Until Canada Day, I hadn’t heard of Jim Byrnes. It is a fact that I should be embarrassed about according to anyone I spoke to. Apparently he is a “blues/gospel genius” and he is a Canadian. Whether I should have known who he is or not, I enjoyed the show. It was the end to a pretty epic Canada Day for the Crompton clan. We Canada Day paraded, sang along to Fred Penner, dunked and got dunked at the dunk tank, picnicked in the park, collected balloon animals, danced to Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners and then watched Canada Day fireworks. For a 3, 5, 7 and 9 year old this was a truly epic day.

I spent a lot of time during that epic day talking to people about whether all of that is good value. Responses were pretty positive but then it was a pretty partisan crowd… being only attendees. Carolyn and I talked about it on the way home at the end of the night. We imagined a similar day in Seattle or Portland and decided it would have us coming back for more.

I was about to go to bed and dream about maple syrup,  log driving and hockey when I decided to check my email. There was an email in my inbox complaining about the concerts in the park… too loud, reduce property values and damage the community’s quality of life. So instead of going to bed I have kept Carolyn up talking about balancing Whistler’s conflicting interests.

The balancing act is an interesting one. If the only concern was whether or not these investments add value for our visitors I think the answer is a pretty clear yes. If you add that these events draw local families to the mix… I think the value grows. For me the question is does the value to the community and tourist outweigh the ‘noise pollution’ created… if you want to call it that.

So what do you think? Is putting on a show that will keep locals and visitors in the village spending worth frustrating some other local residents? Does the fact that we are a tourist town mean we need to overlook noise bylaws now and then? Can a Canadian really play the blues?

Since I have been absent from WIA, the RMOW has:

1. Created a public engagement process considering higher education in Whistler – The process is scheduled to be nine months and will consider all opportunities to diversify Whistler’s economy into education. Thoughts?
2. Implemented the findings of the Illegal Spaces Task Force – This means that below grade space is no longer counted against a house overall gross floor area (GFA). Thoughts?
3. Struck an Festivals Events & Animation (FE&A) Oversight Committee and a Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) Oversight Committee – These committees are made of local experts and representatives and will direct how the RMOW spends RMI funds that the province provides to drive tourism. Thoughts?
4. Awarded Florence Peterson and Joan Richoz the Freedom of the Municipality – It is the highest honor a community can give to a person and these two individuals are the first women since Myrtle Philip to receive the award… about time!
5. A lot of other stuff. If you have questions or comments you would like me to address in future columns please email me at jcrompton@whistler.ca. Your input is really appreciated!