Pique’s Impossibly Epic and Informational Summer 2025 Preview. - By Braden Dupuis
06 OPENING REMARKS In which a mostly nondescript surveillance van inspires a bout of local déjà vu in editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers call for stronger bear safety measures in Whistler, and offer thanks for a recent fundraiser.
24 RANGE ROVER The prospect of deep-sea mining is turbocharging legitimate angst and fear of yet another blow to planetary health, writes Leslie Anthony.
54 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Food prices are still on the rise across Canada, and the Sea to Sky is not immune, writes tobias c. van Veen.
10 FIRE SEASON Wildfire is the topic of the day in Whistler, with a recent local workshop and a smattering of items on the council agenda.
12 BEAR AWARE Whistler residents filled the Maury Young Arts Centre in support of stronger bear policies at the May 13 council meeting.
34 REACH FOR THE RINGS Whistler’s Maia Schwinghammer intends to make the most of her Olympic berth after pre-qualifying for Milano Cortina 2026.
38 THE TREE WHISPERER A new book from Pemberton writer Michelle Beauregard explores the connection between humans and trees.
COVER See you on the paths, in the forest, at the dock, and on the dancefloor! So happy the summer is finally here! - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Emotional (surveillance) states
DO YOU EVER GET the feeling you’re in a very stupid or clumsy version of the Matrix? Or a low-budget simulation that just doesn’t quite have all the bugs worked out yet?
Every other week for me, but especially so after a recent bout of déjà vu in Whistler.
Last summer, I wrote about unidentified drones buzzing overhead in my neighbourhood, conspiring with other life stressors to send me into the forest in search
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
As the old cliché goes, history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes, and this week, my stressed-out paranoia was again set alight when a dark, unofficial-looking van loaded up with high-tech camera gear and out-of-province plates passed me in my neighbourhood, inspiring immediate thoughts of the daylight, neighbourhoodcasing scene from Home Alone (me of course being Kevin McCallister slowly chased by the burglars in this scenario. Where is a nativity scene when you need one?).
And of course, when the Resort Municipality of Whistler responded to my queries about the strange van, it was all above-board (apparently a municipal contractor scanning roads for a pavement management project, who said they will ensure future vans are clearly marked with decals. In my defence, the police did agree it was suspicious, “especially with the spraybombed paint job.”)
So if you saw this van and, like me, are a
paranoid neurotic, you can stand down.
The déjà vu in this case came when I excitedly sat down to write about my experience with the creepy surveillance van; how work and life stress can conspire to drag us down; and how I sought solace in the natural space around me… and then realized I wrote almost the exact same thing less than 12 months prior.
But when you work at a newspaper for any extended stretch of time, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Days and weeks bleed together into months, then years; assignments pile up and compound on one another; before long it’s all one big tangled ball of wordplay, notifications and emails.
Do it long enough, and you don’t have to read more than a few words of an email to know if it’s a legitimate story idea or
and staying connected with friends and family as good ways to curb anxiety and stress—all objectively good things. Then it subtly shifted the conversation to the possibility of being prescribed medicine, which, hey, you could get at this chain of pharmacies!
No pressure, but that sure is convenient.
Of course, we shouldn’t need advertising phishing emails to remind us to take care of ourselves.
Often we just need to do a better job of slowing things down, and listening to the very obvious messages our bodies are trying to send us. Like during last month’s federal election, when I realized my nagging, persisting, uncomfortable acid reflux symptoms may be less physical and more due to stress and anxiety.
After some overdue introspection and
and economic landscape is wreaking havoc on the mental health of Canadians, with nearly half the population (42 per cent) reporting increased anxiety.
Rising cost of living was the primary source (52 per cent), followed by political tensions and uncertainty with the U.S. (38 per cent), personal challenges (27 per cent), and global events (25 per cent).
Concerns varied across demographics, with older Canadians more worried about political tensions, younger Canadians struggling with personal challenges, and those in lower-income households most concerned by the cost of living.
The Canadian Mental Health Association marked Mental Health Week this month, from May 5 to 11, during which it encouraged people across Canada to “look beyond the surface
As much as we like to pretend the daily stresses of our lives and jobs—no matter the industry or trade—don’t affect us, the unseen compounding effects
can sometimes be surprising.
another hackneyed PR or sales pitch clumsily disguised as vital news.
But then, sometimes some gems sneak in with the advertising, like when a national chain of pharmacies (which shall remain nameless for our purposes) sent in late March a helpful tipsheet for dealing with trade-war anxiety.
It suggested things like maintaining physical activity, practicing mindfulness, prioritizing sleep, limiting caffeine and alcohol,
a couple hours in the sun on the docks at Barking Bay, taking deep, deliberate breaths I had neglected for weeks, or possibly months, I resolved to take a vacation.
As much as we like to pretend the daily stresses of our lives and jobs—no matter the industry or trade—don’t affect us, the unseen compounding effects can sometimes be surprising.
And according to research from Abacus Data in late February, our current political
and see the whole person,” according to the CMHA website. “By embracing honesty and vulnerability, we open the door to deeper connections and the mental health benefits that come with it. In doing so, we can create a ripple effect of courage and understanding across the country.”
We’re all on our own path, fighting our own battles, writing our own stories. Whatever your challenges, help is available in Whistler— head to mywcss.org for more info. n
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tragedy in
Whistler
a reminder to strengthen Bear Smart measures
We were saddened to hear about the woman injured by a bear in Whistler and wish her a full and speedy recovery. Encounters like this are frightening, and our hearts go out to her.
It’s also a heartbreaking loss for the community. A mother black bear was killed, and her three orphaned cubs remain missing, despite volunteers searching for more than a week. Their chances of survival are now very slim, and many are mourning their loss.
As bears emerge from hibernation, they seek food and space, often bringing them into closer contact with people. Black bears are not inherently dangerous—but like any mother, a bear will react defensively if startled, especially while protecting her young.
Whistler must invest in improved signage, public education, and enforcement. Residents and visitors alike need clear, consistent messaging: keep dogs leashed, stay alert, avoid wearing headphones, and secure garbage and other attractants—especially in spring.
These small, practical steps can help prevent suffering on all sides. Bears shouldn’t die simply for being wild, and people shouldn’t be harmed because we failed to prepare.
Let’s learn from this and commit to protecting both people and wildlife. Read more at TheFurBearers.com.
Lesley Fox // executive director, The Fur-Bearers
Big thanks from Big Kev
That was an evening to remember!
I’m still overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for this gimpy ol’ fart at Merlin’s during Friday night’s Rock For Big Kev on May 2. My heart is beyond full. I can’t believe how much fun was had. It was so good to see the heart of this community shine like that. Whistler has a heart bigger than most communities, and always steps up to look after its own when they’re down. It’s very humbling when the recipient of all that support is yourself.
So many friends, old and new, all having a great time. Thank you to everyone that came out. It warmed my heart to see each and every one of you. I may have set my personal hug record for one night! If you didn’t get a hug, rest assured that I’ve got one waiting for you the next time l see ya! And even if you did get one, there’s always more where that one came from.
Many, many thanks to Shauna Hardy Mishaw, for being the unstoppable force that made this happen. Along with Carol, Quinlan, Stephen, Peggy, Glenn, Angie, Mike, Martha, Andrew, Wilson, all the
staff at Merlin’s, and everyone else that helped to make this a Whistler Shindig of epic proportions! It was great to rock out to the sweet sounds of Ruckus Deluxe (Chad, Ian), Taylor James, Jaxson Mishaw, Rutherford Creek Collective (Glenn, Gary, Brett, Rajan), West Coast Front (Stephen, Raj, Andrew, Rosalind, Geeta), Big Love (Erik, Brancho, Radim, Raj, Mark), and Red Chair (Adam, Cam, Derek, Bannock).
And of course, l can’t forget the musical glue between the sets, the lovely Ace and
“I may have set my personal hug record for one night!”
- KEVIN MIKKELSEN
Scotty, Whistler’s legendary Foxy Moron and Vinyl Ritchie, for keeping the party going while the bands changed over.
Thank you to Chris for MCing the shit outta it! It truly takes a Village to raise the spirits of an idiot living with MS.
Now THAT was one helluva night of music l may never forget! Let’s do that again!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE!!! AND LOTSA LUV TO YA ALL!
