Tag: Whistler Resort Association

40 Years of Conferences40 Years of Conferences

June 10, 2025 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

This year, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) will be recognizing a significant milestone when it turns 50 on September 6. The following day will also mark a pretty big milestone; September 7 will be 40 years since the official opening of the Whistler Conference Centre.

Although construction began on the site in March 1980, an economic downturn meant that it was five years before the facility was completed and the finished product was very different from the plans of 1980. The original plan for a Resort Centre included an Olympic-sized ice rink, 3×20 metre swimming pool, whirlpool, saunas, racquetball courts, squash court, locker rooms, Golf Pro Shop, and restaurant. After the project was taken by Whistler Land Co. Developments (WLC; the Crown corporation that took over the liabilities and assets of the Whistler Village Land Company) in 1983, studies reportedly found that it would be more profitable to run the facility as a conference centre than a resort recreation centre.

Drawings of the original Resort Centre design. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

Architects Edward Friederichs and Don Jewel were brought in to design “a building within a building” and reconfigure the partially built structure into a conference facility. Although construction had previously stopped in 1982, work resumed in June 1984 when WLC hired Smith Bros. and Wilson Ltd. One of the first things they did was remove the shake roof that had been put on and replace it with a steel roof with fourteen dormers, which were reportedly meant to help distribute the snow and make the building blend in more with the rest of the Village. The project was expected to be completed by June 1985.

As the completion date approached, expectations rose that the Conference Centre would bring in more visitors during Whistler’s slow months; in May 1985, three Whistler employees told the Whistler Question that they thought the Conference Centre would “even out trade throughout the year,” especially in the fall months that were “always dead.” With the ability to host events for up to 2,000 people, the Conference Centre was one of the largest such facilities in British Columbia, topped only by the Peach Bowl in Penticton. In addition to the main ballroom area, it also boasted break-out rooms on the lower level, an attached theatre, a full-service kitchen, the offices of the Whistler Resort Association (today Tourism Whistler) and a memorable atrium.

The Conference Centre atrium set up for an event in January 1990. Insight Photography Collection, Greg Eymundson

The Whistler Conference Centre opened, as expected, in June 1985 with a performance by the Anna Wyman Dance Theatre on Saturday, June 8 followed by its first convention, a 175-delegate meeting of Fibreglas Canada, beginning on Sunday, June 9. The public was invited to look around the building in early July and, according to the editorial in the Question, “they came, they saw, and they liked.”

Though it had hosted events and meetings throughout the summer, the official opening ceremony for the Conference Centre did not take place until September 7, 1985. That weekend Whistler hosted the retreat of provincial cabinet ministers, meaning that government officials were on hand for both the opening ceremony and the tenth anniversary of the RMOW.

A meeting takes place in part of the Conference Centre ballroom. Whistler Question Collection, 1995

In his address, premier Bill Bennett told the crowd that “Today, the opening of the Conference Centre is more a tribute to your optimism, your vision, and to knowing the kind of community you want” and describing the importance of Whistler as an introduction to British Columbia. His speech was followed by remarks from Chester Johnston, the chairman of WLC Developments Ltd., who thanked those who had worked on the project. The ceremony also included a performance by the Beefeaters Brass Band and a salmon barbecue.

By the time of the official opening ceremony, the Conference Centre had 50,000 delegate-days booked in 1985 and 120,000 booked for 1986, with expectations that those numbers would grow. Today, though it looks a little different than it did at its opening, the Whistler Conference Centre continues to be operated by Tourism Whistler and welcomes conferences, meetings and events to town.

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Opening Up in 1985Opening Up in 1985

November 5, 2024 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

The early years of the 1980s saw the Whistler Village begin to come together, with the first buildings completed and businesses starting to open. This growth, however, soon slowed dramatically as a major recession hit North America and Whistler’s future became very uncertain.

In 1982, Al Raine stepped down as the executive director of the Whistler Resort Association (WRA; today known as Tourism Whistler) after working pretty much non-stop on the “Whistler project” since 1975. He and Nancy decided to move to Switzerland with their sons and according to Nancy, the headlines described their move as “Rats deserting the sinking ship.” By the time they returned in 1984, the economy was beginning to turn around, though Whistler was still struggling. The Whistler Village was a mix of completed buildings next to sites of concrete and rebar, one of which the Raines decided to buy and build a hotel on.

