Whistler Museum

10/04/2026

Emmie Brooks on Gentian Ridge, Garibaldi Provincial Park, summer 1928.

Emmie Brooks, along with her husband Eric, played an important role in the early mountaineering exploration of the Coast Mountains.

Both were accomplished mountaineers and active members of the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), attending numerous mountaineering camps in the Rockies and Selkirks and contributing to the growth of mountaineering in Canada.

Photo: Brooks Collection.

10/02/2026

In 1987, 30 representatives from the bicycle industry - Ritchey Mountain Bikes, Marin, Specialized, and more - were invited to explore trails on Whistler Mountain with LifeStyles Adventure Company. Read about the ride in our latest blog post, complete with photos courtesy of Leanna Rathkelly.

Explore the origins of mountain biking in Whistler with Leanna Rath-Kelly's journey in 1987, capturing a pivotal moment in biking history.

09/30/2026

The Whistler Museum will be closed today for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Everyone is encouraged to learn, reflect on the history and ongoing legacy of harm caused by residential schools, and take action in support of truth and reconciliation.

There are several ways to engage and make an impact. One is joining our cultural partners at the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre (SLCC) for their full schedule of thoughtful and immersive programming.

For more information, visit Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler

09/28/2026

We hope everyone enjoyed the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill this weekend. The MTB community has grown significantly since Whistler first encountered off-road racing in the early 1980s.

Here is the downhill portion of the 1986 Can Am Mountain Bike Challenge. Day one saw an 8km criterium in the valley, while the second day saw riders climb 1,200m up Whistler Mountain to the Roundhouse before racing back down.

This challenge took place during the Fat Tire Cycle Series, an Expo 86 branded event that also included the IBMXF Championships and the Can Am BMX Freestyle Competition.

09/26/2026

On June 20, 1982, Whistler hosted the first mountain bike race in Canada: the unofficial Canadian Off-Road Cycle Championship.

Seventeen competitors began with a standing “Le Mans” start in Whistler Village, sprinting to their bikes before racing roughly 15 km through the valley, including Lost Lake and the power lines near Green Lake.

More than four decades later, Whistler is hosting its first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

If you’re in Creekside for the World Cup this weekend, visit the Whistler Museum’s pop-up exhibit at Can-Ski Creekside, created in partnership with Whistler Blackcomb. The exhibit explores the history of mountain bike events in Whistler through bikes, frames, photographs, and other objects from the Museum’s collection, along with items loaned for the exhibit.

Photo: Whistler Question Collection.

09/10/2026

Whistler windsurfing pioneer Jinny Ladner outside her shop, Whistler Windsurfing, with Andrew Stoner on July 6, 1982.

Ladner began windsurfing on Alta Lake in 1975, learning on one of the first two windsurfers imported into Canada. She went on to open her shop, Whistler Windsurfing, compete internationally, and win four consecutive Canadian Windsurfer Championships from 1978 to 1981.

Windsurfing gained popularity in Whistler during the late 1970s and quickly became a fixture of summer life, with weekly race nights and regattas held on Alta Lake throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. Ladner was at the centre of this growing windsurfing scene, competing at World Championships and helping with races at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Read more about Jinny Ladner and the rise of windsurfing in Whistler on our Whistorical Blog at the link posted below.

Photo: Whistler Question Collection.

09/04/2026

Doug and the Slugs playing at the Toni Sailer Summer Ski Camp at Adventures West, July 1979.

Before finding national success in the 1980s, Doug and the Slugs were already becoming a familiar part of Whistler’s music scene.

Formed in Vancouver in 1977, the band began playing in Whistler in the late 1970s and returned regularly throughout the 1980s. Former Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed later remembered them as a “signature band” of Whistler during this period.

Doug and the Slugs performed at some of Whistler’s biggest events, including the first World Cup downhill in 1982 and Winterfest in 1984, where they played for a crowd of more than 2,000 two nights in a row. Their frequent appearances made them a mainstay of Whistler’s lively après and entertainment scene as the resort grew and expanded through the 1980s.

The band went on to national and international success with songs including “Too Bad,” “Making It Work,” and “Tomcat Prowl,” but continued returning to Whistler for decades.

A fun Canadian connection: “Too Bad” later became the theme song for The Norm Show (1999–2001), starring fellow Canadian Norm Macdonald.

Their final Whistler performance was at Dusty’s in December 2002, less than two years before the passing of lead singer Doug Bennett.

Photo: Whistler Question Collection.

08/25/2026

Tomorrow is the Skate Jam! 🛹🔥 Bring your crew, come say hi, learn more about Zero Ceiling, and get ready for an awesome afternoon! See you there! 🤘

📅 Wednesday, August 26
🕓 4:00–7:30 PM
📍 Whistler Skate Park

🎟️50/50 draw - proceeds support our outdoor programming for youth! https://zeroceiling.rafflenexus.com/

🍔 BBQ by donation from Splitz Grill Splitz Grill Whistler
🎶 DJ Praiz spinning tunes from the Red Bull truck
🎤 Hosted by Mikey Barton
🥇 Awesome competition prizes up for grabs
💥 Fun for all ages and abilities!
🐱 Beginner - friendly skate fun with RWK
🎨Custom-painted feature by Sleestak Sleestak
🪽 Fly Out feature by Death Proof Tattoo & Barber
📖 Whistler Museum onsite to share Whistler skate park history!

photo credit:

08/25/2026

Joan Richoz with a collection of challenged and banned books during Freedom To Read Week in 1994. Whistler Question Collection.

Even in Whistler, books have sometimes faced challenges. Since opening in 1986, the Whistler Public Library has received very few challenges, but titles have included Michael Slade’s 1986 book Headhunter and even the children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are. Despite these complaints, the Library has never formally removed a challenged book from its shelves. Learn more about challenged books in Whistler and the Library’s long-standing support for intellectual freedom in our latest Whistorical article.

EVENT: Join us and the Whistler Public Library (WPL) Thursday, August 27, 2026 for a conversation with all of our past & present Library Directors – Joan Richoz (1986 to 2006), Lauren Stara (2006 to 2012), Elizabeth Tracy (2012 to 2022), and Mikale Fenton (2022 to present) – moderated by WPL Program & Communications Coordinator Jeanette Bruce. From the basement of Municipal Hall to Whistler’s Living Room, we’ll share stories, challenges, and triumphs from the past 40 years.

Seating is limited! Email [email protected] to register for this event.

Photo: Whistler Question collection.

Whistler Public Library

Written by Anna Donaldson Photo: Joan Richoz with a collection of challenged and banned books during Freedom To Read Week in 1994. Whistler Question Collection. This year marks the 40th birthday o…

08/23/2026

It's hard to believe that we're just one week away from our 40th birthday! We're looking forward to celebrating with many of you at 40 Years of Stories from Library Directors Past & Present on Thursday, August 27. If you're hoping to join us, please make sure you email [email protected] to sign up!

Today, we're sharing a quick introduction to our panelists at next week's event - that is, our Library Directors past & present!

Joan Richoz (1986 to 2006), shown here with a young patron circa 1986 (courtesy of the Whistler Museum).

Lauren Stara (2006 to 2012), welcoming community members transporting library books from our old building into our current home, January 2008.

Elizabeth Tracy (2012 to 2022), hard at work under the questionable influence of Program Coordinator Jeanette Bruce, July 2017.

And Mikale Fenton (2022 to present), welcoming Trustees, donors, and RMOW Senior Management to the brand new Wonder Lab, May 2023.

Do you have a favourite library memory from the last 40 years? Share in the comments below!