. We took COVID as a time to stop, re-evaluate, and we needed to change organizational structure to survive.

But we’ve been able to create successful roots for Indigenous leadership to step into.”

The recent funding is part of ITBC’s three-year strategy to help businesses survive the pandemic, which includes an

additional $5 million in funding for extra grants this year.

A survey of ITBC stakeholders shows that 91 per cent of businesses have been forced to close or operate in a limited capacity, while 74 per cent have laid off employees.

“By late March 2020, we had shifted a majority of our operations and marketing budget towards our Emergency Relief Funds to financially support our stakeholders at the start of the pandemic,” said Paula Amos, chief marketing and development officer with the ITBC, in an email. “Since then, in partnership with the provincial and federal governments, ITBC has implemented a variety of relief funds [and] grants for our stakeholders, including the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund. ITBC continues to assist further in 2021 with the Indigenous Alignment Strategy, a brand new threeyear plan to rebuild and expand BC’s Indigenous tourism sector through the pandemic and beyond.”

Brenda Baptiste, chair of ITBC’s board of directors, said the new plan would refocus its previous Pulling Together corporate strategy by targeting areas that will have the biggest impact on recovery and growth for businesses and First Nation communities.

“Looking ahead, we are making space

for recovery and continuing to rise together, with our actions being very intentional to support Indigenous tourism businesses and communities to succeed,” she said.

The strategy has six short-term goals to help reimagine and reinvent the postCOVID-19 tourism economy.

The goals include putting programs and tools in place to ensure the survival of 400 Indigenous tourism businesses across the province: further stakeholder engagement and strengthening of relationships; supporting businesses in adopting a digital marketing plan; an increased focus on domestic markets; and working to develop new Indigenous tourism experiences to entice future visitors.

On top of this, Baptiste said the strategy has tactics to directly support stakeholders through funding programs, training and skills development, foundations classes and roundtable discussions.

One of the biggest challenges for Indigenous tourism moving forward right now is the uncertainty of when normal travel will resume, explained Baptiste.

“With the uncertainties around the pandemic, it is unclear when people will be able to travel within B.C. and to B.C.,” she said.

“As well, for many Indigenous tourism

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experiences, the international markets are key to the survival of their operations.

Shifting from international to domestic can be a challenge in such a short time.”

That is one of the concerns for the SLCC, Paul says.

“The majority of our guests are international. I think we have to refocus [on] Canadians and domestic tourism.

What is our cultural experience? We don’t have to go to Paris to have a cultural experience. We have things all around us and connections to the land that we can learn,” she says.

Meanwhile, the SLCC temporarily closed during Whistler’s recent COVID-19 case spike. It’s set to re-open on Feb. 25 with its Indigenous Youth and Cultural Ambassador program starting a new session on Feb. 24.

Some ways to support the SLCC during this time is through new corporate sponsorship, donations, a membership, or grabbing take-away meals as part of the Bringing Home the Bannock program.

“There are a lot of ways to support us,” Paul says. “Even messages from the community to our cultural staff; they hear it every time.”

- With files from Elisia Seeber/ North Shore News n

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21

NEWS WHISTLER

CCF 2021 operating plans presented to council HARVESTING, FUEL THINNING AND A CONTROVERSIAL ROAD REALIGNMENT IN THE WORKS

BY BRADEN DUPUIS AFTER SOME QUIET harvesting years in the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF), forest partners are hoping to make good on some long-delayed harvesting plans in 2021 and beyond.

CCF forest manager Simon Murray was on hand for Whistler’s Feb. 16 Committee of the Whole meeting, where he provided an update on proposed harvesting sites, fuel thinning work and a proposed reconnection of Basalt Valley Road.

The road reconnection to the valley behind Whistler’s Cheakamus neighbourhood is necessary with the development of Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2, and has been under consideration for some time, Murray said, adding that it will require further discussion between council and the CCF board.

“This would be a route that would go through the Whistler Aggregates quarry and up and around the backside of the Loggers Lake area, and would join up with [potential openings in the CCF’s harvesting plan] in the Basalt Valley,” Murray said, adding that the route would be closed to the public.

The project would require 535 metres of new road to connect two existing roads at an expected cost of $71,500.

While the CCF believes the pros outweighs the cons, there are concerns with building a new road, Murray said, including forest fragmentation and the potential for a motorized recreation ban in the area (a decision that would ultimately come from

“I think some people might be concerned about any changes.”

- CATHY JEWETT

the province, Murray noted).

Given the concerns, Councillor Cathy Jewett urged Murray and the CCF to do some public consultation.

“I will strongly advocate for public open houses and input, and also ensure that our local bike club, WORCA, is also consulted, because I think that this is a fairly well used portion of our forest,” Jewett said.

“And I think some people might be concerned about any changes.”

As it relates to harvesting plans, Murray detailed 10 proposed sites in the CCF (which is managed in partnership with the Lil’wat and Squamish Nations) that are still targeted for tree removal: four in the Basalt Valley, two near Brandywine Creek, and one each at Callaghan Creek, Brew Creek, 16 Mile Creek and Wedgemount Creek.

The stands in question are mostly comprised of hemlock and balsam, with a small component of yellow cedar and red cedar.

“Some of these have been on the books for some time, two or three years for some of them, even longer for [others],” Murray said. “[There is] very little Douglas fir, and so there is a reason why these stands are still there, which is they’re not high value.”

While not all of the trees to be removed would be classified as such, logging old growth remains a sensitive subject for Whistlerites, pointed out Coun. Arthur De Jong.

Wording in the province’s recent Old Growth Strategic Review around empowering communities to manage their forests is encouraging to De Jong.

“In our case we are a world-class destination resort, and resource extraction

is very awkward for our brand,” he said.

With a landscape level fuel break nearing completion south of Whistler at Cheakamus Lake Road, a new CCF proposal aims to protect Whistler from the north.

The 16-Mile Creek fuel break would be cut north of Emerald on Cougar Mountain Road.

“That would be something that is probably higher priority for the community, because the 16 Mile fuel break has been identified as a fairly critical landscape level fuel break that really would protect the community of Whistler from the north,” Murray said, adding that the project would also allow for improvements to the road.

“The road is in poor condition at the moment, and I think that there’s probably some support from the public there to upgrade the road, maybe have a better parking lot, and the commercial recreation tenure of The Adventure Group is certainly supportive of this.”

While the fuel break would be a multiyear project requiring external funding, “I’m hoping to get in there this summer and get a prescription done,” Murray said.

Watch the full meeting at www.whistler. ca/municipal-gov/council/meetingagendas-and-minutes.

Find the CCF’s updated harvesting plans at cheakamuscommunityforest.com. n

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Northwest Squamish Forestry Ltd. And SN Forestry Opera�ons Ltd. Forest Stewardship Plan TFL 38 • FLTC A82551 and FLTC A96212.

No�ce of Public Viewing.

No�ce is hereby given that Northwest Squamish Forestry Ltd. and SN Forestry Opera�ons Ltd, wholly owned by Squamish Na�on, have prepared a Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) for Tree Farm License (TFL) 38, Forestry Licence to Cut (FLTC) A82551 and Forestry Licence to Cut A96212. These tenures are located within the boundaries of TFL 38 within the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District. The FSP is a high-level opera�onal plan which has been developed as per the Forest and Range Prac�ces Act and associated regula�ons.

As per Sec�on 20 of the Forest Planning and Prac�ces Reg�la�on, no�ce is hereby given to all Guides, Ou�i�ers, Trappers, Private Land Owners, Tenure Holders, Water Users, and the general public that submission of the FSP for approval is proceeding and your input is requested so that any concerns or comments can be addressed.

The proposed Forest Stewardship Plan is for a term of 5 years. When approved, it will form the basis for the issuance of permits authorizing road construc�on, harves�ng, and other forest development ac�vi�es. The FSP covers the en�rety of TFL 38, including the following areas:

Ashlu River

Upper Squamish River

Elaho River

The proposed Forest Stewardship Plan is available for public review and comment commencing February 18, 2021 and las�ng for a period of 60 days at the loca�on indicated below: Sqomish Forestry LP • 1124 Enterprise Way • Squamish, BC V8B 0E9 In order to be considered, comments regarding the plan must be in wri�ng, and must be received no later than Monday April 26th, 2021.

For an appointment to view the Forest Stewardship Plan during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm), or more informa�on regarding the FSP, please contact Jeff Fisher at (604) 815-8940 or by email at jeff.sqomish@shaw.ca.

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NEWS WHISTLER

Whistler woman left ‘shocked’ by email blunder from MLA’s office ‘THE CONTENT OF THE EMAIL WAS UNPROFESSIONAL AND NOT IN KEEPING WITH CONDUCT EXPECTED OF [MY] STAFF,’ ADMITS MLA JORDAN STURDY

BY MEGAN LALONDE A WHISTLERITE is speaking out after receiving an email from a member of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy’s staff that she said left her feeling “a little bit shocked and a little bit amused.”

The email was sent to Christina Willis erroneously after she reached out to the provincial representative to discuss a range of issues. The message included disparaging remarks about Willis’ online presence and was intended to be sent internally by the staffer who composed it.

Willis first contacted Sturdy in midOctober 2020, during the provincial election that was underway at the time, to learn about his stance on topics like housing affordability, climate change, Indigenous sovereignty, and the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst others. She received no response. Over subsequent months, Willis reached out to Sturdy twice more, but to no avail. The issue, she said, was

that she sent the messages to Sturdy’s BC Liberals email address, rather than his official Legislature contact.

She forwarded her three prior emails to the MLA’s active legislature address on Feb. 11, and on the same day received a reply from one of Sturdy’s constituency office staff members, explaining that the two email addresses “are entirely separate” and seeking Willis’ mailing address to confirm she is a member of the constituency.

That same afternoon, Willis received another email from the same staffer. This time, it read, “Not sure where she got her information during the election but obviously not as active on digital platforms as she might claim to be as a 30-something self-proclaimed wellness influencer,” in reference to Willis.

The staff member wrote that she “checked [Willis] out on IG and her website”—which the staffer deemed as “not worth looking at”—and asked the intended recipient of the email to let her know if they intended to call Willis.

When Willis replied to let the staffer know of the error, the sender apologized, excusing the

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misstep by writing, “at least we try to know who our constituents are as a way of understanding how issues are impacting them.”

Nowhere on Willis’ public Instagram account or in her previous correspondence does she claim to be a wellness influencer.

Willis said she was offended by “the disrespect behind the email,” but not by the comments themselves.

Though Willis said she doesn’t want to “vilify” Sturdy or the person who made the email blunder, “there’s a bit of a superiority complex going on, and I think that it speaks to some larger problems in our political system that some people are deemed worthy of our MLAs’ time while others aren’t, when really an MLA is elected to represent everyone in their riding,” she said. “And that just wasn’t the way that I was received or welcomed by him or the people that represent him.”

In an emailed statement, Sturdy expressed that “[t]he content of the email was unprofessional and not in keeping with conduct expected of staff in my office. The staff member has expressed her deep regret for the inappropriate remark and any offense

generated and has apologized to Ms. Willis by email, and in a follow-up phone call.”

He added, “Progressive discipline of the staff member has been actioned [sic], and my expectation of respectful service to constituents has been reiterated and reinforced.”

A private meeting was scheduled between Willis and Sturdy following the incident.

Willis, for her part, is looking on the bright side.

“It’s amazing that this seemingly small mistake is now giving me the opportunity to speak with him after trying for months just to get an email response,” she said. “Now I’ve got a one-hour Zoom call.”

By sharing her story, Willis said she hopes to inspire more local residents to engage with politics and our elected officials.

“Even though I’ve had a bad experience, I think that’s where we can start to see some changes, by involving ourselves in these systems,” she said.

Any British Columbian interested in connecting with their local MLA can do so by visiting the Legislative Assembly of B.C.’s website, leg.bc.ca. n

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BY BRADEN DUPUIS A REZONING BYLAW to allow development of more affordable housing in Whistler’s Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood is headed for adoption after council gave it third reading on Feb. 16.

Once fully realized, the second phase of development on Whistler’s 2010 Olympic Legacy Lands could yield about 295 units of new housing.

Third reading came after a Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff presentation detailing comments heard at a Jan. 26 public hearing, mostly related to the impacts of increased density and traffic, ongoing access to regional attractions (like the Cheakamus River and Loggers Lake), affordability and tenure of the new housing, sustainability, and impacts on the surrounding environment and trails.

“The proposal is consistent with growth management policies in the Official Community Plan,” said planner John Chapman, in a presentation to council.

“One note that staff would like to make is that the additional population density in the Phase 2 neighbourhood may make neighbourhood-serving commercial amenities more viable in Cheakamus Crossing.”

Road design and construction in Cheakamus did contemplate the traffic volumes associated with Phase 2, and the proposed extension of Mount Fee Road incorporates active and public transportation, Chapman added.

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“An environmental protection covenant will also be a condition of the rezoning, and as well, each phase of the development will be subject to protection of riparian and sensitive ecosystem development permit approvals.”

The final mix of rental versus sale housing is yet to be determined, but the proposed zoning allows for flexibility, Chapman said.

“Certainly the development would offer a range of housing types from single-family, duplex, townhouse, to condominium or rental apartment,” he said.

In terms of recreation, access to the House Rock parking area will not change, Chapman noted, but the Westside FSR past Parcel A will be discontinued, with new access to Loggers Lake and beyond being provided via the new Mount Fee Road extension.

With the relocation of the Westside FSR, officials at the Cheakamus Community Forest are planning a new road behind the neighbourhood and through the Basalt Valley Spur—a concern raised more than once at council by Councillor Cathy Jewett (see related story on page 22).

“There is a concern that it bisects habitat and forest,” Jewett said. “Has there been any feedback from the public on that?”

The matter was discussed at Whistler’s Forests and Wildlands Advisory Committee, said director of planning Mike Kirkegaard.

The area in question is within the Cheakamus Community Forest, and has experienced harvesting in the past (with

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NEWS WHISTLER << FROM PAGE 25 more planned for the future), Kirkegaard said.

“No environmental impact assessment is required under the Forestry Act,” he said.

“Given that the area has already experienced significant forestry development in the past, the additional road construction is not expected to have significant impact on the environment.”

While rec users will still have vehicular access to Loggers Lake, Cheakamus River and the trail system by way of the Mount Fee Road extension, Jewett pointed out that the road relocation appears to sever access to a section of the Upper Ridge trail above Loggers Lake.

“My understanding is, looking at this, it will be a marooned trail, unless you want to walk up it,” she said.

“It’s certainly not rideable up.”

Another staff report will come to council prior to adoption.

As for when shovels will be in the ground on Phase 2, there’s no set construction timeline, an RMOW spokesperson said, but “early works are underway.”

COUNCIL ENDORSES WILDFIRE FUNDING APPLICATION The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is hoping a new federal and provincial COVID-

19 funding stream will help pay for a wildfire fuel treatment project on Nesters Hill.

