Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Brainstorm strikes home

Although I do not often do so, I agree entirely with the statements made in the Maxed Out column this week (The brainstorming continues, Sept. 23).

Although I do not often do so, I agree entirely with the statements made in the Maxed Out column this week (The brainstorming continues, Sept. 23). In particular, as a landowner, I grow increasingly concerned about rising Whistler property taxes, which seem, like a castle ghost, to predictably rise and scare the hell out of all who actually witness the event.

The problem with many incumbent councils is that they eventually run out of other people's money to spend. As Mr. Maxwell points out, having a laudable community vision is one thing, whereas having an "affordable" community vision may well be another thing.

I wonder how many Whistlerites have enjoyed salary increases which meet or exceed the percentage increases in property taxes we have seen these past couple of years.

In our personal lives, where we have no ability to pick a neighbour's pocket, we are actually forced to make choices and live within our allotted income. To adapt a quote by Ronald Reagan, a Whistler taxpayer could be defined as "a person who works for the municipality but doesn't have to take the employment exam."

The challenge should be taken up by council and administration to produce an annual budget for community review which contains increases no higher than the annual Canadian Consumer Price Index. While citizens ultimately may or may not like what must be done to reach such a financial target, at least it would give everyone a chance to assess it, propose alternate ways to save and decide what are core deliverables in Whistler and what are "nice to haves."

This would also require an assessment of user fees to better understand what activities Whistlerites are currently subsidizing and to what extent they are doing so.

Bruce Thom

Whistler

 

Whistler's last stands

Why the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) has the word "Community" in it is beyond me. The Whistler community was never consulted when the decision by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the two First Nations groups and the B.C. government was made to strip our forests of 250- to 1,000-year-old trees for the next 25 years. If these living, breathing, majestic ancient trees were instead a mere 100-plus-year-old homes or building structures, the local and regional historical societies would be registering, restoring and protecting them for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. These societies may even turn a few of them into museums in order to share their architectural history and provide tours to schools and tour groups. Heck, the owners might even get a tax break.

The trees that are slated to be harvested started to grow in medieval times; the Middle Ages. These trees in our backyard are older than many of the European cathedrals that are so cherished and protected. The Notre Dame Cathedral is a world heritage sight that was completed in 1345. There are trees in our own backyard that are older than that.

Almost half of the trees of the CCF are old growth. Why are we not treating these national treasures or monuments with the same respect? We humans, in our infinite wisdom, have stripped 90 per cent of B.C.'s old growth with 10 per cent remaining in our so called "Super Natural British Columbia."

Isn't that Tourism B.C.'s slogan or pitch? Why are we destroying what we, as a tourist community, market to the world? Will we no longer be known as Beautiful British Columbia?

We are not only permanently destroying the environment or "product" that we market, with our greed and short sighted mentality our increasingly challenged Mother Earth will be never be given the chance to build forests like the ones we are presently destroying. We are not allowing it. We won't allow it. We already know that second growth has only one purpose or use - that it is to be harvested. We are temporarily capitalizing on what will be permanent and irreversible destruction.

Shouldn't the oldest trees in the world remain our "claim to fame" and be considered our national treasure to be proud of? What about all the eco-businesses in the area that pay taxes and bring in huge amounts of local revenue?

I am in the tourism business as a volunteer and I can't tell you how many times our international guests/tourists ask where they can experience these "one of a kind" forests? They are world renowned.

I think most British Columbians understand that one of our most valuable natural resources is our timber industry. But it is reasonable and possible to harvest second growth and leave the oldest treasures intact. We do not have to destroy what cannot be replaced. These trees have withstood the test of time and deserve our protection and respect.

We need to somehow expand the CCF boundaries to satisfy the ridiculous quota that the provincial Campbell Crusaders have challenged our forests and local politicians with. From an economic standpoint, we gain next to nothing monetarily. It's just a quota that the B.C. government has thrown at this community and we as a community have to fill it regardless of how unrealistic it is.

Yes, the RMOW managed to reduce the quota but the ancients are still coming down. Our "leaders" have not done enough to protect our national heritage.

The scientific, environmental and clean air reasons for protecting these trees has been well documented in several journals, papers, etc. so I won't go into it here. But living trees are about the most natural way of taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And mayor and council talk about reducing our carbon footprint? Prove it.

Your grandchildren are destined to read about these forests and see pictures but not be able to experience and touch them as we have. They are headed toward extinction with so few left.  This should matter to everyone.

The Vancouver Sun 's Top Ten List of most popular non-fiction books this week includes The Global Forest . What a great book. People obviously love their forests and care enough to put this book at the top of their list as a must read.

But now is the time to speak up before it's too late. DO SOMETHING NOW! If you don't do something soon, or speak out, or write letters, these spiritual places on earth will become extinct; it will be a permanent and very sad loss for the world, for Whistler and for B.C.'s natural heritage. This will be our generation's legacy. Whistler Watch www.whistlerwatch.org is a good local resource. Start there... Just start somewhere before it's too late.

