Social Justice Issues in the Whistler- Pemberton Corridor: Starting the Dialogue
January 11, 2007
Introduction
This report is an attempt to document the social justice issues in the Whistler Pemberton corridor for the
purposes of the Community Foundation of Whistler (CFOW). The CFOW has three main roles: Endowment
Building, broad and effective grant-making and inclusive community leadership. The CFOW has agreed to
strategically focus on funding social justice issues in the communities it serves, which are primarily the Whistler
and Pemberton areas.
This report is a starting point to help identify social justice issues, assist in deepening understanding of the
issues, understand what actions are already underway to address the issues, and identify what priorities remain
to be addressed.
The document will assist the CFOW in facilitating social justice and will inform the CFOW Board as it looks at
how to best serve the Whistler-Pemberton corridor in the future.
Community Foundations of Canada is encouraging community foundations across Canada to address social
justice issues to assist in resolving the problems. Over time this may involve support in the form of grantmaking, providing leadership, advocating for change, or leveraging financial and volunteer resources.
Social Justice means that society should provide equal opportunity for all its members. For community
foundations, social justice work is directed at social change - seeking solutions to social, economic and political
injustice by addressing root causes of those problems, not just their symptoms-while still supporting the
organizations that meet immediate needs. (The Social Justice Spectrum, CFC 2004).
Social Justice Examples:
If a grant is given to buy food for a Food Bank, this is not a social justice project. It alleviates the symptoms, but
does not create long-term change.
Whereas, a social justice approach to a food issue might bring people together to make positive change in the
community food system with a focus on meeting the needs of low-income and marginalized populations. It might
involve linking with local farmers, establishing neighborhood gardens, and identifying opportunities for volunteer
harvesting of unwanted fruit and vegetables.
As a local example of social justice granting, the Community Foundation of Whistler has funded the Zero Ceiling
Society’s Snowboard Instructor Training Program. This project provides disadvantaged youth, with employment
skills and life skills training to assist to making the transition into gainful employment and find housing.
For more examples, see the Social Justice Philanthropy section of the CFC website: www.community-fdn.ca
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Social Justice Themes:
The issues of poverty and racism, discrimination and classism seem to be recurrent themes in all of the specific
examples raised by respondents in the sections that follow. The November 2006 Summary of Results from the
Vancouver Foundation’s Community Conversations uses similar priority issues including affordable housing,
issues related to poverty, addictions and mental health and community inclusion. During the Whistler
conversations, there was specific reference to improve relationship and community involvement with First
Nations and the need to support vulnerable populations such as seniors, those with mental illness and
developmental delays. (www.vancouverfoundation.bc.ca). The Whistler 2020: Moving Towards a Sustainable
Future document has identified actions for some similar themes in its affordability, housing, health and social
strategy documents (www.whistler.ca). The Winds of Change Report: A Healing Vision looks specifically at
drug and alcohol issues. The report has made recommendations on services, increasing awareness of risks
associated with alcohol and other drug use and community leadership and responsibility. The North Wind:
Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices recommendation #2 which includes the sponsorship of events to promote
community cohesion in the context of healthy activities (Google Mt. Currie and Winds of Change to see full
report).
In response to the questions (appendix A), the following issues have been identified by community members as
social justice concerns in our community. We have attempted to cluster the comments in under headings for
ease of reading.
Please note that the comments included under the following headings represent feedback received from local
community members, although we have not referenced the specific individuals.
A. Poverty
The very poor can not live in Whistler and the opinion seems to be that they shouldn’t. There is no long term
social housing and the idea that people come to Whistler by choice makes many believe that if you need extra
assistance you should go elsewhere. This issue arises
B. Racial Issues/Discrimination
In Whistler the poor, the mentally ill, gays, indigenous people and other non-whites are the most discriminated
against.
Whistler is becoming more multicultural, but the community feel is not really changing. Many people of color in
Whistler work in the less desirable jobs-housekeeping, dishwashing, McDonalds, etc.
