Another round of brain-busting trivia just in time for Canada Day. - By Pique staff
06 OPENING REMARKS This summer, the federal government is encouraging Canadians to explore their own backyard—but it remains to be seen if Whistler will benefit.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter writers share gratitude for municipal and mountain workers, and question the RMOW’s new tree bylaw.
32 RANGE ROVER Leslie Anthony serves up another list of must-read non-fiction for the lazy summer days ahead.
74 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST Cougars are on the prowl in Whistler (the animal kind)—and they deserve our respect, writes Liz McDonald.
12 SOFI SAYS Whistler’s 2024 Statement of Financial Information was presented to council June 24, revealing employee compensation and supplier payments.
18 PARKS AND TRAILS Residents and guests are invited to weigh in on the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s new Parks and Valley Trail Strategy.
58 FOLLOW
THE LEADER
Victoria’s Josie Saldat took home the win at the Whistler Half-Marathon earlier this month—in honour of her late grandfather, local icon Garry Watson.
60 OVER
THE
MOON Electro-folk duo Moontricks returns to the resort for the Whistler Summer Concert Series on July 3.
COVER What can be more Canadian than a bear in full denim paddleboarding on the River of Golden Dreams? - By Lou Stevens // lobriencreative.com
Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Children & Youth Summer Programs
Stop Motion Animation Workshops
July 9 – 11 & August 6 – 8
Children’s Drop-In Art Classes
July 24 & 25
Children’s Drawing Classes
July 31 & August 1
Art Therapy Class for Teens
Mondays beginning August 11
Registration is now open! Learn more and register at audainartmuseum.com
Introduction to Carpentry & Public Space Design
August 14 – 15
Textile & Design Workshop
August 21 – 22
Hey Canada—come to Whistler!
WHEN YOU live in Whistler for an extended stretch, you can sometimes be guilty of taking the natural beauty all around us for granted.
That’s not to say you don’t appreciate the mountains, or the lakes or the forests—
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
just that they can sometimes blend into the background when you’re just trying to stay abreast of all the bills, or the day-to-day bullshit that weighs us all down from time
Then you encounter someone who is seeing it all through fresh eyes, and you remember: oh yeah, it is pretty special here.
I had one of these experiences recently, walking my dog on the same route we take every morning. We were on the Valley Trail at the north end of the Whistler Golf Club when we encountered a family of tourists and their e-bikes, all stationary, all looking up in wonder.
“It’s incredible,” I heard the dad say in a southern accent to his kids, staring up in awe at the massive, majestic old-growth trees towering over the trail.
I slowed down, allowed my gaze to follow theirs up the ancient bark to the crowns of the trees. He was right: It is incredible.
And here I was, passing it every morning. Appreciating it, sure, but in the way you appreciate your sibling, or your left hand— it’s nice, but it’s just always sorta been there, ya know?
For those who have yet to experience
everything Whistler has to offer, this summer is as good a time as any to change that.
The federal government, in the face of an ongoing trade dispute with our neighbour to the south, is encouraging all Canadians to get out and explore their home country, and all it has to offer.
Last week, the government announced the “Canada Strong Pass,” which offers free admission to national parks, national historic sites and marine conservation areas maintained by Parks Canada, as well as a 25-per-cent discount on camping fees at national parks.
It also offers free national museum admission for children 17 and under, and a
Canadian tourism.
“This pass is about discovering and reconnecting with the nature, history and culture of this remarkable country we all share and are proud to call our own,” federal Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters on June 16.
“It’s about enjoying the places and experiences that brings us together and make Canada strong.”
Whistler itself doesn’t fall under any of the categories listed on the Canada Strong pass, but as long as you’re hitting the road with your family in the name of Canadian tourism, why not stop in the country’s vacation crème de la crème?
months from now. But it’s already affecting travel habits on both sides of the border.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of Americans who visited Canada by car fell nearly 11 per cent in April compared to last year, the third straight month of year-over-year decline. No telling how that translates to Whistler visitation just yet, or if it will last into the winter when the mountains reopen for skiing—but with American tourists making up a huge chunk of Whistler’s annual visitation (about 30 per cent in winter and 25 per cent in summer), it’s not an encouraging statistic.
On the flip side, a report from the Conference Board of Canada predicts
50-per-cent discount for 18- to 24-year-olds, while Via Rail is also offering free fares for children 17 and under (if accompanied by an adult), and a 25-per-cent discount for travellers 18 to 24 years old.
There is no physical “Canada Strong Pass” or registration required—visitors can just show up at participating locations.
Running until Sept. 2, the program follows up on a Liberal campaign promise to promote
We’ve got mountains, lakes, rivers and towering trees; golf courses and ziplines and downhill mountain biking; gondolaassisted alpine hiking trails; more craft beer flavours than you could ever sample in a week; dogs—so many dogs. What are you waiting for?
We won’t know the true impact of Trump’s trade war on Canadian tourism until the hard numbers shake out some
Canadian vacationers’ boycotting the U.S. could boost Canadian tourism by a whopping $8.8 billion in extra business this year.
So if you’re one of those brave souls preparing to cram your family and pets into the car this summer, plotting your route across all the Great White North, consider adding Whistler to your list of must-sees.
Word on the street is it’s incredible. n
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Shoutout to the RMOW from Green Lakers
Kudos to Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staffers Andrew and Brian for repositioning the buoys regulating motorboat traffic on Green Lake. The buoys were displaced by shifting ice during the spring breakup. Now boaters will clearly see where to navigate from the RMOW boat ramp to the land sign by the railway tracks halfway up the lake.
The RMOW regulations, as set out in the signage by the boat ramp, require boaters to restrict their speed to 10 km/h, create no wake, and forbid towing until reaching the land sign.
These regulations also apply to Sea-Doo operators who were recently given the go-ahead to use Green Lake by RMOW. It is hoped SeaDoo operators are more compliant with the regulations than demonstrated in the past.
Fred Shandro // Whistler
House people and bikes in Whistler, not cars
We have a relatively modest cabin with a secondary suite in Alpine and have been trying to get a simple renovation done: we are trying to put a roof over our deck. In the process we became aware of a huge benefit unique to cabin/singlefamily homeowners in Whistler: car garages are
exempt from their buildable gross floor area. This means cabins and houses in Whistler can be made substantially bigger to house cars. Think about how big a double or triple garage can be. In contrast, areas that can only store bikes and e-bikes do not benefit from an exemption. Even secondary suites to house people don’t measure up to the status cars have!
We share our storage area with our tenants and in the summer and shoulder seasons, the majority of trips from our household are on bike or foot. How much space do our bikes take
up? Between all of us, there are normally two e-bikes and four regular bikes in our storage area. When we have guests, that number can easily swell to 10 or more. Ten bikes take up a fair amount of space!
We’ve made the Resort Municipality of Whistler aware of the car bias in the zoning bylaw of its inconsistency with the top priority of the “Big Moves” climate action strategy: “Move Beyond the Car.” We even provided a simple, draft change to the zoning bylaw that would level the playing field without providing
additional benefits associated uniquely with cars. Staff at the muni were sympathetic, but it’s completely unclear if and when any change might happen. Years at best, it seems.
Separately, just after we pointed out the discrepancy to the municipality, the “Big Moves” web pages were demoted from the highest visibility location at whistler.ca (top left) to under “Visiting Whistler.” Was the “Big Moves” strategy just marketing all along?
Bill Gordon // Vancouver and Whistler
Gratitude for a ‘kickass’ Whistler Blackcomb employee
It is with immense gratitude that we celebrate the incredible journey of Heather Dufty, which began at Whistler Blackcomb in 2007. Bidding you a fond farewell, as you embark on your next adventure.
Many of us first knew you as a kickass snowmaker. Your drive and talent were immediately evident. Contributing year-round, to many facets of the snowmaking department and other resort operations. You were quickly promoted to a senior supervisor role, leading your team to success during the demanding 2010 Olympics.
Your passion for learning and seeking new challenges has always set you apart. This spirit of adventure and your remarkable foresight led you to persuade Whistler Blackcomb to create a project planning and GIS mapping department. Today, it easily
stands out as the best in the industry!
You were the driving force behind the creation of WB’s Geographic Information System (GIS). This interactive web map of Whistler Blackcomb, a testament to your vision and dedication, is now used by hundreds of users across various departments including ski patrol, snowmaking, electrical maintenance, lift operations, safety, and snow
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
“believe in yourself and your vision” and “don’t be afraid to speak up” perfectly encapsulates the spirit you brought to every challenge.
While we will deeply miss your presence, we are excited to see where your incredible drive takes you next. Your legacy of innovation, dedication, and excellence will continue to inspire us for years to come.
With heartfelt thanks, our very best
“While we will deeply miss your presence, we are excited to see where your incredible drive takes you next.”
- NATAI PERDUE
school, streamlining resources and enhancing efficiency daily.
Beyond GIS, you were instrumental and a driving force in leading the installations of the Creekside Gondola, Big Red, and Jersey Cream Lift replacements. These monumental and successful projects highlight your unparalleled commitment and capability.
Your passion, determination, unwavering commitment to lead with integrity, and refusal to never settle for second best have left an indelible mark on all of us. Your advice to
wishes on all your future endeavours. On behalf of your past and present coworkers at Whistler Blackcomb!
NaTai Perdue
// Whistler
Whistler’s tree bylaw needs more consultation
A version of this letter was sent to Whistler’s mayor and council, and shared with Pique. As a Whistler resident and a B.C. Registered Professional Landscape Architect, I am in
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support of the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) initiative to update and improve the Tree Protection Bylaw, but I strongly recommend you delay its fourth reading and adoption.
I recognize and value the significant work by staff and volunteers on the current draft, however as a resident and a professional I have concerns about its adoption, as scheduled for June 24. Please postpone the fourth reading of this bylaw (for at least three months) to allow for a meaningful consultation with the general public and industry professionals. This bylaw can be much improved by an open consultation.
This bylaw has been drafted by a very restricted focus group. Other than one arboricultural consultant, no other potential applicants (property owners or industry consultants) have had input on its criteria or execution. There has been no published public or industry consultation.
While there are more than 80 names (not signatures) of support on a letter, more than 50 per cent of the signatures come from outside of the RMOW and some as far away as Toronto and Australia.
This is a bylaw that affects Whistler residents, property owners and industry professionals.
Property owners, architects, landscape architects, builders, real estate agents all will be the applicants of such a bylaw, yet none have been consulted.
A public draft of the bylaw has only been
available for two weeks, so I suggest more time to review and discuss it thoroughly with industry associates, to provide meaningful input. The following points are just a few of my professional comments and suggestions to improve the bylaw:
• Tree Definition—should be modified
under SSMUH (provincial density infill) within the 40 TPH- (Trees per hectare), not 60 to be included with other multi-residential zones. Parking zones should be moved to the 60 TPH, as parking lots should have more canopy cover to reduce heat island effects;
• “Significant Tree Retention” should
“This bylaw has been drafted by a very restricted focus group.”
- CROSLAND DOAK
to be >20cm (not >15cm as proposed) to be consistent with typical B.C. municipalities and industry standards;
• Riparian Areas should not be included in this bylaw, as these areas are already protected under B.C. provincial regulations, this may be redundant and potentially conflicting. Delete Section 16 Trees in Riparian Areas;
• Tree Density Minimum Ratio (TDMR) zones should be adjusted to include RSI-1 (Residential infill zone) and lots developing
count as the equivalent of three (3) trees (>15cm), to recognize the benefit of that “significant” biomass and be consistent with the requirements for replacing a “Significant Tree” (three replacements required);
• All trees within a building envelope should be exempt from permits or replacement requirements, where the required TDMR is achieved elsewhere on the subject property.
• Exemptions should: not exclude the RMOW (follow your own bylaws, as with other
Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Send them to edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com before 11 a.m. on Tuesday for consideration in that week’s paper.
building bylaws); 6 (f) “the cutting is related to fire-fighting and wildfire mitigation …” should not be limited only to public entities. Wildfire mitigation is everyone’s responsibility; 6 (l) should not limit branch pruning of a significant tree to two metres hanging. This should be increased to not inhibit access, walkways, gardens—suggest four metres.
In closing, we live in a community that arguably has more biomass than any municipality of our size or population in B.C. The example of un-treed lots in the staff presentation to the committee of the whole are extreme and limited situations. The majority of properties in Whistler, even if they have fully cleared a site for construction, are well planted within a few years.
Delaying the adoption of this bylaw, communicating with the public that the bylaw allows warranted cutting without permits, and holding an open consultation will make this a more efficient and effective bylaw. There is no real risk to trees delaying this adoption. An open consultation will result in a better bylaw, with greater conformance and achieve our environmental goals as a community.
Thank you to staff and council for their hard work and openness on this valuable bylaw.
The bylaw in question was adopted June 24. Read more on page 28, and find the full version of this letter in the June 24 late correspondence package at whistler.ca/mayor-council/councilmeetings/council-video-agendas-minutes.
MUNICIPALITY REPORTS $48.8M IN PAYROLL AND $116M IN SUPPLIER PAYMENTS IN ITS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
BY LIZ MCDONALD
THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) has released its 2024 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI), providing a detailed look at compensation for municipal employees, elected officials and contractors.
Elected officials collectively earned $477,352 in total remuneration in 2024, up from $453,251 the year prior. Mayor Jack Crompton received $145,918 in 2024, marking a 5.4-per-cent increase from $138,493 in 2023.
Each of Whistler’s six councillors earned $55,239 last year, up from $52,460 in 2023—a 5.3-per-cent increase.
On the expense front, Crompton claimed the most at $9,645. Coun. Jesse Morden followed with $6,370, while Coun. Jen Ford expensed the least at $2,069. In total, council members expensed $39,386 in 2024.
STAFF SALARIES REFLECT RETROACTIVE PAY
Chief administrative officer Virginia Cullen earned $270,448 in 2024. That figure was down from $284,449 in 2023, but she explained the
difference was due to a one-time vacation payout the year prior.
