Pique Newsmagazine 3307

SERIOUS GROWTH AMBITIONS

Serious growth ambitions

With the 2034 Winter Olympics on the horizon in Utah, Deer Valley Resort doubles down. - By Vince Shuley

06 OPENING REMARKS We practise superstitions because the alternative—a world governed entirely by chance—is heavier, writes editor Braden Dupuis.

08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter-writers share support for passenger rail in the Sea to Sky, and thanks for successful local events.

28 THE OUTSIDER There’s a handy phrase that captures the volatile nature of snowmobiling, writes Vince Shuley: that’s sledding.

50 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST To truly own the podium, Canada needs to put its money where its mouth is, writes David Song.

COVER Remember the Renaissance?! - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art

Publisher SARAH STROTHER - sstrother@piquenewsmagazine.com

Editor BRADEN DUPUIS - bdupuis@piquenewsmagazine.com

Sales Manager KAIJA KNOX - kknox@lodestarmedia.ca

Production Manager AMIR SHAHRESTANI - ashahrestani@piquenewsmagazine.com

Art Director JON PARRIS - jparris@piquenewsmagazine.com

Advertising Representatives

TESSA SWEENEY - tsweeney@wplpmedia.com

ANDREW BUDRESKI - abudreski@piquenewsmagazine.com

Digital/Sales Coordinator KATIE DOUGLAS - kbechtel@wplpmedia.com

12 SCHOOL DAZE A public hearing on a proposed rezoning for a new location for the Whistler Waldorf School resulted in a wide range of opinions being aired.

17 SAFETY FIRST A skier seriously injured on the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb is still searching for accountability two years later.

34 PODIUM PURSUIT Recapping the efforts of Sea to Sky Olympians after the first week of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

38 SURF’S UP Surf rockers The ReViberators headline The Point Artist-Run Centre’s annual Winter Carnival on Feb. 15 and 16.

Reporters LUKE FAULKS - lfaulks@piquenewsmagazine.com DAVID SONG - sports@piquenewsmagazine.com

Office Manager HEIDI RODE - hrode@wplpmedia.com

Classifieds and Reception - mail@piquenewsmagazine.com

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

Knock on wood

THIS WEEK’S Pique arrives with an unusually high concentration of meaning, depending how much stock you put in calendars and coincidences.

Friday the 13th. The Olympics still unfolding. Valentine’s Day tucked right behind it. Family Day waiting on Monday.

Individually, none of these things should matter all that much. Together, they amount to one of those weeks where people start behaving just a little

BY BRADEN DUPUIS

differently—mostly because it feels wiser to simply not tempt fate.

Which is, of course, how superstition

Most will say they’re not superstitious. They don’t actually believe in bad luck, lucky numbers, jinxes, or omens. They are rational adults with critical thinking skills and at least one podcast subscription to prove it.

And yet… they still knock on wood. They will still avoid walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, or joking too loudly about how quiet it’s been. Y’know… just in case.

Friday the 13th is a perfect example. No one seriously expects the day to deliver calamity on schedule. But if something does go sideways—a missed bus, a broken phone, an awkward meeting—it suddenly feels explanatory (catch any typos or errors in this week’s Pique? Blame it on the publication date).

“Well,” you get to say, gesturing vaguely at the calendar. “Of course.”

A nice little slice of narrative insurance.

The Olympics, meanwhile, might as well be superstition dressed up as elite performance. Athletes train for years, hone their bodies to near-scientific precision, and work with entire teams of experts—but on their biggest day, many

are still relying on routines that would make a magician blush.

Sidney Crosby, captain of the Canadian men’s hockey team, is perhaps the most notoriously superstitious athlete in the game.

Sid’s list of game-day rituals reads like someone deep in the throes of some serious OCD. To name but a few, Crosby reportedly still wears the same, old jockstrap from his time with the Rimouski Océanic (his junior team in the QMJHL); avoids talking to his mother or sister on game days (to prevent injuries of course); tapes his own stick, and requires it to be retaped if anyone else touches it. In warmups, every detail is timed, from when he hits the ice to when he performs specific drills (like meticulously tracing the sponsor logos painted on the ice, and specifically the McDonald’s Golden Arches, with the puck while stickhandling, and taking a backhand shot with exactly five minutes remaining in the warmup). His pre-game meal is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, consumed at the same time before every game.

There are more—this doesn’t even

In a mountain town, superstition shows up under the name “experience.”

You don’t jinx the weather, or say “this storm should fix things.” You don’t tempt the snow gods by being smug.

People here will insist it’s less superstition than it is respect. Acknowledgement. Learned behaviour.

Valentine’s Day adds another layer. Romantic superstition might be the most socially acceptable kind (because it comes with chocolate and, er, other benefits).

Lucky in love. Unlucky in love. Good sign. Bad sign. Red flag. Green flag.

She loves me, she loves me not, as the flower petals fall one by one to the ground, romantic fate and sustained happiness determined entirely by how many petals there are to pluck.

An entire industry exists to convince people the success or failure of a relationship can be meaningfully assessed based on one dinner reservation in mid-February.

Family Day, by contrast, is the gentlest superstition of all.

The idea that one extra day off might

That people remember why they’re here in the first place.

Hope that time off actually feels like time off.

Superstitions get a bad rap for being irrational, but most of them are surprisingly modest. They don’t promise miracles, or insist on control. They just offer a way to engage with the endless, absolute uncertainty without staring it directly in the face.

They give shape to chaos. A bit of order to randomness. A reason to pause, laugh, or knock lightly on the nearest piece of wood.

Nobody actually believes Friday the 13th is cursed, just like nobody thinks a lucky jersey or a stinky old jockstrap determines Olympic outcomes. Nobody expects Valentine’s Day to fix a relationship, or Family Day to solve burnout.

But we keep these rituals around because the alternative—a world governed entirely by chance, schedules, and spreadsheets—is heavier. Superstition, at its best, is playful. A shared wink, or a cultural agreement to admit we don’t actually know how things

least one podcast subscription to prove it.

touch on his obsession with the number 87.

Fans are no better. In living rooms across the country this week, people are refusing to move from “the chair,” wearing the same hoodie for the third straight broadcast, and turning the volume down because it worked last time Canada landed on the podium.

Nobody thinks these rituals actually influence the outcome. They just don’t want to be the person who broke the spell.

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reset something, or that rest is restorative, and our togetherness will be harmonious. Or that everyone will return to work Tuesday feeling marginally more human.

This belief persists despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But it’s a nice thought. And that must count for something?

In Whistler especially, long weekends carry a particular kind of hope—that the weather cooperates, the crowds behave.

will turn out, and maybe that’s OK.

So indulge a little. Slap on your stinkiest, oldest jockstrap and sit in the lucky chair. Knock on all the wood, and give your lucky rabbit’s foot an extra squeeze while we watch our hometown and Canadian heroes go for gold on sport’s biggest change.

It won’t change anything. But pretending it might makes the whole thing a bit more fun. n

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Support passenger rail in the Sea to Sky

Thank you to Luke Faulks and Pique for running the article in the Jan. 9 issue regarding the important topic of regional rail transit in Greater Vancouver and the Sea to Sky, and the risk we currently face of losing the railway corridor we currently have in the region.

For those who have not read the article, it covers the issue of CN Rail decommissioning part of its rail line between Squamish and 100 Mile House, and the risks this poses to losing this important rail corridor altogether, which would essentially eliminate the possibility of ever getting passenger rail back in the region.

The Mountain Valley Institute (MVI) is a non-profit that advocates for sustainable transportation, including high-speed passenger rail, and argues the most expensive part of any rail system is the corridor, and if we ever want to see passenger rail return to the Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky, we cannot allow the existing rail corridor to be lost to development or other interests.

The MVI has issued an open letter

to the government regarding this topic, with co-signatures from 20 groups such as the City of Delta and the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. I would hope that official support has also come from regional groups and municipalities in Whistler, Pemberton, even Lillooet, for this important proposal.

And wouldn’t it be nice if this time we could move a project that is important and necessary to improve affordability, safety, and sustainability of life in the Sea to Sky

beyond recommendations and feasibility studies to action and implementation?

The window to preserve this corridor may be very short, argues the MVI. If you agree with and support passenger rail in the Sea to Sky, please contact MLA Jeremy Valeriote and the provincial Ministry of Transportation and let them know you support preserving the rail corridor in the Sea to Sky, and bringing back passenger rail to the region.

Ariella Falkowski // Pemberton

Pemberton Canoe Association shares thanks

While the lakes are frozen and our boats are tucked away, we have had the opportunity to reflect on the memories made during the 2025 season. The energy on the water this past summer was a testament to our community’s spirit, and before we gear up for the spring, we want to share a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, and paddlers who made last year memorable. The season would not have been possible without the generous support of our partners. We are grateful to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation for their support in designing and purchasing new jerseys for our Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe teams—it was a point of pride to see our athletes representing the club. Additionally, Pemberton and District Initiative funds from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and Village of Pemberton allowed us to hire a club administrator, a vital step that supported our diverse range of programming, including WASP, Canoe Camp, Outrigger, Dragon Boat, FUNdamentals, and our school program with XCS.

Our paddlers truly made the most of the season:

Competition: Our Dragon Boat team raced at both the Vessi and Concord Dragon Boat Festivals, and our Junior outrigger paddlers showed grit attending

Backcountry Update

AS OF WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11

The weekend is shaping up to be a good one to get after it (cautiously, of course). A small amount of light snow is expected, paired with generally good visibility through the weekend and a manageable avalanche hazard. Altogether, these conditions point to a window for travel in alpine terrain and an opportunity to consider some bigger objectives that may not have been appropriate during recent storms.

Wind slabs remain the primary concern near ridge crests in the alpine and at treeline, where recent winds may have created pockets of reactive snow. On steep, sun-exposed slopes, solar input could trigger small wet-loose avalanches over the weekend. Cornices also deserve some attention in the alpine, where they may be overhanging

lower slopes and may weaken with warming and sun.

While three avalanche problems can sound intimidating, the encouraging news is that avalanches are generally expected to be small and limited to specific terrain features. This means careful observation, thoughtful terrain selection, and disciplined group management can go a long way toward reducing risk.

With these considerations in mind, many alpine objectives may be reasonable choices this weekend. For groups prepared to apply solid travel techniques and continuously verify conditions as they move through avalanche terrain, it could be an excellent time to enjoy big lines, good visibility, engaging terrain, and the kind of rewarding winter travel that keeps us coming back to the mountains. 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.

Write to us! Letters to the editor must contain the writer’s name, address and a daytime telephone number. Maximum length is 450 words. Pique Newsmagazine reserves the right to edit, condense or refrain from publishing any contribution. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not that of Pique Newsmagazine. Send them to edit@ piquenewsmagazine.com before 11 a.m. on Tuesday for consideration in that week’s paper.

NickDavies, Whistlerlocal andexperiencedfamilylawyer practisingacrossBCandYukon. Callat 604-602-9000 or visit www.macleanlaw.ca

MacleanLawisheadquartered inVancouverwithofficesacross BritishColumbia.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

a Tuesday Night Race in Deep Cove.

Local Waters: We enjoyed a full season of Outrigger paddling on Green Lake (OC6, OC2, and OC1) and One Mile Lake (OC2 and OC1).

Community: We were honored to host WASP weekly at the boathouse over the summer and welcomed the public to the water during our Canada Day Open House.

Maintaining our equipment is a yearround effort, and thanks to our supporters, we completed necessary Dragon Boat repairs and purchased a new boat dolly. We also want to thank the Canadian government; the Canada Student Employment Grant was instrumental in subsidizing our Canoe Camp staff.

The docks may be quiet for now, but we are already preparing for another great year. Please look for Canoe Camp registrations starting in March, with our full spring programming set to kick off in April.

Thank you to everyone who keeps our club moving forward. We look forward to seeing you on the water soon.

Carrie Charron // On behalf of the PCA Board of Directors

Waldorf Eco Club Repair Café a success

On behalf of the Whistler Waldorf School’s Eco Club, we would like to sincerely thank all the volunteers who supported our

recent Repair Café. With your help, we collected more than 150 lbs of clothing for donation and successfully repaired more than 50 items, keeping them out of the landfill and promoting sustainable practices. A special thank you to our event sponsors: AWARE, Whistler Community Services Society, Resort Municipality of Whistler and its Zero Waste program, Patagonia and Mount Currie Coffee.

Whistler Waldorf School is proud to hold Platinum EcoSchool certification, the

to make this event a success. Together, we are building a more sustainable community.

Harriet Crompton and Carla Vidal Sabate // Eco Club Chairs, Whistler Waldorf School

Dementia does not discriminate I am a bit late with this letter as January was Alzheimer’s Awareness month, but I wanted to make the community aware of a

“We all know someone in cognitive decline even though they have led healthy, active lifestyles.”

- CHARALYN KRIZ

highest level of recognition for schools in Canada. Our Repair Café initiative is part of our school’s broader commitment to sustainability and is connected with our participation in the UN Association in Canada Eco Club program.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed their time, skills, and energy

much-loved local program for those living with dementia and their caregivers. This program is free.

Since January 2023, the Whistler Mature Action Community (MAC) has been running the Making Connections Dementia-Friendly Social Club on Wednesday mornings (from 10:30 a.m. to

1 p.m.) out of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. The program is staffed completely by a team of volunteers from across the community. It serves the Sea to Sky corridor with participants coming from Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton.

Making Connections gives participants a reason to get up on Wednesday mornings. It’s something they look forward to; to many, it is the high point of their week. A typical session includes gentle fitness, games or music therapy, and socializing over lunch. The goal of the program is to slow cognitive decline and to allow caregivers to make friends and build their own support networks. Caregivers often become isolated as their loved one declines and opportunities to socialize disappear. Making Connections allows caregivers to form friendships to the point of helping each other out and socializing outside the program. This is good for their mental health.

Dementia does not discriminate. We all know someone in cognitive decline even though they have led healthy, active lifestyles. And we see their caregivers, usually a spouse or adult child, struggling with the burden of care with few local supports. If you know of someone who would benefit from this program, please have them contact mcp@whistlermac.org for additional information.