Kevin “Big Kev” Mikkelsen // Whistler n
OmBelievable WellnessRetreat
In collaborationwith Nita Lake Lodge
ActivityHighlights
•GuidedMeditation
•WellnessWorkshops
•Healthy GourmetMeal
•Breathwork
•Colddip,sauna
• four col
• Gong , C
•Drumming by Lake g y artwork al bowl healing Vinyasa
• 5 eleme ours ryst nts
June12,2025
JAMESCOLLINGRIDGE
Whistler confronts wildfire uncertainty with bold new plans and collaborative science
AS WILDFIRE SEASON LOOMS, THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER UNVEILS BYLAW CHANGES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND INDIGENOUS-SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS AIMED AT REDUCING FIRE RISK
BY LIZ MCDONALD
WITH FIRE SEASON arriving earlier and burning longer each year, Whistler is pushing forward with a suite of new wildfire risk mitigation measures—ranging from forest fuel-thinning and emergency planning to updated bylaws and collaborative research.
At the heart of the work is a recognition wildfires are no longer rare events, but a growing threat made worse by climate change.
“We are acutely aware that the wildfire risk is rising in Whistler and it’s the single biggest climate change related risk and vulnerability for all of us here,” said the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) manager of climate and environment Luisa Burhenne at the May 13 council meeting.
The RMOW has treated more than 100 hectares of high-risk forest, representing about one-third of its 2030 target.
NEW BYLAW CRACKS DOWN ON FIRE RISK ACTIVITIES
Council is poised to pass changes to its Fire
and Life Safety Bylaw that would require construction and landscaping crews to obtain a Wildfire Exemption Permit any time high-risk work is planned near forested areas— regardless of the time of day—during periods of high or extreme fire danger.
Previously, some activities like grinding, hot works and chainsaw use could continue until 1 p.m. under a “high” rating without a permit. The updated bylaw closes that loophole and responds
a lot of time speaking to them about a number of projects,” he said.
FIRESMART PROGRAM EXPANDS ACROSS THE VALLEY
Meanwhile, the municipality’s FireSmart program is growing fast. In 2024, it supported 24 workdays with neighbourhoods, reached 352 properties with its chipper service, and
“We are acutely aware that the wildfire risk is rising in Whistler...”
- LUISA BURHENNE
to new climate patterns, including earlier “crossover” conditions—when temperatures exceed relative humidity, creating extreme fire behaviour risk earlier in the day.
An online application portal will also be launched to simplify the permit process, replacing the paper system currently used.
Mayor Jack Crompton noted limits to construction will increase build times, and industry response is mixed.
“There’s diversity of opinion in the building community, but we’ve been spending
introduced “FireSmart Credits” to help residents take immediate action following home assessments.
The program also made inroads with Whistler’s youth, announcing plans to integrate wildfire education into local school curriculum in 2025 using new modules developed by FireSmartBC.
One lingering question on residents’ minds is whether installing fire sprinklers is an appropriate response for wildfire preparation. Some companies like Prodigy Fire Solutions are touting rooftop sprinklers
as a tool in a suite of responses to help save structures.
Given Whistler’s limited water supply, numerous home sprinkler systems could overdraw water reservoirs in a period of critical need, or they may not work during power outages—a frequent issue during emergencies.
Staff are looking at modelling projections before they can say with certainty home sprinklers won’t compromise water resources, but because the systems are outside of a structure, a permit is not required and the tool is unregulated, making tracking a difficult task.
FireSmart coordinator Steve Ruhl said the question of sprinkler systems is one he gets every day.
“If you can afford to FireSmart your property and home and have a sprinkler system, then great, but if you have to make the choice between one or the other, I would place a far greater reliance on the FireSmarting measures than I would on the sprinkler system,” Ruhl said.
HIGHWAY 99, STONEBRIDGE, CEMETERY NEXT IN LINE FOR THINNING
On the landscape side, Whistler’s fuel-thinning program is set to ramp up this year. After treating Brio and Emerald in 2024, municipal
TALKING SHOP Whistler Councillor Arthur De Jong addresses the audience at a recent wildfire workshop.
PHOTO BY HEATHER BERESFORD
Calls for wildlife reform grow after orphaned bear cub tragedy in Whistler
PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER CONSERVATION OFFICER SERVICE’S HANDLING OF A SOW’S DEATH AND MISSING CUBS HEARD BY WHISTLER MUNICIPALITY
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE LOSS OF A mother black bear and her three orphaned cubs is rippling through the Sea to Sky, with Whistler residents showing up in force at the May 13 council meeting to demand change.
In an unusual scene for council chambers, rows of chairs were filled by community members grieving the recent death of a lactating sow, killed by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) in late April after a woman was bitten in Kadenwood. The incident left three cubs orphaned and still missing, despite reports of sightings in the days that followed.
Speakers, including wildlife advocates Ellie Lamb and Tina James, called the COS response inadequate and outlined a timeline they say reveals missed opportunities to rescue the cubs. They urged council to adopt a non-lethal bear management protocol and set a precedent for coexistence.
“I would like to adopt a non-lethal protocol as a default approach to bear encounters here in Whistler,” James said. “We can set a precedent and lead the way for our bears. All the people in the community want this.”
While council acknowledged the community’s grief, Mayor Jack Crompton
noted the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has no jurisdiction over COS operations, which are governed provincially. He pointed to Whistler’s Bear Smart designation—earned in 2011—as a foundation that enables more non-lethal tools than most B.C. communities.
“Whistler was certified as a Bear Smart community in 2011, which changes a lot of the way that the Conservation Officer Service is allowed to do their job here,” Crompton said. “It means that we can engage in more nonlethal practices, which is good news.”
A distinctly poignant moment came when Lil’wat Nation member Clara John spoke. She emphasized the cultural and spiritual significance of respecting bears with tears in her eyes. After introducing herself, John paused for a moment, holding silence which filled the council chambers.
“This bear is very sacred to us,” said John. “Our Nations, they do not ingest this animal in any way. When you go to our ceremonies, you see them. They have the bear dance— that’s to help people heal. And to hear the mother was put down and you have three orphans, it’s very heartbreaking.”
With her hand held over her heart, she called for further education targeting visitors and residents alike and collective responsibility for the bear’s death.
“Bear Smart, you said it’s been here since
2011. This is how many years later, 14 years later, we’re still dealing with things like this. It’s very sad … we have to do better,” she said.
Joan Novak, a longtime resident and local business owner, proposed a new approach for managing wildlife conflicts, based on an acronym: DART—Dart, Ask, Recommend, Transport. She also called for transparency and the use of body cameras on COS officers to build public trust.
“I would like to adopt a nonlethal protocol as a default approach...”
- TINA JAMES
Councillors uniformly voiced their support for continued advocacy.
Councillor Cathy Jewett asked staff about the scope of Bear Smart policies and whether education efforts reached residents and workers in high-conflict zones on the edges of the community.
Luisa Burhenne, the RMOW’s environmental stewardship manager, confirmed the municipality funds an annual wildlife safety response officer to work in partnership with the COS and focus on prevention in remote areas and construction zones.
“The Bear Working Group is developing plans and policy,” Burhenne said. “For example, we have the bear response plan that continuously evolves … we’ve also expanded grizzly management within the village into our response plan.”
Coun. Arthur De Jong, who has worked on bear conservation for more than three decades, called the cubs’ disappearance “a very big setback” for a community long recognized for its stewardship.
“What we’ve had here is a setback—failure,” he said. “We need to pick up the pieces and do a much better job of our bear conservation.”
Coun. Jen Ford echoed much of what was said, while highlighting taking the life of an animal weighs heavy on COs she’s known over the years.
Elected officials encouraged residents to amplify their concerns to provincial members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), including local MLA Jeremy Valeriote.
“Our voices are really powerful … and hopefully that amplification finds its way to the right decision-makers, and we see a change,” Crompton said. n
RMOW seeks community input to re-imagine Taluswood park
GEOTECHNICAL ISSUES HAVE LEFT TALUSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK’S TENNIS COURTS UNUSABLE—NOW THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER WANTS TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD COME NEXT
BY LIZ MCDONALD
IF YOU’VE EVER played tennis at Taluswood Neighbourhood Park, you may have had a sinking feeling—but not necessarily because of your serve.
Developed in the 1990s by Intrawest Resorts Holding Inc. as part of the Taluswood subdivision, the park includes two tennis courts constructed over a filled-in ravine—then a common workaround for the “problem” of nature. After construction, Intrawest handed over operations and maintenance of the park to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).
Intrawest estimated the park’s lifespan at about 30 years. Over time, the fill material beneath the courts has degraded due to gravity, stormwater infiltration, and the natural decomposition of organic debris. A 2022 geotechnical assessment found that fixing the ground and rebuilding a sports surface would cost at least $1 million, which is beyond the municipality’s budget.
Although the RMOW isn’t responsible for the underlying geotechnical issues, it’s still left holding the tennis racket.
The municipality is asking residents of Taluswood, Nordic Estates and the broader
community to share ideas for redeveloping the greenspace.
While most ideas are welcome, they must fit within the park’s 8,050-square-metre footprint and cannot include tennis courts or other large hard-surface amenities. According to an FAQ page published by the RMOW, the community already “has more tennis courts compared to other communities of our size,” and the cost to make the ground stable enough for another hard surface is prohibitive.
