Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Nita Lake Lodge Press Release:

Whistler’s Nita Lake Lodge Welcomes New Executive Chef Michael Guy

Dedicated culinary professional to lead food services team at Nita Lake Lodge

Whistler, BC (May 9, 2012) – Award-winning Nita Lake Lodge is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michael Guy as Executive Chef. Born in BC and raised in Alberta, Michael Guy brings to the table more than a decade of experience as a chef in Canada and abroad.

Guy’s attention to detail and passion for locally sourced artisanal ingredients is a perfect fit with the three outlets at Nita Lake Lodge: Aura Restaurant, Cure Lounge & Patio and Fix Café & Deli. Aura, the hotel’s signature restaurant, was recently awarded with a bronze award for Best Whistler Dining at the 23rd Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Aura incorporates the finest and freshest ingredients from the area, featuring a private dining room and an expansive outdoor patio diners can enjoy while soaking in the breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Starting his career with culinary training at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, Michael Guy spent the first few years of his career working at such Vancouver institutions as Bluewater Café, Raintree Restaurant and West Restaurant. After some time in Ontario as well in a year-long stint as chef for the Canadian Ambassador in Rome, Guy and his family returned to BC where he took a position as sous chef at the renowned Araxi Restaurant in Whistler. In late 2009, Guy opened his funky modern roadhouse and catering business Western Promises Food in Pemberton. Guy is very excited to be heading the kitchens at Nita Lake Lodge and to be staying in Whistler, a destination he and his family have come to love in the four years since they moved to the area.

“I hope to help Nita Lake Lodge become the number one boutique hotel in Canada with a reputation for incredible food, made from scratch,” says Guy, Executive Chef at Nita Lake Lodge. “The hotel is a beautiful property within a stunning setting. I want to further the reputation of Nita Lake Lodge’s three restaurants as a destination unto themselves.”

About Nita Lake Lodge
Uniquely situated on the shores of Whistler’s Nita Lake, the luxurious, 77-room Nita Lake Lodge features spacious deluxe studios, along with one and two bedroom suites. Lakeside Aura restaurant showcases bright, modern Pacific cuisine made with the finest local ingredients. Cure Lounge & Patio serves creative cocktails and Old World house made charcuterie, while Fix Café & Deli features wholesome snacks and take-home treats. The full service spa offers a range of services to help guests and visitors reestablish health, harmony and balance. Through Innovative Fitness, guests have access to personalized, professional coaching at Nita Lake Lodge’s gym facilities and outdoors.

Located a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway, Whistler—home of the 2010 Olympic Games—is located at the base of world-class mountains Whistler and Blackcomb.

For reservations or more information about Nita Lake Lodge, visit www.nitalakelodge.com or call 1-888-755-6482.

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Newsletter:

TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival - April 13-22

Don’t miss this legendary spring festival celebrating Whistler’s mountain culture. Now in its 17th year, TWSSF is 10 days and 10 nights of winter sports, music and the arts. Featuring sport competitions, free daily outdoor concerts, after parties with internationally acclaimed DJs, fashion shows, photography and art exhibits, film screenings, theatre and of course, the best skiing and riding in the world.  For those that have not attended the festival before, the team behind the festival recently posted tips under “A newbie’s guide to the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival”.

Snowiest March on record sets stage for epic spring conditions and extended season

With spring officially making its way to Whistler and another eight weeks left in the winter ski and snowboard season, the resort continues to benefit from a La Nina winter. March 2012 is officially the snowiest March on record – pushing this season’s total snowfall past the average annual accumulation of 34 feet (10 metres). To date, Whistler Blackcomb has received 39 feet of snow – with more than 10 feet of snowfall in the month of March alone. Up to 20 inches of snow, or nearly two feet, is forecast over the next three days.  As a result of the epic conditions, the season on Blackcomb has been extended until May 28!

