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Letters to the Editor for the week of Jan 12th, 2012

SHARE Whistler
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SHARE Whistler

The Community Foundation of Whistler would like to thank the Pique Newsmagazine for its enormous generosity in 2011. SHARE Whistler generated much needed revenue for many of our community's non-profit organizations as they start a new year.

SHARE Whistler raised over $14,000, plus an additional $5,000 for The Community Foundation of Whistler's Community Fund. This endowment fund is a growing legacy for our community, allowing the Community Foundation to support projects that address the changing needs of our community.

We were pleasantly surprised to have had 1,873 volunteer hours contributed to the SHARE Whistler campaign. Thanks to the support of donor's dollars, together with the many enthusiastic volunteers hours, the goal of securing $10,000 of a matched donation from Pique Newsmagazine was met!

Monies will be distributed in January 2012. One half of the $10,000 from the Pique Newsmagazine pledge will be distributed to the various groups whose volunteers submitted their hours worked during the campaign: Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, Whistler Arts Council, Whistler Community Service, Whistler Public Library, Whistler Museum and Archives, Whistler Search and Rescue Society, and AWARE.

The Community Foundation of Whistler would like to thank these participating non-profit organizations for their enthusiasm in submitting their volunteer hours. Whistler has passionate and dedicated volunteers who make the community special and made SHARE Whistler a success!

Thank you to the following businesses for their participation during our six week campaign: FRUV freedom Wear, Splitz Grill, Get Bear Smart Society, Whistler Community Services, Chateau Cleaning, Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium, and Parlour Hair Saloon. The buzz created through their random draw prizes added awareness to the SHARE Whistler campaign.

SHARE Whistler is about sharing our time, our money, and our commitment together to help make a healthy caring and prosperous community. The action of giving creates a vibrant and engaged community. Caring to share is alive and growing in Whistler.

Carol Coffey, executive director of the CFOW

Whistler

Time to be plastic bag free

The other week I was at the (grocery) checkout line and the woman before us grabbed a plastic bag for her one small item. She had a coat on with pockets as well as a decent sized backpack where the small item could have easily fit. This is not the first time I've seen this happen.

If that bag is not recycled, it will end up in a landfill where it'll stay there indefinitely. (Landfills lack air, sun and microbes that help in decomposition.)

Whistler can easily go plastic bag free — even with the guests that come up here. Have each store carry canvas bags. If you require a bag with your items, you'd simply put a deposit on the canvas bag. You can keep the bag, or return it for the deposit. Each store and hotel would have a small supply of bags and would be able to both give back and take deposits. Bags can be kept as a souvenir and the deposit will go towards the making of new bags.

I already own and use a bag made from the street lamp banners that I picked up at the Farmers' Market. I also have a "passport" created and distributed by the downtown Squamish shops. I have no doubt that Whistler and the shops here can also work together to achieve a plastic bag free Whistler.

Kalee Eder

Whistler

Celebrating a life

Our community, like yours, has been mourning the loss of Duncan Mackenzie since the tragic (avalanche) accident that claimed his life on December 29th (Pique Jan.5, 2012).

Duncan was well known in the small town of Princeton. Twice in the past three years we had the pleasure of having him in our community. He came first to help us build mountain bike trails, and then he came back to build us a bike park. His unwavering energy, never ending enthusiasm and that great big smile matched only by the twinkle in his eyes will be missed by us all. Duncan was like having a big ray of sunshine in our town.

Four of us travelled to Whistler on behalf of Duncan's many friends in Princeton that couldn't make the trip to attend his Celebration of Life, and to say good-bye to our friend.

The event was very much a celebration of his life, attended by hundreds who were lucky enough to have had the pleasure of knowing him. All of us had experienced the "D show" and we were there to share all the great memories Duncan has left us with.

He left us too soon but he had accomplished so much in his 30 years. He had reached and exceeded many of his dreams, something that many others never realize in much longer life times.

We would like to thank Whistler Blackcomb for hosting a very fitting tribute to Duncan, it really was a first class evening. It showed that he was more than just an employee and that you, like the rest of us, appreciated and adored him.

We cherish the trails and bike park that will be a constant reminder of him. Duncan will remain in our hearts forever.

Trenna MacLeod, Chris Pemberton, Vic Sagorski and Kelley Cook Princeton, BC

Mike Fromontreal is amazing!

I wonder at times if listeners can be too hard on the musicians trying to perform. Of course music is subjective, but do we really stop to think about the lifetime of hours that a great musician puts in to be a master of their craft? Ten thousand hours or 10 years is a going theory of what it takes to be truly great at anything.

