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Letters to the editor for the week of March 28th

Staying alive This very grateful skier would like to thank all the people involved in saving my life on Tuesday March 19, 2013.
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Staying alive

This very grateful skier would like to thank all the people involved in saving my life on Tuesday March 19, 2013.

It was my second run of that awesome, powder day when a ski pre-released on me and I crashed my ribs into a frozen chunk of snow in the trees below Franz's Meadow. Luckily, I was skiing with a buddy and patrol was quick to respond and get me oxygen quickly.

With four fractured ribs, a punctured, collapsed and filling lung and a torn spleen, only timeliness and expertise allowed my survival.

I remember a few of the names of attending patrols and physicians (seven at one point, I was told) but there were probably at least 25 people involved when you include folks like dispatch, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and technicians.

When they got me to Whistler Health Care Centre a doctor there stuck a tube into my chest to drain the fluids and help expand my collapsed lung. I was stabilized and transported to Lion's Gate Hospital where the staff kept me stable and monitored.

I could have easily died if the whole thing hadn't gone so smoothly. I've had time to think about it and it's really a miraculous and fantastic system that's in place and it's comprised of amazingly gifted and trained people.

I am truly a lucky guy to have made it and literally owe my life to all of these great people.

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you everyone!

Jim Barrigan

Whistler

Thank-you Mr. Rohda!

I think that I can say that I speak on behalf of a great many of the Whistler/Sea to Sky not-for-profits in thanking Rod Rohda for his dedicated leadership of the American Friends of Whistler (AFOW) over the last seven years.

I for one will miss his quiet philanthropy and continual work to raise funds and awareness among the generous American members of our community. The AFOW has been so very generous to us and Rod and his wonderful wife Laurie have led the way.

Following the untimely death of Jeff Harbors, the co-founder of AFOW, Rod stepped up to take over the presidency and has been dealing with the many funding requests until this year. So many groups in this community have been the recipients of the AWOF's generosity — The Whistler Public Library, Whistler Search and Rescue, Community Services, WASP, Bear Aware, WORCA and, just recently, the Walk Safe Program to name a few.

I am happy to hear that Rod will remain on the Board when Gary Raymond, the new president ,takes over. Gary is well known in our community and will ensure the continued presence and success of the AFOW.

Once again, thank-you Rod for all that have done and continue to do for our community, your second home. I am so glad that you chose Whistler!

Alix Nicoll

Whistler

Maxed Out with hypocrisy

I'm tired of G. D. Maxwell and his hypocrisy over petroleum (Pique March 21, 2013).

The vehicle, which runs on petroleum, just delivered the newest addition of the Pique to the grocery store. I turn to page three and see the Nesters ad, whose shelves are loaded with products delivered by trucks run on petroleum that are running up the Sea to Sky by the dozens each day.

The Opening Remarks article on page six calls for highway improvements to the highway from Whistler to Pemberton using more asphalt, a byproduct of petroleum manufacturing. Page 11 has a nice advertisement for snowmobile adventures showing a petroleum-powered snowmobile flying through the powder. On page 12 a story about the recent avalanche on Spearman highlights how the Blackcomb patrollers got the emergency call and immediately "flew out by helicopter" that was run on petroleum. There are large heli-skiing ads throughout the paper. The article on page 32 about the Mars rover is interesting. How does G.D. Maxwell think the rover was launched?

It seems that without lots and lots of petroleum not only would this town be in big trouble but G.D. Maxwell himself could be out of a job.  

Lastly, I can't resist pointing out that the sports section is filled with ski and snowboard stories. Skis and snowboards use plastic, and guess what it is made from?

Please take note that I did not say, "I hate G.D." as the use of the word is tasteless. Especially when it is applied to a person one has never met, like Stephen Harper.

Perri Domm

Pemberton

New crosswalk lights

Thank-you RMOW for installing pedestrian crosswalk lights at this busy intersection (of Lorimer Road and Northlands Blvd.). Often it felt like we taking our life in our hands as our family walked across the street. We appreciate this increased safety precaution.

Melanie Sundquist

Whistler

Nordic wrap-up

The Whistler Nordics recently wrapped up the 2013 Nordic Toonie Race Series.

It was a great season of racing at Lost Lake.

Congratulations to the following winners of the Race Series: Men: Camille Cheskey, Women: Marie-Claude Laski, Boys: Matthias Shorter, Girls: Julia Long. This season's races included orienteering, relays, a classic race, combined, sprints, and a poker run, amongst more traditional formats.

