The upcoming rezoning public meeting (6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Millennium Place) on Alex Bunbury's property on Gondola Way presents a unique opportunity to deal with the deadly dangers facing pedestrians on Gondola Way.
Instead of giving all Bunbury's negotiated $400,000 contribution to the municipality for employee housing as proposed, some of this money should be used to build a long-sought sidewalk along the most treacherous stretch of this steep winding road leading in and out of the heart of Creekside.
Numerous previous attempts to get this sidewalk built to protect the hundreds of pedestrians who regularly use this road have been met with the objection that it's a private road. As such, it's up to the 180 private owners to improve it. The difficulty of getting them all to agree and sign a document makes that virtually impossible, so cars will continue to slide around those corners on the ice while pedestrians jump out of the way. Is this right for a municipality that prides itself on putting pedestrians first?
The concern that a decision to fund and build this sidewalk will create a precedent for other private roads in the valley ignores several vital points that make this a unique case:
• The direct connection between Bunbury's three Gondola Way lots and this road justifies a direct benefit to the nearby community from his zoning contribution.
• This road is a legal public right of way, and has been maintained by the municipality since 1989. It qualifies as a public amenity comparable to employee housing.
• When Bear Creek Estates was approved in 1990, the municipality allowed access along Gondola Way with no agreement from the owners and no compensation. Many of us consider this an outstanding debt owing from the municipality. That decision also sets a precedent for making municipal decisions about this road without approval of the owners.
• This road is the only access for hundreds of residents, many of them renters, including some living in employee housing, who have no cars and are forced to risk their lives daily along this road to get to the bus.
• This road is within 100 metres of a major commercial centre, a huge underground parking lot, a gondola lift, ski rental and ticket centre, a regional bus stop and several local bus stops.
• Based on steepness, curves, pedestrian traffic, proximity to commercial activity, vehicle volume and population density served, a sidewalk along Gondola Way up to Olive Terrace should be the #1 priority in Whistler's "green transportation" plan.
Gondola Way is a disaster waiting to happen. Here's a chance for the council to acknowledge this problem and seize this opportunity to solve it. We look forward to some creative leadership on this issue on Sept. 15.
Peter Ladner
Jessica and David Whyte
Noel and Jennifer Villard
Donnie Carmichael
Andree Janyk
Murray Woods
Start over
I think the matter of a Temporary Use Permit for the Mons property should be started over and referred to council for decision.
I am astounded at the lack of respect shown by staff to the residents of Whistler by not following basic due process, and more surprised at mayor and council for allowing it.
Traffic restrictions, due to the Olympics, already in place are enough of a problem without adding more congestion. Therefore all additional vehicles should, wherever possible, be kept south of Creekside.
There should not be any commercial or industrial use at this site until the OCP has been changed and due process is followed.
I would like to remind the mayor that his first responsibility must be to his electorate, not to VANOC.
Trudy Gruetzke
Hostess/Haus Heidi Pension
Whistler
Nita Lake Lodge has great future
It was very unfortunate that you failed to verify the facts when you reported that Nita Lake Lodge Corporation was in receivership ( Pique , Sept. 3). It would be very easy to focus on the damage done by inaccurate, inflammatory, sensational headline journalistic reporting which is something I might expect to see in my home country which is the world's leading exponent in this dubious lazy art, the UK.
Knowing this headline to be untrue, I wish to express my unreserved support for Nita Lake Lodge. The challenges that the development has faced over the last five years have been well documented and significant.
What has risen out of the fortitude of the developers to bring this project to life is a beautiful world class, award winning and uniquely designed hotel, something Whistler and all of British Columbia should be extremely proud of.
I have been involved in development all around the world with wellness facilities and we very carefully chose Nita Lake Lodge to introduce our brand to North America. I am confident that Nita Lake Lodge will become an internationally recognized leader in bespoke amenity destination travel.
We not only remain committed to Whistler and Nita Lake Lodge but are increasingly excited about the future. The unfortunate headline such as yours only serves to stiffen our resolve to showcase a new world-class brand of wellness in this stunning hotel.
Mitch Powis
General Manager, Loka Wellness & Yoga
A great drive
First, thank you to the driver of the Toyota SUV who, in a construction zone, drove the posted 50 km/h, holding up a few slightly eager drivers behind for quite a long time, only to guide us past a nest of police cars with all eyes, and radar, focused on us. The rest of that drive last Friday evening was so smooth and enjoyable, in the company of great drivers. What a pleasure.
Second, thank you to Peter Kiewit and Sons. For the last two years, probably more, I have wanted to write and say how impressed I have been every time I drive back and forth. The detours were always well laid out and sometimes fun, and one could feel the planning, the care and efficiency, and of course, the tremendous progress. Once I saw a worker at the side of the highway polishing his truck (the yellow and black does look good). Now that's unusual. Not an idle moment. On a day of torrential rain in February 2007 the real human being on the highway advisory phone line warned of ponding in places. I was ready, but found none. At the height of construction the management of run-off and drainage was that good. Thank you to Peter Kiewit and Sons. What a great job, and what a great drive.
