New workplace inclusion charter launches to protect workers from abuse
LOCAL LEGACY Plaque on Blackcomb Glacier honours legacy of Wayne Flann
New workplace inclusion charter launches to protect workers from abuse. - By Luke Faulks
06 OPENING REMARKS A firearm seizure in Whistler in late December highlights the need for better communication between the RCMP and Whistlerites, writes editor Braden Dupuis.
08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This week’s letter-writers call for vigilance as bears emerge from hibernation, and offer thanks for a successful fundraiser.
30 RANGE ROVER Leslie Anthony shares a dispatch from Obertauern in Austria, where a very famous rock band once filmed an iconic movie.
54 PIQUE’N YER INTEREST When it comes to personal well-being, everyone has their own risk tolerance, writes Vince Shuley—when it comes to things we own, it’s a different story.
12 WORK IT Whistler’s municipal works and services charges are increasing for the first time in 25 years in a move to ensure “growth pays for growth.”
13 LOCAL LEGACY A new plaque on Blackcomb Glacier honours the life and legacy of beloved avalanche forecaster Wayne Flann.
36 BREAKING BARRIERS The Lil’wat Nation celebrated 78 young skiers and boarders at a season-ending award ceremony this week.
42 WELCOME THE WORLD The World Ski and Snowboard festival returns April 6 to 12 with a packed lineup of music, arts and sports.
COVER It’s too bad math always seems to triumph over humanity. - By Jon Parris // @jon.parris.art
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Founding Publishers KATHY & BOB BARNETT www.piquenewsmagazine.com
Whistler firearms seizure highlights need for improved communication
AS THE EDITOR of a newspaper in B.C., my inbox is regularly blessed with news releases and updates from RCMP detachments across the province.
A wanted man in Prince George; an overpass strike on Highway 1; drug enforcement in Kelowna; a suspicious death in a gravel yard in North Cowichan/ Duncan—those are just some of the
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
And they come nearly every day, from
What we don’t often receive these days is regular, timely and transparent updates from the Whistler RCMP— leaving a gap in public knowledge about what’s happening in town.
It wasn’t always this way. For years, Pique would receive weekly “police blotter” roundups, as is customary for most RCMP detachments. They would include everything from thefts and assaults in the village to updates on major RCMP operations like drug busts or even just advice on how to deal with scams.
Basically, it’s a glimpse into what’s actually happening in your community, beyond the glossy face of tourism advertising. And for years, it was consistently the most-read content on Pique’s website—because the public has a vested interest in knowing about crime in their community. Not months later, filtered through a council presentation, but when it actually occurs.
And, one might argue, the RCMP has a responsibility to tell us about it.
But for several years now, the Whistler RCMP has been designated a bilingual detachment, required to issue releases and social media updates in both of
Canada’s official languages, translated from English to French using only an official translation service.
In an email to Pique, Insp. Robert Dykstra, officer-in-charge of the Sea to Sky RCMP, explained the official translation service requirement “ensures consistency and accuracy, but it does introduce an additional step that can affect timeliness for non-urgent releases.
“In situations involving urgent public safety concerns, we do have the ability to issue information immediately in English, with the expectation that a translated version will follow as soon as possible. That approach also applies to our social media platforms.”
The impact on the ground, however, has been a complete lack of any sort of regular releases about police activity in Whistler.
And it is disappointing that after several years of respectful dialogue, repeated requests for improved communication, and multiple phone calls and in-person meetings, we’re still
not one that was ever published. The incident only became public on March 10, when the RCMP presented its annual update to mayor and council.
To his absolute credit, Dykstra owns the oversight.
“This is one where we need to be clear: a media release was directed to be prepared and issued, but on review, it appears that it was not ultimately sent. That was not a deliberate decision to withhold information, but rather a breakdown in follow-through on my end. I own that,” Dykstra told Pique. “The first time this information became public was during our open session presentation to Whistler council [March 10], and in hindsight, it should have been communicated proactively at the time of the incident.”
Dykstra explained that not every incident results in a media release.
“Decisions are based on several factors, including public safety relevance, investigative integrity, privacy legislation, victim considerations, and potential impacts on court proceedings,” he wrote.
media releases,” he wrote. “That said, I recognize that there is a strong public interest in police activities, and there is more we can do within those constraints.”
To that end, Dykstra said he is taking a more direct role in reviewing and prioritizing media releases, and “encouraging broader identification of incidents that may be of public interest.”
Last month, the detachment added an internal process that allows any member to flag incidents for potential release, and Dykstra said he is “reinforcing expectations with senior supervisors that media communication is an important part of our service delivery.
“Looking longer-term, I will also be exploring options with our Sea to Sky partners to establish a dedicated, shared media relations position to improve both responsiveness and proactive communication for both our traditional media releases and for managing our social media,” he added. “This would be a more structural solution, though realistically it would take time to develop. In the interim,
“Decisions are based on several factors, including public safety relevance, investigative integrity, privacy legislation, victim considerations, and potential impacts on court proceedings.”
- ROBERT DYKSTRA
not being told about relevant incidents in our community in a timely manner.
Case in point: in December, the Whistler RCMP, while executing a search warrant in Cheakamus, seized 24 firearms—a shocking cache of illegal weapons that included 12 handguns, six shotguns, six rifles, and a flamethrower, along with roughly 8,500 rounds of ammunition (read more on page 18).
There was no media release, at least
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“There is also an element of discretion at the detachment level, which can lead to differences in practice between communities.”
Dykstra also noted while the Whistler RCMP does have members trained in media relations, they are not dedicated communications staffers, but regular officers.
“Operational policing demands take priority, which does impact our overall capacity to produce timely and frequent
I am open to additional approaches, including more regular sharing of general activity summaries or statistics at a regular cadence, similar to what has been done in other communities.”
Dykstra’s comments are encouraging, but the real test will be in how things change moving forward. At the end of the day, any efforts to improve communications between the local RCMP and the public are welcomed and appreciated. n
Time for vigilance to protect Whistler’s
bears
There’s something about bears that has always captured the human imagination. These animals prove again and again that they are peaceful, capable, and remarkably fair in the way they move through the world. With a little knowledge, people would see that their behaviours are reasonable and predictable. Nothing a bear does is random or unexplainable if we take the time to understand them.
Bears mostly manage their lives with kindness and calm, especially when they live in close proximity to people. They remind us that true strength isn’t bullyish, but something more predictable, soft, and ever so gentle at the same time.
Bears show us what it means to share space with others respectfully. They adapt, they observe, and they almost always choose peace—far more often than we will ever know. Our appreciation for them comes from that grace—this beautiful mix of independence, interdependence, curiosity, and an unexpected willingness to live with people in a thoughtful and kind way.
To some, it is surprising that even a giant grizzly bear like Banff’s “The Boss,”
or a massive male black bear—both powerful, built with big teeth and sharp claws—actually carries softness and grace in their nuances and in the way they respond to others. Bears feel the same emotions and feelings of concern that all
mammals do, including humans. It seems we are not so different. Let’s help them get through the season safely by doing our part, knowing they will do theirs.
A few tips for helping bears stay safe: secure all food sources, including
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.
garbage, pet food, and bird feeders; make your property “boring” for bears by picking ripe fruit promptly, cleaning your barbecue thoroughly, and managing things like compost; be predictable when outdoors by making noise while hiking, keeping dogs leashed, and staying aware of your surroundings; respect their space by never approaching a bear for photos, and backing away calmly if you encounter one. Find more tips at wildsafebc.com.
Ellie Lamb and Tina James // Whistler
‘50
Years of Fashion Fun’raiser’ a huge success
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, participated and supported our “50 Years of Fashion in Whistler” fundraiser on March 28, which doubled as a tribute to beloved Whistler artist Isobel MacLaurin.
I hope you all had as much fun as we had! It was truly a locals’ event, and so many great memories were shared!
Thank you to Feet Banks who was our amazing MC, to our DJ, Paul Fournier, our photographer, Joern Rohde, Brad Nichols from the Whistler Museum and his great slide show, Jim Budge for his historical video of Whistler, all the volunteers, and to our enthusiastic and energetic models! Thanks also to Gill and her team from Rotary for nourishing us, and to Kim and Dean and the whole Arts Whistler team,
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THIS WEEKEND’S forecast calls for sunny skies, no precipitation and abovefreezing temperatures into the alpine. While conditions will be warm with good visibility for exploring the mountains, backcountry users should temper our stoke for adventure with some avalanche considerations.
The crust that formed as temperatures dropped after the atmospheric river is now good and buried. In most areas, it appears to be bonding well to the surrounding snowpack. However, near Whistler specifically, there have been observations of weak, sugary snow around this crust. While continued mild weather should strengthen the layer over time, it may be more reactive during peak daytime warming. Check the latest avalanche forecast for updates on how this layer is behaving.
Cornices have grown to be very large and we expect them to be a significant concern through the weekend. They are likely to fail, especially with sun and above-zero temperatures. Cornice falls are dangerous in themselves and can also trigger avalanches on slopes below.
Backcountry travellers should stay well back from the edge of corniced ridges, and to avoid walking under large slopes that have cornices above them. This is a good
habit at any time, but it will be especially important this weekend.
As freezing levels rise, loose-wet avalanches will become more likely, especially on slopes that are being cooked in direct sun. Loose-wet avalanches can be surprising, as they often move slowly but are very dense and can entrain significant snow as they travel down the slope. Watch for signs of warming in the snow under your feet. Is it getting slushy and how deep is that wet snow? Expect it to change drastically as you change aspects or move to a steeper slope.
With minimal new snow this week, dry avalanche problems are not expected to be widespread. However, those seeking cold snow on shaded, high-elevation slopes should remain cautious. Even small sluffs or isolated wind slabs can knock a person off their feet. Imagine where you’d slide if you did fall, and decide if that is an acceptable risk for you and your group.
Check avalanche.ca or the AvCan app before heading out. That’s where you’ll get the avalanche danger ratings and updated conditions. Be sure to bring a transceiver, shovel, probe, and partner, even if you are just poking out of the resort boundary. n
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as well as all the local businesses that supported our silent auction.
Thanks also to Shauna Hardy for taking us to the next level!
Finally, thanks to everyone for helping the Whistler Elders Enrichment Society along with the Rotary Club of Whistler and Whistler Mature Action Community in our endeavours to support seniors and those living with Alzheimer’s and dementiarelated diseases in Whistler.
These efforts will help allow those who have long supported the Whistler community to age in place!
Again, thank you to everyone for helping us bring Izzy’s dream to life!
We know she is smiling on her community of Whistler friends today.
Wendy Barber // on behalf of the WEE Society
Whistler traffic woes ‘not just about roads’
Whistler’s traffic problem is not just about roads. It is also the result of not allowing enough housing close to where people work.
When workers cannot find housing in Whistler, they do not disappear. They commute from neighbouring communities instead. That means more vehicles on the Sea to Sky every day, and during peak weekends that commuter traffic combines with visitor traffic to make congestion even worse.
If Whistler wants to reduce traffic in a lasting way, it needs to reduce the need for long-distance commuting. One practical way to do that is to allow substantially more purpose-built rental housing near the transit exchange, protected by covenants against short-term rentals.
What makes this more frustrating is that the province has already pushed municipalities, including Whistler, to allow
functioning as a flat-surface parking lot when it could be housing workers close to jobs and transit. Housing people there would not just reduce long-distance commuting. It would also reduce local parking demand by allowing more workers to walk, cycle, or take transit, making parking easier for the people who still need it. Taxpayers already help fund a corridor where public payments
“When workers cannot find housing in Whistler, they do not disappear. They commute from neighbouring communities instead.”
- NICHOLAS LAUGA
more homes faster. Whistler is required to allow more small-scale multi-unit housing, designate the Whistler Gondola Exchange as a Transit Oriented Development Area, remove residential parking minimums there, and update zoning to meet projected housing needs.
The municipality passed the relevant zoning in 2024, yet one of the clearest opportunities remains underused. Land near the transit exchange is still
rise with traffic volumes, so it makes little sense to keep prime land near the transit exchange as surface parking while forcing more workers into longdistance commutes.
This is exactly the kind of location where Whistler should be allowing substantially more homes. If some surface parking is replaced to make that possible, the broader public benefit can still be positive. But if land that is now a flat
parking lot instead homes workers who would otherwise drive from Squamish, the net result can be fewer vehicles on the road overall. It can also mean less competition for parking in the village, making parking easier for residents, workers, and visitors who still rely on it, if Whistler allows enough density for the reduction in commuter demand to exceed the parking lost.
This approach would also make Whistler more affordable by increasing the supply of long-term rental housing for the local workforce. That would help local businesses, too. Employers struggle when staff cannot find stable housing close to work. More local rental housing would help businesses recruit and retain workers and support a more stable local economy.
