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A frustrating wait

A frustrating wait

I'm not one for writing letters, whether that be to newspapers or friends and family or Santa Claus. But this time I have both the time and the motivation!

I have been following the numerous articles and letters over recent years with regard to the challenges employers face recruiting sufficient numbers of skilled workers, not only in Whistler but more recently in the Lower Mainland in general. Having first come to Whistler five winters ago I fell for the place almost immediately... I knew within my first week that somehow I would find a way to make this my home, whatever it took. In the 3.5 years since I applied for residency under the Skilled Worker scheme I have only become more passionate about fulfilling this goal.

I have probably been as determined as anyone, having bought a house in Squamish, where I now live, before even securing a job here. Some would say that is reckless, but in the current property market I would argue it's a good investment whatever happens. It has definitely been a stressful and frustrating tactic though... not that I expected such a lengthy process when I set out.

Anyway, I was one of the lucky few who managed to secure a sponsored work permit through a company in Vancouver where I have been working for the last year. I guess I should be thankful that it only took three years to make the right contact... and on a chairlift at Cypress as it happens!

So you may think the moral is to be extra determined (and carry your resume when skiing) and then it will all work out happily (eventually)... but it doesn't seem to be that easy.

My work permit has just ran out as, contrary to the Canadian High Commission info, they have not finalized my residency within six months of securing employment in Canada. As a good boy I anticipated this and started the process for an extension of my existing one year visa. Unfortunately the company did not supply the correct paperwork for the extension, as even their immigration expert didn't understand the process... so the extension was rejected.

However my residency application is at the stage where I have had to send off my passport to the UK so they can issue the visa... so here I am not able to work (ie. zero income), not able to travel but told by Immigration that I must leave Canada (ie. can't return to UK and work without my passport) and have nothing but time while I wait and wait and wait.

Perhaps I've just been super unlucky and I realize much of this is to do with timing that sucks, but if this skills shortage issue B.C. is facing is ever to be resolved then for one thing the authorities need to consider how many educated, experienced candidates they think they will attract with a four- year wait time during which you are not permitted to ask for an update. It's not as if the salary is enough to attract many applicants from UK/Europe so you better hope the lifestyle remains the determining factor, as it was for me.

If anyone from back in UK was to ask me if I would recommend applying for residency I honestly don't know what I would say... I love this place more than ever (especially since discovering the biking trails), but I wouldn't wish the frustrations and stress involved on anyone.

(PS: Barry Thomson received his papers giving him landed immigrant status on June 29.)

Barry Thomson

Garibaldi Highlands

Sounds and smells of summer

Summer is at last here, but along Alta Lake Road this brings the persistent sounds and smells of environmental pollution. Carney’s diesel trucks coming along the road to pump out the holding tank at Rainbow Park — at a cost to us, the tax payers, of well over $8,000 for the summer period.

Carney’s are also at the International Hostel daily — sometimes twice daily — at an estimated cost of well over $40,000 annually, and so the air is constantly full of diesel fumes together with the unpleasant odour of raw sewage which fills the air when the tanks are being pumped out.

With still no sewer hook up being provided along Alta Lake Road, not only is the lake being polluted with effluent leaching from old septic systems — which many of the homes have — but the atmosphere is also being polluted.

Installation of a sewer line along Alta Lake Road was recently estimated to cost $3 million, so please could the municipality spend some of their $59 million reserves as of January 2006 (as reported by Alison Taylor in Pique Newsmagazine of June 21st, 2007) on providing this long overdue and worthwhile facility to the original Whistler subdivision and adhere to the much-flaunted sustainability concept.

Gay Cluer

Whistler

Science behind TNS

Re: Explain the science of TNS (Pique letters June 21)

Thanks to Judi Kryzanowski for her letter two weeks ago requesting an explanation of the science that forms the foundation of the Natural Step framework. The framework is based on the scientific laws of Thermodynamics underlying natural systems that are well known and accepted by scientists. It can’t be explained in less than 300 words, so for more information, visit www.naturalstep.ca/basic-science.html.

Dozens of scientific journal articles have been written on sustainability and TNS, some of which can be found on this same site under “Publications & Resources.” As many people know, it is inherent in the scientific process to always question and try to disprove established knowledge. In fact, the TNS framework has grown stronger over the years through ongoing scientific scrutiny and peer review.

So how are we using TNS in Whistler to save our snow and the planet — all while creating local long-term economic viability? The TNS framework is embedded into Whistler’s sustainability plan (Whistler2020) and is our compass for decision-making and action execution throughout the community. It has resulted in on-the-ground actions such as: the decision to use a district energy system for the athletes’ village and legacy neighbourhood, where the primary energy source will be waste heat from the sewage treatment plant; temporary flaring of the gas from our landfill (projected to reduce GHG emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year); and the True Local merchandising program that will sell more sustainable Whistler-branded products, promote Whistler and generate revenues for our sustainability education programs. Among other non-municipal applications, the TNS framework helps to guide Whistler-Blackcomb’s programs, it is the foundation of the sustainability education component of Ziptrek Ecotour’s very successful adventures, and it helped guide the design of Whistler’s community greenhouse project.

We’re starting to move Whistler in the right direction, but we have such a long way to go and need everyone to take action. Through science, community involvement and deliberate action, we can accelerate this journey toward sustainability and success together. Whistler2020 and TNS can be used to guide the everyday actions of individuals, businesses and organizations. Please visit whistler2020.ca to learn more about sustainability and how you can contribute. Go to “Sustainability” and “What is Sustainability?”