Parks staff have developed preliminary lists of potential amenities, but public
feedback will guide the next steps. Once a preferred use is identified, the RMOW will conduct another geotechnical review to determine whether the proposed plan is feasible. For instance, a nature-based park space may require less structural stability than equipment like a swing set.
Currently, the park is mostly forested, with the existing tennis courts occupying about 15 per cent of the total space.
The RMOW launched its engagement efforts with an Add Your Voice forum on April 23, followed by two pop-up events—one at Eva
Lake Park on May 8 and another planned for Bottomless Lake Park from 4 to 8 p.m. on May 14. Residents can also submit their feedback online until May 31.
Staff plans to present the engagement findings and a proposed concept to council this summer. That concept will inform a capital construction budget request as part of the RMOW’s annual budget planning process, which runs from September to December. While the public can weigh in on the municipal budget at any time, there will also be formal opportunities to provide input.
If council ultimately approves funding, the next step would be issuing a development permit—likely in 2026.
The Taluswood initiative is the latest in a series of park redevelopment projects aimed at improving aging infrastructure and meeting growing community needs. In June 2024, Rainbow Park reopened following a $4.6-million overhaul funded through the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative. Upgrades included expanded beach access, new accessible docks, a realigned Valley Trail, and ecological enhancements. Planning is also underway for a major redesign of Meadow Park, with proposed features such as a spray park, accessible fitness area, riverfront picnic sites, and an off-leash dog zone. n
SINKING FEELING Slumping into itself from two sinkholes and discoloured by water damage, Taluswood Park tennis courts sit in disrepair behind a locked fence.
PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD
Why climate change wasn’t a priority in the federal election
IT WASN’T JUST DUE TO PRESIDENT DONALD
BY JENNIFER THUNCHER Squamish Chief
ON ELECTION NIGHT, Squamish councillor and Green Party of Canada candidate for MP, Lauren Greenlaw, accepted her loss to the Liberal Party’s Patrick Weiler, but bemoaned that the environment hadn’t played a more important part in the discussion in the lead-up to the election.
“Last night, as I was driving home from the Earth Day Festival in Roberts Creek, which was so beautiful and amazing, I saw my first ever forest fire in our foothills. And that was the last day of this campaign, a campaign where nobody cared about climate change,” Greenlaw said at her election results viewing party.
She is right in the sense that the environment wasn’t often a hot topic during the campaign.
But why?
After all, the vast majority of us know climate change is an issue that has to be addressed.
The signs are all around us.
In January, for example, the Doomsday Clock was set to 89 seconds to midnight, meaning the world is in trouble, and one of the biggest reasons is the lack of attention to our environment.
TRUMP’S THREATS,
SAYS
(Founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and University of Chicago scientists, the Clock is universally recognized as a reflection of the world’s vulnerability to global catastrophe caused by humans.)
“The impacts of climate change increased in the last year as myriad indicators, including sea-level rise and global surface temperature, surpassed previous records,” reads the statement about this year’s clock setting.
“The global greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change continued to rise. Extreme weather and other climate changeinfluenced events—floods, tropical cyclones, heat waves, drought, and wildfires—affected every continent. The long-term prognosis for the world’s attempts to deal with climate change remains poor, as most governments fail to enact the financing and policy initiatives necessary to halt global warming.”
To find out why the environment isn’t as top of mind as it could be, The Squamish Chief caught up with UBC political science professor and McLean Family Chair in Canadian Studies, Kathryn Harrison, for her perspective.
What follows is a version of that conversation edited for length and clarity.
As our Green Party candidate noted on election night, the climate didn’t play a very big role in the election campaign,
UBC POLITICAL SCIENCE PROF
which is a pretty big shift from the provincial election, at least in our region. Is this all to do with President Trump’s threats to our sovereignty?
GREENLAW: I think the shift preceded the Trump administration. Most Canadians are concerned about climate change. Most Canadians believe that it’s caused by human activity, but it is not usually a top-of-mind issue in politics. That is especially true when folks are worried about their ability to make ends meet, to afford
housing, and when their jobs are threatened. Over time within Canada, we have seen these peaks where, every once in a while, the environment, or climate, rises to the top of voters’ agendas. There was one peak in about 2007 when the environment was briefly No. 1 in response to survey questions asking, ‘What do you think is the most important problem facing Canada today?” I don’t think it ever got to the top, but it was one of the top two or three issues in 2019. In the fall of 2019, the kids were marching in the streets. There were 100,000 people who marched in Vancouver, and more than that in Montreal. And then public attention to climate change, and, to a lesser degree, public concern about climate change, was knocked a blow by three things. The first was COVID-19. Suddenly, climate change went from being one of the top issues to falling down the list because people were worried about surviving.
And then there was inflation in 2022 and 2023 that gave rise to the affordability crisis, which you know is still with us—prices are soaring. Partly that was a follow-on effect of the COVID pandemic, but to a large degree, it was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which caused transportation, fuel, and energy prices to shoot up. And there was also, especially in B.C., a concurrent housing shortage that drove prices up.
So, affordability became the top issue on
CHANGING CLIMATE Green Party candidate Lauren Greenlaw with supporters on election night.
PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
the agenda, pushing climate change further down, and then with the inauguration of Donald Trump and his threatening Canada’s economy and even sovereignty, from the polling I’ve seen, I don’t believe climate change was in the Top 10 issues of concern.
If it was getting less attention in the recent federal election, it was because the parties were responding to the issues that were most important to voters. There was quite a bit on the environment in their platforms.
So, is it fair to say, if we’re in a heat dome, or it’s the middle of summer and wildfires are on our backs and it’s more pushed in our faces, we care, but that isn’t what is happening right now?
In 2021 B.C. was really hit hard by climate change—over 600 people died in the heat dome, there was massive flooding, Vancouver was cut off from the rest of Canada by flooded roads—and yet, if it had an impact on voter priorities, it was very short-lived.
But it is also human behaviour to compare everything with how you are in a given moment, to an extent, against the status quo. And it doesn’t help that there’s been this language of the “new normal,” where people try to imply that climate change is the new normal. But in fact, this is not the new normal. It’s going to keep getting warmer until we reach net zero. We get to net zero as soon as we stop adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. But I think it is human nature to think, “I’m doing OK right now, and really my immediate concern is affording groceries or housing,” and to push off something that is more distant.
Something that happens here in Squamish is that there seems to be some shaming of folks who drive a gas car, for example, or who don’t use a reusable cup. Not everyone can afford environmental alternatives, so I am wondering if there is some resistance to the whole environmental movement from that?
That is a complicated one, because on one hand, if we are going to fix climate change, it’s not going to be just the big polluters. We would all like to believe that this is a problem caused by the oil industry alone, or big industrial polluters. But in fact, in Canada, those big industrial sources of greenhouse gases account for less than half of our emissions, and the other half is small sources, including buildings, motor vehicles, farms, landfills, and so that’s going to need to change, too.
There’s resistance to that; we want to be able to point to someone else. And that’s what they’ve been told. “Don’t worry, we’ll make big industry pay.” And so it feels very unfair to be asked to change our behaviour. On the other hand, we’ve got folks who are deeply committed and are changing their lives and trying to ride bikes and buy less, and, if they can afford it, install heat pumps and so on. I think they are setting an example for everyone. The challenge is that we are not going to solve this problem by shaming or by looking to individuals to act voluntarily. I applaud those who do act voluntarily, because they demonstrate that one can live a very good life without such a big carbon footprint. But we should not count on that. That’s why we need laws. That’s why we need regulation of vehicle emissions. That’s why we need building codes. That’s why we need
to regulate what kinds of heating equipment can be installed in buildings. And those are the things that will transform emissions.
We are also seeing governments put a lot of investment into electric vehicle charging networks. There have been subsidies for heat pumps that I think have been quite helpful as well, and, until recently, subsidies for electric vehicles. It takes a mix of carrots and sticks. I think it’s good for folks to demonstrate what can be done, but not helpful when anyone’s being shamed. But then, I am also struck that sometimes people feel like they’re being shamed when no one’s actually said anything.
Will the environment also become more of a priority when, say, housing becomes more affordable and the economy is better? Then we can focus on the environment?
I mean, the temptation is to say, let’s just park climate change for a few years while we deal with this immediate crisis. The problem is, in the meantime, the climate crisis is going to keep getting worse. That’s one problem. The other is that the climate crisis continuing to get worse, will cost us more money and hurt affordability. And the third is some of the short-term economic things that we embrace, like expanding fossil fuel exports to other countries, locking our economy into dependence on fossil fuels at a time when other countries are starting their transition away from buying those energy sources, right? So we can’t say, ‘let’s ignore the climate and just focus on affordability.’ Right now, we could take some very short-term solutions that make things worse, both for the climate and affordability and our economy generally.