Charalyn Kriz // Whistler n

Public hearing airs divided views on Waldorf School rezoning

SUPPORTERS CONTINUED TO HAMMER HOME THE BENEFITS OF THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL AND THE NEED TO FIND A NEW SPACE FOR ITS STUDENTS, WHILE FUTURE POTENTIAL NEIGHBOURS CITED TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

BY LUKE FAULKS

WHISTLER’S DEBATE over a new home for the Whistler Waldorf School is raging on.

On Feb. 10, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) heard a mix of passionate support and pointed concerns during a public hearing on a zoning amendment that would pave the way for the Whistler Waldorf School (WWS) to build a permanent facility off Alta Lake Road.

The rezoning process was initially supposed to proceed to first, second and third readings at a Jan. 6 council meeting. But residents of Alta Lake Road and Lot 34’s neighbouring Old Mill Lane repeatedly sounded off about a lack of opportunity to learn about and consult on the project. Council then pushed the readings to Jan. 20 to afford more chance for comment, before voting to delay third reading until after a public hearing could be held.

WHY A NEW SITE IS NEEDED

WWS currently operates from a site in

Spruce Grove Park under a lease that ends in June 2026, following a 2024 directive from the province stating the Crowngranted land must remain dedicated to outdoor recreation.

Knowing their time in Spruce Grove Park would eventually come to an end, WWS administrators have spent years

Permit subdivision of the lot and require a 7.6-metre setback from all parcel lines;

Cap student enrolment at 275 and daycare capacity at 25 children;

Require a traffic impact study, traffic management plan, and adherence to the RMOW’s green building checklist before

“This decision is ultimately about preserving the future of a trusted, committed, community-serving organization...”

- KELLY HAND

searching for a new permanent home for their 177 K–12 students and 30 licenced daycare spaces. The school previously told Pique that after evaluating more than 50 locations across Whistler, the privately owned Lot 34 emerged as the most viable option.

If passed, the bylaw would: Update the zoning on 0.75 hectares of Lot 34 to allow school and auxiliary daycare uses;

any development permit or building permit is issued.

An initial traffic assessment commissioned by RMOW staff estimated a potential 35-per-cent increase in traffic on Alta Lake Road during peak hours. While the memo raised no concerns around road capacity, it emphasized the need for on-site drop-off/pick-up, possible traffic calming measures and improvements to the Valley Trail network.

Councillor Cathy Jewett sought clarity on whether the municipality would shoulder any financial burden for connecting the site to municipal utilities. Staff confirmed that servicing the site would be the responsibility of the WWS.

URGENCY AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Supporters of the school made impassioned pleas, warning failure to approve the rezoning could mean the school’s closure, displacing students and deepening an already severe childcare shortage in the region.

“This decision is ultimately about preserving the future of a trusted, committed, community-serving organization that would be impossible to replace after 25 years,” said WWS board chair Kelly Hand during the hearing. “This moment represents a critical point of decision for its future.”

Multiple speakers pointed to the lack of licenced childcare options in Whistler and Pemberton, with families citing years-long waitlists and employment disruptions due to childcare gaps.

“The Whistler Waldorf School was a lifeline for our family,” wrote Scott and Raquel Jones in a letter. “Removing daycare seats would further strain an already

constrained system and directly affect workforce participation, family stability, and employers’ ability to retain staff.”

Others emphasized the school’s value as Whistler’s only independent K–12 option, and its contribution to community life through programming like music, robotics and environmental initiatives.

“Strong schools do not exist apart from communities. They grow within them and alongside them,” said WWS principal Eleanor West, citing a recent student presentation at a UN sustainability conference as evidence of the school’s local impact.

A number of parents and alumni shared personal stories of relocation to Whistler based on the school’s offerings.

Some speakers were more blunt. “We shouldn’t as a community allow NIMBYs to impact our decisions on children’s education and an important community asset,” wrote Morag Kerr in a letter. “The time is now.”

ROAD SAFETY

But others rejected the notion safety critiques were simply “not-in-mybackyard” obstructionism.

“This is not NIMBYism,” Andrew and Hailey Zimcik wrote in their submission to council, “but reflects a very real safety risk.” They and others noted the absence of sidewalks, shoulders or lighting along Rainbow Drive and Alta Lake Road, arguing school-related vehicle volume during drop-off and pickup windows would amplify risks for children walking to school or waiting at bus stops.

Multiple residents emphasized that traffic-calming measures are rarely enforced, and vehicles often exceed the 30 km/h speed limit. “The speed bumps are ineffective,” said longtime resident Sheila Sherkat. “I live right beside one and regularly see cars speeding over them.”

Several speakers, including residents Paul Francis and Paul Dorland, pressed council to release the full traffic impact assessment memo, and to delay rezoning until a final safety review can be completed and shared with the public.

“Shouldn’t we undertake first to consider public and student safety … before voting to rezone land?” asked Dorland. “The last thing this community needs is a tragedy and a lawsuit against the municipality.”

Francis and Dorland referenced a settlement between the Ontario City of Oshawa and Township of Scugog. In 2004, two sisters were paralyzed in a car accident. The sisters claimed $30 million in damages against the municipalities for failing to maintain safe road conditions. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the municipalities’ appeal, and the governments reached a confidential settlement with the sisters.

Environmental watchdog AWARE also flagged concern. Speaking as both a resident and association president, John Rasmussen questioned how the proposed site—located within a Development Permit Area for the Protection of

Sensitive Ecosystems—could be deemed free of ecological impacts.

“The site [will] require a clearcutting of approximately 0.75 hectares of currently forested lakeshore habitat zone, which will then be followed by the invasive requirements of construction and the occupation of a building by up to 300 people and the prospect of an additional space on the plot being required for parking,” Rasmussen said.

“I cannot imagine how this activity can possibly be described as having no impact on high-priority habitat areas.”

He stressed that neither he nor AWARE wished “to impede the process,” but hoped for “a great deal of transparency from council” around the environmental impacts associated with work on the new site.

ALTERNATE LOCATIONS

Critics also questioned whether other, less disruptive locations had been adequately explored in the WWS’ search. Dorland suggested the school and municipality revisit potential land partnerships with School District 48 (SD48), particularly at the Myrtle Philip Elementary School site. He suggested the school grounds’ lower field, which currently hosts AWARE’s garden and greenhouse, might offer enough separation from the main school building to accommodate Waldorf.

But Waldorf trustee PJ O’Heany told council Waldorf had already approached SD48 about partnership options. He referenced a June 2025 letter from SD48 trustee Rebecca Barley, who wrote that “the operation of a private institution within a public school facility is not aligned with the board’s principles.”

Norman Laube, president of Laubenfels Development Advisors, has been advising the Waldorf for two decades in its search for a permanent location. He said the project had all three ingredients needed for success: land, funding and municipal support.

“This site objectively meets required site suitability criteria,” he told council. “Whistler Waldorf is proposing what we’ve seen succeed in many municipalities— schools that strengthen community.”

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Despite strong opinions, most speakers— on both sides—expressed respect for council’s decision to consult the public and expressed a common desire to ensure students are safe, supported and able to stay in the community.

At the meeting’s close, Acting Mayor Jeff Murl noted council members will no longer be permitted to receive further correspondence on the bylaw.

Mayor Jack Crompton and Coun. Jessie Morden were recused from the hearing, as they have children who attend the school.

Third reading of the zoning amendment, initially scheduled for Jan. 20, will be considered at a future meeting. A staff report noted that exercising the option of a public hearing would delay third reading by at least five weeks, putting it at a late February meeting at the earliest. n

BATT

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RMOW turning over eligibility checks, audits to Whistler Housing Authority

THE WHA WILL CARRY OUT AUDITS OF EVERY UNIT OF EMPLOYEE-RESTRICTED HOUSING

BY LUKE FAULKS

THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY of Whistler (RMOW) is transferring responsibility for verifying who lives in employee-restricted housing to the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA), as part of a Master Services Agreement (MSA) designed to strengthen oversight across the resort’s complex and growing inventory of staff accommodation.

The move will centralize and formalize checks on dozens of employeerestricted units not owned by WHA, including suites managed by the Whistler Valley Housing Society, Whistler Sport Legacies, hotels, and private homeowners operating Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) properties.

At present, the RMOW’s Legislative Services department manages eligibility checks.

“This was always intended to be a shortterm solution, as the legislative services team is not staffed and nor do we really have the right technology tools to efficiently perform this work,” said legislative services manager Pauline Lysaght during a Jan. 20 council presentation.

“So as we saw the number of units

ramping up, particularly over the last few years, we knew that we needed a new plan, and so our new plan was to reach out to the WHA to propose that we contract them to do this work on behalf of the RMOW.”

CURRENT VERSUS NEW SYSTEM

Under the current system, owners of employee-restricted properties—many of whom are not affiliated with WHA— are required to ensure their tenants meet specific eligibility requirements tied to registered housing agreements.

These typically include working a minimum number of hours for a Whistler business and, in some cases, meeting income or asset thresholds. Previously, the RMOW handled verification and auditing duties for these properties itself.

Now, the WHA will take over two core tasks: confirming new tenants are eligible before they sign a lease, and reviewing annual declarations that tenants must submit to prove they still meet the criteria to remain in the unit.

“The WHA will work with the owners to receive those statutory declarations from the tenants to ensure continued eligibility,” Lysaght explained. “This is a process where the WHA and the owners will work together to find a process that

works with their existing systems.”

WHAT DO LANDLORDS NEED TO KNOW?

The shift won’t change the core responsibilities of landlords. “It is up to each owner to decide how they will verify,” said Lysaght. “I think logically, [pay stubs are] one of the best ways to verify their eligibility. But we don’t prescribe exactly how each owner does that.”

There is no direct cost to landlords for this verification service. WHA will charge the RMOW $100 for each new tenant eligibility check and $100 for each annual declaration review, with the municipality projecting a $10,000 annual cost.

“Ultimately, this is an RMOW responsibility,” Lysaght said. “I don’t think this is something we would be downloading onto an individual homeowner.”

INFORMATION FOR TENANTS

During the discussion, councillors pressed staff on how comprehensive the new oversight would be.

Councillor Arthur De Jong asked whether the shift would mean full reviews of all employee-restricted units, rather than the random auditing of units within each building currently conducted by RMOW staff. Lysaght confirmed that under

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the new model, statutory declarations for non-WHA units would be reviewed across the board, giving the municipality greater confidence employee housing is being used as intended.

“We will implement the process so that all of the statutory declarations that the owners are already collecting will go through the process,” explained Lysaght. “It just will give much greater confidence that all of those units [have] the right people living in them, and we’re making sure our employee rental stock is being used the way it was supposed to be.”

De Jong also asked whether tenants found to be out of compliance would be given time to correct their status before enforcement action is taken—a point staff emphasized would remain central to the program’s approach.

Lysaght stressed that tenants who no longer meet the requirements won’t face immediate eviction.

“We will work with those tenants to either achieve compliance if we can— that’s always our first step,” said Lysaght. “[But] ultimately, if it got to the point where that wasn’t possible, then we would have to take the next steps that might involve bylaw services. But really, that’s very much the last resort.”

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‘What should the consequences be?’: Injured

Whistler skier questions

Canada’s ski-safety laws

TWO

YEARS INTO RECOVERY, LESLEY BROADHURST IS STILL PUSHING FOR STRONGER EXPECTATIONS AROUND STOPPING, IDENTIFYING YOURSELF AND REPORTING SERIOUS

BY LUKE FAULKS

TWO YEARS after a high-speed collision at Whistler Blackcomb left her with a shattered knee and broken collarbone, skier Lesley Broadhurst says she isn’t looking for another story about her accident. She’d rather talk about what happens next time—especially when the person who causes a crash just skis off.

“It’s bizarre to kind of go back on it all, because it all just seems, quite frankly, almost like a dream—well, like a nightmare. It’s hard to believe two years has gone by,” she said. After 12 to 18 months of rehab, plenty of time in the gym and physiotherapy, she’s back to hiking, pickleball, golf and just now getting back on skis, on quieter hills.

But she admits being back on snow feels very different.

“I am back on skis, which feels great, but obviously not quite the same—not yet anyway,” she said. “The more days I can get in, the more confidence and love for this sport returns, and the post trauma will fade I’m sure. [The] No. 1 rule as skiers is that you trust the people behind you, that they’re going to avoid you at all costs and safely pass you.”

That trust is at the heart of Canada’s Alpine Responsibility Code, the industry standard commonly posted at resorts across the country.

The first points touch on control and right-of-way: always stay in control, be able to stop or avoid people or objects, and remember that people downhill of you have the right-of-way. National campaign material on skisafety.ca notes “the majority of skiing and snowboarding collisions are avoidable” and urges riders to “be ready, plan ahead, and stay alert” every run—slowing down at blind spots, giving others plenty of room, and matching speed to conditions, terrain and traffic.

Slow Zones near bases and green runs, where kids, beginners and seniors are mixed together, are singled out for extra caution, with resorts warning fast skiing in these areas can lead to serious accidents and loss of lift privileges.

Legally, however, Broadhurst’s experience underscores that the code and those safety campaigns are guidance, not statutes.

Skiers owe each other a duty of care, and victims can sue another skier if they can prove negligence—often using the code to show the uphill skier failed to stay in control or avoid a downhill rider. But negligence can be hard to distinguish from the sort of loss of control that any skier can

CRASHES

identify with having experienced.

The effort becomes more difficult when the other skier fails to provide their name and contact information and remain on-scene until ski patrol arrives, per the Alpine Code. That’s what happened in Broadhurst’s situation.

She suggests looking to the U.S. for a stark contrast. States like Colorado have written ski-collision rules directly into law.

Under Colorado’s Ski Safety Act, skiers must stay in control and maintain a proper lookout, and “the primary duty” to avoid a collision rests with the person skiing downhill to avoid collision with anyone or anything below; violating those duties can constitute negligence in civil court. A separate section makes it illegal to leave the scene of a ski collision that causes injury without giving your name and address to patrol or resort staff, effectively treating it like a mountain hit-and-run, with fines and potential criminal penalties.

