Pique Newsmagazine 3305

CORAL REPORT

B.C.’s oceans are turning acidic faster than once thought, study finds

Coral report

B.C.’s oceans are turning acidic faster than once thought, study finds. - By Stefan Labbé

06 OPENING REMARKS The best way to combat authoritarianism elsewhere is to deny it the conditions to thrive here at home, writes editor Braden Dupuis.

08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In this week’s letters: community thanks, communication breakdowns and concerns about the new proposed Waldorf location.

18 THE OUTSIDER Is your mountain outerwear fashion or function? No one said it can’t be both, writes Vince Shuley.

38 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST When discussing passenger rail, we owe it to ourselves to challenge the “slow cancellation of the public imagination,” writes Luke Faulks.

12 COP TALK Proactive policing and robust staffing defined a “steady” year for the Whistler and Sea to Sky RCMP in 2025.

13 RAINBOW CONNECTION Whistler Pride returns to the resort under new management with a plan to put the local experience front and centre.

22 ITALIAN RENAISSANCE Whistler snowboarder Juliette Pelchat conquered long odds to secure her first-ever Olympic berth next month in Italy.

26 WHAT A NIGHT Whistler’s Audain Art Museum celebrates its 10th anniversary with “A Night at the Museum” on Jan. 31.

COVER Remember when the ozone was the only thing wrong with the environment? - By Jon Parris // Adobe AI // @jon.parris.art

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com

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Contributors G.D. MAXWELL, VINCE SHULEY, LESLIE ANTHONY, GLENDA BARTOSH, ANDREW MITCHELL, LISA RICHARDSON, LIZI MCLOUGHLIN, TOBIAS C. VAN VEEN

Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com

Beyond the bubble

LIKE MANY PEOPLE, I spent the past weekend feeling sick to my stomach after watching footage of another American citizen killed in the street by masked lawenforcement officers.

The killing itself was horrifying. So was what followed. Within hours, senior figures in the U.S. government moved

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

to frame the victim, Alex Pretti—an ICU nurse who worked for Veterans Affairs— as a dangerous “assassin” and “domestic terrorist,” despite a lack of publicly presented evidence to support those claims.

This pattern isn’t shocking anymore, which may be the most alarming part. When state violence is paired with rapid, authoritative messaging designed to foreclose doubt, truth becomes secondary to control. As George Orwell warned in 1984, the ultimate power lies in compelling people to distrust their own eyes and ears.

You don’t need to share a political affiliation—or even follow American politics closely—to feel unsettled by what’s unfolding. Anyone with a working knowledge of history understands how quickly democratic norms can erode once institutions stop being accountable and language stops being precise.

From the comfort of the Whistler bubble, it can feel distant—tragic, yes, but abstract. A problem for another country. Another system. Another political culture.

That distance is comforting. It’s also dangerous.

Fascism doesn’t spread because people invite it. It spreads because people assume it arrives all at once, fully formed, waving a flag. It doesn’t. It arrives gradually,

through language, normalization, fatigue, and the quiet erosion of trust in democratic institutions. It arrives through the idea that everything is broken, and nothing can be done—or that it’s someone else’s responsibility.

So if the question is how people in Whistler, British Columbia, and Canada can help resist authoritarianism elsewhere—one I’ve seen asked many times in recent weeks—the uncomfortable but honest answer is this: you don’t fight it “over there.” You make sure it doesn’t replicate here.

That work is less dramatic than protests or viral posts. It’s slower, smaller, and far more effective.

It starts by doing away with the idea it can’t happen here.

Every country where authoritarianism takes hold believed that once. Every community that watched democratic norms erode assumed their institutions were strong enough, their culture resilient enough, their politics fundamentally different.

What actually protects a place is vigilance—not a blind belief in exceptionalism.

Authoritarian movements don’t announce themselves. They show up as “concerned citizens.” As “just asking questions.” As defenders of tradition, order, or common sense. They target libraries, school boards, media outlets, and public servants not because those spaces are powerful, but because they’re connective. They shape our shared reality, and ground us in our communities.

Which brings us to the first real form of resistance: defending boring institutions.

Libraries. School boards. Local media. Local government meetings and planning processes. Public comment periods. Freedom-of-information laws.

None of these inspire chants. None of them feel revolutionary. But fascism hates process. It hates records, archives, transparency, and rules that apply equally to everyone. It thrives in chaos

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and shadows. It stalls when people insist on procedure.

Showing up to a council meeting matters. Writing a letter in support of a librarian matters. Backing election workers when they’re targeted matters. Not abandoning civic spaces because they’re tedious or imperfect matters.

Calling out dangerous, bad-faith bullshit when we see it matters.

It’s more than symbolic push back. Let’s call it functional resistance.

The second way we can all do our part to resist is by refusing normalization.

Not yelling “fascism” at every disagreement, but calmly naming patterns when they appear: the framing of entire groups as threats, the demonization of journalists and the press, the suggestion that democratic outcomes are only legitimate when one side wins, the casual talk of “enemies within.”

You don’t need to panic to push back, and actually, panic is counterproductive. Authoritarian movements feed on spectacle, confusion and outrage. What disrupts them is calm clarity: we’ve seen how this story goes, and we’re not pretending it’s new.

There is something quietly powerful about a community that is hard to shock.

Third, and maybe the most underestimated: keeping the public square human.

Authoritarianism relies on abstraction. It needs enemies without faces, threats without nuance, narratives without neighbours. Local life does the opposite. It reminds people society isn’t an idea—it’s a web of relationships, partnerships, mutual cooperation.

Coaching a team. Volunteering. Supporting non-profits. Knowing your neighbours. Participating in community life not as a performance, but as a habit. These things build social trust, which is far harder to dismantle than ideology.

The point is to create anchors— big, heavy ones that keep us all firmly

grounded. People who feel connected to their communities are less susceptible to propaganda and fear-based narratives. They are harder to isolate, harder to radicalize, and harder to turn against one another.

Then there’s journalism—a word that tends to make people sigh until it’s gone.

Independent local media can’t stop authoritarianism on its own. But without it, the ground underneath us all turns to sponge. Local journalism documents reality, corrects falsehoods early, provides context, and keeps extremism visible before it becomes ambient. It reminds us we are part of a shared place with shared stakes.

Supporting it—financially and vocally, even when it’s inconvenient—is a form of democratic self-defence.

Finally, there’s the not-so-small matter of hope.

Hope, in moments like this, is often misunderstood. It’s not akin to optimism, or some docile reassurance everything will work out.

Hope is durability.

It is the decision not to surrender daily life to fear. Hope is humour, rest, joy, and persistence in the face of forces that want people exhausted and demoralized. It is refusing to let anxiety become the organizing principle of civic life.

Authoritarianism wants people overwhelmed. Democracy survives when people remain engaged.

So no, we here in Whistler can’t stop authoritarianism in another country by force of will. But we can do something quieter and more consequential. We can deny it the conditions it needs to spread. We can defend the institutions that make democracy durable. We can keep our communities human, connected, and awake.

It’s not heroic work. It doesn’t make headlines. It happens in meeting rooms, libraries, newsrooms, and everyday conversations.

Which is exactly why it matters. n

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What we do today is tomorrow’s history

I’d like to thank Pique Newsmagazine for giving Bob Barnett and I the space for the past 21 weeks to profile the people who have been awarded the Freedom of the Municipality. The contributions of that select group, over the very brief history of the town, have made Whistler what it is today. We believe it was worth telling a very edited version of their stories because we believe it’s important to remember how we got to where we are today.

I’d also like to thank Bradley Nichols, executive director and curator of the Whistler Museum, and his whole team for their support and willingness to share the information they had about many of the Freedom holders. Thanks as well to everyone we talked to who generously gave us their memories of those people.

The people profiled were all, in their own ways, instrumental to Whistler’s success. They demonstrate how important each individual can be to building and guiding a town. Their efforts have been highlighted. But the contributions of so many more people deserve to be remembered.

For example: Rob Burgess and Christine Rogers, Whistler’s first doctors who made health-care local. Eric Wight, who showed Whistler there was a future in people riding

bikes down ski runs in the summer. Rob McSkimming, who launched Whistler’s bike park and Tom Pro, who helped make it the centre of the bike park universe; their efforts really made Whistler a four-season resort. The founders of AWARE and WORCA. And so many others whose individual efforts made a huge difference.

The take away is this: Even in the overly corporatized, sanitized, bureaucratized environment we find ourselves in today, one person or a small group of people can

make a huge difference. What we do today is tomorrow’s history.

G.D. Maxwell // Whistler

Disappointed in communication breakdown in Whistler

Some time ago, and with the best of intentions, I approached the Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS) with a proposal to sponsor an original, First Nations art piece for Fire Hall No. 2.- Alpine.

My suggestion was acknowledged, and then nothing further occurred for months.

Approximately eight months later, after reaching out to municipal hall, I was granted a meeting with senior staff. The meeting was very positive and was well received. We discussed the potential for First Nations artwork on fire halls and fire trucks, engagement around forest practices and history, and opportunities to share knowledge related to wildfire mitigation and the historical First Nations experience. We also spoke about building an ongoing relationship between the WFRS and First Nations communities. A followup meeting date was agreed upon.

That date came and went. For months after that I attempted to reconnect through calls and emails. Sporadic responses cited lack of “staff availability,” with no rescheduling or next steps. Ultimately, due to this lack of communication, I withdrew my proposal.

There was no acknowledgement from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) addressing this breakdown in engagement.

I have been a community volunteer in Whistler and beyond for more than 30 years. I am disappointed that a proposal which aligns with the RMOW’s published commitment to reconciliation with the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations as outlined on engagewhistler.ca, was disrespected in

Backcountry Update

AS OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28

After two weeks without snowfall, winter made a welcome return this week. The recent storm significantly improved riding conditions but also buried a nasty weak layer, which has elevated the avalanche danger.

At treeline and above, this layer is primarily a hard crust with weak facets (think sugary snow) either above or below it. In sheltered treeline and below-treeline locations, the layer may be a combination of hard crust and delicate, feathery crystals known as surface hoar.

Unfortunately for powder enthusiasts, the weekend is bringing clear skies and freezing levels that are forecast to rise above mountaintops—again.

So what does this mean for local conditions? This rapid warming will initially increase the likelihood of triggering slab avalanches on persistent weak layers. Rising temperatures and solar radiation are a very commonly missed weather input for both professionals and recreational users.

Warming of the snowpack by rising temperatures and/or solar radiation is the most common weather input for both pros and recreationalists alike to miss.

Even seemingly small amounts of solar radiation can tip the scales and activate slab avalanches that fail on buried weak layers. There’s something about heavy snowfall and howling winds that scream rising avalanche danger, but the sun on your face can feel less threatening. But that warm sunshine can present a more subtle but equally hazardous risk.

If you’re venturing into the backcountry this weekend, back off into simple terrain as the snow surface heats up and transitions from dry powder to a moist snow.

Once temperatures cool, avalanche danger is expected to drop quickly as a new crust forms on the snow surface. Unfortunately, this drop in avalanche danger will coincide with the drop in snow quality as all the powdery snow is turned into a hard crust.

Let’s cross our fingers and hope the next storm arrives cold and stays that way. n

CONDITIONS MAY VARY AND CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY Check for the most current conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Daily updates for the areas adjacent to Whistler Blackcomb are available at 604-938-7676, or surf to www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain-info/ snow-report#backcountry or go to www.avalanche.ca.

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this manner.

Fire services across Canada, including Vancouver Fire Rescue and YVR Fire, have partnered with First Nations artists to create meaningful and visible reconciliation-focused artwork.

During this process, two members of council expressed general support for this idea.

Having to write this letter saddens me. This is not how community members wanting to contribute in good faith to reconciliation should be treated. Nor is it how local government and its staff should conduct business.

The staffers who I initially met with are no longer with the RMOW.

choice—all three of my children attended private schools for part of their highschool education. However, the proposed rezoning raises several issues council must address thoroughly and transparently before moving forward.

1. Impacts on local neighbourhoods (Alpine and Alta Lake Road residents): Waldorf, with 215 students, 50 daycare attendees, and 40-plus staff, has a participation footprint about 55 per cent that of Whistler Secondary School (WSS).

It’s clear a lot of urban planning work went into establishing WSS (traffic safety, public and pedestrian safety, transit accessibility, neighbourhood impacts).

municipal transit. Residents deserve a clear assessment of these costs and responsibilities before approval is contemplated.

“Large-scale land-use changes warrant full disclosure...”

- PAUL DORLAND

implications is essential to maintaining public trust.

4. Contingency planning: The Waldorf lease expires in five months. WSS has indicated it would be able to absorb the Waldorf students desiring enrolment in WSS by adjusting class-size, with the option of adding a portable classroom if required. This underscores that immediate relocation is not the sole option available.

