The race for Whistler's vacant council seat is heating up, as another longtime local has announced intentions to run.
Whistler's 2016 Citizen of the Year Cathy Jewett will add her name to the growing list of candidates for the Oct. 28 byelection.
"This may be one of the biggest changes I think I've seen Whistler go through since Blackcomb opened and the Village was built," Jewett said.
"I think we're really at a crossroads and that it's a really important time to be involved, and also it's a great opportunity to learn the ropes, to see how it would work for me being on council if I decide to run for the next term."
Jewett has lived in Whistler since 1976 and boasts decades of volunteer experience, including as a founding member of AWARE, as current chair of Communities That Care Whistler, as a WORCA ride guide, a docent at the Audain Art Museum and various roles on local and provincial Parent Advisory Councils (among other things).
She's also had a long career working as a professional ski patroller, and more recently in a supervisory role with Whistler Blackcomb's safety department.
"I think that (my volunteer work) creates a really great connection to the people that are struggling, but also I think my work (as a ski patroller) does too, because most of the people I have worked with on the ski patrol and on the mountain, we're kind of the backbone of the business and also of the community," she said.
"We're working class people."
The elected councillor will fill the seat of the late Andrée Janyk, who passed away in June.
Nominations for the Oct. 28 byelection will be accepted for 10 days, from 9 a.m. on Sept. 12 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 22, after which all successfully nominated candidates will be posted to www.whistler.ca/candidates.
Pick up next week's Pique for more.
