About the report

Whistler’s Vital Signs® is a community checkup conducted by the Community Foundation of Whistler that measures the vitality of our community. Vital Signs compiles existing data from local, provincial and national sources with feedback from our focus groups, community group meetings, stakeholder meetings and the findings from the Whistler Vital Signs Survey to create a comprehensive look at how our community is doing.

Whistler’s Vital Signs is created for the benefit of all community members; a tool to engage all residents, encourage conversation and inspire action in all.

Whistler’s Vital Signs aims to give all community members a voice. By presenting facts and residents’ perceptions on key areas of community life, we hope to increase community-wide understanding of the different opportunities and challenges encountered in our community

Housing

Occupancy

58% of all dwellings in Whistler in 2011 were unoccupied, occupied by foreign residents or temporarily occupied. 42% of dwellings were occupied, by usual residents (people who live there permanently). Of those residences tha were usually occupied. 36% were by renters.

Average Rent

$ 2, 243 is the average market rental cost for a 2 bedroom unit in 2015. Only 10% of individuals are able to afford this rent.

Rental Housing Index

The Rental Housing Index estimates that 17% of renters were living in over crowded conditions in 2011.

Housing Income Ratio

52% of renters in 2011 were paying more than 30% if their income on housing. This is generally considered to be living in unaffordable conditions.

Gap between Rich and Poor

Being able to engage in all aspects of community life is central to our overall quality of life and well-being. This includes access to meaningful employment, the availability of secure work, as well as the ability to earn a living wage.

Living Income

The living income is the amount of income a single resident or family required in 2015 to afford the cost of a basic basket of goods that includes housing, transportation, food, clothing, recreation and other expenses in Whistler.

58% of young adults and 16% of permanent residents reported making less than the living income for a single resident living in Whistler.

$21 per hour per asult at 40 hours per week is required for a family of 4 to afford the basic cost of living.

$15.40 per hour at 40 hours a week is required for an individual to afford the basic cost of living.

Food Bank Users

32% of users in 2015 said injury, illness, physical health or mental health were the reasons for suing the food bank.