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Letters to the editor for the week of December 13th

Half-truths In his letter of Dec. 6, 2012, Mr. Frank Silveri, president, Whistler Aggregates Ltd., refers to the providing of "Half-Truths" by those who oppose his asphalt operations in Cheakamus Crossing.
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Half-truths

In his letter of Dec. 6, 2012, Mr. Frank Silveri, president, Whistler Aggregates Ltd., refers to the providing of "Half-Truths" by those who oppose his asphalt operations in Cheakamus Crossing. Then he states that, "It is actually steam that is emitted" (from his asphalt plant). Well that's true, but only "half-true," because the plant also emits PAH's, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, formaldehyde and toluene.

Mr. Silveri also neglects to mention the diesel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons dispersed by the constant flow of trucks to service his plant. Mr. Silveri also needs to Google "quarry dust" and its harmful effects on human health, especially the very young and the elderly.

Mr. Silveri wonders why he is being vilified, but he continues to deny even the basic, scientific facts of his operations.

As for the disclosure statements signed by the purchasers at Cheakamus Crossing, the WDC (Whistler Development Corporation) did not make full disclosure of the toxic fumes from the asphalt operations. In the document these fumes are referred to as "odours." That does not constitute full disclosure. Even in documents since brought to light, in closed meetings the developers were concerned about "toxins."

Buyers were led to believe that negotiations to relocate the plant away from the village would be successful ie: green town/green mayor.

The WDC, in the context of Olympic security, also did not permit site inspections during building of the community. Opportunity to see, hear, smell or experience the toxic irritations from the asphalt plant and quarry were not possible as purchasers were denied access to the site. On the two occasions that purchasers were permitted limited access to the site, these events were held on Sundays, the asphalt plant and the quarry were not in operation.

Many, in our view, would not have purchased their property if they could have experienced the toxic air and heard the constant background piercing noises. We wouldn't have! It's hell for us too.

As for the relocation, take any father, mother, husband, wife, uncle or friend to the operating asphalt plant and quarry and ask them if they would like to live a few hundred metres from the operation. We believe the answer would be "No."

So right or wrong in your mind, Mr. Silveri, negotiate a settlement with the RMOW/province. You'll trade Hell for Heaven for everyone. You'll be recognized as a continued success and be admired for doing the right thing. The province, the RMOW and the developer should have dealt with this long before the first home was built.

Dick Gervais

Whistler

Editor's note — The asphalt plant works within emissions standards

Spearhead critical to heli-skiing operator

On Dec. 6, I saw a lot of long-time locals and familiar faces at the BC Parks Open House (on the Garibaldi Park Management Plan) and, as expected, there was a lot of passion in the room. For or against heli-skiing or mountain biking, it was interesting to hear from people, and see how much they care and advocate for their cause.

I had arrived after spending the day with a group of 14 heli-skiers from Poland. Despite the previous day's forecast, that morning had shown little promise as I drove in from Pemberton in moderate snowfall, in the dark. At the guides meeting, we surveyed the weather info and after some hemming and hawing, we decided to go for it based on a glimmer of hope in the models and a gut feeling.

After launching from the heliport, our lead guide went west but encountered thick cloud; went east where it was better but still marginal; and then veered north and ended up landing as a drying air mass met the group. With both groups in the field now, we had found ourselves in reasonable weather, skiing knee-deep, low-density snow on high alpine glaciers. Yahoo!

These Polish skiers had gambled on an early December ski holiday to Whistler, and had booked their heli-skiing from home before they left. While the heli-skiing was the highlight of their trip, it was not where they spent most of their time. The rest of their trip was spent skiing on Whistler Blackcomb, eating and drinking in local restaurants and bars, shopping in retail locations all over the resort, and ending the day at their chosen accommodation. They were thrilled with their Whistler experience and their group leader was already working on a return plan for next April when he came by the store to say goodbye the next day.

These folks were not part of the current Garibaldi Park Management Plan process. And they were not elitists. They were people like you and me, spending more money on a vacation than they ever would at home to fulfill a life-long skiers' dream in British Columbia where 90 per cent of the world's heli-skiing takes place. It's something many people in Whistler can relate to.

Although the weather was difficult that day, the logistics were not, this early in the winter. Come peak season, Whistler Heli-Skiing regularly operates four helicopters and services up to 100 skiers a day. These holidays come with high expectations. The by-product of a resort with a reliable snow advantage is tough weather. We never know which day will work so we've come to learn the best plan is a flexible plan and flexible plans need options.

