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We have an obligation to engage in this debate

The objective of editorial writing is to express an opinion. Within his column, Alta States, Michel Beaudry does exactly that. Every week Michel provides his take on the characters and circumstance of Whistler.

The objective of editorial writing is to express an opinion. Within his column, Alta States, Michel Beaudry does exactly that. Every week Michel provides his take on the characters and circumstance of Whistler. The vast majority of his articles celebrate the people that make up our community. He, more than any, chronicles the history of Whistler by dialoguing with its characters. He uses his interviews to test his impressions of the past, present and future of Whistler. He contrasts this with his experience of having travelled to most of the ski areas and mountain resorts of the world, participating, observing and writing about all that he sees. While no longer a full-time resident, he remains fully engaged in all things Whistler. Michel is a person with a profound passion for this place. This passion is based on the same reasons that brought most of us here... the incredible recreation, set within the beauty of the coastal mountains of British Columbia.

The mountains and recreation act as the foundation of our core values. As a writer, Michel has taken on the responsibility of publicly expressing his concerns when these core values are being compromised.

Of late, his message and opinion is that Whistler is at a critical juncture. Since we hosted the Olympics, what do we do now? He is concerned that the path that we are on doesn't have our core values at heart. He is concerned that our apparent lack of vision and lack of leadership is compromising the experience that we are offering. He is concerned that we are over built, past the tipping point, surpassing the comfortable carrying capacity of the mountains and the environment. He is concerned that the Muni will eliminate the bed unit cap and try to build our way out of our problems. He is concerned about the impact and associated optics of cutting old growth forests within our municipal boundaries. He is concerned that, regardless of the philosophical intentions, the pay parking is yet another barrier for the locals to frequent the village, further creating an "us and them" scenario, further compromising the animation and character of what should be our primary focal point. He is concerned that the never ending spending is completely out of touch with what we can afford. He is concerned that the mechanisms are not in place to encourage unique, made in Whistler solutions and enterprise, leading to the further homogenization of this place, making us the same as every other resort with their Starbucks, the Gap, Shoppers Drug Mart and the soon to be Dairy Queen. He is concerned that our path is turning us into a Disneyland in the mountains, casting around trying to cater to everybody. He is concerned that the result is, as some are beginning to appreciate, when you invite everyone to come at reduced rates, you get the crowds without the returns. He is concerned that along with the curious and the casual observers (of which there may be a remote chance of encouraging some to come back and engage) you get the gangs and the riff raff and all the spin off entailed with that crowd. He is challenging us to question the wisdom of the path that we are on... to ask ourselves if this is what we want? He is of the opinion that while it may feel busy, the situation is unsustainable without constant turnover... and how many times is a visitor going to come to ride the P2P?... once, maybe twice, but certainly not on a weekly basis. He is of the opinion that we are trying to cater to a crowd that lives very much outside of our core values. The P2P embodies all of this. Michel is a man with deep apprehension about our future.

And he is not alone in his concerns. I, for one agree with most of Michel's opinions. Further, I know that I am not alone. One only has to review the results of the OCP backyard discussions to know that there is a growing call for a change. One only has to listen to the increasing anger and dissatisfaction being voiced in half the articles every week in Pique and the Question to know that the Whistler status quo is unacceptable.

A letter to the editor in last week's Pique attacked Michel as being out of touch and off base, demanding that he be removed from his column... removed from his soap box for expressing his unfounded opinions. Agree with him or not, that's your prerogative. Just don't shoot him because you're tired of the tirade and you don't like the message. The reality is that we need Michel (and Bob, Max, Nancy, et al) more than ever to bring these opinions to the public's mind's eye. The answer lies in constructive dialogue to get it right. We all have an obligation to engage in this debate.

Brent Harley

Whistler

Nattering nabobs of negativity

I want to add my support to the views expressed by Eric Callender (Tired of tirades, Pique Letters, Oct. 13). My family and I have been coming to Whistler year round (from Vancouver) and have done so since Whistler Mountain first opened. It is attractive to so many people because Whistler has become a place that offers something to a wide variety of ages and fitness levels and provides ways for many to see and enjoy the mountains and the valleys.

There is no need to be elitist and cater to only the backcountry or extreme mountain athletes. A city dweller who can see the forest from the Valley Trail or the Peak 2 Peak can also gain the refreshment and rejuvenation from nature and it may transform their respect for mother nature and entice them on to the next level of outdoor sport.

