The Whistler community is mourning the loss of a dedicated volunteer and passionate, engaged longtime resident after the death of Betty McWhinnie this week.

McWhinnie died on Sunday (Aug. 26) at her daughter’s home in Ottawa. She was 87. Though her health had been declining in recent months and she was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, her passing came more quickly than expected.

A resident of Whistler for about 23 years, McWhinnie was named Citizen of the Year in 2006. She’s known for the amazing amount of energy she poured into local organizations, events and causes.

“She was a great, amazing woman,” said friend Sara Jennings. “We need more people like her who will stand up for what they believe in.”

Jennings said she got to know McWhinnie around 2005 when the two worked as part of Whistler Watch, a local group that formed to fight a proposed public-private partnership at Whistler’s sewage treatment plant. McWhinnie was one of the founding members of Whistler Watch, which continues to be active in the community.

“She’s totally inspirational and passionate and not afraid to voice what she thinks,” Jennings said. “But she also takes a lot of time to consider her thoughts and opinions on different topics.”

McWhinnie was also active in the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, and it was common to find her holding up a sign at local demonstrations such as those protesting the development of Lot 1/9 in Whistler Village (now Olympic Plaza) and the new transit facility.

She was also a founding member of Whistler’s Mature Action Committee (MAC) and served on the board until her death. Seniors housing and health care were two topics about which she was passionate, said Gordon Leidal, past president of MAC.

Though she didn’t realize her hope to move into seniors housing in Whistler, many others will benefit from her hard work to that end, he said.

“I just really admire Betty for everything she’s done for the community,” Leidal said. “She’s a very special person — such an active volunteer all over the place.”

McWhinnie served on the board of the Whistler Public Library for more than a dozen years. Jane Reid, also a former Citizen of the Year and driving force behind the Friends of the Whistler Library, said she got to know McWhinnie through her “tireless” work for fundraisers, book sales and more.

McWhinnie didn’t hesitate to approach local businesses to ask for sponsorship or prizes.

“She was never shy about going and promoting a cause,” Reid said. “Betty was tireless at working for the things that she believed in.”

McWhinnie was reliable, full of energy and always there to help — even if it was just the offer of her car to transport books to the twice-yearly book sales after she became too weak to lift boxes, Reid said.

“I think Whistler’s going to miss her,” Reid said. “She was such a strong community supporter.”

McWhinnie also volunteered with Whistler Emergency Services, the Re-Use-It Centre and Whistler Welcome Week over the years.

She moved to Whistler about 23 years ago from Ontario. Before her time here she earned two university degrees, taught ESL at Brown College and raised five children on her own after her husband died in the 1960s.

Mayor Ken Melamed expressed his personal condolences, as well as those of council and municipal staff, at the news of McWhinnie’s death. He said he got to know McWhinnie through her support of the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) when he was president.

Melamed said he respected McWhinnie and thought of her as a “feisty” person who contributed in a positive way to the dialogue and debate in the community.

“I think she was an inspiration to many,” he said.