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Letters to the editor for the week of February 14th

Whistler Film Festival and FE&A
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Joern Rohde Photo www.joernrohde.com courtesy of Tourism Whsitler

Whistler Film Festival and FE&A

We were grateful to receive news that the 2013 FE&A program will be investing $90,000 to augment Whistler Film Festival (WFF) programming.

We are, however, disappointed and astonished in the 28 per cent variance ($35,000) in funding over 2012 from our 2013 request for a renewed investment of $125,000. We appreciate that there were a large number of requests and priorities to address, and believe that several positive decisions were made. However, there appears to be varying standards for the 'process'.

WFF appears to be the only group to receive such a large variance in year-over-year funding (GranFondo 25 per cent, Crankworx 20 per cent and Wanderlust 10 per cent).

What remains unclear is how we can be expected to build on the tremendous success we delivered in 2012, and achieve the same level of results. In 2012, our five-day festival generated over $5.1 million in economic impact (which equates to a 44-time return on our 2012 FE&A investment) for the Province of B.C., of which over $2.8 million occurred in Whistler, and a 52 per cent increase in media coverage valued at over $6.7 million.

As a Whistler based charitable organization, and the only one in the FE&A's Tier A/B level, this kind of outcome not only affects our programming capacity and ability to deliver anticipated results, it has a direct impact on our ability to attract other levels of corporate and public funding.

In addition, as we are in the throws of a major capital campaign to renovate the Rainbow Theatre, a municipal asset, in time for our 2013 festival, it is challenging to address how to deal with this funding gap, and again maintain the level of results that we achieved and the confidence of our funders.

We understand that the FE&A Oversight Committee is a Committee of council that has been mandated to provide advice and recommendations on the program, and that council fully endorsed all of the recommendations from the FE&A Oversight Committee before they were presented on February 5.

We have requested rationale for this decision and how it pertains to the variances that did, or did not occur, among the applicant groups, and how this decision helps "build Whistler as a centre for arts and culture as well as for sports and recreation."

It is our hope that the FE&A Committee and council will reconsider this decision in the spirit of "economic partnership."

WFF's sustained success will enable us to continue to work towards being one of the top film festivals in the world, establishing Whistler as an entertainment centre for Canada, and creating a state of the art theatre to expand our programming and profile year round, all of which will benefit Whistler.

Shauna Hardy Mishaw, Executive Director

Whistler Film Festival Society

Time to shake off the parochial cloak

In response to Mr. Doug Garnett's impassioned attack on the proposed Audain Museum by Patkau Architects (Pique Feb.7), I wish to offer some food for thought.

Reading architectural drawings is an acquired skill, as these drawings are by nature geometrical contructs for the purposes of eventual construction. A building will never be viewed in plan, unless you fly overhead as they are halfway through. Similarly a building will almost never be viewed in pure elevation, unless the viewer stands sufficiently far back so as to negate the effects of foreshortening, commonly known as perspective.

Herein lies the problem for Mr. Garnett, in my understanding. When he uses the words, "black monolith, oil tanker, warehouse and black bunker," it is clear that he is referring to the elevation of the museum, as depicted at the public exhibition and in the Pique on Jan. 31.

But the building will never be experienced in this manner. Visitors to the building will approach from Blackcomb Way through the trees, whose preservation were one of the primary start points of the design, according to John Patkau. Along the way they will glimpse elements of the building as it reveals itself slowly. One glance at the pitched-roof of the model, also at the public exhibition, throws the "oil tanker" metaphor out the window.

And while we're at it, let's get some more perspective; some practical common-sense perspective. Mr. Garnett asks why we cannot have a building "full of natural light, and open to its exterior surroundings," as he had hoped.

Two fundamental reasons; art galleries need wall space to hang the paintings, and paintings cannot be exposed to direct sunlight either for their own preservation or for their optimum public viewing.

Ultimately I think Mr. Garnett's reservations stem from fear of the unknown. Most of Whistler's built environment is a very conscious pastiche of alpine chalets in all its rough-hewn serendipity. Here is something new; an unapologetically bold form that will advance and retreat from within its forest lair with the movement of the sun.

There is an awful lot of talk in Whistler about being a "world class" resort. Well now it's time to shake off the parochial cloak and embrace a world-class piece of architecture.

Aoife Wilkin

Whistler

Thank-you from Whistler's young freestylers

The Whistler Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club would like to send a huge thank-you to all the parent volunteers and sponsors who helped put on the Timber Tour and Super Youth Challenge Freestyle events this past weekend.

Over 200 athletes aged six to 18, from around the province and competed in moguls, slopestyle and halfpipe over three days.

Thanks to event suppliers Nesters, Slope Side Supply, Crêpe Montagne, Cliff Bar, Momentum Ski Camps and Whistler Brewing Company.