“The year before, I hadn’t taken all of my vacation, so I got paid out a number of days to draw down my vacation day,” Cullen said in an interview after the June 24 council meeting. “That’s a good indicator of how you just can’t use it as a direct comparison year to year as a salary benchmark.”
The SOFI report provides an annual snapshot of municipal spending, including salaries, revenues and contractor payments. However, listed remuneration does not reflect take-home pay or hourly wages. It includes base salary, retroactive pay, overtime, statutory holiday pay, and payouts for accrued vacation or banked time.
Higher salary totals this year are partly due to retroactive pay tied to previously settled agreements as reported by Pique in 2024.
TOP MUNICIPAL EARNERS
Several municipal staff earned more than $200,000 in 2024:
• Ted Battiston, General Manager, Corporate Services and Public Safety— $231,032;
• Tom Doherty, Fire Chief—$238,849;
• Karen Elliott, General Manager, Community Engagement and Cultural Services—$212,811;
• James Hallisey, General Manager, Infrastructure Services—$231,067;
• Mitchell Hunter, Deputy Fire Chief— $211,484;
• Dale Mikkelsen, General Manager, Climate Action, Planning and Development Services—$223,754;
• Denise Wood, Director of Human Resources—$221,306.
PAYROLL, CONTRACTORS AND RISING COSTS
Total payroll reached $48.8 million in 2024, up from $44.1 million in 2023. Municipal employee expenses rose to $439,293 from $350,491 over the same period.
Contractor and supplier payments also rose, reaching $116.2 million in 2024, compared to $110.4 million the previous year.
Contractors receiving more than $25,000 are listed by name in the SOFI document.
Top contractor payments included:
• BC Transit – $6,868,089;
• Coastal Mountain Excavations –$5,714,453;
• Tourism Whistler – $7,992,477;
• RCMP – $4,331,792;
• Corona Excavations – $3,584,923;
• Drake Excavating – $3,067,236;
• GFL Environmental – $3,677,516;
• BC Hydro – $2,012,366;
• Coastal Mountain Mechanical Ltd. –$2,288,180.
Pique ’s parent company, Pacific Coast Publications, received $104,240 for
legislatively required public notices and advertisements in 2024.
QUESTIONS AROUND TRANSPARENCY THRESHOLDS
At the June 24 council meeting, Coun. Arthur De Jong asked about staff perceptions around public disclosure of their salaries.
Cullen noted employees understand the requirements of public service, but added the current $75,000 disclosure threshold may need reconsideration.
“I think if there’s anything that staff would be wondering about is whether that threshold may change in the future to reduce the number of reports that happen on it,” she said.
Ford pointed out the issue was raised through Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) resolutions in 2019. The reporting threshold falls under provincial jurisdiction. However, she noted it may fall into the “nice to have” category rather than a legislative priority given broader municipal challenges.
De Jong suggested visualizing a “salary pyramid” to better convey compensation distribution. “You get a sense of the distribution … fully exposing the rates at the highest levels, but not at the mid or lower layers, would be my preference,” he said.
The full SOFI report is available in the June 24 council meeting package on the RMOW website. n
BY THE NUMBERS Whistler’s 2024 financial statements were presented to council on June 24. FILE PHOTO BY BRADEN DUPUIS
NEWS WHISTLER
WISH granted: supportive housing non-profit gains momentum in Whistler
WHISTLER
INDEPENDENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SECURES UNITS IN CHEAKAMUS CROSSING
BY LIZ MCDONALD
IN WHISTLER, sometimes wishes do come true. Just ask Whistler Independent Supportive Housing, or WISH.
The registered non-profit recently announced it has secured 10 units of housing for adults with developmental disabilities in Cheakamus, thanks to a partnership with Whistler Sport Legacies.
“I think it couldn’t have come sooner for a lot of families. They would have had it yesterday if they had the opportunity,” said Sue Hargrave, a parent of 18-year-old Eliza who has cerebral palsy, global developmental delay and ADHD. “As a parent who lives in Whistler, I am so thrilled that I don’t have to leave and I can grow old here as well.”
Moving from a parent or guardian’s home is a rite of passage, and moving multiple times over a lifetime is common. But for people with developmental disabilities like Eliza, going from the parents’ home to supportive living is often the only time they will relocate.
Hargrave sits as the chair of WISH’s board of directors. WISH is a group of parents who started as a support group and evolved into a non-profit organization advocating for supportive housing for people with developmental disabilities in Whistler since 2019. She has feared for many years she will have to move out of the ski town because of a lack of resources for her daughter’s population.
Their new address means fear is far less pressing. Her daughter does want to move out one day, and specialists and Eliza’s school psychologist believe that time will come around age 25.
“I see it as a very natural thing for us. It’ll be a slow integration, and she’ll always be welcome at home,” Hargrave said. “It’s not a matter of that. It’s just that we can have a bit of independence, and I can enjoy a bit more freedom, because right now it’s me and my husband, 24/7, which is the challenge with this population.”
Six of the 10 units contain two bedrooms, allowing individuals to have live-in support, and four are one-bedroom units for people with higher capacities who require daily check-ins. Units will be spread throughout the building, integrating the community.
Live-in “buddies,” as Hargrave calls them, are supported through Community Living BC through a home-share model.
“We could actually even house in those units someone from the Whistler working population,” she said. “They might be a ski instructor that works Monday to Friday during the day but comes home and … becomes a role model and buddy with some responsibility.”
The buddy can ask helpful questions to serve as a reminder about prescription medications, dinner and other adult responsibilities.
A portion of the 4,000-square-foot amenity space will be allocated to WISH tenants for day programming, which can include office
space for one-on-one counselling, a kitchen space for group meal preparation and family dinner nights, and another typical Canadian household amenity: a television to watch the hockey game.
While programming is still in development, a nutritionist could come in and help guide meal prep for the week, and the crew can head out and shop together before cooking meals Tuesday. The space wouldn’t just be for residents with developmental disabilities, but Hargrave imagines potentially opening it up to community groups for events.
Because the population is on fixed incomes, WISH seeks to ensure long-term financial support for housing costs through a $5-million endowment fund. Hargrave said the population receives income assistance of $500 for rental expenses and an additional $700 for all other expenses, which is far below the living wage or rent costs in Whistler.
“It’s been called forced poverty for the disabled population,” Hargrave said. “We’re doing this independently without government support because we don’t want our hands to be tied to anybody else’s ideas,” she said, noting political winds can switch and so can funding.
Instead, an endowment fund offers longterm, stable funding, with the interest earned used to close the financial gap between the money the population has to spend and the cost of renting in Whistler. The funding model would also provide pay for a part-time administrative worker.
Now, it’s entering a phase of strategic communication and planning to garner donations from near and far.
That’s where the Whistler community can pitch in and help raise $5 million for a lasting impact. WISH recently announced the news at a community gathering June 14, where they released a video featuring Whistler families whose children need housing, created by Mike Douglas and sponsored by 100 Women Who Care Whistler.
Hargrave said the reason for a mixed model of housing comes down to two factors: the province has changed its framework, moving away from segregation and institutionalizing individuals, and because of universal human values.
“They want to be just like you and I,” Hargrave said. “Everyone wants to feel welcome, get a smile from their next door neighbour down the hall and have the freedom to associate just like everyone else does.
“People assume somebody with a disability wants to live amongst themselves. And while [it’s] true [that] they are their own best friends, and that tight knit group is very solid—we do need to listen to their voice and allow them to have the independence that everybody tends to want.”
Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for 2026, with occupancy expected in 2028.
Read the full story at piquenewsmagazine. com. n
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We wouldliketoacknowledgethat weworkandliveonthetraditionalterritoryofthe SylixOkanagan,x məθk əýəm,səlilwətaɬ,Lil’watandSḵwxwú7meshPeople.
Thispublicationisnotintended
Have your say on parks and trails in Whistler
NEW RECREATION TRAILS STRATEGY PRESENTED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
AS THE RESORT Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) formalizes a new Parks and Valley Trail Strategy, residents and guests to the resort are invited to weigh in by way of an online survey.
The strategy will guide the future of Whistler’s parks and Valley Trail over the next 10 years.
“It will consider local and regional demographic forecasts, Smart Tourism principles, as well as local, regional, provincial and national park trends,” reads the project page on the RMOW’s website.
“The Strategy will be founded on topics of climate change, ecological integrity and stewardship, equity, diversity and inclusion, First Nations reconciliation, ageing infrastructure, and current fiscal realities. The Strategy will define the direction, philosophy, policies, and actions and create a framework for future decisions.”
Residents and guests to the resort can learn more and take the survey at engage. whistler.ca/park-and-valley-trail-strategy.
Manager of parks planning Martin Pardoe was on hand for the June 24 committee of the whole meeting to present a related initiative in the Recreation Trails Strategy (RTS).
“You may recall back prior to the pandemic, and in the early days of the pandemic, there was a lot of concerns about trails in our community … things about lack of transparency with how trail planning occurs, there were environmental and wildlife concerns, parking and access were an issue,” Pardoe said.
All that in mind, RMOW staff decided to “take a breath” and consider it all under one project umbrella.
“So the purpose of the rec trail strategy is to respond to feedback from the community about various trail-related issues; to elevate the community’s general knowledge regarding the trail ecosystem, if I can call it that, in Whistler; provide direction and guidance around common friction points, and how can we move forward on these items; and provide the basis for a future comprehensive trail-planning initiative,” Pardoe said. “It’s intended as a comprehensive, forward-looking framework designed to guide the planning, development, management and stewardship of Whistler’s non-motorized recreation trail network.”
Development of the RTS was guided by local consultants from Cascade Environmental and the Whistler Centre for Sustainability; the Trail Planning Working Group and Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee; the Lil’wat and Squamish Nations; and three rounds of community engagement beginning in 2021.
It outlines high-level directions across several key areas: trail management and operations; access and staging; environmental stewardship; trail-planning and development; commercial and event use; and monitoring
and communication.
It’s a big portfolio: the draft RTS considers strategic direction for the resort’s massive, 416-kilometre trail network, which includes both authorized and unauthorized trails, trailrelated amenities and access infrastructure.
It also covers some crucial topics in the world of local trails, like funding, maintenance, motorized use, and the big one, rogue trailbuilding.
Unauthorized trails are a concern for several reasons, Pardoe said, not the least of which is whose land you’re building on.
“You might think you’re building an awesome trail and just scratching it out in the middle of nowhere, but this perspective is not shared by those whose land you’re working on. First Nations footprints and culturally significant places are widespread, and as a builder of unauthorized trails, you risk serious
“It’s intended as a comprehensive, forward-looking framework...”
- MARTIN PARDOE
legislative penalties for disturbing archeological sites, whether they are mapped or not,” Pardoe said, adding unauthorized trail construction is “risking decades of advocacy by WORCA and undermining the reputation of the sport.”
Another topic is commercial event use on Whistler’s trails, for which the RMOW plans to develop a policy, fee structure and review process in collaboration with local interest groups.
“With monitoring, restriction and communication, the direction we propose is to expand use of on-site information boards at high-use staging areas and trailheads to reach those users who may not be connected to other trail information channels; to continue to work with the province to monitor grizzly bear recovery and activity, particularly in the Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain areas; and to continue to restrict e-bikes and dogs above the Flank Trail to mitigate environmental impacts with respect to grizzly bears, other wildlife and sensitive habitat,” Pardoe said.
“And on that, we are seeing an uptick in e-bike use on the Alpine trails, which is not permitted. As a public service announcement, we ask that people please prioritize real and genuine environmental concerns ahead of their personal needs.”
With council’s endorsement, the RTS will return for proper consideration at an upcoming council meeting. Read it in full in the June 24 council package at whistler. ca/mayor-council/council-meetings/councilvideo-agendas-minutes. n
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Cougar activity prompts closures at Whistler Blackcomb
SECTIONS OF THE BIKE PARK WERE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS THIS WEEK DUE TO AGGRESSIVE COUGARS IN THE AREA
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
LARGE SECTIONS OF both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains were temporarily closed to the public this week after several reports of aggressive cougars in the area.
Whistler Blackcomb, in consultation with the BC Conservation Officer Service, closed the Creekside and Garbanzo Zones of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park on Monday, June 21, due to “aggressive cougar activity,” after a pair of separate incidents on June 20.
A spokesperson for the COS said no one was injured in the incidents, but officials are investigating.
“In one incident, a mountain biker was approached by a cougar. The cougar disengaged when other bikers arrived but stayed in the area,” the spokesperson said.
“In the second incident, a mountain biker was chased by a cougar for approximately 350 metres before falling. He threw rocks at the cougar, which also remained in the area.”
Conservation Officers responded and searched the area, but didn’t see any cougars.
The following day, Sunday, June 22, a report came in of “concerning” cougar behaviour across the valley, on Blackcomb.
“COs responded to the Ascent Trail area shortly after 11 a.m. today (June 22) following
a report of two cougars in close proximity to hikers. The cougars were not deterred by their attempts to scare them away. No one was injured during this incident,” the spokesperson said, adding COs searched the area, but again no cougars were seen.
“Stalking, chasing and being in close proximity with people is unusual and concerning cougar behaviour,” they added.
The incidents came a week after a popular
trail to Garibaldi Lake was closed due to aggressive cougars in the area.
In that instance, several hikers had to be escorted out by COS and BC Parks staff.
The COS believes the cougars at Whistler Blackcomb are the same cougars seen at Garibaldi Lake the previous week.
Conservation Officers were back on the scene on Monday, June 23 to monitor and assess the situation, with K-9 support—but
again did not locate any cougars.
The bike park reopened to the public in full on Tuesday, June 24, though the Ascent Trail on Blackcomb remained closed as of Pique’s weekly press deadline.
According to the provincial government, if you encounter a cougar, you should stay calm and keep the cougar in view, while picking up children immediately. Back away slowly, ensuring the animal has a clear avenue of escape.
