Dawn Green – Writer

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Calling all snow lovers – Whistler welcomes new Ice Kingdom

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While the slopes of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are the main draw each winter in Whistler, there is much more beyond the expansive mountain terrain to explore.

The newest addition to Whistler’s seemingly never-ending array of adventures to enjoy is the Ice Kingdom—a winter wonderland running at the Whistler Golf Course (just across from Whistler Village).

Ice Kingdom is a magical interactive exhibit where families can explore a community of snow sculptures and an ice slide lit up with brilliant and colourful lights. Ice Kingdom public relations manager Alexandra Leo explains that Whistler is a natural location for Ice Kingdom, given its distinctive mountain culture.

“Particularly for the snow sculptures, we need a landscape which provides reliable snow for the duration of the event as well as provide for a market who have a genuine interest in winter-like events.”

Whistler it is! What is there not to love about wandering among the twenty or more interactive snow sculptures of all shapes and sizes, scooting down multiple snow slides, and warming up with a hot chocolate in the clubhouse afterwards?

But this is just one of a great number of activities you can enjoy this winter in Whistler. You may want to challenge yourself to an invigorating dog-sledding adventure, explore the valley on snowshoes, or give ice fishing a try. If you possess the need for speed, you simply cannot pass up a bobsled or skeleton ride at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Ziplining above the snow-covered landscape is another way to take your breath away or jump onto a thrilling snowmobile tour to head to unknown snowy terrain beyond the slopes.

For a more relaxed time, there’s the Peak 2 Peak sightseeing experience. Dress in your winter garb, climb onto the Whistler Village gondola and head up the mountain. At the Peak of Whistler Mountain, pause to relish the vista and then experience the feeling of pure happiness as the Peak 2 Peak gondola whisks you two kilometres across to Blackcomb Mountain.

Of course, a real holiday should also include some serious chill time. You can count on Whistler to serve up a wide range of spas, yoga studios, restaurants and après venues so you can spend a day unplugging and unwinding.

This article originally appeared in the Vancouver Sun in February, 2018


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Find your balance

It’s true − just thinking about Whistler can cause your heart rate to rise, thanks to the mass of adrenaline-charged sports that dominate the landscape of the mountain retreat. But while this is all well and good, it’s easy to overlook an undercurrent that flows through the town, one which serves up ways to restore your balance after the adrenaline highs.

I am, of course, referring to practices which many health and wellness gurus say allow you to connect with your inner self. In Whistler, this equates to balancing a day in the great outdoors skirting along a mountain’s edge, cycling along the Valley trail or craning your neck up at thundering waterfalls, with endeavours geared specifically for rejuvenation.

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Balance can be achieved in many ways, such as unwinding with an inspiring yoga class at the Audain Art Museum. Just like with many things in Whistler, this is not your typical yogic setting − enjoy the journey as you flow through the moves against the backdrop of a selection of magnificent artwork.

To immerse yourself even further into relaxation after a big day on the move, slow down amidst the age old practice of hydrotherapy at the Scandinave Spa. The cycle of hot and cold baths is shown to improve blood circulation and release endorphins, which also does wonders  to restore your balance.

The Spa at Nita Lake has also taken up the challenge to create ways to balance the body, mind and soul, explains spa manager Hannah Edwards.

“The signature treatments we offer follow set routines that really allow the body to let go,” says Edwards.

“I see our spa as a place to visit to connect with oneself. Our treatments, in combination with our caring team that is devoted to each guest’s healing experience, provide the perfect environment to do so.”

Other ways to tap into that relaxing vibe and find your balance include treating yourself to a massage at the only authentic Javanese spa in North America or choose treatments ranging from body wraps and facials to hot rock massages at the Westin Resort’s Avello Spa and Health Club.

This article originally appeared in the Vancouver Sun on 5 September, 2017

 


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Snow walls a cool surround

Imagine the cries of “Wow, look at that!” combined with looks of utter surprise on the faces of a band of intrepid hikers who first gazed up in wonder at the massive walls lining Whistler Mountain’s Pika’s Traverse road. This was circa fifteen years ago and the happy pioneers had just stumbled upon the phenomenon which would later be dubbed the ‘snow walls’.

The road had just been plowed to enable access to the summer operations on the mountain following a particularly exceptional snow fall, and after the snowplow had done its work, the resulting walls towered over 10 metres in height.

It’s no surprise that word of this remarkable annual event quickly spread like wildfire until we get to today where it has morphed into the likes of local legend, which has to be experienced to be believed.

Whistler Blackcomb’s mountain manager Adam Francis describes the snow wall walk as being as awe-inspiring today as it was fifteen years ago.