It also does not require raising taxes or cutting services. The municipality does not have to build the housing itself. It mainly needs to allow the right kind of housing in the right places. If it does, private developers are far more likely to bring forward viable projects. Over time, that can expand the tax base and improve the municipality’s capacity to fund services and capital improvements.
Whistler cannot solve traffic only by thinking about roads. It also has to think about where people can afford to live. Nicholas Lauga // board member, Abundant Housing Vancouver n
Whistler adopts new developer fees after provincial sign-off
THE ‘GROWTH PAYS
BY LUKE FAULKS
FOR
GROWTH’ MODEL TIES CHARGES TO BUILDING SIZE AND AN EXPANDED INFRASTRUCTURE SCOPE
WHISTLER HAS ADOPTED an overhaul of its developer fee structure, with a new Works and Services Charges bylaw expected to generate roughly $64 million over the next two decades to help fund infrastructure tied to growth.
Approved by council on March 24 following provincial sign-off, the bylaw replaces a patchwork of fees dating back to 2000. The new framework is projected to more than double annual revenues— from about $1.5 million historically to $3.2 million per year once fully implemented.
The update is designed to ensure new development pays a greater share of the costs it creates, from water and sewer systems to transportation, parks and employee housing.
The new bylaw came into force immediately after the March 24 meeting, with new charges applying to building permit applications submitted after adoption. Previously submitted applications will remain subject to the previous developer fees under a yearlong grace period.
OUTDATED FEES TO A MODERN SYSTEM
Works and Services charges are one-time fees applied at the building permit stage to help fund the infrastructure required by new development. That infrastructure can include utilities like water and sewer, as well as amenities like transportation, parks and employee housing.
In Whistler, those charges had not been comprehensively updated
size, with per-square-metre rates tied to use and density.
It also expands the scope of charges, applying employee housing contributions to all new construction—rather than just commercial and industrial projects—as the municipality works to maintain current housing ratios as the population grows.
Two new service categories—transit and parks—have also been added, with dedicated reserve funds alongside
“I’m looking forward to seeing growth pay for growth, as our community has requested.”
- JEN FORD
in 25 years, leaving them “out of step with benchmark communities” and inadequate to fund Whistler’s projected growth-related infrastructure.
Under the new framework, the municipality expects to collect roughly $64 million over the next 20 years, helping fund infrastructure tied to population growth.
WHAT’S CHANGED FOR DEVELOPERS?
The new bylaw shifts from a parcelbased system to one based on building
existing categories such as water, sewer and transportation.
Charges are now applied only at the building permit stage and only to new development, not interior renovations. The adjustment was made in response to feedback from the building community.
Developers can pay in instalments if total charges exceed $150,000, spreading payments over a period of up to two years.
TRANSITION PERIOD AND TIMING
The new charges take effect immediately
for new applications, though projects already in the system will be granted a one-year grace period under the previous bylaws.
“In-stream protections ensure that currently in-process applications will remain subject to the previous [bylaws] for a period of one year,” a staff report notes.
“That would begin immediately, starting tomorrow, for all of those building permits that are in process,” acting CAO Ted Battiston added.
Council unanimously adopted the bylaw after a multi-stage process that included months of public engagement, three readings in December and ultimate sign-off from the provincial Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
Councillor Jen Ford praised the work put into the final product, and inclusion of previous feedback from the community.
“This is good to see that it’s been so thoroughly vetted through such a long process, and I’m looking forward to seeing growth pay for growth, as our community has requested,” she said.
The overhaul also fulfils a key commitment under Whistler’s Housing Accelerator Fund agreement, which required adoption of an updated development cost framework by March 31.
Staff plan to monitor the new system and return to council with a review in 2028. n
GROWING PAINS Development applications submitted before March 25 will remain subject to the previous fee scheme.
PHOTO BY LUKE FAULKS
Plaque unveiled on Blackcomb Glacier honours legacy of Wayne Flann
FAMILY AND FRIENDS COMMEMORATE THE MOUNTAIN SAFETY
ADVOCATE WHOSE INFLUENCE STILL SHAPES HOW LOCALS SKI
BY LUKE FAULKS
UNDER CLEAR, sunny skies on the morning of March 30, family, friends and members of Whistler’s mountain community gathered at the top of Glacier chair on Blackcomb Mountain to unveil a plaque honouring longtime ski patroller and avalanche safety advocate Wayne Flann.
Mounted on a rock just skier’s left of the lift’s unload, the plaque offers a permanent reminder of an instrumental part of Whistler’s mountain-safety culture.
The location itself was no accident.
“He picked it himself,” said Flann’s son, Cody. “Whenever we’d be skiing with him going up Glacier, he pointed out, ‘Hey, when I die, I’d like my plaque on that rock right there.’ So, gotta make his wishes come true.”
Flann spent decades as a ski patroller, avalanche forecaster and safety consultant, and was widely known for his daily avalanche blog and deep knowledge of the mountains. He passed on Sept. 21, 2023 at the age of 68.
For his daughter, Shira, the plaque reflects both that professional legacy and a lifelong personal connection to Blackcomb.
“He wanted to make sure that his legacy was on the mountain forever,” she said. “He worked so hard building up Blackcomb, and he wanted his legacy front and centre, at the top of Glacier. This mountain just meant the world to him.”
A LIFE ROOTED IN MOUNTAIN SAFETY
Flann arrived in Whistler from New Brunswick in 1979. He worked as a ski instructor before transitioning to ski patrol in the early 1980s, later becoming a prominent voice in avalanche safety.
Over the years, his work extended beyond the resort. He contributed to search and rescue, worked in mountain safety for film productions, and became a daily fixture for many skiers through his avalanche blog—a project his children say defined his later years.
“It started as a total passion project,” Cody said. “He had so much knowledge of that area, and he wanted to give that knowledge to people who wanted to recreate in the mountains.
“He’d be up at, like, 5 a.m. to get his final edits done in the morning [and] have them posted before the chair opens, then he’d work on it for a couple hours before bed. That was pretty much his life.”
Shira described a similar routine, driven by a desire to prevent accidents in terrain he knew could be unforgiving. Updates would go out by 7 a.m. to give skiers the low-down on local conditions.
“That blog meant the world to him,” Shira said.
That philosophy extended into his work as a ski patroller, educator and business owner, where he focused on safety in high-risk environments—from avalanche terrain to helicopter-assisted film shoots.
Both of Flann’s children said his commitment to safety was rooted in a desire to help others enjoy the mountains as much as possible.
“He had this knowledge, and he just wanted to help people with it,” said Cody, who is following in his father’s footsteps as a ski patroller in the Yukon.
“I think just about how much he cared about every single person he met,” Shira added. “How he wanted everybody to experience the joy of Whistler in a safe way.”
‘LET’S
GO FIND SOME POW’
While Flann’s public persona centred on safety and skiing, his children described a quieter, devoted family side at home. Shira pointed to the consistency of family life despite his demanding schedule.
“He just loved us so much. He was so caring,” Shira recalled. “He was a busy single dad for a long time, but almost every single day we’d sit down for family dinner and just talk about each other’s day, and I think that was so important to him and us.”
Cody echoed that sentiment.
“You could tell he loved all his kids so, so much,” he said. “He sacrificed a lot for us.”
Flann was also known for his speed and enthusiasm on skis—traits his children say were as influential as any formal lesson.
“Honestly, he was a little bit of a nightmare sometimes,” Shira said with a laugh. “He would go very fast, and I would just do anything to keep up, [but] it definitely taught me to be a good skier.”
Cody said that same energy made skiing with his father unforgettable.
“He was the best person to ski with. A lot of people wanted to ski with him,” he said. “The joy he had while skiing was super contagious. [His] passion, his joy, it was just really infectious.”
That mindset is reflected on the plaque itself.
“One of the last quotes we put on there is, ‘Let’s go find some pow,’” Cody said. “That was always his mindset. Just, ‘Let’s go have fun. Let’s enjoy the day, no matter what.’”
The plaque now sits among a small number of memorials on Whistler Blackcomb, offering skiers a moment of reflection as they enter the alpine. For Shira, its meaning is simple.
“I just hope that everybody can just kind of take a moment to reflect on his legacy and how much he loved to ski,” she said. “Just go and enjoy the mountains [and] just carry that with you throughout the day.” n
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Whistler council drops $2.7M on road, Valley Trail, and Emerald water updates
SEVENTEEN
LOCAL ROAD SEGMENTS AND KEY VALLEY TRAIL LINKS, TOTALLING 3.8KM, ARE SET FOR RESURFACING THIS SUMMER
BY LUKE FAULKS
WHISTLER COUNCIL has approved just over $2.7 million in infrastructure upgrades, with staff warning proactive work is needed to prevent further deterioration across the municipality’s roads, trails and water systems.
“This study collected road condition data, [including] cracking, ride quality and rut depth,” said infrastructure projects supervisor Michelle Blattner, noting the municipality is targeting repairs “before they reach failure” to avoid more costly reconstruction down the line.
Council unanimously supported two contract awards at its March 24 meeting: a $1.7-million road and Valley Trail reconstruction program and a $1.07-million water system upgrade in Emerald Estates.
ROADS, VALLEY TRAIL TARGETED FOR EARLY INTERVENTION
The bulk of the funding will go toward resurfacing 17 road segments and two Valley Trail sections across Whistler, from the Village and Alpine Meadows to
Function Junction and Emerald Estates.
The $1,706,051 contract was awarded to Alpine Paving Ltd., coming in roughly two per cent below the engineer’s estimate.
According to staff, the work is driven by the municipality’s 2025 Pavement Management Plan, which emphasizes intervening before infrastructure reaches end-of-life failure.
“By taking a proactive approach to maintenance and resurfacing, [this] extends the service life of the roads and avoids more costly reconstruction in the future,” Blattner told council.
In total, the 2026 program covers roughly 3,819 metres of roadway across seven neighbourhoods, including heavily used corridors like Blackcomb Way, Lorimer Road and Alpha Lake Road.
Two Valley Trail sections—totalling roughly 450 metres—will also be upgraded, including paving a gravel section near Alpha Lake Road and replacing “degraded asphalt” to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Construction is expected to run from June through September, with work in high-traffic areas scheduled during non-peak periods to limit disruptions. Residents can expect delays and detours, though access will be maintained.
In light of some recent potholes,
council and staff reiterated Highway 99 is not under Resort Municipality of Whistler jurisdiction.
Councillor Cathy Jewett asked staff whether the municipal responsibility for roads extends to where roads connect to the highway—including turns off Nancy Greene Drive and St Anton Way. Staff said it was unclear, but that they would check back.
Coun. Arthur De Jong raised a broader question about how climate trends could affect infrastructure durability: “We’re into milder winters, less freeze-thaw down here in the Valley. I assume that’s a good thing [in] terms of how quickly our roads will deteriorate.” De Jong said. Staff agreed.
WATER SYSTEM UPGRADE AIMS TO REDUCE CORROSION
Council also approved a $1,074,873 contract for a corrosion control system at the Emerald Estates water system, awarded to CHB Services Ltd.
The project targets naturally low pH levels in groundwater—typically between 6.6 and 6.9—which can gradually corrode pipes and household plumbing.
“The Emerald water system is supplied by three groundwater wells that naturally produce slightly acidic water,”
capital projects manager Chelsey Roberts explained. “While the water is fully treated and disinfected before it reaches the homes, lower-pH water can be harder on plumbing and municipal pipes over time.”
“Over the long term, the condition can contribute to increased corrosion in household plumbing and water infrastructure, which may lead to issues such as discoloration, taste and higher maintenance needs.”
Corrosive water can also leech particles of things like lead and copper from certain plumbing fixtures, which is why the municipality directs residents to flush their taps until the water is cold before consuming it.
To address this, the municipality will install a chemical dosing system using caustic soda to raise pH levels to a target of 7.6, aligning with Canadian drinking water guidelines and regional best practices. Staff stressed the water in Emerald is still currently safe to drink.
The upgrade includes new storage tanks, pumps, ventilation improvements, electrical integration and site modifications at the Emerald UV treatment facility.
Notably, construction will take place within an active facility without interrupting water service to residents. n
Whistler firearm seizure not related to gangs or drugs, police say
RCMP BRIEFS: POLICE NAB THIEF OF HIGH-VALUE RETAIL ITEMS
BY BRADEN DUPUIS
THE SEIZURE of a large cache of illegal firearms from a Cheakamus home in December was not related to gang or drug activity, according to the Whistler RCMP.
Police originally attended to the residence to conduct a wellness check, explained Insp. Robert Dykstra of the Sea to Sky RCMP.