Judy Stockton

Pemberton/Whistler

 

Put your money where your trees are

Whistler elected officials and Cheakamus Community Forest board members keep telling residents, "We have to cut the old growth trees because the provincial government says so, or we lose our cutting permits." After a century of exploiting and logging B.C.'s forests, it's time to change the way we do business. Old growth is irreplaceable and should not be cut. Period. For toilet paper, plywood or magazines.

Just because Victoria mandates that trees need to be cut is hardly an argument to continue such practices. While Community Forests are a step in the right direction, they are still part of a broader agenda to deregulate provincial forest stewardship.

As Whistler prepares to log old growth trees (defined as any tree older than 250 years), the RMOW has committed to purchasing just under $150,000 over the next three years in carbon offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT). In a recent Pique article, the RMOW's Strategic Energy and Emissions Manager admitted that he "doesn't know precisely where the money goes once it reaches PCT's hands." Makes no sense, especially when B.C.'s old growth is a potential gold mine for worldwide carbon offset markets.

So instead of funding private greenhouses in Delta or Chilliwack, or planting trees in the Amazon rainforest and paying vast sums of money to an unverified corporation, doesn't it make sense to protect the trees in our own backyard?

There are alternatives to the status quo. In last week's Vancouver Sun , Dr. Reese Halter wrote, "Why not rent Whistler's old growth and some of the remaining old growth through the province, take advantage of their awesome ability to absorb enormous amounts of rising CO2 and provide a buffer against global warming?"

The RMOW and its partners need to consider how these immediate logging practices will impact local tourism and recreation, and take control of the reigns, rather than blindly following the province's dictum to log come hell-or-high water.

"Sustain old growth, not old mindsets." Time for new ideas and new leadership.

Pina Belperio

Whistler

 

Time to take a stand

Congratulations to Mayor Melamed for his efforts, especially in the past 10 months, trying to make Whistler a better place and a more sustainable community to live in. I say without rancor or cynicism, he did his best. That the community and council are divided under his leadership is perhaps not entirely his fault.

Being on home turf, this week presents a perfect opportunity to make amends. Attending the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention right here in Whistler will be Premier Gordon Campbell and most of his cabinet. I hope for and wish that the mayor and council take a unified stand and present a proposition to the premier and the following ministers, who should be involved in this issue for obvious reasons, to stop logging our old growth forests before it begins:

Honourable Colin Hansen Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier

Honourable Michael de Jong Attorney General

Honourable Pat Bell Minister of Forest and Range

Honourable Steve Thomson Minister of Agriculture and Lands

Honourable Ben Stewart Minister of Community and Rural Development

Honourable Berry Penner Minister of Environment

Honourable Bill Bennett Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

Honourable Kevin Falcon Minister of Health Services, Minister Responsible for Integrated Land Management Bureau

Honourable John Yap Minister of State for Climate Action

Honourable Ida Chong Minister of Healthy Living and Sport

Honourable Rich Coleman Minister of Housing and Social Development

Honourable Murray Coell Minister of Labour

The premier and the ministers on this list are in one way or the other connected or should be aware of what has been taking place in Whistler right now and the near future.

We all are responsible for our natural resources regardless of our station in life.

Joseph Farsang

Whistler

 

The right thing to do

In response to last Tuesday's vote, council has spoken and we respect their decision. We greatly appreciate council's support with this difficult issue, in particular the support of Councillors Zeidler, Forsyth, Lamont, and Milner.

Moving forward, council will do what is best for the entire community and we strongly believe that Mr. Silveri will eventually do what is best for the community as well.

I also would greatly like to thank the community for all their support that we have received. Many of you that sent in letters, spoke at council meetings, spoke with councillors and went to our neighbourhood meetings to learn more. I applaud you! Many of you didn't even have an actual stake in Cheakamus Crossing. You came forward because you thought it was the right thing to do.

Thank you.

Tim Koshul

Whistler

 

A future without Live Nation

I can't understand why "the future of the Pemberton Festival hinges entirely on the wishes of Live Nation."

I also call bull that it wasn't economically feasible. With 40,000 people at over $250 a ticket that's $10 million, and that's without camping and concessions.

Considering no one was allowed to bring even water in, I also find it hard to believe that much of that money stays in the community. Like big businesses do, they just want to make more. Now with Live Nation in kahoots with greedy Ticketmaster and their online scalping schemes it can only get worse.

Why are hotels offering them free rooms and local officials flying to London to beg the president to have them come back? Why don't we say screw corporate mega promoters and have our own affordable, family-oriented, grassroots festival?

We have the venue, and tons of qualified local promoters, and there's no shortage of willing entertainers. There are hundreds if not thousands of  affordable small to medium-sized festivals in almost every major community in North America.

A headline in the same paper states, "LIVE at Squamish rocks cash registers." If they can pull it off so can we. My experience has been the smaller, more intimate festivals, logistically are much better. Why don't we shoot for 10,000 at say $150 per ticket? If we keep it local that could result in more economic stimulus without the headaches.

