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Letters to the editor for the week of October 3rd

Hoedown thanks
opinion_letters

Hoedown thanks

Here is part of my thank-you speech for my recent Harvest Hoedown fundraiser. I was happily shocked at the outpouring of financial support. But really, even without the money, there was enough love and support in the room to cure cancer:

"To the Wildwood owners and staff for volunteering the space and person-power; to the tennis club for a huge kid-friendly place.

My coffee posse and dear friends for being the first to say, "let's raise some money!"

Sam and Susan for saying, "yeah we're ALL IN honey."

Kasi and Rachael for event planning extraordinaire.

Susan and Linda for doing "everything auction" with perfect flare.

Paula for knowing her way around a website,

Tess for creating a ribbon necklace so bright.

Pique Newsmagazine for the beautiful ad.

The Whistler Question for tickets so rad.

Alison Taylor and CBCN for launching my media advocacy career.

Amy for her crazy "hoedown" idea.

All who donated the food, the drink and to the silent auction —

Your art, your skill, your "Best of Whistler" options.

All the volunteers — too many to mention.

We all know you run this town full of good intention.

To the anonymous foundationfor making a big surprise donation.

To Tara for keeping the event rolling with smashing narration.

Glenn for the best Tracy Chapman cover back in high school.

Community band for playing the jazz, oh so cool.

Jeremy for the music that helped me get through this time, and last.

Scriptease for the improv — wasn't that a blast?

Heather, Chantal and the Vibe Tribe for the healing beauty of dance.

Our very own DJ Peacefrog for providing a groovy trance.

Carol and Yuko for reminding us to BELIEVE

that there is grace and beauty in cancer and a long healthy life to achieve.

My husband, my children, and family who support me with their unconditional love,

and finally, all of you who came here to support me and my family — I'm in awe of.

Believe.

Believe in your town.

Believe in the miracle of modern medicine working together with the natural world to achieve a cure.

I love and thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

Patricia Stoop

Whistler

I'm not coming to Whistler anymore

So I've been living in Whistler for over two years now, but my Dad has been coming to Whistler on ski vacations for over a decade.

I received a phone call from him the other day asking, "Should we start planning our ski trip to Colorado again for next year? I'm not coming to Whistler anymore."

Residing in Ontario he usually likes to come and ski out West once a year.

Our experience in Colorado last winter far surpassed any recent trips to Whistler. Customer service was far better, the weather was great and our dollar goes along way these days.  

Understand, my father is 63, retired and likes to ski groomers on sunny days.

Whistler no longer appeals to him.

Should Whistler Blackcomb be worried about the baby boomers that make up so much of the population choosing other destinations?

I believe they should.

James Boose

Whistler

Time for a change?

Thank you for your article on sexism ("Opening Remarks" Pique Sept. 19).

It is nice to see feminism being written about, especially from a place like Whistler, (home of the "bro-brah") although I couldn't help but contrast your editorial with the first page of your classified ads.

I think that perhaps it is time to turf the "adult services" section. I don't think you need the add revenue that much, do you?

Abe Kingston

Lytton

Citizen advocacy at work

The visit of Fisheries Minister Gail Shea to the North Shore last Tuesday was more than a response to the recent public comments by John Fraser and Dave Brown of the Sea to Sky Fisheries Roundtable (Pique Sept.26).

Her visit reflected two key elements of a healthy democracy — engaged citizens and a responsive government.

Fraser and Brown have demonstrated an exemplary passion for the protection and enhancement of a sustainable fishery. Articulate and well versed on fisheries issues, they and other volunteers have in response to my invitation assembled on a regular basis over the last four years in what we have come to know as the Sea to Sky Fisheries Roundtable.

This group of 15 or more activists has consistently stepped up to provide guidance for our government, and for me as your MP. The guidance has been patriotic, non-partisan, sometimes critical, but always constructive. 

Theirs is the role of a "vigilant citizenry." As someone once said, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. The roundtable has through its efforts helped me effect a solid record of measurable results in the fisheries — results that occurred partly through their efforts, and partly because we have a government that listens, and responds.

I am proud of minister Shea, as she came and met with our roundtable so soon after Fraser and Brown published their letter, a letter that was as critical as it was constructive.

Minister Shea showed up and received deserved praise for helping implement some of the things we in the riding have supported through her consistent dialogue — the minister has been here three times.

The achievements are many: an aquaculture study performed by the Fisheries Committee; the creation of a new fisheries habitat partnership program in Budget 2013, under which the roundtable and the Squamish River Watershed Society just received funding for groundbreaking projects; a boost, also in Budget 2013, for the Pacific Salmon Foundation; and other things. The Roundtable also asked the minister to move forward on other things, notably, to provide a response to the Cohen Report. 

Given her track record in responding to local constituents, I have no doubt that she took seriously the requests that were put before her.

More importantly, we saw once again the playing out of an important step in the cycle of a healthy democracy — the dance that occurs between an engaged, vigilant citizenry and a responsive government.

John Weston, M.P. (West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country)

Back from China

Thanks to everyone who helped me prepare to represent Whistler at China's Zhangjiajie Music Festival this past August: Martini Bart and the gang at Alpine Café, Chloe Thomas of Nicklaus North Golf Course, Harvey Lim of Art Junction Gallery, Keith Ray and Jackie Brousset of Whistler Chiropractic, Colin at Whistler Brewing Company, Kevin and Scott at FanatykCo, Les and Dave at Southside Diner, Jeff, Lisa and Dana at the RMOW, Ro Davies of Whistler Golf Course and my musical, partner-in-China, Jon Shrier.

And, of course, a huge thank you to my co-workers at the Whistler Public Library (Libby, you're the best!), my family and all my friends who showed up without coercion or complaint; would never have been able to step out of the box and onto the stage without your love and support!

