Tourism Whistler has ended all business dealings with the event producer for the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival.
In a statement provided to Pique, Tourism Whistler said the decision was made because of financial and communication issues.
“Tourism Whistler and Whistler.com have formally ended all business dealings with the event producer who has delivered the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival since 2019. This decision was not made lightly. It follows unresolved financial issues and a complete absence of communication after the conclusion of the 2025 event in January,” the organization said in an emailed statement.
“Whistler has a long and proud history of being inclusive to all, and Tourism Whistler remains deeply committed to celebrating and welcoming the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to our destination. Whistler event stakeholder organizations, including Tourism Whistler, intend to conduct a formal [request for proposal] process to identify a new event producer for a Pride event in Whistler for 2026 and beyond.”
Sunil Sinha is the CEO of the event and has been at the helm since 2019.
Tourism Whistler isn’t the only one that has had communication and payment problems with Sinha.
A Vancouver trivia company owner has taken his unpaid bill from Sinha to the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal after he didn’t receive the full payment for services rendered during Whistler Pride.
Michael Whiteake, owner of IQ 2000, was contacted on Jan. 18 to run a trivia event on Jan. 21 in Whistler. Sinha approached Whiteake to produce the trivia content and provide a host for the evening, and just over half of his invoice remains unpaid months after it was due.
Whistler Pride owes $544.75 for the services rendered, according to an invoice provided to Pique.
Whiteake said he worked hard on short notice to produce the show.
“It was a logistical feat. We had to send a host to Whistler for an evening show, and so they had to stay overnight. As it happened, I had a host who was available and enthusiastic to go the Pride trivia event,” he said. “The host was provided two-way transportation and accommodation from Whistler Pride, did the show, and when it was time to pay the rest, everything went silent.”
Whiteake had sparse communications from Sinha regarding fulfillment of payment before he reached out to Pique, which the newsmagazine has confirmed.
“They sent two texts, both are pretty insubstantial. I’ve called every day, texted, emailed. I got a text Feb. 8 which said, ‘I’ll be in touch, don’t worry,’ after quite a number of texts and emails. I said ‘OK, when?’" Whiteake said. "If they needed time, talk to me. No reply. A few days later, the text said, ‘Bro I will take care of this, just waiting for funds to clear.’ There was a casualness that’s concerning given the situation. I asked again when that would be, no reply.”
Pique has reached out numerous times to Sinha through text, email and calls, and he has not provided an official comment by deadline.
When Pique initially reached out to Sinha in February after Whiteake first brought his concerns to the paper, he sent a barrage of text messages arguing the reporter had no credentials, requested confirmation from the editor that Pique hired the reporter, and that he was justified in not paying the remainder of his bill to IQ 2000 Trivia because he paid the "performer," a host who works for Whiteake.
He also began sending mass text messages to Whiteake after weeks of little to no contact.
“Aside from payment, I’d like an apology for the inconvenience, or to know if anyone else is in the same boat. I’ve run the company for 11 years. It’s my full-time job. I don’t do anything other than this. I put love and passion into these shows,” Whiteake said. “I love working with Pride ... I’m hoping there’s a miscommunication and we’d love to get this taken care of.”
Pique reached out to Sinha again on July 29 with a request for comment through phone and email. The publication received an autoreply that said, “Thank you for your email. I apologize for my unannounced absence and lack of response to texts and emails. I intend to start responding back soon. Sunil.”
