Sarah Rush in Whistler

04/20/2023

A Note From Our Mountain Operations Leadership:

Spring skiing is underway, which brings operational changes, too – and we didn’t do a great job of explaining exactly why certain things are happening as we made this shift yesterday. Additionally, we should have been more out front with you about what to expect on Blackcomb for these final weeks of spring, and we apologize. With that in mind, we want to share a bit more, as this transition to spring can be complex and has a lot of moving parts.

Mountain closures happen annually in mid-April for a variety of reasons. This year, Whistler Mountain was closed to prepare for the opening of Whistler Mountain Bike Park in May, as well as for summer sightseeing and next winter’s operations (we start that work as soon as we can). As such, skiing + riding has shifted to Blackcomb Mountain for the spring. Around this time, we also need to take care of a variety of maintenance needs and prep work on both mountains ahead of summer kicking off. This year, it includes necessary preventative lift maintenance on Blackcomb Gondola, which is required by Technical Safety BC and additionally by our lift manufacturer. It’s also an essential component of our commitment to safety, as we need to complete load testing, extensive station work, and tower work (mechanical + electrical). This all must be done within the spring timeframe, which makes it a bit tricky as we continue to operate through May. To ensure we are in compliance and maintain safety as our top priority, we have closed Blackcomb Gondola during the week (Monday-Friday) through our final month of spring operations. However, it will be open Saturday-Sunday until our planned closing day of Monday, May 22 – it will also spin on closing day (Victoria Day holiday). We feel confident that we can manage appropriately during the week, but we definitely had a miss yesterday, complicated by the spring storm.

We are glad to share that Glacier Express will spin daily this spring, through May 22. This means during the week (Monday-Friday), in addition to Excalibur Gondola, you can expect Excellerator, Jersey Cream, Catskinner, 7th Heaven, and Crystal to all spin; Blackcomb Gondola will join this line up on Saturdays and Sundays, as noted above. You can always see exactly what is spinning on our Lifts & Terrain Status Page (www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/terrain-and-lift-status.aspx), and please check our Mountain Operations Twitter feed for real-time updates on spring skiing (twitter.com/wbmtnops).

As a reminder on parking, with construction underway to upgrade Fitzsimmons Express, Lot 8 is closed as it is a staging area for construction related work and equipment. Lots 1-7 will remain open.

We will also have ongoing maintenance and safety work ongoing throughout spring and summer – our resort is extremely large (the biggest in North America!) and we have a lot of lifts to care for – safety is critical, and with a significant summer operation here, we need to ensure everything is good to go for you, especially as some of our lifts have very little down time because of our nearly year-round operational schedule. This work can be time consuming, but is important. We appreciate your patience and support, including through the construction process with Fitz this summer.

We remain committed to ongoing communication about what to expect while you’re at our resort – especially as you enjoy the last weeks of the season, skiing well into May. Spring has for sure sprung in Whistler, and we have so much happening as we get ready for our bike park opening, launch summer activities, upgrade Fitz, conduct necessary maintenance across our mountains, and (importantly!) take our final turns of the 2022/23 ski + ride season.

We hope you join us this spring, and we appreciate your passion and feedback.

- Doug Pierini, Interim COO & Doug Macfarlane, VP of Mountain Operations

10/11/2022

If you want to see change you have to vote for it. Election day voting 15th Oct at Myrtle Philip school.
A vote for Sarah Rush is a vote for reducing inequality. Whistler can and must build a range of housing to suit all demographics. Small business will not survive unless Whistler can attract good staff who can stay long term. Vail needs to build more housing for its staff. Any development near the village centre needs to be densified and include community buildings for recreation, health offices and gatherings. We need to save natural assets - the very reason Whistler exists and work on transit use to reduce emissions.
Thank you for your vote.
Authorised by financial agent Chris Rush [email protected]

10/08/2022

VOTE FOR SARAH RUSH - If you want to see change you have to vote for it. Early voting at the Public library, today Oct 8th. Election day voting 15th Oct at Myrtle Philip school.
A vote for Sarah Rush is a vote for reducing inequality. Whistler can and must build a range of housing to suit all demographics. Small business will not survive unless Whistler can attract good staff who can stay long term. Please vote for some new enthusiastic councilors to get going on more affordable housing, saving natural assets and fixing the transport issues.
Thank you
Authorised by financial agent Chris Rush [email protected]

10/06/2022

As your Councillor one thing I will work tirelessly for is Provincially collected tax dollars staying in Whistler to use for affordable rental housing. I want to be your voice and your conduit for progress on the important issues that face Whistler.
"If you change how you think, then what actions you take and so the world around you will change." - Ghandi.
Get out and vote. Make your votes work. Colour a box for Sarah Rush on your ballot paper.
Thank you.

