Tag: Jenny Busdon

(Nordic) Ski Racing in 1980(Nordic) Ski Racing in 1980

February 6, 2024 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

While the Alta Lake Sports Club (ALSC) was founded in 1975 to “organize and encourage participation in outdoor sports at all levels of ability in the Whistler area and beyond,” in the winter months the ALSC was all about cross country skiing. Members organized events in Whistler and competed in races with other clubs around the province, although they got off to a rocky start in the winter of 1976/77 when a particularly mild winter forced one event after another to be cancelled or moved to Manning Park. By 1980, however, the ALSC was consistently hosting multiple races each season and the first few months of the year were busy ones for the members.

In January 1980, members of the ALSC travelled to 100 Mile House to take part in the Cariboo Marathon, a 50km race with 1,500 competitors that took place in “extremely cold” and “frigid” temperatures according to the report in the Whistler Question. The ALSC was well represented in the women’s division of the Marathon, with members Joan McGrath, Loreen Barnett and Betty Ann Hopner taking first, second and fourth places. Catherine Gaarder and Jenny Busdon, both ALSC members, provided a picture-perfect finish after meeting at the 15km mark and cross the finish line with their hands together after 5 hours and 10 minutes.

Competitors cross the bridge during the ALSC and Labatt’s annual meet. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

ALSC members did not far so well in the men’s division, where the Finlandia Club from Vancouver swept the first five spots. Some members were out with injuries or working out of the country while others ran into difficulties during the race. Al Fisher, the ALSC coach, ended up in the trees around the 20km mark, was knocked unconscious, broke his nose, recovered, and made it to the finish line in 13th place. Both he and Nello Busdon ended up at the hospital with frostbite.

On February 10, the ALSC and Labatt’s hosted their annual meet on the trails around Lost Lake with a 25km course for racers and a 12km course for tourers and “youngsters.” The ALSC was well represented in both divisions this time, with McGrath again coming first in her category and Dan McDonald placing third in his, behind two members of the Finlandia Club.

Later that month, ALSC members competed at the BC Championship Cross-Country Ski Meet held in Manning Park, where they came second in the 3x5km relay (coming in just behind the Finlandia Club team).

Kauko Puscnius of the Finlandia Club receives his first place medal from Al Fisher as Labatt’s Terry Burns looks on. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

The last big race that year for the ALSC was the 4th Annual Fischer Cup, again held around Lost Lake. The rain and warm weather before the race had some members wondering if the race would go ahead, but according to Jenny Busdon, “We are an optimistic bunch and one thing our Club never does is give up!” The race director Jim Bishop took three days off from his work in the city and spent two days shovelling with other members to build a new course that eliminated previous problem areas that caused “scenes of absolute bedlam” whenever one skier went down. In the end, the 15km course was in “fantastic” condition for the race.

A skier comes down water tower hill in the Fischer Cup. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

At this last race of the season, McDonald took first, finally coming ahead of the “seemingly unbeatable Finns.” The event also included an elementary age race where new ALSC skiers, some of whom had only tried the sport a few times before, got a taste of competition over 5km.

The Fischer Cup was followed by a medals ceremony, prizes from Fischer, Labatt’s, Andres Wine, the Highland Lodge, and Molson, and a dance at the school, where the social aspects of belonging to a club took precedence over the competition.

Through the 1980s, the ALSC hosted fewer skiing events as the newly formed Whistler Nordic Ski Club grew. Last night (Monday, February 5) we had a great time learning about Nordic skiing and the Whistler Nordic Ski Club from Tom Barratt, Keith Bennett and Stephanie Sloan and heard some amazing stories. Thank you to everyone who came out to our first Speaker Series of 2024 and we hope to see you at our next events!

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Rudi’s Famous StrudelRudi’s Famous Strudel

October 4, 2022 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

In Whistler today you have your pick of restaurants catering to all tastes, including many fine dining options. Unsurprisingly, the options were more limited in 1970 when Rudi and Merrilyn Hofmann’s Mountain Holm Steakhouse opened at Nesters. Later known simply as Rudi’s Steakhouse, it was an instant favourite often requiring reservations weeks in advance.

Rudi had trained as a chef in his home country of Germany and got his start in Whistler in 1969, working as the head chef at the Christiana Inn. In an interview with the Whistler Question, Rudi said, “When I was at the Christiana, I quadrupled the turnover. I was just serving different food than they were used to. In those days the general fare in ski areas was hotdogs, hamburgers, chilli.” At the time the Christiana Inn and L’Après were the main restaurants in Whistler. Seeing that there was a market in Whistler for finer dining, Rudi set out to start his own restaurant. He purchased Tony’s Hamburger Heaven, a late night eatery running out of a former Pacific Great Eastern railway tool shed, and the rest is history.

