DECEMBER 23, 2021 ISSUE 28.51
WWW.PIQUENEWSMAGAZINE.COM
FREE
FESTIVUS POLES
14
VARIED CHRISTMAS Mixing old and new traditions to make Christmas special
15
COVID CUTBACKS
Whistler reacts to new COVID-19 health orders
64
ANCIENTS FALL
Songwriter Laura Nedelak inspired by trip to Fairy Creek
604 932 5538 WHISTLERREALESTATE.CA *Personal Real Estate Corporation
WHISTLER
s g n i t e e r G s ’ n o Seas t e k r a M s r e t es N t a s u f o l l From a e r t n e C s s e n l l & The We
Holiday Hours December 24
Store Daily
Regular Store Ho urs Now Ope n until 9p m
Christmas Day CLOSED December 26
8am-8pm
December 31
8am-8pm
January 1
10am-8pm
it Let it Snow, Let
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Pharmacy 8am-6pm
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604.932.3545 Pharmacy 604.905.0429
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THIS WEEK IN PIQUE
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Tinsel Tales Heartwarming holiday stories for the jolliest time of year. - By Katherine Fawcett, GD Maxwell and Brandon Barrett
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immigrants, the holidays are a chance to preserve traditions from home,
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while forging new customs as well.
equipment used for its kids’ cross-country ski programs was stolen.
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A snowboarder rescued
after two nights lost on Whistler Mountain, was hypothermic when Whistler Search and Rescue volunteers located him.
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ANCIENTS FALL
Whistler singer-songwriter
Laura Nedelak was inspired by two trips to Fairy Creek recording a track
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htiw music video as a tribute to the protestors there. and accompanying
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COVER Happy Festivus! I wish we would all stop complaining and get on with caring. And now pushups! - By Jon Parris HTRON EGALLIV ECALPTEKRAM RELTSIHW NI DETACOL 4 DECEMBER 23, 2021
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4330 Northlands Blvd Whistler, BC V8E 1C2 Expires dec. 30, 2021
LOCATED IN WHISTLER MARKETPLACE VILLAGE NORTH
THIS WEEK IN PIQUE
Opinion & Columns 08 OPENING REMARKS As we deal with yet another COVID-19 variant, let’s wear masks properly,
#202 -1390 ALPHA LAKE RD., FUNCTION JUNCTION, WHISTLER, B.C. V8E 0H9. PH: (604) 938-0202 FAX: (604) 938-0201 www.piquenewsmagazine.com
and be grateful for all the workers who keep this resort humming in the holidays.
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT
10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter writers this week give a shout out to first responders as we
Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@wplpmedia.com Editor CLARE OGILVIE - edit@piquenewsmagazine.com Assistant Editor BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com Sales Manager SUSAN HUTCHINSON - shutchinson@wplpmedia.com Production Manager AMIR SHAHRESTANI - ashahrestani@wplpmedia.com Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@wplpmedia.com Advertising Representatives
remember the work they did during our extreme weather events.
13 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST In a year when current events seem to be dampening the Christmas cheer, this ranking of 11 popular holiday flicks is sure to give your festive spirit a boost.
82 MAXED OUT Max reminisces about a Christmas past in the Before Times where friends gathered for potluck turkey and party games.
TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com GEORGIA BUTLER - gbutler@wplpmedia.com Digital/Sales Coordinator AMELA DIZDARIC - traffic@wplpmedia.com Production production@piquenewsmagazine.com
Environment & Adventure
Arts & Entertainment/Features Editor BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com
44 THE OUTSIDER Writer Vince Shuley has been celebrating the holidays in Whistler for 19 years now,
Social Media Editor MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com
and for him the best way to spend Christmas Day if you can’t get home is to ski!
Reporters BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com BRANDON BARRETT - bbarrett@piquenewsmagazine.com MEGAN LALONDE - mlalonde@piquenewsmagazine.com ALYSSA NOEL arts@piquenewsmagazine.com HARRISON BROOKS - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com
Lifestyle & Arts
Classifieds and Reception mail@piquenewsmagazine.com Office and Accounts Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, GLENDA BARTOSH, FEET BANKS, LESLIE ANTHONY, ANDREW MITCHELL, ALISON TAYLOR, VINCE SHULEY, LISA RICHARDSON
62 EPICURIOUS Canada’s Food Price Report predicts the average Canadian family will see food costs rise between five- and seven-per-cent in 2022, the largest annual increase in the report’s 12-year history.
68 MUSEUM MUSINGS Remembering a time when so much snow fell that shovelling it exhausted Whistler Mountain employees so a manager threw a huge party to cheer them up.
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. 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. Pique Newsmagazine is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact (edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com). If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil. ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information. This organization replaces the BC Press council (and any mention of it).
ISSN #1206-2022
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FEATURE LISTINGS For December 23rd 126 acre Pemb. Meadows $5.895M 1380 Collins – Home on 20 acres 3.995M Storage business + home on 1.16 acres 3.8M NEW Pemb. Distillery business + land 3.250M Earl’s Cove waterfront – 22 acres 2.99M 9 Bed/7 bath permitted lodge Pemb. 2.299M SOLD 156 acres near Birkenhead Lk 1.15M 17.6 acres near Pemb. Plateau 1.4M Pemb. Industrial Park live/work commercial 1.1M Development lot with Hwy 99 frontage 450K TOP %
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OPENING REMARKS
Be kind and say thanks to Whistler’s workers I FEEL LIKE THERE hasn’t been much time for relaxing or finding the Christmas spirit so far this season. We’ve had to make sure we got our tree really early, or risk not getting one, as happened to several friends of mine (fortunately for us in the Sea to Sky we can
BY CLARE OGILVIE edit@piquenewsmagazine.com
get a permit and go out into the woods and cut one). The same is true for turkeys for Christmas dinner, and so many items we wanted to get for loved ones for presents. The bonus of being forced to get on everything early, though, might be that, as the holiday week is upon us, we can actually
them to tell their friends how awesome we are and to come back again in the future. Part of this experience now has to include following COVID-19 safety protocols laid out by the public health office of B.C. This includes wearing masks in confined spaces such as gondolas, and when moving about restaurants and so on. It is distressing to read over and over in Pique’s Letters to the Editor and on social media that many are not following the guidance on masks on the mountain. While it is true Vail Resorts has said skiers and riders do not need to wear masks in the line-up, you do need a proper face covering in the gondolas or in indoor spaces. The masks need to cover your mouth and nose snuggly. (An epidemiologist told CBC that those blue, flappy, surgical-cloth masks everyone is wearing are not going to cut it against the new Omicron variant.)
[W]e are left wondering if this will mean that holidayers who had booked their Christmas season with us will now cancel. We don’t know yet.
just sit and enjoy the eggnog—at least those lucky enough not be working throughout the holidays. Whistler, being a mountain ski resort, is full-steam-ahead right now with many residents working every single day of the season. They are working to make sure that the people visiting us and supporting our tourism infrastructure have the best possible experience while here. We need
The point of the mask really is to prevent you from spreading any viral infections you might have. So not wearing one really is a clear statement that you simply don’t care about the others around you who are trying to enjoy the magic around them this season. As pretty well the only ski resort that doesn’t require skiers and riders to be fully vaccinated to get up the mountains, it is even more important that mountain users
at least get their masking protocol right in the gondolas. Come on people—do we really want to run the risk of Whistler Blackcomb being shut down again during the season? It’s already true that COVID-19 is sweeping through the resort, hammering our already stressed staff. Sporting a properly fitting mask should be the minimum for mountain staff, too. Why not set an example for people? Many of us were feeling pretty upbeat heading into this winter season, until the province handed down its latest restrictions. While obviously staffing remains a huge concern and is limiting what businesses can offer, the fact that people could travel here, and we have great snow, meant we were feeling optimistic. But now that the federal government has again said that only essential travel should be undertaken, we are left wondering if this will mean that holidayers who had booked their Christmas season with us will now cancel. We don’t know yet. It is likely that some will cancel and some will still come. International travellers, as of Dec. 21, will have to have a negative PCR test to land—that’s good for Whistler, and for keeping our COVID-19 numbers down. But these travellers also now have to complete another test upon arrival, and must isolate until that test is negative. I guess hotel room service will be hopping! Interprovincial travellers to B.C. so far just need to show proof of being fully vaccinated to come here. So, as we head into another pandemic Christmas season in Whistler let’s do our best to stay positive, help the guests we have find the break they need here in our wonderland, and let’s also remember to be kind to all the workers who are helping make the season special for all of us. Happy holidays everyone. n
This 3 bedroom/ 2 bathroom house in Alpine Meadows offers endless opportunity!
HAPPYY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Sitting on a large flat 13,369 sq foot flat lot, you can enjoy the existing house, build a 3500 sq foot house or subdivide the property. Take a virtual tour: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=3kjhS2Zf5Rj
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Dave Brown
Personal Real Estate Corporation
davebrown@wrec.com www.davesellswhistler.com Cell: 604 905 8438 / Toll Free: 1 800 667 2993 ext. 805
8 DECEMBER 23, 2021
Steve Shuster
t: 604.698.7347 | e: steve@steveshusterrealestate.com www.steveshusterrealestate.com
®
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In times of need this business is a hero In communities across British Columbia, businesses support local groups in the form of programs and services to families. For many families, the paycheque does not go as far as it used to and often there is little left for luxuries. Hardship is part of day-to-day living. Countless families can recall a time in their lives when they were not sure how they would manage through the week, the month, the year. Usually in families, both parents need to work to afford the basics. Some families struggle in managing to pay for essentials. Imagine how hard-working parents feel when they do not have funds to pay for their children to enjoy activities. They may feel sad and disheartened. In Pemberton we are fortunate to have a number of groups that support families in a variety of ways. One of these groups is the Pemberton Valley Supermarket (PVS). Pemberton Secondary School would like to honour the team at Pemberton Valley Supermarket for its tireless financial and food support for the students at Pemberton Secondary School. What does the Pemberton Valley Supermarket do for Pemberton Secondary School? The list is long! It donates food for a multitude of functions; it donates annual
school supplies for students; it provides workexperience positions that later develop into employment opportunities for students; and it donates for graduation-related activities. Many of you may have seen the individual grad lawn photos that have become a new tradition for Pemberton Secondary COVID19-friendly graduations. The Pemberton
Giving thanks for our frontline workers
out when fire is threatening. When times are tough and conditions are nasty we always see our neighbours taking care of us—highways crews, Tribal police, RCMP, BC Ambulance, Pemberton Dyking District and the staff of the Village of Pemberton, Mount Currie Band and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. We are so fortunate to have you in our community and to know that you are there for us when our wonderful world and our loved ones are threatened or in danger. This holiday season please take time to show your appreciation to those individuals who continually step up to the plate for all of us. Wishing one and all a very merry Christmas. Jeff Clarke // Sea to Sky
The tragic loss of life on the Duffey [Lake Road] this fall [due to the Nov.15 landslide] made me stop and think what a great community we live in and how lucky we are to have a group of dedicated volunteers, professionals and neighbours who take care of us all. My heart goes out to the Pemberton Search
“When times are tough and conditions are nasty we always see our neighbours taking care of us—highways crews, Tribal police, RCMP, BC Ambulance, Pemberton Dyking District and the staff of the Village of Pemberton, Mount Currie Band and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.”
WB staff not following COVID-19 safety protocols
- JEFF CLARKE
Valley Supermarket did not hesitate when we approached them for a donation. At this special time of year, as we show gratitude for those who support families, we SHOUT OUT our appreciation to the Pemberton Valley Supermarket for the support we receive from its team. The people of PVS continue to put a big SMILE on the face of our school with your selfless giving. Brianne Aldcroft, principal of Pemberton Secondary School
I am a senior and a Whistler Blackcomb passholder. I am writing to advise that some of [the] Whistler Blackcomb (WB) staff are not following the mask-wearing protocol. On Dec. 15 I boarded the Excalibur Gondola (at Lot 7) with my friend. Another guest got on the gondola with no face covering at all. We learned that he works for WB in customer service. When I asked him to pull up his face covering, he said, “Aren’t you double vaccinated?” This is a completely irrelevant question and it indicates that there is an incorrect opinion that vaccines are foolproof. He did pull up his balaclava, but only covered his mouth, not his nose for the remainder of the
and Rescue crew that worked so long and hard on the Duffey—what an effort by a small group of volunteers. That was over the top, thank you so much. The number of times we see the volunteer fire departments called out is bananas, multiple times a day it seems. Thanks for stepping up. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen the Mount Currie community show up when it’s time to fill, deliver and place sandbags, or help
WHISTLER | PEMBERTON | SQUAMISH Happy Holidays and All the Best for 2022 Squamish
White Gold
Whistler Creekside
40628 Thunderbird Ridge
Whistler / Vancouver
34-2217 Marmot Place
Happy Holidays
SO LD
7205 Fitzsimmons Rd.
&
$6,249,000
$1,598,000
$839,000
• 3 Bed / 2 Bath + Bedrm suite • Treed and landscaped private lot • Walking distance to village, lifts, trail, cross country skiing
• Highlands family home a short walk to school + trails • 5 Bed / 2.5 Bath, updated kitchen + deck • Double garage, carport + shed
• Sold over asking! • Phase 1, one bedroom/one bathroom • Walk to the Creekside shops and lift
Jennifer
Marshall
604-935-2287
suttonwestcoast.com
10 DECEMBER 23, 2021
js@jennifersale.com
LOCAL
AGENTS
Personal Real Estate Corporation
604-935-4880
604-723-3525 |
Truu
Walczyk
Personal Real Estate Corporation
marshall@marshallviner.com
Viive
Jennifer
Sale
Viner Personal Real Estate Corporation
Happy New Year to all! Wishing everyone a healthy, and successful 2022
604-902-5222
jwalczyk@sutton.com
|
LOCAL
KNOWLEDGE
vvtruu@telus.net
|
LOCAL
EXPERTS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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ride. I mentioned this issue to a staff member at the top of the gondola and asked him to contact the lifty staff at the boarding station to remind guests to wear their face masks and he said he was busy working (cleaning snow off the gondolas)—not a high priority. He didn’t offer to make the call when he had time. Later that day, we went to the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler for our 12 p.m. reservation. The staff member assigning tables was wearing his mask incorrectly—below his nose. It’s bad enough that guests don’t wear their face coverings properly and most don’t wear a proper three layer mask at all, opting instead for a thin neckie or balaclava. I expected more of the staff at WB, which has always been highly customer-service driven. I bought my pass during the fall sale assuming that WB would follow the same protocols as last year before being shut down. The protocols I’m referring to are social distancing and riding the gondolas in your own bubbles. A week after I bought my pass, Vail Resorts declared that this would not be the case for the 21/22 season. As Vail Resorts instituted a mandatory mask policy on the gondolas and indoors, and with staff being fully vaccinated, I opted to ski this season and get some value from my pass. I take extra precautions on the gondola, wearing at least five layers on my face, goggles down and windows open.
Now we have a new, highly transmissible variant to contend with—[Omicron.] On Dec. 14 our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, advised that out of 44 Omicron cases, 27 were double vaccinated. This becomes highly problematic for guests at Whistler Blackcomb under the current protocols. Improper mask wearing by staff is a WorkSafeBC violation. If you are not going to adapt your operating protocols or enforce staff safety measures to ensure my safety under the current Omicron threat I would like a refund on my pass. Diane Zaste // Whistler
Let’s stand up After having visited Fairy Creek this fall, I discovered that the situation of saving oldgrowth forests is multifaceted and complex, like most issues. I do not pretend to know, nor to understand, this complicated matter in a deep way, but what I do encourage is that we all make an effort to develop at least a better understanding of what’s going on. At first I struggled with connecting colonialism and the logging of old-growth forest, but as I spoke to the Land Defenders, young and old, who have risked and sacrificed so much to be on the frontlines, I began to realize that it’s all about respect: respect for land, respect for the Indigenous people, and respect for Canadians who want to see the
Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine.
marshallviner.com
HAPPY HOLIDAYS Caronne Marino Personal Real Estate Co.
WHISTLER
604.905.8324 caronnemarino.com info@caronnemarino.com
DECEMBER 23, 2021
11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
7063 NESTERS ROAD • Location, location! • Walk to Whistler Village or Nesters Market. • Three bedroom / two bathroom house. • Recent flooring, kitchen & bathroom updates. • Spacious one-bedroom suite. • Valley Trail and public transit at your doorstep.
$2,788,000 3D Tour-rem.ca/7063nesters
Dave Beattie
RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate Whistler PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
604-905-8855 1-888-689-0070 Dave@DaveBeattie.com
Search available homes in the Whistler and Sea to Sky Country area at www.DaveBeattie.com
Nick Davies, Whistler local and experienced family lawyer practising across BC andYukon.
Call at 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca Maclean Law is headquartered in Vancouver with offices across British Columbia.
THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS, FRIENDS & FAMILY FOR ALL GETTING THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING YEAR!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. We wish you all the best in the New Year! We made a donation to the WCSS on all your behalf. BE SAFE. BE KIND. BE THANKFUL. $1,890,000
DOUG TRELEAVEN 604-905-8626 www.dougtreleaven.com doug@myseatosky.com
JACOB PALLISTER 604-352-9736 jacob@myseatosky.com
Sea to Sky Real Estate Whistler INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Office: 604.932.2300
12 DECEMBER 23, 2021
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Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Whistler
oldest trees on Earth left standing. As Cam MacArthur, director of Before They Fall (2021 Whistler Film Festival) said on CBC radio, the reconciliation is not only with the people, it’s with the land too. At a time when the provincial government is airing radio and TV public announcements congratulating itself on its good efforts to ensure old growth protection, I encourage you to read the report written by scientists Al Gorley and Garry Merkel, hired by the Government of British Columbia in July of 2019 as an independent panel to undertake a provincewide Old Growth Strategic Review. They clearly outline what is needed now and what was needed in a similar document written back in 1992. Here are their wise words from their opening letter in the recent report. “Had previous old forest strategies and recommendations been fully implemented, we would likely not be facing the challenges around old growth to the extent we are today, i.e., high risk to loss of biodiversity in many ecosystems, risk to potential economic benefits due to uncertainty and conflict, and widespread lack of confidence in the system of managing forests.” If wildfires, hurricanes, heat domes, atmospheric rivers, disastrous floods and reports written by their own scientists haven’t convinced all levels of government to take a firm stand to protect old-growth forests and biodiversity in all ecosystems—critical to the health of the planet—we need to make more noise. Let’s not give up hope. Let’s believe there are creative, innovative minds out there that will find ways to manage forests sustainably, [people who] will design new building materials, who will be given a chance to implement new systems, because the current ones are not working. And though it’s difficult to trust a government that clearly hasn’t listened to recommendations in the past, can we encourage politicians to make some hard choices, hit the pause button and produce some new plans by letting them know what we think? Mostly as a direct result of Land Defenders, protestors and activists, some of
our Canadian old growth forests have been saved. I am so grateful to them for standing up for what they believe. I encourage you to read the report, to find out more and to take a stand. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/ farming-natural-resources-and-industry/ forestry/stewardship/old-growth-forests/ strategic-review-20200430.pdf Shelley Ledingham // Whistler
Gondola COVID-19 protocol illogical I find it incomprehensible that our public health officials advise everyone to keep their social activity small to help mitigate the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant—family and close friends who they know … and yet they condone people being crammed into gondolas for 20 to 30 minutes, or more if there is a gondola stoppage, with people they don’t know, many of whom are unvaccinated, and who are also not protecting others because their wet “mask” is inadequate. Where is the logic, and who will take responsibility for the outbreak and its consequences? Dr. Bruce Mohr // Whistler
Late to the cannabis opportunity [I] just finished reading your [Opening Remarks] in the Pique in regards to Whistler municipality finally (it hasn’t happened yet) moving forward on retail cannabis outlets in the village … a case of too little, too late (“Strategic thinking needed on cannabis retail,” Dec. 16). Locals have been frequenting (including ourselves) the “legal” weed stores in Pemberton and Squamish for the past couple of years. This has also turned into a bonus for other retailers in those towns, while getting our cannabis products we also shop for groceries, drop into restaurants and browse in the other stores. The shortcomings of the Resort Municipality of Whistler has had a negative effect on Whistler business. Jim Brown // Whistler ■
Backcountry Advisory AS OF WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22 What a fabulous time of the year! Twinkling lights, a new pair of skis under the tree, a fresh blanket of white snow… The weather elves have certainly come through for us this holiday season. Recent fresh snow should remain light and powdery thanks to cold temperatures. As well as helping Santa out on Christmas Eve, there should be plenty of great riding to be had in the Whistler backcountry this weekend. But hold your horses (or reindeer) before you charge hard into the steeper lines. There is a crust in the snowpack that has a layer of weak sugary facets on top of it, which formed back in early December. It’s now buried quite deep in the snowpack—around 150 centimetres in high snow zones. This snowpack
layer has been responsible for several large avalanches and close calls over the last 10 days or so, and is likely to remain active through the holiday period. The way to avoid this problem is to give big, steep terrain a pass until some more time has gone by and more snow has fallen. It’s especially important to avoid convex rolls at lower alpine and treeline elevations between about 1,500 to 2,100 metres, as this seems to be where the problem has been most active. The good news is that the soft snow turns really well on more moderate slopes. Sheltered lines in not-crazy-steep terrain will give fabulous gifts and help spread seasonal cheer to one and all. Merry Christmas from Avalanche Canada! ■
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.
