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Healthy democracy-sustainable future This letter was addressed to the mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

Healthy democracy-sustainable future

This letter was addressed to the mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

My enthusiasm for the 2010 Olympics and Whistler 2020 was greatly diminished this week after reading Bob BarnettÕs editorial in the Pique.

John Furlong gave us a very inspiring talk at his recent luncheon here in Whistler that the Olympics are about teamwork, and VANOC and the 2010 Olympics are going to be greatly successful because of the "team". IÕm struggling with how keeping the community out of the debate regarding the ice arena for the Paralympics fits with this theme.

The Whistler 2020 vision reads "Whistler community member, partner and stakeholder contributions are essential for achieving our visionÉ" Once again, I find it difficult to "contribute" when the information and dialogue are being held "in camera". As BobÕs editorial states: "This is not a matter of publicly disclosing delicate negotiations, financial secrets or details of complex matters; itÕs simply informing the public about having second thoughts on something they have been told to expect."

In the 2005 Ontario Budget papers, Paper A: Appendix 2 - Transparency and Accountability, the conclusion reads "Democracy depends on a knowledgeable citizenry whose access to a range of information enables them to participate more fully in public life, to help determine priorities for public spending, and to hold their public officials accountable. By combining integrity and clarity of information with monitoring and reporting on progress to improve results, the government is committed to a fiscal policy that is transparent and accountable."

I sincerely ask that before the debate on the ice arena for the Paralympics proceeds any further you engage the community. The outcome may be the same, but by not engaging the public in such a monumental decision you risk losing the publicÕs trust. "The only way a healthy democracy can be sustained is through public trust." (Carolyn Lukensmeyer http://www.cpn.org/crm/essays/building.html).

"Moving Towards a Sustainable FutureÉ"? We need a healthy democracy.

Bob Lorriman

Whistler

DonÕt jam out now

Re: Village North ice arena/recreation complex

We have a chance to build a new ice arena/recreation complex right in WhistlerÕs town centre on a lot that is already zoned for that purpose. Granted, we already have a rec centre but it is not large enough for the Olympic activities planned for winter 2010.

If we do not build it here the opportunity will be lost to another locale, like Squamish for example, and then even existing business Ð like the 72 hockey teams presently playing for three weeks at our existing ice arena Ð will be lost to newer and larger venues.

We cannot afford to lose more visitors of this nature. Also, WhistlerÕs town centre needs more for people to do during off-ski/snowboard season, there has been large investments in recent building endeavours in the town centre yet not enough available for tourists to do.

Spending large amounts of money on building Olympic venues in the Callaghan Valley leaves little as a legacy for Whistler citizens, whereas an in-town ice arena/rec centre would be used for decades.

You have worked hard to attract and secure the 2010 Winter Olympics, donÕt jam out now Ð go for it!

Richard Klinkhamer

Whistler

Excellent people help out

As you may know some of us had some rough luck on Sunday. But some excellent people helped us out. I wanted to publicly thank them if I could.

To those who were around on Sunday evening, at the Subway building, Thank You! Sometimes bad things happen but what makes it OK to deal with is the support of your friends and fellow townspeople who lend a hand, for no reason but to help out. All of your support is greatly appreciated and makes the bruises a little easier to deal with. If there is anything positive to come out of this it is that some people do care and stand behind their freinds!

I would like to especially thank the ambulance people and police officers who attended. Your job is tough, but thank you for making it easy for me and my friend to get better. Also, thanks to the staff at the hospital who woke up for us. Above and beyond and it is appreciated!

Thank you all. I am proud to have friends like you and be part of a town with excellent services like the ones I needed!

Michael Hofbauer

Whistler

Give him a job

Please offer Tim Gorgichuk a position as letter writer for your magazine. It's not that I enjoy his endless letters, it's just that it would be easier for me to avoid them.

Nothing personal Tim, but please give it a rest for a while.

Robin Hayton

Whistler

Local solutions

This letter was addressed to mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

WhistlerÕs Personnel Solutions is a local employment agency placing candidates in management, administrative and accounting positions. As a Whistler business owner since 1995, I have faced all the challenges presented by growth, escalating costs and the unique business climate of this community.

I have also heard the repeated calls from local businesses that they are not heard or supported by our local municipality.ÊThis reality hit me directly when I saw a Vancouver recruitment agencyÕs advertisement in our local newspaper for the position of Municipal Administrator.

Given the opportunity, I could have presented my qualifications and strategies to fill this valuable role, as well as references from clients that have utilized my services to hire at a senior level. These qualifications highlight 17 years of employment agency experience, including seven years with an executive search company in the heart of TorontoÕs business district.

Although I have had the good fortune to provide our companyÕs services to the ResortÊMunicipality of Whistler, they have often made it clear that they are hesitant to pay recruitment fees. As a Whistler taxpayer for the last 18 years, I obviously support this principle. However, I would suggest it should have been extended to researching all the potentially more cost-effective options to filling the Municipal Administrator role whilst providing opportunities to local business.

