Surrounded by a spectacular expanse of mountains, Pemberton is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Year-round recreational opportunities include paragliding, camping, back-country skiing, jet boating, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, and championship golfing. 

With residents numbering between 7,000 and 8,000, many of them from the several First Nation communities in the area, the community exudes a laid-back, small-town atmosphere, yet there is plenty to do for foodies and festival goers. 

Taking advantage of the unique micro climate and great soil conditions in the area, Pemberton farmers are famous for their seed potatoes (hence the nickname Spud Valley) as well as vegetables, beef, cranberries and much more.

Organic farming is growing in popularity as demand increases and Pemberton is increasingly a destination for foodies. 

The town also plays host to several major events throughout the year. The Pemberton Barn Dance and Country Fair, the Pemberton Festival, the Slow Food Cycle, Lillooet Lake Rodeo and the two-week long Winterfest are among them. 

Pemberton’s physicians practice out of the Pemberton Health Centre, providing a full range of primary care services. They also provide care to the outlying First Nations communities, either by telehealth or traveling by helicopter, plane or car. The Health Centre houses a lab and X-Ray services. Emergency services are provided out of the Diagnosis and Treatment Centre on a “nurse first-call” basis.

What the community has to offer:

• Proximity to international ski resort, Whistler.
• Breathtaking landscape.
• Year-round recreational activities, including nearly 50 kms of free trails for cross-country skiing, biking, hiking or horseback riding.
• A relaxed, laid-back pace.
• A vibrant Aboriginal cultural experience.

Pemberton Local Action Team (LAT) Launches Plan-Y

Plan Y is a web-based Wellness Directory that acts like a mobile application and features youth-focused programs and services. This much-needed online resource came to life through the Pemberton CYMSHU Local Action Team (LAT). After surveying youth, the LAT learned that youth didn't know what programs and services were available and that the primary way they like to access information is online. Plan-Y serves the youth of the Pemberton, Líl̓wat Nation, Lower Lakes, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Area C, and N’Quatqua communities.

If you have any questions about Plan-Y, please contact: info@plan-y.ca  or Visit www.plan-y.ca

Suicide Intervention Toolkits

These toolkits were created by the Salt Spring Island Local Action Team and have been adapted, with permission, by the Pemberton Local Action Team to include Pemberton and area resources.

The intent is that the Toolkits might provide additional information and support for children or youth struggling with suicidal ideation in our community, and for those that support them. 

Each of the three kits are designed for a specific audience and contain information relevant to that audience; REACH OUT is for youth, SUPPORT is for parents and/or caring adults, and COMPASSION is for professionals like teachers, medical personnel and counsellors. . Kits contain information on supports and resources available within the community, crisis lines and apps that may help someone in crisis, self-management supports, information about risk factors and how to stay safe along with other information. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice. 

How to get there:

Pemberton is a scenic two-and-a-half hour drive from Vancouver, and about a 40-minute drive from the resort town of Whistler, where many residents work in the service industry.

Greyhound Bus services Pemberton from Vancouver. And the Pemberton Valley Transit System runs four trips daily between Pemberton and Whistler. 

See RCCbc’s rural community website to learn more about Pemberton. 

Contact us to learn more about the Pemberton Chapter.

Our Team
Jim Fuller, Physician Lead