The mayor and six councillors were elected October 15, 2022 for a four-year term. In addition to regular Council Meetings and Committee of the Whole meetings, members sit on Council Committees and local non-profit boards, attend public hearings, attend visiting delegations, and more.

Contact the Corporate Coordinator:

Julie Farr
(liaison to Chief Administrative Officer Virginia Cullen)
604-935-8103 | jfarr@whistler.ca

Mayor Jack Crompton

 Jack Crompton has deep roots in Whistler and is passionate about the future of his community. His grandparents were original shareholders in the Garibaldi Lift Company and the Cromptons have been engaged in business and community organizations since the beginning.
 
Jack’s professional life has focused mainly on transportation and software. He founded Whistler Resort Cabs and operated the company until selling the company in 2008. He then founded and served as CEO for Ridebooker; a Whistler based transportation software company. In October 2018, Jack resigned his position with Ridebooker to serve full-time as Mayor of Whistler.

Jack likes to talk politics of any description. He is fascinated by political history, local government and international affairs.
Jack and his wife Carolyn have four children; Georgia, Margaret, Van and Harriet. They enjoy “the beautiful game”, mountain biking, skiing and being in the mountains.
 
Mayor Jack Crompton
604-935-8108 | jcrompton@whistler.ca | Media inquiries

Councillor Arthur DeJong

Raised on a dairy farm in the Fraser Valley, Arthur joined the Blackcomb professional ski patrol at the age of 19 – the season Blackcomb opened.

Whistler instantly became the perfect outdoor office for Arthur as he moved from one management role to the next including Ski Patrol Director, Manager of Mountain Operations, and his present role as Senior Manager of Planning and Environment at Whistler Blackcomb.

Arthur’s passion is to find solutions at both the local and international levels to the challenges of climate change and loss of bio diversity.

Having travelled and consulted in resorts throughout the world, he has a very deep appreciation for one of Whistler’s most unique and significant aspects – a very large portion of the community lives in the resort.

Arthur is also the longest serving volunteer member of the Vancouver crisis line.

His other passion in life is to spend time with his wife Nicola biking, hiking, skiing and kayaking together.

Councillor Arthur De Jong
604-935-8225 | adejong@whistler.ca

Councillor Jen Ford

First elected in 2014, Councillor Jen Ford is serving her third term on Whistler Council.

When she’s not working with local governments, Jen can be found biking, skiing, or playing in the mountains. Jen is appointed to the board of Squamish Lillooet Regional District (Chair), the Whistler Housing Authority (Chair), the Audit and Finance Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee, the Transportation Advisory Group, and the Whistler Healthcare Foundation. As a private citizen, Jen serves as a founding member of the Whistler 360 Healthcare Collaborative.

Jen is Chair of the Whistler Housing Authority and Chair of the Squamish Lillooet Regional District. Since 2018, Jen was elected by her peers and has served in a variety of roles, most recently as President, of the Union of BC Municipalities. Jen studied Political Science at York University in 2002, and in 2022 Jen completed a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from Royal Roads University.

Councillor Jen Ford
04-935-8226 | jford@whistler.ca

Councillor Ralph Forsyth

For over 25 years Ralph has called Whistler home, he moved to Whistler in 1991 in pursuit of the dream of the perfect run and a life in the mountains!

A passionate advocate for the citizens of Whistler, Ralph previously served on Council from 2005-2011.

When not serving on council Ralph keeps busy as a small business owner (Peak Vending Corp.) and teaching skiing and biking on the mountains, he’s also a keen contributor and columnist for Whistler’s local newspapers. Ralph’s most cherished time is spent with his (very understanding and tolerant) wife, Stephanie and on the football field coaching the Whistler Saints. He also tries to keep up with his sons Jack and Liam on the mountain bike trails.

Councillor Ralph Forsyth
604-935-8229 | rforsyth@whistler.ca

Councillor Cathy Jewett

Cathy came to Whistler from Toronto in 1976 for a season and stayed for a lifetime.

