The Canada Day Parade is going “green” with a theme of Sport, Culture and Sustainability. That means no motorized floats will be allowed in the parade.
To me, Canada Day is a birthday celebration and does not need a new theme or the ban on motorized floats. Historically July 1, has been celebrated across the nation with parades, social events, and entertainment venues. It is a celebration of the birth of this nation; Canadian accomplishments; the people who built it; and the diverse cultures of the citizens that make up Canada. Earth Day has already had its annual dedicated celebration and we are reminded and encouraged daily to practice the initiatives of going “green.” Our family participates in many of the initiatives and is committed to sustainability.
For the past 22 years our family has cycled into the village to participate and enjoy the Canada Day Parade. In its infancy the parade lasted only a few minutes, with very few floats and groups participating and even fewer viewing the celebration. It has now grown to include many local entries: boy scouts, sports organizations, equestrian clubs, service groups, local businesses, emergency services, and transit services — some motorized, some on foot. It has also attracted outside communities and organizations to participate and be part of this celebration. The parade has become a highlight, lasting 45 minutes, and enjoyed by many locals and visitors.
Now you want to ban the dreaded motorized vehicles that are showcased in our village one day a year. Our Whistler fire trucks, our WAVE transit buses, our citizens showing off their antique cars, and cool motorcycles, our local business vehicles, and of course the dressed up truck carrying the Longhorn dancers. All proud citizens celebrating Canadian heritage and having the opportunity to remind everyone how fortunate we are.
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but what ever happened to the saying “everything in moderation?” Let’s be practical and not destroy past traditions.
Maybe it’s just the kid in me, and we will likely car pool to Vancouver, where we can watch the Vancouver fire boats in action; the Mars water bombers; hovercrafts simulating rescues; and other amazing reasons to celebrate being Canadian. Likely they will still allow candles on the celebration cake and later, fireworks.
Glenn Bayliss
Whistler resident and proud Canadian
Whistler's forgotten OCP
The Bayly-Woods property across from Mons will receive third reading at next week's council meeting. At that time, the 16-acre parcel could be re-zoned from Residential Single (RS-E1) to light industrial space or CTI-1.
At a meeting held last week, members of Whistler Watch decided to support long-range planning when it comes to new industrial uses within the resort. We believe that Whistler's 1993 Official Community Plan (OCP) has not been given its proper due diligence. Any changes to the town's OCP should not be taken lightly. All policy amendments should take into consideration the resort as a whole.
Whistler's OCP is the town's blueprint and all bylaws passed must remain consistent with this planning document. The OCP states that Function Junction is the only area designated for light industrial use. If there's a desire to develop a second industrial park, that too should be located in the south end of the valley near Function Junction and should not be considered without proper community consultation.
While we recognize that Whistler's population and business needs have grown significantly over the years, we also believe that a proper needs assessment, a cumulative impacts study and public consultation must be undertaken before entire sections of Whistler's OCP are deleted.
Whistler may have reached build-out, but we will continue to deal with land issues relating to the location of industrial, commercial and social land uses in the years to come. Moving industrial uses from Function Junction into the middle of the valley is not a minor amendment. At the moment, it appears that the proper decision-making is getting lost with the Mons' property rezoning. Let's strive for the best long-term plan possible and not make Whistler's OCP an afterthought.
Pina Belperio
Whistler
Beware the penguins
To all the naysayers and the rest of the sustainability cult on council who objected to a go-kart track:
Maybe you folks should spend some time at the Village Gate Boulevard bus stop enjoying the exhaust that beltches out of the buses that pollute this valley. I hope then you would change your collective minds and think of the fun and pleasure you have taken away from kids.
Or maybe you would rather they be subjected to the foul-mouthed, drug-dealing penguins with their pants hanging half way down their thighs who hang around the arcade.
Think about it.
R. Irish
Whistler
A positive decision
Thank you to all those who cared enough to voice their concern
over the go-cart operation. If we all had to live within a fair carbon
allotment, an individual carbon credit so to speak, would you really want to
waste it having your kids sit on their butts driving around in circles using
primitive engine technology? Do you really want to support a company whose
existence depends on mass production of pollution and noise?
These kids and their parents, along with the company owners,
will ultimately be grateful to those who are trying to minimize their
impact on the planet today. I like to think that these people make up
for their negative impact by making sure they make a corresponding positive
impact.
There are those who thought that the last wild places would die
faster by the chainsaw and the strip mine then by the gentle harassment of the
wilderness business. But perhaps this no longer holds true.
K. Smith
Whistler
Team effort in bike recovery
Now I have two town bikes instead of none. Thank you Dave Anderson for contacting me after 'spotting' the stolen bike in Bayshores. Thank you Constable Yakub for retrieving my bike and bringing it home. Thank you Pique for making it all possible.