While it may not look like much from the outside, Rudi’s Steakhouse was the venue of choice for a fancy meal. Whistler Question Collection.

With appetisers including escargot, goose liver pate, prawns and scallops (’Coquilles Saint Jacques a la Parisienne’) all for under $6 a dish, flipping through a menu is likely to make anyone long for restaurant prices from the 1986 as their mouth begins to water (and when Rudi first opened in 1970 the prices were even lower). The main dishes include additional information to help diners choose. The 8 oz. Filet Mignon Par Excellence includes the claim, ‘You can cut it with a fork!’.

Nello and Jenny Busdon pose for promotional photos in Rudi’s Steakhouse with owner and chef Rudi Hofmann. Greg Griffith Collection.

With loyal customers returning again and again, Rudi’s became the venue of choice for wining and dining. Franz Wilhelmsen, President and Founder of Garibaldi Lift Co., could often be spotted in the Steakhouse. He did not hold back his praise for Rudi’s, saying, “I don’t think I ever had better food anywhere in the whole world.” It was a regular venue for events including the weekly Rotary Club meetings and birthdays, and they would hold an annual traditional European Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve, featuring goose, dumplings and homemade Christmas pudding.

The glowing reviews were global. According to the August 1972 issue of Ski Magazine, ‘While Whistler’s nightlife would rate three on a one-to-one hundred scale, its feeding potential would rate about 92. The main reason is the Mountain Holm Steakhouse, known as Rudi’s because of its bearded proprietor, a master chef from Germany. Rustic, warm, personal; magnificent beef for $6.’ To cater to the demand, Rudi’s was renovated in 1974 to expand the lower seating area and increase the kitchen space, yet the 60 seat restaurant still filled up.

Rudi’s Steakhouse closing party in 1986, featuring left to right – Don and Isobel MacLaurin, Rudi Hofmann, Franz and Annette Wilhelmsen. Petersen Collection.

It has been argued that Rudi’s was more about dessert than dinner. Former local Bob Penner said in an oral history interview, “Rudi wasn’t famous for steak, he was famous for strudel. That was his undoing. The strudel came off of Rudi’s strudel press on Thursdays, and anyone who knew anything in the Valley was lining up on Thursdays to buy Rudi’s strudel. Rudi believed to have a good strudel you had to be able to read a newspaper through it and if it had any breaks he went into an absolute tirade.”

Despite the rave reviews, Rudi was unsuccessful selling the restaurant in 1977, and instead leased the building. This led to a rotating door of restaurants in the space – Vallee Blanche, Madame’s, Le Chalet. Eventually Rudi’s opened back up in 1984 to the excitement of Whistler locals, however, the changing times were hard on Rudi’s Steakhouse. The new town centre kept tourists in Whistler Village and increased competition, and the downturn in the economy meant fewer people were eating out. Rudi’s closed for good in 1986 but is still remembered fondly throughout the community.

Rudi’s was burnt for fire practice after closing in 1986. The next year Nesters Market opened on the same site. Whistler Question Collection.

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Whistler’s Answers: August 5, 1982Whistler’s Answers: August 5, 1982

August 5, 2021 Whistler MuseumWhistler 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: Talk of allowing gambling in Whistler was not new in the 1980s, but an economic downturn made the idea of casinos more attractive to some residents, who argued it would bring more revenue and stable year-round employment. In 1982, a group called the Concerned Citizens for Whistler was formed in support of bringing gambling to Whistler. However, their views were not shared by all Whistler residents and, at a meeting held in August 1982, it was decided that community members did not have enough information and that a study should be done on the subject. Some concerns discussed at the meeting included the social impact of gambling, the possible altered character of Whistler, and a loss of autonomy as the industry would be strictly controlled by the province.

Question: Did the meeting tonight change your mind about legalizing gambling at Whistler?

Editor’s Note: The following three people were interviewed immediately following the August 1st meeting conducted by Concerned Citizens For Whistler on legalized gambling.

Dave Kirk – Alta Vista

This is a sit-on-the-fence answer, but what did the meeting accomplish? It really didn’t give us any facts on which to base a decision.

But the fact that there was a meeting indicates there is definitely an interest shown – especially for more information.

Jenny Busdon – Housewife – Whistler Cay

I came to the meeting not knowing if I was for or against it. There’s lots of pros and cons – I still don’t have an opinion.

I think our first priority is establishing Whistler as a first-class destination resort and putting our energies into promoting what we presently have here.

When this is done, maybe a concept of this kind would be more viable a few years down the road.

Larry Gunn – Whistler Courier – Alpine Meadows

It didn’t really change my opinion, which is that I think there needs to be more research done before the matter is put before the community and Council to make a decision.

Personally, I’m in favour of legalized gambling, but with qualifications. I’m not in favour of it just anywhere, though.