She has worked on the mountain for more than forty years as a liftee, dispatcher, patroller and now supervises the Mountain Safety program on Whistler and Blackcomb. Cathy has also been involved with many community organizations including WORCA, AWARE, VANOC, CFOW, the Audain Museum and currently chairs Communities That Care Whistler. While her two children Max and Bryn were growing up, Cathy chaired the local Myrtle Philip Parent Advisory Council and the Sea to Sky District Parent Advisory Council and served on the Board of Directors of the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. In 2016, Cathy was recognized as Whistler’s Citizen of the Year.

In 2017, Cathy was elected in a by-election after Councillor Andree Janyk passed away. She served on TAG, FWAC, May Long Weekend and the HR committees as well as the Boards of WCSS, AWARE and the Whistler Public Library. She also supported the Artists-in-Residence program at Myrtle Philip and the art work is still displayed at the school.

Her son Max lives in Vancouver working as an Engineer for an alternative energy company and daughter Bryn is travelling the world and working in a local restaurant. Both of them always consider Whistler a great place to come home to. Cathy enjoys mountain biking, skiing, cooking and thankfully – reading.

Cathy’s focus has been to support families and children.​

Councillor Cathy Jewett
604-935-8227 | cjewett@whistler.ca

Councillor Jessie Morden

As a born and raised local who is growing her family in the community, Jessie is committed to finding long-term solutions to the most pressing issues for families trying to make Whistler their home – housing, transportation, and affordability.

Jessie knows what sets this town apart and she will be a tireless advocate for its spirit. She has served her community in several ways including currently as the vice chair of Arts Whistler and volunteering with organizations such as Whistler Community Services Society, Zero Ceiling, WAG and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Vancouver.

Councillor Jessie Morden
604-935-8228 | jmorden@whistler.ca

Councillor Jeff Murl

Jeff has deep ties to the Whistler community, having worked as a ski instructor since 2005. In 2016 he moved here permanently, expanded his accounting practice, got married, and started a family.

Jeff has served on the Board of Arts Whistler, the RMOW Board of Variance, the Whistler Community Foundation, and as a Library Trustee. With a degree in finance and his accounting designation, Jeff brings fiscal acumen to the management of Whistler’s affairs.

Jeff’s vision as a member of Council is to help ensure the long-term financial and environmental sustainability and livability of Whistler for all residents, including his two young boys.

Councillor Jeff Murl
604-935-8230 | jmurl@whistler.ca

What is Council responsible for?

The primary functions of municipal Council are:

• To establish administrative policy,
• Governing matters delegated to local government through the Local Government Act and the Community Charter, along with other Provincial statutes for the protection of the public, and
• To levy taxes for these purposes.

Municipal Council represents the citizens of Whistler, providing community leadership by serving as the legislative and policy making body of the municipality. The Mayor and Council approve policy and budgets and provide direction to the Chief Administrative Officer.

Council is responsible for:

• Providing good government for its community,
• Providing works, services, facilities, and other things that the municipality considers necessary or desirable for all or part of the community,
• Providing stewardship of the public assets of the community, and
• Fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well-being of the community.

A municipal council makes decisions collectively, meaning that it is not individual council members but rather the council as a whole, based on a majority vote, that decides and acts for the municipality.

Council Governance

The Resort Municipality of Whistler Council Governance Manual sets the framework and provides the tools to ensure that the RMOW operates in an effective and accountable manner.

What makes good governance?

An essential element of good governance is the engagement of key stakeholders and the community in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and programs designed to make the community a better place.

The four basic goals of municipal government are:

• Provide for good government for the community, including physical, social, and fiscal health, and sustainability
• Ensure local public services are effectively and seamlessly delivered, including water, sewer, roads, police and fire protection, parks and recreation services and other things that Council considers necessary or desirable for the community
• Regulate individual conduct to protect the community, such as building inspection, licensing of businesses, animal control, bylaw enforcement, noise control, zoning and land use
• Respond to the community’s needs and desires by formulating partnerships with other stakeholders and permitting maximum participation of its citizens at the local level

The role of Council

Council is responsible for establishing:

• strategic direction
• policy
• monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programs
• authorizing the revenue collection and expenditures required to fund the Municipality’s operations

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct Bylaw (PDF) was adopted by Council in 2024. It demonstrates that Council Members share a common understanding of the ethical obligations which are essential to the fair and effective operation of government. The Code establishes a fair process to be followed when those ethical obligations are not met, including the appointment of an independent and impartial investigator to review and report on any alleged breaches of the Code.