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Letters to the Editor for the week of October 12th

Short-sighted comments I am rather disgusted by Whistler Mayor (Nancy Wilhelm-Morden) and her pretentious comments (CBC, Oct. 6) towards those who "daytrip" to Whistler.
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Short-sighted comments

I am rather disgusted by Whistler Mayor (Nancy Wilhelm-Morden) and her pretentious comments (CBC, Oct. 6) towards those who "daytrip" to Whistler. 

Her suggestion that those coming for the day are solely responsible for heaps of garbage and general nuisance is unfair and offensive. 

The fancy highway that links the little village to the rest of the world was paid for by every British Columbian. 

I can go where I want, and stay as long as I want as a free Canadian, and certainly won't heed these judgemental utterings.

This reeks of protectionism and this short-sighted mayor is an absolute embarrassment. 

Looks like the little village doesn't have a day-tripper problem... more of an attitude problem. 

Pretentious attitudes abound in Vancouver already. 

Maybe the hard-working, local taxpayers should boycott Whistler. 

After all, in her own words, Whistler is a cash-flush tourist destination where local day visitors aren't welcome. 

Shameful and shortsighted.  

Rob Dean
Vancouver

No early opening this year

Buried in (Vail Resorts-Whistler Blackcomb COO) (Pete) Sonntag's remarks in Pique Newsmagazine, Sept. 28, is the comment that WB's new management is not contemplating an early opening for WB, even if weather permits.

It's not clear whether the reason is that Vail's new management only really cares about opening for American Thanksgiving, or that the implementation of Vail Resorts' management system is the cause.

If it's due to Vail Resorts' management system, it can't be much of a system if it prevents early opening when the existing WB system has allowed early opening for years.

Whatever the cause, the result is one more disadvantage for WB skiers due to Vail Resorts' takeover (to go along with higher prices, fewer perks and more crowding on the hills).

I'm expecting more takeaways every year to go along with accelerating prices and more crowded slopes. Soon, other B.C. and Alberta resorts will represent a better place to ski in comparison to WB.

Nick Stowell
Whistler/Toronto

Fantastic fundraising

We hosted a fundraiser in our home last weekend to help raise money for Canada's Olympic athletes.

I wanted to write and express my gratitude for the amazing level of support from local businesses and community members. We have only lived in Whistler for two years and we were delighted to discover that it has such a strong community spirit.

The charity that we were raising money for is called the CAN Fund (http://canadianathletesnow.ca). CAN Fund is a charity created to fill a funding gap and give our Canadian athletes the financial support they need to train and compete for Canada. Since 2000, it has raised and dispersed over $30 million.

It has launched a grassroots initiative called the "Pre-Game Meal" where anyone can host a fundraiser in their home and CAN Fund will send a few Olympians to help raise money.

My husband Andrew and I hosted the first ever Pre-Game Meal in Whistler and it was a great success. We raised almost $9,000 from just one event in our home and the donations are still trickling in.

The money we raised will go to local athletes training for the upcoming Winter Games. Excitingly, two skeleton athletes were surprised with a funding cheque at our party. It was very moving to hear their stories about how much this funding means to them. 

We could not have done it without the unwavering support from local businesses.

These businesses gave generously and many at the very last minute. Our hearts are full of gratitude for their support: Back In Action Physiotherapy; Beauty by Emily; Blackcomb Liquor Store; Camp Lifestyle & Coffee; Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course; Coast Mountain Photography; Elements Restaurant; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Farfalla Salon; Forged Axe Throwing; Scandinave Spa; Nesters Liquor Store; Nesters Market; Porsche Canada; Purebread Bakery; The Rockin' Wok; athletes Kelsey Serwa and Dave Duncan; Starbucks Coffee; Sushi Village; Sportstop Source for Sports; Tess Klein Handcrafted Jewelry; Whistler Brewing Company; Whistler Olympic Park; and the Wildwood Restaurant.

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place that is full of inspiring people who care enough to help others. I encourage other members of our community to host a Pre-Game Meal as there are hundreds of athletes on the waiting list.

Gina Mollicone-Long and Andrew Long
Whistler 

Fast action fights fire

Mr. and Mrs. David Andrews (of Pemberton) wish to sincerely thank all those who provided assistance with the serious fire at our home which took place on Sept. 5 while we were out of town, and for which no cause has been established.

Specifically, we thank: Pemberton Fire Rescue; BC Ambulance Service; RCMP; BC Hydro; BC Wildfire; Mt. Currie Fire Department; Riverlands; Patrick Prevost; Bob Inglis; and all our neighbours.

Without their prompt response, the damage would have been much greater. Mercifully there was no one in residence at the time and there were no injuries sustained.

Again, our thanks to you all.

The Andrews Family
Pemberton

And the Harvest Soup Contest winner is...

Thank you to all the generous restaurants and fabulous soup chefs who participated in the 2017 Whistler Waldorf School Harvest Soup Contest.

Milestones graciously hosted and welcomed a dedicated crowd of over 500 soup tasters and voters on their patio, overlooking the farmers' market stroll.

It was a close race for the coveted Golden Ladle with mouth-watering entries: Fairmont Chateau Whistler's Chateau cauliflower soup; Legs Diamond's watercress soup; Stonesedge Kitchen's vegan coconut curry soup; Alta Bistro's spicy braised pork and white bean Soup; Tapley's Pub Thai-style yam and sweet potato curry; Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille's spiced butternut and red lentil soup; Beacon Pub and Eatery's mixed wild mushroom soup; and Milestones' beef and barley.

For the second year in a row, the voters' choice went to Steven Lane of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler!

Great thanks to our generous sponsors: Nesters Market for the buns; Slopeside Supply for their donation of compostable bowls and spoons; and Mountain FM for spreading the word. Thanks also to AWARE for helping make our event a zero-waste one.

Lastly, thank you to all of the volunteers, the Whistler Farmers Market and everyone who makes the annual Harvest Soup Contest a beloved Thanksgiving weekend tradition. See you next year!

Jen Dodds
Event Organizer, Whistler

'Souper success'

On Oct. 5, the students at Myrtle Philip Community School wrapped up their 2017 growing season with a Harvest Soup Celebration.

All the vegetables in the soup were grown by the students on the school grounds. They planted, harvested, prepared and served the soup to 400 students, teachers, and parents.

It was a beautiful sunny day to dine outside in the new Outdoor Classroom, surrounded by the garden boxes where the vegetables all grew — literally making them zero-mile.

Each student brought their own bowl and spoon, making the event zero-waste. And the soup got two thumbs up!

Bowls full of thanks to the long list of volunteers that made this happen. We have an amazing school community full of dedicated parents that make events like this possible.

Thank you to principal Jeff Maynard, the teachers and staff at Myrtle Philip Community School for supporting this initiative. "Souper" thanks to Executive Chef Julian Owen-Mold at the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa for creating the yummy soup stock for us and supplying the table linens and giant soup pots.

Much appreciation to Mike Groot and Heidi Finlayson-Groot from The Grocery Store for the yummy snacks for volunteers, and the food basics we couldn't grow.

And thank you to West Coast Seeds for supporting school-ground gardening.

Christy Craig
Whistler