PIQUE N’ YER INTEREST
An accurate and festive ranking of 11 popular Christmas movies BY THE TIME you’re reading this, it will officially be the most wonderful time of the year. Also by this time, Omicron may have officially taken over the entire world—who knows! Either way, I’ve always considered sinking onto the couch with a blanket, your holiday drink of choice and turning on a
BY MEGAN LALONDE Christmas movie or two to be the superior way to celebrate the holidays. (Sorry to all of the Christmas-movie contrarians out there, but it doesn’t feel like the holidays until I’ve watched a minimum of three.) With that above-mentioned variant raging through every province at this point, it’s also the safest and least-stressful way to celebrate this year. If anyone recalls Halloween, which feels like a lifetime ago at this point, I used this space to provide the community with a definitive ranking of common Halloween treats, from worst to first. Did I make some enemies in the Pique office? Yes. Did I come to work to find some truly terrible candy options waiting for me on my desk? Also yes. Do I regret any of it? Absolutely not.
So, I’ve decided to apply the same formula to 11 Christmas movies and franchises, in the hopes that this will inspire you to turn off the news (briefly) and brighten up your day with some good old-fashioned holiday cheer. And in the hopes that it will once again rile up my usually very agreeable coworkers—nothing like office drama to end the year! Let’s get into it: 11. Any Hallmark Christmas movie: I’m sure there’s an audience for these, I just don’t know who it is. I’m as big of a fan of movies as cheesy as a charcuterie board as anyone else, but this just pushes it one step too far. 10. Love Actually: I support the premise of this movie, and admit it has a few high points, most of which have to do with Liam Neeson. But do I want to watch Severus Snape basically cheat on Emma Thompson, or Kiera Knightly consider leaving her brand-new husband for his best friend in the name of holiday cheer? Absolutely not. I’ll still watch it most years anyways, but it’s surprisingly depressing. 9. The Santa Clause: Tim Allen’s best work. I won’t go out of my way to pop this in a DVD player, but the plot is pretty ingenious as far as Christmas movies go. 8. Four Christmases: This one’s a bit of a wildcard, but I think it was one of those movies that happens to be played on TV
every Christmas. It has a decent humourto-heartwarming ratio and some honestly underrated jokes. 7. It’s a Wonderful Life: A classic, a staple. Nothing more to add. 6. The Polar Express: Despite the fact that this came out in 2004, long after I’d arrived at a devastating conclusion regarding Santa’s existence, it reminds me of being a tiny kid who still believed in the magic. 5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Makes me appreciate my crazybut-definitely-not-this-crazy family. Will never not be funny. For example: “When Santa squeezes his fat white a** down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of a**holes this side of the nuthouse.” 4. Home Alone: Instilled a deep fear of being abandoned by my parents before a family vacation, until I remembered I had one sibling and not 14. Unpopular opinion, but I actually think I might prefer the sequel. 3. Miracle on 34th Street: Falls into the “reminds me of a time when Christmas was the most magical day of the year” category. This ranking applies to both the original and the 1994 remake. The trial is the best part. 2. The Grinch: We’re talking about Jim Carrey’s version, specifically. The plot could arguably be construed as problematic in our modern times, depending on how you
analyze it. But it’s still funny, whimsical and hits the heartwarming mark about the true reason for the season. Also, Max the dog dressed as a reindeer. 1. Elf: Not just my favourite Christmas movie, but perhaps my favourite movie, period. I don’t care what your feelings about Will Ferrell in general are, this movie stands alone as a masterpiece. I still find things to laugh at every few minutes. I refuse to believe that anyone can watch the scene where Buddy finds out Santa is coming to the department store’s “North Pole” and not let out a small chuckle, at minimum. If you call me at any time between Dec. 1 and 25, there is a 75 per cent chance I will answer with “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favourite colour?” And that’s that. It’s probably important to note here that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. I say this mostly because I’ve never seen Die Hard, and if you can’t tell by the fact that I’ve just written an entire column dedicated to the subject, I like Christmas movies. I also consider the Nightmare Before Christmas to be a Halloween movie. I can’t explain why, it just is. On a slightly more serious note, if you’re still reading this I hope you have the happiest holidays with your friends and/or family, and that 2022 brings lots of snow, good times spent with your loved ones, and negative COVID-19 tests. ■
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
photo: Stephen Govel Photography
CARLETON LODGE
604.938.1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM
DECEMBER 23, 2021
13
NEWS WHISTLER
A very merry varied Christmas FOR MANY LOCAL IMMIGRANTS, THE HOLIDAYS ARE A CHANCE TO PRESERVE TRADITIONS FROM HOME, WHILE FORGING NEW CUSTOMS AS WELL
BY BRANDON BARRETT THE HOLIDAY season has long been Whistler’s bread and butter, at least economically speaking. While droves of tourists from near and far descend on our snowy wonderland to mark the season, the average Whistlerite typically spends the busy period working as much as possible. It’s all part of the seasonal rhythms of a tourist town, but add in the fact that so much of our population is far from home and the ones we love, this time of year can be isolating for many. That’s what makes celebrating holiday traditions all the more important in a place like Whistler, and for the many immigrants that call the resort home, the holidays are a chance to both preserve the rituals and customs of their native country, while also forging new ones in Canada’s ski mecca. Pique caught up with a handful of locals to hear how they are marking the season, and the varied responses exemplify the rich cultural tapestry of our resort community. However you celebrate, Pique wishes you and yours the very best after what has been a tough year.
‘TIS THE (FOUR-MONTHLONG) SEASON If you’re one of those people who thinks November is too early to get into the Christmas spirit, chances are you’re not Filipino. The predominantly Catholic country is home to the world’s longest holiday season, which typically kicks off in September and, depending on the family and their own traditions, can last through to as late as the
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
Barcelona native and Whistler local Anna De Sans Florenza with her husband and nine-month-old daughter, who met Santa for the first time this holiday season. PHOTO SUBMITTED
14 DECEMBER 23, 2021
third Sunday of January. “Usually in the Philippines, you’d see all the Christmas lanterns, the Christmas lights and Christmas trees up in September. You even have carols, but because of COVID, you can’t really have that [this year],” explained Iris Paguia Portillo, who moved to Canada from the Philippines as a child. Hanging in Portillo’s Whistler home is a star-shaped lantern known as a parol that is illuminated nightly, beginning Sept. 1. In fact, having such a lengthy holiday season comes with an unintended benefit for Portillo and her family. ‘I don’t even think we took ours down. We just turned it off,” she said with a laugh. Portillo and her husband, whose family is from El Salvador, welcomed their firstborn daughter in August, and as the holidays approached, the couple felt the pressure to make her first Christmas a memorable one that incorporated traditions from both of their respective cultures. Like a lot of Latin families, that means food, and Portillo and her husband plan to make the Salvadorian street-food staple, pupusas, a griddle cake made with cornmeal or rice flour, a first for both their daughter and Portillo’s Filipino family. But along with the customs of their homelands, the Portillos have also adopted traditions from their Canadian lives. “Half of my life was in Canada, and he grew up here, so we have the Christmas pyjamas and those Western traditions going on,” Portillo said. “There’s definitely a pressure when we’re trying to figure out how to mix these traditions and make it work properly without overwhelming her.”
GOOD FORTUNE FOR THE NEW YEAR It wasn’t until Taiwan native Chia-Ling Wu met her Swiss husband that she got to experience a Christmas tradition that is an essential part of the season for many Canadians. “I never cut a Christmas tree, so I think
that’s really cool,” she said. Most Taiwanese practise a combination of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian traditions, and with just five per cent of the population identifying as Christian, Christmas isn’t widely observed. The Chinese Lunar New Year, on the other hand, is the most eagerly anticipated holiday of the year in Taiwan, and in 2022, falls on Feb. 1. The day before is always a busy one for the Wu family, beginning with the family coming together to clean the house from top to bottom to help ward off any bad luck from the previous year. The night also culminates in a large family feast, typically hotpot, along with other specific dishes eaten on New Year’s Eve, each with a specific meaning behind it. Oranges, for instance, bring good luck, prosperity, and a long life, while fish— which in Chinese is a homonym of the word “surplus”—is also commonly eaten, although it’s customary to leave some of the fish on your plate behind so that surplus extends into the New Year. After dinner, in Wu’s family at least, the unmarried members will receive a red envelope of money from their elders. “If you’re married, you don’t get any red envelope money,” Wu said with a laugh. Proficient in Chinese calligraphy, Wu’s father will write messages of good fortune on red scrolls, which are commonly unfurled on New Year’s Day. Wu has maintained some of these traditions in Whistler, cleaning the house on New Year’s Eve and trying her hand at calligraphy, but she admits that the traditions are bit more informal in Whistler. “It’s not very traditional,” she said. “We just try to have a Chinese potluck and just bring everyone together.”
CAGA TIÓ, THE POOPING CHRISTMAS LOG For most Spaniards, Santa Claus is a relatively modern phenomenon. “When I was young, it was just Caga Tió and the Three Kings,” said Barcelona native
and Whistlerite Anna De Sans Florenza. For the uninitiated, Caga Tió is a Catalan tradition that… well, let’s let Florenza take it from here. “This is going to be hard to translate,” she conceded. “Caga Tió is a piece of log that’s going to poo [out] presents for the kids.” To elaborate, kids across Catalonia will pick out a sturdy-looking log early in the season, affix it with googly eyes, a nose and mouth, and ply it with bread and slices of orange so he is nice and full come Christmas Day, when the children will sing him a song so he is inspired to, uh, excrete a bounty of gifts. “It’s something that nobody understands, but it’s typical from here,” Florenza said. It’s a tradition that Florenza and her Catalan husband have carried over to Whistler, where, needless to say, friends have become enamoured with the festive, crapping log. “We did the Caga Tió last year with our friends, because they like it and it’s funny a piece of wood that poos presents,” she added. Exactly. Another Spanish tradition is the Epiphany, better known as Three Kings’ Day, which takes place every Jan. 6 to mark the adoration of baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. Taking place in villages and towns across the country, the festivities begin on the night of Jan. 5, when the Three Wise Men take to the streets “so the kids can go outside and be shown that, ‘Yeah, Yeah, yeah, they are here, so be ready because the next day they’re gonna come with all the presents,” Florenza said. Florenza and her husband have already introduced their young daughter to the joys of Caga Tió and Santa, but celebrating Three Kings’ Day might have to wait for a future holiday season. “Step by step, you know what I mean? She’s nine months, so for sure she’s not going to remember this winter,” Florenza said. “Still, we’re going to try to give her as much things as possible to remember.” n
NEWS WHISTLER
Latest round of COVID19 orders deals another blow to Whistler TIMING OF ANNOUNCEMENT LEAVES BUSINESSES REELING AT HEIGHT OF BUSY HOLIDAY PERIOD
BY BRANDON BARRETT AS COVID-19 cases continue to rise both locally and provincially, new health restrictions announced by Victoria just days before Christmas have dealt another blow to Whistler businesses banking on a busy holiday period. “The announcement [Tuesday, Dec. 20] will impact a group of businesses that have only just recently seen a return of operations in the fall. This will be another knock to their recovery and another financial hit,” said Diana Chan, board chair of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, in an email. Coming into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 22 and lasting until Jan. 18, the new orders prohibit indoor organized gatherings such as weddings and receptions. Additionally, bars, nightclubs, fitness centres, and dance studios will be closed. Seated events will be reduced to 50 per cent of their capacity regardless of their venue size, which marks a departure from a Dec. 17 announcement that only venues for over 1,000 people would see their capacity limited. Restaurants, pubs, and cafés are permitted to stay open but only a maximum of six guests may be seated per table (plus physical distancing or barriers). Guests cannot mingle between tables. For a restaurant sector that has bore the brunt of the public-facing health orders through much of the pandemic, the timing of the new orders has left restaurants reeling. “[W]e kind of had an idea the next move would be to take some capacity away for restaurants, which is really tough on us, obviously,” said Eric Griffith, chair of the Restaurant Association of Whistler. “All of the businesses have been prepping, ordering and staffing like they’re ready to go for a full-on Christmas.” While restaurants are adept by this point at managing reduced capacities, the most significant challenge for the sector is the loss of revenue at a historically busy time of year. However, Griffith was thankful restaurants are allowed to maintain their previous operating hours, which he’s hopeful will help them spread out reservations. New Year’s Eve is another story, as Griffith said most restaurants were already booked to capacity prior to this week’s announcement. “Say you have 100 tickets sold and now you can only seat 70 or 80 people. Where do those 30 people go? We’ve got their payments already. That means money going back and fees on the credit card side and all those things start to add up,” he said. While nowhere near pre-pandemic levels, Tourism Whistler president Barrett Fisher said bookings for Whistler’s holiday period
were looking strong when compared to last year. Unsurprisingly, the international market continues to lag, but the regional and domestic market continues to show strong demand for the resort. “I think even before we get into the recent travel advisories, we knew that our international markets would be soft,” Fisher said. “But we were certainly seeing some strong demand from our B.C. and domestic market. So the winter season is actually faring to look very strong because there is pent-up demand and because some of the uncertainty around the pandemic, many people continue to stay closer to home.” Mounting concern over the Omicron variant is leading to some hesitancy and last-minute cancellations, primarily from international guests, Fisher noted, although she added the cancellations haven’t been significant up to this point. Saad Hasan of the Hotel Association of Whistler posited that the communication around the variant has caused some confusion among prospective international guests worried about new regulations. “We are constantly having to look at the forest for the trees in the sense that we have to explain and clarify for our guests that things haven’t changed as much from a regulatory perspective,” he said. Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed to Pique that cases are “increasing in our region across many communities and many of these cases are the Omicron variant of concern.” The email went on to say that transmission continues to happen most often in households and in social networks, “particularly at unstructured indoor events such as private parties and gatherings.” The spokesperson also noted that while Omicron is more transmissible than other variants, to date there is no evidence it causes more severe illness. Find out about vaccinations in the VCH region at vch.ca/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine. The Chamber continues to advocate for a ramping up of rapid testing, and is working with B.C.’s chamber network to provide costeffective access to rapid tests for Whistler businesses. In her email, Chan reiterated the need to consider the well-being of Whistler’s employees and business owners. “It is important to recognize the mental toll this will have on our business owners, operators and the teams working in these businesses. Many employees will be required to enforce these new restrictions, and that can have a substantial impact on their mental health,” she said. -With files from Elana Shepert / Vancouver is Awesome. n
DECEMBER 23, 2021
15
Engel & Völkers Whistler
Engel & Völkers Whistler
NEWS WHISTLER
Snowboarder found after being lost for two nights THE 32-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS HYPOTHERMIC WHEN WHISTLER SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS LOCATED HIM ON SUNDAY massive snowstorm that rolled into the Coast Mountains Friday evening. Whistler experienced a low of -11.6 C on Dec. 17 and -7.2 C the following day. The temperature did not go above freezing at any point while the man was lost. Complicating search conditions was the 66.6 millimetres of precipitation that fell Saturday. After the initial search party was unable to locate or make contact with the man, WSAR called their colleagues at North Shore Rescue to see if their nightvision-equipped helicopter was able to assist. After two separate attempts, conditions prevented the aircraft from being able to fly safely to Whistler. WSAR then turned to the Comox-based 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron and their CH-149 Cormorant aircraft for help. The long-range helicopter can operate in severe conditions, Sills noted. The crews searched the area spanning the Cake Hole along the south side of Whistler Mountain to the shore of Cheakamus Lake, but were unable to locate the snowboarder on either night. “So now he’s spent two nights out, while the temperature’s have been very unusually cold for Whistler, so we were quite concerned,” said Sills.
BY MEGAN LALONDE A SNOWBOARDER is expected to make a full recovery after spending two cold and snowy nights lost on Whistler Mountain over the weekend. Whistler Search and Rescue (WSAR) volunteers managed to locate the man, a 32-year-old former soldier visiting from Singapore, on Sunday morning, Dec. 19, after an approximately 40-hour search, said WSAR president Brad Sills. The man was “well into the hypothermic spectrum” with a core temperature of less than 29 degrees Celsius when he was found, said Sills. He was airlifted to the Whistler Health Care Centre. “His prognosis was some frostbite; he had a head injury but he survived,” Sills said. The man was reported missing at around 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, when he failed to meet his ski buddy at the Roundhouse at 1 p.m. “His last known position was the top of [Whistler’s] peak—we figured he was on the south side, and we sent a skitouring party into Cheakamus. That was an epic slog,” said Sills, referencing the
WHISTLER
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When the weather cleared, “At daybreak yesterday we had two [Blackcomb] helicopters that started searching. We went back to the area that 442 had noted the night before,” he continued. “We saw the tip of a snowboard in a creek bed, but couldn’t find anything, continued searching, came back to that site. Thought it was a rock sticking out of the creek bed but it turned out to be our subject, sitting very stoically.” Crews managed to extricate the man via long-line rescue back to the Cheakamus Lake parking lot, where a doctor examined the man. “We had a big turnout [of volunteers], everybody wanted to make one last valiant attempt at it—the weather had cleared, and it was a nice day. I have to say, most people were preparing themselves for the worst, especially when we saw him from the helicopter… and he wasn’t moving.” Volunteers from Squamish, Pemberton and North Shore SAR organizations had members on the way to help Sunday morning, Sills explained. He estimates 30 to 40 rescuers assisted with search efforts over the three days. Sills said the man fell back on his military training, stayed put and managed
SQUAMISH
5694 ALTA LAKE ROAD, WHISTLER
to dig a small snow pit to keep himself out of the wind, and lined it with sapling branches he’d pulled off nearby trees. The man told rescuers he became lost after following two other skiers off the backside of Peak, Sills explained. “I think it’s one of these cases of tourists who come here and they’re just overwhelmed by the scope of the place… they just kind of ski from lift to lift and they don’t really understand the network, and I think they come to believe that at the bottom of every trail there’s a ski lift. The top of the Cake Hole looks pretty inviting.” One lesson to takeaway is to always carry extra clothing and a flashlight with you on the mountain, said Sills. For more information about how to stay safe in the mountains this winter, head to adventuresmart.ca for trip planning tips. The organization is also hosting online Snow Safety Education: Backcountry sessions on Wednesday, Dec. 23 and Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, for anyone heading into the backcountry this winter, or anyone who wants to learn more about what to do if they find themselves lost and in need of help. Register at adventuresmart.ca/ bc-adventuresmart-winter-events/. n
NORTH SHORE #18-4000 SUNSTONE WAY, PEMBERTON
PEMBERTON MEADOWS, PEMBERTON
|
VANCOUVER #219-1336 MAIN STREET, SQUAMISH
#303-4314 MAIN STREET, WHISTLER
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
$7,400,000
$4,199,000
$1,319,000
$960,000
$689,000
5
6
5
3
3
1
3
2
1
2
2,945 sqft
2,200 sqft
642 sqft
872 sqft
Direct access to Alta Lake with own
•
Quiet 17-acre estate
•
Unobstructed mountain views
•
Sold over $100,000 on asking price
•
Downtown shopping and amenities
private dock
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Backs on to the Lillooet River
•
Steps to biking and hiking trails
•
Right on the Village Stroll
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All rooms with private ensuite
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Lush, natural setting with plenty
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Family-friendly neighbourhood
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Views of Whistler and Blackcomb
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Mountain views from balcony
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Gorgeous lake and mountain views
of sunshine and stunning sunsets
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Expansive deck
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Zoned for nightly rentals
•
In-suite laundry and storage room
3,634 sqft •
DANA FRIESEN SMITH
SADIE BRUBAKER
within steps from front door
SARAH MORPHY
DAVID WIEBE
KRISTEN DILLON
604 906 1940
604 966 8874
778 266 0150
*PREC
*PREC
*PREC
604 902 3878 dana@seatoskydreamteam.com
604 907 1400 sadie@sadiebrubaker.com
sarah@sarahmorphy.com
david@davidwiebe.ca
kristen@seatoskydreamteam.com
Stilhavn Real Estate Services | 208 - 1420 Alpha Lake Road, Whistler | stilhavn.com This communication is not intended to cause or induce the break of an existing agency relationship. *Personal Real Estate Corporation. We would like to acknowledge that we work and live on the traditional, unceded territory of the xwməθkwəýəm, səlilwətaɬ, Lil’wat & Sḵwxwú7mesh People.
