Tag Archives: Dennis Waddingham

Whistler’s Answers: September 8, 1983

In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer).  Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1983.  Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.

Some context for this week’s question: In the 1980s, the provincial government opened the Powder Mountain site to bids for development. By 1983, several ski resort developers had been attracted to the area but none had gone further than talking about it. In April 1983, a company called Powder Mountain Resorts Ltd. joined with French consortium SITAC International SA to develop a master plan for the recreational reserve in the Callaghan recreational reserve area. The plan called for skiing on six mountains and seven townsites. Some people questioned the feasibility of a ski resort in the area, in part because of the challenging terrain and unpredictable weather, while others were concerned such a development would dilute the market and draw business away from Whistler.

Question: Do you think a large resort at Powder Mountain is a good idea?

Ross Smith – General Manager, Stoney’s – White Gold

Oh yeah, sure. I think Powder is going to help Whistler. No matter how fast they go, they can’t catch up with Whistler. All the services are here, and there’s always new plans. It would work. A lot of people who know what they’re doing are involved with it. Whether we see it all developed in our lifetime is a different matter.

Pauline Lepatourel – Typesetter – Alpine Meadows

So far from what I’ve heard I’m totally confused. If these new developers are on the up-and-up I think it could only add to the wonderful world of skiing. But with all the services they have to provide, it’s a long way down the road to completion.

Dennis Waddingham – Owner, The Downhill Shop – Whistler Cay

Yes and no. If someone builds a road, and puts in sewers and hydro, it would work. But government won’t do it and it’s too expensive for private enterprise. That’s why everybody’s dropped it in the past. The provincial government has too much money in Whistler already. They have to take care of here first.

Whistler’s Answers: August 4, 1983

In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer).  Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1983.  Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.

Some context for this week’s question: The Delta Mountain Inn opened in July 1982 and operated through that winter. In July 1983, however, the hotel announced that it would be closed from September 26 to November 21, 1983, due to the lack of convention business. The hotel claimed that the Delta would lose money by remaining open with so few guests expected during the period.

Question: What impact do you think the closing of Delta Mountain Inn will have on the hotel and on Whistler?

Lea-Ann Russell – Village Store Employee – Brio Estates

I don’t think closing was a good idea. To close and reopen like that would be hard to organize. They would have been better to stay open with a skeleton staff – maybe only one floor open. I don’t think it will hurt Whistler though because there are still enough places still open.

Dennis Waddingham – Village Store Owner – Whistler Cay

I think they should’ve announced it a lot earlier so local businesses would know when ordering their fall stock. Without Delta, Whistler’s visitor count will drop for sure. No, unfortunately I don’t think closing will hurt Delta itself at all. It’ll hurt their staff though.

Paul Clarke – Assistant Hotel Manager – Nesters Road

In the long run I don’t think closing will have a large effect on Whistler or the hotel at all. I feel sorry for them – it’s one thing to try and run a little restaurant up here but another thing to keep a huge operation like that going. From a business standpoint they just couldn’t do it.

Whistler’s Answers: December 9, 1982

In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer).  Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1982.  Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.

Some context for this week’s question: In December 1982, the Whistler Council decided to terminate a contract with Alpine Security Services Ltd., who had been patrolling the Whistler Village. Officially, security was not a function that the municipality could provide under the Municipal Act unless property owners in a designated area petition council to do so and unless the security costs would be recovered from taxpayers in the area benefitting from the service. At the time, there were no indications that a petition from village business owners was in the works.

Question: Do you think there will be problems as a result of the lack of Village security?

Pauline Lepatourel – Typesetter/Secretary – Alpine Meadows

There already have. Working here late at night is getting pretty dicey. A drunk came leering through the office door one night and one of my friends was accosted in the underground parking a few evenings earlier.

Nobody’s going to want to come here if they don’t feel safe. The merchants in this town better get their budget priorities straight or else the damage that’s done will cost much more in the long run.

Dennis Waddingham – Village Store Owner – Whistler Cay

Yes, I sure do and I think Alpine Security should have been kept on. Protection is definitely needed and the local police force is just not big enough to handle this.

As a village merchant I’d be willing to pay my portion of the cost of hiring security. I think the proportion each merchant pays should be determined by its location and the nature of the business. Those that serve liquor, for example, would pay more.

Ida Noze – Local Seer – Microwave Road

Not to worry. Before long the situation will get so out of hand that nice people will automatically avoid the village altogether, not wanting their tires slashed or wives assaulted. Then the vandals will be alone with each other while everyone else is elsewhere.

This Week In Photos: November 1

If you’re looking for photos of Halloweens past, look no further than the Whistler Question Collection!

1978

This large pile of building material debris collecting under the power line at Function Junction.

Package #7 – The new Post Office site is identified at the Town Centre with the school in the background.

The western pine log home nearing completion in Alpine Meadows – construction by Canadiana Homes Corp.