In the past, there have been more applicants than jobs and thus people suffering from any mental illness may
have difficulty finding work, even if their mental illness would in no way impact their ability to do the job.
There is racism in our valley between various immigrant populations and also with First Nations people. There
are also issues of classism with very wealthy people and poorer people.
Inequality of wages between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people was raised during the Forum.
For First Nations the issue of internalized racism was raised in the workshop discussion as well.
Social Support Networks and Family Supports:
Support from families, friends and communities is important in helping people deal with difficult situations and
maintaining a sense of mastery over life circumstances (Population Health Promotion, Hamilton and Bhatti)."
This theme relates to the sections on seniors, families, supported living for the disabled, employment training for
first nations as well as the lack of services for gays and lesbians.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Education:
There is a lack of post secondary opportunities for residents of all ages in the Sea to Sky Corridor. As a result,
students are required to either travel long distances on often-dangerous highways, or move to another
community to further their education and training. Financing accommodation as well as tuition is frequently
prohibitive for most families. Therein lies the challenging circle: Often what is needed to increase the family
income is to increase education or training, which one can’t afford financially or in terms of time when looking
after a family or working full-time.
At the secondary level, students frequently leave the corridor as the public school system cannot offer the broad
variety of academic and vocational programs due to the small population at the senior levels.
The Elderly in our Community:
The senior populations within the Whistler/Pemberton corridor have differing characteristics and are valued in
different ways according to the culture of each community.
Communities of affordable, appropriate seniors housing, culturally sensitive social and health care programs that
will support them as they age in place, are needed in each community.
Seniors Facilities:
The provision of accessible and appropriate health care, recreation/social programs, housing, and transportation
for seniors in Pemberton and Whistler are social justice issues that need to be addressed. Many seniors are
required to travel to either Vancouver or Squamish to receive care that is beyond the scope of a general
practitioner or a health care center. The provision of more geriatric centered medicine, and accessible diagnostic
services closer to home are required. Facilities and programs for seniors in the corridor (both social and health
related) are inadequate. Transportation is a major problem for seniors in Pemberton and north of Pemberton; the
senior who is unable to drive is disadvantaged and must depend on others for transportation. Whistler seniors
have greater access to bus services but if disabled, still have to rely on others for transportation. Recreation and
social programs differ in the two communities. Whistler seniors are generally younger and more athletic than the
Pemberton seniors. Fitness and social programs need to be varied and designed to meet the needs of all groups
and ages of seniors. Senior housing is a growing problem in both communities. With an older population of
seniors in Pemberton the need for fully assisted living housing is more pressing than in Whistler. Seniors
Independent living communities have been identified as the appropriate type of housing for the more active and
younger seniors who wish to age in place in Whistler. In both communities the need for hospice and palliative
care beds is acute and has social implications that extend beyond the senior population.
According to Stats Canada data, the number of residents aged 55-64 is 490 in Whistler and 60 in Pemberton;
age 65-74 is 180 and 25; age 85 and over there are 10 in Whistler and zero in Pemberton.
Affordable Housing and Education Programs for Local Low to Middle Income Families:
There is a sector of the population of local families that are struggling to stay in the valley. They do not earn
enough money to pay for housing and education. Many families are experiencing break-ups and there is need
for family counseling, and counselling for both financial and legal matters with respect to the divorce process.
In Whistler we do have homeless people. Because they couch surf in winter or camp/live in cars in the summer,
it is invisible.