22 DECEMBER 23, 2021
To all my clients, colleagues, friends & family for your continued support this year and a special thank you to my licensed assistant, Jamie Dowling.
Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2022!
cell: 604.932.9590 toll free 1.800.667.2993, ext. 838 email: marika@wrec.com
NEWS WHISTLER
Whistler’s 2022 budget guidelines, tax increase get council approval COUNCIL BRIEFS: NOVEMBER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WAS HIGHEST ON RECORD
BY BRADEN DUPUIS WHISTLER’S MAYOR and council gave its assent to proposed 2022 budget guidelines at the Dec. 21 council meeting, but the decision wasn’t unanimous. The guidelines propose a 6.72-per-cent property tax increase and three-per-cent increases to sewer, solid waste and water parcel fees. Councillor Ralph Forsyth was the lone dissenting vote, noting he said during the 2018 election campaign that he would never support a tax increase of more than four per cent. “So I’m not going to, but not just because I’m an obstinate malcontent, and think that it should only be at four per cent. When this passes as I assume it does, I will defend it with all the vigour of my colleagues that do support it, because many of their reasons are justifiable,” Forsyth said. “But I can rest peacefully [with] my opposition in this because there are several items in here that I’ve already voted against.” As she explained at the budget open house
on Nov. 18, the 2022 budget aims for “true resiliency,” said director of finance Carlee Price—a state where the municipality can respond to new challenges as they arise (like pandemics, climate change or cyber attacks) while still remaining financially healthy. But in order to get there, “some changes to funding are required,” Price said. “[And]
be solved in a single year—2022, however, marks an important beginning in the sense of those reserve contributions … delaying the first step on this journey is dangerous to the long-term fiscal health of the organization.” As it now stands, the RMOW’s reserves are too low relative to its asset base, and growing too slowly, Price said.
“This is not the sort of problem that can be solved in a single year...” - CARLEE PRICE
the 2022 budget addresses several existing challenges in a measured way.” After “smaller-than-necessary” tax requisitions in previous years, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) must make up for “a long period of constrained reserve contributions,” Price added. “In this case, we’re proposing a multiyear process,” she said. “This is not the sort of problem that can
Projecting out to 2049, the RMOW should be spending $8 million each year to renew existing assets (plus an additional $600,000 annually), but is currently only contributing $6.3 million to the general fund, she explained. “If we assume it takes four years to get to the right level of contributions on the general capital fund, that requires an increase of $500,000, approximately, each
year for the next four,” she said. Factoring in the estimated $600,000 annual cost increase, the RMOW needs to put away an additional $1.1 million each year through 2026 before year-over-year increases can fall again. “That’s about a 2.5-per-cent per year tax increase just to get those reserves back to healthy levels,” Price said. “These numbers will change slightly as the asset management plan work continues, [but] we don’t expect them to change dramatically.” Being the unique (and relatively young) community that it is, much of Whistler’s infrastructure was installed all at once, and all comes due for replacement at roughly the same time. “We see a different pattern to replacement than might be evident in other communities, and some of the reason for the big increases in the required reserve contributions have to do with that,” Price said. “In the first 30 years, for example, there weren’t a lot of these big, expensive assets that needed wholesale repairs and replacements. We’re seeing that much more
SEE PAGE 26
Thank you to my clients, colleagues and businesses for your support and trust this past year. Wishing everyone safe holidays and best wishes for health and happiness in 2022!
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Mobile: +1 (604) 932-8899 Nick.Swinburne@evrealestate.com 36 4341 Main Street Whistler B.C. V8E 1A8
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Thank you to all my amazing clients for a fantastic year. Your trust and loyalty is appreciated! Have a great holiday season and a happy new year.
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DECEMBER 23, 2021
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NEWS WHISTLER << FROM PAGE 24 frequently today. You can expect the same going forward.” As in every year, the tax increase will impact households differently. In an example provided by the RMOW, a property assessed at $1.5 million could expect to see an increase in property taxes of $155 next year, while one assessed at $4 million might see an increase of $415. The change to sewer, water and solid waste fees will amount to about a $36.15 increase for all properties. Though residential assessments in Whistler are expected to rise sharply this year, commercial properties will likely stay flat—which should be good news for business owners after commercial property taxes went up significantly last year, noted Coun. John Grills. “If their taxes are relatively flat, or slightly up, it’s certainly better than what they experienced this year, so hopefully that plays out,” he said. Overall, council was supportive of the drive for financial resiliency. “I’ve had some interesting conversations this week on the budget, and you can’t have it both ways,” said Coun. Arthur De Jong. “I had requests [about] specific services; accelerate climate action and FireSmart but don’t raise taxes—nevermind reserves and inflation,” he said. “So I find 6.72 and three per cent are carefully measured, and we can’t find
TRAFFIC TROUBLES November traffic on Highway 99 through Whistler reached record levels.
PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS
ourselves in financial reserve quicksand, so I certainly support this.” Mayor Jack Crompton agreed, and thanked staff and council for their work on the budget. “I think it’s important as a community that we have our eyes on the horizon,” he said. “I think that there’s a lot of work to do around climate, around recovery from COVID, and around ensuring that this is a resilient and robust organization—this budget does that, and I’m grateful for the work that you’ve put into it.” The Five-Year Financial Plan bylaw will be back in front of council at the first meeting of 2022, scheduled for Jan. 11. Municipal tax bylaws must be adopted before May 15.
Find more info at whistler.ca/budget.
NOVEMBER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN WHISTLER WAS HIGHEST ON RECORD With other major highways in B.C. still impacted by last month’s floods, Whistler has been busier than ever before. Traffic counters on Highway 99 at Brio recorded record numbers of vehicles in November, averaging about 25,000 cars a day. “We exceeded the traffic volumes from 2018 [and] 2019, which was a bit surprising,” said general manager of infrastructure James Hallisey at the Dec. 21 council meeting, noting that the normal average is about 20,000 cars a day (10,000 in each direction).
Building a brighter future
26 DECEMBER 23, 2021
“With that trend, we are right back up to our peak volumes, which is quite a contrast from what we had back in April, where we were only about 60 per cent of our peak volumes for that time of year.” The increased traffic combined with inclement weather has led to several traffic accidents of late—including five on Dec. 20 alone—and the Resort Municipality of Whistler has been in contact with the RCMP about issues on the highway, said general manager of corporate and community services Ted Battiston. “My understanding at the moment is we do not have any formal [winter] tire checks scheduled, but I can look into that to see if there’s anything further,” Battiston said in response to a question from Councillor Cathy Jewett, noting that winter-tire checks impede traffic, and tend to take place earlier in the season. As it relates to other issues like line repainting, plowing and salting during big storms, the municipality is also in regular contact with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and its highway contractors, Hallisey said. “We did actually have a good meeting with both [of them] last Thursday and talked specifically about some of their responses during emergency situations, and I think there was pretty good progress made on that call,” he said. “There was a more direct means of communication discussed, and that new number has been shared with our incident responders … so that should speed up that process.” n
Happy Holidays WWW.WHISTLERLAWYER.CA adam@whistlerlawyer.ca | 604.905.5180
to you and yours and to my valued clients, thank you for the continued business
Erin McCardle Stiel 604.902.0520
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year And Happy Holidays To All My Clients And Friends In Whistler! Listed and/or sold this year: Pemberton Meadows Road (2) Casabella • Fitzsimmons and many more!
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If you are thinking of buying or selling in 2022 for your Honest, Ethical and Reliable Real Estate Needs call Judith Adamick at 604 351 4116 judithadamick@gmail.com
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DECEMBER 23, 2021
27
NEWS WHISTLER
Whistler Kids daycare sets Jan. 17 as its opening date following lengthy delays THE FACILITY WAS HIT WITH A ‘DO NOT OCCUPY’ ORDER FROM THE RMOW THIS MONTH AS IT AWAITS FINAL INSPECTIONS
BY MEGAN LALONDE A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED daycare is finally set to open its doors to Whistler families in January, after a months-long delay marked by sluggish permitting processes, closed highways and a “Do Not Occupy” order issued by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) last week. Whistler Kids daycare in Rainbow Plaza is targeting Jan. 17 as its official opening date, after initially intending to launch operations last September. Its co-owneroperators, Steven Christian and Melissa Baxandall, are also behind the already up-and-running Creekside Kids facility south of the Village. The landlord for the space located at 109-8200 Bear Paw Trail previously entered into an agreement with local childcare operator Creekside Kids to fill a vacant site, which can accommodate 23 kids and five staff. Whistler Council adopted a rezoning bylaw for the Rainbow Plaza daycare on May 18. In that same month, the daycare was already sitting at a more than 300-
child waitlist that still stands today, said Christian. “As soon as we get everything done that we have to get done, and the contractors have to get done, [the Vancouver Coastal Health licencing representative] is going to come see us and it’s possible we could open before that, but that’s our official date that everybody, all parties involved, have agreed upon,” he explained. “And if we can do better then we will do better … we’re just doing our best to get this done as fast as we can.” The in-demand facility first ran into delays earlier this year, when the RMOW was targeted by a ransomware attack that slowed or halted most municipal processes. (According to its operators, Whistler Kids submitted its building permit application in March, but it took until Aug. 31 to get it approved.) Then, said Christian, the daycare had to wait for inspections after a few small but integral parts for the renovation were stuck on the other side of the debilitating highway closures B.C. experienced following the atmospheric river events in November. The facility hit another hurdle last
Relax. Buy gift cards online. SCANDINAVE.COM 28 DECEMBER 23, 2021
week, when the RMOW issued a “Do Not Occupy” order for the facility. Whistler Fire Rescue Service delivered the order to the Whistler Kids Daycare on Tuesday, Dec. 14, after attending the location to perform an urgent inspection, according to the RMOW. In a release, the municipality said it learned on Dec. 13 that the daycare had begun operations and accepted children into its care without the required Fire Safety Inspection, multiple required building inspections, an occupancy permit or a business licence. Though the RMOW said its bylaw team had already received an application for a business licence from the facility, it acknowledged the licence cannot be granted without a fire safety and building approval, and proof of a community care facilities licence from Vancouver Coastal Health. In B.C., a community care facilities licence is required for all businesses providing care to three or more children who are not related to the operation by blood or marriage. “We know that this potential closure has a significant impact on many who were relieved to have finally secured a childcare spot in Whistler,” said Mayor Jack
Crompton in the release. Christian countered that the daycare had in fact never opened for business, but said the facility had welcomed families into the space for an open house the previous weekend. “We never officially opened our doors … You’re not open for business until you have a business licence,” he said. “But … we’re at the mercy of everybody else.” The Do Not Occupy Order will be rescinded when Whistler Kids Daycare has met the BC Building and Fire Code’s requirements. Christian said the facility would remain closed as it awaits those final inspections. He apologized to families for the miscommunication and said he’s looking forward to a positive working relationship with the municipality as the daycare looks ahead to its opening. “I’ve already talked to the city and we’ve got plans to get everybody out here … I’m just going to try to get the last couple little things done. I mean, we’re talking about the finer things now that need to get done so everybody can stamp ‘approved’ and we can move on,” he said. n
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29
NEWS WHISTLER
Skier hits five-year milestone in monthly challenge NOAH JACOBS MARKED HIS 60TH-CONSECUTIVE MONTH OF SKIING WITH A VISIT TO WHISTLER ON OPENING WEEKEND
BY MEGAN LALONDE WHEN MOST SKIERS took to Whistler Blackcomb’s slopes on opening weekend, they were shaking off the rust after eight long months off snow. That wasn’t the case for Noah Jacobs. The skier, who splits his time between Cochrane, Alta. and Montreal, Que., was in town to log some turns and mark a milestone. Jacobs has been skiing at least one day a month for the past five years. Saturday, Nov. 27 marked his 60th consecutive month of skiing. That means his last time on snow prior to Whistler Blackcomb’s opening weekend was in October, in the backcountry. “The last time I was on a lift would have been in May,” said Jacobs. Opening weekend in Whistler “was great,” he continued. “The energy’s always fun [during] opening weekend at any ski resort. Everybody’s smiling. Even though they are wearing masks, you can still see that smile with their eyes. “And the skiing—you know, Saturday was absolutely phenomenal.” The monthly challenge, unofficially dubbed “Turns All Year,” has a few parameters: Participants must ski on snow, whether real, man-made or indoors. Those heading to the
30 DECEMBER 23, 2021
backcountry must log at least 33 turns—“They don’t necessarily need to be consecutive,” noted Jacobs—while skiers riding lifts need to complete at least three runs. Those turns don’t necessarily have to be enjoyable. “I’ve been at Mount Hood three years in a row for September-October … Two of those trips we actually had fresh powder, but one of those days we were literally skiing a sliver of black and brown snow,” Jacobs recalled. “We were all like, ‘Let’s get our 33 and get out of here.’” Those rules were loosened during the lockdowns in early 2020, to allow for crosscountry skiing, for example. (Waterskiing still didn’t count.) “My April turns in 2020 were on Mount Royal on, like, patch of snow to patch of snow,” said Jacobs. Subsequent months were checked off on man-made patches at nearby ski resorts, before he headed west for a few backcountry turns in the fall. It was a friend who first convinced Jacobs to hop aboard the monthly ski challenge train five years ago. But with that friend already at 150 consecutive months of skiing, Jacobs quickly realized his chance of catching up was slim. So, Jacobs instead decided to oneup his pal by challenging himself to ski on five different continents in one calendar year— while keeping up with his monthly turns,
obviously. He accomplished that feat in 2018. North America was already taken care of, so Jacobs headed to Morocco in February to cross Africa off the list. The South-America box was checked with a summer trip to Chile, while another winter trip to France and Christmas holidays spent in Japan knocked off Europe and Asia.
“[S]kiing is something that unites a lot of people...” - NOAH JACOBS
Jacobs works as a nation-wide manager for an IT company, meaning he typically takes about 120 to 130 work-related flights a year in non-pandemic times. (It also means collecting enough airline points to make travelling to ski destinations around the world slightly more feasible.) Coupled with his work in Calgary, the monthly challenge was one major reason why Jacobs bought a property in Alberta shortly after the onset of the pandemic. Once he
realized COVID-19 restrictions might hamper his goal, “I kind of panicked, when basically I knew the ski season was going to be pretty crappy on the East Coast,” he explained. With snow available year-round in the nearby Rockies, “Alberta has been a saving grace for my silly challenge,” he added. Climate change is also posing some obstacles, Jacobs said, referencing the heat wave that swept through Western Canada in late June. “I don’t know if that’s going to be the new norm, but that’s definitely a challenge within this challenge itself: chasing the snow,” he said. “At the end of day, skiing is something that unites a lot of people … whether you’re skiing somewhere in South America with only a couple of chairlifts or skiing somewhere like Whistler Blackcomb that is unbelievably well developed,” said Jacobs. The skiing challenge also pushes him to be outside, to stay active and keep moving, he added. So how long does he intend to keep up with the challenge? “My goal was to get to 60 [months]. But I’m at 60 and the rest of the ski season is ahead of me,” he said. “I think 72 is a really good number to go to. So I’m going to go to 72, which is next November, and we’ll see where we go from there.” n
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A SEASON OF GIVING
Support your local community. Support your local not-for-profits
There are a number of reasons to refocus your gifting habits this year. Whether you’re concerned about the environment, not sure what to purchase or looking for more far-reaching presents, take a look at the community around you. In Whistler, we’re lucky to have a very caring community. From environmental to health to homelessness, there are many worthwhile causes to consider supporting this Christmas. Especially in such difficult times it is more important then ever to provide assistance if we can. Please consider making a donation to one of these worthy local causes.
DECEMBER 23, 2021
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NEWS WHISTLER
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation awards more than $400K to local community groups AFTER A SHIFT TO MORE URGENT NEEDS IN 2020, WBF RE-EXPANDS ITS CHARITABLE GIVING
BY BRADEN DUPUIS WITH ITS CURRENT fleet of vehicles, navigating Forest Service Roads to respond to calls can be challenging for the Garibaldi Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) and its 20 members. But thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, the GFVD will soon be able to purchase a rapid response wildland fire truck to help serve its roughly 2,160 hectares of terrain south of Whistler. “While we can typically get to where we need to be, our current vehicles make this difficult and slower as it is not their primary design,” said GVFD Captain Joe McDermid in an email. “Our more rugged vehicles do not currently have the water carrying capacity this new truck will provide. Overall, this new truck just makes us faster and better at providing service within our area.” The GVFD gets the bulk of its funding from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, as well as its own fundraising events. But with COVID-19 throwing a
wrench in those efforts in recent years, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation (WBF) funding is especially helpful. “We sincerely appreciate the grant from the WBF,” McDermid said. “Their generosity allows us to improve our service response times to the public within our callout area, which makes the community that much safer.” The grant was just one of several awarded to Sea to Sky groups by the WBF earlier this month—more than $400,000 in total. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the foundation shifted its focus to the most pressing needs in the corridor, said executive director Mei Madden, including food banks, emergency shelters, mental health programs and more. “We also didn’t follow our usual protocol of an application process and instead, it was often just a phone call and conversation about what was needed,” Madden said, adding that the new process enabled the foundation to disperse funds—about $800,000 in the last year—to organizations in a more timely manner. But with the urgent need brought about by the pandemic waning, the WBF
returned to its standard application process in October. “It is so rewarding to disburse these funds to some amazing local non-profits, especially after a long wait while we put the needs of pandemic-relief at the forefront,” Madden said. “There were some projects put on hold and we are so thrilled for these organizations to be able to move forward.” At the Whistler Museum and Archives, a $12,000 grant will be used to purchase equipment to digitize 16-millimetre film in the museum’s collection. “We received a large collection from George Benjamin which has a lot of avalanche control during the 1970s … and there’s other ski films and promotional films that were developed for Whistler over the years that we have in 16mm that we’re going to digitize,” said Brad Nichols, executive director and curator of the Whistler Museum, adding that the museum has “close to 100 reels” of 16-mm film in its collection. With the new equipment, the museum can better preserve its collection for future generations, as well as make it more accessible to the general public,
Nichols said. “Some of this film hasn’t been seen in public in close to 30, 40 years … We’re really excited for that,” he said. The museum also plans to share the equipment with other museums and cultural institutions, or even members of the public wishing to digitize their own film, Nichols said. Other grant recipients include the Spearhead Huts Society ($75,000); Pemberton Fire Rescue ($68,000); Zero Ceiling ($50,000); Pemberton Search and Rescue ($20,000); Whistler Waldorf School ($20,000); the Squamish Hospital Foundation ($15,000); and Pemberton Secondary School’s outdoor program ($7,000), along with several others. The WBF has awarded more than $15 million to community organizations since 1992. About 80 per cent of its funds are generated through its two major fundraising events: the Telus Golf Classic and Telus Winter Classic, both of which had to be reimagined this year due to COVID. This year’s Winter Classic is set for March 4 and 5, 2022. Find more info at whistlerblackcombfoundation.com. n
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT THE SEA TO SKY GONDOLA
DECORATED FOREST WALK
GUIDED SNOWSHOE TOUR
SUNSET HEADLAMP HIKE
FREE WITH GONDOLA TICKET OR ANNUAL PASS DAILY FROM 9:30AM
COST: $24.95 DOES NOT INCLUDE GONDOLA TICKET DAILY 12:00PM - 1:00PM
COST: $10 DOES NOT INCLUDE GONDOLA TICKET DAILY 4:00PM TO 5:00PM*
Enjoy the arrival of winter with a nature walk on our beautifully decorated Spirit Trail which also includes our self-guided 12 days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt. Scavenger Hunt cards are available at Guest Services.
Discover pristine solitude and enjoy the outdoors this winter on a guided snowshoe tour. Warm up afterwards with a complimentary hot beverage in the decorated Summit Lodge. Pre-booking required.
Join us 885 meters above sea level and discover an outdoor experience during twilight hours on a guided headlamp hike or snowshoe tour. Pre-booking required Headlamps provided. Snowshoe or crampon rentals are available for $5. *Please note we will not be running this tour on December 24 or 25
OPEN DAILY. FOR MORE INFO OR TO BOOK YOUR TOUR VISIT SEATOSKYGONDOLA.COM OR CALL 604.892.2550
32 DECEMBER 23, 2021
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33
NEWS WHISTLER
Recent thefts of skis, snowboards serve as reminders to keep an eye on equipment ALSO IN POLICE BRIEFS: DECEMBER MARKS IMPAIRED DRIVING MONTH; LAPTOPS STOLEN FROM WHISTLER VEHICLE
BY MEGAN LALONDE WHISTLER RCMP responded to two separate calls regarding missing ski and snowboard gear earlier this month. First, at around 9 a.m. on Dec. 6, police were alerted to a stolen snowboard. The complainant reported that they had left their 2021 Jones Ultra Mind Expander board in the ski racks at the top of the mountain. Then, two days later at approximately 4 p.m., RCMP responded to another report of skis stolen after being left outside in the 4500 block of Blackcomb Way. Police discovered that theft occurred at approximately 11 p.m. 10 days earlier, on Nov. 28. RCMP reviewed CCTV footage and is currently attempting to identify the suspect. Following these events, Whistler RCMP is reminding locals and visitors to try and keep skis or snowboards in view when leaving equipment unattended. “Purchasing a small $20-dollar cable lock is inexpensive, easy to carry, and works well to deter theft,” police explained in a release.