On Dec. 1, 2020, the Canadian and B.C. governments committed up to $80.3 million towards the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, which will support cost-sharing for B.C. infrastructure projects.

The funding stream includes wildfire fuel reduction as an eligible project at 100 per cent of total costs, said environmental stewardship manager Heather Beresford in a presentation to council at the Feb. 16 meeting.

If the RMOW’s application is successful, the 14.8-hectare fuel reduction project west of Nesters Road will receive $452,330.

The 2019-2027 RMOW Wildfire Protection Plan outlines priority locations for fuel treatment, two of which are scheduled to be treated this year: Nesters Hill and Taluswood (11 hectares).

A planned treatment at Rainbow was also considered for the grant application, “but with the short turnaround for this funding application, they wanted to have all the permits and approvals in place,” Beresford said.

“We just don’t have that for Rainbow, because we have not been able to secure the funding in other ways to get this done.”

To qualify for the new COVID grant, projects can’t have other grant funding tied to them, Beresford said, making the Nesters Hill site the ideal fit.

Finding money to pay for fuel-mitigation projects has been more challenging as of

late, with previously-relied-upon Union of BC Municipalities funding shrinking significantly.

“It’s sad that this has to come through COVID resilience program funding, but the $450,000 is similar to the support we used to get from the province for a number of years in our fuel thinning, [before] that got reduced down to the $150,000 mark,” said Coun. John Grills.

“We’ve been struggling to meet our objectives, so to have this come through is I guess somewhat surprising, and it’s certainly helpful … hopefully in 2022 it will be followed up by additional support from the province again.”

Read more at whistler.ca/wildfire.

LEGAL CONCERN PROMPTS BOARD SHUFFLE Whistler council convened for a rare special council meeting early Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, to pass a somewhat unusual resolution.

The resolution itself was to pass consent resolutions of the Whistler 2020 Development Corp. (WDC), a Resort Municipality of Whistler subsidiary, which came in two parts: first, to remove Councillor Ralph Forsyth as a director of the WDC, and second, to appoint Coun. Ralph Forsyth as a director of the WDC. The special meeting lasted just over a minute from start to finish.

While strange at first glance, the resolutions weren’t especially noteworthy,

according to Mayor Jack Crompton—the opposite is in fact the case.

“If you write a story about this, you’ll be accused of journalistic malfeasance,” Crompton joked after the Feb. 16 regular council meeting. “It is the most boring story.”

The pair of resolutions were purely housekeeping in nature, and necessary for Forsyth to vote on proceedings at the Feb. 16 regular meeting, Crompton explained.

Forsyth was appointed to the WDC in December (effective Jan. 1), after municipal lawyers raised concerns about upcoming contractual relationships between the WDC and the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) as it pertains to Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2.

“We have received some advice from legal that once the WDC and the WHA start to consider contractual relationships, that it is not a good idea to have a member of council sit on both agencies that are contracting,” Crompton said at the Dec. 1 council meeting.

In the interest of avoiding any legal pitfalls, Crompton resigned from the WDC board and was added to the board of the Whistler Housing Authority, while Coun.

Duane Jackson resigned from the WHA board. “[Forsyth still] needed to be appointed by council rather than the WDC board, so that’s all that this morning was about, was making sure he was appointed,” Crompton said of the one-minute meeting. n

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NEWS WHISTLER NOTICE OF WAIVING OF PUBLIC HEARING ELECTORAL AREA C Ponderosa Estates Public Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act that a Public Hearing will be waived regarding the following bylaw: 1. Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No. 1695-2020 The zoning amendments address the provincial requirements for land use contract termination by June 30, 2024. Local governments are required to have zoning bylaws in place by June 30, 2022 that will apply to the land once the land use contracts are terminated. The proposed zoning amendments will replace the underlying Rural 1 zone with a zone that reflects the current development on the property. The zoning amendments will apply to 26 properties that are subject to the Ponderosa Estates Land Use Contract Bylaw No. 117, 1977.

These 26 strata lots will now be subject to the Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002 and specifically regulations set out in the RR Pon Zone (Ponderosa Estates)

STEP BY STEP Take

look at tracks in your yard and elsewhere and see if you can identify them using this

handy chart.

ILLUSTRATION BY COLLEEN MACDONALD

Naturespeak: Discovering tracks in our own backyard

BY COLLEEN MACDONALD FRESH TRACKS in the snow! Out our window, my three grandkids and I spotted four sets of animal tracks weaving through our backyard in White Gold. We donned coats and boots, grabbed a tape measure, magnifying glass, and camera, and headed outside to identify the tracks.

We recognized two of the sets. A snowshoe hare has a distinct pattern of two circular front feet in a line then large snowshoe-shaped back feet side-by-side in front, like a “Y.” We have often spotted snowshoe hares in our garden and enjoy watching them change colour through the seasons. A second set of smaller prints, we also knew, were made by a squirrel—two hind feet side by side and two front feet in front in a roughly U-shaped pattern.

But two other sets of tracks were a mystery. The first had one large pad and four round toe pads. Was it a dog or coyote or maybe a bobcat? The second was a print with five toes and the tracks travelled through the yard in a Z-shaped pattern. But after photographing the prints and track patterns, then looking for information on the internet, we were still puzzled. So we asked the Whistler Naturalists for help and the mystery was solved—a bobcat and a raccoon had also walked through our yard that night.

BioBlitz scientist Mallory Clarke wrote: “Five-toes is most definitely a raccoon. On all

the prints you see the toe pads connected to the palm pads by long skinny toes. Its pattern is two tracks side-by-side, one front paw and one back paw. The long string of tracks shows that the prints alternate—front on left, front on right. I like to think that the raccoon, which sports a Zorro-like mask, makes a Z-like pattern in the snow. Good mnemonic device when first starting out.”

We especially like her suggestion to try to move like a raccoon: “To experience the typical raccoon waddle in your own body put a hand and a foot side by side on the floor then step forward with the other foot and put the other hand down next to it— over and over.”

A few days later, there was a fresh snowfall and we saw a line of bobcat prints in our yard—we now know that dog or coyote prints would have shown claw marks—and followed the tracks as they wove through backyards all the way to Lost Lake Park.

Neighbours along the way confirmed they had spotted the bobcat walking through their yards and hiding under a shed.

The following week I happened to be in the right place at the right time—as I was walking in Spruce Grove, a bobcat ran across the road in front of me! Our family is enjoying being new members of the Whistler Naturalists and my grandkids are excited to learn more about tracks and wildlife in Whistler.

Naturespeak is prepared by the Whistler Naturalists. To learn more about Whistler’s natural world, go to Whistlernaturalists.ca. n

The bylaw also introduces the following housekeeping amendments: • Updated Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 765, 2002 numbering system, • Addition of standard Temporary Use Permit language • Replacement of the current Agriculture definition with an updated Agriculture definition that is aligned with the ALC definition • Replacement of the existing Driveway Gradient regulations with updated regulations Replacement of the current Campground definition with an updated Campground definition INFORMATION & SUBMISSIONS? The proposed bylaw and relevant background documents may be inspected on pages 170 to 184 of the following Board Agenda: https://slrd.civicweb.net/document/128290 Third reading of Bylaw No. 1695-2020 is scheduled for Wednesday 24 February, 2021. All persons who believe that their interest in the property is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaw. Written submissions (mail or email) must be received at the SLRD office no later than 9 am Wednesday February 24, 2021.

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Box 219, 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L0 • www.slrd.bc.ca P: 604-894-6371 • TF: 1-800-298-7753 F: 604-894-6526 • E: info@slrd.bc.ca

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

27

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY

‘I felt they were incredibly condescending and belittling’ RESIDENTS FIRED UP AFTER TOWN HALL REGARDING CLOSURE OF SCOTIABANK’S PEMBERTON BRANCH

BY DAN FALLOON ALREADY FRUSTRATED by Scotiabank’s surprise decision to close its location in Pemberton, clients of the doomed branch felt no better after taking part in a telephone town hall organized by the bank on Feb. 9.

According to participants, the overwhelming question they wanted answered was why the decision to shutter the branch in July, amalgamating its services into its Whistler location, was made.

“I was hoping they would provide some rationale,” N’Quatqua’s Rebecca Barley told Pique. “Being a business owner myself and being committed to a board of directors on many levels, I thought there must be some background and justification.

“I’m not asking for intimate, confidential details, but something.”

Those on the call said Scotiabank representatives Zak Khokhar, District Vice President for the Pemberton area, Tamara Van den Brink, Regional Vice President for BC & Yukon Region, and Jon Davey, National Director Aboriginal Financial Services were of little help.

“They would never answer a direct question,” Barley said. “It may as well have been a robot repeating an answer to everybody’s comment.”

CLOSING UP Residents protested Scotiabank’s planned closure of its Pemberton location in January and were further frustrated with executives’ conduct during a bank-led telephone town hall on Feb. 9.

FILE PHOTO BY DAVID MACKENZIE

28 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Meanwhile, Chelsey Herechuk, who said she’s in the bank four to five times a week on business, described a back-andforth where callers asked for a reason for the closure, received a vague response, and when pressing the issue, got the same answer prefaced with a “We will say it again…” or “If you didn’t hear us before.”

“It was such an awful experience, in my opinion,” she said. “They told us it was too complex.

“Why is it complex? We’re not smalltown, Hicksville Pemberton here. There are many well-educated people in this community and it came off as very belittling.”

‘I JUST TOLD THEM EXACTLY HOW I FELT’ Herechuk was the second-last person to speak and took no prisoners.

“At that point, I didn’t really have any questions. I just told them exactly how I felt. I was angry at that point,” she said. “I felt they were incredibly condescending and belittling.

They weren’t giving anyone a clear answer.

“I felt, at this point, that they were only doing this to cover their bases.”

At the end of the call, laughter was heard, with many in attendance assuming it was the bank’s representatives as participants’ lines were muted by default. Reached via email, bank spokesperson Daniela Da Silva was uncertain about the noise.

“We’re unaware of any background noise at the end of the call, and we regret if any participants experienced a disruption,” she wrote.

Other reported issues were that the town hall started 15 minutes late, that the representatives were ill-prepared to answer some questions including about the future of leaving an automated banking machine in the community and that at least 10 people who wished to speak were not allowed to do so before the call ended. Da Silva noted only that the bank fielded as many questions as possible and discussions will continue in the months to come.

Herechuk and Barley also expressed frustration that the session was held exclusively on the telephone and not in conjunction with a video program like Zoom.

“It would have been more personable,” Herechuk said. “This way just sort of felt, unfortunately, really scripted. It felt like they were sitting in front of computer screens reading what they were told to respond to the basic questions they figured they were going to be receiving.”

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman was the last to speak. He’s expressed his frustration with the bank ever since news broke that it was closing and said the bank’s refusal to provide answers fuelled an already upset group.

During his speech, Richman suggested the bank provide 10 laptops to the local library, which the bank agreed to do.

“I think I threw them a bit of a bone,” Richman said during his report during the Village of Pemberton regular council meeting on Feb. 16. “I gave them an out by making this ask, and so they were pretty quick to say yes.”

Richman said he followed up with the bank and asked for some extra computers to

distribute to local Indigenous communities, adding that he wants to ensure machines provided are appropriate for needs. He said during the council meeting that he was still awaiting a response.

WHAT’S NEXT While Barley, who has served as an elected official in various capacities for two decades, said she won’t be overly affected by the change she is concerned for community members who will have to drive to Whistler to bank.

She felt the lack of consultation before the announced branch closure violated at least a “moral obligation” to clients and, especially, remote Indigenous communities like hers, during a time of truth and reconciliation.

“There was zero consultation or notification from Scotiabank that this was closing,” she said. “I think that Canada has a responsibility to protect us. Things always just kind of happen, this is just another one, and the most impacted will be the remote communities that are serviced by Pemberton.”

In terms of what clients can expect upon closure, Da Silva said the bank is still firming up details to leave a bank machine.

“We are continuing to work with the community to find a location for the ABM and will keep all customers informed once the details are finalized,” Da Silva wrote.

In addition to the 10 laptops, she also highlighted other pledges, including a pledge of $25,000 to the community over five years, including continued support for the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce. n

NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY Electoral Area C Agricultural Advisory Committee - Call for Volunteers

Pemberton Valley Dyking District revels in provincial funding REGIONAL FLOOD-MITIGATION PROJECTS RECEIVED 100-PERCENT OF REQUESTED CASH

BY DAN FALLOON THE PEMBERTON VALLEY Dyking District (PVDD) received some great news heading into the Family Day long weekend.

The provincial government announced on Feb. 12 that six communities in the southwestern portion of the province would receive Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) cash. Three of those communities fall in the PVDD realm, so the organization will be handling those flood-mitigation projects. Improvement districts such as the PVDD are unable to apply directly for government funding and must request that local governments do so on its behalf. In all, more than $2 million in funding is coming to the valley.

“This program illustrates collaboration at its best,” Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in a release. “The benefit of a funding program like this one is that it directly responds to the needs communities identify as important to mitigating flood risk. Through this program, we can better work with local and regional governments to protect public safety through important local projects.”

Projects that were approved in the area were: $750,000 for Phase 2 of Lil’wat Nation’s Pole Yard Dike Upgrade; $614,847 for the Village of Pemberton’s (VOP) North Arm outlet replacement, Riverlands culvert gate replacement, and hydrometric gauge installation on the Green River and Miller Creek; and $720,000 for the Squamish Lillooet Regional District’s Lillooet River sediment removal and massflow monitoring system for discharge from Mount Cayley into the Squamish River.

All projects except for the Mount Cayley discharge fall under the PVDD. PVDD operations and maintenance manager Kevin Clark noted that $650,000 of the SLRD funding will be allocated to sediment removal.

The Pemberton Valley Emergency Management Committee (PVEMC), made up of the three local governments and the PVDD, decided on priorities to pursue. Clark said all projects submitted were funded.

“It means that the PVEMC put together high-quality funding applications and the province is at least acknowledging that we have flood risk and we need to do something about it,” Clark said.

Clark had identified several of the projects as necessary during a presentation to Pemberton’s Committee of the Whole in September. The presentation followed a flood mitigation planning funding report prepared in June by Northwest Hydraulic Consultants.

The timeline for the projects varies,

however. The Lillooet River sediment removal requires an environmental permit, which Clark anticipates receiving in the weeks to come, meaning work could begin as early as next month. As well, the hydrometric gauges will be installed this spring. However, some initiatives will require a few separate approvals and won’t get underway until next year. The Riverlands gate and North Arm Channel outlet will be completed in the 2022 fish window in August and September of that year.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOUGHT The VOP wasn’t keen to rest on its laurels, though, electing to apply for funding for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ Community Emergency Preparedness Fund’s flood risk assessment, mapping and mitigation funding stream at its regular council meeting on Feb. 16.

