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Letters to the editor for the week of December 6th

BC Parks' plan for the Spearhead Thank you for your recent editorial in Pique Newsmagazine that echoed the public support for draft amendments to the Garibaldi Park Master Plan in favour of backcountry huts in the Spearhead Range (Nov.29, 2012).
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BC Parks' plan for the Spearhead

Thank you for your recent editorial in Pique Newsmagazine that echoed the public support for draft amendments to the Garibaldi Park Master Plan in favour of backcountry huts in the Spearhead Range (Nov.29, 2012).

However, the editorial also voiced continued support for heli-skiing in the park and I question the arguments given. I agree that heli-skiing is an important part of the local economy and is also important to Whistler-Blackcomb to help distinguish it from other resorts. The real issue, however, is not about the value of heli-skiing. The issue is whether the continued support for heli-skiing in the park is appropriate for long-term planning in Garibaldi Park.

First off let's be clear that any changes to heli-skiing in Garibaldi Park will have very little effect on Whistler Heli-Skiing, which has an enormous tenure outside Garibaldi Park and will continue to operate with or without skiing in the park.

The key motivation for the current amendment to the 1990 Master Plan is to give BC Parks guidance to deal with the huge changes that have taken place and will continue to take place in the Spearhead area of Garibaldi Park.

In particular there has been a tremendous growth in backcountry skiing in the Spearhead area and BC Parks is proposing to allow backcountry huts in the Spearhead Range. The draft amendment should say, "To explore whether BC Parks should be phasing out heli-skiing in the park." It is essential that any amendments to the Master Plan give BC Parks staff the ability to assess whether continued heli-skiing in Garibaldi Park is compatible with hut development and the goals of the park.

The development of a hut system in the Spearhead area will elevate this area to a world-class backcountry ski destination comparable to the internationally renowned Wapta Traverse in the Canadian Rockies or the famous Haute Route in Europe. Backcountry skiers will come from all around the world to experience the unique natural setting and beauty that this area offers. Heli-skiing in the Spearhead area will have a very significant negative effect on the quality of experience that these visitors will have. No other world-class backcountry ski destination overlaps with heli-ski tenure.

The current draft amendment will also severely restrict BC Parks in its efforts to develop a successful hut system. It has been suggested in the analysis behind the amendment that conflict between backcountry skiers and heli-skiing could be mitigated through appropriate hut positioning. A well-developed hut system needs to consider a wide range of issues regarding hut location such as appropriate spacing between huts for backcountry skier's safety. I feel strongly that if BC Parks is required to relocate huts to avoid conflicts with heli-skiing that it would result in very inappropriate hut locations. Perhaps it should be the other way around and heli-skiiing could be relocated to accommodate hut locations?

It is also important to point out that Garibaldi Park belongs to all the people of B.C. not just Whistler-Blackcomb. We should be asking if heli-skiing is compatible with the goals of the park and all park users.

Currently all motorized activity is prohibited in Garibaldi Park. Heli-skiing is inconsistent with the goals of the park and is only allowed because of a grandfather clause that goes back to the 1960s. Since the 1990 Master Plan there has been a tremendous growth in mechanized activity in all areas surrounding Garibaldi Park. Backcountry skiers are increasingly looking to Garibaldi Park as an area free from motorized recreation. It is inappropriate to continue heli-skiing in the park without addressing this issue. The phasing out of heli-skiing in the park was widely supported in 1990 and continues to receive large public support.

The importance of backcountry skiing on the local economy is very significant and also needs to be acknowledged in this debate. Backcountry skiers take the lifts to access Garibaldi Park, they eat in restaurants, stay in hotels, shop, hire guides etc. There are approximately 10,000 backcountry skiers in southwest B.C. and about 50,000 in B.C., Alberta and Washington State – all of whom are interested in visiting Whistler and its incredible backcountry. The area also draws backcountry skiers from other parts of North America and Europe. With the proposed huts, this interest will increase significantly. Yet there are negative economic effects of allowing heli-skiing to continue in Garibaldi Park: For example, Whistler-Blackcomb is starting its' own backcountry guiding operation. What will their customers think of having heli-skiers buzzing overhead?

It is not necessary to see this as a conflict between heli-skiing and backcountry huts. By allowing heli-skiing to operate and grow in the huge existing terrain outside the park, the precious solitude of the park can be kept undisturbed and used to enhance tourism.

