Whistler Stories That Need To Be Told

Bruce Watt
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Whistler Stories That Need To Be Told Podcast

Oral history is important and this podcast captures the confidence and culture that shaped Whistler into a #1 world class resort ... it captures the people and their history from 1969 to now and what it took to develop a unique Western Canadian resort that draws mountain enthusiasts from all over the world for a “quick visit that lasts years”. “I want a record of what happened here and why it happened in such a short time and how successful we were. I want to interview people that lived here through the development of Whistler.” ~ Bruce Watt

  1. The Original Hippie

    JUL 31

    The Original Hippie

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

    45 min
  2. Karen Vagelatos - A two-time Olympian from a Skiing Pioneer Family

    JUN 14

    Karen Vagelatos - A two-time Olympian from a Skiing Pioneer Family

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

    28 min
  3. Cathy Jewett - Creating the Foundation for Equality

    APR 23

    Cathy Jewett - Creating the Foundation for Equality

    Cathy Jewett was in the forefront on many social issues in the 70s & 80s and still is as a Councillor on the Resort Municipality Of Whistler council. She was one of the first females (3 in the 60s & 70s) to become a Professional Ski Patroller with Whistler Mountain and created the conditions for equality for future female ski patrollers at Whistler/Blackcomb Mountains. It wasn't was an easy, gentle journey but with endless energy and tenancity, she achieved many of her career goals pl...

    37 min
  4. A Well Deserved Honor

    MAR 19

    A Well Deserved Honor

    Part two of the interview with John Hetherington, Bruce's Ski Patrol Boss from back in the seventies plus so much more. John was and is an integral part of Whistler’s history and development. An original Whistler Counciler. An original Search and Rescue volunteer. An original Whistler Heli Ski Owner and Guide. John has done so much for Whistler as a voluneer that he was the recipient of the Governor General’s Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers in 2017. A well deserved honor John!

    27 min
  5. The Iconic Bushrat

    FEB 9

    The Iconic Bushrat

    Introducing John Hetherington, Bruce's Ski Patrol Boss from back in the seventies plus so much more. John was and is an integral part of Whistler’s history and development. An original Whistler Counciler. An original Search and Rescue volunteer. An original Whistler Heli Ski Owner and Guide. John has done so much for Whistler as a voluneer that he was the recipient of the Governor General’s Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers in 2017. A well deserved honor John!

    24 min
  6. An Epic Journey of Being the "First" _Cliff Jennings_Part 2

    06/12/2023

    An Epic Journey of Being the "First" _Cliff Jennings_Part 2

    In Episode 12 I continue my conversation with Cliff Jennings - A Man with a lot of Whistler History to share starting from 1965. Cliff has had an Epic Whistler Journey of Being the First...Employee for Garibaldi Lift Co. - Groomer and Builder of the 1st Gondola Barn and T-BarsEmployee of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW)Hotel ManagerSearch and Rescue VolunteerClimbing GuideHeli-Ski GuideHome sold over $1MHe documented his love of Whistler and the outdoors with his passion for photog...

    23 min
  7. Human Mule_ Cliff Jennings

    04/25/2023

    Human Mule_ Cliff Jennings

    Introducing Cliff Jennings - A Man with a lot of Whistler History to share starting from 1965. He was one of the first for many things ...Employee for Garibaldi Lift Co. - Groomer and Builder of the 1st Gondola Barn and T-BarsEmployee of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW)Hotel ManagerSearch and Rescue VolunteerClimbing GuideHeli-Ski GuideHe documented his love of Whistler and the outdoors with his passion for photography by sharing all that he could then and now.Background of the early da...

    21 min
  8. An Avalanche Doesn't Know You're an Expert_Chris Stethem

    03/29/2023

    An Avalanche Doesn't Know You're an Expert_Chris Stethem

    Chris Stethem - Honorary Member of The Canadian Avalanche AssociationChris Stethem is a retired avalanche protection consultant living in Canmore, Alberta. A graduate in Geography from Queen’s University, Chris spent the 1970s overseeing the avalanche program at Whistler, BC, and completing research projects for the National Research Council of Canada and Environment Canada. This work included a compilation of the first two volumes of Avalanche Accidents in Canada (Stethem and Schaerer 1979, ...

    21 min
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About

Oral history is important and this podcast captures the confidence and culture that shaped Whistler into a #1 world class resort ... it captures the people and their history from 1969 to now and what it took to develop a unique Western Canadian resort that draws mountain enthusiasts from all over the world for a “quick visit that lasts years”. “I want a record of what happened here and why it happened in such a short time and how successful we were. I want to interview people that lived here through the development of Whistler.” ~ Bruce Watt

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