1980

Whistler Daycare Hallowe’en Party!

Jack Davey (far right) talks to one of his first customers in his new hardware store in the Town Centre. Only open a week, the store boasts a huge inventory of dry goods from kitchen ware to backyard tools.

Blue Northern belted out the dancin’ tunes to the delight of the 250+ customers that attended the Country Hoedown and Trucker’s Ball in the Blackcomb Maintenance garage. It was the third annual for the Cookhouse Organization.

Member of the fitness awareness squad that visited the school over the weekend chats with Joan Gross as she pedals the specially adapted exercise bike that measures how the body’s cardiovascular system is working.

The Town Centre as it is this last week of October from the north looking south. Parking is now available on the large football field-looking structure to the right. The structures at the bottom left are the employee trailers, the circle in the middle is for dropping passengers at Blackcomb Lodge and Phase Two projects are shown in various states of construction in the middle left.

1981

Auctioneer Paul Burrows offers the giant collage by Chris Speedie for sale at the Ski Team Benefit. The picture fetched a tidy $1,100.

Discussing the benefits of the benefit (l to r): Dennis Waddingham, Steve Podborski, Dave Murray, Toulouse and Deedee Haight of the Alpine Ski Team.

There were bewildering moments for many Whistler residents upon awakening Saturday, October 31 to the sounds of raging creeks. This resident of Panorama Drive in Brio says it all with a shrug – after all, what can you say when there’s a river where there once was none?

Norm Dedeluk (centre) gets more than a helping hand from two fellow volunteer firemen in dislodging debris from raging Brio Creek.

Half of the Myrtle Philip Kindergarten Class – from the left: Kris Jones, Kelly Hamilton, Michael Hoffmann, Simon Beller, Christopher Systad, Aaron Gross, Alexander Fordham and Karen Kogler.

Principal Bob Daly is surrounded by teachers Sue Christopher (left) and Sandra Pauliuk-Epplett all dressed in their Halloween finery.

1982

Smokey Batzer demonstrates artificial resuscitation techniques to employees of the Delta Mountain Inn.

And the winner is… Steve Podborski draws the lucky number of the grand prize winner at the Canadian National Ski Team Benefit as Dennis Waddingham looks on. The benefit was held October 29 at L’Apres.

His Honour Dave Murray passes royal judgement on the winning costume at Araxi’s first birthday party Sunday, October 31. Lucky Andre walked away with $100 for his light and airy costume, which just may give the mountains some bright ideas for transporting skiers.

Halloween brought all kinds in all sorts of outfits into Whistler Village October 30 and 31. Revellers whooped it up at Nasty Jack’s Halloween Party and Bullets Cabaret.

What better way to end an evening of trick or treating than being treated to Whistler’s third annual Halloween fireworks display, put on by the Whistler Volunteer Fire Department.

Provincial crews began taking apart the Bailey bridge which spans the River of Golden Dreams at Highway 99. Work on the dismantling job began November 1.

1983

Members of the Canadian Olympic Soccer Team gathered in Myrtle Philip playing field Tuesday after training on top of Whistler Mountain Monday. Twenty-one players and coaching staff head to Mexico City Saturday to battle against the Mexican national team which they defeated 1-0 in Victoria. The Canadian team must draw or win against Mexico to advance to the next round in the Olympic qualifying matches. Good luck lads!

Gruesome monster Davey Blaylock tricked and treated with timid lion Jake Humphrey and hideous Swamp Thing Aaron Gross. Students of Myrtle Philip School paraded before parents in the gym before going off to Halloween parties in their classrooms.

One of the, ah, more penetrating costumes worn by a reveller in the Mountain House.

It was a Monday full of goblins, ghouls and costumes as Whistlerites celebrated Halloween around the village. Kids and parents watch fireworks in front of the Tri-Services Building put on by the Volunteer Fire Department. Coffee and a huge log fire kept everyone warm as they oohed and aahed the well-organized fireworks display.

The first crests and embroidered garments will soon be rolling off a computerized embroidery machine at Function Junction. Owners Jan Holmberg and Ted Nebbeling paid $80,000 for the Japanese-made machine that has twelve sewing heads.

1984

Antonio Pellin from Custom Paving takes a 16 tonne compacting machine to Highway 99 at Village Gate Boulevard in preparation for the final paving and installation of a traffic light at the intersection. Once the work is completed this month, Whistler will have its first traffic light and the intersection will have an extra lane for turning into the village from both north and south.

About 12 cm of powdery snow covered the valley Tuesday in the first major snowfall of the season. A group of local women decided to herald the unofficial beginning of winter by building a ‘snow-woman’ in Village Square Tuesday. The ‘snow-woman’ featured brussel sprouts for a mouth, potatoes for eyes and a carrot for the nose.

Youngsters at Myrtle Philip School had their first frolic in the snow Tuesday morning, arriving at the school to find their friends as well as about 12 cm of fresh new powder.