Whistler Magazine Summer 2021 by Pacific Coastal Publications LP

SUMMER/ FALL 2021

WHISTLER’S PREMIER P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C E 1980

M AG A Z I N E

NAME DROPPING Whistler’s trailbuilders find inspiration for hundreds of trail names

COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE

Please enjoy and take this copy with you!

Charlie Easton

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

ENJOY THE GIBBONS EXPERIENCE AT HOME

TAKEOUT & DELIVERY PIZZA | BURGERS | WINGS & MORE!

GET 10% OFF GIBBONSWHISTLER.COM/TAKEOUT

E S T.

2014

ENTER PROMO CODE: WHISTLERMAG WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

Engel & Engel Völkers & Whistler Völkers Whistler

contents ARTS SCENE: Art of Our Area 19

DEPARTMENTS

BY MEGAN LALONDE

Editor’s Greeting 9

MOUNTAIN BIKING: Naming Rights 24

Trail Mix:

BY ALISON TAYLOR

19 Things to Do During a Global Pandemic 10

FACES OF WHISTLER: Community Connectors 29 BY BRADEN DUPUIS

REAL ESTATE: The Mountains are Calling 32 BY ALISON TAYLOR

WHISTLER HOMES: Simplicity Meets Elegance 40

Mountain Roots 16

Shopping Whistler 58 Services Directory 65 Maps 66

BY ALISON TAYLOR

DINING SCENE: Closing the Gap 46 BY ALYSSA NOEL

WINE: Patio Wines for a Safe Summer 51 BY SAMANTHA RAHN VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS/GETTY IMAGES

CASUAL DINING: Stellar Sandwiches 55 BY GAIL JOHNSON COVER PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA

Mountain bikers explore the Soo Valley area between Whistler and Pemberton.

CONTRIBUTORS

DAVID BUZZARD is a commercial, architectural, and food photographer based in Whistler and Vancouver. He has won nine press awards for photojournalism for the Whistler Question and The Squamish Chief.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

BRADEN DUPUIS is a transplanted Saskatchewan flatlander lost in the Whistler mountains. He spends his days working as a reporter for Pique Newsmagazine. His mom still thinks he is brilliant.

GAIL JOHNSON is an award-winning journalist who writes regularly for the Globe and Mail, Yahoo Canada and the Georgia Straight and is a food columnist for CBC Radio.

MEGAN LALONDE graduated with a degree from Carleton University's School of Journalism. She writes and handles all things social media for Pique Newsmagazine and Vancouver is Awesome.

Originally from Alberta, ALYSSA NOEL is Pique Newsmagazine’s assistant editor. She has an M.A. in arts and culture reporting, and her work has appeared in various publications throughout Canada.

HOME

AT SQU CH ®

THE SA F O

I ST L E R ~

ir a n ope

Your adventure awaits Ziptrek Ecotours hosts a selection of breathtaking zipline tours. Our wilderness adventure area is located directly above Whistler Village, in the spectacular temperate rainforest valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

Discover eco-exhilaration®

ziptrek.com 604.935.0001 WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

SUMMER/FALL 2021

What is your favourite Whistler trail name, and why? GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERTISING/OPERATIONS

Catherine Power-Chartrand EDITOR

Alison Taylor

Named after a trail builder whose work is all over the valley, “Danimal" is always one of the first trails I ride every spring, so its name is connected to that early season excitement. Can’t help but give a shout out to “See Colours and Puke” too cause it’s exactly how I feel after that climb!

“Salsa Verde” – my man Steve built and named this secret trail after our favourite tableside condiment we lived off in El Salvador. The trail is as green and spicy as the sauce from Central America.

ART DIRECTOR

Shelley Ackerman

“LSD” – it is flowy, trippy and super cool with big mushrooms growing out of old growth trees and super sized foliage!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Braden Dupuis Gail Johnson Megan Lalonde Alyssa Noel Samantha Rahn PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

David Buzzard Abby Cooper Mike Crane Justa Jeskova Darby Magill Robin O’Neill Ema Peter Logan Swayze Getty Images Tourism Whistler PRESIDENT, WHISTLER PUBLISHING LP

Sarah Strother

The variety and irreverence of local bike trail names is one of my favourite things about Whistler. It’s hard to single out just one, but the name “Dirt Merchant” has always been a favourite. "Kill Me Thrill Me" is one of Whistler's originals, and some 25 years ago it was a real introduction to technical riding that definitely 'thrilled' me!

ACCOUNTING

Heidi Rode CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION

Denise Conway

Whistler Magazine (ISSN-0835-5460) is published twice annually by WHISTLER PUBLISHING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a division of GLACIER MEDIA GROUP 202-1390 Alpha Lake Road, Whistler, B.C., Canada, V8E 0H9 Phone 604-938-0202 | Fax 604-938-0201 Email: cpower@whistlermagazine.com Also publishers of Pique Newsmagazine, weekly on Thursdays, piquenewsmagazine.com

PRINTED IN CANADA One-year (2 issues) subscription: $20 within Canada, $30 to the USA, $45 overseas. Call to charge to VISA, MasterCard or American Express. Copyright © 2021, by Glacier Media Group. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

STOCKSTUDIOX/GETTY IMAGES

editor’s message

AFTER A CHALLENGING YEAR, WHISTLER BUSINESSES ARE PREPARING FOR A BUSY SUMMER SEASON.

FOR THE LOVE OF WHISTLER – SUPPORT LOCAL

E I N G “A L O C A L” I N W H I S T L E R has always been something of a point of pride. It means you’ve put in some time here. You’ve weathered some storms; you’ve celebrated some good times too. You know how things work. You know, for example, that you shouldn’t drive south of the Village at 3:30 p.m. on winter weekends (just after the mountain closes). You know that the Pique comes out every Thursday morning, full of the news of the week. You not only know the names of the bike trails, you know the legends behind the names. You know how crucial it is to pay your WORCA membership dues, given that our bike trails have been built tirelessly on the backs of volunteers. You know better than to drive to Rainbow Park or Lakeside Park on a warm summer’s day. Locals just know. But maybe we need to reinvent what it truly means to be “a local.” Maybe it’s not about how much time you’ve put in here, how many

ALISON TAYLOR Editor

legendary parties you remember, or having the inside scoop on the latest news. Being a true local should be a reflection of the love you feel for this place, whether you’re a longtime ski bum, a newly arrived seasonal worker, a weekend warrior, or a new family who wants to set down roots. There is no better time than now to show your love for Whistler. So, go to a local restaurant this summer and spend some time on a patio watching the world go by. Or grab take out and head to one of the parks. We have great suggestions in the pages of this magazine. Check out some “Stellar Sandwiches” in our casual dining story.

Find your favourite après spot and revel in this unique part of our mountain culture. It’s even better if you drink the local beer or spirits! Visit a business that you’ve never been to before. Check out our Mountain Roots page for some entrepreneurial suggestions. Take the time to explore the art of our area and support a local artist. And get outside. To our parks. To our Valley Trail. To our golf courses. To our lakes and rivers. Commit to doing one new outdoor adventure, be it Vallea Lumina, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola or whitewater rafting. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the power of working toward a common and collective goal. Let that goal be to show a little local love. And let’s all do our part to make sure Whistler is ready to welcome the world back... when the time is right.

Alison WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

BY ALISON TAYLOR

19 THINGS TO DO [ DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC ]

Another summer of COVID-19 regulations is shaping the 2021 sunny season in Whistler. And yet, Whistler offers the perfect respite from the pandemic with its abundance of outdoor activities that are safe and fun for the whole family. Among the lessons this global pandemic has taught us is that being outside in nature is safe, healthy, and good for the soul. As a nod to remaining vigilant this summer, here are 19 socially distant activities to consider during your time in Whistler, with a few indoor options too. Check whistler.com for Tourism Whistler’s Doors Open Directory for the most up-to-date information on local businesses and read up on their COVID-19 health and safety plans.

BOASTING RIGHTS

RY THE LONGEST ZIPLINE IN CANADA and the U.S. by stepping into the abyss and ziplining more than two kilometres down the mountain. It’s called the Sasquatch and it’s truly a monster of a zipline! Or, try the worldrecord-breaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola — the highest cable car above ground at 436 metres (1,439 feet) and also part of the longest continuous lift system in the world. Or, brave the fastest sliding track in the world at the Whistler Sliding Centre. There is no ice for the summer bobsleigh tours but you’ll get the sense of just how fast these sliding athletes can go.

TOUCH THE CLOUDS The Cloudraker Skybridge is Whistler Blackcomb’s stunning suspension bridge, stretching across the peak of Whistler Mountain. The 130-metre bridge will take your breath away. Once you’re at the top, the mountains are yours to explore. Skybridge was closed last year due to COVID restrictions. Check whistlerblackcomb.com before you go.

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

CRUISING THE RIVER OF GOLDEN DREAMS

H E T H E R I T ’ S B Y PA D D L E B O A R D , C A N O E O R K AYA K , M E A N D E R I N G T H E River of Golden Dreams is an adventure for everyone. Rent a boat from Backroads Whistler. You can hire a guide to lead the way or try a self-guided trip. Either way, you’re guaranteed a great time and a chance to experience Whistler from a different vantage point. www.backroadswhistler.com 10

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

TRAIL MIX

SWIMMING SPOTS

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

T DOESN’T GET MUCH MORE REFRESHING THAN TAKING A DIP in a Whistler lake. There are five valley lakes—Lost, Alta, Nita, Green and Alpha—each with something unique to recommend it. Lost Lake, for example, is close to the Village, surrounded by Lost Lake Park, and full of hiking and mountain biking trails. Green Lake, so named for its spectacular colour, stretches along the north end of town beside Nicklaus North Golf Club and the float plane dock. Alta Lake is dotted with amazing parks like Lakeside Park where you can rent paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

4 WHISTLER FARMERS’ MARKET c The always popular Whistler Farmers’ Market is back again this

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

summer. Beginning May 23 until October 10, the market will be open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its new outdoor home in the parking lot of the Whistler Racket Club. It will feature 50 vendors each week with lots of locally made fare from farm-fresh veggies to handcrafted treasures such as jewelry and metal art. The Whistler Racket Club will also host additional programming on market days, including roller disco for kids, axe throwing and more. Visit whistlerfarmersmarket.org.

S THERE A NYT H ING AS M AG ICA L AS S EEI N G A black bear in its natural habitat? If you don’t want to rely on your luck, jump on a Whistler Bear Viewing Tour which will take you by 4x4 to Whistler Olympic Park to safely view its resident black bears and their cubs. Even locals, who have seen their fair share of black bears over their years in Whistler, can’t help but stop and stare. Do your part to keep our bears safe while you’re here. Follow all Bear Safe protocols. Check out whistler.com

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

BEAR TIME

COLD PLUNGE To get the full benefits of hydrotherapy, you need to step outside your comfort zone and into the icy outdoor baths at the Scandinave Spa. Nestled in the forest on the edge of Lost Lake Park, the Scandinave Spa is a haven of relaxation with steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs and the requisite cold plunge baths. Recharge and reconnect with yourself in this stunning natural setting on the edge of Lost Lake Park. Check out scandinave.com >>

TRAIL MIX 19 THINGS TO DO FOOD TRUCK FARE

This has never been as important as it is right now as we rally together in our efforts to support our local businesses in their recovery efforts. Grab some take out. Spend some time on a patio. Take home a keepsake memory of Whistler.

