Born in and raised in Philadelphia, the Melamed family moved to Montreal where Ken attended high school and CEGEP. After graduating with a major in science he headed west to Jasper where he ran the kitchen at Smitty’s Pancake House. He arrived in Whistler in February of 1976, just as the Olympics were finishing in Innsbruck. For the next 35 years he spent his winters working on Whistler Mountain, first as a liftee and then 28 years on the pro ski patrol.
Ken met his wife-to-be Uschi here and they raised two wonderful sons, Dillon and Jesse, in the modest home in Alpine Meadows where they have lived since 1979. The family are all avid skiers and mountain bikers.
Ken worked in the construction trades before starting his own artisan masonry company, Ken Melamed Stonework, which he folded after 15 successful years in order to focus on his duties as mayor. Working with natural stone in an old world trade allowed him to explore form and function and to work with some of the most creative and skilled designers and builders.
He co-founded the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) and led the largest volunteer organisation in Whistler for six years as president. During that time they initiated municipal recycling, habitat protection, and environmental education. Ken has remained committed to his volunteer activities, continuing to volunteer most Friday’s on the mountain as a ski patroller, joining the board of the American Friends of Whistler, and assisting visitors as a Village Host.
In 1996 he was elected on council, a position he served for 3 terms, while still holding down his other jobs on the ski patrol and stonework. These were heady times as the Whistler community embraced its commitment to environmental stewardship. The Emerald Forest was protected, the Spruce Forest Grove (between Montebello and Fitz Creek ) was saved, and an attempt to place a conservation zoning on the Alpha/Miller Creek wetland complex stalled at Third Reading. The radical experiment that was the Whistler Housing Authority was created and now, 14 years later, the bold goal of housing for residents has been achieved.
From ’99-’02 during Ken’s second term on council, he guided the early Olympic engagement, which resulted in Guiding Principles and the Multi-Party Agreement. These early policies and strategies ensured that Whistler could realise the opportunities and keep risks to a minimum. In the same period, Whistler undertook another bold initiative; the development of a strategic community shared long-term vision for Whistler. Whistler 2020 became the first Integrated Community Sustainability Plan of its kind in Canada and won the 2005 Liveable Communities Award as best in the world.
After being the lone councillor to with-hold support to endorse the Olympic Bid, Ken was returned to council in 2002 with the highest vote count. He continued his efforts to support business success, champion affordability for locals, and manage development pressures.
Ken surprised everyone in his 2005 election victory as mayor. His history of integrity and strong adherence to values gave voters confidence that he would keep his promises on the Olympic planning and preparations. He championed the vision and strategic objectives chosen by the community and made the successful transition from agitator and activist to leader, diplomat and ambassador. Ken went onto the boards of the Whistler housing Authority, Tourism Whistler, and the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation.
Overcoming another strong challenge, Ken was re-elected mayor in 2008. Ken led the community through the spectacularly successful Games as promised, keeping true to all of the principles developed in the 2002 Guiding Principles. The games were delivered on time and under budget in Whistler during an economic downturn. Ken became Whistler’s ambassador to the world giving hundreds of interviews and hosting dignitaries from around the world in Canada’s two official languages.
During the 2008-2011 term he joined the board of the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities board, briefly, to ensure the successful delivery of the annual conference held in Whistler in the spring of 2009. Post games he immediately began the process to reduce municipal costs in the Olympic aftermath. 2011 saw municipal FTE’s reduced by 13 and capital programs either frozen or slashed. The methodical, judicious and respectful process of belt tightening continues with significant further reductions to be in place for the 2012 budget.
Additionally Ken has served as a director of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District for the past six years. The SLRD highlights are the adoption of the Regional Growth Strategy and the Sea to Sky Trail. Ken has worked hard to nurture relationships and regional cooperation, while reducing the tax burden and protecting Whistler’s interests. He was recently elected as the vice-chair of the SLRD.
Ken has been invited to serve on a number of panels, boards, and committees including the Premier’s Citizen’s Conservation Council on Climate Action, BC Mayors for Climate Action, the Fraser Basin Council, Smart Growth BC, and the coalition for a BC Endangered Species Act.
In his two terms as mayor, he has developed a close working relationship serving on the boards of the key organisations critical to Whistler’s economic success. He is actively engaged in the strategic planning for Tourism Whistler and The Whistler Chamber of Commerce. In six years on the Whistler Housing Authority he played a major role in turning the corner on the longstanding housing shortage in Whistler. As the council liaison to the Whistler Development Corporation Board which built the Athletes’ Village, Ken helped ensure that the largest development project ever undertaken by the RMOW met the community’s goals for resident housing and smart design, all while coming in on budget during an economic downturn.
Ken has spoken about Whistler’s initiatives across Canada, Europe, and the US, actively promoting Whistler’s leadership in the areas of community visioning, collaborating for success in a tourism economy, strategic planning for economic development, and on the environment. Whistler is recognised for having achieved a high level of agreement on values and a shared vision which is a platform for partnership and collaboration and a secret to its success.
As mayor, Ken brings the energy and the ability to drive up the resort’s economic vitality, lead the evolution of the resort (focusing in particular on municipal finances) to meet the post Olympic realities, and to improve the quality of life and security of the people who make Whistler so special. Together we will rekindle the spirit that created Whistler and keep that spirit burning brightly.
This November, vote for Ken Melamed to serve as your mayor.