Category: Ski-Town Stories

Featured photo: Bob the Dog had the youth vote with his skateboarding talents. Whistler Question Collection.

Last week we introduced 1993 mayoral candidate Bob the Dog. Whistler Question journalist – and later co-founder of Pique Newsmagazine – Kevin Damaskie chronicled Bob the Dog’s campaign.

The Grabowieki family was listed as Bob’s campaign team – Pat as Campaign Manager and T.J. as Marketing Manager. The family credit Bob’s services guarding their business, Whistler Heated Mini Storage. When not working, he loved to play ball and wander the roads of Function Junction, whether on his paws or his skateboard. He was not a fan of a leash or off-limit areas for dogs.

Bob campaigned on equality amongst humans and canines, as well as environmental concerns like outlawing slug bait as that was dangerous to fellow dogs. Bob would go door to door shaking paws and licking babies. T.J. recalls Bob “knew more people [in the neighborhood] than we did.” He was quite the popular candidate amongst Function Junction residents.

As with many politicians, Bob saw his share of controversy during his campaign. His past was dredged up by a concerned citizen. The year prior Bob pawed through Garibaldi Provincial Park, which was not allowed but he was not charged by BC Parks Rangers. Jorge Alvarez came to his defence, citing it as an instance of activism; that park land should be open to all, human and canine alike. Alvarez noted to the Whistler Question that these political statements were not new, as Bob had been caught off-leash and skateboarding in Whistler Village, of which both are banned.

Ted Nebbeling further stalled his campaign with threats of exposing compromising photographs of Bob sleeping with a teddy bear, which went against his tough persona. The Whistler Question dubbed this controversy as “Teddygate”. This was later debunked as a glow-worm that Bob used to protect Function Junction citizens. Bob, made nervous by threats and feeling spied upon, did not attend the November All-Candidates Meeting.

“With one dog biscuit you can get whatever you want from Bob. I can’t be bought for a dog biscuit.” – Ted Nebbeling

Nebbeling also accused Bob of being a squatter in buildings he owned, but it was pointed out that Bob was offering his guard dog services for free.

As the November 20 voting day approached, another community member sent a letter to the Whistler Question. They recognized that after two elections – the federal election took place a month prior – “not only is this type of story interesting and entertaining, it is a chance to take a breather during all of this overbearing democracy.” However, they emphasized that voters should not spoil their vote.

Ultimately Bob was not successful in this election, it brought enjoyment to the dull election campaign. It was noted that people were more concerned with Blackcomb Mountain finally having enough snow to open up than voting.

Bob continued with his regular duties, but his campaign manager stated he would run again the next election. Unfortunately in January 1994, Bob was on his way to visit a friend when he was hit by a car and passed away. He was buried on the hill behind Whistler Heated Mini Storage to overlook Function Junction as its true Mayor.

Featured photo: Residents casting their vote at Myrtle Philip Community School. Turnout was down thirty-five percent. Whistler Question Collection, Bonny Makarewicz.

Over the last fifty years, the Resort Municipality of Whistler has seen nine mayors over nineteen elections. With the election coming up, we thought we would reflect on the 1993 municipal election, where one particular (unofficial) candidate stole people’s hearts.

Incumbent Mayor Ted Nebbeling was set to run uncontested until Bill Duff stepped in to give people a choice. “Having someone win by acclamation is not democracy. It’s a joke.” Previous councillors Bill Murray, Gordon Tomalty, Dave Kirk, Hugh O’Reilly, and Thelma Johnstone sought re-election, while Paul Fournier, Ken Melamed, Grant Lamont, Kristi Wells, Max Kirkpatrick, and Ted Ralfe entered the race.

Candidates had their takes on school taxes, healthcare, seniors and youth, roadworks, crime, and more; however, a running theme for this election was transparency. Council needed to make the public more aware of major projects, ask for their input, and listen to their concerns. One example Duff brought up was the Village Gate Boulevard realignment. Though he agreed it was a good idea, he thought the results were inadequate for a $2.5 million+ project. Council candidate Ken Melamed felt Whistler needed to cool down its development a bit and think more strategically and sustainably.

Ultimately, Ted Nebbeling was re-elected, along with councillors Bill Murray, Dave Kirk, Hugh O’Reilly, and Thelma Johnstone. New to council was Kristi Wells and Max Kirkpatrick. Duff was not expecting to win, but the results were not ideal for the other losing candidates. Lamont told the Question, “if that is who they are choosing to represent them over the next three years, it’s going to be pretty dull. It’s going to be another three years of dictatorship.” Ralfe called for someone on council to act as an inquisitor .

However, this was considered a ‘sleepy’ election, which led to arguably Whistler’s fluffiest mayoral candidate, Bob the Dog. What started off as a joke became the highlight of the election period.

So, who was Bob the Dog?

Around 1990 Jorge Alvarez – owner of Toad Hall Studios – was walking past Citta’ when he saw mix-breed puppies up for adoption. He was told that these dogs were half-coyote, which you could not tell from their appearance. Alvarez quickly learned Bob “had a wild streak on him because he would wander, [but] he would always come back.” Alvarez’s original design studio was in trailers at the Rainbow subdivision. Bob would hang out, go everywhere with Alvarez, but never on a leash. Alvarez moved his studio to its second location in Function Junction, where Forecast Coffee is today. Bob made this neighborhood his pack.

“He became like a rock star because he would come and visit, hang out, and then he’d leave. Kind of like “The Littlest Hobo”, but he wouldn’t fix anything. He would just hang out. And he made a lot of friends, especially in all the catering kitchens.”

And that’s how he met his second family, the Grabowieki’s. They had only been in Whistler a couple years and were still getting to know the community; Bob made sure he got to know his new neighbours. As T.J Grabowieki recalls, Bob would come with his own ball and play with him.

Despite having a community, Bob desired to get to know new people. In the summer of 1992 he found himself hiking in Garibaldi Park. He joined these hikers who started on the highway across from Function Junction, went up to Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge, then back down to Squamish. These antics would become a point of controversy as the campaign heated up.

Check back next week for more details about Bob the Dog’s chronicles in the 1993 election.