Mike is a musician's musician. He is someone who pique's the interest of the uber musical geek. Those of us who are on our own journey to master an art form while finding our voice within it view a guy like Mike as someone pretty darn amazing. He is incredibly talented, and sits in a class of musicianship that is well beyond the average cover act you see in town. If you want to see a genius at work, then you go to Mike's show, you listen, you close your eyes, you let his music permeate and for goodness sake don't ever ask him to play Wonderwall.

It's unfortunate that the average listener often gravitates toward what they know, and often with prejudice. As someone who has performed in clubs for many years, it's always the same, and Mike hits it right on the head in the recent article about him.

I've stood next to people, while watching a creative and personal original act perform, and heard comments that the artist should play something they can sing along too. Maybe we should have a bit of patience for the hard work that went into creating those originals, along with having the balls to get in front of a room of people and present a piece of their heart and soul to a group of people who will always be divided.

Some will get it, many won't, and you'll be asked by a bar manager to play more like the Hairfarmers, who are great, but why would we want to compete with their act by trying to be them?

There's a lot of different music to be presented, and they're already doing what they do better than anyone, so let them have it and let others be who they are too.

I play in a band that does only covers, but we do classic metal, classic hard rock, some 90's grunge, and a few modern rock tunes. Even as a heavier cover band, we contend with perceptions that we should play softer, we should be earthier, or what have you. So far, Pemberton gets us...Whistler is not quite there yet.

Of course, we're a throw back to an attitude that has been in hiding in Whistler since The Boot was torn down. I guess the years of practice, the hours spent daily to learn the music, not only on my instrument, but with the band too, means little to those who can cast the hard work aside with a single comment, "why don't you sound more like someone else?"

It's also pretty heart breaking to those of us who are playing the game and adapting to the focused perceptions of those who are willing to give musicians gigs.

How many of us would willingly walk into a room, get in front of a crowd, and put ourselves into a situation where we knew walking into it that we're going to hear variables from great to horrible? You might get heckled. You might have a beer bottle thrown at you, or you might get a standing ovation.

The justification for myself is seeing a head bob, or toe tap. You can't win 'em all, but maybe "'em all" should be a little less picky and a little more appreciative of the efforts being made.

You might pour your entire soul into a song to find one person clapping, some glazed looks, and a lot of nobody caring and the next day when you do the same song you find that everyone loved it. It's a fragile place to exist, it would be like going to work every day not knowing if your boss is going to tear you a new one or pat you on the back, it's very unstable.

Let's maybe take an extra effort to appreciate the efforts of others. I'm not saying that you need to pretend a bad act is great. I'm saying that when you hear a guy like Mike, and you think, "he's pretty good" don't follow that thought with, "I wonder if he knows how to play Brown Eyed Girl?"

Maybe stop your mind all together and just listen. Be in the moment; let him take you on his journey. It's a pretty special one.

Monty Biggins

Whistler

Thanks for advice

On Jan. 9 Whistler Community Services Society's, Senior Needs Action Planner: Melissa Deller and The Mature Action Committee hosted David Sweeney from Dundee Wealth to present on "Income for Today, Tomorrow your Spouse and your Estate."

Thank you to those who came out to enjoy this very informative evening. A special thanks goes out to David Oakes from Rotary Club of Whistler for the use of a projector and screen. I hope that everyone walked away knowing how to ensure their money outlives them. 

Melissa Deller, Senior Needs Action Planner, WCSS

Whistler

Bumps on hold

My wife Janet had a freak skiing accident on Blackcomb on Saturday morning. The Blackcomb patrol and the doctors (whose names I regret I have forgotten) were amazing. They arrived promptly, stabilized her in the cold wind, and got her off the mountain as quickly as they could, since she was in intense pain. I also have nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses at the Whistler Healthcare Centre. They provided excellent treatment and made sure that she was safely sent to the hospital in Vancouver. Her surgery went very well. The bumps will have to wait for awhile, but she is doing fine.

Robert Campbell

Vancouver

Transparency and Accountability?

In (a) letter (last week) Chris Quinlan made an impassioned plea for the continued support of the Whistler Sport Legacies (WSL) by relating romantic reminiscences of Olympic glory while questionning my personal motivations in calling for a review of our community's relationship with the WSL.

I would like to assure both Mr.Quinlan and any other skeptics that I remain committed to the development of amateur sport as demonstrated through the long standing hosting of both Callaghan Country's Benchmark Nordic Ski Series and early and late season nordic ski team training camps for locally based athletes.

The issues I raise have nothing to do with sport development, but rather address the poor performance of an ineffective management regime that reports only to itself.

Two months after losing his seat on Council, Mr. Quinlan still seems perplexed by the demand of the public for the two qualities they seek in public officials; transparency and accountability.

