The media is consistently making inaccurate statements about our COVID-19 infection rates in B.C. The messaging is that COVID-19 rates are approaching or surpassing the rates at the height of the B.C. pandemic, and that there is a shift in infection toward youth rather than the elderly.
The fact is that at the height of the pandemic, mildly symptomatic 20-year-olds were not being tested and the sick elderly coming into hospital were being tested. In fact, we were not testing very aggressively at all at the height of the pandemic, because our system could not handle it.
Now, we are testing and contact tracing very aggressively. True rates may have been 10 to 20 times higher during the peak of B.C.’s pandemic, whereas now they may only be five times higher. Who knows? But to not acknowledge this simple fact is very misleading.
The only valid comparison is that at the height of the pandemic, there were more than 130 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with more than 60 patients with COVID-19 in our ICUs. As of Aug 20 there are 10 people in hospital with four people in the ICU, 1.5 months after the Canada Day long weekend and two weeks after the BC Day long weekend.
The death rate from COVID-19 has also decreased substantially in this province.
By these measures, we are doing more than 15 times better now than at the height of our pandemic! This is a testament to the ongoing good work that our public health officials and contact tracers are doing.
B.C.’s story is still one of success in handling this pandemic and successfully opening up our economy. Of course, our youth need to socialize more responsibly, but to panic and overhaul B.C.’s entire strategy because of this would be irrational.
When the media ignores these obvious factors in reporting the facts, fear of COVID-19 continues to be stoked in our community. This fear keeps parents from sending their children to school and pressures the system to unnecessarily shut down important aspects of our economy. Now more than ever, information needs to be relayed rationally instead of sensationally.
Denton Hirsh MD, FRCPC // Whistler
Open Lost Lake Park to everyone this winter
I am asking council and the mayor to keep Lost Lake Park open 12 months of the year.
Closing this jewel in Whistler’s recreation crown each winter to Whistler taxpayers and visitors so that a few Nordic skiers can enjoy the use of the park, Nicklaus North golf cart path and the Chateau golf cart path is selfish, elitist and out of date.
Since the 2010 Olympics, when the Nordic skiers got their multi-million dollar facility 11 kilometres away at the Callaghan as a legacy (which the taxpayers also pay for), we have asked repeatedly that Lost Lake Park be open 12 months of the year for general and multi-use purposes.
It is now vital in this year of COVID-19 that we are allowed to recreate safely outside 12 months of the year and that means to walk, hike, bike, take our dogs and kids to Lost Lake Park this winter and have the municipality operate it for these activities.
The Nordic skiing at Lost Lake Park has always operated at a loss as the revenue never paid for the operating costs; many of the passes are free to volunteers who are increasingly hard to find, all to police the empty, vast terrain; consider also there is often just not enough snow to ski on, which doesn’t stop the staff from hauling it in at taxpayers’ expense—all so that a relative handful of people can ski in the centre of town while the majority of locals and visitors are shut out of the park for the entire winter.
It is time for council and the mayor to give the people of Whistler Lost Lake Park back for the COVID-19 winter of 2020. Let us walk, hike and bike those trails and cart paths we love. Keep it plowed so we can do it safely. Allow the Callaghan Nordic facility to earn whatever increased revenues it can to unburden the taxpayers.
If you, the people of Whistler, want to keep using Lost Lake Park this winter, you must make your voices heard quickly. The staff is already planning for the winter season and soon we will be shut out of Lost Lake Park—in a matter of months.
Call, write and use your voice to have Lost Lake Park open to the public this winter for multi-use purposes and so we all can enjoy it 12 months of the year.
Kathleen Smith // Whistler
Leash your dog before it’s too late
To the individual who continues to walk his full-grown pit bull off-leash in the Bayshores trail network—your dog has aggressively (and frighteningly) confronted me three times while I’ve been trail running in the area.
On Aug. 16, it came at my on-leash Boston terrier (who had fearfully barked at your animal); luckily, I was able to pull her away because she was on-leash, while your dog nearly knocked me over trying to get to her. Your supposed excuses that “you’re in the bush, buddy” (this occurred on the heavily trafficked trail just above the tennis/children’s park) and, “your dog attacked mine, buddy” (we have a 5.4-kilogram Boston terrier on leash, you have an adult pit bull, off leash) are no excuses at all.
You need to understand that if (and I truly hope it never happens) one of these exchanges turns dangerously violent (or worse) you’ll be 100-per-cent culpable … unless you leash your animal. Smarten up!
P.S: Lest this letter is misconstrued, our family loves animals—dogs specifically, and this is not an indictment of the breed—it’s an indictment of your ignorance.
Matt Johnston // Whistler
Nita Lake development will be an eyesore
Sometimes people drive off the road because they are distracted. Fortunately, it is relatively rare. In my view, council is doing the same thing with the proposed development on the west side of Nita Lake.
Our community depends upon tourism; without it, the community will wither and die. It is obvious that tourists come here to enjoy the activities offered as well as the natural ambience. We are blessed with mountains, lakes, and beautiful forests and these natural wonders enhance the activities enjoyed here.
