[This story has been edited and lists only the bear related news]

Least Sustainable Thing Whistler's Done This Year

It's worth noting that the asphalt plant, operating beside the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood, which was built for the 2010 Games, also got a nod as the least sustainable thing Whistler's done this year, as well as killing bears.

Favourite Lie to tell Tourists

We forget sometimes, living in Whistler, just how commonplace it is to see bears. A bear eating grass outside your kitchen window? No big deal. A bear on the side of the Valley Trail a stone's throw away as you bike by? Nothing out of the ordinary. A bear on the side of the highway? Not worth risking your life for by pulling over on the shoulder to take a picture.

But because we live side by side with the black bears, we forget sometimes what it's like for the tourists who come here and see bears for the first time - up close and personal. And that's why "bear stories" are the best lies to tell the tourists: "the bears are tame," "the bears are mean", "the bears only come out on special occasions," "they like having their bellies scratched", the always popular "you can high five the bears as you're skiing down the mountain" and the bizarre "we keep the bears in a cage under the GLC and let them out in the morning." Really?

Little Known Whistler Factoid

• Grizzly Bears do exist in Whistler territory!

• Myrtle Phillip had a little baby bear for a pet.

Biggest Local News Story

The killing of Jeanie the Bear deserves a honourable mention, both for the tremor of shock the news caused throughout the corridor and around the world and for the push it gave to news stories everywhere about how it is up to people to bear-proof homes and businesses to try and keep bears alive.