Summertime Blues (editorial)

Filed under: employment, job, Big White, summer

Four seasons Resort facilities and two season (summer and winter) activities are the key to building a stable local population base for Big White BC.

Year round employmer required

While Big White is considered a top destination ski destination, lack of summer activities (except construction) forces locals to find work elsewhere for much of the year. Statistics for full time residents are lacking (but should be available shortly from last year's census), but most rely on off-mountain jobs to supplement off-season income. Young singles and couples struggle to find affordable cramped accomodation, then face the choice of seperation or relocation when they start a family. With appartment style condos starting at $300/square foot, even a modest two bedroom will cost over a quarter million dollars. While the long term solution is affordable housing for year round residents*, they will need year round employment. Possible future opportunities include a proposed destination casino, a recreation complex, indoor hockey rink (with summer Hockey camps), and a golf course.

(*Best acheived through an active process of community representation in Regional zoning and development through an agency similar to the Whistler Housing Authority.

As quoted from their website "Comfortable, affordable living space fosters the well-being of both the community and the individual. Affordable housing attracts skilled and energetic adults as well as young families with children to become part of the community. This in turn helps to ensure a stable workforce and a vibrant and diversified community. The Whistler Housing Authority believes it is essential that the majority of Whistler employees live in the community in which they work, and thus is continually working towards finding solutions to the affordable resident housing issue.and a vibrant and diversified community. The Whistler Housing Authority believes it is essential that the majority of Whistler employees live in the community in which they work, and thus is continually working towards finding solutions to the affordable resident housing issue.")

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