Our natural strengths
I’m writing to strongly support two letters that appeared in the Jan. 26 Pique: Rick Flebbe’s about showcasing the natural beauties of our area, and David Buzzard’s about the need for employee housing. There’s so much that can be said on these topics that I’m going to touch on just a couple of the many points that relate to marketing.
"Two mountains with a mile of vertical and a pedestrian village in the middle" is a fabulous asset, but I think that the easy access to wilderness and natural beauty is what’s really special. Lots of travelers agree: self-guided nature study is the biggest single tourism draw (and income generator) in the province, and it’s time we took notice. Let’s recognize the work of so many individuals that has gone into making and maintaining trails, and let’s understand the need to enhance and expand the trail system for inexperienced trekkers – crowded trails with few signs and no washrooms don’t lead to the best experiences for beginners.
With regard to housing, I am astonished by the lack of understanding about how bad the situation is, especially for seasonal employees. We certainly need homes for permanent residents, but we also need flexible, short-term accommodations. Let’s revisit Jamey Kramer’s idea about low-rise, super-cheap apartments, and see if that can fit into the athlete’s village design, so that we can take advantage of the funding being made available, while minimizing the ecological footprint.
Marketing courses teach us to identify our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Our natural heritage is one of our greatest strengths, and represents many kinds of opportunities, since we have barely begun to market it. One of our greatest weaknesses, as a community and as a destination, is the housing situation for seasonal, long-term, and permanent residents. It is a threat to the quality of service we can deliver, and the quality of the word-of-mouth messages that travel out of the resort with visitors and employees.
And nothing, absolutely nothing, beats word-of-mouth in the world of marketing.
Claire Johnson
Whistler
Thinking of others on highway
The plans for the Sea to Sky Highway are proceeding. However, for budgetary reasons, safety may be left behind. I believe this would be a big mistake.
On Friday, Feb. 3, I attended a meeting in Vancouver with Ross Walker. Also in attendance were Gord Leidal and Eric Mittendorfer of Whistler.
We met with two people in charge of the Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Project. The Community Relations Officer for Whistler, Scott Roberts, and an outside consultant who was a "Safety" expert, also were present.
Ross was well received by everyone there. He presented his ideas for a median barrier the entire length of Highway 99.
The current plans for the safety of the highway were shown to us. They include a median barrier everywhere there are four lanes but very little else.
Ross submitted his belief that that was not enough. He offered to show the development team how his approach could be accomplished and they offered to let him work with their staff and computers to prove his point. As a result, he will make another trip to Vancouver to do that.
Ross Walker is putting in many hours, with no thought of payment, just to see that Highway 99 is made as safe as possible. Everyone who drives the highway in the future will owe a great deal to Ross.
Ross has the credentials to do this. He has over 40 years devoted to designing safe highways. I understand that Ross has the support of the RMOW council. He should have the support of all of Whistler.
Think about it.
Ross Harlow
Whistler
A glass-half-empty view
I was dismayed to read recent quotes from his honour the mayor to the Globe and Mail (Athletes not only ones eyeing Olympic gold). As we head into the pre-Olympic period I would hope that he would focus on the possibilities and the opportunities that will present themselves because of the Olympics, rather than raise the specter of negative events and financial misdeeds that might happen.
As the leader of our town I had hoped that he had learned enough to present the truth in as positive a light as possible. However, our Ken still seems unable to see a glass as anything but half empty.
His comments on the commercial leasing activities are largely anecdotal and show a lack of understanding of the leasing process. The generalizations that he makes are at best isolated incidents which are not being predicated on Olympic decisions. I work weekly with landlords and tenants and I have not seen any of the "rampant" greed that he implies exist. Many landlords are working with their tenants to assist with the challenges that exist in Whistler in the short term. It is unfortunate that the mayor feels that a lack of current retail success is due to the landlords’ rent rates, rather than the tenants’ other increased costs (like taxes), loss of customers, or an inability to plan or adapt to the new business environment that exists today. Despite what the mayor thinks, I have yet to meet a serious businessperson who would make a significant investment decision based on a six-week special event. Once again the mayor seems to be saying that he sees change as a threat rather than an opportunity.
Having visited Park City twice in order to investigate the "Olympic" experience I will agree that there was some displacement of businesses to accommodate Olympic-specific retailing and there were certainly examples of excessive greed or speculation. However, for the most part the business people I talked to could not say enough positive things about the Olympic period (including those who opted to lease out their retail space to others as they felt that their business was not going to appeal to the visitors who were in Park City during the Olympic period). I know for a fact that they are reaping the benefits four years later. I am sure that there were businesspeople who had a negative Olympic experience, including a number of landlords who did not achieve their expected goals. I just didn’t meet any.
