Here's a look at what was making headlines in Whistler nine years ago, during the week of March 7, 2014.
BC Parks backs heli-skiing and backcountry huts in Garibaldi Provincial Park
After nearly a year-long delay, the province released amendments to the Garibaldi Park Management Plan that allowed heli-skiing to continue in the provincial park under tenure to Whistler Blackcomb's Whistler Heli-Skiing, despite considerable opposition from the public.
BC Parks supported developing a series of backcountry huts in the Spearhead Traverse and continued heli-skiing. It also came out against expanding mountain biking opportunities in the high alpine, particularly in the Singing Pass and Musical Bumps area, to the chagrin of local biking organizations.
"Even with well-designed and well-managed trails, there is significant risk associated with allowing mountain biking in this area of the park, where this activity could result in cumulative environmental impacts, particularly in the wet alpine meadow habitats associated with the Singing Pass area," the plan stated.
Under the management plan, heli-skiing was allowed to continue until 2016. However, the amendment stated that by "no later than 2026," it would develop a recommendation on the future of heli-skiing that meets the park's vision, which "could include continuing, adjusting or eliminating heli-skiing" from the area.
Tough Mudder tops event funding list
Coming up on its third year in Whistler, the annual Tough Mudder competition received additional funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) to operate the military-style yearly competition held at Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley.
The Tough Mudder race is an international endurance event series in which participants attempt six- to 19-kilometre long obstacle courses with significant sections through the mud. The event brought about $7.5 million to the region, with $4.2 million of that spending occurring in Whistler in 2013.
Whistler company approved for medical marijuana production
In 2014, Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation (WMMC) became the ninth licensed commercial medical marijuana company in the country with approval to start cultivation by Health Canada.
The marijuana company started with a large 10,800-square-foot industrial facility in Function Junction and expanded in 2017 to a 6,039-square-metre building in Pemberton. In 2019, WMMC was sold to Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis in a massive $175 million deal.
Youth Ski Race spins off millions in resort economy
An economic impact assessment report found that the annual three-day Whistler Cup event generated $4.4 million in economic activity in B.C., with $2.4 million in Whistler in 2014. The popular youth-focused event is entering its 30th anniversary and will occur between April 13 and 16 this year.
Whistler council against four-year terms
Whistler’s mayor and council came out against planned changes to the Local Government Act that extended the elected term from three to four years. In unanimous opposition, council sent a letter to the provincial government opposing the extension.
Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden raised concerns that the extended term limit could add a barrier for young people wanting to get involved in politics and could create divisiveness on council. "You could have a wacky mayor... who could be an embarrassment to the town for four years," Wilhelm-Morden said at the time.
