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Buy out the mountains, the land claims, but not the grizzlies. Kudos for Andree, the Jettisons and from Whole Lotta Led

This is a strategic alliance Peter Alder nailed it dead on when he suggested that the muni should acquire 30 per cent of the mountains (Michel Beaudry's Alta States article in last week’s pique).

This is a strategic alliance

Peter Alder nailed it dead on when he suggested that the muni should acquire 30 per cent of the mountains (Michel Beaudry's Alta States article in last week’s pique). That is exactly the kind of "strategic alliances" and ventures that the RMOW should get involved in. Never mind, findwhistler.com, T-shirts, pens and coffee mugs. Peter is a visionary with the right ideas that will propel this town into a more certain future. He is an old dog teaching us new dogs new tricks.

Kudos to Peter Alder for pointing the obvious right track for Whistler to follow.

Jorge Alvarez

Toad Hall Studios

Treaty process an Olympic cost

The B.C. Auditor General’s report may have been frank, but was it complete (Governments get frank assessments, Opening Remarks Oct. 19)? Although the Auditor General included the cost of some long-term and overdue projects (i.e. Sea to Sky Highway upgrade) as Olympic costs, he ignored the fast-escalating cost of native land claim settlements. Yet, I submit, there is an Olympic connection.

The B.C. treaty process has been dragging on for 13 years, cost nearly $700 million and produced not a single signed treaty. In addition to the actual settlement costs, the province is also losing investment due to uncertainty of land ownership and extra red tape. Third party compensation and litigation to top up treaties could cost further billions.

Given the province’s exposure, the treaty process is surely ripe for the Auditor General’s scrutiny. The two agreements-in-principle ready for ratification should sound the alarm (Tsawwassen and Lheidli T’enneh in Prince George). If ratified, they would represent an unsustainable wealth transfer — far in excess of what would reasonably be needed to bring reserve living standards up to mainstream levels (which everybody would support). Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer noted that the settlement cost per band member for the Lheidlli T’enneh AIP (about $200,000 per) runs at twice the cost of the 1999 Nisga’a treaty (about $100,000 per). As I recall, even the politically correct media have found the Nisga’a treaty (negotiated outside the B.C. treaty process) extravagant, undemocratic, probably unconstitutional and certainly a bad precedent. Both the NDP government and the B.C. Liberal opposition of the day rejected it as a “template”.

So, why this unjustifiable government largess? It seems Premier Campbell experienced a Paulian conversion on the road to Damascus…er…the 2010 Winter Olympics. His “new relationship” with B.C. First Nations seems designed to buy Olympic peace — apparently at any cost. If that’s indeed the case then soaring treaty costs — not soaring construction costs — will be the big ticket item for 2010. It would make the Montreal Olympics look like a bargain. The electorate wouldn’t be amused.

Joe Bako

Vancouver

Bears and skiers can co-exist

Re: Grizzlies in the Callaghan Valley

I find it hard to believe after all the time and money spent doing environmental studies, it would take until now to discover there are four resident grizzlies in the upper Callaghan.

Having discovered there are grizzlies in the area, I don't believe that Nordic skiers would impact their existence. Snowmobilers cover a lot more territory, not to mention the noise and pollution the machines make, and would have a much greater effect on disrupting their habitat.

Bears hibernate in winter and so the only disruption to the grizzlies will be when the trails are built. If we were to limit access to these trails for just winter activities, this would diminish any impact. With the abundance of bike trails in Sea to Sky country, there is no reason to open these ones up.

It's nice to have people concerned about the environment and I appreciate that. But Nordic skiing in the winter, when bears hibernate, I don't feel is cause for concern.

Bobbi Sandkuhl

Pinecrest Estates

All that and more

So Andrée Janyk is all that (It’s all about the kids, Pique Alta States Oct. 19)? I don’t think so… she is so much more. She fuelled my now 15-year-old daughter’s passion for soccer. She taught my youngest daughter how to “ski Whistler”. Her enthusiasm and fire for kids in Whistler is contagious. She “voluntold” me for a variety of jobs. It’s virtually impossible to say no to this woman! She convinced my husband on his precious days off to travel to the Sunshine Coast to assist with the Whistler Youth Soccer Club's senior girl’s team. Energy bomb, well yes, we’re talking the big bomb, right?

As I was laying on a bed in the medical clinic last season, wallowing in misery, Andrée strode into the clinic. She brings this unmistakable energy with her whenever she enters the room. It’s like a door opens and a fresh breeze comes in. Her curly brown hair was peeking out from her toque and goggles. She was checking up on a former student who had reportedly been injured on the slopes.

I pulled the sheet over my head but it was too late, I heard a squawk of laughter and she came over to my bed chuckling at my pasty white complexion. “Gawd, you look awful!” she helpfully told me with a big grin.

Shut up Andrée, I tried to say, but it came out as a pathetic mumble.

“Oh come on,” she coached me, “you’d better get up and walk this off.”

This line I had heard her use so effectively on the girls soccer team, she was using it on me! I was outraged and managed a feeble groan. She slapped me on the arm, shook her head sadly and bounded off to cheer on the next patient.

As I lay there, still groaning, I had to admit she was right. I hadn’t broken hardly anything and I could still walk and breathe. Really, I was fine and I immediately felt better, damn her.

Andrée has that effect on children and adults alike. She makes you want to be the best you can be, at whatever is at hand. I love that Whistler is made up of people like her, Bernard Messeguer, Bob Calladine, Cathy Jewett and Linda McGaw. These people are powerhouses of energy and creativity. Thank you to all of them for all that they do without expectation of thanks or recognition.

Ailsa Wright

Whistler

Asking for more

Hurray for The Jettisons! Thanks for being passionate about what you do and what you have to say. That was the best showing of art I've ever seen! Made me think, made me laugh, made me ask myself "is that really poo?"

Now I'm asking, when and where is the next show?

Jenn Hauta

Whistler

The Jettisons-First Cut

Our first art show was a huge success thanks to the support from Randy at Podium Auto Detail and Mike at Mikes Garage. As well, a big thank you to everyone that joined us in celebrating the beginning of The Jettisons art movement.

The positive feedback that we received will be put to good use as we plan our second show. We hope to introduce live music, a fresh lineup of artwork, and the potential for guest artists to collaborate with us.

For further inquires, check out: www.thejettisons.com

Hope to see you at our next show.

Thank you for your support.

Justin Ormiston for

The Jettisons

Grateful for the support

I'd just like to thank everyone who made the "A Whole Lotta Led" bus trip to our show at the Media Club in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 27th such a raging success.

Dave Evans from Whistler Limos, we couldn't have done it without ya! Mike the bus driver was great. The wicked staff members from Merlin's, Dusty's and Tapley's, and all our amazing fans from Whistler & Brackendale... you sure showed those Vancouver people how to shake it up and party “Whistler style.” The venue was totally sold out, and they can't wait to have us back.

Thanks for supporting your local bands!

Greg, Tommy, Phil & Mike of A Whole Lotta Led

Whistler