Whistler: Our Story
This place has always had a story to tell. Long before it became Whistler, these lands were, and remain, the shared territories of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Nation and L̓il̓wat7úl Nation. Their enduring connection to the mountains, rivers and forests continues to shape the culture of this region today. Over time, Whistler has grown from a remote valley to a global destination, built by visionaries, artists, athletes and a community that’s never lost touch with the land that inspires it, nor the responsibility to protect its natural environment, celebrate its culture, and nurture the youth who carry its spirit forward. From Olympic milestones to everyday mountain moments, our story is one of heritage, resilience and a collective spirit that runs deep.
Celebrating Fifty Years in 2025!
It's the Resort Municipality of Whistler's fiftieth anniversary this year and everyone is invited to celebrate the milestone with a vibrant event series that begins in late summer and runs straight through the fall.
View Whistler Municipality's 50th Anniversary Events
August 21
Whistler Summer Concert Series: PINEO & LOEB
Location: Whistler Olympic Plaza | Time: 6:30 PM
Experience a high-energy night of music in the mountains at Whistler Olympic Plaza with a free open-air concert. Start with a lively DJ set from DJ Foxy Moron, followed by Canadian electronic duo PINEO & LOEB, known for their genre-blending sound and electrifying performances at major festivals. With over 10 million streams and remixes for stars like Sabrina Carpenter, they promise a show you won’t forget. Bring a picnic blanket or hit the dance floor on the great lawn!
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August 21 - August 24
Magic at the Museum: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Audain Art Museum | Time: TBD
As part of the Municipality’s 50th celebrations, the Audain Art Museum is hosting a playful mix of art, illusion and hands-on creativity. Enjoy face painting, help colour a community mural, and catch a live magic show with Travis Bernhardt. Free experiences run throughout the day, with admission required for gallery tours (kids 18 and under are always free).
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RMOW’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Launch Weekend
Whistler turns 50 and you’re invited to join the celebration! The Resort Municipality of Whistler marks this milestone with a dynamic weekend of community events that honour Whistler’s past while looking towards its future. Enjoy a vibrant, family-friendly lineup designed to keep you moving and having fun - no long speeches, just memorable experiences.
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August 22
Whistler Summer Concert Series: Sam Roberts Band
Location: Whistler Olympic Plaza | Time: 6:30 PM
Spend a summer evening surrounded by mountain views and great music at Whistler Olympic Plaza’s free open-air concert series. Kick off the night with a live DJ set by DJ Whitness, then catch a powerhouse performance from award-winning rock icons Sam Roberts Band. Known for their critically acclaimed, fan-favourite albums and nonstop touring across Canada and beyond, they deliver a live show that’s not to be missed. Bring your picnic blanket, find a spot on the great lawn, or dance the night away under the stars!
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August 24
WAGFest: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Rebagliati Park | Time: 9 AM - 3 PM
WAGFest is proud to be part of the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 50th Anniversary celebration! The day kicks off with a 5 km on-leash run around Lost Lake, followed by exciting dog races, agility activities, face painting, and a delicious BBQ lunch provided by Splitz Grill. Explore a variety of goods from local pet vendors in Rebagliati Park, and unwind with an afternoon of Down-Dog Yoga.
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August 28
Whistler Summer Concert Series: Drag in the Mountains
Location: Whistler Olympic Plaza | Time: 6:30 PM
Drag is making a dazzling return to the mountains this summer! Kick off the evening with an electrifying DJ set by DJs Vital Signs, followed by the spectacular Drag in the Mountains show. Enjoy a vibrant, family-friendly night packed with incredible performances by fan-favorite stars from Canada’s Drag Race. Bring your picnic blanket, claim your spot on the great lawn, and get ready for a night of unforgettable entertainment!
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August 29
Whistler Summer Concert Series: Hollow Coves
Location: Whistler Olympic Plaza | Time: 6:30 PM
Enjoy unforgettable music in the mountains at Whistler Olympic Plaza with a summer of free, open-air concerts. Start the evening with an electrifying DJ set by DJ Badger (AU), followed by the soulful indie-folk sounds of Australia’s Hollow Coves. Celebrated for their heartfelt, nature-inspired music and global hits like “Coastline,” they’ve racked up over half a billion streams and toured alongside major artists worldwide. Bring your picnic blanket, settle in on the great lawn, or dance the night away under the stars!
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September 6
New Museum Exhibit: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Whistler Museum | Time: TBD
Whistler Museum is launching a new exhibition as part of the Municipality’s 50th celebrations! It explores the RMOW Act and its impact on Whistler’s past, present and future. The evening also offers a first look at concept plans for the future Whistler Museum, with models and renderings on display. This special event marks the beginning of the Museum’s capital fundraising campaign and invites the community to be part of shaping what comes next.