“When members were not able to get a response at the door, they made entry and found a male in medical distress in his bedroom. Paramedics were called to attend to assist and while waiting, members observed two unsecured firearms in the bedroom (one of which was prohibited),” Dykstra said in an email to Pique
The guns were immediately seized, and the individual transported to hospital. Further firearms checks confirmed the male had several other registered firearms, leading police to pursue a Section 117 Firearms Warrant, Dykstra said.
“During the search, the members found much more than anticipated: A total 24 firearms, a flamethrower, dozens of firearms magazines, and approximately 8,500 rounds of ammunition. Many
“I can say with confidence that this is not gang, drug, or larger criminal operation related.”
- ROBERT DYKSTRA
firearms were unsecured and easily accessible,” Dykstra said.
“When members are in a location with lawful authority, even if that authority is not about conducting a criminal investigation, if information and evidence gathered related directly to criminal activity, it can be used to support criminal proceedings. Given the nature of the seizure, members submitted reports to Crown to seek several firearms charges and for a prohibition and disposition order for all the firearms.”
The matter is now with the Crown for review and consideration of charges. For privacy reasons, Dykstra said he couldn’t speak to the specific charges, or release the individual’s name.
“There is currently no working theory as to why the individual had the guns, but I can say with confidence that this is not
gang, drug, or larger criminal operation related,” Dykstra said. “This is a situation of a single person possessing a large number of restricted and prohibited firearms, many that were not properly secured, and some that were not registered. Surprisingly, this is more common than would be thought. There are many people who are avid collectors of firearms, so cases of seizures of large numbers of firearms is not always indicative of more deliberate criminality.”
A Criminal Code Section 117 warrant is a proactive safety tool, not a criminal charge, Dykstra explained, and it allows police to intervene and de-escalate a situation before an incident occurs. To obtain the warrant, police must satisfy a judge that the individual has firearms or related items (even if legally registered); and it is not in the interest of public or personal safety for that person to have access to weapons at this time.
“Once a warrant is executed, the individual’s firearms licence is automatically revoked, ensuring they cannot legally acquire new weapons while the safety risk is being addressed by the courts,” he said. “In many cases, the non criminal process that follows involves a disposition hearing where a judge decides the fate of the firearms which can include forfeiture to the Crown, holding for a specific period, or immediate return to the owner. A firearms prohibition order can also be issued (normally for periods of five to 10 years) if the judge finds that the safety risk persists.”
POLICE NAB THIEF OF HIGHVALUE RETAIL ITEMS
A Burnaby man could be facing charges after Whistler police arrested him in connection to a series of high-value thefts.
In a release on March 26, police said the thefts targeted ski-gear stores in Whistler.
“On Jan. 11 and March 14, 2026, a male suspect is believed to have stolen high-end ski jackets from multiple retail locations. The total estimated value of the stolen merchandise is approximately $25,000,” the release said.
After an investigation, police identified the suspect and obtained a search warrant for his home in Burnaby. The man was arrested March 24 and taken into custody without incident.
“During the execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered a quantity of new merchandise, including ski jackets, bags, tools, and camping gear,” the release said. “Officers also seized 14 firearms and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The suspect was processed and later released from custody on conditions, with a future court date. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Sea to Sky RCMP or Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous. n
Crash survivor says traffic delays are minor compared to lifelong impact on victims
SERIOUS
TWO-VEHICLE CRASH NORTH OF SQUAMISH SHUT DOWN THE SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY FOR ROUGHLY SEVEN HOURS ON MARCH 29
BY JENNIFER THUNCHER
The Squamish Chief
IN THE WAKE OF a weekend crash that closed the highway for about seven hours north of Squamish, a woman who was hurt in a 2023 Sea to Sky highway collision is using her experience to again remind drivers of the humanity behind these incidents.
At 3:38 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, the Squamish RCMP was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at the viewpoint at Chance Creek Forest Service Road.
According to Staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley, operations supervisor for the Whistler detachment, it appears one vehicle crossed the centre line and collided with another vehicle causing a head-on collision.
There were serious injuries to several occupants of both vehicles, and one person was airlifted by Emergency Health Services to a hospital in Vancouver in critical condition.
Both drivers are in stable condition with life-altering injuries.
When there are serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, the RCMP’s Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) is sent out to investigate and determine the cause of the collision.
The team arrived on scene at 5:17 p.m., according to Bradley.
After the analysis the vehicles were removed and the highway was reopened at about 10:30 p.m.
Impairment does not seem to be a factor in this collision, he said.
Jehan Jiwa was in a crash on the Sea to Sky Jan. 9, 2023.
“It’s really triggering, honestly, to hear that it’s still happening,” said Jiwa the morning after the crash.
Jiwa and her father were returning from their vacation home in Whistler to their home in Vancouver when they were hit head-on by an SUV near Britannia Beach.
She doesn’t remember much after that, other than waking up in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. She has been working to recover ever since.
“I see people being so frustrated, like, ‘Oh, I’m stuck in traffic.’ And I’m always like, yeah, that part sucks, but are we looking at it from the point of view of the people who are actually involved? And so, just trying to bring some … humanity to the situation,” she said.
“It was a couple hours later than you’d hope, but most people got home. But this is what it looks like for the crash victims themselves, is that it’s not a matter of a couple hours or a day. This is life that’s never going to be the same. So let’s really be careful out there and make sure we’re not doing anything to put anyone in that situation.”
Matthew Paugh, a Squamish local who has long advocated for changes to the highway, and who operates the 93,000-strong Sea to Sky Road Conditions Facebook page, is promoting a petition he has circulated since 2023.
The “Increase the Safety on the Sea to Sky Highway” petition calls for more speed limit enforcement along the highway, more signage and decreasing the communication time it takes to inform the public of issues.
The petition is directed at the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI), local MPs, RCMP, districts and local governments within the Sea to Sky corridor.
“It’s gotten doors open to mayors, councils, MLAs and MPs, but to date requests have been ignored by RCMP and more importantly MOTI for a meeting,” Paugh said in a post sharing the petition again on March 30.
Paugh said when he saw there was another long closure, he thought about how preventable these crashes seem to be. While police can’t be everywhere, a cement divider and a speed camera are permanent and can help reduce at least some of the crashes.
He was also frustrated, as were many online, with the lack of information available from DriveBC, which is run by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and is supposed to give “realtime” road conditions in the province.
“At least include a summary of what’s happening,” he said, calling the frequency of DriveBC alerts on Sunday’s crash “atrocious.” “It’s always dragging them along with a tease [of] something in another hour. In the meantime, this was almost eight hours of delay. Just turn people back. Send them back to Squamish and Whistler; stop allowing them to leave and go that far south only to sit in traffic more and more.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said their thoughts are with those affected by the incident.
“Whenever incidents happen on B.C.’s highways, the ministry and its maintenance contractors work together as quickly as possible to facilitate the safety of all travellers, including enacting road closures when needed, providing updates to the public and working with law enforcement,” the spokesperson said, adding digital message signs were urgently updated on the highways to notify those individuals already on the road.
The ministry’s Traffic Management Centre received notification about the incident and closure Sunday at 3:55 p.m., and DriveBC was updated at 4:33 p.m., the spokesperson noted. The road reopened to travellers at 10:45 p.m.
The team operating the Traffic Management Centre provided nine updates during the event. n
Rental applications to open April 7 for Sitka and Cedar development in Cheakamus Crossing
THE NEW BUILDINGS WILL DELIVER 24 STUDIOS, 40 ONE-BEDROOM UNITS, 32 TWO-BEDROOM UNITS, AND EIGHT THREE-BEDROOM UNITS TO MEET WHA WAITLIST DEMAND
BY LUKE FAULKS
RENTAL APPLICATIONS for Whistler’s newest employee housing development are set to open April 7, as the 104-unit Sitka and Cedar project in Cheakamus Crossing moves toward an end-ofsummer occupancy.
Speaking at the March 24 council meeting, Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) general manager Marla Zucht said the new development aligns with local demand.
“There are currently 536 applicants on the WHA rental waitlist who are not yet housed in WHA units, and, of those households, 86 per cent are single or couple households without dependents, and 14 per cent are larger households with dependents,” she said. “Our new WHA rental project, Sitka and Cedar, which will be available soon, strongly aligns with this waitlist demand.”
Expressions of interest will remain open until April 27, with shortlisted applicants screened and offered units throughout May, and tenancy agreements
signed in June ahead of an Aug. 1 move-in.
PROJECT DETAILS AND UNIT MIX
Located at 1475 and 1605 Mount Fee Road, Sitka and Cedar will deliver 104 rental homes, representing 306 beds, in a mix of 24 studios, 40 one-bedroom
units, 32 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units.
The development targets middleincome households as defined by BC Housing, with rents calculated at 30 per cent of gross household income, subject to minimum rates.
Minimum monthly rents are set at
$1,620 for studios, $1,750 for one-bedroom units, $2,455 for two-bedroom units and $2,940 for three-bedroom units.
The $45.25-million project is funded through a partnership between the Whistler Housing Authority, the Province through BC Housing’s BC Builds program, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation. It was the first project announced under the provincial BC Builds program, which is intended to accelerate housing delivery for middle-income households.
The buildings are designed to meet BC Step Code 3, the second-highest level of energy performance for apartment buildings in the province.
Amenities include in-suite storage, balconies, underground parking, EV charging, secure bike storage, onsite laundry and two elevators. The development is pet-friendly with approval and includes 12 fully accessible units, with barrier-free access across all
HOME SWEET HOME The Whistler Housing Authority’s new Sitka and Cedar development will welcome its first tenants this summer.
WHISTLER IS RALLYING to support the family of Kai Smart after the pro freeskier tragically passed away last month.
A GoFundMe for the Smart family had already surpassed $108,000 of its $120,000 goal on the morning of March 31, and by 1 p.m. the same day had reached $130,000. By Pique’s weekly press deadline on April 1, it had topped $176,000.
Kai, 23, passed away after being buried in an avalanche in Japan.
“Along with all of you we are friends of the Smart family. We feel it is important to keep life simple for the Smarts while they are grieving and coming to terms with the sudden passing of their beloved son Kai,” wrote GoFundMe organizer Nancy MacConnachie
“In the days leading up to Kai’s passing, he required medical care that has resulted in significant expenses. Although the transport back to Canada and some hospital costs were covered by one insurance policy, the extended length and depth of care that Kai received in the ICU in Japan was not, as his accident happened in the backcountry, which his medical insurance did not cover. We are raising funds to help cover these medical bills, the family’s travel costs, as well as a Celebration of Life.”
The immediate goal is to help relieve pressure on the Smart family so they can focus on grieving, healing, and honouring Kai, MacConnachie wrote.
The Smart family plans to establish a memorial fund in Kai’s name that reflects who he was and what he stood
WHA BUILDING FROM PAGE 22
units and common areas.
ROLE WITHIN BROADER HOUSING PIPELINE
for—”something that helps young people explore, learn, connect across cultures, and live with the same courage, openness, and love for the world that defined him.”
“The Smart family is deeply grateful for the extraordinary outpouring of love, kindness, and support they have received. Every message, memory, and gesture has meant so much,” the fundraiser reads.
“Any contribution, no matter the size, will help honour Kai by supporting the family now and helping build a legacy worthy of his remarkable life.”
Details for Kai’s celebration of life have yet to be confirmed. Donate to the GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/ honouring-kai-supporting-his-familyand-legacy. n
Sitka and Cedar is part of a broader pipeline of employee housing projects in Cheakamus Crossing and across Whistler.
According to the WHA’s 2026 corporate plan, the 104-unit development is scheduled to welcome tenants in summer 2026, while a second project at 1600 Mount Fee Road will add 125 additional rental units by the end of 2027—including 75 new two- and threebedroom rental units.
Together, those projects are expected to increase WHA-owned rental housing inventory to 604 homes.
Materials prepared by the WHA state that, by 2027, the WHA will have added 393 new rental homes, representing 982 beds, since 2018.
Zucht said the addition of Sitka and Cedar will push Whistler’s employee housing inventory past 2,500 units, or nearly 7,800 beds.
She added that the housing authority’s priorities for the year ahead are expanding supply through partnerships with government and development partners, alongside improvements to program delivery and asset management.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Expressions of interest will be open to applicants on the WHA rental waitlist, with eligible Whistler employees not already on the list encouraged to apply during the intake period.
Applicants with complete files will be shortlisted and screened in May, with offers prioritized based on waitlist seniority. Application information can be found at whistlerhousing.ca. n
LEGACY BUILDING Kai Smart.
Developer files civil claim against the Village of Pemberton over long-delayed rental housing project, citing
negligence and misrepresentation
THE NOTICE ALLEGES VILLAGE OFFICIALS REPEATEDLY AND WILFULLY MISREPRESENTED THEIR CAPACITY TO APPROVE A HOUSING PROJECT THAT HAS ULTIMATELY STALLED
BY HILARY ANGUS
A VANCOUVER-BASED property developer has filed a notice of civil claim against the Village of Pemberton, alleging Village officials undertook years of misrepresentation about their ability to permit a 61-unit rental housing project that ultimately has not been approved.
