We deliver programs and services to approximately 15,000 permanent residents and 3 million visitors per year. These are carried out by municipal staff divided into five divisions, including the following departments and roles.
Chief Administrator’s Office
- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Human Resources
- Economic Development
Division contact:
Marie Vesely, Executive assistant to the CAO
Email: mvesely@whistler.ca
Community Engagement & Cultural Services
- Recreation
- Whistler Public Library
- Communications
- Village Events and Animation
Division contact:
Jeff Maynard, General Manager
Email: jmaynard@whistler.ca
Infrastructure Services
- Engineering Services
- Road and Flood Protection
- Utilities (Water and Sewer)
- Waste Treatment Plant
- Solid Waste
- Central Services, Garage and Stores
- Facility Construction Management
Division contact:
James Hallisey, General Manager
Email: jhallisey@whistler.ca
Corporate Services & Public Safety
- Information Technology (IT)
- Legislative Services
- Finance
- Protective Services (including Bylaw Services, Emergency, RCMP, and Whistler Fire Rescue Services)
Division contact:
Ted Battiston, General Manager
Email: tbattiston@whistler.ca
Climate Action, Planning & Development Services
- Climate and Environment
- Planning
- Parks Planning
- Transportation Planning
- Building
- Resort Operations
Division contact:
Dale Mikkelsen, General Manager
Email: dmikkelsen@whistler.ca
Working groups
The Resort Municipality of Whistler has several working groups that bring together community members, sector experts, and staff to collaborate on key topics. Each group contributes perspectives that help shape municipal work, strengthen coordination across the community, and support engagement through shared dialogue and problem-solving.
Each working group has a clear purpose, a defined membership, and a Terms of Reference that guides how the group works together. The sections below outline the mandate and membership of each active working group.
Community Engagement Working Group
The Community Engagement Working Group (CEWG) is tasked with providing strategic advice and guidance on how the RMOW can use its engagement activities and other interactions with the public to enhance community connection and trust, design inclusive and accessible processes and support community resiliency in a changing world.
Composition
Chair: Jenn Smith, Manager of Communications, RMOW
- Jeff Maynard – General Manager of Community Engagement and Cultural Services, RMOW
- Various members: Senior Communications Officer, RMOW
- Chris Maloney – Admin Assistant, Community Engagement and Cultural Services, RMOW
- Lisa Severn – Non-profit sector, communications
- Melissa Darou – Communications and creative
- Andrew Fulton – City planning, mediation
- Mohammad Aljamous – Settlement services and refugee support
- Lynn Harrison – Management and leadership consulting
- Mary Konkin – Management consulting
- Jessica Brown – Arts and community program lead
- Sam Gardener – Mechanical engineer and community volunteer
Community Engagement Working Group terms of reference (PDF)
Peak Period Public Safety Working Group
The Peak Period Public Safety Working Group (PPPSWG) brings resort partners together to coordinate enhancing the visitor experience, supporting a positive resort atmosphere, and reducing behaviours or conditions that have historically created challenges during peak periods.
Composition
- L. DeBou – Manager of Protective Services (Chair)
- T. Battiston – RMOW General Manager of Corporate Services and Public Safety
- B. Manson – RMOW Emergency Program Coordinator
- B. Andrea – RMOW Manager of Village Animation and Events
- N. Miller – RCMP representative
- E. Oaten – Whistler Blackcomb/Vail representative
- N. Baudisch – Whistler Blackcomb/Vail representative
- K. Wallace – Earl’s, Whistler Restaurant representative
- T. Clark – Gibbons Group, Whistler Bars and Clubs representative
- C. Burford – RMOW recording secretary
- P. Contreras – Blackcomb Springs, Whistler Hotels representative
The terms of reference is under development.
Technology Advisory Working Group
The Technology Advisory Working Group brings together key technology leaders from across the RMOW and partner organizations. The group provides impartial, professional advice and digital thought leadership to support strategic technology initiatives and foster innovation across tourism and community services. While not a decision-making body, the working group helps shape the digital direction of the resort community through shared expertise, strategic dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
Composition
- Lead: Manager, Information Technology (RMOW)
- Recording Secretary: Administrative Coordinator (RMOW)
- Arts Whistler
- Tourism Whistler
- Whistler Blackcomb
- Whistler Sports Legacies
- Whistler Chamber of Commerce
Whistler Bear Working Group
To promote bear conservation and to minimize and manage human-bear conflicts in Whistler and surrounding areas, and to advise staff on these matters.
Composition
- Conservation Officer Service (COS and WSRO)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Whistler Blackcomb
- Waste Industry Association for Whistler Area
- AWARE
- RMOW Environmental Supervisor
- Bear Smart Program Assistant (BSPA)
- RMOW Bylaw
- Three to four members-at-large with wildlife management experience
The terms of reference is under development.
Whistler Transit System Working Group
To improve information sharing among the three partners — BC Transit, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and Whistler Transit Ltd. — to deliver a high-quality transit system in Whistler.
Composition
BC Transit
- Rob Ringma, Senior Manager, Government Relations
- Alan Stewart, Regional Operations Manager
Whistler Transit Ltd.
- Juan Carlos Gomez, P.Eng., General Manager, Sea to Sky Region
- Peter Apostolakis, Service Delivery Manager
Resort Municipality of Whistler
- Luisa Burhenne, Manager Climate and Environment
The terms of reference is under development.
Zero Waste Working Group
The Zero Waste Working Group (ZWWG) represents residential and institutional, commercial, and industrial (ICI) sectors. It collaborates to implement strategies and actions assigned to each sector in the Zero Waste Action Plan.
Composition
- Alexandra Cuschieri, Working Group Lead, Zero Waste Coordinator, RMOW
- Andrew Tucker, Manager of Transportation and Waste Management, RMOW
- Vivian Quach, recording secretary, RMOW
- Michael Bitcoin, Hotel Association of Whistler
- James Paré, Restaurant Association of Whistler
- Michael Thomas, grocery retail representative
- Alisa Fuez, Whistler Chamber of Commerce
- Wolfgang Sterr, Whistler Blackcomb
- Mark Wrightson, Tourism Whistler
- Alison Jenkins, AWARE
- Louise Caparella, Whistler Community Services Society
- Tim Powers, member at large
- Claire Ruddy, Reuse Whistler
- Laura Downs, WRM Strata Management
Zero Waste Working Group terms of reference (PDF)
