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Letters to the Editor for the week of June 28th, 2012

Whistler U response
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I have been inundated with calls of support for WhistlerU, so I would like to clarify the situation.

WhistlerU submitted a letter to municipal hall on March 29, 2006 indicating it would pursue returning the Alpha Lands to the original zoning that included education. The land had been downzoned in 2001 as part of a blanket rezoning of all RS1 land in the community.

During the past six years we have held focus groups and met with every group that invited us to give details of our proposal. We listened and incorporated many of their suggestions. We met with the First Nations to listen to their educational needs. We also worked hard to gain partnerships that would bring two of B.C.'s finest institutions (UNBC and BCIT) to the WhistlerU campus. BCIT happens to have the longest waiting list of any post-secondary institution in B.C.

Meantime, the staff recommended that the Council hire a consultant to examine post-secondary education in Whistler. Rather than hire someone who truly understood B.C. education, they hired a statistician from Toronto who produced a report that suggested an institute approach to post-secondary. Interestingly, as this report was being written the staff sought a proposal from Capilano University and secretly negotiated a tentative MOU with Cap that would require the municipality to provide resources and space.

The Capilano University proposal was presented the same night as the consultant delivered his report to council. Clearly, the whole process was manipulated by staff.

Fortunately, the last election intervened. The MOU that staff negotiated was only made public at the last council meeting and we were informed it had not been signed.

On April 5, 2012 WhistlerU submitted a re-zoning package to the staff in accordance with standard practice. We presented to council's Committee of the Whole on April 17, 2012 and were well received, and told that council would deal with the proposal with dispatch because they were "open for business." We should not have felt so optimistic.

Staff produced yet another report for council, which was delivered last week, and which council unanimously endorsed. It calls for a nine-month community engagement process to discuss what post-secondary education should look like in Whistler. It also calls for the hiring of another consultant to act as project manager.

At the council meeting the mayor said we would be contacted by staff to tell us the disposition of our re-zoning package.

Needless to say, we were not contacted, so our architect had to call to ask. We were told we would receive an email explaining our re-zoning proposal was on indefinite hold. No email has yet been received. The whole process, and our treatment, suggests to us that our confidence in the new council changing the way staff in the planning department operate may be misplaced. We truly hope not.

In response to the council's action, I have received incredible support asking that we not abandon our proposal. One citizen, on his own initiative, set up a Facebook page to support the proposal, which in less than a week now has over 360 members. I want to thank all of those who seem so passionate about our intention to bring a world-class campus to our community. However, I will not be meeting with the landowner, who has many options, until next week so I cannot say if the proposal will continue to be pursued.

I will not be in Prince George until July 12th to meet with one of our partners who will obviously be disappointed.

I would like to be very clear that we support proper process and we support public engagement. That is why we were following all the municipal rules with regard to our re-zoning request. However, we do not believe nine months is needed to undertake the engagement process.

We are surprised we are again hiring extra staff to undertake the process, as this is contrary to what we heard from the candidates who were elected. We also believe the process should be considering the three proposals that we understand are currently active.

Instead, there will be even more delay as the staff report calls for a proposal phase after the nine months. Finally, we believe the process needs to address education as an economic development issue not a land planning issue. There are clearly defined processes to deal with the latter.

So the bottom-line: I cannot yet answer the question of whether our $250-$300 million investment is still available. It would help if council would consider a shorter timeline for the consultation process.

We believe seven months is more than enough time. We wonder how the task force will be chosen and we think the trust deficit with staff also needs to be addressed. We would like some assurance that we would receive fair treatment and, in the end, our re-zoning proposal would be handled like any other submitted by a landholder.

Again we thank so many of you for your support. We are in the process of updating our website and will try to keep you informed at www.whistleru.com, on our own WhistlerU Facebook page, as well as through the "support the Whistler U proposal" page.

D. Player

Whistler

Time for public meeting

I read with concern today an article in the Vancouver Province that said Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield recently said that the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act in Budget Bill C-38, were necessary to "offer new tools to 'authorize' water pollution, while allowing the government to out-source services to protect the country's waterways."