Broadhurst wonders why Canadian skiers don’t have similar protections. “These accidents are horrendous, causing serious injury and should be looked at as acts of criminal negligence,” she said.

“What should the consequences be for reckless skiing? How do we, as a skiing community, stop this behaviour? It’s only if reckless skiers face consequences that anything changes.”

“How do we, as a skiing community, stop this behaviour?”

- LESLEY BROADHURST

For now, the practical advice from Canadian legal and safety guides is simple: know the code, manage your speed and if you are involved in a collision, stay at the scene, call patrol and exchange information—because without a name or a witness, even a serious injury can leave victims with almost no recourse beyond a long rehab and unanswered questions.

To that end, Broadhurst reiterated that if anyone had information about her accident on Mar. 24, 2024, they should reach out via Pique n

‘A

terrible idea’: Video

shows ski-school students tumbling down Seppo’s on Whistler

WHISTLER

BLACKCOMB CONFIRMED NO INJURIES FROM THE JAN. 17 INCIDENT, AND TOLD PIQUE THE SITUATION HAS BEEN ‘THOROUGHLY REVIEWED’

BY LUKE FAULKS

A VIDEO CIRCULATING on Reddit showing a group of children tumbling down a steep black‑diamond run on Whistler Mountain has sparked backlash from locals and raised questions about ski‑school oversight.

Footage shared last week on the site appears to show at least six young skiers tumbling down Seppo’s run, a one kilometre long black‑diamond‑rated downhill ski trail on Whistler Mountain. The clip shows kids losing skis, gripping the side of the mountain and tumbling down the slope towards an adult appearing to assist as the group descends.

Seppo’s Skiing Trail is classified as a black‑diamond single track run, meant for advanced skiers, with steep gradients and narrow terrain.

Locals on the Whistler subreddit expressed outrage, with some calling the decision to ski the trail “moronic” and questioning the reasons behind why the group was brought down the challenging pitch. Commenters also indicated that ski patrol eventually escorted the rest of the group off the hill and that, to their knowledge, none of the children suffered

serious injuries.

“It was a terrible idea,” wrote one commenter familiar with ski instruction, adding that terrain choice in poor conditions was “way outside of their abilities.” Others questioned whether resort protocols were followed.

In a statement, Vail Resorts, operator of Whistler Blackcomb and the ski school, confirmed an incident on Saturday, Jan. 17 involving “Snow School participants skiing with an instructor on Seppo’s run.” Ski Patrol responded, the statement said, and “no injuries were reported.”

“The safety of our guests is our top priority,” Vail Resorts’ statement reads. “We take every incident extremely seriously, and we continuously reinforce processes with instructors to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. We have thoroughly reviewed this situation with our Snow School leadership team, who has been in communication with the parents of those involved.”

Meanwhile, a pair of guests at Whistler Blackcomb (WB) were involved but ultimately uninjured in an in‑bounds avalanche on Feb. 2.

A WB spokesperson confirmed the incident in an email to Pique, saying the avalanche activity occurred “out of

Saudan Couloir—an experts only area on Blackcomb Mountain.

“Blackcomb Ski Patrol received a call at approximately 12:11 p.m. and responded immediately. Two guests were involved and uninjured, with the area cleared at approximately 1:08 p.m.,” the spokesperson said.

“Whistler Blackcomb places the

highest value on the safety of our guests and employees. Ski Patrol regularly performs avalanche mitigation work, monitors snow conditions and weather forecasts, and evaluates terrain as conditions change.”

Though avalanche danger has receded in the region of late, with daily warning levels hovering around moderate or low, the latest incident at WB follows a report in mid January of two separate in‑bounds avalanches on the same day (also in experts only territory).

Those incidents occurred Jan. 11 on Blackcomb—one on Bushrat, and another in Sapphire Bowl. Six guests were involved between the two avalanches, with one requiring rescue, but nobody was harmed.

Avalanche Canada offers several safety tips on its website: avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall; avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, as avalanches may run surprisingly far; only the most simple non‑avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time; keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Find more tips for staying safe on snow at adventuresmart.ca.

-with files from Braden Dupuis n

National cycling study includes Sea to Sky data

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS EXPLORED WHERE CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE IS EXPANDING ACROSS CANADA

BY LIZ MCDONALD

The Squamish Chief

DEPENDING ON where cyclists live in the Sea to Sky, they may or may not have access to high-quality cycling infrastructure.

A recent study from Simon Fraser University found cycling networks across Canada are expanding, but access varies by location. While the largest increases are occurring in smalland medium-sized cities, communities with higher proportions of children and seniors tend to have less access to bike infrastructure.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, examined changes between 2022 and 2024.

Meghan Winters, the study’s lead author, said the findings highlight uneven progress.

“On average, we’re still not seeing enough investment in residential neighbourhoods,” Winters said. “Those are places that aren’t getting enough attention when it comes to safe cycling.”

To assess infrastructure changes, researchers analyzed open-source data from OpenStreetMap and classified routes using the Canadian Bikeway

Comfort and Safety system. The system rates cycling infrastructure as high, medium or low comfort and safety, based on criteria outlined by SFU.

Overall, Canada’s cycling infrastructure expanded by almost 3,600 kilometres during the study period. Multi-use paths saw the largest growth, increasing by 75.8 per cent. These routes, located either adjacent to roads or fully separated, are categorized as “medium comfort.” Painted bike lanes, considered “low comfort,” increased by 5.8 per cent.

The highest standard of infrastructure, bike-only paths, grew by 49 kilometres nationwide, representing a 46.7-per-cent increase.

“One of the important findings is that, proportionally, we are building safer types of infrastructure,” Winters said.

Smaller cities, she added, are often seeing growth as a form of catch-up.

Winters said the lack of infrastructure in areas with more children and seniors often comes down to where those populations typically live. However, as more people turn to cycling for purposes beyond commuting, that gap is beginning to receive attention.

“We are building out those neighbourhoods, recognizing that people don’t just use bicycles to bike

downtown or commute to work,” she said. “They’re trying to get to shops and services, to friends’ houses, to schools and community centres—which, in some cities, aren’t well connected by safe cycling infrastructure.”

She said city staff are often forced to make difficult decisions about where to invest limited resources.

“Commute travel now makes up only about 25 per cent of trips on average,” she said. “Most trips are for other purposes. Planning needs to reflect where people are actually going—playgrounds, recreation facilities, libraries, shops and services— not just downtown workplaces.”

Winters also helped produce Canada’s first nationwide map of cycling infrastructure in 2022.

WHISTLER OUTPACES SQUAMISH

Using that map, users can compare cycling infrastructure between communities such as Whistler and Squamish to assess how well routes support everyday travel.

Whistler scores higher overall than Squamish, which Winters attributed to several factors.

While Squamish has a larger population, Whistler benefits from what she described as the resort municipality effect.

“Places like Whistler and Canmore have built out connected networks,” she said. “Whether it’s for climate reasons or because tourism dollars play a role, those communities have taken a stance that people shouldn’t necessarily need a car to do many of the things they want to do while they’re there.”

Local advocacy also plays a role, she said, noting Squamish’s strong mountain biking community may have influenced existing infrastructure.

Another challenge is the presence of a major highway.

“Many small- and mid-sized cities have highways running through them,” Winters said. “It’s expensive to build overpasses or create direct routes that offer safe, protected cycling infrastructure without forcing people to ride alongside a highway.”

Topography can also be a barrier. Squamish’s hilly terrain may deter some cyclists, though Winters noted the growing popularity of e-bikes is helping make cycling more accessible.

The data is also being used by smaller municipalities looking to leverage GIS tools to compare their infrastructure with other communities across Canada. The interactive map is available online. n

NEWS WHISTLER

Trail closures coming to Alta Lake and 16 Mile areas for wildfire prevention work

CREWS BEGIN FUEL-THINNING THIS MONTH TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK; EXPECT INTERMITTENT CLOSURES ON POPULAR MULTI-USE

TRAILS THROUGH

FALL 2026

BY LUKE FAULKS

THE CHEAKAMUS Community Forest (CCF) and Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) are set to launch another round of wildfire fuel management work this spring, targeting key areas of Whistler’s trail network in an ongoing effort to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Fuel thinning will begin in late February or early March along the north end of Alta Lake Road, spanning from 21 Mile Creek to Alpine Meadows, and will continue into the fall. A second phase in the 16 Mile Valley—located above The Adventure Group’s (TAG) base area—will begin in autumn 2026 and resume in spring 2027.

The phased approach is designed to minimize disruption to trail users and impacts to the forest floor.

“Wildfire is one of the biggest risks to Whistler, and one we’ve seen devastating impacts on communities across the world,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton in a statement. “This work, and the RMOW’s Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, are critical to the safety of Whistler.”

Roughly 18 to 20 hectares will be treated. The work will be carried out by Lil’wat Forestry Ventures, Alpine Axeceleration and SkyTech Yarding. Here’s the schedule for local trail closures:

Unit 1 (late Feb–early April): River Runs Through It/Rainbow Express area, above cemetery, Rainbow Falls and Between the Creeks (lower) will have intermittent closures;

Unit 2 (mid-March–June): Bart’s Dark Trail closed; reroute of RRTI North via Alta Lake Road, and RRTI access trail will close for 4–5 days;

Unit 3 (Summer, TBD): Bob’s Rebob and Billy Epic may see 2 to 3 weeks of intermittent closures depending on fire risk and crew availability;

Unit 4 (late March–June): Get Over It and Nectar Connector will see 2 to 3 full days of closures during tree falling operations, followed by intermittent closures during yarding;

Unit 5 (Summer/Fall): Gravel pit access road will face intermittent closures for 2 to 3 weeks.

The 16 Mile project will involve similar precautions and close coordination with TAG to avoid business disruptions. Organizers said timing will depend on weather conditions and snow levels.

The RMOW and CCF say they’re coordinating closely with the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) to minimize disruptions.

“The public must obey all signs and instructions from staff for their own

safety,” reads a post on the CCF website. “The crews will be cutting trees, running heavy equipment and chipping wood— all dangerous activities that are unsafe for the public to approach.”

Disturbed trails will be restored following the project.

“This is a continuation of the strong working relationship between the RMOW and CCF to manage surrounding forests to minimize wildfire risk to our community,” said Heather Beresford, executive director of the CCF. “We are also grateful for the positive working relationship with WORCA.”

Fuel thinning involves removing trees and underbrush that can fuel fastmoving crown fires, especially in dense forests vulnerable to drought and wind.

In Whistler’s forested terrain—still recovering from pine beetle infestations— fire experts have warned unmanaged forest fuels present a growing risk in the face of hotter, drier summers.

The thinning work is part of Whistler’s Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, originally adopted in 2022 and set for an update this year.

The work builds on previous wildfire protection work completed by the CCF, including a five-kilometre fuel break along the Callaghan Forest Service Road, a 22-hectare project near Alpine Meadows and 115 hectares treated near Cheakamus Lake Road. Most recently, 20.7 hectares of pine beetle-affected forest near Wedgewoods were treated between 2023 and 2024. n

Naturespeak: The power of naming

BY IULIA DEALTAPARTE

AS A NEWCOMER to Whistler, I participated in the Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 14, 2025. Rain came down like a carpet. We were on a civil mission to count and spot birds. My team met at Green Lake. “Unlikely we’ll see anything,” was the prevailing opinion. Yet, minutes later, one ventures: “blue jay!” while another says, “wonderful, but it’s actually a Steller’s jay.”

As I learned later, blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) fly east of the Rocky Mountains, while Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) inhabit the West. But that’s not the only difference. Both the blue jay, with its white underparts, and the Steller’s jay, its Western counterpart, which is half blue, half black, are sometimes referred to as “feathered thiefs,” because they steal food and eggs from other birds!

A name carries a story.

Later that day, we spotted a kingfisher flying over the lake. It is unmistakable by its flight. “Belted kingfisher,” supplied the expert birder. Megaceryle alcyon’s female has a rusty belt crossing her belly. It is also known as Caribbean kingfisher, because it migrates there in the winter months; which made me think of my boat, with her rusty belly, waiting for me in the Caribbean. It seems both of us chose to

stay in the mountains this winter!

A name tells a story.

“Ducks!” I proudly shouted, as a dilettante would say. “Lesser scaup! Bufflehead! Goldeneye! Hooded merganser!” the birders said. The lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), is mostly smaller than the greater scaup (Aythya marila), and I won’t be surprised if it is pissed off to be called that. The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is famously known as among the world’s most punctual migrants. Does that mean it follows

the clock more than global warming? Goldeneyes (Bucephala sp.), well, have golden eyes. And the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a flamboyant diving duck with large, fan-shaped crests it raises and lowers at will, for courtship, and males croak instead of quack!

Naming acknowledges diversity and fantasy.

The bird that excited our ornithologists most was the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as the “water ouzel.” Dipper, because they dip up

and down in a fast motion (60 times a minute)—quite exciting! “Ouzel,” because they resemble the black bird, but they have white, feathered eyelids—charming! And “water,” because they are North America’s only truly aquatic songbirds—chimeric, isn’t it? It becomes even more fantastic when we learn they have a third eyelid, transparent, like incorporated goggles!

Now, as a new mountaineer, I found a new passion: seeking birds along the trails, lakes, in the trees, and in the air. When I see an ave, I have to say something, to greet it, to acknowledge it, to bridge us, somehow. I could say, “hi, bird.” Or invent a name. Or capture an image, a sound, and learn its name, its story.

From my humble experience, it is like snorkeling, stargazing, and mushroom picking; the more I name the unique fish, the specific constellation, the peculiar mycelium fruit, the more I see them. It is as if naming were a magic wand that opens the realms of perception and connection!

So now, when I spot the neighbourhood jay in front of my window, I say, “Hi Steller, looking for an egg?”

