In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1986. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: In mid-June 1986, the federal Ministry of Employment and Immigration announced it would contribute $27,000 to match the amount contributed by Capilano College to establish a “resort awareness program” in Whistler. The program would be for front-line staff and would provide training on dealing with the public, though details of the course curriculum had not yet been determined.
Question: What would you like to see in a tourism education program? Would you enroll?
Nigel Walsh – Carpenter/Bartender – Alpine Meadows
I would hope that they make people aware that people are people and it doesn’t matter where they come from. As for tourism training, it’s well known that most resort owners and businesses don’t have well-trained staff and they get away with paying dirt wages. There’s such a transient population in Whistler. You’ve got to pay more to keep people here. I think the police could use some resort training, too.
Troy Lehnhoff – Maintenance Man – Squamish
I would enrol in the program definitely. There is a need for it, although most of the services I’ve seen are pretty good, but then I just started.
Jim Budge – Ex-Movie Mogul – Brio
You’d have to look at the curriculum and see how practical the courses are going to be. It has to be really practical for people to be interested. It has to apply specifically to their jobs. I agree there is a need for a resort awareness program. There is a cycle now where a lot of places don’t pay high wages because they figure they don’t have the staff who are worth it. It’s a Catch 22 situation.