Homeowners to receive a postcard by mail to access the online survey

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has launched a Housing Survey to gain insight into how Whistler homes and residential suites are being used by full-time residents, temporary residents, visitors and second homeowners.

Conducted by Forum Research Inc., the Housing Survey is focused on collecting data from all property owners that may have residential or personal owner use, excluding employee-restricted properties.  Employee restricted homes are not included in this Housing Survey as information is already available regarding these properties. 

The survey explores how these residential homes are being used to help Whistler’s future community planning in two ways:

• To measure the current and potential future availability of housing for the resort’s workforce to inform future supply that may be needed; and
• To understand the frequency of use by Whistler’s second homeowners to assist in planning future services and infrastructure for the whole community.

As Whistler continues to evolve and adapt to a changing environment, including recovery beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipality is seeking to better understand the impacts on how existing homes are used throughout the community.

The pandemic, together with evolving technology, remote working and other trends, can all play a role in changing the utilization of homes, which impacts who is living in Whistler both on a full-time, part-time, seasonal or occasional basis.   With potential shifts in the population and demographics, this has implications for different services and amenities in the community.

“Ultimately, available housing stock is directly related to the resort’s success,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “Whistler homeowners have a critical role in helping the RMOW better understand how their residential properties are being used.   By gaining insight into the current and projected housing stock, we are able to better plan future housing for our workforce while supporting the resort’s economy and viability.” 

The survey will take less than five minutes to complete and all entries will be eligible to win one of five $100 gift cards.

To participate in the survey, property owners will receive a postcard in the mail via Canada Post with a unique PIN code to access the online survey, which will be accessible online from November 12 to December 5.  For more information on the Housing Survey and to access the FAQ, visit whistler.ca/HousingSurvey.