Given that [B.C. Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry again… discouraged Whistler visitors from the B.C. Lower Mainland, I struggle to understand why we would “incentivize” visitors [to use the letter writer’s term] from other parts of Canada that have far higher COVID-19 rates than we have here in B.C. (Pique, “Whistler should consider affordability for visitors,” Dec. 17.)
So far Whistler [the mountains, hotels, businesses etc.] seem to have somehow managed on very limited visits.
If we ignore our provincial health officer and ramp up and experience an outbreak, the result could well be what we experienced March 16, 2020—a total shutdown.
Patience seems a better option rather than encouraging people to come to Whistler this season.
Jim Moodie // Whistler
Why are people still travelling to Whistler?
I read [reporter] Alyssa Noel’s [news] article on how people from the Lower Mainland shouldn’t go to Whistler to ski. (Pique, Dec. 22, “Vancouver, Lower Mainland skiers and snowboarders shouldn’t come to Whistler: Dr. Bonnie Henry.”)
I understand that, and as a resident of the North Shore our family is following [B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recommendations in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. In fact, no one understands this better than our family as my son has a very serious lung condition so we have been isolating and have kept our children from school.
We have been taking this seriously.
Yesterday I received a message from an acquaintance from the Toronto area. They have flown in with their family to spend the next week skiing in Whistler. So how is this allowed? My family shouldn’t go to Whistler and we live less than two hours away, but people can come from another province that is imposing a lockdown without quarantining?
I don’t understand why the province and Vancouver Coastal Health aren’t checking people’s destinations at the Vancouver airport and implementing stricter measures to prevent this and protect our population.
British Columbians are working hard to “bend the curve” again, but clearly there are those from out of province that feel their selfishness should come first. I suspect there are probably many more from out of province doing this and it’s really frustrating.
Is there anyone else who we can contact, or ask Dr. Henry about why this is being allowed to happen?
Miriana Narciso // North Vancouver
Please, don’t come to Whistler
That was the title of the editorial written in Pique in April, and it’s as true now as it was then.
This last week we have seen an explosion of destination travellers coming from across the country looking to escape their own mandatory non-essential travel orders in cities from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba to come visit Whistler.
Our own provincial health officer has asked Lower Mainland skiers not to visit Whistler and other small communities, yet we continue to see many who flout this advice.
Now we see travellers coming across the country for their own selfish recreational pleasures.
Enough already.
We, and they, may be taking all the precautions possible but this is not the solution, it’s only prolonging the problem.
To quote from the April editorial: “We must stay close to home and only go out with our family groups while physically distancing from others.”
Visitors can try and justify their ignorance of health professional advice, but to be blunt, it’s disrespectful.
We will be more than happy to welcome visitors with open arms when our provincial health professionals deem it appropriate.
Until then, stay local, stay safe.
Jamie May // Pemberton-Whistler
Some long overdue thank yous
Thank you Stephanie Sloan for the ladies-only ski workshops! You set me on a path of improvement and a desire to learn and practice ski technique.
Thank you Kathy Kreiner and Dave Philips for the ski perception workshops. Your “key words” provided focus for practising proper technique. It took quite a long time to actually feel “angulation” but what a thrill it was to finally figure it out. I thank you every day that I ski! Thank you also for recommending boots with softer forward flex. You have to have the correct boots to get far enough forward to achieve good technique.
Thank you to Paul Zirk of The Destination, North Vancouver. You took the time to talk about how I ski, what my options were and what I should consider. “I love my new skis!”
[Now for some] recommendations:
Take Lessons! The techniques you learn about will take some time to master but with practice will make you a better and safer skier/rider.
[When] shopping for gear, [a]lways be totally truthful when talking to the shop experts about your abilities! They can only help you purchase the most appropriate gear if you are honest about your abilities!
Thank you all.
Louise Graham // Whistler
Why are we not stopping visitors from coming here?
Something is amiss when tourists from Ontario are welcomed in Whistler while British Columbians are advised not to travel or even visit Whistler.
I have encountered people from Ontario, parts of the U.S. and from other points in Canada.
Why do we condone this?
Surely Vail Resorts-Whistler Blackcomb know the home address of all who purchase lift tickets, and hotels must know where their guests are coming from, yet they mingle among us, as potential carriers of the COVID-19 virus.
[Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry has counselled British Columbians to stay close to home, so why is Whistler welcoming people from afar?
Big White has cancelled the reservations of non-locals.
Is it time for Whistler to follow suit?
Yes, I understand that this might hurt the tourism sector but a total shut down as [we saw] last season will be far more damaging.
Whistler Blackcomb appears to be doing a fine job by limiting the numbers on the mountains, mandating people wear face coverings and urging them to wear masks, requiring reservations for the on-mountain lodges and ensuring adequate distancing in the lift lines and on the lifts.
Now, what do we have to do to get people to wear their masks in the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and when they are away from mountain personnel?
Wishing all a healthy and successful 2021.
Keith Fernandes // Whistler
