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And now to Lot 1 9, butt out Intrawest, that familiar London Drugs refrain, Grayline owners gives thanks, shame on peek-a-boo Telus, and Pemberton

Thinking outside the lot I like to think that the RMOW and VANOC are interested in knowing where Whistlerites believe the Olympic medals plaza should be built.

Thinking outside the lot

I like to think that the RMOW and VANOC are interested in knowing where Whistlerites believe the Olympic medals plaza should be built. I fear, however, that the next round of public consultation regarding Lot 1/9 will see us choosing between five slightly different shaped plazas on the lot in question.

Before our democratic involvement is narrowed to that degree, I'd like to make a suggestion. Clearing the trees from the last forested lot in the village to accommodate 8,000 people for three weeks worth of medal ceremonies is not a sound idea. I'm not suggesting that the land should be left as it is. Build a museum, artists' workshops, a playground, a small plaza, or all of the above. The only use that doesn't naturally fit on that land is creating enough open space for 8,000 people to congregate.

The fact that the money to build the above mentioned amenities will come from VANOC is not lost on me. But must we hand over our decision making to outside interests in order to receive those benefits? If our Olympic legacies come at such a cost, we might want to consider how useful they are to the community.

The driving range is a wide open space, easily accessible and with beautiful views of the mountains. It proved itself as a great venue for the unveiling of the Paralympic logo last summer. A plaza with the Olympic podium could occupy one end. Bleachers or an amphitheatre could be built. A soccer field and a public park could round out the rest of the area to make it useful for locals and visitors year round. (There is currently nowhere in the village that a kid can kick a ball around).

Could some of VANOC's legacy money go to developing this site into a park, while some of it goes to Lot 1/9 for cultural facilities that blend more easily with the forest environment? We're constantly reminded by VANOC that we need to define what it is we want from the Games. In order to do that we need to have meaningful input in the decision making — input that doesn't always fit in the box of a predetermined Olympic plan.

Sustainability is touted as the third pillar of the 2010 Games. It will prove a great irony if the medals are presented every night in Whistler on a clearing that was once the last forested land in the village. Where the facility for the medals ceremony is built, and how that decision is made, will tell us a lot about whether sustainability is merely a convenient public relations strategy or a real pillar of the 2010 Olympics and the community of Whistler.

Stephen Vogler

Whistler

 

An obvious conflict of interest

This letter was addressed to Wesley Edens, chairman and CEO of Fortress Investments Group LLC. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

Several of us in Whistler, British Columbia, are surprised at your Intrawest subsidiary intervening publicly in a political debate to prevent a much loved Canadian and British Columbian company from opening a store here in Whistler. Your representative, David Brownlie of Whistler-Blackcomb, is quoted in the front page of Whistler’s newspaper describing London Drugs in the Whistler Village as doing “nothing to enhance the tourism experience (in Whistler) at 16,000 square foot, big box.”   This is especially surprising since your subsidiary, Whistler-Blackcomb, has an obvious conflict of interest as the largest owner and operator of retail stores in this community.

If you and Intrawest truly believed that an indoor recreation operation in Whistler Village would be more in the public interest than a London Drugs store, you would have paid the rent and opened such an operation there long ago.

How would you feel if a Canadian company were to intervene in a development application by Fortress or Intrawest to build a new resort somewhere in your country? I think it is extremely unusual for a company of your stature and reputation to engage in this kind of anti-corporate and anti-investment behavior. These actions will certainly undermine that reputation with the hundreds of Canadians who have signed petitions in support of this great local business.

Jim Duncan

Whistler

 

The last straw

As most people who live in Whistler I have watched this London Drugs scenario being played out. I agree we could use more competitive pharmacies and was in favour of the idea of them opening up in our town as they are a well respected, well run business.

Having said that the last advertorial that London Drugs sponsored was the straw the broke the camel’s back, so to speak. The constant innuendoes which have been coming from their agents have been misleading, to say the least. Comments such as we can’t verify what our pricing model is as we are not sure of the cost of doing business in Whistler are wearing thin. Is it fair to believe that a company as successful as them would move into a market without a business plan in place?

