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I appreciate Councillor Zeidler’s comments that a “China-Tibet conversation is worth having in Whistler” (Pique May 1, 2008).

I appreciate Councillor Zeidler’s comments that a “China-Tibet conversation is worth having in Whistler” (Pique May 1, 2008). In fact I will be participating in a day-long session at UBC’s Centre for Chinese Research next week on Olympic Tensions: Roundtable on Tibet. From that session we plan to have a follow up one in Whistler.

This conversation needs to go far beyond Free Tibet slogans and ceremonial boycotts.

I have just returned from my second visit to Yunnan province in southwest China with its growing tourism economy and more than 20 different ethnic and religious minorities. The Tibet Autonomous Region is to the north. Throughout the region there are four different Tibetan communities and surprisingly not all Tibetans have a united view of historical events. Like Whistler, I experienced many small, diverse communities with goals of developing tourism offerings and jobs while balancing ecological and cultural values. In the Diqing Prefecture, rising as it does from three river valleys up to the high Tibetan plateau, I was amazed by the parks, the hiking, the hotels, the food, the new ski park, as well as the diverse cultural and religious vitality.

The recent troubles have caused a significant decline in tourism in the region. We in Whistler know how precarious the tourism market is and how resilient we need to be in the face of forces beyond our control. Part of the conversation needs to engage our best thinking on international norms regarding tourism and sustainability, so that innocent workers and entrepreneurs are not the first to suffer when these outside forces hit.

It could be that boycotting the opening ceremonies would highlight the claims of some of those in the Tibetan diaspora. Even here though, a conversation would be helpful to know if we should listen to the Dalai Lama, who does not want a boycott, or to his more extreme followers headquartered in Washington who do. Some argue that a boycott of our 2010 Games would assist in highlighting First Nations claims in Canada as it did for the Lubicon-Cree during Calgary ’88. And is Councillor Zeidler proposing a boycott of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi Russia if the Chechnyans are not given their full independence from Moscow?

Through the Forum’s Leadership Sea to Sky program we plan to more fully engage in these and other conversations by having two days at the Canada/B.C. Pavilion in Beijing at the start of the Paralympic Games. On Sept. 8 and 9 we will have multiple conversations with Chinese and international visitors to the pavilion about the lessons and leadership we have experienced in tourism and recreation accessibility, and in environmental protection and sustainable tourism planning and development. And we look forward to learning from them.

As Whistler is increasingly a destination for international visitors we need to be more fully engaged in informed dialogue about international and global matters.

William Roberts

President, The Whistler Forum

Council is forum for local issues

Re: China-Tibet discussion urged

Having read Claire Piech’s article in the May 1 Pique Newsmagazine, I wholeheartedly agree with Peter Alder’s statement at the April 21 council meeting about Councillor Eckhard Zeidler’s “Free Tibet” poster, “I despise this.”

I respect Councillor Zeidler’s personal political opinions but at this sensitive place in time, of both the upcoming Beijing and Vancouver-Whistler Olympic Games, I find it extremely insensitive for one of our elected “leaders” to act like a political protester inside our municipal chambers. The poster “Free Tibet” in itself to me sounds like warmongering. Who should be in “the coalition of the willing” to free Tibet?

Yes, China’s human rights record is not good, but let’s put politics aside and leave the Games to the athletes. I agree with the IOC, to have awarded the 2008 Summer Games to China is one good way to increase the chances of them improving their human rights record, by getting more exposed to the rest of the world. Don’t we hope for more Chinese citizens to come and visit Canada, and especially Whistler, now and during our Olympic Games? Remember, there are a lot of them and they could easily replace the dwindling visits from the U.S. and Japan.

The Chinese, too, could find a reason to boycott our Games in 2010, by reason of Canada’s indigenous rights record (according to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues).

So please stay out of international politics. Concentrate on local issues and let his holiness, the Nobel Prize-winning Dalai Lama, handle Tibet and negotiate with China over his homeland. He is more than capable of doing so and can accomplish more than even Tibetans (including monks) having violent demonstrations and behaving like hoodlums by demolishing and burning inside of Tibet.

