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It’s our future It is not news that over the last few years our room night visitations have decreased and it is no secret that room nights, to a large extent, drive revenue.

It’s our future

It is not news that over the last few years our room night visitations have decreased and it is no secret that room nights, to a large extent, drive revenue.

Working in the financial services sector in the resort for the last 10 years and sitting on the Chamber of Commerce Board through 2004, I have seen firsthand the challenges that small and medium size business owners face as their livelihoods become threatened – in some cases, threatened to the point where entrepreneurs have decided that the economic returns do not justify their investment.

Investment capital, as with the tourist dollar, is transitory and can easily move to a location where the opportunities are better and optimism is high. Many of Whistler's entrepreneurs have worked for years to help build a high-quality resort and have contributed, not only through personal investment, but also through property taxes, Tourism Whistler fees and the hotel tax. A vibrant Whistler economy has helped us to develop the many amenities that we have, as well as the Whistler 2020 Strategy. Without a doubt our social, environmental and economic fabric will continue to be challenged if this downward occupancy trend continues.

Since I am open to listening to what all the candidates have to say, I do not presume to suggest for whom you should vote. In the run up to election day, there will be many opportunities to ask questions of the mayoral and council candidates in a variety of forums. Look at their record in economic matters and ask them specifically how they will help drive visits to the resort? During the next mandate mayor and council will take trips to a variety of locations around the world. During their travels, how will they represent Whistler and will they promote visitations to the resort? What type of stewards will they be with our tax dollars? The record of the incumbents speaks for itself and those seeking office for the first time should stand on their contributions to the resort.

On Nov. 19th make your vote count and however the democratic process manifests itself; the one certainty is that we must reverse the trend and increase room nights.

The other certainty is that on Nov. 20th, the sun will rise and we will still be blessed to live in one of the greatest places in the world. I am optimistic that Whistler will collectively work towards increasing room nights and providing more affordable housing units to those people who will be our future leaders. The fabric of the resort depends upon our ability to ask the questions and assess the sincerity and qualifications of those running. It's our future.

John Nadeau

Whistler

Ken and the community

I am writing in response to comments I’ve heard around town about Ken Melamed’s ability to be mayor. People say that he’s too much of a naysayer. Ken says "no" when proposals aren’t in our best interest. His analytical ability and his ability so see the big picture allow him to see flaws in proposals. Without these flaws being looked into, he won’t support a proposal. As mayor, he will be working full time at muni hall. This will allow him to see proposals and work with staff to identify the flaws and make sure proposals will be good for our community now and in the future. He is absolutely interested in having a vibrant and thriving economy for Whistler. Whistler has been Ken’s home for many years and will continue to be. He is raising a family here and wants Whistler to be a place his children can call home for years to come.

Ken Melamed is not saying he will change or be different and we don’t want him to be. He simply said that as mayor he will be considering the best interests of the whole community and not a smaller sector that he represented as councilor. He will still act with honesty and integrity and fairness.

We want an intelligent, fair, honest mayor with excellent communication skills, a team player and a leader with excellent analytical ability, and someone with the community at heart. We want someone who can’t be bought and will fight for Whistler. We have a person with all that and more in Ken Melamed.

Bea Gonzalez

Whistler

 

Getting things done

With the announcement of Ted Nebbeling as a candidate for mayor of Whistler I would like to show my support for what I think is a person who has the expertise to lead Whistler into the 2010 Olympics and beyond.

I am writing this note since I don't know how many readers understand the effectiveness of Ted when he was mayor of Whistler in the mid 1990s. It was during that time that a business plan was put together to shift the successful February men's Downhill World Cup event into an early December time frame. That business plan identified the five Whistler key groups of, the Chamber of Commerce, Whistler Resort Association (Tourism Whistler), The Vancouver Ski Foundation (Race Organizing Group), Whistler Mountain Ski Corporation and the Resort Municipality of Whistler as the keys to the modifications to snow making, safety upgrades and hill design required to compete in this early December time frame. This group became the W5, and while the details of financing the necessary $3,000,000 upgrades were long and drawn out it was the "We can do this" attitude and support of then-mayor Nebbeling who provided a positive role and kept this group focused and ultimately successful in securing the funding to make the changes to host early December World Cups and the formation of the Whistler Winter Start Festival.

It is my view that sort of challenge exists now for Whistler, and for the critics who say the World Cups failed I would remind them that it was this infrastructure that allows Whistler Mountain to enjoy top to bottom early skiing to enhance the whole resort’s appeal even in marginal snow years.