Huge thanks go to Sandra Haziza for organizing a great team of volunteers and to Marek Ujejski for chairing the event for the first time.

Also, a big shout out to Cate Webster and her crew from the Whistler Blackcomb Events team who ensured the Park and Pipe looked polished to perfection and went off without a hitch. More thanks go to Mick Gannon, Rick Schwinghammer and Stan Kelley for all their help getting courses set up and gear up and down the mountain!

The club's inaugural Family Gala Fundraiser up at the Roundhouse on Sunday night was a resounding and sold-out success with close to 500 people attending. Huge thanks to all the people who donated silent and live auctions items and helped the club raise around $20,000. Kudos to the energy and creativity of Lisa Wilkinson, Tracy Bruns, Jen Rainnie and their hardworking vollie crew, including the "Whistler soccer girls," for transforming the ski lodge into a magical venue in just 1.5 hours!

Lastly a big thanks to the amazing and enthusiastic Whistler skiers and their coaches — the Ultimate 8's who competed for the first time, the Whistler Freestylerz and the WBFSC competitors — our skiers hauled in 50 medals! Yeah Whistler!

Julia Smart

WBFSC, Event Registrar

Sharing the "new alpine" from a guiding perspective

I am writing this letter in response to a "Letter to the Editor," Feb 7, "Sharing the Alpine."

Every morning begins with a thorough analyzation of snow stability, mountain conditions, weather forecast and possible interaction with other alpine users.

We have been sharing the alpine in the Spearhead range, Callaghan valley and Duffey Lake road for 15 years and have a very positive relationship with Whistler Heli-Skiing (WHS) and others.

This winter has been very different. We have enjoyed long sunny spells and stable conditions (moderate to low) and that has resulted in a lot of people venturing out into the great white space — often, ill prepared and ill equipped (I had to rescue a lost Japanese snowboarder late December behind Blackcomb).

Understanding the terrain, its limitations and offering a good service is the most important part of guiding.

Every day, we try to provide to our guests a safe and memorable experience in the mountains. We all agree that the snowmobilers are now a fast growing alpine user that needs to be recognized and engaged.

WHS has the right and commercial tenure for the Journeyman peak zone and other parts of the coast range. Coast Mountain Guides, WHS and others will continue to work together, as we adapt to the "new alpine."

Guillaume Otis, Guide/Owner, Coast Mountain Guides,

Squamish

In search of a long lost treasure

I am writing today to ask for help in locating a painting that went missing, or was stolen in my travels around Whistler, approximately 10 years ago.

This large-size painting is of a stormy sea. The sea is a greenish hue and very detailed; the sky has dark hues and light. It was mounted on an old gilded looking frame and it was a gift from my grandmother.

I have been searching for it for years through many different avenues.

The last place I remember seeing it was at my old house on 6630 Cedar Grove Lane that I moved away from in 02/03.

Around that time I suffered a head injury that left me a bit scattered for a while and can't believe of all of the things I forgot in life — that lost painting is my biggest regret.

I'm asking for help from anyone that may recognize a painting of that description, knows the owners or the tenants who live at 6630 Cedar Grove Lane, or have acquired that painting from some sort of yard sale or re-use it center purchase — please contact me.

I have been searching for this painting for almost a decade and it is an item that is the definition of sentimental value to me. Please help.

Natalie Livermore

Pemberton

The search for roots

I really enjoyed the article "The Search for Family Roots" (Pique Feb.7), but thought your readers might like to know that one of the best online sources for people researching their British Columbian roots is available free of charge through the Royal B.C. Museum website.

Readers can search through over a million birth, baptism, marriage and death records — and many have an attached digital image showing the actual registration form.

These contain important information about race, religion, names of parents, place and cause of death, and a host of other small details that can help fill in gaps on a family tree. You can find it at http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/BasicSearch

Ann ten Cate

Archivist and Team Leader, Royal B.C. Museum

One Mile Lake Dogs

I do agree with Carol Morphy about having more off leash areas for dogs but it should not be One Mile Lake (Pique Feb.7).

Many residents without dogs enjoy this area as well, minus all the dog crap. What we do need in Pemberton is way more enforcement on the leash law that only a few people in town abide by.

Also, just wanted to say to all the dog owners that choose not to pick up your dog crap, please start picking it up. If dogs were leashed maybe dog owners would pick up the dog crap? Why I think dog owners like their dogs off leash is because if they don't see their dog crap it must not exist.

I do like dogs, what I don't enjoy is stepping in dog crap. If the trails around town were free of dog crap then they would be enjoyable to everyone.

Matt Olfert

Pemberton

Keep dogs leashed

I am writing in regards to Carol Morphy's letter last week (Pique Feb.7).

