Tag: Whistler Question

Whistler’s Answers: May 23, 1985Whistler’s Answers: May 23, 1985

May 23, 2024 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 1985.  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: After five years (minus some pauses) of construction, the Whistler Conference Centre was nearing completion by May 1985 and had an expected opening date of June 1. It was expected that the opening of the Conference Centre would bring more business to Whistler, especially during the off-season (in 1985, that was everything except the winter) with conferences and other large bookings. When it opened, the Conference Centre was reportedly the second largest conference centre in BC, accommodating up to 2,000 people (the Peach Bowl in Penticton had a capacity of 2,100). *These three provided one joint answer.

Question: How do you think the Conference Centre will change Whistler?

Cam McPhee – Bartender – Adventures West
Fern Kalb – Waitress – Alpine Meadows
Brett Wood – Bartender – Alta Vista

It’ll bring more people here in three-piece suits, which isn’t a bad thing, and it’ll definitely even out trade throughout the year. Months like September and October, which are always dead, will be prime months for the Centre. And there won’t be that summertime drought for residents as there was in the past. There won’t be summer layoffs or people having to go back to town for work. In the area of business it’ll create more of a selection of services.

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Whistler’s Answers: May 16, 1985Whistler’s Answers: May 16, 1985

May 16, 2024 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 1985.  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: Coming into the 1985 season, Whistler Beer League organizer Terry Boston introduced a few rule changes to make slo-pitch games “less all-out competitive and easier to referee.” One of these rules was to “prohibit men who also play organized fastball from playing in the beer league.” The season was expected to start on May 20 and include sixteen teams.

Question: Do you agree with the ruling that a fastball player cannot play in this summer’s beer league?

Ken Hardy – Co-owner Whistler Heliskiing – Brio

I’m ambivalent. My own feeling is that anyone should be able to play in the Beer League. But I can understand the view that they want to keep it fun. If the top players are going to flood the league, you end up with it being too competitive.

Jan Simpson – Realtor – Alta Vista

I think it is a good ruling. They are two different leagues for two different calibre of players. If they had too many high calibre players, it would be too competitive. I think it should remain a fun league.

Mae Wilson – Homemaker – Alpine Meadows

Personally, I don’t think it’s a problem for the men because there are enough players for the teams. But for the Whistler K’s (the women’s fastball team) we cannot find enough players that can come out for every game. Women have had to make a choice between the Beer League and Whistler K’s.

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Whistler’s Answers: May 9, 1985Whistler’s Answers: May 9, 1985

May 9, 2024 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 1985.  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: Property taxes in Whistler were increased by 9.4% in 1985. According to the municipality, this was in large part due to larger budgets for parks and trail maintenance and for village maintenance, with a 97.5% increase in park maintenance (totaling about $210,000) and 57.2% in the village (for about $152,000).

Question: What do you think of the 9.4 per cent tax increase?

Mark Sadler – Contractor – High Forest

I think they’re out of touch with the community. The increase shows there’s too much focus on tourism but not enough on the residents and taxpayers, and although I realize how much we need tourism I don’t think we now have a good balance between the tourism effort and the community effort. I’m just upset over the increase because taxpayers seem to end up paying for everything. I thought it was taxpayers, not tourists, who elected council.

Bob Brown – Surveyor – Whistler Highlands

I’m not happy with it but I think it’s probably required. Council does, however, have to stop somewhere with these tax increases. I think they could go up another 10 per cent and that should be it. I’m not in agreement with more money being spent on parks and trails*, but the village should stand on its own without the taxpayer paying for cleanup.

*In the next edition, a letter from Bob Brown pointed out that he had been misquoted and did agree with money spent on parks and trails because “this is the one place local residents receive equal or greater benefits than non-locals.” The Question made a note that a typo on their end changed the meaning of his answer.

Jim Bradley – Realtor – Emerald Estates

We have admittedly pretty high taxes here but I think we also have a situation that more or less demands that. Considering the increase and rise in popularity of Whistler I can’t say I’m terribly upset by the tax increase. I think we all benefit economically through tourism. If we are having tourists coming in and making our businesses work again, we have to service that.

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Whistler’s Answers: May 2, 1985Whistler’s Answers: May 2, 1985

May 2, 2024 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 1985.  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: We couldn’t find a specific story or incident that would have led to this question being asked in the spring of 1985, but if anyone remembers a problem with temporary business licences around that time we would love to know about it!

Question: Do you think it should be more difficult for someone to get a temporary business licence to operate in Whistler?

Doug Campbell – Gas Station Attendant – Brio

They should not be allowed to come up here and undercut everyone else. It’s not fair for those people here who are selling ski equipment.

David Monteith – Credit Union Teller – Whistler Cay

I think they should not just give out temporary business licences. If someone wants to start and run a year-round business, then it should be fairly easy to get one. If they want to operate just for a month or two at a time, it should be a lot more difficult.

Cherie Renville – Sportstop Clerk – Pemberton

Oh yes. I just don’t think it’s right for someone to come in and start selling merchandise at a lower price than what people here are already selling.

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