Good luck Ted and my hope is you will be successful in taking over the Whistler council reins once again. The challenges are bigger than ever and your record of getting it done has my support.

Bill McNeney

Former Vancouver Ski Foundation Representative on the now defunct W5 group.

 

Listen, decide for yourself

I believe that there are two exceptionally qualified candidates for mayor, Ken Melamed and Ted Nebbeling. I served as the scrutineer for Ken in 2002. I have supported Ted both as our mayor and as our MLA. Both have a base of support large enough to be elected. Both are strong leaders, and have the required experience on council.

I am concerned about the amount of rhetoric and unfair characterizations directed at both Ken and Ted. Whistler will not sink into a political abyss if one or the other is elected mayor. Ken is a passionate and honest candidate who has a clear vision for this town. He is not just a shrill, say no environmentalist. Ted is a decisive leader, who does listen to Whistlerites and achieved much for this town when he was mayor. He is not a political bully. Both candidates are pro-community.

I invite everyone to spend the next three weeks listening to both Ken Melamed and Ted Nebbeling and decide for yourself who would best represent your vision for Whistler. Either way, Whistler is in capable hands.

Stephen Henderson

Whistler

 

The enemy within

To all the candidates vying for a spot on the team which will council our municipal bureaucracy for the next three years, a huge thank you. Your dedication to our community, not to mention the sacrifice of your personal privacy, is exemplary.

Should you make the team, your task ahead is daunting, the issues complex and often contradictory. You will be representing the interests of a community of diverse individuals, before a bureaucracy mandated to serve the entire public. This public includes the corporate entities and the developers, as well as our community’s individuals. This creates conflicting interests for the bureaucrat whose job depends directly on serving the corporate developer, but is only indirectly associated with the individual voter’s interests.

Some examples where this conflict has manifested itself in recent years include:

• Z.A. Bylaw 1621, 2003, where the original initiative proposed allowing three-bedroom suites, but was changed back to the previous two-bedroom limitation. This thwarted the individual homeowner's ability to increase the local supply of accommodation, and thus increased the perceived need for council to approve any developer's offer of employee accommodation.

• When various Residential Tourist Accommodation (RTA) zoned properties, particularly our mayor's, were seen as advertising for more people than their zoning allowed, the zoning capacity was increased by 25 per cent. (Z.A. Bylaw 1671, 2004.) This benefited all RTA zoned properties, at a time when the community was becoming increasingly concerned about an over supply of the commercial tourist accommodation and the related low occupancy levels.

• The cost for a new employee-restricted property was increased by $20 per square foot earlier this year with an efficient and effective bureaucratic initiative. An employee on the WHA wait list will now pay $20,000 more to any developer that provides a new 1,000 square foot unit. In contrast, many developers of commercial property have avoided providing the required accommodation for the employees of their development by paying a token $5,908 (Bylaw 1507, 2000.) Various council members, the Non-Cost Housing Task Force, and many others have complained about this inadequacy, yet the bureaucratic response has been spectacularly ineffective in the timely delivery of any change.

These are some examples where the typical homeowner, the average commercial accommodation investor and all of Whistler’s accommodation seeking employees have lost out, while the corporate developers and specific RTA investors have benefited. In all cases our municipal bureaucracy failed to present council or the public with a complete and accurate description of the effects of their actions. I'm not aware of any recent actions by our municipal bureaucracy that have actually had the opposite effects.

While I have a tremendous respect for the many civil servants who are dedicated to impartially serving our civilized society, I'm also reminded of the British comedy show "Yes Minister" in which the Prime Minister's aide, regarding an impending election, asks if he is ready to "do battle with the enemy?" The Prime Minister responds that his opposing candidates are "merely the opposition, the bureaucracy is the enemy!"

Chris Manuel

Whistler

 

Still frustrated

Thank you very much to council for your help and support, however delivered, with respect to the arena issue and really, all else.

Your job as council is very difficult, as I have observed first hand.

I have never been involved in politics, as I’ve never had confidence in the process. I have reservations about accountability. My lack of involvement could be read as apathy. I think it might be a debilitating frustration. This is unhealthy in a "democratic" environment – just plain wrong – and sadly prevalent among your constituents. This "apathy" has been bred by governance.

The governmental process I’ve observed surrounding the arena issue – the staff reports, public involvement, the information delivered to council and public – furthers my frustration.

A council member commented recently that I must be very happy with the outcome of the vote, the placement of the arena in Lots 1/9. I was not quick to reply. Eventually, I remarked that I am happy. I feel absolutely that Whistler looks like a shopping mall, it’s residents disenfranchised – "ghetto-ized" – from the village and guests. I feel a public facility will enhance the village for both guest and resident, providing a welcome indoor programming opportunity, for both. The facility will provide the kind of interaction that will give, and hopefully recapture, Whistler character. All made possible by the gift of $20,000,000.

