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Comment Archives: stories: Last 30 Days
Re: “Taking Whistler out of Sea to Sky?”
Gerrymandering has its perils, and there's lots of places that have to deal with representatives from distant communities; Lillooet is a case in point, both federally and provincially, where Chilliwack in the one case and Merritt in the other dominate those ridings respectively. West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast as the new restructured riding is likely to be called, in my opinion, is a way to dilute NDP strength on the Sunshine Coast with the overweening bloc of Tory-ness that is West Vancouver. In the case of this new gerrymander, Mission isn't all that large of a bloc of NDP voters but it's significant. Matsqui would seem to me to be more Tory-inclined, like Whistler, and so this is clearly designed to be a safe Tory seat. Any NDP leanings in the smaller communities of the Fraser Canyon, maybe Pemberton too, are already thoroughly overwhelmed in Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon.
And re this - "and into one in which Whistler has no connection, save a remote geographical link on its westernmost edge is ludicrous", Highway 99 is scarcely a "remote geographical link" and the Whistler area was long a part of the Lillooet Country before it ever had a road link to the Coast. A lack of passenger service on what is now the CN line underscores that remoteness. Lillooet's had to put up with it for years, even moreso in the past. There's also a hint here of the possibility of the proposed Pemberton-Chehalis or Pemberton-Mission highway proposed long ago by Pemberton mayor Shirley Henry, and which is talked about from time to time again since. Could also be that with Whistler in such a new riding, more political pressure will be on to build better connections, such as that one and other routes, including a paved Hurley and the controversial upgrade and new status to the Anderson High Line. There's "mysterious forces" behind current political and infrastructure issues in Lillooet of late, also (the big one being a new water treatment plant, paid for by the taxpayers of a town with a municipal population of c.2500, and about the same again in the surrounding Indian Reserves and other rural communities in the area, that is being designed for a capacity of 30,000 homes). Paving the Hurley or the High Line would also result in real estate and development booms in the Bridge River Valley and at the Portage that would add yet more voters to those areas. The upper Bridge River had a population of over 10,000 at one point in its history, and was in the same provincial riding as ..... Ocean Falls and Bralorne were the largest towns in Coast-Chilcotin (a provincial riding), both non-municipal company towns; even Gold Bridge was larger than Lillooet or Bella Coola, the next-biggest places in the riding. Talk about geographically remote.....
Don't scoff at potential population growth in Lillooet and the Bridge River, or for that matter in a reborn Port Douglas (at the head of Harrison Lake). If not for the millions - hundreds of millions - spent on Highway 99 since its opening in the late '60s, Whistler (Alta Lake) was also tiny.......where will that population come in from? Hm, maybe your reporters should ask around Lillooet politics a bit more and ask WHY a water treatment plant that will indebt that town's taxpayers grossly needs a capacity of 30,000 homes...I'm sure someone in the DoL hall has "something" in mind, and someone they're doing it for.......hmmmm huh?
Re: “Thinking outside the Bubble”
Gotta say thanks to Clare for the excellent editing, she deserves a lot of credit as well on this piece, thanks Clare
Re: “ConCom”
bang on.
good article Leslie Anthony.
Re: “Helipad facing closure — again”
THE SIGNS DON'T MAKE SENSE!!! I drive past everyday and wonder how someone could make sense of it. It's ridiculous. Take your blinders off and start again.
Re: “Charges laid in limo driver death”
Its good Angela McKinnon shows good sign against investigation, and conform that pay charges after completion of the investigation. But local Driving bodies must control all kind of fitness test of these Toronto airport limo services provider to make sure that certain kind of accident's not happen in future.
http://www.torontoairportlimoflatrate.com/
http://www.buffaloairportlimotaxi.com/
Re: “Dog seized in Whistler police investigation stolen from adoptive family”
So where is the dog then????? Is he okay? Or back with the crazy lady...
Re: “Mountain News: Hemp seeds planted, but will feds uproot?”
Would love to see hemp growing on the sides of the highways vs. GMO Corn ;)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cannabis-Pa…
Re: “Ross's Gold fired up for possible summer start”
I would say that this a step in the right direction....baby steps. The people will become more tolerant over time. We need to change the mind set of all eastern Canadians. They've been buying in on all of the mis-directed ignorant views of our friggin' politicians. Harper wun't be around for much longer if he keeps trying to sell our Canada to anybody that will buy it anyways. Then things should change. We just need new blood to give us re-newed direction in this new age.