“Seeing the soaring white walls set against the blue sky with occasional views of the surrounding peaks is really spectacular,” he says, adding that the air is noticeably cooler near the snow walls so on a hot day, it makes for a refreshing walk.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than that, there’s even a reward at the end of the walk.

“The snow walls are a sight unto themselves with the white walls and blue sky, but they finish at the peak of Whistler Mountain which affords 360 degree views of the surrounding Garibaldi Provincial Park, including the iconic Black Tusk,” Francis says.

After the breathtaking chairlift ride up Blackcomb Mountain and across the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, a hike up to the snow walls is the perfect way to press pause on our busy lives and tune in to the magnificence of our natural world instead.

With the Peak Express chair now open, accessing the snow walls could not be easier, so bring the whole family along for the outing, but be aware that there’s a short window of time to do the walk before it melts away until next year.

This article originally appeared in the Vancouver Sun on July 11, 2017.


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Help your workplace be kinder to the planet and people in need

The following is a guest post from a friend of mine and former classmate who’s recently delved into the world of blogging and confesses that she absolutely loves it. She is Happy Eco Mama and her tagline – green parenting, positive psychology and connecting our little ones to the natural world – is so aligned with my passions that I didn’t hesitate to say yes when she asked me whether I’d like to post some of her work on here. Check out her site here: www.happyecomama.com

 

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Want to help your workplace to be kinder to the planet and to people in need? Noticed that the coffee in the office kitchen isn’t fair trade, and it’s bugging you? Especially if you’re working for a large corporation with many employees, making little tweaks can add up to a big difference over the years. You can also change people’s mindsets, and teach them about issues they might not have thought about, like supply chain ethics or their carbon footprint. Your passion for a better world can really inspire others to think about how their own purchasing decisions can help to change things for the better.

Here’s some suggestions that you could talk about with your workmates, with the Facilities department and so on, to make your office a more eco-friendly, compassionate place to be.

  • Coffee

It’s pretty much a certainty that if you work in an office, there’s free coffee (side note: we ran out for a week when I worked at a call centre once, and there was practically a revolution). Workers on coffee plantations are often subjected to exploitative working conditions, not being paid enough to support themselves, much less their families.

There’s unfortunately quite a few industries that involve such exploitation: from chocolate to pineapple! While you probably aren’t getting free chocolate at work (although, wouldn’t it be nice?), convincing Facilities to make the switch from standard coffee to a fair trade, sustainably-farmed brand will literally change many lives every year.

  • Turning off computers

A lot of people just lock their computer when they finish work for the day. According to Computer Weekly, if a company has 200 PCs and they’re all switched off after the working day finishes, it would save the company 12,000 GBP per year. That doesn’t just make environmental sense, it makes economical sense too!

  • Corporate social responsibility

If your company doesn’t have a CSR policy, then it really should: according to Causemark.com, 75% of consumers say they are likely to switch from one product to another if a company supports a cause they believe in, assuming quality and price are similar. In this day and age, your brand is no longer just about your products/services, it’s about your brand image; this is especially important to millennials, and can also contribute to employee satisfaction because they’ll be proud to work somewhere that shares their values.

So basically that’s the spiel that you should be giving to the CEO when you’re having Friday night drinks after work. (By now, they’ll probably remember you as the lady who saved them a ton of money by suggesting the policy of turning off computers. Or maybe as that annoying lady who keeps going on about coffee. Either way.)

A CSR policy could include matching dollar-to-dollar donations for fundraising, giving grants or sponsorships to local causes, or letting employees have a certain number of paid days volunteering in the community.

  • Use that noticeboard!

Christmas time? Remind people about the true spirit of giving: Oxfam Gifts lets you give gifts such as a goat or a cow (for a rural family in need in the developing world) to friends, and it’s really a much more memorable than the usual trinkets. (A friend of mine still tells people about how I got her a cow for Christmas once.) You can hang up posters for Oxfam Gifts, or for any other causes that are important to you (i.e. not to buy puppies from petstores sourcing from puppy mills), to encourage other people to participate; I’ve had great success with getting people excited about Oxfam Gifts and buying them instead of commercial Christmas presents, and it has a ripple effect when the gift recepient ends up buying Oxfam Gifts for their own friends next Christmas .

If there isn’t a noticeboard, talk with your manager about just putting it up somewhere in the kitchen or near the water cooler. When it’s for such a meaningful purpose, they’re likely to be accommodating.

  • Kiva loans

A surprising number of people haven’t heard of Kiva. As the website itself puts it, Kiva loans change lives; it’s a microfinance organization with a focus on the developing world, but also including people in need in the developed world. These are a great gift to give to someone for their going-away party, to congratulate them on their promotion, to thank them for agreeing to stock fair trade coffee in the kitchen, or really any time when a cow seems like an odd gift to give someone. (Which happens, sometimes.)

