Panelists
Al Raine (Mayor of Sun Peaks)
Al has been the Mayor of Sun Peaks since it’s inception as a resort municipality in 2010. Born and raised in Vancouver, Al has an extensive background in the ski industry and British Columbia mountain towns. In 1974 Al became acting Ski Area Coordinator of B.C. (a position that provided him with the opportunity to perform site evaluations of 45 areas throughout the province). In his role as Provincial Ski Coordinator, Al established the innovative and successful Commercial Alpine Ski Policy that encouraged considerable investment in ski areas in British Columbia while protecting the public interest. In February 1982, Al Raine was named ‘Freeman’ of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in recognition of his key role in the development of the Whistler Resort from a weekend ski area to a successful destination resort. Al played a key role in obtaining provincial legislation to form the Whistler Resort Association, the umbrella organization responsible for marketing at Whistler. He served as it’s General Manager in 1981 and 1982, as a director from May 1985 to September 1990, and as President and Chairman in 1989 and 1990.
Dale Mikkelsen (General Manager, Climate Action, Planning and Development Services, RMOW)
Dale Mikkelsen joined the RMOW on April 3 and will head the Climate Action, Planning and Development Services division, formerly Resort Experience. As the former Director of Development and Chief Operating Officer for Simon Fraser University’s sustainable community model, UniverCity, he brings deep experience in housing and development. Mikkelsen is currently on the Whistler Advisory Design Panel, Whistler Housing Authority board, and is the president of WORCA. He was the project planner at the City of Vancouver for Southeast False Creek, which ultimately became the 2010 Athlete’s Village, and helped to create the City’s first Green Building Strategy. He also worked on the planning of Vancouver’s River District and the Great Northern Way precinct.
Duane Jackson (Chair of Whistler 2020 Development Corp & Developer)
Duane has lived in Whistler for 32 years. He is a two-time Whistler City Councillor and has worked in the design, development, and construction industry for over 40 years. Duane received a Batchelor of Architecture from Auckland University (NZ) and a “Master’s in Real Estate Development” from the University of Southern California. Duane is currently the Chair of the Whistler 2020 Development Corp (WDC). He was a founding Director in 2004, prior to the planning, development, and construction of the 2010 Athlete Village and the first phase of Cheakamus Crossing. WDC is currently developing the second phase of Cheakamus Crossing. A mixed-use neighbourhood of employee and market housing. Duane has been a Board Member of the Whistler Housing Authority for three terms (2003, 2011, 2018). He is interested in how best Whistler can continue to address employee and seniors housing in the context of changing demographics, property ownership, rental inventory, resort economics and land use planning.
GD Maxwell (Pique Newsmagazine Columnist) - Panel Moderator
G.D. Maxwell has been writing about housing and life in Whistler for the past 27 years from his perch on Pique’s back page. That he’s still living in Whistler can be blamed on the success of the Whistler Housing Authority, from whom he purchased his home and for whom he serves on the Board of Directors. Life before Whistler included valuable experience providing real estate project lending in the Old Country — Ontario.
George Ruther (Housing Director, Town of Vail, Colorado)
George Ruther is the Director of Housing within the Housing Department in Vail, Colorado. He has more than 25 years of mountain resort community development and housing experience. Since its creation in 2018, the Housing Department, under George’s leadership, has realized a 52% increase in the total number of deed-restricted homes in Vail. The availability and affordability of housing, however, remains the #1 most critical issue facing the Vail community. HousingColorado recognized George for innovation in affordable housing with the 2019 Eagle Award acknowledging his work to ensure safe, fair, and affordable housing for all Coloradans. The highly innovative and nationally recognized Vail InDEED program was the recipient of the 2020 Robert C. Larson Housing Policy Leadership Award given by the Urban Land Institute.
Kate Roddick (Senior Project Leader at Whistler Blackcomb)
Kate is a collaborative business leader with over 25 years’ experience managing complex multi-stakeholder relationships and operations. As Senior Manager, Projects, Employee Services & Community Relations, and a member of the Whistler Blackcomb Senior Leadership Team, Kate is responsible for translating strategy into goals and actionable plans through the lens of ski resort operations. Her unique skillset, developed through years of special project management, blends business outcomes with employee passion, drive and accountability. She intentionally embraces the challenges, and leans into the creative thinking and partnerships demanded by the intersection of projects, relationships, operational complexities, regulatory requirements, commitments and responsibilities that make Whistler Blackcomb’s two mountains run safely and smoothly, year-round. Kate is a cross organizational team player, who understands the value of managing confident and cohesive teams.
Steve Bayly (Whistler Valley Housing Society)
Steve Bayly has been active in the Real Estate Development and Construction industry in British Columbia for over forty years. His main business activity today in Whistler is as a commercial and industrial landlord. Bayly is well known in Whistler as a Founding Director and original General Manager charged with setting up the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA). Bayly was directly responsible for the acquisition of land and development of WHA rental projects Nordic Court, Lorimer Court, Nester’s Pond, and Beaver Flats. A $6M Works and Services Fund was conservatively levered with $12M in long term fixed rate loans for these projects. The loans on these projects are near the end of their amortization and have a value today in excess of $70M. The excess cash flow has been reinvested in additional WHA projects. Bayly was also a Director of the Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) who built the Whistler 2010 Olympic Athletes’ Village and converted it to the resident restricted Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood post Olympics. Bayly is a Director of the Whistler Valley Housing Society (WVHS).