Whistler Business Academy: Learn. Grow. Succeed.

The Whistler Business Academy is your hub for hands-on workshops, online learning, and engaging events. From marketing and operations to leadership and HR, our programs support entrepreneurs and teams at every stage—helping you build skills, inspire talent, and achieve business success.

Available for Chamber members and future members!

NEW – Spring Professional Sustainability Series

This spring, the Whistler Business Academy launches the Spring Professional Sustainability Series — specially curated practical sessions designed to help businesses perform sustainably — without sacrificing their people.

With a strong mix of topics this series has been intentionally curated to be practical, relevant, and immediately useful for businesses in our community.

Attend one. Or build your own learning pathway.

Included Sessions*:

1. March 11, 2026 AI for Everyday Business – Cut Busywork, not corners
2. March 17, 2026 Leading Change with Bellrock Benchmarking Inc.
3. April 9, 2026 Your Career, Your Limits: Setting Workplace Boundaries (live webinar)
4. April 22, 2026 Mastering Tough Talks: HR Strategies with Peninsula HR Canada
5. April 28, 2026 How to Build a Healthy Culture of High-Performance Teams with Bellrock Benchmarking Inc.
6. May 27, 2026 Boost Your Business Compliance: HR and Health & Safety Essentials with Peninsula HR Canada
7. May 29, 2026 Live Webinar: Your Burnout Prevention Plan

FoodSafe Level 1

Did you know that we hold bi-monthly, in-person Foodsafe Level 1 training throughout the year?

This one-day course gets food handlers up to speed on hygiene and food safety and covers:

✅ basic microbiology
✅ food contamination
✅ potentially hazardous foods
✅ dish-washing
✅ receiving and storing techniques

Thank you to our training partner Connect Hospitality

Emergency First Aid

Held bi-monthly, this one-day course combines first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) content, along with other important emergency skills including:

✅ Preventing & preparing to respond to emergencies
✅ Airway and breathing emergencies
✅ Respiratory and cardiac arrest
✅ Wound care
✅ Workplace documentation & how to complete a first aid record

Thank you to our training partner Whistler First Aid

Customer Conflict Resolution

(online)

Learn how to turn dissatisfied customers into loyal customers while increasing your team’s work satisfaction!

As a leader you will need to be able to support your team in dealing with customer complaints. Join this training to learn how you can turn these incidents into positive experiences for everyone involved. Plus, when staff have the tools to solve guest concerns, work satisfaction increases!

Key takeaways:

✅ Understand who your customers are and their needs
✅ Identify common customer conflict issues in your organization
✅ Use the HEARD method to resolve customer conflict scenarios

On-demand | October 21, 2025 – August 31, 2026

Thank you to our training partner Connect Hospitality

Business Taxes, Done Right: What to Know Before You File

This interactive session provides practical guidance to help you better understand your tax obligations, identify possible deductions, and avoid common errors that can cost you time and money. CRA liaison officers are available across Canada to support business owners, and this session brings that support directly to our local business community.

In this session, a CRA Liaison Officer will:

✅ Answer tax-related questions related to income tax, GST/HST, and payroll
✅ Discuss business tax deductions
✅ Explain common tax errors and relevant financial benchmarks
✅ Provide an overview of helpful CRA tools and services
✅ Explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices

Stay tuned for more sessions
Thank you to our training partner the CRA

The Business Beat with BDC

We’ve partnered with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to bring you a series of practical business info sessions designed to support your day-to-day operations and long-term growth.

These relaxed, interactive sessions offer clear, actionable guidance from BDC experts — plus tea, coffee, and snacks to keep things easy. Each session focuses on practical business supports and resources, followed by open Q&A so you can get advice tailored to your own situation. Topics include:

✅ Financing options & preparing for loans
✅ Strengthening financial health & planning for growth
✅ Tools and insights to support smarter business operations

Thank you to our training partner BDC

Managing Teams

Strong management skills are essential for navigating workplace challenges and driving business success.

We’re excited to partner with Bellrock Benchmarking Inc. to bring you these impactful sessions designed to elevate your leadership and make a lasting impact in your organization.

✅ Motivation: Turn “Just a Job” Into a Team That Cares
✅ Compensation: Made Simple: A framework for Fair
✅ How to Build a Healthy Culture of High-Performance on Teams with Bellrock Benchmarking Inc.

