One thing the archives of the Whistler Question proves is that there is always something happening in town, from ski races to performances to the Mountain House Jock Contest.
1978
We’re not sure which race is happening here but this racer is keeping warm on the course.
Jamie T. packing the competitors back up the course for another run.
A reminder to take caution when machines not operating?
One of the two cars that did not make it home up the Lorimer Road hill during the past week.
1980
Technicians at work inside the new BC Telephone Whistler office.
Customer Service Manager David Coath explains the system to Mayor Pat Carleton, while Brian Gilhooley & Rick Hyde listen in.
CHEERS! Vuarnets, beer and sunshine – Bonnie Campbell, Connie Smith, Helen Bartlett, Jan Haldimand, Nigel Woods and Jim Bradley enjoy the sunshine last weekend.
McConkey Cup competitor heads down the course in the ladies division of this fun race on Tuesday, April 15. Full results next week.
1981
It was a skiing Bunny up on Blackcomb Easter Sunday passing out eggs (no, not frozen ones) to mini-skiers.
At the Mountain House Cabaret, the Doc worked his magic once again for Whistlerites for six straight nights. Remember him way back when? Biminis? The Ankor?
Even stacked these should look familiar to anyone who has walked through the Village.
Now you see it – now you don’t. The cornice in Blackcomb Bowl was blasted off on schedule Easter Sunday before it fell of its own accord on some unfortunate skier.
Brand new Adam Smythe, the youngest pass holder on Blackcomb Mountain, shares a look with his mom Debbie.
Debris and ashes are all that remain after the Manson cabin burned to the ground Good Friday. A large flat metal sheet was once a 100-gallon propane tank that exploded and then was flattened after the blast.
1982
Jocks took to the floor Monday night to compete in the Mountain House Jock Contest. Pascal Tiphine took first prize and won a trip to Hawaii.
New Whistler Resident, Ken Wesman.
Whistler Creek’s Penny Wright displays the T-shirt given to her and worn by her staff at a party put on at the Creekhouse by Penny on April 15 for all her helpers.
Brent Harley of the Creekhouse shows the ins and outs of bartending to some of his 18 students as classes wind down in the six-week session.
1983
The Silver Streak cut quite a swath through the crowds on Whistler Mountain Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17. He made himself popular with the after-ski hoards outside the Longhorn by offering cash in exchange for drinking feats. The Longhorn staff say he bought 500 “Kamikazes” (vodka and lime juice shooters) to distribute over the afternoon and evening.
Soloists Tami Casey (the woman at the well) and Bruce Smith (Peter) mourn the death of Christ during the Squamish Youth Chorale’s successful production of the The Day He Wore My Crown stages at Myrtle Philip School Saturday, April 16.
Head flipper Tom McKoy serves up food hot off the grill at the top of Whistler Mountain every fine day at the Ski Inn at the junction of the Orange and Black chairs.
Just try it! This magnificent Bentley was maneuvered into a convenient parking stall in Village Square Sunday, April 17 and since it was a no parking zone, Payless Towing was called to the rescue. The tow truck driver decided it was best not to touch the classy chasis… but the brazen owner did get a ticket.
You put your right foot in… Debbie Gurlach (far right) leads her jazz dance class through a routine Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 at Myrtle Philip School. (L-R) Jan Alsop, Jennifer Marien and Kenny Melamed follow the leader.
Donna Hauschka (left) registers voters for the May 5 election. Debby O’Hanley of Whistler and David and Jimmy Wong of Richmond sign up for their right to vote.
1984
The Bedrock Allstars rocked the Brass Rail last week with their tunes. Keyboard player Bob Muckle and guitarist David Osborne comprise the duet and are based in Vancouver.
Caboose 1836 rolled into Whistler last Tuesday and was promptly lifted off the BC Rail track onto an abandoned sidetrack at the Sabre Trucking yard at Mons. Once refurbished the caboose becomes the new home of the Chamber of Commerce Information Centre. The Chamber purchased the old car at the bargain basement price of $1,500.
June Brandon and Eric Wight were the winners this year in the Valley Championship Series held on Blackcomb.
After just eight months managing 76-room Tantalus Lodge, Hugo and Giselle Stam were chosen over 49 other hotels in the US and Canada as Mangers of 1983-84. The award was presented in Bellevue, Washington at an awards banquet April 6. Hotels were judged in five areas: service, congenial staff, cleanliness, hospitality and letters from guests. The secret, say Hugo and Giselle, is teamwork. Having operated their own hotel in Europe for 12 years, and being involved in the hospitality industry for most of their lives, they see hospitality as an attitude, and hotel management as a people-oriented business. And, Giselle adds, without the help of their sons Hugo Jr. and Roger, things would be a lot harder. But before they embark on a summer outdoors tour program a trip to Hawaii is on Giselle and Hugo’s agenda. The trip is part of the Managers award, presented by Marketing Plus Corporation of Bellevue.
