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Off the mark on WhistlerU

Max’s column (Maxed Out: Of educations and institutions, Pique Nov. 27)) is so off the mark I must reply.

Max’s column (Maxed Out: Of educations and institutions, Pique Nov. 27)) is so off the mark I must reply.

First, a bias, as a parent who is proud his son has taken up the defence of his country through a career in the Canadian Army, I have some disdain for Max’s approach to escaping his own U.S. citizenship obligations.

That said, he is correct that, in his own words, “there are so many things I do not know,” particularly when it comes to universities.

First, he indicates that the university is a real estate play when it is a real attempt to bring a clean, viable and valuable industry to this town. The owner could make far more serious dollars with other ventures. Why do we need this? Have you seen the rain outside today? Have you looked at the dismal projections for tourism? Do we understand that Whistler-Blackcomb is laying off employees? We are a town in search of economic survival and WhistlerU as a comprehensive learning centre offers some hope. Max does not seem to get it!

Second he suggests that the school year calendar clashes with the ski calendar. Again, he does not get it. This is a non-traditional university that operates on a unique calendar and that would require one term of work in the community from its students. For some, this term could be the winter term when short-term employees are most needed.

Third, he questions where the students would be housed. He obviously has not read the information from this paper. They would be housed on campus, so we would be relieving the employee housing pressure, not exacerbating it. But what is more appealing is we would attract their parents and conference participants in the shoulder seasons to occupy the many empty rooms in our hotels and to partake in the fine activities we offer.

He does not get it regarding courses either. Our target audience is different from the universities he mentions and the UCW already has a very successful MBA program and the graduates to prove it.

When he suggests we have lots of talent like great chefs in town, he does not understand as potential instructors they need not just “infrastructure” to offer the courses but appropriate facilities. Yes, let’s use our local talent but not in some makeshift facility that does not enable either their or the students’ talent to be fully realized.

Finally, to say this town will never be in a position to support and absorb an educational institution belies a cynical and unfortunate view of the potential of Whistler. Perhaps he should look at Colorado or Heidelberg, where universities have become a vibrant part of tourist resorts, but to have such little faith in this town’s capacity is terribly sad.

I look forward to proving him wrong and hope that he will do a little better research for his future columns.

Doug Player

Whistler

2020 task force welcomes input

So for Max, and Doug Player and Councillors Zeidler and Lamont and others thinking out loud “Of educations and institutions”   (Pique, Nov 27 th ) — a suggestion.

Your proposals and these lively discussions about the potential for Whistler as an educational destination and learning community we welcome at the Whistler 2020 Learning Strategy Task Force.

For more than three years now many of us who care about promoting education, learning and knowledge in and through Whistler, have met to develop feasible plans and priority actions. The RMOW has invested a lot of time and resources in this work, as it has in the 15 other Whistler 2020 strategy task forces. We understand this process to feed into and to be the governing policy framework that guides decision-making. So bring on your capital, operational and budget plans for elderhostels, degree-granting post-secondary institutions, and other learning centres. Let’s examine them together.

For our part, The Whistler Forum has researched the bona fides and budgets of numerous proposals to enhance educational opportunities here. We found that in most cases quality public programs are starved for cash, and private commercial ones too exclusive or out of place. We hosted a forum during the election to explore further with learning partners and council candidates how to build on our many learning assets and find the right balance. It’s a work in progress, but through it all the new council and Learning Task Force are taking these matters more seriously than ever.

The Forum remains committed to the Aspen Institute model to bring together citizens and leaders from diverse backgrounds to engage in dialogue on the ideas and issues that both shape our lives and challenge our times. Our funding relies far more on donors and philanthropy than on local and provincial governments. But in Canada, in Whistler, and in these times, learning our way together has to be a collaborative effort. And with Max et al — that’s as it should be.

William Roberts

President, The Whistler Forum

Singing together

Often I perceive Bob Barnett and G.D. Maxwell as maestros and their editorials as song sheets for the community. Last week’s compositions played in perfect harmony.

As usual, Bob offered sage advice when he recommended bringing together major stakeholders to understand Whistler’s current position and to potentially solve some of the problems facing our community. Awesome idea!

If such a gathering comes to fruition and the participants go deep in their exploration, they will come to understand that the global financial system is being held together with duct tape and wires. We are approaching a point where global debt levels are greater than global asset values and interest on those debts are closing in on the productive capacity of the planet.

One of the greatest thinkers of the last century, Albert Einstein, observed, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Ken Wilber, in his book Theory of Everything states, “Everybody is right — everybody has some important piece of the truth, and all those pieces need to be honoured, cherished and included in a more gracious, spacious and compassionate embrace.”

While there are many names used to describe the collective approaches that Einstein and Wilber prescribe, I’ve recently explored the concept of ‘second tier’ thinking — which refers to the possibility of the independent self becoming part of a larger conscious whole. Paradox and uncertainty are tolerated, even enjoyed, and there are many plausible approaches to solving complex problems. This is not intellectual idealism; rather it’s a way in which some organizations and individuals are already working together.

Last week, Max revealed his “penchant for life long learning” (who knew?) and suggested “leveraging our strengths and existing education markets.” That too is an awesome idea! Perhaps the greatest learning challenge humanity has ever faced is to shape a sustainable vibrant world beyond the Industrial Age.

In 2010, the world will arrive in Whistler like it never has before. It’s a world that’s desperate for leadership and models of how to collectively transition to second tier thinking — learning how to integrate the larger picture of which we are a part and to facilitate collaboration across all boundaries to solve our problems.

