Whistler’s Natural Mis-step
Before the advent of the Re-Use-It Centre in Function Junction, recycling-minded folk would leave their reusable items outside the dumpster. This was done in hope that another could appreciate the gold in their garbage. Whether these items were claimed by a person or the weather was purely chance.
Albeit decades late, now we have the Re-Use-It Centre that gives our household possessions that last chance at eluding the landfill. Purchasing used items is not only good for the charities the centre represents, but it also frees us from big business’s circle of supply and demand.
The success of reusing household goods leads to another great need in our community and that is for a centre for used building supplies and used appliances. From the small renovation to the construction of one of the major hotels, trades people often have no recourse for the excesses of these items but to toss them in the dumpster.
When scavenging at the dump was banned we overlooked another method of recycling. And now that Whistler plans to ship its garbage out of this valley we will be inevitably dropping our problem onto another community. Dumping fully operative stoves, fridges, sinks, toilets, bath tubs along with left over building supplies is far from making good on our promise of sustainability.
Dumping goods elsewhere, Whistler's Natural Mis-Step.
John Barber
Whistler
Promotional thirst
The recent world championships weather meltdown has brought me to suggest a new way to promote Whistler Valley to its visitors. I believe the old cliché goes "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This should be taken quite literally and I for one would like to see a new promotional drink dispenser placed in the middle of Mountain Square so Whistler guests can stroll by after spending the day upon the ski hill and receive a free drink. However, instead of getting cups of lemonade, they can receive warm Tropical Punch and icy Slushies. It’s what they’re getting anyway.
Bjorn Gimse
Victoria
Voter apathy at the 2004 federal election was a hot topic – why didn’t young people head to the polls? Their cynicism, that there isn’t any point, that the government doesn’t listen to the people anyway, could be well founded. However, recent events have recharged my faith that our participatory democracy, at least at a local level, is working.
The SLRD board voted on Jan. 11 on the Ashlu IPP, and I commend them on making a difficult decision in the face of lobbying from Ledcor, Kiewit, the Squamish First Nation, and the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.
If the provincial government want people to vote this May, and more to the point, if they want people to vote for them, they should respect the decisions made by local and regional district authorities and by regional planning committees that genuinely represent a wide range of stakeholders. No more overriding local decisions. No more strong-arm tactics in favour of industry.
Independent power production could be a positive thing for B.C., and for our communities. However, it is an industry that desperately needs some regulation. The 50MW threshold for triggering full environmental impact statements needs to be changed. It is too high. We need a list of rivers that are designated inappropriate for IPP development. With over a million cubic metres sitting in holding ponds, any technical difficulties, errors or natural disasters could endanger local communities, particularly, those on flood plains, downstream from the projects. Some rivers, due to the social and environmental costs, are not appropriate for IPPs.
The SLRD tabled a motion to consider the LRMP recommendation to list certain IPP-free rivers at their meeting later this month. Sub-contractor Kiewit stacked Monday’s public hearing by advising employees on their pay stubs that if they wanted to keep their jobs, they should make a show of support for the Ashlu IPP.
There are many of us who will never receive a pay cheque from the wild and beautiful Ashlu, but we will receive the gratitude of our children and grandchildren. Let Minister Abbot, your MLA and your SLRD representative know that you support the LRMP’s long-list of IPP-free rivers.
Local issues need to be dealt with on a local level. Community stewardship should not be undermined by a bunch of suits in backrooms in Victoria. Raise a racket, folks. It’s time for our elected officials to start listening.
Lisa Richardson
Pemberton
On behalf of all of the paddling community members in the Sea to Sky area, throughout British Columbia, across Canada, and in the various international locations where concerns about the future of Ashlu Creek were voiced, we are writing to express our sincerest appreciation of the SLRD board’s decision to reject the Ashlu power project. We are all very thankful for the consideration given the concerns put forward by paddlers during the review of the Ashlu power project.
Beyond the concerns that were put forward specific to paddling, as residents of the corridor the members of the various local kayak and canoe clubs, the raft guides, the small businesses, the instructors, the teachers, and all of those who choose to live, work, and recreate in this area are appreciative that the local government has taken a strong position on the maintenance and preservation of the values which we believe are central to this area.
We recognize the difficult position that the board has been in, as a result of the amount of often contradictory information, and also due to the various community members, and interests, placed at odds over this project.
