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This week's letters

In response to the article "Altitude organizer looking for community support" (Pique Jan. 20), Mr. Bergeron was unethical and slanderous in using my brother Brent Benaschak’s name as the source of his difficulties.

In response to the article "Altitude organizer looking for community support" (Pique Jan. 20), Mr. Bergeron was unethical and slanderous in using my brother Brent Benaschak’s name as the source of his difficulties. It serves no purpose other than to be self serving if the event does not work out. It is very convenient and cowardly to blame someone who is not here to defend himself.

The facts in this matter are this: Mr. Bergeron signed on as producer of the 2004 ski event. In that contract he accepted responsibility for payment of the debts from the income from the event.

Brent Benaschak hosted a world class event for 12 years. He started in 1992 with a small group of 300 people. With himself and a close friend organizing the event, hosting the parties and cooking for everyone their party grew to what it is today.

Brent was known for producing the best party ever during ski week. He took care of the community (Whistler and Vancouver) by giving people jobs, bringing guests and business to the resort and holding an annual charity auction. He gave individuals the chance to rise to their potential through their creativity. Brent was always very generous and gave before he put any money in his own pocket.

There is still so much more that went on last year that maybe should remain unsaid and maybe we should all move on. My intent was not to cloud this week’s ski event but to inform the readers that Brent’s business affairs and the way he ran his business was just that, his business. He never portrayed himself to be a businessman nor did he really care about the money end; that’s why he hired his most trusted accountant, Julie. Brent was the creative force behind Altitude/Out on the Slopes and that’s what he did best.

Out on the Slopes is now owned by Mr. Bergeron and I hope that he can have the journey that it took Brent on – but to do it with integrity and above board. The clients come first and you take care of your staff. Yes, I would love to see Altitude continue as part of Brent’s legacy, but it came to me on the anniversary of his passing that the legacy I have is in the many wonderful friends of Brent’s who have come into our lives and become my parents, mine and my children’s friends.

Val West

Edmonton

Bones & Doug Mac save the day

I’ve been enjoying fantastic conditions over the past two days on both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and am feeling the need to express a heartfelt and sincere thank you to the operations staff of Whistler-Blackcomb. What an unbelievable job. Bones & Doug Mac, you’ve outdone yourself once again.

How is it possible that there can be no snow half way up Sproatt and Rainbow yet we can ski out without any problems at all on both Whistler and Blackcomb? Unreal. While we’re not quite out of the woods yet, the expert snow management of the respective mountain managers has given us at least a fighting chance. Thanks so much to both of you and your entire team.

Thanks also to all those in the valley who have managed to keep a smile and good attitude over the past couple of weeks. It makes a huge difference to all of our visitors to see smiley faces and the power of positive thinking never ceases to amaze me. It’s very nice to know that even when we experience sub-par conditions that we still live in the best place in the world.

Ben Thomas

Whistler

On behalf of the Organization Committee of the 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships presented by Nokia, we would like to pass on our sincere appreciation to all those in the Sea to Sky corridor who dedicated endless hours of support. No words can even describe the gratitude of the entire Organization Committee for the huge effort that thousands from the community made to ensure all events went off extremely successfully – even with the toughest of circumstances Mother Nature could throw at us.

This was an incredible success story for the resort, community and the sport of snowboarding in Canada! There will be highlights for all of us to mark as groundbreaking: from the massive infrastructure, snowmaking and grooming efforts in producing the exceptional competition venues, the resort’s largest volunteer response ever (over 1,000!) and the never-before-seen amounts of media coverage, to Canada winning the medal count in front of huge crowds and a group of very impressed sponsors.

The resort and Organization Committee had a lot of eyes upon us with the pending 2010 events and with the incredible response from all facets of the community we were able to overcome the huge logistical challenges involved in running what was Whistler’s biggest event to date. The community can now look forward with great pride and confidence in the ability to support these types of major international events that will be hosted through 2010 and beyond.

A direct thank you to some that must be acknowledged: Firstly the 1,000+ volunteers who committed their many long days on and off the hill; the property managers and restaurants throughout Whistler for committing rooms and meals at a drastically discounted rate to host over 5,000 room nights for athletes and officials; WEB (Whistler Events Bureau – Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler, Whistler-Blackcomb) and all their employees who all made above-and-beyond commitments to ensure success; the staff of the Organization Committee (over 100 local and regional staff worked for the OC for varying lengths of commitment); the Canadian Snowboard Federation and all athletes (many Whistler residents!) who competed for their nations and showcased the highest calibre of snowboarding in the world for us to watch and capture; and last but not least, a thank you to the many sponsors, B.C. Provincial Government and Sport Canada whose financial contributions added to the community support in securing this major achievement.

