In a tragic accident earlier today, Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, passed away from injuries sustained during a training run at Whistler Sliding Centre.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Nodar’s family, teammates, colleagues and the people of the Republic of Georgia. On behalf of the community of Whistler, our visiting guests and all others gathered here I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences for this loss.

The past week has impressed upon me the incredible friendship, admiration and sense of community that is created through hosting the Olympic Winter Games. It is in this spirit of collective friendship that we feel the pain of this tragedy.

The accident has deeply saddened all those gathered in our community to celebrate the passion, skill and excellence of Olympic athletes like Nodar.

Mayor Ken Melamed
Resort Municipality of Whistler

Whistler Blackcomb event planner embodies spirit of sport and Whistler

When Cate Webster graduated from high school in 1979, getting on the slopes was her top priority.

A self-professed ski bum, Webster admits she still lives and breathes skiing. Her job with the Whistler Blackcomb Event’s Department revolves around the sport and community she loves.

“The skiing at Whistler is great but it is the community that has kept me here. The people I work with feel like family,” Webster said. “Whistler still has a core feeling of family because everyone is connected by the mountains. It feels like I work for a family business.”

You’ll find Webster at nearly every community event in Whistler, working behind the scenes. Over the years, her work has paid off, she was the first female Chief of Competition for a Snowboard World Championships, held in Whistler in 2005.

Whether it’s organizing a grassroots event for young skiers or handling the demands of a world-class competition, Webster is dedicated to the growth of winter sport in Canada. When athletes arrive on the mountains to compete, Webster kicks into high gear making sure that every event runs smoothly.

Webster was one of Whistler’s torchbearers and she said the torch relay was a way of celebrating all the events that have happened in Whistler that have lead up to the biggest sporting event in the world.

During the Games, you’ll find Webster on the slopes with a smile on her face because she knows that the world is about to discover something special.

“I think it’s all been super exciting so far. It’s been fun to watch the town change more and more,” Webster said. “These Games are here and you can feel the excitment.” 

Painting with light

By Kevin Damaskie
“This is the most awesome coolness… I love those whales!”

High in the second level of BC Place, my six-year-old son Winter pumps his fist into the air. He and I marvel at the passion and majesty unfolding before our wide eyes as Orca whales painted with light on a white snow canvas breach the virtual Pacific below us. We are inside and we are outside ourselves.
The secret is out, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony was pure magic. There must have been some magic in the acrobatics, music and light show as Winter and I share the genetic ability to sit still for about nine minutes maximum.

The ceremonial magic snow flurries fluttering about our heads worked as the show kept us glued to our seats for around three hours – a world record for us both.

It all started mid morning on Tuesday when an email hit my desk announcing the first 25 RMOW staff to respond would receive a pair of tickets to the dress rehearsal for the top secret opening night.

Dropping what I was doing (see reference to attention span above) I replied simply with “I’m in.” Twenty minutes later Winter and I were confirmed as attendees to the most secret gathering in Vancouver since the last sale of the Canucks hockey team.
Friends around the office banded together and a quick car pool was organized. Two moms and their eight year old daughters and one Kevin and Winter.

“I am so honoured to have witnessed the rehearsal,” said my co-worker Deena McCauley. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am just tickled to share it with my daughter Olivia.”

I, for one, thought the Beijing Opening Ceremony would be hard to top. But O’ Canada, I stand on guard for “Zed” not “Zee.” For your First Nations culture and the ice totems that so graciously welcomed the world from all four directions, for your poetry, music and for kd lang most of all – Hallelujah. The Games have begun. Whistler, you should be proud…

Yesterday afternoon I gathered with other citizens of Whistler and the world to celebrate the opening of these Games. A tragedy at the Whistler Sliding Centre earlier in the day had taken some of the magic from the moment – my heart goes out to the family, friends and comrades of Nodar Kumaritashvili. But with tears in my eyes I looked around and realized through tragedy comes triumph, through pain comes perseverance. Hug your neighbours Whistler, we will prevail.

Share your innovative stories of life during the Games in Whistler at kdamaskie@whistler.ca

Electric Vehicle Charging Staitons installed at Whistler Conference Underground Lot

With a nod to the future, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has installed four new electric vehicle charging stations in the first level of the Whistler Conference Centre underground parking lot.

“The charging stations are a small step on a much larger journey toward sustainability; however, they demonstrate that Whistler is continuously willing to explore and support new opportunities for progressive energy and emissions management,” said Mayor Ken Melamed.

The stations allow electric vehicles to boost their batteries free of charge. It takes about four hours and 50 kilowatts of electricity to charge a typical electric car battery. At six cents per kilowatt, Dave Patterson, RMOW Manager of Park and Village Operations, said charging drivers for the power would cost more than giving it away for free.

Each charging station includes two plugs; one for overnight charges and the other for shorter term charges.

“I believe these charging stations help us on the road to sustainability. It’s another option to give locals and visitors,” Patterson said. “We are staying ahead of the curve as more and more electric vehicles come on the market.”

The electric car charging stations offer a service that Patterson said people will be looking for in the near future. Whistler is one of the first communities in British Columbia to offer electric vehicle charging stations. Electric cars have long been hailed as the future of driving yet they’ve been difficult to find on car dealership lots. This year, that will change.

Several big automakers plan to start introducing a range of electric vehicles in late 2010, giving the broader public its first chance to buy the vehicles that rely more on the electrical outlet than the gas pump. In the next several years, most major car companies plan to release vehicles that use electricity to get around.

GHGs from passenger vehicles represent approximately half of our community’s total emissions.

Whistler Live! is where the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games come to life with an energetic fusion of sport, art and entertainment. For 27 days, Whistler’s wintery pedestrian village will pulsate from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m against the spectacular backdrop of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. A diverse range of free and unique Whistler Live! experiences offer a dazzling taste of Whistler’s iconic mountain culture.

Cheer on the athletes during CTV sport broadcasts; be moved by medals presentations; take in daily après concerts; enjoy film and photography; hear legendary tales and listen to DJs light up the nightly Fire & Ice Remix.

The Whistler Live! experience comes alive through a network of integrated and interactive sites stretching from Whistler Medals Plaza to the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Welcoming and accessible, Whistler Live! is designed for wandering, exploring and discovering.

Whistler Live! Faites l’expérience des Jeux du Canada au cœur du village de Whistler.