Why Whistler?
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the Province of British Columbia. There is a permanent residence of 9965 plus offseason and during the season the population escalates to over 40 000 people. Over 2 million people visit Whistler a year. As you may have realized by now Whistler is a resort town but it is so much more than that. Just because Whistler is known for its skiing and snow doesn’t mean that you should give it a miss. In summer there are still activities to do such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing or simply viewing the beauty that is Whistler. Whistler has been voted for numerous awards and is consistently voted as one of the best destinations in North America. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler hosted most of the alpine, Nordic, luge, skeleton and bobsled events.
Public Transport
The Whistler transit system provides year-round public bus service throughout Whistler and between Whistler Village and Pemberton. The bus service covers most areas in Whistler and in spring the buses are equipped with bicycle racks. There are free shuttle buses that operate between Whistler Village and the ski resorts. In summer there is a free service between the Village and Lost Lake. The Village is based around a pedestrian-only Village Stroll. There is easy walking access between the shops, restaurants, ski lifts and accommodation. The Village Stroll is paved so you don’t have to worry about walking through snow. There are also 24-hour taxi services that are provided in Whistler all year round. A trip within the Village will cost you $5, a trip to Creekside will cost you about $10 and a trip to the outlying neighbors will cost you about $15.
Education
The education system is based in the School District 48 Sea to Sky. It is a school district in British Columbia and serves three diverse communities, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. The district also serves six Aboriginal communities; Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw, Lil’wat Nation, N’Quatqua Band, Samhquam Ucwalmicw, Skatin Nations, Xa’xtsa and the Metis, Inuit and Off-Reserve Aboriginal Nations. Each community within the school district has its own needs and interests and there is a spirit of collaboration throughout. There is one aim and that is the success of all students. Excellence is expected in all fields; academia, sport, fine arts and career programs. The School District 48 Sea to Sky offers a full range of education programs such as French immersion, an international student program, culinary arts, carpentry trades program and web conferencing. Because Whistler is so famous for it's beautiful outdoors, the school district takes full advantage of its surroundings and so do the students. Outdoor activities for students include hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, golf, and camping. Imagine packing your snowboard to go to school?
Weather
The winters in Whistler are cool and wet and the summers are warm and dry. Whistler receives an average 11 days with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius and approximately 24 says where the temperature will drop to below -10 degrees Celsius. Whistler has the best yearly snow conditions with a snowfall of 10.22 meters.
Festivals
The Pemberton Valley Music Festival is situated at the foot of Mt. Currie and the lineup of contemporary music artists includes rock, hip hop, indie, and electronic dance music. And if that isn’t enough to entice you then the activities at the festival should. Water slides, zip-lining, and skateboard ramps. What more could you ask for? The Pemberton Valley Music Festival takes place every July. There is also the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival and the Squamish Valley Music Festival.
Why Whistler
Whistler is a beautiful city with such a diverse community and so much to offer. During the season thousands of people from all over the world come to Whistler to work and live life on the ski slopes. This means that you will be able to meet and mix with people from many different countries. If you decide to work in Whistler at a resort you will generally work 4 days a week and have 3 days off and your workweek will be between 15 to 40 hours. The added bonus is that you can ski or snowboard to work and get all the fresh powder. There is also a thriving nightlife in Whistler due to the influx of people during the ski season. Whistler Blackcomb was voted the overall number one resort in 2016.
Pros
- Some of the best skiing and snowboarding resorts in North America
- A diverse community of people
- It’s not just a winter town, there are summer outdoor activities too
- Good public transport system
- Only 125km from Vancouver
Cons
- Majority of the population is during the ski season
- Many of the jobs available are only in the ski season