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Provincial government very focused on tourism

Bob Barnett hits on some very relevant points in his editorial "Tourism industry on its own in post-Olympic world" (Opening Remarks July 21, 2010).

Bob Barnett hits on some very relevant points in his editorial "Tourism industry on its own in post-Olympic world" (Opening Remarks July 21, 2010). The most salient, in my view, is "We are not in it alone but it is such a diverse 'industry' that getting everyone moving in the same direction can be difficult." I might add that the tourism sector is made up of a large number of fiercely independent, entrepreneurial operators who consistently are shifting to find their own sweet spot.

One challenge not addressed is that our competition, around the world, is just like us. The result is that the world is an ever-changing place with no shortage of tourism opportunities for local and international visitors. With an increasingly competitive global tourism climate, innovation in our own market is not enough; better innovation than our competition is what is required. And that requires strategy, cohesion and support of each other.

The 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games came just in the nick of time. Faced with a massively global recession, the likes of which has never before been seen, our province was poised to make the best of a bad situation. While I cannot say that we can commend our federal and provincial governments for seeing it coming (who did?) you must admit it is a good thing they had a plan underway.

Barnett points out that policy and infrastructure are vital to our diverse industry. I won't begin to list the plethora of forward looking investments that the province convinced the federal government to commit to alongside our industry. They have all been complained about by some group, within or outside our industry. And yet these investments started to pay dividends during the Games and will continue to for decades to come.

And let's not forget that many tourism businesses were not happy even before the Games.

Let me say that doing things the way we always have, in an environment that is ever changing, just does not make sense. Barnett points out that Tourism Whistler and its partners have wisely taken a step back to regroup and determine the new landscape. So too must the CTC. Yes, partnerships will be the key. But getting back to the first point, partnerships only work if all partners are pulling in the same direction. We have far too many examples where the industry cannot agree within its own ranks.

To this end consider what the provincial government has done. Within government there are numerous ministries and departments that are vital to the success of tourism. It is likely the most complex sector of the economy. B.C. had a marketing agency that was operating separately from their government cohorts that our industry relies upon. Now there is a more cohesive group within government with a Deputy who can dialogue, with authority, with her counterparts. Unlike the CTC there have been no layoffs. Of the staff that departed all but the leader were voluntary.

Currently underway is a Tourism 2020 planning process. Industry is involved, as are the Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and government staff are leading it. This process will allow us all to understand what we learned from the Olympics in the current environment and with the comprehensive research that was undertaken before, during and after the Games so B.C. can capitalize on what actually occurred.

We already know that awareness of B.C. and our specific destinations is higher than ever and higher than we imagined, but we also know that many of our markets are just not ready to travel, yet. We will soon be seeing first-time visitors arriving from the United States thanks largely to the endorsement garnered from the Games.

In the meantime the focus has been on fishing where the fish are. Local travel initiatives have been the focus for this summer. Discussing how to leverage budgets from other ministries to benefit tourism has taken place with some success. Reviving the branding from the Games to leverage the good feelings we all shared and the world remembers us for has been the marketing thrust.

But there is more beyond marketing. There is a resort economic impact study underway, in co-operation with industry. Our backcountry safety reputation is being examined in conjunction with industry and with other ministries. The finance minister and industry participants are busy educating federal counterparts on the issues that they control that have an impact our industry's success. Blue Skies is one, the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (FCTIP) is another.

Many of these initiatives have been started or the flames stoked through the ministry's Council on Tourism made up entirely of industry participants. If anything, the provincial approach to tackling the post 2010 Olympic Games opportunity is not simplistic but rather exemplifies the co-operation that we have identified is so important to our success. The sooner we recognize that the collective interests actually advance - not compete with - the individual interests, the sooner we will leverage the tremendous opportunity that is ripe for the picking.

The marketing team in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts is experienced and seasoned. We have the infrastructure in place like never before. We have an amazing product and amazing operators. Now we need a shared vision of where we want to go. That process is underway and there will be lots of opportunity to participate. The British Columbia Government shows strong interest in tourism after the Olympics. They may have been Canada's Games but B.C. stands to be the prime beneficiary. If we stay focused.

Stuart McLaughlin

Chair, Minister's Council on Tourism

President Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. and Whistler Water Inc.

 

A simple equation...

Let me ask you this: If a bus leaves Function Junction bound for the village at 5:49 p.m., and the next bus leaving for the same location bound for the same destination isn't until 7:11 p.m., is this really a step towards a greener community? No, it is not. In fact, in five years of living in this community I have never wanted to buy a car more. Yes, I often ride my bike, but sometimes it rains. Sometimes I need to look presentable when I reach my destination. And you know what? There are some people in this town who (god forbid!) don't LIKE riding bikes, and that should be acceptable.

You know what isn't acceptable? An hour and 20 minutes between busses.