People blame the politicians, but when it matters to people, they will respond to what people want, right?
Absolutely. I also think really good politicians also recognize that voters are busy putting food on the table, you know, trying to get their kids to school on time, trying to keep their jobs, and are not spending their time thinking about what the issues are that are coming. How should the economy be transformed? That’s what we elect people to do, and so hopefully they are responding to the immediate concerns, but while they’re doing so, they’re mindful of the longer term and the broader public interest. And you know, I think they try.
So, are you hopeful?
I am consistently hopeful. We can always do better. I found hope in a lot of the Liberal Party’s platform—in a lot of the signals that were embedded in that platform. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government envisions a clean energy future for Canada, and he signalled it would be making the kinds of investments and adopting policies that would hasten that transformation. So, that’s a good thing.
And, honestly, it just feels immoral to give up.
I mean, at my age, there’s this phenomenon of people saying, “Well, we’re screwed anyway.” I find that infuriating because it is such a grotesque expression of privilege.
The people who don’t give up are those who are most at risk in Canada and elsewhere in the world. So, you know, I remain hopeful—and I think what we need more than hope is determination. n
LOCAL HISTORICAL HUB TALKS SUMMER EVENTS, VISITORS AHEAD OF JUNE 3 OPENING
BY ALYSSA NOEL
THE PEMBERTON MUSEUM is quietly gearing up for another busy summer season.
Its big opening day: Tuesday, June 3.
“I’m super excited because it looks like I’m going to have a really great team,” said Charmaine Carpenter, curator and executive director of the museum. “The stronger the team and the more people I have, the more stuff we can do.”
That includes a few concerts over the summer, Toonie Teas—which feature a tea along with entertainment or informative talks—and welcoming a diverse range of longtime locals, new residents, and international tourists through the doors.
Last year, the museum welcomed people from South Africa, Australia, the U.K., Ukraine
and South and Central Americas, to name just a few locations, who were keen to learn a bit about Pemberton’s history.
“It’s really exciting and interesting to meet all these people that are coming through,” Carpenter said.
But first, the museum is hosting a kickoff party—which doubles as a fundraiser and membership drive—on June 8. It starts with a Family Dance Party from 12 to 4 p.m. featuring DJ Ira Pettle, as well as crafts and activities (tickets are $5). Then, after a short break, the party restarts for the adult crowd from 6 to 9 p.m. with The Hairfarmers, a cash bar, and games (tickets are $20).
“It’s the second one,” Carpenter said. “Last year we did our first season kick-off and it’s a fundraiser and membership drive. We’re definitely trying to increase our membership, which is incredibly affordable. It’s $20 for individuals and $25 for families. We’re also trying to get some business memberships and that’s $50 for a business to be a member.”
When visitors arrive at the museum, they will be greeted by two new murals by local artist Kate Zessel—who now lives in Pemberton.
“Last fall we partnered with the Pemberton Arts Council and they are doing great work right in the community with murals all over town and we were fortunate enough to get two murals from Kate Zessel,” Carpenter said. “If you’re driving down Pemberton Meadows Road, you’ll see the murals on the back of our tool shed. We’re really excited about that. She painted it over the winter, so we just got it installed and we look forward to celebrating that throughout the year. It’s made such a lovely difference to the back of the site.”
A less noticeable upgrade the museum has made over the last year: mitigating fire risk.
“Last year we invested almost $25,000 with the support of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, to make some serious headway into FireSmarting the site,” Carpenter said. “You can imagine how at-risk we are due to the sheer nature of the buildings we are trying to preserve. We had some sprinklers added to our cedar-shingle roofs. We upgraded our roof last year. We’ve had several perimeters put around all the buildings. Last year we had all our trees limbed. We always have to stay
ahead of it … That work has started, but it’s a big site.”
While that site is about to get busier, the museum still welcomes bookings for private events—both in summer and winter.
“One of the amazing things that’s happened over the last few years is that we’re available to rent,” Carpenter said. “We’ve had all kinds of events, everything from weddings and memorials and then the school house is used for everything from yoga and breath work to drumming circles. We have not-forprofits using the school house as a meeting space. We’re trying to keep it incredibly affordable. It’s a community space, it’s meant for the community.”
It’s also meant for students. Some of the biggest groups to visit in the early season are from local schools.
“Last year we had almost 600 students,” Carpenter said.
With a new website launched, check out pembertonmuseum.org or visit facebook. com/PembertonDistrictMuseum to stay up to date with events—including tickets to the season kick-off party. n
DANCING THROUGH HISTORY DJ Ira hosts a dance party at the Pemberton Museum.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PEMBERTON MUSEUM
HOW TO SIMPLIFY YOUR SPRING CLEANING
NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX
After a long winter cooped up inside, and with warmer weather on the horizon, now’s the perfect opportunity to thoroughly clean your home. Here are a few tips that can make spring cleaning easier.
CLEAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
Even if you use a cloth or brush designed to trap and hold dust, there are sure to be particles that get swept into the air as you clean. Since dust settles, however, you can catch any remaining debris as you work your way toward the floor.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOLS
Invest in quality equipment to ensure your cleaning is as effective as possible. For example, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter will significantly reduce the number of particles that get recirculated into the air. Similarly, a strong sponge will hold up to scrubbing even the toughest stains if it’s paired with the right cleaning product.
USE YOUR TOOLS CORRECTLY
If your vacuum has several attachments, alternate between them to effectively clean blinds, curtains, fabric lampshades, armchairs and narrow spaces. Do you have a high-performance washer? If so, take the time to read the labels on your rugs, cushions and other decorative pieces so you can wash them using the right settings.
Visit local stores to find all the cleaning products and equipment you need to make your home shine this spring.
FOR A WHILE NOW, a certain angst shared by both the marine science and conservation communities has instilled even greater fear for an ocean already reeling from overfishing, plastic pollution, warming and acidification. That angst is over the prospect of deep-sea mining (DSM). And when, a few weeks back, Trump signed another of his greed-and-hubrisdriven executive orders for the U.S. to pursue DSM over the objections of pretty much the entire global community, well, that fear came once again to the fore.
To understand it, a primer on DSM is in order.
On its celebrated global marine-research
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
expedition of 1872–1876 (which included discovery of the 10,984-metre-deep Mariana Trench, deepest-known point on Earth’s surface), the British ship HMS Challenger consistently dredged up dark, fist-sized rocks from abyssal plains—the extensive, flat, sediment-laden areas that lie 4,000 to 6,000 metres below the surface. These were polymetallic nodules, concretions of iron and manganese formed over millions of years that also happen to be high in other valuable metals like nickel, copper and cobalt. A 1981 estimate put the total oceanic stash of such nodules at 500 billion tons. But occurring in largely inaccessible places and containing metals available more cheaply on land, few thought seriously about them until the past few decades. Now DSM keeners insist these deposits can meet growing demand for critical minerals—particularly those needed for digital
and clean-energy tech such as EV batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Cobalt crusts found on the slopes of underwater seamounts and the mineral-rich sulphides of hydrothermal vents are also threatened.
DSM’s sales pitch is that extracting critical minerals from the seabed will help negate potential shortages, reduce what they describe as demonstrably worse impacts of terrestrial mining, and cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Critics, however, have a potent counterargument: an almost complete lack of scientific knowledge of seabed ecosystems means an inability to predict impacts to the biodiverse marine life reliant on nodules, seamounts and vent structures. A recent global meta-study that analyzed DNA from 1,700 ocean sediment samples revealed deepseabed biodiversity to be up to three times
areas is hotly debated.
Opponents of DSM, who include scientists, conservationists, oceanographers, nation states, Indigenous peoples and most of civil society, have called for a ban—or at least postponement—until impacts are better understood and regulations put in place by the UN-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA). Though some 22 countries called for a precautionary pause (Canada took a strong moratorium position in September 2023) this seems unlikely given the ISA’s mandate requires it be financed by royalties from exploratory mining contracts—31 of which it has already granted. Thus, the ISA’s very existence depends on DSM beginning despite the activity’s inherently damaging nature conflicting with the ISA’s other mandated obligation, protecting the marine environment.
Opponents of DSM, who include scientists, conservationists, oceanographers, nation states, Indigenous peoples and most of civil society, have called for a ban...
that of the waters above it, with 60 per cent of organisms representing previously unknown lifeforms, some of which may function in the biological carbon pump—the life-driven sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere and land runoff to the ocean interior and seafloor that helps regulate planetary climate.