Youth coming to live and work in Whistler:
Students coming in from other countries are far better prepared than the Canadian students. They have planned
the trip and researched the cost of living, jobs and housing. Many Canadian students arrive here for a gap year
that certainly can be life altering as they are totally unprepared for the life, the resort influences and the
responsibilities of keeping a job. They have little understanding of the laws governing renting a property. Some
property owners exploit this lack of knowledge and experience.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Food Security:
Food is an issue. The summary from the Sea to Sky Food Security Report (August, 2006), notes that there are
challenges to ensuring that all individuals and families have healthy food all the time. Large chains that typically
offer reduced pricing are all located in Squamish which often means families and individuals have to travel south
for groceries or pay higher costs closer to home. It is noted that not all culturally relevant or traditional foods are
available in the Corridor and those that are available are more expensive than when purchased in Vancouver.
Typically the foods that are cheaper to purchase tend not to be the most nutritionally sound foods. The report
notes opportunities for enhanced local food production such as community gardens with increased capacity to
freeze food allowing for distribution over time. Coordination of surplus food, services to address food security.
The report recommends the creation of a Community Food Action Committee for the Sea to Sky Corridor that
includes broad representation, the creation of a listserv to support communication and information flow,
formation of strategic partnerships and the hiring of a Food Security Coordinator.
Child Nutrition:
The management of children’s health, which is directly determined by poor nutrition, needs to be addressed.
There is an increasing incidence of nutrition - based disorders (diabetes, obesity, attention deficit disorders) in
some segments of our communities. Programs to reach the youngest members of our communities, aimed at
improving early nutrition and early education about healthy eating, should be made available.
Health Care Services/Access:
There is an inequity of health care services within the Sea to Sky corridor. Provision of programs and services to
the smaller, more isolated communities is inadequate. The timely diagnosis and treatment of patients is
impacted by the lack of appropriate diagnostic equipment and technologies and the difficulties associated with
the transfer of patients from a geographically challenging region. The seasonal high patient numbers and the
high acuity of patient populations due to recreation and highway trauma, creates a strain on already overtaxed
health care providers and facilities.
Services:
Services for the disabled are virtually non-existent, at least in Whistler.
On-going services for individuals with chronic mental health issues (addressing either symptoms or root causes),
is lacking not only in the corridor, but in BC. This is particularly true for people with personality disorders and
borderline personality disorders (people whom I have heard described as the walking wounded).
We still need more prevention services for 0-6. Mothers are still drinking during pregnancy.
We need to develop assisted living resources to allow disabled children to stay in Mt. Currie.
The Winds of Change document also recommends increased alcohol and drug counseling, outreach, and public
transit to access services.
Drug & Alcohol Issues:
Drug and alcohol are a continuous problem, particularly for young people and education programs are constantly
needed.
First Nations:
There is still a need to deal with the many social justice issues in First Nations communities, many of which
overlap with the issues identified as topics elsewhere in this document including access to prevention and
treatment services, housing, discrimination, racism, classism, food and some different issues such as literacy for
teens and adults and kindergarten readiness.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
More than one service provider noted the challenge around accessing services for first nations that may be in
either provincial or federal pockets. Some programs are on reserve and some are off-reserve other funds have
gray areas that can be manipulated and other services allow access for all. It’s a big picture problem for Mt.
Currie that probably requires political response/advocacy.
It is noted, that close to Pemberton and Mt. Currie are four additional Bands with their own governance structure.
There are about 500 status members in these Bands. Douglas, Skatin (Skookamchuk), Baptis (Samahquan)
and Anderson Lake/Nquatqua.
Poverty:
As reported by Regional Chief Toulouse, “The reality today for First Nations communities is ongoing poverty, and
an increasing gap in living conditions with other Canadians. This gap was first reported a full decade ago in the
Royal Commission on Aboriginal People (RCAP) hearings, and it has continued to grow. First Nations poverty is
the single greatest social justice issue in Canada today. Poverty breeds helplessness and hopelessness, which
results in far too many of our young men and women committing crimes of despair.”
The Bottom Line: First Nations must have the ability to make decisions that affect their lives and plan for their
own future. All Canadians must call for immediate action on the part of the government of Canada to stop the
cycle of poverty, and support First Nations governments to address this issue for the sake of our future
generations.
