Jim Godfrey

Member, VANOC Board of Directors
Nominated by the Resort Municipality of Whistler

Jim Godfrey is currently the executive director for the 2010 Winter Games in Whistler. Prior to accepting this position he was the municipal administrator for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, a community that is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top year-round destination resorts.

Godfrey has been a member of the VANOC Board of Directors since its inception. He also sat on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Bid Corporation, which successfully secured the right to host the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition, Godfrey serves the Board of Directors for 2010 Legacies Now and the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation. He is a past board member of Tourism Whistler and the Whistler Housing Authority.

Godfrey began his career in parks and recreation working in Burnaby, North Vancouver, Sparwood and Maple Ridge before assuming the role of deputy administrator for the Township of Langley in 1981. He was appointed Langley’s administrator in 1983, a post he held until 1996 when he joined the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Godfrey and his teams have been the recipients of numerous awards, including the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators – Willis Award for Innovation, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities – CH2M Hill Sustainable Community Award.

During his tenure, Whistler received worldwide recognition while competing in the International Liveable Communities Awards in La Coruna, Spain, an awards program endorsed by the United Nations. The community was one of only two of the 53 finalists from 20 countries to receive multiple awards. Whistler was declared the best in the world in planning for the future and one of the most livable communities (silver award).

Godfrey has also been a winner of the Fraser Institute’s Economy in Government Competition.

Godfrey likes to spend time with his wife, Barb, walking their bearded collie, Sammy, and with his son, Chris and stepdaughter, Tanya. He also enjoys swinging at the odd golf ball.