Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Several Wizard, Solar chairs allegedly stolen

Police Briefs: 'Robust' plan in place for May long
news_whistler6-1-e1c499bad9951a50
wizardry Several chairs from the decommissioned Solar and Wizard lifts were allegedly stolen this week. photo courtesy of liftblog.com

The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is hoping for the return of several chairs from the decommissioned Wizard and Solar lifts that were allegedly stolen from a village parking lot this week.

Whistler Blackcomb confirmed that the lift chairs, which pre-sold at $300 apiece, with proceeds going to charity, were likely stolen sometime on the evening of Sunday, May 13.

"This is a very unfortunate loss for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and has resulted in a reduction in the amount the chair sale could raise for charity," said Mei Madden, director of the foundation.

Initially there was some confusion around the chairs, with at least one individual believing they were available for free—he returned the missing chair on Monday. But several items were still missing as of Tuesday, May 15, including chairs, chair bubbles and related hardware. The foundation was forced to refund several purchases this week when the missing items had not been returned.

The chairs were left unattended overnight in Lot 8, although the area was cordoned off to vehicles with rope. Each weighing upwards of 135 kilograms, Madden said relocating the chairs from the lot would have taken "significant effort."

Police gearing up for busy May long weekend

Whistler RCMP is preparing for the May long weekend with "a robust operational plan," according to police.

In a release, Staff Sgt. Paul Hayes said there would be, as usual, an "enhanced police presence" in the community, including officers on foot, bike and vehicle patrol, as well as plainclothes officers. Sea to Sky Traffic Services will also be on-hand for enforcement, and the public can expect road safety checks throughout the weekend.

"There will be zero tolerance for liquor violations, disturbances and criminal activity," the release said.

For years, the May long weekend stood out as a blemish on Whistler's event calendar, with the holiday being marked by violence on several occasions, including the fatal stabbing of a Burnaby teenager, Luka Gordic, in 2015.

But with a ramped up police presence, hotels beefing up security, and the RMOW launching the Great Outdoors Festival as a way, in part, to attract a different demographic from the scores young adults who have historically visited the resort from the Lower Mainland, the holiday has seen a drop-off in criminal incidents in recent years.

During the 2017 holiday, police issued around 60 violation tickets, the majority for open liquor. The only violent incident police relayed to Pique last year involved a male who was reportedly punched at a nightclub.

Darcy man's license suspended following vehicle rollover

A Darcy man had his driver's license suspended last week after rolling his vehicle into a ditch in Birken, police said.

At about 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 11, Pemberton RCMP was advised of the single-vehicle incident on Pemberton Portage Road. Upon attending, an officer discovered the SUV upside down in the southbound ditch. A witness told police he heard the crash and assisted the 71-year-old driver out of the vehicle by breaking a window.

Detecting signs of impairment, the attending officer demanded a breath sample from the driver, which he failed. The man was subsequently issued a 90-day roadside suspension and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.