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September 12
Trailblazers to Tomorrow Makers: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Maury Young Arts Centre | Time: TBD
This special exhibition, presented by Arts Whistler as part of the Municipality’s 50th celebrations, features five established artists who have each mentored two emerging creators (ages 16–30) and collaborated on works that reflect Whistler’s legacy and future. The exhibition features pieces developed in the Village during launch weekend, alongside a tribute wall honouring creative icons from the past.
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September 14 - November 30
Whistler Public Library: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Whistler Public Library | Time: TBD
As part of the Municipality’s 50th celebrations, the Whistler Public Library invites the community to connect through creative and collaborative events this fall. Includes a new oral history project with the Whistler Museum launching in late September, a high-stakes Puzzle Competition in October, and a grown-up edition of Show & Tell in November. Stay tuned for confirmed dates and details.
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October 30 - November 2
Whistler Writers Festival: RMOW's 50th Anniversary
Location: Whistler Public Library | Time: TBD
As part of the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and in partnership with the Whistler Public Library, this special open mic night invites local voices to share work inspired by the theme Trailblazers and Tomorrow Makers. Held alongside the WWF organization’s AGM, it’s a chance to celebrate storytelling and creativity in all its forms. Save the date, more details to be announced.
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Roots, Runs and Remarkable People
Discover the stories, past and present, that have shaped Whistler’s character, from the trailblazers who laid its foundations to the culture that continues to define it.
Step Inside Whistler's Story
Whistler Then and Now
For thousands of years before European contact, the land we now call Whistler was home to the Coast Salish and Interior Salish peoples, who lived in deep connection with the seasons, moving through the region to hunt, gather and sustain their communities.
The Whistler area was often a waypoint for First Nation trading routes between the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations, as it was rich with wildlife and resources. At one time, tens of thousands of Coast Salish First Nations people lived, traded and thrived in the areas between Vancouver, Howe Sound and Lillooet.
In fact, some of the hiking routes between Howe Sound and Deep Cove (east of Vancouver) are the traditional routes travelled by the Coast Salish First Nations peoples.
The award-winning Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is a stunning space that honours the living cultures of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Nation and the L̓il̓wat7úl Nation. Through art, stories and interactive exhibits, visitors gain insight into the deep connection these communities have with the land – past, present and future. It’s a rich and eye-opening experience, offering a powerful perspective on place.
From its early days as a remote fishing lodge in 1914 to the global spotlight of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler has evolved with purpose and passion – long known as a place that draws in adventurous spirits and leaves a lasting mark.
Significant Events
- 1877
- The Pemberton Trail is completed linking the Pemberton valley to the Pacific coast, north of Vancouver.
- 1900
- Trappers and prospectors settle in the area which was originally known as Alta Lake. They begin calling it "Whistler" because of the shrill whistle sound made by the western hoary marmots who live among the rocks.
- 1910
- Myrtle and Alex Philip arrive in Vancouver from Maine. They hear about Whistler's spectacular beauty.
- 1912
- Construction begins on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (now BC Rail) from Squamish to Prince George.
- 1911
- Myrtle and Alex take the three-day journey to Whistler: a steamer ship from Vancouver to Squamish, overnight in Brackendale, and a two-day horse
trek to Whistler. The journey from Vancouver to Whistler these days is a short, 120 kilometre (75 mile) drive on the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway.
- 1914
- Myrtle and Alex buy ten acres of land and build the Rainbow Lodge on the shores of Alta Lake. The Pacific Great Eastern Railway is built to Alta Lake and links the valley to the outside world. Whistler becomes a base for logging and mining. Myrtle and Alex's Rainbow Lodge is the most popular resort destination west of Banff and Jasper.
- 1926
- The Parkhurst Mill opens on Green Lake (today’s Parkhurst "Ghost Town" hike). It closes for the final time in 1956.
- 1950s
- Other lodges open throughout the valley. The abundant fish stocks make Whistler a summer resort destination long before it is considered a winter
destination. Winter travel becomes possible when a gravel road to Squamish is carved from the cliffs of Howe Sound.
- Early 1960s
- During the early 1960s a group of Vancouver Businessmen formed the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) to develop a site to host the 1968 Winter Olympic Games and selected London Mountain (Whistler Mountain’s former name) as the preferred venue.
- 1964
- The single-lane road is extended to Whistler because of the ski area development, and to Pemberton later that same year. The trip from Vancouver to Whistler took 5 - 6 hours.
- 1965
- Whistler Mountain finally gets the name "Garibaldi Whistler Mountain". Development of the ski area on the south side of Whistler Mountain began. What is now called Creekside was once the original Village and featured a four-person gondola to the mountain’s mid-station, a double chairlift to the alpine tree line, and two T-bars.
- 1966
- Whistler officially opens for skiing.
- 1969
- A two-lane gravel road built in 1965 is paved to Whistler and then to Pemberton.
- 1975
- The Resort Municipality of Whistler is formed and its the first resort municipality in Canada. The municipality is given 53 acres of Crown land to develop a town centre. Whistler holds its first municipal election.
