1

After the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) lost its bid to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, the community of Whistler had time to reflect on its own needs.

2

Photo of the chairlifts at Whistler
1970
Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia

3

Springtime at Whistler
1974
Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia

4

The long lineup in the parking lot outside the Creekside Gondola Barn shows Whistler's popularity.
1974
Creekside, Whistler, British Columbia

5

As the crowds poured into the Creekside parking lot each weekend to take advantage of the excellent skiing, the number of people who depended on amenities in the valley increased. While condominium complexes such as Whiskey Jack sprang up to accommodate the visitors, the local permanent population was also growing and needed facilities.

6

This is a short video about what Whistler was like in its earliest stages.
May, 2003
Whistler Town Center, Whistler, British Columbia

7

Whiskey Jack Condominiums in Whistler's Creekside in the 1970s.
1975
Creekside, Whistler, British Columbia

8

Spectators marvel as a competitor at the 1974 Freestyle Championships soars through the air.
1974
Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia

9

In 1973, it was announced that the World Cup in skiing would be held on Whistler the following February. Programs and competitions were created in support of alpine, freestyle, and cross-country skiing. Whistler's reputation for producing and hosting some of the best athletes in the world took flight.

10

Freestyle skiing has always been a part of Whistler's ski culture.
1974
Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia

11

Franz Wilhelmsen (left) stands next to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau atop Whistler Mountain.
1973
Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia

12

That same year, following one of Prime Minister Trudeau's visits to Whistler, another proposal to host the 1980 Winter Olympics was drafted by GODA and endorsed by the Canadian Ski Association (CASA).

13

Image of Fitzsimmons Valley located between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain.
1970
Highway 99, Whistler, British Columbia

14

The bid to host the 1980 Winter Olympics was presented on a considerably smaller scale than the bid for the 1976 Olympic Games. Many concerns, including the condition and width of the 120-kilometer highway between Whistler and Vancouver, made the bid a less convincing one for the Canadian Olympic Committee.