Media Releases
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Tourism Whistler Launches First Changemakers Video of 2024, Showcasing The Environmental Benefits of Buying Vintage
Whistler, B.C. – In its second year, Tourism Whistler is launching its 2024 Whistler Changemakers video series, to continue to shine a spotlight on Whistler businesses who are leading the way on environmental stewardship and putting sustainability at the forefront of their operations.
The first of this year’s series focuses on local vintage clothing business, F as in Frank, in which owner Amy Rafferty explains the damage the fast fashion industry is doing to the planet and to our perception of worth.
“We’re literally drowning in fast fashion waste and then we pass this burden on to countries who don’t have the infrastructure to deal with it,” says Amy, Co-Owner of F as in Frank.
“Wearing what already exists drastically reduces the environmental impact, so helping people shop second hand and helping people buy better quality that will last and can be used over and over again is future vintage versus future garbage.”
Hosted by local pro skier, a member-at-large of Protect Our Winters Canada, and passionate environmentalist, Mike Douglas, the 2024 Whistler Changemakers video series explores a variety of sustainability topics, from textile waste reduction, to social sustainability and cultural revitalization, to the importance of cultivating relationships between farmers and restaurants, to committing to a zero-operating footprint.
“Tourism is essential to Whistler’s economic, cultural and social well-being, but we recognize the importance of working on tangible sustainable and regenerative solutions alongside local businesses and Resort Partners to ensure tourism serves as a force for good – now and in the future,” says Barrett Fisher, President & CEO of Tourism Whistler.
Lead by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), Whistler’s Big Moves Strategy outlines the destination’s plan to act on climate change, targeting a 50 per cent reduction of 2007 emission levels by 2030, en route to the resort’s long-term goal of net-zero emissions.
To achieve this target, Whistler is working collectively with residents, businesses and visitors to prioritize active and public transportation options, decrease visitor travel emissions, decarbonize passenger and commercial vehicles, enforce green building standards, and reduce overall carbon consumption.
Over the course of the year, Tourism Whistler will continue to share the stories of local businesses and organizations, including the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Whistler Blackcomb, and Alta Bistro, who are all doing their part to protect the environment, preserve local culture, and contribute to the Whistler community in a sustainable way.
This content creation is part of the organization’s larger focus on the advancement of responsible, sustainable and regenerative tourism.
“The Marketing team at Tourism Whistler is passionate about protecting where we play, so this project is important to us on many levels,” says Dee Raffo, Content Editor at Tourism Whistler. “We are thrilled to be continuing to tell the stories of local businesses who are putting sustainability first, and we look forward to sharing these stories with our visitors.”
The Whistler Changemaker video series has been recognized by Green Step, Destination BC and Destination Canada as a ‘best in class’ example of Destination Stewardship.
For more information about the Whistler Changemakers video series, and to learn more about Whistler’s sustainability efforts, visit whistler.com/sustainability.
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Whistler is Canada’s premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
Tourism Whistler is the official member-based destination tourism organization representing Whistler, and operator of the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com – Whistler’s official source for visitor information and bookings. Tourism Whistler represents more than 8,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on Resort Lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.
Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters and access to images and B-roll.
Broadcasters: Whistler has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site. http://media.whistler.com/contact-us/filming-in-whistler/
Media Contacts:
Tourism Whistler
Mary Zinck
Manager, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2702
Tania Sear
Manager, Travel Media
T: 604.938.2734
E: mediarelations@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistler.com/media
F: www.facebook.com/GoWhistler
I: www.instagram.com/GoWhistler/