We are proud that the physical legacy of the permanent halfpipe and snowmaking on Lower Cruiser will stand for years to come in the hopes of building more Canadian champions. Once again, we applaud all who contributed in any way, shape or form and encourage all to continue to build on this spirit with future events that will be key to the community.

If you missed the coverage on CBC the last two weekends, please tune-in to NBC on Sunday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 12 and check local listings for SportsNet’s coverage later in February.

With Many Thanks!

Mark Taylor

2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships - President, Organization Committee

Vice President IMG; Action Sports

Remember the Segway Pilot Project, the one that the RMOW just could not say no to last summer? Just because you haven't heard about it lately doesn't mean it has gone away. In fact, on Feb. 7 at the council meeting, the Segway "administrative report" will be read. This is where we find out if this monster of an Urban Toy (thanks G.D. Maxwell for coining that term, it is so apt) will be allowed onto the Valley Trail next summer. Oh, and surprise, rather than keeping to the terms outlined in the Pilot Project (access only around the Whistler Golf Course), the operator has requested access to Lost Lake Park trails as well. Just imagine, Segways on the Lost Lake trails. Ranks right up there with Sea-Doos on Green Lake.

If you value maintaining the integrity of our Valley Trail by not allowing the use of motorized vehicles on it, speak up! If you haven't voiced your opinion by e-mail or phone, please do so ASAP to Heather Beresford at the RMOW. It is important that you say something now. There is still time to stop this travesty.

Just say no to the Segway!

Cheryl Morningstar

Whistler

We would like to commend the school board of Howe Sound School District No. 48, for their wise and very fair decision on the French immersion question. They had a difficult task in the face of considerable pressure from interested parties.

Parents who pushed for a French immersion program at Spring Creek are understandably disappointed; they express frustration at this decision because the majority wanted an early, not a late, immersion program. But please can we remember that the word "majority" refers only to those families who were interested in French immersion. These interested families are in the minority of the total elementary population in Whistler. How can they possibly demand that their interest in an alternative education for their children, no matter how laudable, should override the concerns of the majority of parents who are not interested in that alternative?

The board wisely remembered this fact when they made their decision. They took into account the concerns of parents like ourselves, who were anxious that any new program introduced into Spring Creek School not impact negatively on the children currently enrolled in the French and English programs at that school. As parents of a child with still three years to spend at Spring Creek, we were concerned that any additional program, with its increase in school enrolment and changed demographics, not affect our daughter’s share of access to publicly funded school facilities such as classroom space, gym, computer lab, library and music room. The board chose the option that would give some French immersion to Whistler, but with the least impact on the existing school population.

In addition, we and many other Spring Creek parents were concerned that the introduction of a third element into the school would disturb the progress that has been ongoing since the moment Spring Creek first opened its doors. Thanks to the efforts of the principal and staff (not to mention the PAC) Spring Creek has evolved with remarkable rapidity into a great school with a warm and happy "family" atmosphere, a great sense of school pride and spirit, and a friendly co-existence between the English and French programs. We feel strongly that this still-very-new school, should be left in peace to further settle and evolve before upsetting the educational applecart with a completely new program. By the way, we cannot help but be curious to know how many of the parents upset at this decision, are the same parents who two years ago were kicking and screaming against their children going to Spring Creek!

We have no doubt French immersion is a valuable alternative; the same argument can be made for Montessori and Waldorf. The important point is that the school board recognized it could not be absorbed into our public school system on the scale demanded by parents without a potentially negative impact on other children. End of story.

Linda and Ross McGaw

Whistler

Re: French Immersion comes to Whistler

I would like to shed some light on how the school board makes decisions. There seems to be a perception that they make decisions just to annoy parents.

A French Immersion Committee was struck to compile information regarding support, which was gauged by a parent survey, as well as the potential effects of the Immersion program. One of the biggest effects of an early immersion program is that the English classes would be halved (according to survey results), by the departure of children entering the immersion program. Last year the same thing caused great angst when Spring Creek Community School opened. Now many grades have one to one-and-a-half classes in each school. What happens when you leave just half or three-quarters of an English class in each school? The committee recognized that, within a relatively short period of time, the elementary schools would need to be reorganized into a Primary school (Grades K-3) and an Intermediate school (Grades 4-7). This change also comes with increased transportation costs.

Currently there is a successful late immersion program running in Squamish. Parents camp out overnight to get their kids into this limited program. School board members heard from parents that wanted early immersion, late immersion and they also heard from parents that wanted to keep the status quo. We need to respect the function of the school board and understand that they cannot base their decision solely on the surveyed parents who responded and indicated a preference for early immersion. The response rate to the survey barely achieved 30 per cent and included many different views. What about the other parents?

