Help us to vote
As a homeowner, I was very excited to do my homework, deciding on whom I wished to have on the Whistler council (on election day).
After attending an all-candidates meeting, talking to my friends and doing personal research, I was prepared to vote.
Unfortunately, I was not allowed to cast a vote because I was not registered to vote. I explained that I have owned property in Whistler for years. I also explained that I am in the process of moving here permanently, as I am going through a separation from my partner.
The property is owned by both of us and, as I also have property in Vancouver and had already voted there, I was not permitted to vote here in Whistler unless I obtained the signature of my former spouse.
I was told to get a paper signed by her to hand in. I explained that my former wife was currently in England, looking after her mother who is having health issues.
I went home, phoned my ex-wife and asked her to read the email I sent her explaining that I needed her permission to vote.
She happily gave her consent by email. When I went back to the polling station, to show the supervisor her acceptance, I was not allowed to turn on my computer to show her the email giving me her consent. I also was not allowed to phone her and have her give her oral permission by phone to the supervisor.
I felt like a refugee in my own town.
I was very upset by the lack of help I was given, the attitude of the staff that said the only way I, as a taxpayer and resident of Whistler, could vote was to hand in a signed letter from my ex.
I told the supervisor I was not happy. She said I had to leave, I said I wanted to talk to another supervisor who was called over and he told me he could call the police as I was creating a disturbance.
I had stated out loud saying all I wanted to do was to be permitted to vote as I am entitled to. I said I would be happy to see the police but then decided this would not solve my problem.
I left the polling station unable to vote, feeling that I was not respected, and had no right to vote because I did not get my wife's permission.
I told the supervisor that if this is the attitude of Whistler council, I would be sending letters to the new mayor, the Pique and anyone else I could think of to bring this concern to all.
I agree that I should have read the rules, but then I did my best to solve my problem regarding the signature of my ex-wife who is in England looking after her mother.
No offer was made to help me. No offer of a fax machine to use, or even taking the short time to read the email I obtained.
Please think about my problem.
How would you have felt if you were trying to vote and were treated this way? Please change the rules, or teach those in control to have some compassion, to think outside the box, to find a solution to my problem—not offer to call the police, nor be willing to look at my email.
David F. Bell
Whistler
Poor judgement
I am concerned about the lack of foresight and judgement by the conservation officer for tranquilizing a mother bear of three cubs and having her climb a tree and fall to her death (on Oct. 8).
(This) is a preventable accident.
A mother that can keep three bear cubs alive all summer when one cub has a 50/50 chance of survival is an amazing mother and not one to be treated lightly.
Helen Raven
Whistler
Growing green thumbs
From seed to table, the students of Myrtle Philip Community School plant vegetable gardens, watch the vegetables grow, harvest them, eat them and make them into soup to share with the whole school.
Now in its third year, the students look forward to The Harvest Soup Celebration and really understand the meaning of growing your own food—and nothing makes me happier than some students telling me they had three bowls of soup.
This project would not be possible without the souper-star volunteers who embrace this project and to the staff and principal of Myrtle Philip Community School, Kelly Hand and Myrtle Philip Community School PAC and all the other wonderful volunteers who spent their time helping with this amazing project. It takes a village and together we are growing great things.
Christy Craig
Garden Coordinator at Myrtle Philip Community School
Stone Soups Celebration Giving Thanks
The Pemberton Farmers' Market would like to thank everyone who came out to support our second annual Stone Soup Celebration on Sept. 28!
It was a wonderful, tasty community event and we enjoyed seeing all who came out to visit the market, listen to live music and taste the delicious soup entries.
Dan Baird from the Town Square in Pemberton won bragging rights for the winning soup, with his harvest pumpkin and squash soup, though he won only by one vote over Angela Bradbury's chicken dumpling soup. Third place was taken by Nidhi Raina's harvest lentil soup. And is it at all surprising to learn that Mike Richman and Matt Prescott actually tied for fourth place?
We are ever so grateful for all these five chefs and the participating farms: Helmer's Organics, Four Beat Farm, Rainshadow Collective and Spray Creek Ranch for making this event the delicious celebration that it was. Our mayor's soup even featured ingredients sourced entirely from his own gardens!
Much appreciation goes to the Pemberton Valley Supermarket for donating the dinner rolls to accompany the soups.
Thanks also to our volunteers: Jeanette, Brooke, Dawn, Katherine, Allie! To Town Square Pemberton and to Jenna and Blackbird Bakery for soup heating, warming and serving equipment, and to the Pemberton Fire Station for the last-minute loan of a few tables for our event.
It is always inspiring to see the community come together and then taste the creations that can be made with our local produce and meats. We can truly give thanks for the local bounty.
If you have a hankering to try your own version of one of these soups, come on down and grab your veggies—there are three more markets this season to stock up for winter.
Mollianne Reynolds
Pemberton
Thank you, Pemberton!
The Pemberton and District Library Board of Directors would like to thank the three generations of Pembertonians, Lil'wat7ul and Birkenites who attended, volunteered or donated to make our first Oktoberfest fundraiser a huge success. (Some people did all three!)
We'd like to thank our local Scotiabank for its grant of $3,000, which helped boost revenues over our target of $10,000 and brought us much closer to the $13,500 the event netted. This money will be used to complete the renovations to the library's shelving system.
We would also like to express our gratitude to: Brenda, Bruce, Will and Rony Miller of The Beer Farmers, the evening's beer sponsor; Lorien Chilton from Pemberton Distillery for her innovative cocktails; and James Linklater for ensuring the bar ran smoothly.
Thanks to Jan Kennett and the rest of Pemberton Lions Club for hosting the evening's barbecue in sub-zero weather, serving up smokies and brats that were generously donated by the Pemberton Valley Supermarket and coordinated by GM Kirsten McLeod. We'd also like to thank Rona and The Pemberton Valley Lodge for their contributions to the event's décor.
And of course, a community event could never happen without dedicated volunteers. We thank everyone who helped with set-up, event production and tear down—we literally could not have done it without you.
We'd like to acknowledge our library director Emma Gillis and the library staff who gave freely of their time to run the online liquor and food sales, members of the Friends of the Library who helped with ticket sales, and a number of Pemberton Secondary School students who assisted with tear down.
And a special thank you to the Squamish–Lillooet Regional District for providing funding for the rental of the Community Centre's Great Hall and staffing for the evening.
We hope to see you all next October, at our second annual Oktoberfest.
Judith Walton
Chair of the Pemberton and District Library Board of Directors
