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In the 80s, Whistler was riding a wave of growth, and then an economic slump slowed things to a halt. Recognizing the ups and downs of living in a resort town, community members came together to open the Whistler Food Bank and start a Christmas hamper program. These visionaries also saw opportunity following the crisis. Instead of using only grants to back the non-profit Whistler Community Services Society, they built a social enterprise to fund programs that respond to the community’s social and emotional wellness needs. The Re-Use-It thrift store opened 20 years ago and is now an economic engine supporting a range of social programs and services while diverting over one tonne every day from landfill.
We support and advocate for a healthy community
We provide inclusive support to build a resilient community
Trust. Respect. Inclusion. Advocacy. Collaboration
Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) has supported Whistler’s social health and wellness since 1989. Our Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It thrift stores are powerhouses in Whistler’s circular economy, diverting over one thousand kilograms of useful items from landfill each day, and nearly 500,000 kilograms of waste PER YEAR through our stores and bottle refundables program. Funds earned from these social enterprises are reinvested back into the community, in the form of free programs, health and wellness resources, and other support.
As a non-profit with charitable status, we rely on the generosity of volunteers and donors to support community members where they need it most, like the Whistler Food Bank, Outreach Services, Connect Whistler Week and the over 30 other programs and services that WCSS offers. Learn more about our impact in the following reports.
We are change-makers, listeners, collaborators, influencers, thrifters and upcyclers. Living in the Sea to Sky corridor, we’re also hikers, bikers, paddlers, skiers, riders, sledders and just generally, nature-lovers. We know the thrill of the treasure hunt – finding that special something at the Re-Use-It Centre for a steal of a deal. We want to keep stuff out of landfill and can’t stand letting something useful go to waste. We can relate to the ups and downs of living in a resort town; and our goal is to meet individuals wherever they’re at. Our front-line staff is trained to listen and offer support for those who need it most.
Meet the WCSS leadership team and contact us to learn how we support our community.
Our board is known for hard work, dedicated support and a tireless enthusiasm to make our community a better place. In particular, our board of directors have worked continuously through this pandemic. At this time, and every year, we are so very grateful for their commitment. They have put strong policies and guidelines in place for governance, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and they actively provide mentorship to our leadership team.
Chair: Emily Dicken
Vice Chair: Diana Chan
Treasurer: Alistair Cray
Governance Committee Chair: Diana Chan
Secretary: Karen Wanger
Board Members: Samuel Robertson, Moira Ann Handford, Chris Wrightson, Helena Cox
WCSS has been accredited by Imagine Canada, which outlines a set of Canada-wide standards for charities and non-profits designed to strengthen capacity in: board governance, financial accountability and transparency, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement.
Board Chair: Emily Dicken chair@mywcss.org
Executive Director: Jackie Dickinson 604-932-0113
Director of Social Enterprise: Louise Caparella
Finance: Jason Fleming
Applications open until May 10, 2021.
WCSS prides itself on a high level of transparency and governance. For information on any of our policies or procedures please call the WCSS office at 604-932-0113 or email admin@mywcss.org.