2017 CSLA Awards of Excellence

BHA would like to congratulate one of our staff on a 2017 CSLA Award of Excellence! Alix MacKay was part of the team that developed the Outdoor PLAYbook, a key resource for Canadian schools and communities looking to develop outdoor play and learning environments. The Award of Excellence was given in the category of communications. Alix worked as Project Coordinator for the project, writing content, communicating with stakeholders, and helping to create the graphic identity for the website. The Outdoor PLAYbook team was comprised of researchers from the University of British Columbia (from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Medicine), as well as members of the Vancouver School Board. The team worked closely with parents, teachers, and local design practitioners on the development of the website and accompanying resources.

Read more in this month’s issue of Landscapes | Paysages.

Want to see more? Check out the Outdoor PLAYbook website.

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© 2019 BHA

In Support of Controlling Growth – Brent Harley in the Whistler Pique

Letters to the Editor for the week of September 21st – Whistler Pique Newsmagazine

IN SUPPORT OF CONTROLLING GROWTH

Barrett Fisher’s comments are timely and in fact long overdue (Pique, “Letters to the Editor” Sept.14)

In the 38 years that I have lived in Whistler, I have never encountered such dissatisfaction by locals over the loss of their quality of life. Like Barrett, (the CEO of Tourism Whistler), I have had the great opportunity to travel the world, both as a tourist and a mountain- and ski-resort planner and designer. Like Barrett, I always ask myself, could I live at the place I am visiting? And, like Barrett, I have always found those options had shortcomings and Whistler remained the location of choice.

That is, until recently. Now there are other places that are worthy of consideration.

This is primarily being driven by the fact that the powers that be at Whistler have chosen to ignore the basic and original Whistler mantra that there are limits to growth.  Mountain environments are very definable areas with absolute capacities (skiers on the mountain, cars on the highway, parking in the lots, the number of beds, clean water, sewage, the environment, resident housing, developable area, economics, etc.). To be sustainable, all of these capacities need to be in balance.

Cross the tipping point of these capacities and you begin to wreck the place. With the overcrowding and constant drive for more growth, Whistler has crossed that tipping point; surpassed its comfortable carrying capacity and has seriously begun to lose its shine. It is easy to point fingers at the “growth for growth’s sake” culprits. The challenge now is to figure out how to retreat and establish a balanced, steady state, tourism focused economy.

I commend Barrett and her team at Tourism Whistler for finally verbalizing the need for a new vision for Whistler.

Ever since the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler, we have been largely rudderless.

Let’s hope that we collectively have the strength to make the difficult decisions to create, implement and enforce mechanisms to control growth and recapture some of the magic.

Brent Harley
President, BHA Inc.,

https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/letters-to-the-editor-for-the-week-of-september-21st/Content?oid=4537403

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© 2019 BHA

Revelstoke 2017 Mountain Bike Symposium

BHA was more than stoked to be in Revelstoke last week for the biennial Mountain Bike Symposium.  For three days, we joined some fellow mountain bikers, community representatives and tourism and industry leaders to participate in this exciting symposium. The conferences covered captivating subjects like e-bikes and planning, First Nations Lands and communities, Mountain Biking and tourism trends and adaptive mountain biking.  Thank you to everyone who made this year’s MTB Symposium memorable!

For more information about the MTB Symposium

http://mtbtourismsymposium.ca/news/

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© 2019 BHA

Pemberton Valley Trails Master Plan awarded to BHA

Earlier this month the SLRD (Squamish-Lillooet Regional District) selected the BHA team to undertake the Pemberton Valley Trails Master Plan.  We are honored to be able to play a leading role in this exciting planning project that is scheduled to begin in the next weeks.  Looking into one of the key trail areas of the Sea to Sky corridor, the Master Plan will act as a reference document proving a series a tools that will support the sustainability of this trail system and its community.

To learn more about that beautiful area http://pembertontrails.com/

 

 

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© 2019 BHA

Mountain Bike Symposium 2017

For a second time, the BHA team will join the delegates of the Mountain Bike Symposium. This year, we will travel to Revelstoke to attend to this vibrant conference.  We are looking forward to tossing some ideas around with some of the bike tourism industry experts.