Along with our smaller Bell 407s that can go deep into our tenure, we need larger Bell 205/212 helicopters that can move a significant amount of people at one time as is typical of sizeable heli-ski companies in the province. This type of aircraft has limited range and the group size is best suited to wide open glaciers where we can manage the hazards and deliver the product. However, we are well aware of when the Spearhead is at its busiest and last season we avoided key weekends and limited ourselves to 26 days and 850 skiers.

For over 30 years, and longer than Blackcomb Mountain has relied on chairlifts, Whistler Heli-Skiing has relied on the Spearhead Range as a key component of this business. Its classic broad glaciers within a few kilometres of the heliport are critical to our efforts to ensure our guests end up with the trip they had planned on. The Garibaldi Park has a history of heli-skiing dating back to 1966, within a year of the birth of the heli-skiing industry in Bugaboo Provincial Park where it still thrives today. We are owned by Whistler Blackcomb, which provides easy access to the park and is an important partner for the future of the park.

Whistler Heli-Skiing is proud of its track record over those decades in the Spearhead Range in what can be a complicated, yet highly rewarding environment. We've limited direct conflicts to a bare minimum; have assisted search and rescue on numerous occasions including flying out more people than we've flown in with; and been good citizens and stewards of the park. When we pull up our landing stakes after the season, we leave the park looking like it did 10,000 years ago.

The recently released draft plan from BC Parks proposes heli-skiing continue in the Spearhead, a direction we support because it speaks to compromise. As guides we grew up ski touring before taking to the air and have much in common with our ski touring brothers and sisters, and so we remain motivated to make further efforts to reduce our impact on those that share this special place with us.

Mike Sadan

General Manager, Whistler Heli-Skiing

Re-think urbanization of the alpine

Interesting reading the letter from John Baldwin in Dec. 6 edition of Pique. It leaves the reader with the impression the hut proposal is a done deal for Spearhead region of Garibaldi Park. While popular support has been expressed to Parks for this initiative during the public comment to draft amendment phase, I for one hope people take a second look at this prior to endorsing.

Consider the fact many huts already exist within Garibaldi Park. The ones located on the Garibaldi Neve all support an existing World-class ski touring traverse. Huts located at Russet and Wedgemount Lakes are also available to use. One thing most have in common is a state of disrepair and need of TLC. Would bringing up existing backcountry accommodation to standards not be preferred over building more?

Reading the Garibaldi Park Management Plan of 1990 I notice the following priorities;

• The main conservation roles of Garibaldi Park are to represent the Rugged Pacific Ranges Regional Landscape and to preserve the landscape's special, representative features.

• The recreation role is to provide the highest quality destination mountain wilderness opportunities in southwestern British Columbia, and to provide a variety of alpine recreation experiences to serve the needs of regional recreation.

Unlike the hackneyed park ranger motto of take pictures and leave footprints, the construction of huts proposed for Spearhead will be a rather large intrusive departure from "preserving the landscape's special, representative features."Should the Spearhead huts come to fruition the landscape will never be the same. Those who prefer the wilderness camping aspect of this area will be denied.

The logic that huts are needed to control the trash and excrement left by existing user groups goes against all the values of minimal impact use which dictates "pack it in — pack it out" policy. They would likely become locations for wildlife habituation to occur. One would hope BC Parks severely restricts additional high impact construction projects in the Alpine regions of our Crown assets.

Contrary to what Mr. Baldwin states there is no reference to any prohibition of mechanized activity in Garibaldi Park Master Plan.

Page 21 section 6.2.4 and 5 of the plan references that snowmobiling be encouraged outside of the park, and that non-mechanized guiding will be encouraged. Heli-hiking and hunting are also deemed as not acceptable. Prohibition is not mentioned. Phasing out of heli-skiing is only mentioned in the context of public comments received. Not to be confused with existing park policy.

This does bring up an interesting contradiction. That being, is the hut proposal mechanized, or not? Not sure how construction, maintenance, servicing, trash, effluent and rescue management can occur at chosen locations without the extensive use of aircraft. What will backcountry users think about barrels of crap buzzing overhead? Perhaps pack animals will gain permission to traverse the Park.

While John's books on backcountry travel routes are a fantastic resource for bringing the multitudes out to ski tour and snowmobile B.C.'s wilderness regions, the suggestion from an esteemed Vancouver-based writer that Whistler is not world class could be a bit offensive.