Naturespeak is prepared by the Whistler Naturalists. To learn more about Whistler’s natural world, go to whistlernaturalists. ca. n

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Sea to Sky rail corridor talks intensify ahead of July deadline

MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS ARE RALLYING AROUND CALLS FOR FORMAL CONSULTATION ON FUTURE OF BC RAIL LINE

BY LUKE FAULKS

A GROWING NUMBER of communities from North Vancouver to Prince George are calling for formal consultation and public transparency on the future of the BC Rail corridor, as the clock ticks toward a July deadline that could close the door on CN Rail’s lease on the line.

At a Jan. 29 Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) meeting, Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman described divergent interests along the route but stressed that “we want to know what the process is for the decision making on this rail, and we want to be part of it as municipalities and local governments.

“There’s not agreement on passenger rail, bike trails, [or] industry,” Richman said. “But there’s an agreement that it’s important to all communities that it runs through. [That’s] the starting point for us.”

MP AND MLA URGE GOVERNMENT TO HALT DISPOSAL WITHOUT CONSULTATION

In a joint letter dated Jan. 23, MP Patrick Weiler (West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country) and MLA Jeremy Valeriote (West Vancouver–Sea to Sky) urged B.C. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney to “establish a swift process” to address CN Rail’s planned lease discontinuance.

Whistler council received the memo at its Feb. 3 meeting.

The letter emphasized that under the BC Rail Revitalization Agreement, the provincial government can sell the corridor back to CN Rail for $1 until July 2026. However, Valeriote and Weiler warned that “if the BC Government exercises this option, we would risk losing the corridor as it could then be sold by CN for net salvage value.”

“Similarly, if the lease reverts back to BC Rail Properties (BCRP), it could then decide to scrap and sell the corridor,” they wrote. BCRP is a subsidiary of the BC Railway Company, a provincially owned

the letter stated. “If Highway 99 is shut down because of a car crash, inclement weather or a rockslide, the Sea to Sky region is effectively cut off from surface transportation.”

Weiler and Valeriote are looking for support from Carney and Eby in “retaining this line for freight and helping make passenger rail a reality.”

The letter further noted that “a promisingly diverse range of industries and people … would benefit from the rail line: forestry, freight, mining, tourism, seniors, students and the

“Squamish will be the big winner if we can save this railway.”

- ERIC ANDERSEN

Crown corporation that acquires and manages rail corridors.

The pair cited two stakeholder meetings—one in Victoria in September and another virtual session in November— as evidence of “overwhelming cross-partisan support for a revitalized rail corridor.” Attendees included four MLAs, six mayors, regional district directors, First Nations representatives and local government staff.

The letter also referenced the 2024 NDP platform commitment to develop a business case for commuter rail from Metro Vancouver to Pemberton and flagged the existing Rocky Mountaineer and Tsal’alh high-rail bus services as current uses of the corridor.

“Existing transportation options [are] limited and often unsafe and inadequate,”

many sectors where housing workers locally is a challenge.”

QUESNEL COUNCIL SEEKING SUPPORT FOR RAIL STUDY

During the SLRD’s Jan. 29 continuation of the board meeting, the board briefly took up a letter from the City of Quesnel to the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

In the request, Quesnel Mayor Ron Paull confirmed council’s unanimous support for a study to assess the viability of rail service along the full corridor and sought support from other governments on the rail line.

The letter argued improved passenger service would “enhance mobility for Indigenous communities throughout the region,” citing the value of rail for access

to education, health-care and intercommunity cultural events.

“Improved passenger service would support stronger connections between Indigenous communities, foster greater participation in regional economic and cultural activities, and contribute to longterm reconciliation efforts,” Paull added.

The City also pointed to existing tourist service by the Rocky Mountaineer and suggested increased rail connectivity could help support local businesses and reduce reliance on Highway 99.

Squamish proposal advocates for shortline transition

Further south, Squamish Councillor Eric Andersen has introduced a draft resolution calling for the BC Rail corridor’s preservation through a shortline operator model—a structure that enables smaller railway companies to run regional routes with lower overhead than national carriers.

Presented at Squamish council’s Jan. 27 meeting, Andersen’s resolution warns corridor loss would force shippers onto costlier truck routes, reduce transportation redundancy, and hinder regional development. The proposal calls for a new rail authority inclusive of First Nations and recommends exploring public-private maintenance funding options.

“Squamish will be the big winner if we can save this railway,” Andersen said, pointing to potential job creation and infrastructure upgrades.

The resolution, developed in consultation with the West Coast Railway Association and Cariboo officials, must be finalized by March 5 for consideration at the Lower Mainland Local Government Association convention in April. Andersen noted interest from shortline operators, as CN and CP have shown no intention to continue service. n

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That’s sledding

“THAT’S RACING” is a phrase you hear often in motorsports, cycling or any other competitive event where things can go wrong, and often do. A driver can be having the best race of their career, only to be taken out by someone else in a collision, mechanical failure, an unforced

BY VINCE SHULEY

error causing a crash or when a risky manoeuvre backfires. If you’ve seen the film F1 starring Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem (produced by Formula 1 legend himself Lewis Hamilton), there are more “that’s racing” scenes than you can count. In World Cup downhill mountain bike racing, the riders often have to take risks just to place in the top 10 to 15 finishers. Sometimes you go from the fastest split time of the day to a flat tire, the glorious victory snatched away as you hobble over the finish line with a battered and bare rear wheel. Other times, it works out. When Whistler rider Finn Iles won his first (and since only) World Cup Downhill race in Mont-SainteAnne in 2022, he lost his chain in the final section of the track. He may have gotten lucky the chain didn’t get caught up in his spokes. He may have realized the dropped chain could have cost him

the speed needed to win, urging him to push those last few corners harder than he would have.

But that’s racing. Some days it’s the glory of the best day of your life. Other days, you question whether you should keep going in the sport at all.

Now for “that’s sledding.” This statement doesn’t have any race connotation, but rather refers to the volatile nature of the sport of snowmobiling. If all you’re doing is brapping up roads to go ski-touring, or shuttling ski laps on a well-established track, you’re probably not going to be uttering “that’s sledding” much. But if you start venturing into the deep snow

one of the first groups up there. Getting around was not easy, and it was not long before we were constantly trading out help and getting each other unstuck. It was still snowing, and temperatures were warming throughout the day, meaning the snow was getting heavier and the stucks bigger. At one point, I was thrown into powder so deep I needed to wriggle like a worm to get upright again. If you were entering an untracked section, you needed all but full throttle just to keep your momentum and stay afloat. When we reached our furthest point of the day (a small meadow with a couple of creeks to manage), I had what was probably one of the best turns I’ve ever

“Could be a seized piston, could be something else,” he said. “Either way, you’re not riding it out today.”

on pow days, getting yourself stuck and having to problem-solve situations while managing the heat and sweat building up under your helmet and goggles… well, you get the idea.

In my previous seasons, I’ve had plenty of big stucks. I’ve had frustrating days when the visibility hindered my every move, when buried creeks and trenches kept throwing me off my machine. But I hadn’t suffered the worst of a “that’s sledding” moment until a few weeks ago. On the morning of Jan. 11, it had snowed between 30 and 40 cm at treeline. My friends and I got an early start heading up Cougar Mountain,

had on my sled. One of those moments where you’re almost about to trench, but end up gassing out of it by the skin of your teeth. I triumphantly rode over to my friend for a quick “did ya see that?!” when I suddenly lost power and fell from my sled into the snow, a loud metal-on-metal tink coming from my engine. My pull start could not crank the motor over. After rolling the sled upright again, I pulled off the side doors, and my experienced friend inspected the issue.

“Could be a seized piston, could be something else,” he said. “Either way, you’re not riding it out today.”

My heart sank. We were deep

enough on Cougar Mountain that there was no way we could tow my sled back to the parking lot. This was going to require a helicopter extraction. My friends and I cleared the snow around my sled, put the doors back on and I gave it an affectionate pat before my friends took turns doubling me out on their own machines.

That’s sledding.

The helicopter extraction three days later was expensive, as was the mechanical service I had done right before my engine blew up in the backcountry.

That’s sledding.

The shop confirmed our suspicion that I had a seized piston, rendering the motor (the most expensive part of the snowmobile) useless. My options were to install a new motor (not feasible given it was 2017 model), or sell it for parts.

That’s sledding.

But the story doesn’t end on all these downers. The good folks at No Limits Motorsports offered me a great deal on a new 2025 Skidoo Summit Adrenaline with enough warranty period that I don’t need to worry about a blown motor until 2030. My new sled is lighter, more agile, slightly more powerful and incredibly fun to ride. Last Sunday, the stars aligned for a day in the Brandywine alpine with fresh, dry snow up high and clear skies. My new (and reliable) snowmobile gave me one of the best days I’ve ever had in these mountains.

That’s sledding, too.

Vince Shuley’s wallet is lighter. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince.shuley@gmail. com or Instagram @whis_vince. n

MARCH 6&7,2 026

Unity must come before politics in wake of Tumbler Ridge shooting

BY ROB SHAW

BRITISH COLUMBIANS know how to respond to tragedy—with kindness, empathy and love for one another.

They did it by coming together last summer in the wake of the Lapu Lapu shooting in Vancouver. And they can do it again, to help shoulder the grief pouring out of Tumbler Ridge, after at least nine people, many of them children, were killed by a shooter Tuesday afternoon in one of the worst acts of violence in Canadian history.

Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly suspended his trip to Germany in recognition of the national public heartache.

Premier David Eby appeared Tuesday night with empathy for the community, and should do the same as Carney. He can cancel Thursday’s legislature throne speech and call a provincial day of mourning instead.

The community of Tumbler Ridge is in need. Not of a throne speech by a government, but of a moment of provincial and national empathy.

Not of pomp and circumstance in the capital to mark the opening of parliament, but of a show of cross-partisan unity during a dark and heavy moment.

What is most telling about a province and a country is how we look after one another in times of crisis. How we offer help when it’s needed most.

“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country—our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other,” Carney said on social media.

It was a message to meet the crisis. And one Eby also echoed during a latenight address to the province.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to ask British Columbians, to ask all Canadians, to wrap the people of Tumbler Ridge, wrap these families with love—not just tonight but tomorrow and into the future,” he said, in perhaps his most resonant line.

“This is something that will reverberate for years to come.”

What happened in Tumbler Ridge is a parent’s worst nightmare—violence inside the safety and security of a child’s school. It affects you no matter where you call home. We all live in fear of the lives of young children, cut short.

For Tumbler Ridge, that fear is now real.

At least nine people were killed Tuesday, and as many as 25 more injured, when a person opened fire.

Six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, one person died while being transported to hospital and two more people were found dead in a residence elsewhere, according to the RCMP.

The suspect was found dead of a selfinflicted injury, say police.

It is the worst school shooting in British Columbia’s history.

The tragedy is compounded when it happens in a community of this size. Tumbler Ridge only has around 2,700 people

Every person, every family, every child in the community will experience this heart-wrenching event in some way. Their lives will be changed forever. Long after the rest of B.C. and Canada moves on, the dark day of Feb. 10 will loom over the district.

“I probably will know every one of the victims,” Mayor Darryl Krakowka told CBC. “It’s not something we expect to see in a small community.”

The mayor expressed a common reaction to the news. School shootings are not something Canadians are accustomed to. We hear about them happening regularly in our neighbour to the south.

But most parents don’t think when they bundle up their kids and shuffle them off to school that this kind of violence could actually touch them or their lives.

It’s a security built upon a hope and a prayer. And Tuesday it was shattered. It’s not just heartbreak, but shock amongst Canadians.

“It makes us think about our kids’ safety when they’re going to school,” said Eby. “We take it for granted.”

Early on, an incident like this transcends politics.

B.C. Solicitor General Nina Krieger said she’d been working closely alongside the area’s MLA and MP, both of whom are conservatives. They thanked her publicly. Everyone pledged to work together.

That space allows for larger questions to be asked—that must be asked—about what we can learn from a tragedy. What went wrong here? What could have been done to prevent it?

Hopefully, it’s a discussion to be had without the pointing of fingers or scoring of political points. These are legitimate questions, as Canadians seek to avoid following in the footsteps of other countries.

American school shootings are more common, but every bit as horrific. Outside of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal in 1989, which killed 14, Canada hasn’t seen violence on a school campus at the scale of our southern neighbours.

This incident in Tumbler Ridge is a disturbing exception.

Keeping it that way has to be the goal of our politicians in their response. And providing the space for the province to appropriately mourn, first, should be the goal of the premier and his government.

After a day of provincial grief, the next week, the legislature can resume.

Then, politicians can come together to do the work to ensure such horror never happens again.

Rob Shaw has spent more than 18 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for BIV. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio. rob@robshawnews.com n

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WITH THE 2034 WINTER OLYMPICS ON THE HORIZON IN UTAH, DEER VALLEY RESORT DOUBLES DOWN

BY VINCE SHULEY

Deer Valley Resort is expanding. Not just with a new lift, an adjoining alpine bowl or a handful of freshly cut ski runs. In December 2025, the Utah ski destination all but doubled its terrain from 931 hectares (2,300 acres) to 1,740 hectares (4,300 acres), the largest increase of skiable terrain in resort history. The eye-watering $2-billion investment includes 10 new lifts (including a state-of-the-art 10-person gondola), an entire new base area at East Village and revitalization of its existing facilities.

The expansion project, termed “Expanded Excellence” by Deer Valley, is the result of an agreement between Deer Valley’s corporate owner Alterra Mountain Company and Extell Development, a New York-based real estate development company that has owned the undeveloped land adjacent to Deer Valley (previously known as Mayflower Resort) since 2017. According to Utah Business writer Michael Zuccarello, “While Extell flirted with the idea of opening a standalone ski resort, the prospect of wrapping a new alpine base village in the Deer Valley brand name was always alluring.” In the agreement, Alterra would lease the land from Extell to build and operate the ski infrastructure and Extell would lead the development of the base area and amenities.