Council opted to pursue $120,000 in funding for flood mitigation efforts in the Lillooet River floodplain, though efforts will not be limited to the river itself.

In emergency program coordinator Sarah Toews’ report, she notes that Lil’wat Nation is also expected to apply for an additional $120,000 to fund the $240,000 efforts. The PVDD will contribute in-kind work should the money, which can cover up to 100 per cent of a project’s cost, come through.

The proposed project will include “identifying and prioritizing areas requiring structural flood protection while also developing flood protection concepts and evaluating them using hydraulic modelling.”

The project will look at dike upgrades as well as new construction, including setback diking. Chief administrative officer Nikki Gilmore said one possibility is ring dikes, “which would protect the most highly densely populated areas and ones that may not have sufficient infrastructure.” She added that transportation infrastructure will also be part of the consideration.

The project would address concerns raised in the 2018 Lillooet River Floodplain Mapping Report and further fulfill the subsequent flood-mitigation plan.

In response to an inquiry from Councillor Amica Antonelli regarding seeking funding to put projects in place, Gilmore said: “We need to develop the plan before we can do the doing ... We’ve already achieved grant funding where we had a plan already in place, and now we’re refining some of the elements that Northwest Hydraulics has identified as high-level goals.

“Now, we’re just getting down into the specifics so we can make further grant applications.” n

WHAT? The SLRD is looking for interested residents of Pemberton and Electoral Area C to serve on the SLRD Electoral Area C Agricultural Advisory Commi�ee (AAC).

WHO? Anyone with an interest or exper�se in agriculture and related ma�ers is welcome to apply. Applicants should: • • • • •

Be a land owner and/or permanent resident of Electoral Area C or Pemberton Have an interest in preserving the viability of farming in the Pemberton Valley and surrounding area Be from the farming and ranching community (op�onal) Posess a clear understanding and knowledge of topics affec�ng agricultural land Be available to commit to roughly 4-6 mee�ngs per year, for a one year or two year term

HOW? Applica�on forms can be obtained on the SLRD website, or by contac�ng the SLRD office. Please submit your applica�on no later than 5pm on February 25, 2021.

For a��i�onal informa�on please contact: David Kyobe, Planner Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Tel: 604-894-6371, ext. 249 Fax: 604-894-6526 E-mail: dkyobe@slrd.bc.ca

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Clearing the air on fossil fuel pollution RAPIDLY REDUCING greenhouse gas emissions is critical to avoiding increasing climate change impacts. Doing so won’t immediately stop the world from heating, but it will improve life quickly. Because gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide remain in the atmosphere for varying lengths of time (CO2 for 300 to 1,000 years, methane and nitrous oxide for far less time), temperatures will rise even after we’ve stopped pumping them into the atmosphere.

But pollution will decrease quickly.

Particulate matter levels, especially, start to drop almost immediately. That’s important,

BY DAVID SUZUKI because particulates kill a lot of people and make many more ill—even more than previously thought.

A new study from U.S. and U.K. universities, including Harvard, found more than 8 million people died from fossil fuel pollution in 2018, accounting for about 18 per cent of global deaths. Previous studies estimated about 4.2 million people a year died from all outdoor particulate matter sources, including wildfires, dust and agricultural burns.

New and improved research tools and methods allowed scientists to differentiate between particulates from fossil fuels and

workdays in the U.S.,” said Duke University earth sciences professor (and a lead IPCC author) Drew Shindell, testifying to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2020, before the new research showing the higher number of deaths from fossil fuels.

That would lead to hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits annually from improved labour productivity and health in the U.S. alone. “Aggressive decarbonization” could also reduce the death toll by 40 per cent over 10 years.

Smog and particulate matter increase strokes, cardiopulmonary disease, respiratory infections and damage to lungs, brains, skin and other organs, with many detrimental consequences for babies and children.

Pollution also exacerbates COVID-19 effects.

As David Roberts wrote in Vox, this undermines the argument that it’s pointless for countries like Canada and the U.S. to reduce emissions if others like China and India aren’t keeping pace. It might make it harder to keep global average temperatures from rising more than 1.5 or 2 C, but “the air quality benefits will manifest, no matter what the rest of the world does.”

For climate, new research offers hope that reducing emissions will increase gains faster than previously thought. By factoring in to a greater extent the ability of natural systems like forests, wetlands and oceans to absorb greenhouse gases like CO2, scientists have determined that quickly reaching “net-zero” emissions could stabilize global warming over a relatively

It’s past time to get serious about fossil fuel pollution.

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other sources, to measure more accurately and to determine links between particulate pollution and deaths.

“Our study adds to the mounting evidence that air pollution from ongoing dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental to global health,” said co-author Eloise Marais, former Harvard postdoctoral fellow and now associate professor in the University College London geography department.

“We can’t in good conscience continue to rely on fossil fuels, when we know that there are such severe effects on health and viable, cleaner alternatives.”

Reducing death and adverse health effects and slowing climate disruption would be worthwhile on their own. But shifting from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and protecting natural systems that absorb pollution and greenhouse gases also benefit economies. Experts argue the economic value of improving air quality by reducing fossil fuel burning far outweighs the costs.

“Over the next 50 years, keeping to the 2°C pathway would prevent roughly 4.5 million premature deaths, about 3.5 million hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and approximately 300 million lost

short time. (Reducing emissions to “net zero” means not releasing any more than are being removed from the atmosphere.)

Although another study shows the world is “committed” to dangerous warming because of greenhouse gas concentrations already in the atmosphere, rapidly cutting emissions could buy time to adapt to some impacts and develop technological fixes.

No matter how you look at it, there’s no reason to continue burning fossil fuels, destroying carbon sinks like forests, wetlands and oceans, and producing and consuming more products than natural systems can handle. Changing how we think and act, conserving energy and shifting to cleaner sources, and revising outdated economic systems will improve human health, social justice and equity. And it will be far less costly than doing little or nothing.

It’s past time to get serious about fossil fuel pollution.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington. ■

OUTSIDER

Understanding the limits of satellite communication in the backcountry IN OUR HYPER-CONNECTED lives, getting “off the grid” has taken on somewhat of a romantic cultural significance. Without distractions, notifications and the constant communication, we connect more to our surroundings and more to each other as people. That’s why Gen Z-ers watch an old episode of Friends and are flabbergasted to

BY VINCE SHULEY see a group of 20-somethings sitting around a table in a coffee shop and actually talking to each other. (Or so I heard in a podcast interview with David Schwimmer).

Technology caught up to us in the backcountry, though. Two-way satellite messengers are now a recommended piece of safety equipment and bringing one per party on days in the wilderness is probably the safest thing you can do after packing your transceiver, shovel and probe. I’ve said it before in this column: dollar-fordollar, a satellite messenger is a safer piece of equipment than an avalanche airbag (though having both is nice).

The issue with these now-ubiquitous, satellite-connected toys is that many people don’t understand how they work and more importantly, what they can’t do.

Let’s rewind a few years for a second.

Satellite phones have been around since the turn of the century and have always been

BE PREPARED Mt. Matier (in distance) was the site of a search and rescue response in late December, made more efficient by the party activating a satellite messenger.

PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY

relatively expensive, relatively bulky and not the highest call quality. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) have been around for a few decades longer as a means of pinpointing downed aircraft or naval vessels in distress. The consumer-level versions of EPIRBs are often called Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and work in much the same way. It has one function and it doesn’t require any ongoing paid subscription service to do what it’s designed to do.

The minimum standard for backcountry recreationists these days is a one-way satellite messenger. These devices can still hit the SOS button and act as a PLB, but come with the added feature of being able

to a predetermined spot that’s going to expedite the rescue.

All satellite messengers require an ongoing subscription to work (with the requisite and annoying activation fee), starting at about $16 per month.

Now let’s talk about the limitations of all this great technology. A satellite messenger, even though it pairs with a smartphone, does not work like a smartphone. The device requires a clear view of the sky to connect to the satellite network. Messages don’t always send and receive instantly.

Garmin states on its website: “Depending on your location and your surroundings, messages can be sent or received in a matter

“People just expect they’re going to push this panic button and we’re going to come out of the mist and save them.”

- PETE SCHIMEK

to send text messages. These were—and still are—very useful for checking in with next-of-kin, letting them know that the party is running late or requesting a pickup. The older SPOT models were in this category of one-way satellite messengers.

The latest and greatest in the satellite messengers are those that connect to the Iridium satellite network, namely the brand inReach (which is now a subsidiary of Garmin). These devices can send and receive messages (ergo two-way), which is helpful in all kinds of situations. Think about if search and rescue (SAR) can’t land a helicopter in the party’s location, but SAR personnel can message the party to move

of seconds, or it can take up to 30 minutes.”

Plan your communication accordingly.

The SOS button can be triggered accidentally tumbling around in the bottom of your backpack, and it has happened more times than you might think. Think how embarrassing it would be to have an entire SAR crew flying out to be greeted by your crew, who are all perfectly fine.

The biggest limitation of satellite messengers is that of the response itself.

Remember, the SOS button is a last resort that you should absolutely push if you require a rescue. But SAR won’t be there in the time it takes to deliver a pizza.

“People just expect they’re going to push

this panic button and we’re going to come out of the mist and save them,” said Pemberton Search and Rescue Society (PSAR) president Pete Schimek. “They have to understand the reality of it. There are weather factors, there’s time of day, there’s a whole lot of other things, and there’s typically a two- to two-and-a-halfhour delay. I think people buy these things without actually considering any of this stuff.

“The more information we receive from the get-go, the greater chance we have of pulling out the injured party: specific nature of the injury, number of people in the party, location. Is there a suitable spot where we can land the helicopter near you or is it going to require a long-line mission?”

Ask any SAR volunteer or ski guide about the value of a satellite messenger and they’ll give you a list of reasons why it’s worth the investment. But they’ll also give you a list of the caveats. I’ll leave you with a good news story from the Pemberton backcountry where a satellite messenger had the intended effect.

“The [callout] we had on Matier [the last week of December, 2020] was an InReach, and we pretty much just got them off the mountain because we were going to be grounded by the end of the day, and we weren’t going to go up through a crevasse field in the middle of the night,” said Schimek. “So they were going to be there through the night or they were going to be forced to go out on their own through the same crevasse field. That particular piece of technology saved them. I don’t think they were relying [solely] on it, but they had it and it worked.”

Vince Shuley loves his inReach Mini. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. ■

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

31

FEATURE STORY

SLIPPERY

32 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

FEATURE STORY

SLOPE MORE TRAGEDY IN THE SEA TO SKY BACKCOUNTRY SHOWCASES THE DANGER OF THIS WINTER’S SNOWPACK

BY MEGAN LALONDE

E

xperts are urging anyone heading into the Sea to Sky backcountry to practise extreme caution after a problematic snowpack and wind-loaded slopes resulted in a string of avalanches that killed two people and injured several others.

A 45-year-old Sea to Sky local is dead after getting swept up in a slide while snowboarding in Brandywine Bowl on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13, less than 24 hours after a skier was killed and another badly injured in a size-3 slide on Poop Chutes, on Phalanx Mountain near Blackcomb Glacier.

Those events followed an initial Friday-afternoon avalanche off Spearhead Glacier that severely injured another skier.

That’s in addition to an event that took place in the Supercouloir area near Mamquam Mountain in Squamish on Thursday, Feb. 11. Military helicopter assistance was required to rescue two men who were in the area at the time, one of whom broke his leg after reportedly being caught in an avalanche.

The two skiers, both from Squamish, are lucky to be alive, and lucky that CFB Comox’s 442 Rescue Squadron was available to offer its services at the time: The aircrafts normally used by Squamish search and recue pilots were deemed unsafe to fly in the high winds that were blowing Thursday, while the military’s larger and sturdier Cormorant helicopter was up to the task. “[There were] four serious search-and-rescue calls in … [three] days, [two] of them fatal, and a multitude of serious injuries,” said Sea to Sky RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks in a release issued after Saturday’s fatal avalanche in Whistler.

“The calls speak for themselves ... The backcountry in the Sea to Sky is not stable at the moment, it’s time to wait and postpone your touring trip here for another time. This is hard on all of us: Search teams, bystanders, police, and most importantly the loved ones of those who have died and been injured. Their stories have valuable lessons … which we all need to learn from.”

FRIDAY AFTERNOON AVALANCHES KILL ONE, INJURE TWO NEAR BLACKCOMB GLACIER

A group of three skiers were touring on Phalanx Mountain, an area beyond Whistler Blackcomb’s boundaries above Blackcomb Glacier on Friday afternoon when two of the skiers were caught in a wind slab measuring approximately 50 centimetres thick and 60 to 80 metres wide, according to Avalanche Canada’s preliminary accident report.

The size-3 slide reportedly travelled a distance of 650 m, fully burying both subjects in the process. “One person was recovered near the toe of the slide with injuries. The second was found higher in the path but did not survive,” the report read.

The incident occurred at “almost the same time” as a skier was swept by a stiff slab just a few kilometres away, in a similarly beyond-the-boundary zone off the Spearhead Glacier. The individual was carried over several rocks and left with severe injuries requiring evacuation by air ambulance.

Sea to Sky RCMP have confirmed the single fatality but have not released any additional details regarding the identity of the individuals who were caught up in either of the avalanches near Blackcomb Glacier on the afternoon of Feb. 12.

Whistler Search and Rescue (SAR) crews were on standby but ultimately were not needed after Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol successfully handled both incidents, Whistler SAR manager Brad Sills told Pique in a phone call.

The woman who survived the Phalanx avalanche was left with several “pretty complicated injuries,” explained Whistler-based avalanche expert Wayne Flann, but likely owes her life to a group and its instructor who were in the area as part of an Avalanche Skills Training (AST) level-2 course. They witnessed the slide and quickly jumped into action to dig her out.

“If they wouldn’t have been there, there might have been a different outcome,” Flann said.

One of the members of the AST2 group was Nathalie Morel, who shared her perspective of the “miraculous, surreal, and eye opening” experience in an Instagram post.

“As we toured up to East Col, our teacher made the call for us to turn around because the winds were so strong.

We skied down the Blackcomb Glacier stopping left of the bottom of Corona Bowl to examine a small, 1.5 sized avalanche that someone was being helped out of. At that moment, one of us looked over towards the Poop [Chutes] and yelled out, ‘Avalanche!,’” she recalled.

“Here we all are, during the middle of an AST-2 course, watching this massive, size 3 avalanche happening right in front of us. Minds blown.”

Morel’s instructor immediately reported the slide to ski patrol, while one of her course-mates spotted a skier at the top of the cliffs who appeared to be attempting to descend the slope.

“They’re trying to yell something, but it’s so hard to hear with the wind. We eventually figure out that he is telling us there are others that have been caught in the avalanche,” she wrote. The group skied towards the debris while their

instructor determined whether or not it was safe to enter the area.