I would add that Mr. Beaudry's column is not the only negative aspect of Pique Newsmagazine . Some weeks when I read the newspaper I am so discouraged by the Whistler community's troubles and growing pains. While free speech, open dialogue and honest presentation of Whistler's issues are needed in your paper, you are an important window to visitors. Try to keep a balance of news about those who are working positively towards making Whistler a sustainable community for locals and guests.

Leslie Alexander

Vancouver

Paths chosen and where they lead

This letter is to the person who on Oct. 16th, between 6:30 and 8 a.m., came into my driveway on Aspen Drive and stole property of mine from my cab. Among the items taken was a GPS, a spotlight, an iPod, a mini DVD player, chargers belonging to the company that employs me and over $700 in cash.

The GPS and spotlight are essential tools for me to be able to do my job quickly and efficiently, I will not be able to afford the cost of replacing them for several months.

The iPod was a birthday gift from my sons who saved for months from their meagre allowance to buy it and present it to me with the hope it would make the slow days a little more bearable. I will have to reimburse the company for the chargers.

I want you to know that the cash was next month's budget for groceries for my two sons and me, as well as our hydro bill. You have now put me in the food bank line where I will be taking food that should be going to people who are subsisting on welfare or less.

By now, I am sure you have been through my personal papers and have an idea of just how poorly we are doing financially, so give me a break. You are hurting a lot of people, not just me.

If you have a thread of decency, a grain of conscience, any self respect or respect for others, you have a chance to turn things around and set them straight. Simply return the bags and contents as intact as you can to my front door and all will be forgiven. Do this in the middle of the night if you like, it is not a trap but an opportunity for you to regain your self respect.

If you do not, the RCMP, myself and my neighbours will continue to hunt for you. The RCMP assure me that when you are caught they will seek the harshest penalties. Comply, and I will not press charges.

If theft is a way of life for you, I want you to think it through. Eventually you will be caught, if not this time, maybe next time, but it will happen. Now you have a criminal record which you will have to live with for the rest of your life. This will deprive you of choices and opportunities as your life evolves.

Please take a moment and stand in my shoes and decide what path you are going to take.

R.J.Pridy

A struggling single parent of two

Looking out for one another

On a beautiful fall afternoon, I was visiting a friend who had recently moved into Rainbow. It is the least I can do to take a moment to thank the kind person who found and carefully placed my wallet on the windshield of my vehicle. My stomach sank when I realized I must have dropped it. My heart filled when I realized someone had returned it - with everything still in its place. How comforting to know that Whistler is still a community that looks after one another.

Thank you. I am confident the world will return your good karma.

J. van der Star

Whistler

Pay parking the solution

The obvious solution to save the Squamish commuter bus service is to eliminate all free parking in Whistler. Pay parking at Marketplace, Meadow Park, etc. would provide both a potent price signal to encourage motorists to consider alternatives as well as supply the necessary funds to maintain excellent economical transit throughout the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Thomas DeMarco

Whistler

Leave the bears alone

Just south of Function (past the overpass for the railway tracks) on the right hand side of the road (heading south), there is a little section of the old highway that people are continually driving into to get a better look at the little bear that feeds there.

Yesterday there were two cars parked there with the people outside of their vehicle and the one couple even had their dog outside the vehicle as well.  This is total disregard for the poor little bear and it made me very angry. Unfortunately I was on my way to work heading northbound and therefore couldn't turn across the highway to speak to these people.

I think it would be a good idea for the municipality to be asked to decommission this road. In the summer there were even people that were camped there for two to three nights in a motorhome.

The last thing I want to see is another bear shot because of human stupidity.

PLEASE people, leave the bears alone, they are such a special part of this valley and I would like to keep it that way.

Bobbi Sandkuhl

Whistler

Take the cue

This letter was addressed to Manuel Achadinha, president and CEO of BC Transit. A copy was forwarded to Pique for publication.

They say coercion is never an effective way to change behaviour. Well, I have been the Coordinator of the Squamish Climate Action Network for over a year now and not once has this fact deterred my best friends from driving single-occupancy vehicles to my place to enjoy some social time together. In contrast, the new drinking/driving laws have - now, they invariably turn up at my door on their bikes, rain or shine.

In Squamish, we are putting a lot of effort into spreading awareness about the benefits of using public transport. Since we are doing it without coercion, progress is slow in coming; slowly but surely, however, we are gaining headway and increasing ridership. Likely, many other communities in the province are routing volunteer efforts in the same direction. To those of us trying to usher people onto the buses, the new drinking/driving laws come across as an early Christmas present gracefully placed by BC Transit's tree. Here's a golden opportunity not to be missed; it carries no need for grandiose or costly, pleading advertising campaigns.

