Seeking assistance
On Saturday, July 20 I was surprised, dismayed and more than annoyed to learn that someone had chosen to trespass on to my Emerald Estates property and demolish a shed.
Of course it is an understatement to state that I was surprised and annoyed. Imagine how you would feel if someone chose to go on to your property and demolish or damage a structure on it. The property was unoccupied at the time so an accusatory finger cannot be directed at tenants.
No vehicles were parked in the driveway or on the street so one may assume that the miscreant or miscreants did not drive there.
A friend, new to Whistler, while driving around Emerald Estates, stopped in the driveway of the property around 1:30 p.m. to show the house to his wife and noticed an adult male working on the shed. He sent me an email at 3:30 p.m. advising me of his observations.
I viewed the email a short time later. Together we drove to Emerald around 4:30 p.m. and were surprised to discover that the shed had been completely demolished with the walls, flooring, roofing and contents pushed further down the slope into a depression. The structure was standing at 1:30 p.m.
All I can definitively say about the person responsible for this damage is that he must be fairly strong as he moved some fairly large timbers, old railway ties and walls 10-feet wide and about seven-feet high. No machines were involved.
Is this a harbinger of things to come? Am I likely to discover when I next get to my property that trees have been topped or cut down completely or that my house has been demolished?
I am requesting the help of people in the neighbourhood, or anyone who was in that area, on Saturday afternoon and who saw or heard anything that could help in identifying the person or persons responsible for this act of trespass and wanton destruction.
Whistler is truly a delightful place to live where neighbours are normally friendly, dogs can be left unattended and kids can play unmolested. We should not stand by idly when acts such as this of trespass and destruction (take place). I can be reached via email at emeraldchalet@gmail.com.
Your help will be appreciated and will be treated with the strictest confidence. Alternatively, you may wish to contact the RCMP Whistler detachment and speak to officer Porchetta who is handling the file.
Keith Fernandes
Whistler/Vancouver
Not so 'clean' energy?
Paul Kariya's spin on the "clean" energy sector in British Columbia ("The Value of Private Sector Clean Energy," Pique, July 18) is that all British Columbians benefit from this sector. The truth is, however, that all British Columbians are being ripped off thanks to the BC Liberal government and its buddies at Clean Energy BC: we will be faced with skyrocketing utility rates, our wild rivers will be destroyed and BC Hydro bankrupt.
In addition, our water and power will be controlled by the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) who have made generous contributions to the BC Liberal Party. A basic search on the BC Elections website shows that Innergex/Creek Power Inc. contributed $981,567 to the BC Liberal Party between 2005 and 2012. IPPs have no incentive to promote energy conservation, as it will affect the bottom line. Green energy? Our children and grandchildren will inherit an industrial wasteland.
Kariya, executive director of Clean Energy BC, stated that the "clean" energy sector has created thousands jobs. He failed to explain that river diversion projects, in particular, create virtually no long-term, full-time jobs. Innergex/Creek Power Inc.'s Upper Lillooet River Hydro Project, which will reduce the magnificent Keyhole Falls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYlIFSESFas) to a trickle, will only create one or two full-time jobs. The $2.6 billion of capital expenditures Kariya referred to highlight the massive infrastructure river diversion projects require, which raises many red flags about this "clean" energy.
B.C. taxpayers are kept in the dark about how much IPPs are paid for their power because the BC Liberals have decided that the electricity purchase agreements should be confidential. It is therefore impossible to verify Kariya's claim that "the average price paid by BC Hydro in 2012 to private sector suppliers was $68/MWh." According to BC Hydro, for example, the average Levelized Plant Gate price for the 2008 Call for Power was $100.70 per MWh (See table 3.6 on page 12 at http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/documents/planning_regulatory/acquiring_power/2010q3/cpc_rfp_process_report.pdf).
Kariya also failed to explain that California refuses to import energy from B.C. because it does not consider river diversion projects in B.C. as green energy and that it suffered blackouts due to Enron's corrupt trading practices, which created havoc with the spot market prices.