Make yourself look as large as possible. Never run or turn your back on a cougar, as sudden movement may provoke an attack.
If a cougar shows interest or follows you, respond aggressively, maintain eye contact, show your teeth and make loud noises. Arm yourself with rocks or sticks as weapons.
If a cougar attacks, fight back—convince it you are a threat and not prey, and use anything you can as a weapon, focusing your attack on the cougar’s face and eyes.
Reports of cougar conflicts or aggressive cougar behaviour can be made to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
For more info on how to stay safe if you see a cougar, visit: gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/ wildlife/human-wildlife-conflict/stayingsafe-around-wildlife/cougars.
Check back with as this story develops. n
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Cost comparison concerns surface over Cheakamus Crossing Lot 3
WHISTLER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION RAISES ISSUE WITH RMOW’S COST-REPORTING METHOD, SAYING STAFF’S 40-PER-CENT INCREASE FIGURE ISN’T AN APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISON
BY LIZ MCDONALD
A RECENT STAFF report from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has prompted clarification from the Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) regarding construction cost comparisons for Cheakamus Crossing Lot 3.
While RMOW staff reported a 40-percent cost increase between Lot 2B and the proposed Lot 3 project in the June 10 council agenda, former WDC president Eric Martin says that figure doesn’t accurately reflect project realities.
“When you do a straight comparison, sure, the costs appear 40-per-cent higher, but that’s not an apples-to-apples comparison,” Martin said in an interview with Pique. “What was quoted as 40 per cent is actually closer to seven to 10 per cent, which is quite amazing to me, given what we’re seeing in construction cost escalation.”
Martin said he flagged the issue with senior staff and the mayor ahead of the meeting, but acknowledged the busy council schedule and the complexity of the project may have led to the item going uncorrected during public discussion.
In its staff report, the RMOW stated Lot 3’s estimated cost per square foot is $719.82— approximately 40-per-cent higher than Lot 2B, completed in 2022 at $514.72 per square foot. But Martin argues the comparison overlooks several important factors, including contingency costs, increased building code requirements, and the economies of scale that
He also pointed to broader industry conditions. “In the last three years, we’ve seen more than a 60-per-cent increase in hard construction costs in B.C.,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons these projects are harder and harder to pull off—along with interest rates.”
The WDC typically tracks project budgets
“When you do a straight comparison, sure, the costs appear 40-per-cent higher, but that’s not an apples-toapples comparison.”
- ERIC MARTIN
come with larger projects.
“[These lots have] a completely different set of criteria,” he said. “Smaller jobs don’t benefit from the same economies of scale. And over time, we’ve had different building code requirements—things like mechanical ventilation, higher-rated windows, better insulation. Those costs increase our scope but aren’t directly comparable.”
across 19 or 20 line items, Martin explained, which provides a clearer view of changing cost drivers over time. “We maintain costs for every project to know what we’ve done in the past and what trends look like. But we don’t just lump everything into one figure.”
The RMOW, for its part, stood by the figure presented in its June 10 report.
“Transparency is very important for local
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government as we are always conscious of the trust we must earn from our constituents in all our financial dealings,” the municipality said in a statement to Pique. “We hold ourselves to an extremely high standard of fiscal accountability and, ultimately, we chose to calculate this project cost more holistically.”
Municipal staff explained the figure includes contingency costs—something they say is necessary in today’s volatile market, particularly due to uncertainties like U.S. trade tariffs.
“It is a large project at 125 proposed units, and construction costs have continued to increase over time,” the statement said. “It was flagged ahead of the meeting, however, as mentioned, staff’s report included a project budget amount inclusive of contingency costs. This is the conservative estimate and did not need to be amended, as there was no error.”
Still, Martin emphasized clearer communication could have helped the public better understand the context.
“When we did our original project plan, we could have explained it better,” he said. “But it’s important to understand that these cost increases are happening over time, and they’re tied to very real changes in building regulations and market conditions.” n
Whistler RCMP thanks public for assistance in fire investigation
POLICE BRIEFS: RCMP SEEKING INFO ON ‘SUSPICIOUS MALES’ IN PEMBERTON
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
THE WHISTLER RCMP says the community can now stand down after issuing a call for information on Monday, June 23.
Police made the request in relation to two separate reports of individuals lighting fires in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, despite a community-wide fire ban.
Investigators received an “overwhelming” number of calls and information, said Cpl. Katrina Boehmer, media relations officer with the Sea to Sky RCMP, in a follow up on June 24.
“We want to thank our media partners for assisting us with getting this information out to the public,” Boehmer said. “We also want to thank all the individuals who called and attended at our detachment to provide our investigators with information. Whistler is an exceptional place to live, work and recreate, and it is simply impressive to see how the members of this community come together so quickly to help police ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.”
Whistler RCMP investigators have “been able to obtain information to help further these investigations, and no further assistance is being requested at this time,” she added.
In a release on June 23, police said the first incident occurred on June 19, just after 8 p.m., near the gravel pit on Lorimer Road, where three males were reportedly seen gathered around a fire. The second incident took place on June 20, just after 7:30 p.m., in the 4100 block of Golfer’s Approach, where three males were observed attempting to start a fire.
In Whistler, the fine for having a fire
without a permit is $500, reduced to $300 if paid within 14 days. The fine for having a campfire during a ban, as Whistler is now under until Sept. 15, is $1,000. The RCMP and COS can also issue an additional $1,150 ticket for fire-related infractions.
The Whistler Fire Rescue Service can hand out fines, but typically defers to the municipal bylaw department. Since January
1, 2024, two tickets have been issued for openair burns in Whistler.
POLICE SEEK INFO ON SUSPICIOUS MALES
Police are seeking info from the public after receiving a report of two suspicious males in Pemberton earlier this month.
According to a release, on Saturday, June 14, “the Sea to Sky Pemberton RCMP received a report involving two suspicious males parked briefly along Highway 99 in the area of Portage Road/Vine Road. One of the males was reportedly seen exiting the vehicle and approaching another vehicle parked in a nearby lot.”
Pemberton RCMP is actively investigating the report, “however at this time, no evidence has surfaced in relation to this incident that would cause police to believe that there is a risk to public safety in the Village of Pemberton,” the release said.
Police are hoping to speak with anyone who may have been in the area of Highway 99 and Portage Road/Vine Road on June 14 between approximately 2 and 2:30 a.m. and who may have witnessed a vehicle parked on the highway.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Sea to Sky Pemberton RCMP at 604-894-6634, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS). n
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Whistler adopts tree bylaw amid calls for consultation and climate urgency
OPPONENTS CITE LACK OF INDUSTRY INPUT, WHILE SUPPORTERS URGE FAST ACTION TO CURB TREE LOSS
WHISTLER’S MAYOR and council officially adopted its new Tree Protection Bylaw on June 24, despite a flurry of eleventh-hour requests to delay the legislation in favour of broader consultation with local builders and landscape architects.
The bylaw—which aims to preserve Whistler’s urban canopy by regulating the removal of trees over 15 centimetres in diameter—passed unanimously, but not without heated debate over the consultation process, clarity of exemptions, and concern the delay could spark a rash of pre-emptive cutting.
“I won’t be supporting this [deferral],” said Councillor Jen Ford during deliberations. “It’s giving me anxiety just the length of time it’s taken us to have this conversation, knowing that there are people who are not afraid to cut down trees… I would rather this be more prohibitive than permissive in this case.”
The bylaw requires residents to apply for a permit to cut most trees within municipal boundaries, with some exceptions based on tree size, for FireSmart treatments, hazardous trees and existing development permits. It works in tandem with the revised, alsoadopted Environmental Protection Bylaw.
While many residents and environmental advocates welcomed the move, some industry professionals said they felt blindsided.
“I’m a little frustrated that after being here last year asking for consultation and being involved, another one goes forward without that,” said a representative from the Landscape Association. “So it’s not so much about the exact bylaw itself… but please involve us next time and this time even more so.”
Landscape architect Crosland Doak echoed that concern, presenting “a number of items that I think need a lot of work and that would give you better buy-in and probably better compliance.”
A lengthy letter from Doak submitted to council ahead of the meeting outlined more than a dozen proposed amendments. Others— including the Real Estate Association of
Whistler and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of B.C.—backed his call for a pause.
But supporters warned any delay would only give property owners time to skirt the rules.
“Deferring adoption of this bylaw really invites pre-emptive tree clearing,” said Claire Wright, a former AWARE board member. “Not bringing this bylaw into regulation, we will lose trees. We’ll lose them without process. We’ll lose them without transparency.”
AWARE board president John Rasmussen shared a recent example: over four consecutive nights in June, six mature pines were illegally topped on municipal land along the Valley Trail near Blackcomb Drive—“in full knowledge that it was not legal,” he said.
“It speaks to changing attitudes in the community where view improvement is considered to trump any environmental or legal consequences of actions taken,” Rasmussen added. “We all have rights… that comes with a commensurate responsibility to protect.”
The bylaw also includes a new density minimum, though Coun. Cathy Jewett noted the rules could be “a little bit confusing” when intersecting with thresholds for significant trees, tree size and the number of removals.
Jewett also voiced concern over rising tree mortality caused by climate stress. Red trees caused by Western spruce budworm in Whistler are hard to miss, seemingly seen everywhere throughout the town. “I was absolutely shocked to see the change in the forest,” Jewett said, referencing the rapid reddening of forests in Whistler of late linked to spruce budworm defoliation (check back with Pique in the weeks ahead for more on this topic).
Council ultimately rejected a proposed deferral to July 22 and instead passed a follow-up motion requiring staff to monitor implementation and return with an update— and potential amendments—within 12 months.
“I thought some letters were thoughtful,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “I’m grateful that we get to consider them alongside a bylaw that will be implemented if this passes.”
Council passed the bylaw unanimously. Find the full story at piquenewsmagazine. com. n
FOR THE FORESTS Speakers at the Maury Young Arts Centre on June 24 all spoke to the need for a tree protection bylaw, but some called for further consultation.
PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD
Lil’wat elders group condemns Benchlands development
‘NEITHER THE CROWN NOR THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON HOLDS INFORMED CONSENT’
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A GROUP OF Lil’wat Nation elders has condemned a major Pemberton development as a cultural incursion and denounced what they describe as coerced participation from Chiefs and Council and a failure of consultation by the Village of Pemberton.
The statement, issued May 26 by the Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut (Lil’wat Elder Leadership Council), asserts construction on the Nkwúkwma development—also referred to as the Benchlands project—is destroying a culturally significant landscape.
“These south-facing benchlands are not only ecologically unique; they are located at the geographic and cultural heart of Lil’wat territory,” the statement reads.
“Neither the Crown nor the Village of Pemberton holds informed consent from we the Lil’wat People. This imposed, colonialstyle administration is not [our way of] Lil’wat governance—and cannot produce lawful certainty for any development on the Lil’wat Benchlands.
“The scale of destruction is catastrophic,” the statement continues. “Its impacts on the Lil’wat People are compounding and one of the most immediate effects is a deepening demoralization for us.
“That land was, and remains, un-surrendered Lil’wat territory.”
A subsequent flyer posted online by the Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut proposes “a full stop work order” on the development.
The Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut is distinct from the Lil’wat Nation Chiefs and Council. Lil’wat CAO Rolf de Bruin issued a statement to Pique in response to the elders.
“We are aware of the recent statement from Skel7áqsten Skel7ántsut,” wrote de Bruin. “Chiefs and Council acknowledge the voices of elders, and appreciate the care and concern that
many community members carry for the land and for our Nation’s direction.”
A representative from Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut declined comment.
BACKGROUNDER
Approved in 2024, the Nkwúkwma project envisions a multi-phase residential neighbourhood that would add 450 new homes and key infrastructure like access roads, water supply and sewage system.
While not a housing project for Lil’wat members specifically, the Nation told Pique in a statement the project ensures “oversight, influence and potential long-term benefits that would not otherwise be possible.”
“The Nkwúkwma project is a partnership that reflects Lil’wat Nation’s broader effort to be more actively involved in what happens in our territory—not just as participants, but as partners and as decision-makers,” de Bruin said.
The group behind the new neighbourhood, Skénkenam Development LP, is the product of a partnership between the Lil’wat Business Group and the Pemberton Benchlands Development Corporation.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACTS
The elders describe the area as an identified archaeological site that features one of the Nation’s “origin petroglyphs.”
“Líl’wat cultural evolution is carved into these stones and mountains,” said Elder Shawe7, described as “a lifelong archaeologist, historian and fisheries expert,” in the statement.
“These stones are how our ancestors communicated with the future—and how we look back.”
The Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut alleges the current development is proceeding without a full Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) as required under B.C. law.
An AIA is used to obtain development permits from the province. They involve a formal investigation conducted by a qualified archaeologist to determine whether a proposed land development or other land-altering activity will affect archaeological sites.
The Village of Pemberton told Pique archaeological assessments were required for the Nkwúkwma development, as well as for past projects like the Sunstone and Ridge Area (or Hillside Development).
The Village noted that, in regards to turning that AIA into an action plan, “consultation with Lil’wat Nation’s Referral Committee is currently ongoing, and feedback is being addressed by the project consultants.
“For both [Benchlands and Hillside developments], the Lil’wat Nation was engaged, as either a consultant or through the referral committee, to help identify appropriate mitigations.”
WASTEWATER
The statement also suggests Pemberton’s wastewater system, whose sewage is piped through Lil’wat land to a lift station “on the upstream edge” of the Mount Currie reserve, before being discharged into the Lillooet River and Lake, is unable to match the pace of development. The elders warn the system is “already overcapacity,” and that recent and new developments could lead to a catastrophic failure.
In its response, the Village said the facility—built in 2004 for a population of 5,000—currently operates well within its designed limits and is regularly monitored and certified under provincial regulations. A future expansion is included in the Village’s Five-Year Financial Plan, with a total $492,816 committed to sanitation system improvements.
