All of the photos used for This Week in Photos (as well as many more) can be found in the Whistler Question Collection here.
1979
Just one of the winter safety signs visible along Highway 99.
RCMP and Mountain Hostesses working at the “Ski Watch” programme during Tuesday’s snowstorm. The sign reads: THIS SKI AREA IS NOW PROTECTED BY ANTI-SKI THEFT CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM Participants in this program have all ski equipment identified, marked and registered with the authorities. For information on how to participate in this program, contact manager of this ski area.
The Whistler Municipal broomball team exhibits the fine form that won it the Winterfest Broomball Trophy on Sunday.
Elmer Hellevang plays the “pipes” as he leads the parade from the haggis at the Burns Night celebrations.
The Spring is Sprung (in January) – skiers sunning themselves on Thursday beside the Gondola Barn.
1980
The Question didn’t just cover Whistler – here they are on the scene at Big White.
Photographer Chris Speedie tries to fix a frozen camera.
A ski-out to the parking lot, today underneath Blueshore Financial and the Village Stroll.
1981
Ron Andrews skies the powder on January 28.
The fresh produce selection at the Whistler Grocery Store shortly after it was put out on display last week. Both the grocery store and Tapley’s Pub recently opened their doors.
Tapley’s Pub during its first week of operations.
Community Club members dig in to the numerous dishes at the Burns Night Pot Luck Dinner.
1982
The official opening of the Village Chair. In 1988 the Village Chair was replaced with a 10 person gondola.
The brass plaque commemorating the opening of the North Side lifts will be displayed at the base of the Village Chair.
John Lavin and Gary Koliger know what they like – cold beer and good music. Lavin and Koliger were playing at the Creek House but will be sitting in with Doc Fingers at the Brass Rail for the rest of the week.
An Alta Vista residence under a heavy blanket of snow.
Al Raine receives the ‘Freeman of Whistler’ scroll from Pat Carleton.
Four-year-old Justin Adams will be trying to beat the municipal sign bylaw by keeping on the move. Justin says he’ll use his earnings to buy a toboggan.
Roland Kentel, John Reynolds and Jef Fisher toast Tapley’s first anniversary with glasses of bubbly.
1983
Like a bridge over troubled waters the Culliton Creek span begins to edge its way towards the south bank. Scheduled for completion this spring, the bridge will take a big kink out of Highway 99 when it is finished.
A competitor in the women’s 7.5 km cross-country race in the inter-collegiate competition held at Whistler January 28, 29 and 30.
CKVU talk show host Laurier LaPierre rolled into Whistler Friday, January 28 with his TV crew to compile an updated report on the crown corporation takeover at Whistler. At Beau’s Restaurant, LaPierre interviewed Roy Ferris, Mike Widger, Geoff Power and Glenda Bartosh for their opinions on Whistler and it’s future. The segment will be aired on the Vancouver Show Friday, February 4.
Brian Moran, Ken Till, Bob Elliott and John Grills outside the soon-to-be-opened Whistler Keg.
1985
Fans turned out to PWA’s Pro Tour race Saturday and Sunday on Blackcomb to see Sean Murphy win his first race on the circuit.
Some fans even made their own banjo music at the race.
Education Minister Jack Heinrich explains a funding formula to his audience at Howe Sound School District offices in Squamish Monday night. They suggested he go easy on the chalk – there isn’t much money for that sort of thing, apparently.
Helicopters were used to airlift in tons of cement to re-stabilize Tower 12 after Thursday’s malfunction.
New signs recently put up in the area of the new Whistler Village by the Whistler Village Land Company.
Powder snow and sunshine – the way it was at Whistler several times during the past week.
1980
Work continues on the town centre buildings despite the snow and cold temperatures.
The new ski shop located in the Roundhouse addition at the top of Whistler.
All that remained of the BC Hydro Ski Club cabin at 7:30 on Saturday morning. Not only was the large cabin reduced to a heap of burning rubble, but the trees in the area caught fire also. Lack of access prevented the Whistler Fire trucks from getting close to the fire.
A group of happy skiers zips down one of the new Blackcomb runs. (Blackcomb did not officially open until the beginning of Winter 1980/81.)