Whistler Patios - Après-Ski Edition

As snow-crazy as Whistler-ites can be – April’s arrival brings warmer, brighter days and signals the start of patio season.  When the frenzy for patio-time gets underway choosing the right location can be daunting. For those struggling with where to go and where’s the best “scene and be-seen” spot; The Whistler Insider put together an entirely subjective list of Whistler’s Winning-est Après Patios.  According to The Insider; “It’s a subjective list because we’re all big winners this time of year and every patio session has the chance to be ‘best ever’ because patio-ing is all about who you are with as much as where you are.”

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

“Lucky Luke” arrives in Whistler for month-long sabbatical: “gob smacked” by the resort, the mountains and the hospitality

Whistler, B.C. – Since arriving in Whistler via limousine to their luxury home, London, England’s  “Lucky Luke” Dillon and long-time friend Tim Davis, both 23, have been “gob smacked” by the resort and all it has to offer.

“Whistler is absolutely amazing,” Dillon said after experiencing his first few days in Whistler. “I’m completely gob smacked by everything: the house, the mountains, the activities … and the locals we’ve met. It’s truly a magical place.”

Dillon, a recent university grad working in the events industry, was named the grand prize winner of the Whistler Sabbatical Project. He brought along long-time pal Davis, to enjoy the all expenses paid, month-long trip of a lifetime that includes return airfare, ground transportation, accommodation, lift passes, ski equipment and a series of unique Whistler experiences.

The pair arrived in Whistler Wednesday, March 14 to their new 4,000 square-foot home provided by Whistler Platinum. They didn’t waste any time getting on the slopes and enjoyed an early run – greeted with 30 centimetres (12 inches) of fresh snow that had fallen the night before – their first morning in Whistler.

From there, Dillon and Davis spent the weekend enjoying the epic ski conditions on  Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and plenty of après. The pair plans to ski every day of their month-long sabbatical.

Their first Whistler Sabbatical “experience” was bobsleigh at the Whistler Sliding Centre with professional driver Pat Brown, the coach of the original Jamaican bobsleigh team and the inspiration for John Candy’s character in the film “Cool Runnings”. That adrenalin-pumping experience was followed with a two-day steeps clinic with Extremely Canadian. Over the course of their month in Whistler, Dillon and Davis will enjoy plenty of skiing, culinary and spa experiences, heli-skiing and the opportunity to ski with an Olympian, among other things. To view all of the experiences featured in the Whistler Sabbatical Project – and open to Dillon and Davis to enjoy – watch the Whistler vignettes.

Launched in October, the Whistler Sabbatical Project offered 15 weekly prizes in addition to the grand prize. A new experience was featured each week with contestants presented with the experience and asked “Would You Do It?”

Dillon was one of nine finalists selected randomly from all entries. Each of the finalists was required to submit a 250 word essay explaining why they should be selected the winner. The essays – available to view online – were reviewed by a panel of judges including Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler President & CEO, Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and Roger Soane, Chair of the Board of Directors at Tourism Whistler.

To follow Dillon and Davis on their Whistler journey, be sure to read the Whistler Insider at: http://www.whistler.com/blog/

All runners up for the Whistler Sabbatical Project automatically qualified for the Fan Choice Award, recognizing the finalist with the most fan votes and one lucky voter (randomly selected from all votes received). The Fan Choice Award winner is Sarah Heaven, of the UK, who received 647 of the total 1,850 votes cast. The winning voter is currently being contacted and will be named next week. Each will receive roundtrip coach air transportation; ground transfer from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler, five nights’ accommodation, two three-day lift passes for Whistler Blackcomb, one three-hour snowmobile tour for two, one Earn Your Turns tour for two and one $200 gift certificate from the Escape Route retail store in Whistler. Voting closed on March 12.