5. Considering alternative locations: Other viable locations may exist within Whistler’s existing school-zoned areas, such as Spring Creek or on portions of the WSS or Myrtle Philip school sites.

Exploring these options could reduce

Pemberton

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Whistler RCMP reflects on ‘steady’ 2025

PROACTIVE

POLICING, ROBUST STAFFING DEFINED THE YEAR; STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE IN THE WORKS

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

POLICE IN THE SEA TO SKY benefitted from a robust complement of staffing in 2025, which helped local law enforcement focus more on proactive policing than in years past.

“It has allowed our members to be out there on the roads more, to be out there talking to people more,” said Insp. Robert Dykstra, officer-in-charge for the Sea to Sky in an interview at the Whistler RCMP detachment Jan. 26.

“That just basically means they get more engaged in the community. They get to know the people more, they learn a bit more information on what’s happening. And then as a result of that, they’re able to go out and do more proactive work.”

Whistler’s RCMP detachment was almost 100-per-cent fully staffed in 2025, while Squamish was about 75 to 80 per cent, Dykstra said, facilitating a higher quality of work overall.

When the workload is spread over a larger number of people, RCMP officers “can focus on their investigations, which means the quality of those investigations goes up because you have more time, and then it also gives you time to do proactive work,” Dykstra said. “So the staffing piece has this almost exponential or compounding positive effect on what goes on, both in quality

of investigations and our ability just to do other things in the community.”

RELATIVELY QUIET

As far as high-profile cases go, 2025 was relatively quiet for local police.

High-profile cases like the tragic disappearance of tourist Illya Rechytskyy, swept away in the Cheakamus River on Canada Day, and an aggressive assault in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park caught on camera, captured the public’s attention in the first half of the year, but the latter half of 2025 was comparatively uneventful.

“It wasn’t a year where we had a steady stream of really big things happening,” Dykstra said. “We didn’t have any homicides. We didn’t have any major, broad, Sea to Sky-wide issues.”

Year over year, violent crime was up about three per cent, driven by an increase in assaults (up two per cent) and uttering threats (up 80 per cent, from 35 reported incidents in 2024 to 66 in 2025).

“I think from an uttering threats perspective, it’s very likely it’s being reported more, as opposed to an increase in the number of incidents,” Dykstra said, noting not every reported incident turns into a criminal charge.

“The other thing we have to consider, as well, is population growth,” he said. “One would assume as population increases, the number of incidents also increase.”

With that in mind, a three-per-cent increase in violent incidents—from 280 in 2024 to 288 last year—is in line with general population-growth trends, and “in terms of the total volume, we’re pretty steady,” Dykstra said.

Property crime was down 23 per cent, from 743 incidents to 575; theft over $5,000

was down 62 per cent; theft under $5,000 was down 19 per cent; and total vehicle collisions were down seven per cent, with no fatalities reported on local roads in 2025.

Compared to the rolling five-year average, violent crime incidents in 2025 were about on par or slightly under, and overall assaults down three per cent, while sexual assaults in Whistler were down 34 per cent—though whether that’s due to proactive policing or underreporting, Dykstra couldn’t say.

“We try to [handle sexual assault reports] as compassionately as we possibly can with Victim Services teams here that are incredible at the work that they do, and supporting our victims through those processes,” Dykstra said. “But it can be invasive, and I can see why there may be less reporting. But obviously we would encourage people to report because we want to help them through those situations.”

Property crime was down less than one per cent compared to the five-year average, while auto thefts were up 42 per cent (from 14 to 20). Thefts from vehicles were down 30 per cent; theft over $5,000 down 25 per cent; and theft under $5,000 up four per cent.

While there was a drop in the overall number of impaired driving infractions compared to the five-year average, Dykstra noted a 100-per-cent increase related to drug-related impairments, which he attributed to proactive police work and enhanced training for police officers.

Overall, total calls for service were up eight per cent compared to the fiveyear average.

“So we’re pretty well doing similar to previous years,” Dykstra said. “I’m not too concerned.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Asked what the focus is for 2026, Dykstra said it’s more of the same: a focus on proactive policing, keeping staffing levels adequate, and reviewing the Sea to Sky RCMP’s strategic plan.

“We had some really good public engagement [the last time we updated the strategic plan]. I think we can do better,” he said. “I’d like to see more involvement from everybody in the community, to come out and feel free and ready to provide their perspectives on what they’re looking for, because that’s going to be the best way for us to develop what initiatives we need to be working on as we go forward. What’s important to the public is what’s important to us.”

Opportunities to provide input will be announced at a later date.

Overall, Dykstra said he’s very pleased with his team in the Sea to Sky, whether in management or membership.

“Everybody’s working in the same direction. We’re all very much about that compassionate approach to policing. We’re not out there to get anybody in trouble. We’re not out there to make people’s lives miserable. We’re there to serve the community, and that is the trend that we are starting to see,” Dykstra said.

“Yes, we are the RCMP, but we are not the RCMP. We’re your RCMP. We are your local police service,” he added.

“We’re out there, we’re helping. We’re there to keep you safe. We want to do the best we can. We’re not perfect. We’re human beings, and we ask that people remember that. But at the end of the day, don’t ever be afraid to come up to a member and say hi. We’re there to serve you.” n

‘This

is where I belong’

NEW CHAPTER FOR WHISTLER PRIDE PUTS LOCAL EXPERIENCE

FRONT AND CENTRE

BY LUKE FAULKS

TOMMY DOLANJSKI still remembers the first time he attended Whistler Pride—then called Altitude—more than two decades ago.

“I, as a 20-year-old, went to my very first major gay event and I walked in and I was just like, ‘This is the craziest thing I’ve ever been to. And this is where I belong,’” he said.

Now, 23 years later, Dolanjski is bringing the event full circle.

His Vancouver-based queer events production company, TFD Presents, took the reins of Whistler Pride Festival for 2026—re-launching the week of celebration on Jan. 25 with a high-energy welcome party at the Garibaldi Lift Co (GLC).

The new team had just three weeks to organize a seven-day, resort-wide festival after getting the green light in November.

“This was almost an impossible task,” Dolanjski said. “But I think what [we] created is, in my opinion, probably one of the most exciting lineups of programming that Whistler Pride has had in a very long time.”

‘FLIP IT COMPLETELY ON ITS HEAD’

After years of wanting to be involved with Whistler Pride, Dolanjski’s team was finally selected to organize the event 15 years after the old organizers turned down a partnership. “I’d had my eye on this sucker for a very long time,” he said.

His chance came after Tourism Whistler parted ways with Whistler Pride last year over unpaid bills and a failure to communicate after the 2025 instalment.

Dolanjski’s long-simmering passion has driven what Tourism Whistler described as “a fresh start that honours long-standing traditions while introducing new events and experiences.”

“The whole event was kind of in one spot before—it was all in the [conference] centre,” he said. “So for me, I just wanted to flip it completely on its head.” For Dolanjski, that meant forging partnerships with a wide array of Whistler venues—clubs, bars, restaurants, ski guides—and weaving them into a decentralized celebration designed to feel like a “true Whistler experience.”

That includes the roughly 50 volunteer ski guides supporting the week’s events on the mountains— including daily guided tours of Whistler and Blackcomb. The team is led by longtime Pride contributor John Sutherland. “They’re such an important part of this festival,” Dolanjski said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

He adds the previous Pride producer’s poor relationship with Whistler did not negatively impact local business’ desire to collaborate; instead, TFD Presents’ fresh approach was met with open arms.

“Nobody pushed us away,” Dolanjski said. “Everyone was just really excited for

the new team, the new vision. The amount of local buy-in made a huge difference.”

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

From the start, Dolanjski said, inclusivity and affordability were top priorities. Every day included at least one free event, while ticketed parties and performances ran between $25 and $60.

“Whistler is a world-class resort town [and] accommodations are very expensive,” he acknowledged. “We wanted to make sure that anyone who was going up to Whistler Pride also had the opportunity to come to all of our events. So, we made everything a lot more affordable.”

That accessibility supported a deeper goal: fostering a genuine sense of belonging.

“A sense of belonging, especially coming into queer events, is just mainly having a safe space for everybody to just be who they are,” Dolanjski explained. “That’s the main thing—having multiple spaces that are inclusive for everybody.”

To that end, the festival adopted a “choose-your-own-adventure” model: “There’s anywhere between two and four events happening at the same time, and each event has a very different vibe and a very different feel,” Dolanjski explained.

Those events include Babes on Babes, a sapphic-centred party on Saturday night emphasizing women’s programming—something Dolanjski said “has been missing for so long.”

This year’s festival also reflected the evolution of TFD Presents itself.

“That’s the main thing—having multiple spaces that are inclusive to everybody.”

- TOMMY DOLANJSKI

“TFD started as an event production company, and then we moved into talent management, especially for drag queens,” said Dolanjski. “Drag is very forefront right now. It adds so much to the energy of an event, so there’s definitely a lot more drag involved this year.”

During Friday’s annual Rainbow Ski Out and Pride Parade, guests will enjoy live performances by Canada’s Drag Race contestant Hazel and winner Van Goth.

Dolanjski notes the festival isn’t just for visitors—it’s a love letter to the mountain town’s LGBTQ+ community.

“What I want [Whistler locals] to feel is like we have listened to them,” he said. “We are coming up there with so much respect for the queer community up in Whistler and Squamish. I just want it to feel like you’ve all been seen and heard.” n

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Proposed August black bear hunt draws mixed reactions

PROVINCIAL CONSERVATION OFFICER SERVICE KILLED 178 BEARS OVER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND EUTHANIZED 33 IN 2025

BY LUKE FAULKS

THE B.C. government’s proposal to allow black bear hunting on private land throughout August is drawing a mix of concern and calls for nuance in Pemberton, where farmers and wildlife advocates alike are assessing the potential local impacts.

The hunting expansion comes as the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) is releasing data on 2025 animal encounters showing bear conflicts fell to their lowest levels in more than a decade.

The policy change—currently under public consultation until Feb. 13—would open up hunting on private lands across most of Region 2, which includes the Lower Mainland and stretches north through Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, and up to the Bute Inlet on the coast.

The change has been framed by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship as a response to farmer concerns in the Fraser Valley, Pemberton, and Powell River, particularly around berry crops.

Current regulations already allow for black bear hunting in spring and fall seasons. The August expansion would not increase harvest limits or affect

regulations on cubs and mothers, but would align Region 2 more closely with policies in the Kootenays and Okanagan.

The ministry says non-lethal deterrents—like electric fencing—remain the preferred first-line tactic, but added, “Some of these tactics are not practical on large-scale agricultural operations or can have negative unintended consequences on other wildlife species.”

The Pemberton Farmers Institute (PFI)—a local advocacy group that represents the Valley’s agricultural community—conducted an informal survey of its membership on the topic.

PFI co-president Ariella Falkowski explained most members feel they are already managing black bear conflicts effectively without the need for expanded hunting permissions.

The survey found “the majority of members of the PFI are generally tolerant of black bears, and feel that farming alongside them is very manageable when you are serious about managing your attractants and using portable/temporary electric fencing to protect key crops.”

While some members cited “serious problems” like bears breaking into chicken coops or damaging farm infrastructure—even in cases where

electric fencing and attractant controls were in place—most reported coexistence remained the default posture.

Notably, it is grizzlies causing the lion’s share of the problem. Several farmers indicated grizzlies, now more common in the valley, are “more difficult [to] farm alongside” and require permanent fencing solutions.

While “most PFI members do not see the need to expand the black bear hunt as a management tool,” some respondents were open to the August hunt, provided “local populations are healthy and increasing.” That support was generally contingent on hunting being limited to “problem bears on private lands,” rather than broader recreational purposes.

“There seems to be little to no appetite [for] opening up hunting black bears in the Valley bottom to the general public,” the summary concluded. Falkowski noted the summary is not an official statement from the PFI.

As the province is considering expanding the black bear hunt, the latest data from the COS found 2025 had the lowest number of black bears killed in more than a decade.

Province-wide, officers killed 178 black bears over public safety concerns and euthanized 33 over welfare concerns—in

total, marking a 65-per-cent drop from 2023, and the fewest since online records began in 2011. The number of reports to the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line also plummeted from 27,896 in 2023 to 13,672 in 2025.

“A phenomenal berry crop for several varieties across the B.C. Interior last year may have contributed to fewer bears coming into communities,” said Garth Mowat, a provincial large carnivore specialist. “Abundant natural food sources often result in fewer conflicts between bears and people.”

Locally, Sea to Sky communities also saw notable declines. Pemberton saw one black bear killed by COS in 2025, compared to three in 2024. Whistler was down to one black bear killed in 2025 from four in the previous year. And Squamish held steady at two black bears killed in both years.

The proposed regulation change is one of 60 amendments to B.C.’s hunting and trapping laws now under review. If approved, the August black bear hunt will come into effect for the 2026 hunting season and remain in place through 2028.

