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I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in the recent Zoophorus music festival for putting on a fantastic day of entertainment.

I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in the recent Zoophorus music festival for putting on a fantastic day of entertainment. I was impressed at the foresight of Tourism Whistler and the municipality for endorsing the event and I’m especially thankful to the nearby residents whose co-operation was essential.

The folks at Upstream Entertainment provided excellent organization and created a fun-filled atmosphere for families, locals and visitors to celebrate music, dance and the end of summer. The large local turnout was amazing and the high respect for neighbours at the end of the concert was another testament to the spirit of people who live here.

Thanks to everyone who made this event possible and I sincerely hope the success will allow for future festivals.

Mike Mills

Whistler

 

I was one of the lucky people who were able to attend the sold out Zoophorus music event at the "Boot Fairgrounds" Saturday, Aug. 31 st . I would like to thank the principals Yanni and Derek of upstream entertainment for having the courage and vision to have an all-day, all-ages event with this calibre of musicianship.

I would be remiss in not acknowledging the nearby residents for putting up with the traffic and noise that day. I hope it wasn’t too much of a burden for you. I know your attitude was appreciated and I am hoping the level of respect when the music stopped just before 9 p.m. and the quiet exit of the concertgoers was also noticed. Further to that, the RMOW allowing the event and the Boot helping with the finishing touches also deserve kudos!

I hate letting a secret out of the bag but here goes: if you ever see an advertisement for an UPSTREAM ENTERTAINMENT event GO. Over the years these gentlemen have raised the bar for live entertainment venues in Whistler. Keep up the good work boys and thank you.

Rick Clare

Whistler

 

Zoophorus Festival, 2002

On Saturday, Aug. 31 st the Boot Pub and Shoestring Lodge hosted the first Zoophorus Music festival. The event was a huge success and I wish to express my thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it happen. Special thanks go to Derek, Yani, Rob, Darrell and all at Upstream Entertainment, Paul, Coco, Effe, Rainbow and all the staff who volunteered their time. To our Sponsors: Molson, Coca-cola, Mark Anthony Wines and Cascadia Wines. Gary from Sysco for providing food. Sabre rentals for all your support and efficiency and Intrawest for providing a seasons pass for our raffle.

On the day we raised over $15,000 for the Western Canadian Pediatric AIDS Society to help send children living with and affected by HIV & AIDS to Camp Moomba.

Thank you to all who attended and grooved to the sounds of The Living Daylights, Los Moscocos, Spearhead and Maceo Parker, and to all our neighbours for your support and understanding.

Ben Horne, Owner

The Shoestring Lodge, Boot Pub, Gaitors and the Boot Cold Beer & Wine

 

Re: A viable alternative, Pique Aug. 30, 2002

Mr. Morgan, you must be mistaking Whistler for Los-Angeles, you're talking about creating a higher speed, divided highway with six or more lanes. Well whatever more lanes you think would be viable for the corridor, your "floating interstate" will still funnel into Squamish and then, end up in Whistler, where I personally don't believe we have loads of room, space, stalls, underground parking or secret spots for more vehicles.

But then you're right when you say a straighter "freeway" would create fewer accidents (that's a no brainer ), but I have a better suggestion on that issue: S-L-O-W D-O-W-N.

How fast do to have to be up here anyways? Let's find other alternatives then having to spend hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars on road infrastructure. Think more in the likes of public transportation, especially if we host some Olympics the people of British Columbia cannot afford.

Eric Barry

Whistler

 

Just after riding my bike home from work, I read the letter from Helene Steiner regarding transportation alternatives coupled with your article featuring BC Rail's ailing passenger services. Helene argues that a rise in cost of fuel coupled with an extensive spending spree on infrastructure will produce a change in attitude, but what would the cost of gasoline have to be to compete with a $79 single adult round trip train fare, $10 per litre?

BC Rail's passenger service is suffering because the cost and time constraints are untenable. Unfortunately, the only choice many people have is the automobile, especially when travelling to Whistler; it's just sad that people choose six and eight cylinder engines over the leaner four cylinder or hybrid vehicle alternatives.