Ueli Kaltbrunner

Whistler

Hero stood up to goons

I would like to compliment Mayor Sutherland for speaking out against vandalism and "goons" in your May 1 edition (Squamish woman imprisoned in recycling bin). This type of incident is all too common throughout our corridor and will not be addressed until we — the citizens — make it clear that we will no longer tolerate these crimes.  Enough is enough...

The courageous woman who made a stand against the punks is the hero in this sad story.

Allen McEwan

Pemberton

Standing up for Jeanie

In the last week my cell phone has been buzzing away with media wanting to know my response to Jeanie (the bear) on birth control. Because I continue to hear this issue through the media, I thought I would expand on my position, which is firmly against the proposal to sterilize Jeanie or any other female black bear in the Whistler population.

I have observed Jeanie for 13 years (1996-2008) as part of a lifetime study investigating the ecology of female bears in a dynamic landscape. If the Get Bear Smart Society is proposing this idea — sterilizing Jeanie — for the sake of keeping her alive then why exactly would she be killed if we didn’t apply birth control?

I’m sure conservation officers get frustrated with Jeanie because they, on many occasions, have numerous bears to deal with during our fall “problem human/garbage” season. Jeanie is not an outright aggressive bear (any bear can be aggressive in defense), as some young male bears can be. She is not human-food conditioned and she is healthy.

Jeanie learned in the late 1990s that alternative foraging on high calorie human food exists near Whistler Village when she has difficulty accessing ski-area berries. And Jeanie studies us — she has taken advantage of the “holes” in our attempts to manage garbage.

This leads to me to realize (and after discussions with my boss) that Jeanie is actually a big part of the solution to reducing bear use of garbage. Efforts to better manage Jeanie should lead the way to effective garbage management in Whistler. In 2004 and 2007 we successfully kept Jeanie from accessing significant quantities of human food in the village. By bear proofing her route and driving her off, even me alone with no rubber bullets, dogs, or bangers, could keep her away from garbage containment for several consecutive nights to the point where she gave up. That tells me that for all the effort she puts in (looking for garbage), she is not successful and subsequently, continues to den and emerge with no external (visual) complications to her health or reproductive abilities.

These methods (to deter her from the village) are proactive, adaptive tools in reducing bears from consuming garbage. These methods take time and consistency but, they do work.

Jeanie is the future — a future planned to have better relationships with bears can only be accomplished with a willingness to apply adaptive efforts in keeping resident bears healthy. The future is going to be filled with more berry crop failures and more bears trying to access garbage (high cub production following bumper berry crops). I believe if we do right by Jeanie we are heading in the right direction for proper bear management. Doing right, means re-thinking our long-term garbage management and developing proactive “adaptive” methods to deal with healthy resident bears during shortages of fall berries.

I firmly believe that manipulating the biology of an otherwise healthy adult female black bear and denying her of the most innate drive (to produce cubs) just so some people can sleep better at night knowing they “potentially” saved that bear is completely backward bear management. Bear ecology is changing in Whistler. Expansions from Olympic side-effects, recreational use (mountain biking and trails), and changes in forest structure   (succession) will test bear space and undoubtedly put pressure on the front country interface of people and bears.

Michael Allen

Bear Researcher

Operations poorly handled

Re: Whistler-Blackcomb hears you (Pique letters, May 1)

David Brownlie’s “apology” letter was nice, but quite frankly, is not good enough. Whistler-Blackcomb is supposedly one of the world’s premier resorts, and the only response is that W-B “did not effectively describe the impact”?

I realize Mr. Brownlie operates from an eagles-eye view, but as someone who interacts with visitors day in and day out, I must say that the visitor experience has been extremely disappointing. With all the Olympic hype, it is ridiculous that you can’t even access the Olympic terrain, as I have talked to several people who were looking forward to seeing the race courses.

Think carefully about the message sent by this entire Peak 2 Peak ordeal. The message that I have taken to heart is:

1. Whistler-Blackcomb should no longer be considered a ski resort. The correct title should be more like “mountain adventure resort”.