They added the wastewater is treated to meet provincial standards before being discharged and that the Village’s Receiving Environment Monitoring Program conducts “regular water sampling at downstream sites to monitor cumulative impacts on the receiving environments.”
The statement also expressed specific concern over sewage in Sunstone Ridge neighbourhood being on the verge of failure, which the Village disputes.
OTHER INFRINGEMENTS
The elders say the development is part of a
longer history of expansion that infringes upon Lil’wat’s traditional territory.
Elder Ray Pierre, quoted in the statement, cited the story of the Copper Canoe—a key part of Lil’wat tradition.
The oral story recounts a spiritual journey by two shaman brothers using a canoe made of copper imbued with transformative power. The tale encodes ancestral knowledge of environmental upheaval and renewal, linking cultural survival with geological events like volcanic eruptions and the return of salmon.
The story is deeply tied to Keyhole Falls, northeast of Pemberton
“Líl’wat access to this site—and others like it—is being severed by sprawl and settlement across what was once Pemberton Indian Reserve land,” reads the statement.
The statement points to other encroachments on traditional territory, including “hydroelectric projects, industrial logging, sport fishing of endangered Birkenhead Chinook, off-road recreation, diking, spraying, trophy hunting and unrestricted access to sacred alpine and riverine areas.”
FUTURE LAND CLAIMS
The statement also highlights the uncertainty associated with any development in B.C.—and their vulnerability to Indigenous land claims.
“B.C. refuses to recognize Aboriginal title as a registerable land interest,” the Skel7áqsten Skwel7ántsut wrote. “This means investors at Sunstone Ridge hold no legal protection against future Aboriginal title claims.”
The province has a long history of mostly failing to come to terms with land claims over traditional territory, but the tide is slowly shifting.
The basis for modern land claims in B.C. was affirmed in the 1973 Calder decision— an ultimately unsuccessful Supreme Court challenge named for Nisga’a chief Frank Calder, who argued the Nation’s rights to traditional lands had been illegally ignored.
Despite the loss, the case recognized
Pemberton French students present ‘Chair of the Next Generation’ to MP Weiler
ÉCOLE LA VALLÉE STUDENTS DECORATED THE CHAIR WITH THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGES MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM
BY LUKE FAULKS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
STUDENTS FROM Pemberton’s École La Vallée have a message for adults in charge: nature is precious. That’s the line that adorns Pemberton’s second Chair of the Next Generation, a symbolic reminder of decisionmakers’ responsibilities to young Canadians.
During a presentation on June 23, Marilou Carswell, educational assistant and Eco Club leader at Pemberton’s francophone school, explained, in French, that the chair helps give a political voice to kids. Students might not be able to vote, but there are important decisions being made about their future and the chair is meant to help remind decisionmakers to consider the next generation.
The Chair of the Next Generation is inspired by the group Mères au Front (mothers at the front), a grassroots organization of mothers and grandmothers who advocate for climate action and environmental protection. The Québecois group has grown from its founding in 2020 to include more than 30 local chapters across Canada and Belgium.
Pemberton’s first-ever Chair of the Next Generation was gifted to mayor and council last year. This second Chair was gifted to Sea to Sky member of Parliament Patrick Weiler on June 23.
Students in Grades 2 through 7 at the Francophone school have been hard at work for the last month, designing and decorating the new chair.
For one student on the design team, the best part of the project was developing the vision for the chair. For others, cutting the designs and painting the chair was their favourite.
“I really liked to see the chair all done,” another student told Pique.
The chair is divided, representing two possible futures: on the left is a green future, with healthy forests and wildlife and renewable energy sources denoted by the wind turbine on the left leg; on the right, there’s fire, litter and pollution.
“We decided to make a chair that represented the consequences of the good choices—the good decisions for the environment—and then the other side represents the consequences of bad choices for the environment,” explained Carswell.
When asked how they felt about their future—which side of their chair they felt was most likely to come to pass—students all said they were feeling positive.
Students were able to ask their MP questions during the gifting event, including what Weiler would do to protect nature. The MP highlighted his former career as an environmental lawyer and a 2023 agreement between the government of Canada,
B.C. government and the First Nations Leadership Council to protect 30 per cent of lands by 2030.
One inquisitive student asked the MP his age. He’s 39.
Even though kids can’t vote, Weiler explained they can still have an impact on the decisions that affect them most.
In French, he explained that kids can speak
with friends, parents and other people about the importance of the environment—and that having those conversations during an election or when there’s a big decision on the docket can have an impact on the people who are able to vote.
The chair, gifted to Weiler, will be travelling back to his office in Ottawa—and perhaps even the House of Commons, the MP told students. n
BENCHLANDS DEVELOPMENT FROM PAGE 29
Aboriginal title has a place in Canadian Law, and formed the foundation for the Nisga’a Treaty in 2000—the first modern land claim in B.C.—which in turn provided the Nation with self-government.
Subsequent court cases like Delgamuukw v. BC (1997) and Tsilhqot’in v. BC (2014) affirmed Aboriginal title included land rights, but that title still had to be claimed in court— leading to the uncertainty referenced by the elders’ statement.
In 2024, B.C. took a significant step by formally recognizing the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title over all of Haida Gwaii, through a negotiated agreement rather than litigation.
“We have difficult decisions to make as a Nation,” said Kúkwpi7 Skalulmecw Political Chief Dean Nelson in a response to the elders’
statement. “It’s important that we do so with respect, honesty, and a shared vision for who we are and who we want to be.”
Added de Bruin: “As we continue to assert our inherent rights more publicly and powerfully, we are encouraged to see community members engaging in these important conversations.
“At the same time, Líl’wat Nation is reflecting deeply on what governance should look like for this generation and the next. Chiefs and Council were elected under systems shaped by the Indian Act, but we know this system is not our own. We look forward to continuing the journey of Nation building—engaging elders, youth, matriarchs and patriarchs—to re-establish governance that reflects our values, supports unity, and honours our rightful place on this land.” n
Pemberton sets topics for minister meetings at UBCM
CLIMATE MITIGATION, HIGHWAY 99 UPGRADES AND MORE UP FOR DISCUSSION IN SEPTEMBER
BY LUKE FAULKS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON is gearing up for this year’s Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention. At their June 24 council meeting, mayor and council finalized the list of issues they’re looking to advance during this year’s meetings—setting out their priority asks of the provincial government.
Those issue areas consist of support for a full Foundry Sea to Sky location in the Harrow Road building, fire mitigation on Crown lands, flood infrastructure and improvements to Highway 99—including a replacement Pemberton Creek bridge and new intersection for the new École La Vallée.
Held annually in September, the UBCM is an opportunity for elected officials to meet with cabinet ministers and government staffers. The convention serves as a venue for municipalities to lobby the provincial government on issues of importance to their communities.
FOUNDRY HUB
This year’s key issues were first discussed during a council meeting on May 27. Staff then drafted requests for meetings with ministers on three key issue areas for review on June 24.
First up is support for an official Foundry location in the new Harrow Road development. Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) aims to deliver health-care services from the future building, with an emphasis on providing “in-person support [for] youth facing mental health and addiction challenges.”
During the May 27 council meeting, Mayor Mike Richman told council “Pemberton [is] not on the map for a full Foundry,” but rather a satellite hub of the Squamish location. But given Pemberton’s location will service “youth and families from the Village and throughout the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District,” a full Foundry, or “hub,” would be more appropriate.
During the follow-up on June 24, Richman added the hub “will also support all the Indigenous communities in the area, and there’s already an effort going on to make sure that there are culturally sensitive and accessible services.”
The Village is requesting a meeting with Josie Osborne, the provincial minister of health, to seek the funding needed to facilitate a fully-fledged Foundry Hub on Harrow Road.
CLIMATE READINESS
Next up, the Village is seeking to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change with Kelly Greene, the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. The province’s minimum standards for
new dike systems require protection against a 200-year flood—meaning a flood event that has a one-in-200 chance of occurring in any given year. Under provincial law, municipalities and diking authorities like the Pemberton Valley Dyking District are responsible for designing, funding, building, inspecting, maintaining, repairing and operating those dikes.
Council is looking for some relief from the cost burden of building to the 200year standard on the Valley’s five major river systems. Currently, the cost would be shouldered by Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation and the SLRD.
Flooding continues to be an area of focus at the Pemberton Creek Bridge, where “seasonal weather trends create a pattern of flooding over the bridge, posing a risk to residents of nearby housing complexes.” That flooding “could necessitate closure of Highway 99,” a staff report noted. The Village is seeking to raise or replace the bridge. Officials are also looking to speak with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) about installing “a lane dedicated to active transportation” on a replacement bridge.
Last on the climate file is the Village’s concerns about wildfire outside Pemberton proper. A staff report on the UBCM resolutions flags that, while the village is “working to reduce wildfire threat through implementation of the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan ... mitigation work is also needed on Crown lands.” The VOP is seeking funding to carry out fuel management treatment on Crown lands whose proximity to the Village poses a wildfire risk.
HIGHWAY 99 UPGRADES
Lastly, the Village has a few upgrades to Highway 99 to address with MOTT minister Mike Farnworth.
VOP officials are looking for support and funding for upgrades in the Gateway Area to ensure the space offers “safe access to Pemberton’s active transportation network and transit options,” particularly as traffic patterns change with the multi-modal transportation hub, new housing initiatives and the development of the new École La Vallée.
The VOP is also seeking support for a new intersection on Highway 99 for the francophone school, down the road from the main intersection.
“The new intersection, if built to adequate standards, will provide alternate access to the downtown area, easing traffic congestion at the existing highway intersection in the event of evacuation of the Village due to wildfire, flooding or other emergencies,” according to a staff report.
The 2025 UBCM will be held in Victoria from Sept. 22 to 26. A list of meeting topics the VOP has scheduled at past UBCM conventions is available online. n
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I SAY IT EVERY YEAR: whether on the beach, in a hammock, or sitting on your deck, the cheapest way to exit the Whistler bubble is through a book. Not only can you rapidly escape to myriad elsewheres, but, more importantly than ever, also return better-informed about the world and our place in it. In that vein, I share a few worthy non-fiction titles:
BY LESLIE
Blind Drunk: A Sober Look at Our Boozy , by Veronica Woodruff, Tide Water
Almost all of us grow up alcohol-adjacent, whether through family, friends, activities or tacit societal approval. How we choose to manage that relationship can define us. Debut Pemberton author Veronica Woodruff not only grew up surrounded by alcohol’s institutional and cultural green-lights, but in the belly of that beast’s ultimate pathology—from which she repeatedly tried to escape. From her parents’ de facto alcoholism through her own peer-approved initiation, casual use, occasional misuse, and late flirtation with dependency, Woodruff’s engaging recollections of a life spent running from alcohol’s ravages on her family while
simultaneously entertaining its charms and ubiquity—particularly in the Whistler outdoor vortex—is a page-turning roadmap of reexamination, research and ultimate chosen sobriety that will make anyone look more closely at why and how they drink.
Insectopolis: A Natural History, by Peter Kuper, Norton, 2025
A woman is taking her visiting brother to check out an exhibition on insects at the New York Public Library. Suddenly, an unrevealed event occurs that wipes out all humans and, as the great naturalist E. O. Wilson once predicted, sees the world revert to the rich state of biological equilibrium that existed before we messed it up—including myriad insects who now step in to tour the reader through their wide-ranging academic study and 400-million-year evolutionary history. This visually immersive work of graphic nonfiction by award-winning cartoonist Peter Kuper dives into a world where ants, bees and butterflies investigate humanity’s longstanding connections to them. A visual feast that layers history and science, colour and design, Kuper tells the remarkable tales of dung beetles navigating by the stars, hawk-size prehistoric dragonflies, and mosquitoes changing the course of human history. Kuper also illuminates pioneering naturalists—from well-known figures like Wilson and Rachel Carson, to unheralded luminaries like Black American scholar Charles Henry Turner, who documented arthropod intelligence, and 17th-century German savant Maria Sybilla Merian, the mother of entomology. Galvanized by the ongoing insect crisis and broader global Sixth Extinction, Kuper leads us on a journey into a world of far more import than we imagine.
True story: before there were Mexican drug cartels there was a tequila cartel, a union of the most important distillers in the famous Tequila Valley who, when it suited, suspended the precepts of normal competition to stand united in the face of challenges that included capricious government edicts, American temperance and the varied political unravellings and guerilla threats of the Mexican revolution. The almost unfathomable violence of the latter is telling historical context to many of the intimidation tactics of today’s bloody-minded cartels. Before the revolution, of course, Cuervo’s acclaim had spread worldwide, and once war broke out he remained an impresario, kingmaker and cultural force—ultimately forced into a shadowy existence on the run from Pancho Villa’s death threats. Despite action aplenty, this deeply researched and reported dual biography of Cuervo and the tequila industry will appeal less to those who casually enjoy the occasional margarita than dedicated history buffs who prefer their details detailed.
The Burning Earth: A History, by Sunil Amrith, Norton 2024
What has been the true planetary cost of humanity’s extraordinary expansion of freedom and mobility? Sunil Amrith, professor of both history and environment at Yale University, plumbs this question with sweeping stories that pair environment and empire, genocide and ecocide. Human prowess in agriculture and the control of nature have allowed billions of us to exist and thrive despite the true gestalt of these achievements, as one reviewer notes, being “a devastating panorama
of human folly.” I prefer to see Amrith’s poetic meditation more as a guide on how to avoid the dark paths history has already trodden (albeit The Burning Earth was penned before the likes of Trump and modern neo-fascist conservatism began doubling down on humanity’s worst mistakes). Nevertheless, Amrith prefers to look to the light: “more people are challenging the self-destructive folly that captured the imagination of the powerful and privileged for two-hundred years, and which maintains a chokehold on our collective right to breathe— the idea that human ambition could simply disregard the health of rivers, the viability of forests, and the suffering of animals.”