I hope BC Transit will take the cue and not let the opportunity simply go by. At the recent Union of BC Municipalities convention in Whistler, BC Transit officials warned that the service around the province will become unsustainable within five years unless ridership can be driven up. Mr Achadinha, we cannot use something that is not there for us to use. The new drinking/driving laws can be taken as a call to action. At the very least, I hope you will be willing to test the waters and collaborate closely with local governments in introducing pilot programs that will most probably highlight our immediate need to embrace public transit full on - we want buses running during the day, into the night and throughout the weekend now .

Here's your chance to turn BC Transit into an example in alleviating, rather than compounding, the ever-expanding problem of desertification of our social, urban centres. People are increasingly relegated to confinement in the space within their four walls at home, which thwarts their ability to contribute to the betterment and enrichment of our communities.

Time and time again, we are presented with the catch-22 situation that we cannot increase transit service because we don't have the ridership. The new drinking/driving laws have businesses scrambling and digging deep into their pockets trying to offer shuttle services to their customers. Let's beat them to it - I'd say the ridership is already waiting at the bus-stop.

Ana Santos

Squamish

Many hands make writers festival

Many worthy arts organizations saw their grant funding cut in 2010 because of government budget reductions. The Vicious Circle, Whistler's Writers Group was among them. And yet, we persevered. Last weekend we held our ninth annual Readers and Writers Festival. We offered two streams of workshops for writers of all levels, a number of discussion forums and three reading events in various locations in the village. Attendance at these events broke all expectations. We saw an increase of 52 per cent in attendance over the 2009 festival. In total, 203 attended the festival in 2010, and left satisfied, wanting more. So, I guess one way or another, we're here to stay.

We couldn't put on a festival of this calibre without the support of many organizations and volunteers. Their unfailing generosity allowed us to hold a festival this year when we didn't think we could. I want to thank:

1. Mayor and council. They were the first to jump on our bandwagon and provide financial support through the Community Enrichment Grant.

2. The Whistler Arts Council for financial and moral support.

3. Hal Wake and the Vancouver International Writers Festival. The partnership we forged this year helped us to continue to bring high caliber well-known authors to Whistler.

4. The Writers Union of Canada through the Canada Council for the Arts.

5. The Whistler Public Library, The Pemberton Public Library and the Squamish Public Library who hosted events at the festival and in support of our 2010 Writer in Residence, award winning author, Brian Brett.

6. A number of small businesses who donated money and services to help us meet the budget deficit left by the cuts to our B.C. Arts Council grant. These businesses include: Pasta Lupino, Burnt Stew, The Grocery Store, Performance Painting, Street to Peak, the Rotary Club of Whistler, The Pique Newsmagazine , The Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre, Creekbread, Scandinave Spa Whistler, Guestfolio, Routley Consulting, and Don Wesley. It was the small, local businesses that came through and supported one of their own. They helped us make this year's festival a reality. Their generosity is one more reason to buy from our very own local merchants and businesses.

7. Jennifer Miller of the Question , and Holly Fraughton of Pique Newsmagazine , Nicole Fitzgerald of Shaw T.V., Karen Horak of Mountain FM who promoted the festival through their comprehensive coverage.

8. Lisa Richardson, our Director of Communications. Her creativity and high energy makes sure word of the festival gets out. She's the one who entices you with her press releases, eblast and blog updates and nudges you nicely not to miss one single event.

9. Dan Ellis of Armchair Books who brings in the books of our guest authors and has them available for sale at our events. I thank my lucky stars we have such a wonderful independent book seller right here in Whistler.

10. Aki Kaltenbach and the staff of Maxx Fish and La Bocca who partnered with us to deliver Pecha Kucha and spoken word artist, C.R. Avery.

11. Tourism Whistler for helping with the promotion of the festival.

12. Elizabeth Chong and Mohamed Ramadan of the Aava Whistler Hotel, which was festival headquarters and room provider for our guest authors and festival participants.

Perhaps the single most important aspect of support, however, comes from you, our audience. You came out in droves to our events, supported us and our guest audience with your attendance, interest and passion for the literary arts. Thank you so much. For you, we will strive to do better.

Stella Harvey

Founder, The Vicious Circle (Whistler Writers Group)