Public comments on the proposal can be submitted through the B.C. Hunting Regulations website until Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Find the full story online. n

Summit Helicopters acquires Blackcomb Helicopters’ assets and sightseeing operations

TRANSITION BRINGS ONE OF WESTERN CANADA’S MOST ICONIC HELICOPTER BRANDS UNDER LEDCOR GROUP OWNERSHIP

BY LUKE FAULKS

IN A MAJOR SHIFT for aviation in the Sea to Sky region, Summit Helicopters has acquired Blackcomb Helicopters’ remaining aviation assets and sightseeing division, marking the end of nearly two decades of McLean Group ownership.

Announced Jan. 22, the acquisition sees Summit—part of the Ledcor Group—take control of Blackcomb’s fleet of seven helicopters and its Whistler and Squamish bases. The deal includes Blackcomb’s utility, film, firefighting and emergency response operations, along with its sightseeing and charter services, which will continue under the Blackcomb name.

“After decades of specialized helicopter service which started in the Sea to Sky corridor and expanded throughout Canada, it is time for our family to make a change and pass Blackcomb Helicopters onto new operators,” said Jason McLean, CEO of the McLean Group, in a release.

“With shared values and commitment to always putting safety and premier customer experience first, we know our customers, our team and the communities we serve are in exceptionally good hands.”

A NEW CHAPTER IN SEA TO SKY AVIATION

The purchase marks Summit’s first substantial entry into the Sea to Sky market, said Summit general manager Peter Rice.

“We’ve had some short projects and call-outs to the area over the years, but this will be our first time breaking into the area in a serious way,” Rice told  Pique.

He emphasized Blackcomb’s “skill set and the reputation and just the ability of the team” were key draws for Summit. “They have a very complementary fleet to ours,” Rice said, adding the acquisition “opened up kind of a new geographic location for us [to] be able to bring all of their experience throughout our business.”

Summit plans to maintain all of Blackcomb’s existing customer-facing operations and staff. “Particularly the pilots and the aircraft maintenance engineers, the mechanics—they’re just crucial to us being able to continue the service,” said Rice. “With us growing this much, we basically need all hands on deck.”

Jonathan Burke, Blackcomb operations manager, confirmed the “bulk of the staff moved over,” which he said was “an important consideration for the McLean family, that everybody landed

somewhere and had a good, solid future in the Sea to Sky corridor.”

A LEGACY BUSINESS CHANGES HANDS

Blackcomb Helicopters was founded in Whistler in 1989 by Steve and Michelle Flynn with a single Bell 206 ‘chopper in the Rainbow Mountain Area. After the McLean Group acquired the company in 2006, it expanded rapidly.

“We had 22 helicopters in the fleet with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories,” Burke recalled. But the company underwent major restructuring over the past year.

“We sold our Alberta operations. We sold a number of aircraft,” he said.

That process culminated in two deals: the sale of Blackcomb’s adventure tourism operations— including Coast Range Heli-Skiing and Tyax Adventures—to Whitecap Alpine Adventures in December 2025, and now, the helicopter operations to Summit.

Burke explained the business was ultimately split in two because of its unique mix of business-to-consumer (e.g. heli-skiing) and business-to-business (e.g. utility work) operations. “It was determined that the best way to do it would be to split it up,” he said.

STABILITY NOW, GROWTH LATER

Summit Helicopters, known for its wideranging operations from wildfire support to medevacs and mineral exploration, added Blackcomb’s remaining seven aircraft through the acquisition, bringing its total fleet from 12 to 19 helicopters.

While further expansion isn’t planned immediately, Rice said Summit’s nearterm focus is on stabilizing operations and aligning policies and procedures. “Once we’re stabilized and we continue to deliver for our clients, then maybe we’ll look at some further growth,” he added.

Burke said clients can expect business as usual. “Nothing changes,” he said. “Everyone at the other end of the phone line is the same. The phone numbers are the same. Summit has acquired the Blackcomb Helicopters name as well, so that will carry on.”

Both Rice and Burke stressed the importance of Blackcomb’s longstanding relationships in the corridor—with Whistler Blackcomb, local search-andrescue groups, tourism operators, BC Hydro and other industrial clients.

“It’s a continuation of that legacy that was started by the Flynns, carried on by the McLean family and John Morris,” Burke said. “And it’s just a new chapter.” n

‘My bucket is filled’: Whistler ROCKS builds momentum through volunteers, value and vision

THANKS TO A STRONG VOLUNTEER BASE AND GENEROUS DONORS, THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN HAS SERVED UP NEARLY 500 MEALS IN ITS FIRST FIVE MONTHS

BY LUKE FAULKS

WHEN NATALIE KINGI left her job in tech, it wasn’t for lack of success. She’d delivered any number of multimillion-dollar projects. But none of it felt like it mattered.

“I’m like, ‘How is this making the world a better place?’” she recalled. “And what bucket am I filling?”

Now, she runs the Whistler Recreat Our Community Kitchen Society (ROCKS), a grassroots community kitchen that has served close to 500 free hot meals to local residents. The dinners, launched in September 2025, aim to create a place where everyone—liftie, long-timer, or senior—can sit down at the same table.

The group currently operates out of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC), thanks to a discounted rental rate of $250 per event. The venue is popular with guests—“a beautiful kitchen and dining area,” as Kingi puts it—but isn’t classified as a full commercial kitchen. As a result, Vancouver Coastal Health limits ROCKS to 14 temporary food service permits per year. That averages out to about a meal every three weeks.

“We can do 14 at Whistler Mountain Ski Club. And if we find another space, we can do another 14 there,” Kingi said. “But either way, it’s not a permanent place.”

Kingi and ROCKS director Celeste Banning said the Society is considering a wide array of options—from the former Le Gros building (for sale at $2.5 million) to renting out the soon-to-be-vacated Spruce Grove Field House. ROCKS is also looking at a possible mobile venue, and talking with developers about including a community kitchen space for local non-profits.

But so far, none match the costeffective approach or sit-down, friendly atmosphere ROCKS is going for.

MEETING THE NEED IN B.C.’S COSTLIEST TOWN

ROCKS’ service is filling a growing gap in the community.

“There are quite a few people in that [financially struggling] category,” Banning told council on Jan. 20. “Probably most of you are familiar with this year’s living wage report that ranks Whistler as the most expensive community in B.C.—I’m sure we all feel that.”

The 2025 living wage for Whistler was calculated at $29.60 per hour—nearly double the provincial minimum wage. That’s before accounting for the region’s housing crunch. Locals face some of the steepest rents in Canada, and many seasonal and long-term workers are stuck in overcrowded units, makeshift accommodations or even living in vehicles.

“It impacts [lower wage earners’] ability to put together a good meal,” Banning noted. “We’ve got lots of people living in vehicles or makeshift housing, or in overcrowded situations where they often have limited kitchen access and

sometimes no kitchen access at all.”

Banning said most guests at ROCKS dinners are working Whistlerites. “These are [the] people that keep this community running,” Banning said. “And they’re who we aim to support.”

BIG IMPACT ON A SMALL BUDGET

Since September, ROCKS has delivered 439 meals to guests across six events. A typical dinner draws 20 volunteers and 80 guests. Each guest receives a home-cooked meal, a sweet treat, tea, and—if there’s food left—seconds or a container to go.

Financially, the model has proven efficient. ROCKS’ first major grant— $15,000 from 100 Women of Whistler—was awarded in exchange for a 1,000-meal commitment. That worked out to $15 per meal. But thanks to donated space, a volunteer base of about 150 locals, and careful procurement, Kingi says they’ve cut the cost per meal by more than half.

“Technically we’re averaging $14 a head,” she explained. “And then with

World Ski and Snowboard Festival returns for year 30

THE EVENT IS SCHEDULED FROM APRIL 6 TO 12 IN WHISTLER

BY DAVID SONG

THE WORLD Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is getting ready to mark a milestone: 30 years.

This upcoming anniversary iteration of the event promises to feature prolific snowsport contests like the new Grind Rail Jam for boarders and skiers, minipipe and Slush Cup. Renowned artistic

offerings like Intersection, the Pro Photographer Showcase and 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown will be back alongside a bevy of free outdoor concerts, live music, late-night programming and community activations.

“WSSF has always been built by the people who live, ride and create in the mountains,” said Joey Gibbons, president and owner of Gibbons Whistler, in a press release. “Celebrating 30 years is about recognizing the community that carried this

festival forward and what happens when people come together outdoors, connected by a shared love of the mountains.”

A release elaborates that, since its maiden year in 1996, the WSSF has grown “alongside a generation of skiers, snowboarders, filmmakers, and musicians. It became the place where spring skiing met late nights, where film premieres turned into lifelong careers, and where iconic concerts, competitions, and après moments

the donations we receive on the night, we’re getting it down to $7 a meal. And that’s all-inclusive. That’s the rent of the venue, the food costs, the equipment, the volunteers, insurance—everything.”

Guests who can afford to contribute are encouraged to donate $10. Those who can’t are equally welcome. “We’re doing free for those who need it and a suggested donation for those who can,” Kingi said. “But those who can afford it [are] basically paying it forward.”

As grant season approaches, ROCKS is preparing new applications backed by real data. “We’ve got a business plan. We’ve got all that stuff,” Kingi said. “This time, we’ve actually got operating data, and we’ve proved that we can do it for $10 a meal.”

In the meantime, she continues to feed people—and feel fulfilled. “With ROCKS, my bucket gets filled—overfilled—every single day,” she said. The next free Whistler ROCKS meal is being served on Feb. 9. Visit whistlerrocks.ca to reserve your spot. n

became part of Whistler folklore.”

The WSSF is produced by Gibbons Whistler in partnership with Tourism Whistler and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). Further details regarding athlete lineups, headlining musical acts and creative programming will be released throughout February and March.

Head to wssf.com for more details about the fest, slated to take place from April 6 to 12. n

‘Urgent and escalating’: Much-needed

youth mental health and addiction services coming to Pemberton

THE SERVICE EXPANSION WILL SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 12 AND 24, AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS

BY HILARY ANGUS

THE PROVINCE is expanding youth mental health and addiction services to five more B.C. communities, including Pemberton, to help address what one community director referred to as an “urgent and escalating” need in the Sea to Sky corridor.

At a Jan. 27 media event in Pemberton, Health Minister Josie Osborne announced $1.7 million in provincial funding to open Foundry locations in Pemberton, West Kelowna, Summerland, 100 Mile House and Port McNeill.

“Young people today are facing some really considerable pressures and stresses as they navigate what is an increasingly complex and challenging world,” Osborne said. “They need a place to go that is welcoming, that’s lowbarrier, that’s confidential, and most importantly, that is youth focused … for many people, that special place is Foundry.”

Foundry is a province-wide organization that provides free, lowbarrier mental health and addiction support for youth aged 12 to 24 and their families and caregivers. Youth can access their confidential services without a doctor’s note. They currently operate 19 locations around the province.

an extension of a Foundry centre in a nearby city or town to ensure consistency of services.

Pemberton’s Foundry centre will be operated by Sea to Sky Community Services and connected to Foundry Sea to Sky in Squamish. It is expected to open in autumn of 2026 in the soon-to-open

“I can’t overstate how important it is to the kids of our communities to have this coming here.”

- MIKE RICHMAN

This year’s service expansion will support youth in five smaller communities with location-appropriate access to physical and sexual healthcare, mental health and substance use support, peer support and social services.

Steve Mathias, co-executive director of Foundry, said they are “thrilled” about the expansion as it will help youth begin their journey to wellness in their own communities, adding that 17,000 youth accessed Foundry’s services in 2025 alone.

Each new location will function as

Harrow Road Community Hub.

Jaye Russell, executive director of Sea to Sky Community Services, said when they opened the Foundry in Squamish in 2023, they already knew the needs of young people in Pemberton were “urgent and escalating.”

“Those needs became especially evident in the years following COVID19 as underserved communities, particularly in rural and remote locations across the province, experienced impacts in disproportionate ways,” Russell said.

Russell said they’ve worked hard to

develop a model of youth wellness that is collaborative, responsive and grounded in community, and they’re incredibly grateful to the Ministry of Health for recognizing the value of this model and the need for its expansion.

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said the requirement to travel to Squamish or Vancouver to access adequate mental health and addiction support has long been a barrier many young people in the Pemberton area could not overcome.

“Sadly, many of our kids fell through the cracks,” Richman said. “I can’t overstate how important it is to the kids of our communities to have this coming here.”

Roxanne Joe, an elected leader for the Lil’wat Nation, reflected on her experience growing up in the valley when similar resources were scarce.

“For many young people, the past or addiction and mental health struggles could be like navigating a storm without a compass,” Joe said. “Many of my peers never made it out of their storm.

“I truly feel that Sea to Sky Community Services and Foundry will be that compass for those weathering the storms of their addictions and mental health, and today, I see the skies of our future a little bit brighter.”

