Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Dog parade set for Saturday

Celebrating our four-legged friends
1416dogparade
Whistler's annual dog parade takes place this weekend, photo by Maureen Provencal

By Nicole Fitzgerald

Scrub up your scruffy mutts or primp and preen those prized pets because the Whistler Dog Fest gets everyone barking Saturday, April 21 to Sunday, April 22.

The Dog Parade is one of the highlight of the weekend festivities. Teams register Saturday from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. in the Town Plaza across from The Gap. The parade will begin at 2:15 p.m. with show dogs wrapping up at 3 p.m. for the judging contest.

Parade entries are welcome up until show time, with owners and pooches alike encouraged to dress up. More than 100 dogs strutted their stuff last year and organizers are hoping to break a festival record by reaching 200-plus pooches. Entry to the parade is by donation with all proceeds benefiting Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) – Whistler’s no-kill animal shelter.

Awesome prizes will be awarded for Best Dog Costume and Best Dog and Owner look alike.

If your mutt is feeling a little shy about being paraded around town, there are plenty of other fun sports to watch or participate in thanks to event sponsors Paws and Kathleen’s Tailwagrrs.

On the Saturday, there is a Paws Ahead agility presentation at noon along with a Paws to Dance presentation at 12:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.

On Sunday, presentations continue at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday also features a Community Showcase with different just-for-fun competitions to enter including the Naughty Dog Contest, Silly Dog Tricks and Dog Stories.

And on Friday and Saturday, between noon and 8 p.m., The Body Shop is doing WAG-overs — makeovers in exchange for a donation to WAG.

Show your Whistler spirit by coming out to celebrate our four legged friends as well as our local animal shelter.

Singing in Spring

The Whistler Children’s Chorus sings in spring with the Sing For Joy concert Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.

The public is invited to attend the festive evening of song and fun.

The posse of songbirds from Whistler elementary and high schools is headed by Alison Hunter and Janet Hamer. Admission is free.

Films for a cause

The Escape Route and Dynafit present an evening of film and fun with a screening of First Descents – A Collection of Skiing Firsts on Friday, April 20 at the Cinnamon Bear Bar at the Hilton.

Funds raised from the party will benefit the Alpine Club of Canada.

The evening of lounge chair adventures includes five films.

Max et sa Belle Mère screens what is believed to be the first ski film ever made. The film includes vintage footage from Chamonix.

Timeless features skier Dominique Perret in the French Alps.

I Ski, You Ski, Love Ski is a Popeye cartoon from 1936, which is believed to be the first animated skiing film.

Gasherbrum II follows the first ski ascent and descent of the famous 8,000-metre peak featuring Benedict Bohm, who will be in attendance at the event.

Le Ali Al Piedi is the latest Italian film by Fulvio Mariani who travels with friends to ski the most remote corners of the world. The film stars the legendary John Faulkener.

For tickets, call The Escape Route at 604-938-3228.

Mr. Whistler Pageant

How many events around town parade women around? Well ladies here is your chance. The infamous Steve Jiu of stagette.com presents the second annual Mister Whistler this Sunday, April 22 at 9 p.m. at Moe Joe’s, and organizers are looking for contestants.

“There are a few things to consider when there will be an audience of 200 women looking for the man we call Mr. Whistler,” Jiu said.

This Mister will not just be judged on brawn, but on beauty and brains as well. Judging categories include talent, formal and swimsuit as well as a skill-testing question — and no the answer probably won’t be world peace.

“The talent category will be any talent you can do for two minutes on stage that gets the crowd going, whether singing, male burlesque, guitar, stand up, drinking or just pure talent,” Jiu said.

The crowned king for the night will win $1,000 cash, the Mr. Whistler Calendar contract as well as a one-night stay in a local hotel.

There is limited space for entries. Call 604-905-0776 to register.

Admission is $10/$15 for ladies and $25 for gentlemen (25 male limit).

The event is formal so dress up for Whistler’s only male pageant.