Helene's "vision" for transportation must focus on major urban centres where many commuters waste time and energy idling in overpowered vehicles. It would be enhanced by some simple incentives such as eliminating GST and PST on smaller hybrid vehicles. Cash incentives and/or excessive taxes will not modify the SUV crowd, but they might change the buying habits of young people. The next generation may learn to commute by bus or Skytrain and use electric or hybrid vehicles for weekend pleasure trips. We can also commute by bicycle – the only thing stopping you, is you!

Keith Kennedy

Via e-mail

 

Nancy Hyndman gushingly describes Spearhead's Micheal Franti as "the West Coast’s top word poet." I was just wondering if there is such a thing as a poet who doesn't use words?

Andrew Fleming

Whistler

 

This letter was addressed to mayor and council.

I was absolutely horrified to learn at short notice of the intention to amend the business bylaw #739 1989 and business license bylaw #567 1987 and the implications to all owners of legally zoned properties and the owners’ rights to market them with whom and how they wish. I also want to state most strongly that as an owner of a legally zoned TA property paying $18,000 per year in taxes I was not personally informed of this so I could get a proper legal opinion. I also feel as a tax paying owner of legal zoned property and a resident of Whistler I have a right to some answers to the following questions.

1. Why are we going to be required to be licensed when we already have a legal right to rent based on the property’s TA zoning and Phase one covenant?

2. Can you alleviate my concerns that allowing the RMOW to take away my licence, at its discretion and without public hearing, would infringe on my rights to rent out my property in an owner direct manner and advertise with whomever I choose? And further, can you assure me that I would never have to agree to future bylaws that would infringe on these rights? For example, if a bylaw stated I had to book through a property manager or have a front desk or do it through resort reservations. The implications to me is that Whistler could become a police state where rentals are concerned and that in the future our rights to rent as individual owners direct to the public could be stopped. Council must look very carefully at what the future impact of this could be and have a very clear mandate that licences could only be revoked for certain things pertaining to rental issues, i.e. over crowding, repeated noise complaints, garbage complaints, street parking, health and safety issues etc. This does not give the municipality the power to start to tell people how and with whom they must rent their houses.

3. Why do we have to give information regarding our business i.e. rent, rates, guest information etc. when no other business in whistler has to do so? I am concerned as to what the motive is here?

4. Under The Canadian Privacy Act, I was under the impression that I was not allowed – by law – to pass on my right and obligation to my guests or to give out their personal information without their consent. I would be very uncomfortable doing it and think the municipality should be careful too.

In conclusion, I am in favour of some sort of licensing and if council is going to look at this then it should be in place of the current TA zoning. Council should take this opportunity to allow anyone to apply for a license to rent and to market his or her property, and by obtaining that license they pay TW taxes and have to comply with bylaws that cover areas appropriate to running a high standard rental establishment. These should include:

• fire and safety;

• noise;

• hours of got tub use;

• maximum sleeping capacity;

• parking;

• garbage;

• contact person in Whistler.

Failure or repeated failure to comply with the above would result in their license being revoked for a period of time until they comply with the bylaw. Three license suspensions would result in the license being taken away for good. There also needs to be room for the person to appeal through council.

However, the current suggestions, apart from giving the bylaw department possibly draconian powers, would appear to me to be hitting those people who are already renting legally, paying their taxes and in total compliance with the existing municipal bylaws. Yet the suggestions fail to address people who are renting illegally and not complying with the current municipal bylaws. I strongly object, and will continue to object, to the proposal in its current form.

I ask council to consider what I have said carefully and turn this round and use it as an opportunity to get rid of TA zoning and get a licensing format that is fair and just and applicable to everyone. The solution should be based on direct rental issues and complaints, and not as it is at present on matters in which the bylaw department has no right to meddle.

Susie Goodall

Whistler

 

Vacation rental licensing proposal: greed or the Olympics?

I'm somewhat puzzled what is the real agenda behind such a proposal when property owners have already paid their share of taxes and fees in Whistler? Is greed taking over common sense and good governance or is there a bigger reason – the Olympics?

Whistler wouldn't be what it is today without long-time property owners like us who've been paying our fair share of taxes and fees over the years to make it grow. Now that we've put Whistler on the map, some greedy politicians decided that it's time to seize control over the rental market and erode property owners' rights to the minimum.

Is this the result of lack of interest from property owners to "hand over" their properties to the Olympic Family for nothing? Or are we living in a "Big Brother" community without knowing it?

M. Tang

Whistler