Jen Ford

Council · Whistler

16 yrs

About

I have been serving on Council since 2014. I volunteered with WAG and WHA between 2011 and 2014. I am happy to be raising my family here, but I am challenged like many with the pressures of growth. Climate anxiety is real, and I want to help.

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.

✓ Support electrification of new buildings. Supportive

✓ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Supportive

✓ 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

✓ 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.

✓ Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels. Supportive

✓ 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

✓ Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater. Supportive

✓ Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife. Supportive

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

✓ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Supportive

✓ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Supportive

✓ 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!).

✓ Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit. Supportive

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Supportive

✓ Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone. Supportive

~ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Neutral

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.

✓ Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water. Supportive

✓ 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.

✓ 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

✓ 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?

My record is public, I have advocated for and only supported the work of AWARE, the Municipal Climate Action Leaders, and the implementation of regional transit, local transit, a Climate and Environment Committee amongst others.

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?

Continue to deliver on retrofit of municipal and community infrastructure, implement regional transit now that the MOU is delivered.

How should the Resort Municipality of Whistler strengthen its partnerships with community organizations to advance environmental sustainability, climate action, and community resilience?

To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together. We need our partnerships to support mutual benefits and deliver community education, funding and support.

What indicators should Council use to evaluate Whistler's success beyond economic growth and tourism, and how would those indicators influence your decision-making?

Implementing some of the key indicators from Smart Tourism will mean trade offs for the community. There is a growing divide here, and we need to address the growing frustration that the community has with growth, change and higher costs.

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?

The work that the SSISC does to manage invasives is tremendous, and not well appreciated. A more aggressive target to not only manage those, but to appreciate biodiversity and grow our investment in protecting our eco-systems is needed.

As Whistler continues to evolve, how would you balance growth and development with environmental protection and long-term climate goals?

Investment and broader community involvement.

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 23 contributions totalling $5,899.44.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

5 contributions · $1,000.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
STEVE BAYLY	Sep 19, 2022	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
DUANE JACKSON	Oct 5, 2022	$250.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
WILLIAM KUNZWEILER	Oct 7, 2022	$250.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
CAROL LEACY	Sep 17, 2022	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
GEORGE MAXWELL	Sep 30, 2022	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER

2018 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

9 contributions · $2,999.44

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
STEVE BAYLY	Sep 25, 2018	$250.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
NIKKI BEST	Oct 22, 2018	$1,200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
MICHELLE CHARLTON	Sep 24, 2018	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
JEN FORD	Oct 22, 2018	$199.44	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
JEN FORD	Feb 20, 2019	$60.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
BEVIN HEATH-ANSLEY	Sep 14, 2018	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
JOANNA RUNCIMAN	Oct 15, 2018	$390.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
ANNE TOWNLEY	Sep 18, 2018	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
RICHARD WYNE	Oct 5, 2018	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER

2014 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

9 contributions · $1,900.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
STEVE BAYLY	Oct 27, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
LES ECKER	Oct 26, 2014	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
WAYNE FORD	Oct 9, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
PAT RYAN	Sep 26, 2014	$200.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
KATHERINE RYAN	Oct 16, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
TIMOTHY RYAN	Oct 14, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
PATRICIA SMYTH	Nov 6, 2014	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
PATRICK SMYTH	Oct 2, 2014	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER
RICHARD WYNE	Nov 8, 2014	$100.00	COUNCILLOR	WHISTLER

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Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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