In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1984. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: At the beginning of August 1984, the provincial government closed the Pemberton conservation office as the result of a decision by Environment Minister Tony Brummet to streamline the conservation service. Small one-person zone offices were replaced by bigger zone offices in larger centres; in Pemberton’s case, this meant that Pemberton would be included in larger zone covered by the office in Lillooet. Instead of having a local office, members of the public would contact conservation officers by a special telephone hookup. Bob Lawrence, who had worked as the conservation officer in Pemberton for ten years, would stay in Pemberton into the next year before receiving a posting somewhere else.
Question: What do you think of the closure of the Pemberton conservation office?
Pat Seipp – Physiotherapist – Mission
My initial response is that it’s another move by the Socreds that will in the long run cost us more money. In this particular circumstance I don’t feel well enough informed to say one way or another.
Narain B Sajnani – Counsellor and Yoga Teacher – Nesters
I would say that the Pemberton people should make a really good case to show that posting a man in Pemberton is really worthwhile. I personally feel patrols from Lillooet could be intensified. It would be more efficient to have people in one place and have them on call.
Marc Bombois – Student – Emerald Estates
It’s typical Bennett stupidity. It’s a money diversion from something that’s really important to something like Expo ’86 or Tumbler Ridge.