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Letters to the editor for the week of May 2nd

Share the Trail with Runners
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Share the Trail with Runners

Wahoo! The Valley Trail is clear and we runners can finally get out there and start our training for the multitude of running events happening in Whistler this year!

You will no doubt encounter many of us out there breathless and not far from collapsing. This is why I write this note. Yes, many of us have just run many, many kilometres and one of the worse things we can be faced with is someone's four-legged friend trotting up to meet us. THIS IS NOT GOOD IN THE RUNNER'S WORLD!

Please don't get me wrong — we love dogs and they can make excellent running companions. In fact, we carry doggy supplies in our store for your best friend (no more store plugs!).

In a runner's world, it is all about pace and maintaining that pace over many kilometres. As we don't know your friend, when they run up to us, we really don't know what to expect from them or they us! In fact, some would rather run with us than walk with you, which causes us to stop and get them back to you.

Some of the young ones like to come and wrap their bodies around our legs — thus tripping us and even injuring them.

It doesn't really matter what happens, but if our pace is disrupted it causes us a great deal of effort to get back on pace and back to the comfy place in our minds so we can complete our workout. This is not fun for us.

So, I respectfully ask that you be sure that your pal is on her/his side of the Valley Trail when you encounter us. If she/he is making a move towards us that you, at least, call her back. If she/he is prone to checking us out, please consider leashing the dog.

Just generally, respect that although we love dogs, we really do need to run uninterrupted during our training.

Thank you and see you both on the trails!

Wanda Chalk, Run With It

Whistler

Where's our 2010 legacy?

I am not so naïve as to expect the bus services we had from Pemberton and Squamish every twenty minutes during the 2010 Olympics was going to last, but we were led to expect that these high-profile, non-polluting, fuel–cell buses were going to give us improved bus services to Whistler.

Not only hasn't that happened, but we now have far less service then we had before the Olympics while gas prices have rocketed and the green media encourages us out of our cars.

That doesn't include the increasing numbers of seniors, First Nation and others that either no longer drive, or can't afford to drive or own vehicles anymore. We need an early morning bus, a late morning and a mid-afternoon to start with for both personal, recreational, business and employee needs.

So where is our 2010 Legacy?

Could it be that the $1 million it took to haul snow into Cypress when Blackcomb was far better suited to hold the Freestyle events stole the money for our Legacy?

Was it Greyhound's complaints that BC Transit would negatively affect their ridership if additional buses were provided? But where is BC Transit now that Greyhound has cancelled another three service times?

Or is it the lackadaisical attitude of B.C. politicians who tax us for services they promised but haven't provided.

And why aren't Whistler Blackcomb owners and the municipality, which crow they are the "greenest ski resort in North America," not demanding the bus services for their employees who don't live in Whistler and work hours that leave them with wasted time to wait for bus service thanks to Greyhound's abandonment.

The B.C. Candidates Forum is May 1 at the Pemberton Community Center and May 2 at the Squamish Chamber of Commerce. It's time we demand they tell us how they are going to form a coalition to meet their communities' needs for the bus services we have been promised. Help form a group to lobby B.C. government and BC Transit.

Marilyn J Berthoud

Pemberton

Whistler really knows how to play!

A great event took place, and a great goal was achieved!

Playground Builders would like to thank each and every person who supported our fundraising at this year's World Ski and Snowboard Festival. As one of the festival's three official charities, Playground Builders raised enough funds to begin the construction of three new playgrounds in Afghanistan.

Our aim is to make 2013 our biggest year yet with the goal of building 30 new playgrounds, as well as renewing of all our existing playgrounds needing maintenance. The success of our WSSF fundraising goes a long way towards making this happen!

Supporters rallied to our cause at two great events. The Best of the Fest, the WSSF round-up event hosted by the GLC, saw a capacity crowd watch the jaw dropping winner of Intersection, the beautiful and inspiring winners of the Pro Photographer Showdown and the hilarious winners of the 72hr. Filmmakers Showdown — it was the best of the 2013 World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Live music followed the shows thanks to Whistler's own Ruckus Delux.