Aspect Rental Suites Ltd., owned by Richard David, filed the claim in the B.C. Supreme Court on March 25. The lawsuit names the Village of Pemberton as the defendant, and claims the Village is “liable for the wrongful acts” of several staff members and elected officials.
Those named are former Village planner Lisa Pedrini, planning consultant Cameron Chalmers, development services manager Scott McRae, building and planning coordinator Nikki Segovia, and Mayor Mike Richman.
“This filing was made to meet court requirements and ensure our legal interests are protected,” David said in a statement emailed to Pique. “The Aspect has not made any decision to proceed with legal action, and our preference is to work collaboratively with the Village toward an amicable solution that enables
this much-needed rental housing to move forward.”
AN UNEASY EASEMENT
The filing centres around a property David owns at 1422 Pemberton Portage Rd., where he hoped to build The Aspect, a 61-unit rental complex.
David’s property is immediately adjacent to a mixed-used strata development commonly known as Portage Station, located at 1436 Pemberton Portage Rd. His property is subject to an easement put in place when Portage Station was developed in 2005.
An easement grants one party the right to use another party’s land for a specific purpose. In this case, the suit alleges, 322 square metres of David’s property were set aside to satisfy parking requirements for the development of Portage Station, although the easement area has remained vacant and undeveloped since.
In 2019, David became the project manager for Pemberton Landing GP Ltd., the previous owners of his property who were in the early stages of developing The Aspect.
The lawsuit alleges the easement was a “significant design consideration” for The Aspect, and the inability to access the easement area from the road created a challenge for the project.
Between 2019 and 2021, David consulted regularly with the Village to find alternative solutions for the easement area.
After the first development permit
application was rejected, the lawsuit alleges Village representatives suggested they would like to advance The Aspect and intended to rely on something called the Relocation Clause to move the easement area to an adjacent property called Lot 13.
LOT 13
David submitted a revised development permit application in May 2021 which excluded the easement area, based on the assurances that the easement requirements would be moved to Lot 13. That permit application was approved by the Village.
Between 2020 and 2022, the Village passed a number of resolutions related to moving the easement area to Lot 13, including a payment-in-lieu scheme.
In 2022, the team behind The Aspect submitted a building permit application based on the approved development permit, and in 2023 David purchased the lot from Pemberton Landing based on the repeated assurances from the Village that the project could go ahead.
But by late 2024, communication with the Village had stalled entirely.
In a letter published in Pique in November 2024, David said he and his colleagues were “confused and frustrated” by the lack of communication from Village officials despite numerous attempts to get updates on their building permit application, which by then had been filed for 2.5 years.
By November 2024, The Aspect’s financing with the Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation lapsed, and in December 2024, David filed a court petition to resolve the easement issue.
Through the petition hearing process, David learned in January 2026 that the Village “did not own Lot 13 and did not have the authority to enter into any agreement as to its use.”
Lot 13 is owned by the province, and the Village has a Licence of Occupation for the lot which dictates that the Village “cannot sublicence, assign, mortgage, or transfer the Licence” without the Province’s consent, which may be withheld.
The village has understood the terms of the licence since 2011, the claim alleges.
The claim suggests that, to the best of David’s knowledge, the Village neither requested nor secured the province’s consent prior to offering Lot 13 as a solution to the easement issue.
It alleges the Village committed “negligent misrepresentation” by continually suggesting the easement burden could be relieved by the use of Lot 13, and allowing David to proceed with development plans under that assumption.
The plaintiff is seeking relief in the form of general damages, special damages, and punitive damages with interest pursuant to the Court Order Interest Act
The Village of Pemberton said it is unable to provide comment as the matter is before the courts.
None of the claims have been proven in court. n
Winter, MichaelDarrell
Januar y4,1943– March18,2026
Advocates hope to see Pemberton become a residential solar leader
BC HYDRO IS PROJECTING A 15% GROWTH IN ENERGY DEMAND BY 2030
BY HILARY ANGUS
MikeWinterpassedawaypeacefullyon Wednesday,March18,2026, at theage of83.Hewillbedeeplymissedandlovinglyrememberedbyhiswifeof60years, Linda;hissonsSean(Deanna),Chris(Jory),andAndrew;hisgrandchildrenRyan, Georgia,Ella,andEthan;hissisterSue;andhiscousins,extendedfamilymembers, andmanyfriends.
MikewasborninAlmonte,Ontario,andraised in Oshawa.HeandLindawere married in June1966andsoonmadetheirhomeinOttawa,whereMikededicated 30yearstoteachinghighschool.Hewasmorethana teacher, hewasa mentor andaninspiration,encouraginghis studentstoembrace lifefully.Hecreated countlessmemorableoutdoorexperiencesthat left alasting impactongenerations ofyoungpeople.
In2007,MikeandLindamovedtoWhistlertobeclosertotheirsons.There,Mike quicklyformed astrongconnectiontothecommunityanditsnaturalbeauty. He gavegenerouslyofhistimeasa volunteer,includingservingasa MountainHost for10years.Mikehad agiftformakingpeoplefeelseenandvalued;hiswarmth, kindness,andgenuine interest in othersleft alasting impressiononeveryone hemet.
AcelebrationofMike’s lifewillbeheldonFriday,April24,from4–6 p.m. at Table19(Ni cholasNorthGolfCourse).Allarewelcometoattend. Inlieuofflowers,thefamilyinvitesyoutohonourMike’s spiritby performinganactofkindnessfora neighbourorfriend.
TWO PEMBERTON residents are in the early stages of developing a “solar hub” in hopes of making the community a solar energy leader in the Sea to Sky corridor.
Erich Baumann and Marilou Gauthier Carswell delivered a presentation to council on March 24, in which they laid out a modest proposal to “remove some potential barriers” to residential solar panel installation with the municipality’s support.
“We know that the fastest path away from fossil fuels is mass electrification, powered mainly by solar, wind and hydro,” Baumann said.
The “solar hub” would include a solar information page on the Village’s website, a designated municipal contact for basic questions about residential solar, and a public solar information session held during Earth Week in April.
BC Hydro has predicted a 15-percent increase in energy demand across the province by 2030. Through its self-
interested in solar systems on their houses. So far, no municipality in the Sea to Sky corridor has taken an active role in specifically promoting solar energy generation, Carswell said, and they would like to see Pemberton lead the way.
Baumann said he and his wife built a passive house in Pemberton in 2021, and their home is now “net-zero,” meaning it produces as much energy as it uses.
He is one of approximately 15,000 residential customers in the province participating in residential energy generation programs as a complement to BC Hydro’s services.
In Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Katrina Nightingale questioned whether or not Pemberton has enough sun to warrant investment in residential solar, especially after “eight days of solid rain.”
Baumann said Pemberton is “very well situated” for solar energy. He said, from their research, Kelowna is the best city in the province for solar energy, and its yearly average sunlight hours are “within five to 10 per cent” of Pemberton’s.
Baumann said Halifax, N.S, through
“We know that the fastest path away from fossil fuels is mass electrification.”
- ERICH BAUMANN
generation program, residential and commercial customers can generate their own electricity through systems such as solar panels, and any excess generated gets sent back to the grid and purchased by Hydro at market price.
Carswell said the benefits of residential solar are myriad—including reducing hydro demand, improving community resilience to energy shocks, and encouraging energy awareness—but the process and technicalities involved in installing solar panels on private homes can be a barrier for many people.
“It took me quite a while to go online and wrap my head around the rebates,” Carswell said. “What’s a kilowatt hour? If I spend all this money into a system, like, how much would I get back?”
While Pemberton does not require permits for a standard rooftop solar system, Carswell said the many other steps involved, such as electrical permits, BC Hydro’s self-generation application, understanding batteries and storage, finding contractors and comparing systems can all together be a significant barrier for homeowners who may be
its municipal Solar City program, is a nationwide leader in residential solar with approximately 1,500 private systems within the municipality, and solar capacity in Pemberton is very similar to Halifax.
With BC Hydro’s program, excess energy production is applied as a credit to the customer’s next bill, so overproduction in summertime can offset the dip in production throughout rainy winters when household energy use is typically higher.
A standard residential solar system can be “paid off” within 13 to 15 years, and the life expectancy of the system is 25 to 30 years with a declining rate of electricity generation after that, according to Baumann and Carswell’s research.
Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said providing space for the Earth Week event would be straightforward, but he would need to determine staff capacity for the webpage and dedicated on-staff contact.
“But I think there’s a desire to support this sort of initiative in the community,” he said. “So thank you very much for bringing [it] forward and definitely follow up.” n
$1,419,000
$684,000
$1,299,000
$1,799,999
$1,599,000
$1,949,000
SQ.FT.:
$640,000
Obertauern I: Ticket to Ride
IN MARCH 1965, the band that changed the world, The Beatles, arrived in the Austrian resort of Obertauern, an hour from the charms of historic Salzburg— where their plane was greeted by 5,000 or so screaming girls—to film parts of their classic movie, Help!
It would be an historic visit, even if almost no one in Obertauern—save for those girls who may have found ways to follow from Salzburg—knew who the band
BY LESLIE ANTHONY
was despite their popularity and status. Released later that same year, the musical comedy features an odd plot in which guitarists John, Paul and George find themselves protecting their naïve drummer, Ringo, from a sinister cult that hopes to capture him and retrieve a sacrificial ring he was given by a fan. The film follows the Fab Four’s chaotic adventures as they evade cult assassins and various mad scientists while finding excuses for musical performances in weird places like the mountains of Austria. A beloved and madcap ’60s classic, Help! is notable not for brilliant acting, sharp directing or any other cinematographic trope, but for off-the-wall storytelling that would ultimately influence the development of music videos.
A quarter century later, in March 2026, I arrived in Obertauern on a more quotidian assignment to write a ski story. Finding out early about the Beatles and Help! connection felt like kismet of a sort since, having watched it so many times as a kid, I could visualize the scenes shot there; the eponymous album also happened to be the first I ever owned, its songs among the first musical grooves worn into the temporal lobe of my brain (60 years later I can still recite the lyrics to “Help!,” “Ticket to Ride,” “You’re Going to Lose that Girl,” and “Yesterday.”).
Indeed, I wasn’t long in town before
Hotel Marietta, and the hotel’s grand piano, dragged out onto the slopes for the “Ticket to Ride” sequence, is now immortalized in a weatherproof replica atop the Grünwaldkopfbahn lift, at which a thousand people a day now doff their skis to sit.
As I wander town checking off Beatlebits, I notice that the glut of hotels, guest houses, apartments, ski schools and underground garages reflect a strange mix of architecture, not much of it classic or even alpine in nature, and more than a fair amount looking like the kind of unimaginative 1950s-1980s efforts that
I don’t know what happened after the Romans left, but the first skiers—mainly soldiers on training missions—arrived in Obertauern about 110 years ago.
discovering monuments to this miniBritish Invasion everywhere—including around my own lodgings at the Hotel Römerhof, where photos near reception attest to at least a wander-through by John Lennon. On the slope across from the hotel was a massive metal cut-out of the album cover; in the centre of town, a more formal memorial based around statues of the boys at the Hotel Edelweiss (where they stayed in rooms 214, 216, 218 and 219, in case you’re interested in renting one); they apparently held a private concert for the film’s assistant director Clive Reed (the only one they ever played in Austria) in the
may have been bulldozed elsewhere. Clearly an eclectic history is at play here, one whose breadth and diversity has travelled many leagues from its origin as a snowy outpost on a Roman road that ran through this pass as a vital connection between northern and southern Europe (and a conduit for the salt of Salzburg).
I don’t know what happened after the Romans left, but the first skiers—mainly soldiers on training missions—arrived in Obertauern about 110 years ago. A smattering of lodgings and emergency shelters popped up in that era, but it took a couple of World Wars before Obertauern became a bona fide vacation destination.
By the close of the 1940s, however, skiing was the town’s official jam; when the sport eventually boomed, so did Obertauern. After The Beatles’ visit, it boomed again: the whole world—led by legions of teenage girls—suddenly wanted to ski there.
The choice to film in Obertauern, a town set at a lofty 1,738 metres, was mostly based on its guarantee and abundance of snow for the timing of the proposed March shoot. This and the fact that the ski area is configured like a giant saucer encircled by enticing north- and south-facing slopes have earned it the nickname “snow bowl.” Get to the top of any of the higher lifts and the “unique spherical panorama” to which marketeers often refer gives you a complete view of a resort into which three or four Whistler Blackcombs would handily fit. It’s also a serious ski town, and so plenty of locals were available as doubles for The Beatles’ ski scenes, as none of the musicians could make a turn to save their lives.