Pemberton’s Hillside development heading back to public consultation

THE VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON IS RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT DENSITY, LOGGING, AND LACK OF RECREATIONAL AMENITIES IN THE DRAFT PLAN

BY HILARY ANGUS

THE VILLAGE of Pemberton will seek further public input on an amended Hillside Neighbourhood Plan, which could see up to 450 new homes built on the community’s eastern hills.

In a report presented to Pemberton’s Committee of the Whole (COW) on Jan. 20, planning consultant Cameron Chalmers said the initial public input period in November 2025 resulted in 29 letters with “elements of conditional support mixed with specific concerns” around the first draft of the plan.

“Most respondents acknowledge the need for additional housing supply, population growth, affordability issues, and alignment with provincial and Village housing mandates in general terms,” Chalmers wrote in the report.

“However, they raise questions about the scale, density, and location of development … as well as the timing of supporting infrastructure and amenities.”

TREES, TRAILS AND TRANSPORTATION

As summarized in the report, many Pemberton residents expressed concern that proposed densities in steeper and more visually prominent areas of the slopes were too high for what the land was capable of supporting, out of proportion with neighbourhood character, and would not result in affordable homes for young families.

“Most respondents acknowledge the need for additional housing...”

- CAMERON CHALMERS

Others mentioned logging, specifically for the proposed Redwoods development, would remove one of the last significant mature forested areas on the hillside, and negatively impact wildlife corridors and recreational trails.

Several residents expressed concern about the lack of walkability or public transportation to the area, and the potential impacts on vehicle traffic on Pemberton Portage Road and Highway 99, questioning how the scale of growth proposed in the Hillside plan will be supported by appropriate transportation infrastructure.

Many letter-writers highlighted the lack of proposed recreation amenities— such as parks and playgrounds—to

accompany the growth in population.

In last week’s COW meeting, Chalmers recommended several amendments to the first draft of the Hillside Neighbourhood Plan, including updating all maps to reflect an existing dedicated park space, prioritizing recreation improvements in future amenity discussions, recommending Village contributions for affordable housing, and creating more comprehensive archeological policies for any future rezoning.

In a follow-up council meeting on Jan. 20, Pemberton council agreed to the proposed changes and directed staff to create a bylaw version of the plan that would address many of the concerns expressed by the public.

The new plan will be sent back to public consultation before being adopted by council, though no date has been set for that process yet.

THE BACKSTORY

Potential development in the Hillside area has been many years in the making.

The area was first identified as a future residential expansion zone by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) in 2007.

When the Village of Pemberton extended its boundaries in 2011, it amended its new OCP to include Hillside within the urban growth boundary. Sections of the land were rezoned to create today’s Sunstone and Ridge neighbourhoods, while the remainder was marked as a “Special Planning Area” requiring further study before residential designation.

In 2024, council initiated the process to begin developing the Hillside Neighbourhood Plan in response to three significant development applications, each of which challenged the existing development policy in the area.

Council directed staff to begin a comprehensive planning process that would integrate new housing proposals with green space, recreation planning, and existing commercial and recreational amenities.

There are currently three significant development applications in the works: the approved Parkside project (34 singlefamily residential lots with multi-unit infill), the proposed Redwoods project (134 townhouses) and Sunstone Phase 4 (an expansion of 245 units over 36.9 hectares).

Council received the first draft of the Hillside Area Plan in August 2024 and began a formal consultation process with various stakeholders including Lil’wat Nation, the SLRD, school districts, health authorities, BC Hydro, and various recreation groups.

The first public consultation period took place in November 2025.

-With files from Luke Faulks n

PublicNotice

LotC,PlanEPP40824,DL211,LLD(PID030-164-532)

7362PembertonFarmRoadEast

NoticeisherebygiveninaccordancewithSection499oftheLocal GovernmentActR.S.B.C.2015,thattheVillageofPembertonwill consider avariancetotheZoningBylawNo.832,2018atitsRegular MeetingscheduledonTuesdayFebruary10,2026,commencingat 5:30pmatMunicipalHall(7400ProspectSt)andviaZoomWebinar (accessavailableat:pemberton.ca/council-meetings).

Variance Requested

SashaRasovic,Agentforthelandowner,appliedfor avariancetothe ZoningBylawtoallowreducedsetbacksandextendedroofoverhangson proposedsubdividedLots1-9.Thevarianceproposesvaryingthe exteriorsideyardsetbackrequirementsfrom2.7metersto1.5meterson Lots1 and8and1.8metersonLot9.Thevariancealsoproposes permitting1.2metreencroachmentsintherearyardforcantilevered balconiesandeavesandpermitting0.9metreencroachmentinthefront yardonLots1-7.

HowdoI getmoreinformation?

TheproposedDevelopmentVariancePermitapplicationareavailable onlineatpemberton.ca/development-applications.

WTF is gorpcore?

EVERY YEAR , buzzwords catch our attention. With social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels sucking so much of our focus, some of those buzzwords can even ascend from comment sections into the public consciousness. I tend to let these Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words come and go without much acknowledgement.

BY VINCE SHULEY

But one word in particular has hung around long enough that it deserved a bit more investigation. I’m intrigued by it because I spent the first part of my writing career in Whistler as an outdoor retail gear nerd. That word is “gorpcore,” which Wikipedia describes as “a fashion trend in which outerwear typically designed for outdoor recreation is worn as streetwear.”

Let’s start with the etymology. When I first started hearing the term gorpcore I thought the prefix “gorp” was actually a shorthand reference to “gorby,” the derogatory term for a clueless tourist. GORP is actually an acronym for “good ol’ raisins and peanuts,” or, depending whom you ask, “granola, oats, raisins, peanuts.” Basically, GORP is trailmix

(or “scroggin” if you’re hiking in the Australian outdoors).

The “core” part of the etymology came from the term “normcore,” which in addition to being the name of a Japanese Throroughbred racehorse, Wikipedia defines as “a unisex fashion trend characterized by unpretentious, average-looking clothing. Normcore fashion includes jeans, T-shirts, sweats, button-downs, and sneakers.”

So who coined gorpcore? That honour goes to writer Jason Chen in an article for New York Magazine’s fashion blog The Cut in 2017.

“It’s not a hyper-elevated, highfashion take on hiking clothes. Much of it is rather defiantly ugly, like something you’d buy at REI before a weekend in Phoenicia (a small outdoorsy mountain town in upstate New York)—

of course—it has to be thrown off to communicate the wearer is in on the joke. The outfit isn’t designer, but it is fashion, in the way that any aesthetic executed with intentionality—ever insistent and dissonant—can become ‘a look.’”

The question that intrigues me is the following: If gorpcore was born in fashion cities like New York, are our mountain communities immune from the label? If the garment gets exposed to the elements in the mountains at some point, does that make it acceptable to wear the garment around town, even if you didn’t ski that day? Do you even own another jacket that can take its place when it’s cold out?

For the sake of this opinion, I’m going to illustrate the epitome of gorpcore by picking on one brand in particular that’s beloved in Vancouver and the Sea to Sky—Arc’teryx. The most obvious

For the sake of this opinion, I’m going to illustrate the epitome of gorpcore by picking on one brand in particular that’s beloved in Vancouver and the Sea to Sky—Arc’teryx.

practical, element-braving fleeces, ponchos, parkas, and windbreakers from no-nonsense brands like Patagonia, the North Face, Teva, Columbia, and Birkenstock. These clothes are paired with painter pants, Vans, Hawaiian shirts, and Dickies because head-totoe outdoorwear would be too literal,

Arc’teryx accessory that somehow became Gen Z gorpcore is the iconic Bird Head Toque. After American R&B singer and songwriter Frank Ocean wore an Arc’teryx Grotto beanie during Paris Fashion Week in 2019, the popularity of all Arc’teryx hats surged. The Bird Head Toque (named for its large, dead

bird logo plastered across it) has become one of the brand’s most high-demand items. Just when you think the Bird Head Toque craze has come and gone, actor Timothée Chalamet shows up in New York sporting the hat on the way to his appearance on Saturday Night Live. Hats aside, where gorpcore shows up more in Vancouver and the Sea to Sky is with black Arc’teryx shell jackets. High-end Gore-Tex—too immaculate for wearing out in the rain—is found hanging on the backs of chairs in trendy coffee shops, draped over stools in craft breweries, worn for commutes to the office and sported for sunny Sunday strolls around the farmers’ market.

This trend of activity-specific apparel being worn as daily lifestyle clothing is nothing new, of course. Athleisure had its rise in the mid- to late-2000s with yoga pants making their way from the studio to the supermarket. Timberland six-inch work boots were designed for the feet of New England construction workers and became a hip-hop style icon. Even the hooded sweatshirt (“hoody”) was created by the Champion brand in the 1930s for warehouse workers labouring in the freezing temperatures of upstate New York.

Is your mountain outerwear fashion or function? No one said it can’t be both. But if you wear the garments in situations where such function is not necessary—just for the label or logo to be seen by others—that’s gorpcore.

Vince Shuley is not a fashion columnist. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@ gmail.com or Instagram @whis_vince. n

NoticeofPublicHearing

Zoning AmendmentBylaw (School Use) No.2503,2026 (the“proposedbylaw”)

Tuesday, February10,2026 @5:30p.m.

ViaMicrosoftTeams Webinar/ Telephone

Purpose: Thepurpose of theproposedbylaw is to addschoolandauxiliarydaycare uses aspermitteduseson aportionoflandwithinthe existingRS-E2(ResidentialSingleEstate Two) Zone,and to permit asubdivision to create aseparatelegaltitlefortheportionof landwhereonlya schoolandauxiliarydaycarewouldbepermitted.

SubjectLands: Thelandsthat arethesubjectoftheproposed Bylaware shownonthemap below, andlegallydescribedas: Lot34, District Lot2246, Group1,New WestminsterDistrict, PlanBCP1933

To learnmore: Acopyoftheproposed Bylaws andbackgrounddocumentationare available forreviewfromJanuary28,2026until February10,2026 at:

• MunicipalHall at 4325Blackcomb Way, Whistler,BC,during regularofficehours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m.,MondaytoFriday(statutoryholidaysexcluded)

• Online ontheRMOWwebsite at:whistler.ca/publicnotices

Howtoprovideinput: Allpersonswhobelieve that theirinterestinpropertyisaffected by theproposedbylaw willbegivenanopportunity to providewrittenand verbal comments that willbe considered by Councilasfollows:

1. Submitwritten commentstoCouncilviaemail: corporate@whistler.ca(mustbe received by12:00p.m.on February10,2026)(include“Zoning AmendmentBylaw (School Use) No.2503,2026 ”inthesubjectline,addressthe commentsto“Mayorand Council”,and include yournameandmailingaddressintheemail);and/or

2. Su bmitwrit te nc omme nt stoC ouncilvi ah an dd elivery: Re sort Municipality of Whistler, Legislative Services Department –Corporate Officer, 4325 BlackcombWay, WhistlerBCV8E0X5(mustbe received by 12:00p.m.on February10,2026)(include “ZoningAmendment Bylaw(School Use) No.2503,2026 ”inthesubjectline,address the comments to “MayorandCouncil”, andinclude yournameandmailingaddressin theletter);and/or

3. Provideverbal comments at the PublicHearingviaonlinevideoor phoneconferencing Visitwhistler.ca/publicnoticesorscantheQRcodebelowforinstructionsonhowto accessandparticipateinthe Public Hearing. ThePublicHearinglinkandphonenumbers are alsobelow.

AftertheconclusionofthisPublicHearing,Councilcannot receivefurtherinputfromthe publicontheproposed Bylaws.

Public Hearinglink:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ca08c50b-51d2-4484-8294-04fa7da8a4d7@ f2328652-b00a-4255-a27b-2fe74ff817e0

WebinarID: 25351346682395

•Passcode: zs6S2Me6

Public Hearingphone numbers:

•DialinbyPhone: +1-778-900-4662

•Phone conference ID: 977816560#

SCANTHEQR

CODE FORA COPY OFTHEPROPOSED BYLAWS AND BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION

whistler.ca

What’sbetterthanchocolate orflowersthisValentine’sday?

We’ve got you covered.

CORAL REPORT

B.C.’s oceans are turning acidic faster than once thought, study finds

By Stefan Labbe

B.C.’s

coastal waters are acidifying faster than previously thought in a trend that could threaten the region’s marine economy, a new study has found.

Published in the Nature Communications journal, the research concluded the rise in acidity since the Industrial Revolution has outpaced the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, suggesting an “unfortunate amplification effect” is driving oceans to quickly sour.

The findings indicate places like the Salish Sea—a complex body of water shared by B.C. and Washington state—are seeing a dangerous trend that could impact some of the region’s most valuable fisheries, said Alex Gagnon, an associate professor of oceanography at the University of Washington who oversaw the study.

“We’re on the leading edge of the most extreme places for acidification,” Gagnon said.

