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 1985. 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: After five years (minus some pauses) of construction, the Whistler Conference Centre was nearing completion by May 1985 and had an expected opening date of June 1. It was expected that the opening of the Conference Centre would bring more business to Whistler, especially during the off-season (in 1985, that was everything except the winter) with conferences and other large bookings. When it opened, the Conference Centre was reportedly the second largest conference centre in BC, accommodating up to 2,000 people (the Peach Bowl in Penticton had a capacity of 2,100). *These three provided one joint answer.
Question: How do you think the Conference Centre will change Whistler?
Cam McPhee – Bartender – Adventures West
Fern Kalb – Waitress – Alpine Meadows
Brett Wood – Bartender – Alta Vista
It’ll bring more people here in three-piece suits, which isn’t a bad thing, and it’ll definitely even out trade throughout the year. Months like September and October, which are always dead, will be prime months for the Centre. And there won’t be that summertime drought for residents as there was in the past. There won’t be summer layoffs or people having to go back to town for work. In the area of business it’ll create more of a selection of services.
For those living or driving in the Sea to Sky area in the early 1980s there were few, if any, FM radio stations to choose from. Plans for a station that covered from Squamish north to Pemberton began in 1978 but it would be another few years before the first broadcasts hit the air (including very useful road reports).
Louis and Carol Potvin officially founded Mountain 99 in 1980, though Louis had been thinking of a radio station in the area for years. After installing radios in military plans during the Second World War, Louis spent the next few decades selling radios and working on radio equipment along the coast of British Columbia and in the Sea to Sky region. In March 1981, the station received its licence from the Canadian Radio and Television Commission and it was expected that they would be broadcasting by March 1982.
Carol and Louis Potvin, owners of Mountain FM until 1989. Whistler Question Collection, 1982
Jeff Vidler, the station’s first operations managers, arrived in July 1981, the same month that the station’s name changed to Mountain FM. Mountain 99 had referred to Highway 99, which connects the communities served by the station and would be a focus of regular road reports, but the number caused confusion as some assumed that it referred to the frequency of the station. Early programming plans called for roughly 7% of air time to be devoted to news, about 6% to community services, and 60% to music, leaving plenty of time for advertisements and other programming.
Mountain FM officially began broadcasting on November 30, 1981 but was only available from around Horseshoe Bay to Brandywine to start. Whistler and Pemberton area residents had to wait until February 1982, when the transmitter to rebroadcast signals was installed and Mountain FM became available on 102.1 from the Cheakamus Canyon to the Pemberton highway junction.
Jeff Vidler at work for the station. Whistler Question Collection, 1982
On Thursday, February 25, 1982, Mountain FM arrived on radios in the Whistler area, just in time to report on the World Cup downhill race on Saturday, February 27. With the expanded reach, the staff at Mountain FM increased to 13, including sales people looking for advertisers from around the region. Programming included newscasts, in depth sports coverage, interviews with various people, weather, ski and road reports and lots of music. Though at first leaning towards Squamish audiences, Vidler reported that this would shift to include more Whistler content and there were even plans to operate a part-time studio in Whistler. According to Vidler there was a lot of programming of mutual interest to both communities as “there’s a lot going on in Whistler that people in Squamish are interested in. Many Whistler residents shop and conduct business in Squamish and we hope the station can bring the communities closer together.”
Mountain FM on air. Whistler Question Collection, 1982
By May 1982, there was still no specific Whistler program on Mountain FM. Though a two-way system had been set up between the studio in Squamish and the rebroadcast tower in Whistler allowing for live programming from Whistler, tough economic times meant that the station put its plans for a part-time studio in Whistler on hold in order to go ahead with the installation of a rebroadcast tower in Pemberton that would expand the station’s reach in the area.
Over the 1980s, Mountain FM became an established source of regional news and up-to-date highway reports, especially important to those traveling along Highway 99. The Potvins sold Mountain FM to Selkirk Communications in 1989 but residents and visitors to the Whistler area will still find the station at 102.1 today.
We’ve got a busy month coming up in June with events and summer programming starting up!
Join us on Wednesday, June 12 for our final Speaker Series of the season with Al Raine and Drew Meredith. We’ll be talking all about the origins and early years of the Whistler Resort Association and marketing Whistler through some tricky economic times. This event will take place at the Whistler Public Library; tickets will be on sale at the Whistler Museum from Tuesday, May 21.
Tickets are currently on sale for our second Film Night, Skiing with Jim McConkey. Thanks to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, we’ve been able to digitize many of the 16mm films in our archives and in June we’ll be sharing from the Jim McConkey Collection, followed by a discussion with Jim McConkey himself, facilitated by Mike Douglas.
This event will take place at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Saturday, June 15. Tickets are available through Arts Whistler here. *If you are a Whistler Museum Member but did not receive an email with a Member Discount Code, please reach out to us.
Our daily Valley of Dreams Walking Tours will kick off June 1 and will run through September 29. These tours are a great way to learn more about Whistler’s resort history and are run by donation.
Don’t forget to join us for our AGM at 6pm on Wednesday, June 19 (directly following the Inside Scoop summer trade show)! Everyone is welcome, though only current members are able to vote, so be sure to check if you’re unsure about the status of your membership. You’ll also get a sneak peek of our next temporary exhibit that features a favourite two-wheeled sport.
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 1985. 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: Coming into the 1985 season, Whistler Beer League organizer Terry Boston introduced a few rule changes to make slo-pitch games “less all-out competitive and easier to referee.” One of these rules was to “prohibit men who also play organized fastball from playing in the beer league.” The season was expected to start on May 20 and include sixteen teams.
Question: Do you agree with the ruling that a fastball player cannot play in this summer’s beer league?
Ken Hardy – Co-owner Whistler Heliskiing – Brio
I’m ambivalent. My own feeling is that anyone should be able to play in the Beer League. But I can understand the view that they want to keep it fun. If the top players are going to flood the league, you end up with it being too competitive.
Jan Simpson – Realtor – Alta Vista
I think it is a good ruling. They are two different leagues for two different calibre of players. If they had too many high calibre players, it would be too competitive. I think it should remain a fun league.
Mae Wilson – Homemaker – Alpine Meadows
Personally, I don’t think it’s a problem for the men because there are enough players for the teams. But for the Whistler K’s (the women’s fastball team) we cannot find enough players that can come out for every game. Women have had to make a choice between the Beer League and Whistler K’s.
