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Athletic performances you won’t want to miss Re: Second to none (Pique feature, March 15) It was with great interest and appreciation that I read Pique’s cover story by Clare Ogilvie, with insight provided by B.C.

Athletic performances you won’t want to miss

Re: Second to none (Pique feature, March 15)

It was with great interest and appreciation that I read Pique’s cover story by Clare Ogilvie, with insight provided by B.C.’s Disabled Alpine Ski Team coach, Phil Chew. Those of us who ski and/or snowboard on either or our two local mountains know only too well what fine alpine adaptive and race programs exist here in Whistler, thanks to the many volunteers and the experienced coaching provided racers by our three-time Paralympian, “Chewy”.

Late Thursday afternoon, March 15, I was returning home to Whistler after having spent the past seven days announcing the IPC World Cup Nordic and biathlon races. While shopping the “Second to none” cover on the Pique caught my eye. I have to second the headline because I had just experienced watching “some of the most incredible athletes in the world” compete in Nordic and biathlon events hosted by Mount Washington’s Nordic Centre and the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club, Courtenay Biathlon Association, and the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports, with the help of 300 volunteers from the Comox Valley and from ski clubs from many parts of B.C.

This IPC World Cup at Mount Washington was a chance for more than a dozen of the strongest Nordic and biathlon countries to send their best Paralympic athletes, coaches and wax technicians to ski and shoot in conditions similar to what they might expect in the Callaghan Valley in March 2010. Yes, it rained, snowed heavily — and the final three days were bluebirds with very fast snow.

One of the most important aspects of this World Cup was that it was held in Canada, staged by British Columbians — and the Canadian team took full advantage of the home course and local knowledge to earn a dozen podium spots. In that regard it was similar to what is taking place on the Dave Murray Downhill at the moment in the Canadian Alpine Championships on Whistler Mountain.

The Callaghan Valley will provide, based on my experience at Mount Washington, intense, competitive, highly entertaining and exciting world class IPC competition. For example, the picture on page 53 of the March 15 Pique: The McKeever bothers, Robbin guiding his visually impaired brother Brian. Examine that picture closely. Brian is on Robbin’s ski tails, tip-to-tail skate ski racing in perfect unison. Robbin told me that the flats and climbing sections on a cross-country course are not too bad for the guide and for his visually impaired skier, however, the steeper downhills and corners require an entirely elevated level of trust between guide and skier. The guide is a coach, tactician, confidant and cheerleader during a race and he/she must be able to ski the course and stay in front of the skier. The guides are therefore awarded medals if their skiers reach the podium — they ski as a team. To achieve the level of excellence the McKeevers have reached — IPC World Cup champions — requires thousands of training hours on snow and a level of absolute trust under flat-out race conditions.

Brian is classed by the IPC as a B-3 athlete. Robbin likens his brother’s eyesight to any skier experiencing “white-out” conditions — only being able to see less than a metre in front of the tips of his own skis. But remember, Brian is a racer on skinny skis traveling downhill in excess of 50 km/h, with corners coming up.

This season Brian has concentrated on the FIS World Cup circuit. His best performance to date is a 24 th in a field of over 70 starters, all able-bodied and sighted. It is Brian’s goal to compete in the Callaghan in 2010 in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics. Not bad for an athlete who has to commit much of a 30 km course to memory.

The IPC has a classification system that combines all standing locomotor “disabled” (a term used by the IPC) classes into one standing category. All sitting locomotor disabled classes are combined into one sitting category, and all visually impaired classes are combined into one category, with the appropriate utilization of the percentage system for Nordic skiing. This system provides for a breathtaking competition by elite athletes. All FIS and IPC cross-country and biathlon will start in a stadium in the Callaghan, much of the racing will be in full sight for all, and all the races will finish in the stadium. Just like the Summer Olympics.

Be sure to secure your tickets for the Callaghan early.

Tom Thomson

Whistler

 

Murder in Whistler?

That almost seems surreal.

I think it was just a matter of time.

Make no mistake. Whistler’s bar scene has been out of character and out of hand for a long time. This incident must be looked at as the pinnacle for the night scene to change. Any mayor and council worth their salt must now take action to do just that.

If it were up to me, the bars would close at 12:30 — period — end of story.

What is this place anyway?

Did we build Whistler to be a ski town or a skid town?

Scott Fennell

Whistler

 

TILMA eroding our local government

While you were sleeping, the government sold your democracy.

In April 2006, with no public consultation and no legislative debate, Gordon Campbell and Ralph Klein signed the “free trade” deal known as the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA). No B.C. municipalities were consulted prior to the signing of this agreement, yet TILMA comes into effect on April 1, 2007 (a.k.a. April Fool’s Day). Yet again, transparency impaired.

This new agreement allows almost any government regulation or standard to be challenged on the grounds that it is more restrictive to trade than necessary. Challenges will be decided upon by an unelected dispute panel, with the authority to impose fines of up to $5 million for each violation. The new panel will have the power to make legally binding decisions, forcing local governments to change their policies, no matter what the citizens of that community may want.

The bulk of B.C. municipalities have not yet had the chance to study the full impacts of TILMA. Those that have done their due diligence, are now expressing their concerns. Under TILMA, provincial and municipal policies designed to protect the environment, zoning and public health care can all be challenged. Local interest will be forced to take a back seat to business interests.

Local zoning bylaws such as green space requirements, building height restrictions or ALR designation are potential TILMA violations. TILMA appears to be a solution in search of a problem, placing corporate interests above the public’s interest.

Shouldn’t local people be involved in the conversation on how their community grows and evolves? Why should investors and corporations be given more support and legislative backing than citizens that wish to protect their quality of life? TILMA needs to be fully debated in the legislature.

