Media Releases

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Uncover Whistler’s local art and deep cultural roots this fall

Whistler, B.C. – Fall in Whistler is the ideal time to connect with the region’s mountain culture, rich history and unexpected artistic side. Uncover First Nation’s history, admire rich local and B.C. artwork, and relive Olympic legacies throughout Whistler. Wander through museums, galleries and outdoor art displays with a walk along Whistler’s Cultural Connector to discover what makes Whistler truly unique.

Awarded the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, the Audain Art Museum houses a permanent collection of British Columbian artwork including The Crazy Stair, an Emily Carr painting, which recently sold at auction for a record breaking $3.3 million. Access the museum through walk and talk tours, family studio Sundays, summer camps, and many more monthly events. The museum hosts a few special exhibitions each year, including POP, which features 37 works from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Learn about the history of the local First Nations at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Designed to evoke the longhouses of the Squamish people and traditional earthen pit houses of the Lil’wat people, the SLCC preserves and shares the culture and art of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations. Observe the culture and process of Regalia Making in The Spo7ez Workhouse exhibit currently on display until Sept. 30, 2018.

Experience a local and community hub of arts and culture at the Maury Young Arts Centre; centrally located in the heart of Whistler Village. Guests can walk through the community gallery featuring artwork from local artists and artisans of the Sea-to-Sky region. The centre also offers a variety of programming such as creative art classes, where guests can learn a new skill or technique from local instructors.

Explore art galleries along the village stroll including the Plaza Gallery, home to local and international artwork, or throughout the many hotel galleries such as Gallery Row in the Hilton or the Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont. Just south of the village, the neigbourhood of Function Junction also boasts a variety of local art galleries featuring regional contemporary artists.

Outdoor art displays are dotted throughout the village, including the Lost Lake PassivHaus, former home to the Austrian Olympic Committee during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. As the gateway to Lost Lake Park, the PassivHaus maintains a comfortable interior temperature without an active heating or cooling system and also features great views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

An iconic moment in Whistler history, The 2010 Winter Olympic Games, can be relived at the Whistler Museum and Archives. Featuring exhibits with interactive elements, historical photographs and sport memorabilia, guests can expect to learn about Whistler’s founding explorers, notable community members, mountain innovation and rich past in sport.

Start planning your next exploration of mountain life, arts, and culture and discover Whistler’s history. Book your Whistler experience with confidence at www.whistler.com. With the best price guarantee, Whistler.com, the official central reservations for Whistler, offers one-stop shopping with the largest selection and no booking fee for accommodation or activities. Travel consultants at Whistler.com are based in Whistler, with the call centre located in the heart of Whistler Village. Call 1.800.944.7853 to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.

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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.944.7853 and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site.

Media Contact

Michelle Fernandes
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: mfernandes@tourismwhistler.com

Bree Eagles
Coordinator, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2718
E: beagles@tourismwhistler.com

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