Brandon Smith
Mayor · Whistler
Whistler 15 yrs
About
I am a natural leader.
I am ready to lead a great team.
My name is Brandon Smith
Please visit my website and learn my story:
www.BrandonForWhistler.com
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
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Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
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Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
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Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
✓
Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Supportive
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Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
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Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels.
Supportive
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Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
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Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
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Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
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Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
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Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
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Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
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Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
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Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
✓
Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
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Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
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Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
✓
Develop and implement a water security plan.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
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Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Supportive
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
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Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
I am an everyday advocate for carbon footprint reduction and I pride myself upon leading by example. Over the years I have worked to improve the waste diversion practises of multiple residential strata complexes in Whistler and around the province. I do try to personally educate as many resort visitors about best recycling practises as I can on a daily basis and choose to ride my bike or take the bus vs. driving a vehicle whenever possible.
Questions for Whistler
What should Whistler's top priorities be over the next four years to prepare for climate-related risks such as extreme weather, wildfire impacts, and changing environmental conditions?
Top priorities should include a mass electrification policy of all resort infrastructure. This can be supported by the implementation of municipally operated micro-hydro projects and the expansion of solar panelling across existing infrastructure.
Other municipalities in B.C. have put bylaws in place that require all commercial landscaping equipment be electric and Whistler should follow suit.
I will also propose a by-law requiring all businesses have their doors remain closed during the winter at temperatures of 10 degrees and below; and all outdoor fossil fuel burning heaters/open fire pits be turned off at 10 degrees and above.
My big vision for wildfire protection would be to install a perimeter of overhead water lines and sprinklers built around the entire resort, connected to multiple alpine lakes and thus would be predominately fed by gravity. Having a connection to Cheakamus Lake and across the valley to Wedgemount, Rainbow Lake, One Duck Lake and other smaller reservoir sources would allow us real protection in case of extreme emergency. Only needing to activate such a system 1 time in the next fifty years, would be worth it and immediate value could be provided through insurance reductions/secured continuity of coverage. It would be a large initial cost and big project to complete but if it can be done with power lines and gondola cables, we can do it with water lines to protect what we have.
Other municipalities in B.C. have put bylaws in place that require all commercial landscaping equipment be electric and Whistler should follow suit.
I will also propose a by-law requiring all businesses have their doors remain closed during the winter at temperatures of 10 degrees and below; and all outdoor fossil fuel burning heaters/open fire pits be turned off at 10 degrees and above.
My big vision for wildfire protection would be to install a perimeter of overhead water lines and sprinklers built around the entire resort, connected to multiple alpine lakes and thus would be predominately fed by gravity. Having a connection to Cheakamus Lake and across the valley to Wedgemount, Rainbow Lake, One Duck Lake and other smaller reservoir sources would allow us real protection in case of extreme emergency. Only needing to activate such a system 1 time in the next fifty years, would be worth it and immediate value could be provided through insurance reductions/secured continuity of coverage. It would be a large initial cost and big project to complete but if it can be done with power lines and gondola cables, we can do it with water lines to protect what we have.
How should the Resort Municipality of Whistler strengthen its partnerships with community organizations to advance environmental sustainability, climate action, and community resilience?
More events that offer higher level engagement and educational opportunities, while bringing people together to feel a stronger sense of community. All of those who feel connected to the community will feel empowered to preserve and protect it.
What indicators should Council use to evaluate Whistler's success beyond economic growth and tourism, and how would those indicators influence your decision-making?
Quality of life for residents based on health, wellness and happiness.
We are all connected and as your airline stewards will tell you before any flight:
"Always put your mask on first before helping any others."
Happy residents provide better service to guests and we can all prosper together.
We are all connected and as your airline stewards will tell you before any flight:
"Always put your mask on first before helping any others."
Happy residents provide better service to guests and we can all prosper together.
Whistler's natural environment is central to its identity, economy, and quality of life. What actions would you prioritize to protect local ecosystems, biodiversity, and watershed health over the next four years?
Education and community engagement is critical to ensuring that our environment is protected. We all have a role to play.
As Whistler continues to evolve, how would you balance growth and development with environmental protection and long-term climate goals?
Any growth should be defined by our relationship with the environment and our impacts on it. We only have so much space to grow and we only have so much natural resource to compromise before the offset is not worth the end result. I believe slow and steady wins the race.
If you want to walk through a desert without leaving a trace; is it better to run through and figure out how to clean it up after? Or take one small step and sweep...and then another small step and sweep? Sweep up each step you take, immediately after you take it!
If you want to walk through a desert without leaving a trace; is it better to run through and figure out how to clean it up after? Or take one small step and sweep...and then another small step and sweep? Sweep up each step you take, immediately after you take it!
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