Whistler Recovery Working Group

Community wide representatives making a difference to pandemic recovery.

Whistler is managing through unprecedented times with no pre-existing road map to guide the way. Along with the many aspects of COVID-19 response and recovery the RMOW has undertaken since March 2020, we are facilitating important discussions and connections amongst the community and community leaders.

From June through December 2020 several activities have taken place including four Community Conversations virtual town hall meetings and associated online engagement, as well as the formation of two working groups comprised of community-wide representatives. Taking key information from community input as well as sector groups, the Whistler Recovery Working Group and the Social Services Working Group are helping to identify key short term actions for the municipality and other organizations toward pandemic recovery.

A systems approach is being taken in this work to look at our community as a connected system rather than silos or special interest groups. The groups are identifying initiatives that are cross-organizational and would not otherwise be delivered by any one organization.

Whistler Recovery Working Group

The group struck sub-teams within the committee for four areas: Business Survival, Tourism Sustainability, Community Wellbeing, and Labour.

Some of the deliverables in 2020 have included:

• Conceptual model of a Tourism Sustainability Lab/Accelerator
• Peer Learning Initiatives
• Tour de Pumpkins, 12 Days of Joy and mental health resources
• Job Board for excess employment applications

The group will continue to evaluate community needs and continue its work in 2021.

Social Services Working Group

This group is focused on psycho-social recovery of the community. Its activities include assessing needs of individuals and community organizations; identifying and compiling resources; matching needs with resources; identifying and addressing gaps; and looking out for opportunities for advocacy. The outputs of the group will help inform municipal and other agency decision-making.

The group has worked to address adverse effects to funding sources resulting from the pandemic, conduct shared advocacy, and to develop a more collaborative knowledge, working relationship and needs.

In early 2021 this group is merging with the Community Wellbeing team of the Whistler Recovery Working Group and will continue its mandate through that team.

• September 1, 2020: Watch a presentation by Chief Administrative Officer Virginia Cullen to Council 
• October 20, 2020: Watch a presentation by Chief Administrative Officer Virginia Cullen and Erin Marriner to Council
• February 2, 2021: Watch a presentation to Committee of the Whole by Chief Administrative Officer Ginny Cullen and the sub-team leads including Joel Chevalier (Labour), Jackie Dickinson (Community Well-Being), James Retty (Local Business Survival), and Dave Clark (Tourism Sustainability).