In the early 1970s, procuring affordable local housing in Whistler sometimes meant building a shack and claiming squatter's rights. But since 1979, the community has pursued a variety of innovative initiatives to ensure that locals (people who live and work full-time in Whistler) have ample access to affordable housing for purchase or for rent. The Whistler Housing Authority (formed in 1997) oversees these efforts, managing a progressive housing program with homes in 55 different locations throughout Whistler where "resident restricted" housing is available either for sale or for lease. Currently over 5,000 permanent and seasonal Whistler residents live in "employee restricted" housing that they either own (houses, townhouses and condominiums) or rent (townhouses and apartments) at controlled rates. Several new resident restricted housing developments are currently under construction including Cheakamus Crossing (Whistler Athletes' Village), the Rainbow Development and Fitzsimmons Walk which will result in an additional 500 new units of affordable housing to Whistler residents. Whistler's price and occupancy restricted housing for locals is scattered throughout the valley, integrated into the community's many neighborhoods, and often located shoulder-to-shoulder with non-restricted residences. Whistler has a community goal of housing at least 75% of their employees within Whistler. Currently 79% of the resorts' employees reside within municipal boundaries, with one in three employees living in resident restricted housing. www.whistlerhousing.ca

Whistler's environmental initiatives range from solar parking metres and pesticide restrictions, community-wide composting to wetlands restoration and the construction of private and public green buildings, including the newly renovated Whistler Public Library. The most far-reaching of these programs is Whistler 2020, a long-term community plan crafted by the Resort Municipality of Whistler with community consultation and based on the principles of sustainability. In November 2005, the United Nations Environmental Program named Whistler one of the world's most liveable communities -- and, based on Whistler 2020, the best community in the world in planning for the future. www.whistler2020.ca

A volunteer driven non-profit advocacy group, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) was formed in 1989 with a mandate to push for a recycling program for Whistler. AWARE has grown into a strong voice for sensible environmental stewardship and sustainable development in the South Coast Mountain Range of British Columbia. The organization is active on many environmental and sustainability issues in the valley, and seeks to protect the wilderness that Whistler residents know as their backyard and which brings tourists back year after year. AWARE sees a sensible balanced approach to environmental sustainability as the only option for the future, from both an environmental and economic point of view. www.awarewhistler.org

The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) was born in 1989 when a group of committed riders joined forces to fight the pending closure of trails they loved in Garibaldi Provincial Park. (They won.) Now mountain biking is at the heart of the experience of visiting or living in Whistler. Instead of fighting WORCA, now government, landowners and developers work with them so that access to mountain bike trails is protected. Now 20 years on, WORCA has over 1,500 members and has evolved into an integral part of the Whistler mountain biking scene. When they're not riding, the people at WORCA:

• sanction the community Toonie Rides - possibly the largest weekly mountain bike race on the continent; along with the bi-weekly PHAT Wednesday freeride series
• help to maintain hundreds of kilometres of trails to the highest environmental standards through member fees and volunteer efforts
• foster the evolution of the sport through its youth programs and clinics, teaching safety, etiquette and technique to cyclists

www.worca.com