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Letters to the editor for the week of February 27th

Thank you to a Good Samaritan and the Whistler Fire Department On Friday morning, January 31, our home on Rainbow Drive suffered a chimney fire.
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Thank you to a Good Samaritan and the Whistler Fire Department

On Friday morning, January 31, our home on Rainbow Drive suffered a chimney fire.

Due to the swift actions of a Good Samaritan passing by, and alerting our tenants and the Whistler Fire Department, no lives were lost and the home we have lovingly built over 38 years was saved.

We are so grateful to the Good Samaritan, the Fire Department, our insurance company and for the support of our family and friends during this very stressful time.

A heart felt thank you to all of you!

Adair (Doc) and Margaret Green  

Whistler and West Vancouver

Where is the moratorium?

I have been trying to make some sense of MP John Weston's jabberwocky reply to Dave Brown's concerns regarding the implementation of the Bruce Cohen salmon recommendations.

Is it true that after spending $26 million dollars on this report your government has dismissed its findings and has now sold out more salmon farm licenses for the farming of Atlantic salmon along our sensitive coastline?

Could you just answer yes or no?

And if yes, then on behalf of your constituents and all eagles, bears and every other salmon dependent species, could you not approach this salmon-farm lobbying, oil-driven government to refund the $26 million spent on the Cohen report or abide by the report, which strongly recommends a moratorium on salmon farms.

Also, I would be very interested in knowing how many conservative MPs serve only wild sockeye on the barbecue — now that they have insider information regarding fish farm virus' that are now plaguing these farms.

Geoff Swan

Whistler

Resuming salmon aquaculture in B.C.

When first elected in 2008, it didn't take me long to understand the importance of fisheries in our riding. With several well-versed local volunteers, we formed the Sea-to-Sky Fisheries Roundtable to bolster my service to constituents on fisheries.

I wrote the prime minister in 2009, asked questions in the House of Commons, and, along with others, requested action on dwindling salmon stocks. His response was the courageous Cohen judicial inquiry.

In 2011, our government took the initiative to postpone decisions on most new salmon aquaculture licenses until the Cohen Commission had reported its findings. What the government is doing now is consistent with Justice Cohen's recommendations: to resume the review of applications for new aquaculture sites and amendments to existing sites in B.C.

The restrictions on the Discovery Islands area will remain in effect for the foreseeable future, consistent with the Cohen Recommendations and in recognition of its important location along the Pacific sockeye migration route.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector worldwide, now supplying over 50 per cent of the global demand for fish and seafood. In Canada, aquaculture is worth over $2 billion annually and employs more than 14,000 Canadians. It's clear that aquaculture is a real economic driver — especially for our riding.

After the low returns of 2009, more than 30 million sockeye returned to the Fraser River in 2010 — the most in almost a century. In 2013, the sockeye runs were above average and 26 million pink salmon returned, more than double what was expected. Other rivers saw similar encouraging results.

The challenge is developing aquaculture that is economically sound, as well as environmentally responsible. As your MP, and a member of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, I will continue to work for the protection and sustainability of Canada's wild salmon.

John Weston, M.P.

West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country

Whistler Empty Bowls filled

On behalf of the Whistler Pottery Club I would like to extend a big thank you to the local businesses and individuals who contributed to the success of our Empty Bowls Fundraiser held at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) this past Friday.  

This event was a huge success; local potters contributed well over 100 beautiful bowls that took centre stage as the guests selected their favourite bowl, a youth ambassador from the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations welcomed us to their world-class facility with a Feast Song, and guests dined on the delicious soup offerings and bannock from local chefs while gazing at the stunning views of the Lost Lake woods and local mountains from the SLCC's Istken Hall.

The hard work and generosity of the local community in Whistler, and throughout the Sea to Sky corridor, was inspirational — everyone truly "opened their hearts to fill an empty bowl" in our local community. As a result, we raised $3,725.00 for food banks in the Sea to Sky corridor; Whistler Community Services Society Food Bank, Squamish Food Bank and Sea to Sky Community Services Society's Pemberton Food Bank.