Directly from the Tourism Vancouver + Whistler Press Release:

WIN A “TOP CHEF” GETAWAY IN VANCOUVER AND WHISTLER

Sweepstakes offers chance to experience British Columbia like the Top Chef: Texas finalists

Vancouver and Whistler, BC (March 13, 2012): From sourcing ingredients at Granville Island Public Market to preparing a dish in Whistler’s PEAK 2 PEAK gondola, the four chefs who avoided the chopping block during Top Chef: Texas and flew to British Columbia to compete in the season finale discovered why Vancouver and Whistler are two of the world’s top culinary travel destinations. Now it could be your turn.

In celebration of the delicious experiences showcased during the Vancouver and Whistler episodes of Top Chef: Texas, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Whistler are giving one lucky winner (and their guest) the opportunity to eat, sleep and play like a “Top Chef”.

Enter the sweepstakes at www.tourismvancouver.com/topchef for your chance to win.

The Vancouver and Whistler Top Chef Getaway sweepstakes includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Vancouver (for two) from any major airport in North America
• Two nights’ deluxe accommodation at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• Private culinary tour of Granville Island Public Market
• $150 gift card to COAST or Black+Blue restaurants
• Roundtrip ground transportation from Vancouver to Whistler
• Two nights’ deluxe accommodation at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler
• Biathlon experience courtesy of Whistler Sport Legacies
• Two one-day lift tickets for Whistler Blackcomb with a lunch certificate at Christine’s restaurant
• $100 dinner certificate to an award-winning Whistler restaurant

The prize mirrors the actual places and activities that Top Chef: Texas contestants experienced while filming in Vancouver and Whistler.

The Whistler episode opened with the four remaining contestants driving up the stunning Sea to Sky Highway and featured The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola (gondola cabins served as kitchens in the Quickfire challenge), Whistler Olympic Park and the Whistler Conference Centre. At the end of the episode, chef-testant Beverly Kim was eliminated.

In Vancouver, the final three contestants – Lindsay Autry, Sarah Grueneberg and Paul Qui – went head-to-head in a Quickfire challenge at Chinatown’s Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, shopped for ingredients at Granville Island Public Market, and turned up the heat during the “Fire and Ice” themed Elimination Challenge at the historic Salt Building (located at the site of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games athletes’ village). The Rocky Mountaineer train and station were locations for the “stew room” and Judges’ Table. In the last episode, the finalists took over neighbouring restaurants Black+Blue and COAST for a culinary showdown that saw Paul Qui come out on top to capture the title of Top Chef.

Now in its ninth season, Emmy-award winning Top Chef has been recognized as the No. 1 food show on US cable. Top Chef airs in more than 20 countries with each episode repeating an average of 12 times. Season nine featured some of the biggest names in food, music and entertainment, including actress Charlize Theron, comedian Pee-wee Herman, Iron Chef Cat Cora and singer Patti LaBelle.

This is the first time the US version of Top Chef has filmed in Canada, an opportunity that was facilitated by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism British Columbia, Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Whistler and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

Daydream believer: UK resident named Whistler Sabbatical Project winner

Whistler, B.C. – For London, England’s Luke Dillon, the idea of skiing the world-renowned slopes of Whistler and enjoying the ultimate bucket list of local experiences is no longer a mere daydream.

Dillon, a 23 year-old recent university grad working in the events industry, is the grand prize winner of the Whistler Sabbatical Project. “My desire to ski is hard to suppress,” Dillon wrote in his contest essay. “But I’m not long out of uni, living and working in London, so it’s currently filed under ‘daydreams’.”

Luke Dillon’s dream is about to become reality; he will visit Whistler this season to enjoy an expenses paid month-long stay, including air and ground transportation, accommodation, lift tickets and equipment, a salary and up to 15 unique Whistler experiences.