LAPTOPS, IPAD STOLEN FROM VEHICLE NEAR WHISTLER VILLAGE A daytime vehicle break-in prompted a call to Whistler RCMP last week, after thousands of dollars worth of technology was discovered to be missing. Police were notified of the theft during the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 13, which took place in the 4000 block of Whistler Way. RCMP learned the vehicle
mentioned incidents to call the Whistler RCMP non-emergency line at 604 932-3044 or Crimestoppers.
POLICE CONDUCTING ROAD CHECKS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER Despite the fast-moving Omicron variant, holiday celebrations are still in full swing across the Sea to Sky corridor.
“[A]n average of 65 people die each year in collisions where alcohol, drugs or medication is involved.” - WHISTLER RCMP
was broken into between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the previous day, Dec. 12. Two laptops and an iPad with an approximate combined value of $3,500 were were stolen from the vehicle. Police are asking anyone with information pertaining to any of the above-
As such, expect to see Whistler and Pemberton RCMP out conducting Counter Attack road checks throughout the area for the remainder of the month. While local police conduct traffic enforcement on a daily basis, they’re ramping up their efforts as part of the provincial Counter Attack impaired-
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driving campaign that runs from Dec. 1 to 31. “According to provincial statistics, an average of 65 people die each year in collisions where alcohol, drugs or medication is involved (five-year average from 2016 to 2020), making impaired driving fatalities one of the leading causes of death on our provincial roadways,” police explained in a release. “Impaired driving, defined as driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, is entirely preventable yet it continues to happen with devastating consequences.” Whistler RCMP said its members will use “every resource at their disposal”— including standardized field sobriety testing and specially trained drug recognition experts—to remove impaired drivers from the road. Police are also “fully prepared” to enforce both the federal Cannabis Act and B.C.’s Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, which states that individuals must not operate a vehicle (whether or not the vehicle is in motion) while there is cannabis in the vehicle, unless that cannabis was produced by a federal licence holder, is in its original packaging and has never been opened. n
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DECEMBER 23, 2021
35
NEWS WHISTLER
Donations pouring in for Sea-to-Sky man seriously injured in crash ADAM HAUBRICH SUFFERED FRACTURES TO HIS BACK, STERNUM, RIBS, FACE AND FEMUR IN DEC. 9 ACCIDENT
BY BRANDON BARRETT A SQUAMISH MAN with deep ties to Whistler has inspired major support from across the corridor since a devastating car accident earlier this month that left him with a litany of serious injuries and a long path to recovery. According to friends, 34-year-old Adam Haubrich was driving home from Whistler Dec. 9 when he was struck by another vehicle head-on near Daisy Lake, before being T-boned by another car and eventually being pushed into a nearby guard rail. Squamish RCMP in a release said nine people in four vehicles were involved in the crash, with all surviving. Three of the vehicles were not driveable due to the damage. Police also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, impairment has been ruled out as a factor. “I don’t know how we can make the Sea to Sky [Highway] safer, but the amount of accidents and close calls on it are way too frequent,” wrote fiancée Cassie Kentwell in a message to Pique. Haubrich, who has lived off and on in Whistler since 2008 but currently calls Squamish home, suffered a number of serious
36 DECEMBER 23, 2021
and potentially life-threatening injuries in the crash, including multiple skull and facial fractures, a brain bleed, a blown eardrum, eight fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, three spinal fractures, and a compound fracture of his femur, according to friends. Currently at Vancouver General Hospital, Haubrich has already undergone a surgery to insert rods into his leg as well as facial reconstruction surgery. Needless to say, Haubrich faces a long and arduous road to recovery. A house painter by trade, it is estimated it will be at least a year before he is able to work again, and his fiancée, Kentwell, is also taking time off work to care for him. A GoFundMe set up by family friend Jessie Morden has already surpassed its $20,000 target by a wide margin. At press time, it has raised more than $56,000 to go towards Haubrich’s medical and recovery costs. “It’s completely overwhelming and the response has been unbelievable,” said Morden, who noted donations have come from as far away as Texas after a couple with ties to the state assisted Haubrich on the scene in the aftermath of the accident. “You’re seeing these donations for $5, $10, $15; these are small amounts and it’s so amazing because you know that people
LONG ROAD Former Whistlerite Adam Haubrich has a long road to recovery after a devastating Dec. 9 car accident left him with multiple serious injuries. PHOTO SUBMITTED
don’t have much extra money and the extra money they do have they’re giving to him.” Along with the financial burden, Haubrich and his fiancée will have to relocate from their three-floor townhome in Squamish into Kentwell’s mom’s one-level condo in Whistler after he gets out of hospital. The couple were also due to be married in Mexico this March, which is now likely to
be postponed. The outpouring of support at a time of year when the purse strings are tight for many goes to show the positive impact Haubrich has had on those who know and love him. “Adam is one of the funniest, nicest [people who] wants the best for everyone around him. He brings smiles to every single person he crosses paths with. Even through all this, he hasn’t lost that touch,” Kentwell said. Sadly, this month’s crash wasn’t the couple’s first accident on the Sea to Sky Highway. In 2016, Kentwell suffered a broken back in a devastating crash that required su rgery. Haubrich was in another accident just weeks before the Dec. 9 crash that left him hospitalized when a driver ran a stop sign and struck his vehicle, causing a concussion and other minor injuries, Morden said. “This is happening all too often. There’s an accident almost every day on the Sea to Sky Highway and it’s from negligence, quite frankly,” she added. “So don’t text and drive, don’t drive if you’re tired and don’t speed, because it’s someone’s life. Adam didn’t deserve this. No one deserves it. You’re ruining a life.” Donate to Haubrich’s recovery at gofundme.com/f/adams-path-to-recovery. n
CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION Pemberton Transfer Station
Holiday Closures: Saturday, December 25 Sunday, December 26 Saturday, January 1
Trees must be bare
• Remove all decorations, lights and tinsel • No artificial snow December 27 to January 12 Mon, Wed, Fri 12 - 7 pm Sat & Sun 10 am - 5 pm No tipping fee
Zero Waste Holiday Tip: String lights leaving you in the dark? Bring them to the Pemberton Recycling Centre. slrd.bc.ca/lovethisplace
CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION Trees must be bare • Remove all decorations, lights and tinsel • No artificial snow SQUAMISH
WHISTLER
Companionship & Caregiving For your loved one
PEMBERTON
Squamish Landfill
Function Junction Depot
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DEC 26 - JAN 15 7 am - 7 pm
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DEC 27 - JAN 12 Mon, Wed, Fri 12 - 7 pm Sat & Sun 10 am - 5 pm No tipping fee
Curbside collection Place in organics tote • Cut tree into smaller pieces (>10”) and a diameter less than 3” • Lid must be able to fully close
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THE
2021-2022 PEMBERTON GUIDE on stands now!
Zero Waste Holiday Tip: String lights leaving you in the dark? Bring them to the Pemberton Recycling Centre.
2021-2022 FRE E
Hit the Links
PEMBERTON GOLF COUR THE PERFECT PAND SES OFFER EMIC ESCAPE
EATERIES ADAP
PEMBERTON TRANSFER STATION Holiday Hours Closed Saturday, December 25 Sunday, December 26 Saturday, January 1
Zero Waste Holiday Tip: String lights leaving you in the dark? Bring them to the Pemberton Recycling Centre.
Regular Hours Monday 12 pm - 7 pm Wednesday 12 pm - 7 pm Friday 12 pm - 7 pm Saturday 10 am - 5 pm Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Save the Date
Wedding experts help coup plan the ideal cere les mony
T Local restaurants keep Spud Valley fed AN OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION OF
AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
DECEMBER 23, 2021
37
NEWS PEMBERTON & THE VALLEY
Trailer containing $10K worth of kids’ XC ski gear stolen DONATIONS POUR IN FOR SPUD VALLEY NORDICS AFTER CARGO TRAILER THEFT ON THURSDAY FROM NAIRN FALLS CAMPGROUND
BY MEGAN LALONDE A CROSS-COUNTRY ski club in Pemberton is looking for the community’s help after a trailer containing thousands of dollars worth of gear was stolen last week. Delores Franz Los, chairperson of the long-running Spud Valley Nordic Association—which operates a popular weekly kids’ “Jackrabbit” program, a junior racer program and fun events for adults each winter—said the nearly five-metre-long cargo trailer and its contents were likely taken from the Nairn Falls Campground parking lot during Thursday evening, Dec. 16. The trailer had been sitting in the lot, as it does every winter, for around two weeks. A groomer who showed up at the site to lay tracks for the club’s upcoming programming alerted her to the missing trailer on Friday, Dec. 17, she said. Franz Los had last visited the trailer Wednesday afternoon to gather supplies for a club wax clinic. The theft has been reported to Sea to Sky RCMP. “[The groomer] said, ‘You can see somebody cut the wheel lock,’” Franz Los recalled. “The loss of the trailer is one thing,
CHRISTMAS THEFT
The Spud Valley Nordics Association’s winter is off to a sour start, after a cargo trailer containing equipment used for its kids’ cross-country ski programs each week was stolen from the Nairn Falls Campground in Pemberton. PHOTO BY GETTYIMAGES.CA
38 DECEMBER 23, 2021
but the equipment that we use for the program, that’s the biggest loss. And to get that replaced is very, very difficult,” she continued. “We would always apply for grants and get grants to purchase those things. There’s thousands and thousands of dollars worth of equipment in there. And the thing is, whoever took the trailer wouldn’t be interested in that equipment, I’m sure.” Franz Los estimates that the gear is valued at approximately $10,000. The
Parks has always supplied the club with a key to access the site. “The gate would be locked all winter, as most parks are, and then we would open it just for our programs,” she explained. But last year, as demand for open spaces and outdoor activities spiked, Los said Tourism Pemberton asked BC Parks to consider leaving the gate unlocked and the parking lot open to the public at all times— and BC Parks obliged. “And of course now the gate is open all
“The loss of the trailer is one thing, but the equipment that we use for the program, that’s the biggest loss.” - DELORES FRANZ LOS
trailer held around 11 pairs of cross-country skis and poles, eight pairs of roller skis with bindings, drink containers and tables for refreshments, tools and drills, balls and beanbags for kids’ games and bibs for races, to name just a few of the items. All the sports equipment is labelled with the club’s name, Franz Los said. Spud Valley Nordics have had an agreement with BC Parks for “quite a few years” to keep a cargo trailer filled with mostly kids’ ski equipment in the Nairn Falls Campground parking lot where most of the club’s programming is based. BC
the time, day and night. And so anything can happen, right? There’s nobody at the park, except for when we’re there on Mondays,” Franz Los said. In the more than three decades since Spud Valley Nordics’ programming launched, “We’ve never had a problem with anything stolen anywhere, from anybody. And it’s only happened because last year because the gate is open all the time … we worried last year that something was going happen.” Franz Los said the club is hoping to work with BC Parks and Tourism Pemberton to
find a more secure solution. But for now, the club is looking to get back on its feet and continue offering its cross-country programming to Pemberton families this winter. A GoFundMe has launched to help the club purchase new equipment (available at gofundme.com/f/ vk376-help-spud-valley-nordics) and has already reached more than $5,000 of its $10,000 goal as of press time, thanks especially to a $2,000 from the Pemberton Valley Supermarket. “We’re going to keep going,” Franz Los said, adding that the club will focus on replacing a few key, basic materials like tables and drink container’s for kids’ refreshments ahead of their next session on Jan. 3. “We have some money in the club, so we’ll buy some basic equipment for every coach, so they can do activities—kids learn by having fun, so we’ll buy some basic activities,” she said. The Pemberton clinic has also offered to donate a replacement First Aid Kit, Franz Los added. “We’ll just start little by little and try to replace the things that we can with the money that we have. But we can’t store anything, and so what we’ll have to do is we’ll have to bring it back and forth every time, for every session. Which is a real nuisance.” If anyone’s interested in contributing to the club’s fundraising efforts, Franz Los said she’s also available at dfflos@hotmail.com. “If anyone sees a pile of stuff dumped somewhere, from big wooden skis, to things that don’t look like skis—lots of balls and pinnies and stuff—Just tell us where to pick it up and we’ll come and get it.” n
SOLD
NEW LISTING
ELIZABETH CHAPLIN
elizabeth@elizabethchaplin.com | 604 932 1311
PLUS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE ADJACENT LOT! CALL FOR DETAILS 604-932-1311 8 - 2007 KAREN CRESCENT
10 RIDGE DRIVE
9456 EMERALD DRIVE
Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Square Feet:811
Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Square Feet:1,495
Square Feet: 9,070
This bright and modern townhouse built in 2015 is conveniently located in popular Whistler Creekside. Walking distance to restaurants, shops, Alpha and Nita Lakes and the Creekside Gondola!
Your very own private cabin in the woods located in the gated complex of Pinecrest Estates just 15 minutes’ drive south of Whistler Village. Enjoy the extensive trail networks on your doorstep as well as private lake access.
Vacant Lot located in residential Emerald Estates. A level flat lot that provides an easy build at the height of the hill with panoramic views. Private treed setting. Drive by today!
Townhouse
Chalet
Vacant Land
WHISTLER CREEK
$1,515,000
PINECREST ESTATES
$1,795,000
EMERALD ESTATES
$1,795,000
NEW LISTING
LISA HILTON
Personal Real Estate Corporation
lisah@wrec.com | 604 902 4589
Wishing 304 PODIUM
1937 STONECUTTER PLACE
WHISTLER
PEMBERTON
Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Square Feet: 867
Lot Size: 0.49
Contemporary living meets functionality at this gorgeous 2 bed, 2 bath home with a private deck and views overlooking parkland, Sproat Mountain and the Tantalus mountain range in the desirable “Podium” in Cheakamus Crossing.
A place to build your commercial or industrial business in the Pemberton Industrial Park. This 0.49 acre property is fenced and ready for construction. This serviced building lot has zoning that allows a wide variety of commercial and industrial uses.
Townhouse
Vacant Land
$1,080,000
acres
Personal Real Estate Corporation
KEITH MCIVOR
keith@wrec.com | 604 935 2650
1504 ALTA PLACE
Thank you to my valued clients for the continued support.
$1,200,000
PEMBERTON
Acres
An exclusive enclave of five estate properties within a 9.1 acre private oasis close to the Valley Trail and Alpha Lake featuring stunning views of Whistler peak and vast sun exposure. Design your dream home and build up to 5,000 sq ft plus an auxiliary dwelling in this majestic neighbourhood and enjoy the four-season Whistler lifestyle.
Vacant Land
Holiday Season
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WHISTLER Lot Size: 1.9
you all a safe and wonderful
$2,349,000
A warm welcome to our four new Elevate homeowners that moved in last week just in time to enjoy the holidays! Congratulations and welcome home to Elevate. Wishing you and your families all the best as you settle into your new homes. Happy Holidays.
PRICE REDUCED
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2.5 Square Feet: 2,621
Lot Size: 7,642
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Square Feet: 3,029
PEMBERTON
Square Feet
Located between two amazing lakes (Gates and Anderson) in the small community of Birken, this almost half acre treed property is charming and rustic and ready for a new family to make it their own. The large lot has plenty of potential for gardens or a shop.
This building lot at the peak of the Pemberton Plateau is the only building lot available in the neighbourhood! The building site is ready for your dream home with all utilities at the lot line and a significant amount of lot prep completed.
Stunning new construction set to be completed Spring 2022. Many thoughtful details including an elevator, stylish and functional finishes, revenue suite and durable exterior materials. Open concept living area leads to a covered deck with phenomenal views.
Chalet
Vacant Land
Chalet
$849,000
$469,900
$1,899,000
DANIELLE MENZEL
7632 SEVEN O’CLOCK DRIVE
PEMBERTON PLATEAU
Personal Real Estate Corporation
1778 PINEWOOD DRIVE
BIRKEN
danielle@wrec.com | 604 698 5128
9412 PORTAGE ROAD
karen@wrec.com | 604 902 2520
KAREN VAGELATOS
jill@wrec.com | 604 932 1372
JILL NOTMAN COLPITTS
SOLD May your home be filled with the joy of this Holiday season
Wishing you all a Healthy and Happy 2022!
24 - 1530 TYNEBRIDGE LANE SPRING CREEK
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Square Feet:1,984 The Glades is in a wonderful family neighbourhood, situated just south of Creekside, with a school around the corner and the stores and restaurants of Function Junction an easy walk or bike ride away on the Valley Trail. This home has everything you need with upgrades, a second living space, double garage and plenty of storage.
Townhouse
$2,079,000
JANE HEIM
jane@janeheim.ca | 604 935 0802
Wishing you peace and joy all season long.
Happy Holidays!
TRACEY CRUZ
tracey@wrec.com | 604 905 9552
Season’s Greetings! Wishing you and your families the Best of the Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous 2022. A special thank you to all our valued clients, friends and colleagues as we celebrate our 25th year together as your mother daughter team!
Tracey Cruz and Lynne Venner SOLD
SOLD
Personal Real Estate Corporation
DAN SCARRATT
dan@wrec.com | 604 938 4444
Happy Holidays
9242 EMERALD DRIVE
324-4573 CHATEAU BLVD
Bedrooms: 1.5 Bathrooms: 1 Square Feet: 1,242
Bedrooms: 1.5 Bathrooms: 1 Square Feet: 831
Plan your future dream home while enjoying this cozy log cabin on this large view lot in Emerald Estates
Ski home via the Upper Village to this tastefully remodeled and fully furnished luxury mountain retreat. This bright, top floor open concept lofted condo with mountain views comfortably sleeps 6 people and is walking distance to all of the Village amenities.
Chalet
Townhouse
WHISTLER
$1,699,000
WHISTLER
$1,699,000
SCIENCE MATTERS
We have to stop squandering our brief time on Earth THE PLANET AND its miraculous nature will go on with or without us. After all, extinction is an essential part of life’s history on the planet, and we humans seem determined to fuel our own demise through unsustainable exploitation and destruction of the natural world that makes human life and flourishing possible. In the 3.9 billion years we think life has existed on Earth, immense changes have occurred. The sun is 30 per cent warmer today, great continental plates have pulled apart and smashed together, mountains have risen up, oceans filled then emptied.
BY DAVID SUZUKI Magnetic poles have reversed then switched back. Ice ages have punctuated warm periods. After life invented photosynthesis, the atmosphere was transformed by removal of carbon dioxide and addition of oxygen. Those life forms were fixed by their heredity to specific habitats and needs, so when environmental conditions changed, they were displaced by others better suited to the new state. More than 99.99 per cent of all species that have ever existed are extinct, and that is how life has persisted. The fossil record indicates five mass extinction episodes have occurred, defined by disappearance of more than 75 per cent of all species within 2.8 million years, a mere blink in evolutionary time. In the five great extinctions, 75 to 90 per cent of terrestrial and marine plants and animals vanished.
epoch, often called the Anthropocene. The explosive growth of human numbers, technological innovation and demands of the global economy have amplified our species’ ecological footprint so greatly that we have triggered another mass extinction episode. Unlike the previous five, this sixth extinction is the direct consequence of one species, us—an infant species that has only been around for 300,000 years. Although I have faith that nature will continue on despite all we’ve done, whether or not we’re around for it, it will take millions of years for the biosphere to equilibrate again with another array of unimaginable and wondrous biodiversity. It’s as if we’ve sped up time. Many plant and animal species we care about were destined to be here for a few million years at most, but now they’re disappearing at unimaginable rates, often within our lifetimes. We’re the first species to have caused rapid extinction and to be aware of what we’re doing. We have spread across the planet and become a geological force, reshaping the land and water according to our demands. But as the top planetary predator, we’re one of the species most vulnerable to extinction—of other species and our own. If the plants and animals we rely on for food and more become extinct, we’re in trouble. We have the intelligence to recognize the crisis and resolve it by pulling back, ceasing activities that contribute to extinctions, and encouraging nature. Nature always bats last, and wins. That’s because it sets the rules. And nature has an ace up its sleeve: time, all the time in the world until the sun burns out and is no more.
[A]s the top planetary predator, we’re one of the species most vulnerable to extinction—of other species and our own.
