Our Access In Motion team works with organizations at every stage of their accessibility journey. From early questions to complex portfolios, we bring practical guidance and senior expertise to every engagement.
Whistler Blackcomb is recognized as one of North America’s premier four-season recreation destinations and among one of the most frequented ski resorts. Its mountainous terrain means that some of its largest facilities are situated in challenging locations. Elevation and snow add complexity to planning for accessibility upgrades. Two of the sites, the Roundhouse Lodge and Rendezvous Restaurant, are located at elevation (1,800 metres) and, for much of the year, surrounded by several metres of snow, while for summer, the snowpack disappears, creating different accessibility considerations. With a wide range of potential accessibility enhancements to consider, Whistler Blackcomb sought a clear, strategic starting point to help prioritize opportunities for improvement. Serving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, the resort aimed to focus its efforts on high‑impact improvements that would benefit the greatest number of people.
The Access In Motion team initially went to Whistler to experience the facilities firsthand before undertaking an audit of the sites. This allowed them to better understand and account for the unique operational and environmental conditions that Whistler Blackcomb faces. Following the initial visit, the team conducted comprehensive Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) aligned assessments for four sites: the Blackcomb Daylodge, the Rendezvous Lodge, Whistler Village G1, and the Roundhouse Lodge. The assessments highlighted opportunities for improvement. With collaboration between Access In Motion and Whistler Blackcomb, they identified high‑value upgrades that could be replicated across locations, establish a continuous improvement model for future seasons, and prioritize upgrades that would yield meaningful access with ongoing advisory guidance, responding to emerging considerations, and providing supplier recommendations for a range of accessibility solutions.
Whistler Blackcomb chose to prioritize the upgrades to the Roundhouse Lodge first as it is a space many guests visit year-round during their time on mountain. Some of the upgrades included changing the flooring in the lobby for a material with more traction for both mobility devices and individuals in ski boots and adding in a ramp to Steeps Grill, the full-service restaurant within the lodge that was previously only accessible by stairs. Access In Motion returned to re-assess the Roundhouse Lodge and the site achieved RHFAC Certification in 2025. Since then, while continuing to consult with Access In Motion, Whistler Blackcomb has continued to leverage the assessments and newfound knowledge to begin making improvements at other sites across the resort.
