Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Whistler-Blackcomb responds to rude skiers/snowboarders claim

Issues and attitudes need addressing I have just returned from a snowboarding trip for the first time to your beautiful and unique resort.

Issues and attitudes need addressing

I have just returned from a snowboarding trip for the first time to your beautiful and unique resort. I had the opportunity to read your magazine with interest, especially the article from the editor concerning tourist dollars and Mr. Romeskie receiving a snowball to the head.

Having boarded throughout the USA and my partner having been to Europe, we noticed something disturbing. Whistler-Blackcomb has the rudest skiers/snowboarders we have encountered. Also, tied into this is the conspicuous lack of ski patrol actually patrolling. We are intermediate boarders and spent a great deal of time in the "slow" zones where I experienced two purposely-executed close calls. One by a skier, the other by a boarder who felt it necessary to give me a snow shower while I was taking a rest, directly adjacent to a slow sign! Like Mr. Romeskie's "assailant", this boarder didn't have the sac to directly confront me with whatever issue he had with me (I am not the size of Mr. Romeskie, but I do have the skill to "display" my displeasure at dickless cowards such as those that inhabit your mountain).

Here in the States, maybe due to our litigious society, it is very common to be admonished on our velocities in posted slow areas. Also, instructors with small children are quite vocal about unsafe riders in their vicinity, something I did not see at your mountain, which amazed me. I guess it will take a serious injury, forbid it be child, for better patrols, eh?

When asked about my visit to your resort, yes, I will extol the beauty of the mountain and the village, but I will also mention the gist of this letter.

Love us or hate us, Americans do "vote" with their wallet, and I hope you will resolve these issues if you want more tourist dollars. If you don't want us up there, fine, but at least look out for your own children.

Paul Salcido

Irving, Texas

It comes down to respect

Re: Patrolling the People (Pique letters Jan. 5, 2006)

After reading Greg Romeskie’s letter to the editor, Whistler-Blackcomb felt compelled to respond. We were thoroughly disappointed and sorry to hear about Greg’s experience of being hit in the head with ice balls just below Blackcomb’s Spanky’s Ladder a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you to Greg for highlighting the issue. Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Patrol does have a big job in ensuring the safety of our guests from natural hazards, without having to deal with hazards created by other guests. However, monitoring the hazards created by such individuals has become a big part of Patrol’s responsibility. Monitoring speed and reckless skiing is perhaps the most predominant part of this responsibility and we have gone to such measures as to significantly expand the Whistler Mountain Family Zone in order to create a large slow zone for families and beginner skiers. Hopefully we have not reached the point where we must monitor lift lines for reckless behaviour as well.

We strongly believe in the need to provide a safe environment for play; however accident prevention and observation of safe playing conditions are everyone’s responsibility.

We use the message of RESPECT as a means of highlighting the importance of uncompromising safety. This message is threefold: Respect yourself, respect others, and respect the mountain. We sincerely hope that all our guests adhere to this simple word, with far-reaching benefits. The situation on Spanky’s Ladder was unacceptable. We will not hesitate to pull passes if such lack of respect to others is witnessed by our staff.

Bob Dufour

Whistler-Blackcomb VP Operations

Water not a for-profit commodity

I wish to address some of the issues surrounding the RMOW’s proposed upgrade and privatization of Whistler's wastewater treatment plant. While most of us wouldn’t describe sewage as "sexy," we still need to understand the implications of a P3 (Private-Public Partnership) on our publicly owned water services.

Communities throughout B.C. and across Canada are facing increasing pressures to privatize their water systems. Allowing privatization of Whistler’s wastewater could be the first step in exporting Canada's bulk water to foreign and U.S. markets. Under NAFTA and international trade law, it will be difficult to reverse this course and return our publicly owned water services to public operation, once a contract is awarded to a multinational firm. This is a slippery slope that could result in us losing control of all water, including drinking water. A recent Ipsos-Reid Survey found that three-quarters of British Columbians oppose privatization of drinking water.

Veolia Water of Paris (formerly Vivendi), one of the RMOW’s four short-listed firms, is the world's largest water corporation, and owns a conglomeration of over 3,000 water companies worldwide. The only short-listed Canadian company, Epcor Utilities Inc., is owned by the City of Edmonton. The city recently turned down Epcor’s proposal to manage its entire drainage system.

