At the April 5, 2022 meeting, Council adopted amendments to Council Policy K-01: Employee Rental Housing.  The policy establishes eligibility criteria for applicants and rental rates for the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s Rental Employee Housing Program.

Previous to the amendment, income and asset maximums were used to determine a rental rate via the Rental Category Framework, which included six income and asset levels for each bedroom category. 

While the framework intended to allow for adaptability based on a household’s ability to pay, the structure was challenging to administer and created uncertainty for program applicants.

“Since the implementation of the Employee Housing Rental Policy, we have focused on continual learning and ongoing improvements to the program,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.  “This important amendment gives WHA tenants ongoing certainty and security in their housing and rental rates.”

Amendments adopted on April 5, 2022 include:

The Rental Category Framework will be replaced with a ‘rent geared to income’ calculation tied to 30% of gross household income, subject to minimum and maximum rental rates; and
A market housing ownership restriction in place of net asset limits.

The WHA will adopt the new RGI model and market housing asset testing for all new rental tenancies. Transitioning to the RGI framework for existing WHA tenancies will be optional and require a new tenancy agreement. The WHA will prioritize and facilitate tenants who will see an improvement in housing affordability resulting from these new amendments

About Council Policy K-01: Employee Rental Housing

Council Policy K-01: Employee Rental Housing (Policy K-01) was adopted by Council on July 23, 2019. Policy K-01 is an outcome of the 2017 recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Resident Housing (MTFR), which was established to comprehensively address Whistler’s critical needs for affordable employee housing.

Policy K-01 applies to employee rental housing properties owned by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). Policy K-01 provides Council direction for the management and administration of these properties, which is the responsibility of the Whistler Housing Authority Ltd. (WHA). This responsibility includes ensuring compliance with renter eligibility requirements and the rental of housing units at rental rates as established by Policy K-01. There are currently 327 rental housing units that are owned by the RMOW, to which Policy K-01 applies.

To view the updated Council Policy K-01: Employee Rental Housing, visit https://www.whistler.ca/services/housing/about-whistler-housing-authority

Province to further ease COVID-19 restrictions

Effective Friday, April 8, 2022, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) employees, contractors and volunteers will no longer be required to have COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of their employment. Restrictions will be removed for employees on unpaid leave and those individuals may return to work as of Monday, April 11.

In consideration of current public health guidance, Council approved a recommendation to rescind the COVID-19 vaccination policy at the Closed Council meeting on April 5, 2022.

The requirement for COVID-19 vaccination remains for federal government employees including RMOW employees and contractors working within the R.C.M.P. detachment.

“While COVID-19 is still with us, the high levels of vaccination in our workplace and community have allowed us to move forward in how we manage health and safety risks within the workplace,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “We are seeing the Province and other agencies move away from mandated requirements of the BC Vaccine Card and COVID-19 Safety Plans. We must all manage our own individual health and respect that people’s comfort levels may differ from our own”.

The RMOW reminds the public that while transmission is low within Whistler, it’s important to continue using our COVID-19 safety measures:

Get vaccinated, and if eligible, schedule a booster;
Monitor symptoms, and stay home when unwell;
Maintain good hand hygiene; and
Wear a mask if you choose.

Upcoming changes to Provincial COVID-19 restrictions
The Province is moving ahead with its previously announced plans to further ease COVID-19 restrictions. The following changes will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on April 8, 2022:

The BC Vaccine Card proof of vaccination is no longer required to access non-essential events, services and businesses.
Businesses will no longer need a COVID-19 safety plan and will transition back to communicable disease plans.
Proof of vaccination will no longer be required for post-secondary student housing

Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue to require proof of vaccination and/or masks for entry. Please be respectful of businesses and individuals that choose to continue to do so.

In addition to the easing of restrictions, the Province announced a spring booster campaign program for seniors in long-term care and assisted living facilities. Community-dwelling seniors over the age of 70 and Indigenous people over the age of 55 will also begin receiving invitations for a spring booster dose.

Meadow Park Sports Centre proof of vaccination no longer required

Starting Friday, April 8, the RMOW is excited to welcome all users back to Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC). Proof of vaccination will no longer be required to access MPSC for all activities.  Proof of vaccination was a requirement under the Province of B.C.’s Public Health Order.  For the latest updates and changes to operations, visit Whistler.ca/MPSC.

The RMOW will continue to adjust programs and services as required to follow the recommendations of the Provincial Health Officer. For more information, visit whistler.ca/COVID19. 

