Whistler kicks off winter season as locals feel housing crisis

As ski season arrives with the official opening of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort,workers inthe resort municipality are expressing concern over the lack of affordable housing.

Whistler, home to nearly 14,000 people, is known for its slopes, backcountry and wildlife, and sees more than three million visitors per year.

Michael Windeyer, vice-president of Unifor Local 300 which represents 309 workersacross seven hotels in Whistler says many of the union's members can't find an affordable place to live.

"Some of them end up living in tents, living in their vehicles ... for those that are fortunate enough to find a place to live, generally [they]have to share with four or five other people," Windeyer told CBC News.

Windeyer saysthe housing crunch is also affecting businesses, and it's common forsome employers to rent houses for staff.

Martini Bart,co-owner of the Alpine Cafe,said finding housing has "always been a struggle."

"I used to live in a van for the first summer, then got lucky and moved into a house with a bunch of people," said Bart, who moved to Whistler 30 years ago.

Bart sayshis employees havestruggled to find housing. The cafe has upstairs accommodation for around five people, he says, and others live in camper vans as a last resort. For people living in camper vans, Bart says they are forced to move frequently because they can't find permanent parking.

Bart sayshe believes the mayor andcouncil aredoing everything theycan to help residents, but more housing isneeded.

WATCH |Skiers and boarders hit the slopes in Whistler for the first time this season:

Whistler Blackcomb opens for 2023/24 season

9 months ago

Duration 2:59

CBC's Lien Yeung visits Whistler, B.C. where the slopes have opened for the season.

Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton saysinvesting in housing is a priority for the municipality, whose goal with help from the Whistler Housing Authority is to house 75 per cent of workers in town.

About 84 per cent of workers in Whistler are residents, Crompton says.

The resort municipality has more than 7,300 spotsin affordable rental and ownership housingdedicated to people working in the village.

"We just cannot afford to rest on that," Crompton said.

"We need to continue to invest in housing and we are there's 400 bed units of housing under construction right now."

Cromptonsaid he applauds the province forthe recent legislation to limit short-term rentals, and hopes more housing will be made available because of it.