Lindsey Ataya

Whistler

 

The litmus test

From a municipal perspective, the Official Community Plan and Whistler2020 are our foundation, the touchstone of everything we do as a community. The vision incorporated into these documents should form the litmus test for every big decision we make - does this action help achieve our vision? Here's a reminder of Whistler's oft-quoted vision: "To be the premier mountain resort community - as we move toward sustainability."

Do you believe that locating a toxic asphalt plant permanently beside a residential neighbourhood, less than 400 metres from the nearest doorsteps, helps us achieve this vision? I don't.

Do you believe that doubling the size of a rock quarry, also located right beside this same neighbourhood, and without any solid rationale, helps us achieve this vision? Do you believe that increasing a quarry to 60 acres, without even knowing the remaining lifespan of the current quarry, and destroying old growth forests and other sensitive ecosystems designated for conservation/preservation under the RMOW Protected Areas Network in the process, helps us achieve this vision? I don't.

Incredibly, these are the proposed actions that members of our council (except Zeidler and Forsyth) are currently supporting.

To top it all off, these decisions that consider major contraventions to Whistler's current Official Community Plan - significant decisions about land use planning and zoning designations in a contentious area beside Whistler's newest, greenest and densest neighbourhood - are being made just as the community-wide process kicks off for a formal and comprehensive revision of our OCP. Don't you think it would be prudent to demonstrate due and sincere respect for this process and allow the OCP update to evolve and solidify our land use vision for the future, and then decide what to do about the asphalt plant, instead of making hasty decisions that will negatively impact our community? I sure do.

T. Symko

Whistler

 

Zoned out

I cannot believe the latest escapade at the last council meeting. Why would council try to push the zoning amendments for Cheakamus Crossing assfault (pun intended) plant and quarry expansion when it is already such a contentious issue?

Many of us have expressed not only our opposition to the current "deal" but also our disappointment and hurt that this is even happening in our town... especially with our eco-friendly mayor!

I encourage everyone who is as outraged as myself to contact our "elected" council members and let them know how you feel about how this situation is being handled. Go to the Cheakamus Crossing Facebook for all the information you need.

I know that asking the municipality for information even as simple as the original zoning bylaw took three visits and not everyone works nights and can hang around the hall waiting for information.

I hope that we will be able to find a way to stop and reverse the council's (or should I say staff's) insistence on going down this path despite the community's opposition.

The wise thing for council would be to leave in the hands of the OCP builders and run their next election campaign on the issue. We need a council that respects the wishes of the community and doesn't wiffle waffle on policy.

I am reminded of the London Drugs zoning controversy. I too wanted a place I could buy socks for less than $9 in Whistler but when Mayor Melamed finally explained the reasoning - how permanent zoning changes can be and how they can limit municipal control over development - I understood and changed my opinion. Now he seems to be "zoning out" and in a completely different "zone" all together.

One positive I can say is the exception to the rule of behaviour at the council table has been the voices of Mr.'s Zeidler and Forsyth. I applaud their willingness to work for the people of the community that elected them.

S. Kannegiesser

Whistler

 

Of certainty, safety and patience

In the ongoing Cheakamus Crossing asphalt plant discussion a few of many things are concerning. One is the certainty that Mayor Melamed mentioned at the last council meeting. Rezoning legitimizes a non-conforming operation. The option of down zoning after giving the asphalt plant proper zoning would guarantee a negative court judgment if down zoning was attempted after the fact. The only certainty that some members of council are creating by this course of action is that there will be an asphalt plant in Cheakamus Crossing in perpetuity, or at least until the quarry is exhausted. This is not about certainty for the residents of Cheakamus Crossing, it's about certainty for Alpine Paving.

Another of many concerns is safety. If the administration was really concerned about safety why were they originally satisfied with just notifying the potential purchasers in the disclosure statement of the existence of the asphalt plant? Mayor Melamed's safety argument is vacuous and comes too late in the day to be over legitimate concerns for residents' safety. They promised ambient air testing this summer in Cheakamus. Summer officially started June 21 and fall is quickly approaching on Sept. 22. No one can guarantee the upgrades to the approximately 30-year-old plant will make it safe. The only certainty of safety the residents will have is if the plant is moved.

One last comment for today and that is about purchasers' patience. The residents would be patient if council was going to use its powers as a business procurer, business licensor and zoning to force the plant to move. The paving season is almost over; what is the rush? The plant's not going anywhere for now it seems and there are only a few people looking for certainty that the plant will stay in the same place, albeit 150 metres.

I would love for everyone in Whistler to attend the council meeting on the 17th and share their questions and concerns with our elected officials and staff. If you think that "something smells in Whistler" please show up.

Tim Koshul

Whistler

 

The glue that holds society together

I just really wanted to write a letter and let everyone know how much I love and appreciate random acts of vandalism.

Just this past weekend, after a long and difficult night of slinging drinks at a local pub, I couldn't wait to get home and remove my liquor-soaked dress, have a hot shower and rest my aching body upon my freshly washed sheets. As I walked through the village towards my car, I came upon a group of young men (20-25 years old), who were having what I could only describe as a "magazine fight." Apparently this entails gathering as many copies of free publications as possible and using them as weapons against each other. Ripping, tearing, throwing etc. Long story short, making a huge mess for no other reason than to destroy things.

