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Clarification on forestry

I would like to clarify a few points in the July 15, 2010 story, "Community forest logging on standby.

I would like to clarify a few points in the July 15, 2010 story, "Community forest logging on standby." First, the headline may be misleading to readers as logging will still occur in the Wedge Creek, Powerline Hill and Brew Creek areas in the fall of 2010. The tenure carries a legal obligation mandated by the Ministry of Forests and Range to harvest 20,000 cubic metres of wood per year. This is substantially less than has been harvested in the past by private companies and by assuming management of Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) the RMOW and its partners are able to ensure that other values such as trails and recreation sites, wildlife, water supply, and scenic viewscapes can be protected.

Second, the CCF Society approached Canadian Snowmobile, along with other commercial recreation operators, during the public consultation process. The society is pleased that, as a result of this dialogue, we are working toward a mutually agreeable solution, and logging in one area proposed on the Canadian Snowmobile tenure will be postponed. The CCF Society is committed to continue working with local stakeholders such as commercial recreation operators, WORCA, AWARE and the general public as it develops its harvesting and management plans. This dialogue did not occur when a private logging company controlled the tenure for the area.

Finally, the wildfire fuel management project being undertaken in Kadenwood is under the direction of the RMOW Fire Services department, not the CCF, as part of a long-term plan to reduce wildfire risk in our community.

Heather Beresford

RMOW Environmental Stewardship Manager

 

Examining gifts

RE: Enough already ( Pique letters July 15)

I too am grateful to live here in Whistler, something I often mentioned during my more than 100-ski-day chairlift conversations with visiting tourists from all over the world this past season. I certainly agree that we live in one of the most beautiful places in Canada. But I would go further and say the most beautiful place in the world.

I feel what the letter writer has not focused on was the true "gift that we have been given," which is the people that have chosen to make Whistler home.

Many of the people that will and have benefited from WHA housing's "gift" are people that work in some of Whistler's primary industries and have deep roots in the community. Unfortunately, many do not earn the salaries to allow them to become homeowners in this market. If these people "moved out of Whistler for awhile," Whistler would not be the Whistler it is, because the people are the heart and soul of this community.

WHA acknowledges these people's contributions and many of us are grateful to people such as Councillor Ted Milner and Steve Bayly for their efforts and foresight in helping to create the WHA, which is allowing me and my soon-to-be new bride to purchase a home in beautiful Cheakamus Crossing. This will allow us to grow even deeper roots in this community and continue contributing to a community we love.

It's not whether or not we are grateful for this "gift" - we all are - it is about allowing heavy industry such as the asphalt plant in an area not zoned for such activity.

Another of many concerns is the administration process which has been exposed during this process, including; $400,000 in public money that has been set aside for "legal fees" or "legal costs" or as stated on the RMOW website, the "RMOW making a financial contribution to the project" for a business that appears is not zoned properly. Using public funds and not explaining to the public what is the actual application of the funds, is concerning enough that, though I am grateful, I am also alarmed and concerned.

Please do not misinterpret the community's concerns as being a sign of ungratefulness or complaint, but instead a sign that many of us are truly engaged in our community.

I see our concerns as a sign we are part of something special, where people become engaged in their community and this is the "amazing gift and we're truly thankful!"

Tim Koshul

Whistler

 

Literacy in Whistler

Summer is here at last and Saturday was a wonderfully hot, busy day in our little town. I was lucky enough to be able to escape, briefly, into another world thanks to a wonderful literary event orchestrated by Whistler Reads.

Matthew Hooton, the author of Deloume Road, was in town to read from and discuss his first novel. This wonderful tale told from many perspectives is set on Vancouver Island, where Matthew grew up and Deloume Road is an actual place. Matthew talked about his experiences as a writer and his creative process and answered questions from the assembled group.

As a community we are very lucky to have groups such as Whistler Reads, The Vicious Circle and many active book clubs to keep us in touch with the rich literary talent that is on our doorstep. In May Lawrence Hill came to read and talk about his novel The Book of Negroes courtesy of the Vicious Circle. We look forward to more of these events.

