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Pique, 25 years and counting

Community. That word, that feeling, that focus is the heart of what Pique has been for the last 25 years.…

Letters to the Editor for the week of November 14

Honouring & remembering A few years ago on Remembrance Day, I was at Juno Beach in Normandy, a 10-kilometre stretch of coastline where Canadian soldiers landed under intense fire from German defenders on D-Day, June 6, 1944.…

Free will astrology for the week of November 14

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
If there are any potential Aries heroes or leaders or saviours out there, the coming weeks will be a favourable time for you to fully bloom and assert your practical magnificence. The lessons you have learned while improvising workable solutions for yourself are ripe to be applied to the riddles that are puzzling your tribe or group or gang.…

Controversial Whistler Village bathroom project sees price jump

Resort Municipality Initiative, hotel tax continue to play major role in municipal budget

A controversial project to build three washrooms in Whistler Village has increased in cost by 50 per cent. The project—originally budgeted at $3 million—is now listed at $4.58 million in the 2020-2024 budget, which was unveiled at an open house on Nov. 12.…

After 17 years of giving, the American Friends of Whistler announce plans to dissolve

The U.S. non-profit has donated more than $2M to a host of local causes

The American Friends of Whistler (AFOW), a U.S. charitable non-profit that has donated to a host of local causes over its nearly two-decade existence, has announced it is winding down operations. “The American Friends of Whistler would like to extend sincere appreciation to all who have provided financial contributions to the association.…

‘Where is the money?’

Head of AWARE wants climate action to be bigger priority in Whistler’s municipal budget

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has vowed to take comprehensive action to protect our environmental locally, and its ambitious, overarching climate plan is proof of that commitment. But the head of Whistler’s leading environmental organization is once again calling for resort officials to put their money where their mouth is.…

Work on $5 million Squamish sea dike to begin

Council chose its preferred design in a split decision

Design and permitting will soon start for a $5 million sea dike at Xwu’nekw Park, which is the home of the canoe shelter bearing its name. At their Nov. 12 meeting, District of Squamish council chose what type of dike will be put in the area, which borders the yacht club to the south and the Sirocco development to the north.…

Modernize privacy laws now, B.C. commissioner urges

Laws protecting Canadians’ privacy, access to information outdated, behind other nations

Canada’s various governments need to modernize access to information and privacy laws, the country’s oversight commissioners say. “The current provincial government pledged to make significant reforms to British Columbia’s access to information and privacy laws during its last election campaign,” B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy said Nov. 12.…

Privacy of 28 million Canadians breached in past year

Watchdog says it has seen number of data breach reports ‘skyrocket’

More than 28 million Canadians’ privacy has been affected by 680 reported breaches in the past year – six times the previous year’s volume – Canada’s privacy chief says. That number is known due to mandatory breach reporting under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a blog post.…

New Statistics Canada study suggests decline in citizenship rate tied to income

OTTAWA — Fewer newcomers from disadvantaged groups became Canadian citizens during a 10-year period that coincided with the previous Conservative government’s changes to the citizenship program, new Statistics Canada research shows. The decrease was part an overall trend in declining citizenship rates among those who have been in Canada less than 10 years, despite the fact the actual citizenship rate in Canada is among the highest in the Western world, Statistics Canada said in the study released Wednesday.…

B.C. government grappling with multiple labour disputes by public-sector unions

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government faces a “difficult balancing act” in dealing with labour strife among public-sector unions representing bus drivers in Metro Vancouver, teachers around the province, support staff on Vancouver Island and faculty members at a university in the north, a labour expert says. Tom Knight, an associate professor specializing in industrial relations and human resources at the University of British Columbia, said Premier John Horgan’s government will have to avoid the actions of its Liberal predecessors, who used legislation to force transit operators back to work in 2001 after a four-month strike.…

Supreme Court orders SLRD to reinstate permit for medical marijuana farm

Court rules board unlawfully revoked building permit

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has been ordered by the Supreme Court of B.C. to reinstate or reissue a building permit to a Pemberton couple for their planned medical marijuana farm. Martin Mullany and Eloise Eaton, the owners of a 55-hectare property in Pemberton, took the SLRD to court after the SLRD cancelled the building permit that allowed Mullany and Eaton to convert a building previously used as a riding arena and horse stable to grow medical marijuana as Bluevault Organic Marijuana.…

Nakajima helps Varsity Blues to USports bronze

Defender made strides in first active season

Whistler’s Rena Nakajima was part of University of Toronto soccer history this season. Prior to the 2019 campaign, the Varsity Blues had never even qualified for the U Sports women’s soccer championship, but after this year’s tournament in Victoria on the weekend, the club walked away with its first medal after downing Acadia 1-0 on penalty kicks in the bronze medal game.…

Black bear killed after twice being relocated from the village

Adult male black bear displayed ‘rapidly escalating defensive behaviour’ and charged members of the public

A black bear that had been relocated twice previously from Whistler Village was killed by conservation officers last week, confirmed the Conservation Officer Service (COS). The adult male black bear was killed on Saturday, Nov. 9 after it had accessed garbage in the village and displayed “rapidly escalating defensive behaviour, charging members of the public and responding officers,” according to a municipal notice.…

Budget proposes 2.8% property tax increase

Water, sewer and other infrastructure take strong focus

Another tax increase is in store for Whistlerites with next year’s municipal budget. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is proposing a 2.8-per-cent property tax increase in 2020, along with two-per-cent increases to sewer, water parcel and solid waste fees.…