After more than four decades as the face, voice and heart of Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Peter Gibson says he's about to take his last run. The long-time employee and general manager of the ski hill near Courtenay, who worked for three ownership groups over the past 41 years, announced Friday he's retiring after the upcoming ski season.
"I've had one of the greatest runs in the ski industry," Gibson said in a statement. "To be able to be at one area for four decades, and to help it develop from scratch into one of the top resorts in Canada has been a privilege and a lot of fun.
"To have a job in your home town and to be able to do something that has been a passion all my life is a dream come true."
Pacific Group Resorts Inc., which acquired Mount Washington two years ago, is expected to appoint a new GM next year.
Gibson started at Mount Washington in May 1977, two years before the resort opened. His first duty was working a chainsaw to carve out the ski runs for the mountain. He was named director of skiing when the resort opened and later became guest services manager and director of marketing. In 1999, Gibson was appointed general manager, and in 2001 president.
