Whistler’s Small Steps for Big Moves

Whistler’s Big Moves represent our community’s highest level climate goals. These actions have been deemed the top priority for cutting Whistler’s carbon emissions and becoming an exemplar sustainable community. AWARE recognizes the importance of this, and consequently we always seek to align our vision and actions in accordance with the Big Moves. So we partnered with the Resort Municipality of Whistler to translate Whistler’s Big Moves into individual actions that we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint in our community and beyond by creating the Small Steps for Big Moves Campaign.

This initiative aims to educate and explore the most effective actions we as individuals can take in the fight for a sustainable community. While there are tons of actions to choose from, just pick a few that work for you and focus on those, or perhaps, try a different “small step” for each theme and see what sticks.

The Small Steps for Big Moves

A graphic with text, the image is of a carpark, with an electric charging station and the text reads "Consider electric"

Transitioning to zero emission vehicles and electric mobility is key to achieving BIG MOVE #2: decarbonizing passenger and commercial transportation.

  • Explore options for making your next vehicle electric
  • Research rebates to save when you buy
  • Get your strata or workplace set up for electric
  • Skip road traffic or parking altogether by opting for an e-bike
A graphic with text, the image is of a rack of clothes, and the text reads "Love this place reduce our waste"

Reducing our waste is an easy, achievable and affordable action supporting BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Bring your own reusables to eliminate single-use takeout materials
  • Focus on reducing food waste
  • Be conscious about clothing
  • Restore, repurpose, and repair your goods
  • Brush up on what you can compost or recycle
A graphic with text, the image is of a bus with a lake and mountains in the background, and the text reads "Ride the bus"

Hopping on public transport accelerates success on BIG MOVE #1: Move beyond the car.

  • Swap one car ride for a bus trip each month in order to reduce your carbon footprint
  • Bring the school run onto transit
  • Use trip planning to make your trips efficient
  • Track your ride to see your bus in real time
  • Find out which fare option works best for you
A graphic with text, the image is of Whistler's Olympic Plaza with Whistler mountain in the background and the text reads "Green our gifting"

Opting to gift experiences or make mindful shopping decisions helps BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Gift experiences over things in order to reduce our consumption
  • Support seasonal markets and Whistler small businesses
  • Swap Secret Santa for a sustainable gift swap with significantly less waste
  • If you must wrap, get creative with upcycled materials
A graphic with text, the image is of fresh produce, and the text reads "Decarbonize our diet"

Taking a close look at our food choices is a great way for us as individuals to decrease our personal carbon footprint, helping BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Join the meatless Mondays movement in order to reduce the carbon in your die. Or go further and embrace weekday vegetarianism
  • Make meals plant based to get tasting and talking with friends
  • Explore plant-based menu items at your favourite local restaurants
  • Test out animal alternatives: mylks, cheeses, meats and more
A graphic with text, the image is of a thermostat with a finger pushing a button, the text reads "Turn down the heat"

Being smart about managing our heat at home and at work moves the dial on Big Move #5: Make existing buildings better.

  • Embrace winter. Wrap up and turn down the heat in order to reduce your electricity usage
  • Get a home energy assessment with a rebate from the RMOW
  • Take simple steps to draft-proof your home so that less cold air will come through
  • Learn about CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program
  • Consider reducing heating costs with heat pump technology
A graphic with text, the image is of a light switch and the text reads "Switch it off"

Reducing our electricity usage leads to faster results on BIG MOVE #5: Make existing buildings better.

  • Pull the plug on phone chargers, toasters, kettles and computer chargers
  • When shopping for new appliances, look for ENERGY STAR®
  • Buy energy efficient light bulbs and turn lights off when not needed
  • Find the secret power suckers in your home and turn them off in order to reduce power usage
  • Hardwire little habits for energy savings
A graphic with text, the image is of a metal reusable water bottle and the text reads "Choose to Reuse"

Reducing our consumption puts us well on the path to BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Bring your own reusable mugs, grocery bags, cutlery and containers in order to eliminate single use waste
  • Adopt litterless lunches 
  • Purchase in bulk and bring snacks with you to reduce packaging waste
  • Rethink Easter candy by skipping wasteful wrapping
  • Join Whistler’s annual community clean up ‘Pitch In Day’
A graphic with text, the image is of three people in a line biking towards the viewer, the text reads "Go By Bike"

Whistler is built for bikes and set up for success on BIG MOVE #1: Move beyond the car.

  • Get your bike ready to roll instead of driving the car
  • Be ready to cycle safely
  • Sign up for GoByBike week and challenge your friends to join
  • Check out Whistler’s secure bike storage options
  • Plan and pack the night before to make your commute easy
A graphic with text, the image is of two people walking, the text is "Embrace the valley trail"

Simple steps (literally) are the key to gaining momentum on BIG MOVE #1: Move beyond the car.

  • Embrace the valley trail to get around Whistler rather than the roads
  • Pick one place you will stop driving to
  • Up your daily step count goal
  • Take meetings mobile instead of at the table
  • Wear appropriate gear for comfortable walking or riding
A graphic with text, the image is of a hose being sprayed, the text is "Be water wise"

The benefits of watching our water usage flows through to BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Install low-flow toilets or reduce the water volume in your tank in order to waste less water
  • Repair leaks in taps and pipes
  • See if you can shave one minute off your shower time
  • Adopt water-wise gardening tactics
  • Be wary of water wasters, especially in summer months.
A graphic with text "Love food hate waste", the picture in the background is of food scraps.

Preventing food waste supports BIG MOVE #6: Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption.

  • Check out Love Food Hate Waste Canada for food saving recipes and tips
  • Avoid letting food go to waste by learning how to store, dry, freeze, and more
  • Buy local and in-season food in order to save greenhouse gasses
  • Support Sea To Sky food production by shopping at Farmer’s markets
  • For unavoidable food waste, be sure to compost so that it stays out of the landfill.