“We turn our beacons into search mode and head in, and the reality of what we’re about to be involved in kicks in—we are about to do a real avalanche rescue.”

Morel said the group found a signal “within seconds” of walking into the debris. “As one of our group was getting closest, within a couple meters (sic), I followed with my probe and got a strike right away. It was obvious what it was. We all start digging in a line, as we learned, to get rid of as much snow out of the way as possible,” she wrote. “You hear about how tired you get, but it’s worse than that. That snow is so heavy. Doing that alone would be SO difficult. Once in a while you look up in exhaustion and make eye contact with one of your teammates and know you’re both thinking ‘is this really happening’ while you continue digging.”

She continued, “To have learned what we had in those two days and end up in that situation was beyond miraculous. We were able to help save a life. We saw first hand (sic) what those mountains are capable of and what the outcomes would be like.”

Blackcomb Mountain’s Controlled Recreational Area encompasses 2,094 hectares on the north and east side of Fitzsimmons Creek, while Blackcomb Mountain’s ski terrain includes an additional 219 ha. within Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park for which it has a Special Use Permit for operation—including Phalanx and portions of the Spearhead region. This has been in effect for decades.

The agreement contains commitments from Whistler Blackcomb to carry out avalanche control in the area.

A representative for Whistler Blackcomb said they would not comment further on the Feb. 12 avalanches beyond pointing to this agreement.

Flann, however, confirmed ski patrol would have conducted avalanche control in the Phalanx area via helicopter that morning, as part of the longstanding agreement to provide avalanche mitigation for the out-ofbounds zones adjacent to the ski resort.

Whistler Blackcomb crews generally “only do mitigation when they’re worried about an avalanche actually going into their designated run,” Flann explained.

Though their bombing tested the stability of the slopes, Whistler Blackcomb “reported basically zero results for that morning” of Feb. 12, he said. But conditions can vary greatly throughout a single day, explained Flann, which likely contributed to the avalanche that occurred later that afternoon.

“You can’t throw a bomb in every little tiny slope, either,” he added. “You’re only going for the targets that you think

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

33

FEATURE STORY

might release, and you can’t throw a bomb in every little pocket because you’d be out there all day.”

Squamish resident and longtime Sea to Sky local Dave Additionally, the skiers who were caught “were way Henkel, who police said had “extensive” backcountry up high, on a slope in an area that, normally, I don’t think experience and knowledge of the region. gets skied very much,” Flann said. “They were in very steep According to his mother, Leslie Newton, “there was terrain, and unfortunately that’s where [wind] slabs like to apparently a small avalanche that knocked over [his grow.” partner] first, and he got her secured and got their boards The size-3 slide that resulted from that slab means on and decided they had to get out of there fast,” she said in the fatal avalanche was large enough to destroy a small a phone call on Feb. 16, three days after the accident. building or bury a car. The avalanche grading system “He zoomed ahead and she was following, but the rest of operates on a scale that sees each numbered level increase the mountain came down and that was it.” in scope by approximately 10 times that of its predecessor.

Newton described her son as a kind, generous soul who So, for example, a size-3 avalanche is typically around 100 “was willing to give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.” times bigger than a size 1, explained Avalanche Canada She said the expert snowboarder “[loved] adventure forecaster Ilya Storm, over the phone from Revelstoke. to the fullest and pushed the envelope, and loved rock “All you need is 100 metres in length, typically a size climbing, snowboarding. Those were his passions.” He 2—which isn’t necessarily that big—and you’re in the often passed on his knowledge of those sports to the many game where you’re playing for keeps,” Storm said. “If you friends he met along the way, she added. go 10 times larger, an avalanche that is going 1,000 metres But while Henkel lived for extreme sports, Newton said or a kilometre down … to survive as a skier, or boarder or he took pains to practise them safely. snowmobiler, it takes an element of luck.”

“He loved his family. He loved life. He was a free spirit,” she said. “He was doing what he loved.”

Whistler SAR’s Sills told Pique that volunteers EXPERIENCED LOCAL SNOWBOARDER worked with numerous other agencies to respond to the call, KILLED IN BRANDYWINE BOWL including Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol. “Typically we ask for [an avalanche] dog, a doctor, and two level-2 [Canadian Another tragic blow occurred less than a day later, when Avalanche Association] technicians, and that allows us to first responders received a call about a snowboarder go to the site and collect the pertinent information, upon missing after an avalanche in Brandywine Bowl, near the which we can build an avalanche operations plan,” he said.

Callaghan Valley.

“There is a process before we actually insert members RCMP confirmed Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13 that the into a site. We have to do a full report, and we do that for man had died after being swept up in a small wind slab. our own safety.”

Friends took to social media to identify the victim as That initial crew of first responders was swiftly followed

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by a second helicopter carrying Whistler SAR volunteers, Sills said, adding that it took 42 minutes from the time he received the call for the first helicopter to lift off of Whistler Mountain.

According to police, Henkel was located about 45 minutes after the call came in.

Though the avalanche was on the smaller side, with Avalanche Canada grading it a size 1, Sills said the snowboarder had been caught in trees about halfway down a steep, technical slope with “a lot of remaining hazards overhead,” forcing crews to carry out a long-line rescue.

Henkel’s death represents the loss of yet another knowledgeable, well-prepared powder-hunter to the mountains this winter, something Sills said is becoming a disturbing pattern.

“What’s emerging, and what’s quite different this year is that at least four of the five fatalities that we’ve had here in the Sea to Sky country have been with well-aboveaverage—I would say very experienced—snow travellers,” he told Pique.

“There’s something pushing people with a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge into decision-making regimes that are not faring out very well. And, most likely, the culprit here is that we have a very complicated snowpack this year, quite unlike the snowpacks that we typically get on the coast.”

He added, “Behaviours that have been acceptable in past years are not acceptable this year.”

So what is the combination of factors leading to this unusually high number of tragic incidents recently?

FEATURE STORY BELOW: The site of the size 3 slide in the Poop Chutes Zone on Phalanx Mountain, adjacent to the Blackcomb Glacier.

OPPOSITE: The site of another avalanche near Blackcomb Glacier on Friday, Feb. 12. This slide pulled a skier through the rocks visible in the images, leaving that individual with severe injuries. They were flown by air ambulance to a Lower Mainland hospital. Photos courtesy of Wayne Flann.

WIND SLABS PROVING PROBLEMATIC AFTER A WEEK OF COLD WEATHER AND NORTH-EASTERLY WINDS

The windy, cold weather Whistler experienced recently led to light, faceted snow that’s easily blown around by strong gusts, explained both Flann and Storm. “When you get strong winds in variable directions and transportable snow, it produces wind slabs,” Flann said.

While Whistler’s winds typically blow from the south or southeast, the recent Arctic outflow meant they were instead coming from the opposite directions, carrying that loose snow with them and reverse loading slopes in “unusual places, surprising places” where flakes don’t usually pile up, Storm said.

“South- and west-facing slopes are the ones that are in play right now,” he added.

Typically the snowpack on those aspects is “scoured and thin,” Storm told Pique, meaning it’s “weaker, has facets, sugary granules of snow, might have thin sun crusts. So we have weakness, which is almost a persistent weakness, being covered up by wind slabs.”

To that end, Friday’s slide off Phalanx occurred on a west-facing aspect, while Saturday’s avalanche in Brandywine occurred on a southwest-facing slope.

In this case, the low temperatures and gusty conditions also developed wind slabs that were quite firm.

When it comes to these harder-packed slabs, “It doesn’t take much to initiate them and then they move quickly, easily,” Flann explained. “So you don’t really have time to

get off them, and they move pretty fast so you gain speed pretty quick.” “pineapple express,” is expected to hit the mountains this The skier- and rider-triggered slides came following weekend. widespread natural releases of size-1 and size-2 avalanches “These long, narrow plumes of moisture deliver heavy that occurred in the Whistler area on and since Thursday, amounts of precipitation and mild air, and are a recipe for Feb. 11, said Flann. rising avalanche danger. This is a good time to dial your terrain choices back and wait to see how the snowpack responds,” the advisory read.

HEADING INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY? Forecasters urged “patience and a conservative approach” HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND to avalanche terrain, recommending choosing low-angle slopes and avoiding areas where the snowpack is thin.

With conditions remaining on the sketchy side for the “This could be a time to brush up on your backcountry foreseeable future, Sills advised local backcountry travel skills with something like a one-day Managing enthusiasts to “dial it way back” as winter continues.

Avalanche Terrain course. If you’re new to the backcountry, “Get some nice cruise-y ski [days] in,” he said. “All the ski check out Avy Savvy, our new online tutorial or take an hills are empty; go rip it up on the groomers. It’s really difficult, Avalanche Safety Training course,” it went on. even for the snow scientists, to understand with any great While Storm acknowledged that Avalanche Canada’s amount of confidence what’s happening. And it’s so varied in public forecasts are “a good starting point, they don’t do the snowpack this year, there’s so many pockets of instability everything for you. and there’s so many people [in the backcountry] that every “Especially right now with these surprising and unusual piece of the landscape is getting stepped on.” conditions, people do need some skills, some smarts and to Even those with an above-average level of experience in take on some of the responsibility [of managing themselves the mountains should play it safe and practise caution right and their group].” now, agreed Storm.

Avalanche Canada forecasts are intended to “help orient “[I]t’s time for recognizing that the usual things that you you. But it needs to go beyond looking at the danger rating do may not serve you well,” he said. these days.”

In a Feb. 16 advisory to Pique, Avalanche Canada said - With files from Dan Falloon and Steven Chua of the an incoming atmospheric river, commonly known as a Squamish Chief. ■

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SPORTS THE SCORE

Enduro World Series to skip Whistler in 2021 TOUR TO FOCUS ON EUROPE THIS SUMMER AS PANDEMIC CONTINUES

BY DAN FALLOON AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC drags on, a second summer of events is starting to see cancellations.

On Feb. 11, the Enduro World Series (EWS) announced that it would not host its annual stop in Whistler during Crankworx, instead planning to focus its season on European contests. At the same time, the EWS called off its late-season Trophy of Nations contest, given that not all riders will be participating this year and some countries may be left out.

“Both Whistler and the Trophy of Nations will be sorely missed this year, but we fully expect both to be back next year when we can enjoy them to their full potential,” an EWS spokesperson said in a release. “We feel confident in the 2021 calendar, and with nine rounds of the EWS and four EWS-E races it’s our biggest season of racing to date.”

Last year, the EWS cancelled its Whistler race at a time when Crankworx still hoped to go forward, though the festival was later called off.

In a statement, Managing Director of Crankworx Darren Kinnaird said it was

SKIPPING HOME Whistler enduro rider Jesse Melamed, shown here racing at Finale Ligure, Italy in 2020, was “bummed” but not surprised that the 2021 Enduro World Series tour would skip Whistler.

PHOTO BY DUNCAN PHILPOTT/ENDURO WORLD SERIES

36 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

tough to lose the contest, but acknowledges the reason behind it.

“While we’re sad we won’t get to host EWS Whistler this year as a part of Crankworx, we agree this is the best decision given the continuing uncertainties around travel and events,” he said, noting he expects to welcome the EWS back in 2022.

Jesse Melamed, who won the Whistler race in 2017, said while he was disappointed, he’d seen the writing on the wall for a while.

mid-August dates, as the Rotorua, New Zealand event came just before coronavirus concerns were heightened and the Innsbruck, Austria festival was rescheduled from June to October.

At this point, Rotorua is scheduled for November instead of its usual March slot, while the rest of the calendar is still being calibrated. The hope is to announce the full slate next month.

“As for Crankworx as a whole, we are

“I’m definitely a little bit bummed that it’s another year that we don’t get to race at home...”

- JESSE MELAMED

“I had already assumed that was the case, just with the way things are and the way things happened last year, I never really thought it was going to happen,” Melamed told Pique. “Through this whole thing, I learned to not really expect anything.

“I wasn’t surprised, but I’m definitely a little bit bummed that it’s another year that we don’t get to race at home and another year where it’s only in Europe.”

CRANKWORX IN 2021 In 2020, the only stop on the tour that ended up being cancelled outright was Whistler’s

continuing to watch how things unfold in B.C. and around the world, and are assessing our options. The positives are that we still have a long runway to make things happen, and there’s certainly an appetite for something that will bring the bike community together safely,” Kinnaird said.

LOOKING TO REPEAT On a personal level, Melamed will be looking to outdo his shortened 2020 campaign in which he won two of three races and took over top spot in the EWS rankings.

But with the season forgoing spring racing

and starting in June, he’s been spending the winter ski touring to stay active.

“In the past, I’d kind of shy away from it a little bit because I’d get carried away with it, but now, subconsciously, I’m thinking ‘the season’s so far away and I’m still getting some good training in,’” he said.

As well, staying closer to home keeps Melamed from getting in his road miles during the winter, so it’s a fine alternative.

“With ski touring, there’s no lift access and I’m just trying to get really big days,” he said.

“It’s a good way to balance all of the intense training that I normally do.”

Melamed explained that he enjoys the winters, as it’s an opportunity to think of himself as a “training athlete” rather than specifically a biker. Staying in Whistler has provided stability that he hasn’t enjoyed in years as well.

“I’ve been in a routine for four months now and it’s really cool to see the consistent growth,” he said.

When the EWS season does begin, Melamed will likely have to reckon with Sam Hill and Richie Rude, two all-stars who weren’t on the scene in 2020.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve been skiing so much, because I don’t want to be on the bike or thinking about the bike because it might stress me out a little bit,” he chuckled.

“I don’t feel like I have a target on my back.

“I’m still pretty much the same that I was and just had some validation on all the work that I’ve put in.” n

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JUMPING UP Whistler Freeride Club skier Olivia McNeill will make her Freeride World Tour debut as a wildcard.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA MCNEILL

McNeill grabs Freeride World Tour wildcard WHISTLER FREERIDE CLUB SKIER MAKES LAST-MINUTE ARRANGEMENTS TO COMPETE IN EUROPE

BY DAN FALLOON IN THIS PANDEMIC winter, freerider Olivia McNeill had settled into a season of balancing schoolwork and skiing with the hope of a return to competition for the 202122 season.

But one late-January message in her inbox jolted her upright. American Jacqueline Pollard wouldn’t be able to participate in the upcoming Freeride World Tour season in Europe, so McNeill was offered the opportunity to take her place as a wildcard.

She accepted, and two weeks later, she headed overseas for her rookie campaign.

With a change of plan, her days were packed figuring out the logistics.

“They’ve been kind of busy,” the Whistler Freeride Club member told Pique on Feb. 13, the day before her flight. “I’m excited and a little nervous to head off. It’s been a hectic week and a half since learning about it to try to figure everything out.”

The two-time North American Junior Champion, 20, wasn’t anticipating anything competitive this winter, so she was embracing the opportunity to explore, enjoying the time on snow. However, she’s gotten into the contest mindset leading up to the season opener, which will take place at Ordino-Arcalís, Andorra on Feb. 19.

