An accessible Whistler is a priority for the resort community.
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. Both the prospect of hosting the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 and the fact Whistler was selected to be a pilot community in the provincial government's Measuring Up program, which seeks to provide a framework for B.C. communities to become accessible and inclusive, provided even more impetus for the strategy development.
To achieve immediate and short-term objectives, the municipality has launched the Accessibility Project. To achieve comprehensive change, accessibility will be fully incorporated into Whistler2020, the community's chief planning tool.
For the immediate and short term, the Accessibility Project is focusing on upgrades to signage, wayfinding information and physical change. An access audit of the village provides a record of deficiencies to be addressed.
An advisory group comprised of interested citizens has helped determine priorities and further identified barriers. With their advice, the Accessibility Project is currently developing the barrier free route map, signage for each building in the village to indicate access features and the The Whistler Way accessibility awareness campaign. As the municipality achieves some project progress, the advisory group will be formalized as a committee of Council. This means members are appointed by Council for specific terms and their recommendations are included in Council packages for consideration of adoption.
Other initiatives being pursued include wayfinding improvements for persons with visual and hearing disabilities, testing new standards for accessible sidewalks and improving our development standards and review procedures.
Whistler Accessibility Story
The
Village Host Program Welcomes You to Whistler!
The Village Host is a Resort
Municipality of Whistler program with 3 staff and 73 volunteers. As resort
ambassadors, Village Host volunteers help guests with easy directions, quick
answers and friendly advice. The booth is centrally located close to the Village Square
attended daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you need any assistance getting
around while you are in Whistler or have any questions prior to your arrival,
please do not hesitate to contact us at our office phone number below. We also
have copies of the Whistler accessibility maps on site. Look for the Village
Host volunteers wearing red on the Village Stroll. We are here to help and we
hope you have a wonderful stay in Whistler. For more information contact us at
Village Host Program (604) 935-8478,
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and our hours of
operation are Monday - Sunday Office: 9:00am to 5:00, Kiosk: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Taxi Saver
The municipality implemented a TaxiSaver program, which provides a discounted transit option. Click for more information on the Taxi Saver Program 28.13 Kb.
Also, the municipality is part of an accessible tourism initiative that involves Tourism Whistler, Tourism B.C., Tourism Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and Legacies Now in a program to provide travelers with rankings of accessible hotels and other tourism properties.
The investments in physical change, signage and better wayfinding information are being funded through the RMOW's Village Enhancement fund, which is derived from hotel tax revenue.
If you would like more information on the Accessibility Strategy and Project please check updates to this page or contact Kevin McFarland at
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.
Whistler for the Disabled
Disabled Access and Information for Whistler. Whistler for the Disabled was created to help out those individuals in Whistler who have some form of disability. The site provides access information for the disabled in areas such as: disabled friendly accommodation, shopping and medical assistance, recreational programs and tour adventures, dining and entertainment, news and events and community updates. It is also a resource for the community by providing a reference guide for Whistler employees to assist visitors who may have a disability, by assisting the temporarily disabled who have been injured and by providing resources to business owners who wish to register their access information.
Through the efforts of Hugh Tollett, Director of Whistler for the
Disabled, and Telus, public access is being addressed for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Fully functioning sliding drawer TTY enabled pay
telephones has been installed in Marketplace between the TD Bank and
McDonald's. The Whistler for the Disabled web site has been updated to
reflect these changes and new access.
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is a not-for-profit society that provides year-around, recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities.
Accessible whistler barrier free route map To view Barrier Free Route Maps of Whistler Village, Upper Village and Village North [click here].
Accessibility Links
Whistler for the Disabled whistlerforthedisabled.com
For everything people with disabilities need to know about living and visiting Whistler
Neil Squire Foundation www.neilsquire.ca
Using technology, knowledge and passion to empower Canadians with physical disabilities.
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program www.whistleradaptive.com
A not-for-profit society that provides year-around, recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities.
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. Both the prospect of hosting the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 and the fact Whistler was selected to be a pilot community in the provincial government's 
