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 Fall Festival took place from Saturday, September 22 to Sunday, September 23, 1984. It featured puppet shows and musical performances in Village Square, sport competitions and horseback riding at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, and movies and contests in Mountain Square, as well as a bonfire to Ullr in the Day Skier Parking Lot. There were also carnival rides, Village tours, treasure hunts, craft demonstrations, and even the Terry Fox Run. Even though the Saturday was slightly cooler than expected, the weather cooperated for the mostly-outdoor festival.
Question: What did you think of Fall Festival?
Bob Mallet – Morgan’s Dad – Whistler
What I liked about it was the diversity of activity. There were a lot of different things to do. The comics in the square were a world apart from the rides in the VIP lot and those were a world apart from the musicians. When my three-year-old enjoys it, it’s a good barometer.
Sid & Luke – Soup-line Waiters – In the Park
We just came in and grabbed this here bench and all these people stared at us. We liked the bake sale. Next year they should have a bake sale and free drinks for everybody too. Then more of our friends would come up. We’d be happy to come back to Pemberton in the future.
Nila Hajevsky – Unemployed – Alpine Meadows
I thought it was good for Whistler. Kids really enjoyed it too. The fold singing was particularly good, and there was a general congenial atmosphere. Now it’s be quiet until November, so it was a good way to end the summer.
With restaurants, bars, and even a beer festival earlier this month, there are quite a few places in Whistler today serving alcohol. From stories of Alex Philip sharing a few drinks with guests in the 1920s, the Witsend girls getting their gin discreetly delivered in a shoebox by train int he 1950s, and a homebrew contest being established in the 1970s, we know that visitors and residents of the area have been bringing and making their own drinks for decades. While searching through past editions of the Whistler Question, however, we came across a three part series written by Stew Muir and Kevin Griffin in 1984 entitled “Bar Wars,” in which the two looked at the history of licenced establishments in the valley.
Paul Burrows carries a few cases inside Whistler’s liquor store. Whistler Question Collection.
Liquor regulations in British Columbia meant that until the mid-1950s, liquor could only be served in beer parlours, social clubs, and veterans clubs, and these venues had strict regulations around entertainment and food (both forbidden in beer parlours), as well as how liquor was served. According to “Bar Wars,” Rainbow Lodge got is licence after these regulations changed int he mid-1950s (years after Alex and Myrtle Philip had sold the lodge and retired), followed by Hillcrest Lodge in 1961. After Whistler Mountain opened for skiing during the winter of 1965/66, ski lodges like Mount Whistler Lodge (formerly Hillcrest) and the Cheakamus Inn served guests and visitors in lounges and, in some cases, restaurants. The Christiana Inn, opened by Sandy and Puddy Martin in 1967, included a lounge and dining room and was reportedly the first establishment in BC to be licensed to serve liquor outdoors on their poolside patio.
When Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. opened L’Après at the base of Whistler Mountain in 1968, it was not connected to any accommodations and so was regulated differently than the lodges. According to Jack Bright, then the mountain manager for the lift company, L’Après was granted a cabaret licence, which required that any alcohol be served with food and that patrons pay a fee to enter. A lift ticket was accepted as proof of payment and L’Apès became known for fondue, though Bright recalled one RCMP constable who was not convinced that fondue fulfilled the food requirements.
Excitement abounds at the ‘boat races’ at L’Apres Beach Party, an event that the RCMP constable most likely would not have approved of. Whistler Question Collection.
Through the 1970s, more options were opened to thirsty skiers (and non-skiers). The Ski Boot Motel, which had opened in the late 1960s, added a beer parlour and dining room in 1972 and, according to Muir and Griffin, was the first place in Whistler to receive a licence to serve draft beer rather than bottled. (Though they don’t name their sources, they also reported “Locals helped build the bar addition to the existing hotel in the early 1970s. Some wanted the new pub so badly they worked for free.”) Restaurants such as Rudi’s Steakhouse were licensed to serve alcohol with meals and in 1974, the Keg N’ Cleaver restaurant, better known as The Keg, opened on the shores of Alta Lake at Adventures West. The Highland Lodge received its liquor licence in 1978.
According to Allan Gould, at one time the general manager of the Liquor Control and Licencing Branch of BC, the 1970s also saw the government bring in special recreational centre licences for ski resorts and so the lift company was able to get a licence for the Roundhouse. Leo Lucas, who worked as a bartender at the Roundhouse, recalled that they served only beer and wine, all poured into plastic cups to reduce the potential hazards of broken bottles.
The Keg building at its original location in Adventures West. Garibaldi’s Whistler News.
By the time businesses began opening in the Whistler Village in the 1980s, the regulations around liquor in BC had changed a lot from the requirements of the 1920s and food and entertainment of various types could be found alongside liquor in pubs, bars and restaurants. Since Muir and Griffin’s “Bar Wars” series of 1984, regulations have continued to change and many more licenced establishment have opened, closed, and evolved in Whistler.
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: With the development of Whistler Village and as part of an ongoing effort to increase summer business, the early 1980s saw more events and festivals happening in Whistler, and not all of them were related to sports. However, there were still relatively few concerts, performances or other cultural events when compared to the selection available in larger towns and cities or more established resort and recreational areas.
Question: Would you like to see more cultural events in Whistler?
Kay Beckon & Wendy Downes – Waitress & Longhorn Manager – Brio & Alta Vista
Most definitely! We enjoyed last year’s plays by Peak Performers and would like to see more of the same in the future.
Myette Raynes – Waitress – Alpine Meadows
Yes, I would. It is important for the children of our community to have the advantage of viewing cultural events.
Kevin Burton with son Chris – Bartender – Brio
Yes, I think more cultural events would really benefit the Whistler community.
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 the August 30, 1984 edition of the Whistler Question, a letter to the editor called for more wheelchair ramps to be installed in the Whistler Village, which had very few at the time. This letter was supported by another letter in the September 13, 1984 edition in which the letter writer described how she saw two wheelchair users from her office window who became increasingly frustrated while trying a ramp to access Village Square. In 1985, the year after this question was posed to Question readers, Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion Tour raised awareness of accessibility throughout Canada and internationally.
Question: Do you think more handicapped access is needed in the Village?
Yes, I definitely do. I feel it’s lacking – you don’t see any ramps. It seems as if the stores and restaurants want to cater to people who are not handicapped. I’m sure there are always ways of improving it without tremendous expense. It’s a matter of wanting to do it.
Hatto Horn – Chef – Alta Vista
It would make a difference to have a few ramps. They should do it, it wouldn’t cost that much.
Barbara Voncina – Housekeeper – Tapley’s Farm
It’s always a problem getting into a major building (with a stroller). I would say just one ramp in a central location would help.
