Tag: Whistler Museum

Whistler’s Answers: September 11, 1986Whistler’s Answers: September 11, 1986

September 11, 2025 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 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: As construction wrapped up in the Whistler Village and eyes turned to the development of Village North, discussions began again about a skating rink in Whistler. The original plans for the Whistler Conference Centre included a rink but as plans changed during the recession in the early 1980s the skating rink (and many other features) were removed. While some people thought a skating rink should be included in any plans for Village North, there was no rink built in the Village until after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games when the skating rink in Olympic Plaza was constructed.

Question: What kind of skating rink should Whistler have?

Kim Wetaski – Professional Figure Skater/Coach – Alpine Meadows

I think they should go for a full-size rink, because people will want to play hockey and you can always divide it for multipurpose use. As far as figure skating goes, you can’t really practice set dance patterns on a small rink. I may be the only figure skater here, but if they want it for the future it should be a full size rink, with Ice Capades they used metal sheets beneath the ice for their portable rinks. That worked whether we performed in Hawaii or Texas. But they should cover it because of the snow.

Darrel Mrowka – Clerk – Alpine Meadows

I don’t think a lot of people will be pleasure skating – it will be hockey. It would be such a small rink in the square that you wouldn’t get that outdoor feeling you get skating on a lake anyways. And while it might be okay for teaching little kids, people who really want to skate wouldn’t take it seriously. Anyways, I don’t think an outdoor rink would feasible. I favour an indoor rink.

Keith Sabey – Proprietor – Emerald Estates

I favour Mountain Square. Studies have shown that in planned communities, facilities that are within walking distance get more use. If you put it somewhere else it’s an extended walk and people won’t do that. I think it’s a terrific idea, and it would lend a lot of ambiance to the area. We’ve been talking for some time about doing something to the upper end of the village. And, after all, the reason why we’re here and employed is tourism. And in Mountain Square all the lighting facilities are already there.

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Reporting on RainbowReporting on Rainbow

September 9, 2025 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

Wartime rationing was nearing its end by the summer of 1947, but for Rainbow Lodge, a renowned romantic honeymoon destination, another type of rationing prevailed. Upon returning from her summer vacation, Pat Wallace reported that it was “poor hunting for husbands at summer resorts”, and that “the chances of nabbing a rich romeo or a plain every-day bread-winner for the future [were] very slim.” 

The lack of romantic prospects did not seem to deter Pat Prowd and Pat Wallace, both reporters for Vancouver newspapers who often journeyed up to Alta Lake. Pat Prowd was a reporter for the Daily Province and the Vancouver News-Herald from 1939 to 1960, while Pat Wallace began her career at the Vancouver Sun before moving to the Daily Province in 1944 to be Women’s Editor, retiring in 1982. Pat Wallace’s sister, Moira, married Pat Prowd’s distant cousin, James McCarthy, in 1951, connecting the two families. James had proposed at Rainbow Lodge at Christmastime 1950.

Christmas 1950, Alta Lake. (Left to right) Pat Wallace, Myrtle Philip, Pat Prowd, Jim McCarthy, Moira Wallace. Philip Collection.

The two women may have been guests at the resort, but they were not afraid of mixing business with pleasure. Pat Prowd in particular “usually lent a hand to Myrtle in the running of the lodge.”  According to Dick Fairhurst, “this meant helping the staff clean the main lodge, cabins, and shower house.” Both journalists documented life at Rainbow Lodge in the 40s and 50s, singing the praises of the lakeside community. 

Pat Prowd and Myrtle Philip standing beside tennis courts at Rainbow Lodge, circa 1940s. Philip Collection.

In August 1947, Pat Wallace’s column, “Urban Album” publicized the ‘Doin’s Club,” a “familiar institution” of Rainbow Lodge. The club embraced the task of greeting guests at the station, their motto being: “don’t wait to be introduced, just smile and say hello.” The club derived its name from Billy Standard, a veteran of the First World War who purportedly first visited Rainbow Lodge in the 20s. Billy became notorious for referring to Worcester sauce as the ‘doin’s’, and the term quickly became “the by-word of the camp that season,” lending its name to a social club.