While both sides acknowledge that the direct impact of plans to use massive robotic mining vehicles to vacuum up nodules, grind down vents and strip seamounts will result in 100 per cent mortality of any organisms occupying these structures, the extent to which sediment plumes stirred by such activities may also damage habitats, interfere with nutrient cycling and cause oxygen depletion over wider
Which brings us to the very visible campaign by Vancouver-based The Metal Company (TMC), holder of three ISA exploration permits sponsored by the tiny Pacific nations of Tonga, Nauru and Kiribati, respectively. Rhetoric populating the company’s website shills DSM as humankind’s existential saviour from the climate crisis—and economic salvation for sponsoring nations. Such shameless greenwashing isn’t new but has never been as cleverly crafted—nor so fortuitously enabled given an emerging realworld demand for EVs and renewable energy. While TMC is funding, to the tune of $100 million, a range of basic research it claims to be “objective and independent,” we have seen this before. Conducted independently or not,
there’s always the danger of research designed to deliver the answer you want, echoing the policy-based sciencemaking (versus sciencebased policymaking) practiced by government and industries like Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Fish, etc.
An investigative 2022 NYT times piece— “Secret Data, Tiny Islands and a Quest for Treasure on the Ocean Floor”—was an instant cause célèbre for the anti-DSM movement, a scathing indictment of secretive dealings between the ISA and mining companies, particularly TMC, that quoted several employees on ethical breaches. Among its many transgressions, members of one of the ISA’s top policy bodies—the Legal and Technical Commission—also work for mining contractors, a five-alarm conflict of interest.
For his part, TMC’s flashy CEO, Gerard Barron—who once conjured pre-Challenger ignorance by referring to abyssal plains as barren deserts—dismisses the criticism, responding that TMC’s undertaking is of utmost importance to the planet’s future climate health (not to mention shareholders): “This could be one of those projects that could really make a difference—that could really move the needle,” he said.
No matter the outcome, the mere prospect of DSM has triggered unprecedented interest and activity in climate-related research (the deep ocean’s role is more vital than imagined), impact studies (an abyssal plain area tested in the 1980s still hadn’t recovered after 37 years), high-tech work on biodiversity (the biggest unknown), and mapping efforts (there’s a drive to map the entire seabed in high resolution by 2030).
And now, with the ISA having failed to come up with regulations first promised for 2021, the ever-predatory Trump administration, as is its wont, is willing to override even this industry toady, turbocharging legitimate angst and fear of yet another blow to planetary health.
Leslie Anthony is a biologist, writer and author of several popular books on environmental science. n
BC NDP’s nurse recruitment push ignores the crisis on the ground
BY ROB SHAW
THE B.C. GOVERNMENT is embarking on a glossy new marketing campaign to try and lure away American nurses to come work in our provincial hospitals.
It will undoubtedly feature majestic mountains, the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean and images of all sorts of outdoorsy hipsters doing outdoorsy, hipster-y things while draped head-to-toe in Arc’teryx.
What you won’t see, though, is the day-to-day reality of many nurses in this province—the rising tide of threats, abuse, crammed hospitals, overworked conditions, the revolving door of people in drug-induced distress, folks shouting obscenities, threats of violence, actual violence, stabbings, machetewielding attackers and more.
There was no mention of any of that in the recruiting package outlined by Health Minister Josie Osborne and Premier David Eby on Monday. Their main pitch seemed to be: We don’t have Donald Trump, so you should come here.
“President Trump’s loss is British Columbia’s gain,” said Eby.
It was left to the BC Nurses’ Union to explain the disconnect of a government focused on recruiting people from abroad into jobs that have a more than 50 per cent attrition rate within five years back here at home.
“You cannot simply put all of the investment into recruitment strategies,” said Tristan Newby, BCNU vice-president. “If you’re not creating a safe, sustainable environment, you’re going to lose the people that you have. And that is what’s happening.”
There’s a deficit of more than 6,000 nurses currently in B.C., said Newby. The government is nowhere near its promised nurse-to-patient ratio levels. It’s not possible for B.C. to recruit its way out of that hole if it’s also losing members to burnout, stress, overwork and fear within a system in which WorkSafeBC claims for violence against nurses have doubled within the last decade, said Newby.
“It’s not uncommon now to see headlines of a nursing student being stabbed, a nurse being strangled unconscious, these are significant considerations that people are going to place into whether I want to move into British Columbia, or whether I want to go into the profession of nursing,” said Newby.
“If I know that I’m not going to be safe on the job, then I’m less likely to choose that profession.”
He cited three violent instances in the last six months at just one hospital, Port Moody’s Eagle Ridge. There, a machete-wielding man threatened emergency room staff while screaming and yelling in January.
At Vancouver General Hospital, a nurse was choked unconscious in late March at
the inpatient psychiatric unit, while her colleagues scrambled to drag her to safety behind a nursing station. A student nurse was stabbed at VGH in November.
Eby said part of the problem is the shortage of nurses creates a more stressful experience for everyone in the system.
“It’s a challenging thing because it’s a chicken-and-egg scenario, it’s hard to recruit nurses into a stressful environment to work in and retain them, but the only thing to address it is to recruit more nurses,” he said.
Eby said he hopes to “storm the gates with every single possible approach” to getting more nurses, including measures he announced Monday to bypass third-party verification of American nursing credentials in a bid to turn what could be a four-month accreditation from the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives into one that might only take a few days (that timeline does not factor in the federally controlled immigration process, which could still take months).
Another issue in hospital safety is the “relational security officers,” who aren’t armed or able to fully address violence on site, said Opposition BC Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko.
Sturko was able to score an admission from Solicitor General Garry Begg in the legislature recently that the security staff, who his ministry licenses, may not have the training required to handle the weapons they are encountering inside health-care facilities.
“One of the ideas that could be pursued or looked at is like a health authority police … maybe in some of those higher-risk areas that we’ve seen, or in places where they’re experiencing a higher incidence of weapons,” said Sturko, describing a system not unlike the Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
“They would be able to take custody then, of someone who’s apprehended by another police agency, and they could go and free up.”
The BC Nurses’ Union has expressed support for the idea of hospital police. Eby said he’s satisfied with existing relational security officers.
“What we are hearing from nurses is they are seeing improvements and they want more of these relational security guards,” he said.
Still, security guards that can’t actually keep B.C. hospitals secure, is not a great selling point for the system. Just another thing B.C. will have to avoid putting into its recruitment package as it seeks to lure away nurses from other countries to fill vacancies that exist in this province for reasons the government has failed to address.
Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for Lodestar Media. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio. [email protected]. n
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This modern new build, turn-key home features polished, heated concrete floors, soaring ceilings, and state-of-the-art windows that flood every room with natural light and stunning views.
Here are some local park tidbits courtesy of the RMOW itself. TALUSWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK PROJECT: In addition to pop-up engagement events on May 8 and 14, an online survey will remain open until May 31. Staff will compile the feedback gathered during this May engagement period and report back with outcomes and a proposed park design concept at a Committee of the Whole meeting this summer.
In June, we will start the first of three rounds of engagement on a new PARK AND VALLEY TRAIL STRATEGY. June will also see the public release of final draft documents: Recreation Trails Strategy and Disc Golf Feasibility Study. More info on these on engage.whistler.ca/
AT PINE POINT PARK, an accessible trail to the lakefront, environmental protection fencing and a new swim dock should be in place for July 1. For more information on these projects, as well as other construction projects being led by Parks Planning, visit whistler.ca/services/construction-projects
MEADOW PARK: We’re still awaiting feedback regarding further First Nations considerations. But the water park and playground will remain as is for the summer of 2025.
WESTERN TOADS AT LOST LAKE PARK: We hope for minimal closures due to the underpass installed last year but it is too early to say definitively. A rough estimate for trail closures is late July to early August for migration.
PARK EATS: Early-season offerings at Lost Lake Park and Rainbow Park begin on May 16, with food trucks on Fridays to Mondays. Park Eats runs daily in multiple parks from June 27 to Labour Day.
FIND MORE INFO AT whistler.ca/parkeats
MERRY WHISMAS
hen Pique reached out to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) with a somewhat vague request for information about the summer ahead, a certain former Pique reporter-turned-communications-official who shall not be named was not a fan of the pitch.
It’s too vague, he said (or she—who’s to say?), and no readers will be interested in it as a cover feature. Also, it would require a lot of work for said communications official, who always had a penchant for dragging his (or her) feet, along with multiple layers of approval from people with more power and responsibility— and who can be bothered for a lame idea such as this?
Would the juice, this lazy, cynical municipal employee asked, be worth the squeeze?
At the risk of spoiling the rest of this one-of-a-kind summer preview feature, we can say without reservation that yes, it most assuredly was.
So read on for all the local summer info you ever cared to know—and if there’s anything that’s missing, we all have a certain inept, bumbling fool in the communications department at municipal hall to thank. Let’s call him Brandon B. No wait, that’s too obvious. B. Barrett. Yes, that will do.