As for the person who took my bike joyriding to a party, your poor judgment has been offset by the bike being donated to Bicycles for Humanity.
Anne Kennedy
Whistler
Paramedics make a difference
“
Can you tell me what
’
s wrong?
”
It
’
s a question B.C. Ambulance Service
(BCAS) paramedics and dispatchers ask a hundred times a day.
If you have ever called an ambulance you will have experienced
professionalism and dedication of the BCAS dispatchers and paramedics. Not
only do they coordinate hundreds of ambulances, administer treatments to give
you the best chance of recovery, but they also provide comfort, reassurance and
support in times of need.
Each year BCAS paramedics selflessly serve hundreds of
thousands of individuals who they may never know or meet again, but whose lives
are forever made better through their work.
July 1-7 is Paramedic Appreciation Week; an opportunity for
British Columbians to publicly recognize the contributions BCAS paramedics make
in communities throughout the province.
This year, as part of Paramedic Appreciation Week, the BCAS is
asking the public to share their stories of how paramedics have made a
difference and thank paramedics for the important role they play in their
communities.
Let the paramedics in your community know how you have been
impacted by their work. Send your letters to:
Sarah Taylor
2261 Keating Cross Road, Block C,
PO Box 9600 Stn Prov Govt,
Saanichton BC,
V8W 9P1
Community support appreciated
After the fire at our house last Tuesday (June 17), we just wanted to say thanks to the members of the Whistler fire department, both professionals and volunteers. Mr. and Mrs. Leidal, as well as the rest of the emergency services volunteers, have been great. The local ambulance crews and the Whistler Village Suites have also been of great support.
A special thanks to Mike Mills and the rest of our Emerald neighbours: we couldn’t have made it without you.
Joyce and Dave Buzzard
Monique Constant
Whistler
Time for action
This open letter was addressed to Prime Minister Stephen
Harper.
Half of British Columbia’s First Nations communities,
encompassing 300 reserves and more than 100,000 people, are caught in the
middle of a vast area of dead and dying forest caused by the mountain pine
beetle infestation.
The pine beetle has destroyed an area greater than that of New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia combined, leaving the residents of
103
First Nations in growing fear of the possible tragic consequences from
forest firestorms this summer.
While the creation of firebreaks around these communities
remains a priority, it is clear this work will take many months to complete and
the reality is that the beginning of the peak fire season is now upon us.
It is therefore critical that we immediately put in place
wildfire evacuation protocols for these communities — most of which still
have no such plans — while working to prioritize those areas where
firebreaks are most urgently needed.
We believe
your government and the
Government of British Columbia
need to work with B.C. First Nations now to deal with the growing emergency
being caused by the worst natural disaster in B.C.’s history.
In fact, the need for such co-operation was highlighted
by all federal party members, including your own government’s members, in
Recommendation 17 of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources’ recent report
on the Unique Opportunities and Challenges Facing Canada’s Forest Products
Industry.
This recommendation calls on
the federal
government, along with the provinces, territories and Aboriginal governments,
to “focus specifically on protecting all vulnerable communities threatened by
forest fires in the areas affected by the mountain pine beetle.”
It also states: “To that end, the federal government must
provide the necessary resources, both to conduct research on these insects and
to directly fund the necessary protection measures.”
Sir, during the last federal election your party pledged
$1 billion to address the pine beetle crisis, but so far only $200 million has
been committed, with less than $5 million being directed to First Nation
priorities to deal with the infestation.
We are writing to urge
you to ensure
your government lives up to its last election commitment to provide $1 billion
in funding to address this crisis, and to do so in a manner that allows the
provincial government to live up to its commitment to provide 20 per cent of
this funding directly to First Nations.
Prime Minister, our urgent message is very direct. Canadians
from across the country have become aware of the crisis confronting the
communities in the interior of our province. Shared responsibility and shared
political leadership must be the order of the day if we are to act in time to
avert disaster.
We respectfully submit that a much more crisis-oriented federal
response and effort is needed to protect our communities from the almost
certain disaster they face if the present level of attention and funding is
maintained.
We therefore urge you to:
• Immediately work with us to set in motion a genuine
tripartite approach to the MPB crisis;
• Put an end to the constant whipsawing of First Nation
concerns between the federal and provincial governments; and
• Accelerate the provision of the promised $1 billion in MPB
funding to B.C. and First Nations.
Prime Minister, we cannot stress enough the very real dangers
facing the 103 First Nations Communities and more than 100,000 people that live
in these mostly remote and isolated areas of the MPB destruction zone. We hope
that you will recognize the need for your government to respond quickly to our
requests.
On behalf of the First Nations Summit:
Grand Chief Edward John
Grand Chief Doug Kelly
Dan Smith
On behalf of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs:
Chief Stewart Phillip
Chief Robert Shintah
Chief Lynda Price