I would also urge readers to submit their comments to BC Parks on the draft amendments to Garibaldi Park Master Plan. But before doing so READ both the existing plan and proposed amendments. Rethink the urbanization of our alpine with more accommodation construction.

Steve Anderson

Whistler

Global warming a defining issue

I have a few comments in response to Louise Taylor's letter ("Innergex's Upper Lillooet Hydro Project," Pique Nov.29, 2012). To preface, I'd like to point out that despite a solid decade of obstructionist denial and inaction by our political leadership it is now abundantly clear that fossil fuel induced global warming is becoming a defining issue in our continued success as a species.

It is also abundantly clear that electricity must become an energy replacement for much of our fossil fuel consumption. Hydro sourced electricity, like all other low environmental impact sources must be prioritized if we have a hope in hoary hell of mitigating global warming. At the risk of generalizing, this issue blows all other environmental concerns pretty much right out of the water.

Much of Ms. Taylor's complaints about the Upper Lillooet power project are of little consequence. The valley has been logged from stem to stern and the impact of structures, construction activities, temporary camps, pipes and power lines should have little significant impact both visually or ecologically.

I do agree that water flow is a significant issue but it requires management discipline, something woefully lacking from our environmental regulators true, but something that is within our capability. The technology is not the problem. Site selection, construction controls and operation management are controllable issues and it is the duty of our government to ensure that this happens appropriately.

The last part of her letter, to do with the highly suspect financial deals between BC Hydro (we taxpayers) and the private developers I generally agree on. It is perplexing that in these times of inadequate funding that our provincial government would place such a stable revenue source at risk.... unless it was by purpose in order to privatize? Perhaps my good friend and old co-worker Jordan Sturdy could kindly explain this as his chosen political party has so far been remiss in doing so despite the existence of a multi million-dollar funded "communications" apparatus.

Explain the sale of BC Rail while you're at it.

My point is that there are legitimate concerns surrounding these projects but they have little to do with the technology itself. Nor does the problem lie with the conduct of the private corporations. The whole problem exists with our government's ideological bent and the continued evisceration of environmental regulation and oversight.

With adequate resources, authority and power of enforcement these projects can be managed and faith in our government restored. I suggest that the technology deserves much consideration for its high benefit and low risk. I would also suggest that our current governments, in this case primarily the BC Liberal party, be considered negligent in ensuring adequate management of this important industry, and should be summarily fired.

Bruce Kay

Squamish

Celebrating Sikh pioneers

I am really glad to know that on Nov. 24, 2012 at Quest University there was a seminar held on the first Sikh pioneer in Squamish area, which was presented by two young Sikh boys, Rajkaran Singh Hans and Navdeep Singh Tatla.

It is not easy to understand a person or a community's (current life) or to make any decisions about it (without being) familiar with the past and the history.

In other words, we can say that only knowledge can get rid of ignorance otherwise ignorance can lead to many social and criminal problems. There is no doubt that in this area people do not know about what the Sikh community has contributed to this society — there was no better way to let them know about this community than through this seminar and I hope it continues in future.

I received my immigration to this beautiful and fascinating country in Nov. 2005. Before this I served as a political science professor in Punjab. Luckily, after coming to Canada, Squamish became my first destination. The very first thing I did was buy a Burger King restaurant located on Highway 99, and then I bought a nice house in the Highlands (which is situated in lap of nature) on a very quiet and peaceful cul-de-sac and started a new beginning to my life.

Nov 18, 2005 became a memorable day in my life as I saw a turbaned Sikh photo on municipal election board alongside the road. I stopped and read the name of Rajinder Singh Kahlon and then few minutes later I saw a turbaned Sikh man driving a public transit bus. I had only read about this religious freedom in books, and taught my students about this, but now I was seeing it for the first time in my life.

Right then I decided to grow my beard and start wearing a turban, which is the primary identity of a Sikh. The second question that came into my mind then was when did the first Sikh come into this region, so I decided to do some research on this.

I first approached the Squamish history organization's website. It stated that a small number of Sikh families started living in this area around 1892. According to this website the first Europeans settled in this region in 1874 and two decades later about 35 families started living in today's Brackendale area. Sikh's worked in sawmills and their families lived in houses situated near the waterfront area currently known as Squamish's downtown.

