Blog

Keep that bubble small, says B.C.'s public health officer

By Tereza Verenca / Castanet Expanding social circles not happening any time soon: Dr. Henry “Few faces, bigger spaces” is still the name of the game. During her COVID-19 update on May 30, B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said adding more people to one’s social circle likely won’t happen any time soon.…

Quest University's financial protection is extended

By Steven Chua / The Squamish Chief The Squamish school will be shielded from bankruptcy or receivership until Aug. 10, with a possibility of a further extension until Sept. 30 A court ruling has bought Quest University more time to be safe from bankruptcy or receivership as it faces a $23.4-million debt from its biggest […]

Feds offer early $2.2b payment to cities amid 'cash crunch'

By Tyler Orton / Business in Vancouver PM also addresses protests that unfolded across North America over the weekend Ottawa is offering $2.2 billion to cities as they face what the prime minister describes as a “cash crunch” during the pandemic. The money was, in fact, already earmarked as federal support for cities via the […]

No glacier skiing/riding this year, WB says

By Braden Dupuis ‘I do not take the decision lightly:’ COO As Whistler Blackcomb (WB) preps a scaled-back operating plan for the 2020 summer season, a longtime summer tradition won’t be returning this year. In an email to staff on June 1, WB chief operating officer Geoff Buchheister announced there will be no glacier skiing […]

Trans Mountain reaches 'key milestone' as pipeline construction begins in B.C.

By The Canadian Press Construction now underway in Kamloops KAMLOOPS, B.C.—Trans Mountain says it has reached another “key milestone” in the project to triple capacity of a pipeline moving oil from the Edmonton area to port in Burnaby, B.C. A statement says construction on a seven-kilometre section of the line has begun in Kamloops.…

Ski area proposed for Kootenays will cater to backcountry skier

By Brandon Barrett Expression of interest for Zincton Mountain Village submitted to province There’s a prevailing mindset in the ski industry that says a resort needs to be within a two-hour drive from an international airport to be viable long-term.…

Dirt Designations: Part 2

By Dan Falloon MORE stories behind the names of Whistler’s mountain bike trails In this space last week, you read Jeff Slack’s 2015 story detailing the stories behind the naming of many of the mountain biking trails in the resort. Of course, five years is an eternity in the mountain biking world, and in that […]

Sea to Sky school district braced for decrease in international students

By Dan Falloon District facing 73% drop in number of International students as a result of COVID-19 Apart from missing some new faces in the classroom when in-school classes get underway in the 2020-21 school year, teachers and students in the local SD48 district shouldn’t anticipate any other major differences in the face of a […]

Palliative care has been put on the backburner during pandemic, experts say

By Nicole Thompson / The Canadian Press When Kathryn Butler Malette learned her younger sister was diagnosed with COVID-19, she was confronted with a waking nightmare: that her beloved sibling might die alone. While Ontario’s government has said facilities can allow end-of-life visits, Butler Malette said she was told the Ottawa-area long-term care home where […]

Ottawa pledges millions to promote holiday travel in Canada during pandemic

By The Canadian Press Ottawa is earmarking millions of dollars to promote holiday travel inside Canada as it seeks to help the tourism industry weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds announced by Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly on Sunday includes $30 million originally earmarked for attracting foreign visitors through the federal tourism marketing agency, Destination […]

Bacuit Bay

By Tim Morch Adventures on tropical reefs, sandy beaches all by sea kayak Bacuit Bay, off the northwest end of Palawan Island, Philippines, boasts an archipelago dotted by a blend of tropical reefs, karst limestone outcroppings and sandy beaches, perfect for a sea kayak adventure. I was back in Corong-Corong, south of El Nido, flying […]

Whistler's Canada Day festivities will take on a different format this year

By Megan Lalonde Outdoor concert series cancelled; RMOW staff exploring ‘new ways to celebrate Canada Day in Whistler’ Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Whistler’s Canada Day celebrations will look a lot different this year. The usual parade, street entertainment and evening concert will not happen this summer, according to a release.…

Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C. as businesses face COVID-19 challenges

By Dirk Meissner / The Canadian Press VICTORIA – British Columbia’s lowest paid workers get a pay increase Monday with a scheduled minimum wage hike at a crucial time for small businesses as they look for ways to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase is part of the government’s pledge to implement a […]

Number of students returning is a wild card as B.C. schools set to reopen Monday

By Amy Smart / The Canadian Press VANCOUVER – When students board the school bus on Monday in Williams Lake, B.C., they’ll be greeted by a bus driver wearing a protective visor and will take a seat by themselves unless they live with another student. Parents who take their kids to school will be asked […]

'It's a total bummer': Young Sea to Sky riders feel Crankworx Whistler's cancellation

By Dan Falloon / Squamish Chief Even though it felt inevitable, the official cancellation of Crankworx Whistler 2020 on May 26 hit young Sea to Sky riders hard. “It was kind of expected at this point, in a way, because almost every race has been cancelled at this point,” said downhiller Seth Sherlock.…