Kariya forgot to mention that river diversion projects, such as the Innergex/Creek Power Inc.'s Upper Lillooet River Hydro Project (ULRHP) and Kwagis Power Ltd.'s Kokish River Hydro Project should never have been approved by the provincial government, because government biologists expressed their opposition to these projects based on Kokish River's very high fish values and the ULRHP's impact on threatened grizzly bear populations.
Kariya should have explained that BC Hydro, in addition to carrying a debt of $15 billion, has $50 billion worth of "contractual obligations," as stated by BC Hydro CEO, Charles Reid, on June 18, 2013.
Contrary to Kariya's claim that clean power projects are built on time and on budget, the 550+ supporters of Keep Pemberton Wild are delighted that construction on Innergex/Creek Power's Upper Lillooet River Hydro Project, which was to have started in May 2013, has not yet commenced.
In addition, Innergex/Creek Power clearly underestimated project costs. It had originally budgeted $420 million for three hydroelectric facilities on the Upper Lillooet River, Boulder Creek and North Creek. Innergex/Creek Power Inc. now says that the construction of two hydroelectric facilities (Upper Lillooet River and Boulder Creek) will amount to $434.1 million.
Listen up Innergex/Creek Power Inc. and other IPPs: we do not want your river diversion projects to ruin our wild rivers, kill off species at risk, bankrupt BC Hydro or result in rate increases to line your shareholders' pockets.
Nor do we want amenities in exchange for our wild rivers.
Louise Taylor
Pemberton
Safety first?
I have two suggestions for our municipality and police.
As an owner of a dog that hasn't been able to play for last year and a half until last week, it really bothers and annoys me to see all the holes in doggie parks in Whistler (specifically the one in Alpha Lake).
Excuse me for taking it personally, but it is most likely that my dog tore his ACL right there, since we used to come every day. Apart from the financial stress, it's been a really difficult time for us to keep him happy, as he wasn't able to go to his favourite place for so long.
I know that someone from the municipality used to come about once a week to fix whatever they could. Well, since last Saturday (the first day we have been allowed there again) nothing has been done.
I have witnessed three to four people tripping over these stupid holes including one kid! Wouldn't that be a reason to use our taxes appropriately (to fill then in)?
Just today someone came to replace the post holding the waste bags — and I really appreciate that — but the post would last another year easily. The holes on the other hand — they are getting bigger every day.
Yes, it is the dogs that are digging them, but it is in their nature and only takes couple of seconds, so even if we dog owners keep an eye on them it is going to happen. So please, do something about this – even if it's just to place a box with dirt and shovel there — I would take care of it every time I'm there and I'm sure I wouldn't be alone.
My other issue is somehow connected to a letter published couple weeks ago, talking and begging the cyclists to use their brain while on the road.
Well, as I drive around the town almost every night, I can tell you it is not just a problem on the highway — there are so many irresponsible bike riders and skateboarders that it blows me away!
And they don't even wear helmets to protect themselves (they are more likely to have a helmet hanging from the handlebars)!
Just a couple days ago I almost hit a guy on skateboard — he came flying (and I mean it) on the crosswalk, not looking right or left before entering the road — all the while talking on the phone!
You know what saddens me the most? This boy doesn't even know that he almost got into accident. As much as I expect hazards to appear while driving, it is crucial for the other people on the road to at least use their brain if not to obey traffic laws.
Apart from the legal consequences (since I'm the one driving the motorized vehicle) I don't want to reach the day when I hurt someone and have to live with that for the rest of my life.
So I suggest the police start ticketing or warning everyone, who is behaving recklessly — just patrol Blackcomb Way anywhere from the bus loop to helipad for a few days and I am sure it will make a difference.
Mirka Gajdosova
Whistler
Buoys are the answer
I would like to thank the municipality, Ironman and the Alta Lake user groups for coming together to discuss the safety of the swimmers — particularly the athletes training for Ironman — and for coming up with the idea of using a buoy line to guide swimmers.
As a coach and an athlete the buoys are great to follow, we can pace out our distance and they offer some safety from other watercraft.
We appreciate the time and effort that went in to making this happen!