2. Communication is great when explaining the good points of the gondola such as the world records etc., but dismal when communicating the bad. Has W-B estimated how many days the gondola will not be able to run? With the amount of wind and inclement weather in the Fitzsimmons Valley, it seems as though there will be a lot more damage control when the people come to ride the gondola but either can’t ride it because it is too windy, or can’t see anything because it is too foggy.

3. The spring skiing/riding season should never be neglected. This is what makes Whistler stand out from other ski areas, and as noted last week, Whistler-Blackcomb severely dropped the ball. The park and pipe were in pristine condition before they were deliberately destroyed to make way for a dozen switchbacks to build a gondola that adds zero extra terrain.

4. Whistler-Blackcomb needs to drop the “sustainability” rhetoric from the company literature. Any operation that plows through 10 feet of snow to make way for excavators and trucks is not sustainable, no matter how much spin the marketing department comes up with. Remember, long ago in 2005, when an amount in the ballpark of $1 million was spent trying to keep the mountains open in February? Now we are well into May and you can nearly ski out to the village. I’m sure back then the W-B execs were praying by their bedside every night to have conditions like we have now.

Whistler-Blackcomb is supposed to be world class. This spring has shown us that while the mountains may be world class, the operation of these mountains has been poorly mishandled. Whistler-Blackcomb, please pick up the pace. Our town’s reputation depends on it.

Steven Andrews

Whistler

Fuelish thinking

As an avid reader of local media, I must say that Whistler’s transit system seems a bit bipolar (if not disorderly). A year ago we were celebrating the arrival of hydrogen fuel to the Sea to Sky corridor; now, we’re talking about biofuels? Thank hydrogen for the need to switch from propane to natural gas. Original contracts with Terason included on-site hydrogen extraction from methane.

What shall we thank biofuels for? It’s unlikely that Pemberton will turn all of its agricultural land into fuel crops — they have “unprecedented development” plans for that. Whistler’s transit buses now run on biodiesel — essentially a fat. It comes from oils such as canola, corn, or tallow. Ethanol, an alcohol, often added to gasoline, usually comes from high-carbohydrate corn or wheat. There are currently no plants making biofuels from waste streams in Canada, all use feedstock.

While biofuels offer a reduction in carbon dioxide, other emissions increase. A recent talk I attended by C.A. Miller of the U.S. EPA in North Carolina, presented findings that biofuels not only emit increased levels of carcinogens (acetylaldehyde, formaldehyde, etc.). If you consider the entire production chain, from farm-to-fuel, these “renewables” emit more total greenhouse gases than conventional fossil fuels. Smaller carbon footprint? Careful what you wish for.

Judi Krzyzanowski

Pemberton

Same old tune

Every week there is the same articles regurgitating the same old story, council this, housing that, toursim blah, blah, blah.

For something to flourish it has to start from within. Like a tree, you plant a seed, you nurture the seed, you feed the seed, you water the seed and if everything is done right it grows and it grows healthy. I use this metaphor to represent Whistler and the seed being the people who live here.

The best type of marketing is word of mouth and I think council and the "people" that make this town run have completely lost sight of this. What type of response is a poor transient going to have when asked about their time in Whistler when they either had to work three jobs to stay afloat, they had to share a house with 10 other people to live or weren’t even able to find a place to live, had to undergo several abnormal circumstances to secure accommodation, and had to shop two hours away from home to find affordability?

I think council and the "people" should focus on the people that put up with the situations of Whistler each and every day. When you do not take care of a seed properly it does not grow. Your concern over the 20 per cent decrease in American visitors may improve if the people who are leaving Whistler had more positive things to say about Whistler. The ongoing "Whistler is beautiful" can only last so long, the song has been sung and it is time to write a new one.

Sorry to pop your bubble but relying on Gene Simmons to do your marketing for you is not going to work.

Paul Rowe

Whistler

A soul adrift

To whoever removed my canoe from the Barnfield boat storage:

It was with great sadness that I discovered that my white 14’ Clipper canoe had been removed, this time the lock was even removed from the Barnfield boat storage at the north end of Alta Lake on Tuesday, April 29 th , only two days after I put it there to get ready for paddling. This is the second time I have lost a canoe from this exact spot — it took a few months to save up to purchase a replacement for the first one! So the sadness is double this time!

