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That’s all, folks

When I was, like everybody, given little notice that the Whistler musical, "SNOW" was showing at Millennium Place, I actually cried. It could have been the PMS, but it upset me beyond belief.

When I was, like everybody, given little notice that the Whistler musical, "SNOW" was showing at Millennium Place, I actually cried. It could have been the PMS, but it upset me beyond belief. Why?

Because this Whistler show, funded by "Whistler - Cultural Capital of Canada" grant money, used "professional" Vancouver actors. This money was for Whistler's Cultural development - not Vancouver's.

I couldn't go see what over $70,000 gets these days as I was working that night trying to make a living, you know, as a local performer.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that the local writers got a portion of the money and benefited from this "workshop." I'm just trying to figure out the rest.

Some things you may be interested to know.

Vancouver writers were hired to write a show about Whistler first. So it would appear lucky that any Whistlerites got the gig at all! How much did that cost? Reportedly the first show was deemed so bad by Whistler previewers that Whistler writers were hired to start again from scratch.

The casting call was in Vancouver only.

The pros only got the script last week, had catered rehearsals and made more than the writers did. So the show was considered a "read through" not an actual show.

The show was a one night deal. Yup, that's all, folks. A one-night $70,000 show. I hope it was good. Truly.

If this production were to play again with the pros, the price of a ticket at Millennium Place would simply be too expensive to be viable. So why even fund a production that has little hope of covering its costs if it were to continue?

I've questioned a few decisions over the years about where the arts money goes around here, but this one is just plain insulting to all the talented actors in Whistler who have been doing this stuff for free, in their "spare" time for years. I think local performers with actual money thrown at them could have pulled off a decent show.

In the terms of wasted funds this is Whistler's very own Fast Ferry debacle. It makes me want to move, frankly.

Maybe to Vancouver...

Michele Bush

Whistler

 

We need a free press

With so much going on in this town, it is not always possible to attend every event scheduled. Therefore many rely on our two newspapers to catch up on what happened and to fill in the gaps.

Considerable space was devoted to the announcement of Mr. Jennings's talk on the Olympics on Dec. 3. in both papers, as well as Max's column. When no report surfaced in the Dec. 10. issues, I ascribed this to the tight deadline that week, but expected something on Dec. 17.

I searched in vain until I read Grant Lamont's letter. I believe Grant's words are very important, as they deal with the fundamentals of a free society. The absence of any reports on Mr. Jennings's talk raises some rather dark suspicions in me.

My wife and I left the former German "Democratic" Republic at considerable risk three years after the wall was built. Having been raised on a steady diet of official party Pablum, delivered in state owned party rags posing as newspapers, brought me to the conclusion that this republic I had grown up in was anything but democratic. I hope I am wrong, but why do I all of a sudden have this creepy feeling that I am back where I started 45 years ago? Have both our papers been muzzled because reporting on Mr. Jennings does not fit into the "feel good" picture of the Olympics? Get a grip! A free press is the bellwether of a free society, and we cannot afford to lose that. Make no mistake. This Olympic steamroller is coming, and going. It is we who are left behind to pick up the pieces, and try to make them work again so we can continue as a community. For that, we need a free press!

I wonder whether the editor would like to issue a catch-up report or at least comment on that issue.

Hans Kögler

Whistler

 

New bylaw officers inspiring

OLY and the Fat Cats would like to thank the Holy Fathers of VANOC and the RMOW for inspiring us with new folly even more quickly than we'd anticipated.

The appointment of senior staff (with their annual salaries in six figures) as Bylaw Officers for the 2010 Games was inspirational enough. But to include the Chief of Police of Vail in the draft was not only neighbourly, but downright brilliant. (From the entertainment perspective, that is.)

Our correspondent Jimmy The Cockroach got the inside scoop (Will it be a new world record?) and his full report can be read on our website iocsong.com.

Keep 'em coming boys!

Big Daddy VeeCee

(a.k.a. Van Powel)

Manager, iocsong.com

 

Another public option

A follow up letter regarding your article complaining about high medical costs for our out of country guests.

Operating a clinic is expensive. The costs associated with ambulances, clinic personnel and equipment are a huge challenge to our MSP. As politically incorrect as I am, I do not want our MSP to subsidize our guests' vacations. When I leave the province I make sure I have appropriate coverage; do you think it is any cheaper in the U.S.A.?