The Toonie races would not take place without all the volunteers and local businesses that sponsor them — special thanks to Craig Mackenzie, Lorraine Vollmer, Margot Murdoch, Antoine Arcand, the RMOW staff and volunteers who look after the trails, series sponsors: The Nordic Shop, Ryders Eyewear, and Scandinave Spa, and après sponsors: Whistler Nordics, Avalanche Pizza, The Den at Nicklaus North, Samurai Sushi, Pasta Lupino, Cross Country Connection, Zinetti Lasagna, Alpine Cafe, Riverside Cafe, Rainbow Electric, Black's Pub, Rimrock Cafe, and Source For Sports.

The racers appreciate all your support and the delicious après — we hope to see even more Nordic skiers out at the races next year. Don't forget to head up to Whistler Olympic Park for the Sea to Sky Nordic Festival on now until March 30th. Come out and cheer on the best Nordic athletes in Canada and North America!

Suki Cheyne

Whistler Nordics Ski Club

I thought I had done it all

Thank you to the Pique and G.D. Maxwell for the great feature titled "Quintessential Whistler" (Pique, March 21, 2013). It reaffirmed why my wife and I like it here so much.

My first trip to Whistler was in the mid 1960s. I returned to explore the local mountains often: during the mid '70s as an avid UBC VOC member, in the early '80s as a backcountry skier and telemark instructor; and regularly thereafter when my parents purchased here in 1986. Now my wife and I live here part time.

As I read through G.D.'s recommendations of the "must-do" activities for tourists and locals alike, I was pleased to be able to assure myself "Ah ha! I've done that!" including an ascent of Wedge Mountain, North Arete route, in the mid '70s with antique gear, including a wooden ice axe which now hangs in the front hallway.

Nearing the end of the article, I came to the final "Advanced" challenge: Sex in a canoe. My smug-self exclaimed with delight "I've done that too!"

But reading further, I realized I have fallen short... now I have to recreate this experience in winter, and on moving water!

Ya got me there, G.D. Thanks for the inspiration.

Dave Milligan

Whistler and Victoria

Buyer beware...

After reading the Pique this week, I am left quite disappointed in the lack of discretion that the Pique editors have when filtering letters that are published in our local news when they would be better directed to other channels when the article is (criticizing) a luxury property in our wonderful town.

It is unfortunate that the Pique did not use (its) influence to steer the guest of Whistler to the correct channel in which to make their complaint. Many of the properties in Whistler undertake monitoring programs to seek feedback from our guests. These channels include guest surveys issued upon check out, reviews (on) Trip Advisor, and often involve reaching out to guests to gain information on ways to improve their properties.

If this complaint were redirected to one of these channels it would be (recognized) and responded to in the way that this property (saw) fit. Many properties spend hours on evaluating this information and introducing innovative ways to overcome shortcomings that have been highlighted. My concern is that the letter to the editor segment should be about issues that impact our local community, not a source of complaint for our guests. Our local newspaper should be supporting local businesses not creating an avenue for guest complaints. It is a true shame that this one slipped through the cracks.

It is generally known by all consumers that hotels around the world have a website with amenity information regarding extra charges and inclusions. They pass this information on to their third party sellers. These third party sellers indicate this on their websites. Their sellers are trained to inform potential guests of these additional charges. If you truly believe that you were not informed then there are additional safe guards to ensure you are aware.

Once a reservation is made these extra charges are detailed in your confirmation letter. Not only that, when you enter the hotel there is a wonderful valet that greets you and informs you of your parking charges and how your car will be taken care of. Then you will be met by a bellman that will take your bags to your room and as they take your skis to ski valet for you, they inform you of the charge to be incurred with ski valet.

Upon check in you are given many details about the hotel, Whistler, and any extra charges you may incur such as extra person fees or Internet charges. You will also be given a welcome booklet that indicates all amenities available and any charges that may be associated. When you pick your skis up in the morning, there is a sign at ski valet, which indicates the charges that you will incur using this service. When your check out day comes, you are issued an invoice, which clearly indicates these charges.

You make your way to the front desk to check out and the front desk agent will outline your charges with you and confirms your form of payment. I understand that these charges are something that you are not used to paying in "the real world" but did you really want the real world when you came to Whistler for a family vacation? Did you not come here for all the luxuries that a ski resort is known for? Did you not choose the property you stayed in for the combination of the available amenities, convenience of location and value for money?

It is unfortunate that properties at this resort get slandered regarding extra charges. I am unsure of why when agreeing to a contract of sale that (customers) do not educate themselves on the fine print.