The second proof of my research led me to Pal Singh Dhaliwa, now is his 90s and living in Abbotsford. According to him in 1932 he left Victoria, his port of landing, and took a small boat to come to Vancouver then got a ride to Abbotsford where he joined his uncle for a month. He came to know that an owner of the Mission sawmill was looking for workers for his new mill, which was set up around Green Lake near what today is Whistler. He worked in this mill for a long time along with other Sikh workers. He went back to Punjab in 1947 to get married.

Former mayor Greg Gardner in his article on Sikh pioneers in Sea to Sky region in the Squamish Chief newspaper on June 5, 2009, stated that a number of Sikh families were settled in Squamish region in the '60s, which included the Lallis, the Bilns and the Mehngers. Apart from logging and sawmills, they started working in mining and on the CN railways as well. After this, a Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship) was established in Squamish, which represents the Sikh community's long contribution in the development and growth of this region. As everyone knows Sikhs believe in one God, human equality, welfare for all and helping every needy person without any distinction — these are fundamental principles of Sikhism.

In the 2011 census, the Sikh community became Squamish's second largest community and the Punjabi language spoken by them is also the second most prominent language in Sea to Sky region.

So currently it's not wrong to say that Sikhs are playing a role as a backbone in every field or profession for the growth and development of this region.

For example, Rajinder Singh Kahlon and Paul Lalli served this region as elected representatives for the municipality for two terms.

Every year in month of June, there is a parade held by Sikhs in the memory of first martyr of Sikhism, the fifth master Guru Arjan Dev Ji in which Sikhs demonstrate the long contribution to this region.

In the end I pray that from The Almighty that all of us together make an effort for prosperity and development of our beloved Squamish and Whistler.

Amrinder Singh Ghangas

Garibaldi Highlands

Corridor upgrade to cell service not good enough

I have a house on Anderson Lake, north of D'arcy that I've been planning to retire to for some years.

Last week I was happily lighting my trusty wood stove with a copy of the Pique, reading missed articles as I usually do while crumpling paper, when I came across your article about Telus/Bell's upgrade to the corridor wireless service (Pique, Oct.4, 2012).

It angered me.

How can Telus and Bell boast about this as a "corridor" upgrade when residents north of Pemberton have little or no cell service at all, and Telus repeatedly refuses to put any in place?

I was better off in the AutoTel days when I could go to my vehicle and place a call from my car anytime and anywhere I chose. Indeed BC Tel at the time actually filmed an AutoTel advertisement from my neighbour's rustic old log home on the Highline halfway up Anderson Lake. No longer!

We're going backwards in rural areas in communication technology in favour of urban development and the money it brings. That 1.7 million dollar upgrade Telus boasts about (on an existing, efficient service) would have gone a long way in setting up cell equipment and basic service to customers north of Pemberton to D'arcy, and Seaton.

I am not impressed in the least. As spokespeople for Telus and Bell, Ms. Michelis and Mr. Hall should be hiding in their multi-million dollar office buildings, hanging their heads in shame for boasting of this "significant investment."

Peter Partridge

Anderson Lake

Snowplow driver with heart

I am writing to tell you about a good deed done by an RMOW snowplow operator. After the wonderful dump of snow we had on Sunday, Dec. 2 my two-year-old and I went out to our cul-de-sac to build our first snowperson of the season — knowing full well that a plow would eventually come later in the day and remove our work of art.

A few hours later we heard the plow come and watched from our window, waiting for the snowperson to end up in the pile of snow on the side of the road. We watched as he worked around the snowperson and did the whole cul-de-sac, but with his huge plow he gently moved all the snow off the road — but leaving our snowperson still standing. We ended up going outside and cheered him on as he drove past us to continue on with his day.

Thank-you Mr. Snowplow driver... you put big smiles on our faces!

Benjamin and Victoria Dyson

Whistler 

Not Being Able to See the Forest for the Trees

Ernst&Young has agreed to settle for $117 million a class action lawsuit when faced with allegations of wrongdoing by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) regarding their audits of Sino-Forest, which resulted in $6 billion of investor losses in the largest Ponzi Scheme in Canadian history. Much of the OSC's case rested on the auditors' inadequate assessment of the forestry assets of Sino-Forest — a Canadian company harvesting forests in China.

Internal emails, according to the OSC, ran like this "how do we know that the trees that the forestry consultant identified are actually trees owned by the Company —i.e.: could they show us trees anywhere and we would not know the difference?" Another auditor replied, "I believe they could show us trees anywhere and we would not know the difference." With such evidence the OSC proceeded with only it's third accusation of an Audit firm in its history.