I could be wrong but are they not part of the parent company H.Y. Louie? Is this not the same company who has an interest in food wholesale, at one time supplying both The Grocery Store in the main village as well as Nesters? I am not 100 per cent sure but do they not have an interest in retail here as well, doing business in Whistler for the last 10 years or so as IGA? Would that not give them an idea of the costs?

Speaking of the IGA, while that is a very well run business with great selection, is it cheap? Why then would we believe that a different division is going to operate so much cheaper? Do they think we are that naïve?

The innuendo that they are not sure of special clauses council may impose on them. I was not aware that council suggested/set pricing models for retail in Whistler except encouraging business to be as fair and competitive as possible.

When I read in the last ad that the landlord is willing to restrict the space if it is rezoned, or as the spin doctors say “reworded” to allow only London Drugs to operate there, that opened my eyes and made me realize what a divisionary tact they are taking with our community. Literally pitting the residents against the retail sector in our town and against each other! I, for one, at this point will not be supporting their business in any way. Not only will I do my best to never shop at their store in Whistler, I will do my utmost to never shop at any of their stores again. All I can say is shame on you! I do not tolerate that behaviour from my children and will not reward the bad behaviour of their consultants and ultimately the executive of London Drugs who must have final say over the tactics deployed.

Remember when the comment was made we only want to be part of your community if we are wanted there, well needless to say I do not want you. Will you please take your ethically challenged consultants and turn the lights out when you leave?

Sylvie Goyer

Whistler B.C.

 

Give the people what they want

As I walk through Whistler Village I am struck by the irony of this whole London Drugs debate. Council is concerned about "village appeal" but it seems to me that our "quaint" little village is littered with multi national companies and international companies; Starbucks, the multitude of Intrawest shops, Helly Hansen, Quicksilver (also Intrawest owned) to name a few. I fail to see the difference between allowing these companies to take up all retail space and a London Drugs?

It strikes me as funny that the council members are concerned about bringing in London Drugs because it will take away from the village... I wonder who is lining their pockets? It is pretty obvious from the local people I talk to that a London Drugs would be a welcome addition to our village — I, too, do not do my shopping in this town, I drive to Squamish or to the city where the prices are normal and not marked up two or three times compared to the rest of the corridor, and I know a vast majority of people who do the same. Doesn't that say something?

I hope that council can see past its own agendas and take into account what the real working people of this town want... a London Drugs!

Katherine Mulvihill

Whistler

 

Reciprocating the care and concern

On Monday, Feb. 5 one of our Gray Line West motorcoaches was involved in an accident with a logging truck just south of Whistler near Function Junction. As a result of the accident our driver, Mike, sustained serious injuries. Our understanding is that fortunately the truck driver suffered only minor injuries.

On behalf of all our employees I would like to thank the rescue personnel, paramedics, doctors and nurses who provided care and assistance to our driver. I would especially like to thank the motorist who witnessed the accident and was first on the scene for stopping and offering comfort to Mike until emergency personnel arrived.

Mike was transported to Vancouver General Hospital and underwent emergency surgery later that evening. He is in stable condition and is being supported by family, friends and many co-workers.

As a small token of our appreciation and thanks, we will be making a donation to Whistler Search and Rescue on behalf of our employees who are very appreciative for the care and concern shown to one of our own.

Peter Armstrong

President and CEO

Armstrong Group

Owners and Operators

Gray Line West/

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations

 

Way to go, Telus!

Now that you've entered the field of cell phone pornography, which promotes and encourages the degradation of women, it's hardly appropriate for you to partner with Whistler-Blackcomb in offering services and lending your name to various functions. You’re hardly a role model for the skiers who just may one day be Olympic athletes.

Porn is destructive and by offering it to your subscribers your reputation is thoroughly tarnished.

Could it be the market for sexual content for mobile phones worldwide that is expected to generate $14.5 billion between 2006 and 2011 that has led to your decision?