Eventually, it was time for me to put fandom and earworms behind and hit the slopes for more serious reportage. I got my gear and crossed the bridge from Hotel Römerhof to the piste. Snapping into my skis, an odd sound drifted down from the metal album memorial a few dozen metres above me. There stood two men and a woman, all in their seventies, arms around each other, swaying and singing “Help!” at the top of their lungs in heavily accented Russian.
All those years ago, even in the depths of the Cold War, they’d come into possession of the same ticket to ride.
Leslie Anthony is a Whistler-based author, editor, biologist and bon vivant who has never met a mountain he didn’t like. n
LET IT BE The Beatles filmed part of their classic movie Help! in the Austrian resort of Obertauern.
PHOTO BY LESLIE ANTHONY
MARCH 27 – APRIL 6, 2025
MARCH 27 – APRIL 6, 2025
keirjewellery.com
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What is OfficialCommunity PlanAmendment(Bill44)Bylaw No.1003,2025about?
OfficialCommunityPlanAmendment(Bill44) BylawNo.1003,2025is amandated amendment to theofficialcommunity plan(OCP)resultingfromchangesmadetothe LocalGovernmentAct by the HousingStatutes(ResidentialDevelopment) Amendment Act,2023(Bill44).TheamendmentalignstheOCPwithhousingneedsidentifiedinthe Villageof Pember ton’sInterimHousingNeedsReport to reflectcurrenthousingneedsand trendsandincludesstatementsandmapdesignations fortheapproximatelocation, amount,type, anddensity of residentialdevelopmentneeded foratleastthenex t20 years,inaddition to housingpoliciesthataddresseachclassofhousingneedincludedin themostrecenthousingneedsreport.
HowdoI getmoreinformation?
Acopyoftheproposed bylawand relevantbackgrounddocumentsmay beinspectedat the Villageof Pember tonOffice,7400 ProspectStreet from Tuesday, April7,2026 to Tuesday, April14,2026 duringtheofficehoursof9:00amto4:00pm(closednoon–1:00pm),MondaythroughFriday, andonlineatpemberton.ca/government/councilmeetings.
HowdoI providefeedback?
Allpersonswhobelieve they areaffectedbytheproposedbylaw shallbegivena reasonableoppor tunity to beheard by Council at thepublichearing. Writtencomments mustbeaddressedto“MayorandCouncil”andmaybesubmitted at thepublichearingor throughoneofthefollowingmethodsprior to thepublichearing(by noononMonday,April 13,2026):
In Person: Corporate& LegislativeServices,7400 ProspectStreet,PembertonBC
GwendolynKennedy CorporateOfficer
‘Another side of Whistler’
New workplace inclusion charter launches to protect workers from abuse
BY LUKE FAULKS | PHOTOS BY OISIN MCHUGH
Hugo Velazquez
doesn’t deal in abstractions.
A human-rights lawyer trained in Mexico and now director of family and settlement programs at MOSAIC, Velazquez has spent years on the frontlines of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) system—visiting farms, evacuating workers from unsafe conditions and documenting abuses that rarely make headlines.
“We visited 348 farms in four years, we evacuated workers in inhumane conditions in 480 cases, and five employers tried to sue me personally for doing that,” he told a roomful of Whistler residents, social-services providers, business leaders and local, provincial and federal representatives in March.
“It was difficult knowing another side of Canada, right? Because you see the Canadian dream, but it’s true of any country. My favourite place, Mexico City, there are some places you wouldn’t go. My other favourite city, Tokyo, there are some places you wouldn’t go. You really don’t think about Tokyo like that, right? But I know another side.”
“And [I] know another side of Cawston, of Kelowna. Unfortunately, [I] know another side of Whistler, and I know you know another side.”
His portrait of the system—one that was described as “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery” by a United Nations special rapporteur in 2023 and condemned by Amnesty International in 2025—set the tone for a wider conversation in Whistler about how the town’s reliance on a flawed migrant labour system exposes temporary foreign workers to abuse by employers.
| The local picture |
While Velazquez outlined the national picture, Whistler Multicultural Society (WMS) staff grounded it locally.
On March 19, the WMS marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with speeches from staff and Velazquez, followed by community roundtables.
Adam Ravalia, the organization’s resilience and migrant worker support coordinator, told attendees the same structural issues with the TFW program are playing out in the resort economy.
“The reality here at Whistler and other economies like Whistler around the country, is that temporary foreign workers are essential but vulnerable,” he said.
“While recent 2026 policy shifts allow rural tourism employees to increase their temporary workforce from 10 to 15 per cent, this expansion occurs without fixing the underlying tied status, [or] effectively decreasing the number of workers trapped in this exploitative structure.”
That tension between reliance and risk is not new to Whistler.
Tourism and hospitality businesses across the Sea to Sky depend heavily on international labour to fill chronic shortages, particularly in lower-wage roles tied to accommodation, food service and guest experience. But those same workers often arrive under closed work permits that legally bind them to a single employer, limiting their mobility.
“It creates a massive power imbalance, where the threat of deportation forces workers to endure abuse and harassment [in] silence,” Ravalia said. “By removing workers’ ability to quit and switch jobs, the program effectively replaces a free labour market system with that of captive labour, and it really strips individuals of their basic agency.”
“Reports consistently document that a pipeline to exploitation across agriculture, hospitality and health-care, characterized by systemic wage theft, dangerous conditions and employer-controlled housing, [is] prevalent across the country,” he said.
In Whistler, where housing pressures, seasonal employment and employeerestricted accommodations are tightly intertwined, those dynamics can be particularly acute.
“The workplace really is the primary site where racism and exclusion are felt most acutely in our town,” Ravalia said. “For many immigrants and temporary workers, the workplace isn’t just a job, it’s where they spend the vast majority of their waking hours and where their legal status is often managed.”
Local data backs that up. A 2022 WMS survey found 39 per cent of racialized Sea to Sky residents reported experiencing racism, while 55 per cent reported institutional racism in workplaces or schools.
| Federal changes | to tfw program |
That local reality is unfolding against a shifting national policy landscape.
As Ravalia noted, last month, the federal government announced targeted changes to the TFW program aimed at rural communities. The updates allow employers to increase the share of low-wage temporary foreign workers from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of their workforce.
The move is framed as a response to persistent labour shortages. It is also explicitly temporary—set to run until March 31, 2027—and must be requested by provinces before taking effect.
“Strong rural economies depend on local employers being able to find the workers they need to keep businesses operating and communities thriving,” said federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu. “Canadians must always be first in line for available jobs, but in some rural regions employers are facing persistent labour shortages.”
Industry groups were quick to support the shift.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called the announcement “an encouraging step,” arguing rural employers face distinct workforce gaps that cannot be filled domestically.
“Without the needed temporary foreign workers in rural regions, thousands of employers across the country are at risk of being unable to grow or even maintain their businesses,” said David Pierce, the chamber’s vice-president of government relations.
But the policy has also drawn sharp criticism from B.C.’s government. Premier David Eby has signalled the province is unlikely to opt into the expanded cap, arguing the changes fail to address the program’s core issues.
“It will bring in a group of people that will face deportation again in two more years when their licences expire. How does that help us?” Eby said at a public event last month, calling instead for expanded pathways to permanent residency.
Eby has repeatedly raised concerns that the TFW system ties workers to employers in ways that expose them to exploitation—echoing the critiques laid out by Velazquez and other advocates.
“We have advocated to the federal government on multiple occasions [that] British Columbia deserves the same opportunity as the provincial government of Quebec to direct, permanent, long-term citizenship path labour opportunities,” he said.
Quebec operates under a unique agreement with Ottawa that allows the province to select its own economic immigrants and funnel temporary workers into permanent residency through provincially controlled programs.
The divide between Eby’s government and the feds reflects a broader national debate: whether the TFW program is a necessary economic tool or a system that entrenches precarity.
For Velazquez, it’s both. “The program will cancel itself the day employers do not require migrant workers,” he said. “That’s how it’s designed, [to] cover the gaps that Canadians can’t cover.”
The question therefore becomes how to adjust the program to ensure TFWs are protected in Canada.
| Enter: the workplace | inclusion charter
In Whistler, the WMS is trying to chart a path forward.
At the same event where Velazquez delivered his keynote, the organization formally launched the Sea to Sky Workplace Inclusion Charter—a regional framework aimed at improving conditions for migrant and temporary foreign workers by getting local businesses to sign.
The charter, developed over eight to 10 months with input from local employers,
The Whistler Multicultural Society has launched a workplace inclusion charter, which offers certifications to employers who create a safe, welcoming environment for their employees.
non-profits and municipal partners, is modelled on a similar program in Alberta’s Bow Valley, where more than 70 businesses have signed on.
“The idea of this workplace inclusion charter is to provide equitable workspaces for everyone,” Ravalia said. “By strengthening how we treat our diverse workforce, we strengthen the community and our overall resilience. A worker who feels safe and respected is a worker who stays.”
Participating employers commit to a series of actions, including creating resource hubs for workers, implementing inclusive hiring practices, offering culturally responsive policies, and reviewing workplace harassment frameworks.
Ravalia told Whistler council in November 2025 that similar initiatives in the Bow Valley—home to Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and Kananaskis—have shown measurable gains.
The latest update boasts 5,933 full-time employees “positively impacted” in 2024, alongside hundreds of concrete inclusion actions completed by employers. Bow Valley employers Mt. Norquay and HI Banff publicly describe the charter as a practical way to improve onboarding, belonging and retention for internationally recruited staff.
A 2021 study into the pilot program also tied the charter model to better newcomer integration and workplace culture in resort towns with high foreign-born workforces.
“So the workplace inclusion charter is a formal commitment and roadmap for local businesses to move beyond diversity as a buzzword,” Ravalia said.
“[It provides] a framework for employers to audit their own cultures, to implement equitable hiring practices, and to create an environment where international workers are protected and valued, not just utilized.”
The program will run as a six-month pilot, with participating organizations required to complete a minimum set of commitments before reconvening in the fall to assess progress.
The charter does not replace federal labour policy. But advocates say it offers something equally important: a local mechanism for accountability.
“We can’t do it from the top [down],” Velazquez said. “We can’t tell workers what they need. Workers know what they need. We have to listen to them and then create a structure.”
It also acknowledges a reality Velazquez returned to repeatedly:
that migrant workers are central to Canada’s economy.
They now account for roughly one out of every 25 workers nationwide, a share that more than doubled from 356,000 in 2011 to 845,000 in 2021. Nearly one in four workers in the Canadian agriculture and health-care sectors is a temporary foreign worker.
Employers report they are unable to fill many of these positions domestically. Federal evaluations find roughly 38 per cent of businesses using the program say Canadians are not available, interested or qualified to do the work.
“So what are we?” Velazquez asked. “Where do we stand in our day to day, without migrant workers and without immigrants?” n
Hugo Velazquez is a former Mexican diplomat, now helping protect migrant workers across B.C.
Lil’wat Nation celebrates 78 skiers and boarders at season-ending award ceremony
THE YOUTH ARE PART OF THE QWÍXWLA7 COMMUNITY PROGRAM RUN
BY DAVID SONG
ZAYNE ESSELTINE-SMITH wasn’t exactly thrilled about his first ski lesson earlier this winter.
He may have felt a sense of trepidation about picking up a new activity, a fear of the unknown that’s quite normal for a nine-year-old like himself. The boy’s grandmother, Lil’wat Nation interim CAO Tara Smith, assured him that it would be worthwhile, and that he’d be safe with his instructor.
By Session No. 3, Zayne no longer required encouragement. He achieved his goal of progressing from the magic carpet to his first chairlift, and was honoured with the Most Improved Skier accolade at the Lil’wat Qwíxwla7 (Sliding) End-ofSeason Awards Ceremony on March 29.
Zayne’s twin sister Aria evidently had fun too, for she received the Chairlift Chatterbox Award. Ten-year-old Lucas Dan was named Most Improved Snowboarder.
These are just three of 78 young skiers and riders who were celebrated in a packed room at the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain. Lil’wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson and Smith were on hand alongside professional
snowboarder Sandy Ward and dozens of loved ones. It was lively, there was cake and community member Troy Reuben Bikadi (whose kids are in the Qwíxwla7 program) wrapped things up by leading a traditional song in a powerful display of cultural unity.
“These mountains are in our traditional territory, and our people have had relationships with this land long before there was a ski resort,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, we want our youth to feel proud of who they are, know that they belong on the mountain, and just provide that opportunity for connection … there are many families across this land harvesting, hunting and trapping, and this is a stepping stone to get them connected and feel like they have a sense of belonging out there.”
SUCCESS ON THE SLOPES
Qwíxwla7 was formed in 2024 when the executive director of its predecessor, the Indigenous Life Sport Academy (ILSA), stepped down. Effectively replacing him was Ward, a Lil’wat Nation member who brings plenty of experience organizing activities with the non-profit she co-founded: Indigenous Women Outdoors (IWO).
