Pioneer: Joel Thibault

Joel Thibault attended hotelier school in his native France where he received many awards, and certificates. When he arrived in Canada in the early 1960's his first job was at the William Tell restaurant as sommelier and headwaiter for Erwin Doebeli.

He opened his first restaurant, "Chez Joel" in Gastown. Then he and Jean Claude Ramon opened the Créperie. Joel moved to Whistler in 19xx to become General Manager at "Chez Joel". He quickly became well known as the French man who didn't do anything half way. Joel and his wife Angela opened "Bavaria Restaurant" in Whistler combining the feeling of Alsace and the French Alps with his signature fondues, raclette and schnitzel - very popular with visiting skiers and locals.

Joel loved his family. He and Angela traveled frequently and often entertained at home alone and with many friends. He loved dressing up in various costumes, and loved to laugh and make others laugh.

He had a passion for the outdoors. He hunted but felt bad about shooting anything so became master at mushroom hunting knowing exactly where to look for Chanterelles, pine and morels. He loved fishing and used to say, "I catch and release it in the frying pan." He skied, but it was too cold preferring summers when he could golf, get out the bikes, and go for walks on the valley trail.

Joel became very ill in January 2005 with a very rare form of incurable blood cancer and died a few months later.