  • Recycling

A lot of workplaces don’t have recycling bins. Your workplace should have a recycling bin. ‘Nuff said. If there’s one already and it isn’t getting as much use as it should, print out a handy guide to what actually belongs in the recycling bin and what doesn’t. Also, try not to glare too much at the guy who’s popping his Pepsi can in the trash, as tempting as it might be.

 

This article was first published on the site She Savvy on 8 November 2016.

 


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What’s your adventurous new years goal?

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So we’re well and truly into the new year of 2017 now….nearly a whole week and it’s slowly sinking in that another year has passed and a new one is upon us.

With that in mind, it’s a good time to take stock, think about what’s important in life and perhaps set a couple of achievable and vibrant goals. I hesitate to use the term ‘New Years resolutions’ as it sounds so manufactured, where goals are dreams with deadlines, as my father-in-law once quipped.

For me this year, my goals are focused on staying healthy and strong. I’ve taken up a regular yoga practice and alongside some strength training, I can feel the difference already. I really love the way it’s all about aligning your breath with the moves and staying focused in the present moment. What a way to unwind, slow down our busy minds and just breathe. But don’t just listen to me – there’s lots of others out there touting the benefits of yoga.

I’m also into dedicating time to slowly, slowly meander my way through my backed up writing projects, one by one. The thing is I have about a dozen Word documents on my computer, each with a few lines or pages of a story or idea or interview which saw the light of day and then was dropped when other life priorities got in the way. So now I plan to see one through to completion, no matter how long it takes and then move on to the next. It’s my way of avoiding scattered brain syndrome and will allow me to feel a deep connection with each story, each project and really devote time to get to know it intimately, work with it and allow it to be whatever it is going to be.

Let it unfurl like a flower.

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So here’s to another adventurous year ahead – whether it’s adventures abroad, at home, in the mind, body or soul, embrace the challenge, make it yours and see what magic comes of it.

~Dawn

 


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Never a dull moment

 

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Credit: Wayne S. Grazio, Flickr

The moaning cries of, “Mum, Dad… I’m bored!” are rarely, if ever, uttered by kids in Whistler. Why is that, you ask? Well, it can be broken down to one word, F-U-N. For kids, Whistler is an ultimate playground, bursting with opportunities for nature play and sensory amusement.

One memorable way to spend a day in classic Whistler-style is to get the kids on bikes on the 40-kilometre Whistler Valley trail system that links all the neighbourhoods in town. The best way to experience the trail is to pack a picnic lunch and head off with no set plan, and be pleasantly surprised by what lies around the corner. Alta Lake sparkles in the sun and invites sand castle building contests at Rainbow Park and the ice cream cone at Whistler Creekside to top off the day is completely satisfying.

The Adventure Group (TAG) offers up a fantastic nature experience on their aerial tree course (aptly called The Treetop Adventure) that features a mind boggling 70 different obstacles from balance beams to rope swings. This is a natural team building adventure and a great experience to share with family.

And why not try out the art of ziplining while you’re in Whistler? Ziptrek’s Bear Tour involves zipping down five ziplines, all the while enjoying aerial vistas above Fitzsimmons Creek and laughing with your kids. And if you’re not quite ready for ziplining, there’s the Tree Trek Tour which takes you on a canopy walk over treetop bridges and suspended stairways in amongst the lush old-growth forest.

The Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre is also a must-see for families where interactive displays and guided tours tell the rich stories of the First Nations people of the region.

Even long after you’ve left town, be warned: a phrase that you are guaranteed to hear often and repeatedly from your kids will start off with, “Remember that time in Whistler when we…”

 

~This is an excerpt from an article published in The Province and the Vancouver Sun in August 2016


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Ocean pollution – the monster that never sleeps

This guest post comes courtesy of Andrew Dilevics of Divein.com and reminds us of the worldwide problem of ocean pollution and how changes to our everyday lifestyle can indeed make an impact:

The ocean is one of the largest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. It provides over 70% of the oxygen we breathe and covers 72% of the world’s surface. Without the ocean we would not be here today, it’s that simple.

However, everyday our oceans are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Every year, more than 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans, which is causing untold devastation. Not only is pollution affecting marine life and habitats, it is also affecting man.

There are a number of ways in which we can help lower the amount of pollution entering our oceans and bring them back from the brink of disaster. Reducing your carbon footprint is a good start; you can do this by reducing the amount of energy you use in your household. Turn off the lights when you are not in the room and leave your car at home and ride a bike to work.

