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Absolutely love the idea of using useless golf land for useful housing. Oh yes you can tell I don't golf, tried it don't like it.

Absolutely love the idea of using useless golf land for useful housing. Oh yes you can tell I don't golf, tried it don't like it. not much of a sport, not even if you carry your own bag!

So what about housing on the Tourism Whistlers golf course? Can’t you just see Tourism Whistler scrambling to justify their jobs? "Don't touch our fat cow, we need something to run, damn it!"

I,m thinking Whistler would be better off without Tourism Whistler.

"In-fill housing," words that basically mean more trees to be fallen, more stars at night that fade away from all the extra lights.

"In-fill housing," just another term for jamming up neighbourhoods which already provide accommodation.

"In-fill housing" is when you in-fill a golf course for the true good of Whistler.

Guillermo Bright

Whistler

 

This summer, after reading a few of my letters to the editor, Bruce Miller made certain accusations against me. This time, and just this time I will admit, I am on my second rye.

Why would Tourism Whistler move the golf course to the Callaghan Valley? Is it cheap to move a golf course?

When they move one, is it all at once or one piece at a time?

After this one’s gone, is what’s left underneath still publicly owned? Or does it revert directly to the developer via the provincial government?

Will this benefit any other local golf courses?

Of course this is just my conspiracy theory. You should here the one I have about the Columbia exploding.

By the way Bob Barnett, tar and feathers is much too good for you.

Bjorn Gimse

Whistler

 

I've been a frequent visitor to Whistler since 1987 and a part-time resident since 2000.

In the wintertime, the Whistler Golf Course becomes a park. From morning to night, you see people snowshoeing, cross country skiing (you have to make your own trail), and romping with their dogs. It's a beautiful, accessible open space close to the village. Year round, people walk, run, bike, and rollerblade on the 5 km trail that surrounds the golf course. I doubt the trail would be as inviting if the spectacular views and open space disappeared.

As Whistler grows and expands, open space close to the village will disappear and can never be reclaimed. In many ways, the better role for a special place like the golf course land is to be an urban park accessible to all year round. Density really only works when people can "escape" easily and on foot to open space nearby.

Monica Harrington

Friday Harbor, WA

 

How much value does an above-ground parking lot add to the community of Whistler? I imagine very little if any. Perhaps they provide us the value of not having to spend money to bury them or consolidate them all into two- or three-storey lots. But really is that worth the lost opportunities?

Whistler has done a fantastic job at burying much of our parking underground and promoting reduced car use. In fact, I believe that the entire village is built on parking lots, and the results of the recent commuter challenge display community car reduction efforts. Land above the village underground lots is obviously much more valuable to our community and visitors as attractions, hotels, housing, parks, restaurants and other entities. I encourage our community to keep up this great track record by using the remaining parking areas around the village, on the mountains and at the new Creekside development for entities that actually add value, while placing the parking underground or in contemporary multi-level lots, and continuing to reduce single-occupant vehicle use.

It begs the question, if we didn’t need the parking, or if we put the parking underground and in multiple levels, what could we do with all that land?

Perhaps the land could be used for new attractions, such as the sledge hockey arena for the Olympics. Surely it doesn’t make sense to cut down the beautiful forest behind the Brew House for a hockey rink when there are many other potential sites.

Or maybe the sites can be used for parks, open, flat green spaces for our visitors to throw a ball for their dogs, a community team to play a soccer match, or a park for outdoor concerts and theatre. Maybe a forest can be grown on top the parking to provide more nature trails as another attraction in the village. The flora would probably grow quite well while absorbing the carbon from the cars idling below in the parking lot.

Using the land for something that the community is begging for, like resident housing, could also contribute millions to the local construction industry, while keeping working residents in our community. This effect would have many local business benefits by ensuring that millions of dollars each year continue to be spent by workers at Whistler businesses.

Obviously there are many benefits to using the parking lot space in Whistler more wisely. So, .next time you park your car, or walk/skate/bike past a parking lot in Whistler – Lots 1-5, at Base 2, Spruce Grove, The Whistler Golf Course or Meadow Park – try to imagine what you would do with that space if it was up to you.