On Saturday, April 23, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) will be hosting PITCH-IN Day for its 32nd year. The event has been scheduled to align with Earth Day weekend.

Organized annually by the RMOW Roads department, PITCH-IN Day sees hundreds of volunteers, including community groups and local sports associations, gather to clear litter from Emerald to Function Junction neighbourhoods.

“The Roads department is proud to be supporting this initiative for the 33rd year,” said Tim Brooksbank, RMOW Roads Supervisor. “This is our opportunity to meet our community and work alongside them to beautify our neighbourhoods.”

Volunteers and community groups can pick up garbage and recycling bags, vests and supplies between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the Public Works Yard located at 8020 Nesters Road. Throughout the morning, the Roads Department will be visiting each neighbourhood to collect the full bags and to provide snacks and water to volunteers.

Following the PITCH-IN event, Whistler Fire Rescue invites PITCH-IN volunteers to a free BBQ at Fire Hall No. 1, located at 4400 Village Gate Boulevard, between noon and 2 p.m. Donations for the BBQ have generously been donated by Nesters Market, Independent, the Whistler Grocery Store and Fresh Street Market.

“Volunteering for PITCH-IN Day is an impactful way to celebrate Earth Day and to show our pride and care for Whistler, our climate, and the natural environment,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “It’s incredible to see the large impact we make together on PITCH-IN Day. Not only are our neighbourhoods cleaner, but we have also diverted harmful waste from our sensitive habitats. All that and it’s lots of fun! I look forward to joining the community in the clean-up on April 23.”

PITCH-IN Day Schedule, April 23, 2022

8 a.m. to 9 a.m. – community groups and volunteers arrive at the Public Works Yard (8020 Nesters Road) to collect bags, vests and supplies.
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – community groups and volunteers pitch in and clean up neighbourhoods. Volunteers are asked to place groups of collected waste along the roadside where the RMOW Road’s crew can easily see and collect them.
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Whistler Fire Rescue Service hosts BBQ at the Fire Hall (4315 Blackcomb Way).
End of event:  The PITCH-In WEIGH-In! The collected waste will be transported to the Callaghan to be sorted and weighed. 

For more information, visit whistler.ca/PitchInDay

Riverside (Cheakamus Crossing);
Taluswood; and
Rainbow areas. 

helps reduce the severity and spread of any future wildfires in the area;
helps prevent a wildfire from spreading into the tops of trees;
reduces wildfire threats to the community; and
gives firefighting crews better access to any future wildfire in this area.

Permit required for biking groups, camps, guided hiking and similar recreation programs, to share access between user groups

A Non-Exclusive Use Permit (NEUP) has been created for organizations operating without a fixed location in Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) parks and trails, including mountain biking groups, outdoor camps, training programs, tours, and guided hiking groups.

A permit must be obtained for programs that operate in land owned, managed, or controlled by the RMOW. The RMOW will work with the groups to reduce congestion and user conflicts, especially in popular areas. Permits are required for groups scheduled between May 15 and October 15. The NEUP is a new trial program and will be evaluated at the end of the 2022 summer season based on response and effectiveness.

The permits were created in response to increased use of Whistler’s parks and trails and will help balance large group access to public land.  The 2021 Summer Experience Plan Report recorded a 77% increase in parks visitation over 2019. 

The NEUP supports the Official Community Plan’s Recreation and Leisure Goal 9.9 “To balance the use of public amenities for commercial and event use with the needs of residents and visitors”.

The fees charged will help offset operating costs and permits will be renewed on an annual starting this spring.  An administration fee of $50 applies to all applicants. The user fees are based on total user visits, with reduced fees for non-profit groups and children’s programs. Commercial adult groups based outside of Whistler pay the highest user fee.        

A Park Use Permit can be obtained for groups who wish to have exclusive use park event area or playfield or who have scheduled activities at a particular time in a specific or fixed location. Please contact the Outdoor Facilities Coordinator for information.

Writers are invited to contribute to public art in Whistler through the annual Poet’s Pause competition this spring.

Each year, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Poet’s Pause poetry competition. Winning poems will be displayed at the Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park – specifically the large metal chimes art pieces titled Lost in Sound at the north part of the park, and the giant Adirondack chairs titled Lakeside Couple in the south end of the park.