If Whistler is going to be world-class we should want world-class heli-skiing AND world-class backcountry skiing. Allowing heli-skiing in Garibaldi Park is not world class.

I would urge readers to submit their comments to BC Parks on the draft amendments to the Garibaldi Park Master Plan. Public input on the draft amendments is now being sought and will be accepted up to Jan. 10. A public open house will be held (today), Dec. 6, at the Whistler Conference Centre.

John Baldwin

Whistler

Mountain biking should be considered

This year BC Parks has undertaken an update to its 1990 management plan for the Spearhead Area of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Following extensive consultation from a wide variety of interest groups, which included WORCA, in November 2012 BC Parks published a Draft Management Plan Amendment for the Spearhead Area of Garibaldi Park for public review.

While increasing mountain biking access was considered as part of the management plan update process, the draft Plan concludes that there will be no change to the policies established in 1990 and that no expansion of mountain biking access in the park will be considered moving forward.

WORCA is advocating for a change to BC Parks' policies on mountain biking in the Spearhead Area that would open the door for the possibility of increasing mountain biking access in the park over the next planning horizon.

WORCA understands the challenges associated with increasing mountain biking access and are respectful of BC Parks' conservation values and the importance of maintaining what is currently a high-value wilderness experience in the park. WORCA recognizes that very careful planning; design and management are critical to the success of multi-use trails, particularly in alpine environments.

WORCA supports the concept of expanding mountain biking in the park in a manner that adheres to internationally recognized trail design standards, minimizes conflicts with hikers and provides a low environmental impact, high value recreation resource. WORCA would like to be recognized by BC Parks as an active partner and resource for issues and new development relating to mountain biking access in the park.

The Spearhead area of Garibaldi Park is adjacent to and accessed from the Resort Municipality of Whistler, a world leader in mountain biking and multi-use trail stewardship. Mountain biking is a well established, growing and highly valued form of non-motorized recreation for residents and visitors to the Whistler valley. The 2013 Management Plan Amendment presents an opportunity for BC Parks to acknowledge its close proximity to the world's premier mountain biking destination and develop a management objective moving forward that keeps an open dialogue with WORCA and other local stakeholders supportive of mountain biking access.

Emily Mann, WORCA Director of Planning

Whistler

Bring on the food waste

I am thrilled to learn that we finally have an organic composter Sea to Sky Soil, up and running in our corridor. Congratulations Sea to Sky Soils. I am delighted that the municipality is looking into taking Whistler's food waste to aid this facility ("Sea to Sky Soils wants Whistler's food waste," Pique Nov.29, 2012). It's enlightening to see this supportive behavior from our legislators.

In the past year, our landscaping company alone ordered more than 400 yards of quality compost from Vancouver. That translates to roughly 10 dump trucks with trailers travelling up and down the highway and increasing our carbon footprint. As it is our mandate to provide "organic" gardening this is not supportive of our environmental beliefs.

There remains a problem. Currently the Whistler Compost facility is using biosolids (a.k.a. sewage sludge) in its processes. International Organic Standards prohibit from the use of this potentially harmful product (See www.planetnatural.com/site/compost-sewage.html).

Composting is the foundation of sustainable gardening. A top-dressing of quality compost will provide most of the nutrients for lawns and gardens. It's all a pretty simple analogy to the forest, where the leaves and debris fall, decompose and then feed the plants. If only we followed Mother Nature's lead from the start we would not be playing such desperate "catch up" now!

You don't see anyone applying fertilizers in the forest do you, the natural processes have been working since the ice age ended. Let's get away from using synthetic fertilizers, which are created from nonrenewable fossil fuels. Synthetic fertilizers cause a plethora of environmental and health problems (See http://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/synthetic-fertilizers/).

Composting is the sustainable answer and we should encourage the production of an organic source in Whistler.

If the municipality is also concerned about a "lack of wood fibre" to compost at both facilities perhaps it should reconsider its tipping fees for commercial organics.

Plenty of landscape companies in Whistler do not haul their organics to the Whistler facility simply because of the cost. Eliminate the tipping fees, gain the wood fibre — it's a win-win. This may also prevent the "irresponsible" landscape companies from dumping at Wedgemont and other illegal sites.

Let's continue on our "sustainable" walk and start scraping our plates towards producing a compost that we can actually use.