8 NIGHT WALK

HEN THE SUN G OES DOW N, T H E forest comes alive at Cougar Mountain. Vallea Lumina is a walk in the forest unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. This is a must-do Whistler adventure for the whole family that combines nature with a state-of-the-art multi-media show. Think talking trees and flying fish! After the forest show, you can chill fireside at the basecamp with hot chocolate. The summer season runs nightly from May 19 to Oct. 11. Check out vallealumina.com for more information.

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

TOURISM WHISTLER/BRUNO DESTOMBS

HE LOCAL FOOD TRUCK SCENE will be better than ever this summer. There’s everything from freshly made gelato and smoothies to mouthwatering burgers and crêpes. It’s one less thing to think about as you prepare for your day at the lakes. And, the food is always top-notch!

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

SUPPORT LOCAL

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Check out the new Boarder X exhibit at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre this summer. Boarder X is an interdisciplinary contemporary art exhibition by Indigenous Canadian artists who surf, skate and snowboard and highlights challenges to the status quo. The exhibit runs at the SLCC until Sept. 6, 2021. Check out slcc.ca for more.

TOURISM WHISTLER/ BLAKE JORGENSON

TOURISM WHISTLER/BRETT HITCHENS

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

O MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT WHISTLER’S MOST POPULAR PARKS, do a little research before you go. Parking is always a challenge at hotspots like Lakeside Park, Rainbow Park and Wayside Park. Consider getting there on your own steam: rent a bike, walk the Valley Trail, or take the local bus. You won’t have to worry about feeding the parking meters and you can check out more Whistler sights along the way. Do a little research at whistler.ca to make the most of your time at the local parks where you can soak up the sun, rent a boat, hit the docks and more.

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

13 APRÈS EVERYTHING! Typically associated with an “after ski” celebration, in Whistler you can après anything! Après bike? Most definitely. Après hike? For sure. Après swim? Of course. The key to a great après is finding the perfect location (Whistler has you covered with so many great patios offering fabulous food and drink) and celebrating a day well spent in the mountains.

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

FOUR WHEEL TOURS

E T T I N G I N TO T H E B AC KC O U N T RY on your own steam is always rewarding and fun but to really get the heart pumping and to experience something a little out of the ordinary, think about different modes of backcountry travel. Think off-road buggy tours or ATV tours or Jeep 4x4 tours. It’s a revving, rugged road that opens to the most spectacular wilderness in the world. Check out canadianwilderness.com >>

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

TRAIL MIX 19 THINGS TO DO THE ART OF AUDAIN

16 TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

SWING TIME

TAKE A HIKE

Four championship golf courses in the area mean there is no shortage of opportunities to practice your swing. It doesn’t get much more picture perfect than golfing at the base of Mount Currie at the Big Sky Golf Club in Pemberton or overlooking Green Lake at Nicklaus North Golf Course. You’re almost guaranteed to see a black bear at the Whistler Golf Club. And, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler course is challenging and rewarding.

Getting into the forest and the alpine has been a favourite pastime during the pandemic. There are so many hikes in the area from long, rewarding day trips like Rainbow Mountain to multiday adventures like the hike to Garibaldi Lake.

HELI ADVENTURE

O TRULY APPRECIATE “SUPER, NATURAL British Columbia,” check out the Sea to Sky corridor from the sky. There are all kinds of adventures: heli-picnics, heli-fishing, heli-yoga. Visit far-flung glaciers and remote icefields. Fly by the iconic Black Tusk spire and over the crystal blue waters of alpine lakes. Check out blackcombhelicopters.com

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

TOURISM WHISTLER/JUSTA JESKOVA

TOURISM WHISTLER/KARINA ERHARDT

17 TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

Like finding peace in the forest, there is peace and calmness waiting for you at the Audain Art Museum. Here, you can wander through the personal art collection of philanthropist Michael Audain and see stunning pieces of the art of this province, including the largest private collection of Emily Carr’s paintings. Find your favourite pieces and settle in for a while. For operating hours, go to audainartmuseum.com

COMEBACK COUNTDOWN! Summer is certainly spectacular in Whistler but winter is a snowy wonderland—skiing, snowboarding, skating, cross-country skiing, backcountry adventures, cozy fires and so much more. Plan your comeback. W

Whistler’s Premier Shopping Centre

Whistler Kitchen Works The Royal Taste of India

EXPERIENCE WHISTLER’S PREMIER SHOPPING CENTRE. OFFERING A VARIETY OF SPECIALTY BOUTIQUES, RESTAURANTS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. Owned and Managed by

www.headwaterprojects.ca

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

TRAIL MIX MOUNTAIN ROOTS BUY LOCAL, BUILD COMMUNITY

COURTESY BABALICIOUS

global pandemic can’t dampen the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in Whistler. Check out the latest and greatest innovations making a mark in the mountains. —-By Alison Taylor

NOT JUST DELICIOUS, IT’S BABALICIOUS c LOCAL CHEFS ÉTIENNE AND LESLIE “BABA” GARNEAU HAVE BEEN KEEPING WHISTLER

to create the Forecast brand for his new coffee shop in Function Junction, it was a natural step to start a line of his own Forecast coffee. Working with his team and his Vancouver-based roaster, Salusbury developed a delicious flavour profile for a full line of coffees. Made from certified organic beans, you can get the medium/dark Expedition or go even darker with Hero-Dirt. There’s a Bluebird Light and the Inversion Espresso. The names are tied to the mountains in keeping with the ethos and culture of the company, and designed to evoke the feelings and emotions of living and recreating here. “That’s what’s in our blood,” says Salusbury. The coffee is sold in Salusbury’s Whistler’s stores: Forecast in Function and both The Lift and Gone Eatery in Whistler Village. Check out forecastcoffee.ca to order. 16

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

ONE SMALL PIN CAN REMIND PEOPLE they are not alone, especially as we continue to deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ReachOut! Whistler pin, with majestic Black Tusk standing tall, is an ongoing local campaign to raise awareness and funds for mental health and wellbeing programs. The pins, designed by local artist Aurora Moore, are $8 with proceeds going to Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS). You can find them at the Re-UseIt Centre at 8000 Nesters Road or at the Maury Young Arts Centre in the Village. This is a joint initiative between Arts Whistler and WCSS.

COURTESY MIRIAM DE LANGLEY

WHAT’S THE FORECAST? c WHEN CEO JIM SALUSBURY DECIDED

PIN IT FOR MENTAL HEALTH

CUSTOM CREATIONS c IT TOOK MIRIAM DE

COURTESY WCSS

COURTESY FORECAST COFFEE COMPANY

sated and happy ever since starting their ready-made meal service just over a year ago. Their meals, which range from mouth-watering curries to traditional beef bourguignon and more, come vacuum packed and frozen. All you have to do is pop the bags in water, simmer for 20 minutes then get ready to enjoy gourmet food at home or on the road. Babalicious can travel on any camping trip, elevating fireside meals everywhere with wholesome and delicious fare. Étienne and Leslie are long-time local chefs at Whistler’s tony RimRock Café. Order your next meal or plan ahead for a busy week at babaliciouswhistler.com

LANGLEY four years to learn the unique process of goldsmithing—transforming molten gold into something beautiful and timeless. That training, as well as her degree in fine arts, ultimately led her to a studio in Pemberton where she now creates stunning custom jewelry. Every precious gemstone, every unique diamond is ethically sourced, meaning there are no conflict stones used in de Langley’s creations. She works with her clients to create something they’ll love as well as something that fits into their lifestyle. After honing her craft on the west coast for the last several years, de Langley is now focusing on high-end custom work such as engagement rings and bridal jewelry. See more creations at miriamdelangley.com W

WHISTLER’S ICONIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT Best New Restaurant - Where Whistler Magazine

f o r re s e rv a t i o n s v is it

ILCAMINETTO.CA 4242 VILLAGE STROLL

604 932 4442

ILCAMINETTO.CA

SLCC

DUAL ADMISSION CULTURAL PASS Whistler’s Essential Arts + Culture Experience

Purchase pass at whistler.com/arts | Plan your visit at slcc.ca and audainartmuseum.com

Xwalacktun, He-yay meymuy (Big Flood), 2014-2015, aluminum with LED lights, Audain Art Museum Collection, Purchased with funds from the Audain Foundation, photo by James Dow

arts scene

ART OF OUR AREA THREE ARTISTS WHOSE DEPICTIONS OF BEAUTIFUL B.C. WILL INSPIRE YOU TO EXPLORE

STORY BY MEGAN L ALO ND E

ABOVE: "AUGUST MOON OVERLORD" BY BRENT LYNCH, FROM MOUNTAIN GALLERIES AT THE FAIRMONT, DEPICTS THE OVERLORD GLACIER.

s a kid growing up in southwest British Columbia, Mother Nature drew Brent Lynch to Whistler long before the allure of honing his raw creativity at art school won out. “For a long time, Whistler was a real playground for me. It was back in the ’60s and ’70s—I date myself now—but there wasn't much up there, and we were hard-core,” he recalls. “We skied, big time.” But even when education and career became priorities, the call of the mountains remained constant. “When I went to art school, I didn’t really sign up to stay indoors all my life,” he says, over the phone from his Vancouver Island studio. Among other gigs, Lynch worked as a graphic designer for Blackcomb Mountain back in its early days, creating promotional content—including the

famed fighter-jet posters for the Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme—before pivoting to focus on his own artwork. Today, his impressionismmeets-realism paintings hang at Mountain Galleries in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. As an en plein air painter, an artist who paints “in the open air,” Lynch relies on his field sketches, memory, imagination and his familiarity with the local landscape to successfully depict recognizable landmarks through his brush strokes. Some spots lie on the valley floor—Lost Lake, for instance— while others rest a few thousand feet closer to the atmosphere, from Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge to the imposing Overlord Glacier. (Many of the same spots that now draw countless tourists through Instagram geotags.) Experiencing a location and capturing that memory on canvas can sometimes offer a different >>

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

ABBY COOPER

experience than an endless stream of Instagram posts, muses Benjamin McLaughlin, director of communications for Mountain Galleries. “I think there's a bit more nuance to that approach, and it inherently allows for a bit of artistic liberty,” he says. “In my opinion, there's a level of authenticity that's hard to describe that I think you get from an original work of art, that sometimes photographs can’t capture.” That said, McLaughlin understands why visitors and artists alike are pulled to this part of the world, and inspired to capture their own representations of B.C.’s surroundings through their preferred medium. “You have these monumental forces in the mountains and the ocean clashing together on the rugged West Coast, and I think both of those elemental forces are very humbling. They make you feel small and [evoke] a sense of gratitude for the majesty and the grandeur and the power of them that I think is inspiring, both from a sort of intrinsic standpoint as well as an artistic creative standpoint.” Lynch prefers to think of his paintings “as dreamscapes that are kind of a springboard for your imagination,” he says. “I certainly don't want to dictate to people with my work. If (it) can be evocative, to me that’s a successful painting.” But when it comes to our natural surroundings, he adds, “We’re living in a miracle and I don’t want people to forget that, with all the crazy stuff going on.”

