About Us

Board of Directors

WASP President: Sian Blyth
As a founding member of the original Whistler Adaptive Ski Program and a volunteer for WASP for 8 years, Sian has played a pivotal part in the growth of the organization. Sian stared here career in the UK as a Neurosurgical nurse before getting involved in a National Charity called Back-Up that uses outdoor recreation to help someone with a spinal cord injury regain their self confidence and motivation. She arrived with a big vision for WASP and has been instrumental in growing the organization to fulfill that Vision.

Sian was a past Disabled Skier of BC zone rep for WASP and then the Director of WASP, (mainly as a volunteer) for 5 years.

In her paid work she is now High Performance Director for the Disabled Skiers of BC and delivers a Provincial Program getting skiers into adaptive racing and onto the Provincial team.

Sian has been involved in recreation for people with disabilities here in BC for 8 years. She has worked for Sam Sullivan running his Access Challenge program in 1999 and also for the BC Wheelchair Sports Association.

Sian lives and works in Vancouver and is extremely well known in the community with a far reaching contact base.

WASP Vice President, Ken Ross
A founding member of the WASP Board of Directors, Ken joined WASP in the winter of 2002-03, already with four years of adaptive ski instruction experience in the Ontario Track 3 program. Ken is a Level 2/2-A certified instructor with the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) and teaches for both the Whistler and Vancouver Adaptive programs. In addition to WASP, he recently served on the Board of Directors of the Disabled Skiers Association of BC (DSABC) for 2 years as WASPs Zone Representative, participating on that Board's Hiring and Zone Development Committees. Ken has also facilitated strategic planning and zone development sessions for DSABC and other BC adaptive snowsport programs. He is currently Vice Chair of the DSABC's Technical Committee and is working toward Level 3 CADS certification

In his other life, Ken works in the Business Development and Resource Planning Group at Terasen Gas. He is part of the team responsible for the approval to bring a new natural gas energy pipeline to the Whistler community that will replace the existing propane system and create a flexible energy platform for the introduction of new, renewable energy technologies.

WASP Treasurer: John Walker
John is a chartered accountant and is currently Chief Financial Officer of Black Press, a privately owned community and daily newspaper publisher with approximately 150 publications in BC, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii and Ohio.

As a part time resident of Whistler for 25 years he has been a Level 3 Alpine Race Official and a past Director, President and Committee Chair of the local junior alpine race club.

John has been the Treasurer for one year.

Director (Whistler-Blackcomb): Rob McSkimming
A Level 4 CSIA Ski Instructor, Rob is Vice President of Business Development at Whistler Blackcomb, where he is responsible for the operation of the largest Ski & Snowboard School in North America.

His career in the ski industry began in the Ski School in 1980 on Blackcomb, and has continued through various positions including Director of Sales for Whistler Blackcomb.

In addition to the successful operation of the Ski & Snowboard School, he is the driving force behind the phenomenon of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and is part of the 3-member Board of Directors of Events Whistler, which is responsible for bringing many special events to the resort of Whistler, including the Crankworx Festival.

Rob has played a pivotal role between WASP and Whistler Blackcomb for the last 8 years and been instrumental in growing the relationship.

Director: Bruce J Lebans
Bruce is a retired Airline Pilot with 40 years of experience working in a technical occupation and 30 plus years of experience instructing at all levels of flying.

The main asset he brings to WASP is a keen interest in assisting persons with a disability develop the abilities in Snow Sports. Bruce is a founding member of the WASP board and has played a key role in the organization for over 9 years.

Bruce has attained CSIA Level 2 Instructor's rating, CSCF Level I (Coaching for Alpine Ski Racing), he is currently a CADS Level 3 Examiner and has ten years of teaching Adaptive Skiing. Bruce is also currently the President of CADS.

Director: Peter Crutchfield
Currently a member of the BC Disabled Ski Team, Pete works nights in the Guest Services department of the Hotel Industry so as to maximize the amount of time he can train on the mountain. He has made Whistler his home since the '90-'91 winter season, though he spent some years paying rent in Vancouver after breaking his neck on Whistler in '96. Having come through the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program as a student and now instructing with a CADS level 2a certification, Pete offers the unique perspective of a skier who acquired the need for a program like WASP and now instructs for them as well.

Pete is new to the Board this year.

Director: Bob Calladine
Upon arrival in Whistler, Bob became involved in many volunteer activities. Many, such as Scouting and Whistler Youth Soccer were the result of the participation of his son. Others, such as Rotary, Weasels, Blackcomb Ski Club, etc. were for adult sociability that involved volunteerism. As a result of the participating in and helping to run many of these organizations Bob has made many local contacts.

A number of awards for volunteering also ensued: "Paul Harris" from Rotary, "Citizen of the Year" from the Chamber of Commerce, "a Whistler Classic" from Whistler Tourism, and "Community Sports Hero" from BC Sports.

Bob is hoping that his knowledge of local resources will be able to assist WASP for its new and ongoing programs and is really excited to finally be part of this organization. He joined the Board at this year's AGM.

Bob's other accomplishments include, being a member of National Ski Team in the mid sixties, coaching UBC men and women's team and Southern Ontario Divisional team early seventies, ski guiding and teaching in St. Anton, Austria for 18 years and ski coaching and teaching at Whistler Blackcomb for 9 years.

Director: Karin Wylie
Karin is presently retired, living in Whistler and enjoying all the things that Whistler offers. With her husband Doug she skis, hikes, and bicycles whenever possible.

Karin has been a WASP volunteer for 4 years. Her focus has always been to provide administrative and fundraising support. She has been able to able to meet all the volunteers at one time or another and most of the clients. She enjoys meeting and interacting with the highly talented group of people who work, volunteer and participate in the many WASP activities. This year Karin will be providing administrative support to the Executive Director (Chelsey) and sharing her love of Whistler through WASP.

Director (Scotiabank): Valerie Plourde, PFP
Valerie is the Branch Manager for Scotiabank (Whistler and Pemberton). She has been with Scotiabank for 14 years. She recently moved to Whistler in March 2006, from Calgary, where she had lived for 10 years. While in Calgary, she had the opportunity and pleasure to serve on and be involved with many committees, charities and community events. She is pleased to be representing Scotiabank on the Board of Directors for WASP and look forward to being involved in the communities.