“The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s public art program continues to nurture the arts and brings a rich variety of artistic work into Whistler for the benefit of the community and visitors,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. “The Poet’s Pause poetry competition runs annually and is an opportunity for local writers to have their work displayed within Alta Lake Park.”

The winning poems will receive a prize of $200 each and be read at a Council meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month.

Poet’s Pause is part of a public art concept created by the late Joan Baron, an artist who developed the two Alta Lake Park sculpture sites with the intention of inspiring creativity.

The public can submit poems for one or both display sites. Poems should respond to the themes of the two sculpture sites: the theme for the large metal chimes is listening, and the theme for the giant Adirondack chairs is togetherness. Poems can be of any type and format and should be no longer than 240 words.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 3 p.m.

To submit a poem, email resortexperience@whistler.ca.

Full details are available at whistler.ca/poetrycompetition.

Public Art Program

Whistler’s public art program involves 56 public and private art pieces in various locations throughout Whistler, including Whistler Village, public parks and the Valley Trail. The public art program was established in 1996 and includes periodic calls to artists to submit proposals for specific projects, the Poet’s Pause poetry competition and the Street Banner Art program. In addition a local artist recently completed a large mural on the newly built Whistler Olympic Plaza public washroom buildings as part of the public art program. 

Engagement to begin in February 2022

Council directed staff to proceed with an update of the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) Green Building Policy at the January 25 Regular Council meeting.  

The Green Building Policy update will include a review of existing guidelines and requirements for new construction as set out in the Official Community Plan and the Climate Action Big Moves Strategy.

Since the Green Building Policy was adopted in 2008, Whistler has updated its sustainability and climate action goals. The province has also since adopted a new approach to energy efficiency in new building with the BC Energy Step Code. The Green Building Policy will be updated to reflect these new goals and targets. The update to Whistler’s Green Building Policy will modernize and align the policy with provincial guidelines, industry best practices, and municipal sustainability initiatives, while focusing on improving and simplifying the process for applicants.

To shape the Green Building Policy update, engagement with industry, key stakeholders and community will be undertaken through online workshops and meetings starting in February 2022. Project information and updates will be available at whistler.ca/GreenBuildingPolicy

Staff will return to council to share results of the engagement, and bring forward the Green Building Policy framework for approval. Working with industry, staff will outline the implementation process of the policy and how it will be integrated into the municipality’s existing building regulatory framework.

“The updated Green Building Policy is an important tool to mitigate the impacts of the built environment on our climate and natural environment,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.  “This policy update will support our corporate goals, streamline rezoning applications, and improve efficiency for applicants.”

What is considered a Green Building?

Green Building design goes beyond the typical building design of economy, utility, durability, and comfort while reducing or eliminating negative impacts on our climate and natural environment. The term ‘Green Building’ refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle.

A number of features that define a building as ‘green’ include:

Integration of passive design strategies;
High-performance building envelopes and energy efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems;
Ground water and storm water management
Landscaping and Habitat
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances; and
Technologies harvesting on-site renewable energy sources.

For more information, visit whistler.ca/GreenBuildingPolicy.

Committee of the Whole receives update on the Balance Model Initiative

Initiative to model future implications of Whistler’s population growth to inform strategies and actions for achieving Official Community Plan goals

 The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) Economic Development department shared an update on the progress of Whistler’s Balance Model Initiative with Council at the December 21, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting.  

View the presentation here.

The Balance Model is being developed to help community decision makers understand changing trends in Whistler’s population and test scenarios to assess the potential impacts to services and amenities over the next 20 years.

Recognizing that unconstrained growth is not desirable for the community, the Balance Model looks at strategies and actions for sustainable growth while maintaining a balance between community, economic and environmental goals.

The strategies and actions will enable individuals, businesses and organizations to identify ways they can help the community achieve its shared goals.

The goal of the Balance Model Initiative is to support the RMOW’s Official Community Plan’s (OCP) key objective: Strive to achieve and maintain a comfortable, balanced resort and community capacity, supporting a progressive sustainable tourism-based economy while protecting the natural environment and reinforcing Whistler’s mountain community character.

The project includes three phases: 

Phase One: Current State Assessment (complete);
Phase Two: Future Population Scenario Testing (underway); and
Phase Three: Strategies and Actions (Spring 2022).

Community members are invited to view the Balance Model Initiative update and Phase One findings and provide their feedback by filing out a short questionnaire.  Responses will help confirm the findings from Phase One, while providing input on future population scenarios contemplated in Phase Two.