Ski resorts in Europe have medical insurance coverage called Carte Neige. You can buy comprehensive coverage for the season or, for a few euros a day, have it added to the lift pass. Everything from off piste rescue to medical flights home are covered. Why can't we offer this to skiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers?

Jim Horner

Whistler

 

Stairs to the future

In response to a letter to the editor last week (Stairs to nowhere, Pique letters Dec. 17) regarding the Day Parking Lot Stair project, I would like to clear a few things up.

The letter started by describing a situation involving a lady falling down the bank in between the day lots and the pathway at the top of the bank. This is exactly why the RWOW chose to spend the money to build these stairs, and most locals who have climbed the rock bank for many years would agree that it is money well spent.

The temporary wooden stairs that were built were just that, temporary. They were placed in the exact location of the future permanent stairs and could not be left in place while the permanent ones were being completed. This was done to avoid excavating the rock bank for the temporary stairs and then replacing the rock when the temporary stairs were removed. The RMOW was acting in the best interest of taxpayers and trying to keep cost as low as possible.

I am not sure what warrants the claim of the project being a debacle. The project is on budget and is going to be completed only a week and a half later than expected. Anyone with any experience in construction would know that it is far from a debacle. They would also realize that these are not typical staircases and are actually fairly complex structures that will outlast us all.

The first staircase was actually opened to the public three days before that letter was published and is a major improvement to the slippery slope that was previously there. The remaining stairs will be opened to the public before Christmas and will be a lot safer than the rock bank we have climbed for way too long.

I would like to thank the local residents, local tradesmen and the Peak Ventures crew, who have been encouraging and positive during this difficult time of year to work outside. I would also like to thank the RMOW for building these stairs with the taxpayers' interests in mind and for their dedication to reducing the overall cost of the project and maintaining their budget.

Shawn Tiedeman

Whistler

 

Pantry Raid a success

A huge thank you to the businesses of Function Junction for their support and donations towards BDO Dunwoody's inaugural Pantry Raid Food Drive for the WCSS Food Bank on Friday, Dec. 18. Unsure what to expect in our inaugural year, we were amazed at the support shown by the 120+ businesses in Function Junction who answered our call for donations, and so generously contributed to a very worthy cause. Your generosity culminated in the delivery of two overflowing cars worth of food being delivered to the food bank just in time for the holiday season.

The response from everyone was fantastic, and on behalf of all the staff at BDO Dunwoody I would like to sincerely thank you all and wish you a Happy Holidays.

Theresa Walterhouse

Managing Partner, BDO Dunwoody LLP

 

Un-sound policy a waste

Shhh, you can watch but you can't listen! It takes quite a bit to get me riled and yesterday in Dusty's was the straw.

I was invited by good friends to meet at Dusty's to watch the World Cup ski race that my son had just won. I was thrilled but cautious as historically watching a race at Dusty's is nothing short of frustrating. For the past couple of years I've made many attempts to watch ski races on the TVs at Dusty's. Many of the national ski races are aired in B.C. at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. (with some exceptions). Anyone wanting to get a day of skiing in knows they have few choices as to where they can watch the races. One year I found a great barista upstairs in Pika's who would happily indulge us by tuning in the race on her little bar TV.

Dusty's has always been a convenient place to meet up, have a drink and watch - the only problem being the loop holes one must jump through. Firstly one has to find the correct staff person to explain there's a race, explain what kind of race and who the Canadian Cowboys/Speed Queens are, then beg to watch it on one TV, any TV, just to watch it.

The problem is the volume. Apparently there's a "policy" of no volume for ski races. I've been sequestered to the corner on more than one occasion where we were allowed volume on one TV as long as it didn't disturb any of the other patrons. Of course what normally happens is that the surrounding tables become fans as soon as they see Canadians racing, but unless your face is glued to the TV you can't hear anything. I've also watched a couple of races on the big screen in Dusty's, but again with no volume.

Yesterday was the clincher for me. On Dec. 19 th my son, Manuel Osborne-Paradis, a Whistler Mountain Ski Club member, a card carrying pass holder at Whistler for 23 years, along with his teammate Robbie Dixon, who is also a club member and pass holder, finished a World Cup ski race in first and sixth spots respectively. I was encouraged by a group of friends, sponsors and coaches to meet at Dusty's to watch the race. Upon entering I was pleasantly surprised to see the race was put on the large screen as well as a couple (not all) of the smaller TVs. But no sound! "It's policy," we were told.