In my e-mail this morning came a prayer from Mother Teresa I have included here for the person who has brought this sadness to me.

 

May today there be peace within.

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

 

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing and dance. It is there for each and every one of you.

 

I hope this will help whoever felt the need to remove my canoe and perhaps bring them to a better place than they are right now.

I would love to have my canoe returned to the boat storage — thanks so much.

Kris Shoup

Whistler

Walk to stamp out cancer

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, at least 50 per cent of all cancers can be prevented. This is astounding information as each and every one of us has been touched in some way by cancer.

Tam Peavoy, Schalene Warren and I founded the Whistler Cancer Awareness and Prevention Walk in order to make a difference for people who are affected by cancer in the Sea to Sky corridor. We want to raise awareness and get the whole community involved.

The second annual Whistler Cancer Awareness and Prevention Walk will take place on June 14, 2008. Participants can walk 5km, 12km and 25km along the Valley Trail. The walk will start and finish at Dusty’s. There will be an afternoon reception with live music (Willy G) and children’s activities.

That evening we will continue the fundraising with a dinner, silent auction and live music (Sarah and James Mclauchlan).

Last year’s inaugural walk drew 67 participants, 30 volunteers and raised over $21,000. This year’s goals include 200 walkers and a target of $40,000. One-hundred per cent of the funds raised will go directly to the cause, thanks to our generous sponsors — Red Mechanical, Payment Processing Inc, Vinland Holdings Inc., Kyber Developments, Thornhill Realty; Pure Source, Granville Island Brewery, Peak Ventures, Avant Contractors, Harmony Massage Therapy, yoga by Chandra, Mountain FM.

We currently have 25 people registered. We are hoping so many more people will get involved by walking, volunteering or supporting the walk. For more information please go to: www.whistlercaap.org.

Fifty per cent of all cancers can be prevented. Please be proactive about your health.

Shannon Byrne Susko

Whistler CAAP Walk, Co-Founder

Women give thanks

The Pemberton Women’s Institute once again held a most-successful plant and bake sale on Saturday, May 3rd. They would like to thank the whole community who supported this annual event and give an extra thanks to those who contributed plants and baking.

A special thanks also to the Pemberton Valley Seed Potato Growers, who donate all the potato seeds on this day, and to the Pemberton Farmer’s Institute.

The Women’s Institute is an agriculturally based group of women, formed 100 years ago in rural Ontario. It now runs all over the world and the local chapter brings in speakers, holds workshops and hosts community events and fundraisers. Proceeds are used to support local initiatives including student bursaries, 4H Club, Children’s Centre etc.

Our next event is the Strawberry Tea at the end of June at the Pemberton Museum Grounds. Thanks again.

Linda Ronayne

Pemberton Women’s Institute

May is ‘Be Kind to Animals’ Month

You may wonder why we need a special proclamation to remind us to be kind to our “best friends”, who shower us daily with unconditional love, devotion and companionship. But sadly, animal cruelty is a reality in our province. Last year, the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued 41,884 abused, neglected, injured and homeless animals in our province and responded to more than 4,500 complaints of animal cruelty. In our local community, the Squamish SPCA intervened to help 135 animals in need last year.

Be Kind to Animals Month is an opportunity for the B.C. SPCA, the largest animal welfare organization in the province, to celebrate the many ways that animals enrich our lives, and to highlight the important role we play as the guardians entrusted with their care.

One of the ways we are marking Be Kind to Animals Month is with the B.C. SPCA Fetch a Friend Adoption Challenge. SPCA branches across the province will be hosting open houses, adoptathons, mobile adoptions and other special promotions throughout May in an effort to find as many “forever homes” as we can for the wonderful animals in our care. The top branches in the challenge will win a cash prize of $2,500 to be used locally and will vie for the coveted B.C. SPCA Fetch a Friend Victory Cup (and of course, bragging rights for our community!).

Please show your support for the animals this May and help our community win the Fetch a Friend adoption challenge. Contact your SPCA today — your best friend is waiting for you.

Marika Donnelly

Branch Supervisor

Squamish Branch, B.C. SPCA