Pay parkers needs grace time to get ticket
Sadly, Whistler now has gone predatory.
I live in Whistler part time and had girlfriends visiting from Florida, driving a rental car.
I tried to use my app to park their rental car at Marketplace. I even looked over at the parking control car and said: "there is the f***er who is going to try to ticket us."
I took a picture of the rental car licence plate to have it with us, entered into my app and clicked on park. My credit card did not go through. I looked for just a meter where we could pay to park but did not see one.
Then both my friends, who also had the Passport app downloaded, entered the plate number, entered a credit card number and tried parking, but their international data would not work.
We ran over to [a coffee shop] to use Wi-Fi and parked the car through the app at 12:29 p.m. The car was ticketed at 12:27 p.m.
Indeed it took us two minutes to get to Wi-Fi and park the car. We were looking at the meter (attendant's) car and wondering how a tourist, with data not functioning optimally, could pay to park, without leaving the car for two minutes to use Wi-Fi somewhere. The meter [attendant] quite obviously clearly saw us stand by the car as we all three tried to get the app to work, which must have taken 10 minutes.
The predatory behaviour is just not Whistler.
I always talk about how much we love Whistler, how wonderful it is to be here. I am embarrassed for Whistler to my friends and my guests.
This just is not the Whistler I know and love.
Sabina and Michael Lorion // Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb comes through
I called Whistler Blackcomb (WB) regarding my pass [recently].
[I] left my [phone] number for a call back. Eventually ... Ellen (in Whistler) told me my understanding was wrong based on some details about pass sale dates that I found difficult to get straight.
In a friendly way, I confirmed her name and said I would check my sources. She said she would run it by her supervisor. I said, "there's no need to call me back unless you come up with something different."
Five minutes later! ... sincere apologies from WB, and a happy customer.
William Caulfield // Whistler/North Van
Warm memories
I was saddened by the notice on Nov. 21 of the passing of Byron Gracie. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the celebration at Roland's [Creekside Pub] on Dec. 5. But I would like to share a memory [that] demonstrates what a genuinely nice fellow Byron really was.
It was the mid-1980s and I had frozen a toe during a Jungle Jim ski camp in -25 Celsius temperatures. My ski buddies suggested I go and see Byron, who worked downstairs in Dave Kirk's ski shop. They knew Byron since racing with him during high school and college days.
Well, with a very friendly and helpful manner, he fitted me into a used pair of Intuition liners and they made the difference between always cold feet and warm comfortable feet.
I still have those liners inside a pair of Sorels for snowshoeing. I currently have three boots on the go and they all have the Intuition liners. Every time I see those liners, I think of Byron.
Byron was very friendly and easygoing, a genuinely nice guy, and man, could he ever ski. Whether I saw him on the hill or in the village, we would stop for a chat and catch up.
It would have been his birthday next Friday and I will surely have a thought for him. Thanks for the warm memories, my friend.
Doug Wylie // Whistler
Winter faire success
On behalf of the Whistler Waldorf School, I would like to thank all who participated in our annual Winter Faire.
Despite the lack of snow, the mood was festive, and children once again delighted in holiday crafting and making gifts to give.
Thank you to all our student and parent volunteers for your enthusiasm and energy and a very special thank you to our community sponsors: Creekside Market; Mount Currie Coffee Co.; Nesters Market; and Power Wood Corp. Your support is greatly appreciated! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Sonya Hwang // Parent Advisory Council chair
Freestyle Whistler gives thanks to Ullr!
On behalf of Freestyle Whistler, we wish to send out many thanks to all the vikings who came out to the GLC on Nov. 30 for our third annual Ullr Gala.
They gave generously and danced the night away and the next day the snow arrived!
Thank you to DJ Foxy Moron who kept our disco, viking-themed party going with a full dance floor all night long. Also, to the amazing staff at the GLC that helped out, as well as our awesome gala volunteer team. Thank you to all the local businesses who donated to our auction.
Because of our community's generosity, we are so happy to announce we reached our fundraising goal of $35,000! For a full list of donors, please visit our website: freestylewhistler.com
Thank you to our event sponsors: Whistler Blackcomb/Vail Resorts; Creekside Dental; and Kokanee. And lastly a huge thank you to our freestyle centre sponsors: Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and The Gemini Trust Company.
We are so excited to have the new Gemini Freestyle Centre built on Blackcomb this summer!
Jennifer Dunn, Julia Smart and Meagan McPherson // Ullr Gala 2019 Chairs
Fundraising success
Whistler Gymnastics would like to extend a huge thank you to Creekbread and the following businesses for making our recent fundraiser and social a great success: McCoos Whistler; Ziptrek Whistler; 21 Steps; Rolands Pub; Alta Bistro; Whistler Sport Legacies; Imagine Cinemas; Ruby Tuesday; Nonna Pia's; Starbucks Creekside; Whistler Chocolate; Vida Spa; Blenz; TAG Whistler and The Adventure Group; Mongolie Grill; and Mike Douglas and Salomon.
As Whistler Gymnastics is a non-profit organization, fundraising and volunteering are vital to maintaining our affordability and ability to provide excellent programming.
Thanks to all the parents and kids for joining us at Creekbread and thank you to our amazing local business for their generous donations and continued support of the Whistler Gymnastics Club!
Audra Williams // Whistler
Thanks for Holiday Sing Along
Thank you Pemberton! You are amazing! Our community sure brought in the holiday season with a barn full of excitement on Dec. 6 at the Holiday Sing Along and Christmas Tree Lighting event!
Thank you one and all for making our third event so special. The tree looks amazing and will be up for the rest of the month for the community to enjoy. Thank you to Ruth Fogarty and the Pemberton Community Church for adding this magical tree to the event.
We were also so blessed to have Ira Pettle jetting out from his busy schedule to lead us again. Santa and Rudolph arrived with the Pemberton Fire Department to dance and amaze the children, too. We had yummy food and hot drinks to keep us warm and nourished. What a night!
Thank you to all of our generous sponsors and contributors who helped make it all happen: Kevani Kestel; Brooklyn's Pizza; Pemberton Valley Supermarket; Event Rental Works; Mount Currie Coffee Company; Pemberton Valley Wellness; Pemberton Legion; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Pemberton Valley Nurseries; Rona; Pemberton Men's Shed; Frontier Pharmacy; Town Square Restaurant; Fitzgerald Building Co.; Silvhorn Automotive; Chicks with Picks; Jim McKellar; Village of Pemberton; and the Lil'wat Nation. See you all next year
Shannon Paul, DJ Snowflake and all the volunteer team of Growing Great Children
