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Whistler Food Bank seeking support

Cash, non-perishable food items needed

With more mouths to feed as the social and financial effects of the COVID-19 crisis continue to ripple, the Whistler Food Bank is looking for additional donations. In a release earlier this week, the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) detailed the increased demand, noting that it is looking for donations of both cash and food to help serve more people.…

Save Canadian elderly by keeping your distance: Dr. Tam

If you practise social-distancing, you are helping to protect the most vulnerable members of your community. That’s the message from Canada’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, as she addressed the country Friday morning.…

BC Liquor Stores will mercifully remain open to support your pandemic drinking

Stores have adjusted hours to allow for additional cleaning and restocking

Don’t worry, Whistler: Your pandemic-fuelled day-drinking can continue as planned. In a rare and much-needed bit of good news, the province announced Friday that all government liquor stores will remain open to thirsty British Columbians for the foreseeable future.…

Canada to ramp up medical supply production, Canada-US border shut to irregular migrants

Plus more details from PM Trudeau’s now daily address to the nation and press

Irregular migrants will be turned back at the Canada-US border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday, part of a series of new measures to help Canada weather the storm of COVID-19. “Canada and the United States are announcing a reciprocal arrangement where we will now be turning back irregular migrants who attempt to cross anywhere at the Canada-US border,” said Trudeau, speaking speaking from outside his Rideau Cottage home where he remains in self-isolation.…

Sea to Sky School District rethinks the classroom amid COVID-19

Learning to continue online, as public schools remain closed

After Premier John Horgan announced public schools would close their classrooms following spring break, due to the spread of COVID-19, the Sea to Sky School District is finding a way to continue teaching. On March 18, Supt. Lisa McCullough wrote a letter addressing parents.…

Sharpe looks back on big-air bronze

Whistler snowboarder claimed medal at X Games Oslo

Darcy Sharpe saw his opportunity in the big air at the Oslo X Games. With his competitors unable to capitalize and put up a big score in any of their runs in the March 7 event, the stage was set for the Whistler-based snowboarder to step up.…

Self-love in the age of self-isolation

Practical advice for surviving these strange times

Geneviève Côté was excited to settle into her new job with a Pemberton event company last week. It wasn’t long, however, before she saw her hours cut to part-time.…

COVID-19 and the limits of media literacy

I probably don’t need to tell you what an insane week this has been to be a journalist. Hell, it’s been an incredibly weird week to be a resident of Planet Earth, period, but watching it all unfold from the vantage point of a local reporter has only added an extra layer of surrealism.…

Visitors to Whistler tested positive for COVID-19, VCH says

Health authority warning of potential exposure at three locations

A group of visitors to Whistler has tested positive for COVID-19. “The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was made aware this afternoon by Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Medical Health Officer of a group who travelled to Whistler between March 8 and 13 and have since been confirmed as positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus),” said a release.…

SLRD closes Pemberton office until further notice

Staff will work remotely; essential services will continue

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has closed down its administration office in Pemberton to the public and is cancelling all public events in response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. “We know that this development will have an impact on our communities,” said SLRD Board Chair Tony Rainbow, in a press release.…

What the global pandemic could mean for Canada’s food supply chain

Agri-food expert says weakening Loonie and potential for political tension could lead to price hikes

There are few industries that haven’t been touched by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and our food and restaurant sectors are among those that have been hit the hardest. Given the weakening Loonie and the potential for political tension with our neighbours to the south, one agri-food expert says Canadians may start to see prices rise at the grocery store.…

B.C. businesses feeling the pain of COVID-19

Almost 8,000 business owners respond to BC Chamber survey, painting dire picture

B.C. BUSINESSES are feeling the pain of COVID-19. According to survey results published by the BC Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 90 per cent of businesses are currently being impacted by the virus, with 83 per cent of those impacted seeing a drop in revenue, business or deal flow.…

Reducing liquor store hours could undermine containment efforts: epidemiologist

Cutting liquor store hours amounts to a half-measure that could undermine efforts to contain COVID-19, according to an epidemiologist. “Reducing hours and concentrating customers into crowded times makes no sense, as would forming lines outside,” said Donald Milton, who studies the spread of virus particles at the University of Maryland.…

Whistler Cup cancelled

Organizers resetting for 2021 return

It was set to be Sara Stiel’s year in 2020. The Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) competitor had just posted a podium finish, third place, in the giant slalom at the U16 Canadian Alpine Nationals on March 11.…

‘Everyone is fighting the same battle right now’

Whistler creatives weigh in on how venue closures are impacting them

If you’re looking for “Grateful Greg” Reamsbottom during the COVID-19 pandemic, check his Pemberton garage. Twenty-three of The Hairfarmers’ shows—that’s all of them until mid-May—have been cancelled, so, instead of performing, he has time to work on the classic muscle car he’s restoring.…