For over 200 years, the world’s oceans have acted as a massive buffer, absorbing about 26 per cent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) humanity has pumped into the atmosphere.

That critical service has come at a cost: as CO2 reacts with seawater, it forms carbonic acid, causing average global ocean acidity to spike 30 per cent above preIndustrial Revolution levels.

At the same time, ocean currents from Baja California to B.C. send nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, creating some of the most productive fisheries in the world.

“That’s why it’s so rich with life offshore,” said Gagnon.

Those same nutrients that create vibrant marine communities make the waters off western North America naturally more acidic. The effect is especially pronounced in the Salish Sea, a semi-enclosed body of water fed by several rivers.

As that freshwater pushes out into the Pacific Ocean through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, it’s replaced by naturally acidified sea water that is sucked in off the continental shelf like a deepwater straw.

The duelling sources of ocean acidification have fuelled debate over how much climate change is actually responsible for destabilizing B.C. and Washington’s shared coastal ecosystems.

“It’s been hard to separate those two things: How much of the acidification that we see out here is because of natural reasons? And how much is because of humans?” said Gagnon.

Another reason why the debate over what’s driving increasingly acidic oceans rages on is due to a lack of records.

The pH scale, which measures how acidic or basic a solution is, wasn’t invented until Danish chemist Søren Sørensen came up with the framework in 1909. And methods to test acid in sea water came decades later.

To solve that problem, Gagnon and his team turned to a marine species extensively photographed by scuba divers. Those species’ skeletons happened to be tucked away in a museum in Washington, D.C.

Scientists trace ocean acid levels in coral

The scientists knew they needed to find a way measure how acid levels have changed over decades. Their solution was a ubiquitous cold-water species known as orange cup corals.

Unlike many of its tropical cousins, the larvae of

orange cup corals don’t form reefs. Instead, they crawl to the rocky seafloor and cement themselves to the bottom in massive colonies of standalone individuals.

Their habitat extends from tide pools down to about 100 metres underwater across a North American range spanning B.C. to Baja California. As they grow, the corals integrate information about the state of the surrounding ocean into their skeletons.

In their laboratory at the University of Washington, Gagnon and his colleagues found a way to culture the corals and extract the pH levels when they were still alive.

The process relies on analyzing their skeletal boron levels—an element absorbed by the corals at a rate reflecting the acidity of the surrounding seawater.

“Now that’s cool,” said Gagnon of their breakthrough. “That gets you like part of the way. But then you need corals from back in time.”

Old skeletons and handwritten sea logs

In the late 1880s, the twin-masted steamship USS Albatross embarked on a series of missions to investigate the western coastlines of North America.

The first purpose-built fisheries vessel ever deployed in the U.S., the Albatross spent a good portion of its time trying to track down new halibut and cod fishing grounds as far north as Alaska.

Along the way, Gagnon said the crew was also “dutifully collecting other things.” Those included dozens of orange cup coral samples, dredged and pulled aboard at locations spanning the Baja and Vancouver Island coastlines. At some point, the corals ended up in the archives at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

Ultimately, the team found 54 samples collected in the Salish Sea and deposited in Canadian and U.S. museums between 1888 and 1932.

Alongside the samples, Gagnon and his colleagues examined old handwritten log book entries to track down where the Albatross had scooped them up. Next, the team boarded the modern research vessel R/V Rachel Carson and sailed from Friday Harbour, Wash., through the Salish Sea to collect modern coral samples from more than a dozen historic locations.

Back in the lab, the researchers cleaned and analyzed their now-complete 130-year coral record. After three years of research, Gagnon and his colleagues concluded the natural acidic conditions off the coast of Canada and the U.S. had been amplified by the impacts of climate change—and far more than was once thought.

“How much of the acidification that we see out here is because of natural reasons? And how much is because of humans?”

Alex Gagnon

FEATURE STORY

“It’s like 50 per cent more than we expected … since the 1880s,” he said. “That’s a lot.”

Curiously, acid levels were found to be stronger on the sea floor, even though acidification usually occurs at the top of the water column, where CO2 from decaying organic matter bubbles up to the surface in a series of “burps.”

The researchers concluded the amplified deepwater acidification was caused by a thermodynamic buffering effect—where seawater increasingly charged with CO2 loses its ability to absorb carbon from naturally occurring sources.

The phenomenon makes the already high-carbon coastal waters more vulnerable to extreme acidic conditions, the study found.

In 2023, the B.C. government estimated ocean acidification would increase 100- to 150-per-cent above pre-Industrial levels by 2100. By contrast, the U.S. research team projects those numbers will climb even higher, with coastal waters off B.C. and Washington seeing a 200- to 250-per-cent increase by the end of the century.

Left unchecked, corrosive acid levels are expected to severely impact marine life by stymying the formation calcium carbonate, the key ingredient in marine shells

“This can have dire consequences to many marine organisms and cascading effects through marine

Chris Harley, a marine biologist at the University of British Columbia not involved in the study, said scientists already knew B.C. was a hot spot for ocean acidification. He said one open question was whether the species living here were getting used to it or being

“Things are getting worse faster than we anticipated,” he said. “It appears we’re already close to the edge of some tipping points and we just haven’t found them yet.”

Harley said he is currently working with B.C.’s Hakai Institute to carry out laboratory tests and determine what those tipping points are in several species. That includes Dungeness crab, which in 2023, accounted for more than a quarter of B.C.’s sea fisheries harvest and was worth near five times that of salmon.

That year, the total landed value of sea fisheries in B.C. added up to more than $452 million. Shellfish made up nearly 60 per cent of that, led by crab ($113.5 million),

All of those species are expected to be impacted by acidification as early as 2050, a decade earlier than

The study comes months after scientists in B.C. warned the province’s coastlines are increasingly being starved of oxygen in a trend that could further fuel

Increasingly sour oceans already appear to be having unexpected consequences. Beyond preventing sea creatures from forming their shells, the rising acid levels were recently found to weaken the Dungeness crab’s sense of smell, a key faculty that helps them

For Gagnon, the aquarium work, digging through tall-ship-era history, and solving a long-standing maritime mystery added up to a scientist’s dream.

“You do all this work, and you’re so jazzed, and then the punchline hits me like, ‘Oh, crap, that’s worse than

Like many stories about climate change, Gagnon says he worries all the bad news is going to create a generation of nihilists. But according to him, giving up

“The oceans aren’t done,” he said. “They are incredible and worth protecting. And we get to choose our future.” n

‘I

feel like I’ve earned my position here’

WHISTLER SNOWBOARDER JULIETTE PELCHAT CONQUERED LONG ODDS TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS

BY DAVID SONG

JULIETTE PELCHAT’S road to Milano Cortina has featured its twists and turns.

The Whistlerite finished 23rd at Calgary’s Snow Rodeo World Cup last February and realized a pivotal choice was at hand: move away from elite competition or lock in for an uphill battle to reach the Olympics. As the eldest daughter of backcountry icon JF Pelchat, she loves snowboarding for what it is (not just the medals it can yield), so the decision required thought.

Then Juliette realized something else. She would not give up the opportunity to represent Canada on sport’s grandest stage—not without a fight, anyway. That meant she needed to win a Nor-Am Cup overall and earn her personal World Cup berth, the only way to Olympic qualification.

With pressure on full-blast, the young lady known also as “Jubes” clutched up, securing two Nor-Am golds and three silvers in March 2025 alone.

“It was a big risk, honestly,” she said. “I was kind of being a bit delusional … my confidence wasn’t there, but when I decided to make that switch I really tapped into all my resources, asked for help, started talking to a sports [psychologist] who really helped me. The travelling was insane, I was going from spot to spot and it was super high stress, but I didn’t have much time to overthink because everything was moving so quick.”

How does it feel becoming a first-time Olympian?

“Crazy. I don’t even know if I can wrap my head around the ring of that sentence, but I’m super honoured to be representing Canada for my first Games,” she said. “Even if you told me last year, ‘you’re going to be qualified for the Olympics,’ I would have been like: ‘there’s no way.’

“I’ve worked pretty hard to get where I’m at, so I feel like I’ve earned my position here and I’m just super excited to go and have this unique experience with my teammates.”

DECORATED MENTORSHIP

The only other woman on Canada’s snowboard slopestyle and big air roster is Laurie Blouin, a two-time world champ and six-time X Games medallist who achieved silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Juliette admits to being scared of the Quebec City native at first because of her intense demeanour, and perhaps also because of the eight-year age gap between them (Blouin is 29).

They’ve grown closer over time, with Blouin even praising Juliette’s maturity.

“Something I really respect about Laurie is she’ll never sugarcoat anything for you and she’ll tell you straight-up how it is, which has helped me and pushed me along,” said Juliette. “I’m really excited to see how everything plays out, especially because she has so much experience in this and it’s all new to me and I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. I was confirmed [for the Olympic team] last-minute so everything is happening all at once.

“I’m honoured that Laurie said [I was mature]. I try my best to be as mature as I can because I don’t want to be, I guess [dumped on by older veterans. I think

we work well together and we’re able to give each other the space that we need in order to thrive, but also be there for each other when times are tough.”

Juliette, like many other snowboarders on Earth, has also been inspired by Mark McMorris: the unrivalled 24-time Winter X Games podium finisher and three-time World Championship medallist with a trio of Olympic bronzes on his vaunted resume. McMorris is now bound for his fourth Games as the rock his compatriots can lean on.

One notable interaction between him and Jubes occurred in December 2022 at the first-ever stadium-based World Cup big air contest in Edmonton, Alta. With most riders struggling for speed on a jump built upon scaffolding, McMorris advised his younger teammate to keep low and avoid pumping her legs.

“Mark is a Whistler local so I’ve known him for my whole life, and the cool thing is he’s super nice, easy to approach and friendly and everything,” Juliette said. “At the end of the day, he’s just another person and I feel like when you know that, it just makes it that much easier to talk to somebody with so many accolades and so much experience in the sport. He definitely paved the way for Canadians on the team.”

THE DREAM SNOWBOARDING FAMILY

Juliette relies on her loved ones most of all, and she considers herself to be blessed with “a dream family.”

JF is a walking treasure trove of snowboarding knowledge and guidance. The clan’s matriarch, Kristy, is a physiotherapist. Juliette’s younger sister Amalia (or Billy) is a recent high school graduate, Youth Olympics alum and maestro on both her snowboard and

skateboard. All will fly to Italy to watch Jubes chase a dream.

“My parents are super supportive and they never put pressure on going to the Olympics,” Juliette remarked. “They always just wanted me to have fun and enjoy myself, but once they saw that I was so invested in this process, they were like my backbone. Mom was always doing maintenance and healing me, my dad was always helping with travel agent stuff, booking flights and logistics, then my sister was just hyping me up all the time. They’ve always been there for me.”

Familial support buoyed Juliette to a career-best World Cup performance last December in Steamboat Springs, Colo., where her maiden frontside 1080 delivered a fourth place in big air. She was so excited to land the trick in an event that she cared not about final scores or podium rankings.

Meanwhile, the Pelchat sisters continue to operate their Real Wild Kittens skateboard camp. Roughly 10 new employees have been helping Amalia hold down the fort with Juliette in Olympics mode.

“When I’m coaching somebody, I coach them how I would want to be coached in my own sport. I just want to be super encouraging and supportive,” explained the older Pelchat girl. “Crosstraining with skateboarding does obviously help with snowboarding, but it’s more about having fun. Our biggest goal is to inspire young women to get involved in board sports and we’re going to continue to grow it. Just to know you’re a part of somebody else’s journey, I think that’s the really amazing part.”

Follow Juliette’s Milano Cortina 2026 journey beginning Feb. 5, when Olympic snowboard slopestyle gets underway. n

Ellis qualifies for her second Olympics, Susko bound for her first

SPORTS BRIEFS: THOMPSON RETURNS TO PODIUM WITH BRONZE, NAMED OLYMPIC FLAG-BEARER; WMSC ATHLETES CORTINA-BOUND

BY DAVID SONG

TWO SEA TO SKY-based luge athletes have made the cut for Milano Cortina 2026.

Pemberton’s Trinity Ellis is heading to her second Olympics after a COVIDaffected experience in Beijing four years ago, while Embyr-Lee Susko of Whistler looks forward to her maiden outing at the Games.

“It’s incredibly special to be heading to my second Olympics, it still seems a bit surreal,” Ellis told the media. “It’s such an honour to represent Canada at the Games, and I’m really excited to share this experience with the team we have going. It takes a village, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me get there.”

Susko arguably carries the most momentum out of any Canadian luger. She finished fourth at the 2025 World Championships on home ice and led her compatriots to an unexpected bronze medal in the mixed team relay of that event.

Kailey Allan and Beattie Podulsky will test themselves at the first-ever Olympic ladies’ doubles race, while their male counterparts Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski (who narrowly missed out on Beijing 2022) are in the men’s field.