The initiation ritual? Drinking a teaspoon of Worcester sauce. With some 1600 members initiated by the summer of 1947, it is no surprise that supply of the condiment remained scarce at the resort. 

Myrtle Philip and Pat Prowd cross country skiing, circa 1940s. Philip Collection.

Winter weather did little to discourage either journalist from making the journey up the railway. In fact, Pat Prowd’s March 1950 visit resulted in a “deep suntan to rival anything she might have picked up in Palm Springs.” Her holiday consisted of wintry picnics at Green Lake, with Myrtle building fires in the snow. Myrtle also adapted her “delicious flaky blueberry pie” recipe for the season, adding fresh snow to the ingredient list. Her guests deemed this variation “pure ambrosia.” 

Both reporters spent the holiday season of 1950-1951 at Alta Lake, described as “a winter wonderland of gentle white quiet.” Pat Wallace told the Daily Province’s readers how she was met with “great stars of white” as she disembarked the train at Rainbow Station. The Philips’ house guests danced their way into the new year, dispersing at half past five on January 1st. “High in the mountains,” Pat Wallace wrote, “1951 received a warm hearted welcome bar none.” 

Logan Roberts is the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program. 

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Whistler’s Answers: September 5, 1986Whistler’s Answers: September 5, 1986

September 4, 2025 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 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: What new services would you like to see in Whistler?

Inge Nielsen – Retailer – Whistler

A permanent drycleaner and children’s and men’s clothing stores. A shoe store is one particular thing people ask about. Really just the necessities that we have to go into town for. As Village North comes in there will be more. We can always think of amenities that we would like to see, but the question is whether the operators could make a living. I think it’s very important that the stores stay unique and aren’t copying each other. I’ve been to resorts where they are all the same and it becomes boring. We’re all thinking in terms of making Whistler a totally unique experience, but we have to take it step by step.

Bryce Jenner – Waiter – Whistler

There are still a lot of things you have to go to the city to get. I think there could be more clothing stores selling not just T-shirts, but things like dress shirts. We could use another bank, that’s for sure. The credit union is too crowded and if this town is going places we need a choice. There’s only one cable outfit and a lot of people complain about the service. The Hasty Market was a good thing – it opens things up and makes them more competitive but we could use a big name grocery store that’s part of a conglomerate so that prices could be lower.

Diane Starling – Visitor – Toronto

Another bank for visitors would be nice, a national one, with an “interac”. That’s a machine for bank cards, so you can withdraw from any bank. Even if you don’t have the bank, you can have the machine. That’s the only thing I can think of, because you have car rentals and everything. The facilities are good, too, with lots to do. The golf course and water slide area little expensive. You have all the shops here, everything we’ve needed. It’s mainly for tourists and you’ve got all the clothing stores and shops for them. Beautiful mountains and scenery. I hope we’ll be back.

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Whistler’s Answers: August 28, 1986Whistler’s Answers: August 28, 1986

August 28, 2025 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 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 (the RMOW) applied for a tree farm licence in 1986 in an attempt to gain control over logging in the area.

Question: What do you think of the proposal for a tree farm licence for Whistler?

Ron McCready – Rental Coordinator – Whistler

It’s a terrific idea. It’s very important to what we do here. There shouldn’t be additional cost in it: there should be potential revenue for the municipality through selective logging, not that that’s the goal. The view corridor is important. Tourism is going to become the number one industry. It will create some jobs, too.

Greg Atkinson – Photographer – Whistler

I think it would be a good idea because someone has to take care of the logging and the loggers don’t seem to care. Especially in this area, because it looks terrible. Eventually they’re going to log them all out anyway, so they may as well be stopped now, before it’s too late. I don’t want to shoot down the loggers. It’s been their way of life for a long time, but they may as well look elsewhere now.

Roxanne Karliner – Cocktail Waitress – Whistler

It would be good – it’s getting pretty bare up there. I think it would be worth the money (for any upkeep that might be involved). In a resort town it’s more important that it looks nice, because the loggers can always be moved to different areas. It has to look good or the tourists won’t come around.

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