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.”