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Whistler Village

Home » Neighbourhoods » Whistler Village

With its gorgeous mountain scenery, abundant sporting opportunities and metropolitan culture, Whistler Village is the kind of place most people dream of living in. Although it has been a critically-acclaimed international skiing/snowboarding destination since the early 1990s, Whistler really came into its own when it co-hosted the Olympic Winter Games with the nearby metropolis of Vancouver, BC in February 2010. Since that time – and in spite of global economic problems – Whistler has continued drawing in 2 million visitors annually with its snowy slopes and quaint cabin architecture. From humble beginnings to the international spotlight, the history of Whistler is a real life rags-to-riches success story.

First Nations and European Settlement
Whistler Valley, located between the Cheakamus and Green Rivers, was historically used as a transportation route between the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations. In the mid-19th century, the British Royal Navy began conducting extensive surveys of the area; these British sailors initially named the mountain “London mountain” because its omnipresent fog reminded them of their capital city back home, but the name “Whistler mountain” soon caught on instead due to the whistling noise frequently heard from the many hoary marmots which inhabit the region. Other than some trappers and gold prospectors, European colonists didn’t come to Whistler in significant numbers until a couple named Myrtle and Alex Philip settled there in 1914. The Philips, who had heard tales of Whistler’s natural beauty, fell in love with the area at first sight and concluded – correctly, as it were – that it was an ideal location for a fishing lodge. Thus was born the Rainbow Lodge, which was the nucleus of what would become Whistler Village.

Growth and Development
The Rainbow Lodge benefited greatly from the completion of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1914, which allowed for a trip from Vancouver to Whistler (its train stop was called “Alta Lake” at this time) in a mere 3 days. For much of the early to mid 20th century, the Rainbow Lodge was an extremely popular summer vacation destination for the people of Vancouver and nearby Victoria, with fishing, hiking, and boating being the most popular lodge activities to partake in. The success of the Rainbow Lodge spurred the creation of other lodges nearby, and soon other industries – most notably logging – spread to the area as well. However, it was not until the 1960s that Whistler’s potential as a ski resort was fully realised, when four Vancouver businessmen founded the Garibaldi Lift Company with the intention of making a bid to host the 1968 Winter Olympic Games. Although that bid was unsuccessful, in 1966 Whistler Mountain was nevertheless opened to the public as a ski resort and became an instant success in that regard. From this point on, Whistler’s reputation as a skiing Mecca grew by the year, and development took off along the same trajectory as the area received modern infrastructure like sewers, electricity, and paved roads.

Whistler Village Today
From its background as a First Nations trading route and its origin as a tiny fishing lodge, Whistler Village has undergone some incredible changes over the years. What’s most impressive, however, is the way it has kept its small-town appeal and natural beauty intact while simultaneously developing all the amenities one expects from 21st-century Canada. With a permanent population of almost 10,000 and a variety of accessible features from hiking trails to nightclubs, Whistler offers a vibrant social opportunity for people of all ages. Whether you’re a guest coming to ski its hills for the weekend or a parent raising your children in its safe neighbourhoods, everybody can appreciate what Whistler Village has become.

For maps of the various areas of Whistler Village, click the links below:

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