This was also the first year for the "Build a Hat — Build a Playground" fundraiser where custom hats were heat pressed and built to order — a wearable art exhibit as part of the State of the Art Gallery.

These initiatives were successful, creative and most of all fun.

There are so many people to thank. Sue Eckersley and the talented team at Watermark Communications gave an incredible amount of time and passion helping pull this all together. Thank-you to Volcom and State of the Art curator Kevani MacDonald for creating Build a Hat — Build a Playground. Thank you to all our Build a Hat volunteers who worked tirelessly for 10 days, rain or shine! Thank you to the GLC for always supporting our community. Thank you to Scotiabank for providing volunteers and for your ongoing support.

For more information about Playground Builders and how do donate, please visit us at www.playgroundbuilders.org.

Kelly Hand, executive director

Olive Branch Playground Builders Foundation

Election learning

The students of Myrtle Philip Community School would like to thank Ian McLeod, Ana Santos, and Jordan Sturdy for their recent contributions to learning at our school.

We are looking forward to meeting with Richard Warrington from the Green Party next week, to learn more about the B.C. politics and the election process.

First, thank-you to Ana Santos for coming in, spending time with us, and answering our questions. We really liked how you shared your opinions and told us why you chose to run for the NDP. We enjoyed hearing your story and how you came to Canada.

Another thank-you to Jordan Sturdy for talking to us about the Liberal's opinion about how the province should be better for everyone. It was very helpful to us. We all liked how you answered the questions we wrote to you, and how you described your answers.  

We also want to thank Ian McLeod for phoning us and talking about the Conservative Party, and sharing the Conservative opinion on education and the Enbridge Pipeline. We liked how you said that you like the pipeline proposal, but if Whistler does not support it, you would try your best to stop it.  

Thank-you to all the guest speakers for your time. We really appreciate it!

Brennan Riddle, Ryann Kristmanson, Lily MacConnachie, and Bella Linton

Grade 4, 5 and 6 students at Myrtle Philip School

Two gas stations are enough

Whistler has two gas stations. We don't need a third in a residential neighbourhood that is destined to fail.

Yes, for those of you who don't know there are two gas stations in Whistler. The second gas station is located beside Sabre rental and run by United Petroleum.

There is no line up and no convenience store and it only accepts credit, but for anyone living on the north side of Whistler it is way more convenient and usually a little cheaper.

The other option is to apply for a gas card and you will get a bill once a month. You don't need to be a business they just run a credit check.

Just take one look at the amount of vacant retail space in Whistler and it doesn't take a genius to realize that making a business in Whistler a success is not easy. I've spoken to the developer of the commercial areas in Rainbow, Sam Brovender and in his words gas stations don't make any money. The oil companies and the government take such a large portion of the profit.

According to Mr. Brovender they make money from the convenience store side of the business. Based on this how is a gas station store located just a few steps from a 15,000sq/ft nationwide grocery chain such as Loblaw's going to succeed? Not to mention the costs of goods in a gas station compared to a Loblaw's is going to be considerably higher.

Why would anyone stop at the gas station, which we've been told will not be open outside the hours of the grocery store, to pay more for the same goods?

This brings me back to my earlier point about empty retail stores in Whistler, except this is a gas station. Just look at the eyesore that is the old Petrocan.

Once this business fails we will be stuck with a commercial lot that nobody will touch, least of all be interested in digging up the old gas tanks.

If there is an opportunity for a gas station it would need to be convenient and close to the village, not six kilometres from town. The empty lot beside Fitzsimmons Walk, for example.

Two gas stations are all Whistler can handle and we have them.