“THE MTB TOURISM SYMPOSIUM IS A GATHERING OF CREATIVE MINDS WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN ADVANCING THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURISM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.”

           http://mtbtourismsymposium.ca/

2017 BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium – Revelstoke – September 13 to 15 2017

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Function Junction Bloc Party

Last Sunday, August 27 2017, was a special day for BHA as our whole neighbourhood switched to event mode!  Hosted by the Function Junction Association, the Function Junction Bloc Party attracted many locals with good food, live music and activities for kids, young and old!  Part of the event was also to present the community with the latest vision and planning efforts for Function Junction’s neighbourhood.  BHA has been part of the process over the years and was happy to present the vision boards and plans to the community.

https://www.wayblaze.com/fundable_projects/block-party-in-function-junction-whistler/

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© 2019 BHA

Big White Bike Park Opening Day! – BHA Team is Thrilled –

From vision to reality…  Today, August 4th 2017, is the opening day of the Big White Bike Park. All of the BHA staff are ecstatic to see one of our project being brought to reality. We send all our best wishes to the Big White Bike Park team and everyone that has been part of this epic journey. See you on trails!

For more info

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/203358/Bikers-take-to-the-slopes

https://www.bigwhite.com/summer/mountain-biking

https://mtbparks.com/British-Columbia/309-Bike-Big-White/View-details.html?item_id=120

BHA was hired by Big White in the summer of 2015 to create the Big White Bike Park Master Plan.  We are proud to see the trails finally open for the public.

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© 2019 BHA

Big White Bike Park Construction vs BC’s Wildfires

It’s been a busy summer at Big White and, as BC’s wildfires are keeping most of the province smokey or in a state of emergency, the crew at Big White are keeping another type of fire alive – the goal to finish the Bike Park in time for opening day!  Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort, summarized this season’s Bike Park construction process:  “First it was too much snow, then the snow was melting too fast and everything was too wet and now, it’s hot and everything is too dry and we have to stop work at 1 p.m.,” (…) “Mother Nature has an incredible sense of humour this summer but our build team is made up of mountain bikers and they will get it ready even with hand shovels by our scheduled Opening Day of Aug. 4.”  Cheer on all the Big White team for the final push….

http://www.castlegarnews.com/sports/bike-big-white-trail-building-continues-despite-wildfire-curveball/

BHA was hired in 2015 to develop the Big White Bike Park Master Plan.  With ongoing planning, the bike park construction is currently following the phased implementation of what is envisioned to be a world class bike park facility.

From too much snow to too hot and dry. Photo: ABP 2017

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© 2019 BHA

BHA Neighbourhood comes together – Function Junction Block Party

For the last 2 decades, BHA has been part of one of Whistler’s unique neighbourhoods, Function Junction.  The FUNction Block Party, a community funded event, will showcase everything that makes Function Junction special; dynamic businesses, creative locals, great community spirit and more.  BHA is proud to support this local initiative to bring the local community together.  Schedule for August 27 2017, the FUNction Block Party will feature great entertainment for everyone.  For more information:

https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/ready-for-some-fun-in-function-junction/Content?oid=3794481

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© BHA 2019

BHA and Naskusp Trails Masterplan in the News

On July 10th, BHA presented the final Nakusp and Arrow Lakes Trails Master Plan to the Village of Nakusp Council.

BHA was hired in the summer of 2016 to undertake the process of creating this detailed Trails Master Plan for the community of Nakusp and Area K of the RDCK.  Working closely with a Working Committee made up of representatives from local trail user groups, BHA created a Master Plan that is aimed at establishing a clear vision for the development and management of an all-season, sustainable trail network.

In addition to working with local trail user groups, the BHA team hosted Public Open Houses in Burton/Fauquier, Edgewood, and Nakusp in March 2017 to gather community feedback. In addition, an online survey was used to collect more detailed information and capture the input of those who weren’t able to attend the Open Houses.

Using the latest digital mapping data available and compiling an extensive amount of background information, the planning process included a detailed mapping exercise of the entire region and the synthesis of the community consultation process.  The region hosts a vast network of trails serving a diverse range of trail users. The recommendations established in the Nakusp and Arrow Lakes Trails Master Plan will guide the future management and development of this important asset, benefiting locals and visitors to the region.

Read more here:

http://www.arrowlakesnews.com/news/nakusp-council-reviews-trails-masterplan/

 

Winter dog walking in Nakusp. Photo: Andrew Strain, 2017

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