It's obvious by the five-hour traffic jam, the parking and shuttle bus fiasco, that 40,000 people is just too many for Pemberton. Something of that size would be better suited in Whistler. The Callaghan and its new infrastructure would be a suitable place for a concert facility for larger shows, and I hope to see many smaller shows at the Celebration Plaza.

My vision is the entire Sea to Sky corridor could become an entertainment destination, diversifying our tourist base and filling hotel rooms and restaurants, like New Orleans, or Nashville. Let's get on it at a community level instead of pleading with big organizers to take the money and run.

Mike Roger

Birken/Whistler

 

Emotions spill over everywhere

As someone who has proudly called Whistler his home for five years (full time, incidentally), I feel I am just as qualified, if not more so, than Mr. Cloutier to comment on the state of Whistler's so-called "degradation of the social tissue" (Safer in Manhattan, Pique letters Sept. 23).

Whistler has always been a premier ski destination; the subsequent nesting of snowbirds is a byproduct of a vibrant community here, free to sample the mountain in whichever season they choose. This goes hand in hand with the all-hours lifestyle we experience here in Tinytown. Unfortunately, as is often the case with extraordinary nightlife, certain incidents can and do occur.

But, take Manhattan: how many violent incidents are recorded each and every week in the Big Apple? Sure, maybe more in certain neighbourhoods, but overall there is a "spilling over" of emotions just the same. My point being, Whistler is just another town with normal people.

However, because our playground is so small, one incident every year bumps us closer and closer towards the perceived "ghetto."

I am sorry, on behalf of the service industry, that the Cloutiers have chosen to leave. I hope they feel they can return to visit someday as Whistler is full of happy, friendly people. I have met some amazing visitors through the bars; "the scene" is and will remain a positive place for folks to party. Keep in mind, though, that most of the violent incidents that spring to mind involved people visiting from Vancouver. Just food for thought.

Aaron Peart

Whistler

 

Pay parking a pain

I know that I should be warming up to pay parking by now, but like riding my bike up Kadenwood, it's still hard to take.

I like the brilliance of the pedestrian design of Whistler Village. I like the parking on the perimeter of the village. I like working and shopping in the village. I like being in the village. I'm in favour of commuting to work in an environmentally friendly way.

I HATE paying for parking when I'm there to support local businesses, going out to eat, visiting shops or just to meet friends.

I would like to suggest to the RMOW that all local car owners receive approximately 12 hours of free parking a week to get the things done that make Whistler a wonderful place for them.  I realize free parking is a privilege and I'll even volunteer time to keep my neighbourhood cleaner, sit on a committee, man an info booth or maintain mountain bike trails to get some free time in the parking lots.

I know that parking in lots 4 and 5 is free (for now), but it doesn't always make sense to park there.

John Blok

Whistler

 

Roast of the town

One of the major fundraisers that the Rotary Club of Whistler has these days, is their annual Labour Day Corn Roast. Without it, many a community request would go without.

The club would like to thank Bob and Sue Adams of the Grocery Store and their fabulous staff, Sabre Rentals, and the RMOW village crew for their never ending help towards this endeavour. It is groups such as these that truly make Whistler a great community to live in.

Bob Calladine

Whistler

 

Surprised doc looking for new hats

Thank you all my Pemberton patients both past and present for giving me the nod in The Best of Pemberton. This came as a great surprise and truly swelled my head at least three toque sizes.

Congratulations to all the other category winners. From paddling to paragliding we truly live in a superb community.

Dr. Hugh Fisher

Pemberton

 

With great gratitude!

The International Day of Peace Celebration held at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre on Sept. 21 was a sold out event, a fundraising success, and a wonderful experience. We wanted to thank those that helped to make it possible. Special thanks to Gwen Baudisch, and the staff of the SLCC, who believed in the vision for the evening. Also, to our sponsors, Dave Halliwell of FRUV, Emanuela Bartoia of Farfalla Hair Esthetics, Cheryl Massey of USANA Health Sciences and Chef Vincent Stufano of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, for their early support.

We thank the Four Seasons Resort Whistler for their support and for hosting some of our special guests overnight.

With heartfelt gratitude to our local, First Nations elders - Georgina Nelson, Martina Pierre, and Gwen Harry, and also to her son, Rick Harry, who led the drumming circle, and to Tina James, who led us in a peaceful meditation completing the evening.

We also wanted to thank our supporters who gave fabulous door prizes: NeoAlpine Studio, Scandinave Spa, Rocky Mountain Soap Company and Inside Out Boutique.

Also, special thanks to Julie Kelly, Linda Marshall, Arianna Nagle and Maria Alberti.

Thank you to everyone in the Sea to Sky communities who supported and attended the event, and to all those of you that were hoping for a ticket at the door!

We are proud to donate funds for the Howe Sound Women's Centre, as well as the Council of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers (featured in the film: For the Next 7 Generations).

If you want to know more about the film, or other upcoming events, or if you attended the event and wanted to provide your feedback, please contact Caterina Alberti at www.crossovercoaching.ca

Caterina Alberti, Crossover Coaching

Hailey Guille, Perfect Fit Strategies