Why is any of this of interest to Whistler? Ernest &Young just happens to be our municipal auditors. Not for a moment am I suggesting there could be a problem here but I am worried that auditing can trick us into believing one thing when reality might be something else.

At times auditing can miss the true liabilities of a client's balance sheet as it concentrates on minutiae, which is irrelevant in the total picture.

For example, is the time that municipal employees have accumulated with sick days not taken but accumulated as a future benefit recorded on the balance sheet? Are we providing adequately for the depreciation of the $400 million in assets our muni apparently has in its pocket? And most importantly, what happens if the assets of the pension fund of the municipal employees are unable to support the promised benefits.

The Fund must return six per cent plus per annum to meet it's obligations, however, with equity markets stagnant and interest rates at record lows twinned with the fact that retirees are living a lot longer than originally anticipated, most pension funds are falling far short of their obligations.

An explanation is in order. Government employees receive their pensions based on years of service and salary levels of their best years near the end of their term of employment. This is called a defined benefit plan. Actuarial assumptions assumed these plans would earn at least six per cent plus per annum, however, financial markets have not been as kind as the assumptions and most plans are deeply in the red. Corporate Canada has reacted by closing such plans to new employees and showing their deficits publicly.

So how can the Canadian governments continue to offer this largesse to their employees?

It's simple, to-date they have ignored the massive costs, which will be forced upon you as taxpayers when the chickens come home to roost. Their books are about as opaque as Sino-Forest's when one considers the reality of the future possible costs which they have taken on our behalf. Greece collapses and California municipalities go to the wall with very serious consequences and primarily due to overly generous pension plans.

So dear taxpayer please educate yourself on this boondoggle that our politicians have been on in order to acquiesce government employees aided by their auditors who are not acknowledging the problem. Otherwise we will be stripped as cleanly as Sino Forest shareholders have been.

Lennox McNeely

Whistler

Upper Lillooet power project

A 72-kilometre power line, (where none now exists) and a 69-metre, by 23-metre concrete powerhouse on the left bank of the Lillooet River, not to mention the miles of pipes, roads, clear cuts etc, will most certainly have significant impact both visually and ecologically.

Those who do not agree have either never been in our lovely Pemberton valley or they consider concrete and power lines to be things of beauty.

"Water flow" certainly is a "significant issue," and from the countless documented fish kills in other rivers with power projects, here and in Squamish, management and oversight is definitely "woefully lacking."

Can we afford to squander our creeks and rivers, not to mention our precious backcountry, leaving them in the hands of powerful companies and a weak government?

Jennie and Jeanette Helmer

Pemberton

Reflections of Peace in 2012

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the community members, sponsors and volunteers who have been involved in the peaceful adventures of growing the Whistler Week of Peace Celebrations in 2012.

Peace begins within each of us and in September 2010 we began the goals of shedding light, encouragement, sharing and freeing the spirit within all of us through the celebrations of peace.

Over the past three years we have grown together with the community by sharing in these experiences and the gifts of peace, the following activities are just a few of the treasures we have enjoyed: We began by listening to our grandmothers speak of reconciliation and sharing their indigenous ways, we have drummed to a unified heart beat and meditated our way to peace of mind. We continue to light the World Peace Flame in the Whistler Olympic Plaza each year and rejoice with our local Whistler Children's Chorus and Whistler Singers to spread the sounds of peace. Some won a day of peace and others had the chance to speak their peace. We have raised funds for local groups in need and for global areas in crisis. We invited guests in harmony to share how they Peace it Together so we may begin to learn the Art of Peace, through film, workshops, arts, culture and communications.

The work of peace is a global effort and every positive celebration in the area is a step forward, we are very happy that our energy of peace is spilling over into other communities in the Sea to Sky corridor.

This year, our Mayor, Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and Council graciously recognized the United Nations International Day of Peace September 21 and have proclaimed the week of peace in Whistler, September 21 to September 27. We are very excited and grateful for this beautiful opportunity to bring more awareness, hope and the opportunity for people to get involved in future celebrations to make a difference in their own lives, families, schools, workplaces, communities and the world.

One of the greatest gifts of peace is to reach out to assist another we are very appreciative to the FE&A committee for their consideration of the Whistler Week of Peace Celebration for augmentation in 2013. I would like to personally thank Bob Andrea, Jan Jansen, John Rae and others at the RMOW for their patience, kindness and sharing of their knowledge as we learn the processes involved.

We look forward to bringing the world to Whistler to unite in the spirit of Peace in 2013!