There are very few tourists who come to a destination to see clear cuts, row housing and overdevelopment. With some notable exceptions, our municipal government has historically done a very good job of blending required development with our environmental features. Unfortunately, Rainbow, and the Baxter development in particular, is a major exception. The development is generally regarded as an ugly clear cut, devoid of trees—a sight we hope most of our visitors do not see and a mistake that should not be repeated.
What is proposed for the West lakeshore of Nita Lake?
The municipality has indicated that a person walking on the Valley Trail will see a chain-link fence erected by CN to keep people off the rail lines. It will probably extend from one end of the lake to the other. It will have the added advantage of reducing access to the lake at no cost (financially) to the municipality. It is likely to be vandalized and rendered ineffective.
As you look up, there will be a partial screen of forest behind the fence. It will be fire safe, so all the lower limbs will be cut from the trees along with the brush removal. Only healthy trees will be left to form the screen and it is likely over time, they will disappear as the residents seek to improve their views.
Behind the screen will be an exquisite clear-cut, covered in row housing, with grossly inadequate parking, which will require further clear cutting to house the cars.
The approach to this rezoning application is piecemeal and no one seems to be looking at the bigger picture and the cumulative effects of this decision. There are neighbouring properties to the west and north of the development, which will undoubtedly be applying for development rights in the future. If this project is approved, then we can reasonably expect the approval of a series of clear cuts with row housing to cover the lower slopes of Mount Sproatt leading down to Nita Lake.
This part of the valley is clearly visible from both the Valley Trail and to people enjoying the west side of Whistler Mountain. It will be an eyesore. A true “Rainbow South.” Is that what the community wants?
It is true that there will be a modest amount of employee housing provided in a location a significant distance from any shopping. In response to the mayor, I say he is correct that you can walk to the Creekside Market, but who wants to carry the shopping home?
I support employee housing, but it should at least meet the guidelines council has already approved. This one does not and appears to be a sellout to me.
I cannot support this kind of development. To those who shout NIMBY, I say it is our backyard, not just mine.
Ross Clark // Whistler
Let’s get it right!
Thanks to Brandon Barrett for his article focusing on some of the issues with the recently released traffic and environmental reports for 5298 Alta Lake Rd. re-zoning, “Enviro and traffic reports for Alta Lake Rd project made public”, Pique, Aug. 12, 2020. There is much follow-up required before this rezoning goes any farther.
It is necessary to point out that in the article, Councillor Cathy Jewett attempts to alarm Whistler residents with saying that the existing TA17 zoning footprint, if built, would be worse than the new proposed development as more of the site would be disturbed.
This is inaccurate as the current zoning with the hotel and small cabins could never be built today and the developer knows this.
In an April 2, 2019 email to Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff, Caroline Lamont, lead on the project for the developer, wrote to RMOW staff “… the London Mountain Lodge could not be built in its current form given the changing riparian situation of the site and regulations.”
The environmental report lists these riparian zones and buffers as one of many development restraints on the property. The good news is that the planning department has incorporated these zones and buffers in the latest plans and by doing so, has protected significant green space. The developer has simply donated land he cannot build on for the park.
So, it seems the developer could not build the existing zoning even if he wanted to and needed to come to council for re-zoning to build something new. Council should have been in the driver’s seat to get a creative solution that provided some employee housing without increasing the density on the lake. They still can. It is not too late.
This development should be held to a higher standard because of its location on the lake. This piece of land is one of the last remaining undeveloped lakeside areas. Perhaps this is simply not the place for a higher-density development.
Why are we rushing ahead so quickly on this project? Many of us are focusing on keeping ourselves, our families and our community safe, not sure what the future will be. Time is needed to fully review and implement the recommendations in the environmental report. Let’s slow down to get it right and make sure this development is in the best interest of all Whistler, not only now but in the future.
Please write to mayor and council at corporate@whistler.ca to let them know to get this development right.
Cheryl Green // Whistler
Thanks to Flag Stop festival supporters
Thank you to everybody who came out to enjoy the ninth annual Flag Stop Theatre & Arts Festival at The Point Artist-Run Centre on Aug. 7 and 8.
It was thrilling to see live theatre, music and aerial performances in a safe outdoor environment. The weather threw at us everything from rain, wind and cold to brilliant sunshine and starlight, and the audiences proved as hearty and unstoppable as the artists.
Old Soul Rebel, Cat Madden and the young Raquel Libman played amazing sets, and the premiere of Shipwreck Casserole and Other Family Secrets was a great success.
The Point would like to thank festival presenting sponsor Gibbons Whistler as well as Nesters Market, Aphrodite’s Organic Café & Pie Shop, Pasta Lupino, Howe Sound Brewing Company, Nesters Liquor Store, BC Arts Council/Province of B.C., the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Arts Whistler for their support.
We look forward to the 10th annual Flag Stop Festival next summer!
Rose LaRiviere // Events assistant, The Point Artist-Run Centre