In a U.S. economy that’s outperforming expectations despite a growing affordability crisis, the Winter Olympics set to return to Utah in 2034 and a climate where consistent snowfall is proving elusive globally, Deer Valley is doubling down on its unique ski-only, guest-forward experience and sending ripples throughout the North American ski industry.

THE PARK CITY PORTFOLIO

Deer Valley is a resort owned by the Alterra group located in Park City, an approximately 40-minute drive from Salt Lake City International airport. Deer Valley shares a boundary rope with the Vail Resorts-owned resort Park City Mountain, which itself became the largest ski area in the U.S. at 2,950 hectares (7,300 acres) after merging with the adjacent Canyons resort in 2015. Eight more ski resorts are also less than an hour drive from Salt Lake City, the major ones including Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude, all competing for regional and destination skier visits.

With competition fierce not only in Utah but in the neighbouring states of Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho, Deer Valley markets itself as having three distinct value propositions; exceptional guest service, a limit of daily skier visits to manage overcrowding (the number depends on factors like open terrain and available outdoor seating), and most controversially, not allowing snowboards on the mountain.

“Deer Valley has been through a lot of changes over the last few years,” says Riley Elliot, communications specialist for the resort. “We were acquired by Alterra, we adapted our operations around the COVID-19 pandemic and we invested in the largest ski resort expansion in the history of the continent. We had so much feedback from our longtime guests asking us, ‘We understand you need to grow, but please don’t change.’ Our guests cherish the ski-only experience, and we’ve made the commitment that it’s a policy that will not change.”

ENGINEERING AN EXPANSION

Designing Deer Valley’s expansion was the responsibility of architecture and planning firm SE Group led by its principal Chris Cushing, whose father, Joe Cushing, is credited with the design of Deer Valley when it opened in 1981. The new East Village area’s complex topography meant the placement of lifts and selection of ski runs wasn’t immediately obvious, both in how the East Village operates as a base area and how it connects to the rest of the resort.

“It was very important to us that this expansion did not feel like a bolt-on to Deer Valley, nor a separated ski experience,” says Garrett Lang, senior director of mountain operations at Deer Valley. “The new runs have the same look and feel; the same flowy nature, the same consistent pitch that’s not off-camber, so we can maintain our high grooming standards. It’s also a seamless travel experience between the expansion and the original Deer Valley terrain. You don’t need to take one specific lift to get over there. It just keeps going.”

Deer Valley skiers are big fans of blue terrain, and the resort features plenty of “double blue” groomers with a steeper pitch. But advanced runs were not left off the menu.

“People think of Deer Valley as not having advanced terrain, which really isn’t true,” says Lang. “We have Daly Bowl and the Daly Chutes, we have Empire Bowl, we have Lady Morgan Bowl, Triangle Trees, Sultan terrain, Mayflower… Those are all advanced black areas that are awesome for powder days. Now we’re adding Redemption Ridge and Park Peak, which more than doubles our advanced terrain.”

With such a broad front for the expansion, Deer Valley designed the East expansion to operate with 10 new lifts, with the East Village Gondola as its centrepiece. Three chairs opened for the 2024-25 season to let staff and guests “wrap their heads around the expansion” with two more chairs continuing construction throughout the 2024-25 winter as weather allowed. The biggest sprint came during the summer of 2025, when four chairlifts were installed, and the final touches on the East Village Gondola were completed.

“Since the agreement with Alterra and Extell in August of 2023, it’s been foot to the floor with planning and logistics,” says Lang. “We would have multiple weekly meetings because there were so many different contractors here. Doppelmayer, independent lift installers, our snowmaking installer, and then there was also civil infrastructure being installed like electric, sewer and fibre. They’re sharing the same paths on the mountains, either on the roads or on the ski runs. Everybody is always going to think that they should take priority, so to speak. We always had to find a way to meet in the middle. It’s been piecing together the puzzle of getting the lifts done, but getting everything else we needed to get done, done.”

One of the more exciting parts of the lift installation was the aviation spectacle. Blackhawk helicopters were used for their high payload capacity for most of the lift towers, but the sheer size of the East Village gondola towers and sheave wheel assemblies required a twin-rotor Chinook helicopter. In true Deer Valley style, the resort hosted a summer spectator event named “Future in Flight” at the top of Bald Mountain to witness the aircraft and their pilots at work. About one thousand guests attended, the event serving as a primer for what was to come the following winter.

FUTURE-PROOFING WINTER

Even with some of the best customer service in the world, Deer Valley can’t offer its signature ski experience without snow. The town of Park City sits at 2,114 m (6,936 ft) of elevation (approximately the same height as the peak of Whistler Mountain) with surrounding peaks reaching higher than 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The high altitude means rain is rare in the winter and snow quality is some of the best in the world, often compared to that of Hokkaido, Japan. But like every winter resort destination,, snow is never a given. The start of the 2025-26 winter in Utah was unseasonably warm with very little precipitation, but once temperatures dropped, Deer Valley fired up its expanded snowmaking infrastructure, which Lang described as “state of the art, you really have to go to Europe to see anything similar.” More than 128km (80miles) of air/water pipe delivers about 10,000 gallons (37,800 L) of water per minute in the expanded terrain, bringing Deer Valley’s total snowmaking capacity to 18,500 gallons (70,000 L) per minute. With a new retention pond under construction, that capacity will increase beyond 25,000 gallons (94,600 L) per minute through a network of 1,100 stick guns and 150 fan guns. But the beauty of the snowmaking network is its automation. Deer Valley staff can monitor wet bulb temperatures throughout the resort and turn on snowmaking on entire runs from a centralized location, meaning the guns don’t require personnel to snowmobile around and switch on each gun individually. This time-saving technology optimizes the snow production while being as efficient as possible with water and energy.

MAKING GROWTH SUSTAINABLE

Park City sees international visitors from Canada, Mexico and Australia, with growing markets in the U.K. and Europe, as well as South America. But the skier visits are dwarfed by the domestic market across the U.S., with the

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“You don’t want to necessarily be a onecompany town ... It’s actually helpful to have Alterra expand its footprint. Prior to the expansion, Deer Valley was more of a box canyon, meaning you had to drive all the way into town to access the lifts.”

- DAN HOWARD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEER VALLEY RESORT

FEATURE STORY

majority of those skier visitors being regional Utahns. With Park City Mountain and Deer Valley owned by Vail Resorts and Alterra respectively, Epic Pass and Ikon Pass holders are both catered to.

“You don’t want to necessarily be a one-company town,” said Dan Howard, vice president of sales and communications at Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors. “It’s actually helpful to have Alterra expand its footprint. Prior to the expansion, Deer Valley was more of a box canyon, meaning you had to drive all the way into town to access the lifts. By punching through to (US Route) 40 and putting in 1,200 parking spaces next to the highway, you can imagine how many vehicle trips it will save, for both visitors and workers. That’s really the goal in the long run: keep cars on the exterior of the town and gondola in the last couple of miles.”

It’s a model seen in many European resorts; keeping car traffic and congestion out on the perimeter and preserving the pedestrian experience of the town itself. One of Deer Valley’s marketing bullet points with its Expanded Excellence project is being able to drive from Salt Lake City airport to the East Village without hitting a single traffic light. With the 2032 Winter Olympics looming, such strategic infrastructure decisions will be key in managing Park City’s projected tourism growth.

A BEACON OF PROGRESS

Utah has been a resource-driven state since its inception, with mining playing a major role in the state’s economy. Park City itself was a mining town in decline before tourism breathed new life into the city in the 1980s and ’90s. It now leads the state in sustainable energy policies with an aggressive carbon-neutral goal aiming to have all residential energy consumption 100-per-cent renewable by 2030. For example, Park City Mountain powers most of its operations via wind and solar energy.

Park City can attribute a lot of its progressive identity to the Sundance Film Festival. For the 40 years of hosting the festival (which moves to Boulder, Colorado in 2027), Park City’s residents were exposed to forward-thinking ideas brought by independent filmmakers through an environmental, social and cultural lens. The way the community works together to solve problems is a point of pride among locals.

“We’re reinvesting things that help locals be successful,” says Howard. “Ski towns can very easily become elitist. Park City is really trying to go in the other direction. The key to success in a town like this is collaboration. I would be surprised if there was another town that had strong Alterra, strong Vail corp but collaborated on everything. I think that that’s unusual and I think it really sums up how Park City operates as a town. Solutions come from everyone being at the table.”

Canadians observing the U.S. through the current volatile political and economic narrative might have more in common with the people of Park City than they think.

“I spent a lot of time in Canada and I really see our town behaving more like a Canadian city than a U.S. city,” says Howard. “When we go to Canada, it’s quite rewarding to watch how cooperative and generous people are with each other. The Canadians say, ‘of course, what are you talking about?’ But the United States doesn’t operate like that. So we are doing things a little different in Park City. The way that people pull together, they see each other as allies and collaborators instead of rivals, those are the ways these solutions get done.” n

PublicNoticeisherebygiveninaccordancewithSection466ofthe Local GovernmentAct that asecondelectronicPublicHearingwillbeheldregardingthe followingbylaws:

1.Squamish-LillooetRegionalDistrictElectoralAreaA ZoningBylawNo.670,1999, AmendmentBylawNo.1862-2024

2.Squamish-LillooetRegionalDistrictElectoralAreaA OfficialCommunityPlan BylawNo.1822-2023,AmendmentBylawNo.1943-2026

PurposeofBylawNo.1862-2024and1943-2026

ThebylawsareassociatedwithanapplicationtoamendthezoningandOCP designationat128LorneStreetinBralornetopermitexpandedcommercial operationsontheparcel.Theproposalincludes: Conversionoftheexistingprincipalresidencebuildingintoa lodgewithfour guestroomsthatcanaccommodateuptoeightguestsunder apensionuse Sixservicedguestcabins

Anaccessorybuildingwithcommonfacilitiesanda caretakersuite Inaddition,theapplicanthasappliedtobeabletohosteventsontheproperty undera commercialassemblyuse.Thecurrentzoningprovidesforbedand breakfastuse,butnofurthercommercialuses.Thecurrentlandusedesignation undertheOCPisResidentialandResourceManagement.

Thebylawswerethesubjectof apreviouselectronicpublichearing,heldonJuly30, 2024. AsecondpublichearingwasheldonNovember27,2025.However,the advertisingofthatpublichearingdidnotmeetlegislatedrequirementsunderthe LocalGovernmentAct,andanotherpublichearingisbeingheldtoaddressthe discrepancy.Thissecondpublichearingwillcoverproposedmanagement approachesaswellasplannedbylawamendments.

TheareacoveredbyBylawNo.1862-2024andBylawNo.1943-2026is PID017-228-476,LOT BDISTRICTLOT5485LILLOOETDISTRICTPLANKAP44796 EXCEPTPLANKAP81908,as outlinedonthemapincludedinthisnotice.

Information

Acopyoftheproposedbylawsand relevantbackgrounddocuments maybeinspectedattheRegional Districtoffice,1350AsterStreet, Pemberton,BC,duringofficehours 8:00amto4:00pm,notincluding weekendsandstatutoryholidaysor byreviewinganelectroniccopyon theSLRDwebsite: SLRD.bc.ca/Devprojects-128-lorne-st Allpersonswhobelievethattheir interestinthepropertyisaffectedby theproposedbylawsshallbe afforded areasonableopportunityto presentwrittensubmissions respectingmatterscontainedinthe bylaws.

WrittenSubmissions

Writtensubmissionsmustbeaddressedto“SLRDBoardofDirectors,”andinclude yournameandcommunityofresidence.Until4:00pmonFebruary17,2026,written submissionswillbereceivedatthefollowing:

Email:planning@SLRD.bc.ca

HardCopy:Squamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict,PlanningDepartment POBox219,Pemberton,BCV0N2L0

WrittensubmissionswillalsobeacceptedonFebruary17,2026between4:00pm andthetimewhenthemotiontoclosethePublicHearingismade.Duringthis timeframe,writtencommentsmustbesubmittedbyemailto:kbell@slrd.bc.ca ParticipateviaZoom

ThePublicHearingwilltakeplaceelectronicallyonFebruary17,2026,at7pm. AlinkwillbepostedontheSLRDwebsitethreedayspriortothePublicHearing. YoumayalsoemailthePlanningDepartmentthreedayspriortothePublicHearing atplanning@slrd.bc.catorequestanynecessaryinformation.

Recapping local athlete results from the 2026 Olympic Winter Games

EMBYR-LEE

SUSKO 15TH IN

LUGE SINGLES; JACK CRAWFORD NINTH IN DOWNHILL

BY DAVID SONG

SEA TO SKY OLYMPIANS were busy in the first week of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina Milano, Italy. Here is a roundup of local athlete results as of Pique’s weekly press time.

Stay tuned to piquenewsmagazine.com for more local results as the Games continue.

EMBYR-LEE SUSKO 15TH AT MAIDEN LUGE SINGLES EVENT

Battling through adversity, Embyr-Lee Susko wrapped up her Olympic luge singles debut as top Canadian in 15th.

Susko clocked in at three minutes and 33.802 seconds over four runs, including a mistake-laden jaunt No. 2 down track on Monday that left her visibly upset. The Whistlerite rallied on Tuesday to leapfrog Pembertonian Trinity Ellis, who ended up 17th (3:34.329).

Julia Taubitz of Germany found redemption from Beijing 2022, where she crashed, to prevail (3:30.625) over Latvia’s runner-up Elina Bota (3:31.543). Ashley Farquharson earned bronze for the United States (3:31.582).

“I had a real high yesterday and a real low, so to be able to come from that and have two really good runs today felt really awesome,” Susko said in a press release. “I decided that I wanted to do this for myself. I have realized through this experience there is so much support around the Olympics. It is all positive, but you don’t realize how much it gets to you as an athlete, knowing you have all of these people who don’t normally watch your sport, now watching.

“I learned that I truly do this sport for me because I love this sport. This has

been the best experience of my life. It has been incredible to race in the Olympics in front of friends and family.”

Ellis finished 14th at the Beijing Winter Games last quadrennial. She admitted: “I’m definitely disappointed, I had higher expectations than that. It just sucks when you can’t put it together when it counts. I think there was definitely some positive steps. I was showing some good things in training and I feel like I have grown a lot, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me to put four good runs together.”