ABOVE: "MOUNT CURRIE" IS A

ADVENTURE-INSPIRED ART

PORTION OF A

While you’re just as likely to recognize a few favourite B.C. landmarks in Kate Zessel’s illustrations—her massive mountain-range mural adorning the walls of Whistler’s Lululemon store comes to mind—it won’t always be because you’ve hiked to that specific location yourself. Rather than leading viewers to a particular set of coordinates, Sea to Sky-based Zessel allows her audience to choose their own adventure through her intricate, mountaininspired 2-D designs. >>

LARGE MURAL KATE ZESSEL CREATED FOR THE WHISTLER LULULEMON STORE. LEFT: KATE ZESSEL WORKS ON HER LULULEMON MURAL.

WHISTLER GALLERIES AUDAIN ART MUSEUM 4350 Blackcomb Way 604-962-0413 audainartmuseum.com ADELE CAMPBELL FINE ART GALLERY In the Westin Resort & Spa 604-938-0887 adelecampbell.com ART JUNCTION GALLERY & FRAME STUDIO 1068 Millar Creek Road, Function Junction

pa i n t i n g s

sculpture

j e w e l l e ry

604-938-9000 artjunction.ca MOUNTAIN GALLERIES AT THE FAIRMONT In the Fairmont Chateau Whistler 604-935-1862 www.mountaingalleries.com THE PLAZA GALLERIES 22-4314 Main Street 604-938-6233 plazagalleries.com

c a n a d i a n F I N E a rt s i n c e 1 9 9 3

THE GALLERY AT MAURY YOUNG ARTS CENTRE 4335 Blackcomb Way 604-935-8410 artswhistler.com SQUAMISH LIL’WAT CULTURAL CENTRE 4584 Blackcomb Way 1-866-441-SLCC (7522) slcc.ca

v i s i t u s at t h e w e s t i n, w h i s t l e r VINCENT MASSEY STUDIO 604-905-8363 vincentmasseypottery.com WHISTLER CONTEMPORARY GALLERY In the Hilton Resort 604-938-3001 (main) In the Four Seasons Resort 604-935-3999 whistlerart.com

ADELECAMPBELL.COM 604-938-0887

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

"CANADIANA" BY JOHN OGILVY, FROM THE ADELE CAMPBELL FINE ART GALLERY, DEPICTS PART OF THE SEA TO SKY HIGHWAY.

“I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE A PAINTING THAT INCLUDES, AND AT TIMES BRINGS ATTENTION TO OUR SOCIETY'S IMPACT ON THE LAND WE INHABIT.” – John Ogilvy

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

“I try really hard not to put any sort of objective or story behind my artwork, because I want somebody else to look at it and pick out their own stories or their own experiences,” she says. So rather than seeing an exact recreation of a Sea to Sky glacier, for example, Zessel’s Instagram followers—where she posts most of her work—might see a backpacking trip they took last summer, or their favourite backcountry cabin. That’s probably because Zessel doesn’t typically work off field sketches, but instead enters what she calls “a meditative state” where her own memories of days spent in the mountains inform her drawings as they flow onto the page. Either way, with a body of work filled with “scenes within scenes” of mountain peaks, trees, animals, waves, cabins, foliage and more, her art undoubtedly stokes a desire to explore the great outdoors. After all, it’s a drive for adventure that fuels Zessel’s own creativity in the first place: “My art inspires my life and my life inspires my art,” the avid backcountry skier, hiker and explorer explains. Eight years after permanently relocating to Whistler and then Pemberton from her hometown of Vancouver, Zessel now spends much of her time working on commissioned pieces and partnerships with bigname outdoor brands. But growing up, “My dad would put us in the car on Friday at 2:30 after we got off school every week, and we’d drive to Whistler, and as I hit the Tantalus Range (the majestic mountain range between Squamish and Whistler) my whole body would just relax,” she recalls. “I just felt like I was coming home. But then when I moved up here, I kept hearing the sentiment that Whistler was a bubble, which didn’t make sense to me because it's so big and there's so much to explore. “I think that's what keeps me here, and what I love … there's still so many areas that I want to explore.”

ROAD-TRIP VIEWS B.C. artist John Ogilvy shares Zessel’s affection for travelling up the Sea to Sky highway, but rather than lacing up your hiking boots, his work might just inspire you to take a good old-fashioned road trip. “In purely natural settings I most often feel like the view out of the front windshield with the road ahead, some traffic, maybe some buildings, is more interesting than the view out the side window where there's just pure nature,” shares Ogilvy, who is represented by Whistler’s Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery. “Or when standing in front of a majestic mountain or valley scene, same thing. I think it's usually more interesting if there's some evidence of human life, such as a ski run, or land developed for agriculture, or the twinkly lights of a small town or highway. “I suppose I feel that I spend enough time in remote natural settings while working in mining exploration camps often in northern B.C. and the Yukon. So when I get out of that, I enjoy some visual interaction between raw wilderness and our subtle impacts on it.” As such, Ogilvy’s work tends to showcase iconic manmade landmarks like the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver or the Sea to Sky highway. He’s known to exaggerate compositional elements in his brightly coloured portrayals of the South Coast’s landscape, quite literally painting its infrastructure in a new light. But while his work might motivate you to find new lookout points near the city or book a ski trip, it’s most likely to make you think. Ogilvy adds: “I think it's interesting to see a painting that includes, and at times brings attention to our society's impact on the land we inhabit.” Visit Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery or Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler or check out zesseldesigns.com. W

CorporateliveWire CANADA

PRESTIGE AWARDS Whistler Medical Aesthetics

2020/21 WINNER

Founded by Dr. Sarah Kennea, Whistler Medical Aesthetics is an internationally acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical aesthetics clinic in Whistler, BC. Locally owned, locally staffed, with the emphasis firmly on natural outcomes, health and wellness. Our expertise is focused on helping our patients to look and feel like the best version of themselves. Changing the face of Medical aesthetics.

(< coolsculpting·

neo EMSCULPT

BTL VANQUISl-tME

Forever

™

halo

HYBRID FRACTIONAL LASER

Online Visit us at Call Email:

whistlermedica !aesthetics .com 4370 Lorimer Road. Whistler, BC +1 (604)962-1201 info@whistlerdr.com

mountain biking

NAMING RIGHTS TRAILBUILDERS TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY ON THE NAMES BEHIND THE TRAILS STORY BY A L I S O N TAYLO R

MOUNTAIN BIKERS TAKE IN THE BREATHTAKING SCENERY WHILE THE WILDFLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM ON THE EPIC ALPINE ADVENTURE THAT INCLUDES THE APTLYNAMED INTO THE MYSTIC, ON THE ROCKS AND THE LORD OF THE SQUIRRELS DESCENT.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS/GETTY IMAGES

a n a n a m e i n f l u e n c e t h e w ay you ride a trail? Is it sweeter to climb a trail called Piece of Cake or Whipped Cream? Do you feel as though you’ve made it when you get to Cherry on Top? Arguably, yes. That makes this deliciously fun group of trails on the west side of Whistler, affectionately known as the “Dessert Platter,” an even sweeter ride. They’re blue, or intermediate, designed on the lower end of difficulty by Whistler’s standards, and therefore accessible to almost everyone. The yummy names were born of the first trail in the area, Piece of Cake, a climbing trail so named because it was easier to ride than the road. It was followed by À La Mode. It only made sense to stick with the sweet theme. “There’s space in between À La Mode and Whipped Cream for another ingredient,” says Dan Raymond, lead trailbuilder for WORCA (the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association), musing on some potentials down the road. “I might find some Gummy Worms,” he laughs. “Maybe some Sprinkles.” Local trailbuilders, who have shaped Whistler’s dirt and rocks into hundreds of epic rides, spend a lot of time alone with their thoughts. Such is the nature of the work. >>

THE ZAPPA TRAILS

DAN RAYMOND DAN RAYMOND

“Randy was a driving force behind the creation of these trails, and a Zappa aficionado. The spirited, twisty and playful nature of those trails reflected some similarity to the themes of Frank’s music, and when Randy suggested that nomenclature, it felt appropriate.”

DAN RAYMOND

According to a municipal spokesperson: “Those trails are the brainchild of Randy Symons, a quirky, creative and passionate RMOW Supervisor of Parks & Trails for decades until his retirement in 2011.

WORCA’S LEAD TRAIL BUILDER, DAN RAYMOND (TOP RIGHT), HAS BUILT SEVERAL WHISTLER TRAILS, INCLUDING ROCKWORK ORANGE, KOROVA MILK BAR, WIZARD BURIAL GROUND, ROBIN! YER EGGS AND SKWENKWIN. ROBIN! YER EGGS WAS BUILT WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM THE WHISTLER WALDORF SCHOOL, WHO NAMED IT AFTER AN EGG-ROBBING RAVEN THEY

NADINE CAREY

SAW. SKWENKWIN WAS NAMED BY LIL’WAT FIRST NATIONS.

“FOUNTAIN OF LOVE” IS ANOTHER SONG FROM PROLIFIC ARTIST FRANK ZAPPA AND THIS TRAIL IS PART OF THE ZAPPA TRAILS.

Over time, as the trail begins to morph into something rideable and epic, its name begins to evolve too. From the obvious and the perfectly fitting to the inside jokes and puns, Whistler has hundreds of trails, every one with a unique story behind its name. “I feel like it deserves a great deal of thought,” says Raymond, who has his stamp on several iconic trails from one end of Whistler to the other. When you put so much work into a trail, he adds, the name is really the finishing touch, the icing on the cake. Rockwork Orange. Korova Milk Bar. Wizard Burial Ground: these are all born of Raymond’s imagination. The first two are a nod to the cult film Clockwork Orange, the last refers to the stumps of old growth trees in the gloomy forest close to the local cemetery, that looked like old wizards.

He is perhaps best known, however, for christening what has become Whistler’s epic ride — Lord of the Squirrels. Alone in the woods, high above the Flank trail, Raymond was hard at work on the fast and fun blue descent trail. Every day, a squirrel would visit, fearless and determined, unafraid of chainsaws and this human moving into his old-growth territory. Lord of the Squirrels was born. The name is also a nod to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, given that the alpine loop was a three-year project, WORCA’s biggest to date. The name is often shortened to LOTS. So, when trailbuilder Zander Strathearn was working on another descent in the area—one that would cut the climb significantly, therefore shortening the ride, it was a no-brainer to call the trail LESS. LESS joins the lower portion of the LOTS

DAN RAYMOND

In fact, they all have something in common. These are all Frank Zappa songs and the riding area is called the Zappa Trails. This is one of Whistler’s riding gems, tucked close to the Village in Lost Lake Park and full of amazing blue and green trails.

