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Letters to the editor for the week of December 19th

Emily Carr has history with resort This maybe one of those "no-brainers," but after reading the article in Pique I couldn't help but write to urge you to approve Emily Carr University of Art + Design's request to support a Letter of Agreement between
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Emily Carr has history with resort

This maybe one of those "no-brainers," but after reading the article in Pique I couldn't help but write to urge you to approve Emily Carr University of Art + Design's request to support a Letter of Agreement between the RMOW and ECUAD for an Emily Carr Summer Satellite Studio at Whistler. 

As you likely already know, ECUAD is a preeminent art school with a deserved reputation as one of the top art schools in North America. I know this first-hand for I've been a part-time student there since 1999 and see the benefits the school confers on its students and connected communities.

What you may not know is that Whistler Arts Council has an early history of connecting with and supporting the campus. The first art show the arts council held in 1982 was an exhibition and sale of Emily Carr student work. I still have the poster.

We coordinated with ECUAD, rented a van, hauled the student work up the highway and displayed it at Myrtle Philip Community School for sale over a weekend.

The students were thrilled with the results — they sold a great deal of work, which is always encouraging to emerging artists — and so were we: The community enjoyed a stimulating and provocative art exhibition, and many locals and visitors added new art to their lives.

For years as head of the arts council I looked for any way of linking ECUAD and Whistler. The benefits of the connection were obvious for many good reasons from developing cultural tourism to enriching the intellectual life of the community.

Now you can capture synergies with the future Audain Art Museum. The ultimate goal: a model like the Banff Centre or Aspen Institute of having a centre for progressive, liberal, creative idea-making in an inspired mountain setting. 

(Mayor and council,) as community leaders, I hope you welcome ECUAD enthusiastically and take all concrete action necessary to ensure this letter of agreement is only the first step in developing a robust, ongoing relationship with this dynamic institution.

Glenda Bartosh

Founder, former president

Whistler Arts Council

'Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.'


Now that our Grinch play is done, MPCS must thank all those that enabled our fun.

To the 70 students who practiced, who created and gave it your all,

You created a production that was as grand as it was tall.

To all of the 256 students who danced, played gamelan and sang your song,

Your hard work, dedication and enthusiasm moved the show along,

Myrtle Philip herself would be proud of the students and staff

To come together like a family to give the public a little laugh

To anyone out there that missed it,

We created a full-length movie, so give our website a visit.

But we must stop and thank all the businesses alike:

The Barefoot Bistro, Cutting Edge Signs, Whistler Arts Council, Windsor Plywood, Mr. Bent at WSS and Whistler/Blackcomb,

For donating time and material to make sets that we like.

And finally to Kristi, Megan, Ronnie, Kathleen, Denise and Rob, I can't say in the least

Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything... including the roast beast!

Jeff Maynard, principal

Myrtle Philip Community School

Mourning Avery

I would like to begin by offering my condolences to Avery Newman's family and friends.

I did not know Avery personally but knew who he was. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. To me he was "Mr. Whistler."

I would see Avery riding his bike all over town and attending all the major Whistler events with such a positive and outgoing attitude.

His sporting career and what he brought to the Whistler Adaptive Program can only be described as remarkable and inspirational.

What he leaves behind is a legacy that not only Whistler can be proud of, but every adaptive participant and special Olympian.

I know Avery enjoyed visiting and relaxing at the Scandinave Spa. I would see him ride to the spa quite regularly during the summer and hang out in the lobby sipping away at his tea. So on behalf of the Scandinave Spa we mourn the passing of Avery, but celebrate the life of a legendary Whistlerite.   

Steve Bonaventura

Whistler

All about the powder?

The article in The Question Dec. 10 ("Province brings in new fees for snowmobilers") raised three main points; the LRMP, water quality and powder.

In the early 2000s I attended several of the Winter Backcountry Recreation forums, which became part of the LRMP — Pat Harrison was the chair. No sledder, snowmobile club or the BC Snowmobile Federation would sign the agreement that Mr. Harrison came up with. In the end Mr. Harrison, a director of the Federation of Mountain Clubs signed on our behalf. What a hypocritical joke.