- 1977
- Rainbow Lodge burns down.
- 1978
- Construction begins on the new town centre that will eventually become Whistler Village.
- 1980
- Blackcomb Mountain (right next to Whistler Mountain) opens creating one of the largest ski areas in North America.
- 1982
- Whistler hosts its first successful International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup Downhill event.
- 1983
- Whistler Golf Club officially opens and it's Arnold Palmer's first Canadian design.
- 1985
- Blackcomb Mountain opens its 7th Heaven T-bar and becomes North America’s only "Mile High Mountain" with a vertical mile of lift-accessed terrain.
- 1986
- Whistler Museum and Archives Society founded.
- 1987/88
- Blackcomb Mountain builds a new base at today’s Upper Village and invests in new chairlifts. For the first time, Blackcomb Mountain receives more skier visits than Whistler Mountain (winter season ending 1988).
- 1989
- Rob Boyd becomes the first Canadian to win gold in a World Cup Downhill event on Canadian soil during a race on Whistler Mountain.
- Late 1980s / Early 1990s
- Whistler Village is expanded and Village North and Marketplace are built.
- 1992
- Snow Country Magazine votes Whistler the "Number One Ski Resort in North America" and the trend continues through to today with the resort earning the top spot for destination resort and its incredible skiing in numerous industry magazines and readers’ polls.
- 1996
- Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains officially merge under Intrawest Corporation and form Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler Blackcomb ranks Number One on SKIING Magazine’s Top 25 Resorts in North America list for the first time.
- 1999
- This summer saw the official opening of Whistler Mountain Bike Park, a lift-assisted network of trails for mountain bike enthusiasts.
- 2001
- Sk̲wx̲u7mesh Úxumixw and L̓il̓wat7úl sign a historic protocol agreement. They formally agree, once again, to live and work together in Whistler.
- 2002
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortlists Vancouver/Whistler as a Candidate City for hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
- 2003
- Vancouver/Whistler win the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
- 2004
- First Crankworx event is held in Whistler. Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens the Garbanzo Zone.
- 2008
- The peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains were linked with the opening of the brand new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. This multi record-breaking lift allows skiers, snowboarders and, in the summer, hikers, faster access to the award-winning terrain on both mountains.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre opens to the public and is the first centre of its kind in Canada, located on the shared, traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. It embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow and share their traditional cultures.
- 2010
- Whistler takes part in the Winter Olympics as an Official Olympic venue. Although the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have come and gone, Whistler's spot on the world stage is firmly established. Fantastic Olympic legacies like the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic Park and Whistler Medals Plaza, as well as the Mountain Bike Park and the record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, make Whistler a world-class, year-round destination.
- 2012
- Top of the World Trail opens in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
- 2016
- Whistler Blackcomb Holdings is purchased by Colorado-based Vail Resorts Inc. for $1.4 billion.
The Audain Art Museum opens its doors to the public. Located by the Village, the iconic building houses a permanent collection of artworks from British Columbia as well as rotating exhibitions from leading museums around the world.
- 2017
- Vail Resorts, Inc. invests $66 million in three new lifts for Whistler Blackcomb for the 2018/19 season. Upgrades include a new 10-passenger Blackcomb gondola, a new six-passenger high-speed lift on Whistler Mountain and a four-passenger, high-speed lift on Blackcomb Mountain. The changes create the first three-gondola connection in the world, allowing guests to upload, connect between the mountains via the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and download in a gondola for a weather-protected experience.
- 2018
- In the summer of 2018, Whistler Blackcomb unveils the new Cloudraker Skybridge. It stretches 130 metres (427 feet) from the top of Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, crossing over Whistler Bowl at 2,182 metres (7,160 feet) above sea level. At the far end is the Raven’s Eye lookout, a 360-degree platform for uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains.
- 2021
- Whistler adopts First Nations territorial statement which speaks to the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation report and helps to increase awareness about Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and also encourages both those making and listening to the statement to learn more about whose territories they reside upon. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is grateful to be on the shared, unceded territory of the Lil’wat people, known in their language as Lilwat7úl, and the Squamish people, known in their language as Skwxwú7mesh.
- 2022
- Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Founding Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, announces that the bid for the Invictus Games 2025 has been awarded to Vancouver and Whistler, in partnership with True Patriot Love Foundation.
- 2023
- The 2023/24 season is the debut of the newly upgraded Fitzsimmons Express chairlift, a high-speed, eight-person chair – the first of its kind in North America across Vail Resorts. It cuts back on wait times, improves uploading efficiency, and serves to significantly support Whistler Mountain Bike Park operations.
- 2025
- The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, an international, adaptive sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and Veterans, takes place in February. The Games incorporate winter adaptive sports for the first time. 532 competitors from a record 23 nations compete in both Vancouver and Whistler, with 1,100 family and friends supporting and cheering them on.