Celebrating 30 years of Whistler Blackcomb Foundation’s Winter Classic

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 3 AND 4

BY MEGAN LALONDE

THE FIRST TIME the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation (WBF) held its annual fundraising gala, the non-profit organization wasn’t even operating under its current name.

That was in 1993, when the event was held in a single room on Blackcomb Mountain, four whole years before the mountain operator merged with its rival across Fitzsimmons Creek to become one massive resort.

“It was before my time, but the foundation used to be called the Blackcomb Foundation,” explained Mei Madden, WBF’s executive director. The charity’s first fundraiser “was just on Blackcomb Mountain,” she added. “I’ve seen pictures of people going up on the chairlift with blankets on them. Of course, it was a lot smaller back then.”

Though WBF’s TELUS Winter Classic has experienced its own fair share of changes since that inaugural event, the epic, twoday annual fundraiser has cemented itself as a constant in the community over the past three decades, with TELUS serving as its title sponsor for the vast majority of those years. It remained the non-profit’s primary fundraising vehicle until the WBF’s exclusive Founders Pass program doubled in size last fall, and has raised millions for hundreds of community initiatives over the years. (The WBF gives out close to $2 million in community grants each year, and also hosts the TELUS Golf Classic each summer, which last year raised $265,000 for local charities.)

The WBF is gearing up to host its 2023 Winter Classic on March 3 and 4, featuring two “ski with a pro” days; a charity ski race; “Winetastic,” a tasting event in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s Macdonald Ballroom featuring food from some of the resort’s top eateries, drinks from top B.C. wineries, breweries and distilleries, and tunes provided by the Hairfarmers; with the extravagant Saturday night gala capping off two full days of festivities.

The gala has previously seen themes like Moulin Rouge, Alice in Wonderland and “Imagine 2120” brought bought to life with its imaginative, intricately built sets and performances. The small WBF team starts planning more than a year in advance to bring the event to fruition, Madden explained.

“For me, the main constant, honestly, is our volunteers,” she added. “We have the same people come and volunteer for us over and over and over again, year after year— some of them have been volunteering for decades … It’s just really heart-warming.”

To mark its 30th anniversary, the event is making another change: moving the gala from its usual high-altitude location in Whistler Mountain’s Roundhouse Lodge down to the valley—specifically, to the Whistler Conference Centre—for one year only. That venue has space to welcome about 1,000 people, as Madden is hoping, compared to the 700 to 800 that typically pack into the Roundhouse.

This year’s theme, “Submerse,” will bring “an underwater dream” to life in the conference centre. The WBF is currently “working around the clock” to building a variety of interactive, larger-than-life art installations for the gala, said Madden. (This year’s location means organizers didn’t have to factor in the usual limitations posed by gondolas and the Roundhouse’s typical operating hours, she added).

“To give you an idea, just the production equipment—so just sound equipment alone— we probably use about 60 gondolas full just to get it to the top, and of course, everything has to be constrained to fit into the dimensions of the gondola, and things that don’t we have to cat up … after skiing is done for the day,” Madden explained.

At “Submerse,” guests can expect to find “a cast of underwater creatures floating around,” plus a themed bar, food (including late-night snacks), live shows and performances and music courtesy of Vancouver-based band Famous Player. The grand-finale gala is easily “what I’m most excited about this year,” said Madden.

“Some of the art installations being built are just going to blow people’s minds away.”

Those interested can purchase individual tickets to the 19-plus evening events, including Winetastic ($95, plus an optional $30 more for access to the “VIP First Sip”) or the Submerse Gala ($274), though fourperson team packages offering access to the weekend’s full slate of events carry a slightly higher bang-for-buck ratio.

For $2,700, teams of four skiers and/or snowboarders receive a buffet breakfast at the Fairmont each day; lift tickets for both days; a local pro (including local celebrities and ex-Olympians) to show you around the mountain on Friday and Saturday; priority lift-line access for both days at virtually every lift (the only time throughout the year priority lift line is offered outside of Whistler Blackcomb’s ski school programs); a spot in Saturday’s ski race; as well as four Winetastic tickets and four Gala tickets.

“Frankly, this is how we support our community,” said Madden. “If you’ve ever received a grant from us, this is where our funds come from; we produce these events. So if you’re thinking about making a donation to us, just buy a ticket, and then you just have a great time and you’re also helping support the community at the same time. It’s a win-win.”

Head to whistlerblackcombfoundation. com for more information, to purchase tickets or to register a four-person team. n