A doctors group from Japan who are regular Whistler visitors. Fourth from left is Mr. Yamanaka who is making his 10th visit here and in the centre is 68-year old Dr. Kanazawa and 73-year old Dr. Takahashi, both on their 6th visit here.
CONVERTIBLE PICKUP! – All that was left of the Datsun that the Squamish Rescue Group cut the top off of to get an injured passenger out at Daisy Lake last week.
Valdy performs at the dinner show at the Filling Station Thursday night.
Quebec and CGOT visitors, left to right: Jacques Demers – Dept. of Industry Commerce and Tourism of Quebec; Peter Maundrell – Canadian Government Office of Tourism (CGOT), Victoria; Marcel Noel – CGOT, Ottawa; Alain Simard – Dept. of Planning and Development of Quebec; Hugues Roy – Dept. of Regional Economic Expansion (Quebec office).
1981
The walls of the entrance to Club 10, decorated by Ray Clements.
Myrtle Philip, assisted by Roberta Carson, proudly displays the hand-drawn quilt presented to her by the Myrtle Philip School students on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
The students of Myrtle Philip School presented Myrtle with 90 daffodils at her birthday celebrations.
Myrtle Philip starts to cut up her 8 ft. long 90th birthday cake!
1982
A kayaker heads down the Cheakamus under the bridge in the Ice Breaker race March 21.
Staff photographer freezes the snow avalanche on film as it roars off the roof of the Whistler Sports & Convention Centre on Friday. Burrows Photo.
Moments before 50 tons of snow slid from the roof of the Sports & Convention Centre, Doug Fox, Cliff Jennings and crew tried shovelling snow away from facia beams.
Keep moving is right! Someone with a sense of humour then added the sign on the left to the warning on the right.
Spring skiers enjoy a sunny afternoon on the patio of Nasty Jacks.
1983
Watch your step. Downloading has become a sensible way to get off the mountains these days as spring weather works its way up the slopes.
While the skier’s away, the Whiskey Jack will play. This little fellow had few qualms about helping himself to someone’s lunch while the owner was out on the slopes.
Valdy packed the house all three nights of his visit to Whistler March 18, 19 and 20. Accompanied by saxophone player Clare Laurence and Norman McPherson on guitar, he played everything from love ballads to a lament that he couldn’t shimmy like his sister Kate.
Whew! It was a full house at The Longhorn and Nasty Jacks over the sunny March 19-20 weekend. Spring skiers are flocking to Whistler by the thousands to enjoy that last run before summer sets in.
Gwen Upton, of the Ministry of Labour, takes a look at what her department’s money is doing for Whistler through the Community Recovery Program. Al Bosse and Ian Mouncy have found winter employment making subdivision signs. Looking on at far right is Jim Webster from the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
1984
The Winter Hawks celebrated a victory together this week.
Raw energy, raw blues, and the velvet voice of John Hammond made a 2 1/2-hour concert at Brackendale Art Gallery Saturday seem like five minutes. Hammond has cut over 20 albums since 1962, but is still one of the lesser known bluesmen in North America.
The lyrics are poetry, the melodies are mellow. Silvered, comprised of Australian musicians Ken Kirschman and Geoff Gibbons, are masterful musicians reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. A recent EP release has generated rave reviews. Silvered were featured at The Brass Rail Wednesday through Sunday.
The Whistler Medical Clinic, located in Whistler Village.
Doug Bennett and fellow slugs gave the crowd what they paid for and more during two performances at the Longhorn.
1979
The new Whistler Village model on display at the Village display suite adjacent to Municipal Hall.
The Molson World Cup course workers enjoy a little R&R courtesy of Molson’s after a hard day’s work on the course.
The line waiting to get up Whistler Mountain in Creekside.
An aerial view of Flute Basin.
Slim Fougberg was honoured at a school board event in Pemberton. The evening included speeches, dinner and skits.
1980
University school break results in record mid-week crowds.
Developer Peter Gregory and Architect Archambault show plans for the 316 room Mountain Inn (today the Hilton).
Not a Corral! This new fenced area outside L’Après is just the extension of the patio area in readiness for the spring season.
Oops! Warm wet weather caused the snow to slide off this Telemark roof and flatten the wagon parked below.
Carved lions guard the hotel entrance of the newly completed Whistler Creek Lodge.
1981
Local Brownies and Guides gathered at Myrtle Philip School.
The first skiers come off the Whistler Village Chair on February 28. You might be wondering where all the snow got to.
Dr. Rob Burgess, Dr. Christine Rodgers, Howie Goldsmid and Bill Hooson at the hospital meeting.
The Tapley’s crowd enjoy a few brews in the sun on Sunday, March 1. Photo by Greg D’Amico.
1982
On the job, the LTI truck proves its worth at Whistler West fire.
The Molson World Downhill came to Whistler, bringing thousands of spectators to the resort along with it.
Gr… Grrrgreat gorillas, Batman! Some people went just plain ape over the World Cup at Whistler.
Sold Out! Hungry ski fans eager to meet the competitors in the World Downhill race polished off the sauerkraut and sausages in record time Thursday. (L-R) Louise Zinsli, Jenny Busdon, Evelyn Cullen and Trudy Gruetzke of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce display the leftovers.
