Seniors speak up at council, new firetrucks on the way, and more.
Looking to get caught up on the Tuesday, February 6 Council Meeting (plus the discussion that took place at Committee of the Whole)? We’ve pulled together some key stories from this week, including:
- Local seniors ask for space to gather
- Two new firetrucks coming to Whistler
- Final cannabis retail permit issued
- Code of Conduct discussion moves bylaw one step closer
- The meaning behind the colourful Fitzsimmons bridge
For all the details, check out the agenda, and watch the recording of the full meeting.
Seniors band together asking for meeting space
Whistler’s seniors showed up en force at the most recent council meeting in support of speakers asking for a dedicated space for seniors in Whistler.
There was lots of activity at the Maury Young Arts Centre (MYAC) on Tuesday night, with more than 50 community members attending to show their support for seniors.
Seven speakers shared their thoughts on the lack of a dedicated facility for seniors during the Public Question and Comment Period, pointing out the multigenerational health benefits of aging in place.
“We need a facility where we can socialize, recreate, and take part in programs,” said Erika Durlacher, who submitted a letter to Council. “Seniors matter but feel forgotten.”
The group wants future development leveraged to deliver a dedicated space to meet their needs.
General Manager of Community Engagement and Cultural Services Karen Elliott pointed to Pemberton, where youth and seniors share a space, and noted there is a functional short-term option in The Whistler Youth Center. Located in the Maury Young Arts Centre, it is currently only used on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays by the youth, due to budget constraints.
Each member of Council addressed the group, most pointing to community engagement opportunities on large developments as a place to make requests, such as the largescale development 4500 Northlands Boulevard.
Two replacement firetrucks coming to Whistler in 2025 and 2027
This 27-year-old truck, stationed at Whistler Village Firehall #1, is on deck to be replaced in late 2024. Next up, two more trucks will be replaced after Council voted to move forward with their purchase and these ones will be black.
Two new firetrucks will be joining the Whistler Fire and Rescue Services (WFRS) fleet in the next few years.
Council has approved an RMOW staff recommendation to purchase the trucks for a total cost over the next four years of up to $2.64M. The fire fleet’s replacement schedule is designed to maximize the vehicles lives, meaning two others recommended for retirement will be auctioned—generally to be bought by smaller communities and the film industry.
Presenting to Council, Deputy Fire Chief Mitch Hunter and RMOW Central Services Supervisor Paul Klein explained trucks over 20 years old can only be used as backups, under Fire Underwriters Survey requirements, plus the updated technology of the new trucks means we have better safety features, increased efficiency, and lower emissions.
All of the technical features aside, the discussion among Council also centered on a slightly lighter subject: truck colour history. The trend, for now, is black because it’s said to be more visible at night.
“Back in the day when I started here, our trucks were green – a lime green colour with white on top. Then we went to all red and white. Now we’ve moved to a black. Black is actually becoming the industry standard out there…it shows up better on the highway at night when you’re out there,” said Klein.
The new trucks are scheduled for delivery, one in 2025 and the second in 2027.
Final cannabis retail permit issued
A rendering of what the future cannabis shop in Nesters Plaza could look like, as submitted in their application.
The fifth and final permit to open a cannabis store in Whistler was granted, following a review of the application by Council.
The permit issued is known as a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and grants the successful applicant a three-year permit to operate.
The Nest Cannabis was evaluated on criteria in Whistler’s Cannabis Retail Policy to ensure it complied with Whistler’s guiding document, the Official Community Plan. This includes commitments relating to staff wages and working conditions; support for and ongoing relationships with community organizations; and sustainability leadership. The application for The Nest included a commitment to wage incentives to its employees, donating seven per cent of its net earnings to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre annually, donating to AWARE and PearlSpace.
In June, TUPs were awarded to four out of the five identified retail zones for cannabis stores (Village Centre, Village North, Creekside and Function Junction), with Nesters Plaza the only one remaining.
Its owners can now take the next step in the process, which is to go to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) for approval of a license. Manager of Projects Planning John Chapman said this can take up to a few months.
Discussion of RMOW’s Code of Conduct continues
Whistler is one step closer to having an updated Code of Conduct bylaw. A Code of Conduct is a written document that sets out expectations for the behaviour of Council with respect to each other, municipal staff and the public.
Many municipalities around the province are upgrading their codes as changes to the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act require council to consider enacting a code within six months of an election. Whistler’s code has not been upgraded since its inception in 2005.
Two bylaw options were presented to Council late last year and staff were asked to take it to a committee-level meeting for further discussion.
The staff-recommended bylaw returned to Commitee of the Whole, a form of meeting where Council can provide input to staff and ask questions. Brooke Vagelatos, Special Legal Projects, took the councillors through the proposed new code, with discussion focused primarily on how an investigation of councillor conduct unfolds.
The discussion filled an hour and a half and was enough for Council to direct staff to bring the Code of Conduct bylaw to a regular meeting where it will go to a vote.
“I feel you’ve done a really good job of working to get this to something we can work to get approval of,” said Mayor Crompton to Vagelatos. “I am excited about adopting it, with some changes, but I think it’s very good work, so thank you.”
What’s behind the coloured lights of the Fitzsimmons Bridge?
To wrap things up this week, some fun facts about one way Council influences Whistler. Have you ever wondered about the changing colours of the Fitzsimmons Bridge? Beyond adding some sparkle to the walk to and from the Upper Village, there is meaning behind each colour. Organizations send in Landmark Lighting Requests to Council, in the hope of bringing some visibility to their cause. When Council approves them, they are added to the annual calendar and the colours queued up on the lighting schedule. For example, this week’s meeting saw seven requests approved:
- February 11, 2024 – Red in support of 211 Day for British Columbia Helpline Services.
- April 15, 2024 – Teal in support of Premenstrual Disorders Awareness Month.
- May 12, 2024 – Purple in support of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
- September 17, 2024 – Blue in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
- November 1, 2024 – Teal in support of Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.
- May 2-4, 2024 – Blue in support of World Press Freedom Day.
- October 17, 2024 – Purple in support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Available solid colours include Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Teal, Yellow, and White.
If you didn’t know, now you know!
Details on how to submit a Landmark Lighting Request can be found at whistler.ca.
To attend an upcoming meeting, check out the Council Meeting Schedule. Agendas and Minutes are available online. To connect with Council, consider Presenting to Council, or get in touch with them individually by phone or email.