In other news, Jasper Fleming did not qualify for the men’s 20-kilometre individual biathlon finals and placed 86th. Medals went to Johan-Olav Botn (51:31.50) followed by Eric Perrot (51:46.30) and Sturla Holm Laegreid (52:19.80) in that order. Shockingly, Laegreid used his postevent interview to admit that he cheated on his girlfriend, who has not contacted him as of this writing.

JACK CRAWFORD NINTH AT OLYMPIC DOWNHILL

Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) alum Jack Crawford placed ninth to lead all Canadian men on Feb. 7 in Bormio’s alpine downhill event.

Crawford’s time of one minute and 53 seconds wasn’t enough to threaten the medallists, especially Swiss standout Franjo von Allmen who notched gold convincingly (1:51.61). Two Italians likewise maximized their opportunity: Giovanni Franzoni struck silver (1:51.81) and Dominik Paris took bronze (1:52.11).

“It was a good day. This is one of my favourite tracks and favourite places to be,” said Crawford in a press release. “I’ve been struggling a little bit to find confidence in my skiing and today I finally brought a level that could’ve won the race but I made a few mistakes that cost me a shot at a medal.

“It’s Bormio, it’s one of the hardest, if not the hardest track on the circuit. I made

a mistake in the middle of the course and it killed all of my speed. On this course, in that section, it’s a bad place to make a mistake. But I’m feeling good and looking to bring the same approach and the same skiing to the super-G in a few days.”

Two other WMSC alumni laboured on the daunting Stelvio slope, featuring top speeds between 130 and 150 kilometres per hour. Cameron Alexander ended up 14th despite a few close calls (1:53.49) and Brodie Seger finished 28th (1:54.96).

“A little bit disappointed in the result today, but happy with what I put into this and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way,” said Alexander, who owns World Cup bronzes from 2023 and 2024 in Bormio. “I had a couple of spots where I lost some speed today and that cost me. My skiing is in a really good spot and I feel good coming into the super-G. It’s nice to have another race to have a shot at a medal.”

AVERY KRUMME 11TH IN SLOPESTYLE; 16TH FOR JOE DAVIES IN SKIATHLON

Squamish’s Avery Krumme came 11th in her maiden Olympic appearance in ski slopestyle.

Krumme’s best effort scored 52.40 points, and at 17 years of age she was the final’s youngest athlete. She proved unable to challenge podium finishers like Megan Oldham, who took bronze for Canada despite a bone-jarring fall in her second run (76.46). Swiss standout Mathilde Gremaud repeated as Olympic champion (86.96), forcing her Chinese rival Eileen Gu to settle for silver (86.58).

Gremaud prevailed over Gu at the Beijing Winter Games four years ago as well.

Although Krumme represented Canada at the 2024 FIS Junior World Championships, she is a dual citizen who joined the United States freestyle roster for 2025-26 and placed fourth in big air at Steamboat Springs, Colo. before landing in Italy.

Meanwhile, Pemberton’s Joe Davies

wound up 16th in his first Olympic crosscountry race, the 10km + 10km skiathlon.

Davies finished in 47 minutes 35.9 seconds, three spots behind top Canadian Xavier McKeever (47:22.30). Generational Norwegian talent Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his sixth career Olympic gold (46:11.30), while Mathis Desloges of France was controversially allowed to keep his silver medal despite cutting a corner early on (46:13.00). That left Martin Nyenget to join his countryman Klaebo on the podium with bronze (46:13.10).

“Not quite where we wanted to be, but better things to come on Friday if I can stay on my feet,” wrote Davies on social media. He represents Great Britain internationally, but was raised in Pemberton and is the first man from British Columbia to notch a topsix World Cup result.

Elsewhere in the Nordic sports world, Jasper Fleming of Squamish joined Adam Runnalls, Pascale Paradis and Nadia Moser to place 17th for Canada in the biathlon mixed team relay. France triumphed over runner-up Italy and Germany, which ended up third.

“My debut didn’t exactly go the way I’d have wanted, especially after being handed the perfect race by my teammates, but today’s race showed me exactly where I can/need to be and you better believe come Tuesday I know what to do,” Fleming said on his Instagram account. “Thank you Canada for standing behind me, and my team. The Games are far from over, let’s turn this around!”

Juliette Pelchat did not advance to the snowboard big air final, with a two-run score of 148 points landing her in 16th. Her older compatriot Laurie Blouin also missed the top-12 cutoff in 14th (150.25), while Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand rode away as top qualifier (172.25).

Pelchat appeared to be in good spirits despite her disappointment, remarking on CBC’s broadcast that she was “just happy to be” at the Olympics. n

SPORTS THE SCORE

Freestyle Whistler’s Agness Friesen loved skiing ‘from the very first day’

THE REIGNING JUNIOR NATIONALS GOLD MEDALLIST WISHES TO CHAMPION DIVERSITY IN HER SPORT

BY DAVID SONG

AGNESS FRIESEN is acutely cognizant of the fact no other girls in her favourite sport look like her, but she’s not going to let that be an impediment.

Much the opposite: she wants to prove that “no matter where you are from or what you look like, you can be on top of the podium in freestyle skiing.”

Agness was born in the landlocked southern African country of Zambia. After being adopted by the Friesen family, older brothers Evan and Isaac promised they would teach her to ski— and that she was going to love it.

Then at four years old, having been in Canada for just four days, Agness went to Grouse Mountain. She laid eyes on snow for her very first time and immediately felt determined to ski. Her mom Megan recommended she just play around to begin with, but the young girl wouldn’t be denied.

Evan and Isaac’s predictions quickly came true.

“From the very first day, I loved skiing,” Agness remembered. “The only time I cried was when my brothers left me behind. I really wanted to ski with them and their friends, so I was super motivated to get better as fast as I could. After three months of skiing at Grouse, I went to Whistler and skied my first black diamond and discovered how much I loved the powder of Whistler.”

Agness begged her parents to sign her up for Freestyle Whistler at seven years of age, landing her inaugural 360 a year later. Never one to back down from skiing alongside boys or older peers, she quickly became enamoured with the discipline’s focus on creativity and problem-solving. In her mind, not much can beat the feeling of landing a new trick for the first time.

Now 14, Agness regularly executes cork 900s while showing off variations of a K-fed (frontside swap, backside 270 spin-out) and Britney (backside swap, frontside 270 out) on the rails. She’s the incumbent Junior Nationals champ in her age group and also made it to the second round of 2024’s World Ski and Snowboard Festival Rail Jam.

‘EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGING AND KIND’

The Friesens live in North Vancouver, but also own a place in Creekside. All are involved with Freestyle Whistler: Evan and Isaac coach, while Agness praises the club’s sense of community and mentorship.

“I love being part of Freestyle Whistler because the coaches are all really good skiers and know exactly what you need

PHOTO BY JONATHAN FRIESEN

to get better,” she said. “They are really supportive. In freestyle skiing, you spend a lot of time with your coaches and teammates so you get to know each other really well. Everyone is encouraging and kind, and it’s one of the few sports where you actually become friends with both younger and older athletes on the team. When we travel to competitions, we all cheer each other on, hang out together, and it is always such a good time.”

One of Agness’ key mentors is Evan, 20, who formerly competed at a national level. He encourages her to level up while possessing a keen understanding of her abilities, so when Evan gives his thumbsup, she knows she is capable of stomping a given trick.

Isaac, 17, plays provincial football and rugby. He motivates Agness by exhorting her to remain fit, diversifying her athletic skill set—which she does by participating in high-level soccer.

“Soccer gives me great cardio and works on a lot of fitness and staying in shape so I don’t get tired as quickly as everyone else,” Agness said. “It also works on agility and footwork, which helps me on the rails. Freestyle skiing helps my soccer since skiing is more about the mental stuff. It involves more stressful situations … because it is an individual sport where all the attention is on you, I am able to handle pressure well in soccer games.”

Going forward, Agness intends to try and make the BC freestyle team while adding Canada Cup podiums and another Junior Nationals victory to her resume. n

Chocolats Favoris opens new store in Whistler

OWNERS STEVE AND KAREN DESMEULES HAVE FREQUENTED THE QUEBEC-BASED FRANCHISE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS

BY DAVID SONG

MANY FRENCH CANADIANS are already familiar with the Chocolats Favoris brand. British Columbia is getting acquainted, and Whistler is the latest to hop on this particularly sweet bandwagon.

Back on Jan. 17, Chocolats Favoris opened its third B.C. location in Whistler Village. As a true family business, the store is owned by husband-and-wife duo Steve and Karen Desmeules with their eldest son Nick as assistant manager. Guests have already discovered the brand’s iconic real chocolate dipping station, where soft serve is dipped into one of 12 flavours (including cotton candy, salted caramel, dulce de leche, cookies and cream and more).

Also available are signature Kooky Cones, rotating surprise dips, takehome fondue tins and various premium chocolate bars. All Chocolats Favoris cocoa is ethically sourced in support of fair wages and environmental stewardship, while no additives and oils can be found in its products.

“You can mix and match different flavourings,” Karen explained. “We will be having vegan-friendly options, the raspberry sorbet and vanilla oak-based

ice cream as well. The Kooky version is the matching tops that go with the flavour—for example, if you’re doing a salted caramel, you’re going to have maple popcorn and pretzel pieces. Basically, whatever you can imagine with this beautiful chocolate we can do. Plus we have our merchandise, which is beautifully packaged and offered as well.”

Dominique Brown, CEO of Chocolats Favoris, expressed his enthusiasm for the Sea to Sky market in a press release.

“Whistler is a natural fit for Chocolats Favoris,” he said. “It is a place where people come together, locals and visitors alike, echoing our passion for creating chocolate experiences that are meant

have been an obvious choice to helm this business. Karen was a special education teacher and Steve possesses a background in running IT companies. Both, however, love Chocolats Favoris: they’ve been regulars for 20 years and whenever they go to Steve’s home province of Quebec, the chocolate store often gets visited first.

When the couple reached out to the franchise roughly two years ago, they didn’t send your usual marketing pitch email. Instead they submitted a photo gallery documenting all of their personal Chocolats Favoris experiences dating back to when their kids were young.

“It’s a huge learning curve, but we are loving it,” Karen said about her and her husband’s maiden food industry

“Our favourite part is going into the front of the store and chatting with people, finding out where they’re from, what do they know about Chocolats Favoris?”

- KAREN DESMEULES

to be shared with family and friends. We’re especially proud to partner with franchisees like Karen, Steve and Nick, whose passion and family values truly embody the Chocolats Favoris culture.”

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

On paper, the Desmeules family may not

experience. “People are coming into the store already relaxed, they’re on vacation, they’re tourists and generally pretty happy because they’re looking for dessert. Our favourite part is going into the front of the store and chatting with people, finding out where they’re from, what do they know about Chocolats Favoris? A lot of people don’t know

anything about it. They don’t know that it’s based in Quebec. It’s been around for over 50 years there.”

Steve added: “Whether it’s IT or not, it’s just trying to make whoever you’re dealing with better at the end of the interaction. When anyone from Quebec shows up, they know the brand and it’s like a family reunion. Some of them give me hugs because they’re so happy and connecting with them—being French Canadian myself—has been fabulous. They say things like, ‘my family used to send this to me in the mail.’ We’ve had people come from all over the world and be very open to that new experience. They’re just shocked at how good the chocolate is and how it’s presented.”

Karen has been surprised to hear how frequently Steve switches to French in dealing with a bevy of Quebecois customers, and she also lauded the store’s multicultural employees. There are Chinese expatriates, Spanish speakers, Japanese folks and an arriving crop of Germans all intentionally hired to cater to Whistler’s diverse range of locals and visitors.

The Desmeules clan reports that sales are both consistent and robust as of this writing, but perhaps the highest praise originates from guests who enter and immediately liken Chocolats Favoris to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. In Karen’s words, it’s not just about the sweets. It’s about bringing “magical experiences” to friends and family.

Visit chocolatsfavoris.com/en to learn more. n

MEADOW PARK SPORTS CENTRE

SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH

OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

*some exceptions apply

classes are included with your price of admission for no extra charge.

Family Day –No classes

Lost Lake Nordic Trails

Outdoor Skating Whistler Olympic Plaza

Meadow Park

Sports Centre Family Day hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

(Excluded drop-in hockey and Parent and Child Stick & Puck admissions)

Winter Carnival returns to the Point Artist-Run Centre Feb. 15 and 16

VANCOUVER SURF ROCK BAND THE REVIBERATORS ARE ON DECK TO HEADLINE

BY DAVID SONG

THE UPCOMING Point Artist-Run Centre (PARC) Winter Carnival will feature a new band to headline its Sunday night—but one of that band’s members is familiar with Whistler.

Jodie Ponto visited the PARC three years ago by way of an act dubbed Kitty and the Rooster, but she has now joined Noah Walker to form The ReViberators: an instrumental surf rock trio from East Vancouver. Together they’ll grace the Carnival with music that pays homage to an American rock standout, the late Dick Dale.

“Dale was one of the greats of that style of [surf] music,” remarks PARC artistic director Stephen Vogler. “Jodie plays drums, Noah is a phenomenal guitar player who plays in various acts and then they have a bass player. Really fun, lively stuff and a bit of a juxtaposition, having surf music for a Winter Carnival … that segues nicely into this weather that we’re having. It’s been a pretty warm winter,

unfortunately, and [unpredictable weather] makes the Carnival different every year.”

In February 2025, Whistler found itself in the grasp of a cold spell that made event organizers hopeful for frozen lake activities like curling and shinny hockey. Those are probably off the table this year barring a dramatic weather pattern change, but the Carnival’s Family Day lineup remains packed with music from

Inoue, who volunteers at the PARC, told Vogler donut or sweet bread eating in her country involves the treats being hung from strings, which are in turn attached to long sticks. Hungry kids run towards the donuts, consume them and then bolt towards a finish line to determine the winner. Vogler said “make it so” for the imminent Carnival, appreciative of the multicultural element.