Despite these enormous disruptions, life recovered in diversity and abundance, although radically different in makeup. In the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction 66 million years ago, when dinosaurs disappeared after ruling the planet for 180 million years, mammals took advantage and thrived. On average, an invertebrate species’ lifespan is about 11 million years, and a mammalian species lasts between one and two million years. After a mass extinction, ecosystems recover after two million years, while the biosphere takes about 10 million years to fully flourish again. These numbers and time frames are inferred from the fossil record and geology, and can provide a framework within which to assess the current
42 DECEMBER 23, 2021
We have become the impatient species, too busy to let nature replenish itself and too puffed up with our own sense of importance to acknowledge our utter dependence on its generosity. Instead, we steal from our children and future generations by extinguishing so many species that could have been here for them too. We have many reasons to change our destructive ways, to show greater respect to nature. Above all, we have to think of the world we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren and those yet to be born. We must do it for love. David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. ■
THE OUTSIDER
2021: Not all bad TOMORROW
WILL be the 19th Christmas I’ve spent in British Columbia away from my Australian family. I like to think it’s grown easier to bridge that distance with video conferencing, free messaging apps and all the other tech that makes
BY VINCE SHULEY communication in our lives easier, but as we now know all too well, there will never be a real substitute for physically being around your loved ones. There were two rather large barriers to not making it home for Christmas all those years. One was the hectic schedule one experiences when working on the frontlines of Whistler’s customer service. You work so the visitors can have the best possible vacation and the Christmas-New Year week is one of the busiest of the season. So forget about any time off. My career has moved on from the frontlines now, so I can’t really leverage my work schedule as an excuse anymore. The other barrier was the cost of travel. The holiday period coincides with
PRETTY GOOD One of 2021’s stellar days in the backcountry. PHOTO BY VINCE SHULEY
44 DECEMBER 23, 2021
Australia’s summer break, which in turn ratchets up the cost of flights a few hundred per cent. For a ski bum on a modest wage surviving Whistler’s cost of living, this was a constant deal breaker. While I don’t enjoy blowing the budget of two vacations on a single return flight, I’m in a much better position to afford travel over the holidays than I used to be. The last couple of years have introduced a third barrier, a recurring inconvenience known as COVID-19. Australia has—for the most part—done reasonably well containing the virus, but not without some Draconian lockdown measures and brutal two-week
groups and their families, the family of my partner, my roommates and my dog. After so many years, these folks really do feel like family, but I always make sure I catch my Aussie OG fam on Facetime with the appropriate time difference. The other place I’ve found solace? You guessed it. Out skiing. Skiing on Christmas Day is about as good as it gets. It snows almost every year on Dec. 25th and Whistler Blackcomb gets everything open as quick as they would on any other powder day. The lifties still have their early-season chipper attitudes and chair lift conversations with strangers
After so many years, these folks really do feel like family...
hotel quarantines. It’s getting better now as the world’s travelling populace gets vaccinated, but each Australian state can enact its own policies at the drop of a hat. So—at least right now—there’s a substantial risk of the family reunion getting kyboshed by coronavirus at the 11th hour. So chalk up another B.C. Christmas for 2021. Like so many Whistler lifers that immigrated from afar, I’ve found solace over the holidays by spending time with my Canadian clans. This includes my friend
always wrap up with a hearty exchange of “Merry Christmas!” as you slide down the unload ramp. And it’s never that busy in the morning, either, since everyone seems to prefer opening presents over getting face shots. The afternoon, however, well let’s say it’s worth coming off the mountain early and beating the rush to apres, too. The backcountry can also be a special place during the holidays and I’ll go touring to escape the bulging lift lines, sure. But not
on Christmas Day. Getting up to ski with all the other Christmas orphans, enjoying a sneaky midday pint before heading home to walk the dog, kicking back on the couch and queuing up Die Hard, well that’s a pretty bitchin’ Christmas for me. It’s been a rough year for B.C. with the pandemic, heat domes, wildfires and floods. We’ve been lucky to escape the majority of those disasters here in the Whistler Valley, something I certainly won’t take for granted as we pray for a full season of operation at our resort. Hell, we’ve earned it. Finally, I’d like to close out 2021’s Outsider by acknowledging Pique’s longtime editor Clare Ogilvie, who—as you read this—is no doubt working as hard as ever to get the final issue of the year ready for all you readers. Ten years ago she gave this rookie writer a chance to report news for Pique, and I never imagined I’d eventually end up with a page in the paper to call my own every two weeks. I learned so much about journalism, ethics and the community of Whistler as a whole from Clare, all of which has helped shape me into the writer I am today. So thank you, Clare, for all your mentorship, support and service over the years. Our community is stronger for it. Vince Shuley wishes you all a happy holidays and a pow-filled new year. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider email vince.shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. ■
Public Notice
2022 Council Meeting Schedule Questions? We’re listening
604.894.6135
NEW WINTER WHISTLER MAGAZINE IS OUT!
admin@ pemberton.ca
Please note: Committee of the Whole and In Camera meetings will be scheduled as required. Council meetings are held in Council Chambers located at 7400 Prospect Street and via Zoom unless otherwise posted. To view meeting agendas and minutes, visit pemberton.ca.
pemberton.ca
Notice of the 2022 Council Meeting Dates is given in accordance with section 94 and section 127 of the Community Charter. Sheena Fraser, Corporate Officer.
WHISTLER’S PREMIER VISITOR MAGAZINE SINCE 1980
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pemberton.ca
Seasonal Service Change Effective December 18, 2021
Get your new edition in hotel rooms and select locations around Whistler.
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DECEMBER 23, 2021
45
FEATURE STORY
46 DECEMBER 23, 2021
FEATURE STORY
l s e i n T
tales
Hear twarming s e i r o t iday s
hol
LL
for the jolliest time of year
Sometimes a little escapism is necessary.
ike, say, after nearly two years of a global pandemic, an increasingly polarized political climate, and the worst inflation Canada has seen in years. (Geez, Debbie Downer over here …) The holidays have always been a time to share stories with those we love, and here at Pique, we’ve made it a yearly tradition to curate and publish a bevvy of Yuletide yarns from some of our favourite local writers.
This year is no different, and we’ve got a trio of tinsel-themed tales for you to enjoy around the fire, from Katherine Fawcett’s whimsical (and appetite-whetting) fairy tale, to a rare interview with the big man in red himself, courtesy of the lovable grinch, G.D. Maxwell. So raise a cup of nog or something stronger as we wish you and yours the very best the holidays have to offer (hey, that sorta rhymes!). -Brandon Barrett
DECEMBER 23, 2021
47
FEATURE STORY
t s Fe a The
M M
By Katherine Fawcett
y dear child, listen carefully to your old grandmother. For if you insist on preparing The Feast, then this, you must obey. First, watch the edges of the kitchen windowpane. When frost on the glass forms patterns of musical notes from your favourite holiday carol, the time has come to gather ingredients. Pull the bluest-blue mittens over your hands. Pull your red winter cap low on your forehead. Wrap a green scarf three times ‘round your throat. Place a berry into your coat pocket for good luck. Tie the laces of your boots tightly, throw an empty satchel over your left shoulder. Your right hand must be free to wave and snap and pick up spiders. Walk to the shore of the frozen lake. Listen for the echo of cracking ice. When you hear a split that sounds like the wail of a whale, run, run, to the broken-hearted fortuneteller’s cottage at the edge of the woods. Tell her you have an urgent message from her lover. He’s been a hundred years gone, and she will cry out and throw her crystal ball towards you. Duck. The magical glass orb will hit the doorframe and smash into ten thousand pieces. Carefully pick up the largest shard, wrap it in red ribbon and place it in the satchel. Leave quickly, before the fortune-teller gets up off the floor, wipes away her tears and sees what you have taken.
Run to the snowman in the rich man’s field. Use the shard of broken crystal to slice open his frozen chest. When the midwinter sunbeam hits the snowman’s cold heart, count slowly backwards from thirteen. When you get to one, he will shed his layer of packed snow, his broom will become a spear, and he will kill the finest wild turkey for you. Then he will pluck its feathers as if they were petals from a poinsettia and wrap the naked bird in the rich man’s wife’s silken blouse. Why did the snowman have the rich’s man’s wife’s silken blouse? Why, that’s a story for another time, my dear. Place the bird inside your satchel. Only then will the snowman-turned-huntsman give you a ticket to the Plum Palace, where you will find everything else you need to prepare The Feast. Hold tight to the ticket. It’s the only one that exists, and you’ll need it to enter. To reach the Plum Palace, you must look for the empty silver sleigh, which is drawn by a white wolf, who is chasing an Arctic hare, who is after a tiny field mouse. When the field mouse runs up the leg of your pants and steals the ticket from your cold fingers, don’t cry out, for I cannot help you. I told you to hold tight, child, did I not? Follow the field mouse, but do not rely on her tracks, for they are invisible. Rather, keep your eye on the tiny creature, who is a poet and a dancer, and knows the way by heart. When you reach the outer gate of Plum Palace, a beautiful enchantress carrying a burgundy fox in a white, wire cage will invite you away with her. She will tell you that you need not bother with the spices and liqueurs and fruits and
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48 DECEMBER 23, 2021
nuts from the Plum Palace. She will tell you she has all that and more at her home on the mountaintop. Do not trust the enchantress. She does not love you. Give her a tartlet spiced with ground thorns, and when her eyes are watering blind from the heat, open the door of the fox cage. The grateful creature will strike a bargain with the field mouse, who will give back your ticket in exchange for her life. Once inside the Plum Palace, you must climb twenty-four storeys to the Tower of Ingredients. On the twelfth storey, where up is down and in is out, stop and open the satchel. If the Christmas turkey is still dead, carry on. If the Christmas turkey is alive, throw him off the balcony. Perhaps he will know how to fly, although none of his family can. If the Christmas turkey is not inside, turn around and retrace your steps, for you will have to replace it with a cured ham. When you finally reach the top, you will find: sugary yams and wrinkled pecans, freshly baked rolls as big as your hands. Potatoes for roasting, walnuts for toasting, Brussels sprouts, carrots and cranberry jam. Molasses and peppermint, rosemary, sage, brandy that’s taken three decades to age. Gingerbread, marshmallows, chocolate squares, apple croissants and cinnamon pears. Take what you need, but Not. One. Ounce. More. You may slide down the banister to exit the Plum Palace. Place the groceries inside a sled pulled by wildcats. They have a sense of direction like no other and will find their way home through a forest of mistletoe using only their whiskers. When you reach the first clearing, a lost soldier with a frosted beard will beg for a ride home. Offer him a spot in the sled beside the jar of sweet custard. He has given much and walked far enough. In the second clearing, a black deer tells you there are no more juniper bushes for the juniper berries to grow on. She starts crying, and her tears cut crevices in the snowfield. You must go quickly before the wildcats fall into the cracks. But first, promise the deer that you will return in spring and plant juniper bushes. Promise, and don’t break your promise. In the third clearing, a white spirit bear asks you to pray for his forest. Fold your hands, close your eyes, pray until the snowflakes stop in midair, turn into kisses, and melt clean away. Then, leave without a trace and sing until you reach your own front door. Arrive home before the hungry guests knock the door-knocker. Unpack the sled, and give the wildcats salmon sandwiches with the crusts removed. Hide the crystal shard in the woodpile. Don’t worry about your boots. Unwrap the wild turkey immediately. Bathe him in salt water and fresh herbs and tuck him into a silver pan. With knives and pots, cutting boards and candy canes, with butter and pepper, fire and forks, we’ll fix The Feast together. And when we are all seated at the long table for The Feast, your parents will be so proud, and your sister so hungry, and the guests so delighted, there will be no doubt that Grandfather and I will be asked to babysit you again. And again. And again. Katherine Fawcett is a Squamish-based author. Her most recent book, The Swan Suit, was a finalist for the ReLit award. “The Feast” was adapted from a play Fawcett wrote for Once Upon A Cold Snap, a recent stage production by Squamish’s Between Shifts Theatre. n
GO ICE FISHING THIS HOLIDAY!
FEATURE STORY
Experience the Whistler area through the eyes and guidance of 20+ years local experience There are many exciting locations to go ice fishing while you are in Whistler this winter. We provide personalized 3 or 5 hour ice fishing trips to make your stay special. Call or email us to get started 604 906 0353 | jon@artofanglingguides.com Other trips available | Mention this ad to get a 10% discount!
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Visit us for a beautiful curated collection of
CHRISTMAS and everyday goods
Check out our new on-line store! smallpotatoesbazaar.ca • Pemberton, BC
A Candlelight Christmas Eve with Whistler Community Church
Join with people from all over the world to sing Christmas carols and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Refreshments after the service. December 24th, 4:30PM and 6:30 PM Pre-register at whistlerchurch.ca
7226 Fitzsimmons Rd N | 604.962.2449 DECEMBER 23, 2021
49
FEATURE STORY
S S
Frui tcake By Brandon Barrett
ometimes, if she tries really hard, Natalie can still remember what her mom’s fruitcake tastes like. It’s not an altogether pleasant memory—her mother never was much of a baker— but comforting just the same, in the way that a lot of the simple pleasures of childhood seem outsized and meaningful years later. It was a Christmas staple in her home, and Natalie spent many a winter’s night wrapping thick slices in tinfoil to send off to distant relatives who probably cringed when they saw the Whistler mailing address. Oh great, more fruitcake. Natalie was abruptly snapped out of her nostalgic haze when a woman dripping in lavish furs and expensive jewelry slid up to the counter, a look of distress spread across her perfectly put-together face. “Does this godforsaken hotel have Wi-Fi or am I going to be forced to watch the television?” she asked, furiously fingering her smartphone. “Well yes, ma’am, there is complimentary wireless service throughout the hotel. The network name and password should be on your key card.” “Don’t you think I already tried that?” she barked. “No, I wasn’t implying that, ma’am. Just trying to help.” “Oh.” A tense pause. “Forgot to put the password in all caps. These glasses, I can barely see,” she said, pointing to her $800 Cartier frames. “My optometrist will be hearing about this, you can rest assured.” “Have yourself a commercially fulfilling Non-Denominational Winter Holiday!” Natalie quipped after the woman had already rushed off, her voice registering a-not-so faint hint of sarcasm. She’ll do just fine, Natalie thought, sharing a knowing glance with Mateo, her co-worker and fellow conspirator. Mateo was an impossibly outgoing Italian transplant, who, like so many in Whistler’s working class, was trying to scrape together enough money to stay in town for another ski season. On the surface, Mateo was the ideal concierge; all charm and hair wax, schmoozing his way into the hearts and wallets of even the most demanding guests. But behind the cheery façade, he could be vicious, never missing a chance to cut down a difficult customer the second they are out of earshot. It was this chameleonic quality that Natalie found so appealing, the ability to fit into—and exploit—any social situation. It also made him the ideal partner in crime. Since The Great War on Christmas, which we’re legally obligated to tell you was sponsored by Chrysler, Natalie had grown increasingly alienated by the relentless consumerism of the holidays. Not that Christmas was ever really free from the grips of commercialism, but at least it came with generations of tradition and warm fuzzies behind it. For Natalie, the joy of Christmas was never about the presents, but the rare chance
50 DECEMBER 23, 2021
to get all the people she loved together in one room, drunk and happy and free from the stress of everyday life. Those Christmas mornings are distant memories now, just like her mother’s fruitcake. Now her mom relies on the government-approved, Betty Crocker raisinbread recipe for her holiday baking, the green and red jellies that populated her old loaf now long since banned. Instead of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, families slopped up Quaker Oats’ Winter Gruel in front of the warm glow of the FireLog Channel. There was no more sitting on Santa’s lap either. Instead, wide-eyed kids waited hours in line to see Icy the Inclusive Snowflake, their gift wishlists a mere formality thanks to the SweetDreams Brainwave Reader that scours children’s subconscious while they sleep to figure out what presents they really want before they even know it themselves. It was enough to make Natalie want to hide in a dark corner until January with a big bottle of bourbon. But here she was, just another cog in the machine, a small part of the system she so despised. She kept reminding herself of this fact whenever a tinge of guilt would spring up before the heists. Besides, she figured they were doing these people a favour, freeing them from the endless pursuit of more stuff they didn’t need. They started small, her and Mateo cherry-picking the wealthiest hotel guests, the ones who were less likely to notice a gift or two missing from under the hologram tree. Then they got more brazen, lifting cash, jewellery and credit cards. Natalie was certain they would get caught eventually, but Mateo was determined to keep the operation going. “We’ll just pay off more security guards,” he reassured her. “Everybody’s got a price.” Natalie wondered what her price was as she slowly crept her way down the hallway, Mateo parked near the elevators as lookout. Here she was, Room 1412. She took a long, stilted breath before knocking on the door. No answer. She shot a nervous glance Mateo’s way, who wordlessly urged her along. She slid the keycard in, turned the handle and stepped inside. Jesus, she thought. Look at all this crap. Boxes upon boxes of neatly wrapped gifts stacked in one corner. She quietly scurried across the room to get a better look before systematically loading the heaviest boxes onto a trolley Mateo had borrowed from the valets. Natalie knew they had hit the mother lode. Just then, she heard the whir of a blowdryer coming from the washroom. She wasn’t alone. Friggin’ Mateo. He had called ahead to make sure Mrs. Worthington wasn’t in her room, but obviously didn’t account for the fact she was in the shower. It was these kinds of sloppy mistakes that would land them in jail. Natalie was scrambling to put the boxes back where she found them when the bathroom door swung out, and Mrs. Worthington emerged in a bathrobe, Egyptian-cotton towel wrapped around her head. Natalie froze. “Oh, it’s you,” the woman said. “Lil’ Miss Wi-Fi. What are you doing here?” “My apologies, ma’am. I thought you were at the spa.” Natalie was shaking like a leaf. “I just,
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OUR LADY OF THE MOUNTAINS WHISTLER CATHOLIC CHURCH 6299 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC V8E 0C5 • Phone: (604) 905-4781 www.whistlercatholicchurch.ca • Email: whistlercatholicchurch@telus.net
2021 Christmas & New Year’s Mass Schedule Registration is required: online at www.whistlercatholicchurch.ca by email to whistlercatholicchurch@telus.net or by telephone: 604-905-4781 All Mass attendees in the Diocese of Kamloops are required to wear masks 11:00 pm
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Nick Hutscal July 9, 1986 - December 12, 2021 With sadness we announce the passing of one of our own, Nick Hutscal. Nick leaves behind his parents, brother, and sister from Edmonton, Alberta. As well as an extensive Whistler family. Nick's true love was his dog Marley, he once said "I've never loved anything more in my life than this dog". He was also very passionate about nature and came to Whistler in 2007 to immerse himself in it. Nick was an avid snowboarder and a regular on the amazing slopes of Whistler. In the summertime, he could be found fishing on Alta or Alpha lake with Marley always close by. Nick had a big heart, a gentle soul, and his spirit will be with us forever. You will be greatly missed.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, May the Gift of God’s only Son fill your heart with great peace.
Love Always, Your Whistler Family.
