When you live in Whistler for an extended stretch, you can sometimes be guilty of taking the natural beauty all around us for granted.
That’s not to say you don’t appreciate the mountains, or the lakes or the forests—just that they can sometimes blend into the background when you’re just trying to stay abreast of all the bills, or the day-to-day bullshit that weighs us all down from time to time.
Then you encounter someone who is seeing it all through fresh eyes, and you remember: oh yeah, it is pretty special here.
I had one of these experiences recently, walking my dog on the same route we take every morning. We were on the Valley Trail at the north end of the Whistler Golf Club when we encountered a family of tourists and their e-bikes, all stationary, all looking up in wonder.
“It’s incredible,” I heard the dad say in a southern accent to his kids, staring up in awe at the massive, majestic old-growth trees towering over the trail.
I slowed down, allowed my gaze to follow theirs up the ancient bark to the crowns of the trees. He was right: It is incredible.
And here I was, passing it every morning. Appreciating it, sure, but in the way you appreciate your sibling, or your left hand—it’s nice, but it’s just always sorta been there, ya know?
For those who have yet to experience everything Whistler has to offer, this summer is as good a time as any to change that.
The federal government, in the face of an ongoing trade dispute with our neighbour to the south, is encouraging all Canadians to get out and explore their home country, and all it has to offer.
Last week, the government announced the “Canada Strong Pass,” which offers free admission to national parks, national historic sites and marine conservation areas maintained by Parks Canada, as well as a 25-per-cent discount on camping fees at national parks.
It also offers free national museum admission for children 17 and under, and a 50-per-cent discount for 18- to 24-year-olds, while Via Rail is also offering free fares for children 17 and under (if accompanied by an adult), and a 25-per-cent discount for travellers 18 to 24 years old.
There is no physical “Canada Strong Pass” or registration required—visitors can just show up at participating locations.
Running until Sept. 2, the program follows up on a Liberal campaign promise to promote Canadian tourism.
“This pass is about discovering and reconnecting with the nature, history and culture of this remarkable country we all share and are proud to call our own,” federal Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters on June 16.
“It’s about enjoying the places and experiences that brings us together and make Canada strong.”
Whistler itself doesn’t fall under any of the categories listed on the Canada Strong pass, but as long as you’re hitting the road with your family in the name of Canadian tourism, why not stop in the country’s vacation crème de la crème?
We’ve got mountains, lakes, rivers and towering trees; golf courses and ziplines and downhill mountain biking; gondola-assisted alpine hiking trails; more craft beer flavours than you could ever sample in a week; dogs—so many dogs. What are you waiting for?
We won’t know the true impact of Trump’s trade war on Canadian tourism until the hard numbers shake out some months from now. But it’s already affecting travel habits on both sides of the border.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of Americans who visited Canada by car fell nearly 11 per cent in April compared to last year, the third straight month of year-over-year decline. No telling how that translates to Whistler visitation just yet, or if it will last into the winter when the mountains reopen for skiing—but with American tourists making up a huge chunk of Whistler’s annual visitation (about 30 per cent in winter and 25 per cent in summer), it’s not an encouraging statistic.
On the flip side, a report from the Conference Board of Canada predicts Canadian vacationers’ boycotting the U.S. could boost Canadian tourism by a whopping $8.8 billion in extra business this year.
So if you’re one of those brave souls preparing to cram your family and pets into the car this summer, plotting your route across all the Great White North, consider adding Whistler to your list of must-sees.
Word on the street is it’s incredible.