Avoid buying plastics; plastics are one of the biggest factors in the pollution of our oceans and once you have finished with your plastic products, their end destination is usually the ocean. Use reusable bags when going to the supermarket and reusable water bottles. If you have to buy plastic products then make sure you recycle them.

Help to take care of the beach. If you enjoy swimming, surfing or just relaxing on the sand, make sure that you clean up after yourself. If you see others littering try to encourage them to protect our oceans and its wildlife.

If you would like to learn more about the oceans and how pollution can affect mankind, then take a look at the fascinating infographic below, created by the team at divein.com…

 

How ocean pollution affects humans How ocean pollution affects humans – Graphic by the team at DIVE.in


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Seven ways the Internet is changing our brain

During one of my many random internet searches where, after awhile, I forget what even prompted the search in the first place (sound familiar?), I came across this intriguing infographic.

It really sums up  our collective addiction to the Net and tells us how that addiction is actually changing our brains, and in some not so good ways.

Who reading this can relate to the first one, FOMO or Fear of Missing Out? Wow, that one strikes close to home and used to be a big issue for me, particularly with social media channels. Thankfully I have now managed to wean myself off of that unhelpful mindset and even take days off from checking social media, with positive results. I feel much more free and yet still enjoy my limited time on there, so luckily I have struck a good balance.

Good food for thought and perhaps a prompt to us all to enjoy the Net in moderation (just like with wine and chocolate). Sometimes it is good to simply turn off the screen, take a deep breath and head outdoors and notice the little things that matter in life.

~Dawn
Your Brain on the Internet
Source: OnlineCourseReport.com


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The Ultimate Guide for the Green Parent

The following is a guest post from Ella Andrews on green parenting – a topic that is near and true to my heart.

Thanks Ella!

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Credit:  moralfibres.co.uk

Embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle and being a parent at the same time can seem like a tough task. Even the zealous green activist will find it challenging when it comes to the enormous piles of laundry and the infinite numbers of diapers that need to be changed on a daily basis. A little dedication and determination can take you a long way. Green parenting is a great way to help the planet, while raising a healthy and environmentally conscious child. The following basic green parenting ideas can get you started. Of course, these tips are not prescriptive and depend on your parenting style.

  1. Eco-friendly Diapers

If you decide to ditch the conventional disposable diapers, there are several green options for your changing table. The most obvious choice is cloth diapers. These solutions have come a long way since your grandma used them. You can wash them at home or at a local diapering service. Don’t want to go through the hassle of cleaning diapers every day? Pick eco-friendly, disposable ones. These green diapers are made without fragrances, latex or chlorine. The Diapers Free movement is another alternative that might take some time and effort. You need to learn to recognize when your baby needs to “go” and take care of the business. The advantage of this method is early potty training.

  1. Wipes

Let’s talk about the other baby product that you use on a daily basis – the wipes. This is your best friend when it comes to efficiently and professionally cleaning the mess. Disposable wipes are filled with chemicals that are bad for both your child and the environment. Pick ones that contain only organic ingredients. To be completely sure that your wipes are safe, make them yourself. You will need a roll of heavy duty paper or cloths if you want reusable wipes, 1 ¾ cups of boiled water, 1 table spoon of pure aloe vera and the same amount of pure Witch Hazel, olive or almond oil, Liquid Castille soap. Fold the paper or cloth wipes in a container and pour the mixture.

  1. Toys and Baby Accessories

When selecting your child’s playthings, keep in mind that your baby likes to touch everything and put toys in their mouths. Your best bet is wooden and organic cloth items. Most plastic objects including the baby bottles contain Bisphenol-A, which is an artificial estrogen. Look for wooden toys with water base-stains or unfinished solid wood. As for the cloth items, get products made out of organic cotton and other natural fabrics.

  1. Cleaning Products

Cut the use of potentially hazardous chemicals, by choosing eco- friendly alternatives you can find on the market or in your kitchen cabinet. Make your own green cleaners by using nontoxic ingredients such as lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar and borax. If you are not into homemade cleaners, you can find great organic alternatives on the market.

  1. General Green Tips
  • Reuse, reduce and recycle – borrow or buy gently used items you will need only for a short period like bouncers and cribs.
  • Recycle bottles, clothes and paper.
  • Green eating habits- breastfeeding and organic food are super healthy for your baby.

 


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2015 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for my blog.

Thanks everyone for having a look at my sporadic postings throughout the year on a variety of topics ranging from kids’ screen time to the plight of community newspapers.

Wishing you all much happiness for 2016 – the new year has 365 blank pages…what will you fill it with?

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,000 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.