PATRICK PLANTE

f you don’t know where you’re riding, you’ll quickly wonder how some of these trails got their quirky and odd names. Names like: Zoot Allures, Dwarf Nebula, Dinah Moe Humm, Son of Mr. Green Genes, Toads of the Short Forest.

descent. The name says it all. It works as a short, self-explanatory moniker, or you can draw it out to its full meaning—Lower Elevation, Shorter Squirrels. LESS. Like Raymond, Strathearn has his stamp on other trails too. Years ago, he began to work on a trail above the Alpine neighbourhood. It was a passion project, born of what he saw as a gap in the trail system. His goal, working from the bottom up into the alpine, was to find a connection to Screaming Cat Lake. Almost every evening, as he moved rock and earth, transforming his vision to reality, Strathearn would feel the wind gusting up over the ridge. Howler was born, a fitting name for a trail that also offers a “howling good time,” he adds. The name is short and catchy and ties into the trail above. Most importantly, it means something to the person who dedicated hours to its birth, so much so that Strathearn named his trailbuilding company Howler Contracting. Just as it made sense to call a nearby climbing trail Cultured Climb, a trail that runs beside the gruelling road. Like Piece of Cake, Cultured Climb was designed to ease the climb. “The road bed is savagely steep,” Strathearn explains of the old-school way up. “We were looking for a more cultured experience to climb up to the Flank.” And sometimes all the stars align for the name. Take Pot of Gold. Municipal trail crews built this trail as Whistler worked to develop the high alpine area around the epic Into the Mystic/Lord of the Squirrels. Pot of Gold is an out and back trail that sits at the very end of the hiking-only Rainbow Trail. But it wasn’t just called Pot of Gold because it was located at the end of the Rainbow Trail. According to the municipality, one of the trailbuilders on the job was nicknamed “Goldie.” The trail crew also felt this was a “pot of gold” kind of riding experience. W TRAILBUILDER ZANDER STRATHEARN COINED THE TRAIL, LISTENING TO THE EVENING WIND BLOW OVER THE RIDGE, A FITTING NAME WITH ITS CONNECTION TO SCREAMING CAT LAKE TRAIL.

ROBIN O'NEILL

“HOWLER” AFTER SPENDING HOURS BUILDING

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

Disconnect Completely Scandinave Spa Whistler offers a traditional Scandinavian baths and massage experience surrounded by a cedar and spruce forest. Located five minutes from Whistler Village.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

S C A N D I N AV E .CO M | 1 888 935 24 2 3 8010 Mons Road, Whistler, BC

faces of whistler

COMMUNITY CONNECTORS DAVID BUZZARD

TAKING THE PULSE OF WHISTLER’S MENTAL HEALTH DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

WHISTLER COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JACKIE DICKINSON, PICTURED HERE AT THE SHOE WALL IN THE RE-USE-IT CENTRE, HAS SEEN MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY GO MAINSTREAM IN RECENT YEARS—BUT THE STIGMA REMAINS.

STORY BY BRADEN DUP UIS

o wa r d s t h e e n d o f h e r m at e r n i t y l e av e i n l at e 2 0 1 9 a n d early 2020, Jackie Dickinson, executive director of the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), did as many new mothers do: she hibernated. With spring as her guideline—March 20, to be exact—Dickinson prepared to introduce her new son to the world. “That was my goal—that’s when I’m going to come out of my shell, and I’m going to start walking with this baby, and I’m going to be back out there in the mom groups,” she says. “And it’s humorous, right? Because that’s when the pandemic hit and life just changed. So he is a kid that does not have a lot of connections with the outside world.” In a town built on personal connections and lived experiences, Dickinson and the team at WCSS have shouldered the weight of the community’s anxiety as the COVID-19 pandemic slogs on, continuing to force people apart. Record numbers of Whistlerites have come through WCSS’ doors since March 2020, with more people identifying as being in a crisis than ever before. But Dickinson doesn’t see this a sign of weakness in the community—in fact, quite the opposite. >>

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

our mental health than we’ve ever witnessed,” Dickinson says, noting that during her time as a teacher in Toronto, it wasn’t a large part of the curriculum. “To think that almost 20 years later you now have students advocating for a mental health course in the curriculum speaks a lot about this generation. “I think that as a community and as a province and a country we’re working hard to normalize the conversation of reaching out. [But] I still believe that there is a tremendous amount of stigma associated with it, and that this pandemic has provided more awareness around how we need to access these services.”

DAVID BUZZARD

GREG MCDONNELL

LONGTIME WHISTLER COUNSELLOR GREG MCDONNELL BELIEVES ONE OF THE KEYS TO LIFE IS TO CONTINUALLY INVEST IN WHO YOU’RE GOING TO BE NEXT.

“It’s been really busy, but I don’t use ‘busy’ in a way that’s negative. It’s been really full,” she says, remembering the first time she came back to work after her maternity leave, only to find the big WCSS building at 8000 Nesters Road—typically a hive of activity—completely empty. “What are we going to do to fill it back up again?” she wondered at the time. “And we’ve been able to do that.” Dickinson arrived in Whistler permanently in 2008, with a background as a high school teacher in Toronto. She and her boyfriend (now husband) worked for Ziptrek Ecotours before Dickinson took a job as drug and alcohol educator with Sea to Sky Community Services. Eventually that morphed into a frontline outreach worker role with WCSS, which she held until 2016, when she became program manager. She’s been executive director of the beloved Whistler organization since 2018. It’s safe to say she’s seen a shift in the community over the years. “I think we see more advocacy for

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

Greg McDonnell, longtime counsellor and social services worker in Whistler, can pinpoint the moment he knew his true calling. He was a young man uncertain of his future when a mentor suggested he volunteer at a summer camp. “I had no idea what the summer camp was about. I show up on the first day only to learn it’s a camp for kids with cancer,” he says. “I ended up volunteering there for five summers, and the place changed my life. Like, these kids know how to live. These kids know what their values are, and know what their purpose and meaning is, and they know how to find joy and gratitude out of every moment. And from there I just knew I wanted to work with people.” Raised in North Vancouver, McDonnell moved to Whistler in 1995—a time when young people were often referred to as “transients,” and there was little in the way of community programs to serve them. Through his role as an outreach worker with WCSS, and then as executive director for five years, he played a major role in implementing many of the programs that exist for young people today. “Prior to that, Whistler really did feel like a resort, but I think after that we added the community to it,” he says. “There’s a few unique pieces about us, but we’re just like any other town, and it’s going to have its underside, right? So we have to acknowledge that and serve those people.” As the pandemic drags on, many

Whistlerites are “redlining,” McDonnell says, and his advice for people stems from lessons he learned early on as a summer camp volunteer. There are three things that give us hope, McDonnell reasons: our values (even simple things like family, nature or exercise), our purpose and meaning (even if it’s picking up a new hobby) and our community (“connect with the people who feed you; who don’t take away from you,” he says). McDonnell thinks back to one fateful day when he was “bored on the Peak Chair,” and subsequently skied home to sign up for a Masters program to become a private counsellor in Whistler. “One of the keys throughout all of our life is to invest in who you’re going to be next, because our identities don’t stay static,” he says. “That’s what I did that day, unknowingly … now 14 years later, I have this private counselling practice in Whistler.”

EMILY KANE Like so many others, Emily Kane, owner of Yogacara Whistler, was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Yoga and fitness has been impacted really hard; it’s been one of the hardest-hit industries,” she says. “There’s definitely the moments of deep despair, where it’s like, ‘Wow, am I going to have to make really hard decisions soon, that essentially impact the trajectory of our lives?’” But as dark as it’s been at times, there’s always something to offer hope when it’s needed, Kane says—and yoga has played a huge role in keeping her grounded. “I think the biggest thing that yoga and meditation have offered me, especially in this past year, has just been to stay present, and to take things day by day,” she says, adding that if you’re looking for doom and gloom, you’re likely to find it. But I really feel like if you’re looking for those stories of hope and you’re looking for that goodness in the world, that you’ll find that too.” A yoga practitioner of nearly 20 years, Kane came to Whistler from the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island in 2012.She started Yogacara under a franchise model in the fall of that year, and in 2014 the Whistler Village studio became 100 per cent locally owned and operated.

COURTESY EMILY KANE

WHISTLER YOGA INSTRUCTOR EMILY KANE RELEASED HER FIRST BOOK IN 2020: THE ENERGY AND ART OF RESTORATIVE YOGA.

The independence afforded Kane more flexibility (no pun intended)—a godsend when COVID-19 closed the studio’s doors. “When everything happened with the pandemic, we immediately jumped online, because we knew that our students would need our support there,” Kane says, adding that clients have joined online classes from as far away as California. “So that’s been really cool.” As for those moments of deep despair, Kane’s advice is to not be afraid to reach out for help, or to try something new. “And also to accept that there are a lot of difficult emotions to process this year, and not to judge yourself for how you process those things,” she says. “There are a lot of uncomfortable moments, and it might be tempting to go towards certain things to process those emotions … just be really aware of what is going to serve you going forward.” W

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

real estate

THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING RECORD REAL ESTATE DEALS ARE DRIVING CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED INDUSTRIES TO NEW HEIGHTS IN WHISTLER AND PEMBERTON STORY BY ALISO N TAYLOR

rom the ultra wealthy to the humble ski bum, Whistler has always had a laid-back, universal appeal. Fresh air. Clean water. A safe town. Breathtaking mountains. A close-knit community. Sophisticated, irreverent style. An unbeatable way of life. And yet, high-end homebuyers didn’t come around every day, despite this being the No. 1 ski resort in North America and the world’s mountain bike Mecca. Until now that is. Seven years ago for example, there were three real estate deals over the $5 million mark, according to the Whistler Listing System.” In the ensuing years, those deals stealthily gained traction—a dozen in 2016, a few more than that in 2019. But who could have ever predicted the staggering 30 sales over $5 million in 2020? Bear in mind, most of those deals happened in the latter 32

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

half of the year as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc in Whistler and around the world. This year is setting up to break even more records with 10 sales already over $5 million in the first three months of 2021. Now, more than ever before, Whistler is where everyone wants to be, as people search for safe haven and happiness, space and closeness to nature, away from the worldwide chaos. It doesn’t come as any surprise to longtime realtor Maggi Thornhill of Engel & Völkers who understood Whistler’s appeal, and potential, more than 30 years ago when she first arrived. “It’s a coming of age,” she says of the recent changes to the marketplace sparked by COVID. Whistler, she adds, always had the potential to compete with the best places in the world; the pandemic just sped it up. “It’s not just a coming of age of recreational real estate,” she says. “It’s a coming of age of the community of Whistler that can sustain people full time.”