Cathy Goddard

General Manager/Owner

WhistlerÕs Personnel Solutions

WhatÕs left?

Re: Viewed through 2020 (Pique letters July 7).

I for one totally agree with Toby Salin of Whistler. Whistler has and is losing its uniqueness, its kind of quaint appearance. Soon it will become just like a strip mall or a shopping centre in the city. Then you might as well change its name to "The Same" cause it will be the same as any place you go. Then who will want to come and visit? No snow, no summer and no quaint unique groovy stores.

Hmm, but wait there is an $8 million library here, letÕs go check it out... Hey where is the museum? Didn't it use to be right next door to the library? Yeah it did. But not after the libraryÕs built. Gee, no history either. LetÕs get out of here.

S. French

Pemberton

Something smells

There is the rotten smell of a potential $20 million Olympic scandal permeating the streets of Whistler these days, and nobody wants to talk about it. It surrounds the question as to where the 2010 Paralympic arena should be built and how much it should cost.

Vancouver Olympic Committee officials have known about the project for years, ever since the Olympic Bid Book announced that the arena would be built in Whistler with the $20 million VANOC will provide.

There are local reports of a hidden agenda, which has convinced the towns of Squamish and Pemberton that they should push for the arena. And that is exactly what they are doing.

WhistlerÕs mayor and certain members of council have stated Whistler may not want the arena. This information was recently "leaked" Éone month before VANOC requires a decision.

Neither VANOC nor Whistler officials have issued formal new releases on this fact despite a deadline requiring a decision within weeks.

The Pique editor wrote an editorial in the last edition stating "ShouldnÕt the people of Whistler be told that by their own leaders?" about what is going on.

The "hidden agenda" was further smelling like a scandal when one minor hockey official was convinced to make a statement that Whistler might not be able to afford to maintain the arena following the Paralympics.

Where were these nay-sayers last weekend when Whistler hosted an international minor hockey tournament for elite players? A total of 1,275 players plus 2,000 parents and 25 coaches from all over North America competed. (VANOC officials were not in attendance, they were in Singapore on another important observation juncket.)

The visiting hockey clubs included players and parents from Colorado, Arizona, California and Ontario. This is the type of much-needed new exposure and publicity Whistler cannot buy. The tournament could have registered a greater number of teams but lacked the ice facilities, organizers said.

And the matter of the ice-making plant is another well-kept Whistler Olympics secret. The current plant includes three compressors to produce ice. One is operational, a second is usually on emergency standby, and the third is idle. In other words, there is already ice-making equipment available, plus there is plenty of land available behind the existing arena which has the required recreational zoning. This could save several million dollars of taxpayersÕ money for additional Whistler-Olympic legacies. All that is needed is a tilt-up building beside the existing rink, a packaged seating system a couple of multiple brine-glycol pumps for multiple-floor use, and a Rink-Pak for use in a parallel facility.

This would provide, in addition to a 3,500-seat arena, millions in savings for an all-round facility, which is needed for gymnastics, martial arts, freestyle clubs, senior facilities, and curling.

This demonstration of poor leadership, under the table "closed meetings", intentional delays, ignoring of current ice facilities and zoning makes one shake his head. Who is encouraging Squamish and Pemberton to have the arena built in their communities? Why is the mayor of Whistler on record as saying "É.if itÕs appropriate for us, yeah, sure weÕre going to take it. But if thereÕs something better and thereÕs something put together weÕll have to look at that too."

Why has this decision been left to the 11th hour? The offer has been on the table for years. VANOC says itÕs WhistlerÕs decision. The mayor says its VANOCÕs decision.

Where are the architectural plans, where are the construction estimates, where are the minimum three bids? Why arenÕt VANOC and Whistler council more transparent about projects, decisions and spending?

It appears time for a 2010 "flip flop" Olympic watchdog. One who can check on these matters, find out who is signing the cheques and where the money is going.

Allan Eaton

Whistler

Wounded on the Frontline

I am deeply saddened by the events in and about the Whistler Subway during the early morning hours of Monday, July 11. My feelings go out to the Whistler door staff who were unjustifiably antagonized and attacked at this time; best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Unfortunately the physical wounds our friends received at this melee aren't the only ones that our town will have to endure. As a direct result of this altercation we will most likely be losing the services of a very gifted and sincere promoter in the form of Frontline Entertainment. In the years that I have lived in Whistler I havn't worked with a more honest and dedicated proponent of live entertainment. If it's your time to go, best of luck, you will be sorely missed. There are few here with the bravery to put their effort and money behind the richness of culture that you have brought to us.

If any in our comunity can think of a way to dissuade Frontline from leaving us, I urge you to do so. Keep the live arts alive.

Rob Banks

Whistler