The Raine family as they embarked on their European adventure. Whistler Question Collection, 1982

Whistler’s prospects were looking up by the end of 1985 when Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge was completed, with the WRA reporting in November that hotel bookings for the winter were already up 57% over 1984/85. This boded well for the many businesses that were getting ready to open in the Village.

As well as being a 90-room hotel, Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge also contained retail locations and the opening of the hotel also saw the opening of new businesses. The only restaurant, Isabelle’s, was named after the daughter of proprietors Curt and Monica Czerveniak and served breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Bullwinkle’s featured stained glass, Tiffany lamps and pottery while The Country Store (which also had a location in Squamish) offered various souvenirs including hand-made candles and soaps. Whistler Gifts II was also a second location, as owners Toshi and Setsuko Hamazaki also owned Whistler Gifts in the Crystal Lodge.

Can-Ski’s first Whistler location offered ski equipment and gear and the Kettle Creek Canvas Company, Sports Style (a third store for the owners of Village Sportstop and Whistler Village Sports), and More Tops (a companion to Jan Holmberg and Ted Nebbeling’s Whistler Tops) all sold various types of clothing, with More Tops even offering on-site embroidery and monogramming. Nancy T, another clothing store that catered specifically to children, was opened by Nancy Treiber.

The Brandywine Building and business signs. Blackcomb Mountain Collection, David Stoecklein, 1989/90

The final business to open in Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge was One-Hour Photo, owned by Rick Clare and Terry Heenan. The store offered camera rentals, equipment sales, and film processing, with a special 24-hour rate for locals. For the first two full months of operations, One-Hour Photo also contributed 50 cents from every roll of film processed to the Dandelion Daycare Society, which briefly had to delay opening its first daycare facility in November as they did not have enough money to finish the interior of the new building.

Further along the Village Stroll, another building of businesses opened the same month: the Brandywine Building. Though the Brandywine did offer fewer retail spaces, the building did fit in Whistler’s first 24-hour convenience store, run by Mark and June Bombay, another location of Jim McConkey’s Sports Store, and Susie Holland’s Blackcomb Therapy Centre, which sold “just about everything to soothe and rejuvenate weary skiers,” as well a few new eatery options. At Lu Gardens, Shirley Jane and her staff offered eat-in and take-out Chinese cuisine. Next door, the Original Ristorante was spread over two floors, while on Lu Garden’s other side Mikito “Miki” Homma and two friends opened up Sushi Village, Whistler’s first Japanese restaurant.

Some familiar faces at Sushi Village. Blackcomb Mountain Collection, Unknown Photographer

Many of these businesses that opened at the end of 1985 have gone or evolved significantly and the buildings that house them have changed over the past 39 years (the Brandywine is now the Sundial Hotel and Nancy Greene’s Olympic Lodge first lost the word Olympic and then became part of the Crystal Lodge). A few, however, continue on in different locations while a couple are still operating out of the same locations. Near the base of Whistler Mountain, the Original Ristorante changed its name in 1995, taking after its owner Lawrence Black and rebranding as Black’s Pub while Sushi Village continues to operate just two doors down.

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Fall FestivitiesFall Festivities

October 8, 2024 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

While many locals escape Whistler for the fall months, the town can have much to offer in terms of fall festivities. Whistler has been hosting fabulous events from hot air balloon rides and firework displays to mouthwatering food and drink festivals for decades.

The first Fall Fair was organized in 1977 by the Alta Lake Community Club (ALCC) and took place in November at the Myrtle Philip School. The ALCC worked with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club’s Ski Swap to create a late autumn fundraising event where participants could buy crafts and baked goods, view ski demonstrations, and purchase raffle tickets. Over time, the Fall Fair became one of the ALCC’s most successful fundraisers, with 1980 being its most successful year.

A study in concentration – Trev Roote carves out house number signs at the Fall Fair. Whistler Question Collection

In 1981, the Fall Festival was organized by the Whistler Resort Association (WRA; better known today as Tourism Whistler). A more expansive version of the previous Fall Fair, the festival featured arts, crafts, performers, and plenty of athletic endeavours to participate in or watch such as tennis, volleyball, and softball. In addition to the land-bound activities, there were also opportunities to see the valley from above. Blackcomb Mountain offered free chairlift rides during the festival and Chuck Bump’s hot air balloon, labelled as the “World’s Largest Hot Air Balloon,” was also available for aerial sightseeing. As the first half of the Whistler Village was still under construction in 1981, the inaugural festival included a Paint a Snowflake contest that left some of the fences surrounding construction sites covered in snowflakes. The Fall Festival was also the first big event attended by Willie Whistler, the mascot of WRA, who was joined in Village Square by Bo Bo the Clown.