(See www.afn.ca)
Racial Issues/Discrimination:
So long as racism is accepted as a norm today there will be little change in the upcoming generation. When we
allow ourselves to become prejudice towards those within our own communities for being different or for having
less – what are the teachings for those around us?
Social Support Networks:
Support from families, friends and communities is important in helping people deal with difficult situations and
maintaining a sense of mastery over life circumstances (Population Health Promotion, Hamilton and Bhatti)."This
theme relates to the sections on seniors, supported living for the disabled, social support/services for First
Nations as well as the lack of services for gays and lesbians.
Education:
The policies/procedures regarding Post Secondary funding does hinder opportunities for First Nations, especially
those with families, from pursuing their education. Therein lie a couple of factors – a restriction to purchase
courses disallows the opportunity to offer courses locally and the costs of relocating along with culture shock are
barriers that cause despair. Discussion in the forum noted that these areas have a particularly impact on single
parent families.
The Elderly in our Community:
In Lil’wat Nation, Mount Currie Band, there is an approximate population of 67 people over the age of 60. These
people would be more prepared for the coming of age with better-equipped facilities that currently promote
healthy lifestyle choices via fitness and nutrition. As the elderly are increasing their awareness on self-care the
demands to address the new teachings require additional services/programs.
Seniors Facilities:
The Mount Currie Band has a 3-phase physical development plan for Elders facilities that deem to be completed
by 2010. The rise in construction costs and potential funding sources are impacting those facilities to be built and
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
equipped with quality fit-up. Phase 1 – residential units for physically challenged and elderly (final stages of
build and will be occupied by March 1, 2007) – phase II – acute care and phase III will be an intensive care unit.
As a result it would seem that again First Nations are subjected to poverty as they are hindered by shortcomings
in funds/funding sources to ensure that their elders get quality facilities and equipment.
The bottom line is that with the total population there will be greater a demand in the near future for such
facilities as the longevity of our elderly increases.
Lil’wat Nation (Mount Currie Band)
An elected Chief and Council in accordance with the Indian Act govern the Lil’wat Nation. Within that
governance an administration exists with the following Departments; Education (local community school from K12) and a Post Secondary Institute (Ts’zil Learning Centre); Business, Training and Employment Centre;
Employment Agency; Children and Families, Health, Public/Capital Works, Lands & Resources, Accounting and
general administration. Within that organization each department has a mandate to address housing, health
care, mental health, social development issues, wellness, employment and training concerns for their
membership.
There is a need to deal with the many social justice issues as a result of poverty and colonization in Lil’wat
Nation, many of which overlap with the subtitles identified in this document. Although the subtitles may be seen
as issues in Lil’wat Nation it must be acknowledged and realized that the issues are unique to the Lil’watemc.
Cultural diversity and historical impacts plus all the many abuses over time impact the true identity of a Lil’watul.
It is not impossible to turn those impacts around however more resources, funding and support are required to
assist in building a healthy and holistic generation.
Tourist town:
There are drugs, alcohol, fights, and unruly behavior among the tourists. This is focused on the tourists and not
local residents. An education program would help
High density – low income neighborhoods:
When you crowd many people with low incomes, particularly youth, into one neighborhood it can cause
problems. This is social issue in Whistler.
Services for gay and lesbian residents:
There is no organized group to address services and supports to gay and lesbian residents in the Sea to Sky
Corridor.
Being a sports town, we are a town of jocks and it can be very difficult to be gay in an environment that
accentuates the masculine. Even harder for a young man or woman to “come out” in.
Transportation in the Corridor:
Transportation is a barrier to service access.