To date, the only multinational firm involved in the direct provision of water/sewer operations in B.C. has been Terasen Utilities, recently purchased by Kinder Morgan of Texas. While Terasen provides sewer services to Langford on Vancouver Island, almost all other B.C. municipalities operate and manage this service publicly.

We just need to remember other privatization scenarios, like Walkerton, Hamilton or Moncton, to realize that P3s are not in our community's best interest. In many cases, privatization brings with it a lack of accountability and inadequate access to public information.

I urge all water users to give this issue serious consideration before our local and regional water services are turned into global service conglomerates. Water should not be viewed as a commodity; but rather as a resource for the public good. Whistlerites need a long-term commitment to both public ownership and water delivery.

Finally, who do you want to deliver your sewage services and drinking water, the public sector workers who live locally, or a large private corporation who is ultimately accountable to its shareholders?

Pina Belperio

Council of Canadians, Whistler Chapter

Canadian socialism?

B.C Rail is sold; B.C Hydro is marginalized with the advent of the independent power company; the gas line is partially foreign owned and it seems now sewage treatment is on the block. We are taxed according to socialist ideals yet our provincial government is selling the holdings, resources and services of B.C. out from under us. I always thought socialism meant never having to sell the rivers. I wonder what the federal candidates think. I am Canadian .

Julie Malcolm

Brackendale

Woodfibre subsidy would pay off

Re: Province to be asked to help keep Woodfibre open (Pique News Dec. 22)

With friends in Squamish I, too, feel the town’s pain. In my opinion, B.C. Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen should subsidize the Western Forest Products pulp and paper mill at Woodfibre. Keeping the mill open is not only the compassionate but also the smart thing to do for at least four reasons.

a) A sound economy needs an industrial base. Closing functioning production plants erodes that base when the provincial economy is already 70-80 per cent service dependent. With every plant closure we give up manufacturing capacity; wreck secondary industries; lose jobs; lay off qualified personnel; and waste industrial dexterity, skills and experience.

b) The provincial economy relies heavily on export markets. Government subsidies are one of the few ways a developed jurisdiction can hang on to export markets in a global economy. Subsidy is entirely justified when an efficient plant is facing unfair foreign competition. Woodfibre’s competitors (pulp and paper producers in Australia, Indonesia and South America) benefit from unfair advantages (inferior wages, social services, and safety and environmental standards; cheap plantation wood; and weaker currencies). To paraphrase, we shouldn’t give up export markets without a subsidy.

c) The taxpayer would almost certainly be better off paying subsidies than funding employment benefits, retraining and relocation expenses, carrying costs, write-offs, etc.

d) The net financial exposure of the B.C. government would be minimal. Most, if not all, of the subsidy would be recovered through corporate and personal taxes.

If Minister Hansen would have the bureaucrats crunch the numbers he would almost certainly find that a subsidy for Woodfibre would be money well spent. The benefits to the plant, employees and the community would be vital; the ripple effect substantial; the B.C. economy more robust; the provincial treasury unaffected; and the government’s compassionless image buffed.

Joe Bako

Vancouver

Rest the car, ride the bus

I would like to comment on the letter last week by Ms. Van Engelsdorp regarding lack of parking in the village (Where to park?, Pique letters Jan. 5).

As a five-year resident of Whistler you should be aware that we have a great bus system that runs regularly (well, most of the time) and that the buses never have a parking problem. The price of a bus pass, even a $50 monthly pass, is cheaper than the cost of insuring and running a vehicle per month.

I understand that many people don't like to ride the "loser cruiser" and at peak times you may have to share a seat or stand for the ride, but I think the plusses outweigh the negatives. So maybe give your little (not so) green car a rest and try the bus.

Judy Latta

Whistler

Willing to help

This year, subsidized education and career opportunities will be made available for Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish residents receiving employment insurance or income assistance. Due to the labour shortage in Whistler, there is a demand for skilled employment in specific industries. Needy students will be subsidized in training courses with resulting certification in their chosen area of interest.

These courses could be completed from six months to one year, for those wishing to pursue the following careers in the areas of: website design, bookkeeper, clerical assistant, bank teller, reservation agent, front desk staff supervisor, property manager, food and beverage manager, housekeeping manager, sous chef, sommelier, bartender, hairstylist, massage and spa training program, pharmacy technical assistant, home support/resident care, early childhood care, and others.

If you are eligible for subsidization and have an interest in improving your standard of living and personal potential, contact Monica at 604-932-2199.

Monica Geniele

Whistler