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Letters to the editor for the week of January 16th

A game of chicken on Highway 99 Every winter we are reminded just how dangerous Highway 99 can be when we spot that first car in the ditch upside down, and as every corner comes around, you know that your car could slide and in a matter of seconds an
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A game of chicken on Highway 99

Every winter we are reminded just how dangerous Highway 99 can be when we spot that first car in the ditch upside down, and as every corner comes around, you know that your car could slide and in a matter of seconds anyone could find themselves in a very dangerous situation like that.  

To top it off, at nighttime the motorists, especially in Whistler have to deal with many pedestrians (often intoxicated) walking that fine line that separates the slippery highway with the small shoulder. Often times these pedestrians don't even bother looking as they run across the highway dressed in dark clothing.

As a driver in Whistler who is out on the road at night I can tell you first hand that the number of close calls that I have been in, and my colleagues have been in, is more than we should have to handle.  

Just during this holiday season I had to slam the breaks on the ice so a group of drunken guys holding pizza slices could safely run across the intersection during a red light without even looking to see me coming through.

Just last month I had to swerve and barely missed a guy who decided to use the middle line on the highway that separates north and southbound traffic as his trail on one of the darkest sections of the highway.  

Just last winter I had to come to a complete stop as a young lady decided to cross the highway, then slipped on ice in her six-inch Whistler heels. A small part of me wanted natural selection to take place, but my conscience got the best of me.

Every day we see the most ridiculous pedestrian behaviours, especially on the highway and especially between 10 p.m. and three a.m.

In my opinion it's a miracle that the deaths involving pedestrians and vehicles in Whistler is as low as it is.

A few years ago when that poor girl was killed (while walking on the highway, not the shoulder) it should have been both a reminder and a wakeup call to everyone to be safe and walk safe, but to be honest this epidemic is growing every year and unless the police start ticketing the pedestrians for these violations, and pedestrians start respecting the rules of the road then it won't be long before it happens again, and again.

Trying to seek justice for that unfortunate accident is not only delusional, but also unproductive.

We should focus our energy instead on teaching the youth in this town about how to be normal pedestrians, and stop walking on the highways.

We cannot bring back life, but we can help to prevent others from being lost. That's where this energy should be directed. Enough is enough

Bernie Peup

Whistler

We must move on

It really brought me down reading Ms. (Penny) Reinecke's letter to the editor (Pique, Jan.9) and I am a little disappointed in the Pique for publishing such a letter.

There is no substance to it once she begins her tirade after thanking Senka Florist (which, in my opinion, she could have written them directly) and Sgt. Steve LeClair (whom she could have also personally thanked).

Publishing the remainder of that letter supports her inability to move on with the loss of her daughter and refusal to accept that it's not just the taxi driver's fault she lost her daughter three years ago.

By the sounds of her letter, I'm not even sure if it's even about Ellie's death anymore, as every letter that comes from Ms. Reinecke seems to continually blame everything else on anyone or anything else — but misses the simple fact that her own daughter is still a vital factor in her own death.

Is it the taxi driver's fault that she was partying in a location she was unfamiliar with and decided to walk home? Ms. Reinecke, situations where people party themselves into a scenario that they become uncomfortable with who they are with and their surroundings happen all the time all over the world. Maybe even right now in broad daylight. It is no (one's) fault but our own and we are responsible for our decisions.

If it were a simple letter on the dangers (for) people who still continue to use the highway as their personal sidewalk, I would be on the same page.

I myself find that as a driver, (I) am more fearful of the pedestrians that are slipping and sliding along the highway than I am of an animal crossing my path.

It wasn't too long ago that I called the RCMP one evening (to tell them that), as I was turning out onto the highway, and to my surprise, there was a couple laying out on the middle of the highway. No reason — it's not as if they were unconscious – apparently they had nothing better to do at 3:00 a.m.

