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Video tape may be intimidating

Re: RCMP video tape protest Your reporter kind of flew past the RCMP presence and offered no question why video taping the Lot 1/9 forest protesters was deemed necessary. You need to follow up here.

Re: RCMP video tape protest

Your reporter kind of flew past the RCMP presence and offered no question why video taping the Lot 1/9 forest protesters was deemed necessary. You need to follow up here. Reported threats of violence? Threats of damage to property? Reported threats to persons? Training Ops?

With the disturbing and overzealous crack down on protesters “world wide” this past couple of weeks Canadians need to question when our national police force decides to option this policing tool. It's not what the video taping captures as much as what it implies; that somehow the citizenry can not be trusted to peacefully, maybe forcefully, shout out its frustrations in protest.

It is a sacred and honouable democratic tradition to protest government and hold them responsible. It takes a lot of guts for most people to get up off the couch and go do it. Seeing our Whistler detachment video taping would give some pause to join future protests and it should never be so — it's too important.

Brian Buchholz

Bali, Indonesia

With many thanks

On Wednesday, March 19 th my partner Chris, friend Gavin and myself set out for a day of snowboarding. After making one crucial error we discovered that we were lost out the back of Blackcomb Mountain. After two and half days hiking, sometimes in waist deep snow, two nights snuggled together under shelters in below-zero temperatures, with no food and minimal water, we were discovered by Whistler Helisking. They alerted the Whistler Search and Rescue and all three of us were taken to the medical clinic by helicopter.

We would like to thank everyone involved in our discover/rescue: Constable MacQueen and all the doctors/nurses/volunteers at the medical clinic for taking wonderful care of us. A special thank you to Randy Harder, all the members of the Fireside lodge, Tracy Young, the Re-Use it Centre and Maintenance at Whistler-Blackcomb for noticing us missing and alerting the authorities.

Chris and I are recovering and Gavin made his flight back to England on Saturday and now is awaiting the birth of his first child in a month.

Thank you again and we will never forget what you have done for us.

Danielle Clarke, Chris Mullins and Gavin Young

Whistler

Iconic or ironic?

I would like ask that all locals and long term visitors to Whistler share their thoughts with the media and specifically town council in regards to the developments at Lot 1/9 and the day lots becoming pay parking. I fail to see how removing the last forested section of the village at an astronomically absurd cost estimated anywhere from $34 million to $60 million while we consider housing the very employees that run the resort in portable trailers can be construed as anything remotely iconic.

Enroute to 2010 are we losing touch with what matters the most around here? The forest in itself is an icon and a testament to the reason why anyone visits here, which is natural beauty.

In regards to pay parking, are we not supposed to be adding value and making the resort more user friendly for visitors and the local work force? How does another hand in our visitors’ wallets make them feel when they can’t even park for free? And the way we are going there will be nowhere left for locals to park. I’m sure this will help local businesses prosper as locals frequent the village even less in the long run and guests feel that they have to shell out at every point of their visit.

This is our town and there is still time to make the right choice.

Mike Crane

Whistler

How is reducing options a benefit?

It has been said that transitioning families from Teddy Bear Daycare to the Whistler Children’s Centre will benefit families. The unique services offered at Teddy Bear Daycare will not be offered at the Whistler Children’s Centre. How can reducing options be a benefit? I want to tell you about one family that will certainly not benefit.

My child was in the Marmots program at the Whistler Children’s Centre until he started kindergarten in September. After four years of mostly full-time daycare, I found myself in a position to take a break from daycare until my busy season came around again in February, allowing me to spend more time with my son. In December I requested to re-enroll my son in Marmots. By mid-February it became clear that space would not be available so we went to Teddy Bear. For our family, the Teddy Bear Daycare has been an absolute lifesaver. Because Teddy Bear has drop-in care, in addition to the regular after-school days, I can sign up for all the days the school is closed, including the two-week March break, and pay only for the days I use. They are open on statutory holidays.

