The beloved blue bus that's adorned the entrance to Britannia Beach - along with its famous fish burgers and poutine - may not be leaving after all.This summer, Mountain Woman take-out owner Lynn Cook was told she'd have to vacate her highway-side location after 25 years of servicing Sea to Sky residents and visitors. But after an outpouring of support that culminated in a Vancouver Sun article and thousands of signatures on a petition, the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) is reviewing its decision, and negotiating a situation that would allow Cook to remain. Cook is cautiously optimistic over the negotiations, saying final terms of the deal have yet to be determined. "They're willing to give me a two-year lease of occupation, but I haven't gotten all the conditions yet," she said. "I don't think they would offer it up to me if they weren't willing to make it work." Whatever the outcome, she said, she will always be amazed and grateful for the support she's received. "We had over 4,000 names [on the petition]. They were from everywhere- as far away as Albania. I looked at it and I went 'Albania?! Holy cow! How many people come from Albania for God's sake?'" laughed Cook.When interviewed for The Chief in July, MOT operations manager Brian Atkins said the Mountain Woman location creates a stop that is confusing, stating "it's a matter of time" until an accident occurs."You drive there it's had to understand where to go," he said. "I know myself when we went out there to look at it, when we left her place, I went the wrong way."Cook said she met with Atkins over the summer to review her proposal to stay. She also brought along the petition."When I took the proposal in, they were very nice to me that day," she laughed. "It was after the rockslide."This week, MOT spokesperson Dave Crebo said the ministry had always intended to come to a beneficial solution for both parties. "When this whole situation arose it was understood the ministry would try to work with her if a resolution could be found, and that's basically in that process now," said Crebo.Both Crebo and Cook said they expect to reach a deal by the end of September. It won't be business as usual for Cook, however, since she'll now have to pay for a lease, replacing the agreement in place allowing her to run the business merely for the cost of her utilities. "It might cost you a little more for your poutine now."