When buying a car, do you look at the fine print as to what inclusions you will receive for the discounted car you are purchasing? Not all cars come with a sun roof, and if you were to assume this was a feature of the car, when it was delivered to you, you would be quite disappointed — upon questioning this, the car salesman would inform you that this is an added extra that would incur a fee — just like the staff that you encountered through out your time in Whistler.

I agree there are a lot of charges that you can potentially incur at any property in Whistler, but the "nickel and diming" that so many guests proclaim, is to allow choice for each guest. Not everyone comes to Whistler to ski, therefore ski valet is an extra fee — don't like it, then store the skis in your car and carry them yourself back to the hotel.

Not everyone tries to jam three adults into a room that is more suitable for two adults; therefore there is an extra charge. This extra charge is to cover the additional cleaning costs and wear and tear that the extra people place on these rooms that we need to ensure are in "luxury property" condition for future guests.

There is an additional charge for parking, this is because Whistler heats the parking, has security to protect your vehicle. And if outdoor parking is where you are parking, how do you think we pay for snow clearing of the access roads leading in and around the parking stalls you park in?

To assume that Whistler Blackcomb is falsifying their advertisements regarding snow in Whistler is hilarious. It may have been raining on Thursday, but if you were here on Wednesday you would have been in for a treat — a fantastic snowfall was received by our beautiful mountains.

Guests often forget, that Whistler Blackcomb cannot control the weather, we do not have a little man in the sky that controls snowfall... and let me tell you, if they did I'm sure that that they would make it snow mid week more often so the locals could get in some well needed R'n'R. If you had of looked at the forecast you would have seen the signs, we all knew it was going to rain on Thursday as the weather channel indicated this — something all consumers with access to Internet have available to utilize when making a decision as to whether they should in fact go to Whistler on the last minute deal they saw online.

I hope in future the Pique redirects these complaints to hotels and informs the writer that there are more appropriate avenues for hotel feedback.

For all future guests, I apologize on behalf of all staff of the resort town of Whistler that we charge for the luxuries made available to our guests.

We do have charges to ensure that we provide you a high level of service; hospitality and access to the resources that make Whistler one of the most highly visited resorts in the world.

We love having you stay with us and we hope you return, we just hope that you understand the forest in Garibaldi Provincial Park does not have a money tree that we source to fund these amenities. When you develop this species of tree in "the real world," please send us some seeds and we will be sure to put this money toward ensuring you can visit us for near next to free.

Ainslie Conway

Whistler

Upper Lillooet Hydro Project

As reported in your most recent edition (Pique, March 21, 2013), the March 18 IPP information meeting at Pemberton was well attended and informative. There are — however — still many unanswered questions. For example:

• Why has the provincial government ignored requests from our community for a land use planning process to address the influx of energy proposals in our area?

• Why is the provincial government so intent on developing the Upper Lillooet project at this time?

• Why is the Lil'wat Nation — which usually defends the environment — supporting this project?

• Is there a contractor out there willing to bid on such a huge and controversial construction project? Will they have the expertise to do the job properly?

I am opposed to the development of the Upper Lillooet, as I believe the potential damage to our environment greatly exceeds any potential benefits to the province.

While river diversion projects may be appropriate on some streams — if and when we need the power — the current Upper Lillooet proposal is, in my opinion, unacceptable.

I believe the vast majority of the residents of the Pemberton Valley are also opposed to this project. Will the upcoming provincial election provide the platform for our voices to be heard at last?

Allen McEwan

Pemberton

Being responsible for your dog

A fun après at Dusty's, dogs to say "Hi" to at the entrance and a funny dog tied to a tree.

Leaving Dusty's I went to the grocery store. I came out to a friendly dog wearing a man's tie, not a collar, not a tag and not tied up. The nice dog stood by the auto-opening doors. Obviously the person who thinks they own this dog was in the store. I stayed with the dog and pissed off the dog's owner by asking why the dog did not have a collar, tag or lead-tied up.

Apparently this dog is six-years-old, so it's OK that the owner does not give a damn. Rather than sharing more of my feelings I am listing some of the bylaws regarding dogs in Whistler:

Dog Licenses:

• No person shall keep any dog in the Resort Municipality unless a valid and subsisting license has been obtained for the dog under this bylaw.

• No person shall permit any animal to be running at large in the Resort Municipality.

I now see another dog out on their own between a busy parking lot, a busy road and Highway 99. What this bylaw info tells me is that dog owners should give a damn.

A licence, collar and lead are not expensive, the life of a dog is priceless. It seems I am the person who is going to keep sharing these stories with hope all dog owners will give a damn.

Leslie Weir

Whistler