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Letters to the editor

I wish you had have printed Mr. Bennett's letter. Letters to the editor can be full of the same old shills and political flacks with much wounded oxen to gore.

I wish you had have printed Mr. Bennett's letter.

Letters to the editor can be full of the same old shills and political flacks with much wounded oxen to gore. I prefer the cranks! Those earnest ranting loons whose miscomprehension of how everything works leave the impression that the writer must truly be under a vicious case of porphyria.

Brian Walker

Whistler

 

In light of the recent developments concerning the Nita Lake Development, I would like to provide some thoughts on this particular issue. I have been a resident of Whistler for well over seven years and love this town like no other. Prior to this I resided in a number of larger cities in both Europe and North America, involving myself with activities centred around the business world. I came here to escape the negativities of the city and the people that create that misery. For the most part I have found Whistler to be a community-oriented, giving, caring town. For anyone else who feels the same about this place I urge you to take note of a small but well-funded group of individuals intent on putting personal interests before those of the overall community.

At risk are a number of opportunities for the community, things that would benefit this town providing amenities and privileges beyond the scope of most budgets. On the chopping block is a revitalization project for a commercially-zoned property in Creekside, sustainable transportation opportunities in the form of a rail station, much needed funding for an assortment of community groups, a 25-acre parcel of rare wetland ecosystem, and above all, opportunity for real Whistlerites, employees, to purchase their own homes. It has been suggested that these items are "bribes". This is not the case; do some homework into municipal legislation. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. We should take advantage of what is being offered. The reality of it is that if this were almost any other town in B.C. there would be no additional amenities offered aside from the development itself. Whistler is in a unique position.

If this group of people succeed with their footdragging and threats of legal action, it will be, for me, the single most selfish act I have ever been witness too in my life. If they are successful, I hope that they will be able to live with themselves, knowing that they have starved this fabulous community of a wonderful set of opportunities, opportunities that will benefit generations to come. Shame on you for taking it this far. In Whistler, mean people are not welcome.

Theo S. Hudson

Whistler

 

We can all feel a great sense of pride with the public debate that occurs in Whistler. Nowhere else does a whole community rally their opinions around public policy stating them with diversity, passion, intelligence and (most uniquely) respect.

Witnessed again, at the second attempt to consider a bylaw for the Nita Lake Lodge project, the community shone. Acting Mayor Davies chaired a sharp meeting at one point asking a speaker to refrain from personal remarks, thereby keeping the decorum of the meeting in check.

In that same spirit, I observe that it is not personal but factual that 160 souls were taking yet another evening away from family or friends because a bylaw that had already received third reading was legally challenged by an individual. It is not personal but factual that the most distressing part of this evening was when the same party offered a veiled threat to sue the community on the second bylaw.

What a curious proposition!

Several of us corporate refugees have come to live in Whistler in part to escape the deprived ethic where conflicts are resolved, and often created, by the legal warring between anonymous entities. This litigious ethic cast in the context of public policy misses the point that for Whistler this bylaw has become personal. Not because of the project’s inherent value, but because of the value we hold as a community for self-determination.

Twice now the community has spoken. Council listened, deliberated and cast their vote. They showed respect for the community at every stage and their final vote, when taken this Monday, is truly and essentially the community’s vote. We own that decision as a community, not as some dispassionate corporation.

It is not personal but factual to say that the will of the community spoken through council must be regarded. Why? Because the will of a healthy community like Whistler is like a Natural System – it functions in an interconnected way isolating elements not aligned with its true function. Whistler's ability to engage in the creation of public policy is its truest function. It is an exchange that is evolving to become more representative, flexible and adaptable. It does this through the commitment of many good minds that share interest of the whole community.

It is not personal but factual to say that an individual taking legal action against this kind of public policy takes action against us all. It is legal action that attempts to rob our collective self-determination. It is legal action that invites the respectful debate of the facts to move to the personal expression of many, who intone: "don't mess with this community".

