Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

New name for athlete’s village announced at council meeting

Say hello to Whistler’s newest neighbourhood: Cheakamus Crossing. That was the name chosen by the community for the athletes’ village neighbourhood after a two-month selection process.

Say hello to Whistler’s newest neighbourhood: Cheakamus Crossing.

That was the name chosen by the community for the athletes’ village neighbourhood after a two-month selection process.

“One of the most difficult things in doing a development of a neighbourhood is selecting a name,” said Joe Redmond, president of Whistler2020 Development Corporation (WDC).

“We went through a process which we thought was a very good process where we requested the public to submit names to us.”

Municipal officials asked the public in December to come up with a creative name for the legacy neighbourhood. A short list was compiled in January, and the public got to vote for their favourite name.

Over 100 people submitted names, and three names emerged as preferred choices: Cheakamus, Cheakamus Crossing and Legacy Heights.

Over 50 per cent of public responses voted for either Cheakamus or Cheakamus Crossing, and council made the final decision on Monday night.

“I am really pleased with the interest and number of names that came forth,” said Mayor Ken Melamed.

“There seemed to be a preference that had to do with geographic location. I know there is an open house planned for Mar. 8, and the development board is interested in securing a name before that time.”

The open house will go over the type of housing units that will be available in the new neighbourhood, as well a provide more information on the project.

The decision to get the public involved in the naming process was made after the WDC could not agree on a name.

 

Squamish Nation looks to install cultural signs, information shelters

The Squamish Nation is looking to install signs and information shelters around town and along the highway to compliment the new Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre.

“We want to welcome the world to our territories and ultimately strengthen the relationship with the municipality and the community by having a visible presence,” said Chief Ian Campbell of the Squamish Nation during a presentation to council Monday.

“This would remind visitors that this place has a story, that it has a history, and here are resources, as well as invite people to enjoy their journey.”

Campbell’s presentation was warmly received by council members and met with strong applause from the audience.

“I am genuinely so enthusiastic about the addition of this fantastic amenity being realized in Whistler,” said mayor Ken Melamed.

The signs and shelters would display images and information of Squamish Nation heritage. For example, signs would be in the shape of a paddle to show that we are all on a common journey, explained Campbell.

He added that the infrastructure would not create anything new, but build on Whistler design structures already in place including standard sizes and shapes.

The Squamish Nation will submit applications to municipal hall over the next couple of weeks.

 

Infill housing pilot project launched in Alpine Meadows

Alpine Meadows could be a guinea pig to test out a new municipal housing solution.

Homeowners may soon be allowed to build a new house on their plot of land as part of an infill pilot to address the housing crunch.

If given the green light, property owners south of 19 Mile Creek in Alpine Meadows could participate.

The result of the pilot project will then be used to see if infill should be applied to other neighbourhoods in Whistler.

Guy Patterson, housing planner for the municipality, said it would take about five years to do the pilot project.

“I have to assume that there would be some update so we could then evaluate the consequences of that uptake,” he said.

Patterson added that if there is no significant uptake, the municipality will reevaluate the program.

“We’ll have to figure out why there is no uptake and then address that. First we’ll figure out why, and then we’ll fix that problem,” he said.

This project is part of ongoing efforts to create resident restricted housing through the incremental development of new units on already settled land. In September 2005, a task force submitted a report to council that suggested infill housing as a way to mitigate the replacement of market housing currently owned and occupied by the local workforce and community.

A neighbourhood open house will be scheduled to start the Official Community Plan and Zoning amendment bylaw proceeds for infill housing in south Alpine Meadows.

 

Muni says no to pesticide use

The municipality has banned the use of nonessential and cosmetic pesticides anywhere in Whistler.

A new bylaw was adopted by the Resort Municipality of Whistler on Monday that makes certain pesticide use illegal in town.

The bylaw takes effect immediately for all property or portions of property within RMOW boundaries, and on private lands by December this year.

Violating this legislation could mean a $250 fine, with only those permitted pesticides listed in the Provincial Integrated Pest Management Regulation exempt.

Over 100 other communities in Canada have enacted or are in the process of creating similar regulations, including 12 municipalities in British Columbia: Vancouver, the District of Maple Ridge, City of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Port Moody, Comox and Gibsons.

Canadian research shows a link with pesticide exposure and cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases. Children are especially vulnerable to these products.

 

 

CCI Open House Scheduled

A public hearing will be scheduled to discuss bylaws, guidelines and policy changes to the allowed density for buildings in the CC1 and CC1-E zones in Whistler Village.

Council made these changes on Monday night, following comments from a public hearing held in November last year.