Shannon Gordon,

Whistler2020 Community Engagement Manager

Resort Municipality of Whistler

Foolish moments

To the person who walked away with my bike and corresponding bag from in front of La Rua on Tuesday night (June26th), you got away with one of the easiest capers in town. The bike was easy pickings but that does not mean it deserved to be taken.

The monetary value of the bike was not as important as the sentimental ones. The bike was given to my wife for raising money to support the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation, in turn, was given to me for Fathers Day.

The bag that was on the back, as you may have found out, was quite the score. I was on my way home from work and it contained a lot of my personal belongings. The two items that are most important are my five-year-old son’s eyeglasses and my birth certificate. If you don’t know, the birth certificate is a pain to replace. I can only hope that the person who did this is still in town and has a heart to know what’s best.

The bike was a seven-speed Schwinn, gray with pink pin striping, gray fenders, black tires and rims. If you are so inclined you could leave my son’s glasses and the birth certificate at Behind the Grind (discreetly) or call 604-905-6632. The bike would be nice as well.

Chris Susko

Whistler

Summer without wheels

To the people who took our bikes,

We woke up on July 2 nd to find that you had borrowed our mountain bikes that were on our back deck. Maybe you were at the super loud Canada Day party somewhere in our neighborhood of White Gold Estates and you needed some transportation home after the party. Could you please return them to us? We won’t ask any questions.

We just started our summer break and would love to ride our bikes. We are certain that you won’t want to keep them as they must be too small for you to ride.

Please return them to 7321 Toni Sailor Way, we would be extremely grateful.

Bronwen age 11

Red Norco Mountain Bike

Amanda age 12

Silver Mountain Bike

As a mother of St’at’imc children

I pray for a proud and healthy future for our children everywhere.

I pray for the health and well being of our family and our communit ies .

I pray for courage, strength, and wisdom to carry on forward one day at a time t owards rea ching our dreams , visions , and our highest potential as people .

As a mother of St’at’imc children, I pray daily that o ur words and actions be truthful and bring no harm to self, others or to the land.

I s ay to the children that the Earth is our Mother and that we are all Children of Earth . How all living things, the animals, birds, and fish, are indeed our brothers and sisters. T h e Earth brings food and She feeds us so we can live to be strong in mind, body and spirit.

When we harm or forget to show respect to the Earth and all of the living things, we in turn, hurt ourselves. I tell our children that is why we have the responsibility to be good caretakers of this Earth.

O ur forefathers paved the way for us t hrough m any sacrifices and hard work s o we can live to breathe and enjoy life and prosper in our communities today .

I say to the children that their ancestors are watching over them , protecting them all the time. T hat is what my Buddhist grandmother taught me when I was little .

Our three-year-old son said the other day: “When we pick up garbage, we are looking after Mother Earth right Mommy? S o we can make H er happy.”

I told him that his ancestors will be very proud of him, and he gave me a big smile.

This may seem like an exaggeration but is it really?

There is a n old saying in Japanese: “Chirimo tsumoreba yamato naru.” Even a mere trash will eventually pile up to form a mountain .

I believe a child can feel a highest honour when they can know that t heir actions and what they pay attention to will make a difference in this world a nd for the next seven generations.

Last year, the father of our children s pent many days and overnights b y the Sacred Fire in peaceful protest . His family members and relations were served court papers for sitting on the road. My children and I were proud of their dad and kin for taking a stand against resource extraction, for defending the St’at’imc Declaration of 1911 and what it stands for, to protect the old growth trees and homes of the mule deer that cannot speak.

Children understand that their brother deer gives his life to us, to provide food for us. A t pre - school, the children learn to make traditional drums from scratch with deer hide. Uncle Gerald shares his dances with real cedar costume and carved animal masks i n our little Blackwater Creek Elementary School. Us ing the drums made from the deer , o ur neighbour Uncle Marty comes to teach and lead the St’at’imc songs and dances.

Many of our children are already blessed to “live by experience” this connection and one day, they can l earn from their fathers, uncles, cousins, how to hunt the right way. We have the duty to guide all our children everywhere how to share and care, t o look after all our natural resources in a responsible, selective, and sustainable way.

Let us not depend blindly on schools to teach our youth or depend on television to influence them. Let us bring spiritual education back in our homes and in our communities. Let us visit and invite our Elders to our homes so they can tell stories to our children.

Let us not forget to support the good work that is already being done by teachers, elders, uncles and aunties in our communities who share work and knowledge, who honour and value education and tradition, strive to live by example, and seek harmony with nature.

Otherwise, 50 years from now, when the old forests are gone and the animals are gone, and no more drums or regalia are to be made, no more hunting, no more deer meat for the St’at’imc people, what will our youth have to tell their children and their grandchildren?

Mariko Kage

Raising children in N’Quatqua

Art thief strikes again

The Whistler Arts Council would like to thank all the artists and venues taking part in ArtWalk 2007. Also, thank you to all the participants who took the tour and enjoyed the opening receptions last Friday.

Unfortunately, on the evening of Monday, July 2, a piece of artwork was stolen from the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa. The artist is Lawrence Hislop of Lions Bay, and his piece, named “Nexem Beach Pier”, is worth $2,000. When a theft like this occurs it is the artist and the Arts Council that pay the price.

If anyone has any information concerning the theft, please contact the RCMP, file #JH-07-02-07, or the Whistler Arts Council.

Ali Richmond for

Whistler Arts Council