Peter Alder - Whistler exec, CWSAA president

Peter Alder, resort manager and planner, lift inspector and one of the founders of the Canada West Ski Areas Association, died in July. He was 91.

Born in Basel, Switzerland, Alder moved to Canada in 1951, settled in Squamish, British Columbia, and worked building utility power lines. He got his start in the ski industry in 1960 as the first manager of Red Mountain. While there, he helped start the Ski Resort Management program at Selkirk College.

After management jobs at Silver Star and Big White, Alder served as a senior lift inspector for the Ministry of Transportation. He became general manager of Whistler Mountain in 1978, where he developed Whistler’s first master plan. He played a major role in establishing the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), helping to develop industry standards and training programs. He served as president in 1968-69 and 1981-83. In the mid-90s, he joined Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners. He was also involved with the Whistler Resort Association and Nancy Greene Raine's Cahilty Hotel at Sun Peaks.