Carolyn Rodger

Certified Master Organic Gardener

Whistler

Back-off tailgaters

It's that time of season again when the roads are covered with ice, snow and puddles of water.

Everyone needs to do their part in driving safe to keep everyone safe. Don't tailgate me in the pitch dark and pouring rain when I'm already going above the speed limit. It's not going to make me go any faster especially not when your damn headlights are shining at me in my rearview mirror.

Don't get mad at me for being safe and obeying the law because the highway only has one lane sometimes.

Don't give me the mean stare, or shoot the finger when there are two lines and you can pass. You should be thanking me for possibly saving your ass! People don't learn until it's too late. If you're in a rush, that's your problem — don't put others at risk.

If you want to speed, go to a racetrack. The Sea to Sky highway is not made for speeding — it's for people to travel to beautiful places. You tailgaters don't make it pleasant and should back off!

Teresa Mah

Whistler

Cohen Report

Well there you have it — The Bruce Cohen report on the ongoing annihilation of salmon in our province.

Eleven hundred pages, eighteen months of hearings and twenty-six million dollars later we have uncovered the same main reasons that wild salmon are extinct in Ireland, Norway etc.

For a twenty-six cent text message to the department of fisheries in Ireland we could have saved some funds.

"Hello?....How come your salmon over there are no more?....what's that you say?....diseases, viruses, sea lice from salmon farms and over fishing with methods that are unsustainable."

So having received this vital shocking report what does the conservative (government) do? Table Bill C-38, which increases the tenure of the existing salmon farms, dismantles environmental protection agencies and orders another study. Where did the $26 million go? Well to start with $12,409,596 went to lawyers — I should say no more in case they sue me — and a further $1,980,479.29 went for communications. I guess the price of stamps went up.

Geoff Swan

Whistler

Frank Silveri shares his story

After many years of silence I have decided to share my side of the story regarding the asphalt plant/quarry operations in Function Junction, the industrial centre for Whistler, B.C.

As you are aware, I have been demonized in the papers, on social media outlets and at council meetings for no reason. I have done nothing wrong. Although the politicians and the anti-asphalt people are loud in their protests against the quarry and asphalt plant operations, they have taken it to a personal level. I don't know about you, but I don't think I would appreciate the fact that my father, husband, uncle, friend were being vilified in the papers as some kind of monster when all he was doing was providing for his family, all in a manner that meets all provincial and local rules and regulations.

The Cheakamus Crossing anti-asphalt protesters are entitled to express their opinions as long as those opinions are based on the facts of the situation, and only the facts. To have some CC resident complain about the smell of the asphalt plant when the waste water treatment plant (Pronounced POOP PROCESSING PLANT) is closer to their homes than the asphalt plant is very suspicious. Then they complain about the "smoke" coming from the asphalt plant when it is actually steam that is emitted. They move on to the poisons in the air, health issues and all of the other materials that anti-asphalt protesters use in the course of their dialogue with the media and the community. Meanwhile, none of the meaningful facts are revealed by these protesters. They continue to provide half-truths or misinformation to confuse the issues.

Each and every resident that purchased a unit at CC had to sign a "Disclosure Statement" outlining the quarry and asphalt plant operations and the consequences of living near such facilities. While some of the residents were quick to sign the disclosure statement, they were equally as quick to start their protest against the quarry operations to the point of personal attacks on me. These continue today on some social media outlets that purport to represent the CC community.

The local papers have printed some of the protestors' mistruths in the "Letters to the Editor" section of the papers, without doing any research to verify the "mistruths" or "misinformation" contained in those letters. To their credit, the local papers have requested interviews from me and I have been reluctant to agree to these for fear of being misquoted and escalating the debate about the quarry operations.

All I know is that we have been servicing the community for more than 20 years, have stayed in the same location and been a good resident and corporate citizen from day one.

I have attached my "Letter to the Editor" for you to publish in its entirety, without removal of any points. This is the truth as I know it to be and I would invite you to conduct your own investigation to confirm the data contained in this letter. I am a very private person and I do not wish to make a lot of noise or allegations about the entire "5-years of hell" situation, but I cannot sit back and let the mayor and council sterilize my business. Nor can I continue to allow the anti-asphalt people to spread misinformation about me, my family or my business. Everything in my letter is true.