Dan Wilson

Whistler

 

Re: Pemberton examines 2010 Olympic opportunities (Pique, Oct. 3)

I was unable to attend the recent community Olympic Task Force meeting but it occurs to me that the best legacy for the future of our community – and accessible to everyone, young and old all months of the year – would be the completion of the Valley Trail network with connections to other local route systems such as the Sea to Sky Route and Mosquito Lake network.

Most communities now boast of the benefits of their attractive trail systems. The Pemberton Valley Trail Association has been patiently jumping hurdles, finding solutions and working towards the goals set out in the Official Community Plan for two years now. With the support of the SLRD and village, we need more active participation and invite the Chamber of Commerce and other community members both new and long time to join our endeavours.

There is a great desire for this project – more and more people are already using what is out there. We've learned a lot in two years (both politically and about the economic and health benefits for the community) and this is a project we can build on rather than starting from scratch. As our successes become apparent, we receive more positive reactions. Games or no Games, a well managed trail system is a healthy part of the infrastructure of any community. Let's do it!

Jan Naylor

Pemberton

 

We’d like to thank everyone who made the second annual Commuter Challenge a success.

To all those who volunteered to co-ordinate the Challenge at their workplace; your effort is was what made this event happen again this year. We’d like to thank all the 1,150+ participants who took on the challenge to use healthy transportation choices whenever possible – our entire community has benefited. Also thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without you – especially Whistler-Blackcomb for donating the grand prize of a season’s pass, Meadow Park Sports Centre for the annual family pass and the RMOW for the year pass on WAVE buses.

Special thanks to The Pique for keeping the community updated on the progress of the Challenge and for participating in the Function Coffee Bike Relay on kick-off day.

The goal of the challenge was to make people aware of all their transportation choices and to encourage people to try them. This year again we heard many stories from the participants over the two weeks about how easy and convenient carpooling, walking, or taking the bus turned out to be and how much money they could save by using their car less.

Here’s looking forward to next year.

Emma DalSanto & Kristina Swerhun

Commuter Challenge Co-ordinators

 

We would like to thank Diane Wieczorek and all the staff at the Chateau Whistler Golf Course for allowing us to participate in the B.C. V.I.P. Tournament’s K.P. contest. The amount of money raised in this contest for the DARE programs of Langley and Whistler was $1,372. All of the participants in this golf tournament were happy to contribute to this cause and all proceeds will go to these two respective DARE programs.

On behalf of the Community Policing of Langley and the Whistler RCMP detachment, the Rotary Club of Whistler again, thanks you very much.

Ross H. Harlow

Secretary

Whistler Rotary Club

 

While looking at my bike for the first time since the Samurai race, I realized that I have a lot to be thankful for.

Thanks, Tony, for coming to my house to tell me I was about to miss the registration deadline.

Thanks, Tony, for allowing me to pay my race fee late, for arranging my WORCA licence, and for allowing me to have the day off so I could race.

Thanks for offering me the use of your second bike when mine was looking unrideable.

Thanks for having so many friends in this valley, who volunteered their time to make your event so successful.

And extra special thanks for letting all of us ride your karma coattails and allowing us to race on such a beautiful, sunny day.

Kevan Shaler

Whistler

 

Thank you to everyone who braved the soggy weather and came out to serve and enjoy the great soups at The Alta Lake School's annual Harvest Soup Contest fundraiser.

Chef Shane Robillard from the Fairmont Chateau Whistler again personally served the "winning soup," presenting a yummy Roasted Pemberton Valley Organic Tomato soup complete with a basil olive oil drizzle and toasted olive crouton! Whistler Blackcomb donated a delicious Hearty Chicken Vegetable and our own resident chef, Lori Edwards whipped up an amazing Roasted Carrot and Accorn Squash. Tummies have never been so happy!

A boquet of roses to these great community minded businesses!

Peggy Vogler for

The Alta Lake School Society

Whistler