P. Bernard

North Vancouver

IPP's invasive

Maybe it's a wise idea to view these river diversion power projects from a few thousand feet up in the air as Sheldon Tetreault mentions in his letter last week when he took his guests on the Peak 2 Peak gondola (Pique April 25).

Otherwise, up close, they would surely notice the constant hum of the turbine, see the massive concrete structure on the river bank (such as on the Rutherford River near Pemberton), and the maze of dams, pipes and power lines, such as at the Ashlu River near Squamish, where guests are rarely taken anymore.

It is a myth that the power will go to the community. The fact is all power produced from these projects must be sold to BC Hydro at a greatly inflated rate.

It is such a sweet deal for these huge companies who get 20 to 40 year leases, on our publically owned rivers, that they are touted as pretty well fail safe investments for the shareholders. On April 3, 2013 in the Globe and Mail, after Innergex's stock fell seven per cent, Mr. John Stephenson with First Asset Investment Management Inc. said don't worry: "What we are talking about is putting a turbine in a river, and getting an income stream that is matched with a power-purchase agreement. Once you have an asset, it's pretty much a licence to print money."

You question what is a "wild river." I would like to take you up Pemberton Creek to see a truly beautiful wild river, with other wild rivers flowing in to it. A nature photographer from Whistler says this river beats anything he's seen in Whistler for breathtaking beauty!

And this is right out our back door!

If you check out watershed-watch.org you will find more information regarding so-called impact "mitigation enhancement work."

I don't know who told you that "some of these projects actually have a net positive impact on fisheries." Ask them to take you to the Ashlu, or even the Soo River, which is close by. And watch for the next flier at your doorstep, which will have more of your questions answered.

Jeanette Helmer

Pemberton BC

Area C and recreation

As the elected representative for Electoral Area C of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), I wanted to reach out to your readers and provide clarity on recent decisions related to Recreation Services for Pemberton and Area C. Community engagement is essential as the Pemberton and Area recreation and leisure initiatives move forward, arousing interest and prompting further discussion and action.

To begin, the Pemberton and Area Community Centre is a facility that Area C and the Village of Pemberton partnered on in order to enhance community services and programs. I am, and always have been, committed to seeing this Centre succeed.

For the most part, the Village of Pemberton and Electoral Area C have shared equally to pay for the facility's maintenance and operational budget, with some notable exceptions. In 2010, over and above the shared funding for the Centre, Area C provided a one-time capital infusion of $1.5 million dollars from reserves to draw-down the amount owing on the Centre. I am pleased and encouraged by the Village's current action to raise funds through a parcel tax to fund capital projects that will help to improve and maintain the Centre for future users. Half of the funds allocated for 2013 will allow for the completion of the Village's Development Permit requirements on the property. This action will greatly improve the look of the drop-off area and will decrease wear and tear on the facility.

Both partners in the Pemberton Community Centre have limited resources and different methods to raise funds for community projects. Legislation governing the Regional District makes it significantly more difficult for the SLRD to impose a parcel tax on Area C taxpayers. The Village of Pemberton does not face the same restrictions and can impose a parcel tax without having to embark on a lengthy process involving the establishment of a service and Elector Assent.

The Village's anticipated contribution of approximately $400,000 over the next two years to capital projects and/or reserves for future capital needs at the Community Centre is not unlike the $1.5 million investment Area C made in 2010. I welcome and appreciate the Village's decision to complement Area C's investment. Electoral Area C drew down its reserves in order to enhance the overall area through this extraordinary funding of the Centre, a decision which ultimately impacted projects and initiatives in other parts of Area C.

As well, in 2013 Area C residents will provide $76,000, funded through reserves, to cover operational shortfalls in the Community Centre's 2013 operational budget. This was done in light of the fact that I did not support the bylaw amendment proposed that would allow for a maximum increase of $76,000 for the Pemberton and Area recreation service. I didn't support the proposed by-law amendment because I felt it provided a band-aid solution rather than the long term clarity sorely need regarding recreation services.

