Nikkey Dawn

If you haven’t already, read ‘Why I Quit My Dream Job’ to hear a first-hand account of some of the problems detailed in the piece below.
words:: Nikkey Dawn
The first BC park was created in 1911, a product of the colonial mindset embedded in the province’s history—in order for land to be protected from industry it needed to be assigned a purpose. Parks then, were given three often competing roles: conservation, recreation, and tourism. Over the past century, a provincial identity has emerged,...

It’s time we get to know the Norse ski goddess who hails from “where the snow never melts.”
words & illustration :: Nikkey Dawn
For as long as most mountain town ski bums can remember, we’ve been told the grand deity of winter, and skiing, is the Norse god Ullr. With gusto and unfiltered belief, we burn old skis, dance around the flames, and shout his praise—anything for a good winter, especially if it involves a good time. While all this worship is light-hearted, and ultimately in pursuit of...

words :: Nikkey Dawn
Marine biologist, Alexandra Morton recently stated, “If we lose the Southern Resident [orcas] it will be the first extinction where every individual’s name was known.”
The endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are made up of three pods: J, K and L. Alongside their pod letter, each whale is given a number, a practice common for research purposes. Feeling a strong connection to these whales, scientists and communities have also given each individual a name that ...

words & photos :: Nikkey Dawn
The official motto of the province of British Columbia is: Splendor sine occasu, a latin phrase that translates to “Splendor without Diminishment.” But these days, just how undiminished is our natural splendor? With so much of the coastline hidden behind the fortress of the Coast Mountains and rimmed by dense, near-impenetrable rainforest, I’ve always thought the BC coast to be well defended against human impact. This “untouched” coastline of my imagination becam...

The seasons may be changing but one thing is not, Whistler is bursting with must-see art and cultural experiences. From temporary exhibits like Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land at the Sk̲wxwú7mesh Líl̓wat7ul Cultural Centre (SLCC) to the Permanent Collection and new temporary exhibition at the Audain Art Museum, immersing yourself in the arts is the perfect way to get to know Whistler beyond the trails this fall and winter.
There are COVID-19 measures in place at each ...

Looking beyond cartography and changing what “mapping” means
words :: Nikkey Dawn
It’s a wild, wide world out there and trip planning is personal. Some take great pleasure in the hunt-and-gather of information—running a finger along the shelf for just the right guidebook, digging out and unfolding a weathered map, and calling up friends to find out who’s got a line on current conditions. There are some who purposely avoid too much research in order to preserve a sense of adventure. Others wan...

Spend enough time in Whistler in the winter and you’re bound to hear someone say “praise Ullr” or “pray to Ullr”, depending on the snow conditions. Pronounced “ool-er”, we wouldn’t blame you for wondering if we’ve been at après for too long. But, we are in fact making sense (well, sort of – but more on that later), Ullr is a Norse god, son of Sefi and stepson of Thor.
This mysterious, turned notorious, deity is iconic in ski towns across North America, inspiring ski and snowboard topsheets, g...

Here at the Insider we are all about bringing you the hard-hitting facts. So, when one of our contributors recently claimed “Function Junction is Whistler’s coolest neighbourhood”, we knew we couldn’t throw it out there without presenting the research.
Haven’t heard of Function Junction? It is the first junction and neighbourhood you pass on the left when arriving in Whistler from the south. If Creekside is the Village’s older sibling, Function (locals drop the “Junction”) is the black sheep ...

Crankworx Whistler brings together the best in mountain biking, so it’s easy to see why athletes, fans and mountain bikers flock here for the festival. But you know what’s really awesome? You don’t need to know a thing about mountain biking to enjoy it. The high-action and visual impact of the impressive human feats can draw anyone in.
What’s more, Crankworx doesn’t stop at the trails, there’s photography and film events, bike demos and Kidsworx. So, if you’ve been curious about mountain biki...

From Hawaii to Peru, Italy to Israel, the beginnings of paddleboarding around the world have all had one thing in common – the ocean. So it may come as a surprise that the modern version of stand-up paddleboarding (also known as SUP) has effortlessly immersed itself in mountain culture. While you won’t find us surfing on Whistler’s lakes, you will find us in downward-facing dog during a SUP yoga class, touring lakes, navigating the River of Golden Dreams and portaging boards up to glacial lak...

Nikkey Dawn relays her experience participating in a remote beach clean of Vargas, Island with Surfrider Pacific Rim. She also details the valuable work Surfrider has done in British Columbia, Canada, via excerpts of an interview with Chapter Manager Lilly Woodbury. In the end, Nikkey leaves us with an encouraging message to never give up on doing what we can to alleviate the ocean plastics problem. All photos are by Nikkey Dawn; you can find her on Instagram at @nikkeydawn.
Overwhelm. It’s a...

Watching a sunset, is there a more quintessential vacation experience? Away from life’s daily responsibilities and distractions, we get to sit down and become audience members for the end of day show – of which, no two are ever the same.
In Whistler, not only are we treated to spectacular sunsets, but there’s also an encore optical phenomenon called alpenglow. When the sun sets, back-scattered light illuminates the mountain peaks opposite in radiant shades of orange and pink. This effect is t...

Sleeping under the stars, telling stories around the fire (or flashlights) and following nature’s rhythms, these are the things that come to mind when we think of camping. It’s all so romantic, isn’t it? We usually leave the bug bites, cramped dishwashing and mysterious night noises conveniently out of the picture. But that’s because the experience always outweighs the minor discomforts.
In Whistler, you can find whatever camping experience you yearn for, whether you want to sleep on a real m...

Editor’s Note: This post contains the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Líl̓wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) languages. When both are used they’ll be abbreviated and bracketed as [SL] and [LL] respectively.
It’s your typical June afternoon in Whistler as I walk to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC), one moment the sun is shining and the next it’s raining so hard the drops are bouncing off my hood. I haven’t brought an umbrella but that’s okay, we’ll be heading under the cover of t...

Summer, that glorious time of year when we become lake-worshippers, alpine hikers and at one with our bikes. No two months of summer are the same, the outdoor offerings are ruled by the rate of the snowmelt and the rotating roster of events changes the Village vibe from one week to the next. Whatever your dream summer vacation entails you can find it in Whistler, the key is knowing when. Here’s your ultimate planning guide to summer in Whistler:
If May is when we squeeze out the last drops of...