DECEMBER 23, 2021
51
FEATURE STORY
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uh, wanted to drop off this complimentary bottle of champagne for the whole mix-up earlier.” “Don’t bother. I don’t drink,” Mrs. Worthington said, snatching the bottle from Natalie’s hands. “So, tell me: Does management drop off a bottle of Veuve Cliquot every time a guest forgets the Wi-Fi password? Doesn’t seem like a very sound business model.” “Well, um, ma’am, I wasn’t satisfied with the level of customer serv—” “Knock it off. You’re ugly when you lie; the lines in your forehead go all squiggly. It’s not a good look.” Natalie squirmed, reaching for any excuse that could explain why she had barged into a guest’s room without permission. She briefly considered jumping out the window. “You’re here to rob me, aren’t you?” Mrs. Worthington asked. “I read about this hotel. Poor, rich saps like me get bamboozled every year during the holidays. Gotta say, didn’t expect the criminal mastermind to be a woman. You go, girl.” Natalie stood there, frozen in place, a tableau of shame. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a barely audible squeak. “Here, you want the stuff? You can have it. I don’t need it. Lord knows my ungrateful little shit of a kid doesn’t need a virtual-reality player. He has trouble enough with actual reality.” Mrs. Worthington unravelled the towel, revealing a beautiful tangle of wavy, brown hair. “You know, I thought this trip would bring us closer. My husband, I mean. He works at this big-wig hedge fund, manages more money than he knows what to do with. But you think he could manage a marriage? Puh-lease. He’d rather get drunk with a bunch of old guys in suits than spend a minute with his damn wife.” Not knowing what else to do, Natalie sat down on the edge of the bed, champagne still in hand. “You gonna pop that bottle or just stare at it?” the woman asked. “I could go for a drink. Don’t tell my yoga teacher.” Natalie warily opened the bottle and filled up two plastic cups of bubbly. Mrs. Worthington downed hers in one gulp and thrust her arm out for a refill. “And my kid, don’t get me started on him. Chase is 15, and I’d be lying if I told you I’d ever seen him crack open a book. He spends all his time living in a fantasy world. Gawking at his phone, playing some mind-numbing video game. It’s all bells and whistles with these kids. No depth of emotion. You know what he got me for Winter Holiday last year? An egg beater! What the hell is that? We have a freakin’ maid, I don’t bake!” Natalie took a nervous gulp of champagne, unsure of where this was headed. “But what about you, huh? Come in here to rob me blind, you’re no better than the rest of em.” Natalie began mounting a feeble protest, and was interrupted. “You know this stuff isn’t gonna make you happy, right? No matter what the damn government tells you, accumulating more crap doesn’t make a lick of difference. Look at me! I spend $500 a week on therapy alone. But you know all this, you’re not a dumb girl.” “I don’t feel too smart at the moment,” Natalie weakly replied. “Well, you did a stupid thing, a very stupid thing. That doesn’t make you dumb, it makes you human.” A silence passed between them that felt longer than it probably was. “Let me ask you, what do you love to do? What moves you? Surely it’s not working at this damn hotel.” Natalie hesitated a moment, uncertain if she should open herself up to a woman who she just tried to steal thousands of dollars in valuables from. “Well, I’m actually a musician,’ she replied. “I play bass for this hardcore band called The Fantastic Damage. I only work here to pay the bills, you know? And studio time ain’t cheap.” “Is that like, punk music? With all the shouting and bad haircuts?” Natalie let out her first laugh in a long while. “Yeah, pretty much. I had my hair dyed green last year until the feds caught me. They said I looked too much like an elf.” Mrs. Worthington let out a snort, spilling champagne onto the duvet. “Guess we’ll have to get housekeeping in here now, won’t we?” Natalie smiled back. “I’ll tell you what, Miss Wi-Fi. I’m going to give you a choice: I can call the cops right now and watch them lock you up and throw away the key. Or I can give you an ultimatum: You quit this dead-end job of yours and commit yourself fully to your music. I mean, really commit. Life’s too damn short not to. And if I walk back into this hotel this time next year and you’re still rotting away behind that counter, well the police are gonna be the first phone call I make.” Natalie’s eyes welled. She didn’t know what to say. “Why would you do this for me?” she asked. “I guess, I’m just filled with the spirit of another Non-Denominational Winter Holiday... So, have we got ourselves a deal?” “You betcha. I can’t thank you enough.” They shook hands. Natalie quickly started making her way out the door for fear Mrs. Worthington would change her mind. “Hey, Wi-Fi! Hold up.” Natalie’s chest tightened. She could hear the woman rummaging through her bag. “Here, take this.” The woman dropped a Tupperware container into her hand. “It’s fruitcake. Real fruitcake, with the jellies and everything. My maid’s secret recipe.” She put her finger to her mouth in a conspiratorial gesture. Natalie stared at the door to Room 1412 for longer than she should have, bewildered at what just happened. She walked home in the cold, absentmindedly, running the past 10 minutes through her head on repeat. When she got home, she put the fruitcake in the fridge, gave her mom a big hug and flipped on the FireLog Channel. This story originally ran as one of Pique’s 2017 holiday stories. Brandon Barrett is a playwright, performer, theatre producer and award-winning reporter and features editor for Pique Newsmagazine. He detests fruitcake. n
38th Annual
FOREST & WILDLAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY Are you interested in advising RMOW Council on issues related to forestry, wildfire, wildlife, and commercial and public recreation around Whistler? Three 3-year term positions are available to serve on the Council-appointed Forest & Wildland Advisory Committee. You should have a background in forestry, ecology, and/ or resource management, and a knowledge of the Whistler area. The committee meets once per month for 2 hours during business hours. Please submit a short information sheet describing your qualifications and interest before 4:30 p.m., January 3, 2022. Committee Information: whistler.ca/fwac Please email applications to hberesford@whistler.ca
Resort Municipality of Whistler whistler.ca
December 24 4 pm onwards at whistlerchorus.org
DECEMBER 23, 2021
53
FEATURE STORY
Nort h Pole,
C C
Schmort h Pole
By G.D. Maxwell
ape Columbia, Ellesmere Island, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut: Baby it’s cold outside. I’m freezing my keister off at the northernmost point in Canada, at the entrance to the busiest toy factory at the busiest time of the year. Relocated earlier this year, Santa’s Workshop—or as the elves say, Santa’s Sweatshop— hums with frantic activity. Nonetheless, the jolly man himself has agreed to a brief interview, emphasis on brief. Upon entering the Workshop, one is immediately overwhelmed at the cacophony of construction, punctuated by the high-pitched cursing of the elves. Not wanting to waste time, I take a pass on the proffered milk and cookies and get right down to business. PIQUE NEWSMAGAZINE: “Hey Santa. What’s with Cape Columbia? What happened to the North Pole?” SANTA CLAUS: “Elves. COVID. Even though Canada laid claim to the North Pole in 1925, the government refused to process CERB claims the elves submitted when COVID shut us down in 2020. It was either move the shop to officially recognized Canada or lose the elves. They’ve been demanding little devils since joining the Teamsters.”
Saint Nick... or whatever.” SC: “Ha, good one. Santa hasn’t been a saint since the fourth century when the original Saint Nicholas died.” PIQUE: “Original?” SC: “What, you think I’m 1,800 years old? Santas come and Santas go. Kind of like the Knights Templar guarding the Holy Grail. I’m—let me see—I can’t remember, but maybe the 150th Santa.” PIQUE: “Wow! I had no idea. How’d you end up with the job?” SC: “How to you think? My father was Santa, his father was Santa, etc., etc., and so on back to Saint Nick. Not like I had a choice. The first son born into this family pretty well knows what’s in store for him. I wanted to be a professional golfer, live somewhere warm. But nooooooo. I had to be Santa. My little brother is living it up in the Med and I’m up here with a bunch of elves making toys.”
PIQUE: “Wow. I’m surprised they came back to work at all.” SC: “They didn’t want to but I hit ‘em with their own collective bargaining agreement. It was either that or deportation. None of them are citizens and most are pretty low on the priority list as refugees.” PIQUE: “Got it. So, Santa—you don’t mind if I call you Santa? I’m happy to call you
54 DECEMBER 23, 2021
PIQUE: “I’m surprised there hasn’t been any concerted effort to open up the job for, well, women. After all those centuries of men running things ...” SC: “Ho, ho, ho. Good one. I’ve tried to get Mrs. Claus more involved over the years but she’s way too kind to the elves. If she were running the show, nothing would get built. Besides, she’s not keen on flying over the holidays.”
Happy p
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Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land Take notice that the Pemberton Valley Dyking District of 1381 Aster St, Pemberton, BC intends to make an application to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development (FLNRORD), Surrey,for institutional purpose situated on Provincial Crown land located at unsurveyed crown foreshore or land covered by water being part of the bed of Lillooet River and Mowich Creek, together with that parcel or tract of unsurveyed crown land in the vicinity of Mowich Creek, all within Lillooet District.
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55
FEATURE STORY PIQUE: “Not really what I was getting at but… moving on. So, how do you like Canada, eh?”
splinters all the time. If it’s not one grievance, it’s another.” PIQUE: [Noticing a matronly woman dressed in red, carrying a tray enter the shop] “Mrs. Claus, I presume.”
SC: “No offence but it sucks.” PIQUE: “Sucks?”
MRS. CLAUS: “Oh yes. I thought you two might like some milk and cookies.”
SC: “Well, more accurately, melts. This workshop was OK on a kilometres-thick ice sheet at the North Pole, but building on permafrost is a pain where Santa sits. With global warming melting things, we’re going to be climbing through the windows to get in and out in a couple of years.”
SC: “Milk and cookies? Good grief, darling, I’m 200 pounds overweight, stressed so much my face looks like an extension of my red suit, trying to get ready for an all-night journey... Are you trying to kill me?” PIQUE: “Milk and cookies? You bet. Thanks.”
PIQUE: “I can see how that might be a problem. But I’m wondering if you’ve got bigger problems.” SC: “Like?” PIQUE: “Like, on the one hand, the whole exclusivity-of-Christmas-in-a-worldmore-and-more-attuned-to-recognizing-diversity thing. And on the other hand, the religious movement that considers you a creation of Coca-Cola that has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.” SC: Birth of Jesus? He wasn’t born anywhere near Dec. 25th! And as far as Jesus and Christmas goes, you ever see Jesus ringing a bell outside a department store for charity? Ever see little kids lined up to sit on the lap of Jesus’ helpers to tell them what they wanted for Christmas? And don’t get me started on diversity. Look at this. [Fumbles in his pocket and pulls out a paper] Here’s a picture of Santa riding a camel in the Middle East with nary a Christian in sight! I am the true meaning of Christmas.”
SC: “Let’s wrap this up. I’ve got toys to finish, reindeer to feed, elves to keep from stealing me blind and a whole bunch of kids who thought they were getting new electronic toys who aren’t going to be very happy on Christmas morning.” PIQUE: “Gotcha. Do you have any concerns this year about travelling all over the world, what with the various COVID-related travel restrictions forbidding people who’ve been in certain countries from entering other countries?” SC: “Do you seriously think there’s a politician in the world who wants to explain to his or her family or potential voters that he or she has barred Santa from dropping off hoped-for toys?” PIQUE: “Um... Kim Jong-un?” SC: “Are you joking? You should see his letter to me. Don’t know how he expects me to cobble together world domination, the pudgy little pipsqueak.”
PIQUE: “Weird picture, all right. But moving on, what are the hot toys this Christmas?”
PIQUE: “Well, it’s been an eye-opener, Santa. From movin’ to Canada to all the hassles you have to put up with. Do you have any final message for our readers?”
SC: “Anything without a microchip. You want something with a microchip, you’d better be asking the Easter Bunny. Between suppliers not having read we’d moved the factory and the supply chain mess, the byword this Christmas is lowered expectations. All the Santa’s helpers are pushing wooden toys this year. Wood we got. Of course, the bloody elves complain about
SC: ‘Ho, ho, ho... and try not to be disappointed this year.”
To our valued clients and friends, we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2022!
G.D. Maxwell started writing a column in Pique 26 years ago. Some people still don’t think he’s a real person. n
Merry Christmas! gershoncpa.com
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57
SPORTS THE SCORE
Pair of Vancouver women complete ice-swims in Alta Lake JESSI HAREWICZ FINISHES ICE-MILE WHILE ROBERTA CENDESE FINISHED ONE-KILOMETRE ICE SWIM IN 3 C WATER
BY HARRISON BROOKS IT’S LATE NOVEMBER, the air is getting cooler, and the snow is here to stay. The temperature is hovering around 5 C and you step out of step onto the shores of Alta Lake wearing nothing but a bathing suit and make your way towards the water. There’s slush floating on top, but that doesn’t stop you. You step in the water and submerge your body. The first few minutes are spent controlling your breathing and getting over just how shockingly cold being in 3 C water is. From there you start swimming. Minutes pass and you continue to swim, body now aching, strokes slowing down and extremities numb, but you stick with it. Approximately 30 minutes pass and you’ve finally reached your goal of an “ice mile.” You emerge from the lake, but the challenges are just beginning. Now comes the rewarming process. Your body starts to shake and shiver, you need to get out of your wet clothes and into some dry ones, but your body is so weak and numb you can’t do it yourself. Finally, with help from a friend, you are dry and you make your way to a warm vehicle where you sit in the warmth and try not to panic as your core temperature slowly climbs back up to normal, while still not being able to move or think at a regular pace.
ICE COLD Jessi Harewicz completes an ice mile while her father kayaks beside her to keep a close eye on her for safety reasons. PHOTO BY DONNA WEBB
58 DECEMBER 23, 2021
This is what Jessi Harewicz went through on Nov. 26 to complete her secondever ice mile. A Vancouver-based marathon swimmer, Harewicz first got into doing ice miles as a way to train her mind and body for her upcoming attempt to swim the North (Irish) Channel between Scotland and Ireland next year. But when asked why subject yourself to such extremely cold water when the Channel is going to be more than three times warmer, she cited the famous quote, often mis-
it because it’s adventure, it’s fun, and I wanted to learn what it was like to feel that cold. We have little control over life with exception of our own breathing. In ice swimming, your breath is everything and it gives me a sense of power to have control of my body under extreme conditions.” However, just because it is possible, doesn’t mean an ice mile is something that should be taken lightly or done on a whim. It takes hours of training and preparation and an entire team to attempt an ice mile safely. Joining Harewicz for her ice mile
“It’s there, it’s possible, and I do it because it’s adventure, it’s fun, and I wanted to learn what it was like to feel that cold.” - JESSI HAREWICZ
attributed to Sir Edmund Hillary but first spoken by George Mallory, when asked why climb Everest … “Because it’s there.” “I began ice swimming sort of for the same reason why I started marathons, which is, we have the water. We have the water to train for the English Channel (which she has already completed) at least eight months of the year here, and we have the water to train and ride down the temperatures for ice miles. It’s just not done,” said Harewicz. “It’s there, it’s possible, and I do
attempt in November was her swimming partner Roberta Cenedese, who also completed an ice mile with Harewicz last December at Alice Lake. Harewicz’s father kayaked beside the swimmers, ready at a moment’s notice to help them get to shore if need be. Also on the water were official observers—including Christine Burns—who are tasked with monitoring the swimmer’s condition and making the call to pull the swimmer from the water if they decide it’s necessary. “To swim an ice mile you have to have
qualified and proven that you are capable of swimming in those cold waters. So with Jesse and Roberta, I was trusting in their abilities to be able to do it because cold water is dangerous in that the swimmer can become disoriented and not recognize they are in distress,” said Burns, who also included hypothermia as one of the major risks. “We generally try to watch the stroke rate of their swimming, and then, with the course, we set up laps and at each turnaround point we make them talk to us so they have to coherently say a given sentence, and if they can’t remember, if they don’t know what it was, if they are slow then that’s an indicator that something is going on with them.” That exact situation happened to Cenedese during the swim when, at about the halfway mark, she knew she was supposed to say something to the observers but couldn’t remember what. So instead of taking the risk, she decided to end her swim at one kilometre, while Harewicz finished the full mile. And while certain intermittent cold exposure methods like the one Wim Hof made famous, have been proven to give many mental and physical benefits like increased energy, better sleep and improved mood, ice miles don’t fall into the same category. According to Harewicz, they offer none of the same mental or physical benefits that a quick dip in an icy lake does. Ice miles are carried out around the world, and the sport has it’s own governing body, the International Ice Swimming Association. The next World Championship is to take place in Glogow, Poland in early February. n
SPORTS THE SCORE Wishing All Our Customers A
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OVER THE PAST 20 years, Teck Regional Snow camps, like the one held at the Whistler Olympic Park at the end of November, have proved to be a crucial step in the development of many local athletes. Names like Benita Peiffer, who was just named to the Canadian Biathlon World Cup team, and Michael Murdoch, who has represented Canada at many international events like the 2020 World Junior Championships in Oberwiesenthal, Germany, have used these camps as a stepping stone to success early in their young careers. According to Murdoch, attending multiple Teck camps around a decade ago was vitally important, not only in his development, but also in sparking his love for the sport and giving him a benchmark to strive for. “I think when you are at that age, you are doing a sport like cross-country skiing, but you don’t really understand how to take it seriously or whether or not you even want to take it seriously. So I think these camps are a great opportunity for young athletes to get a first-hand experience on how you should conduct yourself as an athlete, and it’s a great opportunity to hang out with other kids who have similar passions and goals,” he said. “I remember when I first started going to them when I was young, it was always cool seeing the older kids and seeing how they go through the sport. It’s like a bright light as an athlete—you see these cool, older skiers and you want to look up to them and be them.” This year’s camp hosted 47 athletes aged nine to 14 from different Nordic clubs up and down the Sea to Sky including Whistler Nordics Ski Club, North Vancouver’s Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club and the Sea to Sky Nordic Club in Squamish. The camp split the athletes into multiple groups and consisted of some technique work followed by games and relays designed to hold the youths’ attention, followed by some fun evening activities like movie nights and scavenger hunts, with all the meals being catered by Whistler Food Co. “The goal is really to get them stoked about this sport. It’s so important to have friends at this age group, so getting more friends from other clubs and being more keen to go to competitions,” said head coach Maria Lundgren. “It’s super fun, and it’s huge for athletes in the region here. They are so keen and so excited to be a part of the program.
Brand new skis and boards for Winter 2021/22 Best rates in Whistler for Skis, Boards, Snowshoe Rentals and Tuning GOOD TIMES The kids from the most recent Teck Regional Snow Camp pose infront of the Olympic rings at Whistler Olympic Park. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Many of them go home and they’ll be extra stoked, and they’ll come to the races, and they’ll know friends when they come to the competitions.” While the snowfall over the weekend of November 27-28 made for challenging cross-country conditions, everyone was just excited to be back after not being able to hold the camps last year, according to Lundgren who said it was all smiles from the kids even though they had to deal with wet and snowy conditions. For Lundgren, who has been involved in these camps for the past 15 years, the one part of the camp that she holds most dear to her heart is being able to witness, first-hand, the passion for the sport in a new generation of young athletes. And seeing that spark get ignited for the sport she loves so much is what keeps her coming back to run the camps years after she thought she’d retire from them. “These camps definitely take a lot more to organize than working with high-level athletes, but at the end of the day I always look back and [I think] this is the future for our sport. I do this because I love it, it makes me very excited to see young skiers keen and coming up through the program, it’s very rewarding work,” said Lundgren. “This year I actually had my oldest daughter in the camp, so it was extra special. I said I was going to retire before she starts coming to the camps, but she was in the camp this weekend and had a great time too meeting new friends so that was an extra special moment for me.” While the Teck camps are done for this year, they will be returning next fall for the annual dryland training camps that are hosted in each of the province’s four regions (Northern B.C., Coast, Kootenays and Okanagan), before the snow camps get back underway in November and December. n
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Whistler U13 Winterhawks do it again SPORTS BRIEFS: LOCAL SKIER RESULTS ROUNDUP; KIERSTIN HIGGINS MAKES FREE RIDE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
BY HARRISON BROOKS THE WHISTLER U13 Winterhawks
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continue to roll through the competition this season with another impressive tournament win at the Sunshine Coast Winter Classic last weekend. But unlike the Icebreaker tournament in Richmond in late November, this tournament proved to be their toughest competition yet with the Winterhawks winning four one-goal games. “Three of those [one-goal] were games decided in the 3rd period,” said head coach David Metcalf. “In our last four games, our opponents pulled their goalies in the dying minutes for the extra player advantage, which added even more excitement to an alreadycharged atmosphere. Great hockey to watch.” In the one-goal games, the Winterhawks’ game-winning goals were scored by four different players including Blake Pomroy, Ollie DeMarco, Josh Wright, and the Nick Gilmore with the golden goal. Goaltender Connor Haig also had multiple stand-out performances including a 1-0 shutout win against the Vancouver Thunderbirds. “In our toughest pool match, a 5-4 win against Surrey, the lead changed hands four times. Our team never took their foot off the pedal and gave it all they had as Surrey was fighting for a potential gold-medal berth,” said Metcalf. “The team also showed great discipline, averaging under five minutes of penalties per game.” Metcalf said the coaching staff recognized Josh Wright as the tournament MVP for “going over and above every shift to help bring home the championship.”
RESULTS ROUNDUP Seriously, what more can be said about Whistler’s Mollie Jepsen? Six para-alpine world cup races this year, six para-alpine podium finishes. Starting the year off with two third place finishes and a second in Steinach am Brenner, Austria at the beginning of the month, Jepsen turned her next three races in St. Moritz, Switzerland last week into two golds and another bronze. If that’s not enough, dating back to the last time she was able to compete, which was January 2020 thanks to the COVID19 pandemic, she picked up four podium finishes in five races. For those who lost count of all the success she’s had, don’t worry, I got you. That’s 10 medals in her last 11 races, including five gold medals, two silvers and three bronze. However, she’s not the only Whistlerite shining bright this year. After claiming a
bronze and a gold to start the World Cup ski cross season, Marielle Thompson is back on the podium again with a third place finish in the most recent World Cup stop of the calendar year in Innichen, Italy on Dec. 20. Three days earlier, also in Italy, but about 100 kilometres southwest in Val Gardena, the Men’s team continues to hit their stride. Whistler Mountain Ski Club alums James Crawford and Brodie Seger both put down great Super-G runs landing in the top 15 with Crawford sitting at 8 and Seger just a step behind at 13 when all was said and done. “Today felt like a step in the right direction,” said Seger in an Alpine Canada press release. “I’m happy to come away with my first top 15 finish in World Cup Super-G and still feel like I have more in the tank.”