The Whistler Public Library (WPL) is thrilled to be a part of this cultural literacy trend and is happy to partner with literary groups who wish to share a published author with our community and the many visitors who enhance our town. As with all Canadian libraries we are committed to free access to library services and programs. The Community Room in the WPL was designed with these types of events in mind and they can be arranged by contacting Lauren Stara, the WPL's Library Director. It should be noted that the WPL's Community Room is also a meeting room and as such is in great demand with For-Profit and Not-for-Profit groups, so if you are planning an event please think ahead!

Thanks again to all of you who make our lives a little richer by your continued advocacy of literacy.

Happy reading.

Alix Nicoll

Chair of the Board of Trustees,

the Whistler Public Library

 

Sharing trails, concerns

This letter is aimed at the aggressive "local" guy riding a mountain bike with no helmet who approached my son and I as we rode our e-bikes home from town, shouting that we were not welcome on the Valley Trail and that what we were doing was illegal.

First of all, what we were doing was perfectly legal as electric bikes are in fact allowed on roads and bike trails in B.C. provided: 1) They have less than 750 Watts of power and a top speed of 32 km/h on flat ground. 2) The riders are wearing helmets. 3) The driver is 16 years of age. 4) The bike has a pedal throttle and functioning brakes. Since we met all of those criteria we were in fact perfectly legal and doing our part to keep one more car off the roads for a short trip to the village.

On the other hand what the irate biker was doing was not legal since he was riding without a helmet which is in contravention of B.C. law, which states: "185.1 (1) A person commits an offence if that person operates or rides as a passenger on a cycle and is not properly wearing a bicycle safety helmet."

Perhaps a bit of education and an open mind to new things is necessary before badgering people while you are the one in the wrong.

Share the trail, ride safe and wear a helmet.

Brian Finestone

Whistler

 

Butt out

I was biking the Zappa trails the other day, which passes over sections of the disc park, and was confronted with a strong smell of cigarette smoke wafting over from the people playing there.

Don't get me wrong; I am not against smoking. But what I am very concerned about is the fire hazard. Having been here last year for the fire on Blackcomb Mountain and the fact that we are currently on Extreme Fire Hazard notice, I am wondering what is happening to the cigarette butts that are being created by these smokers in our forest? Are they just flicking them or digging them into the ground with their shoes?

I guess what I want to say is for the sake of Whistler and all that love and live here, please take extra caution. Or better still, please don't smoke anywhere near our forests.

Lisa Johnson

Whistler

 

Tourism Whistler looking ahead

With the Games behind us, Tourism Whistler has been taking stock of the past winter and planning its future directions. Despite the amazing positive impacts of the Games and the corresponding optimism generated, the last months have given cause for some sober reflection. The question on many peoples' minds has been, 'What now?'

While Whistler has, without doubt, been blessed with enormous opportunities, these opportunities will languish without considerable hard work and a willingness to step up, adapt, evolve and even re-invent.

Like many businesses in Whistler, Tourism Whistler has recently paused for some honest self-assessment, and has invited its members to provide insight and assistance in confirming its future strategic direction. Through a series of member listening sessions and an online survey, members have responded with meaningful feedback that indicates an enthusiasm to work closely with the board and staff of Tourism Whistler as the future of the Resort is shaped.

These engagement sessions have revealed several key themes:

• A strong desire that marketing campaigns focus on the Whistler experience rather than price

• A wish to target more destination markets, shifting away from regional ones

• A recognition that marketing must continue to expand into new social media

• A general desire to connect guests with a greater breadth of what is uniquely Whistler

• A request that Tourism Whistler provide its members with marketing tools and education to increase brand alignment and reach

When asked about the biggest challenges Whistler faces, members' answers vary. The list includes:

• A stagnant global economy

• A rising Canadian dollar

• Intense competition from other resorts

These are not new challenges, but very real nonetheless.

When asked about the biggest opportunities Whistler faces, members' were consistent - Post-Games Legacy:

• New tourism products (Nordic Facility; Sliding Centre; Celebration Plaza)

• New infrastructure (Upgraded Highway; Athlete's Village)

• Increases in awareness of Whistler in key markets that no single marketing campaign could ever achieve (3 billion television viewers; 15,000 media covering the Games, with 4,000 hosted in Whistler)

Members are in definite agreement that Whistler must grasp the opportunities created by the Games with both hands. With tourism infrastructure that is the envy of destinations everywhere, new opportunities in emerging markets such as China and Brazil, and indications of a recovering economy (albeit slowly), Whistler does have reason for optimism.

