Re: As Kermit said, it's hard to be Green, G.D. Maxwell Pique Jan. 27
Well, someone finally bold enough to come on out and tell the Emperor that he is wearing no clothes. It is appalling to think that so much money and resources will be devoted to a facility that is used by such a relative few and certainly not used after the Olympics to any great extent. Interesting that these activities (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton) are still perpetuated in the Olympics in the name of "sport."
G.D. Maxwell makes a thought provoking point. Wouldn't it be cutting edge if these "facility intensive sports of little interest" to most people outside of the two weeks of Olympics could be replaced by real mountain sports that have some "currency and meaning" to the masses all winter long and available at most alpine facilities everywhere. There are a plethora of new exciting, spectator-friendly ventures in snowboarding and skiing that would surely fit that bill.
Outside of the sliding centre, the next big white elephant could possibly be the ski jump/Nordic centre. If the Calgary jump centre in the middle of a city (great access for spectators/athletes/coaches) and fully funded until recently (CODA) couldn't make it, how will a facility way up the Callaghan fare, with no affordable accommodation anywhere nearby, no spectators walking by to watch and at least a 30-minute drive away from Whistler, not to mention a shortage of jumpers to even train there?
A Nordic centre ghost town could be avoided by ensuring that there will be an accommodation component. As well, there must be a good variety of recreational trails for use after the Olympics, which this centre has not got for certainty. Yes, perhaps the skiers from Vancouver may come up for skiing on the weekend, but as for the Whistler XC skier, the Lost Lake trails are very convenient and offer great skiing. Choosing to drive five minutes or hop onto the trails near our homes is a more logical and efficient choice than having to drive down the highway 30 km to the trails. The point that the new terrain is at a slightly higher elevation with the potential of more snow, doesn't carry much credibility after this season. We are washed out everywhere!
Lots of great things to come with the Olympics, but just as many sides to it that are incredibly wasteful and in need of an overhaul. I look forward to the final result!
Cheryl Morningstar
Whistler
I would question whether it is in the best interests of the IOC and Bell Canada to endorse the proposed Native Indian Cultural Centre at Whistler.
Once you have seen the site, you will perhaps notice it is one of the few natural timber stands within the Greater Whistler area, one that guests from such locations as the Chateau Whistler and Four Seasons can enjoy on their walks to and from the main village.
It is incomprehensible that the Squamish and Lil'wat bands, whose faith and heritage are steeped in the tall cedars and pines, would even think about destroying this natural site.
Whistler has been logged off by large parking lots, hotels and condominium sites. Unless a large part of the forested area is preserved, this will be one of the most hypocritical projects I have witnessed by a Native population.
Al Eaton
Whistler
An open letter to the businesses of Whistler:
I want to personally thank all the businesses and individuals supporting GayWhistler.com this past week by displaying our welcome signs and wearing our pins. In particular I want to acknowledge all our partners, Solarice Wellness Centre and Spa, The Westin Resort and Spa, The Blackcomb Lodge, Whistler Village Inn + Suites and Affinity Sports. Together we (Whistler) helped raise money for two great charities, AIDS Vancouver and Tsunami Relief, and extended a warm welcome to the thousands of gay and lesbian guests who came for all or part of the gay ski week. Many guests told me they look forward to returning to Whistler soon.
We truly believe all Whistler businesses can and will benefit by proactively targeting, attracting and marketing to the gay and lesbian market. Competition for the leisure tourism market (year-round) has significantly changed how we do business in Whistler. We have learned that we must pursue all business more actively and follow-up with uncompromising service standards and value. Recognizing that the gay travel market has grown internationally to its highest levels it is important that the message that Whistler is gay-friendly come to the forefront. With your help and support we hope to attract a large percentage of this market to Whistler year-round – 365 days, all four seasons.
We know it will take a lot of hard work, time and money to get Whistler recognized as gay friendly internationally but with your help we are committed to Whistler and the gay market.
The gay market is coming of age with its international acceptance and buying power of over $610 billion (in the U.S. alone). It is essential that we are aggressive in our pursuit of this market.
In the near future we will hold an open meeting to present our vision and strategy. We will also use this forum to invite your input and suggestions. We look forward to meeting with you.
Thanks again!
Sean Kearns
President, GayWhistler.com
Same-sex couples wanting to marry seems akin to accountants wanting to join the Professional Engineers’ Association – on the grounds that accountants too are professionals. Not being engineers though they are presently ineligible. Engineering could perhaps be defined to include accounting, but who would want to drive over a bridge designed by an accountant? Of course, accountants are free to have their own professional association. They just can't call it "Professional Engineers' Association."
In my opinion, legally formalizing same-sex commitments should be a right. Calling it "marriage" should not be. There are good reasons. Marriage and same-sex unions are two fundamentally different institutions. Marriage is the formal acknowledgement of gender interdependence. Same-sex union is, in essence, a repudiation of the other gender as life partner. The word "marriage" can’t describe both. Second, legalizing same-sex marriage would necessitate changing the long and deeply entrenched definition of society’s basic institution. Redefining marriage would humour few, disconcert many. Third, if the objective is equality then what’s wrong with "separate but equal?"