Ward feels that evolving the program from an external operation like the ILSA into something directly affiliated with the Lil’wat Recreation Department helped it gain favour with her community. Participants vary from nine to 21 years old and are taught by up to 15 Indigenous and non-Indigenous volunteer coaches from the Nation, Whistler Blackcomb
BY ARC’TERYX SNOWBOARDER SANDY WARD
(WB) and beyond. Lessons are held on most Sundays between January and March, with 70-plus students taking a bus between Mount Currie and the resort.
It is difficult to imagine a more fitting program director than Ward: a Mount Currie local, former competitive halfpipe rider, WB instructor and First Nations Snowboard Team (FNST) veteran who is now sponsored by Arc’teryx.
Ward spends a lot of time with younger Qwíxwla7 registrants and finds it gratifying to observe their personalities blossom as they begin to thrive on snow. She encourages older youth and agedout graduates to continue in sport if they desire: whether that’s as a qualified instructor or a part of the more adultfocused World Indigenous Sport and Health (WISH) Society.
As for how she views the act of giving back, Ward said: “I feel like that’s what a lot of Lil’wat people do. We go out into the world, we learn whatever skill we want to learn, and then we come back and share that with our community. That’s what I’ve always been taught. I feel like that’s what I’m doing, and mom would be proud.”
Smith is one of many who are proud of Ward, remarking that the Arc’teryx rider understands what mentorship means to a young person “because she lived it.”
CONNECTION AND CONFIDENCE
Very much a multi-generational affair, Qwíxwla7 includes a number of kids
whose parents earned their Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) certificates alongside Ward in the mid-2000s. Smith feels like a grandmother to all of them and often spends her entire Sunday at the mountain ensuring each child is fed and supported.
Equipment availability does remain a persistent need. Ward collects donated gear to lower the cost of entry for students, but there’s not always enough for everyone. Smith had to buy a new pair of boots for her granddaughter and knows that not every family can afford such an expense.
“I’m really hoping to eliminate that barrier in the coming season because when the youth have their own gear, you could really see the difference there,” she said. “They feel more confident and they feel like they belong there. Beyond that, what really makes this program special is the instructors … they’re not from our community, but they choose to give their Sundays to be with our youth and some give the jacket off their back to help.”
Ultimately, Ward echoes Smith’s belief that skiing and snowboarding help Lil’wat Nation members connect to both their ancestral land and their culture.
“When I started snowboarding in the backcountry, I just wanted to learn about what our people did out there and our stories and our traditional names for places so I’m hoping that is how the kids will eventually feel,” expressed Ward. “I know they’re not thinking about that deeply when they’re 16 years old, but maybe in the future.” n
BREAKING BARRIERS Lil’wat ski and snowboard program students and instructors at the end of the 2026 season in Whistler.
TheVancouver CoastalHealth( VCH)Boardof Directorsinvites youtojoinanupcomingOpenBoard Forumfocused on health care topics relevant to the SeatoSky region,including Squamish,Whistlerand Pember ton.
DATE
Wednesday, April15,2026 6p.m.to7:30p.m.
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Billy Pelchat reflects on milestone Natural Selection Tour podium finish
THE 18-YEAR-OLD WHISTLERITE PLACED THIRD DURING FINALS IN REVELSTOKE
BY DAVID SONG
IT IS OFFICIAL: Amalia Pelchat has entrenched herself among the ranks of top female snowboarders. She is known to most as “Billy,” a nickname given to her in childhood because she laughs like a billy goat—and she’s able to conquer mountainous terrain like one, too.
The Whistlerite can fly high and land complex tricks, as seen in her 2024 Youth Olympics slopestyle final berth. She’s versatile enough to have grabbed boardercross bronze at the Canada Winter Games three years ago despite not training regularly for that event. She approaches big mountain freeriding with gusto that impresses many, including her Olympian elder sister Juliette Pelchat.
Billy mixed all of her skills together to place third at the Natural Selection Tour (NST) Revelstoke finale.
Last year’s NST champ Spencer O’Brien, 2022 winner Elena Hight, Yuka Fujimori and Mary Rand were all eliminated on qualifying day, but a pair of confident runs advanced Billy to the final. There she matched up against Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand, history’s most decorated Olympic snowboarder with five medals, including two silvers fresh from Milano Cortina.
The generational Kiwi ultimately realized her second career NST triumph, but Billy’s highest score of 78.3 points vaulted her onto the podium over Madison Blackley, who notched 50 points. And if you think Billy was at all intimidated by Sadowski-Synnott, you’d be wrong.
“She’s so awesome. We were rooming together,” said the youngest Pelchat girl. “I got to really know [Zoi] personally as a friend. We were obviously competitive against each other, but it was also such an organic environment where we were just talking about runs and messing with each other … we went up to go scope [the venue] the day before and she was coming over to my zone. I was like, ‘oh no, is she going to come over here?’ It was so funny.”
FEATURES EVERYWHERE
Despite the aforementioned humorous moments, Billy felt overwhelmed at her first sight of Revelstoke.
The NST implements a nuanced judging criteria dubbed CREDO (Creativity, Risk, Execution, Difficulty and Overall Flow). Unlike a World Cup or Olympic big air event, merely stomping the largest tricks won’t be rewarded— instead, athletes must discover a balance between innovative lines, calculated risktaking, technicality and fluid movement. Both the venue’s east and west faces were
available during qualifiers and finals, granting a wealth of choice.
Billy aimed to demonstrate her freeride prowess instead of relying solely on slopestyle manoeuvres. Others shared their two cents, like men’s participant Mateo Massitti who inspired her to drop into the lesser-travelled east face. Twice she landed the same cab 540 that fellow local O’Brien used to win last year, attacking each line with very little hesitation.
“My dad, [pro snowboarder JF Pelchat], has always taught my sister and I that you want to ride good and confident,” Billy said. “I also heard … you want to ride between the features almost better than you’re riding off the features. I studied the whole area so that if I got lost in my run, I could still ride the rest of it with confidence and have different options. No matter what happens, there’s features everywhere.”
Observers lauded her mature approach, including a broadcast panel with X Games, World Championship and Olympic veteran Todd Richards, ex-SNOWBOARDER Magazine senior editor Mary Walsh and NST alumnus Ben Ferguson. Billy could hardly fathom their praise and believes her performance is a reflection of her mentors: JF and O’Brien as well as rider/filmmaker Robin Van Gyn, just to name a few.
NST also showcases the sport in a real and raw way unmatched by any other platform. Its culture is positive and athlete-focused, enabling snowboarders of all ages and backgrounds to unlock their potential. Tour frontman Travis Rice and company make sure operations run on time: an uncommon feat in Billy’s experience. Fans appreciate it, too, and she was blown away by how many came out to cheer in Revelstoke.
‘IT’S MORE POWERFUL IF WE DO IT AS A TEAM’
To clinch her spot at NST Revelstoke, Billy had to finish second or higher at Research & Development (RnD) in Whitewater Resort, and that is its own story.
RnD is a women’s-only snowboard contest founded by Van Gyn that serves as an NST qualifier. After missing the podium in 2025, Billy entered with aplomb this March—in fact, when asked who she hoped might win in a pre-event media availability, her response was, “Is it rude to say myself?”
“My family and everyone around me has taught me from such a young age to … always set yourself for the stars,” Billy elaborated. “You just have to say it and put things into the universe because you never know what’s going to happen. I’ve tried to have that mindset ever since those Canada Games where I did end up winning.”
Find the full story online at piquenewsmagazine.com. n
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SPRING-LY WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MY UNCLE—AND DAVID SUZUKI
FINALLY, SPRING has pretty much sprung—or at least it’s trying to, given our new, confusing climate. With it come all the lovely annual celebrations that honour growth, fertility and renewal. Life after death—of winter, and more. Nature, in a word. We have Easter in its many forms, with bunnies here, bilbies
BY GLENDA BARTOSH
in Australia, and “Easter Crime” in Norway (read some crime fiction or watch a murder movie!). Nowruz or New Day/ New Year for Persians, Ismailis and more. Salubong for our Filipino friends. And loads of treats plus a pink or Paschal moon for all, as the first full moon after spring equinox is called.
This spring, some pretty significant moments also popped up that have no direct “Easter-ly” connections per se, but amplify that life/death balance and our precarious natural world—including how critical it is we all keep trying to make things better.
WHEN YOU CAN’T ADMIT IT’S TOO LATE
You have to hand it to my late Uncle Howard. Well into his 90s, he was still logging four kilometres a day on a stationary bike, intrepid prairie soul that he was. “Uncle Howard!” I exclaimed when he told me that shortly before he died. “That’s incredible!”
“Well,” he said simply, “you’ve gotta keep trying.” And he did—right to the end.
Soon after that conversation, and spring equinox, I was happy to hear
David Suzuki talk about “still trying” on CBC Radio’s Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay. It’s a terrific interview in light of his new book, 90th birthday March 24, and the ensuing fundraising bash in Vancouver May 22, with the likes of Sarah McLachlan, William Prince, Jane Fonda, Bruce Cockburn and Al Gore.
David Suzuki is one of my—and a jillion other people’s—longtime heroes. So I was so happy to hear him finally admit publicly that it’s too late when it comes to our climate disaster. He also noted, We have to keep trying
Funny thing, that. I ran into Suzuki my final year at an Emily Carr University of Art + Design event. We happened to be standing next to each other at the back of the room, and I leaned over and whispered, “So what do you think, David? Is it too late?” He knew exactly what I meant.
“Yeah,” he said, “but I can’t say it publicly because I’m afraid people will stop trying.” Huh.
If you listen to that excellent interview mentioned above, you’ll hear him explain that even the David Suzuki Foundation he started in 1990 forbade him from saying as much. But he kept on—and keeps on—trying.
“It is true that we are now headed in a catastrophic way, and it’s unavoidable,” he said, noting the legal, economic and political frameworks “no longer reside in a web of relationships,” and leave nature entirely out of the equation.
In the end, all that matters is that you try, said Suzuki. “It’s what I think defines our species, that people in the face of challenges, they try to make it better.”
MORE TRIERS WHO KEPT ON TRYING
The same day David Suzuki turned 90, another great hero of mine died. Biruté Galdikas, a Canadian scientist and SFU professor who dedicated her life to studying and safeguarding wild orangutans in Borneo, passed away March 24 at age 79. Along with Jane Goodall (chimpanzees) and Dian Fossey (gorillas), she was one of
three “trimates”—or “try-mates” since they all kept going despite the odds—who added so much to our understanding of primates and conservation.
“I got skepticism. I got doubt. People said it couldn’t be done,” Dr. Biruté told CBC Radio’s Matt Galloway in 2021 about her efforts to study orangutans.
In defiance of all the nasty logging and palm oil plantations in Borneo, which I’ve witnessed first-hand, Dr. Biruté set up Tanjung Puting National Park and a research station, along with the Orangutan Foundation International, a postcard from which sits on my desk right now, updating hubbie and I on the health of a young orphaned orangutan we “adopted” years ago, cheekily named Trudeau by the great Canadian staffers.
I could add a hundred more names of heroic people who never stopped trying to make things better. Top of the list would be Canada’s humanitarian, political and diplomatic giant, Stephen Lewis, who was also an early environmentalist, even working very closely with David Suzuki. He recently died during this time of renewal, remarkably right after his son, Avi, became leader of the federal
HOW MANY OF US?
Just for fun, here’s the world population, and the number of people per square kilometre, on years mentioned above. Thanks to Worldometer, ranked Least Biased by Media Bias Fact Check, based on strictly providing data and statistics.
1936, when David Suzuki was born: 2.2 to 2.3 billion. 15-16 ppl/km2
1946, when Biruté Galdikas was born: 2.3 to 2.4 billion. 16-17 ppl/km2
1970, when Joni Mitchell released “Big Yellow Taxi”: 3.7 billion. 25 ppl/km2
1990, when the David Suzuki Foundation was formed: 5.3 billion. 36 ppl/km2
Today’s population: 8.3 billion. About 56 ppl/km2
NDP. But let’s spring along with some determined Canadians of a different vein who also keep trying.
If you missed the Junos, you can catch it all on CBC Music’s YouTube channel. What a party! What a Rush! (With their great new female drummer, Anika Nilles.) From Nelly Furtado’s rousing Oh Canada! speech after being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame, to R&B winner Daniel Caesar with his dad, Spergy, it was a blast. All topped off with a cherry by Joni Mitchell’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
This mind-blowing prairie woman was nicely introed by our own PM, a big Joni fan. Me too. While Carney loves her renditions of “Both Sides Now,” I choose “Big Yellow Taxi,” which Joni punctuated in her gravelly, 82-year-old voice. She wrote it in 1970 after checking into a hotel in Hawaii and looking out the window to see “they paved paradise to put up a parking lot.”
