Whistler Museum and Archives Society

Interpreting WhistlerInterpreting Whistler

November 12, 2025 museumwhistler 0 Comments

When traveling to a new place, or even exploring your own town, interpretive panels are a great way to learn about local history, wildlife, and the natural environment. These little pop-ups of information can feel a bit like VH1’s Pop-Up Video from the 2000s, which offered quick, engaging insights that added depth and context to a song or music video, much like how interpretive panels help you better understand your surroundings or see a familiar place in a new light.

Over the Whistler Museum’s 38-year history, we’ve had the opportunity to help develop many of the interpretive panels throughout the Whistler Valley. Most recently, we’ve been involved in the creation of the panels that have appeared along the Valley Trail network and throughout the Village starting in 2018, in collaboration with the Resort Municipality of Whistler. These installations have become a wonderful way to share Whistler’s stories in the very places where they unfolded, such as the history panels in Rainbow Park.

Interpretive panel located along the cultural connecter.

Beyond traditional panels, newer forms of interpretation have used technology to share stories in different ways. A great example is the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Cultural Journey, a self-guided audio tour and series of kiosks along the Sea to Sky Highway. Developed in 2010, it weaves together oral histories, traditional place names, and cultural knowledge from the Líl̓wat Nation and the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Nation. By pairing the region’s views with first-hand stories, it turns the drive between Squamish and Whistler into a richer cultural experience. More information about the tour can be found here: https://slcc.ca/cultural-journey/

Whistler’s first interpretive panels date back to 1987. Created by accomplished artist Isobel MacLaurin for the Whistler Rotary Club, these early works depicted Whistler’s landscapes, flora, and fauna. While simple in scope, mostly identifying local species, they set the foundation for what would become a long tradition of place-based interpretation in the valley.

Isobel and her husband Don MacLaurin moved to Whistler in 1961. Don, a forester and educator at BCIT, was instrumental in preserving several of Whistler’s cherished recreational areas, including Lost Lake Park. When timber licenses in the area were set to expire, developers were poised to move in. Recognizing its ecological and community value, Don worked with BC Parks to ensure the area was protected for public use, a vision that continues to benefit residents and visitors today.

One of Isobel’s hand painted signs on the Riparian trail in the Whistler Interpretive forest.

Don also helped establish the Whistler Interpretive Forest (WIF) in the Cheakamus area during the late 1980s and 1990s. With Isobel’s distinctive artwork, the pair developed and installed interpretive signage throughout the forest. Some of these original hand-painted panels can still be found along the Riparian Trail, which was later updated and expanded with support from the Whistler Rotary Club in 2018.

At the Whistler Museum, we continue to enjoy contributing to interpretive panels throughout the valley. Each panel is a chance to build on the work started by the MacLaurins and the Rotary Club, helping residents and visitors alike deepen their understanding of this place and the stories that shape it.

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: November 6, 1986Whistler’s Answers: November 6, 1986

November 6, 2025 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 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: Whistler held a municipal election in November 1986.

Question: What do you feel is or should be the major issue in this election?

Linda Humphrey – Waitress – Whistler Cay

Housing. You have to pay more attention to local needs rather than focusing so much on tourism. There’s too much moving – there should be permanent housing, not housing done on speculation. A lot of landlords just rent for the summer and then kick people out in the winter. The community would benefit from a more stable population. It’s good that they’re building more hotels, but they will need people to work in them.

Larry Henderson – House Maintenance – Whistler Cay

The betterment of the community and the resort are one – you can’t have one without the other. I think employee housing is a big issue. It’s always been a sensitive area for people coming here as to whether the have a place to live. The growth is going along nicely in Whistler, better than before. Population, amenities, investment. But where can the people live who will work in the hotels?

Pat Parker – Bartender – Gondola

I think a bed tax and a resort tax are definite priorities. And it’s important that the money goes into local coffers because the local population shouldn’t have to pay the brunt of the tourist amenities. A one or two per cent addition to the price of a room is negotiable. Or the resort tax, which has been talked about, which would be an addition to retail tax. But that wouldn’t be as popular with the residents.

Ski-Town Stories

2102 Lake Placid Road: the Southside Diner2102 Lake Placid Road: the Southside Diner

November 4, 2025 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

After it opened in 1974, the Whistler Centre Building saw several changes in tenants and its appearance over the next three decades, until it found stability with the iconic Southside Diner.

The first business to occupy the building was Le Magasin Du Ski, who moved across the way (from Union 76 station) to increase their capacity. The extra square footage separated their retail and rental space between the first floor and the basement. The shop was later taken over by Dave Kirk and Val Jazic, who renamed the shop to Whistler Creek Ski Shop, as apparently the French name confused patrons.

