How about the "Park to Peak Gondola"
Forget the two-lane, ridiculous, $1-billion highway legacy. I liken this to connecting a fire hose to a garden hose, our in-town portion of the highway being the garden hose section.
No matter how much water you pump through the fire hose it will hit the garden hose, reducing the flow dramatically.
So why bother with the fire hose, especially if it costs nearly a billion dollars? The wrong-headed decision to do this in the first place is another matter. It is our problem now.
To solve this problem we need a Park to Peak Gondola. Start it at Function Junction. Have it stop once or twice in the village, and proceed right to the base, or right to mid-station.
It could be a refurbished gondola, as it would be low to the ground and safer, or it could be a brand new, world-class people mover that matches the Peak 2 Peak without all the engineering challenges.
It would also have zero emissions. Compare that to the snaking line of cars, crawling along for hours in a day, and I am sure the Earth would be a huge winner here.
With a few large, free parking lots adjacent to the terminal for a few thousand vehicles and we have a solid solution.
In comparison to the option of widening the road or restricting traffic, you have a somewhat simple and highly effective solution to the daily gridlock that locals and tourists experience, which, by all accounts, is projected to get much worse.
It would also cost much less than any full-scale road improvements, and really do we want more cars in town?
We could complete a project like this in under two years and 18,000 to 20,000 people would be a reasonable daily capacity.
Remember, this solution is already popular around the world and seems like a really sensible and somewhat cool and fun solution for us — not to mention a great way to also get to Function as required.
Perri Domm
Whistler
Scrap Site C dam
The NDP/Green government must can the Site C dam.
This disgraceful BC Liberal boondoggle should not continue under Horgan's watch.
Site C is an utter economic and environmental disaster that will bankrupt B.C. Not only will it flood thousands of acres of fertile farmland, sacred First Nations burial sites and wildlife habitat, but taxpayers will be on the hook for up to $10-to-12 billion for its construction.
Why should taxpayers subsidize a paltry number of short-term construction jobs for power B.C. does not need?
The B.C. government should instead train British Columbians to install household solar and to build and retrofit buildings to Passive House standards, which will reduce our energy needs.
These sustainable jobs will employ thousands and thousands of workers for decades to come.
Louise Taylor
Pemberton
The ongoing chairlift rant
As the chairlift bar rises — with new and obnoxious fluorescent orange signs reminding us to "Raise Bar Here," as though we have forgotten to do this for so many years — our group of three end a five-minute gripefest about the demise of our ski hill, otherwise known as the former Whistler Blackcomb.
We exit the lift and point our skis — and boards — downhill.
Now, the sound of carving edges and shouts of glee are all we hear and within seconds the layers of our malcontent peel away from our crusty tempers.
We load the lift again and again with smiles on our faces. Then another rider joins us — always welcome — and as the chairlift bar lowers: "Hey there, how is it going with Vail (Resorts)?"
Dave Milligan
Whistler
Letting off some hot air
I am very disappointed about how long it took to complete the steam room at Meadow Park Sports Centre — four months.
The pool originally re-opened Sept. 23 and the steam room hadn't even been started.
I talked to the manager and he made excuses, of course, and promised me it would be open for the long weekend in October. Of course, it hadn't even been started by then.
Then he said by the November long weekend. Of course, it was still not finished. It finally opened Nov. 27.
He said it was going to be the most amazing steam room, (but) it now has less seating and the benches in the steam room are tiny and very uncomfortable. Thanks for this. (The steam room) was the only reason I go to the pool. I'm very disappointed.
Ryan Doiron
Whistler
Editor's note: Renovations were delayed due to a change in architect midway through the project. The decrease in size accommodates new safety amenities.
Mountains of thanks
It was a gala evening of art, music, food and libation at the Black Squirrel Restaurant in Pemberton.
After an absence of four years, the Pemberton Arts Council (PAC) brought back Mountains of Art (MOA) to an enthusiastic response. The party celebrated our amazing and talented local artists.
It was a chance to get to know the artists and support their work.
Funds raised by the event will help create a scholarship for an up and coming student of art.
PAC couldn't have realized the event without the generous partnership of Scotiabank and WREA (Whistler Real Estate Association). Thank you!
As well, we were blessed with gifts from Susie Cipolla, Vanessa Stark, Dave Steers, Tom Thomson, Patti Kirkpatrick, the Audain Art Museum, Gretchen Firth, One Earth Collection, Roz Stanton, Bill Reynolds, Our Glass Works, Sharon Cipp, Karen Love, and Pemberton Distillery for our art auction.