Rather than being fearful about Whistler slipping from its first-class ride on the Titanic to second or third class, perhaps the community can live up to its history, as Bob suggests, and step up when it’s needed most — who knows, perhaps even stop the ship from sinking! Meeting this emerging local/global challenge could be Whistler’s greatest legacy.

Mitch Rhodes

Whistler

In memory of Chrissy Longo

I was extremely saddened today when I opened the Whistler newspaper and recognized the face of my super sweet, wonderfully warm, emergency room nurse, Chrissy Longo, who helped me recently after I suffered a bad fall. I was just talking about Chrissy two days ago as I was remembering her kindness. As an American visitor in a Canadian hospital I have been asked many times about the level of care I received. Thanks to people like Chrissy and the other doctors and nurses that treated me, I can honestly say that it was some of the best care I have received anywhere.

During my visit to the Whistler Emergency Center and my subsequent ambulance ride and overnight stay in the Squamish Hospital, I saw at least three doctors and more than five nurses, but Chrissy is the one I most remember.

Chrissy made such an impression on me, maybe because she was the first person whose care I was placed in, but most likely it was because she was so good at making me feel cared for. I remember her telling me was that she was, “a hockey goalie and an ER nurse, so she believed in always being prepared.” I remember thinking, “wow, that is a pretty incredible combination… hockey goalie and ER nurse, talk about having to be ready for anything!”

Whistler Health Care and the Whistler community has truly lost one of their everyday heroes.

I didn’t have enough time to get to know Chrissy well, but I know that I will never forget her.

René Schlosberg  Seattle

One in 100

On behalf of Women's Enterprise Centre, I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to Whistler's Sue Adams of Bevendale Enterprises who is featured in a new book that celebrates women entrepreneurship and innovation in B.C. She has been recognized by Women's Enterprise Centre as one of B.C.'s 100 New Pioneer Women Entrepreneurs 2008 and is among the women who share their stories in the inspiring book just published, entitled New Pioneers: Stories of 100 B.C. Women Entrepreneurs.

Small business represents 98 per cent of all businesses B.C. and women own 35 per cent of the small businesses in B.C. today. This book will help to raise awareness of the many successful female entrepreneurs living and working in communities throughout our province. We are proud to be able to share their inspiring stories in this beautiful, full-colour, coffee table style book that recognizes their pioneering spirit, showcases their achievements, and celebrates their success.

The women entrepreneurs featured in the book were selected because they are pioneers, role models and innovators who have blazed an entrepreneurial path for others to follow. They represent a variety of business sectors, age groups, and cultural backgrounds. Each woman in the book has 51 per cent or more business ownership and is either an inventor of new product or delivery system; an innovator of some kind; the first business person in her region, industry, demographic or culture to operate this type of enterprise; owns a business in a non-traditional industry; or she may have encountered unique life circumstances which requires a courageous pioneering spirit to overcome.

We encourage all Whistler and area residents to congratulate Sue on her achievement.

For those who would like a copy of the book, a limited number of complimentary copies of New Pioneers: Stories of 100 B.C. Women Entrepreneurs are available through our website at www.womensenterprisecentre.ca.

Laurel Douglas, CEO

Women's Enterprise Centre

Kelowna

Sharing a shoebox

I am writing this letter today to personally thank all the price-gouging landlords in Whistler. For the first time in nine years in Whistler, I am homeless and unable to find affordable accommodation for rent.

Unfortunately, as a gainfully employed contributor of this community, I cannot afford to pay $1,800 a month for a studio. Along with first and last months rent, and with damage deposit on top of that, there simply aren't enough hours in the week to make that kind of money. It is also illegal.

For the time being, I am sharing a shoebox studio for well over $1,000 a month. We don’t even have a kitchen sink and our shower won’t shut off. What has this town come to?

If there are any decent landlords out there, that would prefer a decent tenant, that works hard and enjoys this town for the right reasons, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have excellent references and really don't want to leave nine years of this wonderful town behind.

Ryan McKeeman

Whistler

Change not for the better

As a local since 1989, I have seen many changes in our beautiful mountain valley, some great and some not so great, but none has affected me more than the Peak 2 Peak gondola. I was never a fan of the idea of linking our two great mountains together; what was wrong with a thigh-burner down to the valley and then a quick trip up the lifts of the other mountain?

Of course, there were those who thought it was a good idea: "It will be the longest and highest free-spanning gondola in the world!" That it is. But it just might be the biggest and ugliest eyesore this skier has ever seen, as well.

A tear came to my eye the first time I stepped out of the old village gondola, and I was visually assaulted by the truly massive, architecturally uninspiring, ultra-modern(?) P2P station. Glaring tin siding and blue plastic windows... quite the contrast to the natural wood and stone of the new Roundhouse.

I went inside and was further upset by just how close the station has been built to the front of the lodge; lunch on the deck will never be quite the same. Where once you could marvel at the view from 7th Heaven to the Spearhead Glacier, now all you can see is a towering wall of silver metal.

And from back down in the valley, the dual mountain vista is now tarnished by what looks like a power line strung between those awful towers of galvanized steel.

"But it will be good for tourism!" Maybe. I guess time will tell. Many thought the Eiffel Tower in Paris was hideous when it was first erected.

But from this skier's point of view, you guys blew it. I think replacing the Crystal Chair on Blackcomb with a longer high speed quad as well as opening up more of the west side of Whistler Mountain with a couple of new chairs for the same amount would have been money better spent.

And in case you haven't noticed, the Peak 2 Peak doesn't go from Whistler's peak to Blackcomb's peak; it goes from one fast-food restaurant to another. Maybe it should be called the Eat 2 Eat instead.

Bill Rockliffe

Whistler