Is a River Alive?, by Robert Macfarlane, Norton 2025
Speaking of rivers, how about a book that everyone in the literary non-fiction world is talking about this spring? Well, it should also be the book that you’re talking about. For fans, it’s everything you expect from Macfarlane, a writer internationally renowned for his dazzling prose on nature, people and places. For newbies, his latest addition to a canon that includes Underland, The Old Ways and Mountains of the Mind will doubtless draw you to the fold of the former. Marrying three extraordinary journeys—the cloud forests of Ecuador, the wounded creeks of India, and the wild but compromised rivers of Canada—to meditations on the fragile chalk stream near his own home, Macfarlane challenges perspectives while transforming how we look at the natural world. After reading this, should someone pose the title’s question in conversation, you’ll undoubtedly have an answer.
Leslie Anthony is a biologist, writer and author of several popular books on environmental science. n
Tequila Wars: José Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico, by Ted Genoways, Norton 2025
ANTHONY
SWEET ESCAPE The cheapest way to exit the Whistler bubble is through a book.
PHOTO
Like it or not, we can’t live without insects
MANY PEOPLE find insects annoying, even frightening. As a former fruit fly geneticist who spent many boyhood years exploring insect and other life in the swamps near my home in Leamington, Ont., I’ve always been fascinated by them. They’re also a critical component in the web of life.
When insects are killed or die off, everything in the food web is affected, from the birds, bats and lizards that feed on insects to the snakes, coyotes and cougars that feed on birds and lizards, and on and on.
populations are now plummeting even in areas free from pesticides, fertilizers and industrial activity—including protected forests in countries such as Costa Rica. Many insects are hypersensitive to environmental changes—in heat, humidity, rainfall, light and seasonal variations. Events such as an unusually dry spring can prevent them from emerging from the ground, for example. Availability of water is especially critical, as they must stay constantly hydrated.
We haven’t learned our lesson over the 63 years since Rachel Carson’s seminal Silent was published—a book that influenced
BY DAVID SUZUKI
me and others and was the inspiration for growing environmental awareness. Carson pointed out the folly of applying new technologies or scientific developments on a widespread scale without understanding or even considering the impacts on
Before Carson’s book, Swiss chemist Paul Mueller developed the pesticide DDT and won a Nobel Prize for his work. It was seen as a miracle chemical, deadly to many “pests” and disease-carrying insects. Its use on malaria-carrying mosquitoes saved many human lives, but it also led to the deaths of millions of bald eagles, osprey, pelicans and other birds. Carson learned that, beyond having a direct impact on animals that feed on insects, especially birds, DDT was also “bioaccumulating” in some species
Insect collapse is already working its way through the web of life. A 2019 study found that three billion birds in the U.S., close to one-third, had disappeared since the 1970s, mostly those that feed on insects. A 2018 study in Puerto Rico’s Luquillo rainforest found a significant decrease in birds, frogs and lizards as insect numbers dropped.
Because many insects are pollinators, their decline can also reduce plant and food crop growth.
Anyone who’s been around for a while might remember road trips of the past, when you’d have to stop regularly to clean dead bugs off the car windshield and grill. Now, their numbers have diminished to the point that you can often drive a long way without a single splatter.
It’s hubris. We fail to understand that nature, which includes us, is interdependent, that every disruption or disturbance we create will have far-reaching consequences. And so we spray poisons indiscriminately, wastefully burn fossil fuels and destroy natural spaces and habitat. But if insects die, birds and fish that eat them will die and animals that eat the birds and fish will also die...
We have numerous solutions to these problems—to climate change, biodiversity loss (including insects) and pollution—but sometimes it means putting life before profit,
We have numerous solutions
and “biomagnifying” through the food web, including to humans.
Insecticide bans helped insect populations recover in some places, but they now face another dire threat: global heating. Many scientists believe insect biomass is being reduced by as much as 2.5 per cent a year. That may not seem like a lot. “But if you run that forward just four decades, we’re talking about nearly half the tree of life disappearing in one human lifetime. That is absolutely catastrophic,” entomologist David Wagner told the Guardian
Pesticides (still), habitat loss, industrial activity, agriculture, and air, land, water and light pollution are still eradicating insects, but new research points to climate disruption as an increasingly devastating factor. Insect
and that doesn’t sit well with those who make their money from polluting fuels and chemicals.
We must do everything we can to protect insects. That includes addressing climate disruption by shifting to clean energy and conserving and restoring green spaces. Individually, we can grow more gardens with native, pollinator-friendly plants, reduce pesticide and fertilizer use and more.
It’s time to show our insect friends some respect. Our lives depend on them in more ways than most people know.
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington. Learn more at davidsuzuki.org. n
1. When was the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) officially incorporated?
A. 1966
B. 1975
C. 1980
D. 1991
2. Whistler was the first municipality in Canada to receive what unique designation?
A. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
B. Resort Municipality status
C. Crown Corporation status
D. Self-governing municipality
3. Who was Whistler’s first mayor?
A. Mark Angus
B. Nancy Wilhelm-Morden
C. Pat Carleton
D. Garry Watson
4. What major international event prompted major infrastructure upgrades in Whistler in the early 2000s?
A. World Expo 1986
B. FIFA World Cup
C. 2010 Winter Olympics
D. G7 Summit
5. Which two First Nations are traditional stewards of the land Whistler occupies?
A. Haida and Musqueam
B. Li l wat and Skw X wú7mesh
C. Tsleil-Waututh and Tla’amin
D. Nlaka’pamux and Heiltsuk
6. What political planning document has guided development in Whistler since the 1990s?
A. OCP (Official Community Plan)
B. RMOW Green Plan
C. Olympic Legacy Charter
D. Resort Growth Accord
7. What was Whistler originally called by European settlers?
A. Rainbow Valley
B. London Mountain
C. Alta Heights
D. Creekside Crossing
8. What governing body makes municipal decisions in Whistler?
A. Tourism Whistler Board
B. Municipal Council
C. Whistler Community Alliance
D. Sea to Sky Regional Council
9. Who is Whistler’s current mayor as of 2025?
A. Jack Crompton
B. Nancy Wilhelm-Morden
C. Jen Ford
D. John Grills
10. Where do municipal council meetings occur?
A. Excalibur Gondola
B. Longhorn Saloon
C. The Audain
D. Maury Young Arts Centre
PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD / DAVIDBUZZARD.COM
Canadiana
1. Which Canadian town is home to an annual bathtub racing championship?
A. Lunenburg, N.S.
B. Nanaimo, B.C.
C. Whitehorse, Yukon
D. Tofino, B.C.
2. The Dionne Quintuplets, born in 1934, became a major tourist attraction in which province?
A. Ontario
B. Manitoba
C. Quebec
D. Alberta
3. What invention was made by a Canadian?
A. The World Wide Web
B. Nail polish
C. Walkie talkie
D. Cool Whip
4. In the Canadian North, what is a “kamotiq”?
A. A type of Inuit sled
B. A fermented caribou dish
C. A snowmobile
D. An Arctic parka
5. What monster is said to lurk in a Canadian lake?
A. Gollum
B. Sunscreen
C. Donald Trump
D. Ogopogo
6. In which Canadian city would you find the “Museum of Bad Art”?
A. Red Deer, Alta.
B. Whitehorse, Yukon
C. Victoria, B.C.
D. There is no such museum in Canada
7. Who was the first openly gay political candidate in Canada?
A. Jean Chrétien
B. Roberta MacAdams
C. Peter Maloney
D. Pierre Poilievre
8. Which Canadian town has a UFO landing pad built in 1967 as a centennial project?
A. St. Paul, Alta.
B. Moosonee, Ont.
C. Swift Current, Sask.
D. Yellowknife, N.W.T.
9. What is “nunatak,” a word used in Canadian geography?
A. A type of rock used in Indigenous toolmaking
B. An Inuit fishing hole
C. D.
10. What is the wettest city in Canada?
A. B. C. D.
POLItico
1. How many Canadian prime ministers were born in B.C.?
A. A) 3
B. B) 6
C. C) 1
D. D) 4
2. What political scandal led to the resignation of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in 1873?
A. A) The Panic of 1973
B. B) The Pacific Scandal
C. C) The Atlantic Kerfuffle
D. D) Kelowna losing the World’s Fair hosting gig to Vienna
3. How many days did Canada’s longest election campaign last, from the writ drop ‘til election day?
A. A) 63 days
B. B) 78 days
C. C) 91 days
D. D) 138 days
4. What is the name of the residence traditionally occupied by the leader of the official opposition?
A. A) Longworth
B. B) Rayburn
C. C) Cannon
D. D) Stornoway
5. Which province was the last to join confederation in 1949?
A. A) Nova Scotia
B. B) Saskatchewan
C. C) Newfoundland and Labrador
D. D) Nunavut
3. C. The Walkie Talkie was invented by Canadian Don Hings in 1937.
2. A.
ANSWERS
6. In what year did the B.C. New Democratic Party first form government?
A. A) 1933
B. B) 1961
C. C) 1972
D. D) 2017
7. Who was the first B.C. premier to be criminally charged while in office?
A. A) Bill Vander Zalm
B. B) Glen Clark
C. C) Mike Harcourt
D. D) Christy Clark
8. Who was B.C.’s first female premier?
A. A) Mary Ellen Smith
B. B) Hilda Watson
C. C) Rita Johnston
D. D) Christy Clark
A. A) Lil’wat Nation
B. B) N’Quatqua Nation
C. C) Squamish Nation
D. D) Nisga’a Nation
1. B. Nanaimo, B.C., is home to an annual bathtub race.
5. D. Ogopogo is said to lurk in Okanagan Lake in Kelowna.
4. A. A kamotiq is an Inuit-style sleigh or sled.
6. D. The Museum of Bad art is in Boston, MA, whereas the Salon du Bad Art is in Quebec City.
7. C. Peter Maloney is reported to be the first openly gay political candidate in Canada, running for a seat on the Toronto Board of Education in 1972.
8. A. St. Paul, Alta., built a UFO landing pad as a centennial project in 1967 that has yet to welcome any visitors from light years away.
9. C. A nunatak is a mountain peak which rises above ice. The word translates to “lonely peak” in Inuktitut language.
10. C. Prince Rupert is nicknamed the City of Rainbows with an average annual precipitation of 3,060 millimetres.
9. In 1998, which First Nation became the first to sign a modern treaty with the B.C. government?
10. In what year was the Village of Pemberton incorporated?
A. A) 1907
B. B) 1948
C. C) 1956
D. D) 1975
ANSWERS ON PAGE 39
PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
PHOTO BY KENWIEDEMANN / GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO BY VIDSTUBE / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
food for thought
1. Which town hosts the Sea to Sky’s longest-running farmers’ market, operating since 1994?
A. Pemberton
B. Whistler
C. Squamish
D. Britannia Beach
2. What type of berry is used to make the Newfoundland delicacy known as “bakeapple” jam?
A. Raspberry
B. Huckleberry
C. Lakeberry
D. Cloudberry
3. In Manitoba and parts of northwestern Ontario, a doughnut filled with jam is referred to as:
A. Jam Slammer
B. Berry Pillow
C. Jambuster
D. A jelly doughnut, obviously
4. What is the main meat used in a traditional Montreal-style smoked meat sandwich?
A. Pork
B. Speckled Trout
C. Beef
D. Capelin
5. Which province is known for the Acadian disk “rappie pie?”
A. Nova Scotia
B. PEI
C. New Brunswick
D. Newfoundland and Labrador
FOOD ANSWERS
2. D. Cloudberry, also known as bakeapples.
6. In what B.C. town will you find the Doukhobour Borscht Cook-Off?
A. Nelson
B. Grand Forks
C. Trail
D. Castlegar
7. What Alberta-born cocktail is made with Clamato juice, vodka, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce?
A. Coyote Whisper
B. Will Turner
C. Maple Moonshine Mule
D. Caesar
8. Spot prawns harvested off the coast of B.C. are most associated with which season?
A. Fall
B. Spring
C. Summer
D. Winter
9. What popular Pemberton event combines local food with cycling between farms?
A. Valley Fork Ride
B. Slow Food Cycle
C. Pedal & Plate
D. Eat the Loop
10. What is “Solomon Gundy,” commonly served in Nova Scotia?
A. Pickled herring spread
B. Sweet potato pudding
C. Smoked squid jam
D. Lobster-flavoured fudge
POLITICO ANSWERS
3. C. Jambusters! A classic Canadian regionalism.
1. B.
4. C. Salted, seasoned and smoked beef brisket is the main component in the city’s famous sandwich.
5. A. Nova Scotia is your best bet to find rappie pie, but it can also be found in PEI and New Brunswick.
2. B. John A. Macdonald resigned after the Pacific Scandal, which saw the prime minister and senior members of his cabinet accused of taking election money from shipping magnate Sir Hugh Allen in exchange for building the Canadian Pacific Railway.
1. C. Kim Campbell, Canada’s shortest-serving PM at just 132 days, is also the country’s only prime minister born in B.C.
3. B. The 2015 election lasted a record-breaking 78 days, more than the 2008 and 2011 elections combined. The next longest election campaign, at 66 days, was held in 1979.
6. D. The festival is held annually in Castlegar.
4. D. Stornoway is the name of the official residence. The others are names of American congressional office buildings.
7. D. Caesar, invented in Alberta in 1969 by Walter Chell.
5. C. Newfoundland and Labrador joined in 1949, more than 45 years after the previous entrant, Nova Scotia. Nunavut is the last territory to join.
8. B. Spring, usually from early May ‘til June.
9. B. The Slow Food Cycle returns to Pemberton on Aug. 17, 2025!
10. A. The pickled herring spread known as Solomon Gundy has been a staple in Nova Scotia and Northern Europe for centuries, not to be confused with the spicy Jamaican pickled fish pâté.
8.
6. C. The BC NDP, founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1933 before re-branding as the NDP in 1961, first formed government in the province in 1972 under the leadership of Dave Barrett.