THIS GATED ESTATE PROPERTY AT 6715 CRABAPPLE DRIVE IS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR $19,995,000.

WHISTLER’S ETERNAL APPEAL Before she can even begin to talk about real estate in Whistler, realtor Wendi Warm, owner of Whistler Real Estate Company, says this: “It’s really tough to watch the town we love struggling.” Indeed. This year has not been without its challenges in Whistler, as it has been around the world. Occupancy in hotels has reached record lows. Restaurants have closed, reopened, and closed again, pivoting to takeout-only options in the efforts to stay afloat. Whistler Blackcomb, once again, cut its season short in March. And the closed borders effectively cut off Whistler, which relies on both domestic and international tourists, from the rest of the world. Warm remembers the initial panic and uncertainty when COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic. What would a global pandemic mean for a town like Whistler? In early 2020, everyone was on edge. By June/July, however, the market began its upward swing. >>

COURTESY JOHN RYAN, THE WHISTLER REAL ESTATE CO.

The high-end market is just a microcosm of what’s going on in real estate in general: record-breaking deals, intense bidding wars, buyers snapping up properties site unseen, bold subject-free offers. It’s a frenzy of activity. And with it, the spin off effects in construction, renovation and design. Rebecca Craig, owner of Whistler Lifestyle Design, a company that offers home staging, interior design and decorating, says: “As soon as we stage a property, it’s sold within 24 hours.” While that makes her job extremely labour intensive and busy at the moment, Craig admits it’s a good problem to have. While the global pandemic has been very tough on Whistler’s main industries—tourism and hospitality—real estate, and by extension other related trades, has been booming. This isn’t a Whistler-only phenomenon. The same story is playing out from coast to coast in Canada, driven in part by record low interest rates designed to stimulate the economy and more and more people wanting to escape larger centres for places they feel are safer, especially now that many are able to work from home.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

DAVID BUZZARD

THE TEAM AT TM BUILDERS, LED BY TOM MCCOLM PICTURED CENTRE, IS GEARING UP FOR A BUSY FEW YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN PEMBERTON.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

buyers who always wanted to own in Whistler and saw this as their opportunity to have a different lifestyle. “It was a shift in their mindset,” Warm explains. “That really played into the energy of the market.”

THE SPINOFFS The timing couldn’t have been better for designer Caroline Jones. Three years ago Jones took a leap of faith and started Painted Door Designs. Little did she understand at the time just how much demand there was for interior design services in Whistler. “I just kept getting busier and busier,” she says. The past year has only amplified that as she helps full-time residents and second homeowners repurpose spaces in their homes for home offices and home gyms as well as owners taking temporary cooling in the rental market as a chance to update their properties. Take one of her American clients, looking to update his space at his Montebello townhouse, where the units can be rented out nightly. Initially, Jones was hired to buy new furniture for the unit. One of the first fallouts from COVID was the worldwide shipping delays. With those delays and then the drop in the rental market, Jones pitched her client with a plan to update the 20-year-old Montebello unit to today’s “mountain modern” style. “We unleashed our imagination,” says Jones. >>

DAVID BUZZARD

“I don’t think anybody could have predicted that it would just be a few months,” admits Warm of the temporary market cooling in the first half of last year. Wealthy Vancouver families who could no longer travel south to the desert or the Hawaiian beach for vacations, instead looked north. They wanted a place where they could bring their COVID bubbles. Thornhill says they were blown away with what they found here: the great community, the amenities, the sophistication and style, the incredible architecture, and perhaps most importantly, the 1.5 hour proximity to Vancouver. Whistler wasn’t just a place to visit on the weekends; it was a place they could potentially call home full-time, especially as they became more familiar with the community. “Whistler is the perfect fit for so many people,” says Thornhill. While the bulk of the interest was from buyers in the Lower Mainland, Ontario buyers also made more headway in the market, almost doubling from five per cent of the marketplace to closer to nine per cent in 2020. Warm points to two factors driving the momentum over the past nine months: there were buyers looking to upgrade from a townhouse or a condo and into a place where they could spread out and, in particular, work remotely from home; and, there were

REALTOR WENDI WARM AND SON PHELAN REGAN ARE THE NEW OWNERS OF WHISTLER REAL ESTATE COMPANY, TAKING OVER IN DECEMBER 2020.

OUR BACKYARD BECKONS... Photos: TaraPhotos: O’Grady, Haley Lorraine Bride Tara& Paul O’Grady

MORE SEA, MORE SKY, MORE TIME! OPEN DAILY | SEATOSKYGONDOLA.COM

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

DARBY MAGILL

PAINTED DOOR DESIGNS UPDATES THIS 20-YEAR-OLD MONTEBELLO CONDO WITH A FRESH “MOUNTAIN MODERN” DESIGN.

OWNER CAROLINE JONES, WHO STARTED PAINTED DOOR DESIGNS THREE YEARS AGO, BRINGS COLOUR AND TEXTURE TO HER PROJECTS.

That meant in addition to new furnishings, Painted Door changed the paint and fixtures and refinished the interior doors and the kitchen cabinets for a fresh new look. It always feels good, she adds, to update a home by reusing and repurposing much of what’s there rather than sending good materials to the landfill. “This was the perfect project to utilize that. It’s still mountain cozy,” says Jones of the space, “but now it’s modern and contemporary. I love colour, patterns, textures, adding depth and interest, drama and playfulness. The beauty with design is that there’s no wrong move. If it makes you happy, it works.” And, it also gives this Montebello property the leg up when it comes to marketing the unit online for future rentals.

“PEMBERDISE” DISCOVERED Like Painted Door, local builder Tom McColm, of TM Builders, is busier than ever. He has been steadily growing his business since he opened his doors in 2008. This year, however, is off the charts. He is projecting to double his busiest year, which was 2018. Much of his work on the books in the coming years is in Pemberton. It’s often called “Pemberdise,” which speaks to its appeal as a sleepy farming community 36

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

nestled in a valley of mountains with iconic Mount Currie dominating the skyline. The pandemic, McColm says, created the perfect storm in his business as people looked for bigger space, smaller communities and a different pace of life. Pemberton checks all those boxes, and then some. And in Pemberton, for the time being at least, the land is still reasonable compared to surrounding locales. Not to mention, it’s close to the largest ski resort in North America and within driving distance of Vancouver. TM Builders has several projects on the go in 2021, including single family home and townhouse builds in Pemberton’s Sunstone development. McColm is optimistic that the industry will stay busy in the coming years despite major challenges of manpower and materials. “Normally we have a big influx of international workers and that just didn’t happen last year,” he says. He also recognizes the good fortune to be in an industry that is not just surviving the pandemic, but thriving. The construction industry has long been the backbone of the resort economy, keeping hundreds of locals gainfully employed year-round in steady, well-paying jobs, driving economic activity in Whistler.

SETTING NEW RECORDS

“THIS WAS THE

It remains to be seen if Whistler will keep smashing its own records, and what that may mean to the people who live and visit here in the long run. When it comes to the most exclusive places to live, the real estate activity continues to reach new heights. In Kadenwood, with its private gondola and ski in/ski out out access on Whistler Mountain, there have been close to a dozen transactions from June 2020 to April 2021. The lowest sale (not including the three vacant lots that sold) was $7.4 million; the highest was $15.5 million, setting another record. Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, the Stonebridge neighbourhood, with its sprawling estate lots, has set a different kind of record: Whistler’s most expensive home. It sold for $19 million in October 2020. “They are hitting new milestones,” confirms Warm. The energy, the interest and the buying power remain high. The question stands: What will happen when the borders reopen and more high-end international buyers turn their minds to this mountain town? That, of course, is anyone’s guess. W

PERFECT PROJECT TO UTILIZE THAT. IT’S STILL MOUNTAIN COZY, BUT NOW IT’S MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY.” – Caroline Jones

Commercial Construction

Sea to Sky Building Solutions

New Homes

tmbuilders.ca

General Contracting

(604)962-8836 connect@tmbuilders.ca

115 B, 1330 Alpha Lake Rd. Whistler B.C.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

W AT C H T H E VIDEO

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

whistler home

SADIE PLAYS AT HER VINTAGE DESK IN THE PLAYROOM WHICH WILL BE

THE WALL ART IS A MODULAR ACOUSTIC SYSTEM MADE OF WOOL THAT ABSORBS SOUND

REABSORBED INTO THE MAIN LIVING SPACE DOWN THE ROAD. THE SPACE IS

IN THE MAIN LIVING SPACE. ROSS ARMISTEAD CHOSE THE PIECE, BY RONAN AND ERWAN

CURRENTLY SEPARATED BY A MOVABLE BOOKSHELF.

BOUROULLEC, BECAUSE IT REMINDED HER OF AN AERIAL VIEW OF SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

SIMPLICITY MEETS ELEGANCE A LOCAL FAMILY BUILDS A MODERN DREAM HOME ON EASY STREET

STORY BY ALISON TAYLOR PHOTOS BY EMA PETER

THE ENTRYWAY ART IS A PIECE THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN ROSS ARMISTEAD’S HOMES, BOUGHT BY HER PARENTS IN LONDON IN THE 1970’S. THE RUG COMES FROM A PRE-KID ADVENTURE TO MARRAKESH.

GABE HEADS OUT TO THE DECK, PASSING THE DOUBLE ISLANDS IN THE KITCHEN THAT MAKE ENTERTAINING WHILE COOKING EASY.

s an award-winning interior designer, Deborah Ross Armistead had specific ideas when it came to building and designing her own home. She knew, for example, that her home wouldn’t be a typical Whistler chalet— wood beams, exposed logs, pitched roofs and classic mountain chalet vibes. She was looking for something different, with a modern feel—a simple aesthetic to match her design style. To find inspiration, Ross Armistead and husband Peter Armistead, a property developer, drove around local neighbourhoods until they found what they were looking for on a quiet street in Alpine. They knocked on the front door and found a homeowner who was happy to share his story, and, more importantly, the name of his architect—Vancouver-based D’Arcy Jones. D’Arcy Jones Architects is a critically acclaimed firm whose accolades include 2018’s Lieutenant Governor Award of Excellence Medal from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. Jones explains his style: “We like to create architecture that takes how people want to live, or takes a site-specific problem (and) turn(s) it all into a very personal and fine-tuned building. We like the fact that all of our designs would not work well on another site, because we think they should seem to grow out (of a specific site). >>

TURKISH ANTIQUE SILK PILLOWS, MADE BY PATINA IN FUNCTION JUNCTION, ADD SPLASHES OF COLOUR TO ROSS ARMISTEAD’S OFFICE.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

TOP LEFT: THE FOREST IS THE BACKDROP FOR THE FAMILY DINING AREA. TOP RIGHT: WHITE FINISHINGS CONTINUE IN THE MASTER BATHROOM, THE SAME MATERIALS USED THROUGHOUT THE HOME—A DESIGN ELEMENT THAT REDUCED WASTE AND COSTS. THIS IS ROSS ARMISTEAD’S FAVOURITE ROOM IN THE HOUSE. ABOVE: EXPANSIVE STAIRS ARE A DESIGN ELEMENT THAT ROSS ARMISTEAD CHAMPIONED DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

