Category: Whistler’s Answers

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: July 1, 1982Whistler’s Answers: July 1, 1982

July 1, 2021 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

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 1982. 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: The Whistler Village Land Company, a subsidiary of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, was formed in 1978 to oversee the development of the Town Centre.

Question: How do you view the current role of the Land Company in the development of Whistler?

W. Doug Fox – Vice-President of Finance & Operations – Whistler Village Land Co.

It’s very simple – our role is to develop the remaining private sites in the village in conjunction with the private sector. That always has been the role and still it.

The main role of the Land Company is not promoting and marketing. The specific role is developing sites for sale to the private sector. We don’t have anything if we don’t have the sites.

Mike Vance – Coordinator of Planning and Design – Whistler Village Land Co.

Ideally, if economic conditions were better, the Land Company would remain involved in planning, design and servicing of Whistler Village throughout the completion of the project.

But under present conditions, the Land Company can’t stay as involved as it has been in the past in planning and design coordination.

A lot of operation of the village – planning and design – will now have to be assumed by the municipality.

David O’Keefe – Skier Services and North Side Coordinator – Whistler Mountain Ski Corp.

Originally it was a coordinating body to market and sell the land available in the new Town Centre.

Right now it should positively continue along that line. Unfortunately we’re in a time of buyer restraint, but that doesn’t mean we should stop the whole thing.

The mandate has been set, and since times are more difficult the Land Company should be going even further afield to market land sites.

Greg Griffith – Photographer – Owner of Mountain Moments

It should be a decreasing role in the future. Municipal staff and our elected officials should now be the ones making the types of decisions the Land Company has been handling.

I think it’s great the Land Company got things going, but now they should be winding down gracefully since the Town Centre is rapidly approaching fulfillment of its initial mandate.

Sid Young – Alderman – Land Company Director – Travel Agent

I don’t see it as any different than it ever has been.

Although, because of the level of development which has occurred to date, I do see the possibility of reducing the size of the Land Company and therefore its operational costs.

Al Raine – Executive Director – Whistler Resort Association

The reality is that is number one objective must be its own survival.

Its number two objective should be the completion of Village Stroll and the main village core, as well as the Sports & Convention Centre.

Ideally, it also should be looking at a leadership role in terms of providing tourist services and a tourist product.

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: June 24, 1982Whistler’s Answers: June 24, 1982

June 24, 2021 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

Some context for this week’s question: In the early 1980s, the antinuclear peace movement inspired large protests across Canada, many focusing on the testing of American Cruise missiles in Canada. Around 30,000 people marched in Vancouver to call for the end of nuclear arms build-up in April 1982, the first Annual Peace March in Vancouver. By 1986, the Vancouver Walk for Peace was the largest annual peace event in North America and Vancouver’s city council approved a policy designating Vancouver as a “nuclear weapon-free zone” in 1983.

Question: Do you think the nuclear disarmament movement is realistic?

Cindy Wilding – Unemployed – White Gold Estates

It doesn’t matter whether it’s realistic or not because it’s a step in the right direction.

The whole question of reality in Whistler is up in the air anyway. I think they should have a little march here. But people in this valley don’t really care one way or the other – except perhaps to argue over a beer.

Mark Petriw – Businessman – High Forest

No, I don’t. Because you can be guaranteed that the other major powers on earth will not realistically disarm their nuclear weapons.

As long as the Americans represent a legitimate threat, then the equilibrium of power will be maintained.

Frans Carpay – Project Manager – Whistler Cay

I think the movement is realistic – and the objective is one I’d like to believe in.

There’s no question it’s realistic in the western world – I think we’ve already agreed on disarmament in North America. Now we have to work on the other two superpowers.

Ted Pryce-Jones – Surveyor – Alpine Meadows

I think it’s important that people speak out against the nuclear arms race – but whether it has any effect on governments remain to be seen.

Letisha Greene – Vegetarian Guru – Alpine Meadows

I am being living near nuclear power plants all my life and I have come to the great realization that radiation has no harmful effects on people. It is the way of the cosmos.

Ivan Dubinsky – Unemployed Packer Driver – Alta Vista

Yes, I believe it is. The building of nuclear arms will never end until pressure is brought to bear on politicians from every sector of government. That includes municipal governments.

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: June 17, 1982Whistler’s Answers: June 17, 1982

June 17, 2021 Whistler Museum 2 Comments

Some context for this week’s question: Summers in the early 1980s were not exactly busy – some businesses even closed for the season – though there were some efforts to draw visitors to the area. The Whistler Golf Course, which had begun as a 9-hole course (learn more about that here), was being expanded in the summer of 1982 with hopes that it would drive more summer visitors to Whistler.