I was slow to reply to the council member, with reference to what was assumed as guaranteed happiness, because the process was so damn difficult, and painfully unstable in service to what? I am still not sure. That makes me terribly unhappy.

I got involved with one issue, because I believe the facility will add value – both to the bottom line and the intangible aspect – keeping the wheel rolling. I worry about all of the other issues that I know nothing about, where you all bear so much responsibility. Again, thanks.

I send this message to the Mayor Hugh O’Reilly as well, because you are the mayor. You worked hard, rose from chimney sweep to highly paid Hawaiian Real Estate agent, good on the golf course. I’d like to say great for you, and shake your hand, but you have embarrassed me, yourself and Whistler. I still cannot believe, that after years of support from Whistler and seeming service to the RMOW, you would trade it in to "escape" three months early – continuing to collect your compensation as Whistler Mayor from Hawaii.

Britt Germann

Whistler

 

A question for Whistler

Which year was it that the fundamental economic engine of North America's premier ski resort stopped being tourism and became construction?

Bjorn Gimse

Victoria

 

Who do we honour on Nov. 11?

November 11 th is Remembrance Day. My family has always honoured the day and finds it important to remember the men and women, living or dead, who have put on a uniform in defense of this country. Our Armed Forces, our emergency services and our police forces risk their lives daily to protect our way of life and they deserve this day of respect.

My problem is with two events that are taking place on this day. First there is Cornucopia "a buffet of glamorous events and hearty fun". Second there is the Bear Foot Bistro’s "Masquerave" which seems to have more to do with young ladies naked but for some body paint. The question I would like to ask is, Are these events appropriate or are they disrespectful? I know one of the arguments will be that those men and women served to protect the right to hold these events, but with 364 other days in a year would it not be more respectful to choose another day?

I hope this letter generates responses and I look forward to reading them.

Craig Hoover

Pemberton

 

At what cost the podium?

Unbelievably, one day after the Esso fiasco boiled over John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee in an effort to gain public favor and manipulate the masses bought a full page color ad in the Vancouver Sun and stated, "This week, Bell's $15 million commitment to support our athletes in their quest for excellence demonstrates their leadership position in Canadian business and is an inspiration for Canadian athletes to go for gold. In this world of millisecond and millimeter differences between winning a medal and going home empty handed, the science of sport technology plays a critical role."

How's that John? Are you agreeing with Nike? "You don't win Silver. You lose Gold?" Furlong's statement of "going home empty handed" implies that if you don't win a gold medal you are an empty handed loser. Nice John. Maybe we should get a few Canadian silver medallists together so you can tell them to their faces you think they are losers. I'll call Karen Cockburn, Jake Wetzel, Barney Williams, Cameron Baerg, Thomas Herschmiller, Alexandre Despatie, Ross Macdonald, Mike Wolfs, Marie-Helene Premont and Tonya Verbeek to let them know where you want to meet. Next time you want to make a public statement maybe you should first run it by VANOC puppet master IOC President Jacques Rogge.

Don't believe Furlong for a second when he says he gallantly defends all athletes. It is clear after this statement that he puts Olympic organizations and elite athletes first, ahead of the Vancouver / Whistler community, and especially the bulk of Canadian athletes. Local media must quit playing into his hands.

Most Canadians don't know it, but it cost Australian taxpayers $40 million per gold medal to own their podium – in 2000 on their home turf they won 58 medals total including 16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze. Do the math. Hopefully Bell and all the other corporate sponsors like RBC, Rona and HBC will pick up the tab so taxpayers and small business don't get stuck with it.

Own the Podium? How about own your home or own your business?

Maurice Cardinal

OlyBLOG.com

Vancouver

 

It’s about money

Defenders of small class sizes! The last thing standing between an uncaring government and your children! Defending special needs children!

What a message. Too bad the reason the teachers held our children hostage for two weeks didn't actually make it.

Money. The teachers wanted more money. The B.C. taxpayers don't want to give them more money. Ok, maybe we do, but at what cost? Wage freezes in the public sector are a reality only because past corrupt provincial governments gave the farm away to labour unions and organized crime. (See bingo gate, ferry fiasco, slot machine dreams, stripper deck repair, skytrain debacle.) The unions that are now being brought into the modern economy are going to feel it for years. They had a nice life once, now they will face reality. Not once in 12 years have the teachers had a union that could negotiate a contract. Not once.

