Whistler Stories That Need To Be Told

There are people who work at a place, and then there are people who become a place. Bob Dufour is the latter. In 1972, a young ski instructor from Quebec's Laurentian Mountains packed his bags and headed west to join the Whistler Ski School, then led by the iconic Jim McConkey. He came for a job. He never left. When McConkey moved on in 1980, Bob was the obvious successor as director of the s...

Michael d'Artois Destination Resort Specialist - 5 decades in North America's #1 Destination Resort, Whistler, BC.  "I can't predict the future but I have experienced the many changes of growth in a small Community. The road ahead is now far shorter than the road travelled." Community engaged in the many aspects of a fast growing Community and Resort. Still living the drea...

Anton Horvath retired at the end of the 2021-22 season after more than 40 years working for the Whistler Mountain ski patrol. Anton joined the patrol team in 1979 and became a senior avalanche forecaster in 1993. He successfully supervised one of North America's biggest avalanche programs for almost 30 years. As a senior avalanche forecaster at Whistler, Anton was a constant mentor and leader...

Ann Chiasson has been in Whistler since 1977 and in real estate since 1981. With a background in management consulting, Ann brings a unique perspective to the real estate industry.  She is a problem solver, a negotiator, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a volunteer, a RE/MAX real estate broker and a business owner who works hard to ensure her clients, agents and family experience and appreciate al...

Meet Trudy Alder, a long time Whistler local, who immigrated to Canada in 1966 and came to Whistler in 1968. She and her husband worked as the caretakers at the Tyrol lodge from 1968 to 1970, were one of the first residental developers in Whistler and Trudy's Landing on Green Lake is named after her.

Brad Sills has been a notable figure in Whistler's history since the 1970s. With a background in forestry, he arrived when it was the primary industry, predating the rise of the ski and snowboard sectors. Transitioning to home building, Brad capitalized on the community's growth and established himself as a premier local luxury builder. Recognizing the need for a skilled Search and Rescu...

Living, working and recreating in Whistler is a lifestyle choice for Karen, a two-time Olympian in Alpine Skiing. Her love for Whistler began as a young girl where, even before the first chair lift was built, she was featured in promotional material to attract investors in the development of Whistler Mountain. Her family had a long history and love for skiing with her father owning the very first...

Cathy Jewett was in the forefront on many social issues in the 70s & 80s and still is as a Councillor on the Resort Municipality Of Whistler council. She was one of the first females (3 in the 60s & 70s) to become a Professional Ski Patroller with Whistler Mountain and created the conditions for equality for future female ski patrollers at Whistler/Blackcomb Mountains. It wasn't was a...

Part two of the interview with John Hetherington, Bruce's Ski Patrol Boss from back in the seventies plus so much more. John was and is an integral part of Whistler’s history and development.  An original Whistler Counciler. An original Search and Rescue volunteer. An original Whistler Heli Ski Owner and Guide. John has done so much for Whistler as a voluneer that he was the recipient of the...

Introducing John Hetherington, Bruce's Ski Patrol Boss from back in the seventies plus so much more. John was and is an integral part of Whistler’s history and development.  An original Whistler Counciler. An original Search and Rescue volunteer. An original Whistler Heli Ski Owner and Guide. John has done so much for Whistler as a voluneer that he was the recipient of the Governor General’s...

In Episode 12 I continue my conversation with Cliff Jennings - A Man with a lot of Whistler History to share starting from 1965.  Cliff has had an Epic Whistler Journey of Being the First... Employee for Garibaldi Lift Co. - Groomer and Builder of the 1st Gondola Barn and T-Bars Employee of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) Hotel Manager Search and Rescue Volunteer Climbing Guide Heli-Ski Gui...

Introducing Cliff Jennings - A Man with a lot of Whistler History to share starting from 1965. He was one of the first for many things ... Employee for Garibaldi Lift Co. - Groomer and Builder of the 1st Gondola Barn and T-Bars Employee of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) Hotel Manager Search and Rescue Volunteer Climbing Guide Heli-Ski Guide He documented his love of Whistler and the outdoo...

Chris Stethem - Honorary Member of The Canadian Avalanche Association Chris Stethem is a retired avalanche protection consultant living in Canmore, Alberta. A graduate in Geography from Queen’s University, Chris spent the 1970s overseeing the avalanche program at Whistler, BC, and completing research projects for the National Research Council of Canada and Environment Canada. This work included a...

Chris Stethem - Honorary Member of The Canadian Avalanche Association Chris Stethem is a retired avalanche protection consultant living in Canmore, Alberta. A graduate in Geography from Queen’s University, Chris spent the 1970s overseeing the avalanche program at Whistler, BC and completing research projects for the National Research Council of Canada and Environment Canada. This work included com...

Check out what happens when you believe in your dreams and you DO NOT give up. 1 - get to raise your children on the only island in Whistler - YES! Whistler does have an island 2 - get to bring Scandinave Spa to Whistler https://www.parkbridge.com/en/resort/resort-detail/riverside https://www.scandinave.com/en/whistler/ 3 - get to grow your business to the benefit of future Whistler generations ht...

Meet Nigel Woods, Chairman/Director of  Coastal Mountain Excavations Ltd. One of the best employers in the Sea to Sky corridor. https://www.coastalmountain.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/coastalmountainexcavations/ Listen how Nigel tells of his Whistler beginnings in the early 1970’s and how he quickly  realized that he wasn’t leaving.  He bought a backhoe and began clearing driveways of snow in th...

Bruce continues his interview with  Paul Mathews of Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd from Whistler, BC. Learn how The Peak 2 Peak Gondola was born. "Creative" "Innovative"  "Courageous"  Are words used by Ecosign's clients to describe their services and design solutions. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is a tricable gondola lift at Whistler Blackcomb Resort in Whistl...

Introducing Paul Mathews of Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd from Whistler, BC "Creative" "Innovative"  "Courageous"  Are words used by Ecosign's clients to describe their services and design solutions. Listen how you start a company with $1 and 10 years later you are designing Blackcomb Mountain Resort and becoming one of the most respected and sought after...

Hear how you go from operating the Whistler T-bar to becoming one of the most influential executives in the global mountain tourism business. Bruce Watt, our host, and Roger McCarthy are long time friends having met in Whistler 40+ years ago when they first arrived. Roger is described by many as an easy-going, endearing, inquisitive, driven, energetic, focused, and fun figure. Listeners will clear...

Hear how you go from operating the Whistler T-bar to becoming one of the most influential executives in the global mountain tourism business. Bruce Watt, our host, and Roger McCarthy are long time friends having met in Whistler 40+ years ago when they first arrived. Roger is described by many as an easy-going, endearing, inquisitive, driven, energetic, focused, and fun figure. Listeners will clear...

Bruce Watt, the host, is interviewed by Stef Hostetter, CEO of RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate and kicks off his podcast “Whistler Stories that Need to be Told” with funny and emotional stories of his first decade in Whistler as a Professional Patroller on Whistler Mountain and how being buried in 1978 from a large avalanche began his commitment to learning more about avalanche search and rescue whi...