Whistler has a distinct vibe. It’s an exhilarating and magnetic resort destination that’s known for its big mountain skiing, trailblazing biking scene, and stunning alpine vistas. And a lot of people will tell you they came here for these things, BUT, if you dig a bit, they’ll usually tell you that the reason they stayed is that they found a deeper connection, a sense of community.
And that doesn’t always happen by accident. There are people, organizations and businesses that deliberately cultivate community, and that’s who we want to showcase in this series.
Join our host, Mike Douglas, a member-at-large of Protect Our Winters Canada, pro skier, enviro nerd and Whistler local, as he shines a light on how Whistler cultivates its unique sense of community.
In video #2, we joined Lisa Coulter, Director of Social Services at the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS), for its 36th Birthday Bash in 2025. She chatted with Mike about how making people feel like they belong underpins a healthy, vibrant community.
What does Whistler Community Services Society do?
It’s our vision to build and support a resilient community. We’ve been the caretakers of Whistler’s social health and wellness since 1989, when a Christmas hamper program was initiated. Now, we run the Whistler Food Bank and over 30 free programs that cover mental and emotional health, and finance and legal support.
Did you know? 50,000 people came through our doors last year (2024) to use our services!
We’re adjusting to the needs of our community as it grows and develops. We have programs that assist with grief and loss, counselling, and drug checking, to name just a few. We help new parents connect at our Birth, Baby and Beyond and Parent Infant Drop-In programs, we run social events for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and we have our popular Activate and Connect program for our seniors that focuses on connection. Outreach clients can connect anytime via our drop-in services during the week, and we host Coffee and Conversations on Wednesday afternoons to help Food Bank clients connect with our other social services.
Why are programs like this important?
Everyone wants to belong, especially those who don’t often feel that way. We help both locals and new arrivals to Whistler make the connections they need to feel part of our community. Whistler residents, both new and old, can benefit from our services and resources.
We help people take care of their mental and physical health, afford sport, camp, and art programs for their children, and more, so they can not just live here but thrive here.
<What role do volunteers play at WCSS?
WCSS is so grateful to have a team of 50 staff and over 50 incredible volunteers. People seek out volunteer opportunities with WCSS to make a difference in their community. We hear from our volunteers that they care for Whistler deeply and want to give back. They come to work with us as individuals or bring their friends and family and find a sense of belonging and purpose.
In 2024, our volunteers helped WCSS feed over 21,000 Food Bank clients! We truly could not do this work without them. Do you want to be a WCSS volunteer? Follow this link to express your interest: mywcss.org/volunteer/.
How does the Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It factor into all of this?
Our Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It thrift stores help to power Whistler’s circular economy. They divert over one thousand kilograms of useful items from landfill each day, and nearly 500,000 kilograms of waste per year through our stores and our bottle refundables program.
Funds earned from these social enterprises are reinvested back into the community, in the form of free programs, health and wellness resources, and other support.
Our social enterprise thrift stores are part of the fabric of the Whistler community. We’re a resort that loves to celebrate and dress up, and we’re also a hub for seasonal workers looking for gear. One of our volunteers even got her prom dress from the Re-Use-It Centre!
It’s also a great place for visitors to check out if they need a pair of ski goggles, golf balls or a fun outfit for a night out. You can also drop things off with us that don’t fit into your suitcase! Please check what we accept on our website.
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How does having a strong community affect the visitor experience?
We believe that a resilient and healthy community is important to everything Whistler offers. If your coffee shop barista, server or tour guide feels a sense of belonging in where they live, they are more able to create positive experiences in their work, and that means happier tourists.
When you belong to a community, it feels natural to support it and grow it. A sense of belonging benefits everyone!
How can we support WCSS?
As a Whistler non-profit with charitable status, WCSS relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors. You can support us by donating, volunteering, hosting a fundraiser, attending an event and shopping at our social enterprises. Sign up for our newsletter so we can let you know what we’ve got going on, and how you might be able to get involved!
This interview and video are number two of a series on how Whistler cultivates community. Video one features the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) and is definitely a great watch!
