The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) continues to prioritize community well-being and is pleased to announce a series of initiatives that will lift spirits, get people outside and bring the community together in a safe way: Whistler Has Heart, Experience Whistler and light-up woodland animal features.

“I encourage all Whistler residents to enjoy these safe initiatives. Now more than ever, let’s keep our connection strong and our spirits high, as we weather this current difficult phase of the pandemic within our community,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. “Please stay safe, wear your masks, get tested if you feel sick and isolate at home if you have been asked to by Vancouver Coastal Health. We’ll be singing and dancing together in Whistler Olympic Plaza before you know it.”

Whistler Has Heart

On Wednesdays through Saturdays from February 3 to 27, the Whistler Has Heart project will see one hundred painted wooden hearts displayed at different pop-up locations throughout the Whistler valley. The hearts will be painted by local artists and residents to thank our community and essential workers for their strength, support and kindness to one another throughout the pandemic.

Upcoming Whistler Has Heart display locations:

• February 3 – Peace Park & Jump Park (near Fitzsimmons Trail)
• February 4 – Rainbow Park
• February 5 – Meadow Park
• February 6 – Alpha Lake Park

The community is encouraged to post photos of the heart displays on Instagram with #mywhistler to share the love. There will also be a QR code displayed alongside the hearts where donations can be offered to support The Whistler Health Care Foundation. The hearts will be displayed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Learn more.

Experience Whistler at Home

Even though live art and music is not permitted, the RMOW is supporting local artists and musicians through the Experience Whistler at Home initiative.

Local artists will be painting a series of life-sized, three-dimensional wooden tree structures and creating short videos to share this experience with the Whistler community. Local musicians will also provide a small piece of original music for the social media videos. It’s a perfect collaboration and provides a small work opportunity for artists and musicians that would normally be hired for our winter animation program.

The painted tree structures will eventually be displayed once it is safe to set up and program animation on the Village Stroll. Keep an eye on RMOW social media channels for the weekly videos. Please share the videos, if you can, to show your support for Whistler’s local artists and musicians. Learn more.

Special lighting features

Whistler has also become home to two very special woodland animals. A large moose and stag light-up display have been set up at Whistler Olympic Plaza and Rebagliati Park. Standing as tall as 14 feet each, these life-sized animals will shine brightly in the night with hundreds of white LED lights. The moose and stag add to the current festive lighting in Whistler Village. Every winter, festive lights are strung throughout Whistler on trees along the stroll and at Whistler Olympic Plaza and the Village Square, as well as in the road entryways into the Village. There are around 5,000 strings of lights in the lighting program, which connect almost 350,000 LED bulbs.