The newspaper said in a newly released letter, "Ashfield suggested the existing Fisheries Act needed to be changed since it doesn't provide enough options allowing industry to disrupt or contaminate fish habitat."

Ashfield wrote in the June 14 letter to Todd Panas, president of the Union of Environment Workers: "There are currently few tools to authorize pollution other than by detailed regulations.

"For example, the amended Fisheries Act will provide flexibility and establish new tools to authorize deposits of deleterious substances."

I found Minister Ashfield's comments very troubling and contrary to John Weston's praise of the changes to the Fisheries Act on his website http://www.johnweston.ca/?p=2129

"As a conservationist and someone who treasures our 'super natural' province of British Columbia, I feel that it is necessary to point out some ways that the passage of this Bill will actually strengthen fisheries management."

Changing the Fisheries Act to allow industry to "contaminate fish habitat" and authorizing "deposits of deleterious substances" does not "strengthen fisheries management." In fact, in my opinion, it does just the opposite.

This reinforces the calls for an explanatory public meeting by the Sea Sky Fisheries Roundtable with Minister Ashfield and knowledgeable staff that can answer detailed questions regarding the proposed changes. As of the writing of this letter, the Sea to Sky Fisheries Roundtable has not heard back on a date for a public meeting.

Dave Brown

Whistler

Safety first

This letter is being written on behalf of the many people that can no longer speak because they are no longer with us today. It's about Hwy 99 and the Sea to Sky corridor. Some have even referred to it in the past as the "Ski to Die Highway."

Historically one of British Columbia's most beautiful, scenic and yet dangerous drives. People travelled this highway then and still today in pursuit of work, leisure, sport, and recreation, to escape the big cities or to simply drive back home. Falling rocks, bridge washouts, high winds, heavy rain, blizzard whiteouts, frozen rain, ice, drivers that are inexperienced, impaired, fatigued, impatient, with their hands operating cell phones, wildlife, adrift pedestrians and the darkness of night have all been risk factors in running the Sea to Sky gauntlet.

Many of those factors still remain today even after the recent redesign and transformative upgrade. The new Hwy 99 is so good in fact that it begs drivers to move along it well beyond the posted speed limits often without incident, recourse or penalty.

Every year however tragedy strikes again and again and it reveals a disturbing statistic — three separate Class 4 taxi driver incidents and pedestrian fatalities have occurred in very recent years between Squamish and Whistler.

All this brings me to the very important question about vehicle maintenance, mountain terrain driver experience and operational safety. Are owners and management doing all that they should be doing to minimize the chances of increasing those serious injury or fatality statistics?

I do not know of all the details surrounding the very tragic loss of a young Australian woman last year here in Whistler who was hit by a taxi on Highway 99, but if you are a commercial driver, you are driving over the posted speed limit in snowy conditions, you hit someone and kill them, you simply should no longer be driving. Somehow B.C.'s justice system sees this quite differently, and to those who have suffered the loss, which is all of us here and her family and friends in Australia, real justice has not yet been served.

The reality of the demands and risk factors of the terrain that we drive in here on Hwy 99, and in Whistler, should never be underestimated by employers, or by those who make their living from driving, transporting people and or goods through the Sea to Sky corridor.

I have twice contacted our local government both past and present to help address these concerns and have provided a suggested solution that, while not easy to implement, would ultimately lead to a much superior integrated transportation product, and a service that provides locals and our visitors with the following: 1) guaranteed mechanical and operational safety procedures, 2) employment of all drivers according to the Employment Standards Act Of B.C. at a minimum, 3) a flexible combined bus transit / route taxi schedule and service format based on demand for service, 4) a new conventional low emissions diesel bus fleet to replace the hydrogen fleet, 5) a new hybrid fleet of dispatch and route taxis vans and compact sedans to replace all current taxis operating in Whistler, 6) all operations to be secured, based and operated out of the current Whistler Transit yard location.

