$308K Granted to Local Charities and Non-Profits
Responding to growing local needs Whistler Community Foundation Board increases funding by $43K
Media Release – March 31, 2026
The Whistler Community Foundation awarded $308,799 in grants to local charities and non-profit organizations for spring 2026. The 53 grants will support a wide range of environmental, social, cultural, and community well-being initiatives across the Sea to Sky region.
In response to strong applications and growing community needs, the WCF’s Board of Directors approved an additional $43,000 in funding beyond the amount originally planned. This decision reflects the board’s commitment to strengthening community resilience and responding meaningfully to the organizations delivering critical programs and services in our communities
“Our board is out in the community as much as possible, seeing firsthand that local non-profits are addressing complex challenges with remarkable determination and care,” said Luke Ferdinands, Board Chair. “We had the financial room to do more this year, and we wanted those dollars to help local organizations grow.”
The R.O.C.K.S. (Recreate Our Community Kitchen Society) application was ranked as a top priority to receive additional funding. A Place at the Table – 500 dinners received $5,000 to support their community dinner nights. The grassroots registered charity has already seen significant success in addressing critical and current needs of the community while nurturing a sense of belonging.
“In six months of hosting community dinners we’ve connected with so many Whistlerites struggling to make ends meet,” said Celeste Banning, R.O.C.K.S. Board Member. “We’ve served guests living in vans or even tents, and others working two jobs to scrape together rent. Some guests are going through isolation—they just arrived in town, or maybe they’re going through a dark time. Yet these dinners are joyful occasions where locals of all circumstances come together to eat well and connect with their community. We’re deeply honoured by this funding from WCF and so relieved that ROCKS’ free community dinners can now continue.”
WCF’s spring funding was distributed across WCF’s Environmental Legacy Fund, Caring Community, and Leadership Grants, and supported initiatives that help planet and people thrive.
Luke Ferdinands
Board Chair
Whistler Community Foundation
lferdinands@whistlerfoundation.com
604 935-8080 (voicemail)
If you would like to know more about the 2026 Grant Season, scholarships, or how you can help us better resource more programs through the power of endowment then contact us at info@whistlerfoundation.com or learn more at whistlerfoundation.com/give
2026 Environmental Legacy Fund Grants
Core Operations Stewardship Pemberton Society $20,000
Feasting For Change Program Stewardship Pemberton Society $20,000
GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments) Whistler Naturalists $5,000
Invasive Animals – Monitoring, Mapping & Program Development Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council $11,500
Invasive Plants – Inventory, Control & Monitoring Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council $15,000
Invasive Species Education & Outreach Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council $21,525
POW Whistler Ramp Up Protect Our Winters Canada $11,000
Reuse Whistler – Reusable Events Project Whistler Centre for Sustainability Institute $12,000
Sustainable Trail Building Program (Year 2) Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association $7,370
Sustainable Whistler: Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It Whistler Community Services Society $12,500
Environmental Legacy Multi-year Funding
Core Capacity/Organizational Development AWARE $30,000
Bird Studies Whistler Naturalists $2,200
Discover Nature Whistler Museum & Archives $5,000
Fungus Among Us Whistler Naturalists $6,100
Glacier Monitoring Whistler Naturalists $5,000
Healthy Eating, Healthy Pastimes School Garden Program Development Myrtle Philip Community School Nature and Science Education Program $500
Whistler BioBlitz Whistler Naturalists $16,500
2026 Caring Community Grants
A Place at the Table – 500 dinners Recreate Our Community Kitchen Society (R.O.C.K.S) $5,000
Active Start Gymnastics – Inclusivity Whistler Gymnastics Club $750
Art on the Lake Arts Whistler $4,000
Artist Sessions The Point Artist-Run Centre $3,000
Authors in the School Program The Whistler Writing Society $2,000
Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness Course and Legacy PLAY program (Physical Literacy And You) Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies Society $750
Backcountry Mentorship Program Indigenous Women Outdoors Society $4,000
Children and Youth Art Program The Point Artist-Run Centre $2,500
Concert Venues Whistler Singers $1,500.00
Education, Support and Advocacy for Families and Friends of those Affected by Serious Mental Illness Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society $3,000
For the Health of Our Community Pemberton and District Health Care Foundation $6,000
Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program – Pemberton Sea to Sky Community Services $3,000
Housing Heroes Zero Ceiling Society of Canada $3,200
In-house Employee Counselling Services Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre $5,000
Mama Baby Connection Program PearlSpace $3,600
Pemberton Facility Air Conditioning Whistler Gymnastics Club $3,000
Ski Jumping Skis – 4 pairs Sea to Sky Nordics $4,500
Slope Side Support: Summer Men’s Mental Health Program (Pilot) Slope Side Support Society $5,000
The Squamish Lil’wat Connection Blanket Myrtle Philip Community School PAC $877
Transition and Support Plan Whistler Independent Supported Housing Society $1,900
Whistler Children’s Festival 2026 – Craft Workshops for Neuro-diverse Kids Arts Whistler $2,500
Whistler Secondary School Fitness Room Sea to Sky School District No. 48 $4,842
Veterinary Care Fund Pemberton Animal Well-Being Society (PAWS) $3,000
Volunteer Palliative Education Sea to Sky Hospice Society $3,000
Caring Community Multi Year Funding
Decolonizing mountain biking: Joyful activity for Indigenous Women Outdoors Indigenous Women Outdoors Society $4,000
Inclusive Access to the Mountains Zero Ceiling Society $2,000
Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program – Lateral Violence Training Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre $4,000
Literacy Spark! Lighting up young minds Whistler Children’s Centre Society $750
Living Gifts Lil’wat Nation $3,500
Open Arms Program Whistler Children’s Centre Society $3,500
2026 Leadership Grants
Best Friends Management Leadership Certification in collaboration with Southern Utah University (SUU) Whistler Animal’s Galore (WAG) $2,050
Death, Dying & Bereavement Certification PearlSpace $1,026
Humane Canada Summit for Animals Pemberton Animal Well-Being Society $500
Master of Business Administration PearlSpace $5,000
Non-Profit Management Course at SFU Arts Whistler $875
Non-profit Management Certificate at SFU Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council $1,750
ORCBC conference – PORCA and Trial Working Group Representation Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association $1,000
Swim Angelfish Adaptive Swim Whisperers® Multi-Level Certification Program Whistler Adaptive Sports Program $1,734