Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler (Lillooet/Ucwalmícwts: Cwitima, IPA: [xʷetemɛ]; Squamish/Sḵwx̱wú7mesh: Sḵwiḵw, IPA: [sqʷɛqʷ]) is a resort municipality in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia, Canada.[4][5] It is located in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, approximately 125 km (78 mi) north of Vancouver and 36 km (22 mi) south of Pemberton. It has a permanent population of approximately 13,982 (2021),[3] as well as a larger but rotating population of seasonal workers.
This article is about the resort municipality. For the ski resort operation, see Whistler Blackcomb.Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and snowboarding and, in the summer, mountain biking at Whistler Blackcomb. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards, and Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler hosted most of the alpine, Nordic, luge, skeleton, and bobsled events.
Activities[edit]
Whistler is known for its skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Other winter activities that are enjoyed in Whistler are cross country skiing, skate skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, telemark skiing, and tobogganing. Summer activities enjoyed in Whistler include golfing, fishing, trail running, mountain biking, outdoor yoga, and hiking.
For skiing, arguably the main attraction of Whistler, the different run difficulties (easiest to hardest) are green (circle), blue (square), black (diamond), and double black (diamond). Throughout the year each run's difficulty stays the same.[17] There are many signs around the mountain that indicate the difficulty of the runs and there are "expert only" signs at the bottom of some chairlifts indicating that most of the runs accessible from that chair are black diamonds or double black diamonds.
1968 and 1976 Winter Olympic bids[edit]
Until the 1960s, this quiet area was without basic infrastructure. There were no sewage facilities, water, or electricity, and no road from Squamish or Vancouver. In 1962, four Vancouver businessmen began to explore the area with the intent of building a ski resort and bidding for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Garibaldi Lift Company was formed, shares were sold, and in 1966, Whistler Mountain opened to the public.
Later, the town, then still known as Alta Lake, was offered the 1976 Winter Olympics after the selected host city Denver declined the games due to funding issues. Alta Lake Whistler declined as well, after elections ushered in a local government less enthusiastic about the Olympics. The 1976 Winter Olympics were ultimately held in Innsbruck, Austria.
Directions[edit]
Whistler is located on the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99), which goes from the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Surrey, British Columbia to the Cariboo Highway (Highway 97) 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Cache Creek, British Columbia. North of Whistler is Pemberton, British Columbia, which is about 23 km (14 mi) north of the mountain village. Also north is Lillooet, British Columbia, which is 122 km (76 mi) north of Whistler. South of the village is Squamish, British Columbia, about a 53 km (33 mi) drive. Also located south is Vancouver, which is 125 km (78 mi) south of the village.
Education[edit]
The School District 48 Sea to Sky operates public schools in Whistler. There are two elementary schools, Myrtle Phillip Elementary and Spring Creek Elementary. There is one high school in the community, it is named Whistler Secondary School.
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one Francophone primary school in that city: the école La Passerelle.[34]
Media[edit]
Print media[edit]
Whistler has one weekly newspaper, Pique Newsmagazine, published every Friday. The Whistler Answer was published intermittently from 1977 to the 1990s. The Lost Duck is a monthly events guide and calendar that lists what is happening in the resort. Other tourist-oriented, print media such as FAQ, Visitors Choice and Whistler Magazine are published from quarterly to once or twice a year.
View of Whistler from Whistler Mountain.
Ice sailing in Whistler.
Whistler Mountain as seen from Nita Lake in summer
The "Stairway To Heaven" area boundary on Blackcomb Mountain in winter.