Both Pemberton and Area C recreation partners agree that the current by-law needs review, and both partners are engaged in recreation planning processes. The SLRD commissioned Allan Neilson-Welch to conduct an independent Recreation Service Review; the report was presented and received by the Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services Committee. In addition, the SLRD retained an independent consultant to review recreation patterns and conduct a needs assessment for Poole Creek to D'Arcy.

The Village is now engaged in a Facility Feasibility process, which includes the "Have Your Say" public consultation, now underway. Even though Area C was not invited to be a partner in the consultation process and I find some of the information to be somewhat misleading, I encourage all residents living in Area C to get involved. Community engagement is paramount to the long-term success of recreation services. Cooperation by all parties is critical as we chart the course for how we provide recreation, leisure and sport development in our community through the development of a recreation master plan.

Our local communities are evolving and a re-imagining of the recreation service delivery model for the area is warranted. As partners we must commit to working together over the next few months to ensure the process is successful. This will require continued communication and engagement with the entire electorate, and I encourage everyone to stay informed and involved as the process unfolds.

I welcome any opportunity to meet and discuss opportunities and perspectives on recreation delivery for Pemberton and Area C residents.

Susie Gimse

Area C Director, SLRD

Protecting our winters with the carbon tax

As a professional snowboarder, I'm acutely aware of the changes we've been seeing in regards to climate change. I'm seeing it happen first hand and am more concerned than ever about the future of my sport and the economic effects of an inconsistent winter on our mountain communities and jobs of those who depend on tourist dollars every season.

The B.C. Carbon Tax is an innovative way that will help solve climate change by moving us towards a clean energy future.

Most of us would rather not pay taxes, but we realize that they help to pay for important public services like health care and education. When it comes to the carbon tax, there's a twist: not only can it raise revenue for public services, but it helps to fight climate change by encouraging us to burn less fossil fuels. Just as cigarette and alcohol taxes persuade us to consume less of the things that harm our health and add large costs to society, the carbon tax motivates us to keep our atmosphere clean and avoid costly climate change.

In the lead-up to this May's provincial election, climate change should be a priority for all political candidates. That's why Protect Our Winters is encouraging our members to ask their provincial candidates to improve the carbon tax by putting some of the money toward solutions.

B.C. has been a climate leader in many ways and when we consider what's at stake for our beautiful province, we need that to continue. Climate change not only threatens our winters and ski slopes — over the last 50 to 100 years, B.C. has lost up to 50 per cent of its snow pack — but also iconic species like salmon that are sensitive to stream and ocean surface warming, and forests that have fallen victim to devastating infestations of pine beetles that thrive in warmer winter weather.

The carbon tax has been in place in B.C. for five years now, and there's now some evidence that it's working. Whether purchasing more efficient cars and trucks, taking transit more often, or making our homes more efficient, British Columbians are making changes that are lessening our impact on the planet, and in part to pay less of the tax.

But we still have a long way to go, and if we're going to make the large reductions in carbon emissions that we need to, we need to keep the momentum going. A good way to do that is to ensure that it prioritizes solutions.

While many cleaner energy options like wind and solar make economic sense today, too many still do not, that is, while their carbon-intensive competitors don't have to pay the full price for the damage they cause.

That's why it's important to focus on investment in solutions now, to direct some of the tax revenue raised by the carbon tax towards real, substantial investments in projects or technology that actually reduce emissions.

While it's always important to return the revenue to lower corporate and personal income taxes, lower-income tax credits and benefit for people that live in rural communities, if we are going to evolve our economy, we have to start making investments in clean energy and real climate change solutions.

I want our long winter seasons to be here forever, so I can enjoy it with my children. But just as important, snow is the currency that supports thousands of jobs and the economies of places like my beloved Whistler.

Please join me in supporting the B.C. Carbon Tax and its re-allocation towards clean energy solutions for the future.

