Longtime Whistler residents Barbara Instance and Don Armour recently celebrated 40 years of banking with BlueShore Financial.
The first permanent financial institution in the now-infamous ski town opened in 1984, and celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday, May 31. Originally named North Shore Community Credit Union, the bank was so sought after, Armour recalls getting in the queue on Day 1 to get an account.
“I signed up the first day it opened, I was standing in line,” Don said.
Instance also got her bank book around the same time as Don, though not on Day 1.
“I think my account number is lower than hers, but apparently, they didn't do it numerically," Armour said. "So, they're not 100-per-cent sure who was [the very] first. I know what I was there."
Armour has lived in Whistler since 1981 and was originally a computer programmer, installing and writing hotel-reservation systems, and also worked for the Whistler Resort Association for 14 years running its central reservations system.
Instance fell in love with Whistler the same year as Armour, and she worked at hotels and for the municipality for 14 years. The two eventually met and have continued their relationship with each other (and the bank) ever since.
“I've been very interested in staying with them, and it was not great having to drive to Squamish to deposit my paycheque,” Instance said. “It was nice to have a real live bank here after nothing.”
Armour had previously driven to Vancouver for banking, tacking the task on to visits with his mother. He said he has stayed with the bank because of the friendly atmosphere.
Originally located in the Village Square, the branch now serves clients along the Village Stroll, where it relocated in December of 1984.
The bank's anniversary event included cake and a memory board where people could share their favourite memories of the bank.
BlueShore also announced a $5,000 donation to the Whistler Museum during the event, which will help the museum’s education programming and exhibits, and ensure archives are protected for years to come.
The museum has records from the credit union's early days, which were displayed during the anniversary.
Gregg Martin, the branch's general manager, gave a speech about its history, which you can also read about in Pique’s Museum Musings by Allyn Pringle.
Another notable moment from the event included a photo of the branch’s first manager, Tony Tyler, alongside Willie Whistler, part of the Whistler Question Collection held at the museum. Armour himself was once Willie Whistler, the marmot mascot for Whistler Resort Association. While he can’t be sure if it was him in the photograph, he does recall wearing the costume.
“It was very hot,” he said.
