Geoff Chutter Explained

Geoff Chutter (born 1952) is the founder, president and CEO of WhiteWater West, the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of water parks.^[1]

Early life

Chutter was born and raised and in Vancouver, British Columbia. His father was an engineer for a Lafarge cement plant; his father’s work temporarily relocated the family to Paris where Chutter attended high school.^[2] He earned a degree as an accountant from University of Toronto.^[3]

Career

While working as an auditor for KPMG, he visited the first waterslide park in Canada, located in Kelowna.^[4] He founded WhiteWater West in 1980, together with his uncle, in Penticton, Canada.^[5] That location has since closed,^[6] but in 2020, the company has over 5,000 installments, 600 employees, and international offices.^[7]

He was a candidate in the Vancouver Quadra political race in 1993 as a member of the Conservative party.

Personal life

Chutter is unmarried with one child from a previous marriage. His son Paul joined the family business in 2014 as chief business development officer.

Awards

• 2000: Chutter and Whitewater were inducted into The World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame.^[8]
• 2013: Chutter was named one of Aquatics International’s most influential people.^[9]
• 2019: Ernst & Young’s Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019^{[10] [11]}
• 2019: Outstanding Service Award by the Global Association for the Attractions (IAAPA)^[12]

Notes and References

1. News: Murphy. Jessica. The man who designs the world's water parks. 2020-04-01. BBC News. 2020-04-01. en-GB.
2. Web site: Profile: Geoff Chutter, founder and CEO, WhiteWater West. Business in Vancouver. en. 2020-04-01.
3. Web site: Bloomberg - Geoff Chutter. bloomberg.com. 2020-04-01.
4. Web site: Whitewater West Industries Ltd.: Canada's Best Managed Companies 2019 - Canadian Business. canadianbusiness.com. 2020-04-01.
5. Web site: WhiteWater West Celebrating 30 Years in Waterpark Industry. athleticbusiness.com. 2020-04-01.
6. Web site: BCBusiness. Mckenzie. Kevin Hinton & Ryan. BCBusiness. en. 2020-04-01.
7. Web site: Geoff Chutter is Ernst and Young’s Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 winner. ago. Gabrielle • 4 months. 2019-12-05. InterPark. en-GB. 2020-04-01.
8. Web site: 2015AwardHistory.pdf .
9. Web site: 2020-04-01 . Geoff Chutter Aquatics International Magazine . aquaticsintl.com.
10. Web site: Geoff Chutter of WhiteWater named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 national winner EY Canada. ey.com. en-CA. 2020-04-01.
11. Web site: Ernst & Young names WhiteWater’s Geoff Chutter as Entrepreneur Of The Year. Kleiman. Joe. InPark Magazine. en-US. 2020-04-01.
12. Web site: IAAPA Awards Honor Industry Leaders IAAPA. iaapa.org. en. 2020-04-01.