For a mayor who stated that his number one priority was the "economy" of Whistler his language in this article would scare potential consumers and new investors looking to enliven the Whistler experience now and through the Olympics. It is easy to focus on the negative, say no, or assume the worst outcome. Unfortunately nothing ever changes for the better that way. The mayor needs to communicate a positive, forward-looking, vision of possibility and opportunity at Whistler in his public comments. Raising concerns of imagined out-of control financial shenanigans in the national press serves no positive purpose.
Perhaps his honour could think about the maxim "If you can’t say something good don’t say anything at all" if he is committed to Whistler delivering an Olympic experience that will be the best we can make it.
Pat Kelly
Whistler and Pemberton
It starts with respect
After reading the letter to the editor in the Feb. 2 edition of the Pique entitled "Where Will It End", we were very sorry to hear about T. Powers' experience on Whistler Mountain two weeks ago Saturday.
Whistler Blackcomb continually strives to promote a safe environment so everyone can enjoy the mountains and all they have to offer. Providing this environment is two fold: through the guiding principle RESPECT and through reinforcement.
Through the guiding principle RESPECT we believe safety on the mountain must begin with all skiers and riders. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of those around them by skiing in a controlled manner – especially in congested zones.
To reinforce this guiding principle, Whistler Blackcomb employs a Mountain Safety Team of 150 people. In addition, there is also a strong Patrol and RCMP presence on the mountains each day. Whistler Blackcomb managers also work daily to reinforce the importance of our ‘Slow Zones’ and respect on the slopes.
If a skier or rider does not respect Slow Zones all efforts are made by the team to address the skier/rider’s reckless behaviour immediately so education, a warning or a suspension can be issued.
Whistler Blackcomb is aware of the importance of controlling and educating reckless skiers and riders, we take this very seriously. It is important everyone know and follow the Alpine Responsibility Code and are safety conscious at all times.
It is through the collective efforts of all skiers and riders that everyone will be able to enjoy a safe experience at Whistler Blackcomb. In closing, Respect for yourself, for others and for the mountains is key to everyone’s enjoyment on the slopes.
Bob Dufour
Whistler Blackcomb VP Operations
The other things that come with WEF
In his letter last week Mr. Goodall laments that Whistler chose not to host the World Economic Forum. He points out that it would have brought many "international business leaders, heads of state and movie stars with open arms" into town. He's right. But he doesn't mention that it would have brought others as well.
Such as the 5,500 soldiers who patrolled the streets of Davos this year... and brought their own kind of arms. According to Reuters News, Davos was transformed into "a maze of steel fences and razor-wire barriers" a week before the Forum began, and "21 helicopters and several fighter jets" covered the airspace above.
Swiss taxpayers paid $8 million for this security, and it worked – for Davos. It seems restrictions on accessing Davos during the Forum were so severe that protestors chose to hold their demonstrations in 12 other Swiss cities.
Just think, we could have been strolling down the razor-wire paths, arm-in-arm with Angelina Jolie, waving to the helicopters up above as any troublemakers were handled by our neighbours in Squamish and Pemberton.
They'd understand, wouldn't they? After all, we have a lot of fairly new hotel rooms to fill – Four Seasons, Westin, Delta Suites, the Chateau extension, two Pan Pacific's – and it's not our fault that we seem to have increased capacity above demand, is it? Is it?
Van Powel
Whistler
Building on Altitude
I am one of the business partners in the organization that staged GayWhistler Ski Week. I would like to clarify my quote in last week's edition of Pique in which I referenced the old event, Altitude. My quotes read as if we want to distance ourselves from the old event and that the focus of the attendees was mostly on late night parties.
While my quotes, taken out of context, read that way, I did not mean to disparage the past event organizing team or the attendees. In fact, the reason there is such an enthusiasm for a Gay Ski Week stems from the past 13 years of Altitude. In addition, I know large numbers of the attendees came to Whistler for its great skiing and on-mountain activities. I apologize to anyone who has been offended by the quotes.
Sean Kearns
Founder GayWhistler.com
Eva Lake problem shared by all
Thank you Marilyn Kapchinsky for your letter of support to the Eva Lake Housing victims (Pique Feb. 2). I believe your sentiments and compassion strongly reflect the community's desire to solve this problem before finalizing any new employee housing projects.
Your resentment toward those capitalizing on the situation is shared by many. You did what I never had the guts to do – directly name and embarrass some of the individuals and parties that share responsibility for this issue.
There are others who were involved in a misguided attempt to fix the sinking buildings several years ago. Unfortunately the contractor has since passed away. Obviously the situation is quite complex and is in the hands of many lawyers. The longer they wait the more it’s going to cost, and perhaps some of that cost will be transferred to taxpayers.
