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Laptop theft, dangers of being a landlord, kudos to a good one, housing shortage, congratulations to the Janyks, outrageous Conference Centre

Soul-crushing theft First of all, we would like to thank everyone who participated in and attended Soul Funktion Dance Studio’s Production of Time After Time last weekend.

Soul-crushing theft

First of all, we would like to thank everyone who participated in and attended Soul Funktion Dance Studio’s Production of Time After Time last weekend. The event was a great success and all of the Soul Funktion dancers were proud to have been a part of it.

That being said, the members of Soul Funktion were shocked and saddened to hear that a laptop computer belonging to our studio owner, Codi Dalen, was stolen on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 28. The laptop was taken from her car, a silver 2004 Toyota Matrix, from the parking underneath The Lagoons.

This is already a tough time for Codi, and losing her laptop makes it ten times worse. The laptop would be of little value to whoever took it, but it contains many important documents for the dance studio and, more importantly, many of Codi’s treasured photos and memories of her mom.

Our hearts go out to Codi during this difficult time, and we ask that if anyone has any information regarding Codi’s laptop to please contact her at 604-966-4645 or drop the laptop off at the studio in Function — no questions asked.

Codi has a lot going on, let’s not make it more difficult for her!

The Competitive Dance Team

of Soul Funktion Dance Studio

 

 

Landlords, tenants need better system

This letter was addressed to Councilor Ralph Forsyth. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

Re: Evening the playing field with the 'scum of the Earth.'

I'm pleased that there has been so much publicity on tenancy rights, but there definitely needs to be better systems to ensure both landlord and tenant have no choice but be fair to each other.

In one year I was privileged to have experienced more than one scum landlord. They were not the property owners, but young men who'd won the lease and rented the rooms at exorbitant rates. Both called themselves property managers, stating this as their line of business. For one, it was his only “job” and I'll bet he's not paying taxes.

I filed for a Residential Tenancy Office (RTO) arbitration hearing after my sub-landlord declared that “filing for arbitration doesn't work,” he wasn't my landlord but maybe the “God of the house” as he “managed the property”.   The many obvious flaws in these statements include one where I reported a leak in the ceiling and suggested contacting the owner, where he replied that there's nothing he can do about it and he won't. Property Manager? God of the house?

I won the hearing and he indeed owed me my full security deposit and a fine for breaking the rules. This was last December, and having still not seen my deposit I filed with Small Claims, where he did not attend all three hearings resulting in a warrant issued for his arrest. I still have yet to see my money.

I am not the only one. I know that every tenant at a second property left town (due to the foreign nature of workers here) without seeing their security deposits ever again. Airplanes and work visas do not wait for tenant's security deposits and their arbitration hearings and he knows this.

And this man is free to re-offend on a new set of unwitting victims. The trend doesn't stop with this man and so I commend you on instigating changes in the residential tenancy system.

One fair system is the New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal, which acts as a third-party mediator for rental situations. At the beginning of a tenancy the security deposit is sent to the tribunal to hold. The ball is not in the landlord's court as to whether the tenant will ever see or file for a hearing for their deposit back. At the end of the tenancy, if there are no disputes or breaches of the tenancy by either party, the deposit is returned to the tenant from the tribunal and clearly the landlord can not invest the deposit amount personally at any time.

And surely such a system is less taxing on the community and the RTO to arbitrate.

Vania Lawgun

Whistler

 

 

One of the great ones

On Dec. 1st I moved. And I just have to say, in regards to the recent discussions on landlords, the landlord that I just had was so great that I had to write in about him. Jamie Pike is a great landlord. He's already got a new tenant who is lucky to have him as a landlord.

Thanks again Jamie.

Jason Belitzky

Whistler

 

Unanswered questions

Regarding the housing shortage in Whistler for seasonal workers: Many have been looking since early October and still unable to find housing. If these people were to go to Pemberton to live how would they get back and forth to their jobs? Many of these workers do not have cars and have two or more jobs. Many of them have nighttime jobs at local establishments. The bus does not run late at night, so how do these people get from A to B? A car pool is great if they know the local residents and don't have conflicting schedules. Hitch hike? Not the best solution in this day and age.

What are you going to do for housing when the Olympics take place? With the influx of thousands and thousands of extra people besides the seasonal workers where are you going to put these people?

Many businesses sent representatives out to eastern Canada on recruitment drives for staff with the promise of housing etc. Many of these people got housing but how many are still out there looking? Many more people than there are reasonably-priced beds.

Who should take the responsibility for these people? Businesses are doing the best they can to find housing but the situation for many is critical. Hostels are full, staff housing units are full. Where will all these people go? If they all leave and go back to where they came from, what will happen to the businesses of Whistler?

