Whistler’s Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) met on July 22 for the first time since Feb. 24—or approximately seven years in COVID time.
But while seemingly everything has changed in Whistler since the group last convened, council’s core priorities remain much the same, according to Mayor Jack Crompton.
While specifics of the closed meeting can’t be discussed, “all of the meetings that we have been having lately have had the COVID lens applied to them,” Crompton said after the Aug. 18 council meeting.
“The input from groups like this, to help us respond to the pandemic we face, has been critical to us.”
In a similar vein, the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW) 2019 Annual Report—officially received by council on Aug. 18—might as well be a relic of another time.
“Everything we do now has a COVID lens placed over it,” Crompton reiterated.
“I will say council remains committed to housing, climate action and community balance.”
While those core principles remain intact, the RMOW hasn’t lost sight of the imminent threats, either.
Local officials had a chance to raise concerns in a meeting with federal minister of economic development Melanie Joly and Sea to Sky MP Patrick Weiler last month.
“The severity of the challenges we face were shared clearly,” Crompton said, adding that there was discussion about the importance of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to local business owners, as well as the need for safety protocols to allow for more modes of transportation to be put back into use (see related story about fall business concerns on page 14).
“I’m hopeful that provincial and federal governments will step up and help air travel and bus travel to be usable modes,” Crompton said.
As for further updates from the SPC, “we’ll have more to say about that soon,” the mayor added.
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM GRANTS ANNOUNCED
Though the RMOW directed its Community Enrichment Program funding solely to social services at the outset of the pandemic, other community groups will soon see some money, too.
At the Aug. 18 council meeting, Crompton announced funding decisions made earlier in the day, including: $5,000 for the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment; $3,000 to the Whistler Naturalists Society; $5,000 to the Whistler Learning Society; $3,167.59 to the Whistler Waldorf School; $2,000 to the BC Luge Association; $3,000 to Sea to Sky Nordics; $6,000 to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program; $1,500 to the Whistler Blackcomb Freestyle Club; $5,500 to Whistler Gymnastics; $2,800 to the Whistler Minor Hockey Association; $2,500 to the Whistler Mountain Ski Club; $3,000 to Whistler Nordics; $2,109 to the Whistler Pickleball Association; $3,000 for the Whistler Sailing Association; $3,000 for the Whistler Seawolves Swim Club; $2,750 for the Whistler Skating Club; $4,000 for the Whistler Slo-Pitch Association; $5,600 for Whistler Sport Legacies Society; $5,000 for the Whistler Youth Soccer Club; $4,000 for the Point Artist-Run Centre; $2,000 for the Whistler Singers; and $2,000 for the Whistler Valley Quilters Guild Society.
FORGED LIQUOR LICENCE GETS COUNCIL SUPPORT
There are a whole lot of Whistlerites who would like to get a buzz on while they chuck their axes—at least judging from the 150 or so patrons of Forged Axe Throwing in Function Junction who signed their names in support of the establishment’s liquor licence application.
Under the application (which council supported at its Aug. 18 meeting), liquor consumption will be kept to certain areas, while Plexiglas dividers will ensure beverages stay out of the axe-throwing zone, said planner Stephanie Johnson in a presentation to council.
“That was a concern raised, and so the applicant came forward with the idea for Plexiglas,” Johnson said. “So I think there is enough room.”
There are about six licenced axe-throwing locations in Ontario, one in Calgary and on in Revelstoke, according to a report to council, none of which have had any safety incidents.