If it were a simple letter on her advice on mandatory drug and alcohol testing on drivers who are under investigation for causing death while driving, you are very right Ms. Reinecke — there should be mandatory testing. Clearly you are completely unaware of another fatal accident that involved a private chauffer and a teen, when the teen was in fact, under the influences of drugs while driving. He was tested immediately, as are most drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Here is my question to you – when is enough, enough? Fatalities on our highway unfortunately do happen, and it's terrible. Even worse, when it's released that the drivers causing these accidents are impaired.

It could be any one of us, whether we chose to speed over to our next shift, have a more than couple beers at the local pub or are just rushing to the next shift. Heck, even speeding to get over to the mountain first thing in the morning. These are all poor decisions. The only force that can prevent fatalities like this happening again Ms. Reinecke has nothing to do with any laws or tougher police forces, or mandatory drug testing, etc.

There is no test... It's you, it's us — it's something called responsibility.

Pointing fingers is not taking responsibility and the continuous finger pointing will never lead anywhere. The only thing at fault is poor decision making. Whether it was a poor choice to speed, a poor choice to walk home, it was probably a poor choice to continue drinking, too... There is no law that will prevent that — it's will power.

I hope to never see a letter like this from Ms. Reinecke again as we must move on from and learn from Ellie's tragedy. Turn the hate and anger into acceptance and peace.

We cannot change poor decisions once they've happened, but we can learn from them. Ellie's death is a reminder to take a couple seconds in your life to make responsible decisions. Have a backup plan if you're partying with new people, slow down on the highway at night, wear bright clothing or some sort of lighting when walking home at night, the list goes on.

You are in the driver's seat in your own life; you are leading your path.

Catrina Baksin

Whistler

Thank you for digging us out!

To the kindly snow clearer in Cheakamus Crossing — after seeing the long line-ups at the ski lifts this past Saturday my friends and I decided to cut our losses and head out snowshoeing instead. We drove as far as we could towards Loggers Lake and then spent a couple of hours hiking in the fresh snow.

When it came time to go home we got to the entry of the forestry road only to find it was now blocked by snow cleared off the road. The mound was about (two-metres) tall and (one-metre) wide and so attempting to use a snowshoe, as a shovel didn't get us very far.

A passerby noticed our predicament and promptly turned his car around to go and get his friend who was working a digger.

In less than two minutes our saviour arrived and dug us out. With a cheery wave he disappeared back up the road after saving us from hours of digging (with snowshoes).

Thank you both to the driver who and the digger operator who both stopped what they were doing to help us.

Dee Raffo, Maja, Jess, and Steve

Whistler

Evidence not assertions needed

It was wonderful once again to receive in the mail one of John Weston's noteworthy communiqués.

So nice to stay updated on his fitness program and his encouragement for the rest of us to follow suite. Living as we do in one of the healthiest regions of Canada I'm not sure what we would do without him. I sincerely hope that Jordan Sturdy follows his lead in keeping us well informed of similarly important public policy issues... like the realities facing BC Hydro and what it means for us down the pipe.

But back to Mr. Weston. Notably absent was any mention of the incredible work his government is doing in the fight against science and other impediments to our economy. Perhaps he assumes that we assume there is a good reason for this.

We do, but just to increase certainty I request that he demonstrate it. Rhetoric is all very fine, but as he would know by being a lawyer, we would rather judge him on evidence. In fact, we insist on it.

Rather than these fitness updates could you please explain — with substance, not assertion — all the wonderful omnibus bills and department gutting that you are so proud of.

It is not enough to be proud of the Squamish Streamkeepers... we all are, but we also wish to be proud of our environmental regulators because, as even the Streamkeepers will tell you, that is where real policy can make a real difference.

We assume you are proud of the current state of (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). I mean you certainly smile a lot — perhaps we should be satisfied with that? No I think not.

Why don't you host a public forum where you can debate merits with a panel of relevant experts? You could call it "An evening of Evidence and Fact with John Weston." I'm sure Shaw cable or somebody would be happy to cover it for those who cannot attend. Just one thing... if you expect us to trust you on this, I recommend you leave the PMO vetting process out of it.

Yes we know your seat is quite secure, thanks to Blueberry Drive, Nick North and West Vancouver. Still, we like a man with courage, not (to borrow a deliciously appropriate term from our chum Marjorie LeBretton) a mere "Lick Spittle" that meekly follows orders from the PMO office. This would be a great opportunity to show it.