The extended hours are also a huge benefit. For me, 5:30 is a difficult pickup time, as most people want to stop by my office on their way home from work. The comments made by Julia Black and Stephany Smith are offensive. It may be that the people taking advantage of the extended hours are few, but they have a need and don’t deserve to be dismissed. They are clearly not included in the “win-win-win” analysis.

I would find this less frustrating if we were told the reasons for the decision instead of how much of a benefit it is to close down the only facility that offered our family the childcare that we needed this winter and spring.

The Whistler Children’s Centre is a fabulous facility with wonderful teachers. It certainly satisfies the childcare needs of many families. However, for families who need the flexibility it would be nice to have a choice in a childcare centre. The Whistler Children’s Centre will benefit by getting a bigger piece of the funding pie. The only way the community will benefit is if the WCC uses this enhanced funding to expand its services to replace those lost by the closing of Teddy Bear Daycare.

Bea Gonzalez

Whistler

Open for spring

On behalf of the Whistler Skateboard Association we would like to extend great thanks to Capilano Highway Services for donating the time and equipment costs to clear the village skatepark of snow and allow us to announce that it is now officially open for the spring. Please check www.WhistlerSkate.org for other news and updates.

Brian Hockenstein

Whistler

The view from here

Re: The trees in Whistler being put on the "chopping block"

I live in Toronto, and my husband and I visit Whistler every opportunity that we get. It holds a very dear place in our hearts, as I am sure it does with many others.

I was very shocked and saddened to learn about the trees being considered for clearing. We were just there in February and stayed at our usual place, which happens to look on to those very trees. When I am there, one of my favorite after-ski moments, is to sit by the window, look out at that forest and watch the birds and other little animals that inhabit this beautiful little nook within the village. I think it is a very unique part of the village that adds character, not to mention the habitat that it provides to the local wildlife.

I think that the town of Whistler will be making a big mistake removing this area. There is nothing environmentally friendly about this and I think if you asked many of the Olympic athletes slated to be there in 2010, I am certain many of them would object to this as well. This is not right.   Deborah Innis

Toronto

p class=Style1>Are we willing to make a statement?

Re: Olympic Boycott for Tibet and Darfur

When the subject of an Olympic boycott pops up, as with the current increase of repression in Tibet, the official lines are trotted out. The Olympics mustn’t mix with politics. Boycotts are useless. Let our political leaders coax the issues with patient diplomacy. All this from the champions of Free Enterprise.

Therein lies the hypocrisy. If free market capitalism rules all, as it most certainly rules the modern Olympics, then we have little choice but to play by those rules. Preeminent is the rule that the market determines the winner. If you buy the product, thumbs up. Don’t buy, thumbs down. This is by far the most significant way for the individual to vote for or against, or influence policy. For the Olympic boosters to deny the power of such influence is laughable.

I suspect that their real, though unstated, argument against a boycott is that the determining factor should be economic, end of story. If you stand to benefit you must vote for. If not, against. However the repression of the Tibetan people is above all a moral issue, as is the genocide of Darfur. So that is what it boils down to. Are we willing to make a strong statement in favour of a repressed people and against those we hold morally accountable — or because we stand not to gain, turn a blind eye? Patient gentle diplomacy has proven itself to be of minor value and at any rate our government (among others) appears to be unable to make a substantial statement. So what about us?

If you feel the issues of Tibet and Darfur trump so called “economic imperatives” or “purity of sport” then I see little choice but to boycott the Beijing Olympics in whatever way you can. If we can make any kind of “market statement” why wouldn’t we?

And what about our precious 2010? Like many of us I stand to gain and I am not anti-Olympic in spirit, yet in my mind, unless we make some serious and no doubt expensive effort in support of our own less fortunate citizens then do we deserve it? If we wag our finger at China yet essentially ignore all that drug and mental illness misery in the Downtown Eastside while building monuments to ourselves then we certainly join the ranks of the shamelessly hypocritical. If we choose to rake in the windfall yet can’t cough up a little chump change for treating drug addiction and mental illness as the priority healthcare issues they are then we should all give ourselves a swift kick in the ass.