Whistler Aggregates and Alpine Paving are both owned and operated by the Silveri Family. The Silveri family having been serving Whistler and the surrounding communities since 1978.

Whistler Aggregates (WAL) and Alpine Paving (AP) began mixing asphalt in Whistler in 1989 in a pit location known as W-7, owned and operated by Sabre Transport in the industrial area known as Function Junction, in Whistler, BC. Alpine Paving paid to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) $750 for the rezoning application for this property. The person in charge for the RMOW was John Nelson – Director of Public Works.

In 1997, WAL / AP moved the asphalt plant some 1000 metres into another pit known as W-6, at the request of the RMOW (The current RMOW Mayor was on Council when this request was made and approved). I inquired about the rezoning application to operate the plant at its new location and was verbally informed by Brian Barnett, Assistant City Engineer, that everything was OK with the asphalt plant location in pit W-6, as it was properly zoned for the asphalt plant and quarry operations.

In 2004, I purchased the license of occupation for the quarry site for Whistler Aggregates Ltd., from Sabre Transport. I continued on with the business of making sand & gravel and mixing asphalt during the purchase period. Prior to the final purchase agreement being signed, I did my due diligence by contacting the RMOW, informing them of my intentions to purchase the quarry operation and I specifically asked the RMOW if the quarry would become a problem after the Athletes Village was built and occupied. I even met on site with Mike Vance from the RMOW, and was assured by Mr. Vance that the asphalt plant and quarry operations would not be a problem because the operations met all of the Municipal Bylaw criteria, and was located far enough away from the proposed athletes village to not pose a problem. Mr. Vance informed me that I should proceed with the purchase.

In 2004, shortly after the completion of the quarry operation purchase, a meeting took place in Whistler at the Municipal Hall with attendees Bill Barratt (CAO) Joe Paul, Mike Vance, Valerie Lowther from the Integrated Land Management Bureau and me. At this meeting, the RMOW asked me if I could keep the mining operation moving further away from the new athletes village site and leave a portion of the existing mine site as a buffer between the asphalt operation and the new athletes village.

My companies, WAL and AP, carried on doing business and I had an excellent working relationship with RMOW until May 3rd, 2011.

In March 2008, I was approached by the Province and asked if I would make the necessary applications, and do the required surveying, to make the previously discussed land exchange (Item 4 above) legal. This was to be done as a favour to the Province and the RMOW. I (WAL / AP) agreed to the exchange of lands as requested. We would receive an equal amount of land further south in exchange for the area that would form the large buffer zone between the community and the asphalt plant.

We were then required to enter into a formal application process to the ILMB for the new land, which included producing several studies, the hiring of consultants and many other professionals that ended up costing WAL / AP over $45,000, in order to have the new section of land rezoned to comply with RMOW IP1 zoning. This also required that the RMOW rezone this land. With all of the land exchanges taken into account, the overall mine site was enlarged by 0.1 hectares! I incurred all of these costs with no help from the Province or the RMOW.

Whistler Aggregates installed power lines in the Summer of 2009, at great

Expense, to eliminate a noisy and fossil fuel burning "generator set" that formerly powered the crushers and asphalt mixing facilities.

10. I remained engaged with the RMOW and was reassured by the legal opinions of the RMOW solicitors that WAL / AP met all criteria to operate the asphalt mixing plant in its current location. WAL / AP agreed again, as another favour to the RMOW, to move the plant an additional 150 metres away into a secluded portion of the quarry in order to maximize the distance away from the Cheakamus Crossing community. In order to do this, the land had to be cleared and leveled and aggregate brought in to create a foundation for the new work areas, all at my expense. The RMOW continued to assure me that Council would approve the rezoning applications and that there would be no problems.

The RMOW also concluded that moving the plant location further away from the village and installing a NEW ASPHALT PLANT (at a cost of +/- 2 million dollars) that would meet all Metro Vancouver air emission standards, and exceed Provincial air emissions standards, was the best option for both parties. The RMOW was to pass new Bylaws to create more strict air emission standards and rezone the property, as per their commitment to me (WAL/ AP).

12. Some of the RMOW Council (Referred to in the local social media sites, as the "Fab Four") all of a sudden, had NO intention of rezoning the property. At council meetings, motions regarding rezoning the WAL property were either deferred or defeated. All of a sudden the Council decided that WAL was not operating their asphalt plant in compliance with the RMOW's zoning Bylaws and that was that. We (WAL / AP) were unsure of just what was going on at this time as the Mayor and the CAO of the day were quite sure that WAL / AP was operating within the definitions of the current zoning bylaw.

