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When is a trail actually a road, childcare money trail, busted spoke recovery, racers thanks, the poop on chicken farm rezoning, and defending

VANOC’s plan for recreation trails In response to recent discussion regarding legacy trails at the Whistler Nordic Competition Venue, I am writing to provide further clarification on our proposed recreation trails plan.

VANOC’s plan for recreation trails

In response to recent discussion regarding legacy trails at the Whistler Nordic Competition Venue, I am writing to provide further clarification on our proposed recreation trails plan.

The Whistler Nordic Competition Venue (WNCV) legacy recreation trails will be designed and built as determined under the Environmental Assessment (EA) review process, a rigorous public process that requires in-depth assessment by government agencies, Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, stakeholders and the public.

VANOC held a public open house in Whistler recently to present plans on the proposed 20-25 km legacy recreation trail network for the WNCV. The assessment and feedback received has already made the project better for the environment and the public.

VANOC continues to strive for the most sustainable development plan for the WNCV and as such is operating with a much smaller footprint than originally contemplated in 2003. As a result the recreation trails will be constructed solely in the Madeley Valley area. Trails will not disrupt wildlife in the Upper Callaghan or Callaghan Park.

There have been questions about the need to build the trails now, rather than after 2010. Building the trails in 2007 allows us to use current crews now on site and the experience required to build these trails. This will reduce impacts by avoiding the need to re-mobilize the site and re-train contractors about our environmental management plans (EMPs). Costs today will be less than costs after 2010, providing the opportunity for a greater legacy post-Games, but most importantly undertaking this project now will remove the uncertainty around these trails being available to the community after the Games.

Avoiding grizzly bear and bear impacts is important to everyone and we are taking great care to address this important issue.

The Sea-to-Sky LRMP maps identify the majority of the lower Callaghan Valley (the WNCV and recreation trail site) as a medium grizzly bear management priority area. The background document on Callaghan Lake Provincial Park (TFEC 1998c) notes grizzly bear possibly occurring as a transient species (TFEC 1998c).

VANOC has contributed to this existing research with a new study showing that the Callaghan Valley bear habitat effectiveness is much reduced given the past history of mining, forestry and motorized recreation access and that the incremental impact to bear habitat and increased risk of bear mortality is limited as a result of the legacy trail plan. Recent assessments undertaken on behalf of VANOC showed no apparent evidence of grizzly bears in the Madeley trail development area.

Notwithstanding that the probability of grizzly bears residing and denning around the WNCV is low, it is still something that needs careful attention and VANOC will continue to work with its partners to incorporate Bear management mitigation measures into the design and operations of the venue and trails.

Motorized vehicles in the future: It is also worth noting that the Madeley area is already well trailed and roaded. The WNCV recreation trails will use existing trails and forest service roads limiting new trail construction and effects on forest cover and any potential archaeological resources. The government of British Columbia in conjunction with the Sea to Sky Back Country forum is planning to discontinue current access for public snowmobiling in this area, which will enhance the sustainability of this area.

George McKay

Director, Environmental Approvals, VANOC

Comments disappointing

I was most disappointed to see in last week’s Whistler papers comments indicating that the mayor and council were blaming the province for cutbacks to childcare. If they had taken time to check with me about the facts I would have presented quite a different picture from the one they choose to paint. On the other hand, I was delighted to see that RMOW was willing to support their local providers, Whistler Children’s Centre with a grant.

The province has not cut back childcare funding, contrary to popular reports — last year’s funding was $203 million and this year with a $57 million dollar lift it will reach or exceed $260 million. The cancellation of the ELCC is the responsibility of the federal government who has removed $455 million from this province alone. The B.C. government has kept the thrust of all our programs intact to assist the most needy families and vulnerable children with programs directly targeted to children. We responded to providers regarding the importance of the CCRR funding and fully restored the provincial component.

Minister Reid and I just met with representatives from the Whistler Children’s Centre (where we recently provided approximately $9,500 to Dandelion Daycare Society in a minor capital grant for playground equipment and surfacing I might add), and provided some tips on how they might restructure and deliver the valuable services they offer to the community in a more cost effective manner, taking into consideration the extra requirements of a resort town.