It is true that this school board decision is only the first step in making French Immersion in Whistler a reality. It is now up to parents of children entering Grades 5 and 6 next year to register their children in this program. My guess is that we will see registration required within the next couple of weeks. The next decision is the final one – are there enough students to start this program? The school board must decide.

Personally I am delighted to see French Immersion finally come to Whistler, even though it is a too late for one of my children to reap the benefits. I agree with Linda Watson, it is a great first step. This does not close the door on early immersion. The school board made a decision that would bring a program of choice to our community while maintaining stability in our schools. If the provincial government put more money into education then the school board would have fewer tough decisions to make. Remember that next time you want to blame politicians.

Merci,

Cathy Jewett

Whistler

I hope people will have noted the ads for the Pemberton Valley Trails Association’s Annual General Meeting coming up on Feb. 8 and take the time to come and learn first hand about the activities, accomplishments and plain hard work of a strong core of volunteers. I hope those who have traveled the trails around the village and valley bottom, enjoyed the new float and trail on the shores of Mosquito Lake or ridden the trails nearby, would support this group through memberships or better yet, by getting involved. Much is planned for 2005 and new members can quickly find a niche to suit their interests and talents. Recreational trails are a No. 1 priority in Pemberton. Please consider volunteering your time on this group’s community endeavours.

Jan Naylor

Pemberton

Pizza pies and VANOC

The other day I had the pleasure of stopping for a pizza at a little place in Vancouver’s West End that calls itself The Olympia Pizza Restaurant. I added my signature to a petition protesting VANOC’s order to remove the name. There were well over 3,000 names before mine.

It is hard to imagine that corporate sponsors’ profits would be significantly undermined by such an infringement of copyright law (if that is the legal basis for VANOC’s order). The issue is distasteful corporate bullying. The bottom line of corporate profits takes precedence over the diversion of a few bucks to a pizza shop owner who had the smarts to name his business The Olympia more than a decade ago.

Then there is the consideration of the loss of dignity a person suffers when confronted by a bully that he cannot possibly win against. Was there an attempt to negotiate the "branding" issue with the corporate sponsors or the IOC, or did the VANOC directors quietly nod acceptance to the sponsors’ demands? Obviously it would be easier to deal with the little guys, Olympia Pizza or, similarly AWARE regarding their desire to attach the Olympic name to the Soo River Wildlife Refuge proposal, than the corporate boardrooms.

If one potential sponsor got in a snit over a petty branding infraction, surely other sponsors would jump in, but then that would be true market competition, a terrifying thought to the corporation. (A Whistler-based newspaper carries ads featuring another ski resort’s amenities? Can’t have that, let’s take them all off the stands – don’t laugh, it actually happened.)

If the price of hosting the Olympics is acquiescence to corporate bullying tactics then I for one say it was not worth it. I say "was" because there is obviously no turning back now. The Sea to Sky Chambers of Commerce and the politicians have accepted all this.

Venting has worked up an appetite in me. A delicious Olympia pizza would go down pretty well now.

Hugh Naylor

Pemberton

What we say and what we do

There have been some recent stories and letters that addressed the Ashlu River IPP and Whistler’s 2020 Sustainability Plan. I have found them interesting and have a few thoughts to add into the fray. The vast majority of Canadians (98 per cent) view "nature in all its variety as essential to human survival," according to Environment Canada. Yet, when examining 25 key environmental indicators, an OECD study of 29 member nations found that Canada finished 28th out of 29 in its overall environmental record! Canadians are internationally regarded as among the most pro-environment people on the planet, yet on a daily basis, our actions would prove otherwise. I find this discrepancy between what we say we believe and how we act very distressing.

Questioning our "way of life" is a sacred cow in our culture, and everyone seems quick to change the topic of conversation when it arises. Around the nation, environmental and grassroots groups are valiantly fighting specific battles and causes, yet until we address the deeper, more insidious nature of our lifestyle, I believe many of these victories, like the Ashlu River, will ultimately be in vain. New power projects, whether they are run-of-the-river, coal-bed methane, natural gas or coal, will be our unwelcome neighbours until we admit on an individual level that our lifestyle is unsustainable. But we must go beyond admitting it and begin changing it. Significantly reducing our per capita energy and electricity needs is not the Herculean task some would have us think, but fairly straightforward and simple. The goal of sustainability is a much harder task, as it depends as well on the community and province within which we live. However, a bold first step is to commit to the task of changing one’s personal behaviour. In doing so, one is questioning the status quo and bringing our actions more into line with what we as Canadians say we believe.

Antony Blaikie

Mount Currie