KIERSTIN HIGGINS MAKES FREE RIDE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP While it may not have been a surprise as her invitation to last year’s Freeride World Junior Championship (FWJC) was deferred to this year due to the pandemic, Whistler’s Kierstin Higgins is still beyond pumped to have made the roster for the upcoming championships in January. But it’s not just the fact that she gets to go to the FWJC in Kappl, Austria that’s got her so excited, it’s the chance to ski with the best in the world that has her so stoked. “I am so excited about it. It is super scary to think about all of it. It’s going to be an insane venue, the biggest competition you can go to as a junior athlete in the sport, so I’m stoked, I’m nervous, I’m excited,” she said. “But I’m really excited about getting to ski with the best of the best from all around the world. Just getting pushed and exploring new places and meeting all the people and having fun skiing with the best people possible.” With its visual style, where competitors only get to look at the mountain from the bottom before dropping in, the FWJC presents a new challenge for Higgins who has always been able to see the mountain up close before choosing her line. “It’s definitely harder,” she said. “I don’t have a ton of experience with it because it’s kind of a new thing. But it’s harder because you look at something from the bottom and then you have to be able to flip it all around in your head to be going down it, and because you’re looking at it from so far away, you can’t tell if landings are flat and you can’t tell the snow conditions as well, so it’s a lot more unknowns.” When the FWJC rolls around on Jan. 26, Higgins only has one goal in mind, to lay down a run she’s proud of. She said she won’t be losing any sleep over her place in the rankings as long as she can hit something big, do something “styley” and be proud of her run when she looks back on it. n
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EPICURIOUS
Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts food prices rising up to 7% in 2022 SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, INFLATION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND LABOUR SHORTAGES AMONG FACTORS LEADING TO PRICE HIKE
BY BRANDON BARRETT CANADA’S FOOD PRICE Report is forecasting between a five- and seven-percent rise in food costs for the average family in 2022, the largest predicted annual price hike in the report’s 12-year history. The report, authored by researchers from the University of Guelph, Dalhousie University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Saskatchewan, predicts that a family of four will pay up to $14,767.36 for food next year, an increase of up to $966.08 from 2021. The largest increases are predicted for dairy and restaurants, at between six to eight per cent, and bakery and vegetables, at between five and seven per cent. “It’s important for consumers to understand that food prices have been going up for some time, and there’s no turning back,” said Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, project lead and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, in a release. “Our relationship with food is changing, and so will our food budgets. Showing up at the grocery store knowing what you should be paying will help.” Food price increases in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland
FOOD FORECAST Between COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, record inflation, climate change and labour shortages, Canadian food costs are forecast to rise between five and seven per cent in 2022. PHOTO BY TOM WERNER / GETTY IMAGES
62 DECEMBER 23, 2021
are likely to be higher than the national average, reaching up to seven per cent, due to “inflationary conditions specific to these regions,” the report said. Canada-wide, the average inflation rate of goods this year hit 4.4 per cent, an 18-year high and more than double the average inflation rate of services, which has been 2.1 per cent. In the 20 years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, goods inflation averaged only 1.4 per cent,
droughts and flooding. Labour shortages have also affected food costs, particularly in the food service sector, where restaurants have reported challenges hiring both back- and front-ofhouse staff (80 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively), according to a July survey conducted by Restaurants Canada. By no means a new issue for the sector, the pandemic only exacerbated the
“It’s important for consumers to understand that food prices have been going up for some time, and there’s no turning back.” - SYLVAIN CHARLEBOIS
according to the Bank of Canada. That has clearly spilled over to the checkout aisle: the average grocery bill rose by 70 per cent between 2000 and 2020. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19-related disruptions to the supply chain, driven by high transportation costs and reduced maritime transport capacity, have been a major contributor to rising food costs, but far from the only one. Climate change and extreme weather events continue to impact food prices, something British Columbians were all too familiar with after a year marked by wildfires, a heat dome,
problem. Though Statistics Canada reports that overall employment in the country has returned to pre-COVID levels, approximately 180,000 positions in accommodation and food services remain unfilled. While many—including in Whistler— have pointed to Canada’s Emergency Response Benefit and other government supports offered in the pandemic as a barrier to re-entry for food service workers, the researchers behind the report say the issue isn’t so black and white. Speaking to a cultural issue as much as an economic one, even prior to COVID-19, restaurant positions
were becoming increasingly difficult to fill “because they are typically lower-paying with no (or few) employee benefits, physically demanding and prone to sexual harassment and abuse,” the report stated. “These already challenging working conditions are exacerbated by restaurant workers being exposed to a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, having to wear masks during long shifts, and having additional responsibilities to check and validate vaccine passports—the added pressures are making these types of jobs not worthwhile for many.” If there is a silver lining to all our foodrelated challenges, it’s this: Canadians are becoming more food literate and conscious of where their food is sourced from than ever before. As weather events wreaked havoc on our farm crops, and the pandemic forced consumers to stay in their own backyard, Canadians are demanding more environmental sustainability and transparency around food. Case in point: a 2021 survey of Canadians found that 71 per cent of respondents said it’s important for them to know where their food comes from, while 42 per cent said they would buy more locally sourced food even if it costs more. COVID-19 has also had the side effect of ushering more Canadians into the kitchen, with more than one-third of Canadians reporting that they had learned a new recipe since the beginning of the pandemic, while 48 per cent said they used a new ingredient in their cooking. To view the full report, visit dal.ca/sites/ agri-food/research/canada-s-food-pricereport-2022.html. n
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By order of the Provincial Health Officer, the fitness centre will be closed and all group fitness classes cancelled until January 18, 2022. The pool, arena and squash/basketball courts remain open. All passes will be extended for the full duration of the closure. Thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt to changing public health orders. Visit whistler.ca/notices for further details. ARENA SCHEDULE THU 23
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Winter has arrived. Lost Lake Nordic Trails are now open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. *Holiday hours apply December 24 • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 25 • 12 to 5 p.m.
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Redemption Song: Whistler’s Laura Nedelak pens ode to Fairy Creek Land Defenders LOCAL MUSICIAN INSPIRED BY VISITS TO SITE OF CANADA’S LARGEST EVER ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
BY BRANDON BARRETT WHENEVER LAURA Nedelak hears the rain clattering off the roof of her Whistler home, the first place her mind goes is a muddy patch of forest on southern Vancouver Island, some 150 kilometres away. “I think, ‘Oh my god. They’re out there,’” says the singer-songwriter. “Maybe it’s a motherly thing. I think it’s a human thing.” The “they” Nedelak is referring to is the thousands of protestors who, since last summer, have uprooted their lives to head to Fairy Creek on Pacheedaht Nation land, leaving behind careers and obligations to fight against the logging of old-growth forest. “Honestly, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them, because I know it’s winter; it’s awful and raining,” Nedelak relays. “I just wanted to keep the conversation going because it was all in the news in the summer, but it’s still happening. They’re still cutting down big fucking trees there, pardon my French.” Considered the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history, the Fairy
ANCIENTS FALL Whistler singer-songwriter Laura Nedelak was inspired by two trips to Fairy Creek this year and ended up recording a track and accompanying music video as a tribute to the protestors there. PHOTO SUBMITTED
64 DECEMBER 23, 2021
Creek blockades garnered global coverage at the peak of the protests this summer, as images of Land Defenders facing off against the RCMP and reports of journalists being barred from the site made international news. So far, more than 1,100 protesters have been arrested—some multiple times—and the RCMP has spent upwards of $3.7 million enforcing a court-ordered
That led Nedelak to penning the song, “Ancients Fall,” and a subsequent music video shot at Fairy Creek by her son, Connor Warnock, winner of the local 2021 Rough Cuts competition as part of this year’s virtual World Ski and Snowboard Festival. “He kind of went reluctantly, but when he got there I know it impacted him in a real way,” Nedelak says.
“Whenever I’m somewhere where I really need to move on, I have to write something to be able to do it. Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I still can’t stop thinking about it.” - LAURA NEDELAK
injunction against the protestors. Nedelak, who has visited the camps twice, including as recently as October with her son, couldn’t help but want to document the experience. “I just really felt like this was something unbelievable. I had never experienced anything quite like it,” she says. “Whenever I’m somewhere where I really need to move on, I have to write something to be able to do it. Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I still can’t stop thinking about it.”
That second trip was not without its hiccups. Arriving on the island on the day of an atmospheric river that left much of the province covered in water, Nedelak and her crew had to contend with sudden road closures near Cowichan Bay and nowhere to stay. At a crossroads, it was Connor who convinced them to keep going. “It was really looking not very good there; there was a lot of flooding. That’s when he said to me, ‘I know it’s the irresponsible thing to do, but we should keep going,’” Nedelak recalls. “He looks at
me and says, ‘I do irresponsible things every day.’ I’m like, ‘Shit, I thought I raised you better.’ Then the road opened and it was all good.” It was important for the folk singer to “keep the conversation going” since Fairy Creek has seemed to fall off of most British Columbians’ radars after the B.C. Supreme Court in September denied a oneyear extension of the injunction against blockades, with Judge Douglas Thompson citing concern that police enforcement led to serious infringements of civil liberties, including impairment of freedom of the press. (Last month, a panel of judges in B.C.’s Court of Appeal reserved its decision on the future of the injunction. The judges did not set a date for a ruling.) “It is very important that we highlight these issues. They need to be talked about still. They need to not just be a flash in the pan because climate change isn’t going away and we have these kids on the frontline and they are doing an incredible job and they don’t get the credit they deserve,” says Nedelak. “It’s probably innate to them; they’re so driven by the cause that they don’t expect to get any kind of adulation, but from an outsider such as me, that’s not my role. I’m not going to hunker down there for six months, but at least I can help … get the word out and keep that word alive. “I don’t think people recognize the job they’re doing there for all of us.” Check out the video for “Ancients Fall” at youtube.com/watch?v=cyz9hejIuRo. n
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Psychological thriller Cinema of Sleep wins Borsos Award at Whistler Film Festival FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FROM EVENT’S 21ST EDITION
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THE VOTES ARE IN and the winners have been unveiled at the 21st annual Whistler Film Festival (WFF). Running in-person from Dec. 1 to 5 and online until the end of the month, this year’s hybrid festival saw Jeffrey St. Jules’ psychological thriller, Cinema of Sleep, come away with the event’s top prize, the vaunted Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature, along with a $15,000 cash prize and a $20,000 post-production prize. The film tells the story of Anthony, played by Dayo Ade, a Nigerian refugee staying in a motel room while his asylum claim is processed, only to wake from a strange dream in which he is watching a film of himself being arrested for the murder of a woman, and finding her actually dead in the bed next to him. The jury called the film “a cinematic dive into the fractured, unconscious mind of a drowning refugee. Driven by powerful performances, this film uses the language of film noir to explore one of the most compelling issues of our times in an inventive, weirdly entertaining and entirely surprising way.” Ade was also awarded the Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film for his role in Cinema of Sleep, with cast mate Getenesh Berhe earning honourable mention. Judges called his performance “nuanced, subtle, powerful and flawless,” while they commended Berhe for her “evocative” portrayal: “Her performance takes us on an emotional roller coaster, and we are with her every step of the way.” Unanimous winner of the Best Director of a Borsos Competition Film was Luc Picard, who also starred in Confessions of a Hitman, which retells the story of the ‘90s-era biker wars in Quebec, “and in doing so reveals the atypical personality of a hitman,” the jury wrote. “This true story is brought to life with a cast skilfully led by the director.” Best Screenplay in a Borsos Competition Film went to Sarah Fortin for Nouveau Quebec. The screenplay “delicately observes the disintegration of two lovers taken out of their comfort zone, against the atmospheric backdrop of a nearly extinct Canadian mining town grappling with complex, Indigenous realities,” the jury said. Taking home the award for Best Cinematography in a Borsos Competition Film was Diego Guijarro for his work in Carmen, directed by Valerie Buhagiar. The judges called his cinematography “reminiscent of the great European films of the past.” They said his work in the film was “breathtaking, even magical, and draws in the viewer from the first frame.” On the non-fiction side, the World
DAYO’S DAY Dayo Ade, who won Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film at this year’s Whistler Film Festival for his starring role in Cinema of Sleep. PHOTO COURTESY OF WFF
Documentary Award was presented to Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché, directed by Celeste Belle and Paul Sng. The jury said the film “redefines the music doc genre and uses it to illuminate racism and the lack of support for mental wellness in a seamless and intimate experience.” A hit with local audiences, BURIED won the Best Mountain Culture Film Award, with honourable mention going to Precious Leader Woman. Directed by Jared Drake and Steven Siig, BURIED documents an unprecedented snow storm—and the ski patrol team that had to deal with the aftermath—from 1982 in Tahoe City, Calif. that demolished the resort’s base lodge and left several people buried. “BURIED is a truly stunning piece that takes a hard look at our relationship to mountains, to loss that endures, and the risks we take in mountain places,” the judges said. “It is a masterful cinematic journey into a world of grief, trauma and hope.” In all, $74,500 in cash and prizes have been awarded at the 2021 WFF. Organizers will announce the Audience Award winner on Dec. 28. For the full list of winners, visit whistlerfilmfestival.com. “I want to thank the juries for the time and care that they brought to their tasks this year,” said WFF programming director Paul Gratton in a release. “It was a year in which a wide variety of styles and subject matter, with emerging voices holding their own alongside more experienced filmmakers and vital voices coming from all corners of our country, made the decision-making particularly challenging. Congratulations to all the winners. Bravo!” All the award-winners and other WFF online films are available to stream until Dec. 31 at watch.whistlerfilmfestival.com. n
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WASN’T THAT A PARTY These A-frame homes near the Whistler Gondola barn hosted a huge party to raise morale after employees got worn down shovelling too much snow! PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WALLACE COLLECTION.
How to lift some spirits BY ALLYN PRINGLE
www.roofingwhistler.com
LOOKING THROUGH the photographs in the Whistler Museum archives, it is clear that Whistler has thrown a lot of parties. Whether attending a formal dinner at a restaurant, a Halloween costume contest in a bar, or a dance that got moved into an underground parking lot due to rain, residents and visitors alike have found many reasons to celebrate. At times parties have served not to celebrate an event or person, but to boost morale during difficult periods. During an interview in 2019, Lynn Mathews described such a party held for Whistler Mountain staff, though the reason behind the low morale might today seem backwards: they had too much snow.
in her own home, one of the two A-frames at the base of Whistler Mountain occupied by the lift company managers (Lynn’s husband David was operations manager, while the other A-frame was occupied by area manager Jack Bright and his family). The A-frame structure was quite small, but that didn’t stop Lynn from issuing invitations to all members of the staff, with the mysterious instruction to bring a pillow. In preparation for the party, the Mathews moved all of their furniture outside. Lynn recalled that David even put an ashtray out on the coffee table that was set up with the sofa on their deck. Various people were organized to make food, silverware and dishes were borrowed from the cafeteria, and two sheets of plywood were covered in aluminum foil. When it came time to eat, the covered plywood was brought out and set on the floor as tables.
“It’s a good thing there’s so much snow around here, because I’m afraid otherwise the A-frame might slide down the hill.” - LYNN MATHEWS
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During one of the early years of Whistler Mountain’s operations, according to Mathews, it had snowed all through January and well into February and staff were getting tired of moving so much snow. Each day was “day after day after day of shovelling,” first digging out the gondola, then going up to dig out Midstation, and then shovelling out the top of the Red Chair (not unlike Hugh Smythe’s early memories of riding the Red Chair in 1966). It was decided that a party was needed to raise people’s spirits. At the time, there weren’t many venues in which a party could be held. The gondola barn had reportedly hosted a staff party in a previous season, but questions about it were afterwards raised by the insurance company and the lift company’s board of directors. Lynn decided to hold the party
Those who remembered their pillows were instructed to use them for seating. There were so many people gathered in the house that Lynn remembered thinking at one point during the evening, “It’s a good thing there’s so much snow around here, because I’m afraid otherwise the A-frame might slide down the hill.” At the height of the party, lift company president Franz Wilhelmsen’s nephew and his two friends arrived from Montreal to pick up the keys to the Wilhelmsens’ condo and seemed taken aback by all the people crammed into the building. According to Lynn, the party did exactly what it was supposed to do. It lifted the spirits of the disheartened employees and, for days afterwards, staff could be heard exclaiming over how many people they managed to fit into the A-frame. n
PARTIAL RECALL
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CONDITIONS REPORT Is there anything better than bluebird powder days? PHOTO BY MICKAEL LOIODICE. 2 HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Longtime Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) resident Lola is ready for the holidays. On the top of her wishlist this Christmas is her perfect fit home. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 3 LOL Pictured, from left to right, cast members Ira Pettle, Dave Francis, Rebecca Mason, and special guests Brandon Barrett and Kyle Killeen onstage during Laugh Out LIVE’s debut at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Dec. 9. The weekly comedy show will return in the new year for a full string of performances until the end of April. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 4 POWDER PALS Janie and Marianne Marcoux made the most of Whistler Blackcomb’s extra-snowy conditions with a few tree runs. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 5 WINNING SMILES The winner of Pique’s Our Ode to ULLR photo contest, Emma Staples, is pictured picking up her prize from Prior’s head of production and design, Dominic Morin, on Thursday, Dec. 16. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 6 SANTA PARADE Before his around-the-world trip this weekend, Santa made a stop in Whistler on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Pictured, eight-year-old Ethan Winter watches Santa cruise by on local firetruck on a snowy night in Rainbow neighbourhood. PHOTO SUBMITTED. 7 SANTA SKI DAY Skiers and riders put on their finest red suits to mark Whistler Blackcomb’s annual Santa Ski Day on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The first 100 guests to 1
line up for the Whistler Village Gondola dressed as Santa or Mrs. Claus were rewarded for their holiday cheer with a free lift ticket. PHOTO BY CHRISTIE FITZPATRICK, COURTESY OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB.
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LARRY McKEE L E 1946-2021
With deep sorrow, I share the news that Larry McKee, my beloved husband of 28 years and devoted father to Alekos and Sophia, passed away on December 8, 2021 due to complications from a cerebral hemorrhage. Sophia, Alek, and I were by his side at Renown hospital in Reno; the compassionate care he received from the medical team in his final days was so greatly appreciated. Afterwards, on the longest drive home, a beautiful rainbow lit up the sky and followed us for miles…reassuring us that he will always be with us. Larry lived his 75 years – and all nine lives – with irrepressible passion and energy. Born in Calgary in 1946, he grew up to love both the mountains and the ocean, and made his home over the years in Vancouver, Whistler, Hawaii, and Mammoth Lakes, California. He was proud to have been on one of the first gondola cars on Whistler Mountain’s opening day in 1966 – prouder still to have been on the Whistler Mountain Ski Patrol, coach with Dave Murray Ski Camps and the Canadian Women’s National Alpine Ski Team. He was a commercial salmon fisherman, distributor for Windsurfing Hawaii Canada, and F2 Snowboards – and had a 25-year career in real estate. As owner of Century 21 Mammoth Realty since 2001, Larry loved his work and his clients, many of whom became treasured friends. And we were all recipients of Larry’s Stories that rambled in length proportionate to the number of glasses of wine he was enjoying! But by far his most important priority in life was being Dad to Sophia and Alekos. He devoted himself to our whole family with all his care and commitment, creating a foundation of love that supported us through the years and that sustains us now through the tears. Along with cherished wife Alicia Vennos and children Sophia and Alekos, Larry is dearly missed by siblings Christina McKee, Danny Wicks (Nina), Brenda Point (Dwight), and Bell cousins Carolyn (Ante), Connie (Barry), and Elaine. Larry was pre-deceased by mother Ines Wicks, and adored father George McKee, cousin Nick Sushnyk, and sister-in-law, Alexandra Vennos. Also missing Larry are his mother-in-law Janice Vennos, father-in-law Alexander Vennos, stepmother-in-law Jean Griezic, siblings-in-law Natalie Vennos, Marrkos & Yuka Vennos, stepbrothers-in-law, nieces, nepphews, aunts, uncles, coousins, and many special friends. Donations in Larry’’s name to moth Hospital Foundation Cancer Outreach Fun Mamm nd Golf Tournament (www.MammothHospital.org/golf) T f) are genuinely appreciated.
