Whistler Stories That Need To Be Told
Oral history is important and this podcast captures the confidence and culture that shaped Whistler into a #1 world class resort ... it captures the people and their history from 1969 to now and what it took to develop a unique Western Canadian resort that draws mountain enthusiasts from all over the world for a “quick visit that lasts years”.
“I want a record of what happened here and why it happened in such a short time and how successful we were. I want to interview people that lived here through the development of Whistler.” ~ Bruce Watt, Whistler REALTOR® with RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate
Whistler Stories That Need To Be Told
Bob Dufour — The Man Who Ran the Mountain
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There are people who work at a place, and then there are people who become a place. Bob Dufour is the latter.
In 1972, a young ski instructor from Quebec's Laurentian Mountains packed his bags and headed west to join the Whistler Ski School, then led by the iconic Jim McConkey. He came for a job. He never left.
When McConkey moved on in 1980, Bob was the obvious successor as director of the ski school. It wasn't a surprise — he'd spent years earning it, achieving top certifications with both the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance and the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation. He didn't just know how to ski; he knew how to lead, how to teach, and how to build something people wanted to be part of.
As Whistler grew into a world-class destination, so did Bob's role. When Whistler and Blackcomb merged in 1997, he took on oversight of mountain operations for both resorts — a fitting evolution for someone who had been shaping the mountain experience since the early days. He served under every president the organization ever had, from its pioneering founders through to the modern corporate era.
What set Bob apart wasn't just his longevity — it was his presence. He was the kind of leader you'd find in a lift line or out on the hill at the end of the day, not behind a desk. The culture he helped build was rooted in a genuine commitment to the guest experience, and that attitude filtered through every department he touched.
He was also a pragmatist who adapted with the times — advocating for snowmaking infrastructure long before it became standard, and traveling internationally to study the latest in resort engineering and mountain management.
After 48 years, Bob retired — leaving behind a mountain that bears his fingerprints everywhere. If you've ever skied Whistler Blackcomb, you've experienced the place he helped build. That's not a career. That's a legacy.
