Whistler Museum to exhibit Bruce Rowles photography collection, revealing photographer's legacy through grief and memory
From April 24th to June 14th, the Whistler Museum will present the works of photographer Bruce Rowles. Having lived in Whistler for more than thirty years, Rowles amassed an impressive archive of over 70,000 35mm slides, which his family donated between 2024 and 2026, making it the largest photographic collection at the museum. This collection vividly documents various aspects of life in Whistler, including sports, nightlife, landscapes, and personal experiences. Among the collection are three binders named "Lost Friends," featuring portraits of those Rowles cherished, each slide marked with names and locations. During her internship beginning in October 2025, Assistant Archivist Kat Hodgson processed this collection, encountering "empathic grief" as she engaged with Rowles's poignant annotations that intertwine celebration and remembrance.
Key facts
- Bruce Rowles's photography exhibition runs from April 24 to June 14 at the Whistler Museum
- The Bruce Rowles Collection contains over 70,000 35mm slides, donated by his family from 2024 to 2026
- Rowles spent more than three decades photographing Whistler, capturing sports, nightlife, landscapes, and personal moments
- Three binders labeled "Lost Friends" contain portraits of individuals Rowles mourned, with slides labeled with names and locations
- Kat Hodgson processed the collection as Assistant Archivist through the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program
- Hodgson began her internship in October 2025 while grieving the recent loss of her grandfather
- Scholars describe the emotional response to such archives as "empathic grief"
- Rowles's slides often feature humorous annotations that reveal his personality
Entities
Artists
- Bruce Rowles
- Kat Hodgson
Institutions
- Whistler Museum
- Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
Locations
- Whistler
- Canada