Whistler hosted its first ever Poverty Olympics on Sunday, Jan. 31, as part of a province-wide journey emphasising the devastating reality of poverty and homelessness within communities throughout BC.

The 10-foot high Poverty Olympics Torch and anti-Olympic mascots, Chewy the Rat and Creepy the Cockroach complimented the mountain backdrop.

Ironically, the two skiers who were supposed to ski down Whistler Mountain with the torch (a plunger) found out minutes before the relay that they were being evicted from their accommodations for the Olympics.