No one is saying teachers are overpaid. However, look around. The average employed person in the province is working 50-60 hours a week, with little benefits, a meager salary that has never kept pace with inflation and with ever expanding job responsibilities. Teachers are in this mess like everyone else.

Teachers should be allowed to fight for their wages. However, those three months of the year when no children are in school would be an appropriate time to fight. This union leadership was unable or unwilling to build a dialogue with this government when a nasty strike could have been avoided. Either way they failed the process, the teachers, the children and this province. Hopefully before the next opportunistic hostage taking takes place, a new leadership can be found.

In the end the teachers signed a deal, and what did they get do you ask? No limits on class sizes, $20 million earmarked for special needs children. Nothing else in writing. On top of the $150 million which was being spent already. Oh yeah, and money, they got a little of that too. The lowest paid of all B.C. teachers will get a two per cent raise. Less then $800 a year. Everyone else, nothing. But the money saved by the B.C. Taxpayer by not paying these 38,000 martyrs for a couple of weeks will cover that.

So the teachers agreed to terms that essentially won them nothing but money. Now the next time a union in this province tells us they are going on strike for our own good, we'll know it's the money. It always is.

Michael Jenkins

Whistler

 

A scary success

The 19 th annual Tapley’s Farm Halloween was a scary success. Despite the torrential downpour, more than 600 ghosts and goblins were as enthusiastic as ever. Cold and wet parents were very appreciative of the warm offerings presented by some Tapley’s residents. We hope everyone had a chance to venture through the neighbourhood to take a look at the many decorated homes. Thank you to all for the great Halloween spirit!

The judges for the "unofficial" Best Decorated House had a very hard task this year. Many residents put an amazing amount of time and effort into their homes. This very prestigious award was presented to Gordon Dyson and Tim Wake for the "Clue Mansion" complete with Police Cruiser and TV reporters. Honorable mention goes to the Bells and the Chiassons. Kettle Corn popcorn provided by Lee, Shauna and Glenn was a huge success. We spotted many return visitors! Finally, thanks to the Crichtons for putting a smile on everyone’s face with their motorized pumpkin.

A big thanks to Jim Watt of Fast Park for organizing the "Park & Spook." The bus was a huge success transporting most of Whistler’s kids down to the event. Thank you to the Marketplace Merchants, RMOW and Whistler Transit Limited. More thanks goes out to the Bylaw Dept. and the RCMP for help with traffic control.

Special thanks to IGA, The Grocery Store, London Drugs, Garibaldi Graphics, The Movie Gallery and McDonald’s for your donations. We could never have managed without your help!

To all of you who donated candy… over 30,000 pieces of candy were delivered to drop boxes at schools and children centres around town. The success of Halloween in Tapley’s rests on the input of the community. Thank you!

Once again this year's fabulous fireworks display was sponsored by Nesters Market and ignited by the Whistler Firefighters. Thank you to both for providing a great finale to a special evening.

On behalf of all who attended, thank you to the residents of Tapley’s Farm for once again hosting this event and for your enthusiasm and effort in transforming the neighbourhood.

What a fantastic community we live in!!

Julie Hamilton

Whistler

Moe Joe’s workin’

On behalf of the Whistler Gymnastics Club and all of the little goblins, witches and mini-spider men, I would like to say a huge thank you to Andy and Sandy of Moe Joe's for another amazing kids Halloween Party. It is establishments like yours that are owned and operated by long-term locals that continue to make our community so special. You are always looking for new and innovative ways to help support this community and we love you for it.

Thank you also to all of the fabulous volunteers that made this event a success. We are happy to announce that not only did over 300 kids have the time of their lives at this scary affair but we raised over $1,000 for the Whistler Gymnastics Club.

Jan Budge

Whistler Gymnastics Club President

Neighbours helping neighbours

A note of appreciation to the many individuals, businesses and service organizations that generously helped to make the Vinyl Village Hallowe’en Candy Drive a success. Like Tapley’s Farm in Whistler, Vinyl Village is prime trick or treating territory in Pemberton.

Thanks to Pemberton Supermarket, the AG grocery store, Frontier Pharmacy and Pemberton branch of the Whistler Real Estate Co. for providing drop-off boxes and candy donations. And thanks to the Pemberton Valley Lodge and the Rotary Club for helping to fill the candy coffers.

More than 4,000 pieces of candy were distributed to Vinyl Villagers to offset their candy costs.

Neighbours helping neighbours makes a good community great!

Cindy Filipenko

Co-chair of the Signal Hill Elementary School Parents Advisory Council

Pemberton