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Mountain News: Snowmaking expansions at Vail continue 40 years later

VAIL, Colo. – The armoring of Vail Mountain to the vagaries of weather and now climate change continues. The Vail Daily reports that Vail Resorts has received approval from the U.S. Forest Service to add about 106 hectares of snowmaking coverage to the mountain.…

Local duo makes luge history

Corless, Nash receive first-ever youth ‘A’ women’s doubles Crystal Globe

There was a bit of a delay for Natalie Corless and Caitlin Nash to receive their FIL Crystal Globes, but once they arrived in Whistler, it was a moment to remember. Corless and Nash didn’t compete at the final youth ‘A’ women’s luge event of the season in Oberhof, Germany, and so they weren’t in attendance to claim their prizes: the overall doubles championship for both, and the singles title for Corless.…

Early data suggests no spike in drug-impaired driving charges since cannabis legalization

VANCOUVER — Canadian police say they haven’t been busting many more stoned drivers six months after legalization, but they are reminding drivers to keep cannabis out of reach. The Canadian Press canvassed police forces across the country and most reported no significant change in the number of impaired driving charges laid, while some said it’s too early to release data, and at least one reported a rise in charges.…

Dave Treadway chased life to the fullest

Hundreds pack Fairmont ballroom to pay tribute to late pro skier

One of Dave Treadway’s favourite mantras was to “chase life.” But to hear from the family and friends who gathered this week to pay tribute to the late pro skier, Dave appeared to have already discovered the essence of life and lived it in only the way he could.…

Mountain News: Climate variability is normal, but warming springs are not

WESTMINSTER, Colo.—In Pennsylvania, the groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil saw no shadow this year. That is supposed to portend an early spring.…

Minister defends catch- and-release chinook rules

North Vancouver MP and Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is defending his government’s new restrictions that will severely curtail fishing for the at-risk Fraser River chinook salmon. The government announced last week a mandatory catch-and-release fishery for sport and recreational anglers until July 31 in the Southern Strait of Georgia, giving the returning salmon every opportunity to safely spawn.…

Ship capable of washing sea lice from farmed salmon now on B.C. coast

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. — A huge vessel capable of offering what is described as “fish friendly health treatments” to farmed salmon is now at work for the largest Atlantic salmon farming company in British Columbia. Mowi Canada West, which operates Marine Harvest fish farms in B.C., says the Aqua Tromoy is the most technologically advanced vessel ever to serve the Canadian aquaculture industry.…

Resort Municipality of Whistler announces street art banner, Poet’s Pause winners

Brook Allen’s theme ‘Explore More’ will be depicted on village light posts; winning poems to be displayed in Alta Lake Park

Get ready to see some new artwork adorning Whistler Village’s light posts this summer. Artist Brooke Allen’s work was chosen by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) as the winning submission of this year’s Street Banner Art Competition for her theme, “Explore More.”…

Celeb chef Vikram Vij to ‘play a role’ in Burnaby SFU’s new food program

Burnaby SFU students should see a change in the fare offered at their cafeterias next month. The university has switched service providers, signing a new five-year deal with Chartwells, a company owned by British multinational Compass Group PLC, the largest contract foodservice company in the world.…

Squamish hockey player signs with Detroit Red Wings farm team

Jarid Lukosevicius will play for the Grand Rapids Griffins

Squamish athlete Jarid Lukosevicius has signed with the Detroit Red Wings’ farm team, putting him closer than ever to getting a break in the NHL. Lukosevicius will be lacing up his skates for the Grand Rapids Griffins.…

Singh says childhood abuse steeled him for scrutiny and stress of politics

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he decided to “take a chance” and share his story of childhood sexual abuse in hopes of helping other victims. He recounts the assaults for the first time in his book, Love & Courage, released today.…

Canadians blame celebs, technology, politicians for bad manners

Over the past few weeks, Research Co. has taken a look at etiquette in Canada. We learned that Canadians are hearing colourful language in public, and sometimes using it, more often than before.…

Drug linked to U.S. ‘zombie’ outbreak found in Interior

It reportedly caused a mass intoxication of 33 people in New York City in July 2016

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The British Columbia Interior Health authority is warning street-drug users of a synthetic cannabinoid that has been linked to a so-called “zombie” outbreak in New York. Chief medical health officer Dr. Trevor Corneil says tests at a Kamloops overdose-prevention site found the powerful drug mixed with heroin, fentanyl and caffeine.…

Vancouver MEC store joins union

United Food and commercial workers union 1518 has been organizing in Whistler over past two years

A union that is actively courting Whistler workers recently added a significant Vancouver business to its ranks, persuading workers at the West Broadway location of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) to join its ranks in a vote on Thursday, April 11. “There is a large group of workers that clearly want to have a strong voice at their work and fight for wages, benefits and job security there,” said Patrick Johnson, secretary treasurer for the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union 1518.…

Squamish skateboarder aiming for the Olympics

Top Canadian skateboarder Jacob Sabourin-LeBlanc raising funds to compete

Given that shortly after he could walk at eight months old, Squamish’s Jacob Sabourin-LeBlanc stepped on a skateboard, it is not really surprising that at 17, he has his sights set on being on a board at the Olympic Games. One of Canada’s top skateboarders, LeBlanc can often be found at the skatepark at the Squamish Youth Centre.…