WWS Permanent Site Updates | Whistler Waldorf School

Permanent Site Updates

Committed to Whistler

FOR WALDORF & THE COMMUNITY

The Whistler Waldorf School successfully operates in beautiful Spruce Grove Park, in Whistler, B.C. under a renewable lease from the Resort Municipality of Whistler. This arrangement gives the Whistler Waldorf School the stability it needs to continue to grow and thrive alongside the permanent site project.

Whistler Waldorf School’s permanent site project marks the next stage of the school’s history of success in Whistler. Our commitment to creating a lasting legacy continues to drive WWS as it works toward building a future school campus designed with the needs of the Whistler community at its heart.

Our permanent site project commitments:

Design a sustainable, eco-friendly campus for 250 K-12 students that prioritizes environmental stewardship, supports academic excellence, and nurtures holistic development.
Provide high-quality licensed group childcare programs for Whistler children aged 30-months-school age through an expanded daycare facility with additional spaces to meet the needs of local Whistler families.
Integrate community amenities to strengthen connections and address the broader needs of the Whistler community.
Support the RMOW Official Community Plan (OCP) by enhancing childcare and educational opportunities within our community.

Progress Updates for 2024/25

This past summer, the RMOW Council approved a decision enabling our school to remain at the Spruce Grove site under a two-year lease as we actively pursue plans for a permanent home. The WWS is incredibly grateful for the support from both the WWS community and the Whistler community as well as Whistler Mayor, Council and RMOW staff through this process. Since then, the work towards the new permanent site project has been ongoing.
The Province of British Columbia is currently reviewing the crown grant that includes Spruce Grove to determine whether Whistler Waldorf School can establish a permanent site within Spruce Grove Park in perpetuity. Feedback from the Province is anticipated to be received by the RMOW in early 2025.
The RMOW is providing support to Whistler Waldorf School in evaluating the feasibility of alternative locations, should establishing an independent school at Spruce Grove Park prove unviable. By pursuing both options concurrently, WWS is ensuring steady progress regardless of the Province of BC’s decision on the Spruce Grove site.
In 2025, Whistler Waldorf School will launch a capital campaign to fund its permanent site project. The campaign aims to realize the vision of a campus that reflects WWS’s core values and commitment to holistic education while fostering connection and collaboration within the broader Whistler community.
Building a permanent home for our school is a collective effort, and at the heart of this work is the Permanent Site Committee. Tasked by the Board of Trustees, this committee is responsible for identifying and implementing the steps necessary to secure our future campus. The process is taking into account the educational, environmental, financial, and community needs of the school, ensuring that the new site aligns with our mission, vision, and values while supporting the long-term sustainability of Whistler Waldorf School. Permanent Site Committee Co-chairs: Kal Bragg and PJ O’Heany; Board Chair: Erik Wallsten; Treasurer: Desmond Kingsford; Communications and Engagement: Kelly Hand; Governance and Administration: Sherry Hilliard, Jessica Averiss; Committee members: Eddie Dearden, Mike Rampf, Kal Bragg, Dan Holdsworth, Brian Gohlke

History of WWS’s Permanent Site Efforts

Throughout its history, Board Trustees, parents, and staff have invested significant human and financial resources in the ongoing search for a permanent home, all while gratefully operating at the Spruce Grove site. This comprehensive effort has included meetings with developers, proposals to the RMOW, crown lease applications, rezoning processes, consultations with flood experts, cost assessments, and the work of building committees. The most recent efforts include:

Wedgewoods (2013-2017)

A project was previously initiated in Wedgewoods, involving significant time and expenses totaling over $100,000. These efforts included conducting land and environmental surveys, paying rent to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), and obtaining a development permit. However, with Wedgewoods still undeveloped, the financial burden on the school became substantial, making it difficult to proceed without a community partner.

Committed to remaining in Whistler and fostering collaboration, the school shifted its focus to the Summit Centre concept, which emerged as a more viable and community-oriented solution.

The Summit Centre (2017-2021)

The Whistler Summit Centre was an ambitious community project designed to create a fully integrated, environmentally sustainable campus, envisioned as a vibrant hub for learning, health, arts, culture, and social activities. It involved numerous partnerships with local groups and individuals, united by the belief that shared spaces would benefit both the school and the wider community. A piece of land in Whistler was pledged as the future permanent home of the Whistler Waldorf School. The project attracted significant investments of time, effort, and financial resources, with the school successfully raising $400,000 to trigger the land donation. However, just three weeks later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, pausing the project. As the pandemic continued, the initiative, like many others, was ultimately brought to a close in 2021.

More About Us

For 25 years, Whistler Waldorf School has been an important part of the Whistler community, making meaningful contributions to families, other local organizations, and the economy.