Global Perspectives Speaker Series

Thank you for a great 2024 - 2025 season!

We’re proud to have wrapped up another inspiring year of the Global Perspectives Speaker Series. Together, we created spaces for meaningful dialogue with leading experts from a wide range of fields—right here in our community. 

You can watch the recordings of all our 2024-2025 events and read the recaps below. Our speaker committee is deep in planning for 2025-2026; if you have a topic that you want them to consider, please send it to contact@whistlerinstitute.com. 

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first ot know when our season launches – have a great summer everyone!

My Journey to the Invictus Games

Speaker: Lealand Muller

Mother Nature v. Okanagan Wineries: a Climate Conundrum

Speakers: Decoa Harder, Jeff Harder

AI: Ethics, Empathy & Humanizing Technology

Speaker: Kris Krüg

Raising Healthy, High Performance Athletes

Speakers: Dr. Brian Storey, Quinn Storey

Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds & You

Speakers: Dr. Brian Menounos, Dr. Peter Ross, Michael Blackstock

Our Supporters

This season would not have been possible without the support of the following generous individuals, organizations, and businesses:

Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) logo
Vail Resorts Epic Promise Program Logo
Cornucopia Whistler's Celebration of Food + Drink
Whistler Cooks; a partner of the Whistler Institute.
Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation
Nita Lake Lodge Logo

Event Format

All our speaker events are held at the Maury Young Arts Centre, located at 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC.

Doors open at 5.30pm with the speaker (or panelists) starting at 6.00pm. An audience Q&A follows all presentations.

A cash bar is open in the Gallery from 5.30pm onwards.

The Maury Young Arts Centre, located at 4335 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC.

Respectful Dialogue Agreement

 

As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and thoughtful space for meaningful dialogue, all attendees of the Global Perspectives Speaker Series are required to accept the Respectful Dialogue Agreement. This agreement reflects our shared responsibility to engage in discussions that strengthen our community and deepen our understanding of the world.

When you join us, we invite you to bring:

  • CURIOSITY – Approach discussions with a genuine desire to learn, ask thoughtful questions, and explore new ideas with an open mind.
  • INTEGRITY – Engage with honesty, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to truth-seeking, even when perspectives differ.
  • COLLABORATION – Recognize that meaningful change and deeper understanding come from exchanging ideas and working together.
  • RESILIENCE – Embrace challenging conversations with patience and an open heart, understanding that growth often comes through discomfort.
  • RESPECT – Foster a space where all voices are valued, ensuring that dialogue remains considerate and inclusive.

Together, we create an environment where curiosity is encouraged, perspectives are broadened, and ideas inspire action. Thank you for being part of this conversation.

Respectful Dialogue Agreement Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 5.30pm, when doors open. There is a cash bar open at that time, too, serving light refreshments. Speakers begin at 6.00pm.

Topics are selected based on a blend of community input, global conversation trends, and input from our Global Perspectives Speaker Series Committee. If you would like to suggest a future topic, please complete the post-event survey or share suggestions with contact@whistlerinstitute.com.

The 2024-2025 Global Perspectives Speaker Series features six different events from September through to April. Individual events cost $30.00, or you can purchase a Season Pass for $150. If you plan to attend all six events, the Season Pass option means you get one event for free!

Yes, absolutely! Speakers are typically onsite for doors opening; otherwise there is the opportunity to meet speakers post-event (7.30pm).

Yes; please contact Executive Director Mandy Rousseau mandy@whistlerinstitute.com / 604-932-7600 to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.

George Ruther (Housing Director, Town of Vail, Colorado) speaks at A Roof Over Our Heads: Exploring Mountain Resort Housing Possibilities, April 2023

 

 

The Whistler Institute’s goal with these events is to enhance our understanding of the world, alerting us to change and its impacts, and inspire meaningful action within our community and beyond.

 Featuring accomplished international thought leaders, the Global Perspectives Speaker Series features influential leaders who have made a global impact in their field of expertise. Topics are prioritized based on four directions:

1. Topics must be global in nature, but have a local impact;

2. Respected experts are selected based on their effectiveness in presenting and discussing the subject matter;

3. Each event provides a roadmap for action; and

4. Whistler is the stage for speakers to reach a global audience.

The Role of the Olympic Movement in an Ever-Changing World, April 2022

Past Speaker Series Events:

 

Stimulating discussion and inspiring action around major issues facing Whistler and beyond. 

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