Ruth Tubbesing
Vancouver/Whistler
All aboard...
It's time to get on the train. What do we want the people of the world to remember about Whistler?
After years of planning and vast sums of money we are just months from the Olympics and Paralympics. With this massive infrastructure investment it is just the beginning, we have been given an Olympic opportunity, it is ours to nurture and grow for many years to come.
I am sure we have all reflected on the long term impact of the athletes' village with 221 new employee homes at a time when Rainbow is just beginning to deliver another 180 employee homes and 40 seniors' homes. So that's 401 new homes for the next generation of Whistler, for the people who love this town and will carry our community forward into the future. They will be and are today our leaders, our soul and now they will have an opportunity live in their homes in Whistler.
When I drive that brand new highway to Vancouver I can't help but smile. So now an expanded Vancouver airport, a much-improved highway to Whistler, a re-graded Nordic hill and local highway upgrade right into freshly paved and lit village parking lots. Celebration Plaza with its massive footprint for future events, an amphitheatre, serious cabling, inclusive children's playground and of course the Legacy Plaza will be a lasting community amenity.
How about the Callaghan Valley Nordic Centre; does that knock your socks off? How fantastic will it be to have our new high performance centre for athletic training? With the new hostel moving to the athletes' village we will have the existing hostel site on Alta Lake for our community.
In my neighborhood, the Austria House is to become the new home to the Cross Country Connection and WORCA, gifted to our community after the Games.
So that's just off the top of my head. It's time to set aside the politics come together and deliver in Whistler style. We have everything to gain; it's our future!
Scott Carrell
Whistler
Further thought, discussion needed
We are writing to express our concern with the Village of Pemberton council's recent in-camera decision to put out an RFP for the development of an IPP on Pemberton Creek.
There has been no public discussion, consultation nor mandate given to council to move in this direction. Further, to initiate this discussion and decision in private makes council and mayor's motivations and rationale unclear.
Aside from the suspect nature of making this decision in private, the larger picture of IPPs/run of river projects in B.C. are consistently questioned at higher levels than local government. The B.C. Utilities Commission recently released an order, which unequivocally curtails the gold rush towards private power in B.C. The BCUC has concluded that the Long Term Acquisition Plan submitted by B.C. Hydro was "not in the public interest."
Generally speaking, the BCUC decision ensures each energy purchase contract and expenditure will come under more scrutiny to demonstrate if the project is in the best interest of British Columbians. Is this current council so confident that the ramifications of a diverted waterfall and waterways, significantly decreased water flows for fish life, more power lines and endangering Pemberton's only aquifer and water source are in the best interest of Pemberton's long-term future?
The public elected council to make reasoned and rational decisions. Giving away Pemberton Creek to the highest bidder surely begs further thought and discussion.
As concerned citizens we urge you to reconsider and discuss this decision with the public.
Jennie Helmer
Pemberton Watchdogs
Pemberton
Mayor's comment a concern
After reading Jesse Ferreras' article last week, I was a little concerned regarding Mayor Jordan Sturdy's comments about a "supposed" e-mail. Council and mayor were asked a question regarding a topic that may or may not have happened. For Mayor Sturdy to just blow it off saying that is "bullshit" is concerning for a few reasons:
a) I would hope that an elected official would be a little more censored in the way they are addressing the media and not throwing profanity out there to be quoted at a moment's notice.
b) By referring to someone's concerns as "bullshit" and "alarmist" makes it seem that Mayor Sturdy doesn't have to answer to the people for which he represents.
As a public official perhaps Mayor Sturdy should proofread his thoughts before he speaks them, as perception is everything.
Adam Adams
Pemberton
Those were the days
I read with interest Michel Beaudry's column, "A blast from Whistler's past" ( Pique Alta States, Sept. 3) and wanted to add that Whistler did have a thriving windsurfing program for six years that focused on children and families.
It was my own summer business called Whistler Kids Windsurfing and it operated out of Rainbow Park with equipment stored in the first of the log cabins adjacent to the railway and our simulator station and teaching launches were located in the current dog exercise beach at Rainbow Park. We taught an average of 1,200 people each summer, offering weekly lessons to the Meadow Park Sports Centre Daycamp Kids Campers, the Whistler Blackcomb Kids Camp Program, and a hotel pick-up service for tourists and conference attendees. We provided family group lessons (Moms and dads learning along with their kids - talk about a fun family activity! The kids always picked it up faster than their parents) and we did private/semi-privates drop-in lessons at the beach after day camp.
