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: How was the skiing?
Peter Silvanovich – Manager – North Vancouver
Well, as Tony the Tiger says – Gr-r-r-r-eat! That’s cause there were no crowds, the sun was shining and the snow was first rate. Only one complaint – we had to wait about 30 seconds in a lift line-up.
Jon Marker – Claims Adjuster – Toronto
I’m from the east, and it’s a lot different here. The snow’s a lot softer and I’m used to hard-pack and ice. It’s been fantastic. On a scale of one to 10, probably this is about an eight – nothing’s perfect.
John Hatfull – Counsellor – Vancouver
It’s been the first time for me, and it’s been great. I was here once before and I like the feel of the place, so I decided to come back and give skiing a try. I’ve been falling down a lot, but it’s worth it. I’m really enthused.
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: In 1984, most Whistler residents were not able to pick up CBC Radio in the area. According to Kevin Griffin of the Whistler Question, the CBC regional director of engineering in BC told him that the satellite receiver then picking up CBC could become a direct transmitter of CBC from Vancouver, but that the cost would be too prohibitively high. Griffin was also told that there were plans to use the Cancom satellite to transmit CBC FM to Whistler, but it was unknown what the timeline would be for that plan due to uncertain funding.
Question: Do you miss not getting CBC Radio here?
Leonard Thor – Anderson Lake
I do get it once in a while – I grew up with it so therefore I miss it. I don’t live here, I just work here, but if I was here I’d go to the trouble to get it somehow. I
Rick McCarthy – Stonemason – Alpine Meadows
Not in the least. I used to listen to it up here but the signal was so weak we decided not to bother. I’m not sure now whether it would interest me to have it back. If we were at work and we had an alternative to Mountain FM during the day I would listen to it.
James Freir – Cook – Alpine Meadows
Not really. I have had it before, and I guess it’s all right, but I’d rather listen to a rock and roll station. But if it’s paid for by taxes, then I guess everyone in the country should get it.
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: The 1984 municipal election saw many new faces elected to council, with no position being filled by an incumbent. Terry Rodgers (the only candidate who had previously served on council) was elected mayor over Whistler’s previous mayor Mark Angus and candidate Jack Bright. On council, the four new “aldermen” were Paul Burrows, Diane Eby, Doug Fox and Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, none of whom had previously been on council.
Question: What do you think of Whistler’s new council?
Rollie Horsey – Retired (former alderman) – Alta Vista
I am not unhappy with it. I didn’t expect two females, but I have no objection to it. I felt the new mayor who was elected was pretty well foregone.
Al Bosse – Contractor – Alpine Meadows
I was impressed by a couple of the people running but I don’t know enough about the rest of them. I think it’s fortunate that we have one person to carry over from the present council to the next one, but I was not surprised more didn’t carry over. I’m willing to give the new ones a chance.
Laurin Kyle – Leisure Connections – Brio
I was really pleased but not surprised. From what I understand all the people elected are competent. The choice the voters made seems to be good – it was very important to me.
In 2018 we began a weekly blog post featuring a selection of photographs and captions taken during that week from each year that was represented in the collection of negatives from the Whistler Question Collection. “This Week In Photos” has become a useful starting point to learn more about what was happening in Whistler at any given time (between 1978 and 1985). When looking into the stories behind the photographs, we often find connections to other images. Some of these connections are unexpected, such as crowds of cars outside the Myrtle Philip School in November and ski racer Dave Murray sawing through a ski at the opening of a sports store in Vancouver in August.
Cars crowd outside Myrtle Philip School as hundreds of attendees sell, swap and buy ski equipment and clothing inside. Whistler Question Collection, 1979
The photograph of a crowd of cars was captured at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club’s (WMSC) fourth annual Ski Swap in 1979. The first Annual Ski Swap in Whistler was held on November 13, 1976, when skiers of all levels were encouraged to bring in their extra or outgrown equipment and clothing to sell or trade. A percentage of the proceeds made from the sales went to support the WMSC junior racing program. The gear brought in by local skiers was supplemented by leftover articles from the Vancouver Ski Swap and, with prices ranging from $2 for some of the clothing to $200 for boots, the WMSC was able to raise about $500. According to WMSC spokesperson Hugh McLennan, the sale “was an overall success, with very little theft of the merchandise on display.”
The Ski Swap continued to be a successful fundraiser for the WMSC, as well as a great place to find a deal on equipment. By 1979, the event drew hundreds of people to Myrtle Philip School, their cars filling the school parking lot and spilling over onto the street. Like in previous years, the equipment and clothing brought by skiers was added to by wholesalers, such as a Vancouver company that brought boxes of incorrectly-sized wool sweaters to sell at greatly discounted prices, and by store owners such as Casey Niewerth of Skyline Sports, who brought in any stock left from the previous winter.
Canadian National Ski Team member Dave Murray saws through an old wooden ski held by Casey Niewerth at the opening of the new Skyline Sports location. Whistler Question Collection, 1979
Casy Niewerth founded Skyline Sports in North Vancouver in the 1950s as Vancouver’s second ski shop. He began by selling the sample skis that wholesalers would bring to show department stores, ordering another pair once the first one was sold, and by the 1960s had expanded to include other sports and activities in a larger space, including a workshop for setting, repairing, an putting edges on skis.
In early 1966, when Whistler Mountain officially opened for skiing, Casey and his young family began skiing in the area, buying a lot in Alta Vista in the spring and moving into their newly completed cabin less than a week before Christmas that year. Like most stores at the time, Skyline Sports was closed on Sundays and during the ski season the family would drive up late Saturday evening in order to be at the base of the mountain for ski school on Sunday morning. Casey built up a loyal clientele at Whistler Mountain, in particular by offering free binding adjustments behind the bullwheel of the Red Chair.
The Skyline Sports set up behind the bullwheel of the Red Chair. Whistler Mountain Ski Corporation Collection
Just a few months before the 1979 Ski Swap, the Niewerths expanded Skyline Sports further by opening a new store in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood. The opening of the 6,000 sq ft space replaced the usual ribbon cutting ceremony with Crazy Canuck Dave Murray sawing through a 25-year-old ski, an event that was captured and reproduced in the Whistler Question. After the opening event, the new Skyline Sports location opened to the public with a “Super Ski Sale” were skiers could get the latest equipment ahead of the coming season. Like the Ski Swap raised money for the WMSC racing program, the Super Ski Sale was also a fundraiser for the Canadian National Ski Team and any donations made to the team over $5 during the sale would be matched by the store.
The exterior of Skyline Sports’ Kerrisdale location. Whistler Question Collection, 1979
There are many photos of Ski Swaps in the Whistler Question Collection, and even some more of events involving Skyline Sports. Though the retail locations of Skyline Sports closed in the 1990s, Casey Niewerth remains an important part of the community and the WMSC Annual Ski Swap continues to raise money for the club and its racing programs each fall.