It seems to me that if the common law definition of marriage contravenes the Charter of Rights, then the Charter needs review – not marriage.
Joe Bako
Vancouver
Kicking a gift horse in the teeth
Last month I attended the AGM of PACA (Pemberton Agricultural Community Association) in Pemberton, a statement was made by the president, George Henry, summing up how I feel about our town: "never has a community worked so hard to not achieve its goals."
PACA and many other volunteer groups in Pemberton are made up of great people giving a massive amount of time and energy to the greater good of the community. Our village council is made up of similar good people acting as concerned citizens with what they feel is the best interest of the community in mind.
I was sadly disappointed when our council voted to give no further consideration to the Ravens Crest development and the proposed gift of a recreational facility for Pemberton and the outlying area. I am very confused as too how council came to this decision. Administrator Bob Wilson stated in his recommendation of "no further consideration" that the developers were not proposing a facility but only a gift of $2.1 million. This leads me to believe that Mr. Wilson and council did not take the time to read the proposal or speak with the developers.
The proponents of Ravens Crest have repeatedly stated that they would build a facility on 32 acres of non-arable flat land, above the flood plain, and hand the keys to the community. If the public opinion is that a facility on the Ravens Crest land is not ideal, a gift of $2.1million and the 32 acre land bank would be made to a facility the community deems a priority.
Mr. Wilson added during his recommendation that the facility would be cost prohibitive for the village to operate. I was absolutely floored when Dr. Hugh Fisher asked Mr. Wilson for the costing study he had completed to deliver such a strong statement of condemnation. Mr. Wilson stated he had not actually put pen to paper to attempt a budgetary review of such a facility. Mr. Wilson felt that given his experience it is impossible for Pemberton to operate an amenity with no capital cost.
Mr. Wilson has been serving Pemberton as an interim administrator for six weeks. This statement was made even though the developers provided a third party study on the operational cost of the ice arena. The study states the cost per household for the arena at $60/household per year.
I find it hard to believe that mayor and council would place such a huge responsibility on temporary administration.
Further to this, Mayor Warner stated that she had worked very hard to get an arena in 1996 and completed an extensive study that found Pemberton residents willing to pay $150/household per year. Where was the discussion between her Worship and Mr. Wilson prior to council’s acceptance of his recommendation? Even if doubled, the independent study of operating the rink is at an acceptable level. Where is the logic in dismissing a proposal that gives our community an amenity we can afford to operate?
I do understand that there are many valid concerns for the community by bringing on an additional 347 family units. But why not afford the community the opportunity to speak our collective voice? I certainly do not support creating a burden on the existing tax base, but where is the harm in investigating the opportunity for free amenities?
When is our community going to be afforded another opportunity like Ravens Crest? What is the community getting from the developers that are building this community? What is our plan to retain the many young families that are considering leaving in pursuit of amenities? Why has our council made such an important decision with such little scrutiny? Why have they not taken the time to at least explore the many opportunities that this proposal offers without making suggestions or even demands to relieve any potential burden from the tax base?
Why are we working so hard not to achieve our goals?
Warren Barrow
Pemberton
More than a few good women!
Following on the article "A few good women" (Pique, Feb. 3) I would like to say that in my opinion, although I appreciate the many good points, I would have to disagree that the Ski School is trying to squeeze women out, and there's definitely more than a few good women in our industry.
I have been part of the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski School for nine years and have been a supervisor for five, and at no time have I felt I wasn't given the same opportunity as any man.
We have a strong presence of women that are Level IV candidates (the highest certification for ski instructors) at the moment, and this is even more reflective at the Level II and III certification levels. I strongly believe that in the future we will see some of them in the upper management. Whistler Kids is also proof that we have good women in this industry, as most of the management in Kids are women.
As I have quoted before it is a man’s world; it’s a fact that there is a much higher percentage of highly certified men over all in the industry. However, I feel confident that women are making their way up!
Natalie Morel
Pemberton
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Department and all the neighbours who came out to assist and comfort us during the fire on Hemlock Street early Saturday morning.
The volunteers who fought the fire were so professional and organized and the quick response to the fire was amazing to us.
The day after the fire we were absolutely floored to find the volunteer crew had carefully stacked all of our belongings in the front room and covered it all with a couple of tarps. To take the time to do this, while battling a serious house fire was completely beyond anything we expected.
We are forever grateful and wanted to be sure to tell everyone we know that the Village of Pemberton is lucky to have such a tremendously talented and professional volunteer firefighting crew.
Julien Howlett and Niki Madigan
Pemberton
It’s nice to see a local guy like Rob Boyd get the nod to coach the women’s 2010 Olympic alpine team. The challenges and pressure of putting a competitive team on the field in a place like Whistler are huge. Everyone wants to see Canadians win on their home turf. Movies like the Crazy Canucks get the public all stirred up and make them wonder why Alpine Canada is not producing similar athletes today.
