Letters to the Editor

An open letter to the Village Of Pemberton’s Council and Staff and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Director Gimse and Staff

We at the Pemberton and District Chamber of Commerce would like to express our discomfort with regard to the approval process of the recent land and business development plans that have come forth for approvals.

There appears to be a lack of both consistency and transparency with the review and approval process that interested proponents of new land and/or business developments in Pemberton and its adjacent SLRD areas have to go through. A consistent and transparent process would make it clear to new business developers how to meet with government’s approval without bearing unnecessary expense either to them or to the taxpayers. Projects with obvious or substantive reasons for rejection should be terminated at earlier stages in the approval process to avoid unnecessary expense to both businesspeople and taxpayers. On the other hand, if projects are allowed to proceed through the stages of the approval process, then they ought not to be rejected for spurious and nontransparent reasons at the 11th hour. This is a costly process for both taxpayers and business proponents, both directly and indirectly.

The chamber, as a representative of the local business community, would like to ask both council and SLRD why proponents of new businesses do not have a clearer picture of what is and isn’t acceptable. It makes our job as advocators of business in our communities much harder. How can we continue to convince interested groups to give the area a chance, when what it takes to get a green light here is so unclear?

Let’s look at the example of the Silverthorne Development. First, this development is proposed on land with a history of past residential zoning; it has long been slated for development. ALR and wetlands issues were addressed long ago in this parcel’s history. And all adjacent lands are similarly slated for similar developments. Second, this is one of the most reasonable and responsible land development proposals that have been brought forth in recent memory. So why – particularly after all the past approvals for this land – can three councilors respectfully wait till a second or third reading to reject such a proposal?

We understand that a few community members who own property adjacent to the Silverthorne parcel object to the development, despite the fact that it was slated for development long before they purchased their properties. We do not see how the opinion of so few community members can influence council to the point that they reject a project that until recently had so much support.

As for the economics of the proposal itself, we do not feel that council’s position is to consider the viability of profit. That is the developer’s business. As for the value of other properties: The chamber strongly believes that if the community doesn’t stimulate some growth soon, then the present decline in value will only continue.

In sum, it is our view that the decision on Silverthorne and other recent viable business proposals send a detrimental message that "Pemberton and area is not open for business!"

We at the chamber are desperately trying to foster a responsible economic growth plan that will encourage the exact types of proposals that are being stonewalled by the local approval process. The Silverthorne proposal is just one of many.

We at the chamber feel the need to encourage all different types of reasonable business opportunities, as a group effort, in an environment of total transparency, as was promised by everyone at the campaign of the last election. We require the support of council and the SLRD if we are all to succeed!

Paul Selina, President

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Pemberton and Area Chamber of Commerce

Think about water

Water, in its purity and abundance, is one of the greatest gifts we have in Whistler. Water is a basic essential ingredient in all our lives.

I don't mind if people make money on mountain bikes or a restaurant meal, but I do not believe large corporations should make money controlling water.

Whistler’s mayor and council have voted to privatize our wastewater system. If one of the three corporations (one French, one American and the other Canadian) who have bid (taxpayers’ dollars used in their bids) for the contract to design, build and run our wastewater system win the contract, ultimately, they are accountable only to their stockholders. If we as a municipality continue to run the system, it is we, the public who are in control.

This is not a small issue. It will set a precedent for other municipalities in British Columbia and Canada, and it could very well set a precedent for the next step, privatizing the delivery of our drinking water.

The only thing we as a community can do now to prevent one of the above corporations from winning this 12-year contract, is to get a form from the municipal hall (available downloaded from www.whistler.ca), and put your address and signature down to give assent to the Alternate Approval Process (if you are eligible to vote in Whistler). If enough electors take, or mail in this form by June 12, the question of whether or not to privatize the wastewater system will be taken to a vote.

Then we as a community will win. We win the right to have a say. Have a drink of water, take a walk by your favourite stream, and consider water.

Shannon Smith

Whistler

A neighbourhood discovered

Last weekend, with the arrival of the warm sunny whether, we decided to enjoy our first summer breakfast on our patio. My 7-year-old son offered to set the table. What my husband and I didn't realize is that this meant climbing on the glass table and lifting the umbrella out of the stand. We both heard the crash. My husband ran out to my son. What he found overwhelmed him and he started shouting and calling for me. I froze, then ran out front of the house and started shouting for help.

