While the Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) saga rages on for another potential three years, one local man has decided to speak out after years of what he calls bullying by resort proponents.
Don Worthington has a leased property on Brohm Ridge for 31 years, and says he's frustrated with GAS's refusal to allow him to open a small business, despite a contract with original GAS proponent Wolfgang Richter supporting the endeavour.
"I'm just being bullied," said Worthington.
Worthington is currently the only private building owner and leaseholder on the entire mountain. He wants to turn his small six-person cabin into a 10 to 20 bedroom eco tourism adventure bed and breakfast, and lead on-mountain tours during the winter and summer months.
According to both Worthington and Richter, Richter signed a contract in 1999 agreeing to support Worthington's business venture and helping in any way possible.
Worthington said Richter has treated him fairly, openly and respectfully -something he can't say of today's 11-member GAS board.
"They're just trying to push me around because they've got these huge lawyers and billions of dollars, and little Don Worthington just has to keep kicking and screaming as much as he can," he said.
Worthington said he sent a proposal to run his mini-business alongside, or even within the GAS resort. He said GAS representatives stated they were willing consider his involvement, and asked him to prepare a business proposal.
Despite his efforts, GAS vice-president George McKay sent Worthington a letter refusing his request and offering to pay him what they believed to be the value of improvements he's made on the tract of land.
"The last one was a very detailed business plan," said Worthington, "and after I deal with GAS for all this time they turn around and say they just want to buy me out at 10 cents on the dollar.
"I am probably the one community member who has legally been on Brohm Ridge for 30 years and potentially stands to lose the most. Poor little Don Worthington needs to be recognized."
McKay stated in the letter that Worthington's proposed commercial lodge "will conflict with GAS resort operations and be a serious concern toGAS due toconflicts with the master plan and liability with ski area operations."
Worthington offered to let GAS guests use his facility but McKay said they did not see his proposal fitting with their resort.
"Your facility could well beundersized, not sufficiently serviced, or not well located for long term resort plans," stated McKay.
Worthington said the "icing on the cake" was their compensation offer, which could be well under $30,000, and only paid upon surrendering the lease tenure.
"It's insulting, that's buying me out at 10 cents on the dollar just to get rid of me," he said. "I spend that much in a year sometimes on construction costs."
Worthington said his property is insured for $250,000 and had been appraised much higher than GAS's offer, but money isn't what he's after.
"I don't want their money. I just want to start a business there."
McKay refused to comment when asked about the situation.
Richter said he still supports Worthington's proposed bed and breakfast.
"He has a contract that I signed and I will do my best to see that it is honoured," he said.
He said he wasn't aware McKay had responded to Worthington, adding he could not dictate what the GAS board decides. But, he said, he could provide background information and potentially sway some opinions among the 11 board members.
"The board would be foolhardy not to respect Don's role as a stakeholder," he said.
Worthington said working with Richter has been a pleasure but he realizes "he doesn't hold the reins right now."
After McKay's letter, Worthington sent a letter to GAS project assessment director Graeme McLaren calling McKay's offer "not only an insult but heartbreakingly unacceptable" and outlining his proposal.
Worthington said he hopes Richter's 1997 proposal resurfaces because such a resort could work well in a community like Squamish, and Richter knows how to relate to the community.