Brent Leigh

Whistler

 

The Nita Lake development incorporates a series of innovative initiatives that best suit the current and future needs of Whistler. Government money is in short supply. It makes good sense therefore to work with business people to achieve the goals that contribute to the greater good of Whistler as a whole. The Nita Lake project transfers bed units from environmentally sensitive wetlands and preserves those wetlands in perpetuity. It creates renewed commerce in the original commercial core in Whistler Creek. It opens up a new railway transportation portal complete with an expanded cruise ship visitor market. And, it provides a great deal of employee housing at a time when the need is great. The proposed zoning for the entire proposal is not only the highest and best use of those lands, it is the most appropriate use of those lands. It is worthy of our full support.

Don McQuaid

Whistler

 

Maybe I'm being a bit petty regarding this topic, and thereby exposing my origins of that being outside of Whistler Village but…

There goes The Whistler Summer Gravity Festival. Excellent events and all, sponsored by many corporations and business, two events sponsored, ironically enough, by Tim Hortons TDL Group Limited. WOW! Tim Hortons sponsoring two awesome events staged in Whistler Village where there exists NO Tim Horton's!

Ahem, does the Whistler health clinic do caffeine IV drips?

Stephen "Coffee-double-double-chocolate-glazed-doughnut-deprived-in-Whistler" Chan

 

Re: Heads up hitch hikers.

To the girl wearing a long fringed scarf tied around her waist who jumped out onto the highway trying to hail me down on Thursday night the 17th at about 11:30 p.m. on Highway 99 in front of the bus shelter opposite Alta Vista. I missed both you and the oncoming vehicle by sheer luck. If I had glanced away or looked in my rear view mirror at that moment I would have hit you.

Robin Babiuk

Whistler

 

I want to take this opportunity to thank the RMOW Parks Department for their hard work in reviving the soccer fields at Myrtle Philips Community Centre. The grass is truly greener than it has been in the past few years. I know it is a challenge to find the time and money to maintain the fields.

However, having said that, it should also be noted that since the grass is green again, it needs to be cut, too. In a league game last night a player went down with a painful knee injury in the first minute of play. I suspect that the injury was a result of the very long grass that the player got stuck in. It is very disappointing to have to lobby almost daily to have these fields maintained and even more disappointing to see needless injuries occur because of that lack of maintenance.

Ian van Gruen

Whistler

 

Two thumbs up for my work mates, Mark and Jeff, who rescued a man, his 2-year-old girl and his one-man kayak which had capsized on Alta Lake last Friday. It was a champion effort. Good on ya fellas.

Petra Judd

Whistler

 

On Monday, July 14th we had the honour of hosting 96 Rotary International Exchange Students for a barbeque dinner. Many thanks to Rotarians from both clubs who helped out, as well a big thanks to Lyn Stroshin, Youth Exchange District Chair, for organizing this fun and worthwhile event. A huge thanks to Sheila Moses for helping us with Whistler Secondary Community School as an alternate "rainy" location and to Keith Tindall of Meadow Park for being at the ready in case of fair weather.

On Monday, July 21st we Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium were honoured, yet again, to host 60 children and more than 30 volunteer counsellors from the B.C. Professional Firefighter's Burn Camp. Members from both Whistler Rotary clubs and firefighters from Whistler joined forces to cook and serve burgers, chips, drinks and cake to this hungry group, after a lively day of activities on and around Whistler-Blackcomb. Thanks especially to Linda Marshall for facepainting and entertaining the kids and to Janet Brown of the Millennium Rotary Club for bringing this event to our attention. A great time was had by all!

Stephanie Matches

President

Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium

 

During the Gravity Festival, the Zero Ceiling Society raised over $1,000 at our second annual barbecue. We could not have done this without the strong commitment from Bruce Stewart and Nesters Market. Not only did Nesters donate all the food, Bruce himself flipped burgers and helped set up for the event!

A huge shout out to Alex Campbell for putting up with the "burger smoke" and giving back to Zero Ceiling!

These fundraisers are crucial in delivering our incredible programs so thanks to the community of Whistler for the continued support!

Greg McDonnell for

The Zero Ceiling Society

Whistler