Earlier that day, hundreds of us were also blown away by more stunning Canadian music from Elektra Women’s Choir in Vancouver. (See something of a women’s theme happening here?) Called “If the Earth Could Sing,” it was just that, featuring rich, complex pieces, most of them by Canadians, lamenting our enviro mess while encouraging us to all keep trying. Like Gerda Blok-Wilson’s tribute to a dried-up river in Prince George; and Songs from the Lytton Fire, with text by Meghan Fandrich and composed by Andrew Staniland, who was up for his third Juno nomination this year. (He’s also developed a headband with EEG sensors that use your own brainwaves to make music!)
So, yes, Easter embodies death, hope and renewal. But we all have to keep trying to ensure it stays that way— renewed. Better. For as Joni cautioned us ages ago, don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who’s still trying… n
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SWIM • SKATE • SWEAT • SQUASH
Good Friday –No classes Easter Monday –No classes
schedule.
R REGISTERED FITNESS Registered fitness classes have a separate fee and a defined start and end date. Pre-registration is required for the entire set of classes.
I INCLUDED FITNESS These classes are included with your price of admission for no extra charge.
ZADA co-headlines World Ski and Snowboard Festival Outdoor Music Series
THE EVENT’S 30TH ITERATION RUNS FROM APRIL 6 TO 12, WITH VARIOUS ARTISTIC AND ATHLETIC OFFERINGS ON TAP
BY DAVID SONG
THE 30TH WORLD Ski and Snowboard Festival (WSSF) has unveiled its Outdoor Live Music Series, with local artist ZADA front and centre on April 9 to kick things off. She’ll be joined that day by Surf Hat, with Vandelux and the Funk Hunters (April 10), Maestro Fresh Wes and Snotty Nose Rez Kids (April 11), Jah Cutta and Bedouin Soundclash (April 12) rounding out the lineup.
ZADA is one of the Sea to Sky’s most eclectic singer-songwriters, with a musical approach that puts jazz, folk, alternative R&B, electronica, hip-hop and more into a blender. Such diversity is reflective of her own background as an Ethiopian girl who has lived among the mountains of Whistler for nearly two decades. Understandably, she makes reference to her native culture often in her work.
The 22-year-old jumps at every opportunity to perform on home soil and looks forward to her maiden WSSF gig. She remembers Walk off the Earth
singing at a previous festival and was inspired by the Juno-winning pop band’s onstage chemistry.
“Always fun to show people what you’ve been working on,” ZADA says.
“My hometown has supported me a lot.
I’m kind of in this little creative bubble and when I step out, it’s exciting to show what I’ve been working on to the people I care about most. Obviously the whole world is the goal, but I think it’s always
McCollum. She considers it a soulful track with an intimate, home-produced feel, and lyrically it shows off a more vulnerable aspect of her personality. She also thanked Bryan for imparting his wisdom about the art of music-making.
AS PROLIFIC AS POSSIBLE
ZADA’s last notable Whistler appearance came in March 2024, when she launched her debut album Water in the Desert at
“[I]t’s exciting to show what I’ve been working on to the people I care about most.”
- ZADA
lovely to connect with your community.
“I am actually going to put some music out on stage to see what happens. I love testing a new song out live first … I had a do-it-yourself home studio session in January. We’re also working on a new intro and just some more nerdy musical stuff that is going on in my head right now to keep it fresh.”
One song that has come out of ZADA’s DIY exploits is “Galaxy,” her latest single recorded in Tofino with Latin Grammy and Juno winner James Bryan
the Garibaldi Lift Co (GLC). That eighttrack offering has since been followed up by multiple singles like “Galaxy” plus “Access Denied,” “Breath Away” and an EP called The Respect Sessions.
She explains that “Access Denied” is like a thematic continuation of Water in the Desert, referencing the album while bringing its own ideas on self-worth and boundary-setting.
“In the songwriting process, I feel like we just worked as a team even more efficiently,” says ZADA. “It came out really
quickly, which I was excited about. When you start these writing sessions, you kind of worry: ‘is it going to be a slow one? Are we going to be grinding this one out?’”
ZADA was inspired to write “Breath Away” after a night out dancing with her producer Chin Injeti and his friends. One man she met that night later passed away, invoking the idea of “how small our moments are with special people, and how you need to be grateful for all the beautiful things in life, big or small.”
Meanwhile The Respect Sessions is a tribute to Otis Redding, the King of Soul himself. ZADA reimagines two of his genre-defining works, “Respect” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
About dabbling in a variety of projects, ZADA remarks: “Growing up in Whistler and also having African heritage, [it’s about] that split between worlds and how you bring those together. I think I do that also with music because it’s something that is in my head all the time … but I also feel like it’s just really fun to express myself in as many ways as possible.
“I’m definitely getting a little better at honing in on a sound, but art is meant to be expressed. If it’s a good song and it makes sense for you at the time, you should put it out. I’ve always been of that mindset to be as prolific as possible … don’t be stuck behind a box you created on your own. As a little musical nerd, I just love seeing what people do with
SHOW THE WORLD Whistler local ZADA is one of the Sea to Sky’s most eclectic singer-songwriters.
PHOTO BY BLAKE JORGENSON
their shows—it’s always an opportunity to learn and see how other artists interact with their audience.”
THE 30-YEAR MARK
Needless to say, the WSSF is more than just a series of concerts.
One of this year’s brand-new offerings is The Pipe, an event designed to unite high-level athletes and the laypeople who share their craft. On April 8 from noon until 2 p.m., members of the public are invited to a community ride at a 12-foot halfpipe on Blackcomb Mountain, playing with new tricks in
“As the current owner and producer, we see this anniversary as both a responsibility and a privilege.”
- HEATHER MACDONALD
a social, non-judged environment. An invitational contest will be held the following day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., featuring an exclusive field of skiers and snowboarders.
The Pro Photographer Showdown is also evolving into a novel form, the Pro Photographer Showcase. Rather than a live slideshow, this event will feature a printed gallery of images representing photographers from across WSSF’s three decades. The exhibition will be viewable free of charge in the Whistler Conference Centre (WCC) foyer on April 7 and 8, with images put up via silent auction in support of Protect Our Winters Canada.
“Reaching the 30-year mark is an opportunity to acknowledge that legacy and the many people who have contributed to it over time, from athletes and photographers to musicians,
volunteers, and partners,” says Gibbons Whistler chief integrative officer Heather MacDonald in a press release. “As the current owner and producer, we see this anniversary as both a responsibility and a privilege. Our focus is on honouring what has made WSSF meaningful while creating space for people to gather, participate, and celebrate mountain culture today.”
Familiar fan favourites like the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown (April 7) and Intersection (April 8) are to take place in the WCC’s main ballroom. Kieran Kershaw grabbed both top prize and the People’s Choice Award in 2025’s Filmmaker Showdown, while Shmobb is the reigning Intersection winner in both categories.
The Grind is back in Skiers’ Plaza for a second time, with skiing planned for April 10 and snowboarding the day after. Expect a variety of talented riders to show up, attempting to dethrone reigning ski champs Luke Smart and Caoimhe Heavey as well as snowboard victors Truth Smith and Jackie Carlson in a dynamic showcase of streetstyle ability.
Last but definitely not least, the Slush Cup runs on April 12, inviting (or maybe tempting) people to dash across an icy pond on skis or a snowboard just outside of Glacier Creek Lodge. Prizes are on the line for honours like Best Trick, Best Costume, Best Wipeout and more.
“Over three decades, WSSF has grown alongside Whistler, reflecting changes in sport, media, and mountain culture while maintaining its core identity. Like many festivals, recent years required adaptation across the events industry,” MacDonald comments. “What has remained consistent is WSSF’s role as a gathering point bringing together athletes, artists, businesses, and community members who share a connection to mountain culture. For this anniversary year, the focus is on reinforcing that sense of connection and ensuring the festival continues to feel relevant, accessible, and rooted in Whistler.”
Visit wssf.com for more details. n
CROSSING PATHS Intersection is one of the staples of each year’s World Ski and Snowboard Festival.
PHOTO BY OISIN MCHUGH
KimDorland, Nemophilia#1 (detail), 2017. AudainArtMuseum Collection. Purchasedwithfundsfrom the Audain Foundation.
Presenting Sponsor Hotel Partner
4350Blackcomb Wa y, Whistler,BC audainartmuseum.com
This article continues on from last week’s instalment featuring the reflections of three pioneering women from the early “golden age of snowboarding”—“Punchy” (Sherry [Newstead] Boyd), “Nes” (Vanessa Stark) and “Jibber” (Jennifer Godbout)—on the progression and progress of the sport.
people have grown up, too. And everything is different. But I also remember.”
And remembering is key. Learning from our histories—and her-stories—is what helps us collectively shape our futures.
And it is also important to note that the under- or mis-representation of women is not exclusive to snowboarding. It was, arguably, a pervasive social practise of the time that females (and males) are still trying to overcome. “Women in business, women in all sports … it didn’t matter the sport, we were all experiencing that same thing,” Jibber says.
But things are changing. For the better. Much better. Way better.
PUNCHY —a former member of the National Team, alpine dispatch worker and snowboarding stuntwoman for film— recalls “I actually had an older gentleman [skier] chase me down and come up to me as though he was going to assault me. And then I took off my goggles … to show him that I was a girl. And he stopped. I said, ‘are you going to assault me?’”
In the beginning, there was no womenspecific gear. No boards, no boots, no nothing. “I’d just wear extra socks,” smiles Jibber— former snowboarding coach and current member of Whistler Search and Rescue and backcountry split-board guide. Suited up, girls were often assumed to be boys.
“I’ve been whipped by poles. But as soon as I’ve turned around and they found out I was a girl, they were like, oh my God,” Jibber recalls. Not only were these women navigating their way through the “Boys’ Club” of their own sport, they were also manoeuvring through the initial tensions of “skiers versus snowboarders” on the slopes.
Punchy reflects on past workplace dynamics where she was blacklisted for being a snowboarder, where it was insinuated and continuously affirmed: “you’re one of them and you are not welcome here.”
Nes—the first female to ever do Air Jordan on a board, celebrated visual artist and former snowboard Park Ranger— inserts: “Even now, I ride the gondola and parents will be like, ‘Oh, don’t talk to them, they’re snowboarders!’”
Jibber suggests that a pivoting point for the culture of snowboarding has been parenting. “I think there’s a lot of dads that now have daughters that are competing,” she says. “And I think that is the huge difference because all of a sudden they’re like, ‘well, my daughter deserves an opportunity.’ No shit, she does … It’s different now that you have a daughter, eh? Treat them differently, eh? I mean,
Punchy, now married to World Cup winner Rob Boyd, recalls “as much as snowboarders always got a bad rap from the uptight skiers, they very much cared for their own. There was a lot of love, a lot of camaraderie.”
And it’s that continued love and admiration that shines through, as these trailblazing women all beam with pride at the upcoming generation of female snow (and skate!) boarding go-getters, carving their own unique courses. Local names like Leanne Pelosi, with her Full Moon film and associated community of projects; the initiatives of Marie-France Roy; Jess Kimura’s The Uninvited film series; and the work of the Real Wild Kittens are but a few of the many groundbreaking initiatives spearheaded by women.
Jibber comments on how she wanted to “make a deeper, broader path for the women behind me. And then I hope they do the same. And that’s always something that I really believed in, is that you pay it forward.” And the notion of caring for one’s own is clearly being evidenced in the sport, in the culture. “I think there’s a lot of incredible women who are forging forward,” Jibber says. “They’re just stomping down that path and making it better for the generation behind them.”
As Punchy urges: “don’t ever discount yourself. Believe that you are capable.” And that’s exactly what the gals are proving (still and again!).
The Museum is hosting an exciting Speaker Series event, Recording the Scene: The POWerful History of Local Snowboard Documentation, with an allstar cast on April 13 at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets through whistlermuseum.org. n
•Canoe/kayakspaceswillbe available onlinefromApril15at12:30p.m.
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
ALTA LAKE BIRD WALK
ALTA LAKE BIRD WALK
Join the Whistler Naturalists on the first Saturday of the month for a walk to Rainbow Park. Open to anyone interested in learning about birds and contributing as a citizen scientist. Connect with experienced birders who are happy to share their knowledge. More information at whistlernaturalists.ca/birding.
> April 4 at 8 a.m.