Re: “Ross's Gold fired up for possible summer start”
absolute Crap that they will allow a " come on in, have a coffee and a Joint" cafe, but they disallow my Commpasion Club that has all my medical records, and have more rules then the army.
Since I am lossing my Personal production license next year,I am looking for a Cannabis growing job at one of Harpers massive Pot farms, I have a portfolio and and want to know If this ridiculess Health Canada plan includes first chance at the jobs that will be avalable as WE are the ones that are already growing quality Cannabis, or will this only be available to the Capitalists that can afford to open up there own busness and there Families. Not all of us are abusing our licenses and to Make me a criminal next year for something I am legally able to do this year is the most stupid and iresponsable ledgislation I have ever seen. Does anyone including the Health Minister think that this will stop ilegal growing? as for risk of fire! that they are so concerned about, I am using 110W lighting that uses less power then your dishwasher, I own the House does anyone think I would cut holes in my home for ventilation, this WILL NOT STOP ilegal grow-ops, on contrary this will produce more people that are breaking the law these same people that are abidding by the law right now.
Re: “Meeting called over concerns about insensitive comments and WinterPRIDE”
Vancouver recently granted ‘civic status’ ensuring subsidies for the Pride parade.
Re: “Decline in international tourism gets little attention in Canada”
Well I am sorry to hear Canada is having difficulty attracting destination travelers. I guess I'm a bit of a mix. I live in Washington State. I do not own a property in Canada. I visit Whistler annually and stay in a lovely hotel for five nights, dine in your incredible restaurants and ski at the finest resort in North America. I love visiting my neighbor to the north. All I can say to my fellow travelers is VISIT CANADA! You will have a great time!
Re: “Letters to the editor for the week of May 30th”
I thought this story was amazing! I am a true believer of karma. My bike was stolen as well, on the same weekend. The lock was cut and my bike was gone, it was taken right outside of my staff housing. I was pretty devastated and after only being in Whistler for 6 months, I was ready to pack up and leave. No bike for the summer? No way! However luck or perhaps karma was on my side as well. Three days later I got a call from the police saying that someone had turned in my bright orange bike. To the person who turned it in I will be forever grateful! In a place where a nice bike is a great commodity, it was really awesome to experience that persons thoughtfulness.
Re: “Jumbo-skiers' dream or B.C. taxpayer's sinkhole?”
Go to Banff all the jobs are foreign students working. People can not live on these low wages. It will not create 750 low paying jobs for Canadians. And go to lake Louise and Sunshine. People go golf when spring comes no one wants all year winter. Dumbest idea ever.
Re: “Decline in international tourism gets little attention in Canada”
Just one or two comments for now, about the Saudi Arabia numbers that has to be understood as reflected in the increasing numbers of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina for the Hajj, it's not "regular tourism" for the most part.
And re Thailand, I'm living on Koh Samui now, and yes, Thailand's tourism industry has burgeoned hugely in the last ten years, especially with Russians and Europeans. Lamai, where I'm living, has maybe quadrupled in size in the last four or five years; Chaweng is monstrous by comparison, but nothing like the mega-resorts of Phuket and Pattaya. And every little beach in Thailand, even remote ones, are now resorts of some level or otherwise. It's often not for the better, as funky little restaurants and bungalows are turned into modern concrete mega-complexes and remote beaches have now become exclusive (though the beaches themselves remain property of the government, it's the access that becomes more difficult). Cambodia is also growing like topsy...the little and very beautiful beach at Sihanoukville I was at back in January-February, Otres, had only one of two places four years ago. Now there are at least a hundred. I dread going back in a few years time......Railay, on the Andaman Sea, was a paradisaical coconut grove in a completely amazing setting of limestone pinnacles and is now nearly all five-star resorts (rebuilt since the tsunami wiped out most of it, as is especially the case at Phi Phi and Ao Nang). Climbers take note - the westernmost beach of the Railay Peninsula is called Tonsai, and is funky as hell and lotsa fun and dazzling, and is an international climbers' community year-round; spell-binding to hang out in, but if you want an ATM or a doctor or anything like that, you have to grab a longtail to get to Railay proper or to Ao Nang. Or hike over the mountains through the jungle (and take your chances with the aggressive packs of wild monkeys on the difficult and long trail to Ao Nang).
