It is truly a laugh when I read articles in your magazine like "Access Challenge is for true survivors" (Pique Aug. 8, 2003) by some Alice in Wonderland type who is some sort of expert on Whistler and how accessible Whistler is for disabled people. Myself being more active than the average local, a baby-sitting style format where able-bodied people carry disabled people around is not a realistic alternative to getting active disabled people outdoors. Like most disabled people, I like to be independent and would be if this town was built to code as required by law.
I personally have had to fight tooth and nail just to get equal access to do simple things like going skiing. Don't get me wrong, I am all for getting severely disabled people outdoors. I just take offence to some AB's comments that were clearly misleading. Specifically her remark's "People with disabilities will see that Whistler is adaptive, accessible and there’s all these activities that can be done there."
Ask any disabled people who lives here and you will have at least one complaint. I have listed some examples.
• No wheelchair buses
• No handidart
• No w/c school bus
• No w/c housing
• Poor access to shops and services
• Poor w/c parking
• No organised year round recreation for persons with disabilities
• RMOW won't call to even acknowledge I applied for work here several times
• I am consistantly discriminated against
• Whistler's city planning is poor period
Over the years I have brought these issues to light but you are to scared to hear the truth because the truth hurts.
There is a lot of work that has to be done in order to host the 2010 Paralympics, because Whistler could not host them today.
I can see it now… a line of rickshaws to carry the Paralympics participants around… What a joke!
Jon Maycock
Whistler
Don’t look far
Someone has to say what a lot of us must be thinking after reading of the upcoming fundraiser for the Health Care Centre, so here goes…
I hope that the fundraising committee does not look too far to raise the $1.5 million needed to purchase the new teleradiology equipment that will benefit the entire Sea to Sky corridor.
Mr. Lambert’s suggestion that the monies that would have been donated by the developers of the Nita Lake Lodge were a form of "bribery" has ensured that this donation to the Health Care Centre will now no longer happen.
I would like to suggest that Mr. Lambert and his Holier than Thou associates, who brought about this situation, make up this loss to the community. They are in a position to make a totally legal, above board, and very public donation to the Health Care Centre and receive a tax deductible receipt to boot!
This would be a win-win situation for everyone and we can then move on to the next contentious development plan which, knowing Whistler, is not far away!
Alix Nicoll
Whistler
I feel the need to respond to Mr. Maxwell’s latest work, "Marriage, between Church and State." I can appreciate you as a writer and have enjoyed many of your writings. And, I understand that yours is an opinion column, but when you insult a group of people with words such as yours they cease to be opinion and become insult.
I have no problem with your opinion of gay people, I have gay friends myself. And the fact that you hold the church accountable for its wrongful actions (although not always done respectfully) is a good thing. My contention with you, however, is your lack of respect for the people who do believe in God and Jesus as their saviour. It seems that in this day and age everything is "all good", everything is permissible, unless of course someone claims to believe in something as absolute as God. You and many others are making it politically correct to joke about and bash organized religion and more specifically Christianity. It seems like at least a couple of times a month you throw in a little jab at God, or the bible, or some church. Forever defending everybody but anyone who believes in something.
How can you, someone who doesn't believe in God, comment on what a "True Believer" believes in? Maybe you should do a bit of research before drawing conclusions and making comments on what kind of person Jesus was. If you did you would have found out that in fact it wasn't that uncommon to find a 30-year-old male in the first century who was unmarried, it was common for a group of young men to be instructed by a teacher or Rabbi, and a Holy Kiss was an informal greeting of the times, in the same way that you may greet a loved one with a hug today. You twisted those words to your end. The fact is that Jesus and the bible are clear on the issue of homosexuality. It states clearly that a marriage union is to be between a man and a woman. But, homosexuality receives no special treatment in the bible. We are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God. We all need a saviour. You, me, and the homosexual.
I agree with you on a couple of other points though. Jesus is not squeamish about homosexuals. He loves them just as much as he loves straight people, or as you said the lepers, the lame, the prostitutes, tax collectors. Everyone that society has wrongly looked down upon, Jesus loved and accepted them. But He also told them to go and Sin no more. God does not play favourites. And I also agree with you that our actions and decisions can make a difference here on earth, they can make it a "colloquial heaven or hell", but they are eternal decisions.
