Whistler

No town in British Columbia is more dedicated to tourism and recreation than Whistler. While the mile-high mountains and endless glaciers grab headlines and Instagram likes, a workforce of 8,000-plus ensures that the resort runs smoothly. In a market heavy on short-term and entry-level jobs, full-time residents are creative in making their own work. There’s a thriving entrepreneurial class hunkered down in Function Junction, where mechanics, hair stylists, graphic designers, furniture retailers and artisans work side-by-side.

Work: Whistler is both a great place to start your career, or to cap it off (part-time ski instructor or mountain host, perhaps?).

Play: To quote Shakespeare, “play’s the thing” here in Whistler and its very reason for existence. If there’s a sport you can’t do in the mountains, lakes, and woods north and south of town, it likely hasn’t been invented yet.

Culture: The Audain Museum of Art houses one of Canada’s top private collections, and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is a must-see for First Nations art.

Municipalities & Districts:
Whistler – www.whistler.ca

Real Estate:
Whistler Listings

Realtors: 
Wentworth Malpass & Hunter – wentworthmalpasshunter.com

Builders:
Discovery Dream Homes – discoverydreamhomes.com
Pan-abode – panabode.com

Note: Population is listed by either municipality or region. Sample listing represents a home near the median average selling price in 2017. Real estate trend metric uses B.C. Assessment data for value and includes sales of all property types.