I whole heartedly disagree with making One Mile an off-leash area for a few reasons.

I am a dog owner and one that has his pooch on leash at all times, regardless of where we are walking. Some off-leash walkers might be responsible and pick up after their pets, but unfortunately the amount of poop around town and especially at the lake tells me completely the opposite.

I dread the spring when all these "landmines" that have been buried in the snow along the trails start to appear.

Where do we think all that poop goes? Into the runoff rainwater and snow melt, and directly into the lake that families and children swim in — lovely thought right?

Another thing to think about is that not everyone is a dog person and some can be extremely fearful of off-leash dogs.

People should not have to avoid off-leash dogs running on the boardwalk or bounding around the bike trails.

The last reason is one that personally frustrates me. Every spring I see countless flyers of missing dogs most of which are never found, and some have been killed by cougars or hit by vehicles, this is solely due to irresponsible dog owners.

Please follow the rules, leash your dogs and most importantly clean up after them.

Adam Malpus

Pemberton

RCMP complaints

Re: The son of Squamish First Nations Chief, Gibby Jacob, was shot dead by police recently (Pique Feb. 7).

No matter what the circumstances, way too often (I think) the police use deadly force, or beat or rough up arrestees. Since the police investigate themselves, it is nearly impossible to prove without a video that police did something wrong. Even then, as the Dziekanski's case shows, only a public inquiry can establish the truth. I witnessed one such occurrence right here on our home turf in Whistler. I observed a rough arrest of a small, tiny native male by a husky RCMP constable last October near the Whistler Olympic Plaza.

Going to the post office I noticed a small First Nations guy sitting on a ledge at the back of the post office. He had really big glasses on. I told him how great the glasses he had were. We spoke a few words. He appeared totally normal to me. Upon returning from the post office I saw an RCMP constable standing next to the native male.

Then everything happened very fast; the RCMP constable yanked the First Nations male up, spun him around and handcuffed him. In the process he either hit him or swiped the male's big clown-like glasses, which flew to the ground toward me.

I did not see if his hand connected with the male's head or just the glasses.

He then fast-marched him, more or less dragging him as a sack of potatoes, towards his cruiser 20 metres away.

I followed.

The First Nations male was screaming that he was not resisting arrest and that the officer was hurting him. He in fact did not do a single thing to resist arrest. I followed fairly closely. At the cruiser, the officer slammed him on the bumper and yanked one of male's handcuffed hands down to frisk him. The male kept screaming that he was being hurt.

Finally he was put in the cruiser. The RCMP constable went back to pick up the glasses that he swiped off male's face. When he came back I was only three metres from the cruiser. I stared at him. I wanted to ask him if he needed to be so rough. But I was afraid to say anything. He could find a pretext to arrest me too for interfering with his arrest.

This is the state in our great "democratic" country. He noticed me staring at him and asked me if he could help me. I said no. Then I asked him for his name in case I decided to file a complaint. He refused to give it to me, saying he was busy doing an investigation and departed. That infuriated me. Here I was, a taxpayer who through federal and municipal taxes paid his salary and he was behaving like we were in some dictatorial banana republic where police could do whatever they wanted without having to identify themselves.

I went straight to the RCMP offices to file a complaint. There I had a good talk with an RCMP sergeant. He explained to me a bit about arrest procedure. I can understand that arrests are always tricky and sometimes even dangerous for the officer. In general, I respect police, as many times they lay their life on the line. But this was not such a case.

The arresting constable was called in to explain to me what happened. He told me that they received a complaint; he went to investigate, spoke to the male, saw a bottle, took it, smelled alcohol and proceeded to arrest the First Nations man for being drunk. On my several direct questions to explain what happened to the glasses, how they ended on the ground, the constable just keep repeating that he did nothing improper.

To me this was such a blatantly evasive answer. Neither denial, neither confirmation. If I was making it up about the glasses or if I was mistaken, I would expect him to deny it or provide a different explanation. But he couldn't deny it in case I or somebody else had a video of the event. He would then be in a big trouble for lying. Based on this stonewalling I decided to proceed with the official complaint.

The investigation of my complaint has now been completed by the same RCMP detachment in Whistler. Exactly as I expected — it was rejected. No explanation was forthcoming in the RCMP letter to me about the investigation about if and why the glasses ended on the ground and were later picked up. Again the same thing — no denial, no confirmation. Police decide what question to ask and what to investigate. It is high time that police stop being in charge of investigating themselves.

For me this was a traumatic experience, but I am glad I did what I did. Maybe next time this RCMP constable will use less unnecessary violence when conducting arrests.

You never know who is watching or filming.

I am vehemently opposed to any unjustified violence by anybody in a uniform.

Drago Arh

Whistler