Accessibility in Whistler

The Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) goal is to become an accessible and inclusive resort community for all community members and visitors.

Supported by many community partners and Whistler2020’s Health and Social, Visitor Experience, Built Environment, and Recreation and Leisure Task Forces - we are working toward this shared goal.

The resort community recognizes the heightened responsibility it has to continue providing people from around the world – with all ranges of ability – with a seamless resort experience based not only on accessibility, but also on inclusivity.

The Accessibility Project

The RMOW promotes accessibility to all residents and visitors regardless of their abilities through the development of policies, procedures and practices. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is developing a strategy to become a more accessible and inclusive resort community, a recommendation of Whistler 2020's Health and Social Task Force.

To achieve immediate and short-term objectives, the municipality has launched the Accessibility Project and has signed on to the province of BC's Measuring Up program.

To achieve comprehensive change, accessibility will be fully incorporated into Whistler2020, the community's chief planning tool as identified in the Official Community Plan. For the immediate and short term, the Accessibility Project is focusing on upgrades to signage, wayfinding information and the built environment. An access audit of the village provides a record of deficiencies to be addressed.

For more information regarding the municipality’s initiatives and community features that support community accessibility click here.

Paralympic Legacy

Whistler was proud to be the host of approximately 90 per cent of the Paralympic events in 2010. This provided Whistler the opportunity to substantially build on its international reputation as an accessible destination and grow visitation with all guests and athletes, including those with disabilities.

The Olympic and Paralympic Athlete’s Village in Whistler is one of the most tangible legacies of the 2010 Winter Games. Not only was it home to more than 3,500 athletes and officials during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the neighbourhood provides much needed affordable housing to Whistler residents as well as a world-class accessible training centre, known as the High Performance Centre.

For more information or comments on municipal accessibility initiatives, please the municipality's Measuring Up coordinator.