If the phone rings at dinnertime chances are it’s a telemarketer. But don’t ignore it this time because it might be the municipality calling as it conducts three important surveys on housing, recreation and the sustainability plan.
"We hope that our permanent and seasonal residents and second home owners will take the time to complete the surveys if they are called," said Mike Vance, the municipality’s general manager of community initiatives.
"The information we gather is vital to the success of our monitoring program, and, therefore, key to achieving our vision and priorities set out in Whistler 2020."
Survey results will guide decisions specifically in housing and recreation, as well as measure performance towards the priorities identified in Whistler 2020, the vision and comprehensive sustainability plan. The surveys were designed in unison to provide information to the municipality without replication, as well as minimize the participant’s time. The first survey begins Jan. 16 and is part of the monitoring program of Whistler 2020. A telephone survey on Whistler community life, it is designed to track progress toward the community, economic and partnership priorities of Whistler 2020. Participants are anonymous and their individual responses are confidential. The second phone survey is designed to measure recreation behaviour among residents and guests, as well as measure services, demographics and funding. Results will inform recreation policy decisions and planning of recreation programs and services. Then, in late February, a housing survey by the municipality and Whistler Housing Authority will be mailed to occupants of single-family homes and duplexes in Whistler. This survey will build on previous research and explore trends in resident housing, which will help maintain the Whistler 2020 goal of housing 75 per cent of Whistler’s workforce in Whistler.
The surveys will be conducted by Mustel Group, Ipsos Reid and the municipality and are expected to cost up to $35,000 in total to conduct and tabulate.
