Whistler Chamber September Advocacy in Action Member Input Session
October 7th, 2021
Advocacy in Action returned to the Whistler Chamber boardroom in September. The monthly meeting saw a great turnout, with 13 Members from the Whistler business community getting together to discuss their needs and developing concerns with the Chamber team.
To kick off the meeting, Whistler Chamber CEO, Melissa Pace provided updates on some recent Chamber news, most notable of which was the announcement that the Spirit Pass and Whistler Experience training programs are once again available for the upcoming 2021-22 winter season! Melissa also noted the Whistler Chamber’s recent partnership with Tourism Whistler to produce a new series of recruiting videos to help our Members recruit new employees.
During the group discussion, Members in the food & beverage industry spoke about their experience with the enforcement of vaccine cards. Common sentiment was that, aside from committing a staff Member to conducting documentation checks, the mandate didn’t present much of a hindrance to businesses. There were also very few issues relating to unruly customers reported.
Recent government developments on paid sick leave were controversial, with some attendees maintaining that the prospect of having to grant up to 10 paid sick days would cripple business and drive prices up. They felt the proposed policies need to be seriously reconsidered, as they actively deter companies from growing due to the diminishing returns they would face by doing so.
Solutions to address labour issues were presented, with ideas for a Covid-friendly job fair being discussed. More details are currently being finalized, so keep an eye on our Business this Week newsletter for an announcement.
Going hand-in-hand with Whistler’s labour issues are its housing issues. The discussion drifted to the recent trends in the housing market, such as staff housing properties being sold off to second homeowners. Various attendees shared the need to better accommodate workers who have just landed in town. High-density housing could be an option, but there seems to be reluctance by the RMOW and WHA to embrace it as a strategy.
The team at the Whistler Chamber will continue to host Advocacy in Action Sessions. The Chamber is always trying to understand the needs and developing concerns of local businesses so we can advocate for our Members at all levels of government. Please consider registering for our next session on October 19th – we would love to hear from you.
What is an Advocacy in Action Session?
As your Chamber, one of our key roles is to advocate on behalf of the Whistler business community. Our power packed Advocacy in Action Sessions are designed for you, our Members, to let us know where to take action. We want to stay up-to-date with developing concerns of our business community during COVID-19, and be better prepared to advocate for you during these unprecedented times. This is an opportunity to speak frankly and let the Chamber know how we can make your business better.
