Whistler Stories

Whistler is home to the world's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses. The buses -- each with 37 seats, a 60-person standing capacity, and a top speed of 90 km per hour -- are twice as efficient as internal combustion engines and produce no smog-creating emissions only water. The buses are also more accessible for wheelchairs and strollers featuring wider doors, extendible ramps and hydraulics that allow the bus to lower nine inches.

Brad Lennea's personal motto is "Don't just sit there watching life go by, get out and ride," which is exactly how Lennea lives his life

Whether it's teaching the sport he loves as a coach for the Whistler Adaptive Sport Program or drag racing, Lennea lives in the fast lane. He spent six years on the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team.

Skiing takes your disability out of the picture, said Rob Gosse, a skier since 2007. "I love that I ski as an equal with both able-bodied and adaptive skiers. It gives me a whole new freedom."

Injured in the summer of 2006, Rob came out of Vancouver rehabilitation facility, GF Strong, 12 weeks later wanting to try everything. From basketball to athletics to waterskiing Rob said that skiing just stuck.

Whistler is the "dog-friendly" capital of Canada with dog treats at the local bank and five-star canine hospitality. Whistler loves dogs and organizations like Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) serve as a safety net for animals without a home. It's not unusual to see four-legged friends tagging along with the locals. Many of these matches were made with the WAG Matchmaker program. It is one of many services WAG provides to Whistler's furry friends.

It might not smell pretty, but Whistler's new composting facility is turning heads. The new Whistler Composting facility is literally turning garbage into gold or at least highly fertile, nutrient rich top grade compost. It adds up to the sweet smell of success for environmentally conscious Whistler. The compost facility helps the community move toward its goal of "zero waste."

Did you know that Whistler was actually born for the 2010 Winter Games? Franz Wilhelmson, the man who opened Whistler for skiing in the 1960s, did so in hopes of hosting the Olympics. It's just one of many interesting facts in Whistler's history. Whistler has a unique story and the Whistler Museum & Archives Society is gearing up to share it with the world through the launch of "Whistler Olympic Journey Exhibit." Created by the local community, the exhibit brings history to life.

Whistler is not only known for its picturesque landscape and variety of outdoor sports, but also for its creative community and creative minds. Every artist in the Corridor leads a double or even triple life beyond painting, photography, film, writing or crafting.