Well I have a theory that the Crazy Canucks are alive and well in Canada, they just aren't involved in ski racing. Young athletes today are turned away from the politics and grind of World Cup ski racing. Canadian ski racers are only acknowledged when they win big events. Ski magazines don't publish their pictures and ski movies ignore them all together.
Enter the professional freeskier. Young athletes are drawn to this high-profile, adrenaline-driven sport at a young age more than ever before. The reality of "making it big and getting paid" as a freeskier at a young age is a huge draw. Freeskiing is where all the young Crazy Canucks are today.
Canadian freeskiers consistently win podium after podium in freeskiing events. Whistler local Mike Douglas initiated the whole "new school" phenomenon and the list of the world’s best freeskiers is littered with Canadians.
Alpine Canada should stand up and take notice that most ripping young skiers don't get involved with ski racing anymore. Young athletes become paid professional freeskiers and view ski racing as a thing of the past.
Intrawest and Whistler-Blackcomb should be embarrassed that the home mountain of so many freeskiing legends refuses to host anymore world class freeskiing events.
Alpine Canada needs to realize that their young talent is moving in a different direction. Alpine Canada should stop burying its head in the sand and start retaining the up and coming young athletes now or the 2010 podium will be dominated by skiers from somewhere else.
Toby Salin
Pemberton
I read your Jan. 27 issue of Pique and was interested to see a letter from Sarah Bourne, in which she moans about what to do with pennies saved with no future plans. I have a solution for her, which doesn't involve having to roll them and puts them to good use.
A little girl named Bailey Hunt, who has been a diabetic since she was 2 1/2 and is a continuing patient at Children's Hospital, decided to collect all the spare pennies that she could and donate them to B.C. Children's Hospital to get things for the kids to play with and use while they were there.
Last year, she collected $1,000! Not bad for a nine year old.
This year, to help things along, her mother has arranged an e-mail address onceuponapenny@hotmail.com. Anyone wanting to get rid of their pennies, or any other spare change if they feel like it, can send an e-mail and find out what to do with them. Someone will collect the change and count and roll it, and Bailey will take the collection to the hospital again this year.
Ernie Ledgerwood
Squamish
Anyone wishing to donate to Bailey Hunt’s onceuponapenny can drop off their pennies at Pique Newsmagazine, where they will be forwarded to her.
In response to: A crappy deal (Pique letters Jan. 27)
The author is concerned about privatization of the sewage treatment plant and then goes on to say: "Tomorrow it may be the Meadow Park Sports Arena." Well I would love to see that.
The condition of the pool at Meadow Park is unacceptable. I unfortunately am unable to swim there anymore as I had a "toxic" reaction to the amount of chlorine that is being used. The levels are not properly monitored, the pool is disgustingly dirty (bandaids, hairballs, gum, etc.) and the temperatures can vary from 77 degrees one day to 84 a few days later (last week this was the case).
The hot tub was recently closed down by the health official. It has now reopened, but this morning (Tuesday) both the hot tub and pool were full of sand because the sand filters backwashed into the system.
Quite a number of people that are forced to use the pool for training or exercise come away sniffling, sneezing and with a runny nose for most of the day. This is not right and something needs to be done. Letters that have been written to the municipality/Meadow Park have gone unanswered. There is no excuse for the pool being so filthy. I have gone to the Squamish facility and the pool there is of the same vintage and design and it was sparkling and clean. Telling me that the Whistler pool has more use doesn't cut it.
Therefore, I am all for privatization of the pool. Perhaps then, a lot of us that are unable to swim the way it is, would be able to use it.
This is certainly not a world class facility!
Bobbi Sandkuhl
Whistler
Re: Belated Australia Day (Pique Feb. 3)
This article was a badly written list of unfunny observations concerning Australian and Canadian differences and similarities.
Halfway through the article Adam Daff highlights the differences in Australian and Canadian attitudes. He talks about their reactions to a bomb being dropped on Sydney or Toronto. He also states what he believes the reaction of the USA would be if a bomb were dropped on New York ("...the Yanks would probably come up with another plan to invade an ‘evil’ country that had nothing to do with it in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’").
Firstly, why is this statement even in an article purely about Australians and Canadians? Reading the article, it appears to me to be a poorly concealed swipe at our neighbours.
Secondly, the fact that this opinion has appeared in the Pique and has been penned by a Pique journalist (as opposed to a reader letter) reflects very badly on the newsmagazine. Anyone who takes offence at this comment (think U.S. tourists in Whistler) will believe that it is the opinion of the magazine and those it represents (Whistler residents).
Two months ago there was a big hullaballoo over a letter written to the Pique by an American who'd had enough of the, as he saw it, negative view of Americans held by Whistlerites. Ill-conceived comments like these by Adam Daff will only make other visiting Americans feel the same way.
This entire article should not have been published on the two counts: firstly because of the anti-American sentiment contained within, and secondly because it was really, really bad.
Oliver Walker
Whistler