Local restaurants showed their generous support with gift certificates to support our cause. Thank you to Grimms Deli, the Pony, Mt. Currie Coffee Company, Fish and Rice, McDonald's, Centennial, Black Squirrel, and Backcountry Pizza.
Mountains of gratitude to Mike Kirkpatrick, Susan Medville, Rob Megeney, Kevin McLeod and John Corrigan for all your help. The beautiful displays were orchestrated by Karen Love and Gretchen Firth.
Our hardworking PAC Board of Penny MacLean, Karen Love, Bill Reynolds, Patti Rogers Kirkpatrick, and Judy Bourhis went above and beyond to create and deliver MOA.
Most of all — thank you to all the folks who came out to support Art in our community!
Anne Crowley
President, Pemberton Arts Council
Holiday season kick off in Pemberton
Growing Great Children would like to thank everyone who came out and celebrated our first annual Family Holiday Season Sing Along. It was magical. What an amazing community we live in.
We would like to thank Ira Pettle for leading us and getting the crowd so involved.
We would also like to thank all of our generous sponsors who helped make it all happen: Jason, Lisa, Cam and Will from the Pemberton Fire Department for their enthusiasm and delivering Olaf, Event Rental Works for all the magical lighting and stage, Grimms Deli for the pizza and hot chocolate, Mount Currie Coffee Company for the awesome coffee, Pemberton Valley Supermarket for the sweet cookies, Pemberton Valley Nurseries for the gorgeous potted trees, the Pemberton Legion for tables, Kevani Macdonald for creating the holiday poster, Kirk Becker for the white screen for lyrics, Sabrina McDermott for the projector, Olaf from Once Upon a Party, and Stay Wild for the use of its facilities.
Let's make this an annual family tradition! See you next year and happy holidays everyone!
Shannon Paul
Growing Great Children
WASP event a great success
Thank you very much to the following persons and businesses who supported our fundraising efforts at our Hunter Gather Fundraiser on Nov. 18: Gogglesocs, Odlum Brown, Hanson&Company, Pacifica Partners, Forged Axe Throwing, Hunter Gather, Crepe Montagne, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Whistler Village Sports, Meadows Golf Club, Whistler Golf Club, Scandinave Spa, Armchair Books, Sea to Sky Hotel, Black's Pub, Earl's Restaurant, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Lole, Squamish Valley Golf Club, Tapley's Pub, Pikolo Espresso Bar and Mountain FM Radio, Artists — Suzanne Johnson and Roberta Horn, Blackcomb Snowmobile Ltd., Escape Whistler, Backcountry Brewing, Mark's Squamish, Tantalus Lodge, Chocohappy Whistler, Nita Lake Lodge, Yogacara, Re:creation, Coast Mountain Brewing, Blackcomb Helicopter, Salted Vine Restaurant (Squamish), Whistler Bike Co., McCoos Whistler, Brewhouse, Escape Route, Delta Whistler Village Suites, Mile One Eating House, Longhorn Saloon, Ziptrek, Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Sunflower Bakery, Coastal Culture, Basalt, Alpine Cafe, Trax DJ, Sabre Rentals, The Cake Kitchen, Cutting Edge Signs, Tricia & Murray Field, Ron & Tamalyn Mitchell, and Whistler Wedding Planners.
Without the generous donations of our community businesses and individuals Whistler Adaptive Sports Program would not be able to help those individuals with learning or physical disabilities enjoy winter and summer sports activities in Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton.
David Bell
Board Member, Whistler Adaptive Sports Program
Thank you WB Foundation
It is with tremendous amounts of gratitude that the board members, the coaches, the athletes and the parents of the Whistler Sea Wolves Swim Club thank Mei Madden and the Whistler Blackcomb (WB) Foundation for its generous donation to our swim club this year.
Thanks to the donation our club will be able to obtain leading edge starting block equipment and a new public address system. These pieces of equipment will not only help our athletes train and compete on a level playing field with other swim clubs in the province, but will also help to authenticate our athletes' commitment to their sport, build their confidence and contribute to good physical heath.
The goodwill which is spread throughout the sea to sky community by the WB Foundation is immeasurable and The Whistler Sea Wolves Swim Club cannot thank you enough.
Cynthia Higgins
Whistler Sea Wolves Swim Club
