Area Profile
Winter Activities
Summer Activities
Après-ski
Transportation
Housing
Employment - Down Ski areas: Whistler, Blackcomb
- Cross-Country Ski areas: Lost Lake Park, Callaghan Valley
- Population: 10,000 permanent residents
- Day Population average: 28,280 visitors
- Road and weather conditions: 1.877.4.SAFE99
- Snow report: (604) 932-4211
- Annual snowfall: 402 inches/33.5 feet/10.22 metres per year
- Ski season:
- Whistler: Mid November-April
- Blackcomb: Mid-November- June
- Visitors Bureau: 1-877-991-9988
- Average monthly cost for shared accommodation: $650 per person
- Cost of adult 1-day lift ticket: $83 Cdn.
- Local newspaper:
- Whistler Question: (604) 932-5131
- Pique Newsmagazine: (604) 938-0202
Area Profile Whistler is the Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and will host the Nordic, alpine and sliding events of the Olympic Games from February 12 to 28, 2010 and most of the Paralympic
Games, from March 12 to 21, 2010. Sometimes known as Canada's greatest secret, the Whistler area truly has one of the most beautiful landscapes in skidom; rushing waterfalls, jagged, snowy peaks, lush vegetation, and European-style hamlets combine for a taste of pure paradise. The mountains do get crowded on the weekends, as Vancouver locals make the ninety-minute drive to sample the skiing. The area is not susceptible to unpredictable
weather because it is protected by the Japanese current. Extreme temperatures and snow blizzards are rare. Currency can be changed at most of the hotels, and many merchants accept U.S. dollars. Winter Activities The resort is physically similar to Mammoth Mountain in Southern California. Together Whistler and Blackcomb have the greatest vertical drop in North America. With over 8,100 skiable acres, Whistler has a 5,020-foot vertical
drop and Blackcomb prides itself on 5,280 vertical feet. It is said that if you ski nonstop from the top to the bottom of these mountains, your ears will actually pop from the pressure change. The area has labeled 25 percent of its runs beginner, 55 percent intermediate, and the remaining 20 percent expert. In addition to downhill skiing, there are fifteen kilometers of cross-country trails in Lost Lake Park for all levels, as well as over fifty kilometres of trails
located 20 minutes outside of Whistler at the Callaghann Valley.
Whistler has heli-skiing, cat-skiing, snowmobile tours, dog-sled rides, a tube park, ice skating and many other activities available throughout the peak winter months. Summer Activities Scenic flights, helicopter hiking, downhill and cross-country mountain biking, golf, river rafting, fishing, canoeing, hiking and swimming are just a few of the
activities in the area. Call the Visitors Bureau for information. Après-ski With over 90 Whistler restaurants and fine dining options within Whistler Village, there are countless apres options to choose from. A variety of restaurants & pubs offer flavours from around the world, and all priced to suit a variety of budgets. After 9pm find rock music or reggae playing at Buffalo Bill's or mix with the younger crowd at Tommy Africa's. The parties are
always right in the ski village or in Whistler Creekside, a short ride away. A stand-out restaurant is the Rimrock Cafe, consistently rated as one of Whistler's top restaurants and fine dining establishments; it is a must for all visitors to Whistler. Transportation Travel to Whistler/Blackcomb is quite easy due to its proximity to Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver is served by many major U.S. and Canadian
airlines such as Air Canada, United, and American. The resort is seventy-five miles north of the airport. Ground transportation between the airport and resort is available from Perimeter Transportation, 1-877-317-7788, for about $63 Cdn one way. The Greyhound bus offers reasonably priced rides for $20 one way (between the city and Whistler - additional cabfare between city and airport is $30). Alternatively an Airporter shuttle bus will take you from the
Vancouver Airport to the Greyhound station and leaves every 20minutes. Due to the fact that 80 percent of Whistler/Blackcomb's accommodations are ski-in/ski-out and everything seems to be in your lap, a car is not needed to get around the area. Housing Working and living in Whistler can be the experience of a lifetime. Once you are here you can look forward to hard work and lots of fun. However, if you
are coming from out of town or out of country, it is always best to do a little research before you arrive. Please check out the Whistler Community Services website at www.mywcss.org and have a look at The Whistler Survival Guide (under the Programs section) which provides information to those who are new to Whistler. Accommodation can be difficult to find in the winter season,
so the earlier you arrive in the fall the better, as long as you have money to live on. You may also wish to look for accommodation in Pemberton (30 minutes north) or Squamish (45 minutes south). Check for bulletin boards around the village, in various coffee shops, or at WERC. You can look for accommodation by checking the Classified sections in the two local newspapers, the Whistler Question and the Pique Newsmagazine (both published on Thursdays). During the winter season Whistler Blackcomb (604-938-7500) offers staff housing for first year employees. They have approximately 1,300 beds available for reasonable rates. From May to October, staff housing is available for rent by the general public. Please note that you will need a credit card to rent a bed. Other employers offering staff housing.
Bring enough money to keep you going for 2 months in case you don't get hired by Whistler/Blackcomb and need to find accommodation in the Village: - Rent: $650/month
- Enough to survive for up to 2 months without a paycheck:
- $40/week for groceries X 8 weeks = $320
- Other potential costs:
- Phone and/or hydro deposit: $200 each
- Entertainment, transportation costs, phone bills. It is advised to
have a minimum of $1500
Employment Most winter hiring at Whistler is done at the end of September and early October. Summer hiring starts in February/March for outdoor work and in late April and early May for indoor work, such as hotels and restaurants. Visit Whistler Employment Resource Centre's website at www.whistlerchamber
.com for helpful information and listings of current openings. The Whistler Chamber of Commerce also has an online Business Directory that may be helpful for job searching. Also note that any American citizen wishing to work in Canada must obtain a work visa or written consent from his or her prospective employer. Another option is to check out student exchange programs through local universities or colleges, or the school's student travel center. Mont Tremblant Jobs >>> | 