This problem is indirectly shared by all. Its people like you speaking out that will have the most impact on pressuring the responsible parties to solve this matter. As far as I know you haven't a vested interest in Eva Lake, other than knowing the history of the issue and knowing what's morally right. You’re absolutely correct in suggesting the owners should be more vocal. Unfortunately there has been some degree of apathy within our group. I wish we had more people like you within our complex.
Mike Roger
Birken/Whistler
Take a deep breath
RE: Who Invited You? (Maxed Out — Feb 2, 2006)
Max; calm down, take a deep breath, count to 10 and then climb down from that high horse before you fall and hurt yourself.
You, I, and everyone knows that Ms. DeSousa’s concerns regarding her less than happy ‘Village experience’ are not new and have a ‘rich’ (sic) history of ebbs and flows – highs and lows – frustrations of actions and inaction.
Over the years several (every?) RCMP detachment head, mayors and councilors, village businesses, hoteliers and yes, the family tourist class, have wrung their hands over the sometimes Wild West conditions that exist on the Stroll once the sun goes down.
I don’t think many Whistlerites read Ms. deSousa’s comments and nodded their heads in righteous agreement with her thoughts regarding the "Wrong Kind of People…" Whistler is attracting. Still, neither did she advocate driving the Barbarians from the gates or instituting a retina scan security system at Function Junction as your comments would lead one to believe. You have made a quantum and disingenuous leap (the treatment of "Negroes…Jews…"?) in assigning her comments such dark underpinnings.
Her letter contained, at worst, an ill considered choice of language. In reading your column one would think that she was one step away from opening a charter chapter of the Michigan Militia, not merely expressing her frustration at a long standing, continuing and, depending which way your hotel room window faces, worsening problem.
Brian Buchholz
Whistler
Local supporters
The Pemberton Supermarket is not yet carrying "Pemberton Meadows Natural Beef" but they are stellar supporters of local farmers and ranchers. Mark and his crew promote Pemberton-grown produce and beef enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
As a small community striving for self-sustainability and increased economic diversification, we are fortunate to have such a strong platform to showcase our home-grown product.
Jennie Helmer
Councillor
Village of Pemberton
Get real
Okay, I have had enough of this complaining about Whistler-Blackcomb skiers and snowboarders, lack of safety patrol and Ski patrol not doing their jobs in letters to the editor in three of the past four weeks. This is a situation where the silent majority sits silent and I can't take it anymore.
First, the Ski Patrol on Whistler-Blackcomb are probably the best in the world, along with their avalanche control. I know this from experience.
Second, the safety control and slow zones are well patrolled and policed. Try speeding past there without having your pass taken away for the rest of the season. I think this is harsh to begin with but safety should come first and people should respect others’ safety and enjoyment of the intermediate and beginner groomed runs and be especially careful in merge situations.
But get real, if you can't ski or snowboard competently, then stay on the green runs. The blue runs here offer a great experience but please remember, these same runs are black in most of the world. There is plenty of terrain out there for everyone, but I will tell you, I have seen more people in situations they shouldn't be in, in areas they shouldn't be, because they are not competent skiers. This is far more dangerous and it happens all the time.
Third, the blame and attitude referring to our skiers and snowboarders of being just plain disrespectful is bogus. This is more of a reflection of society today. Get real.
Last, I hope these problems get resolved and I feel for the bad experiences people have had, however, unlike the person who wrote that these things don't happen in the States and that people on the slopes in Europe are far more polite, I actually have skied/snowboarded a lot in both areas and it is no different. To be quite frank, when people find out I am from Whistler and are part of the skiing/ snowboarding community, all they do is rant and rave how good the skiing is and how pleasant and polite our people are. Most people can't wait to get back.
So, I want to tell you complainers that you are probably just that. I want to tell the people who live and work in Whistler to keep up the good work and keep on living the life. Bring on the Games and keep on having fun. Enjoy the outdoors and revel in the fact that Whistler is one of the greatest resorts in the world! I love living in Whistler, I love representing Whistler abroad and I thank you for being part of it. I can't wait to get back, that is always the best part... coming home.
Tyler Mosher
(Writing from Switzerland and Germany)
Saved by friends
On Jan. 25 two friends and I went up Sproatt for a rip on our sleds. We were having a good time until a storm quickly moved in. We immediately became disoriented and lost our tracks down.
That's when Dave Brice (Powder Mountain Snowcats) phoned me and could tell we were in trouble. Dave got together with sledder Geoff Kyle and worked with Doug Washer (Canadian Snowmobile Adventures) and Darrel (Whistler SAR) to organise an awesome crew of guys to help with our rescue.
Thanks for all your help, and thank god we didn't have to eat Jay!
It's good to have you guys around.
Paul Wilson, Paul Martin, Jay Wakeford
Whistler