This needs to be done for operational safety, for those counting on safe transportation locally, inbound and outbound, for professional drivers and for those who also share our roadways.

I would hope this provides for some serious dialogue and action regarding our local transportation industry. Let's begin the process of change for the better. Please take it away leaders of Whistler!

Brian Wolfgang Becker

Whistler

In it together

Reflecting on Pemberton in recent days, I can't help but feel a sense of community pride and achievement regarding all of the positive and amazing things that have happened in such a short time. It is, to me, so much of what makes living here great.

We have: 1) The pump track(s)/skateboard park/water park. What more could kids (and parents) ask for in a small town?

2) One Mile Lake Park. Trail signage, expansion, improvements, interpretive signs highlighting the rich history of the Lil'wat people. Finally, I (and many adventuresome tourists) won't be wandering around wondering where the latest boardwalk will end.

3) The One Mile Lake Nature Centre and all the inspiring things planned for the future of that place.

4) The protection of our wetlands through the designation of the Wildlife Management Area and the purchase of the Fulton's Wetland.

5) The first farmer's market of the season. People coming together to support local farmers with smiles, music and just down right happiness.

I know there is so much more, on many different levels, but these are just some of the things that have been coming to mind lately.

From an environmental perspective, when considering what instills communities with strong stewardship ethics, it is vividly apparent to me that so much of it starts with this. This happiness, this community involvement, this love of place and feeling of belonging. From that place, collectively, we can do great things. For ourselves, our families, the community, the watershed — our planet.

I won't pretend that I know all of the amazing people, organizations, and commitments involved in making all of these great things happen, but thank you. Keep up the good work!

Dawn Johnson

Pemberton

Bouquets of thanks

The Giant Plant Sale land Garden Fair was a success, the sun shone on the library plaza, and we had some great gardening chats.

Thank you Whistler for coming out once again and supporting The Friends of the Whistler Public Library fundraiser.

Thank you, Paul Beswetherwick of the Whistler Municipality, and Out On A Limb, for the donation of mountains of tulip bulbs, Whistler Composting for the soil amends, Root Down and Good Field Farms for donating the vegetable starts, and the generous donations from the volunteers.

A special thanks to everyone who participated in the garden fair, Nadine White with the library, Jim Cooke, Greenhouse Project, Keli, Whistler Composting, Hayley, Whistler Earth Save and Kristina with Invasive Species.

Every year I am supported by a group of women who can nurture tiny seedlings (Kris), show up in the cold and rain (Susan), collect the cash (Shirley) and cut a deal (Lillian), identify plants (Gay), set up displays (Sue), clean them up (Bev), facepaint (Moe), negotiate (Jessie), create (Maureen), and continue to laugh and share their stories.

Thank you again — let's do it again better next year.

Christy Auer

Whistler

Share the Road

Yesterday I stopped traffic.

Yes, it was I.

I apologize to those behind me who couldn't see the reason that traffic had stopped.

Luckily, the car on the other side of the highway saw it too.

A mother duck, with her five ducklings waddling closely behind her, boldly crossing Highway 99!

What an amazing sight!

We waited until they all made it safely across the highway, and then drove on.

Please! Drivers! Be watchful of wildlife of all shapes and sizes that must: "cross the road to get to the other side!"

It takes the expression: "share the road" to a whole new level, doesn't it?

Mandy Dobbs

Whistler

Jam nights lend Whistler soul

It's really unfortunate that Blacks has cancelled the Wednesday Jam.

The musicians in this town have found a sense of community through the jam nights. We've all been very lucky to create life long friendships and working relationships with our fellow musicians through these nights.

It's almost laughable to consider losing the night where our musical community comes together and supports each other to have it replaced by the prospect of one-off performances. You can't offer the minimal pay that is offered with any expectation that you'll get more than an act that is in its infancy or working out some kinks. You get what you pay for.

Blacks has been a stepping-stone venue for musicians who are working to get their music to a larger venue with a more reasonable offering.

Venues have to also realize the hard work a musician puts in. Too often there's a perception that what they are doing isn't worth the money spent, because to some people they view musicians as something less than hard working individuals.