1981
Bob Ainsworth, Whistler Mountain area manager (left), and Peter Alder, Whistler Mountain Vice-President (right), celebrate the first new snow at base level in over a month with the photographer as a target for some hefty snowballs.
Two of many skiers that made use of BCR (BC Rail) passenger service last week.
Volunteers transport federal mail after BCR dropped it at Whistler Station.
An aerial view of the winding Highway 99.
1982
Dogs have been sprouting up all over the place – including this planter at Tapley’s.
Get Lucky! Take a chance like Vicki Larson-Rodgers and Susan Gestrin are! Get your Lot-tery ticket from Rita Knudson who will be selling them in front of the Grocery Store Fridays and Saturdays 2-6 pm and Sundays 1-4 pm. All proceeds go to the Whistler Health Care Society – and you might win a $100,000 lot in Whistler Cay Heights.
Looking as though he is kneeling on his skis, a racer heads through a gate during the recent telemark dual slalom on Blackcomb. For every gate that the racers pass through when not in the telemark position, they are assessed a penalty point.
Jan Holmberg and Ted Nebbeling keep the dough moving at the new Chef & Baker.
1983
A podium finish at the Fleischmann Cup held on Whistler Mountain.
Sue Worden of Body Works puts a group of Corporate Cup die-hards through the paces in Village Square Saturday.
Ah, for the delectable treat of glaced salmon, especially when it’s been served up through two hours of hard work by the Envirocon team during Saturday’s Corporate Cup. This jaunty fellow was the first-place finisher out of 27 entries in the ice sculpture contest.
Here’s a race we can get behind! Inner tube pullers are put to the test in another fun contest – Sliding Inflation.
Does anyone remember the rules for this race? If so, can they please explain?
A more easily recognized competition – a game of volleyball in the Myrtle Philip School gym.
1985
First you pick it up… “Now how do I put this thing on?” wonders five-year-old Troy Hansen-Wight of Vancouver. Young Troy was seen Sunday at Whistler Mountain’s Ski Scamps program trying to figure out just how to fit on a racing helmet – it’s not easy.
Construction continues on the Conference Centre in Whistler Village.
Belly up to the bar, for 2400 shooters at The Longhorn’s Silverstreak party Saturday, compliments of the one and only Silverstreak himself. The lively host picked up the tab, while Longhorn bartenders Delmar Page (left) and Gerry Heiter poured the honours.
Staff at Pemberton Secondary played against the Senior Girls team last Friday and the lunch hour game ended in a 12-12 tie. School board officials expect to replace the gym floor sometime this summer at an estimated cost of between $30,000 and $40,000.
Whistler base from the Gondola Run, as it looked on January 14, 1980.
Paul & Jane Burrows added a bit of warmth to the paper with more travel photos, this time from New Orleans.
Cars got buried in snow in Alpine Meadows.
1981
Paul Burrows holds a copy of the winter edition of Whistler Magazine. The magazine is still published today.
Fuel-soaked cardboard ignites as Bentham (far right) readies to run. (If anyone knows why this stunt took place or has any further details, please let us know at the Museum.)
Bursting through the blaze as crewmen with fire extinguishers head towards Bentham.
Getting the treatment from four extinguishers including brother Harry Bentham (wearing the ski toque).
In the aftermath, Bentham is bandaged by his brother Harry.
1982
A weekend snow storm effectively buried many cars and had many people heading out with shovels.
“Through the hoops” – a Myrtle Philip Kindergarten student shows their form during the school ski program at Blackcomb. The students go skiing once a week for four weeks.
Dennis Waddingham, North Side Ski Shop Manager for Whistler Mountain, Resident of Whistler Cay.
Dogs enjoy playing in the snow in Village Square.
1983
Cross-country skiers kick out over the new trail system around Lost Lake on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The same trail was the scene of a 20 km race earlier in the day.
Have you cleaned your chimney lately? If not, these fellows may pay you a visit shortly. Fire Inspector Gerry Fosty reports there have been four chimney fires at Whistler since the New Year – all of them preventable.
