A new study examining the housing and care needs of older adults in Whistler warns the resort community risks forcing longtime residents to leave town as they age unless new seniors housing options are developed.
Presenting the findings to Whistler council on March 10, Whistler Mature Action Community (MAC) housing committee chair Anne Townley said the report underscores a widening gap between the needs of older residents and the housing currently available in the community.
“2026 in the Whistler community is the year of the senior, the fired-up senior,” Townley told council. “2026 is the year to get ambitious about key issues facing Whistler’s growing seniors community and embrace change.”
Commissioned by MAC and the Whistler Elders Enrichment Society, the report by Vancouver-based Lumina Senior Housing Consultants analyzes local demographics, incomes, housing supply and potential development models for seniors housing in the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).
Its core conclusion: despite its reputation as a livable mountain town, Whistler lacks dedicated housing options for seniors who want to remain in the community as their needs change.
