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Lights on, everybody’s gone home

Walking through the quiet streets of Whistler at 5 a.m. one morning last week, to catch the 5:30 a.m. Greyhound bus, I was appalled to see so many bright lights inside 90 per cent of Whistler Village stores.

Walking through the quiet streets of Whistler at 5 a.m. one morning last week, to catch the 5:30 a.m. Greyhound bus, I was appalled to see so many bright lights inside 90 per cent of Whistler Village stores.

What is going on? I know that security lights are a good thing, but surely a million watt light show inside each store is hardly necessary. What’s wrong with one small exit light left on?

I passed one activity booking store, whose desk computers were on full mode, the screen showing the running desktop! In this day and age where we are all trying to save that extra piece of cardboard for recycling, or switching off the garden lights. Come on Whistler store owners, let's see some energy saving initiative.

I look forward to my next early morning walk through the village....

Claire Mosley

Whistler

Douchebags indeed

I’d like to shake Andrew Mitchell’s hand for his essay “On Douchebaggery,” possibly the finest assessment ever penned regarding Whistler’s epidemic of callous, unthinking behaviour. While by no means exhaustive, his examples — littering, tagging, vandalism — are spot-on. And his remedial clarion call of active engagement the only logical way for citizens to share community vision with those who have no values. I’ve lost track of the times I’ve found smouldering butts/roaches on the disc golf course during high fire hazard, or picked up empty bottles, cans, coffee cups and plastic bags filled with dog shit (?) cast into the woods. What kind of person litters a verdant forest? If you can’t remember to clean up because you’re stoned, then duh … don’t be. Douchebag.

Certainly some of the guilty are visitors (during the WSSF, a Vancouver gang member who didn’t like being told to slow down for pedestrians in the conference centre parking lot got out of his car to spit in my face — nice) but far too many douchebags clearly live here. From whence their attitude? Nature or nurture? Is it possible proto-douchebags are triggered by unconscious trickle-down from background douchebaggery? Like, oh, I don’t know… the hypocrisy of preaching “sustainability” but practicing little more than sustained over-development, inexplicably looking to answer empty beds by littering the valley with yet more rabid construction? Greed-mongers, short-changers and Olympic gougers tagging every visible surface with dollar signs, corporate logos and registered trademarks? Vandalizing the environment with two-stroke commerce, razed forests and in-filled wetlands?

Not that there’s anything wrong with that… I’m just sayin’.

Leslie Anthony

Whistler

Homeless but not alone

I have been living in Whistler for over eight years now. Whistler is my home!

I just got back from a holiday overseas and thought that I would cut my trip short in order to get back in time to find a place to live. Not a "great place", not in a specific location, not with heated floors or mountain views, just a place! I have been looking I have been calling I have been asking everyone I know. I have e-mailed every property management company in Whistler and still nothing.

The worst part is I find I am not alone. Ask anyone you know and they will tell you that they have a friend in the same situation. Maybe it is the pipe layers and Kiewit workers that are taking the units, maybe their landlord decided to sell, maybe the landlords are "moving in"/want to rent it out for big dollars for the Olympics — whatever the reason I can’t find a home.

Whistler is about to lose its community! Whistler is turning it's back on people who love it. It's a shame really, but Whistler will find that after the Olympics those same people that had to leave will probably not come back.

In short, I am sad and homeless but not alone!

Andrea Mueller

Whistler

Too close to home, too far removed

How hypocritical our citizens are, and especially the females who howl the loudest.

The oohing and aahing over the little bear cub shot and killed outside the Whistler school: this baby orphan was the "pet of the school", how awful, how could anybody do this, etc.

Our present B.C. government, their first week in power, rescinded the previous government’s ban on bear killing for fun. Since then, the official government tally shows 1,600 bears have been killed for the fun of it.> Why no hand-wringing over this, but everybody gets all wrought up over one baby bear killed for fun?

Our government game branch promotes a full "harvest" of bears, mountain goats, mountain sheep, moose and the nearly extinct elk. They even have a special draw to see who gets the chance to kill the remaining elk for fun.

Where were all the whiners when our government asked the public for input a year ago on the proposal to use public money to recruit more females and ethnics into becoming hunters, and then instruct the newcomers in gun handling and the proper way to shoot our animals for fun? The object of course being to kill the biggest, strongest and wisest (oldest) of these species, a wonderful way to degrade the species.

In all probability, none of these sobbing females gave their opinion to government nor have they asked their MP why they support and promote this killing for fun. If we weren't so hypocritical we would be pleased the sadist at Whistler is just introducing the little kids to the fun to be had killing our wildlife.

Neil Thompson

West Vancouver

Pangea films bring us together

I would like to extend a big thanks to Tourism Whistler for screening the Pangea Day Films live at the Telus Conference Centre on Saturday, May 10. What a great way to spend a cold, rainy afternoon in Whistler, complete with coffee and cookies.

This global film “experiment” was broadcast to millions of people around the world via TV, the Internet and mobile phones. The event was created by Egyptian-American filmmaker, Jehane Noujiam, who used her 2006 TED Prize to demonstrate the power of film to inspire and compel social change.