Other Issues:
 Family Violence
 Access to Recreation
 Limited Job Opportunities-low wages/high cost of living and the need for local economic development
were discussed.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Recommendations/other thoughts:
Two of the respondents commented that the issue of longer term funding is a concern. The types of issues that
need addressing cannot be managed in the short term. For example the food security project has stalled as the
funds ran out and nobody picked up the project despite the urgent needs identified in the entire corridor from
Squamish to Mt. Currie. While the funding is now in progress, it has required a lot of effort for very modest
dollars. “It’s an ethical issue, should we start what we can’t sustain.” When community groups and individuals
come forward to do the work and nothing happens, for some people there will be a trust issue.
Programs that offer short-term immediate assistance (symptoms) while at the same time addressing the Social
Justice aspect may provide the greatest efficacy in dealing with the whole picture.
I think CFOW should focus on building and strengthening capacity as the first step and then on to advocacy and
awareness.
Once the social justice vision becomes clearer, I think many Whistlerites would be willing to donate some,
including possibly myself as a small donor. I would first want to see how CFOW invests their funds to see how
closely the Foundation’s work matches my own social justice and environmental beliefs.
Leadership:
It would be cool to have people on the board who actually represent (as one individual of course) the
underrepresented such as a single mom, a person suffering from a mental disability, a representative from Mt.
Currie, and a Sikh, etc. Non-whites in Whistler are heavily underrepresented. Stats Canada shows the top
visible minority in both Whistler and Pemberton is Japanese. The second largest is Chinese for Whistler and
South Asian for Pemberton.
Whistler has an opportunity to take a stand on issues like sweatshops.
Summary of Social Justice Forum Discussions:
On January 11, 2007, the CFOW hosted a forum on Social Justice at the SLRD Boardroom in Pemberton. 23
Attendees from Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and Mt. Currie and Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society attended
(see list).
Following introductions and welcoming remarks, session facilitator Betsy Martin, Senior Advisor and Program
Consultant for Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) provided an overview of Social Justice work being
carried out in Canada.
The participants reviewed the previously distributed list of Whistler/Pemberton Social Justice Issues and added
the following issues:
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Transportation in the Corridor - Transportation is a barrier to service access.
Family Violence
Access to Recreation
Limited Job Opportunities-low wages/high cost of living and the need for local economic development
were discussed.
After discussion about the issues, participants then ranked the issues for action (Whistler/Pemberton) in order of
priority using a multi voting approach with the results as follows:
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Poverty (7)
Movement on Good Works (5)
Transportation (4)
Health Care Services/Access (4)
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com

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Cross-cultural Learning (3)
Social/Family Support (3)
The discussion about the top three priorities including actors and gaps is shown below.
1) Poverty
Actors:
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Whistler 2020
WCSS – Food Bank, Community Kitchens
SNOW – Support Network of Whistler
Mt. Currie Band Council/Depts.
SSCS – Mom-Tots/ Healthy Pregnancy, Food Bank Voucher Program
Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments
Community
Gaps:
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Ownership by the community, community participation
Advocacy for poor people to access community development/prevention
No shared community vision
Capacity building of food programs in Pemberton and Squamish
Support programs like SNOW in Mt. Currie
Redistribution of wealth
Community gardens/kitchens
Networking/communications and to the public
Discussion:
 Poverty is not by Choice.
 There is a misperception that First Nations are receiving a lot of government dollars. Funding is only for
program dollars only. In context settlement equals $10K per person, healing dollars $3K per person.
There are families who now have five generations in care instead of caring for self/families.
 The Winds of Change process is allowing First Nations to reclaim identity.
 The impact of low wages was discussed and the interrelationships to other areas. If a parent gets up at
0530 to commute to a low paying job, get kids ready, pay daycare, at the get home late, and at the end
of the day, the family makes $2K. It’s not worth it. Parents are not parenting and are forgetting how to
be parents.
 The role of media and the images promoting consumerism and a feeling of poverty were raised.