I can tell you that I have personally spent as many if not more hours working on my craft than a doctor or lawyer spends working on their education.

Being a musician with any worthwhile talent is a lifelong devotion. I work about 90 hours every two weeks, as a general manager in town. I spend every waking hour outside of this working on music.

The hours put in should reflect the payment received. Is $150 and a $50 bar tab appropriate pay for four musicians doing a three-hour performance, including two hours for setup and tear down? That works out to $30 cash each, which is $6 an hour. Absurd. Unfortunately we take what we're offered if we can't negotiate for more, because we love what we do first, before money even factors in.

It doesn't make it right though. If anything, it takes advantage of hard working people. The bare minimum should be $100 each, no matter how many people are in the band. Everyone in the group should make $100, minimum, for a night of music.

It's an interesting thing, working with the different perceptions that venue managers have with regard to hiring a musician. The onus seems to be on the musician to fill a bar. Why would you put the onus of making your business successful on the musicians who you hire? You may as well put the onus on your staff and the people they know, to fill your bar. How is it any different?

Consider this — I am having a party and I need a bartender to come and make fancy cocktails, so I call up a bar and say I have a gig for your bartender. They need to bring at least 30 people, all of whom need to pay a cover, and if we don't make $1,000, minimum, your bartender only gets paid in beer. Forget that he's been working all night to make the party special; if he doesn't pack the place he doesn't get paid. Maybe all of his friends go to his bar at least once a week, and maybe these same friends don't want to spend money this week at this party so they say "I'll wait until next week because I know I can visit him for a drink then."

Consider that musicians also have a network of friends that are musicians. We all play shows. We don't always take the time to see our friends play. We have many opportunities to watch and so we don't always go out to every show. We'd much rather be playing music with these friends anyway, which is why the jam nights are so very important. These nights are when the music community comes together to celebrate music together. If you work in a kitchen, you aren't going to take your night off to watch your colleagues work in the same kitchen you work in.

A better business model would be to create a venue that people want to hang out at regardless of the musical act that is playing. The music should always be the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. This means you have more reliability with the patrons who frequent your establishment, and you aren't putting your business' success or failure on the musician who just wants to perform, and doesn't care if your bar succeeds or fails — they care about the new fans they make and the old fans who return for another showing. They care about the show they present, and bettering themselves through the process of gigging and gaining experience. If we stop getting gigs at one venue, we move on to the next.

We had a good run with Blacks. When you went to Blacks on a Wednesday in the winter, it was often packed with musicians, from amateur to pro. We got to play with Gene and Sophie Simmons, the daughter of Bob Marley, and some great musicians from the past who started out at these jams and have since moved on to become touring artists. During the festivals, when pros are in town, they would come out and sit in with us. I got to play an entire set with the trumpet player from Cat Empire this spring. A great moment for me, and for those watching as well.

The jam night at Blacks was something special, as are the Mondays at Dusty's and the Sundays at the Crystal Lounge. The locals are the ones who keep coming out, and sure we have slow times in the dead season as everywhere experiences, yet its still the musicians and locals alike who come out to support the night, and spend their money at the venue.

With Bills bumping on a Wednesday, one has to wonder who is going to fill Blacks on a Wednesday? If I have a choice between watching one musician perform all night on a Wednesday at Blacks, or a jam night somewhere else, I'll go to the jam night. I'd even stay home and jam before I'd go and spend my hard earned money at Blacks to watch someone I used to spend my Wednesdays jamming with.

If I were to get a Wednesday gig at Blacks, I can guarantee that it'll be a crapshoot getting friends to come out.

If I was managing a bar, I'd embrace the musicians that offer a conscious effort to better their sets by working with the bars, because it showcases they are team players. All it means for me is that I move on to another venue and hope I find great people to work with.

The important point is that we work together. Music is too important to quality of life, and if we turn our backs on the musicians who help bring a little bit of enjoyment to our lives then we are not helping to make this world a better place.  

Monty Biggins

Whistler