After the new-and-improved Rainbow Park opened to the public last year with an official ribbon cutting in June, the park has been open and welcoming guests for weeks already in 2025. And if you haven’t made the trek yet yourself, the docks at Barking Bay are just as revelatory as you remember them (if the water is still a bit cold for some pups’ tastes).
If you’re not from Whistler, and unfamiliar with the resort’s parks game, you might not realize there are no fewer than 11 major parks listed on the RMOW’s website—that’s one for about every 1,400 locals! Which doesn’t really mean anything, but it’s fun to picture each of them crammed with 1,400 people.
Depending where you go, you’ll find amenities like tennis, pickleball and basketball (Cheakamus Crossing, Millar’s Pond Park, Alpha Lake Park, Myrtle Philip, Meadow Park and Emerald Park) and beach volleyball courts (Alpha Lake Park, Bayly Park and Rainbow Park), along with other outdoor rec activities such as disc golf, the skatepark, the bike skills park, and more (to say nothing of Whistler Blackcomb’s summer offerings… but read on for more on that).
You can find all the local parks info you can shake a wet dog at over at whistler.ca/parks.
It’s not summer in Whistler until Whismas comes—that is, the opening of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, the biggest, bestest downhill mountain biking venue North America, and dare we say the world, has to offer.
As with every year, that day falls on the May long weekend: May 16 this year (also the day this issue of Pique hits the stands! Crazy how things work out sometimes).
They won’t all be open from the jump, but the WMBP will once again offer up more than 100 trails spread through four distinct mountain zones this summer, with camps, programs and lessons tailored to all sorts of riders.
That’s to say nothing of the typical sightseeing, on-mountain dining, and other activities you’ll find up the mountain this summer.
Read on for more key bike park info straight from Whistler Blackcomb itself, along with some of the major dates to circle on your calendar.
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB’S BIKE PARK HIGHLIGHTS
• FITZSIMMONS EXPRESS: Last year, the new Fitsimmons Express 8-seater chairlift provided improved uphill capacity, with the ability to transport riders and bikes on the same chair. This was a gamechanger for WMBP guests looking to quickly access the popular Fitz Zone. Newly expanded trails will be coming to the Fitsimmons Zone.
• GATORADE SKILLS PARK: The Gatorade Skills Park features medium-sized jump and drop features, for intermediate and advanced riders wanting to progress on technical features. It’s located in the Fitzsimmons Zone, off Fantastic.
• EXPANDED CREEKSIDE ZONE: Creekside represents the Bike Park’s freshest and purest single-track area. It’s recommended for intermediate to expert riders looking to cruise along cascading creeks and through lush, green forests— all accessed by the upgraded 10-person Creekside Gondola. Newly expanded trails will be coming to the Creekside Zone.
• TRAIL ORIENTATION/PROGRESSION GUIDE: Knowing which trail to ride next has now been made clear with the Trail Progression Scale. This handy tool separates technical and freeride trails and lists them from Beginner to Pro Line in the correct order of difficulty.
WHISTLER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AND OTHER KEY DATES
Full lineup will be announced May 26.
CONCERT DATES:
July 1: Bahamas
July 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 Aug. 21, 22, 28, 29
WHISTLER’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
One of the more prestigious dates on the 2025 events calendar is the RMOW’s 50th anniversary celebrations, details of which have been shrouded in mystery for months. But according to the municipality, it will all start with a kick-off weekend in August.
“We will reach out to community organizations and resort partners in the coming weeks and months to ensure there are 50th celebration events happening well into the fall,” the RMOW said. “The official date of incorporation of the Resort Municipality of Whistler was Sept. 6, 1975.”
OFFICIAL CELEBRATION: Aug. 21 to 24. More info will come in the coming weeks.
THURSDAY, AUG. 21
Whistler Summer Concert Series musical act with a touch of nostalgia and a strong locals night appeal.
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
Whistler Summer Concert Series musical act with a Canadian band with a Whistler connection and appealing to locals and visitors alike.
SATURDAY, AUG. 23
Village takeover with a festival-style daytime celebration (~11 a.m.-4 p.m.) that will build throughout the day and culminate in a participatory moment of celebration reflecting our theme: From Trailblazers to Tomorrow Makers.
SUNDAY, AUG. 24
Park activations throughout the valley.
Here are some more summer 2025 highlights courtesy of Tourism Whistler, presented for your visitation/referential/ informational enjoyment.
• Whistler’s lakes and parks are very busy and vehicle parking is limited. During peak times, consider visiting the lakes and parks with a bike or hop on the free weekend/stat holiday shuttle. Otherwise, consider visiting midweek and during non-peak times for the best experience, to help reduce volumes in natural spaces and beaches, and to lessen the impact on the local environment. Have a Plan B in case the lake/park you plan to visit is at capacity by the time you arrive.
• Pay parking will be in effect from May 15 to Sept. 15 at Rainbow Park, Lakeside Park, Wayside Park and Alpha Lake Park. Parking can be paid via onsite meters or the PayByPhone app. Accessible parking will be offered at no cost.
• Take advantage of free local transit, June 17 to Labour Day, on weekends and statutory holidays during summer.
• Evolve E-Bike Share is back in Whistler this year, with additional locations launched in May. For more information head to evo.ca/evolve. Many shops in town also rent bikes to visitors.
•BC Parks will once a gain require day-use passes for Golden Ears, Pipi7íyekw / Joffre Lakes, and Garibaldi Parks during peak summer months. Passes will be needed starting May 16 for Golden Ears, May 17 for Pipi7íyekw / Joffre Lakes, and June 13 for Garibaldi Park. Passes can be reserved online at 7 a.m., two days before your planned visit. Read more at bcparks.ca.
• Whistler is a pet-friendly community and asks dog owners to follow rules for responsible pet ownership. Please follow the Animal Responsibility Bylaw: Leash your dog – Dogs must be leashed, except when in an off-leash park; Licence your dog – Dogs in Whistler must possess and wear a valid dog licence; Pick up after your dog and put the waste in a garbage can.
• Before heading to Whistler, keep up to date at whistler.com/know-before-you-go.
Of course, with each summer also comes a heightened awareness around things like wildfire and wildlife preservation, and locals and guests are reminded to recreate responsibly, which means always disposing of waste properly (not to mention smoking materials), and cutting down on needless summer waste in general (looking at you, plastic inflatable floaties) by renting or borrowing gear from friends.
Find more info about responsible tourism at dontloveittodeath.com.
As for wildfire and other emergencies, the main call to action, for both locals and guests, is to sign up for the RMOW’s Whistler Alert system at whistler.ca/whistleralert, and always keep an eye on the current fire danger rating and the overall fire situation at bcwildfire.ca or the BC Wildfire Service App. When the fire danger rating hits high in Whistler, fires of all kinds are
banned, which means no campfires, no tiki torches, no sky lanterns, and no fireworks. Learn more at whistler.ca/fire.
If you see smoke in Whistler, report it immediately by calling 911. Outside the resort, contact the BCWS at 1-800-663-5555 or by texting *5555.
SUMMER SPECTACULAR
So there you have it—quick, easy, and hopefully informational. Not awards bait, but a nice little piece of community service for a big long weekend paper. And a reminder for all of us that sometimes the lowest-hanging fruit can also be quite delicious.
If by some miracle you have any other questions about summer in Whistler, feel free to email [email protected], or you can also try your preferred online search engine (they’re really quite effective these days). n
Whistler’s Dave Higgins breaks 50-metre freestyle provincial record at Masters Swimming Championships
PRU MOORE AND HECTOR GARCIA-MARTINEZ ALSO REACH THE PODIUM IN NANAIMO
BY DAVID SONG
THREE WHISTLERITES recently competed in Nanaimo at the BC Provincial Championships for Masters Swimming. One of them broke a provincials record.
Dave Higgins completed the 50-metre freestyle in 25.95 seconds among men aged 55 to 59. He still didn’t win—that honour belonged to Barry Saretsky who established a new national record (24.99)—but it was one of six medals he went home with.
“I was quite happy. I was faster than I thought I was going to go,” Higgins said. “But you think you’re doing great, and someone’s always faster.”
The Whistler Real Estate man did strike gold in the 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre freestyle to go with three more silvers in 100-metre individual medley (IM), 50-metre butterfly and 100-metre freestyle. Not too shabby for an athlete who hasn’t raced competitively in 31 years.
Higgins credits his fellow locals, Pru Moore and Hector Garcia-Martinez, for dragging him out of retirement. Both of them also excelled in their respective age categories.
Moore, in the ladies age 75-79 bracket, notched three victories (50-metre backstroke, 100 metre backstroke, 200-metre IM relay), two runner-up finishes (100-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle relay) and a third-place result (50-metre freestyle).
