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 1984. 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: Does Valentine’s Day hold any importance for you?
Gabe Bandel – Computer Technician – Vancouver
I’ve forgotten all about it. It’s a day created by candy manufacturers and florists. We used to like exchanging valentines at school when we were eight or nine or ten years old.
Lexi Spacek – Art Student – Santa Barbara, California
Yes, but I think a lot of people don’t think it’s important because it’s surrounded by so many other holidays. I like to give and receive gifts on Valentines – I once got a Swiss army knife. And I think it should be more mandatory for girls to put the move on guys on Valentines. They need a formal chance at it.
Kim Lacombe – Elementary Student – Alpine Meadows
Yes. I love getting candies. The purpose of Valentine’s Day is love. I’m going to send Valentines to everyone in my class and my boyfriend.
Most people will only visit the gas stations in Whistler today for gas. There was a time, however, when the gas stations offered many much-needed services to the growing community.
Looking south along Highway 99 in July 1979. The Gulf gas station sign is visible on the left, near the highway construction. Whistler Question Collection.
Before its closure, the Husky was the longest-standing conventional gas station in Whistler, but it was not the first. The B/A gas station opened not long after Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. declared Whistler Mountain open for business. In 1969, The B/A, or British American Oil Company, was amalgamated into the Canadian Gulf Oil Company and the gas station became a Gulf, easily recognised by the orange and blue circular logo. Located in today’s Creekside, where Coastal Culture and Tim Hortons are now found, the first gas station in Whistler was the place to go if you needed to buy groceries and it could get busy after skiing. Identifying a need in the community and a business opportunity they also installed a washing machine and dryer that was used as a public laundry.
The Gulf gas station, May 1978. Whistler Question Collection.
It was not long before there was competition for these services when the Union 76 gas station opened in 1970. Then, in July 1977, the Union 1976 rebranded to Husky, and the station remained a Husky until a fortnight ago when the longstanding Husky station became the Co-Op. Throughout that time the Husky went through many iterations, expanding multiple times.
The Husky gas station in October 1978. Whistler Question Collection.
Garibaldi’s Whistler News in 1977 advertised only two places in Whistler to buy groceries. According to the paper, they were, ‘FOOD PLUS, located on Highway 99 in the Husky Service Centre. Carries fresh and frozen produce, meat, pharmaceutical products, sundries.’ Along with the ‘MINIMART at Whistler-Rainbow Gulf Station stocked with a variety of foods. Open daily.’
With groceries only available at the gas stations, those visiting Whistler were encouraged to bring their food if they wanted to cook at home and most people we talk to remember buying candy at the gas stations but going to Squamish for grocery shopping. Bob Penner, a long-time Whistler local recalled, “You did have to go to Squamish for food because at the gas station there were two types of beans and a pound of sugar at the shop. We would pool our things and shop. Everything was out of cans, canned meat – spam was huge. Kraft dinner was great.”
Peggy and Pierre Merlin, owners of the Gulf in their grocery store in the early 1970s. Whistler Mountain Collection.
When The Grocery Store opened in the Village at the beginning of 1981 the competition ramped up. In January 1982, Jan Systad who previously ran the popular Cookhouse at Mons took over the operation of the deli, store, and laundry facilities at the Husky, where she continued to serve her “much-sought-after home-cooked goodies”. In 1983, the store at the Gulf was bought and renamed the Rainbow Grocer. Photos from The Whistler Question at the time show deli items for sale, including bacon for $2.19/lb and Coho Salmon steaks for $4.00/lb.
The Rainbow Grocer in the Gulf station in 1983. Whistler Question Collection.
In 1985, Petro-Canada acquired all of the Gulf gas stations in Canada and the Gulf station soon transitioned to a Petro-Can. In 2000 it was released that the Petro-Can underground storage tanks had been leaking, likely for several years, disrupting Intrawest’s plans for the redevelopment of Creekside. Remediation started to remove the petrochemicals and hydrocarbons from the ground and remediation efforts continued until 2006 with the Petro-Can open for business as usual. Then in 2006, Whistler’s first conventional gas station was demolished to finish the remediation works. While the flier to patrons said it was a temporary closure for redevelopment, the empty lot and large hole remained for many years and a gas station never did reopen on the site.
Join us and special guests at the Whistler Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 for the opening of our latest exhibit, Peak Bros: A Whistler Comic Strip 1979 – 1992.
Created by the one and only Gord ‘Rox’ Harder and published in The Whistler Answer and The Whistler Review, the Peak Bros. comics celebrated an outlaw skiing lifestyle and followed a ragtag group of friends on their adventures around Whistler. Learn more about the comics, the people behind the Peak Bros. tales, and maybe even pick up your own copy of the Peak Bros. adventures!
Thank you to Gord’s friends and family who contributed to this project and made the exhibit possible. Peak Bros: A Whistler Comic will be on display through April 23, 2023.
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 1984. 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 and is a question that people are often still asked today, so we think we’ll leave it there.
Question: Why have you chosen to live in Whistler?
Larry Germaine – Unemployed – Alpine Meadows
It’s comfortable here. There’s a lifestyle I wish to acquire – relaxing, beneficial, with a sense of freedom. The location is perfect but I’m not here for the skiing – I ski but I’m not a skier. You’ve got some nice people here but some bring the city with them.
Jim Scribner – Contractor – Nesters
It’s the happiest medium I’ve ever seen between city sophistication and real rural living. I’ve been here 13 years and in the early days it attracted people who really wanted it to work. That enthusiasm was infectious. Every year there have been changes for better or for worse, and we’ve changed along with it.
Alex Fraser – Bartender – Gondola Area
The skiing, the partying. We have owned a place here for 14 years, and I’ve been here, there and everywhere, but it’s all right here. I enjoy all the activity.
