Whistler is the 2010 home to the majority of the Winter Olympic`s alpine events. A village community of just under 10,000 people, and home to the Canadian soap show of the same name, its 8,000 acres of terrain is a breathtaking setting in the Coast Mountains.

Whistler was originally named London Mountain when it was first surveyed by the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 19th century but nicknamed `Whistler` because of the warning call of the hoary marmot - a large ground squirrel indigenous to the north western mountains of North America. In the 60`s the mountain was renamed Whistler to help boost the tourist industry - it appears to have worked! Over 2 million tourists visit the area every year blissfully unaware of the area's humble beginnings.

Until the 60's the area was without water, electricity and had no facility for sewerage. In 1966 after the formation of the Garibaldi Lift Company by 4 Vancouvans, Whistler mountain opened to the public as a ski resort. A rag to riches story has ensued with many stepping stones cementing the town's success.

The building of the Sea-to-Sky Highway in 1969 added to the number of visitors and the Alta Lake was incorporated into the Resort Municipality Of Whistler (RMOW) in 1975. This new municipal government initiated the construction of Whistler Village which opened in 1980. In the late 90`s, Intrawest, which owned Blackcombe, a higher neighbouring mountain, secured the acquisition of Whistler in 1996. In 2003 the 2 resorts were consolidated into a mega-resort.

Consistently regarded as one of the premier ski resorts in North America, Whistler is not strictly a winter venue. The mountain stays open until June and by May the mountain bike trails have already opened for the summer season. Snow boarding, mountain biking, skiing, water sports and let's not forget bungee jumping - there's something for the adrenalin junkie in all of us all year round!

After a day of sports either watching or playing there`s plenty of time to relax in the warm cosmopolitan atmosphere of the village. Kick off your skis, warm your feet by the fire or hang up your snowboard and get bombed. There's something for everyone and everything an adventurer needs to keep going in Whistler. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Winter months of February and March 2010 there's the added nightlife spectacle of medal awards ceremonies at Whistler Celebration Plaza in the heart of the village.