In the challenging men’s 40-44 division: Meadow Park Sports Centre lifeguard GarciaMartinez won the 200-metre freestyle, earned silver in 100-metre breaststroke and 200-metre IM, and took bronze in the 50-metre and 100metre freestyle. He also recorded a pair of fourths (50-metre butterfly, 100-metre IM).
“Hector and I have done a lot of swimming over the last year,” explained Higgins. “It’s always easier if you have somebody else … he’s happy to push you along. Halfway through whatever training we’re doing, you feel better, you forget that you’re tired or didn’t sleep well, or whatever else is going on, because there’s someone else. I’ve just got to keep up with them.”
That said, Higgins harbours particular respect for the event’s oldest athletes, including 101-year-old Betty Brussel of the White Rock Wave. (That number is not a typo).
‘A RUDDER THROUGH THE TRIALS’
At 77 years of age, Moore is an impressive competitor in her own right. She and her family have resided in Whistler full-time since 2007, and she’s retired from past careers as an ICU nurse and nurse educator at St Paul’s Hospital, and a teacher at Vancouver Community College.
Moore, despite her lifelong love of swimming, didn’t join a club until her fourth decade. She picked up new techniques over time and began competing in her late 40s when a coach recommended she do so. The Whistlerite met with unexpected success and has been racing ever since.
“I am very proud of the achievements of Dave and Hector,” Moore remarked. “Both of them were competitive swimmers in their youth. Hector came to provincials for the first time last year after taking a break for almost 25 years … their achievements training together at Meadow Park are testaments to their talent, diligence, strength and determination. It was exciting to watch them. They both have deep muscle memory of how to swim at a very high level.
“Swimming is a wonderful exercise as we age. The water is supportive and injuries are rare. For many folks who swim regularly, it is a sport that is like a rudder through the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life. It can be meditation, time to be alone and reflect, or push hard and get the cardio exercise we all need. Most of us can do it as long as we live. Betty Brussel received standing ovations at the meet for breaking world records right here in B.C.”
Moore doesn’t intend to slow down anytime soon, while Higgins and GarciaMartinez plan to tackle the seven-kilometre Across the Lake Swim on Rattlesnake Island this summer—a race they previously completed in 2024.
Full results from Provincials are viewable at rp.cdn-website.com/872cc02e/files/ uploaded/results_with_records.pdf. n
anumberofotherinterior/exteriorupdatesthroughout.Everydetailhasbeencarefullyconsideredtoenhancecomfortand convenience-Ahomedesignedwiththeperfectblendofluxury,comfort,andlocation..Stepoutsidetoenjoythebestof Whistler’soutdoorlifestylewithdirectaccesstotheValleyTrail,NicklausNorthGolfCourse,andMeadowParkRecreation Centre.Nightlyrentalsarepermitted,offeringtheflexibilitytousetheproperty as avacationhomeorinvestmentopportunity.
WHISTLER
SWIM TO WIN Left to right: Dave Higgins, Pru Moore and Hector Garcia-Martinez at the 2025 BC Provincial Championships for Masters Swimming. PHOTO COURTESY OF PRU MOORE
What a mixed bag!
IS FEAR OR FAIRNESS NOW DRIVING OUR GROCERY CHOICES?
LET’S SEE… A nice little cantaloupe from “Mike” in Honduras. An even nicer one from Guatemala. Mexican avocadoes. Strawberries from Abbotsford! Local greenhouse tomatoes, too, along with radishes and kale from the Fraser Valley. But, oops—there’s also some organic Fuji apples from the old U.S. of A.
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
So, my fellow shoppers, how’s it going so far with all this singing from the “buy Canadian” song sheet?
That little list above is just a slice of some of the fresh produce that has graced the plates and tummies around our house lately. And while it might feel like a hundred years ago, I remind us all it was only Jan. 20 when Trump was inaugurated, although his strategic bullying and threats to our fair nation started earlier. But now that the chaos is quieting, I had to stop and wonder about a few things— including wondering if you’re wondering, too.
About buying pears shipped all the way from Argentina rather than ones from Washington state or, better, B.C.—if you can find them. Or that cantaloupe from Central America, not California. And beautiful Egyptian oranges, instead of those sweet and juicy Blue Jays from south of the border. (Yeppur, “Blue Jay” is the branding of some great American oranges, much like that great Canadian baseball team.)
Many of my wandering wonderings drifted in like a fresh spring breeze the other
day as I was reading about people across the country who’ve tried—and often succeeded— in buying nothing but “Made in Canada.”
Some tried for a week while others, like an interesting and very determined Vancouver guy, shopped totally “Canadian” for an entire year! Think about it: Food, drink, durable goods, the whole nine yards. Understandably, it drove his wife a bit nuts.
Some did it five, 10, even 15 years ago— when Trump was still on The Apprentice , rehearsing for his role as leader of the most powerful nation on Earth. But most of these stalwart all-Canadian shoppers we find online (more on that fraught situation later) have only been at it since Trump’s tariff tantrums began and caused us all to react. That’s when I first tackled the topic (see my Feb. 13 column in Pique ), putting out feelers for readers’ reactions.
A great one came in from that inimitable brew master and original thinker at Whistler
great farmers’ markets whenever possible. Maybe a big difference is he also easily recalls how COVID quickly showed us how sensitive the supply chain can be.
And here we go again, by “bullwhipping products that the consumer is now buying in place of their normal products,” he notes, especially when it isn’t necessarily replacing a U.S. product but rather messing with other products and the international supply systems around them, like those Argentinian pears and Egyptian oranges. So much for the old 100-mile diet, which started in a northern B.C. cabin more than 20 years ago.
So what are we really strengthening and weakening by nixing U.S. goods, especially in light of our much-vaunted free trade agreements with both neighbours south of the border?
“By pushing ‘buy Canadian’ are we now anti-free trade? Do Canadians want to try to be self-reliant now? Say goodbye to year-round
“Let’s do what we are good at and, frankly, able to. The U.S. doesn’t need to be part of this, but it would be nice.”
- CLINTON SMALL
Brewing Company, Clinton Small—the former Bearfoot Bistro chef originally from New South Wales.
I really liked Clinton’s implied cautions about the dangers of what could easily be seen as consumer-led jingoism, along with his more general wonderings around all things “buy Canadian.”
To be clear, Clinton, like many of us, was already in the habit of actively supporting and buying Canadian-made products, especially local produce from Pemberton farms and our
tropical fruit?” Clinton pondered via email. “Free trade helps us focus on what we can make cheaply or better than others, so we can export these products and have the same in return. Both parties win…”
“Let’s do what we are good at and, frankly, able to. The U.S. doesn’t need to be part of this, but it would be nice.”
Indeed.
Don’t know about you, but our household is in much the same boat. Even though we might be amazed by them, we’re total
slackers compared to those folks who only buy Canadian. I often feel a twang of guilt buying avocadoes or papayas—but still do it.
Like many, we’ve been more or less shopping “Canadian” and “local” for years, with much of the focus on fresh produce. When there’s a choice for services, durable goods like clothes, or certain food items, we definitely try. And the keyword there is try because you have to admit that even at Canadian Tire, which is still Canadian-owned, it’s tough buying all-Canadian. Then when summer hits and B.C. produce abounds, it’s pretty much local, local, local all the way.
Sound familiar?
As for going whole hog on buying Canadian, I’m with Clinton, too, in questioning the full-on impacts further up, or down, the food chain, so to speak. Like, is it efficient? Or genuinely thoughtful and “fair to all” beyond fair trade—especially when it comes to the environment? I’m no economist, but if you’re trying to be a good planetary citizen and take a page from the medical mandate “do no harm” or at least as little as possible, what do you pick when faced with gorgeous, U.S.-grown organic tomatoes versus conventional Canadian ones?
Reminds me of something a dear friend visiting from England recently shared: Since the U.K. left the European Union and all the incumbent trade agreements, most of their fresh produce now comes from South America, Egypt—you name it—rather than, say, the Netherlands, just a stone’s throw across the channel, or Spain.
Think of it: All that extra jet fuel, and bunker fuel for ships—a lower grade than diesel; all those extra logistics and energy to haul this stuff through many more jurisdictions, many more thousands of miles. Maybe a mixed bag with some of those Blue Jay oranges isn’t so bad after all.
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who often hesitates over the best thing to buy. n
GUILTY PLEASURES In these times of “Buy Canadian” fervour, do you feel a twang of guilt buying avocadoes?
PHOTO BY MINISERIES / E+ / GETTY IMAGES
MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE
VICTORIA DAY –NO CLASSES
New Michelle Beauregard book explores connection between humans and trees
THE TREE WHISPERER IS AVAILABLE NOW
BY DAVID SONG
TREES ARE ALMOST everywhere, and as a result they are frequently taken for granted. Sure, tree wells can be hazardous, but other than that you might not spend much time thinking about them.