Yes, the federal government has a role in providing childcare; yes, the provincial government has a role; and yes, the municipal government has a role. They are our children. We have a shared responsibility. Babies and young children reside in every B.C. community. There is enough work to go around. Effective partnership is the way of the future.

We also have a responsibility to get our facts straight before speaking publicly.

Joan McIntyre, MLA, West Vancouver-Garibaldi

Help, love support humbling

A couple of weeks ago I had a fairly catastrophic equipment failure while mountain biking in Pemberton. I'm on the mend now though, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all my friends that have made it easier to deal with the injuries I've sustained.

To my fellow Samurais on that ill-fated ride, thank you for your calmness and quickness in getting help right away, I've never felt so reassured to hear sirens so quickly.

To the Ambulance service, your response speed and quickness in getting me out was greatly appreciated.

The clinics in Pemberton and Whistler for getting me sorted before my trip to Lions Gate, thank you for making me as comfortable as I could've been.

Most of all, my best friend Tracy, I don't know what I would've done without your love and support. You've gone way beyond the call of duty on this one, I've been humbled by the depth of your friendship and love. Thank you so much, I'm really going to owe you on this one.

And most importantly, thank you to the entire Whistler community. The outpouring of concern and compassion has been amazing; the offers of help and support have blown me away.

It's easy for people to get down on this town, but this has completely highlighted to me why this community is so great: you care about your friends and do whatever needs to be done to support those in need. Rest assured, I'll bounce back stronger than ever, and you'll still all have to deal with me at the Toonie races! Till then,

Todd Hellinga

Whistler

A CAST of many

On behalf of the racers and Alpine Canada, we just want to send out a heartfelt THANK YOU to the hundreds of folks who contributed to an incredible National Ski Championships and the Canadian Alpine Ski Team’s first training and testing camp of the 2007/08 season.

Our thanks to everyone who contributed, including the Race Organizing Committee, Weasel Workers and cat drivers, for your relentless determination to prepare the best race track possible, under any conditions!

To the liftees and operations people who had lifts running for our training and racing at ungodly hours of the morning.

The W-B events team, for putting up with our ever-changing schedule and crazy requests to get the upper hand on our competition.

To Whistler-Blackcomb for the great support and use of some of the best ski runs on earth!

To the Own the Podium Club for your push to ensure we are getting nothing but the best training opportunities!

Whistler Mountain Ski Club, for continued development and support of ski racing, and for putting on some spectacular events (and congrats for Canada’s first ever team win in the Whistler Cup!).

To Aloha Accommodations, for the great digs!

To the local club coaches who helped out with our training camp.

And to the many volunteers and fans who are the heart and soul of these events!

Your help makes ski racing the great sport that it is! You all know who you are and we just wanted to let you know that we really appreciate your support. Whistler is feeling more and more like home for the team. Here’s to even more podiums next year.

Rob Boyd

Canadian Alpine Ski Team, Athletes, Coaches and Technicians.

A patronizing notice

This letter was addressed to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Board of Directors. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

I write to you regarding “Notice of Proposed Temporary Use Permit #8”.

This now will be the third “Public Notice” (two others were Alternate Approval Process Bylaws) recently presented to the communities of Pemberton, Mount Currie, D’arcy, and Birken where specific important information has been omitted from a notice to the public, asking the public for comment… on what? The notice patronizes the public with an ambiguous description of what is proposed on the RR1 site adjacent to the Mount Currie lands. I realize that “relevant background documents may be inspected at the Regional District office”, but this is often not convenient for community members to access during office hours. Explicitly detailed information should be contained in the notice or a public meeting should be held to allow the public an opportunity to comment.

The notice does not identify the waterway (Grandmother’s slough) adjacent to the top soil business. The notice does not identify the type of manure being used, nor specific restrictions.

Prior to this year unsatisfactorily composted poultry manure and parts from industrial poultry farms in the Fraser Valley have been used in a process to produce top soil on this site. Currently, worldwide, there are growing concerns with regard to the movement of poultry and poultry products. Scientific research is available to support these concerns. The community of Mount Currie has sent their concerns and objections to the SLRD Board of Directors in a letter, and Area C Director, S. Gimse has not supported the Temporary Use Permit. It would seem appropriate for other SLRD Directors to support Mount Currie and the Area C Director.

