Community rallies to replace Deep Winter during its hiatus

WHISTLER, B.C. (December 20, 2019) - With the news of Whistler Blackcomb pressing pause on Deep Winter for this season, local creative agency Origin, along with Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Tourism Whistler, have stepped up to fill the void in Whistler’s cultural calendar. The group will present a new competition event, dubbed Uprising, February 22 at the Chateau Whistler, intended to carry on Whistler’s proud history of showcasing the creative partnerships of this valley’s photographers and athletes.

In a break from tradition, Uprising’s format will feature the generational mentorship that feeds Whistler’s mountain culture, with pros and protégés teaming up and competing for an $8000 cash purse. The contest will include five of Whistler’s favourite professional photographers, paired with five up-and-coming photographers. The pro-am duo will assemble their own team of athletes comprised equally of professionals and emerging stars to create the ultimate slideshow and a chance to take the spotlight.

When prompted on the decision to find a temporary replacement for Deep Winter’s hiatus, Origin’s principal and Creative Director, Danielle Kristmanson says, “Deep Winter is an event that’s really close to this community’s heart and it reflects what’s special about our culture and our winters. We know how much the team at Whistler Blackcomb put into Deep Winter over the years, and we look forward to its return next year. In the meantime, we want to make sure the community doesn’t lose that important expression of who we are. When I reached out to Barrett Fisher at Tourism Whistler and Norman Mastalir at the Chateau, they didn’t even hesitate to come to the table with really generous donations to ensure the event could come to life.”

On the decision to create a fill-in during Deep Winter’s hiatus, Barrett Fisher, President & CEO at Tourism Whistler said, “I am excited to see the team at Origin is keeping the tradition alive in 2020, while adding their own unique take on the event with the Uprising mentorship format. This photography competition represents the spirit of who Whistler is at its core, so Tourism Whistler was pleased to support as a partner. We look forward to seeing the show, and we encourage the community to come out and support this great event.”

In addition to celebrating Whistler’s culture, the event will play double duty as a fundraiser for Protect Our Winters Canada. Origin is a founding partner of the organization and the evening will feature prize draws with proceeds going to the worthy cause.

“We’re thrilled to support the reimagined Uprising because we feel passionately about celebrating local Whistler talent. Protect Our Winters Canada is an organization which aligns really well with Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact, so to learn proceeds would support this cause made it that much easier to jump on board” says Norman Mastalir, Managing Director of Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

As for the change in format, Kristmanson says that it is intended to reflect how Whistler’s mountain culture perpetuates itself. “Every year, Whistler sees a new class of protégés emerge. Photographers chasing their first cover or contract. Athletes looking for their first sponsorship or segment. The annual arrival of these fresh talents creates an unspoken chain of mentorship. Freshmen aspire to the heights of their predecessors and icons are pushed to stay on top of their game. Uprising is a photo contest that reflects this relationship.”

Teams will be announced in January. Tickets will go on sale January 8. Those interested in participating, sponsoring, supporting or volunteering in the event, please contact uprising@originoutside.com.

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 About Origin

Origin is an outdoor-focused, digitally-driven creative, content and marketing agency. Founded more than 20 years ago, the agency works with a multitude of prominent outdoor brands such as Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler, L.L.Bean, lululemon, Smartwool, The North Face, and many more. With offices in both Montreal and Whistler, as well as a Vermont-based US subsidiary, Origin provides a bilingual and suite of capabilities to the outdoor brands it helps succeed and grow in both Canada and the US. For more information about Origin, please visit www.originoutside.com. Subscribe to Origin’s “Insights On The Outdoors" monthly newsletter at www.originoutside.com/newsletter-sign-up.

About Fairmont

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where occasions are celebrated and history is made. Landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences across 100 countries.

fairmont.com | group.accor.com

About Tourism Whistler

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com – Whistler’s official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 8,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on Resort Lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.