Thank you to our training partner Bellrock Benchmarking Inc. 

Strategy & Compliance 

Effectively recruiting, managing and retaining your team is essential to maintaining a healthy work environment, and crucial skill for business success.

We’re excited to partner with Peninsula HR Canada to bring you different sessions* to help you with the heavy work of HR and workplace safety compliance.

✅ Mastering Tough Talks: HR Strategies
✅ Boost Your Business Compliance: HR and Health & Safety Essentials

*Session topics subject to change

Thank you to our training partner Peninsula HR Canada 

Unlocking Business Growth with Immigrant Talent

Unlocking Business Growth with Immigrant Talent is a free, province‑wide hub of programs, tools, and connections designed to help employers:

✅ Solve workforce challenges with practical, ready‑to‑use hiring and retention supports.
✅ Learn best practices for inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and workplace culture.
✅ Build leadership and team capacity through mentoring and skills‑development resources.
✅ Stay informed on policies that shape access to skilled immigrant talent.

Thank you to The BC Chamber of Commerce, and Immigrant Employment Council of BC 

Pathways to Permanent Residence

Navigating Canada’s immigration system can feel complex—especially with ongoing policy changes. Navio Immigration is here to help employers and their teams stay informed, proactive, and confident every step of the way.

Navio has launched a free video library, Pathways to Permanent Residence (PR), designed for employers and newcomers alike. The series provides clear, up-to-date guidance on key permanent residence pathways, including employer-driven immigration programs, helping you better understand your options and responsibilities.

Thank you to Navio Immigration 

Public Speaking Skills

What if improving your public speaking skills could be fun, energizing, and even a little hilarious?

We’ve teamed up with Laugh Out LIVE (LOL), Whistler’s own improv and comedy pros, to bring you a one-of-a-kind 5-week intensive workshop designed to boost your confidence, communication, and presence—on stage, in meetings, and beyond.

Whether you’re looking to level up your leadership skills, ace your next pitch, or simply feel more at ease in the spotlight, this workshop will give you the tools (and the laughs) to get there.

5-week series:

• March 31 – April 28, 2026

Thank you to our training partner Laugh Out LIVE! 

Leading Change

When change occurs, it’s not just the organization that needs to change, but the people within it. While people generally want their situation to improve, they don’t necessarily want the pain or inconvenience of changing their own behavior or habits. So, how can managers create and maintain the motivation for change?

We’re excited to partner with Bellrock Benchmarking Inc. to bring you this session where you’ll learn just how to navigate resistance, engage your team, and drive successful change!

Thank you to our training partner Bellrock Benchmarking Inc.
Stay tuned for more sessions 

Thank you to our training partner the Competition Bureau of Canada

Digital Marketing 101 for Small Business

A quick, practical intro to the digital marketing essentials every small business needs. Learn the key channels, simple branding best practices, and quick-win strategies you can apply right away—then leave with a clear action plan built for your business.

Learn tangible skills, including:
✅ Choosing the right digital channels
✅ Tightening your brand and messaging
✅ Improving your website for conversions
✅ Using simple tools to streamline your marketing

Thank you to our training partner L8P Digital Marketing
Stay tuned for more sessions

Google Ads

A Practical Guide for Business Owners in 2026

Master the essentials of Google Ads and turn clicks into real customers. This live, interactive webinar with Ollo Metrics teaches practical strategies to optimize campaigns, reduce wasted spend, and get measurable results.

Learn tangible skills, including:

✅ Spotting common budget leaks and inefficiencies
✅ Choosing and tracking the right KPIs
✅ Finding and targeting the right audience
✅ Running Search, Dynamic, and Performance Max campaigns effectively

Thank you to our training partner Ollometrics

Partner With Us: The Whistler Business Academy

The Whistler Business Academy connects local businesses with practical training, expert-led workshops, webinars, and in-person events designed to strengthen Whistler’s business community.

Partnering with the Academy positions your organization as a supporter of education, talent development, and a resilient local economy—while gaining meaningful visibility within Whistler’s business ecosystem.

Sponsorship opportunities include:

• Presenting Partner
• Workshop Series Partner