A former Mount Washington ski instructor has turned to saving lives as a profession. Danielle Robertson, 30, became a paramedic three years ago. After cutting her professional teeth, so to speak, in places like Sayward, Port McNeill, Port Alberni and Courtenay, she was transferred to Campbell River. That’s also where her father, Bob Smith, works as a paramedic. They are reportedly the first father-daughter paramedic team in the province. Robertson has been married for eight years and has two kids aged five and seven years.
The Resort has a new sous chef. Steven Boudreau from Montreal will join chef James Loiselle in creating gastronomical delights at Mount Washington. “Between the two of them, we’re going to increase the quality of our food as well as the diversity of our food,” Food and Beverage Manager Tim Defert said.
Mount Washington’s food outlets are taking on a new look for the summer season, both inside and out. In response to customer feedback, more healthy choices will be offered on the menus, Resort Food and Beverage Manager Tim Defert said. That means no trans fats, more items made from scratch and less fried food.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort Marketing Director Karen Bonell will go to London, England in October for the London Ski Show. The Resort and Tourism Mount Washington are partnering in the trip to one of the largest ski shows in Europe.
Diane Weir of Mid Island Gifts in the Comox Valley Airport stocks all the 2010 Winter Olympic Games mascots. Are you a MukMuk supporter? Diane also stocks Vancouver Island marmots (the stuffed ones, silly).
The most logical choice for an Olympic mascot for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver has been relegated to the back seat. Mukmuk the Marmot is a sidekick to Quatchi, Miga and Sumi. There is a movement afoot to unshackle the furry cutie pie and make him an official mascot. The Vancouver Sun newspaper started a campaign in March to “free Mukmuk”, in response to comments from their readers. Even Mount Washington Alpine Resort President Peter Gibson took up their cause, asking Vancouver Organizing Committee President John Furlong to consider elevating Mukmuk’s status. If you have a comment on the “free Mukmuk” campaign, the Sun has set up an e-mail at mukmukformascot@png.canwest.com.
Earlier this spring, provincial ministry of environment officials noted there were at least 160 marmots in captivity and 90 in the wild, with more pups supposedly on the way. The Marmot Foundation would like to see 400-600 marmots thriving before they will consider the species to be recovered. Several of those in captivity are lodged at the Tony Barrett Marmot Recovery Centre at Mount Washington.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort lost a great friend on April 15. Glenn Willis Jordan died after an illness. Jordan was quite involved with disabled skiing at the Resort. “He was so completely dedicated to skiing,” Resort Marketing Director Karen Bonell said. Jordan is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anne; daughters Sandie, Lorraine and Sharel (Andrew) and son Dale (Eleanor); 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and his brother, Sid.