2) Movement on good works
Actors:
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List serve under development - Consider a “Hot Spot” linking and coordinating ideas and people
Food security report – Sea to Sky
Lil’wat Rec. committee
Winds of change
Whistler 2020
2010 – Sustainability and legacy
CTC and WFY action plans
Youth advisory council for Pemberton/Mt. Currie
Leadership Sea to Sky
Gaps:
 Create spaces for youth who aren’t leaders already
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com

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Learning and leading exchange (Squamish Community Foundation was interested-Barb Oates is
contact)
Rotary – RYLA
Healthy cities Pemberton/Mt. Currie
SNOW – moving that to other communities beyond Whistler
Zero Ceiling Society
Pemberton Youth Centre
Purple Post or Craigs list for transportation
Note: SNOW is a program designed to support families who are frequently using the Food Bank. Individuals
attend educational workshops (financial management, life coaching, budgeting, yoga, etc.) and receive a
discount card for food at cost.
3) Transportation
Actors:
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Municipalities
Employers
Whistler 2020
Taxi companies
Rail
Gas companies
Mt. Currie Band
Squamish Nation
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Gaps:
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Foster grassroots responses
Between cities
Bussed on large busses only
Meet needs of mountain, not the people
Frequency
Convening the players to figure out the opportunities
Not much for youth (Greyhound doesn’t transport alone if under 15 years old)
Auto sharing
Van services network
Discussion:
 Whistler Blackcomb buses run to Pemberton at least once a day. Could utilization be expanded?
 There are people regularly driving to the city, how do we tap this resource?
 Sonja will ensure that city hospitals and Squamish community members have better awareness of
volunteer driver program.
Other Discussion, Thoughts and Ideas:
Creating Community Space was a concept that seems to create excitement, perhaps likened to a
friendship center.
 No cost
 Everyone welcome
 Community led and run (informal)
 Has a facilitator who can help encourage good ideas.
 Linking community transportation
 Community development leading to economic development
 Squamish – Community Health Worker – women and health/connections for seniors
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Policies - Can we reinstitute trust? Because of 5% who abuse systems, we put rigorous bureaucratic measures
in place and therefore only serve the well educated who can meet the requirements.
Access for those on the cusp of crisis - Services seem to be aligned to those who are already in very dire
shape. E.g. training innovations has tremendous services, but you have to be unemployed and very
disadvantaged in order to access those services.
Stories - Squamish Social Development Council noted that the response to homelessness in the community
was not a shelter. What people wanted was washing machines, showers a place to talk and possibly a hiring
hall. 30 volunteers have come forward. The response reduces isolation.
Communication – finding out what’s going on can be challenging. This related to communication between
groups, but also connecting individuals with disabilities with each other and with services. Sonja noted that the
Squamish Arts Council list serve has been successful and needs to be tried as a social services list serve. The
list serve material is brief with links to where to get the info. This topic has also come up in the recent Vancouver
Foundation Community Conversations. It is believed that the Hot Spot in Squamish is working on something.
There are short term projects that would benefit from facilitation perhaps through an electronic parking lot, like
Volunteer Vancouver Board Match. People want to help e.g. Martin’s recycling company gets calls to pick up
building supplies or useable items to charity. He may be asked to pick up 10 mattresses from a hotel, the re-use
it center will take 2-3 and the rest get dumped.
Community resource group exists in Whistler/Pemberton and Squamish. Group facilitates sharing between
service providers. Mental Health coordinates. Whistler would need to consider strategies to integrate the Scoop
list with the list serve. CFOW needs help in educating the communities about what we do.
Food Banks operate in Whistler, Squamish, and Pemberton. There is a need for an appropriate food bank
location in Pemberton. It is noted that the quality of food varies across communities. In the city and Whistler
hotels donate food via programs like food runners. There was a discussion about a shortage of food bank
vouchers in Pemberton which will be followed up internally by Sea to Sky Community Services.
Sharing
Space-HPOP has space available for other activities.
Squamish Community Foundation helps applicants fund good projects. If you attend the workshop, they will
help you develop the proposal and fund the good ideas arising.
