Sea to Sky RCMP joined forces with several local organizations and the wider community last week to pack a police cruiser with toys and food for those in need.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the annual event returned to Marketplace, hosted in front of Fresh Street Market, with multiple partners pitching in, including the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), the Whistler Fire Rescue Service, BC Ambulance—and even Santa himself.
The donated food, toys, gift cards and cash will go to the WCSS, Whistler’s social-service provider that runs the local food bank and operates more than 30 community programs.
“Thank you so much for your support to raise funds, food, and toys for community members in need,” said WCSS executive director Jackie Dickinson in a release. “I witnessed first-hand how supported and stoked our staff were to receive these items, and most importantly got to see families receive much needed items.”
Whistler men have cocaine seized before being released
Several men were arrested for alleged drug possession this week before the drugs were seized and the suspects released, according to a release from the Whistler RCMP.
On the evening of Monday, Dec. 19, police said officers on foot patrol in the village arrested five males for possession of suspected cocaine in the 4000 block of Whistler Way, in two separate encounters.
Mounties said four of the five men are locals, and all five were released unconditionally “given they had not had prior police contacts and the quantities of drugs they had were small,” the release went on. The drugs were reportedly seized and disposed of.
Police expect reports of mischief to die down after Mounties meet with youth
Local police are hopeful a recent sit-down with several local youth will have its intended effect after Whistler RCMP have received “numerous reports” in recent weeks of youngsters throwing rocks and snowballs at property, and setting off fireworks.
Last week, Mounties noted they have dealt with several mischief-related incidents of late, including three separate reports of rocks or snowballs being thrown. While those incidents didn’t result in any injuries or damage to property, “the calls use unnecessary police resources as members actively follow up with each report, and the incidents cause inconvenience of each complainant’s time,” police said in a release at the time.
With the help of a community-minded resident, officers organized a meeting with some of the youth and spoke to them before turning them over to parents.
While police are not convinced all the incidents are related, they do anticipate a decline in mischief moving forward.
The public is encouraged to continue reporting any instances of mischief they witness by calling either the detachment at 604-932-3044, or, to remain anonymous, Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Hit-and-run reported in Cheakamus
Whistler RCMP continues to investigate an apparent hit-and-run in Cheakamus last week.
Sometime overnight on Thursday, Dec. 15, police said an SUV parked in the 2700 block of Cheakamus Way was hit by an unknown driver, denting the vehicle’s right rear panel.
That was one of 89 calls the detachment dealt with between Dec. 13 and 19, including two theft-from-vehicle calls, seven collision investigations, and two three-day driving prohibitions issued at two separate road checks.
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