I find it very hard to believe that it would be offensive for a person living in or visiting a ski resort to enter Dusty's and have to sit amidst the excitement and commentary of any one of our snow sports. Why are we not celebrating these local athletes in every way we can?

Unless Dusty's changes it's "policy" I won't waste another minute arranging to watch a race in there. These are local athletes, we have the Olympics at our doorstep and visitors are going to have to lip read, or maybe you'll show the Olympic events with closed captioning so that - god forbid - the music shouldn't stop.

As I'm writing this, the CBC is airing the men's GS in Alta Badia. I'm listening to the commentary and drinking my own beer. Doesn't get any better.

Jane Osborne

Whistler Mountain Ski Club member and pass holder since 1968

 

Why two exchanges?

I recently reviewed the travelsmart2010.ca website to obtain the latest information on the enhanced bus service during the Olympics. While the website had lots of information, I was surprised to find out that all Whistler residents who live north of the village, including Blueberry Hill and Alta Vista, are not going to have easy access to the mountains during the Olympics.

While residents to the south will be dropped at the Gondola Transit Exchange (GTE), everyone else is going to be dropped at a new Main Street Exchange behind Marketplace, which still leaves you an eight-minute walk from the lifts. Alternatively you can walk a couple of minutes and wait for another bus to take you to the GTE but why is this necessary.

Since everyone in Whistler who wants to ski is going to have to use transit, why can't there be a bus stop at the GTE for everyone? The RMOW is encouraging feedback on the Transportation Plan. I would encourage everyone to review the website and let BC Transit and the RMOW know your views.

Gary McDonnell

Whistler

 

Thanks, with a focus on the future

On behalf of the board and staff of the Whistler Film Festival Society, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of our sponsors, supporters and volunteers who helped make our ninth festival our best ever. We would especially like to acknowledge the audiences who showed up in droves this year and helped us increase our overall attendance by 46 per cent.

Over the four days of the festival, we presented an action packed lineup of 80 films, five special events and a concentrated industry conference for film, television and digital media. We attracted some of the best filmmakers in the world including Ivan Reitman (go see his latest film Up In The Air ) as well as some of Canada's top talent. Our guests came from as far as China, Australia, LA and New York and from across the country, and represented some of the leading companies in the entertainment business. The weather was outstanding and the spirit of Whistler was contagious.

With 2010 on the horizon, we have a convergence of unprecedented opportunities before us. Together, they will lead the Whistler Film Festival and our programs to new heights. Our hope is that our Future in Focus fundraising campaign will transform Whistler's Rainbow Theatre into a state-of-the-art digital presentation centre for arts, culture and tourism purposes, which will not only create a permanent home for the festival within Whistler, but also enable us to implement our plans for even greater international impact. All of this we hope will be realized in time for the 2010 Whistler Film Festival and our 10 th anniversary next Dec. 1st to 5th.

We invite you to become a friend of the festival (go to whistlerfilmfestival.com) and help turn our exciting vision into reality. Thanks again Whistler! Here's to 2010!

Shauna Hardy Mishaw

Executive Director & Co-Founder

 

Good advice for renters

I would like to thank the people of Whistler for all the help and advice they have given over the last week dealing with our difficult landlord. After receiving what we believed to be an illegal eviction notice we were faced with the possibility of being homeless in an already difficult climate for searching for houses. Certain people in the Whistler community (you know who you are) have been extremely helpful offering legal advice, useful contacts to talk to, web addresses to check out and things to say and do and also written to Pique to raise the issue. Also these helpful people have assisted in finding alternative accommodation to escape this situation, for which we are very grateful.

In this youthful migratory population there may be a few out there who have never rented before, or never in B.C. I would like to share the good advice we received with others. The B.C. rental laws differ from back home and are often in favour of the tenant but it is important to check them out to see if they apply to your situation. A useful website to check on any rights is http://www.tenants.bc.ca/main . There is so much information on there that is better than anything I can write here.

My best piece of advice is to be very careful renting a house where you share cooking or bathroom facilities with the homeowner. The RTA has no jurisdiction to cover you.

The majority of landlords out there though are genuinely professional, nice and friendly. It is these landlords that we need more of in Whistler to keep the good reputation of this town.

Sam Cousins

Whistler