A very special thanks to our event partners, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and its amazing staff especially: Casey Vanden Heuvel, Gwen Baudisch and Judith Thompson for sharing the beautiful venue, the delicious bannock and for working so hard in the planning, organization and execution of Empty Bowls. We truly could not have done this without you!

Thank you to the local chefs, businesses and individuals who contributed in support of this event: The Four Seasons, Alta Bistro, Westin Grill & Vine and Gone Bakery for its delicious soup offerings, Whistler Roasting Company for providing coffee and raffle donations, Slope Side Supply and Roots for their contributions.

Thank you for the generous raffle donations from: Nesters Market, Creekside Dental, Blackcomb Liquor Store, Roots, Nonna Pia's Balsamic Reductions, Michael Faiella, SLCC and Ceramic Artist, Laurie MacCallum. Thanks also go to the Whistler Arts Council & the Whistler Museum.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to those that volunteered at the event and contributed behind the scenes to assist us in getting the word out and in helping out to ensure it ran so smoothly. Thanks goes to: Shaw Cable, Pique, The Lost Duck, Green Barn Pottery Supply, Plainsmen Clay, WCSS staff and volunteers, Community Foundation of Whistler, Val Litwin, CEO, Whistler Chamber of Commerce, Whistler Cooks, Sea to Sky Community Services and the Squamish Food Bank.  

In addition to showcasing what a kind and generous community we have, this event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of our talented, local potters, and a big thanks goes out to them and the Whistler Pottery Club members who contributed and assisted.

We plan on holding this event next year and we hope to see everyone back again for Empty Bowls Whistler, 2015!

Margaret Forbes,

chair, Whistler Pottery Club

Step up and take part in community

It's been two months since Miss Delilah Firle May joined us, and I have to say the world of parenthood has been pretty amazing so far!

Shayne and I have always appreciated this amazing little town we both grew up in, run our own businesses in, and now get to raise our daughter in. Pemberton is a wonderful place to call home for so many reasons, but it is truly the people that make this community special!

We cannot begin to express our gratitude for all the love and support everyone has shown us over the last few months!

Babies bring many changes, and for me personally it has included the decision to work less and spend the majority of my day at home with our daughter. As much joy as this brings me, it has sadly meant the end of my work with VCH and my lovely seniors!

Change is sometimes hard, but with it comes opportunities, which brings me back to the people who make this town amazing. Each person contributes to the weave of fabric that makes Pemberton a community! For such a small town it's incredible how many services and programs we have available for people of all ages.

Some people are paid, while others volunteer to make things happen for the rest of us, but we all have a responsibility to learn what this town has to offer and to get involved.

Too many times I've heard, "I didn't know that was going on." I've even said it myself, but the truth is, if we want to know, we'll find out.

So, I'm doing my part to spread the word... please welcome Fran Hopkins, the new VCH Home & Community Care leader.

If you are over 50, have family members who are, or you want to volunteer with seniors in our community, I encourage you to contact Fran 604-698-5380 or frances.hopkins@vch.ca and introduce yourself.

Find out what's going on, because the Pemberton seniors are a fun group of people! Trust me, 50+ is the new awesome and from what I have had the privilege of witnessing over my last six years with VCH, life only gets better the older we get!

Thank-you for all the memories!

Lindsay May

Pemberton

Timing flats parking lots a safety risk?

Nordic drive is a steep road with a tight, reverse camber-S bend halfway up, followed by a fast C-bend. A few inches of snow invariably leads to cars getting stuck on the hill or sliding into the side.

The proposed car park will lead to several hundred cars (the vast majority without appropriate tires) speeding up the hill, their occupants itching to shred some powder (or at least wait an hour in the Creekside gondola line-up).

Come the afternoon, those that didn't crash in the morning will be rushing down the hill to return home (a few more crashes!), and will then try to nip across the highway to the southbound lane.

One can guarantee long lines down Nordic, with occasional extra delays due to inevitable accidents crossing the busy highway.

To top it all, at peak time there are many pedestrians (including my children) walking along the upper part of Nordic to access the ski hill.

Putting a car park on the flats will be a safety disaster.

Who will take responsibility for the inevitable accidents?

Ciaran Keogh

Vancouver