“I’ve won? Are you serious?!” he asked when notified of his selection as the winning entrant of the Whistler Sabbatical Project. “That is amazing!” To hear Dillon’s response to the news and footage highlighting what he can expect to experience in Whistler – as well as a short video produced by Dillon explaining why he wanted to win the Whistler Sabbatical Project – visit www.whistler.com/sabbatical_winner/

The last time he visited Whistler, Dillon was 17 and the trip was only for a weekend. This time, he will be in resort for a month and will have plenty of time to experience a number of unique activities and immerse himself into the Whistler lifestyle. Of his last visit to Whistler, Dillon said he remembers “the spectacular ski conditions” and the friendly atmosphere of the community, from the on-mountain workers and people he met in Whistler. “It was just a really friendly place,” he said.

Launched in October, the Whistler Sabbatical Project is Tourism Whistler’s winter campaign that offered 15 weekly prizes in addition to the ultimate grand prize of a month-long Whistler stay – including accommodation, lift tickets, equipment, transportation, a salary and a series of amazing Whistler experiences. The Whistler Sabbatical Project featured a new experience each week for a total of 15 weeks, including culinary activities, relaxing spa retreats and musical excursions to adrenalin-fueled adventure sports. Each week contestants were presented with the experience and asked “Would You Do It?” Contest entries were earned each time the poll was answered. To catch a glimpse of the amazing experiences, watch the Whistler vignettes.

The contest closed at noon on January 31 and, from all of the eligible entries, Dillon, along with Sarah Heaven, from Warwickshire, England, Peter Jackson from Calgary, Alberta, Roen Janyk from Kelowna, British Columbia, Alan Klein from Los Angeles, California, Doug McEnteer from Etobicoke, Ontario, Andrea Moore from Kirkland, Washington, Josiane Stephenson from Vancouver, British Columbia and Tia Tauscher from Spokane County, Washington were randomly chosen as finalists. Each of the nine finalists was required to submit a 250 word essay explaining why they should be selected the winner. The essays – available to view online – were reviewed by a panel of judges including Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler President & CEO, Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and Roger Soane, Chair of the Board of Directors at Tourism Whistler.

For Dillon, who works in the events industry and as a search and rescue volunteer on the Thames, the opportunity to ski with Olympians and to explore the behind-the-scenes world of a mountain snow groomer are a couple of the adventures he’s most excited to experience. He is also looking forward to the bobsleigh experience, although he admits that the notion of sliding down the track at speeds of up to 125 kilometres per hour is daunting. “I love speed,” he said. “I think that’s going to scare the hell out of me … but it will be an amazing experience.”

Dillon, who admits that his culinary skills are lacking, is looking forward to stirring it up in the kitchen with one of Canada’s most renowned chefs, James Walt of the award-winning Araxi Restaurant. “My cooking is rubbish,” Dillon said. “But I wish I was better and I do love my food, so that will be a good one.”

He’s also looking forward to a Whistler Heli-Skiing trip – and, of course, skiing the famed slopes of Whistler Blackcomb. “This is brilliant,” said Dillon.

And it isn’t only Dillon who’s just received great news. All runners up for the Whistler Sabbatical Project automatically qualify for the Fan Choice Award. The finalist with the most fan votes will win the Fan Choice Award; voters will also receive one entry toward the Voters’ prize each time a vote is cast (one vote per day).

The Fan Choice Award winner and the Voter prize winner will each receive roundtrip coach air transportation; ground transfer from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler, five nights’ accommodation, two three-day lift passes for Whistler Blackcomb, one three-hour snowmobile tour for two, one Earn Your Turns tour for two and one $200 gift certificate from the Escape Route retail store in Whistler.

The winner of the Voters’ prize will be randomly selected from all votes received, so the more votes cast, the more chances there are to win. Voting takes place from February 20 – March 12, 2012.

The Whistler Sabbatical Project, which was open to residents in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia, generated almost 19,000 entries and the campaign microsite saw over 160,000 web visits.