Brad Sills

Whistler

Centre worthwhile

Thank you for Nicola Jones's‚ excellent article cooling off the overheated rhetoric about the Whistler Centre for Sustainability (Pique Jan.5, 2012). One more thing that could have been included was the partnership with The Natural Step Canada in the Whistler Centre's work in Williams Lake.

As a board member of The Natural Step (TNS) Canada and a Whistler property owner, I applaud the commendable work that the RMOW, Whistler citizens, businesses and community organizations have done over the years to shift this municipality to a sustainable footing based on the TNS framework.

I realize that the journey has sometimes been costly and off-course, but it has produced results.

Whistler is a beacon to other communities around the world struggling towards a truly sustainable future.

More power to the Whistler Institute for figuring out how to keep that flame burning without any load on Whistler taxpayers.

Peter Ladner, Vice Chair The Natural Step Canada

Whistler/Vancouver

Time for morality laws to go

Great article by Sarah Berman on the craziness of our morality defined liquor laws (Pique Jan5, 2012). It is clear that a long time will pass before this righteous notion goes away and it is getting worse in some ways.

At a bar in Vancouver airport, four people all over 50 were asked for ID. I was 80 and tried to be funny by saying I would vouch for the young people.

The waiter very blandly insisted saying he was told he must. This is almost as stupid as the booze tax imposed so outrageously.

No one has the right to say what, when and where one should ingest anything.

If these morality laws, including "drinking in public," and the sin taxes that go with them were gone, no one would have a problem.

Terry Smith

Garibaldi Highlands

Entrepreneurial spirit alive and well

Bratz Biz held its sixth annual youth craft fair on Dec 3, 2011. Once again, the day proved to be a success with more than 600 shoppers coming through the doors of Whistler Secondary on a bluebird Saturday morning to take advantage of the many superb crafts and confections being sold by young artisans from Whistler and Pemberton.

The selection was amazing and the prices were affordable. From the ever-popular sock monkeys and VR Chocolates to pet beds, jewelry, hand crafted dolls and yummy homemade treats, shoppers were in awe of the quality and value. Many of the vendors were sold out before 1:00 p.m.

Matthew Johnson's "Magic Show 2 Go" wowed children and parents alike with its unique brand of entertainment. Face painting by Paintertainment and photos with Santa and his elves were a highlight. The Whistler Singers also contributed to the holiday mood by performing a selection of seasonal music and "Buns on the Run Café" provided hot, tasty food for hungry shoppers.

There were well over 45 artisans between the ages of eight and 18 participating in this year's event, some for the first time and many who were seasoned veterans. A few of these young entrepreneurs have gone on to establish small home based businesses and are earning a part time income.

Despite a few hiccups and a slow start to fundraising nearly causing the cancellation of the event, Bratz Biz was a tremendous success. This would not have been possible without the generous support of our community. Thank you to our major sponsors: Nesters Market, O'Mara Construction Management, The Whistler Grocery Store, Thornhill Real Estate Group, Whistler Traveller, Whister's Creekside Market, Walsh Restoration, Corona Excavations, Local Automotive, Southerncross Construction, Stonebridge Marketing, Whistler Construction Co and Windsor Plywood.

Without the support of the many sponsors and in-kind donors listed in the Jan 12 thank you ad, Bratz Biz would not be able to continue its mission to support, enable and empower young artisans to take concepts from an after school craft idea to a saleable and sought after product. To everyone who had a hand in this year's event, thank you!

To the parents whose kitchens became workshops or feared the dining room may not be cleared before Christmas — bravo! To the vendors who dug deep and improved their product well beyond what was juried early in the process — congratulations! To the volunteers who gave time they did not have to give — love!

We could not have done this without your diligence, hard work and belief in this project.

Carmen Laslett, Susan Shrimpton, Carrie Allard & Julie Hamilton, 2011 Bratz Biz Event Organizers

Whistler

Hot Tubs not so bad

I would like to address the bad rap that hot tubs received in the feature article last week "Getting Greener," (Pique Jan.5, 2012). I don't believe it is a fair observation that hot tubs use "heaps of energy."

Hot tubs of today use a third of the energy they did when I started in the industry 18 years ago, most (cost) less than $15.00 of hydro per month. From new recycled insulation replacing that awful foam, steel frames and electronics to make them run less with (fewer) chemicals, the hot tub industry is doing (its) part to change and in a small way help make Whistler more sustainable. Let's not forget our main purpose here in Whistler is to host and entertain skiers with a fantastic holiday experience, including gondolas and hot tubs.

Whistler is on a journey; and we should enjoy the ride.

David Nash

Whistler