Local Vibe – Literary Whistler Wonders

Literary Whistler Wonders

Story by Dee Raffo | Images by Joern Rohde

If you have an inquisitive child who is eager to learn more about the place they’re exploring, visit the Whistler Visitor Centre and pick up a free Whistler Wonders Activity Book. These beautifully illustrated booklets are designed for four different age ranges and focus on the natural wonders of Whistler.

“The idea came to me when I was travelling,” says Jenny Pedersen, senior manager of sales and visitor services at Tourism Whistler, who developed the booklets. “I was travelling with my niece and nephew, and at each national park, we were given an activity booklet. We learned lots of cool stuff about the parks, had something to entertain us on the drive, and enjoyed some quality quiet time together, reminiscing when we got home.”

Pedersen partnered with Rivers to Ridges and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) to produce the free pamphlets that encourage curiosity and shared learning. From drawing prompts to athlete spotlights, Indigenous legends and animal track identification to scavenger hunts, mazes, and word scrambles, the booklets are entertaining and a lovely way for your kids to remember their time in Whistler. whistler.com

Other Whistler-based books for kids include Sea to Sky Alphabet by local writer and poet Bronwyn Preece, who worked with local artist and illustrator Kate Zessel. Aimed at children aged five to eight, this stunningly illustrated book takes readers on a lyrical journey through the alphabet, from the ocean to the snowy slopes. It’s a love letter to the Sea to Sky, revelling in its incredible beauty and rich culture, which includes the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nations. Preece has incorporated Indigenous words, colour-coded, from both distinct languages to honour their continued stewardship of the land. There is a glossary of terms, and you can scan a QR code to hear and learn the correct pronunciations. Available at Armchair Books, with a portion of the proceeds going to the SLCC. slcc.ca

But we can’t leave the adults out. The Whistler Museum recently released The Whistler Poetry & Photo Book – A Collection of Poems and Archival Photographs from Whistler, B.C. Sea to Sky writers were asked what inspires them about Whistler, and each poem was carefully paired with an archival photo from the museum’s collection. It’s available at the Whistler Museum Gift Shop when you visit, or you can pick up a copy from Armchair Books. whistlermuseum.org