I ran Instructor Certification Programs (CYA accredited) at the beginning of each season. Each day our mini bics and larger boards rigged with sails ranging from 1.5 metre to six metre sails could be seen on the lake with kids sailing. Like ducklings following their mother - all in a line - with the instructor's big sail first followed by all the little sails, each moving in unison with the wind currents. Someone once commented that they looked like butterflies on water.
Initially we'd tether the kids using a line attached to the UJ (universal joint) behind the instructor who was sailing a One Design Mistral with a 7.0 sail for "chug-power." The technique was to keep slack in the rope that linked each sailor, so that the kids were sailing under their own power to get a feel for how the equipment responded to wind and steer on their own while maintaining course.
When they could demonstrate upwind, downwind, tack and jibe skills, and self-rescue they were set loose to sail, under close supervision, a course of buoys we'd placed on the lake at the beginning of each year. In six years total we only ever had to apply one Band-Aid, and one teenage girl (who had been coming back for lessons to us from her home in Calgary each summer, and who progressed to water starts) broke her nose when the mast swung in the wind and caught her in the face. The dad was on hand to take her to the Whistler clinic for a check-up, and he was proud of his tough little sailor-chick who didn't complain a second.
We conducted mock drills for safety and I obtained my bronze badge lifeguard certificate because of the lack of on-duty service, in addition to being a Registered Nurse with Emergency Room experience - safety came first. Every instructor was CYA certified and many had lifeguard certification. Every student learned to tie basic knots, the points of sail, Beaufort's Scale, how to rig their own equipment, and our drills were lots of fun!
When there was NO wind (which, ahem, does occur on Alta) we'd organize fun balance games on the boards in the water and paddling races to build upper body strength and have fun in the sun.
Eventually I sold the equipment to the muni, and unfortunately they never pulled out the stops to keep the program going. Too bad.
Rainbow Beach on Alta Lake receives daily light side-shore breezes that are perfect for teaching beginners. As the wind kicks up in the afternoons, the skill level and excitement can progress.
People used to hangout with us all summer-long too, and bring their equipment, rig-up together, chase each other on the lake and have a lot of fun. Pacific Boarder lent me some great new wide boards and even expert sailors came to try stuff out on little wimpy Alta Lake. The kayak instructor used to come and borrow my line of children's full body wetsuits when he had kids to teach kayaking. I used to rescue umpteen canoeists at Adventures West Beach and people stuck in the reeds at the entry to the River of Golden Dreams, who had drifted downwind from Lakeside Park and couldn't get back.
Guess I will have to drag out the pictures, the skills report card, and the skills badges and donate them to the Whistler Museum so that this important slice of Whistler's windsurfing history is not lost!
Thanks for sharing this with folks.
Paula Shackleton
Whistler
A foundation arts can build on
We would like to sincerely thank the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation for their generous donation, once again, to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Technology Fund for Maurice Young Millennium Place to purchase a new screen for the theatre. The WBF Technology Fund provides high-end theatrical lighting, sound and video equipment that is made available to local groups at an 80 per cent discount. This vastly improves the quality of local events, performances and programs at Maurice Young Millennium Place. Last year more than $38,000 in savings were passed along to local groups, making use of the theatre at Millennium Place affordable.
At a time when funding is being significantly affected, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has been a keen supporter of arts, culture and heritage in our community. We are extremely grateful and recognize their contribution on behalf of the many small, volunteer-supported community groups who use our facility.
Our warmest appreciation,
Sue Adams, Chair
Louise Lundy, Interim G.M.
Maurice Young Millennium Place
Humble thank you
On behalf of festival co-producers Simon Roberts and Nicky Anderton I would like to thank all of those Whistler and Vancouver residents who came out to the first Blank Slate Theatre Festival Whistler on the weekend of Aug. 27th-29th, 2009. The cast and crew of both Problem Child and Some Reckless Abandon were blown away by the audience's generosity, encouragement and laughs!
We'd like to thank the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre for being the most gracious, enthusiastic and flexible hosts and to all of our sponsors for bravely supporting the arts in Whistler.
We'd also like to thank Mayor Ken Melamed and Councillors Chris Quinlan and Tom Thomson for coming out and participating in our Friday night talk back.
The Blank Slate Theatre Festival - Whistler was originally imagined some time ago - thought about, procrastinated on and brainstormed around for years. Its design was... simply put... a way of bringing risky, innovative and imaginative theatre of every shape and size to the town of Whistler. No bells, no whistles, no delusions of grandeur. Just a platform, a jumping off point, a foot in the door to give actors, directors, troupes of passionate theatre performers the opportunity to do what they do best... inspire us, entertain us, make us laugh, make us cry and even make us think.
We hope that those of you who came out to see a Blank Slate show were inspired, intrigued and entertained and we hope that we can continue to mount and produce shows of this calibre for many years to come. Next time you see the name Blank Slate come out and support live theatre - you may be surprised by what you see.
Yours in humble gratitude,
Lilli Clark
Blank Slate Theatre Festival Co- Producer