This unique event encouraged everyone in the world to watch the same films, submitted by filmmakers of all levels, at the exact same time. Pangea Day included four-hours of short films, live music and visionary speakers including Queen Noor of Jordan, Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil, Dave Stewart, child soldiers and Palestinian-Israeli peace activists, and allowed us to view global issues through different lenses and viewpoints.

While many of us had no idea what to expect, the majority of us stayed the full four hours. Together these films moved us, frightened us, made us laugh and helped us feel closer to the world, making us realize that we have more in common than we have discrepancies.

Hopefully next year Whistler will have an even bigger screening and even feature the work of our local filmmakers. If you missed the event, all the films can be viewed at www.pangeaday.org.

Pina Belperio

Whistler

History is there, just not displayed

I would like to comment to the quote made by Ian Beardmore in Michel Beaudry’s Alta States article (Pique, April 10, 2008). Mr. Beardmore said: “I was visiting the local museum a few years ago… I was shocked to see that there was virtually nothing about the original Whistler Mountain visionaries.”

Though there was no display of his father’s era at the time of his visit to the museum, it does not mean that information regarding these years does not exist. Displays are continually changed for interest and space is VERY limited in the present location so all things cannot be displayed all of the time.

The Garibaldi Lifts Limited and the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association and the men involved are well documented in the information files available for research in the Archives. This material also includes the Canada bid books for the Olympics that have been on view many times over the years.

Hopefully, Mr. Beardmore made a tape or video of his event on April 12, 2008 and will add this history to the Whistler Archives. Stories of the past are always welcome.

Florence Petersen

Founder of Whistler Museum & Archives Society

Shooter should speak

We are all outraged at the shooting of 'little bear' at the high school last week, however I do not agree with some of the comments like, 'just lynch him'.

I do think that everyone should be accountable for their actions and perhaps a public forum could be arranged where the shooter is placed on a hot seat to answer questions from the floor. Students and residents could address the shooter.

Some of the questions they may ask: What did you hope to gain by shooting a baby bear? Why were you driving through our community of Whistler with a loaded gun in your car? What if the sow bear was there and charged, which is very likely? The list of questions is endless.

I think the shooter should be banned from Whistler for life, his driver’s licence (if he has one) revoked for five years and he must be on probation for five years. Punishment from those conditions is what he deserves but may be modified after we hear what he has to say at the forum.

Murray Coates

Whistler

Give Jeanie a chance

RE: bear sterilization

I'm amazed that there is opposition to sterilizing Jeanie, the 15-year-old Whistler bear, and thereby preventing her future cubs from becoming garbage conditioned.

Jeanie is so human-habituated after all these years that objecting to sterilizing a "wild animal" seems odd. Jeanie is no longer wild, she's been ruined by careless garbage habits and only the efforts of bear lovers have kept her safe from the usual results.

Of course it is preferable to deal with sloppy garbage handling and bear attractants in our neighbourhoods, rather than interfere with nature. Improved waste management and garbage handling are progressing as quickly as possible, but in the meantime let's protect the bears we haven't been able to keep wild. By sterilizing Jeanie maybe she will have a chance to live out her natural life.

Norma Rodgers,

Chair Lions Bay Bear Smart Committee <

Director North Shore Black Bear Society

Saved by the bike

I had the pleasure of saving someone’s life. Please read on.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, May 11th, an intoxicated person was stumbling home past Whistler Cay Heights on the footpath opposite the Valley Trail. This person was being chased by an evil villain/hungry bear/stalking cougar and couldn’t seem to narrow the gap between themselves and the attacker. Feeling the attacker closing in fast, the victim was panic stricken, terrified, not knowing how they would get away.

At just the right moment, they looked up and saw the moon shining ever so brightly, illuminating my 2007 baby blue and pearl Norco Olympia leaning against a cluster of trees at the back of my house.

Having to think very fast, within minutes of their defeat, they grabbed my bike and rode off, narrowly escaping. They made it home safely thanks to me, listening to my intuition and not locking my bike for the second and only time since having it.

Now if my bike could come home safe and sound just as you did, I would greatly appreciate it. In unlikely event of this scenario occurring again, it would be nice if the bike could be there to save yet another life.

This very extraordinary bike was special ordered for me last year, therefore it was unique in Whistler. So if you were the lucky soul who got away, have either heard this miraculous story from a friend, or seen my bike I would love to know! (604-907-2662)

P.S. Dear escapee, I will also accept a “Thank You” fruit basket upon drop off!

Kristin Begin

Whistler

Running for SAR

Almost 60 people turned up to enjoy the beautiful trails at the annual Mosquito Lake Run Walk last week. Over $700 was raised for the Pemberton Valley Search and Rescue, and that group was there to help run the race.

For some entrants the race is a fight to the finish with amazingly fast times for such varied terrain, but for many the race is a chance to experience the incredible scenery and enjoy the wildflowers and different vistas. The first three men were Chad Mills at 37.44, Kevin Phelps at 38.21 and Jeremy Hill at 41.04. The fastest three women were Arlene Schieven at 43.59, Michelle Lewon at 48.48 and Sharon Leinweber at 50.00.

Thanks again to everyone who came out, to all the volunteers who gave of their time, to the PVTA and especially to Sean Wolfe who cleared the trails and set the course.

See you all at the Spud Run on July 1st.

Arlene Schieven,

Jeanette Helmer