B-C’s independent Passenger Transportation Board has granted its first-ever ride-hailing licence to a company that is only expected to operate in smaller communities such as Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish and Tofino in its first year. The licence allows Green Coast Ventures to operate in the Lower Mainland, Whistler and all of Vancouver Island except the Capital Regional District. But the board says the company, which will operate under the trade name Whistle, expects to focus on the smaller communities during the first year and only plans to have 45 vehicles in operation. The board is still reviewing applications from 22 other companies, including Uber and Lyft.
