Accessibility

Preparing for and hosting the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games helped accelerate Whistler’s journey toward accessibility and inclusion. As access to services and employment for people with disabilities increases, so too does consumer spending and demand for accessible tourism opportunities both in Whistler and around the world.

In 2018, the Conference Board of Canada published The Business Case for Building Physically Accessible Environments, which noted that the number of Canadians living with a physical disability that affects mobility, vision or hearing will rise from 2.9 million to 3.6 million by 2030. Subsequently, consumer spending by Canadians with physical disabilities is projected to increase by over five per cent over the same period—nearly three times the projected rate of growth for total consumer spending. This projected increase is not likely to be limited to essentials and household goods. In a 2015 study of travel habits of Americans with disabilities, the Open Doors Organization reported that 70 per cent of Americans with disabilities had travelled in the last two years, typically travelling with one or more adults, and having an economic impact on travel of $34.6 billion USD annually. Whistler must recognize that consumer trends are shifting, and businesses and community sports and recreational organizations must adapt to meet these growing demands.

Whistler Adaptive Sports offers over a dozen different adaptive sports opportunities for residents and visitors with disabilities. Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC) offers four senior-specific exercise programs, with an additional eight programs that are seniors friendly. Additionally, MPSC is able to provide extra support for any child with a disability participating in its recreation programs. Sea to Sky Community Services offers 10 programs for families of children with disabilities, providing support from infancy into adulthood and two programs that support seniors and their families.

The municipality continues to invest in accessibility improvements in municipal parks and Whistler Village. Aging docks have been replaced with accessible docks in Alpha Lake Park, Wayside Park, Alta Lake Park, Rainbow Park and Lakeside Park, thereby improving access to these community amenities for residents with disabilities. Generally, the municipality seeks to replace aging infrastructure and site furnishings with accessible alternatives whenever possible.

Implementation of accessibility initiatives has been supported by the municipality’s participation in the B.C. government’s Measuring Up program and through its own initiatives including the creation of the Measuring-Up Select Committee of Council.

As further accessibility policy is developed, the municipality will seek to create a built environment that supports a positive resort experience for people of all abilities.