MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Fall / Winter 2017

FALL/WINTER 2017 MLCM 61 MOUNTAIN LIFER words :: Ace MacKay-Smith While Whistler’s main global draw is its striking peaks and abundant snowfall, there is a vibrant local community lurking in the valley. This cultural mosaic is made up of unique characters, some born in Whistler and others who immigrated from across the world. This blend, these people, is what makes Whistler uniquely different from ski towns across North America. And then there’s Jorgito Alvarez, a Spanish/ Chilean enfant terrible who, besides being one of the community’s most prolific photographers, has definitely helped shape the local culture in his own special way. Jorge, as he’s known, arrived in Canada on May 7, 1978 with his parents and three younger sisters. “My dad got transferred from Madrid, Spain to Trail, BC,” he says. “We actually landed in Spokane, Washington and thought, ‘oh what a quaint little town.’ I think we were all expecting Toronto, but with bears.” Driving north to their new home, Jorge says he remembers the towns getting smaller and smaller. “Then there were no more towns, just trees and lakes. When we finally got to Castlegar, our faces just dropped and mom started crying. There were four buildings, it was brutal.” Jorge was 16 years old at the time, in his final year of high school, and didn’t speak a word of English. “BC was a bit behind the times,” he recalls. “Everybody was still wearing bell- IS NOT AN ARTIST JORGE ALVAREZ JORGE ALVAREZ