13. In the mean time, the Mayor and several other senior staff officials at the

RMOW had been assuring me that they would NOT move my operations from the current mine site.

In the Spring of 2011, the RMOW Council did an about - face and instructed staff to have RMOW's legal council send to WAL a "Cease and Desist order" effective May 13, 2011. My lawyer determined that we could continue to operate the facilities until such time as this matter would go before the courts. We were allowed to continue to operate the asphalt mixing facility until the court hearings and the Court's final determination on the legality of the RMOW's cease and desist order.

The annual RMOW paving contract was called in April 2011. My company, Alpine Paving, was the only bidder.

Council rejected Alpine's tender based on the "future litigation" the RMOW anticipated receiving from WAL / AP over the rezoning issues. No litigation orders were ever given by me.

Council instructed Staff to re-tender the 2011 Annual Paving contract, with some additional work to be performed (and to make the retendered package legal) with the proviso that "no asphalt is to be manufactured in the RMOW". Staff was also instructed to seek out other companies that would be willing to bid on the 2011 paving program, by any means possible, including soliciting their bids by phone. This would appear to be an unacceptable "tender call" practice for Municipal projects.

Tender # 2 closed on May 19/11 and once again, Alpine Paving was the low bidder. (There were 2 other bids at substantially higher numbers).

On May 26, 2011, council rejected the tender once again and asked staff to seek legal council on awarding the contract to the 2nd place bidder (not Alpine Paving), even though the other bids were a minimum of $ 100,000 higher than Alpine's tendered price.

In November of 2011, the RMOW & WAL attended the Supreme Court of BC to argue their cases. The RMOW insisted that the existing zoning did not allow for the manufacturing of asphalt and WAL argued that the existing zoning DID allow for manufacturing of asphalt.

In January 2012, the Supreme Court of BC sided with Whistler Aggregates Ltd. and confirmed that WAL was operating within the RMOW's land use Bylaws and zoning. I (WAL) would be allowed to continue the operations that started back in 1989.

In the Spring of 2012, the RMOW again called their annual paving contract but insisted, via a "Special provision" in the contract, that the "Asphalt produced for this project must be produced at a facility / plant located a minimum of 3km from any existing Whistler residential developments." This virtually "Sterilized" my new Whistler Aggregates asphalt plant and forced the paving materials to be shipped all the way from Squamish, at an additional cost to the RMOW taxpayers of $55,000!!! The extra GHG's that were put into the air because of the RMOW's tendering tactics should disqualify the RMOW from any claims of being "Environmentally friendly."

The new purchasers (residents) of Cheakamus Crossing were given every opportunity to make themselves aware of the quarry / asphalt plant operation, that I would continue to operate in their community, via a "Disclosure Statement" contained in their sales agreement. These residents were required to sign this disclosure statement in order to complete their purchases. Then, after their sales completed, a few of them decided that they did not like the disclosure statement or the quarry or the asphalt plant. They then began their campaign against the asphalt plant and quarry and me personally.

I have stated the facts according to the historical records and you are welcome to verify them with the people and agencies involved.

I also invite your dialogue on this matter and especially invite your comments. Please send them directly to me.

I am still wondering what I have done so wrong to receive the personal criticism by the local media, when I have followed and, in fact, exceeded all of the Provincial and Municipal rules and regulations that affect my operations.

I still wonder about the reasons for the "FAB FOUR" and the "NAP" for demonizing me and trying to destroy my livelihood and that of my employees and their families. The Social Media anti-asphalt campaigners are still out there and the local media continues to report their misinformation, without reproach. Perhaps they should be held accountable for their actions in the local media or in the courts of BC, and this is the beginning of that.

28. These are the facts of the case, as I, Frank Silveri, know them to be.

Frank Silveri – President

Whistler Aggregates Ltd.

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 

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 Highland (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 the 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 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 Kky 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 Almighty that all of us together make an effort for prosperity and development of our beloved Squamish and Whistler.

Amrinder Singh Ghangas

Garibaldi Highlands

Global Warming — our defining issue

I have a few comments in response to Louise Taylor's letter of last week ("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