“It’s been a lot more casual than usual because of the lack of comps,” McNeill said.

“But I have been skiing quite a lot because I’m going to UBC right now, but school’s online so I have been spending quite a lot of time in Whistler, going skiing between classes and such, so I’m getting a lot of hours in.

“I thought I’d have all winter to work on stuff, to prepare for next season … I’ve had to jump start that in the last two weeks and focus more.”

One adjustment McNeill is making is

avoiding compensating for a sore knee; even so, it’s the best she has felt entering a season in quite some time, noting a bad ankle injury she suffered a few years back.

“Sometimes when the ankle hurts, it goes up into the knee,” she said. “But I’ve been working on it and I’m hopeful. I’m definitely better off than I was last year at the start of winter.

“I’ll be going into a comp season the healthiest I’ve been going into a comp season in a few years.”

In a normal season, McNeill’s first competition usually would have been scheduled about three weeks after she got on snow, and she would be making her first big hits for points. Even with a somewhat different schedule, she doesn’t feel at a disadvantage because of the tight turnaround, especially with about a week to adjust to the time change.

“I think I’ll settle in when I get there,” she said. “Even though it’s short notice, I could be less prepared.”

The timing also went well school-wise, as she was on reading week after arriving.

With the time difference, she’ll be able to ski all day and take classes in the evening.

After challenging the Freeride World Qualifier last year and finishing with three top-five finishes in four-star-level events, McNeill reckoned her opportunity on the world tour might come next winter. But with the timeline advanced, she’s hoping to drill a permanent place on the tour and make it to the final event in Switzerland.

“I would really love to qualify for Verbier and make it back next year,” she said.

“That’s definitely the goal, and hopefully, I’ll have some other successes, too, and have a lot of fun.”

McNeill won’t be alone, either, as she headed over with Whistler clubmates Tom Peiffer and Cooper Bathgate, as well as local coach Derek Foose. n

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

37

SPORTS THE SCORE

Seger, Crawford nearly medal at World Champs SPORTS BRIEFS: DAVIES HELPS RELAY TEAM TO SIXTH; CHANNELL EIGHTH AT WORLDS; WARM WINS AHL DEBUT

BY DAN FALLOON BRODIE SEGER SAVED his best international performance for his biggest stage so far.

The 25-year-old Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) graduate put up his first top-five finish on the world stage on Feb. 11, finishing fourth in the super-G at the FIS World Ski Championships at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Seger was 0.42 seconds back of winner Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria and just 0.04 seconds off the podium, with France’s Alexis Pinturault in third. Germany’s Romed Baumann was sandwiched into second.

Seger, who wore bib 28, had returned to the tour fairly recently after suffering a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for about a month.

“I’m incredibly fired up right now.

This has been such a strange and difficult season dealing with my first real injury ever when I felt like my skiing was in a really good spot,” Seger said in a release.

“Going through my first surgery and first rehab. Pushing as hard as I could to get back for this event.

“I am just so thankful for everyone who

helped me get back to good health.”

Two other Canadians, fellow WMSC alum Jack Crawford and Jeff Read, set new World Champs bests in the race, placing 14th and 18th, respectively.

In the women’s event, lone Canadian finisher Marie-Michele Gagnon also hit the top 10, taking sixth, as Switzerland’s Lara Gut Behrami bested fellow Swiss

finished the women’s Alpine combined as Shiffrin topped Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin for gold.

In the men’s downhill on Feb. 14, Crawford was the top Canadian finisher, coming in 21st as Kriechmayr came away with gold over Germany’s Andreas Sander and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz. Read placed 26th and Thompson was 29th.

“I’m incredibly fired up right now.”

- BRODIE SEGER

racer Corinne Suter and American Mikaela Shiffrin for gold.

Then on Feb. 15, it was Crawford’s turn to put up a fourth-place showing, doing so in the Alpine combined and finishing 0.21 seconds out of the medals. Wearing bib 32, Crawford was 1.33 seconds off the pace set by champion Marco Schwarz of Austria, who bested Pintuarault and Switzerland’s Loic Meillard. Trevor Philp hit the top 10, taking 10th, just ahead of WMSC alum Broderick Thompson in 11th, while Read took 22nd. No Canadian women

Gagnon was placed 13th in the Feb. 13 women’s downhill as Suter came away with top spot over Germany’s Kira Weidle and Gut-Behrami.

Canadians struggled in the individual parallel events on Feb. 16, but the squad of Crawford, Cassidy Gray, Erin Mieelzynski, Erik Read and Jeff Read came away with an eighth-place finish on Feb. 17 as Norway topped the podium over Sweden and Germany.

The World Championships run until Feb. 21.

DAVIES HELPS CANADA TO SIXTH Pemberton cross-country skier Joe Davies helped the Canadian relay team to a sixthplace finish in the 4-by-5-kilometre contest at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Vuokatti, Finland on Feb. 13.

Davies, teaming up with Xavier McKeever, Tom Stephen and Olivier Leveille, finished 1:09.8 seconds back of the winners from Norway and 47.2 seconds off the podium.

Individually, Davies was 48th in the 1.4km sprint on Feb. 9 and 31st in the 30-km mass start on Feb. 14.

Whistler is set to host the next running of the championships in 2023.

CHANNELL EIGHTH AT SKELETON WORLDS North Vancouver’s Jane Channell led the Canadian charge at the IBSF World Championships at Altenberg, Germany on Feb. 11 and 12.

Channell posted an eighth-place finish over four runs, ultimately coming in 1.98 seconds back of champion Tina Hermann of Germany, who came in ahead of fellow German Jacqueline Loelling and Bobsleigh Federation of Russia’s (BFR)

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38 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Pick up the latest issue of your favourite read in Whistler.

SPORTS THE SCORE Elena Nikitina. Fellow Canadian Elisabeth Maier was 18th.

Channell, who had just three Intercontinental Cup races and one World Cup start (in which she took third), was satisfied all in all with her campaign.

“I could have cleaned up my runs more.

I could have had faster times, but that’s racing. I did the best I could in those four heats so I’m proud of myself, my teammates and my competitors for being resilient this year,” she said in a release. “It’s been a tough year, but a good one and it will make us stronger heading into the Olympic year.”

Both Canadian men failed to qualify for a fourth and final run as Mark Lynch and Kyle Murray were 21st and 27th, respectively.

Germany’s Christopher Grotheer came away with the championship over BFR’s Alexander Tretiakov and fellow German Alexander Gassner.

Maier and Murray rebounded in the team event, taking 10th while all the individual medallists added to their totals as Hermann-Grotheer won over LoellingGassner and Nikitina-Tretiakov. Channell and Lynch did not start due to injury.

On the bobsleigh side of things, Justin Kripps’ four-man team of Cam Stones, Benjamin Coakwell and Ryan Sommer slid into fifth place after four runs as Germany’s Francesco Friedrich drove to gold over Austria’s Benjamin Maier and German countryman Johannes Lochner. Meanwhile, Chris Spring piloted his sled of Chris Patrician, Mike Evelyn and Mark Mlakar to 10th.

Lastly, in women’s monobob racing, Cynthia Appiah drove to fifth as American Kaillie Humphries topped two Germans, Stephanie Schneider and Laura Nolte, for the win. Other Canucks included Melissa Lotholz in seventh and Christine de Bruin in 16th.

THOMPSON 11TH AT SKICROSS WORLDS Canadian ski-cross racers have had strong seasons on the FIS World Cup tour so far in 2020-21, but it didn’t translate at World Championships at Idre Fjäll, Sweden on Feb. 13 as none made the finals.

Whistler’s Marielle Thompson ended up in 11th in the women’s contest, as Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund topped Switzerland’s Fanny Smith and France’s Alizee Baron for gold. Courtney Hoffos was the top Canadian, winning the small final to finish fifth. Other Canadians were Hannah Schmidt in 10th, Tiana Gairns in 13th and Zoe Chore in 14th.

On the men’s side, the top Canucks also won the small final as Reece Howden placed fifth with Switzerland’s Alex Fiva besting France’s Francois Place and Sweden’s Erik Mobaerg for the crown. The remaining Canadians were Kris Mahler in 12th, Brady Leman in 20th and Chris Del Bosco in 26th.

WARM WINS AHL DEBUT Beck Warm has gotten off to a hot start in Chicago.

POWERING FOURTH Whistler Mountain Ski Club grad Jack Crawford placed fourth in the Alpine combined at the FIS World Ski Championships at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Feb. 15.

PHOTO BY GEPA PICTURES COURTESY OF ALPINE CANADA

In his pro debut, the Whistler goaltender won a battle of the Sea to Sky in his first American Hockey League game on Feb. 11, helping the Chicago Wolves down Squamish’s Jarid Lukosevicius and the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2.

Warm turned aside 36 of 38 shots to earn the win, earning the game’s second star and credit from Wolves head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

“Great feet, finds pucks, made some big saves when we needed him to,” Warsofsky told the team’s website. “His rebound

control was really good. I liked Beck tonight.

He was really good for a guy who had a late start to camp.”

Warm followed it up with another busy performance on Feb. 16, kicking aside 37 of 39 Rockford IceHogs attempts as Chicago won 3-2.

Warm, 21, spent the previous four seasons in the Western Hockey League, primarily with the Tri-City Americans before a midseason trade to the Edmonton Oil Kings last year. He compiled a 71-56-13 record with a .908 save percentage and 3.15 goals against average. n

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39

EPICURIOUS

The Drop Coffee Bar picks up where it left off at the dawn of the pandemic SUMMIT LODGE’S NEWEST CAFÉ CONCEPT SERVES SPECIALITY COFFEE, GRAB-AND-GO BREAKFAST AND—WAIT FOR IT—BUBBLE TEA

BY BRANDON BARRETT WITHOUT THE USUAL employee pool to draw from, businesses across Whistler have had to get creative with staffing this year, and nowhere is that more true than at our local hotels. At the Summit Lodge, that has meant senior staff have taken on some unfamiliar roles throughout the pandemic: You can find their GM behind the spa counter taking bookings, and assistant GM Lorraine Simonds has moonlit as a barista at the hotel’s in-house café, The Drop Coffee Bar. “I can say that I have learned a whole lot about making great espresso,” said Simonds with a laugh.

Of course, COVID-19 has had a way of altering best-laid plans in innumerable ways, and for the Summit, that meant pumping the brakes on the café concept it first started developing in January 2020.

Then, as neighbour restaurant Elements was contending with limited capacity in the pandemic, the hotel donated the seating space planned for the Main Street café to help them out.

“They’ve been using the space since, and then the current incarnation of [The Drop] started back up as a window service in mid-January this year,” Simonds said.

“We’re always looking out to other businesses to see how we can benefit each other and make it work through a really interesting time.”

Operating as a takeout window for the time being, you could be forgiven if Whistler’s newest café slipped under your radar. But with its emphasis on locally made products, like the beans it gets from Counterpart Coffee, or the kombucha growler refills courtesy of Whistler Elixir, it’s high time you get the drop on The Drop.

“We really feel passionate about our local businesses and our local community,” said Simonds.

DROP ZONE The Summit Lodge had to pump the brakes on its café concept at the start of the pandemic before reopening The Drop Coffee Bar earlier this year.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Proximity wasn’t the only factor that went into working with Counterpart, however. “It fits in with the Summit Lodge ethos,” she added. “They do a great job of actually saving farms in Colombia and Guatemala from big Canadian oil companies, and they really strive to give them a fair wage and improve the living and working conditions of the farmers by supporting them.”

Serving a range of specialty coffees,

smoothies and a handful of grab-and-go breakfast items, The Drop’s menu stands out from the pack as the only place in Whistler offering bubble tea, a veritable phenomenon in Vancouver that had yet to reach the resort.

For the uninitiated, bubble tea, or “boba” as its known in Chinese, originated sometime in the ‘80s amid Taiwan’s lively snack culture, and has since exploded in cities across North America, particularly

Food Lovers Unite!

those with large Asian populations.

(Seriously, the bubble-tea market was valued at a whopping US$2.4 billion in 2019, with it projected to hit $4.3 billion by 2027.)

A tea-based drink that can take the form of popular milk tea varieties, smoothies, or blended slushies, the “bubbles” of bubble tea originally consisted of tapioca pearls sucked through an extra-wide straw, but have since expanded to include everything from jelly to so-called “popping” boba, made from seaweed extract that burst when bitten into. For the unfamiliar, it may sound daunting, but this flavour and texture bomb is something to be tasted to be believed.

(Can you tell I’m a tad obsessed?)

As it turns out, it was two fellow bubble tea junkies and Summit employees who first brought the idea to Simonds.

“We have amazing members of the team that bring their skills and their talent and their ideas. Our general manager saw the craze and we’ve got a couple bubble tea fanatics who work for us, and they had the energy and the wherewithal to do it,” she added.

The Drop takes over the former Eighty One coworking space, which opened in 2017, and also occasionally featured popup themed dinners by chef Adam Protter.

For the Summit team, the space has served as something of a laboratory for creative dining concepts, and The Drop fits in with that approach as well.

“There have been a lot of people through there with a lot of experimental ideas. Similar to the hotel, over the years, as a team we’ve been playing to see what works and similarly in COVID we’ve been playing around to see what works for the community, what works for our staff and businesses,” Simonds said. “We’re trying to pick up where we left off to really build something that Whistler locals can enjoy.”

The Drop is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Visit thedropwhistler.com for more information. n

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ARTS SCENE

Tuesday Night Talks create unexpected silver lining AUDAIN ART MUSEUM HAS QUIETLY GROWN VIEWERSHIP TO ITS LATEST PANDEMIC OFFERING

BY ALYSSA NOEL CURTIS COLLINS was cross-country skiing at Lost Lake recently when he pulled out his pass to show the woman working in the booth.

Her reaction surprised him.

“Who’s on Tuesday Night Talks tonight?” she asked Collins.

The weekly chat with artists over Zoom, which Collins, director and chief curator of the Audain Art Museum, hosts has boosted the museum’s profile during a challenging time when visitation numbers have taken a hit. (Justine Nichol serves as director and producer and Nadin Hassan is the quality control coordinator.)

“We’re getting now 400 viewers every Tuesday,” he says. “That’s our new average.

A couple episodes this season have been over 500.”

Like the worker at Lost Lake, Collins ran into Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton at the grocery store and he also inquired about the following week’s lineup.

“It’s been a good thing locally, but then we also get emails after every episode from Victoria and Toronto and Seattle,” Collins says. “Good, positive feedback. It’s been a real boon for us and somewhat unexpected.”

It all started late last spring after the

BEHIND THE SCENES The Audain Art Museum team behind-the-scenes of their popular Tuesday Night Talks series.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

42 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Audain team came up with the idea for its “flashlight tour.” As part of that project, Collins toured around the collection at night with this flashlight, shot photos of particular pieces, and posted them on Instagram, along with a description of the piece.

