COMMUNITY FOCUSED, ATHLETIC, EDUCATOR, RECREATION 

A Snap Shot of Who I am and My History

Way back in 1964 I came up a very windy and narrow road, lots of dirt sections too, with my father from North Vancouver, who like others on the original Garabaldi Lift Company, had a dream of a big new ski area with lots of snow.  I was so proud because he was heading up the installation of the new lifts.

In 1968 I raced in the first international ski race on Whistler called the Dumourier Cup. We boot packed the downhill course before we raced and the slalom course and GS courses were held on the hill just to the right of Peak to Creek. And it rained.

After my career on the National Ski Team I coached skiing while I went to SFU to study Kinesiology.  My experiences in the US and Europe broadened my horizons as to what a ski town is and what it can be. I also learned what it should not be.

After 6 years of a PhD program at the University of Brussels and traveling in Europe, finding some family connections in both Hungary and Switzerland, doing research with 4 different professors in 4 different countries and of course teaching skiing in 8 different ski areas, running camps for diabetics and asthmatic children, and working in the Belgium Ministry of Culture, I came back to N. Vancouver to start my career and family.

My career started at Capilano University where I started the 2 year Fitness Leadership program certificate program and was key in creating certification standards for fitness leaders. I carried on to be involved in the National Fitness Appraisal Certification program and participated in 2 National conferences on Fitness.

In 1980 I started an Organic Food Co-op out of my West Vancouver garage that served 55 families. This ran for 15 years.  I believe in sustainable living and respecting our environment.

In 1980 my husband and I along with my brothers made a proposal to build one of the buildings in the newly formed Village.  We were not successful.  Then my husband and I put in a bid to the CRTC for a Whistler based radio station.  We were close, but the FM application out of Squamish won based on a better advertisement base. We got high compliments on our programming proposal.

Three children were born and 2 had a dream to be Olympians so are family after many years of owning a cabin, and developing some townhome complexes in Whistler, made the permanent move to here.  Why, because of the education system that offered all our children to opportunity to learn and train skiing at a high level.

In 1995 Whistler was still young, even though the Village was in place much was still growing culturally.  I saw some missing links for children and started the Whistler Youth Soccer Club and ran successfully to represent Whistler as a school trustee. 

As a school trustee I was also elected to 1 provincial committee – BC School Sports and served as the district’s representative to the BC School Trustees Association for 4 years and to the BC Public School Employers Association for 9 years. I had the honour of being at many bargaining tables and a few mediation sessions.

My husband and I are proud of our children’s accomplishments which was highlighted when Britt and Michael stood on World Cup podiums and became Olympians and representing Canada at the 2010 Olympics here in Whistler.  Stephanie, our third is now marking her space in life and leads all of us in many ways.  Our greatest joy is skiing as a family.

Upon arrival in Whistler, I changed my career back to skiing and supervised in Whistler Kids for 3 years and now teach private ski lessons.  It has been now 20 years with Whistler Blackcomb.

I am an avid sports person, often seen running in the valley, love gardening – growing most of my own food in the summer, taking time to learn more about the arts, staying involved with soccer by leading the development of youth referees, and generally enjoying my life and the people of Whistler.

I love Whistler, our lives here, even though we have struggled at times financially helping 2 children become Olympians, and I want to continue to serve the community as a volunteer and councilor.