When I voiced my opinion to this group of individuals, I was told who I could fornicate with and where. Oh thank you, I thought to myself. I have had trouble getting a date lately and this was clearly great advice.

Although the altercation had angered me, I tend to be a pretty non-confrontational person, unless I am severely provoked. In this situation, if I hadn't worked all night and I had had a few cocktails in me, I would have ripped a proverbial strip off this group of amateur hooligans. And, judging by their apparent combined IQ, which is too small a number to even mention, it wouldn't have been difficult.

Even though I could feel the heat rising to my face and the agitation quickly accelerating, I continued towards my destination and the promise of sweet silence at home. After some deep breaths and a brisk walk to the car, I was already feeling better. As I reached to unlock the door, I discovered that someone had kicked the driver's side mirror clean off... All of the heat and anger that had so recently dissipated returned in a furious wave of overwhelming emotion. I was so mad, I could've screamed, but I didn't.

Instead, I knelt on the pavement and started picking up the pieces of my shattered mirror, and the plastic housing that once surrounded it. As I crouched there, with tears of anger stinging my eyes, I thought, "Why me?"

And then I realized it didn't matter, it didn't have anything to do with me. It was just some stupid person doing a stupid thing, a classic case of an individual's personality and brain capacity being in perfect harmony with one's actions. It was another group of individuals similar to the ones I had just encountered, who were complete idiots and got a thrill out of a random act of vandalism.

I have great faith in the ways of the universe and I do believe that one day those in question will get what's coming to them. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out against acts of idiocy when I come across them, and I encourage each of you to do the same. Life goes on...

Rather than getting in touch with the dealership immediately to find a replacement for my broken mirror, the handywoman in me first decided to see if I could fix it. I went to the hardware store and purchased a tube of contact cement. When I returned home to start on my project I realized that no amount of contact cement would fix my problem, and my efforts would be fruitless. So, not only was I out $300 to replace the mirror, but my own stubbornness had now put me out an additional $12 for a lousy tube of contact cement that I didn't even need.

Then the wheels started turning and the light upstairs came on... I would carry this tube with me at all times, and the next time I encountered a random act of vandalism, I'd find two balls and I'd use the contact cement to glue them somewhere where the sun didn't shine.

Turns out, it was actually the best $12 I ever spent.

Crystal Gillingham

Whistler

 

Free thinking

I read with great interest Bob Barnett's Opening Remarks (Aug. 5, 2010). With all this talk about how Whistler needs to come up with new and innovative ways to bring people to town, I came up with a great idea.

How about offering free parking? "Just imagine" how many more people would come to town.

Steve St.Arnaud

Pemberton

 

Regulate bow hunting

This letter was addressed to the mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique for publication.

Re: Bowhunting within the RMOW boundaries

On behalf of Whistler Residents Opposed to Urban Hunting, we would like to ask that mayor and council regulate bow hunting within municipal boundaries; or at minimum in areas that are used recreationally.

According to the B.C. Hunting Regulations, most municipalities have local bylaws restricting and controlling the use of weapons, firearms and bows within their boundaries. And Whistler does in fact have a bylaw that makes it unlawful to discharge a firearm within our municipal limits (Firearms Regulation Bylaw No. 874, 1991). Provincial regulations do, however, stipulate "No Hunting" areas making it illegal to bow hunt within 100 metres of a dwelling or playground within the RMOW.

That means that during hunting season, it is legal to shoot a bear, for example, with a bow in Lost Lake Park; in the Interpretive Forest; along the Callaghan Road; or any hiking or biking trail (so long as the hunter is 15 metres from the centre line on the road and away from buildings as noted above).

This presents a huge safety risk for residents and visitors; their dogs, not to mention the animals. The wounding rate for animals shot with bows is significantly higher than those shot with firearms and they often suffer a slow and agonizing death.

The Conservation Officer Service has had recent reports of bow hunters within our municipal boundaries as well as reports of hunting out of season and illegally discharging a firearm within municipal limits. The Get Bear Smart Society has heard from many concerned residents and visitors of bow hunters legally shooting bears along Highway 99 and the Callaghan Road. To make matters worse, the Callaghan bears have become a well-known roadside attraction. They are being habituated by dozens and dozens of viewers every day. Hunting them would be like shooting fish in a barrel . We can't imagine this is a "sport" for which Whistler would like to become recognized internationally.

We would therefore ask mayor and council to direct staff to draft a bylaw to prohibit bow hunting within the RMOW boundaries.

We urge you to act quickly as the fall hunting season for black bears will open on Sept. 1 for bow hunters and Sept. 10 for all other hunters. It lasts until Nov. 30. It will resume again next spring from April 1 to June 15. Grizzlies are not allowed to be hunted in this area.

Thank you for your consideration and action.

Sylvia Dolson

On behalf of Whistler Residents Opposed to Urban Hunting