“ We use natural materials and simple shapes to create houses that feel good.” Local builder Sheldon Gaudet, of Manor Building Projects, came on board and the team set to work on the family-friendly Easy Street property in Tapley’s Farm. The goal was to build to the maximum square because it was the best financial strategy for the project. Ross Armistead had her feet grounded in reality, however, when it came to building their dream home. “We had a budget and that was the budget,” she says, joking that Whistler projects often see runaway budgets. “(Our budget) wasn’t arbitrary.” That meant the builder had to send some of the original ideas back to the drawing board. “They had to really simplify the overall design,” Gaudet explains, removing things like additional exterior walls. There were, however, certain features that were crucial for the look Ross Armistead was setting out to achieve. Coming from a smaller townhouse where the front door opened straight into the boot room/front entrance, she wanted something different upon entering this house. “I wanted a clear, beautiful entryway,” she says. She achieved that with a dramatic seven-foot wide statement stairway. One side of the stairway is covered in dark wood, an extension of the exterior cladding. The wood adds texture and warmth but also effectively divides the house in two—the two-story area behind the wooden wall is home to Deborah and Peter’s offices as well as the media room and a spare bedroom; the other side is the main family living space designed in a reversed floor plan with the bedrooms on the ground floor. “The reversed floor plan is this house’s main asset. The living areas are on the top floor where the views are better. A large dramatic stair draws you up from the main entry, like a narrow mountain canyon,” says Jones. That dramatic stairway leads to floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the area in natural light as well as framing the forested backyard. Large windows continue to dominate the back side of the house with the effect of almost being right in the heart of the forest.

FINE BUILDER OF CUSTOM ARCHITECTURAL HOMES IN WHISTLER

WARMTH, TEXTURE AND COLOUR ARE LAYERED INTO GABE’S ROOM TO OFFSET THE MODERN HOME, MAKING THIS SPACE A KID-FRIENDLY HAVEN.

Proud to be the builder of the featured project in this article Professional – Educated – Experienced CONTACT:

sheldon@manorbuildingprojects.com 604-938-4356

“One of the biggest surprises of the house is the windows,” says Ross Armistead, who admits that the main focus was always on the front side of the house, not the back. It turns out the forested backyard, framed in the large windows, is “like living in a big painting.” So too the view from the front of the house where the kitchen and living room look out over the elevated outdoor living space. The backdrop is incredible views of Mount Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain, where the sun sets and where Peter, an ultra-runner, spends much of his free time training. With clean lines, white walls, and polished concrete floors throughout, Ross Armistead knew she needed to create warmth with texture, lively patterns and bright colour. “In a modern house, it could be really cold,” says Ross Armistead of the 3,500 square foot home. Instead, the house transforms into a family home with colourful vintage rugs, bright, unconventional art, and splashes of humour like the bunny ears as drawer pulls on her daughter’s desk. The minimal design is made much easier with good storage—the huge garage, the functional boot room, the his and her closets in the main bedroom. But the design was not without its construction challenges. “The modern design can bring challenges of precision,” explains Gaudet, adding that as many aspects of the build are kept on one line as much as possible. The walls, for example, run straight into the windows with no trim to cover any slight imperfections. “The walls and ceilings have to be perfect,” he says. Precision and thoughtfulness are at the heart of this modern build. Ross Armistead won an IDIBC (Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia) Award of Merit for her work. W

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

dining scene

CLOSING THE GAP

DECADES AGO THE RESORT’S RESTAURANT LANDSCAPE WAS DECIDEDLY MALE-DOMINATED, BUT IN RECENT YEARS, DIVERSITY HAS BECOME THE FLAVOUR

STORY BY ALYSSA NOE L

BRICKWORKS’ PRIYANKA LEWIS HAS BEEN INNOVATING DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH LIKE “STACKED,” A FOOD DELIVERY OPTION.

LOGAN SWAYZE

NEW CONCEPTS

o say whistler’s food scene was male dominated when Karen Roland arrived 32 years ago would be an understatement. All of the major players in fine dining were men. While that’s changed to some degree—in a town that, in recent history, boasted a woman mayor, fire chief, head of the Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Tourism Whistler—it’s still a bit of a novelty to find a female restaurateur running the show. “You do need to be strong, have a strong personality, and the will to do it,” Roland says. “If you let the men walk all over you, you’re not going to get anywhere.” It doesn’t happen very often these days, but Roland also brings years of experience and authority running establishments. She started as the hostess at Hoz’s (a locals’ favourite Creekside pub) in 1993 and worked her way up to bartending and waitressing for over 14-and-a-half years before she bought the business and turned it into Roland’s Pub. “I learned so much from [Ron Hosner] and his wife,” she says. “What to do and what not to do. It was a huge learning experience for me.” Then, in 2013, Roland shifted gears entirely and, in contrast to the local watering hole, opened up the well-regarded, high-end Red Door Bistro next door with chef R.D. Stewart. The management style she brings to both establishments, however, is the same. “One thing that’s very important in running a business is (to) appreciate your staff,” she says. “Without them, you don’t have a business.” That can range from a simple thank you, to benefits, to ski passes for long-time employees. It’s gone a long way during the challenges of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic too. As the pandemic continues throughout 2021, Roland says the patio is a great spot to welcome guests in the summer. There’s also the summer menu to look forward to. >>

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

KAREN ROLAND, OF THE ALWAYS POPULAR RED DOOR BISTRO AND THE HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN THE INDUSTRY IN WHISTLER.

“R.D. changes the menu with the season,” she says. “He does some great soups and salads, and fish dishes that are amazing.” But if guests are in the mood for something classic, their crowd pleasers also remain, including the West Coast Bouillabaisse packed with crab claws, prawns, mussels, scallops and fresh fish, the duck confit spring rolls complete with pickled ginger and roasted garlic puree, and red currant sauce, and braised chuck flats consisting of slow-cooked boneless angus beef. “[Those are] iconic items that have been on the menu since the beginning,” Roland says. Like Roland, Naoko Homma is also a long-time local who started in the restaurant industry three decades ago. “When I moved here almost 30 years ago there were only a few restaurants and they were all owned by male owners,” Homma says. “Now, I don’t see it the same way. There are lots of restaurants owned by females and they’re all successful. I don’t see much difference.” Until he passed away in 2017, Homma co-owned Sushi Village with her husband, Miki—though he technically retired a few years prior and spent plenty of time in Mexico in the winter pursuing his passion for kiteboarding. Homma 48

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

“WHEN I MOVED HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO THERE WERE ONLY A FEW RESTAURANTS AND THEY WERE ALL OWNED BY MALE OWNERS.” – Naoko Homma

managed the front of house side of the business as well as the kitchen. As Miki began to move out of the business, she delved into all aspects of running a busy restaurant in Whistler. “When Miki retired, I had to learn everything,” she says. “I had to take over the business.” Not only is Sushi Village known for its excellent sushi offerings, but it’s also beloved among locals for its good-time atmosphere. “It was Miki’s passion to introduce traditional Japanese food and enjoy life in Whistler,” Homma says. “I think it became successful because of the good food and atmosphere all the time—people having fun. We have a great staff. I’m following his legacy the same as before.” Last year, during the height of stress for the restaurant industry, Homma was honoured by the Whistler Chamber of Commerce as part of its Excellence Awards as Business Person of the Year. “That was very surprising,” she says. “Now, people recognize my face … I totally did not expect this. It was an honour to have been nominated as Business Person of the Year. I think Miki would’ve been so proud of me. Without him, I would not have received this.” >>

DAVID BUZZARD

LOCALS’ FAVOURITE ROLAND’S PUB,

A Culinary Cornerstone in the Heart of Whistler Village

For reservations visit araxi.com

Best Fine Dining Where Whistler Magazine 604 932 4540 | 4222 Village Square | araxi.com

Spanish-Influenced Tapas & Craft Cocktails Be s t C a sua l Di nin g Wh e re Wh i st ler Magazine

BARO S O .CA

6 0 4 9 6 2 4540

4222 V I L L A G E SQ U A R E

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

That’s what I studied. I’m a problem solver; I look at the human perspective.” An example of that has been managing employees during the pandemic. “I held a session at work about mental health and being vulnerable,” she continues. “I put myself out there, my team put themselves out there. We said we would be there to pick each other up. I think that’s really helped.” Throughout the last year, the team at Brickworks was constantly revamping the menu to adjust to the ever-changing situation for restaurants. “We’re always looking to innovate and be different throughout the pandemic. We launched fish and chips, poutine, and “Stacked,” which is our newest concept,” Lewis says, referring to their savoury delivery option for inventive versions of their famous chicken sandwich, burgers and wings. With more than 30 types of gin for cocktails and their ever-popular beer-pan chicken and peanut-crusted pork rack, Brickworks is primed to welcome guests back for the dine-in experience throughout the summer. W

DAVID BUZZARD

After a successful pivot to mostly takeout food during the worst of the pandemic, Homma is looking ahead to summer and the seasonal menu. “We usually create some special things before summer,” she says. But, all year long, you can taste beloved menu items like their spicy agedashi tofu or the super hiro roll. “People love the spicy sauce all year long,” Homma says. Over at Brickworks, Priyanka Lewis says it was more her young age rather than being a woman that forced her to work extra hard to be taken seriously as a young Whistler entrepreneur nearly 13 years ago. “I just don’t view being female as negative,” she says. “I just charge on forward. That’s how I’ve been my whole life.” However, women entrepreneurs can bring different viewpoints and skills to the table, which is why diversity can be so important. “I think women have a different way of dealing with situations and I think for our company, we are very employee focused. I’m not sure whether men have the same leadership style as females. My background is also psychology.

NAOKO HOMMA CARRIES THE TORCH AT SUSHI VILLAGE AFTER HUSBAND MIKI’S PASSING FOUR YEARS AGO.