Over 200 applicants turned out at the Keg Monday, January 17 for a variety of jobs being offered by the restaurant. The Keg is scheduled to open its doors sometime in early February.
All hands were on deck for the first series in the third annual Boat Race between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains Wednesday at the Longhorn Pub. Crowds cheered the Blackcomb team on to victory in the Women’s and All-Star (mixed team) events. Whistler Mountain personnel were the top tipplers in the men’s division and will have a chance to regain the All-Star title Wednesday, March 2 at the Bavarian Inn.
1985
Divers prepare for a plunge into Nita Lake.
An RCMP E-division diving trainee prepares to climb out of the frigid water of Nita Lake at last week’s training session held in Whistler. The divers combed the lake bottom in pairs learning how to recover lost objects such as vehicles, weapons and bodies.
The shaken occupant of a van that was struck at the Lorimer and Nesters intersection last Thursday morning leaves the upturned vehicle. About $4000 damage was done to the two vehicles, but there were no serious injuries. The accident occurred when a car turning off Nesters Road collided with a second vehicle, which was travelling on Lorimer Road. The driver of the first car was charged with driving without due care and attention.
We’re starting something new on our blog for this year! Every week we’ll be sharing our own version of #tbt (Throwback Thursday) using photos from the Whistler Question from 1978 to 1985 and, wherever possible, the original captions. When the collection was donated the negatives were very helpfully organized by week, which means we actually know when the photos were taken or published! Some years do have some missing weeks, but what we’ve got we’ll share with you. So, if you’ve ever wondered what this week in Whistler used to look like, read on.
1979
An airplane takes off on the snow from the Mons’ airstrip.
Bartender Rosarie Gauthier and manager Per Christiansen behind the bar in the Christiana’s remodelled Bavarian Lounge.
The White Gold Inn.
1980
The Status Board at the top of the lifts on Whistler Mountain.
The view from the lineup at the Blue Chair, today the location of the Harmony Chair.
Photos of Havana, Cuba were provided by Paul & Jane Burrows after their recent trip to warmer climes.
1981
Ted Pryce-Jones, manager, poses near the pop in the new grocery store soon to open in the Village.
The Mad Trapper was put up for sale recently. Volkswagen not included.
Clock Tower sports a new Omega clock face installed during the past week.
Blackcomb’s new triple chair in operation. Though you can’t see it in this photo, below the treeline there was barely any snow yet.
Meg Watt and Chris Leighton take time out to smile for the camera while working behind the cafeteria counter at the top of Blackcomb.
1982
And they’re off… into a tangle of skis and poles at the start of the ALSC half marathon Sunday, January 10.
Laurel Gibbard and Louise Edwards provide some smiling service for the first customers in the Hofbrau Haus on Saturday, January 9. The 85-seat bar, located in the old Boot premises, was open 4 pm – 1 am six days a week and Sundays from 4 pm to 11 pm.
Don Ross and Hugh Smythe of Blackcomb stand with Willie Whistler and Pierre and Justin Trudeau in the Whistler Village Square.
Hot stuff – the Pemberton Red Devils came up with this beautiful downhiller to walk away with $300 and a shared first place victory. Shot glasses of fuel rested on the skier’s back.
1983
Skiers braved high winds, blinding snow and dampening rains to spend some time on the slopes Sunday. Despite bad weather Whistler Mountain had 6,200 skiers from Friday to Sunday, while Blackcomb drew 4,100 over the weekend.
Whistler Council in its first formal portrait. (l to r) Alderman Bill Peterson, Alderman David O’Keefe, Administrator Geoff Pearce, Mayor Mark Angus, Municipal Clerk Kris Shoup Robinson, Alderman Bernie Hauschka and Alderman Terry Rodgers.
A 15 foot high boulder crashed down onto the northbound lane of Highway 99 in Cheakamus Canyon Friday night. Crews blasted the rock away Monday morning as the Pacific storm which caused the slide continued with torrential rainfall in the Whistler area.
1985
Rod Grange and crew from Skiing Video Productions are filming a winter movie for Whistler Mountain during the next seven weeks.
Blowing wind creates sand-like ripples on Green Lake.
