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Resort Municipality of Whistler
Resort Municipality
Whistler Panorama
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	Squamish-Lillooet
Settled	1914 by Mrytle and Alex Philip
Incorporated	1975
Government
• Mayor	Ken Melamed
• Manager	Bill Barratt
• Governing body	Whistler Town Council
• MP	Blair Wilson
• MLA	Joan McIntyre
Area
• Total	161.72 km (62.44 sq mi)
Elevation	670 m (2,200 ft)
Population
• Total	9,248
• Density	55/km (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
Postal code span	V0N
Website	Whistler.ca

Whistler is a resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) north of Vancouver. Incorporated as the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), it has a permanent population of approximately 9,965, plus a larger but rotating "transient" population of workers, typically younger people from beyond BC, notably from Australia and Japan.

Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and mountain biking at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler will host most of the alpine, nordic and sliding events.

History

The Whistler valley was a traditional trading route of the Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations long before the arrival of Europeans. The first British survey by the Royal Navy took place in the 1860s. These surveyors named the mountain London Mountain because of the heavy fog and cloud typically gathering around the mountain, but the area informally acquired the name "whistler" due to the call of the indigenous hoary marmot. In the late 19th century, a trail was cut through the valley linking Lillooet via Pemberton with Burrard Inlet via a pass from Squamish to the Seymour River. The trail was completed in 1877, but because of the difficult and unforgiving terrain, it was only used once for its intended purpose, which was to drive cattle. The area began to attract trappers and prospectors (such as John Millar and Henry Horstman) who established small camps in the area in the early 20th century. The area began to gain recognition with the arrival of Myrtle and Alex Philip, who in 1914 purchased 10 acres (4 ha) of land on Alta Lake and established the Rainbow Lodge. The Philips had relocated from Maine to Vancouver in 1910, and had heard rumors of the natural beauty of the area from Pemberton pioneer John Millar. After an exploratory journey, the couple was convinced. Rainbow Lodge and other railway-dependent tourist resorts were collectively known as Alta Lake, until their absorption into the newly-minted Resort Municipality in the 1970s.

The completion of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the same year greatly reduced the travel time from three days, providing ease of access from Vancouver, and the Rainbow Lodge gained a reputation as the most popular vacation destination west of the Rockies. The lodge was primarily a summer destination, with boating, fishing and hiking among the most popular activities, and soon other lodges began to open not just on Alta Lake, but on other valley lakes as well.

Appreciation of the outdoors was not the only activity in the valley, however; logging was also a boom industry, and during the first half of the 20th century, most of the lower slopes of the surrounding mountains were cleared of old growth. At its peak, four mills were in operation, most located around Green Lake. Prospecting and trapping were pursued as well, though no claims of great value were ever staked.

Until the 1960s, this quiet area was without basic infrastructure; there were no sewage facilities, water, or electricity, and no road from Squamish or Vancouver. In 1962, four Vancouver businessmen began to explore the area with the intent of building a ski resort and bidding for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Garibaldi Lift Company was formed, shares were sold, and in 1966, Whistler Mountain opened to the public.

Later, the city was offered the 1976 Winter Olympics after selected host Denver declined the games due to funding issues. Whistler declined as well, after elections brought in a local government less enthusiastic about the Olympics. The 1976 Winter Olympics were ultimately held in Innsbruck, Austria.

2010 Olympic plans

Whistler is the Host Mountain Resort of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first time the IOC has bestowed that designation on a community. Whistler will host the alpine technical and speed events, the sliding events, the Nordic events in nearby Callaghan Valley and all the Paralympic events except the opening ceremonies, sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. The Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village (commonly referred to as the Athlete's village) will house around 2,400 athletes, coaches, trainers and officials. Construction is well underway, plans and blueprints are being finalized for the athlete housing and village. Post-games, the site will be turned into a new residential neighbourhood.

Bears

Whistler's urban landscape was specifically designed to accommodate the natural environment, and as black bear populations have gradually recovered, coupled with the loss of pinyon pines due to multi-year drought conditions, bears have begun seeking food in settled areas. Many of Whistler's bears have learned to do things like open car doors or hold spring-closed gates open so they can reach food. Most are relatively docile and few bear-human incidents have been reported. Whistler residents are strongly conservationist, and the official response has relied heavily on behavior modification for both bears and people. Removal or killing are last resorts. The techniques being used are being studied by other municipalities with bear problems.

Transportation

Whistler is located on British Columbia Highway 99, also known as the "Sea-to-Sky highway", approximately 58 kilometres (36 mi) north of Squamish, and 125 km (76 mi) from Vancouver.

Elite-class rail service is provided between Whistler and North Vancouver by the Whistler Mountaineer, but regular passenger schedules are no longer available. Rail service through to Jasper is provided by the Rocky Mountaineer.

Notes

• The Windows XP codename "Whistler" is named after this community
• The Windows Vista codename "Longhorn" is named after the Longhorn Saloon, a bar at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. Country Dick Montana died at his drumset in this bar in 1995.
• The television show Whistler takes place in Whistler, B.C.

See also

• Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort
• Whistler Mountain
• Blackcomb Peak
• Garibaldi Provincial Park

• A panorama of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains taken in March, 2007.
• Black Tusk as seen from Whistler Mountain.
• Singing Pass in August as seen between Whistler and Blackcomb.
• View of Whistler from Whistler mountain.
• View of Whistler from the Cable car in the summer. View of Whistler from the Cable car in the summer.
• The "Stairway To Heaven" area boundary on Blackcomb Mountain in winter.

References

1. BritishColumbia.com - Whistler, British Columbia
2. BritishColumbia.com - History and Heritage of Whistler Mountain
3. Darcy Frey (November 25 2007). "The Bears Among Us". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Municipality of Whistler
• Whistler Resort Association (Tourism Whistler)
• Official Site of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
• Whistler Chamber of Commerce
• Whistler and Blackcomb ski resorts
• Whistler Question - Whistler's community newspaper
• More Whistler resort details

50°7′15″N 122°57′16″W / 50.12083°N 122.95444°W / 50.12083; -122.95444

• District municipalities in British Columbia
• Communities in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia
• Whistler Valley