We believe that government is often challenged to make the right decision, and choose between the usually more clearly defined appearance of short-term financial benefits, and the often less definable and more ethereal values of the community, which are the real future and the truly key value which makes this area unique. How we define our community is as critical as the base of natural resources in supporting the activities upon which our future is founded.
We believe that the right decision was made, and in saying so mean no belittlement of anyone whose values were more centred on the project proceeding. We are appreciative of the leadership and responsive representation of the community by our local government. At a time of lack of faith in many government processes it is refreshing, and ultimately reassuring, to see representative and responsible government in action.
To conclude, we also recognize the burden this has been; to the individual board members challenged to understand the breadth of this issue, to the staff whom we believe did an excellent job of sorting through the bewildering array of information and handling of the extra workload, and to the overall resources of the local government. We thank you, each and all, for your considerable efforts.
Stuart Smith
River Projects Co-ordinator
Squamish
Get a grip
In response to the letter from Jonathan Lazar of Maple Leaf Property Management, get a grip.
The attempt by Mr. Lazar to entice Whistler residents to support London Drugs and embrace a mix of national and locally owned businesses in the name of environmental sustainability (ie. without spewing a tank full of gas into the environment) is ludicrous.
The fact is that the driving force of increasing commercial rents in Whistler is due in a large part to the pressure put on the supply of property by national chain stores that have very little interest in the community of Whistler. Their only interest is obtaining a market presence in our resort. The interest of the landlords in this case is just as self-serving. I attended the Commercial Landlord /Tenant meeting last year and it was the landlord representative that responded to the question of how high is enough in regards to rent increases with the statement: "we want to choke the canary just enough so that it can still sing without killing it."
While this is one of the downfalls of our success as a destination resort, there is no requirement for us as a community to accept the application for rezoning that London Drugs requires in order to make their store large enough to be profitable and to put locally owned and operated stores out of business. It is these small businesses that have made the resort successful. It is these businesses that weathered the lean years. It is these businesses that employed residents year round and contributed to the community in times of need.
The fact is that Mr Lazar’s company has a significant financial interest in seeing the rezoning for London Drugs be successful. They are already the landlord for London Drugs in at least two other locations and would love to keep the business in "the family."
So please Mr. Lazar, give us some credit as intelligent individuals. Keep the smoke and mirrors and promotional rhetoric for your company interests to yourself.
I, for one, am not going to stand for the rezoning application London Drugs requires to open up here. That corner has already garnered the dubious distinction of being the home of one business voted least like Whistler. We really don’t need another.
Christopher Quinlan
Whistler
Here is a really good reason to have more buses. The kids of our communities want to explore the world and go to the movies, waiting around in the Whistler Village for hours before they can catch a ride home doesn’t make any sense. Do you really want our teenagers to hitchhike; they already do to get to work.
Why not have more buses during regular daytime hours? Whistler doesn’t need more cars. With the Olympics coming you need to get your employees to work on time.
T. Pasenow
Pemberton
I am writing in an attempt to state the blatantly obvious. Pemberton needs a better bus service to Whistler. Not wanting to bore non-Pemberton residents stupid here, there are only two WAVE buses per day from Whistler to Pemberton and four from Pemberton to Whistler. The remainder of the daily service consists of four Greyhounds from Whistler and three from Pemberton. In terms of fare pricing and punctuality, I think both services are very fair. In terms of quantity/regularity, they leave a lot to be desired.
I regularly travel from Pemberton to Whistler on the 7.08 a.m. bus. Quite often, this bus is standing room only and over-crowded. After submitting my suggestion for more buses to WAVE, I was informed that this was down to Pemberton Council to fund. I disagree. The majority of people travelling to Whistler from Pemberton are doing so because they work in Whistler. Whistler is reaping the benefits of employing these people, not only in terms of its workforce, but also in terms of their spending patterns. Where do you think these people will be spending most of their money on a daily basis, Whistler or Pemberton? In my opinion, it’s not only wealthy destination tourists who contribute to the economy of this resort. Not sure how the board of a certain lift/real estate company views this?
James McNaughton
Pemberton
Our family would like to send a public and very heartfelt thank you to the Whistler Fire Department. The work these men do is astounding.
