In response to the Province of British Columbia’s expanded Provincial Health Orders, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has made the following updates to its recreation programs, winter programming, library services and in-person services.

Recreation programs updates

• The fitness centre at Meadow Park Sports Centre (MPSC) – including access to the weight room, cardio room and stretching rooms – is closed. All MPSC passes will be extended for the time the fitness centre is closed.
   
• The pool and arena at MPSC, along with the squash and basketball courts, remain open. Each squash court will be for a maximum of two people that already know each other, and basketball court for a maximum of four people that already know each other.
   
• The café in the MPSC arena will also remain open, but people must eat food sitting down or order takeout. Masks can only be taken off when sitting and eating.
   
• All group fitness classes at MPSC are cancelled.
   
• Children’s programming at MPSC and Myrtle Philip Community Centre, as well as hockey games and practices, will continue as scheduled. Spectators for hockey games and practices will be limited to 50 per cent capacity.
   
• Adult drop-in sports at Myrtle Philip and Whistler Secondary are not scheduled for the holiday period but will resume in the new year.
   
• The Youth Centre remains open with reduced capacity and some activity changes. Learn more at whistleryouthcentre.com.
   
• Updates to Late & Unique Nighttime Alternatives (LUNA) programming are under review, and will be announced shortly. Please visit facebook.com/whistlerluna for updates.
   
• Updates to RMOW facility and park rentals are also under review and will be announced shortly. Details will be posted at whistler.ca/facilitybookings.

Winter programming updates

• Wintersphere, A Whistler Winter Celebration – the indoor entertainment and activities at the Whistler Conference Centre – has been cancelled.
   
• Whistler’s live and local music series and Sugar Shack characters at Olympic Plaza, scheduled from December 19 to 30, have been cancelled due to forecasted frigid temperatures.
   
• Whistler’s free New Year’s Eve Celebrations, including fireworks, have been cancelled. The additional transit service on New Year’s Eve has also been cancelled. However, free transit will continue to be offered from 6 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. within Whistler.

Whistler Public Library and In-Person Services

• Whistler Public Library will be pivoting back to 30-minute express visits as well as virtual programming. Services available during express visits including browsing the shelves, reading recommendations, holds pick-ups, express computer access, printing, requesting materials from other libraries, purchase suggestions, self-checkout, Wi-Fi access, washrooms and returns. Learn more.
   
• In-person service at the Planning, Building and Engineering departments will be discontinued starting Thursday, December 23.  Reopening of in-person service in these departments will be reviewed in January.

Provincial restrictions in effect until January 18

The revised provincial health officer orders take effect on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. and will be in effect until January 18, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

The new PHO includes:

• no organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size;
• concerts, sports games and theatres reduced to 50% seated capacity, regardless of venue size;
• closing gyms, fitness centres and dance studios;
• closing bars and nightclubs; and
• limiting table sizes at restaurants, cafes and pubs to a maximum of six people per table with physical distancing or barriers.

These restrictions are in addition to the revised orders that took effect on Monday, December 20.

The RMOW will continue to adjust programs and services as required to follow the recommendations of the Provincial Health Officer.

Please visit whistler.ca/COVID19 for updates.