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Housing remains ‘highest priority’ at outset of 2020, Whistler mayor says

Whistler Housing Authority housing needs assessment shows ‘relatively stable’ workforce

At the outset of a new year and a new decade, nothing has changed in terms of Whistler council’s highest priority. “(Housing) is at the very top,” said Mayor Jack Crompton after the first council meeting of the new year on Jan. 7.”We are wholly focused on delivering the recommendations of the mayor’s task force on housing.”…

Bucket list goals for adventurers of a new decade

The list is out. I have a beautiful hard-cover book on my desk to prove it.…

Learn new tricks for the New Year

Arts news: the Winterstoke festival returns; new solo exhibit at the Adele Campbell Gallery

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year? If not, might we suggest joining the circus—or at least learning the skills you need to fulfil that dream?…

Geekenders return to Whistler with Love in Alderaan Places

Burlesque troupe is back on Jan. 18 with Star Wars-inspired variety show

Geekenders had a busy 2019—like 40 productions busy. “Last year was a lot,” says Erin Foster (a.k.a. Kitty Glitter) who serves as one of the artistic directors of the “geeky theatrical and performance troupe,” while also performing in and producing shows.…

From the stage to the sofa

Guitarist Jonathan Stuchbery is set to play as part of the Living Room Live series in Pemberton and Squamish

This month, Jonathan Stuchbery is travelling from Spain to a living room near you. The B.C.-raised guitarist was chosen for the winter tour of Living Room Live, a group that organizes classical music performances in living rooms across Canada.…

Axemen add women’s rugby team to mix

Club hosting a try rugby event in Squamish

The Axemen Rugby Club is expanding, but needs a few extra bodies to make its vision a reality. As part of a banner year for the club, in which it won the BC Rugby Union Division 3 championship and earned promotion to Division 2, the club opted to add a second men’s team and a women’s team.…

Tackling the tourist we don’t want

So much for the holidays. Back to work.…

Letters to the Editor for the week of January 9

Highway 99 lines impossible
to see I work as a professional driver in Whistler and feel like I take my life (and those of others) in my hands on many nights [when I] go to work because the highway lines are impossible or nearly impossible to see.…

Lack of road lines dangerous

It was a dark and stormy night. No, really it was.…

Free will astrology for the week of January 9

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
When comedian John Cleese was 61, his mother died. She was 101.…

Assessed values in Whistler rise again, as Lower Mainland dips

Single-family homes increased in average value by 5% last year, after four years of double-digit jumps

Assessed property values in Whistler went up again last year, though at a significantly slower pace than has been seen since 2016. “Definitely Whistler has been a little bit different than the rest of the Lower Mainland … about minus five to about plus 10 (per cent) is where the majority of the properties will see changes to their assessment notice for this year,” said Brian Smith, BC Assessment’s deputy assessor for the Lower Mainland.…

‘Overloaded’ weak snowpack continues to pose avalanche risk

Whistler Blackcomb patroller caught in Jan. 1 slide during avalanche control work

A weak snowpack that has been “overloaded” with new snowfall in recent days continues to pose a risk for backcountry recreationalists, according to Avalanche Canada. “Clearing skies may lure you into bigger terrain, but this is not the time to expose yourself,” read a Tuesday, Jan. 7 advisory from the national forecasting organization.…

‘Life as we have known it is over’: Australian bushfires hit close to home for Whistlerites

There are a number of ways to give back, both locally and beyond

If there’s a common response to the Australian bushfires that have decimated huge swaths of land and destroyed entire communities, it’s one of complete and utter helplessness. How does one process such absolute devastation?…

Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes off the coast of B.C.

No tsunami warning has been issued as a result

According to Earthquakes Canada, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck off the coast of B.C. The department notes that the earthquake was 10 km in depth and was located 215 km west of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island.…

Money-losing MEC to hike workers’ wages up to 6%

Raises ordered by mediator following successful unionization drives in Vancouver and Victoria

Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), which lost nearly $11.5 million in its 2018-19 fiscal year, will give wage hikes to all employees, with the majority of those hikes being up to 6%. The hikes come thanks to a mediator yesterday imposing a first collective agreement between MEC and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518.…