“It is amazing to be named to Team Canada. This season has been filled with uncertainty. After dislocating my elbow twice I was all but sure that my Olympic dreams were over,” said Wardrope in a press release. “But the team gave me hope that there was still a way to come back from it. We put together a rehab plan that would get my shoulder stronger and were able to get back on the sled in early January and meet the qualifying criteria.

“I’m just super grateful for my coaches, family and friends for helping me get to this point. I’m just setting my eyes forward to put down the best performance I can get at the Games.”

All four Canadian doubles athletes were also part of the aforementioned bronze-winning mixed relay team at Worlds. Milano Cortina’s luge competition runs from Feb. 7 to 12 at the Cortina Sliding Centre.

THOMPSON SNAGS BRONZE

After testing the waters earlier this season due to a third surgery on her right knee, Marielle Thompson grabbed bronze in her first all-out World Cup race of 2026.

Daniela Maier won gold for Germany on Jan. 24 and Austrian Sonja Gigler took silver, but Thompson held off Swedish great Sandra Näslund for her 74th career podium. It is the first time this campaign that Näslund has failed to podium.

“I’m really happy to land on the podium after some really tight racing in the final,” Thompson said in a press

release. “I’m happy with how I skied. I feel like it was pretty strong considering it was my first race back officially. I’m really excited for what’s to come. I feel like I’ve been getting better day by day, and I’m looking forward to the next.”

Reece Howden continued to excel among men, securing his 22nd victory over runner-up Tim Hronek from Germany and France’s Melvin Tchiknavorian in third.

In other news, both Thompson and Howden have officially been named to Canada’s Olympic ski-cross roster alongside Hannah Schmidt (ninth on Saturday), Jared Schmidt (21st), Brittany Phelan (24th), Kevin Drury (28th) and Gavin Rowell (33rd).

“I’m just stoked, I totally emptied the tank. I felt like [on Friday] I may have lost a bit of focus in the bottom section, and I wasn’t going to let that happen today,” Howden told reporters. “It’s been unreal to have this kind of consistent success. I’m really grateful and happy that I can ski my best going into the Olympics, and I’m excited for the next race in Val di Fassa, the Dolomites there are gorgeous.”

As Pique went to press this week, Thompson was also announced as one of Canada’s Olympic flag-bearers, alongside the legendary Mikaël Kingsbury. Read more at piquenewsmagazine.com.

One more World Cup lies ahead on Jan. 30 and 31 before Olympic ski cross runs from Feb. 20 to 21 at Italy’s Livigno Snow Park.

WMSC ATHLETES CORTINABOUND

Four out of five Canadian men’s alpine speed skiers heading to Milano Cortina 2026 hold ties to the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC).

Jack Crawford stunned the world with his landmark alpine combined bronze from the Beijing Olympics, where he also missed the downhill podium by just seven one-hundredths of a second. He finished 23rd at the recent World Cup downhill in Kitzbühel, Austria on Jan. 24 and will be joined by Brodie Seger, the only other male team member present at Beijing four years ago.

Making their Olympic debuts are Cameron Alexander, who led his compatriots in 14th at Kitzbühel, and Riley Seger.

“One of my goals for this season, coming off injury, was to be ready to bring my best for you,” Alexander wrote on social media after his latest World Cup outing. “I pushed myself hard to achieve that, and I felt I was in a position to do so. But I didn’t. Maybe that is expecting a lot, but I will always aim to achieve more than what is expected, and I can’t help but feel disappointed with the outcome of this weekend.” n

Three decades of ‘wow’

CARAMBA MARKS 30-YEAR JOURNEY FROM BUSBOY ROOTS TO WHISTLER STAPLE

BY LUKE FAULKS

WHEN JAY PARÉ first stepped through the doors of Umberto’s in Whistler in 1984, he wasn’t looking to build a legacy. He just wanted a job.

At 18, newly independent and coming off a summer working at Jasper Park Lodge, Paré approached Umberto’s owner Mario Enero with his resume. Enero asked if Jay had black pants, white shirt and black shoes. He did. “OK, come back at four o’clock,” came the reply from the Restaurant Association of Whistler’s inaugural Hall of Fame inductee.

Fast forward 40 years and Paré now co-owns Caramba, the Whistler hub originally opened by none other than Enero himself in 1995. The main street staple is one of three Paré Group Restaurants Jay co-owns with his nephew James.

This year, the family duo is marking Caramba’s 30th anniversary with a European comfort food-inspired familystyle menu that pays tribute to the restaurant’s roots while celebrating the evolution of its kitchen.

“Caramba was a hot spot for locals and visitors alike long before we came on the scene,” Jay said. “James and I made sure to maintain the reputation that Mario had carved out when we took over—we’re so grateful to everyone who

continues to make it their destination and a place to gather around the table with friends and family.”

FROM APPRENTICESHIP TO OWNERSHIP

The path from busboy to restaurateur wasn’t linear for Jay. After several winters serving and training under Enero—“He chased me around the dining room when I spilled Parmesan on the rug,” Jay recalled—he was promoted to maître d’ at Umberto’s Grill, then assistant manager at Il Caminetto and general manager at Quattro.

Still, he wanted more.

“I wanted to grow. If I was going to

rooted firmly in the Mediterranean, the restaurant’s evolution under the Parés has broadened that scope to something more flexible: European comfort food.

“Mario used to use the word ‘Mediterranean,’” Jay explained. “We use ‘European comfort’ because we can cover Italy with pasta and pizza, we can cover Spain with some of our tapasstyle—the calamari, obviously—and then we can also do a little bit of French Riviera if we want.”

A MENU WORTH CELEBRATING

The new 30th Anniversary Menu reads like a love letter to Caramba’s greatest hits

“The biggest thing is listening— understanding what our guests want, what they expect...”

- JAMES PARÉ

be in this business, I wanted to move up. I need to do my own thing,” he recalled. That’s exactly what he told Enero during one of many morning coffees. The older restaurateur responded with the news that he was ready to sell Caramba.

That’s when Jay called his nephew James, who was then working as a banquet chef at the luxurious Savoy Hotel in London, England.

“Alright,” Jay said. “We got our restaurant.” They took over Caramba in 2014.

While Caramba’s early identity was

and the families who have made it their go-to for three decades.

For $89 per person (plus tax and gratuity), the celebratory family-style meal includes:

Starters:

• Calamari a La Plancha with garliclemon olive oil;

• Whipped Ricotta with Lillooet honey and sourdough;

• Braised Meatballs in a rustic tomato sauce; Mains:

• Certified Angus NY Striploin with fries

and café de Paris butter or peppercorn sauce;

• Mussels ’Nduja with beluga lentils and spicy sausage broth;

• Tagliatelle Pesto with goat cheese and roasted pine nuts;

• Grilled Broccolini with miso-sesame dressing;

Dessert:

• Caramelized White Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake with seasonal fruit compote.

The menu will run throughout the winter season.

The Parés say their commitment to quality and consistency has fostered rare longevity at Caramba, both among guests and staff. “I have a hostess that worked for me in the ‘90s, and now her daughter works for me,” Jay said. “We even have one woman working with us whose three sons are also on staff.”

That continuity extends to the restaurant’s evolving philosophy.

“The biggest thing is listening— understanding what our guests want, what they expect, educating ourselves on that, and then executing it consistently,” James said. “We don’t ever want to get comfortable with the status quo. We want to elevate and change things.”

At its core, Jay said, Caramba’s success is about energy, consistency, and exceeding expectations.

“We’re a high-volume room, but also high energy. With Mario, Caramba meant ‘wow.’ And it was always about the wow; the big greeting when people come in the door, the big smiles and the service and food that exceed expectations,” he said. “That’s what we try to deliver, every single time.” n

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE

Audain Art Museum to host 10th-anniversary party

‘A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM’ WILL TAKE PLACE JAN. 31 AND IS FREE FOR AUDAIN MEMBERS

BY DAVID SONG

THE AUDAIN Art Museum (AAM) is inviting members and other guests to celebrate its quickly-approaching 10th birthday.

Dubbed “A Night at the Museum,” the Jan. 31 event allows visitors to take in notable artworks from two key collections known as Geoffrey Farmer: Phantom Scripts and From Sea to Sky: The Art of British Columbia. Audain docents will also offer detailed insight on other selected pieces, including a newly acquired Emily Carr piece as well as a new commissioned mask by Tahltan Tlingit Indigenous carver Dale Marie Campbell—both of which make their debut that evening.

“The AAM’s 10th anniversary is an important milestone,” says director and chief curator Dr. Curtis Collins. “This museum represents a new kind of cultural venue in Canada as a non-profit registered charity that was privately founded and almost exclusively privately funded.

“That is to say: we are a private institution

that takes on a public responsibility of sharing cultural experiences with visitors from Whistler, Canada and around the world. I often refer to the AAM as a boutique museum in that we offer a concentrated visual arts experience to visitors of the highest quality.”

Collins notes that when facility founder Michael Audain hired a cultural consultant to do a study on the feasibility

NIGHT OF CELEBRATION

Hosting Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault, a world-class showcase from the National Gallery of Canada (NGC), proved the Audain is viewed in high regard by fine-arts professionals, and each of its current exhibitions are likewise significant.

Phantom Scripts recontextualizes a trio of works by Vancouver artist Farmer

“I often refer to the AAM as a boutique museum in that we offer a concentrated visual arts experience to visitors of the highest quality.”

- CURTIS COLLINS

of opening such a museum in Whistler roughly 13 years ago, the consultant opined it was a bad idea and that few people would express interest in such a venue.

“Like the initial doubts surrounding the move to transform Whistler into an international ski resort during the late 1970s and then securing the 2010 [Olympic Games], the AAM has proven critics wrong and is now recognized as a leading visual arts venue in Canada,” Collins remarks.

via his newly created annotations and didactic texts that bring novel interpretations of the art to mind. All three pieces: “Las Crónicas del Vampiro, 22 de noviembre de 1973 (2010-2025)”, “La Política de las Apariciones (2012-2025)” and “The Good Sweeper (2017-2025)” are part of the Museum’s Permanent Collection. This exhibit is open until Feb. 2 for public viewing.

From Sea to Sky, available until May

18, highlights numerous Permanent Collection offerings that have never been exhibited before: including pieces by A.Y. Jackson, B.C. Binning, John Webber, Ann Kipling and Jan Wade. The exhibition began with more than 200 works donated by Audain and co-founder Yoshiko Karasawa and shows off how the museum has evolved from 2016 to the present day.

“[A Night at the Museum] is an opportunity to view the most expansive presentation of the Permanent Collection throughout the entire building in the museum’s 10-year history,” elaborates Collins. “This will be accompanied by live music and a DJ to add a sense of revelry to the evening.”

On. Jan. 31, Fairmont Chateau Whistler staff will serve canapés and free cocktails to guests from 7 to 8 p.m. as local resident Steph Lundy plays music. Galleries open for viewing along with a backstage photo opportunity at 7:30 p.m., with DJ Nathalie Morel beginning her set half an hour after that.

A cash bar will remain open until proceedings conclude at 10 p.m. “A Night at the Museum” is a 19-plus event that grants complimentary admission to Audain members, while tickets for the public cost $60 each. Cocktail attire is requested. Visit audainartmuseum.com/ upcoming-events-engagement for more. n

Arts Whistler presents new Wood Work exhibition

A FREE ART PARTY CENTRED ON THE SHOWCASE IS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 30 IN THE MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE

BY DAVID SONG

WOOD ISN’T JUST a part of nature or a ubiquitous building material. It can also be a source of creative inspiration, and the team at Arts Whistler is trying to show people that with their latest exhibit.

Named simply Wood Work, this show features contributions by Rob LeBlanc, Dave Petko, Eileen Kiyonaga, Mervyn Child, Ellynwood Designs and Kolten Grant. Together they cover a range of bases from organic sculpture and figurative carving to abstraction and functional design.

“The exhibit celebrates the creative transformation of wood into art through various techniques like carving, sculpture, laser cutting, and upcycling. Each artist brings a unique approach to woodworking, which allows the audience to consider the expansive possibilities of everyday materials,” says Arts Whistler executive director Maureen Douglas. “[Wood Work] includes two extraordinary masks from Indigenous artists Kolten Grant and Mervyn Child, gratefully on loan to us from our friends at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.”

“This exhibit will have people looking at bits of wood they have hanging around home, seeing potential art where they once saw wood scraps.”

LeBlanc discovered wood art after COVID-19 and feels much the same way. He submitted five large pieces to the exhibition, including a pair of new ones.

“I’m actually enjoying the different techniques that I use,” he remarks. “I’ve got very geometric pieces that are all sharp and mitred corners, but then I also have a new technique … which is using many, many different little slivers of wood, little strips. I have a silhouette of a bear in one of my pieces and it’s probably got 2,000 pieces of

wood in it. Time consuming, but it’s a very neat effect.”