Our local governments must continue to govern the communities that they represent. This is the only way we can maintain healthy communities and keep democracy alive.

Pina Belperio

Whistler, B.C.

 

A step in the right direction

I write to lend support for the B.C-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement which comes into effect at the beginning of April this year.

If you ask small business owners (and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has done just that) they have the most to gain by eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. Complying with multiple sets of regulations, licensing requirements, labour mobility barriers and local procurement requirements not only adds costs for larger firms, but prevents smaller ones from expanding beyond our provincial borders.

TILMA is a step in the right direction. The two governments have pledged to discuss their overlapping and duplicate regulations, keep the ones that make sense and eliminate the ones that are unnecessary. At the same time, TILMA preserves governments’ responsibilities to their citizens in areas like taxation, social policy and environment. The result will be less red tape, fewer duplicate costs for workers and businesses, and a stronger economic foundation.

TILMA’s labour mobility provisions will make it much easier for employers to attract skilled labour, as the provinces have agreed to reconcile or mutually recognize accreditation standards for all workers. B.C. and Alberta should be congratulated for showing leadership by negotiating TILMA.

John R. Winter

President & CEO

British Columbia Chamber of Commerce

 

Another view on what is sacred

Re: Heidi Stoeklin’s letter (What is sacred?, Pique letters to the editor March 15)

I agree with some parts of Heidi’s letter regarding peace on earth, poverty and human rights, but I don’t agree with her suggesting civil disobedience being the only source of action.

As a First Nations woman, I am offended by Heidi calling us “our First Nations”. We don’t belong to anyone — we are not a commodity.

Also, Heidi has no right to throw a party or parade on our traditional territory. We are friendly but don’t take advantage of our hospitality.

Adelaide Ambers

Mount Currie

 

A season full of thanks

I would like to sincerely thank all those who helped make this season's Skills Development Program (formerly known as the Jackrabbits) such a  tremendous success. I'd particularly like to mention those who volunteer so much of their own time to coach these keen kids. To Nicola McKay, Cheryl Morningstar and Robbie Metza, Lorraine Vollmer, Jeanette Callahan, Rene Long, Irene Wood, Birgit Widmaeir, Jim Bowers, and Gina and Mike Dean... You're the best gang to learn from...Thanks.

This year we saw many kids participating in Loppets, Coast Cups, Shuffles, as well as the ever-popular Twoonie Races. Thanks to their parents who supported their enthusiasm for this wonderful sport... they need you, and we need you.

For all of you who provided such delicious snacks throughout the season, especially the feast from Kendra and the gang at Pasta Lupino, and to Val Burke, the ever faithful hot-chocolate lady, we all say thanks.

And finally, to the kids who make it all worthwhile... Thanks.

Margot Murdoch

Whistler Nordics SDP Coordinator

 

Let’s make something of Pemberton

RE: Pemberton’s unfulfilled potential

I read a few weeks ago a letter written by Stephanie D'Artois commenting on how Pemberton is not well equipped in terms of recreational facilities. I also read answers to her letters by two of Pemberton's residents, basically saying that we should be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don't have.

Well, it is true that we should be thankful for what we have here in Pemberton and for the hard work of the many volunteers organizing all kinds of activities for the community. I myself moved to Pemberton a little more than one year ago because I thought it had a lot to offer; many beautiful mountain bike trails, two Nordic ski tracks, excellent little stores, coffee shops and restaurants, organic farms, etc. It is as beautiful as Whistler but without the price of a resort town.

Since I have been here, though, I have seen many businesses closing down, I have met people moving to different B.C. communities because they were tired of driving their children or themselves back and forth to Whistler to the pool, ice rink, etc. because their own town doesn't have those. Many teenagers have nowhere to hangout, depending on their parents to drive them to places. I have met young, single adults moving to Pemberton after buying a place, only to move back to Whistler and trying to rent their Pemberton place, now calling it an "investment" for the future....

Well, I think that if we want Pemberton to have a bright future, i.e. prosper, we can't afford to be complacent with what we have, and "enjoy what we have" or "see the glass half full instead of half empty”. Instead we should be looking into improving our community and making it appealing for people to move to and stay in. Although the barn dances, Winter festival, the culinary tour are all great initiatives and fun community activities, and despite the fact that we have great stores, I think we need more than this to attract new people to move and stay here. Teenagers and young adults, among all, need places to hangout and regular activities to get involved in.

It can be challenging for example, for a person without a car to access the Nordic ski tracks and to go back and forth to Whistler. Buses won't go down the Meadows, there are not many buses in the afternoon and they are not going late at night (how many times did I have to sleep at someone's place because I could not go back home after 9:30 p.m.?).

Whistler has been having problems with finding accommodation for staff, yet, Pemberton could be a great place for staff to live, but the hours of the transit system are quite poor. And asking for a pool, arena and a decent gym is not asking too much, most B.C. communities have these!

Many people I know, when asked why they are not moving to Pemberton despite the fact that they can't find affordable housing in Whistler say that they find Pemberton quite boring and sleepy. It’s actually true for many Pemberton residents; they work, play and socialize in Whistler, then come back to Pemberton to sleep. Don't we people in Pemberton want to be more then a bedroom community for Whistler? Don't we want to attract more tourists and young people to the area to invest in our businesses?

Some complain that if we do more development we will have to pay more taxes, but we have to remember that it’s a small price to pay compared to seeing our businesses closing because they don't have enough customers, or if we calculate the price in gas and time we invest in going back and forth to Whistler! As a home owner myself, I would not mind paying more taxes to get more services and attract and keep more people to the area. We may pay a little more taxes , but we save on gas, and we invest in our own community.

So yes, let’s be thankful for what we have, but let’s also work towards improving our community so it will grow and stay economically healthy.

Pascale Rousseau

Pemberton,