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Burnaby man found dead in Lions Bay area, south of Squamish

Ryoji Fujita, a 37-year-old outdoor enthusiast, was caught in an avalanche

A 37-year-old man was killed in an avalanche this month in the Lions Bay area, south of Squamish, say search and rescue officials. Martin Colwell of Lions Bay Search and Rescue identified Ryoji Fujita of Burnaby as the man who died.…

Take Courage with cross-country Tragically Hip singalong this afternoon

A Montreal comedian taking his inspiration from Italy and Spain is asking Canadians to join him on a countrywide singalong at 3 p.m. PT today.…

COVID-19: Province takes measures to protect supply chain

Series of ministerial orders issued Thursday

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT is taking additional measures to protect the supply chain in the ongoing response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In a Thursday morning press conference, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced a series of ministerial orders to ensure a co-ordinated response across all levels of government for the duration of the provincial emergency.…

What you need to know about deferring mortgage payments

With more than a million Canadian homeowners trying to defer payments, many with little success, five mortgage brokers offer insight and advice

Since the banks announced that homeowners struggling in the COVID-19 pandemic could defer mortgage payments for up to six months, more than a million Canadians are reported to have tried to take up the offer. But with phone lines jammed, and websites unable to process applications that are assessed on a case-by-case basis, many homeowners looking for a deferral or seeking answers have had little success.…

Mayor Crompton has a message: Don’t come to Whistler

‘Forget about strange—the challenge we face is surreal’

WHEN MAYOR Jack Crompton took office in November 2018, it’s safe to say he never imagined that, less than halfway through his term, he’d be issuing an unthinkable message: don’t come to Whistler. And yet, that’s one of the key messages Crompton now delivers through his frequent COVID-19 video updates.…

Pandemic response must uphold human rights, avoid discrimination: B.C. commissioner

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s human rights commissioner is urging policy-makers, employers, landlords and service providers to keep human rights principles at the core of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s such a scary time and it’s so important that we don’t let our fear metastasize into discrimination,” Kasari Govender said in an interview.…

Photographer sends departing locals home with iconic Whistler images

Michelle Danic offers photo and message to those unexpectedly leaving: ‘Come back. We’re going to have to rebuild Whistler.’

Michelle Danic always has her Canon EOS 7D camera within arm’s reach. “It’s constantly in my bag,” she says.…

Letters to the Editor for the week of March 26th

We got this The COVID-19 situation has developed rapidly.…

Free will astrology for the week of March 26th

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Your oracle comes from Aries poet Octavio Paz: “The path the ancestors cleared is overgrown, unused. The other path, smooth and broad, is crowded with travellers.…

We will get through this …

“Blow up your TV,
Throw away your paper….” John Prine…

Keep your distance, save some lives

Yes, it is hard to physically distance ourselves from people. We are social beings and we are used to being able to hug each other, pal around in groups, go to the movies or dinner, or take off together to enjoy the outdoors.…

Whistler’s rental market is finally approaching affordability

Uncertainty remains around mortgage payment deferrals

the next few months are shaping up to be prime time for locals looking to land cheaper rent or upgrade to a better living situation—it only took a global pandemic and the resulting blow to tourism to get there. That’s the impression from the administrator of the Whistler Housing Rentals for Locals Facebook group, which counts more than 32,000 members.…

Whistler Chamber working ‘around the clock’ advocating for business

Businesses navigating relief programs during covid-19 can contact chamber for assistance

whistler businesses in need of help navigating federal and provincial COVID-19 relief programs can contact the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a tough time.…

Livestreamed concert raises more than $40k for Whistler food bank

Concert shows how Whistler pulls together in the face of hardship

Last week, Whistlerites gathered for one of their favourite activities, après—only the music, drinks, and conversation weren’t at their typical watering holes in the village. Instead, locals—and people as far away as Australia—tuned in from the comfort of their own living rooms to see The Hairfarmers play from a Tapley’s Farm garage.…

Farm workers to be exempted from COVID-19 travel ban

Obstacles remain for farmers to access workers

The COVID-19 pandemic is set to have a major impact on Canada’s farming sector, as many of the country’s farms rely on seasonal workers from abroad. According to the BC Agriculture Council, about 13,000 seasonal workers come work at B.C. farms on an annual basis.…