Bruce Kay

Squamish

Thanks, Andrew

After (14+) years (at Pique‚ a number of them as) assistant editor... and most recently at The Question, Andrew Mitchell left these papers to pursue other goals. It was unfortunate that neither of these papers took the opportunity to publicly thank Andrew for his lengthy service.

So I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Andrew for his articles that inspired thought, created feelings, challenged popular opinion, and for his reporting and support of local athletes. His writing will be missed. Thanks Andrew and best wishes in your future endeavors.

Scott Whelan

Whistler

(Editor's Note: This is the first week that Andrew has not been with the Pique and The Question, and so you will find our thanks to him in these issues.)

Xmas Thanks from the Squamish Food Bank

The Squamish Food Bank Society received generous support from Squamish businesses during December.

We just want to take a moment to thank Squamish businesses, residents and volunteers for their support in December.

Special thanks must go to Nesters, Save-On Foods, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Stawamus School, Squamish Montessori School, Squamish Family Chiropractic (donation of Xmas stockings), Stuntwood, Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital, Squamish General Hospital, Royal Canadian Legion-Squamish, Fallen from Squamish (Facebook page), Supporters of the CBC Food Bank Day and the Salvation Army North Shore.

Thanks as well to Greg Gardner GM for sponsorship of our truck! The food bank really relies on this support to get through December and into January. Thank you to the many personal donations from residents to the food bank. Because we are not affiliated with the Christmas Care Hamper Program, we really do rely on you to help us through December.

Volunteers really put on some Santa spirit, and carry it year round at the food bank. Thanks to Nadine, Roberto, Eleanor, Chantel, Elvira, Gerry, Sabien, Brian, Marjorie, Steve, Peter, Erin, Bernie, Ray, Joan, Gerry, Alison A, Alison W, Stirling, Lindsey and Jen! We couldn't do it without you.

Thanks to the new board this year, Ken Pickering, Chris Sweeny, Lois Wynn and Maureen Mackell. We are looking for additional board members with business experience. Please contact me if you are interested in serving on the board! Squamishfoodbank@gmail.com

And a big hug and thanks to a 10-year-old supporter named Linnea who collected $10 in change for the Squamish Food Bank!

To donate or volunteer for the Squamish Food Bank, contact Christina at squamishfoodbank@gmail.com or 604-815-4054. Again, thanks on behalf of our community food bank!

Lorna Van Straaten

President, Squamish Food Bank

Snowball Etiquette

As a person who has a problem with crossing other people's tracks while riding I often find myself waiting patiently for hours at the bottom of a lift while patrol make their rounds on a pow day. I call them the easiest tours of the year. No sweating, no heavy breathing — only patience and a helmet are needed.

A helmet you ask? Yes, something comes over all of us in that line of anticipation and excitement — the desire for a snowball fight of epic proportions! What better way to share the joy of snow with all of your newly found friends in pow. Being one of those people who will often trade a couple mediocre powder runs in favour of that epic first chair I'm often waiting in the front of the line. A prime target for all those jealous powder monkeys far behind me.

But it's just snow, why would you need a helmet? The answer is the lack of snowball etiquette and the seemingly prevalent existence of inconsiderate douchebags. A few things to think about:

Snow is soft, ice is hard. When preparing said snowballs, spending 10 minutes to pack and shape your snow into a three pound aerodynamic ball of ice may lead to open wounds, fat lips and hematomas. Definitely a buzz kill.

Throwing these tightly packed snowballs at major league pitching speeds is nothing short of vindictive. Are you really that angry that we made the decision to wait just a little earlier? How about a nice gentle arching lob instead?

So how about keeping these snowball fights playful? Maybe opt out on making that perfect object of destruction and instead create a puffy powdery prelude to perfect snow softly exploding preciously in our faces.

For those in the front of the line, keep your head up, wear your helmet. And if anything give that guy who just cut in front of everyone a nice big face wash, he's most likely the reason for everyone's angst anyways.

Jon Parris

Whistler