Caterina Alberti

Director and Founder, Whistler Week of Peace

Congratulations Mark Blundell

I would like to congratulate Mark Blundell on receiving the Diamond Jubilee Award.

I cannot think of anyone more deserving of that award. Mark has been very active in the community of Pemberton. He works very hard for this community and is generous with his time and makes many donations.

Mark was very instrumental in the raising of funds for the Pemberton Dragon Boat Teams. He has always championed the 4H Club and supported its many activities. He has been an active member of the Pemberton Legion and a member of the Lion's club.

Mark and his wife Carolyn have privately helped many families and individuals in the valley, never seeking recognition but helping others because they are kind individuals.

Mark has always wanted the best for Pemberton and has been involved in many ways. He is past president of the Pemberton Chamber of Commerce and still works very hard with them. He is a past councillor for the Village of Pemberton and is the Alternate Director for Susie Gimse at the Squamish Lillooet Regional District. He is the present chair of the Pemberton Health Society.

Pemberton and District are indeed fortunate to have Mark and Carolyn Blundell as business owners and residents. They quietly go about helping people and working for the betterment of the community.

Congratulations Mark. It is a well-deserved award!

Elinor Warner

Lumby

Sliding event thanks

Three International bobsleigh and skeleton races with over 200 athletes, coaches and support staff makes for a busy, and long, three weeks.

As the Skeleton Race Director for all the races my job could not have been done without great people freely volunteering their time to ensure safe and fair races for all.

My gratitude goes out to the following officials — Rob, Nick, John, Francis, Tracey, Richard, Curtis, Glow, Brenda, Marie, Dawson, Kirk, Bridget, Michael, Beata, Cat, Christine, Doug, Lorne and the thirty odd crew and guest services staff at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Additional thanks to Mary Scott for hosting our visiting Ontario official, as well as USA Skeleton athletes Lauri and Kristina for their forerunning prowess, and Big Rich for his donation to the official's thank-you gifts. 'Til next time!

Diana Rochon

Whistler

Don't walk along highway, please

In the last two weeks since the new influx of workers/vacationers have arrived in Whistler, every night after picking my boyfriend up from work around one to two a.m., I am constantly having to dodge idiots walking/standing either along the side of the Sea to Sky highway, or blatantly in the middle of it — usually wearing black!

What people need to realize is that that this stretch of road is a HIGHWAY, one that has little to no lighting, and when in a car travelling at 60kph you are very hard to see, if not impossible!

Every year someone ends up getting killed by walking along this highway and I never really understood from a driver's standpoint until I became a driver myself this year, just how common these occurrences are.

To the young guy who was standing in the middle of the road at Alta Vista Tuesday Nov. 4 at approx 1 a.m., who was so drunk he could hardly stand that when I blared my car horn for him to move — he actually jumped into the way of my vehicle — I feel sorry for the driver who is going to hit you one of these days.

The fact that I had to swerve into oncoming traffic, and was lucky it wasn't snowing that night, leaves me feeling very little remorse for the idiots that decide it's a good idea to walk along our highway.

I would love to know what is going to be done about this? Each year someone is killed yet the new people to town have no knowledge of it, perhaps including this in the Spirit Course would be a good idea?

We have a beautiful valley trail that is for the most part ploughed and well lit for you to walk on. If you want to kill yourself perhaps find another way of doing it, so you don't destroy the person's life that is inevitably going to hit you with their car.

Tiffany Yovich

Whistler

Give way for yield signage

Not sure if the drivers in Whistler these days actually know what a yield sign signifies. B.C. law states, "Except as provided in section 175, if 2 vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time and there is a yield sign, the driver of a vehicle facing the sign must yield the right of way to all other traffic."

Three or four times in the past week I have been severely cut off to the point of my ABS activating to avoid people gunning it without slowing through yield signs.

Most of the incidents have occurred while I'm travelling southbound along Highway 99. Traffic is coming out of Alpine without slowing and often with barely a glance towards southbound traffic. This does not include the three times in the last two years I have ended up in the oncoming lane on my motorcycle during the summer, or the numerous times in my other vehicle, throughout the past few years.

Seems some of the residents of Whistler either are ignorant of the law or deem it beneath them. Gotta' love it when someone almost causes an accident and then responds by giving you the finger in their mirror.

Spencer Jespersen

Whistler

Christmas light display

Many thanks to the Municipality of Whistler and its workers for the wonderful Christmas light display in the Village.

It feels like a magical place.

Ian and Ann Johnson

Whistler