70 DECEMBER 23, 2021
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology WEEK OF DECEMBER 23 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may become a more audacious storyteller in 2022. You could ripen your ability to express the core truths about your life with entertaining narratives. Bonus: The experiences that come your way will provide raw material for you to become even more interesting than you already are. Now study these words by storyteller Ruth Sawyer: “To be a good storyteller, one must be gloriously alive. It is not possible to kindle fresh fires from burned-out embers. The best of the traditional storytellers are those who live close to the heart of things—to the earth, sea, wind, and weather. They have known solitude, silence. They have been given unbroken time in which to feel deeply, to reach constantly for understanding.” TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author May Sarton wrote a poem celebrating her maturation into the person she had always dreamed she would be. “Now I become myself,” she exulted. “It’s taken time, many years and places; I have been dissolved and shaken, have worn other people’s faces.” But at last, she said, “All fuses together now, falls into place from wish to action, word to silence. My work, my love, my time, my face: gathered into one intense gesture of growing like a plant.” I invite you to adopt Sarton’s poem as a primary source of inspiration in 2022. Make it your guide as you, too, become fully and richly yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 2012, the writer Gore Vidal died the day after Gemini writer Maeve Binchy passed away. They were both famous, though Binchy sold more books than Vidal. Vidal was interesting but problematic for me. He was fond of saying that it wasn’t enough for him to succeed; he wanted others to fail. The misery of his fellow humans intensified his satisfaction about his own accomplishments. On the other hand, Binchy had a generous wish that everyone would be a success. She felt her magnificence was magnified by others’ magnificence. In 2022, it will be vital for your physical and mental health to cultivate Binchy’s perspective, not Vidal’s. To the degree that you celebrate and enhance the fortunes of others, your own fortunes will thrive. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian political leader Nelson Mandela was wrongly incarcerated for 27 years. After his release, he became President of South Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize. About leaving jail in 1990, he wrote, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Although you haven’t suffered deprivation anywhere close to what Mandela did, I’m happy to report that 2022 will bring you liberations from limiting situations. Please adopt Mandela’s approach as you make creative use of your new freedom. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): French poet André Breton wrote, “Je vous souhaite d’être follement aimée.” In English, those words can be rendered as “My wish is that you may be loved to the point of madness” or “I wish you to be loved madly.” That’s got a romantic ring to it, but it’s actually a curse. Why would we want to be loved to the point of madness? A person who “loved” you like that might be fun for a while, but would ultimately become a terrible inconvenience and ongoing disruption. So, dear Leo, I won’t wish that you will be loved to the point of madness in 2022—even though I think the coming months will be an interesting and educational time for amour. Instead, I will wish you something more manageable and enjoyable: that you will be loved with respect, sensitivity, care, and intelligence. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Many people in our culture are smart intellectually, but not very smart emotionally. The wisdom of feelings is undervalued. I protest! One of my great crusades is to champion this neglected source of insight. I am counting on you to be my ally in 2022. Why? Because according to my reading of the astrological omens, you have the potential to ripen your emotional intelligence in the coming months. Do you
have ideas about how to take full advantage of this lucky opportunity? Here’s a tip: Whenever you have a decision to make, tune in to what your body and heart tell you as well as to what your mind advises. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl said that a sense of meaning is crucial. It’s the key gratification that sustains people through the years: the feeling that their life has a meaning and that particular experiences have meaning. I suggest you make this your theme for 2022. The question “Are you happy?” will be a subset of the more inclusive question, “Are you pursuing a destiny that feels meaningful to you?” Here’s the other big question: “If what you’re doing doesn’t feel meaningful, what are you going to do about it?” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio guitarist Rowland S. Howard spoke of “the grand occasions when love really does turn into something far greater than you had ever dreamed of, something auto-luminescent.” Judging from the astrological configurations in 2022, I have strong hopes and expectations that you will experience prolonged periods when love will fit that description. For best results, resolve to become more generous and ingenious in expressing love than you have ever been. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I’ve been trying to go home my whole life,” writes poet Chelsea Dingman. I know some of you Sagittarians resist the urge to do that. It’s possible you avoid seeking a true and complete home. You may think of the whole world as your home, or you may regard a lot of different places as your homes. And you’d prefer not to narrow down the feeling and concept of “home” to one location or building or community. Whether or not you are one of those kinds of Centaurs, I suspect that 2022 will bring you unexpected new understandings of home—and maybe even give you the sense that you have finally arrived in your ultimate sanctuary. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To ensure that 2022 will bring you the most interesting and useful kind of progress, take good care of your key friendships and alliances, even as you seek out excellent new friendships and alliances. For best results, heed these thoughts from author Hanya Yanagihara: “Find people who are better than you are—not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving—and then appreciate them for what they can teach you, and listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad—or good—it might be.” AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sometime during the Northern Song Dynasty that ruled China from 960 to 1127, an artisan made a white ceramic bowl five inches in diameter. About a thousand years later, a family in New York bought it at a garage sale for $3. It sat on a mantel in their home for a few years until they got a hunch to have it evaluated by an art collector. A short time later, the bowl was sold at an auction for $2.2 million. I’m not saying that 2022 will bring a financial event as dramatic as that one. But I do expect that your luck with money will be at a peak. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the Quechuan language spoken in parts of Peru, the word takanakuy means “when the blood is boiling.” Every year at this time, the community of Chumbivilcas stages a holiday called Takanakuy. People gather at the town centre to fight each other, settling their differences so they can forget about them and start over fresh. If my friend and I have had a personal conflict during the previous year, we would punch and kick each other—but not too hard—until we had purged our spite and resentment. The slate between us would be clean. Is there some humorous version of this ritual you could enact that wouldn’t involve even mild punching and kicking? I recommend you dream one up! Homework: A year from today, what do you want to be congratulating yourself for? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology. com.
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates
EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES 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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Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) acquired Diamond Resorts International (DRI), and its subsidiary companies, such as Diamond Resorts Canada, Ltd. (DRCL), as of August 02, 2021. If you apply to work at Embarc, you will be an applicant of a subsidiary of HGV. A transition to HGV will occur as we integrate technology, systems and branding, but it will take time until our separate operating systems, employment policies and benefits are fully integrated. As a result, for a period of time, employees will receive correspondence and messaging from Embarc as well as from HGV and related entities. *Eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment. 2112-1001
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14NOVEMBER 25, 2021 ISSUE 28.47 16 AFTER THE STORM
Record-breaking and death rainfall brings devastation
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Deli, Bakery, Produce, Grocery and Meat Clerks Cashiers Full or Part Time E-mail or drop in your resume to: bruce_stewart@nestersmarket.com please cc ian_fairweather@nestersmarket.com or call us at 604-932-3545
PERKS • Competitive wage – Depending on experience • Access to medical and dental benefits for full time applicants • Percentage discount from store bought goods • Flexible and set schedule • Relative training Scan Here to View Current Opportunities at Nita!
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4 6 7 8 3 hiring Labourers, Carpenters, 7Maintenance 4 6 Foreman, Project Managers9 Person We’re Hiring! This dynamic role includes the following Perks and Benefits: 6 7 3 1 4 • Full-Time, Year-Round position • Competitive 9 5 1Wages and Health Benefits 6 7 • Supportive Management Team 8 • Wages Starting From $21 per hour Please reply with a cover letter and resume to hr@listelhotel.com 5 6 8 8 5 Thank you for your interest. Only those applicants 6 3 2 5 9 being considered for an interview will be contacted. 8 2 1 8 Domino’s Pizza in Whistler 7 1is 4 5 7 is now
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to Sky corridor’s top civil 2 4 The Sea 1 3 8 2 construction company. 8 2 6 We are currently recruiting professionally 3 6 minded 9 people to join our team. 4 6 9 Apply in store between 11am-4pm Required: Monday thru Sunday 6 1 4 1 Truck 8 Drivers 7 2 5 Class at 4368 Main Street, Whistler 5 8 7 send 2 resume to: 1 4 8 Please 604-932-0410 Email: info@whistlerexcavations.com MAEGAN@BCDOMINOS.COM 9 5 4 6 1 7 3 6 We’re looking for kind, compassionate people to 5 1 join our team of incredible Looking 3 to adopt? 9 8 4 5 6 Caregivers. Look for WAG’s bright orEASY ange bandanas on dogs being walked by volunteers! These dogs are looking for their forever home.
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HIRING Human Resources Advisor Regular Full-Time Plan Checker Regular Full-Time Chief Operator Waste Water Treatment Plant Regular Full-Time Director of Human Resources Regular Full-Time Financial Services Specialist Temporary Full-Time
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STEP INTO THE SOUL OF WHISTLER Crystal Lodge is recruiting fun and friendly individuals to join our team in the following roles: • • • • • • •
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squamish.ca/careers
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Application deadline is January 7, 2022 For complete job description visit audainartmuseum.com/employment
We are the Spa for you If you are looking for a new place to call home: • We manifest positive energy • We have a long term and loyal team • We treat you fairly and look out for your wellness • You are listened to • We give you proper breaks and time to set up between services • We offer extended medical benefits • You can enjoy $5.00 cafeteria meals • You have the opportunity to work for other Vida locations in slow season • Staff Housing Available We are here for you. Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is currently recruiting: REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST (signing bonus applicable) ESTHETICIAN GUEST SERVICE AGENT SPA PRACTITIONER SPA SUPERVISOR ASSISTANT GUEST SERVICE AGENT SUPERVISOR To join our unique Vida family, email Bonnie@vidaspas.com Vida Spas - Vancouver & Whistler Live well. Live long. vidaspas.com Thank You for applying Only those considered will be contacted.
EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, APPLY TODAY! Diamond Resorts Canada Ltd., Whistler, BC
Full Time & Part Time Housekeepers Full Time Front Desk Agent Eligible successful candidates may receive* • $750.00 Hiring Bonus for successful full time candidates! $375.00 Hiring Bonus for successful part time candidates! • Extensive benefits package which may include; ski pass or wellness allowance, disability coverage, travel insurance and extended health and dental. • Travel Allowance and discounted employee rates at any Diamond Resort International resort. • Full-time work year round and a FUN work environment. *eligibility and conditions based on DRCL policies and practices set out in general terms and conditions of employment. Please note that Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) acquired Diamond Resorts International (DRI) as of August 02, 2021. If you apply to work at a Diamond Resorts company you will be an applicant of a subsidiary of HGV. A transition to HGV will occur as we integrate technology, systems and branding but it will take time until our separate operating systems, employment policies and benefits are fully integrated. As a result, for a period of time, employees will receive correspondence and messaging from Diamond Resorts as well as from HGV and related entities.
Email your resume with the position you wish to apply for to: Jerome.Boye@hgv.com
78 DECEMBER 23, 2021
Vacasa Whistler is currently hiring: • Room attendants and houseperson Wages starting from $21.75 to $23.00 • Housekeeping Assistant Manager $50K and Housekeeping Coordinator $21.00 • Maintenance Tech $23.50 Flexible schedule, variable shifts available including possible night shift • Travel allowance for Squamish and Pemberton based employees OR activity/ski pass allowance. Signing bonus of $500. Extended medical and dental coverage. To apply for this opportunity, please specify the position and email your resume and cover letter to: paul.globisch@vacasa.com We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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BLINDS ETC.
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CARPET CLEANING
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80 DECEMBER 23, 2021
Western Technical System Inc Residential/Commercial Heat Pumps Boilers-Furnaces-Chillers Design Build Call us today! 778-994-3159 www.westerntechnical.net
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PUZZLES ACROSS 1 6 11 15 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 48 49 50 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65
Prepare clams Graceful wraps New York nine Minces Phi Beta -Fabric Not in a whisper Bizarre Road map feature Trooper’s aid Downgrade Dead language Swelled head After that Tilts to one side Preacher’s address One way or another Garden hose crimps Prefix for “trillion” Diploma word Barbecue extra Unreliable Mathematical Lopsided Woodland deities Feeling Draw a breath Burned up the road Roman sculptures Toupee cousins Ebbed -- of the iceberg Car rental agency Eye part Frat Z Broom rider Monograms Purple shade
66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 79 80 81 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 105 106 107 110 111 112 116
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DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 23 31
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4 6 7 8 9 7 4 6 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 5 6 8 6 3 2 5 8 2 1 7 1 4 5 EASY Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com # 5
6
3
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9 4 8 2 4 5 9
8 5 9 9 4 8 5 7
6 1 3 7 6 2 7 4
EASY
#6
ANSWERS ON PAGE 76
DECEMBER 23, 2021
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MAXED OUT
A Christmas to remember “ Said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see... said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see... said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see... ”
“AL, I THINK I SEE IT! It’s in the back field. Why don’t you go out and have a look.” Al had been sitting in a semi-fetal position in the overstuffed chair by the potbelly stove intoning the same line from the same carol for long enough to finally get on my nerves. There were three annoying elements to his
BY G.D. MAXWELL behaviour. First, he couldn’t sing. What passed for Al’s singing sounded remarkably like Tom Waits at his gravelliest played at a too-slow speed. Second, I hated that carol. Third, probably most important, Al was tripping on some psychedelic he’d found in a 35mm film can he’d found in the back of his desk drawer and the line he was chanting like a mantra probably had more to do with what he was seeing, something I, in my stone-sober state, didn’t have a chance of seeing since he’d chosen not to share his discovery. Oozing himself out of the chair, he wandered out the kitchen door in the general direction of the neglected apple orchard. Being pissed at him for not sharing but nonetheless fond of him, I set the timer for 15 minutes to remind myself to go find him, figuring he probably wouldn’t get past the long driveway. It was half an hour to orphan’s Christmas and to the extent everything could be under control, everything was under control. In a household where control consisted largely of making sure nothing other than the wood in the aforementioned stove was on fire, it wasn’t much of an accomplishment. I didn’t know who or how many were going to show up—it was that kind of invitation. I didn’t know what they were going to bring, having told everyone to just bring a dish to share and something suitably festive to drink. The biggest turkey I could find was in the oven, also seemingly under control and roasting to what I hoped would be brown, succulent perfection. It was stuffed with an untraditional melange of stale bread and leftovers I thought best to clear out of the fridge. I’d stopped three days before at the Goodwill and picked up two dozen mismatched plates and that many more glasses to add to the collection of already unrelated dinnerware in the house, having tried and failed once in my life to eat turkey dinner off paper plates. A large, Coleman cooler sat on two stumps on the veranda—OK, the rotting, covered, screened-in porch—outside the kitchen door. Inside was my tribute to Bacchus, a sangria-like concoction designed to prime the evening’s pump and ensure
82 DECEMBER 23, 2021
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no hangover was left behind. Being short on cash—the turkey had used up most of what was left of my first semester’s student loan—I’d opted for quantity over quality, knowing whomever showed up would care, if at all, only during the first few sips. Inside the cooler I’d emptied four, onegallon jugs of papa Cribari’s finest red table wine. That’s what it was called and at $1.89 a gallon, who was I to argue. Half a bottle of leftover rum was added, as were the dregs of an assortment of bottles that had been languishing in various cupboards from past parties, the rambling, semi-rural adobe being a frequent venue for unplanned gatherings. Random citrus was sliced and
to look after Al, not baste the bird. I wandered out into the night. It was cold and dark, lit largely by the swath of Milky Way overhead. My breath formed momentary cumulous clouds as I headed for the back pasture. As expected, Al hadn’t made it more than a hundred yards from the house and was lying in the gravel at the end of the driveway. “ Do you see what I see... do you see what I see... ” “What happened to the night wind and the little lamb?” I asked. “Huh?” “Never mind. What do you see, Al?” “The star of Bethlehem, the one that
The biggest turkey I could find was in the oven, also seemingly under control and roasting to what I hoped would be brown, succulent perfection. added, as was half a jug of orange juice that had been in the fridge long enough to be suspect but not quite long enough to smell medicinal. For volume, I planned to encourage anyone who brought something other than beer to add it to the mix. The old style kitchen timer chimed and reflexively I basted the turkey. Heat, moisture and the rich smell of nearly done, utility grade turkey filled the room. Then I remembered the timer was set to remind me
guided the wise guys to baby Jesus,” he said, pointing upwards. I got down beside him. “You mean that bright one over there?” I said, pointing. “Yeah, that one. The brightest one.” “That’s Sirius, dude.” “It’s only serious to true believers,” he replied. “No, it’s Sirius, the dog star. Canis Major... one of Orion’s hunting dogs... Earth to Al, you receiving?” “’S’not the star of Bethlehem?”
“No.” “What about that one?” he said, pointing to another bright star. “Arcturus... in Boötes.” “Boots?” “Different constellation; not important.” “Well, which one is the little star of Bethlehem? “You... ah... can’t see it from here,” I lied, not wanting to get into a theological debate on the astronomical validity of that particular Christmas story. “Why don’t we head back to the house. People’ll be arriving any minute,” I said. It was a long stagger back and lights of an arriving car blinded us, half tempting me to tell Al that was the star of Bethlehem. Within an hour, the house was crowded with Christmas orphans well on their way to feeling merry. The cooler was half full of who knows what, there were two lasagnes, four green salads, three variations of candied yams, enough mashed potatoes to feed an army, a large pot of simmering pozole, four dozen tamales and a plenitude of familiar and bizarre Christmas cookies. Inevitably, as the evening wore on, someone started singing carols. Everyone who thought they remembered the words joined in, as did those of us just making words up. Al kept chanting, “Do you see what I see.” Predictably, it sounded like a drunken, off-key chorus. It was marvellous. With gatherings like that off limits once again this Christmas, it’s more therapy than cheap nostalgia to warmly remember—and look forward to—a time when we can once again come together without the spectre of ill health being more than a significant probability. This too shall pass. Merry Christmas. ■
Happy Holidays! All of us at Engel & Völkers would like to Thank our clients, colleagues, family and friends for their support this past year! We wish you a safe, joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Whistler Village Shop
Whistler Creekside Shop
Squamish Station Shop
36-4314 Main Street · Whistler BC V8E 1A8 · Phone +1 604-932-1875
325-2063 Lake Placid Road · Whistler BC V8E 0B6 · Phone +1 604-932-1875
150-1200 Hunter Place · Squamish BC V8B 0G8 · Phone +1 778-733-0611
whistler.evrealestate.com
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Engel & Völkers Whistler
Business Opportunity
#101 - 4338 Main Street
$499,000
#301 - 4280 Mountain Square
$2,500,000
Christmas comes early to those wanting to buy a business opportunity in Whistler! With your hard earned entrepreneur work, an ability to earn a solid six figure income, be the owner operator of this exciting coffee shop! This is a “Business Only Purchase”.
Carleton Lodge – one of Whistler’s most iconic buildings – a small boutique condo. Located at the base of both Whistler/Blackcomb gondolas you can’t get any closer to ski-in/ski-out. Unit 301 is an end unit, 2 bed/2 bath facing the slope. This unit is in the absolute centre of it all.
Doug Treleaven
Laura Barkman
604.905.8626
2
604.905.8777
99 Highway 99
$4,500,000
A very rare, once in a lifetime opportunity to own a legacy estate property within the RMOW. This 26.2 acre parcel along the Cheakamus River is for sale for the first time ever. Bring your vision for the future, because this large property is the perfect place for your dream home. The location is just off the Maguire Service Road right off Highway 99 across from the Callaghan.
Madison Perry
778.919.7653
Commercial Opportunity
Everyone at Sea to Sky Real
Estate would like to extend the warmest Greetings to all our
#3 - 7001 Nesters Road
$599,000
A centrally located one-bedroom Whistler condominium, just steps from grocery, coffee shop, restaurants, and professional services. This lovely residential property is 530 sq ft, has low strata fees, and overlooks a semi-private pond area with dock. This is currently the only one-bedroom with a residential covenant on the market, so act fast!
Matt Chiasson
1
604.935.9171
#1457 - 4308 Main Street
clients, friends and visitors to Whistler.
#7 - 1100 Millar Creek Road
Why rent space when you can be your own landlord. Bring your creative ideas for this space with great potential. Zoning allows for many types of manufacturing, light industrial use, services or retail businesses. Includes bathroom, loft, outdoor space and 2 open parking spaces in the shared lot.
May your Holidays be
Meg McLean
Magical.
#32 - 4644 Blackcomb Way
$288,000
$3,150,000
Spectacular 3 bedroom townhome located in Blackcomb Greens – alongside the 1st hole of the Chateau Whistler Golf course. Completely renovated throughout designed by award winning interior designers Beyond Beige from North Vancouver. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath townhome offers amazing fairway and mountain views.
.5
604.905.9337
604.907.2223
3D Tour - rem.ax/32greens
A rare studio with balcony and beautiful views to Whistler Mountain. Full service hotel property with a Marriot Hotel affiliation. Provides personal use as well as revenue/ income for Owner investors. Enjoy owner benefits even when not occupying the unit. Delta Whistler Village Suites prides itself with a friendly high service standard.
Michael d’Artois
$379,000
Sally Warner*
604.905.6326
3
3D Tour - rem.ax/407marquise
#407 - 4809 Spearhead Drive
$910,000
LOCATION AND VIEWS! What more could you ask for? This 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo is steps away from ski in/out access and beautifully updated with granite counters, cabinetry, tiles, kitchen & bathroom fixtures. Beautiful Western views of Rainbow glacier and the surrounding mountains.
Ursula Morel*
604.932.8629
1
7580 Taylor Road
$999,000
This beautiful 1/3 acre property on the Pemberton Fringe allows for low taxes and access to municipal services. The current home has 3.5 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and the two story shop on the property allows for additional living space. This ideal location is close to the village of Pemberton and is prime for a new build.
Alexi Hamilton
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
604.435.0757
3.5
9333 Warbler Way
$1,275,000
Only 5 lots remain in this Estate Property Subdivision. Homes can be 4629 or 5920 SF plus 2150 SF Auxiliary Buildings allowed. 5 Minutes from Grocieries, Gas and Liquor Store. Best Value in town!
Ann Chiasson
604.932.7651
PEMBERTON OFFICE 1411 Portage Road, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L1 604.894.6616 or Toll Free 1.888.689.0070