“It’s been a pretty warm winter, unfortunately, and [unpredictable weather] makes the Carnival different every year.”

- STEPHEN VOGLER

Greg Kelly and Rachel Strobl, an indoor dance party facilitated by DJ Ira Pettle, snow sculpting, and food and beverages from Cypress Point Cafe and Harrop’s Bar.

The donut-eating contest will look different, however. Originally started because of former PARC bartender “Big Kev” Mikkelsen (who grew up in Ontario with such traditions), this year’s contest will have a Japanese flair to it courtesy of Izumi Inoue.

‘THE GENERAL SHAPE OF THE CARNIVAL’

In addition to ReViberators music, a dinner, as well as a Comedy and Winter Art Auction hosted by Laugh Out LIVE!, is scheduled for Sunday evening.

The full list of artists contributing to the auction has not been confirmed as of this writing, but Christina Nick and Mélisse Carron are on board. Nick is a painter and sculptor who divides her time between

Whistler and France, while Carron makes prints in addition to her paintings. Both will be making their Carnival debut.

Chris Quinlan, the fastest-talking local Vogler knows, is back to run the auction as Jonny Fleet and Brandon Barrett provide a comedic aspect to the evening. Fleet is also a filmmaker helming Laugh Out LIVE!’s first dinner theatre program “A Whistler Wedding,” while Barrett is a recurring presence at various Sea to Sky arts shows like Icon Gone, the PARC Flag Stop Festival and John McGie’s Chair Series monologues.

“[Jonny and Brandon] are both very funny people,” Vogler says. “Last year it was Ira and Rebecca Mason from Laugh Out LIVE! who performed and it was the first time we tried that … a great hybrid of comedy with art auction. I don’t know for sure if Brandon and Jonny are doing the same approach, but something along those lines.

“The general shape of the Carnival is something that we work with. It kind of remains the same with painters painting on Sunday, the evening show with the band, dinner and art auction, and then daytime stuff [on Monday].”

Visit thepointartists.com/ events/9th-annual-winter-carnival-atthe-point-ma3gp for tickets and more information about the Carnival, which runs on Feb. 15 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 from noon until 4 p.m. n

The Bookshelf: Something, Not Nothing by Sarah Leavitt

BY PRU MOORE

SOMETHING, NOT NOTHING  by Sarah Leavitt is a graphic memoir that chronicles the author’s journey through the death of her beloved partner, Donimo, after 22 years together. Using impressionistic cartoon panels and minimal text, Leavitt conveys the grief, terror, and confusion she experienced in the wake of Donimo’s choice to die by medical assistance—and her two-year journey toward healing.

The book explores themes of love and loss, the contrast between “natural” and medically assisted death, the transformative power of art, and the complex, often contradictory emotions that come with grief. Leavitt, who teaches comics at the UBC School of Creative Writing, masterfully communicates these layers through expressive artwork in ink, coloured pencils, and watercolours.

What I appreciated most about the book was Leavitt’s careful choice of imagery and words to express what often feels inexpressible. The narrative is at times both clear and disorienting— reflecting the emotional chaos of her experience. While the book opens in a very dark place, Leavitt gradually finds her way back to love and laughter. Her abstract, often wordless panels invite the reader to interpret them in deeply personal ways. The book is intimate and deeply human. Though grief is unique to each of us, much of what Leavitt shares feels relatable, and I found myself full of empathy for her.

The topic is especially timely. As baby boomers and their families face aging and death, Leavitt’s story reminds us these conversations are urgent and necessary. There is no escaping death— and sharing our stories helps us process and find meaning.

That said, I found myself missing one element I’ve personally experienced with the death of a loved one. It’s the quiet, guilty sense of relief that can come when someone dies, particularly after prolonged suffering. Perhaps Leavitt

didn’t feel this, or perhaps she chose not to include it. Still, it felt like an omission. Donimo’s choice for MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) was assessed and approved by two separate doctors. I was curious to know more about that process and its emotional impact on Leavitt.

Overall, I recommend this book. It’s honest, human, and deeply affecting. The graphic novel—here, a graphic memoir—is a genre I hadn’t explored before, but now I understand why my grandchildren are so drawn to it. It’s a powerful medium for such a difficult and important subject. And in the end, I agree with Leavitt: what happens after we die is, indeed, something, not nothing

Overall, I recommend this book. It’s honest, human, and deeply affecting.

Leavitt is an associate professor in the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, where she has developed and taught undergraduate and graduate comics classes since 2012. She is the author of the graphic memoir  Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me (2010), and the awardwinning historical fiction comic  Agnes, Murderess  (2019). Leavitt appeared at the Whistler Writers Festival last year.

The Bookshelf is presented by the Whistler Writing Society, hosts of the Whistler Writers Festival. Pru Moore is an avid reader and writer, and longtime fan of the Whistler Writers Festival. She has retired from a long career as an ICU nurse and college teacher. Her passions are her friends and family, politics, swimming, and choir.  n

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

FAMILY DAY AT THE AUDAIN

THE ART OF THE COCKTAIL: LOVE & ART

Celebrate love, art, and connection at a special Valentine’s edition of Art of the Cocktail inspired by the Yosef Wosk Collection. This romantic evening invites guests to explore themes of beauty, emotion, and intimacy found within the works of Picasso, Chagall and Goya. Following a quick gallery discussion, the bartenders from The Raven Room will guide guests through an inspired cocktail-making session.

> Feb. 13, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

> Audain Art Museum

PORTOBELLO FAMILY APRES

Inspired by Whistler’s ski culture, Family Après brings together live music, kid-friendly activities, and tasty bites for the whole family every Saturday. After a day on the slopes, it is the perfect way to celebrate and start a new tradition of mountain weekends. Highlights include complimentary maple taffy, cookie decorating kits with the purchase of a kids’ meal, and a variety of games and coloring kits.

> Feb. 14, 3 to 5 p.m.

> Portobello

LUGE CANADA CUP #3

Stakes are high as the Canada Cup #3 marks the final stop before the BC Luge Championships. Athletes will give it their all in this last chance to qualify and gain momentum heading into the season’s biggest showdown, the BC Luge champs! Expect fierce competition, fast ice, and unforgettable moments. This is your chance to be part of something extraordinary.

> Feb. 14

> Whistler Sliding Centre

SLCC FAMILY DAY WEEKEND

This Family Day Weekend, bring your loved ones to

looking. Gallery is open Thursday through to Monday.

> Feb. 14 to April 27

> Audain Art Museum

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. 15

> Whistler Sliding Centre

FAMILY DAY AT THE AUDAIN

Enjoy free admission to the Museum with thanks to the generous support of Glacier Media Inc. and Pique Newsmagazine. Complimentary Family Day programming includes vault tours with the director, kids’ art-making stations, docent hot spots, a DJ Après party and more!

> Feb. 16, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

> Audain Art Museum

TWILIGHT SOUND BATH

An invitation to gather in community to connect, share and journey inwards for relaxation, restoration and revitalization. Soak in the soothing melodic sound waves as they guide you into a deeply restful and rejuvenating meditative experience with a blend of chimes, gongs and singing sound bowls. Feb. 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Maury Young Arts Centre

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

Registration includes access to the galleries on the day mat (or borrow one from the AAM) and enjoy some mind

Pass which includes two adults and two children.

> Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

INTO THE WOSK COLLECTION

The Museum’s newest exhibition offers a glimpse into the eclectic collecting vision of Dr. Yosef Wosk, featuring photographs and works on paper by some of the twentieth century’s most influential artists. Highlights range from iconic portraiture to striking landscapes and still lifes, revealing the depth and breadth of a collection shaped by curiosity and close

> Audain Art Museum

KOKANEE VALLEY RACE SERIES

Come out and have some fun with your friends and coworkers. This race series is open to skiers, snowboarders, and telemarkers with different gender and age divisions. No racing experience is required to join the fun of recreational racing and everyone is eligible to win great prizes! Held on select Thursdays throughout the season.

> Feb. 19

> On-mountain

Whistler’s remaining old-growth forests

BY KRISTINA SWERHUN

“Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?”

– E. O. Wilson

WHISTLER IS FORTUNATE to be surrounded by temperate rainforest, which is essential to the resort’s appeal as a tourist destination. Forests have also proven to be highly beneficial for human mental and physical health. Environmentally, trees are indispensable: they clean the air, regulate temperature, manage water, store carbon, and provide places for our wildlife neighbours to feed, breed, and rest. However, not all forests offer the same benefits. Old-growth forests, defined as undisturbed for at least 250 years, are vital to addressing the interconnected biodiversity and climate crises. Compared with second-growth forests, which have regenerated after human disturbance, old-growth forests have a more complex ecological structure that supports greater biodiversity. Whistler species that rely on old-growth forests include the spotted owl (last heard in Whistler in 1946), fisher, goshawk, and

a host of lichen, fungi, mosses, insects and amphibians.

On the climate side, old-growth forests store vast amounts of carbon in living trees, dead wood, and undisturbed soil. They also have greater climate resilience, and this is where things get fascinating. A key feature of old-growth forests is that trees of multiple species are connected below ground by a rich, complex fungal network that shares resources and information. Why would trees do this? Suzanne Simard at UBC studies these interactions and has said, “actually, it doesn’t make evolutionary sense for trees to behave like resourcegrabbing individualists. They live longest and reproduce most often in a healthy, stable forest. That’s why they’ve evolved to help their neighbours.”

Another way trees help their neighbours is by collaboratively managing microclimates for the benefit of the entire community—providing shade, buffering wind, and cycling water. This collaboration is another reason why, when old-growth forests are logged, they are gone forever. The biodiversity and ecological functions lost are not recovered in subsequent forests, leading to a loss of what made that ecosystem unique.

Since the early 1900s, Whistler’s forests have been logged extensively,

Free Will Astrology

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them,” wrote Ernest Hemingway. This Valentine season, I propose you experiment with his approach. Take a smart risk with people who have shown glimmers of reliability but whom you haven’t fully welcomed. Don’t indulge in reckless credulity, just courageous and discerning openness. Be vulnerable enough to discover what further connection might bloom if you lead with faith rather than suspicion. Your willingness to believe in someone’s better nature may help bring it forth.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbra Streisand addressed her legendary perfectionism. She said that truly interesting intimacy became available for her only after she showed her dear allies her full array of selves, not just her shiny, polished side. In alignment with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with the daring art of unfinished revelation. Let the people you care for witness you in the midst of becoming. Share your uncertainties, your half-formed thoughts, and your works in progress. Surprise! Your flaws may prove as endearing as your achievements.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” I believe this understanding of camaraderie should be at the heart of most Geminis’ destinies. It’s your birthright and your potential superpower to seek connections with people who inspire you to think thoughts and feel feelings you would never summon by yourself. You have an uncanny knack for finding allies and colleagues who help you unveil and express more of your total self. Now is a good time to tap further into these blessings.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Poet David Whyte said “heartbreak is unpreventable.” It’s “the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control.” But here’s the redemptive twist: Your capacity to

feel heartbreak proves you have loved well. Your shaky aches are emblems of your courageous readiness to risk closeness and be deeply affected. So let’s celebrate your tender heart not despite its vulnerability but because of it. You should brandish your sensitivity as a superpower.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Choreographer Twyla Tharp said she fell in love with her husband partly because “he was the only person who didn’t seem impressed by me.” I will extrapolate from that to draw this conclusion: Our most valuable allies might show their most rigorous respect by seeing us clearly. This Valentine season, Leo, I invite you to test the hypothesis that being thoroughly known and understood is more crucial than being regularly praised and flattered. Enrich your connections with the perceptive souls who love you not for your highlight reel but for your raw, genuine self.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The famously kind and caring author Anne Lamott confessed, “I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish.” That’s a liberating insight. She revealed that even kind, caring people like her harbour messy internal chaos. This Valentine season, Virgo, I dare you to share a few of your less-than-noble thoughts with soulful characters whom you trust will love you no matter what. Let them see that your goodness coexists with your salty imperfections. Maybe you could even playfully highlight the rough and rugged parts of you for their entertainment value. What’s the goal? To deepen spirited togetherness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How do we eagerly and daringly merge our fortunes with another person while maintaining our sovereign selfhood? How do we cultivate interesting togetherness without suppressing or diluting our idiosyncratic beauty? In some respects, this is a heroic experiment that seems almost impossible. In other respects,

and low-elevation old-growth forests that once covered the valley are now found only in limited areas. Commercial logging and thinning have continued by the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) since 2009, though old-growth logging was deferred in 2021.

One thing we heard at their latest open house is that the CCF is

BREZSNY

it’s the best work on the planet for anyone who’s brave enough to attempt it. Luckily for you Libras, this is potentially one of your superpowers. And now is an excellent time to take your efforts to the next level of heartful grittiness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s a quote by the character Carrie Bradshaw from the TV show Sex and the City: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, that’s fabulous.” I invite you to make this a prime meditation, Scorpio. To begin, get extra inspired by your own mysterious beauty: captivated by your own depths, fascinated by your mysterious contradictions, and delighted by your urge for continual transformation. The next step is to identify allies and potential allies who appreciate the strange magnificence you treasure in yourself. Who devoutly wants you to fulfil your genuine, idiosyncratic soul’s code? Spend the coming weeks enriching your connections with these people.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This Valentine season, I propose that you infuse your intimate life with a fun dose of playful curiosity. Visualize your beloved allies, both current and potential, as unfolding mysteries rather than solved puzzles. Ask them provocative questions you’ve never thought to ask before. Wonder aloud about their simmering dreams and evolving philosophies. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #1: When you think you’ve figured someone out completely, the relationship withers.) In fact, let’s make this one of your assignments for the next five months: Heighten and nurture your nosiness about the beautiful people you love. Treat each conversation as an expedition into unexplored territory. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #2: A great way to stoke their passion for you and your passion for them is to believe there’s always more to discover about each other.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ecologists studying symbiosis know that successful partnerships aren’t always

considering managing old-growth forests to “increase their resilience to climate change” as part of its broader Climate Resilience Plan, which focuses on managing multiple forest values, including wildfire risk reduction. Here things get tricky, because there are often unexpected negative consequences of humans’ best intentions: interventions intended to solve one problem often create new, unforeseen issues elsewhere in the complex, interconnected system of nature. Given that old-growth forests thrive on stability, attempting to manage them doesn’t make ecological sense, especially since they are already among the most climate-resilient ecosystems on Earth.