7. A. Bill Vander Zalm was charged—and later acquitted—for breach of trust related to the sale of amusement park Fantasy Gardens.
9. D. The Nisga’a Nation. Prior to the Nisga’a Treaty, the last treaty between the Crown and First Nations in B.C. was signed in 1899.
C. Rita Johnston was the first woman to serve as premier.
10. C. 1956! The other dates represent the incorporation dates for the City of North Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler.
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1. The Hairfarmers played a memorable show at the 2008 Pemberton Music Festival. Which of the following acts also performed there?
A. A) Coldplay
B. B) The Tragically Hip
C. C) Tom Cochrane
D. D) A and B
2. How many years has Whistler’s Anonymous Art Show been running to date?
A. 6
B. 4
C. 7
D. 10
3. Local fire chief Thomas Doherty gifted an NHL player with a custom-painted firefighter’s helmet last year. Who received the helmet?
A. Quinn Hughes
B. Thatcher Demko
C. Elias Pettersson
D. Jack Hughes
4. Who was named Artist of the Year at the most recent Juno Awards?
A. Shawn Mendes
B. Tate McRae
C. Josh Ross
D. The Weeknd
5. September 5 was one of many movies featured at the last Whistler Film Festival. What kind of historical event does this movie dramatize?
A. A terrorist attack
B. A natural disaster
C. A political scandal
D. The opening day of a war
6. Which of the following musicians did not perform at the 2025 Invictus Games Opening Ceremony?
A. Chris Martin
B. Nelly Furtado
C. Barenaked Ladies
D. Roxane Bruneau
7. What is the title of Veronica Woodruff’s newest book?
A. Booze Culture
B. My Journey to Sobriety
C. This Naked Mind
D. Blind Drunk
8. Whose work does the latest Audain Art Museum exhibit showcase?
A. Edward Burtynsky
B. Paul Nicklen
C. Tom Thomson
D. Feral Nifty
9. Which of the following movies was filmed mainly in Squamish?
A. Universal Language
B. Heretic
C. In the Summers
D. Blue Rodeo: Lost Together
10. Which local restaurant made it into Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List for 2025?
A. Il Caminetto
B. Rimrock Cafe
C. Araxi
D. Wild Blue
1. D. The Hairfarmers played alongside Coldplay and The Tragically Hip at the 2008 Pemberton Music Festival.
2. C. Whistler’s Anonymous Art Show has run for seven years and counting.
3. A. Thomas Doherty presented Quinn Hughes with a firefighter’s helmet to recognize Hughes’ Team 43 non-profit, which is meant to help first responders.
4. B. Tate McRae is Canada’s 2025 Artist of the Year.
5. A. September 5 depicts the Munich massacre, a terrorist attack carried out at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
6. C. The Barenaked Ladies performed at the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony.
7. D. Veronica Woodruff wrote Blind Drunk as a successor to her Pique Newsmagazine cover feature from 2023.
8. A. “The Coast Mountains: Recent Works by Edward Burtynsky” will be at the Audain until Sept. 15. 9. B. Heretic, a psychological horror film starring Hugh Grant, was shot mainly in Squamish.
10. D. Wild Blue was named one of Canada’s top 100 restaurants and the best in Whistler by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards (VMRA).
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG REAMSBOTTOM
sport
1. Alma Wiggberg struck gold at the first-ever ladies’ Red Bull Joyride. Who took silver behind her?
A. Shealen Reno
B. Natasha Miller
C. Robin Goomes
D. Caroline Buchanan
2. Reece Howden earned a ski cross Crystal Globe this year. How many of these World Cup overall titles does he possess?
A. 3
B. 1
C. 2
D. 4
3. Who are the incumbent Canadian national skeleton champions among men and women, respectively?
A. Kevin Boyer, Mirela Rahneva
B. Josip Brusic, Jane Channell
C. Jon Montgomery, Grace Dafoe
D. Josip Brusic, Hallie Clarke
4. Squamish’s Mark Sky traversed the hazardous region between Panama and Colombia during his 24,000-kilometre journey to Argentina. What is this part of the world called?
A. The Panama Canal
B. La Palma
C. The Darién Gap
D. The Chocó Department
5. Canadian professional quarterback Kurtis Rourke was drafted by the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in April. Which school did Rourke play for in the last year of his college career?
A. Ohio State
B. Indiana
C. Purdue
D. Ohio
3. D. Josip Brusic and Hallie Clarke won this year’s skeleton nationals in Whistler.
6. Which of the following athletes were on Canada’s bronze-medal winning luge relay team at this year’s World Championships in Whistler?
A. Theo Downey
B. Embyr-Lee Susko
C. Beattie Podulsky
D. All of the above
7. The Canadian Freestyle Championships took place earlier this spring in Whistler. Who prevailed in the men’s slopestyle event?
A. Aidan Mulvihill
B. Jude Oliver
C. Teal Harle
D. Evan McEachran
8. Squamish softball player Kevin Schellenberg helped Canada to a PanAm Games title in 2015. Where was this competition held?
A. Ottawa
B. Montreal
C. Toronto
D. Vancouver
9. The Vancouver Canucks are the first team in NHL history to score three times in the final minute of a regulation game. Which team did they play whilst achieving this feat?
A. Edmonton Oilers
B. Dallas Stars
C. Anaheim Ducks
D. New York Rangers
10. Who is the first woman not from Great Britain or France to win an Enduro World Cup?
A. Elly Hoskin
B. Miranda Miller
C. Raphaela Richter
D. Andréane Lanthier Nadeau
2. A. Reece Howden has locked up three ski cross Crystal Globes to date.
DFX alum Natasha Miller grabbed Joyride silver at 17 years old.
1. B. Whistler
5. B. Kurtis Rourke led the Indiana Hoosiers to their first-ever College Football Playoff berth in 2024.
4. C. The Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous regions in the Americas because of its harsh weather, lack of services and abundance of criminal activity.
9. B. Vancouver erased
8. C. The 2015 Pan-Am Games were held in Toronto.
7. A. Local boy Aidan Mulvihill proved he is one of the nation’s most promising slopestylers.
6. D. The bronze medal-winning Canadian squad included Theo Downey, EmbyrLee Susko, Beattie Podulsky, Kailey Allan, Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski.
a 5-2 deficit on the Dallas Stars in the final minute of regulation on April 9 before winning 6-5 in overtime.
10. A. Elly Hoskin of Squamish managed the historic feat in May at a race in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIL
PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN / COURTESY OF CRANKWORX
PHOTO BY ROB PERRY
Wh istler ’s Canada Da y: Ce lebr at in gO urNatu ra l Beauty &S to ries
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Weraise ourhandstoIndigenous Tourism BC, NativeNorthwest,WhistlerBlackcomb Foundation, SeatoSky Gondola, Royal BankofCanada, 100Women Who CareWhistler, SLCCMembers, and communitymembers for their support.
NEVER MIND THE SNAFUS, WE CAN STILL GET THINGS BRIGHT HERE AT HOME
I RECENTLY MET an amazing woman from Tehran who moved here a few years ago. She likened the situation in Iran to having two strangers in your home who start fighting, destroying everything—and you can only stand by and watch helplessly. This was even before the latest U.S. involvement. As for the strangers, they’re Israel and Iran’s current regime.
With all the worry from wildfires, wars, and now the latest American outrage permeating our world, sometimes it’s hard to look up from our screens and put things
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
in perspective. Sure, history is soaked in terror and tragedy. But it’s also steeped in goodness—even bits of quirky fun. Losing sight of that is equally tragic.
Like one of my favourite quirky bits generated during human-caused hell is something as right-on today, as we hippies used to say, as it was at its inception. The word “snafu” started in the U.S. army during the Second World War as a very appropriate acronym: “Situation normal. All f----- up.”
The U.S. army even developed a series of instructional cartoons for recruits during WWII called Private Snafu.
So never mind “elbows up” my fellow Canadianists, if I can borrow that term from McGill University’s Nathalie Cooke, who’s just released an excellent new book on menus (more on that in a sec). In light of the latest snafus, I say “spirits up” as we head towards the 158th birthday of our fair nation.
WORLDLY WISDOM FROM TIMELESS WOMEN
Speaking of birthdays—and there are plenty this time of year—we haven’t yet witnessed any Canadians who’ve reached 158 years. But we’ve had some great close calls. According to Wiki, the oldest verified Canadian was Marie-Louise Meilleur, who was born in 1880 in Kamouraska, Que., and died April 16, 1998 at the lovely age of 117 years, 230 days.
Marie-Louise even made the record as the world’s longest lived person for a time, something that helped generate a following of loyal fans, even though social media was a distant dream (nightmare?) during her time.
Part of the intrigue was her diet—largely vegetarian, spiked with olive oil, port wine and chocolate. Yum. She also did tons of exercise, riding her bike till age 100 and taking up fencing at age 85.
Amazingly, she was also a smoker. (I recall my dad’s doctor telling him, at age 90 when he was still going strong, smoking a pack and a half a day, not to tell a soul he’d smoked since age 11! Apparently, if it doesn’t kill you, it mummifies you.)
As of June 23, just a week before Canada Day, the oldest living person in our fair land is 113-year-old Margaret Romans, a delightful “youngster” born March 16, 1912 in Latvia, which also happens to be my
father-in-law’s homeland. Again, something good came from something as bad as the invasion of her home country, which in 1947 forced her family to migrate to Montreal, where she became a community art teacher. My in-laws also arrived there under similar circumstances. And thank god they all did, adding untold goodness to our communities and families.
According to a recent Global News report, Margaret is still grateful to be in Canada, and she shared this good advice for young people: Be curious about the world around you, since learning is the first step to understanding.
“Study, study and study. Learn, learn and learn. What you have in your head, no one can take that away from you,” she said.
ALWAYS YOUNG AT HEART
And speaking of youngsters, picture me: A gangly 15-year-old, fresh out of Grade 10 in Edmonton, trundling across Canada via Via Rail (what else?) along with thousands of other high school kids, all headed to one of the biggest, brightest “lessons” of a lifetime: Expo ’67, built to celebrate Canada’s 100th birthday smack dab in the middle of Montreal on Notre Dame Island. What a party!
Thankfully, the leaders of the day didn’t listen to Expo’s chief architect Édouard Fiset and allowed British-Canadian architect Rod Robbie and his team, including local legend Arthur Erickson, a full 11-plus acres for the site of the Canadian Pavillion. Wow!
Visitors were welcomed by a giant ninestorey inverted glass pyramid inspired at the modelling stage by an inverted green ashtray someone placed atop empty cigarette packs. Named Katimavik, Inuit for “gathering place,” the amazing pavillion, in fact all of Expo ’67,
was a mind-blower that elevated imaginations and spirits worldwide. (Robbie went on to design Toronto’s SkyDome and hundreds of Canadian schools.)
All of this burbled up in my mind, including Bobby Gimby’s crazy-popular “Ca-na-da” Expo theme song (“we love thee”), while listening to a CBC Radio interview with the above-mentioned Canadianist, Nathalie Cooke. Her latest book, Tastes and Traditions: A Journey Through Menu History grabbed my attention. It’s an illustrated look at the significance of menus over time, including the one at La Toundra, the restaurant at Katimavik.
As Cooke points out, not only the name of the pavillion was inspired by Canada’s Indigenous people—the whole menu was, from the dishes themselves, some shaped like umiaks (Inuit kayaks), to muktuk-inspired tuna (a traditional Inuit dish of raw whale skin and blubber; think sashimi).
Even if you weren’t around in 1967, you have to admit Canada’s 100th birthday party was quite the historical shooting star, including the Katimavik menu, which gave one of the first powerful nods to Indigenous culture when most people were barely aware of such things.
Sure, we’ve got more than enough snafus to worry about lately, and even more we can work on for the better. But take a sec this Canada Day and consider at least one or two bright spots we Canucks have generated over time. And write your local MP to tell them we need another unforgettable nationwide party way before 2067!
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who urges you to check out the bannock tacos anytime at Thunderbird Cafe in Whistler’s beautiful Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. n
UPSIDE DOWN Katimavik, Canada’s pavillion at its 100th birthday bash, Expo ’67, welcomed millions of people from far and wide with a nine-storey, upsidedown glass pyramid. You could climb to the roof and stand on top of the world.
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CanadaDay-Noclasses
Josie Saldat wins ladies’ event at Whistler Half-Marathon
SALDAT RAN IN HONOUR OF HER LATE GRANDFATHER, LOCAL ICON GARRY WATSON
BY DAVID SONG
WHEN JOSIE SALDAT participated in this year’s Whistler Half-Marathon, she did it for more than just herself.
The Victoria, B.C. native ran to honour her late grandfather, Garry Watson. Numerous locals are familiar with that name: Watson spearheaded Whistler’s blossoming as a resort with the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association and served with various organizations like the town’s original council, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board, the Community Foundation of Whistler (now the Whistler Community Foundation), and the Whistler Health Care Foundation.
That’s just a brief snapshot of Watson’s many achievements, and though he passed away in 2023 at age 89, his legacy continues to make an impact.
“He was a leader,” Saldat remarked. “He was also very inspirational and very humble. I would say he never spoke about himself. I honestly didn’t know about any of his achievements growing up … I didn’t really know he was so instrumental in the building of the town and how people admired him so much.
“It wasn’t until the last few years of his life that we really had some nice stories over a couple drinks, and he told me about his goals and aspirations: one of them was bringing the 2010 Olympics to Whistler. Having him alive for that was pretty incredible. He always led with heart … people really saw that and opened up to him.”
Watson and his wife of 36 years, Anne Popma, once owned a large stretch of property
viewed running as a change of pace (pun intended): a fun hobby to centre herself and find some degree of mental release. She’s done her fair share of five- to 10-kilometre races and figured the Whistler HalfMarathon would be a great way to pay tribute to Watson, who was himself a rugby player and avid athlete.