Mr. Harrison plus many other out-of-the-corridor backcountry skiers did their best to protect what they consider their private playground. Not only are many of these so called non-motorized area infrequently used by back country skiers, when they are they are usually accessed by helicopter, which is the worst fuel-guzzling mode of transport possible. (They) make newer snowmobiles seem like electric vehicles in comparison. As stated in the article the boundaries around Sproatt are a "recommendation."

To use water quality issues as a reason to restrict snowmobiles just doesn't hold water.

Never has Whistler municipality been able to detect any hydrocarbons in their water samples.

Not only do I sled there, I also hike there in the summer and fall. Hikers and mountain bikers do way more harm than sledders do.

It seems every other group of hikers has their dog with them, and yes, there are signs to leave them at home. Do you think they pick up their dogs crap?

Are we going to shut down all access to the watershed?

When hiking in the watershed there are virtually no signs that sledders have used this area. The odd mark on a tree high above the ground is about all you can find. Compare that to the severe trail erosion in spots caused by hikers and mountain bikers, and the three pits toilets in the area — this leads one to conclude what this is really about: Powder.

Who doesn't want deep untracked powder? Sledders want it as much as skiers do. This is why the number of sled skiers and boarders has exploded in the last few years.

Probably more than half of the people accessing the watershed by sled are there to ski or board. It seems like Mr. (Bryce) Leigh (environment director for the Alpine Club of Canada) thinks he should have his own private backcountry spot. He must be more equal than others.

So Mr. Leigh are you going to pack out your human waste? So how was your coffee this morning? At least if a sledder hears the call of nature it is only a one-minute ride out of the watershed. Maybe Mr. Leigh you are not aware that crap flows downhill.

Ray Mason

Whistler

Santa's workshop in Whistler

Spring Creek Community School and Ecole Passerelle held their annual Santa's Workshop on Dec. 15 and it was a huge success.

We raised $1,375 for Whistler Community Services. The students had so much fun selecting gifts for their families and giving to their community. A huge thanks goes out to the staff, students, and parents who donated, sorted, set-up, decorated, sold gifts, helped wrap presents, entertained, problem solved, smiled and laughed creating such a positive fun event.

A special thanks to the Spirit Team who assisted from the beginning to the end.

And, last but not least, Andrea Legge, thank you for your organizational skills and your hard work. Each year I am again amazed at what a giving, caring community we have in Whistler.  

Vicki Swan

Whistler

Gingerbread Project still going

Thank you to the Pemberton Valley Lodge for hosting the Chamber Business Mixer, and to Tyler and Lorien Shramm for providing refreshing, interesting cocktails. It was a great opportunity to mingle and view the 28 gingerbread houses/structures submitted by local businesses.

The houses will be on display until tomorrow (Friday, Dec.20). You can vote for your favourite one or bid on them in a silent auction and maybe take one home. This was one part of a food bank fundraiser initiated by The Lodge and all funds will be matched by the Scotia Bank.

Julie Kelly

Pemberton

Nightly rental issue a global one

Whistler isn't the only place where some owners don't bother to get a business license for renting their apartment to tourists and paying all appropriate fees, taxes etc.

The City of Vancouver is also quite concerned.

Then there is the City of Paris. Below is an important paragraph (translated) from the link challenges.fr/patrimoine/20131114.CHA7080/co... "What is the problem for the City of Paris?

"Each apartment rented seasonally is one less apartment available to the Parisian people. At first, this practice remained marginal, but today we believe that there are at least 25,000 or 30,000 apartments rented by the week or by the night. This is no longer the exception; it is close to 10 per cent of the rental offer!

"The effect is very harmful. First, by reducing the supply, it creates a pressure on rents, which are soaring, and also distorts the real estate market because these locations are so profitable that investors do not hesitate to buy apartments used as holiday rentals well above the average price by m2.

