Whistler is Not Egypt and MY Millenium Place Society is Not Pharoah!

I was deeply touched by Scott Holmes of Pemberton's letter to the Pique this week voicing his concern about MY Millenium Place Society's decision to close the Teddy Bear Daycare Centre.

Scott writes: "...I have hit the wall with the announced closure of Teddy Bear Daycare....This daycare has operated successfully and provided a valuable service in the valley for six years. Now, all of a sudden, and in a manner that smacks of backroom politics, our Teddy Bear is facing extinction. Through petitions, public outcry and diligent work from some truly community-minded people, the parents of Teddy Bear are sending the message that the community need this facility, but is anyone listening?
To those bunch of self-serving individuals out to "make their mark" in Whistler at the cost of a great facility and waste such huge capital expenditure [in excess of 500K], what are you thinking? This is not Egypt and you are not a pharoah. If leaving a cultural legacy is so important, then become a painter!"

Hear, Hear, Scott!

To answer part of the rhetorical question, I would safely say that Whistler Blackcomb was listening. As WB CEO, David Brownlie, said last week, his corporation is prepared to front the funds to continue running Teddy Bear as long as it is needed in our community. Brownlie voiced his deep disappointment that the MY Millenium Place Society had decided to close the daycare facility. I think he was being polite. I have heard Moms and Dads in Whistler come out with major expletives as to what they think the MYMPS should do with themselves regarding their unfathomable decision.

What got my goat is that councillors Eckhard Zeidler, Bob Lorriman and Nancy Wilhelm-Morden didn't have the chutzpah to stand alongside councillor Ralph Forsythe in his bid to accept Whistler Blackcomb funding for the continuation of the daycare. In my opinion, Wilhelm-Morden abdicated responsibility on behalf of the community, without our consent, and stated that the decision belonged to the MY Millenium Place Society.

I wonder how she would have reacted if she had two young children who were being booted out of their daycare to make space for some doobie-smoking hippies who just want to shoot the breeze about Picasso? [not a rhetorical question]