Willie Whistler takes a ride with Bo Bo the Clown during the Fall Festival in Village Square. Whistler Mountain Ski Corporation Collection.

This exciting version of the Fall Festival continued for the next four years. Although this festival no longer takes place, Whistler is home to a wide variety of events every fall. These days we can look forward to the Whistler Village Beer Festival, the Whistler Blackcomb Turkey Sale, the Writers Festival, and, of course, Cornucopia.

Crowds gather on the field for the Tapley’s Farm Halloween fireworks display. Whistler Question Collection, 1994.

It is impossible to write about fall events without describing Whistler’s long-standing Halloween celebrations! With fewer stairs than most other neighbourhoods in the area, Tapley’s has been the go-to neighbourhood for young trick-or-treaters for many years. Over time, extra precautions have been put in place to protect and entertain the little ghosts and goblins in the area, including closing the road to cars and holding neighbourhood competitions for the best decorated house. Last year was Tapley’s 40th annual Halloween celebration. Complete with free hot cocoa and fireworks, the neighbourhood not only did a fantastic job maintaining the Halloween spirit but also helped raise 400 kg in donations for the Whistler Food Bank as part of the WE Scare Hunger campaign. However you enjoy the season, stay warm this fall and treat yourself to whatever pumpkin or cinnamon flavoured treat your heart desires!

Ella Healey was the Summer Program Coordinator at the Whistler Museum through the Young Canada Works Program. She has now returned to her studies at the University of Victoria.

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Skiing with Al RaineSkiing with Al Raine

June 11, 2024 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 4 Comments

In 1971, the Alpine Program Director of the Canadian National Ski Team penned an instructional book for skiers, from beginners to experts. The book was titled Skiing with Al Raine and was written, as you might have guessed, by Al Raine. It was a continuation of the nationally syndicated newspaper column, “SKIING with Al Raine,” which he began writing in 1969 and, like the other instructional skiing books found in the Whistler Museum’s resource library, is a guide for those looking to improve their skiing long before the internet made such information so easily accessible.

Nancy and Al Raine on Blackcomb Mountain. Greg Griffith Collection

Similar to both Ski with Toni Sailer from 1964 and Greg Athans’ Ski Free from 1978, Skiing with Al Raine offers skiers information about choosing ski equipment, how to prepare the body for skiing, and different techniques for turns and maneuvers, while also encouraging more formal instruction with a ski instructor as well. In the introduction, Raine acknowledges that there have already been multiple books written about ski technique, but claims that most do not emphasize one of the most important parts of learning to ski: “developing your own style.” He also makes a point of knowing when to stop skiing, skipping a run when you are tired, and the importance of taking a hot chocolate or coffee break.

Written specifically for the Canadian skier, Skiing with Al Raine also includes brief descriptions of the different ski areas across the country. Of the Whistler ski area of 1971, it says “Whistler Mountain is certainly renowned for its Olympic bid, summer skiing potential, tremendous scenery, and the honeymoon of Pierre Elliot Trudeau” and that “each year skiing and skier atmosphere improves greatly.”

Jogging and running was encouraged as a way to stay in shape for skiing. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

Al Raine and his wife Nancy Greene (1968 Olympic medallist and Canada’s Female Athlete of the 20th Century) moved to the Whistler area in 1973. Raine then became the Ski Area Coordinator for British Columbia and when the Resort Municipality of the Whistler was formed in 1975 was appointed to the Whistler council, a position he held until 1982.

The Whistler Museum will be joined by Al Raine and Drew Meredith (Whistler Mayor 1986-1990, realtor, and supposed lottery winner of 1982) to discuss not skiing but the origins and early years of the Whistler Resort Association (WRA) tomorrow (Wednesday, June 12) for our next Speaker Series. The WRA, better known today as Tourism Whistler, began as an amendment to the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act in 1979, a time when a lot of change was happening in the Whistler area. We’re looking forward to learning more about its history and a time when Whistler’s future was, to many, anything but clear.

Al Raine discusses the planning of the Whistler Village. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

On Saturday, June 15 the Whistler Museum will be talking about skiing with Jim McConkey, who instructed countless people to ski through both the written word and as the director of the Whistler Mountain Ski School. This will be the second film screening of 16mm films from the Whistler Museum’s archival collections, which have recently been digitized on new equipment thanks to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. You can find out more about both events here.

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