David Carrier-Porcheron

Squamish

North Creek IPP

Innergex reported (recently) that it has asked BC Hydro whether it can cancel its proposed North Creek river diversion project.

I have discovered, however, that if BC Hydro grants this cancellation, the reprieve will only be temporary. According to government sources, Innergex fully intends to develop a river diversion project at a later date.

This means that the wildlife and their habitat is likely to be disturbed and/or destroyed over an even more extended period of time, which calls into question the recovery or even survival of the many species at risk who live in the backcountry.

Nor do the humans who live in the valley want to live in a permanent construction site.

The residents of Pemberton do not want any more river diversion projects in Pemberton Valley. They do not want the Upper Lillooet River, Boulder Creek, North Creek or Pemberton Creek to be running through pipes.

Our wild rivers should run free. We do not want Innergex to own 11 out of the 25 proposed and/or existing river diversion projects in Southern B.C. and for BC Hydro to go bankrupt.

If you vote Liberal in the upcoming elections, we will lose control over our water and our public lands as more and more of it gets handed over to corporations.

Sarah McMillan

Pemberton

Opposed to river diversion

I live in Pemberton, B.C. and oppose Creek Power Inc.'s proposed Upper Lillooet River diversion project. This joint venture between Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and Ledcor involves building two hydroelectric facilities, including one at our iconic Key Hole Falls, and a 72-km transmission line along Pemberton Valley.

I was one of the 200 locals who attended the March 18 public meeting on river diversion projects, which was organized by local residents. Gwen Barlee, Policy Director of the Wilderness Committee, and Dr. Craig Orr, Executive Director of Watershed Watch Salmon Society, provided detailed information about the environmental and financial impacts of river diversion projects.

Gwen Barlee highlighted the negative impacts these projects have on fish, wildlife and the often-pristine wilderness areas where these Independent Power Producers (IPPs) construct river diversion projects.

She mentioned the river diversion project on Kokish River, Vancouver Island, which was allowed to be built even though Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) biologists were opposed to the project because Kokish River is home to five species of wild salmon, two endangered runs of steelhead, cutthroat trout and eulachon.

Thanks to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Gwen Barlee discovered why the project was approved and I quote: "The process was rejected by all the scientists, marine biologists, forestry experts... as being an ecological disaster." The message presented to higher ups in the DFO had been massaged over and over, watering down the research showing the negative impacts on fish and their habitat, which enabled the project to be approved.

I think the same thing may have happened with Creek Power Inc.'s Upper Lillooet River Hydro project because government biologists reviewing this project as part of the environmental assessment process stated that the project's impacts on grizzly bears could not be "meaningfully mitigated." The provincial government has, however, issued a conditional environmental assessment certificate.

How can we as Canadians trust our municipal, provincial and federal governments when we know they often compromise the health of our public lands, forests and rivers for short-term economic gain? Why are taxpayers paying the salaries of government biologists whose expert opinions are ignored by their higher ups?

Do we live in a democracy or in a corporatocracy, which is an economic and political system controlled by corporations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation> or corporate interests benefiting only the one per cent sitting on the thrones?

I am against change for the WORST (destruction of our eco system) but not against change for the better.

Readers should also note that in addition to our environment, IPPs will ruin BC Hydro, a Crown corporation that used to provide millions of dollars to the public coffers and hence to B.C. residents. Thanks to Liberal government policy and legislation, BC Hydro is forced to buy power from IPPs at a higher rate than it can produce and sell power. BC Hydro has signed over $50 billion worth of electricity purchase agreements with IPPs, which means B.C. taxpayers are on the hook for this amount. IPPs are still greasing politicians' pockets to allow them to destroy our rivers and to bankrupt BC Hydro so that they can control the power and water. In addition to being unethical, BC Hydro has a ten-year energy surplus so there is no need to ruin our rivers and backcountry.