Directly from the Rocky Mountaineer Press Release:

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER IS CHOSEN AS VIP GIFT FOR ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (February 15, 2012) – Some of Hollywood’s hottest stars could be spotted enjoying fine wine, delectable cuisine and extraordinary service while onboard the award-winning Rocky Mountaineer train during its upcoming 2012 season. The luxury rail service through the Canadian Rockies has been selected to be a part of Secret Room Events’ Red Carpet Style Lounge Nominee Gift Bags in honour of the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Held on February 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA, this exclusive entertainment event has become a popular pre-Oscar gathering for celebrities. The coveted gift bag for Academy Award nominees offers select items from top global luxury brands that have been hand-picked by event organizers.

“We are delighted to be a part of this event,” says Hubert Wat, Vice President, Global Marketing. “We congratulate all of the nominees and look forward to welcoming them onboard Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service to experience some of the most stunning scenery in North America – if not the world.”

Rocky Mountaineer will provide attendees with a four-day, three-night Classic First Passage to the West Vacation for two adults from Vancouver, BC to Banff, AB in GoldLeaf Service. Onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, celebrities will enjoy luxurious surroundings in a bi-level, custom-designed dome coach with panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies, gourmet cuisine in a private dining car and personalized service by Rocky Mountaineer Hosts. Overnight stays at iconic hotels in Vancouver and Banff are included with this exclusive package.

This gift bag inclusion is the latest in Rocky Mountaineer’s dedicated commitment to the entertainment industry; from hosting celebrities onboard private coaches to serving as set of ABC-TV’s The Bachelorette, the internationally renowned rail journey offers a truly unique experience with luxury service and accommodations.

For more information on Rocky Mountaineer, please contact your preferred travel professional or visit rockymountaineer.com.

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

Whistler resort heats up with Top Chef: Texas, season nine

Whistler, B.C. – Tourism Whistler, in collaboration with its membership and industry and resort partners, welcomed Bravo’s Emmy and James Beard Award-winning culinary competition series – Top Chef – to the resort in January and, as a result, a Whistler-specific episode will air as part of the three-part season finale.

Now in its ninth season, Top Chef  has won an Emmy, received numerous Emmy nominations and has been recognized as one of the best reality show of all time and the No. 1 food show on cable (according to Nielsen). Top Chef airs in more than 20 countries with each episode repeating an average of 12 times. Past locations have included San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York and Las Vegas with finales in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Aspen, Puerto Rico, New Orleans and Napa Valley.

The opportunity to bring the production to Whistler and Vancouver was secured by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism British Columbia, Tourism Whistler, Tourism Vancouver and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Season nine introduced viewers to Top Chef: Texas, featuring a record 29 chefs, almost twice as many chefs as in past seasons. After the initial contest, 16 chefs would compete for the title of Top Chef: Texas. This season featured some of the biggest names in food, music and entertainment including Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron, comedian Pee-wee Herman, Cat Cora, John Besh, Tim Love and Patti LaBelle. In addition, returning to the judge’s table are Padma Lakshmi and head judge, chef Tom Colicchio along with Gail Simmons. New this season, chef, restaurateur and television personality Emeril Lagasse and critically-acclaimed chef Hugh Acheson joined the judging team.

Whistler will be featured in the pre-finale episode (third-to-last) airing on Bravo USA on February 15 and Food Network Canada at 9 p.m. ET/PT on March 5. The Whistler episode showcases unique experiences in the resort as part of the culinary challenges among contestants. The Whistler episode will be followed by two Vancouver episodes airing February 22 and 29 (finale) on Bravo USA and March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and March 12 (finale) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.

Season eight of the reality series was an All-Star season, featuring chefs from the previous seven seasons who were back for redemption to claim the title that eluded them all. The season was filmed first in New York City and wrapped in the Bahamas. The winner of Top Chef All-Stars was Richard Blais, the season four runner up.

