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Janyk joins council race

Former school trustee wants female representation, back to basics approach to governance

Andrée Janyk was skiing in Whistler the year before the resort opened with her father, who helped install the first lifts. She moved to the resort full-time in 1995 with two future World Cup skiers in the family, and has been an active member of the community ever since.

And this week Janyk confirmed that she would be seeking a place on council in the November election.

"I feel passionate about this community and feel after 12 years on the school board that I have some skills and knowledge that I could contribute," she said.

"I think that generally from being on the Official Community Plan group and being involved in the community on the Chamber (of Commerce) board, that we need some good governance policies put out there.

"I just think it's time now to focus on key areas of business, and define those areas for businesses and the community to remain sustainable for both locals and businesses."

Janyk is active with the Whistler Weasel Workers, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, the Whistler Youth Soccer Association, and other organizations. She was on the OCP committee, a member of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce for five years and was a representative on the school board serving four terms as a trustee. She helped to launch the volunteer coaching program at Whistler Secondary School and helping to run a high school soccer tournament that will take place in November. She was also involved in the Children's Chorus.

"I think one of the things I bring is broad-based community involvement at all kinds of levels, and in many situations that I think show my ability to listen and to plan for the future," she said.

She would also like to see more female representation on council. Out of 19 council candidates that had declared as of this week Jen Ford is the only female in the race. One of three candidates for mayor is female, Nancy Wilhelm-Morden.

"Obviously in some ways we look at things a little bit different, and we have a different opinion and different feelings about the place we live," she said. "I think that's an important thing to have on council. In the end (male and female councillors) might not come to the same opinion, but just having a different perspective may influence things. It creates a compliment of experiences that only help the community move forward in a very challenging time."

Janyk said she's reminded of the economic crisis in the 1980s when interest rates were in the high double digits and the resort's future was in danger. "That was a very tough time for anyone who remembers what it was like," she said.

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