‘Always a place for hosting’: Whistler embraces Invictus Games

The Invictus Games are in full swing up in Whistler and there’s been a boost in energy and business for the resort town.

WHISTLER, B.C. - It’s party time in Whistler village, with the resort community welcoming the world for the Invictus Games.

The days involve intense competition – which are a thrill for locals and visitors alike.

“For us, this is really about honouring veterans and what they’ve done for our country and for other countries, and taking an opportunity to use this community in a way that we’ve planned for since the ‘70s,” Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton told CTV News on Tuesday. “It was always a place for sport, it was always a place for hosting.”

The event showcases the talents of wounded, injured and sick veterans and other service personnel.

It’s also putting local pubs and restaurants to the test as they deal with a welcome influx of hungry and thirsty fans, family and athletes.

“It’s really had a positive impact on our business,” said Tim Koshul, Gibbons Whistler guest experience manager. “With the opening ceremonies, with Prince Harry around and Michael Bublé, everybody kind of filtered into the bars and restaurants afterward to celebrate.”

The additional visitors are providing a welcome economic boost – and bringing back fond memories of other major events like the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“We have been preparing for this for a long time,” Crompton added. “A lot of the restaurants and hotels are eager to welcome people that they’ve been kind of thinking about and talking about for a long time.”

If you’ve been procrastinating on getting tickets, the good news is that there are still tickets available for some events, with the games running through the weekend.