I’d like to see it kept in a very small segment before it spreads and gets out of hand.

Editor’s Note: These three individuals responded to the question “Do you think gambling should be legalized in Whistler?” in the Nov. 26, 1981 issue of the Whistler Question. It is interesting to note that the responses at that time were much more direct. All six people answered with a definite “yes” or “no” – with four in favour and two against the idea.

Ralph Kowin – Emerald Estates

Yes. Every week thousands of people in BC head for Nevada to gamble, and the money they spend would be better kept in BC. It would create more jobs for Whistler on a year-round basis and help stabilize the highs and lows in the economy. The larger tax base from hotels and casinos would help relieve the burden from property owners.

Wayne Weis – Alpine Meadows

Personally, I have nothing against gambling, but I don’t think they should legalize it here. I don’t think the community as a whole would accept it and I don’t think we have the facilities here to warrant something like gambling.

Don Beverley – Alpine Meadows

Yes, it’s a good idea. Whistler’s trying to become a world-class destination resort and in order to compete with other resorts we have to have the facilities to attract the sophisti-world traveller. Besides skiing in the winter, and windsurfing in the summer, we need something that happens continuously all year round that will attract people.

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First Steps to Building A VillageFirst Steps to Building A Village

October 8, 2019 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments
The Whistler Sewer Plant was one of the first steps taken before constructing the Whistler Village. Garibaldi’s Whistler News

On October 10 (this Thursday!) the Whistler Museum will be opening Construction of the Whistler Village: 1978 – 1984, a temporary exhibit featuring images of a village in progress from the Whistler Question collection.

The planning and development of the Whistler Village is often referred to as one of the first tasks of the newly formed Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) in 1975.  Before a town centre could be constructed, however, a very important (though possibly not as glamourous) facility had to open: the Whistler Sewer Plant.

Prior to 1977, a small number of condominium complexes had their own private systems to deal with waste, but most of the plumbing in Whistler ran on septic tank systems.  Investigations into a sewer system for the area were begun by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and continued by the RMOW when it was created.  According to the Garibaldi’s Whistler News, in 1977 Whistler had a year-round population of approximately 800, which increased during peak season to near 7,000.  Plans to build a town centre and expand the resort raised concerns about the environmental and practical impacts of continuing to use septic systems.

The Good Shit Lolly Pot on a raft at Alta Lake – some approaches to plumbing in Whistler were rather interpretive. George Benjamin Collection, 1969.

The sewer system in Whistler was planned in phases, with the first phase designed to service areas from the sewer treatment plant located three kilometres south of the gondola in Creekside to almost five km north of the gondola base, accommodating a population of 14,000 with provisions for expansion to 21,000.  Thanks to financing from the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation Sewer Program, this first phase and the treatment plant were completed by June 1977.  By the fall, the second phase, which extended the reach of the sewer treatment plant from Alta Vista to the site of the future town centre, was underway.

The official opening of the Whistler Sewer Plant was an exciting occasion for the young municipality.  It was scheduled for September 17, 1977, and the RMOW hired Lynn Mathews to plan the event.  Earlier this year, one of our amazing museum volunteers conducted a series of oral history interviews with the incredible Lynn Mathews, who first came to Whistler in 1966, and one of these interviews included a mention of the opening.  According to Mathews, who had previously arranged public relations events in New York City, the opening reception for the Whistler Sewer Plant “went over very, very nicely.”  Her claim is supported in The Whistler Question by both Paul Burrows and Jenny Busdon, who reported on the event.

Lonely toilet stands ready to serve Parcel 16 in the Town Centre.  Whistler Question Collection, 1978.

The opening of the plant began at Myrtle Philip School, where there was a display of photographs and diagrams showing the plan construction and a brief history of Whistler, tours of the valley by bus and helicopter, and a display of Ice Stock Sliding, a sport that became popular during the winter months when Whistler Mountain had closed due to lack of snow.  The main event was a lunch prepared by chef Roger Systad, including roast duck, salmon, imported cheeses and liver pate.

The lunch was accompanied by speeches from Mayor Pat Carleton and special guests including the Honourable Hugh Curtis, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and the Honourable Jack Pearsall, the MP for the area.

The day also included guided tours of the plant facilities with representatives from the engineering firm on hand to answer questions.  The review from Burrows said, “The plant is a modern design that provides complete treatment based on the proven extended aeration process.  It is quite interesting to see the plant in full operation.”

Though it may seem like an odd occasion to celebrate, the importance of the Whistler Sewer Plant was clearly stated by Mayor Carleton, who concluded that, “The foundation of Whistler’s future is this plant and sewer system.”  Construction of the Whistler Village officially began one year later.

Construction of the Whistler Village: 1978 – 1984 will run through November 22.

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