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Myrtle Philip was Whistler Valley’s most significant female pioneer. Born in the Eastern United States in 1891, Myrtle migrated to the west coast of British Columbia in her early twenties with her husband Alex.
The young couple fell in love with British Columbia’s Coast Mountains
and decided to carry out their dream of building a holiday retreat. With
the guidance of an old trapper, the Philips traveled north of Vancouver
up the Pemberton Trail to a place called Alta Lake - the perfect wilderness
setting for a fishing lodge. Adventurous hiking, plentiful fish stocks
and healthy mountain air soon made the lodge the most popular resort destination
west of the Rocky Mountains. Guests were warmly welcomed by Myrtle, Alex
and the Lodge staff, and invited to participate in a number of outdoor
activities such as horseback riding, swimming, boating, hunting, skiing
and skating. Myrtle was an avid contributor to the spirit of the growing Alta Lake community. She started the Alta Lake Community Club and played an integral role in the development of the Valley’s first school. Although Rainbow Lodge was sold in 1948, Myrtle continued to be a prominent figure in the Whistler Valley until her death in 1986. Mrs. Philips extensive contribution to the development of this unique resort town is still evident today. |
| Come learn more about the life and times of Myrtle Philip, Whistler Valley’s most celebrated female pioneer! From her early days as a school teacher in Maine to her later years as a dedicated community member of the Whistler valley. |
| Myrtle Philip, Alta Lake, Whistler, British Columbia, Vancouver, Squamish, Pemberton, Rainbow Lodge, pioneer, photo, photography, collection, museum, community, development, valley, female, learn, era |