Obituary for Peter Charles Alder
Born Basel, Switzerland. Peter came to Canada in 1951 for a visit and fell in love with Canada. He worked in Kemano building power lines and then came to Squamish to work on “those beautiful necklaces,” the power lines that run through Whistler. Peter and his first wife Gloria, started a family in Squamish and a building supply and concrete company (Peter Alder Co) on “Paco” Road. He was involved in a bid to build facilities at Creekside before Garibaldi Lifts. He got his big start in the ski industry when he applied for a job with the Red Mountain Ski Club in Rossland as their first professional manager. He got the position because of his work on building towers, his experience back in Switzerland with ski areas and because of his great Swiss accent. While at Red Mountain, Peter was instrumental in starting the Ski Resort Management program at Selkirk College. He moved to management positions at Silver Star, Big White and eventually came back to Whistler as the General Manager for “the ski area on the right,” Whistler Mountain.
Peter met a smart, beautiful ski instructor and property developer named Trudy and they started a life together in 1981. After leaving management at Whistler Mountain, Peter worked for the Whistler Resort Association, Ecosign, and then with Al and Nancy Raine on Nancy Greene's Cahilty Lodge at Sun Peaks. Peter was always involved in his community, whether as a Rotarian, on the Chamber of Commerce, and as mentor and good friend to many. Peter promoted Whistler and the BC ski industry at every opportunity. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Whistler Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence Awards in 2013. In 2019 the Canada West Ski Areas Association gave Peter the Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is survived by his wife Trudy, sister Ragi (René), children Richard (Ramona), Douglas (Kathryn) and Carol and grandchildren, Justine, Kootenay, Reanna, Cory, Robert, Sam, Brent, Lindsay, Garrett, and great-grandchildren, Walter, Margo, Aliegha, Darien and Ocean, and nieces Corinne, Yvonne (Derrick) and her children Phaedra, Ronan and Arleigh. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 23rd between 3 and 5 pm at Our Lady of the Mountains Chapel in Whistler. Space limited due to COVID protocols. Zoom link 859 2617 7995 code 913523. In lieu of flowers a donation to Whistler Food Bank or the Whistler Skiers Chapel (on CanadaHelps.org) would be appreciated. His lifelong curiosity, generosity of spirit and ready hugs will be greatly missed.
Zoom meeting to view the funeral service:
Topic: Alder, Peter - Funeral Service
Time: Jul 23, 2021 03:00 PM Vancouver
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85926177995?pwd=OURwMGttUlhsOXhxTnM3dVJuZjM2QT09
Meeting ID: 859 2617 7995
Passcode: 913523
Peter met a smart, beautiful ski instructor and property developer named Trudy and they started a life together in 1981. After leaving management at Whistler Mountain, Peter worked for the Whistler Resort Association, Ecosign, and then with Al and Nancy Raine on Nancy Greene's Cahilty Lodge at Sun Peaks. Peter was always involved in his community, whether as a Rotarian, on the Chamber of Commerce, and as mentor and good friend to many. Peter promoted Whistler and the BC ski industry at every opportunity. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Whistler Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence Awards in 2013. In 2019 the Canada West Ski Areas Association gave Peter the Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is survived by his wife Trudy, sister Ragi (René), children Richard (Ramona), Douglas (Kathryn) and Carol and grandchildren, Justine, Kootenay, Reanna, Cory, Robert, Sam, Brent, Lindsay, Garrett, and great-grandchildren, Walter, Margo, Aliegha, Darien and Ocean, and nieces Corinne, Yvonne (Derrick) and her children Phaedra, Ronan and Arleigh. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 23rd between 3 and 5 pm at Our Lady of the Mountains Chapel in Whistler. Space limited due to COVID protocols. Zoom link 859 2617 7995 code 913523. In lieu of flowers a donation to Whistler Food Bank or the Whistler Skiers Chapel (on CanadaHelps.org) would be appreciated. His lifelong curiosity, generosity of spirit and ready hugs will be greatly missed.
Zoom meeting to view the funeral service:
Topic: Alder, Peter - Funeral Service
Time: Jul 23, 2021 03:00 PM Vancouver
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85926177995?pwd=OURwMGttUlhsOXhxTnM3dVJuZjM2QT09
Meeting ID: 859 2617 7995
Passcode: 913523