Christine Suter
C2Skymultisport coach and Whistler Triathlon Club member
Dog Days
Loved it ("Maxed Out," Pique, July 18.) Made my day.
Keep up the great work.
Dave Ofrenchuk
Whistler
Fundraising for life
I am filled with gratitude to my friend Shirley Lida for getting my fundraising ball rolling. Huge thanks to Dream Merchants, Vida Spa, Cambridge Cleaning and Art Junction Gallery for their willingness and generosity to dedicate some of their sales to my cause. And to Ken and Kathy Mason for their generous contribution to our fundraising efforts. A special thanks also to my friends at a local paper for setting up the gorgeous ad. And I cannot forget Clara Lida, Ryder and Jaxon Laton for their lemonade and bake sale.
I am also filled with thankfulness each and every day for the loving assistance of my family, my neighbours, my friends, my colleagues. And for everyone far and near for their prayers, vibes and acts of kindness.
And so much love to Dr. Villa De Restrepo (a.k.a. Dr. Tequila) and my personal chemo team in Squamish because, once again, you acted so quickly you have given me a chance to survive.
Whatever we are doing together in this crazy journey is working. My tumours have shrunk more than 60 per cent with only a couple of treatments of my new chemo, Perjeta. I am optimistic that this will continue and new treatments will make it possible for me to live with a chronic Stage 4 cancer rather than leave this world too early.
Some may wonder why I need to fundraise. It's a very promising time in Canada for metastatic cancer as new medications are being released. These medications are tearing up the old survival statistics and increasing quality of life.
Unfortunately, the drugs take years from release in Canada to approval for funding by the provinces. When I started using Perjeta it was covered by my extended benefits. Within weeks, my benefits changed to exclude it and I am now fighting for every dose to be covered. Each dose costs about $3,500 and I will need it every three weeks, possibly for life. There will come a time soon when my medication will not be covered at all as I wait for provincial approval.
So thanks again to all who have contributed to my cause so far. Stay tuned as we're planning more fundraising in the near future. I hope that one day I can reciprocate all the love and support.
Patricia Stoop
Whistler
Big Brothers, Big Sisters say thanks
Our community gives so many reasons to express gratitude each day. Today, I would like to thank all of our volunteers in the Sea to Sky corridor. This year we provided a mentor to over 120 children!
One of the strongest impacts I saw this year in our school-based program was the number of elementary school students requesting a mentor.
This makes it clear to me that not only do our mentors impact the child they are paired with, but also the other students in the classroom. In fact, some of the children in our program who have moved on to high school were so moved by their experience they have expressed interest in becoming mentors themselves.
Still, even with the great success our volunteers helped us achieve this year our work is ongoing.
We continue to have a waitlist of children who are looking for a role model. They are great kids who simply need some one-on-one time to build self-confidence and friendship skills through a little fun.
We are recruiting volunteers throughout the summer to begin participation in the fall. No experience or special skills are necessary. The In-School Mentoring Program requires that matches meet one hour each week during school hours on school grounds. This flexible program truly makes a valuable difference in a child's life.
If you are interested in applying, please visit beamentorseatosky.com or email seatoskyinfo@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
Lindsay Debou, mentoring coordinator
Whistler
Time to celebrate
Okanagan College is reaching out to former students and employees of the B.C. Vocational School, Okanagan College and Okanagan University College as we prepare to celebrate our 50th birthday.
Just as Beatlemania was sweeping the shores of North America, then premier of British Columbia W.A.C. Bennett officially opened the doors to the B.C. Vocational School on Sept 28, 1963.
Since then, through amalgamations, growth, development and constant change, our institution has delivered valuable training to tens of thousands of students and helped communities throughout the region with economic, social and cultural development.
We know our former students and friends have spread throughout the world and we're inviting them home to the Okanagan for a fun, informal party we're planning on Sept. 27, 2013.
We're also asking them to connect with us electronically to relate stories from their time at Okanagan College, and to nominate those people who have made a difference over our five decades of quality training and education.
For more information visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/50
Allan Coyle
Director public affairs, Okanagan College