Debbie Krecker

Barrie, Ont.

 

 

Janyks’ results an inspiration

Congratulations to Whistler’s own Michael and Britt Janyk on their recent World Cup race results!

What an inspiration for our entire community, and yet another reason to celebrate such a fantastic start to the winter season.

We wish all of Whistler’s athletes a fantastic season. Thanks for being great ambassadors for our community!

Barrett Fisher

On behalf of the Tourism Whistler

Board of Directors, and Staff

 

 

See you in Vancouver

Apparently Tourism Whistler has decided to eliminate concerts at the Telus Conference Centre. Demanding a $25,000 damage deposit on all concerts is a sure way to accomplish that goal. Conference centre staff are selling the alcohol, so who's responsible for patrons who are over served? None of the major venues in Vancouver charge any kind of deposit, and that includes The Centre For Performing Arts, one of the nicest venues in Canada.

Diane Mombourquette says she's protecting the assets of the venue, but then goes on to say, "we hesitate to book concerts," and "that experience can be found elsewhere, such as Vancouver." Clearly Tourism Whistler has dropped the ball by telling locals and tourists alike, if they want quality live music on a larger scale, they won't find it in Whistler. I live in the Okanagan and Tourism Whistler will be happy to know that Vancouver will experience my tourist dollars.

Thomas Malpass

Oliver, B.C.

 

Feeling the blues

Re: Xavier Rudd concert cancelled

I have been going to see Xavier Rudd since he first started coming up here to perform and have always found his concerts enjoyable and the crowd never getting out of hand. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Australia a few years ago and his fondness of Whistler was very obvious to me even then. So it wasn’t surprising when I heard that he was coming back to perform and I had even heard that he had offered to do so at a discounted rate because of this ongoing love affair with our community. I feel we should have tried harder to keep his engagement.

I’m sorry to hear that nothing could be done to offer a solution and I am surprised to read that the Telus Conference Centre, although having one of the largest, (if not the largest) capacities for spectators, does not want to encourage concerts. Obviously larger venues attract more popular/mainstream artists. As a lot of us know, House of Blues is a huge entertainment connection and we should have been more respectful of that relationship.

I suggest that the Tourism Whistler board meet to review their damage/insurance policy and perhaps attempt to make amends to House of Blues as soon as possible.

Sorry Xavier. See you in the spring?

Karen Garrett

Whistler

 

 

 

Should never have come to this…

Re: Asbestos Found in Shoestring Lodge (Pique Nov. 30)

I was under the impression that Cressey Developments was in possession of the necessary permits to demolish the building back in April or possibly even before that. So for Cressey to say “obtaining building permits has taken longer than expected” doesn’t justify the building sitting idle and being degraded to its present state, which disgusts me.

Have the permits in place before ceasing operations or board it up properly and attach the proper signage.

I also wonder what happened to the salvage company that was supposedly coming to recycle and reuse such things as the not so old metal roof, and the beautiful wood floor and cherry wood bar in Gaitor’s. I hope they were taken out before the building was “ransacked”, but I have my doubts. I also doubt that there will be much salvaging if the building is to be demolished by Dec. 10th.

It surprises me that a company as big and well known as Cressey Developments would let a development progress (digress) this way.  Unprofessional? Unconcerned? Maybe a bit of both!

Mike Walsh  Past employee of Shoestring Lodge, Boot Pub and past manager of Gaitor’s Bar and Grill  Whistler

 

Everyone in the house for curling challenge

We’d like to thank everyone involved in making the NBC Korbel Elite Curling Challenge a success. The event, featuring Olympic curling athletes plus Olympic legends Dan Jansen and Picabo Street, was held in Whistler Nov. 18 and aired nationally in the United States as a two-hour special on NBC Nov. 26.

For many viewers in the U.S., the great Whistler footage and commentary in the show was their introduction to Whistler as Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The awareness that we can build through media opportunities like this will contribute to one of the most significant 2010 legacies — building tourism.

Thanks to everyone that contributed to a very successful project!

• The community for coming out as the studio audience and supporting the event while curling took over the ice rink;

• The staff at Meadow Park, Whistler Blackcomb and Tourism Whistler for contributing in many ways;

• Fairmont Chateau Whistler as the official host to the many guests;

• Resort Quest for accommodation support;

• USA Curling and NBC for partnering in this opportunity;

• Korbel Champagne Cellars for sponsoring this initiative;

• Carr-Hughes Productions for their outstanding production of this show;

• Greg Albrecht, Events Whistler General Manager;

• everyone that helped out!

We look forward to many other creative and exciting projects in the future.

Events Whistler Board of Directors:

John Rae, RMOW

Arlene Schieven, Tourism Whistler

Rob McSkimming, Whistler Blackcomb