"These speculative investments are fuelling the housing crisis in Paris. Eventually this leads to disturbing socio-economic upheavals. Between the unoccupied pieds-à-terre of foreign owners and all the apartments, which will only receive flows of tourists, some neighbourhoods are loosing local inhabitants, families, middle-class and, without them, schools and shops close. ""

In November 2013, the lowest price in Paris — in the 20th district on the East side — was Euros 6,190 by square metre (the space occupied by a medium size armchair). For many years now, lots of plain working-class apartments have been "renovated" and divided in several smaller units to make them affordable (Vancouver condos are also shrinking in size but not in price).

Apartments with really high ceilings and a floor area between 175 sq. metres to 800 sq. metres, sell without problems, but they too aren't doing much for businesses and facilities in an area, as most of the owners are absentees.

Even French provincial towns are affected. Lyon for example, as it is just under two hours from Paris by frequent TGV.

In Bordeaux, 584 km from Paris, housing is still now around 1/2 to 1/3 the Paris price and one can buy a small row house with a private garden for C$400,000-C$600,000, and not that far from downtown either. In Paris a similar row house (there are very few of them as most Parisians, including very wealthy ones, live in apartment buildings) cost from 1.3 million Euros (Cad $ 1.8 million) up.

However, by 2016-17 Bordeaux will only be 2 1/4 hrs by TGV from Paris (one full hour less than now), so people that can work from home and only need to be in their workplace once a week or less, are already buying homes in Bordeaux.

J-L Brussac

Coquitlam

A coming of age

Close to 200 Pembertonians attended the 21st annual Friends of the Pemberton Library fundraiser on Friday, November 22. This "Coming of Age" party raised over $11,500 from the generous supporters of our vibrant library, the cultural and literary hub of Spud Valley.

Julie Kelly and her board of the Friends of the Library along with library trustees and director Emma Gills would like to sincerely thank all the attendees and those who helped to make this event such a success.

The Grand Hall of the Community Centre was transformed into a stunning, sparkling, wonderland. Guests were welcomed by violin music, and later, local musicians entertained our guests in the library as they enjoyed delicious desserts.

A special thank you to our generous food sponsors; the appetizers and desserts were spectacular. Behind the scenes, Matt Prescott kept the servers' platters replenished and our bartenders did a great job keeping the glasses filled. Emcee pastor Paul Cumin and auctioneer James Linklater kept the program moving along and the bidding lively.

This 21st annual event was an outstanding success. Thirty-four incredible "baskets" were donated to the silent auction, as well as three live auction items. Money raised at this year's event will go toward creating a "teens corner," extending the laptop bar and adding movable shelving to allow us to expand the seating area for library events.

Plan to join us again next year for this not-to-be missed event.

Thank you again,

Julie Kelly – Chairperson Friends of the Pemberton & District Library

Marnie Simon – Chairperson Library Board of Trustees

Emma Gillis – Director Pemberton & District Library

Black Diamond Betties give thanks!

The Whistler Roller Girls would like to express their appreciation to the local businesses that made our recent Creekbread fundraiser a success. Our amazing raffle prizes were donated by Peak Performance, Whistler Disc Golf Club, Mt. Currie Coffee Co., Tadasana Yoga Studios, Whistler Golf Club, Bounce, The Station, Nagomi Sushi, Earls Restaurant, Black Bird Bakery, Whistler Brewing Co. and the Fairmont Grill Room. The generosity of our local businesses does not go unnoticed.

A huge shout-out to Poor Dirty Sylvia (Susan Holden and Sean Rose) for providing the music and to Macho Grande (Benny Bach) for being our charming emcee for the evening. Thank you to Vanessa Stark for creating the beautiful banner that we proudly hung up at the entrance to Creekbread, and to Creekbread for hosting our league.

Our goal is to bring flat track roller derby to Whistler and funds raised will help us with uniforms, practice venue rentals and expanding our league. None of this would be possible without the ongoing support from our families, friends and local businesses. Thank you, Whistler for supporting your local roller derby!

Derby Love from the Whistler Roller Girls! Pow Pow!

Kitty Konniption

Whistler