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‘Ask me’ volunteer program underway

Grassroots initiative will help visitors, encourage community pride: McKenzie

There’s a grassroots movement underfoot that’s trying to help inject more pride and community spirit into Whistler. The “Ask Me! I’m a local” button program is gaining steam and is due to be launched next month.

Long-time community member Janice McKenzie is spearheading the program, which is designed to help visitors and also encourage community pride. The idea is for residents to sign onto the program and wear a button that says “Ask me! I’m a local” — indicating to visitors they are willing to help.

“While this volunteer program will provide valuable tourist information support to existing programs… (it’s) also intended to demonstrate Whistler’s community values and local pride while engaging guests in a genuine, friendly, welcoming and personal interaction with its residents,” McKenzie wrote in an email to The Question.

The target is for the buttons to be available by mid-September, and the program is designed to be a permanent part of Whistler culture — not just a 2010 Winter Olympics initiative, she said.

“This grassroots program is permanent to this community and will not disappear after the 2010 Games,” she said.

The buttons will be available in five languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese), and residents will wear whatever language they feel comfortable conversing in.

“It’s a very positive initiative that all locals can be part of… a way for a local person to help not only the visitor experience but Whistler as a community,” McKenzie said. “It will bring a sense of pride back to this town.”

Whistlerites are invited to sign up for the program now at the Ask me! I’m a local website (www.askmeimalocal.com). Two preliminary button designs are posted on the site for people to vote on.

An official launch is being organized for next month, McKenzie said.

A description of the program on the website says a simple thing like showing visitors the residents of Whistler care can make a positive difference.

“Together we can become the most friendly, caring and supportive tourist community in the world,” the website reads. “Regardless of the economy or the amount of snow that falls, we can show our guests that Whistler is the right choice to invest their tourist dollars.”

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