ENJOY THESE SUMMER SIPPERS ON YOUR FAVOURITE DECK

BONNY MAKAREWICZ

PATIO WINES FOR A SAFE SUMMER

PERFECT PAIRING BY SAMANTHA RAHN

hether relaxing on your home deck or enjoying one of Whistler’s fabulous outdoor dining spaces, this is the summer to be outside! Here are three yummy sippers to complement your après bike, swim or golf, which also pair perfectly with the season’s best patio fare. Harper’s Trail is an award-winning winery over the mountains and down the road in Kamloops, B.C. Their lively rosé, made from a blend of pinot gris and cabernet franc, won gold at both major Canadian wine competitions last year. It’s dry and refreshing but with lots of flavour to savour on its own, or with any summer fare from salads to burgers. Look for it at Nesters Liquor Store and chill well to beat the heat. When a colleague of mine declared 2021 the “Summer of Chablis,” I hopped right on board! Unfortunately, chablis may be harder to find this year as some supply chains remain impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic. In Whistler, look for some great chablis from Domaine Laroche while slurping freshly shucked oysters at one of our great restaurants. In particular, their Chablis Saint-Martin offers incredible value and showcases the crisp, mineral character which the region is known for, with a just a hint of richness to round out the edges and balance it perfectly. Fort Berens Winery is a local hero, with many locals considering it Whistler’s winery, though it is located in Lillooet. It’s worth the two-hour drive to visit this gorgeous winery and have lunch on the patio. Their cabernet franc is the ideal, all-around red to enjoy with anything off the grill, from local Pemberton veggies to a wide range of fish and meats. The juicy, fruit-driven character makes it very versatile. For those not wanting to indulge too much, how about trying out the fantastic offerings from Whistler’s craft kombucha brewer, Whistler Elixir. Their limited edition Brut offers a great non-alcoholic option with the bright acidity of a sparkling wine and a delicate, yet complex, flavour profile to sip in the sun, or pair alongside any lighter fare. It’s just the thing if you’re planning on lots of outdoor activities and adventures in the mountains! W

french at heart

west coast soul

2129 Lake Placid Road www.reddoorbistro.ca

604.962.6262 WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

7:04 P

THE WOODLANDS ROOFTOP Image: Brad Flowerdew

THE MALLARD LOUNGE & TERRACE

Image: Brad Flowerdew

PORTOBELLO

Whether you are looking for a casual meal to-go , to celebrate a special occasion or anything in between, Fairmont Chateau Whistler in Whistler’s Upper Village has created a delicious variety

of dining choices to inspire, comfort and delight. PORTOBELLO | A locals’ favourite for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t miss Portobello’s signature pastries, smokeshouse dinner menu or its fun retail shop. For dine in, take-out, and patio dining. THE WILDFLOWER | Locally-sourced, Pacific Northwest cuisine for breakfast and dinner. Patio dining available in summer months. THE MALLARD LOUNGE AND TERRACE | Hand-crafted cocktails, Whistler’s best slopeside patio, and live music make The Mallard your afternoon, après and evening destination. THE WOODLANDS ROOFTOP | Back again by popular demand, this charming pop-up restaurant offers stunning mountain views, family-style dining and live music, all on a covered, heated patio. THE CLUBHOUSE | Offering picturesque views of the 18th hole, The Clubhouse at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club presents a casual patio setting, as well as grab-and-go options. For the most up-to-date information on new summer dining experiences, restaurant hours, menus, dining specials and more, simply scan the QR code below or visit our website at chateau-whistler.com.

THE WILDFLOWER

4599 CHATEAU BOULEVARD (IN WHISTLER’S UPPER VILLAGE) T 1 604 938 8000 | E WHISTLER.RESTAURANTS@FAIRMONT.COM

OPEN LATE Mon. to Sat. till 3 a.m. Sun. till 2 a.m.

(604) 932-0410 4368 Main Street

KA-ZE Sushi and Beyond

The Very Best Japanese Sushi and Sashimi in Whistler EAT IN OR TO GO • WEEKLY SPECIALS

kazesushiwhistler.com • 604-938-4565 Tuesday - Sunday | 5:30pm - 9:30pm Westin Resort and Spa, Level 1

Free Parking Available – Underground P3 level, for 2 hours.

casual dining

STELLAR

SANDWICHES

DAVID BUZZARD

FROM THE CLASSIC TO THE DECADENT, SANDWICHES ARE A TOP CHOICE FOR SUMMER EATS STORY BY GAIL J O HNS O N

here’s nothing simpler than a sandwich, and when it’s built with the best possible ingredients, there’s nothing more satisfying. When it comes to stellar sandwiches, Whistler is home to some topnotch spots. Here are three to seek out when you’re yearning for superior bread-based sustenance.

STINKY’S ON THE STROLL Sandwiches are a perfect fit for Jeremy “Stinky” Peterson’s casual restaurant and sports bar. Originally from Ottawa, the long-time Whistler resident is all about creating a down-to-earth vibe, complete with the storied skis and snowboards that adorn one wall

and Habs memorabilia on others. He’s proud to provide “hungover comfort food at a decent value.” “Sandwiches are all about fun to me,” Peterson says. “I love how they can be so different; there’s only so much you can do with a burger. You can easily split a sandwich with someone or take the other half home.” >>

WOULD YOU LIKE TATER TOTS WITH THAT? FOR STINKY'S ON THE STROLL FOUNDER JEREMY “STINKY” PETERSON, SANDWICHES LIKE THE ITALIAN ARE ALL ABOUT FUN.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

COURTESY FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER

The most popular Stinky’s sandwich is Spicy Italian, all zesty with pepperoni, hot capicola and Swiss cheese along with banana peppers, spicy mayo, lettuce and onion on filone—the classic Italian sourdough really sets the stage for this sandwich. Montreal Smoked Meat (for the Habs fans!) and a classic Reuben are other choices; a veggie sub has a lively pineapple chutney with roasted sweet potato, arugula, and a balsamic drizzle. In-house kimchi is an optional add-on; so are nacho cheese, jalapenos, banana peppers, and jerk or roast chicken. All of the sandwiches come with tater tots (cooked in a steam oven, not a deep fryer), which can be upgraded to “tatertine,” Stinky’s own version of poutine— tater tots and cheese curds covered with turkey gravy. Yummm…

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN AND CRISPY PORCHETTA MAKE UP SOME OF THE ELEVATED FILLINGS IN PORTOBELLO'S SANDWICHES.

PORTOBELLO

SANDWICHES FROM STINKY'S ARE PERFECT HANGOVER FOOD.

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

bun with red cabbage slaw and house-made mustard (think about the latter for a moment; mustard made from scratch is a rarity, one of those extras that makes the Fairmont stand out). Pulled pork is piled high with pickled onions and chipotle mayo. “Those two (sandwiches) are more about the rub and slow smoking with cherry wood,” Chung says. Rotisserie chicken, with

COURTESY GIBBONS HOSPITALITY

DAVID BUZZARD

he restaurant in fairmont Chateau Whistler takes its sandwiches seriously, with the recently renovated kitchen—the only one of its kind in town—featuring a Rotisol rotisserie, an Alto-Shaam Smoker, and two Miwe Wenz 1919 ovens (they look like antiques but run on high-tech electrical heating for perfectly even cooking). Behold the generously seasoned roast porchetta, its exterior crackling, with chimichurri on a baguette. Porchetta is a classic dish in Italian cuisine, the name of the roasted, stuffed boneless pork translating to “little pig.” “Porchetta is my favourite—crispy pork skin is something I grew up on,” says Fairmont’s Executive Chef, Isabel Chung. “The secret to that, well, it’s a little in the herb marinade and a little in the salting of the skin. The thing that hands-down makes it amazing is how we cook it, tender on the inside and puffed up and crispy on the outside.” Another favourite is the smoked beef brisket, which comes on a herb

crispy skin, comes slathered with barbecue sauce and jalapeño aioli, while grilled cheese is several stars above your basic home version with provolone, orange cheddar, mozzarella, and smoked cheddar on fresh bread. If you’re in the mood for something specific or altogether different, you can create your own at Portobello’s made-toorder sandwich bar.

A SECRET HOUSE-MADE ADOBO RUB TAKES THE PULLED-PORK SANDWICH TO A NEW LEVEL AT FIREROCK.

sal eg

Fresh

The star ingredient of FireRock’s Adobo Pulled Pork Sandwich is locally sourced through Sakura Farms. The pork is slowly braised until it falls apart and fortified with Chef Bradley Cumming’s secret adobo spiced rub. This beauty is complimented with a housemade coleslaw, crispy onions, and a sriracha mayo to warm things up! Both come on a rustic-style burger bun that’s light and fluffy inside and golden baked on the outside. This is the place where you can pair your sandwich with one of more than 20 different scotches selected by the FireRock’s in-house whisky connoisseur, a craft cocktail, a sip from the expanded tequila menu, a creative zero-proof bevvie, or glass of wine from the list that’s mostly B.C. based. W

ituated just off the Village Stroll in the Westin Resort & Spa, the FireRock Lounge is a cozy chalet-style bar run by Gibbons (which also operates the Longhorn Saloon, Buffalo Bills, and other hot spots). The menu is wide-ranging, from cheese boards to pizza, but its sandwiches are well worth a visit too. The Cajun Chicken starts with Rossdown Farm Chicken. From the Fraser Valley, the organic, free-range chicken is raised with no antibiotics or hormones. The chicken is dredged in Cajun spice and grilled to perfection, then paired with applewood smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, and mayo. Just the thing after a day spent outdoors.

THE FIREROCK LOUNGE

Cold

Cold beer to go, growler fills, kegs, brewery tours, rotating cider tap, wearables & beeraphenalia! Function Junction 10 mins. south of Whistler Village 604-962-8889

the locals ’ hangout DELICIoUS PUB FARE!

Burgers, sandwiches, fish & chips, nachos, chicken wings, tacos, salads, soups, kids’ menu and daily lunch & dinner specials

AIN ST. 14 M #21T- U4P3FR OM THE (JUS GS) OLYMPIC RIN US @ FOLLOWSW STLER STINKY HI

g LoCAL SUppoRTINS IE R BREWE

SPoRtS!!

9 Flatscreens, HD TV’s, Great Food & Great Service

oN SpoRTS E NS R BIg SC E ACoS, HomE ofoTTS ANd TATER TIBLE INCREd HES SANdWIC oWNEd LoCALLy R TEd ANd opE A

IFI

IC AUTHENTR VIBE WHISTLETHE

FR E E P

KI AR

BEER & WINE StoRE 7 days a week, 11am-11pm

ROLANDSWHISTLER.COM 604-932-5940 2129 LAKE PLACID, CREEKSIDE

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

shopping whistler

SUMMER STYLES After more than a year staying close to home, it’s time to raise your style game this season. Update your wardrobe, splurge on some jewelry, tempt your tummy with something sweet, or find a great piece to brighten your home. Whistler’s shops and boutiques offer an eclectic mix of functional, fun and fashionable. Check out some of our favourite things for the summer season.

SLIM SIGNATURE SHIRT This menswear-inspired, 100 per cent silk shirt is a timeless classic. Slightly oversized with two front pockets, the slim signature is a versatile wardrobe staple that works just as well tucked into a pencil skirt as it does untucked with a pair of jeans. Available in bluestone or cilantro, from Bach & Co for $426

CHANII B ZIPPETTE BOOTS The iridescent print leather on this boot is brilliant for teaming with many colour pallets.The unlined, perforated details and rubber composite sole make it perfect for summer and fall. Available at Soles Footwear for $320

Shopping Areas Nesters

UPPER VILLAGE

Village North

WHISTLER VILLAGE

SECRID CC HOLDER The Secrid credit card holder is sleek and stylish and will protect her cards against RFID. The Miniwallet is compact and surprisingly large in storage capacity. With a wide variety of styles and colours, it fits every pocket. The patented mechanism allows you to slide out your cards with one simple motion, ready for immediate use. The aluminum protects from bending, breaking and unwanted wireless communication. Available in an assortment of colours and patterns from Open Country.