You know Mr. Maxwell, dropping a writers disclaimer in order to say whatever you want still doesn't give you the excuse to do so. So please continue to write thought-provoking, interesting, funny articles; try not to insult people for what they believe in or insult what they believe in; especially if you are under-educated on the subject. Because from your own words it seems as though you know a little on the subject but do not understand it. And there lies your mistake. You are probably aware that your words reach a lot of people. So know what you are talking about before you do.
Robin Ridsdale
Whistler
Just want to give two thumbs up to this "Luna" group who is putting on the movies at Lost Lake. What a kick ass time. Great films too. I hope they continue forever. Even in the winter I'll be there in my down bag.
Doug Decloux
Whistler
I feel that I must comment upon an incident that took place in the middle of Whistler Village recently.
My wife and I were walking along casually when a cyclist rode by and very nearly ran into a very young child. The child’s father was very shaken and he managed to retrieve the child. The cyclist just rode on without a trace of guilt.
We love Whistler and we are coming to the end of an eight-week stay here. However, since being here this year we have been very saddened to see many more cyclists riding through all parts of the village, in varying numbers, than we observed on our previous visits. They ignore all of the notices, those upon the ground and the bylaw notices as well.
I complained in RCMP headquarters and I was told that they had run out of the necessary forms and also that there was not enough staff to enforce the bylaw.
The bylaw in my opinion needs strict enforcement. This does not need extra staff, just more publicity that the law is being enforced, with the imposition of fines, instead of first warnings, which are ineffective.
John Stott
Kent, U.K.
The E-Z Does It new bike trail article was good in many respects and the point that beginners need to be able to start and learn to DH in a conducive environment was sound. Whistler-Blackcomb has, in my opinion, done a first rate job of developing their bike park and the people who design and operate it are to be commended. Presumably the theme would continue that safety issues should be taught and respected as well as riders advance in their skills, thrills and, let’s face it, the danger zone.
With this in mind I was surprised to see a photo of Tom Radke on the black rated Dirt Merchant wearing a "one hit" non-full face helmet. Proper equipment not only helps prevent injury when the inevitable bails happen but also inspires greater confidence to permit the rider to develop his/her skills. I see more kids in the park each year and they wear what they see on DH bikers, not what their parents tell them to wear.
Let’s get the new riders off to a proper start.
Nick Westeinde
West Vancouver
Slow down it's Back To Bear Time.
In the past week I have seen three bear crossings on Highway 99 in the village areas. Two were close calls with motorists. The bears are in a mad dash for the berries so I am asking motorist to slow it down. The speed limit in these areas is 60 km/h so please adhere to this and keep your eyes open.
Has anyone ever toyed with the idea of bear crossing signs, such as in the golf course area? These do encourage people to pay attention and have a certain tourist appeal as well.
Marie Pupo
Whistler
The J.J. Whistler Bear Society wishes to thank all those that participated in our online auction. The event was a great success, raising almost $2,500 to support bear smart educational and training programs. There were some awesome deals for bidders!
None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of local businesses, whose support of community programs is truly admirable. A special thank you to Carney’s Waste Systems for sponsoring the event and Beth at GoBid for organizing it. We would also like to thank Mayor Hugh O’Reilly, Ross Rebagliati, and Steve Darling for their participation, and the many businesses who donated goods and services.
Sylvia Dolson
Executive Director,
J.J. Whistler Bear Society
Canadian Bear Alliance
Pemberton Child Care Society would like to thank Chris Wallace, Dean Larsen and the crew at Big Sky Golf & Country Club for a successful Super Skins Golf Tournament held on July 7, 2003.
We’d also like to thank the participating Pemberton and Whistler businesses who through their generous donations enabled us to raise over $9,000 at our silent auction for the children at our day care. Many, many thanks.
Thanks also to the volunteers who gave their time during the day: Tara Martin, Stephanie Coughlin, Toni Morris, Pat Bencharski, Jackie Wingeat, Stephanie Wells, Cam McIvor, Michelle Porter and Tammy McIvor.
Michelle Porter, for the Pemberton Child Care Society