I guess the bottom line can turn anyone into a hypocrite.

Norma Butt

Whistler

 

Pemberton has lots to offer

Re: Pemberton’s unfulfilled potential (Pique letters Feb. 1)

It is nice to read that there are people who care that Pemberton continues to move in a forward motion. However, I was very annoyed when I read the above stated letter in last week’s paper. Your letter totally negates all the hard work that volunteers and business owners alike have already accomplished here. Perhaps you should have done your research on Pemberton before you spent half-a-million dollars on your home. You would have known that there was no rink or pool in Pemberton. For Pemberton to have those types of amenities would increase your taxes even more then what they are now. I know many young families who live in cities that also drive an hour or even more to their children’s activities.

If you didn’t know already, Pemberton has a group of dedicated volunteers who are creating trail systems in Pemberton and who have already taken advantage of grants that are available, whether it is government or private.

I quite enjoy shopping at our two local grocery stores and find them very accommodating to requests for bringing new items in, plus they are more then generous with their support to local community groups. The community centre is always putting things on for kids and adults. Pemberton also has:

Dragon boat teams, soccer, baseball, drop in climbing wall, the Youth Centre, arts council, movie nights, two golf courses, cross-country skiing, the new community centre now being built.

Retail: Lil Spuds children’s clothing, three gas stations (Whistler only has one), Wildwood Restaurant, The Pony, sushi, Chinese food, Wicked Wheel. Locals Living Room, Twisted Whisker, The Animal Barn, The Pemberton General Store, Spuds, Home Hardware, Rona, Small Potatoes Bazaar, Movie Gallery, McDonald’s, Solstice’s organics, Grimm’s Deli, Swiss Diner, Sturdy’s Farm & Bakery, IDA Drug store & more, Pemberton Bike & Ski Co.

What else do you need? (Apologies to any of those that I have missed.)

  Just this past week we had a full weekend of events for families. For anyone who states that we have nothing going on here, well I am sad to say you have really missed out on the community spirit and heart that is here.

We all have the choice in life when looking at the glass of water filled to the middle to see it as half empty or half full. Whichever way you see it is probably how you will see life in general. I, for one, love living in this community, and thank all of those individuals for all your dedicated hours that you have put in to helping this community grow, whether you are a volunteer or a business owner.

Diane MacLeod

Pemberton

 

Look at what we have, not what we’re missing

At the risk of sounding like the disgruntled fourth generation Pemberton Valley hillbilly which I am, I take great exception to the comments made by Stephanie d'Artois in a letter entitled "Pemberton's unfulfilled potential" which was printed in the Feb. 8 edition of the Pique.

Ms. d'Artois stated in her letter that our town has "nothing in it", that local shopping and restaurant services are inadequate, that we are "woefully unprepared" for a 2010 world viewing session and furthermore that some of us are "living under rocks".

For the record, I disagree with every word she wrote. Those of us unhindered by urban expectations have found the Pemberton Valley to be a fine place to live. The secret is to spend your time enjoying what we do have rather than complaining about what is lacking. The incessant whining about various amenities which we do not have has become most tiresome.

Allen McEwan

Pemberton

 

VANOC going through proper channels

Last week’s article regarding VANOC’s approach to establishing a Whistler Olympic Media Village was misleading. Clare Ogilvie’s article inaccurately states that VANOC officials are “phoning individual owners of condos, townhomes and anyone else with traditional and non-traditional accommodation”.

In fact, VANOC officials have been consulting with several key accommodation providers, gathering opinions and creating a comprehensive strategy for a media village. When a plan has been created that the key players agree on, it will then be presented to other accommodation providers.

One of the many goals of the Olympic media village is to create an extraordinary experience for the international media so that they can authentically convey Whistler’s Olympic spirit to the rest of the world. In my opinion, the accommodation sector is being properly engaged in the process by VANOC.

I look forward to seeing the creation of a vibrant village atmosphere for the international media.  

Trevor Chelswick

Whistlerlodging.com