Last Friday night in -18 degree temperatures the Whistler Fire Department battled the blaze that engulfed our cabin in Whistler Cay from 7:30 p.m. till 4 a.m. and then stayed behind till 7 in the morning to make sure it did not re-ignite.
They were working in awful conditions. The melting insulation was igniting as it poured beneath the metal roof making it next to impossible to get at and deal with. The toxic black smoke and frigid temperatures made the job a nightmare.
But what is most amazing to us is that with all the danger and stress they were under, they managed to protect so many of our treasured belongings and photographs by moving them out of harm’s way.
I can't tell you how delighted and amazed we were when Assistant Fire Chief Rob Whitton emerged from the blackness and came over to us with our collection of 20 years worth of ski passes of our family that had been hanging in the hall.
It is difficult to properly express how grateful we are. Thank you so much.
Shirley Broadfoot
Vancouver/Whistler
The "loveraiser" held at Uli's Flipside last Tuesday surprised everyone, especially those organising the event. With over 150 of Whistlers old time locals giving up their love and their hard earned money, and the overwhelming amount of whistler businesses donating prizes the event was able to raise over $8,000.
As part of the organizing team, I would like to thank all those who made the night such a success, all the businesses and individuals who donated so much and all the friends who gave their love and money. Also, to the staff at Uli’s for working the event for free and donating all their tips to the cause. The proceeds will go to a Buddhist foundation, Tzuchi, which has arms all throughout Asia, helping those effected by the tsunami. It’s great to see how much love Whistler locals have to offer and how many resources those locals willingly give to help those in need.
Seamus, Oriel, Lorna and Mac
Whistler
The Land of the People
I write this letter to the editor to explain why people of Whistler and people of Nias Island should form a grass roots relationship for the sake of our generations and theirs.
The locals call this island "Land of the People" for obvious reasons; this island was never colonized by a foreign power, even when the rest of Indonesia was under Dutch and Japanese control for more than three centuries. There is also so much to say about this land and people other than its history; the most impressive was their ancient skill and knowledge to maintain the balance of nature and progress. In fact, when the tsunami hit their land on Dec. 26, 2004, they owed their lives to this skill. Their protected mangrove forest along the shoreline acted as a natural barrier and their elevated houses ensured most of their traditional homes are still intact. Out of 600,000 inhabitants on this island "only" 300 died, and 500 are missing, when the other landmass further away from the epicentre suffered much heavier death tolls. Considering that this island is the closest landmass to the epicentre of the earthquake that put the tsunami in motion, it was quite a miracle.
The people of Nias have inhabited the island of Nias for generations; some experts trace their existence even from the Stone Age era, the era when there was no human settlement anywhere on the North American continent. They have their language, their own culture and their own way of life. They've lived side by side with nature for centuries and somehow have kept the delicate balance between progression and preserving the nature of the land until now.
Beside their unique culture, the people of Nias are also blessed with a rich variety of vegetation and fauna. One of the most popular animals from Nias is the Mynah bird or "beo." These "talking birds" are found in Nias’s forests and some are domesticated as pets. There are also waterfalls, gorges and caves around the island that are left alone from human intervention.
But the one factor that stands out from all other beauty of the island of Nias is its beaches. Nias is one of the top 10 surfing beaches in the world due to its "perfect wave." Surfing is the single most popular tourist attraction of Nias. There is also a world competition going on in this island in surfing. Other than surfing, tourists from all over the world come to Nias for deep sea fishing and scuba diving.
Even though their traditional houses are intact, right now most of their public facilities and infrastructure are in ruins because of the tsunami. Most of the bungalows along the beaches where most of the tourists stay were also wiped out. Fortunately it was not tourist season in Nias when the tsunami hit; most of the surfers come between April and October.
The need to help these people is clear and the time is now. It will be our challenge to show our compassion and ability to help these people with our resources. Whistler can offer its expertise in developing a world-class resort and giving this community a chance to be in the international media spotlight. In return, Nias can be our ambassador to Southeast Asian countries and Australia due to its proximity. As we embark to be a model community here in Canada, this relationship can also be a model of International co-operation between communities around the world. Imagine helping to build a world resort community from absolute ruins, it will be Whistler's greatest gift to the world and especially to the people of Nias. Also imagine Whistler's story being told by people half way around the globe as an act of gratitude because we were there when they needed us most.
Jay Wahono
Whistler
