Thank You for Attending the 28th Annual Building Competition with LEGO Bricks
Our 28th annual building competition with LEGO bricks took place on August 10th. We had a full registration of 50 kids. Luckily we were able to host the event outside despite the smoke. We all enjoyed getting to spend the afternoon in the sun.
This years theme was “Natural Wonders of Whistler”. For a town built on spending time outdoors, we decided it’s time to show our appreciation for all the wondrous nature our town has to offer. We saw builds of both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain, Alta lake and a variety of trees. After 45 minutes of building we saw a lot of truly creative and amazing builds.
We would really like to thank our wonderful judges this year. Maz from the Whistler Public Library, Erik from Arts Whistler, Sierra from the Audain Art Museum and Spencer from Whistler Community Services Society. Without the support from these judges, we would not be able to host such a fun competition. This year’s winners for each age category are listed below:
Age Group 3-5: Isla M, June B, Bodhi M
Age Group 6-7: Amelie E, Ikey B, Forest M
Age group 8-9: Soly B, Andi D, Felix R
Age Group 10+: Owen K, Antonio N, Mabel W
Everyone went home with a goody bag full of lovely prizes thanks to our local sponsors. This event would not be possible without the support of local businesses. This year our generous sponsors were Armchair Books, Cows, Purebread, Escape! Whistler, Whistler Dairy Queen, Lucia Gelato, Zip Trek and The Great Glass Elevator Store.
Of course a big thank you to every child and parent or caretaker that attended the event. Without such a wonderful enthusiastic community we would not be able to host this event. Thank you all so much for coming out and showing your support. We can’t wait for next year!
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 1985. 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: In August 1985, Whistler hosted the International BMX Championships, with over 4,300 visitors and competitors coming to the resort to participate and spectate. Riders came from Mexico, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Chile, France, Australia, Spain, Columbia, Japan, England, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, the US, Sweden, Canada and more and the Championships included both competitions and recreational events.
Question: Why do you find BMX racing so exciting?
Gonzalo Harambellet – Student – Santiago, Chile
Because there’s speed and it’s a little bit dangerous. It’s also a sport for kids where the parents don’t intervene. I like to race by myself but when there’s money involved it’s better to be with a team.
Alexandro Ramirez – Chile
Alexandro supplied the translation for the answer of Gonzalo.
Ryan Ledebur – Student – Tilbourg, the Netherlands
Because I like to race and win. I saw it on Dutch TV, BMX racing, and I’ve been doing it for five years. I guess I’ll do it until I’m 20. I especially like it because it’s exciting.
When it comes to green practices in Whistler, we have come a long way from bear-attracting open dumps. Long before we had the waste collection facilities we have today, residents were responsible for their own garbage disposal which resulted in a lot of garbage being burned and buried.
In the 1960s, the Alta Lake Ratepayers Association (ALRA) designated a central dump located where the Whistler Village is today. When the dump was in use families took turns cleaning and containing the site and watching for bears but their efforts were not enough to keep bears away. In its prime, the dump made a popular bear viewing area!
Photo: Bear outside of the garbage containers. Whistler Question Collection, August 1979
As the number of tourists traveling to Whistler by train increased, so did the amount of accumulated garbage at the train stations. Locals took action by repurposing oil drums as garbage bins for the stations. After the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was formed in 1975, they made the decision to relocate the landfill and build the Village.
In the 1960s, copper was dumped into Alta Lake in an effort to kill off an invasive species. Unfortunately, the copper harmed the entirety of the lake’s population. One of the few residents to publicly express concern about environmental changes around this time was Bill Bailiff. He wrote a column in the Alta Lake Community Club’s newsletter that discussed how to protect the geography, topography and forestry of Whistler. In more recent years, Dr Ian Spooner, an environmental scientist, has taken an interest in monitoring how pollution and development have affected Alta Lake, as well as Lost Lake. Through looking at the sediment records of the two lakes, Spooner was able to analyze the strengths and vulnerabilities of these lakes and offer advice on how to protect them.
In 1989, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE), was formed to help protect Whistler’s wetlands. We can thank AWARE for the Re-Use-It Centre, recycling depot, habitat protection, as well as other instrumental projects that have helped Whistler become a more environmentally friendly community. Today, AWARE is responsible for GROW Whistler, an initiative that helps residents grow packaging free food close to home. They promote GOBYBIKE weeks where people are encouraged to travel by bike instead of by car. They also teach zero waste workshops where students are taught the importance of reducing waste and keeping waste out of landfills.
Photo: Plastics recycling depot at the Whistler Mountain Creekside skiers parking lot. Whistler Question Collection, April 22 1994.
Retired RMOW Environmental Stewardship Manager Heather Beresford has discussed the many ways she and the RMOW have worked to protect the environment since her starting time in the mid 1990s. Heather remembers putting up fish fences, measuring, tagging and counting fish to keep track of the population, and removing man-made dams. In her early years at the RMOW, Heather worked to address problems with the streams to ensure that the fish are able to spawn. Heather worked with the RMOW on creating lookouts on the River of Golden Dreams. The lookouts were designed not to disturb the surrounding wetlands.
Heather participated in ecosystem monitoring with Bob Brett and worked on the 2007 bear safety program, garbage bylaws and the western toad migration protection, all as a part of the RMOW’s efforts to preserve wildlife. Today, Heather’s efforts are focused on the Whistler Community Forest, almost 50% of which has been protected so it cannot be harvested. She works on making the community forest more climate resistant as well as stabilizing the forest. Heather is a great example of a Whistler local leading the way in environmental stewardship.
Since the 1960s there has been growing environmental awareness in the community. From dealing with garbage to recognizing the human impact, there have been increasing efforts to combat the negative effects of the growing population in Whistler. Projects include: the recycling depots, the Re-Use-It Centre and community groups dedicated to sustaining and protecting the environment. The community has continued to produce strong efforts to preserve the natural, beautiful environment of Whistler and keep the environment healthy so visitors have the opportunity to experience all of Whistler’s natural beauty.
Ella Healey is the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program.
The 28th Annual Building Competition with LEGO Bricks is right around the corner and registration is almost full! Make sure to email or call to secure your spot!
