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The organization formerly known as Celebration Sites has a new name and a new set of leaders.
Officials with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and Whistler Arts Council last week announced that they were changing the name of the RMOW-run agency producing 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic celebration events in Whistler from Celebration Sites to Whistler Live!
In a statement issued on June 22, they also announced the hiring of Scott McPhee, Kristen Robinson and Brent Williston to spearhead the Whistler Live team.
McPhee, a seven-year Whistler resident, will serve as the organization’s technical director. He brings 18 years of technical experience with events, including work on high-profile events such as the Pro Photographer Showdown during the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival. His credits include the innovative, six-sided screen used for the Pro Photographer Showdown and the “Gap-O-Tron” introduced during the 2005 Kokanee Crankworx festival, which saw bikers jumping over a giant screen to compete their run. He has also been technical director of 10 World Cup events in Whistler during the past two winters.
Robinson, the new Whistler Live festival director, is a well-established event planner, promoter and communications expert with more than 50 festivals and 400 performances in Whistler to her credit. Before joining the Whistler Live! team, Robinson served as Whistler communications manager for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee (VANOC).
Williston, a Squamish resident, takes on the role of business development manager for Whistler Live. A certified professional purchaser Williston, has worked with the RMOW for 11 years as a purchasing agent. He will be responsible for fiscal management of the Whistler Live program as well as procurement.
“Brent, Kristen and Scott each have unparalleled experience in their fields, they understand the vision for Whistler Live and most importantly, they live and breathe Whistler and the Games,” said John Rae, the RMOW’s manager of strategic alliances and executive producer of Whistler Live. “Our team also has a very strong relationship with VANOC, with the Government of Canada and with CTV, and I am confident that together we are going to deliver an extraordinary experience that will make Whistler and Canada proud.”
Whistler Live is responsible for establishing a network of integrated live sites along Village Stroll that, during the 2010 Games, will feature daily and nightly, family-friendly programming including live performances, interactive events and exhibitions.