> Meet at the bottom of Lorimer Rd. by the catholic church
INTO THE WOSK COLLECTION
The Audain Art Museum invites visitors to a special curatorial tour presented as part of the Capture Photography Festival. Led by artist and guest curator Adad Hannah, alongside the Museum’s Chief Curator Kiriko Watanabe, the tour offers an inside look at ‘Into the Wosk Collection: Discovery & Wonder’. From Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photograph of Henri Matisse to Edward Weston’s image of Pepper No. 30 and Shell, Hannah and Watanabe will share the curatorial vision, key themes and creative dialogue behind the exhibition.
> April 4, 1 to 2 p.m.
> Audain Art Museum
EASTER BRUNCH AT THE FAIRMONT
Rackspaceswillbe availablefor renterstouse from April16toOctober15.
Resort MunicipalityofWhistler whistler.ca /S UPstorag e
Celebrate the season with Easter Brunch! Hosted in the beautiful Frontenac Ballroom, enjoy Chef Cliff Crawford’s spring-inspired buffet, live entertainment, interactive chef stations, and a few festive surprises along the way.
> April 5, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
> Fairmont Chateau Whistler
WHISTLER CUP
Whistler Cup is the largest and most important ski race in the world for athletes aged 11 to 16 years. Held in North America under the auspice of FIS, the international governing body for alpine skiing, the event has a long track record of showcasing future stars. Celebrating its 33rd anniversary this year, hundreds of young athletes from around the world will come to Whistler to compete for the coveted Whistler Cup at the famed Dave Murray National Training Centre on Whistler Mountain.
> April 6 to 12
> Various locations
72-HOUR FILMMAKER SHOWDOWN
BY
Part of the World Ski & Snowboard Festival, this captivating competition challenges teams to shoot, edit and produce a three- to five-minute short film within an intense 72-hour timeframe. No need for big budgets or exotic locations—here is your chance to see creativity shine within 100 km of Whistler.
> April 7, 8 to 10 p.m.
> Whistler Conference Centre
WINEMAKER LUNCH SERIES
Wine and dine in the sky at this multi-course luncheon complete with wine pairings that’s guaranteed to be a feast for your senses. Tickets available for $150 plus tax per event, and a separate lift ticket is required.
> April 7, 12:30 p.m.
> Steep’s Grill on Whistler
INTERSECTION
Part of the World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Intersection pushes crews of artistic snow sports visionaries to their limits as they aim to create a masterpiece that truly captures the beauty of ski and snowboard culture. Five invited crews, and one Wild Card selection, have a four-week window to shoot, edit and submit a five to seven-minute winter action sports film. The result is a high-calibre cinematic premiere that captures progression, style, and the evolution of mountain culture.
> April 8, 8 to 10 p.m.
> Whistler Conference 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 as you stretch and strengthen your body and mind. Registration includes access to the galleries on the day of the yoga session from 11 AM to 6 PM. Bring your mat (or borrow one from the AAM) and enjoy some mind and body wellness!
> April 9, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
> Audain Art Museum
PHOTO
VICTOR ALFONSO
ASTROLOGY
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Now is an excellent time to decide your favourite colour is amaranth (a vivid redviolet), or sinopia (earthy red-orange), or viridian (cool blue-green, darker than jade). You might also conclude that your favourite aroma is agarwood (deep, smoky, resinsoaked wood), or heliotrope (cherry-almond vanilla), or petrichor (wet soil after a rain). I’m trying to tell you, Aries, that you’re primed to deeply enhance your detailed delight in smells, colours, tastes, feelings, physical sensations, types of wind, tones of voice, qualities of light—and everything else. Indulge in sensory and sensual pleasures!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My Taurus friend Elena keeps a “gratitude garden” in her backyard. When she feels grateful for a specific joy in her life, she writes it on biodegradable paper and buries it among her flowers, herbs, and vegetables. “I feed the earth with appreciation,” she says. “Returning the gift.” She feels this practice ensures that her garden and her life flourish. Her devoted attention to recognizing blessings attracts even more blessings. Her cultivated appreciation for beauty and abundance leads her to discover more beauty and abundance. Elena’s approach is pure Taurean genius. I invite you to create your own rituals for expressing your thankful love. Not just paying dutiful homage in your thoughts, but giving your appreciation weight, texture, and presence in the actual world.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many of us periodically slip into the daydream that everything would finally feel right if only our lives were somehow different. If we’re single, maybe we imagine we ought to be partnered; if we’re partnered, we wish our beloved would change, or we secretly wonder about someone else entirely. That’s the snag. The blessing is this: In the days ahead, you’re likely to discover a surprising ease with your life exactly as it is, and feel a genuine, grounded peace. Congratulations in advance!
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A cautious voice in your head murmurs: “Proceed carefully. Don’t be overly impressed with your own beauty. Stick with dependable methods. Live up to expectations and avoid explorations into the unknown.” Your bold genius interrupts: “Tell that fussy, boring voice to shut up. The truth is that you have earned the right to be an inquisitive wanderer, an ingenious lover, a fanciful storyteller, and a laughing experimenter.”
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval European gardens, there was a tradition of creating “pleasure labyrinths.” They were walking meditations that spiralled inward to a centre, then back out again. There were no decisions and no wrong turns, just the relaxing, meditative journey itself. I think you need and deserve a metaphorical pleasure labyrinth right now, Leo. You’ve been treating every choice as a high-stakes dilemma and every path as potentially problematic. But what if the current phase isn’t about making the perfect decision? Maybe it’s about trusting that the path you’re on will take you where you need to go, even if it meanders. By cosmic decree, you are excused from second-guessing every turn.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your eye for imperfection is a gift until it becomes the lens through which you see everything. The critical faculty that drives you to refine and enhance may also shunt you into a dead end of never-being-good-enough, where impossible standards immobilize you. In the coming weeks, dear Virgo, I beg you to use your vaunted discernment primarily in the service of growth and pleasure rather than constraint. Be excited by buoyant analysis that empowers constructive change. Homework: For every flaw you identify, identify two things that are working well. You won’t ignore what needs attention, but instead will compensate for the excessive criticism that sometimes grips your inner critic.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras shouldn’t expend excessive effort trying to force the external world to be more
tranquil. That’s mostly a futile task that distracts from your more essential work. The secret to your happiness is to cultivate serenity within. How do you do that? One reliable way to shed tension is to continually place yourself in the presence of beauty. Nothing makes you relax better than being surrounded by elegance, grace, and loveliness. Now is a good time to recommit yourself to this key practice.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In computer science, there’s a concept called “graceful degradation.” When a system encounters an error, it doesn’t crash completely. It loses some functionality but keeps running with what remains. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Scorpio, you’d be wise to acknowledge a graceful degradation like that. Something isn’t working as you had hoped and planned. A relationship? Project? Adventure? In classic Scorpio fashion, you’re tempted to burn it all down. But I encourage you to practice graceful degradation instead. Keep what still works and release only what’s actually broken. Not everything has to be all-or-nothing. You can lose some functionality and still run. You can be partially out of whack and still be valuable. PS: The awkwardness is temporary.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): At your best and brightest, you are a hunter—though not the kind who stalks prey with weapons and trophies in mind. Your hunt is noble: the fervent pursuit of adventures that nourish your curiosity and the brave forays you make into unfamiliar territories where intriguing new truths shimmer. And now, as the world drifts deeper into chaos, you are called to respond with even more exploratory audacity. I invite you to further refine your hunter’s craft. Lift it up to an even higher, more luminous form of seeking.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn meditation teacher Wes Nisker guided his students to relax the relentless mental static that muddled their awareness. But he also understood that excessive striving can sabotage the peace we’re seeking. I invoke his influence now to help you release some of the jittery goal-obsession you’ve been gripped by. Nisker and I offer you permission to temporarily suspend the potentially exhausting drive to constantly be better and more accomplished. Instead, just for now, simply be your authentic self. Loosen your high-strung grip on self-improvement and allow yourself the radical luxury of purposelessness.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Here’s a danger you Aquarians are sometimes prey to: spending so much energy fixing the big picture that you neglect what’s up close and personal. You may get so involved in rearranging systems that immediate concerns get less than your best attention. I hope you won’t do that in the coming weeks. Your aptitude for overarching objectivity is a gift because it enables you to recognize patterns others can’t detect. But it may also divert you from the messy, intricate intimacy that gritty transformation requires. Your assignment: Eagerly attend to the details, which I bet will be more interesting than you imagine.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In horticulture, “hardening off” is the process of gradually exposing seedlings started indoors to outdoor conditions before transplanting them. Too much exposure too fast will shock them; no exposure at all will leave them unprepared. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor for you. I believe you are being hardened off, Pisces. Life is making small, increasing demands on your tender self. Though this may sometimes feel uncomfortable, I assure you that it is preparation, not cruelty. You’re being readied for a shift from protected space to open ground. My advice is twofold: 1. Don’t retreat back into the ultra-safe greenhouse. 2. Don’t let yourself be thrown into full exposure all at once.
Homework: My book Astrology is Real is available at online bookstores. Read free excerpts here: https://tinyurl.com/ BraveBliss.
In addition to this column, Rob Brezsny creates EXPANDED
AUDIO HOROSCOPES
In-depth weekly forecasts designed to inspire and uplift you. To buy access, phone 1-888-499-4425. Once you’ve chosen the Block of Time you like, call 1-888-682-8777 to hear Rob’s forecasts. www.freewillastrology.com
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I WAS ONCE chatting to a paramedic friend of mine who was describing how little time he actually spends treating patients versus hanging out in the station waiting for a call. “The world’s a safer place than people think,” he told me. “It’s not like all the action you see in the movies.” Statistically, that’s true. It’s not like we’re crossing the Western frontier in wagons and hoping that two of the six kids survive the winter snow while being stalked by apex predators. But statistics will also prove the opposite, when—by a severe stroke of misfortune—the whole proverbial caravan is wiped out in one fell swoop. Otherwise known as the timeless phrase “shit happens.”
BY VINCE SHULEY
story altogether.
I’m talking about perhaps one of the most lamented costs in our society— insurance. There’s insurance for literally everything. Vehicles, homes, mortgages, personal health, pets, travelling, credit, investing… Insurance brokers are often masters of the upsell: “You should probably get that extra $2 million of liability, you never know when…” I tend to dislike insurance providers for this reason. They are often staffed by agents motivated by commissions and sales targets, and will often use fear as a tool to increase their bottom line. We can choose not to insure at all if we want, but do you really want to take that risk?
every year, some homes in Canada are becoming uninsurable altogether due to natural calamities exacerbated by climate change. Wildfires are destroying vegetation and leaving a hydrophobic soil layer that increases runoff. Follow that later in the year with a couple of (now all too familiar) atmospheric rivers, and you have a much greater risk of flash flooding, as well as landslides. Most homes in Squamish and Pemberton are built on a floodplain, so better make sure you paid that extra premium for sewer backup, even if you live well above ground level.
These Sea to Sky properties can thankfully still get insurance, but every
be insured, about 80 per cent of the resort perished in the Kookipi Creek wildfire in 2023. The only recourse the resort had was to launch a GoFundMe campaign.
As we all like to tell the risk-averse, you can’t walk out your door without taking a chance. Though there’s a distinct difference between riding your bike to work and strapping on a wingsuit and launching off The Chief. When it comes to personal well-being, everyone has their own risk tolerance. When it comes to all the things we own, it’s a different
Insurance brokers are often masters of the upsell: “You should probably get that extra $2 million of liability, you never know when…”
High-value assets like houses and condos don’t really have that option, mostly because:
a) It’s the equity in our future, to lose it would mean losing almost our entire net worth, and;
b) The bank owns most of it anyway, and you’d better believe a profit-driven financial institution isn’t going to take the risk.
Besides our premiums going up
year, the insurance underwriters will reassess their financial risk against a map of encroaching climate events. If you’re outside the boundary (such as rural homes in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District), your premiums may skyrocket, or you may be left uninsured altogether. That happened to the owners of REO Rafting, Glamping and Yoga Resort near Boston Bar. A few years after insurance companies deemed their property too high a risk to
The insurance industry is coming for less consequential assets, too. Last week Torque News reported that a Texas Toyota Tacoma owner was denied his insurance renewal because of an aftermarket suspension lift. Paying extra premiums for modified trucks is nothing new, but insurance carriers are leveraging new transparency requirements by deploying AI-driven “Visual Risk Audits” during policy renewals, rather than relying on drivers to self-report. Drivers now need to submit photos of their vehicles, and the carriers are even going as far as utilizing satellite imagery to identify and validate aftermarket modifications that deviate from factory safety specifications. AI tools scan the submitted photos and flag anything that seems “at risk,” in some cases leading to cancelled policies altogether.
There’s no way around insurance in our society. It’s been around since monetary economies came to exist. And as much as we want to fire our insurance companies and their price-fixing and profit-hoarding, we need them for own physical, social and economic security. No one wants to leave these things to chance.
Maybe the world isn’t as safe as we thought.
Vince Shuley laments the insurance premium price hikes he’s compelled to pay every year. n
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