At the same time, he found himself having to cancel all of his typical visits to artists’ studios as a safety precaution.

“I thought, ‘There’s something here between me lurking in the museum at night with a flashlight and the studio visits,’” he

unvarnished. It speaks to the accessibility of it and people enjoy that. It’s a reality TV feel to it, but without the fakeness of reality TV.” The interviews, stories, and impromptu moments from the featured artists have continued to make the series special as it launched its second season (with a one-off special edition featuring Rebecca Bellmore, whose exhibit, Reservoir, had its opening and performance piece cancelled due to tightened COVID-19 restrictions) in January.

There was Paul Wong, whose neon

“We wanted it to remain somewhat unvarnished. It speaks to the accessibility of it and people enjoy that. It’s a reality TV feel to it, but without the fakeness of reality TV.” - CURTIS COLLINS

says. “How can I put these together?”

In June 2020, the museum launched Season 1, Episode 1 of its very first Tuesday Night Talks Zoom session featuring Sasha Suda and Kitty Scott from the National Gallery of Canada.

From the beginning, Collins’ goal was to keep the tone light and conversational and the aesthetic homespun and DIY in an effort to make it accessible to as many viewers as possible, but also to make the artists feel comfortable.

“Literally, we do it with two flashlights taped to stands, pointed at me,” Collins says. “We wanted it to remain somewhat

alphabet piece, called “No Thing Is Forever,” hangs in the Audain’s lobby, explaining how it was inspired by his mother’s Chinese-toEnglish handbook; Dempsey Bob who offered a carving demonstration in his living room, prompting his wife, in the background, to implore him not to “get wood chips on the carpet”; and East Vancouver painter Attila Richard Lukacs pulling out and lighting a cigarette mid-talk.

“I thought, ‘That’s great. That’s awesome.’ He’s feeling comfortable. He’s in his studio,” Collins says with a laugh.

Kept to a short-and-sweet 45 to 50 minutes, the sessions allow the artists to talk

about their work in the museum’s collection, but also answer questions from the audience and share what they’re currently working on.

“It’s the most effective thing we’ve done [during the pandemic],” Collins says. “Not to suggest we’re diminishing the in-person experience, but the reality is this virtual experience is keeping our profile out there and raising our profile. When you can’t travel to Whistler, in theory, we’re still getting out, accessing a very broad audience.”

The team tweaked things along the way when Season 2 kicked off—including adding pre-talk “commercials” featuring an item from the gift shop and a sponsorship from HSBC, which has led to a handful of special, private “collectors conversations” in exchange.

Plans are potentially underway for a third season, perhaps in the fall, but viewers can catch two more TNT episodes this season, including Adad Hannah on Feb. 23 and Dana Claxton on March 2.

(All of the past talks are available for viewing at audainartmuseum.com/tnt).

While all signs pointed to a successful initiative, Collins was still pleased to hear from museum founder Michael Audain.

“I get a one-sentence email from him on occasion—usually the subject line,” he says.

“This one said, ‘Congratulations, Curtis.

Atilla was fascinating.’ We’re continuing to fulfill that vision he had for this place— make the work very accessible and celebrate the art of B.C. We take that very seriously.”

TNT is free, but requires preregistration, which you can find on the museum’s website. n

ARTS SCENE

Ten Tiny Truths uses storytelling to share its message DEBUT BOOK BY LONGTIME WHISTLERITE TACKLES ‘PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING A BIG LIFE’

BY ALYSSA NOEL ON THE FIRST DAY of lockdown in March 2020, Erin Anderson had one thought.

“I’m going to live under a bridge.”

That initial panic quickly subsided, but she had been worried how the emerging pandemic would impact her business and life-coaching company, Live Big. Co. While she snapped into action—“my second thought was to rise to the occasion”— she never could’ve foreseen how the crisis would prompt so many people to radically change their lives in the coming year.

“I’ve had the best year of my life,” the longtime Whistler local says. “People are ready and when one sense is eliminated, others are heightened. I think when there’s nothing to do, we’re left with ourselves.

That’s actually the lesson for 2020: when you’re left with yourself, what have you got?

Do you like yourself? Do you find yourself to be fascinating and interesting and wonderful? When people stopped and asked themselves a couple of questions, they got real with themselves. I know people who made some bold moves.”

In that way, the pandemic might not have been the worst time for Anderson to release her first self-published book. Ten Tiny Truths – Principles for Living a Big Life offers lessons learned, some inspired by her late mother, in the form of distinct stories.

“What I do hope people get [from the book] is lessons are available everywhere— nature, people you love, your dog—it’s about converting those lessons into insight and new levels of awareness,” she says. “That takes some wisdom and courage to do. The stories are lighthearted, they’re relatable.”

Anderson had long harboured a deep desire to write a book, but for a while she let her own self-doubt get in the way of that goal.

“I didn’t graduate from university and never thought of myself as a scholarly person,” she says. “I was stopped for years out of self-judgement.”

But then, two years ago, her mother passed away. Writing became a way for her to process and remember.

“This past summer I just started to write some of the stories she’d tell me,” she says.

“Summertime was a time for my mom and I to spend time together. I found myself writing them as a way to process and honour her.”

Rather than getting bogged down by the task of writing a book, she decided to start small.

“The name came to me: Ten Tiny Truths,” she says. “One big desire, a need to process, then an actual action step that was small

Thank you to Pique Newsmagazine for supporting Free Admission on BC Family Day, providing Whistler with a safe, art-filled experience.

LOOK BOOK Longtime Whistler local Erin Anderson has released her debut book.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

enough, I knew I could do it.”

At its core, the book’s main theme is about contribution, something Anderson’s mother excelled at. “She deeply believed that every single human being, no matter where they came from, what their situation is in life, every single human being has a contribution to make to the world,” she says. “Our contribution is where we find our dignity, honour, life force, passion. She believed that and lived that.”

After navigating the steep learning curve involved with self-publishing, Anderson’s book is now available on Amazon and can be pre-ordered at Armchair Books in Whistler.

Soon she hopes to release a companion journal to go along with it as well.

“The book is your little private coach you can carry around in your purse and bust it out at Blenz when you’re having your morning coffee,” she says. “What coaching is about is change, transformation, holding the picture for your future self—your ideal self. It’s not about looking in the past and overanalyzing. It’s about helping you get to your chosen future.”

For more, visit livebigco.com. n

Dempsey Bob, Northern Eagles Transformation Mask, 2011, yellow cedar and acrylic, Gift of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa.

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Finding a space for the UBC club cabin

BY ALLYN PRINGLE

IENCE MEX IC ER P O X IN

E

LAST WEEK, we mentioned a recent

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44 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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donation of journals published by the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) in the 1960s, covering the period during which the club cabin in Whistler was built. Combined with an oral history conducted with Karl Ricker (who donated the journals) last year, the journals provide a lot of information about how the VOC cabin came to be, even before lifts began running on Whistler Mountain.

According to Ricker, Jack Shakespeare, a member of the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA), began attending VOC meetings in 1963 to promote the proposed development on Whistler Mountain. At the time, the VOC already had a cabin on Mount Seymour but it was reportedly not being used as a ski cabin. so the VOC began to look seriously at building a cabin at Whistler in 1964.

The idea had to be approved by the VOC membership and it wasn’t immediately accepted by all, as Ricker recalls some people fighting to stay on Seymour. The Whistler idea, however, did win out and the club began searching for a site to build a cabin.

Charlie Daughney, then a PhD candidate, led what was described in one VOC journal as “the long and frustrating search for land.” According to Ricker, the VOC first staked out land in what today is Kadenwood, but were then told that there would be no overnight parking at the Whistler Mountain lifts. There was land available to buy at Jordan’s Lodge but the club did not have the money. They were encouraged to look into applying for a piece of land on Alpha Lake but a search

through records showed it was not Crown land but belonged to a man named John Quirk or his descendants. The club even looked at building on the island in Alpha Lake but backed off due to the cost of building a bridge.

Finally, in February 1965, the architect planners for the area and GODA told the VOC that there were plans to create a club cabin area in what is now part of Nordic Estates (Ricker mentioned that a club cabin area was also a way to guarantee customers for the lift company). The next step was to find the tract of land set aside for club cabins, which at the time was simply marked by lines on a map. In the early summer of 1965, members of the VOC ran a survey from the last known property lines in the area and put in their own stakes.

As the first club to plan to build in the area, the VOC acquired “the choice lot” with views of Whistler Mountain and reasonable access to the parking lot that was to be constructed just off the highway.

Though it took longer than expected, official permission was granted by the provincial government to use the land for club cabins before the end of the summer.

In the process, Ricker received a call from a land inspector who had been told to inspect the parcel of land “right away” but didn’t know where it was. Ricker met him at the train station and showed him to the parcel and, despite a few concerns, the land was approved for the VOC. Government surveyors later arrived to do their own survey of the area but, according to Ricker, by that time construction of the VOC cabin was already underway.

We’ll have more on the construction of the VOC cabin next week, as well as reports of some of the first parties held in the structure. n

PARTIAL RECALL

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1 SUN DOG Taken from the Canadian Wilderness Adventures cabin on Mount Sproatt, this photo captures the sun dog Feb.15 in all its glory. PHOTO BY ANDY DITTRICH. 2 LIGHT PILLARS Like something taken straight from a sci-fi movie, these light pillars were caught on Blackcomb Mountain on Feb. 10. Light pillars form in freezing temperatures when ice particles near the ground are light enough to remain suspended in the air. If conditions are calm, the hexagonally shaped ice particles can become vertically stacked as they slowly drift through the atmosphere. Like a giant mirror in the sky, the collective ice surfaces reflect a light source—such as grooming-machine lights. PHOTO BY MIKE DOUGLAS. 3

SWEET THANKS BECK ON

Healthcare workers got a sweet treat on Valentine’s Day from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the students of Myrtle Philip Community School, who took the time to send Valentine’s Day notes of support. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 4

CALL Whistler goalie Beck Warm won his professional debut on Thursday, Feb. 11, making 36 saves to help the Chicago Wolves defeat the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2 in an American Hockey League matinee. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES. 5 HOCKEY DAY Skaters hit the ice at Alpha Lake on Sunday, Feb. 14 for some Valentine’s Day shinny. PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS. 6 BIRTHDAY BOY Chilko celebrates his seventh birthday with a hike in Squamish on Friday, Feb. 12. PHOTO BY ALYSSA NOEL. 7 CRAZY CAT Neko loves to head out with owner Cathy Jewett and “sister” Bryn Horner (pictured) whenever he can for a walkabout. On Feb. 13, they hiked Blueberry Trail. PHOTO BY CATHY JEWETT.

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46 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 18 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Atheists like to confront religious people with accusations like this: “If God is so good, why does he allow suffering in the world?” Their simplistic, childish idea of God as some sort of Moral Policeman is ignorant of the lush range of ruminations about the Divine as offered down through the ages by poets, novelists, philosophers, and theologians. For example, poet Stéphane Mallarmé wrote, “Spirit cares for nothing except universal musicality.” He suggested that the Supreme Intelligence is an artist making music and telling stories. And as you know, music and stories include all human adventures, not just the happy stuff.

I bring these thoughts to your attention, Aries, because the coming weeks will be a favourable time to honour and celebrate the marvelously rich stories of your own life—and to feel gratitude for the full range of experience with which they have blessed you. P.S.: Now is also a favourable phase to rethink and reconfigure your answers to the Big Questions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Blogger Rachel C. Lewis confides, “I love being horribly straightforward. I love sending reckless text messages and telling people I love them and telling people they are absolutely magical humans and I cannot believe they really exist. I love saying, ‘Kiss me harder,’ and ‘You’re a good person,’ and, ‘You brighten my day.’” What would your unique version of Lewis’s forthrightness be like, Taurus? What brazen praise would you offer? What declarations of affection and care would you unleash? What naked confessions might you reveal? The coming days will be a favourable time to explore these possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s a good time to become more of who you are by engaging with more of what you are not. Get in the mood for this heroic exercise by studying the following rant by Gemini poet Adam Zagajewski (who writes in Polish), translated by Gemini poet Clare Cavanaugh: “Read for yourselves, read for the sake of your inspiration, for the sweet turmoil in your lovely head. But also read against yourselves, read for questioning and impotence, for despair and erudition, read the dry, sardonic remarks of cynical philosophers. Read those whose darkness or malice or madness or greatness you can’t yet understand, because only in this way will you grow, outlive yourself, and become what you are.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’re on the verge of breakthroughs. You’re ready to explore frontiers, at least in your imagination. You’re brave enough to go further and try harder than you’ve been able to before. With that in mind, here’s a highly apropos idea from Cancerian novelist Tom Robbins. He writes, “If you take any activity, any art, any discipline, any skill, take it and push it as far as it will go, push it beyond where it has ever been before, push it to the wildest edge of edges, then you force it into the realm of magic.” (I might use the word “coax” or “nudge” instead of “force” in Robbins’ statement.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In her story “Homelanding,” Margaret Atwood writes, “Take me to your trees. Take me to your breakfasts, your sunsets, your bad dreams, your shoes. Take me to your fingers.” I’d love you to express requests like that. It’s a favourable time for you to delve deeper into the mysteries of people you care about. You will generate healing and blessings by cultivating reverent curiosity and smart empathy and crafty intimacy. Find out more about your best allies!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’re about to reach the end of your phase of correction and adjustment. To mark this momentous transition, and to honour your ever-increasing ability to negotiate with your demons, I offer you the following inspirational proclamation by poet Jeannette Napolitano: “I don’t want to look back in five years’ time and think, ‘We could have been magnificent, but I was afraid.’ In five years, I want to tell of how fear tried to cheat me out of the best thing in life, and I didn’t let it.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It’s not a good time for you to be obsessed with vague abstractions, fearbased fantasies, and imaginary possibilities. But it is a favourable phase to rise up in behalf of intimate, practical changes. At least for now, I also want to advise you not to be angry and militant about big, complicated issues that you have little power to affect. On the other hand, I encourage you to get inspired and aggressive about injustices you can truly help fix and erroneous approaches you can correct and close-at-hand dilemmas for which you can summon constructive solutions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes,” declared author André Gide. As a writer myself, I will testify to the truth of that formulation. But what about those of you who aren’t poets and novelists and essayists? Here’s how I would alter Gide’s statement to fit you: “The most beautiful things are those that rapture prompts and reason refines.” Or maybe this: “The most beautiful things are those that experimentation finds and reason uses.” Or how about this one: “The most beautiful things are those that wildness generates and reason enhances.” Any and all of those dynamics will be treasures for you in the coming weeks.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The poet Nayyirah Waheed has some advice I want you to hear. She writes, “Be easy. Take your time. You are coming home to yourself.” I will add that from my astrological perspective, the coming weeks will indeed be a time for you to relax more deeply into yourself—to welcome yourself fully into your unique destiny; to forgive yourself for what you imagine are your flaws; to not wish you were someone else pursuing a different path; to be at peace and in harmony with the exact life you have.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “The chief object of education is not to learn things but to unlearn things,” wrote author G. K. Chesterton. He was exaggerating for dramatic effect when he said that, as he often did. The more nuanced truth is that one of the central aims of education is to learn things, and another very worthy aim is to unlearn things. I believe you are currently in a phase when you should put an emphasis on unlearning things that are irrelevant and meaningless and obstructive. This will be excellent preparation for your next phase, which will be learning a lot of useful and vitalizing new things.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) ultimately became one of the 20th century’s most renowned composers. But his career had a rough start. Symphony No. 1, his first major work, was panned by critics, sending him into a four-year depression. Eventually, he recovered. His next major composition, Piano Concerto No. 2, was well received. I don’t anticipate that your rookie offerings or new work will get the kind of terrible reviews that Rachmaninoff’s did. But at least initially, there may be no great reviews, and possibly even indifference. Keep the faith, my dear.

