Whistler’s Cultural Connector

Before Whistler Mountain, British Columbia opened to the public in 1966 and grew to be one of the largest ski resorts in North America, it was a remote stop through the Rocky Mountain valley pass. In the late 1800s and into the twentieth century, it was well known to trappers, prospectors, and loggers; prior to the 1960s, the region was surprisingly without municipal infrastructure (no sewage facilities, water, or electricity).

Whistler has rapidly grown to a permanent population of just under 12,000 residents and annually hosts a staggering two million visitors! Many of those visitors come to experience the adrenaline rush of black diamond skiing or extreme mountain biking—and Whistler’s peaks deliver.

In 2014, as the Resort Municipality of Whistler was planning for the future, they began by looking back at the past. Key staff on the project were Martin Pardoe, Manager and Annie Oja, Parks Planner with Resort Parks and Open Space Planning. They wanted to highlight another side of their resort town, one that invited people to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty and unexpected history of the breathtaking location. In 2016, the Cultural Connector was unveiled—”a scenic pathway and bikeway that links six significant cultural institutions in Whistler and identifies noteworthy points and anecdotes. It is a chance to learn about the community’s cultural evolution over time.” ¹

Approximately 1.2 km of trail connects Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Lost Lake PassivHaus, Audain Art Museum, Maury Young Arts Centre, Whistler Public Library, and the Whistler Museum. As part of the visual branding of the Cultural Connector, which is designed to be easily navigated, a sunny yellow theme brightens the pathways of the trail. Visitors will see “yellow banners fluttering in the breeze, diamond-patterned crosswalks, and bright yellow chairs”.²

Maglin Site Furniture’s 720 Chair and 720 Chaise Lounge were the perfect fit not only because of their iconic style, but also because their durable multi-layered finish will withstand all of the elements that the changing seasons in the Canadian Rocky Mountains will bring. Martin Pardoe agrees: “The Maglin chairs are part of the Cultural Connector’s wayfinding package while providing a place to pause. In the chairs we sought an eye-catching, modern, original, durable design that can withstand our winter climate and sometimes energetic late-night crowds.”

Maglin Site Furniture is proud to be part of the visitor’s experience surrounded by Whistler’s rich landscape history and to be included in the significant trail that tells the story of the people who shaped this area.

¹ Source: https://www.whistler.ca/culture-recreation/arts-culture-and-heritage/culturalconnector
² Source: http://www.whistlertraveller.com/Summer-Fall-2018/Why-Dont-You/