Russians are everywhere, they're travelling in record numbers; I'd venture they're a market that Whistler should look at as they have money, or those who travel do, and mostly from those I've met they've never heard of Whistler, though all are interested in seeing Canada. They also drink like fish, of course, which is good for the bar industry of course. They remind me of the Americans back 30 and 40 years ago; naive about the world but out for a good time and needing their own food and Russian-language services, and wearing a certain kind of kitschy tourist wardrobe that's really similar to the archetypal Yanqui tourist of the '60s and '70s. Tons of French, Germans, Italians, various Eastern Europeans and also Indians (from India) and record numbers of Chinese. I haven't been to Vietnam yet, but it thrives on visiting and resident Russians and, of course, there are old ties - and direct flights - with Russia.
One thing I don't see a lot of is Americans and Canadians. Not like there were ten and fifteen years ago. Maybe it's because there's no money to travel, maybe it's (in the American case) their lack of passports and their mounting fear of the rest of the world. I was around Bangkok a lot in the late nineties, Yanks and Canucks were everywhere; now when you see a farang (that's us, i.e. white non-Thai), they're most likely to speak only a little English. You hear Italian, French, German, Dutch and Swedish (same at Tonsai, or here). Americans and Canadians are here, but generally I meet only a few.......more among the expats, though, who are also typically British when not German or Russian or French or Dutch....
Re: “Jumbo-skiers' dream or B.C. taxpayer's sinkhole?”
Investors - stay home unless you want serious stink from locals and First Nations - I smell bail out before it even gets started - Jumbo's value is related to the Wilderness factor - this is what you will ruin!
Re: “Jumbo-skiers' dream or B.C. taxpayer's sinkhole?”
The creation of a municipal government for a corporation, as in Jumbo, is outrageous. The legislation is in place. Bill Bennett has the authority to create a new municipality anywhere on Provincial land and appoint who he wants as mayor on council. One person. No votes. No group hug. Nothing. One elected official has this authority. It is outrageous.
Re: “Letters to the editor for the week of May 30th”
I can sympathise. I recently stole an absolute cracker of a mountain bike. Really good condition, looked brand new. I was easily going to get at least £400 from my local fence. So anyway I parked up for a McDonalds. Big Mac with Diet coke. I need to keep the calories as low as possible so I can get away from the rozzers.
I came out and the bike was gone! Someone had stolen it from me! I was mortified! But it is basically a sign of the times.
Re: “Letters to the editor for the week of May 30th”
She is such a nice, friendly happy person she probably smiled whilst she made the scumbags who stole her bike a venti mocha frappachino with 8 shots of expresso.... So glad the happiness and love came back to her!
Re: “As Canadian as possible under the circumstances”
I don't believe for a second that we, as Canadians, just manage the processes. Rather, we are a small-c conservative people who move methodically rather than making larger-than-life dogmatic statements that are the hallmark of American politics. Slow and steady wins the race.
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June 17, 2013, 5:00 PM
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation donates $300,000 to Centrepoint complex
Social services, church and housing being built by Sea to Sky Community Services and United Church More...
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June 17, 2013, 11:15 AM
Whistler Farmer's Market sees busy first day of operations
Market opens with vendor numbers at maximum More...
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June 16, 2013, 12:30 AM
Neal Kindree takes Test of Metal win
67-kilometre mountain bike race sees 871 racers at the start More...
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
I do not think it is reasonable to allow a race organizer that charges fees to entrants to rely on the Occupiers Liability Act. If a man-made structure is in poor repair it needs to be roped off since it's reasonable for a race participant to assume that it's part of the course.
This is not simply some poor guy falling off his bike and hitting his head on a rock (i.e. a natural hazard) - this is a man-made hazard which collapsed under normal use - and if the organizer didn't wish it used by participants it should have been signed or roped off.
Nor do I think a normal waiver should apply here since it wasn't a natural hazard.