More New Faces at Mount Washington
Following
on the heels of a world tour Brent Curtain has arrived
back at Mount Washington. This time as Director of Public Relations
and Special Events Co-ordinator.
Curtain first joined Mount Washington in 2000, after six years handling
guest relations and assisting in the communications department at Whistler/
Blackcomb. Curtain spent many years alpine skiing until his wife Andrea,
equally outdoorsy, converted him to telemark skiing. He has skied the
backcountry at Mount Washington, including Macleod Lake.
“I’m definitely excited that we’re opening the Outback
and the new lift (Boomerang). It’s some of the better glade skiing
one could do in North America.”
Tim Defert has taken over as Food and Beverage Manager,
replacing Alfredo Yabut, who is off to work at Brown’s
Bay Resort in Campbell River. “He was General Manager at Painter’s
Lodge (in Campbell River),” said Resort President Peter Gibson.
“He’s been with Oak Bay Marine Group, he’s worked
in the Caribbean. He’s got an extensive background in the food
and beverage industry,” Gibson said of Defert.
“He brings a lot of expertise to the table.” Thanks to Yabut’s
foresight, the Food and Beverage Department has never been stronger,
Gibson says. “Prior to Alfredo we were going through Food and
Beverage Managers every year. What he’s left behind is a very
strong team. And Tim has been able to step in right away”
Max Oudendag, as Curtain’s lead hand, is another
new face on the hill. The Merville resident has spent the past few years
in Victoria tending bar, running special events in various Capital Region
pubs and doing some on-air work with Shaw Cablesystems.
“He’s a really good guy,” says Curtain. “We’re
pretty excited to have him on board as well.” Oudendag will run
any on-hill events for Curtain, leaving the P.R. Director free to handle
customer relations and planning inherent to his job. It was a little
hell-raising - not divine intervention - that gave Curtain his second
chance at the Resort.
Shortley
after Hampshire’s moving on, Special Events Co-ordinator Jonathan
Bonk also left to take advantage of an apprenticeship with
the operations side at the Resort. “Both of those jobs became
available within a week of each other,” Curtain explains. He had
heard that Bonk was going to leave, so he proactively submitted his
resumé.
Former Director of Public Relations Dave Hampshire
left after four years to become Tour Manager with legendary Canadian
rock band, Trooper.
“I will be helping to take the show from coast to coast to coast
- yes, the Arctic - and I’m excited and honoured to be in the
midst of some of this country’s greatest musicians,” Hampshire
said before leaving the Resort in September.
“The past 48 months have been a whirlwind of challenges, excitement,
fantastic riding, unbelievable skiing - this includes the six days in
April when the season finally arrived - and great camaraderie,”
he said. “On behalf of my wife Linda, daughter Jillian and son
Joey, I bid you adieu and happy trails.”