Outdoor trail racing and going up hills represented a new challenge for Watson,
“He always led with heart ... people really saw that and opened up to him.”
- JOSIE SALDAT
on Nita Lake upon which he built a cabin that still remains on Watson Way. Saldat visited them often in her youth, enjoying their hospitality and what she describes as “one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
She experienced it once more on June 7 from the fresh perspective of a trail runner.
‘BEFORE THERE WERE GONDOLAS,
BEFORE THERE WERE SKI HILLS’
Growing up as a dancer, Saldat always
but she rose to it by winning the ladies’ age 30-39 bracket in one hour, 36 minutes and 40 seconds.
Alina McKay represented the Garibaldi Highlands well in second (1:37:18) and third place went to Vancouver’s Madeline Wiseman (1:44:45).
“I’m feeling great. The race was amazing,” said Saldat. “Once I started, it’s just... I mean, the scenery and the route itself were just absolutely stunning. Whistler kind of speaks for itself. Just being in the woods and being on the trails, it kind of keeps you
going. I had a lot of my family there cheering me on, which really helped as well.
“It felt very rugged in the woods and whatnot. Running sometimes brings up those emotions when you get your head down, on trails without music. It’s just a great exercise and form of movement to clear the mind. I thought of [my grandpa] every step of the way. I kind of imagined seeing Whistler through his eyes and how he fell in love with Whistler for its raw beauty. He was up here before there were roads, before there were gondolas, before there were ski hills.”
Saldat has bonded with her stepgrandmother, Popma, over the years as well, and appreciated her presence during the race. She says she ran for both of them and was very pleased with her experience.
“It was a nice size of group as well. It didn’t feel too large and felt well spacedout,” recalled Saldat. “I think everyone should try [the Half-Marathon]. Every single time I come into Whistler, it’s definitely growing. You talk to people that have been up there forever, and … they talk about how Whistler is just getting so, so busy. It is special coming up there each and every time and seeing what’s changed. From my grandpa’s perspective, this is what he always wanted to create.”
Full results from the Whistler HalfMarathon can be viewed at startlinetiming. com/en/races/2025/whistlerhalf/event/ Half. n
PAYING TRIBUTE Josie Saldat ran the 2025 Whistler Half-Marathon to honour her late grandpa, Garry Watson.
PHOTO BY JELMER SNOEK
Three straight World Cup victories for Jackson Goldstone
GOLDSTONE IS THE FIRST MEN’S ELITE DOWNHILLER TO WIN A THIRD CONSECUTIVE RACE SINCE 2016, WHEN DANNY HART MANAGED THE FEAT
BY DAVID SONG
IT’S SAFE TO SAY Jackson Goldstone is making up for lost time.
Squamish’s downhill ace extended his World Cup victory streak to three in Val di Sole, Italy, where a time of three minutes and 38.862 seconds launched him atop the elite men’s podium and helped him wrest top spot in the series overall away from Loic Bruni.
Troy Brosnan placed second for Australia (3:41.284) and French rider Thibaut Daprela battled to third despite losing his chain early in the race (3:42.223).
“The goal is to do the best I can in every single race...”
- JACKSON GOLDSTONE
“That was a really good run [on Saturday],” said Goldstone, the first man to win three straight downhill World Cups since Danny Hart in 2016. “I felt that I was hitting all my lines good, there was moments where I had to dab my foot three times. That came from a lot of motivation from my last two wins and the confidence built in practice. It felt like it was going to happen. I was confident in my run the whole way down. I felt that I didn’t leave anything out there. It was a good one.
“It’s a crazy stat to be a part of, [winning three straight]. I felt like everyone was talking about the wins. I’m just so proud to be able to do it. The goal is to do the best I can in every single race, no matter where I end up ...
as long as I’m happy with my run. I’ve been happy with these last three runs and they’ve been winning runs. I need to keep up that momentum and keep pushing.”
Goldstone remained in full command of his run from start to finish, unlike several of his opponents. Not too bad for an athlete who missed all of last year due to a knee injury.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
Gracey Hemstreet saw her own win streak end in Val di Sole, finishing just out of medal contention in fourth (4:12.402).
Instead Marine Cabirou did France proud with a golden effort (4:10.310) to outduel Austrian powerhouse Valentina Höll (4:11.581). Bronze landed around the neck of Slovenian Monika Hrastnik (4:12.191).
Höll also jumped past Hemstreet in the season ranking, which she now leads.
“My beginning of the season was not super good,” remarked Cabirou, who earned her first triumph of 2025. “I was fighting a bit to be on the podium and at the top again. I’m really happy to win today. It was a really challenging weekend. The track was really destroyed, I gave my best and finally that paid off.
“I just tried to push even more and find a better flow. I did too many mistakes [in qualifying] and just didn’t feel good on my run. I just tried to relax, enjoy and take some good momentum on my bike. I really liked the last part of the track so I tried to push even more on that section because I lost a lot of time on a big mistake at the top. I didn’t think that would be the run for the win, but finally it is.”
A fast final push ultimately separated Cabirou from Höll, while Hrastnik qualified in first but proved unable to replicate that speed. Hemstreet faltered in the opening portions of her run, which held her off the podium. n
TRIPLE THREAT Jackson Goldstone won his third straight World Cup race on June 21 in Val di Sole, Italy. PHOTO COURTESY OF UCI
Moontricks returns to Whistler
on July 3
SEAN RODMAN AND NATHAN GURLEY ARE PART OF THE 2025 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
BY DAVID SONG
IF YOU WEREN’T ABLE to catch Moontricks during the duo’s previous Whistler Summer Concert Series appearance two years ago, fear not: Sean Rodman and Nathan Gurley are returning to Olympic Plaza on July 3.
The pair specializes in an uncommon fusion of genres: electro-folk.
“It’s pretty different, which is fun and novel,” Rodman says. “We’ve got instrumentation of banjos and harmonicas blending with electronic production, so it’s kind of taking an older, familiar, traditional folk, blues and rock … and then blending them with a modern sound. We weren’t sure [if it would work], it’s the kind of thing that we just started trying and seeing where it went.
“You can pair anything with electronic music if you do it the right way. Our foothold is knowing that we can do a stomping banjo lick, have a big stomping baseline underneath it, and huge beats in production and you get those two worlds colliding.”
Both the entertainment industry and the
general public seem to appreciate Moontricks’ approach. Their breakout single, “Home,” has logged more than 10 million streaming plays, while some of their other content has been licensed for use in various television networks like Fox Sports and Netflix.
Not bad for two everyday guys with deep ties to the Kootenay mountains.
have difficulty finding on most maps of British Columbia. They began collaborating on a range of instrumental tracks to fine-tune their sound, with plenty of time to experiment in their “pretty simple lives.”
“We pull from a lot of different strengths that we have, and throw them all into a pool together,” Rodman remarks. “It ends up being
“You can pair anything with electronic music if you do it the right way.”
- SEAN RODMAN
“We just had a song out on the Netflix show Ransom Canyon, and it was just cool having friends hitting us up over the week being like, ‘we just heard you singing in a saloon on this TV show,’” comments Rodman. “It definitely feels good and nice to have a body of work that can kind of end up out on the airwaves that people resonate with.”
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Rodman and Gurley first encountered one another in Argenta, a tiny settlement you’d
this concoction of our different tastes and flavours: the Moontricks sound. We both draw from where we came from, which is this rural place. There’s a lot of campfire jam, mountain vibes … but out in the Kootenays, there was a lot of electronic music that influenced both of us growing up. We went to a lot of festivals and we both do production.”
By no means confined to their grassroots origins, Moontricks has toured across the United States as well as overseas in Australia and Costa Rica. In their experience, it’s a small world: fans from several countries know their
lyrics and sing along.
Rodman and Gurley’s “wild ride,” which has already taken them to a number of memorable places, is only just beginning.
“We’re so happy to come back to Whistler,” says Rodman. “We love Whistler and the people up there in the mountains, obviously, so we always have a good time … played at GLC a couple times over the years. We’re really lucky that our music can appeal to a wide range of people because we do try to incorporate a bit of everything.
“There’s something for everyone, whether there’s kids or some seniors. It’s always a treat when you can do those kinds of events that are inclusive because a lot of the time we’re playing too late for kids to come out, or not at an all-ages venue [which the Summer Concert Series is].” If time allows, Rodman will bring his mountain bike and do some laps at the Whistler Bike Park over the course of his visit. He and Gurley are in the early stages of developing their next album to follow up on their debut full-length offering, Currents.
This year’s Whistler Summer Concert Series kicks off July 1, Canada Day, with a performance from Bahamas. On July 3, Mark Woodyard will get things going at 6:30 p.m. before Moontricks takes the stage an hour later. For more details visit whistler.com/ events/concerts. n
MOON MEN Nathan Gurley and Sean Rodman of Moontricks.
PHOTO BY LOUIS BOCKNER
Whistler to welcome Juno-nominated band Wild Rivers
THE TRIO WILL PERFORM JULY 4 AT OLYMPIC PLAZA
BY DAVID SONG
THE MEMBERS OF Wild Rivers, Devan Glover, Khalid Yassein and Andrew Oliver, know how to pick their heroes.
Glover states in a press release they all “converge on the classic songwriters,” names like Elton John, Neil Young, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. Their contemporary influences run the gamut from indie and pop to R&B and hip hop: genres in which many artists pay homage to different eras.
“We started as more of an acoustic based, kind of a folk-y project, but over the years we’ve developed our sound so it’s turned into a rock show,” Yassein explains. “All of us are great friends, so oftentimes we’re just trying to have fun and make each other laugh. That’s created an awesome atmosphere where the show feels very casual … we always want to let our audience in on our vibe and make fun of ourselves while also making very serious, sad music at points.
“The most important [questions] since we started this band are: did this [song] work if we sing it on a piano or an acoustic guitar? What stories do we want to tell? What is true to our heart and feels authentic? That’s a critical piece for us.”
Wild Rivers has come out with four albums to date: a self-titled debut work in 2016, the critically acclaimed Sidelines in 2022, and the closely-related offerings Never Better and Better Now from last summer. They were nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year at the 2023 Juno Awards, while their hit single “Thinking ‘Bout Love” is certified platinum in Canada (gold in the United States and Australia).
In spite of all that, and 850 million global streams to boot, the members of Wild Rivers do not lose sight of why they choose to be performers.
“What we care about is making great music that we all, first and foremost, really love,” remarks Yassein. “We’ve gotten to cross some cool accolades off the bucket list, but I think the most meaningful thing is that we can play shows all around the world. We try to keep it to the human aspect as opposed to awards and streams…of course we’re grateful for it, but our goal is always to be in a room with people and sing songs with them.”
‘THREE PEOPLE MESSING AROUND, TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING INSPIRING’
Yassein, a half-Egyptian man born in Canada, met former London, England resident Glover at the University of Kingston in 2013. Later on, they brought the versatile multiinstrumentalist Oliver into their fold.
“I was a little folksy emo songwriter and [Devan] was the precocious singer. She has a really strong vision of what she wants the sound to be,” says Yassein. “Over the years, all of us have crossed over roles … it’s
less of a traditional band setup and more of three people messing around, trying to make something inspiring.
“Andrew is a jack of all trades. He loves making weird sounds and is an amazing guitar player. Me and him have really complimentary styles where I’m pretty technical, and Andrew’s kind of the rock star that will … waltz in the room and deliver a scorching solo. He’s our Swiss army knife.”
The trio believes they’ve grown leaps and bounds in their ability to connect with fans. Even opening for artists like Noah Kahan and The Chicks now feels routine in a good way: it’s a job they love and know how to do. When musicians get comfortable spending time with each other in the green room, inviting an audience to join in the fun feels natural.
Whistler for them is a novel locale—and an exciting one.
“We have family in B.C. and we visited Whistler, but never [played there]. We’re so excited,” Yassein says. “I’ve actually never seen it in the summer. We used to do a yearly performance in Collingwood, Ont. and that was one of our favourite gigs. I feel like [Whistler] will just be like a bigger, better version of it, with an actual mountain instead of a tiny little hill.
“We love Western Canada. Every time we get a chance to go there, we have awesome shows. I mean: what’s not to love playing music outside in a beautiful mountain town? I think we’re going to try to do some hiking and really enjoy it. If you want to have a good time and talk about your feelings, come to the show.”
Fans can expect Wild Rivers to churn out some new material in the next few months, including some tracks that diverge from their usual style.
DJ Peacefrog will start the party on July 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Olympic Plaza. Glover, Yassein and Oliver are set to begin at 7:30 p.m. For more details visit whistler.com/events/ concerts. n
july 10 & 11 | new lo cati on lost lake
Learn more at: thelake
GO WITH THE FLOW Juno-nominated band Wild Rivers.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN BROADBENT
Discover stunning works from art exhibit, browse 10 artisan vendors, and w ns to life. Soak up
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
CANADA DAY IN WHISTLER
MOUNTAIN TOP MOVEMENT
dinner, live music, dancing, and more.
BY LIZ MCDONALD
> June 28, 4 to 11 p.m.
> Dreamcatcher Meadows
2025 DANCE WORLD CUP
Enterfor your chance to wina sponsoredarticleonPiqueand learnhow
Thegrandprizepackage(valuedat$1,100 CA approx) (scanQRcodeformore details). Limitone(1)entry perperson.
Engage in outdoor yoga and Pilates sessions against a breathtaking mountain backdrop every Friday this summer. Classes are led by different instructors, so no two are the same. Whether you’re here to stretch, sweat, or take in the scenery, you’ll be among others who value movement and the mountains. Complimentary Celsius will be on hand to keep you fuelled, and mats, sweat towels, and workout bands are provided. Open to all levels.
> June 27, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
> Roundhouse Lodge
CANADA DAY WEEKEND IN WHISTLER
Canada Day is a time to reflect on all of Canada’s history, including past and present truths about our relationship with Indigenous peoples. Celebrate Canada Day by developing a deeper understanding of our first peoples through cultural experiences including live performances and storytelling at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Other events in Whistler include an outdoor concert at Whistler Olympic Plaza with more to be announced closer to the date.