‘IT’S

NOT JUST AESTHETIC’

There are plenty of other neat effects on display, from Kiyonaga’s use of wispy wood to make subtle, ethereal designs to Petko’s penchant for the complex and the cartoonesque or Ellynwood’s stunning landscapes.

LeBlanc praised Arts Whistler for being supportive, enthusiastic and motivated to promote artists within the Sea to Sky corridor. He, in turn, is happy to help them while getting more eyes on his own portfolio in the process.

“What I enjoy the most is when I get to make pieces using wood from someone’s past. Something from their childhood, a desk or a fence from their childhood home,” explains LeBlanc. “I’m currently starting a commission for a woman who’s supplying me some wood from her husband who passed away, and I’m going to incorporate that into a piece of art dedicated to her husband.

“That kind of stuff … there’s more to it than just art, right? There’s a connection there, which I really like and it creates art that people look at and it triggers memories. It’s not just aesthetic, there’s an emotional content to things.”

Wood Work runs until March 7, with a free art party scheduled for Jan. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Members of the public are invited to enjoy refreshments, brush shoulders with the artists and learn more about their respective creative processes.

“People look at myself and they have no real clear idea on how long [my art] takes or what’s involved,” Leblanc says. “People frequently ask if it’s done with a CNC machine and computers and none of it is. It’s all handmade, cut by myself, assembled and glued and finished. That blows people away because you can see how much effort goes into things.”

Visit artswhistler.com/calendar/ wood-work-art-party for more details. n

Itiswithtremendou s sadnes s thatweannounc e th e passingof Richard (Dick)PhilipReid , wh o diedpeacefullyonJanuary6,2026, afte ra courageousan dd ignifie d battl e withAlzheimer’s Disease. Bo rn onApri l 20,1946,in Va ncouve r, BC , Dickle da lif e built aroundadventure,ha rd workan da st ro ngcommitmen t tohi s family an d friends.Al l ofhi s re lationship s we re definedbylove , loyalt y, integrit y an d gene ro sity Dickislovingly re memberedbyhi s wife , Briony(4 6 years) , sonsMatthew(Sossina ) an d Brya n (Michelle),fiv e grandchild re n (Coope r, Vivian , Maddox , Addiso n an d Ta nner)an d thei r Nepalidaughter, Ts ewan g (TD)DikiShaky a (Tenzin) Heisalso survivedbyhi s sister, Mugsan d brothe r Doug Dickcould alwaysbefoundsurrounded byfriends and family, holding court with a scotchinhand, whether athis homeon West32nd, inWhistler atAlpineCrescent, orany number ofexoticlocationsdu ringone ofhis globaljaunts.Hehappilyandproudlytookonhis roles–a dad,husband, friend, traveller, explorer, builder, fisherman, golfer (poor),and skier(great). Hewas compassionate yet firm,andthose aroundhim alwayscame first Whileuponapproachyou may havebeenmet withhis gruff,no-nonsense exterior, itwasn’t longbefore youexperienced his big heart andsoft, loving soul Everthe newspaper enthusiast, hewould buryhimself inhis stackof papers, slowlypageturning untilhe readcover tocover, groundinghimself inhis momentofZen before divingheadfirst intoany and all conversations Dickwas the patriarch of a close-knitfamily. AlongsideBriony, hebecame the centre ofanextendedfamilythatincludedmanyfriends,manyof whomwould descendupontheir home, lovinglycalling him “Uncle Dick.” Whistlerbecame the ‘go to’ placebetweenChristmas and New Year ’s, with the raidofthe cupboards startingwithchips and snacks,and transitioning toChivasand beerasthe years wore on Whilethe boyswere inhigh school,their house alsobecamea billetandhomefor manyjuniorbaseball players.Dickinvesteddeeplyinthe localbaseballcommunity, culminating inhis pivotal roleinthe inceptionand future growthand success ofthe UBC Baseballprogram.

Dickdoveheadfirstintowhatlife threw athim and whathebelieved in Hespent his earlyyears atUBC,where hemadehis greatest friendships, andthenset off onhis career pathwith a foray intothe lumberindustry (CouncilofForestryand Weyerhaeuser), and a quick journeythrough the transportation business(Domtar) All ofthese were important, pivotal stops inadvance ofstartingthe businessthatwould behis life’s work, Kindred Construction.

Kindred would becomeone ofhis proudestaccomplishments, which heco-foundedwithhis wifeBrionyin1980.Hebecamea community builder,a network creatoranda contractor Hestarted his business from their basementand grewitinto a well-respectedbrand throughoutthe Lower Mainland, setting the coursefor fourdecadesofdeepcommitment and hard work Dicknever saidNOtoanopportunitytotraverse all over Vancouver and the Sea toSky (most commonly whentravelling inone of hisJeeps), showing off Kindred’s accomplishments.Heled quietly until ithad tobeloud Whilehis leadershipand friendshipwillbemissed,his legacywillbecarriedonbyhis sons, colleaguesandcountless industry partnersthathecollaboratedwithduringhis timewithKindred. Dickwas truly one ofone.Helived a big life thatleftanevenbigger imprint. Hewillbemisseda greatdealbymany.

The familywould like toexpress their gratitude toMaureenand Gavin McIntoshand th eir wonderful,caring staff atPoint GreyPrivate Hospital A celebrationoflife willbescheduled at a later datesowecanall raisea glass toDick

InLieuofflowers, inDick’s memory, please consider a donationtoUBC Baseball(CorporateGivingtoUBC)ortothe Alzheimer Society ofBritish Columbia(alzbc.org).

ARTS SCENE

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

FIRE & ICE

NATURAL SELECTION SUPER SESSION HANG

Before the Journeyman Lodge at the Callaghan Super Session kicks off, the Natural Selection athletes and crew are gathering at evo Rentals to hang out. All participating athletes will be on site, taking photos, answering questions, and getting stoked for the week ahead. So come by, grab a drink, kick it with the crew, and maybe even win some Natural Selection gear! RSVP required.

> Feb. 1, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

> Evo Rentals

FIRE & ICE SHOW

Where else but Whistler would performers entertain you with an electric mix of music, dance and spinning fire? Watch world-class athletes flip and twist through a burning ring of fire, then finish the night off with a first-class fireworks display. Please note that the Fire & Ice Show is dependent on weather conditions.

> Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.

> Skiers’ Plaza

PUBLIC SKELETON EXPERIENCE

Try Whistler’s most unique activity and slide like an Olympian! Ride solo on your skeleton sled through six corners with speeds of up to 100 km/hr. Don’t worry that your run might be over too fast; you get to go twice! Public Skeleton runs rain, snow or shine. No experience required and limited availability. Ages 16-plus.

> Feb. 1

> Whistler Sliding Centre

YOUTH ART COLLECTIVE

The Youth Art Collective fosters curiosity, experimentation, and creative community, offering teens a supportive environment to make art, develop new skills, and connect with the cultural vibrancy of the Audain Art Museum. Led by an experienced art instructor, this weekly art program designed for students in Grades 7 to 9 who are eager to deepen their creative skills and explore the world of visual art through a museum lens.

> Feb. 2, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

> Audain Art Museum

SWEDISH AFTERSKI

Tuesdays are for the Swedish! Don’t miss out on the ultimate après-ski celebration! A local tradition for 10 years, come and party like the Europeans do. Celebrate a day on the slopes with dancing and singalongs.

> Feb. 3, 3 to 7 p.m.

> Longhorn Saloon

LAUGH OUT LIVE IMPROV FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP

This five-week, laughter-filled adult workshop explores the fundamentals of improv and is designed for performers and non-performers alike. If you’ve ever thought about giving improv a try, or are looking to get back into the improv game, then this class is for you!

> Feb. 4, 7:15 to 9 p.m.

> Westin Resort & Spa

BURNOUT PREVENTION WORKSHOP

Burnout isn’t a personal failing, it’s a workplace risk. Learning and development expert Sam Roberts, founder of Be Happy Remote, runs a practical workshop that goes beyond self-care to help build a realistic Burnout Prevention Plan. Participants will leave with actionable strategies, a personalized approach to protecting your energy, and a digital workbook to support continued learning.

> Feb. 4, 9 to 11 a.m.

> Whistler Chamber

YOGA AT THE AUDAIN

Revel in the stunning architecture as you work through a calming, one-hour practice with rotating instructors. Classes emphasize breathing, alignment and ease as you stretch and strengthen your body and mind. Registration includes access to the galleries on the day of the yoga session from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bring your mat (or borrow one from the museum) and enjoy some mind and body wellness!

> Feb. 5, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

> Audain Art Museum

Outtakes from the ‘olden’ days

BY BRONWYN PREECE

THE TRIALS of this town’s early trailblazers were not without their moments of hilarity, precarious predicaments and comic quandaries. Here, I highlight four such stories: standouts in the history of how a place comes to be…

John Millar ran a roadhouse at Mile 34 ½ (Function Junction) in the early 1900s. A former cow wrangler, rumour had it he was on the run from the Texas Rangers with a couple “notches in his gun.” He housed and fed weary travellers who were making the arduous journey along the original Pemberton Trail. He was known to serve stewed raccoon, muskrat stew and haunch of bear. Recognizable by his broken nose, his buckskin coat, beat-up Stetson and neckwrapped red polka dot handkerchief.

John was a character. He was also a trapper and tended a line up the Cheakamus Lake valley: catching marten, rabbit, mink, muskrat… and wolverine. On one mission, John put the limp body of what he thought was a dead animal—a large, muscular and aggressive member of the weasel

run earned its name: “Burnt Stew.” Back now to butt-bitten John. Periodically he would venture with his packhorses down to Squamish and then take the steamer to Vancouver. One fall, he was returning with his entire winter’s supply of liquor, when one of his horses fell hard into Rubble Creek. Every bottle of John’s seasonal spirits was broken, shattered in the stream. The only glass that didn’t break was a bottle of vinegar. “I was so cussin’ gol’ danged mad that I pulled the cork out of the vinegar and a good swig of it.” Rueing the woes of the rubble, John made his way home with a much lighter, more sobering load. Then there was explosive Charlie Chandler. Charlie came to the valley in the early 1900s. He, too, was a trapper. A floatplane pilot gifted Charlie with a small amount of high-grade aircraft fuel, which he then used to clean his filthy overalls. After laundering the garment in gas, he felt it best to dispose of the dirty fuel down the pit of his outhouse. He didn’t think twice about it. The next time he visited the privy, he sat himself down, lit his pipe as was his custom, and survived (albeit, stunned and singed!) to tell the tale of an explosion that was heard for miles around!

family—into his pack and set off… only to have the angry beast “come to” and bite him in the buttocks. The tangle on the trail made it so that John could not sit comfortably for some long time after!

Fast forward to the summer of 1958 and a backpacking trip around London (now, Whistler) Mountain. Local notables Florence Petersen, Kelly Fairhurst and Don Gow were out with overnighting packs and picnic gear and a billy can they rigged over a fire to make dinner. The pot was neglected, as campfire camaraderie took over, only to be remembered when the pungent smell of scorched food filled the air. The stench permeated the area to such an extent that the basin and the ski

Charlie would later leave the world with a bang, again sitting down. In 1946, friends found him dead, in his chair, outside his cabin. He appeared to have had a heart attack. He was also frozen stiff. Charlie was transported—still in his chair—by “speeder” along the rail line to Rainbow Lodge to catch the train south. The train, however, was not to arrive until the next day. Now this is where the story gets a little blurry, but somehow, as local lore would have it, in the meantime, Charlie was offered a final drink—(surely to warm up!)— and then hoisted, still seated, bolt upright, into a boxcar for his final, if not somewhat flamboyant, voyage. n