Don’t falter in carrying out your vision of the future. The rewards will come in due time.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ancient Greek playwright Euripides was popular and influential—and remains so to this day, 2,400 years later. But there’s a curiously boring aspect in five of his plays, Andromache, Alcestis, Helen, Medea, and The Bacchae. They all have the same exact ending: six lines, spoken by a chorus, that basically say the gods are unpredictable. Was Euripides lazy? Trying too hard to drive home the point? Or were the endings added later by an editor? Scholars disagree.

The main reason I’m bringing this to your attention is to encourage you to avoid similar behaviour. I think it’s very important that the stories you’re living right now have different endings than all the stories of your past.

Homework: Listen to and download my music for free. https://soundcloud.com/sacreduproar

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES /whistlermagazine

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

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The successful candidate must have a minimum 2 years experience with Quickbooks as well as CRM software system(s).

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48 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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ROTARY CLUBS OF WHISTLER Please support The Rotary Clubsthe of Rotary Whistler Club Whistler Spirit Night are of now meeting virtually.

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Bucha Brew Administrative assistant -Job Responsability/ requirements - Prepare, edit, invoices - Create and organize deliveries route - Search grants and procces applications -Knowledge of fermentation, kombucha -Must have knowledge and experience of Beverage manufacturing industry - Spanish/ English speaking -Own computer with Microsoft -Quickbooks, Basecamp, social media

6 2 7

1 3 4

4

3 2 9 4 7 8 5 (PART -TIME) OPERATIONS & STUDENT ADMIN COORDINATOR 5 2 6 The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting the Operations Manager with student administrative duties & 4 8 6 7 9 student communication.

Come and be part of a growing organisation.

9 1right Flexible 7 work schedule and good remuneration for the candidate.

7 6 8 9 You will get to work with a dynamic passionate team as well as students & instructors who love the outdoors.

9 and succession5in the6role.

Eventual opportunity for growth Requirements: 8 7 Business, marketing or communications related degree

Answers 1 2 7 3 8 6 5 4 9

7 4 2 1 3 8 6 9 5

5 1 3 2 6 9 4 8 7

6 9 8 7 5 4 1 3 2

2 6 9 4 7 3 8 5 1

in Whistler.

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QUALIFICATIONS

All season, Permanent Full-time, 30 hours per week $25 per hour 4% vacation pay Start Date: As soon as possible.

Language of work is English Address: 301-4293 Mountain Square, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4

4 8 To find out 9 more about8the school 5 visit 1 3 7 whistleradventureschool.com 7 8 2 5 4 9 6 7 Only those selected for interviews will be contacted Closing Date Feb 28, 2021

Apply by email at teppanvillage@shaw.ca

SHARE YOUR PASSION

4 9 2 8 6 3 9 2

Full Time, Year Round

PUT YOUR CAREER ON A NEW PATH

3 8 1 6 5 1 2 6

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR EASY

FACILITIES ENGINEER

# 52

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4 8 1 6 2 5 9 7 3

This role requires a hands-on professional with highly developed customer service skills, and a logical, formal approach to problem solving. Technical knowledge and abilities include: mastery of the latest Microsoft workstation and server technologies, network design and security, Windows security, and Office 365 administration; MSCE # 51 (or equivalent) # 52 of wireless 9 8 7 1 certification; 3 6 2 5 and 4 knowledge 4 7 1technology.

6 3 2 9 1 6 3 5 4 2 7 9 8 9 Time, 6 8Year 5 Round).

4 1 3 We are also recruiting for: Facilities Engineer (Full 5 4 2 9 8 7 6 1 3 3 5 2 7 9 8 4 To view our career opportunities, and to apply, visit us online at: 3 7 6 2 9 1 8 4 5 1 2 5 4 8 9 6 whistler.com/careers.

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

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JOB DUTIES

Prepare and cook Teppanyaki and other Japanese food including Sushi.

Ensure food meets quality standards.

Estimate food requirements and cooking time.

Instruct Kitchen Helpers and Cooks in preparation, cooking, and presentation of food.

Assist Head Chef and supervise cooks and kitchen helpers.

Inspecting ingredients for quality and freshness and supervising all food preparation.

Create new menu, recipes and specials.

Ensure to provide excellent live cooking presentation and customer services at the Teppanyaki bar.

Work as a team and ensure orders are completed in timely manner.

Ensure Teppan cooking presentations are performed in most safe environment.

• Completion of secondary school and 2-3 years or more experience as a cook/chef.

• Experience as a Teppanyaki Cook/Chef an asset.

• Good understanding of Japanese food and Teppanyaki food.

Full Time, Year Round

The Facilities Engineer is responsible for the oversight, maintenance, repairs and efficient operations of all main mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and the overall common areas at the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Course and Driving Range.

The Network Administrator provides a wide range of technical leadership relating to the network, software, and hardware for the Whistler Conference Centre, Visitor Information Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler.com, and Tourism Whistler’s administrative office.

@piquenews

9 3 6 5 4 2 7 1 8

JAPANESE TEPPANYAKI CHEFS

Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references by email to: admin@whistlermountainadventureschool.com

Find Your Dream Team!

Career and temp opportunities avail.

No cost, no strings. 604-905-4194 Whistler Personnel whistler-jobs.com

8 5 4 9 1 7 3 2 6

Teppan Village is hiring

Fluency in spoken and written English is required, additional EASY # 50 languages a plus Strong organizational and administrative skills & effective time-management Enjoys working with a dynamic team in a fun fast paced environment Enjoys working with Canadian & International Students Has a love and passion for the outdoors and our community of Whistler.

2 8 2

1 9 5

3

Whistler Adventure School (WAS) located in Whistler, BC operating since 2013 is hiring a

-6 months experience in a Kombucha Company -Salary: 21.50$/h. -30h./ per week -More information and contact :https://bit.ly/3p7cF4F

***Local Automotive*** Automotive technician for year round # 51 position in Whistler. 604-905-9109 steve@localautomotive.com

# 50

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5 2 6 7 9 1 3 4 8

8 7 1 3 4 5 9 2 6

This position requires an individual who possesses a 4th Class Power Engineering Certificate (or is currently enrolled), complimented with five years of related experience gained in a commercial building or hotel. Experience and knowledge of direct digital controls, energy management systems and green initiatives is also important. Previous leadership experience, with knowledge of applicable buildings codes and health and safety practices is an asset.

We are also recruiting for: Network Administrator (Full Time, Year Round).

To view our career opportunities, and to apply, visit us online at whistler.com/careers.

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WHISTLER WHISTLER PUBLISHING PUBLISHING Limited Partnership

Limited Partnership

Teppan Village is hiring an Assistant Manager.

The Assistant Manager is responsible for managing the daily operations of our restaurant, including the selection, development and performance management of employees.

•

•

• •

•

• • •

• • • •

JOB DUTIES:

Oversee and manage all areas of the restaurant and make final decisions on matters of importance to guest service.

Adhere to company standards and service levels to increase sales and minimize costs, including food, beverage, supply, utility and labour costs.

Responsible for ensuring consistent high quality of service.

Maintain professional restaurant image, including restaurant cleanliness, uniforms, and appearance standards.

Respond to complaints, taking any and all appropriate actions to turn dissatisfied guests into return guests.

Ensure security procedures are in place to protect employees, guests and company assets.

Ensure a safe working and guest environment to reduce the risk of injury and accidents.

Manage shifts which includes daily decision making, planning while upholding standards, product quality and cleanliness.

Provide direction to employees regarding operational and procedural issues.

Oversee the training of new employees.

Maintain an accurate and up-to-date plan of restaurant staffing needs. Prepare schedules.

Reports to the General Manager and Owner of the business.

QUALIFICATIONS: • Completion of high school, College diploma as asset.

• Valid Serving It Right Certificate.

• 2 years of experience as a Food Service Supervisor or Assistant Manager in the food industry • 3 years of experience in the food service industry.

All season, Permanent Full-time, 30 hours per week $25 per hour 4% vacation pay Start Date: As soon as possible.

Language of work is English Address: 301-4293 Mountain Square, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4 Apply by email at teppanvillage@shaw.ca

Whistler’s award winning publications are seeking a full-time production manager.

We have a rare opportunity for a talented individual interested in managing a bustling production department with Pique Newsmagazine and our sister publications.

Suitable candidates will have the following qualifications: • Advanced knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Strong understanding of newspaper printing process, including how to design for newsprint, how to preflight artwork for newsprint and glossy output, how to troubleshoot and correct submitted artwork.

• Minimum 5 years experience in the graphic design industry, specifically in print/publishing.

• Digital product creation skills for responsive ad design and social media platforms.

• College diploma or equivalent experience in the area of graphic design.

• Team and project management skills.

• Experience managing IT resources and office assets.

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52 ISSUES

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Recreation Program Leader – Casual/On Call Lifeguard 1 – Casual/On Call Recreation Facility Attendant 1 – Casual/On Call Recreation Facility Attendant 2 – Casual/On Call

Find out more by visiting squamish.ca/careers

50 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

WE ARE HIRING FOR CONSTRUCTION IN SQUAMISH & WHISTLER: EXCAVATOR OPERATOR To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15594

ROCK TRUCK DRIVER To apply: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/coastalmountain/15594

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N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre PO BOX 88/64 CASPER CHARLIE PLACE, DARCY BC V0N 1L0

JOB POSTINGS

PRESCHOOL CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR INFANT TODDLER EDUCATOR The N’Quatqua First Nation is seeking 2 qualified Early Childhood Educators. One is a full-time permanent position, the other is a full time maternity leave position at N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre. The successful candidates will join our NCFDC team. The Early Childhood Educators work as team members with other child care setting staff and with all the children and families providing general support to the whole program to ensure effective inclusion of the children.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability in: • Ability to develop and maintain a warm, caring, responsive relationship with the child.

• Ability to establish and maintain supportive, collaborative relationships with families and staff.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, positive, professional, nonjudgmental attitude.

• Physically ability to carry out the duties of the position.

THE FIRST PLACE TO LOOK FOR LOCAL JOB OPENINGS

Human Resources Manager (Permanent, F/T) The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is located in southwestern BC and consists of four member municipalities (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet) and 4 electoral areas.

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. Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services to its residents. 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 SLRD is seeking an experienced individual to fill the role of Human Resources Manager as part of the senior management team, reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

This position is responsible for developing, communicating and implementing Human Resources policies, programs, procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and in support of the strategies and goals of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Working closely with senior management, the position supports the attraction and retention of a qualified and professional employee base focused on delivering customer service excellence to the SLRD’s residents, property owners and businesses. The Human Resource Manager ensures the Occupational Health and Safety Program is compliant with legislation and supports a safe, healthy and productive workplace.

The ideal candidate will have post-secondary education (degree or diploma) in human resources, business administration, management, psychology, or a related discipline as well as five or more years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The ideal candidate will also possess a Certified Human Resource Professional designation (CHRL designation preferred). Local government experience is an asset, including working knowledge of BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and its implications for local government communications.

• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports community, inclusion and is culturally significant for young Aboriginal children

Additional responsibilities of the successful candidate include but are not limited to:

• Understanding and working knowledge of Child Care Licensing regulations

• Responsible for Personnel in the Logistics Section during an activation of the Emergency Operations Center.

• Interpersonal, written, oral communication skills and maintaining positive communication with parents

For further information, please see the full job description at www.slrd.bc.ca/employment.

Compensation will be determined commensurate with knowledge, skills and ability, includes a comprehensive benefit package and Municipal Pension Plan and offers the ability to work a compressed work week (nine-day fortnight).

• Collaborating with community service providers, Self-directed and able to initiate and complete projects In addition, the Early Childhood Educators will have: • A minimum of 2 years work experience in a child care setting • Valid Early Childhood Educator Certificate, ECE Licence to Practice or going to school to take Early Childhood Educator courses.

• Clear Criminal Records Check & Current First Aid

• Benefits Administrator for the SLRD; • Management Lead on Occupational Health and Safety; and

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume with a covering letter by email, no later than March 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. to: Nathalie Klein, Executive Assistant Squamish-Lillooet Regional District nklein@slrd.bc.ca

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

• Food Safe or willingness to obtain • Some knowledge of curriculum and philosophies in First Nations Early Childhood settings.

Terms of Employment: • Full-time, Monday to Friday hours to be determined • Start Date: As soon as possible • Wage: (negotiable depending on experience) Cover Letter & Resume to: Title: Lisa Sambo, Manager Agency: N’Quatqua Child and Family Development Centre Email: lisa.sambo@nquatqua.ca Fax: 604-452-3295/3280

PLAY HERE

Deadline: until position is filled We thank all those who apply. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

» piquenewsmagazine.com/jobs FEBRUARY 18, 2021

51

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52 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 11 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 35 37 38 39 41 42 44 47 49 50 54 55 57 59 60 62 64 65 66 67

Stray calf Wetland Type of pear Motor sound “Maria --” Sharp Teahouse hostess Unhurried gait Ore pits Lawsuit cause Portrait painter Hannibal’s route In plain sight Perfect Tells a whopper Conical dwellings Emergency reserve (2 wds.)

Appalachian range Society girl, briefly Marquee notice Old Norse poem Overhead trains Restrains Concert performer Author -- Rice Keep out of sight Flourish Hit lightly A Guthrie Mounted the soapbox Rip Said Des Moines’ state Bronze and Iron Prefix for “pod” Chestnuts and bays Extensive

69 71 74 75 76 77 78 81 82 86 87 88 89 90 93 94 95 97 98 99 101 103 105 107 109 110 111 112 114 116 118 119 120 123 124 128 133 135 136

138 139 140 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151

Woodland nymph Unassuming Poultry restaurant Fish without scales U of F athlete Hindu princess Nevertheless (2 wds.)