> June 28 to July 1
> Various locations
DREAMMASTER FOUNDATION BENEFIT BASH
Celebrate the launch of the Dreammaster Foundation, a dedicated non-profit providing forever homes for animals at Dreamcatcher Meadows. This special event features entertainment for all ages, including comedy,
The energy is rising and the stage is set for an unforgettable experience. Dancers from around the world take part in exciting events like the Whistler Canada Day Parade, a limousine tour, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride, and the new head-to-head group competition. From ballet to hip hop, every style shines.
> July 1 to 5
> Fairmont Chateau Whistler
MOVIES IN THE PLAZA: FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF
Experience a variety of free films, spanning from timeless classics to recent releases, amidst the scenic backdrop of Whistler Olympic Plaza on select Wednesday and Saturday nights. Movies begin at 8 p.m. Don’t forget to bring blankets or low chairs for a cozy evening under the stars.
> July 2, 8 p.m.
> Olympic Plaza
BARBED CHOIR
Do you love to sing? Do you love meeting new people? Do you like all types of rock music, new and old? Head on down to sing with Barbed Choir—Whistler’s rock choir. Meetings are drop-in, no registration or experience necessary.
LAST WEEK the Whistler Museum and the Point Artist-Run Centre hosted a film screening that featured 8mm film from our archives. The films, from the 1950s and ’60s, included snippets of sailing on Alta Lake, pie-eating contests at Cypress Lodge (today the Point), and even the 1958 hike where stew was burnt on Whistler Mountain, along with footage of a house under construction.
The house in question was built in September 1966 for Florence Strachan (Petersen). Florence first came to the Alta Lake area when she, June Tidball (Collins), Betty Atkinson (Gray), Jacquie Pope and Eunice “Kelly” Forster (Fairhurst) bought a cabin together in 1955. They named the cabin Witsend and would visit often throughout the summer. The following year, four of the five purchased the lot next door for $500. Over the following years, the other three sold their shares, leaving Florence as the sole owner of the lot.
Florence then decided to build a summer home overlooking Alta Lake, as she was still teaching full-time in Burnaby and spending her summers here. First, the lot had to be cleared, both of trees and, as can be seen in the 8mm footage, a couple of structures. The project was headed by Andy Petersen (who Florence married in 1967) and he was
helped by Florence’s friends and family, who can be seen moving what appears to be an outhouse while wearing shorts and sandals. Once cleared, construction could begin on the house.
Florence ordered a prefabricated house designed by Greenall Bros. Ltd., who in the 1960s produced prefabricated structures, including houses, schools and construction camps. According to their advertisements in 1964, their buildings offered solid construction, good value, almost immediate occupancy, and “conventional appearance.”
Florence’s house arrived at Alta Lake in September 1966 with all of the pieces cut to size. Like the clearing of the lot, the house was constructed by friends and
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hawaiian word p ō refers to a primal darkness from which all life flows. It’s not a fearsome void, but a fertile mystery, rich with future possibilities and the ancestors’ hopes. In the coming weeks, I invite you to treat your inner life as p ō . Be as calm and patient and watchful as an Aries can be as you monitor the inklings that rise up out of the deep shadows. Have faith that the cloudy uncertainty will ultimately evolve into clarity, revealing the precise directions you need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 17th century, the Taurus polymath Athanasius Kircher constructed a fantastical machine called the Aeolian harp. It wasn’t designed to be played by human fingers, but by the wind. It conjured music with currents invisible to the eye. I nominate this sublime contraption as your power object for the coming weeks, Taurus. The most beautiful and healing melodies may come from positioning yourself so that inspiration can blow through. How might you attune yourself to the arrival of unexpected help and gifts? Set aside any tendency you might have to try too hard. Instead, allow life to sing through you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The painter Vincent van Gogh wrote, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” That’s good advice for you right now. Your ambitions may feel daunting if you imagine them as monumental and monolithic. But if you simply focus on what needs to be done next—the daily efforts, the incremental improvements—you will be as relaxed as you need to be to accomplish wonders. Remember that masterpieces are rarely completed in a jiffy. The cumulative power of steady work is potentially your superpower. Here’s another crucial tip: Use your imagination to have fun as you attend to the details.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to a special edition of “What’s My Strongest Yearning?” I’m your host, Rob
family under the supervision of Andy. While the construction was sound, some of the practices would not be accepted today, such as the group working on top of the roof with no harnesses or safety gear (including children).
While the house was considered “built” in 1966, according to Andy it took them 25 years to finish it. For the first year, the house was uninsulated and had no power, making it very cold and uncomfortable in the winter. The Petersens would come up to check on the house but it wasn’t until after they installed electric heating they started to visit more regularly throughout the year. Built on posts, Andy added a “proper foundation” and continued to work on the
BY ROB BREZSNY
Brezsny, and I’m delighted you have decided to identify the single desire that motivates you more than any other. Yes, you have many wishes and hopes and dreams, but one is more crucial than all the rest! Right? To begin the exercise, take three deep breaths and allow every knot of tension to dissolve and exit your beautiful body. Then drop down into the primal depths of your miraculous soul and wander around until you detect the shimmering presence of the beloved reason you came here to this planet. Immerse yourself in this glory for as long as you need to. Exult in its mysterious power to give meaning to everything you do. Ask it to nurture you, console you, and inspire you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In certain medieval maps, unexplored territories were marked with the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones—“here be dragons.” It was a warning and a dare, a declaration that no one knew what lay beyond. In the coming weeks, Leo, you may find yourself travelling into one of those unlabelled regions. Rather than flinching or dodging, I invite you to press forward with respectful curiosity. Some of the so-called dragons will be figments. Others are protectors of treasure and might be receptive to sharing with a bright light like you. Either way, productive adventures are awaiting you in that unmapped territory. Go carefully—but go.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In traditional Japanese carpentry, joints are made so skilfully they need no nails, screws, or adhesives. Carpenters use intricate joinery techniques to connect pieces of wood so tightly that the structures are strong and durable. They often require a mallet for assembly and disassembly. In metaphorical terms, you are capable of that kind of craftsmanship these days, Virgo. I hope you will take advantage of this by building lasting beauty and truth that will serve you well into the future. Don’t rush the joinery. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Re-cut, re-measure, breathe deeply, and try again.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Here’s one of my unruly rules about human competence: In every professional field, from physicians to lawyers to psychics to teachers, about 15 per cent of all the practitioners are downright mediocre, even deficient. Seventy-five per cent are at least satisfactory and sometimes good. And 10 per cent of the total are surpassingly excellent, providing an extraordinary service. With this in mind, I’m happy to say that you now have a knack for gravitating toward that exceptional 10 per cent in every domain you are drawn to. I predict that your intuition will consistently guide you toward premium sources.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing.” It invites people to immerse themselves in the natural world, drawing on its restorative power. In accordance with astrological portents, I urge you Scorpios to maximize your forest bathing. To amplify the enrichment further, gravitate toward other environments that nourish your soul’s need for solace and uplift. The naked fact is that you need places and influences that offer you comfort, safety, and tender inspiration. Don’t apologize for making your life a bit less heroic as you tend to your inner world with gentle reverence.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The camera obscura was a precursor to modern cameras. It projected the outside world upside down onto interior walls. Artists loved it because it helped them see reality from new angles. I hereby proclaim that you, Sagittarius, will be like both the artist and the camera obscura lens in the coming weeks. Your perceptions may feel inverted, strange, even disorienting, but that’s a gift! So let unfamiliarity be your muse. Flip your assumptions. Sketch from shadow instead of light. Have faith that the truth isn’t vanishing or hiding; it’s simply appearing in unfamiliar guises. Don’t rush to turn right-side-up things. Relish and learn from the tilt.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m sure you enjoy gazing into
finishing touches.
In the spring of 1968, Andy moved up to live in the house full time as he and Dick Fairhurst of Cypress Lodge were constructing the Scotia Creek water line. Andy recalled that during this time, he accidentally put some holes in the roof while blasting the path for the line down to the house. He had to go down to Vancouver to get the tools and materials to fix the roof and, when Florence asked what he was doing home, told her, “Oh, well, I have to go and get some stuff, something broke.” According to Andy, “I didn’t say I blew the roof off the house!” Florence moved up to join Andy in Whistler full-time after retiring from teaching in 1983. After Andy retired, having finally finished working on the house, he turned his attention to the garden, building three terraces between the road and the house. In 2006, Florence wrote that she and Andy “can’t imagine living anywhere else and never tire of the view across the lake.” The Petersens continued to live at the house until Florence’s death in 2011, after which Andy moved away from Whistler. It is always exciting when we find archival films, like many of the films in the Petersen Collection, that give us a better view of stories told to us through letters, interviews and more. You can view some of the film that has been digitized online— check out the Whistler Museum YouTube channel to see more. n
some mirrors more than others. It’s amazing how different you might look in your bathroom mirror and the mirror in the restroom at work. Some store windows may reflect an elegant, attractive version of you, while others distort your image. A similar principle is at work in the people with whom you associate. Some seem to accentuate your finest attributes, while others bring out less flattering aspects. I bring this to your attention, dear Capricorn, because I believe it will be extra important in the coming weeks for you to surround yourself with your favourite mirrors.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Leonardo da Vinci filled thousands of pages with sketches, notes, and experiments. He never finished many of them. He called this compilation his “codex of wonder.” It wasn’t a record of failures. It was an appreciation of his complex process and a way to honour his creative wellspring. Taking a cue from da Vinci’s love of marvellous enigmas, I invite you to be in love with the unfinished in the coming weeks. Make inquisitiveness your default position. Reconsider abandoned ideas. Be a steward of fertile fragments. Some of your best work may arise from revisiting composted dreams or incomplete sketches. Here’s your motto: Magic brews in the margins. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the remote Atacama Desert of Chile, certain flowers lie dormant for years, awaiting just the right conditions to burst into blossom in a sudden, riotous explosion of colour and vitality. Scientists call it a superbloom. Metaphorically speaking, Pisces, you are on the verge of such a threshold. I’m sure you can already feel the inner ripening as it gathers momentum. Any day now, your full flowering will erupt—softly but dramatically. You won’t need to push. You will simply open. To prepare yourself emotionally, start rehearsing lively shouts of “HALLELUJAH! HOORAY! WHOOPEE!”
Homework: What action or project could you undertake that would provide you with a rich new sense of meaning? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.
RAISING THE ROOF While the Alta Lake community was small, friends and neighbours were often willing to help with projects, from chopping and stacking firewood to building a house.
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IT’S SUMMER in Whistler—and that means cougars are on the prowl.
Not the après-ski variety referenced by local meme pages, but real mountain lions (Puma concolor), stalking prey in some of the Sea to Sky region’s most heavily used backcountry terrain.
Two cougar encounters in mid-June led to trail closures and a heightened public safety response from the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS), including armed escorts for hikers in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
The first reports came in on June 8 and 9, prompting a closure of the Rubble Creek trail to Garibaldi Lake, one of the most visited trails in the region. The closure remained in effect until June 17. The COS later confirmed the decision was made after two cougars reportedly exhibited stalking behaviour toward multiple hikers.
Despite attempts to scare the animals off—including shouting and throwing rocks—
the cats did not retreat, an unusually bold response for a species typically wary of people.
Later that week, cougar activity was also reported on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. On June 21 and 22, COS issued temporary closures for the Ascent Trail and parts of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
Officials said the same cougars spotted in Garibaldi may have been involved, though the animals were not located.
they will also hunt elk, moose, and smaller mammals when the opportunity arises. Attacks on humans are rare.
WildSafeBC notes most cougar sightings do not result in aggressive encounters, but conflict increases in areas where the animals become habituated to human presence or where food sources, like deer, are abundant.
According to the BC Wildlife Federation,
Despite warnings, some park users in Garibaldi reportedly ignored closure signage and continued hiking into areas of active cougar activity.
COUGARS BY THE NUMBERS
Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas or panthers depending on the region, have the widest range of any land mammal in the Western Hemisphere apart from humans.
According to the San Diego Zoo, they’re found from Northern B.C. all the way to Argentina.
Their home range can vary from 7,770 to 32,375 hectares—equivalent to roughly 10,800 to 45,300 international football fields.
In British Columbia alone, the population is estimated between 5,000 and 7,000 animals, according to a 2024 report from the province.
Although cougars primarily prey on deer,
the last recorded cougar-related human fatality in B.C. occurred in the 1990s. However, more than 100 cougars are euthanized annually in the province due to conflict with humans or livestock.
The COS receives thousands of wildliferelated calls every year, and cougar sightings are more frequent during the summer months when trail traffic and deer movement both increase.
Despite warnings, some park users in Garibaldi reportedly ignored closure signage and continued hiking into areas of active cougar activity.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN COUGAR COUNTRY
As the summer hiking and biking season ramps up, experts recommend extra caution when travelling through cougar habitat.
WildSafeBC offers the following guidance: Don’t travel alone: Use the buddy system, especially at dawn or dusk when predators are most active;
Make noise: Talk or sing to avoid surprising wildlife;
Leash pets: Unattended pets may attract or provoke cougars;
Avoid headphones: They can reduce your awareness of your surroundings; Carry bear spray: It is effective against cougars if used properly.
If you do encounter a cougar, remain calm and do not run.
Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms or jacket;
Speak firmly in a loud voice; Pick up small children and keep them close;
Maintain eye contact and prepare to use bear spray;
If the animal approaches, stand your ground.
If a cougar attacks, do not play dead. Fight back using sticks, rocks, or anything at hand— aiming for the face and eyes.
Though they may inspire fear, cougars are a vital part of the forest ecosystem. Understanding their behaviour—and our own—can help avoid unnecessary conflict and protect both people and animals. n
NICE KITTY More than 100 cougars are euthanized annually due to conflict with humans or livestock.
