What You Missed at the State of the Municipality lunch

Photo: Oisin McHugh<br />
@oisinmchughphoto

The Whistler Chamber of Commerce hosted the State of the Municipality with Mayor Crompton, presented by Capilano University on March 19 at the Westin Resort & Spa.

This was an opportunity for the business community to attend to hear updates from the Mayor, and have an opportunity to ask questions at the fireside discussion following his presentation. Attendees also enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch from the Westin Resort & Spa.

Here’s a recap of Mayor Jack Crompton’s address.

Acknowledging two Whistler Legends: Al Raine & Roger McCarthy

Mayor Crompton opened his presentation with an acknowledgement of two Whistler legends who passed in the last year.

Firstly, Al Raine, a pioneer who created the BC Ski Area Policy, imagined and delivered the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and led the realization of Whistler Village. He then got to work building Sun Peaks.

Mayor Crompton said that he wanted the audience to know that Al’s work didn’t stop just because he was living in Sun Peaks. Al continued talking to Jack about all the work that needed to be done, including up to the day before he passed away.

Roger McCarthy was also recognized for his huge impact on Whistler and the global ski industry.

Mayor Crompton spoke highly of Roger, highlighting his ability to see Whistler’s very best, imagine even better, and work to make it happen.

“The to-do list they left us tells me one thing – get to work!,” shared Mayor Crompton.

Updates from the past year

Mayor Crompton then offered updates on some of the major works and projects from the past year.

Housing

Building has continued, and Whistler now has 178 new employee ownership and rental units on Mount Fee Road as part of Phase 2 in Cheakamus Crossing. There are 227 additional units either under construction or in-progress with completion slated for 2026. When complete, Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2 will represent over $160M of worker housing in less than five years.
The RMOW has begun implementation of Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) zoning amendments. Staff are also working with local industry to test the SSMUH bylaws to ensure that the outcome of this work is more housing for workers throughout our community.
The RMOW received funding of over $2.5M of federal funds through the Housing Accelerator Fund. This funding progresses initiatives that will accelerate the work needed to ensure more workers are housed here in Whistler.
The RMOW building department has cut permit wait times significantly, and is still at work to improve things further.
The RMOW Housing & Strategy Committee has started meeting and providing their expert insights into our long-term housing needs.
The RMOW has begun public engagement work on the Whistler Creek West Neighborhood Plan. This imagines a Creekside that is reinvigorated and rejuvenated.

Climate

The RMOW:

Opened the Spring Creek Fire Hall for full time staff, giving Whistler a much improved posture to deal with structure and wildfires to the south.
Received the Priority Habitat area mapping, which is now available on Whistler’s GIS system.
Held a successful large-scale emergency planning exercise out of Spring Creek.
Delivered a significant expansion of transit services on the #10 and other routes.
Delivered increased EV Charging (with more to come), across the resort.
Initiated exploration of the feasibility of Highway 99 alternative transportation (Valley Gondola)

“A climate action highlight for me this year was the continued work on Wildfire Protection activities across the community…” stated Mayor Crompton.

Smart Tourism

The RMOW is pushing hard on smart tourism. Smart tourism is an approach that ensures both residents and visitors are served, and ensures the benefits of tourism accrue to Whistler workers and small businesses.

The RMOW explored examples throughout the world, and the pressures and changes affecting Whistler in today’s environment to help build a resilient all-season resort.
Work has been done to refine our understanding of our capacity constraints.
The Smart Tourism Committee has been established with visioning work underway.
The RMOW has developed the renovated Rainbow Park with all its smart tourism improvement. There is drainage that works, sensitive areas that are naturally protected, more places for people, natural landscaping, and accessibility improvements.
Going forward the RMOW will be focusing on phased park improvements and finalizing the Parks and Valley Trail Strategy & Recreational Trail Strategy.
The RMOW is looking next to engaging the community and youth along with other groups and organizations to work towards a collaborative destination stewardship plan.

“A real smart tourism highlight for me this year was the hosting of the Invictus Games,” said Mayor Crompton.

Community Engagement

The RMOW sees their role as being connectors – helping to provide the community with information that is easy to understand and opening up more ways for people to provide input.

Continued improvement of our budget process. Notably the launch of the Budget Trivia Night at the Crystal.
The RMOW Committee Review is now complete and the new structure is working well. They went from 20 committees down to far less, and they are now directly connected to the priorities of Council.
Borrow a Councillor has been a really great partnership with the Whistler Library.
The Community Conversations Event at the Conference Centre.
The RMOW has an updated website redesign roll-out under way.
Freedom of the Municipality was awarded to Hugh Smythe and Nancy Wilhelm-Morden.

Whistler’s 50^th Birthday

The RMOW was incorporated as the first resort municipality in the Province on September 6, 1975.

The RMOW is therefore planning community wide celebration in late summer and will work with the community to ensure the celebration continues into the fall.

“We want to ensure our celebration acknowledges and makes visible the deep history and presence on the land of the L’il’wat7ul and the Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw.”

Mayor Crompton added that the RMOW wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the next generation of business leaders, artists, writers, athletes, advocates and visionaries. These are the people who will create the next 50 years of Whistler, so the RMOW is encouraging Whistler businesspeople to think about how they can join in the celebrations.

Next steps