WHISTLER, BC Nestled in the Coast Mountains, only 40 kms inland from the Pacific Ocean, and 120 kms from one of Canada's largest urban centres, Whistler Resort provides a Canadian west coast mountain experience with snowy winters and moderate temperatures. Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains offer the highest lift-serviced vertical and the largest terrain of any ski area in North America, with large alpine bowls and forested glades, expert grooming and ski runs that last forever. Whistler, BC will be the site of a number of events of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, which will take place at the Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain. A "hydrogen highway" is planned to link the two cities by 2010, allowing environmentally friendly hydrogen powered vehicles to travel freely between them.

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And there are plenty of other activities year round to entice the visitor, including hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, mountain biking, golf, tennis, in-line skating and sailing in summer to snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, skating, hockey and, of course, skiing and snowboarding in the winter, along with fine dining and shopping in award-winning Whistler Village. Whistler's range of accommodation and conference facilities make it an ideal choice for meeting planners spring through fall. Check the Tourism Whistler website for all the details.

Many visitors are surprised to find that Whistler is a lively mountain community of nearly 9,500 permanent residents. The sense of community is very strong here in Whistler, with a passionate commitment to protecting the natural mountain environment surrounding us and moving to become a sustainable resort community. See the section on Toward Sustainability for more information.

In addition to permanent residents, Whistler is a part-time home to approximately 9,100 second-home owners from around the world, and 4,500 seasonal residents. With overnight and day visitors, our per day population averages 31,351 in winter and peaks (usually around New Year's) at approximately 45,000. For more statistical information like this, see the section on monitoring under Toward Sustainability.