Laura Nedelak

Whistler

GE foods not welcome

Thank God many local and regional lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution on genetically engineered (GE) foods at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference.

The resolution requests that the provincial government enact legislation prohibiting the importation, exportation and production of GE foods. Tragically, the Village of Pemberton has no official position on this important issue, even though I sent a letter about the GE resolution with information on GE foods in July 2013.

Consumers should be very concerned about GE foods. According to the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), GE foods are approved for human consumption based on data that is secret and not peer reviewed by independent scientists. Nor does Health Canada conduct any testing of GE foods.

In addition, GE plants contaminate other plants because the genes from any crop can move, via seed and pollen flow. GM crops also give rise to increased pesticide use, herbicide tolerant weeds, and the expansion of industrial farming (see http://www.cban.ca/Resources).

Let's keep up the pressure on the provincial government to enact legislation banning GE foods in B.C. by writing to your MLA and the Minister of Agriculture, Pat Pimm (AGR.Minister@gov.bc.ca).

Louise Taylor

Pemberton

Parking lot not part of plans

In response to the Whistler Blackcomb (WB) posturing in the September 26, article, (Pique, page 22) where was Doug Forseth during the planning and agreements prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics?

I am an owner in the At Nature's Door development. Prior to the Olympics I was a member of the At Nature's Door Olympics Committee to review and monitor Olympic plans pertaining to our homes. Time and time again we were provided letters and advised by the Vancouver Olympic (Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games) and WB that the Dave Murray run area would be restored to its prior condition after the Olympics. Since there was no paved parking lot prior to the Olympics it seemed reasonable to believe that there would be no paved parking lot after the Olympics.

Now, I understand that WB seeks to redefine the meaning of "restoring the site to its prior condition" to include a paved parking lot and lights. In other words, where bears grazed and people walked their dogs, I will now view a parking lot and light poles from our deck.

I am very disappointed in WB management.

I believe that legal action is necessary to stop this transgression, or in the alternative, compensation should be paid to all of the Nordic area residents for this project, which reduces the value of the properties and adversely impacts the owners' benefits.

It is also quite brazen for WB to dispute and attack statements in the ("Stop the Paving of the Dave Murray Downhill") petition to stop the parking lot due to secret discussions between WB and the Olympic committee over the scope of the remediation plan. Notwithstanding the list of unimportant arguments raised by WB in the recent article, the essential fact to remember is that WB admitted that it did plan to put in a paved parking lot with light poles. On this essential question, the petition was correct.

Also, why were the Nordic area residents not represented in this remediation plan? More importantly, why was the prior agreement to return the property to its condition before the Olympics not reflected in the remediation plan?   

No, it appears that this process was not transparent, and that WB is trying to slip something through three years later under the guise of an Olympic remediation plan that actually is not a remediation project, but rather a new project that alters the prior condition of the site.

Students of American history may recall that this strategy always worked well for the U.S. in negotiating treaties with the American First Nations.

In closing, I do not know Phillip Langridge, but I appreciate his petition because Mr. Langridge is "right" and WB is clearly "wrong" on this matter.

David R. Reid

Whistler

(Editor's note: WB's VP of planning and special projects, Doug Forseth, said last week in Pique that the site has not been fully restored due to the significant investment in infrastructure completed as part of the 201o Winter Olympics, which may make it a strong venue to host future competitive events. He said the skiing experience has not been significantly altered, and that the area would not be used for parking unless it was critical to do so.)

Look before you leap

Before we all jump on the river diversion and hydropower projects bandwagon, we should know the cumulative effect on the Lillooet River watershed, a major tributary of the Fraser River, of the attendant dams, tunnels, roads and power lines.

Is this really "clean power," with documented fish habitat destruction and severe impacts on grizzlies and other wildlife?

And is this "free enterprise," with the government (us) under long-term contract to buy this power at inflated prices?

I, for one, feel that grave long-term environmental and economic impacts to all British Columbians are being ignored.

Jeanette Helmer

Pemberton

A lasting legacy

The Sea to Sky Clean Air Society and the Squamish Watershed Society would like to thank everyone that volunteered to plant native trees and shrubs in Whistler and Squamish as part of the Sea to Sky Habitat Improvement Project (S2S HIP).

Despite rainy conditions, many groups and individuals turned up to help restore several important riparian areas, which in turn support clean air and water as well as provide habitat for many species, including at risk species like the red-legged frog.

A huge thank you goes out to the funders that made this project possible, CN and Tree Canada. We are also grateful for the presence of their representatives at our events: Francois Boucher (CN), Constable Bart MacMillan (CN), Constable Norm Witzell (CN) and Christian Walli (Tree Canada).

The support of our partners the Resort Municipality of Whistler and District of Squamish, as well as the presence of mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and mayor Rob Kirkham, and councillors Jack Crompton and Patricia Heintzman were greatly appreciated.

We are also so grateful for the hard work of the RMOW Fish and Wildlife Technicians, WB Habitat Improvement Team, Whistler Waldorf Grade 3 class and the BCIT Ecological Restoration class for readying the sites and planting the bulk of the trees.

A big thanks goes to Creekbread, Starbucks and Squamish Rotary Club for making sure our volunteers were well fed and hydrated.

Finally, the additional support and involvement of the following individuals and groups were also greatly appreciated; Bear Aware, Squamish Streamkeepers, Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council, Squamish Nation and Toshi Kawano.

The support and collaboration of so many community partners made for a successful project that will leave a lasting legacy in our communities.

For more information on S2S HIP, as well as ways of getting involved in future projects, please visit www.seatoskyairquality.ca.

Kim Slater and Edith Tobe

Sea to Sky Clean Air Society & Squamish Watershed Society