Process Considerations:
 The Head of the Lake Communities have limited phone access, but do have e-mail.
 A need was identified for reciprocal cross cultural training, educating each other on what goes on in
our community.
Next steps and recommendations
It was agreed that the issues raised as priorities for action were consistent across the communities of Whistler
and Pemberton; although, the specifics, participants and strategies in response might need to be unique.
There was an acknowledgement of the need to alleviate social injustice and build social justice at the same
time (upstream and downstream approaches simultaneously (rescuing the babies in the river while finding out
who is putting the babies in the river and preventing a continuation).
Focus on the working poor. Helping those on the cusp would help.
We need more programs like community gardens/kitchens; funds to purchase greenhouses so kids can grow
food (see food security report?) CFOW will explore the opportunity to build on the report.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Advocacy- Federal, provincial, local and all levels of government need to be pressured to allocate/reallocate
resources to where they belong – perhaps through a letter writing campaign to Mayors and Councils. While this
related to a number of issues, the abysmal social assistance rates were raised.
Ensure community ownership. Action can’t become the professionals sitting around or it becomes our job.
Build a shared vision that helps deal with racism where the issues are similar across cultures.
CFOW will explore CFC’s place based poverty initiative which includes Hamilton/Winnipeg and has room for
three more communities. And also look at the Neighborhood Small Grants Program.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
References
Deanne Zeidler, Speech/Language Pathologist
Greg McDonnell-Outreach Worker, Whistler Community Services Society
Janet McDonald Executive Director, Whistler Community Services Society
Joanne John, CAP Director, Lil’wat Nation Wellness Centre
Lois Wynne, Executive Director, Sea to Sky Community Services Society
Sarah Jennings – Community Member
CFOW Social Justice Working Group
Peter Ackhurst-CFOW, Social Justice Working Group, Chair
Carmen Stacey
Cecelia Lawson
Christine Buttkus
Marg Pallot
Liz Barratt – works with Mt Currie schools
Marnie Simon - Chair Whistler Health Care Foundation.
Forum Participants
Barb Oates
Betsy Martin
Christina McGill
Christine Buttkus
Greg McDonnell
Janet McDonald
Jerry Desmond
Jesse Burnett
Joanne John
John Hall
Kathy Barnett
Kerry Chalmers
Lois Wynne
Marcy Ptolemy
Marnie Simon
Martin Dahinden
Michelle Nisbet
Molly Aiten
Peter Ackhurst
Rebecca Ford
Rick Staehli
Sarah Tipler
Sonja Lebans
CFC
CFC
Child and Youth Mental Health (MCFD)
Committee
Whistler Community Services
Whistler Community Services
Catholic Church (Whistler/Pemberton/Mt. Currie)
Sea to Sky Community Services
Lil’wat Wellness Centre
Howe Sound Teachers Association
CFOW
CFOW
Sea to Sky Community Services
Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society (Nquatqua, Skatin)
Whistler Health Care Foundation/Committee
Community
Pemberton RCMP/Community member
Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society
CFOW
CFOW
Pemberton Community Fund
Canadian Disabled Individuals Association
Squamish Social Planning Council
Thank you to the Village of Pemberton for the donation of the space, the Pemberton Valley Supermarket for the
donation of food and to the SLRD for their on-site assistance.
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com
Appendix A
Social Justice Questionnaire
What do you view as the major social justice issue in Sea to Sky? If possible, provide a piece of data that helps
describe the issue.
Who is presently addressing social justice issues?
Who should be invited to attend the social justice forum (consider underrepresented or affected groups?
What would you recommend that the CFOW focus its attention on as it moves toward social justice supports?
(Strengthening capacity of those most affected, building capacity for mobilization, support advocacy and
awareness)
Are there donors who you think CFOW should contact who would have a specific interest in SJ?
102-4369 Main Street, Suite #989, Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B4
Phone: 604-935-8080 www.whistlerfoundation.com