Whistler Multicultural Society has started building a history of diverse people across the Sea to Sky - and it might surprise you to learn about how much they've been present and what they've contributed to our communities as we've grown and developed.

The first Asian, and believed to be the first documented Filipino immigrant to Canada, was Benson Flores, fisherman, trapper and beachcomber, who came to Bowen Island in 1861. In the late 1890s, Chinese workers moved to the Squamish area after working on the trans-Canada railway. In the early 1900s the logging industry started locally and, between 1904-1908, this brought East Indian workers to Squamish. By the 1920s, around northern Howe Sound a community of Japanese immigrants and Nisei (second generation Japanese-Canadians) had become established.

Shingle Mill, established round Alta Lake in Whistler in the 1920s, owned by the Sikh family: Jaswant S. Mahal and Assa S. Johal, Sr, was sold to Japanese community members in 1929.

The 1960s saw many more East Indian families settling in Squamish, with the development of Whistler in the 70s bringing Japanese families and entrepreneurs.

Check out our developing Sea to Sky Diversity website with this local Asian history - and if you have any information to add, please contact the program manager, Barbora, at barbora.vaneckova@wmsociety.ca

Early in Whistler's history as a vacation spot, Lam Shu and Sam, the Chinese culinary gods of Rainbow Lodge played an important role.

Following the opening of Whistler Mountain for skiing in 1966, Toshi Hamazaki came to Whistler, helped introducing the resort to Japanese skiers. He built his own house, learned English and worked as a ski instructor and heli-ski company owner. Check out this video about Toshi's life in Whistler.

1985 saw the opening of the first sushi restaurant in Whistler, with Yosuke Hamazaki (Toshi's son) opening a local (and still existing) ski store.

The 1990s saw Filipinos first arriving. In 1998 there were 4 Filipinos at Whistler Secondary School. Vivien Tagalog was one of the two who graduated that year (from barely 15 other students). As of this date, the picture of their class/batch is still displayed by the entrance when entering Whistler Secondary School.

Fast forward to the 2000s when the Olympics had many local businesses and hotels bringing staff from around the world: and Whistler welcomed Filipinos among many other diverse newcomers. Filipinos in Whistler now make up the largest diverse community. Census 2021 showed Filipinos, Japanese and Chinese as the largest ethnic groups in Whistler, representing approx. 8% of the permanent population. 

Help us build our Sea to Sky Diversity Heritage - let us know if you'd like to share your own or your family's story... 

In the 1940s, around 500 Japanese men lived at Woodfibre (a small town 7km from Squamish and accessible only by boat), but they were forced to leave for internment camps in the BC interior in 1942 following the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, which meant Canada was at war with Japan.

According to Takeo Ujo Nakano’s memoir, 'Within the barbed wire fence: a Japanese man’s account of his internment in Canada' (1980), half of the population of Woodfibre was Japanese, and majority of them were single men. Every month, the Japanese employees gathered and listened to the latest news about their home country when a Japanese freighter docked at the port. 

Resham Singh Sangha was one of the early East Indian pioneers who found their way and put their roots down in Squamish in the 60s…with many others who came to Squamish to find work at the local number mills and then settled down to raise a family.

Swaran Kaur, the first South Asian woman in the community, assisted many families during the 60s and 70s with settling down.

Follow the history and stories of these and other diverse communities - the Sikh Society, the building of the Gurdwara, the arrival of immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam and elsewhere at s2sdiversity.wmsociety.ca.

Tell us your own or family story of coming to Squamish - we'd love to hear from you!

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