It’s understandable if the first rainy weekend of September—the one that normally marks the beginning of fall in Whistler—makes most residents want to grab a blanket and spend their Sunday indoors.
However, the pouring rain didn’t deter 160 Whistler Blackcomb employees, friends and family members from spending their day off getting their hands dirty in support of their community.
Whistler Blackcomb staff came out in droves for the second annual EpicPromise Day, a company-wide volunteer day held at Spruce Grove Park. “It’s four times as many people as we had last year,” explained organizer Cynthia Buck, EpicPromise Community Captain for Whistler Blackcomb.
Whistler Blackcomb partnered with the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) to tackle some important conservation projects, like building new greenhouse garden boxes, weeding around pollinator patches and greenhouse perimeters, building ‘insect hotels’ and building the bird house kits that will be sold as an AWARE fundraiser next summer.
“It’s incredible. Honestly, we couldn’t get done what we got done today in one season, let alone in one day. It’s phenomenal to have this many people working hard and getting so much done,” said Kristen Jones, AWARE’s environmental education coordinator.
In addition to the environmental projects taking place at Spruce Grove, another crew of volunteers was based in Spring Creek at the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Social Services Centre. The building that houses the Zero Ceiling Society as well as the Howe Sound Women’s Centre and Sea to Sky Community Services Whistler offices was in need of some sprucing up since former co-tenants Whistler Community Services Society moved into their new building at Nester’s.
The initiative is held as part of Whistler Blackcomb parent company Vail Resort’s EpicPromise Week. The annual company-wide volunteer week aims to support staff-led volunteer projects in each community that’s home to a Vail Resorts property. This year, 2,100 employees registered to take part in 29 different projects across the company.