Mellow Wisdom Harbor Highland attire Snips off Go for the gold Bits of hay Ambergris source Igloo shape “-- Street Blues” Cry of discovery Mild expletive Crooner -- Martin Traveled on snow Delicate fabric Resort amenities All, as a prefix Sci-fi thriller Basin companion Winery casks Glass square Most lofty Weeping over Proceed smoothly Pilot et al.

Pro vote Interest amt.

Untouchables Treat a wound Raid Closed tightly Cave entrance

Shrimper’s net Food processor setting Setting, as of a novel Nebraska city Surfer wannabe Pullets Wiped out a file Firm refusal Work by Rousseau Squirrel’s abode Wearing vestments Money-hunger Less common

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 32 34 36 37

Evil being Martini garnish DNA components Lying still Maine residents Slanders Etching fluid Bumpkins Kind of bath Phone response Craggy abodes House lots Nile goddess Happy sighs Talked idly Show approval Pores Topmost Fresco base Noted astronomer Recede Travel book Male doll Guys

40 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 51 52 53 54 56 58 61 63 68 70 71 72 73 75 76 77 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 90 91 92 93

Airport info Gave as an example Barracks off.

Defer (2 wds.)

Undamaged in any way Ra’s symbol Burn soother Parent’s request Comic strip Viking Nerve network Paddle cousins Judicial order Loose body-length garment Disencumbers Artificial fiber Resided Made fit Chicago’s st.

Road map nos.

Kiosk buys Four quarters Noise Pitcher handles Breathing organ Loan figures Eco-friendly feds Squabble Rodeo noose Amount Weasels out of Mum Future flowers Mongol rulers Mass. neighbor Markdown Take out of the freezer Political campaign Removed water

94 95 96 98 100 102 104 105 106 108 113 115 117 118 120 121 122

Woman of rank Trend indicator Singer -- Adams Unnerve Time period Brand name Make a blunder Martinet Jetted forth Business abbr.

“Who -- -- to say?”

Grove Mdse. bars Toted Cruise in style Anesthetic Cherry center

124 125 126 127 129 130 131 132 134 135 137 141

Distinct stage In between Marge Simpson’s hubby Charming Cooking odor Rock bottom Boggy tract Kind of statesman Vaulted recess Strike ignorer “Of -- I Sing” Conquistador’s quest

LAST WEEKS’ 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: EASY

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

5 2 6 9

9 8

7

3 5

6

7 9 1 8 9 5 6

EASY Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com# 50

ANSWERS ON PAGE 49

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

53

MAXED OUT

Close the damn borders “Never make the same mistake twice!”

GETTYIMAGES.CA

It was the kind of spurious advice a precocious kid like me hated to hear. My first thought was, “No problem. There must be thousands of new mistakes I can make.”

But the orneryness in me said, “No problem.

I’ll make it half a dozen times just to drive you nuts.”

Eventually, I came to understand the wisdom in that advice. I’d like to say it had something to do with becoming familiar with Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over

BY G.D. MAXWELL again and expecting a different result, but in reality, it had more to do with having a secretary who couldn’t seem to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again until I had to fire her.

But these days, I fall back on Einstein’s admonition more often. I’ve come to realize our elected and appointed officials, the ones we’re relying on to steer us through this yearold nonsense, are, well, insane. They keep doing the same things over and over even though all evidence points dramatically to the fact IT’S NOT WORKING! Their collective efforts to date to flatten, bend or in some other way mutilate the curve remind me of spending an afternoon in a leaky fishing boat. With only a small container to bail the rising water, we had a choice: bail or fish, not both... and either way our feet continued to be wet. When health officers, premiers and assorted ministers of health express optimism about numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths getting lower, but still remaining high compared to those countries taking bold action, I keep remembering our collective feet are still underwater.

Yet, they keep doing and saying the same thing. As though good intentions will change the future.

There’s a name for that... other than insanity. I call it Guy Syndrome. Guy Syndrome is the magical thinking that makes guys believe anything they ignore will hopefully fix itself. Car’s not running well? Maybe it’ll fix itself. Nasty cough that you’ve suffered since September? Maybe it’ll fix itself. Relationship on the rocks?

That’ll definitely fix itself.

And while I call it Guy Syndrome, it is clearly not gender-specific, as proven by the numbers of women holding high, publichealth positions.

Case in point: Going way back to a year ago, the federal government leaped into action and closed Canada’s borders to travellers coming from China. That wasn’t because China is a country run by petty, malevolent dictators. It was because China was widely considered to be the source of the novel coronavirus we were hearing about.

Of course, the government was bailing

54 FEBRUARY 18, 2021

with a small container. The virus travelled to other countries. People travelling from those countries were just as effective at bringing the virus around the world as people travelling directly from China would have been. If you recall, many of the early cases in this province were traced to people traveling from Iran. Go figure.

That early decision has pretty much set the course for everything that followed. Too little, too late.

Canada is not a country known for taking bold steps. If not in our DNA, it’s certainly a component of our confederation. While some countries wield a two-edged sword, Canada wields a two-edged shield. The

bubbles to our immediate household, avoid unnecessary travel and observe the usual COVID-19 dance steps.

They acknowledge most of us are already doing that. Wait a minute. MOST OF US ARE ALREADY DOING THAT! Capiche?

The next time you tell me to redouble my effort you’d better not be within arm swing of me and a rolled-up newspaper. I’m tired of hearing it. My friends are tired of hearing it. Everyone is tired of hearing it.

That’s because the people who aren’t hearing it at all, or are simply choosing to ignore it, have no effort to redouble. They are the problem. You are the problem. And it’s about damn time you redoubled your

While some countries wield a two-edged sword, Canada wields a two-edged shield.

feds hide behind the shield of provincial jurisdiction and the provinces are just as good at hiding behind claims something is within federal jurisdiction. It is a convenient co-dependency. Every level of government has some other level of government to blame and if there’s always someone else to blame, no one’s to blame. QED. So it’s no wonder people from coast to coast to coast are fed up with this dithering.

It’s no wonder most of us are screaming at our provincial bumblers when they tell us to redouble our efforts, keep our

own efforts to deal with it because this crap’s getting old ... and getting worse. And your continuing half-assed steps are going to continue to fail. Fail, fail, fail.

The new variants—mutations—the ones more easily transmitted and more deadly, are now available in every province.

Maybe they arrived by simply mutating within someone who already had the oldform virus. More likely, as was evident in the early, eagerly identified cases, they were contracted by contact with someone coming from other countries in which they

had already been identified.

So ... close the fookin’ borders already.

Federal, provincial, local. Not the kind of lame-ass steps JT already announced: We’ll give you three weeks to party and then we’re going to make you quarantine—three days at your expense, any longer at the taxpayer’s—if you don’t come back to the country with a negative test.

The very best tests continue to have some false negatives. Close the damn borders.

People are going to ignore quarantine rules. We’ve seen that in this town.

Everyone’s heard the stories. Close the damn borders.

Oh, and while you’re closing the borders, start getting a little more Old Testament with the miscreants ignoring the rules of engagement. Rich couple rents a private jet, flies to Yukon, jumps the queue, gets vaccinated and gets fined $1,000 each?

Ouch. The entitled vacuous cram into a Vancouver penthouse booze can and wind up with $230 tickets for not wearing masks?

That’s not a deterrent. That’s a freakin’ cover charge!

Meanwhile, those of us getting tired of living our never-ending Groundhog Day, feeling doomed to spending the rest of our lives doing the same thing every day, foregoing human contact, considering everyone and every activity a risk, are told to be kind, be calm, be safe ... and redouble our efforts.

Meanwhile our own provincial Mr. Dithers Horgan muses about, “... looking at various plans and protocols to restrict travel into...” the province. Keep lookin’, John. As long as you look you can pretend it’s acting.

Pathetic. ■

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, HOME G L O B A L R E AC H , L O C A L K N O W L E D G E SOLD

WHISTLER CREEKSIDE 215A 2020 London Lane, Evolution Quarter share, pet friendly property just steps fron Creekside gondola, shops & restaurants. Beautiful contemporary design with great amenities including entertainment rooms, fitness centre, outdoor pool, hot tubs and sauna. $114,900

Janet Brown

BENCHLANDS 413-4800 Spearhead Drive Top floor ski-in/ski-out 1 bedroom suite with forest views & all day sun. Enjoy unlimited personal use or rent out for revenues. Enjoy use of an outdoor hot tubs, an outdoor pool, gym, front desk, & a lounge. Strata fees include utilities. GST paid. $900,000

604-935-0700 Allyson Sutton

604-932-7609 Kathy White

SOLD

604-616-6933

VIRTUAL TOUR

ALPINE MEADOWS 8504 Drifter Way It’s a challenging market! This vacant lot sold in less than a week for over list price. If you’re looking to make a move, call or email me and I’ll help guide you through the process! $1,285,000

Laura Wetaski

WHISTLER CREEKSIDE D101-1400 Alta Lake Road TAMARISK, one bedroom / one bathroom 645 sq.ft. Recently renovated with spacious interior livingroom, natural gas fireplace, large kitchen, with covered patio. Near to Whistler Creekside Ski / Bike Lifts and easy access to paddle board or kayak on Alpha Lake $580,000

EMERALD ESTATES 9508 Emerald Drive Welcome to “Raven-Hut” the epitome of mountain modern design. Interior living spaces flow seamlessly with the outdoor living spaces. 3 Bedrooms & 2 bathroom house with a lovely 2 bedroom & 1 bathroom suite $3,995,000

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WHISTLER VILLAGE 309-4369 Main Street Bright SW facing studio suite in the centrally located Alpenglow Lodge. Lovely mountain views, outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, gym, plenty of nearby eateries and steps to the free mtn shuttle. New floors, fixtures and appliances. Excellent revenues. $434,000

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Ken Achenbach

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PEMBERTON MEADOWS 8354 Pemberton Meadows Road Imagine a 3.5 bdrm/2 bath country home with a wrap around deck on a 3 acre piece of paradise with mature trees, flowers, veggie garden and picture postcard views including Mt. Currie! $1,399,000

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604-932-0751

3D Tour - rem.ax/301woodrun

#301 - 4910 Spearhead Place

3D Tour - rem.ax/331DLB

$58,000

Own 2 premium ski weeks in Whistlers #1 family address at Woodrun Lodge .

Week 6 and 7 are 2 great skiweeks in February and include Presidents Week and often the Canadian Family week. Great for teachers and children. With over 1475 ft2 on one level there is ample room to have the family spread out.

Dave Sharpe

3

604.902.2779

#331D - 2036 London Lane

New Price: Step onto the Creekside Gondola. Enjoy this slopeside 1/4 share suite at the popular Legends at Creekside. This spacious poolside 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom 901 sf suite offers views of the Whistler Mountain slopes, pool & hot tubs.

Denise Brown*

$718,000

1

604.905.8777

#322C - 2036 London Lane

$189,000

This very impressive almost 900sq ft 2 bedroom 2 bath has all the amenities a holiday requires, hot tub, movie theater, outdoor pool, ski lockers & ski in ski out access.

The best location you could ask for right when you enter Creekside. 322C is on the mountainside, no highway noise, just a beautiful creek to listen too.

Doug Treleaven

2

604.905.8 626

SOLD

LOCATION, LOCATION! Just a stone’s toss from Creekside village and gondola is this gorgeously updated 1 bedroom townhome, boasting vaulted ceilings, large private deck, wood burning fireplace, and an amazing view of Rainbow mountain - this gem is sure to please.

Laura Barkman

2

604.902.2033

SOLD

#8 - 2213 Marmot Place

$179,900

#308 - 4405 Blackcomb Way

$645,000

A conveniently located studio suite right on the edge of Whistler Village, 308 Granite Court is an ideal revenue and vacation property! The forested setting allows a peaceful retreat, and being close enough to all that Whistler has to offer makes for a great getaway spot for owners and guests.

Madison Perry

.5

778 .919.7653

#202B - 2020 London Lane

$229,900

Quarter Ownership in a modern well appointed condo at the base of Whistler Mountain. Overlooking Whistler Creekside Village, this unit has a great kitchen, open floor plan, and is pet friendly. Use your unit 1 week every month, or allow it to be rented out for revenue.

Matt Chiasson

2

604.935.9171

3D Tour - rem.ax/107woodrun

9099 Corduroy Run Court

$1,495,000

#212 - 4220 Gateway Drive

$285,000

#107 - 4910 Spearhead Drive

$1,799,000

Located just 12 minutes north of Whistler Village the lots at Wedgewoods offer privacy, views and light. Each property has been carefully designed to have the best building site available and the services are at the lot line.

A renovated studio with loft - right in the heart of Whistler Village and within a 2 minute walk to the ski lifts. These fully furnished lofted studios include a fully equipped kitchen and sleep 6. Blackcomb Lodge has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades to the indoor swimming pool, hot tub and other Common Area facilities.

The Woodrun is one of the few concrete buildings in Whistler and #107 is conveniently located on the ground floor facing the green belt. The unit features a boot heater, huge owner locker, Washer, and Dryer in suite and the gym and pool access is just across the hallway.

Meg McLean

Michael d’Artois

Richard Christiansen

604.907.2223

3D Tour - rem.ax/34redsky

#34- 8400AshleighMcIvorWay

1

604.905.9337

3D Tour - rem.ax/229greystone

$2,399,000

#229 - 4905 Spearhead Drive

$959,000

Ski in Ski out on Blackcomb and only a 5 minute walk to Upper Village. Located in Greystone, an extraordinary complex with an outdoor pool and 2 hot tubs, a ski locker + additional private storage room. Options to use the front desk for check ins, do Airbnb or hire your choice of property managers. 1 bedroom, 2 bath.

Sally Warner*

Sherry Baker

3.5

WHISTLER OFFICE 106 - 7015 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC V8E 0X1 604.932.2300 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070 *PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

If you are a home owner, buyer, tenant, landlord, or small business in need of help during this time, please see our updated list of resources at: remax-whistler.com/resources

604.932.1315

2

3D Tour - rem.ax/304wrc

This stunning Red Sky townhome offers fabulous south facing exposure and delivers sunshine from dawn to dusk. There are 3 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, a huge family room or 4th bedroom. This townhome offers contemporary mountain architecture with extensive use of natural wood and stone.

604.905.6326

604.907.2717

1

#304 A/B - 2129 Lake Placid Rd.

$979,000

RAREOPPORTUNITYtoownauniquePHASE1lock-offwithTWOSEPARATERENTAL UNITSwhichgenerategreatcashflowinWhistler!Thisbright,renovatedtopfloor,lock-off floor-plangivestheoptiontohave1twobedroomunit,or2separateunits.Rentthrough shortorlongtermplatformsoruseforyourownpersonalusage.

Ursula Morel*

604.932.8 629

2

PEMBERTON OFFICE 1411 Portage Road, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L1 604.894.6616 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070