To learn more about Whistler’s irreplaceable old trees and forests, look for the Whistler’s Old and Ancient Trees guide at the Whistler Museum and Armchair Books. It was created by local researcher Bob Brett and the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE). Of note is that virtually all of Whistler’s remaining unlogged forests are more than 300 years old, and Whistler’s oldest known living tree, a yellow cedar in the Callaghan Valley, is estimated to be at least 1,250 years old. We are truly privileged to live among these magnificent trees and forests. n

between similar organisms. Some bonds link the fortunes of radically different creatures, like clownfish and sea anemones or oxpeckers and buffalo. Each supplies resources or protection the other lacks, often assuring they live more successfully together than they would on their own. This is useful information for you right now. At least one of the allies you need looks nothing like you. Their genius is orthogonal to yours, or they have skills you don’t. The blend may not be comfortable, but I bet it’s the precise intelligence you need to achieve what you can’t accomplish alone.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Poet Mary Oliver asked her readers, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This Valentine season, I propose a collaborative version of this prod: Ask those you care for to help you answer Oliver’s question, and offer to help them answer it for themselves. Now is an excellent time to act on the truth that vibrant intimacy involves the two of you inspiring each other to fulfil your highest callings. Do whatever it takes to make both of you braver and bolder as you learn more about who you are meant to be.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Can you care for stressed people without making it your duty to rescue them? Can you offer support without being taken advantage of? I hope so, Pisces. Life is inviting you to be more skilled about expressing your love without compromising your own interests. How? First, offer affection without signing up for endless service. Second, don’t let your empathy blur into entanglement. Third, monitor your urge to care so it doesn’t weaken your sovereignty. Your gift for soothing others’ struggles evokes my deep respect, but it’s most effective when it’s subtle and relaxed. Give people room to carry out their own necessary work.

Homework: What fresh, bold action on behalf of love could you take? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com. n

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Full-tim e| Regula r

JointheSquamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD)in aseniorbuilding officialroleprovidingbuildinginspectionsandensuringcode complianceacrosstheregion.

SLRD.bc.ca/careers

Salary:$109,965-$123,768

Plus acompetitivebenefitspackagethatincludescomprehensive extendedhealthanddentalbenefits,pensionplan,flexiblework options,learninganddevelopmentopportunities.

HeadquarteredinPemberton,theSquamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD) serves four membermunicipalities—Squamish,Whistler,Pemberton, and Lillooet—andfour electoralareas.Located in oneofBritish Columbia’s most scenic regions, theSLRDoffersa supportive, hybridworkenvironmentand anexceptionalplacetoliveandwork

COMMUNITY

GroupFitnessClasses

Friday

I7:30-8:30a.m.StrengthinPlay-Anna

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

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

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

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

•3-BedroomDuplex& 3-Bathroom

•CoveredHot Tub

•EVCharger

•8-mindrivetodowntown Pemberton

$4,100/month+utilities

Available March01

Minimum1-yearlease Nosmoking|Nopets

Referencesandcredit checkrequired P:604-948-0067

E:Business@almproperties.net

Don’tmissthisopportunitytolivein oneof Pemberton’s mostdesirable neighborhoods.

EmploymentOpportunityatSeatoSkySchoolDistrictNo.48

RequiredImmediatelyintheWhistler,PembertonArea

Building Trades-Mechanical/Plumber

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

Qualifications:

•Interprovincial TradeQualifications(TQ)inplumbingwithaRedSeal endorsement.(Apprenticesmaybeconsidered)

•ClassBGasfitterlicence

•Sufficientphysicalstrengthandhealthtoperformthedudes requiredfor thisposition.

•CrossConnectioncontrolCertificateisanasset

• ValidClass5B.C.Driver’s License

•Knowledgeof WorkplaceHazardousMaterialsInformationSystem (WHMIS)and Workers’CompensationBoard(WCB)safetyprocedures

•Successfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoconsenttocriminal records searchpriortoemployment.

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

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

•State-of-the-artkitchen

•Surroundedbynature, yetclosetothevillage

• $8,000/month+utilities (unfurnished)

• $10,000/month+utilities (furnished)

Referencesandcredit checkrequired

P:604-948-0067

E:Business@almproperties.net

Don’tmissthisopportunitytolive inoneofWhistler’smostdesirable neighborhoods. 9090RiversideWhistler,BC

• Title&RightsCoordinator($38,038.00to$53,599.00peryear)

•HumanResourcesGeneralist($57,330.00to$64,610.00peryear)

Child& FamilyServices

• FamilyEnhancement Worker($38,038.00to$53,599.00peryear)

Health&Healing+PqusnalhcwHealthCentre

•ProgramCoordinator($46,683.00to$63,973.00peryear)

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

CommunityDevelopment

•AdministrativeAssistant($38,038.00to$53,599.00peryear)

CommunityProgram

• EarlyChildhoodEducator-Infant Toddler($24.00-$29.45/hr basedon experience+thispositioniseligibleforwagetopup)

TszilLearningCentre

•LanguageProgramCoordinator($46,683.00to$63,973.00peryear)

Xet’òlacwCommunitySchool

• ElementarySchool Teacher($65,823.00to$109,520.00peryear)

•BusDriver($20.90to$29.45perhour)

Infrastructure(Public Works)

• TransferStationOperator($20.90to$29.45perhour)

Pleasevisitourcareerpageformoreinformation:https://lilwat.ca/careers/ ÚlÍusCommunityCentre

KEEPTHEWHEELSTURNING WITHOUTTHE9-TO-5STRESS! AREYOU ARETIREDDRIVERWHOMISSESTHEROAD BUTDOESN’TMISSTHELONGHOURS? JOINOURTEAMASA PART-TIMEMIXERDRIVERAND WORKONLY WHENYOUWANTTO.

•UltimateFlexibility: Youtelluswhichdaysyou’reavailable.Perfectforgolf days,familytime,orhobbies.

•GreatPay: Earn apremiumwageforyourexperience.$39.96 -$45.96

•NoMixerExperience?NoProblem: Ifyouhavea Class1 orClass3 license, wewillprovidefulltrainingontheMixertruck

•Local Work: Stayclosetohomeandbebackfordinnerever ynight.

•Requirements: ValidClass 1or3 Licenseand apositiveattitude.

•ApplyToday: INFO@CARDINALCONCRETE.CA

Inadditiontothesatisfactionofgivingbackto thisincrediblecommunity,takealookatwhat ourbenefitpackagehastoofferforallfull time,permanentteammembers: 9-DayFortnight -BCMunicipalPension Plan -DentalCoverage- VisionBenefitsExtendedMedicalBenefits- FreeFitness Centreaccess -Health &WellnessAllowance

Interested?Sendyourresumeto recruiting@pemberton.ca.

For afulljobdescriptionortolearn more, visitpemberton.ca/careers

Come buildandgrow withthebestteam.

Ourteamofpeopleis whatsetsusapartfromotherbuilders.As wecontinue to growasthe leaderinluxury projectsinWhistler,ourteamneeds to expand withus. We are currentlyhiring:

Labourers ($20-$30hourly)

CarpentersHelpers/Apprentices1st to 4th year ($25-$35hourly)

ExperiencedCarpenters ($30-$45hourly)

Carpentry Foremen ($40-$50hourly)

SiteSupervisor

Rates vary basedonexperience andqualifications.RedSealisabonusbutnot required.Crane Operatorexperienceconsideredanasset.

EV R is commit te d to th e long-t er m re tent io n an d sk ills deve lopm en t ofou r te am .We are passionateaboutinvestinginourteam’s future

WE OFFER:

• Top Wagesanda Positive WorkEnvironment

•FlexibleSchedule- WorkLife Balance (Wegetit, we love to skiandbike too.)

• Training& TuitionReimbursement(Needhelpgetting yourRedSeal?)

•Support with workvisaand PermanentResidency (We canassist)

BENEFITS &PERKS:

• AnnualLeisure& ToolBenefit – Use toward ski/bike pass, toolpurchase, etc. – you choose!

•ExtendedHealthandDentalBenefitsfor youand yourfamily

We promotefrom withinandarelooking to strengthenouramazingteam.Opportunitiesfor advancementinto managementpositionsalwaysexistfortheright candidates.Don’t missout onbeingable to build withtheteamthatbuildsthe mostsignificantprojectsinWhistler. Send your resume to careers@evrfinehomes.com. We lookforward to hearingfrom you!

MuseumShop &Admissions Manager

Responsiblefordrivingearned revenuethrough retail,general membershipandticketing, deliveringanexceptionalvisitor experience,andoverseeingthe VisitorServicesteam.

Applicationswillbe reviewedonan ongoingbasisandthepositionmay befilledbeforetheclosingdateon February16,2026.

ApplyandlearnmoreviatheQRcode, oremailapplicationsto bbeacom@audainartmuseum.com

LeadtheVisitorServicesteamon thefloorensuringthatthehighest levelofcustomerserviceisprovided toMuseumguests.Responsiblefor trainingnewVisitorServicesstaff andongoingcoachingofproduct knowledge.

ApplyandlearnmoreviatheQRcode, oremailapplicationsto bbeacom@audainartmuseum.com

To truly own the podium, Canada needs to put its money where its mouth is

CANADIANS LOVE SPORT.

Not all Canadians, of course, but many grow up passing pucks around on frozen lakes or dribbling soccer balls at their local rec centre. Many join school or club teams, and a small percentage of these youth become university athletes. An even smaller percentage will get rich in the major leagues or represent their country internationally.

Many of those who don’t make it so far (or who never become athletes in the first place) are still enraptured by World

BY DAVID SONG

dsong@piquenewsmagazine.com

Series matchups, Stanley Cup Finals and Olympic Games like the one underway right now. We revel in the breakthroughs of Canadian athletes and—as if by some form of emotional osmosis—we feel disappointment when they miss their goals. By and large, Canada is an active country and a breeding ground for sporting passion.

Yet when tangibly supporting its athletes is concerned—athletes who don’t benefit from NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL payrolls—Canada does not behave like it loves sport.

The funding disaster in our sports pipeline has been well-documented by now, and I’ve referenced it in my previous articles. In case you’re unaware, here are the basics: our federal government has

not boosted its core sport funding for 20 years despite inflation driving prices up by more than 50 per cent. That means an item costing $100 in 2005 would now bear a price tag of $153.50.

Plus, there are more national sport organizations (NSOs) and athletes vying for money now versus two decades ago. That’s likely why Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) team fees have exploded, for instance: just $2,000 during the previous Winter Games in Beijing, they’re now set at $25,000 per member (and would have been $30,000 if not for a modicum of donations and corporate sponsorship).

Local lugers Caitlin Nash and Trinity Ellis have spoken to the media about these problems. Isabelle Weidemann, a speed skater who won gold, silver and bronze at Beijing 2022, revealed last February she’s in debt because of expenses her NSO cannot field. The Canadian Athletes Now

administration’s federal budget unveiled on Nov. 4, 2025 despite the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) asking for $144 million to offset the aforementioned shortfalls.

Canada raked in 27 medals, nine of them gold, at the Paris Games two years ago: both records for a non-boycotted Summer Olympics. It’s an inspirational collective performance, as was a crowdfunded Canadian women’s rugby team notching silver at last year’s World Cup—but both ought to be viewed as an unsustainable trend, not a reason for complacency.

COC CEO David Shoemaker informed CBC that “Germany, Italy, France are outspending [Canada] by 10 times” in sport and ultimately, no amount of raw effort will overcome that disadvantage. More money equals better gear, more comprehensive coaching, more extensive

“You don’t necessarily get your best athletes—you get the ones that can afford it.”

- KIEN TRAN

Fund (CAN Fund) provides key financial backing to 80 per cent of our Olympians, but reports that more than half of these individuals must work part-time to pay bills.

It’s surreal and disappointing in equal measure to be saying these things with Milano Cortina 2026 upon us.

The issue is systemic, as BCS coach and two-time Olympic medallist Justin Kripps understands. No new sports funding was proposed in the Mark Carney

medical help and the ability to recruit talent from the general population more widely.

Nash and BCS CEO Kien Tran both fear that athletes could start to be forced into retirement en masse after this Olympic quadrennial, with Tran noting “you don’t necessarily get your best athletes—you get the ones that can afford it.”

Or, one might view the situation thusly: if Team Canada earned 27 medals

in Paris despite financial insecurity plaguing most NSOs, imagine what they could do with more of an investment behind them?

Cynics may argue sports are not a priority. They might say resources should be allocated to the myriad of problems facing everyday Canadians, not towards athletes. That could be true in some manner—although I’m personally inclined to value the life-changing potential of sport.

Think about the social impact of the Paris Olympics, an underdog ladies’ World Cup rugby squad, this year’s Blue Jays postseason run, the Toronto Raptors’ inaugural championship, Bianca Andreescu’s U.S. Open title or the 2010 Olympics that made Whistler what it is today. Now ponder all of those things combined. Sports matter in ways that can’t be encapsulated by dollars and cents alone—but more dollars and cents are needed to make sure these impacts last.

Politicians and decision-makers occasionally wax poetic about the greatness of Canadian athletes, but it is past time for them to back up such rhetoric with money. Federal funds are just part of the puzzle: corporations have the opportunity to sponsor more athletes. Wealthy private individuals might consider donating to sport initiatives they’re passionate about.

Average Joes can make their voices heard, lobbying all of the above to start being part of the solution.

At bare minimum, fans who watch Milano Cortina 2026 should recognize the context in which they are cheering this month. Canadians often play with a deck stacked against them just to reach the starting line, and their accomplishments will inevitably diminish if the status quo doesn’t change. n

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