Bruce Kay

Whistler

A funeral to remember

Well, the time has come for the inevitable to happen, and I am officially retiring from The Punk Night. It has been a long and challenging road, but it has also been the best time of my life. It breaks my heart to leave, but at the same time, I am excited for the next chapter of my life.

I've made amazing friends, family really, through doing this, and I wouldn't change that for anything. Over the past six years I have had the opportunity to put on shows for some of my favourite bands, make countless new favourite bands, and have some of the most incredible experiences imaginable. Nothing excites me more than being at the front of the stage, rockin' out to a killer band, surrounded by friends who share the same enthusiasm for live music that I do. I can never get enough of that.

That being said, I may be halting the promoting side of my life, but I will be plowing head first into a different field of the industry. I recently graduated from The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and will be taking my new found knowledge on the road, tour managing for bands, while teaching them how to eat well and stay healthy, show after show. I hope to do this for the next year or so, and eventually write a book about it.

So, I would like to thank all the people who helped make The Punk Night possible. And, most importantly, I’d like to thank all the Punk Night Warriors who came out to every show, no matter who was playing and for always being so grateful, supportive and understanding of my vision. Without you, The Punk Night never would have lasted as long as it did or been as fun as it was. You made this possible!

And please join me and Scott (Angry) Seccariccia for The Punk Night Funeral on Sunday April 6th featuring three of my favorite punk bands: Rebel Spell, The Flatliners and Cambridge. There will be lots of giveaways and a very special set by Fraser. Doors open early at 9 p.m. Funeral attire (black on black!) is requested. I hope to see you all the because I'm really going to miss you guys!

Lindsay Shedden

Vancouver

Scottie’s the one

Anyone who has worked for Whistler-Blackcomb is familiar with the Above and Beyond awards. I would like to nominate a non-WB employee for the award.

WAVE employee Scottie goes above and beyond the call of duty every day. Being a bus driver in this town cannot be an easy job and personally I think they all get a bit of a bad wrap — a non-stop flow of tourists asking the same questions again and again, an increasingly disgruntled seasonal staff who complain loudly if the bus is late, a drunken Saturday night crowd almost seven days of the week. Scottie handles it all with aplomb and a huge Cheshire grin.

If you've been lucky enough ride with him you’d know who I’m taking about even if you don’t know his name. He wishes everyone safely home and to be careful as they exit his bus. He often announces his next stop as “Rio de Janeiro” to the confusion of many tourists and the wistful smiles of locals. And if his bus is ever running late its most likely because he has stopped to help somebody load cumbersome luggage onto the bus or to explain the best route clearly and concisely to a lost and confused tourist.

Most importantly to me though, Scottie always drops me and my other residents at the gate to Westside staff housing. It’s only about a 300 metre walk and I know the bus drivers don’t have to do it (however many of them will if you ask politely) but after a gruelling 15-hour day of working two jobs just to get by in Whistler, being dropped at the door can mean the difference between getting home happy and smiling or frustrated and tired.

So on behalf of all the Westside Residents, thanks Scottie; We think you’re ace!

Jessica Pietsch

Whistler

Meddling with the peace and quiet

As an 82-year-old resident of Whistler I am no longer able to hike in the surrounding mountains and forests. It would be nice to have a little park in the village with walkways among the trees, and benches along the way to sit and maybe watch kids skating on a small pond or outdoor ice rink. Many old people can't walk far before they have to sit down, but they still like to enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest. That is one of the reasons we moved here.

There are already lots of open public spaces where the Olympic medals can be awarded in 2010. Building a wide open plaza where the forest sits on lot 1/9 is not my idea of a quiet peaceful place in the village.

Heinz Vogler

Whistler