Your Flash Intro to Whistler

A historic mountain town, don’t get it confused for only being a winter wonderland of skiing fun. There’s so much more to this quiet retreat thanks to an infrastructure boom of tourist pulls and natural beauty. It’s the peak ‘best things come in small packages’ present for a stop off on a Canadian road trip. 

History at a Glance

Nestled in a valley between the Green River and Cheakamus, guarded by glacial mountains and the Garibaldi Ranges, Whistler sits in the ancestral territories of the Squamish people and Lil’wat First Nation. Prior to the influx of settlers who ousted them to build European infrastructure and railway lines, this culturally rich location helped foster the relationship between the two nations. Tying back to their history of trade, commerce, and travel using the rivers, lakes, and mountains as reference points as they moved seasonal camps. 

European settlers, attracted to the area for its rich opportunities of fishing and hunting, began establishing camps in the early 20th century – although different trails had attempted to be established in the late 19th century to varying success. With its proximity to Vancouver and natural beauty, its use as a recreational area began to develop with tourist resorts popping up as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway trudged forward in development, culminating in 1914 and reducing the travel time to these resorts and the city. This opened the lodges up for greater access, as well as promoting the booming logging industry, of which four mills prospered during its peak. 

Today, Whistler or “The Resort Municipality of Whistler” (RMOW) stands as a premier resort community, with over 14,000 permanent residents and three million annual visitors (and that’s a low-ball). As they state as part of their vision: It’s a place where community thrives, nature is protected and guests are inspired.