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Library to become Whistler’s Olympic home

Whistler's library will be closed for up to 40 days as the resort municipality and its partners transform the building into a hosting space during the 2010 Games.

Whistler's library will be closed for up to 40 days as the resort municipality and its partners transform the building into a hosting space during the 2010 Games.

It will be called the Whistler Discovery Centre and it's Whistler's opportunity to have its own "home" during the Games.

"We're looking for a place to have Whistler-themed hosting," explained Michele Comeau, communications manager with the resort municipality, in her report to council Tuesday night.

"It (the library) is an amazing space to tell Whistler's stories."

Comeau said they are mindful of the importance of the library to the community and will attempt to lessen the disruption as much as they can, possibly allowing residents to take out more books over an extended period of time.

"We want to minimize the closure as much as possible," she said.

The proposal, which has been in the works for more than a year, met with council's approval,

"I think it's very exciting," said Mayor Ken Melamed.

"This is really an opportunity for Whistler to tell its story.

There's half a million dollars set aside in the Games' operating budget.

Councillor Eckhard Zeidler stressed that the money in that budget comes from the additional hotel tax revenue granted to Whistler from the province. As such, it's not from local taxpayers.

That hotel tax money must go into tourism-related projects.

"This is money well invested in that," said Zeidler.

The municipality will be working in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee to use the library as the satellite site of Canada Olympic House. The main site will be in Vancouver.

It will also be an opportunity for Whistler organizations, government and Games partners to host events.

 

100-day countdown draws near

Following its tradition of marking Olympic milestones, Whistler will be celebrating the 100-day countdown to the Games in style.

An all-day party is in the works for Wednesday, Nov. 4, kicking off with a Spirit breakfast for the community, followed by afternoon and evening events throughout town.

All the major resort partners are involved.

"This is true Whistler Inc. in action," said Kristen Robinson, festival director for Whistler Live!, the organizing body coordinating the live sites programming in the village during the Games.

One of the main events is a community celebration at the conference centre from 4 to 7 p.m.

"It's an open house Whistler après feel," said Robinson. "That's what we do so well."

Community members will get the chance to meet 2010 athletes. And of course, as always, there will be countdown cake.