During Phase Three of the project, the public will be invited to get in involved in the development of the strategies and actions to ensure a balance between Whistler’s community, economic, and environmental goals as outlined in the OCP.  Details for engagement opportunities will be announced at whistler.ca/BalanceModel.

“Council is extremely eager to work through the future population scenarios and the development of strategies and actions with the community.  The ability to test the impacts of various scenarios lets us take informed proactive action now. Ultimately, the Balance Model gives us tools to navigate towards the future we desire.” said Mayor Jack Crompton.  “For an introduction to the project and Phase One findings, I strongly encourage the community to view the Balance Model Initiative presentation from the December 21 Committee of the Whole meeting, then complete the short questionnaire to provide feedback on the Current State Assessment.”

The Balance Model Initiative is being guided by input from the Strategic Planning Committee, a standing Committee of Council that was initiated in 2019 to act in an advisory capacity to support Council in its decision-making related to community and land use planning and growth management.

View the Balance Model Initiative Update and Current State Assessment findings (Committee of the Whole, December 21, 2021)

For more information on the Balance Model Initiative, visit whistler.ca/BalanceModel.

BC Transit News Release

SEA-TO-SKY – BC Transit is updating its riders in the Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton Valley transit systems, that the Unifor Local 114 union operating under Whistler Transit Ltd. and Diversified Transit has indicated they will take strike action as of 5 a.m. Saturday, January 29. This action will suspend transit services and our customers’ ability to use the public transit services.

At this time BC Transit cannot be certain as to the length of the job action. However, handyDART service in Squamish, which is deemed an essential service, will operate with full service hours on weekdays. BC Transit sincerely apologizes to customers for the inconvenience caused by this matter. BC Transit understands the frustration felt by customers, and that the job action is difficult for everyone involved in the region. BC Transit is the Provincial Crown Agency responsible for the delivery of transit services outside of Greater Vancouver. We contract the services of private operating companies to deliver these transit services. These companies hire and manage their own workforces. The labour dispute is between BC Transit’s contractors – Whistler Transit Ltd. and Diversified Transit – and their unionized employees. BC Transit is closely monitoring the situation and hopes the parties will find resolution soon.

BC Transit will update customers as more information becomes available. We encourage customers to sign up to receive alerts for their specific transit system at bctransit.com/whistler, bctransit.com/squamish and bctransit.com/pemberton-valley. Customers may also follow @BCTransit on Twitter for updates.

Media Contact: BC Transit Communications 250-880-1303 | media@bctransit.com

Community input to be collected through Whistler’s new online engagement portal 

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is seeking input from the community on the proposed Cannabis Retail framework.   Guided by the Official Community Plan (OCP) goals, objectives and policies, the policy will provide regulatory direction, guide the review of applications, and provide consistency in decision-making to permit cannabis retail establishments in Whistler.

The RMOW currently prohibits the retail sale of cannabis through the Zoning Bylaw.  However, at the December 7 meeting, Council directed staff to proceed with consultation for the development of a framework to regulate the sale of retail cannabis in Whistler.  

The community can learn about the policy development milestones, proposed regulatory mechanisms, view background documents and provide comment on the proposed framework through the RMOW’s new engagement portal.  

Input will compiled in an engagement summary and used to inform Cannabis Retail regulatory framework, to be presented to Council in the spring of 2022.

“Cannabis retail has been a long-standing topic of discussion within Whistler since the Cannabis Act was first introduced in 2018,” said Mayor Jack Crompton.  “We look forward to hearing from the community so we can develop a cannabis retail policy that is reflective of our values and vision for Whistler.”

To learn more about the Cannabis Retail Policy development and to access the engagement portal visit whistler.ca/CannabisRetail.

Cannabis Legalization Background

The Federal Government of Canada legalized recreational cannabis across the country with the adoption of the Cannabis Act on October 17, 2018. The Cannabis Act has created a framework for cannabis production and distribution, as well as regulation and enforcement of criminal offences – including measures to protect youth. On October 17, 2019, the Cannabis Act was updated to legalize edibles, topical applications and extracts.

Through legislation including the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, the Province of British Columbia established the legal framework for the possession, use, and retail licensing of cannabis while the Cannabis Distribution Act established the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) as the wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis in the province and regulator of BC cannabis stores. 

Local governments retain the power to regulate land use, consumption in public space, and business licensing regarding cannabis sales and production in their municipality.

For more information, visit whistler.ca/CannabisRetail