There are public health and agricultural biosafety concerns associated with importing poultry manure and other substances not natural to our local ecosystem. Issues such as weed seed, nematodes, bacteria, and viruses can be introduced into our area destroying crops (seed potato crops for instance), and affecting the health of our people. Our communities need to be proactive in questioning the practices of any importation of substances foreign to our unique environment. Once a problem presents itself and exists, it is most often too late to reverse the damage. Agriculture and a local food supply are important to the future wellbeing of our people as well as our gardens and farms. We cannot afford to import materials that pose a risk to the health of our communities.

I ask that you not support Temporary Use Permit #8 considering the top soil business’s present practices of importing substances foreign to our ecosystem.

Brenda McLeod

Pemberton

Blackwater threatened

This is Q'AWAM writing this article about the big risk the government is taking by not protecting the wildlife habitat area in Blackwater. Last week, I wrote about this area being a prime pine-mushroom territory for the St'at'imc and others. However, I must also speak about all the different wildlife that will be endangered by any logging activity in Blackwater.

For one thing, Blackwater region is a designated Wildlife Habitat Area for spotted owls that the B.C. government seems to have neglected to protect so far. Also, there are other wildlife in this area that are threatened. For example, a grizzly bear was seen with two cubs in the area of the sold cut block.

When I am hiking or biking in Blackwater, I see signs of cougar; so if there are cougars in the area, there will be deer, because that is cougar's main food source.

Also, one time when I was canoeing on Little Blackwater Lake with a friend, we both saw a moose on the shore side of the lake. So this pine-mushroom ground is a sensitive ecosystem that also supports our livelihood by providing tradtional food sources for St'at'imc people as well as for others living in the region.

As I said before, because of the flat landscape of this sold cut block, this is the favourite area for the elders to go mushroom picking every fall season. Please have respect, especially for our elders who will lose their picking grounds!

Many people rely on the mushroom harvest to supplement their source of income and food for the winter; and also for medicine and herbs for cultural uses.

The last big concern is the watershed issue. With the creeks running beside the cutblock and also along the road, if the proposed logging activity takes place we risk contamination of the drinking water for the animals as well as for the residents of Blackwater community.

These are the reasons why this area should be left alone, untouched permanently. Please join us at D'arcy this weekend for a Roadside Sacred Fire Anniversary calling upon everyone to help protect both CP16 above Anderson Lake and Blackwater threatened by logging.

Q'AWAM (Ryan Peters)

N'Quatqua

Blackwater forest needs help

The gateway leading to Birkenhead Provincial Park is in danger!

The Blackwater Road is a famous area for picking pine mushrooms, white chanterelles, bog cranberries, huckleberries and other medicinal plants and herbs. The forests off of this road are integral grounds to generations of native and non-native people.

Recently, B.C. Timber Sales sold block A78636 (BL002) approximately 2 km up the Blackwater Road, despite years of effort to keep this particular area pristine. Any logging in this region will have a devastating impact on the unique ecosystems, which include wildlife and frog migration as well as the mushrooms. There are several other blocks within the TSL A78636 to be sold in the future.

These woods are nothing short of magical and provide the many visitors journeying to the park a fabulously beautiful B.C. experience. The revenue for harvesting these mushrooms varies greatly each year, but is always relied on by many. The local pickers also provide these delicacies to Whistler restaurants to serve their guests.

It is critical to protect the Blackwater area, for now and the future. Vancouver and Whistler are hosting the 2010 Olympics with the message “bring on the world”. We are your back yard. We are part of your playground. We need your support to remove this area from the provincial forestry harvesting plans.

Petitions are now circulating and we need your signature.

Linda Raimondo

Devine

On behalf of the bears…

The Get Bear Smart Society would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Animal Nation for hosting an amazing show on March 20th at Moe Joe’s. Special thanks to all those that attended in support of the bears as well as Steige "Tall Man" Turner and Mike "Armadillo Slim" Armitage who came up with the idea and spent countless hours organizing the event. Thanks to Whistler-Blackcomb, Russell Beer, Canadian Snowmobiles, C1RCA, and Moe Joe's for providing great door prizes. $300 was raised for bear smart educational programs.

Sylvia Dolson

Executive Director,

Get Bear Smart Society