14K GOLD INUKSHUK MOUNTAIN RING WITH CANADIAN DIAMOND This yellow and white gold Inukshuk mountain range ring features a natural Canadian round, brilliant-cut diamond. Laser inscribed with certificate of origin. Available at Keir Fine Jewellery for $1495>>

cou

ver

WHISTLER CREEKSIDE

FUNCTION JUNCTION

To Va n

THE BEST OF ROCKY Take the guess work out of choosing and enjoy Rocky Mountain Chocolate’s most popular handmade chocolates, featuring Moguls, Peanut Butter Cups, Rocky Ridges, Bombs and Meltdowns. This beautiful box comes with an assortment of 20 delicious handmade chocolates. It’s the perfect gift for any chocolate lover or a great way to discover their products for yourself. Available at Rocky Mountain Chocolate for $75

Whistler Village is the hub of activity at the base of the mountains. A pedestrian-only paradise, it offers over 200 stores, galleries, restaurants and bars. Village North is centred around

Whistler Marketplace, which offers a supermarket, liquor store and many fine shops and amenities.

Upper Village, situated at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, is another walking-only area with many wonderful stores, restaurants and galleries. Nesters is just two minutes north of Whistler Village and offers a variety of shops and restaurants, with a liquor store, grocery store and restaurants. Rainbow Plaza, a five-minute

drive north of the Village, has a grocery store, liquor store, coffee shop, gas station and more.

Whistler Creekside, a

five-minute drive south of the Village, is a shopping area near the base of Whistler Mountain.

Function Junction is just 10 minutes south of Whistler Village and offers hardware, organic groceries, breweries, bakeries and many more shops and services.

shopping whistler

PLEATED COPPER VESSEL Loom-woven copper-wire vessel made by metal artist Frances Solar, a contemporary Canadian artist who combines textile techniques with unconventional materials. Solar currently lives and works in Squamish, B.C. She has been a traditional weaver and textile artist for many years, and applying the same techniques and ideas to industrial materials is a natural progression of her work. Copper wire is easily available in many colours, and just like traditional fibers it is flexible, can be manipulated, patinated etc. She names them “vessels” rather than “baskets” as the latter word implies a function. 31cm x 14cm Available at the Audain Art Museum for $600

WELLBEING AROMATHERAPY CANDLE Uplift your spirits with the help of this Energy Candle from the Wellbeing Collection by Aromabotanical. This candle is a custom blend of Australian essential oils and sustainable soy and palm wax featuring a blend of grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, juniper and rosemary that helps decrease fatigue while boosting focus and energy. Hand-poured with a stylish wooden lid. Available at Ruby Tuesday for $49.95

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

WHISTLER MARKET BAG These reusable market bags from The Bag Co. are the perfect replacement for single-use plastic shopping bags. Available at 3 Singing Birds for $45

ORCA SILK SCARF This digitally printed, pure habotai silk scarf was designed by Ed NoiseCat, Lil’wat Nation, and featured artist of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s newest exhibit Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land. Finished size 9.5 inches by 45 inches. Available at the SLCC for $61 >>

FRESH PRODUCE FRESH BAKERY ORGANIC FOOD DELICIOUS SEAFOOD SPECIALTY MEATS BULK FOODS DELIVERY SERVICE FRIENDLY PHARMACIST NUTRITIONAL ADVISORS

2020

HEALTH FOODS

A Charming & Unique Selection of Gifts & Kitchenware Dinnerware • Linens • Gadgets Candles • Glassware Practical Kitchen Accessories & More

en& VisWitoorrsks stvoleriter ofKitLoch Whi cals A Fa Since 1994

ketplace Located in Whistler’s Mar

604-938-1110

Where the Locals Shop! OPEN EVERY DAY

8 am – 10 pm | 8am – 6pm Pharmacy Located 1km north of Whistler Village at 7019 Nesters Rd. Phone: 604-932-3545 Pharmacy: 604-905-0429 Save time by shopping online:

www.nestersmarket.com

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

shopping whistler OAKLEY HOLBROOK SUNGLASSES Holbrook is a timeless, classic design fused with modern Oakley technology. Inspired by the screen heroes from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, this design epitomizes the spirit of exploration and adventure. The iconic American frame design is accented by metal rivets and Oakley icons, perfect for those who seek equal parts performance and style. Available with Prizm™ lenses to enhance colour, contrast and detail for an optimized experience, at the Oakley Store.

MEN’S LIGHT SS CARBON SHORTS Cut for a regular fit with plenty of stretch, these soft shell shorts are designed for lightness and mobility during mountaineering. Zipped pockets and expandable leg endings ensure ergonomic comfort. These shorts are wind resistant, quick drying and stretchy. Available at Peak Performance for $170

CANADIAN WOOL QUEEN BLANKET The MacAusland blanket is individually handcrafted with 100 per cent pure virgin wool sourced and produced in Atlantic Canada. This warm, soft and durable queen-sized blanket is available in light grey/white, brown/white and black/white. Available at Camp Lifestyle & Coffee Co. for $205 HAZY TRAIL PALE ALE Celebrate a day on the trails and slaying the mountain with Whistler Brewing’s Hazy Trail Pale Ale, jammed full of late addition hops and finished with a double-dry hop of Citra and Amarillo. Partial proceeds from every four pack will be donated to local trail associations through Trailforks.com’s “Trail Karma.” Available at Whistler Brewing Co. >>

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

IN CREEKSIDE

MEN, WOMEN & LIFESTYLE 221-2063 Lake Placid Road, Whistler, BC

Artisan Pizza

Best

Breakfast Sandwich

GreenLake Station.com STOP at Whistler Chevron, Café & Store 8110 Crazy Canuck Drive Hippest little gas station yo u ever did see

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

shopping whistler PLAYSAM ROADSTER BLACK Make a child’s first car ride a memorable one with Playsam’s classic Roadster Saab, a toy car for small children. Like most Saab cars, the Roadster Saab has a clean and simple design. Its design is based on the very first Saab prototype 92001. The steering wheel is made of wood and metal just like the old sports car steering wheels. Not suitable for children under 12 month of age. Available at Get the Goods for $900

IN T H E SO U L O F T H E VI L L A G E , O P P O SIT E TAP L E Y’ S . 12-4122 Village Green 604 905 0036 solesofwhistler.com

NORTH FACE RESOLVE REFLECTIVE RAIN JACKET The Resolve Reflective Jacket is a lightweight, durable jacket that provides waterproof, breathable warmth. It also keeps kids visible in low light with reflective logos on front and back. Available at Mountain Kids Outfitters for $89.99 W

Located at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola 604.932.4100

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

services Directory

To advertise in the Services Directory, call Catherine Power-Chartrand at 604-932-1672

SERVING WHISTLER FOR OVER YEARS

massage clinic & spa

CLINIC SERVICES OFFERED:

Deep Tissue Massage, Relaxation, Acupressure, Therapeutic Massge, Reflexology, Aromotherapy & Hot Stone Massage Registered Massage Therapy, Counselling, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Advanced Environ Skin Care & Micro Needling INNOPEN are available upon request

www.bluehighways.ca • 604-938-0777 • #206 - 4368 Main St., Market Pavilion

Private Whistler and Vancouver Transfers and Tours @luxurytransport

www.luxbus.com

604.522.8484

Whistler’s In Resort Specialists Everything you need for your Health, Beauty and Convenience, right in the heart of Whistler Village Prestigious Beauty Boutique Full Service Pharmacy offering Travel Vaccinations & Medication Reviews Prescription Deliveries and much more Whistler Village (near The Keg & Movie Theatre)

Whistler Reception & Property Care VACATION RENTAL SERVICES • Check-in • Housekeeping & Maintenance • Owner Direct Website Admin • In-Resort Contact and Guest Service

Vacation Rental Services for Homeowners SEASONAL HOME SERVICES • Monthly Inspections • Housekeeping • Maintenance • Owner Concierge

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE  EXPERT ASSISTANCE  RELIABLE RELATIONSHIPS

www.whistlerreception.com | info@whistlerreception.com

604-905-5666 www.shoppersdrugmart.ca

604-966-0999

AVIS RENT A CAR - WHISTLER Wide variety of mid and full size cars for exploring Whistler and area! MINI VANS, 4x4s, 10-Passenger Vans, CARGO & 16' CUBE VANS

STUDIOS

Yoga and wellness services in the heart of Whistler Village!

ONE WAY RENTALS AVAILABLE TO VANCOUVER OR FROM YVR AND DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER TO WHISTLER

For yoga classes with heart that have strong safety procedures in place. Limited space available, advanced booking required. In-person and virtual class options. Book online today!

Cascade Lodge Lobby | 604.932.1236

604-935-2020 info@whistleryogacara.com www.whistleryogacara.com

sheri.warm@abglocalmarket.ca | Avis.com

PROVEN RESULTS –

I’m with you every step of the way Specializing in Residential and Investment property in Whistler

Rentals Skills Tours

Carolyn Hill, ASSOCIATE BROKER PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

Delivering the Dream – Whistler cel: 604-907-0770

email: chill@whistlerbuyer.com www.whistlerbuyer.com Voted Whistler’s Best Realtor

in Lost Lake PassivHaus

whistler • 604.905.0071 • crosscountryconnection.ca WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

Whistler Village & Upper Village Map A

VILLAGE WALK PEDESTRIAN PATHS ROAD

BUILDINGS

PARKING LOT

MEDICAL CENTRE

W AY

INFORMATION TRANSIT STOP

TO LOST LAKE

VANCOUVER BUS TAXI LOOP

6 7 8

LOT 5

9 LOT 1 LOT 2 ES D I A L CR

LOT 4

AY BLACKCOMB W

SKIERS PLAZA

MARKETPLACE

GATEWAY

BLVD ANDS L H T R NO

P LOO

L VI

GE GATE BLVD VILLA

VILLAGE SQUARE

COUVER TO VAN

O SKY SEA T

TO PEMBERTON

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

HWY

OLL

E AG

VILLAGE G R E

ES TR

E LANE AG ILL

TOWN PLAZ

MAIN ST

L OL

WHISTLER OLYMPIC PLAZA

LORIMER RD

SUN

TL W HIS

WAY ER

SPRINGS LANE

LOT 3

DRIVING RANGE

WHISTLER MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021

Whistler Magazine Summer 2021

Articles inside

WINE: Patio Wines for a Safe Summer

MOUNTAIN BIKING: Naming Rights

WHISTLER HOMES: Simplicity Meets Elegance

REAL ESTATE: The Mountains are Calling

ARTS SCENE: Art of Our Area

CASUAL DINING: Stellar Sandwiches

DINING SCENE: Closing the Gap

FACES OF WHISTLER: Community Connectors