Hard work lies ahead, however. Tourism Whistler must be nimble and flexible and evolve with the ever-shifting landscape. As the world continues to change, Tourism Whistler must be innovative with its marketing, prudent with its resources, streamlined with its operations, and engaged with its members.

Tourism Whistler is dedicated to Whistler's ongoing success, and, along with our members and partners, will continue to do our part to strategically position Whistler as the world's premier mountain destination.

On behalf of our board and staff, I would like to thank all of our members who participated in our listening sessions and survey, and who are committed to ensuring that Whistler be the very best it can.

As engagement is an ongoing and iterative process, we welcome continued feedback and encourage members to visit the Tourism Whistler member website ( www.membernet.tourismwhistler.com ) for a detailed summary of the member engagement sessions, and Tourism Whistler's future directions for 2011.

Barrett Fisher

President & CEO

Tourism Whistler

 

The Whistler Way...

Turns out the RMOW has been pumping out websites faster than you can shake your head. For what reason I do not know, other than to waste more tax dollars, as at least two of them are almost the same. The new "OCP" and "The Whistler Way" websites are both running accessibility pages in a "competitive stance" to our own non-profit society website, Whistlerforthedisabled.com (WFTD).

Maybe their staff have nothing to do now that the 2010 Games are over so they think they can keep busy by creating duplicate websites to justify their four per cent salary increases per year that residents have to pay for...

Regardless of the fact that all the funds we generate on the WFTD website go back into supporting people with disabilities or various disability groups throughout B.C. and Canada; and not to mention the increased accessibility over the last few years via new infrastructure for people with disabilities that I had worked on my own to bring into the Whistler community - at no cost to taxpayers; and the many people and families I have helped come to Whistler to spend their money here, that really turns me off. I guess it is the RMOW employees who think they can do these things and get away with it. And I guess they can.

I was so disgusted that the RMOW advisory group that I had been volunteering for since 2006 had become nothing more than a propaganda machine for 2010 Legacies Now that I decided to quit the group. At the end of my resignation letter I stated that "I wished everyone the best of luck." I guess that was only a one-way deal though.

So this is the way the RMOW staff and 2010 Legacies Now repay your efforts and continued support for a community, by stabbing your non-profit organization and knifing you in the back at the same time? I am missing the "inclusion" of people with disabilities that they tell everyone they live by.

I don't think their website should be called "The Whistler Way." A better name for it would be "The RMOW Way" or "The Wrong Way."

Hugh Tollett

Director, The Whistler for the Disabled Society

www.whistlerforthedisabled.com

 

Good from bad

The saying is stated in many different ways, but the one we know best is "From all bad things come something good" and although it is a tough statement to believe in a world that seems to be riddled with bad news stories, we are glad to say that there is truth to this statement.

This past Saturday, Whistler Friends held the eighth annual Whistler Balding for Dollars at the GLC. The event was more proof that we not only live in the most beautiful place in the world because of our scenery, but also because of the people who live here. To the tunes of the Rutherford Creek Trio, the Blackcomb Barbershop shaved 15 heads of participants who raised $11,500 to support kids with cancer at BC Children's Hospital. This brings our eight-year fundraising total from Balding for Dollars in Whistler to $135,000. That is $135,000 that residents of Sea to Sky country have directed towards making the lives of these children much, much better. A huge thank you to all who participated and those who supported with donations - you are truly making a difference.

Thank you also goes out to our great sponsors of the event: the GLC, The Whistler Question, Walsh Restoration, Blackcomb Barbershop, The Adventure Group, and Mountain FM. Thanks also to Rob and Jon on the morning show on Mountain FM for your support of the event. Don't worry Rob the hair will grow back, we promise.

Two other great things happened on Saturday. Wigs will be made from the hair of two very brave ladies whose hair was long enough to be used in making wigs for children with cancer. The rest of the hair that was shaved will be sent to the Gulf in aid of the oil clean up efforts (hair is very absorbent).

So, if you didn't believe it before, then hopefully you believe it now - that "From all bad things comes something good." See you at Balding for Dollars 2011.

Dave and Wendy Clark

Co-Founders

Whistler Friends