The money marker for Whistler's proposed library and museum building is already past the halfway mark to its goal of $10 million.
As it stands right now the Capital Campaign Thermometer rests at $5.4 million, after a $5 million commitment from the municipality and $400,000 from the Whistler/Blackcomb Foundation.
The thermometer was unveiled at the official kick-off to the fund-raising campaign, a wine and cheese reception last Saturday.
"We were very pleased," said Anne Fenwick, the chair of the campaign committee.
"The weather was great. We were pleased with the turnout and very optimistic with the comments we received."
Once the "mercury" reaches about $8 million, construction can begin.
Fenwick hopes to break ground in the spring of 2003, with occupancy by the end of 2004.
"We'll be pulling the campaign right into the community to get the community's support," she said.
The thermometer was designed by Whistler artist Isobel MacLaurin, featuring a stack of books by Whistler authors as the mercury and a ski pole to take the monetary measurements.
A Vancouver architect, who weekends in Whistler, will be designing the new building. Roger Hughes will be creating a "green" building, which will mesh in with the municipality's sustainability initiatives.
The building will be 27,000 square feet and will replace the current trailers, which have housed the library and museum for several years, on Main Street.
For more information log on to www.whistlerlibrarymuseum.org