A neighbour from a few doors away named Dan (whom I had never met before) ran to the back to help my husband. He was an experienced responder and he gave us clear and valuable direction. He told us to raise the leg, apply pressure with a cloth, put a blanket on Mitchell. Now I can reflect that we knew all of this, but we were so scared and so frantic that we were not thinking clearly. Dan stayed with us until the ambulance arrived.

Another neighbour called 911, and several others came to offer their help, reassurance and support. While we were at the hospital, two of our neighbours went to the back of our house and cleaned up the huge mess.

Mitchell ended up with 16 stitches in his little leg, but we were lucky, it could have been much worse. Although he will likely have a nasty scar, he will be able to do all the things he loves to do. In that split second when I heard the crash, my heart skipped a beat and I wondered if life would ever be the same for Mitchell. Luckily it will. I am not sure for my husband and I though.

We moved into our neighbourhood almost a year ago. We are busy people who work long hours, often travel on weekends and spend lots of time running around to ballet lessons and hockey practices. Just last week I said to my husband, that although I like our house and our neighbourhood, it didn't feel like home. When I was little I lived in a neighbourhood and it just had this feeling of security, comfort and warmth. I have to say, I now have that feeling about my neighbourhood. I realize now that it was always there.

I will never quite be able to describe what my neighbours did for us that day… what Dan did for us that day. I often hear how much life has changed since we were little. Has it really changed that much or have we?

Kimberley Hughes

Squamish

The essence of The Boot

My letter is in regards to an unhappy Whistler resident who was "offended" by an extremely well done piece of art. The April 27 cover masterfully created by local tattoo artist Justin Ormiston managed to be "unsettling" to this person. Any person who went to The Boot regularly or jumped on board at the last chance, saw that Justin's piece truly captured the essence of what The Boot was. It was gritty, it was sleazy but it was real. In a town so over commercialized and straight up fake there was still The Boot. It was the collision of live bands, strippers and cheap beer. What more could one ask for? The Boot was a true haven for, well, anyone: punks, hippies, skiers, snowboarders, it didn't matter, all you had to be was yourself.

So much for the freedon of expression. I guess we should just have snowflakes, lollipops and rainbows on every cover. I realize this may not have been a favoured establishment for this person but it doesn't give them the right to claim "PG rated" covers are more suitable. Perhaps for the sake of the kids, but we have all been shredded of our innocence too early. The bottom line is, it is just a painting, erotic or not.

I do have to ask though, have you turned on a television lately? Just flipping through the channels can be deemed "offensive." The real world cannot be sugar coated forever, even in a town like Whistler.

Art is an expression and it's too bad this person missed the meaning and emotion captured in that Pique cover. Kudos to Pique for featuring all local artists and to Justin for supplying us with his talent. Never have I heard so many times "have you seen the new Pique" or "this week’s cover is awesome," even "I'm keeping this one." I kept two April 27 issues because all too often they end up in recycling, but this one is worth holding on to.

Also there was an error on the subtitle of that same week’s cover. It stated "On Saturday Whistler will bid adieu to ONE of its last counterculture icons." Correction, The Boot WAS the LAST. They paved paradise and put up condos.

RIP Boot Pub

Vanessa Conley

Whistler

Anatomy lessons

Regarding the complaint about the Pique cover for The Boot Pub issue.

For one, it’s a silhouette. For two, the human body is nothing to hide. For three, the cover art perfectly represented everything that The Boot Pub meant to me and many others.

At least the cover art expressed a view from the "other half" of the Whistler community. People are getting a wee bit sick of seeing the same mountain scene with little cartoon kids skiing down a mountain (or maybe a bear eating a salmon, or what about some more trees... ahhh trees).

Open your eyes. There is more where that came from.

Nipple, Nipple, Nipples....

Justin Ormiston

Whistler

A seed has been planted

A building requires a strong foundation in order to support the structure; just as an event or festival also requires a strong foundation from which to grow. The first annual "Whistler Wellness Week" is now complete. With over 70 workshops, seminars, and events throughout the week many locals and visitors alike enjoyed this 10-day festival. A very strong foundation has been created.

From this foundation, we intend to build an annual wellness festival that grows and flourishes in this resort. An event that brings new people to Whistler, to stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and experience the wide variety of complementary wellness products.