The Whistler Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Season 4, Episode 10: Rick Hansen on Resilience, Legacy and Building an Accessible Canada Sep 04, 2026

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In this episode of the Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton speaks with Canadian icon Rick Hansen, wheelchair athlete, accessibility advocate and the man behind the legendary Man in Motion World Tour. Listen to hear them speak about Rick's work protecting the endangered Fraser River white sturgeon, revisiting the site of the accident that changed his life and where he first crossed paths with a young Terry Fox.

Rick also reflects on 40 years of disability rights progress since Canada's Charter was signed and lays out a bold vision for reaching full accessibility by 2040. It's a candid, wide-ranging talk about turning adversity into possibility and why building a more inclusive Canada benefits everyone.

Season 4, Episode 9 - Whistler’s Voice in Victoria with MLA Jeremy Valeriote Aug 20, 2026

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In this episode of The Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton sits down with West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jeremy Valeriote for a wide-ranging conversation about the issues shaping Whistler and the Sea to Sky region. From housing affordability and provincial politics to the Sea to Sky Highway, forest health, reconciliation, and Woodfibre LNG, they explore what’s happening in Victoria and what it means here at home.

Season 4: Episode 7: Making it work in Whistler with Rebecca Mason and Erik Van Meerbergen Nov 06, 2025

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This week on The Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton sits down with two local creatives building lives and careers in the mountains: Entrepreneur, comedian and co-founder of Laugh Out LIVE! Rebecca Mason and musician and Gibbons Whistler festivals manager Erik “Big Love” Van Meerbergen.

From multiple jobs and housing uncertainty to packed comedy nights and the growing live music scene, they share a candid look at the hustle, the passion and the community that keeps them here.

More photos and links: whistler.ca/podcast.

Season 4: Episode 6 - Mobilizing for Climate Action with Seth Klein Oct 02, 2025

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In this episode of the Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton sits down with policy consultant, speaker and author Seth Klein. Together they unpack lessons from his book, A Good War, exploring how Canada can mobilize for the climate emergency, why addressing inequality is key to real progress, and how Whistler can confront the challenge of reducing emissions while welcoming visitors from around the world.

Season 4: Episode 5 - Celebrating the RMOW's 50th with Trailblazers and Tomorrow Makers Sep 18, 2025

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Back from summer break, this episode of The Whistler Podcast was recorded live at Olympic Plaza during the RMOW's 50th-anniversary celebrations and features the trailblazers and tomorrow makers of Whistler. Mayor Jack Crompton leads the conversation with original Councillor John Hetherington, Lil'wat artist Levi Nelson, Olympic skier Julia Murray and climate youth activist Jade Quinn-McDonald. They share stories of their experiences representing our unique community and culture in Whistler.

Season 4: Episode 4 - Sea to Sky Mayors: Building Connection Across the Corridor Jun 26, 2025

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On this episode of The Whistler Podcast, we zoom out from our mountain town and look at the broader picture of what it means to be part of the Sea to Sky corridor in 2025. Hosts Jack Crompton and Brandon Barrett sit down with Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford and Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman for a candid conversation about shared challenges, evolving identities, and the power of regional collaboration.
From regional transit and housing affordability to climate resilience and the pressures of growth, this episode explores the threads that connect our communities and the work it takes to strengthen them. You’ll also hear about log-rolling at Squamish Logger Sports, the transformation of Sp’akw’us Feather Park, coaching high school basketball, and what it means to preserve the character of a place while embracing inevitable change.
Whether you live in Whistler, commute from Pemberton, or spend the weekend in Squamish, this episode highlights why regional conversations matter more than ever. Please tune in and look deeper at the mayors leading the charge behind the places we call home.

Season 4, Episode 3: Glaciers in Retreat; What We Lose When the Ice Melts with Jeff Crompton Jun 05, 2025

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On this episode of the Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton sits down with glaciologist Dr. Jeff Crompton, who also happens to be Jack’s cousin, to explore the past, present, and rapidly changing future of our mountain glaciers. Jeff shares insights from his family's deep history in Canadian mountaineering and surveying and his own research on glacial surges and geohazards. The conversation covers everything from catastrophic landslides to the impacts of the thinning of local glaciers like Overlord and Horstman.

Glaciers are more than frozen landmarks; they are vital indicators of climate change and environmental shifts. This episode is a sobering, informative, and occasionally hopeful look at what these changes mean for Whistler and why acting now is essential.

Season 4, Episode 2: Bayanihan Spirit with Hannyliz Villafuerte on Community, Resilience and Filipino Pride May 22, 2025

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In this episode, we sit down with Hannyliz Villafuerte, an entrepreneur, community organizer, and founder of Barangay Sea to Sky, Whistler's first registered Filipino society, which promotes representation, inclusivity, and Pinoy culture across the corridor.

Originally from the Filipino island of Siquijor, Hannyliz shares her journey, from earning a Law degree to building a multi-faceted life in Whistler as the CEO of retailer Tinda2x, a beauty consultant, an event producer, and a former banquet captain at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
We explore Pinoy values like Bayanihan (community spirit), how local Filipinos stay connected to their roots through things like Balikbayan boxes, and how the local Filipino-Canadian community is processing the recent Lapu-Lapu Festival tragedy with compassion and strength.

Season 4: Episode 1 - Partnership, Progress, and Reconciliation: A Conversation with Líl̓wat Nation Political Chief Skalulmecw Dean Nelson May 01, 2025

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Season Four of the Whistler Podcast starts with a conversation featuring Líl̓wat Nation Political Chief Skalulmecw Dean Nelson, a thoughtful, passionate community leader whose work often occurs behind the scenes.

In this wide-ranging conversation, listeners will learn more about Chief Nelson’s role as a political leader and advocate for positive change.

From economic development to cultural revitalization, from partnerships with the broader Sea to Sky community to reflections on reconciliation, Chief Nelson offers insight into the deep responsibilities Indigenous governments carry. He also shares stories about working toward Indigenous-led events like the Invictus Games and memories from his early days as an educator and mentor.

Season 3, Episode 12: New Sea to Sky MLA talks regional transit, climate and politics Dec 12, 2024

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On this episode of The Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton speaks with Jeremy Valeriote, an environmental engineer and longtime Whistler resident who is now our MLA. They discuss the historic moment for the Sea to Sky Corridor with the BC Greens securing the party's first-ever mainland seat in the BC Legislature, and what this means for Whistler.
From affordability and housing to climate action and regional transit, they dive into the pressing issues shaping our community. Listen to how Crompton and Valeriote discuss plans to advocate for Whistler and drive meaningful progress in our region.

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