Michelle Beauregard thinks you should, which is why she published a book called The Tree Whisperer
“The read is an exploration of the deep, unspoken connection between humans and trees,” she explains. “For me, I used my decades-long reiki practice to have heartfelt encounters with trees around the globe—but I believe we all can have this ability to connect with nature and receive information. Maybe it’s not on a verbal or spoken level, but the feelings that come, the intuition and the heart connections, are definitely there.”
For those unaware, reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and healing that involves practitioners placing their hands on individuals receiving treatment. It is based on the notion that an invisible “life force energy” flows through human beings, and that problems with this energy can lead to illness or stress.
Beauregard believes all things are made of energy, and trees are natural generators of such energy so they can interact with people.
“When I first learned reiki, I couldn’t wait to go and put my hands on trees and connect with their energy because the healing power of nature is universal,” she says. “My intention was not to write a book, but when I was travelling in China back in 2018 I had an opportunity to go to Hong Kong and stay with a friend. There’s quite a few old banyan trees, and they actually hold up the walls surrounding certain parts of the city—quite different from anything we have here in Canada.
“My inspiration came from seeing how the trees were a part of the community … with people having markets near them and sitting
under them, it just was really quite magical. I always love to ask people if they have a favourite tree story or a favourite tree, and this brings it right home to people.”
‘HEALING ON VERY DEEP LEVELS’
Whistler’s pine trees are hardly similar to the banyans of Hong Kong, but Beauregard emphasizes the point isn’t to go far. If you’re fortunate enough to live in a natural playground like the Sea to Sky corridor, you’ll see them on the mountain, in all the local parks and on your block—and any of them could be a source of connection or a valued component of one’s routine.
“We have to disconnect from our devices in order to connect to ourselves and nature,” says Beauregard. “By taking the time to slow down, it rebalances us and actually can be quite healing on very deep levels.”
The longtime Pembertonian enjoys using her book as a conversation starter at local farmers’ markets. One day, a New Yorker told her that during COVID-19, he began going
to a nearby park and hugging various trees because he felt isolated. Later on, he posted signs saying “Please hug me” on trees and watched as others did just that. The man felt this practice kept him alive.
Meanwhile, a lady from Winnipeg who grappled with addiction heeded a tip from her therapist to connect with a tree as a means of processing her own baggage. After doing so for eight months the woman reported feeling better, but was saddened to watch her favoured tree die. She ended up becoming a drug and alcohol counsellor.
“This isn’t a scientific exploration. It’s more of an intuitive journey about trees and their environment,” Beauregard remarks. “There are so many trees that play very important parts in different communities, no matter where you travel. Some are used for gathering places. Others are used for ceremonies. Trees don’t always have to be in service to humans. They’ve got their own thing going on, and without them, life on this planet wouldn’t even be possible.”
The Tree Whisperer is available locally at Armchair Books. n
TREE SPIRIT Pemberton resident Michelle Beauregard sits by a tree in Yelapa, Mexico.
PHOTO BY MARTIN DAHINDEN
GoByBikeWhistler
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PIQUE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL EVENTS & NIGHTLIFE
Here’s a quick look at some events happening in Whistler this week and beyond. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS (and submit your own for free!) at piquenewsmagazine.com/local-events
The Whistler Children’s Festival is back for its 42nd year! Whistler’s longest running festival engages children and families in arts and culture, urging them to explore creativity and let their imaginations run wild. Enjoy circus performers, science shows, hands-on workshops, and world-class children’s entertainers. With interactive activities, roving performers, and plenty of free fun, it’s the perfect family-friendly getaway in the mountains!
in learning about birds contributing as a citizen scientist. Connect with experienced birders who are happy to share their knowledge. More information at whistlernaturalists.ca/birding.
> May 17 at 7 am
> Meet just across the highway from Meadow Park at the small parking lot beside the River of Golden Dreams
> Free
LIL’WAT NATION OPEN RODEO
> May 16 to 18
> Various locations
THE ART OF THE COCKTAIL
A unique opportunity to experience the fusion of visual artistry and cocktail craftsmanship. The event begins with a curatorial talk, delving into the work of a featured artist, followed by an inspired cocktailmaking session led by a skilled mixologist from the Raven Room. Immerse yourself in a night where art and mixology seamlessly come together. Museum admission is included for the day of the event.
> May 16, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
GREEN LAKE BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists on the third Saturday of the month for a walk to Green Lake and the Fitzsimmons Creek Delta. Open to anyone interested
The Lil’wat Nation’s fan-favourite open rodeo returns May 18 and 19 at the Lillooet Lake Rodeo Grounds in Mount Currie.
Admission is $10 per person, free for youth under 10 and elders over 65.
Find more info on the Lil’wat Retail Operations Facebook page.
> May 17 to 19
> Lillooet Lake Rodeo Grounds
> $10
WHISTLER FARMERS’ MARKET
A feast for your senses, the Whistler Farmers’ Market features local produce, tasty food, local artisans, live entertainment and family activities. Markets happen every Sunday until Thanksgiving on October 13, with the addition of Saturday markets on June 28, August 2, August 30 and October 11.
Walter wasa manwhoembracedeverymomenteveryadventureandevery connectionhemadethroughouthislife.Hewas adevotedfamily manwho cherishedtimewithlovedones.A person whosezestforlifeinspired many.
WHEN WE hear stories of people coming to the Whistler area and staying past a season it is not often we hear of someone who first lived in the Whistler Valley not because of the snow or the natural beauty, but because of the affordable housing.
lifts and Blackcomb’s first lifts. As well as working for the lift company, Bert worked for the contractors working on the Whistler Golf Course, the crews building the roads in Bayshores, Sabre and more.
In the early 1970s, when summers in the area were quiet and many people left town, Bert Melsness was working in heavy construction in the Squamish area. The company he worked for was obligated to pay for accommodation for employees from outside of the area, either by paying for a hotel or by providing an allowance. Bert and another employee decided to use the allowance to rent a place together. They discovered it would be cheaper for them to rent a house on Matterhorn Drive (in Alpine Meadows) for the summer than it would be to rent a house in Squamish.
Apart from the Toni Sailer Summer Ski Camp on Whistler Mountain, it was a quiet
Like many Whistler residents, Bert moved around a bit before ending up in a cabin right at the south end of Alta Lake. At the time, BC Rail owned much of the land along Alta Lake Road and the railroad tracks and properties were leased from the rail company. According to Bert, the cabin he lived in was built by Norman Fairhurst, who held the lease from BC Rail. Bert rented the cabin from Norman until his death, when Bert acquired the lease from BC Rail. Living on the lake afforded Bert easy fishing access and a friendly relationship with the “railroad guys,” especially as he was just down the track from the Stationhouse. He became very familiar with the rail schedule, remembering six heavy trains running each day along with passenger service on Budd cars. When Disney was filming a Depressionera movie in the area, they used an old locomotive they would park not far from his cabin. One day, he heard the sounds of a
would be cheaper for them to rent a house on Matterhorn Drive (in Alpine Meadows) for the summer than it would be to rent a house in Squamish.
time in the area. Bert recalled there were a few houses being built, but a lot of the activity was forestry related and concentrated around two logging camps, one in Function Junction and another at Mons.
A few years later, Bert moved to Whistler permanently and took a job with Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. fixing and maintaining the lift company’s grooming equipment. Bert got his start as a “basic grease monkey” working on the delivery fleet for Woodward’s in Vancouver, learning as he worked. According to him, the truck shop’s foreman was an “ex-airforce type” who ensured all scheduled maintenance was done correctly and as required, with no cutting of corners. He spent six years working on the groomers before switching to lift maintenance for a year. He was also part of the group from Whistler Mountain in 1980 that, along with a group from Blackcomb Mountain, provided some of the labour to install Whistler’s first northside
steam engine and went outside to discover the Royal Hudson switching cars on the nearby siding. In conversation with the engineer, he was told driving the Royal Hudson from North Vancouver to Squamish at about 35 m.p.h. was “like putting a taxi cab sign on a Ferrari.” The locomotive, designed to cruise at a much higher speed, could not get up to its full potential on the winding track.
By the early 2000s, BC Rail was looking to develop some of the land it owned in the Whistler area and in exchange had transferred ownership of its property on the lakeside of the tracks to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), including leases such as Bert’s. His lease was ended and he was offered first pick at one of the RMOW’s new developments. Looking back, Bert said living on the lake did have one major drawback: if he hadn’t had that deal on the cabin he might have gotten into the real estate market much earlier. n
ON THE LINE The Royal Hudson heads towards Vancouver on one of its first runs of the 1981 summer season. WHISTLER QUESTION COLLECTION, 1981
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