The top 16 competitors in Top Chef season nine include Keith Rhodes, Richie Farina, Chuy Valencia, Whitney Otawka, Dakota Weiss, Nvesha Arrington, Heather Terhune, Chris Crary, Ty-Lor Boring, Chris Jones, Beverly Kim, Grayson Schmitz, Lindsay Autry, Sarah Grueneberg, Edward Lee and Paul Qui.

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

Whistler, B.C. – The finalists have been named in the Whistler Sabbatical Project, with one lucky winner receiving the trip of a lifetime – a month in Whistler, expenses paid.

Launched in October, the Whistler Sabbatical Project, is Tourism Whistler’s winter campaign offering 15 weekly prizes in addition to the ultimate grand prize of a month-long Whistler stay – including accommodation, lift tickets, equipment, transportation, a salary and a series of amazing Whistler experiences.

The Whistler Sabbatical Project featured a new experience each week for a total of 15 weeks, ranging from culinary experiences, to dancing on stage with a go-go dancer, to performing live with a recording artist, a ride-along with a snow groomer, overnight ziplining, heli skiing, a First Nations dance off, a spa retreat and the opportunity to ski or ride with a local Olympian, to name a few. Each week contestants were presented with the experience and asked “Would You Do It?” Contest entries were earned each time the poll was answered. To view the experiences, watch the Whistler vignettes.

The contest closed at noon on January 31 and from all of the eligible entries, the following finalists were randomly selected: Luke Dillon from London, England, Sarah Heaven, from Warwickshire, England, Peter Jackson from Calgary, Alberta, Roen Janyk from Kelowna, British Columbia, Alan Klein from Los Angeles, California, Doug McEnteer from Etobicoke, Ontario, Andrea Moore from Kirkland, Washington, Josiane Stephenson from Vancouver, British Columbia and Tia Tauscher from Spokane County, Washington.

Each of the nine finalists was required to submit a 250 word essay explaining why they should be selected the winner. The essays will be reviewed by a panel of judges including Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler President & CEO, Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and Roger Soane, Chair of the Board of Directors at Tourism Whistler.

To view the submitted essays and finalist photos, visit www.whistler.com/sabbatical_finalists/

The contest generated 18,937 entries; 160,224 website visits and 133,008 unique visits. The vignettes received 37,432 video views while the website received 397,646 website page views. There were 36,097 poll responses. In addition, the contest enhanced Tourism Whistler’s social media engagement, increasing the number of GoWhistler Facebook fans by 7,510 and the number of GoWhistler Twitter followers by 1,225.

All runners up for the Whistler Sabbatical Project automatically qualify for the Fan Choice Award, launching February 20; details on the award will be outlined at that time.

The Whistler Sabbatical Project was open to residents in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. The winner of the Whistler Sabbatical Project will be announced February 20 and the prize must be redeemed between March 1 - April 30, 2012.

Directly from the Rocky Mountaineer Press Release:

New bi-level dome service offers panoramic views onboard rocky mountaineer’s Whistler sea to sky climb.

For the first time, Rocky Mountaineer is giving its guests the opportunity to experience its award-winning bi-level dome onboard the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb route between Vancouver and Whistler, BC. The bi-level Whistler Sea to Sky Dome Service will operate five days per week from June 14 to August 24, 2012. Guests will have the exclusive opportunity to ride the rails along the stunning Sea to Sky Corridor in luxurious surroundings, with panoramic views of the passing scenery.

“We are excited to offer this service on our Whistler Sea to Sky Climb route, giving our guests a taste of what it is like onboard our GoldLeaf Service through the Canadian Rockies,” says Hubert Wat, Vice President, Global Marketing of Rocky Mountaineer. “This new initiative is part of our ongoing effort to innovate our products and services while providing the exceptional guest experience we have become known for.”

Onboard the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb Dome Service, guests will relax in comfort with unobstructed views of Howe Sound, the shimmering waters of the Pacific Ocean and the snowcapped Coastal Mountain range on the upper level. A spiral staircase leads onto the exclusive lounge area below. Locally-inspired hot breakfast (northbound) or delicious afternoon appetizers (southbound) will be served to guests at their seats. Travellers will also have access to a large outdoor vestibule and open-air Heritage Observation Car.