Question: How valuable an asset do you think the golf course will be to Whistler?

Robin Crumley – Manager, Whistler Village Inn – Alpine Meadows – Occasional Golfer

It’s indispensable. It Whistler is to become a summer resort, not only is the golf course indispensable, but all the other attractions necessary for a summer resort are indispensable as well. You can’t have a resort in a vacuum.

Since skiing is the main attraction, people who come here are already sports-oriented. It’s much better to extend the market you already have into the summer months.

John Carter – Manager, Tantalus Lodge – Tantalus Lodge – Occasional Golfer

It’s a good selling point. But the economics of it are questionable because of the limited number of people who can actually play in one day.

About 300 people a day can play, and there’s about 4000 commercial beds in this valley.

I think tennis courts are a much more valuable asset. They’re cheaper to build, cheaper to maintain and surveys show that they’re used more than golf courses.

Diane Eby – Past President of Whistler Ratepayers Association – Emerald Estates – Non-golfer

I think it’s an absolute necessity as a summer attraction for tourists.

My only concern is that is not become a horrendous burden to the local taxpayer, and I’d like to see some answers from Council on how this will be avoided.

$89,000 is slated for the golf course this year. What will it be next year?

Jim Kennedy – Labourer – Westside Rode – Occasional Golfer

I think it’s going to be a liability as opposed to an asset.

There’s only so many people who can shoot a round of golf in a day – not like skiing which can accommodate 10,000 people a day.

I’d also be surprised if it will be reasonably priced for local people to play a round of golf. It’s going to take a lot of money just to maintain it.

Pascal Simon – Roofer – Alpine Meadows – Non-golfer

I would say any improvement, such as a development like this, would be an asset to the tourists and the locals. It has to be worth it – we’re going to pay for it after all.

Harry Carman – Unemployed – Adventures West – Golfer

I think it will make the difference between this community making or breaking it.

It will help bring conventions in, providing they get the other facilities set up as well.

I’m sure it will attract more people in the summer months which will help all the businesses.

I’m real anxious for them to finish it. Needless to say, I’m a player.

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: June 10, 1982Whistler’s Answers: June 10, 1982

June 10, 2021 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

Some context for this week’s question: A major recession hit North America in late 1981, with interest rates reaching up to 20%. Employment and construction projects were uncertain for many.

Question: What do you think the chances are for a province-wide strike in the construction industry this summer?

*editor’s note: the following men interviewed are all union members

Ken White – Plastering Contractor – Vancouver

The boys are going to vote for a strike and the contractors are going to turn around and lock them out just to show them they still have the power.

No way contractors want to pay out that kind of money. The workers are asking for $7.50 an hour more over the next year.

Bricklayers, electricians, plumbers – I drink beer with them every weekend and they have the same opinion.

Bob Wyer – Plumber – North Vancouver

I honestly don’t think anyone knows. The only reason why they’re taking a strike vote is so they can use it as leverage.

They want to be able to go to the contractors’ association and say, look, we have so many men here who want to go on strike.

What you hear through bar-talk and the grapevine is that there’s a good possibility of a month-long strike.

But who knows for sure? They haven’t even made us an offer yet.

Monte Sandvoss – Project Manager – Vancouver

I think there’s going to be a strike. Working (union) members don’t see reality.

They’re working and look at the economy and it doesn’t mean anything. They think they have good reason to strike. They don’t care – they’re on the gravy train.

I was disappointed when I talked to quite a few of them and found out they wanted to strike.

Bill Agler – Hod Carrier – Vancouver

I don’t think there will be a strike. Everybody I talk to doesn’t want to strike, but then I’m talking to working guys.

It really is hard to say for sure, but as far as I can gather there probably won’t be one since a little more than half the union men are working right now and they don’t want to give that up.

Ben Vos – Labour Foreman

I don’t think it will happen. They might vote in favour of a strike, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll go on strike.

What is does give them is a mandate at the bargaining table.

But I’m doubtful they’ll even get a strike vote. If they do, the contractors might just lock them out.

Al White – Hod Carrier – Vancouver

A lot of guys are out of work now or on unemployment insurance and they’re going to vote for a strike because it won’t make much difference to them.

It’s the ones who are working who would be hurt by a strike, and I’d say they’re in the majority.

It will be a close vote, but I think it probably won’t happen.