ASTROLOGY

Free Will Astrology

WEEK OF JANUARY 30 BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to trek to the summit of Mount Everest. They both said later that the climb down was as important and challenging as the ascent. The lesson: Achievement doesn’t end when you reach the peak. Aries, you may be nearing or have just passed a high point of effort or recognition. Soon you will need to manage the descent with aplomb. Don’t rush! Tread carefully as you complete your victory. It’s not as glamorous as the push upward, but it’s equally vital to the legacy of the climb.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Aurora borealis occurs when highly charged particles from the Sun strike molecules high in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to glow. The display that looks like gorgeous magic is actually our planet’s invisible magnetic shield and upper atmosphere lighting up under the pressure of an intense solar storm. Dear Taurus, I think your life has a metaphorical resemblance. The strength you’ve been quietly maintaining without much fanfare has become vividly apparent because it’s being activated. The protection you’ve been offering and the boundaries you’ve been holding are more visible than usual. This is good news! Your shields are working.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Nothing in excess” was the maxim inscribed on the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi. “Moderation is a chief moral virtue,” proclaimed the philosopher Aristotle. But I don’t recommend those approaches for you right now, Gemini. A sounder principle is “More is better” or “Almost too much is just the right amount.” You have a holy duty to cultivate lavishness and splendour. I hope you will stir up as many joyous liberations and fun exploits as possible.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): When sea otters sleep, they sometimes hold each other’s paws to keep from drifting apart. This simple, instinctive act ensures they remain safe and connected. I suggest making their bond your power symbol for now, Cancer. You’ll be wise to formulate a strong intention about which people, values, and projects you want to be tethered to. And if sea otters holding hands sounds too sentimental or cutesy to be a power symbol, you need to rethink your understanding of power. For you right now, it’s potency personified.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): To be healthy, we all need to continually be in the process of letting go. It’s always a favourable phase to shed aspects of our old selves to make room for what comes next. The challenge for you Leos is to keep showing up with your special brightness even as parts of you die away to feed new growth. So here are my questions: What old versions of your generosity or courage are ready to compost? What fiercer, wilder, more sustainable expression of your leonine nature wants to emerge? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to stop performing the hero you used to be and become the hero you are destined to become.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Haudenosaunee people practice “seventh-generation thinking”: making decisions based on their impact seven generations into the future. You would be wise to incorporate the spirit of their visionary approach, Virgo. Here’s the problem: You’re so skilled at fixing what needs urgent attention that you sometimes neglect what’s even more important in the long run. So I will ask you to contemplate what choices you could make now that will be blessings to your future self. This might involve ripening an immature skill, shedding a boring obligation that drains you, or delivering honest words that don’t come easily. Rather than obsessing on the crisis of the moment, send a sweet boost to the life you want to be living three years from now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you open to the idea that new wisdom doesn’t always demand struggle and strain? In the days ahead, I invite you to move as if the world is deeply in love with you; as if every element,

ROB BREZSNY

every coincidence, every kind pair of eyes is cheering you forward. Imagine generous souls everywhere want to help you be and reveal your best self. Trust that unseen allies are rearranging the flow of fate to help you grow into the beautiful original you were born to be. Do you dare to be so confident that life loves you?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Psychologist James Pennebaker did studies showing that people who write about traumatic experiences for just 15 minutes a day show improved immune function, fewer doctor visits, and better emotional health. But here’s a key detail: The benefits don’t come from the trauma itself or from “processing feelings.” They come from constructing a narrative: making meaning, finding patterns, and creating coherence. The healing isn’t in the wound. It’s in the story you shape from the wound’s raw material. You Scorpios excel at this alchemical work. One of your superpowers is to take what’s dark, buried, or painful and transform it through the piercing attention of your intelligence and imagination. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to do this.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Jewish mysticism, tikkun olam means “repair of the world.” This is the idea that we’re all responsible for healing what’s broken. But the teaching also says you’re not required to complete the work; you’re only asked to not abandon it. This is your message right now, Sagittarius: You don’t have to save everyone. You don’t have to heal everything, and you don’t even have to finish the projects you’ve started. But you can’t abandon them entirely, either. Keep showing up. Do what you can today. That’s enough. The work will continue whether or not you complete it. Your part is to not walk away from your own brokenness and the world’s. Stay engaged.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Talmud teaches that “every blade of grass has an angel bending over it, whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’” I sense that you are now receiving the extra intense influence of your own guardian angels, Capricorn. They aren’t demanding or threatening, just encouraging. Please tune into their helpful ministrations. Don’t get distracted by harsher voices, like your internalized critic, the pressure of impossible standards, or the ghost of adversaries who didn’t believe in you. Here’s your assignment: Create time and space to hear and fully register the supportive counsel. It’s saying: Grow. You’re allowed to grow. You don’t have to earn it. Just grow.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In ecology, there’s a concept called “keystone species.” This refers to organisms that have a huge effect on their environment relative to their abundance. Remove them, and the whole ecosystem shifts. I bring this up, Aquarius, because I believe you are currently functioning as a keystone species in your social ecosystem. You may not even be fully aware of how much your presence influences others. And here’s the challenge: You shouldn’t let your impact weigh on your conscience. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself as you carry out your service. Instead, ask how you can contribute to the common good while also thriving yourself. Ensuring your well-being isn’t selfish; it’s essential to the gifts you provide and the duties you perform.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I foresee a dose of real magic becoming available to you: equivalent to an enchanted potion, a handful of charmed seeds, or a supernatural spell. But owning the magic and knowing how to use it are two different matters. There’s no promise you will instantly grasp its secrets. To give yourself the best shot, follow a few rules: 1. Keep it quiet. Only share news of your lucky charm with those who truly need to hear about it. 2. Before using it to make wholesale transformations, test it gently in a situation where the stakes are low. 3. Whatever you do, make sure your magic leaves no bruises behind.

Homework: Is a wounded part of you finally ready to heal? Do it! Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates

EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES

In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com

TheResortMunicipalityofWhistler(RMOW)willbe adjustingthepH levelsin SouthWhistler’s water system to meetupdatedHealthCanadaguidelinesand reduce corrosionofpipes,fixtures,andfittings.

Whistler’s drinking wateris already safe andmeetshighstandards. Thischangewillfurtherenhance waterqualityusing sodium hydroxide—a commonlyused compound.

IncreasingthepH to a target rangeof 7.6 to 7.8willmake the water less corrosive.Thesechangesare scheduled to take placeonMonday, February 9.

If yourbusinessoperations rely on water—suchas breweriesor foodproduction—please preparenow for thepHchange.

ResortMunicipalityofWhistler whistler.ca

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withthebestteam.

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Ourteamofpeopleis whatsetsusapartfromotherbuilders.As wecontinue to growasthe leaderinluxury projectsinWhistler,ourteamneeds to expand withus.

We are currentlyhiring:

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GroupFitnessClasses

Friday

I7:30-8:30a.m.FullBodyHIIT-Jess

Saturday

I10:30-11:30a.m.Zumba-Andrea

Monday

F6:00p.m.Spin-Courtney

Tuesday

I8:45-9:45a.m.AquaFitDeep-M-A

Wednesday

I6:30-7:30p.m.Zumba-Carmen

Thursday

I6:30-7:30p.m.MountainReady-Francesca

Seeourfullpage scheduleadin thisissueofPique fordetails

BUILDINGOURCOMMUNITY

full-scale renovationandhelpprepareforthehighly anticipated2027relaunch.

We’relooking forenergetic,hard-working outdoorenthusiaststojoinourGrounds Maintenanceteam forthe2026summer season,supportingseasonalgrounds

EmployeeHealth &WellnessPlanavailable

HEAVYEQUIPMENTOPERATOR– Minimum5yearsor5,000hoursoperatingexperienceon excavator.CrushingExperiencepreferred.

Full-time,Monday –Friday.$33-$46perhour.

CONSTRUCTIONLABOURER– Greatopportunitytolear non-the-job.Staminaforphysically demandingworkandperseverancetobraveinclementweatherrequired.Previousexperience preferredbutnot required. Trainingprovided.$28-$33perhour.

PIPELAYER –Minimum 5yearsexperienceincivilconstruction. Full-time,Monday –Friday.$33-$43perhour.

TRUCKDRIVER –BCDLClass 1orClass3withairbrakes required.Manualtransmission. 2yearsexperiencepreferred.$35-$41.50perhour.

CRUSHING &EARTHWORKSMANAGER– Musthaveexperiencewithcivilconstruction. $33-$46perhour.

APPRENTICEMECHANIC –Gainhands-onexperienceworkingwithheavyequipmentand fleetvehiclesin afast-pacedenvironment. We offer aclearpathwaytoRedSealcertification. Entry-level:$27.03perhour.

EmploymentOpportunityatSeatoSkySchoolDistrictNo.48

RequiredImmediatelyintheWhistler,PembertonArea

Building Trades-Mechanical/Plumber

Thisisaunionisedpositionthatoffersarateof$38.27perhour,40hours perweek,dayshift.Excellentbenefitpackageincludingpension,health, vacationandsickbenefits.

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Applywithcoverletter resume/application,coverlettertoKevinPederson, Posting6114, kpederson@sd48.bc.ca

SeatoSkySchoolDistrictNo.48valuesaninclusiveenvironment,where equityisdeeplyembeddedanddiversitywelcomed. We arecommittedto creatingandcultivatingdiverse,inclusiveandbarrier-freeenvironmentsfor allapplicants,employees,students,andtheirfamilies.

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•CommunityHealthNurse($41.42to52.81 perhour)+($2.15hourlypremium)

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Part-time Guard

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Expand your imagination on passenger rail

I DO A LOT OF DRIVING. My work is in Whistler. Some of my favourite hikes are between Squamish and Horseshoe Bay. And I have friends and family spread out across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

So imagine my excitement when I heard CN Rail’s decision to discontinue its lease in the Sea to Sky could open the door to passenger rail. Or my curiosity at speaking with a group of rail advocates who want to connect all of those moving parts with trains as a real, everyday transportation option.

Because here’s the weird thing about B.C.: we’re a province shaped by rail, and

BY LUKE FAULKS

yet we’ve largely stopped using rail to move people (outside of Metro Vancouver).

As it stands, the future of the Sea to Sky corridor is up in the air. Some, like former MLA Jordan Sturdy, have suggested the tracks be torn up in favour of a world-class, blessedly flat active transportation route. Others want passenger trains restored from Horseshoe Bay through to Lillooet. Or a connection to a regional transit system that connects Chilliwack with Whistler.

Passenger rail has shaped B.C. for more than a century. We can still see the lines that stitched communities together. Yet in 2026, in a province bursting with tourism and traffic, “take the train” barely registers as a serious option outside of Vancouver’s SkyTrain network. It elicits the same response as “take the ferry to Alaska.”

We owe it to ourselves to challenge this slow cancellation of the public imagination and broaden our perception of who passenger rail is for.

A CENTURY OF DECLINE

In the early 20th century, the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley were home to Canada’s longest electric interurban line: a 102-kilometre route connecting New Westminster to Chilliwack. It was discontinued in 1958, after ridership declined.

A passenger train, of course, once rain on the iconic Kettle Valley Rail Trail. It shuttered in 1964. And by 1980, rails on the midway-Penticton section were gone. Today, the KVR is a wildly popular tourist destination. It’s impossible to imagine it as anything else.

And passenger rail service in the Sea to Sky region ended in 2002, when BC Rail discontinued its Cariboo Prospector between North Vancouver and Prince George. The line carried more than 81,000 passengers in its final year.

Buses, prone to the same traffic stoppages as cars and limited by a lack of regional transit connecting the area’s two

offer during rail journeys.

These were enduring images. One excerpt described how passengers on early CPR routes dined on veal cutlets, roast beef and Mumm champagne as they passed through the Rockies, served in elaborately designed dining cars or in chateaus in Banff and Glacier.

But as we work to reimagine passenger rail in B.C., we have to break past the idea that rail is a privilege

We owe it to ourselves to challenge this slow cancellation of the public imagination and broaden our perception of who passenger rail is for.

biggest communities, are now the only viable form of public transit we envision in the Sea to Sky.

ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES

Part of the issue lies in how we imagine passenger rail.

A few years back, I had the privilege of working with Canadian Geographic magazine doing some fact-checking. One of the coolest articles I got to review—”The Switzerland of America”—was about B.C. and Alberta’s network of luxurious train hotels. Writer Gabby Peyton had pulled up news articles, tourist brochures and menus from the 1880s, ‘90s and 1900s to build a catalogue of decadent meals on

rather than another tool, another piece of public transportation infrastructure. We should expect more from local rail infrastructure than just hosting the comparatively well-off passengers on the Rocky Mountaineer.

Part of that collective reimagining is to broaden the perception of who rail is for.

When B.C. joined confederation in 1871, part of the Terms of Union was to begin construction of a railway connecting the B.C. seaboard with the rest of the Canadian railway system. As such, it was also a tool of colonization. Gord Hill, author of 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance, told The Globe and Mail in 2020 that rail blockades in

support of Wet’suwet’en resistance to gas development carried a deeper symbolism.

“I think for Indigenous Peoples in general, it is very satisfying to see this engine of colonization shut down,” he said. And in B.C., that colonial engine was built on the backs of Chinese migrant labourers.

Between 1881 and 1884, more than 17,000 Chinese workers were recruited to blast tunnels and lay track across treacherous terrain for the CPR—often assigned the most dangerous tasks, including handling explosives. They were paid half what white workers earned, charged for their own food and gear and between 600 and 2,200 are estimated to have died from accidents and illness. None appear in the famous “Last Spike” photo taken at Craigellachie.

These stories matter. They’re part of rail’s legacy, too. And they should inform how we salvage and rebuild it— not as a luxury item or an extension of a colonial project, but as a collective tool for transportation.

THE CULTURE WE CHOOSE TO KEEP

It’s easy to be cynical about the potential for passenger rail. The politics are messy. The timelines are long. The planning is complex.

But that’s exactly how rail culture dies. Not with a bang. But with delay. With disinterest. With letting corridors rot. We are a province shaped by rail. You can still see the lines under our feet. Let’s not choose to settle for less. Allow yourself to imagine more from our public transportation network. n

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