The new Whistler Sea to Sky Climb Dome Service is priced at $399 CDN roundtrip or $259 CDN one way and is available to book online or through your local travel professional. For more information or to receive a copy of the 2012 Rocky Mountaineer brochure, please contact your local travel professional or Rocky Mountaineer directly at (800) 665-7245, or visit rockymountaineer.com.

Directly from the Tourism Whistler Press Release:

Celebrate the season Whistler-style: New outdoor skating rink opens in time for winter holidays; the resort welcomes back the Whistler Holiday Experience and New Year’s Eve festivities

Whistler, B.C. – With skis, skates and sleds as the equipment of choice in Whistler this winter, guests can glide on the slopes, the ice and the track.

This winter marks the launch of Whistler’s outdoor skating rink, located at the great lawn and pavilion of the Whistler Olympic Plaza (home of the medals ceremonies and outdoor concerts during the 2010 Winter Games) in the heart of the village. Beginning in mid-December, skating at Whistler Olympic Plaza will take place daily between 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. with exceptions on holidays (December 25: 12-4 p.m.; December 31: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with 7-11 p.m. exclusively for New Year’s Eve ticket holders) or when the plaza is booked for private functions. Public access to the rink is free and skate rentals are available for $5 between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and in the evenings from 6-9 p.m.

Sharpen your ice skates and head to Whistler for a holiday season packed with events and activities, of both the outdoor and indoor variety.

Whistler Presents: The Whistler Holiday Experience will take place at the Whistler Conference Centre, from December 16 – January 2 (excluding December 25 and 31). The indoor family fun zone is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and features a mini putt course, table games, bouncy castles, crafts and video games. There is no charge for this activity. And, even Santa will stop by on December 17 and 18 between 1 and 5 p.m.

Whistler Presents: New Year’s Eve Celebrations will take place at indoor and outdoor venues between 7-11 p.m. on December 31. This alcohol-free evening of family entertainment and celebration includes a number of activities, concerts and fireworks. Tickets are available in Whistler at the Whistler Visitor Centre, Millennium Place, Meadow Park Sports Centre and online at www.whistler.com

December 9-10 welcomes the world’s top luge athletes to Whistler as they compete in the first FIL Luge World Cup at the Whistler Sliding Centre since the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Competitions start at 3 p.m. on both days with upload to the sliding centre via the Excalibur Gondola in the village. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the Whistler Visitor Centre. Book a two-night stay and enjoy free luge tickets, courtesy of Tourism Whistler. Two tickets per booking through www.whistler.com will be delivered to your hotel for pick up at check-in. Free tickets apply to the first 150 bookings only. For more information, visit www.whistler.com – Whistler’s official information site and call to action for the resort,

The public will be able to enjoy first-hand experiences at the Whistler Sliding Centre beginning December 16 with the launch of the Skeleton Slide Experience. Participants start at the Maple Leaf Start, about 1/3 of the way up the track, navigating through six corners and reaching a maximum speed of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The Fire & Ice show returns to the base of Whistler Mountain every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. starting December 18. Watch world-class athletes flip and twist their way through a burning ring of fire. Note that the Sunday, December 25 show has been moved to Monday, December 26. There is no charge for this event.

There are a number of family-friendly activities and events to experience in Whistler over the holidays

Whistler has received 10 centimetres (four inches) of new snow in the past seven days and a cumulative snowfall of 312 cm (122 inches) so far this season. The base is currently at 127 cm (50 inches). More snow is in the forecast for next week.

Whistler.com offers the largest selection and one-stop shopping with no booking fee for accommodation, lift tickets or activities. Whistler-based reservation agents at whistler.com can also customize a vacation package, taking care of flights, transportation, accommodation and activities. Call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.