Thousands upon thousands of spectators jam Whistler Village Square for the World Cup presentations.
A torchlight parade makes its way down Whistler Mountain.
Tony Fernandez, R.6 Herron and Danno Five-O rock the socks off a packed house at Myrtle Philip School Saturday, February 27.
1983
The last girders are in place on the new Culliton Creek bridge. Now it can stand on its own concrete feet. Highways crews now must put on decking, pave approaches and cut the ribbon before the span opens to traffic this spring. Though you can’t tell from this photo, this bridge is famously orange.
Stre-e-e-tch in all directions in this lycra and cotton cross-country ski suit modelled by Shelley Nichol at a fashion show at Sundial Restaurant Thursday. The display was put on for the WRA by Virginiga Meachin of Whistler Cross-Country Ski Centre and featured fashions from Carlsberg’s, Inge’s, The Downhill Shop, Whistler Village Sports, Village Traditions, Brick Shirt House and Whistler Tops.
Brownies from Barbados offer food and facts about their country at Myrtle Philip School Monday, February 28.
“Hold’er newt!” Cress Walker and Paul Clark inch their just-built Dash 34 sailboat out of the warehouse in preparation for launch day Monday, February 28. It was a tight squeeze but it came out just as it went in – barely.
1985
The Baxter Group’s Gondola Village has sprouted up like mushrooms at the gondola base during the past four months. Cranes continue to put the finishing touches to 245 units included in the project.
Export “A” Cup racers milled around the time board Wednesday to find out how they placed in the downhill but almost everyone was surprised when unheralded Steven Lee from Australia emerged as the victor.
Jack Demidoff points to the spot where he and his hoe smashed through the ice on Nita Lake.
Skateboarder Harry Hovatha of Victoria does a 360 aboard his Austrian-made Swingbo, a skateboard on skis that sells for about $400 and was recently introduced to the Canadian market. Hovatha was with a group of skateboarders who visited Whistler last week on a promotional tour. But they couldn’t use Whistler Mountain lifts because of provincial lift regulations.
The crowds begin to arrive – the Olive Chair loading area on Thursday.
Blizzard! The scene looking down the Green Chair during the snowstorm on Tuesday.
The shed at Mons the day after firefighters were on the scene attempting to put out the blaze.
1980
Election day in the Myrtle Philip School gym.
Two of the many Japanese ski writers who have been visiting Whistler lately – From Skier Magazine in Tokyo (l to r) Photographer ‘Dragon’, Writer ‘Ando’, and Toshi Hamazaki of Whistler.
The new “guard rails” installed to protect the Lift Company office windows from skis.
No diplomatic immunity here – Mons prepares to tow away the Question truck from the lift base.
1981
Students at Myrtle Philip School take a look at cameras through the ages.
Nancy Green, Prime Minister Trudeau and Hugh Smythe spend the day taking in Blackcomb.
The Prime Minister was also taken on a tour of the construction sites of Whistler Village.
An unusually bright and empty view of the bar at Tapley’s.
Whistler Mountain’s Franz Wilhelmsen and Peter Alder watch proudly as Whistler’s Black Chair carries passengers for the first time this season on February 21.
1982
Search and Rescue Squadron 422 from Comox dropped into Whistler last week for a mountain rescue training session.
Stretching, an essential when preparing for a race.
A few Crazy Canucks share a laugh at Dave Murray’s retirement part at Myrtle Philip School.
The first test run of the fire department’s latest addition proved it could be instrumental in putting out high level fires such as the one at Whistler Village Inn January 13.
Long before they started making snow at Olympic Plaza snow piles have provided endless amusement.
A parking attendant’s dream… This giant tow truck pulled into town the other day – and quickly pulled out again, much to the relief of nearby parking violators.
1983
Soaking up the sun (l to r) Rosilyn and Marlin Arneson and Bill Bode of Washington State relax before calling it a day Monday, February 21 after the first really warm one on Whistler Mountain.
Sjaan DiLalla tries out one of the ranges in one of the 29 “studio lofts” in the recently opened Crystal Lodge.
First place team members in the Team Supreme competition. The event, held at Blackcomb February 20, raised $2,400 for the BC Disabled Skiers Association.
Seppo Makinen and Sam Alexander discuss Whistler’s proposed new Zoning Bylaw No. 303 with Assistant Municipal Planner Cress Walker.
Cross-country skiers set off on the Whistler Cross-Country Marathon which was held over a 20km route Sunday, February 20.
1985
Art ’85 was hosted in the gym of Myrtle Philip School this past weekend.
During an introductory press conference Sunday at Crystal Lodge, Todd Brooker (far left) introduces members of the Canadian Men’s Alpine Team: (l to r) Felix Belcyzk, Chris Kent, Paul Boivin, Chris McIver and Jim Kirby.
Canadian blues man Long John Baldry and crew crank it out at The Longhorn Sunday.