The Whistler Centre building in 1982. *Whistler Question Collection.*

In October 1975, MacGregor Pacific Realty (which later morphed into the Whistler Real Estate Company) moved into the office space on the second floor, but was soon removed around 1977 and Capilano Highlands moved in. Drew Meredith (of MacGregor Pacific) recalls the removal justified as they were arrears in rent.

Other occupants in the building included Rozell Construction Ltd, Garibaldi Blasting Ltd, The Insurance Shop (Jim Elliott Insurance Agencies), Harry Bullen’s “Mountain Hair”, Norman Minus & Co. Accountants, Syd Young Travel Unlimited, Whistler Office Services, the Whistler Question, and more.

When the Whistler Village was constructed in the 1980s, traffic began to decrease in Creekside. Several occupants opted to move to the new hub of Whistler. The top floors and basement stayed as they were, but the ground floor changed and was revamped for the Rainbow Deli, a butcher shop previously located at the Gulf Station, where Tim Hortons is located today. The grand opening was on November 26, 1983, complete with free hot dogs.

The Rainbow Deli is better known as the beloved Southside Delicatessen and the name changed sometime in 1986. Owned by Cal Schacter and Herschel Miedzygorski, the Southside Deli was instantly a hot spot for locals, and became world-famous, with actors, musicians, and pro athletes enjoying the affordable food options. The Deli also easily integrated into the community, sponsoring events and fundraisers, such as the Fireman’s Ball and the Cheakamus Challenge.

Herschel Miedzygorski, Jan Woodside, and Cal Schacter at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Southside Deli held in 1994. *Whistler Question Collection*.

For a time the Deli shared the space with another restaurant. German Chef, Uli Schnur, moved to British Columbia as Umberto Menghi’s corporate chef. In 1992, he decided to open his own restaurant, Uli’s Flipside. He took over the Southside Deli at night, offering family and budget friendly made-from-scratch food until 1:00am. This operation arrangement continued until the early 2000s, even expanding to other locations around Whistler before officially closing the business.

Underneath the Deli/Flipside primarily held businesses dedicated to recreation. Backroads Whistler used the space in 1985 before moving to Mons. Two years later, Tim Mallone, who also owned Pumphouse Fitness Centre (later known as Whistler Creek Athletic Club), opened up the Southside Bike Shop. In the 1990s, the space saw Whistler’s first skateboard shop, Attitude at Altitude, clothing store Board of Authority, and World Pro High Performance Sport & Ski. Board of Authority recently returned to Whistler in the winter of 2023, opening a location in Village North.

The Southside Deli in 2000. In the 1990s, the Deli owners bought the building and converted the supper floors into the Southside Lodge. *Insight Photography Collection*.

After nearly twenty years of service the Southside Deli shut down in 2003. There was a quick attempt to create the space into an oyster bar, the Screaming Oyster; however, in the Spring of 2004, the Deli was reborn into the Southside Diner, with similar operations. The business expanded by opening a laundromat in the basement after the Nesters Laundromat closed in 2008, which is still the only coin-operated laundry around.

The original closure of the Southside Deli was celebrated as part of the Whistler Museum project, Vanishing Places, an effort to recognize places in town that have been lost to time. Thankfully, the spirit and history of the Southside Deli has continued through the Southside Diner.

Whistler is expected to change and grow, and it is important for us to recognize our history and reflect on how far we have come. We are proud to write weekly stories to our community, and are excited to share more about what history you can see around the valley.

Whistler's Answers

Whistler’s Answers: October 30, 1986Whistler’s Answers: October 30, 1986

October 30, 2025 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 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: This one seems pretty self explanatory, so we think we’ll leave it there.

Question: How do you get in shape for the ski season?

David Muller – Snow Maker – White Gold

I bike ride mostly, and work doing snow making, laying the metal pipes. Recently three of us went out and chopped wood, nine cords. I don’t do anything special to keep in shape, though. Mostly off-road riding, the local trails.

Paul Bennett – Ski Technician – Emerald Estates

I’m working in construction now and I believe a couple of months of that will get at least my legs in shape. But other than that, I drink and smoke and do everything else to destroy my health. I was skiing in Australia this year, so I didn’t get too out of shape. I tend to get hyped up as the season approaches. I’d like to do a Murray camp early this season. But I don’t take my pre-season training too seriously.

Brenda Davison – Store Clerk – Whistler Cay

I do basically everything I can. I’m down at the gym, and changing the focus of my exercising to strengthen my legs, my quadriceps. I haven’t done Stephanie Sloan’s program yet, but intend to. I’m keeping away from colds and the flu. And I’m going on holidays.