Next week sees the return of Icon Gone, one of the Museum’s biggest events and a guaranteed great evening out. For those who don’t know, Icon Gone pits passionate locals against each other in a head-to-head competition to determine Whistler’s greatest icon. Over the past five years this has produced tons of compelling, entertaining, informative presentations, and yes, even some controversy (for those who recall Andrew Mitchell’s questionable, but ultimately effective defense of bikes).
Well, as all good things do, Icon Gone must come to an end. This year will be the last, so we’ve opened up the field and all previous icons are back on the table, whether or not they were represented at past events. We’ve got a great lineup featuring such literary and performing heavyweights as Michel Beaudry, G.D. Maxwell, defending champion Angie Nolan, Stephen Vogler, and more. Mo Douglas returns as our fabulous M.C.
If you’ve never been to Icon Gone, it’s a lot of fun — some of the presentations can be moving and poignant, but there is also a good dose of silliness. There is no better example of this than Jack Crompton’s performance last year where he donned a bear costume, mounted a pillar and sang at the top of his lungs as Jeanie the Bear.
My personal favourite presentation was made a couple of years back by Bob Brett. As a naturalist Bob chose the beaver. The whole presentation was of course heavily loaded with innuendo, but Bob presented in such a deadpan way that you sometimes wondered whether he was aware of the double entendre. At the end all such doubts were cast aside when he proclaimed that this town should change it’s name to “Whistling Beaver.”
Icon Gone is happening on March 6, at 7 p.m. at Whistler watering hole, Merlin’s.
Tickets are $15 on the door and $10 in advance. Advance tickets are available at the Museum and can be bought in person or over the phone.
Sarah Drewery is executive director of the Whistler Museum.
