Tag: Whistler Blackcomb Foundation

“The Evolution of Skiing in Whistler” Exhibit Launch!“The Evolution of Skiing in Whistler” Exhibit Launch!

November 15, 2013 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

We’re really excited to announce that we are on schedule to re-open the museum next weekend with our brand new exhibit “The Evolution of Skiing”! Almost 50% of our exhibit space has been revamped, renovated and replaced, making this our most significant exhibit upgrade in over 3 years. The project was made possible thanks to generous support from the Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation.

Our new display case! Curious as they look, these humans won't be on display once we re-open to the public.
Our new display case! Curious as they look, these humans won’t be on display once we re-open to the public.
Our re-arranging made room for some new non-ski content as well. This panel shares some of the joys of exploring our mountains in summer.
Our re-arranging made room for some new non-ski content as well. This panel shares some of the joys of exploring our mountains in summer.

There are a whole slew of new informative panels, display cases full of artifacts, interactive displays, and some pretty big surprises that we just can’t wait to share. We don’t want to give away all our secrets, so you’ll just have to come and see them for yourselves!

While we think our new exhibit is plenty of an attraction in itself, we’ve decided to sweeten the pot and have a full program of launch events that will compliment our displays and give you even more reason to pay us a visit. Here’s a quick overview. Expect more details in the coming days.

November 23 – Feeding The Spirit. Our annual Welcome Week extravaganza, featuring free food provided by the fine folks at Creekside Market and tons of door prizes from awesome local businesses. Everyone welcome, from new arrivals to long-time residents. 5:30-8pm. Free!!!

November 28 – Official Exhibit Launch.  We’re dying to show off our new exhibit, come check it out! There will be some short speeches by museum staff & board, but the focus for the evening will simply be on exploring the additions and updates to our permanent exhibits, particularly our new section exploring “The Evolution of Skiing in Whistler.” 6pm- 9pm. Admission will be free to all.

November 30 – Backcountry Skiers Alpine Responsibility Code. We all know the Alpine Skiers Responsibility Code, that yellow card that lists the rules to abide by when at a ski resort. Well, what about the backcountry? Increasing crowds and obvious safety concerns mean a backcountry code of conduct is in order. This evening we will craft a draft of this code, featuring a very esteemed panel and a healthy dose of audience participation. 7-9pm. Tickets: $10/$7 museum members.

Filmer Garry Pendygrasse, one of our "Filming Mountains" presenters, hauling gear around the Tantalus Range. Dan Milner photo.
Filmer Garry Pendygrasse, one of our “Filming Mountains” presenters, hauling gear around the Tantalus Range. Dan Milner photo.

December 8 – Filming Mountains. This new event, in partnership with the Whistler Film Festival, celebrates our town’s proud history at the forefront of the ski and snowboard film industry. Heralded filmmakers will share clips and stories from the past that will entertain while giving unique insights into the filmmaking experience. 3-6pm, Tickets: $10/$7 members.

December 11 – The Whistler vs Blackcomb Debate. Without a doubt the most important topic yet to be tackled by our Whistler Debates series. With your help, this evening will decide, once and for all, which is the superior mountain in this valley (and, therefore, on Earth). Heavy stuff, indeed. 6:30-9pm. Tickets: $7/$5 members.

Two huge mountains, but only one can reign supreme. On December 11th help us decide!
Two huge mountains, but only one can reign supreme. On December 11th help us decide!
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We’re shutting down!We’re shutting down!

October 19, 2013 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

Yes, you read the headline right.  On Monday October 21st the Whistler Museum will be shutting our doors. Don’t fret, we aren’t going anywhere, and we’ll re-open better than ever!

We’re temporarily shutting our doors in order to  renovate and install our most significant exhibit overhaul since  the launch of our 2010 Winter Olympics exhibit, nearly three years ago! This exhibit update was made possible thanks to generous funding from the Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation.

One of the most iconic images in Whistler's history: Franz Wilhelmson points to his new ski resort, winter 1966.
One of the most iconic images in Whistler’s history: Franz Wilhelmson points to his new ski resort, winter 1966.

There will be minor tweaks throughout the museum, but the main project is installing a new exhibit showcasing the evolution of skiing in Whistler, covering almost 50% of our whole exhibit space.  The entire back part of the museum will be retrofitted to resemble that most nostalgic example of alpine architecture, the ski cabin.

Whistlerites have been pushing the envelope for years. Here, a hanglider gets rad on Whistler Mountain, 1970s.
Whistlerites have been pushing the envelope for years. Here, a hang-glider gets rad on Whistler Mountain, 1970s.

Over the last half-century, Whistler has played host to countless memorable moments, influential innovations, and some of the best skiing on the planet. This exhibit, first and foremost, celebrates this decades-long love affair between Whistler and skiing. We’ll have display panels and dozens of new artifacts showcasing various aspects of this history, from massive wooden skis from Rainbow Lodge, to the heroic efforts of ski patrollers to keep our mountains safe, and a look forward to the future of skiing, which continues to be shaped in large part by Whistler, and Whistlerites.

We don’t want to give away all our secrets, but we’re pretty excited to show it all off once its done. We will be re-opening when we’re good and ready. By that we mean early to mid-November, just in time for the start of ski season.

This is a hint about what you can expect in our new exhibit.
This is a hint about what you can expect in our new exhibit.

Basically, we’re mimicking Whistler-Blackcomb’s opening strategy: our official launch party will be happening on November 28th, but if everything goes smoothly, and if we’re a little lucky, there’s a good chance we’ll actually be open before that date. The exhibit launch will be accompanied by a whole slew of exciting events, to be announced here and in other places in the coming weeks.

This also means that if you want to see our exhibits in their current form, your last chance is to come to our Whistler Debates event “Self-Publish or Perish?” as part of the Whistler Readers & Writers Festival, this Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

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