The 16 th annual Tapley’s Farm Halloween was a SCARY success once again! I hope many Whistlerites had an opportunity to venture through to take a look at the decorated homes! Thank you all for the great Halloween spirit! Many residents put an amazing amount of time and effort into their creations.
The judges for the "Unofficial Best Decorated House," were Ken Cretney, General Manager of the Delta Whistler Resort, Victor Burt, General Manager of the Westin Resort and Spa, Kevin Toth, General Manager of the Chateau Fairmont Whistler and Diana Lyons, General Manager of the Delta Whistler Village Suites. This (very prestigious) award was presented to Gordon Dyson for the "black-out" and neon effect with lots of interaction! Very creative!
Many thanks to Nesters and Nesters merchants for providing the fabulous fireworks display and to the fire department for volunteering to ensure the show went off safely! Thanks to Nesters, the IGA, the Grocery Store as well as all of the businesses and people who donated the 24,000+ pieces of candy and other treats!
McDonald’s once again provided free french fry coupons. Using the coupons, we are able to tabulate the number of trick or treaters who visit Tapley’s. This year we had approximately 630 kids!
Thanks too to the moms and kids who helped divide, bag and distribute candy, as well as do a clean-up throughout the neighborhood the next day.
I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone! It is wonderful to see the community provide so much support for a fun-filled event.
Sabine Bell
Whistler
RE: Passenger service left to rot
Reading Mr. Bjorn Gimse's letter about how he felt the provincial government has left the passenger rail service hung out to rot in B.C. refocused some thoughts I has this past summer on how to keep the B.C., and possibly other passenger rail services, operating. These thoughts came to me while riding with a pack of bikers – the pedal kind – from Pemberton to D’Arcy and back. There are a number of locations along the route where the road and the rail line run side by side. I don't know if it was the abrasive nature of the bicycle seat and a desire for relief or just a road-rail vision, but a number of possible rail passenger transportation solutions came to mind.
1. Design a bus that can run on rails. No, I am not thinking of the "Aluminum Cans" that are running between D’Arcy and Seton, but rather 60 passenger luxury motor coaches that travel on highways and then could drive onto a platform just above the height of the railroad track, hydraulically lower a set of rail wheels and then proceed as a "Rail-Bus." This would be a modern day Budd car with many advantages.
The idea came to me as I road alongside a "working train." I noticed that all of the vehicles on the tracks could also leave the rails and be driven on the public road ways. There were SUVs, small and medium sized trucks and cranes. If they can do it, why not big buses? Imagine, it is 2010, Vancouver and Whistler are hosting the Olympics and tens of thousands of fans are arriving at YVR, they pick up their bags, exit the terminal and load on a luxury motor coach, drive to North Vancouver, unless a rail link from the airport to downtown is in place, drive up a low ramp, position the bus so the tires are on the tracks, lower the rail wheels, using the rubber drive wheels of the bus to produce the propulsion. The bus is now a "Rail-Bus." Link a number together, there must be some economy in forming a train, there is in cycling. Maybe in a train of 12 buses only four or six need use their engines to power the train of "Rail-Buses." Once the train reaches Whistler, another adaptive platform allows the now uncoupled coaches to retract their rail wheels. Any station could have these transition platforms. Remember, just like the work vehicles, then drive as a regular bus to the passenger’s hotel. Airport to hotel in one very comfortable vehicle. If ferries are to be used from some docking area close to the airport the same "Rail-Bus" would be used airport to ferry to rail at Squamish or Porteau Cove.
2. Speaking of Squamish, the B.C Rail yards there, could become the North American conversion headquarters for the adaptation of buses and trucks. Think of all the time rail lines sit idle. There must be some market for trucks to use the seldom-used infrastructure of rail lines independent of piggybacking.
3. To address Mr. Gimse's, mine and thousands of others’ concerns about the tragic loss of passenger rail service on the B.C rail line, a number of prototype "Rail-Buses" should be developed and put into service ASAP! Think of the tourism potential, a trip that combines one of North American's greatest and most scenic rail routes with any number of side trips, all in the comfort of one luxury "Rail-Bus," and most importantly daily service through the heartland of B.C.
I don't want money for the idea, just a lifetime pass on the BC Rail Bus.
Tom Thomson
Whistler
A sincere letter of thanks
By the time this letter is printed I hope that we have resolved the situation of the tie vote between Dave Kirk and Marianne Wade. The season is upon us and we should get on with the business of serving our guests and creating opportunities for our residents.
This entire election has been a phenomenal experience for me. I have gained an incredible insight into the issues that I campaigned on as well as many others. I have also gained a great deal of respect for the process and the people who are involved in it.
The numbers of voters who showed up to choose their representatives was awesome. Those of you who called, e-mailed or just dropped by the coffee shop to talk about the issues that mattered to you energized me every day. The sense of civic awareness and responsibility this fall still amazes me and seems to be continuing on.
For myself, the work continues. I promise to keep up to speed on the directions of our local government. There are many opportunities to get the people of this great town involved in the process and I will work towards that end. Groups like WORCA and AWARE have shown the value of community input, we must embrace these lessons. Maybe we can even get Nick to understand what we are saying. I remain passionate about the issues I campaigned on and I pledge to do all that I can as a private citizen to further their causes. I urge each and every one of you to stay involved and aware of what is happening in our home.
I would especially like to thank the younger voters who got out and made a difference. You talked about the issues that matter to you and then you made informed decisions. You rock! Keep it up.
To each and every one of you who took the time to support me, to the media who provided the opportunities to introduce myself and to my friends and staff who put up with me being away from the store to campaign, thank you.
Christopher Quinlan
Future Candidate for Council
Whistler
Thank you to the grads of Whistler Secondary for cleaning up all the election signs on the Sunday after the election. It was a treat, after having maintained the signs for the election period, to be able to drive to one spot and collect all my signs. It was a great service and an indication of strong citizenship. I will continue to work hard for your future and the students that follow behind you.
Thank you also to all the electorate who supported me, I believe in the future of our children and enjoy being a part of their success.
Andree S. Vajda Janyk
School Trustee
Whistler
Thank you to Whistler Blackcomb Staff
On behalf of the Senior Leadership Team and the many local and regional passholders we spoke to over the weekend, we would like to thank two special groups of staff at Whistler-Blackcomb.
First, we thank the staff that were involved in preparing the mountain for our locals and guests last Saturday. Hundreds of people were committed to opening the mountain despite challenging weather conditions. This dedicated team created the best possible product for our guests through long hours and backbreaking work.
Second, we would like to recognize the many off-duty staff that willingly waited until Monday before heading to the slopes. This allowed our guests an opportunity to enjoy the mountain experience given the small amount of terrain available.
We are very proud of our people and the commitment they made to our guests' experience.
Thank you.
Dave Brownlie, Senior VP Finance
Doug Forseth, Senior VP Operations
Whistler-Blackcomb
