Jackie Dickinson
Community Service Director
Jackie Dickinson was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and worked as a high school teacher before making the move to Whistler in 2008. A brief visit to Whistler, in 2004 with her husband, had a lasting impression. She left her teaching career in 2006, spent a year traveling around the world, with her husband, and decided to call Whistler their home after they finished. They have since grown a family and are raising two adventurous young boys. Jackie started her time in Whistler working briefly in tourism and guest relations but eventually returned to her past career in teaching with an opportunity as a Drug and Alcohol Educator throughout the Sea to Sky School District. This opportunity to support youth and learn more about learning from individuals and families about their mental health and substance use challenges eventually led to a role as an Outreach Worker in 2009 with Whistler Community Services Society.
Jackie has been fortunate to work in a variety of roles at WCSS, for over 14 years, and currently is the Executive Director. The team she works alongside, at Whistler Community Services Society, in 2022 received in partnership with local health care and community service providers the Rural Coordination Centre of BC's Community Health Award for their outstanding response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has acquired training in the areas of Mental Health First Aid and Critical Incident Debriefing as a frontline outreach worker, and has developed programs and services to support new parents, young adults, families and the communities most vulnerable and underserved. Jackie’s passion has developed into advocacy for community well-being, mental health, food security, and harm reduction initiatives.