IPPs only offer us limited benefits in terms of very short-term construction jobs but the harmful impacts on our environment and wildlife will have long-term repercussions. Do we wait until it is too late and regret not having stood up against the project when I had the chance? Or do we stand up NOW as communities across B.C. to ensure our rivers and backyard is protected from corporate greed and political folly?

I believe we live in Canada, where the people have democratic rights where we can stand up for what we want. Let us unite and put an end to Creek Power Inc.'s Upper Lillooet River Hydro project and other river diversion projects. Yes to promoting green alternative renewable energy, such as solar, and educating the public about energy conservation.

No to "corporatocracy." Yes to intelligent democracy. Wake up Pemberton and B.C. residents; let our voices be heard before it is too late.

Marwan Abouhalka

Pemberton

IPPs have long history

Independent Power Projects (IPP), rapid transit, wood-framed apartment buildings over four floors etc. are great ideas that ill-informed provincial government advisers who couldn't be bothered to actually see how these were properly done elsewhere, have managed to turn into disasters.

IPPs have been used, mainly outside North America, for quite a while now. For the most part they were never meant to be an industrial venture requiring dams across a river, new roads and long distance power lines etc.

They were an easy way to provide very economical energy to a single house, a small factory, or a village, right by a river and without damaging it.

In many cases a centuries old water mill that had long ceased to produce flour or oil, or an abandoned short derivation canal of a long ago destroyed water mill, were simply retrofitted with a small turbine.

Eons ago I was studying the art of building roads, bridges, sewers etc. in a small town in the mountainous Auvergne region of central France, well known in the rest of the country for its harsh winter climate (and the thriftiness of the natives who make Scots look like careless spenders).

One of our science teachers was renovating an old water mill on one of the many small rivers in the area. The hydro line that linked his home to a village many kilometres away was unreliable in winter, so he bought a small used turbine, fixed it in the college workshop, installed it and, from then on, got free electricity.

In those days EDF, the French national hydro company, didn't even think of buying power from people like him.

In the past 12 years that hydro company (it now does business in 30 foreign countries) has actively helped homeowners and small businesses to audit the energy consumption of their homes or business then do whatever is needed to save as much energy as possible (energy saving is now a legal requirement in Europe). This includes — besides first insulating the building and replacing old doors and windows — wood pellets for stoves, solar panels, small windmills, heat pumps etc. and of course micro hydro power plants.

Some European real estate companies specialize in water mills, from those already in working order to ruins that are too romantic to be left abandoned.

J-L Brussac

Coquitlam

Run of River election issue

Voters in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding are likely to be interested in learning more about Jordan Sturdy, the BC Liberal candidate.

As mayor of Pemberton, Jordan Sturdy has shown limited willingness to listen to his constituents and questionable fiscal management.

Since October 2012, at least 320 locals have expressed their opposition to a proposed river diversion or run-of-river project on Pemberton Creek through signing petitions, sending letters and attending council meetings. Such a project would ruin a stunning waterfall, negatively impact the spawning area used by Coho salmon, contaminate a source of drinking water and not be of economic benefit to Pemberton or the province.

The Village of Pemberton is promoting a river diversion project on Pemberton Creek in an attempt to make up for the huge budgetary shortfall caused by the construction of Pemberton's community centre. The latter ended up costing more than three times its original budget.

Notwithstanding public opposition, council issued a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI), and on 25 April about 170 Pemberton residents attended a public meeting, hoping to learn about the submissions received. Instead the public was merely presented with three concepts (two river diversion projects and maintaining Pemberton Creek in its natural state) while the proponents' names were not even disclosed. Not surprisingly, the public virtually unanimously expressed their support to maintain Pemberton Creek in its natural state. It remains to be seen whether Mayor Jordan Sturdy is listening now, or whether he will continue to waste taxpayers' money on this flawed and unnecessary process.

So, if you are looking for an MLA who listens to his constituents and spends taxpayers' money wisely, you may want to consider the other candidates.

Louise Taylor

Pemberton