10/04/2022

https://awarewhistler.org/?event=all-candidates-meeting-on-conservation-climate-and-community-wellbeing&event_date=2022-10-05

Last All candidates meeting

On October 15th Whistler will head to the polls and vote in a Mayor and Council that will take our community through the next four years. As Whistlerites seek to find out where candidates stand on local issues non-profits are again stepping up to create spaces for dialogue. On Wednesday October 5

10/02/2022

Thank you MAC for giving your members a chance to meet the candidates and ask questions.
I really believe we can't help the community thrive without knowing what it needs to accomplish that. With 25% of Whistler residents "seniors" there really needs to be tailored solutions to help you age well in Whistler.

09/29/2022

https://www.whistlerchamber.com/member-survey-results-housing-remains-key-issue-for-business-viability/

Agree whole heartedly with their findings.
I will work hard on council for what the Whistler community wants,needs and deserves.
*A new design for 4500 Northlands to make it a higher density residential subdivision with no tourist rentals. To include the/a Racket club centre, with health care offices sponspored by RMOW.
*Higher density housing near town centre and increase duplexes and triplex lot zoning.(Australian style - ask me)
*Ensure that council is more directive to satff on developments.
*Natural assets protection a priority in developments.
*Partner with Vail to develop pod style housing.
Thank you for your support.

Whistler is a big supporter of local businesses, now you can continue that support by using your vote in the Municipal election - Here's how.

09/16/2022

https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-news/business-owner-sarah-rush-announces-run-for-whistler-council-5800807

Dietician, second homeowner campaigning on a 'livable, sustainable Whistler for all'

09/10/2022

Website with full platform now live.
www.sarahrush.ca

I acknowledge that the Resort Municipality of Whistler sits on the shared, unceded territory of the Lil’wat People, known in their language as L̓il̓wat7úl, and the Squamish People, known in their language as Sḵwx̱wú7mesh.

09/10/2022

Whistler, back to a place to call home.
Whistler’s tourism-based economy complicates the housing picture, but there still needs to be solutions found which provide affordable rental and ownership accommodation for individuals and families who make Whistler their home.
Whistler is losing the middle ground. Whistler is no longer affordable to many who know it as home. As more previously long term rentals get pushed into nightly or high priced staff rentals the rental picture for new people wanting to move to Whistler to work and settle isn't just bleak, it's dire. That coupled with more houses which once belonged to people living in Whistler being bought and left vacant is creating a housing scenario that Whsitler needs to reverse.
In the 90's the concern was that tourist accomodation in the town needed to be preserevd as a priority. Now it is short on residential as residential properties with rental zoning are being removed from long term rentals and added to tourist acccomodation With more homes sitting empty the balance between local housing and tourist accomodation has changed. RMOW needs to respond or risk becoming a town comprising tourist beds, "staff" accommodation, empty investment properties and nowhere for families and business people to live in.
The community is getting squeezed out. I will work for a rethink about what housing is needed and to ensure there are housing options for locals.

It's known worldwide as a premier ski destination, and now Whistler Blackcomb has been named among the world's 10 most expensive ski resorts.

09/10/2022

https://globalnews.ca/video/8582181/vote-on-south-surrey-redevelopment-plan-paused/
As Chair of Friends of Hazelmere Campbell Valley I spoke up along side Semiahmoo First Nation to protect one of the most productive Salmon Spawning rivers, acres of mature forest and a high biodiversity value area in South Surrey. Natural assets are our most precious assets.

Watch Vote on south Surrey redevelopment plan paused Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca