Whistler Secondary PAC unveils new outdoor multi-purpose space

The benefit of Whistler Secondary School’s (WSS) new outdoor multi-purpose space was  immediately apparent to everyone who turned up to its official unveiling on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Despite rainy weather, students, caregivers, teachers, and Sea to Sky school district (SD48) representatives managed to keep dry as they gathered under the shelter of the 42-foot-by-22-foot, open-sided steel structure during the school’s annual “Welcome Back Barbecue.”

That scene is what WSS’ Parent Advisory Council (PAC) has been working towards since kickstarting fundraising efforts for the project in March 2022, said Shauna Hardy, fundraising lead for the PAC’s Capital Projects Committee. Project development got underway in February of this year, but building could only commence once classes let out for summer break.

“It’s great timing as the weather’s changing,” she said.

Previously, there wasn’t enough sheltered outdoor space at the school, Hardy explained.

“This back area is great when it’s sunny, but otherwise it’s quite unusable, so we really needed to figure out ‘How can we get kids outside [during the school day?]’” she said.

“Because we all know that fresh air is good for you.”

Now, rain, shine or snow, “there’s going to be no excuse.”

It marks the first major capital improvement to school grounds since 2004, according to Hardy.

The new space also serves a greater purpose than allowing WSS students and staff to spend more time outdoors: Whistler Secondary’s status as a community school means certain parts of the building, including its gym and the multipurpose room, are managed by the Resort Municipality of Whistler outside of school hours.

That makes WSS one of the biggest community spaces available for rent in Whistler, Hardy pointed out. The covered, paved space will be available to accommodate group functions on weekends, holidays, after-school hours and during the summer months. “For instance, a summer camp can now run at the school all summer, and it now has a covered outdoor space,” Hardy added.

“It’s a community asset.”

Volunteers have raised $184,020 to date, or 94 per cent of the $195,000 needed to bring the project to fruition. WSS PAC launched the fundraising effort with a $50,000 contribution, a sum later matched by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and supplemented by five-figure grants from the Den Duyf Family; Whistler Secondary School; and Fairmont Chateau Whistler Community Fund; plus thousands more from the RMOW Community Enrichment Fund; McElhanney Cares Program; Whistler Community Foundation; CUPE 2010 and WSS’ 2023 graduating class.

A long list of contractors, engineers and local firms also donated resources to offset project costs, contributing more than $33,540 in total value.

Despite that support, the project wasn’t without its challenges, Hardy explained, even after construction commenced on July 26.

“Every possible thing that possibly could go wrong with this happened,” she said, from surprises like old sidewalks found buried under footing excavations that required removal, to material delays. One contractor’s shop even burned to the ground in a wildfire.

“We persevered,” Hardy added, due in large part to the expertise provided by WSS parent Carson Hamm, an engineer who led the development of the project from inception to completion.

Volunteers are now looking to the WSS school community to drum up the remaining $10,980 needed to cover finishing touches like furniture and landscaping for the sheltered learning structure.

Anyone interested in donating to the cause can do so online at sd48seatosky.schoolcashonline.com. After hitting “Make a Donation,” select “Whistler Secondary School” and “The Outdoor MPR Project” initiative from drop-down menus under “Gift Information.” Tax receipts are available.

“We are grateful for the leadership of our WSS PAC and the generous support of our community funders and donors for this project, which will serve to benefit our school and students for years to come,” said WSS principal Anna-Lisa Granbois, in a release.

With the outdoor multipurpose room now open for business, Whistler Secondary’s PAC focuses its attention on fundraising and planning efforts already underway for two more capital projects currently under consideration: a fitness centre envisioned above the school’s gym, and a full-service kitchen.

“This one project really is such a success because it shows we as parents can really rally the community and funding, and that there’s an appetite for improvement at this community facility,” Hardy said.

“We’d like to see its usage maximized … not only for our school community, but the Whistler community. Because it’s a great building.”