Animal Advocates Watchdog

Outdoor Adventures Owned by son of Intrawest founder Joe Houssian

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/31/100-sled-dogs-in-bc-killed-following-lull-in-adventure-tourism-report/

QUOTE: Outdoor Adventures is owned by 29-year-old Joey Houssian, son of Intrawest founder Joe Houssian.

Update: RCMP also investigating report of sled dog cull in B.C.

January 31, 2011 – 4:10 pm

By Sam Cooper and Sean Sullivan

The SPCA and the RCMP have launched an investigation following a report that a dogsled handler in Whistler, B.C., undertook the killing of 100 dogs when bookings slumped after the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Reports surfaced Monday that an unidentified man involved in the dogsledding operation was granted workers’ compensation after developing post-traumatic stress disorder for allegedly being forced to kill the dogs.

Outdoor Adventures at Whistler says in a release that for four years they’ve had a financial interest in Howling Dogs Whistler Inc., which has “operational control of the dogsledding operations.” Outdoor Adventures is owned by 29-year-old Joey Houssian, son of Intrawest founder Joe Houssian.
Both the RCMP and the BC SPCA are investigating reports that the dogs were killed execution-style and dumped in a mass grave. Warrants have been filed to access records from Workers Compensation Board.

Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair confirmed Whistler Pemberton RCMP were notified of the SPCA investigation Monday and have assigned an investigator to aid the SPCA.

A statement from Outdoor Adventures states: “OAW was aware of the relocation and euthanization of dogs at Howling Dogs in April 2010, but it was our expectation that is was done in a proper, legal and humane manner.” The release goes on to say the company only heard about the unidentified man’s compensation last week.

“Shocking doesn’t begin to describe what happened to these poor dogs,” said an emotional Marcie Moriarty, BC SPCA’s manager of animal-cruelty investigations.

“Up to 100 dogs — I don’t want to use the term euthanize because they were executed. (The man) describes it as execution-style killings.”

There are provisions in the SPCA act that allow for Criminal Code charges and Moriarty said this case warrants them: “Dogs crawling around in a mass grave; half of one’s face blown off — if those actions don’t constitute Criminal Code offence, I don’t know what does.”

Ms. Moriarty has said it’s often difficult to prosecute Criminal Code cases on animal cruelty charges. However, “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a case where a person admits shooting off the face of a dog,” she said.

Ms. Moriarty said the man says he was more or less ordered to kill the dogs, but that’s no excuse and he’s culpable.

Whistler lawyer Corey Steinberg — representing the man who filed the WCB claim — has scheduled a news conference Monday in Whistler.

Terry Cumming of Melfort, Sask., advocates against sled-dog operators through his website, Sled Dog Watchdog. He wasn’t surprised to hear of the allegations.

“It’s pretty common for (sled-dog operators) to kill dogs and not tell anyone,” Mr. Cumming said. “If the dogs are not capable of earning their keep, they’re of no value to either the dog-tour operators or the dog mushers.”

Mr. Cumming said he’s heard of instances where truckloads of dogs were brought to veterinarians to be euthanized and that most are shot in rural locations away from the public eye.

Dr. David Lane of Coast Mountain Veterinary Services, reached at his home on Monday, told the Vancouver Province he had no knowledge of the dogs being culled.

“From the companies I’ve worked with I’ve seen a steady improvement in the condition and health of sled dogs, and no instances of neglect in their care,” he said.

Ms. Moriarty and RCMP will be looking for the location of mass grave, which is believed to be in the Whistler area. The difficulty is that the grave now will be under several feet of snow.

Vancouver Province

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/joe-houssians-second-act/article1731337/

Joe Houssian casually admits he didn’t know much about the ski resort business when his real estate firm bought a stake in Blackcomb Mountain in 1986.

But from the peak adjacent to Whistler, Mr. Houssian revolutionized the industry, leading an expansion and development spree that made Intrawest Corp. the largest winter resort company in North America.

CONTINUED AT THE LINK ABOVE.

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1986
With an established reputation for its real estate development expertise, Intrawest acquired Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia, resulting in a unique marriage of resort operations and real estate expertise.

1984
Joe Houssian meets Hugh Smythe the president of Blackcomb Mountain at a Young Presidents Event.

1976
Joe Houssian establishes Intrawest as a residential and urban real estate firm in Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA.
www.intrawest.com

http://www.intrawest.com/NR/rdonlyres/2A805617-E586-41E8-856B-30D2D526D0A2/0/QuickFactsJan06.pdf

Updated: January 2007

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